“Sungjong, please no! Wake up, wake up,” Myungsoo pleaded. He was kneeling on the ground beside an unconscious Sungjong. He was drenched to the bones, having pulled Sungjong out of the lake.

Stupid, idiot! Why did you have to jump into the lake? What do you take me for? I’ve been on this emotional roller coaster ride for long enough. Please release me. Please wake up.

Myungsoo’s tears were mixed with the water from the lake. He grabbed Sungjong’s chin and tried to breathe life into him. He had never administered CPR before but he hoped it would work. He didn’t know if he was doing it right or was he just kissing him blindly. Dingdong mooed mournfully and tried to nudge Sungjong.

“Sungjong please. This time I promise I’ll never raise my voice with you. And I’ll protect you from everyone,” Myungsoo said, tears choking his voice.

Myungsoo uttered every prayer he ever knew when Sungjong’s eyes fluttered open. He coughed and spluttered out some water. Then he looked up with his big, innocent eyes and blinked repeatedly.

“Oh thank God Sungjong! I was so worried. I thought you’d-forget it but you’re alive!” Myungsoo hugged Sungjong.

“I told you, didn’t I?” Sungjong said quietly.

“Told me what baby?” Myungsoo asked.

“I told you that everyone in the world is protected by either someone on earth or someone in heaven. See?”

“B-but, I haven’t been around before.”

“That’s because I didn’t need protecting then. But now I do. And my secret weapon, it worked just like my mom said.”

“What’s your secret weapon sweetie?” Myungsoo was too much in shock and too much relieved to notice he was talking in whispers.

“Mom said that I had something in me that would make someone somewhere shed tears for me. You’re crying aren’t you?” Sungjong’s hand reached up to touch Myungsoo’s cheeks. The tear tracks weren’t visible but somehow Sungjong knew.

“Sungjong, darling, I didn’t mean a single thing I said before. If I could say it now, I’d say, I like you.”

“I like you too hyung.”

“Not that like Sungjongie, it’s a different kind of like. You wouldn’t understand.”

“And would you have meant it if you had told me so?”

“From the bottom of my heart.”

Myungsoo spent the night sleepless, caressing Sungjong’s hair as he dreamed peacefully. Myungsoo wasn’t curious anymore; it didn’t matter if he had or not figured out the Sungjong puzzle because he was completely in love.