Coffee with Milk (You, Me and Him)
“Move in with me.”
Donghae shifts, clinging even closer to his lover. “Let me sleep,” he breathes into the warm chest beneath him. His fingers draw shapeless patterns over the bare skin and he takes pleasure in the way the other shudders when his fingers brush over erect buds.
“No, I mean it.” Hyukjae trails his fingers up and down the other’s forearm. “My new job pays a lot more, and I’ve been saving up enough to move out of my parents’ house. When I move out, I want you to live with me.” His lover tilts his head up and searches Hyukjae’s face for any trace of jest.
“Are you proposing to me, Lee-ssi?” The corners of his mouth tug upwards into a soft smile.
Hyukjae hums in affirmation. “Something like that.”
Donghae lips part to allow a full smile. Gently, he leaves a trail of closed mouth kisses up Hyukjae’s chest, to his neck, and finally reaches his destination of his lover’s lips. Hyukjae responds back eagerly, capturing Donghae’s bottom lip between his teeth. Donghae impatiently flicks his tongue out to trace over Hyukjae’s top lip. The oldest of the pair doesn’t need another prompt and connects their lips, lazily running his tongue over his eager lover’s. They kiss for a few minutes, until both of them are breathless. Somehow they’ve always fit together perfectly with Hyukjae’s laid-back nature and Donghae’s occasional immaturity. They’re each other’s missing puzzle pieces.
Reality finally comes to play when Donghae glances at the small window in his bedroom and sees the darkening sky. “What time is it?” he murmurs. His lips are still close enough to Hyukjae’s to brush against them as he speaks. His lover whines and tries to shush him with chaste kisses. “Hyukjae, I need to know what time it is.”
Hyukjae groans and rolls to the other side of the bed to pull his mobile phone from his jeans’ pocket. “Almost six.”
“My mom will be home soon,” Donghae sighs. Reluctantly, he sits up and gathers his clothes from the ground.
“Shit, I have 13 missed calls. All from home, of course.” They’re both used to the strictness of Hyukjae’s parents, and how displeased they tend to get if he leaves his younger brother at home alone. “Just a few more weeks there, I swear.”
“You should call back so they don’t worry.” Donghae pulls on his shirt and rests his head in his hands.
Hyukjae shrugs and buttons his jeans. “I rather be yelled at live.”
Donghae nods in understanding and crosses his legs. “I ordered the tickets to Paris.”
“For what?” The older male asks, distractedly.
Donghae’s silent and when Hyukjae turns, his lover is giving him a half-joking annoyed face. “Our anniversary.”
“Ahh.” Hyukjae kisses Donghae’s shoulder as an apologize for forgetting, but he knows the other man isn’t really angry with him. “Now it’s our honeymoon,” he corrects in order to make Donghae smile. It works. “You’ll really move in with me, right?” Hyukjae shoots the other a questioning look as soon as he’s fully redressed.
“Of course.” The two share another brief kiss, promising to see each other tomorrow.
Hyukjae scurries away from Donghae’s house, barely missing his boyfriend’s mother and makes the short journey to his parents’ house. On the way, he attempts to come up with theories on why his parents have called him so many times. Did Kyuhyun set something on fire? The ten-year-old was usually kept in check if you handed him a game console, but who knows? Maybe the batteries died and he broke or damaged something.
When he reaches home, he takes a deep breath before opening the front door, ready for the onslaught of yelling and lecturing. What he finds instead is his little brother huddled by the door, the cordless phone lying by his feet.
“Kyuhyun?”
At the mention of his name, the boy flies from his position and into his arms. The way Kyuhyun is trembling in his arms tells him that something is very wrong.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s m-mom a-and dad,” he stutters out between sobs.
_
Donghae has never seen Hyukjae cry so much. Though the both of them tended to be emotional, Hyukjae took on the role of the strong one between them. He was Donghae’s rock when his father passed away and no one else could calm him down.
