Come back to me [SOPE]

Chapter 6

For the next two days, J-Hope made it a point to visit Suga after office hours for their consultations. They spent a good amount of time discussing business, though J-Hope couldn't resist sprinkling in a little flirtation here and there. But Suga never budged. He remained strict, keeping the tone professional and always steering the conversation back to work.

On the second day, after their meeting, J-Hope was waiting outside the courthouse for his cab. He was smiling to himself, happy to have spent a few hours with his hyung—even if it was just business talk. His ex-husband, his forever crush, his mate... J-Hope cherished every moment. But that happiness came crashing down the moment he spotted Suga in the canteen, enjoying an evening coffee with another man.

"Who is that old guy sitting with Hyung?" J-Hope thought to himself. "Is he the same guy from the conference?" His heart sank further as he watched them. Why was Suga having such a pleasant, relaxed conversation with this man, but never with him?

His heart shattered into a million pieces when he noticed the man casually tapping Suga on the arm multiple times during their conversation. Just then, J-Hope's cab arrived. He didn't want to leave after witnessing this scene—this rom-com playing out in front of him. But what right did he have over his hyung now? Their relationship was strictly professional. Reluctantly, J-Hope hopped into the cab, unable to shake off the sadness that clung to him all the way home.

Later that evening, J-Hope was surrounded by small vodka bottles—nips—while Evvie, his kitten, watched him curiously. Evvie had noticed his dada had been upset since coming home. First, he was gloomy, and now he was drinking and mumbling to himself about "Papa." Evvie was confused. Who was this "Papa," and why was dada so affected by him?

J-Hope, clearly intoxicated, began blabbering to Evvie, "I still love Papa, Evvie. I'd do anything for him. But he let that old geezer touch him, and not me. That bastard's going to get fired for sure. Why, Evvie? Why?"

He paused for a moment, then continued. "Papa doesn't like skinship, Evvie. He never let anyone touch him except me. Now he's out there with one-night stands and casual touches. I'm losing him, Evvie. Papa's never coming back to us."

Evvie, sensing J-Hope's distress, came over and gently nuzzled his knee with his little nose before curling up on his lap to sleep, trying to comfort his dada in his own quiet way.

Later that night, Suga was sleeping peacefully until he was startled awake by someone knocking on his door. Who on earth has the nerve to wake me up at this hour? he thought, groggy and irritated. Still half-asleep, he wobbled his way to the door. When he cracked it open, leaving the chain lock in place, he was surprised to see J-Hope standing there—wearing nothing but boxer-like shorts and a sleeveless undershirt. And why was he so red-faced?

While Suga tried to make sense of the situation, J-Hope looked up at him through the gap in the door. "Hyung, are you awake?" he asked, his voice slightly slurred.

Suga, bemused and dripping with sarcasm, replied, "Clearly not anymore. What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you, hyung."

"Now? It's midnight! And look at yourself—you're practically half-naked and clearly drunk."

J-Hope ignored the comment and went straight to the point. "Hyung, why him and not me?"

Suga, caught off guard, furrowed his brow. "Who and what now?"

"Why don't I get a chance with you? Why are you giving that old geezer a shot?" J-Hope's voice, firm and laced with anger, sounded more sober than it should have.

Suga blinked, taking a moment to process what was happening. He sighed, trying to stay calm. "J-Hope, we can talk about this when you're sober. Now go home."