Aphenphosmphobia » k.jw & w.yh

forty.

"I wanted to disappear. To be so lost that no one would ever find me."

~ ❀ ~

Even if the lights were turned off, Jungwoo's heart wasn't beating any slower. And even if he had his left hand engulfed in Yukhei's larger right hand, he felt... Alone, somehow.

"You could stay at home, you know you're always welcome there." Yukhei whispered, his breath fanning on Jungwoo's ear and neck, making the hairs on the shorter's nape stand.

"No," Jungwoo spun around, and squeezed Yukhei's hand, forcing out a small smile which assured the taller. "I'm gonna be fine. Thank you for the offer."

"Are you sure?" The taller asked once more, the shorter only nodding in response. "I could stay he–"

"Go home. I can do this. She's probably asleep." Jungwoo chuckled, rubbing soothing circles on Yukhei's hand. "I promise. I'll be alright."

"Be safe." Yukhei said, planting a quick kiss on Jungwoo's forehead, making the other sigh. "I love you."

"I love you too, and happy birthday." Jungwoo answered, kissing Yukhei's jaw. "Go home now."

"Alright, bye." The taller smiled, waving at the shorter who was currently opening the small gate quietly. "See you. I'll call you."

"Yeah, sure."

~ ❀ ~

The moment Yukhei looked up, from removing his shoes, his eyes landed on his brother, who was looking like he saw a ghost or something, his eyes looking somewhere far. And just the fact that the younger didn't notice his presence, is such a shock.

"Yanhao?" The elder called, eyebrows meeting as the younger made no response. "You alright?" He neared the younger. Placing a hand on the younger's shoulder, that's when he finally got some movement and a response from him. "You alright?"

"Y-Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." Yanhao answered, but Yukhei wasn't near being convinced.

"Talk. We have all night." Yukhei said, walking towards the kitchen and pulling out a glass of water. "It's just 9. We have a lot of time."

"It's... About..."

"About?"

"Jinyoung-hyung..." Both of them were quiet, eyes uneasy as Yanhao's fingers started tapping onto the marble counter. "And someone named Hyunjae?"

"What about them?"

"I think—"

~ ❀ ~

Jungwoo could almost hear his heartbeat thumping inside his ribcage as his feet slowly took him up the creaking stairs. His mind was blank, and his only goal was to walk up to his room, and lock the doors all night.

A sigh of relief escaped his lips as soon as his feet stepped onto the solid floor of the second floor, and of course, his hands immediately went to the knob on his door, but as soon as he opened it, he wished he didn't.