Now, Donghae’s not sure what to do as his lover is overcome with so much grief as they sit together on his bed. Hyukjae refused to break their usual meeting, as he needed something normal in his life before his responsibilities started. Donghae wishes he could say or do something to take away the unbearable pain his lover must be feeling. Expressing his sympathy doesn’t seem appropriate. He can’t really says he understands as he’s only lost one parent and isn’t expected to raise a little boy.
So he just gathers Hyukjae into his arms and hopes that the two of them will be able to get through this.
_
”Can I sleep with you?”
Kyuhyun fidgets at the door, afraid of his brother’s rejection, but to his relief Hyukjae scoots closer to the wall and pulls back the sheets.
“Goodnight,” Hyukjae mutters, too exhausted to remember the way his mother would rub Kyuhyun’s back when he had nightmares. His hand awkwardly sits on Kyuhyun’s waist as the boy settles himself into bed.
“I don’t like cemeteries,” a small voice whispers through the room.
&
“Could I have a glass of milk?”
An exhausted Hyukjae nods and moves the carton of milk from over his cup of coffee to the empty class sitting in front of his brother. He sets the carton down and picks up his spoon.
“Could you heat it up? I don’t drink cold milk.”
Silently and without complaint, Hyukjae rises from his seat and puts the milk in the microwave. Thirty seconds later, he sets the glass back down in front of his brother and immediately reaches for it and withdraws his hand just as quickly.
“It’s too hot.”
“How long am I supposed to warm it?”
Kyuhyun shrugs and returns to his congee.
&
“I have to go back to school on Monday,” Kyuhyun tears his attention away from his handheld game console long enough to glance over at his older brother.
“Oh… alright, I’ll drive you.” He pauses. “What year are you in?”
“Fourth.”
Hyukjae fondly pats Kyuhyun’s head. “Already? You’re already a little adult.” Kyuhyun smiles up at him then turns back to his game.
&
“What time do you get out of school?” Hyukjae pulls the car over to the curb and switches the gears into park.
“Three thirty.” Hyukjae nods and looks forward. “Hyung… I’m sad.”
Kyuhyun closes his eyes as his older brother pats his head affectionately. “Me too.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
&
The brothers enter the apartment, bags of soy milk gathered in their arms. In just a few days, the oldest had learned of Kyuhyun’s affinity for milk with every meal and he’d brought the boy to the market to take advantage of the sales.
“Put them in the pantry.”
Kyuhyun nods and stacks the dozen milk cartons they’re purchased. It would last them a while.
&
Hyukjae grabs an opened carton of milk for Kyuhyun’s breakfast.
Two cartons left. They’d have to go shopping soon.
_
Donghae smiles as he approaches his lover who’s fiddling with his phone on the front porch of his pa- his house. He adjusts the bag over his shoulder and sits beside him. “Hey.”
After jumping a bit from the sudden presence of his boyfriend, Hyukjae cracks a smile at him and takes in his sweat-stained dance clothes. By his side is a magazine, which he hands over to Donghae to take. “Page seventeen. It’s not that great… it’s small, too.”
The younger man flips through the glossy pages until he reaches the picture captioned with Hyukjae’s name. “Ah! This looks amazing! One of your bests.” He grins, but it quickly falls when he notices the distinct look on his lover’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Just… worried about Kyuhyun.” That explained the way he was gripping onto his phone. On Thursdays, the boy had piano lessons after school and would walk home by himself.
“Didn’t… didn’t your uncle say he could stay with him?” Donghae worries his lip between his teeth. He hates how selfish he sounds, but it’s been weeks since he has had any private time with the man next to him. Even now, he wishes he could reach out and kiss him, but the day was much too bright and anyone could see them.
“I can’t send him to another city.”
“Not even for a little bit? During summer vacation?”
“Would you have liked it if your mom sent you to another city when you were his age?” Donghae sighs and looks down at his lap. “Anyway, he says I’m not home enough… I’m always coming in late.”
“So I guess we’re not going out to eat tonight…” He casts a glance in Hyukjae’s direction who seems determined to not catch his eye. “Well, I have to get back to the studio to practice.” His eyes look over his lover, longingly. It’s been much too long. “Your photo is really great.” Tears are starting to well up in his eyes and he stands up and walks away before they can spill over.
