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This is a part of My Universe universe but can be read alone
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The air outside still has a little bit of coldness, yet there’s nothing but warmth in Soonyoung’s heart right now as he paces around their kitchen preparing some of Jihoon’s favorite dishes. His exile from their household kitchen is still in effect, but if the food won’t be enough not to get reprimanded, he still has some other arrows in his quiver– he thinks a few kisses might help.
After about two hours of preparation, Soonyoung smiles to himself—the rice is cooked to the right consistency, the egg omelet is intact, and the bacon looks crispy. Actually, Soonyoung can confirm this; he might have had a piece or two… you know, quality check. Yes.
He makes sure to clean the space he used and put all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher before arranging some of the flowers he got on the trap beside the plates on either side before he makes his way back to his shared bedroom with his husband.
Soonyoung smiles seeing the sleeping form of Jihoon on the bed; slumber still so deep. The choreographer looks at the wall clock and nods to himself knowing the producer had been asleep for about ten hours now and waking him up wouldn’t be so bad.
The tray of food is placed on top of his bedside drawer before he slips back to bed beside Jihoon. As if sensing his presence, Jihoon automatically wiggles close– an action that happens almost every day, yet still brings warmth and joy within Soonyoung.
“Jihoon-ah.” The older man calls softly, making sure to put his left arm around his husband, rubbing his upper arm just as softly. “Wake up, jagiya.”
Soonyoung can see a pout on Jihoon’s lips before he hears a low groan from the younger.
I know I said I am not ready to share you yet, but two of you might just be a need now. Soonyoung knows this is a discussion for a more alert consciousness, but he just can’t help the thought.
“I prepared breakfast, jagiya.” Soonyoung answers. He holds Jihoon a bit tighter, as he tries to bring the younger to sit up with him. “You weren’t able to eat properly last night and you haven’t been eating much food with nutrients in the last three weeks.”
“Good morning.” Jihoon greets as he rubs his eyes awake, still groggy.
Soonyoung pecks his lips, “Hey there, my valentine.”
“I don’t remember getting asked to be someone’s valentine, Mr. Kwon.”
“You’re right, my universe.” Soonyoung answers, reaching for one of the flowers from the food tray. “Mr. Lee, would you give me the greatest honor of being your valentine?”
Jihoon makes a gesture as if he’s thinking about it before taking the flower in his hand with a pout on his lips.
“Okay, but I must warn you. My husband gets jealous.”
“Well, he should be.” Soonyoung plants a kiss on Jihoon’s lips again, this time a little longer.
“Come, let’s eat by the window.” The older invites, gesturing for Jihoon to follow him to the small table they share from time to time by the floor-to-ceiling window of their bedroom.
Jihoon smiles at him and this time he’s the one to lean down to kiss his husband.
“Let me use the bathroom first.”
Soonyoung is on his phone when Jihoon returns to their bedroom wearing his fluffy headband to keep his hair away from his face. He looks up after putting his phone down on the table and just like every moment he gets to see Jihoon, his breath is taken away.
The amount of time Soonyoung has seen Jihoon in his lifetime will never matter when it comes to being in awe of his husband, he thinks. No, this is a certainty already. From the way Jihoon’s skin always seems to glow to the even brighter smile his husband gives him, Soonyoung would rather he drop dead than feel nothing but éxcitement of what life is with Lee Jihoon.
“Please tell me you’re wearing something under my T-shirt.” Soonyoung groans which is answered by a mischievous smile.
“Well,” Jihoon sits on his lap sideways, wrapping an arm around Soonyoung’s shoulder. Jihoon reaches for Soonyoung’s hand and puts it on his thing, feeling the immediate warmth of the choreographer’s palm. “Why don’t you feel for yourself, Mr. Valentine.”
The older man's breath hitched at the action and summoned all the self-restraint he could muster when it comes to Jihoon because as much as he wants to go in the direction his husband is directing him to, unfortunately for his… friend, he has the day planned.
“You need to eat, my love.”
