KyuHyun couldn’t help but produce nervous laughter in response.

“M-Min, what’s got into you? Why does it matter how much debt you’ve paid off, or how much more is remaining?” KyuHyun tried to pass it off as a sick joke and pulled the blanket up higher. “Now come on, let’s sleep.”

However, as expected, SungMin’s serious expression did not fade. The two men shared a long moment of eye contact before the taller male finally gave up. He sighed, getting out of bed. “Okay, let’s talk at the table then.”

They moved to the sofa-and-table set in their suite’s living room and sat across each other. KyuHyun ruffled his hair, stressed. SungMin felt bad for causing his kind master so much trouble, but he really needed to know.

“Why are you suddenly so eager to know all these things? Min ah, if you would just work for me, you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing!” SungMin bit his lips. Hesitantly, he replied, “I… I need to know so I can pay you back. I know it’s a lot of money and I may never be able to completely pay the debt, but I want to try.”

KyuHyun scrunched up his face in frustration. “I understand. You’ve promised to pay off the debts since the very beginning. But that’s why we’re still in this setup, remember? What does it change if you find out more now?”

At the mention of them being in a ‘setup’, SungMin felt his heart clench. To his master, this was just them playing house. He was just a background character, only here to temporarily entertain him, waiting to be discarded.

“Master… I wish to work independently from you. I know it is up to you at the end, but… I don’t want to be your slave anymore. If you let me go, I promise to work day and night to pay you back. I won’t escape my responsibilities.”

KyuHyun looked utterly shocked. He already suspected something like this might happen, judging from the odd way his servant was acting earlier. However, he didn’t think the petite male could ever be this blunt. Neither did he think that words could cut through a person so quickly, so mercilessly. With what remaining brain cells he had left, he returned SungMin’s unwavering gaze.

“… Why? Why do you suddenly not want to stay with me anymore? Is it because of what happened at the Ferris Wheel? If it’s that, I swear I would never do anything like that ever again. I’m sorry, I got caught up and I wasn’t thinking. If you really hated it so much, I vow not to try anything again. I mean it.”

KyuHyun ranted, desperately trying to make sense of what’s happening. He hasn’t admitted it to anyone, not even himself, but truly, SungMin’s addition into his life was the best thing that has ever happened to him. He has never felt more comfortable with another human being, so fond of someone else before. And he was only realizing it now, which could already be too late.

He braved himself to look up as the older male spoke up. “… I understand that you were c… caught up. I know you weren’t t-thinking, and you don’t feel any attraction towards me, Master. It’s not this matter that’s making me reconsider working under you. I… I just don’t feel like I should stay anymore.”

KyuHyun’s face contorted with agony as he felt the pain radiating from the other’s words, although he didn’t exactly understand why the pain was there in the first place.

“W-What do you mean by that? Why do you feel like you can’t stay? I don’t mind you here, Min. And I’ve never once hated your company!” There were tears in KyuHyun’s eyes now; At the sight of that, SungMin realized just how much of an impact he had on his master. He gulped, unsure if he could continue with his request anymore.

“I-I’m sorry, Master. I really, really am. I didn’t mean to h-hurt you. I just… I just don’t think I deserve to be here. I’m inappropriate. I don’t belong in this fancy hotel room, I don’t belong in your huge condo, and I most definitely do not belong anywhere near you!” SungMin sobbed halfway through his explanation. He knew he was hurting the other’s feelings, but he was confident that it wasn’t hurting his master as much as it hurt him. The aching he felt then was the most heart wrenching, lung jabbing feeling he has ever felt. He has never been more miserable.

As soon as SungMin started to cry, KyuHyun panicked. By reflex, he wanted to hug him, to reassure him everything will be fine, but he held back. He sniffed and tried to compose himself as best he could. “Min… what… what made you feel that way? You adapted just fine and you seemed okay with how things were going. What on Earth suddenly made you decide that you weren’t fit for me?”

SungMin stared at his fidgeting hands. At that point, he has given up wiping all the tears and snot, so they were just freefalling, simultaneously dirtying both his face and his hands. He almost laughed at the irony at it all.

