When Christoph dropped by, Jeong Taeui was sitting at the wooden table placed in the inner courtyard, engrossed in carving a piece of wood about the size of his palm.

Although the weather was beautiful that day, with no wind and plenty of bright sunshine, it was still winter. Seeing Jeong Taeui sitting cross-legged on a long bench, intently carving a thick piece of wood about the width of a hand in the freezing cold, made Christoph frown.

“What are you doing?”

Jeong Taeui, deeply focused on carefully and skillfully carving the piece of wood, only looked up when he heard the question and realized Christoph had arrived.

“You’re here? I’m making Yut (윷).”

“Yut? What’s that?”

“Ah…… it’s a traditional Korean game that people usually play during the Lunar New Year in Korea. It’s kind of like a board game. I’m making it to play with the neighborhood kids. I promised to play with them this afternoon.”

“It doesn’t look very nice, should have just play Jachigi (자치기) instead……” – Jeong Taeui glanced down at the Yut sticks he was trying to make uniform and round. It turned out that making four perfectly balanced sticks was harder than he had imagined. So, he temporarily set both the wood and the knife aside and thought it over.

While strolling around the neighborhood, he had befriended a few children living nearby, and sometimes he spent time playing with them when he was free. Kids in their teens, regardless of the country, were all the same: Just give them a ball or four Yut sticks, and they could immediately immerse themselves in play. This winter, it seemed that he would stay in Berlin, so during that time, he had gained a few young friends with whom to enjoy himself.

There was only one thing: For some reason, the children were particularly fond of Jeong Taeui and always insisted on playing with him at all times. This sometimes annoyed him a little. For example, last Saturday, because he was too engrossed in chatting with Christoph to play with them, they had pouted, their lips sticking out dramatically, and kept complaining to him. But aside from moments like those, Jeong Taeui genuinely enjoyed playing with those boys.

Thinking back now, the kids had even adamantly promised that they absolutely had to play with him this coming Saturday. But this Saturday, he had already made plans to meet Christoph……, what to do…… Jeong Taeui brushed off the wood shavings scattered all over his lap and looked up at the young man standing in front of him.

“By the way, why did you suddenly come here?”

Christoph’s call arrived early in the morning. Practically at the break of dawn, he had received a brief message:

[“I want to take back the book I gave you the other day.”]

[“I’ll come by to get it later.”]

‘Huh……?’

Because he was awakened at dawn, Jeong Taeui asked back groggily, but Christoph simply said that and hung up.

“What’s going on this early on a Monday morning?” – Jeong Taeui found it strange, so he tried calling Christoph back, but no one answered. His voice was so hoarse that it felt like something had gone wrong, making Taeui worry. However, since Christoph said he would stop by, Taeui decided to wait and ask him directly. Thus, he recounted the incident to Kyle, who was happily dusting the shelves in the library. As soon as he finished, Kyle was shocked as if struck by lightning and lamented despairingly: “What’s with taking it back after gifting it!” Still, regardless of his complaints, Kyle couldn’t stop Taeui from carrying the book outside with the reasoning: “Anyway, the original owner wants it back, so we have to return it.” Although he wasn’t sure what was going on, ever since Ilay called Richard last weekend, Jeong Taeui had felt a lingering uneasiness. So, he thought this meeting would also be a good chance to clear things up.

He placed the book neatly on the living room table – Kyle had carefully wrapped it in a beautiful silk cloth with a face that looked on the verge of tears – and waited for Christoph to show up. After breakfast, Kyle left for work with a sorrowful expression, and Ilay also went out for an errand, but Christoph was still nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t until the sun climbed high, nearing noon, that he finally arrived.

“Did something happen?”

Jeong Taeui looked at Christoph, but he couldn’t clearly see his expression as Christoph had wrapped a scarf tightly around his face, covering everything below his nose. However, his swollen and puffy eyes, like someone who had been crying all night, and his slightly flushed face clearly indicated something was wrong.