Jihoon tilts his head, while the tips of his fingers seemingly burn the skin on Soonyoung’s neck bit by bit.
“Hhhmm… Are you sure you don’t need to?” Jihoon leans down and whispers the next words directly to the older man’s ear. “I feel like you’re famished.”
Jihoon lets out a sound akin to a feline’s purr. “Thirsty, even.”
“I am a horny man.” Soonyoung closes his eyes and takes a lungful before standing up with Jihoon in his arms. “But you really need to eat.” He places his now giggling husband on the chair opposite him.
“Fine, fine.” Jihoon surrenders. “You did wake up to buy us breakfast, so let’s eat.”
“I cooked.” Soonyoung answers which made the producer’s movement halt. “Got the ingredients last night. Luckily you were already asleep when I arrived home.”
“Soonyoung.”
“I practiced this,” Soonyoung vaguely gestured at the food on the table. “For weeks just to make sure I don’t set anything on fire… again .”
For a moment, Jihoon just sat there before breaking into the biggest smile that made his eyes form a crescent. “I would go there and hug you, but I don’t want to waste your efforts.” Then looks at his husband’s crotch area teasingly.
Soonyoung shakes his head and pours Jihoon an orange juice before telling him again to eat.
“Besides, we can afford a house now if you burn our kitchen… or our whole unit.”
The smile they share at that thought would always give a flutter and a small tinge in their heart. Now, if they wish, they could build the house they both thought is just a sucker punch.
+++
The wait staff were having a meeting with the hosts and hostess when Jihoon arrived at the restaurant. He gave them a short and polite greeting as he had been doing for about a month now since he started working with them.
He makes a beeline for the kitchen where Mingyu would be and where his first meal of the day would certainly be.
“You gotta eat more, you know. “ Mingyu tells Jihoon as if his own body doesn’t tell him the same thing.
Jihoon tells him he’s trying– just like all those times when Mingyu and other kitchen staff tried reminding him. It’s not technically a lie; skipping meals isn’t really an active choice, but a dilemma brought about by a bigger issue– being homeless and almost penniless.
It’s been almost two years since university ended and since Jihoon walked out of his family home after he had been given an ultimatum. In retrospect, Jihoon is flooded with the thought that it wouldn’t have been so regretful to give learning the business a try in a year or two.
Be that as it may, he also knew how flimsy opportunities are in the entertainment industry; hence, should time return, he knew deep down he would still give his inheritance up, book the plane to the US, and burn through his savings and open himself to unpaid long working hours in that record label.
The manager comes into the kitchen and walks towards him, her “good news” smile plastered so wide on her face, Jihoon thinks she might anger her dermatologist who’s keeping the wrinkles off her face.
“How would you like to take the night off?” She asks in a voice that almost sounds excited.
Although Jihoon only started working in the restaurant as a pianist for less than thirty days, a lot of their regulars and even one of the co-owners already favored him. There are a lot of speculations, but their manager is set that it’s because of Jihoon’s aura.
Although technically, he’s up there playing something for the guests, when Jihoon is up there, fingers dancing on the keys of the million-dollar piano the listeners are merely mortals listening to the song written for the Gods. “They can feel it, you know.” She told them. “Especially the old money. They do have the tendency to recognize one of their own.”
. . . . .
“I feel like I should ask more, but a free day is a free day.” Jihoon shrugs and smiles back.
“It’s no big deal.” She pats him on the shoulder. This time, everyone lets out a sound of understanding.
“Maybe we should start charging extra every time an ahjumma lets their potential ‘musical genius’ daughter-in-law touch my piano.” Jihoon sighs, pulling close the dessert their pastry chef had put down on his table.
“Not this one.” She laughs lightly and shakes her head; correction to the ownership of the piano is not needed. “It’s Ali Vaugn going up there tonight.”
The kitchen staff cheered and Jihoon shook his head knowing well that they would be recording this.
+++
“Hyung?” Jihoon looks up momentarily from his phone, and hums in response. “I know you have the night off, but can I ask for a favor?”