“Donghae…” the dancer freezes. “Come over for dinner tonight.”
-
Neither of them are really paying attention to the program blaring on the television, but they keep up the charade, afraid to really touch each other because of the looks Kyuhyun’s constantly shooting them from his seat at the kitchen table.
Donghae excuses himself to the bathroom to take a few deep breaths and figure out a plan of action. He’s always been good with kids so getting along with Kyuhyun shouldn’t be too difficult.
When he returns, the boy is occupying his previous space on the couch with Hyukjae’s arms slung around him. He tries not to let his face fall as he sits on the other side of Kyuhyun and takes a peek at his handheld console. “What game are you playing?”
Donghae can almost hear Kyuhyun roll his eyes. “Contact. You don’t know it.”
“I do! I have it at home.” Hyukjae smirks and slyly rubs his hand on Donghae’s shoulder.
“Sure you do.” Kyuhyun deadpans. “What time is it, Hyung?”
Hyukjae sighs and looks at his phone. “Ten thirty.”
“That late?” Kyuhyun jumps up from the couch and uses the remote to switch the television off. “I have to go to school in the morning; we should go to bed. And Donghae Hyung should go home.” He tugs at his brother’s arm, turning his back to the other man.
“Donghae’s spending the night, Kyuhyun,” Hyukjae lets out, hesitantly.
Kyuhyun blinks at Hyukjae. “Okay. He can sleep in my bed, and I’ll sleep with you.”
Donghae shifts uncomfortably and looks over at his boyfriend. “No, Kyuhyun. You’ll sleep in your own room tonight, and he’ll sleep in my bed. Go.” Kyuhyun shoots Donghae a hateful look but complies with his brother’s orders.
-
Donghae slips a hand up the back of Hyukjae’s shirt as he nuzzles his nose in the back of his lover’s neck. He takes Hyukjae’s hand and places on his own hip before returning to his task of ridding the other man of his shirt.
“We can’t tonight. Kyuhyun will hear us.”
“…you’re kidding, right?” Hyukjae shrugs.
An exasperated sigh sounds throughout the room as Donghae shifts to face towards the wall and pulls the blanket over his head.
_
“Kyuhyun!”
The boy looks wearily at the car parked on the curb. He approaches but doesn’t open the door. “Where’s Hyukjae.”
“He’s working, and he asked me to pick you up. We can go watch the soccer game until he’s done.” Kyuhyun shoots Donghae a skeptical look, but he figures he has no other choice and gets into the car.
-
“Hyukjae said you had a girlfriend.”
“Not anymore.” He turns on his game console and stares at the screen. “She’s with Siwon now because his parents are rich and he has a pool. Picky. But Changmin said that Seohyun likes me. But I don’t like her. She used to go out with Yonghwa, and I don’t like him.”
Donghae laughs, remembering his own fickleness when he was in elementary school. “You’ll find someone when the time is right.”
Kyuhyun’s fingers fiddle slightly. “You’re hyung’s boyfriend, right?”
The dancer smiles nervously and nods.
“My parents didn’t like you. You know that, right?” Donghae nods again. “They used to fight a lot about you.”
“Not everyone gets along. Just like you don’t like Yonghwa.”
“They used to like you,” Kyuhyun muses. “You used to be like family… then they just stopped liking you.”
“Some people find it hard to adapt to change,” Donghae says lowly.
“I still like you.” And if Donghae wasn’t sure he heard right, he couldn’t be mistaken by the smile Kyuhyun was giving him.
_
Donghae buries his head in Hyukjae’s chest, breathing in the scent he missed falling asleep surrounded by. If it was just them, they could be like this forever. They could have long days where they just hold each other and have slow, gentle sex. Even though he’s right next to Hyukjae, he misses him so much.
“I can’t sleep,” a small voice comes from the doorway. “Can I sleep with you?” The couple sighs and separates from each other. Without a word of confirmation, Kyuhyun’s already climbing into the middle of the bed and clinging to his brother.
