Chapter Text
See?
He's mine.
He always will be.....
When morning finally came, Sangwon still didn't open the door.
He had been awake the entire night, sitting with his back against the wall, listening to the silence on the other side. No crying. No begging. No knocking.
That silence unsettled him more than screams ever could.
He knew Anxin was stubborn. He always had been. And this time this time Sangwon could feel it in his bones no amount of soft words or fake apologies would work the way they used to.
He had seen it clearly last night: the hatred in Anxin's eyes, sharp and cold, paired with something even worse emptiness. Not anger. Not heartbreak.
Just nothing....And that scared him.
But would Sangwon ever let Anxin go?
NO
The answer had never changed.
Anxin was his husband. His...
To keep. ..To shape. To hurt if necessary.
Every breath Anxin took belonged to him.
It didn't matter that Anxin now knew the truth. It didn't matter that the lies had finally collapsed, that the secret had been dragged into the light.
Even if Anxin knew that Sangwon had been sleeping with his best friend behind his back even then Sangwon believed it changed nothing.
Because he loved Anxin..
Or at least, that was what he told himself.
Geonwoo was different.
Geonwoo was... convenient. An object. A favorite toy, maybe.Someone who listened, who wanted him without asking questions, who never demanded a future or loyalty.
Someone who filled the spaces when Sangwon felt restless, bored, or empty.
Sangwon remembered the first time it happened.
He remembered the guilt.
He told himself it was a mistake a drunken one. He had been drunk. Geonwoo had been drunk. Lines blurred. Boundaries disappeared.
It wasn't supposed to mean anything. It wasn't supposed to happen again.
But it did.
Once became twice. Twice became routine. And somewhere along the way, the guilt dulled, replaced by entitlement. Sangwon stopped asking should I? and started thinking why not?
It didn't matter to him whether he slept with one person or ten. Those bodies weren't love. They were distractions. Temporary comforts.
But Anxin?..Anxin was different.
Anxin was the one who loved him without conditions. The one who bent and bent until there was almost nothing left of himself. The one who forgave without being asked, who trusted even when doubt screamed otherwise.
And Sangwon couldn't stand the thought of losing that...He couldn't stand the idea of Anxin choosing himself.
So he stayed outside the locked door, convincing himself that control was the same thing as care. That
possession was love.
That if Anxin stayed long enough if he was broken down enough ...he would stop trying to leave.Sangwon told himself he loved Anxin...And maybe, in his own twisted way, he did.
But love, when mixed with fear and obsession, had long since turned into something far darker and Sangwon either couldn't see it anymore... or simply didn't want to.
All Sangwon ever wanted was simple in the ugliest way possible---
to lock Anxin inside a life where there was no escape, to break him slowly, quietly, and keep him only for himself.
No friends. No work. No outside world.
JUST SANGWON
By the time the clock hit 2:00 p.m., the apartment was silent.
Sangwon stood in the kitchen, cooking as if nothing had happened the night before. He chose simple foodrice still warm and fluffy, soup kept mild because Anxin's stomach was always sensitive, a few side dishes he knew Anxin used to like.
His hands moved automatically, muscle memory guiding him. If anyone looked at him now, they'd think he was a caring husband preparing lunch.Not a man who had locked his spouse inside a room like a prisoner.
When the food was done, he placed everything neatly on a tray. He stood there for a moment, breathing in slowly, preparing himself for what he expected to see.
Crying.Mess.Red eyes.
Maybe screaming. Maybe silence thick with hatred...He told himself he was ready.
Outside the bedroom door, there was no sound...That unsettled him, but he brushed it off. He adjusted his expression softened his eyes, relaxed his shoulders putting on the familiar mask before unlocking the door.
The click echoed.
And Sangwon froze.
This wasn't what he expected.
Anxin was sitting on the bed, his back straight, his posture calm. He wasn't curled up on the floor. He wasn't shaking. He wasn't crying.
He was wearing white soft fabric clinging loosely to his frame, clean and wrinkle-free. His hair was neatly brushed, falling gently over his forehead. His face looked pale, yes, but peaceful in a way that didn't belong in this room.
The room itself was clean.
The chaos Sangwon had left behind the night before was gone, as if it had never existed.
Then Anxin looked up.
And smiled.Not a fake smile. Or a trembling one.A real smile.
The dimple on his left cheek appeared the one Sangwon used to love so much. For a second, Sangwon forgot how to breathe. His heart skipped, not out of affection, but confusion. Cold confusion that crawled under his skin.
This was wrong...Everything about this was wrong.Why was Anxin smiling?
Anxin tilted his head slightly, eyes soft, voice gentle almost fond."Why are you standing there, wonie?" he said lightly."Come here. I'm so hungry."
The words were warm. Familiar. Domestic.As if last night had never happened.Sangwon's feet moved on their own. Slowly, cautiously, he walked inside and placed the tray down in front of Anxin. He watched closely, waiting searching for cracks, for signs of hysteria, for anger hiding behind calm.
But Anxin didn't even look at him.
He picked up the spoon and started eating.Small bites. Slow chewing. Polite. Controlled.
He blew on the soup before sipping it. He frowned a little when it was still hot, then smiled faintly to himself. It was the same way he used to eat when everything was normal when Sangwon was still pretending to be a good husband.
Sangwon just stood there, staring.
His chest felt tight.
Anxin finished eating with small, careful bites. When the last spoon touched the bowl, he hummed softly quiet, satisfied, almost peaceful.
That sound did something to Sangwon.
He hadn't moved this whole time. He just stood there, staring, eyes fixed on Anxin like he was watching something fragile that shouldn't exist. Anxin looked soft. Warm. Innocent. Too innocent.As if he wasn't the same person who had screamed, cried, begged to leave only hours ago.
As if last night had been a bad dream.
Sangwon's chest felt tight. Confusion sat heavy on his tongue. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. He had prepared himself for resistance-for anger, for cold silence. Not this calm. Not this gentleness.
He opened his mouth, the words already forming in his head.
Did you forgive me?
But before the question could escape, Anxin looked up.Sangwon realized then that he'd been staring too long..
"Why are you staring?" Anxin asked lightly, tilting his head.
"Is there something on my face?"
Sangwon blinked..."Huh?"
The sound came out dumb, empty nothing like the control he usually carried so naturally.
Anxin stood up. Slowly. Gracefully. He stepped closer until they were face to face. Sangwon could smell him clean soap, faint warmth, something achingly familiar.
Then Anxin lifted both hands and cupped Sangwon's face.The touch was gentle."I'm sorry," Anxin whispered, eyes locked onto Sangwon's.
"I'm sorry for asking to leave."
Sangwon's breath caught.
"I'm sorry I didn't understand you," Anxin continued softly."Sorry that I didn't know you were insecure. Sorry that because of me... you did all of this."
His voice trembled. Tears gathered in his eyes, slipping down his cheeks slowly, silently."I'm sorry, wonie," he said again, almost breaking.
"I can't live without you. I shouldn't have said I wanted to leave."
