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Bonggu woke up to a good day.
It’s sunny outside, the birds are chirping merrily, and sunlight is streaming in through the window by his bed, hitting him right on the face and giving him warmth and some much-needed daily dose of vitamin D.
He reached for his phone to look at the time. It’s 7 AM – just the perfect time to wake up in the morning if you ask him, not too early and not too late.
He peeled back his covers and stretched lazily on the bed, a satisfied smile creeping on his face.
Yes, today will be an amazing day. He can feel it in his bones.
There’s a light knock on his door, which had him furrowing his brows in confusion.
Eunho, his housemate, never knocks. He just usually barges in.
“Come in,” he called out, voice still hoarse from sleep.
“Good morning, Bonggu-hyung! I thought you’re still asleep,” Eunho said as he slowly opened the door, his silver hair peeking in first, followed by his bright smile. “I prepared breakfast. Get up, let’s eat!”
Bonggu narrowed his eyes at Eunho, alarms blaring in his head because of the uncharacteristic behavior from the younger.
He and Eunho have been sharing an apartment for almost three years now. They tolerate each other at best and bicker at worst. And while they mostly spend their days working, only passing by each other at night or during weekends, they already know a lot more about each other than Bonggu would’ve liked.
You don’t really have a choice but to get to know Eunho if you’re sharing an apartment with him. His behavior tends to be outrageous, and the only way to keep yourself sane is to try to understand him.
Anyway, some of the things he knows about Eunho are not aligning to how he’s behaving right now.
First, there’s the knocking.
Second, Eunho is not usually this cheery so early in the morning.
And third, Eunho has never been this pleasant to him.
But Bonggu does not want to ruin his perfect morning, so he pushed all his suspicions aside, and just sent a little prayer to whoever is listening that whatever Eunho’s up to, he hopes he won’t get roped in.
Breakfast turned out to be the pasta from last night, which was passable albeit a little soggy now. Bonggu thanked Eunho anyway, because at least he still reheated it for them.
After eating, he went out for a walk then grabbed a cup of coffee on his way back home. Overall, it was a really really nice weekend morning, and he still has so much time to be productive and tackle some household chores.
He soon found out, though, that he didn’t really have to do any housework. Because Eunho mysteriously took care of them all while he’s outside.
The younger scrubbed the kitchen counters, polished the floors, vacuumed the couch, cleaned the bathroom and even watered Bonggu’s succulents that Eunho hates for some reason (“They look juicy and I hate that I can’t eat them,” Eunho had said that one time Bonggu asked).
Which are all red flags screaming that something is seriously wrong .
Bonggu felt his perfect day slipping right through his fingers.
He narrowed his eyes at Eunho, who’s sitting on the couch with a too-innocent expression.
“You did something wrong, didn’t you?”
“What? No! Why would you think that?” Eunho spluttered.
“Why are you being so nice then?”
“Can’t I do those things just because I want to be nice to you?” Eunho retorted with a pout, crossing his arms defensively.
He scoffed in response. “I’m not stupid. Quit the act and just tell me.”
“Okay, first of all, you’re being too rude but I’m letting you off the hook because I want to be nice-” Bonggu rolled his eyes. “And secondly… Bonggu-hyung, what do you think about—”
Eunho was cut off by a loud caterwauling from somewhere in the house, startling the both of them.
“What’s that?” the older said anxiously, eyes wide and searching the living room for the source of the sound.
“What’s what?” Eunho asked, feigning innocence.
“I know you know I heard that sound!” Bonggu exclaimed, now walking around the house to search for the source of the loud cry. “That’s the reason you’re being nice isn’t it?”
Another whine sounded again, this time sounding a lot sadder, and then Bonggu heard a shy mewl just as he passed by Eunho’s bedroom door.
He glared at Eunho, and Eunho stared back with a guilty expression.
“Look, hyung, I can explain.” Eunho held his hands up, his eyes pleading, and even though Bonggu kind of hates him, he doesn’t really have the heart to wave him off. Not when he looks… cute like that. So he nods, partly because he wants to get rid of his thoughts about Eunho being cute, but also to signal him to continue talking.
“I was on my way home last night when I saw him. He was curled up near a bush. And he’s so small, and shivering so hard and his meows sounded so sad. What would you have me do?” Eunho explained in a desperate tone. “I just couldn’t leave him alone like that so I brought him home. I know I should’ve asked if you’re okay with that, but there was no time…” Eunho trailed off.
Bonggu heaved a deep sigh. He’s not some heartless monster who would prefer Eunho to leave the cat out on a cold night. “Okay. Fine. I understand. But don’t expect me to help with taking care of it.”
“Of course, of course! Don’t worry, I’ll do all the work!”
“And I don’t want cat fur all over the house.”
At this, Eunho looked uncertain, but he nodded to reassure Bonggu nonetheless. “Do you want to meet him?” He asked excitedly as he ran to his door.
Bonggu pursed his lips. He’s not really a cat person, but if he has to live under one roof with this cat, then he supposes it’s only right for them to be acquainted.
