Instead of taking his car, Jaebum opted to walk towards Jinyoung’s house. It reminded him of the days when they were still in high school. He’d always pick up Jinyoung first before going to school. They would hold each other’s hands and talk aimlessly.

 

Now, as he walks towards the same path, all he could think of was Jinyoung during that time. He had always been a little smaller than Jaebum, but he was always the one who knows what he wants to do. He was pretty pushy and he would tell Jaebum that “I’m not pushy! I’m persuasive” because that’s what he is, but the former doesn’t really mind.

 

He knew, up until now, he had loved every bit of Jinyoung. From his persuasiveness to his hardheadedness. Jinyoung, despite his flaws, was just too lovable and irresistible in Jaebum’s eyes. He’d give in at any time of the day if the younger asks because he’s too weak for him.

 

When he arrived at Jinyoung’s house, the latter is already waiting by the door, waving his hand at him. “Hi.” He says, stopping right in front of Jinyoung. “Hello.” Jinyoung then jumps to Jaebum’s arms which makes the latter wince, because he seems too light. But of course, he knows better, he didn’t bring it up, instead, he holds Jinyoung tighter and to twirl around.

 

“Where is our first stop?” Jinyoung asks after Jaebum had put him down, but they are still close to each other. Jaebum’s arm is over Jinyoung’s shoulder while the latter has his arm around the former’s torso. “I don’t know, wherever our feet take us?” Jaebum says, leaning down to rest his forehead on Jinyoung’s as they grin in unison.

 

Jinyoung chuckles a little later because everything feels right. Everything is the same from twenty years ago. It’s as if nothing really happened as if two decades didn’t pass by as if it’s him and Jaebum again, and they are happy.

 

When they reached the park, Jaebum pulled him towards the swing and they took one each. Jaebum has his swing steady while Jinyoung moves his lightly. Jaebum, however, couldn’t help but notice that everytime Jinyoung looks at him, he’s squinting or rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands or the heels of his palms.

 

“Are your eyes okay?” Jaebum finally asks, but Jinyoung just gives him a dismissive shrug. “Let’s not talk about my eyes, they’re okay.” He says, smiling at Jaebum though the latter knows something was definitely off. “Let’s talk about you instead.”

 

Jaebum heaves a sigh, he will never win against Jinyoung, even after all this time. “What about me?” He asks, looking back at Jinyoung who has his head leaning against the chains of his swing while staring at everything but him.

 

“When are you going back to Seoul?” Jinyoung says meekly and to which Jaebum huffs. “Soon. I still have more time.” intentionally, Jaebum didn’t answer him directly, because he wants Jinyoung to look at him. The latter does, he turns to him, his forehead creasing. “When?”

 

Instead of responding, Jaebum stares at Jinyoung, he stares at his faces, at his eyes. He seemed to have a hard time getting enough of Jinyoung’s face. “Three more weeks.” He finally says which then makes JInyoung look away with an unreadable expression on his face.

 

“Do you have any plans on how you’d spend those weeks?” Jinyoung asks, kicking the ground so his swing would move again. He had stopped earlier when Jaebum didn’t answer him directly. Jaebum shakes his head.

 

“I don’t know. Anywhere, I guess. Anywhere with you.” Jaebum keeps on staring at Jinyoung who suddenly looks younger with the timid smile on his face. The longer he stares at Jinyoung, the more he remembers that this is also the place where Jinyoung confessed at him.

 

They just got off from school, first day in high school. They were used to have just each other when they were in grade school, but when they entered college, things went totally upside down. With hormones doing their thing, they hit puberty and suddenly everyone finds Jaebum attractive, Jinyoung didn’t have a problem with that.

 

However, Jinyoung isn’t fan of it either because he knew, even before that he had always been attracted to his best friend. So, after waiting for Jaebum to entertain all the flock of girls and boys who were trying to get his attention, he dragged him to the park. Exasperated and a little sad.

 

“Have you had enough!?” He yelled at him before taking one of the swings, angrily kicking the ground. “About what?” Jaebum, confused as always, mimicked Jinyoung only calmer. “About those people giving you their hearts.” Jinyoung glared at him at while gripping the chains of the swing, his knuckles almost turning white.

 

“Jinyoung-”

 

“You’re mine, Jaebum! And I’m the one who can only like-” After realizing what he had just said, Jinyoung covered his eyes while letting another exasperated sigh. “Do you like me, Jinyoung-ah?” Jaebum tried even though he’s afraid, even though his insides are shaking.

