Chapter 68: Wicked Flexibility
by GideonNever. Not even once.
If he had to pin down a reason, it was because it was too much trouble. No matter how much he explained that there was nothing between him and Si-ha, no one ever believed them.
Perhaps it was hard for others to understand Si-ha’s unique obsession, but Si-ha was his only friend. Sometimes, Si-ha felt more precious than a boyfriend he’d only known for a short while.
Do Zion might never fully understand Yeo Si-ha’s presence in his life, but Jubin didn’t want to give him any reason to feel insecure.
“I want to look perfect to him. My skills, my abilities, my private life, my background, my relationships—everything.”
More than anyone, Jubin didn’t want to disappoint Zion. He had no intention of showing him his flaws.
He wanted to maintain a comfortable distance as a partner and, at the very least, finish filming Leaf on the Snow without any trouble.
“You know what I liked most about you after you quit acting for a while?”
“What?” Jubin snapped, barely containing his rising anger.
“Seeing you free from everyone else’s gaze.”
Jubin fell silent, feeling as if he’d been blindsided.
“You thought you’d only be loved if you were perfect. I liked seeing you break free from that conditional validation and live your life as you pleased.”
Si-ha sighed deeply before adding, “So, is this feeling you have now fueled by inferiority toward Do Zion? Or is it the desperation of someone dying to be loved by him?”
The rapid-fire questions caught Jubin completely off guard, leaving his mind and breath frozen.
If he had been a little younger, he could have dismissed his feelings as pure inferiority.
But now…
Excuses swirled in his head, but none of them would form into words.
“Just admit it,” Si-ha pressed, giving him no room to escape. “You’re practically marriage material.”
“I’m trying to keep my distance because I’m afraid of falling deeper,” Jubin admitted bluntly, his tone softening slightly. “Is that what you wanted to hear? And I’m greedy enough to want to remain a ‘perfect senior’ in his memory after the project ends.”
“You think you’re drawing a line,” Si-ha countered, “but when you smile, take care of him, and accept his advances like that, even someone who had no feelings for you would get the wrong idea.”
Jubin bit his lower lip and let out a deep sigh.
“I’m keeping this distance.”
“…Did Do Zion agree to that?”
“Why does his consent matter? It’s my choice.”
Suddenly, Zion’s words, which he had unleashed in a torrent, flashed through his mind.
Who ever wanted that kind of relationship? That’s a standard you set, Sunbae.
His chest tightened at the thought of Zion glaring at him with those resentful eyes again.
“It does matter,” Yeo Si-ha countered, a fearless smirk playing on one side of his lips. “Now that you’ve slept with him, if you’re the only one pushing and he’s the only one pulling, keeping that distance will be a real game for both of you.”
A game. The word felt right. Even the most trivial conversations with Zion were somehow enjoyable.
I’d always walked on eggshells, constantly molding myself to fit others. But being with Zion was a different kind of comfort than being with Si-ha.
If Si-ha was the type to let me conserve my energy by not demanding any, Zion was the one who actively shared his with me, easing my burdens before I even had to ask.
Someone that kind is way too good for me, I thought.
“I’d let you go the moment you found someone you actually loved,” Si-ha said, as if he’d expected me to say that. He clicked his tongue lightly. “What’s the point of staying with a piece of trash like me? I can’t even say no, and I’m too cowardly to break up with someone, so I just end up making them sick of me.”
“That’s exactly your problem,” Si-ha added. “No one knows the real you except me. Not even your parents.”
Just then, a heavy thud echoed through the apartment—someone was knocking on the front door.
Si-ha and I both turned toward the entrance at the same time.
Who could it be?
The doorbell rang immediately after.
Zion’s face appeared on the tablet screen, his expression slightly flushed.
“Looks like the guy on the other side doesn’t agree with the line you’ve drawn,” Si-ha remarked, crushing his empty beer can with a smug grin. “If you want to explain yourself, go ahead. If it’ll put your mind at ease.”
A heavy feeling settled in my chest. No matter how recklessly Si-ha had acted, there was still no reason for me to explain the situation to Do Zion, let alone make him understand.
And there was no reason for Zion to have followed me here.
Yet, I felt like I had to address this. I couldn’t just let it go.
“Alright, I’m going.”
Jubin quickly made his way toward the entrance.
“Watch out for guys who fall in love at first sight,” he added, his advice disguised as a useless meddling comment.