The cat turned out to be an all-black kitten with hazel eyes. It looked a little ruffled because its fuzzy fur was sticking up every which way. It regarded Bonggu with a curious yet reserved expression, and it made no move to come out of Eunho’s room.
Bonggu stayed rooted to his spot as well, not knowing how to interact with the kitten. This is why he prefers to take care of succulents.
Eunho clucked at the cat to call it over, and Bonggu is taken aback by how sweet and comforting the younger sounded when he softly coaxed it to come out. He observed Eunho with wide eyes as the latter gently picked up the cat and cradled it to his chest.
“I named him Hammie,” Eunho said with a proud smile, his voice still gentle to avoid startling the kitten. “Hammie, meet Bonggu-hyung.” He held one of the kitten’s paws and gently waved it in the air at Bonggu.
And wow, okay. Bonggu did not sign up for this extra dose of devastating cuteness.
And the fact that it’s from Eunho of all people? He must be dreaming still because there’s something seriously wrong with this situation and the way his brain and his heart are reacting right now.
But before he did something utterly stupid (like wave back at Hammie or coo at Eunho), he forced himself to look away and think of all the responsibilities that having a cat entails.
Not that he plans to share those responsibilities.
But every pet deserves to receive the best care, right? Even those who just suddenly turn up in your home without warning. So, anyway…
“Did you even buy him food?”
“No. All the pet supply stores were already closed when I found him.” Eunho answered dejectedly. “But I gave him one of the canned tunas you keep in the cupboard!”
Eunho had the gall to lighten up at his “brilliant” idea, and Bonggu just gaped at him. He loves those tuna and they’re not cheap either.
“What about his bathroom habits?”
“Oh… uhm… about that..” Eunho trailed off with a guilty look on his face again. “Hmm… Do you remember the small pink carpet you love to keep inside the bathroom?” he continued carefully.
“Yes. What about it?” Bonggu looked at him suspiciously again.
“Uhh… he may or may not have used that to go potty early this morning.”
“He used it for what?” Bonggu raised his voice in disbelief, startling the cat.
“I’m really sorry, hyung. I swear I’ll replace it.”
Bonggu took a deep breath to try to get his emotions under control, massaging his temples as he looked up to stare at the kitten still comfortably snuggled in Eunho’s arms, only to find that Hammie is already looking up at him, seemingly amused by his outburst.
“You don’t have to replace it,” he said, still holding eye contact with Hammie. “Just please buy his supplies now so it won’t happen again.”
“I will! I will! But uhh…”
Bonggu scowled at the younger. “What now?” He asked exasperatedly.
“Can you come with me when I go buy the things he needs? To make sure I don’t miss anything.”
🐾
In retrospect, Bonggu should have known that his perfect morning was just actually the calm before the storm the minute Eunho knocked on his door.
And right at that moment is the storm, there in the veterinarian’s office, with the mixed smell of wet fur and disinfectant filling his nose. Pets were coming and going every few minutes, some healthy and just there for a checkup, while others were sick or injured – those pets he tried not to look at because they break his heart into a million pieces.
He never would have expected to spend his precious weekend with Eunho at the vet, holding paper bags of cat supplies while they wait for Hammie to finish his checkup.
It’s weird too, because they don’t really talk to each other, much less spend time together. He’d always thought of Eunho as an annoying roommate that sometimes provides him food. But between their busy work schedules, packed weekends, and tired nights, they never really made any effort to actually get to know each other.
They just simply coexisted and got into each other’s nerves every once in a while.
This is the first time that they’re even spending this much time in each other’s presence. But Bonggu supposes it can’t be helped. He has to be here to make sure Eunho gets all the right supplies, so Hammie won’t use another one of his stuff as a litter box.
Bonggu is interrupted from his thoughts by the vet walking towards them, Hammie in hand. The doctor informed them that Hammie is a healthy cat – no injuries or illness, but he did have fleas so he’s given a flea bath and he’s just a little underweight.
That afternoon when they got home, Eunho asked him to help put away all the cat supplies they got. Bonggu grumbled “no” and holed himself up in his room. He should’ve known better than to give Eunho and Hammie free reign of the house like that.
Cat food is now among the supplies in their cupboard. There’s a litter box in a hidden nook beside the laundry room, a cat bed next to the couch and squeaky toys scattered around the floor. When Bonggu stepped out of the room that night and stepped on a squeaky mouse, all he could do was heave the deepest sigh that he’s ever heaved in his entire life.
🐾
Eunho must’ve taken Hammie’s underweight issue to heart, because he made sure that the cat gained weight. And gain weight he did.
Bonggu knows, because he couldn’t count the number of times he woke up with the heavy lump on his chest, each time growing heavier and heavier.
That lump was Hammie.
And he couldn’t figure out how in the world the cat always managed to open his door at night to come in and use him as a mattress. (And no, he doesn’t bother locking the door because he kind of likes it anyway when Hammie is like a beacon of warmth purring on him. It’s kind of comforting, especially after a tiring day at work, but Eunho doesn’t need to know about that.)
If he’s being completely honest, he’s realized that having a cat isn’t all that bad.
Hammie’s nice and affectionate, he respects Bonggu’s succulents (which are now all pet-friendly after they threw away potentially toxic ones), and he’s really clean too.
