Chapter 1
The shrill sound of the alarm clock cut through the silence. A deep sigh followed.
"Just two more minutes, and then I'll go to class."
In a small classroom, with his head resting on the desk, sat a man. Dark circles under his eyes and an exhausted expression hinted that he was one of those people who technically got eight hours of sleep—but over the span of three days.
Boredom had turned Bang Chan's life into a monotonous cycle. Home – work – home.
When he graduated from university, he had no clear idea of what he wanted to do. When he applied, his main concern was securing a scholarship so he wouldn't be a burden to his family. That's how he ended up becoming a teacher. The thought still made him chuckle sometimes.
Thankfully, he had a way with people. Even kids. They liked him right away—and honestly, he liked them too.
But no matter where you work, burnout will find you. Especially if you never learned how to take a break. And Chan never did.
Endless lessons, private tutoring, grading assignments—his schedule was packed. He only went home to sleep. Proper rest and meals were luxuries, and weekends were spent trying to catch up on sleep for the entire week.
And so, once again, he had fallen asleep during a break at his desk, only to wake up to the sharp ringing of the class bell.
Time for the last lesson of the day. Then, finally, a chance to breathe. Maybe he'd go to a café. Or just collapse into bed.
He barely saw his friends anymore. They had scattered across different cities, though he still kept in touch with his best friend, Changbin. Changbin was supposed to visit in a couple of months.
Dragging himself out of the office, Chan stalled as much as possible—searching for his keys, fumbling with the door, and eventually just pressing his forehead against it with a long sigh.
"Uh… hello?"
Startled, he turned around. A young man stood nearby, watching him with mild amusement. Clearly, he had witnessed all of Chan's unsuccessful attempts to delay the start of class.
"Oh. Hey," Chan croaked, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Are you Mr. Bang? The English teacher?"
"Yeah."
"I'm a former student here. My university sent me to give a presentation about how amazing it is and convince future applicants to join. Also, this helps me make up some credits." - He grinned.
"Uh-huh. Well, come in, I guess."
Chan had barely processed what the guy had said, but honestly? He didn't care.
Let him talk the entire lesson if he wanted. The universe had finally shown Chan some mercy.
He led the student to his desk before heading to the last row and pulling out his phone. Who was this kid? Where was he from? What did he want? None of it mattered. Security let him in, which meant he wasn't a threat. That was good enough.
He was just too tired to care.
At some point, though, Chan felt the student's gaze on him. He glanced up and gave him a small, friendly smile before tuning back into his voice.
To his surprise, the student's voice was… nice. Calm, engaging. The other students listened to him, asked questions.
"Huh. And I have to drag words out of them with pliers during lessons," Chan mused to himself.
The guy talked about the importance of studying, shared tips, gave the usual advice graduates like to give to high schoolers.
Without realizing it, Chan found himself observing him.
He was slightly taller than Chan. His straight black hair kept falling into his eyes, and he kept pushing it back. His features were so sharp they could cut. And when he laughed, his eyes turned into tiny crescents. He looked like a fox.
And he was looking right back at Chan.
A jolt ran through him. Chan quickly averted his eyes, pretending to scroll through his phone.
The lesson passed quickly. Despite his exhaustion, he didn't want to go straight home. When you spend all your time trapped in the home – work – home cycle, free time makes you restless, even if you're tired.
The students took selfies with the guest, invited him to a school concert later that evening, then scattered into the hallway. The classroom was empty now. Chan exhaled in relief. Gathering his things, he noticed a pair of glasses left on the desk. The visitor must have forgotten them.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be at the concert," the young man's voice carried from the hallway. Then, the door opened again. "Would you mind keeping me company? I don't really know anyone here anymore. Oh, by the way, I'm Yang Jeongin."
Chan blinked.
"Oh, I never introduced myself, huh? Well, you already know my last name. I'm Christopher Bang. You can call me Bang Chan. Or just Chan. Or Chris. Or… sigh… honestly, I don't care anymore."
After a pause, he added,
- "Yeah, I have time."
A thought flickered in his mind: Did he leave his glasses behind on purpose?
Jeongin grinned. "I kind of hijacked your lesson. Let me make it up to you with a cup of coffee?"
Coffee. Chan's one weakness.
He could drink it by the gallon. In fact, he did drink it by the gallon to survive his schedule.