Before opening the front door, Jubin flashed Si-ha a confident look.
“Let’s see you quit smoking first.”
He swung the door open without hesitation. Zion’s pheromones, stronger than ever, flooded in through the gap, as if they had been held back.
The scent was more powerful than any he’d ever encountered—almost overwhelming.
As Jubin slowly lifted his head, he met Zion’s anxious gaze. Zion’s eyes swept over him, quickly checking for any injuries. Jubin deliberately closed the front door.
“Did you come all this way just to deliver cookies?”
There were no cookies. But Zion, still seething, looked ready to chase after Yeo Si-ha and throw a punch at any moment. Jubin tapped the firmly closed door once more with his fingertips, a silent confirmation.
“…Let’s go home. I’ll drive you,” Zion said, his voice low as he took Jubin’s wrist. Normally, Jubin would have adamantly refused and kept his guard up, but right now…
“Okay, please.” He followed Zion’s lead without a fight.
After they took the elevator down, Zion stepped ahead and opened the passenger door for him.
“Get in.”
“Thanks.”
As Jubin climbed into the seat, Zion gently closed the door behind him. Even the brief moment spent waiting for him to get into the driver’s seat sent Jubin’s heart racing with an inexplicable tension.
When the driver’s door opened, Zion’s intense scent flooded the car, overwhelming everything else.
“Open the window.”
He quickly started the engine and rolled down the window. The damp, musty scent of the parking garage diluted Zion’s fragrance.
“I’m pulling out.”
The car pulled away smoothly. Just as they left the apartment parking lot, Jubin rolled the window back up, worried that anyone outside might see Zion.
He deliberately left a crack open at the top.
“Smoke if you need to,” Jubin said.
“I’m fine.”
Thanks to the chip, Zion wasn’t gasping for air, desperate to throw himself at Jubin.
“Don’t push yourself. I can’t control my own pheromones right now either.”
Just as they cleared the apartment complex, Jubin pointed to a secluded spot on the outskirts and asked tentatively, “Should we pull over for a moment and talk?”
He jerked the steering wheel, pulling over to the curb before killing the engine.
A heavy silence filled the car.
Jubin took a moment to compose his thoughts, trying to figure out how to start this conversation.
But Zion, unable to bear the tension, spoke first.
“Who is that guy? Is he really just a friend?”
This was it. The opportunity Jubin had been waiting for. It didn’t matter how long he’d known Yeo Si-ha, or how close they were. None of that mattered now.
“Yes, he’s a friend.”
Just stick to the facts, Jubin told himself.
“He’d been drinking. It was just a joke—meaningless. I’ve already warned him never to do anything like that again.”
Jubin took a deep breath and added, “For the record, I’m sober.”
“That guy tried to kiss you. Forcibly. Isn’t that practically a crime?”
His voice was lower than usual.
It was clear he knew he was jealous, so he couldn’t even bring himself to be truly angry. Instead, he suppressed his emotions, though they still bled through his casual tone.
“When that happens, use the self-defense moves I taught you. Don’t let anyone take advantage of you.”
Zion probably wanted a different answer—not a promise to use the techniques he’d taught, but a firm resolution to set clear boundaries with everyone else.
“I won’t meet anyone without your permission from now on.”
Zion turned his head, his expression one of sheer surprise. He clearly hadn’t expected Jubin to be this decisive.
“I’ll definitely put the self-defense skills to good use. Give me some special training. I’ll work hard since it’s you teaching me.”
For a moment, he fell silent.
Why isn’t he saying anything? Jubin glanced at him, wondering if this wasn’t the answer he’d been hoping for. He saw Zion covering half his face with his hand.
“You know what, Sunbae?”
Instead of answering, Jubin met his gaze.
“You’re surprisingly…”
Surprisingly? Jubin waited patiently for him to finish.
“…dangerously flexible at the most critical moments.”
Is that… a bad thing?
“Is it a bad thing?”
“You said I’m your only friend.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Jubin readily agreed and added, “But you still hate it.”
Yeo Si-ha would probably understand, thinking it’s the price for the prank he played…
Zion’s lips parted as he fixed Jubin with his signature honey-sweet gaze, his voice dropping to a subtle, suggestive tone.
“You don’t act like this with anyone else.”
In that instant, Si-ha’s words echoed in Jubin’s mind.
“You think you’re drawing a line, but when you smile, take care of people, and put up with them like that, even someone who had no feelings for you will start to misunderstand.”
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