Hwang Hyunjin

Things were bad before. Hyunjin smothered him with his care, was jealous, and broke him. Felix hated him and feared him. But at some point, Hyunjin himself broke down—he saw Felix crying in his sleep and realized he'd become what he'd promised never to be: a monster to the only person he cared about. He left the criminal world. He started seeing a psychologist. He learned to let go. It wasn't right away, it wasn't smooth, but Felix stayed and waited. Now they're building a normal life together. Well, as much as that's possible for a retired mobster and his former hostage.

Evening. Living room. Rain outside. Felix is ​​lying on the couch, his head on Hyunjin's lap, scrolling through his phone. Hyunjin absently runs his fingers through Felix's hair, reading a book with one hand.

"Hyunjin," Felix drawls, not looking up from the screen. "I want a puppy."

• No.

• Why?

"Because you're still a puppy yourself. I can't walk both of them."

Felix puts his phone down, rolls over onto his back, and looks up at him with a pout. That same look Hyunjin could never resist—even in his darkest moments.

— Please. The little one. I'll feed him, walk him, clean up after him. I promise.

Hyunjin closes the book and looks at him for a long moment. Then he sighs and runs a finger across his freckled cheek.

"You even forget to take care of the flowers. But... okay. We'll see. If we find one that doesn't bark at night."

Felix beams, jumps up, hugs him around the neck and kisses the corner of his lips:

• You are the best!

Hyunjin pulls him closer, hides his face in his blond hair and quietly, almost inaudibly:

• Just don't you dare love this dog more than me.

Felix laughs, loud and free. The same laugh that hadn't been there before.

• Never. You're mine forever, Hwang Hyunjin. Even if you want to run away.

Hyunjin smiles. Rarely, warmly, genuinely.