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"How has the farm been, Yuder?" asked Kanna, acting nonchalant by keeping her eyes on her soda. "Not too…"
She lost her words, not knowing how to tell Yuder: we're worried you're all alone in your late grandfather's house, away from us.
"Not too lonely?" Gakane finished for her.
The chatter from other café patrons washed over them. Despite the busy city street, they felt enveloped in a bubble. Yuder had left town nine months ago, but he thankfully looked like he could still endure the noise and pollution—he'd barely reacted when a passerby had bumped into his chair.
"You can crash at my place any time," said Ever, leaning over the table with an intense gaze.
"Or mine! We can share a bed!" exclaimed Jimmy. His chair shook with how hard he swung his legs.
Ever caught his wobbling orange juice as he accidentally hit the table. "I don't know if your parents would agree," she said with amusement.
"They would for Yuder!" He wasn't wrong, but Mr. and Mrs. Ocker wouldn't be too happy if he gained the habit of inviting adults home.
"Just keep us in mind if you ever feel like coming back to the city," she said.
"Thank you, but I don't intend to."
Not even a second of hesitation. Gakane tried not to be disappointed. "At least you have the pharmacist in the same town."
"It's a village."
"Um… The important part is that you're not alone!"
"Don't sound so unsure," laughed Ever.
Only Kanna had a completely positive reaction, smiling cheerfully. "I'm glad, Yuder! Sir Enon is good for you."
Yuder nodded quietly. "Yes, he takes care of me."
Did that mean Enon was still patching Yuder up regularly? They subtly scanned Yuder for injuries but found nothing. You could never quite tell with Yuder. What kind of injury did a farmer receive anyway? Gakane thought of all the heavy metal tools… He shuddered. Not even glancing at him, Kanna patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"Yuder, you'll laugh at us, but," she held her breath to gather courage. "We were all worried when you left… Of course, we know that you can take care of yourself! But…" How could she say this?
"It must be so lonely in that house," mumbled Jimmy, playing with his juice's straw.
"Why would it be lonely?" asked Yuder.
"I've never tried living alone, isn't it lonely?" Jimmy looked at Ever for confirmation.
"Alone?" asked Yuder.
"Do you not live alone?" said Ever. As far as they knew, Yuder had no living relative.
"No."
"What? But you, uh… With who?" Gakane asked hesitantly.
Yuder tilted his head. "With my partner."
"Partner?"
"Yes."
"What do you mean, 'partner'?"
"My lover."
They all blinked owlishly at him, then at one another. Yuder said it so matter-of-factly, as if it should have been obvious, that they all asked with their gazes: did you know about this? Kanna even pulled out her phone to check their group chat.
"You have a lover?" asked Gakane. "Who? I mean, since when? I, I'm sorry Yuder! I completely forgot…?" he said unsurely.
"You didn't forget. I didn't tell you."
"Oh! Then, um, congratulations? I mean, congratulations! Right, guys?"
"Uh—" Kanna startled away from her phone. "Yes! Congratulations, Yuder."
Ever laughed disbelievingly. "I didn't realize you were even interested in romance. Since when do you have a girlfriend?"
"It's not a girlfriend."
"No way, a fiancée?" Shocked, Ever leaned back in her seat.
Jimmy tugged on her elbow and whispered, "I think he means it's a boy."
"How long has it been? Were you dating when you lived here?" said Gakane.
"We dated a few years ago then parted. We met again recently."
What a mature romance! Gakane flushed a little and couldn't help but ask: "Are… Are they older or younger than you? How did you meet them? Does that mean you've been in love with them for years?"
Kanna tried to calm him with a smile, expecting Yuder not to answer, but surprisingly he did.
"Yes."
"Yes…?" Gakane's eyes widened. "Yes, you've been in love with them for years!?"
They made appropriately awed sounds, surprised by Yuder's surprising sense of romance. That sounded like a drama TV show! Gakane repeatedly made eye contact with Kanna to ensure he wasn't hearing things. Jimmy had stopped swinging his feet, now nearly crawling onto the table.
"Who is he? He must be super strong if Yuder likes him!" he exclaimed, so excited that he didn't notice Ever lifting him up and putting him back in his seat. "Is he taller than you? Two meters?"
"Nearly," said Yuder.
"Is he strong? Does he know how to fight?"
"Yes."
"Is he rich? Does he have a big house?"
"Yes. He lives with me."
"Is he a knight!?"
"No."
"Oh." Jimmy's shoulders slumped. "I guess he's fine then…"
"But he has played the role of a knight," said Yuder.
"Really? That's so cool!"
Ever endured Jimmy's excited fidgeting with a smile. "Is he an actor? He's not famous, is he?" she said jokingly, but to her surprise, Yuder nodded. "He is? How famous are we talking?"
"Can I see a picture?" Jimmy asked at the same time.
"Wait, you guys," said Kanna helplessly. "We shouldn't interrogate Yuder…"
She hadn't finished that sentence that Yuder had already taken out his phone and handed it to Jimmy. She only caught a quick glimpse of blonde hair before Jimmy and Ever crowded over the phone, making awed sounds.
