what was once so lovely. | jaeyong

the fifteenth.

<7:37pm>
<present>

The buzzing sound of telephones blaring their rings here and there, colleagues conversing as if they had all the time in the world, and the printer failing to print documents was average for Jaehyun. The endless days of the monotonous lifestyle were torture for him just by the thought of it. However, ever since he had met Wooseok, it did not feel as bad as he thought it would be.

It was rewarding to arrive home with tired eyes and limbs and to be greeted with a pampered evening. It all seemed perfect with golden sunsets, jovial waves of laughter, and intimate treats of chocolate strawberries on midnights. Ever since Taeyong came back, Jaehyun's feelings grew weary. It started to crumble by the seams but he ignored them.

Although, Jaehyun's feelings were already in shambles in the beginning. He questioned whether he really loved Wooseok when Wooseok held him as if he was the lone star to his universe. At the beginning of their relationship, Jaehyun had only seen Wooseok as someone he could rely on to mend his hollow heart. When years began to pile up, Jaehyun slowly opened his heart began to accept Wooseok.

When Taeyong arrived, his feelings for Wooseok deteriorated in a blink of an eye. Yet, he still stayed because he knew it would not be right to ditch someone you loved for years for someone you have nothing with anymore for a decade.

As Jaehyun began to play the piano before him with Donghyuck at the back, ready to sing, he placed his mind at ease. Abolishing it of any conflicting thoughts as his fingers gently graze over the ivory keys.

With the angelic voice of Donghyuck whispering through the air as the piano guided his tone and mood, it was magical. Jaehyun and Donghyuck were in a state of peace, utter tranquility.

However, in the midst of the symphonic dream, Jaehyun's mind has slipped over the night of his wedding. It bothered him for days now and he could not possibly eradicate the memory from his memory bank. In the moment of the crashing tidal waves of Taeyong's soft doe eyes and delicate words and Jaehyun's cold demeanor and confused state, his fingers slipped and accidentally hit the wrong key.

Silence ensued within the four walls. Jaehyun's breath seemed to have been shortened as he mindlessly held his breath from all the self-conflict he has been battling for the past minutes. Donghyuck, on the other hand, was concerned. Seldom it was for Jaehyun to be distracted during their session and would always be in a jovial mood.

Their musical sessions were the only things in Jaehyun's monotonous life that brought color. Jaehyun looked behind and caught a glimpse of the younger male laced with a worried expression. Instead of feeding the flame, Jaehyun showed a smile to Donghyuck, displaying his charming dimple.

"Hyuckie, we can call it a day, for now, let's do this next meeting, okay?" Jaehyun gathered his music sheets and escorted the boy out of his house.

"You know, Jaehyun-hyung, you can always talk to me... You help me and I help you," Donghyuck stood in front of the doorstep, lips pouted at the sight of his troubled music instructor.

"Thanks, but I just need to reflect on this on my own," Jaehyun patted the shorter's head with such care.

Donghyuck eventually left the premise with his golden smile failing to deteriorate. Jaehyun waved him farewell as he, too, smiled from the ray of sunshine that Donghyuck was. As the male left his field of view, Jaehyun began to feel quite sad once more.

He entered the house again and was greeted by his husband, baking away with his black apron littered with patches of flour and cinnamon. The sweet smile plastered on his face used to quiver his heart, but not shake entirely, has now lost its effect. It just felt neutral to see Wooseok smile.