Chapter 1: I can't make you love me, so just use me
Chapter Text
Wonwoo secretly loved it when Mingyu unthinkingly chose him over his girlfriends. Sometimes, when Mingyu was tired after a particularly gruesome shoot, Wonwoo would find himself on the blue sofa in his own living room after work with an armful of human puppy nuzzling into his neck.
The day in college when Mingyu got the call from his mother inviting him to her wedding to her divorce attorney, he was with a girlfriend in the dorm room he shared with Seungcheol.
Wonwoo was in the middle of a Sustainable Design class when he got the call from his best friend informing him of what happened. Within the next five minutes, Wonwoo found himself walking out of class early and to Mingyu's dorm to comfort him and make him his signature cup of hot chocolate. He arrived at the dorm to a distinct lack of the female species anywhere near Mingyu or his dorm. The next day, Mingyu told him he had broken up with his girlfriend.
And the thing was, Mingyu didn't even realize he was doing it, not until almost all his girlfriends had to confront him about his unhealthy emotional attachment to his best friend.
"She asked me to choose between you and her. Can you believe it?" Mingyu once told him after he had broken up with a co-model from a shoot.
It was certainly not the first time that had happened.
They were snuggling on the couch in Wonwoo's living room. Mingyu's head was on Wonwoo's shoulder and one of his arms was across Wonwoo's waist while they were watching a rerun of Running Man.
Wonwoo had sighed and told Mingyu, "You should've agreed for a while, Min. What if she were the one? Now you'll never know."
Mingyu, ever the romantic, would then say, "If she were the one, we'll meet again later. I believe in fate, Hyung, don't you?"
If I believed in fate, Kim Mingyu, I would've accepted mine and moved on, not still be stuck here, right by your side, like I've been for the past 17 years.
Jeon Wonwoo might not have been known for his overactive imagination, but everyone in their friend group knew he was a masochist when it came to Kim Mingyu.
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Mingyu's last girlfriend came in the form of Lee Hyeri, a fellow model and former child actor. Mingyu introduced everyone to her during the New Year's Eve party Jeonghan and Joshua had hosted at their new apartment. Mingyu had introduced her to Wonwoo already; and remembering how awkward it had been, Wonwoo sometimes resented his best friend privileges. Of course, that didn't mean she was mean or unkind, because she was the opposite of that. In the most cruel twist of fate, she was very much like Mingyu, cool, beautiful, life all figured out, kind and very much clingy to Mingyu.
The party was in full swing, which meant chaos in all parts of the living room and 15 voices all speaking over one another. The surprising part was that she was fitting right in. They were currently playing a card game, and she was winning them all. And if anyone knew his friends, they respected good competition.
The hyungs, mostly with Seuncheol hyung's money, had even bought a new gaming setup and installed it in one corner of their living room, which also had a karaoke machine to entertain the singers in the group.
"I feel like I missed a whole season of things," Wonwoo told Jeonghan from where they were sitting side by side in front of the gaming machines. "Why get an apartment if Shua hyung is at Seokmin's half the time, and travelling for work the other half? Plus, you've got that new job in Gwangju." Jeonghan paused his game and, sensing the mood, turned towards Wonwoo to give him his full attention. He was getting bored with the game anyway.
"It's an investment, Wonungie."
"Investment? For what?"
"The future, of course." Jeonghan bumped his shoulder with his. "And moreover, we talked, and I agreed to commute the two hours to work every day."
"Who's we?" Wonwoo was now even more confused, he had never thought of Jeonghan as the responsible one out of the two of them.
"Oh, me and Cheol, of course," Jeonghan smirked, and continued, completely steamrolling over Wonwoo's shocked reaction. "My contract is only for six months, so we're hoping he can be fully moved in by that time."
"You and Seungcheol hyung?" Wonwoo asked, with his eyes still wide open. "I can't say I didn't see it coming, but you've been so lowkey about it."
"It took some effort, especially on Cheol's part; he wanted to buy everything in the apartment for us, but I stopped him. No one except you and Shua knows. It's still not set in stone, just a decision we made by mutual understanding, I guess, so no one can know for now."
"But Mingyu-"
"Especially not Mingyu." Jeonghan held up a hand, cutting Wonwoo off. "He just settled back into his apartment after living with his last girlfriend for over 6 months. I don't think he'll take the news of his roommate moving so soon after he moved back well."
Wonwoo had to agree. He knew how sensitive Mingyu could get about certain things.
"He does fall for them too quick," Wonwoo grumbled, before nodding. "I won't tell him."
He gave Jeonghan a small smile. "For what it's worth, hyung, I'm happy for the two of you. I can't believe how someone of your personality managed to keep something so big a secret right under our noses."
"Hey! I'm very lowkey."
"Sure, Hyung."
Jeonghan laughed. "You should take my advice and start investing in the future too, Wonungie." Jeonghan nodded towards the sofa in the living room where the card game was going on. Wonwoo had been making a lot of effort not to look in that direction ever since the game had started and he wouldn't let all that effort go to waste so easily.
"She's nice, isn't she? Beautiful, of course, has family money and a lot of it, and is smarter than the ones Mingyu's brought over before. She's the full package." He paused, pursing his lips with his eyes still trained in the direction of the couch. "I don't trust her."
Wonwoo snorted loudly and gracelessly. "Only you, Hyung. Everyone else loves her. Joshua has already exchanged numbers in hopes of getting a recommendation into her country club."
Jeonghan waved a hand in the air, dismissing the claim. "Joshua is just trying to get his rocks off while he can. You know how he is."
"Hyung, have some faith in Mingyu's heart, maybe it'll surprise us this time." Wonwoo defended Mingyu, twisting the drawstrings of his jacket with his fingers. He was selfish, but he wasn't deliberately ignorant. And he actually believed the words he was speaking. "I know him, and this time, I think he's- he's found his one."
"Oh come on, Wonu-ya, you can't be telling me you believe in all that, "the one" bullshit?" Jeonghan said disbelievingly. "And I'm not worried about Mingyu's heart, I'm worried about yours," Jeonghan said, his voice soft now, looking at Wonwoo pointedly.
"Not this again," Wonwoo turned towards the game screen and switched it on. "If you don't want to play, give the console to Seokmin. I need to break a record here." And that was the end of the weirdest conversation he'd ever had.
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Other than the usual 15 people that made up their group, including the girlfriends and boyfriends, Lee Hyeri was the most recent addition. And contrary to what everyone else might have thought about her, Wonwoo knew she was there to stay.
Wonwoo was never one to brag, but it was a fact that he could read Mingyu like an open book. He read every minute expression, slight voice change, and body language. Although this particular habit was two-sided because Mingyu could read Wonwoo's moods just as easily, maybe even better, if you took into account how Wonwoo didn't talk much and reading his moods was the only way Mingyu had to communicate with him.
Wonwoo always forgot to text when he got home after a gruelling day at work, his head full of existing niche designs and plot blueprints. And sensing his lack of motivation to cook his own dinner, Mingyu would send food over.
