Chivalry Is Dead

by fieryblooms

Summary:

Sunoo called off his dream wedding in Italy because his scumbag fiancé (now ex) cheated on him. Desperate to not lose all the money he had put down due to the wedding venue's strict no-cancelation policy, he went online and offered to let anyone take over his booking at half price. His prayer was answered when a stranger commented, "I'll take it."

However, Sunoo's relief was short-lived when the stranger later said, "I'll marry you."

Notes:

Moow is based on Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop and some of the products mentioned are real. Crazy, I KNOW. What an icon. Obviously my knowledge about Beverly Hills is limited to what I saw in pop culture and romcom movies, everything else I got from google (sighs)

I have nothing against Riize. I love THEM!! They're here simply for plot purposes and Anton is just a perfect Beverly Hills resident in my head lol

Chapter 1

⊹♡

 

 

 

 

⊹♡

 

 

Sunoo had it all—the Beverly Hills dreams: his hot fiancé Anton, a pink beret-clad chihuahua Coco, and a fabulous job directing campaigns for the pseudoscientific, overpriced wellness brand Moow. His days were spent sashaying down Rodeo Drive with Coco riding in his Birkin and popping into the pretentious French bakery to casually blow his paycheck on croissants.

Everything was perfect.

Well, until Anton decided to cheat on him with a rich, lesbian looking bitchass with perfect hair named Wonbin.

Sunoo should've seen the signs when Anton switched Moow's moronically named shampoos for real brands like Olaplex and Vegamour. Sunoo knew Anton never truly respected his work, shady as Moow seemed (on that note, Sunoo couldn't defend a shampoo named "This Smells Like My Orgasm" either, he was just trying to do his job at millennial-pink workplace owned by a celebrity who had too much time and money in her hands—but hey, the money is good).

His rose gold desk plaque read "Sunoo Kim, Director of Public Relations", yes, fancy, and his job was publicizing overpriced bogus lifestyle products to rich gullible Californian women.

That meant selling a $60 "miraculous lifestyle tool" powder called "Sex Dust" to enhance sex drive. Ironically, Sunoo's own sex drive had taken a hit ever since he found out Anton had been fucking Wonbin in Sunoo's fine italian Sferra Giza 45 bed sheets over the past 5 months they had been planning for their wedding in Italy.

Sunoo sat in his pink Elroy Chair with his legs crossed as he scrolled his Instagram feed and audibly scoffed when he saw Wonbin was already posting pictures of them sipping cocktails at Wonbin's private residence in Malibu. Daddy's money probably tasted so good for them to be laughing and smiling like that just a few days after Sunoo and Anton broke off their wedding. 

His assistant Haley knocked on the glass door and rushed inside. "Sunoo, there's something urgent."

Sunoo held up one finger as he redialed Anton for the third time, finally getting an answer.

"What do you want?"

Sunoo clenched his jaw. "You still haven't canceled the wedding venue."

"They have a no-cancelation policy, what do you want me to do?"

"It's fifty-thousand dollars of my money!" Sunoo hissed. "Can't you talk to your father's country club connections or something?"

Anton scoffed loudly. “Well maybe you shouldn't have booked such an expensive place, but I guess that's what I get for enabling the groomzilla in you."

"Are you blaming this on me?" Sunoo threw his head back and let out a sarcastic, "Wow," as he sputtered with rage, "You enabled nothing but your inability to keep it in your pants, you dickhead."

"Figure it out yourself, Sunoo," Anton snarled before abruptly hanging up.

Sunoo whipped around to Haley. "Can you believe this guy? After everything I did for him?" He flung his phone violently onto a velvet cushion.

Haley shuffled her feet impatiently. "I'm sure it's really tough, but we're being sued over the "This Smells Like My Vagina" candle. Apparently it exploded in a customer's house in Calabasas. Social media is already catching on so we need to make a statement as soon as possible."

Sunoo stilled with a smile before he cracked into a gradual maniac laugh. "We're getting sued? Again? Can't catch a break, can I?" He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his forehead. Closing his eyes, he waved Haley off with his other hand. "I'll call Gwen, please leave me alone."

"There's more." Haley winced before continuing, "Gwen is still off-the-grid on her meditation retreat in Bali."

"That bitch." Sunoo's lips twitched in annoyance and his eyes cracked open. "She designed the stupid candle herself. I told her not to use water but she insisted it would 'align her chakras', what the hell was that supposed to mean?" 

Haley gave a half shrug, hand on her hip. "I mean I can keep trying her assistant."

"Forget it." Sunoo took a breath and smoothed his hair before he could have a mental breakdown with his employees watching him through the glass wall. "I'll handle the lawyers myself. Gwen wants to play a mystical chakra balanced woman? I'll do the real job and put out the fires here."

Haley nodded. "I'll get the paperwork ready," she said before slipping out of his office. 

Alone again, Sunoo collapsed back into his plush velvet chair and gazed broodingly out the floor-to-ceiling windows. Palm trees swayed under the azure blue skies—a view many would kill for.

So what if Anton was proven to be a gold-digging, social climbing cliché? So what if Gwen was being an irresponsible bitch? Sunoo was still thriving either way.

Ugh, but that $50,000 swirling down the drain was still bothering him. He was stupid enough to pay in full because he was also stupid enough to believe Anton would be faithful.

Later on lunch break, Sunoo sat outside a boutique cafe, sunglasses on and tiny Coco in his lap. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his chaotic mind and enjoy the street view.

Jungwon finally showed up and slid into the chair before him, eyebrows raised. "Aren't you supposed to be dealing with that vagina candle crisis? I saw it on Instagram."

Sunoo forced a chuckle. "Moow can survive one day without me."

Jungwon's eyes narrowed. "Uh huh. And I saw Anton with Wonbin at his beach house?"

At the mention of Anton, Sunoo's facade cracked. He took off his sunglasses and his eyes were as dead as Ellen DeGeneres' career. "Funny that you mentioned that."

Jungwon leaned back casually in his wrought iron chair, waving the waiter over. "I'll take an iced vanilla latte and a slice of the strawberry cake, thanks." As the waiter sauntered away, Jungwon turned back to Sunoo. "You know, this is sooner than I thought. I always assumed that I'd eventually have to represent you in a divorce from Anton, I was prepared."

Sunoo shot him a look. "Is this how you divorce attorney does business? You keep your eyes on a doomed relationship and wait until it falls apart to make your banks? Baby, that's evil."

"I just know a divorce material couple when I see one. These eyes have seen more failed relationships than successful ones." Jungwon shrugged nonchalantly. "But divorce is pricier, you dodged a bullet."

Sunoo's expression blanked as he stared at the palm trees swaying along the road. The lunch crowd chatter seemed to fade into the background. "Except now I'm out $50 grand for the wedding costs. They don't do refunds."

"Could you transfer the booking?"

Sunoo lifted his head, considering this possibility. "I mean... maybe?"

"Post it online. It's a popular venue, right? Give it at half price." Jungwon then gave the tanned, muscular waiter in his snug black t-shirt a sweet smile as he brought Jungwon's order. "I think one of those pretentious D-lister celebrities or influencers will take it, they love a good social climbing bargain."

"I don't know..." Sunoo hesitated, skepticism in his eyes. "Who wants to plan a wedding in just 4 months?" He groaned, dropping his head into his hands. "Ugh, the invitations too. I have to cancel them. It's so embarrassing."

Jungwon gave him a reassuring look as he put his hand on the table. "Hey, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Anton's the one who messed up here."

"I know, but still. I invited my whole family from Seoul. They were already annoying about me having a gay wedding, and now I'm proving their point that it won't work out."

"Listen to me. Your family is wrong. This wasn't a failure of you being gay, it was a failure of Anton being a cheating douchebag—" Jungwon determinedly pointed to Sunoo, "—who didn't deserve you."

Sunoo couldn't help but crack a small smile at his friend's words. Jungwon didn't stop there, he continued, "The right guy is out there. And your family will eventually see that it's possible for you. This is just a bump in the road."

"You always know just what to say. How would I ever survive without you?" He let out an exaggerated dreamy sigh, then dropped the act and frowned at his amused friend. "But seriously, thank you," he said sincerely. "I know I'm a chaotic mess lately. Having you in my corner means a lot."

Jungwon chuckled. "That's what a best friend is for. You'd do the same if I was the one with the cheating ex and canceled wedding nightmare. Although, I doubt I will ever get married at all." He gave Sunoo's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "But sure, hypothetically."  

Sunoo tilted his head knowingly, eyes glinting with implication. "Jungwon, you know what they say—you attract what you hate."

Jungwon let out an exaggerated gasp in mock offense. "Wealth? Me? I loathe it, truly." He pretended to shudder dramatically.

Sunoo just smirked, seeing right through the dramatics. "Sure you do."

Jungwon dropped the act and laughed. "Alright, fine. But marriage? Over my dead body."

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo 💕 @sunookims:

Do you dream of an iconic destination wedding in Lake Como, Italy but don't have the budget? Well, today's your lucky day, babes! 

I was supposed to have my dream wedding there in four months, but due to a certain cheating ex, I now find myself with a paid booking I can't use 😭💔

This is your chance to have a gooorgeous wedding without spending an arm and a leg! I'm offering my booking at half price—that's right, 50% off the normal rate! What a deal, right?! Venue holds 180 guests. The price includes 3 nights accommodation for the bride & groom. Catering, music, flowers etc. not included but I have all the recommendations ready for you. DM me for details!

Ciao bellas! 🇮🇹

 

Sunoo leaned back on his plush velvet sofa, a mud mask covering his face and a headband holding back his hair. After cracking his knuckles, he scrolled through the responses to his post, his laptop glowing in the dimly lit living room as he refreshed impatiently.

Most were just his celebrity friends mindlessly reposting it. He rolled his eyes as his feed flooded with their virtue showing support as it seemed that they were only interested in highlighting the fact that he had been cheated on. A few sketchy accounts slid into his DMs offering to take the booking, but he deleted them right away.

Finally a message popped up from @sh.park: "I'll take it."

The display name was shown as "Sunghoon" and he was followed by Sunoo's Korean friends who were in fintech and business, it was a good sign. The profile itself was sparse with no bio. Only highlights that were titled with various country flag emojis—South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, and Europe countries.

Sunoo gleaned little about Sunghoon as a person, but the account gave off an air of understated luxury. There were no flashy designer logos or over the top wealth displays. Just tasteful travel shots and occasional personal pictures showing typical rich Asian hobbies—golf, wine tasting, and horse riding. Everything was precisely curated and intentionally vague. 

But he stopped cold when he finally found a clear picture of Sunghoon's face.

Sunghoon was godly levels of good looking—smooth fair skin, jet black hair, tall, and perfectly proportional features. He oozed elegance and expensive taste, judging from his tailored Italian suits, luxury watches—nothing too loud, but only the finest. The dead give away was the standard trophy son family photo, with Sunghoon posing stiffly between his picture-perfect parents. 

Sunoo couldn't help but scoff.

Because 18 year old Sunoo had acquired his taste through countless hours spent scrolling into the depths of Tumblr, vicariously living through Gossip Girl and Legally Blonde. He was both awed and offended by Sunghoon's effortless poise. 

The last straw for Sunoo was when he absentmindedly clicked on Sunghoon's story. The image that greeted him was a mirror gym selfie showing him flexing biceps with tank top straining against his muscles. Sunoo gasped, hand flying to his chest to contain the offense he felt. 

Sunoo was struggling to keep his eyes from wandering downwards, knowing it was wrong to be eyeing someone else's man's package. But whoever this man was marrying was in for an absolute treat.

Bottom line, Sunoo decided Sunghoon seemed trustworthy enough on the surface. He clicked follow and responded to the initial message: "Hi, Sunghoon! I can share all the wedding booking details if you're interested in taking it over."

The reply came quickly: "Sure, that would be great. Shall we discuss this further over brunch tomorrow? Let me know if you have time."

"Brunch works for me. I know just the spot."

 

⊹♡

 

The next day Sunghoon showed up looking casually stylish. His beige linen shirt perfectly fitted his frame, the top few buttons left undone, and tailored slacks grazed polished oxfords. A pair of designer sunglasses perched on his collar and his hair effortlessly swept back.

Sunoo couldn't help stealing glances as the waiter brought their order. 

Shit, he looks even better in person.

"It took months to book this spot, I was on a waiting list for almost a year. Emily Blunt had her wedding there!" He effused dramatically and rambled on about the view of the shimmering lake and surrounding mountains. Sunghoon didn't say much and simply nodded along, face unreadable. He was barely checking the pictures and pamphlets Sunoo had spread on the table.

"Okay," was all he said.

Sunoo deflated slightly. "Don't you need to consult your partner first? I can wait. I mean, not too long, but I understand this could be a big decision."

"No need." Sunghoon met his gaze directly. "I'll marry you."

Sunoo recoiled, nearly knocking over his glass. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I'll marry you," Sunghoon repeated calmly, reaching over to take a sip of his tea. Sunoo just gaped wordlessly as he continued, "You need someone to take the booking. I need a spouse. It's convenient." 

Sunghoon's nonchalant tone in particular left Sunoo reeling. "Wait, you want to marry ME? You don't even know me."

Sunghoon tilted his head. "Oh, do you want a better proposal?"

Sunoo's head was spinning as he shoved pamphlets haphazardly into his padfolio. This brunch had taken one hell of an unexpected turn. Wait, was this a Hallmark movie and Sunoo was just living in it? Sunoo glanced around warily, half convinced hidden cameras would emerge and he'd find himself trapped in real-life Truman Show.

"I uh, I have to go," he muttered, throwing some cash on the table. Sunghoon followed as Sunoo rushed out onto the bustling cafe lined street, weaving through the crowds.

"Oh my God, he's following me," Sunoo whispered to himself, eyes widening in panic. He broke into a brisk walk, shoes echoing on the concrete.

Alas, Sunghoon's long strides caught up quickly. Making Sunoo halt and whirl around.

"Stop! If you don't want the venue, I'll find another person."

"But I do want it," Sunghoon replied evenly. "I told you, I'll marry you."

Sunoo let out an incredulous laugh, rubbing his temples. This conversation was going in maddening circles.

"That's insane, you don't even know me." Sunoo extended a hand out warningly. "Stop following me or I'll call the police."

With that, he spun on his heel and strode away, ignoring Sunghoon calling after him. 

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo sat zoning out in the pink and gold conference room, absently scrolling through his phone. He was only half listening as Haley clicked through slides about their new campaign for Moow's latest perfume, "This Smells Like My Bank Account"

He cringed internally. After the candle fiasco he thought they were done with Gwen's ridiculous "This Smells Like" ideas because it obviously stank. But of course, that New Age bitch was back at it.

Finally looking up, Sunoo caught Haley's expectant gaze. Sunoo squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. "Wrap it up. I think we can go with this."

Sunoo smoothed his features into a convincing smile. Inside, his mind was still a mess after what happened that morning. Sunghoon's handsome face… that ridiculous proposal… Sunoo shook himself mentally. He had to focus. He was at work, not some cheesy rom-com.

Sunoo returned to his glass office and sank into his chair with a sigh. He then swiveled to face the window, absently dialing Jungwon.

"Hey, you busy?" he asked when Jungwon picked up.

"Just finished a messy divorce hearing. What's up?"  

"Do you know anyone who'll be interested in my wedding venue?" 

"After what I saw all day? No one's rushing to the altar," Jungwon chuckled ruefully.

Sunoo dragged a hand down his face. "Yeah, figured as much..."

"Still on for Heeseung's housewarming party tonight?"

Sunoo groaned. "Pass. Anton's invited. I'd rather avoid that."

"Want me to pick up the gift for you?"

"I can handle it, but thanks babe," Sunoo replied, gazing over the glimmering city view.

"No problem. Call if you need anything!"

Sunoo smiled slightly as he hung up. Glancing at his watch, he figured he had time to kill before his next meeting. So he grabbed his black Prada velvet blouson off the hanger and headed out, telling Haley he'd be back after lunch.

At his favorite home boutique, he perused the displays, selecting a set of marble coasters and a couple of Diptyque candles for Heeseung's gift. But when he was about to line up and pay, his heart dropped.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. 

There, by the linen displays, was Sunghoon. He was intently speaking with an employee, gesturing at various items as she jotted notes after him.

Sunoo whirled around, pressing against the vintage perfume counter. Out of all the high-end shops in Beverly Hills, what the hell is he doing here?  

When he saw Sunghoon was approaching him, Sunoo hastily shifted his focus to the array of perfumes on the counter, pretending to be engrossed in their scents.

"What a coincidence, we meet again," Sunghoon greeted with a faint smile and stopped just a couple steps away from Sunoo. "Hey, look, I was coming on too strong this morning–"

Sunoo noticed a couple arriving in his peripheral vision, catching his attention. He blinked several times before his jaw dropped in disgust.

"Anton?" 

Sunoo's eyes locked onto Anton, who stood with Wonbin latching onto his arm like an accessory. It made Sunoo cringe a little because he used to the same thing to Anton and now that he was able to see it from a third person perspective, it looked cheesy as hell.

Wonbin followed Anton's gaze to Sunoo, his lips curling in a satisfied smirk. He pulled on Anton's arm and whispered something in his ear while keeping his eyes on Sunoo.

Sunoo had never wanted to disappear more than in this moment.

"Hey, we're just grabbing some housewarming gifts," Anton offered awkwardly, eyeing the bag in Sunoo's grip. "You too?"

Sunoo's jaw clenched. Right, he had recommended this boutique to Anton before. Now he regretted that, along with every single moment of their relationship.

Sunoo's gaze dropped to the huge diamond now adorning Wonbin's hand. He angled it just so, ensuring it caught the light. "Anton proposed!" he announced excitedly.

Sunoo forced a tight smile, trying to keep his voice steady, "I see. Congrats." 

Reading the situation, Sunghoon smoothly slid an arm around Sunoo's waist, pulling him closer. "When's the wedding? We'd love to be there."

Anton cocked his head sideway in confusion. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Sunoo's..." Sunghoon paused meaningfully, glancing over Sunoo, "boyfriend."

Sunoo's eyes widened but he managed a stiff nod. "Yes… my boyfriend." The lie tasted bitter but he couldn't stand looking pitiful in front of his ex right now. Not after he learned that the fucking side piece got an engagement ring right after they canceled their wedding, a huge one at that.

Wonbin raised a brow, looking thoroughly unconvinced. Sunoo swallowed hard under his scrutiny, unconsciously leaning into Sunghoon's embrace. Sunoo prayed he'd buy into their impromptu ruse and perhaps also wipe that smug look off his face.

Wonbin turned to Anton in exaggerated surprise. "A boyfriend already?" He glanced back at Sunoo. "That's fast."

Anton's expression soured, mouth twisting bitterly. "Yeah, that fast, huh?"

How dare Anton to judge? Does he hate his own reflection so much that he can't afford to have a fucking mirror? 

Sunoo stepped forward, eyes flashing. "Oh I'm sorry, is the cheating ex judging me for moving on? That's rich." He tilted his chin up defiantly. "I'd watch that judgmental tone if I were you."

"Whoa, step back," Wonbin warned with his hand.

"Okay. If you'll excuse us, my hot new boyfriend and I have something better planned.'' Sunoo grabbed Sunghoon's arm possessively and walked out dramatically, making sure to "accidentally" swat Wonbin with his shopping bag.

 

⊹♡

 

They sat together on a secluded park bench, Sunoo aggressively munching a croissant while Sunghoon looked on in amusement.

Sunoo leaned back with an exasperated huff. "I can't believe that jerk actually proposed to Wonbin already. It's barely a week since we broke off our wedding." He turned to Sunghoon. "And his diamond is like three times bigger than the one he got me? Do you understand how offensive it is?"

Sunghoon regarded him thoughtfully. "So that was the ex who cheated, Anton? And the one he cheated with?"

Sunoo nodded, cheeks puffed out with pastry. "What do you think he saw in Wonbin that he didn't see in me?"

"Nothing." Sunghoon shrugged. "No matter how perfect you are, a cheater will cheat. It's not about you."

Sunghoon actually made a good point.

Maybe this Sunghoon Park wasn't so unhinged after all.

Sunghoon then teased, "Hot new boyfriend, huh?"

"Oh shut it." Sunoo rolled his eyes. "But seriously, why do you want to marry me? Is this some kind of sick joke? Am I being pranked for YouTube? TikTok?"

"My parents gave up trying to make me straight, so they insisted on me marrying another Korean." Sunghoon shrugged and relaxed on the bench. "I am a pragmatic businessman, I like direct approach."

"Maybe you should consider that to be the reason why you can't get a husband."

Sunghoon laughed. "Oh I could charm anyone I wanted. I'm just tired of investing so much effort and time dating aimlessly. No one ever felt quite right to settle down with. So I gave up the search." There was a playful smile tugging on his lips. "I see that you're an attractive Korean man with a nice job, I can't miss it."

"You're weird as hell. But thanks, I guess." Sunoo looked down, picking at his croissant. "Why is marriage important to your parents? Is it because of your age?"

"My younger sister wants to get married but my parents' condition is they want me to wed first. I can't do that to my sister." He gave Sunoo a knowing look. "I can imagine your parents' reaction though. I bet they're not taking the news well." 

Sunoo only stared at him and that was how Sunghoon realized.

"You haven't told your parents the wedding is off?"

"No," Sunoo admitted. "They already invited relatives from Seoul. It'll be a whole dramatic mess when they find out."

Sunghoon laughed and Sunoo shot him an annoyed glance.

"I don't even know why I'm telling you this." He glanced at his watch. "I need to go back to my office."

Sunghoon quickly composed himself and stood as well. "I'll walk you to your car."

As they made their way towards the car, Sunoo suddenly froze in his tracks. "Oh no, the gifts! I just stormed out of the boutique without paying!" His hands flew up to his hair as panic set in. "Why didn't they stop me? Oh God, I can't get arrested over some overpriced candles, not with this face."

"Don't worry, it's been taken care of."

Sunoo glared in confusion. "What do you mean? I'll go back and pay."

Sunghoon stopped him before he could walk back. "I own the boutique."

Sunoo's mouth fell open. "You… you own it?" he repeated incredulously.

Sunghoon nodded casually, as if it were no big deal. "Consider your items paid for. Now, shall we?" His words were accompanied by a slight tilt of his head as pressed a gentle hand against Sunoo's back.

Sunoo stopped in front of his car and fetched his wallet to pull out some cash. "Please, I'd rather perish than be in your debt—"

But Sunghoon smoothly opened the car door and gently guided Sunoo into the plush leather seat. "Please, I won't hear of it," he insisted with finality before closing the door firmly.

Sunoo let out a heavy sigh as Sunghoon strode back towards the boutique. Sitting in his car, he started the engine, but just as he was about to drive off, his phone buzzed loudly with a flurry of incoming messages.

When he opened them, they were all from friends sharing pictures of Wonbin flaunting the engagement ring next to Anton.

Troye from Colorado??:

Sunoo, have you seen this??

 

Charlotte (don't answer this bitch 🙄):

I can't believe he proposed already, omggg

 

Katelynn (Moow GM):

EWWWW that ring couldn't be tackier if it tried

Sunoo angrily tossed his phone onto the passenger seat, its screen flashing with notifications. Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he let his head fall against the steering wheel with a loud thud. The news was officially out and it seemed like everyone in their social circle knew about it. It was only a matter of time before the nosy Korean aunties caught wind of the gossip and spread it like wildfire, and before long, his parents would inevitably find out as well.

Glancing back at Sunghoon's tall figure, Sunoo suddenly found himself on the edge of a moral precipice.

But Sunoo sold overpriced placebos for the rich—morals weren't his forte.

He then thought about his parents, his family, the shame he had to bear after Anton ended up marrying his side piece. Wonbin's diamond ring, especially, annoyed the shit out of him. 

Sunoo was a man with a lot of pride, but on top of it all, he was petty as hell.

"Hey," Sunoo called out after he rolled down the window, his voice nearly lost in the breeze.

Sunghoon turned back, one brow arched in question. Before he could overthink it, he blurted out. 

"Let's get married."

Sunghoon froze, eyes widening. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Sunoo kept his gaze fixed ahead, cheeks burning. "You heard me," he muttered. "Don't make me repeat it."

A slow smile spread across Sunghoon's face. He walked back over and leaned casually against the car, propping himself up with one hand as he ducked down to look at Sunoo's flustered expression through the open window.

"Well," he mused. "What changed your mind?"

Sunoo slowly met his gaze, resolve steeling. "Does it matter? I'm saying yes. Take it or leave it."

Sunghoon held his gaze for a drawn out moment, considering. Finally he smiled and nodded. "Okay then, let's get married."

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo pulled his blue Bentley into the paved driveway, gaping at the sprawling Beverly Hills mansion before him. White columns flanked towering double doors, and meticulously manicured shrubs lined the driveway. He stepped out of the car, straightened his button-down shirt, and walked up to the door, rapping firmly with the heavy bronze knocker.

The door swung open to reveal Sunghoon in a matching white loungewear, leaning casually against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest. Behind him, Sunoo caught a glimpse of high ceilings, marble floors, and a chandelier that likely cost more than his car.

He couldn't help letting out a low whistle before catching himself. No time to be impressed by wealth, he reminded himself. He was here for business—to fake a marriage.

Clearing his throat, Sunoo extended his hand formally. "Shall we discuss the terms of our engagement?"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "So, is it to spite your ex?" he asked coolly.

Sunoo bristled at his tone. "I don't need to explain that part to you."

"Fair enough," Sunghoon replied with a shrug. He stepped back and swept his hand in a welcoming gesture. "Come on in."

As Sunoo entered the foyer his eyes landed on a tanned, silver-haired man drinking water in the sleek modern kitchen. He gave Sunoo a nod as they walked in.

"That's my ex-husband Jay," Sunghoon explained nonchalantly. "He lives here to take care of the place when I'm away. I'm only here once every couple months." 

"Wait, you were married?"

"Long story," Sunghoon chuckled at the memory. "We got hitched in Vegas at one of those cheesy chapels. An Elvis impersonator pronounced us man and husband as a joke. We didn't realize the marriage was legally binding until later."

Sunoo scoffed in disbelief. "Clearly you don't take marriage seriously."

Sunghoon's smile was replaced with an amused look. "Okay, what's with the attitude?"

"I'm just saying, marriage is sacred," Sunoo retorted. "It's the union of two souls, it represents a promise for forever."

"But here you are, marrying me just to get back at your ex," Sunghoon pointed out.

"That's different!"

"I see, double standard it is," Sunghoon said indifferently, sauntering over to the sleek black marble kitchen island. "Do you want a drink? Wine?"

Sunoo glanced around the open and airy living space. The house was modern with the right touch of taste and luxury, like it came straight out of Architectural Digest.

"Anything's fine," he replied absently.

Sunghoon's eyes dragged over Sunoo's appearance before he turned and opened the paneled cabinets to reveal the built-in wine storage, stocked with rows of fancy looking bottles. He selected a rose and poured two glasses for them.

They settled onto the plush white couch facing the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that displayed a panoramic view of the neighborhood and Los Angeles cascaded before them. The late afternoon sun glinted off the aquamarine waters of the swimming pool outside.

Jay slung his leather messenger bag over his shoulder. "I should probably give you two some privacy," he said, making his way towards the front door.

"Where are you off to?" Sunghoon asked.

"Work!" Jay answered before disappearing out the door.

When there were only the two of them, uneasy silence descended, mostly on Sunoo's end because Sunghoon was sprawled casually on the couch waiting for Sunoo to say something.

Sunoo fidgeted with his glass, calming his nerves.

"We'll get married," he began, meeting Sunghoon's gaze. "I'll get married to save face and you'll get your parents off your back so your sister can have her wedding. After 2 years we'll divorce cleanly. We'll sign a prenup protecting our own finances and possessions—every aspect of our real lives will remain untouched." He paused, enunciating each word carefully, "This is not a real marriage."

"Okay, cool with me," Sunghoon gave a small approving nod. "Primary residence?"

"I need to stay in Beverly Hills for my job—my office is at Wilshire Boulevard, so I'd like us to live here together, at least on paper."

"I mainly operate out of Manhattan, but I can relocate and work remotely. I own a condo near your office. You can stay there with me at least four days each week, plus holidays."

"One day a week and major holidays only."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, considering. "Two days a week, major holidays, and my parents will expect you at monthly family dinners."

Sunoo exhaled slowly. "Deal."

"Deal."

"What about the honeymoon?"

"Wherever you want in the world, baby," Sunghoon drawled with a smirk. "I'm happy to splurge on my soon-to-be husband."

Sunoo rolled his eyes in irritation. "I want two weeks in Europe followed by Bali. We'll take enough photos to post as proof and keep up appearances. After that, separate bedrooms and we go our own ways."

Sunghoon gave a low whistle. "That's a long honeymoon."

Sunoo shot him a glare. "I deserve it."

Sunghoon held up his hands. "Fine, Europe and Bali it is."

"We'll take care of our own lives financially," Sunoo continued to state decisively. "I'll support myself. We can split shared living expenses down the middle, but otherwise what's yours is yours, what's mine is mine—Oh, but you still need to wine and dine me, take me on a date night once every two months on bare minimum. Fake marriage or not, you have to treat me well."

Sunghoon's eyes glinted with amusement as he leaned forward. "And what do I get in return?"

Sunoo tilted his chin up. "Name your price."

