Black & Grey

Yoochan nodded, looking a bit disappointed, but then squinted his eyes as if an idea had come to him.“Then, to help me choose a design, can you show me the tattoos on your body, Hyung?”“No, I can’t.”Jungeol flatly refused, gripping his cup.“I’ll show you my portfolio. Pick from there.”Yoochan frowned and asked.“Why won’t you show me? You said you got them from famous people. I’m curious.”“I’ll give you their account info too.”“Why are you being so evasive? Is it because you have some embarrassing tattoos you don’t want to show?”Yoochan thought of the “DOGE’S ♡” lettering he had seen earlier that morning. Smiling as if it was no big deal, he waved his hand.“Hey, everyone has a couple of embarrassing tattoos they regret from when they were younger. I almost got Eunbit’s face tattooed on me. From one similar situation to another, I won’t make fun of you. Just show me, okay? Just for a moment.”Jungeol wiped his lips lightly with a tissue and looked down at Yoochan, speaking in an unbothered voice.“Like what? I don’t really have any embarrassing tattoos.”Yoochan, who had been thinking of the cute little heart that seemed out of place on Jungeol’s big frame, was at a loss for words at Jungeol’s nonchalant expression. Maybe he’s just embarrassed, Yoochan thought, tilting his head and taking a sip of water.After an early breakfast, the two left the house together.“How should we get in touch tonight? Should I come to the shop?”Yoochan asked as they got into the elevator. Jungeol, holding Gaang with one arm, handed his phone to Yoochan to input his number.“I’ll pick you up in front of the judo hall.”“Are you bringing your car? Are we going far? You’re busy, Hyung.”“If it’s in Seoul, it’s fine. Just pick a restaurant.”Jungeol saved Yoochan’s number and put his phone back in his pocket. At that moment, the elevator stopped at the second floor, and a man stepped in. Yoochan recognized him and greeted him.“Jaemin Hyung!”“Oh, Yoochan. Heading to school?”“Yeah, I have a liberal arts class first period. What about you, Hyung?”“Same, liberal arts. Have you had breakfast?”“Not yet.”“Then come down to the basement food court. Let’s eat together. I’m just grabbing a pack of cigarettes from the convenience store.”“Got it!”Yoochan answered cheerfully and got off with Jungeol. The elevator door closed, carrying Yoochan’s senior away. Jungeol, surprised by Yoochan’s admission that he hadn’t had breakfast, asked a bit late.“…Was the ramen an appetizer?”“Of course.”Yoochan looked more surprised. Jungeol frowned.“You even had instant rice.”“Wow… Hyung, are you serious? I’m a phys ed major. I go for a run every morning and exercise all day, then head to the judo hall. If I don’t have a hearty breakfast, I’ll starve.”Yoochan shook his head as if he couldn’t imagine surviving on just ramen and rice, then looked around as if something was off.“Hyung, why did we get off here?”“Didn’t you say you were going to the basement parking lot?”“Oh, right. I guess I’m so used to going to the second floor that I got confused. I’ll call you when I’m done at the judo hall.”“Okay, I’ll leave you a message.”“See you later!”Yoochan, smiling like he was talking to a friend, waved cheerfully at Jungeol and Gaang as he got back into the elevator. Jungeol put his hands in his pockets and straightened his back, seeing Yoochan off.After having breakfast with Jaemin at the student cafeteria, Yoochan checked out tattoo designs from Jungeol’s feed with his friends, Daehan and Jinhong, before class started.“This one looks good… and this one too…”“Baek Yoochan, what about our friendship tattoos? Did he agree?”“Hey, I barely got approval for one. How can I ask for yours too? After I enlist, apply for the design and get the same one as me.”“Wow, you’re just going ahead without us, you ungrateful bastard. Oh, this leopard is awesome.”“This one’s my favorite too.”Jungeol seemed to have worked diligently for the past two years. Even scrolling endlessly, Yoochan saw countless designs he loved.Finally, Yoochan saved a few of his favorite designs and sent a message to Jungeol.Yoochan: Hyung, do I have to pick just one?