He smells nice and Bonggu’s kind of developed a habit of sniffing his fluffy head when Eunho’s not looking.
Perhaps the only downside about having a cat is that their fur is everywhere – all over the furniture, all over their clothes, sometimes on their food. Even his succulents have cat hair.
But still, it’s hard to not grow fond of Hammie.
It’s also hard not to grow fond of the way Eunho takes good care of him as if he’s a real baby. He remembers the time they got him neutered (Eunho dragged him to the vet again against his will), and Eunho was so worried that he kept fidgeting at the waiting room. They could’ve gone home, but the younger insisted that they wait instead.
Bonggu didn’t know how to comfort him, but he ended up holding his hand. Which was weird... and a little nerve-wracking.
But anyway, six hours and a shaved lower body later, Hammie was cleared to go home with a cone around his head that he absolutely despised.
Eunho actually teared up, especially when Hammie meowed sadly like they betrayed him and he saw how wobbly the cat was from the anesthesia. Now that Bonggu thinks about it, the entire thing was actually funny and endearing at the same time.
There’s also another downside from owning a cat: the cat litter.
And Bonggu is currently arguing with Eunho about it.
Bonggu didn’t want to be responsible for cleaning up the litter, but Eunho insisted that Hammie is as much his cat as he was the younger’s (“He even sleeps with you! How could you say he’s not your cat?!” ). So he didn’t really have a choice but to accept the dirty job begrudgingly.
He and Eunho alternate with cleaning up the litter. And as far as Bonggu is concerned, it’s Eunho’s turn to clean up the litter tonight.
“No. I already cleaned it up this morning before I went to work, so it’s your turn to clean it tonight!”
“But I was the one scheduled to clean it up this morning?” He shot Eunho a puzzled look. “I did it even when I’m already running late, so why didn’t you just stick to the schedule?”
“I cleaned it up because I know you were already running late and I didn’t want you to be late. I even told you I scooped it already!” Eunho exclaimed at him with a disappointed look. “I should’ve known you won’t listen to what I say.”
“I didn’t hear you tell me that.” Bonggu mumbled, all of his annoyance being replaced with confusion.
He didn’t know why Eunho’s suddenly concerned about him running late. It’s not as if it’s the first time he’s ever been late to work, so he asked the younger exactly that, and was surprised to see him blush. Eunho is blushing? What the hell is happening?
“Whatever.” Eunho cleared his throat and gave an exasperated sigh. “Should’ve known you wouldn’t appreciate the effort. Fine, I’ll clean it up again tonight,” he said as he marched dejectedly to the cat litter.
“Hammie, why is your dad being weird?” Bonggu whispered to Hammie as soon as Eunho was out of earshot, crouching down to scratch him on the ear, to which he responded with a headbutt and a little chirrup.
Despite himself, Bonggu couldn’t help the smile from forming on his lips. Maybe Eunho isn’t the bane of his existence after all.
He makes it up to the younger the next day by getting Hammie a cat tree, and Eunho spent hours taking photos of him playing on it.
🐾
Bonggu takes back what he said. Maybe Eunho really is the bane of his existence.
Why else would he drag him against his will on a fine Saturday morning just to walk Hammie around the nearby park, on a leash, only to leave the two of them alone the minute he saw a new ice cream parlor across the street?
Bonggu massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on, as he tried to tamp down his annoyance.
He and Hammie are currently lounging on a park bench, with the cat sitting as far away from Bonggu as the leash allows and happily soaking in the sunshine. At least Hammie seemed to be enjoying his impromptu outdoor romp, even if he attacked the leash for a couple of minutes before leaving the house.
He picked up a particularly long leaf that fell from a nearby tree and used it to play with Hammie, but they were soon distracted by an out-of-breath Eunho, holding two cones of ice cream in his hands. Bonggu looked at him with surprise, since he really thought Eunho would go home without them.
“I got you vanilla because I didn’t know what flavor you like.” Eunho said as he sat down beside Bonggu, pushing Hammie’s leash behind his back.
Bonggu was flustered from the sudden closeness and the unexpected ice cream, so he just mumbled out a thanks.
“Mint chocolate,” he said after a few minutes of them just eating ice cream together.
“What’s that? I didn’t hear you.”
“I said mint chocolate. I like mint chocolate.”
“Oh, really? I don’t.” Eunho chuckled. “I got strawberry.” He held out his ice cream cone to Bonggu. “Do you want to taste mine?”
“Are you asking me if I want to taste the ice cream that you’ve been licking at for the past three minutes?”
There was a pause.
“Uhh, I guess you could put it that way?” Eunho said with uncertainty.
There was another pause as Bonggu tries to decide if this is something that he should make a big deal out of. He decides it’s not and he doesn’t want to be the one being weird about it, so he tells Eunho “sure, why not” before taking his cone and taking a bite out of his ice cream, trying to will away the blush creeping up his cheeks as the thought of “indirect kiss” popped in his head.
“How very mature, Bonggu.” He stupidly thinks to himself.
They spent a few more minutes sitting beside each other like that, and it was weird, because it made something flutter in the depths of Bonggu’s tummy and chest, and whatever that something was, it’s making his heart race as well.