Donghae stares at them for a few seconds. He turns off the lights.
Half an hour later, he’s still staring at the brothers, unable to sleep. Quietly, he climbs out of bed and redresses as not to wake up the others. He’s out of the bedroom and exiting the front door when he hears Hyukjae call his name behind him.
“Where are you going?” Hyukjae’s voice is full of his sleep and his eyes are barely open.
“I… I have to work early in the morning, so I’m heading back…. I love you.” He gives his boyfriend a quick kiss before slipping out into the night.
_
Donghae doesn’t come over or call for the next couple of weeks. A dark cloud has settled over them, including Kyuhyun who can feel how down his hyung is without his boyfriend.
Though most adults don’t give him enough credit, Kyuhyun knows he’s the cause for the rift. Hyukjae and Donghae were fine before their parents passed away, how could he not conclude that he was the problem?
-
“I got the tickets.”
Donghae places a hand over the clothes packed into his suitcase and looks over at the items in question. Hyukjae is silent on the other end.
“The ones for our honeymoon.”
-
“I thought you weren’t coming.” Donghae smiles politely at Hyukjae as he exits his house and walks towards the awaiting cab.
Hyukjae takes Donghae’s suitcase from him. “I called in sick to work.”
“Idiot.”
Hyukjae smiles. “Do you have your ticket? And passport? You know how forgetful you are.”
“Yes, yes, I have both. I am an adult,” he chides, but there’s no malice in his voice. They both take a deep breath and walk towards the awaiting cab. Their hands brush against each other and they both have to resist the urge to lace fingers. “When you’re held over at work, make sure you get someone you really trust to pick up Kyuhyun.”
“He asked about you the other day. I think he misses you.”
“Give him a kiss for me.” Hyukjae nods and cracks a small smile.
“I really wanted to go with you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” The short walk is over much too quickly, and they’re already standing in front of the taxi. “Well… bye.”
“Bye…”
Hyukjae pulls Donghae into a tight hug, clinging to him a little to long to be just friendly, but he’s uncaring at this point.
The driver honks his horn.
_
“Are you okay?” Kyuhyun looks up from his own bed and looks up at his brother standing in the doorway.
“No,” he says, honestly. “Can I sleep with you?”
“Sure.” Kyuhyun scoots over on his small bed to accommodate the size of his brother. “You look sad. What happened?”
“Adult things.”
“But you said I’m already a little adult.”
“These are big adult things. Things change when you’re my kind of an adult.”
Kyuhyun nods in understanding. “A friend of mine once said that some people find it hard to adapt to change.”
“You have a smart friend.” Hyukjae turns on his side and pulls his brother close to him. “Let’s sleep. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
_
The brothers sit on the floor in front of their new microwave surrounded by glasses of milk. Kyuhyun puts the second cup into the appliance and sets the timer. Fifteen seconds later, Hyukjae takes the glass out and hands it to his brother.
“Mmm, still too cold. Fifteen seconds isn’t long enough.”
“Second test, a failure. How much time is next?”
“Twenty seconds.”
Hyukjae puts the third cup of milk in and sets the timer. “Did you past your English test today?”
Kyuhyun shrugs. “I think I did alright, but I won’t get the grade back until tomorrow. Were you good at English in school?”
“Eh, I was alright. Our teacher wasn’t fluent like yours though.” The timer beeps. “Results of test three?”
Kyuhyun opens the microwave and takes the glass out. “Maybe just a little bit more time. Do we have more milk?”
“Hold on a second.” Hyukjae rises to his feet and moves to the pantry where the extra milk should be. The last time they had gone shopping had been when Donghae was there. The three of them had gone out as some weird resemblance of a family and bought a dozen cartons of soy milk.
There was only one left on the shelve. He and Kyuhyun would have to go shopping soon.
1. Sorry it's super open-ended, but that's the same way the short film ended.
2. This is kinda different from my writing style, but I found that it's really hard to translate a foreign film into words.
3. The formatting is a bit different than usual, but it's how my word doc was formatted while writing.
4. Did I mention that I like writing angst?