“You only call me hyung when it’s something I don’t wanna do, Mingyu.” He chuckles seeing the six-foot puppy in front of him.
“Well, you see. I lost a bet.”
“How much?” Jihoon locks his phone upon exiting the game he just finished playing.
“No, no. It’s not monetary.” Mingyu scratches the back of his head. “I bet that I’ll be cooking Soonyoung whatever he wants for the next two weeks.”
The name made Jihoon perk up; it’s been a while since he heard someone say his name. Not that he’s obligated to tell anyone, but if Jihoon is being honest with himself, if there is anyone in their year he is actually not opposed to meeting again, it would be Soonyoung.
“I know you hated Soonyoung,”
“Hated?” Jihoon frowns, which makes the younger one tilt his head. “What makes you think that I hate Soonyoung?”
“Well, don’t you? Or Didn’t you? I don’t know.”
Jihoon laughs, actually laughing that it got everyone’s attention around him.
He understands, really. People never saw them around each other aside from the times when they were in class, bickering— they never saw them sitting in the library across each other, burning their retinas to make sure the other would stay in the honor roll, never saw them fixing each other when they practice so hard they start bleeding, never saw them try to keep each other alive, sitting in the moonlit restroom on the third floor of their dorm more than once.
No, never. All these moments are his and Soonyoung's– a piece of paradise within the multilevel hell they’re going through. Their very own Paradiso .
“It’s fine, Mingyu.” Jihoon smiles at him and looks at the bag of food the younger one is holding. “Send me the location. I’ll just change out of my suit.”
Mingyu nods and thanks him.
Jihoon can hear the music walking to the dance studio– Soonyoung’s workplace as Mingyu explained.
He smiles to himself, feeling proud of Soonyoung that he’s at least doing what he loves. Even if he tried, Jihoon wouldn’t be able to count how many times the older had talked about dancing his way to the world.
The pianist opens the door and pops his head inside, trying to spot his older classmate. His smile returns, seeing Soonyoung giving directions to a group of what looks like teenagers.
Jihoon went in and looked for a spot to sit at the back where other people he assumed were also there for the class were sitting, Soonyoung’s food safe in his hands.
He watches Soonyoung for about fifteen minutes before the order seems to notice him. He waves and gives Soonyoung a small smile, but the way Soonyoung just stood there, looking at him in what Jihoon can only describe as disbelief. The pianist tries to make himself a bit smaller in his position– he can hear some of the kids call their teacher, but like he couldn’t hear them, Soonyoung stands still, looking at him.
After a few moments, Soonyoung finally breaks their gaze from each other, announcing that it’s all for the lesson of the day and that the rest of class time would be spent practicing the choreographies they covered that day.
Jihoon tries his best to calm himself down while waiting for Soonyoung. The older man came by earlier and asked him to wait for about 10 minutes as he changed out of his clothes. He shouldn’t be as nervous as he is now when meeting an old friend. After all, if there’s anyone in the world right now Jihoon
+++
Jihoon’s laugh fills their bedroom and once again Soonyoung is conflicted if he should be smiling at the melodious sound or pout at the enjoyment his husband finds in the misery he had experienced.
“So, let me get this straight,” Jihoon tries to calm down, wiping the tears in his eyes from how hard he laughed at Soonyoung’s count. “I waited 30 minutes there, afraid that you were angry at me and went off on Mingyu for letting me deliver your food only for you to tell me now that you had to go down and buy Lux soap because it was the only jasmine scented soap there just so I would like how you smell?”
“It sounds ridiculous now that you say it like that!” This time, Soonyoung really pouts at the younger. “We haven’t seen each other in a while at the time. I didn’t wanna hug you and smell like sweat. I didn’t wanna give you an olfactory assault!”
Soonyoung starts playing with the food on his plate. “I wanted you to like me.”
Jihoon frowns at his husband’s statement and extends his hand which Soonyoung immediately holds. “I’ll tell you a secret, but you are not permitted to tease me about it. Ever.”
