Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 206

Chapter 206 Side Story 2

Episode 8

Nataek knew the reason.

“I’ll wear it on a chain around my neck. Don’t be upset.”

Ever since beginning his modeling career in earnest, Medeus had worn the ring on a necklace instead of his hand. Partly because he often needed to remove it, but more so because he had come to understand firsthand the different looks men would attract if they openly wore rings with one another in the modern world.

“Why didn’t I realize?” Min-cheol’s eyes widened as he stared, full of curiosity. Beside him, Jungyeom only cleared his throat awkwardly. Seo-eun leaned across the table, chatter tumbling out rapid-fire.

“Is your partner pretty? Older? Younger? Same age? How’d you meet? How long’s it been?”

“Ah… well…”

Medeus said nothing, only lifting the drink Nataek had poured for him. In that brief moment, countless thoughts crossed Nataek’s mind. Should he keep this bond secret forever, to protect Medeus now that his face was widely known? Was that what Medeus wanted?

But Nataek knew him better than anyone. This was the man who would discard everything and cross over to a foreign world for him. To Medeus, Lee Nataek alone was the whole of his world. Nataek knew this, because for him it was the same. And so he bore a quiet desire of his own—

To declare, openly, that Medeus was his. Even if only to a limited circle.

Lightly, he tapped Medeus’s arm with his elbow.

“…Can I say it?”

Medeus set down his glass, lowering his gaze to him. Reading his intent, he tilted his head in surprise, eyes gleaming as he looked more intently, a faint blush rising and his heartbeat pounding between them. What he felt was clear to Nataek: permission. A wordless blessing.

Permission to tell the truth. That between them, more than friendship existed.

Glancing once at the friends around the table, Nataek cleared his throat.

“Well… actually…”

“Well? Go on—actually what?” Seo-eun’s eyes sparkled, joined by Gyu-jeong and Min-cheol. Jungyeom simply leaned back crookedly, watching, smirking as if waiting for drama to unfold.

Reaching toward Medeus’s chest, Nataek tugged down the collar of his shirt. From inside, a chain appeared—and dangling from it, a ring identical to his own.

“…?”

Silence sucked the air from the table. Heads spun to process what they’d just seen. The first to catch on was Gyu-jeong. He lifted his palm up in a gesture of presentation toward Medeus and asked politely,

“Your girlfriend?”

“Well… something like that.”

“What?!” shouted Seo-eun.

Blinking furiously, Min-cheol patted her back and said gently,

“Seo-eun, there are lots of forms of love in this world.”

Her stunned face turned into a rueful shake of the head.

“So… no chance of me getting a brother-in-law then.”

“You really dreamed big, didn’t you,” scoffed Jungyeom, snickering at her.

With the sudden revelation out, Nataek sobered.

“I only told you because you’re my friends. So…”

“Don’t worry. You think we’d go blabbing about this?” Gyu-jeong grinned, raising his bottle.

“Lee Nataek’s finally found his match. Medeus, you’re welcome at our gatherings anytime.”

“Yes. I’ll come,” Medeus replied smoothly.

“Ahh, fine then—special occasion calls for two drinks for Nataek!” shouted Seo-eun, grabbing her own bottle as well.

They rarely pressured him to drink—but tonight, everyone insisted, as if diluting the seriousness of his confession with alcohol. Even Medeus didn’t stop them this time, smiling faintly as he let Nataek live in that easy camaraderie.

As startling as the confession was, it passed like watered wine under laughter. Harder were the natural questions that followed.

Thud—

“Ughhhh…”

Leaning against the passenger window, Nataek groaned.

“You alright?” Medeus cracked the window near him, watching carefully. A silly giggle slipped out of Nataek’s lips.

“Y-yeah… good. I’m fine.”

“Honestly. Just two drinks and look at you.”

Yet Medeus didn’t seem displeased about the looseness in him. Nataek turned toward him with bleary eyes.

“Medeus.”

“Hmm?”

“Medeus.”

“What is it?”

“Why do you look so damn beautiful today?”

Laughter burst even from Medeus.

“I think we need some fresh air before heading home.”

“Mm. Maybe. Ahhh… I’m just so happy.”

“Well, good. At least I won’t have to hear about how annoying I am.”

He turned the car toward the Han River.

“When did I ever say that? Even drunk, would I say that to you?”

“You did. Back then.”

And with that, the memory of Uruk drifted back—Nataek’s first drunken state, bitter words bubbling out:

“I hate you. Can’t even stand to look at you.”

“I… don’t trust you.”

“You bastard…”

To compare then with now—what an incredible change. Could either of them ever have imagined how far they’d come?

Or perhaps, deep down, Medeus had always guessed. The way his eyes kept chasing him, the jealousy that prickled whenever someone else hovered near.

The car pulled into a lonely spot under the trees.

“Want to walk?”

But Nataek shook his head lazily, reaching out his hand.

“No. I want it to be just us, here, quietly.”

Medeus clasped his hand softly, rolling the window shut.

“You do look really happy tonight.”

His low voice carried a playful lilt. Slowly rising from his seat, Nataek leaned over the console toward him. Medeus slid his seat back and locked the doors instinctively.

“Of course I’m happy. I just bragged to my friends that this beautiful, handsome man—he’s mine.”

Medeus stroked his cheek.

“That makes you that happy?”

But already, Nataek was undoing his buttons one by one. The ring around his neck glinted in the dim light. He lifted it, tapped it with his finger, and spoke in a low voice.

“And what about you? You don’t get to parade around boasting you’re mine. Do you know how bitter that feels?”

Alcohol loosened him—made him sharper, his words barer. Whatever complaints lurked in his chest now spilled free. For Medeus, it was no loss to reap such honesty for just two drinks.

“I’m happy too. You spoke honestly in front of your friends… it means everything.”

He was—truly—elated.

Nataek’s sigh filled the small space as he asked,

“Really? I just said it, but… I worried afterward.”

“What were you worried about?”

“That you’d be upset I didn’t tell you first.”

“You didn’t really think I’d scold you for that?”

“Mm… maybe not. Probably not.”

A chuckle vibrated in Medeus’s chest, spreading a smile across Nataek’s lips. Gathering him up into both arms like a child, Medeus whispered,

“Teresi. There is nothing you do that I could ever resent.”

Writhing, trying to get comfortable, Nataek curled his arms around his neck.

“You sure? Not even one thing?”

“I’m sure.”

“Is that so…”

With a sly grin, Nataek slid his hands down. Metal clicked as he undid Medeus’s belt. With one palm gripping the curve of his hip, Medeus asked darkly,

“What are you doing?”

“Treating you. Isn’t this why we came someplace dark and private?”

“…I can’t exactly argue.”

With that, Nataek unzipped him and, shedding his own pants and underwear, tossed them into the seat. For him—a move bold, uncharacteristically unguarded.

Medeus reclined fully, wholly willing. When he reached to grasp him, Nataek pinned his arm down, shaking his head.

“Stay still. Tonight, you just lie back and take it.”

Nataek freed him, positioning himself so his perineum brushed flush against him, rocking his hips rhythmically. Their skin slid hotly, the friction drawing out an ever-hardening response. Dampness slicked their joining, making every drag smoother. Trapped by Nataek’s hold, Medeus could only clench his fists, biting down hard on his lip.