Circumstances
TITLE: Circumstances
PAIRING: HaeHyuk
SUMMARY: It was exactly seven.
---
Lee Ahna stared at the backpack thrown carelessly on the floor and raised an eyebrow in confusion. She turned her gaze on the bottom of the stairs and saw a pair of shoes, no doubt belonging to her son.
"Hyukjae! Why did you leave your things here?" She called out loudly. "Come take them and place them in your room."
She stepped over the bag and frowned. Something must have happened, after all, her son was normally very neat and didn't need to be reminded to pick up after himself.
She glanced up to see Hyukjae walk sluggishly down the stairs, watching him pick up his shoes and put them on the shoe rack and all but drag his feet towards his bag, slinging it over his shoulder before smiling tiredly at her.
"Welcome home, umma."
"Has something happened, Hyukkie?" Ahna walked over to her son and gazed at him. "You look down."
Hyukjae sighed and bent down to be able to put his head on his mother's shoulder.
Ahna wrapped her arms around her son's thin body and started to rub his back. "Bad day at school?"
"The worst." Hyukjae nuzzled his mother's neck and tried to relax, reveling in the comfort being offered. "The teachers seem to hate me today."
Ahna gently pushed her 18-year-old son away and placed the back of her hand to Hyukjae's neck, frowning. "You're running a light fever, Hyukkie."
The young man merely grunted and closed his eyes, body sagging with exhaustion.
"Why don't you go sleep, hmm?" Ahna brushed a few strands away from Hyukjae's face. "I'll wake you up when dinner's ready and if your fever's not down by then, maybe you could drink medicine."
Hyukjae nodded. "I can't get sick. I have an exam tomorrow."
"Alright, sweetie. So, why don't you go sleep and I'll wake you up later, okay?"
The young man nodded again and started walking towards the stairs. Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and muttered, "Damn!"
"What's wrong, sweetie?"
Hyukjae turned, a worried expression on his face. "Today's the fifteenth right?"
"Yes, yes, it is."
"Damn, I forgot. I totally and completely forgot."
The older woman approached Hyukjae. "Forgot what, Hyukkie?"
"Donghae's coming today!"
"He is?"
"Yes." Hyukjae bit his lower lip. "Why'd I get sick today of all days?! Someone up there must hate me right now!"
"Oh, sweetie." Ahna took the bag from her son and started to guide him up the stairs. "You've been sleeping late and waking up early for the past two---three?---weeks. Of course, you'd get sick."
"I know, umma. But, why now, of all days?" Hyukjae pouted. "I haven't seen Donghae for months and now that I finally have the chance to, I get sick!"
"Calm down, Hyukjae." Ahna opened the door of her son's room and sat Hyukjae down on the bed. "What time is he coming?"
Hyukjae yawned, blinking tiredly. "Seven, I think."
The woman glanced at the wall clock. "It's barely five, Hyukkie. Why don't you sleep and I'll wake you up a quarter to seven?"
"Okay."
Hyukjae lied down and Ahna tucked him in like she did when he was younger. "Sleep well, sweetie."
"Umma, you'll wake me up, right?"
"Of course, Hyukkie."
"A quarter to seven, right?"
Ahna chuckled. "Yes, Hyukjae. Now go to sleep."
When the boy finally closed his eyes, Ahna turned off the light and headed towards the door. Before she had closed it completely, Hyukjae spoke again.
"Don't forget, umma."
"Aish. I said yes, Lee Hyukjae! Now go to sleep."
---
Ahna looked at the clock as soon as the doorbell rang and smiled.
It was exactly seven.
She walked briskly to the front door and opened it, revealing the handsome, smiling face of no other than Lee Donghae.
"Good evening, auntie." Donghae bowed in greeting and raised what looked like a cake box. "I brought dessert ."
Ahna smiled. "Hello, Donghae. It's nice to see you again. Come in, come in..."
The young man smiled again and entered, looking around as soon as he did. "Where's Hyukjae?"
The older woman took the cake from Donghae and smiled a little. "Sleeping. He's gotten sick, I'm afraid."
"What?" Donghae's eyes widened and worry immediately filled his features. "What happened, auntie? Is he alright?"
"Yes. Don't worry, Donghae." Ahna patted his shoulder. "Just a light fever. Probably due to the stress in school."
Donghae pursed his lips and nodded understandingly, remembering the conversations he had had with Hyukjae over the phone during the past few weeks. Hyukjae had been complaining about school most of the time.
"Can I go see him?"
"Of course, dear." Ahna glanced at the clock again. "Dinner's going to be ready in about 30 minutes. Help me wake him up later, alright."
"Yes, auntie."
Donghae trudged up the stairs as quietly as he could and immediately headed towards Hyukjae's room. He opened the door slowly, making sure not to make any noise.
The room was dark but he didn't bother to turn on the lights. After all, he knew the room's layout like the back of his hand. So unless Hyukjae did some re-modelling (and it was highly unlikely) , he would do just fine.