Each word landed exactly where Sangwon needed it to.Anxin looked so small like this. So open. So willing to blame himself for everything.
Sangwon felt it then that familiar warmth spreading through his chest. Relief. Satisfaction. Power.
He did it again...He always did.
Anxin was stubborn, yes. Emotional. Dramatic. But in the end, he always came back. Always bent. Always chose Sangwon over himself.
It was never about right or wrongIt was about possession.
Sangwon raised his hands and wiped Anxin's tears with his thumbs, his voice soft, reassuring, practiced.
"It's okay," he said gently.
"We can start over, right?"
He watched Anxin closely as he spoke, waiting for hesitation.But there was none..."Yes," Anxin whispered.
Then he leaned forward and hugged Sangwon, arms wrapping around him tightly, like he was afraid Sangwon might disappear.
Sangwon closed his eyes and held him back.
Inside, his thoughts were calm. Clear. Certain.
See?
He's mine.
He always will be.
No matter what he did.No matter who else existed.As long as Anxin kept apologizing for wounds Sangwon had caused,there would never be an ending only control disguised as love.
________°•°_______
One week passed...On the surface, everything looked… perfect.
The apartment felt warm again almost suffocatingly so. Anxin moved around the space like it was his only purpose, like every breath he took existed for Sangwon alone.
He woke up early every morning, cooked meals carefully chosen to match Sangwon’s moods, cleaned the house until it looked untouched, untouched enough to prove something.
He treated Sangwon like glass. Like treasure. Like something sacred that could never be questioned.
Sangwon noticed everything.
The way Anxin tied his apron before cooking.The way he waited for Sangwon to taste the food first.
The way his smiles came quickly but never reached his eyes.
Still, Sangwon told himself this was good.This was how it used to be.
Seven years ago when they had just started dating Anxin had been like this too. Devoted. Soft. Orbiting Sangwon like the world began and ended with him.
Back then,Sangwon had called it love. Now, he recognized it for what it really was: dependence.And he liked it.
For seven days straight, Sangwon stayed home....He told himself it was for work that the draft needed finishing, that inspiration only came in silence but deep down, he knew the truth. He didn’t trust the quiet. Didn’t trust Anxin’s calm. Didn’t trust the way Anxin never once mentioned leaving again.
Not even in anger.Not even in passing.
That scared Sangwon more than screams ever had.
So he wrote at the dining table. On the couch. In the bedroom. His laptop never left his side. His eyes never left Anxin for too long.
Every time Anxin went into another room, Sangwon’s attention snapped up.Every time the door creaked, his chest tightened.Every time Anxin was silent for too long, Sangwon felt the familiar itch crawl under his skin.
Is he planning something?
Is he waiting for the right moment?
But Anxin never tried.
He never reached for his phone too long.Never asked to go out.
Never spoke about work, friends, or the future.He stayed.He laughed when Sangwon spoke.Nodded when Sangwon corrected him.Apologized even when nothing was wrong.
At night, Anxin curled close without being asked, pressing himself into Sangwon’s side like he needed permission to exist.
Sangwon would wrap an arm around him, holding him firmly not gently.
Possessively.And Anxin never resisted.Still… something felt off.
Sometimes, Sangwon caught Anxin staring out the window for a second too long. Sometimes, when Sangwon spoke, Anxin responded a heartbeat late as if he’d been somewhere else before snapping back.
But then Anxin would smile. Cook another meal. Say "I love you" in that soft voice that had always undone Sangwon.
So Sangwon ignored the unease.
Because this this quiet obedience, this devotion was what he wanted.
And as long as Anxin stayed exactly where he was,Sangwon could pretend everything was fixed.Even if, he knew things that break oncenever really go back to how they were befor
Sangwon was sitting at his desk, fingers moving slowly over the keyboard, eyes fixed on the half finished draft glowing on the screen. The room was quiet except for the soft tapping of keys and the hum of the heater.
He had been rewriting the same paragraph for almost an hour now, but his mind wasn’t fully on the story.
It was on Anxin.Just then, light footsteps approached from behind.
Before Sangwon could turn, a pair of arms wrapped gently around his waist. Warm. Familiar. Careful.
Anxin rested his chin on Sangwon’s shoulder, his cheek brushing lightly against the back of Sangwon’s neck.
"You’re writing again," Anxin said softly, his voice almost playful. "Is it another sad ending?"
Sangwon paused, fingers hovering above the keyboard. He glanced sideways at Anxin, surprised by how close he was, how natural it felt again.
"I don’t know yet," Sangwon replied. "Sad endings sell better."
Anxin hummed, tightening his arms just a little."I hate sad endings," he said quietly. "They make you feel like loving was a mistake."
Something in his tone made Sangwon’s chest tighten. He turned slightly, reaching up to touch Anxin’s arm, then leaned in, instinctively aiming for a kiss ...But Anxin immediately pulled back, pressing a finger lightly against Sangwon’s lips.
"No," Anxin said, shaking his head with a small smile. "I caught a cold. If you get sick, you’ll blame me again."
Sangwon blinked, caught off guard.
"Oh… right,"he muttered, forcing a small laugh. "Then I won’t."
Anxin smiled sweetly, but his eyes didn’t quite match it.He loosened his hold and stepped back, then after a short pause, spoke again as if it were an afterthought.
"Wonie… can I go outside for a bit?"
Sangwon stiffened immediately. "Outside?" he repeated, turning fully toward him. "Where?"
"Just nearby,"Anxin replied quickly. "I feel suffocated staying inside all day. I won’t be long, I promise."
Sangwon’s jaw tightened. His mind immediately filled with possibilities, suspicion curling quietly beneath his calm expression."You don’t need to go out," he said. "You can rest here. I’m almost done anyway."
Anxin tilted his head, stepping closer again, his voice gentle, coaxing."I’ve been here all week," he said softly. "I didn’t even complain, did I? I just want some air. Please."
He reached for Sangwon’s hand, squeezing it lightly."I’ll come back. I always do."
That sentence settled something uneasy inside Sangwon.
After a long moment, Sangwon sighed."…Alright," he said. "But don’t be late."
Anxin’s face brightened instantly, a real smile this time."Thank you," he said, leaning down to press a smooch against Sangwon’s cheek . "I won’t."
As Anxin turned and walked away, Sangwon watched him until he disappeared from the doorway, a strange mix of relief and unease settling in his chest.
He didn’t notice the way Anxin’s smile faded the moment his back was turned.
The moment Anxin stepped outside, cold air brushed against his face, sharp and clean. It made his lungs ache in a good way.
It wasn’t fully dark yet the sky was a dull blue grey, streetlights just beginning to glow. Winter sat quietly on the city, calm but biting.
For first time in a week, Anxin felt like he could breathe.The apartment had felt like a cage.Beautiful on the outside, suffocating on the inside.
He pulled his coat tighter around himself and started walking, eyes glued to his phone as his fingers moved quickly over the screen.
There was only one name he had been texting.
One person he had missed so badly it hurt in places he didn’t know existed.
The place wasn’t crowded just a small open area near a café, lights reflecting faintly off the wet pavement. A familiar spot.