“I don’t think Hyung checks his phone often.”Remembering how long it took Jungeol to reply to his DMs, Yoochan considered calling. Just then, he received a message from Jungeol.Jungeol: Let’s see.Jungeol: What do you want to get?Yoochan hurriedly typed with his thumbs.Yoochan: I don’t have a specific design in mind, but I want to try various ones about the size of a fist. On my shoulder, hand, and chest. I have several designs I like.Yoochan: Let’s see.Yoochan sent Jungeol a few saved photos and wrote a message.Yoochan: I think the leopard would be cool, and the dragon looks awesome too.Jungeol: The leopard would suit you well.Yoochan: Right? But I saw in the comments that it’s better to have an odd number of tattoos. Why is that?Jungeol: It’s an old sailor’s superstition. Don’t worry about it and do what you want.Yoochan: So it doesn’t matter if it’s not old school? You’re into black and grey. Did you go with an even number?Jungeol: No. Odd number.Yoochan: Ah, come on, Hyung. 😂As Yoochan chatted with a beaming face, the teaching assistant came in to prepare for the lecture. Yoochan glanced curiously at Kigung, who had come in late and sat far from them, then opened a browser on his phone.Tattoo odd numberSeveral related pages popped up. As Jungeol had said, the superstition about having an odd number of tattoos was linked to old school and sailors.The superstition originated from sailors getting their first tattoo to pray for safety before setting sail, the second to commemorate reaching their destination safely, and the third to celebrate reuniting with their family after returning home.Knowing the meaning, Yoochan felt inclined to get an odd number of tattoos too.Just as he sent a message to Jungeol about wanting an odd number of tattoos, the liberal arts professor entered the lecture hall. Yoochan waved at Kigung to come over, but Kigung frowned at Jinhong and shook his head.After the lecture, Yoochan spent about two hours running lightly at the judo hall. While changing in the shower room, he received a text from Jungeol.Jungeol: Parking lot.Without even drying his wet hair, Yoochan grabbed his judo uniform and headed to the first floor. In the parking lot, there was a black SUV. Even his alias was Jet Black, and he wore mostly black sweatshirts and outerwear. Now even his car was black.Amused, Yoochan opened the passenger door and saw Jungeol in another black sweatshirt, making him laugh out loud.“Ah, Hyung, isn’t this too much? Do you only have black clothes at home?”Jungeol, looking annoyed, gestured for Yoochan to get in quickly. Yoochan tossed his judo uniform into the back seat and climbed in.“At least you’re wearing different pants today.”“Thanks to you, I’ll wear something different tomorrow.”“Just kidding. Black really suits you, Hyung. But why do you always wear black? Because of the paint?”“No, because of Gaang.”Jungeol answered briefly and started the car. It seemed he wore black clothes because of Gaang, who went for walks in the park at least six times a day. Finally understanding the secret of the black sweatshirts, Yoochan nodded, and Jungeol said as he started driving.“Put the address in the GPS.”“Yes, Hyung.”Yoochan took out his phone and entered the address of the restaurant he had looked up, then asked.“Aren’t you curious about the menu? I didn’t tell you on purpose.”“Not really. I don’t have any food preferences.”“Oh, really? Same here. I don’t have any allergies or foods I can’t eat. Maybe that’s why we’re tall. By the way, how tall are you, Hyung?”“191 cm.”“Wow, that’s huge. You’d be amazing at judo with that height. Ever thought about doing judo, Hyung? It’s all about grappling, so you might hurt your wrist or nails, but there are many techniques using your arms, like choking. If you’re interested, come to the hall. I’ll teach you. Don’t you feel itchy if you don’t exercise? I do. I never get tired of exercising for over ten hours, but sitting at a desk for just an hour hurts…”Yoochan kept talking non-stop, even without a response, making Jungeol smile quietly.Soon, the GPS announced their arrival. As Jungeol looked for a parking spot, he seemed surprised by the restaurant’s name.