Chapter Text
"Hey, can we meet in the park?" He asked the person the moment the other side picked up his call. "Sure, I'll be there in a few minutes..." and the call instantly ended after a second.
-----
Hoyoung sat on the bench, waiting for someone as he asked that person to meet him up in the park. He relaxes for a moment, entertaining himself before someone's feet show up in his sight. "I'm sorry that I'm late. You've been here since earlier?"
"No, I just got here a while ago." Silence envelops them, only some birds chirping in the park ringing around the place as everything is quiet after the small chat.
"Uhm, happy 3rd anniv-."
"Bae, he's back..." Hoyoung's mood suddenly sank, hearing that he was already back.
Gyehyeon's boyfriend is back, Minchan is back.
He knew this day would come but could not deny that he was in pain, and he knew he could do nothing but to let him go now. He's hurt, and he knows it, but a smile slowly attached to his lips as he already accepted the fact that he'll never have a chance to Gyehyeon.
"Oh... Congrats, why didn't you tell me sooner? It's embarrassing knowing that I nearly said I love you to you." Hoyoung responded cheerfully without any sign of gloom on his face.
Gyehyeon can't understand.
He can't determine his true feelings this time. He was supposed to be happy knowing that Minchan was back, but it's the other way around. He's hurting. He's hurt seeing Hoyoung standing in front of him as if it's not a big deal, as if they didn't have any relationship that they started when he was devastated by the info that Minchan left him without any word.
He doesn't know what to do.
He doesn't know how to respond, rather than stating a specific word where he knows it can't change anything between them both anymore. "I'm sorry."
"No, you don't have to be sorry. Both of us know that this day will come, and what's important now is he's finally back." Hoyoung let out a small laugh after letting go of those words before continuing while looking at the person straightly in its eyes without any trace of pain and regret. "But did I make you happy within these past three years?"
"Of course..."
"So, everything's fine knowing that I kept my promise with you. I'm glad that I made you happy within these years. So, don't be negative, or I'll be sad." Hoyoung does everything to shut Gyehyeon's concerns even if he had to lie; he's going to do it.
"Bae..."
"Gye, It's really okay, and I'm fine. Besides, I've already prepared for it, so you don't have to worry ab-."
"Bae, can you be fucking selfish just for once?! Even just for now?!" Gyehyeon yelled at him, which didn't stun Hoyoung since he knows the younger very well. Hoyoung understands the sudden burst, but he can't do anything. He's just a replacement until Minchan gets back to take him, and now that the latter is back, his job is now completely done.
"How can I be selfish if your happiness depends on it. And besides, I'm the one who made a deal with you, and you agreed. We also said that we would make each other happy, then when Chan comes back to you, you will leave me. And now you want to break that promise?"
"Bae, that's wrong... I was just carried away by how I felt before, so I agreed. The deal was unfavorable to you, and you know that."
"Who told you that? I'm happy because I made you happy. I'm glad because you're not locking yourself in your room again while thinking about when Chan will return. So don't worry about me. Just think about how you would make up with each other from all those years that you both missed, okay?"
Gyehyeon wants to know, he wants to know Hoyoung's actual emotions, but he can't. The older is too hard for him to read, confusing him day after day with everything. "Hoyoung-ah, how about you? It can't be like t-..."
"Shhh... I'm fine, absolutely okay, no need to worry. You know what, I know what you can do, so you don't have to feel guilty anymore."
"Tell me. Anything, tell me."
"Wish me a Happy 3rd Anniversary, that's it."
"B-but... Fine. Happy 3rd anniversary, Bae." Hoyoung smiled at him sweetly after granting the older request, causing his stomach to feel butterflies but his heart to ache afterward. And without any second thought, he immediately engulfs Hoyoung in a hug, whispering something. "I love you, and thank you for everything."
"You're always welcome," Hoyoung whispered back, leaving a kiss on the younger's forehead before freeing himself from the hug. He bid goodbye to him, leaving the scene with a relief heart after everything.
"I love you too, but you already belong to someone. There's no you and I for me to hold onto throughout this time."
-----
"Let's make a deal, right now... Right here..."
Hoyoung is in Gyehyeon's apartment, visiting the younger since the incident happened to him and Minchan. The latter keeps locking himself in his room, avoiding everyone, but Hoyoung constantly checking on him every time.
Hearing his hyung's word, he immediately pulled his thoughts back and suddenly attempted to sit, but the headache conquered him. Hoyoung saw it and helped him to lean on the headboard while he focused himself on the older. "W-what do you mean?"
"I'll make a deal with you. I rather see you being giddy and happy than seeing you crying every night because of Minchan."
"Deal? What deal?" He stared at the older, waiting for the response, filling the whole room with silence and tension.
Hoyoung collects himself, trying to find his words before voicing his thoughts. "I'll be... I'll be your rebound."
"What?!"
"You heard me, and I'm serious about it." Gyehyeon looked at him, but he just stared back, having no intention of taking his words back.
-----
"Oh, Hoyoung hyung, you're already here. We're still not finished with the preparation." The maknae line is currently on the rooftop as Hoyoung asked them a favor to help him. It's a little surprise that their hyung made for his boyfriend, and they gladly agreed to its plan to support the older.
They were busy setting the place when the door suddenly opened, gaining the three's attention, and they saw their hyung enter the rooftop by himself. "Oh, you're alone? You're supposed to come here with him, right?"
"Let's put everything back now. The surprise won't happen." The maknae line whined, especially Kangmin, complaining about their hard work gone to waste. "Why? You were about this earlier, hyung. Did something happen? Or did Gye hyung already kne-..."
"We already broke up." Kangmin stopped talking when Hoyoung told them the reason for the sudden cancellation.
The atmosphere became quiet as the three looked at him while he was busy putting the things away. "Suddenly? Everything's doing well before. What's with the sudden breakup?"
"Yeah, I know. It's just that my work's accomplished because Minchan's already back. We have no reason to continue the deal anymore."
"And it's okay for you, hyung?"
"Yup, I'm fine with it," Hoyoung responded and slightly smiled at them to give assurance that he was okay with everything.
Yeonho examined Hoyoung while the other two assisted their hyung cleaning up. He exactly knows his hyung's feeling right now that the older's taking its time to swallow the reality that it's all done. He's amazed, stunned at how Hoyoung endured everything calmly without difficulty. "Hoyoung hyung..."
"Hmm?" The older glanced at him while cleaning the things up. "If you need someone to talk to, we're always here."
"Thank you, Yeono-yah." The younger smiled at Hoyoung, and he immediately reciprocated the action.
"Everything will be fine. It's done... My job is now done."