Jiseok Short Story Collection

Noona, this kid keeps looking at me again

The late afternoon sunlight fills the living room, pouring in through the wide glass windows and tinting the flooring with a warm, cozy glow. Thanks to the open layout, the space stays bright and clear, and perfect light falls over the big sofa with no shadow at all. I’m sitting with my legs crossed, leaning fully back into a big, fluffy cushion, with a thick book resting on my lap.

The person sitting right next to me, taking up all the remaining space on the sofa, is Jiseok. He’s wearing a boxy, comfortable sweater, which makes him look especially soft and squishy under the warm sunlight. With his head leaned back against the wall, he’s gently narrowing the corners of his calm eyes, his bright dimples showing sweetly on his cheeks.

"Hey, you’re staring at me again, noona." Jiseok murmurs softly. His deep, resonant voice fills the quiet room beautifully, falling low and teasing with a nasal lilt.

I look down toward the footrest at the edge of the sofa. Sitting perfectly still and straight on the carpet is my small, skinny rescue dog. Its big black eyes are fixed completely on Jiseok’s face, not moving an inch. Then, all at once, it shows off its specialty. It sticks its little pink tongue out and flicks it rapidly, then lifts its head and points its nose straight toward Jiseok’s pocket.

Jiseok freezes in place. His expressive eyes follow the movement in total surprise, and his mouth parts slightly. Then he lets out a soft, breathy laugh and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees to bring himself down to the pup’s eye level.

"Look at this," he whispers. While the sunlight catches the genuine warmth in his gaze, his voice is full of gentle, harmless curiosity. "It keeps sticking its tongue out again. What does that mean? Is it some kind of secret code?"

"That means it’s issuing a stern warning because you’re sitting on the cushion it claimed for itself, noona." A tiny, giggling smile finally spreads across my face as I gently object. "And it knows exactly where you hid the treats."

"Oh, really?" Jiseok answers playfully, warm and mischievous sparks lighting up in his eyes as he turns his head to face me fully. Rather than moving aside, he deliberately presses one step closer into my space. In the warm, still air, his broad shoulder gently presses against mine as our breaths mingle. "Well, I have to hold my ground. This sofa is too comfortable to give up."

As if it understood his provocation, my little dog skips the footrest entirely, leaps up the steps, and lands squarely in the middle of Jiseok’s lap. As if trying not to get scolded, it tilts its head and sticks out its tiny tongue a little, doing its best to look as adorable as possible.

Jiseok bursts into a breathless laugh, the vibration of it running straight through my shoulder. His protective instincts kick in, and his cool-idol facade completely vanishes. His long fingers gently stroke down the pup’s back, gathering the skinny little body in with firm affection.

"Okay, okay. You win," Jiseok whispers tenderly, slowly and affectionately rubbing a finger behind the pup’s ear. The little bell on the collar gives off a clear, soft sound, and the pup stretches its head back, fully accepting Jiseok as its personal massage therapist.

Looking down at its tiny body, he lifts his head and meets my eyes directly, under the bright sunlight, with perfect, unwavering sincerity. He reaches out with his free hand and gently covers mine with his large, warm palm, then firmly intertwines our fingers on the fluffy cushion.

"I guess it just wanted both of us to give it attention," he murmurs sweetly. His voice lowers like a precious promise just for us, bringing sudden, perfect calm to my heart. He lowers his head and gently presses his forehead to mine for a long, quiet moment, tightly sealed inside our own secret bubble. The noise of the world sinks completely into the deep stillness of the late afternoon.