“Hyung, you drank a lot yesterday.”Yoochan pointed proudly at the restaurant outside the window and grinned.“How about some hangover soup?”Yoochan had recommended Yangpyeong hangover soup. As the staff set the table with side dishes and sauce bowls, Yoochan took out chopsticks and said.“My dad’s been a regular here for ten years, so I’ve been coming since elementary school. Once you try it, you’ll become a regular too, Hyung.”Yoochan’s meticulousness in placing a napkin in front of Jungeol, setting down chopsticks, and pouring water into his glass was impressive. Then, without placing a napkin for himself, Yoochan quickly took a spoonful of hangover soup. Gulp. As the soup went down his throat, Yoochan scratched his neck and exclaimed.“Ah… This is it… It looks a bit gross at first, but it tastes amazing.”Watching Yoochan act like a middle-aged man, Jungeol took a sip of the soup.“Yeah. It’s good.”“Right? It really grows on you.”Seeing Yoochan’s excitement, Jungeol asked.“Did you choose a design?”“Yes, I narrowed it down to a few. Jinhong keeps insisting we get matching designs, so I’m conflicted. We originally planned to get friendship tattoos from you, Hyung. But now I don’t want to.”Many people got friendship tattoos, so Jungeol nodded, but he looked up at Yoochan’s last words.“Why don’t you want to anymore?”“Kigung and Jinhong are fighting right now. Our group chat is like walking on thin ice. If I get a friendship tattoo and then everyone drifts apart while I’m in the army, I’ll be the only fool. I’m glad I didn’t rush into it. That’s why Taeho Hyung advises against couple or friendship tattoos unless you’re really sure.”“Why are you planning to join the army early? Don’t people usually go after their first year?”As Jungeol asked, Yoochan wiped the sauce off his mouth with a napkin and answered,“I like getting to know new people. I also like working out. I’m not particularly bothered by a regular lifestyle, so I think it will be fun. My mom told me if I don’t have anything specific I want to do, I should become a professional soldier. Ah, why am I talking about this? Let’s get back to the tattoo conversation.”Yoochan found his direction again and continued,“Anyway, I think it would be better to get a meaningful tattoo for myself rather than for my friends or girlfriend. Otherwise, it might be something I regret later like Eunbit trying to get a tattoo. Don’t you agree?”Jungeol nodded his head, moving his chin as if to say, “Isn’t that obvious?” Yoochan suddenly wanted to tease him.“The advice people give against it all comes from experience. Like how Taeho Hyung and Manager Noona told me not to get a tattoo of my girlfriend’s face or name.”“Yeah. Listen to what people say.”Jungeol responded as if he had no connection to such matters. Yoochan hesitated whether to mention he had seen what looked like a tattoo of a name this morning, and then asked,“You said you don’t have any embarrassing tattoos. Have you never, ever, ever regretted one? One you want to cover up?”Jungeol, who was filling his empty glass with water, chuckled.“I’m not reckless like some people.”“Really? Not even a little, the tiniest bit? There’s got to be something you regret.”“I don’t know.”“Think about it carefully, Hyung.”Holding the half-filled glass of water, Jungeol looked thoughtful. Yoochan glanced at Jungeol’s elbow, trying to give a hint. Then, Jungeol’s eyebrow twitched.“Ah.”As if he had remembered something, Jungeol made a short sound. Yoochan’s eyes widened, as if to say, “That’s it.”“You do have one, don’t you? A tattoo you regret.”Jungeol tilted his head as if uncertain, then put down the glass and grabbed his left shoulder with his right hand.“I have an animal tattooed near my shoulder blade, and it’s wearing a 1400s-style British crown.”“…What?”Yoochan’s eyes wandered, unsure why Jungeol was pointing to a different spot than his elbow. Jungeol, unaware of Yoochan’s frustration, calmly continued while rubbing his left shoulder.