“Please play with Riki again, please don’t leave again.”

The rush of panic was immediate, Heeseung felt almost helpless when Riki ran towards Jake instead, dodging him and hugging the latter who looked just as much shocked by the abruptness of the situation.

Riki’s face was red, hair stuck out in all directions that indicated he’d been sleeping until now and the initial panic which settled inside Heeseung was now melting off to pure distress instead. Jake looked like he wanted to cry right then and there along with Riki and the sight pinched his heart more than he’d like to admit. It was only a few moments ago where they were arguing again, where Heeseung was so close to persuading the younger man to stay.

“Riki let—” He tries to pry the child away, give Jake the space he needed after such a revelation as this. But Riki doesn’t budge, only clings tighter to Jake who looks like he’ll pass out soon. “No! Stay!”

The sheer volume of his screech makes Jake flinch and Heeseung frowns, feeling his frustration bubble inside. It doesn’t even help that Heeseung knows why his son is acting this way, he knows how attached his son had already gotten to Jake and just how much both him and Riki would suffer if Jake decides against the offer given to him. He doesn’t want that to happen. Heeseung doesn’t want Jake to leave.

He catches his son’s elbow, “Riki—” But Jake stops him, takes him by surprise when he grabs onto Heeseung’s wrist to make him let go.

Heeseung freezes up, it’s not even the first time that Jake had touched him. Heck, it might be one in a thousand other touches, but it still makes Heeseung falter in his movements because this touch felt new, it felt different than what they’ve done before and Heeseung just feels his heart squeeze inside his chest when he catches Jake’s reassuring smile.

How was it possible that someone could make him so downright nervous, yet so enamored and spellbound at the same time?

The moment he lets go, Riki was already clawing at Jake’s elbow and asking to be picked up. Heeseung steps back and watches as Jake immediately scoops him up in his arms, a sight so familiar to Heeseung’s eyes right now that it’d be foolish for him to even think of it being a regular occurrence. For god’s sake, it’s only been twice that he saw Jake and Riki together.

“But I have to go home, Riki-ah.” His words have more of an effect on Heeseung than he’s aware of, it’s not only Riki who’s about to cry again but also Heeseung who finds his hands curling into tight fists. He shoves them inside his pant pockets, tucking his bottom lip under his teeth to stop himself from saying anything that’d ruin it any further.

If Jake doesn’t want to stay then Heeseung has no choice but to let go, he knows. And yet it hurts, it makes him want to make a scene and fall to his knees to beg.

“If I don't go home and rest then how will I come back again tomorrow to play with you?”

This makes Heeseung pause, the words all tangle and loop inside his mind, all characters and syllables mixing to give the same result, the same reassurance.

“You will play with Riki tomorrow too?”

Heeseung didn’t expect to see that same smile on Jake, the same one which continues to tug at his heartstrings and makes him feel all warm inside. The same smile which makes Jake look so maternal that Heeseung can’t help but get his hopes up.

“Mmm.” The sight of Riki leaning closer when Jake extends a hand up to wipe at his flushed cheek is beyond endearing. Heeseung watches with his heart in his mouth as they converse.

“And after tomorrow?”

“After tomorrow, and the day after that, and again and again until little Riki is tired of me already.” The sound of Jake’s giggle tingles his senses, makes him close his eyes and sigh out in relief.

The next time he opens his eyes again, Riki is smiling and giggling as well, shaking his small head cutely and hugging Jake tight. “That’s never going to happen!”

Heeseung almost feels paralyzed in his spot, he just stares, no words out of his mouth and fists still curled inside his pockets. Jake said yes. Jake will stay. Jake won’t leave.

There will be a future with Jake.

He didn’t realize when Jake had glanced back up in his direction but when their eyes finally met again, Heeseung couldn’t help the smile which took over his features almost immediately.

There will be a future with Jake.

Heeseung finds himself moving without thought, he approaches closer—thankfully, because just as he moves one step, Jake loses his balance and stumbles back. Heeseung catches him before he falls, fingers tight on his slim elbow as he steadies the younger man. “Easy there—”

Jake’s eyes are wide and he looks too pretty from up close like this. It’s been too long since Heeseung was even able to look at his face properly, admire the eyes which haunted him even in his waking hours and stare at those lips which he wanted to kiss so badly for years.

Will he be able to in the future? Heeseung sure hopes he can because if Jake continues to be this close to him, he can’t promise to control himself even if he wanted.

Heeseung looks up to meet Jake’s eyes again, a smile blooming back on his lips almost immediately. Riki giggles as he leans his small head on his father’s chest and Heeseung finds his heart finally feeling whole again.

“Thankyou.”