Yoon Seo plopped down next to Kwon Jihan.
It had been a while since he last drank beer while watching a drama. Regular alcohol from convenience stores or supermarkets didn't get him drunk, and hunter-exclusive alcohol was hard to come by, so he usually didn't drink except at company gatherings. The canned beer he was holding now wasn't hunter-exclusive either; it was nothing more than a barley-colored beverage. Kwon Jihan had simply tossed it into the cart, so Yoon Seo ended up buying it without thinking.
"Why'd you even buy alcohol if you're not gonna get drunk?"
"It's for the vibe."
Kwon Jihan grinned and subtly scooted closer. He moved just the right amount to close the gap Yoon Seo had purposely left between them.
"Let's dry your hair before watching. You'll catch a cold like that."
A cold? An S-rank hunter, catching a cold?
Yoon Seo looked at Kwon Jihan as if he had lost his mind, but Jihan's face was genuinely concerned.
"Is this another one of your last wills? Always letting your hair air-dry without using a blow dryer?"
"Who in the world leaves a will like that?"
"Well, since the Revengers take such great care of your health, I guess they wouldn't let you leave something like that. Now, turn around. I'll dry your hair."
Kwon Jihan's large hand rested on Yoon Seo's shoulder. Startled, Yoon Seo had no choice but to comply with Kwon Jihan's instructions.
Vvrrrr.
The sound of the blow dryer whirred as a breeze hit Yoon Seo's hair. However, all of Yoon Seo's senses were focused on the firm, comfortably warm hand that grazed his shoulder, the nape of his neck, and the back of his head.
"Your head's really small. To look well-proportioned even without being tall, I guess this is the size of head you need."
"I'm not short."
"I never said you were."
"I'm telling you, I'm not short! My height is above average. I'm definitely tall—!"
Yoon Seo was about to fire back in frustration but froze instead. Kwon Jihan had spread his large hand wide and placed it on top of Yoon Seo's head.
"See? It fits in my hand."
"T-That's because your hands are huge. Get them off. What are you doing?"
Flustered, Yoon Seo shook his head quickly. But Kwon Jihan applied just a bit of pressure with his fingertips, holding on until the end. No, not holding on—he was gripping Yoon Seo's head in his hand. Yoon Seo felt his heart rate quicken, his body temperature rising. And it wasn't just him experiencing these physical changes.
The heartbeat from the large man behind him was already beating faster than his own. His palm was warm, too.
"..."
Jihan knew that Yoon Seo could hear his heartbeat. He pretended to ruffle Yoon Seo's hair, using the excuse to touch and feel it before finally withdrawing his hand slowly.
"Your hair's dry enough now. Shall we watch the drama?"
For some reason, Kwon Jihan's voice sounded huskier than usual.
When Yoon Seo turned around sharply, Kwon Jihan was smiling slyly, just like always.
"Hang on. I'll put the dryer away."
Jihan rolled up the cord, neatly storing the dryer in the drawer on the far-right side of the TV cabinet before coming back.
It was all so casual that Yoon Seo nearly let it slide. But just before he pressed play on the drama, he asked the question he couldn't ignore.
"How did you know there was a blow dryer in there?"
"I opened it while looking for the nail clipper earlier. You've kept the house in pretty good order. The wet mop cleaning cloth is the same as the one I use. It cleans up dust really well, right? I also like the electrostatic cleaning cloth from that brand. You don't have the electrostatic cleaning cloth, should I buy it for you?"
"You just opened it without permission while I was washing up?"
"But you allowed it hyung."
"That was just because I told you to check the left drawer since you were looking for the nail clipper."
"There are two drawers on the left, though…."
Kwon Jihan pouted.
"Come on, what can't we open between us? It feels a bit hurtful when you say 'without permission.'"
"There are plenty of things to be hurt about."
"Yeah. There's something else that bothers me. You don't even have a computer at your place? If you didn't have one, you should've just said so. If I'd known, I would've bought one at the mart earlier. I wanted to play games today, but now I can't."
"What did you say?"
"It's not the right time to watch the drama now. Since we're on the topic, let's get a computer first. I found some links while you were showering, so you can just buy it from there."
While Yoon Seo was too stunned to respond, Kwon Jihan picked up Yoon Seo's phone from the table.
"Here, check it out."
Yoon Seo accepted it absentmindedly and opened the messenger app.
[Kwon Jihan] http://sorimcompu.co.kr/1194191 This graphics card
[Kwon Jihan] You need to get this one since the specs have improved from when you had it.
[Kwon Jihan] http://sorimcompu.co.kr/04022424 This one is okay too.
[Kwon Jihan] http://sorimcompu.co.kr/5130300 For the monitor, you need two if you're going to play games seriously.
"I was going to pay and order it, but I thought it might not be the model you want. You'll be using it for a long time, and if you don't like it, I'd be upset too."
