A garden for two | heehoon

the place I call "home"

The next morning, the sun peeked through the curtains.

Heeseung woke first, and for a moment, he simply watched Sunghoon sleeping peacefully beside him, his soft breaths rising and falling in time with Heeseung’s own.

Gently, he brushed a lock of hair from Sunghoon's face, marveling at how serene he looked in sleep.

Heeseung could hardly believe how someone so young had such a hold on his heart.

Eventually, Sunghoon stirred, eyes blinking open and landing on Heeseung’s face with a sleepy smile.

They lingered in bed for a few more minutes, sharing quiet words and soft laughter before finally getting up.

Sunghoon dressed in his usual comfortable clothes, and Heeseung, ready for work, kept an arm around him as they left the house.

The drive to Sunghoon’s parents' house was quiet but comfortable. Heeseung's hand rested on Sunghoon's knee as he gazed out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass by.

When they finally pulled up to his parents' house, Sunghoon turned to face Heeseung.

“Promise you’ll pick me up after work?”
He asked, his voice softer than usual.

Heeseung chuckled.
“I promise. I’ll be right here, waiting.”

Sunghoon nodded, leaning in and pressing one last lingering kiss to Heeseung’s lips, almost as if he were afraid to let go.

“Don’t leave me here tonight.”
He whispered against Heeseung’s lips, vulnerability in his tone.

Heeseung held him close for a moment longer, brushing his thumb over Sunghoon's cheek before letting him go.
“I won’t. I’ll be back before you know it.”

With one last glance, Sunghoon slipped out of the car and headed toward the front door, waving once before disappearing inside.

Heeseung watched him go, a quiet feeling settling over him as he lingered there for a moment, his gaze fixed on the closed door.

Sunghoon was so young, so earnest, confident in his feelings, yes, but still so gentle, so vulnerable in ways that only Heeseung could see.

Sunghoon had a maturity that surprised him, yet he still had this sweetness, this delicate part of him that Heeseung wanted to protect with everything he had.

He had already hurt Sunghoon once before, whether by accident or out of fear, and he never wanted to be the cause of that pain again.

Sitting there, Heeseung resolved to be better.

To be careful, to make sure that Sunghoon felt safe with him.

Because this feeling he had for Sunghoon wasn’t something he wanted to lose.

Then Heeseung started the car, ready to head to work but already counting down the hours until he could see Sunghoon again.

Sunghoon stepped inside his parents' house, the familiar warmth of home wrapping around him, though it felt different now.

He walked into the kitchen, where his mom was making breakfast, her usual gentle smile brightening as she saw him.

"Good morning, sweetheart."
She greeted, setting down her spatula to pull him into a hug.

Her embrace felt safe, comforting, but Sunghoon noticed a flicker of worry in her eyes when she pulled back.

His dad, seated at the kitchen table, looked up from his newspaper, his expression reserved.