Chapter Text
Characters info:
Lee Sangwon (27) ...Married to Zhou Anxin. Together 7 years total (3 dating + 4 married).A Famous writer.
Zhou Anxin (24) ...Sangwon's husband. Works at a fashion designer company.
Kim Geonwoo (24) ... Anxin's best friend for 10 years. Very close, deep trust.A model.
Lee Leo (28) .... Senior at Anxin's workplace. A fashion designer who openly adores Anxin.
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Lee Sangwon was already famous before the book..but this one changed everything.
His novel, "Where the Light Doesn't Wait", told the story of two lovers who had spent five years growing into each other's lives, only for everything to collapse when the male lead chose to leave.
Not because he stopped loving...but because he was afraid of what staying would demand of him.
In the novel, Akin was the one who walked away.
And Rami was the one left behind.
There was no dramatic fight. No explosive confession.
Just a quiet betrayal...Akin falling for someone else while convincing himself that leaving alone would hurt less than staying dishonest.
The book lingered on Rami's grief: unanswered messages, untouched coffee mugs, the slow realization that love doesn't disappear just because someone chooses to go.
It was cruel in its restraint.
And devastating in its honesty.
When Where the Light Doesn't Wait was published, it exploded across Korea.
Critics praised Sangwon's "surgical understanding of abandonment."
Readers called it too real, unbearable, haunting. Interviews flooded in, all asking the same question:
"How could you write something this painful?"
Sangwon always smiled calmly and answered,
"Because people leave more often than they stay."
At home, lee Anxin finished the book with red..rimmed eyes and a tight chest.
He closed it harder than necessary and turned toward Sangwon, who was typing quietly at his desk like none of it had touched him.
"Why would you write something so cruel?" Anxin complained, voice trembling despite himself. "I don't understand you at all."
Sangwon glanced over his shoulder. "Cruel?"
"Yes," Anxin said immediately. "Rami didn't deserve that. Five years, Sangwon. Five years, and Akin just..
" He swallowed. "He cheated and left like it meant nothing."
Sangwon's fingers paused above the keyboard.
Anxin hugged the book to his chest, visibly upset. "I felt sick reading it. I kept hoping Akin would come back. That he'd at least explain. But noRami just had to live with it."
He looked at Sangwon, eyes searching. "How could you write something so heartless?"
For a moment, Sangwon didn't answer.
Then he turned back to the screen and said softly, "Because that's how it happens sometimes."
Anxin frowned, unsatisfied. "You're awful," he muttered, though there was no real anger in it. "I hate Akin. I really do."
Sangwon said nothing.
The next morning was unremarkable in the way that made it precious.Anxin moved around the kitchen on light steps, hair still a little messy, sleeves of his shirt pushed up as he checked the pan.
Sangwon sat at the table with his laptop open, fingers moving steadily as he worked on a new script...eyes focused, expression distant but calm.
"Did you eat?" Anxin asked, peering over like a worried cat, sharp eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"I will," Sangwon replied without looking up.
Anxin clicked his tongue softly. "You always say that."
He set the plate down anyway, nudging it closer to Sangwon's elbow before grabbing his bag. At the door, Anxin hesitated, then walked back, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to Sangwon's cheek.
"Don't skip meals," he said seriously.
Sangwon finally looked up. "You worry too much."
Anxin smiled...small, pleased...and just like that, he was gone.
The apartment fell quiet again.
Only the sound of typing remained.
At the FKD company,
Anxin's presence brightened the floor almost instantly. His sharp eyes, soft features, and habitual head tilts gav...him an unmistakably cat-like air alert, expressive, and impossible to ignore.
When he concentrated, his lips pursed slightly. When annoyed, his eyes narrowed. When praised, his ears practically flattened with embarrassment.
"Anxin~" a coworker sang teasingly, rolling their chair closer. "I saw your husband on TV again last night."
Anxin groaned. "Please don't start."
"How does it feel," another added,
"being married to Lee Sangwon? Famous novelist, bestselling author, devastatingly handsome?"
Anxin's cheeks flushed pink. "He's just... Sangwon at home."
"That's worse," someone laughed. "That makes it unfair.
From across the room, Lee Leo watched quietly.
Leo was already at his desk, sketches spread neatly before him, sleeves rolled up with effortless confidence. When Anxin passed by, Leo looked up and smiled.
"Good morning," he said warmly.
"You look tired."
Anxin blinked, then shrugged. "I stayed up reading."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Your husband's book?"
"...Yeah."
Leo didn't push. He never did. Instead, he handed Anxin a folder.
"We'll review this together later. Don't worry, I'll explain everything."
Anxin smiled in relief. "Thank you, senior."
Leo watched him walk away, tail....no, coat hem...almost flicking with every step. Leo's smile lingered longer than necessary...
Sangwon noticed the message an hour after Anxin left.
Geonwoo:
Hyung... I think I messed up.
Anxin isn't replying to me.
Sangwon leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. That wasn't unusual...Anxin sulked like a professional when he felt wronged.another message came almost immediately.
Geonwoo:
He didn't even read my last text.
Can you convince my kitten to forgive me?
Please, Sangwon hyungie.
Sangwon sighed, but there was a fond curve to his lips as he typed back.
Sangwon:
You forgot your hangout again, didn't you?
Geonwoo:
...Maybe.
Sangwon shook his head, amused.
I'll talk to him, he replied. But you deserve the cold shoulder this time.
