Chapter Text
Myung Ha found himself completely bewildered. How could the heavens tease him like this? He had only been pondering the possibility of taking their relationship to a deeper level. While he believed everything should be done at the right time, the realization struck him that, as a 29-year-old mind confined within a 19-year-old body, there might be urges he wasn't entirely certain he could restrain.
"Hyung, I want to do more than just kiss you."
Myung Ha took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words to convey his feelings. "Yeo Woon-ah, I don’t know how to say this, but..."
"Hyung?" Yeo Woon interjected, awaiting an explanation.
"Yeo Woon-ah, it's too early for that. We're still in high school, and we need to navigate our relationship first. Trust me, I also want to do it with you, but there's much to explore, especially in same-sex relationships."
"I understand, Hyung. I do. But that's not what I meant," Yeo Woon clarified.
Perplexed, Myung Ha raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"Me, touching your body. You, touching mine. We don’t need to do the ‘ultimate’ thing yet, I understand we’re still early for that. I want you to be comfortable with me as I am with you, Hyung. But I don’t want to force you. Of course, I will still ask you every time. As much as I love you, I also respect you so much," Yeo Woon explained earnestly.
Myung Ha felt a lump in his throat, overwhelmed by Yeo Woon's thoughtfulness, the one who laid down everything for him: the consent, the boundaries, the timing.
“Yeo Woon-ah… You’ve grown so much…” he smiled sincerely.
“Stop treating me like a child, Hyung. We’re in this relationship together, the two of us. As much as I rely on you, I want you to rely on me too.”
A sigh escaped Myung Ha's lips. It occurred to him that he was so used to having no one in the old world that he subconsciously brought his sense of not having to rely on someone but himself in his new world. Now, he realized, the truth was sinking in—he was no longer alone.
"Yeo Woon-ah… I need to tell you something," he began.
Swiftly changing into his pajamas, Yeo Woon joined Myung Ha, taking a seat beside him. Gently clasping Myung Ha's hands, he looked at him with attentiveness. "What is it, Hyung?"
"It's about my old life," Myung Ha confessed. Yeo Woon's curiosity heightened.
"In my previous life, it was pretty much the same. My grandma raised me when my mom abandoned me. I was already 29 then, but everything was not going well for me. All those people I knew left me. Grandma died in that world, then my mother refused to acknowledge me. Someone I used to date broke up with me and just straight up told me I didn't know how to love..."
Yeo Woon listened intently, lightly pinching Myung Ha's hands. That pretty much explained for him how Myung Ha was wise and mature beyond his years. It was because he literally already experienced a lot.
"I was lonely then, so I… I gave up," Myung Ha exhaled. He wanted to make sure his entire story came across.
"Then suddenly, I was brought here. I was given a mission—that was to make you happy, Yeo Woon. You were the goal I needed to accomplish here."
Yeo Woon's eyes widened. “Me?"
Myung Ha nodded. Tears began to fall, and his voice trembled as he continued, "The entire time, I had to make sure you were happy, but I didn't have much time. I thought I was gonna be there, like a brother or a sunbae you can count on. Then… Then I found myself caring about you more and more. Suddenly, my feelings for you grew, and I thought my heart would explode."
Cupping Yeo Woon's face delicately, Myung Ha spoke with sincerity. "Things got complicated. When I was too caught up in making you happy, I didn't realize that the things I did end up hurting you instead... and also hurting myself. The thing was, I completely forgot about my own happiness, Yeo Woon-ah."
Yeo Woon teared up. "Hyung… I didn't know you had to go through that…"
"No, it's okay… Because now that I was given a second chance, this time I want to stay here… With you."
Yeo Woon broke into an adorable smile. “Now it makes sense, Hyung. Whoever brought you into this world brought you to me. And I was brought to you."
Myung Ha nodded. “So now that you finally know my story, I feel more connected to you than ever.”
“Hyung.”
“Hmm?”
Yeo Woon’s smile widened. “I’m still thinking about my wish when I win first place.”
