Even a Lonely Squirrel Has Its Burrow - Chapter 91

Chapter 91

However, Garam’s worries melted away in an instant with Sa Muheon’s next words.

“…You must have felt uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

“This keeps happening. I should have been more careful…”

Sa Muheon said this with a troubled smile. Taking a step back, he looked sincerely apologetic as he waited for Garam’s response. For a moment, Garam couldn’t say anything and only stared at him in bewilderment.

This wasn’t Sa Muheon’s fault. It was entirely Garam’s own mistake for failing to control himself, yet Sa Muheon spoke as if it had been his own wrongdoing. Shaking his head slightly, Garam hesitated before finally speaking with difficulty.

“…It was my mistake, so why are you apologizing?”

“Still, the fact remains that I touched your ears.”

“That’s…”

Garam was about to refute his words, but Sa Muheon glanced at the watch on his wrist and cut off the conversation.

“Sorry, I have to go.”

“Oh…”

“I really don’t mind, so if you weren’t uncomfortable, don’t dwell on it too much.”

Before Garam could even respond, Sa Muheon had already said what he wanted and was walking out of the room. Garam instinctively raised his hand as if to grab him, but the door was already closing.

His outstretched hand fell weakly to his side. With his head hung low, Garam’s face contorted into an expression close to tears. He should have told him that it was really okay, but Sa Muheon had left without waiting for an answer. It made Garam feel a little resentful. More than that, though, he was frustrated with himself for making Sa Muheon show that troubled expression. He wished he could just disappear.

Moreover, Sa Muheon had only looked troubled and apologetic about accidentally touching Garam’s ears—he had shown no other emotions at all. That made Garam feel even more discouraged.

It really seemed like Sa Muheon thought of him as nothing more than a cute, young squirrel. That ambiguous smile felt like a sign that he would never mean anything more to him.

Twitch.

At that moment, Garam’s ears, still visible atop his head, twitched. He sensed movement outside the door.

Even though Sa Muheon had hurriedly left, saying he had to go, for some reason, he was now standing still in front of Garam’s room before belatedly heading toward the entrance.

The small, fur-covered squirrel ears picked up on his presence with sharp sensitivity. But soon, the sound of the front door opening and closing filled the air, and just as naturally, his ears vanished from sight.

At a hotel renowned for its breathtaking night views, a man stood by the window of the highest-floor suite. However, instead of admiring the famously beautiful scenery, his gaze was fixed on his empty palm.

“…Ha.”

Letting out a short laugh, he clenched his previously open hand into a tight fist before shifting his eyes to the city lights outside.

He tried to distract himself, but the soft sensation that had brushed against his palm just before he left the house still lingered vividly.

Even just touching those silky strands of hair had been enjoyable enough. But the unexpected sensation of the short, velvety fur-covered ears beneath his hand—Sa Muheon could still feel it tingling against his palm.

Those gentle, upturned eyes staring up at him, completely unaware that his ears were exposed. The way the ears twitched slightly under his touch. The smooth cheeks that had turned pale, then flushed red in quick succession upon realizing his mistake.

It hadn’t been a long moment, yet Sa Muheon recalled every detail, as if engraving them into his memory.

Because Garam had looked so utterly startled, Sa Muheon had pretended to be a calm, responsible adult, acting as if nothing had happened. But in reality, he had been terrifyingly aroused in that moment.

The only reason he had managed to hide the elongated pupils of a snake was because he was older and more experienced than Garam.

“…What a ridiculous thought.”

Muttering to himself, Sa Muheon let out a mocking chuckle.

Saying that he had restrained himself because he was an adult was laughable. If he were truly a proper adult, he wouldn’t have felt such a crude reaction toward a boy eleven years younger than himself.

Before, when he had touched Garam’s ears or tail, he had never felt such a strong desire. But perhaps because he had now fully acknowledged his feelings, the sensation of those soft ears had aroused him more than he had expected.

It thrilled him to realize that he was the only person in the world who had touched those ears and tail in such a way—not a lover, not even a close family member.

