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It has always been like this. The sound of the waves strong along with the rhythm of the ticking cheap wall clock and the noisy AC that they found as the most budget-friendly. Drenched back because of sweat, facing the glass-wall while the white light illuminated by the moon bids its goodbye as the rays of the sun greets the skin of his beloved. It was coincidental at first; Sunghoon being the sensitive to light person that he is, faced the glass-wall when they slept one night, forgetting to close the curtains. He was awaken by the bright light that seeped through his eyelids. He was ready to murmur his complaints, ready to stand up and close the curtains, but he couldn't. With golden-stained cheeks, fluffy, messy hair, furrowed eyebrows, soft breaths, and a halo encapsulating the entirety of his love's existence, how could he? How could he, when a breathtaking Jake greeted him right at that moment?
He forgave himself for that one time, but it seems like it has already been a part of his daily routine. Sunghoon waking up quietly but with his heart giddy in the thoughts of witnessing the embodiment of his boyfriend for the word 'angel' every morning, just like how he endeared him. Not bothering to look decent, most of the time just wearing the clothes he slept into as they drifted to dreamland cuddling, Sunghoon savors the sight like it's something that could go away and slip out of the tip of his fingers any minute. He is afraid, but at the same time comforted by it; it's his religion, he would admit.
Life has been tough, to say the least. The two moved in together with no plans at hand, wanting to live the dream together, as best friends at first and with a tight budget at that. Eventhough Sunghoon had been a thrifty kid, saving up while working hard at such a young age, he never wanted to splurge and burden his parents. Jake, on the other hand, felt the need to be independent, moving away from his family at such a young age. And so they were together in this ride or die adventure in search for answers in this questionable life. They hunted for a place right after college, away from the urban and near the sun, which led them to this — an apartment on the edge of Busan, where the sun meets the sea and where their eyes met as they experienced gravity.
The two were inseperable ever since they were kids. The moment Sunghoon offered his hand to the Australian boy that was bullied on the playground, they knew that that was it; that they were it. Don't get him wrong, Sunghoon is the type of kid that would stay out of trouble and away from the bullies. He was a quiet and timid child that waited when the bullies got away before offering the Aussie kid a handkerchief and a sausage stick. The two boys immediately clicked, sharing the same humor, taste–not only in food but in a very long list of things, and of course, they shared secrets in whispers and giggles. They experienced the typical bestfriends to lovers trope, per se, living as each other's day 1, neither Sunghoon nor Jake can imagine life without the presence of a childhood friend that they walked their life with hand-in-hand.
Despite everything they have been through though (the lonely days without each other as Sunghoon fulfills his duty as a national figure skater, Jake being the sickly kid that he is, and countless minor and major hassles they have exprienced in their 22 years of existence), there's nothing that could top their pining for each other.
Behind the cheerful facade of Jake is his dense perception on the feelings of others, which frustrated Sunghoon the most. Although dubbed as the ice prince, Sughoon is not ice-cold at heart, and most importantly, not dumb with his feelings. The butterflies in his stomach and lightheadedness whenever Jake does the bare minimum were proofs that 18-year old Sunghoon discovered himself as he declared himself whipped for the man and his tiny ministrations. But boy did he took four long years to gather the courage to spill the beans about his feelings to the boy that they were for and to the boy that he has been staring at for quite a few minutes already. 23 minutes to be exact.
The events that spiraled and led him to confess played back in his mind, giving him whiplash as he chuckled in the memory while stroking the strands of hair on his lover's gorgeous face.
Just a few months ago, both of them were able to settle in the apartment. As they just finished their pre-med courses, Jake taking pharmacy and Sunghoon with physical therapy, they settled in this small town in Busan wherein they will continue studying medicine in a rural set-up. Sunghoon retired early in pursuit of this track with his bestfriend. Not only were they amazed by the doctors they have watched on screen, their passion is rooted on their common friend's sickness. Both of them want to train in an uncommon ground full of surprises that would be of great help in their expertise.
The apartment which they got for a very cheap price—thanks to their visuals that Mrs. Min (the landlord) loved—only came with few pieces of furniture; a sofa that is half-sittable and half-sunken, a creaky queen-sized bed that might disassemble with just a little bit of force, and a stinky refrigerator that surprisingly still does its work.
Sunghoon and Jake quickly took note of these and went into full-restoration-master mode, with the thought of having this apartment as their haven in the next long years. With the meager savings that they have, new furnitures replaced the antique ones, giving them the life experience of having a cozy apartment with a glass window facing the sea.
