The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 188

Uijae stared in disbelief at Sayoung, who seemed startled to the point of trembling. What was going on? Sayoung was even inching backward, as if he were about to bolt through the door. This was the same guy who was usually restless if he couldn’t be near Uijae, so why was he acting like this?

Why is he behaving like this? Uijae paused, hand brushing the chin of his mask as a realization struck him.

*Wait a minute.*

What had he just said? *Let’s sleep?*

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over him. He recalled a similar argument from before, where things had gotten awkward over a misunderstanding.

*“Just to be clear, I wasn’t implying anything weird. I meant literally, just sleeping.”*

*“I wasn’t going to misunderstand. Aren’t you the one with the weird thoughts, hyung?”*

No way.

A horrified expression spread across Uijae’s face as the memory hit him full force. He stepped back involuntarily, pointing a finger at Sayoung.

“Hey, hey, you… what are you thinking? Why is your face like that?”

“...”

The eyes behind the gas mask lenses reflected nothing but suspicion.

What the hell? Uijae felt like he was being unfairly accused. He hastily put his hands together and mimicked the act of sleeping, pressing his palms to his cheek.

“No, I meant actual sleep! Like, putting your head on a pillow, covering yourself with a blanket, and... nothing else! You said last time you weren’t going to misunderstand, so why are you acting like this now?”

“Who said I was thinking anything?”

“Your eyes are impure! Why are you backing away?”

“I’m moving back because I *want* to. You’re the one making this weird. You’re the one who said something strange in the first place.”

“You’re the one who misunderstood first!”

Sayoung crossed his arms and scoffed, but the distance between them remained the same. This wouldn’t do—Sayoung was reverting back to his usual self, taking control of the situation. Uijae couldn’t let that happen.

Panicking, Uijae quickly approached and grabbed both of Sayoung’s shoulders. Sayoung squinted at him as Uijae’s voice wavered, barely holding back his nerves.

“Sayoung, aren’t you sleepy? Please be sleepy.”

“...Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“We need to sleep. Let’s just sleep, please.”

“Why do we need to sleep? In the middle of the day?”

“It’s a long story. Let’s lie down and talk about it.”

“Then explain it now. We have time, don’t we?”

“No, we don’t have time.”

“What’s going on?”

Frustrated, Uijae clung to Sayoung, gripping his shoulders tightly as he squeezed his eyes shut. Then, with his head hung low, he blurted out:

“If we don’t sleep together, we can’t stop the apocalypse!”

Go! Go! Go...!

The empty room echoed his words like a mocking chorus. Damn it. Uijae wanted to cry. Sayoung stared at him blankly, then sighed deeply, reaching up to touch the filter of his gas mask.

“You’re… unbelievable, hyung.”

“...”

“I can’t even…”

Sighing once more, Sayoung placed his hand over Uijae’s, gripping his shoulders.

“Fine... let’s lie down. But explain properly while we do.”

“Really?”

Uijae lifted his head quickly. Sayoung seized the opportunity, slipping his fingers under Uijae’s mask and pulling it off with a click, revealing Uijae’s flushed face. Sayoung gazed at him, his eyes gleaming beneath the gas mask. Then, with a poke to Uijae’s forehead, he added:

“You’re responsible for this, hyung.”

---

A little later...

*I should’ve bought a bigger bed, just like my aunt suggested...*

Uijae regretted his past decisions for the first time in eight years.

The room, now more lived-in with masks, coats, and jackets scattered around, felt less sterile than before. But the weight pressing against his back was no joke. The two of them lay side by side on the narrow super single bed, their backs pressed tightly against each other. It was so cramped that even Uijae’s toes couldn’t wiggle freely.

Uijae had given Sayoung the pillow, so he rested his head on his arm, staring intently at the wall. He tried to convince himself.

*At least this is better than sleeping with a rock for a pillow in the rift...*

He could feel every breath Sayoung took, each one transferring from back to back. The proximity was so close that even the slightest movement felt exaggerated. And then, from behind him, Sayoung’s back began to hum with vibration. He was talking.

“So, to summarize, you can see past worlds through the watch. And that thing inside me can see it too. If we’re close, we can share the same vision. That’s what you’re saying.”

“...Yes, that’s right.”

“And the reason you suddenly suggested sleeping together... is because when I’m under its influence, sleeping with me might allow you to see that world without it taking full control. Correct?”

“Exactly.”

“It’s a clever idea, but...”

Sayoung’s foot nudged Uijae’s.

“Hmm. You hid this from me and only told me now?”

Uijae bit his inner cheek. Damn it. He gritted his teeth and replied.

“I didn’t *hide* it, I just... didn’t have the right moment to say it. I was overwhelmed too, okay?”

“Ah... I see. So, you had time to run away, but not time to talk?”

“I was out of my mind back then!”

