The news was being broadcast on every TV channel.

Jeong Taeui, fresh out of the shower and still drying his hair, heard the news about the conflict between Lebanon and Israel and could only click his tongue.

Although that area had always been tumultuous, such news was now broadcast so frequently that he no longer even cared about the minor disputes there anymore.

Because riots were incessant, it seemed no place was peaceful anymore, everywhere was just scenes of bombing and sorrow.

……And then there’s the guy who suddenly dropped bombs on a peaceful country. He didn’t know where he was or what he was doing now.

“He surely wouldn’t go there and do crazy things, right……”

Jeong Taeui stared at the radio and mumbled.

However, after thinking about it for a while, he concluded that it was very unlikely and slumped down onto the sofa.

Droplets of water dripped from his still-wet hair down his neck.

Now, he could understand such news without any trouble; it seemed his German had improved quite a bit, and that was quite refreshing.

Should he now try talking to Kyle, Rita, and others? They had all been unnecessarily using English because of him for so long, there was no need for that anymore… But Rita seemed strict about grammar, so maybe he should just continue pretending he didn’t know.

Jeong Taeui nodded to himself thoughtfully.

10 P.M. As the news program ended, the music program began.

Jeong Taeui set the towel down and closed his eyes, quietly listening to the music without thinking to wipe the water dripping down his neck. It seemed to be a special episode about choirs, as choral pieces kept coming on one after another. The harmony of the singers’ voices was even more pleasing than the musical instruments.

Jeong Taeui opened his eyes, exhaling comfortably.

At that moment. A faint ring of a phone could be heard.

“………?”

Jeong Taeui turned around. The faint ringing was coming from Ilay’s room, just separated from his by a wall.

Clearly, there was a phone call in that room. But that phone had never rung before, so much so that he often wondered if it was just decorative. Most people who contacted Ilay did so directly on his mobile phone. It was unusual. Regrettably, the owner of that phone had been absent for 2 months. Even he didn’t know when he would return.

The phone stopped ringing. However, before Jeong Taeui turned his head back, it rang again.

The sound was very soft, also very faint, so if he ignored it, it wouldn’t matter. But for some reason, Jeong Taeui thought for a moment and then stood up.

He was curious why someone on the other end would call a person who had been absent for so long, or was it just someone randomly dialing a strange number?

Jeong Taeui hesitated as he opened the door to a room whose owner was not present, but seeing the blinking light of the phone through the slightly open door, he stepped inside. He entered the dark room without turning on the light and checked the unfamiliar number on the display and picked up the receiver.

“Hello.”

[“Um, I knew you would pick up.”]

“…..”

Jeong Taeui stared at the face displayed on the LCD screen.

It was the owner of the room.

He could see a large oil painting decorated on the wall behind Ilay, who appeared to be sitting on a bed in a room somewhere.

“Oohhh~… long time no see.”

[“You must be living well. Your face looks very lively.”]

“Thanks to you.”

Specifically, thanks to your absence all this time.

But Jeong Taeui could only silently swallow those critical words.

However, it seemed like Ilay clearly understood the intent behind his statement and burst out laughing.

“Why are you calling this number? In a room that’s supposed to have no one to answer?”

[“I thought you would hear the phone. And that you would pick it up.”]

“Why not call directly on my phone then?”

[“Your phone can’t do video, so I wouldn’t be able to see you while talking.”]

“……..”

Jeong Taeui observed the face reflected on the screen once again. He felt this man didn’t seem like the person he used to know. Yet the smiling face at seeing his expression was all too familiar.

“What’s the matter? Got some documents or something that you need to check visually?”

[“No, I just wanted to know if you’re okay. I was thinking about what you might be doing and where you are… Did you just take a shower? Your clothes seem a bit wet.”]

“Where else could I be?”

Jeong Taeui muttered and then reached behind his neck to pat his neck and shoulders. Drops of water still dripped down from his hair that hadn’t been properly dried.

“Is there something wrong?”

[“Sit down.”]

Ilay nodded towards the chair behind him, signaling for Jeong Taeui to sit down. Jeong Taeui looked at him suspiciously and then quietly sat down. Disappearing for two months and now suddenly calling, what did it mean?

“There was news about the riots in Lebanon, so I thought you might be there, but it seems that’s not the case.”

He said this while observing the expensive decorative items on Ilay’s screen. Ilay just smiled back at him without responding.

“…..Where are you?”

[“South of Berlin…. hmm. Is it cold there?”]

Jeong Taeui frowned at the abrupt question.

There’s no way he’d forget the weather here just because he’s been gone for two months.

“It wouldn’t be cold here this season.”

[“Really? Because your nipples are standing up, I thought it might be due to climate change.”]

“……”

Jeong Taeui stared at the face on the screen, embarrassed. He had just showered and was sitting under the air conditioning, so he was still a bit cold. In fact, those words sounded very nonsensical, but why did they sound so vulgar coming from that man’s mouth?

[“It’s just the air conditioning working too well. Is the climate there tropical?”]

Jeong Taeui rubbed his chest and responded curtly.

