By the time everything finally calmed, both were utterly spent—collapsed in exhaustion on the rumpled white sheets. Their bare bodies, pale yet of different builds, were marked all over with the traces of passion: flushed bites, lingering red streaks, bruises that whispered of the night before. The room still carried the heavy, musky scent of their mingled , every drop spent without mercy.
The Next Morning
Scratch, scratch, scratch—
Woof! Woof! Woof!
"Mmm…"
A strong arm pulled the smaller body closer, nose buried deep in soft hair. The scent, which he had only stolen whiffs of before, now seeped directly into his senses—deeper, more vivid than ever.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
The dog's bark outside the bedroom made the light sleeper stir, eyes cracking open. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, unusually warm for an early morning. His sharp gaze landed on the clock—nearly ten.
"…It's this late already?"
Scratch, scratch—Woof, woof!
"Hold on, Booboo, just a minute~"
The tall man moved to rise, only to realize he was still holding his fiancé tightly, both of them completely bare. His urgency melted into reluctance, tightening his embrace instead, pressing a soft kiss to the smooth forehead.
"Good morning, Dream" he whispered against a delicate ear.
The smaller one didn't stir, lost in deep slumber. No matter the kisses or the whispers, he remained unmoved, a champion of sleep. With a quiet sigh, Manah slipped out of bed, pulling on his pants, tucking the blanket around his lover before heading to the door.
"Good morning, Booboo~" he greeted warmly, crouching to ruffle the fluffy head of the waiting dog. The large pup sniffed him suspiciously, circling his legs as though detecting something amiss in the disheveled hair and wrinkled pants.
Kind chuckled. Living alone had made him too proper; today he discovered the strange freedom of walking shirtless in his own house. He poured food for Booboo, washed up, and called his office to say he'd take the day off. A plan formed quickly: he would bring Booboo to see his grandmother, stop by the supermarket, and cook something special for Dream.
Later that day, the scent of fried shrimp filled the air.
Grrrrrrumble—
A groggy Fhan stirred awake in the twilight, his stomach protesting. Reaching for the clock with a half-open eye, he groaned—it was already 7 p.m. His body ached everywhere, every muscle screaming from last night's relentless exertion. Stumbling out of bed in his oversized pajamas, he half-crawled, half-dragged himself toward the kitchen like a wounded soldier.
The refrigerator door swung open, and his head disappeared inside, desperate for sustenance.
"Dream."
A deep voice right at his ear made him jolt violently.
"Holy sh*t!!"
"What are you doing, crawling into the fridge like that?" Kind's neatly dressed frame bent down, hooking an arm around his fiancé's slender waist, lifting him effortlessly and setting him on the sofa. He crouched at eye level, gaze full of fond amusement.
"Can't you walk like a normal person? Coming up behind me like a ghost—nearly scared me to death!"
"…Hungry?"
"Of course I'm hungry! Look what time it is! And why the hell are you still here?"
"We're engaged now, remember? We spent the whole night together, and I promised your parents I'd stay. Did you already forget, hmm?" His handsome face tilted, resting his chin on those pale thighs, voice dripping with tenderness.
Flustered, Fhan yanked at his hair in embarrassment, pretending annoyance while his ears burned crimson. Manah only smiled, leaning down to kiss the curve of his thigh.
"…I forgot. Who'd want to remember anyway… Where's Booboo? You fed him?"
"Of course. Took him to see Grandma, then shopping."
"I'm not paying you back. I've got no money."
"You don't have to. I'll take care of everything. Oh—Dream will you come with me to visit Grandma tomorrow?"
"No. I'll be sleeping."
"She really wants to meet you. She felt sad about missing our engagement. She saw the pictures, though, and said you're adorable… perfect for me. Once she's well, we can hold the wedding properly."
His strong arms wrapped around that soft waist, cheek nuzzling into the flat stomach like an overexcited father-to-be.
"Who said I'm marrying you?" Fhan rolled his eyes, but Kind only laughed, pulling him into his lap and hugging him close.
"I was going to bring you the shrimp I just fried… but maybe I'll give it to Booboo instead, since he came with me today."
"Wait—what?! You made that for me! I'm starving, you can't be this cruel!"
"Then come with me tomorrow. It's just the hospital, not a battlefield. It's less than five hundred meters away."
"I hate the smell of hospitals! I'll visit her when she's home."
"Grandma won't get better that easily, Dream. She's fighting many illnesses. But if she meets you, maybe it'll give her strength."
"…You're bargaining with me, aren't you? Don't think you can bribe me with food. I'll just order delivery—"
"Too bad," Kind teased, "Booboo drowned your phone in the garden fountain. I already told your parents, so if anyone wants to reach you, they'll call me."
"WHAT?! My phone's ruined?! Then how am I supposed to order food? You're buying me a new one!"
"Ask Booboo for compensation. He's the culprit, not me."
"You—!!!"
Grrrrrrumble—
"…Damn it, I'm starving! Feed me already!"
"Then agree to come tomorrow. The kitchen has more than shrimp—fruit salad, pasta, dessert… Want some?"
"…Ugh. Fine. I'll go."
"Good boy." He pressed a kiss to his lover's lips, grinning. "Dream is the cutest. Want some sausage, too?"
"Go to hell!"