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It's a Saturday and due to the fucked up nature of something called school, Jungwon has classes which means Jay is all alone when he wakes up in the morning.
Seriously, why do they even need to go to school on a weekend and by 7am? It's really just plain mean and should be an illegal act. But it's like a ritual, all freshers need to go through the whole wake up your mind routine of 7am classes and 6pm classes and oh, random classes popping up in between.
Jay wishes he could just hide Jungwon away from it all but he can't, he has to let the boy get that education just like he is too.
Since there's no Jungwon clinging to his bicep and whining non stop about something, mainly the way Sunoo has been hanging out more and more with Sunghoon, Jungwon almost regretting the way he kept encouraging Sunoo to man up and speak to the older man.
Oh well, the damage is done.
Jay uses this once in a lifetime opportunity to clean the house and sort out his pots and pans, organizing the kitchen. He also starts on a pot of curry since the younger man seems to adore that dish.
Jay has made it so many times that by now, he's sure the pot he always uses to make it is groaning when he picks it up.
"Sorry dude," he says to the pot as he rinses it. "Boyfriend duties."
He's halfway done with the curry, already taken a shower and is settling down into his couch to play some games when he hears the sound of the passcode being punched in.
He smiles wide and gets up to welcome Jungwon into his arms but he doesn't even get to open his arms or say hey when Jungwon is rushing into the house, toeing off his shoes at the door hurriedly and rushing into Jay's arms, the force pushing both of them back down into the couch.
"Hey hey," Jay says, his hands hesitantly patting Jungwon's back. Which is shaking. "Hey baby, what's wrong?"
That's when Jay realizes that Jungwon is full on sobbing, his body shaking as he trembles every now and then.
It has Jay ultimately worried and even if he wants to know what happened and if they - the 'they' in this context being Heeseung who won't hesitate to hide a body - needed to do something about it, he needed to calm Jungwon down first and make sure he's fine before asking questions.
"Hey Wonie, it's okay hm? I'm here now," he shushes, running his hand up and down Jungwon's back and back up into his hair. "It's gonna be fine baby."
Jungwon eventually stops crying, just sniffling as he raises his head to look at Jay, who is already looking down at him, watching his expression.
Jungwon's eyes are a little puffy and his nose is red but he still looks so cute, blinking up at Jay.
"Hi baby," Jay mutters, his free hand moving the hairs falling in front of Jungwon's eyes. "Can I get you some water?"
Jungwon doesn't speak, he just nods, his weight moving from Jay's hold to sit on the side of the couch. Jay glances at him, clad in his hoodie and jacket ensemble, Jungwon looks so soft and cuddly, his cheeks puffing from the way he's pouting.
"Will you be okay here or do you wanna go to the kitchen with me?" Jay cautiously asks and Jungwon instantly gets up, holding on to Jay's fingers.
The moment they're in the kitchen, Jay picks up a cup from the drawer and fills it with water from the fridge while Jungwon is already going through the pot to have a taste of the curry inside.
"It's not done yet," Jay tells him, but Jungwon seems happy already with the current state of the curry. "I'll bring you some when it's done. Drink this."
Jungwon gulps down the water in one go, taking the cup back to the sink and attaching himself back to Jay's side.
"How're you?" Jay asks and Jungwon just shakes his head. He turns around, now in front of Jay as he buries the side of his head into Jay's shoulder, his cheek digging into the cotton of Jay's shirt and his nose rubbing against Jay's neck. "Bad day?"
"The worst," Jungwon speaks for the first time, starting to sniffle again and Jay doesn't want another batch of waterworks in the kitchen so he walks them to their room.
"It's okay Wonie, you'll be fine hm? I'm right here," Jay comforts him, taking off the hoodie and jacket off of him and placing them on a chair. "Wanna cuddle?"
Jungwon nods and Jay puts them in position, this time, Jungwon buries his face into Jay's sternum, getting comfortable as Jay runs his fingers through his hair.
"Hyung," Jungwon cries into Jay's shirt, his hands clutching at the cotton on the back.
"It's okay Jungwon, just sleep okay?" Jay consoles, leaning down to kiss the top of Jungwon head. "When you wake up, you'll feel better I promise."
Jungwon eventually does sleep, his eyes heavy from the earlier crying and his body tired from the classes. It's already well after noon too so it's time for his daily siesta.
When Jay is sure that Jungwon is fast asleep, his mouth open a little to let out puffs of air, he slips out of the bed and out of Jungwon's hold to go work on the curry.