🐾
Bonggu sleepily sipped on his morning coffee as he watched Eunho pet a purring Hammie.
There’s a fond smile tugging at his lips, before he got a hold of his thoughts and schooled his features into a frown. He really shouldn’t be feeling these weird fluttery things in his chest every time he looks at Eunho. He’s used to not liking the younger this much, and he has no idea what to do with all these foreign emotions.
“Bonggu-hyung…” Eunho called out to him, worry dripping from his voice, which immediately got his attention. “Hyung, come here, hurry.”
Bonggu quickly got up from the dining chair he’s sitting in and walked to where Eunho and Hammie were sitting on the floor, the fear from Eunho’s voice making him feel anxious too. “What is it?”
“Here, touch this.” Eunho took one of his hands and guided it to the side of Hammie’s chest. “Can you feel the bump here?”
Bonggu had to press gently on Hammie’s chest to feel it, but there was indeed a lump there, right beside his left armpit. He tried to press it again, this time with more pressure. The lump is soft and can be moved around a bit. Hammie doesn’t seem to be in pain even when it’s pressed, but it’s still very concerning.
Worry was written all over Eunho’s face. His hands trembled lightly as he gently pets Hammie, his lips pursed into a tight line and his eyes filled with concern.
“Do you want to take him to the vet?” Bonggu asked Eunho, who’s now taken to chewing on his lower lip out of worry. “I can take an emergency leave right now if you want.”
Eunho thinks it over for a bit before finally nodding. “Are you sure you’re ok with that?”
“Of course.”
“Okay,” Eunho said, letting out a relieved sigh. “I don’t think I can do this by myself.”
“C’mon, let’s have him checked.” Bonggu picked up Hammie and placed him in the carrier, taking along his medical records and supplies.
Eunho mostly kept quiet the entire ride to the vet as he held Hammie’s carrier in the passenger’s seat, the silence only broken by him talking to the cat quietly every now and then. When they arrived at the animal clinic, it’s as busy as ever, and it took about half an hour before Hammie was finally examined.
The doctor had to insert a thin needle into the lump to aspirate a tiny sample of the tissue. Hammie let out a loud cry and started thrashing during this procedure. Seeing him like that was heartbreaking. Bonggu found himself holding Eunho’s hand again. But this time, it’s not just him comforting Eunho. Eunho’s warm hand was keeping him from panicking too.
After all tests were done, the doctor handed Hammie back to them and asked them to wait for the results. Eunho became more and more restless with every passing minute. Bonggu didn’t know how to comfort him – he didn’t know what to say. So he just continued holding on to Eunho’s hand and didn’t let go, hoping that a simple gesture would be enough to lend him some strength.
When the results were finally released, Bonggu and Eunho were at their wits’ end in the animal clinic. The veterinarian explained that what Hammie has is called a lipoma, and it’s thankfully benign. While it may not be dangerous, it can still grow larger and eventually impede Hammie’s movements because it’s located right by his armpit. They recommended having it removed, and both Bonggu and Eunho agreed to get the procedure done as soon as possible.
“You need to leave him here tonight, so we can prepare him for the procedure tomorrow,” the doctor explained. “After that, I also recommend admitting him at least a day after the surgery, so we can observe if he’s doing alright.”
That means two nights without Hammie in the house. Two nights of worrying about how and what he’s doing. They were hesitant and worried at first, but they eventually agreed for Hammie’s sake.
“Hammie, be a good boy, okay?” Eunho whispered gently to Hammie, who was meowing sadly inside one of the crates stacked side by side in the clinic.
“Don’t worry, Hammie. We’re going to come back for you tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I promise.” Bonggu added, reaching around Eunho’s shoulder to gently scratch Hammie’s head.
They spent a good thirty minutes just bidding Hammie goodbye and reassuring him that he’ll be okay, before the vet’s assistant finally asked them to leave.
The ride back home was just as quiet as it was going to the animal clinic. Bonggu didn’t know how to do small talks, and Eunho frankly didn’t look like he’s in the mood for it, so he just turned on the radio to fill the silence, absentmindedly singing to some of the songs he knew.
“You’re good at singing.” Eunho said out of the blue, startling Bonggu while he’s in the middle of singing the chorus to the song currently playing. He glanced at the younger with an incredulous expression, feeling a little self-conscious. “Your voice is clear and calming, I like it.” Eunho added.
Bonggu narrowed his eyes at Eunho. “Are you being sarcastic right now?” He can never tell if the younger one is joking or not.
Eunho chuckled in response. “I’m being serious. You should sing more at home. I really like your voice.”
“Uhh, thanks?” Bonggu said hesitantly, his cheeks stupidly heating up at the sudden compliment.
None of them talked after that, until Bonggu pulled up to their apartment and Eunho asked him what he wanted to eat since he plans to have food delivered to them for lunchtime.
The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. Bonggu, as usual, holed himself up in his room. He kind of regrets not filing for just a half-day leave. At least, at work, his mind would be preoccupied with all the tasks he needs to finish and he won’t have the time to think about how Hammie is doing and why Eunho makes him feel so flustered these days.