Wonwoo would be lounging on the couch with a soft drink that Mingyu had lectured him not to drink, scrolling through his food delivery app, and the doorbell would ring. Sometimes, if he was lucky, it would be Mingyu on the other side, holding two lunchboxes of food, with a grin on his face, and a, "Did somebody order home delivery service of delicious home-cooked food with a side of the most handsome, stunning, Kim Mingyu?" on his lips.
And other times, it would be one of their friends, having been roped by Mingyu into taking care of the invalid and cooking for him. Wonwoo always grumbled, but finished everything made for him quickly.
The point was, Wonwoo knew Mingyu, and he knew that this girlfriend wasn't going anywhere. It shown in the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at her, in the way she clung to him and he didn't mind the blatant disregard of personal space.
From 9 o'clock, which was when the New Year's party had started, Mingyu had bent to kiss her neck 6 times, her wrist 3, and her lips twice. Not that Wonwoo was counting, it had been very helpfully pointed out by one of his many annoying friends, Lee Seokmin.
"And...seven," Seokmin announced from beside him, bringing Wonwoo's mind out of his thoughts. Without his permission, his eyes went to Mingyu and his girlfriend, snuggling up on the couch. And of course, Mingyu and Lee Hyeri were sharing a deck, not for lack of cards or even a lack of space. Probably so that Lee Hyeri could be in reach for those neck kisses.
"If you're so jealous, why don't you go sit in between? Maybe Lee Hyeri will take pity on you and give you some attention." Wonwoo said scathingly and averted his gaze from the couple. Yes, so he had broken his resolve not to look. He was weak.
And of course, Seokmin, being one of his closest friends, saw right through him.
"You should stop lashing out at other people, Wonwoo-ya, and instead reflect on why you're doing it. Maybe that was meant for yourself, did you ever think that?" Seokmin ended his tirade with raised eyebrows, looking serious for once in his life.
"Whoa, I got goosebumps, Seokmin-a." Wonwoo shuddered, deliberately ignoring dignifying that with a response, and got back to click spamming the fight switch on the game. Apparently, it was a day of giving unhelpful advice, and he had been chosen as the pitiful sacrifice. "If you were this serious about the game, we would've won three failed attempts ago."
"Trying to distract me, huh?" Seokmin said, unhelpfully smart at the wrong moment. And because Wonwoo was not only weak, but also immature with that, he stuck his tongue out at his friend.
Which obviously prompted Seokmin to give up on his own game and try to distract Wonwoo from the game in order to get his revenge. And then, of course, Wonwoo had to retaliate, so they were pushing and pulling Wonwoo's gaming console for the next three minutes.
"Who's winning the card game?" Seokmin smirked smugly, the cheeky bastard. And of course, once he said that, Wonwoo was distracted and his eyes went towards the couch. He was weak like that.
Except, the object of his attention was gone. So was the object of the object of his attention. Typical.
The next moment though, the balcony door adjoining the room opened and Lee Hyeri came back in looking dejected.
"GAME OVER!" Announced his neglected game screen, calling his attention once again, now repeatedly showing his character being stabbed to death; what did they show kids these days.
Wonwoo got up, abandoning Seokmin, who was already distracted by some of their friends singing at the karaoke.
He walked over to the coat rack by the door and grabbed a couple of scarves, one plain, one pointlessly dramatic with little yellow ducks all over it. A gift he had given to Mingyu last Christmas.
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"You'll catch a cold."
Mingyu looked up from where he was eyeing an unlit cigarette, and smiled at Wonwoo.
"I have you to warm me up."
Wonwoo rolled his eyes, but still quietly walked over to where Mingyu was leaning against the railing. He wrapped the duck scarf around Mingyu, the plain one around himself, took the cigarette from Mingyu's hand and slipped it into his own pocket, before finally tucking himself into Mingyu's side. And when his best friend's arms automatically came around him in a still warm embrace, he relaxed against his chest.
"I could've sworn you were supposed to be the one to warm me up." Mingyu nuzzled at Wonwoo's temple before giving it a short kiss, promptly making Wonwoo's toes curl in his house slippers.
Wonwoo couldn't help himself, "And I could've sworn that was your girlfriend's job." He said, before continuing to fill the silence. "You've got Jeonghannie hyung's approval, by the way, for Lee Hyeri. He said she's nice, beautiful, rich, and smart." Wonwoo continued, counting her virtues on his fingers, and omitting everything else the man had said.
"Hmm, I'm so glad he approves. I was the most worried about him." Mingyu smiled at Wonwoo. "After you, of course."
"Of course." Wonwoo averted his gaze.
They stood like that in companionable silence for a few minutes, watching the snowflakes fall. The balcony lights hanging from the edge of the ceiling twinkled, forming a festive word. Little snubs of mistletoe still hung between the lights, and snowflakes fell slowly onto Mingyu’s outstretched hand, melting on contact. A shutter went off in his mind’s eye, as if his brain had taken a snapshot—locking the scene away forever.
Wonwoo would always remember that moment as the moment that marked the beginning of the end. And ironically, since it was the first day of January, the snowfall they were watching might've been the first snowfall of the season. Wonwoo's whole life was quite ironic, so why stop it from destroying him more?
He took a deep breath and steeled himself before asking, “Have you decided what you'll do about the US job?"
“Not yet.” Mingyu sighed. “But you know that if I do take it, I’ll still be able to come to South Korea frequently, right, Hyung?”
“Right, but why do you think I care? For all I care, you can settle down anywhere you want to in the world.” Wonwoo teased and because he could feel the pout on Mingyu’s face, he laughed and said, in a warm voice, “Kidding, Min. I care."
And as soon as he said that, the arms around him tightened and Mingyu burrowed deeper into his neck, never once bringing his lips to touch the sensitive part of his neck.
Wonwoo wasn't short by any stretch but when Mingyu did that, it made him rise up on his tiptoes.
“Hyeri wants me to take it.” Mingyu continued speaking softly from Wonwoo’s neck. Of course she did. It wasn't a secret that Lee Hyeri worked as a model for the same company and she'd been the one to give Mingyu a recommendation. “Her contract is almost over, but her manager is confident the company will renew it with her. And, I want to be with her. So if I end up signing the contract, it’ll be because of her.”
Wonwoo was suddenly made aware of the pain in the balls of his feet. He detached himself from Mingyu and put his heels back down. This forced Mingyu to loosen his arms around him and stare down at him with a displeased frown as if his only source of heat was taken away from him.
"If you’re willing to move countries for her, it must mean something, Gyu.” Wonwoo smiled at him. He was happy for him. For Mingyu.
“What do you think, Hyung?” Mingyu questioned him, as if it were his decision to make.
What did he think? He thought that he wanted to crawl inside of his best friend's skin, as close to his heart as possible, for the rest of his days, and not let him go anywhere. But that wasn't possible, so Wonwoo smiled sheepishly at him.