And then he saw him.A thin, tall figure stood there, back facing him, hands tucked into a long coat. The posture alone made Anxin’s chest tighten.
He didn’t think.didn’t hesitate.
Anxin ran forward and wrapped his arms tightly around the figure from behind.The man stiffened in surprise, letting out a small startled breath
When he heard Anxin’s voice, small and trembling, pressed into his back
"Ge-ge…"
A soft laugh broke out, warm but cracked at the edges."Miss me, baby?" the man said quietly.
Anxin nodded against his back, arms tightening even more, like if he let go the world would pull them apart again.So much, ge-ge,"Anxin whispered, voice..muffled. "I missed you so much, Hao-ge."
Hao reached back, placing a hand over Anxin’s arm, squeezing gently. He laughed again, but it didn’t sound fully happy. It sounded like relief mtriedixed with pain.
"You didn’t change at all,” Hao said softly. “Still clingy. Still crying without tears."
Anxin sniffed, burying his face deeper."I tried," he said. "I really tried."
Hao slowly turned around, carefully, like he was afraid Anxin might disappear if he moved too fast. When he saw Anxin’s face up close, his smile faded just a little.
Three years....Three years since they last stood like this....since everything was torn apart without Anxin even understanding how.
Hao lifted a hand and brushed Anxin’s hair back gently, eyes searching his face."He didn’t let you contact me, did he?" Hao asked quietly.
Anxin shook his head."He said you hated me," Anxin whispered. "He said you abandoned me first."
Hao’s jaw tightened, pain flashing across his eyes."I never left you," he said firmly. "I was pushed out."
Anxin’s hands trembled as he gripped Hao’s coat."I believed him,"Anxin said, voice breaking. "I’m sorry, gege. I didn’t know… I didn’t know."
Hao pulled him into a careful, protective hug, resting his chin lightly on Anxin’s head."It’s not your fault,"he murmured. "You were young. You trusted too easily."
He pulled back just enough to look at Anxin again, eyes dark with worry..."But you came today," Hao said. "That means you’re not trapped anymore. Right?"
The question sat heavy between them, pressing against Anxin’s chest until his breathing turned shallow.
Are you not trapped anymore?
What was he supposed to say?
That he regretted not believing his Hao-ge from the beginning.
That he regretted trusting Geonwoo so blindly.That he had loved Sangwon so selflessly it erased him piece by piece.
That he was still living inside a carefully decorated cage, smiling like a doll that didn’t know its strings were being pulled.Most of all that he was tired.So unbearably tired of everything.
Anxin swallowed hard and forced his lips into a small smile, one he had perfected over the years.
"Everything is okay, Hao-ge," he said softly.
The lie came out smooth...Hao didn’t smile back.
He looked at Anxin the way he always had like he was reading past the words, past the expression, straight into the cracks Anxin tried so hard to hide. Hao had seen him grow up, had held his hand when he cried over scraped knees and broken hearts. He knew this version of Anxin too well.
"You say that every time you’re not okay,"Hao said quietly.
Anxin’s fingers curled into his coat sleeves.
"I’m fine," he repeated, a little faster this time. "Really. I just… wanted to see you. That’s all."
Hao’s eyes darkened....He knew Sangwon better than anyone.A sick bastard.Knew how charming he was, how controlling, how easily he twisted love into ownership.
That was exactly why Sangwon had pushed him out of Anxin’s life three years ago cut the one person who could pull Anxin back to himself.
"He didn’t change, did he?" Hao asked carefully.
Anxin’s breath hitched for half a second so small most people wouldn’t notice.But Hao did....Anxin took a step back, forcing a laugh that sounded too light for the moment.
"Hao-ge, don’t worry," he said. "I should go. It’s getting cold."
Hao reached out instinctively, then stopped himself, his hand hovering uselessly in the air."Anxin," he said, voice low. "If you ever need "
"I know,"Anxin cut in quickly, bowing his head just a little. "Thank you. For today."
He didn’t trust himself to stay any longer.Didn’t trust the tears burning behind his eyes.So he turned away
"Take care, gege,"Anxin said, already walking backward. "I’ll message you."
Hao watched him retreat, every step hurried, like Anxin was afraid of being caught doing something wrong. The smile Anxin wore until the very last second disappeared the moment he turned around.
Hao stood there long after Anxin vanished into the street, fists clenched in his coat pockets."Nothing is okay," Hao murmured to himself."And one day, you’ll stop lying even to yourself."
Meanwhile, Anxin walked fast, head down, heart pounding...He didn’t look back.
When Anxin reached the front of the apartment, he stopped.
He stood there for a moment, fingers clenched around his coat, chest rising and falling as he forced himself to breathe evenly. Whatever softness he had allowed outside whatever cracks had shown in front of Hao had to be sealed again.
Slowly, carefully, he fixed himself.
He smoothed his hair, wiped the corners of his eyes, and pulled a familiar smile onto his lips. A practiced one. The kind that didn’t reach his eyes but looked convincing enough. Then he raised his hand and rang the doorbell.
The door opened almost instantly.
Sangwon stood there, as if he’d been waiting right behind it.
"Why are you so late?" Sangwon asked the moment he saw him. His voice was sharp, eyes scanning Anxin from head to toe. "Who were you with?"
Anxin blinked, still smiling."I just walked around a bit,"he said softly.
Sangwon’s gaze darkened. "Give me your phone."
Anxin didn’t hesitate. He unlocked it and handed it over, hands steady even though his stomach twisted painfully.
While Sangwon scrolled, Anxin’s thumb brushed the screen once more quietly, efficiently deleting every trace of Hao. The messages. The missed calls.
The name itself.By the time Sangwon finished checking, there was nothing left.
Sangwon frowned, scrolling again, then looked up at Anxin. The tension slowly drained from his face, replaced by something gentler, almost apologetic
"…There’s nothing," he muttered.
He pulled Anxin into a hug without warning, arms wrapping tight around his shoulders.
"I’m sorry,"Sangwon said, voice suddenly soft. "I know you told me. I just when you’re not here, my head goes crazy"...Anxin stood still in his embrace.
"I worry too much," Sangwon continued, kissing Anxin’s hair.
"I’m scared of losing you."
"I’m here,"Anxin said quietly.
“That’s all I want,” Sangwon replied, holding him tighter. "Just stay with me"
Anxin nodded against his chest.
"I will."
. "Come inside. It’s cold."
________°•°_______
The moment door clicked shut behind them.
The sound echoed louder than it should have, sealing the apartment back into its familiar stillness. Warm air wrapped around Anxin again, heavy and close, pressing against his skin. The cage welcomed him back politely.
Sangwon didn't let go right away.
He held Anxin there in the entryway, arms firm around his back, chin resting against the top of Anxin's head. Not comforting. Claiming.
"You're freezing," Sangwon murmured. "I told you not to stay out too long."
"I'm okay," Anxin replied automatically.
Sangwon pulled back just enough to look at him, thumbs brushing lightly over Anxin's wrists as if checking for cracks.