Sunghoon's eyes lingered on Sunoo's plump lips before trailing up to meet his gaze again. "Sex."

Sunoo's breath hitched at the sudden close proximity between them and for a moment he was almost foolishly tempted. He regained his composure as fast as he lost it and pushed Sunghoon away. "Off limits. No physical contact unless absolutely necessary."

Sunghoon chuckled, clearly enjoying how Sunoo reacted to him. "We'll see about that, baby."

 

 

⊹♡

Chapter 2

⊹♡

 

Sunoo stepped out of the conference room, eyes glued to his phone as he scrolled through the celebrity endorsement posts for their new miracle algae supplements (which was about as meaningful as the word 'organic' and 'natural' in this industry) on his phone when the click-clack of Haley's vegan leather heels approached.

"Sunoo, hey." Haley appeared at his elbow. "There's like… someone rather interesting waiting in your office."

Sunoo didn't look up. "Who?"

"Well… He said he's your—"

Sunoo pushed open the door to his corner office. His eyes landed immediately on Sunghoon, who stood framed against the backdrop of the Hollywood Hills. Sky blue shirt with a few button loose, and flatteringly fitted straight jeans cinching on his hips just right.

Sunghoon turned, and Sunoo's throat went dry.

"—fiancé," Haley finished weakly.

Sunoo's hand found his hip automatically, his head tilting in disbelief. "Fiancé?"

"Good morning," Sunghoon greeted charmingly, both hands in his pockets. Almost in Notting Hill's William Thacker kind of way. Though Sunoo would rather die than admit he still measured romance against that particular standard. His inner Anna Scott fantasy was alive and well, unfortunately.

"You can't show up at my office unannounced."

"I'll just... leave you two," Haley said, backing out of the office, then paused to make an increasingly desperate hand gesture with her full hands. "Oh, Sunoo, don't forget about that thing with the—" 

Sunoo flicked his hand impatiently. 

"Right—right." She nodded several times, too many, then mercifully closed the door behind her.

Through the glass wall, Sunoo caught at least six of his co-workers doing their best I'm-totally-not-watching impressions that he responded with mind-your-own-business glare before hitting the switch for the privacy glass.

Turning back to Sunghoon, he arched an eyebrow and held up his very bare left hand. "Funny, I don't remember the part where you put a ring on it."

Sunghoon chuckled, sauntering over to perch on the edge of Sunoo's desk. He picked up the rose gold nameplate, turning it over in his hands. "I thought we could handle that detail today. Tiffany's? Harry Winston? Cartier?" His eyes swept appreciatively around the office. "Lovely office, by the way."

"Thanks," Sunoo deadpanned, dropping into his chair. "It's amazing what you can accomplish with day drinking and the disposable income of every wellness obsessed woman in California."

"I was going to let my assistant pick up the ring. But since we'll be wearing them for two years…" Sunghoon shrugged. "Might as well make it something we both like. Or at least make it a good investment."

"Sure," Sunoo drawled, pulling out his phone. "I'll text you some options later. You can pick whichever is in your budget."

"Don't you want to see how it looks on your hand first? I seem to remember someone going on about how Wonbin's engagement ring is offensive?" Sunghoon pushed off the desk, and suddenly he was looming over Sunoo. He glanced at his watch. "When's your lunch?"

"I'm skipping it. I have work to do."

"Reschedule. Your fiancé just flew in from Manhattan this morning to buy you a ring. Surely that takes priority?"

Sunoo finally met his gaze, unimpressed. "Yeah, see, that guilt trip might work if you were, you know, actually my fiancé."

"But to fool people you have to play the part, right?" Sunghoon's smile turned sly. "I'm pretty sure half your office is already talking about your new fiancé's surprise visit. Very romantic, if I do say so myself. Bet Anton never pulled anything like that."

"Whatever."

"Just saying." That self-satisfied smirk made Sunoo want to throw something. "So... lunch and engagement ring?"

Sunoo jabbed at his phone, firing off a text to Haley. "One hour. And my wallet isn't leaving my bag."

"Naturally. What kind of fiancé would I be otherwise?"

"A fake one," Sunoo muttered, snatching his Prada Brique Saffiano bag and stalking toward the door.

Sunghoon trailed after Sunoo, making a show of catching up to walk beside him, hand finding Sunoo's like they'd done this a thousand times before. Sunoo could practically hear Gina from accounting squealing behind her cubicle wall.

"Let. Go." Sunoo glared, trying to jerk his hand free. But Sunghoon's grip was stronger.

Sunghoon dipped his head close. "Glare all you want, but everyone here already thinks you're mine."

Sunoo smiled sweetly up at him and contemplated how satisfying it would be to accidentally dig his heel on Sunghoon's toe.

 

⊹♡ 

 

Harry Winston was exactly as magical as every Pinterest board had promised. They were seated in a private room while Maurice, their consultant, presented gorgeous rings with six figure price tags on dark blue velvet pillows for them to admire up close. He'd also seen the Blair Waldorf’s engagement ring, and pretending that wasn’t the highlight of his year was borderline painful.

He was sitting in Harry Winston, actual Harry Winston, but sadly without any of the glamorous romance he'd envisioned. 

A warm breath tickled his ear. "Found your dream ring yet?"

Sunoo jumped, not realizing Sunghoon had leaned in so close. Instead of romance, he had this man right here.

"They're all stunning. It's hard to choose."

Maurice excused himself to fetch their "special collection" which apparently existed when you were shopping with someone like Sunghoon.

The moment they were alone, Sunoo turned to him. "We need to get our story straight. In case you've forgotten, I just had a very public failed wedding. Now I'm suddenly engaged to some guy who shows up at my office? The girls are going to talk."

Sunghoon looked annoyingly relaxed. "If I'm just some guy, let them talk." 

"Have you even told your family about this sudden engagement?"

"Funny you should ask. You've actually existed in my family for about three months now."

Sunoo stared at him. "We met last week."

"Well…" Sunghoon stretched his arm behind Sunoo's chair and pulled it closer. "I may have already invented a boyfriend to get my mother off my back. You're just... stepping into an existing role."

Sunoo looked away as they got closer. "Okay, so how did we meet? I'm thinking of a rooftop bar. You saw me standing alone, cold against the city lights—"

"We met because of work," Sunghoon cut in. "Much more believable."

"Boring. What about, I was struggling with my grocery bags in the rain, and you offered me your umbrella—"

"Do you even grocery shop? You don't look like you do."

"That's not the point." Sunoo waved dismissively. "Oh. Listen. A bookstore. We were both reaching for the last copy of—"

"Why does it need to be some elaborate meet-cute moment?" Sunghoon's brow furrowed adorably. "We could just say we met at a boring business conference like normal people."

"Because," Sunoo hissed, leaning closer, "my ex crushed all the hopes and dreams I have left. So excuse me if I want our fake love story to at least sound like a Nancy Meyers movie."

"Alright." Sunghoon firmly nodded. "How about this. You accidentally got seated at my reserved table at a restaurant."

"And?"

"And you were basically ready to fight the whole restaurant over it."

"That tracks."

"Being the gentleman I am, I offered to share the table."

"Pfft. And that works?"

"No. You told me to get lost and ordered another glass of wine."

"Okay, sounds more like me."

"I thought it was hilarious. Asked if I could buy you dinner sometime." Sunghoon's eyes crinkled. "Again, you said no. Said you hate my kind. But I insist I can give you a night you won't forget."

"Sure. Like I'd fall for that."

"But then we kept running into each other at other events. Eventually, you agreed to dinner just to prove me wrong." Sunghoon then added, "Mostly because I wear you down."

Sunoo nodded approvingly. "How did it get from that to this?"

"Turns out we had more in common than just mutually enjoying arguing with each other." Sunghoon shrugged, looking pleased with himself. "Plus, you said my dimples were cute."

"I would never say that."

"You absolutely would. After your third glass of wine." 

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunoo made his entrance to his weekend dinner appointment exactly twenty minutes fashionably late. He strutted across the rooftop terrace, complete with a little spin as he approached the table where his friends were seated.

Jake and Jungwon's eye rolls were synchronized. 

Jake wagged his hand. "Just sit your dramatic ass down, we're starving."

Sunoo ignored him, deliberately slowing his pace. "Notice anything different about me?"

"No," Jungwon said flatly. "I refuse to play this game."

Jake, the enabler, squinted at him. "New haircut? New bag? Wait… botox? Oh my God, please don't tell me Gwen finally talked you into that vampire facial."

Sunoo let the moment simmer, then lifted his left hand. The reaction was immediate and exactly as theatrical as he'd hoped. Jake choked on his drink. Jungwon slammed both hands on the table.

"Audible gasp." Jungwon snatched Sunoo's hand, nearly yanking him across the table. Jake too, both of them examining the ring.

"What do you think?"

"Hold up." Jungwon's eyes narrowed. "The wedding is back on? Oh, hell no. Sunoo… I swear to god—"

"Yes, but hear me out—"

"—I will throw you off this rooftop—"

"—it's not what you—"

"—if you seriously took that pathetic excuse for a man back, I'll actually—"

"—I'm not marrying Anton—"

"—murder you myself, I don't care if— Wait." Jungwon abruptly stopped mid rant. "What?"

"It's. Not. Anton." 

"Then who...?"

"Sunghoon Park."

"I'm sorry." Jake leaned forward like he was having hearing problems. "Sunghoon Park? As in, the Sunghoon Park? Since when is this a thing? Jungwon, did he tell you?"

"No, this is totally brand new information." Jungwon rapidly blinked. "And trust me, if anything was happening to Sunghoon Park I'd know. Like, the West Hollywood girlies would've been blowing up my phone."

Jake whipped back to Sunoo. "Spill. Right now. How did that happen? Did you also cheat on Anton while you guys were still together?"

"Look," Sunoo started, hands raised defensively. "Obviously, there's an explanation."

"Yes, and it's better be good." 

Sunoo took a deep breath. "So... we're getting fake married. For two years."

Dead silence.

"You're doing what now?"

"His sister wants to get married but their parents insist that he has to go first. And I..." Sunoo winced. "Well, my parents already told every living relative we have in Korea about the wedding. And now Anton's out here proposing to Wonbin with this gaudy ass ring—"

"So tacky by the way," Jake reminded helpfully, nose wrinkling.

"Great minds think alike, thank you." Sunoo drained his glass. "So here we are. Plotting a fake wedding."

"No." Jake shook his head. "Absolutely not. Take that ring off."

"What's wrong? It's a beautiful ring."

"If you're doing this, this absolutely insane thing—which, by the way, I fully support, you're gonna do it right. Has anyone else seen the ring?"

Sunoo rolled his eyes. "Obviously not. I wasn't about to post it on Instagram before running it by my council of evil."

"No, you idiot." Jake groaned. "Make him propose. Like, get-down-on-one-knee in public and make-people-cry propose."

"It's not even real. Why would we—"

"Okay, timeout." Jungwon raised his hand. "Did you or did you not see Wonbin's twelve part Instagram story of 'When you know, you know' bullshit? You've got a literal heir in your pocket. Make it count."

"Dubai," Jake said immediately, making a sparkle gesture with his hands. "Top of the Burj Khalifa. Fireworks, drones, the whole light show."

Jungwon nodded sagely. "Rent a helicopter. Tell him to write 'Will you marry me?' on a fucking building. I'm sure he has money to waste on stuff like that."

Sunoo snorted. "That's ridiculous."

Jake grabbed his shoulder. "We're visionaries. Embarrass Anton and drain Sunghoon's pocket. That's how justice is done."

"You're both terrible people."

"We know," Jake and Jungwon said at the same time.

Sunoo dabbed his non-existent tears. "That's why we're friends."

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunoo nudged his Celine sunglasses with one hand with his ring finger. In his arms was Coco with her pink bow, also eyeing the coffee shop menu board.

"I'll have a large oat milk latte, with an extra shot, sugar-free vanilla, with a very light dusting of cinnamon." He paused for breath. "Oh, and one morning bun, but can you warm it up? Not too much though, just enough to get that little crisp on the outside?"

The barista maintained her customer service smile through Sunoo's entire order. When it was time to pay, Sunoo turned to Sunghoon expectantly. Sunghoon just stared back.

Sunoo shifted Coco pointedly in his arms. "Can't you see that my hands are full?"

Sunghoon's dimples appeared in realization. He stepped forward and handed his card. "And I'll have a regular latte, thanks."

"Thank you." Sunoo scratched behind Coco's ears.

Sunghoon collected their receipt, eyeing the tiny dog. "Does she have a coffee order too?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Sunoo sniffed. "She's more of a green juice girl."

They headed out after they got their orders. Sunghoon carried both their cups.

"Don't drop them," Sunoo warned as he settled into a seat.

"Have some faith." Sunghoon set them down carefully. "So does she always come with you?"

"Not always. She's my emotional support diva."

"She's definitely got the attitude for it." Sunghoon watched as Coco turned her nose up at a passing dog. "How long have you had her?"

"Almost two years." Sunoo's smile flickered slightly. "She was a birthday gift, actually. From Anton."

"Ah." 

"I don't like your tone. She's innocent in all this." Sunoo scratched behind her ears. "Aren't you, baby? Yes, you are."

"When's your birthday?"

"June 24th. Why?"

"Just curious. So how old are you?"

"27." Sunoo narrowed his eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"I'm 28."

"So?"

Sunghoon's grin widened. "Call me hyung."

"Absolutely not."

"Just saying. Out of respect for our culture and heritage."

Sunoo stared at him, horrified. "I will chuck this coffee at you out of respect for American culture."

"Is that any way to talk to your hyung?"

"Do you practice being this annoying, or does it come naturally?"

"Pure talent."

"Yeah, no." Sunoo took a deliberate sip of his coffee, then smiled. "Oppa."

Sunghoon's smug smile faltered and he quickly cleared his throat. He distracted himself by glancing around and saw someone strange watching them from behind the bushes, but his attention was diverted again by the sound of Sunoo rummaging through his bag.

"Behold. Our fairytale wedding blueprint." Sunoo dropped a whole wedding binder on the table.

"You know you can do this with an app, right?"

"Funny story actually, my ex called me groomzilla. He meant it as an insult, but it's a compliment, really."

Sunghoon flipped through the sections and pondered it. "It's a lot. I mean, still doable. But why do I need to pull off some over the top proposal? No one's even going to see it."

"Uh-huh. Au contraire…" Sunoo lifted a finger. "People will be dying to see it. Trust me, the moment people realize the wedding is back on and I keep everything about it except the groom, the first place they'll go is my Instagram."

"Oh, right. That's your thing."

"Exactly. And your thing is having a sister who's desperate to get married, so help me out here."

Something in Sunghoon's peripheral vision made him pause. He glanced to the side again, eyes narrowing. "That guy's been taking pictures of us. And he's not exactly subtle about it."

Sunoo made a dismissive wave. The guy in question, the one with an oversized baker boy hat with phone blatantly angled toward them, wasn't fooling anyone. He was bending his back and stretching his arm to get all the right angles.

Sunoo barely glanced over. "Oh, that's just Jake. Don't mind him."

"You know him?" 

"Yes, he's a friend. I asked him to take pictures so he could spread it around the circle. Now stare at me like I'm the love of your life."

Sunghoon raised a brow and twisted every muscle on his face into an exaggerated grimace.

"Less constipated," Sunoo deadpanned, "and more… enchanted. In love. Like you're totally obsessed with me."

Sunghoon scoffed but leaned in anyway, dropping his voice. "Like this?"

Sunoo tilted his head, unimpressed. "Try harder."

Sunghoon leaned in further and suddenly his lips were brushing against his ear. He lingered just long enough to make it uncomfortable before his tongue flicked out, tracing the curve of Sunoo's earlobe. Then, just for good measure, he nibbled lightly.

Sunoo's entire body froze. His breath caught, and he jolted back so fast he nearly toppled his coffee. "What the—"

Out of the corner of his eye, Sunoo spotted Jake in the background, grinning and giving him two enthusiastic thumbs up.

"I said in love, not horny," Sunoo hissed, his face burning. He made an aggressive slicing motion across his neck, glaring at Jake, who finally took the hint and scampered off.

"You're welcome. That should give your friends plenty to talk about."

"You're enjoying this way too much."

"Maybe."

Sunoo's phone suddenly buzzed on the table. He glanced down and— yup, there it is. The gay gossip network moves faster than light because his phone was already flooded. 

 

Kevin (Moow CFO):
HELLO???? YOU AND WHO NOW???
the sunday tennis gc is in shambles

Eddie Chu (sunday tennis):
why did you have sunghoon park eating your face at daylight???

Jennifer (Glendale):
not me finding out about this through my SISTER'S roommate's cousin's boyfriend
why does no one tell me anything anymore 💀
but also GET IT I GUESS???
heads up megan's about to call you

Bella Chen (Everlove Collective):
sunny who is that?? istg he looks familiar

Lee (SF/Willow Studio):
babe is it true
my cousin said she saw you with sunghoon park at harry winston last week??
holy shiT are you getting married again

 

[Group Chat: Four Weddings and No Funeral™️]

Gigi:
NO WAY
NO FUCKING WAY
ANSWER YOUR FUCKIN PHONE RN

Rin:
did everyone else just get like 5 different people sending them this pic or

Jules:
um does anton know?? 

Gigi:
bitch they broke up the wedding is off
keep up

[Gigi changed to group name to: Four Weddings and Anton's Funeral™️]

 

[Group Chat: Bible Study Group (NOBODY LEAVES)]

Jungwon Steven Yang:
ok but why does he actually look at sunoo like that though??
i swear i'd be fooled if i didn't know 

Jakey:
I HAD TO CLIMB ON THREE DIFFERENT CHAIRS TO GET THAT ANGLE
my back hurts but it was worth it

Jungwon Steven Yang:
i think someone's already shown anton the pic cus
he's having a mental breakdown at equinox 

Jakey:
NOT AT EQUINOX

 

Sunoo checked the photos Jake took, which looked... okay, actually looked pretty convincing. One shot had Sunghoon staring at him like he was committing his face to memory, leaning in as if about to kiss him. Another angle made it look like Sunghoon was in the middle of eating his face.

An idea came to him.

"Hey. What are you doing this weekend?"

 

⊹♡ 

 

"So this is what you do?" Sunghoon studied the event venue. Flowers, vibrant lights, and influencers clutching product samples for pictures. He swirled his own vibrant green drink in his glass. "You convince people that pond scum will change their life?"

"It's artisanal spirulina," Sunoo corrected primly, then his eyes narrowed slightly. "And trust me, you don't want to drink any of that."

Sunghoon immediately ditched his drink on the tray of hors d'oeuvres carried by a passing cater waiter.

Sunoo noticed the lingering glances and not so subtle whispers trailing after him and Sunghoon. He stepped into Sunghoon's personal space, under the pretense of straightening Sunghoon's collar.

"Just like I expected," Sunoo murmured. "They're staring."

"Of course they are staring." Sunghoon's hand found the small of Sunoo's back, the touch casual enough to look natural. He swept his eyes down. "Your ass looks exceptional in those pants."

Sunoo paused. The comment should've irritated him, but instead, he blinked. "Say that again."

"What? That your ass looks incredible?"

"Wow." Sunoo let out a soft laugh, more surprised than anything. "I actually don't want to punch you right now. This is amazing. Thanks."

"You're welcome?" Sunghoon sounded more confused than smug, which only made Sunoo snort.

"It's refreshing having someone objectify me without being a total creep or expecting me to entertain them for sex afterward."

"So what you're saying is you'd never consider having sex with me?"

Sunoo grinned sweetly, patting his cheek patronizingly. "Why would I?"

Sunghoon couldn't reply because Sunoo was quick to slip away into the crowd.

The launch event was in full swing. Sunoo watched as Gwen and her army of identically dressed assistants (all in various shades of beige linen) glided barefoot into the center like some kind of cult procession.

Gwen tapped a crystal champagne glass with a spoon, and the room fell silent, all eyes on her.

"Beautiful souls," she began, "to an evening of balance, renewal, and nourishment. The universe has gathered us here today…"

Sunoo was half-listening, half-nodding as Haley rattled off updates beside him. Everything seemed under control. Until Jungwon squeezed through the crowd, with two glasses of champagne and planting himself between them.

"Sorry, Haley. This is important," Jungwon said, already focused on Sunoo. "I don't want to ruin your night, but Anton and Wonbin are here."

Sunoo incredulously wrinkled his forehead. "What do you mean he's here? He's not on the invite." He slowly diverted his attention to Haley.

Haley winced and squeezed her eyes shut. "Okay. Sorry. I should've told you earlier. Alicia from Love & Planet canceled last minute, so Wonbin came as their representative. I didn't have a good reason to stop him."

Jungwon glared. "Haley." 

"What?" Haley hissed. "I said I'm sorry!"

"It's fine. Totally fine. I'm totally okay," Sunoo assured.

"No, no." Jungwon firmly shook his head. "I don't like the sound of that."

It didn't take so much effort to spot them across the venue. Anton, still as hot as he remembered, with Wonbin on his arm looking annoyingly good in a Chanel tweed suit that Sunoo had almost worn for the night. Perfect. This was the perfect offense. 

"I know that we're dealing with a lot here." He grabbed both champagne flutes from Jungwon. "But it's gonna be more fun for me if I am drunk."

"Hey, do you know where I can get more of that canapé?" Sunghoon's voice came from behind him. "Everything else tastes like grass here and I was only counting on that carbs to keep me alive."

Sunoo barely spared him a glance as he shoved the empty glasses back at Jungwon.

"Not now," Sunoo said, tugging Sunghoon by the lapels and pulling him closer. "Just act hot and do that thing again where you look like you want to eat me."

"Act hot?" Sunghoon echoed. "Baby, I don't act."

"Don't start."

Sunghoon's lips twitched. "Fine." He slipped an arm around Sunoo's waist, pulling him in until they were close enough to sell it.

Sunoo felt his skin prickle, but there wasn't time to think about it. "Compliment me."

"I'd sell my soul to spend ten minutes between your legs."

"I said compliment, not write a porno." Sunoo yanked his lapel. "I regret enabling you."

"I'm multitasking," Sunghoon said unapologetically. His hand slid just slightly lower, clearly enjoying himself. "Now, are we going to keep pretending, or do you also want me to seduce your ex's new fiance to keep things interesting?"

"Don't you dare."

"Relax." Sunghoon did that charming chuckle again that made Sunoo roll his eyes. He brushed slow circles against Sunoo's side. "I'm only here for you."

"Good. Then act like it."

"Sunoo?"

Sunoo turned to find Anton and Wonbin making a way toward them.

"What a surprise," Anton said, "We can't keep running into each other like this."

"You're surprised to see me at my own event? Give it a rest."

Wonbin cut in with a laugh, leaning into Anton. "We were just talking about you, actually. We're finalizing the details for our wedding… and well…" He glanced coyly at Anton, who took his cue.

"We were wondering about that Lake Como venue we booked?" Anton started, "I heard you're offering it at half price?"

Sunoo stilled. "You're joking."

"What? It's just sitting there, and last week you were practically begging me to take it off your hands. Seems like a win-win."

Sunoo opened his mouth. Possibly to scream, possibly to launch an entire spread of vegan tuna on Anton's face, but Sunghoon beat him to it.

"Wow," Sunghoon said with a smile. It seemed genuine, it was disconcerting. "Asking for scraps from your ex? That's classy."

Anton's smile froze.

"Let me guess," Sunghoon continued, taking a deep breath. "You need this venue because you can't afford anything better?"

"What are you trying to say, dude?" Anton bristled. "Are you saying we can't have a better wedding?"

"No, I think, you can't," Sunghoon corrected while looking straight at Anton. Then to Wonbin, he said, "And I think you should try marrying someone who actually wants to see you happy next time."

Wonbin's face burned red as Anton grabbed his arm and muttered something about getting a drink.

Sunoo watched them go. "You're evil."

"Sure. Now can we get that canapé?"

"We'll get an entire tray."

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunghoon popped another canapé into his mouth as he leaned against the hood of his black Rolls-Royce. Two trays of smoked salmon sitting on the car. They were having the world's bougiest picnic.

He gestured vaguely toward the building they'd just escaped from. "Who even schedules a product launch on New Year's Eve? It's a holiday."

"Gwen does." Sunoo boredly arranged the canapés into neat rows. "Ask her astrologer or something. Maybe Mercury's in Gatorade."

Sunghoon grinned. "Retrograde."

"Whatever." Sunoo glanced up, spotting the building across the lot. Music thumped through the walls, colorful lights spilling onto the pavement. He tilted his head. "Is it just me, or does that party look way more fun than this?"

Sunghoon's eyes narrowed at the silhouettes of people dancing doing whatever way more appealing than Gwen's meditation.

They both stared for a moment, silent.

Then Sunoo nudged him with his elbow. "Hey. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunghoon and Sunoo had barely made it through the door when someone shoved shots into their hands. The music was loud and dizzying, and honestly, Sunoo couldn't tell anymore if it was the bass or the tequila.

They'd started on the edge of the dance floor, but the crowd swallowed them whole. At some point, they ended up pulling off half the routine from Dirty Dancing, the crowd went wild over it.

Sunoo broke away to get another drink and collided with someone. Tall, sharp jaw, with one of those button downs unbuttoned just low enough to be both intentional and infuriating. The walking definition of manwhore. He had a drink in one hand and confidence in the other, leaning into Sunoo like he'd already decided how this night was going to end.

"Haven't seen you around here before."

"That's because I haven't been here before."

"Lucky me, then." The guy smirked. "Want a drink or are you gonna let me make your night even better some other way?"

Sunoo laughed. Maybe too loudly. "Does that line usually work?"

"You tell me. Is it working?"

If Sunoo was being honest (and he usually wasn't, especially with himself) he hadn't had any action since Anton. He'd told himself it was self-care or sex detoxing or whatever bullshit he told himself to make him sound less pathetic. But the truth was, no one had even come close to distracting him the way Anton used to.

So, naturally, Sunoo said, "Depends. Are you any good?"

"Why don't you find out?"

Sunoo was halfway through considering it when he felt Sunghoon's hand slide firmly around his waist, pulling him back against his chest.

"There you are. Been looking everywhere."

The guy's smile dimmed. "Oh. Didn't realize you were here with someone."

"Yeah." Sunghoon's fingers pressed into Sunoo's hip like he was claiming him. "He is."

The guy held up his hands, backing away, and Sunoo spun to face Sunghoon. "What the actual fuck?"

"You're welcome."

"For what? Cockblocking me?"

Sunghoon grinned, and he sure looked good doing it.

"Didn't you see him? He's hot!" Sunoo rambled as Sunghoon pulled him away. "Getting fake married to you doesn't mean I have to be actually celibate!"

The crowd around them started counting down, drowning out whatever Sunoo said after that.

"Ten! Nine! Eight!"

"You're drunk," Sunghoon countered.

Sunghoon stepped closer, presumably to hear him better, but all it did was trap Sunoo between his body and the wall. His eyes dropped to Sunoo's mouth.

"Seven! Six! Five!"

"Don't look at me like that."

"Four! Three! Two!"

"Like what?"

"One!"

The room erupted in cheers and kisses. Sunoo felt Sunghoon's breath on his neck. He smelled his perfume mixing with whatever drink he'd been drinking. His head spun with it.

"God, you're impossible."

Sunghoon's laugh was low and perhaps too dangerous for Sunoo who hadn't had sex in 4 months. He leaned in, lips brushing Sunoo's cheek. "Happy New Year."

 

⊹♡

Chapter 3

Notes:

any tarot inaccuracies are because i have absofuckinglutely no idea what i'm doing, sorry if something sounds wrong and pls correct me. i need the help.... also, it's been a year since my last update but worry not the next one is coming sooner than you'd expect.... ;)

⊹♡

 

California had many things: overpriced matcha, purse dogs, bottomless pit of influencers with personality of a beige wall and botox, and tarot readers who charged more per hour than most licensed therapists. 

Sunoo sat cross-legged on a velvet cushion across from Amethyst, the Queen of the Stars and apparently, Light of the Cosmic Destiny (according to her website). Jungwon and Jake flanked him on matching cushions while Amethyst shuffled her tarot deck. The small studio apartment was entirely candlelit and it smelled like sandalwood, eucalyptus, and something Sunoo suspected to be either sage or weed.

"Ask your question. What do you want to know?"

"My career. Anything regarding career opportunities, timing, or future advances would be grea—"

"Sex." Jungwon cut in. "He wants to know about his sex life—" 

Sunoo shot him a look. "Career. Please."

"Sometimes what we think we're asking isn't what we need to know." She gestured to the fanned deck. "Pick three. Don't overthink it."

Fine. Sunoo focused on his career. The brand partnerships. The pitch deck he needed to review as soon as he got out of this place. The new collagen gummy launch. Gwen's unsettlingly long toes (she had been walking barefoot around the office to be closer to earth's vibrations). Nothing of Sunghoon's infuriating smirk or the way he'd looked at him or kissed his cheek last week at that new year party. 

Sunoo picked three cards. 

The Lovers. Jake gasped. The Devil. Jake's jaw dropped. Ace of Wands. Jake slapped a hand over his mouth. 

"That's the penis card," he whispered scandalously.

Sunoo tried to look bored. "That's not the penis card."

"It's literally a giant fucking wand."

"This," she declared, "is desire… TEMPTATIOOON… Two people who should not want each other but absolutely do."

