[Evening / 7:00 PM]
Taekyun returned to the residence just as the sky outside dimmed into night.
The moment he stepped inside, a staff member hurried forward and took his coat.
"Where's Haneul?"
Taekyun asked as he rolled up his sleeves.
"He's in Miss Haru's room,"
the staff replied.
"Feeding her."
Taekyun nodded and headed upstairs.
He stopped in front of Haru's room.
Opening the door quietly,
he stepped inside.
The room was warm and softly lit.
Haneul sat beside the bed, carefully feeding Haru, spoon by spoon, slow and patient.
Haru was wrapped snugly in her blanket, sitting upright against the pillows.
Her cheeks were slightly red, the lingering sign of a light fever, but she obediently opened her mouth for each bite.
When Haneul noticed Taekyun, he looked up.
"You're back."
Taekyun nodded and walked closer.
He gently placed his hand on Haru's forehead, checking her temperature.
Haneul spoke worriedly, his voice low.
"Her temperature rose again this evening."
Taekyun looked at Haru, calm and composed.
"She'll be fine in a few days,"
He said.
"It's early. Her body just isn't used to it yet."
Haneul nodded, relieved but still anxious, and fed Haru.
Taekyun glanced at Haneul.
"Have you eaten?"
Haneul smiled softly.
"I'm full. Mina made cake in the evening, so I had some."
Taekyun watched him for a moment longer than necessary.
"Eat something proper before sleeping."
Haneul nodded.
Taekyun then looked back at Haru, who was staring at him quietly.
"I'll feed her,"
Taekyun said, gently taking the bowl from Haneul's hands.
Haneul stood up and moved aside, giving him space.
Taekyun sat down and carefully continued feeding Haru.
"And her medicine?"
He asked.
Haneul stiffened suddenly.
"Yes.... I gave her one in the afternoon.
The evening one…. I thought I'd give it after her meal."
Taekyun nodded.
"That's fine. After the meal is better."
Haneul went to the table, picked up the medicine, and brought it over.
After Haru finished eating, Taekyun gave her the medicine.
She lay back down slowly, her eyes already heavy with sleep.
Taekyun leaned down, kissed her forehead gently, and ran his fingers through her hair until her breathing evened out.
"You can change first,"
Haneul said softly.
"I'll stay with her."
"It's okay,"
Taekyun replied, not taking his eyes off Haru.
Haneul remained standing beside him.
Taekyun was quiet, lost in thought.
His thoughts broke when he noticed Haneul standing still, staring blankly.
Taekyun reached out, took Haneul's hand, and gently pulled him down.
"Sit."
Haneul's cheeks flushed as he sat beside Taekyun, looking at both him and Haru.
"Haru's reports still aren't out,"
Haneul said.
"Tomorrow, maybe,"
Taekyun replied.
Haneul nodded.
"Right now, her pheromones are developing faster,"
Taekyun explained quietly.
"That's why she has a fever.
After this, her first heat may come."
Haneul's expression tightened.
"What if it becomes severe?"
"It won't,"
Taekyun reassured him.
"Not the first time.
And even if it does, there's medicine."
Haneul nodded again.
They sat there silently for nearly an hour, watching Haru sleep.
By the time Haneul checked the clock, it was already 8:30 PM.
"You should go now,"
Haneul said softly.
"She's asleep."
Taekyun stood, carefully pulling the blanket higher around Haru.
Haneul stood too.
His eyes were red with sleepiness when he looked at Taekyun.
Taekyun looked back once more then turned away, his heart heavy.
What had happened at the police station that morning refused to leave his mind.
The memories clung to him.
And he couldn't tell Haneul.
That made his chest feel unbearably heavy.
He closed the door quietly and walked toward his room.
[Inside his room]
Taekyun slowly removed his shirt.
His thoughts tangled with Harin's voice from the past.
"You're back, Taekyun."
The way she used to say it too soft sitting on the bed, holding Haru.
In this same room.
He walked to the cupboard to take out his clothes.
The memories felt too real.
Harin would put Haru down and follow him.
"I already put your clothes in the bathroom."
Taekyun closed his eyes tightly.
He grabbed his clothes and entered the bathroom.
