"Mom, I'm going."

Taeyong was only in his plain shirt, sweatpants and sneakers, with his jacket. He also made sure he has his wallet, phone and keys with him. He was excited for tonight, he couldn't even stop smiling a while ago. If this was a date, he'd combust.

"Okay. Come home immediately," she said.

"Could you buy me some fishcakes and tteokbokki, Yongie? Pretty please?" his sister suddenly asked, begging for his baby brother to buy her some midnight snacks.

Taeyong pouted, "Give me money then."

"I'll pay you later."

"Fine."

The boy goes out and unlocked the car, opening it before he steps in. He started the engine then drove away from their lot. Taeyong quietly drove towards the apartment, not too far from them. It didn't really take him too long, although the traffic was still there. He pulled over and was about to go down but he was surprised when Jaehyun was already waiting by the sidewalk.

Taeyong unlocked the door and just watched Jaehyun to step into car. The boy couldn't help but think how attractive Jaehyun is in white shirt and black jeans with a black cap on. He wanted to squeal but he just did it internally and stopped himself from blushing.

"You good?" the boy asked, other than he looks good.

The man nodded at him.

"Okay. We'll maybe be home after an hour, just a quick night drive," Taeyong uttered.

"...It's alright."

It took them a few minutes, more like half an hour, just driving around the quiet empty lot where he and his father usually practice. They have the windows down and the radio turned on with a low volume. Taeyong doesn't know what Jaehyun was doing while he was practicing but he was pretty quiet.

"You want to go and check out the night market?" the boy asked.

Jaehyun looked hesitant, "I'm not sure..."

"But you want to?"

The man took some time before he slowly nodded at the question.

"I'm going with you, don't worry."

Taeyong made sure, trying to gain some trust from Jaehyun. He shortly drove towards the place and parked on the empty lane. He still needs to practice parking, he told himself to keep it in mind for tomorrow.

Both of them stepped out of the vehicle and locked it. The boy looked at the man and saw him staring at the open night market that was kind of packed with people, but not too much.

"Are you...scared?" Taeyong asked.

Jaehyun hummed, remembering what the psychologist told him, which is to open up. He asked his aunt about it and just meant to tell something whatever he wants to say. More like, letting people know about his thoughts and feelings. To think about it, it was a hard thing to do. If he doesn't really want it, he won't do it. But he actually wants to talk to Taeyong.

Taeyong does everything anyway.

"J-Just nervous...I usually don't like crowded places."

The boy nodded, "Would like to stay in the car and wait for me?"

Jaehyun took a second, "I would rather be in a crowded place than be alone."

That was a good thing to know. Although the man was still hesitant and his voice sounds shaky, the boy knows he was trying to say his feelings. Maybe that's his homework for this week.

Taeyong nodded, "Okay. Does your aunt do anything when you're nervous?"

"She...just stays close to me."

The boy smiled, "I promise to keep myself close then."

They then walked towards the night market. Jaehyun stayed behind Taeyong. The warm lights, delicious smells, noises, the people, it all felt uncomfortable to Jaehyun. He wasn't used to these. He was a person who would lock himself inside his room and be depressed. The man could've fall unconscious by how overwhelming every thing around him. But his attention went to Taeyong when the held his hand.

His soft features were breathtaking, in a good way for Jaehyun. The boy's cheeks were turning red from the heat and his lips were trying to say something but the man was just too busy admiring him. His eyes look worried though.

"Hey, are you alright? I was calling you and you weren't answering," the boy asked.

Jaehyun snapped out, "...I'm fine."

Taeyong thought Jaehyun seem tensed. He just rubbed the man's arm, trying to make him calm down a bit.

"We'll just buy something then we'll go. I don't want you to have an attack," the boy uttered and pulled the man to walk faster.

Jaehyun got disappointed, not to Taeyong but to himself. If he's stopping the boy from having fun, he could've stayed behind. He doesn't want to pull him down. He's always the problem.

"My sister asked me to buy her some snacks. How about you?" Taeyong asked while they were standing infront of a food stall and the boy already buying what his sister wants.

Jaehyun shook his head, "I...haven't eaten those--"

"What?! Are you serious?"

"This is my first time being here."

Taeyong chuckled, "Okay. I'll let you taste some then. You're missing out the fun, Jae."

The man frowned, knowing that he's been really sulking inside his room too much.

"Does your auntie eat these? She must like some too."

"I'm not really sure."

"Let's just buy her these."

Jaehyun looked at Taeyong, glancing a bit and saw his smile again, laughing while he makes friends with the lady selling the snacks. Thinking about it, is Taeyong happy to be stuck with him? Is his aunt happy too? Although she doesn't show it, is she really happy?

"What are you thinking about?"

The man's eyes widened a bit and hummed, in question.

"I was asking about your thoughts. You're thinking a lot," Taeyong said and gave him a bag to bring, which Jaehyun accepted. The boy then pulled the man towards the way out of the market since it was slowly getting crowded.

Jaehyun shook his head, "...nothing."

"I hope you won't bring that to sleep."

They walked quietly towards the car. Taeyong unlocked and opened the backseat to place the snacks down there, hoping that it won't move too much to ruin the seat. He grabbed the other bag from Jaehyun and placed it beside the other one. He stood back and closed the door. The night wasn't too deep yet but Taeyong thought Jaehyun might be tired already.

"Are you happy doing this?" Jaehyun asked.

Taeyong looked at the attractive man infront, "What do you mean?"

"This...Have you ever thought about giving up on me? Or have you ever just regret doing this in the first place? Because...at some point, you'll get tired wasting your time for someone like me."

"Whoever left you, it's their loss."

"All I give is burdens. What's the loss there? The one who should've took care of me doesn't want me, what more when it comes to stranger?"

Taeyong softly smiled at him, "Really? You think that I'm just the same as them?"

Jaehyun furrowed his eyebrows at him, "You're just doing this because I'm ill--"

"I like you, Jaehyun. I want to be with you through ups and downs. That's how much I care for you."