Jeong Taeui patted the seat next to him, signaling Christoph to sit down, but Christoph shook his head.

“That book, the one I mentioned. I’m sorry, but I want to take it back.”

“Oh, I’ve packed it already. Come inside.”

Jeong Taeui immediately got up from his seat, grabbed Christoph’s hand, and tried to lead him inside. But the moment his hand touched Christoph’s, Christoph flinched slightly and instinctively pulled back. Almost immediately, Christoph brushed Jeong Taeui’s hand away decisively, then stepped back a half step. He hesitated as he looked at Jeong Taeui. His reddened eyes seemed about to overflow with tears.

“……Chris?”

“No…… I’ll just take the book and go.”

Christoph’s voice was very hoarse. It sounded as if it was trembling slightly. Jeong Taeui furrowed his brow and moved closer to him.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look well. Come inside and rest for a bit……”

But as Jeong Taeui stepped closer, Christoph stepped back again. Jeong Taeui stopped moving and quietly observed Christoph.

Although he couldn’t see Christoph’s entire expression, his eyes looked ready to cry at any moment. His swollen, red-rimmed eyes, flushed nose, and trembling body, even if only faintly, told him so.

“Chris……”

“My stomach hurts. I’m not feeling well…… I have to leave. So just give me the book.”

“……Alright. Wait a moment, I’ll bring it out. Are you going home? Let me take you. You don’t seem fit to drive.”

“No, no need.”

Christoph raised his voice slightly, making the shakiness in his tone more evident. It seemed that he noticed this himself, too, and he hesitated, falling silent for a moment before muttering as if resigned:

“Richard is waiting outside. He’ll drive, so it’s fine.”

Jeong Taeui looked at Christoph, then glanced outside, where Richard couldn’t be seen, before turning his gaze back to Christoph. Christoph had his head lowered as if holding back tears, and his face was visibly flushed.

“……Alright. Wait a moment.”

Jeong Taeui left Christoph standing there and hurriedly went back inside the house.

So that’s how it was. That man was out there. It’s probably best not to interfere further—for Christoph’s sake, too. Even though he didn’t fully understand the situation, he had a feeling that it was better to let things proceed smoothly.

But Christoph really didn’t look alright. It wasn’t that he appeared physically sick; rather, he seemed deeply uncomfortable, anxious, and uneasy.

“……”

Still, since Richard accompanied him, it’s probably best not to be concerned. Jeong Taeui’s instincts hinted that this was the most sensible choice.  

Anh took the package of books placed on the table, brought it outside, and handed it to Christoph. Christoph, who was standing still like a statue, immediately received the package and then turned away as if he had something urgent to do.

It seemed like he mumbled something along the lines of: “I’ll get back to you later”, but his hoarse voice made it hard for Anh to hear clearly. When Jeong Taeui tried to say goodbye, Christoph had already walked far away.

Watching Christoph’s hurried steps, occasionally staggering as if he might fall, Jeong Taeui felt very worried. But before long, Christoph had disappeared from sight.

“Ah……” – Jeong Taeui could only stand there, raising his hand unconsciously, then scratching his head, tilting it in confusion, without adding another word.

The car door opened, and a rush of cold air came in just as Christoph nearly collapsed into the vehicle.

From the driver’s seat, Richard observed Christoph’s unsteady steps as he departed Riegrow. When Christoph almost crumpled onto the passenger seat, Richard quickly reached out to support him and pulled him into the car.

“Are you okay?”

“……, ……”

“The weather must be so cold…… or not that much?”

A few strands of Christoph’s hair stuck to his forehead, damp with cold sweat. Richard gently brushed his hand over Christoph’s forehead, then removed the scarf still wrapped around Christoph’s neck, who was trembling and unable to utter a word.

The face hidden beneath the scarf gradually came into view. Christoph’s reddened face, flushed all the way down to his neck, trembled uncontrollably. When Richard gently touched Christoph’s cheek, his eyes, glossy and filled with tears, glared at Richard angrily.