“I think you should take it. It's a no-deal. It's two things that make you happy: Modelling and Lee Hyeri.” Wonwoo said, sentencing himself to seventy more years of painful yearning and unrequited love. And that wasn't even the first time he had done that. If only he had a dollar for every time he had pushed Mingyu in the other direction, he would be Midas.
“Then why does the thought of leaving make me feel so sad?” Mingyu said in a small voice, pulling Wonwoo back in and holding on this time.
And because Wonwoo was a loser when it came to sad Mingyu, he circled his arms around Mingyu’s neck, blinked rapidly to get rid of the sudden moisture in his eyes and said, “This is a good opportunity, Mingyu-ya. There's a saying, ‘you have to lose some to win some’? Luckily for you, you’re winning more than you lose.”
“No, I’m losing more.” Mingyu’s voice was husky and on the verge of breaking. “I’ll not be able to see you every day like we do now.”
Idiot, Wonwoo thought. This man, whom he had been in love with for seventeen years, was an absolute idiot. An overly emotional, sensitive idiot.
“Min, you are not losing any of us if I have anything to say about it.” Wonwoo declared a little forcefully, hoping it got through to Mingyu in his state. “And moreover, I'll take those odds if it means you’ll be on the cover of Vogue someday.”
He scratched behind Mingyu’s ear before slipping his fingers into his short hair. “And being interviewed by a snobby magazine.” He paused when he heard a sniffle. “Of course, that would mean you'd have to know more than three English words.” He said and hid a smile on Mingyu's shoulder when he heard the expected watery snort from above.
"Hey! I know more than that, okay?" Mingyu said with a pout in his voice.
"Sure you do." Wonwoo chuckled.
"Thank you, Wonu Hyung."
They stayed wrapped around each other for quite some time; just Mingyu slowly breathing and Wonwoo stroking the length of his back. They stayed like that until Soonyoung finally found them on the balcony to inform them that it would be 12 o'clock in 3 minutes.
Chapter 2: Shining star
Notes:
The chapter is a little history and backstory of what's coming. Nothing TOO sad, I promise:(
Chapter Text
The park on the other side of the Good Nanum hospital was isolated, illuminated only by a single streetlight across the road and a few stray headlights in the hospital's parking lot. The needles of rain slowly fell, shining silver by the car headlights. It was a steady downpour that hadn’t broken in three days.
Sitting on a park bench, below the canopy of trees and shaded by the harshest of the rain as if he were God's favorite child, was a boy, toying with a yellow armband, black clothes fitting loose and irregular, and horn-rimmed glasses that kept slipping down the edge of his nose.
The quiet night was only interrupted by the continuous chirp of insects that hovered close to the bench, where there was not much light. But Jeon Wonwoo didn't mind; he loved bugs. According to his mother, his first friend had been the cricket living outside his balcony.
While lying on her hospital bed three days back, two hours before she had to go for her surgery, she'd recounted everything from her life before giving birth to him and after, stories she'd never shared before, saying that now that he was 15 years old, he was old enough to know.
Wonwoo, sitting on a chair beside the bed, with his head lying near her hip, had proudly corrected her and told her, "I'm 15 and a half years old, actually."
She just smiled, a little sadly for the occasion if you asked Wonwoo. She'd always been a beautiful woman, and she still was gorgeous in Wonwoo's eyes, hospital gown now wrinkled and dirty, hair a disarray on the white pillow, and her once lovely complexion nowhere to be found. That's how it had been for the last two weeks of being admitted to the hospital for abdominal pain that had turned out to be an aneurysm.
In those two hours, she'd told him how she had met his father in her late 20s, how they had agreed to get married to have him. She told him of the history of bad blood pressure in her family. She told him how, before his company went bankrupt, his father had been a nice, kind husband. Which, to be honest, Wonwoo found hard to believe, considering the man's absence at the hospital just hours before his wife would be going into life-threatening surgery. And, of course, the one healed, "accidental" cigarette burn on Wonwoo's underarm.
And then, she changed the topic into a more light-hearted one.
"Remember that time when you used to refer to yourself as a girl." His mother laughed. "You even called yourself Mingyu's girlfriend a day after you two had met."
Wonwoo groaned dramatically, making his mother laugh so loud the nurse had to warn her.
"You said it was just to piss off your bullies." She repressed a smile. "But then you had a constant blush on your face for at least two weeks afterwards."
"How many times until you're finally done bringing that up?" Wonwoo deadpanned, playing along with his mother.
She chuckled and said, "Just this once. I'm rooting for you."
And of course, Wonwoo wasn't dumb; he understood what she meant by the first sentence, especially when she said it with that sad smile back on her face. But he didn't let it show on his face. Just kept nodding to what she was saying, occasionally adding to the conversation.
He'd heard the doctors say to his father that if she went ahead with the emergency surgery, she might not survive. But they'd also said that there was no other option but to do it.
As Wonwoo sat under God's canopy of trees, wiping his nose on his sleeve, he remembered that the last advice she would ever give him would be that money didn't mean much, and time was a better currency than money, not to be wasted surrounded by the wrong people, but to be earned and spent with the right people.
And it was ironic because most of the people who'd shown up to her funeral weren't even the right people.
"He's so pitiful, he has no one left now." The whispers inside had said. "His mother is dead, probably because of all the abortions his dad forced her to have, and his dad doesn't show up to the funeral. If anyone knows that freeloader, he's not going to step up and take care of the child he's ignored since it's birth."
They were wrong, Wonwoo thought, determined to believe it. His mom had told Wonwoo not to listen to anything that people who were not family had to say, and not to lose faith in his father. Wonwoo wanted to, not only because he loved his mother and wanted to honor her last wishes, but also because he and his father were each other's only family left.
But he hadn't shown up to the last two days of her funeral, like family is supposed to. The bar was already too low, but Wonwoo was slowly losing hope.
"Mom, why did you have to ask for such an impossible wish?" He asked bitterly to the rain droplets on his palm, even as tears welled up again, as soon as he uttered the honorific.
And it wasn't just that he needed to have someone to depend on, he thought, choking on a sob at the thought of being alone in the world. The thought of having to fend for himself scared him shitless, but he could do it, he was almost 16 and could take up more jobs to sustain himself. He would probably have to give up his dreams of becoming an architect as well as the last year of school, but he could support himself, he had to. He also had savings from when his mom wouldn't let him use his salary from working at the cafe to pay for rent. The thought brought on a fresh bout of tears. It was as if the tears hadn't stopped once in the last three days.
He might be able to fend for himself, but deep down, he knew that he still needed his dad. However self-sustainable he was, he still needed someone to tell him everything was going to be okay, because beneath it all, he was only a 15-year-old kid.
His head was still bent, so he heard more than saw the footsteps approaching the bench.
Wonwoo's hand tightened on his armband as he used the other to wipe the tear tracks and willed more to stop.
"Mom and Dad said they'll take you home." Mingyu sat gingerly beside him on the bench, as if he might disturb the peace settled around Wonwoo. "They've wrapped up inside. Did you eat?" He asked, unfolding the newspaper in his hands with a crinkle and offering the food inside to Wonwoo.
