He tried his best to act relaxed in front of his parents that day, for the first time he woke up at a decent hour so he went down before lunch and made himself a cup of tea; that was the only thing he could drink out of meal hours and he really needed something in his stomach. Maybe the cry the night before made him more tired than usual, that's why he was feeling so hungry; he remembered Donghae's words and smiled by himself, resting his weight on the kitchen counter, he was touching the mug with his lower lip, liking how it was warm and feeling the comfort that the hot beverage was able to give him. Almost like Donghae. He giggled again. At that moment his mother entered the room "Why so happy did something happen? You are even out of your room so early" the woman said passing by him and taking a glass of water.

He was surprised by her entrance and he almost lost all his happiness, then he remembered Donghae's words, he told him to be strong till his comeback, so he was going to do his best "do I need a reason to smile?" he asked taking a sip of tea.

"I hardly see you smiling that's all" she replied raising an eyebrow.

"That's because you aren't someone able to make me smile, nor is the man you married" that said he exited the room; he didn't want to argue with her nor to tell her why he was smiling and who was the person able to make him a bit happier than usual.

"Hyukjae" his mother called, he turned around, what could she want now? " go to your father's study…he wants to give you a chore, you know he doesn't like seeing you doing nothing when he is around" she said. Oh god no, again balance? I did it all day yesterday…plus I don't really want to see him. He sighed and nodded, starting to walk again. "Son" his mother called again. This time he didn't turn around, he only waited to hear her, she didn't call him like that often "you seem healthier these days" she added in a lower tone. He turned around to look at her expression but she was already behind the door of the kitchen. She didn’t really care, did she? It was impossible, she never cared about him. He started to walk towards the room where his father was supposed to be and felt a bit uncomfortable. He didn't know why but his mother's words made his heart heavy. If he looked healthier was because he was feeling better than usual, less bored and lonely, and to be sincere it was thanks to Donghae.

He knocked on the door and waited for his father to let him in "ah, what a surprise, you woke up so early" the man said. He only smiled bitterly and sat down on the armchair in front of his desk.

"Mom told me you wanted to see me for something" he cut short.

"Yes, I want to try giving you an important task, to see if you can manage it" his voice was harsh just like his eyes. He was testing him as always. He nodded waiting for the task to come, surely it was something no one else wanted to do, that's why he was giving it to him "you probably heard, because you don't come to the office but you still live in this house, that we are opening a luxury hotel in Gangnam-Gu" his father said.

"Yes, mom was the one that followed all the preparations while you weren't here" he replied shrugging, what that thing had to do with him?

"Well, since you know…we are opening it to the public soon, but I need you to go there and test everything, from the service to the practical things, such as the lightning or the accommodation. Your mother worked for months on that hotel and now she can't take it anymore, and I'm too busy to spend three days closed in an hotel" going to test the hotel was boring. He knew it, he was giving him a task no other wanted.

"Why me? And why three days?" he asked.

"You because even if you aren't much are still my son, and you have no interest in lying to me, nor you can be possibly related to our rivals. Three days because you basically have to test at least the three main types of rooms, the double deluxe, the family suite and the double suite, you'll know the characteristics once you read those documents" his father explained putting a bunch of papers on the desk so that he could reach them "in there you'll find the way to communicate if you find anything wrong too"

"So one night per room?" his father nodded "I'll decide when to go then and let you know" he replied; he didn't really like the idea but he wanted to be strong and that way he could also not see his parents for three entire days. He went out of the room and sighed looking at the documents, I don't want to read them, whatever I'll do it when I decide the day.

~

Sunday passed quickly just like the day before and luckily his parents had to go out for a business lunch so he was alone all the day, being able to simply play in his room or sleep. He hadn't decided yet when to go to the hotel and his parents told him he had to make a decision early the following week because they were intending to open the hotel at the end of the month. Maybe it was going to be the following Wednesday, right in the middle of the week but he wasn't sure.

Monday finally come and he woke up all happy. He didn't hear a word from Donghae for the past two days but he knew he was going to come visit him, he promised. The morning passed just like all the others, no signs of Donghae, not even a message so he went to lunch feeling a bit down. He ate all the food silently, feeling extremely restless, but his parents didn't seem to notice. Uh you said I was looking healthier but you didn't realize I didn't eat much today.

They were eating the cake when suddenly they heard a knock on the door, one of the maids came in and bowed politely before speaking "young master you have a visit" she said. He widened his eyes and stood up looking at her incredulously.

"Who…" he started to ask when he saw someone coming in from behind the maid. Donghae, he was there to visit him as he promised. He smiled brightly at him, all his gummies showing, he wanted to see him so much and he was like a ray of sunshine in a grey day "Donghae!" he said as the guy entered the room. He wanted to run towards him and then pull him out of the room but he couldn't do that.