“Crazy…… lunatic……!”

A trembling voice, mixed with sobs that couldn’t be contained.

Richard softly chuckled, then pressed a kiss on Christoph’s forehead. After that, Richard lightly kissed his cheek and lips before whispering:

“You met Jeong Tay, didn’t you?”

“――.”

“But in the end, you’re still thinking only about me, right?”

The hand stroking Christoph’s cheek slowly slid down his body. Each touch made Christoph flinch, and Richard kept placing gentle kisses on him. As the hand glided over to Christoph’s back and began to move lower, Christoph’s body jerked violently. A sound, mixed with crying, erupted again.

“It’s okay, it’s okay…….”

Richard lifted Christoph’s arm and wrapped it around his own neck. As if clinging to a straw, Christoph hugged his neck and buried his face in his nape. Richard gently kissed Christoph’s temple, who was whimpering like a puppy, and slowly pushed his hand deeper under Christoph’s waist.

“……!”

Christoph’s body stiffened.

When the hand slowly spread wide inside Christoph’s thighs, what he had been trying so hard to hold deep within himself suddenly spilled out. In the blink of an eye, it ran down his hand, buttocks, and thighs, soaking the inside of his pants.

As Christoph saw the liquid overflowing, the tension he had been desperately trying to maintain also shattered, and he began to sob uncontrollably.

“You lunatic, you’re crazy, you pervert, is this what you like?”

When he saw Christoph sobbing against his neck, Richard let out a soft chuckle.

“That’s right, good. Just knowing you’re holding onto something of mine is enough to make it like this.”

Richard removed his hand from Christoph’s body and grabbed his own genitalia. That part brushed against Christoph’s thigh, heated and rigid.

Startled, Christoph attempted to pull away, but Richard tightened his grip around Christoph’s waist and pulled him closer. Christoph, nearly leaning over the driver’s seat from the passenger side, ended up sitting on Richard’s lap.

Before long, Christoph’s pants had slid down to his thighs, and Richard’s genitalia pressed against Christoph’s bare groin. It pressed deeply into the inside of his thigh, as though just a slight movement from Christoph would cause it to slip inside him. Feeling their heated skin touch, Christoph flinched and tried to stand, but Richard grabbed his thighs firmly and spoke softly.

“Sit down, Christoph.”

“――I don’t want to.”

“Sit down.”

Christoph’s body was trembling. Richard tightened his grip on Christoph’s thighs. Like a frightened child clinging to him, Christoph wrapped his arms around Richard’s neck, and then slowly, ever so slowly, let himself sink under the guidance of Richard’s hands.

When Richard’s penis touched the entrance between Christoph’s thighs, Christoph’s body trembled slightly and seemed to pause for a moment, but Richard didn’t hesitate to grab Christoph’s waist and pull him down.

“――!!”

Christoph’s body trembled violently. When the man forced him to spread his legs wider, Richard’s penis slipped inside, where it was soaking wet and slippery, plunging deep without hesitation. A clear sensation of stretching in the lower abdomen was transmitted.

“…………! …………! …………, …………!!”

Christoph couldn’t breathe properly anymore, his trembling body held tightly by Richard. Although Richard gently patted his back as if everything was alright, his lower body continued to explore Christoph. Richard’s gentle voice when calling Christoph’s name also held an endless tenderness.

“It seems it’s holding well inside. It’s soaking wet, so it’s easier to enter than other times. The other times it’s always tight and narrow, taking a while to get in…… From now on, we might have to keep it in frequently.”

“――No, don’t like it, no,”

“No way, Chris. You’re also more excited than usual and gripping me more tightly.”

Richard’s hand grasped Christoph’s genitalia. The genitalia was proudly cradled in his hand, and it was clearly half-erect.

“Chris. Hold tighter. Tighter. ……That’s right, that’s right.”