"Sounds like a plan," Chan said, smiling.
So, that's how he found himself with unexpected plans for the evening.
Chapter 2
The café was just a short walk from the school.
"Two cappuccinos, please," Jeongin ordered at the counter while Bang Chan headed straight to his favorite spot at the back of the room.
A few minutes later, Jeongin brought over the drinks and flopped down next to him, looking tired but still his usual cheerful self. He was exhausted too, but unlike Chan, he didn't let it show.
"Thanks," Chan muttered, taking a sip—then immediately choking. -"What the hell is wrong with the milk?!"
Jeongin blinked at him in confusion. Chan's exhaustion was gone in an instant. Or rather, replaced by sheer disgust.
"Oh… it's coconut milk. A coconut milk cappuccino… Sorry, hyung. I wasn't even thinking, I just ordered it out of habit. Do you want me to get you a new one? Chan, say something, please," Jeongin's voice had a hint of panic now.
Chan inhaled sharply through his teeth.
"Ah, no, it's fine. Actually… it's not bad," he shrugged and took another sip. "Sorry, I'm just tired and easily irritated. Anyway, Jeongin, tell me something good. And preferably nothing coconut-related."
He smiled, and Jeongin launched into a story.
About everything and nothing at once. Like time and air were running out. (Though time really was running out—Jeoning had promised the kids he'd come to their concert.) Chan listened, watching him talk, a small smile playing on his lips. In some ways, this guy reminded him of his little brother.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
At 5:45 PM, Jeongin's alarm went off.
"Oh wow, it's already that late… Sorry, I totally lost track of time," he reached for his phone and started gathering his things. "Are you… are you sure you want to go to the concert? You don't have to if you don't feel like it."
Wait. When had they switched to informal speech?
Chan blinked, remembering the concert, and let out a quiet sigh. Honestly? He wanted nothing more than to go home.
But instead, he just gave his usual easygoing smile.
"Let's go."
On the way there, they talked about everything and nothing.
The concert passed in a blur. The kids were happy. After the show, everyone went their separate ways, but he and Jeongin managed to exchange numbers before leaving.
The next morning, rushing into the café before work, Chan didn't even have to think about his order.
"Good morning. A coconut milk cappuccino, please.
Chapter 3
The week was slowly coming to an end.
Every Friday night, Chan taught a small group of students—though, honestly, they felt more like friends at this point—who were learning English "for the greater good."He liked this so-called greater good. In fact, he lovingly referred to them as his "antidepressants"—they were the splash of color in his otherwise gray routine.
As usual, he had a lesson prepared and was mentally ready to hear their weekly "you won't believe what happened to me" stories—in their wonderfully broken English, of course.
But the moment he stepped into the small rented office, he was met with a loud:
"SURPRISE!"
It wasn't a prank. It wasn't a gift.
Seungmin had brought someone new.
"Hyung! This is Yang Jeongin—he's joining our class!"
Jeongin looked just as caught off guard as Chan, but no one seemed to think twice about it.
Chan just smirked and gave a nod.
"Well, welcome, Jeongin. You're part of the family now."
That night, they learned a lot:
Jeongin had just enrolled at the local university.
He lived in a dorm.
His roommate—a grad student—was secretly hiding three cats in their tiny room.
Now, their little group had grown to five.
Seungmin helped Jeongin with the assignments while Felix, Han, and Hyunjin took turns telling him the most ridiculous stories.
Chan just sat back, watching them, feeling a strange warmth settle in his chest. Like he was their older brother. Or maybe even their dad.
After the lesson, they all went out for bubble tea, walked Jeongin back to his dorm, and only then headed home.
When Chan unlocked his apartment door, he hesitated for just a second, listening to the quiet.
Something in his life was changing.
And for once, it felt like a change for the better.
Chapter 4
Spring was slipping into summer.
The air was thick with the scent of cherry blossoms and wild sakura, and any motivation for work or study was fading like morning mist—leaving behind only the urge to escape. To go anywhere, as long as it made you feel alive.
Chan walked to the café with a light step but a heavy head.
"Good morning! The usual, please—coconut milk cappuccino, no sugar, no cinnamon. Thanks."
He stepped aside to wait for his order when someone suddenly clapped him on the shoulder.
"Hyung! Good morning!"
