Seojun came out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. He brushed his hair back with his hand and took a slow breath. He grabbed the deodorant from the desk and sprayed under his arms like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Yeonjun looked at him for a second. His body was lean but strong, built in a way that probably meant he worked out. Then his eyes caught the metal ring through Seojun’s nipple. It wasn’t something that looked good on everyone, but on him... it fit. That kind of reckless style shouldn’t have suited anyone this well. The tribal plum blossom tattoo on his shoulder looked like something done by a real artist, and it wasn’t the kind of design most guys would choose.

He realized he’d been staring and turned his head away, feeling the heat in his face.

Seojun turned to him just then. He noticed how Yeonjun looked at him for a second, then quickly looked away.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said gently, his voice calm and sincere.

“No… it’s fine.”

Without much fuss, Seojun pulled on a hoodie and a pair of shorts. Then he looked up with a relaxed grin.

“Want a beer?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Seojun opened the mini fridge, grabbed two cans of beer, and said, “Come on, let’s go out to the terrace. There are blankets there; we can cover ourselves.”

They stepped onto the small terrace and sat down on a pair of cushioned loungers, angled slightly toward the view. A low black table between them held the two cold cans of beer.

The lights of Seoul spread out below, blinking in the night like restless stars.

Yeonjun stayed quiet, watching the skyline shimmer in the dark. His shoulders eased, but his thoughts didn’t.

Why does it feel easier to breathe here?

For a moment, neither of them spoke, but the quiet felt meaningful rather than awkward.

Seojun opened his can and took a sip. Without bothering to stand up, he leaned over to Yeonjun and, catching him off guard, pulled the hoodie up over Yeonjun’s head.

“You can’t just sit out here with wet hair after a shower,” he said with a soft laugh, settling back into his seat afterward.

Yeonjun’s face warmed with a faint blush as Seojun leaned back, already looking relaxed again.

“You seemed a bit down earlier,” Seojun said casually, his eyes attentive. “Was it because of your girlfriend?”

Yeonjun paused for a second, then nodded. 

“We were together for a year. But honestly, most of that time… we just kept trying to make things work. I guess we both knew it wasn’t going anywhere.”

Seojun didn’t answer right away. He just took a slow sip of his beer and waited.

Yeonjun continued speaking while keeping his eyes on the city spread out in front of them.

“Ji-a’s not a bad person. I won’t say anything against her. But being with her made me feel more alone than I do now.”

The last sentence lingered in the air with a quiet honesty that neither of them tried to fill with words. Seojun looked over at him and said,

“Breakups suck. Even the ones that should’ve happened sooner.”

Yeonjun made a quiet sound, almost like a laugh, though he wasn’t sure why. His eyes stayed on the skyline, and somehow, things didn’t feel as heavy anymore.

“Yeah.”

After a moment, he turned his head.

“What about you? You dating anyone?”

“I was, until recently. But things change.”

He didn’t go into it. Just sat back and let the words hang there, like it wasn’t worth explaining.

“That surprises me. I figured you were probably seeing someone,” said Yeonjun.

“Why? ‘Cause I’m charming and mysterious?” Seojun said with a grin.

"No," Yeonjun said, like it wasn’t even a question. “Because you talk like someone who flirts with the cashier at every convenience store.”

They both burst out laughing, the sound sudden and loud but completely genuine, slicing right through the tension that had been building between them. For the first time that night, Yeonjun’s shoulders relaxed and he looked truly at ease. A softer laugh followed, and he added,

“That’s what our last fight was about. You know, the fight that morning when she slapped me. She hit me because I smiled and said hi to a cashier girl.”

The alcohol was definitely loosening his tongue. 

Seojun looked away for a moment.

“Yeah, sometimes relationships end up in the worst places. It happens.”

Yeonjun nodded slowly, as if turning the idea over in his mind.

“There must be some girl out there who’s a bit more settled. Wouldn’t you want a calm, quiet girlfriend who likes you no matter what?”

Seojun looked back at him with a small smile.

“Actually... I wouldn’t,” he said, keeping his eyes on Yeonjun.

Yeonjun watched him closely, like he was waiting to hear why.

Seojun went on. “I’m not really the type who makes time for girls.”

Yeonjun laughed.

“You don’t seem all that busy tonight.”

They both laughed again, louder this time.

When the laughter finally died down, Seojun turned to him, his voice quieter now. 

“Hey… do you believe in love at first sight?”

“Nope. I don’t believe in love, period. I don’t think anyone can really love someone enough. People always put their own interests first. Love always comes with conditions and expectations.”

“That’s kind of depressing.”

“It’s just realistic,” Yeonjun said, and took another sip of his drink.

Seojun took a deep breath.

“Don’t get me wrong, but… there’s more sorrow in your eyes than just a breakup,” he said gently.

Yeonjun was surprised at how quickly Seojun had figured him out. He looked away and stayed silent.

“If you ever feel like talking, I’m here,” Seojun added, making sure the kindness in his voice stayed steady.

“Maybe another time,” Yeonjun replied, and they both fell silent again. In the cool night, hardly any sound remained.

After a while, with his thoughts swirling, Yeonjun glanced sideways at Seojun.

"You always seem so chill... Are you okay with how things are?" he asked, his voice quieter this time.

Seojun smiled faintly.

“Yeah, you know… I guess being single saves me a lot of headaches,” he said, chuckling softly. “Actually… My parents are pretty chill. Especially my dad. He never pressured me to join the family business. He runs a restaurant, and both my brother and sister help out with it. They’re twins. Graduated early, started working right away. My mom went to the States for school and met my dad there. He’d already been living there since he was a kid, so culturally, he’s almost more American than Korean. Honestly, both of them kind of are. Laid-back and open-minded. Then, for whatever reason, they got nostalgic for home and moved back to Korea. By the way, I was born in the States. Same as my brother and sister. Meanwhile, I’m just… the youngest. Kind of spoiled, honestly. My whole family act like I’m still twelve or something,” he laughed a little, but it didn’t feel real. “Though to be fair, I guess they have good reasons to treat me that way.”

Seojun fell silent after that, his eyes drifting upward like he was watching something only he could see.

Yeonjun didn’t ask. He thought about it, but there was something in Seojun’s voice that made him pause. It sounded casual, but felt like it was covering something else. Like a truth not ready to be spoken.

Whatever that reason was, it wasn’t something to touch in a moment like this.

***

After a long pause, Seojun spoke again, this time quieter.

“My mom’s a painter. She runs a gallery and a couple of studios, actually. But she’s never once made me feel like I had to live up to her name. Still, sometimes I can’t help but think I’ll never be as good as she is. And that gets to me a little.”

He smiled, but it didn’t really hide how he felt.

“Sometimes I think I’m too lucky for my own good. Like… maybe that’s why I find weird things to worry about.”

He couldn’t help but look Yeonjun straight in the eyes as he said it.

Yeonjun looked back at him. The word “painter” reminded him of the signature he had seen on the paintings.

Shin Mi-yeon…

His heart skipped for a second.

Wait… that was his mom?

A strange warmth spread through his chest. It wasn’t just admiration. It was something fuller, something softer, something that made it hard to sit still but impossible to pull away.

He didn’t say anything. He just kept looking at Seojun, and all he could think was how someone like him could be real.