YO is bewildered to find JH's hands shaking and breathing ragged, the utter lack of repose a deviation from his usual demeanor.
JH suddenly releases YO from his hold and draws back, belatedly realizing his drenched form soaking YO, for which he apologizes. JH falls back into shock and their roles reverse as it's YO now who eyes him with concern, his mind having difficulty reconciling with JH's uncharacteristic behavior.
JH suggests they swing by the hospital first, to which YO initially objects, insisting that he's okay, but the look on JH's face, which YO may as well mistake for JH's feelings for him, dissolves his resistance.
YO takes JH's hand as he acquiesces to his request, if only to mollify his obvious distress.
***
Having regained his composure now that YO's been looked at, JH brings him over to his place for their much-needed shower and a change of clothes.
Despite YO's insistence on his injury being minor, JH advises him not to make light of his condition.
As JH leads him to the shower, YO espies a familiar screenplay ("Six Moons", for which he won Best New Actor) on JH's coffee table, halting him in his steps. He moves along when JH calls out for him.
*
A freshly showered JH appears the moment YO steps out of the bathroom, offering to dry his hair. YO declines his help, but JH persists by pointing out YO's arm, now with limited mobility. YO begrudgingly relents.
Thanks to his semi-valid excuse, JH gets to run his hands through YO's hair for the first time in eternity. A familiar touch, YO notes as he looks at himself in the mirror. It dawns on him that they have reverted to their normal selves, leading YO to question his motive for accepting JH's invitation. The purpose was to put JH's mind at ease, but he fears he may have made a mistake.
Annoyed at the situation he finds himself in, YO thanks JH for the help and offers to take leave. JH puts up a protest, saying YO only has to wait for a bit more to change back into his clothes, after which JH will drive him home. YO rebels at the idea, but JH refuses to back down, unwilling to lose what little time he has with YO.
Needing to put JH back in his place, YO gives voice to his resentments.
Despite getting swayed by JH anew, YO lets him know he hasn't changed his mind on where he thinks their 2-year relationship belongs: in the past.
He says nothing upsets him more than JH incessantly barging into his life...appearing at the most opportune of time, wearing a helpless expression under the assault of rain, chipping away at his resolve when he's doing his damnedest to move forward.
He starts to break down as he criticizes JH for manipulating his heart (or messing with his head), trapping him in his own feelings from which he's unable to break free.
He says he hates how JH felt the need to constantly dismiss his feelings only for him to push for more the moment YO steps on the brakes.
YO has his hand up in front of him, as if to shield himself from JH, who looks at him helplessly, paralyzed by guilt.
"Why must you always haunt me so?" YO asks in frustration.
Hurt slices through JH as he witnesses YO's vulnerability. He closes the distance and wraps YO in his arms.
Crushed, he apologizes for his missteps, for using YO as a pawn, for disregarding YO's feelings then forcing his own, for even inconveniencing YO with his overdue apologies.
He tightens the embrace when he feels YO reciprocating.
JH knows he's not worthy, but he asks for another chance to show that he DOES like YO despite his initial denial.
"How can I make you see?"
Feeling the need to hear it again, he tells JH to repeat the words he's always pined for, ached for, begged for...
"I like you, Seo Yeonoh. I like you more than you'll ever realize," JH declares, hoping YO can hear the sincerity in his voice.
***
A few weeks later find YO wrapping up a shoot at some scenic beach. He declines to head back with the crew, wanting to take a stroll along the shore.
Ever the stalker, JH manifests behind him, subtly hinting at his disapproval of YO going back to work less than a month after the accident.
YO (and I can't fucking believe I have to repeat this for the nth time) maintains that he's okay, but JH continues his nagging, claiming he's worried.
The beach being his happy place, YO says he hardly feels he's at work, expressing delight at the view before him: a beach awash in pink, darker on the horizon where the sun is setting, forecasting the good weather the following day will bring.
Breathtaking may the view be, JH is more arrested by the sight of YO, prompting him to ask for a kiss.
YO doesn't like the idea, worried they will be seen. He asks YO to turn his way then places a chaste kiss on his cheek, catching him off guard.
YO, flustered, falls behind as JH walks on. He sobers up by expressing incredulity at JH's excuses should they find the need to explain (the kiss).
JH suggests they visit the beach again and in their own private time, where YO doesn't have to worry about catching people's eyes. YO huffs as he trails behind, hinting how JH may not have the time.
JH stops to let him catch up. As it will be spent with YO, JH says he can and will make time.