Richard’s voice, mixed with rough breaths, became deeper. The speed at which he gently raised and lowered his lower body increased. Christoph let out whimpers like the sound of a baby animal clinging tightly to its mother.

At that moment. The phone in Christoph’s pocket started ringing. The sound of the continuous ringing echoed in the vehicle filled only with breath, and Richard deliberately ignored it, muttering: “Better to turn it off”, then took the phone out of his pocket.

However, when he saw the flashing screen with the sender’s name ‘Tay’, Richard suddenly raised an eyebrow and stared at the name for a moment before suddenly smiling.

“It’s Jeong Tay. Answer it, Chris.”

“――Don’t want to,”

However, before Christoph, who was utterly confused, could voice his refusal, Richard pressed the call button and put the phone to Christoph’s ear. And immediately after, on the other end of the line, Jeong Taeui’s voice called out: [“Hello? Chris?”]

“……, ……yes. What.”

Christoph had a hard time responding because his lips were trembling.

[“No, you don’t sound well. Are you okay? Did you have a smooth trip?”]

“――Yes.”

[“If it’s not urgent, Richard can also come in and rest for a bit, too bad I didn’t think of that.”]

“……No, ……busy.”

[“Ah, right. …………Are you really alright? Your voice doesn’t sound good.”]

“I’m fine,”

Christoph stopped breathing for a moment. Richard suddenly lifted his hips, the cock that had penetrated deep inside once again pushed deeper. He almost let out a moan.

[“Chris?”] – A doubtful call from the phone echoed vaguely, Christoph looked directly at Richard. In his tear-filled eyes in anger, resentment, pleading, and calling out, there was an image of Richard smiling.

Richard slowly moved his hips. Christoph sat on them, swaying to the rhythm, hastily gritting his teeth. His blue eyes welled up with tears as he tried to hold back the sound that might escape at any moment.

[“……Take care, then see you at the weekend.”]

Jeong Taeui bid farewell over the phone. Immediately, Richard’s movement seemed to slow down almost to a halt. As if waiting for Christoph’s response.

Christoph looked at Richard. After staring at Richard for a long moment without saying anything, Christoph lowered his head with that gaze. He whispered almost inaudibly against Richard’s shoulder.

“…… No, can not. You must be busy. Later…… we’ll meet later. For a while…… we won’t meet.”

The moment Christoph’s answer had just ended, Richard already appeared to be smiling. His laughter exhalations brushed against the top of Christoph’s head.

And at the same time,

“――!”

Richard began lifting his hips without hesitation. The forceful and rough movements of his body caused Christoph’s body to shake violently.

Sudden intrusive motions struck deeply, activating all the senses in Christoph’s body simultaneously. His body, already so sensitive to the brink of being unbearable, now screamed that it could no longer withstand any more. No more. It couldn’t. Not anymore.

“Ah…… ugh, a…… ah……――ah, ahhh,”

Even though Christoph tried his utmost to suppress it, in the end, a moan escaped between his lips. Once the moan slipped out, it was like a broken dam, impossible to stop anymore, flowing forth as cries that poured out uncontrollably.

In the end, Christoph couldn’t resist any longer and cried, clinging to Richard’s neck, sobbing, and moving his hips. And Richard, with a slight smile, seemed intent on delving even deeper into Christoph’s body, raising his hips higher and pressing Christoph down firmly.

Before long, the limit drew near.

With every strong thrust, Christoph’s body stretched tighter and tighter, almost to a dangerous extent, while Christoph’s own member was fully erect and soaked.

It was coming.

“――――!”

As though his breathing came to a halt, accompanied by a beast-like, prolonged cry, Christoph’s body convulsed and jolted. Richard, who was holding onto that body tightly, let out a deep groan, arching his back repeatedly in jerking motions. And from the place where their bodies were tightly interlocked, a cloudy white fluid spilled out.

