So open up your heart and just let it begin

"Why didn't it feel like a home? Weren't you and, um, your ex staying there together?" Seonghwa felt dead cautious about mentioning his boss's name, especially not when Yunho was not in a particularly stable state. "It's alright, hyung, you can say his name. I have to get over it somehow. But yeah, the house didn't feel like a home. It's similar to the feeling of staying in a hotel. The place is neat and pleases the eye, but it doesn't feel lived in. That's what our home looked like, feeling like we hadn't been staying there at all. For all I care, our home could be considered a showroom. We didn't put up any decorations, no pictures either, nothing to distinguish that there were living people in that apartment. I noticed you have a family picture on your bedside table, sorry, I shouldn't have peeked." He added as an afterthought.

"Aww, no, you have nothing to be ashamed of. I keep it there because they're family, but we're not that close anymore, fell out years ago. I still call them occasionally, but other than that, I'd scarcely call them family. Anyway, as you were saying?"

"I also noticed the record player beside the tv. Is that why you went to work for Yeosang and Minho?"

"Technically, it was. I find records nostalgic, even if they're not as space effective. There's just something about them, even when they're of a current music track, there's something about using a record player that gives a vibe. Maybe it's an influence too, I'm not really sure, but that's a partial reason as to why I'm here now."

"Would you play one for me?"

Seonghwa felt his face turn red. There wasn't anything about that line that was provocative, but it sounded too much like an invitation. Hiding his blushing face, Seonghwa hurried to his bedroom, where he kept most of the records, muttering a soft "Sure, I'll be right back" as he scurried off. Shuffling through the shelf of records, which were marked with pieces of masking tape for easy identification, Seonghwa located the one he knew was the calmest. Toning down his nerves, he paced slowly through the corridor and back into the living room. "Here, I got one."

He set up the player, and in a moment, the opening bars of Pachelbel's Canon tinkled through the air. Instantly, the soft classical music made him relax, something about piano playing helped melt his worries. He turned to Yunho, and was horrified seeing the hefty waterfall of tears spilling over his cheeks. "No no no no no, Yunho, why are you crying again?"

Unable to help himself this time, Seonghwa leans over and envelops the other in a hug, which the younger leans into gratefully. "Don't be upset anymore."

It hurts my heart to see you sad.

"The music... reminds me of Sangie, I mean, Yeosang. We always listened to classical music in the car together. There was one time when we went on this long road trip, stopping by a bunch of different states. On the last day, we were heading back home, and it started raining. For some reason, he decided to play some classical tunes. We were chatting, I was driving, so I didn't see for the whole duration, but every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse. Every single time I looked, he had the most genuine smile on his face. Every memory I have of that trip has classical music playing alongside it. Those were some good times." He replied sorrowfully, staring at the floor. "But now I wonder if I'll ever see it as a pleasant recollection again..." More tears welled up in his eyes, and Seonghwa went into alarm mode.

"Y'know, I can just change the music right? It's not a big deal. Don't put yourself through this misery."

"No, hyung. Don't change it. I know you like it. It's just me, I'm the one who has to get over it." He gestured the elder, who had stood up again, to sit back down.

Seonghwa sat back down, only to spring to his feet a second later. "I have an idea." He ran off down the corridor, leaving Yunho in the living room, quiet, cold and broken. Sounds of bunching up fabric came from the bedroom, before Seonghwa returned, arms full of a thick, white blanket. He carried the bundle over to the couch, dumping it on the seat, and proceeded to drape half of it across Yunho's shoulders, before sitting beside the younger and curling the other half of the blanket around himself. "How's this for warmth?"

Yunho made up his mind. He budged himself closer to the other, so close that their legs brushed, and wrapped his end of the quilt around and to the front, encasing the two in a bubble wrap layer of soft fabric. "This is what I'll call warmth." He wrapped his long arms around the other's chest, like the inner layer of paper cushioning followed by the quilt bubble wrapping. Seonghwa froze, clearly not expecting the sudden affection.

"Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't have done that." The younger retreated immediately, curling up on himself a little bit away.

"No, actually, I liked it." "You didn't have to force yourself to." "I genuinely did."

The two were quiet for a while, not wanting to burst the silence, before Yunho spoke up again. "Hyung?"

"Yes?" There was a moment of silence before he sighed. "I think you deserve to know what happened. I feel like I can trust you. Do you promise you won't break that trust?"

"I swear on my life, Yun. Look, if it's too hard to say, don't force yourself to."

Yunho took a deep breath. "I'd end up telling you anyway. Minho texted me. He and Jisung were at a bar. Jisung had offered for me to join them this morning, but I didn't want to. Subsequently, my senior at work texted, asking if I could come with him for lunch, which I agreed to. At around 7, Minho texted me, saying that he was sorry and that I should come over. He doesn't feel sorry to anyone, except maybe Jisung, which I'm sure you've experienced when working with him. So, obviously, I found it weird that he'd feel sorry for me. I went to the location he mentioned... and found out Yeosang was cheating on me."

"What the- Why would he do that?!"

"He said I got boring, and now I can't help but feel he was right..." Yunho stared at the carpet, tears starting to form again.

"Yunho, Yun, look at me. You're not a boring person, and never will be. A boring person wouldn't have caught my attract-" He clamped a hand over his mouth, stopping himself from revealing any extra details.