“You’re still gonna go there, huh?” Myung Ha sighed. Yeo Woon was still a teenager, after all. Yeo Woon leaned quickly and pecked a kiss on Myung Ha’s lips. Then, he went through Myung Ha’s ear to whisper.
"Maybe we could start tonight.”
"What?" Myung Ha exclaimed.
"Just messing with you, Hyung!" Yeo Woon chuckled, ruffling Myung Ha's hair. Soon, he hopped over on the bed. Myung Ha followed, inching a bit nearer. In a swift move, Yeo Woon drew Myung Ha even closer, allowing his head to comfortably rest in Yeo Woon's embrace. Myung Ha nestled his face against Yeo Woon's warm chest, finding instant comfort.
An hour later, Myung Ha lay peacefully asleep, lost in dreams, while Yeo Woon remained wide awake, captivated by the sight of the person slumbering beside him. A tender smile played on his lips as he marveled at the idea that if he could speak to his former self about Myung Ha entering his life, his past self would scoff in disbelief.
Myung Ha had entered his world all so sudden, up on the rooftop when he felt at his lowest. After his grandmother’s death, Yeo Woon believed he had lost everyone. But until now, he thanked himself how wrong he was. Because ever since Myung Ha became a part of his life, he realized he was capable of loving someone, other than his grandmother, unconditionally.
His heart would still flutter every single time they held hands. When Myung Ha would initiate kisses, it made him more excited. Now, they were still in a phase where they still were getting to know each other, and Myung Ha was right. What was the rush? Myung Ha was finally here to stay. Feeling contented, he finally closed his tired eyes, savoring that very moment of peace around them, looking forward to what their future as a couple entailed.
Anyway, he badly wanted to win the next race.
…
Typically, by this hour of the night, Sang Won would have already drifted off to sleep. Yet, the sleepiness seemed to elude him tonight. He lay in bed with his phone, absentmindedly scrolling through its contents. Then, he stumbled upon Si A's recent post—a collection of snapshots from earlier at the beach. In nearly every photo, Myung Ha and Yeo Woon were inseparable. A faint smile graced Sang Won's lips.
Initially, he anticipated difficulty seeing Myung Ha with Yeo Woon, but to his surprise, he found himself handling it with ease. Rather than succumbing to jealousy and bitterness as he had feared, a sense of acceptance washed over him. He realized that Myung Ha's happiness should be his priority, even if it meant he found happiness with someone else.
Thirty minutes later, and still wide awake, he decided to make his way to the kitchen for some beer. He intentionally hid his stash of canned beer from the others, particularly Myung Ha, as he was still underaged and he knew the latter would scold him. But a can wouldn’t hurt, would it?
As he prepared to slide open the door to the veranda, he was taken aback to find Kyung Hoon already there, sitting alone with a can of beer in hand.
"Oh... Hyung, you found my stash," Sang Won spoke as he awkwardly stood behind Kyung Hoon.
Turning around and upon seeing Sang Won, Kyung Hoon only nodded. "Oh, sorry..."
Sang Won took the liberty to join Kyung Hoon, sitting beside him. Although they had known each other since they were kids, this was the first time in their recent memory that it was just the two of them.
“Having problems with your man, Hyung?” Sang Won asked. Usually not one to pry into others' affairs, he felt the urge to break the silence and didn't want to sit there quietly by himself at that moment.
"I'm okay, Sang Won-ah," Kyung Hoon responded mindlessly.
"Hyung, do you know that when you lie, your ears go red?" Sang Won teased.
Kyung Hoon finally turned to Sang Won. "Really?"
"Si A never told you? Now you know."
Kyung Hoon raised his can of beer and nudged it slightly in Sang Won's direction. "It's the beer."
"Whatever you say…" Sang Won chuckled before taking a sip. “Hyung, we’re actually the same right now, now that I think about it.”
“No… We’re not the same, Sang Won-ah,” Kyung Hoon corrected. “Myung Ha was never yours in the first place.”