“Sometimes I think it might have been better if it were a more elaborate 1500s British or Danish crown.”“Is that all?”Yoochan spoke in surprise.“That can’t be it… There must be something else… Think about it, Hyung. Is the design of the crown really the only thing you regret?”Jungeol looked at Yoochan, as if wondering what answer he wanted, then frowned and shook his head.“No. Danish crowns show less of the lion’s mane, so I wouldn’t have liked that. I still prefer the current one. I don’t regret any tattoos.”It didn’t seem like a lie or bravado. Was he holding onto even the memories of his ex-girlfriend?To Yoochan, Jungeol seemed like an old movie hero. Feeling a bit childish himself, Yoochan drank the water in front of him in big gulps.“Why? Not the answer you wanted?”Jungeol asked, resting his chin in his hand with an amused expression. After putting down his cup, Yoochan looked into Jungeol’s clear eyes, free of any hangover traces, and spoke honestly.“Hyung, you’re kind of cool.”After finishing their hangover soup, Yoochan and Jungeol returned to the tattoo shop. Taeho and the Manager were eating a late dinner on the sofa.“Yoochan-ah, have some sweet and sour pork! Oppa, you too!”“Okay!”Having just eaten rice with their hangover soup, Yoochan answered enthusiastically and sat next to the Manager. Jungeol, who watched Yoochan eating sweet and sour pork even after their meal, frowned at the booming speakers and asked the Manager,“Did Kwon Jae-hyuk leave?”“Yes! Jaehyuk Oppa left an hour ago.”Manager Min answered with a mouthful of black bean noodles.“Turn down the volume when Kwon Jae-hyuk leaves.”Jungeol, covering one ear as if the noise was bothersome, adjusted the volume on the computer mouse.The lively music that made the shop shake changed to quiet classical music. Only then did Jungeol look more relaxed and check the schedule board.“Do we have a reservation at eight?”After asking, Jungeol noticed something strange and narrowed his eyes. The name of the afternoon reservation, which had been written down a few hours ago, was now missing.“Ah, Hyung. That…!”Taeho, eating black bean noodles, quickly shook his head and said,“A couple who looked really rich came in, but they suddenly started arguing loudly and ended up not getting the tattoos. I sent a text saying no refunds for same-day cancellations, and they said it’s fine.”“Wasn’t Jungeol Hyung’s reservation for a full sleeve?”Manager Min, who was eating sweet and sour pork, asked with a surprised look.“I think they put down a lot of deposit money.”“It was for a full sleeve, Noona. They said they don’t mind losing the deposit. They looked really wealthy.”“So, is the reservation completely canceled now?”Listening to the conversation while drinking cola, Yoochan’s face brightened. Putting down his cup, Yoochan ran to Jungeol.“I think we put down quite a bit of deposit.”“That’s right, Noona. They said they don’t mind losing the deposit. They looked really rich.”“Oh, so the reservation is completely canceled now?”Yoochan, who had been quietly listening to the conversation while drinking cola, brightened up. He put down his cup and ran to Jungeol.“You promised to do mine first if the reservation got canceled, right? Do it now!”“You haven’t even decided on a design yet.”Jungeol replied bluntly, leaning on the counter.“Take your time.”But Yoochan had already made up his mind. It was rare for Jungeol’s reservation to be canceled. If he missed this chance, he couldn’t be sure when he’d get a tattoo from Jungeol again.“No, I want it now. Today feels like the perfect day.”“At least decide what and where you want it. You want me to draw without a design?”“I saw on your feed that you have a lot of pre-drawn designs. Just pick one that suits me.”“Yoochan, are you really going to decide on a tattoo that will stay on your body forever so carelessly?”The manager approached, looking worried. Yoochan waved his hand, saying it wasn’t like that.