That piqued his interest enough that his heart did something silly and fluttery but he forced his expression into skepticism. He couldn't afford to look too excited. "I mean... that could apply to literally anyone… canyoutellmemore." Jungwon narrowed his eyes at him and Sunoo flicked a shoulder. "I need the specifics."

"One of you is in deep denial about how badly you want the other."

Jake and Jungwon exchange a synchronized side-eye.

"What? Oh, whaaat?" Sunoo sputtered, committed to the bit now. "It's not me. I am not desperate for sex. Sex is, like, not even a thing for me. I'm above sex. I've transcended sex. I'm not horny."

Jake sang through his teeth, "Deniaaaal…"

Amethyst hummed. "Well, the cards disagree."

"They're just papers."

"The papers have spoken."

Jungwon nodded. "Honestly… read him."

Amethyst gathered the cards back. Then she paused, her fingers hovering over the deck. "Actually... wait." She began shuffling again. "There's something else. Something the cards want to show you. I can feel it. Show us what this means. Give me clarity."

A card fell from Amethyst's hands like some sort of cosmic trick that got Jake gasping again. She flipped the card. The Hanged Man.

"Ah," Amethyst said sympathetically. "Surrender."

Jake leaned in so far he nearly toppled off his cushion. "That looks kinky."

"Your next... encounter will require surrender. Trust. A choice to let things unfold instead of controlling every outcome." She tapped the card. "It will come exactly at the moment you believe it absolutely cannot."

Sunoo grimaced. "What does that even mean?"

Amethyst smiled. "You'll understand when it happens."

"Great. Love that," Sunoo muttered sarcastically and pushed Jungwon's shoulder. "Your turn. Go. Tell us about his love life so we can all laugh."

Jungwon looked significantly less entertained now that he was in the hot seat. "Yeah, sure. Whatever. Do your worst."

Jake grinned. "Oh, he's scared."

"I'm not scared, I just don't believe in this pseudo-"

Amethyst spread the cards again. "Pick three cards. Whichever calls for you will find you."

Jungwon quickly picked the three cards like he was picking up dog poop. The Fool. The Star. Ten of Cups. "Okay, tell me. Am I marrying rich?"

Amethyst's smile was delighted. "This is wonderful."

"Why does your face look like that?"

"I see new beginnings. Someone stepping into your life unexpectedly, it could be someone who's been there all along that you're only just now seeing clearly." She pointed to the other cards. "Destiny. Finding exactly what you didn't know you needed, it's pretty life-changing actually."

Jungwon stared at her blankly. "Okay, no. There's no such thing as life-changing love unless you end in divorce. In which half your assets get taken away—that's pretty life-changing. Unless you're talking about me marrying rich. That could mean a great deal for me."

"You have to listen to the universe," Amethyst said serenely. "Someone is coming."

"I'm definitely not coming, so that's one person accounted for."

Of course Jake cackled. Sunoo elbowed him.

Amethyst's hand hovered over the deck again. "Draw one more card."

Jungwon rolled his eyes but grabbed another card. Five of Swords.

"There will be tension, disagreement. Your first meeting, or perhaps your first real interaction with this person will be contentious. You'll clash and argue. You might even genuinely dislike each other at first."

"That's cause I argue for a living."

"Shut up." Sunoo got too invested. "For all we know this might be the time you actually have a real relationship and not just—" he wagged his index finger like a magic wand. "—whatever your current situation is."

"My current situation is fine."

"But here's the interesting part," Amethyst continued, gesturing between the Five of Swords and the other cards. "Despite the tension and maybe because of it, the chemistry will be... explosive. I'm sensing sexual chemistry that rocks your understanding of the word."

Jungwon barked out a laugh. "Okay, NOW I know this is bullshit. What are you gonna tell me next, that we'll make love under the stars and complete each other? Please. I'm a grown man. I've had sex. Sexual chemistry isn't exactly hard to come by if they're moderately attractive and smell great."

"Is that what you tell yourself?"

"It's what I know. Sex is sex. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's great, most of the time it's meh, but it's not like... I don't know, whatever you're implying."

Amethyst picked up the Five of Swords again, holding it up to the candlelight. "This will be different. Different enough that it frightens you. Because it won't just be physical. The tension between you and the way you push each other's buttons, that's your foreplay."

Jungwon opened his mouth to interrupt, but she raised a finger.

"You'll fight and it will make you want them more. You'll disagree and it will feel like the best conversation you've ever had. And when you finally, finally give in to it, it won't just be good sex, honey."

Jungwon forced another laugh and shook his head. "This is insane. You're insane. Jake, are you hearing this?"

Jake was staring at the cards, transfixed. "No, yeah, I'm fully compelled by this narrative."

Jungwon turned to Sunoo.

Sunoo leaned forward. "When exactly will Jungwon find this person?"

"Soon. Sooner than he thinks."

 

⊹♡

 

Jake scooted over as soon as they left.

"Alright, universe. Hit me with something polyamorous."

Amethyst stared.

Jake clapped. "I love it when they hesitate!"

 

⊹♡

 

"Girl, calm down with the cake," Jake warned him.

Sunoo paused mid-reach for his third sample. "We're cake tasting. It's literally research."

"You sample by taking small bites. You've had six slices."

"Five and a half. I didn't finish the lemon one because it tasted like Pledge. Besides, it's not like anybody's gonna see me naked again. Who cares?"

They were at Manchuso 1822—the Los Angeles branch of the original Milan bakery—where it smelled like vanilla and cinnamon. The baker, Patricia, smiled indulgently as she set down another plate of samples between them.

Sunoo popped the gold-flecked sample into his mouth and shamelessly moaned. "Oooh my gooood. What is this?"

"Champagne cake with raspberry compote and champagne buttercream."

"This one. I want this one."

Jake tried the same sample, his eyes widening. "Okay, yeah, this is obscene. Patricia, you're a witch."

Patricia smiled. "So champagne raspberry it is?"

"No, not yet. Put it in the maybe pile."

"We've said 'maybe pile' so many times." Jake set down his fork, fixing Sunoo with a disapproving look. "Sunoo, we need to address this. This fake marriage doesn't mean you have to be celibate. You said that yourself. Go have sex. Your marriage is a sham. It's technically not cheating."

Patricia's pen paused on her paper, clearly trying to figure out if she should ask questions or just keep moving forward. "Should I… come back?"

"No," Sunoo and Jake said in unison.

"I know, it's just—" Sunoo stopped.

"I'm serious. You're a hot gay man in his prime living in the best city in the world. You can't waste your time."

That's when his brain decided to pull up its Greatest Hits collection titled Remember when you almost bent biology and ovulated? Complete with sensory details of Sunghoon pressing up against him, the ghost of his breath tickling Sunoo's in his ear when he whispered something flirty and disrespectful that Sunoo did not think about every night before bed. 

Sunoo had to shudder them out of memory. "Nevermind. Patricia, this has been lovely. What's next?"

Patricia looked relieved to be back on script. "Well, we have lemon elderflower, or if you want something more unique, we do a brown butter vanilla with—"

"You remember what Amethyst said, right?" Jake leaned back in his chair. "Surrender? Maybe this is it. The cards were literally telling you to surrender to your carnal desires."

"I'm pretty sure Amethyst is a tarot reader who probably microdoses."

"The papers have spoken," Jake said in a terrible impression of Amethyst. "You should have sex with the next hot guy you see."

Sunoo exhaled through his nose. "Can we please just pick a cake?"

"The fig compote one. It sounds expensive and vaguely European, I'm into that."

"Elegant," Patricia agreed. "For cake toppers we have several options. Do you have anything in mind? Traditional? Modern? Custom figurines?"

"No topper," Sunoo said firmly. "Maybe some flowers cascading down one side. Nothing too fussy."

They spent another twenty minutes finalizing details, setup requirements, and actual cake for actual eating since the display cake was mostly styrofoam and lies (you know, just like their marriage). Patricia walked them through pricing and Jake waved it off with a "Bill it to the Strauss account" 

"Who the hell is Strauss?"

"Oh, Jungwon's mom's current boyfriend. Jungwon charges everything to him. And it always goes through somehow. The man is obscenely rich. I'm pretty sure he did something illegal somewhere oh—and Jungwon doesn't like him. The usual thing."

Sunoo snorted. "She got a new boyfriend already?"

"Yep. And he's desperate to win Jungwon over. What's a few grand to a man who owns three houses in Cabo anyway? Honestly, it's a win-win-win."

"What's the third win?"

"Patricia gets paid. Everyone's happy."

They thanked Patricia and stepped out onto the sidewalk of Beverly Hills. Sunoo immediately pulled out his phone to check their schedule.

"We have another stop. Suit fitting."

Jake groaned. "Another one? Didn't we do this already?"

"That was for you. This is for me. Final alterations."

"Why don't you ask Sunghoon to do it with you?"

"Because Sunghoon is still in Manhattan," Sunoo said, unlocking his car. "He's flying in this weekend."

 

⊹♡ 

 

Jungwon's sister's wedding happened that weekend. By Asian wedding standards, it was intimate. With barely a hundred guests, most of them from Jungwon's side. The rumor was that the groom wasn't from here and had no relatives to invite. It only made everyone more nosy. 

Sunoo had volunteered to help with guest coordination, which mostly meant directing elderly relatives to their seats and making sure nothing collapsed under his watch.

Jungwon himself was a mess. He'd been pacing all morning like he was the one with wedding jitters instead of his sister. When he finally joined Sunoo at the table, his tie was crooked and his eyes were empty.

"What's wrong? You look stressed, babe."

"Nothing. Just, you know, wedding stuff." Jungwon's smile was stiff. When a cousin passed by, he flagged her down. "Hey, sorry. Can you get me the strongest thing they have at the bar? Actually, make it two."

Sunoo frowned. "What's going on?"

"It's fine."

"Where's the groom, anyway? I haven't seen him yet."

"He'll be here soon."

"How long has she even been dating him?" Sunoo intended to make small talk. "I don't think you've mentioned him before. What's his name again, Jay?"

"I don't know." 

"You don't know his name?"

The small talk clearly wasn't working. "I don't know anything." Jungwon took the drink his cousin brought over and downed half of it in one go. "Apparently I don't know my sister at all. Not a single fucking thing."

Sunoo opened his mouth to respond, but the ceremony music started, and everyone began finding their seats. The floral arch at the front of the venue was stunning, wrapped in white roses and tulips. Woven through the greenery was a banner in elegant script: Stephanie Eunha Yang and Jay Jongseong Park.

The ceremony was short and sweet. Eunha was radiant in her gown, smiling as she walked down the aisle. She was so beautiful it made Sunoo tear up, until Sunoo saw the groom.

It was that Jay. The one from Sunghoon's house—the Las Vegas ex-husband Jay. Except his dyed silver hair was gone, replaced with natural black comma hair that changed his entire look. More polished, more conventional, more Korean. He basically shapeshifted. Not that he didn't look Korean but there was this particular brand of Korean boys that separated them from Korean-American living here. Jay currently looked like the former while Sunoo's first impression was the latter. 

He must have made a noise because Jungwon glanced at him. "What?"

"Nothing," Sunoo said quickly, turning his attention back to the altar. 

When the ceremony ended and guests began filtering toward the reception area, Sunoo scanned the crowd. Near the back, Sunghoon had just arrived. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else as he slid into a seat near the edge of the room. Sunoo excused himself from Jungwon and made a beeline for Sunghoon. He grabbed his hand and pulled him into a corner near the coat check.

"Why didn't you tell me your ex-husband is marrying my friend's sister?" 

Sunghoon clearly was still registering the situation but looked utterly delighted to see Sunoo there regardless. "A hello would be nice to hear. Don't you miss me?"

"Can you be serious for one second?"

"I know about as much as you do."

"What do you mean? That's your friend!"

"It's complicated." Which meant he was definitely hiding something. "I don't think it's my place to say."

"Come on, it's my friend's sister's wedding."

"Seriously, Sunoo. It's not that I don't want to tell you. This isn't my story to tell."

Sunoo scanned the room again and his stomach dropped. "Oh shit."

"What?"

"People will see us together. You have to stick with me for the rest of this. We need to look like we planned to be here together."

Sunghoon's lips curved into a sweet, relaxed smile. "Sure, no complaints here."

"Remember, this is a family wedding."

"Even better. Inappropriate touching at a family function will be very on-brand." Sunghoon's hand slid to Sunoo's waist as they walked back toward the reception, he then added, "I was joking. Relax. I'll behave."

"You don't know how to behave."

"You're not wrong."

They returned to Sunoo's table.

Jake looked up when they approached. "Oh, hey? You… bring him here?"

"Jake, you've heard about Sunghoon. He's a friend of the groom," Sunoo said, sliding into his seat. "And as you know… my fiancé."

Sunghoon took the chair next to him. I've seen you before, you're the—" he said to Jake, making a camera-clicking gesture. "You're that photographer, right?"

Jake smiled awkwardly. "That's me."

Jungwon glared at him. "Friend of the groom? You're the only guest from the groom's side here."

"Looks that way."

"So you know."  It wasn't a question.

Whatever conversation was happening through their eyes, Sunoo couldn't quite parse. He was about to ask, but was interrupted by a woman who graced them with her presence.

"Hi, babies! Isn't tonight fabulous?"

Cecilia Sunhee Chung—who insisted everyone call her Cecil because she thought it made her sound more cosmopolitan—descended upon their table in a cloud of Chanel No. 5 and champagne-ful hand. She was wearing a dress that was definitely too much for a mother of the bride and her bosoms were one martini accident away from spilling out. At 53, she looked 40, acted 30, and had the love life of a 25 year old.

"Mom," Jungwon said flatly.

"Darling." Cecil leaned down, nearly baptizing Jungwon with her champagne. "Have you asked Sunoo if the wedding is totally off or what? Klaus wants to take me to Positano in spring, so we need to know if we should squeeze in Lake Como for his wedding."

Sunoo made a face. She hadn't noticed him yet. Jungwon reminded her, "Sunoo is literally right there—"

"Oh! My loves!" Cecil shrieked, her attention stolen by Heeseung and Riki, who had just arrived. "Come here! Give Mommy some sugar!"

She pulled them both into an aggressive hug, her hands sliding dangerously low on Heeseung's back, cupping his ass.

"Mom, please," Jungwon warned.

"What?!" She released them, but not before squeezing Riki's bicep. "Have you been working out? You feel different."

"On this day and age you could be sued for sexual harassment."

"It's appreciation, Jungwon. You should—" Cecil stopped mid-sentence, her eyes landing on Sunghoon. "Oh. My, my. And who is this?"

Sunoo felt Sunghoon sit up straighter beside him. "This is my fiancé, Sunghoon."

Cecil's face lit up scandalously. "Him? What about Anton?"

Before Sunoo could answer, Sunghoon stood, took Cecil's hand, and (because he was a menace) kissed her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Are you the bride's sister?"

Cecil giggled. 

"Jesus Christ," Jungwon muttered into his drink.

"This one," Cecil announced, pointing at Sunghoon with her free hand while still letting him hold the other, "is my new favorite. Get in line, boys."

Cecil finally extracted her hand from Sunghoon's, though she looked reluctant to do so. "Sunoo, where did you find him? Can I borrow him for the charity gala next week?"

"Absolutely not," Sunoo said with a huge smile.

Sunghoon sat back down, his hand immediately returning to Sunoo's thigh. "I'm afraid I'm a monogamy kind of guy. And my person is sitting right here."

Cecil leaned in. Surprisingly had the decency to ask this particular question quietly. "Sorry I got distracted for a second. What's the situation here? What happened with Anton? I thought you two were going to patch things up?"

Sunoo braced himself for the speech he'd already given to twelve people today—but Sunghoon beat him to it.

"It's hard to patch things up when your partner cheats," Sunghoon said. "I saw my chance, and I wasn't going to waste it."

"How romantic." Cecil sighed. "See, Jungwon? This is what I want with Klaus. This kind of... devotion."

"Klaus Strauss owns a pharmaceutical company and collects Nazi memorabilia," Jungwon said. "It's not happening."

The DJ played I'll Make Love to You and Cecil dragged Heeseung to the dance floor with her where they immediately devolved into slow dance with too many unnecessary body contact.

"Do you think we should save him?" Jake asked.

Jungwon got up to get another drink. "No need, he's exactly where he wanted to be."

Riki also got swept away by Eddie, Kevin, and Steve somewhere between the table and the bar. Judging by the way they were already circling him, that situation had orgy potential—though Sunoo wasn't sure how three bottoms and one top were planning to negotiate logistics. Riki was too young for them anyway. Sunoo made a mental note to rescue him later. Or not. If he remembered.

Sunoo continued introducing Sunghoon around the table. Sunghoon was effortlessly charming. He let Sunoo take the spotlight, but every so often he'd bring Sunoo's hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles without missing a beat of the conversation.

When all his friends finally left the table to dance, Sunoo tried prying his hand away. "Let go of my hand, they're not here anymore."

"Why not? What if someone's looking and they caught you glaring at me instead? Not a very good look isn't it?" Sunghoon looked from their joined hands, lips still brushing Sunoo's knuckle. 

Annoyingly, he had a point. Also annoyingly, Sunoo had never even gotten this level of affection from Anton. Sunoo had always been the clingy one. Having a full-grown man, broader and bigger than him, clinging back… felt weird.

"I'd appreciate more subtlety—" Sunoo's protest died when Sunghoon leaned in, his lips brushing against Sunoo's ear.

"Liar."

Sunoo couldn't even continue the sentence. Sunghoon's mouth was still in his ear, pressing soft kisses along the line of it. "Stop it now."

"Why? Isn't this the whole point of this exercise?"

"Well, not like this, you idiot." His fingers curled into Sunghoon's jacket. Unfortunately, it was not in the direction of pushing. Stupid. He should've jerked off before he came here.

"I'm aware." Sunghoon pulled back just enough to look at him. "This is just how I like to do it."

"So annoying."

"Good. I'd hate to bore you."

"You're terrible at this—"

"I think I'm doing brilliantly. Your friends seem to like me and Cecil looks like she's in love with me."

"—at not making me want to kill you."

"Ah." Sunghoon grinned. "If I'm going to marry you for a while, I might as well enjoy myself."

"Enjoy yourself less."

From two tables away, Jake, who already made his way to the Strauss circle, caught Sunoo's eye and mouthed, "Surrendeeeer."

Sunoo mentally killed him and Amethyst.

 

⊹♡

 

After the wedding, Sunoo dragged his four horsemen of bad influences (Jungwon, Jake, Heeseung, and Riki) to a bar. An empty beer bottle spinning between them because mentally, they liked to feel twenty-two instead of pushing thirty.

The bottle stopped in front of Heeseung.

"Okay." Jake grinned wickedly. "Would you sleep with Cecil if there were only two of you left in the world?"

Heeseung didn't even waste a second. "I'd sleep with Cecil even if the rest of you were still alive and judging me."

The table exploded with laughter and horrified shrieks.

"You're fucking disgusting," Jungwon said, throwing a wadded-up napkin at him. "I hate you. Do not ever come near my mother."

Sunoo grabbed the bottle next. It went around three times before landing on Jake.

Jake opened his arms. "Come on, try me."

Sunoo smiled sweetly. "Hypothetically… end of the world… only you and Heeseung left. Are you hitting it?"

The table lost it.

"OH MY GOD."

"FINALLY."

Heeseung's face turned a bit red. He covered it with his hands while Jake sat back, arms crossed, looking incredibly smug.

"Well?" Jungwon prompted. "Answer the question."

"Yeah, sure. Why not?"

The table started chanting. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Heeseung and Jake locked eyes across the table. They both stood up, meeting in the middle, and then proceeded to devour each other's faces and Heeseung literally lifted Jake slightly off the ground.

"Okay, OKAY!" Sunoo jumped up, physically prying them apart. "We GET IT. You made your point."

Riki grabbed the bottle next, spinning it lazily. It landed on Sunoo.

"Finally," Riki said. "What's your body count? How many people have you slept with?"

"Um." Sunoo fidgeted with his glass he considered lying but his brain was functioning on tequila honesty. "One?"

"ONE?!"

"Are you fucking serious right now?"

"Wait, so you've only had sex with Anton?" 

"I mean, I did hand stuff in college," Sunoo said defensively. "But Anton was my only boyfriend, so..."

"Holy shit," Heeseung muttered. "You haven't even slept with Sunghoon yet?"

Shit. He forgot Heeseung and Riki didn't know about the fake engagement.

Sunoo improvised. "I plan to do it after we… get married?"

Riki stared at him. "Since when are you such a prude?"

Sunoo refused to answer any further questions. Luckily, the DJ saved him. The opening bars of Katy Perry's California Gurls hit the speakers. Sunoo used it as his escape.

"Guys! Oh my god, oh my god. OH my GOD!" He climbed onto the table. "This is my SONG!" 

The entire bar yelled back and his friends followed suit without question. They threw their arms in the air, swung their nonexistent long hair, cupped their nonexistent boobs, sassy pointed at each other, and screamed the lyrics.

The bachelorette party at the next table was filming them. "CALIFORNIA GAYS!" 

"I'M FROM ORANGE COUNTY!" Riki yelled back, which made no sense as a response but got cheers anyway.

After 10 more rounds of white-girl-dancing on the bar-top, somehow acquiring several dollar bills tucked into his waistband and shoes, Sunoo stumbled toward the restroom.

His brain kept circling back to Amethyst. That witch and her stupid reading about "surrendering" and other stuff Sunoo couldn't remember right now. She hadn't even had the decency to specify who he was supposed to surrender to. You'll know, she said. But HOW?

Which was how Sunoo found himself, ten minutes later, kissing the first hot guy he saw near the bar. (In his defense, the guy was hot. In his prosecution, Sunoo couldn't actually remember how the kissing started. Alcohol courage was a hell of a drug.)

The guy enthusiastically kissed him back, tongue doing things that should've been doing something for him. Except… Sunoo's eyes opened mid-kiss, he became uncomfortably self-aware of what he was doing. His mouth stopped moving while the guy kept sucking his face. Sunoo felt absolutely nothing. Not aroused, not even mildly intrigued. All he felt was the physical sensation of flesh pressing against his mouth.

He pushed the guy away (gently, because he wasn't a monster) and immediately grabbed the next attractive man he saw.

"Hi, I'm Sunoo, can I kiss you?"

"Sure?"

This kiss was even worse. Sunoo suddenly could only kiss like a dead fish. Was he broken? He couldn't get horny. Was it stress? Was he going to spend the rest of his life unable to feel anything because Anton?

Surrender to carnal desires? Maybe Amethyst meant he should surrender to celibacy.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts—past Haley (no), past Eddie (absolutely not), past his mother (god no)—until he landed on Sunghoon's name. The phone rang twice.

"What's up?" Sunghoon's voice was strangely warm and less annoying to hear when he was 6 shots deep into the night.

"Are you still in the city?"

"Yes, why?"

"Can you come and pick me up?"

 

⊹♡

 

Sunghoon's car pulled up in front of the bar nine minutes later. Sunoo spotted it and immediately started waving his purse-holding hand in the air.

"SUNGHOON!" he yelled, wobbling on his feet.

The passenger window rolled down. "Get in before you fall over."

Sunoo attempted to walk normally, instead catching himself on the car door. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me!"

"Clearly."

They pulled away from the curb. Sunoo slumped in his seat, staring out the window.

"Stop the car," Sunoo said.

Sunghoon glanced at him. "Do you need to throw up?"

"No, just—stop. Look at me."

Sunghoon pulled over, putting the car in park in front of a closed restaurant. "What is it?"

"I can't get horny."

"...and?"

"I can't get horny!" Sunoo repeated louder like it would make it make more sense. "I tried. I kissed three guys tonight. It didn't work."

"You kissed three guys."

"Maybe two. Definitely at least two." Sunoo ran his hands through his hair. "It's the witch's fault. She said I had to surrender, but it was so fucking cryptic so I figured I'd just test the waters."

Sunghoon just stared at him incredulously and sighed. Then, he reached out and wiped his thumb across Sunoo's lips, wiping whatever's left on them.

"I won't pretend that hearing about you kissing random guys before you called me to pick you up doesn't piss me off badly right now."

His hand moved from Sunoo's mouth to cup his jaw, tilting his face up. 

"Make me horny," Sunoo blurted out.

Sunghoon stifled a laugh.

"You heard me." Sunoo leaned closer. "Do something. Anything."

"Sweetheart," Sunghoon said, and the endearment made Sunoo's stomach flip—the first thing he'd felt all night. Sunoo's entire face almost lit up. "I'd like to do anything and more. But I don't do drunk people."

And he deflated. "Why not?" he whined. "Why noooot?"

"Because when I finally get to touch you, I need you to remember every second of it."

 

⊹♡

 

The Sunday sun was too bright for anyone who'd been drinking tequila less than 24 hours ago, but the Bippity Boppity Bottoms (the Sunday tennis groupchat name) were gathered for their weekly ritual of athletic mediocrity at the Beverly Hills tennis club where they could sweat, look cute, and gossip.

Sunoo adjusted his pastel pink visor and stretched his legs while the group assembled. Jake and Jungwon were already rallying on Court 3 in their matching Tracksmith sets. Jake had on a sweatband that said SERVES & CURVES despite having neither. Kevin arrived next, Stanley in one hand, racket in the other, followed by Eddie and Steve.

"Alright, alright," Eddie interrupted after stretching his hamstrings. "Before we start, can we address the elephant on the court?"

Everyone turned to look at Sunoo.

"There's no elephant," Sunoo said flatly. "Even if there is, it doesn't want to be addressed."

"Sunoo Kim," Eddie said, hands on his hips, "you broke off your engagement with Anton last month. We all went to that incredibly awkward brunch after you returned the Cartier. And now—" He threw his arms. "—you're telling me you're going through with the wedding? But the groom is Park Sunghoon? THE Park Sunghoon?"

Steve, who was supposed to be Eddie's doubles partner but was instead leaning against the net, nodded enthusiastically. "We need answers."

Sunoo caught Jake's eye across the court. Jake and Jungwon were doing an admirable job of looking shocked and confused. 

"Can we at least finish one game before the interrogation?" Sunoo tried, bouncing the tennis ball against the court.

"Absolutely not." Kevin abandoned all pretense of playing as he walked up to the net. "How did you even meet him?"

Sunoo sighed, setting down his racket. This was inevitable. He'd rehearsed this. He could do this.

"We met at a restaurant. We started talking.." Sunoo adjusted his sweatband and forced a cute smile. "Yes, well. Life works in unexpected ways. People cheat. People get married to the next person they meet. Things just happened."

"Things just happened?" Steve repeated, incredulous. "Babe, things don't just 'happen' with Park Sunghoon if the rumors are true."

Eddie gasped. "Oh my god, the rumors…."

"What rumors?" Sunoo asked too quickly.

Kevin leaned in, glancing around even though they were the only people there. "Okay, so you know how everyone just assumed that Sunghoon was just, like, private? Turns out he's not that private, he's just busy. Giancarlo from my Yoga class? Hooked up with him at Soho House last year. Said Sunghoon was, and I quote 'aggressively competent.'"

"'Aggressively competent,'" Eddie repeated, like those words held significant importance.

"And then there's that whole thing with the guy from the Palisades," Steve added. "What was his name? Brandon? Brad? Anyway, apparently Sunghoon took him to Japan for a weekend and the guy came back a changed man."

"Reformed him," Kevin said solemnly. "Spiritually and sexually."

"But like, in a hot way," Steve clarified. "Not a cult way."

"Debatable," Eddie muttered.

Sunoo felt something uncomfortably and deeply annoying. He did not need to know about Sunghoon's apparent trail of devastated men across this country. Especially not from these bottoms' mouths.

"Are you sure you're not just… getting carried away?" Steve asked. "You had your heart broken, and Sunghoon is not exactly someone anyone pictured getting married."

Sunoo had thought about that. Setting aside the fun, games, and all the pretending—some people would be genuinely worried. But Sunoo's pride was bigger than their empathy. "If I change my mind, Jungwon will get me a clean divorce."

"Truuuue," Kevin said. "My cousin had Jungwon as her divorce lawyer and Jungwon was doing god's work for her."

"Anyway," Eddie said, "I just cannot believe you're still getting married. Like, you had a long-term serious relationship Anton! Who was, to be objectively honest with you, super fine. Except for the cheating part."

Kevin leaned over the net. "You're marrying into money though. Sunghoon's family owns resorts in Korea, right? I've seen the news. MASSIVE ones. I'm just happy you're getting a major upgrade."

Sunoo raised a brow. "Resorts?"

"He didn't tell you?"

Sunoo nodded, keeping his expression convincingly positive even though this was news to him. He'd known Sunghoon had money, you didn't own a boutique on Rodeo Drive without serious capital—but resorts? Plural? "No, yeah. Of course he told me."

"And he's got businesses here too, right?" Eddie added. "Something about boutiques and real estate here?"

Sunoo just kept nodding. "Mmhmm. All that."

"So you're marrying into, like, generational wealth." Steve was impressed and slightly envious. "Good for you, honestly. Get that bag."

"Anyway, why haven't I seen the engagement photos though?" Eddie asked.

Kevin gasped. "No way, he proposed, right?"

Sunoo quickly saved, "Oh, it's coming. It's just, too fast, you know? I don't want to look too… you know what I'm saying."

Jake clapped his hands to get their attention. "Okay, gossip break over. Doubles. Sunoo, you're with me. I need your serves."