 

Jinyoung turned to him, scowling before yelling. “Yes! That’s why you can’t like them. Because I like you.” but he trails off, head bowing a little. “Unless you don’t like me and you don’t want me anymore.”

 

Finally, Jaebum stood up and made his way in front of Jinyoung. He kneeled and took the younger’s hand in his. “Of course, I like you. You’re the only one I like.” and then they were both on the ground, Jinyoung was crying, telling him how scared he was that he was gonna be rejected. Jaebum could only allow the younger to ball out because he was feeling the same way.

 

Really, if Jinyoung hadn’t confessed to him, they would never get the chance to date. He was too chicken to confess and too afraid of what’s ahead of them if Jinyoung turned out to have a different feeling for him.

 

“What are you laughing at?” Jinyoung suddenly asks, pulling Jaebum out of his trance. “You.” Jaebum responds nonchalantly which earned an eyebrow raise from Jinyoung. “You’re laughing at me?” Jinyoung’s shoulder visibly rises, his forehead creasing.

 

“No, yes, I mean. I just remembered something.” Jaebum smiles and somehow Jinyoung seemed to have remembered the same thing which explains why he’s suddenly red. “Really, Jaebum?” He says a little later, laughing because of how foolish they were back then. “Really?”

 

The next time they get together was the next day. Jaebum picked Jinyoung up from school, suggesting to eat dinner together. Then, the next time was the day after, Jaebum decided to send Jinyoung to school and he may or may not have planned to sit in Jinyoung’s class.

 

Jinyoung is teaching grade one so his students are young and playful, and with Jaebum around, he can’t really tell if he’s helping or not. However, the students were far to infatuated with the doctor. Even Kyungsoo, who had always been aloof except to Jinyoung was so attached with Jaebum.

 

Jinyoung was walking around the room, checking the students if they were following his instructions to draw their favorite animal. While he was on his way to go to the back, he felt a light tug on his pants. He looked down and saw Kyungsoo, wide-eyed, looking straight into his eyes.

 

“Yes, sweetheart? What can I do for you?” Jinyoung asked while smiling as he crouched down in front of the kid. Kyungsoo then leaned to his ear and whispered: “Can I sit beside Jaebum-sshi?” Kyungsoo’s small hands then found their way to Jinyoung’s cheek. “Please?”

 

Jinyoung chuckled as he picked the kid up, walking towards Jaebum’s direction. “Hey, mister, this sweetheart wants to sit with you. Would that be okay?” Jinyoung said calling Jaebum’s attention. The older was also drawing something on the spare paper he got from Jinyoung.

 

“Of course! How can I say no to this cute young man.” Kyungsoo’s face visibly lit up. He then kissed Jinyoung’s cheek before asking the latter to put him down. As soon as the teacher did, the kid went climbing on the doctor’s lap.

 

“You didn’t have to do that.” Jinyoung says to Jaebum who helped him with setting up the children’s booth for the school fair. “It’s nothing, really.” Jaebum’s still sweaty as he did not only arranged the booth, he also played with the students while doing so.

 

Fortunately, Kyungsoo was kind enough to help  Jaebum. He follows Jaebum’s instructions and he seemed really fond of him. Jinyoung smiles at Jaebum, they're heading to the latter’s car, heading home or maybe grab a dinner first.

 

“One week.” He says when they’re inside the car. Jaebum glances at him while putting his seatbelt on. “One week?” Jaebum repeats and then motions Jinyoung to put his seatbelt on as well. Jinyoung sighs and says, “Before you go back to Seoul.”

 

Jaebum stops and stares at Jinyoung. He had not realized that the past days had been too happy for him. “Oh.” was the word that escaped his mouth which somehow pissed Jinyoung off. “Do you want to sleep over at the house then?”

 

To this, the anger building up in Jinyoung’s face faded away replaced by a smile rival to the sun. When Jinyoung realized that he might be smiling too hard, he coughs and turned to look on his right where Jaebum wouldn’t be able to see it. “We should cook too.” He says a little later when he has finally calmed down.

 

“You mean, I cook too?” Jaebum then earns a light hit on his arm. Jinyoung was a bad cook when they were younger, somehow he always end up burning even the easiest food to cook. “Hey, I have improved!” Jinyoung bites back, making Jaebum chuckle.

 

“If you say so.”

