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It was 9 pm when the silver-haired guy stood in front of the apartment door. He had brought bungeoppang for his boyfriend, Chae Bamby, wanting to surprise him because the older had mentioned he was craving for Korean fish-shaped pastry this morning.
“Hyung wil loved it.” The puppy smiled happily while wagging his non-existent tail.
Ding dong.
He pressed the doorbell, Eunho waited for the familiar sight of the pink-haired guy emerging from the back door but no one appeared. After a moment, he pressed the doorbell again, thinking that maybe the older hadn’t hear it. Still, the doorway remained empty with no sign of Bamby.
’Did he sleep already? It still 9 though,’ Eunho’s fingers slipped into his pocket, pulling out his phone as he opened KakaoTalk.
Two missed call from ‘Maltese🩷’
’Did he call me when I was recording?’ He began typing out a message to that contact.
“Hyung, I’m sorry, I was recording when you called me. I’m in front of your apartment now. Can you open the door? I bought something for you”
There was only silence. So, he texted the maltese again.
“Hyung are you sleeping?”
He still didn’t get the answer. Something felt off that night, so he tried to call him. The phone rang, but there was no answer—just an unsettling stillness.
He tried a second time, third and then a fourth. Each attempt ended in silence. The last try, he dialed Bamby’s number one more time.
Finally, Bamby picked up.
“Eunho-ya, why?”
“Hyung? Were you sleeping?”
“Hmm… I fell asleep. Just come in. You know the password already.” His voice sounded raspy.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your sleep, Hyung. I bought you some bungeoppang since you wanted it earlier.” He said softly into the phone. But instead of a response, there was only silence. The screen showed the call was still connected, yet Bamby remained quiet. Did he fall asleep?
“Hyung?” he called out the older, but the silence persisted. Thinking Bamby had dozed off again, Eunho ended the call.
The silver haired man who was standing outside the door for 30 minutes, finally entered the keypad code, the lock disengaging with a soft click. He pushed the door open, calling out the loved ones softly, “Hyung?” as he stepped inside. The younger walked into the kitchen and placed the bungeoppang on the desk, the sweet aroma wafting through the air.
He walked to Bamby’s room, finding him quietly sleeping. Eunho approached his bedside, he noticed Bamby’s still form. With a gentle touch, Eunho brushed the hair from his boyfriend’s forehead, but then his fingers detecting a scorching fever. Alarm flashed across Eunho’s face.
“Hyung, are you sick?” Bamby remained unresponsive, his face flushed and hot. The younger immediately looked for medicine in the drawer near his bed.
“Oh, Eunho-ya, when did you come?” he woke up, his voice sounds weak.
Eunho kneeled down beside his bed, “Hyung, you’re burning up with fever, why didn’t you tell me?” Eunho said, worry lacing his voice.
“I called you, but you didn’t pick up the phone. Guess you were busy”
Ah…
Disappointment and guilt washed over Do Eunho as he remembered Bamby’s missed call.
“I’m sorry, I was recording at that time.” He frowned and his eyes softened.
The older shook his head slightly and flashing a gentle smile, “It’s okay.” He replied.
“Have you taken your med? The one that you were about to give me the other day. Where did you save it?” Eunho asked. Bamby’s gaze faltered before he mumbled, “I— threw it away.”
Eunho’s face fell. “W-why would you do that?” The pink hair’s voice was barely audible as he turned away. “Because you didn't take it.”
The red eyes sighed, “I told you the cold was gone when you gave me the med, Hyung”
“Yeah because you already got the med from Noah Hyung, right?” Bamby said, his voice calm. “It makes me feel like you don’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.” Eunho’s face froze as Bamby’s words hit him like a blow. He felt a pang of guilt. Didn’t mean to reject Bamby’s kindness; he just didn’t want Bamby to worry.
He sat down beside him on the bed, lay down, and wrapped his arms around Bamby’s waist, pulling him into a gentle back hug. “I’m sorry, I was wrong,” he whispered. Bamby pushed him away slightly. “Don’t hug me, you’ll catch a cold again.”
As if not hearing him, Eunho hugged him tightly. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, I just—didn’t want to make you worry.” Bamby remained silent.
“Hyung, are you mad?” The silver guy asked softly, his voice laced with concern.
Bamby murmured, “I’m sleepy.”
’He was sulking,’ Eunho thought. It seemed Bamby was more sensitive than usual that night, possibly because of his fever. The younger whispered to him before he got up, “I’ll be right back, hyung. I'll buy you some med.”
As the door closed, Bamby’s face turned into frustration. “Am I not allowed to be worried? Why didn't he take my affection?” He muttered to himself, burying half his face into the blanket. “I hate him.”
***
“It’s raining.” Eunho stood in front of the pharmacy door, staring at the pouring rain, while holding a bag of medicines for his boyfriend.
He was about to text Bamby, but then he remembered his phone was still at the apartment. ‘Shoot,’ he frustrated. Now he had to choose between getting soaked or keeping Bamby waiting. He took a deep breath and decided to make a run for it. With a splash, he stepped into the rain.
As he arrived at Bamby’s apartment, Eunho quickly went to his room. “Hyung, you have to take your medicine,” Eunho gently brushing his hand against Bamby’s forehead to check his temperature.
It took him a few seconds until Bamby woke up then sat up. His eyes snapping open as he looked at Eunho’s dripping wet clothes. “W-why are you soaked?” He asked, concern etched on his face. “Is it raining outside?”