"No." He shook his head before raising it to look at his best friend with glassy eyes. "Did you? Why are you still here so late? I thought you left before."
"You're still here," Mingyu said simply, bringing a piece of gimbap to Wonwoo's lips, which he accepted reluctantly. Mingyu was always like that, saying the simplest things that ended up meaning a lot more to Wonwoo.
The atmosphere hung heavy with quiet sorrow. Mingyu hated seeing Wonwoo crying; it always flared a restless urge inside him to fix things for his hyung. He sat in silence beside him, swinging his legs. They barely reached the ground right now, but he was growing slowly and steadily. His dad had even said that he would grow taller than Wonwoo hyung in a few months.
"You know the last thing your mom ever said to me?" Mingyu asked quietly. Wonwoo shook his head. "It was to tie my shoelaces before I fell on the way to school."
A surprised scoff came from beside him.
"I'm sorry, I'm not as good as you at comforting." Mingyu smiled sheepishly. "But Auntie was the only adult who never scolded me for my clumsiness. I once spilled apple juice all over your sneakers and she didn't scold me once. I was on the verge of wailing, and she just calmly told me that you needed a new pair anyhow." Mingyu recounted, his own eyes now glossed over as he remembered. "Maybe that's where you get your zen from." He quickly looked over at his hyung, satisfied to see the grimace nowhere to be found now.
"How can someone be like that? I think I would've been jealous of the way she loved you, but she loved me the same way, as if I were her own kid." Mingyu took a deep breath, sticking a piece of gimbap in his mouth to swallow the lump already there.
And because he'd also heard what they were saying inside the funeral hall, he turned to Wonwoo and said earnestly, "She was an angel on Earth, and so are you hyung. And if your dad doesn't see that about you, it's his loss because there are others who do." He paused, swallowed audibly. "Your mom, she deserves to be mourned, so don't hide your tears from me, Jeon Wonwoo, and cry as much as you want to. I'm right here."
Wonwoo got exactly two seconds to be stunned before he was pulled into a warm side embrace. And then and only then, did he turn his face to hide it into Mingyu's shoulders and let the grief out once again, slow and steady, in rhythm with the rain that had slowed to a drizzle.
After a few minutes, when Wonwoo was trying to take deep breaths, Mingyu spoke again.
"Do you see that star there, right beside the moon?" He raised the hand that wasn't currently holding Wonwoo and pointed up. "That's Auntie." He said with a certainty that made Wonwoo raise his head and look up towards the crescent moon and the bright star peeking from in between the clouds.
"You know how I know? Because she knows you can't see more than 5 feet without your glasses, so she had to shine the brightest, so you could see her easily."
And the ridiculousness of that whimsical explanation made Wonwoo choke on a sob even while he lightly punched Mingyu's side. And they stayed in that quiet moment, Mingyu only bringing up going home after almost an hour had passed, and when Wonwoo was finally looking sleepy after not having slept for 48 hours.
Chapter 3: I know you, but do you know me?
Chapter Text
Wonwoo didn't know when it had started. It could've been the day they met, in seventh grade, when Wonwoo's bullies didn't like the way that Wonwoo and Mingyu were too close from the first day they met. So when Wonwoo had called himself Mingyu's girlfriend just to annoy their wannabe-gangster bully, sweet, unbothered Mingyu had kissed his cheek. Then he had waved it off as if it was nothing, oblivious, of course, to the blush on Wonwoo's cheek. The bullies, in fear of catching "it" from them, never bothered them again.
But by then, Wonwoo had other things to worry about. Things like, maybe, his sexual orientation.
Or maybe it was on that park bench when Mingyu had sat beside him and told him that his mother was the brightest star in the night sky.
Maybe it came slow and steady when Mingyu was Wonwoo's only source of comfort during the coldest winters in college, when he was reminded of the mother who, despite her own toxic relationship, still loved the winter for the snowy romance in the air.
For one to be in love with their best friend, and henceforth suffering for more than 15 years, you had to be the biggest hopeless romantic. It was in the job description.
While Mingyu's nature as a hopeless romantic was the perfect juxtaposition for his. Mingyu fell in love too easily, and with almost every single one of his girlfriends. Lee Hyeri was only the fourth. And the fourth time was the charm, if the third time wasn't, right? Or something like that.
Wonwoo's phone buzzed. He blinked back to reality, said to himself, "still the pain," and checked his phone.
you got home okay from your breakfast with your friends?
you want me to pick you up?
hyung?
Except, Wonwoo scoffed while typing with one hand and slipping his shoes on with the other, Mingyu never let him have his reality check. Simply by existing.
Yes. No. I'm starting now, will reach in 20. You'd better be on time.
It was the third Sunday of January, and they hadn't hung out together since before the New Year's party. So Mingyu had suggested going for lunch together.
Which was how Wonwoo found himself sitting across from Mingyu in a pretty, unheard-of cafe that Mingyu had chosen in the remote regions of Seoul.
"I told you not to be late, Mingyu-yah." Wonwoo berated Mingyu, while Mingyu settled down in the seat beside him. "I already ordered."
"Sorry, Hyung," Mingyu was all apologetic smiles, while he removed his gloves and his coat, "I was dropping Hyeri off at a doctor's appointment close to here." Which explained the remote location of the cafe.
"Oh, is she alright? What happened?" Wonwoo asked, worried. He was a decent human being after all. He pushed his cup of hot chocolate in Mingyu's direction, who automatically took it and warmed his hands around it. He'd ordered it for Mingyu anyway.
"She twisted her ankle today, and now she's worried it might show during her show tomorrow." Mingyu smiled with his eyes, taking a sip from the cup. "It'll probably just swell a little, nothing more, but she's all cute and dramatic like that."
"I bet she is," Wonwoo smirked good-naturedly. "Look at you all smitten. Did you also carry her over to the car and up?"
"How'd you know?" Mingyu chuckled, looking like he'd been caught in the act. "Just wait until your time comes, you'll be the same."
Wonwoo smiled, but he had a feeling it didn’t reach his eyes.
"You should've stayed at the hospital with her. Will she be fine?" But Mingyu waved him off the next second.
"She has her manager with her; she'll be fine." He reassured Wonwoo. "Moreover, this is our time. We haven't met in so long, Hyung, when we used to meet every day before." His lips were pursed, as if it wasn't partly his and his girlfriend's fault.
Wonwoo had been trying to avoid Mingyu and his girlfriend together as much as he could. He couldn't help it that they were always together, so he, unintentionally, ended up avoiding Mingyu too.
He did realize that he should probably make some effort to get to know her.
Eh.
"Have you been eating well?"
"I've been eating well, Mingyu. Like I told you on text yesterday night." Wonwoo gave him an unimpressed look.
"You can't blame me for being worried when you even forget to eat lunch at work sometimes?" Mingyu said.
"How'd you know about that?" Wonwoo narrowed his eyes. Although he had a suspicion.
"I have my sources," Mingyu said casually, taking a bite of pasta from Wonwoo's plate.
