With Donghae's limp but surprisingly light body set in Hyukjae's arms, carrying him up the stairs into their bedroom, the older couldn't help but feel a sense of endearment and bashful enchantment closing away around his chest.

Donghae was just adorable.

Adorable.

Hyukjae's cheeks stained a deep hue of maroon; not only because of the obvious light but extra weight he was trudging along with himself on steep stairs, but also because of the way he was holding onto Donghae now and the whole ambiance of the situation; he was carrying the younger bridal style with his arms wrapped all the way under Donghae's upper back, and the hind of his bent knees.

Opening the door of his grand bedroom while propping a knee up for support, whilst using a free hand, Hyukjae quickly stepped in with an ever sleeping brunette ball of wonder in his arms.

After making his way across the few feet of his room toward the mattess and closing the door, setting Donghae onto the bed down cautiously, Eunhyuk pulled the covers up to the younger's chin keeping him warm from the silent but steadily building breeze of the evening night.

Walking over to the door again after placing his friend in his rightful place at this time of the night, Hyukjae quickly placed his hand on the knob before twisting it open and stepping out into the familialarity of the dimly lit hallway.

He needed a drink of water, but apparently, the hallway with its demeaning orange shadowed lights and dark wooden floors that creaked when pressure was applied to them, obviously didn't want him to go anywhere but back inside the comfort of his own room.

You're being childish, Hyukjae chanted to himself, just go downstairs and get a drink.

Swiftly garnering all thoughts of ghouls and creepy things popping out at him in the late hour of the evening to the innermost suppressed corner of his mind, Hyukjae began to make his way down the arctic steps, sending chills down his spine, as his backbone was somehow connected to his feet that were actually experiencing the sting of cooled stairs.

Finally reaching the living room floor, the blonde male strode calmly over to the kitchen, turning a light switch on that illuminated the obscurity of darkness.

Swinging a cup with his right hand out and over the chinaware cabinet, Hyukjae pressed the lining of the mug against the plastic square that was attached to the filtration system, harnessing fresh water directly from their fridge.

He took a seat on one of the spinning chairs of the bar, swerving the moveable 360 stool around like a child whilst hanging his feet out, propelling him to spin and move even faster than the last go-around.

The beauty of my old home, Hyukjae thought to himself mindlessly, still shifting in circles on his metal bar stool.

He was too self indulged to even begin to become aware of a certain old man striding forward to the kitchen, eyes trained and set on whatever in this world his grown son was doing to his bar stool.

"Hyukjae?" Mr. Lee asked out in an audible whisper, eyes furrowed over his blonde bundle of joy spinning ridiculously before he came to a full halt, ceasing to further his steps into the kitchen.

Hyukjae finally looked up and saw his father's expression, freaking out a little and saying the first thing that came to his mind;

"Dad! I-I-I was just you know...drinking water." the younger of the two stumbled over his words, palms slamming over the granite counter tops in a pathetic and futile attempt to stop himself early before the elder witnessed him having petty and probably more-than-stupid-looking fun.

Hyukjae's father just chuckled to himself, always and forever amused at the strangeness of life he helped create that was now a full grown man. He loved his son all the more for that; the fact that the blonde pulled quirky and wonderful actions wherever he went was something his father couldn't help but classify as nothing short of adorable although melancholy of his son's ancient childhood.

"Well okay then mister. Although, I've never seen someone having so much fun just by drinking water." the older male teased, endearment laced in his brown orbs and playful tone.

Hyukjae couldn't help but stifle a laugh of his own, smiling a huge gummy grin at his elderly father.

Mr. Lee proceeded to imitate the younger's actions beforehand his run-in with the blonde; taking hold of a cup from the chinaware cabinet and pressing it against the filter system on the fridge for fresh, crisp water.

He sat down next to Hyukjae, eyes meeting for a second as they passed a bonded smile toward each other.

The younger of the two never admitted it to himself, but he had a much closer relationship with his father than he knew. Deep down, even through the awkwardness of their conversations now that he's moved out and grown up, Hyukjae knew that no matter what, he loved his dad just the same as he did when he was only five years old.

He would never forget their experiences and adventures together from his early toddler stage to even when he was in university; they were always father and son.

After a few moments of stilled silence and nothing but the drone of the air conditioning system, Hyukjae sighed to himself, contemplating whether or not he should talk to his father about the mixed emotions he's been having about Donghae.

He didn't want to face the facts, but for some reason, the brunette ball of smiles and giggles did more than just make his days a little better. Sure he did, but Donghae did much more than just that. Much more to the level of Hyukjae's heart fluttering every time he sees him smile, his stomach feeling the purge of a trillion butterflies each time the smaller male cuddled next to him, and when he looks into those piercing brown eyes filled with nothing but innocence and purity, he can't explain that feeling of nausea and lightheaded bliss of nervousness that raptures his body.

And yet, he's only known him for a few weeks.

It felt strange but at the same time, deep in his heart somewhere was an unreasonable feeling of just how right it was. That being around Donghae was just an instant...right.

Who knows?

Maybe it's just the tingling of adrenaline rushed nerves that get to him every time he's around Hae, but whatever it is, Hyukjae feels that this unknown and unspoken spark of emotion is a little more than just friendship.