When the clock struck eight in the evening, Bonggu had had enough playing games for the day. His neck was cramped and his joints were literally squeaking and popping from not being used for how many hours. He got up and stretched before heading out of his room, only to be greeted by the sight of Eunho sitting on the couch, cradling a bowl of popcorn to his chest while he watched something on the TV.
“Oh hey, you finally came out of your cave,” greeted the younger.
Bonggu rolls his eyes even though Eunho won’t see it. He knows Eunho will feel it anyway. He dragged his feet to the kitchen in search of something to eat.
“We don’t have food. We only have popcorn.” Eunho called out from the living room. Bonggu supposes that’s better than nothing, especially since he’s too lazy to cook or call for delivery, so he dragged his feet back to the living room and plopped next to Eunho, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl.
“What are you watching?” He asked with his mouth full.
“Just some random documentaries about crimes, nothing unusual.” Eunho answered with a smirk.
“You’re creepy when you say it like that.” Bonggu scowled at him, to which Eunho just laughed.
He found himself staring at the younger as he listened to his laughter. The sound of Eunho’s laugh is unique, much like his personality is. He seems to wheeze out each “ha” in “hahaha” and in different tones. If Bonggu were to describe it, he’d say the sound is airy, tinkling, unabashed, child-like, infectious. He likes it – it’s comforting.
Why are his thoughts like this again?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eunho asked, suddenly looking a little shy.
“Nothing. I was just thinking about how your laugh sounds like a kid’s.” Bonggu said bluntly.
Eunho cleared his throat and averted his eyes. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
Bonggu thinks it’s a good thing, but he doesn’t want to say that out loud, so he just shrugged. Eunho rolled his eyes at him and faced the TV again. They sat there in silence, watching the gruesome documentary for a few minutes before the younger spoke up.
“Do you think Hammie will be alright?”
The worry and slight tremble in his voice had Bonggu looking at him with concern.
“He’s going to be alright,” he said in a comforting voice as he scooted closer to the younger. “He's a strong kitty. He survived how many nights trembling out in the cold weather before you found him. He’ll get through this, too.”
In a burst of confidence, Bonggu patted one of Eunho’s hands as a sort of comforting gesture. Just when he’s about to retract it and tuck it back into his hoodie, Eunho holds on to him and entwines their fingers together. Bonggu’s brows shot up in surprise, his heart starting to hammer frantically in his chest.
“Thanks for being there throughout all these, hyung. You didn’t have to, but you still chose to care for Hammie and to lend me comfort when I needed it.” Eunho gave him a shy smile, which made Bonggu’s poor heart seize up. “I should’ve been the more responsible one since I was the one who decided to adopt him. Sorry for that.”
Bonggu thinks if Eunho doesn’t stop being this… endearing, then his heart will surely give out and the younger will have more serious things to be sorry for.
He cleared his throat and tried to get his racing heart under control. “You don’t have to thank me,” He said as his thumb rubbed soothing circles on Eunho’s hand. “Because I’m not doing those things for free. Consider these a favor you’ll have to repay someday.”
“Sure, Chae Bonggu. Whatever you say,” Eunho said, chuckling as he rested his head on Bonggu’s shoulder.
The older was frozen in place. Today’s events must have shaken Eunho up too much, making him emotional and clingy. That’s the only explanation he could think of for what the silver-haired is doing right now.
What he can’t explain is his own behavior.
He could’ve scooted away from Eunho, pulled his hand from his hold or playfully pushed him off when he rested his head on his shoulder. Months ago, that would’ve been his reaction for sure. But now? He hates how he likes this entire situation too much.
He didn’t know what changed between them and when, but the warmth he feels in his cheeks and ears, his pounding heartbeat drowning out all other sounds, and the feeling of Eunho’s slightly clammy hands holding his makes him feel an exhilarating emotion that he can’t get enough of.
It’s probably why, when Eunho moved closer to snuggle up to him, he didn’t move to put a distance between them. Instead, he placed an arm around Eunho and leaned his head on the crown of the younger’s soft silver hair.
“Is this how falling in love feels?” He finds himself cringing at his cheesy thoughts before drifting off to sleep.
🐾
The morning after that was, needless to say, extremely awkward.
Bonggu woke up feeling hotter than usual, his left arm had gone numb and his legs were cramped. He blinked his eyes open and almost had a heart attack at the sight just a few inches in front of him.
It’s Eunho, in all his beautiful morning glory - cheeks squished, plump lips parted in sleep and silver hair tousled to cover his forehead.
Bonggu didn’t know how they ended up lying face to face on the small couch, but there they were.
Eunho’s arms were wrapped around him, which is likely why he felt like he’s sleeping next to a bonfire. The circulation to his left arm is probably cut off from being under Eunho’s torso – “which means I was hugging him too?!” Bonggu internally freaked out.
He tried his best to be as subtle as possible as he scooted away from Eunho, but it’s practically impossible not to wake the latter up as he untangled their limbs, so he wasn’t surprised when Eunho opened his eyes and stared straight at him just as he was pulling out his numb arm from under the younger’s body.
