3 Paths to Love

Chapter 13

"So, this here is the N1 compressor where the air goes through first," Insoo explained, pointing the tip of his pen to the diagram between them. "And as the rotor turns, it traps the air and compresses it."

Myungsuk nodded. With his face in his hands and elbows on the table, he tucked his leg under him and sat forward, focusing on the diagram. "And after it'll push the air through the discharge port?" he asked.

"Correct," Insoo grinned. "You're right. And after...?"

"The air will go to the N2 compressor," Myungsuk said, grinning brightly.

Insoo nodded. "You got it. You learn fast, Myungsuk."

"Only when I want to."

"I know the feeling," Insoo chuckled. "I'm so glad to be in university now."

"Lucky," Myungsuk sighed. Going through 12th-grade for what he considered the third time was not the type of repetition he wanted. Shaking his head, Myungsuk leaned in further. "What comes next?'

"Right." Insoo nodded. "So after the compressor–" He waved his pen and hit his hand against his mug. Gasping, he caught the tipping mug and sighed in relief when nothing spilled on his notes.

Myungsuk released his held breath and giggled. "It's funny not being the clumsy one."

Chuckling, Insoo shrugged shyly. "My bad," he said. Insoo switched his pen to his other hand and started to fill in the next label. "Next is the combustion chambe–"

"You switched your hands."

Insoo looked up, blinking. "Oh, yeah. I can write with both."

Myungsuk's eyes widened, sparkling at the revelation. "You're ambidextrous," he said and wiggled his toes. "That's so cool!"

Shrugging, Insoo ducked his head. "Ah, it's nothing really," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced up again while Myungsuk kept marvelling and cracked a smile. "I can actually write with both hands at the same time."

"You can?" Myungsuk gasped and squeezed his hands together. "Can I see?"

"Sure," Insoo laughed. He pulled out another pen from his case and held it to the paper. He hummed for a moment before he started to write.

Myungsuk slid his hands over his mouth to muffle his giggles.

"Here," Insoo said once he was done and turned the paper. Myungsuk picked it up and grinned. One sentence was 'My name is Cheung Insoo and this is my right hand. I can keep going but I'm not sure what else to write," and with his other hand, he wrote a list of the rest of the parts of the diagram.

"Can I keep this?" Myungsuk asked, holding the paper to his chest.

"Uh, sure," Insoo said. "I actually got that one for you. I didn't want to use the ones we use in class since they're really complicated," he explained, his hand on his nape.

Brushing his thumbs against the page, Myungsuk whispered, "This is for me?"

Nibbling his bottom lip, Myungsuk carefully folded it and held it in his hands, holding back his purrs.

He glanced over to the counter at Taeyong and Kwangsun. Myungsuk should be there with them, but they insisted it was fine. Plus, Insoo was more than just a customer. They were friends now. He was sure of it.

"Myungsuk, can I ask you something?"

"Can you ask me something?" He nodded, tugging his sleeve. "Yes. Go ahead."