He got to the bedside without any mishaps and by then, his eyes had already adjusted enough for him to be able to see the figure curled up on the bed.
Donghae immediately placed the back of his hand against the paler man's forehead, noting Hyukjae's warmer-than-normal skin.
Apparently, Hyukjae's fever had not gone down.
Donghae sighed and started caressing the pale cheeks. It had been so very long since they had last seen each other and he had looked forward to their meeting. It was unfortunate that Hyukjae had gotten sick.
But due to the circumstances, it was unavoidable. So Donghae consoled himself with the fact that at least he was still able to see his boyfriend.
"H-Hae...?"
He looked down and smiled, reaching over to turn on the lamp on the bedside table. "Hey there."
"What time is it?" Hyukjae's voice was hoarse.
"A quarter after seven."
The other man's eyes widened. "Aish. I knew it. Umma promised to wake me up a quarter before seven."
Donghae chuckled, not stopping his previous action of stroking his boyfriend's cheeks. "She just probably wanted you to rest."
"I know." Hyukjae sighed and placed a hand over Donghae's. "I hate that I'm sick right now."
"Don't worry about it, Hyuk." Donghae smiled. "It's not like you wanted to be sick, right?"
Hyukjae nodded, pout still in place. "I know. It's just that it's the first time we get to see each other in months and I get sick! I mean---"
Donghae shushed him and placed a hand over Hyukjae's eyes, making him close them. "I said not to worry about it. Go to sleep, Hyukkie."
Hyukjae nodded resignedly but scooted over to make space. "Sleep with me?" He smiled widely, gums showing, and added, "I promise not to get germs all over you."
Donghae laughed and lied down on the bed, putting arms around Hyukjae. "I've told you this a thousand times before, Hyukjae, but I really, really, love you." Donghae kissed Hyukjae's nose. "Every part of you."
And then he kissed Hyukjae on the lips lightly. "Even your germs."
Hyukjae laughed against the kiss before snuggling closer and closing his eyes. "I love you too, Hae."
---
Ahna went up to her son's room, intending to tell him and his loved one that dinner was ready.
But as soon as she saw Hyukjae and Donghae lying on the bed together, wrapped in each other's arms and sleeping soundly, she decided to leave them alone.
After all, something as mundane as dinner could wait for at least another hour.
---
A/N: A short break from NMW.
When I say short, it really is short.
Nevertheless, hope you like it.
Please tell me what you think! Thank you!
PS. I know. I know. I suck at summaries AND titles. Forgive me.
PAIRING: HaeHyuk
SUMMARY: It was exactly seven.
---
Lee Ahna stared at the backpack thrown carelessly on the floor and raised an eyebrow in confusion. She turned her gaze on the bottom of the stairs and saw a pair of shoes, no doubt belonging to her son.
"Hyukjae! Why did you leave your things here?" She called out loudly. "Come take them and place them in your room."
She stepped over the bag and frowned. Something must have happened, after all, her son was normally very neat and didn't need to be reminded to pick up after himself.
She glanced up to see Hyukjae walk sluggishly down the stairs, watching him pick up his shoes and put them on the shoe rack and all but drag his feet towards his bag, slinging it over his shoulder before smiling tiredly at her.
"Welcome home, umma."
"Has something happened, Hyukkie?" Ahna walked over to her son and gazed at him. "You look down."
Hyukjae sighed and bent down to be able to put his head on his mother's shoulder.
Ahna wrapped her arms around her son's thin body and started to rub his back. "Bad day at school?"
"The worst." Hyukjae nuzzled his mother's neck and tried to relax, reveling in the comfort being offered. "The teachers seem to hate me today."
Ahna gently pushed her 18-year-old son away and placed the back of her hand to Hyukjae's neck, frowning. "You're running a light fever, Hyukkie."
The young man merely grunted and closed his eyes, body sagging with exhaustion.
"Why don't you go sleep, hmm?" Ahna brushed a few strands away from Hyukjae's face. "I'll wake you up when dinner's ready and if your fever's not down by then, maybe you could drink medicine."
Hyukjae nodded. "I can't get sick. I have an exam tomorrow."
"Alright, sweetie. So, why don't you go sleep and I'll wake you up later, okay?"
The young man nodded again and started walking towards the stairs. Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and muttered, "Damn!"
"What's wrong, sweetie?"
Hyukjae turned, a worried expression on his face. "Today's the fifteenth right?"
"Yes, yes, it is."
"Damn, I forgot. I totally and completely forgot."
The older woman approached Hyukjae. "Forgot what, Hyukkie?"
"Donghae's coming today!"
"He is?"
"Yes." Hyukjae bit his lower lip. "Why'd I get sick today of all days?! Someone up there must hate me right now!"
"Oh, sweetie." Ahna took the bag from her son and started to guide him up the stairs. "You've been sleeping late and waking up early for the past two---three?---weeks. Of course, you'd get sick."
