HMN C46

Chapter 46

“……”

The car started moving. The narrow alley ahead, illuminated only by the pale yellow headlights, felt stiflingly quiet—and being driven home by someone else felt even more awkward. No, that wasn’t quite right. Ever since Go Chiwoo had changed, everything he did had felt strange and disorienting. Maybe he should just grab something random and re-hypnotize him again. He was halfway through the thought when Chiwoo’s voice came from the driver’s seat.

“Don’t drink too much.”

“…What?”

“At your club meeting. Don’t get wasted.”

The car turned, blinking as it exited the alley. The random scolding caught Daeyoung off guard, and he shrugged lightly.

“I don’t even drink that much.”

“You drink until you pass out, scrape your knees and palms, and end up chasing a plastic bag because you think it’s a cat.”

Bzzz.

“Be quiet. I’m getting a call.”

Perfect timing—an interruption before things got more embarrassing. Daeyoung fished out his phone. It was Jung Haegyeom.

“Yeah, what is it?”

— Hey, Daeyoung. What high school did you say you went to?

Not exactly his favorite topic. He hadn’t really talked about it before, and he didn’t plan to. So instead of answering, he asked flatly, “Why?”

— I’m drinking with some friends right now, and one of them said they’ve heard your name before.

The car was silent except for their voices; even with the phone pressed to his ear, the words weren’t exactly private.

Chiwoo parked in front of Daeyoung’s apartment building and shifted the car into neutral, glancing at the side mirror before finally turning his head. He didn’t say a word—just waited for Daeyoung to finish.

Daeyoung’s pale face tensed. His shoulders dropped slightly, eyes lowered. He didn’t like talking about high school—that much was clear. His fingers, resting on his knees, had curled inward, thumb rubbing at the edge of his nail. It was a tell, something he did when uncomfortable. His lips parted briefly, red tongue darting out to wet them. The faint light softened the curve of his mouth—round and full, the kind of mouth made for pouting.

“…Probably someone with the same name. You know where my parents’ shop is, right? I went to a school near there.”

— Ah, right. Then probably not you. Okay, see you tomorrow.

The line went dead.

Daeyoung blinked a few times, still dazed, before realizing the car had stopped. He turned toward the window, unbuckled his seatbelt, and reached for the door.

Click.

“Oh. It’s faster by car. Thanks for the ride. I’ll head in now.”

“Daeyoung.”

He froze, half-turned toward the door, and looked back. The streetlight outside cast a faint glow through the tinted window—barely enough to see by. Yet even in the dimness, Chiwoo could see him perfectly. Maybe it was the low light, or maybe it was something else, but Daeyoung looked… beautiful. Almost painfully so.

“What kind of men do you like?”

“…Are you kidding me?”

He hadn’t even been in a relationship before, and even if he had, the question would have been absurd. Normal people talked about their type when it came to the opposite sex, not—whatever this was. The hypnosis had clearly scrambled Chiwoo’s brain, but to brazenly drag him into gay panic territory like this? Unbelievable.

Still, Chiwoo’s face remained calm, unreadable.

“Whatever your type is, I’m pretty sure I’m the ideal version of it. So go ahead. Say it.”

“…Wow.”

He’d never met anyone like this. Someone so genuinely in love with himself. Sure, with that face, that confidence was technically justified—but still. Ever heard of humility? Apparently not.

Daeyoung’s mouth opened and closed, desperate to come up with something—anything—to shut him up. But every possibility backfired in his head. If he said “intellectual,” Chiwoo would probably show up tomorrow wearing glasses, looking better than anyone had a right to. If he said “rough,” the bastard would pull it off too.

And, as if sensing that exact thought, Chiwoo’s expression grew smugger by the second. Not because he was trying to be, but because he knew. He knew he could be anything, pull off anything, and look good doing it.

Just say I’m perfect, his smirk seemed to say.

No chance.

Daeyoung crossed his arms, leaning back like he was about to drop a bomb.

“I like big men. Not height. You know… other things.”

He kept a perfectly serious face, pretending like it was a casual, thoughtful answer. A crude joke, designed purely to make Chiwoo shut up for once.

Instead—

Whoosh.

Chiwoo laughed. Brightly. Purely. Like someone had flipped on a light inside him. His entire face lit up, a deep dimple carving into his cheek as he smiled wider than Daeyoung had ever seen.

“That’s a relief.”

“……”

Relief? RELIEF?

Daeyoung just stared, dumbstruck. Chiwoo looked like a man who’d just received the best news of his life—smiling so freely it was almost infuriating.

“What exactly is a relief?”

He couldn’t even bring himself to ask out loud. By the time he’d regained his wits, Chiwoo had already gotten out of the car, circled around, and opened the passenger door for him—still wearing that stupidly satisfied grin.

“It’s really a relief.”

“…Hey. I meant personality. Big heart. That kind of thing.”

The grin didn’t fade an inch.

“Oh, I’ve got a big chest too. Wanna touch?”

“Ah—no!”

Thunk!

Daeyoung bolted, practically leaping out of the car. His neck and ears burned crimson as he fled toward the apartment building, muttering incoherently.

Behind him, Chiwoo cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “Sleep well!” before dissolving into laughter so deep he had to clutch his side.

Leaning against the car, he wiped his eyes with one hand, still grinning.

“God, he’s too damn cute.”

It was ridiculous. No one had any right to be that cute. It should be illegal. The more he thought he’s adorable, the truer it became—an unstoppable feedback loop.

Of course, it wasn’t just him. Even before the hypnosis, Ahn Daeyoung had a quiet sort of popularity. In lectures, in club meetings, even among customers at the café—his name came up often.

Yoo Minhye had called him “the pretty one.” Others said the same. And apparently, even in the university community app—one he barely used—posts about “the cute barista at the front gate café” popped up from time to time.

Chiwoo was used to his own name being passed around. But Daeyoung didn’t seem to know he had the same kind of charm. He genuinely believed people’s stares were judgmental, not admiring. He didn’t seem to realize he started from a baseline of being liked.

When he met someone new, he always looked smaller, cautious—always expecting dislike. That’s why, at that drinking party, one bitter loser’s words had hit him so hard. Everyone else there had recognized it for what it was: jealousy, pure and simple. Everyone except Daeyoung.

“Hm.”

Maybe it had something to do with that phone call earlier. Something about high school. Did he have a rough time back then?

Still, with that face, that softness, he must’ve made friends somewhere.

As the apartment stair lights flicked on one by one, Chiwoo shook off the thought and climbed back into the driver’s seat.

Click.

“Anyway, thank God he likes big ones.”

His voice was light, amused. And he meant it—completely. There were plenty of preferences he could accommodate, but size wasn’t something he could downplay.

Smiling contentedly, he fastened his seatbelt and started the engine.

Over the past few days, the thought of breaking the hypnosis had grown fainter and fainter. Instead, he found himself wanting more time with Daeyoung—more moments like tonight.

The luxury car eased out of the narrow street, headlights cutting through the dark.

His fingers tapped absently against the steering wheel—until his expression hardened. The phone rang again.

Chiwoo’s smile vanished. He glanced at the console, jaw tightening, before answering.

“Yes, Father.”

— Come home tomorrow.

“I have plans tomor—”

The call cut off mid-sentence.

The cheerful light drained from his face, leaving only silence.

Chiwoo exhaled slowly, his mood collapsing in one clean motion. The night outside rolled by, bright and quiet, but inside the car, there was no trace of a smile left.