Stay At Mine || Heehoon

Thirty Seven

×Sunghoon's pov×

Sunghoon listened intently, but a deep, unsettling feeling started to creep into his chest.

Heeseung didn't seem to notice the subtle shifts in Sunghoon's expression. He was lost in his own memories of his father, his words flowing effortlessly, painting vivid pictures of a life Sunghoon knew very little about.

Sunghoon, his smile gone, felt his grip on the edge of the couch tighten. The casual conversation felt heavy now, laced with an unspoken pain that felt like a physical weight on his chest.

He wanted to interrupt, to somehow ease the unintentional burden of the conversation. But the words wouldn't come. He could only silently watch Heeseung, his heart tightening with an unfamiliar ache.

Heeseung continued talking about his father, unaware of the subtle shift in the atmosphere, the way Sunghoon's gaze had dulled, the subtle way he was retreating into himself.

The air that had been filled with a comfortable quiet was now heavy with a sadness that seemed to hang like a thick fog in the room.

Finally, unable to bear the weight of Heeseung's words any longer, Sunghoon excused himself. He stood up abruptly, a tremor running through his body.

Heeseung, momentarily startled by the sudden movement, stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening with concern.

Without a word, Sunghoon turned and walked towards his room, the quiet thud of his footsteps echoing in the sudden silence.

He closed the door quietly behind him, the sound a soft, muted thud that seemed to seal the emotions swirling within him.

He stumbled towards his bed, his legs shaky, and collapsed onto the mattress. He stared at the floor, his mind a whirlwind of memories both beautiful and painful.

He hadn't cried in years, not since the day his father had passed. He had built a wall of stoicism around himself, a shield against the world and the emotions that threatened to consume him.

Especially since living with Jay, who had a knack for making him laugh, had always been able to pull him out of his head, and the feeling of loneliness had faded out.

That was what he was hiding. The something that Sunoo believed was the reason Sunghoon always smiled and never ever cried.

But now, amidst the echoes of Heeseung's words, the dam holding back his emotions finally broke. Tears welled up in his eyes, hot and stinging.

They streamed down his cheeks, silently tracing paths through the dust motes dancing in the sunbeams.

He buried his face in his hands, muffling his sobs, afraid that Heeseung might hear.

For the first time in years, Sunghoon allowed himself to grieve. The years of bottling up his pain, of pretending to be strong and unaffected, suddenly felt like a heavy burden he was no longer willing to carry.

The grief that had been dormant for so long finally surfaced, a torrent of emotions that threatened to drown him.

I'm sorry dad. I broke my promise. I'm crying.

He sobbed silently, the sound muffled by his hands, a desperate attempt to contain the raw pain that racked his body. But the storm within him was too powerful to contain.

A loud, guttural sob escaped him, a sound that shattered the silence of the room. It was a cry of pure anguish, a sound he hadn't made since he was a child.

Heeseung shot up from the couch at the sound of Sunghoon's cries, instantly alarmed.

His heart filled with a sudden sense of unease, hesitantly knocked on Sunghoon's door.

Inside, Sunghoon quickly wiped his tears away, his fingers blurring his vision momentarily, and pressed a hand over his mouth, stifling any further crying sounds.

Heeseung's heart hammered in his chest, a premonition of something amiss swirling within him.

Hesitantly, he pushed the door open, stepping inside and gasping at the sight before him.

His heart ached as he watched Sunghoon, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Sunghoon. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm truly sorry. I... I'm so sorry."

He kept apologizing, looking down. Sunghoon, his voice barely a whisper, finally spoke.

"Hyung, please... stop apologizing. It's okay."

"Are you alright? Do you want to go for a walk? Maybe some fresh air will help you calm down?"

Heeseung's brow furrowed with concern. Sunghoon shook his head, his eyes still brimming with tears.

"No, I don't want to go out."

He paused, his voice catching in his throat, then opened his arms wide, a silent plea hidden in the gesture.

"I just..."

Heeseung crossed the room and knelt beside Sunghoon, gathering him into a tight embrace. He felt Sunghoon burying his face in his chest, his body trembling with silent sobs. He held him close, letting Sunghoon cry freely, his heart aching with empathy.

After a few minutes, Sunghoon pulled back slightly, his tear-stained face tilted up to meet Heeseung's gaze.

"What happened?"

Heeseung asked softly, his voice filled with concern. Sunghoon shook his head, his voice a mere breath.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Heeseung didn't press further, recognizing the unspoken pain in Sunghoon's eyes.

He simply held his gaze, letting Sunghoon know that he was there, a safe haven amidst the storm raging within him.

A moment stretched between them, a silent understanding passing between them. Then, Sunghoon's fingers found Heeseung's face, gently cupping his cheeks.

Heeseung's eyes widened in surprise, momentarily caught off guard, but didn't hold back.

He leaned down, a tenderness replacing his initial surprise, and met Sunghoon's lips in a soft, comforting kiss.

It was a gesture of solace, a silent promise of support and comfort, a way to say, "I'm here for you, no matter what."

Heeseung gently broke the kiss, his thumbs brushing away the lingering tears on Sunghoon's cheeks.

A soft, unspoken understanding filled the space between them as they settled into a comfortable silence.

They remained locked in an embrace, the warmth of their bodies a comforting contrast to the storm of emotions that had just passed. Two hours drifted by, marked only by the soft rise and fall of their breaths.

Heeseung, without breaking the hug, lowered his gaze to Sunghoon. His eyes, filled with a gentle tenderness, searched Sunghoon's face.

Sunghoon, sensing the shift, looked up, his eyes mirroring the confusion and vulnerability that still lingered.

Heeseung's lips curved into a soft smile, a ghost of their earlier passion now replaced with a soothing warmth.

"Do you want to go for a motorcycle ride?"

He asked, his voice a low murmur against Sunghoon's hair. Sunghoon's heart fluttered. He'd never ridden a motorcycle with Heeseung.

The thought of the wind in their hair, the open road stretching before them, was a welcome distraction from the heaviness he'd been carrying. A small smile touched his lips.

"Yes."

He whispered, his voice barely audible. A surge of relief washed over Heeseung. Without a word, they both quickly disengaged, heading towards their respective rooms to change into more suitable attire.

The quiet thud of footsteps, previously a symbol of sadness, was now infused with a new, hopeful energy.

Heeseung, his heart brimming with a newfound determination to be there for Sunghoon, grabbed his motorcycle keys.

Sunghoon, his house keys clutched in his hand, met him at the doorway. They stepped out of the house, the sunlight warm on their skin, a silent promise of healing and shared adventures hanging in the air.