 

Three days later they are building forts in Jaebum’s room. And true to his words, Jinyoung really has gotten better at cooking, he was able to burn only half of the food he cooked.

 

“You know, I was surprised when I entered this room again.” Jaebum starts as he knots the end of his blanket to the handle of his window. The fort is almost done, proably because Jinyoung is a teacher he had become better in doing one. “Why so?” Jinyoung responds while tying the other end to the chair they got downstairs.

 

“Everything looked the same. It made me feel like I never left.” Jaebum trails off, avoiding to look at Jinyoung’s eyes. “She wanted it to keep it this way.” Jinyoung then walks to Jaebum’s side, cupping the doctor’s face in his hands.

 

“Your grandma wanted to keep everything the way it is.” Jinyoung continues, his thumbs moving in a wiping motion. “She wanted it to look like you can always come back and pick up where you left.” Jaebum’s hand found Jinyoung’s waist, he encircles his arms around him and slowly rests his head on the younger’s shoulders.

 

“Do you miss her?” Jinyoung asks, his fingers carding Jaebum’s hair. Jaebum nods, tears welling up in his eyes. “I miss her too. You know, she missed you a lot. She was always missing you.” Jaebum hugs him tighter, burying his face deeper into Jinyoung’s shoulder.

 

“Now, now…” Jinyoung then gently pushed Jaebum’s face off from his shoulders. He cups his face again while looking straight into his eyes. “She’s probably happy now because you’re here and you pick up where you left.” He says while wiping Jaebum’s tears.

 

“Why don’t we go inside the fort now?” Jaebum chuckles, then he nods, finding it funny that they are grown men now, almost forty, and here they are building forts. Jinyoung, after giving Jaebum’s cheeks a light squeeze, takes the latter’s hands and leads him to the entrance of the fort.

 

Enthralling. That’s what Jinyoung is. Jaebum is and has always been enthralled by Jinyoung that is until suddenly the roof of their fort falls on them. Jinyoung laughs loudly as he takes the blanket off their heads. The wrinkles in his cheeks appearing, but damn, he's still making it hard for Jaebum to breathe.

 

Enthralled. That’s what’s Jaebum is.

 

“I guess we’re probably too big to fit in now.” He says, gathering the blanket, draping it over his shoulders. Jaebum couldn’t help but smile, Jinyoung is true. Then, he opens his arms wide for Jinyoung to melt into. The latter moves until he’s comfortable in Jaebum’s arms.

 

Their hands found each other and tangled themselves gingerly. “Jaebum, I lied.” Jinyoung says, looking up to Jaebum from the latter’s shoulder. Jaebum looks back at him, eyebrows up. “About what?”

 

“Me not loving you.” Jaebum’s eyes soften, but his heart starts beating hard. He pulls Jinyoung closer to him as he looks towards their tangled feet. “What I told you wasn’t true. And it was the most stupid lie I have ever told anyone. I was… I was in a rough patch that time, everything went crumbling down before me. I was scared, really really really scared of what the world is going to take from me next.”

 

Jaebum knew it, Jaebum was dead sure that Jinyoung’s mind was just in chaos so he was able to say those things. However, he wasn’t really in a good shape that time as well. They were both young, foolish, and the world decided to test them, but they were too weak.

 

“I was lying when I told you that I don’t love you, that I never did because the world is my witness. The world saw how much I loved you… How much I love you.” Jinyoung says it like he means it because he does, Jaebum can tell he really does.

 

Jaebum looks back into Jinyoung’s eyes, seeing himself and the latter’s eyes. “I know.” He says, smiling a little. “But thank you for telling me, I needed to hear it. I needed to hear it from you.”

 

Jinyoung tears up while flashing him a sad smile. “I wanted to make sure that what we felt was real. That I wasn’t the only one who was feeling the pain, the love, of course, the love.” Jinyoung nods to it, permitting his tears to rush from his eyes down to his cheeks.

 

“This makes me happy. You know, because even though we didn’t end up happily, we had always been happy. Our relationship had always been filled with love. Thank you for making me happy, Jinyoung. Thank you for letting me know that what we felt was love.” Jinyoung doesn’t know how to react to what he has just heard, would it be more apt to cry? Or should he smile?

 

“This finally gives me a closure. We can finally end this chapter of our lives.” Jinyoung didn’t care anymore, so he cries and cries while clutching to Jaebum.

