Chapter 35

The warmth of another body pressed against Ju-woons. He blinked, his mind still clouded with sleep and the lingering effects of last night's alcohol. For a second, he didn't register where he was.

Then, Min-ho shifted beside him, his arm still loosely draped around Ju-woon's waist.

Oh. Right.

Everything from last night came back in a slow wave—Min-ho's stupid teasing, the kiss, the call from his mom, the fact that he… admitted he liked Min-ho.

Ju-woon exhaled sharply and immideatly tried to wiggle out of Min-ho's hold, but the idiot only tightened his grip.

"Where do you think you're going?" Min-ho's voice was hoarse from sleep, his breath warm against Ju-woon's neck.

"Anywhere that's not next to you," Ju-woon muttered, still trying to pry himself free.

Min-ho cracked one eye open, smirking. "Cold. And here I was thinking you'd wake me up with a sweet 'Good morning, Min-ho~~'"

Ju-woon deadpanned. "I'd rather choke on sand."

Min-ho laughed, finally letting go, stretching his arms over his head with a yawn. "Fine, fine. You owe me breakfast then."

"I owe you nothing."

Despite his words, Ju-woon still ended up sitting across from Min-ho at a small café near the beach, sipping coffee while Min-ho inhaled an absurd amount of food.

Ju-woon stared at him. "Are you okay? Is there a beast inside you that I should know about?"

Min-ho grinned, shoving another bite of food into his mouth. "Just replenishing my energy. I'll need it later."

"For what?"

Min-ho's eyes gleamed with something mischievous. "I'm taking you to the beach."

Ju-woon blinked. "What."

"You heard me. Beach. Sunset. You, me, the ocean, romance—"

Ju-woon held up a hand. "You lost me at romance."

Min-ho pouted dramatically. "You're so cruel."

Ju-woon rolled his eyes, but Min-ho was already dragging him out of the café, excitement practically radiating off him.

By the time they got to the beach, the sky was a soft blend of orange and pink, the sun dipping below the horizon. The cool evening breeze carried the scent of salt and distant bonfires. The once-crowded shore was now mostly empty, leaving just the two of them and the sound of the waves.

Ju-woon kicked off his shoes, sighing as his feet sank into the cool sand. "Alright, we're here. Now what?"

Min-ho grinned, already pulling off his hoodie. "Now? We have fun."

He ran straight into the water without another word.

Ju-woon just stood there. "I don't get paid enough for this."

"You dont get paid at all"

Still, after a moment of hesitation, he followed.

The water was cold against his skin, but the way Min-ho laughed, arms spread as if embracing the whole damn ocean, made it… bearable.

They played like kids, shoving each other under the waves, racing along the shore, Min-ho constantly pulling Ju-woon closer just to tease him. At one point, Min-ho lifted Ju-woon up entirely, throwing him into the water.

Ju-woon came up gasping, wiping his wet hair back. "Oh, you're actually dead for that."

Min-ho just grinned. "Can't kill me if you can't catch me~"

Ju-woon tackled him into the waves.

When the sky darkened into deep purples and blues, they finally slowed down, standing side by side in the shallow water, watching the last traces of the sunset fade.

Min-ho exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey, hyung?"

Ju-woon glanced at him. "What?"

Min-ho looked at him, his expression unusually soft. "I like this. Us."

Ju-woon felt his breath catch for a second. The way Min-ho said it—not as a joke, not as a tease—felt real. Too real.

"…Yeah," Ju-woon murmured, eyes fixed on the horizon. "Me too."

Min-ho smiled. Not his usual cocky grin, but something quieter. Warmer.

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