Work Text:
“In The Silence, I Heard You”
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
PLAYLIST
SEVENTEEN - 포옹 (Hug)
SEVENTEEN - Falling For U
SEVENTEEN - Ready To Love
SEVENTEEN - Adore U (아낀다)
SEVENTEEN - Kidult (어른 아이)
SEVENTEEN - Same Dream, Same Mind, Same Night
SEVENTEEN - 20
SEVENTEEN - Home
SEVENTEEN - Imperfect Love (매일 그대라서 행복하다)
SEVENTEEN - All My Love
SEVENTEEN - Second Life
SEVENTEEN - Lie Again
SEVENTEEN - Dont Wanna Cry
SEVENTEEN - Darl+ing
SEVENTEEN - 같이 가요 (Together)
SEVENTEEN - I Don’t Understand But I Luv U
SEVENTEEN - Coffee
SEVENTEEN - Habit
DINO - Wait
Ed Sheeran - Photograph
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
“In The Silence, I Heard You”
A near-future society where every person has a unique ‘soul frequency’—a short, distinct melody only their soulmate can hear the first time they touch. The cultural weight of this ‘first melody’ is heavy, many people grow up dreaming of ‘the touch’ except the third year Computer Science college student Wonwoo who grew up believing that he was unworthy of finding love. Can the bubbly, soft-spoken, and sunshine of first year of Architecture department can change the life of emotionless and cold-hearted Wonwoo?
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
Pledis Academy is a school in Seoul, South Korea that offers different courses and scholarships for many students who excel in different fields. This includes engineering, architecture, arts, business and more. They also offer full scholarships for students who top and pass the entrance exam and interview. Each program and course has its own building and high quality equipment for students, for them to focus on their chosen field. Not only is the Pledis Academy the best school in this country, Chan also believes that if you are able to enter this school, you are in paradise. Literally and figuratively.
So, after taking the entrance exam and passing the interview and getting an email from the school that he just passed to take his dream course, which is BS Architecture. Chan doesn’t hesitate to fly across the land from Iksan to Seoul, South Korea to fulfill his dreams and start a new life, away from the countryside that he grew up in.
At first, his parents disagreed with his decision. It’s a bigger decision and a responsibility for a 17 year old to start his own life away from his family and the place that he grew up in. It takes a lot of courage for a person to adjust from changes. However, Chan thinks that this is the start… a start for something, because if he will stay in his comfort zone throughout his life, he thinks that he’s becoming the person that he hates the most and that scares him more than moving to the mainland.
In time, his family realized something simple but powerful: you can’t hold back a heart that knows where it’s going. No matter how tightly they wrapped him in love, his dream had already taken root, blooming brighter with each passing day. So they stopped trying to hold him still—and started cheering him on instead. It wasn’t surrender; it was faith. Faith that their son, their bright and stubborn boy, was meant to chase the horizon.
Now, it’s December and the snow falls like a whispered promise — soft, quiet, and full of dreams. Chan watches as the snow falls in the sky, blanketing houses and treetops with delicate lace, as if winter itself is tucking the earth in for a long, dreamy sleep.
“You’ll catch a cold.. Tsk” Chan hears his little brother from the entry of their home holding thick scarves. From the looks that Gon was giving him, he might think how careless his stupid hyung is to not wear a thick blanket from this weather.
“You expect us not to worry when you easily forget the smallest things like wearing your winter clothing” he says with a sarcastic and disappointing face. While scolding his hyung, Chan let his brother put the scarves on him since it is his fault anyway that he forgot this, especially in this weather. But his pride doesn’t, so he argues more.
“Yah I’m your hyung! You should respect me more and..” Chan started, puffing out his chest but immediately tripping over the edge of the doorstep. He stumbled, catching himself just in time with a sheepish grin. “See? That’s why I don’t need this thing—because I’m perfectly capable!” He tried to sound confident but his crooked smile gave him away. “And I know that you will give me this so I don’t bother getting this… thing..” while pointing to the scarves his brother gave him.
“Well for your information stupid hyung..” he said, tugging at the bulky scarf wrapped around his brother’s neck, cheek flushed from the cold and frustration.” This thing will protect you from the cold and prevent you from hypothermia.” He let out a sigh, shaking his head. “Hayst! So much from telling mom and dad that you are an independent person and can take care of himself.” Checking if Chan is comfortable from the tightness of the scarf.
While the snow continued to fall, both brothers stood on the porch. Chan notices small snowflakes clung to Gon’s messy hair, melting as they landed, but he didn’t seem to notice. “You can’t just skip meals and forget to wear your scarf, hyung,” his little brother snapped, voice small but stubborn. He looked back to Chan and noticed the way his brother stared at his hair. “What?.. Hyung, are you listening to me?”
“Stay still..” Chan says. He takes out the snowflakes from Gon’s hair and also fixes his hair. “ Gon-ah, you don’t have to worry about your hyung. I’m serious when I tell you that I want to go to Seoul and study and work there. You should focus on yourself and mom and dad… take care of them for me yeah?” Gon understood where his hyung was coming from so he nodded, not wanting to worry Chan before he left.
“And take care of your hair for me yea?.. geez you will scare the girls away from that hairstyle.” Chan teased, flashing a mischievous grin. Gon rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips—he knew Chan’s teasing was just another way of saying he cared.
As they both stood there beneath the gentle snowfall, Chan realized something. As much as he wants to chase his dream in another land knowing how much it pains him to be away from his family and the place he grew up in, he would miss this. This…ordinary, simple and quiet place.The bickering with his little brother over scarf or food or just whenever he finds a moment, the warm dinner his mother always prepares for them, the late-night laughter when his father joked about his boss and coworkers like a comedian. He would miss the warmth of his halmonie’s hands, the way her hugs somehow made everything feel bearable, even the goodbyes. He would miss all of it—not because he was running away, but because he was carrying it with him. Because this dream wasn’t only for him. It was for them, too.
They notice his father and mother finish helping Chan tidy up all his things in a taxi. After securing all of the bags, Chan's dad looks at him and smiles. “You ready son?.” Chan smiled and nodded. He turns his head from his dad and mom and turns to look at his stubborn little brother. “Gon, go inside and start helping halmonie prepare for breakfast… you’ll catch the cold first before I even get one!” Gon hesitated first but he obeyed after knowing their parents will be there when the taxi carrying his stupid hyung left.
After Gon got inside, Chan started to walk to the taxi and his parents.”Listen to your little brother Chan-ah, he’s more worried since his stubborn hyung will be away from his sight” Chan’s dad said with a smile on his face. “Just a little, people may think that Gon is the hyung between us” Chan replied with a pout. Because it’s right, people talk about how Gon is more mature and street smart than Chan.
“Well..people think that Gon is older than you because of the height differences haha” mom said with a teasing smile. “Mom!” Chan gasped, clutching his chest like he’d been personally attacked. “I’m just a late bloomer! But I’m tall, you know!” he added, standing on his toes slightly. It was true he was a bit smaller than most guys his age—especially next to Gon, who somehow shot up like a beanstalk overnight—but he wasn’t the smallest. And he was still growing. Probably. Hopefully. Eventually.
“Ok…ok.” Mom said, trying to hold back a laugh, charmed by the cuteness of her first son despite the ache in her chest.
“You should head now, Chan. You don’t want to get caught in Seoul traffic,” Chan’s Dad added gently, his arms wrapping around Chan’s mom's shoulder, comforting his wife. He knew how much this moment hurt her—watching their first born leave to chase a dream far from home. But more than that, he knew how proud she was. How proud they all were.
They raised a responsible and kind child and no words can describe how that makes them feel.
Chan pulled his parents into a tight hug, burying himself in the comfort of their embrace.
I’m going to miss you, Mom…Dad
“Don’t worry Mom and Dad, I will take care of myself. I will avoid as much as possible eating convenience store and try to cook for myself. I will not forget to wear something warm and I will not let anyone get in my way.” Chan whispered with a promising voice to his parents.
Even wrapped in thick blankets and layers, the cold still found its way in Chan’s body. However, in this moment, held between the two people who had loved him the longest, Chan felt a warmth no coat could ever give. A kind of warmth that reached all the way to the heart—the kind only a parent’s hug could offer.
Chan pulls from the hug and gives his last smile and reassuring face to his parents. “I head first now. Take care of yourself for me, hm? And Gon too and Halmonie… See you soon.” see you soon… not a goodbye because Chan will always come back here, to the place where he feels home.
Chan’s parents smile and nod to him. “See you soon, son! “
“No matter how far you go, you’ll always have a place to return to, Chan-ah” Chan heard his Mom clearly before he closed the door of the car.
You can do it Chan-ah! Hwaiting!
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
After a two-hour drive, Chan finally reached his destination. His legs were stiff from the long ride, but not once did he feel bored—his eyes stayed wide, taking in every detail along the way. Seoul, South Korea, unfolded before him like a city made of dreams, each street buzzing with life and promise. It was a place full of dazzling sights and hidden corners, where unforgettable moments waited around every turn.
Seoul in winter feels like stepping into a dream that hasn’t decided if it’s soft or sharp. The cold bites a little harder when you're alone, but every gust of wind feels like it’s pushing you forward. Many tall buildings and city towers were surrounded by snow and every tree you can see feels like it’s cold because of the snowflakes in its branches. Every person has its own struggle and story to tell. Chan knows, it’s not home—not yet—but there’s a kind of quiet promise, something awaits for him. Something like… “You’re exactly where you need to be.”
He first doesn’t know where to go first or what to do first since all his life he was surrounded by sea and farms. He is a bit overwhelmed with all of the loud k-pop music in the street, the shout of every vendor, and all of the tourists.
Chan stepped into Myeongdong just as the sky turned the color of fading lavender. In an instant, the noise hit him—laughter, music, the sizzle of grills. Neon signs blinked and danced above packed alleys, each light pulling his attention in a different direction. The smell of spicy tteokbokki and sweet hotteok filled the air, wrapping around him like a strange kind of welcome.
Chan clutched his bag tighter, heart beating fast—not from fear, but from wonder. It was loud, messy, and buzzing with life. He had never felt more out of place… or more thrilled to be exactly where he was.
Chan was tired from walking and learning this land of Seoul, from the food, street, people and culture. He decided to get dinner in a coffee shop near the place where he will be staying. He also needs to text his family to give them updates that he’s safe and still breathing. Just in case ‘cause his family tend to really get paranoid whenever he never calls or texts about his life even when he is still in Iksan.
He was seated near the window and Chan could clearly see all the couples and friend groups walking in the street beside the cafe. He noticed the sun dipping gently below the horizon, like it was finally ready to rest. Above, the moon had already risen, wide awake and glowing quietly. A few stars began to peek through the sky, faint but steady, like silent company in the night.
Chan took a deep breath, the cool air from the cafe filling his chest, and for a moment, everything felt still—that he was here.
He wondered if somewhere, under the same sky, someone else was looking up too—someone whose heart might be quietly reaching for his, even if they hadn’t met yet.
If you ask Chan a question, why would he travel from Iksan to Seoul. He would immediately, without thinking that it’s because this is the dream. Seoul is the dream of a seventeen years old Iksan boy. But if you were to ask him on a deeper level, he’d admit it — he came to Seoul not just to chase a dream, but to find love. In a city that sparkles even in the darkest hours, he hopes to meet someone who sees him the way Seoul shines at night — quietly, steadily, and with a kind of warmth that never fades.
The kind of love that doesn’t need to be spoken in order to be heard. The love that is so loud that I’ve never had to doubt it. The kind that makes you feel seen, valued and cared for even when you are in the crowd, they always find a way to find you. The kind that doesn’t ask you to change, but somehow makes you want to become better. A love that feels like home, even in a city where you barely know the street.
Chan believes in the old myth—that somewhere out there, every person has a soulmate. And when they meet for the first time, they’ll hear a short, unique melody—one that only the two of them can hear—like a secret written in music. It plays only once, the moment their skin touches. People call it the first touch, and its weight is something no one can explain, only feel.
Chan grew up imagining that moment, holding onto the idea like a quiet promise. What would be his reaction, what would he feel, or what about their soulmate? Maybe everything will feel light when you find the one, the other person who will carry the burden with you. Even now, as he walks through the noise and light of Seoul, part of him is still listening—for that melody, for that moment.
Chan waits… patiently and quietly—for someone who will be able to feel the pull like a red string and the weight of emotion. The one who will hear the melody meant only for them, the sound he’s been waiting his whole life to hear.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
Of course Chan is only not here in his dream place to chase a dream and find love but also to earn money. Money is important and don’t try to tell him that money cannot buy happiness. Because that person is either rich, in a relationship, or good-looking. Chan will roll his eyes out to that person.
Money can buy some of our happiness, just like Chan’s happiness. Food and paying the bills in his apartment. Yes, money can’t solve everything, but it can ease major stress—like water and electric bills and rent duh. All of Chan’s happiness comes from having money. But also, as cliche as it may sound, money cannot buy “true happiness” like love, connection, and inner peace. There is some saying that you can buy a bed but not a good night sleep. You can buy a house, but not a home.
So, after a week of unpacking and cleaning his whole apartment, Chan tried to get a sideline job near his school. He had printed ten resumes in case luck is not by his side today. He first tried the coffee shop, where he went when he arrived here in Seoul. He remembered trying their cheesecake and coffee last time, it was so good.
He gave his resume to the manager at the counter and they said that they would first see if there was a vacant position but the manager praised his resume. Chan beamed in happiness, because it gave him pride knowing all the achievements he gained in school when he was in high school paid off. Start from the academics to extra curricular like dance, singing, and arts.
He try another cafe and some restaurant but Chan always hear the same response. That they will contact him. It took awhile for Chan to have a job. God knows how many days turn into weeks he has waited for him to get one or two emails that says they want him for an interview.
Which is great! He just needed to do well in an interview and tada ! He’d have a new job, wouldn’t have to worry about his health, and could avoid the terrifying thought of his parents flying to Seoul to search for his body.
“I’m just kidding. But, well… you know, there is a possibility..”
“Chan, stop. You’re overthinking it, again. You always overthink everything, even if it’s just one interview. Everyone knows how much of a perfectionist you are,” Yeonjun replied, rolling his eyes.
Chan was sitting on the balcony of his apartment when he decided to call his childhood best friend, Yeonjun.
“Maybe,” Chan muttered. “But I just don’t want to worry my parents anymore. They’ve been asking if I have enough to get by. I don’t want to be a burden. That’s why I moved out of Incheon.”
“Dude, I’m this close to flying over to Soul and smacking the shit out of you!” Yeonyun said, holding his fingers a hair apart in front of the camera. His expression said it all—he was seriously frustrated with Chan.
Chan pouted.
Yeonjun sighs. “You will get the job and even if you don’t—which IS not going to happen—you still have other options.”
“Thanks… maybe I’m just really paranoid” you can really see the face of Chan coming back to life.
Yeonjun chuckles. “And it’s their loss anyway… so just have fun there!”
They continued to talk for a while before they decided to sleep because they realized that they have important things to do first thing in the morning.
Chan had been trying to stay productive. Finding a job, sorting out his student paperwork, emailing back people who took a million years to reply in the first place. But by midweek, his brain felt like boiled ramen. So, he told himself he deserved a break. Just a day to wander, to explore a bit more of Seoul before school started.
And maybe—maybe to find a secondhand bookstore. Because God forbid a broke-ass bookworm just wants to read something that doesn’t cost 19,000 won and a piece of their soul.
He found a bookstore next to a flower shop and a tiny ramen joint was a narrow door, half-covered by a creeping ivy. There is a hand-painted sign above read: “Page Turners–Used and Loved Books.”
When Chan walks to the door, he notices a few people checking books.
The store smelled like dust and wood polish. Chan knows already that this place has been in this town for a year or more. The whole place was cast in a honeyed glow, maybe because of the yellow lights hanging above. The first floor was for people to choose books, from classic to fan fiction, while the second floor was used for people to sit and read on.
Chan was already halfway in love.
He wandered at first, letting his fingers trail over familiar titles, a few translated names he recognized, others completely foreign but intriguing. He rounded the fiction aisle and paused.
Someone else was there…
A tall figure stood facing the “Literature & Classics” section, head tilted slightly as they scanned the back of the book. Their black hoodie hung loose over wide shoulders, sleeves pushed up just enough to reveal slim wrists and hands that moved delicately as they pulled a worn copy of Norwegian Wood from the shelf.
He was wearing his glasses that suited his face shape. And Chan could only catch part of his face, soft jawline and a mouth turned down in quiet concentration.
Chan meant to keep walking. He really did.
But something about the moment rooted him to the spot—maybe it’s because of the quiet moment with the man in front of him. That even though there was no music, just the hum of the fan and the murmuring of people talking across the room, the smell of old pages, there is something.
Maybe this is what people call…love.
Maybe the prophecy is wrong after all. That there will be no music and a sound that will play if you meet your other one—but you will know even if there is no touch.
From the moment you catch the glimpse of them.. It’s just there.
The moment, the feeling, the—
Knowing
Like something inside you hold its breath. Like the world forgets to spin for a second and just waits. And maybe it’s ridiculous, to believe something that could begin in a dusty corner of a second hand bookstore, without a word, without a spark. But still…
Chan felt it.
A tug gently persistent, like the start of a thread loose from his chest.
The man didn’t even glance his way, still lost in that book, brushing his fingers in the spine.
However as he decided to approach the man, another taller man appeared to his left and showed the manga he was holding. He was wearing a polo that has two unbutton and the sleeve tug from the elbow. The man didn’t even falter for a moment, confirming that they knew each other.
Chan swallowed, heart stuttering once more before he turned away for good this time.
He left with three books and a name he didn’t yet know, but somehow already wanted to learn.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
Maybe that guy from the bookstore was a lucky charm. Or maybe God got sick of watching Chan spiral and said, “Fine, here’s a man and a miracle…now stop crying and check your email.”
Because the next day, Chan got an email. A job interview from the coffee shop just one street from his house. He barely knew that he applied to this shop until today.
God’s plan I guess…
He stared at it. Blinked. Screamed into his pillow and called parents that he got a job.
Maybe this was fate. Maybe he was the main character now. But whatever, what matters is now he has free coffee every morning, slightly less of a life crisis, and somewhere out there…a boy who smelled like old books and hopes that he is single so he is not a homewrecker who just wanted to find his soulmate.
“Just one step away from being dead in my dream place.” Chan muttered to himself, staring at the coffee machines like they personally wronged him.
So his bartender job started at the coffee shop called Slow Pour. The job and the people here treat him well, except for just one person.
The place was all warm, had indie music and too many plants to his liking. The shop was known for their “oat milk cortados, matcha with different toppings, variety of desert, and for its wifi.” Many students, local or international, visit this place weekdays or weekends and it’s tiring the hell out of Chan.
Which is great. I mean, good for the owner! I will not die from being jobless, but for being too tired.
But who is he kidding? The tips weren’t bad, the pay was great (it pays his bills), and it was one street away from his house.
And maybe, just maybe, fate wasn’t done messing with him yet.
Because there is one demon in this place that will not leave him alone.
From the moment Chan and this man made eye contact, something in his brain said: don’t back down.
He would rather mop the whole cafe with a toothbrush than let this man win
Over. His. Dead. Body.
His name? Boo Seungkwan. A part time barista, full-time menace.
He brewed coffee like it was theater, insulted Chan’s latte art daily, and was always loud, dramatic, and somehow always right—which made him insufferable.
They were co-workers by fate.
Frenemies by choice.
And still… The cafe had never run better. Because Seungkwan might be the human equivalent of a triple shot espresso, however he kept Chan on his toes by being annoying. And maybe, just maybe , Chan didn’t mind that.
Too much I guess. Like today when they’re closing the cafe from a long day because it’s friday so meaning so many customers.
“Chan! Omg I told you to restock the milk for tomorrow. What are you doing?!” Seungkwan yelled from the kitchen.
“And I told you many times that it is your turn to do it. How many times you will ask me to do it just because I'm a year younger than you!.” Chan yelled back.
Seungkwan narrowed his eyes and stared directly at Chan. Judging his existence and asking who the heck is this baby to question his hyung.
“Rock, Paper, Scissors?” The older ask.
“No, hyung. It’s your turn and I’m exhausted and sad today.” The younger one uses his cuteness, but knowing Seungkwan he will not fall for that.
“Sad? You said that yesterday and the other day!”
“It’s a long process of sadness ok!?”
Other man chuckles while listening to their conversation. “Be a hyung Boo and start restocking the milk for us.” a man sitting at a table in the middle of the cafe said while computing the sales of the shop.
Oh, he forgot that when there is evil, God is still a bit generous to him and gave him Vernon hyung, an angel from above.
“Thank you, hyung. You really are an angel sent from above…unlike someone who’s bitter just like his favorite espresso.” Chan replied with a smile tugging on his lips across Vernon but when he turned to the kitchen his smile faded.
“Maybe if you are being so good deongsang to me, I will start to treat you like a cute maknae rather than being someone who talkback and yelled your hyung.” Boo shouted from the kitchen.
“Maybe in another universe or even great, in another life!”
“Well I hope you and I never met in the first place!”
“Well, whose fault is that! You’re the one who applied after I was interviewed!”
“And whose fault is that, that they needed more manpower even after you applied!”
Vernon stood from his seat and walked toward the chaos. The cat and dog were still arguing—probably forgot what it was even about. He didn’t blame them. He stopped listening to the deongsang topic ago.
“Alright, that’s enough. Boo finishes restocking and tomorrow Chan will restock the rest. Chan finishes tidying up the cafe and Boo will have its turn tomorrow. Everyone is working hard, alright?.” Vernon talks to both of them with his manager's voice. So no one argues anymore.
“Now that’s settled, let’s all go home.”
Now just a week before the first semester started. Chan decided to get all the school supplies that he needed for his course. After having a day off from the cafe and saving some money, he goes to the mall.
While he was shopping he noticed someone who also happened to be in the school section. He was really loud while talking to someone and it’s not Chan’s fault that he could hear what they’re talking about.
This man had soft, round features which made him look like he was five minutes away from giggling. He has big eyes, pouty lips, and cheeks that puff up when he smiles or laughs—which he was doing now, thanks to whoever he was laughing at on the phone.
“But you said you needed a blue folder, so I got you one. Blue glitter . With dolphins. Very mature huh.”
This man’s voice practically sparkled with mischief through the speaker and everyone in the store knows that he clearly enjoys annoying the hell out of the other person’s on the phone.
Chan heard the person on the phone sigh and said, “I said dark blue, Soon-young.Not–whatever elementary school disco childish folder you just described.”
Well, even Chan doesn’t want that kind of folder. He would bury his body from deep sea underwater before he rather uses that one kind of folder. But he already knows that this “Soon-Young” is just trying to annoy the hell out of that person.
“Hey, the dolphins are very motivational. One of them is wearing sunglasses, which is saying that you need to cool off dude.” Soon-Young said while trying to not laugh.
There was a long, long deafening silence.
The other person exhaled and replied, “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that. Bring the normal one or I’ll swear, I’ll replace your shampoo with glue.”
“You mean a glue that sparkles blue ?” This man replied innocently.
Then I think he hungs up and “Soon-Young chuckles to himself and brings the dark blue folder and the glitter blue he was talking about. Chan knows why this person buys both folders, to annoy the hell out of that person.
May his soul rest in peace. Whoever that person is.
Chan decided not to intervene—or even acknowledge what he had just witnessed in that chaotic section of the store. He simply turned around and made his way to the stationary aisle. Pens.
Besides, being an architecture student meant he needed them–in all colors, sizes, and shapes. Fine liners, markers, brush pens.
As he was eyeing a particularly 0.3m pens, a voice behind him chimed in: “Wow. That’s a lot of pens.”
Chan turned, already halfway prepared to be judged. Standing there was a man with silly smile. It was him. The same man who just annoying someone to the brink off madness earlier.
Soon-Young. He looks and sounds so harmless..until you saw him in action.
For a second, Chan was reminded of Boo Seungkwan, his co-worker, his enemies, and the devil himself. God must really have a type.
“Oh, I’m a freshman,” Chan blurted, for some reason. “So I thought I needed a variety of pens for each subject. You know, drawing, house planning, and diagrams.” Why he felt the need to justify his pen collection to this man, he wasn’t sure.
“Oh! So you’re an architecture student. I’m also an architecture student at Pledis Academy, which I think that’s where you’re going too?” Soon-Young raised an eyebrow, waiting for confirmation.
Chan nodded, “Yes, I’m Lee Chan. Then I must call you Sunbae because you’re a senior.” He holds out his hands politely and patiently.
The older grinned wider, his eyes practically sparkling.
“Of course,” he said, reaching out to shake Chan’s hand with surprising warmth. “I’m Kwon Soon-Young, a third year student from the architecture department!” He introduced himself loudly and Chan saw some people turn their heads in their direction. He still not let go of the younger’s hand, gripping firmly, friendly like he’d already decided they were going to get along.
Then he tilted his head, “But honestly,” he added, “I’d be way happier if you just call me hyung.” He gave a wink, then finally let go.
He turned toward the shelf and grabbed a random pen set.
“Now,” he said, holding it up towards Chan’s direction. ‘Let me help you through this pen crisis. This—” he gestured the pen he was holding “—this is a rite of passage. Every archi student’s first breakdown starts right here.”
And that’s where he first met the very first Sunbae from the Pledis Academy.
Now, everything is under control… for a while. He’s got a job. He has three hyungs—two devils sent straight from hell to wreck whatever peace Chan thought he had, and one angel sent from heaven (bless his soul).
And with that, the first semester begins.
New faces, new problems, new things to learn… and probably a few more devils hiding in the crowd and maybe if God has some pity for his sanity, more angels. But whatever or whoever that is, he’s ready for it. Or at least, he thinks he is.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺1₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆
March in South Korea meant the end of winter.
The freezing wind had finally calmed down, and the last traces of snow had melted into the street. The air was still chilly in the mornings, but there was something lighter about it, something that said spring was on its way. The leaves from the trees in the streets started to fall and some were still hanging. People weren’t in thick clothes anymore; instead, light jackets and sneakers were back.
For Chan, this new season felt like a fresh start. Winter was over. He was officially a college student now. New place, new people, and everything.
He adjusted the strap on his backpack and took a deep breath as he stepped onto campus for the first time. He didn’t know what was waiting for him yet, but whatever it was, it had already begun.
He was walking in a hallway, looking for his room for his first subject, which is Architectural Design 1. First thing in the morning and God is already testing his patients and ability because it’s a major subject.
What a beautiful way to start a day.
But that was alright because Hoshi hyung (they are now close because Hoshi pestered Chan the whole month non-stop that the younger one was comfortable enough to call him hyung) already tells him what to expect, who’s the professor, and things to do and bring in this subject.
Chan was honestly thankful to have someone to ask for advice. Hoshi made things a lot easier. He was like an angel in disguise, literally. Sometimes he was an angel and sometimes the angels were loud, annoying, and obsessed with tigers.
The younger one had learned that Hoshi ran a dance studio near the school, where he choreographed and taught classes regularly (Hoshi is his stage name and just a few people call him that, mostly close friends). A lot of students from Pledis Academy—and even from others came just to learn from him. That made Hoshi hyung a kind of second idol and motivation for Chan. Not that he’d ever admit that out loud. He knew better. If Hoshi found out, his head would get way too big. And everyone already had enough of that.
The day goes by and Chan has already finished all of his classes. Chan is on his way to his part-time job. Seungkwan, Vernon and Chan already decided the schedule for their duty in the cafe since all three of them were still studying.
He was scheduled during closing time, and since it was just the first day of classes, the cafe wasn’t too busy. Most students were probably out trying to enjoy the last bit of their free time while they still could. But Chan was different. He used the quiet hours to get ahead—going through his notes and studying for his next classes.
He was reading a book on his Architectural Graphic 1, the syllabus that their professor gave them via email when one tall man ordered on the counter, so he put the book down and started to take the order of the man.
“Evening! Welcome to Slow–” before Chan could finish, he recognized the man in front of him. It was the same person he’d seen at the bookstore when he was stress because of finding a job.
The man still wore those glasses that perfectly suited his face. Now that Chan got a better look, he couldn’t deny it—he was really handsome. Chan noticed a few people sneaking glances at him, and honestly, he couldn’t blame them. He found himself unable to look away.
Even from behind the counter, Chan could tell the man was tall. He wore a simple white shirt that hugged his torso, paired with a black leather jacket that emphasized his broad shoulders. His hair wasn’t too long, but long enough to reach just above the back of his neck.
Chan cleared his throat, trying to shake off the sudden nervousness creeping up his spine.
“Uh—welcome to Slow Pour,” he repeated, a little more steady this time. “What can I get for you?”
The man smiled and brought his finger to tuck up his glasses, maybe trying to focus his vision on the menu above the counter.
“Just a black coffee, please. Something strong and a slice of brownie please,” he said, his voice was calm and monotone.
“Is that all sir?” Chan asked the man. When the man nodded, he typed on the screen “Here or to go sir?,” he asked the man again.
“Uh, here please.” while pulling a wallet out his packet ready to pay up his order.
“That’ll be 3,500 won,” Chan said, accepting the money the man handed him.
“And whose order is this for?’ he asked, smiling.
The man blinked, a little startled, before answering, “... for Wonwoo, please.”
“Alright, sr. I’ll call your name when it’s ready.”
After about five minutes, Chan’s voice rang out across the quiet cafe.
“For Wonwoo!”
He carefully poured the black coffee into an eco-friendly cup, and the brownie was packed in a small box so it could be taken home if not finished. There is also a paper spoon above and tape in the box.
As Wonwoo stepped forward to take his order while saying thank you to the bartender, their fingers brushed briefly.
As Chan handed the order over, their fingers brushed—
And at that moment, it happened.
A soft chimed rang out. Not from the cafe, not from anything physical, just a gentle, ringing sound, as if the air between them recognized something.
And underneath that moment, in Chan’s mind, it felt like music started to play. A beautiful and peaceful instrument of a piano and drums begin to ring on his head.
His eye met Wonwoo’s, and it was clear the other had heard it too.
They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to.
Because somehow, they both knew.
Soulmates.
Maybe a minute had passed, and they were still staring at each other. Neither of them said a word. The soft hum of the cafe faded into the background, replaced by the lingering silence and the echo of that chime—still ringing faintly in Chan’s chest.
“Uh—” Chanfinally spoke, barely above whispering. But before he could finish, Wonwoo broke eye contact, grabbed his drink and the box in one swift motion, and walked away.
“W-wait—” Chan called, but it came out too quiet, too late. He stood there frozen, his hand slightly outstretched.
“S-sorry, I…” he mumbled, more to himself than anyone else.
His heart was pounding, but not in the way he thought it would when he met the one. Not from joy or butterflies, but from shock, confusion, and hurt. Wonwoo looked scared. Not surprised, not shy. Scared—like the idea of findings his soulmate terrified him to his core.
Or maybe… maybe he didn’t want a soulmate at all.
Chan had played this moment over in his head for years, dozens of times. What he’d say, how he’d feel, what kind of person he’d meet. All of it had felt magical in his mind.
But now that it had finally happened, reality hit like a crash. His soulmate had walked away. Without a word.
And it stung in a way he hadn’t prepared for.
He thought it would be mutual. That the touch would mean something to both of them. That the spark, the piano instrument that he could still hear, the peaceful melody would connect them.
But now… now he didn’t even know if Wonwoo wanted him.
Or worse—didn’t want a soulmate at all.
And that… that hurt more than anything.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
He didn’t even know how he got home safely that day. The rest of the evening passed in blur—he didn’t have the energy to do his assignments, he couldn’t bring himself to study, and sleep never came. Wonwoo’s face stayed in his mind like a loop he couldn’t turn off. Every time he thought about that moment—their touch, the sound, the silence that followed—his heart would ache all over again.
But Chan had grown up believing that everyone had their reasons for the way they acted. His parents always taught him not to judge someone by first impressions. His mother, especially, often told him that there’s always kindness somewhere in people, you just have to be patient enough to find it.
So, the very next morning, Chan showed up at the cafe, still tired but determined. He worked the next morning shift before his first class, quietly hoping for something. The shop was calm, just a few students hanging around with their books or drinks. With a moment to breathe, Chan glanced around, then made his way toward the back corner, where Seungkwan and Vernon were on break, chatting lazily.
He needed answers, a little perspective. And if anyone could give him a reality check, it was those two or maybe Vernon hyung at least.
“So, you’re telling us you met your soulmate… and you heard music? Like, actual music?” Vernon asked, brows raised, leaning on the counter. The three of them had formed a loose circle behind the register, clearly treating this as an emergency life discussion rather than a casual morning shift.
“Yes!” Chan said, a little too loudly. “I was just handing him his drink, and when our fingers touched, I swear there was this sound—like piano music. I’m serious!”
“You sure it didn’t come from the speakers?” Seungkwan chimed in from where he was lazily sitting next to Vernon, clearly enjoying the drama and not helping at all.
“Hyung!” Chan whined, frustrated, “I’m serious! And—he heard it too. I could tell. He looked so scared, hyung… after he found out that I’m his soulmate, he get scared and walked away..”
Vernon and Seungkwan look at each other. As much Seungkwan wants to tease the younger one, he doesn't want to see Chan depressed and hurt because of someone who happened to his soulmate.
Seungkwan sighs, tossing a sugar packet between his fingers. “ Okay listen,” Seungkwan began, his tone dramatic but not unkind. “First of all, if someone looks scared after hearing literal soulmate music, I doubt it’s because of you or the person, okay? Let’s not spiral into self-doubt just yet.”
Chan frowned, still chewing on his lip, unconvinced.
Seungkwan leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was about to reveal a state secret. “Some people don’t grow up romanticizing this stuff like you do. Not everyone gets the warm fuzzies from soulmate signs—some people freak the hell out. It doesn’t mean they don’t feel something. It might just mean they don’t know what to do with it.”
Vernon, who had been sipping on his iced americano the entire time, finally spoke. “He’s right. And you said he looked scared, not disgusted. There’s a difference.”
That shut Chan up for a moment. He hadn’t really thought about it like that.
“Oh, also,” Vernon added casually. “Was the guy kinda tall? With glasses and wearing a black leather jacket emphasizing his broad shoulder?”
Chan blinked. “Yeah…why?”
Vernon shrugged like it was no big deal. “That sounds like Wonwoo hyung. I’ve had lit classes with him. He’s chill, quiet though. Doesn’t really talk much unless you catch him reading or ask him something super deep.”
Chan stared at him. “You know Wonwoo?”
“Not like, know-know,” Vernon said, “but enough to say hi and I’m close with Mingyu because we’re in hip-hop class.”
Seungkwan gave Vernon a look. “And you’re just telling us now? Who’s Mingyu by the way?”
“You never asked,” Vernon said, clearly unaware of Seungkwan glare giving him.
Chan, now wide-eyed, looked between them. “Do you think… maybe… you could help me talk to him?”
Seungkwan raised his hand before letting Vernon talk. “Of course he would, right?” Giving Vernon a look.
A week had passed, and there was still no sign of Wonwoo. Chan was starting to lose it. He couldn’t stop thinking about their brief meeting, wondering if he’d said something wrong or made a mistake. However, instead of just constantly thinking about it, Chan had been overworking and overstudying himself just to get Wonwoo out of his mind.
That led to where he is right now, table full of books and plates. Vernon, who had been checking in on him regularly, because someone was mad when they knew that Wonwoo still had not yet talked to Chan (it’s Seungkwan), sat across from him, watching Chan drawing something on his plates.
“You okay bud?” Vernon asked, raising his eyebrow.
“I think I’m going crazy,” Chan said quietly, now checking some lines or whatever he was doping because the latter had no idea.
“You’re not,” Vernon replied. “You’re just overthinking. A lot.”
Chan sighed. “You think he regrets meeting me?”
Vernon shook his head. “No. Wonwoo just… shy you know. He needs time. He’s not the type to jump into anything, especially not something like this. Meeting your soulmate is overwhelming for some people.
“But he was avoiding me. I don’t even have a proper conversation with him. “
“He probably wanted to, but it’s not easy for him. For people like Wonwoo, it might take more than a few days just to figure out how to approach you or have some courage. Knowing Wonwoo he knows that you need some explanation because of his behavior but sometimes it’s hard.
Before Chan could respond, the cafe door burst open. Seungkwan stormed in, clearly annoyed.
“Okay, I’m mad,” he said, walking straight over them. “This is ridiculous.”
“Hi to you too,” Vernon said.
Seungkwan didn’t react. He turned to Chan. “I don’t get it. Why is he so scared? You’re his soulmate. That’s supposed to mean something. Most people would be thrilled to meet theirs, but he runs away and doesn’t try? “
Vernon spoke up. “He’s scared, babe.”
“Of what?” Seungkwan asked. “Maybe he’s scared of letting someone in. We should try just like us. We should try to understand him more and maybe a day will come where he will come around to Chan. Just like us.” Vernon said while looking at Seungkwan intensely.
Seungkwan went silent because of that. Because he knows what Vernon meant. He knows how difficult it is for someone to open up their feelings, thoughts, and themselves to others.
The table went quiet. Chan hadn’t thought about it that way. Maybe it wasn’t about him at all, maybe it was about whatever Wonwoo was dealing with internally.
“But, what about Chan’s feelings? We’re focusing on Wonwoo’s feelings and his issue that you forgot about him.” Seungkwan exclaimed.
“Hyung,” Chan said with a little tone. “Don’t you start a fight about me now. And Vernon hyung was just trying to help and give me some vast perspective about my problem, he’s helping you know.” he reasoned. He doesn’t want his two people he treasure to fight for something like this. Seungkwan was just too protective and Vernon was really helping to solve Chan’s problem just like that.
“And I realized that maybe he really needs time, so by waiting for him and not overwhelming him, I’ll help him in some way.” Chan said with confidence.
“That’s good. You’re becoming more mature each passing day compared to the last day I met you.” Vernon hyung said. “But if I sound like I was being unfair about your feelings Chan, I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean to hurt you in any way.” He added.
“Hyung, stop.” Chan said with little annoyance in his voice. “Look what’ve you done.” He said to Seungkwan. The latter can’t believe what the younger had said.
“I’m on your team for your information.” Seungkwan shouted. “And what’s with your maturity, it’s not suitable for you. You look dumb.” the older trying to tease the younger to ease the tension.
He succeeded in annoying Chan and the bickering started again. Before Chan can land a punch on the older, Seungkwan escape to the counter to take some order from a customer.
Vernon knows that this is not Chan’s fault but he also respects Wonwoo’s decision not to come out yet. He has some issues and he knows his boundaries not to cross that line. Even if Chan is his friend and he badly wanted to protect him.
“Well, maybe you’re right.” Chan replied softly. He realized that as much as he wanted to get to know the other badly, it would take time.
“How do you know what is the right thing to say in a situation like this? Like you’re a pro” Chan said with a little smile forming on his lips.
“Well, I have experienced that on someone I know and just as hard headed as yours.” Vernon replied while looking at someone.
Chan followed Vernon’s gaze, his eyes landing on a familiar figure across the room and someone he knows very well, unaware of the subject of it. His breath caught for a second when he realized exactly who Vernon meant.
“...You mean Seungkwan hyung?” Chan guessed, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Vernon’s hand found his way to his mouth as he tried to hide his smile forming on lips. “Hyung , please stop with a smile. I’m having a real crisis and you’re having a euphoria crisis.” Chan said to the older man while rolling his eyes but you can clearly see the smirk playing on his lips ready to tease his hyungs.
You heard it right—Seungkwan and Vernon are soulmates. They have been together since they were kids, growing up as neighbors because their parents were close. Vernon hyung once said that music played the first time they touched back in kindergarten, and strangely, only he could remember it.
Seungkwan, on the other hand, had no memory of it. Maybe it was because he was always so hyperactive, constantly doing something and forgetting the important things. Or maybe… he did remember, but just didn’t say it. Who knows?
It wasn’t until elementary school that Vernon finally gathered the courage to tell Seungkwan about the sound he heard that day.
However, at that moment Seungkwan said that he did not remember any of it. That it is impossible for them to be soulmates because of their differences. Vernon was the musical genius and Seungkwan is just loud.. (At least, that’s how he describes himself). He looks hurt, scared, and insecure while telling that.
Seungkwan refused to talk to him for months after that, but Vernon waited. He stayed patiently. Eventually, they talked. Really talked. About themselves, about the sound they both heard, about the songs Vernon composed just for him. And more.
After hearing the love story of their two favorite hyungs, he can’t help but to fall in love more to the idea of getting to know Wonwoo.
“He taught me that sometimes people push others away not because they don’t care, but because they care too much or don't know how to handle something beyond their control.” Vernon added, a more thoughtful tone slipping in.
Chan’s smile softened into something more pensive, “Kind of like Wonwoo when you talk about him to me.”
Vernon didn’t say anything right away, just nodded slowly. “So, take your time. I can introduce you to my other friends who know Wonwoo hyung, if you want, I can arrange that.”
Chan’s eye lit up instantly, like someone had just flipped on a switch inside him. “Really, hyung? You’re gonna do that? I’d love to!” he beamed, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
Vernon blinked at the younger’s reaction, a little taken aback by how bright and eager he suddenly became. But after a beat, he smiled fondly and reached over to ruffle Chan’s hair. “Of course. They’re cool. Maybe you’ll pick up a thing or two about him along the way.”
“Don’t hurt my deongsang for the second time, Vernon, or you’ll see,” came Seungkwan’s voice, sharp and dry as he emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on dish towels. He shot Vernon a glare, eyes narrowed like he already knew too much.
Vernon stiffened in his seat, visibly trying not to look at his own soulmate. “Not planning to,” he muttered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
Chan blinked between them, confused but intrigued. ‘Wait… second time?” Seungkwan raised an eyebrow while Vernon buried his face in his hands.
“Later,” Vernon groaned, voice muffled.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
While going through a soulmate crisis, Chan didn’t let it pull him under completely. He still focused on his studies—attending every class, participating when the teacher asked questions, and turning in all his requirements on time. Still,his mind often wandered back to one thing, well one person. He kept hoping for one more encounter with Wonwoo.
But it turns out, God isn’t that cruel to Chan.
Because a week later, Chan unexpectedly met Mingyu hyung and Jun hyung from the Business Department, whose building stood just across from his own. He still can’t believe that he did not have met them when their building was just not so far. Honestly, maybe it was fate or pity from heaven but whatever. At first, things were painfully awkward. Because, well, knowing your best friend’s soulmate is… a lot.
And yes, Mingyu hyung—the tall, masculine, and attractive guy Chan saw with Wonwoo in the shop that day. And yes, they’re not together. They’re just best friends. Thank the heavens above .
Their conversation started with small talk, classes, professors, random school stuff because some of the classes Chan’s taking is related to business which they’ve already taken. They’re both in the same year as Wonwoo’s even if Mingyu was a year younger than them. People call him the genius of their department.
Chan was grateful that they didn’t treat him weirdly for being the soulmate. No judgement.. They did not react nor said something that Chan was expecting. Both of the older people were more worried if you would ask Chan.
He learned a lot, too. Wonwoo is taking Computer Science, hates seafood with a passion, secretly writes a poem (but don’t tell him, no one knows), and has a strange talent for solving rubik’s cubes with one hand.
It made Chan feel a little closer.
But now… he wasn’t sure if this was a good idea after all. A doubt started to creep in. What if Wonwoo doesn’t like the idea of other people knowing or worse his close friends knowing? What if he thinks I’m crossing the line?
Maybe I should’ve asked first. Maybe I’m making things worse.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
The three friends—Chan, Seungkwan, and Vernon—decided to spend their weekend doing schoolwork at Chan’s apartment. Well, Chan was actually working on his homework, but in Seungkwan’s case..you couldn’t really tell.
“Just when I was getting used to you, you were gone—” Seungkwan belted dramatically from the couch, eyes shut, hand to his chest like he was performing at a sold-out concert.
Meanwhile, Chan was hunched over his laptop, eyebrows furrowed in focus. Or, at least, he was focused—until Seungkwan’s off-pitch high note pierced the room like a fire alarm.
“So, I was told that this is Chan’s apartment?...” Vernon stood in the doorway, holding a bag of chicken in one hand and milk tea in the other, his signature confused grin. Look who had the h=guts to show up late after telling everyone not to be.
“You’re in the wrong house,” Chan deadpanned, eyes still glued to his plate. “This is a free concert straight from the devil. When you enter, have good hearing and expect to leave bleeding.” He didn’t even pause his pencil strokes. The younger can really multitask when he wants to. Being productive and teasing his Seungkwan hyung was easy when Chan wanted to.
“Oh, please,” Seungkwan huffed, clearly not done with his vocal performance. “That was my artistic expression. I’m warming up!.”
“The only thing you’re warming up is the neighbor’s complaint line,” Vernon mumbled as he slipped off his shoes and stepped inside. “Anyway, I brought peace offerings. Chicken, milk tea… and possibly ear plugs.”
“Hey! I’m sorry for being a fun person—unlike the both of you who apparently live under the rock,” Seungkwan shot back, arms crossed and eyes rolling so hard the whites were practically on display. “Who doesn’t know the latest K-pop hit? Are you two stuck in the Stone Age?”
“And who said knowing the latest Seventeen song is the definition of fun?” Chan replied, not missing a beat, the smugness radiating off his face. He lived for moments like these, bickering with Seungkwan was practically his hobby.
Seungkwan’s lips curled into a grin. He leaned forward slightly, voice slow and triumphant.
“And how did you know that was a Seventeen song?”
Chan blinked. Vernon paused mid-sip of his milk tea.
Checkmate.
Seungkwan’s grin widened. “Caught in 4K, baby.”
Chan blushed. As much Chan liked to act unimpressed by his hyung’s taste in music, he couldn’t deny it, Seungkwan had a good taste. Annoyingly good. Better than Vernon’s. And now Seungkwan was going to ride this win like a drama queen on an encore stage.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Vernon chimed in, casually placing the chicken on the table. “Boo had a good taste in music. Chan was enjoying the song , not your singing.”
“Hey!” Seungkwan and Chan shouted in unison, both equally offended but for very different reasons.
“I don’t like his music taste,” Chan scoffed, flipping his pencil dramatically. “I’d rather listen to soap operas than his singing.”
“And I'd rather have Dino as my deongsang than you, stupid brat.” Seungkwan fired back, eyes wide and full of dramatic flair.
“Well, he already has enough problems with twelve hyungs,” Chan shout back. “He doesn’t need another one who’s loud and stubborn.”
Seungkwan gasped. “Oh, so you do know that Seventeen has thirteen members” He pointed an accusing finger at Chan, victorious again. “So much for not being a fan of my favorite group!”
Chan groned, burying his face in his hands. “Get out of my apartment!”
Before the bickering and shouting filled the whole room again, Vernon interrupted.
“Okay seriously stop both of you. Let’s have chicken and milk tea first before another world war happens in this apartment.”
Vernon smiled quietly to himself, watching them bicker like kids. It was loud, dramatic, exhausting but still comforting. At the end of this day, Chan’s neighbor will definitely complain.
But he was grateful. Grateful that Chan still acted like this, still teased Seungkwan, still rolled his eyes, still laughed under his breath, after everything that happened when he met his soulmate.
And he was also grateful to Seungkwan because after knowing and hearing Chan’s soulmate meeting incident, he still acts like a normal person around Chan. Even though he knows that Seungkwan wants to kill Wonwoo hyung in every possible way after (unintentionally) hurting Chan’s feelings.
Well… everything except the singing. He could definitely live without that part.
For the whole day, the three boys tried to finish all of their pending plates and homeworks before the mid-term start. They don;t want a disaster and procrastination again before hell week starts.
It’s midnight when they actually finish all of it. That’s one of the good things about having a right gfriend in college, the one that will help you in any way possible, not creating more problems. Chan was grateful because he found Vernon and Seungkwan hyungs in this chaotic life.
It was past midnight when Chan heard Vernon snort in his sleep, shifting slightly under the blanket. The apartment was dim and quiet now, except for the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional creak of the walls settling.
But Chan couldn’t sleep.
“... Kwan, you awake?” he asked softly into the dark.
There was a long enough pause that Chan thought his hyung had already drifted off. He was about to close his eyes when a groggy voice answered:
“I’m already dreaming… what?”
Chan rolled his eyes in the dark “... do you regret it?”
Seungkwan shifted, his voice a bit more alert now. “Regret what?”
“Being Vernon hyung’s soulmate.”
There was a breath, a silence that hung just long enough to make Chan wonder if he’d crossed a line.
“...No,” Seungkwan said at last. “How can I regret something I love and enjoy every moment of? That’s stupid.”
“Right…” Chan murmured. Then, after a pause, “Do you ever have that moment where…you just know they’re the one? Even without touching them?”
“I… I do.” Seungkwan said softly. “Do you?”
“... Yeah. And in that moment… I didn’t care if they were my soulmate or not. I just knew I’d be happy–so happy–if they’d just let me be a part of their life.”
Seungkwan’s voice turned gentle. “I felt that too. And I’m just… grateful. In this lifetime, I got to meet the person I want to spend forever with.”
Chan swallowed. “It’s rare, isn’t it? I mean—with billions of people in the world, the chance of meeting them feels so small. You start thinking maybe it’s better to stop believing.”
“But that’s the thing, right?” Seungkwan said quietly. “Out of billions of people.. Somehow, there’s still one who fits your soul like it’s always known you. Maybe you’ll find them. Maybe you won’t. But just knowing they exist—somewhere—that’s what makes the world feel a little less lonely.”
After hearing that, Chan doesn't know how to respond. Because he did feel—so incredibly lucky—to have met his soulmate. But then he thought about the people who never get that chance, People like his parents.
He grew up believing that meeting your other half was a promise. A guarantee of happiness. Of peace and comfort. Because regardless of not being soulmate, his parents become each other's greatest love. But what if, when that day comes, they’re not who you imagined they’d be?
What if they break your heart?
What if they choose someone else?
What if fate brings you together… and reality tears you apart?
Do you still stay, because the universe said so?
Or do you walk away, knowing that even soulmates can become strangers?
Chan didn’t know the answer. He wasn’t sure if anyone really did.
That’s when Chan realized—maybe Wonwoo was one of those people. The kind who had gone through something—something deep and painful—that made them afraid of the very thing they needed most. Maybe it wasn’t about not feeling the connection. Maybe it was about being too scared to let it grow.
“...Kwan? He said softly.
“...Hm?”
“Is it worth it?” Chan asked, voiced barely above a whisper. “Fighting for your other one?”
But deep down, he already knew the answer. It was. It had to be. Whether it was Wonwoo or someone else… he was worth fighting for. Everyone deserved that, deserved someone who would choose them, even when they didn’t know they were being chosen.
“Yeah,” Seungkwan said without hesitation. “It’s worth it. Especially when you know the person fate picked for you is out there fighting, too. It makes you feel special. Loved. Like you’re real. Like you’re enough.”
“...”
“That’s how I felt when Vernon was trying and fighting for the both of us. Even knowing my situation, without hesitation he waits and fights for the both of us.”
Chan smiled faintly, heart full in the quiet.
“Then I’ll wait for him,” he said. “Just like how Vernon hyung waited for you to be ready… and how my father kept waiting for my mother, even knowing destiny never meant for them to end up together.”
“And maybe someday,” he said, almost like a prayer. “We’ll sit with all the things that hurt, all the flaws we tried to hide… and choose to stay anyway. Not in spite of them, but because of them.”
“Now don’t make me cry, it’s past midnight. Let’s sleep, people.” Vernon mumbled in his sleepy voice, surprising both Chan and Seungkwan.
They turned toward him, startled, then looked at each other and stifled quiet chuckles. Of course he’d been awake the whole time.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s sleep now,” Seungkwan said, shifting back under the blanket and wrapping his arms around Vernon. “Good night, Chan. Let’s talk again next time—with this big baby included.”
“Night, hyung,” Chan murmured, the edges of a smile on his lips.
That was the last thing he remembered before drifting off.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
Chan was having an internal crisis, standing just outside campus as students rushed past him, laughing, relieved. Midterms had just finished, and he knew he’d done well. But knowing himself, that never stopped the spiral.
This test would decide if he got to keep his scholarship. And without it… he’d have to go back to Incheon. Back to the quiet, back to everything he’d outgrown. He had built a life in Seoul. Friends. Dreams. A future. Going back wasn’t an option.
“You okay, man?” someone asked behind him.
“Oh—Changbin! Y-yeah… yeah. I’m okay,” Chan said, startled. He quickly straightened up, forcing a small laugh. “What are you still doing here? What about the party?”
He already knew that every term, their department threw a little party after exams. It was basically tradition, a celebration of surviving hell week. And if there was one thing consistent about Changbin, it was that he’d never skip a party. He was that guy—the class energy booster, always in charge of dragging people out to dance.
“The party got postponed,” Changbin said, adjusting his backpack. “They said there’s a typhoon coming in tonight.”
“Oh,” Chan replied, his voice quieter. “That’s why the air felt colder than usual.”
Changbin looked him over. “What about you? What are you still doing here? Kinda weird not seeing Seungkwan or Vernon hanging off you like bodyguards.”
Chan chuckled, almost shy. “They had something else today, it’s fine.”
“You got someone picking you up?”
“Ah, no. I’ve got an umbrella,” Chan said, raising the folded in his hands. “I was gonna head to work anyway. It’s just around the corner.”
“You sure? I can drop you. It’s no big deal.”
“I’m okay,” Chan insisted, offering him a small smile. “But thank you. You should head in now—the rain looks like it’ll pour any minute.”
“Alright! You take care, okay?”
“I will. Bye!”
“Bye!”
And just like that, Chan was left alone again. The hallway behind him emptied, the sky above growing darker with each breath he took. The kind of quiet that made you wonder if something was coming.
And it was.
He was here.
Jeon Wonwoo.
The person who turned Chan’s world upside down without ever being a real part of it. The name he never said out aloud, but kept tucked somewhere deep, between confusion, hope, and the ache of unfinished beginnings.
They never shared classes, never belonged to the same circles. Their lives only brushed once and that was enough to change everything. Because that one moment was when Chan knew.. When he felt it.
That pull.
That shift in the air.
The melody.
It was faint, but undeniable, like the world had played a note meant only for him.
And there he was here again, standing in front of me.
The genius, talented, and attractive student of the Computer Science department. He was still wearing those glasses that suit his face really well. His hair was a bit longer now, and it was a little wet, probably because of the rain that started to pour.
It was messy but it still suited him well. LIke he hadn’t the time to bother fixing it before coming here. He was wearing all black, a simple shirt and a backpack slung over one shoulder, like he’d just walked out of class.
He hadn’t changed much, and yet somehow he felt completely different.
Chan felt he was back again in that hall of bookshelves staring at this man whose focus was someone else. And the feelings of Chan’s and his surroundings are still the same.
LIke the world just stops just for them to have this moment.
Wonwoo looked calm. Like he wasn’t carrying the same weight Chan had been dragging around every day since the last time they met.
And even now, even after everything, Chan couldn’t stop looking. Couldn’t stop remembering.
“... You’re Jeon Wonwoo, right?” Chan asked quietly. He doesn’t dare to blink, afraid that this man will disappear again, just like the first time. He didn’t step forward, ethier. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he was scared Wonwoo would turn and run. So he stayed right where he was, where he would not cross the line Jeon Wonwoo is trying to build between them.
Wonwoo stared back at him, like he wasn’t sure what to say, what to feel, or even why he was here in the first place. There was confusion in his eyes. Hesitation. Maybe even fear.
“... Yeah. You’re Lee Chan,” he said at last.
Chan felt a lump rise in his throat. Wonwoo’s voice was deep, but soft, almost angelic in a way that made everything else around them fade. He spoke slowly, with a calmness that made Chan want to listen to every word. Even now, when it hurts to hear him speak, it still feels like something sacred.
The younger one nodded at the statement. He smiled, trying to ease the tension. “... Yeah. Yeah, that’s me.”
“I would’ve introduced myself properly,” Chan said, his smile still lingering, though sadness crept into his voice, “but before I could… you are gone.”
Wonwoo looked startled by the words, like he wasn’t expecting Chan to be so honest, so gentle with the pain. He licked his lips, adjusted his glasses, and seemed to brace himself, as if the moment, the one they both had avoided and waited so long, was finally catching up to him.
This was it. The conversation they never had. The closure they never got. Maybe… even the beginning of something else.
“... I’m sorry,” Wonwoo said quietly. “You… you didn’t deserve that.”
Chan held his breath, trying not to let it tremble. He blinked once, twice, just to make sure this was real. Because this… this was what he’d been waiting for.
“I just want to say… this isn’t about you,” Wonwoo began, his voice low and uneven. “I’ve heard things about you from my friends. I know you’re a good person. Really kind and beautiful.” He paused, eyes flickering down as if the words were too heavy to carry all at once. “But…”
He stopped again, swallowing hard, like something was stuck in his throat, something that didn’t want to come out.
“But… I’m not the one you’re looking for,” he said finally. “I’ll only hurt you. I’ll cause pain, and that’s the lasting thing I want to do.” Wonwoo took a step forward, not enough to close the distance, but enough to show that he meant what he was saying. “You have so much ahead of you, Chan. You’re bright. You have dreams. A future. And I don’t think I could live with myself if you stood, soaking in the rain, trying to fit me under your umbrella… when I’m the typhoon you should be running from.”
His voice broke at the end. There were tears in his eyes, threatening to fall, but he blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back. Like vulnerability was something he still wasn’t ready to hand over.
Not even to the person fate had chosen for him.
“.. You know, my mother always worried because I couldn't seem to get sick when I was a child. They said that I was so strong I could build a house by myself.” Chan said with a smile but you can see the tears in his eyes escaping his eyes,
The younger felt the pain of the older, felt in the way Wonwoo wouldn’t meet his eyes, in the way his hands trembled slightly at his hides. Chan wanted to hold him. He wanted to close the space between them, to stay it’s okay, I’m here , to wipe the tears off his face and tell him he never had to run again.
But it wasn’t the time. Not yet.
There were still walls between them. Fears that hadn’t been spoken and broken. Chan knew he’d have to climb those walls himself and walk through the storm of everything Wonwoo left behind, before he could ever reach him.
Wonwoo looked so confused about what he said.
“I’m a strong person, Wonwoo. Even if I’m soaked in rain or fall, I’m still going to stand in front of you and wait for you.” Chan said with a smile on his face.
Wonwoo shook his head slowly. “I don’t want someone to wait for me,” he said, a voice steady. “I don’t want someone like you—someone kind, and bright, and full of life… to waste all of that on someone like me. I’m not… I’m not ready. I don’t even know if I ever will be.” His voice cracked slightly at the end, and this time, the tear slipped out before he could blink it away. He quickly turned his face, as if hiding it could somehow make it easier to leave again.
But Chan didn’t step forward. He didn’t reach for him, even though everything in his chest screamed to do so. Instead, he stood in the rain, heart breaking quietly.
“I know,” Chan said, gently. “But I’d still wait. Not because I expect you to come back. Not because I need you to love me right now. I’ll wait… because I care. And people like us don’t give up easily just because it hurts.”
The storm around them said nothing. But maybe, for the first time, neither of them needed it to.
“If you’re still hesitating… I want to give you something,” Chan said softly, reaching into his bag.
He pulled out a small gray MP3 player, the back was decorated with a few worn-out dino and fox stickers. It looked a little old, maybe even cheap, but it was clearly something he cared about.
“I want this to be your comfort zone,” Chan continued, holding it carefully. “For when you’re hurting… or feeling lonely. Even when you’re happy.” He gently took Wonwoo’s hand, it’s cold from the rain. Chan placed the MP3 player into his palm, closing his fingers around it. “I’m not really a musician, but I tried my best. Vernon hyung helped me put it all together. It’s… music for us. The sound that day, this is it.”
Wonwoo stared at it in disbelief, his lips parting slightly. “.... Chan. T-this is…”
“Yeah,” Chan said, smiling through the emotion in his voice. “I want to start our story with the song that brought us together. Something that belongs to us. Only us.”
When Chan looked at Wonwoo, he could see it, something soft in his eyes, like the gesture had gotten past the walls even Wonwoo didn’t realize he still held up.
“You’re worth it,” Chan said, voice steady. “All of it. Even if we don’t really know each other yet… I can tell. You’re a good person.” He took a breath, a hint of determination showing now. “And I know you don’t like letting people into your world when it feels too dark. But we still want to be there… with you. We don’t care if it’s black and white. We don’t care how little you think you can give. Just being with you… that’s already enough.”
He meant every word. And maybe, just maybe, Wonwoo was starting to believe it.
Wonwoo’s lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. Instead, his shoulders trembled.
He looked down at the MP3 player in his hands, like it was the most fragile thing he’d ever been given. Then a second or a minute passed and he whispered, “Why… A-are you not afraid that a person can hold your happiness and could hurt you in any way possible?”
Chan’s heart squeezed at the question. He nodded slightly, gazing soft. “Sometimes… yeah. That thought used to scare me a lot.”
Then he exhaled slowly and nodded, “But a moment passed, and I realized, if someone holds that kind of power… it must mean they matter. And maybe that’s what love is. Letting someone in, even if they could break you. But maybe we’ll be the person that will make the other person better. Maybe we hope that maybe they won’t… “
Htis voice cracked just a little at the end, and he didn’t look away.
“ Maybe they’ll be the one who stays.”
Wonwoo stared at the younger one like he’d just given him the very words he’d been needing to hear. The words he never got from anyone else, not even from his parents.
“You’re right,” Wonwoo said quietly. Then a soft, almost shy smile formed on his lips. “Now I feel embarrassed… I’m the older one, but between the two of us, you sound more mature.”
Chan let out a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well… maybe you just need someone to scold you when you’re being stubborn… hyung?” He hesitated a bit at the last word, unsure if he was allowed to say it.
“Sure,” he said gently. “Let’s start from being informal to each other, I’d like that.”
Chan bit his lips to hide his growing smile. He didn’t want to scare the older one away just because he looked too happy.
“Hyung… if you’re not busy, do you wanna go back to that cafe again?” he asked. Eyes shining with hope. “I have a duty, but I swear I’ll be quick. LIke, flash-level quick.” He grinned.
Wonwoo looked a little caught off guard by the brightness on Chan’s face, like he wasn’t used to being the reason behind someone else’s light. And even though hesitation still flickered in his eyes, he knew one thing for sure, he didn’t want to be the one to dim that smile. Not again.
Chan noticed the pause, the uncertainty, and quickly added, “... But if you’re busy, it’s okay. I can wait.”
Wonwoo looked at him, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “No…let’s go,” he said softly. Then he lifted the MP3 player in his hand. “Let’s listen to this together.”
Chan’s cheeks flushed a little at that, and he ducked his head, grinning like he couldn’t hold it in anymore.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
Just like he promised, Wonwoo ended up going to the cafe with Chan. He sat at the table Chan had mentioned before, near the window, where he had a clear view of the counter… and of Chan, who was currently rushing between tables.
From where he sat, Wonwoo could also see Seungkwan standing behind the counter, his eyes sharp, like daggers aimed directly at him.
Wonwoo wasn’t exactly sure why Vernon’s soulmate seemed so mad at him. But… maybe he did know.
Yeah. It was probably about Chan.
“Don’t mind him, hyung,” Vernon said casually as he slid into the seat across from him. “He’s just being possessive of Chan.”
Wonwoo chuckled. “Yeah, I can tell.”
He turned his haze back to Chan, who was mixing something, coffee it seemed for a customer. He wore a green apron with a small dinosaur character stitched on it, something that oddly suited him.
Chan looked up just then and caught Wonwoo staring. Instead of looking away, he grinned, bright, and genuine. Wonwoo smiled back instinctively.
He’d noticed that little dinosaur before. On the back of the MP3 player, and again as a keychain dangling from Chan’s bag when he handed it to him earlier. The little details. He likes the character dinosaur and maybe the color green too.
“So, you already have it,” Vernon said, nodding towards the MP3 player resting on the table between them.
“Yeah,” Wonwoo replied, eyes still lingering on it. “He said… you helped him write it?”
Vernon nodded. “A little. Woozi hyung helped with some of the lyrics too—but mostly, it was all Chan. He composed the melody, wrote most of the words. We just helped polish it, hyung.”
There was a quiet pride in Vernon’s voice. A kind of big-brother fondness.
And it made Wonwoo’s chest tighten, because for a boy that young, with so much love to give… Chan had already given a part of it to him.
“He waited for you, hyung,” Vernon said gently. “He understands that you're scared…your flaws, your walls and you need time. He’s been trying to wait, even when all he wanted was to talk to you.” He paused, lowering his voice. “That’s why he wrote the song.”
Vernon’s eyes softened with the memory.
He remembered the exact day Chan said he wanted to turn that melody into something real. A song not just for music’s sake, but as a message, something that might reach someone who kept running before the words could catch up.
Chan had been stressed, juggling school, work, and the ache of not knowing what to do with a bond that felt one-sided. But he was determined.
Seungkwan had asked the younger one that day, why… why go through all that effort, when he hadn’t even gotten the chance to know Wonwoo properly.
Chan only smiled and said, “Maybe if I finish this… he’ll listen. And maybe then he’ll know that someone—me, or anyone, is willing to wait for him. Even if it takes weeks, months, or years. Because he’s worth it. He is.”
Vernon looked at Wonwoo then, and quietly added, “And I think… a part of him still believes that.”
Wonwoo looked surprised or touched by Chan's doing. He doesn’t know how someone could make an effort just because of someone was their soulmate.
“Why are you here?” Seungkwan snapped, marching over with a stray drink. His eyes were sharp again, those dagger eyes that looked like they could kill Jeon Wonwooon the spot. “You’ve made Chan cry three times already, Jeon Wonwoo.”
“Boo, don’t start,” Vernon said quickly, standing to help him with the tray. “If Chan hears you, he’s going to scold you, for sure.”
“I am scolding him for Chan’s sake!” Seungkwan shot back, glaring at Wonwoo like he personally offended the laws of the universe. “That brat—bringing his soulmate here after everything he pulled.”
“I’m sorry if my presence is troubling,” Wonwoo said quietly, gaze lowered. “I never meant to hurt Chan. And… I think this might be a start. A way to not run anymore. Try to face what I feared.”
Seungkwan let out a dramatic tsk and raised the tray in a not-so-subtle threat. “If you do hurt him again, you see this tray? I will not hesitate to use it.”
“Seungkwan hyung! What are you doing?!” Chan appeared beside them, holding another tray of orders, looking both annoyed and adorably pouty. “You’re threatening Wonwoo hyung with a tray?!”
“Speak of the devil! Yah! Why did you bring him here?” Seungkwan snapped.
“Why not?” Chan replied, rolling his eyes. “He’s Vernon hyung’s friend. So he’s your friend, too.”
“Still…” Seungkwan grumbled, clearly not ready to let go of the grudge.
Chan walked over to Wonwoo and handed him a brownie. “Sorry, hyung. This stupid hyung didn’t take his meds today—that’s why he’s acting crazy again,” he said with an innocent smile.
“Yah! I am not! What are you just saying about me?” Seungkwan gasped, clearly offended.
“Calm down, Boo. He was just joking… right?” Vernon added, throwing a teasing glance at Chan.
“Oh, really? Chwe Hansol?” Seungkwan narrowed his eyes on him, crossing his arms in full drama code.
“Just kidding, Boo!” Vernon said quickly, trying to pull him into a hug, only to get shooed away with a flick of Seungkwan’s hand.
Chan turned back to Wonwoo with a soft smile. “Don’t mind them, hyung. They’re like that every day. Anyway, do you have any schoolwork? Or we’re just going to talk today?” he teased.
Wonwoo had been watching the whole scene quietly, eyes wide, a little overwhelmed. The bickering reminded him of his own friends; mostly Soonyoung and Mingyu. But still, it felt different. He wasn’t used to this kind of warmth directed toward him. Especially not from Vernon, who had always been a little cold when they crossed paths before.
“No… not yet, I think,” Wonwoo answered, then stared at Chan beside him. “What about you? Do you need help with anything? If it’s computer-related, I can help, I think.”
“I still don’t have any school stuff,” Chan said, his eyes lingering a little longer on Wonwoo’s face. “Hyung…have you ever tried wearing contact lenses?” he asked curiously.
Wonwoo blinked under Chan’s gaze, caught a little off guard. “Uh… I tried once, back then. But it didn’t go well. I got eye irritation after just a few hours.”
Chan nodded thoughtfully, then he smiled. “Your glasses look good on you, though. Really suits you.”
Wonwoo flushed at that. “Uh… thanks, Chan. You… you look beautiful too,” he replied, eyes darting away like the compliment had escaped before he could stop it.
Chan’s smile grew, soft and genuine. “Thanks, hyung. That’s the first time someone’s called me that.”
They sat there, side by side. Two people who couldn’t quite look at each other now, but couldn’t stop smiling either. The silence between wasn’t awkward anymore, it changed. Something they couldn’t tell but it felt good for both of them.
From behind them, someone made a loud gagging noise. Of course, it was Seungkwan.
“Someday, I’m putting a sign in this cafe that says, “ No flirting unless you pay first ,” he muttered bitterly, arms crossed as he stood behind the counter. “First Mingyu hyung and someone, now those two. I can’t escape from the madness.” He said without realizing he is also the one who flirts with Vernon the most first.
Someone burst out laughing near the door. “Don’t be like that, Seungkwannie. They’re still innocent! They probably don’t even realize they’re flirting yet!”
It was Jun, walking with two other tall figures behind him—Mingyu and Soonyoung hyung, grinning like they were here to cause trouble.
“Jun hyung!” Seungkwan’s voice echoed across the cafe, scandalized and loud enough to make a few customers glance their way.
Chan noticed the man walking in with a hoodie tied around his waist, sweat still clinging to his temples, shoes worn from hours of dancing. He didn’t even need to see the face. The way he moved, the familiar way he carried himself… Chan knew.
He lit up instantly. “Hoshi hyung!” Chan called out, breaking into a run.
Wonwoo blinked, surprised as he watched Chan run toward the man. He glanced at Soonyoung or Hoshi, as Chan called him. And suddenly it all made sense. Of course they knew each other.
Mingyu had once mentioned it in passing, when he was asking about Chan after that day. Chan was helping Soonyoung in the older’s studio like choreography and tutoring. Of course the two dancers would click. Of course they’d become best friends.
Wonwoo couldn’t help but smile a little, watching Chan light up so effortlessly. The kid who had once looked so fragile in the rain now looked alive, energy bouncing off him like sparks.
“My dongsaeng!” Hoshi shouted back, arms outstretched. “Where did you go after midterm? I didn’t see you in class!”
“I wasn’t skipping, I promise. I just have something important,” Chan said, glancing subtly back at Wonwoo.
Soonyoung followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. “Ohh. Yah Jeon Wonwoo! What are you doing to my dongsaeng?!”
Wonwoo froze slightly in his seat, caught mid-sip of his drink.
“So,” came Mingyu’s voice from behind, teasing as always, “you’ve finally made up your mind, huh?”
Wonwoo shook his head with a laugh, knowing he’d never hear the end of it now. “Well… just like you said, I don’t really have anything to run away from anymore.”
Before he could say more, Mingyu followed his gaze, because Wonwoo’s eyes had wandered again. Straight to where Chan was, smiling and talking with Hoshi. So full of life, like the sun was tucked into his pockets.
“Especially if he’s the one,” Wonwoo added softly, almost to himself. “He has this energy that… makes you want to run towards him. Not away.”
Mingyu smiled, quiet for once. He’d seen Wonwoo afraid, lost, and insecure. And now he was seeing something else entirely, something like hope and maybe love.
“Jun hyung, that brat seriously needs to learn how to flirt properly,” Seungkwan grumbled, rolling his eyes. “It’s embarrassing watching him act like a lovesick child.”
Jun laughed, shooting a glance at Wonwoo, who was clearly gazing at Chan like he personally invented sunshine. “Well, maybe you should teach him. I’ve got someone with the same problem,” he said, smirking.
Seungkwan watched the scene play out, Wonwoo practically glowing as he looked at Chan, who was still chatting happily with Hoshi. He let out an exhausting tsk . “Oh my gosh. They’re so embarrassingly in love. I can’t,” rolling his eyes out again.
After a while, he said something. “That brat’s never going to worry about Wonwoo leaving or running again—not when hyung’s looking at him like that .” He pointed subtly with his lips toward Wonwoo.
“We can only hope,” Vernon added from behind Seungkwan, arms crossed but smiling softly. “They’re made for each other—just like us.” He looked at Seungkwan meaningfully. “Don’t be too hard on them, Boo,” he added. Because Vernon knows, they all know now, as scared as Wonwoo hyung is of taking the next step… I think he’s even more scared of losing someone as precious as Chan.
“That’s right,” Mingyu chimed in. “As much as you ‘hate’ seeing it, we all know you love seeing Chan this happy.”
Seungkwan didn’t answer at first, crossed his arms and looked away.
“Don’t tease him too much, hyung,” Chan called out with a smirk. “He might start crying if you tell him the truth.”
Seungkwan snapped his head toward him. “What did you just say, you brat?! Come here, I’ll teach you a lesson!”
And just like that, Chan was off, dashing around the cafe while Seungkwan chased after him, the rest of them laughing like it was just another perfectly normal afternoon.
Just as Seungkwan was about to catch Chan, Hoshi suddenly joined in. “Don’t leave me my dongsaengs.” Hoshi yelled while laughing. Now three grown men sprinting around the cafe while the others tried and failed to pretend nothing weird was happening.
“Let’s bet guys!” Mingyu suddenly shouts who’s clearly enjoying the scene after them. “Bet on who trips first—Chan, Seungkwan, or our uninvited third runner, Hoshi.”
Jun casually pulled out his wallet and said, “Seungkwan, the clumsiest ever!”
Vernon raised a brow. “Put me down for Chan. He always trips over air.”
“I heard that!” Chan and Seungkwan yelled while trying to run from Hoshi who laughed like a psycho.
“Okay, stop now. Someone’s going to get hurt for real,” Wonwoo said, glancing worriedly at Chan, who was now hunched over and out of breath.
Chan skidded to a stop, and Hoshi, who had been chasing him, slowed down too. Both of them get back to the group, looking like scolded puppies. Seungkwan gave them a look full of judgement.
“Pussies,” Seungkwan muttered under his breath.
Chan and Hoshi turned and glared back at him.
“Brat,” Hoshi fired back.
“Hamster,” Seungkwan retorted.
Hoshi looked absolutely betrayed. “Yah—!”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Jun interrupted with a clap of his hands before another round of bickering broke out. “We’re here for Wonwoo and Chan, remember? Let’s sit down, drink some coffee, and act like functioning adults.”
They all eventually found their seats again, cups in hand, the mood softening into something lighter.
“So…” Jun leaned forward with a warm smile, “Have you two decided to move forward?
Chan and Wonwoo glanced at each other, then nodded in sync.
“We have flaws to work through,” Chan said, voice gentle but certain, “but we’re willing to wait… and work on them together.”
Everyone around them smiled. “That’s good,” Hoshi said, grinning like a proud hyung. “The beginning is always hard, but if you keep choosing each other, you’ll get there.”
Mingyu leaned forward with a playful grin. “And just so you know, Chan… if that guy breaks your heart, I have your back.”
He turned to Wonwoo. “Who are you, Jeon Wonwoo?”
Wonwoo scoffed with a smirk. “Someone who’s your best friend and knows not to mess up again.”
Chan laughed. “Hyung, don’t mind them. I’ll protect you from their scolding and lectures.”
“Really?” Wonwoo asked with a teasing smile, though he already knew Chan meant it.
“Yeah. I may be small, but I can still defend the person I love,” Chan said with innocent sincerity.
A chorus of playful groans and cheers erupted from the group.
“Ooohhh! Our maknae turned shameless after finding his soulmate!” they all teased in unison.
Wonwoo, now blushing like a strawberry, covered part of his face with his hand, hiding his grin.
“Yah, stop it,” he muttered, but even his voice betrayed how flustered and happy he was.
“Hyung, here, let’s listen together.” Chan tugged gently at Wonwoo’s hand to clear his face and pressed the gray MP3 player into his palm. “I hope you like it. Woozi hyung will kill you if you don’t,” he teased with a grin.
Mingyu snorted into his coffee. Jun nudge Hoshi. Vernon and Seungkwan exchanged amused glances. Then, as the first soft notes from the MP3, laughter settled into silence. Everyone leaned in and listened to the melody Chan’s work hard to work on.
They sat, listening to Chan’s heart pour itself out in every note for Wonwoo hyung.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
Months passed in a gentle rhythm of late-night study sessions, always together even making a cup of noodles, and the soft melodies of Chan’s muci echoing through Wonwoo’s apartment when Chan always visited. Balancing scholarship pressures with a growing relationship wasn’t easy, but somehow, being together, it felt lighter. They were still learning each other’s small habits: Wonwoo who has this habit of putting his lips together whenever he gets shy because of Chan’s teasing and Chan who loves to tease his hyung then laugh loudly.
However they also have this habit whenever they’re stressed, like Wonwoo who always bites his nails whenever he gets stressed about a subject. Meanwhile, Chan taps his feet whenever he feels overwhelmed. Yet every challenge only wove them closer, because for the first time, each wanted to become better, not because they had to, but because they wanted to deserve one another.
Now, with Christmas break just days away, they and their friends were back in the cafe one more time, their laptop are open, coffee cups refilled, excitement buzzing as they mapped out that long-awaited beach break week.This was their chance to pause, to breath, to simply be together without deadlines. And as they laughed over, Chan caught Wonwoo’s eye and saw the same comfort and relief he felt in his own chest. The ending of the semester was only the beginning of something new, something they’d face, together.
“Let’s go to Jeju! I grew up there! I know every street, every shortcut, every spot with the best food. You name it, I know it!” Seungkwan declared with pride, eyes wide like a kid pitching the ultimate plan.
“It’s pretty far though, Seungkwannie,” Jun replied, half-smiling. “We only have a week. It might be more practical to go somewhere closer to Seoul.”
Seungkwan’s shoulders dropped slightly, his lips curving into a pout. It had been nearly a decade since he last walked along the beaches of his hometown. He missed the salty air, the quiet rhythm of the waves, the way Jeju made everything feel a little lighter.
“Don’t worry, Boo,” Vernon said gently, placing a hand on his arm. “We'll go after the school year ends. Somewhere we can actually stay longer. Just… not now.”\
Seungkwan nodded slowly. “Okay,” he muttered, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice.
“We’ll go, kwan, after this year ends, we promise.” Mingyu said after seeing the disappointment on Seungkwannie’s face.
“Anyway, any suggestions?” Jun asked the group.
“Then if we’re talking about a nearby place, Iksan-si would be best.” Wonwoo suggested. He learned that Chan grew up there. He thinks it would be best for Chan also, having a week vacation on the beach while also visiting his family.
Chan looked surprised at first but said, “Yeah, I remember we have a beach just one and half hours here in Seoul. It’s called Byeonsan Beach.” he added.
Mingyu nodded with that information. “ Oh yeah, I’ve heard of that place. It’s popular during the summer, but not too crowded in the off-season. Clean shore, decent food stalls, and there’s even a few cozy places to stay near the coast.”
Hoshi raised his hand like a kid in class. “Wait, does it have a karaoke bar nearby?”
Everyone turned to look at him.
“What? I need to make sure this trip has the essentials,” Hoshi said with a grin.
Seungkwan finally cracked a small. “Figures that would be your priority.”
“Well,” Vernon said, “a beach, good food, karaoke, and no long travel hours? Sounds perfect to me.”
Jun looked around, reading everyone’s expressions. “So… Iksan it is?”
Everyone nodded. Chan glanced at Wonwoo, catching the small on his face. Wonwoo mouthed, I thought of you . Chan smiled back and also mouthed a thank you.
It was set. A week of beach air, late-night talks, and maybe… the continuation of their story.
ꕤ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ꕤ
They were in the car travelling to Incheon and Chan remembered the first time he travelled to Seoul to achieve his dreams studying and working in Seoul. The feelings, his thoughts that time, and everything still feels like he’s dreaming. But by being Wonwoo by his side and knowing all they’re friends are here, maybe he is not.This is the reality and it makes everything feel special since there is someone here sitting beside Chan
“Hyung…” Chan started, his voice a little unsure. He felt nervous all of a sudden.
“Hm?” Wonwoo replied, glancing at Chan in the passenger seat as he drove.
“I was thinking… should I introduce you to my parents? If that’s okay… I mean, you don’t have to say yes—” Chan began to panic when Wonwoo stayed silent for a beat longer than usual. But before he could spiral, Wonwoo reached out and then took his hand, the other still on the wheel.
“Channie, it’s okay,” Wonwoo said calmly. “If it’s something you want, then do it. Don’t hold back just because you’re worried about what I’ll think. Do you want me to meet them?”
Chan looked down at their hands, then nodded. “Yes. I’ve been really looking forward to introducing you. They’re cool and kind—I think you’ll like them.”
Wonwoo gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Then let’s do it. I’m okay as long as you are.”
Chan turned to look at him, and for a moment, all his nerves faded. He smiled. “Okay.”
They arrived at Byeonsan Beach one and a half hours later. They were greeted with the soft golden sand stretching along the shoreline and gentle waves lapping quietly against the coast. The beach wasn’t too crowded so this is an opportunity for them to unwind and relax.
There are pine trees lining parts of the beach. In the distance, low mountains and clouds behind it are framing the view, making the entire place feel peaceful and tucked away from the busy world in Seoul. The salty breeze was refreshing and the sound of the waves felt like a soft lullaby that welcomed them to rest.
“Do you want to talk to the beach first or eat before we head to the hotel?” Mingyu asked the group.
“Let’s drop our bags at the hotel first, then head to the nearby food stalls,” Wonwoo suggested.
Everyone agreed, and the seven of them walked toward the hotel with their luggage in tow, ready to check in. Once they got their rooms, they paired off. Wonwoo and Dino, Seungkwan and Vernon, while Mingyu, Hoshi, and Jun shared a room with two queen-size beds.
After settling in, they went to a local restaurant just a short walk from the resort. The food was simple but delicious, with fresh food served hot. Wonwoo, who wasn’t a fan of seafood, still peeled shrimp for Chan—knowing full well Chan wouldn’t stop talking long enough to do it himself. Even if Wonwoo didn’t enjoy the food much and settled with steak, he quietly made sure Chan did.
“Let’s set up a bonfire later tonight,” Chan suggested to the group.
“Oh! I love that idea, maknae-yah!” Hoshi said, full of energy.
“And while we’re at it, let’s play some games too,” Seungkwan added with a grin.
“Sure, sure!” Everyone agreed excitedly.
“No laptops and no talk about school, that’s the one rule for this vacation,” Jun declared confidently. “If anyone breaks it, they’re the designated driver when the trip ends.”’
“That’s not fair!” Mingyu groaned. “I always end up driving on our trips… and Chan doesn’t even have a license yet, so that rule doesn’t apply to him!”
“Hep-hep,” Jun cut in smugly. “The maknae is exempt. This rule is for us hyungs only.”
The rest of the hyungs immediately started protesting and complaining loudly, but Wonwoo and Hoshi sat quietly on the side, just watching the chaos. Wonwoo, especially, didn’t mind the rule. In fact, he kind of liked the idea of being the one to drive Chan around wherever he wanted to go.
They decided to walk from the beach and take a picture of the scenery until the sun set on the horizon. They changed their outfits first and decided to eat dinner from different restaurant before doing their plans for that night.
Mingyu and Wonwoo were setting up the bonfire, carefully arranging firewood while Jun and Hoshi headed to a nearby convenience store to grab the snacks they’d picked out earlier. Meanwhile, Seungkwan and Vernon were busy gathering extra blankets from their rooms. Because as much fun as a beach bonfire sounded, no one wanted to freeze to death this close to the sea.
Chan, on the other hand, just stood there, not sure how to help. He was bundled up in the jacket Wonwoo had given him, the sleeves slightly too long, and clutching a thick blanket Hoshi had insisted he use to keep his hands and feet warm. Apparently, according to Hoshi hyung, cold feet were the fastest path to death by beach night.
Chan didn’t argue. He just watched as his hyungs did some task, bundled like a dumpling, silently cheering his hyungs on. When everyone settles, Wonwoo holds him in his hands and sits beside Seungkwan and sits to his left. Everyone who saw that, rolled their eyes ‘cause how Wonwoo was downbad to Chan. Treating him like a fragile baby.
They played rounds of Mafia game, a few games of Truth or Dare, and share strories from school—most of them funny, some little bitter. Jun hyung kicked it off by ranting about a professor who “definitely has it out for him,” which the others found funny… especially since Jun would now have to drive at the end of their vacation as part opf their no-school-talk punishment.
Overall, Chan felt genuinely happy. His soulmate, Wonwoo hyung, sat beside him, quietly holding his hand and massaging it gently, transferring his warmth without needing to say a word. Around them, six hyungs laughed and teased one another, and Chan felt it deeply that he was safe and protected. He didn’t know what the future would bring, but he was sure of one thing, they’d meet more people, live more memories, and keep finding joy in moments like these.
It was about an hour before midnight when everyone finally agreed to call it a night. They had a destination to explore in the morning, after all. But Chan and Wonwoo stayed a little longer by the fire, still basking in the quiet.
“Don’t stay up too late or we’re leaving you two tomorrow,” Seungkwan warned as they walked off.
The stars were bright, the waves steady, and the fire just warm enough. Chan squeezed Wonwoo’s hand gently, grateful that moments like this were real.
Wonwoo broke the silence first. “Are you not curious about what I did that day… when we found out we’re soulmates?”
Chan turned his gaze from the waves. “... I am. I’ve had so many questions in my head,” he said honestly. “But I knew you weren’t ready. And I understood that. I wanted you to tell me when it felt right, when you were ready, not when I asked.”
Wonwoo gave a soft, almost sad smile and looked out toward the horizon, as if searching the sea for the right words. “That day… I didn’t expect to find my soulmate,” he began slowly. “I was surprised, really, when I heard that melody. For a moment, I felt something pull at my chest… something peaceful. But the second I realized what it meant, that I had found them , I panicked.”
He turned to Chan, meeting his gaze. “I got scared… because I grew up believing I didn’t deserve anything. Not even love,” His voice cracked slightly. “So I ran away. I know that was unfair to you, but I was terrified that my past, everything dark and broken in me, would spill into your life. I didn’t want to taint your light.”
Chan didn’t interrupt. He just listened, his expression soft and you can see he was hurting because of the pain his soulmate experience.
“I heard you tried to reach out. That you even tried to befriend my friends,” Wonwoo continued, his voice thick with emotion. “Part of me wanted to reach back. Desperately. But I knew the moment we decided to try these things out, I knew we had to be open to each other. I don’t want you to see the side of me I’ve hidden for so long, the ones that are full of rejection and fear. Someone like you, so warm, so full of life… I didn’t think you should ever have to look at someone like me.”
He paused, eyes glimmering with tears he tried to hold back. “But when I heard what you did… that you made a song from our melody, that you worked so hard just to make something that belonged to us , I felt something I hadn’t in a long time. And that maybe I'll be allowed to receive your warmth or love.”
He looked down at their hands. “... Would it be selfish if I said I wanted that? If I said… I wanted you ? Even with my past…”
“Hyung…” Chan said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “You don’t have to be so hard on yourself.”
He turned toward Wonwoo, gently squeezing his hand.
“I’m here now. And I don’t care how much darkness or fear you carry, I’ll carry it with you.”
Wonwoo looked at him, eyes wide and vulnerable, like no one had ever said those words to him before. Chan gave a small smile, one that trembled at the edges but held so much certainty.
“I’m here now. And I don’t care how much darkness or fear you carry—I’ll carry it with you.”
“You don’t have to hide anymore. Not from me.”
Wonwoo looked at Chan, his eyes glistening with unshed tears “...What did I do to deserve someone like you? He whispered, holding Chan’s hand a little tighter.
Chan tried to lighten the mood “... Maybe you were a king in your past life who was sacrificed, hyung. That makes for a great backstory. It suits you.” He chuckled when Wonwoo gave him a horrified look.
There was a quiet pause between them before Chan spoke again, voice soft but sure. “Hyung, I just want to tell you, you’re not your parents. Even if you share the same blood, even if things feel familiar… you’re Jeon Wonwoo. Only you get to decide who you are.” He looked directly into Wonwoo’s eye.
“And I’m grateful that out of billions of people in this world, God gave me you, Jeon Wonwoo. I wouldn’t wish for anything else.”
Wonwoo smiled sadly, “... You’re right. I’m not them. I get to choose what kind of future I want.” He looked down, ashamed. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I make you cry, three times now. There’s no excuse for it. But I’ll do my best to make sure you won’t shed another tear because of me.”
Chan grinned, wiping his eyes. “Is this the last time we’re going to cry?”
“Yes,” Wonwoo said firmly, but the smile stayed on his lips. A moment passed before Wonwoo’s tone grew more serious.
“... You know what’s funny? All the adults in my family were soulmates. And yet, they still ended up hurting each other. My father made my mother cry almost every day. She told me she regretted meeting him… that she cursed the universe for tying her to someone who brought her so much pain.”
“... And I don't want to end up like him or her. Especially you Chan, I don’t want you to end up like my mom. So, I’ll be better for me, for you and for us.” Wonwoo said last time.
Chan put his head on Wonwoo’s shoulder as a way of comforting him. They sat in the sand more than usual for December, but Wonwoo and Chan, holding each other close side by side, didn’t feel the cold. The warmth between them was enough.
“Hyung, I… I want to tell you something,” Chan began, his voice quieter than the waves brushing the shore.
Wonwoo raised an eyebrow, curious, waiting for him to continue.
Chan hesitated, then confessed, “The cafe, when we first knew we were soulmates… that wasn’t the first I saw you.”
Wonwoo tilted his head, confused. Chan laughed softly at how cute he looked.
“Yes… I saw you before. In a bookstore, in the classics and literature section. You were wearing a hoodie, your glasses on, and you looked so focused on the book you were reading.” Chan’s voice softened as the memory bloomed. “I don’t know if it was the moment or just you, but that day, you stood there at the end of the bookshelves, and I just… knew. There’s something more than being soulmates.”
He turned to face Wonwoo.
“That day, I didn’t care if you were my soulmate or not. I just wanted to be part of your life, even if it meant waiting until you found your other half.” Chan paused. “And I hoped the guy you were with, Mingyu hyung, I think, wasn’t that person.”
Wonwoo blinked in surprise. He reached up gently to wipe the tears falling down Chan’s cheek with his fingertips.
“My parents… they’re not soulmates, hyung,” Chan said. “But they’re so in love you’d think they were. Growing up with them made me believe that soulmates were something magical and beautiful. And then, I saw you…”
His voice cracked. “Something pulled at my heart. And it wasn’t a sound in my head, it was you. You showed me that it doesn’t matter if we’re soulmates or not. If we’re given the chance to walk through life together… That's enough.
Wonwoo’s brows furrowed gently. “Why are you crying? I told you didn’t I? You will not shed any more tears.” he asked.
“Because I… I don’t understand why God would let someone like you go through so much pain,” Chan replied through tears. “Why would He give you soulmate parents only to let them break your heart like that?”
“It’s okay,” Wonwoo whispered, but Chan shook his head.
“No, it’s not.”
“It is,” Wonwoo said again, firmer this time. “Because if that pain led me to someone as precious as you… I would live it all again. As long as I end up with you.”
Chan’s eyes widened at the confession, tears still falling. “Hyung… don’t say that.” He was sobbing now, like a child.
Wonwoo gently held his hand, “Since you confessed, it’s my turn.”
Chan looked at him, puzzled.
“That wasn’t the first time I saw you, ethier,” Wonwoo admitted with a soft smile. “It was late December, maybe a week before January. I was walking around Seoul, thinking, visiting some place.”
He looked down at their joined hands, then back at Chan.
“And I saw you, A boy with a suitcase, sitting by the window of a coffee shop. Watching the people go by, completely enchanted by the city. You looked so innocent, so full of dreams and wonder. And while you were mesmerized by the world outside… I was mesmerized by you.
Chan stopped breathing for a second.
“I watched you try to take a picture of the night sky,” Wonwoo continued. “That night, I thanked God. Because He let me see you. A beautiful boy with passion, dreams, and a future that glowed.”
Wonwoo smiled warmly, brushing Chan’s hand with his thumb.
“And even though I didn’t know what it meant to love someone back then… just your presence made the world feel right again.” Wonwoo said, and then kissed Chan’s forehead.
The world may be hard for these two boys, but they have each other, in this lifetime, and in every universe.
“... Hyung. I’ll share everything with you.” Chan said while pouting and hugging his Wonwoo hyung tightly. “Even my parents, and Gon, and Halmonie too. Everything that’s mine is yours, hyung, so don’t worry about anything.”
Wonwoo chuckled softly at Chan’s words.
“Hai-hai… Thank you, my Channie.”
He hugged the younger back with warmth, like he didn’t want this moment to heal together.
As the waves gently crashed against the shore and the stars sparkled above them, nothing else mattered. Not the past, not the pain, only the beating of two hearts learning to heal together.
In the quiet comfort of the night, when no words were needed and only presence remained… Chan heard the silence in Wonwoo’s life, not the kind that was peaceful, but the kind that screamed loneliness.
And in that silence, where Wonwoo once thought no one would ever hear him…
Chan did.
He stayed, listened, loved, even if the world went quiet.
Even silence echoes when the right heart is listening.
"In The Silence, I Heard You"