Thoughts eating away at his poor mind, the blonde male made a rash decision, not once hesitating as he opened his mouth and quipped his concerns, uncertainty lacing its way through his voice,

"Dad...can I ask you something?"

Piquing the elderly's interest, Hyukjae's father leaned in, facing his son and looking him straight in the eye,

"Of course son...tell me anything you want."

Mr. Lee smiled reassuringly, taking a small sip from his full glass. Talking to Hyuk nowadays had never really been his main forte, but the fact that his son had agreed to come down from Busan just to celebrate his birthday; it was a beautiful willing effort from his son's part in actually trying.

Then maybe it was time he tried too.

Hyukjae looked around him, making sure any and all eavsdroppers were nowhere to be found. He then began his question shakily, fingers twirling around the glass he held in between his palms,

"Dad...would you hate me if I told you that maybe....maybe I...I'm falling for another male...somehow...it's complicated..."

Baffled look edging its way to the elder's eyes before slowly turning into an expression of pure realization and acceptance, Hyukjae's father decided to hold off his real question for a moment, preferring to put his son first in deciding he needed to open up in details just a little bit more.

"What's complicated about it Hyukjae?"

Eunhyuk hesitated for a moment, trying to conjure a meaningful sentence that someone other than himself could actually understand. Or even halfway begin to understand as even he couldn't grasp the feelings he's been having for the past few weeks.

He skirted his way around the question, finally creating a way for him to actually make sense in a worded format,

"I don't know. A lot of things are. I'm scared dad, this is all really new. I don't know what to tell you first or how to tell you about it, all I know is that I'm not really all that sure about myself anymore nowadays and that my emotions are starting to take a toll for the crazy. I know this all sounds very cheesy and heart gushy but I don't know what to do anymore. Plus, I didn't think you'd react all this calmly about it until now..." 

Hyukjae trailed off, not quite sure how to finish his ramble altogether.

Humming to himself for a few seconds, Mr. Lee looked up at the ceiling, as if asking for a sign from above about how to answer his son in the current situation they were in.

Throwing all emotional caution to the wind, the elder just sat there with his eyes set on the blonde, attempting to think on how to formulate words that could suffice Hyukjae's need for comfort and guidance.

"Well Hyuk, I would be lying if I said I wasn't shocked in one way or another, but usually you kept to yourself until someone opened up to you. I can tell that still applies to you even today. It's really a wonder how close we were back when you were a bit younger...someone as reserved and quiet as you, even to your own family. Moreover though, I have to tell you that no matter what, your mother and I will always love you."

Hyukjae responded well to that, gummy smile stretching across his features again in a goofy look that defined Hyukjae as an individual. He was happy he got at least one part of the equation down, now knowing that neither his mom nor dad were hostile or disgusted at the fact that he might have been a bit gay.

It surprised him too really, due to the fact that Hyukjae didn't even realize it until he started developing feelings toward Donghae.

"As for what you're going through," Mr. Lee tried to finish up his lesson, sighing deeply and resting his voice a bit, "only time will tell my little Hyuk. Whatever happens though, I suggest you keep that levelheaded brain of yours intact and make rightful decisions. Don't do anything crazy, and please don't hurt if and ever someone decides to play your love because honestly, then they wouldn't deserve you."

Hyukjae's dad flashed an aged smile in his direction, calming his son's nerves quite a bit.

The elder got up from his position on the stool, finally chugging down his late night drink before placing it in the sink to be washed in the morning.

Mr. Lee made his way over to the base of the staircase, but just as he was about to take a step onto the first wooden elevated plank, he turned around one last time and looked at his son before calmly saying something that caught Hyukjae a little off gaurd,

"By the way, from the way things are moving between you and Donghae, I can tell he feels a little more than aquaintenship in your relationship with him. I don't know if it's the way he looks at you or the way you truly seem to care about the man, but there's something that's just...there."

The elder propelled himself up the flight of stairs, quickly disappearing behind the thudding sounds of his footsteps.

Hyukjae groaned in confusion.

What the hell is wrong with me? he thought to himself, quickly dragging his slouched self up from the bar stool and placing his cup into the sink.

He strode over and away from the first floor of his house by climbing the stairs, opening the door to his room and closing it shut gently behind him, not once forgetting about the resting brunette that was still in there.

Before climbing into the large mattress with Donghae, who was lazily dozing off on the other side of the bed with his arms wrapped cutely around one of the pillows, Hyukjae took a long stare at the younger, taking in his every delicate feature; nosebridge that trailed down ever so gently with slightly parted thin lips right under them, breathing warm breaths of air gently and silently, closed eyes and tousled brown hair looking just plain adorable while he reposed, an almost invisible shade of red playing up Donghae's cheeks.

He really is cute, Hyukjae thought to himself, another annoying shade of burgundy tainting his pale cheeks before finally climbing into the other side of the bed, reaching over and turning off the lamp and closing his eyes.

He turned the other direction, facing away from Donghae and giving the younger some space so as to not think of him as a creepy stalker staring at him when he opened his eyes in the morning.

Shoving his face into his pillow and inwardly groaning, Hyukjae managed to close his eyes and almost fleet away into unconciousness.

In all honesty though, Hyukjae could stare at Donghae's beautiful features all night and lie awake just to hear him breathing.