In the evening, Anxin came..mhome noticeably quieter.
He dropped his bag by the door, kicked off his shoes harder than necessary, and walked str
aight past Sangwon without a word. His movements were sharp, precise...tail flicking, ears metaphorically flat.
Sangwon looked up from the couch.
"...You're mad."
Anxin didn't answer.
He changed, washed his hands, sat on the opposite end of the couch with his arms crossed and lips pushed into the most exaggerated pout Sangwon had ever seen.
Sangwon bit the inside of his cheek.
Cute. Dangerously cute.
"Geonwoo texted me," Sangwon said carefully.
Anxin's eyes snapped toward him. "Of course he did.
"He said he was sorry."
"He forgot," Anxin snapped. "Again. He promised. I waited."
Sangwon smiled gently. "I know. But you've been friends for ten years. You can't just ignore him forever."
Anxin stared at him like he'd been betrayed.
"...Why are you taking his side?"
"I'm not..."
"He did wrong!" Anxin insisted. "How can he forget about his best friend? How am I supposed to just forgive him like nothing happened?"
Sangwon didn't answer.He just leaned closer.
Anxin frowned. "What are you...."
Sangwon kissed him.Right on the pout.
Soft. Brief. Gone before Anxin could react.
"Hey..." Anxin protested, but Sangwon did it again.
And again.
Each kiss landed exactly where Anxin was sulking the hardest, until his protests turned into muffled laughter.
"Stop..." Anxin laughed, pushing weakly at Sangwon's chest. "You're not taking this seriously!"
"I am," Sangwon murmured, kissing him once more. "Very seriously."
Anxin finally broke, laughter spilling out as his shoulders relaxed. "You're impossible."
Sangwon smiled against his lips. "And you're adorable when you're angry."
Anxin huffed, but leaned in anyway, forehead resting against Sangwon's.
"...I'll forgive him," he muttered. "Eventually."
Sangwon wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close.
Anxin said he'd forgive him.That didn't mean he stopped ignoring him.
Geonwoo found that out the hard way.
By The next day, Sangwon had received six messages.
Geonwoo:
Hyung, he still won't reply.
Geonwoo:
I said sorry.
Geonwoo:
I even sent stickers.
Geonwoo:
The crying ones.
Geonwoo:
Why is your husband still mad??
Sangwon rubbed his forehead.
Because you hurt his feelings, he typed. And because he's dramatic.
Geonwoo:
Then help me.
Please.
After a moment, SangwonAnswee
Sangwon:
I'll take him out tonight. You come too.
The reply was instant.
Geonwoo:
I owe you my life.
Anxin didn't question the "date" when Sangwon mentioned it...just narrowed his eyes suspiciously, like a cat sensing a trap.
When they arrived and Anxin spotted Kim Geonwoo already there, his pout deepened instantly.
His lips pushed forward, eyes sharpening as he turned slowly to stare at Sangwon.
The look clearly said:
You did something bad.
Sangwon raised his hands defensively. "Hear him out."
Geonwoo, meanwhile, had frozen.
Because Anxin....arms crossed, cheeks puffed, eyes blazing..looked exactly like an angry orange cat, and Geonwoo nearly lost his resolve on the spot.
"...Wow," Geonwoo muttered. "You're really mad."
Anxin turned away. "I don't talk to unreliable people."
"Ouch," Geonwoo said, genuinely wounded. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I'm sorry. Really. I didn't forget because I didn't care. I forgot because I'm stupid."
Anxin flicked his gaze toward him. "...You are stupid."
Geonwoo nodded immediately. "I am. Completely."
Sangwon hid a smile.
Geonwoo bent slightly to meet Anxin's eye level. "I'll make it up to you. I swear. No excuses."
Silence stretched.
Then Anxin sighed. "...Don't do it again."
Geonwoo's face lit up. "So you forgive me?"
"...Maybe."
That was enough.
By the time food arrived, Anxin was laughing again...soft, unguarded laughter, his left cheek dimpling deeply every time he smiled.
Geonwoo noticed it instantly.
"There," he said, reaching out and pinching Anxin's cheek. "That dimple..."
"Hey!" Anxin protested.
Sangwon joined in without thinking, pinching the other cheek. "It shows when you laugh like that."
Anxin squirmed, cheeks squashed between their fingers. "Stop! Both of you!"
When they finally let go, Anxin glared...mcheeks red, eyes bright.
"You're both awful."
But he was smiling.
Geonwoo laughed and draped an arm casually around Anxin's shoulders, leaning close as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Too natural.
Sangwon noticed.
He noticed the way Geonwoo's hand lingered.
The way Anxin didn't pull away.
The ease. The familiarity. The ten years between them moving without effort.
Nothing was wrong.nothing crossed a line.
Still...Sangwon watched every bit of it.and the warmth in his chest felt... uneven...
At night, the apartment was quiet again.Anxin lay half-curled on the couch, scrolling lazily through his phone, hair still slightly damp from his shower.
Sangwon sat nearby, notebook abandoned, gaze fixed on nothing in particular.The question came suddenly.
"Anxin," Sangwon said, voice casual too casual. "What do you think of Geonwoo?"
Anxin blinked and looked up. "What?"
"What kind of person is he... to you."
Anxin frowned, then shrugged. "My
best friend. Obviously."
Sangwon nodded slowly. Then, after a pause that stretched just a second too long, he asked again....quieter this time.
"If you didn't have me... would you be with him?"
Anxin stared at him.
