look after you | hyunin

xxxvii

they make it to the park by jeongin's old house and the mood shifts into something more bittersweet.

they make their way over to the swingset; they each sit in a swing with their hands intertwined before any words are spoken. jeongin stares out at the street where his parents' barren house is.

how'd i even get to this point?

"five months ago, i never expected to have any of this," jeongin says softly. he's looking down at his feet because even though he has these conversations often, the vulnerability of it still makes him feel shy.

"five months ago, i had enough of everything my parents put me through," he continues. he can feel hyunjin's captivated gaze on him like heat on your skin when the sun is beaming down on you. "i called them out for their shit because i couldn't live like that any longer.

"they kicked me out, i met you, and somehow... we ended up here," jeongin giggles softly. "we've had plenty of vulnerable conversations and moments that got us here. i don't really know what to say that i haven't said before.

"i'm glad we're growing together," jeongin says. the volume of his voice is softer and more vulnerable than hyunjin's ever heard it.

the blond finally looks up at hyunjin. the latter has a small smile on his face and his eyes are slightly teary.

"god, i've cried so fucking much these past few days," hyunjin scoffs. he holds eye contact with jeongin and feels his heart threaten to burst. "you have no idea how much that means to me.

"when i first met you, i wouldn't have blamed you if you told me to leave you alone," he continues. "it's really fucking weird for a stranger to approach you like i did. i was worried, so i couldn't just leave you alone like an asshole.

"as crazy as it sounds, i'm glad i was impulsive and approached you," hyunjin smiles shyly. "i know i seemed creepy at first and i'm really sorry about that-"

"you didn't," jeongin snorts. "i think i would've taken any scrap of comfort i could've gotten, honestly. you were being empathetic. it was sweet."

hyunjin's heart bursts with these words.

"and now..." he sighs softly. "after everything, now we're here."

yeah, we are, hyunjin, jeongin thinks with a small smile on his face. we're here together in this moment and i wouldn't trade it for the world.

i would never trade you for anything.

"yeah... now we're here," the blond keeps his eyes locked with hyunjin's. he ignores the fact that his heart is threatening to burst out of his chest.

they swing slow and steady with their hands intertwined for a few quiet moments. after the brief comfortable silence, hyunjin speaks up again.

"do you honestly think we're moving too fast?"

the mood shifts again. jeongin furrows his brows in confusion and removes his hand from the other's grasp.

"where is this coming from?" the blond asks.

"i've been thinking too much about everything, as usual," the brunet mumbles. "i know we just reconnected this week. with that in mind, i keep getting this nagging feeling that even though we're telling everyone we're taking things slow, we're not."

jeongin zones out with these words at the front of his skull.

he thinks hyunjin has a point. of course he does, but it doesn't stop jeongin from feeling a bit irritable due to the sudden change in topic. he takes a deep breath before responding. he doesn't want to argue again.

"i get that," jeongin says hesitantly, though he means what he's saying with every fiber in his body. "i mean... we've already established our feelings, so there really can't be a right or wrong way to do this."

i can't lose you like i thought i did before. please understand what i'm saying.

"you're right," hyunjin nods thoughtfully. "i- i wasn't doubting us or anything, i just-"

"i know," the blond makes eye contact with hyunjin yet again. this time, the latter appears more hopeful and less anxious. "you're scared. that's okay."

"is that bad?" hyunjin asks sheepishly.

he's staring at jeongin so intensely with a twinkle in his eyes, as if he's searching for answers to his nagging fears in jeongin's. jeongin adores him. he never wants to have to let this go.

"no," the blond states confidently. "it's not bad to be scared because you're not scared of me. you're scared of losing me. trust me, you aren't going to.

"you've showed me time and time again in so little time how much you care and how much i mean to you," jeongin says. "i don't doubt for a second that you'll continue to show your love and grow even more."

"show my love, huh?" hyunjin smirks softly. "right after i asked if we were moving too fast?"

jeongin blushes furiously and breaks eye contact. hyunjin giggles devilishly as the boy beside him lightly slaps his arm in frustration.

"hey! teasing is mean!" jeongin whines. "leave me alone!"

the honey-haired boy smiles in endearment at the boy beside him. even in the mere moonlight, he can see the pink of jeongin's flushed cheeks as the boy faces him again. his heart bursts with fondness.

"never," hyunjin says softly. "may i?"

you don't even have to ask.

jeongin only nods before they both lean in and share a soft kiss. this time, it feels more solidifying. he feels as if he won't have to worry about anything.

he knows they'll be okay.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

sorry shorter chapter this time around! it's more of a filler chapter but it's also important so keep your brains on 🙏

ALSO! thank you for 5k reads on this silly little story of mine <3 i have truly put my heart and soul into this concept and i am sosososo appreciative that people love her as much as i do!

anyways i have missed u! see u soon happy december aka happy skz special album month yasssss 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

- ash <3