𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲

home

"I came here as quickly as I–"

Jihoon immediately embraced him, soaking the taller's flannel with tears that were a mix of many emotions. He just sniffled and cried until he couldn't do it anymore, his nose now red and his eyes bloodshot.

Seungcheol rubbed circles onto his back and became the one to lead him inside despite it being Jihoon's apartment. He then sat them down on the foot of the bed and took a box of tissues off the nightstand, handing Jihoon one piece at a time.

"I'm s-sorry about calling. I know how str-strange it is for me to m-make contact again after so long. I hope I wasn't disturbing you."

Seungcheol stays quiet for a very brief moment to think.

Prior to this, he was at his workplace having overtime, finishing a report due in two days.

He already had his mind set on getting it done tonight since he was desperate to minimize his workload. But when he was finally down to the last couple of pages, the sudden ringing of his phone echoes through the empty office, its screen showing the smiling face of a former lover he still continued to adore in secret even after they had parted almost two years ago.

He waits for it to ring a couple more times before taking in a breath and answering. Upon finding out that his help was needed, work was immediately forgotten.

Seungcheol was a little too quick to save the document on the computer, shut it down, and go downstairs to catch a cab he was lucky enough to spot.

"You weren't a disturbance at all."

"Are you sure?"

Jihoon's voice made him seem vulnerable. It sounded small and was full of hesitation. He knew how odd it really was to come to someone like Seungcheol for comfort, but it was in the taller male where he found something like remnants of a home he used to love so very much---a home that guaranteed him safety and security, a home that once made him happy.

Seungcheol simply nodded with the show of a close-lipped, sympathetic smile, his big doe eyes focused solely on Jihoon whose heart ached even more.

"What's wrong?"

And the shorter explained it all. He and his current boyfriend were having problems that led to one of the biggest fights of their relationship.

Feelings were hurt, things were thrown, doors were slammed, and Jihoon felt lower than ever. With his mind unable to find the clarity he needed to think of anything proper, he turns to the prescence of somebody whom he thought could somehow help ease the heavy weight that was placed on his shoulders.

"Why me?"

Jihoon just shrugged. Although not satisfied with the response, the taller doesn't force it and just moves along.

"Then—what is it that you want me to do?"

And Jihoon looks up at him with eyes that expressed what his answer could not.

"To stay."

-

Waking up the next morning with the familiar petite frame in his arms again made Seungcheol feel like he was in a dream that just seemed too good to be true.

He watches as Jihoon stirred slightly, snuggling further into him as a soft grunt falls from his lips. He wanted to kiss him so badly at that moment, to murmur sweet nothings and I love you's in his ear just like he used to, but it seemed this would be as close as he could ever get to showing his affection.

He hears a sudden vibration from the nightstand where Jihoon had placed his phone the night before. Out of uncontrollable curiosity, he attempts to reach for it without waking the shorter male.

[ Message From: Ming-puppy 🐶 ]
Just Now
Jihoon, please answer. I'm really sorry about the things I said. You know I didn't mean any of that, right? I never meant to hurt you like this. I love you too much to leave you like I did. Please forgive me.

"Mm...what are you doing?"

Seungcheol slightly flinches at the other's groggy voice and accidentally drops the phone onto his chest. As he was about to put the mobile device back, a hand had placed itself atop his own to stop him.

"Relax," Jihoon says with a little kitten-like yawn. "I kind of saw that coming." He then proceeded to sit up straight with his back against the headboard, rubbing away the tiredness in his eyes.

"That's his fifth text and I still don't know what to do with him."

The other uses both his elbows to prop himself up. "But we went through this thoroughly last night, didn't we? I thought you would have known what course of action to take by now."

"It's not that easy, alright?!" Jihoon snaps accidentally. He immediately softens upon seeing hurt flash in those innocent doe eyes.

Seungcheol had looked away and was now getting off the bed, running a hand through his messy hair in attempt to make himself look more presentable.

"I—think it will be best if I head home. Maybe you need some time by yourself."

"No, wait!"

Jihoon grabbed his wrist before he could stand up. "Seungcheol-ah, don't. D-don't go."

His voice became that same vulnerable voice from the night before, a voice small and needy that cracked towards the end of each sentence.

It tugged at Seungcheol's heartstrings, causing his chest to ache and his shoulders to slump. He doesn't look back at Jihoon just yet. He didn't want to see him reduced to a state of brokenness and hurt for it pained him much more.

"What about Mingyu?" He asks.

"At this point, I no longer care about Mingyu."

Seungcheol's heart starts to race.

"Mingyu...he could never be how you were. The feeling was never the same and I hate that it wasn't the same. How you care for me is unique—special, even. In you I find a home. It is in you I find a happiness that just cannot be compared to what Mingyu tried to give me. Throughout all this, I've come to realize that I miss my home, Seungcheol. That I miss you. You're a home I don't want to be without."

The taller's eyes begun to water but he forced the tears not to fall. The day his former lover wanted him back was the day he had waited too long for. But why was he unable to move? Why wasn't he immediately jumping at the opportunity?

"Jihoon-ah, please think thoroughly," he said as firmly as he could. "If you act too quickly about this, you might regret it."

He felt the other press himself against his back, arms wrapping him in a warm embrace. Jihoon's cheek was against his shoulder, where his own tears fell. He was holding onto Seungcheol as tightly as he could.

"Please stay," he murmured, sniffling. It was just like what he had said the night before. "Stay with me."

Seungcheol thinks for a brief moment.
He gives in.

"Okay."