"Jesus, Jeongin… do you have to yell this early?" Chan exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Morning to you too. Didn't take you for a morning person."
"Yeah… neither did I. You heading to work?"
"Mm. Gotta deal with some paperwork."
"Well, have a good one, hyung."
"You too, Yenni."
Jeongin smiled, a little embarrassed, and went back to his table, watching Chan leave—without really understanding why seeing him had made him feel so much better.
It had been two months since he'd started coming to the lessons. To be honest, half the time he barely understood what was going on, but he liked it. He liked listening to Han's ridiculous stories. He liked how Seungmin constantly scolded the others for copying their homework. He liked watching Hyunjin sketch portraits and Felix host his little tea parties after class.
It had become a familiar, almost family-like ritual.
But now it was May. Spring was ending, the long holidays were ahead, and the others had already left town. The dorms had closed.
And now here he was, sitting in an empty café after wandering the streets all night, with no idea what to do next.
Going back to his hometown wasn't appealing. But sleeping outside wasn't an option either.
As he absentmindedly watched the quiet streets, a familiar figure caught his eye.
For the second time that day. Chan had come back to the café.
"Yenni, you're still here?" Chan smirked. "Knew it. Come on, let's get lunch."
Jeongin blinked at him for a few seconds, processing, then nodded.
Chan was relieved. At least one of his "antidepressants" was still in town. They headed to the school cafeteria.
"Everyone left yesterday," Chan noted. "Thought you would too."
"I was supposed to go today, but… I don't really want to."
"Something happen?"
"No, I just…" Jeongin hesitated. "I spent so long trying to get out of my hometown, and now I don't feel ready to go back."
Chan just nodded in understanding.
"And besides," Jeongin added, "the dorms closed, and I only found out last night.
"…Wait, what?"
"Yeah."
"Jeongin, did you sleep outside?"
"N-no," Jeongin stretched out the word. "I just… took a very long walk."
"Why didn't you text someone? Any of us would've let you crash with them! I would've let you crash with me!"
"It's fine, hyung. It wasn't a big deal. I wasn't stranded or anything, so I just… let it be. I'll buy a ticket home tonight."
Chan stopped in front of the cafeteria doors.
"Yenni…" He looked at him seriously. "You can always stay with me. Any of you can. I'd fit all five of you in my place if I had to."
Jeongin let out a small, tired chuckle.
"I'm joking," Chan added. "But if you want, we'll eat, then head to my place. You can actually get some rest, and then decide what to do from there."
A strange emptiness settled in Jeongin's chest.
Maybe it was just exhaustion.
Maybe it was something else.
Without thinking, he stepped closer and rested his forehead against Chan's shoulder.
"Thanks, hyung."
Chan wrapped an arm around him, patting his back lightly.
"It's all good, Yenni. Let's go home."
Chapter 5
"Well… welcome."
Chan awkwardly gestured for Jeongin to step inside.
Jeongin hesitated on the doorstep, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
His stomach twisted. What the hell am I even doing? A wave of panic rose in his chest as reality finally hit him—he was about to spend the night at his TEACHER'S place.
But backing out now wasn't an option.
"…Thanks, hyung," he murmured, stepping inside.
Chan's apartment felt like an extension of him.
The air carried the sharp yet soothing scent of pine and tobacco from a diffuser. The walls were a soft gray, and the sleek, minimalist kitchen was cluttered with empty coffee cups.
The living room was warm and inviting—an ash-colored couch, bookshelves overflowing with novels and framed photos. But the bedroom…
The bedroom had a completely different energy.
Posters of his favorite bands and motivational quotes in English covered the walls. Above the desk, a massive bulletin board—probably stolen from the school—was packed with lesson plans, sticky notes, and to-do lists. Scattered across it were handwritten messages:
"Bang Chan-hyung, you're the best teacher!"
"Chan, we love you!"
"Thanks for everything, Chris."
Next to them, Polaroids were pinned in a messy but heartfelt arrangement.
His desk was a controlled chaos of books, a laptop, stacks of scribbled notes, and colorful pens scattered between pages. A calendar sat nearby, its days crossed out one by one.
As Jeongin quietly took it all in, Chan was already in the kitchen, brewing herbal tea.
He could tell—his student was anxious. And he needed to calm down.
"Yenni, come here! I made some tea."