“Ouch, Hyung. I didn’t know you’re capable of sounding this savage,” Sang Won chuckled, while faking a pain on the chest.
“It’s true…”
“But Hyung, in all seriousness…” Sang Won leaned over. “… You should think for yourself for once.”
“What do you mean?” Kyung Hoon curiously asked.
“You just give and give and give, and make all of these efforts to communicate, but right now you don’t receive as much as you give, you know what I mean?”
Kyung Hoon chuckled, Sang Won was right. However, he wasn't prepared to confront the consequences just yet.
Sang Won shook his beer can, only to be disappointed when he discovered it was already empty.
"Hey, you're still underage; you're not allowed to drink yet!" Kyung Hoon complained.
"How about you? You're not supposed to drink until next year."
"Well, that makes us both guilty,” Kyung Hoon said as he stood from his seat and stretched his arms.
"Where are you going?"
"Sleep. I still need to drive you all tomorrow."
“Okay, good night, Hyung.”
Sang Won remained on the veranda, finishing his can, as Kyung Hoon departed. He contemplated asking Kyung Hoon about his concerns another time, provided Kyung Hoon was willing to open up. To a certain degree, Sang Won began caring for the Ahn siblings, especially lately when Myung Ha, and eventually Yeo Woon, entered their circle.
"Maybe I should get some sleep too," Sang Won murmured to himself. After draining his can, he decided to return to his room and catch some rest.
Meanwhile, as Kyung Hoon entered his room, he swiftly retrieved his phone from his pocket, only to be disappointed once more.
"He's still not answering..." he pouted, lightly tossing his phone onto the mattress before joining it with a jump.
Kyung Hoon was a firm believer that the only thing a person could do in long-distance relationships is to shower as much love as possible because, for him, there was no certainty as to when they would see each other again. And he still wanted to believe that. However, as minutes turned into hours and days passed without hearing from him, Kyung Hoon couldn't help but feel a growing sense of worry and doubt.
Suddenly, his phone beeped, but unexpectedly, it was Sang Won.
"Hyung, go to sleep now."
Kyung Hoon made a faint chuckle, as this was the first time Sang Won had texted him at this hour. Without any thought, he replied.
“You too.”
A few minutes later, he didn't wait much longer, feeling the heaviness of sleep creeping over him, and finally drifted off.
…
The second semester was rapidly approaching, yet Yeo Woon's training continued for his next race loomed at the end of August. Meanwhile, Myung Ha dedicated the remaining days of vacation to working for Si A's store and assisting his grandmother at home.
Every day during lunchtime, Myung Ha made it a routine to visit the school, checking on Yeo Woon, and delivering a home-cooked meal. One day, bringing the lunch prepared by his grandmother, he arrived at the ovals to find Yeo Woon still in the middle of training. Choosing to wait at the bleachers, Myung Ha observed a considerable number of teenage girls, likely from Si A's school, also seated there to watch the training. With Yeo Woon gaining popularity, the influx of fans attending their school during training sessions seemed to be growing.
"Myung Ha Hyung!"
He turned and saw Sang Won calling him, waving as he approached.
"Oh, Cheon Sang Won. Why are you not running with them?" Myung Ha inquired.
"I already did earlier. Are you bringing me lunch?" Sang Won joked.
"Why would I bring you lunch?” he snickered. “Why’s your training taking too long today? It’s already noontime.”
“You should blame your man for that,” Sang Won instantly answered.
"What? Why?" Myung Ha questioned.
Sang Won took a seat beside Myung Ha and explained, "You very well know I am not Cha Yeo Woon's biggest fan... But lately, he's been breaking records during practice. He was literally on fire; the coach was so impressed with him."
"Really?" Myung Ha asked in shock.
"I asked him yesterday about it, but he just told me he needed to win first place this time."
Myung Ha was aware that Yeo Woon would usually become intensely focused during practices and training, but he hadn't witnessed this level of eagerness before. And he may have an idea as to why.
