•Serenity Mansion•

Seungkwan was sitting on the bed with his head resting against the headboard while his eyes remained shut. Soon enough, he heard a knock on his door which was already open.

He knew Jeonghan was going to come in his room with hot packs and medicine but why would he knock?

Seungkwan looked at the door and saw Vernon standing at the entrance, "What is it?"

Vernon stepped in and stood in front of Seungkwan, "Hot packs and medicines. I'll treat your ankle."

"I'm fine, I'll do it myself, later on." Seungkwan muttered.

"You can't even walk by yourself and you're saying you're fine." Vernon kept the tray on the table.

"I can, wanna see?"

"No-" Before Vernon could reply, Seungkwan stood up from the bed.

As soon as he kept his injured leg on the floor, the sharp pain struck again as he stumbled. Vernon was quick to hold him in place as one of his hands got wrapped around Seungkwan's waist while the other one got hold of his arm.

They stared at each other for a while after which Vernon fixed the pillows and made him sit on the bed once again.

"You don't need to-" Seungkwan began but was cut off by Vernon placing his finger on his lips.

"I know you're upset at me but you don't need to compromise with your health for that." Vernon retorted, "I said I'm genuinely sorry, Seungkwan. I'll keep apologising to you until I prove myself worthy enough for your apology. And it's alright if you don't want me to treat your ankle, I'll ask someone to help you but please punish me for my mistake, not yourself."

"It's- it's fine, you do it." Seungkwan looked up, "If you'll ask someone else then they'll find it weird and suspicious."

"Thank you." Vernon chuckled as he sat beside Seungkwan's leg and began to treat his ankle with the hot packs. After a while, he applied the gel ointment and dressed the affected area.

'Am I overreacting?' Seungkwan thought in the meantime, 'He said he's genuinely sorry and it's visible.'

"It's done." Vernon looked up, "Although I know you don't want to talk to me but still, if you need anything, I'm just one call away."

Seungkwan decided to test Vernon's determination, "What if I need something urgently in the middle of night and you can't be able to make it on time?"

"I will come, Seungkwan, I promise."

"No." Seungkwan nodded, "Sleep on the couch tonight, in my room so that I can ask for help immediately."

Vernon looked back at the couch. To be honest, it looked really uncomfortable for sleeping for the entire night. It was worth resting for two-three hours but definitely not a good option to sleep when he was already tired of work and had to work the next day as well.

But he didn't care at that moment. For some reason, he wanted to prioritise Seungkwan's comfort over his own, "Okay, I'll change into comfy clothes and will be back in a few minutes."

He left after picking up the tray while Seungkwan stared at his disappearing figure.

"Did he actually agree?!" Seungkwan's eyes widened, "How will he sleep here for the entire night, that's so uncomfortable. But he said yes. How? Is he actually very sorry? Ah Boo Seungkwan you escalate things too much!"

After a while, Vernon returned, "You didn't sleep yet?"

"I was going to." Seungkwan nodded, "You can go back to your room, I'm fine."

"No no, I'll sleep here, on the couch." Vernon retorted, "You're right, if I stay here, I can help better."

Seungkwan didn't say anything further, "Okay, good night." He slipped down beneath the blanket as he pretended to sleep.

"Good night." Vernon walked towards the couch.

Seungkwan secretly stared at him while getting onto the couch to sleep. Vernon had to struggle a lot before finding the best sleeping position for himself.

Seungkwan kinda felt bad for him. Of course if you're working hard the whole day and you know you've to go back to work, the next day, all you need is a good sleep. But, Vernon wasn't going to get it anymore, for sure.

Seungcheol stood at his balcony while staring at the moon. He was trying hard not to cry.

He was grateful for everything, no doubt but he still missed Jeonghan. The distance between them was still there. They had boundaries, in the present.

Seungcheol couldn't just randomly embrace Jeonghan whenever he wanted to. There were a lot of things which were not like the past. And there was no guarantee that Jeonghan would recall them or at least start loving him again, in the present.

I don't want to cry
Because I love you, I love you
It's not enough, no matter what I say

Everything was just hurting him to the core. The feeling of watching your love in front of you everyday but he didn't have any idea about it. He was simply helpless.

But he was trying. For the sake of his love, for the sake of everyone.

"Wish I'll get you back into my embrace." Seungcheol wiped his tears, "Wish you'll love me again. It hurts Jeonghan, it hurts without you. I don't know for how long I'll be able to stay strong but I'll try my best for you, for us."

He clutched his chest tightly, "I miss you."