"Thanks, hyung," Jeongin mumbled as he sat down, still glancing around the room.
"That's the third time."
"…Huh?"
"You've said 'Thanks, hyung' three times already."
Jeongin froze like he'd just been caught in the act.
"Oh… sorry. I just still can't believe all of this is happening. Thank you for letting me stay."
Chan shrugged.
"It's no big deal. What do you wanna do tonight?"
"I… just want to sleep. And maybe stop by a store to grab a few things. That's all."
"Got it. What do you want for dinner? Any allergies?"
"No allergies. And don't worry so much about me, it's already embarrassing enough—your questions are making it worse…"
"My bad," Chan chuckled. "Alright then, let's keep it simple. Spicy buldak ramen. First one to cry does the dishes!"
Jeongin laughed.
And that laugh filled Chan with warmth.
"Alright, hyung. Can I take a shower?"
"Of course. Finish your tea, I'll grab you a towel and some clothes."
"Thanks, hyung."
"That's four times now."
Jeongin laughed again
For the first time in a while, he felt warm.
Safe.
Chapter 6
Scalding water ran down Jeongin's skin, burning and soothing him at the same time.
He had been standing under the steaming shower for ten minutes, motionless, letting the heat seep into his bones. It was almost too hot—hot enough to send shivers down his spine.
But at least he was feeling something.
Pain and relief, all at once.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Chan sipped his tea. The presence of another person in his home didn't feel strange. If anything, it felt natural—like it had always been this way. A quiet warmth spread through him, unfamiliar yet comforting.
Half an hour later, Jeongin emerged from the bathroom.
Chan's black shorts hung loosely on him, and he was towel-drying his damp hair, droplets sliding down his bare chest.
Chan swallowed hard.
A sharp, foreign jolt shot through him. Not this again. That same unsettling rush he had felt before—the first time their eyes lingered on each other just a little too long.
This isn't normal.
Shaking off the thought, he busied himself with the dishes.
"Chan-hyung! Do you have a hairdryer? I need to dry my hair before I head to the store!" Jeongin's voice rang from the bathroom.
"Yeah! Bottom shelf under the sink!"
The hum of the dryer filled the apartment.
Chan threw on a black hoodie and jeans, getting ready to go out.
"Yenni, you ready? I'm heading out."
"Just a sec!"
Chan glanced up—and froze.
Black suited Jeongin way too well.
The oversized hoodie made his sharp features stand out, and the gray jeans gave him a casual, effortless look—like he had been wearing them his whole life.
It took Chan a full second too long to tear his gaze away.
"…Alright, let's go."
—
The cool evening air filled his lungs as they stepped outside. Chan inhaled deeply, letting the crisp spring breeze ground him.
They wandered through the supermarket, picking up everything Jeongin needed. On the way back, they grabbed ice cream, walking at an easy, unhurried pace.
"Thanks again, hyung," Jeongin murmured. "I felt so awkward before… but now I feel comfortable."
"Glad to hear it. At least I won't have to die of boredom alone this weekend," Chan teased.
Jeongin grinned.
At the park, they found a bench near the lake. The setting sun cast golden streaks across the rippling water, filtering through the leaves. Birds had quieted down, and the world around them felt still.
Chan let out a slow breath, eyes fixed on the horizon.
"…It's so peaceful," he said softly, as if his mind was somewhere far away.
"Yeah…" Jeongin whispered.
Neither of them wanted this moment to end.
Chapter 7
That night, they crashed on the couch, watching Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. After demolishing a bowl of fiery buldak ramen and drinking way too much herbal tea, Jeongin felt pleasantly full, warm, and drowsy.
Somewhere toward the end of the movie, Chan noticed his companion had stopped moving. Glancing down, he realized Jeongin had fallen asleep—head resting against his shoulder, breathing soft and even.
Carefully, Chan adjusted his position, letting Jeongin settle more comfortably against him without waking him up.
His scent was fresh, like cool night air and wild cherry blossoms.
—
Something bright flickered behind his eyelids.
Jeongin blinked awake.
The TV was still on, playing an entirely different movie. Chan had dozed off as well, one hand resting on the floor, the other still loosely draped around him.
Warm. Safe.
Jeongin didn't want to move.
