Every Little Thing for namikaze_jkc (2/2)
Jaehwan refuses to talk to Hakyeon. He’s giving him the silent treatment though he only talks when it is necessary. After the incident, Jaehwan seems to grow colder as if he’s distancing himself from Hakyeon. Well, they are already far from each other in a sense.
Hakyeon bites back a hiss while holding his chopsticks. Jaehwan called for him to eat breakfast, Hakyeon isn’t sure if it is because Jaehwan knows he’ll skip and sleep more until the afternoon or he’s just doing it to be hospitable to his guest. A soft whine escapes from his mouth, Hakyeon’s eyes flickers to Jaehwan.
His ex-husband stops chewing his food, eyes looking up to Hakyeon. “Does it hurt?” he pertains to the bandaged wound in Hakyeon’s hand. “Can you eat?” Hakyeon drops his gaze to his plate, chopsticks playing with the green peas. “Of course I can,” he quips, “I am not an invalid. I can do this,” Hakyeon picks a slice of meat eagerly only to silently curse at the stinging pain. It hurts so much.
“Why do you act strong when you’re not? How are you able to take care of yourself alone? Why are you-” in the end, Jaehwan grumbles while getting up in his seat. He took the empty chair beside Hakyeon and snatches the chopstick from the tan male. When Hakyeon refuses to hand the utensil over, Jaehwan shoots him a glare making Hakyeon retreat like a kicked puppy. “What am I going to do with you, Cha Hakyeon?”
He feeds Hakyeon in the morning, calls for delivery at lunch, waits for him late in the evening. It feels like before, Jaehwan is caring for him and Hakyeon doesn’t like how his stomach lurches everytime he answers Jaehwan’s call. He doesn’t even know how Jaehwan managed to get his number. The fact that Jaehwan hates him so much is deeply ingrained in his brain so everything that’s happening at the moment doesn’t make sense.
“Open your mouth,” Jaehwan orders, the soup spoon dangerously close to Hakyeon. Jaehwan made him some corn and crab soup. Hakyeon can already smell the high quality ingredients Jaehwan used and starts to calculate how much Jaehwan spent to cook something like this. Gosh, don’t even start over the crab! Hakyeon will cry blood if his freak of a husband asks him to pay for everything in the end. Hakyeon’s job pays just enough but not as much as what Jaehwan earns, he’s a hotel manager for freaking sake. At the thought of paying Jaehwan lots of money, Hakyeon’s eyes grows wide and shakes his head to refuse the food.
He ain’t paying ten thousand won for soup!
“Open your mouth!” Jaehwan pins him with another glare.
Hakyeon stubbornly shakes his head. He’s not gonna pay ten thousand won! A muffled ‘no’ comes out of his mouth.
“Open it,” and there comes the warning tone threatening Hakyeon to do as he says. Jaehwan may be fun and comedic but when he’s angry, Hakyeon swears he sees hell. No kidding! Hakyeon isn’t exaggerating as well.
Afraid that he might push the last button of patience Jaehwan has, Hakyeon slowly opens his mouth. Jaehwan’s lips twitches, feeding Hakyeon with the soup. Once Hakyeon downs the soup, Jaehwan’s face morphs in anticipation, he raises his brows in expectancy. “How does it taste?”
“Good. It tastes good.” Hakyeon beams so bright. Jaehwan sighs and subtly returns Hakyeon’s smile. “Of course it will taste good. I’m awesome after all. Beggars like you won’t get to eat food like this in the streets. You should kneel down and thank me.”
The smile in Hakyeon’s face drops into a scowl. “Talk about arrogance.” he deadpans monotonously.
“What?” Jaehwan smirks, “I have the right to boast. You said it yourself, it tastes good.”
Hakyeon gasps, “Then I’m taking my words back!” he pointed a finger to Jaehwan.
Jaehwan chuckles, eyes forming into crescents. The tan male stops and stares, his face is suddenly heating up. Damn, why does his laugh sound nice? Hakyeon side eyes Jaehwan’s profile again. He’s good looking. Hakyeon loved looking at his face every morning when he woke up. Damn. Hakyeon chews his lower lip.
“Don’t do that.” Jaehwan gulps, good thing Hakyeon isn’t looking. The tips of his ears are all red. “Don’t bite your lips. It’s seducing me.” His voice seems to fade. They did fade as he shies like snail hiding inside the shell after saying those words.
“What? Did you say something?” Hakyeon leans to him, tilting his head to the side cutely.
