Romantic Gangster

#43

“…”

Ji-woo sat quietly on the stands, watching the other students play. Although it was PE class, since entering the second semester, most of it had turned into free time where those who wanted to play could play, and those who wanted to study could go to the classroom.

Some were sprawled out on the stands sleeping, while others played basketball. Among them were Choi Young-jae and Hyun-joon. Hyun-joon had insisted he wouldn’t play until the end, but he fell for Young-jae’s sweet talk about how someone tall and fit like him would be an ace just by being on the team and walking around, so he agreed to play just one game.

Hyun-joon, who had walked out reluctantly as if he had no choice, became fired up with competitiveness once the game started. He even took off his school uniform shirt and played in his t-shirt.

Not only did Hyun-joon have good physical attributes like height and a solid build, but he was also incredibly agile. His movements were efficient and quick, so once he caught or stole the ball, he’d dash straight to the hoop without hesitation.

Although there were others on the opposing team who had bodies optimized for basketball, and some who were technically better at basketball from playing every day, Hyun-joon easily did more than his share and effortlessly threw the ball. And most of those shots went straight into the basket.

Contrary to his words about playing just one game, Hyun-joon, burning with competitiveness, played three 10-minute games. The result was, of course, an overwhelming victory for Hyun-joon’s team.

After running for 30 minutes straight, everyone was drenched in sweat. Hyun-joon too came back to the stands, fanning his black t-shirt, and plopped down next to Ji-woo.

“Ah, shit. I didn’t mean to go this far.”

As Hyun-joon sat down beside him, his body scent, intensified perhaps due to sweat, wafted over. Ji-woo’s thighs, which had been slightly apart, pressed together.

“…You’re really good at basketball.”

“I am good. I’m good at anything physical.”

Hyun-joon turned his head to meet Ji-woo’s eyes and grinned at the compliment. Since he had started playing to impress Ji-woo in the first place, hearing that he did well made him feel good.

“Ah, it’s so damn hot. Want to go inside?”

“Yeah. Let’s go in. I’m thirsty.”

“Okay. Let’s stop by the vending machine.”

Ji-woo nodded and stood up from the stands first. Hyun-joon playfully reached out his hand as if asking Ji-woo to help him up. Of course, it was a ploy to hold Ji-woo’s hand one more time.

But Ji-woo really did take Hyun-joon’s hand to help him up. Even though Hyun-joon’s hand was hot from running for so long, Ji-woo’s hand holding his felt even hotter. Hyun-joon got up from the stands while completely enveloping Ji-woo’s small hand in his. He felt regretful when their hands separated after serving their purpose.

“Choi Young-jae, aren’t you coming in?”

“I, I can’t… Can’t get up… You go ahead.”

Young-jae, sprawled out on the stands, barely raised his hand and waved it weakly with a dying expression. Ji-woo laughed at Young-jae and nodded.

“Want me to get you a drink?”

“No… I’m hungry so I’ll go to the school store. Want me to buy you something?”

“No, it’s okay. See you later then.”

“Yeah…”

Ji-woo looked at Young-jae, who was slumping down again, once more before leaving the stands with Hyun-joon and entering the main entrance. They went straight to the vending machine near the administration office on the first floor and bought two cans of isotonic drink. Both were for Hyun-joon.

Hyun-joon downed one can in one go and immediately opened the second one. But before drinking it, he held it out to Ji-woo.

“Take a sip.”

“No, you’re thirsty.”

“I don’t think I can finish the whole can.”

Only then did Ji-woo take the can and take a small sip. Hyun-joon quietly watched Ji-woo. He wondered if there was anyone else in the world who could drink so prettily.

Hyun-joon put the can opening back to his lips after Ji-woo, who had been told to take a sip, really took just one sip and returned it. He tilted the can slightly. Worried it might spill, Ji-woo lightly held the can with both hands and parted his lips to swallow a few more gulps of the cool drink.

“That’s enough. You finish it.”

When Ji-woo, having drunk enough, pushed the can towards Hyun-joon, only then did Hyun-joon smile and finish the rest in one go. Ji-woo quietly watched as Hyun-joon casually put his mouth where Ji-woo had just drunk from. He had never been conscious of this with anyone else before, but suddenly he became aware of it.

