Sweet Shot

#28

“Eat plenty.”

The table, which would be full with four family members seated, was laden with carefully prepared side dishes. There was sweet-smelling braised short ribs, red-colored braised sea bream, japchae mixed with various vegetables, homemade dongchimi, and more. Mom smiled contentedly as she finally brought out hot white rice and seaweed soup that gave off a savory aroma.

“Your skills are still excellent, Mother.”

Tae-rim skillfully complimented her.

“I showed off my skills for my son after a long time.”

“I’m sorry for coming empty-handed and eating. I’ve ordered a few things to be delivered. Please accept them without feeling burdened.”

Ha-min glanced at him with an uncomfortable expression as he respectfully spoke while stretching out his arm to cover the back of his mother’s hand.

It seems that’s why he was making a phone call somewhere when they came in.

“Oh my, you didn’t have to~ I’m just grateful you came.”

“I ordered healthy things, so please enjoy them.”

“Oh dear, how burdensome. What should I do, I feel sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, I should be the one apologizing. I should have visited earlier.”

Tae-rim’s gentle voice and polite attitude were enough to melt the hearts of elders. Far from feeling pleased by his attitude, Ha-min’s throat felt scratchy. He couldn’t tell if what was going down his throat was rice or sand. He silently put plain rice in his mouth and chewed. He felt uneasy because of the unfinished conversation with Tae-rim. The situation of having him come home and eat in this state made him very uncomfortable.

Suddenly, he felt Tae-rim’s gaze.

“Have some side dishes too.”

A piece of meat landed on top of Ha-min’s rice. It was a caring, whispered voice.

“Yes, son. It’s almost your birthday, isn’t it? I prepared this as your birthday meal too, so eat a lot.”

“Ah, okay.”

So that’s why there was seaweed soup. Birthday… Tae-rim, who was moving his chopsticks, muttered softly.

“Even if you’re on a diet, you should eat when it’s time to eat.”

This time, Mom put a large spoonful of braised fish on top of Ha-min’s rice bowl.

“Our son has lost a lot of weight, hasn’t he?”

Mother said to Tae-rim with a pleased smile. Tae-rim smiled along.

“Yes. Too much.”

He answered briefly and reached out to rub Ha-min’s thin jawline. Startled by the touch while eating, Ha-min almost spat out the food he was chewing.

“To the point of being skinny…”

He muttered quietly.

“It’s enough now, but he still can’t eat like he used to when he sees food.”

Mother clicked her tongue worriedly, not noticing anything unusual.

“Ah, right. Do you like homemade liquor, Tae-rim?”

Suddenly remembering something, Ha-min’s mother asked with sparkling eyes. At that question, Ha-min quickly shook his head.

“Mom, hyung drove here.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“I enjoy all kinds of alcohol.”

Ha-min quickly tried to stop his mother who was excited about bringing out a drink, but once again, Tae-rim readily accepted. Ha-min looked at him with his cheeks puffed full of rice. Why does he keep… Tae-rim gently smiled at Ha-min’s dumb look and removed a grain of rice stuck to his mouth. Even his whispering voice was sweet, as if Ha-min was clumsy.

“Will the car be okay?”

“I have a designated driver.”

“It’s quite far from here… If it’s difficult, you can stay overnight. In Ha-min’s room, right?”

Mother looked at Ha-min as if seeking agreement. Ha-min shook his head.

“Mom, hyung will be uncomfort-“

“Would that be alright?”

It was his gentle voice that cut off Ha-min’s words again. Ha-min’s face briefly stiffened, while his mother’s face lit up.

“Of course! That’s great. I’ll go get it right away, wait. It’s a 30-year-old ginseng liquor that Ha-min’s dad treasures immensely.”

She seemed really excited to have two young men visit after a long time. Mother headed towards the veranda with light steps. Only then, left alone, Ha-min first mumbled in a small voice.

“…My room is small. You’ll be uncomfortable…”

“We slept just fine in the gosiwon room.”

“You don’t have to… go along with mom’s rhythm for no reason.”

He felt burdened and sorry for the situation where unreasonable requests were constantly being accepted. Ha-min lowered his head and scraped his innocent rice bowl with a spoon.

“But I keep wanting to do it, for some reason.”

A faint smile mixed in his voice as a subtle gaze came across. His fingertips felt itchy. It felt like bugs were gnawing at his insides.

Tap.

The left hand resting on the table was lightly touched. Tae-rim, with his chin resting languidly on his hand, playfully touched the tip of Ha-min’s index finger. Ha-min’s hand twitched. Feeling that slight movement, Tae-rim interlaced their fingers. His long, sturdy fingers ticklishly rubbed the connecting parts between the fingers. As Ha-min tried to slowly avoid the subtle touch, his hand was caught with their fingers intertwined.