Jaehwan waves his hand in dismissal, “Tch, nothing. Just eat,”
-
It feels great. Three weeks prior to his stay, Jaehwan is starting to exchange small smiles and hearty laugh with Hakyeon.
-
“Sir, room 209 and 213 are ready for checking. The guest vacated the rooms around eleven in the morning. Miss Kim and Mr. Lee finished replenishing the amenities and cleaning the rooms. The front office is waiting for the VR signal.”
Jaehwan fixes the cuffs of his black polo shirt. He gives Jinwoo a nod, ordering him to make a run to the linen section and ask to resupply the amenities in the suite rooms. The hotel is packed today and Jaehwan couldn’t wait to get back home and sleep.
He massages the space in between his eyes. Hakyeon must be out because it’s his day off today and Jaehwan rules out that he must be seeing Hongbin today. He scoffs at the thought of Hakyeon eating lunch with Hongbin. It’s not a secret that Hongbin once pursued Hakyeon and up until now, he’s still acting like a dotting boyfriend to his ex-husband.
Jaehwan is fast to gulp the surging jealousy in his stomach.
He fishes his phone from his pocket and walks to his office. The clink of the heels of his shoes echoes even against the carpeted floor as he strides fast with his long legs to reach his personal domain. Jaehwan dials a number and placed the phone to his ear. A few hotel personnel bows to him in respect and he returns it with a curt nod.
The other line rings but doesn’t answer. Jaehwan’s lips twitch, “Why are you not answering the phone?” he hisses. He reaches the door at the end of the hallway and turns the knob. Jaehwan steps inside and closes the door again.
Jaehwan tries to call Hakyeon four times. Hakyeon didn’t answer his phone. “Shit,” Jaehwan angrily punches another number. He placed a hand to his hip and waits for the other line to answer.
“Hello-”
Jaehwan quickly interjects. “Is Hakyeon with you? Why isn’t he answering my calls? Did something happen? Are you two busy? Where are-”
Hongbin’s laugh is irritating. “Chill, I’m working.” He says through the line. “Hakyeon isn’t even calling me to meet up.” With that, Jaehwan releases a shaky sigh.
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.” Hongbin chuckles again. Jaehwan wishes he could stuff his phone into Hongbin’s mouth. “Check Hakyeon at home. You know how clumsy he is. He might’ve stabbed himself with a knife while cooking,” Hongbin jests but Jaehwan actually took his joke seriously and ends up cutting the line.
Being the manager has perks. Jaehwan excused himself at work and proclaims to have an emergency at home. He didn’t even bother thanking the front office after asking to give a call to his assistant manager. The thought of Hakyeon sliding against the wet floor of the bathroom, hitting his head against the floor and bleeding himself to death filled Jaehwan’s mind as he drives his car home like a bullet train in rush hour.
“Hakyeon!” he was even panting when he banged the door of his house open. “Cha Hakyeon!”
Jaehwan removes his shoes carelessly in the door step and walks hastily to the living room. He has never been so worried like this since that day when he got home and Hakyeon already left his life. There are beads of sweat forming in his temple, bangs matted against his forehead. His heart is throbbing fast against his chest.
A fluff of locks peaks from the couch. It was moving sluggishly. Jaehwan releases a shaky sigh, relieved that Hakyeon is at home. He walks to the couch and is prepared to give Hakyeon a lecture about answering the phone.
Hakyeon’s head nods slowly, brown hair falling against his forehead, his soft little snore sounds so cute. Jaehwan stops in his tracks and stares; Hakyeon didn’t even age a bit. He still looks like the Cha Hakyeon he met in high school. Jaehwan smiles to himself. Hakyeon sleeps like an angel.
No one is looking. Jaehwan decides to shed his mask.
“Why are you sleeping here?” he pouts at the sleeping figure, index finger subtly poking Hakyeon’s jutted cheek. “Hmm? Why do you look so cute when you're sleeping?” he murmured, fingers itching to pinch Hakyeon. Jaehwan remembers waking up late at night just to check if Hakyeon was still sleeping in his house, he developed this paranoia of Hakyeon leaving him again.
Hakyeon’s head nods again, this time falling slowly on the backrest of the couch. Jaehwan chuckles and sits down carefully next to Hakyeon. He raises his hand to gently guide Hakyeon’s head to his shoulder. Jaehwan misses this, missed being so close to Hakyeon.
Sometimes he wants him out of his life, sometimes he wants him cradled in his arms. Maybe it’s the fear of losing him. Jaehwan forgives himself for giving in today. Just for today, he wants Hakyeon right next to him.