After that seemingly endless moment passed, Christoph collapsed onto Richard’s body as if crumbling. Richard held Christoph, whose back still quivered from the lingering sensations, and gently kissed the top of his head. Christoph let his entire body go limp and let out faint moans every time Richard shifted, as that ‘thing’ still remained inside him.

Finally, Richard took the phone out from Christoph’s ear.

“Sorry, Christoph can’t take your call right now. Call back later.”

After leaving just that message, Richard switched off the phone and tossed it onto the back seat.

“Why,”

Christoph murmured vaguely.

“……Why, the phone, wasn’t turned off, why suddenly, ……terrible.”

His wavering voice dissolved into muffled sobs. Richard kissed Christoph’s tear-soaked eyes, licking away the remnants of his tears.

“It’s alright. You guys won’t see each other for some time.”

“——You, you……hate that.”

At Christoph’s tearful whispers blending with his sobs, Richard remained silent. Then, without hesitation, he bit Christoph’s cheeks, ears, and lips, almost as though compelled to.

“That’s right, I hate it.”

Richard murmured softly.

“I hate seeing you with him. Not just him—anyone else. I want you to look only at me. I want to lock you away somewhere.”

“You’re crazy.”

Christoph, wiping tears against Richard’s neck, cursed at him. Richard planted a light kiss on the top of Christoph’s head and held him tightly. Then, suddenly, his voice dropped lower.

“Just look at me, Chris…… Please.”

Christoph didn’t move for a long moment. He felt the gentle hand stroking his shoulder while his own face was buried into the crook of Richard’s neck, tightly embraced in Richard’s arms.

This was Richard’s sincerity. It completely laid bare his true self amidst both playful and serious words.

“――This is the part I’ll have to carry for the rest of my life.”

Unconsciously, Christoph recalled what Richard had said the night before.

That his obsession and occasional worries weren’t about Christoph—but rather entirely his own problem. Christoph knew that, and Richard did too. So, let it be as it is. It was a matter for Richard to face alone, solely his burden to bear.

That’s right, let it remain as it is.

…………But still.

“This,”

Christoph suddenly opened his mouth. His lips trembling slightly. The words stiff, yet not easy to continue.

Richard looked at the stiffened Christoph in confusion. However, he didn’t urge him but patiently caressed Christoph.

“The, …… the, …… the, surgery,”

After opening his mouth several times only to close it again, Christoph finally uttered those words. A momentary surprise flashed across Richard’s face, as if he didn’t understand what Christoph was saying.

“If that’s what you want, then…… I won’t oppose it. ……If so, you won’t have to worry about nonsensical matters in the future.”

Christoph mumbled in a voice low with frustration as he bowed his head, appearing deeply upset. However, Richard could clearly feel that Christoph’s lips were trembling as if in fear, and the corners of his eyes were tight as if he were about to cry.

Christoph bit his lip hard. He felt embarrassed, wanted to cry, afraid, worried, angry, but even so, he said those words because he couldn’t suppress the compassion he felt for this man.

Christoph lifted his reddened, tear-filled eyes to glare at him.  

“So, stop worrying unnecessarily like that, you crazy man.”

Richard was looking down at Christoph. He seemed either shocked or as if he’d heard something very strange, staring fixedly at Christoph. Then suddenly, his lips twitched slightly.

“…… Really? It doesn’t matter, does it?”

Richard’s hand, which had been caressing Christoph’s back, lowered to Christoph’s rear――still connected with Richard. That place, swollen and sensitive, tightened and twitched.

“Here, it’s enough if this becomes your reproductive organ, right……?”

“――.”

“Christoph. You’re trembling now.”

“……”

Christoph bit his lip and glared furiously at Richard. His face, twisted like a child trying not to show fear, slowly lowered. He seemed unable to respond, merely nodding gently up and down.

In that moment.

Laughter burst out. That deep laughter stretched out joyfully. But before Christoph could raise his head at the sound, Richard embraced him. Tight enough to leave him breathless.

