“Nah, I had fun. Jihyun, how much older are you? Do you really like me dropping the honorific tone when we talk?”

“Yes. I love it. And to answer your question: I’m ten years older than you.”

“Yeh? What? Ten years?!”

“Penalty!” Jihyun exclaims.

“Huh?”

“You just used the honorific!”

“That was out of reflex. I was startled because I thought you were nine years older than me. You said so before. How old are you again?”

“I’m thirty this year.”

“I’m twenty-one. So you are nine years older than me. Why did you lie earlier?”

He giggles. “I wanted to scare you into blurting something out in the honorific tone. Now you must face the penalty.”

“That’s cheating. That doesn’t count. We have to start over. Okay, no honorific tone, starting … now!”

“I didn’t cheat, and that totally counts. Remember you have to grant me one wish?”

I don’t respond.

“My wish is …”

“If it’s anything tricky, I’m not gonna do it.”

“My wish is for reunification of the Korean Peninsula!9 Just kidding. I just want a kiss.”

“That’s it? Alright, you can’t change your mind about it. Come over here.” Jihyun scoots over, and I lean in to kiss him. I feel his pulse speed up, but I don’t feel anything myself. Why don’t I feel excited? Is it because this kiss was imposed on me as a “penalty?” He wraps his arms around me, his hands on my back, and pulls me down to lie on top of his body. I kiss him from above, and his tongue slides onto mine. I taste the honey and cheese from earlier. I rise from his body.

“Are you feeling tired?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. You can take a bath. I’ll fill the tub for you.” Jihyun gets up from the sofa and staggers to the bathroom. I hear the sound of running water. He emerges back out.

“Jihyun, are you feeling alright? You seem a little off.”

“No, just nervous.”

“What are you nervous about?”

“We are going to be sleeping side by side. When I open my eyes in the morning, you’ll be right there. It feels like a dream. Don’t you feel nervous?”

“Not really. Your place is cozy and nice. Much better than the hospital room.”

“Huh. How could you not be nervous to be alone with a man?”

“Dunno. I surprise myself like that.”

“Have you … slept with a man before?”

“Why?”

“Just answer me.”

“What about you?”

“I’m a virgin, a bachelor and a virgin.”