"What kind of question is that?" he laughed, sitting up. "Are you jealous?"
Sangwon didn't answer.
Anxin's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well... maybe," he said lightly. "Why not? Geonwoo's handsome. He knows me well. We've been together...uh, friends....for ten years."
The air shifted.
Sangwon's jaw tightened.
"...Anxin."
"What?" Anxin teased, leaning closer. "You asked."
Sangwon stood suddenly, closing the distance between them in two strides. His hands framed Anxin's face, thumbs brushing over those cheeks that had been pinched earlier.
"You shouldn't say things like that," Sangwon murmured.
Anxin swallowed, heartbeat picking up. "Why?"
"Because," Sangwon said, leaning in, voice low and possessive, "you're mine."
Anxin laughed nervously...but it died quickly as Sangwon kissed him, deep and demanding, leaving no room for jokes. The teasing was gone now, replaced by something heated, something intense.
"Jealousy doesn't suit you baby," Anxin whispered breathlessly.
Sangwon smiled against his lips. "Then don't provoke it."
He guided Anxin toward the bedroom, kisses trailing, words dissolving into quiet gasps and laughter that softened into sighs.
The door closed behind them, shutting out the world...and the questions.Later, wrapped in warmth and silence, Anxin rested against Sangwon's chest, fingers tracing idle patterns.
"...You're scary when you're jealous," Anxin muttered sleepily.
Sangwon kissed his forehead.
"Good," he replied softly.
.........
The next morning, Anxin realized two things very quickly.
¹.Sangwon had absolutely no shame.
². walking was suddenly a conscious effort.
He moved carefully out of bed, wincing just slightly, then glared back at his peacefully sleeping husband.
"...Unbelievable," he muttered.
At Work Anxin was doing his best to act normal....keyword. best.
He walked slower than usual, steps shorter, posture stiff.
Anyone who knew him well could tell something was off. And unfortunately for Anxin, Lee Leo knew him well
enough.
"Anxin."
Leo's voice stopped him mid-step.
Anxin turned, face neutral. "Yes, senior?"
Leo's eyes flicked down briefly, then back up. "You're limping."
Anxin froze.
"I...what? No, I'm not."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "You are."
"I just..." Anxin waved his hand vaguely. "Slept wrong."
Leo studied him for a moment longer, then sighed softly. "You're terrible at lying."
Anxin's ears..if he had them...would have flattened. His lips pressed into a small pout without permission.
From a nearby desk,
someone snickered. "Did your famous writer husband keep you up again?"
Anxin's face turned bright red. "Stop talking!"
Laughter rippled through the room.
Leo cleared his throat, effectively ending it. "Sit down," he said gently.
"I'll bring the samples to you today."
Anxin hesitated. "...You don't have to."
"I know," Leo replied. "I want to."
Anxin nodded, murmuring a small thank-you as he eased into his chair, carefully.
Leo walked away, but not before glancing back....just once.
Later, as Leo leaned over Anxin's desk to explain a design change, Anxin caught his reflection in the glass. Focused. Calm. Safe.
"Your husband's book is everywhere,"
Leo said casually. "People keep asking if you're the inspiration."
Anxin laughed softly. "I hope not."
Leo smiled. "He's lucky."
Anxin's fingers tightened slightly around his pen.
Across the city, Sangwon was already writing again.And in Anxin's quiet office, surrounded by fabric and sketches, affection and jealousy lingered on his skin....unseen, but impossible to forget.
........
After that, everything settled.
Time began to move naturally again, like a river finding its familiar path.
Sangwon threw himself into his work, words flowing effortlessly.
One manuscript turned into two, then three. Soon, news broke that one of his novels was being adapted into a television series, followed by talks of another being picked up. Interviews resumed, invitations stacked up, and his name stayed firmly at the top of bestseller lists.
At home, he remained the same..quiet, attentive, kissing Anxin's forehead absentmindedly while reading scripts, reminding him to eat even when Anxin pretended not to hear.
Anxin, meanwhile, was thriving at work.He walked with confidence through the studio now, sketches tucked under his arm, opinions sharper, ideas clearer. Leo remained beside himnot hovering, not pushing..just there, steady and reliable.
Anxin was grateful for that.
"Thank you, senior," he said one evening after Leo stayed late to help him finish a design.
"I don't think I could've handled this project alone."
Leo smiled softly. "You could've. But you didn't have to."
Anxin didn't realize how much those words meant to him until later.
At home, Sangwon listened as Anxin talked about his day, about Leo's guidance, and nodded sincerely., Sangwon said. "You deserve support."
And he meant it.
As for Kim Geonwoo..he remained a constant noise in Anxin's life.
Loud. Annoying. Impossible to ignore.
They bickered over the smallest things....late replies, stolen snacks, forgotten plans.
Arguments escalated dramatically and ended just as suddenly, usually with Geonwoo pulling Anxin into a hug while Anxin complained the entire time.
'Get off me.'
'No.'
'You're heavy.'
'Too bad.'
Anxin never pushed him away for long.
Sometimes Sangwon watched them from the side...Geonwoo's arm slung around Anxin's shoulders, Anxin leaning in without thinking....and felt nothing more than mild amusement.
They were like that. Always had been.
Life felt full. Balanced. Secure.
And if there were moments...brief, fleeting ones...where Sangwon's eyes lingered too long, or where Geonwoo's laughter softened when Anxin smiled, they passed unnoticed.
Everything was good.
Too good.
