Never letting you go - Final chapter part 2/2
Part Two
The days continued in the same pattern; Hyukjae refusing to eat in the first while, avoiding body contact with anyone (even with Donghae on some days) and hysterically woke up in the middle of the night with cries. Though all of the hurtful scenes he'd got to witness, Donghae still stayed there no matter what. He was relieved that Hyukjae hadn't pushed him away, hoping that the previous feelings the boy had for him wasn't gone, only closed off for a while.
Once a week he would have a therapist meeting with Gayun, and except from that he lived pretty normal in the house. Donghae had also been able to gain work tasks from Jongwoon and could easily work on a distance as long as he got his camera, model and computer, though most of his time wasn’t put into his job but Hyukjae.
The latter, as well as Donghae, were sitting by the dining table alone. Earlier Hyukjae had refused eating, claiming he wasn’t hungry and just continued sleeping. So once Donghae came back to the house after the dark already had fallen outside, the first thing he had to do was to get something down the boy’s mouth.
"Hyukjae, you've got to eat something. Otherwise you'll be sick." Hyukjae knew that tone Donghae was using, and it was the same worried one he'd heard so many times before when Donghae had wanted to help him out. Glancing down at the plate with food in front of him, he tried to will himself into eating it but he couldn't.
"I'll eat it with you; it's really good you know." Trying to chipper up the atmosphere, Donghae took the chopsticks and picked up some of the prepared food and smiled while chewing. "Here." Donghae even picked up a piece of beef and held it out in front of Hyukjae's mouth as if he was feeding a baby, still that gentle smile plastered to his lips. Hyukjae wasn't able to resist the offer from the older, his heart momentarily skipped a beat as he thought about all the loving moments he had shared with Donghae, remembering just how important that man was to him. He let the chopsticks slip past his lips and slowly chewed on the meat, never letting his eyes leave Donghae's.
When Hyukjae suddenly stood up, Donghae thought the former wanted to leave, but seconds later the boy had halted his way around the table and sunk down on the chair close next to Donghae. He leaned his body against the elder’s and immediately had a warm arm embracing his shoulders, and then accepting the chopsticks Donghae was holding out for him, starting to eat slowly by himself.
--
Days turned into weeks and Hyukjae slowly got more and more into his normal behavior around Donghae, though he stayed rather quiet and never leaving for anywhere if he didn't get to have Donghae with him, scared that if he wasn't there something bad would happen again. But still it felt as if the bond between them grew stronger as well, and soon there wasn’t much they didn’t knew about each other.
The deep wounds under Hyukjae’s feet had healed and looked as they’d only leave scars, though he still had problem with walking without any support. After their visit at the hospital and x-ray scan, it was confirmed that his right food would go back to normal, but the left was as suspected badly damaged on the deep. If the joint didn’t heal naturally, there wasn’t anything else to do about it. Hyukjae could feel the slight strain and pain as the physiotherapist helped stretching his foot during rehabilitation.
Donghae got to be teached ways to massage and stretch the foot if it got overworked, and when he tried it on the boy, he felt his heart ease as a small smile crept onto Hyukjae’s lips when enjoying the feeling of Donghae massaging him.
~*~
Not a sound could be heard in the house since everyone still was asleep, clock barely six in the morning. Previous morning Donghae found out that by the upper floor’s large glass window was probably the most perfect view for watching the sunrise. It viewed over a field with no trees, houses, roads with cars driving or anything disturbing, unnatural object. Just a plain field and by its horizon seeing the orange-red globe rising felt magical as it painted the sky pink and purple.