Sangwon studied his face. The smile. The calm eyes. The way Anxin stood so still, waiting.
But Sangwon smiled anyway."It's fine," he said, brushing past it like it never mattered. "Go wash your hands. I'll make you something warm."
Anxin nodded and slipped out of his coat, hanging it neatly by the door. Every movement precise.Controlled. He disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind him.
Only then did Sangwon's smile fade.
He stood there for a moment longer, staring at the closed door, replaying everything in his head.Late. Cold air. That look-too careful, too practiced.
Sangwon turned and walked toward the living room, fingers twitching at his side. He picked up Anxin's phone from the table again, unlocking it with muscle memory.
Nothing.No unfamiliar names. No suspicious apps. No trace of anyone else.Still.Sangwon opened the trash folder.Empty.A slow breath left his nose.He didn't like that.People didn't delete nothing.
From the bathroom, water ran steadily. Anxin hummed under his breath-soft, tuneless, almost childlike. The same sound he used to make years ago when he was nervous but pretending he wasn't....Sangwon's jaw tightened.
When Anxin came out, his hands were red from warm water, sleeves rolled up. He smiled when he saw Sangwon waiting.
"Did you eat?" Anxin asked.
Sangwon stepped closer, lifting Anxin's hands and rubbing them gently between his own..."I was waiting for you," he said. "You should sit."
Anxin hesitated just a fraction of a second-then nodded and obeyed.
As Anxin curled up on the couch, Sangwon moved to the kitchen, pretending everything was normal. He poured tea, added honey, stirred slowly.But his thoughts were sharp.
Who did you miss enough to risk asking to leave?
He brought the cup over and held it up to Anxin's lips himself."Drink," Sangwon said.
Anxin complied, careful not to spill. When he finished, Sangwon set the cup aside and sat beside him, close enough that their knees touched.
"You didn't run into anyone, did you?" Sangwon asked again..
Anxin's shoulders relaxed slightly, if he'd been expecting the question."No," he said. "Just walked."
Sangwon hummed, brushing Anxin's hair back behind his ear."Good," he said. "I don't like when other people distract you."
Anxin smiled."I know."
Sangwon leaned in, pressing his forehead against Anxin's temple."You belong here," he murmured. "With me."
Anxin closed his eyes."Yes," he said softly.
.
.
.
.
The news came three days later.
Sangwon said it casually, like it was nothing-like it hadn't shifted the ground beneath them both.
"I have to go overseas," he said one evening, eyes still on his laptop. "Just for a while."
Anxin froze mid-motion, the chopsticks in his hand hovering above the pan."...Overseas?" he repeated.
Sangwon finally looked up. "Yeah. The publisher wants me there. Interviews, meetings, a signing tour. You know how it is."
Of course Anxin knew.Sangwon wasn't just a writer . He was the writer-the one critics praised, readers obsessed over, the one whose sad endings sold out bookstores and broke people in the same breath. Invitations came constantly. Trips piled up like expectations.
Anxin slowly set the chopsticks down.
"How long?" he asked.
"A few weeks," Sangwon replied.
"Maybe longer if they add stops."
Anxin nodded, but the sound stuck in his throat. He turned back to the stove, stirring even though the food didn't need it anymore..."Oh," he said softly. "I see."
Sangwon watched his back.
The way Anxin's shoulders sloped just a little. The way his voice thinned, almost imperceptibly."You'll be okay," Sangwon said, more like a reassurance to himself than to Anxin. "It's not that long."
Anxin turned around then, smiling immediately.
"I know," he said. "I'll be fine."
The smile was gentle. Warm. perfect.
Ar night, Sangwon barely slept.
He lay awake with Anxin curled against him, breathing slow and even, as if nothing had changed.
Sangwon's arm stayed locked around Anxin's waist, fingers pressing into familiar skin like he was memorizing it.
What if he changes while I'm gone? What if he remembers something? Someone?
The thought made Sangwon's chest tighten...But Anxin did nothing wrong.
In the days leading up to the trip, Anxin was... normal.No. Better than normal.
He woke Sangwon up with breakfast already made. Packed his luggage with care, folding shirts neatly, slipping handwritten notes between pages of Sangwon's drafts.Eat properly. Don't overwork yourself. Come back safely.
He didn't mention Hao. Didn't mention going out. Didn't ask for freedom.
He stayed close. Soft. Attentive.
Like someone who had forgotten how to want anything else.And somehow, that unsettled Sangwon more than resistance ever had.
The day of the flight came too quickly.
The airport was loud and bright, voices echoing through wide halls, announcements cutting through the air. Sangwon hated crowds, hated the way too many eyes could land on Anxin at once.
So he kept a hand on Anxin's wrist as they walked.Anxin didn't pull away.
He matched Sangwon's pace easily, coat buttoned up to his chin, eyes darting around with quiet curiosity. When they stopped near the gate, Anxin turned to face him fully.
"You have to take care of yourself," Anxin said, adjusting Sangwon's scarf. "You always forget to sleep when you're busy."
Sangwon snorted. "You sound like my manager."
"I'm more important than your manager," Anxin replied lightly.
That earned a smile from Sangwon real this time.
Anxin hesitated, then reached up and hugged him tightly, arms wrapping around Sangwon's waist like he was afraid to let go."Come back quickly," Anxin murmured. "As soon as you finish work."
"I will," Sangwon said, holding him back just as tightly.
"I'll miss you," Anxin added, voice softer now. "The apartment will feel too quiet without you."
Sangwon's throat tightened.
"I won't be gone forever," he said. "It's just work."
"I know," Anxin said. Then, after a small pause, he smiled again. "I'm going to prepare a surprise for you while you're away."
Sangwon raised an eyebrow. "A surprise?"
Anxin nodded eagerly. "You'll like it. I promise."
Something twisted in Sangwon's stomach-unease, sharp and sudden.
"What kind of surprise?" he asked.
Anxin laughed, shaking his head. "If I tell you, it won't be a surprise."
Sangwon studied him for a long second."...Alright," Sangwon said finally. "But don't overdo it."
"I won't," Anxin replied. "I'll just wait for you."
The announcement for boarding echoed through the terminal.
Sangwon sighed, pressing a kiss to Anxin's forehead. "Don't go out too much," he said instinctively. "And
don't talk to strangers."
Anxin nodded obediently. "I won't."
"And answer your phone."
"I always do."
Satisfied.or at least pretending to be-Sangwon picked up his bag. He took a few steps back, then paused.Anxin was still standing there, waving lightly, smiling like this was just another normal goodbye.
For a moment, Sangwon had the strange urge to turn around. To cancel everything. To drag Anxin back home and lock the door behind them.
But the crowd pushed him forward.
As Sangwon disappeared past security, Anxin slowly lowered his hand.
The smile stayed on his face until Sangwon was completely gone.
Only then did it fade-just a little.
And in the quiet space left behind, Anxin whispered to no one at all,
"Come back safely."
.
.
.
.
The apartment greeted Anxin with silence.
