Woonhak and Jaehyun stayed in each other's embrace, wrapped in a quiet warmth that neither of them wanted to break. The steady rhythm of Jaehyun's heartbeat against his ear calmed Woonhak in a way nothing else ever had. For the first time in a long while, the world felt still, safe - like he had found a pocket of peace.

Eventually, Woonhak slowly detached himself, the comfort of Jaehyun's arms lingering even after the contact ended. He took a deep breath, feeling lighter, as if a weight that had been crushing his chest was finally gone. Now that he had told someone his story, the suffocating pressure was lifted. He could breathe freely for the first time in what felt like forever.

Jaehyun's gentle hand rose to Woonhak's head, ruffling his hair in that fond, affectionate way he always did around the younger. His smile was soft, his eyes filled with something warm and unspoken - a silent reassurance that Woonhak wasn't alone anymore.

But then Jaehyun's expression shifted, his eyes lighting up as if he'd just remembered something important. He suddenly jumped to his feet, a playful energy in his movements. "Oh! I totally forgot. Wait right here, Woonie."

Woonhak tilted his head, curiosity flickering across his face as Jaehyun made his way to the closet. He watched Jaehyun pull the door open and dig around for a moment before pulling something out - only to immediately hide it behind his back.

Jaehyun turned back, a little grin tugging at his lips as he walked over to the bed. Woonhak's eyes widened a little, not knowing what to expect.

Jaehyun's gaze dropped shyly to his feet. "Uh... I went to the mall with my friends a few days ago, and I saw this. It reminded me of you, so... I bought it." He shuffled his feet, cheeks dusted with pink, before finally revealing what he'd been hiding.

A small, light brown teddy bear appeared, its round face smiling kindly, with a soft blue scarf wrapped snugly around its neck. The bear's eyes were gentle, almost as if they held a bit of Jaehyun's warmth in them.

Woonhak's breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened, the world narrowing down to the little bear cradled in Jaehyun's hands.

"Uhm... When we walked Japchae together you told me you liked stuffed animals," Jaehyun murmured, his voice unsure, like he was afraid he'd made a mistake. "I hope you like it..."

Woonhak's hands trembled slightly as he reached out to accept the gift. He held the bear close to his chest, the softness of the plush fur pressing into his heart. It wasn't just a toy - it was a symbol, a reminder that someone cared about him, thought about him even when they were apart. The simple kindness of it made his chest ache in the best way.

When he looked up at Jaehyun, his eyes shimmered with tears - not from sadness, but from an overwhelming wave of gratitude. His voice caught as he whispered, "Hyung..."

Jaehyun's eyes widened in alarm at the sight of Woonhak's tears. "Oh no, what's wrong? Don't you like it? I-"

He didn't get to finish. Woonhak launched forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Jaehyun, the teddy bear squished between them. "No! No, I love it. I love it so much..." His voice cracked with emotion. "I'm just... so grateful. I don't know what I did to deserve you."

He suddenly paused, doubt seeping into his thoughts. He hadn't done anything for Jaehyun or his mom. They'd taken care of him, shown him kindness without asking for anything in return. The thought tightened his throat. He had been nothing but a burden.

"Well, nothing actually..."

Woonhak loosened his grip, ready to pull away, but Jaehyun's arms only tightened around him.

"Don't," Jaehyun whispered fiercely. "Don't you dare think that. You deserve the world, Woonie. I don't care what anyone else has told you - it's not true."

"But-" Woonhak's voice wavered.

"Woonhak." Jaehyun leaned back just enough to cup Woonhak's face, his thumbs brushing away the tears streaking his cheeks. His eyes were steady, intense in their sincerity. "We like having you around, okay? I want to take care of you, to be there for you. I love seeing you smile, and I hate seeing you cry. You're not a burden. You're my friend, I know we haven't known eachother for long, but I care about you. A lot. And my mom does too."

Woonhak's lower lip trembled, his eyes searching Jaehyun's for any hint of a lie - but there was none. Only pure, unfiltered honesty.

Jaehyun sighed softly and pulled Woonhak into his arms again, holding him like he was something precious, something worth protecting.

Woonhak let himself melt into the embrace, the warmth and security seeping into his bones. He didn't have words for what he felt. All he knew was that, for once, he wasn't alone. He wasn't unwanted.

He promised himself that, someday, he'd find a way to repay Jaehyun and his mom. For now, though, he let himself lean into the love they offered so freely. He had been sad and lonely for too long. Maybe it was selfish, but he needed this - needed them.

And for the first time, he felt like maybe he was even worth it.

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