Soonyoung chuckles, but stops immediately and fixes a serious look as he gives Jihoon a nod.
“Okay.” Jihoon takes a calming breath. “I didn’t actually notice how long I was waiting for you hadn’t your coworker at the time told me.” Jihoon looks at their connected hands momentarily before looking back at his husband’s face. “When Mingyu asked me to deliver your food I was so excited that I asked my manager for her perfume. I didn’t think much of it at the time as I was only meeting an old friend, but I know at the back of my mind now that I was as nervous to see you and see how you were doing that time because for some reason I already liked you.”
“I knew you smelled a bit different.”
“Different? ”
Soonyoung nods and Jihoon feels the older’s thumb caressing his hand.
“Yes, different. Since the day I met you, you’ve always had, well, have a distinct smell. The floral scent might be the main, there’s always a note of fruity, and a little bit of citrus in your scent.”
For a moment, Jihoon just sits there– unable to move even just a little bit. He and everyone else in their immediate circle know how detail-oriented Soonyoung is at work; an extension of who he is as a person and how he is in a relationship.
Soonyoung remembers each and every single detail about Jihoon, his likes and dislikes, his preference in taste, and his distaste for certain designs. Every single cell in Jihoon’s body would have a name if Soonyoung could see them. However, this sheds another new light on just how deep Soonyoung’s love is for his husband.
Every single time something like this happens, Jihoon feels like he’s diving down deeper into the ocean. Although, instead of darkness and pressure, Jihoon is blinded by the warmth and pure unadulterated love from Kwon Soonyoung.
“Although, when I returned to you, I really couldn’t help but be concerned.” Soonyoung continues. “You were so thin I could have carried you on my shoulder anywhere.”
The producer laughs and shakes his head at the choreographer who takes another bite of his own omelet.
“I wasn’t that thin. I only lost a couple of kilos.”
A deep frown appeared on Soonyoung’s face before he spoke.
“Yes, you were! Mingyu agreed with me when I brought it up the next day, you know. He even said that the kitchen staff almost made a wager on who could adopt you first because you looked like a Victorian child.”
“The Victorian child comment I am well aware of.” Jihoon smiles, remembering.
“Stop distracting me with your beautiful smile, you gorgeous ghost.” Soonyoung manages to act angrily, only to smile moments later.
“As I was saying. I was the one to see you on your last day in Korea. I literally waited until your plane left, so I know what you looked like.” Soonyoung sighs. Although it is now a bit of a distant memory, he still couldn’t help the tinge in his heart knowing the full reason for it.
“You always look ethereal, you know.”
“Ethereal?” Jihoon cuts, chuckling at his husband’s choice of adjective.
“Yes, my universe. Ethereal. Now shut up.” He tells the younger one. “Even that one time when you were looking down on me as I lay on the floor after you pushed me down the stairs.” The choreographer gives his husband a pointed look and Jihoon rolls his eyes at him.
“You kissed me!”
“On the cheek! And I didn’t, my love. Kyeom and I were playing and I was so distracted by your beauty momentarily that I didn’t notice him pushing me.” He makes a show of sighing before giving the younger man a mock sad look. “Even then, you were still so heavenly. I even heard angels sing as you asked if I was okay.”
Once again, Jihoon rolls his eyes and shakes his head. Choosing to continue with his breakfast.
“I hated it you know, not knowing what truly happened and knowing that even if I knew, there wouldn’t be anything I could do. You are as determined as you are proud. I just know that even if we kept contact while you were in the US, you wouldn’t want me to lend any helping hand at all.”
Jihoon tries to think about it, although he knows right away that Soonyoung is right. In every misfortune his younger self had faced, he knows that he would have never accepted any help from anyone. Especially Soonyoung.
“Stop looking at me like that, jagiya.” Soonyoung wiggles his finger in front of his face. “It’s still early and we just ate. We have a whole Valentine’s Day to celebrate.”
Jihoon chuckles and walks back to Soonyoung, returning to his previous spot on the choreographer’s lap.
