* * *
As they stepped inside, the chilly air from outside was replaced by a cozy warmth.
Saying that the smell of burning firewood clung to him, Soohyuk went off to wash up and change.
Jingyeom didn’t really want to bathe, but he was forcibly stripped and pushed into the bathroom.
“You’re really obsessed with cleanliness, you know.”
Whenever Jingyeom got lazy and sprawled on the bed, Soohyuk would drag him by the arm and shove him into the bathroom.
After taking a quick wash, Jingyeom came out to find that Soohyuk was still showering.
Not wanting to bother with drying his hair properly, he wrapped it up in a towel and laid down on the sofa.
Staring absentmindedly at the ceiling, he stretched out his left hand and looked at it.
The ring on his fourth finger was something Soohyuk had given him temporarily, to keep other people from approaching him unnecessarily.
At first, it felt uncomfortable, but he had gotten used to it.
Still, he wanted Soohyuk to wear one too, not just himself.
But since he didn’t know Soohyuk’s ring size, he hadn’t been able to buy one.
He had tried a few times while holding hands or interlocking fingers to guess the size by feel, since he couldn’t very well pull out a tape measure.
But every time, the result seemed to be different, as if he was measuring wrong.
Even so, he didn’t want to leave Soohyuk’s finger bare for too long.
Even in the photos uploaded on Stargram, it was obvious that only his hand had a ring, while Soohyuk’s did not.
It bothered him a little.
If only their finger sizes were at least similar, he could have used his own as a reference.
‘The difference is too big.’
He kept worrying about how to get the correct size, when finally one night, Soohyuk fell asleep before him.
That was the only chance he got.
Normally, Jingyeom always fell asleep first, so he’d never had an opportunity until then.
Thanks to that, he finally got the measurements…
‘Now how do I give it to him?’
There were still a few days left before their one-year anniversary.
He figured he could give it to Soohyuk then, but he hadn’t decided on the exact timing.
As he gazed seriously at the ring, a large hand naturally reached over and interlaced their fingers.
“Why the serious face?”
“What about my face?”
“You looked super serious.”
“Ah… no, it’s nothing. I was just looking at the ring.”
Soohyuk sat Jingyeom up and used the towel to gently rub his damp hair.
Sometimes, when Jingyeom didn’t dry it properly, Soohyuk would do it for him like this.
Though it was obvious Soohyuk didn’t have much experience handling someone else’s hair — his technique was a bit clumsy — it felt nice.
Sometimes, Jingyeom would even intentionally let his hair drip just so Soohyuk would do it.
“Why were you suddenly staring at the ring?”
“Because it’s pretty. I’ve never seen you wear a ring before, so I didn’t expect you to have something like this.”
Jingyeom smiled faintly as he rubbed the ring with his thumb.
He’d been deeply moved when Soohyuk first gave it to him.
Having Soohyuk put it on his finger himself made his heart flutter wildly.
What made it even more special was that it wasn’t some newly bought ring, but something Soohyuk had treasured for a long time.
Because it was something precious to his beloved, it made him feel even more cherished.
“You said it’s important to you… who did you get it from?”
“My grandmother.”
“Ah, your grandmother.”
Jingyeom repeated reflexively, but then snapped his head around a beat later, startled.
“Your grandmother?”
Soohyuk nodded, still holding the towel.
It was true — his grandmother had given him the ring.
She had told him it was the one he’d worn since he was young, and gave it to him when he became an adult.
She had told him to give it to someone he loved one day, though at the time, he didn’t understand why she gave it to him.
He had thought it might have been better to give something more elaborate, rather than this plain design.
Even now, he didn’t really understand his grandmother’s feelings at the time.
He simply kept it because it was a gift from a woman who had preserved her tender, girlish heart her whole life.
‘I never thought I’d actually end up giving it to someone.’
Honestly, he didn’t even realize he had brought it to Korea.
It just happened to be among his things when he was unpacking and got stored in his dressing room.
Later, he remembered it, had the size adjusted, and gave it to Jingyeom.
He didn’t share all these details — just simply said that his grandmother had told him to give it to someone he loved.
Seeing Jingyeom’s eyes glisten, Soohyuk slightly furrowed his brows.
“…My grandmother.”
“Don’t kill her off. She’s healthy.”
“Ah… no, that’s not what I meant!”
“Your face said otherwise. You totally looked like you were hearing a final will.”
Jingyeom lowered his gaze, unable to deny it.
His heart had tightened the moment he heard it, and before he knew it, his mind had jumped to that conclusion.
Still, hearing the story only made the ring feel even more meaningful.
“…I’ll treasure it.”
Jingyeom whispered as he hugged Soohyuk.
But the words that followed made him let go.
“I wish I had one too. A ring.”
“…”
“Doesn’t it feel kind of empty? Here?”