“Yeah, it started pouring when I was heading back. But it’s okay Hyung.” Eunho’s smiled.
“Are you crazy? You just got sick a week ago, now you‘re caught in the rain?!” The younger was surprised by Bamby’s sudden outburst.
“Stop worrying, Hyung. I’m fine. Just a little wet,” Eunho said with a gentle smile, trying to reassure Bamby. “Now take your med—“
“Why can’t I be worried about you?” Bamby asked softly, cutting Eunho’s words.
“What?”
“Just—let me be worried about you, Do Eunho.” Bamby whispered, his eyes locked on Eunho’s. The silver hair’s expression softened, taken aback by Bamby’s words.
“Hyung, what’s going on? It’s not only because Noah Hyung gave me medicine, right?” Eunho asked, waiting the pink hair to respond, but Bamby avoided his eyes.
“Am I not affectionate enough to you?” Bamby asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Eunho’s breath caught, his eyes locking onto Bamby’s. “What do you mean?” He looked confused. “Is this about what I said to Hamin the other day?” Bamby nodded, his eyes still avoiding Eunho’s.
“I was thinking about it all day.” Bamby said, his voice soft with concern. “Do you really think I'm not affectionate enough to you?”
The younger let out a slow breath. “Come here,” Eunho said while opening his arms.
“Oh! Wait— I’m soaked.” He stripped off his wet clothes all of sudden, “Come here.” Bamby gave off seriously? gaze at him. Eunho giggled, “Okay okay, let me borrow your clothes.”
He got up, walked to the older’s closet, pulled out one of Bamby’s biggest hoodie and slipping it on. He walked closer to Bamby’s bedside and sat in front of him. “Okay, now come here.”
Bamby hesitated for a moment before stepping into his arms. Eunho wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. The pink haired guy’s body warmth because of his fever but Eunho held him tighter.
“You’re enough for me, Hyung. Just as you are. I’m sorry I said that. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Bamby buried his face in Eunho’s chest, feeling a sense of comfort and security. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I don’t know if I’m treating you well or not. It’s my first relationship too.” Bamby added.
“Why are you apologizing? No need to apologize, Hyung.” Eunho said while stroking Bamby’s hair. “I’ll do better and be more affectionate to you.” Bamby replied.
’Why is he so adorable?’ Eunho’s thought while holding his smile.
Bamby loosened the hug, his eyes searching Eunho’s face. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them dissipating. Eunho’s face leaned in, his lips inches from Bamby’s. But just as they were about to touch, Bamby’s small hand swiftly covered his own mouth. The silver hair’s eyes questioned, but the pink hair shook his head slightly. “My fever,” he whispered. “I don’t want you to catch a cold again.”
“But Hyung, do you know? If you kiss someone, the fever will go away.” The red eyes said.
“And that someone could be anyone, right?”
“What do you mean? Don’t you have a boyfriend?”
Tch, Bamby giggled. “Am I a kid? You just made that up”
“It’s real though,” Eunho insisted. “I’ll do it quickly and you’ll get better soon.”
“No way,” the pink haired guy said firmly.
Eunho frowned, “So you don’t want to kiss me? Even after I braved the rain and got soaked for you?”
Bamby went silent, taken aback by Eunho’s words. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kiss Eunho—it was just that he worried Eunho might catch a fever again. But thinking about how Eunho ran through the rain just to get him medicine made his heart melt.
“Okay, just 5 seconds,” Bamby agreed softly.
The puppy smiled, he leaned in, their lips meeting in a gentle press. Bamby’s breath was hot from the fever.
… 3, 2, 1
Eunho pulled back. The older was a little bit surprised.
’That was way too quick. Was that even a real kiss? Maybe it should’ve been 10 seconds.’ From ‘Don't want to make Eunho sick’ to ‘5 seconds isn't enough’—Bamby’s priorities are adjusting nicely.
“Have you eaten?” Eunho’s words cut through Bamby’s romantic musings. “You have to eat first before taking your med, Hyung.”
Bamby cleared his throat unnecessarily, “I don’t have much appetite.”
“Oh! I bought you bungeoppang, do you want some? I’ll heat it in the microwave first?” Before Bamby could even respond, Eunho exclaimed, “Okay, I’ll heat it up!” He quickly got up and heading to the kitchen.
’I haven’t even answered yet,’ Bamby thought to himself.
After 10 minutes, Eunho came back and brought 8 pieces of bungeoppang. Bamby ended up only eating 2 of them and let Eunho eat the rest.
The younger handed Bamby the med and water, saying softly, “Here, drink your med and go to sleep. I’ll be here with you.”
Bamby took the med, his gaze warm, “Thank you, Eunho-ya. Sorry for being sensitive today.”
Eunho’s expression softened, “Stop saying sorry, Hyung. Just sleep after this, okay?” He whispered, gently brushing Bamby’s hair.
Bamby nodded weakly, finishing his med before snuggling under the covers. Eunho settled beside him, wrapping a reassuring arm around his shoulders. As Bamby’s eyelids drooped, Eunho whispered, “I’m here. Sleep tight, Hyung.” With a contented sigh, Bamby drifted off, feeling safe in Eunho’s care.
“I love you, Eunho-ya.”
Eunho nodded and smiled. “Thank you for loving me Chae Bamby, I love you more”
’I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you,’ he said it quietly.
— End.