"This is stalking, I didn't consent to it," Wonwoo stated, taking back his fork from Mingyu and scooping some pasta into his own mouth.
"I don't need consent to take care of you." Mingyu raised a hand to wipe off the corner of Wonwoo's mouth. A few seconds later, Wonwoo's imagination was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. It was a familiar number. Wonwoo quickly declined the call and flipped the phone upside down.
"Whoa, who was that?" Mingyu asked, curious. "Don't you have to get that?"
"No." Wonwoo shook his head, ending the conversation. Mingyu shrugged, all too used to Wonwoo's one-word answers, and tore a piece of the bread, passing the bigger one to Wonwoo.
"Speaking of sources, I was talking to my dad yesterday, and guess what he said." Mingyu started, one side of his mouth kicking up while he chewed. "Hyung, did you meet my dad and Mrs. Kim for dinner last Saturday?"
"Ah, it's--they called me saying that they were back from their trip and they wanted to meet. But you were busy that weekend so I went and met them." Wonwoo hesitated before continuing. "It was nice meeting Auntie and Uncle after so long. I heard their trip was great."
"Tell me about it. Mrs. Kim said Dad almost bought a house in Venice to live there." Mingyu sighed, shaking his head, but there was a warm smile on his face. "Then someone told him the city was slowly being submerged, so he changed his mind."
"And then it was the South of France." Wonwoo snorted, continuing because he'd heard it already. Mingyu let out a laugh, his eyes scrunching up at the corners.
"You don't mind that I met them alone, right?" Wonwoo asked then. Not that that was the first time Wonwoo had met them, nor the last. He loved the drama and love Mr and Mrs. Kim brought to the table whenever they met. And they were family, it was that simple.
"Of course not," Mingyu assured him quickly, "They love you. Probably even more than me." He wiped fake tears.
"I told them about Hyeri, and you know what they said?" Mingyu pouted dramatically, "They said if you approved of her, she was probably fine. As if my opinion doesn't even matter."
Studies, mostly the literary fiction Wonwoo had read, showed that when someone fell in love, they unknowingly brought the person up in every conversation, even when the person themselves wasn't present. He'd experienced it firsthand.
"I mean, they're right. Considering your choices in bed partners over the years and mine." Wonwoo raised his eyebrows in challenge. "Remember Yeji, who threw your stuff out of your own window, including your underwear and the KAWS sculpture you were decorating for Cheol hyung? It crashed, much like your mental health that day." Wonwoo pursed his lips, trying to suppress a smile, while the pout on Mingyu's face was growing in intensity.
"And who tells my dad all this shit even though I ask them to keep it quiet?" Mingyu glared pointedly at Wonwoo, who just chuckled. "And if we're talking about your choice in bed partners--"
Wonwoo forcefully shoved a mouthful of pasta into Mingyu's mouth.
They talked about the most random stuff without ordering anything, Mingyu talking most of the time about his most recent project with a celebrity he wasn't supposed to name, which he did after two seconds into the conversation. Wonwoo simply listened with his head tilted, smiling fondly and nodding, occasionally expressing his displeasure at Mingyu’s bosses on his behalf.
After what felt like fifteen minutes but was probably already an hour, Wonwoo called their waiter over and ordered a black coffee for himself. Mingyu asked for extra sugar for Wonwoo's coffee because he always forgot to.
While he was ordering, the door to the cafe opened with a ring.
"Hi, here you are!" A familiar voice called before Lee Hyeri slid into the seat on Mingyu's other side. "You're not done here yet?" She snuggled under Mingyu's arm and turned her face up to receive a kiss, making herself right at home in less than 7 seconds.
The broccoli in the pasta held Wonwoo's attention for the next few seconds.
She was beautiful, with her smooth skin, perfectly aligned smile, straight black hair falling to her waist, Louis Vuitton purse, and the Burberry sunglasses she'd worn to a doctor's appointment perched on her head.
"You're back already? You should've called me." Mingyu mumbled, tucking her hair behind her ears. "What did the doctor say?"
"I didn't want to disturb you." She said against his lips.
Because intruding on their time was so much better.
"He gave me a painkiller and a scar treatment gel." She continued, almost looking like she wanted to maul Mingyu in public.
"Hi, Hyeri." Wonwoo coughed, greeted her like his heart wasn't currently aching inside his chest. "Mingyu told me about your ankle, I hope you're okay now?"
"Oh, hi, Wonwoo!" Hyeri gave Wonwoo a tight-lipped smile, still attached to Mingyu. "It's just a sprain, I'll be fine in no time."
They had only met thrice now, and Hyeri was rather good at controlling her face expressions, so Wonwoo didn't know why, but his instinct was telling him that Hyeri didn't like him. And while a third person would understand why Wonwoo didn't like her despite her serene nature, Wonwoo had done nothing for it to be mutual. Maybe he was getting sloppy while hiding his own thoughts.
"But I do want to be back in bed, don't want to put too much pressure on my ankle." Hyeri looked at Wonwoo apologetically. "I hope you don't mind us leaving early, Wonwoo."
And how could Wonwoo mind, when she made Mingyu so happy that he still had that dazzled look on his face from being kissed, oblivious that his decisions were being made for him.
"I don't mind." Wonwoo gave her a frown that he hoped looked like a smile.
Mingyu reached his free hand towards Wonwoo, smoothing the wrinkle on his forehead. "Don't frown." He said softly. "You'll get wrinkles."
Warmth bloomed inside of Wonwoo's body, making his toes curl inside his boots. And everyone wondered why he still hadn't moved on after seventeen years.
"Thanks." He said softly, giving Mingyu a smile real this time.
He gave Mingyu's girlfriend a quick look for her reaction. She just gave a laugh and excused herself, saying she had to go to the bathroom first before they left.
Mingyu nodded, giving her a "goodbye" kiss on the corner of her mouth. Wonwoo looked literally anywhere else in the cafe and then, when reprieve came in the form of his coffee, he pulled it to himself, adding four cubes of sugar to ease the bitterness residing deep in his soul.
"I'm sorry about Hyeri crashing our lunch, Wonu Hyung. I didn't know she would come here after her appointment." Mingyu surprised Wonwoo by admitting sheepishly. "And I'm sorry in advance for leaving early."
"It's alright, I came earlier than you, I need to leave soon too," Wonwoo brought his cup up to his lips, hiding half his face.
"You're not mad at me?" Mingyu asked, ducking his head and looking into Wonwoo's eyes with his best puppy eyes. "I'll make it up to you later."
"How could I be mad at you?" Wonwoo averted his gaze for the tenth time in an hour and took a sip of his coffee.
"Aww, I know you could never be mad at me." Mingyu beamed, all worry gone from his expression. "You love me."
"I do." Wonwoo simply said. Mingyu looked at him, confused, looking like he was going to say something.
Wonwoo just laughed it off.