Where did you go, leaving me who cared only for you?
Did you go away because you hate me?
I don't want to cry

His two sided love was now one sided. Of course Jeonghan was in pain because he wanted to recall his past but Seungcheol? He remembered everything. He knew everything. But still, he couldn't do anything but to go with the flow and hope for the best.

It was when he heard a knock at the door.

"It's open." Seungcheol looked back and saw Jeonghan stepping into the room with two small plates in his hands.

"Here!" Seungcheol called him on the balcony.

Jeonghan walked in while smiling as he handed one plate of pastry to him, "Everyone was eating but I heard you came back to your room without eating, so I brought yours here."

"Thank you." Seungcheol took the plate, "You didn't eat with them?"

"Uh-" Jeonghan contemplated if he was going to say the truth that he wanted to eat with Seungcheol, "If I would have eaten mine with them, then I would have eaten yours too while bringing it here."

"Of course." Seungcheol laughed. His tight grip on the railings went unnoticed by Jeonghan.

Seungcheol was just thinking about Jeonghan and now he was in front of him, giggling and talking about random stuff, still unaware about their past.

And it was just fuel to the fire.

Before Seungcheol's tears would give in, he kept the plate beside him, "Excuse me." He rushed back into the room and then the washroom.

He closed the door shut behind him as his tears began to fall without a pause, "Don't mess it up Seungcheol, don't mess it up! You can't cry right now!! Stop!!"

"Stop, please stop, don't be weak!"

"Don't think that you're weak if you cry. Whenever you feel like crying, just come into my arms Seungcheol, I'll always be there for you."

"S-stop!" Seungcheol's lips quivered.

"If you ever feel like you're alone or you want to give up, just come to me. I'll be your strength."

Seungcheol clutched his chest tightly. Nothing, literally nothing was helping him to calm down. Jeonghan's voice was constantly ringing in his head, reminding him that he probably would never say these things to him again.

"I don't want you to deal with your problems alone. I want to take all the darkness of your life and fill yours with brightness. I love to see you smile like that, don't let it fade, okay?"

Seungcheol slipped down on the ground with a loud thud. He was bawling his eyes out as his brain was messed up with the past and present.

Don't play around, I know it's there
I think it will show up, just wait
I have to find you
Because if I cry now, I might not be able to see you

It was when he heard a knock on the washroom's door, "Seungcheol? What is that sound? Are you okay?"

Seungcheol patted his chest as he inhaled a deep breath, "Yes, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Jeonghan asked from across the door.

"Yeah I accidentally spilled shampoo all over myself, I'll have to take a shower. You can go back Jeonghan, it will take me some time." Seungcheol replied.

"No it's fine, I'll wait. You can take your time." Jeonghan retorted.

He was actually worried for the older. First, he abruptly left while they were talking on the balcony. Second, the sound he had just heard. He decided to stay back and wait for Seungcheol although he was extremely tired after his trip to the orphanage.

He brought both the plates of pastries back into the room and slid the door of the balcony. He sat on the bed while patiently waiting for Seungcheol.

Yes, he was completely unaware of Seungcheol's tears that he was weeping behind that closed door. He was unaware of Seungcheol's broken heart that was craving for his love and affection. He was unaware of Seungcheol's vulnerable side that was shattered down for him.

But it wasn't his fault, anyways. There was no one to blame. Both of them were suffering.

There was definitely a wall between them which had to be removed gradually. If that wall would shatter down abruptly, it was very much possible that Jeonghan's life would be at risk.

That was the only reason why Seungcheol was keeping all of his feelings, sealed.

There are a lot of tears
I don't want to cry

Within a while, Seungcheol stepped out of the bathroom while drying his hair with a towel. He was dressed in black trousers and a grey t-shirt.

"Sorry for making you wait." Seungcheol apologised immediately.

"It's alright, are you fine?" Jeonghan stood up.

"Yeah." Seungcheol managed to smile.

"You look tired today." Jeonghan mumbled, "You should sleep. Let's eat quickly then I'll leave, sorry for disturbing you."

"No why would you say that?" Seungcheol tossed the towel on the chair as both of them sat on the bed with their desserts in their hands.

"I mean you should have been asleep by now considering how tired you look but I came all of a sudden." Jeonghan explained.

"There's nothing like that." Seungcheol chuckled, "If you want to see me you can even wake me up from sleep and I would love that."

"But you do look tired right now." Jeonghan stared at him, "Or you're probably sad? Are you missing your home? Seoul?"

"Yeah." Seungcheol nodded as he looked down, "I'm missing my home. But you know what, my home is not Seoul or my apartment, it's a person."

Seungcheol looked up, at the younger's astonished eyes, "Before you assume something else, I was talking about my parents." He stared at the floor again.