He closed his eyes. Hakyeon’s breathing fans against his skin, Jaehwan can feel his heart pumping faster. He fell asleep.
-
One morning, Hakyeon decides to tease Jaehwan a bit. His ex-husband flushes every time Hakyeon reminds him of that afternoon. Hakyeon does it for fun, watching Jaehwan shuffle and stutter is the best reward ever knowing that Lee Jaehwan is so composed. His downfall is Hakyeon’s eternal happiness.
“What’s for breakfast, honey?” Hakyeon smiles wide after catching one brunette moving fluidly in the kitchen. He heard some groan which pushed him to shamelessly walk towards Jaehwan with nothing but his shirt (technically Jaehwan’s) and boxes (Jaehwan’s, too) while leaning so close to his ex-husband against the sink after catching Jaehwan making food to the point where their shoulders subtly bumps. He can feel how Jaehwan’s body stiffened. This is a golden opportunity to make fun of Jaehwan again, things like this don’t happen often.
Hakyeon was chuckling from the accomplishment only to stutter so hard because he didn’t expect Jaehwan to actually close the remaining gap between them. Hakyeon suddenly forgets to breathe as his eyes went cross eyed from the sudden loss of personal space. Jaehwan shifts a bit and their nose bumps. Hakyeon’s heart speeds up.
“Two can play that game…” Hakyeon is so damn sure about the red color covering his entire face. Jaehwan blows hot puff of air to his face and smirks sexily before whispering the endearment that made Hakyeon lose his balance. “-jagi.” He collapses on the floor from his wobbling legs.
Jaehwan gets his revenge tenfold and leaves Hakyeon gasping for air while trying to get up.
Indeed, two can play that game.
-
Sanghyuk worriedly places a crisp fifty thousand won on top of the table. Wonshik is hollering about winning thrice. “Are you sure about this hyung?”
Hongbin pats his back and reassures him that this is legal and no one’s gonna die. Only Taekwoon can kill human beings and he’s on their side. That fact alone determines their rate of survival.
In the end, Sanghyuk gives up with a sigh and bets that Jaehwan will end up seducing Hakyeon to bed.
-
The sun that peeks through the crack from the curtain blinds Hakyeon as soon as his eyes flutters open. He rubs his eyes and yawns, not wanting to move out of the bed. It feels comfortable, the bed is soft just like how it used to be years ago. Hakyeon even wonder how it stays the same after such a long time. Almost everything in the house remains the same, nothing’s changed, just the person living in it.
He pulled his body up half-heartedly and rubs his stomach while stiffing another yawn. Darn, he slept better than last night. Hakyeon huffs and bends down to touch his toes, his morning ritual before refreshing his face with cold water.
Jaehwan, as usual, is making them breakfast.
“Morning,” Hakyeon rasped out, lazily reaching for the mug of hot chocolate near a stack of papers on top of the table. Jaehwan’s thick rimmed glasses are partly foggy being it near the hot cup. Neon highlighters as well as variety of pens are scattered across the table. Hakyeon noticed one stray red pen under the table as he saunters in. “Working?”
Jaehwan turns on his back, “Yeah, the supervisor is a demanding bitch. I need to submit this and that. It’s like he thinks I can chew and barf the weekly reports in thirty minutes.” His eyes followed Hakyeon’s hand slowly tugging the cup to his side. Hakyeon smiles giddily and blows air to the hot chocolate. Jaehwan narrows his eyes, “I’m drinking that.”
The tan male’s smile falters, lowering the cup a bit to snarl. “No, you’re not. You’re making breakfast.” Hakyeon makes some indignant sound when suddenly Jaehwan’s hand covers his and gently tugs the mug to take a sip. He was there, cooking, and in a second he was leaning closer to Hakyeon, drinking from the same cup as Hakyeon, and then catching Hakyeon’s eyes in a long intense gaze. There are neither racing heartbeats nor abdominal spasm. No overstated description about how Jaehwan’s face looks like close up. Nothing. Hakyeon tilts his head a bit to the side, aiming to look cute. “Are you flash? Honestly, I’m starting to think I married some 90’s superhero. You’re always at my side in a second.”
“That’s my hidden talent. Congratulations for finally noticing!” Jaehwan’s eagerness is as of a dead fish. The mock enthusiasm pulls a scowl from Hakyeon’s face. “You always take note of the weirdest things.” Jaehwan smiles and flicks Hakyeon’s forehead before going back to cooking, hot chocolate successfully snatched from Hakyeon’s hand. The tan male feels cold suddenly, he shivers in his seat.
