Captured Hearts

A Picture Of Us

Mingyu lay lazily on the couch, his arm snug around Wonwoo’s waist, pressing his nose into the nape of his neck. Wonwoo had a book resting on his lap, the soft rustle of the pages turning filling the quiet room. It had been a peaceful evening—just the two of them, lost in their little bubble, surrounded by warmth. Mingyu glanced at the book, his lips twitching in mild annoyance.

“What are you reading?” he mumbled against Wonwoo’s skin.

Wonwoo didn’t glance up. “It’s a history novel. The rise of ancient civilizations—”

Mingyu groaned dramatically, interrupting him. “History? Babe, we’re lying on a couch, not in a lecture hall.” He stretched, his arm tightening briefly around Wonwoo before he sat up slightly, peeking over his shoulder. “And you’ve been reading for hours.”

Wonwoo chuckled, flipping the page. “It’s interesting.”

“Interesting?” Mingyu squinted, leaning closer to read over his shoulder. “You call this boring textbook stuff interesting?”

Wonwoo gave him a side glance. “I’m expanding my mind. Something you might want to try once in a while.”

Mingyu scoffed, leaning back dramatically. “Oh, I’m plenty smart, thank you. I just think we could be doing something more... exciting.” He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

Wonwoo rolled his eyes, but a small smile crept onto his face. “Such as?”

“Such as…” Mingyu grinned mischievously. “Something we can continue inside the bedroom.”

Without warning, Mingyu snatched the book out of Wonwoo’s hand and tossed it to the floor. He then swiftly shifted, pinning Wonwoo down on the couch beneath him, his face hovering inches away. His grin was teasing, his eyes filled with playful intent.

“Mingyu,” Wonwoo said, amusement thick in his voice. “We’re not doing this.”

“Oh, come on,” Mingyu whispered, his lips brushing the side of Wonwoo’s ear. “We’ve been reading for so long. Don’t you think it’s time for a little break?”

“Mingyu,” Wonwoo repeated, but his smile was betraying him. “This is ridiculous. You’re being dramatic.”

“I’m always dramatic,” Mingyu purred, leaning down to plant a kiss on Wonwoo’s cheek, then his jaw, then just beneath his ear. “That’s why you married me.”

Wonwoo chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it.”

Before Mingyu could continue his teasing, Wonwoo placed both hands on Mingyu’s chest and gave him a gentle shove, sending Mingyu tumbling off the couch with an exaggerated yelp. He landed on the floor with a soft thud, his arm outstretched as if he were wounded.

"Ow!" Mingyu cried, rubbing his back with an overly dramatic wince. "You just pushed your husband off the couch. How could you do this to me?"

Wonwoo sat up on the couch, peering over the edge, completely unimpressed. "You’re fine."

“I’m not fine,” Mingyu protested, still clutching his side with mock pain. “I might never recover from this.”

“Do you want me to call an ambulance?” Wonwoo teased, his lips curling in amusement.

“No, no,” Mingyu said, waving a hand in the air. “Don’t bother. I’ll probably survive this. Barely.”

With a soft chuckle, Wonwoo rolled off the couch and joined Mingyu on the floor, lying beside him. “There. Now we’re both on the floor. Happy?”

Mingyu looked at him, pouting slightly. “You should make it up to me.”

“And how do you suggest I do that?”

Mingyu didn’t miss a beat. “A kiss would help. Maybe two. Or three. Definitely five.”

Wonwoo snorted, shaking his head as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Mingyu’s lips. “There. Better?”

“Barely,” Mingyu said, eyes twinkling with mischief. “But I’ll take it.”

Just then, their dog, Bailey trotted over, wagging his tail excitedly as he sniffed around them. He let out a playful bark before nuzzling his way between them, earning a laugh from both men. Wonwoo scratched behind Bailey's ears, his laughter filling the room as their furry companion licked his face.

“Okay, okay,” Wonwoo said, trying to dodge the enthusiastic kisses. “You win, buddy.”

Mingyu sat up, watching the two of them with a soft smile tugging at his lips. Wonwoo, with his soft laugh and gentle touch, looked completely at ease as he played with Bailey. The room felt warm, safe. His heart swelled with a feeling he hadn’t let himself dwell on for a long time—contentment.

For so long, Mingyu had never thought he would get to this point. After Seokmin passed away, he had been convinced that part of him had been buried along with him. The grief had been suffocating, the weight of loss dragging him down to places he never thought he’d escape. He’d loved Seokmin deeply—his first love, his first everything. When Seokmin had died, so had that part of Mingyu’s heart.

But now, watching Wonwoo—his husband, his second chance at love—laughing on the floor with their dog, Mingyu felt something shift inside him. He had learned that moving on didn’t mean forgetting. It didn’t mean erasing the past or letting go of what once was. It simply meant allowing yourself to live again, to embrace the present while carrying the past with you.

Wonwoo glanced up, catching Mingyu’s far-off expression. “What’s with the serious face?”

Mingyu blinked, then smiled softly, brushing a strand of Wonwoo’s hair behind his ear. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

Mingyu hesitated, then took a deep breath. “About how different everything is now. And how lucky I am.”

Wonwoo’s expression softened. “You okay?”

Mingyu nodded, his eyes warm as he gazed at him. “Yeah. I’m more than okay.”

As Mingyu’s voice trailed off, Bailey barked again, eager for more attention. Wonwoo turned his attention back to the dog, laughing as he resumed playing, but Mingyu stayed where he was, just watching.

He thought of Seokmin for a brief moment—his laugh, his smile—and he let the memory wash over him without the pain that usually followed. Then he looked at Wonwoo again, and his heart felt light. In that moment, he felt a sense of peace, knowing deep down that Seokmin was watching over him from above. Though the ache of loss would always be there, Mingyu knew Seokmin would be happy for him, for both him and Wonwoo. Seokmin had loved him once, and he knew that love would only want to see him move forward, find happiness again. Mingyu was certain—somewhere up there, Seokmin was smiling, glad that he had found love and joy once more.

Moving on doesn't mean forgetting. It means carrying the past with you in a way that doesn't weigh you down, but lets you soar higher.

_

And that's the final chapter...Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey. Your support has meant the world, and I’m so grateful you took the time to experience this story with me. I hope Mingyu’s and Wonwoo's  journey have touched your heart.