But his throat was dry, so he quietly slipped out of Chan's hold and headed to the kitchen for some water. His mind felt hazy, his thoughts drifting aimlessly, and he didn't even realize Chan had followed him until
"Can't sleep?" - Chan's voice was husky from sleep.
Jeongin startled slightly.
"Oh—sorry for falling asleep on you. I didn't even realize when it happened."
"Don't worry about it, Yenni."
Something inside Jeongin stirred. That same quiet warmth.
Without thinking, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Chan.
Chan didn't move at first. Then, slowly, he returned the embrace.
They stood there for what felt like forever.
Like they had been searching for each other their whole lives.
Something was shifting between them.
And they both knew it.
Chapter 8
After a long embrace, the two finally parted, heading to their separate rooms. It was still too soon for anything more.
The sunlight was blinding, and the house was filled with the warm, comforting aroma of breakfast. Pancakes, by the smell of it. Still half-asleep, Jeongin smiled and stretched like a lazy kitten, blinking away the last traces of sleep.
"Good morning, Hyung…Mmm, it smells amazing! Did you make pancakes?"
"Yeah, found the recipe on TikTok. Let's just hope one bathroom is enough for the both of us," Chan joked.
Jeongin hesitated. "Uh…"
"Relax, I'm kidding. Go wash up—let's eat. I'm starving."
"On it, hyung!"
Breakfast didn't just feel romantic—it felt magically romantic. The thought made Jeongin's ears and cheeks flush slightly, but Chan acted as if this were just another morning. For a brief moment, a sharp thought crossed Jeongin's mind—did Chan do this often? Bring students over, let them stay the night, and cook them breakfast the next morning? He pushed the ridiculous thought aside and eagerly dug into his food. As a student, he rarely even bothered to boil dumplings, let alone make pancakes.
"This is amazing, hyung. I haven't had a breakfast like this in ages," Jeongin said, swallowing the last bite.
"Glad you liked it," Chan replied with a warm smile.
"Let me wash the dishes as a thank-you."
"I won't say no to that."
As Jeongin cleaned up, Chan's mind drifted. Two full days of break lay ahead, but then the dorms would reopen, and his new roommate would leave. He'd be alone again. Alone—with that empty feeling inside.
A dull ache twisted in his chest. A sudden urge to cry tightened his throat. His life was a blur of work and home, home and work, the days bleeding into each other like an endless gray loop. No thoughts about the future. No future at all.
It was swallowing him whole.
"Hyung, are you okay?"
Jeongin's voice pulled him back to reality. Forcing a small smile, Chan said,
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about what to do for the next two days."
"Honestly, I'd love to just lounge around all day, then go out for ice cream and watch the sunset at the park in the evening."
Chan chuckled. "Sounds like a perfect plan."
The day passed in a haze of comfort. They watched three movies, demolished two bags of chips, cooked and ate four packs of ramen, and even napped together, tangled in each other's warmth. When evening came, they pulled on Chan's oversized hoodies and walked back to the lake in the park.
Chan stared into the distance, lost in thought.
Jeongin stared at him.
Slowly, cautiously, he reached out, brushing his pinky against Chan's hand, linking their fingers together.
Chan exhaled sharply. "You know this isn't right."
It felt like ice water had been dumped over Jeongin's head. Like a knife had been driven straight into his chest.
Two days. That was all they had spent together. But Jeongin had been falling since the very first glance. Back in class, he stole looks at Chan, forgot his glasses just so he had an excuse to linger after lessons, hoping to get closer. It felt like fate had nudged him forward.
Every lesson, he reached for moments—brushing their hands together, letting his fingers linger just a second too long, breathing in the faint traces of Chan's cologne.
Chan noticed everything.
Every glance, every touch sent sparks through his body. And when Jeongin stayed after class, Chan had to fight the urge to step closer. To wrap him up in his arms. To press a soft kiss to his lips.
Like it was meant to be.
Like it was right.
But he was the teacher. And Jeongin was the student.
Chan didn't want to say it so coldly. Didn't want to scare him.
But he said it anyway.
Chapter 9
The emotional whiplash—from the warmth of interlaced fingers to the stabbing pain in his chest—was instant.
Neither of them spoke for the rest of the evening. They sat in silence at the park for no more than twenty minutes before trudging home, each lost in their own thoughts.
Chan—about how he had ruined something before it had even begun.
