"So, what do you think?Swimming off the island would be impossible, right? And with a jet ski that small, wouldn't get very far,"
"…"
"Paragliding also seems out of the question, given that the island doesn't have a steep enough slope to jump from, and the winds here are too calm. Am I right?"
Zhenya's list of escape methods started to sound painfully familiar to Kwon Taekjoo, and he suddenly realized Zhenya was reciting all the ways he had tried to escape from him in the past.
Finally, he understood why Zhenya was grinning so cheerfully.
"Who do you think you're mocking?"
He slapped Zhenya's back in frustration. Zhenya kept smiling, completely unfazed.
"Taekjoo, you think too much."
"And you don't think enough, idiot."
"Only the weak have to overthink everything because every moment feels like a risk."
"Wow, must be nice for you,"
Kwon Taekjoo retorted sarcastically, quickly giving up on trying to reason with Zhenya. He knew it would take more than a round trip to hell for Zhenya to learn some basic decency.
Finally, Zhenya's jet ski reached the beach. Zhenya dismounted first and effortlessly lifted Kwon Taekjoo to the ground. Then he comforted his lover, who, in words, 'thought too much'
"Don't worry, you don't need to think so hard about this. When the time comes, I'll put you right where you belong."
Could he really trust those words? A seed of doubt sprouted in his heart, as it always did, but he also felt an impulsive urge to simply trust Zhenya with everything.
Kwon Taekjoo looked up at Zhenya and smiled.
"Wow, I'm honestly impressed you'd say that, you bastard."
"Well, turns out my lover is a man of few desires, I just wish he wanted more."
"Oh, so you've finally decided to listen to me? Fantastic. In that case, why don't you go grab us a drink while your at it?"
"Huh? Taekjoo, do you really think you can just order me aro—?"
"Yes, yes I'm the first person to ever treat you this way. Got it. Now go hurry up."
Kwon Taekjoo waved him off and settled onto the nearest sunbed. As he stretched out under the canopy, completely soaked, the breeze felt cool and refreshing against his skin.
At the same time, the sand, warmed by the sun, began to heat his back and hips. A cold beer to wash away the salty taste in his mouth would have been the perfect touch to complete the atmosphere.
Zhenya didn't take long to return, settling into the empty sunbed next to Kwon Taekjoo. A single bottle of beer dangle from his hand.
"And where's mine?"
"You just said to bring something to drink, not specifically for you."
"Aah.. you're a rude idiot. Did I really need to spell it out…?"
Zhenya took a sip from the bottle, seemingly indifferent, even as Kwon Taekjoo complained.The sound of each gulp echoed in Kwon Taekjoo's ears as he watched Zhenya's throat bob up and down with every swallow.
Kwon Taekjoo swallowed dryly, mesmerized by the sight.
Once his thirst was quenched, Zhenya let out a satisfying exhale, the scent of alcohol hanging in the air. Kwon Taekjoo's patience finally wore thin. He reached for the half-empty bottle in Zhenya's hand, but Zhenya dodged effortlessly, taking another sip just to tease him. kwon Taekjoo's throat tensed. Less than a third of the beer was left.
Kwon Taekjoo bit his lip, gesturing for Zhenya to hand over the remaining beer. But Zhenya only looked at him with a distracted expression and brought the last bit of beer straight to his lips.
Unable to wait any longer, Kwon Taekjoo grabbed Zhenya by the shoulders and pulled him down. He pressed his lips urgently against Zhenya's, savoring the bubbly, carbonated drink as it fizzed on his tongue, filling his mouth with the rich taste of malt beer. Thirsty and eager, Kwon Taekjoo's tongue tangled with Zhenya's slippery one, only heightening his craving.
He held Zhenya's face and sucked on his tongue with a series of wet, slurping sounds.
The corners of Zhenya's lips curled into a grin as his hand slid into Kwon Taekjoo's shorts, stroking his thighs and backside with insatiable intent.
How much time had passed?
Kwon Taekjoo froze as he sensed someone nearby. When he looked up, he saw an attendant standing right in front of them. The attendant bowed before placing a beer and fries on the table next to their sunbeds.
Kwon Taekjoo remained still while the employee finished and discreetly withdrew. His face was completely neutral, giving no indication he had seen anything unusual. Of course, that didn't mean he didn't witness Kwon Taekjoo and Zhenya locked in an intimate embrace.
The tips of Kwon Taekjoo's ears burned. He noticed Zhenya smirking beside him and grabbed him by the
"You did that on purpose, didnt you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. You're the one who attacked me, Taekjoo."
Kwon Taekjoo's anger simmered just below the surface, but he knew Zhenya was right, so he stewed in his own frustration in silence.
"Get lost,"
He muttered before breaking free from Zhenya's hold and swatting away the hand massaging his butt, as if it were a bothersome fly. Kwon Taekjoo quenched his thirst with the beer on the table, drinking so fast that his head spun for a moment.
He returned to the sunbed with a second bottle in hand.
Kwon Taekjoo stared at the waves that ceaselessly rolled up to his feet and then retreated back into the sea. When was the last time he had enjoyed such a luxury? After days in an unfamiliar place without anything noteworthy happening, his sense of reality seemed to be slipping away. If someone were to tell him this was a dream, he wouldn't find it hard to believe.
He lay there for a long time, dazed, when Zhenya suddenly moved toward him, grabbing his exposed leg with both hands. Kwon Taekjoo glanced briefly at the hands of his leg before looking back at the distant horizon.
He didn't react or give much thought as Zhenya lifted his ankle and began massaging his thigh.
"You still have cramps in your muscles."
"Yeah, thanks to a certain someone."
"So, it's my fault again?"
"Of course. What's the point of you massaging me all day if I'm going to get cramps again at night because of your lust?"
If twisting words were an art, Zhenya would be a master.
Zhenya's hand momentarily lost contact with his foot before grabbing Kwon Taekjoo again, sliding his hand from his calf to his knee, then higher up his thighs, slipping under Kwon Taekjoo's shorts.
With his other hand, Zhenya gripped the edge of the sunbed, climbing on top of Kwon Taekjoo.
The bright sunlight in Kwon Taekjoo's eyes indicated that the sun was beginning to set. The rays started to dip lower in the sky, casting a blinding light on Zhenya's back.
The slight orange glimmers reflecting on the ocean surface created the perfect backdrop for Zhenya, as if the scene had been made just for him. The light made his ivory-colored hair and pale skin glow more intensely than before
Even his blue eyes, now gazing at Kwon Taekjoo's reflection, took on a translucent quality.