The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, and Heo gradually stirred from his sleep. As his eyes fluttered open, he felt a warm presence by his side. Looking down, he realized it was his best friend, Tret, nestled in his embrace. He couldn't help but smile. Tret looked so cute, sleeping peacefully like an angel.
Tret's gentle hand rested on Heo's chest, a comforting touch amidst the memories of the previous night that haunted Heo's consciousness. He remained unaware of how Tret found solace beside him, yet there was no surprise in Heo's heart, for it was but one instance among many.
Heo never harbored any reservations, even as they slumbered side by side. He harbored no qualms about Tret's bisexuality. He would forever be the vanguard of understanding and unconditional acceptance for Tret, regardless of any circumstance.
While looking at Tret, who was still peacefully sleeping in his embrace, fragments of the previous night began to resurface in Heo's mind. Flashbacks of blurry memories flooded his thoughts, revealing a night where he had indulged a bit too much in alcohol. He remembered stumbling out of the bar, his mind foggy and his judgment compromised.
It was then that Tret, with genuine concern, made the decision to search for him. Heo recollected a haze of images, characterized by Tret's determined face navigating through the crowd. Heo had been oblivious to it all in his intoxicated state.
But as the pieces fell into place, Heo recalled a pivotal moment. A moment when their lips had brushed against each other, a spontaneous kiss that felt oddly right, even amidst the alcohol-induced fog.
Heo's heart skipped a beat as he remembered Tret's words whispered in that vulnerable moment, confessing the depth of his feelings. He grinned. He had thought Tret was joking last night. But he still remembered Tret crying. What if Tret was serious?
Initially, when Tret had first admitted he was bisexual, Heo had naturally felt disappointed. Nevertheless, the immutable nature of this truth left Heo with no recourse but to embrace it. As he promised himself, he would always be the first one to understand and accept Tret.
Should circumstances veer perilously close to crossing boundaries, proactive and transparent communication becomes paramount, for it is through honesty that secrets are prevented from becoming entombed in the sands of time.
A secret? Heo took a deep breath. His conscience was burdened with guilt over the clandestine matter he concealed from Tret. Unprepared to lay bare this truth, he harbored the belief that premature revelation would inflict pain upon Tret, while delayed disclosure, no matter how agonizing, held the potential for a more favorable outcome.
Feeling the warmth in the corners of his eyes, Heo looked up. Resolute in preserving his image as a paragon of fortitude, he resisted the urge to shed tears. But, the revelation shattered his very being, rendering him irreparably fragmented. Facing the unbridgeable chasm of his emotions, Heo found solace in embracing the impermanence of existence, urging him to savor what time remained.
Heo clenched his lower lip in an attempt to stifle the surge of emotions welling within him. While tears eluded him, his heart found itself submerged in a sea of anguish, causing each breath to become a struggle. Yet, as Tret stirred, a ray of hope pierced through the depths of Heo's despair, as if Tret had become his savior from the abyss of such profound sentiment.
Tret rubbed his eyes, squinting to adjust to the luminosity of the room, only to be taken aback by the unexpected embrace that enveloped him entirely.
"Tret!" Heo exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement and a hint of mischief. "Good morning, wake up."
Tret's jaw dropped, his face showing pure astonishment. He attempted to wriggle out of Heo's grip but found himself trapped in a bear hug. "Heo, what on earth are you doing?" he managed to say, his voice partly muffled against Heo's chest.
Was it because of last night? Tret couldn't help but think back to the vulnerable moment when he had finally confessed his feelings for Heo. Though nervous, he had wanted to be honest with his emotions, and Heo had seemed surprised but not entirely dismissive. Perhaps this hug was a response to that confession, a silent acknowledgment of Tret's bravery.
Or was it because of the accidental kiss? Tret remembered how, in a moment of confusion, Heo had mistaken him for his ex and planted a kiss on his lips. Embarrassment flooded Tret's cheeks as he considered the possibility that Heo now felt remorse and wanted to apologize. Maybe the hug was a way for Heo to show he valued their friendship despite the mix-up.
Heo chuckled, the warmth of his laughter reverberating through Tret's body. "I couldn't resist, my friend," he confessed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I had an idea, and I needed you to be awake for it."
Tret's confusion turned into curiosity, mixed with a slight tinge of annoyance. "What idea? And couldn't you have chosen a less suffocating way to wake me up?"