 

“I’m glad” Jinyoung says even though he wasn’t. And Jaebum hates it, so he leans in and takes Jinyoung’s lips. He tastes the same, maybe only sweeter.

 

Jaebum only has two days left before he’s returning to Seoul. Jackson had called him earlier, asking how he was, he even told him that if he needed more time, it would be okay. But Jaebum’s okay now, he should return to Seoul soon.

 

He finally had closure to his unfinished chapters, it would only be fitting for him to leave and go on with his life. And maybe, just maybe, if Jinyoung wants to, maybe they could start another chapter.

 

It would be nice, except that when he woke up, Jinyoung’s not beside him. The side of his bed is no longer warm and that only means he had been gone for a while now. He sits up and looks at the fort, he needs to put them all back to their places later. He needs to clean because he’s leaving soon and no one would be at home.

 

Jinyoung looked beautiful last night, he has always been, but he was extra beautiful last night. He was even clingier and more needy last night that’s why he didn’t understand why the younger had left him without waking him up.

 

As he leaves his bed, he sees Jinyoung’s wallet along with the other pillows on the floor. Out of curiosity he opens it and sees a photo of them. It was the same one he has on his study table. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought that Jinyoung kept it all those years.

 

So when he’s done taking a bath and eating, he heads out to give Jinyoung his wallet back. When he gets off his car, he sees that the door in Jinyoung’s house was open. So, without knocking he comes in, but there was no one in the living room even in the kitchen.

 

He walks upstairs and starts hearing a murmur which later turned to shouting. It caused Jaebum to rush towards Jinyoung’s room and there he saw him with Yugyeom by the window. They both looked surprised when the door opened.

 

“Who’s that?” Jinyoung asks which confused Jaebum. “It’s me, Jaebum.” Jinyoung who is still in his bed could have turn to look at his direction to know him, but he didn’t, he just stayed looking at his blanket.

 

Jinyoung, upon hearing Jaebum’s voice tilts his head towards his direction, eyes moving far too fast.  Jinyoung stands up and walks but not towards Jaebum. He hits himself into the chair beside the bed like he didn’t see it.

 

By now Yugyeom is trying to guide him, but Jinyoung pushed him away. Jinyoung reaches his hand out, trying to find where Jaebum is actually standing, but he misses him as he only hits himself again on the study table.

 

Jaebum not being able to handle it anymore rushes towards him. Hugging him as soon as he got in front of him. “Jinyoung, tell me what’s happening.” He says softly.

 

Jinyoung pulled away and tried to look at him in the eyes but just keeps on missing it. “I’m okay, don’t worry about me-”

 

“You’re not okay, hyung!” Yugyeom yells from the corner.

 

“Don’t get into this, Yugyeom.” Jinyoung warns, his hands gripping Jaebum’s arms tighter.

 

“Jinyoung, tell me what is happening?” Jaebum repeats himself, this time slower, it’s almost taunting. Jinyoung, however, didn’t like it, so he turns around, but Jaebum stops him. “Jinyoung, please, tell me.”

 

Jinyoung cries and leans back to Jaebum’s chest, but it didn’t last long. He breaks himself free from Jaebum’s hold and tries to go back to his bed. Fortunately, without hitting anything anymore, he gets to sit back.

 

“Jinyoung-”

 

“He’s blind, he’s going blind-” “Yugyeom!”

 

“What hyung? Why aren’t you telling Jaebum hyung that you’re practically blind right now and sooner or later you might fully go blind if you still refuse to undergo the operation.” In between Yugyeom’s sentence, Jinyoung stands up, trying to reach his brother, fuming in anger.

 

Jaebum could only watch Jinyoung hit himself against the things around the room until he falls to his feet. “Why are you doing this to me, Yugyeom?” Jaebum is still trying to digest the pieces of information Yugyeom has casually thrown him.

 

“Why are you doing this to yourself, hyung?” Yugyeom asks back and before Jaebum could stop himself, he speaks.

 

“Why are you so insistent on keeping this from me?” Jaebum cuts them, speaking suddenly. Jinyoung pushes himself up to sit with tears wetting up his whole face. “Why do you have to know?” Jinyoung fires back, sitting almost lifelessly on the floor.

 

“Jinyoung-”

 

“So you can look down on me?”