By looking at the glass-panelled, minimalist but imposing depression factory of a structure from the outside, you wouldn't know that one of the floors had an architecture firm, right beside an interior design firm on the same floor. Both had an open concept, complete with a networking cafe, a zen room, and countless little scream cabins, and were designed by one of the best architects/interior designers in Seoul. I.e., not his best friend, Wonwoo. Soonyoung cackled silently at his own joke while hauling the documents to his other hand and clicking the elevator button.
Wonwoo's office on the 12th floor was a semi-enclosed, three-walled cubicle with a rolling chair and a desk fairly devoid of any personal items. Except for the metal fidget spinner Jeonghan had once picked up for Wonwoo on his trip to Hawaii. And a handwritten note stuck to his deskboard, requesting "Wonu hyung" to eat all his veggies. Dash, "Mingyu" ♡ with a suspiciously perfect heart drawn beside it.
Soonyoung knocked on the wood, presenting the file in his hand with a flourish.
"The documents are here." He waved them, trying to get Wonwoo's attention, but the latter just gave him a thumbs up, not even looking up from where he was elbows deep in the blueprint open on his computer in front of him.
"The least you can do is say thank you. This is the third time this month that you've forgotten a document at home." Soonyoung leaned on the desk, as if settling in for an argument he had all the time for.
"You live the closest to my place, and I've placed the order for the monthly delivery of four types of kimchi on a subscription basis," Wonwoo spoke, now flipping through the document papers. "It's on a year-long basis, and they'll deliver straight to the apartment. Happy?" He said, finally looking up and into Soonyoung's eyes and raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, your majesty, I'm happy." Soonyoung bowed, just to be the dramatic little shit he was, but Wonwoo's attention was already taken by his ringing phone. He reached out to silence it, flipping it down and turning once more to the documents in his left hand.
"Wonwoooo." A smoky voice called from the other side of Wonwoo's desk. "Did you read this magazine? Did you see the photoshoot?" Then she looked up and finally noticed Soonyoung standing there.
"Oh, look, it's the adopted child who takes bribes in lifetime kimchi supplies." The owner of the voice, Park Jihyo, sidled her seat closer to Wonwoo, her long hair falling in perfect disarray over her shoulder, manicured hands holding the magazine. "Exactly how many children are you friends with, Wonwoo?" She absent-mindedly placed the magazine on Wonwoo's desk.
"Oh, look, it's the coworker who needs to be babysat all the time," Soonyoung snarked back, folding his arms and sticking a leg out to bend it. And that's how Wonwoo knew that he wouldn't be able to work while those two anywhere near his desk. He would do literally anything else to save himself from getting involved in this. And just as he thought that, his phone rang again. The same number, the same area code, so Wonwoo silenced it again. "Disrespected any board member today? Maybe called an interior designer incompetent?"
"Nope, just a gamer who calls himself a game developer," Jihyo shot back. And Soonyoung sputtered in indignation, already scrambling to come up with a comeback.
Wonwoo sighed wearily, giving any one of his colleagues meeting his eyes a painful, apologetic smile. That's how it had been between them since they met each other in college. Soonyoung, Wonwoo's childhood friend, and Jihyo, Wonwoo's college classmate, turned work friend—this mysterious rivalry, which Wonwoo had never understood and didn't want to.
"Kids. That's it, time out." He interrupted Soonyoung before someone cried. It would be Soonyoung. "Soonyoung, leave, right now. Jihyo, give Minyoung-shi her seat back and go to your own floor. Let's go for lunch a little later, I have some very important questions to ask you." Wonwoo said, giving his friend a threatening glare. She looked mildly disturbed and guilty. She should be, for leaking his schedule to Mingyu.
Before anyone could heed his instructions, the same ring. And the same silence a second later.
Jihyo said to Soonyoung, "I don't know how Jihoon tolerates you," and then walked off in the direction of the elevator.
"I swear to god, she's so jealous of me for being your best friend. I hate her." Soonyoung didn't hate easily. But when it came to Jihyo, Soonyoung was always seething.
"It's more likely that she wants Jihoon." Wonwoo said seriously, and then he looked at Soonyoung's terrified face. "I'm kidding, Soonyoung," He lied before finally turning back to his computer, wordlessly dismissing him.
"No, don't distract me." Soonyoung shook his head but didn't move an inch otherwise. "Who's been calling you? They called you four times already in front of me, and you didn't pick up once." He pointed at Wonwoo, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Is it that person? Is he asking for money again?"
"It's nobody, Soonyoung, leave it." Wonwoo evaded, swallowing.
"You're lying. You only lie when it involves your dad. You've never even told Mingyu about him, and everyone knows you're physically incapable of lying to Mingyu."
Truth. Mingyu could detect his lies from miles away. Didn't mean Wonwoo didn't have experience in hiding things from Mingyu. Exhibit A, he'd hidden the most important truth from Mingyu. The fact that Mingyu had almost clocked him the previous day at lunch, in more ways than one, just meant he had to up his poker face game.
"Dad called me last month asking for money and I transferred it. But he's asking for more," Wonwoo confessed, defeated, because Soonyoung would never let it go otherwise.
It was the same pattern every time with his dad. He would call, demanding money while recounting every time he put aside his business to take care of him after his mother died. Then he would forget about Wonwoo's existence for the next year or so, depending on his own convenience and need, before the call would come again, this time with a new excuse. It was a vicious cycle.
And Wonwoo didn't want Mingyu to know about it, because if Soonyoung was worried, Mingyu would go crazy with worry and try to do something about it, which Wonwoo didn't want. Dragging Mingyu into his dad's selfish tantrums was the last thing he ever wanted to do.
"Why do you entertain it in the first place? With people like him, you give him an inch, and they take a mile." Soonyoung stated with conviction, stomping his leg as if personally offended.
"I know, but he's right about one thing; I do owe him," Wonwoo admitted, rubbing his forehead. "Just, I'll come home and we'll talk, Soonie, not here. I really do have to work right now."
After Soonyoung had left, Wonwoo finally opened his phone and saw the messages his father had left him. And it was the same exact words, repeated in a different sentence formation. Just this time, the man wanted money for an investment, which was either an elaborate scheme or he was lying about it. Wonwoo didn't care enough to find out what it was. His dad wouldn't be getting any more money from him. At least not for the next eleven months or so.
He switched his phone off and closed his eyes, his restless fingers thumbing the corner of the magazine on the desk.
And then he looked down, and his heart shot straight into his throat. Because what did the universe even mean by having Mingyu's Calvin Klein photoshoot right in front of his eyes, all while he was bemoaning how to handle his rather pitiful relationship with the man who had provided the sperm to birth him?
Notes:
I have two words to say: You're welcome;) It took some effort, but I toned down Wonwoo's Great depression and longing. A little. For now. Because my beta @Dinaaa25 told me to elaborate on the scenes instead, so really, that's who you should thank.
The "still the pain" monologue that Wonwoo says out loud at the start is from his very own depressing rendition of Maya Angelou's poem, "Still I rise." I did warn you that Wonwoo dabbles in poetry.
Chapter 4: I'm the hellflower waiting to be picked by you
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
A flower blooming inside hell fire.
