Love is You and I and Us, only Us [hoonsuk/sukhoon]

3.Tale of beginnings

"I wanted it to be you, I wanted it to be you so badly."- YOU'VE GOT MAIL,1998

Three, wherein Jihoon and Hyunsuk go from uncles to fathers.

Shared Grief and New Beginnings

Jihoon stood at a distance, his eyes fixed on the somber scene unfolding before him. The air was heavy with grief, and the dull roar of mourning surrounded the small gathering. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see a shorter, but undeniably handsome man standing beside him. This was Hyunsuk, the other man who shared in the tragedy that had befallen their families.

Jihoon nodded silently, acknowledging the unspoken connection they now shared. They both wore expressions of sorrow, their eyes mirroring the pain etched on the faces of their parents. The funeral was a blur of tears, hushed conversations, and the occasional wail of despair.

As they approached the grieving parents, Jihoon felt a lump in his throat. He couldn't fathom the depth of their loss, but the shared sorrow bound them together in an unspoken understanding. Hyunsuk, his eyes red from crying, gave Jihoon a tentative smile, attempting to find solace in the midst of despair.

"I'm Jihoon. My brother was married to your brother."

Hyunsuk nodded, wiping away a tear with the back of his hand.

"I'm Hyunsuk. Our brothers had something beautiful together."

Jihoon managed a small smile, appreciating the attempt to find positivity in the tragic circumstances.

"It's strange that we've never met before, considering our brothers were family."

"Yes, it is. I guess life has its own way of keeping things hidden until the right moment."

The two men continued to exchange pleasantries, finding comfort in each other's company amidst the sorrow. As they spoke, their parents, each cradling a one-year-old baby in their arms, approached them. The babies, innocent to the weight of the grief surrounding them, stared curiously at the unfamiliar faces.

"Our sons left a piece of themselves in these babies. We owe it to them to provide love and support."

As the funeral continued, Jihoon and Hyunsuk found themselves drawn to each other, seeking comfort in shared memories and the realization that they were now family. The tragedy had brought them together, forging an unexpected bond that would guide them through the difficult journey of raising the children left behind by their departed brothers.

In the midst of sorrow, a new chapter began for Jihoon and Hyunsuk, intertwined by grief but determined to create a future filled with love and support for the sake of the innocent lives they now held in their arms.

Unexpected Bonds

The day after the funeral, Hyunsuk and Jihoon gathered with their parents in a quiet room, seeking strength and attempting to find a way forward. The atmosphere was still heavy, but there was a shared understanding that life must go on, especially for the sake of the one-year-old twin boys left behind—Junkyu and Doyoung.

Jihoon and Hyunsuk exchanged glances, acknowledging the weight of the responsibility that now rested on their shoulders. The parents, still grappling with their own grief, were the first to speak.

Jihoon's Mother said, "We need to talk about the boys. Junkyu and Doyoung deserve a stable and loving environment. We're all they have now."

Jihoon's Father added, "We want to ensure they grow up with the love their fathers would have given them."