Crave You Forever
Chapter 74: Who??

Chapter 74: Who??

They made their way to the car, with Suho still bubbling with excitement. As they settled inside, Haeun noticed Suho fiddling with the hem of this worn out shirt which the nurse had given him, looking a little uncomfortable.

"Yeongsoo," Haeun said staring at Suho, "let’s get Suho some clothes first. Our stuff would be way too big on him."

Suho’s eyes lit up. "Really? I can get new clothes?"

Yeongsoo, already starting the car, gave Haeun a quick glance and nodded in agreement. "Yes, just a few things for now," he said, keeping his tone light but firm. "We want you to be comfortable."

They stopped at a small store nearby, and Suho’s excitement was palpable as he carefully chose a few shirts, pants, and a warm hoodie that seemed to comfort him the moment he slipped it on. He glanced at Haeun, holding up a pair of bright socks with a hopeful look. "Can I get these too, Hyung?"

Haeun couldn’t help but chuckle. "Sure, Suho. You can get whatever you like."

Once Suho was fully dressed in his new clothes, he seemed to stand a little taller, a bit more confident as he looked between Haeun and Yeongsoo. "Thank you," he said, his voice small but filled with sincerity.

As they made their way back to the car, Haeun and Yeongsoo could see a subtle change in Suho; he seemed lighter, the shadows of worry beginning to fade.

The drive home was quiet and peaceful. Suho, now comfortably nestled in the back seat, finally allowed himself to relax, his eyes drifting closed as the rhythmic hum of the car lulled him into a light sleep. Haeun glanced back, smiling softly at the sight of him sleeping, his hand loosely gripping the edge of his new hoodie.

After some time, they arrived at their home, and Suho stirred awake as the car came to a stop. He looked around, wide-eyed with awe. "Haeun-Hyung... this is really your home?"

"Mhm..you’ll live here with us for the time being.."

Once they stepped inside, Suho’s eyes moved carefully over the walls, his gaze snagging on every small detail. The softness

The softness of the light, the quiet warmth in the room—it was so different from the sterile, empty feel of the hospital. He held onto his hoodie, as though grounding himself with the familiar fabric.

Haeun, feeling the exhaustion catch up with him, moved to the couch and practically sank into it. He took a deep breath, shutting his eyes as he let the weight of the day settle over him.

After a moment, he felt Yeongsoo approach, his voice low. "Haeun, are you alright? Should I make you something to eat?"

Haeun opened his eyes halfway, giving a tired smile. "I’ll be fine," he replied softly. "Just... make sure Suho settles in first."

Yeongsoo raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He glanced at Suho, who was still lingering in the doorway, looking around with cautious curiosity.

"Suho," he called, beckoning him over. "Let’s get you set up."

Suho wandered closer, his eyes flicking to Haeun on the couch before looking up at Yeongsoo. "Where... where should I put my things?"

"Let’s pick a room for you," Yeongsoo replied, gently steering him down the hallway to the guest room. He opened the door, flipping on the light. "How about this one?"

Suho stepped in slowly, glancing around. The room was simple: a bed, a small dresser, and a closet with a few empty hangers. His fingers ran along the edge of the bed as if testing that it was real.

"It’s... nice," he mumbled, almost to himself.

"You don’t have to do anything special in here," Yeongsoo said, watching him. "It’s your space, so do whatever makes you feel comfortable."

Suho nodded quietly, glancing back toward the hall, where Haeun was resting. It was starting to sink in now, the idea of staying here with them, and the feeling was both strange and comforting.

Yeongsoo offered a small smile, patting his shoulder before heading back toward the living room, where Haeun was nearly dozing off.

Yeongsoo moved to the kitchen, casting one last glance at Haeun, who had finally drifted off on the couch, his breathing soft and steady. He pulled out a few ingredients, keeping his motions quiet as he decided on something simple but warm for Haeun—something that might ease the exhaustion of the day.

As he set a pot on the stove, he felt a light tug on his sleeve. Turning, he saw Suho watching him, eyes wide and eager. "Can I help?" Suho whispered, glancing at the ingredients laid out on the counter.

