"just how many bottles did you drink?" heeseung asked softly as he gestured jay to sit on the sofa.

jay looked up as if he was trying to remember. "nope, not bottles. i drank 6 glasses of juice!" he follows heeseung's instruction, while older kneels in front of him.

juice? i don't think so. did sunghoon trick him? heeseung takes jay's shoes off while letting the socks remain. he proceeds to take a glass of water from the kitchen, giving it to the younger.

"drink some water first."

jay obediently followed, drinking slowly and putting the empty glass on the coffee table once he was done. he stared at heeseung while the latter avoided his eyes.

why did sunghoon leave him here? shouldn't jake take care of him?

"your house is so quiet," jay spoke again. he stood up and walked around as if he's in a museum.

i was hoping to meet him in a more decent situation, not like this- not when he's not even sober enough to talk properly.

"aren't you going to give me a house tour?" jay is now busy looking at the paintings that hang around the living room.

heeseung sighed. "does jake even know that you're here? maybe we should inform him first, he'd probably want to pick you up."

"he's busy."

"he's probably worried about you-"

"we... decided to end whatever we were trying to work on. we're back to just being friends now."

oh.

jay gave him a small smile before he busied himself while exploring his house.

i didn't know. is that why... he wanted to talk to me?

is that also the reason why he got drunk?

he sighed, trying not to overthink again. he walked inside his room to get some extra clothes for jay to change into. when he got out of the room, jay is lying on the carpet whilst holding a slipper on his hand.

five minutes. i was gone for five minutes and this is what happens?

heeseung went closer to jay, who has his eyes closed. is he asleep?

he sat in front of him as he stared at the guy for a few seconds. he couldn't help but admire the little details that complement his face. the long lashes, his brows, the tiny unnoticeable moles that look like stars.

how long has it been since the last time that heeseung got the chance to be with jay this close? it's been years, but to him it doesn't even matter.

i missed you. have i already told you that?

heeseung was about to stroke jay's cheek when he stopped his hand halfway. what the hell am i even doing? i should wake him up.

"jay, please-" he stopped speaking when jay pulled his hand back and put it on his cheek.

"why did you hesitate?" jay's hand remained on top of heeseung's hand, which is now on his left cheek.

heeseung coughed a little bit, startled by the younger's response. he quickly removed his hand away from jay's face.

"i thought you were sleeping," he hands him the extra clothes. "you should go and change. there's a spare toothbrush inside the bathroom so you can use that."

"...why do i get the feeling that you don't want me here?"

"that's not true," heeseung quickly replied. "you're still a bit drunk, jay. it's the alcohol talking, i'm sure you'll regret this tomorrow."

jay shakes his head. "no, i-i'm not that drunk. why haven't you texted me? you said we'll talk but it has been days! you didn't even text me!"

he looks a bit teary-eyed now. heeseung tried to console him by pulling jay close to him, patting his head gently. they're still sitting on the carpet as they face each other.

"i got busy with work, and i didn't have time to text you back. i'm really sorry, please don't cry now."

when jay calmed down a bit, he stared at heeseung again. he stretched his arms out as if he was gesturing for a hug, and heeseung willingly obliged.

he pulled jay closer and slowly wrapped his arm around his waist while his other hand is behind jay's head, caressing him. jay had both of his arms clinging around heeseung's neck like a koala.

"i missed you." he hears jay mumble, "so much."

heeseung feels as though his heart is being squeezed- he can't breathe. hearing these words from the guy that he'd been waiting for all these years, it's like he's inside a dream.

"you're not just saying this because you're drunk, are you?"

"no!" jay objects fast, his voice raises a bit. then he rests his chin on heeseung's shoulder again as he continues to talk.

"you have no idea how much i wanted to do this... the first time that i saw you inside that elevator, all i wanted was to run towards you- to the point that my mind just went blank. you were the reason why i almost did not accept the internship... and i still regret leaving you that day. there was no day in milan that i did not think of coming back here because i wanted to see you..."

"it was always you, heeseung. not jake, not anyone else. just you."

jay is now sobbing, sniffing through the fabric of heeseung's shirt. his words are barely comprehensible, but somehow heeseung understood it all.

it breaks me just to hear what he's thinking all this time.

heeseung plants soft kisses on the side of jay's head. his hand is still attached to the boy's waist, and it feels like he doesn't want to let go anytime soon.

"if only i took the courage to chase you all the way to milan, then we'd probably have no problem today." heeseung's voice sounded like a lullaby to jay's ears. "but i had to fix myself. i was getting ready so that when you come back, you wouldn't see any flaw in me."

jay raised his head and looked at him through his eyes filled with tears. "i never saw any flaw in you to begin with. what's there to fix?"

heeseung let out a hearty laugh before he leaned in and captured jay's lips in a kiss. he chuckled in his mind when he tasted the same flavor of lipbalm that jay wore years ago, back when they also shared their first kiss together.

raspberry-flavored. is this his favorite?

meanwhile, jay feels like he's a ticking time bomb. he could feel the warmth coming from heeseung as he tilted his head, slowly moving his lips in sync to the older. he pulled him more while both of his hands rested at the back of heeseung's head.

fuck, this is addicting.

heeseung thought as he slowly pulled away from the younger. their faces are still inches away as they breathe as if they're in rhythm with each other.

"lee heeseung," jay stares at heeseung like he hangs the moon and stars for him. he stares at him with his eyes full of affection, and heeseung would've melted long ago.

"what? you really looked drunk. go to sleep," heeseung laughed before he flicked jay's forehead lightly.

"i love you."

heeseung bit his lower lip, fighting the urge not to smile. i'm not dreaming, right?

"i know. now go change your clothes, it's already past midnight. we should sleep." he stood up, while jay frowned at him.

"seriously? who cares about sleeping when we just—" the younger stopped talking when he realized what he just said. "whatever, you suck."

he cleared his throat and grabbed the spare clothes as he marched towards the bathroom.

"park jongseong,"

jay stopped walking but he didn't look back. "what now?"

"i'll always be in love with you." heeseung softly says, leaning against the wall of his room.

jay glanced at him with a ghost of smile appearing on his lips. "i know, baby. i know."

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hoon 📰 @parkwrites tweeted.

good morning! 😇🌈 how's everyone feeling so far? @cornjay hbu brotha u good? pls reply asap i need to know if ur still alive thx

2894 likes | 378 retweets

replies:

@sunscript what in the actual stupidity did u do now
↪@parkwrites 🧍🏻‍♂️ you're scaring me noonoo pls don't yell at me 😞
↪@sunscript i'm going to throw massive rocks at your window
@chenleave the real question is, how are YOU feeling so far? lmfaoooo
↪@parkwrites ? is that funny to you
↪@chenleave no it's not funny sir i apologize it's all my fault 😭🙏🏻

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inactive @cyberlee tweeted.

good morning ☀️

10928 likes | 1067 retweets

replies:

@sunscript oh wow... good morning!
@parkwrites sure sure i close my eyes
↪@parkwrites also jay i need a full report on what happened asap
@itsjimin FUCKING HELL CONGRATS !!! finally my bestie ain't bitchless 😭
@yeonjuned u two are dating? since when 🧍🏻‍♂️
@chenleave ????? when did this happen wtf
@simjake cuteee 🥹 congrats to you two 🫶🏻

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one chapter left before i close this book 🥲

are you guys ready to meet the third and final book of the operation series? 😌

feel free to ask me anything in this comment section (or in my message board) if you guys have any questions ^^ have a good night/day!