The door clicked shut behind him, the sound echoing too loudly in the space that was suddenly too big, too empty. His shoes slipped off carelessly, coat dropped wherever it landed.
The moment he reached the couch, Anxin collapsed onto it body folding in on itself like the strings holding him upright had finally been cut.He stared at the ceiling.He was tired.
So freaking tired.Tired of smiling like a doll. Tired of speaking softly.
Tired of pretending love still lived where it had already rotted.Love had existed once real, desperate, all-consuming. He had given it everything. Every devotion. Every apology. Every piece of himself.
And Sangwon had still chosen to cheat.Chosen someone else. Chosen betrayal. Chosen to break him while letting him kneel and call it love.
Now?There was nothing left of that love.Only something darker. Heavier. Something that sat quietly in his chest and waited.
Anxin's gaze drifted to the wall across the room.The photo.
Their first wedding anniversary.
They looked unbearably happy.
Sangwon's arm was wrapped around Anxin's shoulders, confident, possessive. Anxin was smiling brightly, eyes soft, leaning in like that was the safest place in the world.A lie frozen in time
Slowly, Anxin stood and walked toward it.He stopped just inches away.
His fingers lifted, brushing over the glass, tracing Sangwon's face with almost tender care. His thumb lingered over the smile over lips that had whispered promises they never meant to keep.
"You always say I belong to you, Wonie," Anxin murmured.
His voice was calm. Too calm.
"But you forget..." his fingers pressed harder against the frame, "...you belong to me too."A smile curved his lips sharp, wrong."And I don't share what's mine."
A laugh slipped out of him then.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't wild.
It was hollow. Broken. A sound that didn't quite belong to a human throat.
Anxin's shoulders shook as the laughter spilled out again, echoing softly through the apartment.
"Enjoy your days, Wonie," he said sweetly, eyes locked onto the photo. "Do whatever you want with that bitch."His smile widened, eyes darkening with something that looked almost like devotion.but twisted beyond recognition.
"I'll make sure you enjoy every second when you come back, love."
The laughter followed again soft, unsettling, lingering long after the room fell silent.
The photo remained smiling.
.
.
.
.
One day later, Anxin's phone rang.
He was sitting at the dining table, untouched tea long gone cold beside him, fingers lazily scrolling through nothing in particular. The screen lit up with a name he already expected.
Wonie.
Anxin stared at it for a second longer than usual then answered.
"Hello?" His voice came out soft, warm, perfectly practiced.
"Anxin." Sangwon sounded cheerful, almost bright. Too bright. "Did I wake you?"
"No," Anxin replied gently. "I was just resting. Did you arrive safely?"
"Yeah," Sangwon said with a small
laugh. "Thailand's... nice. Warmer than I expected. The hotel's huge you'd like it. There's this balcony with a view of the city lights. I thought of you."
Anxin hummed quietly at the right places, like he always did."That sounds beautiful," he said. "I'm glad you got there safely."
"I've been busy all day," Sangwon continued. "Meetings, interviews, some publisher stuff. They're really pushing the new release here. I might have to attend a few events.panels, dinners, that kind of thing."
"Don't overwork yourself," he said sweetly. "You always forget to eat when you're busy."
Sangwon smiled on the other end anxin could hear it in his voice.
"That's why I have you reminding me. I'll be a bit tied up these next few days, though. Time difference, schedules... I might not be able to call much."
"That's okay," Anxin said immediately. "I understand. Your work comes first."
The words tasted familiar. Hollow. Automatic.
"You're really being good," Sangwon said softly, almost fondly. "Not making a fuss. Not getting upset."
Anxin laughed lightly. "Why would I? I trust you, Wonie."
There was a brief pause.Something uneasy flickered through Sangwon's tone. "You're not... lonely, right?"
Anxin leaned back in his chair, eyes drifting toward the wall the place where the photo used to hang. He had taken it down earlier that morning.
"I'm fine," he replied smoothly. "I'm just counting the days until you come back."
"That's my Anxinie," Sangwon said, relieved. "When I'm back, I'll make it up to you. We'll go out. Do something nice."
"I'll be waiting," Anxin said softly. "Come back quickly. I really miss you."
"I miss you too," Sangwon replied, then added casually, "Tomorrow's going to be packed dinner with some friends here, then another event. Might be late."
Friends...Anxin's smile widened slightly, unseen."Don't worry," he said. "Have fun."
After the call ended, the apartment fell silent again.Anxin lowered the phone slowly.Busy. Of course he would be.
Not because of work. Not because of writing.
But because Sangwon had always been busy when temptation was nearby. Busy lying. Busy betraying. Busy choosing everyone but the one who had given him everything.
Anxin let out a quiet breath and stood up.
"Enjoy it," he murmured to the empty room. "Enjoy being busy."
.
.
.
.
Later At night, Anxin's phone vibrated softly.
He wasn't expecting anything, but the screen lit up anyway an app he hadn't opened in days.
A new post.
From Geonwoo.
Anxin's thumb hovered for a second before tapping.
The photo loaded slowly.
Geonwoo lay sprawled across a wide hotel bed, white sheets tangled loosely around his waist, slipping low enough to reveal smooth skin dusted with faint marks nothing obvious, nothing that could be pointed at directly. Just enough to imply.
His collarbone caught the light, sharp and elegant, a few flower petals scattered lazily across the pillow and mattress like someone had been playing at romance.
The lighting was warm. Intimate. Too intimate.
It was the kind of photo magazines loved to call artistic. The kind fans loved to call dangerous.
Geonwoo's face was turned slightly away from the camera, lips curved in a lazy, satisfied half-smile. One arm stretched above his head, the other hidden beneath the sheetsnas if someone else had been there just moments ago.
And the caption
"Some nights bloom better overseas 🌺
New memories hit different.
The comments were already exploding.
Fans screaming. Fire emojis. Hearts. Speculation.But nowhere did it say where he was.
Anxin stared at the photo, expression perfectly calm.
Thailand. Warm lighting. The timing.
Hide and seek again.So predictable.
"So naive," Anxin murmured softly, scrolling once... then stopping.
He knew better. They always thought they were being clevernleaving just enough clues to feel thrilling, never enough to be caught.
Digging their own grave while smiling for the camera.Anxin tapped the heart icon.Liked.
Then, slowly, deliberately, he typed a comment. "Flowers suit you.
Hope the memories are worth keeping "
Within seconds, the likes on his comment climbed. Fans cooed about how sweet it sounded. How supportive.
Geonwoo would see it. Sangwon would see it eventually.
Anxin locked his phone and leaned back into the couch, staring up at the ceiling.His smile was soft. Almost fond.
"Play all you want," he whispered.
"I'm very good at waiting."
.
.
.
.
The clock on the nightstand glowed 12:47 a.m.
Thailand never really slept. Even this high up, even behind glass and curtains, the city hummed traffic far below, laughter somewhere distant, neon bleeding into the dark like it refused to die.
Sangwon lay on his back, one arm tucked beneath his head.
The sheets were rumpled. Warm. Familiar in a way that meant nothing.
