I looked at Ki-hoon, and then at the steaming tub, twisting my lips as I thought this was some kind of development.

Thanks to what happened back then, I don’t think he’s going to let me be if I told him to let me bathe in peace... Out of sight.

And I don’t want to be alone either.

The pool of water, though small, was still water in the end. With no one here, I’ll start to have dreary feelings.

I took in a breath and made a bold move.

"Hyung," I called and stepped towards him.

I reached for his chest, pressed my palm on it, and felt his thumping heart. It was racing. Was he nervous?

I looked at him. He held a straight face, trying not to let it show that he was feeling something from this situation.

I smiled.

So I’m not the only one feeling awkward.

"Hyung," I called again, my hand sliding up his chest until I got to his shoulder. "Let’s bath together."

I told myself before that I was going to be fair but in truth, despite how fair I wanted to be, there was one person who made a ’first’ and started a ’trend’. So, if I bathe with Ki-hoon now then I’ll bathe with the rest at another time. I don’t have any issues with it.

I looked at Ki-hoon’s face, that taken aback expression on his face looked so gullible I wanted to chuckle.

"Jo-Pil," he called. "Are you... Being serious?"

I nodded.

"Yeah." I hooked my arms around his neck. "Let’s bath together. But we aren’t going to do anything else. As long as you promise that, then we can bathe together more often."

I looked into his eyes, searching for what could be an answer, and then watched him swallow, his Adam’s apple moving vertically.

"So, what do you say?"

He nodded. He nodded so frantically that it was as if I would rescind my words if he nodded too lightly.

I chuckled.

"Alright," I said, turning around with my hand holding on to his. "Let’s bathe together."

I don’t know if Ki-hoon will keep his promise and not do anything while we’re in the water but I feel he will. He’s the type who would very much like to impress on the first time in order to get a second time.

And so, we both soaked in the tub, my eyes fixed on Ki-hoon’s hard ab soaked in the steaming water.

I feel like I’m the pervert here, haha.

And because I was staring so openly, Ki-hoon felt nervous, his eyes closed and his face a little heated. Of course, he could lie that it was the heat of the water that made his face flush.

I closed my eyes, taking in the feeling of the light ripple from the water and then the ripple grew stronger. I opened my eyes and saw Ki-hoon closer now. He reached his hand towards me, and I braced myself, thinking he was going to touch me, but he reached behind me, taking the shower head and the shampoo.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat and my face flushed, embarrassed that I was anticipating something after I made him promise not to do something.

I’m such an idiot.

"I’ll wash your hair for you." He said and I nodded. "Turn around."

I turned my back to him, sitting between his legs as the warm spray of the shower head hit my scalp.

As soon as his fingers touched my head, I felt a shiver that ran down my spine.

"What’s wrong?" He asked as he noticed me flinch but I shook my head.

"No, it’s nothing. Continue please."

Ki-hoon was gentle. Surprisingly so. He worked the shampoo into bubbles, his large hands massaging my scalp with a slow, deliberate pressure that made my toes curl in the water.

I leaned my head back instinctively, resting it against his chest. I could hear his heart—I could feel it—it was still drumming a frantic rhythm, betraying the calm, ’boss-like’ facade he usually wore.

"You have soft hair, Jo-Pil," he murmured, his voice rumbling through his chest and into my back. "I’ve wanted to do this for a long time."

"Really?" I whispered, closing my eyes, the steam and soft pressure of his fingers making me drowsy, melting away the fatigue of the day. "You could have just asked."

"I didn’t want to seem... Impatient," he admitted. He rinsed the soap away, the warm water cascading over my face, and for a moment, the world felt very small. Just the two of us in a sanctuary of steam and marble.

But then, his hands didn’t pull away.

After rinsing, his fingers lingered at the nape of my neck, tracing the sensitive skin there. I felt him shift behind me. The water in the tub rippled as he moved closer, until there wasn’t a single inch of space between my back and his front.

"Jo-Pil," he breathed, his lips ghosting over the shell of my ear. "I promised I wouldn’t do anything... but I didn’t promise I wouldn’t look."

I turned my head slightly, catching his gaze.

His eyes spoke, and the heat in them was far more intense than the water we were sitting in. He looked like he was starving and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.

I gulped, but didn’t break my gaze from him.

"You’re staring again," he pointed out, a trace sly grin returning. "Is my body that interesting to you?"

I felt my face go nuclear red.

"I... It’s just mandatory service!" What was I even saying? "I’ve seen your body so many times that it’s no big deal."

Ki-hoon chuckled, a low, dark sound. He reached forward, grabbing a sponge and a bar of scented soap.

"Is that so? Then you won’t mind if I return the favor? You’re still a bit sweaty from the zoo, after all."

He didn’t wait for my ’no’ and just went ahead. He started with my shoulders, the rough texture of the sponge sent sparks through my nerves. He was being ’helpful,’ just like he said, but the way his eyes tracked the movement of the soap over my skin felt like he was memorizing every curve, and every mark on my skin.

Suddenly, his eyes landed on my back, he paused and the peaceful bath felt a lot more dangerous.

"Hyung," I gasped as he reached my waist. "I think... I think I can finish the rest." I said but he pressed his thumb on my back.

"I can see the traces," he said. "It looks like a map," he let out a low chuckle, but that chuckle sounded a bit sad.