“Good morning.” Eunho says in a low sleepy voice (which, if Bonggu was being completely honest, sounded hot). One corner of his lips pulls up into a lazy wolf-like smirk. “Did you have a good night’s sleep in my arms, Bonggu-hyung?”
“Shut up,” Bonggu bites back as he scrambles to get up. But unfortunately, luck doesn’t seem to be in his favor right now, as he lost balance and fell off the couch, his back giving a loud smack against the floor. Eunho peered at him from the couch to check if he’s alright. After confirming that he is neither paralyzed nor dead, the younger had the gall to laugh at him, loud enough to wake their neighbors.
“You’re insufferable,” Bonggu grumbled as he rubbed his butt. He didn’t say any more after that.
They quietly went about their own business, preparing for their trip to the animal clinic. Today’s the day Hammie will undergo surgery to remove his lipoma. And if everything goes well, he’ll be discharged tomorrow. Both of them have decided to file for a three-day leave so that they’d have enough time to make sure that Hammie is okay. How they’ll take care of him after they get back to work is a problem that they’ll have to figure out later.
The ride to the vet is once again engulfed in silence, but now it’s more charged with awkwardness.
Eunho seemed to sense it too, as he played music to try to disperse some of the awkward mood. He hooked his phone to the stereo and played his favorite tracks, humming every once in a while. The songs are different to what Bonggu usually listens to, but he likes them nonetheless.
The animal clinic is less crowded today and they were immediately ushered to the back area where the confined pets were kept. Hammie literally screamed at them the moment he saw them step in the room. He seems to be active and doing okay, save from his sad meows.
They spent a few minutes petting him before the doctor arrived and explained that he’s currently fasting right now and that his procedure is scheduled at 11 AM. They can come back in the afternoon to check on him once he wakes up from the anesthesia.
They didn’t really have any more reason to stay after that, so they went back home after signing up some forms and reassuring Hammie for almost an hour that he’ll be alright. As usual, Bonggu retreated to the safety of his room, only coming out to eat and use the bathroom.
Eunho just watched stuff on the TV again. Bonggu tried his best to ignore him every time he went out of his room, but he could see from his peripheral vision that Eunho’s eyes trail him every single time he appears.
The next time they speak a word to each other is when they’re about to head out to the animal clinic to check on Hammie after his surgery – it’s just their usual “hey”, “let’s go”, nothing extra. And Bonggu felt a little disappointed.
He didn’t know why he suddenly had the urge to bring up the night before and maybe progress from there. He blames it on the night. Something about the moon and the stars is probably messing with his head. Why else would he act all awkward in the morning, only to feel like he’s missing Eunho later on in the day?
He mentally slaps himself to ward off his weird thoughts, focusing on driving and on the road ahead. They reach the vet clinic in no time. Bonggu thought everything would go smoothly and uneventfully, but just as they were about to step into the clinic, Eunho reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers.
Bonggu glanced down at their hands before looking at Eunho, a question in his eyes.
“Sorry, this... this just feels comforting. Is this okay?” Eunho looked unsure of himself. Bonggu nodded frantically, wanting to bring back the confident Eunho that he knows.
They walked hand-in-hand to the veterinarian’s clinic, and they didn’t let each other’s hands go, even when they had to gingerly pet Hammie, who was still unsteady from the anesthesia, his chest shaved clean and the lump successfully removed from his body. And just as they did countless times that day, they reassured him that everything will be fine and he’ll be home tomorrow.
🐾
“Mind if I sit here?” Bonggu asked Eunho who’s once again lounging on their couch. It’s been almost three hours since they got back from the vet clinic and it seems like they’re forgoing dinner for a bowl of popcorn just like yesterday. He waited for Eunho to say yes before sitting down next to him.
“I can tell how much you’re worried about Hammie.” He said as he popped a few popcorn into his mouth.
Eunho hummed. “Am I that obvious?”
“Yes. You’re going to break the skin on your lips if you keep biting at it like that.”
“Why are you looking at my lips in the first place?”
Bonggu scoffed at him, choosing to ignore what he said.
“Hammie’s surgery was successful. The doctor confirmed he’s in a stable condition, so you don’t have to worry about that anymore. We just have to take good care of him after this to make sure he heals well.”
“That’s one of my worries, too. How do we do that if we’re both at work most of the time?” Eunho sighed and it seemed to make him age ten years older. Bonggu realized that it’s the first time he’s seen the younger looking so defeated and he just wants him to be his usual annoying self.
“You don’t have to worry about that as well. I’ve already talked to my boss and asked him if I could take the night shift for the time being, so that I can look after Hammie during the day, and you can take over me at night.”
“What?” Eunho looked at Bonggu like he just said the most unbelievable thing on earth and the latter couldn’t help but chuckle at his comically wide eyes.
“I said I’ll look after Hammie during the day and you can take over at night. During the times when we have to sleep, I guess we just need to make sure that his cone is on and he won’t have elevated things to climb onto.”
Eunho seemed at a loss for words as he just stared at him in awe. Bonggu, not knowing what to do, just shot him a tentative smile before facing front to watch whatever is on the TV. He felt Eunho shift next to him and the next thing he knew he’s enclosed in Eunho’s tight hug.