Beside him, Geonwoo slept half .turned, blanket draped loosely over his waist, skin still marked faintly by the aftermath of indulgence.
He looked peaceful. Untouched by consequence. Like this was just another night that would fade by morning.
Sangwon reached for his phone.
He hadn't planned this.Not exactly.
He hadn't known Geonwoo would be in Thailandnot until after his flight was booked. Brand event..Ambassador work. Same city. Same week. Coincidence, really.
But once he knew?He didn't stop himself.Why would he?
Desire didn't disappear just because Anxin cried. Habits didn't end just because promises were made at dawn. And Sangwon had never been the kind of man who changed simply because someone begged him to.
Two years. Two years of this.
Anxin knew that.
That was the difference now.
His phone lit up.A notification.
Sangwon's thumb slowed before he even processed it.Anxin liked Geonwoo's post.
His stomach tightened not sharply, not painfully but enough to make him sit up slightly.He opened it The photo filled the screen.Geonwoo, half-reclined in bed. White sheets pulled lazily around his waist. Flowers scattered like an..afterthought, like someone had wanted softness to frame bare skin. The lighting warm.
Intimate. Suggestive without saying a word.Sangwon exhaled slowly through his nose.
Then he saw the comment.
"Flowers suit you.
Hope the memories are worth keeping "
For the first time that night, Sangwon felt something close to irritation.Not fear.Not guilt.but Unease.
Anxin knew about the cheating. That wasn't new.He knew about Geonwoo. Knew about the nights. Knew about the lies.
Sangwon remembered it clearly the way everything had finally exploded.
The shouting. The accusations.
Anxin's voice breaking, hands shaking as he begged him to stop."Was I not enough ...Did you really need another body just to satisfy yourself?""I want to leave."Give me my freedom back
And Sangwon remembered locking the door that night.Not out of rage. Out of control.And in the morning
Anxin apologized."I'm sorry for asking to leave."Sorry that I didn't know you were insecure. Sorry that because of me... you did all of this." I can't leave without you
By breakfast, he was quiet. By noon, he was smiling. By night, he was back in Sangwon's arms like nothing had ever happened.
That was when Sangwon knew.Anxin wasn't leaving.So this comment This wasn't discovery. This wasn't confrontation.It was something else.
Sangwon's gaze flicked to Geonwoo.Still asleep. Still ignorant.Geonwoo didn't know that Anxin had watched everything collapse and chosen silence. Didn't know how carefully Anxin now hid his emotions.
Didn't know about the way Anxin apologized for pain Sangwon caused.
To sangwon, this was just sex. Just secrecy. Just indulgence.
Geonwoo didn't matter.
Sangwon's lips curved faintly.Geonwoo was replaceable. A body. A distraction. Something he used when he wanted.
Anxin wasn't.Anxin was his.That was why this comment unsettled him not because it exposed anything, but because it was calm.
Teasing. Public. Controlled.
Anxin wasn't crying. Wasn't begging. Wasn't breaking down.Anxin was watching.Sangwon told himself the truth he preferred.
Anxin wouldn't do anything. He never did.Anxin endured. Anxin forgave. Anxin stayed.That was the rule they lived by now.
He locked his phone and lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
In Korea, it was 2 a.m.
Anxin was probably awake. Probably waiting. Probably smiling at the wall like he always did.Sangwon closed his eyes.He didn't feel guilty...Guilt was for men who feared consequences.
And Sangwon had already proven over and over again That no matter what he did, no matter who he touched, no matter how far he went,
Anxin would still be there when he came back.Waiting.Belonging.And Sangwon never questioned what already belonged to him..
________°•°________
It was afternoon quiet, pale sunlight stretching lazily across the apartment.
The fifth day of Sangwon being overseas.
Anxin stood in the kitchen, barefoot on cold tile, humming softly under his breath. The tune was slow, almost childish, its melody sweet enough to be misleading.
"I sing the body electric,
Even in death, I glow..."
The song was wrong for the setting. Too calm. Too fond of endings. The kind of song that smiled while speaking about dying about love rotting gently instead of screaming.
Anxin didn't notice.He hadn't eaten all day.
His phone lay abandoned on the counter, screen dim from hours of scrolling photos, posts, stories he didn't react to. He had moved through the day like a ghost, cooking only to cook, existing only because time kept dragging him forward.
Now, finally, he decided to eat.
Not because he was hungry. Because he deserved something warm.
Something good.
He moved carefully, almost lovingly chopping vegetables, seasoning meat, plating the food neatly as if someone else would see it. As if Sangwon might suddenly walk in and praise him.
The thought made him smile.
That was when his phone buzzed.
Anxin frozeOne glance at the screen land something real broke through.
A genuine smile curved his lips, slow and unguarded. A dimple carved itself deep into his cheek, soft and divine in a way that didn't belong to the version of him Sangwon knew.
Jiahao.
Unknown number. But Anxin knew it instantly.
He wiped his hands and answered.
"Hao-ge," Anxin said softly, voice warm. "You finally called."
A familiar laugh came through the speaker, low and easy."So you still recognize my voice," Jiahao teased. "I was starting to think you'd erased me again."
Anxin laughed quietly, leaning against the counter.
"I never forget you," he said. "I just... pretend sometimes."
There was a pause on the other end.
Then, gentler, "How are you, Anxin?"
The question landed heavier than it should have.
"I'm good," Anxin replied immediately. Too immediately. "I'm cooking. For myself."
"Oh?" Jiahao said, surprised. "That's new."
Anxin smiled, eyes drifting to the stove.
"Sangwon's not here," he said lightly. "So I don't have to rush."
Jiahao didn't miss that.
"...He's still overseas, right?"
"Yes," Anxin answered. "Thailand. Fifth day already."
"And?" Jiahao asked carefully. "How is he?"
Anxin hummed again the same tune, soft and eerie before answering.
"Sangwonie is having fun," he said, voice sweet. "He's enjoying every second."
Jiahao frowned on the other end. "You sound... very sure."
Anxin's smile widened."I know him," he said. "When he's happy, he forgets time. Forgets people. Forgets promises."
His tone was almost fond.
"He eats well. Sleeps late. Laughs easily," Anxin continued, stirring the pot slowly. "When he's overseas, he becomes lighter. Freer. Like nothing is waiting for him back home."
"...Anxin," Jiahao said quietly.
But Anxin kept going, voice drifting into something softer. Stranger.
"It's okay," he murmured. "I like imagining him like that. Smiling. Touching things he likes. Doing whatever he wants."
The spoon clinked gently against the pot.
"He always comes back in the end."
Jiahao went silent.
"Do you miss him?" he asked after a moment.
Anxin tilted his head, considering.
"I miss the version of him that belonged only to me," he said honestly. "But this one?"A soft laugh slipped out. "This one is... entertaining."
That word made Jiahao's chest tighten.
"You don't sound hurt," he said.
"I'm not," Anxin replied, too calmly. "Pain needs hope. I don't have that anymore."
He turned off the stove and plated the food carefully.
"Hao-ge," Anxin said suddenly, voice bright again. "Did you eat?"