Soohyuk spread his left hand and pointed directly at his fourth finger, smiling brightly. Jingyeom immediately realized:
‘Busted.’
He had tried so hard to keep it a secret — when did Soohyuk find out?
If he already knew, he could’ve pretended not to!
There were only a few days left until the anniversary!
Jingyeom glared fiercely, narrowing his eyes, but Soohyuk didn’t even blink, still pointing at his ring finger.
If he didn’t give it now, Soohyuk would probably keep doing that.
With a resigned sigh, Jingyeom closed his eyes.
When Jingyeom came out with the ring box, his face was full of dissatisfaction.
He never imagined he’d have to give it like this, without any grand gesture.
All the time he’d spent agonizing over how to present it now felt meaningless.
A completely unromantic ring-giving ceremony commenced.
Both of them were freshly showered, their hair barely dried, and dressed in comfortable pajamas.
This wasn’t the mood Jingyeom had envisioned.
His original plan was to have a fancy dinner at a nice hotel, admire the night view, and give the ring in style.
But a sudden trip had forced him to change everything!
‘It’s ruined!’
Jingyeom grumbled inwardly, but seeing Soohyuk’s beaming face made him realize the location didn’t really matter.
Besides, Soohyuk had stayed in that same expectant pose, holding out his left hand until Jingyeom returned with the ring.
Seeing that made him feel like there was no hope for him anymore.
Jingyeom had visited countless shops trying to find a ring that resembled the one on his own finger but ultimately ended up designing and custom-ordering it himself.
Since Soohyuk had said it was a precious ring, he didn’t want to change the design entirely.
“…It fits perfectly.”
He had worried it might not fit, but it slid perfectly onto Soohyuk’s fourth finger.
As if the ring was made just for him.
Soohyuk stared intently at the ring on his finger.
A strange, indescribable feeling washed over him.
He had already known Jingyeom was preparing for their anniversary, and that he had bought a ring.
He had planned to wait.
But his own impatience had made him push, and Jingyeom, though grumbling, had gone along with it.
He thought he’d feel nothing but happiness receiving it, but instead…
‘My chest is tight.’
A tremor ran through his whole body.
It wasn’t sexual arousal — it was something entirely different.
Like he was sinking into an emotional swamp he couldn’t define.
With this one ring, it felt like he was completely tied to a world filled with Jingyeom.
The feeling surged up his throat, but he didn’t know how to express it.
This was the first time. He had never been attached to an object before — but this ring, he never wanted to take off.
He couldn’t even understand how he’d lived before Jingyeom entered his life.
Now, he couldn’t even imagine a future without him.
‘You really turn me into a fool, you sly fox.’
I want to express these overwhelming feelings, but I can’t think of the right words that will truly reach Jingyeom.
“Jingyeom.”
He gazes at me with that innocent face, and it’s driving me crazy how lovely he is.
“I love you.”
I put my whole heart into those words.
“I’ll treasure you forever.”
Jingyeom’s face gradually turned red, and he hastily covered his mouth with his hand.
His trembling eyes made it clear how flustered he was.
As Soohyuk reached out his arm, Jingyeom gently grabbed it and lowered it back down.
Just like what Soohyuk saw—Jingyeom was extremely embarrassed.
Soohyuk had seen many sides of him before, but—
‘…Damn.’
This was so sweet and tender it felt like honey had been poured over his eyes.
And the fact that the one reflected in those eyes was himself sent a shiver through him.
He didn’t know at what point he’d fallen for him, but his whole body suddenly filled with excitement.
He could feel his heartbeat quickening.
He wanted to grab that face and kiss him right now, but at the same time, he wanted to keep gazing at him.
If his eyes had a capture function, he would’ve saved this moment forever.
He knew Jingyeom would probably like it, but the reaction was so intense it backfired on him.
Jingyeom rubbed his flushed legs together, then stretched his arms out.
“…Hold me.”
Looking up at him with a reddened face, asking to be held, Jingyeom made Soohyuk’s lower body ache.
Soohyuk subtly turned his head and exhaled, trying to suppress the lust creeping into his breath.
Even though he simply asked to be held, why did it sound so erotic?
Though Jingyeom looked a little disappointed, right now, he just wanted to be close to Soohyuk.
As Soohyuk reached to place his hands under Jingyeom’s knees, Jingyeom instead wrapped his arms around Soohyuk’s neck.
That changed the way Soohyuk held him.
After a brief hesitation, Soohyuk slipped his hands under Jingyeom’s bottom and lifted him up, naturally letting Jingyeom wrap his legs around his waist.
“…Are you trying to drive me insane?”
“That was never my intention.”
Soohyuk furrowed his brows slightly.
Since they had to spend long hours in the car today, Soohyuk had purposefully restrained himself last night.
In a situation where every day wasn’t enough, he was holding back—but seeing that innocent face saying such things made him want to drag him straight to the bedroom.
* * *
OMG 💕💕