"I always serve," Sunoo said, grabbing his racket and shooting Jake a grateful look.

Jake headed to the baseline. "Eddie, Steve—you're up. Kevin, you're with Jungwon."

"Wait, why am I stuck with Jungwon?" Kevin whined.

"Because you wouldn't stop talking," Jungwon shot back.

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunoo spotted Sunghoon's car in the parking lot, a deep gray BMW with the man himself leaning against it like he was posing for a fucking magazine, arms crossed over his chest, sunglasses on despite the fact that he was parked in the shade. He looked insufferable.

Their eyes met across the parking lot. Behind him, he could hear the chatter of his friends getting closer, Sunoo made frantic hand gestures—pointing at Sunghoon, then gesturing behind himself, then making what he hoped conveyed: act romantic, they're watching, do it now or I will fucking end you.

Sunghoon pushed off and walked toward him, meeting him halfway across the lot. He plucked the tennis bag from his shoulder.

"I got it, baby."

Sunghoon wrapped his arm around Sunoo's head, pulling him close, and pressed his lips against Sunoo's hair. Not just a quick peck, but a lingering kiss, the kind that looked disgustingly romantic from a distance that it sent Kevin gasping somewhere behind them.

What his friends couldn't hear, however, was whatever unprovoked remark murmured directly against Sunoo's scalp, "How's this for playing the perfect fiancé? Can I grab your ass too?"

Sunoo's elbow shot into Sunghoon's ribs. Sunghoon didn't flinch, he pulled Sunoo closer, arm still draped over his shoulders.

"Hey. Next time, wear one of those little tennis skirts. Let me watch you play."

"Never. You weirdo."

"The skirt thing is really more for my entertainment than anything else, and my payment for picking you up. Think about it."

Sunoo shoved him hard creating space between them. But he caught himself immediately, turning it into a playful push slash cute couple thing where they teased each other.

"Oh my god, you cannot just say stuff like that!" Sunoo said with a pitched up voice and faux laughter. "Ha ha ha—what if my friends hear you? You're so annoying!"

Sunghoon grinned wider. He turned toward the small group of men who had stopped a respectful distance away but were absolutely gawking internally, and gave them a friendly wave.

"Hey," Sunghoon said, "Sorry, we've got to run. I have a lunch reservation for him."

"We don't have a lunch reservation," Sunoo muttered.

"We do now," Sunghoon said, hand sliding to the small of Sunoo's back. "Say bye to your friends, sweetheart."

Sunoo was going to actually strangle Sunghoon. But first, he had to turn around and wave at his friends.

Sunghoon opened the passenger door for him. "After you."

Sunghoon slid into the driver's seat, tossing Sunoo's tennis bag into the back. He didn't start the car immediately. He turned to look at Sunoo, one arm draped over the steering wheel. Those sunglasses looked stupid, Sunoo wished Sunghoon didn't look so good in them.

"Hey," Sunghoon said. "How'd I do?"

"Okay."

"That's not a no to the tennis skirt."

"Shut up and drive."

 

⊹♡

 

Sunghoon leaned against the marble countertop, watching Sunoo circle the kitchen for the third time. "Thoughts?"

Sunoo ran his fingers along the edge of the island, trying not to look too impressed. The entire house was ridiculous—white marble countertops, state-of-the-art appliances, an island the size of Sunoo's childhood bedroom. Sunoo had seen many houses like this before and dreamed of living in one for as long as he could remember. The windows were designed to make the afternoon sun turned the whole kitchen golden, the view he could see himself enjoying with a cup of tea everyday. There was even a pool and a backyard Coco would never run on but would look amazing in photos. "It's nice."

"Nice? You've been gaping at everything for the past hour."

"I have not been gaping." 

"You took a photo of the bathroom."

"The bathroom has a chandelier—" Sunoo cut himself off. "That's beside the point. Are you selling this place? I heard you're in real estate too."

"Here." Something silver arced through the air. Sunoo caught it reflexively. A key.

"What's this?"

"The key to this house." Sunghoon said it casually. "It's ours."

"What? What happened to your condo?"

"Changed my mind. A house makes more sense."

"We never discussed this?"

"We did, just now." Sunghoon pushed off the counter, closing the distance between them. "You should move in this week. The deal says you need to live with me at least two days a week."

"This week?" Sunoo's brain struggled to catch up. "But our wedding won't be until May?"

"Yes." Sunghoon was too close now, backing Sunoo against the island. "But you should get settled."

"Why?"

"We need to get used to each other." 

"Used to each other," Sunoo repeated slowly, then laughed. "Whatever you say."

"Unless you're having second thoughts?" 

The problem was, Sunoo wasn't having second thoughts. He was having entirely too many first thoughts, standing in this huge kitchen with Sunghoon looking at him like that. Too domestic, too real, too something.

"I have several objections—"

"Name one."

"You're insane," Sunoo said. "That's objection number one."

"That's an observation, not an objection." Sunghoon's hand came up to brace against the counter beside Sunoo's hip, caging him in. "Try again."

"This is too excessive. Has anyone ever told you that you're too much?"

"Frequently. Usually right when I'm putting—"

"Finish that sentence and I'm gonna kick your balls." Despite himself, Sunoo laughed. Then, because he needed to look nonchalant, "Fine. I'll move in. But I'm taking the master bedroom."

"Obviously." Sunghoon's hand slid from the counter to Sunoo's waist. "Where else would you sleep?"

"In the master bedroom. Alone."

"Deal. Welcome home, baby."

"Don't push it."

"Since this is our house, you're not allowed to bring some guys you meet at the bar here."

"Yeah, because I'd bring them to my house."

Sunghoon's free hand came up to tilt Sunoo's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. "I don't share well. Don't underestimate the lengths I'd go to keep other men's hands off you."

"Does that line usually work?" Sunoo looked up, he never backed down from this kind of challenge. Not many things could fluster him. "Are you even aware what kind of reputation you have?"

"Jealous?"

"No. But I'll let you know when I hear something impressive. So far I'm underwhelmed."

"What about those the same guys you were kissing last night? How do they compare?"

There it was. Sunoo pushed the right button. "Jealous?"

"Devastatingly. Catastrophically."

"Do you want the truth or do you want your ego stroked?"

"I want to know what you were doing last night kissing random people and then calling me."

"You mean when I was drunk and running my mouth?" Sunoo tilted his head. "Refresh my memory."

"You asked me to make you horny." 

"And?"

"And I was offended that they got to kiss you before I did."

"And you still said no."

"I said I don't do drunk people. I have morals and standards. Shockingly."

"I'm completely sober now. What are you waiting for?"

Sunghoon stared. His hand returned to Sunoo's jaw, thumb pressed against his lip. "Sunoo, I'm going to kiss you right now. So you better say no if you don't want this. And please, please don't kick my balls. I'm quite attached to them."

The bell rang in Sunoo's ears and he heard Amethyst's voice again. 

Surrender.

"You have three seconds before I change my mind—"

Sunghoon kissed him.

And oh—oh. This was nothing like those sloppy drunk kisses last night, all tongue and tequila and someone's hand in his hair who wasn't Sunghoon. This one got his knees weak and his brain screamed at him reminding him that this was a monumentally terrible idea.

Sunghoon kissed like he did everything else—with complete confidence and annoying audacity. Sunoo, to his own horror, was kind of into it. Cause what a surprise, his body suddenly didn't give a single shit.

Sunoo's hands, which had been hanging uselessly at his sides, flew up to grip Sunghoon's shoulders, his fingers digging into the hard muscle under his shirt just to keep himself upright which was frankly humiliating but also necessary for survival because Sunghoon could be considered both paralyzing him and eating him alive.

Sunghoon's mouth moved to his jaw, then his neck, then the hollow of his throat, and Sunoo heard himself moan. Then Sunghoon's cold hand (that's so sure and absolutely presumptuous) started sliding under his shirt, fingers skimming bare skin.

Sunoo caught his wrist. "I'm not having sex with you."

Sunghoon's entire face dropped onto Sunoo's shoulder and he let out a groan that sounded like a kid being told he couldn't have ice cream before a meal. Sunoo snorted. This absolute manchild.

"Just the tip?" Sunghoon pulled back, looking at Sunoo with desperate puppy eyes that probably worked on his previous conquests. He even held up his hands, fingers pinched together in a tiny measurement. "Like this much? It's barely anything. It doesn't even count as sex."

Sunoo rolled his eyes so hard he saw the back of his skull. Sunghoon laughed, slipping out of the act.

"What about oral stuff? You don't have to do anything, just sit back and let me eat your ass. I'll do all the work. Please?"

"It's cute that you think talking me into this could possibly work."

"Is it working?"

"Not even a little bit." Sunoo patted his cheek condescendingly.

Sunghoon caught Sunoo's hand before he could pull away, pressing a kiss to his palm. "Can I at least keep kissing you? No funny business. I'll be so good, I swear. I'll be a perfect gentleman."

"You've never been a gentleman in your entire life."

"I could start now."

"Walk your talk."

They straightened up. Sunghoon looked shamelessly nonchalant for someone who'd just been begging for sexual favors, while Sunoo tried to remember how to stand like a normal person whose knees worked. He grabbed his bag from the countertop, checking his phone purely to avoid looking at Sunghoon's face.

"Oh, right." Sunoo scrolled through his messages. "We need engagement photos. My friends noticed that it's missing from my Instagram." He glanced up. "And we need fantastic ones. Anton proposed to me inside his dad's car, so the bar is literally underground. I'm gonna need to book a hotel, buy decorations, coordinate outfits—when are you free?"

Sunghoon had already stopped listening—which should've been annoying but was actually predictable. He pulled a black card from his wallet, holding it out between two fingers. "Go crazy, love. Do whatever you want. Get your revenge. I'll make time for it."

Sunoo took the credit card and kissed it. "Thank you, daddy."

Sunghoon's brain short-circuited and a flush crept up his neck that was absolutely fun to witness. "I know you're saying that ironically, but can you please call me that again? Just once. I'll pay you. I'll get you anything you want—"

"In your dreams," Sunoo said as he headed for the door.

"Wait."

Sunoo paused at the doorway, glancing back over his shoulder.

Sunghoon was leaning against the counter again, looking every bit the confident bastard who'd bought them a house on a whim instead of the one asking Sunoo "just the tip". His grin was absolutely shit-eating. "Did I do it?"

"Did you do what?"

"Made you horny?"

Sunoo rolled his eyes. "Goodbye, Sunghoon."

"Baby, you didn't answer the question!"

 

⊹♡

Chapter 4

Notes:

the fic was supposed to be 4 chapters long believe me when i say i already had the whole story written for a while now but when i was editing the chapters to update, some chapters got a bit too long so i had to split them to two chapters (this way i could also work on the pacing as well) but WELP here's another present for you!

ps. happy belated birthday pinad <3

⊹♡ 

 

Miami in January was warm enough for Sunoo to regret wearing long sleeves but not humid enough to ruin his hair, thankfully. He and Haley emerged from baggage claim into the arrivals area, weaving through families and those who'd fled winter to Florida for the sunshine.

"—so the Miami branch opens tomorrow at 10AM please be there on time for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. You've also got seventeen things on your checklist, and somehow you're supposed to fit an elaborate beach proposal in between." Haley looked up from her phone. "Your life is a circus."

"At least I'm riding the unicycle in Prada loafers." Sunoo winked. "Can you take my suitcase to the hotel? I have lunch with Gwen." He was already typing out a text to Gwen, Be there in 15, traffic is insane!!, when he got interrupted by an incoming call.

Sunghoon.

Sunoo exhaled through his nose, waved Haley toward the taxi stand, and answered. "What do you want?"

On a yacht somewhere off the Miami coast, the sun was perfect, the drink was sweating cold, Sunghoon's shirt was unbuttoned just enough to show off his admittedly impressive abs, his sunglasses were in place as usual, and his hair cooperating beautifully with the ocean breeze.

"Have you landed?" Sunghoon asked, grinning at nothing.

Sunoo climbed into a different taxi. "Obviously. Why are you calling?"

"Just checking in on my future husband. How are you feeling? Are you excited to be proposed to at the beach tonight?"

"It's not my first proposal, so no."

Sunghoon took a sip of his drink, leaning back against the yacht railing. "I've seen the photos you sent me of the setup. And wow. Woooow. Do people actually do this much for proposals? The candlelit walk on the beach, the rose petals shaped into a heart on the sand—shit, you ordered fireworks? I thought that two-grand charge to Totally Licensed Boom Boom Co. was a joke."

"That's just for the photos," Sunoo said, watching Miami blur past the window. "The photographer's already booked and that two grand doesn't include permitting fees."

Sunghoon then said in faux shyness, "Please be gentle with me. It's my first time."

"I'm hanging up now."

"Wait, wait. One more thing. Do I need to cry? When I propose? Should I get down on both knees or just one? Do I give a speech?"

"You're going to follow the brief I sent you, which you clearly haven't read, because if you had, you'd know that you're getting down on one knee, not both cause that's for begging, and no speech. We're only taking pictures."

"Why not?" Sunghoon sounded genuinely offended. "I have a speech prepared for you."

"Try."

"Ahem." Sunghoon cleared his throat. "Sunoo, from the moment I saw your beautiful ass, I knew you were the one. Your ability to spend my money brings me joy and your taste in men is spectacular. Please marry me so I can legally combine our tax brackets."

Sunoo closed his eyes. "The photographer is meeting us at 4pm. Don't be late. And wear cream or white linen. It looks better under sunset."

 

⊹♡ 

 

"—the water is so clear you can literally see your own feet. No toxins, no pollutants… just pure, crystalline energy." Gwen's hands were moving like she sprinkling stardust in the air. "The air, the food, the vibes… your cells will be, like, vibrating at a completely different frequency. It's basically a full-body reset just from existing there. Oh, and they have sound baths at sunrise. It is supposed to recalibrate your entire nervous system back to how nature intended it to be," She paused to take a sip of her skinny mojito. "It's like, beautiful. And healing. But mostly healing. Really ground into the feminine divine, you know?"

"Sold." Sunoo was already pulling up his phone, scrolling through listings. 

He sent messages to the groupchat with seven Airbnb links and palm tree emojis. 

[Group chat: Japan 2025 🇯🇵]

Sunoo:
thailand for next holiday this year? who's in?

Riki:
I'm so in. I need it

Heeseung Lee:
when?

Sunoo:
november?

Heeseung Lee:
lets get ittttt

Jungwon Steven Yang
november? I don't think Jake can go

Sunoo frowned at his screen. 

Sunoo:
why not?

The chat went silent. Then Jungwon started typing again.

Jungwon Steven Yang:
shit sorry guys

Sunoo stared at his phone. Gwen, mid-bite, noticed the shift in his expression. "What's wrong?"

"No, it's this—" His phone buzzed. A separate personal text from Jake.

Jake:
hey can we talk
i'm really sorry i didn't say this sooner
i'm leaving for the UK. got into a masters program

Sunoo:
what???
how did you even apply for a masters program overnight???

The typing bubble appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Jake:
i didn't… it happened a few weeks ago
i've been trying to figure out how to tell you
but with everything going on with you and anton 
there was never a right time
i didn't want to make it about me
i'm really sorry
can we meet up after you come back from miami? i want to explain properly :( 

Sunoo stared at the messages. He didn't know what it was yet that he felt in his chest.

Sunoo:
okay first of all, it's VERY okay and i'm so happy for you
second of all i'm a little pissed that you thought you had to keep this from me because of anton
anton is not important. YOU are important.
so let's schedule brunch this weekend when i'm back
your treat obviously because we're celebrating YOU
i mean it jake. congratulations. you're going to be amazing

Gwen was watching him carefully. 

Sunoo noticed. "Sorry about that."

Sunoo locked his phone and slid it facedown on the table.

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunoo attended the grand opening of Moow's Miami branch dressed in head-to-toe Chanel (because as Tyla so beautifully sang, how you say you love me, you ain't put me in Chanel? Well, Sunoo put himself in Chanel).

He cut the ribbon with Gwen and their four business partners. Flash, flash, flash. Never-ending camera flashes. The whole afternoon he mingled with investors, charming business partners, laughing at jokes that weren't funny, stroking egos that didn't need stroking, and dispensing just enough white lies to keep everyone happy without technically committing fraud.

It was exhausting. It was also what he was good at.

Sunoo had never liked Miami. But Anton loved it.

This city meant something to them once. They'd met here, at one of those probably illegal parties where everyone was a little too high, they'd found each other. They'd come back multiple times after that after they'd started dating. Different hotels, same hangovers, same stupid happy feeling that made Sunoo believe in things he knew better than to believe in.

That's why he'd picked this city for the fake proposal. It was the perfect little "eat shit" for Anton's feed. Petty? Yes. Satisfying? Absolutely, he would do it again.

With work handled and the store launch going smoothly, Sunoo decided to treat himself. He ducked into a boutique patisserie and emerged with an overpriced box of macarons. He opened the box and ate one while he waited for his Uber.

Looking to his right, he saw an elderly couple sitting outside the restaurant on the corner with the blue awning. The man was helping the woman with her napkin. She was laughing at something he said, touching his hand across the table. Sunoo's stomach dropped.

He and Anton used to go there for brunch—specifically to cure hangovers after nights that involved questionable crowds and even more questionable substances. Anton always ordered the same thing. Sunoo always stole half of it.

When you didn't deal with the emotions, instead holding it and pushing it down, it always found a way to escape sideways.

He stood there on the sidewalk, macarons in hand, frozen like an idiot. The city suddenly looked softer. Almost the way it used to look when Anton was beside him. Then his Uber pulled up.

"Shunu Kim?"

The feeling was gone in a blink. Miami returned to what it really looked like. Suddenly it was the ugliest city he'd ever seen. It was garish and fake and trying way too hard, just like everything else.

He got in the car.

By the time he arrived at the hotel, his chest felt like someone had stepped on it. He went straight to the bar, bypassed the bartender entirely, and swiped a bottle of wine from behind the counter.

The bartender looked up, alarmed. "Sir—"

"Bill it to my room."

 

⊹♡

 

Sunghoon was waiting at the beach, standing in the middle of a massive heart made entirely of red rose petals, surrounded by even more fake candles that stood the test of the breeze. He'd been standing there, waiting with the photographer for the past 30 minutes.

The sunset Sunoo had specifically looked forward to, the one that would complete the romantic hue of the picture was beginning its golden hour descent. But Sunoo himself was nowhere in sight.

Sunghoon checked his phone. He didn't find any messages. He tried calling and no answer either.

The photographer glanced over, clearly wondering what the holdup was. 

Something felt wrong.

Sunghoon walked over to the photographer, pulling out his wallet. "We're done for the day. I'm sorry about this." Sunghoon handed him several bills. "For your taxi home. And your trouble."

The photographer stared at the cash, then at Sunghoon's face, and seemed to read the situation. "Right. Okay. Hope everything's alright."

As he walked away, Sunghoon heard him mutter, "Rich people."

Fair.

Sunghoon was dialing Haley as he headed toward the parking lot.

"Hello?"

"Haley, it's Sunghoon. Is Sunoo with you?"

"What? No. I'm in my room. Isn't he at the beach? For the proposal?"

"He never showed up." Sunghoon unlocked his car. "Can you check his hotel room? I'm on my way there now."

"Oh my god. Yeah, I'm gonna check too."

They met in the hotel lobby, Haley meeting him from the hotel concierge after getting the spare key that she immediately handed to him. They took the elevator to Sunoo's room. Sunghoon swiped the card. The lock clicked open.

The room was clean, the bed was made, the suitcase was opened but nothing else was out of place. Except the bathroom door was open. Just slightly. Sunghoon moved toward it, nudging it open with his hand.

Sunoo was sitting in the empty bath tub. Knees pulled up to his chest, one arm wrapped around them, the other holding a wine bottle by the neck.

"Sunoo," Haley called softly. "Are you okay?"

Sunoo didn't look up.

Sunghoon turned to Haley. "Thank you, Haley. I've got this."

She hesitated, looking between them. Then nodded. "Call me if you need anything."

The door clicked shut.

Then Sunoo finally looked at him. His eyes were red and puffy from crying. "Sorry I didn't show up. I just needed a minute."

"Can I come in?"

Sunoo shrugged, which Sunghoon took as permission. He closed the door behind him, locked it this time, and sat down on the floor next to the tub. Keeping himself close enough that Sunoo could reach him if he wanted to.

Neither of them spoke.

Sunghoon waited.

"Everyone keeps telling me it's not my fault," Sunoo said finally. "When I first found out about the cheating, that was the first thing everyone said. 'It's not your fault, Sunoo. You didn't do anything wrong. He's the one who cheated.' And I know that. I know it's not my fault." He took a drink straight from the bottle, wincing slightly. "But I still can't stop asking myself—why did this happen to me? When did I make this error in judgment? Was there a moment where I should've known? Should've I seen it coming? Did I somehow, at the end of the day, deserve it because it's the product of my choices?"

"No one could've seen it, Sunoo. You didn't deserve it."

"I know." Sunoo muttered. "I know I didn't deserve it. But it makes me question everything. My judgment of people. My ability to read situations. He was sleeping with Wonbin when he proposed to me. Did you know that? He proposed to me out of guilt. He kept me happy because he knew he'd done something wrong, and that thought alone fucked me up completely." A shrug. "He felt bad about fucking someone else. Marrying me was a consolation for his guilty conscience. It ruined my self-esteem because it gave me this idea that I was never worth marrying. Which isn't necessarily true. But I don't get a choice about whether to feel it or not."

Sunghoon felt a small smile tug at his mouth. Sunoo caught it.

"What?"

"Nothing. Keep going."

Sunoo let out a breath, another shrug. "Everyone thinks I'm over it because I joke about it. Because I laugh and yell and make dramatic pronouncements about revenge and being petty. But I'm actually a very sensitive person. I'm hurt. I didn't just stop loving Anton overnight. I couldn't. It doesn't work like that. Every day I'm at war with myself. The rational part of me is desperately trying to convince the rest of my body that no, this isn't okay, you need to move on. And I do try. I show up to work. I do my best. I meet my friends." He laughed bitterly. "My friends who always look at me with these sad, careful faces. Who can't share good news with me because they're afraid they're rubbing it in my face that their life is good while mine is shit."

Another tear fell on his cheek and Sunghoon reached out to wipe it with his sleeve.

"I didn't even find out that Jake was leaving for the UK to get his masters until yesterday. They kept it from me for weeks because they were protecting my feelings, and it makes me feel terrible because I don't want that… They're good people. They're trying to comfort me, that's what they always do, and it makes me feel so fucking shitty that they had to keep good news from me just to spare my feelings."

Sunghoon reached up slowly, carefully, and rested his hand on Sunoo's knee, caressing it.

"I never saw it coming," Sunoo whispered. "I thought I'd have the perfect ending. I've been planning my entire life for this moment where I finally get married to someone I love. And Anton had always been nice to me so it hit me harder that he'd do something this terrible. At least with assholes, you know they're capable of being terrible. You're not surprised." He was crying again, silent tears tracking down his face. "B—but Anton was supposed to be good. And if someone that good could hurt me that badly, then how am I gonna trust anyone ever again?"

Sunoo started wailing and sobbing. Sunghoon gave him all the space to feel and let it all out, but he kept his hand on Sunoo's knee so he'd know that Sunghoon was still there.

Sunoo let out a shaky breath. "I don't even—" He laughed, and it turned into another sob. He pressed the heel of his hand against his eyes. "I don't even have a single horny thought in me anymore. People talk about rebounds and going out and getting under someone to get over someone, and I can't even get it up. I can't even do that right. I can't even be properly single and slutty because my dick doesn't work and I'm a hopeless romantic and I just—"

He did an ugly sob and Sunghoon tried not to laugh. "Oh, come here." Sunghoon pulled Sunoo into his shoulder.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because you're crying and I'm not a monster."

"You're usually more of a dickhead."

"I can be a dickhead tomorrow if it makes you feel better. But not now."

Sunoo pulled back slightly, red-eyed and blotchy, and held up the wine bottle. "Want some?"

Outside, somewhere over the Miami coastline, fireworks exploded into the night sky.

MARRY ME SUNOO lit up in the sky, bright enough to be seen for miles.

They didn't see it. But plenty of people in Miami did.

And for a brief, passing moment, everyone looking up at that sky thought the same thing:

Whoever Sunoo is, he's one lucky motherfucker.

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo came out of the bathroom dressed in blue pajamas that were decidedly not Chanel, he finally felt like a human being rather than one (very expensive) anxious ball. His eyes were still puffy, his face blotchy, but at least he was clean.

Sunghoon was sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when Sunoo padded into the room.

"Feel better?"

"A bit." Sunoo toweled his hair dry, then froze mid-motion as he looked at a very demanding problem in front of them right now. There was only one bed. One roomy king-sized bed, but still one bed. Because he hadn't exactly planned on sharing a room with anyone in Miami. They both stared at the bed from opposite ends. Sunghoon raised an eyebrow.

Sunoo sighed. "It's okay. We can share the bed."

Sunghoon made a fist-pumping motion and whispered, "Yes!"

"The couch is also perfectly decent—"

"No, no, no!" Sunghoon straightened immediately, hands up in surrender. "Sorry. I'll behave. Starting now."

Sunoo shook his head and climbed into bed, slipping under the covers and turning to face the window. Sunghoon settled in on the other side, leaving a respectful distance between them. He lay on his back for a moment, then shifted onto his side, facing Sunoo's back.

"You know," Sunghoon said quietly, "you're intellectualizing your feelings. Trying to make them acceptable, trying to… apply logic on them so they make sense. But you don't have to do that. It's okay to just... feel things. You don't have to justify why you're hurt. It's acceptable. It's not wrong. You're allowed to just feel what you feel."

Sunoo listened.

"And I know everyone keeps saying it's not your fault," Sunghoon continued, "but maybe what you need to hear is that it's also not your job to be okay right now. You don't owe it to anyone to be fine right now, not even yourself. It takes time." He paused. "You're allowed to fall apart. That's okay too. You're not supposed to have all the answers. Sometimes people hurt us not because we failed, but because they did. And that's on them—"

Sunoo snorted.

Sunghoon stopped mid-sentence. "...What?"

Sunoo was shaking now, but not from crying, it was from laughing. He rolled over to face Sunghoon. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just—" He dissolved into giggles. "I didn't know your brain was capable of conjuring thoughtful thoughts. That was genuinely touching and then my brain was like, wait, is this still the same person?"

"I pour my heart out and this is what I get?"

"No, no, it was beautiful!" Sunoo was grinning. "Truly profound. I'm just—I'm having trouble reconciling these… different sides of you."

"I contain multitudes," Sunghoon said dryly.

"Shockingly."

They looked at each other across the small space between them. 

"Still, thank you," Sunoo said nevertheless. "I needed to hear that."

 

⊹♡

 

"Do you really think this could work?" 

Sunoo's phone pressed against his ear, as he watched his own reflection on the dark TV screen. They couldn't sleep, one aimless talk led to another, and Sunghoon came up with this brilliant idea of curing Sunoo's problem of… not being able to get it up. 

In the bathroom, Sunghoon was sitting on the toilet, also talking on the phone. "I'm not a sex therapist, but it's worth trying. In theory, I believe you should be comfortable with yourself first. I'll help you."

Sunoo laughed to ease the awkwardness. "Comfortable. Like what?"

"Stop thinking about anything else. It’s just you. Well, and me, but I'm not really there. Technically I'm on the other side of the wall. But anyway, are you comfortable now?"

"Yeah," Sunoo breathed, settling back against the pillows.

"Good. Close your eyes. I want you to just listen to me. Forget about everything else. Forget about what you think you should be feeling. This is just about feeling good. Where's your hand now?"

Sunoo slid his palm down his abdomen. "My stomach?"

"Now slide it lower. Just rest it over your shorts. Don’t do anything yet. Just feel it there. Feel your body starting to wake up under your hand. Tell me when you feel that."

He focused, trying to conjure a spark from nothing but the pressure of his own palm. It didn’t work. But he lied to get it over with, "I feel it. I think."

Sunghoon’s low chuckle vibrated through the phone. "I can tell when you're lying."

"Whatever. Fine. I don't feel anything."

"I want you to push those shorts down. Just get them off. Kick them onto the floor. I want you completely naked for me."

He fumbled with the elastic waistband, the simple task feeling oddly momentous. He shoved the fabric down his legs and kicked it away into the dimness of his hotel room. He also tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. This felt like one of those terribly serious indie pornos, all white noises and artistic suffering, and Sunoo was not into it.

"Are you naked?"

"Yes."

"This is all about getting to know your body. Your body, Sunoo. Not anyone else’s. Use your less dominant hand." Sunoo switched the phone to his right hand. "Touch your face, your neck, your chest. Down… and down… Get to know it. Close your eyes if you must and feel it."

With a sigh of resignation, Sunoo did as he was told. His left fingertips traced the line of his jaw (smooth because he got that laser procedure last year). They skimmed down the column of his throat, feeling his pulse hammering (from annoyance, he told himself). They drifted across his collarbone, then down, skating over a nipple. Then a small, imperceptible shiver zipped through him.

"What was that?" 

"Nothing. I… my nipple, I guess."

"Go back. Use your fingertips. Just the very tips. Lightly. Circle it."

Sunoo couldn't pinpoint the tingling heat that seemed to spread in a lazy wave across his chest. It wasn't overwhelming, yet, but it was there, like an itch.