"Good afternoon, I'm sorry if I came at an inconvenient hour, is just I had only this time before going back to my office and I needed to see Hyukjae" he said politely bowing to his parents. He never met his father so he needed to be a bit more cautious.

"Ah, the young mr. Lee, good morning" the man said standing up and crossing the room to reach his guest, reaching out a hand. Donghae smiled at him and gave him his hand bowing at the same time. He looked so gorgeous when he was that serious, Hyukjae almost felt like hiding him, like he didn't want anybody else to see him, especially when he looked that good.

"Mr. Lee, is the first time meeting you, is such a pleasure for me, and sorry if I interrupted your lunch" he said.

"Don't worry we were just finishing" Hyukjae said smiling at him, hoping they could just escape as soon as possible.

"Oh well, it's ok a man like you needs to find free hours when he can, not like our Hyukjae here that is always at home" the man said patting his son's shoulder strongly and laughing. Such a bastard, did he have to make him look so useless in front of Donghae too? The guy didn't know how to reply and smiled at the man.

"Now sorry mom and dad, but…we need to discuss something before he goes to work" Hyukjae said, getting rid of his father's hand and pressing gently his own on Donghae's back "let's go" the guy bowed again to the elders and followed him.

Once they reached the hallway Hyukjae sighed, he didn't like being treated like that and in front of his friend too. "Yah, why are you looking this down? Come on I don't have much time to talk to you" Donghae said patting his shoulder and starting to walk quickly on the stairs, taking two steps at a time, leaving him behind. The other seemed happy for no reason, he instead was feeling like , he was so happy to see him and yet his father let him down once again. He reached the other and opened the door of his room for him.

He entered slowly following him and closed the door, then he turned around still looking at the floor "Dongh…" his sentence was interrupted by a sudden strong hug. He froze and opened his eyes wide, what he was doing? Then he remembered, the hug he promised him, the hug that was supposed to make him feel better. He relaxed all his muscles and rested his forehead on the strong shoulder of the other. He sighed in his arms and reached up to hug him back lightly.

"Feeling already better?" Donghae muttered, he was smiling, probably for him it was all a joke. He nodded and nuzzled his nose on the crook of his neck a bit, just to get some more warmth "ah no wait, something is missing" the guy said, then he pushed him onto the bed, falling almost on him. Hyukjae widened his eyes once again, not understanding what was happening, but soon two delicate hands reached his head and those fingers gently dug in his hair. The other moved closer to him and still holding his head he pulled him in a semi hug, using his elbows to keep him in place "I said on the bed, and I was forgetting to caress your hair" Donghae said giggling. Hyukjae giggled too and pulled him even closer, burying his face in the chest of the other. Oh, it was so wide and hot, even if he was wearing a shirt his body heat was perceptible and the sound of him breathing slowly too.

"Thank you" Hyukjae said. He didn’t expect him to keep his promise, it was a weird thing to do "you came here directly from Jeju?" he asked.

"Uh? Sure, as I promised. Did you behave those past days?" he asked.

"Yes…but did you notice? See how he treats me in front of others? Was it even necessary to say I'm lazy in front of you?" he muttered to his chest. He wasn't used to hugs at all and even less to caresses and he was feeling all weird inside. He felt the urge to tug him closer, to purr and even to kiss him…

"I saw it…it was totally unnecessary. Hyuk maybe he does it because he wants you to be more active" the guy said still caressing his head, playing a bit with some strands of hair.

How did he call me? Oh my, no one calls me with a nickname. Whatever I'll let him, I think.

"He does it because he hates me, you know what? Sometimes I think horrible things…like maybe you are luckier than me…" he whispered, feeling ashamed of what he was saying.

"What?" Donghae said stopping to caress his hair but not being able to see his face because he was holding him strongly, and he was hiding it on his chest.

"Not having a father is better than having one that dislikes you like mine. At least yours loved you when he was alive and your mother loves you too…" he muttered again; speaking out loud wasn't surely something he could do saying such horrible things. He felt sorry for Donghae, having to remind him about his father's death…it was tactless.

"Don't say such nonsense, at least you have one, and when you'll feel like seeing him, you'll be able to talk to him, you don't like him but he is still your father and he has to love you" Donghae said, his voice was trembling a bit but he didn't seem angry at him.

 "But I'm nothing near a perfect son, and he seems to be able to love only what I'm not and never will. Hae I'm sorry I said something like that, is just that when he is here he makes me feel like nothing and I'm really starting to believe he is right" he felt hot tears coming out of his eyes, he couldn't stop them, they flowed so quickly, wetting the shirt of the other.