......
The first storm came quietly.
Anxin mentioned it over dinner, like it was nothing.
"I have to go away for two weeks," he said, poking at his food. "The company got a new project...clothes and jewelry together. We'll be working on-site."
Sangwon froze.
"...Two weeks?"
Anxin nodded, too busy talking to notice. "It's a big opportunity. Leo said"
Leo.
The name landed wrong in Sangwon's chest.
"This is the first time," Sangwon said slowly, "that you'll be away that long."
Anxin finally looked up. "It's just two weeks."
Sangwon forced a smile. "Right."
But , he couldn't sleep.
The days before Anxin left were filled with preparations..packing, calls, excitement. Anxin talked endlessly about designs, materials, ideas.
And Leo.
"Leo said this concept might work better."
"Leo thinks the color balance needs adjustment."
"Leo already handled the client meeting."
Sangwon listened. Smiled. Nodded.
And hated every second of it.
He wished...irrationally, unfairly..that he had never heard the name Lee Leo.
Never met the senior who occupied so much of Anxin's daily life. The man who seemed to exist everywhere Sangwon wasn't.
When Sangwon finally met Leo properly, the unease turned sharp.
Leo was polite. Calm. Confident. His smile was warm...but his eyes lingered.
Sangwon saw it immediately.
That look wasn't just admiration for a talented junior. It was familiarity. Interest. Care edged with something dangerous.
It was the same look Sangwon himself wore when he watched Anxin laugh.
And suddenly, Sangwon felt small.
"You don't need to stay so close to him," Sangwon said one evening, unable to hold it in any longer.
Anxin stopped packing. "What?"
"You're always with him. Talking about him. Relying on him."
"He's my senior," Anxin snapped. "And he's helping me."
"Helping you or..."
"Don't," Anxin cut in sharply. "Don't do this."
Sangwon's voice rose despite himself. "I'm your husband. I should be the one you lean on."
Anxin laughed...but it broke halfway through. "You're being ridiculous."
"Am I?" Sangwon asked. "The way he looks at you..."
That was it.
Anxin slammed the zipper shut. "So now you're accusing me again?"
"I'm saying he wants you."
"And what if he does?" Anxin shouted
. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
Silence crashed between them.
Anxin's eyes filled, tears spilling over despite his effort to hold them back.
"Why can't you trust me?"
Sangwon opened his mouth..then closed it.
Because the truth was ugly.
Because this wasn't about Anxin.
It was about fear.
Anxin wiped his face angrily. "I'm not yours to cage," he said, voice shaking.
"I chose you. I married you. Why isn't that enough?"
Sangwon felt it then----the full weight of his words, his jealousy, his insecurity.
"I'm sorry," he said hoarsely. "I didn't mean to.."
But the damage was already done.
Anxin turned away, shoulders trembling. "I need air."
The door closed softly behind him.
Sangwon sank onto the bed, head in his hands.
And , Sangwon felt it clearly...
He had hurt the person he loved most.
And as Anxin prepared to leave for two weeks, crying alone in the hallway, Sangwon realized something terrifying:
Love, when mixed with fear, could become something cruel.
And this time, he had no one to blame but himself.......
The first two days without Anxin were unbearable for Sangwon.
Anxin ignored him completely. Not a single reply to messages, not a call returned
He knew he deserved it. Every word he had said during their fight replayed in his mind like a broken record.
But still... he couldn't help himself.
Day 1:
{Anxin... please. I'm sorry.}
{Day 2:
I was a jerk. I didn't mean it. I miss you.}
Every message went unanswered.
By the third day, Sangwon's fingers hovered over the screen, determination mixed with desperation. He typed, paused, then sent:
{If you don't answer me, I'm coming over. You don't have to do your work. I just... need to see you.}
Almost immediately, his phone buzzed.
It was a call from Anxin.
Sangwon's heart jumped.
"Hello?" Anxin's voice was soft, hesitant.
"love," Sangwon whispered. "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. I just.."
"I know," Anxin interrupted gently, "I overreacted too. I shouldn't have shut you out completely."
There was a pause, the kind that held all the words they didn't know how to say out loud.
"I love you," Sangwon said finally, voice low but firm.
"I love you too," Anxin replied, almost immediately, voice trembling a little.
And just like that, the tension began to melt.
They stayed on the phone for hours, talking softly, apologizing, recounting little misunderstandings, and reminding each other why they had chosen each other in the first place.
By the end of the call, both were smiling..even through tears..and Sangwon could hear Anxin's quiet laugh over the line, punctuated by the little sighs of relief that came with reconciling.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't easy.
And Sangwon promised himself quietly, as he listened to Anxin's voice:
He would never let jealousy or insecurity push them apart like that again.
.......
Sangwon was waiting for him at the door, but instead of his usual calm, controlled smile, there was something softer in his eyes..warmer, gentler. He stepped forward and pulled Anxin into a slow embrace.
"You're home," Sangwon whispered, resting his chin lightly on Anxin's shoulder. "I've missed you more than I realized."
Anxin relaxed against him, taking in the subtle but unmistakable change. The tense rigidity that sometimes lingered in Sangwon's shoulders was gone. His touch was lighter, more deliberate, as if he wanted remember every detail of Anxin after being apart.
Days had passed since Anxin returned from his work trip, and life had slowly settled back into its rhythm.
