Chapter 68

After dinner and some idle chatter, it was already late at night. Theo, whose eyes were starting to droop, stood up and said it was time to sleep. Blaine fidgeted, unsure of what to do, before replying without getting up.

“I’ll sleep in the living room… on the sofa.”

“What?”

“There’s only one bed anyway. Since I’m the guest, I’ll take the sofa.”

“Why would you sleep on the sofa? We can just set up another bed.”

“Huh?”

“There’s a spare one. Come here.”

Theo gestured toward the bedroom and walked in. Blaine, startled and unable to hide his expression, followed him hesitantly.

He’d only been inside Theo’s house twice, and this was his first time entering the bedroom. The small home was built like a semi-studio apartment—no doors separating the living room from the bedroom—so he could always see part of it from the outside. Still, he never imagined he’d actually walk into that space himself.

The bedroom looked much like the living room. A tapestry hung on the rough wall, and a small potted plant sat by the window. On the circular rug lay a single bed and a nightstand—cozy but compact. Unlike the rough, store-bought furniture, the bed itself looked surprisingly nice.

Theo pushed his own bed toward the wall to make space, then pulled out another bed and set it beside the first. He placed the nightstand between them. The arrangement was rushed but turned out fine. With a satisfied smile, Theo pointed at one of the beds.

“You can use that one.”

But the bed he pointed to wasn’t the spare—it was the one Theo had been using. Blaine’s eyes went wide as he waved his hands frantically.

“Th-That’s your bed! I’ll take the other one!”

He looked so flustered his eyebrows formed a perfect arch. Theo, misunderstanding, thought Blaine just didn’t like the idea of using someone else’s bed.

“I’ll change the sheets. That one’s just better quality.”

“It’s not about the sheets… I mean, they’re nice—but that’s exactly why you should use it.”

“You’re the guest, so I’m giving it to you. Anyone else wouldn’t even get that much.”

Blaine froze at those words.

“Anyone else…?”

“Yeah.”

Theo’s voice dropped, but he didn’t seem to notice Blaine’s expression as he searched through the storage chest for bedding.

“So… have other people slept over here before?”

“Huh?”

“Did… Aslan stay over too?”

Theo’s hand stopped midair. Slowly, he turned toward Blaine. His brows furrowed deeply, making it clear he was not pleased.

“Why the hell would he sleep here?”

It was a harsh answer—but Blaine’s face lit up with relief.

“So Aslan hasn’t stayed here before?”

“Don’t say gross things like that. Just change your blanket.”

Grumbling, Theo handed the new blanket to Blaine, who shook his head with a laugh and pushed it back.

“Why? Don’t you need it? Thought it felt weird or something.”

“Huh? Why would it feel weird?”

“Uh… never mind, if it doesn’t.”

Theo scratched his head, unable to come up with a response to Blaine’s innocent question, then stuffed the extra blanket back into storage.

While Theo was putting it away, Blaine quietly approached the bed. He hesitated for a moment, then sat down. The action had no particular meaning, yet his face heated up immediately.

As he covered his blushing cheeks with both hands, Theo settled into the bed beside him and spoke.

“It’s not your place, so it might feel uncomfortable. Just bear with it for tonight.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah… sure.”

The phrase just for tonight stung a little. The warmth rising in his chest quickly cooled.

It’d be nice if we could just live together like this.

“I’m tired, so I’ll sleep first. If you can’t fall asleep, feel free to walk around. Just don’t go outside.”

“Okay. Sleep well.”

“Mm.”

Theo replied softly, then turned off the lamp on the nightstand. Darkness swallowed the room. Lying flat on his back, Blaine listened to the faint rustle of Theo shifting beside him—and couldn’t help but smile. Then, quietly, he turned onto his side, facing Theo’s bed.

Blaine’s heart beat pleasantly. Theo was so close, just within reach if he stretched out a hand. He used to spend countless nights outside in the flower bed, waiting for him—but now, he was lying beside him in Theo’s own house. It felt unreal, like a dream.

He thought he could stay awake all night just watching him. But maybe it was the comfort of being near Theo—or maybe the softness of the expensive bed—that lulled him to sleep without even realizing it.

“Blaine.”

A familiar voice called his name, accompanied by a hand shaking his shoulder. But he was too comfortable to want to wake up. He wanted to sink back into the warmth of sleep, to savor the heaviness of his eyelids a little longer.

Just as he tried to turn away from that persistent hand, the voice chuckled—and used a name he never expected to hear.

“Hey, Soo-hyun.”

Blaine’s eyes shot open. Before he could even register what was happening, he bolted upright. Theo flinched, leaning back in surprise, eyes wide. The only difference now was that he’d already re-applied his customization.

Blaine, startled like a spring released, could only stare at Theo with wide eyes—unable to believe that Theo had just said his name.

“You’re up? You slept like a rock.”

“Ah… good morning.”

