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Today was a peaceful day. Unlike usual.
There were no birds chirping, all the trees and some buildings were destroyed, but nonetheless it was considered peaceful compared to the past few days.
Monsters have been attacking them non-stop. So finally, when all the monsters in the area were finally cleared.
Back-up arrived and started to take care of keeping this area safe so the people who are living here can live peacefully. And the ones who fought can rest and take a break for a bit. At Least a temporarily.
Kim Rok Soo and his team members were from these people who got to rest.
But right now, Kim Rok Soo was staring at the ceiling.
Why was he awake right now when he is supposed to be sleeping?
Well, it's all thanks to Choi Jung Soo who just woke him up a few moments ago to eat breakfast, much to his denial to leave bed, it has been an eventful week, and they were finally able to rest for a few days after all that hard work they've been through.
But Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk decided that it would be a good idea to have a picnic since they haven't done any fun activities for a while.
And much to his liking they are dragging him to their picnic, no matter how much he protested.
They finished preparing for the picnic this morning, when he was asleep. Everything was ready and they were currently preparing breakfast since the place they're going to have a picnic at is a good 30 minutes walk from here.
And they know how lazy Kim Rok Soo is and he wouldn't be able to walk there without breakfast or he'll collapse as soon as they start walking.
And he also needs some fat since he is thin as a twig.
But Kim Rok Soo doesn't like it. Who wants to have a picnic when they can rest at home and sleep all day?
And they have to walk for a whole 30 minutes to arrive there and another stupid 30 minutes to go back home.
Wasting an hour exercising, which Kim Rok Soo hates, instead of resting, excluding the time they will spend having the picnic.
He absolutely doesn't like the idea and refuses to leave bed. He is challenging them right now. He's not moving from this bed. Completely.
"Hey! Rok Soo!! Come on, breakfast is ready!"
He ignored Choi Jung Soo's voice and hugged his pillow tightly then turned his back, so now it was facing the door that had previously opened when Choi Jung Soo came to wake him up.
"Did he sleep again?"
Lee Soo Hyuk then asked. Not really expecting a reply but he got one.
"I think he's extremely lazy today. Maybe he got exhausted from fighting the monsters? His stamina is weaker than ours. I can't really know if he's okay or not. I can't compare him to us."
Kim Rok Soo was able to hear their conversation since his room was the closest to the kitchen.
He personally liked that, since he put less effort to go and grab some food when he's hungry at midnight.
But sometimes it can be annoying, like when he hears noises in the morning when the two of them, Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk have work when he's off.
It irritates him sometimes to wake up early when he is on his day off. And he has trouble going back to sleep again due to their loud voices. So he doesn't sleep on his day off in the morning until they leave, much to his liking.
"But he has been resting for the past two days. He didn't even move a limb and always asked us to bring him food."
Suddenly Choi Jung Soo paused and then suddenly gasped.
"Is he perhaps sick?!"
What the actual fuck?
Of course not, he's just being lazy.
He's not weak as a piece of glass that would shatter if you dropped it.
Albeit monsters have been attacking them non-stop they were just Grade 3 monsters. If it was Grade 1 or 2 monsters, they would've had a very hard time all along.
But they recently were able to organize the information and find the monster's weak points thanks to the 'data', so it was easier than usual to defeat them.
Plus, he didn't even put in that much effort like them. He was in the back monitoring and guiding them. Not that much effort was really wasted. He only interfered when someone was in an urgent situation or got injured somewhere vital.
He just chose to ignore Choi Jung Soo's crazy assumptions hoping Lee Soo Hyuk will correct him and decided to just continue listening to their conversation.
"No, he's not. I checked on him last night when he was sleeping. I tested his temperature, pressure, and other things. They were all normal. He's alright. I guess he's just being extremely lazy."
Lee Soo Hyuk admitted, he actually thought that Kim Rok Soo was actually sick earlier yesterday, so he waited until he slept after eating and checked on him, since he knows how stubborn Kim Rok Soo is and how he'll refuse to admit that he's not okay and will refuse any medical treatment unless he's in a life-or-death condition.
Meanwhile Kim Rok Soo felt offended right now, why would Lee Soo Hyuk do that behind his back? Does he appear to be that weak? They are literally treating him like a very extremely fragile piece of glass.
He didn't like being misunderstood.
"Oh, thanks god. I thought he was actually sick for a moment and would've canceled the picnic if so."
