Chapter 13: Let's Be Together

The soft knock on the door came minutes later — hesitant, barely audible.

Sherri’s breath caught in her throat. YoungBok looked up from where he sat, wiping his face quickly, heart racing.

He stood up and walked to the door.

And when it opened… Hyunjin stood there.

Eyes red. Lips trembling. Breath ragged from running. His coat half-buttoned, hair messy like he hadn't cared how he looked — only that he got here fast enough.

The moment his eyes found Sherri sitting on the bed, his entire body seemed to collapse inward.

“Sherri…” he whispered, voice breaking.

She stood up slowly.

And he rushed forward — dropping his bag, forgetting the world — wrapping his arms around her like if he didn’t hold her tight enough, she’d vanish again.

His chest heaved as sobs wracked through him.

“I thought I lost you,” he cried. “I thought you were gone for good.”

She hugged him back, fingers curling into the fabric of his jacket. “I’m so sorry, Jinnie… I didn’t want to hurt you. I just… I thought it was the only way.”

YoungBok stepped closer, watching them. His heart ached, but this time, not with jealousy — with relief.

“I told her,” he said gently, voice still raw. “I told her I was wrong. That I was selfish.”

Hyunjin looked at him over Sherri’s shoulder, eyes wide and shining.

“I told her I’m ready,” YoungBok continued, voice shaking. “Ready to share you. If it means we can be whole again. If it means I get to see you happy again. I’m sorry, Hyunee. I’m so, so sorry.”

Hyunjin reached out a hand, pulling YoungBok into the hug without hesitation.

And there they stood — all three of them tangled in one another, crying, holding on like their lives depended on it.

“Let’s be happy,” YoungBok whispered into the silence. “Let’s be together. No more running. No more hurting. I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I don’t want to lose either of you.”

“I don’t want to lose you,” Hyunjin whispered back, voice cracking.

Sherri just nodded against their shoulders, too overwhelmed to speak.

“Forever,” YoungBok said. “Together.”

The emotional weight of it all left them drained. They collapsed onto the small bed, the three of them fitting tightly, but not caring. Hyunjin lay in the middle, his arms clinging to both Sherri and YoungBok. Sherri curled into his right side, her head pressed to his chest, while YoungBok tucked himself into the other, their fingers laced tightly around Hyunjin’s.

Their bodies trembled with the aftershocks of everything — fear, heartbreak, regret, love — tangled so deeply it felt impossible to separate.

None of them wanted to move. They lay there, sharing soft breaths and whispered words.

“I missed you so much,” Hyunjin murmured, his voice a rasp against Sherri’s hair. “Both of you.”

“We missed you too,” Sherri whispered. “Every minute.”

YoungBok gently stroked Hyunjin’s chest. “I don’t know how to undo the pain I caused… but I’ll spend forever making up for it if I have to.”

Hyunjin tightened his grip on both of them. “I’m just glad we’re here. Like this. Finally.”

A few minutes passed in silence, a soft tangle of limbs and breathing, before Sherri slowly sat up.

“I should cook something…” she said quietly. “You must be hungry.”

Hyunjin sat up slightly, his brows knitting. “You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” she said gently, brushing his cheek. “I need to do something. Feed you both. Just… stay here. I’ll make whatever I can.”

She padded to the kitchen — tiny, barely enough space to move around — and rummaged through her cabinets.

A can of beans. Some frozen vegetables. A packet of noodles. A half-used container of rice. She sighed softly.

“I don’t have much to cook…” she called out. “Should I order something?”

YoungBok and Hyunjin came into view, standing behind her, arms around each other.

Hyunjin tilted his head. “What are our options?”

“Halal chicken?” she offered. “And I’ll still cook this too. It’s not a feast, but… it’s made with love.”

“That’s more than enough,” YoungBok said warmly.

So she placed the order and got to work — sauteing the vegetables, boiling the rice, making a quick broth. The apartment smelled like warmth and comfort again. When the delivery came, she added the halal chicken to the small spread and placed everything on the floor beside the bed like a little picnic.

They sat cross-legged on the floor, still close. The food wasn’t fancy, but it didn’t need to be.

Hyunjin took a bite and closed his eyes. “This is the best thing I’ve tasted in weeks.”

YoungBok grinned and nodded, mouth full. “I could cry.”

“You already did,” Sherri teased softly.

He looked at her and smiled — genuinely, without pain.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, they ate together — not as broken pieces, but as something whole, something healing.

After the food, after the dishes had been pushed aside and the lights dimmed, they climbed back onto the bed — still small, still cramped, but none of them complained.

Sherri curled into Hyunjin’s right side again, her fingers gently stroking his chest. YoungBok tucked in on the other side, wrapping an arm over Hyunjin and resting a hand on his waist.

The room was filled with quiet, with warmth, with something fragile but real.

Three broken hearts… slowly stitching themselves back together.

Their breaths slowed, matching, syncing.

Hyunjin’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Don’t leave me again.”

“I won’t,” Sherri replied softly.

“Never,” YoungBok promised, brushing a tender kiss on the nape of Hyunjin’s neck.

Hyunjin turned slightly, shifting closer to Sherri. His eyes found hers in the dim glow from the streetlight filtering through the curtains. There was still pain lingering in the depth of his gaze, but also love — deep and raw and eternal.

He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I love you,” he whispered, lips brushing softly over her skin. “Even when it hurts. Even when it’s hard. I always love you.”

Sherri cupped his face gently, pulling him closer, and their lips met — slow, unhurried, full of warmth and quiet ache. It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t hungry. Just a kiss that said I’m still here. I still choose you.

As they parted, she smiled softly and tucked her head under his chin again.

Then Hyunjin turned to the other side, meeting YoungBok’s eyes.

There was a moment — a pause — like time froze between them.

And then he leaned in and kissed YoungBok too.

Soft.

Sure.

Forgiving.

YoungBok let out a shaky breath against his lips. “I missed this.”

Hyunjin smiled against his mouth. “Me too.”

Their foreheads touched for a moment, resting in that space where no words were needed.

And then he lay back again, arms around both of them. Sherri curled tighter into his chest, while YoungBok nuzzled into the crook of his neck.

They kissed him again, one on each side — light kisses on his jaw, his collarbone, his cheek. He giggled softly, caught in their affection.

“I’m surrounded,” he mumbled, grinning sleepily.

“You love it,” Sherri whispered.

He did.

So much.

Their lips met again one by one — a kiss — soft, lingering, and full of everything unsaid.

And finally, wrapped in each other’

s arms, the warmth of forgiveness and the quiet pulse of love surrounding them…

They drifted into sleep.

Together.

As they were always meant to be.

---