You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 54

Another day, Seungcheol brought Jeonghan his favorite book—the well-loved copy of Pride and Prejudice they'd read together more times than he could count. Handing it to Jeonghan, he watched as his boyfriend ran his fingers over the familiar cover.

"This was... important to us," Seungcheol explained softly. "We used to read it together on rainy afternoons, taking turns with each chapter. You always got so passionate during the Darcy and Elizabeth scenes."

Jeonghan let out a small laugh, and for a moment, Seungcheol saw a glimpse of his old self peeking through the fog. "It sounds like something I would do," Jeonghan admitted, and for a fleeting second, Seungcheol allowed himself to believe that maybe—just maybe—a spark of memory was beginning to break through.

One night, a few weeks later, Seungcheol brought him the hoodie—the same hoodie he'd handed to Jeonghan just before he left for New York. Seungcheol held it out, his voice barely a whisper. "This was yours. You took it with you everywhere, even after you moved. It... kind of became your comfort thing."

Jeonghan took the hoodie, holding it carefully in his hands. He looked down at it, studying the worn fabric and feeling the familiar softness against his fingers. Lifting it to his face, he inhaled deeply, letting the scent of Seungcheol's cologne wrap around him like a half-forgotten lullaby. For a moment, his eyes closed, and Seungcheol's heart held its breath, hoping this might be the moment something would shift.

But when Jeonghan looked up again, the fog hadn't lifted. "It's nice," he said softly, almost apologetically. "But... I still don't remember."

Seungcheol felt a pang deep in his chest, but he managed a reassuring smile, knowing he couldn't show Jeonghan the heartbreak that was slowly eating away at him. "That's okay, Jeonghan. We're not in a rush. Just... keep it with you. Maybe someday it'll mean more to you."

Jeonghan nodded, folding the hoodie carefully and placing it beside him on the bed. He looked back at Seungcheol, an expression of guilt crossing his face. "I'm sorry, Seungcheol. You're so patient with me, and I... I just feel so lost."

Seungcheol reached out, taking Jeonghan's hand in his. "You don't have to apologize. I'm just... I'm just glad you're here. As long as you're here, that's all I need."

~

The next day, the hospital arranged for Jeonghan to begin physical therapy, and Seungcheol was there, cheering him on through every small victory. Slowly, as Jeonghan's body grew stronger, Seungcheol found his heart growing heavier. He kept his promise to stay by Jeonghan's side, but each day without a spark of recognition chipped away at the hope he'd tried so hard to protect.

One late afternoon, as the sun began to set outside the hospital window, Jeonghan sat beside Seungcheol, gazing at the soft hues of pink and orange streaking across the sky. After a long moment, Jeonghan turned to him, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Seungcheol," he began slowly, as if testing the weight of the words. "Thank you. For everything. I know it can't be easy, and I may never remember who I was... who we were... but I want you to know that it means everything to me. Even if I don't remember, you make me feel... safe."

Seungcheol's eyes filled with tears, and he fought to keep his composure. He wanted to say something meaningful, something that would express all the love and heartache he'd held inside these past weeks, but no words felt right. Instead, he took Jeonghan's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as they sat together in silence, watching the sun dip below the horizon.

In that moment, Seungcheol realized that even if Jeonghan never remembered their shared history, he would stay by his side, helping him build a future, piece by piece. And as they sat together, a strange peace settled over him—a quiet understanding that sometimes, love wasn't about holding onto the past but about embracing whatever the future held, hand in hand.