"You fancied me?"

Eyes shining with curiosity, shining tears and eagerness, a complete mixture. Well, the cat's already out of the bag.

"Yeah, I did. On the first day I saw you. But Minho told me you were Yeosang's, so I didn't interfere. Now though, if you'll give me that chance?"

There was a short vibration in his pocket, and Yunho pulled his phone out. 6 missed calls and 18 messages from Dino. "Yunho, are you alright? I saw you leave." "Hey, are you alright?" "Text me once you see this message." "YUNHO ARE YOU OKAY?" Hurriedly, he texted his hyung back. "Yes, I'm fine."

The reply came instantly. "omfg Yunho I got so worried what happened?"

"just lost the love of my life to another bitch."

"he doesn't deserve you. Do you need me to come over?"

"nah, I'm with a friend."

He looked up from his phone right into Seonghwa's expectant irises. "So, um, are you willing to give me that chance? It's alright if you don't want to, I know you need time to get over your ex and..." he would've rambled on forever, if Yunho hadn't interrupted. "Yes, Hwa. I'll give you that chance."

"Scratch friend, hyung. He's my bf now."

.

.

.

The next morning, Seonghwa awoke before the alarm rang, and left the house, walking the ten and more blocks to the record shop. They had just opened when he reached.

"Good mornin' Hwa. There isn't much to do today, actually-"

"Actually, I'm looking for Yeosang. Is he in?"

"He's in the office." Minho's voice dropped in volume. "Is this about Yunho? Because if it is, please don't. he'll go crazy."

"Good thing I wanna go crazy too."

Seonghwa stalked up the stairs, not bothering to knock the door before barging in. "Kang Yeosang!"

The man seated at the desk looked up, noticed who had arrived, and turned back to his work with an indifferent expression. The nerve.

Seonghwa himself must have busted a few nerves. He marched across the floor and planted both hands hard against the desk. One floor below, Minho felt the ceiling shake and wondered if an earthquake was happening.

"Why the fuck did you do that?" Seonghwa could feel himself tremble with rage.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop feigning ignorance. I know you're smarter than the stupid thing you did."

"Okay, so what if I know what you're talking about? This concerns me and someone else. Mind your own fucking business!"

Instantly, the older felt himself reach a coolheaded rage headspace and controlled his voice. "It concerns me because I found your ex-boyfriend crying in the middle of a storm, beside a freaking lake! For all I know, and you won't give a damn anyway, he could've killed himself..."

"And so?"

Fuck self-control.

"Someone could have died, and you dare think it doesn't concern you?! You're the cause of it all, and you don't even care!" Hot tears of injustice welled up in his irises as he silently strolled around the desk and grabbed Yeosang by the collar. Dark eyes boring straight into seemingly innocent ones. "You fucked with the wrong person, Yeosang," His eyes seemed to reflect, and Yeosang knew it too.

"If you ever come near Yunho ever again, I swear to god, I'll kill you. A person with no conscience doesn't deserve to love anyone." Seonghwa shoved Yeosang back against his seat, dusted his hands, and strode across the room to the entrance. In the doorway, he paused, looking back at his boss, who was staring at him in shock, though no sign of it appeared on his face.

"Also, you don't have to fire me, cause I'm quitting. I'm not working for someone who doesn't know how to love."

Seonghwa left the office, slamming the door behind him.

He clomped down the stairs, and found Minho leaning against the bannister, just as he had been on that first day, only a few days ago. But this time, concern and worry was etched upon his face. "Are you alright, Hwa?"

Probably he expected the answer to be no, so he was pleasantly surprised by the other's denial. "Never been better. Minho, I'm really sorry. I know I only helped for one day, but you were a great mentor, and I thank you for that. I feel really bad having to make you work alone again. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, I know you have your reasons. Here, at least give me your number."

They exchanged phone numbers, and Seonghwa left the store. Minho stared up at the ceiling, and instantly declared he could spare a couple minutes. He tromped up the stairs, and knocked on the door, not waiting for an answer before entering.

"Yeo, you really fucked it up this time."

Meanwhile, Seonghwa had opted to take the bus home. This way, maybe there would be a chance he could catch Yunho before he left for work. The traffic was smooth for a Monday morning, and he reached fairly quickly.

Hurrying up the stairs; he couldn't be bothered to wait for the lift, he rapidly unlocked the front door and scurried to the bedroom. To his surprise, Yunho was still fast asleep, spread-limbed on the bed. The older couldn't help but smile, he looked very much like a starfish.

Crouching down to his knees, Seonghwa crept over to the side of the bed, and poked the sleeping one on the cheek. He didn't even stir. He proceeded to move the other's limbs about, almost dragging him off the bed, tickling him, pinching him, all to no avail.

Down to his last resort, Seonghwa went into the bathroom and changed into his home wear. He wasn't gonna splash water to wake him up. That would be plain mean, and after what the other went through...

He pounced onto the bed, snuggling up against the younger. "Yunho-ah, wake up."

Feeling the sudden warmth, the younger's eyes fluttered open, and he locked eyes with the older, sparks of affection floating between their gazes. "Hwa hyung."

"Good morning Yun. Did you sleep well?"

He nodded.

"I did, and it's all because of you," he chirped whilst wrapping his arms around his new lover.