His hair was a complete mess, but he still bowed instinctively in greeting. Theo blinked a few times, then smiled and reached out to fix Blaine’s hair.

“You sleep rough, huh.”

Blaine just sat there, dazed, watching Theo tidy his hair. Theo had woken him up, called him by his real name, and was now fixing his bed hair. It was enough to make him wonder if he was still dreaming.

“I wanted to let you sleep more, but the others are coming over.”

“The others?”

“Father and them.”

“Oh.”

He didn’t mention Holanghee or Noquia, but Blaine understood immediately. He pulled up his display window to check the time. It felt like he’d slept for hours, but it was only a little past seven.

Blaine looked at Theo, puzzled. It didn’t make sense that those three would visit this early. But instead of explaining, Theo walked toward the living room and asked casually:

“Want some coffee first?”

“Huh? Oh… I’ll just have water.”

Mumbling his reply, Blaine staggered out of bed and followed Theo to the living room. Theo motioned toward the sofa before heading to the kitchen setup, but Blaine hesitated between the two and ended up walking over to him instead.

As Theo stood before the cooking tools, preparing coffee, he felt movement behind him and glanced over his shoulder—only to find Blaine standing right there instead of sitting down.

“I told you to sit.”

Theo pointed at the sofa again, but Blaine just shook his head, eyes fixed on Theo’s back as he brewed.

“I’ll stay here.”

“What’s there to see? Or did you want to eat something?”

Blaine said nothing—just shook his head. Then he took a small step closer and rested his chin lightly on Theo’s shoulder. Theo stiffened, caught off guard, and turned slightly to look at him. Blaine, half-asleep, just stared blankly at Theo’s hands moving in front of him.

Theo let out a quiet sigh and relaxed his shoulders.

He’s still half-asleep.

“Oh, Blaine. Before the others get here, reapply your customization.”

Blaine’s dazed eyes widened, and he froze. Only his gaze moved, sneaking a look at Theo’s profile. That usual calm expression—indifferent, unreadable—was there again.

Any hope that Theo might keep calling him Soo-hyun from now on crumbled instantly. He knew he shouldn’t expect too much, but when it came to Theo, he couldn’t help wanting more.

It’d be nice if he’d call me by my real name again… instead of just ‘Blaine.’

He wanted to say it out loud, but couldn’t bring himself to. Instead, like a sulking child, he rubbed his head against Theo’s shoulder.

“I’m going to spill it.”

Theo’s firm voice cut through the moment. When Blaine looked up, Theo was holding a glass of cold water in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other. Blaine hurriedly grabbed both and scurried off toward the sofa.

Theo blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. He’d only meant to give Blaine water, but somehow the coffee had been snatched too. He sighed as he watched Blaine’s back retreat toward the table, then followed, shaking his head in disbelief.

By the time they’d both finished their drinks, a knock sounded on the door. Theo muttered, “They’re here,” and stood from the sofa to answer it.

At the entrance stood Father, Holanghee, and Noquia. After brief greetings, they glanced toward Blaine, who was awkwardly standing in the living room. Then, after exchanging a few quiet words with Theo, they stepped inside.

“You two went to Hexi’s Castle, didn’t you?”

Once everyone had gathered around the table, Father began speaking. Blaine assumed the question was directed at him and Theo.

“And?”

Theo tilted his head, puzzled, and Father let out a deep sigh as she rubbed her temples.

“They saw it. Everyone there saw it.”

“Saw… what?”

“Your back.”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

Both Theo and Blaine echoed the question in unison. Father opened her eyes and looked between the two of them, voice rising.

“Most of the players who joined you during the Hexi’s Castle raid—apparently they all saw Blaine’s back. That indecent…!”

Even mid-sentence, Father’s tone shook with outrage. She took a deep breath, visibly forcing herself to calm down before she exploded.

Theo, equally startled, turned toward Blaine—more precisely, toward the back hidden beneath his cloak.

Holanghee gently patted Father’s shoulder to steady her, then continued in her place.

“So, apparently, the users who saw Sweetie’s back have been hanging around near the guild house. Hoping they might get another glimpse.”

“Wait, what? Who the hell hangs around just to see someone’s back?”

Theo’s incredulous tone hung in the air. Holanghee covered one cheek with her hand and cast Blaine a sly glance.

“Well… it is pretty attractive, you know.”

Everyone turned their eyes toward Blaine. He looked completely dumbfounded, as if he couldn’t decide whether to be offended or embarrassed.

“The problem isn’t the gawkers.”

Having regained her composure, Father opened her display window. The others leaned in as she swiped through several images.

At a glance, the photos were clearly taken in Hexi’s Castle. But when Theo and Blaine looked closer, both of them froze.

They were battle shots—scenes of them fighting named monsters and bosses. But Blaine’s scandalous back was captured in full, unfiltered detail.

“The real problem,” Father said grimly, “is that people are selling those stolen photos.”