Fortnight

Chapter - 15

Jaehyun gently lays Taemin on the bed, pulling the covers up to keep him warm. Exhausted and overwhelmed, he slumps down beside the bed, holding his head as silent tears begin to roll down his cheeks. He chastises himself, feeling like a fool for acting on his emotions and potentially ruining everything with Theo.

"Why did I do that?" he whispers to himself. "I've ruined it all now... I should've waited, taken it slow. Why did I have to rush things with my stupid emotions?"

He realizes Theo might still be outside, and hesitates about whether he should check on him or not. The thought of facing Theo after what

happened feels unbearable. However, the faint sound of a door closing piques his curiosity, prompting him to get up and investigate.

Walking into the living room, Jaehyun finds the space empty. The blanket they shared is folded neatly on the couch, with a small note placed on top of it. He picks it up and reads, "Thanks for letting me stay. Will see you in the office."

Jaehyun sighs deeply, wondering if this is a good sign or a bad one. The uncertainty gnaws at him, and he feels the urge to cry even more intensely. Just then, his phone alarm goes off, snapping him back to reality. He checks the time and realizes he's running late. Panic sets in as he rushes back to his room to grab his other phone, his routine call to Ethan now urgent.

Ethan picks up after only two rings, his voice laced with slight irritation, "You are lucky the boss isn't here today. Otherwise, we would've definitely gotten caught this time."

Jaehyun sighs heavily, looking down at his trembling hands. Ethan, sensing something off, asks, "So, what happened? Why are you late today?"

When Jaehyun doesn't respond immediately, Ethan's concern grows. "Jaehyun? Is everything okay?"

Jaehyun sniffs, tears streaming down his face as he admits, "I fucked it up, hyung."

Ethan remains silent for a moment, then asks gently, "Is it Theo?"

Jaehyun's voice breaks as he explains, "I tried, okay? Trust me, I tried a lot, but it's hard. He's so sweet, caring, and understanding. I couldn't stop myself."

Ethan sighs deeply, feeling the weight of Jaehyun's turmoil. "Oh... Jae..."

Jaehyun continues to cry quietly, and Ethan offers a solution, "Why are you torturing yourself like this? Just tell him the truth. It's going to free both of you."

Shaking his head, Jaehyun says, "I can't... I can't do this to him."

Ethan's voice softens with empathy, "Keeping it inside is only hurting you more. If he's as understanding as you say, maybe he deserves to know."

Jaehyun wipes his tears, struggling with the fear and guilt that grip him. "I'm scared, hyung. What if it changes everything? What if he hates me?"

Ethan pauses, then replies, "You won't know until you try. But one thing's for sure—keeping it a secret is tearing you apart. You deserve to be happy, Jaehyun. Both of you do."

Jaehyun sniffs again, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "I'll think about it, hyung. I really will."

"That's all I ask," Ethan says softly. "Take your time, but don't shut yourself off. You've got people who care about you."

Jaehyun nods, feeling a small measure of comfort from Ethan's words. "Thanks, hyung. I needed that."

"Anytime, Jae. Remember, I'm here for you," Ethan reassures him. "Now, take a deep breath, and try to get through the day. One step at a time."