Donghae realized he was crying mostly from his shivering voice, but the moment he felt something hot and wet on him he pulled that head a bit to look at his face "oh look at those tears even falling out…" he said cleaning his tears with his thumb and smiling softly at him "you are not nothing…why don't you try to work hard instead?"

"You are telling me to work, are you on his side? I know I'm lazy…but" Hyukjae asked between sobs.

"I'm telling you to prove him wrong, you aren't useless, just try to find something to work on at the company…he will change his mind, and if he doesn't once you'll become successful you are going to show him" the guy said cleaning up another tear that flowed out of his eye. He couldn't see anymore, nothing mattered at all, he reached up both his hands and cupping Donghae's face he kissed him softly on the lips. The other tensed then pushed him lightly on the stomach.

Hyukjae opened his eyes widely and pushed him away strongly, rolling to the opposite side, facing the ceiling. He started to pat his lips, his heart was beating quickly, his whole body was burning, and he was so embarrassed that he could hardly breathe. The only thing he could see were Donghae's eyes wide open and his flushed and surprised face. He felt so sorry he didn't know what to say "ah…I'm so sorry…really I don't know what…I'm…" he covered his face with his arm, still hitting his lips with the other hand. What have I done? Now he is going to be mad at me forever.

"It…it's ok…you got carried away…plus the dreams you were having and the situation…it's ok Hyukjae stop hitting your lips...it wasn't much" Donghae said getting closer to him again, grabbing his hand to stop him "yah, look at me, you are making me feel uncomfortable…" he added and finally the guy took off the arm from his eyes. His face was all red, he was probably looking quite funny but his friend didn't care as he gathered him in his arms again, driving his head gently on his chest  "It's because you are needy and I'm too addicted to physical contact so I was hugging you and caressing your hair too much".

Hyukjae chuckled "yet you are still holding me closely…you aren't mad? Really?" he asked still not moving from that sweet embrace.

"No not at all, I was surprised and embarrassed, but not mad…so" he stopped for a moment and cleared his throat "…was it similar to your dreams?" his voice was merely audible.

"Uhm…no, you kiss better in my dreams" Hyukjae said looking up and grinning. Donghae was blushing to the tips of his ears.

"Y…yah it was merely a kiss…" he muttered pushing him a little.

Hyukjae then looked at him in a mischievous way and got closer to his face again "want to prove me wrong?" he blew on his lips. He knew he couldn't kiss him again, and he surely wasn't going to, but teasing him was funny.

Donghae closed his eyes and sighed "no thanks, we don't even know each other…and I don't go around kissing people I'm not that close with. Plus we are starting to get along a bit…I don't want anything like that to happen" he said. Ah the voice of the conscience, the voice of the truth.

"Me neither Hae, my wet dreams aren't a big deal…I mean come on you are a handsome guy, is normal for a person that is in abstinence like me to have weird thoughts, but let's not think about it" he smiled again then he rested his forehead on the other's shoulder "so you like physical contact? Pff I almost discovered what is it today. Is not like I had time to cuddle with a friend before…not to be held like you are doing now…thank you again" he added.

"Ah it's ok…I like to hug people, is in my nature, but lately, I couldn't do it much so I'm glad you are letting me do it. Ah…I should go" Donghae said.

"Already?" he pouted.

"Yeah…I can stay for another ten minutes if you want…" he replied looking at his watch.

"Yes please! Ah…I remembered something" he said pushing the other a bit to face him "I have to go to test a hotel we are about to open, want to come with me?" he asked all happy inside.

"You are opening a hotel? I don't know, what we have to do there?" the guy asked, and suddenly he remembered something. He couldn't ask him to go with him for three days. He looked down and sighed.

"I forgot…it's three nights, you can't come, you go to the office and all…" he pouted.

"Oh well, I worked this weekend, I think I can take three days, I'm the CEO after all, they can manage it for a bit without me" Donghae said smiling and shaking him by his shoulders.

"Really?" he asked grinning, sparkles in his eyes. If Donghae was with him it wasn't going to be a boring job.

"Yes sure, when were you thinking of going?"

"I was thinking of Wednesday" he answered.

"mmh…that way it's Friday again…can't we do it earlier? So that I won't feel too guilty if I work again the week end" Donghae said blushing a bit and scratching his head.

"Before? Like…tomorrow? Sure we can" he was feeling all excited, they were going to be together on tuesday too and he didn't have to suffer alone for another day.