Yeongsoo smiled, shaking his head gently. "You should rest too. It’s been a big day for you."

Suho frowned slightly, undeterred. "But I want to. I can... chop something, maybe?"

Yeongsoo gave him a thoughtful look before sighing with a small smile. "Alright, but just the easy parts," he said, handing Suho a spoon instead of a knife. "You can stir the pot when it’s time."

Suho’s face lit up as he carefully took the spoon, holding it with both hands like it was something important. He stood by the stove, his feet shuffling slightly as he watched Yeongsoo chop vegetables with a quiet precision. The faint aroma of garlic and herbs started to fill the kitchen, and Suho’s eyes sparkled.

"Can I stir it now?" Suho asked, his voice soft but brimming with excitement.

"Not yet," Yeongsoo replied, glancing over with a smile. "Patience, Suho. You’ll know when it’s ready."

Suho nodded, his gaze fixed on the pot as though he were learning some great secret. Finally, after a few minutes, Yeongsoo gave him a nod. "Alright, go ahead."

Carefully, Suho reached up to the pot, stirring slowly, his face serious with concentration. Yeongsoo couldn’t help but feel a small warmth spread through him as he watched. Suho’s simple, unfiltered joy brought a gentle calm to the kitchen.

They worked in silence until the meal was ready. Yeongsoo set a bowl on a tray and glanced over at Suho, giving him an approving nod. "Good job," he said. "Want to help me carry this to Haeun?"

Suho nodded, gripping the edge of the tray as they carefully walked back to the living room, where Haeun was beginning to stir. He blinked his eyes open, looking slightly disoriented before he spotted them.

"Did you make this?" Haeun asked, his voice groggy but touched with warmth.

"Yeongsoo did," Suho answered quickly, glancing up with a shy smile. "I just helped a little."

Haeun chuckled, accepting the bowl with a grateful nod. "Thank you both." He glanced at Suho. "Looks like you’re already making yourself at home."

Suho gave a small, proud nod, his cheeks faintly pink as he settled on the couch.

As Haeun took slow bites, savoring the warmth of the meal, Yeongsoo’s phone buzzed in his pocket, cutting through the calm atmosphere. He pulled it out, noticing Sean’s name flashing on the screen. Frowning, he stepped away from the living room, the urgency of Sean’s call already setting him on edge.

"Yeongsoo," Sean’s voice came through, low and tense. "I need you to come to the place. Now."

"What’s going on?" Yeongsoo’s voice hardened, automatically shifting into the tone he used for handling things he’d rather Haeun and Suho didn’t know about.

There was a brief silence on Sean’s end, then a sigh. "It’s complicated. Just trust me—you need to be here."

Yeongsoo exhaled, glancing back at Haeun and Suho. "Alright, give me ten minutes."

He hung up, pocketing his phone as he returned to the living room. Haeun looked up, a questioning look already in his eyes. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Yeongsoo replied, forcing a calm tone. "Something came up with Sean. I need to step out for a bit."

Haeun’s brow creased. "This late?"

"It won’t take long," he reassured, giving Haeun’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You should rest; I’ll be back before you know it."

Haeun nodded slowly, but the concern didn’t leave his eyes. He glanced at Suho, who was listening intently, his small face scrunched in curiosity and slight worry.

"Will you be okay here?" Yeongsoo asked, glancing between the two of them. Suho immediately nodded, sitting up a little straighter, as though assuring Yeongsoo he’d keep Haeun company.

"Go on," Haeun said softly, managing a small smile. "We’ll be fine."

With a final nod, Yeongsoo grabbed his coat and slipped out the door, the cool night air hitting him as he made his way to his car. His mind buzzed with questions as he drove, but he knew Sean wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t something serious.

A short while later, he pulled up to the familiar spot—a dimly lit bar tucked into an alleyway, the kind of place you went to for secrets, not drinks. Sean was waiting near the door, his expression grave.

"What’s going on?" Yeongsoo asked as he approached, his voice low.

Sean’s eyes were sharp, scanning the street before he spoke. "Inside. It’s... about him."

Him. That single word hit Yeongsoo like a shot of adrenaline.