DASH-Chapter 5Vol 2. : Side Story -
Even in situations like this, Kwon Jaekyung never beat around the bush. Jiheon knew that already, but it still flustered him to be asked so directly.
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to....”
Jiheon sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed his forehead for no reason.
“It’s just that... how should I put it... I’m kind of worried. Like, I keep wondering if it’s really okay to do it.”
“Because of the baby?”
Jiheon answered softly, “...Yeah.”
Jaekyung stared at him for a moment, then sat down on the bed too. The moment he settled right beside Jiheon, he spoke in an unusually serious tone.
“Hyung, I looked into it, and apparently when parents share love during pregnancy, it has a really positive emotional effect on the baby. And honestly, that makes total sense. It’s the clearest way to show that the dads care about each other and love each other.”
Jaekyung’s voice was calm, almost tender—completely unlike his usual self. Judging from the sudden flood of sappy phrasing he rarely used, he was probably reciting something he read somewhere, but Jiheon didn’t bother to point that out.
“And you know what else? If a pregnant person feels an orgasm during sex, they release a bunch of endorphins—and that’s supposed to help the baby’s brain development. It’s all medically proven too.”
This time, Jaekyung tried appealing to medical authority. It looked like he’d been seriously researching and studying on his own—but there wasn’t anything particularly new or groundbreaking. Jiheon had already looked all that up a long time ago.
“I get it.”
When Jiheon didn’t say anything more, Jaekyung sighed and climbed onto the bed first.
“Then we won’t do it. Just come here—I’ll give you a massage.”
“Seriously...?”
When Jiheon asked with suspicion, Jaekyung stopped pulling the massage cream out of the shopping bag and looked at him with an incredulous expression.
“Obviously I’m lying.”
“You little shit.”
Jiheon slapped Jaekyung’s thigh with a loud smack. Jaekyung actually burst out laughing, rare for him.
“Kidding! I’m kidding.”
“If you really don’t want to, hyung, we won’t. I mean it.”
Judging by the tone and expression, he was telling the truth.
That was one of the strange things about Kwon Jaekyung. For all his bulldozer-like, pushy behavior, he always knew, like a sixth sense, when to back off. It wasn’t something he calculated in his head—that was exactly why Jiheon could never bring himself to hate him.
“Alright, then. I’m gonna go wash up. Just wait a bit.”
Jiheon smacked Jaekyung’s thigh again and got up.
When Jiheon returned to the room, Jaekyung was already perfectly set up for the massage. Shirt off, just wearing pants, seated on the bed. A towel was spread between his legs, and bottles of oil and cream were scattered on top. Jiheon watched him test the consistency of the cream mixed with oil on the back of his hand.
“How is it? Moist?”
Jiheon joked, and Jaekyung rubbed the back of his hand with exaggerated seriousness.
“It’s moist, yeah, but way too slippery.”
“Well, obviously—it’s mixed with oil.”
Jiheon chuckled and walked over to the bed. Jaekyung pushed aside the creams and oils that were lying between his legs and patted the space beside him, gesturing for Jiheon to sit. Jiheon stared at him for a second, then remained standing.
“Jaekyung, just a heads-up—I’m way bigger than I was last time you saw me.”
“I know.”
Jaekyung blinked innocently.
“I can already tell.”
“Hey, it’s not the same as when I’m dressed. It seriously popped out a ton over the last two weeks.”
“Really? Hurry and show me.”
Jaekyung urged him with an eager face. When Jiheon hesitated, Jaekyung grabbed his arm and tugged him onto the bed, sitting him down in front and immediately lifting his t-shirt.
“Ah, come on.”
He half-pulled the shirt up, then pulled it back down with a laugh—and then buried his face in Jiheon’s shoulder.
“This is ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the cutest I’ve ever seen you.”
“...You think it’s cute?”
“Yeah. So cute.”
Jaekyung raised his head, grinning from ear to ear. That look of overflowing joy completely melted the lingering anxiety Jiheon had kept curled up in the corner of his heart.
“Oh, come on. This makes no sense.”
Like he still couldn’t believe it even after seeing it, Jaekyung lifted Jiheon’s shirt again.
“How can a belly... I mean, how can it be this round?”
Even as he ran his hands over Jiheon’s belly, Jaekyung kept laughing, overwhelmed with happiness. But his hands, soft and careful as they stroked over the bump, were so gentle that Jiheon felt an unexpected lump rise in his throat. Not wanting Jaekyung to notice, he joked lightly.
“Doesn’t it look kind of alien? Like those frog-belly looking bumps.”
