They never say it outright. Vague expressions reign in Korea; death, life, sex, love -- all is hidden beneath a shroud of banter, word play, and witty remarks. Yet through their meaningless words, their empty gestures, they convey more than if they were to bare their souls to the harsh Korean winds.
They never say it outright -- he never dares to. Yet afterward, while BJ feigns sleep, he imagines he can hear the soft words drifting, landing like a kiss on their recipient. Sometimes he thinks he does.
It is then that he almost -- almost -- responds, outright.