“Chris. Christoph. What am I going to do with you? Haha…… “

Richard wrapped Christoph tightly in his arms, repeatedly kissing his head, cheeks, forehead, and every available spot on Christoph’s body.

“The heart is too warm. Beating so strongly and loudly…… Can’t you hear it? What should I do…… It feels like receiving the best gift ever.”

Christoph, who was holding Richard tightly, couldn’t move, but he felt Richard’s lips, the warmth of Richard’s body, and the heartbeat transmitted through his chest as they touched. Gradually, this made Christoph relax his tense shoulders. He hadn’t expected Richard to be so joyful…… If that’s the case. If so, he could do it. Of course, giving up something innate was very terrifying and not easy, but still……

“The surgery, do you like it that much?”

Christoph retorted irritably, then, out of frustration, bit Richard hard on the nape of his neck. He bit hard enough to draw blood, but Richard merely shrugged slightly, as if silently saying: ‘Bite all you want.’ This made Christoph even more annoyed, and he bit a few more spots. Richard, who had been smiling the entire time, gently patted Christoph’s back and spoke softly:

“No. You’re trembling like this; I won’t force you to do it. If you truly want the surgery, I won’t stop you, but I won’t pressure you.”

Christoph immediately shook his head at Richard’s words. Still, he looked at Richard with suspicious eyes.

“You were so into it just now. Said it was the best gift ever.”

“No, the best gift I’ve received is something else.”

Richard slowly shook his head. But he didn’t elaborate further. With a boundless, happy smile on his face, he kissed Christoph as if he didn’t know what else to do.

“…… is it okay not to accept it?”

Christoph seemed a bit doubtful but still agreed rather easily. At that moment, his body, though pretending to be unaffected but still tense with fear, finally began to relax.

Christoph lay sprawled across Richard’s body. After the constant mental tension and the intense physical exertion, the stress had just been relieved, and suddenly a wave of drowsiness, like exhaustion, crashed over him like a tide.

Perhaps realizing that Christoph’s body was gradually losing strength as he lay still on top of him, Richard gently consoled him and then lifted Christoph up. At that moment, with the object still inside his body, Christoph felt as if everything tightly packed within him was suddenly and smoothly pulled out, making him shudder.

Then, carefully cradling Christoph, Richard placed him down on the seat beside him. Taking out his handkerchief, he began to clean Christoph’s body. After meticulously adjusting every detail, from his collar to other parts, Richard straightened his own attire and spoke.

“You must be feeling sleepy, so go ahead and rest. I’ll take you home.”

“……What about you?”

“After dropping you off, I’ll head back to Dresden and start working in the afternoon.”

“Hmph…… Going days without sleep and still being so energetic, huh.”

As Christoph grumbled in displeasure, Richard started the car and chuckled lightly.

“I have a way of recharging that’s more effective than sleep. After being with you, I feel completely re-energized. It’s like I’ve been recharged.”

Christoph was about to retort that doing something so physically draining could hardly be invigorating, but as he glanced over at Richard’s profile while he was driving, the man’s face appeared exceptionally radiant and full of vitality, leaving Christoph at a loss for words.

“In that sense, if you came to Dresden, I could recharge myself any time, every day. That would be wonderful……”

Richard murmured, almost as if talking to himself, then glanced at Christoph. Noticing Christoph suddenly stiffen, Richard looked at him for a moment, as if considering something, then shook his head lightly.

“Never mind, perhaps it’s better to drop it.”

“Yes, better to drop it.”

Christoph shivered and responded decisively. Richard turned back to the road ahead and smiled faintly.

As Christoph leaned back wearily in his seat and let out a small yawn, even while looking forward, Richard seemed to sense this and turned up the heater, saying: “Sleep. I’ll wake you up when we get there.” Christoph nodded and closed his eyes.

And so, the long, drawn-out weekend finally came to an end. Along with it, the heavy sorrow in his heart began to ease.

