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Changkyun feels himself dragging his feet listlessly against the pavement, heavy with fatigue to even try to lift them off–the same goes for his whole body if he was being honest. The past few weeks have been extra draining with multiple schedules piled on top of each other, having his nightly DJ gig at the radio station, and–on the rare occasion of a free day– spends time with his friends mostly at night. It’s a good kind of tired, a happy one at that. But now Changkyun feels the consequences of his actions when he feels the headache starting to throb at his temple as the door to his unit closes with a chime. Changkyun slumps himself on the couch with a sigh, closing his eyes as he rests his head at the back of the backrest, not even bothering to turn on the lights.
A phone call disrupts the nap that Changkyun was slipping into. He sighs deeply, blearily patting the coffee table for the device. He lifts the phone to his ear, not even bothering to check on who the caller was.
“Yeoboseyo?” he rasps, already feeling his eyes closing.
“Sounds like you had a long night, my love.” A chuckle was heard from the other end of the line.
“Hyung!” Changkyun immediately sprang up as if shocked, the headache suddenly forgotten as he looked at his phone screen to confirm that it really was his lover. He can hear him giggling still when he placed the phone back to his ear.
“Did I wake you up? I’m sorry, my love.”
“No, it’s fine. I was just napping anyway.” He replied as he stretched his arms overhead after putting his phone on speaker.
“Napping? It’s almost midnight, baby. Shouldn’t you be at least getting ready for bed?”
Changkyun wants to kick his feet up in the air like a high-schooler and melt on the floor at the same time when he hears his lover’s other endearment.
“I just got back home a couple of minutes ago. I was at the radio station then went out with Wonwoo and Seung-youn for dinner.”
“It’s good that you had dinner. Didn’t you mention you were having a headache just a few days ago?”
“Yeah! I still do. But talking to you made it all better, my lovey.” Changkyun can almost see his lover’s expression as he said those words, giggling when he hears the huff from the other end.
“AISH you!! Trying to be slick huh? Drink medicine, please. It’s still in the medicine bag by the TV.”
“But I want you to take care of me, Corporal!” The whine that Changkyun lets out after was calculated, knowing how his lover gets shy at the title and because teasing him was just so much fun.
“YAH! IM CHANGKYUN!” The said lover was full on cackling, already imagining the redness of his lover’s ears as he leaned back on the couch, the corner of his eyes wet from tears from all the laughing. Changkyun can hear his lover laugh from the other end of the line as well.
There was comfortable silence that followed after their laughter subsided, a contented sigh escaping past their lips.
“I miss you, hyung. Despite all of your dorkiness and loud snores, the unit feels colder without you.” Changkyun mutters with a sigh, suddenly melancholy as he stares at their framed photos on the shelf of their home.
“It isn’t because of the ghost in the unit?”
“YAH! CHAE HYUNGWON! I WAS BEING SERIOUS!” The giggle at the other end of the line was what made Changkyun’s shoulder sag as he felt the longing in his chest return.
“I was just messing with you, Kyunnie.” His lover starts before a sigh escapes past his lips too, before continuing. “I missed you too, my love. If only the base wasn’t too far or as taxing to commute, I would be there with you every night.”
“But you visited Kihyun-hyung before he was discharged from the military, and Yangju is farther from Gapyeong.” There was a pout and a sulk evident in his voice even though Hyungwon couldn’t see.
“My division’s military band went to their camp for group practice for the graduation ceremony, remember? That’s why I get to send his ugly photos at the group chat.” Changkyun laughs at the memory. Remembering how Hyungwon (and the others since it was a group chat) received a bouquet of middle fingers and a handful of curses from Kihyun that time.
“I know, I know. I was just messing with you too, hyungie.” He chuckled some more before he sighs.
“I still miss you though. Please come back already and take care of me.” Changkyun reiterates with a pout, trying to make it sound light even though Hyungwon knows the tinge of longing was there.
“I know, baby. I miss you too. So much. But don’t worry, I’ll be out in a few weeks and I’ll smother you with all the love the world has to offer.”
“I don’t want what the world has to offer. I just want you, lovey.”
They both chuckled before they continued conversing a bit more, talking about their days until it was time for Hyungwon to go.
“I have to head back to base, my love. I’ll call you again next weekend, okay? Please rest up and drink your medicine, and eat.” His lover reminds one last time.
“Yes, eomma.” Changkyun replied as he rolled his eyes.
“Good night, my love.” Hyungwon mutters through the call, his own version of I love you this past couple of weeks since they only get to talk during the weekends at night.
“I love you too, my lovey. Take care.”
+++
“Changkyunnie, you look terrible.” Wonwoo mutters as Seung-youn or Woodz cackled at his expense. They met today during Changkyun’s day-off from work, and Wonwoo’s day-off from his desk job. It was only Woodz in delight as he was discharged from the military already.
“Gee thanks, Wonwoo-ssi. I would’ve appreciated it more if you didn’t state the obvious” Changkyun mutters as both his cat-like friends cackled.