Jiahao exhaled. "Not yet."
"You should," Anxin smiled. "Don't skip meals. People disappear faster that way."
The words were light.
Jiahao swallowed. "You're still coming to see me again, right?"
"Of course," Anxin said without hesitation. "We're playing hide and seek, remember?"
"...Anxin."
"I like games," he added softly. "Especially ones where everyone thinks they're winning."
Jiahao said, "Be careful."
Anxin laughed sweet, airy, almost musical."I always am."
They hung up soon after.
Anxin set his phone down and finally sat at the table alone. He took a bite of food, chewing slowly, eyes unfocused.
Outside, the city moved on.
Inside, something had already crossed a line it couldn't uncross.
And somewhere far away, Sangwon was still convinced
that obedience meant safety
and silence meant love.
Anxin hummed his song again.
🎵 Even in death, I glow... 🎵
___________°•°___________
Day six of Sangwon being overseas.
The apartment was quiet in that hollow, waiting kind of way.
Anxin lay curled on one end of the couch, phone held loosely above his face, thumb scrolling with unhurried precision.
His expression was calmalmost bored but his eyes were sharp, focused, hungry for patterns.He wasn't doom-scrolling.He was watching.Instagram refreshed.
And there he was.
Geonwoo.
Anxin stopped scrolling.
The first thing on the screen was an Instagram story posted less than ten minutes ago.
A hotel window.Floor-to-ceiling glass, rain streaking down the outside, the city below blurred into gold and neon. The reflection in the glass was faint but telling: a tall figure in a loose white shirt, collar open, skin catching the warm indoor light.
Geonwoo's hand was visible in the corner of the frame.Long fingers. A familiar silver ring.
Anxin's lips curved slightly.
That ring.Sangwon had worn the same one for years claimed it was meaningless, just a habit. But Anxin had noticed when it disappeared from Sangwon's hand before the trip.
The caption was simple.
"Different cities, same nights."
Anxin tapped forward.
Another story.This one was softer. Intimate in a way that pretended not to be.
A hotel bed neatly made, expensive white sheets rumpled just enough to look used. Fresh flowers lay scattered across the duvet, dark petals bruised at the edges like they'd been handled too much. A man's wrist rested on the bed near the flowers, veins visible, skin warm and flushed.
No faces.No names.
But Anxin knew that wrist.
He'd traced those veins with his thumb before. He'd kissed that exact spot when Sangwon thought tenderness could erase guilt.
The song playing over the story was low and slow something sensual, lazy, made for late nights that bled into mornings.
Anxin swallowed.Not because it hurt.
Because it was familiar.
He exited the story and scrolled.
A new post.
Geonwoo again.
This one was a photo polished, editorial-perfect. Geonwoo sat on the edge of a bed, white sheets pooled around his waist, loose cardigan slipping off one shoulder. His hair was damp, eyes heavy-lidded, lips parted slightly like he'd just woken up or like he'd never slept at all.
There were faint marks along his collarbone.Not obvious. Not accidental either.The lighting was warm, golden, almost reverent. Whoever took the photo knew exactly how Geonwoo liked to be seen.
The caption read:
"Some habits are hard to break."
🖤
The comments were already flooding in fans, stylists, industry friends.
But Anxin wasn't looking at those.
He was looking at the timing.
At the location tag carefully cropped, but not enough.
Bangkok.
His thumb hovered over the screen.
He thought of Sangwon's voice the night before.
I'm tired, Anxin. Meetings all day. I might not call tomorrow.
Meetings.
Anxin let out a soft breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
He kept scrolling.Another post.
A mirror selfie this time blurred intentionally, phone blocking half of Geonwoo's face. Behind him, barely visible in the reflection, was a desk cluttered with papers. Typed pages. A familiar laptop sleeve resting on the chair.Black. Minimal. Sangwon's.
The caption:
"Work trips don't always feel like work."
Something in Anxin's chest shifted not cracking, not breaking.
Settling.
So careless, he thought.
So confident....They always got sloppy when they thought they'd won.
Anxin's finger moved.
He liked the post.
The heart icon filled instantly, bright and unapologetic.
Then he typed a comment.
Slowly. Deliberately.
Looks cozy. Hope you're resting well. 😊
A harmless sentence.Polite. Warm. Almost affectionate.Anyone reading it would think nothing of it.
But Anxin knew better.
Because Geonwoo knew him.
And Sangwon would see it too.
Anxin locked his phone and let it fall onto his chest. He stared up at the ceiling, expression empty, breathing steady.
"Hide and seek," he murmured to the quiet room.
A smile touched his lips not soft, not kind.Patient.
.
"They always forget," he whispered, "that I'm very good at finding things."
Outside, the sky darkened slowly.
And somewhere in a hotel room across the ocean, Sangwon's name was being worn like a secret
that Anxin had already
memorized.
___________°•°___________
*Day nine *.
The apartment was unusually quiet but Anxin wasn't in it.
He stood in front of the hallway mirror, already dressed, coat buttoned neatly, hair brushed back just enough to look effortless. His phone lay on the console table, screen dark, but his eyes kept flicking toward it like he could feel something coming.
He was supposed to meet Hao-ge.
Not at the café this time too obvious. Somewhere farther, quieter. Somewhere Sangwon wouldn't think to imagine.
Anxin slipped his wallet into his pocket, fingers trembling just a little. Not from fear.From anticipation.
That was when his phone lit up.
Sangwon calling.
Video call.Anxin froze.
For a split second just one his expression cracked. Something sharp and tired flashed through his eyes.
"...Bad timing," he murmured.
The phone kept buzzing, insistent, possessive.
Anxin inhaled slowly, deeply, like he was sinking beneath water. Then he turned back to the mirror.
The cracks sealed.His shoulders relaxed. His lips curved upward. His eyes softened, dimples appearing as if summoned on command.
The doll was ready.
He picked up the phone and accepted the call.
Sangwon's face filled the screen immediately. The lighting was warm, golden hotel lighting. He looked relaxed. Too relaxed. Hair slightly damp, shirt loose at the collar.
Anxin tilted the camera just enough so only his face showed.
"Wonie," he said sweetly. "You called."
Sangwon frowned faintly. "Where are you?"
Anxin blinked, then let out a small, embarrassed laugh. "Oh I was just heading out."
"Out?" Sangwon's eyes sharpened. "Where?"
"There's no food left," Anxin replied easily. Too easily. "I thought I'd go buy something quick before it gets dark."
He shifted the phone, letting Sangwon see a glimpse of the hallway behind him neutral, harmless, convincing.
Sangwon watched closely, gaze flicking over every detail like he was searching for a flaw.
"...You didn't tell me," Sangwon said.
Anxin smiled apologetically. "I didn't want to bother you. You said you were busy."
There it was. The gentle guilt. Perfectly placed.
Sangwon exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "I just don't like not knowing where you are."
"I know," Anxin said softly. "I'll be quick."
Sangwon spoke again, voice casual but his eyes weren't."Did you talk to Geonwoo recently?"
