Comfort of the Companion

"If I can't give him away on a platter to everyone, then how about giving him on a plater on to you!" the playful smile on the lip and amusement on Chin Hae's eyes made Min Jun realize that tables were changing… in a different direction altogether.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" Chin Hae tried to intimidate his senior with a face void of emotions with the thought that 'Nothing helps like a good old way of playing dumb.'

"I saw how you look at him..." raising an eyebrow entirely, Chin Hae looked at his hoobae with an expectation—hoping the younger one to come clean.

"I don't know what you are bluffing about..." sensing the upcoming teasing, Min Jun decided to play the fool.

"It is Young Jae's eyes that went through surgery and wrapped in a bandage. Not mine! I clearly saw how you looked at him..." the blunt and carefree side of Chin Hae finally decided to make an appearance. He shows this side of him only to a few people.

"That's rude towards your cousin who is a sick patient at the moment..." the choice of words from his sunbae shocked Min Jun.

Min Jun couldn't help but feel relieved on the other side. 'Sunbae is back to normal. But those words are uncalled for. Why was he rude now!!!'

"I was not the one staring at a patient like some precious gem that you want to take home… That expression was not right. You don't like any kind of gems... Oh! wait... I got the right one... you stared at him like how you stare at a bike or mochi! All set to devour in..."

Before Chin Hae finishes his statement, Min Jun throw a cushion at him.

"Fine… I did look at your cousin, but can you blame me? A cute guy looking vulnerable would definitely make anyone with good eyesight to look twice. And all I did was look at him. No need to accuse me of anything as if you could read my mind..." Min Jun gave in knowing that he could never let things slip past his Sunbae who knew him quite well.

"I didn't accuse you of anything. I am simply saying if you decide to make a move on him, I will support you." Chin Hae said simply as if he didn't give the man who never had a proper relationship a full right to be near his vulnerable, weak cousin.

Wang Min Jun glared at Chin Hae for giving the vulnerable man away as if concerned ones wish didn't matter at all.

"I have seen how you look at people. Especially your fuck buddies. There was never an emotion. You were friendly to them, but nothing more. Not even a closeness, gentle treatment and special care outside the four walls. I know you never mistreated them or anything. At the same time you made sure that there was nothing more than physical. But the gentleness you showed towards my cousin was something else. I felt it was not because he was my cousin or blood related to Kang Chin Mae. You looked at him differently. Like with little interest… That's why I assumed..." Chin Hae trailed off. The sudden confidence he had when he started to speak faded away when he was a Min Jun looking at the garden as if the conversation has nothing to do with him.

Chin Hae gave up trying to talk what was in his mind and sat there with his phone to check emails.

"I am intrigued by your cousin. It could be a crush. But we all know that is all it can ever be..." Min Jun stated after a few minutes of organizing his thought.

"Why it has to be that's all? Why not more? I want to see you happy Min Jun. Don't rob yourself of the options." Chin Hae said with genuine affection.

"I am not good enough for him or anyone. I am messed up. I am not relationship material even though what I want in a relationship. Something stable and not the changing flings anymore..." with the eye cast down and solemn look, Min Jun explained.

"Then become a relationship material. Fix your mess then..."

"Nobody can fix their mess… It is complicated!"

"Being happy is not complicated. Going after what you want is not. I am not saying you should be with my cousin or something. I want you to be with someone you like. Even if you choose my cousin, all I can do is give a blessing. It is all up to you to make him fall head over heels with you. With everything he went through relationship would be the first thing on his never-ever-to-do-list!" Chin Hae finally let out what was running in his head.

Min Jun silently nod his head in understanding even though he didn't kow what the fragile Young Jae went through.

Chin Hae wants his cousin to understand not everyone would take advantage of significant one they were in a relationship with, like the scum of his-ex. The nervousness Young Jae felt and subtly expressed for his cousin when Chin Hae revealed about his boyfriend made him jump to the conclusion - his cousin doesn't believe in relationships anymore. But he understood his little cousin's hesitation. Time would heal him. But having a clear headed person like Min Jun would help his cousin in gaining a foothold in life back.

Moon Chin Hae finally left to meet his newborn nephew leaving Moon Young Jae under Wang Min Jun's care.

Min Jun accompanied Young Jae for his regular doctor check-up and got few follow up test to check the progress in healing. He fed the food to the older man and made sure all his needs were met. He even took Young Jae out for scrolling while pushing the wheelchair without any complaint.

But there were not many words spoken between them. The entire day was spent in silence, and most of it was comfortable silence, but suddenly the atmosphere felt awkward and overwhelming as they reached the end of the day.

Young Jae who always felt comfortable with the silence couldn't take the silence from Min Jun, for some odd reason. He wanted to know what was going on in the others head. He had a feeling that too much going on in other boy's head. But he knew it was not his place to ask. That doesn't mean he couldn't do anything about it.

It was the late evening before the dinner, Young Jae felt that he reached the threshold of awkwardness.

"I understood that you were important to my Hyung. I am practically a stranger to you, but you are still taking care of me for him. I think you will not ask any help from me knowing my state as I am the one who requires help here. But if there is something I can do, please let me know." Young Jae finally mustered the courage to say what was going on in his mind.

Young Jae held his breath and wondered would Wang Min Jun belittle his concern and words like Ki Hoon Joo, his so-called ex-boyfriend always did. His scum of ex never shared anything with him—neither good news nor trouble. Young Jae practically never got any answer to anything personal about him. There was a vast distance created between them by his ex irrespective of Young Jae tried his best to be understanding. But without a second thought, Hoon Joo stole his work only to kick him in the crib and threaten him.

The response he received from Min Jun knocked the air out of him.