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It was around 9 in the evening when Sunghoon came back from skating practice. Bruises painted the white porcelain of his legs, and sweat drenched the shirt he had on. Sunghoon’s muscles ached from the long hours of repeating the routine of his most recent short program, and for a moment he thinks that he could do without skating for the rest of his life.
Sunghoon had never welcomed death more than he did at that very second.
As he walked into the air conditioned lobby of his apartment, Sunghon wished he would’ve at least changed his shirt before leaving practice. He would’ve showered at the rink, but after the fight he had with his coach, the last thing he wanted to do was stay there any longer than he needed to. He admits that his jumps were sloppier than usual—hell, even his toe loops were rustier today—and Sunghoon supposed that maybe it was the pressure of the first grand prix qualifier event getting to him. He didn’t do too well in his last two events, and Sunghoon was at his wits end trying to make sure he was doing everything he could to get into the finals this year.
Another thing that Sunghoon wanted was to go back home to his best friend and sleep for 12 hours straight. Fortunately for him, the apartment he and Heeseung shared was only one subway ride away from the rink.
Finally , Sunghoon thought to himself as soon as he opened the door. He immediately dropped his gym bag, and hastily flung his shoes into the cabinet by the entrance before making a beeline for the kitchen.
Now you see, Heeseung would usually be at his desk in the living room by this time. His laptop, cintique, and pile of sketches and drafts all sat on his work space. Not Heeseung though. Sunghoon guessed that the other was working late hours at the studio, but then again, Heeseung would have told Sunghoon if he was.
The younger boy took a bottle of Pocari Sweat from out of the fridge, sipped, and stared at the empty yet busy desk from across the room.
Maybe it was the exhaustion from training the entire day; maybe it was the mental toll from the argument he had with his coach earlier; or maybe it was both; but something had Sunghoon wanting, desperately needing Heeseung’s presence.
To be fair, anyone would crave the presence of a loved one after a stressful day.
Sunghoon was about to pull out his phone from his pocket to text Heeseung, when suddenly, the familiar chime of the door’s lock started to ring.
“HOOOOONNN!! You’re bag’s here so I’m guessing you’re home.” Heeseung called out from the front door.
And just like that, the tension plaguing Sunghoon’s body left as soon as he saw the other walk out into the hallway.
Sunghoon put on a little mischievous look and asked, “What if the bag wasn’t mine though?”
“Then I would’ve shared this homemade galbi-jjim with the nice person that decided to break into our unit.” Heeseung played along, an equally impish smile on his face.
Sunghoon laughed at this, and looked at the grocery bag heeseung was carrying. The older boy set it on the kitchen counter and pulled out 4 huge tupperwares filled with one of Sunghoon’s favorite foods.
“Dude,” Sunghoon laughed in disbelief, “oh my gosh how much galbi-jjim is there?”
“Enough to last us a week. Hope you don’t get sick of it.” Heeseng replied.
After he finished gaping at the massive tupperwares, Sunghoon took out two bowls and spoons, handing one of each to Heeseung, and opened one of the containers. Sure enough, the sight of braised beef, and the smell of sweet, caramelized soy had Sunghoon watering at the mouth.
“An angel. Your mom is an absolute angel, Hyung.” Sunghoon said as soon as he tried one of the ribs, his eyes shut tight and brows furrowed from how savory and tender the meat was.
“Okay one; let me heat us up some rice before you finish that,” Heeseung put some that was leftover into the microwave, “and two; for your information, I cooked that.”
Sunghoon stared at his friend with a kind of unexpected surprise.
“Wow. We’ve been friends since grade school, but I never knew you could cook, hyung.” Sunghoon joked, though it was honestly half meant.
Heeseung gripped his shirt where his heart would be with feigned hurt.
“Excuse me>:0 I’ll have you know that Jongseong went through the trouble of teaching me how to make this just so I could make it for you.”
“Why’d you wanna learn it?” Sunghoon asked.
Heeseung mulled it over for a while before replying with, “I wanted to learn how to cook a little more, since you always come back from your practices all dinged up and ready to drop. Because when we run out of the food our parents send over, you always just order take out. It isn't good for you, dude.”
Ding!
Heeseung pulled the rice out of the microwave, and scooped some into Sunghoon’s bowl.
Sunghoon stared at Heeseung again, but this time with a warmth in his heart that spread throughout him like a wildfire. Maybe this is why Sunghoon was looking forward to going home today. Well… he’s always excited to go home to Heeseung, but today especially.
Heeseung, Sunghoon’s favorite hyung and best friend since 1st grade, has never failed to take care of him in their 12 years of friendship.
Sunghoon remembers a time in 3rd grade when he got Pneumonia and had to stay in the hospital for what he thinks might be a week or so. He was bedridden, everything he ate tasted absolutely horrible, and don’t get him started on having to use the nebulizer every 1am.
The point is; he was in pain and misery.
Then on the third day of his stay at the hospital, Heeseung and his dad suddenly dropped by. The older boy had brought a bag filled with his toy cars, some paper and a pack of crayons, a thermos of homemade samgyetang , and even his stuffed penguin to give to Sunghoon. Years later, when Sunghoon and his own parents are revisiting that memory, Sunghoon’s mom tells him that Heeseung’s parents called multiple times—as per the request of their stubborn little boy—to ask if it would be alright to visit. Apparently, Heeseung had kept telling his mom and dad how he wanted to go see Sunghoon at the hospital to make sure he was okay. Heeseung’s mom also said that he was the one who suggested making the samgyetang .
Heeseung going out of his way to look after Sunghoon has always been a regular thing throughout their time as friends; giving Sunghoon piggyback rides to the bus stop from time to time when his legs hurt a little too much after practice; helping Sunghoon out with lessons he missed out on because of his competitions; or even just being in the same space as Sunghoon when he knows the younger boy is having a rough day.
As Sunghoon looked at the bowl of galbi-jjim and rice in front of him, he realized that it’s all these big and little gestures that make Heeseung the home he is to Sunghoon.
“Hoon, are you feeling okay?” Heeseung asked from across the kitchen island.
Sunghoon looked up to see his best friend’s face all crumpled with concern, like the considerate friend he has always been.
“You’ve been looking at your food all dazed for the past few minutes. I could put it away while you get ready for bed if you want? You honestly look really beat.” Heeseung said.
Sunghoon didn’t reply to this, nor did he continue to eat despite the rumbling in his stomach. His gaze remained fixated on Heeseung, and at that very moment, Sunghoon wanted to cry. There were plenty of tears threatening to burst out, Sunghoon’s eyes having glossed over from how much he was holding back. You could probably blame the fatigue for making him so emotional, but he just felt so loved, and it was hitting him all at once how much Heeseung cares.
Sunghoon wished he could do for Heeseung what he does for him.
Sunghoon walked over to the other side of the counter, and said nothing but hugged Heeseung.
Although he was a bit taken aback by the sudden gesture, Heeseung didn’t mind that Sunghoon was still damp from his training, he simply held the younger. No ‘I Love You’s had to be exchanged for the both of them to know the love was there, and always had been.
No questions, no words—nothing but comforting silence and their beautifully loud presence in each other’s lives.