“Be kind to him, Wonu. You know he misses his lover man.” Woodz says as he slings his arm around Changkyun even though they were all still giggling. “Especially since they’re in the same area but couldn’t exactly meet.”
They were at The Garden of Morning Calm, a famous arboretum in Gapyeong that showcases stunning landscapes of nature, and traditional Korean aesthetics that have people go there, locals and tourists alike, for an escape from the city life that Seoul offers.
“There there, Kyun-ah. Wonnie will be discharged in like, two? Three weeks right? You wouldn’t even be able to notice it.” Wonwoo placates, a hand on Changkyun’s shoulder as they continue with their stroll around the area after resting and taking photos at the bench.
“That’s easy for you to say! Mingyu’s within arms reach when you’re at home!”
“Yeah, but he’s on tour right now with the members.”
They all laughed at each other’s antics as they continued with the trail they were in, snapping photos and posting online for Wonwoo’s fans to see.
Three weeks go by in a blur when you decide to overpack your schedule that leads to your boyfriend’s discharge date. In Changkyun’s defense, he wants to get all of the work out of the way so he can be with his lover fully for a couple of days before work whisks them both away again.
Changkyun bows to the production crew and staffs at the radio station before going to the window where the fans were watching and bowing as well, waving his hands at them before the crew closes the huge windows, it was Changkyun’s last day as a DJ and it’s bittersweet. But he knows he won't be able to focus on it since he’ll be busy with group schedules once Hyungwon was discharged.
“Thank you for your hardwork, IM-ssi!” The director says as he shakes hands with Changkyun. He bows back at him as they shook hands, giving him an affectionate hug before parting.
“Thank you, PD-nim! It was nice working with everyone!”
“If your schedule ever frees up, don’t hesitate to come back here! You’re a natural to be a DJ.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, PD-nim.”
+++
Changkyun felt the bed dip from the other side as he felt a weight on his midsection, a gush of wind on his nape as if someone sighed from behind. He groans as he sees the sliver of the bright sun that’s casting its rays from the blockout curtains he forgot to fully close the night before, feeling his headache returning from the night before as he tries to resettle back in his pillow, ignoring the sunlight.
He was about to turn on his other side when he remembered there was a weight on his torso, haphazardly sitting up as he turned to look at the other side of the bed, eyes going wide as he gasped at the figure beside him.
“HYUNG!!!”
Changkyun bodyslams himself in his lover’s waiting arms, hearing an ‘oomf’ from the figure beneath him before he is enclosed in a warm, bone crushing hug. He giggles as he snaked his arms around him, snuggling his face in the crook of his boyfriend’s neck as he sniffs his skin, noticing it got just a tiny bit tan, before placing a kiss on the area.
“I missed you so much, Kyunnie.” Hyungwon murmurs on top of his head before placing a kiss there as well, pulling his lover impossibly closer to him as their legs tangle together in a mess of limbs.
“When did you come back? Wait. What time is it? I was supposed to be there at the camp for your discharge ceremony!” Changkyun suddenly exclaimed, rambling as he pushed himself away from the hug in search of his phone. But was immediately pulled back in the warm comfort of his lover’s arms, an octopus-like grip on him.
“It’s a little over 11am. Don’t worry about it, my love. I knew you were tired from how packed your schedule was. The fans were there to welcome me back so all went well.” Hyungwon explained as he started to run his fingers through his lover’s hair, patting him gently as if lulling him to sleep.
“You could’ve called me at least. I could’ve had food ready for you.” Changkyun murmurs with a pout, still pushed in Hyungwon’s chest. He hears the rumble of Hyungwon’s chuckle on his chest and swats his boyfriend’s chest for laughing at him.
“Baby, don’t worry about it. Seeing you get your much needed sleep is enough for me. I was even able to wash up already so I can snuggle you all I want.” Hyungwon replied as he looked down at him, placing a kiss on his forehead for punctuation.
“How’s your headache by the way? Are you still feeling off?” His lover further asked, concern evident on his face as he searched for Changkyun’s face for any kind of pain or distress, a hand placed on his cheek as he did.
It was Changkyun’s turn to smile up at him reassuringly before he shook his head. Basking in his lover’s warmth and attention before he leans his head on the hand that was on his cheek, rubbing his cheek there like a cat before turning and placing a chaste kiss on the skin as well.
“I feel infinitely better now that you’re here, my lovey.” Changkyun murmurs with a smile, taking in all of his lover’s features, seeing how bright he looks all freshened up from the shower, a glow on his slightly tanned skin.
“Welcome home, Corporal.” Changkyun mutters as he leaned closer, a small smile on his face even though his eyes were lingering on his lover’s lips.
“Thank you, my love. I love you.” Hyungwon answers back with a smile on his own, closing the gap between them as their lips touch in a kiss. Changkyun smiles in the kiss as his arms go around his lover’s nape, pulling their faces closer to each other as they continue to savor each other.
They giggle when they part for air, the space between them still miniscule. Changkyun smiled at Hyungwon as he placed another flurry of kisses on his tulip lips, giggling still as he cupped his round cheeks.
“I love you too, my lovey Corporal.”