“Yeah... let’s just say that.”

The sound of rustling blankets filled the room, followed by Sayoung’s muttered complaint.

“But do we really have to do this? It’s uncomfortable.”

“I told you I could sleep on the floor.”

*Hmph.* Sayoung snorted. Uijae grumbled under his breath.

Sayoung had insisted on sharing the bed, despite the lack of space. Now, Uijae was squished between Sayoung’s presence and the wall. He muttered quietly.

“I could still sleep on the floor...”

“Shut up.”

“Then what do you want? We have to sleep.”

“Haa...”

Sayoung sighed loudly, then suddenly shifted. Was he about to get out of bed? Uijae was just about to turn around when—

An arm snaked around his waist, pulling him close. He felt warm breath against the back of his neck and ears. Uijae froze in place, holding his breath. A low voice whispered.

“Lift your head a little.”

“...”

“Hurry.”

Still stiff as a board, Uijae lifted his head slightly. The space between his neck and the mattress was soon filled by Sayoung’s strong arm. What the...? Uijae blinked in disbelief. He was now completely wrapped up in Sayoung’s warmth, like a snake coiling around its prey. And... was that...

*A chest?*

Uijae had officially become the little spoon, and Sayoung was snugly pressed against him. Sayoung pulled the blanket over both of them, intertwining their legs and brushing his foot against Uijae’s calf. Uijae clenched his fists, his whole body tense. Sayoung murmured.

“This is much better now.”

*Not for me!*

Uijae bit back a scream. When had they ever been this close, let alone spooning like this in such a small bed? His heart pounded in his chest, each beat thumping wildly. There was no way Sayoung couldn’t hear it too—how could he not, when they were this close?

Heat spread from Uijae’s toes to his fingertips, his body warming under the blanket. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the overwhelming sensations. The weight of Sayoung’s arm resting on his stomach felt too heavy.

Behind him, Sayoung whispered.

“...You’re loud.”

“What?”

“Your heartbeat.”

Uijae flinched and snapped back.

“Shut up.”

“Can’t you stop fidgeting?”

“It’s not like I want to! We’re practically glued together...”

Just as Uijae was grumbling and shifting around—

“...”

He felt something.

“...”

Sayoung’s silence made it clear that he had felt it too. Uijae froze for a moment, then abruptly sat up. Sayoung scowled.

“What is it *now*?”

“I can’t do this.”

There was no way he could sleep like this! Uijae ruffled his hair wildly, feeling panicked. Sayoung sighed into his pillow and looked up at him.

“You’re the one who suggested we sleep together. What’s wrong now?”

“Should we knock each other out? Passing out counts as sleep, right?”

“You’re not serious...”

Sayoung gritted his teeth and rubbed his face in frustration. Uijae awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, trying to avoid Sayoung’s gaze. No doubt, his face and neck were bright red.

“Cha Uijae.”

Sayoung’s hoarse voice called his name, and Uijae’s body stiffened. He didn’t even have the energy to yell back, demanding that Sayoung not call him by his first name. The next thing Uijae felt was Sayoung’s hand wrapping around his side.

“You don’t have to be so conscious of it...”

“...”

“I’m holding back too, so just lie

 down.”

“...”

“For f*ck’s sake, we have a world to save, remember?”

Sayoung, clearly irritated, pulled Uijae back down, enveloping him once more in his warmth.

Damn it! Uijae squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out every sensation. The rapid beating of his heart, the slight unevenness of his breath, the rustling of blankets whenever their legs moved. Eventually, though, the world around him grew quiet, and finally, Uijae realized something.

The pounding heartbeat he had heard so loudly wasn’t only his own.

Realizing this brought an odd sense of calm. As if on cue, sleep washed over him. He closed his eyes, no longer resisting.

---

When Uijae opened his eyes again, he was greeted by a familiar yet strangely unfamiliar scene. The wallpaper and the room looked exactly like they had before he fell asleep. However, something felt... off.

Sitting up, Uijae surveyed his surroundings. The bedding felt the same, and the colors were just as he remembered. But there were more pieces of furniture in the room now. A desk, bookshelves, drawers, a wardrobe—things that made it feel more like someone lived here. And...

*Am I alone?*

The presence of Sayoung, who had been pressed so tightly against him earlier, was gone.

*Did I actually make it to the right place...?*

Judging by the setting, this wasn’t reality. Scratching his head, Uijae got out of bed. That’s when he realized he was now dressed in silk pajamas—something he would *never* have bought for himself.

He tugged at the collar of his pajamas, feeling the soft, luxurious fabric. The sensation was oddly familiar.

*Guess I should go see what’s going on.* It seemed like this place was meant to resemble his house, after all.

Uijae carefully opened the door, which creaked as light streamed in through the gap. And then—

“...”

There stood Lee Sayoung, wearing the exact same pajamas as him.