“I always see you doing weird things every freaking day, that’s why.” Hakyeon rolls his eyes heavenwards. His throat desperately needs to down something and Jaehwan is a big meanie for taking away the hot chocolate. He could have just made himself another one! Hakyeon wants to argue on that but he’s sure Jaehwan will make it backfire while mocking his own statement.
Hakyeon hears Jaehwan stifling a laugh. What’s so funny? Hakyeon looks a thousand times more confused when Jaehwan bursts into peels of laughter. “What are you laughing at? Did I say something funny? I recall I didn’t say anything worth laughing at.” Hakyeon’s frown deepens.
“It’s my secret.” Jaehwan gives Hakyeon a mysterious smirk. He didn’t give Hakyeon another glance.
-
Yea? U guys rlly should just hump it up for a gr8 consensual makeup sex.
R u out of your mind?
No I'm perfectly sane wid my 2 balls and dick.
Hakyeon gasped. Gosh, y am I friends wid u?
Coz my dimples arouses you <3
Hakyeon narrows his eyes on the screen before furiously typing a short message.
./.
Do it wid jw. Hahahahaah
I hope u choke to death.
I hope someone will choke me with sumthng else ;););)
Hakyeon dumps his phone on the bed and watched it bounce until it falls on the carpeted floor with a soft thud. He dips his head deeper against the plush cushion and grunts against the comforter. He overslept and missed Jaehwan this morning. Hakyeon makes muffled noises until he arches up to look for his phone again.
Hongbin’s insanity level is rising up multiple notches lately. Being with Wonshik frequently affects his state of mind. Hakyeon really feels sorry for him. He feels sorry for Hongbin’s wrong decisions in life. He couldn’t blame him though, Wonshik can fool even the smartest ajusshi. He has this tongue specifically made for brainwashing kids and adults (he’s a goddamned chaebol who’s smart enough to outsmart his parents who has 180 IQ). If only Hakyeon was there to save Hongbin from Wonshik’s clutches, this wouldn’t be happening.
Note to thyself, Wonshik equals bad influence.
The clock says nine in the morning, Hakyeon glowers about missing the eight a.m. timeslot of Adventure Time. This is the backslash of waking up late. Hakyeon can miss Spongebob and Bikini Bottom but not Adventure Time. Hakyeon kicks the pillows out of the bed and flips to lie on his belly, perching up his phone to eye level as he digs his chin against the mattress.
He doesn’t want to call Wonshik because eww, just no. Sanghyuk is probably in school. Hongbin is crazy these days so he motioned his index finger to scan for Jung Taekwoon’s number. It was in the lowest part of his phonebook. Hakyeon smiles to himself after the grueling time of finding Taekwoon’s number (everyone knows the unspoken rule that it will save your life if you avoid calling him as much as possible but today, Hakyeon will make an exception.)
He quickly dials his number and waits for the other line to answer which for a matter of an ass second someone actually picks up the phone. God bless Taekwoon’s soul, Jaehwan should kneel down on him and follow his way of living. That dick calls in the most random time but answers the phone after 48 years.
“Taekwoonie!”
Hakyeon hears some shuffling followed by a long yawn. Taekwoon must have been sleeping. “Stop calling me, asshole.” His voice sounds so soft minus the asshole part because that doesn’t suit Taekwoon’s angelic voice. “It’s Hakyeon,” the said male pouted, Taekwoon should be nice to him, of all people.
Taekwoon hums in response. Hakyeon ignored the blatant show of indifference and rather filled the line questions of what to do’s and where to go’s. Taekwoon doesn’t show any enthusiastic interest towards Hakyeon’s bombarded questions. “Ehhhh, Taekwoonie~ I have nothing to do.” Hakyeon whines loudly, Taekwoon is just a centimeter away from slamming his phone against the wall.
Taekwoon scowls, moving from his bed in favor of burying himself under the thick comforter, “Clean Jaehwan’s room. It’s dirty in there.”
Jaehwan specifically told him to never mess with his room. At first, Hakyeon didn’t push the idea of sneaking inside their past guest room. He knows what it looks like after all, the mint green shade of the wall, the single bed in the center of the room and the white nightstand standing beside the bed, Hakyeon chose them many years ago. He’s been staying with Jaehwan for quite some time now and he wonders why Jaehwan isn’t using the master’s bedroom. The room looks well-kept and untouched for many years until he started using it again.