Anxin noticed the little changes first. Sangwon made him breakfast without being asked. He left gentle notes by the bathroom mirror:
"Don't forget to eat," "Take care of yourself today." Even the way he touched Anxin..an idle brush of a hand along the back, a lingering hug in the hallway...carried more warmth, more deliberate affection than before.
It wasn't overwhelming.
It wasn't showy. But it was constant. Quiet. Careful. Intentional.
One evening, as Anxin sat at the couch with a sketchpad, Sangwon came up behind him and rested his chin on his shoulder.
"You've been working hard," he murmured.
His breath was warm against Anxin's ear, and his arms tightened just slightly. "You should take a break."
Anxin smiled, leaning back against him. "You're acting different," he said softly, tracing the line of Sangwon's jaw. "More... gentle. Loving."
Sangwon let out a low chuckle. "I'm realizing how much I almost lost. I don't want to make the same mistakes again."
The following night, when they were alone, the difference became impossible to ignore.
Sangwon moved with an exquisite tenderness, treating Anxin like he was something rare, something precious, every kiss slow, every touch careful. Usually, his love was soft-spoken, measured, almost casual...
but now, it carried a weight, a depth, a silent intensity that made Anxin's chest tighten in the most delicious way.
And when Sangwon's gaze hardened ever so slightly...cold, sharp, almost intimidating...Anxin shivered, knowing that look was only for him.
It wasn't anger; it wasn't harshness. It was protection, desire, and ownership all wrapped together.
"You're mine," Sangwon whispered between kisses. "And I'll never let you go again."
Anxin's fingers tangled in Sangwon's hair. "I love it... every part of it. I love every bit of you."
Anxincurled in Sangwon's arms, Anxin could feel the difference even in the small moments: the way Sangwon's hand lingered on his shoulder, the gentle pressure of a thumb brushing his cheek, the warmth of his body pressed against him.
It was steady, grounding, a kind of intimacy Anxin had always craved but never known could feel so secure.
"You're... amazing," Anxin murmured, tracing the line of Sangwon's collarbone with his fingers.
Sangwon smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from Anxin's face.
"You are. And I'm lucky... to have you, to hold you, to love you. All of you."
Anxin pressed closer, letting himself sink into the warmth, the safety, the love.
He had always known Sangwon could be soft, but he now understood how powerful that softness could be when it carried the weight of regret, desire, and devotion all at once.
For Anxin, every moment with him was intoxicating. Every word, every look, every lingering touch reminded him that Sangwon wasn't just his husband..he was his protector, his lover, his anchor.
And Sangwon, watching Anxin relax completely into his arms, smiled quietly to himself. He would never take this for granted again.( Liar)
.........
Peace didn't last long.
It started with a small post.
Anxin had uploaded a picture at the office, smiling with his team.
Leo was there, two hands resting gently on Anxin's shoulders.
The picture was harmless. Innocent.
But to Sangwon, it was something else.
He stared at his phone longer than he should have.
His chest tightened.
His mind raced.
He felt that old familiar ache..the one he thought he had conquered.
Later that evening, Sangwon didn't hide his feelings.
"Why is he always touching you like that?" he asked, voice low but sharp.
Anxin froze. "What do you mean?"
"This picture," Sangwon said, showing the post. "He's... too close. You're smiling at him like you do at me."
Anxin blinked, then laughed nervously. "It's just a team photo.
Sangwon, he's helping us with the designs. It's nothing."
"Nothing?" Sangwon's voice rose. "You don't see how it looks to me?"
"I don't care how it looks to you!" Anxin snapped. "Why do you keep suspecting me? I'm your husband!"
Sangwon ran a hand through his hair. "I... I can't help it. I see him with you and..."
"See him with me?" Anxin's voice cracked. "Why do you keep suspending me in your mind? I know you're a writer, Sangwon, but why would you think your husband would cheat on you?"
Sangwon opened his mouth, but Anxin didn't wait for an answer.
"You always assume the worst! You make everything a story in your head! And it's not fair!"
The argument heated quickly. Words spilled over, loud, jagged, filled with frustration and hurt.
"You think I don't trust you?" Sangwon shouted. "You don't understand what it's like to.."
"I am your husband!" Anxin yelled back. "I don't need to be protected from everyone! Especially not from someone I work with!"
Sangwon's fingers tightened on his phone. "I can't help it! Every time I see him near you, I feel..."
"Feel what?" Anxin's voice shook. "Jealous? Afraid? But you make me feel like I'm the guilty one!"
Sangwon's chest ached, but the words had already broken something fragile.
Anxin's eyes welled with tears. "I can't do this," he whispered.
Before Sangwon could react, Anxin grabbed his bag.
"I need space," he said, voice trembling.
And he left the apartment.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Sangwon sank onto the couch, phone slipping from his hands.
The apartment felt empty.
And Sangwon realized just how badly he had hurt the person he loved most.
The calm, the peace, the quiet love... it was gone.For now.
......
Anxin's hands trembled as he knocked on Geonwoo's door.
When the door opened, Geonwoo froze.
Anxin was a mess. Hair falling into his eyes, cheeks wet from crying, clothes slightly wrinkled from the rush of leaving.Without thinking, Geonwoo pulled him into a hug.
"You... you look terrible," he murmured, holding him close. "It's okay, I've got you."
Anxin buried his face against Geonwoo's shoulder, shivering.
He muttered, muffled, "He... he always thought I was cheating. Why can't he understand? He was my first love... I love him... only him."
Geonwoo's arms tightened around him instinctively. "I know," he said softly. "I know you do. You didn't do anything wrong."
