Crave You Forever
Chapter 30: Just for a bit

Chapter 30: Just for a bit

As Haeun’s sobs wracked his body, his thoughts spiraled out from confusion and fear. But beneath that chaos, a strange clarity began to form.

Yes, he was scared.

Yes, the sight of Yeongsoo covered in blood had shaken him to his core.

But as much as he wanted to run, as much as his instincts screamed for him to flee from the darkness Yeongsoo carried, he couldn’t deny one thing—he still wanted to be with him.

Through his tears, Haeun realized something profound. Maybe those people had done something so terrible they deserved to lose their lives. Maybe Yeongsoo had no choice. And even if he didn’t fully understand this part of—Yeongsoo’s life—he couldn’t bring himself to walk away. He had promised himself that he would love him, and that promise meant something. Even if the love wasn’t fully formed yet, even if it was still overshadowed by doubt and fear, it was there.

Yeongsoo wasn’t perfect. He had his own flaws. But he was also the father of their child, and the man who had tried, in his own way, to protect him. Haeun had doubted him, had questioned his intentions, but now, standing here in his arms, he made a choice.

He would accept Yeongsoo—blood, violence, and all.

With that realization, Haeun clung tighter to Yeongsoo, his body trembling as fresh sobs escaped him. But this time, it wasn’t just fear or confusion that fueled his tears—it was acceptance. It was the weight of his decision, the choice to stay, to love, despite everything.

"I’m sorry," Haeun whispered through his tears, his voice barely audible. "I’m so sorry..."

Yeongsoo’s grip around him tightened, his face buried in Haeun’s hair. "You have nothing to be sorry for," he murmured, his own voice strained with emotion.

But Haeun shook his head, his tears soaking into Yeongsoo’s chest. "I doubted you," he choked out between sobs. "I was scared, and I doubted you... but I won’t anymore. I’ll—" He paused, taking a shaky breath. "I’ll accept you, Yeongsoo. I’ll accept everything about you."

Yeongsoo pulled back slightly, looking down at Haeun with wide eyes, as if he hadn’t expected those words. For a moment, there was silence, broken only by Haeun’s quiet weeping. Then, slowly, Yeongsoo reached out, cupping Haeun’s tear-streaked face in his hands.

"You don’t have to—"

"I want to," Haeun cut him off, his voice firm despite the tears still streaming down his cheeks. "I want to accept you, no matter what you’ve done. I don’t care... I just— I just want to be with you."

Yeongsoo’s expression softened, his thumb brushing gently against Haeun’s wet cheek. "You’re sure?"

Haeun nodded, even as more tears spilled over. "I’m sure," he whispered. "I’ll love you... and I’ll keep loving you, no matter what."

With those words, something shifted between them—something deeper than fear, deeper than doubt. It was a fragile, tender connection, but it was real. And for the first time, Haeun allowed himself to fully feel it.

Even though the tears kept flowing, they weren’t tears of fear anymore. He wasn’t scared anymore and he’d never be scared when he sees Yeongsoo he that state anymore.

And as Yeongsoo pulled him close again, holding him tightly, Haeun knew he had made his choice. He would stay. He would love him, no matter how dark Yeongsoo’s life might be.

As Yeongsoo carried Haeun toward the bed, Haeun suddenly sniffled, clinging tighter to Yeongsoo’s neck, his tearful voice muffled against his chest.

"Cold... noodles..." Haeun whispered between sobs.

Yeongsoo paused, surprised by the unexpected request. He glanced down at Haeun, still trembling in his arms, but there was a small hint of something else now—perhaps a distraction from the overwhelming emotions that had consumed him.

"Cold noodles?" Yeongsoo repeated, raising an eyebrow, trying not to smile despite the heavy atmosphere.

Haeun nodded, his face still pressed against Yeongsoo’s chest, his cheeks flushed from both crying and embarrassment. "Please... I want cold noodles..."

Yeongsoo let out a soft chuckle, the sound rumbling in his chest as he adjusted Haeun in his arms. "Alright, cold noodles it is," he said softly, his voice filled with a tenderness that had been absent before.

When he tried to lower Haeun onto the bed, Haeun whimpered, gripping him tighter. "No, don’t let go yet," he mumbled, his words almost childlike, his vulnerability making him act shy.

Yeongsoo’s lips twitched in amusement as he looked down at the flustered omega in his arms. "You’re not going to let me go, even if I have to make noodles?" he teased, his tone light, trying to ease the lingering tension.

Haeun’s face turned even redder, his fingers curling into the fabric of Yeongsoo’s shirt. "Just... for a bit..." he whispered, his voice soft and shy now, the intensity of his previous tears fading into something more fragile and innocent.

Yeongsoo found it unexpectedly cute—the way Haeun was acting shy after everything that had just happened. It tugged at something deep inside him, making his chest tighten in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

"Well," Yeongsoo said, smirking slightly as he shifted Haeun’s weight in his arms, "I can’t make noodles while holding you, but if you sit at the counter and keep me company, I think we can make that work."

Reluctantly, Haeun nodded, slowly loosening his grip, though he still clung to Yeongsoo’s shirt as he was placed on a stool by the kitchen counter. His face was still flushed, his eyes puffy from crying, but there was a softness in his expression now, a hint of shy affection that hadn’t been there before.

As Yeongsoo began preparing the cold noodles, Haeun watched him silently from his spot at the counter, occasionally sniffling but no longer crying. He rubbed at his eyes, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and comfort, especially when he caught Yeongsoo stealing glances at him, his expression amused but warm.

"You’re... laughing at me," Haeun mumbled, his voice quiet as he fiddled with the edge of his sleeve, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.

Yeongsoo glanced over his shoulder, a soft chuckle escaping him. "I’m not laughing," he said, his tone playful. "I just think it’s cute, that’s all. Crying one second, asking for cold noodles the next."

Haeun pouted, his embarrassment evident, but deep down, he felt a flicker of warmth at Yeongsoo’s words. "I just... the baby wanted cold noodles, not my fault," he muttered, trying to cover up his shyness.

Yeongsoo’s smile widened as he continued cooking, his gaze lingering on Haeun for a moment longer before he focused on the task at hand. "Well, you’ll have them in a few minutes. Just sit tight. You also haven’t eaten since you threw up, I was neglectful."