“I was terrible at art in school. My aesthetic sense is awful. It would be a hundred times better if Jungeol Hyung chose the location and design himself, right, Hyung?”Jungeol frowned, looking reluctant. Yoochan grabbed Jungeol’s firm elbow and said,“I’ll take whatever you choose without complaining. And it’s not like it’s a full sleeve or a back piece. It’s just the size of a palm. I won’t regret it, especially with your skills.”Jungeol, still frowning, suddenly seemed to change his mind and relaxed his expression.“You won’t complain about what I choose.”“Yes! I won’t complain at all. Honestly, with your skills, there’s nothing to complain about.”It was a flattering remark. Jungeol replied as if he had no choice.“…Fine. I’ll do it.”“Really? You’ll really do it?”Yoochan, who thought Jungeol would refuse more, asked in surprise.“What will you do? A leopard? A lion? Or maybe a face, which you’re good at?”Jungeol raised the corners of his mouth meaningfully but didn’t reply.While Jungeol cleaned the machine and prepared the ink, Taeho skillfully wrapped the pillow and bed in plastic.“Take off your T-shirt and lie down.”As soon as the pillow wrapping was done, Jungeol said. Yoochan took off his clothes and draped them over the chair, then lay down flat, looking up at the ceiling.Light from the neon sign outside seeped through the half-drawn curtain. After a while, Taeho, who had finished preparing, turned off the neon light at spot number 1 and went outside. The tall light cast a long shadow of Jungeol’s body on Yoochan. Jungeol turned on the machine and tested it.At the buzzing sound, Yoochan spoke for the first time since entering the room.“Jungeol Hyung….”“What.”“You know, I didn’t realize it when I was just watching, but…”“Yeah.”“It’s a bit embarrassing to be the only one undressed while you’re fully clothed.”Jungeol, fiddling with the machine by Yoochan’s head, chuckled.“You can feel embarrassed?”“Ah, don’t tease me.”“Want a gown or something?”“No, just draw the curtain a bit. Manager Noona is outside.”Jungeol put down the machine and went to draw the curtain. Yoochan glanced at the machine. The needle tip, which he had seen a few times, looked especially sharp today.“Hoo….”Yoochan let out a long sigh.He wasn’t scared, but the feeling of getting his first tattoo was unique. While Yoochan swallowed nervously, Jungeol, who had drawn the curtain, sat down next to him. Jungeol alternated between looking at his phone and Yoochan’s body. Yoochan asked,“Are you doing it without a stencil?”“Taeho is printing it.”“What about the location?”“We’ll decide now.”Jungeol seemed to be contemplating where to place the tattoo, holding his phone screen against various parts of Yoochan’s body. Yoochan, curious about the design that would be inked on his body, opened his mouth and looked down as much as he could. He couldn’t see anything from that angle. Yoochan asked Jungeol,“You’re really not going to show me what you’re drawing?”“You said you’d leave it all to me.”“But I’m curious.”But thinking about it, it seemed more thrilling to see it after it was done. Jungeol, having made up his mind, urged Taeho outside.Taeho came in under the curtain and handed the stencil paper to Jungeol. Jungeol started cutting the stencil paper by Yoochan’s head. Bored of waiting, Yoochan shook his calf and then spoke as if he had just remembered something.“Hyung.”“Yeah.”“This position right now. I’m lying here shirtless, and someone else is standing fully dressed. It feels oddly familiar—kind of like right before getting scrubbed down at a bathhouse. It’s exactly the same.”“……”Jungeol didn’t bother responding, focusing on cutting the stencil. Yoochan tilted his chin and continued talking.“By the way, Hyung, want to go to the bathhouse with me? Bathing together is the best way to build camaraderie. I’m pretty strong, so I can scrub really well.”“I don’t go to public baths.”“Oh, right. Forgot about that.”Jungeol placed the finished stencil on Yoochan’s upper left chest. Yoochan resolved to stay quiet so Jungeol could concentrate, but that resolve only lasted 20 seconds. Each time Jungeol adjusted the stencil to find the right position, his rolled-up sleeves revealed firm forearms that brushed against Yoochan’s sensitive skin.