"Now the other one. Give it the same attention. Don’t rush. Lick your fingers…"

The analytical part of his brain, the part that had been mocking this whole endeavor, was being overridden by a growing need to do whatever instruction Sunghoon would give him next. Sunoo had never been good with instructions, he preferred doing whatever he pleased. Oddly, this felt all new and intriguing. He licked his fingers, letting saliva drip his digits, and traced the same pattern on his other nipple, his stomach clenched.

"Slowly, down your stomach."

His hand slid lower. His own touch felt foreign for once. He was almost hard now, his cock growing hard against his stomach.

"Where are you now?" 

"I’m… I’m at my hips?"

"And are you hard for me, angel?"

The endearment shouldn’t have been such a turn-on. But it was. "No."

Sunghoon smiled. "Wrap your hand around yourself. But don’t move yet. Just hold it."

Sunoo’s fingers closed around his shaft. The first touch sent another shiver through him, like a live wire had been pressed to his skin. His cock was getting hot and hard, and the sensation of his own hand wrapped around it was a bit foreign to process. 

"Give it a stroke."

He tightened his grip, just slightly, and a shudder rolled through his body, starting at the base of his spine and rippling outward. The smooth skin slid under his palm, the veins pulsing with a rhythm that seemed to mirror his heartbeat. He couldn’t stop himself—his hips twitched, rocking into his hand as if seeking more, needing more. 

"Use your whole hand. Focus on the wetness already gathering at the tip. Use it. Make your hand glide."

Sunoo obeyed, a low moan escaping his lips as his hand began to move. The sound was loud in the quiet room, loud in the phone pressed to his ear.

"Fuck, was that you?" Sunghoon's voice lost some of its calm, "Are you moaning for me already?"

"Yeah…"

"Don’t stop. I want to hear it. I want to hear every sound you make. Pick up the pace a little. Use your thumb to rub that sensitive spot right under the head. Right there. Do you feel that?"

"Oh, god, yes," Sunoo groaned, his hips twitching up into his fist.

"You sound so fucking sexy." 

"Fuck," he whispered. His fingers moved again, sliding up the length of him and sparks of pleasure shooting through him with every movement. He could feel himself leaking now, the slickness adding a new layer between his fingers and his hard erection. 

"I can hear you, Sunoo. I can hear how much you’re feeling it. Don’t hold back."

His strokes became more urgent, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. The sensation washing over him wasn’t just physical; it was everything. Sunghoon’s voice wrapped around him, guiding him, praising him, while his own body responded so eagerly the way he didn't know he could before.

Another moan came from his throat, louder this time, and he felt himself teetering on the edge. His hand moved faster and the slick sounds of skin on skin filled the room. He could hear Sunghoon’s breathing on the other end of the line, then a rustle—the sound of fabric shifting.

"Sunoo… can I… would it be okay if I did it, too? If I jerked off listening to you?"

Sunghoon was as lost in this as Sunoo was, it turned out. He was aroused by him and the ego boost was incendiary.

"Yes," Sunoo panted, his own hand giving a tentative, involuntary pump. "Yes. Do it."

"Tell me what you’re doing. Tell me what you feel."

"I’m… I’m stroking myself," Sunoo murmured, his hips beginning to move in a tiny, helpless rhythm against his hand. "It’s so much… more when you’re telling me to."

"I know, baby. I know. Because you’re a good listener. You like following my voice, don’t you? You like being my good boy."

Sunoo's pace quickened, his breaths coming in small whines. He could hear the soft, slick sounds from the other end of the line now, he didn't do it alone. That image excited him.

"You sound so beautiful,"  Sunghoon moaned.

"I need… I need you to keep talking. I need to hear you."

"I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. "

His hips stuttered, his hand tightening around his cock. "It’s… it’s so hot. My whole body is… I don't know. Every time you speak, it’s like a tingle in my body."

"Where?"

"My stomach. My chest. Everywhere."

"Is your hand moving?"

"Yes," Sunoo whimpered. "Fast. I can’t… I can’t slow down."

"You don’t have to. You’re doing so well. My good boy."

His good boy. It was absurd. It was infantilizing. His back arched off the bed with a strangled cry. This. This was the thing he’d never known could happen to him. The smartass part of him concluded that he didn’t just like Sunghoon’s voice, he craved its approval.

"That’s it," Sunghoon coaxed. "I’m right here with you."

"I’m close," he gasped, "So close, Sunghoon."

"Not yet. You will not come until I say you can. Do you understand me?"

A protest died on Sunoo’s lips, replaced by a needy whimper. His body rebelled, his hips twitched—demanding more of this. But he found it in him to obey and his strokes slowed to a torturously slow pace, just the tip of his fingers tracing the throbbing vein on the underside of his cock.

"You listen so well. You like this, don’t you? You like when I tell you what to do."

Sunoo’s eyes screwed shut, his head thrashing against the pillow. "No. I hate it."

"I know you do." Sunghoon smiled. "But your whole body is mine to play with right now, isn’t it?"

Sunoo’s toes curled. "No."

"I want you to imagine it’s my hand. My voice is my hand, Sunoo. My words are touching you. You’re doing exactly what I want. Keep your pace slow and feel every inch of yourself. Feel how sensitive you are, how desperate you’re becoming. But you’re not going to come yet. Not until I say so."

Sunoo whimpered, his body trembling with the effort to stay on edge. "Sunghoon, I—"

"Yes, angel," Sunghoon interrupted, "I know how much you want it. But you’re going to wait for me. You’re going to take it because you’re mine right now. Aren’t you?"

"Y-yes," Sunoo gasped. "I’m—I’m yours."

"I want you to stop completely. Take your hand off."

Sunoo froze. "What? Why?"

"Do it, angel."

He let his hand fall away. The sudden lack of contact was pure torture, his cock twitching against his stomach, already leaking precum.

"Fuck," Sunoo choked out. "No, please. Don't do this—"

"Not yet," Sunghoon said firmly. "I want you to feel it. This is your lesson. You're gonna feel how badly your body wants it. How much it needs it. But you’re going to wait for me. You can do that, can’t you?"

Sunoo nodded desperately, even though Sunghoon couldn’t see him. "Yes, yes, I can."

"Trace the head with your fingertips. Feel how wet you are becoming for me."

He ghosted his fingers over the sensitive tip. A sharp gasp escaped him as pleasure ricocheted through his body, he was too sensitive right now.

"Does it feel good?"

"Too sensitive," Sunoo panted, "But I—I need more. Please, Sunghoon—"

"No," there was a hint of amusement in his tone. "You don’t need more. You’ll take what I give you, when I give it to you. And right now, I’m giving you this."

Sunoo let out a strangled sob, his hips bucking into his own touch despite himself. "I can’t—I can’t hold it—please—"

"You can and you will. It’s going to be so much better, Sunoo. Trust me."

Sunoo whimpered, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes as he fought against the tide of pleasure threatening to overwhelm him. His entire body was taut, every nerve on fire.

Sunghoon’s voice softened, "You’re doing so well for me. So perfect. You’re going to wait just a little longer because I need you to feel how much control I have over you. How much you want me to have it."

"I do," Sunoo cried, "I want it—I want you—"

"Then wait," Sunghoon commanded, "Wait for me."

Sunoo fully sobbed now, his body trembling as he hovered on the edge, teetering but unable to fall. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding in his chest.

Finally, after a few seconds that felt like eternity, Sunghoon let him, "Now, Sunoo. Come for me."

Sunoo cried out his back arching off the bed as waves of pleasure crashed through him when he finally pumped his release. His orgasm was all-encompassing and intense that his whole body convulsed. 

"That’s it, angel. Good boy."

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo had expected it to be weird. 

After he'd orgasmed in different-room phone sex with Sunghoon (which was already insane to think about) he'd braced himself for the moment Sunghoon came out of that bathroom. He'd prepared for awkwardness, he'd mentally memorized approximately seven snarky comments to break the ice.

But Sunghoon didn't come out right away. He waited. Gave Sunoo time to clean himself up, get his breathing under control, and restore some semblance of dignity. And when he finally did emerge (fully dressed), the first thing he said was, "I'm hungry. You want to order room service?"

Which was how they ended up having a midnight feast in bed.

The tray sat between them, loaded with fries, sliders, pasta, a burger, and dessert Sunoo didn't realize was meant for a party of 5 when he ordered (it made so much more sense why it cost him 100 bucks).

Sunoo picked at his fries, recalling the events that happened leading up to this moment. Funny how everything with Sunghoon happened in the wrong order. 

"Tell me about people you've dated," Sunoo said, popping a fry into his mouth.

Sunghoon looked up from his burger. "Why?"

"Because you know everything about mine. So tell me about yours."

Sunghoon chewed slowly, stalling.

"Oh my god. You've never had a relationship, have you?"

Sunghoon made a noncommittal sound. "Define 'relationship.'"

"A relationship. You know, where two people date. Exclusively."

"Does sex count?"

"I bet your longest relationship is with that burger."

Sunghoon lifted the burger to his mouth and took the most obscene, aggressive bite Sunoo had ever witnessed. Sauce and beef juice dripped down his chin. He chewed with his mouth slightly open, moaning.

Sunoo grimaced. "You're disgusting."

Sunghoon laughed, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "I just never found the right person."

"Blah blah blah. Stop talking shit."

"I'm serious!" Sunghoon set the burger down, still grinning, "I've been busy. Building the business, traveling, doing the whole 'young rich bachelor' thing. Relationships take time."

"So does phone sex, apparently, and you seemed to make time for that."

Sunghoon's grin widened. "That's different. Plus, I don't know. I guess I never met anyone I wanted to put in the effort for. Everyone I saw felt like... Like we were both just going through the motions because that's what you're supposed to do. I don't know what relationships are supposed to feel like but I know that's not it."

"That's surprisingly self-aware."

Sunghoon stole a fry from Sunoo's plate.

"You're so childish," Sunoo said, reaching across the tray to steal one of Sunghoon's fries in retaliation.

Sunghoon took Sunoo's plate and dumped everything on his own plate. "We're getting married. What's yours is mine."

"That's not what our contract says," Sunoo lunged to snatch Sunghoon's plate but Sunghoon caught his wrist, grinning, and suddenly they were wrestling in bed.

"You—are—so—annoying—" Sunoo got out between laughs, trying to pin Sunghoon's arm.

"Oh yeah? Say that to my face."

"You ate my fries!"

"That I'm paying for." Sunghoon found Sunoo's ribs and tickled.

Sunoo yelped, dissolving into helpless laughter. "No! Stop—that's cheating—"

Sunoo was squirming away as Sunghoon's fingers found every ticklish spot. Sunoo tried to retaliate, but Sunghoon was stronger, and eventually, their positions shifted. Sunoo ended up on top, hands braced on either side of Sunghoon's shoulders, both of them breathing hard from laughter.

The laughter stopped when they realized the position they were in. Their faces were close. Sunghoon's gaze dropped to Sunoo's mouth. Sunoo didn't know who moved first. Sunoo would say that both of them did. But suddenly they were kissing. 

Sunghoon's hand came up to cup the back of Sunoo's neck, and Sunoo made a soft sound against his mouth, and—Sunghoon pulled away.

"We probably shouldn't," he said quietly, though his hand was still on Sunoo's neck, thumb brushing the hinge of his jaw.

"That's shocking coming from you."

"I know, right?" Sunghoon flaunted his crooked smile. "Character development."

Sunoo asked, quieter, "Are you sure?"

"Baby, we just jerked off together over the phone. I'm not an animal." Sunghoon's thumb traced another gentle line along Sunoo's jaw. "Well, honestly, I would've done it when I was eighteen, but not now."

"This is unsettling."

"Good unsettling, I suppose."

Sunoo rolled off him, sitting up. Sunghoon followed, gathering plates and arranging them back on the tray.

"Hey," Sunghoon said as he stacked the empty burger basket. "What's gonna happen with the proposal now? We kind of missed it."

"I'll plan another one. I still have your card information." Sunoo kissed his cheek and winked. "I'll text you the time and place?"

Sunghoon blushed. 

Though he wouldn't admit it.

 

⊹♡

 

The room was covered with rose petals and candles like Sunoo requested. Haley really did her job making it look like one of those cheesy Instagram couple goals and goddamn did it set the mood.

He shouldn't have booked the most sought-after room for rich people to hook up in. The one with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittering sprawl of Beverly Hills. Because with this kind of view, who wouldn't want to be fucked against the glass like a little slut?

To make matters worst, who wouldn't want to be fucked by someone like Sunghoon Park?

He must be losing his mind. Whatever had happened between them in Miami hadn't left Sunoo's mind.

Sunoo stared at the engagement ring on his ring finger and lazily smirked. He had picked the ring himself, chosen the place himself, everything was curated like it was his own dream proposal (second option, because the first one was a bust) even though it was fake. At least he could ride the fantasy for a moment. 

Sunoo was checking their photos on his camera. 

They looked annoyingly good together. Sunghoon was fucking hot and he knew exactly how to work a camera. It was a wonder that Sunghoon didn't capitalize his face more. Because in his professional opinion, he could make Sunghoon the next big thing. With just a few pictures and emails to the right person, Sunoo could launch a career for Sunghoon.

Sunoo stared at a picture of them kissing, Sunghoon's hand cupped around Sunoo's face, Sunoo's fingers threaded through Sunghoon's hair. The kiss looked real. It did feel real too, if Sunoo was being honest. Which he wasn't trying to be.

He's good at this, Sunoo thought. A bit too good.

He flipped to the next photo. One where they flaunted the ring together, Sunoo's hand stretched out toward the camera while Sunghoon wrapped his arms around him from behind, chin hooked over Sunoo's shoulder.

"Staring at my beautiful face?" Sunghoon's voice came from the doorway.

Sunoo looked up. Sunghoon was leaning against the frame, still wearing the black shirt from the shoot with top buttons undone. "Pissing me the fuck off all by yourself handsome?"

Sunghoon laughed. 

"I'm making sure they're usable," Sunoo added, lifting his chin. "For Instagram."

"Right. Instagram." Sunghoon pushed off the doorframe and walked into the room, hands in his pockets. "That's the only reason you've been staring at that one picture of us kissing for the past two minutes." 

"What else?"

He slipped his arms around Sunoo's waist. He nuzzled on the soft skin on the back of Sunoo's neck, right below the hairline and ever so gently, he left a trail of kisses. "You smell really good."

"Of course, I am."

"What are you thinking? Cause I'm thinking of one thing." 

Sunoo smiled. "You really can't stop trying."

Sunghoon then proposed, "We have needs, don't we? It's risky if we seek it outside with other people. Like you said, people talk. So why don't we make a deal?"

"I'm listening."

"I get to fuck you and," Sunghoon then added, "You get to have all of me."

Sunoo smiled and fought back the urge to squirm when Sunghoon's lips and hands touched him. "Do you like it?" Sunoo asked innocently while deliberately pushing himself back against Sunghoon, subtly giving more friction against Sunghoon's crotch.

"I do."

"Really? How much?"

Sunghoon's hand found its way under Sunoo's shirt. His fingers graze across the skin of Sunoo's stomach and push the shirt upwards. The friction urged him onwards as he dragged his lips along Sunoo's neck, reaching Sunoo's exposed earlobe. Sunghoon gave it a playful nip before breathing into his ear, "You're adorable when you're teasing me like this."

Sunoo didn't know if it was the sip of wine (Sunoo would blame anything, honestly) or the tone Sunghoon's used for him but he hated it. He hated the way he melted so easily under Sunghoon's touch.

He clutched onto Sunghoon's hand; flat across his bare stomach. "Yeah?" he managed to squeak. "Tell me more."

"I've thought about this." Sunghoon's breath was hot against Sunoo's neck as he bit down gently. His tongue lapped over the reddening skin. "What kind of sounds you'll make if I touch you like this.." he confessed huskily, thumb tracing circles over Sunoo's nipple. "Or when I touch you here?" 

Sunoo fucking despised it, he could feel himself growing weak in the knees and he mentally cursed Sunghoon while he shut his eyes. If he let out a pathetic whimper he was not to be blamed on, it was all Sunghoon. He shook his head and turned around. Backing Sunghoon until he sat on the edge of the bed covered in rose petals and crawled into Sunghoon's lap.

Once he was face to face with Sunghoon, the urges were rushing back again. His hands roamed through Sunghoon's clothed chest, down to his abdomen where he stopped groggily. His eyes were darting back and forth to Sunghoon's orbs and lips.

Sunghoon grabbed Sunoo's hand and guided it lower, pressing it against the growing bulge in his pants. "What's it gonna be? Are you going to let me fuck you?"

Sunghoon ran his fingers through Sunoo's hair and rested at the nape of his neck. 

Sunoo smirked. "Fuck me and make it good."

With a low chuckle, Sunghoon finally captured Sunoo's lips in a searing kiss.

Between the brushes of their lips, he whispered, "Grind your ass on me, angel."

Sunoo nodded weakly at every word that came out of Sunghoon's mouth. Crazy to think that they barely started and Sunoo was already one touch away from losing it.

"Yes," he whispered before lowering his hips, working through the layers between them to chase some friction and when he did, a keener cry of "yes," was heard. All said amidst the open-mouthed kiss. It was all dizzying to Sunoo, like his body was moving on autopilot and with each grind—he ended up wanting more.

"Sunghoon.." he breathed.

"Call me hyung."

"No."

"Angel, please?"

Sunoo bit his lip. "Hyung…?"

"Yes, angel?" Sunghoon whispered, his lips brushing against the corner of Sunoo's mouth as he went in for a gentle kiss.

With a gentle tug, he pulled down Sunoo's pants, revealing his bare ass cheeks. He broke away from the kiss before reaching over to the nightstand and pouring a generous amount of lube onto his fingers. 

"When did you buy that?"

"I came here fully expecting this would happen."

"What a douche."

Sunghoon shut him up with a kiss. "Shut up and let me get you ready for me, angel."

His lubed fingers trace circles around the tight rim before slowly teasing inside, feeling the muscles clench and relax around his fingers. 

"Haven't been properly fucked, have you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sunoo bit back despite the faint blush that already spread all over his cheeks, neck and chest. His composure soon crumbled down when Sunghoon's fingers hit his sensitive spot, his head automatically lolled back as a stuttered gasp escaped his lips.

Sunghoon plunged another finger once it felt like he had loosened enough and moved them in deliberate circles. Gradually, he increased the speed and depth of his movements, seeking his prostate and relentlessly pressing against it. 

"Don't hold back Sunoo. Let me hear you."

Sunoo faltered as he allowed what probably was the most obscene moan to slip away. The grip he had on Sunghoon's shoulder tightened and his other hand quickly found Sunghoon's wrist in a futile attempt to get the other to slow down.

Sunoo's tip was already leaking and the precum made a noticeable stain on Sunghoon's shirt. "Too fast, please—" he was red to his ears when another moan betrayed his plea.

"Look at you, already leaking from getting finger fucked." With a firm grip on the back of his head, Sunghoon pulled Sunoo's face towards him. His smile is uncharacteristically gentle. "It's probably easy to make you cum untouched with my cock alone."

The comment made Sunoo's cock twitch pathetically.

"Hyung, I want you in my mouth first."

"Sure, baby." Sunghoon pulled out his fingers and Sunoo was looking slightly dejected at the emptiness. 

But once his trembling hands fumbled with the hem of Sunghoon's pants, brushing against the bulging shaft, did he roll his eyes again; imagining how it would feel to have Sunghoon inside him, stuffing him full. The thought alone was making him squeeze his thighs instinctively. 

Sunoo froze in his place once the pants were off, "You're big," he blurted out, visibly gulping. This is what the girls called aggressively competent. It indeed, was aggressive and competent.

Sunghoon smirked at that. "Go on, beautiful."

Sunoo climbed down Sunghoon's lap and kneeled on the floor. When he was met with Sunghoon's hardening member, it was hard to not blush like a virgin. Sunoo wrapped his hand around the base and stroked it gently before he pressed his lips against the tip and poked his tongue at the slit.

A guttural moan escaped Sunghoon's lips, sending a shiver of pleasure down his spine. He ran his fingers through Sunoo's tousled locks, pushing them back to get a better view of the beautiful man below him. 

The sight was fucking pornographic. Sunoo on his knees, his eyes locked on Sunghoon's, his lips stretched around his dick. It was the most degrading, most erotic thing Sunghoon had ever seen.

A hint of mischief lingered in Sunoo's eyes as he tilted his head; tonguing the underside of Sunghoon's shaft. He deliberately made it noisy and obscene. His hand was just as restless—fondling and massaging his balls without breaking eye-contact. 

Suddenly, the urge to just fuck Sunoo's mouth was overwhelming.

Sunoo grabbed Sunghoon's hand to the back of his head and he opened his mouth. "Use me, hyung." 

Sunghoon pulled his head back with a smirk and pressed a thumb against Sunoo's parted lips, dragging it down to his bottom lip. "Are you sure?"

He ignored Sunoo's helpless whine as he traced his cock around Sunoo's glistening lips. Sunghoon grinded it against his tongue in short spurts before he pushed Sunoo's head down, watching his length disappear into Sunoo's mouth. 

A groan escaped his lips at the pleasure of feeling it surrounded by warmth and tightness as he gradually picked up pace. His hand gripped a fistful of hair at the back of Sunoo's head. "So messy, so fucking pretty for me. Taking my cock so well."

Sunoo was cross-eyed with the tears welling up, blocking his vision. He wouldn't even dare to imagine how he looked right now. 

Each thrust created a bulge on Sunoo's neck and his gag reflex almost betrayed him whenever Sunghoon's cock hit the back of his throat. But Sunoo didn't care for the fact that Sunghoon was bruising up the roof of his mouth, it felt really good. Sunghoon was all up in his senses, even the smell of him drove him crazy. In the haze of it all, Sunoo rolled his hips again, desperately humping the air.

Their moans and gasps echoed off the walls. The sight of saliva dribbling down Sunoo's chin and the way Sunoo's eyes glaze with an intoxicating blend of lust and submission sent Sunghoon over the edge.

The next thing Sunoo knew, he was hoisted off the ground and his back felt the soft mattress again. Sunghoon was on top of him, hands roaming over his body, eyes running over him in admiration. Sunoo's face was flushed pink, there was a tear stain on his smudged make up, and his lips were coated with saliva. 

Sunghoon opened Sunoo's legs and fixated on the stretched out hole and flushed cock lying flat against his stomach. 

Sunghoon whispered, "Pretty," before crawling on top of Sunoo.

His eyes never left Sunoo's body as he hooked both legs over his shoulders. He guided his painfully hard shaft towards Sunoo's entrance, teasing and probing at the tight ring of muscle without fully pushing inside just yet. "Do you think you can take me?"

"Yes," his voice cracked and he replied too fast, too eager, like he had nothing to lose. "Yes, please, I can take you, hyung. I'll be good. Please," he chanted hoarsely, hips instinctively bucking up to meet Sunghoon's throbbing dick. 

"Good," Sunghoon murmured against Sunoo's knee before kissing it. His hands moved down to grasp Sunoo's legs and pushed his cock inside. He didn't push all the way, instead giving short thrusts to allow Sunoo to adjust to his girth. 

The tightness around him was enough to elicit a groan, "Shit... you're so fucking tight, Sunoo." 

Sunoo's face contorted with both pleasure and pain. It was not his first time getting split open like this but this one's just got him paralyzed, he was burning all over his body. 

"Hyung, hyung, hyung," he chanted in a choked sob.

Sunghoon's jaw clenched, eyes tracing every curve and line of Sunoo's body and all he could think at the moment was how badly he wanted to ravish the boy underneath him. 

"Wish you could see the way you look right now." 

With a firm grip, Sunghoon pulled him up and positioned him on his knees, lifting his ass into the air. He wrapped an arm around Sunoo's torso, steadying him as he thrusted back in with force. His lips moved down to gently nip at the bare neck as he continued to pound into him relentlessly.

Indecent noises kept falling from his mouth as he was being manhandled—pliant and so easy for him. 

Sunoo was a mess, his face was buried into the pillow as he savored himself in the pleasure of Sunghoon's delicious abuse to his prostate. "I can feel you—can feel you, it's—" Sunoo took a shuddered breath before continuing, "it's too much."

Sunghoon reclines with Sunoo's arms bound at the elbows for better leverage. He thrusted his hips forward, seeking more depth with each movement. "God, you feel so fucking amazing."

Sunghoon pulled Sunoo upright, making Sunoo's back arched beautifully as his member plunged fully inside. He groaned as the clenching muscles around his cock sent waves of pleasure through him. 

Placing his teeth on Sunoo's shoulder, he wrapped his arms around Sunoo's slender form. His hand was also pumping Sunoo's cock and Sunoo was weak, he couldn't think straight. His head lolled back against Sunghoon's chest, his mouth slack. All he could manage was a wet and slurred, "Hyung." 

"You feel that? You feel how hard I am for you? This is all for you, angel." Sunghoon gritted out, driving into him so hard the bedframe knocked against the wall. "I'm gonna fill you so full of my cum you’ll feel it for days. Do you want that?"

"Yes, hyung. Yes, p—please."

His whole body went rigid, as he buried himself to the hilt. He groaned as hot pulses of cum shot deep into Sunoo’s clenching hole, flooding his insides. Sunghoon fucked him through it, short, full thrusts that pushed his release even deeper.

With a broken cry, Sunoo's own orgasm crashed over him. His cock jerked in Sunghoon’s fist, spilling streaks of white over the rose petals scattered all over the sheets below them as his ass muscles spasmed and clenched around Sunghoon’s still-pulsing cock, milking him for every last drop.

Slowly, carefully, he pulled out. Sunoo gasped softly when he felt the sudden emptiness. Sunghoon lowered him gently onto the bed before collapsing beside him.

He leaned over, his face inches from Sunoo’s. He looked blissed out, wrecked, and most importantly, beautiful. Sunghoon lifted his hand, where Sunoo's cum smeared all over it.

"Look at that," he murmured, "Look what you did." He brought his sticky fingers to Sunoo’s lips. "Open up."

Sunoo's eyes, still overcoming the aftershocks of his own orgasm, fluttered open. He saw Sunghoon's fingers, hovering just before his lips, and even in his dazed state of mind, his mouth parted.

Sunghoon pushed his fingers forward, the tips pressing against Sunoo's bottom lip before sliding into his mouth. "What an angel."

 

⊹♡

 

The next morning, Sunghoon returned to the suite after an emergency business conference call. There was some crisis about shipping logistics that he'd handled in the hotel lobby so he wouldn't disturb Sunoo's sleep.

He'd made sure he ordered breakfast to be delivered to the suite so Sunoo would have something he could eat when he woke up. Except when he walked in, Sunoo was already up. He was standing in the kitchenette, eating bread, wearing a bathrobe and nothing else, presumably.

Sunoo turned around mid-bite, and Sunghoon forgot how to function.

Sunghoon made a mental note of everything his eyes saw. Bare face. Plump lips. Rosy cheeks. Hair slightly mussed from sleep. This might came across as exaggeration, but Sunoo looked like a goddamn Renaissance painting or a very expensive boyfriend (both actually).

"Oh, hey?"

"O-oh," Sunghoon said very intelligently. "You're up?"

He fucking stuttered.

"Yeah, I'm up." Sunoo raised an eyebrow. "You okay? You look weird."

"I'm—yeah. Fine. Totally fine." Sunghoon set the coffee he'd been holding on the counter before he dropped it. "I just—you look—I mean, you're—"

Oh my god, stop talking.

"I'm what?" Sunoo took another bite of bread, completely oblivious to the crisis happening in Sunghoon's frontal lobe.

"Awake. You're awake."

Sunoo stared at him. "Are you having a stroke?"

"No."

"Are you sure?" Sunoo's expression shifted from confused to delighted. "Oh my god. Are you being shy right now?"

"I'm not—"

"You are! You're being shy!" 

"I'm not shy, I'm just—"

"Flustered?"

"No."

"Speechless?"

"Please, don't do this to me."

"Down bad?"

Sunghoon's face was definitely doing something embarrassing. He could feel it. "Can you put on clothes?"

"Why?" Sunoo grinned wickedly. "Is it distracting you?"

"Yes! Obviously! You look—" He stopped himself before he said something truly pathetic like ethereal or like everything I've ever wanted or so beautiful it's actually hurting my chest.

"I look...?" Sunoo prompted, he was enjoying this way too much.

"Like you just woke up."

"No, that's not it. Try again."

Sunghoon ran a hand through his hair, which did nothing to help his situation. "You look really pretty, okay? There. Happy?"

Sunoo was full-on laughing now. "That wasn't so hard isn't it?"

"Perfect. Can you please go put on clothes now so I can remember how to speak in complete sentences?"

"Absolutely not." Sunoo picked up his bread again. "I'm going to stand here and eat this entire piece while you suffer."

"You're evil."

Sunoo took another bite, maintaining eye contact. "You're cute. I wish you're like this all the time."

"You wish."

"O-oh, you're up?" Sunoo mimicked in a higher voice.

"I don't sound like that."

"You literally do."

"This is not how I wanted this morning to go."

"No? How did you want it to go?"

"I don't know. Cool. Suave. Mature."

Sunoo walked over, still holding his bread, and stuffed the bread into his mouth. "You're one strange man."

They cleaned up, packed their stuff, and checked out from the hotel later that afternoon. Sunghoon unlocked his car, Sunoo did the same.