“You still haven’t answered, Ha-min.”

The words he uttered were a continuation of the conversation they couldn’t finish in front of the house. Before Ha-min could realize this, he carefully asked with a troubled face.

“…Can’t you… let go of this…?”

“No, because you’re not listening.”

He said with a playfully stern voice. What do you mean I’m not listening…? Ha-min glanced at Tae-rim with rabbit-like eyes and twitched his hand.

His hand was held with all five fingers intertwined. The large hand gripped Ha-min’s hand firmly as if to subdue it. Among them, the thumb secretly scratched Ha-min’s palm. With the gentle scratching touch, it felt like his palm would get sweaty. At the same time, heat rose to Ha-min’s face. It was a natural progression.

Ha-min’s whole body twitched sensitively just from having his hand held. As hot heat rushed in and Ha-min tried to subtly pull his hand away, the sturdy hand gripped it even tighter.

“I think I’ll sweat…”

He tried to make an excuse carefully to the one who wouldn’t let go, but it didn’t work. Instead of an answer, a firm gaze flew towards him.

“It’s, it’s dirty… if I sweat…”

To his muttering words as he fidgeted, Tae-rim retorted, “Dirty, huh.” Then he looked at him obliquely and said softly.

“Are you going to keep not telling me?”

At the sudden question, Ha-min quickly raised his eyes. The conversation returned once again. Ha-min awkwardly avoided eye contact.

“I’m worried about you.”

His voice, as if admonishing, tickled Ha-min’s ears. Why? Why are you worried? The words he wanted to shamelessly ask rose to the tip of his tongue. But he didn’t have the courage to actually say them.

“Ha-min, you act innocent but you’re actually quite lustful.”

At these blunt words, Ha-min’s face quickly turned bright red. He looked at him urgently with a face that wanted to deny it, but he had no words to excuse himself. After all, it was he who first offered to suck him off, and it was he who entered the empty room at dawn.

“Like… like you said, I’ll get a girlfriend now and… so…”

“Until then.”

“Huh?”

“Until you get one.”

At the follow-up question, Ha-min’s lips moved with an “Um…” Seeing him hesitate and unable to speak, Tae-rim gently rubbed the back of Ha-min’s hand with his thumb, as if soothing him. Following his touch, Ha-min’s hand trembled slightly. Ha-min racked his brain and managed to squeeze out his voice with difficulty.

“That… that… we can do that…”

“That?”

“Yeah… doing it… alone.”

“Doing it alone?”

He was clearly asking while knowing. Ha-min looked at him with slightly indignant eyes. He smiled, narrowing his eyes and saying, “Hm?” Finally giving in, Ha-min opened his mouth.

“Ma… mas, masturbation and such…”

“Ah, masturbation.”

“…Yeah.”

“That’s what we did, isn’t it?”

“…Huh?”

“Ha-min did it with his mouth for me, and I did it for Ha-min’s dick.”

Ha-min’s mouth gaped at the direct words. He felt like he wanted to cover Tae-rim’s mouth. He looked around, wondering if anyone might have heard. Fortunately, there was still no sign of movement from the veranda area. Unlike Ha-min, who was flustered and didn’t know what to do, Tae-rim was calm. He raised his free hand and gently stroked Ha-min’s hair.

“You really loved it, Ha-min…”

Ha-min felt like his face was burning up. The scene from that day flashed through his mind like a kaleidoscope. Tae-rim was right. He remembered himself panting with a face that wasn’t in his right mind.

“Think of it comfortably.”

“…”

“Until our Ha-min starts dating, I’ll help you.”

He said in a soft voice as if soothing him, while gently stroking Ha-min’s head with his other hand. Ha-min was once again at a loss for words at the contradictory language and behavior.

Ha-min’s dazed gaze turned towards him. He smiled prettily, narrowing his eyes. Charmingly, like a bright red apple laced with poison.

“Because I care for our Ha-min a lot.”

**

Tae-rim and Ha-min’s mother’s drinking session lasted for about 2 hours. They drank the 30-year-old ginseng liquor, which Ha-min’s father treasured dearly, until the bottom of the bottle was visible. Ha-min, who couldn’t drink, only nibbled, while the two drinkers finished the precious alcohol.

Ha-min barely managed to pry his mother away as she clung to Tae-rim like a college student on a drinking binge, insisting on just one more drink. Already heavily drunk, Ha-min’s mother grabbed Ha-min’s face with half-closed eyes and wailed. “Oh, my son. My poor thing.” His mother, who had suddenly become emotional after feeling good, made crying noises while looking at Ha-min.

Ha-min let out a small sigh and supported his mother to move her to the main bedroom. She must have been happy. Seeing her son after a long time, and her son bringing someone home. Ha-min could fully understand his mother’s excited mood.