"It's decided then, come to pick me up tomorrow" Donghae said smiling, then he looked at his watch again "it's time to go, you'll explain the details to me when we meet" he said getting off the bed. Hyukjae stretched his limbs and rolled over that side of bed like a cat "yah, lazy guy aren't you going to see me out?" the guy said pulling him up to convince him to stand. Hyukjae laughed and let him do what he wanted, not forgetting to rest his whole weight on him, a dead weight.

"Ok, ok I'm coming" he finally said and jumped off the bed to accompany him to the front door. He waved at his friend and waited till he jumped in his car before closing.

~

He entered in the living room and found both his parents there, he was too happy to even bother to be stressed by them "I'm going to the hotel tomorrow morning, and I'll go with Donghae" he stated smiling and crossing his arms while he rested on the door frame. His mother looked at him tilting her head then she shrugged.

"He told you he wanted to come? And how will you sleep? Only the family suite has two rooms" his mother said.

"We are both men, I don't see the problem of sleeping in the same bed, it's just for three nights…plus we can always find a bed to put inside the room if he doesn't want to sleep with me" he answered all cool; but inside he was thinking that his mother was right. What if Donghae didn't want to sleep with him? They were getting closer but…in the same bed, he had to ask his friend about it.

"If it doesn't bother Mr. Lee for me it's fine, at least with him there you'll probably work harder, he seems a good guy that takes his work seriously, maybe he is going to instill some good sense in you" his father said. He was able to say always the wrong thing at the wrong moment. Maybe it was a gift only him had. Don't argue with him Hyukjae or he will say something even worse and you'll feel like an idiot for even trying. You know you aren't at his level, just forget it and nod.

He sighed "Whatever, I'm going with him, so make a call to the hotel to tell them we are two and arriving tomorrow morning, early" that said he went out of the room as fast as he could. The only thought that made him feel better was Donghae going to play with him for three days.

~

After dinner he was ready to go to bed when suddenly he heard his phone ringing, it was on the bed so it had to ring for a long time because the sound was muffled by the blanket. He jumped on his feet the moment he realized it was probably going to be too late and he launched himself on the bed, stretching out his arms to reach the phone. It could be only him, no other called him ever, plus at that hour. Maybe he was calling to say her couldn't come anymore. "Hello?" he said quickly opening the call.

"ah…I thought you were already sleeping…am I disturbing you?" no handsome guy you aren't at all.

"No, tell me" he was a bit nervous, he was so happy about the fact he was going with him that now he could only think for the worst to happen.

"Ehm…for the thing at the hotel " see? I knew it  "What should I bring Hyuk?" Donghae finished. His heart fluttered, so that was the reason? He made him so scared. How cute could that man ben worried about what to bring…

"Actually is not really important a small bag can work fine, remember three pairs of boxers and three of socks…" he mocked him, sounding like a grandma and hearing him snort "then just a change, we are basically staying inside a hotel all for us, is like being home, so cozy clothes are ok…ah maybe bring something for the gym" he added.

"A tank top and a pair of shorts are ok?" Donghae asked, he sounded really concerned, oh well maybe he never entered in a luxury hotel, but they weren't going to be judged, they had to work. And of course, a tank top was fine, even without was going to be perfect.

"Yes, don't worry, I won't put on expensive clothes either, we need to look for every detail in that huge building, maybe even sitting outside, is pointless. But you called me just for this? Ahaha Hae you are cute" he said and started to giggle.

"Yah, not funny at all, I didn't want to look shabby and make you ashamed of me…" the other muttered "ok…I'm closing now since you are so amused by my concern"

"No, don't close, my mother reminded me something before…we are sleeping in the same bed for two days…is that ok with you? We can always ask for an extra bed…the rooms are spacious and there are sofas too" Hyukjae asked, hoping that his friend wasn't going to be mad at him for not telling him before.

"Ah? Other bed? It's ok I can sleep with you, not a big deal" he replied. His voice coming out of the phone sounded so y he could have called him forever. He smiled.

"Ah ok…even if I sleep completely ?"

"Yes" the other replied after sighing, knowing he was teasing him.

"Even if I tend to hug everything around me?" he asked again, this time he had to cover his mouth with the pillow not to let the other hear his giggles.

"Yes…come on don't be silly or I won't come" the guy said sounding annoyed.

"OK! I'll behave I promise, see you tomorrow morning then" he said smiling. Ah if he was here I would hug him and nuzzle my nose on his gorgeous collarbones, just as friends of course...

The guy snorted "ok…sleep well and see you tomorrow" Donghae said before closing.

And once again their calls before sleeping were something able to make him happy. That guy's voice was like a lullaby, so soft and deep, so y yet cute. He was surely the first he wanted to hear in the morning and the last before going to sleep. He hoped they could just continue to call each other like that because it made him feel calmer, a bit maybe…but definitely calmer.

~