Chapter 28: Unexpected Touch

“What?”

Both the manager and Yujin asked at the same time.

Yujin’s eyes even looked like they were about to pop out.

“Wow… Han-geon.

You really are close with Eun-gyeol.”

“Yeah.

This isn’t just being close… this is something else.”

Everyone except Eun-gyeol and Han-geon was staring dumbfounded.

Not understanding why, Han-geon blinked rapidly.

“Because of what…?”

“I mean, I’ve never seen Cha Eun-gyeol share a room with his manager.”

The manager continued, still wearing a look of disbelief.

“It’s not that actors never share rooms with their managers, but usually seniors or lead actors get their own room.”

“Actually, that’s not even the surprising part… It’s that Cha Eun-gyeol said he’d share a room with someone.

That’s what’s shocking.”

“Agh, you two are so dramatic.

Stop it already.

I’m exhausted.”

Only when Eun-gyeol snapped irritably did the conversation end.

Since he insisted on giving up his room, no one tried to argue.

Only Han-geon felt awkward—though he didn’t show it.

Sharing a room during filming when they were already stuck together all day…

Well, it wasn’t like the past three weeks were any different.

Eun-gyeol had practically moved into his place and slept over constantly.

If they were purely friends, of course staying with Eun-gyeol would be more comfortable than bunking with the practically-stranger Geonho.

The problem was that their relationship was not something he could call “purely friendly”—not on his side, anyway.

“Anyway, tomorrow is the first day of shooting, so rest up.

See you on set.”

“Yes!

Good night, sir.

You too, noona.

See you tomorrow, Geonho!”

“Yes!

Have a good night, sir, actor-nim!”

Everyone piled into the elevator.

After three people got off, only Eun-gyeol and Han-geon remained.

Once they were alone, Eun-gyeol removed the cap he’d been wearing low over his face.

Since the hotel would be used exclusively by the Heart for Love staff and actors during filming, he seemed more relaxed than when they were outside.

The faint frown between his eyebrows slowly dissolved.

“There’s a rooftop upstairs.

Let’s grab a drink there later.”

“Oh, that’d be great.”

He tried not to sound too excited.

Just the idea of sipping cocktails with Eun-gyeol at a nice rooftop made his heart flutter.

Luckily, Eun-gyeol’s eyes also held a quiet smile.

When they opened the room with the keycard, Han-geon let out a low whistle.

“…Wow.

It’s huge.

And really nice.”

Unlike the unimpressed Eun-gyeol, Han-geon wheeled his suitcase inside with wide eyes.

It wasn’t a luxury hotel or anything, but for a small local hotel, the suite was clearly the best room available.

And to someone who rarely stayed in hotels at all, it looked plenty impressive.

The space was roomy.

The bedroom had two single beds, a large sofa and TV, and even a clothing care machine.

The spotless bathtub and gleaming sink made him swallow back excitement.

He was at a hotel… with Eun-gyeol.

There was a certain dizzying thrill that came from the setting itself.

Han-geon took a large breath to steady himself before his thoughts spiraled into something he couldn’t handle.

“Want to shower first?”

“You go first.”

“No, you should.

You must be tired from filming.”

His makeup and hair must feel suffocating—he should shower and relax first.

But apparently displeased with the refusal, Eun-gyeol stared silently at him for a moment.

Then, a faint smile curved his lips.

“Then shall we shower together?”

A sharp jolt shot through Han-geon’s lower belly.

If he were a dog or cat his ears would’ve twitched.

His ears and neck already felt like they were starting to heat up.

Internally, Han-geon cursed himself—pathetic how fast you react.

“Wh– n-no.

I’ll go first.”

“Why?

What’s the big deal?

Why do you always refuse?

Shower with me.”

“I said no.

I—I’m not comfortable showering with someone.”

He blurted the words and made a quick escape toward the bathroom.

Behind him, a soft chuckle followed.

Sliding the thin glass door shut, Han-geon looked down at himself—and saw he was already half-hard.

He scrubbed a hand over his face roughly.

The glass door that he had earlier thought was pretty now looked dangerously transparent.

