It's Just A Picture (BL)
Chapter 191: Still, I’m being warned not to do it

Chapter 191: Still, I’m being warned not to do it

"No, not exactly. It’s just..." He sighed and finally asked the question, "...if you had a lover whose birthday was coming up in, let’s say three days, what do you think would be the best birthday present for them?"

Geumtae looked at him and then smiled, more like a grin, but his lips were curled up as if he was up to something.

"Are those little mutts of yours clocking another year in a few days?" He asked, and Dongwoo subconsciously nodded, unknowingly admitting the fact that they were the ones he was dating. "So, it’s true."

Dongwoo looked up with widened eyes.

"Those mutts finally captured your heart. Or... Is it the other way around?" He asked and leaned his head closer. "Were you the one that captured their hearts?"

Dongwoo blushed, not just because of his words but the close range he was at. His face was very close to his and if anyone happened to walk into the clinic at that very moment, they would definitely misunderstand.

"That... That’s... You’re standing too close." He said, averting his eyes but Geumtae wasn’t ready to back down.

"If you want to give them a birthday present, just give them the thing they love the most."

"The thing they love the most? But I’m the one they love the most. Do I have to find their favorite food or the places they love to go to?" Dongwoo asked, but Geumtae did not talk more about that and simply smiled at him, diverting to another topic.

"How do you do it, Sweetie?" He asked. "Taking on those two at once, I mean. I bet they’re not average, right?" He asked and Dongwoo’s face flushed even redder.

He thought they were talking about the kind of present to give to the twins. How did he end up diverting to that topic?

Geumtae moved his lips to his ear and whispered, "Well, it’s not that hard to get them a present. If it’s from you, anything counts."

Dongwoo stepped back but Geumtae caught him by the waist.

"What are you doing, Geumtae?" He asked but Geumtae could only smile as she stared at him with eyes that held no secret.

Yes, his interest in him was on full display, and it seems he was adamant about letting it show.

"I know they treat you well and all," he said, tightening his arms around Dongwoo. "...but couldn’t you have considered me an option? I really took a liking to you, Dongwoo."

He finally decided to address him by his name but Dongwoo felt nothing special about it. Not like how he felt when the twins called him. It was like everyone else, normal.

In fact, calling him ’sweetie’ seemed to be even more comfortable. Maybe he got used to it because he no longer felt anything from it either.

And to this, Dongwoo answered,

"I’m sorry if you did." He said and locked eyes with him.

Though he was embarrassed and uncomfortable, especially with the position they were in, he still needed to say it. Maybe this would be the only time he would be able to.

"Geumtae, I’m very grateful for all that you’ve done for me, as a friend. Maybe you got close, hoping you could make me get interested in you but it didn’t work out. I know you feel bad but everyone has their destined pair. Yours is just not me."

"Haha, did that little assistant of yours rub his crazies on you?" He asked, laughing.

"I’m serious, Geumtae." Dongwoo said. He was no longer flushing but looking at him, dead in the eye with a serious expression on his face. "Thank you for being by my side even when knowing I would never consider you more than a friend."

"It showed, huh?" He looked away.

He knew it from the moment he saw the twins with Dongwoo that he had no place in his heart like they did. But he hoped to be close to Dongwoo, more than a friend.

It was a hopeless hope after all.

"Geumtae, I’m not the one for you." Dongwoo said. "But that doesn’t mean that ’one’ won’t come your way. You just have to keep looking."

Geumtae nodded and showed sadness in his eyes.

"I understand." He said. "You’re being nice with your final rejection but it still hurts."

"I’m sorry." Dongwoo apologized. "But I hope we can get along like real friends and have no ’intimate’ relationship ties involved."

Geumtae nodded and let go of him.

"Then, for that favor, can I tell you what I want now?"

"Geumtae," Dongwoo called, suspicious that he might’ve had that same intention as the last time, but Geumtae shook his head and laughed.

"It’s not a kiss." He said. "But..." He stretched his arms out. "...can I at least hug you?"

Dongwoo was hesitant. If he hugged him now, more of his scent would rub off on him. Well, it was already there, thanks to him grabbing him by the waist all of a sudden.

’Still, I’m being warned not to do it. My guts aren’t in favor of this.’ he thought.

He didn’t want to buy the sadness in Geumtae’s eyes and expression, and they were compelling.

Well, he would just be hugging him as a person would do to comfort their friend.

"Alright." He finally gave in and Geumtae hugged him, wrapping his arms around him.

"This will probably be the only time I get to hug you like this sweetie." He said, and Dongwoo, not knowing what that meant, decided not to pay attention to it and sank into his hug instead and enjoyed it as just a hug.

But he really should’ve listened to his gut feelings because at that moment when he sank into his hug, he heard a familiar voice call out to him,

"Hyung!" His eyes widened, and he glanced back to see the twins standing at the entrance of the clinic, having furrowed eyebrows under their hats and nose masks that were pushed down beneath their jaws.

And... they were looking a bit pissed.

No, scratch that. They were completely pissed.

"Seo-Seojun." He muttered. "Seojin." He wanted to get out of the hug but for some reason, Geumtae wouldn’t let go.

"So nice for you to ’barge’ in." Geumtae said grinning widely.

"What are you doing?" Dongwoo asked. "Let go already." He tried to break free from the hug and struggled but Geumtae laughed and said,

"I don’t want to, Sweetie."

Was he trying to piss them off?

"That punk!" Seojun gritted his teeth and Geumtae added.

"Not yet, at least. Because I know that once I do, you’ll be out of here right away and into the arms of those two. It’s inevitable, but I want to hold you like this for just a minute more." He said and for some reason, Dongwoo felt weak to his words.

Wrapped in his arms, Dongwoo could hear his heart racing loudly. His head was pressed to Geumtae’s chest so it was even clearer.

And from the beat of his heart, he could tell that Geumtae was scared. Scared of what, exactly? He did not know but he was taking a risk.

His face could very much be bashed in any second yet he was holding on to their lover so shamelessly.

He really... He really wanted to savor that moment, huh?

Dongwoo pursed his lips. How could he connect with Geumtae’s emotions so clearly?

"Hyung," Seojin called and Dongwoo glanced back.

He wanted to go back to them, but at the same time, he wanted to comfort Geumtae, who would lose a lot once he let go. Once he let go, that would be the end of his pursuit so he wanted to savor the last feeling he had of it.

That was how he interpreted it at least.

"Two minutes." Dongwoo suddenly said. "Please, just give us two more minutes."

He felt regretful having the twins watch him hug another man, but he felt it was the least he could do.