 

“Jinyoung that’s not-”

 

“Jaebum I have been stupid enough to let you go twenty years ago. Why would I let you know that I’m losing my eyesight? So I can sink down deeper than I’m already in? That, what? I’m blind, miserable, and there you are, a successful doctor who got to achieve his dreams? That I’m just here, nothing but a miserable fool.”  Jaebum’s heart is breaking from what he’s hearing. It’s painful to listen to Jinyoung talk about this. Regardless of his flaws, Jaebum had always seen Jinyoung as a beautiful and worthy person.

 

“Jinyoung.” Jaebum finally moves to pick Jinyoung up from the floor but the latter keeps on resisting. Jaebum gives up and just sits in front of Jinyoung. “Jinyoung, why would I do that to you? That’s just- I can’t. You know how much I love you-”

 

“Liar.” Jinyoung pushes Jaebum away from him, taking the latter’s hands off him. “You don’t love me, well not anymore.” Jaebum is taken aback because here Jinyoung goes again. It’s like he went back to two decades ago. “What are you saying now, Jinyoung?”

 

“Last night, you told me that you’re happy that you will finally get a closure. That you will finally get to close our chapter." He heaves a breath as he wipes his cheeks with the back of his hands.

 

"Okay, since I have already sunk this way, let me tell you a few things. Jaebum, when you left, there was never a day I wished I hadn’t said that I didn’t love you. There was never a day I wished that you’d return to me because you couldn’t accept that I didn’t love you.

 

“I’m so ing stupid because even after all those years,  without anything, no letters, emails, nothing at all, still I waited for you. I am still loving you because I never stopped. Even though I was so miserable I still waited for you instead of just moving on because I just can’t do it. And then last night, just when I thought we could finally pick up where we left you told me how bad you want to close our chapter.

 

“Jaebum, I didn’t want to close it, I don’t want to, I never even thought of it.”

 

By now, all the three of them are crying. Yugyeom who is by the window is trying to keep himself quiet. Having been a witness of how his brother continues to love Jaebum from through the years. It breaking his heart that it seemed like it was all for nothing.

 

Meanwhile, Jaebum was heaving like Jinyoung, both catching their breaths.  He feels helpless and broken, but who told Jinyoung that he doesn’t want him anymore? He didn't say that last night.

 

“Now what? You can’t handle all these feelings?” Jinyoung taunts, his lips still shaking, his eyes red from crying.

 

“Jinyoung-”

 

“Get out!”

 

“Jinyoung, wait-”

 

“I said get out! Go and leave me!” Then, Jinyoung hears footsteps exiting his room which only made him cry harder. However, it was Yugyeom who left and he also motioned Jaebum to stay, so he did.

 

Jinyoung cries and cries, Jaebum wants to reach out to him, to hug him but he couldn’t. He can't move from his spot and he could barely lift a muscle. Jinyoung is coughing now and he’s starting to have a hard time breathing.

 

He keeps saying Jaebum’s name, again and again. He says it like he wants to say something more, words that he didn’t get to say earlier. However, all that is coming out from his mouth is Jaebum’s name.

 

Jaebum’s certain that Jinyoung is just as broken as him. But right now, Jinyoung looks like the world has finally stopped giving him chances. He never wished to see Jinyoung this way, all too broken and helpless, but couldn’t do anything. He isn’t sure if he’s allowed to touch Jinyoung anymore.

 

Like what he said, he’d always been weak for Jinyoung. Regardless if it’s going to cause him pain or not, if it’s what Jinyoung wants, he’d give in to him. Even though both of them are hurting, if it’s what Jinyoung want, he obeys him.

 

When it became too painful for him to watch, so he stands up and leaves the room quietly.

 

He should have stayed a little longer, though. Because if he did, he would have heard Jinyoung finally saying what he wanted to say earlier.

 

“Please don’t leave, Jaebum. Don’t leave me again. Please. I’m begging you, please. Don’t leave me again. Not now, not anytime soon, not ever. Please.” Jaebum’s far gone by that time.

 

“Please, I’m begging you, Jaebum. Don’t ever leave me again. Please.”

 

“Hello, Mom?” Jaebum tilts his head down to his shoulder so it could hold his phone while he tries to write something on the patient’s records. He glances up briefly at the clock hanging on the wall at the ward. It’s only 10 in the morning but he had already gone around 4 patients.

 

“Yes, Jaebum. How are you?” She asks, her voice starting sound like his grandmother's voice. “I’m fine. A little tired, but I’m fine.” He answers honestly, as he makes his way out of the room at least not before instructing the nurse to give the patient his medicine in ten minutes.