He manages to finish it but he forgets that Jungwon would probably wake up and he wouldn't want him to be alone when he does.
So Jay serves the curry on some rice and arranges a tray for him, taking it to the room, using his leg to open the door.
Jungwon is all cocooned in the duvet Jay wrapped over him before he left and he's clutching on to a pillow, hugging it like he would hug Jay.
Jay places the tray on the table by the side and he walks back to Jungwon's sleeping figure, leaning down to press kisses to his forehead, cheeks and then his temple.
Maybe it's the flurry of kisses or the smell of the curry in the room, but Jungwon is blinking is eyes open, yawning and stretching his arms like a cat.
"Hi again," Jay says, rubbing Jungwon's hair. "Slept well?"
Jungwon flops back on to Jay's thighs, pulling down Jay's hand to cover his eyes in an attempt to sleep some more.
"I smell curry," Jungwon says, his nose sniffing the air around them.
"Yeah it's by the table," Jay explains and Jungwon is out of his hold in a flash, already heading for the bowl. "Be careful, it's hot."
Jay doesn't even know why he bothers warning Jungwon, it's not like his boyfriend cares for the hazards, his only goal being to finish that bowl in record time.
At this point, Jay doesn't bother telling Jungwon to eat slowly because he knows he won't, too eager to get some of that curry in his system.
The older of the two watches from the side and Jungwon eats happily, his cheeks filling with rice and the way he all but melts into the chair once he's done clearing the bowl, a satisfied smirk on his face.
He looks over to Jay who chuckles and motions with his hands to come over. Jungwon pads over the soft carpet in the room, settling into Jay's arms on the bed, koala style.
"I'm sorry for whatever happened," Jay whispers into Jungwon's ear. "Do you wanna talk about it?"
It takes a little while for Jungwon to reply but when he does, Jay's undivided attention is on him, his hands patting Jungwon's back as he tells him all about it.
"There's this kitten I've been feeding for the past week," he explains and Jay distinctly remembers the kitten, Jungwon had even sent him a picture when he'd found it.
The only reason they hadn't taken it in was because they're both so busy and they wouldn't want to be negligent in taking care of it.
Oh, and Jay is allergic.
"So I went to feed it today on my way back home because I got it some treats," Jungwon's voice sounds heavy as he tells the story. "And then I didn't see it where it usually was, so I kept looking for it for a bit. Eventually I saw it on a platform across the street and I called out to it."
Jay hums in understanding, urging him to go on.
"It had started to come over, because the streets were clear but.. it was so shaky, Jay. It looked so frail and weak it couldn't go on.. and I tried.. I really tried to walk over and pick it up but this car appeared out of nowhere and.."
Jay feels wetness on his shoulder and deems it's enough. He comforts Jungwon by lulling their bodies sideways.
"I'm sorry baby, I'm so sorry," he tells him. "I'm sure it's in a better place hm? And I'm sure it'll always remember you and your kindness."
Jungwon nods, seemingly reassured with the words, he finally lifts his head from Jay's shoulder. His eyes are set on Jay's, smiling a little.
"Thank you hyung," he mutters, his voice scratchy from all the crying he'd been doing. "I'm so grateful for you in my life."
"I should be the one saying that," Jay responds and he tries to go on with some sentimental words but Jungwon kisses him on the lips and it's enough to make him forget what he was even thinking of.
BONUS PANEL
"Hyung what's this?" Jungwon asks, a day or two after the kitten incident.
There's a golden box in his hand, one he'd found placed on the bed as he returned from school, Jay watching a documentary on TV.
"Open it," Jay says without looking away from the screen.
Jungwon plops down next to him and opens the box, a gasp leaving him as he brings out the tiny pot of plant.
It's a small potted succulent plant that has Jungwon immediately thinking of where to keep it.
"Is this for me?" He asks, eyes wide. He grabs Jay's arm and shakes him until the other man looks away from the TV and to him, "Hyung!"
"Yes yes, it's for you. Since we can't have a cat here, I figured you could have something else to take care of." Jay explains, relishing in the way Jungwon immediately launches on top of him to pepper his face with kisses. "You like it that much?"
"Nah I absolutely detest it," Jungwon rolls his eyes and Jay laughs. "Thank you hyung. I'm gonna name it Miniwon."
"You're.." Jay can't believe it. "You're naming this plant?"
"Yes, and you'll refer to it by its name," he says, firm on his words.
Sometimes Jay feels like he's the cause of all his problems really, but one smile on Jungwon's face, a flash of his dimples and he's sure he'd do it again.