It was a new morning. The hospital was quiet, filled only with the sound of machines and the numerous steps of nurses changing shifts.
Hyungjin sat at the edge of the clinic bed, staring at his phone, confused and silent. Taeyang, the doctor, stood beside him holding a mug of coffee, watching him like a teacher trying to explain something to a student who just wasn't getting it.
They had been talking for more than thirty minutes and Taeyang felt like he was teaching a Ten year old Chinese how to speak English because Hyungjin seemed to be listening to everything and understanding nothing.
"So," Taeyang said calmly, sipping his drink, "You've already started and come this far, are you sure you know what you're going for? You gon' continue all this?"
Hyungjin raised a brow. "Of course. I'm the man here."
Taeyang laughed lightly. "No, I mean do you know how this really works? In gay relationships, there's usually a top and a bottom."
Hyungjin tilted his head. "Top? Bottom? What that even mean? There's always something to understand from y'all. I can't anymore. It's like a whole course."
"Yes," Taeyang said, already pulling out his tablet. "Wait, you watched those videos I gave you, right?"
"I watched them," Hyungjin said, a little embarrassed. "But I didn't... understand all of it."
Taeyang rolled his eyes and opened one video and paused it right before the scene got heated. "Look. That's the top," he pointed, "and that's the bottom. The top is the one who... enters, and the bottom is the one who receives."
Hyungjin 's mouth dropped a little. "Wait. You mean the top is the one who "
"Yes," Taeyang cut in, trying not to laugh. "The one who puts it in. The bottom is the one who gets bent."
Hyungjin leaned back and crossed his arms. "Of course I'll be the top. Ain't no man bending me down. He stood up. I didn't do a lot with girls in my prime but I didn't grow my dick for that!." he yelled.
" Ha ha ha ha ha ha. You're killing me. I can't with you." Taeyang burst out laughing. He had to put his coffee down.
Just then, the clinic door swung open.
Guo Cheng walked in slowly, wearing a serious face. His eyes flicked from Hyungjin to Taeyang, then narrowed.
"What's so funny that's making you laugh like this?" he asked coldly.
Taeyang wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "Oh, just a little education moment. Nothing serious." He didn't even realize whom he was talking to till he turned and saw Guo Cheng and then bent his head in shame again. Taeyang rolled his eyes and sighed, clearly annoyed
Hyungjin looked at him and grinned. He could see it the man who liked him had just walked into a very awkward conversation.
Before anyone could speak, the door opened again.
Felix walked in.
His black jeans hugged his waist perfectly, and his white t-shirt made his skin glow. Even Hyungjin couldn't help but turn his head and say under his breath, "Damn."
Taeyang smirked. "Wow. The pretty boy is here."
Felix scanned the room slowly. His gaze landed on Guo Cheng.
They looked at each other with electric current glaring between them. Then, he pointed toward Hyungjin casually and asked, "Is that the one you like?"
Guo Cheng shook his head and quickly pointed toward Taeyang. "No. That's the one I'm interested in."
Felix raised his brows, then looked back at Guo Cheng. Without another word, they both turned to the door.
"Let's talk outside," Felix said, already walking out.
Guo Cheng followed.
The moment the door closed behind them, the tension in the room dropped.
Outside the clinic, Felix pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, handed one to Guo Cheng, and searched for a lighter.
"It's not working," Felix muttered, trying to flick the lighter several times.
Guo Cheng brought his face closer, both of them holding their cigarettes at the same time. With one spark, they both lit up together.
Their eyes met, just for a moment. Something passed between them too familiar to be new, too sharp to be something they've not felt before.
Inside, Hyungjin looked out the small window.
"Why do I feel like those two know each other?" he asked.
Taeyang hummed. "Maybe they do. There's some weird energy there."
Just then, Lang Zi entered the room, holding a clipboard. He nodded politely to Taeyang and Hyungjin , then walked over.
Hyungjin leaned in. "Hey, Lang Zi, do you know anything about those two? They just went outside like they're rivals or something."
Lang Zi hesitated. "You really want to know?"
"Yes," Hyungjin said firmly.
Lang Zi sighed. "Okay. But don't say I said anything. I actually like my life and job. But you're my buddy so here you go."
He sat beside Hyungjin and lowered his voice. "There was a boy once. His name was Ahn Hyunwoo. Felix really loved him. I mean, really loved him. He was in high school then and they dated for three years. He and Guo Cheng were best friends. But one day everything changed. Legend has it, Guo slept with Hyunwoo. "
Hyungjin 's eyes widened.
"Since then," Lang Zi continued, "Felix made a silent promise. He said he'd take every man Guo Cheng wanted. Like revenge. It became a thing. Some kind of twisted competition."
Taeyang crossed his arms. "That's... childish."
Lang Zi shrugged. "Maybe. But it's been going on for a while. You think they just randomly bump into each other? No. They track each other. Like hunters."
Hyungjin shook his head. "So they share boys?"
Lang Zi smirked. "They fight for boys. Sometimes they even... return them."
Taeyang and Hyungjin exchanged eye contacts and Hyungjin buried his head in his hands, imagining what he had gotten himself into.
Back outside, Guo Cheng took a long drag of his cigarette.
"You should be lucky," Felix said calmly, "I may not come for this one."
Guo Cheng laughed once, bitter. "Like you didn't come for the last one?"
Felix turned. "What? The little pretty boy at the club? You mean the one who's flexible as f*ck?"
Guo Cheng raised a brow and gave a smirk. "Yeah. I know I got eyes for the prettiest things, and I like you for noticing that."
Felix's jaw tightened. "And yet you try to prove a point every time."
Guo Cheng stepped forward. "Hope you're taking care of him."
Felix blew smoke into the air. "I'll return him soon."
Their eyes locked the kind of stare that meant they weren't done. Not now. Not ever.
Inside, Hyungjin sat stunned.
Lang Zi looked at him. "Now you know. Be careful. Those two? They don't fall in love. They compete."
Taeyang looked at Hyungjin went close to him and whispered. "You're not a prize. Make sure you don't let yourself become one." he smirked with his eyes showing pity.
Hyungjin nodded slowly giving the same looks back at him.
Outside, Felix stubbed his cigarette and walked off without saying goodbye. Guo Cheng stayed behind, staring at the sky.
For a moment, he looked almost... sad.
But the door opened behind him, and Taeyang called out, "Hey! If you're done pretending, get back in. I need to check your bandage."
Guo Cheng turned, forced a smile, and walked back inside the mask back on his face.
But inside Hyungjin , a storm had already started.
He looked between Felix's empty space and Guo Cheng's slow steps, and he knew
This was just the beginning.