The curiosity spikes up, Hakyeon pulled himself out of the bed and trudged to the room at the end of the hallway with quick strides. The white door makes Hakyeon slightly nervous but he pushes his doubt to the deepest corner of his mind and turns the knob, Jaehwan won’t know a thing.
-
The keys pushed in the knob jingles, Jaehwan hastily turns it to open the door. The meeting went over time and he keeps on cursing the marketing officer for his lousy presentation, Jaehwan wants to go home badly. After Hongbin teasing him that Taekwoon is making a move on Hakyeon, the urge to fling the table and fly back to his penthouse like a fucking superhero is sizzling throughout his body.
He removes his shoes and neatly placed it on the rack. His slippers were left on top of the welcome mat. Jaehwan loosens his tie and unhitched a few buttons, “Hey, beggar,” his voice seems tired as he calls for Hakyeon. The work is too dragging and being exhausted to death happens on a daily basis.
Jaehwan sluggishly walks with the black plastic bag in one hand. “I bought you salted crabs. You’ve been whining about this since last week and it’s annoying-”
Hakyeon stands motionless in the center of the living room, a few glossy papers stuck in his hand, partly crumpled in Hakyeon’s death grip. It is a mess, photos are scattered across the living room. There are some photos taken during what seems like a birthday, Hakyeon is posing happily with Jaehwan while wearing their high school uniform, a lot were from their college days, a large frame with their wedding picture, Jaehwan’s lips trembles at how shattered it is against the carpet, broken glasses dangerously close to Hakyeon’s feet. He wanted to tell him to move before he could hurt himself but his thoughts zeroes at the photos Hakyeon holds.
“You betrayed me.” His tone was spiteful, Jaehwan lifts his eyes, mortified at how Hakyeon is looking at him. Those eyes swallowing him, Hakyeon looks so lost, hurt, both. This is why Jaehwan wants to see him from afar. So he won’t know. So it will be Jaehwan’s secret. He made the wrong choices, how can he refuse when all that he’s dreaming of is barreling back into his life.
A stray tear cascades down Hakyeon’s face, lips trembling just how Jaehwan’s is. He threw the pictures, some falling down at Jaehwan’s feet, it was all Hakyeon working in a dance studio few months ago. Hakyeon will hate him but Jaehwan knew what he did was the right thing to do.
He kept his eyes down, staring blankly at the mess which caused another raft between their relationship, this time something that wouldn’t be cured of a simple apology and time. Jaehwan knows that after this, Hakyeon will be permanently gone.
Jaehwan wants to run after him, call for him, drag him back, keep him forever. It’s futile.
Hakyeon already left when Jaehwan collects himself.
-
His ex-husband has this strange aura that attracts people easily in his life, something that makes Jaehwan uncomfortable every day, every night. Hakyeon is too kind, Hakyeon understands everything, Hakyeon smiles a lot, Jaehwan couldn’t take the look on Hakyeon’s face whenever people betray him.
Jaehwan remembers how the dance studio owner ridiculed his husband, fantasizing about doing dirty thing to Hakyeon. How could a scum like him exist? Jaehwan remembers punching the smirk off of the man’s face, threatening him to fuck off and back away from his husband. Jaehwan remembers how Hakyeon cried and cursed him after getting fired. Jaehwan remembers the dance studio owner spatting words that he’ll make sure Hakyeon won’t get any job in any dance studio after what happened. Jaehwan can provide his husband everything, anything, but Hakyeon lost the glint in his eyes and bears anger towards him.
All he wanted to do was protect Hakyeon from any harm, even if it means clipping his wings, preventing him to fly and be free.
Jaehwan sighs, sitting at the edge of the bed. He glances around his room. Their pictures, Hakyeon’s things, their wedding ring-the one that Hakyeon threw in the trash bin, he keeps everything in place because he’s waiting for the day that Hakyeon will come back.
For the second time, Jaehwan was left alone in this big empty house, left alone to fend for his empty heart.
-
“What are you doing here?” Wonshik gaped dramatically, clamping a hand over his parted mouth. Hakyeon shouldn’t be there, he shouldn’t be knocking against Wonshik’s door at this ass hour. And more importantly, Hakyeon shouldn’t be looking at him like a puffer fish, it’s making him more embarrassed.