“Um, it’s a tropical region. Do you think I came here for a vacation by myself?…. you should at least take off that bothersome shirt before you rub it, not keep the shirt on and do that. I’ve seen your nipples many times before, but why do you still look embarrassed now.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve called, so… just… Phew… Alright, go ahead and look, look!”

‘A man’s nipples aren’t exactly a sight to behold.’ – Jeong Taeui grumbled as he yanked off his shirt with a choked expression. He was too familiar with this scenario.

[“Alright. Just tell me everything then.”]

This was someone who hadn’t contacted him for two months. Yet, all he talked about on the phone now was his nipples.

[“Alright. I just called to check in.”]

“Don’t lie.”

Lately, he had been hearing a lot of strange things. Like the words ‘childhood friend’ next to Ilay’s name, and now Ilay’s ‘just checking in’ call.

[“Being so blunt, you’re really cold…. Move your hand aside. I can’t get a good look if your hand is covering it.”]

“…….I seem to only be hearing strange things these days. I’m the one who needs nourishment here.”

[“Ha. Strange things, huh? What, who’s been saying those to you?”]

“Nothing, just recently I heard you had a childhood friend.”

[“Aha. Who said that?”]

Just a bit. Very subtle and hard to catch. But Jeong Taeui could sense a slight slow in Ilay’s voice.

Ah… so that’s it. Why did he suddenly contact him? He didn’t know why. But it seemed like this was the story Ilay wanted to hear.

Jeong Taeui fell silent for a moment. Soon, Ilay also realized that Jeong Taeui was paying attention to his ‘childhood friend.’ His eyes narrowed.

“What do you want to know?”

[“I don’t want to know anything, I was just calling to say hi… but now I’m a bit curious. Alright, who told you I had a childhood friend? My brother?…. Put that hand down.”]

Though he thought it would be even better if he could use this hand to rip his mouth open, Jeong Taeui hesitated and lowered his hand.

“My uncle came and then left immediately. While talking to Kyle, he mentioned someone named Christina. He said she was a childhood friend and also a colleague of yours.”

[“Ha… He came and went, huh? It must have been nice to see your family after such a long time. Is his work still going well?”

“Oh, my uncle is still doing very well. I heard there’s going to be joint training soon with the European branch, but since there are no more lunatics there, everyone feels quite comfortable.”

It was good that he wasn’t here, so Jeong Taeui could confidently say what he truly felt without any hesitation. However, in response to these provocative words, Ilay did not react at all, just smiling at him.

[“Haha, that’s indeed a celebration-worthy matter. How are the others doing?”]

Jeong Taeui fell into contemplation once more.

He stared intently at the man who was smiling and squinting subtly on the screen before him.

“…..What do you really want? Just say it straight, stop asking questions that don’t suit you.”

[“Well, let’s see…”]

Ilay tilted his head to one side with a crackling sound in his neck, as if he was genuinely pondering Jeong Taeui’s words.

[“Instead, Taei, how has it been being alone at home for two months? Aren’t you bored? Isn’t your body feeling a bit off? Today, I feel very heavy.”]

In the part about ‘today,’ Jeong Taeui had to witness something he absolutely did not want to see at all. Ilay was sitting slightly leaned back on the bed, stroking his boxer shorts – the only clothing he wore instead of pajamas – and suddenly pulled out his engorged genitalia from beneath those shorts.

“…..”

Suddenly, that object filling up the screen caught his eye. Jeong Taeui was left speechless.

He hadn’t seen it in all this time, but now he had to look at that object hundreds of miles(estimate) away through a screen.

“So then… What now… You want to have phone sex or something?”

Jeong Taeui put on a bored expression and joked, but he couldn’t muster even a forced smile. However, it really was just a joke.

Contrary to his awkward demeanor, Ilay’s face showed neither tension or excitement, yet the thing he was stroking stood erect before the screen.

Ilay initially smiled casually as if it was just a playful banter in response to Jeong Taeui.

[“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it? Sounds pretty fun, doesn’t it?”]

“Stop, if it comes to that, it’s a bit… I feel my life is chaotic enough already.”

Should he hang up and just go back to his room? No, even if they were far apart now, he had to think about the consequences later.

Watching Jeong Taeui slowly move away from the screen, Ilay grunted – “Hmm”.

Strange, why is his screen angle so wide, why is it only zooming in on his side? Jeong Taeui tried to turn away from the obscene screen but was immediately pulled back by Ilay’s laughter, which sounded like the wind blowing through.

[“Taei, have you forgotten? I thought I made it very clear that you belong to me. If it’s been so long that you’ve forgotten, let me remind you. You——”]

“Aishiiii. What do you want, what do you want?!”

Hearing that phrase, which had been used as if to brainwash him hundreds of times, Jeong Taeui shuddered momentarily. He yelled reflexively.

The simple answer came back immediately.

[“Take off the bottom part too.”]

He thought he’d have some peace for a few months, but this damn guy…

“Hey, Ilay, I don’t know when you’ll be back, but you are coming back, aren’t you? When you do, whatever you want…—”

[“One month.”]

“Huh?”