Spoilers for chapter 80: https://www.mangago.zone/home/mangatopic/15038824/
***
YO is bewildered to find JH's hands shaking and breathing ragged, the utter lack of repose a deviation from his usual demeanor.
JH suddenly releases YO from his hold and draws back, belatedly realizing his drenched form soaking YO, for which he apologizes. JH falls back into shock and their roles reverse as it's YO now who eyes him with concern, his mind having difficulty reconciling with JH's uncharacteristic behavior.
JH suggests they swing by the hospital first, to which YO initially objects, insisting that he's okay, but the look on JH's face, which YO may as well mistake for JH's feelings for him, dissolves his resistance.
YO takes JH's hand as he acquiesces to his request, if only to mollify his obvious distress.
***
Having regained his composure now that YO's been looked at, JH brings him over to his place for their much-needed shower and a change of clothes.
Despite YO's insistence on his injury being minor, JH advises him not to make light of his condition.
As JH leads him to the shower, YO espies a familiar screenplay ("Six Moons", for which he won Best New Actor) on JH's coffee table, halting him in his steps. He moves along when JH calls out for him.
*
A freshly showered JH appears the moment YO steps out of the bathroom, offering to dry his hair. YO declines his help, but JH persists by pointing out YO's arm, now with limited mobility. YO begrudgingly relents.
Thanks to his semi-valid excuse, JH gets to run his hands through YO's hair for the first time in eternity. A familiar touch, YO notes as he looks at himself in the mirror. It dawns on him that they have reverted to their normal selves, leading YO to question his motive for accepting JH's invitation. The purpose was to put JH's mind at ease, but he fears he may have made a mistake.
Annoyed at the situation he finds himself in, YO thanks JH for the help and offers to take leave. JH puts up a protest, saying YO only has to wait for a bit more to change back into his clothes, after which JH will drive him home. YO rebels at the idea, but JH refuses to back down, unwilling to lose what little time he has with YO.
Needing to put JH back in his place, YO gives voice to his resentments.
Despite getting swayed by JH anew, YO lets him know he hasn't changed his mind on where he thinks their 2-year relationship belongs: in the past.
He says nothing upsets him more than JH incessantly barging into his life...appearing at the most opportune of time, wearing a helpless expression under the assault of rain, chipping away at his resolve when he's doing his damnedest to move forward.
He starts to break down as he criticizes JH for manipulating his heart (or messing with his head), trapping him in his own feelings from which he's unable to break free.
He says he hates how JH felt the need to constantly dismiss his feelings only for him to push for more the moment YO steps on the brakes.
YO has his hand up in front of him, as if to shield himself from JH, who looks at him helplessly, paralyzed by guilt.
"Why must you always haunt me so?" YO asks in frustration.
Hurt slices through JH as he witnesses YO's vulnerability. He closes the distance and wraps YO in his arms.
Crushed, he apologizes for his missteps, for using YO as a pawn, for disregarding YO's feelings then forcing his own, for even inconveniencing YO with his overdue apologies.
He tightens the embrace when he feels YO reciprocating.
JH knows he's not worthy, but he asks for another chance to show that he DOES like YO despite his initial denial.
"How can I make you see?"
Feeling the need to hear it again, he tells JH to repeat the words he's always pined for, ached for, begged for...
"I like you, Seo Yeonoh. I like you more than you'll ever realize," JH declares, hoping YO can hear the sincerity in his voice.
***
A few weeks later find YO wrapping up a shoot at some scenic beach. He declines to head back with the crew, wanting to take a stroll along the shore.
Ever the stalker, JH manifests behind him, subtly hinting at his disapproval of YO going back to work less than a month after the accident.
YO (and I can't fucking believe I have to repeat this for the nth time) maintains that he's okay, but JH continues his nagging, claiming he's worried.
The beach being his happy place, YO says he hardly feels he's at work, expressing delight at the view before him: a beach awash in pink, darker on the horizon where the sun is setting, forecasting the good weather the following day will bring.
Breathtaking may the view be, JH is more arrested by the sight of YO, prompting him to ask for a kiss.
YO doesn't like the idea, worried they will be seen. He asks YO to turn his way then places a chaste kiss on his cheek, catching him off guard.
YO, flustered, falls behind as JH walks on. He sobers up by expressing incredulity at JH's excuses should they find the need to explain (the kiss).
JH suggests they visit the beach again and in their own private time, where YO doesn't have to worry about catching people's eyes. YO huffs as he trails behind, hinting how JH may not have the time.
JH stops to let him catch up. As it will be spent with YO, JH says he can and will make time.
[END]