Come back to me [SOPE]

Chapter 12

As Jhope began to dig into the warm, comforting rice in front of him, he kept an eye on the scene unfolding nearby—Suga and their stubborn cat, Evvie, locked in a silent stare-off across the coffee table. Suga, seated on the sofa, shot Jhope a look, scoffing, "This guy is really testing my patience. Look at the way he's glaring at me."

Jhope chuckled, gently stroking Evvie's fur. "Hyung, he's just a kid. He'll need time to adjust."

"You called him an adult last time," Suga retorted, rolling his eyes.

"In cat years! To me, he'll always be our kid." The words hung in the air, Jhope suddenly realizing the weight of saying "our." They both fell silent again, the air around them thick with unspoken feelings. After a few bites in silence, Jhope finally mustered up the courage to break it.

"Hyung... you're really giving me another chance, right? You're not planning to ghost me again, are you?"

Suga cleared his throat, steadying himself before answering. "Hoba... Are you really ready to read the same story and expect a different ending?"

"Hyung, I was too young to understand back then. I let my insecurities get the best of me. But it's different now—same story, new plot, and two people who've changed. We can make it work this time."

Suga looked away, sighing deeply. "But I still have the same insecurities, unaddressed. What if I just dim your light again, Hoba? Maybe I'm still not right for you. You look happy now. I don't want to pull you down again."

A hint of frustration sparked in Jhope's eyes. "You think I was happy? Hyung, you should've seen me when you weren't around. I was hollow without you. You were never the one dimming my light—you were the only thing brightening it."

The silence thickened, and Suga felt his heart pound with a mixture of anger and aching vulnerability. "I'm the problem, not you," he blurted out, finally at his limit.

Without missing a beat, Jhope shot back, his voice raw with emotion. "Then be the problem! Take all of me, my light, my everything—I don't care. I'll be your prey if that's what it takes. Just... give me one more chance." His voice cracked, the desperation tangible. Suga, feeling the weight of Jhope's plea, reached out and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Suga finally looked up, meeting Jhope's gaze.

"All right, Hoba. Let's try dating again. But if something goes wrong, you have to talk to me. I can't go through the same pain as last time."

Jhope's face lit up, almost as if he didn't quite believe what he'd just heard. A grin spread across his face as he jumped up, pulling Suga into his arms, and lifting him in a swirling hug. Suga squealed, "Hoba! Put me down! I'm getting dizzy!"

Jhope slowly lowered him, but the head rush sent them both tumbling to the floor, where they lay for a moment, laughing. Evvie, hearing the commotion, trotted over and gave them both an unimpressed look before circling Jhope protectively and patting his shoulder twice, as if to say, You good? With his mission accomplished, Evvie padded back to his bed, deciding to keep a close watch from a distance.

Jhope pulled Suga close again, his voice a breathless whisper. "Hyung, you have no idea... I'm so happy. You're mine again."

Suga raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We're dating. Nothing's solid yet."

"But... it's exclusive, right? Just us?"

Suga chuckled, his smirk widening. "You little rascal... Yes, it's exclusive. Just dating, though."

"You're mine, then. I'm officially your boyfriend again. Hyung... can I kiss you?" Jhope's voice was tender, a hint of playfulness glinting in his eyes.