“It’s very pretty,” Hyukjae mumbled, a faint smile put on his lips as he let his cold and bony hand carefully slid itself into Donghae's comforting one which was instantly embraced with warmth. The sofa Donghae had turned around to face the window was soft and the both of them had sunk deep down in the coziness. Hyukjae leaned closer to the older without any words and just let his head heavily rest at Donghae's shoulder, eyes drooping tiredly and his breath becoming deeper and more frequent. The sweetening scent of the other filled him up and he unconsciously buried his nose deeper into Donghae's chest. The latter relaxed his body and let Hyukjae fall asleep on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Hyukjae, for not protecting you." Donghae whispered softly and caressed the boys face with a scant touch so he wouldn't wake him up. The previous fears that had intruded Hyukjae's face started to fade as sleep got to him. He looked just as peaceful as he had done before the traumatic happenings had repeated. Donghae strained himself from any crying, but he couldn't deny that he missed Hyukjae, a lot. “I'm sorry I let you go alone." Leaning forward carefully, Donghae positioned his face in front of Hyukjae's and gently pressed his lips to the boy's cheek, close to the lips. Hyukjae stirred and snuggled closer, as one hand found a grip on Donghae's shirt. If he wasn't wrong, he could feel something wet and warm come in contact with his neck and lips pressing on his exposed collarbone. Hyukjae sniffed and Donghae guessed Hyukjae hadn't been deeply asleep just yet.
His arms patted the boy's back and stroke invisible pattern's to sooth him. Hyukjae clung to him even more until his arms hugged Donghae's neck tightly.
"Just promise... promise you will never let that happen… again."
"Don't worry, Hyuk. No one can hurt you anymore. You're safe with me, I promise." This was the contact Donghae had missed so much from him as Hyukjae came closer and hugged him for dear life. It was heart-aching, just as much as heartwarming. They stayed that way until Hyukjae fell asleep for real this time, and Donghae carried him back to his bed, carefully tucking him in.
~*~
Occasionally had Donghae stayed at a rented room at a hotel instead of the house, because he had noticed that every day was becoming harder and harder not to show all his feeling’s for Hyukjae, or hold back the urge to kiss the boy whenever he wanted. After all, he still had no right to be in a relationship with a minor by his age, and Gayun probably knew very well about that as well. Even Hyukjae knew that he wasn’t allowed to show anything whenever any other was close, only simple hugs. Though they both still made it by just standing by each other’s side, but whenever Donghae stayed at the house, not a night would pass without Hyukjae falling asleep in his arms.
Everyday seeing the process of Hyukjae turning more and more into an outwards person made the four months pass by fast. He was able to see the latter smile and laugh a lot more and he even felt his own mood getting better along with Hyukjae’s.
On days whenever Donghae wasn’t busy, Hyukjae would press the other to go out on walks with him, and every time it ended up with Hyukjae dragging them both too far and had to be carried back since his left foot didn’t allow him to walk any long distances. Neither of them complained over it though or considered taking shorter walks. They both enjoyed the moments they got to have together. Soon, they could leave and be together alone as much as they wished.
~*~
"Can I just ask you how come you stay with him like this?"
Donghae raised his eyebrows and glanced up from his steaming cup of coffee at Gayun who was sitting across from him at the small circular table in the television room. The house was quite lively as the younger children played around the room with their toys and Hyukjae watching the television with a high volume to over-voice the loud environment. Even though it should have felt annoying, Donghae was almost used to the sounds around the place and didn’t bother it very much.
Gayun put down her cup and spoke again.
"There is no blood relation between the two of you, and from the information I've got, you two haven't been familiar for that long. It’s just really curious that you’re willing to do this.”
Nodding, the man looked down at his cup and drew invisible patterns on it with his fingers and started thinking about what to say. There were so many reasons for him to stay by the boy’s side.
"Ever since I saw him the first time looking sick and ready to pass out any minute, I just wanted to help him getting treatment and nothing else. He was strictly against it though." A smile intruded his lips as he remembered their first meeting. Such long time had passed since then. "But when fate let me meet him three days in a row, still sick, I brought him home so he could rest properly since he refused hospital. I learned he didn't have anywhere to go so I offered him room, and as time passed he slowly started open up to me." He looked up at the woman and smiled brightly and his eyes giving off a special spark. "Hyukjae is just such a great kid. No one like him deserves to meet with such terrible things he's faced."