Kim Rok Soo instantly changed his mind. He doesn't mind being misunderstood as a weak and vulnerable person if it means he's allowed to rest all the time.
Typical Kim Rok Soo.
"I'm going to go wake him up right now. Wait for me. And don't you dare start eating without us."
He heard Choi Jung Soo's voice getting louder as he got closer to him, so he clutched his bed sheets. He's not going to budge nor get up from his bed no matter what. Or else he'll have to walk for an hour. So energy consuming.
Or at least that's what he thought.
"Hey Rok Soo! Wake up, let's eat breakfast before going to the picnic."
Choi Jung Soo entered the room then jumped on his bed, causing Kim Rok Soo to hold on to the sheets beneath him not to fall from bed right now.
"Go out Jung Soo, I'm not coming with you guys to this picnic."
He then unclenched his sheets and hugged his pillow tightly, not even bothering to look at Choi Jung Soo.
He will not move a single centimeter from this extremely soft bed.
---------------
How did it end up like that?
He was currently hugging his pillow but that's not the problem.
The problem is that he is being carried by Lee Soo Hyuk to their destination right now.
It all started when he refused to move a single centimeter from his bed.
Choi Jung Soo tried everything including tickling him before he left the room, unfortunately for them he didn't budge.
They were suspiciously quiet. But he just shrugged it off and went back to sleep.
Suddenly he was pulled out of his warm bed sheets in his pajamas.
The cold air suddenly hitting his skin made him want to protest.
But he was too lazy to do so, and struggling against Lee Soo Hyuk's grip would end up in vain since he is way stronger than him, it would be useless no matter how much he tried, so he just settled on Lee Soo Hyuk's back comfortably.
But what was embarrassing was that everyone kept peeking at them. And he knows why. Not because he was carried by Lee Soo Hyuk in public. He was often carried by him or Choi Jung Soo, when he's either tired, pretending to be tired, or just lazy. So, it was a normal occurrence.
But people kept peeking at him right now because of his pajamas. He was wearing a panda onesie. And it had a few words written on it. It was 'Hug Me! I like hugs!’.
He didn't care about people judging him, but what was hurting him was that his image as a cold team member was destroyed. He can't even imagine the nicknames he’ll be called after this damned picnic. And people won't stop approaching him assuming he's friendly after all what they saw.
It was a nightmare. He was extremely embarrassed and annoyed, so he hid his head in the pillow trying to conceal his embarrassment, which caused a giggle to escape Choi Jung Soo that was quickly suppressed but he was still able to hear it.
And Lee Soo Hyuk didn't laugh but he can feel him vibrating underneath him, so he knew that his team leader betrayed him and was trying to suppress his laughter as well.
Kim Rok Soo scoffed.
Do they find this situation and his embarrassed demeanor funny? Traitors.
Choi Jung Soo noticed how embarrassed Kim Rok Soo looked. His flushed ears indicate that too. Because of that he decided to tease him a bit.
"Hey Rok Soo! Are you perhaps embarrassed that everyone saw your softie look? Are you scared they're no longer going to fear you and start interacting with you more?"
Choi Jung Soo suppressed a snicker when Kim Rok Soo immediately denied that.
"Of course not. I'm not even a softie to have a 'softie look'."
But he wasn't satisfied with teasing Kim Rok Soo that much, so he decided to tease him even more since it was a rare opportunity that didn't often happen.
The chance to tease Kim Rok Soo.
"Rok Soo, you should practice lying smoothly, your lies are easily detected."
He laughed when he saw Kim Rok Soo's head turning to him so fast. He swore he heard his neck almost snap.
"What do you mean?"
Kim Rok Soo was speechless, he was indeed the best liar in his team. So why is this annoying hyung of him spewing bullshit?
"When you lie your ears flushes, don't you know that?"
"Liar."
As expected, Kim Rok Soo immediately denied that.
Choi Jung Soo found Kim Rok Soo's reaction funny, so he decided to tease him a bit more.
It will never be boring to tease Kim Rok Soo.
"Don't believe me, look at your ears."
Choi Jung Soo decided to take advantage of Kim Rok Soo's already flushed ears due to his embarrassment to perfectly complete his lie.
He then took his phone out of his pocket, took a quick picture of Kim Rok Soo's ears in front of him so that Kim Rok Soo doesn't suspect that he edited this photo then gave his phone to his dongsaeng to prove it to him.