"The wish…" he whispered to himself.
“Hyung?” Sang Won asked.
“Ah, nothing.”
“Oh, I wish someone would bring me lunch too…” Sang Won mumbled to himself.
“You’re still young, and you’re quite popular. I’m sure you will find someone,” Myung Ha tapped his shoulder.
“Are you saying you have a clone, Hyung?”
“Cheon Sang Won…” Myung Ha sighed.
“I’m just kidding! It just feels nice to finally be able to joke with you about this…” Sang Won pondered. After a while, Sang Won eventually left to grab some lunch, leaving Myung Ha alone.
A few minutes later, the athletes were dismissed, prompting Yeo Woon to run and turn around to find Myung Ha. When he spotted him on the bleachers, Yeo Woon's face lit up.
“Hyung!” he exclaimed, waving both hands and rushing towards Myung Ha with excitement. The girls cheered for Yeo Woon, but he paid no attention to them. His focus was entirely on Myung Ha, who couldn't help but find Yeo Woon adorable while attempting to conceal his blush.
“Hyung, sorry, I had you waiting,” Yeo Woon asked as soon as he reached him.
“Oh no, it’s fine. Look, Halmeoni cooked you some soup,” Myung Ha said, pulling out the lunch boxes from his bag.
“Wow, that looks delicious. I should visit her this weekend to thank her.”
“Here, make sure you finish all of these, okay?”
“How about you, Hyung?”
“I already ate before coming here.”
Myung Ha affectionately observed Yeo Woon eating in front of him. The athlete had been training nonstop that morning, evident as he hurriedly tried to devour all the food.
“Take it easy, Yeo Woon-ah. No one’s gonna take your food away from you…”
“Sorry, Hyung. Halmeoni’s food is so good, I just can’t help it.”
Myung Ha waited for Yeo Woon to finish his meal, and after he gulped down some water, Myung Ha finally brought up something he had just learned from Sang Won.
“Yeo Woon-ah, I heard that you’re working too hard in training these days.”
Without missing a beat, Yeo Woon beamed and nodded. “Yes, Hyung. I already told you, I’m gonna win this race.”
“Yeo Woon-ah…” Myung Ha sighed. “Take care of your body. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I know, Hyung. I’m taking care of myself, don’t worry about me.” Yeo Woon grabbed a cookie, extending it towards Myung Ha. “Hyung, eat.”
Myung Ha leaned back, chuckling. “Yeo Woon-ah, people are watching.”
"Let them watch then,” Yeo Woon replied promptly, a playful glint in his eyes. With Yeo Woon's rising popularity, some of his fans began approaching Myung Ha, often inquiring about their relationship. However, each time, before Myung Ha could respond, Yeo Woon would eagerly jump in, declaring that Myung Ha belonged to him, and he belonged to Myung Ha. With little choice, Myung Ha leaned forward, allowing Yeo Woon to feed him. The latter's smile widened, a satisfied look on his face.
“Yeo Woon-ah… I know you’re trying to win for your wish,” Myung Ha guessed. “Aren’t you?”
“That’s right!” Yeo Woon gleefully answered. “Don’t you want me to win, Hyung?”
“Of course, I’m happy when you win,” Myung Ha explained. “But I’m happier when you win without any injuries.”
“Okay, Hyung. I’ll be careful…” Yeo Woon said as he gently patted Myung Ha’s head.
After Yeo Woon finished his lunch, he had to return to practice, while Myung Ha headed to Kyung Hoon and Si A’s house for his job. Upon his arrival, Si A quickly ran towards him, brandishing her phone screen.
“Oppa, look at this. My classmate took a picture of you and Yeo Woon earlier at your school,” Si A cheered.
“Wow, that’s fast…” Myung Ha remarked.
“His fans seem to like you too, Oppa!”
“Really?”
“Yeah. They think Yeo Woon’s smile only comes up when he’s with you.”