"I'm thankful that you've done all this for him, not everyone would have. During our talks, he mentions you a lot, and I know he admires you a lot."
They both turned their heads towards the sofa where Hyukjae was sitting, laughing at the TV-show currently airing, completely captivated by it. A new aura was surrounding this Hyukjae different from the old one, a more open one.
"He's improved a lot since the first meeting I had with him. I think, just like Heechul said, that's owe to you. Thank you for staying here with him. You two really seem to have a close bond." She paused for a smile and sipped on her coffee.
"It’s only a matter of days until he turns eighteen, and he may find himself an own place. But to make an own living at that age is going to be hard, especially in his situation without any proper school education." There was almost a pleading expression in her eyes as she looked straight at Donghae’s."He wants to live with you, he said.”
A broad smile stretched Donghae’s lips, feeling his heart just flip a few happy beats when being able to hear it like that. After all, he didn’t even have any plans of letting Hyukjae going elsewhere except from with him.
"I don't mind.” He said casually, but the smile showed he was extremely happy. “We've shared my apartment before and he's even helped me out at my work. He can stay with me until he wants to go out in the world on his own."
"You sure are admirable." Gayun beamed and drank from her coffee. “Donghae-sshi, did you possibly have plans on adopting Hyukjae?”
Donghae gave her an odd expression, not really knowing how to react, before shaking his head.
“I… I see Hyukjae as my soul-mate.” Gayun raised an eyebrow at him and he knew he probably had to explain it more detailed. “Might be weird with our age-differences, but -“
"Donghae, look! The monkey is riding a bike, look!" Hyukjae exclaimed loudly in the middle of Donghae’s sentence and directed his grin at the man as he pointed at the television, slightly bouncing on his seat. Then his expression softened as he looked back and forth between Donghae and Gayun and blinked his eyes in a questioning manner as he noticed they had already been watching him.
Both Donghae and Gayun smiled widely at him making the boy look even more confused, and then shyly go back to watching the television.
“I trust you to support him then, Donghae-sshi.”
~*~
“Are you really sure about this Hyukjae? At least we could do it on another day instead of today.”
Hyukjae reached out to softly rest his hand on Donghae’s thigh as an a reassuring gesture that he was okay with it, and the man briefly let his hand go off the gearshift to loosely intertwine their fingers. A worried look was momentarily thrown at Hyukjae as he continued driving to their destination. The latter smiled to himself when looking at how handsome the elder looked while driving.
“I’m okay Hae. I just have to do one thing, and then… I will put everything behind.” With a incoherent sigh, Donghae lifted their entwined hands and gave Hyukjae’s a brief kiss before letting it down to rest on his thigh once more when he had to change gearlever.
When they reached a red traffic light, Donghae turned almost fully to Hyukjae, caressing his face and hair in a manner like if he’d be too careless, the boy would break.
“You look pale, baby. Don’t force yourself; it’s your day today. Can’t you just wait two weeks?” The lights were back to green and Donghae drove off, but still giving Hyukjae occasional glances. When Hyukjae had told him that morning he wanted to see that man, Donghae had almost choked on his coffee for real and had to take minutes to recover. Still, the boy never told him a proper reason for it. Maybe it only was his way of letting go?
“I want to break free for real today. I’m having my life to start over today, so therefore I need to do this and not get stuck in the past anymore.” Hyukjae answered while holding his head high and not having any sort of hesitation in his voice.
In Donghae’s opinion, Hyukjae was shining at the moment. All the confidence he had gained and all the braveness, Donghae didn’t really know how to find any words for it. It felt so rare to see that kind of aura around the boy, but he definitely hoped it wasn’t the last time.
