After Dusk || Im Changkyun

50. Dumb And In Love

Chapter Fifty

"Wake up. We're screwed." You heard Changkyun's muffled but soft voice while he shook you gently. You groaned, whining while you buried your face in your pillow.
You'd just fallen asleep, or at least it felt like it.
"Eggo, don't be like this please." You heard him plead with you, probably trying his best to shake you awake with his one working arm. You continued to whine in refute, feeling around you until felt the thin fabric of his shirt. You tugged at it first, keeping your eyes shut while your arms found their way around what you assumed was his waist. You pressed yourself into his shirt, holding him close but minding the bandage that was wrapped somewhere around it.
"Kyun, shut up and go back to sleep." You relaxed even more at his warmth, muttering into his shirt, feeling Changkyun's breath hitch for a few moments until he snapped out of it.
"I promise I'll let you sleep after but we have a problem." Both his arms snaked around your back, the cast rubbing against the silk pajamas you'd been lent. Well, stole.
You felt him slightly hoist you up, your knees at either side of his thighs, your face still buried in his shirt. He was poking you relentlessly until you shot up out of frustration. You glared at him when you finally got a look of his face, hair a complete mess and a phone in one hand. Your phone specifically since Changkyun had yet to get his own fixed. Leo should have it by the morning.
It was the morning, unfortunately.
"I'm sorry for waking you but we're in a situation"
Your arms loosened around his waist, tilting your head slightly in confusion.
"What is it?"
"We're trending on Twitter." Changkyun said casually, making you narrow your eyes at him.
Yeah, he was normally trending on Twitter. It's nothing special. You don't see why that was a problem.
"No, Eggo, we both are trending on Twitter. Together. There was an article about us."
Now that caught your attention. You spiked up, leaning in closer to your phone to try and read it but Changkyun laid it screen down on the bed.
"I'd prefer if you didn't read it. Basically, remember that time we came back to Jungwoo with a black eye?"
Of course you did. It was the day you both confessed. You doubt either of you would every forget that day. It was strangely eventful.
"You know how he said he punched a man with a camera that was filming us before we left?"
You nodded again, not seeing where this was going and not seeing why this had anything to do with an article.
"Yeah, the camera didn't break. And the pictures are out, and they look rather... wrong." Changkyun struggled to find the right word before lifting the phone back up. Your eyes are widened as soon as you saw the picture.
This could definitely be misunderstood, but in many different ways.
His hands were on your shoulders in the first, looking down at you with dark eyes. You remembered that. He dragged you out of the room and pushed you up against the wall before practically kidnapping you. He looked terrifying and you looked terrified, your eyes glassed over while you stared down at the ground. In the second picture his finger was tilting your chin up, and this time, he looked far more gentle. It wasn't his typical gentle gaze but gentler than he used to be back then. And in the last picture, his fingers were intertwined with yours while he dragged you outside.
There were a lot of ways people could take that series of events. None of them were good for either of you.
"Currently the most popular deductions are either I abuse the living daylights out of you." Changkyun winced as he recited, seeming to be reading from it,
"Or that we've been dating ever since."
Well, the media finally got something right. You didn't exactly want them to but at least they did.
"What do we do?" You asked, knowing that you'd never been in a situation like this. Other than the ultimate chase from a year ago. You remember how quickly that died down for no apparent reason.
He was still more experienced.
"I think we should just say that we were practicing for a scene that ended up being cut, just messing around. We say that we're on good terms and-" he cut himself off with a sigh, continuing with a slight pout,
"Deny that we're together."
You nodded, understanding where he was coming from but he didn't seem to be very happy with his own decision.
"Believe me, if I could tell the whole world you're mine I would, Eggo but your career."
"I know. You don't have to explain." You smiled softly but he didn't seem too be buying it.
"You've been acting just as long as I have and I don't want to be the reason you're suddenly dragged down, hm?" Changkyun soothed, and you continued to nod, not having anything against it. He seemed to have more of a problem with this than you did.
"We can say that we're good work friends." He seethed out the last word, narrowing his eyes at nothing.
Cute.
"Looks like someone's salty." You teased playfully, only for him to rest his chin on your shoulder, pulling you in closer with his one arm.
"Of course I'm salty. I have to deny loving the person I love most." Changkyun huffed, the bandage wrapped around the corner of his head slowly falling off. You were quick to fix it, hoping to adjust it so it fit better. You'd have to change it later.
"It's literally seven in the morning, calm yourself, Jane Austen." You pinched his cheek gently, escaping from his hold and moving your knees until you rolled out of the bed. Changkyun tried to follow you but stopped as soon as he realized that he couldn't step on the ground with the cast on his right leg.
