"Come on, dad! It is looking nice either way." A boy in his mid twenties whined.
" No. He is not gonna like it this way. Do as I say." A man in his sixties said.
The boy rearranged the fairy lights on the tree rolling his eyes on the whipped nature of his father.
"Oh my! Dad is here, finally." A woman in her late twenties said. She kept the plates she was arranging on the table to go to her dad.
Hearing the melodious voice of the woman, the previously mentioned old man turned around and his heart skipped a beat.
It was just like that day. His husband was walking towards the lawn with the fairy lights on tree creating the angelic glow on his now wrinkled face. He was wearing the same grey coloured blazer suit but with much more confidence than back then. His golden brown hairs were turned white now. Yes, they were old now and their bodies have changed dramatically. The only thing that remain unchanged were the shiney eyes and the heart shaped smile which still made his heart pound like their wedding day. The man was still adorable with those round cheeks.
Minho extended his hand towards the love of his life. His first and the only one. He could see the crimson on his face. He was still the same. He still got shy everytime Minho showed affection publicly.
"Happy Birthday, Love!" Minho said with a smile. Anyone could tell how much the younger meant to him just by looking at his eyes.
Han inched slightly upwards and locked his hands around Minho's neck. Never in his wildest dreams, Han thought that someone would love him, let alone like this. Minho was the first person who saw through him. Han always considered himself as someone who is difficult to love but Minho made it look as easy as breathing. Never in his forty years of living together did he feel the need to channelise his thoughts. It almost looked like Minho read him like a book. He couldn't be more happier than this.
"I really love you, hyung. Thank you for being there in my life. Thank you for seeing me." Han sometimes wondered how he'll survive if he had to stay away from Minho. Han never admited this as it might sound very grand but he was like air to him. Minho had to be there.
Minho tightened the hug by pulling Han's waist more against his body and snuggling against his neck.
"Eughhh!!! Guys, get a room you too!!" Haneul, the boy who was previously hanging the fairy lights, said.
"Shut up! You're the same with your girlfriend." Minho barked while pulling Han back to himself who was pulling away on hearing their son's suggestive remark.
"Hyunggg!!"
"God!!! Dad is adorable." Aerum, the woman in her early thirties cooed seeing her one dad snuggle into the chest of the other while bright red ears.
"Aerum, not you too!!" Han was flushed. Minho still had this effect on him.
The night then went by with a lot of food, music, games and stories. Stories about the couple when they were younger. All the friends and families who have witnessed the couple being cheesy together during their 40 years together shared different anecdotes making Minho chuckle and Han embarrassed.
Overall, it was safe to say that Han loved his birthday feeling so loved.
-
"I'll have to think."
"What is there to think, hyung? You should know when you realised your feelings for me." Han said exasperated.
"I don't remember. I always adored you."
"You cannot escape saying this. Tell me."
The Han-Lee family was playing spin the bottle and Aerum's five year old daughter initiated this question. To her, her grandparents were the idol for love.
"Do you know when you fell for me?" Minho countered to get out of this.
"Obviously!! When you took me away from my cliche birthday party without me saying anything."
"Why didn't I know about this?"
"Cause you never asked and now I am not gonna ask anything if you're switching the topic this way."
"Love, I really don't know the exact moment. "
"Nevermind" Han was sulking now.
"Love??"
"It's ok. If you don't know then you don't know. What can we do?" Han was pouting now.
"I don't know the exact moment but know this." Minho pecked Han's lips bringing in different reactions from his kids and his husband. "You're the only person that I have loved."
The sulking Han was replaced by a flustered Han. Minho would make his heart throb like no one else.
-
"Hannie? Wake up, love!"
......
"I told him to wear his blazer yesterday. This idiot would not just listen to me. He must've caught cold." Mumbling this Minho went towards Han who was lying down in the bed peacefully as if watching a beautiful dream.
Minho covered him properly as the younger's habit of moving in his sleep still didn't go away. He touched his forehead to assess the temperature.
Cold.
Minho gulped.
He held his wrist with a thumping heart to check the pulse.
No, that's not happening.
"H-han....nie???"
........
"Love, stop scaring me. I'm sorry, okay? I'll try to remember when I fell for you, okay? Get up now. It's not funny."
.........
"STOP SMILING LIKE THAT. YOU'RE NOT LOOKING PRETTY RIGHT NOW."
.......
"I a-am sorry. I k-know you don't like if I raise my voice. I'll do better, okay? Stop this prank"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
And this is how, Han was gone on the very next day of his 64th birthday. He died peacefully, into the arms of his lover, happily.
This totally devastated Minho. He never even thought about Han not being by his side. He would have cherished him more if he knew, he would have loved him more if he knew. He became totally silent after the funeral. The warmth on his face turned into blue tones as if Han took all the colours along with him.
-
"Dad, I've brought you dinner!" Haneul knocked at the door and said.
No response was received. The younger boy could imagine his father's condition. He was also shattered with the news but he has to stay strong for his dad.
He entered the study room Minho was in. Minho had a album lying on his chest and was in deep sleep, probably exhausted from the events from the morning.
Haneul softly removed the album from Minho's grip. The page that was open was a photo of Han and Minho on their first Christmas together. Both of them were crouching down with wide eyes and both of Han's hands were in Minho's.
Han's face was circled with a highlighter and the word gorgeous was written in cursive next to the circle.
There was also a sticky note on the corner of the photo.
"Sorry but he wanted to know when I fell for him."
End.
Thoughts?
YOU ARE READING
See Me | Minsung
RomanceHan has always lived his life pleasing others. How will Han's life change when his arranged husband starts teaching him to be selfish sometimes for his own happiness? PS: The cover is not my own.