The shocked expression hanging on Hakyeon’s face morphs into something uninterested as he raises a palm to stop Wonshik from explaining because he isn’t really in the mood to talk about too much adulterated information, “Don’t talk,” he gives Wonshik a look from head to toe and sighs. Judging from the red marks coloring his body like a Dalmatian and the way he’s only covering his treasure with the sheets he probably snatched from the bed, it only means that Wonshik is in bed paradise until Hakyeon disturbed him.
Another set of feet emerges from the back of the door, pale fingers touches Wonshik’s biceps. “What’s taking you so long?” and then he peeks from behind the door, catching an uninterested Hakyeon’s eyes and swears so loud that Wonshik nearly winces if it wasn’t for Hakyeon pinning him immobile with a glare.
“You too, don’t talk,” Hakyeon zeroes on the way he lacks proper clothing, he was so sure they are banging like fifty seconds ago (he counted by the way). “Hongbin,”
Hongbin straightens, pushing Wonshik with great force that has the goddamned chaebol toppling on the floor. He didn’t bother helping Wonshik, rather he pulled Hakyeon inside the house. He let Hakyeon sit on the couch and excuses himself to get dressed and magically turns back in a blink of an eye. Wonshik groans and pull his body up, limping away as he caves back to his room probably to get himself decent. Hakyeon looks like he was mowed by a ten wheeler truck and Hongbin knows something is not right.
“Spill.”
Hakyeon sighs, reclining over the couch to sit comfortably. Wonshik walks to the kitchen, body covered with a shirt and shorts he probably pulled randomly in haste. Hongbin sits beside Hakyeon, hand clamping over the older’s shoulder. “Did something happen?”
Hakyeon remains silent, hands playing with the hem of his shirt. “Jaehwan is an asshole.”
“Sure he is. I am well aware that all of us know that fact already.” Hongbin rolls his eyes. Wonshik comes back with three cups of coffee. He settles them on top of the table and warily eyed Hakyeon. Hongbin sighs in defeat when Hakyeon refuses to talk. “Seriously, what happened?”
“Jaehwan has been following me.” Hakyeon closes his eyes, shifting to rest his head over Hongbin’s shoulder. Hongbin moves closer to make Hakyeon more comfortable. He remembers the photos of him working in the restaurant late at night. Jaehwan was always there, watching over him and he doesn’t have any idea. Their wedding ring, he threw his own away before leaving the house but Jaehwan found it and kept it even if they are already divorced. “Jaehwan confuses me so much, Hongbin.” He looks up to Hongbin, “Sometimes he's so cold, then he’ll take care of me. How am I supposed to react when he’s hot and cold at the same time? I can’t read him, even before. He’s confusing me and I hate it. It’s like he’s manipulating me, playing with me for fun.” Hongbin side eyes Wonshik. There was a frown marring Wonshik’s face.
Hongbin snakes his arm around Hakyeon’s waist, pulling him closer for a half hug. “Jaehwan maybe is an asshole but he loves you so much, Hakyeon. Really.” Hongbin smiles at Wonshik and then turns back at Hakyeon. This feels like the right time to emotionally intervene. They have been watching everything from the side lines. They all know, they all understand except for Jaehwan and Hakyeon. “I know about those pictures.” Hongbin says, “In fact, I was the one who took most of them.” Hakyeon pulled away to gape at him. Hongbin smiles warmly, “Jaehwan may be an asshole but when you left, he was so lost. Wonshik was there when he cried, you know?”
Wonshik chuckles when Hakyeon turns to him like a lost kid, eyes asking him to say the truth. “Jaehwan called me when he came home and you’re gone. He was so devastated, Hakyeon. The guy cried overnight. He thought you’ve given up on him, thought that you lost your love for him, that you’re not happy with him. Maybe part of that was true but the guy wants to give you what you want, Hakyeon. That’s how much he loves you.”
He remembers when he asked Jaehwan to sign the divorce paper and the other placed his signature without Hakyeon begging him to do it. Hakyeon thought that Jaehwan was so done with him, that he wanted the divorce more than Hakyeon. His heart constricts painfully.
“You wanted space, he gave you space. You wanted separation, he gave it to you, Hakyeon. But you don’t know what happened after he signed the papers. All of us was there to watch him apologize to someone he thought was you.” Wonshik continues, “Taekwoon was even tempted to smack him, you know? Jaehwan suddenly approached a tan male and begged for his forgiveness, thinking that you were there.” he chuckles a bit at the memory. His phone chimes from the bedroom. “I’ll get that first. Just don’t think that Jaehwan holds grudges against you, Hakyeon. He never does or will.” He smiles genuinely and gets up. He strides back to the bed room but not before ruffling Hakyeon’s hair.
