Fortnight

Chapter - 23

Theo sits on the couch, his head buried in his hands, eyes closed against the torrent of thoughts swirling in his mind. The dim light from the window suggests it's either day or late night, but Theo can't tell; time seems irrelevant as he struggles to process everything he has heard and learned. It's overwhelming, too much to comprehend all at once. He doesn't know what to think, what to feel.

Jaehyun, who had been sitting on the other side of the couch, gets up to get water for Theo. He clings to the fridge door a little too tightly, eyes shutting briefly as he hopes, prays, for everything to somehow be alright. He sighs, pouring water into a glass, before returning to Theo.

"Here, have some water," Jaehyun says softly, offering the glass.

Theo doesn't look up; he simply takes the glass with one hand. As Jaehyun turns to leave, Theo's other hand reaches out, catching his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. Jaehyun's heart races as he looks back at Theo, who still has his gaze fixed downward.

With a gentle but insistent tug, Theo pulls Jaehyun, making him kneel in front of him. Setting the glass aside, Theo finally looks up, though he doesn't meet Jaehyun's eyes. Instead, his gaze fixes on the tattoo peeking out from Jaehyun's collar. Theo's breath shudders as he hovers his fingers over the ink, hesitant yet yearning.

Jaehyun flinches, shutting his eyes tight as he feels the ghost of Theo's touch. Theo leans in, resting his head against Jaehyun's shoulder, his breath warm against his neck. "You're alive," Theo murmurs, his voice trembling. "You're alive."

Jaehyun feels a mixture of relief and pain at Theo's words. He gently lifts a hand to rest on Theo's back, providing what little comfort he can. "I'm here, Tae," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm here."

Theo's grip tightens on Jaehyun's shirt, as if afraid he might vanish if he let go. "I thought I lost you," he breathes out, a sob caught in his throat. "All this time, I thought..."

"I know," Jaehyun whispers, his own tears threatening to spill. "I know. I'm sorry, Tae. I'm so sorry."

Theo pulls back slightly, his eyes searching Jaehyun's face for answers, for reassurance. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?" he asks, his voice breaking. "Why did you let me think you were gone?"

Jaehyun's heart aches at the pain in Theo's eyes. "I couldn't, Tae. It wasn't safe. There were so many things I had to take care of, so many reasons I couldn't reach out. But I'm here now. I'm here."

Theo nods slowly, trying to understand, trying to come to terms with everything. He reaches up, cupping Jaehyun's face in his hands. "Promise me," he whispers, his voice barely audible. "Promise me you won't leave again."

Jaehyun places his hands over Theo's, holding them close. "I promise," he says, his voice firm. "I'm not going anywhere."

Theo closes his eyes, letting the tears fall freely now. "Thank you," he whispers, leaning in to rest his forehead against Jaehyun's. "Thank you for coming back to me."

Jaehyun gently cups Theo's face in his hands, his own eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. "You're not angry with me?" he asks,

Theo keeps their foreheads together, his breath mingling with Jaehyun's. "I should be, right? I should be very furious," he says softly. "But above it all, I'm just glad you're alive and here with me."

Theo takes Jaehyun's hands in his, their fingers intertwining. He looks down at their joined hands, the connection soothing yet fragile. "Also, how can I be angry at you knowing your pain was much worse than mine, that you suffered ten times more than me?"

Jaehyun shakes his head, a tear escaping down his cheek. "No one's pain is bigger or smaller, Theo. Pain is pain. And I'm sorry for being the cause of it for you."