Sweet Shot

“It used to be soft and squishy, which was nice…”

“……”

“Why did you lose so much weight? It’s disappointing, hyung.”

His drowsy, languid voice tickled the nape of my neck. Along with that, the warmth of his body against my back made my heart flutter. His words, spoken so tenderly, stirred something inside me while simultaneously sending a chill through my solar plexus. There’s no way it could be good. Something like a wobbling mass of flesh, a sight so repulsive just to look at, couldn’t possibly be good.

Ha-min’s face noticeably fell at the playful, yet excessive comment. His slight, nervous movements came to a stop, as if he didn’t know what to do.

“……”

Sensing this, Tae-rim slowly opened his eyes. Beyond his previously closed vision, he could see Ha-min’s profile, quietly staring into space. It was a rare expression for Ha-min. Deeply sunken. Tae-rim, feeling something was off, furrowed his brow and once again tightly hugged Ha-min’s waist.

Soon after, Ha-min’s tightly closed lips parted. His voice was quiet, almost crawling.

“Because it doesn’t look good…”

“…?”

“When you’re fat, you smell… it’s dirty, so…”

The last syllable trembled slightly. His voice, muttering as if self-harming, and his bitter tone were unnaturally dark.

Clearly sensing something was wrong, Tae-rim tickled the back of Ha-min’s neck with the tip of his nose, like a puppy. With a rustle, Ha-min’s hair touched Tae-rim’s nose bridge, and he could feel Tae-rim’s skin nuzzling against him.

“Don’t say such foolish things…”

He whispered in Ha-min’s ear, comforting him.

“I like everything about you, hyung.”

Affectionately.

“Even the smell of grass and milk that comes from you.”

Sweetly.

“…Ever since we were young.”

With such unfair words.