Hongbin pats Hakyeon’s hair and arranges the mess Wonshik made, “He’s right, Jaehwan holds nothing against you. Jaehwan has always been there for you, Hakyeon. He loves you.”
Jaehwan loves me? It’s hard to believe. Two years have passed. Hakyeon’s throat suddenly dries, he wants to say something but his voice doesn’t come out. How come Jaehwan has been there for him? For more than two years, he had seen no Jaehwan except for the gatherings he attended… the realization hits him as fast as his tears welled up from his eyes.
Hongbin cups Hakyeon’s face and wipes his cheek from the stray tears falling from his eyes. “He’s watching over you,” he whispered, smiling.
Jaehwan is watching over him, in parties even if he wasn’t invited, in gatherings that he doesn’t belong to, Jaehwan makes so much effort to see Hakyeon. But to Hakyeon, it was all just to spite him and rile him up against the wall. He sees things differently. Hakyeon only thinks of his misery.
“Remember that one time when you fainted somewhere? Jaehwan helped you. He was even hysterical at some point because you’re not waking up.” Hakyeon’s body stiffens. Jaehwan? He did that? “But he told me someone-“ he tries to argue but Hongbin shushes him. There was a knowing smile adorning his face, Hakyeon wants to believe him. He wants to believe everything but it’s hard. “Just… just remember that Jaehwan has always been there for you.” Hongbin adds, reassuring Hakyeon by rubbing his back soothingly.
Wonshik passes right through them in haste, almost tumbling on his feet. Hongbin shoots him questioning eyes but Wonshik shook his head, turning the lock of the door. Hongbin looks back at Hakyeon, he was a bit taken aback from the assault of things he’s learning. It was as if he’s having a hard time to swallow everything.
The door creaks.
Hakyeon laughs dryly, completely pulling away from Hongbin to rest his head against the backrest. “I’m a selfish, stupid, insensitive jerk.”
Socked feet padded across the door step to the living room, “You are a selfish, stupid, insensitive jerk.”
Jaehwan pants hard, hands over his knees as he looks up to Hakyeon. He was drenched in sweat, tips of his bangs sticking to his forehead. Hakyeon can feel his heart restarting into a fast pace. Has Jaehwan been running? Why is he running? Who is he running after? Is he here to see Hakyeon? The thought makes Hakyeon’s stomach drop and he shivers at the feeling. He takes a step back, and another one, he’s not prepared for this.
After what Hongbin had told him, after knowing the truth, Hakyeon’s feet wants to run away. He’s good at running away. He’s always been good at running away. He wants to vanish. Hakyeon wants to be gone and he wants Jaehwan to follow him. Two years ago, when he left, everything that he suffered from Jaehwan means nothing than the pain he felt when his husband made no effort to catch him, made no effort to follow him, did nothing to get him back. It hurts more than a million times, Hakyeon, after all, was waiting until Jaehwan claims him back.
He waited for so long until he grew tired from waiting too much. He loves Jaehwan so much, probably too much, and even though he couldn’t reach his dreams in exchange for making Jaehwan happy, he could sacrifice for him. It was all up to Jaehwan. Hakyeon waited.
But he guesses he means nothing to Jaehwan.
Not until now.
Something surges into Hakyeon’s heart. Painful, tickling, numbness, relief, hope, it was all jumbled that he couldn’t point out what he actually feels. Maybe anticipation?
“You are so selfish, Cha Hakyeon.” Jaehwan spits out, “but even if you’re like that, even if you left me twice, even if you don’t see the things I do for you, I’m still here, running after you.”
Hakyeon pushes himself from the couch, sitting up in shock. His brain seizes to function as well as he tries to find the right words to utter to Jaehwan. His ex-husband that he believed to hate him just as much as he hated the other ran all that way here, exhausting himself, for him. There's no words that Hakyeon could grasp to say in this moment so he can only listen because Jaehwan isn't done speaking.
“Do you have any idea how infuriatingly frustrating you are!? You nag, you complain, you're clumsy, you do the most irritating things possible, and you even have the audacity to be so oblivious to everything!” Jaehwan snaps, but one look at Hakyeon's wide eyed, lost expression has him softening his expression, “...But no matter how much of a selfish pain in the ass beggar you are... I can't help it. I'm probably just as stupid as you are because I'm still running after someone who apparently would rather see me jump off a cliff.”