"I know, umma. But, why now, of all days?" Hyukjae pouted. "I haven't seen Donghae for months and now that I finally have the chance to, I get sick!"
"Calm down, Hyukjae." Ahna opened the door of her son's room and sat Hyukjae down on the bed. "What time is he coming?"
Hyukjae yawned, blinking tiredly. "Seven, I think."
The woman glanced at the wall clock. "It's barely five, Hyukkie. Why don't you sleep and I'll wake you up a quarter to seven?"
"Okay."
Hyukjae lied down and Ahna tucked him in like she did when he was younger. "Sleep well, sweetie."
"Umma, you'll wake me up, right?"
"Of course, Hyukkie."
"A quarter to seven, right?"
Ahna chuckled. "Yes, Hyukjae. Now go to sleep."
When the boy finally closed his eyes, Ahna turned off the light and headed towards the door. Before she had closed it completely, Hyukjae spoke again.
"Don't forget, umma."
"Aish. I said yes, Lee Hyukjae! Now go to sleep."
---
Ahna looked at the clock as soon as the doorbell rang and smiled.
It was exactly seven.
She walked briskly to the front door and opened it, revealing the handsome, smiling face of no other than Lee Donghae.
"Good evening, auntie." Donghae bowed in greeting and raised what looked like a cake box. "I brought dessert ."
Ahna smiled. "Hello, Donghae. It's nice to see you again. Come in, come in..."
The young man smiled again and entered, looking around as soon as he did. "Where's Hyukjae?"
The older woman took the cake from Donghae and smiled a little. "Sleeping. He's gotten sick, I'm afraid."
"What?" Donghae's eyes widened and worry immediately filled his features. "What happened, auntie? Is he alright?"
"Yes. Don't worry, Donghae." Ahna patted his shoulder. "Just a light fever. Probably due to the stress in school."
Donghae pursed his lips and nodded understandingly, remembering the conversations he had had with Hyukjae over the phone during the past few weeks. Hyukjae had been complaining about school most of the time.
"Can I go see him?"
"Of course, dear." Ahna glanced at the clock again. "Dinner's going to be ready in about 30 minutes. Help me wake him up later, alright."
"Yes, auntie."
Donghae trudged up the stairs as quietly as he could and immediately headed towards Hyukjae's room. He opened the door slowly, making sure not to make any noise.
The room was dark but he didn't bother to turn on the lights. After all, he knew the room's layout like the back of his hand. So unless Hyukjae did some re-modelling (and it was highly unlikely) , he would do just fine.
He got to the bedside without any mishaps and by then, his eyes had already adjusted enough for him to be able to see the figure curled up on the bed.
Donghae immediately placed the back of his hand against the paler man's forehead, noting Hyukjae's warmer-than-normal skin.
Apparently, Hyukjae's fever had not gone down.
Donghae sighed and started caressing the pale cheeks. It had been so very long since they had last seen each other and he had looked forward to their meeting. It was unfortunate that Hyukjae had gotten sick.
But due to the circumstances, it was unavoidable. So Donghae consoled himself with the fact that at least he was still able to see his boyfriend.
"H-Hae...?"
He looked down and smiled, reaching over to turn on the lamp on the bedside table. "Hey there."
"What time is it?" Hyukjae's voice was hoarse.
"A quarter after seven."
The other man's eyes widened. "Aish. I knew it. Umma promised to wake me up a quarter before seven."
Donghae chuckled, not stopping his previous action of stroking his boyfriend's cheeks. "She just probably wanted you to rest."
"I know." Hyukjae sighed and placed a hand over Donghae's. "I hate that I'm sick right now."
"Don't worry about it, Hyuk." Donghae smiled. "It's not like you wanted to be sick, right?"
Hyukjae nodded, pout still in place. "I know. It's just that it's the first time we get to see each other in months and I get sick! I mean---"
Donghae shushed him and placed a hand over Hyukjae's eyes, making him close them. "I said not to worry about it. Go to sleep, Hyukkie."
Hyukjae nodded resignedly but scooted over to make space. "Sleep with me?" He smiled widely, gums showing, and added, "I promise not to get germs all over you."
Donghae laughed and lied down on the bed, putting arms around Hyukjae. "I've told you this a thousand times before, Hyukjae, but I really, really, love you." Donghae kissed Hyukjae's nose. "Every part of you."
And then he kissed Hyukjae on the lips lightly. "Even your germs."
Hyukjae laughed against the kiss before snuggling closer and closing his eyes. "I love you too, Hae."
---
Ahna went up to her son's room, intending to tell him and his loved one that dinner was ready.
But as soon as she saw Hyukjae and Donghae lying on the bed together, wrapped in each other's arms and sleeping soundly, she decided to leave them alone.
After all, something as mundane as dinner could wait for at least another hour.
---
A/N: A short break from NMW.
When I say short, it really is short.
Nevertheless, hope you like it.
Please tell me what you think! Thank you!
PS. I know. I know. I suck at summaries AND titles. Forgive me.