“E-Eunho?” He wheezed out.
“Bonggu-hyung,” Eunho dragged out the last syllable of his name. “Thank you! You didn’t have to do this, you know? But thank you!” He said as he shook Bonggu from side to side in his arms.
“I can’t breathe.” Bonggu huffed and Eunho loosened his hold immediately but didn’t pull his arms away. “He's as much as my cat as he is yours. Of course, I’ll do this for him.” He said, eyes still plastered on the TV screen because if he turned his head to face Eunho, the distance between them would be too small and he’s not sure what kind of mistakes he might make because of that.
Eunho just hummed and moved to hug him tightly again. He’s straddling him from the side now, and Bonggu feels like he’s about to combust. He cursed at his panicked gay heart and tried to wiggle out of Eunho’s hold. The younger just whined like a kid, tightening his limbs around him even more as he pulled him down to lay on the couch.
Bonggu’s mind is in full-on panic mode now. “What? What are you doing?”
“I show my gratitude through cuddles,” the younger said in a cute voice, and god Bonggu almost cooed at how adorable Eunho was acting.
He must’ve gone crazy from all the times he inhaled the smell of cat litter.
“Thanks, but no thanks. You can let go of me now,” he said as he pretended to wiggle out of Eunho’s arms.
Keyword: pretended.
Eunho isn’t really holding him tight and he could’ve been free from his clutches if he just exerted a little more effort, but his inner gay voice was just screaming at him to stay there. And being the panicked gay that he is, he listened to it and obeyed.
After a few minutes of half-hearted scuffling, which Bonggu knew was more for his pride than anything else, the two of them settled down and fell into a comfortable silence as they watched the documentary playing in front of them.
If someone were to tell him four months ago that he’d spend an evening being the little spoon to Eunho as they watch some documentary about dolphins and alpacas on Nat Geo, after an emotional day that involved their cat having a surgery, he would’ve cackled at that person’s face for imagining something so ridiculous.
But he supposes fate works in ridiculous ways.
He never would’ve imagined being this close to the annoying housemate that he tried his best to ignore every day for the past three years.
As if reading his thoughts, Eunho suddenly spoke next to his ear, “Why have we never done this before? We could’ve spent evenings cuddling like this instead of ignoring each other.” As if to prove his point, he nuzzled his face into the crook of Bonggu’s neck.
Bonggu fought the shivers threatening to run up and down his spine. His heart felt like it’s about to leap out of his chest and make a run for it.
He silently thanked the low lighting in their living room. At least Eunho won’t see the goosebumps appearing across the expanse of skin where the younger’s warm breath fanned over him. He cleared his throat, not knowing how to respond to Eunho.
Fortunately, the latter didn’t seem to be waiting for a response as he snuggled into the couch more comfortably, pulling Bonggu flusher to his body.
Something about Eunho’s warmth and the steady rise and fall of his chest was comforting, and even though Bonggu was struggling to keep his heartbeat under control, he couldn’t fight the urge to just close his eyes and let sleep overtake him while he’s comfortably nestled between the younger’s arms.
🐾
Things were awkward when they woke up. Again.
But Bonggu likes to think that he’s becoming better at masking the awkwardness.
Instead of making a big deal out of waking up with Eunho’s arms around him, their faces just a couple of inches apart, he simply ignored the hammering of his heart and stretched out on the couch to wake up his cramped muscles.
This effectively woke up Eunho as well, who seemed to be having a grand old time just staring at him.
Bonggu failed to realize that stretching his hands so high up above his head would cause his shirt to ride up his waist. It’s not until he felt Eunho’s palm right on his bare skin, squeezing at his hip, that he figured out his mistake.
The parts where their skin touched felt scalding and it sent all remnants of sleepiness flying right out the window. He scrambled to put some distance between them, as if burned by Eunho’s hands.
So much for being not awkward.
He quickly made his way to the bathroom, ears and cheeks on fire, with Eunho’s happy giggles echoing in the background and throughout their apartment.
Hammie was ready to go home by the time they got to the vet clinic. The doctor and the assistants repeatedly reminded them of the precautions they have to take when handling Hammie, what to keep him from doing while his wound was still fresh, how to give his medications, and when to come back for a follow-up checkup. In the end, they gave Hammie a “Get Well Soon” cake as a reward for being a good boy at the clinic.
Bonggu breathed out a sigh of relief once they got home and let Hammie out of his carrier. Although they still need to take good care of him for several weeks, at least the worst is finally over and he feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders now that he’s back home.
🐾
He stood next to the kitchen counter with a cup of tea in his hand, observing Hammie take careful steps around the living room, not quite used to the cone around his head yet.
Funny how months ago he never would’ve thought he’d care this much for a cat.
“If I could just take away all the inconvenience and pain he’s feeling right now, I would. His little body doesn’t deserve it,” Eunho mused as he stood right beside him to observe Hammie. Their shoulders were touching, and it’s a source of warmth that Bonggu craves.
He smiled to himself. He still can’t help but be caught off-guard by how loving and caring Eunho is to Hammie and to animals in general. And now that he thought about it, he realized that the younger had always been sweet and caring.
