Chapter 94 - Compensation

"Sorry for yelling at you earlier, Zeng ge. I was just so desperate to make you stay and lost my cool. Now I am feeling bad about it." Yul said, nuzzling against him. His hands and legs were wrapped around Zeng as they relaxed on the bed. Yul was making up for all the months that he was deprived of physical touch. If he were fine, they would have even done the deed but Mr Doctor was strict about the 'no physical strain on the body' policy till he fully recovered. "Also sorry for making you worry. I will be more careful from now on."

Zeng hummed, "It's alright. I know you didn't mean harm and I just want you to be safe, too."

"I know but if I chicken out, who is going to keep you safe?" Yul asked and Zeng looked at him, puzzled.

Yul took his boyfriend's face in his hands, "I too want you to be safe. I am just trying to build a better place for you to live in. I see crimes on a daily basis. Some of them are petty, some are insane and it scares me to think what will happen if it somehow reaches you.

This world is a cruel place, Zeng ge. There has to be someone to maintain law and order. I am trying my best so that no crimes can reach up to you and all others."

He opened his palm as a deal. "So let's build a world together… where I will protect and you will heal, where everybody is safe, where there's no fear, no hate and where people understand each other."

Zeng nodded understandingly, accepting the hand and intertwining their fingers, "Alright, Officer Wang. Let's try our best to make it a reality." He smiled and moved up to kiss Yul but the other man backed away.

"Huh...why?" Zeng asked, utterly confused and a bit whiny.

"I am angry and upset. You left me back then. You broke up with me." Yul pouted.

"Sorry," came a quick apology.

"I was really hurt."

"I am sorry."

"I was all alone for those six months."

"Sorry na Yul. Please don't be upset," Zeng pleaded, joining his hands.

"I can't forgive you like this, Zeng ge. You will have to compensate."

Now Zeng was as scared as a little bunny in front of a mighty lion after hearing Yul's dead serious tone. What compensation was he asking for? Zeng rambled his brain for some answers but it was filled with nothing but medical knowledge.

Finally, he settled on something.

"Okay!" He crossed his legs on the couch and sat in a proper posture, facing Yul. "Law of equivalent exchange. For how much I have hurt you, transfer that anger and resentment into a single punch and throw it at me. Go ahead. You can punch me for hurting you. I will take it all without any complaint this time."

Zeng nodded thrice and closed his eyes. He anticipated a slap or punch that never came his way. Instead, he felt soft lips on his own. Zeng's eyes fluttered open.

"Like I would ever hurt you, my silly Zeng ge." Yul pressed his forehead against Zeng's.

Zeng mumbled through a pout, "You don't need to be so nice to me, you know. I have already hurt you enough. I deserve a payback for all my deeds."

"First of all," Yul corrected him, "I would never hit you and second of all, about the payback, you can just be with me for the rest of my life. I consider that enough for me," he smiled. "And when the time comes, you will have to marry me."

Zeng blushed as he bit his lip, "Are you sure?" He asked, "This is how I am. I run away when it gets too much for me. I panic when I feel cornered. I might run away from you again. I am a man, I can't give you a family that you desire. Are you sure that you still want to be with me?"

Yul nodded, "I do." His eyes were filled with love, "If you run. I'll catch you and never let you go. If you ever feel cornered, I will give you space for as long as you want. It's okay if you panic I will be here to soothe you. I don't need to form a family as long as I have you. So please don't ever worry about that.

Your every side, every shade, I accept it. I love your whole being Zeng ge and that's never gonna change."

Zeng hugged him immediately and started crying again. "I love you too. I am so sorry I couldn't understand you till now. I am so sorry." He kept wailing, crying his eyes out for hours.

Yul gently patted his head, "It's alright, Zeng ge. Everything is fine now. We are fine."

……..

The next day, Yul's parents arrived. They were sweetly surprised by the reunion of the lovely pair.

Zeng blushed throughout as Mrs Wang kept on praising his decision and told him how much she had missed him. Yul once again felt that Zeng was their real son and he was the neighbour's child as he looked at the love his boyfriend received from his parents.

Mr Wang gave Zeng a proud welcoming hug. "Thank you," he said, patting his back. Both the elders were extremely happy for the younger ones.

Zeng also informed his parents about his decision. They too were overjoyed. It already felt like they were coming out to the entire world and we're getting accepted. Though that might be possible in the future, for now, they were content in their small world with the most important people in their lives.

However, the reunited couple had a nagging at the back of their heads as if they were forgetting something important.

"Don't you think we are missing out on something?" Yul asked, scratching his head. "I feel like I am forgetting something."

Zeng shrugged, "I can feel it too. But everything is fine so I am not bothered about it."

They passed it off as nothing.. But later that very day, they came to know what, more precisely who, had kept them feeling uneasy and it certainly was not a gentle reminder.