Anxin pulled back slightly, voice shaking. "I... I couldn't take it anymore. I had to get out."
Geonwoo noticed something and asked, "Your phone?"
"I forgot it," Anxin admitted, voice breaking. "I didn't even think. I just... had to leave."
Geonwoo exhaled, pressing a hand gently against Anxin's back. "It's okay. You don't need it right now. You need to breathe, to let it out."
Anxin's arms went around himself, shivering against Geonwoo's chest. "I can't believe he'd think that about me... Sangwon... he's supposed to
know me. I'm his husband."
"You are," Geonwoo said firmly. "And that's all that matters. You didn't do anything wrong. He's just... scared, jealous, protective. It doesn't make it right, but you're safe. You're not guilty."
Anxin let out a shaky laugh, hiding his face against Geonwoo again. "You always... always know how to make me feel better."
Geonwoo hugged him tighter. "That's what friends are for. And tonight, I've got you. No one else matters right now."
Anxin buried himself into the hug, feeling a little of the weight lift from his chest. The tears slowed, but didn't stop, and for the first time since leaving the apartment, he felt some relief.
"I... I don't know what I'd do without you," Anxin whispered.
"You'll never have to find out,"
Geonwoo replied softly. "I'm right here. Always."
......
Sangwon sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the empty space where Anxin had been moments ago.Then it hit him.
Anxin's mobile.It was on the table..
He had left it behind.
Panic surged. His chest tightened, heart racing. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the apartment.
He couldn't call him. He couldn't text him. He couldn't reach him in any normal way.
All Sangwon could do was think.
Where would Anxin go?There was only one place.
Geonwoo.
Without a second thought, Sangwon grabbed his phone and typed a message, fingers trembling slightly.
Geonwoo... Anxin is at your place, isn't he?
Almost immediately, Geonwoo replied:
Yeah. He came by... he needed to get out. He's okay, just crying a bit, but he's safe.
Sangwon exhaled shakily, relief mixing with frustration.
{Let me come to you. I need to see him.}
Geonwoo's reply was firm, but understanding.
{He's upset. Give him a little space first. But I'll tell him you want to see him.}
Sangwon ran a hand over his face, muttering to himself. "I deserve this... but I can't... I can't just wait."
He started pacing, trying to calm himself. Every second without Anxin felt like an eternity.Finally, he typed again.
{I'll come. I promise I won't make it worse. I just... need to see him.
Geonwoo didn't respond immediately, but Sangwon knew it was okay.}
Geonwoo would handle it. And , Sangwon knew Anxin wouldn't go anywhere but Geonwoo right now.
His heart ached.
Every thought of Anxin's tear-streaked face, his messy hair, the way he had buried his face into Geonwoo's shoulder
..every detail made Sangwon feel like a fool.
He had hurt him. He had let jealousy and fear override trust.
And now, Sangwon would do anything to make it right.
.....
By the time Sangwon arrived at Geonwoo's apartment, Anxin was sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, still tear-streaked but calmer.
Geonwoo opened the door before Sangwon could knock.
"Hyung... I didn't think you'd come," Geonwoo said quietly, voice low. "I thought...
Sangwon's eyes didn't leave the couch. "I have to see him," he said softly but firmly. "I can't leave things like this."
Sangwon walked slowly toward Anxin, each step careful, deliberate. When Anxin looked up and met his gaze, something in the apartment seemed to shift.
Anxin's chest tightened. He didn't say anything at first. Then, as if finally making a decision, he stood.
"I... I'm going home," he said softly.
Geonwoo froze. "Wait... really? You're going with him?"
... I thought you wouldn't go with him right now."
Anxin didn't answer. He just turned slightly, giving Geonwoo a look before walking toward Sangwon.
Geonwoo's heart started to race. That look... it was something broken, betrayed, and something else he couldn't describe. A mix of hurt and longing, vulnerability and trust, all in a single glance.
Geonwoo's voice caught. "Anxin..."
Anxin's eyes flicked briefly to him.
Sangwon reached out, gently taking Anxin's hand. "Let's go home," he murmured. His voice was soft, but his gaze held an intensity that made everything else fade away.
Geonwoo stepped back silently, watching them. He hadn't expected this. Just a few minutes ago, Anxin had seemed okay...calm, even laughing lightly as they talked.
But suddenly... everything changed.
Anxin's tears were gone, replaced by a steady, trembling determination. He let Sangwon guide him to the door, his fingers tightening around Sangwon's hand.
That brief look to Geonwoo lingered in his mind. It was raw, full of emotion, impossible to forget, and it left his chest aching in a way he didn't understand.
Sangwon and Anxin walked past him, leaving the apartment, and Geonwoo remained frozen, heart still pounding, trying to process the weight of what he had just seen.
Anxin had been okay just minutes ago... but now....
When Sangwon and Anxin returned to their apartment, the air was heavy with silence.
Anxin didn't bring up the argument. He didn't mention what had happened at Geonwoo's place.
He simply walked past the living room and, once inside the bedroom,
asked softly, "Hyung... have you visited Geonwoo's apartment recently?"
Sangwon blinked, caught off guard. "No," he answered . "Why?"
Anxin stared at him for a moment, his eyes searching Sangwon's face, as if trying to read something unspoken
.
But then he said nothing else.
He quietly lay down on the bed, curling himself up under the blanket and covering his face.