Jeongin—about how he had imagined something that was never real to begin with.
"You know this isn't right." - Chan's words played on an endless loop in Jeongin's mind, refusing to let him rest.
Back at the house, Jeongin retreated to the guest room and collapsed onto the couch, crushed by an unbearable heaviness. Chan disappeared into the shower, wanting nothing more than to dissolve into the scalding water and vanish from existence.
The next morning, Jeongin was woken up by a phone call from Minho—his dormmate was back earlier than expected, which meant his room was available again.
Truthfully, he didn't want to leave. A small part of him clung to the hope that something would change. But change what? There was nothing to figure out.
Packing quietly, Jeongin stopped by Chan's room before leaving.
Chan had passed out immediately after his shower—his towel lay abandoned on the floor, and his blanket barely covered him, exposing the bare skin of his back and arms.
Jeongin hesitated before stepping closer. He reached out, trailing his fingers gently along Chan's back, his voice barely a whisper.
"Hyung…"
Chan stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent before rolling onto his back, still half-asleep.
"Hyung… my roommate's back. I should head out. Lock the door behind me, okay?"
Chan's eyelids fluttered open.
Sleepy, swollen-eyed Jeongin stood before him, that same deep sadness reflecting in his fox-like gaze.
What have I done?
"No."
Jeongin blinked. "What?"
"No, you're not leaving."
Chan grabbed his wrist, pulled him down onto the bed, and wrapped himself around him—one leg thrown over Jeongin's, arms holding him tight.
"What are you doing?" The thought echoed in both their minds.
Chan didn't want to let go. Not after last night.
Jeongin, on the other hand, had no idea what had come over him. Had he… changed his mind?
"Jeongin, you're thinking too loud," Chan murmured. "Let's just enjoy the moment. It's still the weekend. We're just… spending time together. Stay a little longer."
Chan's head rested against Jeongin's chest, his nose buried in the crook of his neck, arms snug around his slim waist.
Jeongin instinctively held him back, his own leg trapped between Chan's.
He could smell his hair—still slightly damp, carrying the scent of green apples and something sweet.
To an outsider, they might have just looked like two friends lying comfortably in each other's arms.
But Jeongin could hear his own heartbeat thundering in his ears, loud enough to shake all of Seoul. He could feel the heat of Chan's breath against his skin, sending shivers down his spine.
And Chan… Chan was trying so hard to control himself. He wanted to bury his face deeper into Jeongin's neck, inhale his scent, and… taste him.
The tension between them grew, hot and heavy.
Jeongin's fingers moved first—tracing soft, slow patterns across Chan's bare back. Chan's breath hitched. In response, his fingers curled into Jeongin's shirt, pulling him closer.
Now they both felt it.
Chan exhaled, lifted his head, and met Jeongin's gaze.
The sadness from the night before was gone. All that remained was fire.
They hesitated for only a second—
—before crashing into a kiss that burned away all the fear, all the doubts, all the wrongness.
And in that moment, nothing else existed.
Chapter 10
They spent the rest of the weekend tangled up in each other—ordering takeout, watching movies, falling asleep together—then doing it all over again.
By Sunday evening, Chan walked Yenni back to his dorm, pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, and headed home, lost in thought.
So… what were they now?
Technically, he was just Yenni's tutor—once a week. And that could end anytime if Yenni decided to quit. They were both adults, nothing about this was wrong or illegal—Chan had settled that debate with himself on Friday night.
The workweek started, and all that was left of the weekend were warm memories. Jeongin kept sending Chan funny videos and music, and by Friday night, they were back to wandering the city together, sharing news and little secrets.
A month passed like that. Exams were coming, summer break was around the corner, and Chan was preparing to close his evening classes for the season. Yenni would be heading home to his family.
They spent their last weekend before the break together, devouring ice cream and lazing in bed. It felt like they had memorized every inch of each other, yet had never crossed the line. In a crowd of people, they could recognize each other instantly—by the way they walked, the sound of their voice, their scent. What once felt wrong had started to feel like the most natural thing in the world.
The days weren't so gray anymore—not when that little fox was in them.
"Come with me," Jeongin said as they stood on the train platform. The train was ten minutes away.
"And what exactly are you going to tell your parents? 'Hey, Mom, Dad, this is Bang Chan—my tutor and my boyfriend'?"
