Sun & Moon

SIXTY

Seeing Taeyong's face is like applying ice on a burn. Relief and comfort wash over Doyoung when he picks Taeyong up after work. At first, they had been meeting up nearly every day, getting dinner after work, since the incident at the beach. It was quite difficult for Doyoung to get used to his abundance of happiness. Everything would leak out, and he wouldn't be able to contain even a single drop. However, after having done it so often, being with Taeyong nowadays is a comfortable feeling that's been ingrained into his schedule. He's gotten used to that energetic, brand new feeling of loving someone, and it's now been replaced with a gentle and warm ease. This results in them meeting up a little less as time goes on, but, to Doyoung, the immense satisfaction is all the same.

Doyoung doesn't think he could ask for anything better. And even today, when it had nearly felt like everything would fall apart, Taeyong comes in and puts back together all the pieces. He gets into the passenger seat and smiles at Doyoung. "It's June," Taeyong says as he straps in his seatbelt.

"Then it will only get warmer." Doyoung begins to drive towards nowhere as Taeyong takes out his phone to guide him to the location of the day. It's been like this every time, and Doyoung has figured out that whenever it's Friday, the distance to their location seems to grow considerably large.

Taeyong plugs in his phone to the charger and grabs Doyoung's. "My phone is dead. I'll use yours." He sets in the location, and Doyoung begins to drive. "I'll play some music. Hmm, let's see what Mr. Robot CEO listens to. The sounds of babies crying? Machinery sounds? 'Du bist die Ruh?'" Taeyong scrolls through, and his eyes widen in surprise. "'Bandi & Luni's?' Is this because you like to read or something?"

Doyoung shakes his head at Taeyong's absurdity.

The gentle and groovy vibe of the music envelopes them comfortably as they drive into the Seoul night.

. . .

Taeyong's choice for today, to Doyoung's relief, is just a regular dinner date. They eat together and talk, although it is mostly Taeyong talking and Doyoung listening. They finish eating and then choose to walk around for a bit, breathing in the nighttime atmosphere.

It is mostly quiet, but there is a lot of hand-holding. Doyoung feels warm all over, like sunshine after long, rainy days. He breathes out, glad to be able to let out all his frustrations from earlier.

However, Doyoung is oblivious to the thoughts running through Taeyong's mind. While Doyoung is perfectly content with their current relationship, Taeyong grows more and more frustrated with the silence. They've been dating for a month now, yet to Taeyong, it feels like almost nothing has changed. If anything, it seems like Doyoung wants to meet less and less, choosing to focus on work instead.

Taeyong slowly fills with worry over time. He can't help but overreact; it's in his nature. He wonders if Doyoung is getting tired of him and is almost too scared to ask, knowing how honest Doyoung is.

"Y'know, this is kind of similar as before," Taeyong decides to sigh out.

Doyoung looks at Taeyong and smiles gently. "What do you mean?"

"You, being a workaholic." Taeyong shrugs, feeling a bit defensive even though Doyoung has not said anything yet. "It feels like you have less and less time for me."

Doyoung frowns at the statement. "I wouldn't agree with that. I think it's different for me now. I'm happier, and I've made new friends. And we're together now."

Doyoung's honest retaliation makes Taeyong feel frustrated for some reason. He thinks Doyoung is right; from his perspective, this must be a whole new world. But for Taeyong, it's been slow and tedious. He thinks he might be childish for thinking this way, but his irritation washes over him, and he doesn't find it in himself to admit that Doyoung might be right. "Well, you still work a lot. That could be different," Taeyong murmurs.

It surprises and hurts Taeyong when Doyoung pulls his hand away. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but work is my responsibility. It's not easy, alright? It's a burden that I have to carry."

The maturity from Doyoung annoys Taeyong even more. It's always been like this, Doyoung being cool and calm-headed while Taeyong is childish. He's realized it might make him seem whiny, yet Taeyong can't help but stay true to his feelings. "I just want us to spend more time together," he says with a pout. His emotions feel so concrete to him; he knows that this is building up to something that he can't take back. Yet Taeyong absolutely refuses to back down.

"I'm doing my best, Taeyong," Doyoung sighs out, rubbing his forehead.

"You don't even like it," Taeyong blurts out. "You don't even like working. So what's the point?"

The conversation with his father flows into Doyoung's mind. It irritates him, and he just wants to throw everything away. "What more do you want from me?" Doyoung asks tiredly. Everything feels slightly out of place, like a glass on the edge of a table, moments from falling.

The question angers Taeyong. He also doesn't like the idea of fighting with Doyoung. He knows better than anyone how Doyoung's changed, and it isn't easy to push someone out of their comfort zone. But it's harder to hold back a crashing waterfall than letting it flow. "Well, it's not like you do much, to begin with," Taeyong mumbles, looking away from Doyoung.

This makes Doyoung go silent. He's tired of the conversation, and it doesn't seem like either of them will stop. "I'll drop you off home," he says coldly.

After that, the two don't talk.