Chapter Text
Joonhwi woke up to sunlight, white rays of sun that blinded him for daring to sleep past his normal waking hour.
He scrubbed his eyes, wakefulness slow to come, until he remembered who he’d brought home with him last night.
Sol poked her head through the bedroom door, smirking when she saw him awake.
“Finally.”
She plunked down on her side of his bed, wearing his favorite hoodie like she belonged there. Because she did. Of course, she did.
“I’ve been debating between a splash of cold water or a mug full of scalding hot coffee,” she said. “Both were promising wake-up call options.”
“Whatever happened to the good old classic alarm clock?” Joonhwi rebutted, rolling on his side so he faced her. “Or true love’s kiss?”
Sol dismissed him with a snarky huff. “I don’t think you’ll be up for any kind of loving right now. That is the face of someone with a hangover.”
“I’m fine. Do you have a hangover?” Joonhwi reached out, draping his palm on her forehead. No fever. Eyes clear and teasing. Cheeks puffy and adorable. “Are you okay?”
She took his hand from her face, squeezing before letting go. “How much trouble did I get into last night?”
“None at all.”
“Were Yeseul and Bokgi dancing to Red Velvet?”
“Yes, they were.”
“That was Jiho screaming and revealing himself while standing on the table, wasn’t it?”
“I’m glad that memory stayed with you.”
“It will be with me until my last.” She chuckled, then ran her fingers through his hair briefly. “Thanks for letting me crash. I will leave you alone soon, I promise. Byeol is waiting for me so we can wrap our present for omma that we have not purchased yet.”
“Stay.” He might have blurted the word out too strongly. “For breakfast, at least.”
“I’ve had your miracle soup.” Sol grinned proudly. “Told you it was good to teach me the recipe. Now, sit up and wait a sec.”
Joonhwi only had time to think about how Sol looked like home in his clothes and how he never wanted her to leave when she was back, bearing a tray.
The scent of something delicious wafted towards him as she arranged the tray on his lap. She picked up the spoon and thrust it in his hand.
“It won’t be as good as yours, obviously. So shut up and just eat.”
His stomach felt warm already, just gazing at the food she made for him, in his kitchen, after she’d woken from his bed. When he turned to her, he must have looked it—touched and overjoyed, a familiar pang blooming in his chest.
She raised her eyebrows at him, looking confused then worried at his silence.
He smiled at her. He took a healthy slurp of soup and felt warmth flood him.
“Okay?” she asked, the first time he’d heard her sound nervous.
“It’s great.”
“Liar.”
“Just a tiny bit more spice but it’s perfect.”
Sol nodded like she was taking serious notes. “Got it. Thank you for your feedback.”
Then it was her hand on his forehead, her face marred with concern. “I found medicine in your bathroom cabinet. There’s hot water in the kettle and honey for tea. Tell me what else you need.”
“You.”
“I’m here. I can stay a bit if you need to—”
“I need you.” Joonhwi made sure she caught the way he was looking at her, tried to ground her with him by taking her hands in both of his. “You, always. I’m in love with you, Kang Sol. I’m comprehensively, stupidly in love with you.”
She drew back from his touch, looking at him like he was Yangcrates’ puzzle. The longer she didn’t speak and just stared at him, the more his heart raced and stuttered. The more breathing felt like a forgotten instinct.
“You’re telling me this now,” Sol said slowly, brows furrowed. “At 8 in the morning in front of my bland soup.”
“Your soup is perfect. And if I wait any longer, my head’s going to explode. Or I’m going to lose you.”
Joonhwi moved the tray away and turned his body toward her. He ached to reach for her again but her hands were fists on her lap.
“I’ve asked you,” she said stiffly. “If this is all you wanted with me and you said—”
“Nothing. I said nothing. I’m sorry.”
“Why the hell would you do that, you stupid genius?”
“I’ve been a coward.”
“So have I.” Sol buried her face in her hands, groaning the way she did after an exam. Joonhwi wanted nothing but to hold her, to apologize and confess over and over.
When her eyes lifted back to his, they were wet and flashing.
“Who propositions her best friend to be her fuck buddy when she’s head over heels for him? Who does that?”
“I enjoy being your fuck buddy,” Joonhwi said quickly. “But it’s been painful too, going back to the fact that I’m completely gone for you. I want everything with you.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Sol?”
She’d said it. Words he only dared imagine she would. Feelings he only hoped she could reciprocate. In the years of their friendship and in the months of them being physical, the line between them had been a constant. It was nudged and it moved and blurred but it was there, and he respected it.
But now he’d dared tell her how he felt, dared ask for more, and she was looking at him like she loved him too.
She looked very annoyed with him, sure, but with love.
Joonhwi grasped her fingers, silently coaxing.
Sol rolled her eyes, reaching out and cradling his face in her palm.
“I’m in love with you too, Han Joonhwi.”
Warmth, more than the most perfect soup could ever flood him with. Happiness that was bigger than he felt capable of handling. All in this small moment. All due to those few, precious words.
“It’s really good soup,” he said, grinning like the giddy boy that he was. “I promise I will eat it all later. For now, may I kiss you?”
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”
He laughed, kissing her silly. Kissing her like it was the first time he could do this, press his lips against hers with all the care and need he felt, all the attention and want he’d longed to pour on her. He held her cheek in his hand and felt her heartbeat in the other, felt it pound under his palm. She pulled him to her until she was pinned beneath him on the bed, and he felt her welcome his weight, his heat, all of him, felt how much she needed him when she opened her mouth and swiped her tongue on his lips, when she said his name and whispered how she loved him.
“I love you. I love you. I love you, Kang Sol,” he whispered on her skin, this newfound freedom of honesty in words overwhelming. “You’re all I want.”
“Good. I couldn’t figure out what to get you for Christmas.”
Joonhwi chuckled, kissing her nose, nibbling her bottom lip.
“I’m easy. Just an endless supply of true love’s kiss.”
“Oh, is that so?” Sol rolled them to their side, wrapping her limbs around him like she meant never to let go, and kissed him again, sweet and heady and full of promise as the night before Christmas. “So easy.”
The end