Minjun woke up to the soft warmth that still surrounded his body. Sunbeams cautiously slid across the curtains, painting the room in a golden morning light. For a second, he held his breath, listening to Hyuk's quiet, even breathing next to him. Hyuk lay on his side, and his hot breath touched Minjun's neck, causing a pleasant shiver.
Minjun carefully hugged him around the waist, pressing closer. His heart gave a light thump - there was nothing superfluous in this calm, just him and Hyuk, their bodies, their breaths.
"Good morning," Hyuk whispered sleepily, touching the back of Minjun's head with his lips. His voice was low, slightly hoarse, but surprisingly gentle.
"Mm... a very good morning," Minjun smiled quietly, turning to face him.
Their eyes met - the rich blue of Hyuk's eyes glowed so brightly in the sun's rays that Minjun held his breath for a moment. He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from his Hyung's forehead, and a slight smile touched his lips.
They didn't rush to get up. For a few minutes, they simply looked at each other, exchanging quiet kisses - on the forehead, the corner of the lips, the cheek. Minjun felt surprisingly calm, as if all the bad things had been left outside this room.
In the kitchen, they made toast and tea together. Minjun carefully sliced the bread, and Hyuk brewed jasmine tea. Their movements were unhurried, but each one held a special harmony.
"You're always so thoughtful," Hyuk said, handing him a mug.
"And you always spoil me," Minjun smiled, taking the tea. Their fingers touched, and at that light touch, Minjun's heart fluttered.
They ate slowly, discussing small things - where to go in the evening, what movie to watch on the weekend. The laughter was quiet, but it contained everything: trust, joy, and warmth.
After breakfast, Minjun insisted on helping with the cleanup. He dusted the shelves and carefully rearranged the books while Hyuk watched with a slight smile.
"You do everything so seriously," he said, moving closer.
Minjun blushed but didn't pull away when Hyuk's arms wrapped around him from behind. Hyuk's head rested on his shoulder, and he felt his hot breath on his skin.
"I just want you to be happy," Minjun replied quietly.
Hyuk lightly kissed his neck, and a sweet shiver ran down his back from the movement. Minjun placed his palm over his hand and closed his eyes.
Later in the day, they went to the store together, chose groceries, lingered in front of a display of Japanese sweets, and bought a couple of packages - "for later." On the way back, they laughed at how Hyuk carried the bag as if protecting it from the whole world. Minjun felt wonderfully free with him.
When the sun disappeared, they settled on the sofa under a blanket. An old movie was playing on the screen, but they looked at each other more often than at the plot. Their fingers intertwined, their gazes met, and every moment felt infinitely warm.
Minjun rested his head on Hyuk's shoulder, smelling his scent, and allowed himself to relax.
"Everything feels special with you," he said quietly.
"For me too," Hyuk replied, kissing his temple.
Message
And it was in this soft silence that the dry sound of a notification broke through. The phone on the table flashed with a cold light. Minjun picked it up and immediately saw the sender's name. His heart painfully clenched.
The message was short and formal:
"Minjun, I expect you to return home by the end of the week. The situation requires your presence. If you don't show up, I will come myself."
Minjun's fingers trembled. He felt the familiar anxiety rise within him - the one that always accompanied conversations with his father. He slowly put the phone back on the table, as if trying to push away the weight of the words.
Hyuk noticed the change. He touched Minjun's hand, gently but firmly.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice quiet but full of concern.
Minjun nodded, not looking up. He didn't want to ruin this evening. He didn't want the warm oasis they had created to disappear because of his father's cold demands.
"Yeah... I'm just tired," he whispered.
Hyuk said nothing. He just held him tighter, stroking his hand. There was more meaning in this silence than in words.
Minjun pressed his cheek to his shoulder. His heart was still beating anxiously, but next to Hyuk, it didn't seem so scary. He allowed himself a few seconds of peace, realizing: the storm was still ahead.