"Be a nice girlfriend and get my crutches for me?" Changkyun pleaded, looking the the pair of crutches that were leaned up against your wall by the light switch.
"You should sleep some more." You carefully pushed him back by his chest, fluffing the pillow he was lying on but to no avail since he shot back up.
That was until you could visibly see the head rush going through him, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he crashed back down. You sighed, placing your hand over his eyes and trapping him in between the blankets.
"Please don't do that. You aren't well. I'll call Saera and tell her what you told me, she'll relay the message. Get some rest."
When you lifted your hand off his eyes, they only stayed close for a few seconds before they shot back open.
"Then where are you going?"
"I don't know. Walk around the house a few times? Clean stuff up? Say good morning to Ollie?" You shrugged, not seeing why you should have a reason to get up and walk around the apartment you pay rent for. And it's one hefty rent.
"Stay with me? It gets lonely." Changkyun suggested, batting his eyelashes innocently at you. You giggled at him, bending down as soon as you saw Ollie running over into the bedroom, seeing that he was wide awake. You should've seen that his dog bed with empty.
You lifted Ollie up, placing him on the bed and watching as he immediately curled up beside Changkyun, yapping while jumping to lick his face.
"Now you have company. Sleep tight, Kyun." You winked, only for him to whine louder. Even Ollie seemed to be annoyed, immediately leaping back out of the bed, running to one of the other rooms.
Sometimes, you were convinced he hated the both of you.
"What do you want?" You exasperatedly let out, turning back and seeing that you'd only taken a step out of the doorframe. Changkyun grinned innocently, pointing to his head and then down at his waist.
"Don't you need to help me with these?"
You sighed at that. He was right. You have to change those daily for the next week. You walked out of your room, grabbing the bag on the counter and dragging it into your room. You threw it into the bed, walking around so that you were standing in front of Changkyun, whose legs were dangling off the edge while he sat happily while looking up at you.
You pressed a finger to his chin, lifting his head up slightly so you didn't have to bend down yourself. Your hands began working at the bandage around his head. The doctor had somehow found a way to tie it in a way so it only rested on his temple and the edge of his head. You guess the bandages were really strong. You guess you'd find out soon enough.
"It's really convenient that you're good at this stuff, Eggo." Changkyun hummed, his right arm hooking itself at the dip of your hip, his other arm which he could now move up and down resting at the indent of it, locking his hands together.
"Yes, and I'm practicing my skills on you too often." You folded the old bandage, throwing it into the bag without any other thought. You winced while you took a closer look at the gash. For some reason, it looked smaller than it had before but that could've been because you weren't all that worried about exact injured but more rather the fact that he was injured. You pulled out one of the many antiseptic pads they'd provided and gently dabbed at the slowly healing wound. Unlike the last few times, Changkyun's fingers didn't curl around your shirt, or your hand, or anything on you in general. He sat peacefully, looking up at you with a massive grin plastered onto his face. When you tried wrapping the new cloth around it, you couldn't help but be distracted by his gaze and the smile that had yet to fade. You bopped Changkyun's nose with the tip of your pointer finger, sparing a single glance down at him before continuing your work.
"This is really hard to do this with you smiling like that." You explained in an unintended whisper, not wanting to ruin the strange serenity in the room. It was the moments where the two of you could say absolutely nothing for hours that would feel the most amazing. It was like home.
"You're so beautiful." Changkyun whispered fondly back, pressing his forehead to your shirt gently.
He was so random sometimes. It gave you butterflies.
"You're very handsome as well, Romeo." You played along, watching his eyes glimmer in a newfound adoration.
"I hear people call me that multiple times a day." Changkyun chuckled, looking up at you while your hands slowly mummified the side of his head.
"But I love it when I hear it from you."
You giggled at him, noticing that he was in the mood for flattery. It was seven in the morning, you didn't know how he was already a lovestruck puppy. You ruffled his hair cutely, going back to straighten it out by running your fingers through it. You secured the bandage, dusting your hands off before stepping back from him. His arms helplessly fell from your hips from your movement, the arm with the cast on falling hard but he didn't seem to care. It was only around his elbow anyways.
You reached for your phone that was still lying on the bed, quickly typing a text to Saera, remembering that you'd forgotten too since Changkyun had dragged you back in before you could even try to be productive.
When you dropped it, he immediately went to go for it but you reeled in his curious hand and placed it in his own lap, patting it to keep it still. You pointed to his head and then shook your own. He furrowed his eyebrows at you but complied, keeping his hand still.
"You're going to end up killing yourself one of these days and I won't be able to just revive you. I'm not a god."
"I'd certainly worship you."
"Enough with the flirting." You eyed him, who was more than satisfied with his improv line. You took out a longer bandage, stretching it out slightly just for fun. He watched you slowly roll his shirt up, just a few inches so you could take off the preexisting piece of cloth wrapped around his waist. You struggled to keep it up, it occasionally falling down while you tried to carefully remove it.
