Insu watched as an indulgent smile formed on Shihwan’s face.

He was listening aptly to a story Boram was telling about one of the cast members who had accidentally gone onto the stage as the curtains were rising for a show and, having nowhere to hide, had rolled beneath a voluminous skirt of a 17th-century matchmaker, who happened to be played by a large, tattooed man.

Shihwan’s soft laugh reverberated around the small room they had rented in the BBQ restaurant.

Insu looked down. The meat before him sizzled. It was obviously an expensive cut. And normally its perfectly marbled appearance would call to him.

But he found that he had no appetite.

“So what did you do, hyung?” asked Shihwan to Boram, and Insu felt something cold drip down his hand.

He looked down just as the sound of aluminum crushing beneath his fingertips reached his ears. The beer was trickling down the sides of the can.

“Boram is quite the storyteller, isn’t he?” a deep voice interrupted his thoughts, and Insu looked up to see that Hajoon had returned.

He grunted in response and looked away, doing anything and everything to avoid the man’s gaze so as to end their conversation early.

But the man merely chuckled. “You don’t really like people, do you? Or perhaps,” he said softly, his deep voice almost caressing Insu’s ears, “it’s me that makes you uncomfortable.”

Insu looked up at that and almost rolled his eyes. The implied self-importance was annoying enough for him to temporarily forget his issues with Shihwan. “All people discomfort me.”

“Ah.” Hajoon chuckled again. “And here I was hoping I had somehow made an impression on you.”

Hajoon’s face changed then. There was a glint in his eyes, and Insu was briefly reminded of that strange event in the theater. Both Shihwan and Hajoon’s eyes had glowed, and what’s more, Shihwan’s eyes had shone golden. Despite the lack of light surrounding them, he had been certain of it.

“Do you see something?” asked Hajoon, and Insu blinked.

He had been inadvertently staring into the man’s eyes.

He quickly turned away only to face Shihwan, who was staring at them, a visible frown on his face.

“What are you two talking about?” Shihwan asked, and it struck Insu that it had been the first time Shihwan had given him his full attention since they had walked into the restaurant.

Irritated, Insu replied, “Don’t worry about it—it has nothing to do with you.”

The frown on Shihwan’s face deepened.

Hajoon’s chuckle broke the tension, and they both turned to look at the man.

“I was hitting on him,” Hajoon said casually.

Insu felt himself tense, and Shihwan’s body froze beside him.

“Stop joking,” Insu mumbled.

“Don’t,” said a soft voice as Boram’s hands gripped Hajoon’s jacket sleeve. They all watched the large eyes that stared up at Hajoon, pleading like a pup’s. “Don’t do that,” he said, his words slurring as his hand still clutched at Hajoon’s clothes. “I… don’t want that.”

Hajoon’s expression briefly turned cold before gently prying Boram’s fingers off his arm.

He then patted Boram’s head. There was an odd, conflicting look in his face of equal parts irritation and a softness that Insu knew all too well.

Insu heard a low grumble from beside him and turned, surprised to see Shihwan glaring at the scene before them. 

And once more Insu was reminded of his place.

Insu stood, dropping his crushed can into an empty beer glass. The golden liquid bubbled up, paused, then spilled onto the table.

“I’m gonna go,” he said to no one in particular and turned to leave.

He heard rustling behind him, and a minute later Shihwan was beside him.

“You’re leaving already?” he asked, picking up his jacket and quickly shrugging it on.

Insu did not respond as he reached for the door.

“At least let me walk you home. It’s been weeks since I last saw you.”

At least you’re aware.

And yet, knowing that Shihwan had been chasing after Boram the entire time they had not seen each other ate at him.

“Stay,” Insu said coldly, unable to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

“He’s right,” said Hajoon as he stood and walked up till he was beside them. “Someone needs to take him home, and you’re the only one who knows where that is.”

They all turned to look at Boram, who had slumped over the table, an empty shot glass in his hand, sound asleep.

Insu watched as Shihwan’s gaze lingered on the snoozing Boram before turning back to him with an uncertain expression. It briefly reminded him of a dog trying to choose between his owner and a treat.

Insu sighed, then tried his best to give his friend a reassuring smile. Anything to end the night so he could go home. “Get him home. We can hang out another time.”

He turned and faced Hajoon. “I don’t need an escort. You go home too.” Then, as if an afterthought, added, “sunbae.”

Hajoon grinned but followed Insu regardless. “Humor me,” he said. “I get lonely walking alone.”

“It’s too bad then that I am not escorting you home,” he said dryly, his eyes on the road.

“You could.”

Insu ignored him, and the man chuckled.

They walked in silence for a while until Insu noticed that Hajoon seemed to simply be following him.

“Don’t you need to go?” he asked irritably.

Hajoon quickened his step so that they were now walking side by side. “How do you know my home is not in the same direction?”

Insu turned to face him. “Enough,” he said, remembering the look on his face when he gazed at Boram. “I know you’re not actually interested in me.”

Hajoon blinked and stared at him. For a moment, Insu was pleased by the slight note of surprise on the sunbae’s face. But then Hajoon took a step forward until his face was only an inch or two away from Inu’s.

There was that strange look in his eyes again. Insu felt as though the man was slowly assessing him, looking for something within him.

“Oh, but I am,” Hajoon said after a long, uncomfortable moment, his sharp white canines flashing in the night.

He took a single step forward and bent slightly until his lips were right beside Insu’s ear. “I am incredibly interested in you,” he whispered, his deep voice caressing Insu’s ears.

A shiver ran down Insu’s spine. He looked up.

Their eyes met in the darkness.

Beneath the sunbae’s gaze was something dark, hungry, calculating. He felt like prey trapped in the path of a predator.

And despite himself, Insu wanted to run.

.