Anxin didn't miss a beat."Of course," he said lightly. "Why wouldn't I?"
Sangwon's fingers stilled against his cheek. "Just asking."
Anxin tilted his head, smile widening just a fraction. Innocent. Open. Trusting.
"He's my best friend, isn't he?" Anxin continued. "We talk sometimes. I love him."
The words landed gently.
Something flickered in Sangwon's gaze unease, sharp and brief.
"You love him?" Sangwon repeated.
Anxin laughed, soft and airy. "Not like that. Don't be silly."
Then, quieter, warmer: "You know you're the one I belong to."
Belong.The word always worked.
Sangwon relaxed visibly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I just wanted to make sure."
Anxin nodded, eyes bright. "I tell you everything."
That was the lie.And both of them knew it just not in the same way.
Sangwon glanced off-screen, then back. "I won't be able to call much the next few days. Things are... hectic."
Anxin's smile didn't falter.
"That's okay," he said. "Enjoy yourself. I'll be here."
Waiting.
Sangwon studied him for a long moment, like he was trying to memorize the image.
"You're being really good," he said suddenly.
Anxin's lashes fluttered. "I always am."
"Don't stay out too long," Sangwon added. "And don't do anything stupid."
Anxin nodded obediently. "I won't."
They said their goodbyes. Sangwon hung up first.The screen went dark.
Anxin didn't move.
The smile stayed on his face for three full seconds..Then it slid away.Gone. Completely.His eyes hardened, something cold and bright settling behind them. He lowered the phone slowly, fingers tightening around it.
"...Good," he whispered to the empty hallway..
He turned, unlocking the door, stepping out into the evening air.
"Keep enjoying yourself, Wonie," Anxin murmured, voice soft as velvet, sharp as glass.
"I'll make sure everything is ready when you come back."
The door closed behind him with a quiet click.And somewhere far away, in a warm hotel room, Sangwon had no idea that the version of Anxin waiting for himwas no longer pretending to be harmless.
Twenty days.That was how long Sangwon had been away.
And nowhe was coming home.
The apartment buzzed with a quiet, almost electric excitement. Every surface gleamed unnaturally clean, like no one truly lived there anymore. The floors reflected light. The windows were spotless. Even the air smelled sharp and fresh, scrubbed raw.
Anxin had cleaned the apartment so many times he'd lost count.
Once.
Twice.
Ten times.
Twenty.
Each pass more meticulous than the last, like he was polishing a shrine rather than a home.Nothing was out of place. Nothing dared to be.
The cushions were aligned perfectly. The books on the shelf were ordered by height, then color. Sangwon's things his coat, his shoes, his favorite mug were placed exactly where Anxin knew Sangwon liked to see them. Evidence of ownership. Proof of belonging.
Anxin stood in the kitchen now, humming softly under his breath.
It was a gentle tune. Almost childish.
A song about sleep.About silence.
About never waking up again.
His voice was light, airy sweet enough to disguise the meaning.
He wore white.Not casual white. Not simple white.A long, flowing white outfit that clung softly to his frame, sleeves loose around his wrists, fabric catching the light every time he moved. It made him look ethereal. Innocent. Like something that shouldn't stain no matter what touched it.
His hair was neatly styled, falling just enough into his eyes to soften his features. His lips curved upward as he worked, dimples appearing whenever the song reached its gentler parts.
On the stove, meat sizzled quietly in the pan.
The sound was soothing. Familiar. Comforting.
Anxin moved carefully, almost reverently, turning it at just the right moment, seasoning it with practiced precision. He didn't rush. He never rushed when it came to Sangwon.
"This one has to be perfect," he murmured to himself, smile deepening.
After all...he had made a promise.
The table was already set behind him. Candles lined neatly down the center, unlit but ready. Sangwon's favorite plate. Sangwon's favorite cutlery. A glass already waiting.
Everything was prepared.
Somewhere far away, a plane touched down on Korean soil.
Sangwon had landed safely.
It would only take a little while longer before he'd be home.
Anxin checked the time, humming growing a touch louder, almost cheerful now. He imagined Sangwon walking through the door, the look on his face when he saw everything the cleanliness, the care, the devotion.
The surprise.
Anxin's smile widened, slow and deliberate.
"Welcome home, Wonie," he whispered to the empty kitchen, voice sweet enough to rot.
"I told you I had something special for you."
The meat crackled softly in the pan.
Anxin turned it once more, eyes shining with anticipation, the song on his lips drifting gently through the spotless apartment
A lullaby for the end of something
and the beginning of forever.
.
.
.
.
.
The door lock clicked softly.
That sound alone made Anxin's breath hitch.
He stood still in the kitchen for half a second too long, fingers tightening around the counter before he finally turned. His smile was already there perfect, practiced sliding effortlessly back onto his face as if it had never left.
The door opened.
Sangwon stepped inside.
He looked tired in the way successful men often did expensive coat draped over one arm, hair slightly messy from travel, the faint scent of unfamiliar air clinging to him.Overseas clung to him. Distance clung to him.
But he was here.Home.
Anxin moved first...
"Wonie," he breathed, voice warm and soft, like the word itself was a relief.
Sangwon looked up and for a moment, truly paused.The apartment looked... different.Too clean. Too polished. Too carefully arranged.
And Anxin..standing there in white, glowing under the warm lights, smiling like he'd been waiting in that exact spot for hours.
Sangwon's chest tightened with something that wasn't quite guilt and wasn't quite comfort.
"I'm back," he said, voice low, rough from travel.
Anxin crossed the space between them quickly but carefully, hands reaching out to smooth the creases in Sangwon's coat, fingers light, affectionate, reverent.
"You must be exhausted," Anxin said. "The flight was long, right? Come on go freshen up first. I'll finish everything."
Sangwon hummed in response, eyes lingering on Anxin's face longer than necessary.
"You didn't sleep, did you?" he asked, half-teasing, half-suspicious.
Anxin laughed softly, shaking his head.
"I slept," he lied easily. "I just wanted everything to be nice for you."
That word again.
Nice.
Sangwon reached out, cupping Anxin's cheek briefly, thumb brushing over the dimple that appeared without permission.
"You're too good to me," he said.
Anxin leaned into the touch instinctively, eyes lowering.
"I belong to you," he replied, like it was the simplest truth in the world.
Sangwon smiled at that.
He stepped past Anxin, rolling his shoulders as he moved deeper into the apartment, gaze sweeping over the space again. Everything was where it should be. Better than before. ..
Like no one else had existed here while he was gone.The bathroom door closed behind him.
The sound of running water followed.
Anxin stayed where he was, listening.The hum of the shower.The familiar rhythm of Sangwon's presence filling the apartment again.Slowly, Anxin's smile changed.
It didn't disappear.It sharpened.
He turned back toward the kitchen, returning to his place like nothing had happened, humming that same quiet tune under his breath as he adjusted the heat on the stove.
"Take your time, Wonie," he called gently over the sound of water.
"I've waited long enough."
The apartment glowed.
And everything was exactly where Anxin wanted it to be.