His master is kind and affectionate. He is wearing a silk robe as pyjamas, looking mostly composed and regal. Meanwhile, he was bawling his eyes out, smudging snot all over the cotton robe the hotel provided. To be fair, the hotel robe was of extremely high quality, but it instantly looked like cheap crap when he put it on. He just wasn’t suitable.
He knew it a long time ago, but only confronted it when he noticed the way SeoHyun looks at him.
He really wasn’t sure how his master is unable comprehend such an obvious fact.

Unbeknownst to him, SungMin had unconsciously revealed his thoughts aloud. When he realized, he quickly returned his gaze to match his master’s. To his surprise, he was met with a very conflicted expression. The taller man’s face contained a mixture of bashfulness, confusion, realization, and eventually… anger?

SungMin watched as the other’s limp hands formed into tight fists, cutting off blood circulation immediately. He flinched as his master finally let out a loud sigh. “SeoHyun… I will kill her.” SungMin’s eyes widened in shock. “E…Eh?!”

KyuHyun glared at the table in between them. He let out another huff of resentment. “It’s because of her, isn’t it? No matter what you thought, you didn’t mind staying with me, did you? It’s because she came along and made you feel all these terrible things. Why I oughta---That jinx!!” KyuHyun pushed his sleeves up in frustration as he rose to his feet. He looked like he would actually commit murder right then and there.

SungMin grabbed onto the younger male’s waist, effectively stopping him from reaching the door. Who knows what he would do if he actually finds SeoHyun?

“M-Master… please calm down! It’s not her fault… B-besides, I’m merely your slave. You shouldn’t get angry at your girlfriend for my sake. I don’t matter nearly as much as her.”

KyuHyun stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around. His body was tense, but the anger has left his soul. He bent down and cupped his servant’s face with both hands. “Girlfriend? Don’t matter? Min, what are you on about?!”

“Okay. Let me get this straight. You were surprised when you first entered my life but adapted to my lifestyle quickly. However, since SeoHyun’s appearance, she has been sizing you up, and that made you feel incompetent---that you shouldn’t be here. And because you think I pushed you aside for SeoHyun back in the amusement park, you started thinking that you matter less than her.”

“Or that I don’t matter at all.” SungMin supplemented quietly.
He fisted the blanket around him. They were now on the bed, seated across each other.

KyuHyun’s face scrunched up in pain. He really did not enjoy watching the adorable pumpkin being so hurt and down. Quickly, he tried to make things right: “Min, first of all, I’m sorry for leaving you in the Ferris Wheel. I didn’t do that because I wanted to talk to SeoHyun without you… it’s quite the opposite actually. I knew she was in the carriage after ours, so I wanted to leave before she gets out and finds us. However, because I was in such a rush, I accidentally pushed you aside and left by myself,”

SungMin’s eyes enlarged with surprise and his shoulders slacked in relief. He continued to listen.

“Secondly, I’m sorry for how SeoHyun made you feel. She has always been like that, which was the exact reason we parted ways in the first place. And no matter what, I never want you to think that you don’t matter to me, Min. No matter what anyone says or do, you would always be my priority, and contrary to your assumptions, you matter the most to me right now,”

KyuHyun flashed a small smile, and SungMin’s eyes watered. He bit his lips, wondering if he was just dreaming. It felt unreal to know that he is significant to his master.

“Lastly… in the Ferris Wheel. I know I said I wasn’t thinking, and that’s not entirely false. I definitely got swept away… When I saw how you were admiring the sunset, I realized that you make me appreciate the little things more. And for some reasons, that made me want to… get closer to you. In whatever way possible. D… Did you hate it?”

KyuHyun looked uncharacteristically nervous, unable to hold eye contact. SungMin took a moment to calm down and register what was just said. The former appreciates him, that was clear. But their moment happened because KyuHyun wanted to ‘get closer’. He blinked a few times, mind still cloudy, unable to truly process the intentions behind those actions.

He decided to focus on the question instead. He delved deep into his heart and tried to remember how he felt during that time. It didn’t take long for him to formulate a response.