“Wh-What about you!?” sputters Hakyeon, an overwhelming surge of all the random emotions running through him finally gives him the ability to speak again as he stands from the couch and points an accusing finger at Jaehwan, “You're just as much of a pain in the ass! You're so bipolar and unreadable! I don't know how to even respond to you sometimes! You're always being a complete jerk one second and then you turn sweet the next! You never say anything about your thoughts, so you expect me to be a mind reader!? You are stupid! I don't want to see you jump off any cliff! I want to know why after all this time why you didn't tell me the truth!” Hakyeon's voice broke a bit on the last word. All of this pointless fighting for the past two years, this mess that the both of them made yet could have easily fixed if they weren't both so blind to one another. Hakyeon takes in a shaky breath, his voice quieter, shakier, “Why didn't you tell me that you didn't want the divorce? Why did you let me walk out on you without a word? Why didn't you tell me anything? What's even the truth anymore?”
Jaehwan sighs, the hurt expression on Hakyeon's face makes him want to pull the other closer and hold him tight but he can't do that just yet not when there's still a mess to clear up. Jaehwan takes in a breath, “The truth,” Hakyeon looking imploringly at Jaehwan, this is something he must know, “...I'm still in love with you and... that's something that will never change. I'd give you the world if you asked for it because I love you that much. I didn't want the divorce but I couldn't very well make you stay when it was clear you wanted to leave, I couldn't tell you anything because I wanted to protect you. I couldn't bear clipping your wings a second time. I'm sorry Cha Hakyeon. I'm sorry for the pain that you've had to endure because of me for the past two years. But I'm not sorry that I fell in love with you, I'm not sorry that I'm still in love with you.”
Hakyeon bites his bottom lip harshly, as his eyes slightly water because he knows it himself that he's never really fallen out of love with Jaehwan either. There was a time when he loathed the other but he knew deep down it was simply his frustration taking over his thoughts and actions, he didn't want to get hurt again so he used his frustration as a shield for his feelings. But now with Jaehwan being sincere with him, he can't find a reason to doubt the other. “I-I love you too. Too much sometimes. I may have hated you but that was because I was scared and wanted to do what I do best which is run away, run away and hide from all the problems that arose. I couldn't face you because I was the one that chose to walk out, I was the one who chose to be selfish and disregard your feelings too. I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry.”
Hakyeon looks downwards at his feet after his confession, his cheeks feel enflamed and his heart is beating irregularly in his chest. It feels like he might fall over after having confessed all that, he's nervous about seeing Jaehwan's expression and his reaction in general.
“If you're sorry and still in love with me then what are you doing just standing there?” Jaehwan reaches out and grabs Hakyeon's arm and pulls the other closer, he doesn't give Hakyeon much time to process what's going on before Jaehwan is smashing his lips against the other.
It's been so long since they kissed, since they've had any type of real affectionate touches with one another that this simple kiss felt so so good to the both of them. Their heart beats beating erratically and in sync as their lips continued to move against each other.
Hakyeon felt like he was melting into Jaehwan's embrace as his hands automatically wrapped around Jaehwan's neck pulling the other as close as possible so that there was no room left between them. It truly has been too long.
A sudden clearing of someone's throat barely even catches the couple's attention since they're so absorbed in each other. Wonshik rolled his eyes as the make out session became instantly heated, “Uhh my room’s free, I think you both desperately need it.”
The couple exchanges no words but Jaehwan does pick Hakyeon up while the latter wraps his legs around Jaehwan's waist to make the trip a little easier. They don't care how shameless they were being, they had two years of love to catch back up on.
Hongbin could only scoff in amusement, “Unbelievable.”
Wonshik chuckles, “I know and all it took was to pay off the landlady to put that eviction notice on Hakyeon's place to get them back together.”
Hongbin grins and playfully shoves Wonshik, “Damn chaebol, but I'm glad they're together again. Although I want your room completely cleaned from top to bottom before I go anywhere near it with you.” Just thinking of the
Wonshik nods with a smirk on his lips, “Of course.”
Meanwhile...
Taekwoon rolls over in his bed as his phone goes off yet again. He groans but decides to pick it up nonetheless. It's a text from Wonshik.
The plan worked, the two are back together.
“That's what they texted me for? Tch, I already knew that was going to happen. Whatever, I'm still going to be occupying Hakyeon's apartment, this bed is comfortable as hell.” Taekwoon grumbled as he threw his phone back on the bedside table and went back to sleep.