Myung Ha smiled to himself with pride. Yeo Woon was always the affectionate one, especially in public. Initially, Myung Ha had reservations about them holding hands in public, mostly out of concern for Yeo Woon receiving negative comments. However, Yeo Woon reassured him that only Myung Ha’s feelings mattered to him, and he paid no heed to others' opinions.
“I see… Where’s your brother?”
“He went out to have his laptop fixed,” Si A answered, however, with a soft sigh and worry on her face.
“What’s wrong?” Myung Ha sensed quickly.
“Oppa… I’m worried about Kyung Hoon Oppa. His boyfriend was supposed to come and visit him here for the summer, but the plan was canceled last minute.”
Myung Ha sighed, disappointed. “Poor Kyung Hoon. He was looking forward to it for weeks. How’s he holding up?”
“He’s sad, of course… But he assured me he’s fine,” Si A pouted. “Even though I know he’s not…”
“You know he tends to keep most things to himself. Just be there for him when he’s ready to talk.”
“You’re right, Oppa.”
Myung Ha dedicated the entire afternoon to cleaning the entire studio and rearranging some furniture, while Si A focused on checking updates on the website. Kyung Hoon arrived in the mid-afternoon but opted to work in his room. Si A felt down, but Myung Ha offered reassurance, assuring her that Kyung Hoon would be alright.
It was already six in the evening and Myung Ha had just finished his shift. He bid farewell to the siblings before he headed out. What he didn’t expect was Yeo Woon standing near the light post, waiting for him.
“Oh, Yeo Woon-ah…” Myung Ha called. Yeo Woon was supposed to go home straight after his practice.
“Hyung!” Yeo Woon waved at him with his usual sweet smile.
“How long have you been waiting?”
“I just arrived, maybe five minutes ago? Anyway, Hyung, I don’t have training tomorrow. Want to spend the night at my house?”
…
And just like that, Myung Ha found himself back on Yeo Woon’s rooftop, seated on the broad, wooden chair. He enjoyed observing the night lights and embracing the gentle quietness of the night. Also, the fact that he had just showered made his body a bit sensitive to the blow of the summer breeze.
A few moments later, Yeo Woon emerged with a blanket and promptly draped it around Myung Ha's shoulders.
“Oh, thank you,” Myung Ha smiled.
Yeo Woon then sat and embraced Myung Ha from behind, resting his chin on Myung Ha's shoulder.
“Ah… this feels good…” Yeo Woon gently whispered. Myung Ha beamed as he started to feel the warmth from the blanket and Yeo Woon’s comforting hug.
“You’re right. This just removed my back ache,” Myung Ha joked.
“Hyung… Do you still need to work part-time? Even Halmeoni wants you to stop to focus on your grades this semester.”
“Yeo Woon-ah, I’m fine. My grades improved last semester while I was already working.” Transporting back to his 19-year-old self turned out to be Myung Ha's secret advantage, allowing him to recall some subjects from school. He was even able to tutor Kyung Hoon for a little bit.
“Oh, by the way, Hyung, I just learned that the first place for the next race will be an accommodation for two at an inn by the mountains. If I win, let’s go there.”
“That sounds good. I know you love the mountains. Though, you might have to bear with me, ‘cause I’m not that good at climbing…”
“It’s okay, I can carry you if you want!”
The two laughed and as the night progressed, they quietly enjoyed each other’s company.
“Earlier at training today, I was able to---”
Yeo Woon suddenly found himself increasingly distracted by Myung Ha's damp hair, which smelled of peaches. He brought his nose closer to Myung Ha's hair, attempting to savor the sweet scent even more.
"To what, Yeo Woon-ah? Yeo Woon-ah? Cha Yeo Woon?"
"Hyung, you smell so good…"
"But I only used your shampoo," Myung Ha spoke, clearing his throat to ease his embarrassment.
"Hyung…" Yeo Woon whispered, his tone turning more serious, a shift that left Myung Ha too embarrassed to acknowledge the arousal it stirred within him.
"Hmm?"
“Hyung… I want to kiss your neck…”