“……”Yoochan flinched, squeezing his eyes shut. Noticing Yoochan’s odd reaction, Jungeol furrowed his brow and paused briefly, tilting his head before lowering the stencil a bit.Once again, Jungeol’s forearm brushed Yoochan’s side. Unable to suppress the ticklish sensation, Yoochan clenched his jaw, his chin trembling.Thud.“Ha…”Unable to endure Yoochan’s ever-changing expressions, Jungeol finally set the tattoo machine down on the bed. He grabbed something from underneath it and casually tossed it over Yoochan’s face.“What the…!”The fabric spread wide, completely covering Yoochan’s face. Startled, he exclaimed in disbelief.“Hyung, what is this?!”“Stay like that for a bit. You’re distracting.”“This feels like something out of a morgue! Can’t you at least change the color?”“If you stay quiet for just one minute, I’ll take it off.”Muttering complaints under the cover, Yoochan eventually sighed and shut his mouth. However, when Jungeol’s knuckles repeatedly grazed Yoochan’s sensitive nipple, he broke his silence again.“Hyung.”“What?”“I tried not to talk because I didn’t want to disturb you, but I can’t hold it in anymore. I have to say something.”“…Say it.”Sensing unease in Jungeol’s wary tone, Yoochan swallowed nervously before continuing.“I’m not trying to be inappropriate or anything.”“Okay.”“It’s just that I’m really ticklish.”“…And?”“Please stop brushing against my nipple.”“……”“I almost let out a moan.”Whack.“Lie on your stomach.”Jungeol swiftly yanked the white cloth off Yoochan’s face as he gave the command. Startled, Yoochan turned around.“What? All of a sudden?”“Yes. I’ll do it on your back.”Squinting at the bright light above him, Yoochan sat up slightly, puzzled, while Jungeol placed his hands on his hips and spoke.“Baek Yoochan.”“Yes, Hyung.”“Don’t make any noise.”“…Understood, Hyung.”Recognizing the serious and stern warning in Jungeol’s calm tone, Yoochan immediately clamped his mouth shut and turned over.Yoochan rested his head on the white cloth he had just removed, lying on his stomach and glancing to the side. Jungeol had pulled out a portable table from under the bed and was darkening the design traced on the stencil as he spoke.“Relax your shoulder.”“Yes, sir.”It seemed like a small design, as the process finished quicker than expected. Once it was done, Yoochan folded his arms, resting his forehead on his wrist as he lay flat again. Shortly after, Jungeol placed the stencil on his back. Initially centered on his spine, it was soon adjusted to the left side, under his shoulder blade.“What’s this?”Jungeol asked as he removed the stencil. Although Yoochan couldn’t see, he knew what Jungeol was referring to.“You mean the scar that looks like a vaccination mark? The two side-by-side ones?”“Yeah.”“I heard I got injured during a fishing trip with my dad when I was little, but I don’t even remember it. It’s not in a spot I can see, so it doesn’t bother me.”Jungeol touched the scar, seemingly inspecting its texture. Yoochan glanced back, half-turning his head.“Does the scar mess with the design?”“Well, partly. It’d hurt more, too.”“Then put it on the other shoulder. That one doesn’t have a scar.”Jungeol brushed the scar lightly, as if testing its raised texture. Yoochan shivered slightly and tilted his neck back. Just as the soft touch sent an inexplicable tension through him, Jungeol spoke.“Baek Yoochan, should I cover this up for you?”“Really?”Yoochan asked brightly, surprised by the unexpected suggestion. Jungeol tilted his head slightly, still unsure, and then spoke again.“It’s hard to completely hide it because of the texture.”“I’m totally fine with that! Please do it!”“Alright, I’ll do it here.”Jungeol’s voice carried a serious tone. Yoochan tightly pressed his lips together and nodded. It finally felt real, like he was actually getting a tattoo.Soon, his left shoulder felt cold. It was the stage where water was applied before placing the stencil. Yoochan had assumed Jungeol would slather it on like applying lotion, but he was surprised by the careful and detailed touch on his shoulder.“Hyung.”“Don’t say anything weird. You’re distracting.”