He was terrified of showing this animalistic state.

The door did lock, and it wasn’t like Eun-gyeol would suddenly barge in—but still.

Calm down.

Forcing his mind elsewhere, he washed slowly and thoroughly.

Then, he twisted the knob to cold.

The freezing water drummed into his bones, pushing stray thoughts away.

When he finished, he grabbed a towel—only to realize he hadn’t brought any underwear or clothes.

Great.

After a moment’s misery, he wrapped a large towel around his hips.

He left the robe hanging just in case Eun-gyeol wanted it.

Opening the glass door, he stepped outside.

Eun-gyeol was seated at the table, fiddling with his phone.

Two cans of beer sat on the table—one already opened.

When Eun-gyeol looked up, his lips spread into a leisurely smile.

“Your body’s nice.

As always.”

“…Yours is better.”

To hide how flustered he was, Han-geon forced a teasing whistle.

The ears he’d cooled under icy water now threatened to burn again.

He’d grown up in sports college and worked in a male-dominated field—men seeing each other shirtless was nothing.

So why did Eun-gyeol’s gaze feel so… heavy?

Was it only because of his own feelings?

He didn’t know.

Trying to ignore it, he scanned the room for his suitcase.

Of course…

He bit his lip.

His suitcase was right next to Eun-gyeol’s chair.

Swallowing hard, he walked toward it.

Then a hand shot out.

Eun-gyeol’s hand wrapped around his wrist.

Han-geon froze mid-bend.

“…What?”

“Just wanted to touch.”

Those white, graceful fingers pressed against Han-geon’s abdomen without hesitation.

Startled, he instinctively grabbed Eun-gyeol’s wrist to stop him.

“H-hey, don’t—touch—”

“Why not?”

His eyes were already sharpening.

He always reacted intensely to any sign of rejection.

“You let the women touch you.

Why can’t I?”

Women…?

Han-geon blinked.

When had women touched him?

Ah.

When Juwon and Yujin first greeted him, each had briefly poked his arm out of curiosity.

And both times, Eun-gyeol had been present.

Seriously?

Is that what he meant?

He was speechless.

“T-that… They’re in fields where bodies and clothes matter, so they were just curious, that’s all.”

“How am I different?”

Eun-gyeol asked, visibly irritated.

“What, you think I’d touch some jacked guy’s body with weird intentions?”

…Yeah, of course he wouldn’t.

But even though he knew that, something inside him twisted painfully.

If he refused again, he’d look like he was overreacting.

So Han-geon swallowed a sigh and offered his body stiffly.

“Fine.

Go ahead.

Touch, you idiot.”

Looking up at him, Eun-gyeol let out a small laugh.

As if saying, You were going to give in anyway, so why fight it?

True.

Why fight it when he always gave in?

But he didn’t have time to contemplate that.

The moment those long fingers pressed into his skin, every thought disintegrated.

Wherever they brushed, a dizzying sensation burned into him.

There were still droplets of water between the ridges of his abs.

Eun-gyeol tapped each droplet lightly, then spread his palm and slowly stroked across the muscle.

Whether because his hands ran hot or Han-geon’s skin was hypersensitive, every touch felt scorching.

His glutes clenched involuntarily.

He feared even the sound of swallowing would be audible.

This wasn’t some objective appraisal of muscles—this was teasing, almost intimate.

The hand slid upward, reaching his well-pumped pecs.

His back arched slightly on its own.

Han-geon tried to pull the hand away.

Just as he grabbed Eun-gyeol’s wrist, the younger man spoke in a languid tone:

“You’re pretty, Han-geon.”

He had never heard that in his life. “Cool,” sure.

But “pretty”…?

Is that something friends say while touching each other’s stomachs?

He didn’t know how to respond.

While he fumbled for words, Eun-gyeol spoke again.

“Oh.

You’re hard.”

Han-geon’s fingers jerked around Eun-gyeol’s wrist, gripping it tighter.

But Eun-gyeol didn’t look flustered—he simply pointed at Han-geon’s lower body with an amused glint in his eyes.

“Who gets a hard-on from a friend touching them, Han-geon?”