"There's no one to use it. I told you I quit gaming."
"Start again. You were having fun just a few days ago, right? I heard there's a major update coming out at the end of the year. Once you clear the Great Dungeon, it should be around that time. Let's prepare ahead of time and relieve our stress by gaming as soon as you get back."
Yoon Seo bit the inside of his cheek.
He calmly and steadily turned off his phone screen and looked at Kwon Jihan.
"I'm not doing it. I have no intention of starting to game again. You seemed to have enjoyed what you played a few days ago, so you can go ahead and have fun, Hunter Kwon Jihan. I won't stop you."
"…"
Kwon Jihan narrowed his eyes. His gray irises reminded one of a wild animal's gaze.
"Hyung, by any chance…"
Kwon Jihan lowered his voice. The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Yoon Seo bit his lips, feeling an unknown tension.
"Is your will not to stop playing games after you win a gold medal but rather to quit gaming after you win a gold medal?"
"…"
Yoon Seo felt utterly deflated.
"No way. Do you really believe in some kind of universal will theory?"
"I don't know. I think I'm developing a neurosis about wills."
"Even if you do, it should happen to me; why would it happen to you, Hunter Kwon Jihan?"
"Exactly. What are you going to do? Take responsibility."
Kwon Jihan buried his face into Yoon Seo's shoulder, letting out a sob. When his handsome forehead brushed against Yoon Seo's shoulder, separated only by a thin layer of clothing, Yoon Seo almost jumped in surprise, nearly hitting the ceiling.
Though Kwon Jihan had occasionally touched his shoulder or bumped his knee before, this bold contact was the first since he had hugged him tightly at the item market.
"If there wasn't a will telling you to stop playing, why aren't you doing it? No matter how I think about it, I just don't get the reason."
Kwon Jihan mumbled while still resting his forehead on Yoon Seo's shoulder. Yoon Seo tried to suppress his pounding heart and pretended to speak indifferently.
"Because it's not fun."
"Don't say it's not fun. I watched with my own two eyes as you played and had a blast."
"…"
When Yoon Seo stayed silent, Kwon Jihan lifted his head. The distance between their faces was uncomfortably close, but it seemed like Yoon Seo was the only one conscious of it. Kwon Jihan, as if he'd sold off his sense of personal space, spoke with an aggrieved tone.
"You were having so much fun back then. When you were voted the best, your lips were practically up to here with excitement. Do you know how beautifully your brown eyes sparkled while you focused on the screen? And how cute your voice was when you eagerly explained the strategy? And now you're telling me to give up on you playing games? I can't accept that."
Kwon Jihan frowned deeply.
"And please…"
"…"
"Stop biting your lips. Was I insensitive again? Did I bother you again hyung?"
Kwon Jihan raised his hand, his fingers brushing Yoon Seo's lips. Yoon Seo could have avoided it, but he didn't.
Bothered me again?
Yoon Seo thought it was the opposite.
Anyone could see that the person truly troubled right now was Kwon Jihan.
"Come on, hyung. Let's place the order."
Kwon Jihan picked up the phone Yoon Seo had set down and pressed it into Yoon Seo's hand.
Yoon Seo felt a sigh building but didn't let it out. The moment he saw the desperation in Kwon Jihan's gray eyes, the sigh vanished.
He couldn't understand why playing a game—making him play a game—was so important that it made him this desperate.
But if Kwon Jihan wanted, Yoon Seo could order ten more graphics cards and monitors he wouldn't even use.
"Alright. I can't be bothered to sign up for this website, so log in with your account, Hunter Kwon Jihan."
"Finally. You should've said that from the start."
Kwon Jihan quickly logged in, as if he was afraid Yoon Seo would change his mind.
Only after Yoon Seo had completed the payment did Kwon Jihan seem to relax a bit.
"Finally, things are a bit more comfortable. You really aren't easy hyung. You'll end up listening to everything I say anyway, so why make me worry? Do you know it's more nerve-wracking and thrilling when you act like this than when we go to an S-rank dungeon? What if my heart gives out and my nails get all worn down?"
"Your heart is already like a dried fish's brain, so it's fine."
"I want to refute that, but it really feels like that, so I can't say anything. I keep feeling that way several times a day, and I'm worried I might end up with cardiovascular disease."
"Should I really help you get cardiovascular disease? You'd probably pull it off."
"Are you joking? If I really got sick, you—"
"…?"
"…?"
Kwon Jihan suddenly stopped speaking, causing Yoon Seo to tilt his head in confusion. For some reason, Kwon Jihan's face had turned a bit pale, and he covered his mouth.
"Wow, that was close."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Never mind. Let's watch a drama instead."
Yoon Seo was skeptical, but as 'Love in Han River' started playing on the TV, he soon became absorbed in it.