Sangwon watched him, chest tightening. Maybe he was upset. Maybe he was still frustrated after their argument.
He didn't know.
He didn't know that beneath the blanket, Anxin was crying silently, holding back the full weight of his emotions.
He didn't know that a part of Anxin's mind kept replaying what he had seen at Geonwoo's apartment... a detail that now made him uneasy, confused, and hurt.
Sangwon reached out tentatively, placing a hand on Anxin's shoulder. "Anxin... are you upset?" he asked softly.
Anxin flinched slightly but didn't answer. He stayed curled up, hiding his face and the trembling of his body.
Sangwon started to notice it.Anxin had become cold.Not cruel.Not angry.just distant.
He no longer laughed at Sangwon's jokes. When Sangwon tried to hug him from behind, Anxin would gently step away. When Sangwon reached for his hand, Anxin's fingers would slip free as if by accident.
At first, Sangwon told himself it was because of the book.The ending.The sadness.So he decided to fix it.
Even though the novel had been published long ago, Sangwon opened a new document and started writing again. He rewrote the ending carefully, deliberately.This time, Akin didn't repeat his mistakes.
This time, he chose Rami.This time, love was enough.He made them stay together.He made them happy.
Sangwon worked late into the night, convinced that once Anxin read it, everything would go back to normal.
But it didn't.
Anxin thanked him politely. He smiled. He said the ending was nice.
And then... nothing changed.
There were no arguments between them. No raised voices. No slammed doors.
They still lived under the same roof. Ate at the same table. Slept in the same bed.
Yet Sangwon felt it clearly.
His husband was drifting away.
The silence between them wasn't loud..it was suffocating.That's when the insecurity started creeping in.
Slow at first. Then relentless.
Is Anxin having an affair?
The thought made Sangwon's chest tighten.
Is it Leo?
The way he looked at Anxin... the way Anxin talked about him before...
Or Geonwoo?
No. That couldn't be it. They were just friends. Best friends.Right?
Or was there someone else?
Someone Sangwon didn't know about.
The thoughts circled endlessly, poisoning every quiet moment, every unanswered glance.
Sangwon dragged a hand through his hair, breath uneven.
"Fuck..." he muttered to himself.
He was going crazy.
It got worse the night Anxin came home like that.
His clothes were messy, wrinkled like he'd slept in them. His hair was a disaster, strands falling into his face. His eyes were red, swollen..he had been crying, badly.
And then Sangwon saw it.
MARks.
Dark, unmistakable hickeys scattered along Anxin's neck. Two... maybe three.
Something inside Sangwon snapped.
All the distance.All the silence.All the coldness.And now this.
What the fuck does he think he's doing?
Anxin didn't even look at him properly. He walked straight past the living room, heading toward the bedroom like nothing mattered
anymore.
"ANXIN."
He didn't stop.
"ANXIN!" Sangwon grabbed his wrist, spinning him around.
"What is this?" Sangwon demanded, voice shaking as he stared at Anxin's neck. "Explain it."
Anxin said nothing.That silence...again...pushed Sangwon over the edge.
Before he could think, his hand moved.The sound echoed in the room.
Anxin stumbled back, a sharp breath leaving him, his face turning to the side from the impact. But he didn't cry out.
He didn't shout.He didn't fight back.
He just looked at Sangwon.
Tears pooled in his eyes, slipping down silently, but his expression stayed eerily calm.That look made Sangwon's chest burn.
"You think you can do this?" Sangwon snapped, anger spilling over. "You think you can humiliate me like this?"
Still no answer.
Sangwon laughed bitterly. "You're mine. Do you hear me? Mine."
His voice was harsh now, cruel.
"You don't get to come home wearing someone else's marks. You don't get to look at me like I'm nothing."
Anxin's lips trembled, but he still didn't speak.
He just kept staring at Sangwon, eyes wet, unreadable, as if he were seeing something clearly for the first time.
That silence...so calm, so broken...made Sangwon's rage falter for just a second.
But the damage was already done.
The slap hung between them.
And Anxin, standing there with tears on his cheeks, said nothing at all.Silence
Anxin finally broke the silence.
Just four words..
"I went to sleep."
That was all.
Then he turned, taking a step toward the bedroom like the conversation was over, like Sangwon wasn't standing there shaking with rage.
Something inside Sangwon snapped completely.
"Sleep?" he laughed harshly. "You think I'm that stupid?"
He grabbed Anxin's arm, yanking him back. "Look at me when I'm talking to you."
Anxin didn't resist.He didn't fight.He didn't explain.That calm... that quiet obedience only made Sangwon angrier.
"Who was it?" Sangwon demanded. "Tell me. Was it Leo? Was it Geonwoo? Or someone else you're too ashamed to say out loud?"
Anxin's eyes lifted slowly, glassy and unfocused, but his lips stayed sealed.
Sangwon's hands moved to his face, gripping Anxin's cheeks hard, fingers digging in without mercy.
"Say something," he growled. "Say something!"
Anxin winced, a soft sound escaping his throat, but still... no words.
The pressure increased.At the corner of Anxin's lips, a thin red line appeared.
Blood.
Sangwon froze for half a second when he saw it..but his grip didn't loosen.
Anxin's eyes filled completely now, tears spilling over silently. His breathing grew uneven, shallow, like his body was struggling to keep up.
"Sangwon..." he whispered faintly, barely audible.
Then his knees buckled.The strength left him all at once.Anxin collapsed forward, his weight falling against Sangwon's chest.For a moment, Sangwon didn't understand what had happened.
