strings & bullets┃hajeongwoo (under revision)

〚 ch: twenty-two 〛

jeongwoo woke up with the smell of pancakes and a rumble in his stomach. he slowly opened his eyes and noticed that haruto was no longer beside him. he turned to the window as the sun made him glow as it peeked through the window with the wind blowing in.

the sun was then blocked from his face by a figure, shielding his eyes from the bright rays. it was haruto, with jio on his arms, smiling down on him.

"good morning papa!"

"good morning woo"

he chuckled softly as the two greeted him simultaneously. he sat on the bed, slowly pulling himself up and reaching out his arms to jio. haruto sat on the bed and slid jio into jeongwoo's arms, smiling as he watched jio giggle as his father tickled him.

"no work today?" haruto asks softly

jeongwoo turned to face him, "yup, i'll be out for work the next month"

haruto nodded, there's no need for him to be here then? jeongwoo can probably take care of jio now that he's free, he can call him next month.

"what's with that face? you're staying here ruto, there's no need to leave" jeongwoo assured him as he stood up from the bed and walked to the door with jio on his arms

"what?" the officer looked back, "stop staring, you cooked breakfast right? let's go eat"

"let's go daddy!" jio exclaimed

haruto chuckled, what a great sight to see. yep, he's definitely staying here.

"haruto, please don't tell me you're scared?" jeongwoo asks in disbelief, staring at haruto, who is standing still and looking down.

after breakfast, the three decided to go out for the day. play some games and do some activities; haruto even suggested that they go zip-lining. of course, jio isn't permitted to do so, so he's down in the shed with jihoon and hyunsuk.

"woo," haruto trailed off, now looking at jeongwoo with pleading eyes "i love you, but please don't make me do this."

what? did haruto just? jeongwoo sighed, the man is obviously scared that he bluntly said those words to him.

jeongwoo snickered, "you idiot, you're the one who suggested to do this" he then lightly smacked the back of his head

"ya," haruto stared at him as he held the back of his head "park jeongwoo, how dare you" a dramatic gasp then came out from his mouth

jeongwoo rolled his eyes and mimicked haruto's words, he then laughed when he earned a slap on his arm from haruto.

"seriously, i'm not kidding. i can't do this woo, it so freaking high!" haruto exclaimed as he looked down again

"then i'll go with you"

"ruto! stop screaming!" jeongwoo exclaimed.

he did as he said, he went with haruto because he is afraid. however, he is now regretting his decision.

"j- jeEONGWOO AAAAAAAAHHH!! AAAAAAAAAA!!" haruto's loud screams pierced through the air, jeongwoo can only cover his ears with both of his hands. it's hurting his ears, how can he scream like this? his voice is so deep that jeongwoo never thought he could actually scream so loud

"MY EARS HARUTO, MY EARS, STOP!!"

"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO- AAAAAAAAAA!! MOOOOOOOOM!!" haruto cried out again and linked his arm with jeongwoo.

"I'M NOT GOING WITH YOU NE-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"

"he's a scaredy cat uncle" jio giggles, pertaining to haruto as he talked with jihoon.

"your uncle suk is a scaredy cat too pfft" jihoon told him, both laughed as hyunsuk turned his head to jihoon.

hyunsuk nudged him "ya, what are you saying?"

jeongwoo was too focused on haruto who's spacing out to even pay attention to the three.

he laughed, "ruto, are you okay?"

haruto nodded in response as he gave him an 'okay' sign, he then turned to jeongwoo now cocking his eyebrows and his arms crossed "well that was easy, it's not scary at all"

"hyunsuk hyung, you should try it next time!" he told the older, confidence in his tone as if he didn't scream a while ago.

all four of them stared at him, now silent. haruto's brows furrowed and tsked, now turning his head to the side and waved his hand.

"what? that was so ea-" he was about to tell them it was easy but they suddenly interrupted him

"you screamed so loud"

"daddy, i can still hear you screaming"

"i'm good haruto"

"we'll just pretend you didn't scream your lungs out"

haruto groaned as the four of them laughed at him, clearly enjoying picking on him. the older ones returned to talking to jio and feeding him food that hyunsuk had purchased, while jeongwoo remained silent as his eyes was fixed on the view. the tree swayed with the wind as the sun shone down on his tanned skin, his hair fluttering in the breeze.

haruto's lips twitched as he stared at jeongwoo, he'll never forget how jeongwoo offered to accompany him so he wouldn't be afraid.

"stop staring." jeongwoo murmurs, refusing to look at the man beside him.

haruto chucked and leaned forward as his hand rested against his chin, looking even closer as he takes in jeongwoo's visual.

"tell me how to stop when you look so handsome" he whispered

jeongwoo's eyes widened as he turned to face haruto, he can feel butterflies in his stomach as he watched haruto adorably smiling at him.

"what?"

haruto shrugged and scooted closer, now resting his head on jeongwoo's shoulder.

"thank you." he says softly

jeongwoo was careful not to move, "for what?" he asks him

"for keeping me company so i won't feel scared"

jeongwoo smiled and turned to face the view again, "it's nothing. but yeah, welcome ruto"

haruto faced him, his chin still resting on jeongwoo's shoulder. "you look handsome, really" he told him again

jeongwoo laughed and covered haruto's eyes for a second before pulling his hand away, "stop that"

they exchanged glances, now chuckling as their gazes met. haruto scooted closer as they both watched the field, some kids running and some families eating as they sat on picnic blankets. the area was surrounded by trees and flowers that were perfectly placed, and a few butterflies flew around. haruto smiled as he felt jeongwoo's head resting on top of his.

it's even better with you woo.

cc.