Chapter 3 (The Fluttering Heart)

Junkyu was always told to have a weak body, even though his build was pretty strong. He never denied it because he was a victim of his own weakness lots of times, as an instance, the time when he moved to a separate apartment along with Jihoon, as a married couple.

Junkyu didn't like the idea, not did Jihoon, but both of them were handcuffed about the decisions they should have made, as their businessmen parents did those for them, not considering whether it affected them negatively or not.

"Ugh, I can't with these heavy boxes!" Junkyu whined as he plopped down on the couch being tired as hell, because he had been carrying heavy boxes for a while.

Jihoon, who was also carrying lots of other packages containing their stuff, noticed the tired Junkyu.

"Already tired?" He asked. He didn't sound sarcastic, but didn't sound concerned either. Junkyu spared him a glance and then nodded, "Yes, I am bad at doing physical activities." He spoke.

"You're bad at everything!" Jihoon chuckled as he proceeded with his own work. Junkyu just shouted a 'yah!'

The initial cold war between Junkyu and Jihoon kind of subsided, or so Junkyu thought. Junkyu, upon being close with Jeongwoo, stopped acting like a hopeless heartbroken person in front of Jihoon and this also reduced the initial irritation of Jihoon towards Junkyu. But this also brought along short quarrels between them.

"How long are you gonna stay here? Your stuffs are still outside." Jihoon said to Junkyu as he could see Junkyu still resting.

"Give me a minute, I'm really tired." Junkyu said, Jihoon shook his head and went outside. To Junkyu's surprise, Jihoon brought along some of Junkyu's belongings for him.

"Wow, you really didn't have to!" Junkyu stood up saying this because he could see Jihoon carrying the heavy boxes for him.

"How long are you gonna keep them outside, then?" Jihoon spoke. Junkyu quickly went to him and took the boxes from him.

"Thank you, Jihoonie." Junkyu softly said. Jihoon just nodded and walked away.

And just like that, no matter how hard Junkyu tried to dislike Jihoon, he just couldn't. Because of the random kindness of his supposed husband, Junkyu was stuck in a loop of heart-breaking unreturned love.

Junkyu finished taking all of his boxes inside the house. He was way too lazy to start unpacking yet. So, he just went to their shared bedroom to take some rest again. Once he reached there, he saw Jihoon unpacking and arranging the room.

"Wow, you already finished arranging the table and the bed!" Junkyu exclaimed. Those were the two most important things in his life.

"Yeah," Jihoon shortly said, "Are you here to sleep?" he asked Junkyu.

Junkyu shook his head a no, "I'll just lie down a bit, we still have to make breakfast, right?" Jihoon agreed with him.

"Oh, I needed to tell you something," Jihoon started, "Since we're gonna live here, I have already made arrangement for my own bed in a different room. And, I think we are gonna have to divide our share of works to run this apartment and live on our own."

Junkyu's excitement died down. He never looked forward to Jihoon cuddling him to sleep, but he was okay with sleeping on the same bed as they did before. He thought, living alone would make their bond stronger, but seeing how Jihoon made way to destroy any possibility made him feel worthless again.

"Oh," Junkyu said, his tone clearly showed how hurt he was. However, Jihoon ignored that.

"Then why did you arrange this room?" Junkyu asked again. If Jihoon was to sleep in another room, he clearly had no reason to come and decorate the room where Junkyu would stay. He wasn't even that kind of person to randomly do stuff for people.

"No reason, just felt like it." Jihoon replied. Junkyu pouted at the reply.

Jihoon took a glance at Junkyu.

'Why does this guy always make that face? It's hard to stay mad at him if he acts like that!' Jihoon thought.

"I'll be in my room then," Jihoon said as he attempted to leave. Junkyu just made an 'ok' sign with his hand. He was really upset that Jihoon had to go to that extent.

'Maybe he hates sleeping beside me.' Junkyu reasoned.

After lying down a bit, Junkyu felt the need to eat. He got up from bed and went to explore the apartment. It wasn't a very big one, just a living room, kitchen, three washrooms, three separate rooms and a dining space. He took a sneak peek to all the rooms to see where Jihoon was staying.

He saw the small bed like structure that Jihoon was sleeping on. The bed was almost as narrow as a hospital bed. Since the room was pretty small, it was understandable that Jihoon fit a small bed there. The room was never designed as a bed room, since it had no window near where the bed was placed.

'Why is he staying here? It's difficult to sleep on such a small bed!' Junkyu thought, 'Does he dislike me that much?' Junkyu felt extremely sad thinking this.

He sighed and left for the kitchen. A bag filled with groceries were placed on the counter, which Jihoon bought along the way. Junkyu looked through it and found bread and random vegetables. Since he was a bad cook, he decided to just toast some breads and eat them with jam or butter.

