Almost blind | Haobin

🔞36| Falling away |36🔞

‼️TW: The end of the chapter, starting with ☆, may be uncomfortable for some readers‼️

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"How's the puppy?" Hao asked as he slid down the stairs, his voice light with curiosity. His gaze landed on Gyuvin, who was standing in the middle of the kitchen, completely covered in flour and sugar.

"Oh, you mean Bori?" Gyuvin turned to face Hao, attempting to brush the white powder off his clothes-only for it to scatter onto the floor. At that moment, Ricky happened to walk by, letting out a horrified scream.

"Ya!" Ricky exclaimed, glaring at the mess.

Hao couldn't help but burst into laughter, shaking his head in amusement. "Bori? You actually named her that?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.
"It was actually Ricky's idea," Gyuvin admitted, just as Ricky came up behind him and smacked the back of his head.

"Wait, what?" Hao's eyes widened as he turned to his father. "So we're actually keeping her?" He could hardly believe it-he thought convincing his dad would be the hardest part.

The night Hao had brought the puppy home, Ricky had been so happy to see Hao that he hadn't even noticed the little creature at first. But once he did, his excitement faded into mild irritation. It had been Gyuvin who slipped into an overprotective mode, stubbornly ensuring that the puppy remained under their roof.

Ricky let out a deep sigh. "Yeah, whatever," he muttered, rolling his eyes. Gyuvin, on the other hand, was grinning victoriously, knowing he had been the one to change Ricky's mind overnight.

"No way! Really?" Hao's face lit up with excitement. Without thinking, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Gyuvin in a tight hug. Gyuvin immediately returned the embrace, his hands playfully patting Hao's back. Ricky, standing off to the side, scoffed. "Oh? I'm the one who allowed it, and you're hugging him?" He feigned offense, but deep down, he couldn't help but enjoy the scene.

Hao chuckled and pulled away from Gyuvin. "Where is she, anyway?"

"Sleeping," Gyuvin replied. "We need to buy her a bed. Right now, she's claimed a spot on Ricky's side of the bed."

Hao broke into a wide, knowing grin.

Hao could barely contain his excitement. Maybe having a dog wasn't so bad after all. At first, he had wondered if the puppy was just lost-perhaps her owners would show up any day now, looking for her. But until that moment came, he was determined to keep her for as long as possible.

Now, after much persuasion, he had finally convinced Ricky to drive him to Yujin's place. It hadn't been easy-both of them had been caught up in the chaos of Christmas preparations, their hands full with last-minute cooking and decorating. But Hao couldn't wait any longer. He needed to give Yujin his Christmas present as soon as possible.

And so, here he was. Standing in front of the door, heart racing slightly with anticipation. The cold winter air bit at his cheeks as he lifted a hand and knocked.

The door opened almost immediately.

"I was so worried about you," Yujin sighed heavily as he pulled open the door. His heart clenched at the sight of Hao standing there, a soft smile on his lips, his arms wrapped around something large, carefully covered in brown paper. The winter wind howled behind him, but Hao seemed untouched by the cold, his cheeks flushed, his eyes warm.

"I'm alright," Hao reassured him, stepping forward without hesitation. Before Yujin could even process it, Hao's lips brushed against his in a fleeting kiss, but just as quickly, it was gone.

"Where's your phone, by the way?" Hao asked, tilting his head. "I couldn't reach you all day."

Yujin hesitated for a moment before sighing. "I probably lost it." He stepped aside, letting Hao into the dimly lit hallway. Their footsteps echoed against the polished floor, the air inside still and heavy, holding onto the lingering scent of pine and candle wax. A few Christmas decorations hung loosely along the walls, their colors muted in the soft light. At the end of the hallway stood a tall white Christmas tree, its pristine branches dusted with artificial snow. It was beautiful but eerily untouched, like a painting rather than a centerpiece of celebration.