An unburnt and moist mystery.
Is there no one who could stealthily pluck that flower
And give it to me?
-Yoon Hyun Seok (Hellflower)
Wonwoo realized he was not normal when he was in Eleventh grade, and Mingyu was in Tenth grade. And no, his gay awakening wasn’t falling in love with his very straight best friend, that came later. Rather, it was all very natural and uneventful.
It was the last day of ninth grade, and Seokmin and Chan had been talking about their girlfriends for a while during recess, and Wonwoo had never understood what all the fuss was about. He didn’t like the idea of having to take all the tantrums Chan's girlfriend threw or the cringey stuff Seokmin’s girlfriend made him do. He just didn’t see himself in their place, no matter how hard he imagined it in his head, and even if he did, he didn’t like what he saw.
And then, in tenth grade, while researching Korean poets for an English assignment, Wonwoo had discovered Queer literature, namely, the works of the Korean Queer and out poet, Yoon Hyun-seok. Then he started writing his own little pieces of literature, but his real talent lay in interpreting the poems and illustrating them. That was the day he discovered his dream.
The first time Wonwoo had ever shown his work to anyone was to his mother, on the second day that she was admitted into the hospital. His mom had seen the sketch, smiled through her tears, and told him he was going to be the best illustrator Seoul had ever seen. But his future was as uncertain as ever, especially that day, when his mom had just recovered from a hemorrhage. So Wonwoo hadn’t even considered that he could follow his dreams. In a moment of quiet courage, the fifteen-year-old boy had to swallow the bile that came up in his throat and lie to his mother instead, telling her that he hoped the same.
His gay awakening was a very calm, undeniable, quiet affair, made solid by two facts. 1. He finally realised what his mother had meant while on her deathbed when she’d told him she rooted for him right after teasing him about Mingyu. 2. When Wonwoo found himself upset the day Mingyu got his first girlfriend, Na-Ji na, in their eleventh grade.
If he had known then what he knew now, that at 29 years of age, nobody was left to give a damn about his stupid sexuality, he wouldn’t have spent all those months constantly looking over his shoulder in fear. Fear that someone would find his Queen posters and almost 15 books of queer literary fiction, ranging from Oscar Wilde to Sarah Waters to his personal favorite until this day, Yoon Hyun-seok. Until someone did.
It was supposed to be a regular evening of hanging out after school, the spot always being Mingyu’s house, but this time, Mingyu had wanted it somewhere else.
Before Wonwoo knew what he was saying yes to, they were on the poor side of town, inside his small, modest, but clean house, and then inside his just as clean bedroom. Except for the little detail of his fascination with queer literature among other authors and poets glaring at him plainly from his small, makeshift bookshelf. A fascination that was fueled by the kind manager of the library where he worked, who had let Wonwoo keep one book each month he worked there.
For those last years of his high school, after his mother had died, his father hadn’t been home much. But even when he had been, he never dared step into Wonwoo’s room. This explained why Wonwoo had “Short poems by Yoon Hyun-Seok” lying vulnerably open on his study table beside an illustration he had made of the poem he had been reading.
Mingyu, though, bless his kind heart, hadn’t commented on it. And even if he had, he had done it for the wrong reasons.
“Hyung, you draw?” He’d settled on Wonwoo's desk, picked up the illustration from the table, and said, "This is so good! What is it?"
And then Wonwoo had reluctantly given Mingyu a brief lesson on Yoon Hyun Seok, and the drawing in his hand, which was a rendition of the poem, "Hellflower" by the poet. It was about a flower, being called hell flower, that grew even within the burning embers of hell, unburnt and still perfect.
By the time he was done reciting the short poem, Mingyu's eyes had gone glassy.
"That's beautiful." Mingyu had simply said, his voice wobbling.
"It is." Wonwoo had chuckled awkwardly before gathering everything and shoving it inside his desk.
And that was the end of the conversation.
They’d worked on their homework for an hour because Wonwoo insisted, before playing video games on Mingyu’s new phone, while talking about things like school, Na Jin-a, and their newest friend, Hong Jisoo, whose dad was as rich as Midas, among other things.
And then Wonwoo had plugged in his Walkman and lay back down on his bed for some alone time. While at some point, Mingyu had lazily walked around Wonwoo’s room, found his Freddie Mercury poster in his drawer, and the other very incriminating books on his bookshelf.
And the boy had, apparently, filed the information away in his head.
Because the next time Wonwoo was reminded of this incident was almost a year later at his 18th birthday party, which, in a perfect world, would be a small and intimate celebration with only him and Mingyu, maybe Chan too, but Mingyu had also invited the rest of their friends to throw Wonwoo a surprise party.
Not that he didn’t love his friends to death. He didn’t have much of a family to speak of, but he'd grown close to his friends over the years. Even at their noisiest, they were his family, and they cared when no one did. Sometimes, though, doubts arose. Like when they insisted that Wonwoo open his presents in front of them.
“Hyung, is that an Oscar Wilde book of essays?” Seungkwan had squawked loudly from where he was sitting on the floor, his back against the leg of the sofa in the lavish living room. Wonwoo, Mingyu, Jeonghan, Seungkwan, Soonyoung, Hansol, Jihoon, Chan, and Jisoo had gathered at Jisoo’s home, their unofficial gathering spot for celebrations.
Everyone had exclaimed noisily and then teased Mingyu for his gift choice for Wonwoo, making Mingyu blush furiously. And then, believing it would get the situation under control, he had said, “It’s because I saw a novel by that author in his house.”
And this had the completely opposite effect, because instead of calming down, there was offended chaos, probably in light of the fact that Wonwoo had never let anyone come over before.
Wonwoo had simply stood awkwardly in front of the artificial fireplace, still in shock at the gift, but also so, so grateful. That he’d given someone a chance to finally see him, and they hadn’t let that chance go.
Jeonghan, sprawled out on the sofa behind Seungkwan, had then smoothly declared, “I want to see Wonwoo’s reaction to my gift!” And that was that, because everyone was distracted again.
The night wound down in a blur of chatter and noise, the living room slowly emptying as scarves and coats were shrugged on. The air bit sharp when the front door opened, spilling out friends in groups, their voices trailing down the street. and Mingyu and Wonwoo had finally found themselves in a quiet, alone moment. Wonwoo had leaned up on his tiptoes and pulled Mingyu in a warm hug, His voice was barely more than a whisper when he said, “Thank you.”
Before they'd all left, though, Wonwoo’s phone had lit up in his hands.
Boo Seungkwan
I’m telling you, giving someone an Oscar Wilde work is basically a gay confession
I would know
These two messages came attached to Seungkwan’s meaningful look in his and Mingyu’s direction. And how Seungkwan even knew about his feelings, Wonwoo didn't know.
The bout of gay panic the whole evening of his birthday caused lasted for about two weeks of his summer break, which went sluggishly with Wonwoo just going to the cafe where he worked and back while his mind alternated between emotions and logic. There was hope in his heart, but there was also Mingyu’s tutor girlfriend looming in the back of his mind. But the weeks turned to months, and nothing gave, especially not Na Jin-a.
