“Oh, it is our little green-legged guest again! You let that out, didn’t you, Lai?” Yuhok lay on the top of the bed, eyes wide, as he noticed a big praying mantis casually strutting across the floor with the confidence of a runway model. He almost expected it to strike a pose and pout for imaginary cameras.
He sighed deeply, knowing all too well that Enlai, his adorable boyfriend, had once again let out his pet mantis to give him a good scare.
The mantis, absolutely unaware of Yuhok’s internal crisis, continued its leisurely stroll. It paused, perhaps contemplating the feng shui of the room. Or maybe it was rehearsing its acceptance speech for the “Insect of the Year” award. Who knows?
Enlai, the adoptive father of this six-legged celebrity, stood with a look of feigned shock. “Me? Let out Mr. Mantis? I could never!” He exclaimed, his lips twitching with barely-contained mirth.
"Lai, I swear if that thing jumps on me again, I'm moving out!" Yuhok shouted again, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear creeping into his tone.
Enlai again, stood there, chuckling.
Slowly, Yuhok got down from the safety of his bed, eyeing the mantis minutely. With mock-up bravery, he tiptoed closer, ready to confront the creature. But just as he reached out to shoo it away, the mantis scuttled off under the furniture, leaving him standing in the middle of the room, feeling both relieved and slightly ridiculous.
As he turned around triumphantly, ready to give Enlai a piece of his mind, he froze. There stood Enlai, leaning casually against the door with an innocent expression, trying and failing to suppress a grin.
His spectacled green eyes were Yuhok’s second favourite thing, the first being his ass. “Focus on my mind, not my behind,” Enlai would jest, but Yuhok knew he was guilty as charged—after all, who could resist such a delightful combination of nerdy charm and generous… proportions? Either way, what really mattered right now was his attire. In his fear-driven state, Yuhok had forgotten his lack of clothing, clad only in a towel that was threatening to slip off at any moment. He had just taken a shower, waiting to get dressed when that creeper had surprised him, making him take shelter on the bed.
His hair stuck up in all directions, his eyes still sore from sleeplessness, and yet Enlai couldn't tear his gaze away.
"Enlai, stop ogling at me like I'm a buffet," Yuhok said, trying to sound stern but failing miserably.
“You know, for someone who claims to be so tough, you sure do have a soft spot for Mr. Mantis,” he teased, pushing off from the doorframe and sauntering over.
Yuhok’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Soft spot? More like a panic button that you love to push,” he retorted, clutching the towel with one hand while pointing an accusing finger at Enlai with the other.
“Hey now, no need to put on a show just for me,” Enlai teased, his voice warm with laughter. “But since you’re already on display… mind doing a twirl?”
"You find this amusing, don't you?" Yuhok grumbled half-heartedly, his cheeks tinged with a rosy hue that had nothing to do with the morning sun streaming through the window.
"Oh, it is our little green-legged guest again! You let that out, didn’t you, Lai?" he said, mockingly echoing Yuhok's earlier accusation. With a theatrical gasp, he continued, "What will Mr. Mantis think of this scandalous display?"
With a groan, he agreed, whirling around in his ridiculous towel suit like a hesitant model at a fashion show that no one should see. Enlai clapped wildly, his eyes flashing with delight.
Yuhok couldn't hold back his own chuckles any longer. The tension melted away, replaced by the easy camaraderie that defined their relationship. "You're insufferable, you know that, right?" He teased, his eyes soft with affection.
“Well, if it’s any consolation, you’re quite the sight in just a towel. Gives ‘towel fashion’ a whole new meaning,” he quipped, reaching out to adjust the fabric that was indeed perilously close to revealing more than Yuhok intended.
“Your hands have a brain of themselves, don’t they?” He smiled at Enlai, his hands crawling against Enlai’s waist.
Enlai’s laughter was a soft rumble against Yuhok’s chest, the sound as comforting as the warmth of their intertwined bodies. “Brains of their own, you say?” he teased, his fingers tracing delicate patterns on Yuhok’s skin, eliciting a shiver that wasn’t from the cool air.
Yuhok nodded as his hands explored further, each touch igniting sparks that threatened to set them both ablaze. “Mmm, and they’re quite persuasive,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
“You just had a shower, didn’t you, baby?”
“I don’t mind having another Lai.” The words drew near as their lips intertwined, gentle, tender, and inviting. Enlai's heart seemed to disappear from his chest. He gripped Yuhok's shoulders firmly, squeezing his eyes shut in a moment of passion.