“Wow, when did I ever say something weird?”“…”“Seriously, it’s not weird.”“What is it?”“Oh, it’s just that… I kind of feel pampered right now. When I was into working out, I’d sometimes go for aroma massages with my mom. This feels kind of similar. Have you ever had an aroma massage, Hyung?”“No.”“Don’t your shoulders and arms hurt a lot from using the machine?”“They do.”Jungeol answered briefly, spreading the water evenly. Yoochan, who had been unconsciously aware of the gentle touch every time Jungeol’s hand brushed him, found his thoughts puzzling and continued talking.“You should try getting a massage sometime, Hyung. It’s really good. Sports massages or Thai massages are great too. Actually, why don’t we go together next time? The place my mom goes to is excellent. If I go with you, they might even give us a discount.”“…”Focused, Jungeol didn’t respond as he placed the stencil on Yoochan’s shoulder. Using both index fingers, he carefully smoothed it out to ensure there were no gaps, then gently tapped along the lines. His caution seemed uncharacteristic.“Done.”Jungeol lifted his hands as he spoke.“Can I move now?”“Don’t touch it. It needs to dry.”Unable to suppress his curiosity, Yoochan lifted his chest slightly, only for Jungeol to press down on the back of his neck, telling him to stay still. Feeling uncomfortable with his folded arms, Yoochan reluctantly let them dangle off the sides of the bed like a hunted animal.At that moment, someone pushed the curtain aside and came in.“Hyung, have some snacks while you work.”Taeho entered with a box of snacks and froze when he saw Yoochan’s shoulder.“What is this? This isn’t the design you picked earlier.”Taeho’s eyes widened as he spoke. Jungeol nodded calmly and replied.“Yeah, I changed my mind a bit.”“What kind of change? How? Let me see!”Completely unaware of what was happening, Yoochan twisted his neck to look, only for Jungeol to press his neck down again. Taeho, leaning on the bed, asked Jungeol.“Are you really going with this?”Taeho’s voice was filled with disbelief.“Will it suit Yoochan? This is unexpected.”“Baek Yoochan said he’s fine with whatever I do, so it’s settled.”Jungeol’s nonchalant tone left Taeho unable to argue further. He glanced at Yoochan, who, unable to predict what was coming, looked at Taeho with excited eyes.“Taeho Hyung, what do you think? Does it look good?”“Uh… it kind of feels like a new-school design. Not really Jungeol Hyung’s usual style… but whatever. Hyung knows what he’s doing. Hyung, I’ll be outside, so call me if you need anything. And Yoochan, stay still and let him work.”“Yes, Hyung!”Though Taeho’s tone ended oddly, Yoochan didn’t notice and spoke with shining anticipation.“Jungeol Hyung, this is amazing. Just thinking about having a masterpiece by one of today’s top tattooists on my body is thrilling.”“A masterpiece, huh?”A soft chuckle escaped.“Let’s begin. Keep your head down and stay still.”“Hyung, you have to make it look amazing.”Leaving those words behind, Yoochan lowered his head.Jungeol glanced at the suddenly quiet Yoochan and smirked faintly before picking up the machine with one hand and sitting down. He stretched Yoochan’s skin taut with the other hand and turned on the machine.A faint buzzing sound accompanied the sharp tool as it touched Yoochan’s skin.“…Oh.”“Does it hurt?”“No.”“…”“I’m surprised it doesn’t hurt at all.”“Is that so?”At Yoochan’s relieved tone, Jungeol raised an eyebrow with an ambiguous expression.“It’s a relief it doesn’t hurt.”“I actually thought it would go deep into my skin like an injection. But it just feels like someone’s doodling on me with a ballpoint pen.”It didn’t sting at all. Though there was a faint buzzing sound, like a vibrating drill nearby, strangely, Yoochan barely felt any vibration on his skin. All he could clearly sense was that something was being drawn on his shoulder blade. With no pain as he had anticipated, Yoochan relaxed, letting his body go limp as if he were at a bathhouse scrub session.But within just a few minutes, Yoochan began to feel restless. Staring blankly at a speck on the floor, Yoochan, now accustomed to the buzzing sound, sneakily tried to strike up a conversation with the focused Jungeol.