Junkyu looked through the monstrous number of cartoons to look for the toaster, but spending 30 minutes in a useless hunt, he gave up. He took the loafs of bread with him and placed them on a pan he found. The placed the pan on the stove and turned the stove on.

Within seconds, he flipped the loaf of bread, but it wasn't even done. So, he decided to leave them longer. But he didn't know than once heated, the pan can burn the bread if left for too long.

And the result was burned toasts.

Cursing his clumsy self, Junkyu placed another piece and kind of made it this time, after trying to flip it over and over again. He toasted some more breads for Jihoon as well.

When he finished, he opened the fridge and luckily found jam and butter. He took them both and placed them on the dining table. Then he went to wake Jihoon up.

"Jihoon ah, I made breakfast." Junkyu softly spoke to Jihoon's ears, leaning down. Jihoon shifted in his sleep. But then he hit his elbow with the wall.

"Ouch!" He flinched. Junkyu immediately grabbed his arm and rubbed the place.

"Are you okay, Jihoonie?" He asked. Jihoon opened his eyes and saw Junkyu.

"What?" He asked, his brows knitted together.

"Umm... nothing! I made breakfast." Junkyu was nervous because Jihoon was in a bad mood due to the pain in his elbow. He was scared that Jihoon would scold him.

"Oh, okay, I'm coming." Jihoon said, surprising Junkyu who expected some harsh words.

"Yeah, okay!" Junkyu flashed him a smile. "I'll go look for knives!" Then he left the room in a flash.

'He's cute when he's excited.' Jihoon smiled at his childish behaviour.

Jihoon finished his routine and went downstairs, yawning. He saw Junkyu hastily placing plates and glasses on the dining table.

Jihoon went closer to the table and saw toasted breads, jam and butter. He chuckled, "So, you've been so excited because you made toasts?"

"Consider yourself lucky that I succeeded. Normally, I wouldn't even be able to do this much." Junkyu replied, his smile never fading.

Jihoon sat down and took a piece of toasted bread. Unfortunately, he took the one which was burned.

"But you burned it", Jihoon showed Junkyu the burnt toast. Junkyu scratched his nape, "Ah that..."

Junkyu expected a disappointed look from Jihoon or slight mockery, but Jihoon just chuckled, "You're cute, Kyu!"

Junkyu's heart suddenly skipped a beat. The sudden compliment from his husband along with the newly made nickname made him feel a new kind of delight, that he never knew.

Hearing the silence coming out of Junkyu, Jihoon looked at him and only then did he realize that he accidentally called Junkyu cute, and added a nickname to that as well. Because Junkyu was looking shy, yet a bit confused.

"Umm... so, how are you feeling as you're here, in this apartment?" Jihoon changed the topic.

"It's good to have a separate place, now that I'm... well, married to you." Junkyu spoke, cautiously looking at Jihoon. Jihoon just nodded in agreement.

"But I do miss my home." Junkyu said, "I miss Jennie noona, eomma, appa, Jeongwoo-"

Jihoon's ears perked up at the mention of his younger brother, Jeongwoo and he quickly stopped Junkyu midway.

"Hold on, wait!" Jihoon started, "Are you that close to Jeongwoo?"

Junkyu's eyes suddenly lit up as he started to speak about Jeongwoo, "Yes! Woo is such a funny and carefree person! And he's such a great company to play games. I never get bored when I'm with him..."

Junkyu kept talking about how fond he was of Jeongwoo and Jihoon started to get more irritated by the minute. He didn't understand why he was so bothered about the closeness between the two of them, but then he realized, he was just worried about his brother.

"Junkyu," Jihoon called in a serious tone, stopping Junkyu again, "Are you falling for my brother?" he asked.

Junkyu blinked a few times as he processed what Jihoon said, "Eh? No, why?" Junkyu asked.

"Since you already like him this much, why not?" Jihoon raised a brow. He was halfway eating; he chewed and gulped the food down and then looked at Junkyu's eyes having a cold expression on them.

Junkyu slightly rolled his eyes and sighed, "Yah, how can I like your brother? You're my-"

"Husband?" Jihoon mocked, "We may have had a ceremony, but we're clearly not husbands for real. Besides, I already told you, you're free to choose whomever you love!" He spoke out loud, "So, be honest, Junkyu, do you love my brother?" Jihoon's eyes were burning.

"Listen, Jihoon, I don't know how you take this whole marriage thing, but I take it as an oath, a vow. As long as we're still together, I will protect the bond. And so, no, I can't look at Jeongwoo the way you're imagining! Instead, I look at him as my own younger brother." Junkyu sternly said. This was the first time he talked so strongly with Jihoon. Jihoon had to clench his jaw at that.

"Good to know." He spoke.

Junkyu already lost his appetite. Besides, the attitude Jihoon was showing really pissed him off. He wasn't a hot-tempered person, but he had his limits as well.