"ANXIN?" he said sharply, instinctively catching him. "Anxin...hey."
No response.
Anxin's body went limp in his arms, head resting against Sangwon's shoulder, breath shallow and weak.
The anger drained instantly, replaced by something cold and terrifying.
"Anxin?" Sangwon said again, voice cracking now, panic creeping in. He held his face, seeing the tear tracks, the faint blood, the unconsciousness.
His chest tightened painfully.
"What... what did I do?" he whispered.
But Anxin didn't answer.
He lay unconscious against Sangwon's chest, silent, fragile, and unmoving.
Sangwon didn't call a doctor.
Instead, his shaking fingers dialed a number he knew by heart.
Geonwoo.
The call connected almost immediately.
"He fainted," Sangwon said before Geonwoo could even speak. His voice was tight, uneven. "Anxin fainted."
There was a pause on the other end.
"What did you do?" Geonwoo asked quietly.
"Just come," Sangwon snapped. "Now."
He ended the call without waiting for an answer.
Sangwon carried Anxin to their bedroom, his body lighter than Sangwon remembered, too light, like something fragile that could break if held wrong. He laid him carefully on the bed, brushing damp hair away from his forehead.
Anxin didn't stir.
His breathing was shallow, lashes resting against pale cheeks, tear tracks still visible.
Sangwon swallowed hard.
With trembling hands, he began changing Anxin's clothes, movements hurried, restless. Not gentle. Not loving. Desperate. His eyes scanned every inch, searching for proof of something he didn't even want to name.
Nothing.No signs of intimacy. No warmth lingering. No evidence that Anxin had been with anyone.
Sangwon exhaled sharply, relief crashing through him so hard his knees almost gave out.
"He didn't," Sangwon whispered to himself. "He didn't betray me."
But then his eyes drifted back to Anxin's neck.
The marks were still there.
Dark.Unmistakable.
His relief twisted instantly into confusion, then anger, then fear.
"If not..." Sangwon murmured, fingers hovering but not touching, "...then who?"
The doorbell rang.Sangwon flinched like he'd been caught doing something unforgivable.When he opened the door, Geonwoo stood there, breathless, eyes sharp and alert.
He took one look at Sangwon's face and pushed past him.
"Where is he?"
"In the bedroom."
Geonwoo entered and froze at the sight of Anxin unconscious on the bed. His jaw tightened as he moved closer, checking Anxin's pulse, his breathing, his temperature.
"He's been crying," Geonwoo said quietly. "For a long time."
Sangwon said nothing.
Geonwoo's gaze slid to the faint blood at the corner of Anxin's mouth, then to the bruises on his neck.
"What happened?" Geonwoo asked, voice low.
Sangwon finally spoke, barely above a whisper.
"He wouldn't talk."
Geonwoo looked at him then.not angry, not shocked...just deeply disappointed.
"He didn't faint," Geonwoo said slowly. "His body shut down."
Anxin remained unconscious between them, breathing softly, unaware of the tension thickening the room...
Anxin stirred slowly.The first thing he felt was pain.A dull ache behind his eyes, his throat dry, his body heavy like it had been filled with sand. Every movement felt delayed, as if his mind woke before his body could follow.
It was dark.Too dark.He blinked a few times before realizing the room wasn't lit at all. The digital clock beside the bed glowed faintly.
3:17 a.m.
Anxin swallowed.He remembered fragments... Sangwon's voice... anger... hands gripping too tight... and then nothing.
"I passed out..." he whispered to himself.
His heart started to race.He turned his head, searching the bed.Empty.The other side was cold.
"Sangwon?" His voice came out weak, barely sound.No answer.
A wave of dizziness washed over him as his stomach clenched painfully. Only then did he realize how hungry he was. He hadn't eaten all day. Not breakfast.,lunch. Or dinner.
The thought of food earlier had made him sick, but now his body demanded it cruelly.Black spots danced in his vision as he pushed himself up.
Slowly... carefully... Anxin slid his feet to the floor.Each step toward the door felt heavier than the last.
The apartment was silent.
Too silent.He made his way toward the kitchen, hoping maybe Sangwon had fallen asleep on the couch, maybe everything earlier had just been another bad night.Then he heard it.
A sound.Muted.From the guest room.
Anxin froze.His breath caught in his chest.
"Sangwon..." he thought, relief flickering for just a second. Maybe he was there. Maybe...
The sound came again.Not words.Not clear.But close.Too close.
Anxin's hand trembled as he moved toward the guest room door, his steps soundless, his heart pounding so hard it hurt.
The door wasn't fully closed.And he saw enough.Not details.Not skin.
Just shapes... shadows... movement... intimacy that didn't belong to him.
Sangwon.Geonwoo.Together.
The world went quiet.
"I thought you changed the ending, Sangwon-ah..." Anxin whispered to himself, his voice breaking. "I thought you said you would."
Something inside him shut off completely.
The hunger disappeared.The pain disappeared.Even the tears stopped.
He could have spoken.He could have asked.Could have screamed.
Aren't you mine too?
Wasn't I supposed to be the only one who could touch you like that?
Why with him? Why my best friend?
But he didn't.
Anxin turned away silently.
Each step back to the bedroom felt unreal, like walking through water. He crawled into bed, pulling the blanket over himself, staring up at the ceiling.
The chandelier above him blurred as his eyes burned...but no tears fell.
Only numbness remained...