Love Beyond The Clouded Memories

Chapter 5: Under The Moonlight

Jungha returned home earlier than usual that afternoon, the golden glow of the late sun casting long shadows across the village. It was around 5 pm, and the air was still warm, with a gentle breeze whispering through the trees. He had spent the day fixing Mother Eunji's fence, completing the task faster than expected. With the snacks Mother Eunji had packed for him in hand, he had rushed home, eager to return. Lately, he found himself wanting to get home earlier each day. There was a growing anticipation in his heart, drawing him back to the small, quiet house by the sea.

As he stepped inside, the familiar creak of the wooden door echoed through the living room. He half expected to see Hangyeom's bright smile greeting him from the couch, as it had that afternoon. But instead, he was met with the soft sound of the television murmuring in the background and the sight of Hangyeom fast asleep. His body was sprawled across the couch, completely relaxed, as though the weight of the world had finally lifted from his shoulders.

'He must have dozed off again,' Jungha thought, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Moving quietly, he walked over to the couch, unable to resist the urge to take a closer look at Hangyeom. There was something about watching him sleep that felt intimate in a way Jungha couldn't quite explain. His features were softer when he slept—his usual guarded expression melted away, replaced with a peaceful calm that made Jungha's heart ache in the strangest way.

Kneeling down beside the couch, Jungha let his eyes roam over Hangyeom's face. He started at the brow, noticing how it no longer held the tension it often did when Hangyeom was awake. His gaze moved to his eyes, now closed and resting, then to his nose, perfectly straight and well-proportioned. Finally, Jungha's eyes lingered on his lips—soft, slightly parted, and tempting in a way that made Jungha's pulse quicken. 'Why does he look so different up close?' The thought flickered in his mind as his heart beat loudly in his chest, sending a confusing wave of emotions through him. He wasn't sure why he felt this pull toward Hangyeom, but there was no denying it.

'Why do I feel this way?' he wondered, the strangeness of it all making him pause. Yet he didn't pull back; he allowed himself a moment longer to take it all in, to feel the quiet hum of his heart as it reacted to Hangyeom's presence.

Suddenly, Hangyeom's eyes fluttered open, catching Jungha completely off guard. Jungha straightened immediately, stepping back as if he had been caught doing something he shouldn't.

"You're back early," Hangyeom mumbled groggily, his voice thick with sleep as he rubbed his eyes.

"Yeah," Jungha replied, clearing his throat and trying to regain his composure. "I only had one repair job today."

Hangyeom stretched, sitting up on the couch. "I see," he said, his gaze landing on the bag in Jungha's hand. "You brought snacks?"

"Mother Eunji gave them to me," Jungha replied, handing the bag over.

"Mother Eunji?" Hangyeom asked, blinking as he processed the name.

"Yeah, somebody," Jungha added, his tone a little guarded. He could have just said it was one of the ladies from the village, but something made him hesitate. He didn't want to dive too deeply into the connection he had with Mother Eunji, not yet anyway.

Hangyeom noticed the way Jungha deflected the conversation, realizing there was something he wasn't saying. 'Mother Eunji must be important to him,' Hangyeom thought but chose not to press further. He smiled and accepted the snacks instead. "People here are so nice. I still haven't finished the snack Mrs. Yoon gave yesterday, and now you're bringing more."

Jungha relaxed at the change of subject. "Yeah, sometimes I get a lot. I can't refuse them—it would upset the ladies if I didn't take what they offered, so I end up eating it all."