“What? I thought I’d give you the dessert since you were so good to me and cooked me all these breakfast…on Valentine’s Day.” Jihoon makes sure to wiggle his ass ever so slightly.
“I’ve always loved the way you’re soft and squishy in all the right places, you know.” The older man tells him, hand now wandering up and down the producer’s thighs.
“What are you thinking, my love?” The younger asks, in that way Soonyoung could die. Voice so soft and full of adoration.
“Just how phenomenal you would look all soft, squishy…” Jihoon feels Soonyoung’s palm flat on his stomach. “All round here once you start showing if you were pregnant.”
“Biologically impossible, but it does make me wonder…”
+++
Unbeknownst to each other, every single moment spent even just talking to each other, another animal is making its way to the growing zoo in them– both resigning to themselves that whatever they’re feeling for each other now isn’t just a flutter of the wings of a butterfly.
Two weeks have come and gone after the last promised meal by Mingyu, yet, Soonyoung still makes time for Jihoon. May it be inviting the younger out for lunch, having noodles in the convenience store near the latter’s workplace, or having an ice cream while they talk under the moon, swinging lightly as they spend the late night talking about nothing and everything.
Each moment is as special and nerve-wracking as the last, each moment making Jihoon jitter on the inside– especially every night when Soonyoung asks to walk him home. Soonyoung has always been relentless and Jihoon can only say “just around here” so much until he cracks; it won’t be too long though before the cat gets out of the bag.
. . . . .
Jihoon values his personal space– his peace and quiet as he once told Soonyoung when he had to take the older to the clinic when his classmate bumped his head after Jihoon forcefully pushed him off when Soonyoung got too excited. Therefore, the dance instructor is blaming it solely on the voices inside his head when one night he decided to follow Jihoon from the restaurant to the pianist’s supposed residence–a place not even Mingyu has seen or even got the physical address.
Soonyoung frowns when Jihoon enters an indoor parking space. Still, he follows the younger. Knowing the area, Soonyoung knows that the parking space is not connected to any apartment complex in the area. Even so, it wouldn’t probably be up to the standard of Jihoon, much more his picky mother and critical father.
He puts more distance between them, his steps careful not to echo, and his eyes never leaving Jihoon’s walking form.
It’s gonna be so easy to kidnap you Soonyoung groans internally.
The instructor sees Jihoon fish a key from his pocket and opens a black car and starts clearing some things from the backseat. Soonyoung watches Jihoon moving things from the inside of his car to his trunk for a few minutes, but when the younger takes a pillow from the front passenger seat to the backseat Soonyoung decides that he has seen enough and walks to his friend.
“Jihoon-ah,” Soonyoung calls softly and before he can process anything else, all he can feel is the cold concrete and pain.
“OH MY GOD, SOONYOUNG!” Jihoon frantically helps him up and has him sit on the passenger seat of the car which Soonyoung is now assuming is Jihoon’s.
“What were you thinking sneaking up on me like that?!”
“Well, I was thinking of throwing you a surprise birthday party!” Soonyoung groans as another wave of pain washed over his head from where Jihoon’s fist landed. “My Goodness, that was a solid punch.”
“I’m really sorry!” Jihoon looks around before his attention goes back to the older. “Oh. Can you wait here for like 10-15 minutes? I’ll run to the convenience store and get you some ice.”
“I have ice at home.” Soonyoung looks around the car where he can see what Jihoon was setting up before he looks up at the younger, hand still on his aching cheek. “Where I will be taking you.”
“Why would you take me home?” Jihoon frowns, hoping that Soonyoung is just talking nonsense. “I have my own home.”
“A car you can’t drive is not a home, Ji.” This time, the look Soonyoung gives him is pointed enough for Jihoon to actually squirm which he notices.
Soounyoung also notices the panic arising from his friend as he looks back and forth from his friend to the inside of his car.
The dance instructor sighs and takes Jihoon’s hand on his. “Hey, look at me.” He tugs on it lightly.