“No way. Don’t compare it to something that gross.”
Jaekyung looked genuinely offended.
“No seriously, I’ve been freaking out every time I look in the mirror lately. It’s just this perfectly round belly sticking out.”
“Yeah, I was shocked too.”
“Really...?”
“Yeah. Shockingly cute.”
As Jiheon laughed and said, “What the hell,” Jaekyung pulled his shirt off. Seeing Jiheon’s upper body completely exposed, Jaekyung could only manage a breathless, “God... this is just too much...” before covering his own face with both hands and ducking his head in embarrassment. He probably realized just how whipped he looked. But watching Jaekyung so happy made Jiheon feel happy too.
“Is it really that good?”
Jaekyung nodded, still smiling.
“What exactly is so good about it?”
“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t get it, hyung.”
Jaekyung pouted.
“If I have to explain it, that already proves you don’t get it.”
“Oh, shut up.” Jiheon laughed in disbelief, and Jaekyung quickly composed himself and leaned back against the headboard.
“Anyway, I’m giving you a massage. Come here.”
Jiheon hesitated for a moment, then settled between Jaekyung’s legs. Jaekyung helped him turn around and guided his back to rest against his own chest.
“Relax. Just lean back.”
Once Jiheon did as he was told, Jaekyung began squeezing cream and oil onto his palms. After mixing them into a thinner blend, he dotted a little on Jiheon’s chest and belly, then began gently massaging his shoulders.
“Hyung, your shoulders are so tight.”
“That’s because of you, giving me stress.”
“Oh come on, what’s that supposed to mean.”
Jaekyung laughed, and the natural ease between them melted the last of Jiheon’s tension. He leaned into Jaekyung’s body like he was melting.
“Feels good, right?”
Jaekyung asked as he loosened the knots in Jiheon’s shoulders and neck with his strong, warm hands.
“Mm... You’re really good at this, Jaekyung.”
“Well, I’m practically a semi-pro.”
With how many massages he’d received himself, he clearly knew where and how to press. Add in his strong grip and naturally warm hands, and it felt even better.
A wave of drowsy heat washed over Jiheon. Every time Jaekyung’s hand touched him, he let out a soft moan. When Jaekyung slipped his hands under Jiheon’s arms and began massaging his chest, Jiheon involuntarily twisted his waist with a low groan.
“Uh-uh. Stay still.”
Jaekyung caught Jiheon’s body as he started to lean forward and pulled him back against his chest with a smile. Then his hands, slick with cream and oil, slowly rubbed over Jiheon’s chest. Jiheon, suddenly self-conscious, spoke first.
“My chest... got kinda big, didn’t it.”
“Yeah. You look like someone who works out a lot.”
“What the hell.”
Jiheon leaned his head back and laughed. Jaekyung laughed too, and then leaned down to kiss him. Light, fluttering kisses, one after another, while his hands continued to gently stroke Jiheon’s chest. He lightly squeezed the now-fuller flesh that fit perfectly into his palms, then ran his fingers over Jiheon’s nipple and murmured:
“But this part, hyung... it was cuter before.”
Jiheon had always had small nipples—even compared to the average. Jaekyung had once jokingly said it was the only cute thing on Jiheon’s body. But during pregnancy, they’d more than doubled in size, and darkened in color. Even the areolas had swollen slightly, giving them a round, plump look overall.
“Really? So they’re not cute anymore?”
Jiheon teased, but Jaekyung replied without hesitation.
“Nope.”
Jiheon looked ready to pout—he’d expected something like “Not not cute... just a little less cute than before.” But before he could react, Jaekyung gently pinched one of the wet, swollen nipples and whispered:
“They’re not cute at all. They’re sexy.”
God. Jiheon let out a laugh, rubbing the back of his head against Jaekyung’s shoulder. Jaekyung didn’t waste the moment, leaning in for more kisses with soft smacking sounds. This time, his hand moved to Jiheon’s other nipple, lightly toying with it.
“And this one... it didn’t just get bigger—the shape changed too, right?”
He muttered with wonder, tapping it with his fingertip.
“Hyung, the color and shape... they look just like pink pearl grapes.”
“What the hell is that? A grape?”
“Yeah. You eat them a lot in Australia. They’re super sweet. I love them.”
“...They’re not actually pink, right?”
“No.” Jaekyung laughed.
“But they’re such a pretty color... You’ll get what I mean if you see one.”
They’re like little fruit. They make you want to bite them. But even as he said it, he didn’t actually bite—clearly he’d taken those warnings about nipple stimulation to heart.