"You know you can just take the entire shirt off me, Eggo?" Changkyun suggested jokingly, wiggling his eyebrows at you. You merely scoffed, walking over to your bedside table and grabbing a hair tie.
"That will not be necessary." You bunched up the shirt into one corner, tying it like he was a teenage girl trying to show skin. You cracked a smile at the sight. He looked ridiculous.
"If my dad was still here, he would've loved you. He'd always have someone to stitch up." You smiled even harder at the thought.
Those two would've gotten along so well. You really saw your father in him sometimes. They had the same general personality. They were the serious but soft, intimidating but not scary at all when you get to know them.
Oh, and insanely smart.
"Your mom says that too. She says I remind her of your dad when he was young- ah." Changkyun bit down on his tongue when you touched the pad to the cut. It was rather large yet somehow not deep enough for stitches. That was a relief.
"Gently." He mewled, trying to move your hand from his side to no avail.
"Kyun, I barely even touched it." You shook your head at him.
What a baby.
"It hurts." He complained, slurring his words while rocking himself back and forth. You were having none of it, grabbing his shoulder and holding him still while mercilessly dabbing the pad against the still lightly bleeding wound. Changkyun whined even more and eventually you gave up, throwing the pad to the side and just grabbing the bandage you'd draped over the foot of the bed.
He was about to say something else but you placed your pointer finger on his lips.
"Please." You begged, feeling the urge to choke him to death,
"No words."
Changkyun shut his mouth, submitting himself to your wishes while you wrapped the cloth around his waist, taking one of the safety pins and securing it in place. You noticed that his body wasn't moving whatsoever. You focused your attention away from his skin and back up to his face. He looked like he was in pain.
"Im Changkyun, I told you not to speak. You can breathe."
He let out the breath he was holding, his entire self falling forward, catching himself before he tumbled onto the ground.
"How are you so smart yet so dumb?" You questioned, rolling his shirt back down and folding your hands at your chest.
"Dumb and in love, baby." He shrugged, only for you to respond,
"No, you're just dumb."
"And in love." Changkyun repeated, still trying to catch his breath from earlier. His hand clutched your wrist, pulling you back down onto the bed beside him, bringing you so you were shoulder to shoulder. He took your phone that was beside the bandage bag and you instinctively grabbed at it but somehow he managed to dodge your hand, shaking his finger at you.
"I'm a grown man. I can handle a concussion."
"You couldn't handle an antiseptic pad." You muttered teasingly to yourself. To your dismay, it seemed that Changkyun had picked up your voice.
"Would you like to say that louder, Eggo?" He edged, raising an eyebrow at you. You shook your head furiously, giving him a cute, innocent smile. He tsked, unlocking your phone before getting onto Twitter.
"Let's do something only we can do." He suggested, clicking his name in the trending section and scrolling mindlessly. You peered over his shoulder, hovering your chin above it while you looked on, watching him chuckle as he robotically read a tweet out to you.
"Oh my god, the way he looks at her, ah! They have to be a thing, I'm literally screaming."
Low and behold, it was a video of him just intensely staring at you from across the room, a small smile spreading on his lips with every new move you made.
It was literally a six second long video.
"You're so discreet." You complimented sarcastically, going to punch his arm but you were met with a cast.
Gosh darn it.
He moved on to another one.
"Damn~" he held out the one syllable for the effect, a slight twinge of seventeen year old girl in his tone,
"Changkyun and Jungwoo really switched their roles in real life. The tea is hotter than the three of them combined. This love triangle is everything."
He laughed at that one, nudging you slightly.
"Every human being wants to be in your situation right now."
This was far more entertaining then it should be.
He scrolled down a bit more, stopping his finger at one before reading it out loud.
"Okay, hear me out people. Changkyun is hot. Jungwoo is also very hot. But Y/N? Gurl, she's stunning. Personally, I think she should just date herself cause she's the whole damn package. She doesn't need no man."
You giggled, poking Changkyun's arm gently rather than nudging him.
"I like the idea of that."
"If you're into the idea of loving yourself, I'm down for that too." He admitted honestly, making your heart skip a beat. You didn't know why you liked that so much.
"Intense keyboard smash." Changkyun said out of nowhere, and you peered down to just see a bunch of letters that he avoided trying to individually read out. Twitter, am I right?
"I can't believe Changkyun actually might be dating someone. Don't y'all remember three years ago when he was cast in that show with Son Jinae? He avoided her like she was a whole pandemic."
"What did she ever do to you?" You teased, remembering watching the behind the scenes once with Hyungwon and Wonho during a tea session. They didn't tell you much but there was this one clip where Changkyun had literally bolted away from her, tripping over a block and falling. It was the funniest thing you'd seen in a while. He looked so disgusted at her existence.
