The hallway was loud with students leaving class.
Jungtae walked faster than usual, his bag hanging loose on one shoulder. His phone buzzed once in his pocket, like it was reminding him why he was rushing.
Owen: "Come here to my apartment after class."
That was all.
Owen hadn't shown up the entire day. Jungtae knew the reason. Because of what happened yesterday, Owen didn't attend his classes today.
Jungtae stopped in front of Owen's apartment door and lifted his hand.
He pressed the sleek doorbell, a soft chime echoing inside.
The door opened almost right away.
Owen stood there barefoot, hair messy, shirt wrinkled like he'd slept in it. Purple and yellow bruises stained his cheekbone. A split at the corner of his lip had dried blood around it.
Jungtae inhaled sharply.
"You didn't even treat it."
Owen stepped aside. "Good. You're here."
Jungtae entered without another word. The door clicked shut behind them.
They sat across from each other on the couch. The space between them felt smaller than it should've been.
"Why didn't you treat your face?" Jungtae asked again. His eyes kept drifting back to the bruises. They looked worse up close. Swollen. Tender.
Owen crossed his arms, a lazy smirk pulling at his mouth. "Because you're here to do it."
Jungtae blinked. "What?"
Owen leaned down and pulled a box from under the table. He placed it on the glass surface with a soft thud.
It was full of ointment tubes, gauze, bandages, medicine packets, and alcohol wipes.
Jungtae stared. "Seriously…Are you a kid?"
Owen shrugged and smirked. "I think so. Hehe."
Jungtae laughed despite himself, running a hand through his hair. "Seriously."
Owen leaned closer, resting his elbow on the couch. "I don't know which is which. Should I just wrap my whole face with a bandage?"
He smiled, eyes sharp and playful.
Jungtae sighed. 'Pretend you don't know.'
"Fine," he muttered. "Come closer."
He opened the box and picked out ointment, cotton, painkillers, and bandages. Owen slid closer until their knees almost touched.
Too close.
Jungtae turned and froze.
Owen's face was right there.
"What?" Owen said lightly. "We kissed already. We had so much fun at our amusement park date. Don't be shy now."
"You!" Jungtae swallowed. "Just stay still."
His hands trembled as he dabbed ointment onto the bruise. He was intimidated by Owen's intense gaze with those purple eyes. Owen didn't move. Didn't tease.
"Good, just like that. Gentle." Owen murmured.
The room went quiet.
For the first time in a long time, he was letting himself be touched by someone. Besides his older sister Jin-ah. Jin-ah's face flickered in his memory, treating his bruises. Then it disappeared.
Owen's eyes followed Jungtae's fingers.
Then they drifted lower.
To his lips.
They were soft. Slightly parted. It looks so kissable. Owen felt something crack open in his chest.
The urge to kiss those lips.
"Done," Jungtae said, pulling back. "Don't forget to keep applying this ointment, it helps heal those bruises."
Owen didn't answer.
Instead, his hand grabbed Jungtae's wrist and pulled him forward.
Their lips met.
Soft.
Warm.
Jungtae's eyes widened. "H-Hey!!"
He tried to push him, but Owen didn't move. Owen's purple eyes locked onto his as his tongue brushed against Jungtae's lips, asking.
Jungtae's breath hitched.
Then his eyes shut. Owen felt satisfied. Jungtae's walls against him were giving in.
The kiss deepened. Owen's hand slid behind Jungtae's neck, steady, firm. The other cupped his cheek. Jungtae's fingers clenched into Owen's shirt.
"Mmph!"
The air felt thin. Owen savored the taste of Jungtae's lips.
Time slipped. Nearly 2 minutes.
When they finally broke apart, Jungtae accidentally bit Owen's lower lip.
Owen hissed, then laughed softly, licking the blood away. "Wow. Adding extra bruises by you? I'm delighted."
Jungtae collapsed onto the couch, chest heaving, face burning. Catching his breath.
"Huff…Shut up."
Owen stood, still smiling. "Want some drinks?"
A pillow smacked into his face.
"Ow!" Owen laughed and walked to the kitchen.
He returned with chocolate drinks.
"Here, drink up."
Jungtae grabbed it and drank too fast.
"Slow down."
"You are a prick," Jungtae snapped. "At least warn me when you are planning to do something!"
"Oh?" Owen leaned closer. "So you expect more?"
Jungtae's face flushed. "That's not! I-I"
His words cut off when his phone suddenly rang.
Jungtae froze.
Mom.
He stood quickly and stepped away, a few distance from Owen.
"Hello? Did something happen mom?"
Her voice was broken.
"Jungtae… your grandpa is gone."
The room tilted. He turned to look at Owen, who's already staring at him.
The phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor.
Owen stood instantly. "Jungtae?"
ৎ────
The drive to the hospital was silent.
Hospital lights blurred past the window.
When they arrived, Jungtae ran towards the room. Owen followed behind him.
His mother stood by the bed, sobbing, gripping her father's cold hand. A Doctor and two nurses stood behind her, faces grim.
"I'm sorry."
His mother immediately ran to hug him. Crying.
Jungtae's knees gave out.
He fell beside the bed, fingers wrapping around his grandpa's hand.
"I'm here," he whispered. "I'm here. Why didn't you wait for me…grandpa."
Tears soaked the sheets. His mother was hugging him from behind.
Owen stood frozen at the doorway witnessing the moment.
"..."
ৎ────
Later, Jungtae sat blankly on a chair. His eyes were red. Empty.
Owen sat beside him, not knowing what to say, placing a hand on his back. Just once. Just there.
Mrs. Han returned.
She noticed Owen.
"Oh… you must be Jungtae's friend."
Owen nodded. "Yes. I'm Owen."
Jungtae spoke quietly. "Mom… he's the one who paid the bills."
She froze.
Then bowed. Again and again. "Thank you. Thank you so much…I don't know how to repay you." Tears streamed down her face.
Owen stood quickly. Palms raised slightly. "Please, don't. You don't have to worry about that." His eyes flickered to Jungtae.
"I am so grateful, thank you so much."
She hugged him.
Owen stiffened for a few seconds, then relaxed.
For a moment, he remembered his mother. His gaze landed on Jungtae's mother. His chest throbbed.
And for the first time, he didn't pull away from a stranger's hug.