Sunghoon opened his car door. "So. I'll see you—"

"Do you want to do this again?"

Sunghoon turned around slowly, convinced he'd heard that wrong.

"Do I want to… do what again?"

 

⊹♡

Chapter 5

⊹♡

 

That never came. Sunghoon had been busy all week. Whatever they did whenever they could see each other was limited to kissing and some sloppy hand jobs because they're trying to squeeze everything at once like they were a couple of horny high school teenagers with curfews.

Two days a week my ass. Sunghoon was the one that made the deal, but also the first one to break it. 

So when Sunghoon texted that morning that he had to fly back to Manhattan and he wouldn't be home for the weekend, Sunoo made an executive decision. If Sunghoon wasn't going to make time, Sunoo would make it for him.

Sunghoon was already boarding the private jet reviewing the acquisition documents, when he heard footsteps. He thought it was the flight attendant, so he sluggishly asked, "Can you bring me some coffee? Thank you."

"Sure."

Sunghoon recognized that voice. He looked up. Before Sunghoon could process what was happening, Sunoo dropped directly into his lap.

"Surprise. I'm coming with you to New York."

"Sunoo? Wait—how did you even get in?"

"I have my ways."

"What about your work?"

"I'll fly right back home. Don't you want to know what you can do with six hours of uninterrupted time?"

All thoughts of mergers and acquisitions vanished, replaced by the much more pressing need to ruin the man in his lap.

His hands found Sunoo's hips. "You beautiful, devious little shit. You planned this."

"Maybe." Sunoo's smile widened. "Are you mad?"

"I'm…" Sunghoon pulled him closer. "Incredibly turned on."

Sunghoon responded by claiming a kiss that Sunoo surrendered to with a moan. Sunghoon's hands slid down, cupping the supple ass through the denim, squeezing it. Sunoo melted into it with a moan that went straight to Sunghoon's cock.

"These jeans should be illegal. I can feel absolutely nothing."

"You can take them off if they bother you so much."

"I'm absolutely going to—"

The cabin door opened. The flight attendant, walked in. "Mr. Park, I have the—oh."

She froze awkwardly, hovering mid-air on whatever she was about to do.

Sunghoon, without breaking eye contact with Sunoo, raised one hand and made a "turn around" gesture.

She spun on her heel so fast she nearly tripped.

 

⊹♡

 

Jake was scrolling through Sunoo's Instagram, thumb moving lazily between posts. The engagement photos were packed into a 10 photos carousel. His eyes narrowed at a candid pic from what was clearly a private jet. Then a close-up selfie with no faces, just Sunghoon's chin hooked over Sunoo's shoulder. The next photos were a bit more intimate and playful but still curated in a tasteful way—them laughing, cheek kisses, and a simple picture of their hands holding.

If Sunoo was trying to convince the world this engagement was real, he was absolutely selling it.

"I mean I've never seen a better PR romance since Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell."

Sunoo was applying his lipgloss. "Mmhmm."

"But you had sex with him?"

"Mmmyeah."

Jake shook his head and put his phone away. "This whole thing still makes no sense to me, but I think it's better if I just don't ask questions."

"Wise." Sunoo smacked his lips together, checking his reflection in his compact mirror.

They were wrapping up the promised Sunday brunch. The table was cluttered with remnants of eggs benedict and french toast, half-drunk lattes going cold, and Coco in Sunoo's lap salivating over the leftover bits of bacon.

Sunoo popped a doggy treat into Coco's mouth. Coco's outfit today was a Juicy Couture-inspired bedazzled pink tracksuit. Slay.

"When are you moving to London again?" Sunoo asked, snapping the compact shut. "I'll fly with you. Help you get settled."

Jake pressed a hand to his chest, mock-touched. "Really?"

"Obviously. I want to see London too. I haven't properly lived my life-after-break-up era."

"Aw, Sunoo." Jake grinned. "Late August."

Sunoo pointed at him with the lip gloss wand. "Done."

Jake grabbed the check and they headed outside. Sunoo slid on his sunglasses, other hand gripping on Coco's leash.

They walked a few steps before Jake spoke again.

"Did you tell your parents?"

Sunoo glanced at him. "About what?"

"Uh, that you're marrying Sunghoon now instead of Anton?"

"I did."

Jake stopped walking. Sensing bullshit. "I thought we said no more secrets."

Sunoo sighed and stopped too. Coco sat at his feet, panting happily. "You want the truth? Haven't you learned anything from Jungwon? If you don't want to be legally complicit, don't ask—"

"That's literally how honesty works, yes."

Sunoo took a breath. "My parents never met Anton."

Jake's face scrunched up. "What do you mean they never met Anton? You were engaged to him for a year."

"I know."

"How did they—" Jake stopped. His eyes widened. "Are you fucking serious right now?"

"It's complicated."

"How is it complicated?"

"My parents are—" Sunoo exhaled hard. "Look, they're trying. They're really trying to be supportive about the whole... me being gay, gay marriage thing. I can tell they are. But I can also tell what they actually feel. And I just didn't want Anton to deal with that."

Jake stared at him. "So you just... never introduced them? What was your plan? Just marry him without them ever meeting?"

"Kind of?" Sunoo shrugged helplessly. "I thought if they just met the day we got married, it would be done. They couldn't object anymore. They'd just have to accept it. I only see them like twice a year anyway. It wouldn't make much difference."

"And you really thought that would work?"

"I don't know, maybe not. You know how I feel about marriage, right? I really, really wanted to marry Anton. I didn't want... you know."

"I get it. I get it. So I'm assuming they have no idea about Sunghoon either?"

"God, no. They're gonna meet him at the wedding for the first and last time."

 

⊹♡

 

The thing about business meetings with billionaires in Aspen was that nobody actually called them meetings. Here they were "annual charity events" so they could also pretend they cared about the environment and did their due diligence while they were at it.

He walked a step behind Gwen, who was making her way through Moonstone Manor's courtyard in her cruelty-free fur coat. Haley trudged beside him, already dead on her feet. Emily (Gwen's assistant) was making notes in her phone about Gwen's complaints about every restaurant in Aspen and why none of them could accommodate her intuitive eating protocols.

The investor meeting had been… painful. The pitch deck had taken place in a chalet that cost more per night than most Americans made in a month. A group of rich men nodded at Gwen like she was the second coming while Sunoo handled the actual numbers and publicity plans. 

When Gwen got stopped by a cluster of women in Canada Goose jackets, those who still remembered her rom-com days before she'd pivoted to selling the modern equivalent of snake oil, Sunoo gently nudged Haley toward the elevators.

"Go rest. You earned it," Sunoo told her.

Haley was still buffering. "You mean… like… rest rest? As in I can turn off my phone?"

"No promises," Sunoo said, then added, "I'm joking. You can rest."

Haley fled toward the elevators and stabbed the elevator button urgently before Sunoo could change his mind.

Sunoo stepped into the warmed foyer of the resort, snow melting off his boots. His phone buzzed.

Sunghoon:
Heard you're at Moonstone Manor :)

They'd been doing this for weeks now—this weird, flirty back-and-forth in text messages when they weren't eating each other's faces. The whole thing was probably a terrible idea, but Sunoo had made worse decisions this year alone.

Sunoo:
are you stalking me?

Sunghoon:
Just checking if you're enjoying your stay. I know the place very well

Sunoo:
did you lose your virginity here?

Sunghoon:
Thankfully, no.
My family owns it

Sunoo:
i'm not even surprised anymore

Sunghoon:
Everything working? Heat? Service? The snow?

Sunoo was typing something wildly inappropriate and then another thing about how his stay should be comped since he was fucking the owner's son, when he heard his own name through the lobby's ambient jazz music.

"Sunoo? Sunoo Kim?"

He looked up.

Two guys were heading toward him, faces breaking into smiles. It took Sunoo half a second to place them—Daniel and Eric, friends from Anton's wider circle. They'd grabbed drinks a handful of times back then if his memories served him right.

"Hey!" Sunoo pocketed his phone. "Wow, what are the odds?"

"Right?" Daniel reached him first, going in for a half hug. "We're here for the week. Family thing. What are you doing here?"

"Work stuff. Business."

And then he saw the third person.

Wonbin.

Of course. Because the universe loved kicking Sunoo in the balls.

Wonbin looked exactly the same with the same stupid bitchass lesbian hair. Sunoo wouldn't lie and say that Wonbin was anything but good looking. Wonbin was beautiful in the ways that Sunoo wasn't. He looked nothing like Sunoo and that very thing was offensive. Had a face like Wonbin been Anton's type all along? Had Anton even found him attractive at all if this face was worth cheating on him for?

"Hi," Sunoo was trying his best to hide the fact that his soul was trying to exit his body. "Wonbin, hey. This is… unexpected!"

"Oh, yeah. Right. As you already know, Wonbin is… my cousin," Eric supplied unhelpfully. 

They all laughed awkwardly. Everybody was thinking the same thing. You're thinking about Anton, I'm thinking about Anton, we're all thinking about Anton, please God let a moose crash through the lobby cause it would be so fucking funny right now.

"We were just about to grab dinner. Here, at the restaurant," Daniel said quickly. "You should join us! Unless you've got plans?"

Sunoo was good at excuses—he made a living off excuses. But his petty vengeance rebelled against the idea of running away. He wasn't going to give Wonbin or the universe or whatever the satisfaction of seeing him rattled.

"You know what?" Sunoo heard himself say. "Dinner sounds great."

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo texted Sunghoon under the table as they got seated by the host.

Sunoo:
about to have dinner with wonbin and old friends
send thoughts and prayers

Sunghoon:
Want me to send a rescue helicopter?

Sunoo:
i want to laugh but i genuinely don't know if you're joking or not so
just to be safe, please don't 

"So," Daniel said, leaning forward. "Sunghoon Park. The Sunghoon Park. How the hell did you land him?"

Sunoo tipped his head sideways with a smile. He'd heard that tone and variations of that question before. It made him pretty smug now, he had chosen the perfect fake groom. "Yeah, he's pretty amazing."

"And?" Eric pressed. "Give us the details. Is he treating you right?"

"He is. He's really thoughtful…" sometimes "Really attentive…" to my ass "He always says the sweetest things…" only when he's horny "He tells me I'm beautiful everytime he sees me…" right before he bends me over something "He even had roses delivered to my office yesterday. Two dozen red ones. He just moved to Beverly Hills last week, and—" and now he can wake me up with his dick instead of sexting me "—that's been really nice."

"Sounds exhausting," Wonbin said lightly, swirling his wine. "All that thing you said he does."

Sunoo's smile didn't falter. One thing he learned, also from the business meetings he'd attended for the past 5 years—never let them see you flinch. "It's not exhausting when someone actually wants to do nice things for you. It's called the bare minimum, I think."

"I'm sure it's genuine. Sunghoon just seems so committed to playing the part."

"The role?" Sunoo raised his brows. "You mean being my fiancé?"

"I mean being the perfect fiancé," Wonbin clarified. "It's very… Impressive. Too good to be true."

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"I'm just saying."

Daniel, bless him, jumped in. "I heard you guys got engaged pretty fast though, right? That's exciting."

"When you know, you know," Sunoo said, "Anton proposed to you pretty fast too, didn't he?"

"When you know, you know," Wonbin repeated. "And you know what would be fun? You should call him. Ask Sunghoon to come here. To Aspen. I mean, if he's as devoted as you say, it should be easy, right?"

"That's—" Sunoo laughed. "That's insane. We're in Aspen. He's in New York."

"So? You're engaged. Don't you want to see him?"

"Of course I do, but it isn't exactly an Uber ride distance."

"Then just call him," Wonbin pressed, he was absolutely fucking relentless. "Ask him. What's the harm?"

Eric and Daniel were both awkwardly staring at their plates like they wanted to melt into them. Unhelpful motherfuckers.

Sunoo pulled out his phone and dialed.

Sunghoon picked up on the second ring. "Miss me already?"

"Hey, you're on speaker. Just a random question. Are you busy right now?"

"Never too busy for you."

"How would you feel about coming to Aspen? I'm having dinner with some friends and—"

"I'll be there."

"Oh? You will?"

"Why do you sound surprised? You think I wouldn't?"

Sunoo blinked at his phone. "You're serious."

"Dead serious. See you soon, baby."

The call ended.

Sunoo looked up at the table. "He's coming. Honestly, I didn't expect that either."

Wonbin's face twisted. "How sweet."

Eric's eyes went wide at something behind Sunoo. "Holy shit, is that—"

Sunghoon entered the restaurant, standing tall among the crowd. He had his black long coat, contrasting the snow dusting his shoulders, his dark hair falling perfectly into his eyes as he ran a gloved hand through it. He moved through the space like he owned it—technically, his family did. 

"Holy shit," Daniel whispered.

"What's going on?" Before Sunoo could turn around and see what the fuss was about, Sunghoon was behind him bending to kiss his cheek. 

"Hey," Sunghoon murmured against his skin, but loud enough for the table to hear. "I told you I'd see you soon, right?"

Sunoo twisted to look up at him. "Sunghoon? What the fuck—sorry I mean, hey baby. How come… you're here already?"

"I'd just landed when I texted you. I was going to show up at your room tonight to surprise you. But then I heard from the staff that you were having dinner with friends." He looked at Wonbin. "Couldn't let you have all the fun without me."

Sunoo also looked, smiling sweetly. "You should call Anton too. Ask him to come join us. I mean, we're all here anyway, right?"

"Yeah," Sunghoon added, pulling out a chair beside Sunoo. "That would be fun."

Wonbin grabbed his wine glass and drained it in one go.

 

⊹♡

 

"Mmmmh—Sunghoon hyung."

"Do you like that, angel?"

He drove his cock deeper into Sunoo's ass that punched a gasp from Sunoo's lungs. Sunghoon leaned down, his chest plastered to Sunoo's sweaty back, his mouth hovering right beside his fake fiancé's ear.

They lasted all of ten seconds after dinner. One look and they were sprinting for the elevator, half-laughing from the thrilling anticipation. Sunoo dragged Sunghoon by the collar, shoving him into the room the moment the door clicked open, then shoved him all the way into his suite in the resort Sunghoon owned which Sunoo found so fucking hot—power might just be his new kink. And then it was just hands, mouths, and at some point Sunoo's pants vanished with whatever magic Sunghoon's got going on in his perverted hands.

From the other side of the door, a sudden scuffle of conversations and bright, familiar laughter filled the hallway. They both froze for a fraction of a second with Sunghoon buried to the hilt.

They recognized Daniel's laugh.

"Could that be your friends outside?" Sunghoon whispered, "Should we let them in? Let them see what a greedy little slut their friend is?"

"No—" Sunoo choked out. He tried to shake his head, but Sunghoon's hand fisted in his hair, holding him perfectly still.

Sunoo could hear Daniel clearer now. They were right there. Maybe even just five feet away. His heart started hammering against his ribs.

"No?" Sunghoon's breath was hot on Sunoo's neck. "No, you don't want them to see? Or no, you don't want them to know how perfectly your ass takes my cock?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He started fucking him that made the door tremble in its frame with every snap of his hips. 

"Fuck, angel."

Sunoo's eyes squeezed shut, a shameful moan leaking from his lips. 

"They're so close," Sunghoon breathed. "They have no idea, do they? No idea that their friend likes getting his brains fucked out like a slut?"

Tears welled in Sunoo's eyes, blurring the grain of the wood in front of him. 

His hand left Sunoo's hip and snaked between his legs, finally, finally wrapping around Sunoo's aching, neglected cock. Sunoo jolted with full body spasms. Sunghoon's grip was firm and rough, timing the strokes with his thrusts.

"You're too loud, angel. Too desperate for it. I think you want them to know, you want everyone to know you're mine."

A broken, sob-like cry was torn from his throat as his orgasm erupted out of him. His body convulsed, his ass clamping down on Sunghoon's cock in spasm as streaks of white shot from his cock, splattering against the polished wood.

Sunghoon buried himself to the hilt with a ragged shout, his own release surging up his spine and flooding into Sunoo, hot and endless. He collapsed forward, his weight crushing Sunoo against the door, both of them panting, slick with sweat, listening to the faint sound of footsteps retreating down the hall.

For a long moment, there was only the sound of their breathing. Then Sunghoon shifted, his softening cock still nestled inside Sunoo's well-used hole. He nuzzled the sweat-damp hair at Sunoo's temple.

Sunghoon smiled. "It's a bit fucked up that you came harder with them right outside the door, angel. Don't you think?" 

 

⊹♡

 

As it turned out, Sunghoon's romantic appearance at the restaurant hadn't been purely for show. It was a coincidence, yes, but it had been planned weeks in advance. He'd gone behind Sunoo's back to coordinate with Haley, who'd apparently cleared Sunoo's schedule for the next two days without mentioning why. The real reason for Sunghoon's surprise in Aspen wasn't solely a booty call, it was Sunghoon's parents.

"You could have just told me," Sunoo had said that morning as he checked out from the hotel.

"Where's the fun in that?" 

A black SUV pulled up to the resort entrance with a bald driver who built like he could only say "yes" and "sir"

"Morning, Mr. Park," the driver greeted as he opened the door for them. "And you too, Mr. Kim. Pleasure to meet you, sir."

Sunoo was still processing being called sir by a man who looked like he could bench press a car when they pulled away from the resort and started climbing into the hills.

The drive took twenty minutes through the windy mountain roads, snow-covered pines, and increasingly massive houses and mansions. The Park family's Aspen residence sat against the mountainside and it looked how Sunoo had imagined it to be. With stone walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and snow-covered terraces overlooking the glowing snowy city.

"Is this where you grew up?" 

"Only in the winters. We usually spent summers in the Hamptons."

Sunoo bit his inner cheek, keeping his laughter in. "I see."

"My parents are going to love you."

"You don't know that. That's just something you said."

"I do, actually." Sunghoon reached over and brushed Sunoo's hair with the tip of his fingers. "You're charming, successful, and Korean. That's all they want."

When they got out of the car, they were immediately greeted at the main entrance by a beautiful young woman—whose thick eyebrows, symmetric features, deep black hair, beautiful porcelain skin of good genes and a very expensive dermatologist told him she was the sister.

"Minju," Sunghoon said. "My sister."

Minju turned her smile to Sunoo. "It's so good to finally meet you."

"Hello, you must be Sunghoon's partner," a male voice added. A tall Caucasian man appeared behind Minju. Sunoo didn't know how else he could describe him except that he was aggressively white because he had blonde hair, blue eyes, and wore a Patagonia vest in true Silicon Valley finance bro fashion.

"Cole," the man introduced himself, extending a hand. "Great to meet you, man."

Sunoo understood Sunghoon's parents' insistence about their son marrying Korean, it finally made perfect sense. This trip had been delightfully enlightening, Sunoo couldn't keep the chuckle to himself.

"Something funny?" Sunghoon murmured as they followed Minju and Cole into the house.

"I'll tell you later."

Sunghoon's parents descended from the second floor to welcome them. Everything about them whispered money, as expected. They didn't dress as lavishly, but Sunoo knew quality, that cashmere and 18k jewelry didn't go unnoticed.

It was lunchtime and Sunoo had braced himself for something out of Crazy Rich Asians. He'd half expected a traditional Korean feast where every bite was a moral examination of some sort and conversations with backhanded compliments about him being Korean-American.

Instead, they ate burgers in the living room. 

Which was pretty disappointing because Sunoo was lowkey looking forward to a bit of a drama.

Sunghoon's mother, Soyoung, even while sitting, had a perfect posture that made Sunoo's spine hurt just looking at her. She sat on a cream-colored sofa with a white French poodle curled in her lap. The dog's name was Gaeul. She looked delicate and well-behaved, the kind of dog Coco would absolutely terrorize at the park. 

"She's very particular," Soyoung said, stroking Gaeul's fur. "She only likes certain people. But look, she likes you already."

Gaeul had indeed wandered over to sniff Sunoo's hand, which he took as either a good sign or a sign that he still smelled like the burger he had just inhaled. "I also have a dog. A chihuahua. Her name is Coco."

"You mentioned you're working in the wellness industry?"

"I'm currently the Director of Public Relations for a lifestyle wellness brand. We focus on holistic health and alternative medicine."

"How interesting! I've been reading so much about that lately. Do you know anything about adaptogenic mushrooms?"

Sunoo knew everything about adaptogenic mushrooms. Gwen had an entire product line.

"Some research suggests they can help with stress management," Sunoo said carefully, "though I always recommend people consult with their doctors before starting any supplement regimen."

Soyoung nodded. "Which company again?"

"Moow."

"Like cow, moo?"

"Like cow and cat? Moo and meow? Moow?" Sunoo tried again, Soyoung didn't get it. "Gwen Parrow owns it."

"Ah! The one from the superhero movie? Steel Man?"

"That's the one."

After they finished their burgers (which were, admittedly, very good burgers because they were wagyu) Soyoung and Sunoo moved to the kitchen for drinks. She opened a small wine cellar by the kitchen countertop.

"Orange juice, tea, or wine?"

Sunoo opened his mouth to say tea, please like a responsible adult, but Soyoung gave him a look.

Sunoo grinned. "Wine."

They started talking about the wedding and Sunoo was nodding along and subconsciously refilling his wine when suddenly Sunghoon came up behind him.

One of his arms wrapped around Sunoo's waist, chin hooking over his shoulder. "Baby," Sunghoon murmured,  "can you pour me a wine too?"

Sunoo's brain short-circuited for half a second because what the hell your mom is right there, but he recovered, poured another glass, and handed it over.

"I heard you booked Lake Como for the wedding," Soyoung said, "It's where Emily Blunt got married. Oh, I wish I'd gotten married there."

Sunghoon looked confused. "Who?"

"Emily Blunt," his mother repeated, "The actress. She married John Krasinski there. It was beautiful."

"I have no idea who that is."

"The Devil Wears Prada," Sunoo supplied automatically. "He won't get it."

Soyoung agreed, "He never gets it."

Sunoo saw his opening and took it. "I've actually put the wedding together, the whole plan, if you don't mind?" He pulled his phone from his pocket, swiping through the preparations he'd made over the past year. "Here, let me just—"

Soyoung leaned in. "This is gorgeous."

"That's the terrace where we're thinking of doing the ceremony."

"Sunghoon never tells me anything about the wedding. The only thing I heard was—" She straightened and prepared herself for an impression of her son, "Hey Mom, I'm getting married in May. Please make time to attend. It's in Lake Como."

Sunoo burst out laughing, she sounded exactly like Sunghoon

Sunghoon grinned sheepishly. "I gave you the important details."

"Not all the important ones, darling," Soyoung corrected, but she was smiling now, reaching out to squeeze Sunoo's hand. "I offered Sunghoon to take over the wedding preparations. He said no. But you clearly care a lot about these things. Thank god one of you does."

They returned to the living room with glasses and a bottle of wine. The family helped themselves.

"Sunoo," Daehan called, "Tell us more about your family. Are you second generation? Or were you born in Korea?"

There it was. The question Sunoo had been waiting for—the one that always came up with Korean families like this. The polite way of asking: What kind of Korean are you, really?

"I was born here," Sunoo answered. "Bay Area. My parents immigrated after they got married. They wanted to build something of their own, so they came here."

"And what do they do?" Soyoung asked, and to her credit, she sounded genuinely interested rather than judgmental.

"They own an Asian market there. Kim's Market. They've had it for almost thirty years now. Started small, just basic groceries, but now they've expanded. Our best seller is kimchi, made with my family's recipe."

"Hard workers," Daehan remarked. "That's admirable. Building something from nothing in a new country is not easy."

"They are. They didn't have much when they came here, but they made it work. Put me through school, kept the store going. It wasn't always easy."

"My father started our business in Seoul in the seventies. Manufacturing, primarily. He worked sixteen-hour days, seven days a week. Barely saw us growing up." He glanced at Sunghoon. "I swore I wouldn't do that to my own children, but—"

"You did it anyway," Minju finished, teasingly.

"Yes," Daehan conceded. "The business expanded to the US in the 90s. Eventually I had to move the family here in early 2000s. Sunghoon was five, Minju was three. But we never fully... what's the word..."

"Americanized," Soyoung supplied. "We kept our home in Seoul. The children went to Korean school on Saturdays. We spoke Korean at home. Even now, most of our close friends are Korean. We exist in both worlds, but we're not entirely of either one."

"Third culture," Sunoo said. "That's what they call it, right?"

"Exactly." Soyoung looked pleased. "You understand."

"I think I'm the opposite," Sunoo admitted. "I'm very Americanized, to be really honest with you. I didn't go to Korean school. Well, my parents would probably want to but couldn't afford the extra expense, and the store kept them too busy on weekends. My Korean is okay, but not great. I can understand my parents when they speak it, but I respond in English most of the time." He laughed a little. "My mom nags me about it constantly."

"Language is hard to maintain," Soyoung said kindly. "Especially when you're trying to assimilate, build a business, raise children. Your parents had different priorities. Different pressures."

"They did," Sunoo agreed. "But they never let me forget where I came from."

Soyoung smiled. "Your Korean might not be perfect, but Sunghoon's isn't as good as he pretends it is either."

"My Korean is perfectly fine," Sunghoon defended.

Soyoung shook her head. "No, darling. Your pronunciation is very American. You sound like a gyopo when you speak Korean."

Cole, who'd been silent through most of this exchange, finally spoke up. "What's a gyopo?"

"Overseas Korean," Minju explained. "Like... diaspora, basically."

"Huh." Cole nodded like he understood, which Sunoo strongly suspected he didn't. "Cool."

 

⊹♡

 

"You didn't mention you were an only child."

Sunoo glanced over from the fireplace. "Didn't come up. You should ask more questions about me instead of talking about sex."

Sunghoon chuckled. "It explains some things."

"Like what?"

Sunghoon's gaze stayed on the flames. "The kind of pressure you carry." 

Sunoo let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Yeah. I guess that's true." He leaned back. "Being second generation is... it's weird. You're supposed to be one of the proofs that it was all worth it."

The fire crackled. Sunghoon swirled his wine.

"My parents didn't sacrifice everything so I could be just good," Sunoo continued. "They sacrificed everything so I could be exceptional because I have opportunities they never had. And every time I'm just... ordinary? It feels like I'm letting them down."

"You're not ordinary."

"Thanks. But not ordinary isn't enough. I want to be fuck you rich."

Sunghoon laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. "We should meet them. We should meet them before the wedding. My parents met you. It's only fair."

"Sure."

Sunoo would never let that happen. He knew that if Sunghoon came over, his parents would try too hard. They'd put on their best clothes, the ones they saved for special occasions. His mom would cook for days. They'd practice their English so they wouldn't embarrass Sunoo. They'd ask Sunghoon about his job and his family. They'd perform their acceptance of his sexuality, their happiness about the engagement, even though Sunoo knew that underneath it all, they were still waiting for him to change his mind. Still praying he'd bring home a nice Korean girl instead. 

But at that point, once Sunghoon stepped into Kim's Market where he grew up, once he sat at their small kitchen table, once he saw the peeling wallpaper in the apartment above the store and the way Sunoo's mom still hung his childhood drawings on the fridge like he was still that little boy who made them proud, once Sunghoon stepped into his most personal corner, into the life Sunoo had built his entire identity around escaping, he couldn't confidently say it was all just pretending. And Sunoo could never let that happen.

 

⊹♡

 

Sunghoon drove him home to their Beverly Hills house from the airport but he had to leave for Manhattan immediately. Sunoo wondered how Sunghoon juggled this fake engagement and his real job. His carbon footprint alone probably surpassed Taylor Swift's.

When the engine idled, Sunoo reached for the door handle.

Sunghoon's hand caught his wrist. "Hey. I have to get back to Manhattan. There's a board meeting tomorrow morning I can't miss."

"Yes. You told me about that. So... thanks for the ride?"

"Sunoo."

"What?"

"I don't want to send you home yet."

Sunoo's lips curved into a smile. "What? Are you going to keep me out past my bedtime?"

"Fuck your bedtime."

Sunghoon kissed him. Sunoo melted into it. Sunghoon reclined his seat and Sunoo crossed the center console to sit in his lap.

In no time, the car was filled with the sounds of sex—skin slapping against skin, ragged breathing, the creak of leather, and Sunghoon's filthy, praise-laced curses. Sunoo was bouncing on him while he kissed the bare expanse of his chest.

"Look at me."

Sunoo's eyes, which had squeezed shut, fluttered open. 

"I want to see you come apart while you're fucking yourself on me."

This was what getting involved with Sunghoon Park was all about. It was all there was to it.

By day Sunghoon called him angel. By night Sunghoon called him.. all the filthy names.

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo:
we still need to do the photoshoot for the invitation
i've been trying to schedule it for two weeks

Sunghoon:
Then why haven't we done it?

Sunoo:
every time you fly into beverly hills, we have approximately 20 mins of actually doing the planning before you start ripping my clothes

Sunghoon:
In my defense, we already have plenty of pictures
Why don't we just use those?

Sunoo:
it's different. you don't get it

Sunghoon:

Sunoo:
oh my god i'm actually going to kill you

Sunghoon:
Relax, angel. No need to get all riled up like that, you'll get everything you want as soon as I'm home

Sunoo:
fuck off

 

⊹♡

 

Sunoo's feet were killing him.

He kicked off his Prada loafers the second he stepped through the door. What was the point of spending that much money on shoes if they still destroyed your feet after nine hours of back-to-back meetings?

