Epilogue: A Realization of Possession
The sun had just started dipping below the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow across the park. Ju Ha and Do Yoon had settled on their usual bench after school, an unspoken ritual that had become their way to unwind together, away from the noisy hallways and bustling classrooms.
They were sitting close—close enough that their shoulders brushed. Do Yoon was scrolling through his phone, occasionally showing Ju Ha a funny meme or picture. But today, something felt different. There was a quiet intensity in the air, one that Do Yoon seemed blissfully unaware of, lost in his own world of laughter and random scrolling.
But for Ju Ha, the feeling was undeniable. It had been growing for weeks, sneaking up on him in small moments, until now it had become something he couldn't ignore.
He was protective. Obsessively protective, even.
It was the small things that started to get to him. Like when Do Yoon casually laughed at a classmate's joke a bit too enthusiastically, or when someone from the basketball team tapped Do Yoon on the shoulder with a friendly, familiar ease. It shouldn't have bothered him. But it did. And every time he saw someone else take liberties around Do Yoon, a possessive little spark flared up inside him, unbidden and undeniable.
Realizing this, Ju Ha let out a deep sigh, his hand coming up to his forehead as if he could rub away the thoughts. "What's wrong with me?" he muttered under his breath.
Do Yoon glanced up, his eyebrows quirking in amusement. "Something wrong, hyung? You've been staring off into space."
Ju Ha hesitated, wondering if he should voice what was going on in his mind. But looking at Do Yoon's familiar, smiling face—the face that had unknowingly taken up so much space in his thoughts—it felt impossible not to.
"Do Yoon," he started, his voice low. "Do you... mind that I get like this?" He bit his lip, almost embarrassed. "You know, a little... territorial?"
Do Yoon's face softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he set his phone aside. "Territorial, hyung?" he echoed, his eyes shining with a playful light. "More like... possessive."
Ju Ha flushed, glancing away as he ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, possessive," he admitted, his voice dropping to a mumble. "It's just... I don't like seeing anyone else get too close to you. I know it's stupid, but..."
Do Yoon's hand reached out, catching Ju Ha's, intertwining their fingers in a gentle, reassuring grip. "Hyung, I don't mind," he said, his tone soft yet firm. "Actually... I kinda like it."
Ju Ha looked back at him, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "You... like it?"
Do Yoon nodded, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "It makes me feel... I don't know. Special? Like you really care. And honestly, I think it's kind of cute. I mean, if you didn't feel that way, I'd probably be worried." He let out a small laugh, squeezing Ju Ha's hand. "Besides, it's not like I want anyone else getting close either."
Ju Ha felt his tension begin to melt away, his grip on Do Yoon's hand tightening. "So... you're saying you're okay with me being overprotective and... territorial?"
Do Yoon nodded again, his gaze warm and steady. "Absolutely. In fact, I wouldn't want you any other way." He leaned in, resting his head against Ju Ha's shoulder. "Just knowing that you feel that strongly about me... it's everything I could ask for."
For a while, they sat in silence, the quiet weight of their understanding settling around them like a warm blanket. And as Ju Ha looked down at Do Yoon, he realized just how much he cared—just how deeply this possessiveness ran, not out of insecurity but out of a fierce, unwavering desire to protect what mattered most to him.
He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Do Yoon's head, whispering softly, "I won't let anyone come between us, Do Yoon. You're mine, and I'll make sure everyone knows it."
Do Yoon closed his eyes, smiling as he nestled closer. "Good," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Because I don't want to be anyone else's but yours, hyung."
And in that moment, Ju Ha knew, without a doubt, that Do Yoon felt the same way—that his own heart was safe, fiercely guarded in the hands of the one person he trusted most.
