Come back to me [SOPE]

Chapter 14

Suga's eyes fluttered open, finding himself wrapped warmly in a duvet and held close by Jhope, who lay peacefully asleep beside him. Jhope's face looked calm, his breathing steady as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. A flicker of irritation flared up in Suga; how could Jhope sleep so undisturbed? But he held back, knowing he'd get no answers now with Jhope still deep in his dreams.

He glanced out the window, noticing the still-dark sky before checking the clock on his bedside table—it was 4 a.m. Suga exhaled and carefully slipped out from under the duvet, making sure not to disturb Jhope. As he moved, a sharp wave of soreness reminded him of the previous night. His whole body ached, and it was clear that this was far beyond the usual soreness.

With a sigh, he dressed quietly, gathering himself for the day. Oddly, he noticed that, despite everything, Jhope had made the effort to clean him up afterward, a touch of aftercare he hadn't expected. It left him feeling conflicted; he didn't know whether to be relieved or angrier still. Suga's legs felt weak as he moved, each step challenging. He knew he needed a shower and a change of clothes if he was going to get through the workday, so he forced himself to keep moving.

In the living room, he paused briefly, spotting Evvie sleeping curled up in his bed, the small cat snuggled in, as always. Recently, Suga had begun to feel a growing affection for Evvie; the little cat was loyal and protective over Jhope, much like Suga had once felt about his partner.

When he finally reached home, he went straight to the shower, letting the warm water soothe him. Later, as he stood before the mirror, he saw fresh love bites scattered across his torso, each one sore to the touch. Inspecting himself further, he found bruises on his thighs and ass that deepened his sense of vulnerability. He immediately reached for his first-aid kit, applying ointment carefully. Noticing some swelling and a small tear on his entrance, Suga felt a wave of sadness wash over him, questioning what kind of person Jhope had turned into.

By the time Jhope opened his eyes, sunlight was already streaming brightly through the windows, casting harsh light across an empty bed. Suga was gone.

Fragments of the previous night replayed in his mind, every detail hitting with the weight of guilt. He remembered the flash of discomfort in Suga's eyes, the hesitation, the momentary signs that he was pushing too far. But he hadn't stopped. His jealousy had crept in, blinding him, urging him forward until he'd let it cross boundaries that should have stayed intact. Now, with the haze lifted, the truth of his actions settled in like a heavy stone.

Jhope lay frozen in place, his mind spiraling. What must Suga be feeling? Did he resent him now? He reached for his phone, hesitating before finally pressing Suga's number. Once. Twice. Three times. Each call went unanswered. Jhope's heart sank further, his own silence in the room stretching out like an echo of Suga's absence. He could almost feel the weight of Suga's disappointment filling the air around him.

Panic settled in. What had he done? The questions circled but offered no answers, leaving him lost in a guilt that only grew heavier by the minute. After long moments of indecision, he realized he couldn't just stay there, paralyzed by regret. He knew showing up unannounced at Suga's work wasn't an option; facing him there, where Suga would have no choice but to see him, felt wrong.

After agonizing over the decision, Jhope resolved to wait until the end of the workday to meet Suga. He'd give Suga his space for now, hoping—praying—that when he showed up later, Suga would give him a chance to explain, to apologize. Until then, all Jhope could do was sit with the consequences of his actions, hoping he hadn't shattered something beyond repair.

After a long, unproductive day, Jhope left his office, thoughts swirling. As he stepped out, he spotted Suga's car waiting just outside. For a moment, he hesitated, taking in the sight before walking over. When he reached the car, Suga lowered the window, giving a brief nod for him to get in. Jhope slipped into the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt without a word.