The house was quiet. Sunghoon was still in Manhattan, and wouldn't be back until next week for the photoshoot that they'd definitely get done this time.

Sunoo made it as far as the kitchen island before he had to pick up a call.

Eomma

His mother rarely called, only voice notes. She never called unless something was wrong or someone had died. 

He quickly answered, "Eomma?"

"Adeul," she called tentatively, "Is this a good time?"

"Yeah, I just got home. Is everything okay? Is Appa okay?"

"Appa is fine. Everyone is fine." A pause. "I wanted to talk to you."

Sunoo slid onto one of the bar stools. "Okay."

Sunoo could hear the faint sounds of the store in the background. She was probably standing behind the register, phone pressed to her ear, his father hovering somewhere nearby because he always did when she made important calls because he trusted his wife better when it came to talking to their son.

"I've been thinking," she started, and Sunoo braced himself. "About what you said months ago when you came to visit."

Sunoo remembered the visit. He'd sat in their cramped office above the store, told them about Anton and that they were getting married. They'd smiled and nodded. Sunoo didn't remember what they said but he knew they'd said all the right words in that careful, hesitant manner.

And then they'd asked if maybe he wanted to wait a little longer, just to be certain. Sunoo knew what that meant without needing them to say it out loud. He hadn't been back since.

"I'm sorry," his mother said, "For how we reacted. For... for not meeting your boyfriend. We were wrong. Your father and I, we've been talking about you. We reminded ourselves of the reasons why we came here. We left the only life we knew to give you yours. We left our families, our language, everything that's safe and familiar to us for something better. We worked every day so you could have opportunities and freedom we never had." She paused. "But we did not understand that... that's also part of the freedom we were trying to give you. The freedom to love who you love and build the life you want, not just the one we gave you. We're happy that you can marry someone you love. Back where we came from, you wouldn't have that option."

Sunoo's eyes started blurring with tears, he pressed the heel of his hand against his eyes.

"We should have said this months ago," she continued. "We're sorry."

"Eomma—" 

"What's his name again?" she asked gently. "Your partner. You told us before, but I want to hear it again. I want to remember it properly this time."

This was the moment he should tell her the truth that Anton was gone, that the wedding he was going to have was fake, that he was lying to everyone including himself.

But he couldn't do it. It would break her heart. He couldn't take this apology and acceptance he'd been waiting years for and tell her it was all for nothing, except for his ego.

"His name is… Sunghoon. Park Sunghoon."

"Park Sunghoon," she repeated. Then, softer, almost wondering. "Korean name... 한국 사람..."

"Yeah," Sunoo managed. "He's Korean."

"That's nice." And she meant it. "We'd like to meet him. Before the wedding, if that's okay. We'd like to meet the person who makes our son happy."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah. I'll... I'll talk to him. We'll figure something out."

"That's good." He could hear her smiling. "Your Appa wants to say something."

There was shuffling, then his father's voice, "Sunoo-ya."

"Yes, Appa?"

"Just say it," he heard his mom elbowing him in the background, Sunoo smiled a little.

Then came his father's voice, "...We are… proud of you."

That fucking destroyed him.

Sunoo pressed his hand harder against his eyes, but it was useless. Tears spilled over anyway.

"I know," he whispered. "I know, Appa."

"We will see you soon. We will cook your favorite food."

"Thank you."

They said their goodbyes after saying the words they'd never learned how to say properly. When the call ended, Sunoo sat there in the too-big kitchen of the too-expensive house.

And he cried.

 

⊹♡

 

The photoshoot had gone surprisingly well. Mostly because Sunoo had made sure to drag Sunghoon there and promised him sex after. The poses came natural to them, at this point, it kind of was. The pictures came out more convincing than Sunoo had thought.

Then they'd gotten home, and they'd barely made it past the entryway before Sunghoon had him pressed against the wall, and Sunoo's pants once again miraculously gone.

The next morning, Sunoo was sprawled on his stomach, face half-buried in a pillow, feeling wonderfully destroyed that he could finally admit having a fake fiancé was not a bad idea at all.

Sunghoon was on his side, propped up on one elbow, fingers tracing idle patterns down Sunoo's spine. His hair was a mess. He had hickeys blooming across his collarbone that made Sunoo giggled when he saw it.

"We should get breakfast," Sunoo mumbled into the pillow.

"Mm. What do you want?"

"I don't know. Something that doesn't require me to move."

"Delivery?"

"Delivery sounds perfect. What are you in the mood for?"

Sunghoon's fingers paused at the small of his back, then dipped lower. "You."

Sunoo snorted. "I'm not breakfast."

"I'll have you for breakfast, and then I'll make you an actual breakfast." Sunghoon leaned down, pressing a kiss to Sunoo's shoulder blade. 

"You're one colossal horny bastard."

"You like it."

"I tolerate it."

"Liar." Another kiss, this time at the nape of his neck. "You were saying my name pretty enthusiastically last night. The neighbors definitely know my name now."

"I will smother you with this pillow."

Sunghoon laughed. "Go ahead. I'll die happy."

"You're so—"

The doorbell rang.

"Are you expecting someone?" Sunghoon asked.

"No." Sunoo frowned, pushing himself up slightly. "Are you?"

"No."

The doorbell rang again.

"Fucking hell." Sunoo rolled out of bed, immediately regretting it when he realized how cold it was outside the blanket. He grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around himself. "I'll check."

He padded down the hallway to the intercom panel by the front door. Pressed the button to pull up the camera feed.

His parents were standing on the doorstep. His mother in her favorite coat—the one she only wore for church and special occasions. His father was beside her.

"No," Sunoo whispered to himself. "No, no, no, no—" He jabbed the intercom button. "Eomma? Appa? What are you doing here?"

His mother's face lit up on the small screen. "Surprise!"

"Can you give me one minute? I… just woke up and I'm kind of naked. I'll be right there."

"Take your time, Adeul."

He released the button and stood there for exactly two seconds, blanket clutched around his naked body, before sprinting back to the bedroom.

Sunghoon was sitting up now, eyebrows raised. "Who was it?"

"My parents."

"Oh. Oh. Okay. Uh." He swung his legs out of bed. "I'll take a shower first and get changed—"

"Please go home."

Sunghoon froze halfway to the bathroom. "But your parents are here?"

"You need to leave. Right now."

"Wait. I don't understand?" Sunghoon turned to face him fully, naked and confused. "Sunoo, we're getting married soon. I have to meet them eventually—"

"Because it's fake," Sunoo blurted out. "This is fake, Sunghoon. And I don't want to… fuck I can't do that to them. Not anymore."

"Are you serious right now? You're breaking up with me?"

"I'm sorry."

Sunghoon looked almost hurt. "Right. This is all fake so you can break it anytime you want."

"Can you put on some clothes first? Your dick is kind of distracting—"

"After everything—" He gestured between them, at the bed, at the situation. "You actually still don't see me as someone real to you."

"It's not about you. If you give me a chance, let's talk about this. But not now. Also, clothes please."

"It's exactly about me." Sunghoon reached for his clothes. "You know what? I'm actually offended."

"I'm not trying to offend you. I just can't do this anymore."

"Too late. Also, go home? This is my fucking house!"

"You have other houses! You have like, at least three empty properties you could crash at."

"Your parents still think you're marrying Anton, don't they?" Sunghoon pulled his shirt on inside-out, realized, cursed, and yanked it off again to wear it properly. "You haven't even told them the groom changed. Because deep down you still want him back? Is that why you're freaking out?"

Sunoo's silence was enough answer.

Sunghoon shoved his legs into his pants. "So what was the plan? Leading me on until Anton come back to you?"

"It's a lot of things," Sunoo said desperately. The doorbell rang again. "I can explain. But later. You need to leave first, my parents are waiting outside—"

"Through the front door? Where your parents are?"

"The—" Sunoo looked around wildly. "The window?"

"The fucking window?"

"We're on the first floor, it's not that high."

"You really want me to climb out the window?"

"Sunghoon, please."

Sunghoon stared at him and he actually looked disappointed. That made Sunoo feel like the absolute worst person alive. Sunghoon grabbed his shoes and stalked toward the window.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered, unlocking it and shoving it open.

"I know. I'm sorry. I'll call you later."

"Don't bother." Sunghoon swung one leg over the sill, paused, and looked back at Sunoo. "For the record? I liked you. I actually liked you. This whole time I thought—" He shook his head. "Forget it. Doesn't matter what I thought. You probably don't fucking care."

He dropped out the window with a muffled thud, followed by a sharp "fuck" and the sound of him landing in the bushes.

Sunoo rushed to the window, leaning out. "Are you okay?"

Sunghoon was getting himself out of a hydrangea bush, covered in leaves. "Fantastic. Thanks for asking."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't." Sunghoon brushed himself off, not looking up. "Just don't."

He walked away, shoes in hand, and Sunoo watched him disappear around the side of the house. Sunoo stood there, clutching his blanket.

The doorbell rang again.

"Coming!"

He was so fucked.

 

⊹♡

Notes:

drama drama drama....

Chapter 6

⊹♡ 

 

"He made me climb out the window. Like a fucking teenager." 

Sunghoon lined up his shot, missed, and grimace. The crack of pool balls echoed through the room. Sunghoon was back at the house Jay had been holding down for him.

"And?"

"As a teenager I've never even done that." Sunghoon grabbed his beer, took a long pull. "Even the 17 year old me used the front door. Well, mostly because I always did it at my place and my parents were never home. But that's beside the point."

Jay took his shot. Two balls sank. He moved around the table, assessing his next angle. "I don't think you're that pressed about the window."

"He looked at me like I was... I don't know. I don't want to say it. I think his parents still think he's marrying Anton."

Jay hummed. He pocketed another ball. "You had sex with him yet?"

"What?"

"Did you fuck him."

"Yeah, well, it's kind of—"

Jay finally looked up, one eyebrow raised. "Multiple times, I'm guessing."

"You know me too well, it's unsettling."

"Yeah, yeah." Jay waved him off. "You're catching feelings for your fake fiancé who you're actively sleeping with, and now you're mad because he won't let you meet his parents. Does that cover it?"

"Pretty much."

Jay took another shot. Missed this time, thank god. "You're doing the exact same thing Steph and I are doing, except you're somehow making it more complicated."

Sunghoon moved to take his turn. "How is Steph, by the way?"

"Still married to me. For now."

"Jungwon still on your ass?"

"Jungwon is always on my ass." Jay took a drink. "He's like a fucking bloodhound. He always shows up at the house unannounced, asks Steph weird questions. Last week he had the balls to ask me how many times I've been divorced."

"What'd you say?"

"I told him I lost count." Jay smirked. "He didn't think it was funny."

"Is he actually onto you?"

"He's definitely onto me. He knows something's up. He just can't prove it yet." Jay leaned against the table, spinning his beer bottle slowly.

Sunghoon wheezed. "Sounds annoying."

"He asked if I was using his sister. He seems convinced the whole arrangement is more sinister than what it actually is. It's pretty hilarious. Then I asked him if he was always this involved in his sister's sex life." A small smile. "He told me that when—not if, when he can prove what I'm doing, he's going to personally destroy me in court."

"That's some serious threat."

"Is it?" Jay laughed. "The guy's a divorce attorney. He's seen me in court like, four times now. Different wives every time. You'd think he'd have figured it out by now, but he's still looking for proof."

"I told you, don't take clients in the same state back-to-back," Sunghoon reminded evenly. "You worried?"

Jay tilted his head, considering. "I can handle him. He’s hot when he’s angry, so honestly? I really don't mind the hassle." He took his shot. Three balls dropped. "The point is, Jungwon can dig all he wants. He won't find anything that sticks."

"What if he does?"

"Then I deal with it." Jay shrugged. "Not your problem."

Sunghoon studied him for a moment. "Hold up, you really said you think he's hot. Your wife's brother?"

Jay didn't move. "Your turn."

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunghoon wasn't expecting to run into Sunoo at Whole Foods on a Tuesday afternoon.

He'd gone in for the essentials like chicken breast, eggs, the usual post-workout crap he didn't actually enjoy eating but had to eat anyway, and was navigating through the produce section when he saw him.

Sunoo was standing in front of the apple display, holding two different ones up to the light. He wore an oversized hoodie and joggers, his hair unstyled, and fuck—Sunghoon was angry but Sunoo looked so fucking cute today he almost melted and gave in and thought about groveling so Sunoo could take him back.

Then Sunoo lifted his head and their eyes met. Neither of them moved. Sunoo's eyes went wide, and he bolted with his shopping cart.

"Are you—are you fucking kidding me—" Sunghoon took off after him, basket swinging from his arm.

An elderly woman gave them both a scandalized look as Sunoo's cart nearly clipped her ankle. Sunghoon called out an apology over his shoulder.

Sunghoon followed him down the cereal aisle, past the dairy section, around the corner by the deli counter. But a shopping cart could only go so fast, and Sunghoon's legs were longer.

He caught up near the frozen foods, grabbing the cart's handle to stop it.

"Why are you running away from me?!" Sunghoon demanded, slightly out of breath.

"Because you're chasing me!"

"I wasn't chasing you!"

"You literally just chased me through the entire store!"

"Because you were running away from me!"

They stood there, both breathing hard in front of the refrigerated section. A stock clerk pushed past with a dolly.

Sunoo straightened, smoothed down his hoodie, and calmly picked up his shopping list. "I need watermelon. Two of them. Can you help me put them in the cart? They're heavy."

"You want me to get the watermelons for you?" Sunghoon made sure again. Against his better judgment, he still found himself picking up two watermelons and placing them in Sunoo's cart. Sunoo inspected them, nodded approvingly, and continued down the aisle.

Sunghoon shook his head, something in his brain finally sobering up. "Wait. No. Hold on." Sunoo kept walking, checking items off his list. "Are we just gonna pretend you didn't basically throw me out the window of my own house?"

Sunoo didn't look back. "I said I was sorry."

"That's it? It's over just like that?"

"What's there to talk about? You did this whole thing because your sister wants to get married and your parents won't let her until you do. Now that it's over, just ask the next guy you meet." Sunoo stopped in front of the pasta section, comparing two brands of penne. "I'm sure there's a line of people willing to fake marry you."

"I don't want the next guy. I want to do this with you."

Sunoo finally looked at him. "Oh, you suddenly only want to do it with me? Why? What changed?"

"Nothing changed. I've always—fuck. I want you. Is that so hard to understand?"

"Well, yes!" Sunoo threw a box of pasta into his cart. "It's hard to understand because it's you. You literally told me you never had relationships because you've never found anyone worth putting effort into. So excuse me for being confused about why you suddenly care when you're not in love with me like that, Sunghoon."

"What was I supposed to say? Hi, you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen and I'm super thrilled Anton cheated on you so I could shoot my shot?"

Sunoo rolled his eyes. "Well maybe at least say something instead of asking for sex. It kind of sets the tone for the whole relationship, don't you think? I don't want that. I don't just want good sex, I want to be loved too. My parents love me too much for me to waste two years on a fake marriage and good sex. Here. You. Go. This is why."

Sunghoon stopped walking. "I'm not following your logic here." A woman with a toddler in her cart was staring at them. "Sorry," he muttered, moving past them to catch up with Sunoo again. "What are you even angry about?"

"I don't know, maybe because I don't like what we are doing right now?"

"So you have feelings for me."

"Fuck no."

"Then why are you angry?"

"Because you're just—" Sunoo's hands curled frustratedly in the air. "You. You're so, god, you're you and that's the whole problem!."

"Admit it Sunoo, you have feelings for me."

"No! It doesn't work like that. We just like each other because we've been having great sex and our brains are confusing dopamine for actual emotions!"

Sunghoon scoffed loudly, looking around to compose himself before he said, "This is a fucking mistake."

Sunoo's jaw hardened. "You only realize that now? You asked me to marry you first."

"Asking you to fake marry me was a fucking mistake."

Sunoo's face went blank, before it turned into disbelief and he let out the most full-bodied, "Fuck you," and shoved Sunghoon, both hands against his chest.

He turned, pushing his cart toward the checkout. Sunghoon's brain caught up with his mouth and he realized what he'd just said. "Fuck. Sunoo, wait—"

But Sunoo flipped him off without turning around, his middle finger raised high leaving trails of people looking at him.

Sunghoon scrubbed his hands over his face. "Fuck."

 

⊹♡ 

 

"So I'm thinking that new Thai spa in West Hollywood, and then we order from Nobu and watch The Notebook," Jungwon said from the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone. "The best Valentine's self-care routine you could ever get."

Jake nodded from behind the wheel. "I'm down. But can we skip The Notebook and watch something happier?"

"That's literally the point of Valentine's Day when you're single. Cry, eat expensive food, wake up with great skin."

"Sounds perfect," Sunoo said from the backseat, raising his hand. "Count me in too."

Jungwon turned to look at him and Jake glanced in the rearview mirror.

Jake asked, "Don't you have plans with Sunghoon?"

Sunoo scoffed, staring out the window. "No. It's canceled, the deal is off."

Jungwon twisted in his seat to face Sunoo fully. "You mean your Valentine's Day plan is canceled or the whole wedding thing?"

"The whole wedding thing."

"Dude?" Jake furrowed his brows. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. I just realized this whole thing has been pointless. So I ended it."

Then Jake and Jungwon gave each other a look before tentatively returning to the topic.

"Okay…" Jungwon said slowly. "What did you do?"

Sunoo's head snapped toward him. "What makes you think I did something?"

"Because Sunghoon is in love with you." Jake checked his blind spot before changing lanes. "If there's anyone who's going to ruin it, it's you."

"Maybe you can still apologize?" Jungwon suggested. "Talk it out?"

"Sunghoon's a good guy," Jake added.

Sunoo's face twisted. "Why is everyone assuming this is my fault?"

"Because Sunghoon is literally in love with you."

"No, he's not."

"Sunoo." Jake pulled up to a red light and turned to look at him properly. "Anyone with eyes can see it."

"See what?"

"I don't know. It's just obvious." Jake looked at Jungwon to agree with him.

"Very obvious."

Sunoo opened his mouth, then closed it. "He's just good at acting. That's literally what we agreed to. You're reading too much into it."

"Are we?" Jungwon raised an eyebrow. "Because I've seen the way he looks at you. That's the face of a man in love. Besides, if he's really just marrying you so his sister could get married, why would he go the length to play along with your ruse? I don't know, Sunoo, but if I were him and I wasn't in love with you, I wouldn't do all that. It's too much effort for something that's not even real. The payback isn't worth it. Well, obviously, unless you're in love."

Sunoo squeezed his eyes shut. "Stop."

Jungwon lifted his hands defensively. "Don't get mad at me, I'm just pointing out the obvious."

"I don't want to think about it. Can we please just go to lunch?"

Jake and Jungwon exchanged another look but mercifully dropped it. They pulled into the parking lot of Sora's Sunset, a trendy fusion place that had a six-month waitlist. Jake found a spot, and they all climbed out.

As soon as they walked through the door, Sunoo was lifting his phone, waving it around. "Is there no signal in this place?"

They got seated at their reserved table—a nice corner booth with good lighting and cute background for pictures.

"I still can't believe you got us in here," Jake said, shaking out his napkin. "This place is impossible."

"I have connections," Jungwon said smugly.

"You fucked the manager."

"Like I said, I have connections."

Sunoo was still frowning at his phone. "Seriously, no signal at all?"

"It's a dead zone, Sunny." Jake took a sip of water. "Part of the charm, apparently."

"How is that charming?"

"Forces you to be present or whatever." Jungwon was scanning the menu. "I'm getting tuna tartare."

Jake hummed. "That sounds good."

"I think I will order more. It's hard to get a table here. Might as well go crazy."

Sunoo finally gave up on his phone and set it face-down on the table. "We got our reservation here last time, you guys remember? But none of you showed up."

"When?" Jungwon asked.

"Last year? I remember coming here and found out they gave our table away to another Korean guy. It was lowkey racist how they mixed up our reservations because our names sound the same. That's why I always reserve under Jake Sim now."

Jake and Jungwon stared at him.

"We didn't get the reservation, remember? Don't even try to gaslight me." Jake pursed his lips. "We decided to have lunch at Polo Lounge. I texted you like fifty times."

"What?" Sunoo scoffed. "No, I got the table. I was here. Alone. For like an hour. I was so mad I ghosted you both for weeks.”

"Oh yeah, we remember." Jake said dryly. "Was it that time you were being a bitch all summer to me?"

"Well, that's because you stood me up, look! Here I texted you—" 

Sunoo:
where are you guys???
(!) not sent

Sunoo:
i'm here
(!) not sent

Sunoo:
TABLE IS READY
(!) not sent

Sunoo:
HELLO???
(!) not sent

Sunoo:
ok this is getting embarrassing
(!) not sent

Sunoo:
seriously where tf are you
(!) not sent

"Oh," Sunoo realized. "The signal."

"Well, at least that clears the air." Jake picked up his menu again.

Sunoo scrolled further. "Wait, there's more."

But Sunoo wasn't looking at the unsent messages anymore.

Sunoo:

been here 20 mins where ARE you
(!) not sent

Sunoo:

i'm stuck with this random guy because our reservations got mixed up!
he says he'll leave when you get here so WHERE TF ARE YOU
(!) not sent

"Oh my god."

"What?" Jake tried to look at the phone. "What's wrong?"

Sunoo turned it around, showing them the photo.

Jungwon squinted. "Is that—"

"Sunghoon."

 

⊹♡ 

 

One year ago
The day Sunoo Kim met his future fake husband

 

"Reservation under Sunoo, please. Party of three?"

The host scanned her tablet, scrolling through the list. She frowned. "I'm sorry. I don't see a reservation under that name."

"That's weird. I made it like three weeks ago."

"I apologize, but I'm not seeing it in our system."

"Okay, no worries." Sunoo forced a laugh. "Do you have any other Korean names in there? I'm not trying to be a dick here, but some places have a tendency to mix up Asian names. So maybe just... check again? For me?"

The host's cheeks flushed slightly. "Let me look again." She scrolled more carefully this time. "We do have... a reservation under the name Sunghoon... I'm sorry, I think we made a mistake in inputting the name."

"There we go!" Sunoo clapped his hands together. "Sunoo, Sunghoon. Close enough, right? I totally get it. You saw two Korean names and just assumed they were the same person. I'm not judging." I'm definitely judging. "These things happen."

The host looked relieved. "We're truly sorry for the confusion. Your company is already seated at the table. Please, follow me."

"Perfect. Thank you so much for checking." Sunoo followed her through the restaurant. The host led him to a corner booth where a man Sunoo had definitely never seen before was sitting alone, waiting for his food. Not Jake, not Jungwon, but a stranger with a designer jacket.

"Um." Sunoo stopped walking, his smile faltering. "Hey, sorry. That's not... that's not my friend."

"I'm sorry?"

"That guy." Sunoo gestured. "I don't know him. I don't think this is my table."

"That's the table reserved under the name Sunghoon."

"Right, but that's not—" Sunoo pressed his fingers to his temples, taking a breath. "Okay. Okay, I think I see what's going on here. I'm not trying to be difficult here, I promise. But I think you mixed up our reservations. His name is Sunghoon. Mine is Sunoo. We're both Korean, which—look, I get it, I really do. You're probably slammed and names can sound similar. But this is kind of... it's a little uncomfortable? Like, I don't want to say the R-word because I know you're just doing your job and you're working hard. But it's a little racist that you assume we're one person just because we have similar-sounding Korean names? I'm not mad at you specifically, but like, as a general thing? Kind of not great?"

The host's face went pale. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—"

"No, I know! I know you didn't. I'm not saying you're a bad person. Can I just get another table? Please?"

"The restaurant is fully booked for lunch service." The host looked genuinely distressed now. "We don't have any available tables until after two—"

"Oh." Sunoo cocked his head sideways. "Oh, okay. Is there any way to make one available for me in 30 mins max? I've made the reservation for 3 weeks, you can't possibly make me wait two hours for a new table."

The stranger, Sunghoon, stood up. "Hey. It's okay. You can have the table."

Sunoo turned to look at him properly for the first time. "No. Enjoy your lunch. I don't want your table. I want my table. The one I reserved three weeks ago under my name."

"I know. Restaurant fucked up." Sunghoon's mouth quirked into a little smile. "If you want to wait for your friends, you can sit here. I'll get out of here when they come."

"No, you don't have to—" Sunoo ran a hand through his hair, laughing a little desperately. 

"You're fine." Sunghoon gestured at the empty seat. "Seriously. Sit. I'll leave in like ten minutes."

Sunoo looked at the host, who looked stressed about potentially losing her job. Then at Sunghoon, who seemed completely unbothered. Then at his phone, where Jake and Jungwon still hadn't responded to his texts.

"Alright." Sunoo slid into the booth. "Thank you. And I'm sorry." He looked up at the host, forcing his expression to soften. "I'm really not trying to ruin your day. You're doing great. This is just... a weird situation."

"We deeply apologize for the confusion," the host said quickly. "Can I get you anything while you wait?"

"Wine." Sunoo didn't look at her. "Red. Whatever's expensive."

She fled gratefully.

Sunghoon sat back down, and that smile was still there. "That was the most passive aggressive 'you're being racist' speech I've ever witnessed."

"I wasn't—" Sunoo groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I was. But I was trying to be nice about it because I used to work in service and people are assholes." He peeked through his fingers. "Was I still an asshole?"

"I don't know the full story, I can't judge." Sunghoon watched the wine arrive. Sunoo took a long sip, then another, feeling the anger slowly drain out of him. "Feel better?"

"No." Sunoo pulled out his phone, typing furiously to Jake and Jungwon. "I feel pissed off and embarrassed and like I just made some poor girl's day worse when it's probably not even her fault."

"Then why'd you do it?"

"Because if I didn't say something, nothing would change. You get that, right? If I just smile and take it, they'll keep doing this shit to the next person."

Sunghoon hummed. "I get it."

Sunoo set his phone down harder than necessary. "So now I'm stuck at a table with a stranger, my friends aren't answering, and I just made a scene in a bougie restaurant. It's been a great day."

"Could be worse."

"How?"

Sunghoon pursed his lips, his hand doing an aimless wagging motion. "Could be raining."

Sunoo stared at him. Then, despite himself, he laughed. "Well, no. That's not worse."

"Could be the end of the world and you're spending your last moment with me, a stranger."

"That's pretty bleak."

Sunghoon's mouth quirked. "I'm working with limited material here." 

Sunoo ordered the salmon without looking at the menu, just to be difficult. 

"So," Sunghoon said once the server left. "What do you do?"

Sunoo grinned a little. "Mmm. I'm not doing this."

"What do you think I am doing?"

Sunoo pointed to both of them. "This get-to-know talk."

"Why not?"

"Because I didn't give you the best first impression and for that, I hope I won't see you again."

"Okay. We'll sit in silence." Sunghoon took a sip of wine, still watching him with that amused expression. Then he mouthed dramatically, "So much fun in silence."

Sunoo checked his phone again and he still got no texts back from Jake or Jungwon.

"Are you fucking kidding me," Sunoo said out loud.

"Friends bail?"

"Seems like it." 

"You have me instead. Lucky you."

"I wouldn't call it lucky."

"I would." Sunghoon was still smiling. "You're the most entertaining thing that's happened to me all week."

"You stole my reservation."

"I think you stole my reservation."

Sunghoon talked about what he did for a living. He invested in real estate, retail, and some tech startups that sounded boring but probably made him obscenely rich. Sunoo told him about what he did for a living as well but purposefully omitted the part where he worked for a pseudoscience wellness brand owned by a controversial celebrity.

"You know what your problem is?" Sunoo said, pointing at him with his wine glass.

"Please. Enlighten me."

"You're too nice. I think you're flirting with me. You're swinging this way too?"

Sunghoon laughed. "I'm not trying to hide it."

"You also look and sound just like the kind of guy that's never been told no."

"I've been told no plenty of times."

"Clearly not enough."

"Okay, how about this." Sunghoon leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Let me take you to dinner sometime. Properly. Make it a date."

"Are you asking me out?"

"I am."

"No."

"See? You just told me no."

"For lessons." Sunoo took another sip of wine. "I hate your kind."

Sunghoon didn't look offended, just more amused. "But I could make it worth your time."

"I'm engaged." Sunoo held up his left hand, showing off his engagement ring. Anton had proposed last year. 

Sunghoon looked dramatically disappointed and pouted a little. "Oops. My bad." He held up both hands in surrender. "Consider the offer rescinded. But I'm still glad I shot my shot. Only a little pissed some guy met you before me."

Sunoo chuckled, and they kept talking anyway. Because Jake and Jungwon had abandoned him, and the wine was good, and this stranger was... he was easy to talk to.

By the second glass of wine, Sunoo was almost enjoying himself. By the third, he was definitely enjoying himself. By the time they finished their food, Sunoo had almost forgotten why he'd been angry in the first place.

"You have dimples," Sunoo pointed out.

Sunghoon touched his cheek, surprised. "These?"

"They're cute."

Sunghoon fully grinned. It made him younger. Or was Sunghoon really young? Sunoo didn't ask his age, but now starting to regret it cause what if Sunghoon's age started with 1? 

"Don't let it get into your head."

"Too late. Already there." Sunghoon smiled, tapping his temple. "I hope we'll see each other again."

"We won't," Sunoo said cheekily. "You're not my type."

"Because I'm rich?"

