[ the touches hitched the breath in his throat, a kind of tenderness about it but none of it stopped the sinking in his chest or how his stomach kind of dropped along with it.

it might have just started but he couldn't imagine not having hyunki to turn to. to grab onto.

since when had he started to depend on anything - anyone? ]

I don't - want that to happen to you. You don't deserve that.

[ then quietly, he added - ] I'd miss you.

[ he moved one of his hands to run along hyunki's face, down his side. ] You make me happier than I thought possible.