Healing Journey ★ [HAOBIN]

STORY 011

[10th July 2023 - 27 years old]

A year passed as the two of them became even closer. It was that date when Hao's life gradually changed just a few years back then, and somehow, his life was about to take a step into another series of life on that same exact date.

Ever since he dated Hanbin, he had became even more open with people. He no longer became scared to talk with other people, no longer needing Ricky's service with him and can openly engaged himself in a conversation with a stranger.

Hanbin had made him feel that maybe, the world wasn't as bad as he had always thought. Hanbin taught him to give the world a second chance—to give himself a second chance to become the better version of Zhang Hao. He had learnt how to fully accept the judgement people may give him and forget the past that haunted him. Hanbin taught him how to move on and lived a new life.

Over the year, Hao had slowly told Hanbin about his very own past that he tried so hard to buried inside him, but he knew better than before that sometimes, facing your own fear is better than living with it. Little by little, he managed to share his story to the other and he was extremely grateful that Hanbin had accepted every version of him and embraced him through his ups and downs.

Not only that, Hanbin had also entrusted him with his own past, and just like that, the two finally exposed the vulnerability side of them. However, the two of them stayed with each other till the end, reassuring each other that the past will never haunt them anymore as long as they stayed with each other.

Hao had started to live with Hanbin during their 7-8th months together since the two couldn't bare being apart from each other. Ricky was a bit upset at first but he was also happy for his cousin—happy to see the other finally opening up to someone else other than him.

Amongst the months he had lived with Hanbin, the twins had became closer to him. They trusted him and even share some of their problems to him. It was weird for him at first since it was after all his first time acting as a parent—he never even imagined himself as a father—but it was easy for him to finally became comfortable with them.

Currently, Hao was in the shared room of his and Hanbin, quietly getting ready for their monthly dinner date at their usual restaurant—the one where they first went on. The owner had also became a close acquaintance to Hao since he often played the violin at the latter's restaurant.

"Babe, are you ready yet?" Hao turned to Hanbin, fixing his blazer for one last time. He tilted his head then laughed softly once he saw the surprised look on Hanbin's face once he saw him.

Then slowly, Hanbin walked inside the room, inching closer to him. Automatically, his hands found its way to Hao's waist, his eyes roaming Hao with a genuine smile on his face.

"What's with the sudden request to wear these formal attires?" Hao asked, looking at Hanbin curiously. He had been thinking about it for quiet some times so he finally let out the question.

"I mean, why not? I just suddenly feel like I want to see you in this kind of outfits. I was sure that you would look good in it and I was right! You look absolutely stunning babe!" He complimented Hao genuinely that made Hao's cheeks tinted red as he quickly tried to hide by nustling his face on the crook of Hao's neck.

Hanbin swayed their bodies from side to side as they were suddenly in a hugging position—due to Hao's embarrassment. The two stayed like that for awhile, just embracing each other warmly when suddenly, their moment was broken down by the twins loud grunt from the door.

"Appa! We're gonna be late if you don't stop bugging our haohao!" Jiyun scolded, her hands locked on her hips as the two stared intensely at Hanbin. "Excuse me, 'bugging' you said? You're just jealous that I'm your haohao's boyfriend and I can freely do this whenever I want." Hanbin playfully put his tongue out as he hugged Hao tighter.