He didn't really think that Kim Rok Soo would believe his lie but apparently, he did.
And the proof was that he stayed silent the entire way to their picnic.
Hiding his ears.
Wow. That was unexpected.
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They finally arrived at their destination. It was a small field.
Although it was not in its best condition, it really looked good compared to the other places.
Since nothing on earth was still the same after the monsters attacked.
Everything was destroyed or in an extremely bad condition.
Buildings, houses, farms, companies, fields, lakes, parks, clubs, everything was destroyed no matter how strong and durable it was.
The field had footsteps that belonged to monsters all over it, the trees surrounding it were destroyed, broken branches and other things were scattered everywhere, but it was the best they could find.
And Kim Rok Soo was actually impressed that the two older males were able to find this place, it was in an acceptable condition.
Well compared to the other places he approached after the monsters destroyed everything this one was the least damaged till now.
Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo were currently placing the food on the picnic blanket after they cleaned the spot they were staying at from a few branches and random broken things.
And he was laying a few steps away from them waiting for them to finish organizing everything so he can finally eat.
He didn't even have breakfast since they decided it would be better if they had breakfast at the picnic, since he's not walking anyways.
He put his hoodie on his head, trying to hide his ears. If it's actually true and his ears flush when he lies, all his lies were detected and they were just playing with him, probably wondering how silly he looks while internally making fun of him.
He was thankful that the panda onesie had a hoodie, he can hide his ears in, at least till he finds a solution.
He actually hated this onesie, although it was a gift from Choi Jung Soo, he never wore it until now, since all his clothes were dirty because of the monsters’ attack, and for the same reason he wasn't able to wash them.
And since he never wore this onesie. Not even once, so it was the only clean thing in his closet.
He thought he would never have to wear it again and both Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo will eventually forget about it, but now?
It's impossible, almost everyone saw him with this onesie.
His train of thoughts was cut off by Lee Soo Hyuk's voice calling him.
"Come on Rok Soo! Everything is ready, come and join us."
He lazily rolled on the ground till he was lying beside them. He was too lazy to stand up and walk, and rolling on the ground was the easiest option, and it didn't consume that much energy.
He was able to hear the older two's laughs that they didn't care to hide, but he just ignored them and adjusted his position, so now he was sitting on the picnic blanket, well he already dirtied his onesie, so it doesn't matter whether he sits on the grass or not.
He quickly extended his hand and started eating the goguma mattang. It's preferred if you eat it within thirty minutes of making it. Though that wasn’t available right now but he still enjoyed its taste even if it wasn't in its best state right now.
Choi Jung Soo then grabbed gilgeori toast. It was a very popular street breakfast in Korea before the cataclysm.
Choi Jung Soo told them how he used to eat it every morning so Lee Soo Hyuk learnt how to make it from their teammates and decided to cook it for Choi Jung Soo.
Kim Rok Soo just helped him a bit with it, but he didn't really put that much effort into it like Lee Soo Hyuk.
Since then, they started doing it occasionally when they woke up early, since their skills in cooking isn't the best so it took them time to make it, it's basically omelet in toast and other ingredients.
Choi Jung Soo took a huge bite of it and started munching it before Kim Rok Soo gave him a nasty eye and complained.
"Try to make less noise when you're eating Choi Jung Soo, the sound of your chewing isn't pleasant as you think."
Choi Jung Soo just shrugged and ignored Kim Rok Soo since he knows he's just complaining cause he's angry at them right now.
It's all because they embarrassed him when they carried him in public with his panda onesie that he found cute. He doesn't know why Kim Rok Soo hates it.
It suited him very well making him look cuter than he actually is, not like he's not originally cute.
But it seems like his Rok Soo doesn't have a good taste, that's why he decided that he's going to start picking clothes for him instead.
While Lee Soo Hyuk was emptying the picnic basket.
Which no one offered to help with.
Poor Lee Soo Hyuk, acting like a mother to two male teenagers, which isn't true since Kim Rok Soo and Choi Jung Soo are both in their mid-twenties.
But they always act like messy teens, and he has to do everything for them.
——————
They were having conversations every now and then before Jung Soo decided that they should start teasing Kim Rok Soo.
He noticed how he made sure his ears were covered when he asked him embarrassing questions.
And he didn't care to adjust it when he was telling the truth.
He exchanged a knowing look with his team leader before they both smiled a similar smile making Kim Rok Soo look at them suspiciously.