Jihoon’s eyes are a little bit glassy and still filled with panic when they meet Soonyoung’s concerned gaze. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
“It will heal.” Soonyoung smiles a little and tries to reassure him. “But. I can’t let you sleep and live in your car, Jihoon. Hell, it’s not called living anymore.”
“I don’t wanna go back to Busan, Soonyoung.” Jihoon’s voice is cracking, yet he still refuses to cry in front of his friend. “‘Cause when I do, I will lose all the remaining will and dignity I have.”
Soonyoung nods and stands up, feeling the slight dizziness ebb away enough for him to be on his feet. He pulls Jihoon close to him and for the first time since they met again, Soonyoung hugs him. Right there, enveloped in Soonyoung’s arm– the only person with whom he shared the extension of his dreams and life goals, Jihoon finally lets himself be vulnerable.
During that cold December night, Jihoon lets the tears wash every single pride he’s been holding onto and lets his heart be held by Soonyoung– a long-withstanding decision Jihoon is now proud to say is the best he had ever done in his life.
+++
“I still can’t believe how easy I was. I mean, going home with a man after he stalked me!” They share a laugh, Jihoon’s now resting by Soonyoung’s clavicle. “I hope our child will be smarter than that.”
“They are allowed 3 big stupid decisions in the course of their life.” The older one gives him a thoughtful smile. “I’ll be dealing with them in that case. Once they go beyond that, they’re all yours to reprimand.”
The couple shares a laugh with Jihoon hitting his husband’s chest lightly.
“Yeah. I think I can handle that.” Jihoon nods at him. “You give tough love which is plenty effective.” Once again, Jihoon plants a soft kiss on Soonyoung’s lips; adoration lingering with the feeling of his soft lips.
For a while, the couple just sat there and basked in the ray of morning sun; both feeling warmer with each other’s presence.
Jihoon takes his time to look at Soonyoung under the natural light he couldn’t enjoy most of the time, memories of Soonyoung through his life flooding his mind. Even, no, Jihoon has to correct his consciousness–especially, Soonyoung in the memories of his being at his rock bottom is the best Soonyoung he could ever have in his life.
They’re both dreamers; a comfort and safety both of them always come back to when that darkness is starting to creep up on them again–they’re just lucky enough to be able to hold each other’s hand.
“This reminds me of our first anniversary, jagiya.” Soonyoung breaks into a big smile hearing Jihoon’s thought. “Coincidentally, the day my internal torture began.”
“Yeah. I know.” Soonyoung chuckles.
. . . . .
It’s just been over a year since Jihoon moved into Soonyoung’s apartment after the older man saw him in that parking lot. Well, it’s not like Jihoon has any choice, Soonyoung has all the logical reasoning combined with guilt and threats to call his parents.
The arrangement is pretty simple, Soonyoung works his usual 9-5 at the academy then Jihoon works for the restaurant 5 hours a day as a pianist. The gig was pretty good due to the tips, but of course, Jihoon thought he couldn’t live on this alone— which is why after months of convincing him, he finally let Soonyoung submit his application and profile to the academy directors. This is how Jihoon ended up as a one-on-one music teacher in the academy where Soonyoung works as a dance instructor. Despite this, Jihoon still kept his pianist position in the restaurant, only now it’s lessened to 4 days a week…per Soonyoung’s request.
The day has been tiring since he got a new choreography to teach; in addition to being alone since his assistant is currently on leave to spend his first Valentine's as a married couple with his wife, everyone also seems to have a date, therefore, their focus is completely out.
Luckily, even with the business of the holiday, everyone still has a soft spot for Jihoon. So, when Soonyoung asked if they could cook something for Jihoon who couldn’t go to work for three days now due to seasonal flu, they made sure to pack not only food for the musician but also for Soonyoung. That’s one thing, he can cross off his list before going back home to his sick friend.
Soonyoung opens the door to their shared one-bedroom apartment, but instead of the usual bright light of their living room, he is greeted by darkness with only the light from the outside peering through the window to illuminate the crying figure of Jihoon on their couch.
