EXO STORIES

Scales {Sulay/Suchen}

Do you believe in the balance of a scale? The story goes that one can measure love by the weight it holds. You, yourself, and everything you are is like one end of the scale, waiting for the other end to be filled too.

When someone's entirety doesn't match yours sufficiently, the scale tips, making you heavy and them light. You fall while they rise, unable to fulfil your needs and standards.

If someone matched every aspect of your being, they'd be too overwhelming for the scale. They'd exceed your requirements, tipping the balance in their favour, leaving you lighter and them heavier.

They don't complement each other, standing at different ends, either too heavy or too light. This kind of love doesn't endure; it leads to breakups, divorces, and a cycle of unhealthy relationships. It simply can't endure. 

However, if the scale tilts slightly off-centre, you've found someone who doesn't match you entirely but enough to fulfil most of your desires. It's not perfect, but it's still love, feels like love, and perhaps, it could last a long time.

When your scales align perfectly, it signifies you've found your true love, an occurrence that's rare. They might be the complete opposite of you, balancing out your personality traits, and going against every norm you hold. It might be challenging, but it's the most powerful love the scale allows, unbreakable no matter the circumstances.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to find someone who perfectly fills their scale, not even Kim Jumnyeon, and he contemplated this deeply. Despite numerous relationships, mostly failing due to his busy work schedule, he realized he needed to start dating seriously, urged by his friends who felt it was time for him to find someone before growing old and lonely.

This thought did scare him a bit, and not wanting to end up alone, he decided to give it a chance. His first love after a while was a young, handsome detective he met at a business party through his cousin's boyfriend, Zhang Yixing.

Jumnyeon accompanied his boyfriend's brother, as his boyfriend avoided such events. Yixing was charismatic, captivating the crowd, and making everyone adore him even more.

He was intriguing, with striking beauty, flawless features, and a determined gaze—a fresh mind with clear goals. When Jumnyeon's eyes met his across the room, he felt a strong desire to learn more about him.

It wasn't a coincidence that Jumnyeon shared those sentiments. As time passed, he summoned the courage to approach Yixing and strike up a conversation, marking the beginning of their relationship. 

Through their time together, Jumnyeon discovered much about Yixing—a newly enlisted detective in a specialized unit. He grew up in a mixed cultural background but lives independently now. At times, Yixing was calm and mature; at others, he seemed more like a child than an adult. His personality was a diverse mix of traits, and Jumnyeon cherished every part of it.

He was deeply in love with Yixing, even more than Yixing loved him, creating an imbalance in their scales. Their affection wasn't reciprocal, and while Jumnyeon fell deeper, Yixing began falling for someone else—his work partner, Yifan. They drifted apart, and Jumnyeon saw it unfold before his eyes like a movie.

Before he knew it, Yixing broke up with him, having fallen completely for his new boyfriend. Jumnyeon was devastated, yet he had seen it coming—they were not meant for each other. Yixing deserved someone whose scale matched his, which unfortunately wasn't him. Jumnyeon didn't hold grudges; he only wished for Yixing's happiness, even though it hurt immensely.

He spent his days in heartbreak, burying himself in work to forget the memories of Yixing's comforting touch when stressed. He tried to erase every bit of it, even for just a moment. 

Lost in his world, he missed the announcement about his new assistant. When he found out, he had already met the assistant—a fascinating person. Memories flooded back, reminiscent of the nights he and Yixing stargazed together, sharing dreams for the future. Jumnyeon's dreams were always centred around their happiness. When he realized it, he was overcome with emotion, breaking down in tears, trying to hide his red eyes when someone knocked during his daydreaming. 

He composed himself hastily, clearing his throat as he invited the person in. The door opened, revealing a sharply dressed man who entered the room, his movements swift and graceful, stopping in front of his desk. The man introduced himself as Jumnyeon's new assistant. Jumnyeon was disoriented, having missed most of the introduction, only catching the final words.

"I'll be your new assistant."

He was getting a new assistant, but for what reason? 

Jumnyeon nodded slowly, not even knowing the man's name, as he dismissed him. His frustration may have affected the new assistant because before leaving, the man uttered a few words that caught Jumnyeon off guard.

"Probably because your whiny ass was too busy crying over something, you didn't catch it. My name is Chen, and I'll be your new assistant for the upcoming period. So, wipe that snot off your face and get over yourself."

With a sassy swish of his hips, Chen left the room, leaving Jumnyeon stunned, receiving a wake-up call he hadn't had in weeks. Slowly closing his mouth, he gulped. 

This was certainly an interesting assistant and not one to take for granted.