Epilogue: A Surprising Discovery
Do Yoon was searching through Ju Ha's bag for a pen to borrow. He didn't think much of it, but as his fingers brushed against something small and rectangular, curiosity piqued his interest. He pulled it out and froze, his heart skipping a beat. His eyes widened as he saw what it was: a condom.
His chest tightened. He hadn't expected this, not now, not in this moment. They had been together for a while now, but this? This felt different. The condom in his hand seemed to have so many implications—none of them good. Do Yoon's thoughts began to race. Was Ju Ha planning on using this with someone else? Did Ju Ha have someone else in mind? His mind immediately went to the worst places.
His stomach twisted as a knot formed deep inside him. He knew it was silly to feel this way. After all, they were still new in their relationship, still figuring things out. But seeing the condom in his hand, the reality of it hit him like a punch to the gut. He hadn't thought of them as having a past beyond each other, but now, with this discovery, it felt like a door had been opened to something he wasn't ready to face.
He quickly shoved it back into the bag, as if the physical act of hiding it could make his feelings of jealousy and confusion disappear. He could hear Ju Ha's footsteps approaching in the hallway, and his heart beat faster.
When Ju Ha entered the room, he looked just as carefree as ever, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside Do Yoon. He smiled and greeted him as though nothing had changed, but Do Yoon could hardly concentrate. The sight of Ju Ha was too much, too perfect, and too confusing all at once. How could Ju Ha—his Ju Ha—be carrying something like that around?
Do Yoon quickly tried to act casual. "Did you find the pen?" he asked, hoping his voice didn't give away the turmoil churning inside him.
"Yeah, I found it," Ju Ha replied, his voice as calm as ever. He didn't seem to notice anything was off.
But Do Yoon couldn't shake the nagging feeling. He wasn't the type to hold back his questions when something bothered him. He was about to say something when Ju Ha sat next to him, his face curious, clearly sensing something was wrong.
"Okay, something's up," Ju Ha said, leaning in, studying Do Yoon with a raised eyebrow. "What's going on?"
Do Yoon hesitated, his heart still pounding. The question burned on the tip of his tongue, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to ask it. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. The words wouldn't come. His fingers subconsciously traced the edge of his cup, his mind still replaying the image of the condom in Ju Ha's bag.
Ju Ha waited, giving him time, though his concern was obvious. He placed a hand on Do Yoon's arm, and Do Yoon could feel his warmth seeping through, grounding him. But it only made the uncertainty more unbearable.
"I found something in your bag," Do Yoon said finally, his voice quieter than he intended.
Ju Ha frowned, clearly confused. "What did you find?"
Do Yoon swallowed hard, his throat dry. "A condom."
The words hung in the air between them, thick with unspoken implications. Ju Ha's eyes widened for a fraction of a second, and then he blinked, as if processing the situation.
"Oh," Ju Ha said, his voice calm but with a hint of surprise. "That..."
Do Yoon's heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't stop himself from asking, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Is it for someone else?"
Ju Ha was quiet for a moment, but the calmness in his eyes never wavered. He looked at Do Yoon, then down at the bag, almost as if he was weighing how much to say. He sighed, sitting back against the couch, his posture softening as he turned toward Do Yoon.
"No," Ju Ha said softly. "It's not for someone else."
"Then why...?" Do Yoon's voice was shaky, the jealousy rising again, even though he knew he had no right to feel that way. "Why do you have it?"
Ju Ha looked at him with a mixture of amusement and understanding, his lips curling into a small, reassuring smile. "I guess I just... I was thinking ahead. You know, about us."
Do Yoon blinked, his brain trying to process what Ju Ha was saying. Was he implying that this was something Ju Ha had been preparing for? Something he wanted with Do Yoon? The thought made Do Yoon's heart beat faster, but it also made him nervous. His mind raced with uncertainty, unsure if he was ready for whatever this meant.
"You're planning ahead?" Do Yoon whispered, his voice barely audible.
Ju Ha chuckled softly, brushing his hand through his hair. "Yeah, but I wasn't thinking that I'd need it anytime soon." He paused, his eyes softening as they met Do Yoon's. "I just wanted to make sure I was prepared. For when we're ready."
The words struck Do Yoon harder than he expected, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. His chest tightened, but this time, it wasn't from jealousy. It was a warm, unfamiliar feeling—one that made him feel connected to Ju Ha in a way he hadn't fully understood before.
"I..." Do Yoon began, but words failed him. He couldn't bring himself to say what he wanted to—couldn't express the wave of emotions flooding through him. He wasn't sure if he was ready, but for the first time, he understood that Ju Ha was making the effort to meet him where he was.
"Don't worry," Ju Ha said, his voice calm but with a note of something deeper behind it. "It doesn't mean we have to do anything you're not ready for. I just... wanted to make sure that when the time comes, we're both prepared."
Do Yoon nodded slowly, the tightness in his chest easing. He looked at Ju Ha, feeling a mix of gratitude and relief wash over him. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he knew one thing for certain—he wanted to be with Ju Ha. And maybe, just maybe, he was ready to take that step.
"Thanks," Do Yoon said quietly, his voice full of sincerity. "I... I'm not sure what I was afraid of."
Ju Ha gave him a small smile, his eyes soft and warm. "I know. But you don't have to be afraid. I'm not going anywhere. We'll figure this out together."
And in that moment, Do Yoon believed him.
