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It was a quiet night in their cozy apartment, where the walls seemed to hold the echoes of their love story. Taehyun and Beomgyu had spent two years nurturing their relationship before making the bold decision to move in together. Now, within the confines of this shared space, their love had only grown stronger with each passing day.
Their apartment was a testament to their shared experiences. Photographs adorned the walls, capturing moments of laughter and tenderness. A framed picture from their first vacation together sat on the bookshelf, a reminder of the journey they had embarked on as a couple.
Being the older one make Beomgyu naturally assumed the role of “big hyung” in their relationship. He took pride in protecting Taehyun, looking after him in countless ways, from preparing his favorite meals to offering a comforting presence in times of need. It was a dynamic that had evolved organically, each of them contributing to the nurturing of their love.
However, it wasn't uncommon for Taehyun to reciprocate this care. He had an innate sense of when Beomgyu needed that extra affection or attention. Sometimes, it was in the way he tenderly held Beomgyu's hand during a movie, or the surprise cup of coffee he made when Beomgyu had a particularly stressful day. Their love was a harmonious dance of reciprocity.
As the moonlight filtered through the curtains, it cast delicate, ethereal shadows across their room. The apartment felt like a haven, a sanctuary where their love bloomed.
But tonight, once in a while, the peace was shattered as Beomgyu stirred in his sleep.
His brow furrowed with worry as the nightmare gripped his dreams. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, glistening in the moonlight. His breathing became erratic, and his once-relaxed body tensed with the turmoil of the dream world.
“No... Please, don't leave… Taehyun,” Beomgyu murmured subconsciously, his body moving restlessly.
The dimly lit room felt heavy with tension as Beomgyu's restless pleas hung in the air. Taehyun, who hadn't fallen asleep yet, bolted upright from the bed, a sense of urgency gripping his heart. He could see Beomgyu on the verge of tears, tormented by a haunting dream that seemed to claw at the edges of their reality.
His own anxiety rising, Taehyun moved swiftly, his voice trembling with concern as he reached out and gently shook his boyfriend. He whispered tenderly, “My love, hey, wake up.” The words held a weight of worry and the desperate desire to pull Beomgyu back from the brink of nightmare that seized him.
Panic still evident in Beomgyu as his eyes fluttered open. Taehyun pulled him close, wrapping his arms around him in a soothing embrace. “Shh, it's okay, baby,” Taehyun murmured, his voice a comforting melody. “It’s okay, you're safe now. I'm here with you.”
Beomgyu clung to Taehyun, his heartbeat gradually slowing down as he focused on the steady rhythm of Taehyun's breathing.
Feeling that his lover had become somewhat calmer, Taehyun, who still held Beomgyu close, gently inquired about the reasons behind Beomgyu uttering his name in his dream, "Did my baby just have a bad dream? Would you like to tell me about it, hmm?"
Beomgyu hesitated for a moment, his voice quivering as he recounted the nightmare that had haunted him. “The dream… so terrible,” he began, his voice shaky. Avoided Taehyun's gaze as he continued, ”You... you gave me a wedding invitation, but your name was on it with someone else’s. You said you didn't love me anymore and left me alone.”
Taehyun’s heart clenched with pain as he listened to Beomgyu's fears. He couldn’t help but feel that this nightmare might have been triggered by their disastrous first meeting with his parents, a brief encounter that had ended in cruel rejection. Taehyun’s mom, driven by prejudice against their same-sex relationship, had spewed hurtful words that had wounded Beomgyu deeply. It had left Beomgyu feeling not just uneasy, but utterly broken over the next few days.
With a heavy heart, Taehyun tried to comfort his beloved, his voice quivering with emotion.
“Love,” he whispered, “I promise you, that nightmare is just a dream. I love you more than anything, and I'm never leaving you.”
His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he continued, “I'm so sorry for what my mom said. I know it wounded you, and I should've protected you, but in fact, I failed.”
“Seeing you cry because of me makes me hurt too, hyung. I promise I will make it up to you. I'll do whatever it takes to make things right with my family. We'll face it all together, okay?”
Tears welled up in Beomgyu's eyes as he heard his lover's words of comfort. “Okay,” The older one replied, extending a trembling pinky with a pout on his lips.
“Pinky promise?”
“Yeah, pinky promise.”
All the younger one could do was interlock his pinky with his lover's, finding solace in the gesture amidst the turmoil. He sealed the promise with a bittersweet kiss to Beomgyu’s forehead.
“Shall we try to sleep again?” Taehyun suggested softly. “How about I serenade my little bear?”
With a loving smile, Taehyun softly began to sing Beomgyu's favorite lullaby, the familiar tune of “You'll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins wrapping them in a comforting embrace.
As Taehyun continued to sing and speak soothing words, Beomgyu's breathing gradually steadied. His eyelids grew heavy, and the tension in his body began to ease. It wasn't long before the soft snores of a peaceful sleep replaced the anxious whispers of the night.
“Is Cookey finally asleep?” Taehyun whispered to himself, gazing at Beomgyu’s serene expression. While watching his lover, Taehyun's mind worked tirelessly, trying to figure out how to mend the rift that had formed between them and his family. He pondered ways to soften his mom's heart, knowing that this turmoil had started during that unfortunate family gathering.
As the early hours dragged on, Taehyun found the weight of his thoughts too much to bear. Exhaustion crept over him, his eyes weighed down by unshed tears. Carefully, he pulled the duvet around Beomgyu, their touch carrying a bittersweet promise.
“Good night, Love,” Taehyun murmured into Beomgyu's ear. With a heavy heart, he enfolded the older in a tight embrace. Followed his lover into the realm of dreams, Taehyun’s silent vow echoing in his mind, never to leave Beomgyu to face this storm alone.
For Taehyun, walking away from Beomgyu was never an option, and he was determined to find a way to make things right, no matter how steep the price.
Because in the end, their love was worth every sacrifice.