Soon he felt the tender touch of Jeonghan's hand on his hair. He was grazing his fingers through his locks, "You did well today Seungcheol, I'm proud of you."

Seungcheol's eyes immediately shot up. This was something he used to say to him almost everyday. And Seungcheol absolutely loved it. His eyes began to well up with tears again as he recalled those memories.

"I assume your parents would say these things to you, I hope I'm helping." Jeonghan's hand slipped from his head to his cheeks, wiping the tears, "Why are you crying?"

"I don't know." Seungcheol muttered.

It was the first time Jeonghan was seeing him like that. And for some reason, his heart was hurting as well. He wanted to do everything and anything to take away the older's misery.

"You know there are times when you feel overwhelmed but you don't know why." Seungcheol explained.

I have to lie, say things I don't like, I have to do it
Because my heart doesn't listen as I thought
Come back, come back, come back
How can you live as one when you don't have half?
I don't want to cry.

"You can cry all you want, I'm here." Jeonghan assured.

He stood up and went to sit on the end of the bed, resting against the headboard. He crossed his legs and kept a cushion on his lap. He gestured the older to come.

Seungcheol chuckled as he went on to lie on the bed with his head resting on the cushion over the younger's lap.

Jeonghan grazed his hands through the older's hair.

"Just close your eyes, I'll go after you sleep." Jeonghan softly stated.

"Thank you." Seungcheol shut his eyes.

It was the moment he realised that there was nothing like old Jeonghan and new Jeonghan. He was just Jeonghan, his Jeonghan.

•Serenity HQ•

"Come in." Hoshi answered the knock on the cabin's door.

"Good morning sir, this is the file of KTG Pvt Ltd, Mr. Hong asked you to review it." A lady kept the file on the table.

"Okay." Hoshi nodded.

"By the way congratulations to you and Mr. Lee, you make a nice couple." She chuckled.

"What? We aren't dating." Woozi blurted out.

"It's okay sir, I understand people mostly prefer to keep their relationship hidden in the office but yours came out unexpectedly." The lady bowed, "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." She left.

And after that, whoever came to their cabin for work, ended up congratulating them for their relationship.

"Ask Mingyu to upload it on the cloud storage." Hoshi concluded his order to another staff member present in the cabin.

"Okay sir, and congratulations to both of you."

"Thank you." Hoshi displayed a small smile after which the staff left.

"Thank you? Seriously?" Woozi was annoyed.

"What else am I supposed to say? They all are saying the same thing and no matter how much we deny, they think we're making excuses." Hoshi scoffed, "Let it be, just say thanks and move on. Let them think about whatever they want, it doesn't concern us."

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have told you about Mr. Cha." Woozi muttered.

"Don't overthink, Woozi." Hoshi looked at him, "I already told you, whatever everyone thinks, doesn't matter to us. It's not like I'll kiss you just because they think we're dating."

Awkward.

"Let's focus on work." Hoshi averted his gaze, totally ignoring Woozi's wide eyes.

"I have to discuss something with Vernon, I'll be back in a while." Woozi stood up as he left. He made his way to the other cabin and saw Seungkwan and Vernon focused on their respective screens.

As Woozi stepped in, they greeted each other after which Woozi discussed his work with Vernon. It was when he noticed Vernon massaging his shoulders and back of the neck, occasionally.

"Did you not sleep well last night?" Woozi asked in concern, "Or is it any other kind of pain."

"No hyung, I'm fine." Vernon chuckled although he was definitely not fine and Seungkwan knew it.

"How's your leg, Seungkwan? I thought you won't come to the office today."

"It's better, I can walk for short distances so it was okay with me to come here." Seungkwan looked at Vernon then back at Woozi, "Vernon took care of me, nicely."

Vernon turned towards him as he chuckled to himself. He felt like he had won a huge battle or something.

"Okay, I'll go." Woozi left their cabin, "Take care, both of you."

"Uh- Vernon." Seungkwan turned towards him, "I'm sorry. I know it's paining, because I made you sleep on the couch last night."

"It's alright Seungkwan, don't say sorry." Vernon nodded, "All I want is you to forgive me. Let's start fresh and be good friends this time, please?"

Seungkwan thought for a moment as he inhaled a deep breath, "Okay."

"Sure?" Vernon smiled in excitement.

"Sure." Seungkwan grinned.

A/n : 10K on FOUND YOU!! Thank you so much guys like seriously, finally my fav book got its 10K🖐🏻😭

I was so excited when I posted the announcement on my mb that I forgot to thank you guys. I was like yo calm down bro😭

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo