Work Text:
Wonwoo is a simple man. He has a good job that pays well, a decent apartment overlooking the city, and a fiance who loves him even with all his shortcomings. He enjoys the quiet life in his humble abode with the love of his life, but sometimes he craves for more human interactions. His work demands most of his waking, and sometimes resting, hours, and by the time weekends arrive he's more determined to fuse himself to his bed than actually get up and get to adulting. He doesn't have many friends left in the city as most of his college friends moved to other cities that offer more job opportunities, while he stays in the same city after deciding to get his Master's and PhD from the same university, and eventually being offered a teaching position in his alma mater. Jihoon, being a freelance, has decided to stay where Wonwoo is. The few friends that stayed, well it's easy for people to drift apart when the path they take present them with different responsibilities and priorities.
Being an introvert does not help his case, either. That's why it comes as a surprise to him when his office is somehow being conquered by 3 post-grad students, chattering and joking around in his office space. Come to think of it, one of them is not even from his department. He knows Donghan who has been his TA for three semesters now, and Yohan has attended his class last year. He has offered Donghan his office space whenever the TA needs to hold his office hours, and somehow his TA took the liberty to invade his office any time he wanted. Wonwoo didn't mind at all since he likes talking to the younger man. Yohan had attended one of Donghan's office hours and somehow they clicked, so he has frequented Wonwoo's office as much as Donghan has.
The other student, however, is not from his class and he only comes when Yohan is around. Yongha is Yohan's roommate and he's usually quiet, but he can give back as hard as he gets. Donghan is usually the first perpetrator in riling him up, and it always gets worse when Yohan joins in teasing him. Wonwoo usually lets them do whatever since it's all harmless banter among friends. He has invited them to his house for lunches and dinners a few times, and Woozi has taken to calling them his kids, which Wonwoo somehow deems appropriate.
Two weeks to winter break. Donghan, who has been in Wonwoo's office since 10 this morning, sits himself in the lone guest chair at Wonwoo's desk. Staring at the bookshelf behind Wonwoo's chair. Looking every bit like a lost man. Wonwoo tries to ignore him but it's getting hard when Donghan starts sighing. Multiple times. Within one minute.
"You alright over there, Donghan?"
It's not for another minute before he hears the other man replies. "No."
Wonwoo lifts his head from the journal he's reading and is about to ask the younger man to elaborate, but the pounding on his office door stops him short. Yohan appears, with Yongha not far behind him.
"Hi Wonwoo," Yohan greets him with a grin that's too big to be normal but Wonwoo is not going to question him. Yongha waves at him and goes straight to his usual place on the couch across Wonwoo's office, a slight flush high on his cheeks. Donghan stays in his place but Wonwoo notices his eyes trailing after one of the other guys' movement.
Huh.
He decides to keep observing. Something is definitely different and Wonwoo is curious but he doesn't want to cross the boundary.
The same atmosphere continues over the subsequent days, and come Friday Wonwoo is honestly getting more concerned. So he decided to get an expert help.
Who else is better at getting information out of someone than his beloved, Woozi.
It's four o'clock on that Friday afternoon. Donghan is finishing up his office hours while Yohan and Yongha are talking about the new drama they are watching.
Wonwoo clears his throat to get the other men's attention. "Are you guys free on Sunday? Woozi has been bugging me to invite you guys for lunch. He's been itching to let you guys try his new recipes."
Three yesses come his way and he smiles before sending a simple thumbs up to Woozi, who just replies with a salute emoji. The plan has started.
That night he relays all the "information" he has gathered throughout the week to Woozi, who's scribbling on his notebook looking all serious. He ponders a while after Wonwoo finishes his report, and comes up with the conclusion. "So, Yohan is being a brat like always, Yongha is becoming more shifty, and Donghan looks like he lost his entire life savings to bad investment?"
So they start working on a game plan. Sunday comes and it's around 11.30 in the morning when the triplets arrive and Wonwoo buzzes them into their building. Donghan passes him a bottle of wine while Yohan shows him a plate full of cut fruit that he and Yongha worked on since that morning. Wonwoo lets them in and they immediately beelines to the kitchen.
"I hope you guys are hungry. I might have cooked more than I should," Woozi says sheepishly but Wonwoo knows the kids won't mind the extra food. They can always bring the food home.
They have been to the couple's house enough times to know where everything is and Yongha gets started on setting up the table. Donghan is about to roll his sleeve and help Woozi with the remaining dishes on the stove, but Wonwoo is quick to call him to his studies to run through some teaching plans that he's implementing in the new semester.
That leaves Yohan with Woozi in the kitchen. Yohan stays close to the older man, ready to help if needed. Woozi just smiles at the taller man and they chat for a while.
"Are you visiting your family this winter break, Yohan"
The younger man hums and answers, "Yes, I'm leaving next Thursday since I have nothing on Friday. My parents are going to visit my grandparents for Christmas so we decided to leave early to beat the traffic." He stops to chew on the meat he swipes off the table. "How about you? Are you visiting your or Wonwoo's family?"
Woozi turns around to get a spoon. "Not this year. My parents are going to Bahamas, of all places. And his family is travelling, too, so we decided to just stay here. We wanted to go someplace during the break but the plan was finalized too late and everything becomes so expensive."
"I know, right. I initially planned to visit my girlfriend but the flight ticket alone will cost me an arm and a leg."
That catches Woozi's interest. "I never knew you have a girlfriend."
The younger man blushes. "Oh, I guess it never came up. She was in my batch but we just started dating after she moved south for her job. Maybe I'll bring her to meet you guys, when she's in town."
Woozi smiles. "I'd love to meet her. It must be hard for you to not be able to see each other often."
Yohan sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Well, it is what it is. We decided to take it slow while I'm working on my Master's."
Woozi nods. "I guess we never really got to ask you guys. So, you are dating. How about the other two? Any love interests we are meeting in the near future?"
Yohan chokes on the carrot he was munching on. A few hard thumps on his back and a glass of water later he replies, "Urm, I'm not sure?" It's more of a question than an answer, which causes Woozi to raise his eyebrow. Yohan visibly gulps.
Just when he's about to continue, Yongha appears and Yohan pulls him to stand in his place before speed walking out of the kitchen. Yongha blinks at Woozi while the older man trying his best to hide his laughter.
"Why is Yohan acting weird? I mean he's weird all the time but just now..." Woozi laughs at Yongha's confused face and assures him that Yohan is just being silly.
Before long, they are all seated around the dining table, sharing food and laughter. The food is good, the weather is nice, the conversations flow as smoothly as the wine Donghan brought, and the company makes everything all better. When it's time for dessert, Yohan volunteers himself as Woozi's helper and while they are both preparing in the kitchen, Wonwoo is faced with two equally anxious men. Which is weird. He holds himself from asking and wait for his partner and student to come back.
A few minutes pass and Yohan comes back with a plate of warm chocolate cake and Woozi follows with plates and spoons. When everybody is served a slice each, they are ready to dig in but stops when Donghan speaks.
"There's something you guys should know." He pauses, and that's enough for a million thoughts to run through Wonwoo's mind. Is he okay? Is his studies okay? Is he struggling without me knowing? I know I'm not his supervisor but he knows he can talk to me if he needs anything. He knows, right? Oh god, what if he's saying he's leaving? I should talk him into staying. He's progressed so much on his thesis it'll be a waste to give up now. Oh wait, when was the last time I check on his progress? But I just saw his supervisor yesterday and she didn't mention anything, even knowing how much time Donghan spends in my office.
He doesn't realize how and when but he's currently holding on to Woozi's hand like it's his lifeline. But he knows he's supposed to be the calm voice in this group so he pipes up, "Is everything okay, Donghan?"
Three pairs of eyes fall on Donghan's increasingly red face, before moving on to the pair of hands holding each other tightly on the table. And call them blind, for only then they notice a pair of matching rings adorning the ring finger of each hand.
"Yongha and I are engaged."