At the moment they had arrived and Donghae just stopped on a free parking lot space he faced the other and cupped his jaw. “You’re beautiful Hyukjae.” Smiling gently, Donghae leaned closer and pecked the younger’s lips. Hyukjae was looking slightly confused, as well as shy at the statement Donghae just blurted out. “You send sparkles all over the place when you speak with confidence like that, and it’s so beautiful. You have no idea of just how proud I am over you.”
As they walked up the stone steps to the large building, Donghae let his hand brush against the younger’s and eventually letting his fingers messily tangle themselves with the other’s slightly shaking ones. To his relief they stopped once he held on to them and Hyukjae gave the elder a thankful smile.
Donghae opened up the door so they could step inside and was met up by a guard and police officer greeting them politely before starting to walk in an unknown direction to the two of them.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Donghae whispered while giving his pinky finger a light squeeze and a questioned look. Turning to the elder with a smile he shook his head.
“It will go fast. I don’t have very much to say to him.” The officer who met them up gestured for Hyukjae to follow him through the tinted glass doors. Hyukjae returned the light touch on Donghae's hand before slipping it out of the gentle grip. "I don't want you to meet him, so I'll go alone." A sigh escaped Donghae's lips and along came a strained nod.
"Okay. I'll wait back in the lobby." He gave the other a discrete stroke along his fingers before watching the officer and guard walk Hyukjae through the door and down the corridor.
When sitting in the quiet area, except the from the TV showing a boring show, it felt like years passed by while waiting until Hyukjae came back. The boy’s eyes were slightly red and the police officer walked by him closely and gave him a soft pat on the shoulder once the glass doors closed behind the two. Donghae rose from his seat to meet them and in a second, Hyukjae had fallen into his chest. The brunette wrapped his arms tightly around Hyukjae and gave the officer a small smile.
"He's a strong kid, really." Was the last thing the police said before leaving them alone. Hyukjae was letting out deep breaths, but never a sound of crying.
"Shall we head back to the hotel then?" The older spoke into Hyukjae's hair and led him out of the building and to the parking lot.
"Hae,” Donghae was just about to jump into the drivers’ seat but stopped half way and glanced at Hyukjae. “Could you go back to the hotel first? There's somewhere I need to go to.” His eyes widened a little, questioning the younger.
"Where are you going? I can follow you there."
“No,” Hyukjae shook his head and gave Donghae’s cheek a light peck and an assuring smile. "I'll call Jungsu hyung, so you don't have to worry." Donghae’s eyes softened and he pulled the younger closer to him by the waist and rested their foreheads together.
“You know I love you, right? A lot.”
Giggling shyly, Hyukjae returned the hug and rested his head on the elder’s shoulder. “I love you too,” he answered quietly and pecked Donghae’s cheek for a second time, and the latter caught his lips and kissed him a few more times.
“I’ll be back soon.” Donghae didn’t argue and loosened his grip around his waist and sat back in the driver’s seat, taking off to the hotel first.
--
Jungsu’s laughter through the phone eased Hyukjae’s own mood as he had called for the former and asking for the favor. He had been a little busy at the time, but insisted that he’d quickly finish it and come to get Hyukjae. The latter spent the next forty minutes sitting in a café, only the cell phone as a company. He tried texting Donghae, but the elder was too slow on answering, resulting in the boy turning sulky. Donghae and Jungsu were the only persons he had on the contact list. Once they had gone back home to Mokpo, Hyukjae made sure of that he would ask for Sungmin’s number.
When the elder male arrived, Hyukjae was startled by the sudden hug and a nearly-shouting `Happy birthday´.
“How did you know it was my birthday?” he asked and soon he received a piece of cake by a waitress which Jungsu had ordered for him before sitting down.
“Donghae hyung told me. “
“You’ve talked with Donghae?” Never had the elder mentioned anything of that to him that he had talked to Jungsu, so he was quite shocked.
“We keep in contact sometimes.” The elder of them held a playful smile. “So, where do you want to go?”
CONTINUE STORY