“I didn’t hate it. My mind was blank at the time, and I didn’t really know what was going on, but I wouldn’t have stopped you. I want to know what could’ve happened if we weren’t interrupted.”

The two locked eyes, both blushing but so, so relieved.

“Then… if we were to try the same thing again, would that be okay?”

KyuHyun asked hesitantly, but his worries dissipated when the other smiled.

They both moved closer.

Slowly but surely, the gap between them reduced from inches to millimetres.

They took more hesitant breath, before all care flew out the window.

Their lips touched. To them, it was the most satisfying feeling in the world. As if that was what they were meant to do. The touch was gentle, but it felt like their feelings, whatever they were, were finally being conveyed to each other.

They stayed like that, lingering for a few more moments before KyuHyun stuck his tongue out, shyly trying his luck. SungMin’s lips tightened into a line, surprised at the sudden wetness. His shock was relayed to the taller man immediately and they both jumped away.

“S-Sorry about that!” KyuHyun, face red with embarrassment and shame, apologized. SungMin shook his head violently, confessing that it was his fault instead. “B-But… w-what were you trying to do? I thought we were k-kissing…”

KyuHyun looked confused for a moment, before it hit him that the man with M-shaped lips thought kisses involved only that brief touch. He buried his face in his hands, not knowing how to explain. But most importantly (to him), not knowing how to take it further. SungMin fussed with him, patting his head and his back, clueless as to what the other man is feeling.

“Do you want another kiss?” SungMin asked with concern, hoping it would help. KyuHyun’s head shot up, and his eyes sparkled as he nodded surely. The former laughed and hugged him. They both shared another look before they kissed once more.
This time, SungMin giggled into the kiss. The other smiled a smile of fondness.

When they finally broke away, KyuHyun rested his head atop SungMin’s head. He rubbed his face on the silky black hair, tired. SungMin seemed to notice this. He whispered, “Master, shall we sleep?”

KyuHyun grasped his hands, forcing the smaller man to look at him. “Don’t call me that.” He grumbled. SungMin took in a sharp breath, before replying, “… KyuHyun-ssi?”

“Not even that.”

“… Master KyuHyun?”

A loud sigh of exasperation later, KyuHyun firmly suggested, “KyuHyun.”

SungMin gasped and resisted, “No! You’re still my master. That’s disrespectful!”
KyuHyun smirked. “Then how bout I stop being your master?”

SungMin could feel his heart stop. “A-Are you kicking me out?”
This response received a large laugh. “Of course not! I’m saying, forget that you owe me anything. You really don’t. Just stay with me for as long as we’re alive.”

SungMin sat there, stunned. “There’s no way I can---” KyuHyun gave him another peck. “Am I that horrible? You don’t want to live with me as an equal?” SungMin felt his resolve crumble. They were both tired and nothing seems logical anymore. With reason pushed to the back of his mind, SungMin responded.

“Okay. I’ll stay beside you, for as long as you want me to.”

KyuHyun gave a loud cheer before pulling the surprised man under the blankets. He hugged him tight, happiness beaming from inside. “K-K... KyuHyun…?” SungMin yelped, his hands stuck in between their chests.

“Mm… I really, really like it when you call me that.” KyuHyun mumbled. SungMin tried to look up, but he was trapped as the taller rested his head atop his.
“Umm… aren’t we t-too close?”

No response.

“K-KyuHyun? We need to turn off the lights,”

All he received were light snores. SungMin wondered if he could escape the tight embrace, but it only took a minute before he started to doze off as well.

He nuzzled his head in the crook of his master’s---no, KyuHyun’s neck, and breathed in the earthy smell.

That night, the two of them slept with untiring smiles, comfortable in each other’s presence.

SPPV212's Note:

Happy New Year! #2019

Sorry for the late update. Uni started again, but on the bright side it's the first time I've posted during uni HAHA
Okay soz soz (orz)

Hope you've enjoyed this fluffy chapter ^^

P.S. Sorry about KyuMin... I didn't think they would leave the lights on either. Make sure you turn your lights off before sleeping! Save the Earth <3