"No, but won't you just look at the way his expression changed. There is no way in the name of the holy man that is Chae Hyungwon that those two aren't together."
You finally took a turn reading a tweet, clicking on the video again. It was the day of the premiere. When you were all watching the best clips from the drama. The very awkward moment where they played the scene of you and Jungwoo, well... yeah. Let's say that Changkyun's smile faded to a glare in less than a second.
Was it weird to know that you'd kissed your little sisters boyfriend before they got together? Yes, very much so but Lila didn't ever seem to care. Though, there was that one time were she suggested she kiss Changkyun to make it even.
You almost broke her neck.
Sibling love.
"Do you think they're going to believe us denying it?" You asked, wanting to hear the logistical viewpoint from the only person that could provide logistics.
"Not at all but they're going to have to- No, wait. I like this one too." He changed the topic so quickly, furiously clicking the tweet so that he could see it better.
"I bet you a whole The Clan collection that Y/N is at her apartment nursing Changkyun back to health. Hopefully he and Jooheon get better soon!"
The accuracy. People on Twitter scared the soul out of you. They were either insane or insanely psychic. There was no in between.
"I should personally buy this person all of your albums, Kyun." You suggested, to which he nodded, seeming very entertained at the idea. You finally took the phone away from him, noticing the fact that he slightly winced every now and then. There was no way his head wasn't completely killing him.
"Help me up?" Changkyun requested, looking up at you who had finally gotten yourself up off the bed successfully without Changkyun pulling you back down. You reached out to the edge of the wall, grabbing his crutches and then walking over to his right side, trying your best to somewhat lift him up although you were certain it was just his strength. You placed the crutches in his hands, helping him adjust them while he managed to take a staggering step forward. You instinctively stayed at his side, knowing that even if he tripped, you'd probably get crushed.
But you'd get crushed trying.
"These are a pain." He muttered while finally making it out the door and into your living room.
"It's going to be even more of a pain trying to get to your own apartment." You said while walking to the other side of the island, standing opposite to him. You pitied him. If you hadn't turned your phone off, none of this would've happened. Yes, you felt guilty for it all but you'd never say it. He'd probably try to comfort you and you didn't want that.
"About that." Changkyun started, staggering over to the kitchen island, place where he could comfortably lean himself and actually set his foot on the ground. Barely.
"You know, Eggo. We've been together for a while now and we spend every day we can with each other." He continued, and you weren't sure where this was going but you simply nodded, hoping that pretending to understand would help you understand.
"And I know, you haven't even lived in your own apartment for that long." He trailed off again, and you instinctively got closer to him, watching him gulp.
He was nervous.
You swear to god, this boy switches moods more than you switched personalities.
"Where are you going with this?"
"Do you want to move in with me?" He blurted out, hiding his face in the marble surface, his arms shaking while he very subtly squealed in embarrassment.
Safe to say, you were both confused and concerned at his actions. He was really feeling like a teenage girl and it wasn't even ten A.M.
He hadn't even had his morning coffee yet either.
"I know this probably isn't the best time since people are starting to suspect we're dating but I think we're ready and I-" he mumbled to himself, his words muffled by the fact that he was speaking into a massive shiny rock. You giggled at how cute he was when he was shy.
Who knew. The great Im Changkyun would get nervous asking you to live with him.
You both practically lived together anyways.
"Okay." Was all you said, really not seeing the big deal in all of this. Changkyun, on the other hand, seemed more than frazzled, his head popping out of his little burial while he quizzically stared at you.
"Really? You're just agreeing? No hesitation?"
You shrugged at him, still not seeing why he was so surprised.
"Why deny the inevitable? Sure, your timing sucks but it was bound to happen, Kyun." You laughed, heading over to his side of the island, ruffling his hair,
"It's not like you aren't here like everyday. And if not, I'm at your place. Everything's going to be the same, just the fact that there will be less walking and less of Ollie having to live like he has divorced parents."
Changkyun snorted at that comment, gently tapping your ankle with his crutch. It was kind of terrifying that he was practically holding two weapons but he was also basically immobile so, you had nothing to worry about.
Other than him falling.
You worried about that every time he even moved the centimeter.
"I'm sorry, Ollie." Changkyun apologized jokingly at the dog who was minding his own business, taking some food out of dog bowl before gently pawing at your foot. You lifted him up off the ground, rocking him around like he was a baby because he was very much your baby.
"He's going to be so annoyed that we're going to be together all the time." You pointed out, only for Changkyun to refute,
"Family bonding time."

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random filler chapters
it really took them fifty chapters to finally talk about moving in together lmaoo
happy children's day kids