He doesn't trust them right now. They always share this look when they are planning to annoy him or tease him.
"Hey Rok Soo, do you love us?"
Well Kim Rok Soo didn't expect this question that flew out of Choi Jung Soo's mouth.
Before answering it, he tried to adjust his onesie's hoodie, so it covered his ears without making it obvious as much as possible.
But that move didn't escape the older males' eyes.
Choi Jung Soo then smiled brightly, and Lee Soo Hyuk pretended not to notice and started whistling while looking in the other direction.
Which was a very obvious move, but Kim Rok Soo didn't notice it.
He then confidently answered after confirming that his ears are well hidden.
"No, I don't."
Choi Jung Soo then snickered.
"Oii, too bad."
He then shared another look with Lee Soo Hyuk who was pretending to eat something, but he then choked and started coughing.
Well, that was apparently a failed attempt to communicate through looks.
When they noticed that he was taking too much time coughing, they started patting his back and helping him until either he swallowed it or spit it.
Unexpectedly Kim Rok Soo hit Lee Soo Hyuk's back really hard, not noticing that Choi Jung Soo was giving him water to drink.
So then Lee Soo Hyuk spit what he was eating and the water. All over the picnic blanket. And all the food.
Thus, a disgusting mix between water, saliva, and apparently a blueberry pie that he was choking on was all over the food and the picnic blanket.
And that's how their picnic ended.
Apparently, in an unpleasant way.
——————
A week later Kim Rok Soo gained himself a new nickname. 'Softie Tsundere'.
Since the onesie's incident everyone thought he's a total softie pretending to be mean and being a tsundere. And since then, the nickname followed him.
Choi Jung Soo noticed how Kim Rok Soo started to hide his ears sometimes when he's talking to some of the team members, or when he constantly asks him how much he loves him from one to ten, which Kim Rok Soo would usually reply with 'zero'.
But he made sure that his ears were hidden when he did that. He thought he did it swiftly without anyone noticing or it was just a slight unsuspicious move.
Which is true but Choi Jung Soo isn't just an average person not to spot that, he pays attention to every little detail around or involving his dongsaeng.
So, Kim Rok Soo's lies were easily detected by both the older males, Lee Soo Hyuk and Choi Jung Soo.
Weeks passed by, and Kim Rok Soo's hair grew an inch or two taller, he often put his hair behind his ears, but when he lied, he made sure to cover up his ears with his slightly longer hair.
Soon it became a habit.
——————
Choi Han sometimes notices his liege covering his ears when he's talking to some nobles, scamming someone, or even when he was talking to some royalties like the Jungle's Queen, Litana.
It wasn't an issue, but he clearly remembers that when he asked him why he always keeps his hair tied in a ribbon if he likes it tall.
Cale replied that he hates the sensation of his hair on his ears, especially during summer.
So, he was considering whether to ask him about it, just out of curiosity, wanting to know him better, but the more he wondered about it the more he noticed that his liege seems to be unaware of doing so.
After receiving Choi Jung Soo's memory, he understood why. His liege actually was unaware of it, it's just a habit he used to do when he lied in his former life as Kim Rok Soo.
And apparently, he is still attached to this habit as Cale Henituse, or maybe he just got used to it to the point his mind automatically guides his body to move without his consent when he is planning to lie or scam someone.
And this habit was built on a lie. Well, no one was there to tell him his ears don't actually flush when he lies, and Choi Han decided to keep it for himself. Even if he did tell Cale, he won't be able to stop his body, it became something like breathing, something he subconsciously does it.
Choi Han was happy, he got to know something, no one alive other than him knows, or at least discovered yet, about the person he cherishes the most.
Now Choi Han watched as Ron gave Cale lemon tea.
Then asked him if he likes it.
Cale covered his ears before replying with a 'Yes I do, other than that why would I drink it every day.'
Choi Han suppressed a laugh; it was definitely a lie.
As Kim Rok Soo and Cale Henituse, in both lives his liege hated sour and bitter things.
Choi Han thought about it again, he will keep it a secret till death.
His liege, Cale Henituse, makes sure to hide his ears before he lies because he thinks his ears flushes when he does so.
Which is a lie, but who would tell him if Choi Han didn't?
It may seem insignificant for others, but for him. It is something precious.
To know every little habit about the person you love the most will make you feel special, cause not everyone notices these tiny details except the ones who care the most.
And he is proud to say that he is one of those people who cares the most.
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