Hyunjin had sat down next to Chan and listened to the conversation between Chan and Jisung with only half an ear. He tried to give the two as much privacy as possible.

Which was why his attention was more on Chan's dog, who was sitting at his feet and was extremely satisfied with Hyunjin patting her.

"Can I... can I visit you from time to time...? I miss you so much...", Jisung said softly and reached for the hand of his best friend.

"I... You don't have to come here... I don't want to be a burden to you," Chan whispered, sounding so vulnerable and broken that tears gathered in Hyunjin's eyes.

He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help it and reached for Chan's other hand.

"You... Channie, you're not a burden to me!" Jisung sobbed at that moment and only then did Hyunjin notice that tears were running down the younger's cheeks.

Without waiting for an answer from Chan, Jisung slid closer and wrapped his arms around the body of the older.

For a moment it looked like Chan didn't know how to deal with the younger's outburst of feelings. But then he wrapped his arm around him, but still held Hyunjin's hand tightly with the other hand.

"I... I need time.... But if you need me, you can come over," he whispered, even though he felt infinitely guilty.

Because the desire in him to end his life to finally be back with his family was still there.

Even if every now and then some hope shimmered in him. A spark of hope that his life still had something good in store for him.

And if he was honest with himself, then the name of his hope was Hyunjin.

He glanced briefly at the blonde, who was gently scratching behind Berry's ears. Love and hope flowed through Chan, as before when Hyunjin suddenly had been standing with a huge bouquet of flowers in his room.

Torn back and forth by his emotions, Chan felt like he was tearing apart from the inside.

He suppressed a sob and buried his face in Jisung's neck. Breathed in the familiar smell of iced americano and chocolate cake and felt some tension fall from him.

Even though he had normally been the one Jisung had leaned on, they had already endured rough times together. Had often snuggled together in a bed because Jisung couldn't stand staying at home.

Memories that had been buried somewhere deep inside him poured into him.

"Come here," Chan muttered, reaching out to Jisung.

The younger didn't hesitate for a second, but almost threw himself into the arms of the elder.

Tears soaked Chan's sweater and he held the younger one as long as his sobs persisted. Only when he noticed how Jisung slowly breathed more calmly and the tension was moving out of his body, he pulled him with him onto the bed.

When he was halfway sure that Jisung had fallen asleep, he carefully pushed the duvet aside and wanted to get up. But instantly Jisung clung to his arm.

"Please stay! I need you," Jisung whispered, sounding incredibly sad and desperate.

Only when Jisung had started working and finally been able to move out, it had gotten better.

Nevertheless, they had spent a lot of time together and also slept many nights in one bed.

He gently caressed the younger's back and grew in him the desire to survive all this and make it out of here. To be able to be there for Jisung again, as he had sworn.

He took his hand from Hyunjin's and also wrapped the other arm around Jisung.

He had been so afraid of meeting the younger. Somehow expected everything, but not that. Somehow he had feared that all the thoughts would only put more pressure on him. Instead, they rather caused the opposite.

They awakened the protective instinct in him.

Hyunjin watched the two for a moment, then stood up and followed Berry. The dog had become bored and she had went on a discovery. Meanwhile, she stood with her paws in the pond and it looked like she was going to fall in at any moment.

Laughing quietly, Hyunjin grabbed her collar and pulled her back. "Don't do that."

The dog nudged him playfully with her snout, ran a few steps away and then stopped as if she was waiting for him.

With a smile on his lips, Hyunjin followed her, but glanced at Chan and Jisung from time to time.

The two had stood up and followed him and Berry, but with quiet some distance.

Meanwhile, Berry was in the process of snagging at one of the residents. Only that she was not particularly clever.

Jeongin bent down to the little dog, smiling. "Can I pet her?"

Hyunjin squatted next to him. "Sure. She's very sweet."

With a gentle smile on his lips, Jeongin buried his fingers in Berry's soft fur. "Who's that with Chan?" he asked quietly.

Hyunjin looked at the younger one in surprise. "Ask him yourself."

With bright red cheeks, Jeongin looked up at Hyunjin and shook his head.

"Shy, Innie?", Hyunjin had to grin, but at the same time he felt incredible affection for the younger.

"I-"

Even before Jeongin could answer, Chan and Jisung walked up to them and Jeongin fell silent.

"Oh, hey Innie. This is Berry," Chan crouched next to the two, smiling and scratching Berry behind the ears. "And this is my best friend Jisung."

In order not to stand there stupidly and look down at the others, Jisung squatted next to Chan and smiled kindly at Jeongin. "Nice to meet you."

"N-nice to me-meet you too."

For a while, the four played with the little dog until Berry had enough and went exploring again.

Jeongin said goodbye soon after, somewhat saddened, because he had to go to group therapy.

Jisung looked behind him smiling and then turned to Chan. "Unfortunately, I can't really stay much longer. I still have to work afterwards."

Sighing sadly, Chan wrapped his arms around his best friend. "It really helped to see you. And thank you for bringing Berry. I wish she could stay here," he whispered.

Jisung looked at Hyunjin questioningly, but he just shrugged his shoulders unsuspectingly.

"We'll come back to see you pretty soon! Promise!" Jisung muttered and gently caressed Chan's back. "I love you, Channie!"

"I love you too, Hannie!" Chan whispered, snuggling up against the younger one for a moment.

The sight of the two reminded Hyunjin of Felix and awakened in him the hope that the younger would be at home when he came home from work later.

"Come on, Chan. We'll take Jisung and Berry to the exit."

Sighing, Chan separated from Jisung and nodded.

꧁⟢ ⍭〄⍭ ⟣꧂