“Another shower with you? I can’t think of anything I’d want more,” Enlai murmured, his voice low and full of promise.
“And the convention?” Yuhok raised a brow.
“It can wait, baby.”
Their lips reunited in a soft crash, less of a bang and more of a cosmic sigh of contentment. Yuhok’s hands moved from Enlai’s shoulders to cradle his face, thumbs caressing his cheekbones with a tenderness that made his heart swell.
Yuhok’s lips ghosted over his jawline, leaving a trail of feather-light kisses. He felt himself surrendering to the tide of emotions crashing over him. And as their bodies melded together in a tangled mess of limbs and heat, their laughter mingled with the soft rustling of sheets, creating a melody of love that echoed through the room.
Yuhok’s hand traced the contours of Enlai’s hips, resting there with a gentle pressure and their eyes locked in intensity. With a deft flick of his wrist, he unclasped the button, revealing the fabric parting like a curtain to reveal the hidden treasure within. He paused, allowing a moment of suspense to build, relishing the anticipation that hung in the air like sweet perfume.
He slid the zipper down slowly, savouring each moment as if unwrapping a precious gift. His touch was delicate, teasing along the cloth. The sound resonated quietly across the room, a whisper that mirrored the rhythm of their beating hearts.
Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from under the bed. Both men froze, exchanging a glance. “Round two?” Enlai whispered, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
Yuhok groaned, “If that thing has babies under there, I’m not just moving out; I’m emigrating!”
…
Enlai’s heart raced as he ran toward the convention centre. His sneakers hammered the pavement, and he mentally cursed his decision to wear a Shaggy t-shirt. It was the one that screamed, “I solve mysteries, but only after a Scooby Snack.”
Nobody would be dressed like a hooligan at a convention. An absolute idiot you are!
He burst through the glass doors, scanning the bustling crowd for a familiar face. And there she was, Lila, standing like a disgruntled time traveller who had just missed her portal back home.
“Lila!” he gasped, doubling over to catch his breath. “Do you have any idea how fast I ran? I swear I broke the space-time continuum.”
Lila’s arms crossed over her chest, a barricade against his casual approach. “Enlai,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’re early. Again.”
“Sorry, sorry,” he wheezed, unfazed by Lila’s scolding. “I got caught up in something.”
“Something named Yuhok?”
Her eyes, narrowed to the width of a cryptic hieroglyph, scanned him for signs of guilt. It was the go-to look, the beat-up leather sling purse, the recognizable green tee, and the huge brown jacket that said, "borrowed from the boyfriend." But, no guilt.
Enlai’s mop of dark brown hair flopped over his forehead, as if it, too, had given up on maintaining decorum. “You are one shameless woman, but you'll never believe what I found," he said, producing a worn-out book from his satchel. Its title—The Crypt of Lysidamus—was etched in faded gold letters.
Lila’s frustration momentarily faded as she raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What's that? Another one of your history books?"
"This isn't just any history book, Lila. It's a rare find," he explained excitedly. "Legend has it that the crypt described in this book is filled with untold treasures and ancient artifacts. I couldn't resist diving into it."
“Why on earth did I ever let you date that library enthusiast?” Lila muttered under her breath.
“Because he’s smoking hot?” He shot back, unapologetic.
Lila decided it was best to keep her retorts to herself. After all, arguing with a horny gay man was like trying to teach cat algebra—utterly futile. And Enlai would agree to it as well.
Seogwipo’s humidity clung to the air like a persistent ex, refusing to let go. But within the convention centre’s walls, they found solace. The Circaia Conference Centre, South Korea’s crown jewel of event venues, had bestowed upon them not one but two coveted seats. Jackpot.
Attendees bustled around them, each engrossed in conversations about ancient civilizations, groundbreaking archaeological discoveries, and the mysteries of the past. The air was thick with excitement and intellectual fervour, creating an atmosphere of scholarly passion that was palpable. He could almost smell the curiosities walking around.
Their ongoing project would thrive here, Enlai was certain.
Soon, that one particular booth caught his attention—the History of Churches exhibit. It was an enchanting display of miniature replicas of famous churches from around the world. Each one intricately detailed, capturing the essence of these sacred structures with precision and reverence.
Enlai's eyes widened in awe as he examined a tiny version of Notre Dame Cathedral, his fingers tracing the delicate spires and stained-glass windows.