"Yeah. Sounds good to me."
"You're such an idiot." Chan pulled him in and pressed his face into Yenni's hair. Parting ways felt unbearable.
The train arrived. They held each other tight, exchanged kisses—then let go.
Chan stayed on the platform. And Yenni disappeared into the train.
When would they see each other again? Would they?
No one knew.
Chapter 11
Funny how easy it is to get used to someone—and how hard it is to let them go.
Chan had been looking forward to this vacation all year, but now that it was here, it felt meaningless. Work had always kept him too busy to think, but now, left alone with his own thoughts, it hit him all at once.
The quarter-life crisis was no joke. It felt like everyone around him was moving forward—building careers, getting married, settling down. And he was just… here.
And maybe he always would be.
(Spoiler: He wouldn't.)
The first week of vacation passed. Chan stood on the train platform, waiting for his ride. His backpack held a change of clothes and a few things for the road. He had planned a solo trip across Korea.
At first, he thought about going straight to Busan, but Yenni hadn't answered his calls or texts in a week. Chan tried for three days, then gave up.
So this was ghosting.
Well. Nothing to do but keep going.
Sandy beaches, cheap motels, gas station coffee—there was a kind of romance to traveling like this. Three weeks passed. He stopped by Changbin's place, told him everything, trying to make sense of it all. His friend listened, cursed, then promised that when fall came, he'd go to Seoul, find Yenni, and smack him upside the head (maybe not just that) for making Chan go through this.
The last weekend of vacation.
Chan was unpacking, sorting out souvenirs for his students, thinking about the new semester. It had been a month since Yenni's last message. It didn't hurt as much anymore, but something still gnawed at him.
Maybe it wasn't even about Yenni. Maybe he was just tired of being alone.
He just wanted to love and be loved.
But the ending was always the same.
Lost in thought, he barely registered the sound of the doorbell. The delivery guy wasn't supposed to arrive for another thirty minutes…
When he opened the door, he was met with a pair of familiar fox-like eyes.
"H-Hyung… I'm sorry."
Yenni dropped his bags and threw himself into Chan's arms, holding on like he was afraid Chan would disappear.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" he murmured over and over, clutching him tighter.
"What… what happened? Where did you go? I… I thought it was over…" Chan held him by the shoulders, trying to make sense of it all.
"I'm sorry… My parents took me straight to my grandfather's house after the train. There was no signal there… I tried to call you, but there wasn't even a payphone. I was so scared I lost you. The moment I could, I got on a train to Seoul… I'm so sorry…"
No signal.
Chan let out a breath so deep it felt like he was exhaling a whole month of pain.
"You idiot…" He pulled Yenni in tighter. "I thought you just… disappeared. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't even have time to charge my phone…"
"You idiot, idiot…" Chan buried his face in Yenni's hair, arms tightening around him, finally feeling like he could breathe again. "I almost lost you."
Chapter 12
They stood there for what felt like forever, neither wanting to let go.
"Next time, I'm putting a tracker on you," Chan muttered. "So I never lose you again."
"I'll just tie myself to you instead, hyung."
Yenni tore through the meal Chan had made, telling stories between bites—how he had survived the heat without air conditioning, helped his grandfather with chores. Now, his younger brother was the one staying there, and he…
He had run away.
To the city.
To Chan.
"Remember when I said this was wrong?" Chan said after a pause, watching Yenni carefully. "That was the biggest mistake I ever made. You, Yang Jeongin, are the best thing that ever happened to me."
"I thought it was over back then," Yenni admitted quietly.
"I was scared. I didn't know what to do… I'm still sorry for hurting you."
"Let's call it even, Chan," - Yenni smirked. - "I disappeared for a month. That should balance it out."
"How about we stop at one to one?" Chan smiled.
"Deal."
They finished their tea, sinking into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying the fact that they were together again. And later, when the night wrapped around the city, they lay down, curled up close.
Chan felt Yenni's warmth, his breath against his skin, the lazy patterns his fingers traced on his arm. It wasn't just sleep—it was something deeper. A quiet kind of belonging.
"I'm never letting you go again," Chan murmured, pressing a kiss to Yenni's hair.
"Good," Yenni whispered, nuzzling into his neck.
The night cradled them, washing away all the doubts and fears.
Now, everything was finally right.