“Hyung, do all your tattoos have meanings?”“Some do.”“What’s the meaning behind the ones that do?”Jungeol didn’t respond. Glancing at him, Yoochan spoke again.“Hyung, when we were eating earlier, you told me about that crowned animal. What was it again? The one on your left shoulder blade from the 1300s?”“1400s.”“Right, that one. I think you mentioned something about its mane. Is it a lion?”“Yeah.”“What does the lion mean? Do you like lions?”“…”“Can I see your tattoos just once?”“No.”“Wow, you’re so stingy.”Jungeol let out a faint chuckle as if unbothered. The truth was, Yoochan wasn’t actually curious about the lion. What he really wanted to ask about was the lettering tattoo on Jungeol’s arm. Unsure if now was the right time, Yoochan eventually gave in to his curiosity and spoke up.“I’ve actually seen the tattoo on your forearm, Hyung.”Jungeol paused for a moment before resuming the movement of his wrist. His lack of response felt odd, prompting Yoochan to continue.“That… the one with the ‘Doze heart’ design. No, I mean, ‘Doze something heart.’ Is it pronounced ‘Doze?'”“Yeah, Doze.”Surprisingly, Jungeol’s reply was crisp and straightforward. Relieved, Yoochan hesitantly asked again.“Is it, like, your ex-girlfriend’s name? Was she a foreigner? Or… a nickname?”“Not an ex-girlfriend.”Jungeol’s voice remained calm and composed.“It’s Jung Dahee’s stage name.”At that moment, a whirlwind of thoughts swept through Yoochan’s mind. The most vivid memory was Jungeol’s indifferent tone from before.— Whether you ask for her number or confess, that’s up to you.— Just know, if she rejects you, drop it cleanly. If this causes any trouble, you won’t be allowed back at the shop.Then Yoochan recalled his past self, confidently issuing a warning after being one step behind.— So, are you interested in her, Hyung?— If you liked her first, I won’t back down, but let’s play fair.— Once I set my mind on something, I go straight for it. If there’s anything you want to come clean about, say it now.“…Ugh.”Unable to bear the embarrassment flooding in, Yoochan clenched his fist and shut his eyes tightly.“Does it hurt?”Jungeol glanced at Yoochan’s reddened neck and asked. Yoochan shook his head fervently, his voice panicked.“No… I’m fine, Hyung…”“Your neck’s red.”“It’s not because it hurts…! It’s just that I remembered something embarrassing from the past. Don’t mind me and keep going…!”As Jungeol continued questioning him, oblivious to the situation, Yoochan shouted while clutching his head. As Jungeol resumed his work, Yoochan, unable to shake off his embarrassment, fidgeted his legs, trying to regain composure.The fact that Jungeol and Dahee had that kind of relationship.Although they weren’t dating, could it be a budding romance? Having her name inked on his skin suggested it might be something deeper. Yoochan thought back to how Jungeol hadn’t tried to stop him from asking for Dahee’s number and suddenly muttered.“Is that what they call the confidence of someone who already has it all?”“What are you mumbling to yourself about?”Yoochan stared at Jungeol’s shadow, which exuded a strange confidence, before covering his face again as fresh embarrassment washed over him.“I’m just feeling a bit awkward. Ugh… I want to be alone for a bit, but I can’t even leave because I’m in the middle of a tattoo. It’s frustrating.”“Why do you want to be alone?”For some reason, Jungeol showed interest and asked.“It’s nothing…”Though Yoochan seemed like he wanted to say something, Jungeol didn’t press further and focused on his work. Wiping his heated face, Yoochan found himself wondering if Jungeol had ever talked about him to Dahee. He sneaked a glance at Jungeol, who was hard to see properly, and spoke.“Jungeol Hyung, you know, I didn’t like Dahee Noona that much. To be honest, she’s just objectively really pretty. I just had a momentary crush because of her looks, so don’t let it bother you.”“What’s there to bother about?”“Like, when I said I fell for Dahee Noona.”“Yeah.”