“One month and I’ll be back. So, Taei. It seems you still don’t know, so let me enlighten you. Which would be more beneficial for you? To handle three months’ worth in one night or to deal with two months over the phone first and then do the last month in one night?”

Hearing that, Jeong Taeui had no response. Just as he said, it was a kind of enlightenment he had never considered before.

Facing a Jeong Taeui staring at the screen with a bewildered face, Ilay nodded at him once again.

[“Take it off.”]

Damn it. He felt sick. If he just hung up now or ignored him, he’d probably really have to go for a portrait shoot after next month. Jeong Taeui placed his hand on his waistband and glared at Ilay. But after dozens of seconds of a silent staring contest, he finally gave in and took off his pants.

He should have never picked up the phone. He should have just listened to music and gone to sleep. But it was too late for regrets now.

Jeong Taeui felt like crying and threw the pants he had just removed at the screen, the powerless garment falling to the floor, revealing the smirking face on the screen.

“What now… take off the underwear too?”

[“Of course.”]

Jeong Taeui looked furiously pale as he glared at him, even though screaming wouldn’t make him flinch, not even an eyebrow. He reluctantly removed his underwear and threw it at the screen. If it could get stuck on the screen and cover up the monster that had risen in there, that would be great. But wishes are just that, wishes.

Being naked wasn’t anything special. But being naked while watching Ilay manipulate the thing on the screen brought on a very strange feeling. It was hard to tell if it was stimulating or uncomfortable.

“Sit down. Don’t stand and look at me with that expression.”

That calm demeanor irritated him even more. Right, he was always like that.

Jeong Taeui reluctantly plopped down on the chair. He felt choked up, unable to express his feelings. He draped his legs over the arm of the chair, everything between his legs now blatantly exposed to the screen, and he snapped.

“Like this, does it look good?”

[“Haha. It looks very good indeed. A very beautiful sight.”]

The thing standing erect before the screen seemed to grow a bit larger.

For a moment, Jeong Taeui felt uneasy, but since he had opened his eyes wide and stared at him, he couldn’t avoid Ilay’s fiery gaze anymore.

He wondered why he always dug his own grave when talking to this man…

“A view between a man’s legs is that wonderful?”

Jeong Taeui tried to use the most sarcastic tone he could. But the penis rising forcefully in the delicate white hand stroking it up and down seemed to rear up even more fiercely.

Ilay stared straight at Jeong Taeui while curling his lips. Those normally icy eyes briefly warmed with a smile. No matter how many years he had seen that smile, those eyes still seemed unreal. He couldn’t understand why those eyes, when smiling, looked so unfamiliar.

[“Of course. Whether it’s what’s between your legs, your desire to hang up the phone and run away immediately, or your appearance when you realize you’ve dug your own grave but still try to act calm, it’s all a very beautiful sight.”]

“…..!”

It was moments like this. The most desperate thing for Jeong Taeui was that he could feel the warmth of his arousal actually touching his skin.

“……Do you like it?”

Jeong Taeui asked indirectly. Although aware of the insinuation behind his sarcastically phrased question, Ilay still answered falsely according to his own interpretation.

[“I wasn’t planning on doing this. But the moment I saw you, my penis just reacted on its own. I mean, seeing something that I’ve only been able to reminisce about in my head for the past two months, my lower body swelled with pain as if my heart would go numb.”]

That calm and indifferent tone did not match the penis pressed against the screen, which seemed to be reaching its climax.

Ilay stared straight at Jeong Taeui as if about to explode, his voice deeper, his breath faintly filled with pleasure, his hand tightly grasping his own flesh, making Jeong Taeui feel like it was piercing his chest. Just like Ilay, his heart pounded painfully numb.

In an instant, the back of his neck heated up.

Damn it. Living with this man for too long made him this way.

[“Taei… spread your legs wider…— Taei.”]

Jeong Taeui quietly and obediently spread his legs wider in response to his command. He wondered if his brain was also malfunctioning.

He leaned his head against the chair, praying no one would see him in this state with the door still open. He wanted to close his eyes, but the eyes of the monster immersed in lust wouldn’t allow it, capturing his mind completely.

[“Taei~…….”]

Once again, he heard his name called. Simultaneously, a thick, sticky fluid shot up, scattering all over the screen. Behind the semen sticking to the screen and slowly dripping down, Jeong Taeui could see cold eyes staring back at him.

“…….”

[“……Indeed, not being together really isn’t good at all.”]

The moment he heard those words, the anger he had momentarily forgotten flared up again.

This bastard. Just seconds ago, he had ejaculated all over the screen someone else was staring at, what right did he have to say it wasn’t ‘good’?

However, before Jeong Taeui could vent his feelings, Ilay placed a finger on the screen and gently stroked down. Jeong Taeui involuntarily shuddered as if that finger was directly touching and caressing his skin. Ilay noticed that weak reflex and faintly smiled.

[“Um. I should also help you relieve your desires, but since we’re apart, I can’t do anything about it. I’m sorry.”]

“…… It’s okay, you don’t have to worry about it. I also refuse to accept that apology.”

On the contrary, it would be even more frightening if he tried to relieve his desires for him.