Their last day restoring the apartment was an exhausting one but they chose to take a stroll along the coast. Being together simply wears off any pent off exhaustion that either of the two feels, so it seems fitting for the two of them to reflect while walking on the beach after a long day. Little did they know that it was definitely on eof the best decisions that they have made in their lives.
"What a tiring renovation that was. Pretty glad I wasn't alone doing all the planning and implementing myself." Jake sighed as he stretched his arms while walking. He never fancied working out and doing extreme physical jobs. Between the two, he is the drained one.
"It is worth it, though. Knowing that I'd be living with you all alone, uninterrupted. Couldn't ask for more." Sunghoon replied with a slip of his tongue. He paid no mind because, of course, it will only be taken in the most platonic way possible for Jake. The countless pickup lines that he told Jake when they were in college were ignored, making him not in the slightest bit worried for his choice of words.
"Why would you want to live with me all alone, uninterrupted, and why wouldn't you ask more than that?" Jake's response was glazed with curiosity and followed by a nervous laughter. Knowing Jake for more than half of his life, it never crossed Sunghoon's mind that he would take this statement of his in the way it was intended to mean. But it surely did, this time.
"Maybe this is the sign. Maybe this is the time. Sunghoon, man up."
Moments like this are hard to come by. Enjoying the sunset while on a stroll after a successful restoration of an apartment is a once in a lifetime experience. Jake not being dense is a once in a blue moon occurrence.
Sunghoon stopped in his tracks, in which Jake followed suit. With the sun getting ready to set, displaying hues of orange and yellow, along with the rampaging waves mimicked by his heart beat, Sunghoon took all his emotions out of the bottle.
"Jaeyun, to tell you the truth, I like you. Like a lot."
Sunghoon fumbles. He checks Jake's expression for a split second then continued his impromptu confession. As an introvert, he never really liked speaking out and opening up. But for Jake, he surely does, and with his whole heart on every word that he speaks of.
"For how many years already, I've been testing the waters but I just can't seem to take a risk and a little dip in this relationship of ours. But now, hell, I decided to dive."
He gains courage to look at Jake straight on the eye. Sunghoon was surprised to see the other man with tears welling up, hands on his mouth, restricting himself from crying out loud. Sunghoon took Jaeyun's hand away from his mouth and intertwined their fingers instead. With his other hand, Sunghoon carressed Jaeyun's cheek as if he's holding the whole world in his hand. Scratch that, Sunghoon held the entirety of the universe in his hand. They stayed like that, holding hands, trying not to cry in the middle of a beach, as Sunghoon continued his ment.
"You may kick me out of our newly renovated house after this but I just want to tell you that in this fresh story that we are writing together in Busan, I'd gladly write the succeeding chapters and each and every word that would build me, you, and us."
Sunghoon isn't a writer. He also isn't a poet. But with his Jaeyun's presence, he just knows that he can do anything, even the impossible. He doesn't even know if his words are making any sene with this out of the blue confession of his. All that Sunghoon knows is that Jaeyun looks ethereal at this very moment and he deserves all the good things in this world; which Sunghoon would gladly give him without asking anything in return.
"You know what? I don't actually just like you, hell, I fucking love you to the moon and back."
That classical line that Sunghoon used to describe his love for Jaeyun made the other man weak on his knees. Though the phrase was cliché, Jaeyun definitely wouldn't mind to be loved for the rest of his life.
With watery eyes and a dry throat, Sunghoon hugged Jake so tight that breathing wasn't even an option. Jaeyun was trying to collect himself eventhough he cannot breathe properly with his tears and snot everywhere. They stayed in that position for a long while, until Sunghoon pulled away to hold his Jaeyun's face with both of his hands, looking at his eyes filled with unsaid words that Jaeyun wasn't able to reply. He understands. Sunghoon always understands.
And so he moved closer, inch by inch. With the sunset, the two closed the gap, meeting halfway and moving in harmony as they follow the rhythm of their hearts.
Even Sunghoon cannot believe that he did such a brave thing 4 months ago. It still drives him insane to the point that euphoria hits him whenever he remembers the image vividly—to the point that it makes him dizzy. His thought procees, however, was interrupted when the said figure he had been worshipping since 5 AM in the morning smiled and reached out to hug him.
"Good morning, my Yunie."
Sunghoon whispers. Jaeyun just holds him tighter, eliciting a soft giggle from the both of them.
It has always been like this. Mornings full of thoughts and gratitude to the scenarios which led them onto what they have right now. Mornings spent with Sim Jaeyun on Sunghoon's arms as words of love are exchanged between the both of them. Mornings that are serene. Mornings that Sunghoon would never exhange anything in the world for.