Standing in front of the sink, he gripped its edge, eyes shut, breathing slowly.
As he heard a soft knock at his bedroom door,
Taekyun suddenly lifted his head inside the bathroom.
Before he even opened it, Haneul's pheromones reached him warm, familiar, loosening the tight knot that had been pressing against his heart all evening.
He opened the door.
Haneul was standing inside the room.
The moment their eyes met, Haneul's cheeks flushed red.
His gaze dropped instinctively to Taekyun's body only then realizing Taekyun wasn't wearing a shirt.
Taekyun straightened at once, suddenly aware of himself.
"Do you need something?"
He asked.
Haneul smiled shyly, still looking down, his fingers fidgeting slightly.
"I almost forgot to ask"
He hesitated, then added quietly,
"about your dinner."
He avoided Taekyun's gaze completely.
Taekyun took a long breath as he stepped toward Haneul.
Haneul's pheromones were too comforting seeping into him.
Haneul instinctively stepped back as Taekyun moved closer.
"I didn't mean anything,"
Haneul said quickly.
"I just came to ask if you had dinner."
Taekyun didn't answer.
He looked down at him, and by then Haneul's back was almost pressed against the wall.
All the voices from the past the memories, the guilt, the words he had buried fell silent at once.
His mind went blank.
Taekyun leaned in.
Haneul turned his face slightly to the side, his cheeks burning red, a small, nervous smile forming on his lips.
"Tae...."
Before he could finish, Taekyun pulled him into a tight embrace.
Haneul froze for a second as Taekyun held him firmly, breathing in his scent as if anchoring himself there drawing comfort from it, from him.
The more he felt them, the more he was feeling relaxed.
Taekyun slowly ended the hug but was still too close with Haneul.
Haneul's heart was beating crazy; he thought he would die at this rate.
But before he could say anything
Taekyun put his lips on Haneul's.
Haneul's eyes were left open, widened.
His heart rate increased too much;
he felt his heart was the only organ in his body.
As his whole body started beating.
Taekyun's eyes opened, his lips still on Haneul's.
He looked into Haneul's widened, adorable eyes.
His eyes softened.
The corners of his eyes curved gently, a quiet smile forming there.
not on his lips, but deep in his gaze.
Then he began kissing him hard.
He held both of Haneul's hands, tugging them against the wall, and kissed him deeper.
Haneul realized another smile that Taekyun was giving through his eyes.
His vision almost blurred;
he felt as if he were about to faint.
Forcefully releasing his hand from Taekyun, he placed it over Taekyun's bare chest.
Taekyun slowly pulled back a little.
As he looked at Haneul's hand over his chest, he met Haneul's gaze with the same smiley eyes.
Haneul's eyes widened.
"No, no, I didn't mean to….
Taekyun, listen let's eat first."
Taekyun looked at him, taking a deep breath, noticing how shy and different Haneul was acting today.
He said softly,
"You go first. I'm coming for dinner."
Haneul nodded and hurried out of the room. Without looking back, he was already downstairs in a second.
The staff watched as Haneul walked toward the kitchen.
Mina was there; it was already 8:50, and she was beginning to leave.
Haneul said,
"Can you make dinner?"
Mina turned to look at him.
"Haneul?"
But Haneul hurriedly added,
"Taekyun…. Taekyun is hungry."
Mina noticed the flush on his face and the quickened rhythm of his breathing.
"What's wrong, Haneul?"
She asked, grabbing a glass of water and handing it to him.
He took the glass. Mina studied his face, still red, and asked,
"Are you having a fever?"
"You're… quite warm,"
She said, frowning.
Haneul looked at her and replied,
"I'm… I'm fine.
Taekyun wants to have dinner
can you make it fast?"
Mina nodded, worried. Something had suddenly gotten into him.
She began taking things out and calling the helpers.
Yoon Su and Sera arrived, and they began preparing dinner.
Taekyun had told Mina he'd already eaten at the office, and Haneul had also said that after having cake and cooking in the evening, he wouldn't eat.
Yet now..
Haneul sat down at the table, resting his head on it and holding his lips tightly.
I can't hold this anymore,
He thought, his heart pounding.
I really love him…. I really do.
As his lower belly felt so strange, so full, he could feel something moving deep inside him.