Chapter 49 - Home

Zeng set the last of his boxes on the porch of the tall residential building in which he would be living from now on. His things were packed and shifted and here he was now, at Yul's place.

He decided to arrange the necessary ones and save everything else for later because Yul had wanted to do everything on his own and make Zeng just sit and watch as he did all the work. The doctor viciously disagreed and they ended up saving some work for later which they would be doing together.

"Fine but you are not lifting anything heavy," Yul had warned him beforehand. Even if he had good intentions in mind, Zeng took it as belittling.

"I am not some fragile princess. I can do it," Zeng retorted back. He hated people looking down on him like that. But it wasn't Yul's intention. He just wanted his love to have less work.

"Zeng ge," he said when the doctor looked bummed out, "I only said that because you are not built to do physical labour work. I have been trained so I can handle it. As a police officer, it is my job to protect people, remember? You are also under my protection."

Zeng had no answer to that but just scoffed and agreed to it because it was true. Again he thought he should have joined a gym but it was nearly impossible to do so, given his lifestyle and job.

Ultimately, he ended up carrying the lesser weighing boxes and Yul did the heavier work.

When shifting was done, it appeared to them that the house seemed more filled now with the addition of Zeng's things and Yul was quite happy about that. It had been a house till yesterday but it felt like a home now.

Zeng rearranged many things that he wanted to do, like making space for his things in the kitchen, the addition of potted plants on the balcony and so on. Yul had given him free rein because he didn't care about the order of his things but about the person.

They had kept everything simple but classy. Both didn't know who would be visiting them but parents would eventually be on that list. They decided on paying everything every alternate month. Anything extra would be on Zeng. He had decided to take the responsibility since he was the older one and more financially capable in their relationship with raise in his salary due to the promotion. Yul had just started earning and Zeng wanted the boy to learn and save money, no matter how desperately he wanted to spend it.

"I am paying for it, Zeng ge. That's final." Yul crossed his arms over his chest to show his determination. But Zeng wasn't having it, "I already told you, I can take care of it, Yul." He had tried to make him understand but to no avail. "With all due respect, my income is higher. And it's not like I am rejecting your money. It's just… I want to take care of you. I am capable of it, so let me do it. You can save your money or invest it, however you want. Just in this matter, let me take care of you. Hm?"

He held Yul's larger hand in his own. The shorter man was still frowning. "I am already saving some part since my first pay," he said with a huff but refused to answer for what when Zeng inquired.

"Please, Yul," Zeng urged. "Let me do it." He pouted and God forbid if Yul dismissed him now. Yul would lose all anger with one loving look from Zeng. He had never been good at saying no to the doctor. He sighed, "Fine, you are paying for all the festivities and emergencies."

Zeng nodded with a victorious smile and kissed the corner of Yul's lips. "Come on now. We still have to clean the other room." He pulled Yul towards the said room, who followed him with the necessary equipment.

When everything was well to go, Zeng saw the wall opposite the balcony. It was devoid of any material, entirely blank. After days of staying here, it was the first time he realised that this particular side didn't have anything from its owner. An idea sparked in his mind.

"Do you have a framed photo?" He asked eagerly.

"Huh? I mean, I do but-"

"Go get it, please!" He requested eagerly and Yul obliged. He came back with the frame of him in his younger days with his parents on either side of him.

Zeng took a moment to admire the picture. He smiled, taking the frame and hanging it up on the wall. "That looks good," he said, satisfied with his work. Yul wrinkled his nose. He didn't look good in that picture with that terrible hairstyle, looking back at it now made him grimace at his past choices of hairstyles. He had only kept it because he missed his parents and seeing that photo would make him feel better.

"Well, I am also going to frame this picture of yours," Zeng held up his phone to show his wallpaper.

"Hell no!" Yul screamed and tried snatching his phone away, failing.

"Hell yeah! You were so cute! There's no way I am letting this go! Baby Yul is a national treasure!" He said it with such excitement that Yul could only sigh and agree, getting his cheeks pinched again. He saw as Zeng put on some more frames on the wall, occupying a tiny section of the large place.

He turned to Yul and took his hands in his own, "These are your precious memories," he said, "From now on, we are going to make lots of new ones, capture them and hang it here. We will go visit many nice places if we have holidays together, eat delicious food and take lots of pictures with friends and family to fill the entire wall."

Yul bit his lips harshly to stop the tears. He looked away, suddenly deciding to admire the beautiful potted plants on the balcony.

"You are not crying, are you?" Zeng asked, holding his face in his palms, and making Yul face him again.

"Nope," Yul quickly wiped the deer before it could fall from his lashes. "It's just… some dust in the air, it's stinging my eyes."

Zeng suppressed a laugh but Yul caught him and sent a cute glare. Mr Tough Guy would always try to hide his emotional side. Zeng kissed the pouty lips and made a promise, "I would try my best to make you as happy as you make me feel, Yul. I hate tears in your eyes just like you hate in mine. So please don't cry." He said, wiping his lover's eyes. But when Yul refused to show him his face, Zeng threatened, "If you don't stop crying now, I will take a photo of you and frame it and put it on the wall for everyone to see."

That worked as Yul sniffled for the last time and got back to his stoic self. Zeng ruffled his hair before pulling him to his chest, wrapping comforting arms around him and placing kisses on his head. Yul hugged him back, snuggling against him. He felt at ease, his body relaxed and mind cleansed of all worries and fears. He felt at home.

Home was not a place anymore. It was a person.. Zeng was that person for Yul and Yul for Zeng.