TIME ─ JAEYONG

038⸰

sicheng found it hard to find a comfortable position to sit in so instead he remained standing, watching the ocean waves splash against the side of the boat. his brain felt overworked as he repeated yuta's words like a broken record.

he couldn't fathom the idea of his whole relationship possibly being a fluke. he's invested so much time and feelings towards yuta it physically pained him to think they wouldn't last.

sicheng wanted yuta and yuta only but he couldn't help but feel betrayed that he was lied to for so long. relationships are built on trust and since there's wasn't sicheng was torn. he had no one to turn to for advice.

he only had yuta. everyone else was practically strangers who would clearly side with yuta seeing as they were all his best friends. "hey bud. you okay?"

he turned to find taeyong who seemed to have been casually strolling around before stopping. sicheng's frown deepened as he sighed deeply. "no."

"want to talk about it?" sicheng contemplated the offer before agreeing. he seemed the least close to yuta. taeyong stood next to him and set his hands on the ship's railing. "i'm all ears."

with a deep breath he started, "i had sex with yuta but after we finished he told me he's been lying about who he really is. i thought he was middle class like me but no, he's swimming in riches. his timer barely ticked down while mines seems to be going faster each day."

"oh. i see." sicheng scoffed at himself. he felt so dumb for not realizing it earlier on. "i understand you must be in shock... can i tell you something?"

"sure."

"i was in a similar situation like you. you saw how poor i was but all of a sudden i'm living a lavish life? it's all because of jaehyun. i hated him for giving me some of his time." taeyong chuckled at the memory. "i wanted to choke him at one point but over time i realized that without him i would probably be dead by now. i realized how much i love him, just like how he loves me."

sicheng shook his head. "what are you trying to get at?"

"that yuta did what he did because he loves you. jaehyun saved me because he loves me. yuta kept this major secret from you because he loves you and was afraid of losing you."

"but it just doesn't make sense!" sicheng felt anger and frustration.

taeyong knew he was bad with words but he didn't know he was this bad. the more he thought about what he said the more he felt idiotic for he just rambled nonsense in hopes of it meaning something to sicheng.

"look, you love yuta right?" sicheng nodded. "then don't let this lie get in the way of you loving him. sure he lied and that wasn't right but think about how he felt."

sicheng guessed yuta was equally hurt at having to keep such a secret hidden from the boy he loves. he also assumed yuta felt scared and nervous, just like he had claimed before sicheng stormed off.

"i guess i kinda understand."

"that's good!" taeyong felt thankful his words somewhat made sense this time around.

"i should return to him so we can talk this out." sicheng awkwardly pulled taeyong into a hug. "thanks." with a small smile he turned and limped off.

taeyong chuckled lightly, remembering when ten walked with a limp after their first time. his mind wondered to what jaehyun would look like, limping around the room. heat rushed up his neck at the explicit thought.