Fortunately, Garam had been too flustered by his own mistake to notice just how intensely Sa Muheon had reacted. That was a relief in itself. If Garam had caught even a fraction of the hunger Sa Muheon had felt in that moment, he would have been terrified and never approached him again.

Had he been alone, he would have spent hours savoring the memory of that sensation, replaying it in his mind. But because he had an appointment, he was forced to make an effort to erase it instead. He wasn’t pleased about that.

Eventually, Sa Muheon loosened his clenched fist and looked down at his palm again.

He was determined to win over Garam’s heart. But at the same time, he had no doubt that he would succeed.

Not because he underestimated Garam, but because he knew that no one in this world could possibly want him more obsessively than he did.

That was the confidence of a serpent who had never failed in a hunt.

Some still called him incomplete, but Sa Muheon had always been superior to those who looked down on him. It was only natural that he didn’t consider failure an option.

As he continued to stare at his empty palm, more thoughts filled his mind.

The way those cute, twitching ears had looked was wonderful. But the smooth, human-shaped ears came to mind just as naturally.

Like most shifters, Garam was probably sensitive around his ears.

Today, he had been too flustered to react, but if the day came in the near future when Sa Muheon deliberately stroked those ears with persistent fingers, how would Garam respond?

And if he pressed his lips against those delicate, human ears—would Garam like it? Or would he resist?

Just imagining it sent a pleasant shiver through his entire body.

But his indulgent fantasies didn’t last long. A short knock sounded, and the door opened.

Annoyed at the interruption, Sa Muheon turned around with a hardened expression.

“What’s with that look on your face?”

“…Forget it.”

“If the one who called me first is making such a sullen face, that won’t do.”

Stepping inside, he immediately perched himself on the sofa. With a natural motion, he poured himself a drink from the bottle placed on the table in front of him. Resting one arm on the back of the sofa, he spoke in a leisurely manner.

“You said you were busy. So why did you suddenly want to meet me?”

“I have something to ask you.”

“The great Sa Muheon wanted to meet me because he has something to ask?”

Eun Suhyeok, who had been lounging with his arm draped over the back of the sofa, sat up straight with an intrigued expression. He seemed completely unconcerned by Sa Muheon’s stiff and tense demeanor, which made Sa Muheon sigh shortly before stepping closer to him.

“You looked like death the last time I saw you. I guess it’s all settled now?”

“If it still wasn’t resolved, do you think I’d have the leisure to be here? I’d already be lying in a hospital bed on the verge of death.”

As Sa Muheon sat down across from him, Eun Suhyeok poured him a drink as well. Sa Muheon took the glass and hesitated for a moment before downing it in one go. Seeing this, Eun Suhyeok chuckled and emptied his own glass.

“So, what is it?”

“…….”

Sa Muheon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he silently filled his glass to the brim again. Only after emptying it once more did he slowly open his mouth.

“…Hey, how old did you say your mate was?”

“What?”

Eun Suhyeok, waiting for his response, furrowed his brows at the sudden question.

“Why are you asking that? Don’t tell me…”

“I have zero interest in your mate, so cut the weird assumptions and just answer.”

His voice carried a hint of irritation, and though Eun Suhyeok still eyed him with suspicion, he answered without resistance.

“There’s a seven-year age gap. I told you this last time, but you didn’t care then, so why are you suddenly asking now?”

“…Seven years.”

“Don’t start preaching about how shameless I am or anything like that.”

“…….”

Sa Muheon said nothing, pressing his lips together tightly. Even after taking another shot of alcohol, it wasn’t enough—he reached to pour himself another. But before he could, Eun Suhyeok stopped him.

“What’s going on? Why are you like this?”

“…Ha.”

Eun Suhyeok, frowning as he observed him, suddenly seemed to realize something. His expression shifted rapidly as if he had pieced together a puzzle. Then, with an appalled look, he pointed a finger at Sa Muheon and spoke.

“You… You’re not….”

“Put your hand down.”

“Are you telling me… you’ve fallen for someone?”

Despite the menacing warning, Eun Suhyeok showed not a hint of fear. Instead, his previous look of shock vanished in an instant, and he stared at Sa Muheon with a mischievous grin. Sa Muheon let out a sigh and simply closed his eyes.