He had always drunk casually without caring if someone’s mouth had touched it before, but Hyun-joon didn’t seem like the type to do that, so Ji-woo’s gaze kept going to Hyun-joon’s nonchalant behavior.

“…”

Suddenly, he noticed Hyun-joon’s protruding Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed, his strong-looking jaw, his lips wet from the drink, and his disheveled bangs damp with sweat. It felt like each detail was being magnified and coming closer to his eyes.

Among them, what bothered Ji-woo most and couldn’t be ignored was Hyun-joon’s body scent. Whether it was because pheromones were mixed in due to exertion or not, he kept smelling the pleasant scent he usually encountered from Hyun-joon mixed with his body odor.

It came out when Hyun-joon fanned his shirt, or when he just turned his body, making Ji-woo’s fingertips tingle and his thighs clench repeatedly. But the bigger problem was that he wanted to smell more of Hyun-joon’s pheromones and body scent. He wanted to hold his hand. No… he wanted to hug him again. Even though he knew this wasn’t the time for pheromones and that they shouldn’t do that at school, he was desperate to touch Hyun-joon right now, immediately.

“…Hey.”

Without realizing it, Ji-woo called out to Hyun-joon and lightly tugged on his short sleeve. Hyun-joon tilted his head down in response. When their eyes met, Ji-woo briefly thought that he shouldn’t do this, but the desire to touch Hyun-joon immediately was stronger than that thought. As this was the first time he had faced such an impulse, he didn’t know how to control it.

“…Just a moment.”

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Ji-woo shook his head and lowered the hand that had been holding Hyun-joon’s sleeve to lightly grasp his hand. The moment they touched, a weak electric-like sensation spread from his hand, up his arm, and throughout his body.

Fortunately, Hyun-joon didn’t ask any more questions and obediently followed as Ji-woo pulled him along. Ji-woo tried to think of a place where no one would be. Since classes were still in session, most places besides classrooms would be empty, but he tried to think of a place where students didn’t come even after classes ended. However, perhaps because he was in such a hurry, he couldn’t think clearly.

Should we go up the stairs for now…? Or should we go to the new building? Ah, should we go to that music room from yesterday…? Ah, but that’s too far.

As he was walking and pondering, unable to decide, he suddenly saw a quiet teachers’ restroom in front of him.

Seeing that, all other thoughts vanished. Ji-woo peeked inside slightly to confirm it was empty, then entered first. He went to the farthest stall and turned his head to look up at Hyun-joon. Hyun-joon, who had been standing outside the stall, finally stepped inside. Soon, the door closed behind Hyun-joon.

Only after hearing the lock click into place did Ji-woo realize what he had done. He could still feel Hyun-joon’s hand that he was holding, and he clearly saw that they were in a restroom.

The dry bathroom with no trace of moisture smelled faintly of disinfectant. Unlike usual, Hyun-joon said nothing and just looked down at him, and Ji-woo’s courage, weaker than the impulse that had brought Hyun-joon here, kept making him uncomfortable.

“Seo Ji-woo.”

“…”

“Why did you come here?”

Ji-woo tensed up as the voice calling his full name suddenly sounded stern. He was nervous. He felt embarrassed and awkward that Hyun-joon might have properly understood his strange feelings and actions lately. As he hesitated, not knowing what to do, he heard the voice from above again.

“Ji-woo.”

This time, it was a gentle voice. It was the first time he had heard Hyun-joon call him by just his first name, without the surname. Encouraged by the gentle voice, he raised his head to find a warm gaze, as gentle as the voice, softly falling on his face.

As expected, Hyun-joon knew everything. That he had become strange. That he kept wanting to go to Hyun-joon’s house, that even when he went to his part-time job at the convenience store, he only waited for Hyun-joon to come, that he kept saying one more unimportant thing because he was reluctant to go home… and now he had even dragged Hyun-joon to the restroom, becoming so very strange.

“…I don’t know.”

He could have made excuses that his body felt strange or that he needed pheromones, but knowing it would be an obvious lie, he couldn’t voice such excuses. Ji-woo slightly averted his gaze, unable to meet Hyun-joon’s eyes any longer.

“Are you not feeling well?”

Hyun-joon’s hand touched his forehead. When the hand touched him, various parts of his body tingled again.

“…I’m not unwell, but…”

“Yeah?”

“…I feel a bit strange…”

“Strange?”

“Yeah…”

“Should I hug you?”