“This French goth is here, Lila!”
“And St. Basil’s Cathedral! And—oh, Enlai, is that the Hagia Sophia?”
Enlai’s eyes widened. “Indeed it is,” he said. “And that tiny stained-glass window? It’s like a kaleidoscope of Byzantine secrets.”
“Don’t touch that, idiot!” Lila snapped, slapping his hand away from a delicate rose window. Her eyes blazed with the intensity of a medieval inquisitor. “Come with me!”
She led him away from the miniature Notre Dame, past the scaled-down Sagrada Família, and toward the heart of the exhibit.
And there it was—the main hall, its vaulted ceiling reaching for the heavens like a prayer. The keynote speaker stood at the lectern, scholarly robes billowing like a Renaissance prophet. Enlai and Lila quickly located their seats toward the front, their anticipation palpable.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the lecturer, Professor Kim, intoned, “welcome to our exploration of the history of churches. From humble chapels to towering cathedrals, these sacred spaces have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the whispers of prayers, and the echoes of choirs.”
Enlai exchanged a glance with Lila. This was it—the moment they’d been waiting for. The History of Churches exhibit had merely been an appetizer; the main course was about to be served.
“Our journey begins with the cryptic origins of church architecture,” Professor Kim declared, pacing in front of the tapestry. “Was it divine inspiration or a clever mason who first stacked stones into sacred shapes?”
Enlai leaned closer to Lila. “I bet it was a mason who accidentally dropped a chisel and thought, ‘Well, that looks holy.’”
Lila stifled a laugh. “Or maybe an angel descended and whispered, ‘Gothic arches are so in this millennium.’”
Professor Kim raised an eyebrow, as if sensing their irreverent thoughts. “Regardless,” he said, “churches became more than mere buildings. They were portals to the divine, libraries of faith, and—sometimes—havens for clandestine meetings.”
Enlai nudged Lila. “Clandestine meetings?”
“It is possible,” Lila whispered back.
“But,” Professor Kim said, “there exists a legend. Apparently, there was a secret pact between a desperate monk and the very walls of a monastery.”
Enlai leaned in, eyes wide. “A pact?”
“Ladies and gentlemen, today we delve into the forgotten annals of Podlazice, a place where time itself seems to waver. Imagine, if you will, the year 1452. The monastery thrived, its library a treasure trove of illuminated manuscripts, theological treatises, and forbidden knowledge.
“Herman the Recluse, a monk of devotion and charity, roamed these cloisters. His eyes held the weight of centuries, and his quill danced across parchment, transcribing wisdom and madness alike. But it was one fateful night that changed everything.”
Professor Kim paced the stage, his hands weaving history like a master storyteller.
“Herman faced a terrifying fate—an unjust sentence to be walled up alive within these very walls. But legends are born from desperation. The monk, torn between mercy and tradition, offered the abbot a bargain: ‘Write a book that encompasses all human knowledge, and your life shall be spared.’ That's where the devil came into the story."
“Devil? Wasn’t he a monk?” Enlai muttered almost to himself, face contorted into confusion.
“Herman accepted. Who doesn't want to live?" Professor Kim continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. “And so began his feverish work. The ink flowed like blood, and the pages turned as if guided by unseen hands. By midnight, he realised the impossible task. Desperation clawed at his soul. And then, in the darkest hour, he invoked the infernal.”
Enlai’s concentration was abruptly cut short by the cell phone vibrating insistently in his pocket. Without as second thought, he silenced it.
The phone rang again, and again. He had successfully avoided it twice now, but a third call was relentless. Pulling out the offending device, he squinted at the screen. Yuhok’s name blinked back at him, demanding attention.
“I need to take this call, Lila,” he whispered, leaning toward her.
Lila’s eyes widened at the phone screen. “Do you have to? Can’t that man wait? We’re on the brink of discovering the secret of the Devil’s Bible!”
“He never calls me twice, let alone three in a row. It must be urgent,” Enlai muttered, slipping out of the lecture hall, leaving Lila’s nagging behind. It took him a minute to make his way through the darkness, but the moment he stepped out, he managed to call Yuhok back.
“Are you okay, baby? Calling three times in a row?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
Yuhok’s reply crackled through the line, and Enlai’s heart skipped a beat. “I have good news.”
“What?”
“I found us a house—on Jeju Island!”
Comments (2)
See all