Even with his eyes shut, Christoph could still feel Richard glancing at him and quietly smiling. It annoyed him slightly for some inexplicable reason, so he turned away. But the warm, comfortable feeling delighted him, and before long, he turned back toward Richard and drifted into a deep sleep.  

**************

Shortly after closing his eyes and turning over a few times, Christoph fell asleep, his breathing steady and gentle, audible in the quiet.

Richard reached out to adjust the heater to keep Christoph warm without letting the heat disturb his sleep, then turned his gaze towards him.

Christoph was in a deep sleep. Normally, he wouldn’t sleep easily in uncomfortable places, but today he seemed absolutely exhausted. Indeed, from last night until now, Christoph had barely had any proper rest.

“……”

Richard gently touched Christoph’s still-damp eyelashes. Christoph furrowed his brows slightly but did not wake up. However, noticing him stir a bit and seem uncomfortable, Richard withdrew his hand.

He pressed it against his own lips. Though it was impossible, it felt as though Christoph’s scent still lingered on his hand. It was a cold yet incredibly sweet fragrance.

Richard kept his hand in front of his nose for a moment, then placed it on the steering wheel.

His heart was pounding. The steady yet powerful rhythm echoed through his chest. It was a feeling so full it threatened to erupt as laughter, yet Richard realized it was more than just joy. It was an emotion far more intense.

His hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly. Richard glanced back at Christoph. Just a short while ago, Christoph had been trembling like that. No, even more violently. Christoph had done his best to restrain it, but Richard had seen the fear, the tension, the anxiety so overwhelming it left Christoph’s body stiff and trembling.

Even so, despite his fear, Christoph had still told him that if he wanted, Christoph would give him everything. His entire self.

“――.”

How……

How can he not love him?

The more he loved, the more captivated he became by Christoph, the greater the insecurities and fears inside Richard grew. Even though he knew those fears were irrational, the vague anxieties never disappeared.

Would Christoph leave him someday? Would he go to someone else? Would Richard do something that Christoph disliked? If his true self, his inner nature, were revealed, surely Christoph would recoil and avoid him. Then, where was the limit to what he could show Christoph?

Richard had always thought about those things. And then, at some point, he realized that sometimes, completely exposing his inner self could be more effective.

The insecurities and worries Christoph brought forth, the pain, and the burdens Richard bore for who he was—no matter how smooth their relationship might be—were things he could never escape. Richard understood that Christoph had a unique vulnerability to those things, to such delicate and fragile corners and wounds.

If that were the case, then showing a few weaknesses wouldn’t matter. As long as it could keep Christoph by his side. If doing so could ensure that Christoph would respond to what Richard wished for, then he’d be willing to do it.

Richard was intelligent and perceptive enough to know how to leverage everything he could to obtain from Christoph what he desired. And because of that, today, he had received the most precious gift.

A response so profound he hadn’t anticipated.

His heart had been pounding ever since. His hands hadn’t stopped trembling.

“How should I handle this, Chris…… Now I’ll only become even more anxious.”

For fear of losing the person he cherished the most. For fear of unintentionally letting this priceless treasure slip away.

If Christoph weren’t asleep, Richard might have immediately hugged him tightly again, holding him as if to crush the torrent of emotions overflowing within. But together with the surge of happiness, the fear within Richard had also grown. That was inevitable.

How long had he been watching Christoph? How long had he followed him until he could finally hold him in his arms?

So then, was setting a trap of this level really wrong?

No matter if others discovered it later and cursed or criticized him, Richard would, by any means necessary, no matter what methods he had to use, never allow Christoph to leave him.

**************

*Yut (윷): a traditional Korean board game! It’s a popular game, especially during holidays like Seollal – Lunar New Year. In the game, players use four wooden sticks called “yut” to determine moves on the board. The outcome of each throw dictates how far a player can move their pieces.

*Jachigi (자치기):  a traditional Korean game where players spin a wooden top by winding a string around it. The goal is to make it spin as long as possible or knock other tops out of play. It’s a game of skill and was popular among kids in Korea.