 

“Ahh, that’s nice to know.” Jaebum continues walking until he reaches the hospital garden. “Yeah, why did you call by the way?” The last time he saw his parents was two weeks ago when he spent his birthday with them. It’s making him curious as to why his mother was trying to prolong their conversation.

 

She had been like this before, but she learned to keep their calls short because Jaebum is always busy.

 

“Your aunt and I are thinking of selling Mom's house.” his grandparent’s house, the one in Busan. It had been unoccupied since last year when he went back to Seoul after taking a vacation for a month.

 

“But we realized that we should consult you first, you know... If you want to do the same thing.” It was stupid, really. That vacation was just like what happened to him decades ago. He left Busan because of the same reason, because of the same person.

 

“I’ll think about it, mom.” Jaebum then bids her goodbye, telling her he’s busy and he’d try to give him his answer soon. Suddenly the atmosphere is heavy, just thinking about Busan depresses him. He must admit, though, what happened last years tripled the pain from twenty years ago.

 

He sighs, looking up at the sky. He had picked up that habit recently. He would look up and talk to his grandmother quietly, asking her how it is in heaven, or when he just misses him so much.

 

He stretches a little then heads back to the ward, life has to go on.

 

Jackson had been nice to cover for him for a day. After not being able to decide last night if he should sell the house or not, he decided to give it the last visit. He didn’t bring his car this time because he doesn’t plan on staying that long.

 

To be honest with himself, he already knows his decision, he just really wants to visit it for the last time. He just had to even though he’s afraid he’d see Jinyoung. This is the last time, the last string, the last chance. If the universe still refuses to allow them to be together, he’d finally let it go.

 

When he arrives, the front porch was surprisingly clean, even the house itself. He makes his way inside and sees everything still in its place. He wonders if Youngjae still visits the house, he forgot to ask the last time his cousin called him.

 

He wanders around the living room, touching the figurines here and there. Picking up the picture frames on the cabinet. Most of them are pictures of him and his grandparents. He is too busy looking at everything he didn’t realize his tears were starting into fall.

 

He wanders into the kitchen, sitting on the counter, his memories of his grandma making breakfast for him suddenly flashed against his eyes. He wipes his tears but it didn’t do any better, he just cried harder.

 

Then, he moves towards his grandparent’s room. It was clean, like any other parts of the house. Her nightgown is still hanging by the window. The picture of their golden wedding anniversary is still on the wall. Well, at least now, his grandma and grandpa are together. All he could hope for is that they’re happy up there.

 

Slowly, he sits on the bed, feeling the material of the blanket against his hands. When his grandfather died, he would sleep beside her, listening to her quiet cries. She was devastated, but she stayed strong, so he, too, did the same.

 

Jaebum breathes in hard as he stands up to leave the room. Then, he climbs the stairs leading to his own bedroom. For a second he hesitated, but after beating himself to it, he opened the door and walked in. He cleaned the room when he left last year, but he made sure that it looked exactly the same.

 

He can’t believe he’s saying a final goodbye to this place. This was just too memorable, too important.

 

Now that he had roamed around the house, he finally realizes that it wasn’t that big. But, it was enough, though, for him and his grandparents. It was painful to look at the place he once considered home is empty, robbed out the life of it.

 

“Grandmama, please guide me with my decision. Tell me what should I do.” He says as when he gets in front of his grandmother’s photo that is hanging by the living room. “And, I missed you so much.”

 

So to say, he reconsiders his decision, he is still conflicted. He turns around, allowing himself to get a final look of the place. Then, he makes his way out, but he didn’t really get to get out because there is someone sitting on the steps on their front porch.

 

That someone noticed it too, so he stood up, holding his staff in front of him. “Who are you!?” He asks, moving the staff from left to right.

 

“What are you doing there? That’s trespassing! You’re-” Jaebum then leaps to hug the person. It’s Jinyoung and he has completely gone blind now. “Jinyoung, it’s me.” Jaebum says when Jinyoung tried to break free from his hug.

 

Once he heard Jaebum’s voice, Jinyoung becomes calm, but it didn’t last long. He starts crying, pulling Jaebum closer to him. “Jaebum? Is this really you?” Jinyoung pulls aways slightly, tracing Jinyoung’s face with his hands.