He immediately puts the food and medicine down on the coffee table before kneeling in front of his friend.
“Jihoon, what’s wrong? What happened?” Soonyoung asks, trying to keep himself as calm as possible with every sob he hears from the younger.
Soonyoung holds onto him, trying to look around in the dark to see if anything has been disturbed in their apartment– ruling if there has been a burglary or anything.
“Soonyoung, I'm sorry. I’m really sorry!” Jihoon sobs harder this time and wraps his arms around the older man. “I was so stupid, I’m sorry!”
Soonyoung frowns and asks him what he’s talking about, wrapping his arms around the musician in return as he sits beside him. Jihoon didn’t answer for a while and just went on crying, spewing apologies in between and Soonyoung just sat there by his friend– offering hush assurance, holding him in him.
Thirty minutes have passed by the time Jihoon has finally calmed down and he’s now resting half on top of Soonyoung as they lay on the sofa. Soft sobs are still coming out and Soonyoung is sure his shirt is as wet with Jihoon’s tears now as it is with sweat when he warms up.
“Jihoon-ah?” Soonyoung calls, voice soft as if he’s afraid to break a glass. “Would you wanna tell me what’s wrong now? Nothing seems stolen.” He continued when he heard Jihoon hum in response.
“I’m really sorry, Soonyoungie.” Jihoon answers, burrowing his face on the older’s chest. Oh God. Why is this comfortable? Jihoon wants to ask. Alas, he still has a bigger dilemma he has to address. “I know I said I’ll pay the electric bill this month, but I totally forgot to do so and I only saw the disconnection notice today.”
Jihoon expected a lot of outcomes; Soonyoung getting angry or disappointed was at the top of his list, but the older man laughing was not even the last thing on it.
“Is that all?” Sonyoung asks, brushing the disarrayed hair out of Jihoon’s face as the younger adjusts to look at him with surprise and an obvious frown of disbelief. “Jihoon, you were slumped with tasks at the academy and you were developing the flu. Forgetting something is bound to happen.”
“But…”
“No, Jihoon.” Soonyoung adjusts, folding his other arm to pillow his head as he looks up at his now sitting up, sick roommate.
What in the fresh hell…or heaven? NOW, I’M CONFUSED ! By this time, Jihoon is sure his fever is coming back. A true tragedy as he did endure three days of healthy yet ill-tasting food.
“If you forgot to do it, that means you still have the money, right?” Jihoon nods in confirmation. “Then I’ll do it tomorrow.” Soonyoung smiles and sits up as well. “For now, sit here and just be your pretty self as I prepare our dinner.”
If Jihoon had an internal struggle earlier, seeing and feeling Soonyoung as they lay so close. Now, sitting in front of the older as his face was illuminated by the moonlight, streetlights bleeding into their apartment, and the candles Soonyoung had set up on the table and around them as they ate. This feeling inside him is nothing like what he had ever felt before.
Right now, at this moment– seeing Soonyoung in a different light both literally and figuratively, Jihoon finally understands truly why one emotion could warrant so many songs. He now understands the simultaneous state of knowing and not knowing how to describe love. For the first time, Jihoon truly felt fear of the unknown.
. . . . .
“I still can’t believe you knew all along, yet you didn’t tell me.” Jihoon playfully pouts which Soonyoung immediately kisses.
“It’s ‘cause if I did, you would have run away, my love and we both know it. You were worse at handling your emotions when we were younger and you felt like I’ve done so much for you already.” Jihoon nods at Soonyoung’s statement with a smile. “I know if I had confessed that I like you too. No, scratch that. At that time, I knew I already loved you. You would feel more obligated to compensate.”
This time, Soonyoung takes Jihoon’s hand and kisses the wedding band on the producer’s ring finger. “You are the very core of every single thing I love in this world, Jihoon; the one who has always given me life– my burning sun.”
THAT'S ALL, FOLKS! Once again, happy Valentine's day, jagiya nation!
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