"Why? Would you have stopped me if I did love your brother?" Junkyu asked.

"Yes." Jihoon nodded, he was already back to eating.

"Why? Do you hate me that much?" Junkyu asked, letting go of the pent-up emotions he held for the last few months.

Jihoon looked up. He could tell Junkyu was angry. Jihoon didn't respond to Junkyu, rather he looked at his meal and ate silently.

"You're unbelievable!" Junkyu angrily said as he stood up and left the room in a flash. Burning with anger, he went to the living room. He didn't understand why Jihoon had to behave like that always. Even if he didn't want Junkyu to be his husband, he could just be nice to him. Junkyu wasn't disturbing him in any way!

Junkyu didn't know how long he stayed in the living room, contemplating his image through the reflection on the television screen, which was indeed turned off. For the nth time, Junkyu found out the flaws in him that made him so despicable to Jihoon.

"Are you busy?" Junkyu turned his head hearing Jihoon's sceptical tone. He saw a hesitant Jihoon.

"What do you want?" Junkyu asked, his anger was long gone, replaced with sadness; so, his tone wasn't loud, rather it turned out to be a bit sensitive.

Jihoon took the space beside Junkyu on the couch and slowly sat down on it. He fidgeted with his fingers a bit, before putting his hand on Junkyu's.

"I'm sorry for behaving that way earlier," Jihoon slowly started, "I shouldn't have blurted out words without considering how you would feel "

Junkyu's chest swelled up with mixed feelings. One moment, he was hating Jihoon's actions, the other time, he felt grateful because of him. Junkyu wanted Jihoon's affection so bad that he disregarded everything for a while and suddenly grabbed Jihoon by the chest, sneaking his arms underneath Jihoon's.

Jihoon, startled by the sudden act of skin ship by Junkyu, couldn't fathom what was happening at first. But once he did, he unconsciously hugged Junkyu back.

"I'm sorry, Junkyu. I know I have been so rude with you." He spoke. Junkyu just sniffed and cried in his hug. Watching the vulnerable side of Junkyu was a first for Jihoon. He suddenly felt the urge to protect Junkyu at any cost.

"I don't mind if you don't consider me as your husband, Jihoon." Junkyu spoke once his voice was stable, "But I can't take it if you keep hating me."

Jihoon broke the hug immediately. He lifted Junkyu by the shoulder and looked at his eyes sincerely. His heart hurt at Junkyu's words.

"Who said I hate you Junkyu?" he asked. Junkyu just looked down.

"Listen, Kyu, I never ever said that I dislike you, let alone hate! You're such a nice and kind person! It's just, I don't look at you the way a husband should; and you know my reasons, don't you?"

"Yes," Junkyu said almost inaudibly.

"And, if you do like Jeongwoo, I'm okay with it." Jihoon said.

Junkyu chuckled even if he was crying a while ago, "I don't like Jeongwoo that way, Jihoon ah." He said, "besides, he already likes someone."

Jihoon's eyes widened at that, "Who?? And why don't I know it??"

"Maybe you were too busy with your own life?" Junkyu teased, "Anyway, it's Haruto."

"Haruto? You mean one of your Japanese friends?" Jihoon asked. Junkyu nodded.

"Yah, did you work as a matchmaker?" Jihoon joked. Junkyu hit him playfully.

"Of course not! They met at our wedding ceremony and exchanged contacts. I bet they'll start dating soon!"

Jihoon clicked his tongue, "Ah! They have it easy!"

Junkyu didn't say anything for a while after that. He kept on playing with the material of the couch.

Jihoon watched him for a bit. And then attempted to leave. Junkyu stopped him.

"Jihoon," he called. Jihoon looked back at him.

"Why do you have to stay in a separate room? Am I bothering you?" Junkyu didn't look at Jihoon while he asked that. He kept on playing with the couch.

Jihoon sat back once again.

"Why are you always blaming yourself, Junkyu?" Jihoon turned him by his shoulder and made him look at him, "I just wanted to give you your deserved personal space."

"You're lying." Junkyu sulked.

Jihoon sighed, "Don't you think it's uncomfortable to sleep in that small bed and narrow room?" He asked. Junkyu nodded. "Then why do you have to stay there?" Junkyu asked again.

"Are you okay with me invading your personal space?" Jihoon asked.

"Are you?" Junkyu asked back. Jihoon was a bit startled at that.

"Uh, I mean, it doesn't matter to me if we sleep on the same bed.... but I thought you'd find it uneasy." Jihoon scratched his nape.

"I don't," Junkyu said, "can you come back to sleep on the same bed then?" Junkyu looked at Jihoon with expectation.

Jihoon smiled widely in return and playfully ruffled Junkyu's hair.

And this little action made Junkyu's heart beat faster once again.

*****

Such a long chapter! I hope you didn't get bored 🥺