Like the time he scooped litter even if it wasn’t his turn, or the times he bought dinner or groceries for the two of them, or the countless times that he suddenly pops into Bonggu’s bedroom just to ask if he’s okay after he’s been holed up in there for too long. Even the tea steaming in his cup right now is from Eunho. He didn’t ask for it, but the younger somehow knew he needed it anyway.
“You know, the more I get to know you, the more I see that I was totally wrong about your personality,” he said as he turned to face Eunho, looking at him in the eye and searching his face for a reaction.
“I could say the same for you.” Eunho faced him as well.
The air between them is charged with something else that Bonggu can’t explain, but it’s sending thrills into his heart, making him take shorter breaths as butterflies thrash around his stomach.
“Sorry for judging you unfairly all these years, Do Eunho.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to be sorry, Chae Bonggu.” Eunho gave him a playful smile. “Is this how we get together now?”
Bonggu snorted at that. “You’re annoying – at least I’m right about that one thing.”
Eunho giggled at him, bringing one hand up to rub under his chin as if petting a cat. “Yeah, maybe I am annoying. But I’m loveable, I swear.”
The light-hearted quip is a stark contrast to the intensity in Eunho’s gaze, and Bonggu couldn’t help but avert his eyes downwards as he felt heat creeping up his neck and face by how little the distance between them is right now.
“I think I inhaled too much of Hammie’s fur and it has muddled my mind,” Bonggu mumbled, his voice just barely above a whisper, but Eunho can still hear him loud and clear because they inched even closer to each other. “Because I actually think I’ve grown to like you, even though that sounds crazy.”
“Such a crazy notion, huh?” Eunho took a step closer, backing Bonggu up until his back was against the edge of the countertop.
The younger placed his hands on either side of him, leaning on on the countertop and trapping him in between.
Their faces are so close to each other now that he can catch the scent of peppermint tea every time Eunho exhales.
Bonggu looked up and met the younger’s gaze, only to catch Eunho glancing at his lips before looking back up to his eyes.
There was a challenge in them, a dare to stop fighting everything that’s falling into place so naturally, to let all his inhibitions go, to just accept what he’s feeling and stop trying to deny that this is also what he wants.
And maybe he’s finally tired of pretending that he isn’t falling for this silver-haired animal lover with so many weird quirks.
At least, that’s what he tells himself as he reached up to wrap his hands on the back of Eunho’s neck, gently pulling him closer to his body as he brought his lips against Eunho’s soft ones.
He felt Eunho shift underneath his fingertips, angling his head better so that their lips slotted together perfectly, as if that’s what they’re made to do.
He doesn’t know if a kiss should be this intoxicating, overwhelming, and exhilarating, but that’s exactly how he feels.
And when Eunho deepened the kiss and wrapped his arms around Bonggu’s waist to pull their bodies even closer, his fingers pressing down on the latter's hips, all Bonggu could do was whimper and entangle his fingers into Eunho’s hair, earning him a moan.
They kissed long and filled with hunger. And neither of them would’ve pulled away if it wasn't for the quiet sounds of their kisses being disrupted by a high-pitched whine, and this time it’s not from Bonggu.
The two of them broke apart, and god why does Eunho look so hot with his lips swollen and slick with wetness. Bonggu really did that? He’s the one who made Eunho look like that? He must be having some kind of fever dream.
He licks at his lower lip, feeling how swollen it’s become as well, and catches Eunho’s eyes following the movement of his tongue. Bonggu feels like he’s going to have a heart attack.
He’s fortunately saved from it by another demanding whine.
They look to their right and see Hammie, sitting there in all his coned glory, staring straight at them with judgment in his eyes, as if to say, “Really? You guys have the nerve to flirt while I’m in this predicament?”
Bonggu felt Eunho’s chest rise up and down with laughter even before the sound of it spilled through his lips.
“You brought this upon yourself, Hammie.” Eunho told the cat with a stern voice, arms still wrapped around the older. “If you hadn’t charmed hyung, this wouldn’t have happened!”
Bonggu simply smiled as he stared at the younger. He’s so beautiful like this.
Seeing him laugh this up-close, his eyes crinkling at the edges and his nose doing a little scrunch, is doing things to Bonggu’s heart. Since when did he become this whipped for Eunho?
Hammie let out another loud mewl again, eliciting a sigh from Bonggu.
“Alright, you brat. I’ll give you food,” he told him, trying to sound stern. When he moved to put a distance between him and Eunho, the latter simply tightened his hold on him. “Let me go. Our Hammie is hungry,” he said, chuckling.
Something about that seemed to melt Eunho’s heart as the latter gave him a gummy smile before he buried his face in the crook of Bonggu’s neck.
“I like you so damn much.” Eunho whispered next to his ear, sending shivers down his spine.
“I like you so much, too.” Bonggu whispered back.
Later that night while he was lying in his bed, with Eunho sprawled out like a starfish beside him, he couldn't help but feel amazed at how so many things can change within such a short period of time.
“Thank you, Hammie.” He whispered to the cat happily purring on top of his chest.
Because really, he wouldn't change this for the world.
-fin. ♡