Come back to me [SOPE]

Chapter 16

Eighteen Sundays later, Suga was stirred awake by the sound of birds chirping near the window. It was dawn, and without even opening his eyes, he knew the bed was emptier than usual. Jhope was gone. He didn't need to feel around to confirm it—the small bed was a little too spacious without him. Sighing, Suga rubbed his eyes and checked the clock on his phone. It was barely 7 a.m.

Getting up, he wandered to the living room, where he found Evvie happily engrossed in playing with his tower track toy. Suga had bought it a month ago, and it had quickly become Evvie's favorite—a clear winner over any other toy, or even his parents' attention.

Smiling to himself, Suga checked his phone and saw a text from Jhope: "Hyung, I stepped out for some important work. I'll be back by evening. Love you!"

A small pang of loneliness hit Suga. It was nice staying with Jhope as often as he could, even keeping some spare clothes in the cupboard for extra-long visits. But lately, it seemed like Jhope was often out, caught up in his growing workload and responsibilities. Suga knew it wasn't like Jhope was avoiding him—he was genuinely busy, not goofing off. But still, he wished they could spend more time together.

After feeding Evvie and tidying up the house, Suga left for work, his mind circling one question all morning: What exactly was Jhope's "important work" on a Weekday? By noon, he decided that tonight he'd ask Jhope to move in with him. Maybe that would help them carve out more time for each other.

When he finally got home around 7 p.m., Evvie was waiting eagerly, his little tail wagging at the door. Suga knelt down to greet him, hoping he'd see Jhope soon too. But the place was empty—no Jhope in sight. Suga sighed as he realized his boyfriend was probably still out.

After feeding and bathing Evvie, he spent a little time playing with him until the cat's eyes grew heavy with sleep. With Evvie tucked in, Suga checked his messages again. He'd sent a text earlier about dinner plans, only to get a response that Jhope was still tied up with an office dinner. The words were a little stab to Suga's heart. So much for tonight, then.

In no mood to eat alone, Suga skipped dinner, heading straight for a long, hot shower instead. The water washed over him, but his mind was restless, his heart heavy with a strange, quiet ache he couldn't shake.

After a long shower, Suga wiped the steam off the bathroom mirror, only to catch a glimpse of his reflection that stopped him in his tracks. His hard work was paying off. His muscles were now more defined, his abs were carved and flat, and he'd lost a few pounds, leaving him toned in a way he hadn't imagined. He almost didn't recognize himself, grinning a little in stunned pride. This is the look he'd been after, and seeing it in the mirror filled him with a newfound confidence. An idea flashed in his mind—a devilish little plan sparked by the thrill of his progress.

With a slight smirk, Suga stepped out of the bathroom, determined to put his plan into action.

Hours later, Jhope returned home after what had to be one of the longest days he'd ever had. The house was dark and quiet, except for a faint shape in Evvie's basket. Jhope knelt down and stroked the sleeping cat, lingering for a few minutes, appreciating the soft, grounding warmth of Evvie's purrs before quietly moving toward the bedroom. It was completely dark, and he assumed Suga must be at his home. He flicked on the light, mindlessly expecting to find an empty room, but froze at the sight in front of him.

There, sprawled out comfortably on the bed, was Suga, asleep. He was lying on his side in an almost artfully relaxed running pose, his lips slightly parted. But Jhope couldn't help but notice the real show-stopper—Suga was wearing one of Jhope's oversized sheer shirts, which hung just loosely enough to give him a view of the toned, sculpted body beneath. And then there were those shorts—sky-blue, dangerously small boxers that practically left nothing to the imagination.