Sunoo grinned. "That's your only redeeming quality, actually."

Sunghoon signaled for the check. "If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."

Sunoo furrowed his brows. "But I don't?"

"I guess it'll have to be fate." Sunghoon stood after taking care of the bills, covering both their meals. "Take care, uh…?"

"Sunoo."

"Right, Sunoo."

"You too. Take care." Sunoo heard himself say. "Sunghoon."

 

⊹♡ 

 

A little less than three months ago

 

Soyoung wouldn't call Hermès her go-to, but there was something about wandering through it—letting her fingers drift across silk, feeling the weight of fabric that she loved.

Sunghoon trailed half a step behind her because he was weighed down by her shopping bags.

"That one washes you out," he'd say, pointing at a beige wrap.

"You said that about the last three."

"Because I'm right. Trust me, I'm gay. My opinion weighs more in matters of fashion."

"Your opinion weighs nothing. I look good in it, I buy."

Sunghoon wheezed. He liked this. Most days she'd send a personal shopper, but days like this were reserved for him as their own little mother-son quality time moment where she pretended his fashion advice was terrible and he pretended he didn't enjoy being bossed around by a woman half his size.

They were somewhere between handbags and shoes when she let out a deep sigh, which sounded like she'd been holding a thought in for a while.

"Minju is still insisting," Soyoung said, carefully examining a coat. "She really wants to marry this Cole."

Sunghoon perked up. He was right. Drama. "You don't like him."

"I did not say that."

"You didn't have to. Your face said it." He leaned against the display case. "It's because he's white, isn't it?"

She turned to him slowly and warned, "Don't say things like that, Sunghoon. You know better."

Sunghoon laughed, hands up. "I'm kidding. Mostly."

Soyoung thought about it and considered her words. "If I could choose who she loves, I would not even do it." She picked up another bag, navy this time. "Although... a Korean man would be preferable. Yes. This is true."

"What if I marry a Korean guy?" Sunghoon watched her face. "Since you want it so much."

"You? You are always busy. Always working. Always flying somewhere. When would you even see this man?"

Sunghoon shrugged. "I'd make time."

"You say that. But you barely have time for your mother."

"Ouch," he said. "Mom, be more supportive, I'm building my future."

"Marriage needs presence. Not just money and nice dinners. You are not very… available."

"That sounds like a challenge."

"This is not a challenge. Don't treat this like a business deal."

"Too late, mom. You raised me like this."

"I wouldn't oppose the idea," she said finally. "But I don't think there is any nice Korean man who wants to marry you."

"How could you say that to your own son?"

"You are also difficult and dramatic. Not many people want to put up with that."

"You know I don't like losing." He pointed at her. "No take-backs. You said you wouldn't oppose it."

She waved a hand. "Bring him to me. I will give you one hundred dollars."

"I don't want money. I want you to delete my prom video."

She raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"

"All of them."

"The one where you did a back hug to that sweet girl like she was pregnant or the one where you were talking to her but you kept fixing your hair like this," she demonstrated, flicking her fingers daintily.

"Burn it," Sunghoon begged. "Everything. Please."

"I will. When you bring him to me, Sunghoon."

He laughed, shaking his head, and followed her toward the exit. He didn't know yet that a few months later, his mother would finally delete his prom video.

 

⊹♡ 

 

It was one of those rare days where Sunghoon found himself doom-scrolling Instagram at the airport because his flight to Los Angeles was delayed by three hours and he was running out of things to do. He'd already:

• Responded to every urgent email
• Cleared his inbox to zero (a personal record)
• Read through the Q4 reports
• Reviewed the deck for next week's board meeting
• Ordered lunch, eaten lunch
• Called his mother (kind of regretted it)
• Considered calling his therapist (decided against it)
• And downloaded, then immediately deleted, three different dating apps

So to Instagram he went.

His feed was exactly what he expected. Friends getting married again, golf photos, padel pics from the same people who'd been posting padel pics for six months now, someone's very expensive vacation in Santorini, a guy he went to Wharton with giving a TED talk about unlocking potential or innovation or some other buzzword.

He reached a repost by one of his friends in Los Angeles. One he'd slept with and taken to Japan if his memory served him right. It was a post for an availability at a Lake Como wedding venue.

He knew that villa. He'd been to a wedding there two years ago—some tech CEO marrying an Instagram model. He knew the owner of the villa very well too, he was an old family friend—someone his father did business with.

He clicked and indulged, because he had literally nothing else to do. Apparently the wedding had been canceled because the poster had been cheated on.

Sunghoon checked out the profile.

"Oh," he said out loud. "It's you."

Sunoo Kim.

Bright smile. Pretty mouth. And an even prettier face he'd remember pretty well. Sunoo looked even better than he remembered. Sunghoon hated being turned down and this particular memory had been haunting him occasionally. Still, it was very unfortunate the fiancé had cheated on Sunoo.

Sunghoon felt a spark in his chest that was deeply uncharitable and wildly inappropriate. Not a relief, it was worse. Satisfaction.

One man's loss, Sunghoon thought, was very clearly another man's win.

He didn't dwell on the why for long. He just sent a message, I'll take it.

Which was technically not a lie. He would take it. Just not the Lake Como venue.

They decided to meet for brunch. When Sunghoon arrived, Sunoo was already there looking all smiley and glowing like he'd never had his heart stomped on by a moron in his life. Sunghoon sat down and waited for Sunoo to recognize him.

"Hi!" Sunoo said brightly, extending a hand. "I'm Sunoo."

Sunghoon shook it. "Yes, I know. Nice to meet you."

Sunghoon waited. He gave it a second. Any moment now, Sunoo would tilt his head, narrow his eyes, say, Wait—haven't we met?

But Sunoo launched straight to business. He explained about the exclusivity and the importance of the venue which Sunghoon didn't understand at all. He understood value, but a handful of celebrities getting married there was the kind of value he couldn't justify. It was just a very expensive patch of land surrounded by water, he could find that anywhere else. Although yes, Lake Como was exceptionally beautiful in spring.

He nodded. He hummed. He barely looked at the pamphlets.

Sunghoon thought of the post. The reason why the wedding was canceled, the cheating, and he felt embarrassingly happy again. Not because Sunoo had been hurt. He wasn't that kind of asshole. But because Anton had fumbled a fortune.

Who cheats on that?

Sunghoon had always said all men were the same, but thinking it now felt wrong. Sunoo was still a man. And Sunghoon didn't want to lump him in with idiots who couldn't recognize a gift when it was handed to them.

If Sunoo were his, he'd never be stupid enough to look elsewhere. It was genuinely humiliating to lose a beautiful man like Sunoo.

Sunghoon glanced at the pamphlets. Then back at him. Sunoo just kept talking, effusing about details Sunghoon didn't care about, describing a wedding Sunghoon had no intention of having.

And through all of it there wasn't even a flicker of recognition or doubts in his eyes.

Sunoo seriously didn't remember him.

He didn't remember the restaurant, the mixed up reservations, the wine, or the fact that Sunoo told him straight into his face that he hated Sunghoon's kind. Which, if Sunghoon was being honest, was kind of romantic. 

Sunghoon couldn't tell if Sunoo was enthusiastically trying to sell his booking or if he thought the wedding was truly something exciting. Marriage was stupid. It was a legally binding contract that people made a ridiculous fuss about. His mother wanted it for her kids. Minju was desperate for it. Everyone around him treated it like some sacred thing when really it was just paperwork and tax benefits and the potential for a very expensive divorce.

The idea of putting someone in a lifetime legal prison had never appealed to Sunghoon.

Sunoo was sitting right in front of him, single for the first time since the last time Sunghoon saw him, with a wedding venue he didn't need and a broken heart that deserved better than some cheating asshole.

In his head, his mother sighed. I don't think there is any nice Korean man who wants to marry you.

Sunghoon smiled, small. Thanks, mom. His life had been boring as hell.

"Okay," Sunghoon said.

"Don't you need to consult your partner first?" Sunoo rushed, misunderstanding immediately. Cute. "I can wait. I mean, not too long, but I understand this could be a big decision."

"No need." Sunghoon met his gaze directly. "I'll marry you."

 

⊹♡ 

 

Back to present
(with the Holy Trinity of Mess)

 

Jake started it, "Are we going to talk about the photo or are you just going to dissociate for the rest of the lunch?"

"I'm processing."

"You've been processing for an hour."

"It's a lot to process!"

Jungwon looked up from his plate. "What's there to process? Sunghoon saw you a year ago. Remembered you. Asked to fake marry you. It's pretty straightforward."

Jake gasped. "Oh my God, is this gonna be one of those romcom climaxes where you finally realize your feelings for Sunghoon?"

"This is so weird." Sunoo pulled up the photo again, checking if it was really Sunghoon. It was indeed him. "Jungwon. You told me once that you somehow knew that... I'd get divorced from Anton one day."

Jungwon raised a brow. "I'm not taking that back, by the way. I'm not sorry for it either."

"No, no. I mean… How did you know?"

"Little things. I've seen couples who divorce like other people eat breakfast. You learn the patterns."

"Like what?" 

"Anton always walked in front of you. He never waited. He never checked if you were keeping up. He just assumed you'd follow."

"Really? He did that? I never—"

"He also never touched you casually in public," Jungwon continued. "Some people don't like PDA, that's normal. But you love PDA. If he couldn't make out with you in public, at least he could compromise with smaller things. But I don't see any hand on your back. No reaching for your hand under the table. It should've come naturally."

"Right." Jake nodded along. "What he said. That's true." 

"He made decisions without you," Jungwon said, ticking off fingers now. "Big decisions. Moving in together? He vetoed three of your choices before you 'agreed' on the apartment, which was his preference."

"But I also liked that apartment—"

"Because you got used to it. That's how it works." Jungwon interrupted. "He never introduced you as his fiancé, just 'Sunoo' like he was keeping his options open. He also, and this is the big one, he never prioritized you. Work always came first. His friends came first. His family came first. The cheating? That was just confirmation of what I already knew. He didn't respect you. He never did."

Everything Jungwon mentioned was painfully, obviously right.

Sunoo had been so in love that he'd ignored the seemingly insignificant things that actually made a relationship work. Not the grand gestures or expensive dates or even picture-perfect proposals (not that Anton even excelled in this area either). But the everyday stuff. The compromise, the consideration, the trying.

Sunoo had been the one bending. Stretching himself thin. Contorting into whatever shape Anton needed while Anton just... stayed there, unmoving and unchanging.

Sunoo hailed a cab back to the house that evening. The house that wasn't even really their house, since it was Sunghoon's and Sunoo was just borrowing space.

He should pack now. That's what you did when you ended things, right? Sunoo had done this before. He could do it again. This shouldn't be too hard when Sunoo had only known him for a short time.

Sunoo headed upstairs to the master bedroom they'd been sharing. There wasn't much. It felt oddly sad.

He grabbed his suitcase from the closet and started pulling clothes from the dresser. This was fine, this was good. They got a clean break, no mess. He didn't have to do the whole crying on the floor while holding their picture to his chest because everything was not real anyway.

His hand hit something hanging in the back of the closet. Clothes in a dry clean garment bag, probably Sunghoon's. He pulled it out curiously and unzipped the garment bag to look.

The shirt was one of the nicer ones, there were also a pair of slacks that matched perfectly. Sunoo recognized the cut immediately, these were brand new straight off the latest Prada F/W Collection.

Something fluttered out and landed on the floor. Sunoo bent down, picking up what turned out to be a dry cleaning receipt, clipped to a handwritten note. The handwriting was Sunghoon's.

Please handle the clothes with care.
I want to wear this when I meet my boyfriend's parents :)
Thank you

The corners of his lips lifted. "Son of a bitch."

Growing up, the good clothes always stayed in garment bags. In Sunoo's family, nothing new was worn casually, certain things were saved and kept for the right day and the right people. 

Sunghoon was irritating. He pushed, teased, crossed lines with a grin, then took him to bed to undress him. He made Sunoo roll his eyes and smile at the same time. He made him forget someone else had trampled on his heart. 

And now this.

Sunghoon always waited for him, matched his pace instead of pulling ahead, touched him like Sunghoon needed it, listened when he talked, stepped in without being asked, said fiancé like it was a privilege, never let him feel embarrassed, crossed the country just to be near him, everything you'd find yourself do when…

When what?

When you're in love.

Sunghoon had already rearranged his life around him, he had been building something while Sunoo kept insisting it was not real, a contract, a means to an end. Sunoo had been so busy maintaining deniability and holding romance to a certain standard that he'd completely missed the moment Sunghoon stopped following the script.

"Shit," he breathed. "Shit, shit, shit."

This wasn't the moment Sunoo fell in love.

This was the moment Sunoo realized he'd been in love.

 

⊹♡ 

 

Sunoo was at his office while Haley rattled off the daily updates about partnership contracts and media day, but somewhere between "Q1 projections" and "Gwen wants to implement a barefoot culture policy" his brain quietly packed its bags and left. 

He nodded at what he hoped were the right moments, eyes glazed over somewhere past her left shoulder.

"So I'll tell her you're on board with the barefoot thing?"

"Mmm."

Haley waved her hand in front of his face. "Sunoo?"

He blinked. "Thank you, Haley. That'll be all."

She lingered at the door, head tilted. "You good?"

"I'm great." He was not great.

The door was clicked shut. Sunoo leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

Sunoo had the idealized idea of the one. Not just who—but how. The one would be chivalrous. There'd be real courting with flowers, hand-holding, star-gazing. They'd get to know each other over candlelit dinners. Slowly and politely discovering each other. The first kiss would be monumental. A slow-burn romance with the chapters in order.

Sunghoon had kicked that idea into the dumpster, then fucked him against a wall.

Sunoo let out a long sigh at the ceiling. He kind of missed him though.

Somehow, in between all the annoyances and the eye-rolling and Sunghoon's hands in places that definitely weren't respectful, between unsolicited thirst traps at 2 PM when Sunoo was eating lunch and Sunghoon's weekly flights to Los Angeles, Sunoo's heart softened. 

Sunghoon made him laugh until his stomach hurt. Made him forget he'd spent months thinking he was unlovable after his ex made a very convincing case for it. Sunghoon pushed every button, but knew exactly when to stop pushing—when to just sit on a bathroom floor and be present and there.

And now he wasn't.

Sunoo would have to live with the fact that he might've lost who could've been the one. 

Sunoo went to the pantry with a very specific goal in mind: cookies. This would be the only thing that could keep him sane today. He reached for the jar and nearly dropped it when he caught a glimpse of a familiar profile moving past the hallway through the glass wall.

Sunoo froze, squinted, and tilted his head.

No...

But also... what if?

What if this was one of those movie moments? What if the universe that had been personally victimizing him for weeks suddenly decided to do him good now? What if this was the part where fate intervened with impeccable timing and sent the love interest back right when the protagonist realized they'd fucked up?

"SUNOO!" Haley burst into the pantry. "Sunghoon is here!"

The cookie hit the floor.

Sunoo was already moving.

This was it. This was happening. Sunghoon came back. Sunghoon was here. He was probably looking for him right now. They were going to have The Moment. There would be declarations, possibly tears, definitely kissing. God, Sunoo missed kissing him.

He spotted Sunghoon down the hall, heading toward the west wing to Meeting Room B.

Sunoo's heart hammered against his ribs. He'd rehearsed this. Well, no, he hadn't, but he'd daydreamed about it, which was basically the same thing.

He burst through the door.

"Sunghoon, I'm sorry. I was an idiot. I miss you so much. Please come back—"

"—if we scale this way, the Miami branch won't cannibalize the boutique, and we can—" Sunghoon looked up. "Sunoo?"

Sunoo's eyes snapped open. Sunghoon was staring at him, but so was Gwen and another man in a suit Sunoo had definitely never seen before. There was a presentation on the screen. Their laptops opened beside documents and half drank coffee cups were scattered on the table.

Sunoo's brain suddenly stopped working. His body, however, had already committed. His knees were already planted on the ground. His hands were already clasping together. He was practically begging.

"I—This is—Wrong room. Very wrong room. I apologize."

His knees cracked audibly as he stood.

"I'll just—yep. Leaving now."

He backed toward the door, maintaining eye contact with no one and everyone simultaneously, before finally escaping into the hallway.

Sunghoon dropped his head into his hands and started laughing.

Gwen looked pleasantly surprised. "Oh? You didn't tell me you're dating Sunoo."

"Even better." Sunghoon smiled. "I'm marrying him."

 

⊹♡ 

 

About an hour later, Sunghoon emerged from Meeting Room B with his phone out. Through the glass wall of his office, Sunoo watched him go.

Haley also looked and nudged him. "Go."

"No. Forget about it." Sunoo slumped against the wall, hoping he could disappear into it.

"Are you crazy?" Haley grabbed his shoulders. "Go get him!"

Sunoo looked up. Sunghoon was already halfway down the hall, heading for the elevators.

His heart kicked against his ribs. Fuck it.

He ran.

"SUNGHOON!"

But Sunghoon was too far, he didn't hear him.

The entire floor turned. At least twenty people watched his desperate sprint down the hall in real time.

"SUNGHOON!" Gina from Accounting shouted.

Even the quiet guy from IT joined in. "Oy! SUNGHOON!" 

Gwen stuck her head out of the meeting room. "HEY! SUNGHOOOOON!" 

Sunghoon finally stopped and turned around. But he didn't move. Just stood there, twenty feet away.

"Fuck," Sunoo muttered. Then louder, "Sunghoon!"

Sunghoon didn't budge.

"Oh, for the love of—" Sunoo looked around wildly, saw Jennifer's desk, and climbed onto it, knocking over a pencil holder and a succulent. "Jennifer, I'm so sorry about this."

"It's fine, I'm invested now," Jennifer whispered back, giggly, phone already out and recording.

The entire office had stopped working. Everyone was staring. Sunghoon crossed his arms, waiting.

"Don't go," Sunoo called across the office. "I need to say something."

Behind Sunghoon, the elevator dinged. The doors slid open.

"Sunghoon." He cleared his throat. "Don't get in that elevator. I need to say something. Please."

Sunghoon shrugged, hands sliding into his pockets, head tilted.

"I remembered the restaurant. You said it would have to be fate, and you were right." He laughed, a little awkward, a little breathless. "It was fate. Because here we are. Fuck. I didn't prepare for this at all. The point is—I'm sorry. I know what I did was so cowardly. But you were right. I do have feelings for you. Except that's not even close to covering it."

Sunoo realized everybody was looking at him now. Wow, okay, he was really doing this. 

"I'm in love with you." There it was. "I've fallen in love with you before I knew I could. And now I can't think about being loved by anyone else—I don't want anyone else." He pressed his lips together. "My parents know your name. I told them about you before I even realized what you meant to me. And I want—" He swallowed hard. "I want you to meet my family."

Haley let out a choked sob behind him. Gina sniffled.

Sunoo swallowed hard. "So, Sunghoon... will you marry me? Please? I'm begging."

Sunghoon looked at him while the entire office held its breath. Then he turned away. "No."

The office gasped. Jennifer grabbed Sunoo's ankle. Someone dropped their coffee mug.

Sunghoon walked toward the elevator. Sunoo's shoulders sagged and his heart plummeted into his stomach. 

Until Sunghoon spun around with the biggest, most shit-eating grin Sunoo had ever seen and sprinted across the office.

"You asshole—" Sunoo barely got the words out before Sunghoon reached the desk.

"Get down here," Sunghoon said, and Sunoo jumped.

Sunghoon caught him into his arms as their mouths crashed together. The office erupted. Applause, cheers, Haley full-on weeping.

"Oh my god," Sunoo gasped against Sunghoon's lips. "Oh my god, I hate you."

"You love me, Sunoo. You said it yourself." Sunghoon kissed him again, smiling wide into the kiss. 

Sunoo pulled back to smack his shoulder. "You said no!"

"Say it again. Say you love me."

"I love you, Sunghoon. I love you."

"There it is." Sunghoon's eyes were crinkled with joy, that insufferable, perfect joy. "For the record, I would've come back even if you just sent me a text. But I figured you'd want your Katherine Heigl moment."

"You know who Katherine Heigl is?"

"I did my homework."

Sunoo buried his face in Sunghoon's neck, laughing and crying and feeling so stupidly, overwhelmingly happy he thought he might explode into million pieces.

"About the question," Sunghoon murmured into his hair, "the answer's yes. Obviously yes. Let's get married for real."

"Of course. I won't let you marry anyone else."

Sunghoon kissed him again, sweet and sure. "I'd only be pissing myself off if I married anyone but you."

"You were lying about having to marry first for your sister, didn't you?"

"Obviously. How was that? Is that up to your Nancy Meyers standard?"

"You're the worst."

"I love you, Sunoo." Sunghoon shook his head, grinning like an idiot. "Fuck. Thank you for saying yes."

"I asked you."

"Sorry. Right. Details." Sunghoon kissed him again. "Thank you anyway."

The office cheered again. Haley was sobbing into Gwen's shoulder. The IT guy had started a slow, robotic clap. Sunghoon sneaked a hand downward to cup Sunoo's ass, Sunoo smacked his hand. 

Sunghoon laughed into Sunoo's shoulder, and Sunoo decided he didn't actually care if Sunghoon's hand was holding him or squeezing his ass.

 

⊹♡ 

[POST-CREDIT]

⊹♡ 

 

JAY & JUNGWON

"Okay, everyone ready?" Sunoo called out, waving the bouquet.

The single guests gathered to catch the bouquet. Jungwon stood at the very back, arms crossed. He couldn't care less about the bouquet.

Sunoo threw.

The bouquet sailed through the air. It arced perfectly over the eager crowd, past the outstretched hands, past the jumping guests, and smacked Jungwon directly in the face.

He caught it on reflex and looked at the flowers in horror. Jungwon tried to drop it, but the ribbons of the bouquet got tangled in his hand.

"JUNGWON'S GETTING MARRIED!" someone screamed.

"No! This is— I'm not getting married!"

Jay appeared from behind him, plucked a flower from the bouquet, and tucked it behind Jungwon's. "Cute. Looks good on you too, though."

Jungwon's eye twitched. "Get out of my face, Jay."

Jay's smile was all teeth. "Even cuter. You're like an angry cat." He mockingly clawed at him. "Meow?"

"One of these day I'm going to catch you."

"Will you?" Jay leaned in. "Then why haven't you done anything about it?"

"I'm building a case."

"Sure you are." Jay straightened, adjusting the flower behind his ear. "Let me know when you're done building. I'll be around."

Jay walked away, hands in his pockets, whistling. Jungwon finally ripped the bouquet from his hand and chucked it over his shoulder, where it sailed directly into Riki's face.

"OW! What the— Watch it!"

"Sorry." Jungwon didn't sound sorry at all.

"Does this mean I'm getting married now?"

"Only if the universe hates you."

 

---

 

THE PARENTS

On the terrace, four parents whose sons had just married each other were absolutely destroying the dance floor to Frank Sinatra. Sunghoon's father was teaching Sunoo's father some kind of spin move that looked too old school.

"Wait, wait—left foot, then—no, your other left—YES!"

"I'm doing it! I'm doing it! Yeobo, look, I'm dancing!"

Sunghoon's mother had completely given up on the lesson and was just freestyle dancing, glass of wine in hand, living her best life.

"They're better at this than we are," Sunoo said, watching from Sunghoon's arms on the dance floor.

"Your dad just dipped my dad."

"Is that allowed?"

 

---

 

JAKE & HEESEUNG

Jake and Heeseung stumbled out from the hedge. Jake's hair was sticking up in four different directions, his bow tie had vanished entirely, and there was a leaf stuck to his cheek.

Heeseung wasn't faring much better. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, collar askew, and an entire small branch was lodged in his jacket pocket.

They tried to walk casually back toward the reception.

Jake asked first, "Uhm, let's do this again?"

"Yes, yes? Sure?"

---

 

RIKI & THE BIPPITY BOPPITY BOTTOMS

Eddie, Steve, and Kevin had formed a circle around Riki near the dessert table. Riki paled like prey who just realized he'd just walked right into a trap.

"So you're a dancer?" Eddie leaned in, blocking the left exit.

"I bet you're very flexible," Steve added from the right, cutting off that route too.

"Have you ever considered modeling?" Kevin moved closer.

"RIKI!" Jake burst through the crowd, leaf still in his hair, Heeseung trailing behind looking equally disheveled. "There you are! We've been looking everywhere!"

He threw an arm around Riki's shoulders and physically steered him away from the horny bottom coalition.

"Ladies," Jake said, using his body as a shield. "I'm gonna need you to step back."

"We were just talking," Eddie defended.

 "I saw the formation. I know a hunt when I see one."

"We're literally just—"

"No, uh-huh, huh." Jake pointed at each of them in turn. "He's a baby. A child. Practically in utero."

"I'm twenty-two—" Riki tried.

"INFANT," Jake insisted. He turned back to the trio. "Find someone your own age."

 

---

 

HALEY

Haley had kicked off her heels an hour ago. She was on her third cocktail with her feet in the fountain.

For the first time in six months, her phone was off. She left her laptop in the office and the silence felt like a religious experience.

Haley thought about it and nodded. "Yup, I will hand in my resignation letter tomorrow."

 

---

 

GWEN & CECIL

"Your energy is immaculate," Gwen said, hands gesturing expressively. "Very aligned. Crown chakra is just—" She made a whooshing sound.

"Thank you?" Cecil said, genuinely charmed. "I did a sound bath this morning."

"I could tell. You're vibrating at a completely different frequency than everyone else here."

"That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me." Cecil pulled Gwen into a bone crushing hug.

 

---

 

SUNOO & SUNGHOON

Jake scanned the crowd. "Wait. Where's Sunoo?"

Jay also looked around. "Has anybody seen Sunghoon?"

In a bedroom on the third floor of the villa, Sunoo was pressed against the door, Sunghoon's mouth hot on his neck.

"We should—" Sunoo gasped, "—go back."

"Mm, should we?" Sunghoon's hand slid under Sunoo's jacket, fingers working at his belt.

"It's our—ah—our wedding reception."

"It's our wedding reception." Sunghoon bit gently at his collarbone. "We can do whatever we want."

"Our parents—"

"Are having the time of their lives. Did you see your mom doing the cha-cha?"

Sunoo laughs breathlessly, then moaned when Sunghoon's teeth graze his collarbone. "You're killing the mood here."

"Thank you." Sunghoon pulled back just to look at him. "Husband."

"Say it again."

"Husband." Sunghoon grinned, kissing him slow and deep. "Mine."

Sunoo's hands fisted in Sunghoon's hair, pulling him closer. The vest hit the floor. Then the shirt. Then any pretense of making it back to the reception anytime soon.

"Besides, you really think I was going to wait until tonight?"

"Sunghoon—hyung, slow down. Someone could hear."

"I locked the door." Sunghoon pressed a kiss on Sunoo's Adam's apple. "The table. Now."

Sunoo lay forward, his cheek pressed against the surface, his arms stretched out above his head. He heard Sunghoon move behind him. 

Sunghoon's hands gripped his hips, working his trousers and underwear down his thighs. Then his mouth was there.

Sunghoon's wet tongue laved a slow stripe from the very base of his sacrum up to the top of his cleft. Sunoo gasped while Sunghoon feasted, spreading him wider. 

Each probing flick sent tremors through Sunoo's legs. Sunoo muffled a cry against his own arm, his back arching, pushing himself mindlessly back against Sunghoon's mouth. His mind narrowed to the feeling of Sunghoon's stubble grazing his sensitive skin and the wet, slick sounds that filled the quiet room.

He heard the tear of a foil packet, the slick sound of lubricant. A moment later, a large hand cupped his jaw. Sunghoon pulled his head up and back, arching his spine. 

"You could treat me more chivalrously now that I'm your husband, you know," Sunoo complained playfully. "Maybe we can do romantic missionary after this? Treat me with more respect?"

Sunghoon's lips curled into a sneer as he drizzled the cool, slippery lubricant down the cleft of Sunoo's ass. He positioned himself and slid his erection between Sunoo's slicked cheeks.

Leaning over until his lips brushed the shell of Sunoo's ear, Sunghoon whispered, "I could do that. But problem is, do I want to?"

Sunoo rolled his eyes. "God, chivalry is really dead."

 

⊹♡ 

Notes:

YOU'VE REACHED THE END! HOLY SHIT!!!!

thank you so much for reading!!! especially to those who've been here since 2024, patiently waiting for me to finish this thing T___________T

this story is my love letter to early 2000s rom-coms. those movies will always be my comfort watches, and i wanted to capture that same chaotic boy meets boy, boy loses boy, boy wins boy back energy here. it's been such a journey getting sunoo and sunghoon to their happy ending!

fun fact i couldn't have finished this without getting laid off from work LOL TMI!!!! i'd been praying for more writing time, and the universe took that too literally. so here we are! what a blessing in disguise!

please let me know what you thought of the story! your comments, theories, and reactions have meant everything!!

!!!!!BONUS!!!!! i'm adding one more chapter!!! character interviews! if you have any questions for sunoo, sunghoon, jake, jungwon, jay, heeseung, riki, or EVEN haley.... cecil... gwen... anyone else from the story, drop them in the comments. they'll answer in the interview chapter, and i promise sunghoon will behave.

thank you again for being on this ride with me c: until next time!!!

Notes:

talk to me on twitter (x) & mond!

ᯓ𖹭📚 fics library: fieryblooms.drr.ac

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Wedding, any takers?