 

Jaebum nods and then he pulls Jinyoung for a hug again. He rests his forehead against Jinyoung’s, their tears meeting by their cheeks. “Jaebum, I’m so sorry for asking you to leave me.” Jinyoung says, his words tumbling against one another. “Jaebum, I’m so sorry, I’m so so sorry.”

 

“Jinyoung, I- I- I love you. I still do.” Jaebum finally says, “and before you say anything else, last year, when I told you that I wanted to close that chapter of our life, I only said it because I wanted a new one with you. I wanted us to start again, not restart, just start again, start moving. I wanted us to pick up where we left and then move forward together.”

 

Jinyoung doesn’t talk this time, he just keeps on listening to Jaebum. “So please, if you still want this, if you still want us, if you are still willing to give me your love, please let me know. Tell me, please.”

 

Jinyoung nods, and then he says, “Please, I’m begging you, Jaebum. Let’s start again.” Jaebum, finally, after all these years, will pick up where he left and what’s better, Jinyoung is moving forward with him.

 

It was already dark when they arrive at Jinyoung’s house. Yugyeom is already there, base from the lights and the faint sound of the radio. “Jinyoung hyung, where were you earlier? You weren’t-” Yugyeom turns to them then stops when he sees Jaebum holding Jinyoung close to him.

 

“Hi, Yugyeom.” Jaebum greets shyly, Jinyoung beside him is still too jittery. “Hi, Jaebum hyung.” to this, Jinyoung slowly pulls Jaebum towards the kitchen, counting his steps quietly.

 

“Yugyeom, guess who has gotten himself a boyfriend at 40?” Jinyoung smiles brightly, the one he hadn't shown anyone in decades. Jaebum could only watch Jinyoung’s face from the side. Jinyoung really never fails to enthrall him.

 

Yugyeom tears up, because he too, is enthralled by his brother. Finally, he’s smiling again and finally he’s happy again.

 

Epilogue:

 

“He’s okay, yesterday he was up until one the morning, listening to e-books.” Jaebum says over the line while taking his clothes off. He has just gotten home from an overtime at the hospital. However, tomorrow is his day off and that thought alone makes him happy.

 

“Oh, you will? Okay, I’ll tell him.” Jaebum says again seconds later before saying goodbye and placing the phone on the nightstand.

 

“Hey is that Yugyeom?” Jinyoung asks from the bed. He’s dressed in one of Jaebum’s white coats because earlier he didn’t want the older to leave him so Jaebum thought of ways to appease the younger. Therefore the coat.

 

“Yes, he just wanted to check on you but insisted on not disturbing you. He just said hi and he’d visit over the weekend.” Jinyoung nods, about to continue playing the story in his e-book player. However, Jaebum crawled to his side. Unplugging the earphones off Jinyoung ears.

 

“Hey” Jinyoung protests, but Jaebum was insistent on taking the device from Jinyoung. “Love, shouldn’t you pay attention to me now? You can listen to that story again tomorrow.” Jaebum says, kissing Jinyoung on the cheek. Jinyoung sighs, his hands finding their way to Jaebum’s jaws. “You left me earlier.”

 

Jaebum rolls eyes and starts laughing. He then proceeds on tickling the younger until they’re both breathless. Jinyoung rolls around until he’s lying on Jaebum’s chest, tapping his fingers along with the beat of the older’s heart.

 

“I’m scared, Jaebum.” Jinyoung says, “What if the operation goes wrong or bad?-” Finally, after months of coaxing the younger, Jinyoung agreed on undergoing the operation. However, they are not sure if it would be for both of the eyes.

 

Apparently, his left eye’s deterioration process was faster than his right. So, only his left is blind in the moment. But the right eye isn’t any better, it was always like a really out of focus photo. Everything’s blurry and hazy.

 

“Jinyoung, listen to me.” Jaebum pulls Jinyoung closer as he rests his forehead against the younger’s. “It won’t, Jinyoung, trust me. Whatever happens anyway, I’ll be with you after all.” Jinyoung sighs and then reaches his finger to Jaebum’s face.

 

The pressure of Jinyoung’s fingers is calming Jaebum. “Jinyoung?” Jaebum’s voice was low and it’s just almost above a whisper. “Mmm?” Jinyoung just keeps on tracing Jaebum’s face.

 

“Yugyeom told me that after I left Busan two years ago, you would always go to back my grandparent’s house.” He starts as he cards Jinyoung’s hair. “Why did you do that?”

Jiyoung momentarily stops. “I was waiting for you to pick me up.”