"He's really pretty!"
"You have good taste, Yuder!" Ever studied the picture. "Hm? But why do I feel like I've seen this face before…"
"'Cause he's a famous actor!" said Jimmy with full faith in Yuder.
Ever noticed Gakane's impatient gaze and handed the phone over. "Look. Doesn't he look familiar to you too? Maybe he's just got one of those faces?"
Gakane eagerly accepted the phone. As soon as he laid his eyes on the picture, he understood Jimmy's excitement. What a beautiful face! Although Yuder was beautiful as well, the man in the picture blinded anyone who dared look at him. Golden hair, red eyes, a gentle expression looking at the camera…
Kanna's hand suddenly snapped onto his bicep.
"What? What's wrong?" asked Gakane, steadying her.
She'd gone a little pale. Pinching her lip between her teeth, she shook her head and made him hand the phone back to Yuder.
Gakane first thought to celebrate the good news with the others but, seeing Kanna so uneasy, instead made an excuse of needing the bathroom. Kanna followed behind him hesitantly, glancing back at their group with a nervous, almost guilty expression. They ducked inside the café and lowered their heads to whisper.
"What's wrong? Do you feel sick?"
Kanna shook her head. She opened her mouth but peered again out the windows. Jimmy was waving his arms widely, beaming, as Ever seemed to tease Yuder for hiding his lover.
"Did you recognize him? Is he a controversial actor?" asked Gakane.
"Controversial?" hissed Kanna, eyes wide. "He's not just controversial… He's one of the most famous actors in the world! He received an Oscar last week!"
"Huh?" Gakane checked that his ears hadn't gone deaf. "An Oscar…? You mean, the, the award, the, um…"
Kanna's face crumbled. "Gakane… Do you know what catfishing is?"
"…Huh?"
They had not been wrong to worry about a lonely house. As Yuder closed the front door, he was reminded of distant memories. Coming home after his grandfather had passed, the coldness of an unlit heater, old shoes covered in dust, heavy silence welcoming him…
But that time had passed.
The faint sound of shuffling papers came from inside.
A man sat on the couch, reviewing a stack of printed papers. Another script. He looked over his shoulder and, finding Yuder there, instantly blossomed into a smile.
"Yuder. Welcome home."
"I'm home."
There was the mysterious lover: Kishiar la Orr, the man who'd received an Oscar last week and then immediately flew back to Korea to help Yuder with the Spring harvest.
Yuder silently walked to the couch, his eyes on Kishiar's crossed legs. With a chuckle, Kishiar uncrossed his legs and laid the script to the side, even opening his arms in invitation. That was enough: Yuder promptly took his place, sitting on his lap.
"Do I get a 'welcome home' kiss too?" said Kishiar.
"I'm the one who came home."
"In other words, you're the one who gets the kiss?"
Yuder blinked silently. Despite the lack of obvious emotion on his face, Kishiar understood his feelings. He laced his hands around Yuder's waist and gently tipped him over for a brief kiss.
"Welcome home," he murmured against Yuder's lips. "How blessed I am to see you every day."
"Hm."
Yuder's eyes traveled down and fell onto the script.
"It's a war drama," said Kishiar. "No romance."
Yuder looked at him silently.
"You're not jealous? Does that mean I can start filming romantic comedies again?"
"No."
Kishiar laughed. He liked Yuder's faint frown, and in fact enjoyed pulling all sorts of expressions from his lover. After being separated for so long due to his own foolishness, he now spent every separated second longing for Yuder. "How did your reunion go?"
"They believe you're scamming me," Yuder reported dully.
"A romance scam?"
"Cat fishing."
From the way he said it, Kishiar suspected that Yuder had needed the concept explained to him. What a first impression. He hadn't met them that they already thought him a heartless scammer. He didn't mind, and in fact preferred it to the awed reactions of fans.
He held Yuder close. "I'm glad your friends worry for you."
"Mh." Yuder nodded. His hair tickled Kishiar's cheek. "Isn't it more likely for me to be the scammer?"
"So long as it means holding you like this, I'd happily empty my bank account."
Yuder leaned back, looking a bit displeased.
Smiling, Kishiar rubbed the small of his back. "But I don't have to worry about that, do I?"
"Do you not want to contribute to the household?" Yuder asked dully.
"Will repairing the shed empty my bank account?" Kishiar laughed. "Of course I want to. Perhaps that will convince your friends I am no scam."
He'd offered to come meet them at this little reunion but Yuder had refused, looking troubled. Kishiar could only assume it was out of worry for his safety, rather than shame at having him as a lover. Did he want to break the news more gently? With his lack of knowledge about the internet, he hadn't realized his friends would assume a scam over a real celebrity. Luckily, it didn't seem to bother him.
Yuder gave a faint smile. "I've already invited them to meet you."
"I can't wait," he said, sincere.
He hadn't been able to gain Yuder's grandfather's approval, gone before they met, and he feared that Enon would never fully accept him. If he could at least form a decent relationship with Yuder's friends, he would feel more secure.
More like he truly was part of Yuder's world.
Here to stay.