Gentle Forest

Chapter 15

Standing there, I stared curiously at Aiden, who was pointing at his T-shirt with his fingertip.

"What?"

Upon asking, Aiden, scratching the back of his head, replied "There's your spit here"

Embarrassment made my forehead warm from the early morning. "Do you really, really have to say that out loud?"

With a cheeky grin, he added, "Well, someone had to mention it."

Watching me, Aiden leisurely rose from the sofa as if inspecting a mark of glory, my drool stain.

I covered my flushed face and glanced again at the table with the empty beer cans rattling around. "Did you drink more yesterday?"

Aiden, avoiding eye contact, mumbled, "Uh, a bit."

"Doesn't seem like just a bit."

As someone who vividly remembered the deep sighs of dawn and the trembling touch, it was a matter I couldn't casually dismiss. However, bringing it up seemed overly intrusive and perhaps best left untouched between us. Given our differing taste, delving into it further would only lead to a painful exchange.

I planned to deal with this problem generously and maturely. I decided to regulate my demeanor and posture, pretending not to know too much, ensuring we wouldn't end up in such a situation again.

While I was lost in thoughts for a moment while repeating my own resolution to myself, I saw Aiden rolling up his t-shirt out of the corner of my eye. It was a bold action, different from the times when he hid his exposed abs for fear that I might see them.

"Ah...!"

I almost let out an unintentional gasp as the wind rushed in unexpectedly when he swiftly pulled off the T-shirt, fully exposing his upper body. The well-defined chest I had been burying my face into just moments ago, and the sculpted muscles that seemed crafted by someone, captivated my attention.

"Captivating" was the right word. Though I was secretly curious, I wasn't quite prepared to fully accept such meticulous muscles yet.

It was distinctly different from seeing someone in a photo. The straight shoulders, finely chiseled abs, slender waist, and the exposed iliac crest above the pants-smooth muscles that beautifully embraced a sturdy skeleton, unfairly concealed beneath the T-shirt. Having vividly witnessed this scene, I found myself in a dilemma, unsure of how to react.

I had never once questioned my sexual orientation. However, seeing Aiden's physique elicited an unspoken admiration, even from a man like me. In short, it was a body that demanded acknowledgment, even from someone who was undeniably a man.

Oh, really sexy...

In that moment, Aiden approached me even closer.

"I'll change and be right back."

The morning-deepened voice sounded oddly alluring. He lightly tapped my shoulder, whispered in my ear with a smile, and then walked straight into my room.

I looked at Aiden's back as if I was fascinated. Eventually, I quietly covered his mouth. The muscular back was no joke, and without realizing it, I muttered something fortunate that he couldn't hear. As if under a spell, I secretly followed Aiden to the room. Thankfully, keeping some distance, I stood by the door and watched as he pulled out a new shirt.

"Why?" Aiden turned around, revealing more than he probably should due to the snug workout pants. Strengthening my voice as if in control, I pointed at the pants with my fingertip.

"Lift your pants up a bit."

"...Lift, what?"

"Lift your pants properly."