Chapter 55 - Worries Of A Lover

Zeng was putting Yul's clothes away for the laundry while the said man laid sprawled on the bed after he got changed. He had had a little too much for dinner outside that night and he was drunk. However, it wasn't their celebration at home that got him drunk.

His seniors at work had arranged a small farewell for him as soon he would be transferring from their smaller police station to another one which had the narcotics department. Under peer pressure, he had to drink a little as his colleagues had worded and Zeng wasn't too happy when he received a call from a drunk Yul to tell him how he loved him in an incoherent speech. His mumbled words asked his boyfriend to pick him up as he couldn't drive.

The doctor somehow got the location of the bar and got there with his car. When he arrived, he had the plain, long-sleeved shirt on, meaning he had come there directly from work.

They were fortunate that it wasn't Zeng's night shift or else Yul would have to manage on his own since he couldn't ride his bike while drunk.

"You should have said no," Zeng grumbled as he drove in the Friday traffic night. He had feared Yul would have told his colleagues about unnecessary stuff in his drunken state and that might have caused problems in his professional life.

"I am not saying to not drink at all but you should be more responsible," he said, knowing that Yul must have drunk quite a lot in order to be like this since his alcohol tolerance was quite high.

"They were not listening, Zeng ge. You know how my seniors are," Yul mumbled, relaxing in the passenger seat. Zeng huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Be careful next time, okay?"

Zeng glanced at Yul to see him nod before he focused his eyes on the road ahead. They reached home and Zeng had a rather difficult time dragging Yul all the way up to their apartment and changing him out of his clothes. Drunk Yul was whiny and it was a feat to make him agree to things he didn't want to do, like changing into fresh clothes.

Successfully completing all the tasks, Zeng had dumped the dirty laundry and sat on the bed where Yul was sprawled. Zeng felt him crawling up to him with a dazed smile and setting his head on the doctor's lap. Zeng smiled at the action and started playing with his hair.

"So where did you get posted? They were going to announce it today, right?" He asked. Yul hummed. He had received the official mail earlier this day and he had been sweetly surprised to know his area of posting.

"Central Bureau, Ward 6," he said with closed eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.

Zeng didn't know how to take the news. "My hospital falls under that area," he said, feeling unnerved.

"Yes, it does!" Yul seemed excited about it as his voice raised a pitch higher, "Won't it be cool? If I ever get injured you will be there to treat me?" He said casually, anticipating the doctor to be there for him whenever he got injured, giving him prompt medical attention. However, to Zeng, it wasn't such a casual thing.

His hand patting Yul's head came to an abrupt halt. A flash of memory crossing his mind of his first-ever lead surgery. His eyes darkened and his voice went rigid, "Don't ever say that."

"What?" Yul's frowned, looking up at Zeng at the sudden change of mood.

"Don't talk about you getting injured so casually," Zeng scolded. Yul snorted, "Come on. It's just a joke, Zeng ge."

"It is not something to joke about," Zeng insisted, his breathing went heavy and he wiped a hand over his face to calm his nerves down.

"Why are you getting so serious?" Yul whined as he hugged him around the waist. Zeng refused to look at him and Yul knew he messed up. His face wore guilt as his lips tugged out.

"Okay, I am sorry," he quickly apologized, realising it must be a triggering topic for Zeng, "I won't say that again." He sat up so that he could face the doctor, "Yul is sorry, Zeng ge," he said with a pout, his eyes heavy with tiredness, "Please, don't be mad at Yul."

Zeng sighed, finally looking at him, his eyes turning soft, "I am not mad at you, Yul. I am scared," Zeng admitted. "We get cases about all sorts of crimes and the victims are security personnel too. I am scared that someday you will be one of them and… and I won't be able to take that."

Yul had no answer to this. Zeng's fears were legitimate. Yul himself had thought about the possibility but that never bothered him. His beliefs had been grounded since the very beginning. If he were to be harmed on duty for the sake of justice, he would gladly welcome it. Dying as a hero would be the greatest honour he could receive. But how was he supposed to tell this to Zeng? He couldn't. He had entirely different thoughts about it.

"Do your best to not get injured, Yul," Zeng pleaded, making Yul snap out of his trance. "Promise me, you will be careful."

"Promise," Yul said smiling, looking at the serious man without a goofy grin on his face.

"Why are you smiling, idiot?" Zeng asked, annoyed. Here he was pouring his heart out and this idiot was smiling like a fool. "What?" He asked when the other didn't stop.

"Nothing," Yul shrugged, "You really love me, don't you, Zeng ge?"

Zeng glared at him in irritation, hitting his chest weakly, "You didn't know? I thought I had made myself clear."

"I know," Yul hugged him. "Sorry for making you worry. I will be a good boy." He said with a decreasing voice.

Zeng laughed, hugging him closer, "Take care of yourself. I would hate to receive you as my patient. So try not to get injured, if not for yourself at least for me."

He felt Yul hum and nod lazily and then his moments stopped. Zeng turned his head to find that Yul had fallen asleep. He laid him down and made him comfortable.. Zeng kissed him on the forehead, stroking his cheek as Yul took steady breaths, sleeping peacefully.