"You need to eat more, Woojin."

"Stop nagging. I already have Jihoon Kang for that."

"I think I can now understand why Jihoon nags you whenever you eat. It makes sense now."

Woojin had a bowl of rice porridge in front of him that had barely been touched. Eejun pushed the side dishes closer towards Woojin and asked, "You are too thin. Doesn't s.h.i.+n Kim say anything about that?"

"…"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"He doesn't say anything, so what?"

"Wow, what a kind lover he is."

"…He isn't my lover."

"There is no need for you to lie to me."

Woojin checked his cellphone again, but there were still no messages from s.h.i.+n. He took a sip of his warm green tea. Eejun looked at his face and asked, "Why do you look so annoyed?"

"I have something to ask you."

Woojin looked down at his porridge. Eejun replied, "What is it?"

"What did you say to s.h.i.+n Kim at the hospital?"

"I didn't tell him anything."

"You are lying."

"I swear! I didn't say anything."

"He hasn't called me since we left the hospital."

Eejun grinned and asked, "Are you worried?"

"…"

"Did you try texting him yourself?"

"No."

"What?"

Now that he thought about it, Woojin realized that he never texted or called s.h.i.+n first. He looked at Eejun who frowned.

Woojin replied, "I have never contacted him first."

"What about when he texts you? Do you make sure you always reply back?"

"No."

"Have you lost your mind?"

"Did I do something wrong?"

The problem was… Woojin just didn't know anything about dating. Everything he did with s.h.i.+n was his first experience in life. There were many times when Woojin didn't know what to say to him or what to do with s.h.i.+n. When they were talking on the phone, there were a few occasions when Woojin nodded quietly when s.h.i.+n asked something. s.h.i.+n asked him often to say the words rather than shaking or nodding his head when they were talking on the phone.

Woojin suddenly wondered if s.h.i.+n was annoyed with him.

Eejun replied, "This is beyond 'wrong!' I knew you were a dummy, but this is too much."

"…"

"But, I think s.h.i.+n Kim is also a huge weirdo. He told me he thought you were pretty."

"Do YOU think I'm ugly?"

"No, your face is fine, but you look like you might break easily."

"But I don't break."

"On top of that, you don't reply to texts and you don't call first! You are also terribly awkward!"

"But… I sometimes visit him."

"What? You visit him without telling him? That's the worst!"

At Eejun's terrified look, Woojin felt his heart crumbling into pieces.

All his life, the only person who ever entered his heart was s.h.i.+n Kim. But Woojin knew without a doubt that he wasn't the only person s.h.i.+n liked in his lifetime. s.h.i.+n was also very experienced in dating and s.e.x.

Woojin felt bitterness on his tongue.

Eejun said softly, "You don't look too good, Woojin."

"s.h.i.+n Kim's probably very popular, right?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Do you think he is tired of me?"

"Hmm… I doubt that."

Eejun smirked and continued, "It's still too fun to tease you, Woojin Choi."

"…"

"Do you know why I'm here? s.h.i.+n Kim called me to take you out for lunch because he can't. He has a business meeting or something."

"…What?"

Eejun laughed, covering his mouth. He seemed amused and Woojin forgot to get angry. He just gaped at Eejun and waited.

Eejun explained, "s.h.i.+n Kim went to another province early this morning on a business trip."

"…"

"And I did tell him that you get very tired after long sessions. I said you will be exhausted for about two days. That's probably why he didn't call you. He didn't want to bother you."

"…"

"He might be waiting for you to call him first. Let's eat up and you can call him… Woojin, what are you doing?"

Before Eejun could even finish his sentence, Woojin stood up with his cellphone in his hand. Eejun asked again, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to call him right now. I'll be back."

Eejun gawked in confusion as Woojin left the restaurant. He found a quiet alleyway. He needed a quiet place to think first.

What should he say to s.h.i.+n?

"…"

Finally, he called s.h.i.+n, who answered after only two rings.

"h.e.l.lo?"

s.h.i.+n's beautiful voice caressed Woojin's ear. Woojin felt warm and finally…. Finally, he could breathe.

"Woojin?"

When s.h.i.+n said his name, Woojin knew that everything was going to be alright. He had been waiting to hear s.h.i.+n's voice for a long time.

For a very long time.

s.h.i.+n asked, "Did you eat lunch yet? Are you feeling ok?"

Woojin whispered, "I miss you, s.h.i.+n. I want to see you."

***

"I miss you."

s.h.i.+n had dated many people before, but never once did he ever missed any of them during the relations.h.i.+ps. s.h.i.+n was always the one in control; he led the relations.h.i.+p. His previous partners always seemed to be happy with him. s.h.i.+n was always the one who started and ended all of his relations.h.i.+ps.

But then, he met Woojin Choi.

Woojin wasn't like any of his previous lovers. Woojin never told him what he was thinking or feeling. Woojin's face was always blank, and he never seemed to be curious about s.h.i.+n.

Woojin was a mystery to s.h.i.+n.

s.h.i.+n stammered, "Umm… do you…"

"…"

"Did you say you miss me? You want to see me? ME?"

But as he spent more time with Woojin, s.h.i.+n learned to read him better. Woojin looked blank, but if you looked closely, you could see the hurricane of emotions in his eyes.

And today, Woojin called him. s.h.i.+n's heart pounded so fast that it hurt.

s.h.i.+n knew what a huge gesture it was on Woojin's part. To call him first… The Woojin s.h.i.+n knew was not good at making the first move.

s.h.i.+n asked, "Please answer me."

"Yes."

When s.h.i.+n first saw Woojin, he thought Woojin was an empty-minded person. But the truth was, Woojin was a very complicated man.

s.h.i.+n felt… like he wanted to cry with joy.

"I'm getting on the train right now."

"…"

"I will see you at dinner."

"I hope you have a safe trip."

s.h.i.+n s.h.i.+vered in excitement. Woojin was waiting for him.

s.h.i.+n bit her lips and murmured, "You drive me crazy…"

Some relations.h.i.+ps burned out quickly. Some disappeared even before they started.

But with Woojin… It was different.

Woojin was independent. He was perfectly fine standing on his own, but he still reached out to s.h.i.+n. It seemed that Woojin was now learning to share his loneliness.

They understood each other.

They trusted each other.