Efflorescence (2won)

14. Uncertainty and vanilla ice cream

They were finally alone. Hoseok knew Hyungwon wanted answers. It was true. Hyungwon had not understood. He was confused by the situation.

"Hyungwon?" Hoseok asked gently, while looking at him.

Hyungwon nodded. He was sitting at the kitchen table, looking out the open window.

"I... what I was trying to say earlier..."

Hyungwon turned. He looked at Hoseok, straight in the eyes, seeming innocent.

Suddenly Hoseok felt like he wasn't supposed to feel anything, toward the younger. He felt like it was forbidden, for some reason.

"Yes?" Hyungwon asked, waiting for the answer.

Hoseok gulped. "I was going to say, that I... should move home soon."

Hoseok mentally facepalmed. Why did he say that? That sentence was not meant to come out of his mouth.

"Of course." Hyungwon smiled, but Hoseok swore he could see something hidden in his expression. "You must be tired after watching over me." Hyungwon added.

"I... but if you feel like you still need my help, I'll stay." Hoseok rambled.

"No, I'll be fine." Hyungwon replied, like he wasn't bothered. "I actually thought about going back to work soon."

Hoseok felt a sting in his heart. What was he supposed to do?

"Uh, a-are you sure you can handle it?"

Hyungwon hummed a positive answer. "In-Sook needs my help at the shop. If you want, you can leave as soon as you will." He said.

Hoseok nodded, speechless. He wanted to stay, but how was he supposed to do it?

"Um... maybe I'll stay overnight." Hoseok smiled, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Sure thing." Hyungwon smiled and turned his head back to the open window.

Hoseok looked at him for a while. Then he turned to the door. "I'm going to go quickly buy some stuff. Want anything?" He asked Hyungwon.

"Actually yes. Can you bring me some ice-cream? Vanilla, thank you." Hyungwon answered with the sweetest voice, which made Hoseok melt inside.

"Sure thing, I'll be back soon." He replied, before he literally ran out.

Hoseok immediately took his phone out, pressing call on Shownu's name. It didn't take long for the older to answer.

"Hyung... I need advice, I messed up real bad." Hoseok pleaded.

Shownu sighed, like he knew this was coming. "Okay, what did you do?" He asked calmly.

"I... I was trying to tell him about my feelings, but Minhyuk interrupted us... and after that I tried again, but instead of telling the truth, I literally blurted out that I wanted to move back home! Now he thinks I hate him or something!"

Shownu sighed again. "Hey, it's not that big of a mess." He said.

"It is! I... he... he's probably happy I leave!"

"Hoseok. Calm down."

"O-okay..."

"Listen up, you haven't hurt him in anyway, right?"

"N-no! How could I?"

"Right. So, you just said you wanted to go home?"

"Yeah..."

"He probably doesn't even think much of it. You've been in his home or the last week. Actually, almost two weeks. So, he probably just thinks that you're missing your home, or family."

"Or... my significant other! Oh no! Hyung, he maybe thinks I'm married!"

"Hoseok, for real... No one, absolutely no one would think you'd be married."

"R-really?"

"Yes. So, I suggest... you go back to him and do as you said. Move out."

"B-but I..."

"Listen to the whole thing... you move out, but... you can call him, text him, go for a coffee... and so on. It's simple. You can move back home, but you can pretend to be so worried about him, that you want to see him."

"Oh... Hyung, you're a genius." Hoseok smiled.

"But don't go overboard, okay?"

"Okay... thanks."

"See you around."

"See you, bye."

Hoseok smiled so brightly, that everyone walking, turned to look at him. However, Hoseok didn't care about it. He was hopeful. Maybe he still had a chance.

Hyungwon sat quietly. He was about to cry. Hoseok wanted to leave, so suddenly. Hyungwon started thinking about what's so wrong with him, that Hoseok doesn't want to be around him anymore. Did he act stupidly? Was he too ugly?

Hyungwon tried to hold the tears away, because Hoseok might come back anytime. He didn't want Hoseok to see his tears.

Hyungwon quickly took his phone, pressed a contact and called. Soon, someone picked up.

"Hyung... I messed up."

"What happened, wonnie?" Kihyun's gentle voice asked.

"He wants to leave."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know... maybe he got bored of me, or he thinks I'm disgusting..."

"Hey, don't say stuff like that." Kihyun huffed. "He might have his own reasons, don't think too much of it."

"What can I do? I don't want him to leave, Hyung."

"Uh..." Kihyun sighed. "I mean... you can't really do anything. If he wants to go home, he will go. You have to let him go."

"Hyung... I... I think he hates me."

"No, that's not true."

"B-but..."

"Wonnie, listen. Let him go. Then, you can always contact him. You're friends, right?"

"I... guess so."

"Then what's the problem? He doesn't have to be with you all the time, to be close to you. Just don't think too much of him moving out. He surely has his reasons to it. Maybe he misses his home? Or his family?"

"Or his wife..."

"Do you really think Wonho would be the kind to get married this early in his life? I don't think so..."

"Maybe he has kids too... oh no, did I crush on someone, who's married and has a proper family? Kihyun!? What did I do!?"

"Wonnie, calm the fuck down."

"O-okay..."

"I'm ninety-nine percent sure, he's not married, so calm your titties. Just do as I said, okay? Let him go home."

"Fine... I... think it's better that way."

"You're right. It's better. He can move back, when you're properly dating."

"Hyung!!!"

"Bye now, I have to work."

"Hyung! You can't say stuff like tha- .................. he fucking hung up on me... what an asshole."

Hyungwon put his phone on the table. He was a little annoyed, but more sad. He didn't want to lose Hoseok.