But by the time school reopened, Mingyu had started behaving weirdly with him. He began to look at Wonwoo longer, suggesting they spend more time together, and the weirdest of them all was when he started talking about his current obsession with an English Queer comic called Heartstopper.
In one such incident, Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Na Jin-a were sitting across from each other in their school cafeteria for lunch. Wonwoo had dusted his hands off the eggshell and passed Mingyu his peeled egg. Mingyu had accepted it with a beam, then put his picked-out green onions from his own rice into Wonwoo’s bowl. Mingyu had been talking about an episode from season 2 of some Thai show Wonwoo didn’t really care about, but he’d still nodded.
Until, suddenly, Mingyu had stopped, looked into Wonwoo’s eyes, and solemnly said, “You know you can tell me anything, right?” And then he had continued to talk about the Thai show, which was apparently gay, and Wonwoo was just now finding out.
Mingyu, the sweetheart he was, the sweetheart Wonwoo also apparently had a massive, irrevocable crush on, couldn’t have been more obvious with his lack of tact.
So when Na Jin-a had finally gotten up with her empty tray and left, but not before shooting a cheeky smile towards Mingyu, did Wonwoo finally break.
And that really wasn’t how he had imagined doing that, but he’d put his chopsticks down, looked into Mingyu's eyes seriously, and gone,
“Mingyu, you’ve probably already figured it out, so let me put you out of your misery. I’m into guys.” He had then picked up his chopsticks again. “Thank you for waiting for me to say it. I hope this doesn’t change anything.”
With his earnest eyes and restless hands, Mingyu had reached forward and grabbed Wonwoo's face, cupping both sides to make him meet his eyes. And then he’d rushed to reassure Wonwoo, “Of course it doesn’t change anything, Hyung! I’m so glad you told me!”
Wonwoo blushed red to his ears, gave Mingyu a small, grateful smile, and then swatted his hands away from his face awkwardly. Then he’d resumed eating.
That’s when it had begun: Mingyu’s constant effort to set Wonwoo up with any and every other gay friend he might have.
The first one came when Wonwoo had just started college. The boy, Chae Hyungwon, was apparently Mingyu's sunbae friend studying in the same college as Jeonghan, Wonwoo, and Joshua. Mingyu knew him through Jeonghan. And god knew how many gay friends Jeonghan had.
Wonwoo didn't like Hyungwon’s tight-lipped smile and overly friendly manner with any of his friends, especially Jeonghan. It looked like the poor guy was still holding a torch for his hyung. So he’d sent Hyungwon on his way after the first date.
The next one had been Choi Seungcheol, another senior from Wonwoo's college, who, while on his way to the college cafeteria to meet Wonwoo for the first time, ended up getting sidetracked and hadn't even made it to the date in the first place. None of them knew the reason until way later. Seungcheol revealed in the later years of their life that he had collided with a fellow classmate, and helped them up, which had started the most epic rivalry between the two students. And even though Jeonghan would claim that he hated Seungcheol until way later, Seungcheol claimed he had fallen in love at first insult.
Next was Im Chang Kyun, or this time, Mingyu's friend through Seungkwan. And this time, not unlike the other time when there was no spark, there was not a single hope. Because Wonwoo actually liked the guy, but as a friend.
So after those three failed dates, all arranged by Mingyu, Wonwoo had stopped keeping track of things.
If someone, it was mostly either Seungkwan or Jeonghan, asked him why he even continued to go on these dates, Wonwoo didn't have an answer to that.
Once, in mid-May, the summer right before Jeonghan’s last year of college, while the three of them were lying on a picnic blanket in a National park for their painting/garden/book best friend date (coined by Jeonghan), Seungkwan had looked up from the page of the romance novel he'd been reading for the last 15 minutes and informed Wonwoo, looking all wise, "It's because you don't have it in your heart to say no to Mingyu hyung. Even if it breaks your heart in the process, or leads you astray from your true love."
Jeonghan, lying on his back on the blanket, looking as ethereal as ever in the green surroundings, had snorted his orange drink out of his nose.
And Wonwoo? He took a more evasive approach. As if Seungkwan knew Wonwoo's heart better than him. So, in a classic Wonwoo-deflecting-talking-about-his-true-feelings style, Wonwoo had just made a sarcastic remark about Seungkwan's own relationship, or lack of one, with Hansol. And that was the end of Seungkwan's nosiness, at least for a couple of days, before Wonwoo apologized with an assortment of cupcakes, and then they were back.
And it hadn't stopped once, until this day in 2025.
"Wonwoo hyung," Seungkwan sing-songed from Wonwoo's apartment doorway.
He stepped on the welcome mat and did a little happy dance with the package in his hand, while beaming at his hyung. "I brought cupcakes! It's time for our ritual."
Wonwoo had just reached home, tired from work, and had been sitting in front of the TV, staring at nothing, trying to decide what to cook for dinner. But a visit from his favorite younger friend had him up and making a beeline for the cupcakes in Seungkwan's hand.
"Is it Friday already?" Wonwoo asked, walking towards the kitchen to put the cupcakes in the refrigerator, while Seungkwan tagged behind him and hopped onto the kitchen island.
"Did you forget?” Seungkwan asked, petulance in his voice. “People keep forgetting about me today."
Wonwoo gently shut his refrigerator door and turned towards the younger, studying his profile.
"What's up, Seungkwannah?" Wonwoo asked, worried. Seungkwan could get sensitive over the most random things until the poor boy eventually worried himself enough to break down in front of one of his best friends. Wonwoo didn't know what it was today, but he was braced for the storm.
"Nothing," Seungkwan said, his fingers fiddling with his sweater sleeves. And then he sighed. "Vernon forgot our sixth anniversary date yesterday."
Wonwoo raised his eyebrows. "That's not the first time that has happened, though."
It was true. Vernon being Vernon always forgot most of their anniversaries, and Seungkwan being Seungkwan, there were a lot of significant dates to remember in the first place. However, Seungkwan always forgave Vernon and never let it escalate into a major issue.
"And then we got into a fight over it today." Seungkwan clarified, his voice small, as he relived what had happened between him and his boyfriend.
So that was why Seungkwan hadn't gone home today after work, Wonwoo thought, knowing that their Friday hangout had already come and gone the previous week.
“You wanna sleepover tonight?” Wonwoo offered even before Seungkwan had started explaining his feelings, knowing Seungkwan would never go back to his and Vernon’s apartment, no matter how much Wonwoo tried to convince him by saying that it would be better to talk things out. Suengkwan wouldn’t listen, especially not right now.
Seungkwan nodded slightly before continuing.
"We shouldn't have moved in together. Maybe the fights are happening because we did." Seungkwan said, his voice breaking as he continued to fiddle with his sweater.
"Come on, Seungkwannah, you know that's not true," Wonwoo said softly, walking forward to stand in front of Seungkwan. "You haven't seen the two of you after you moved in, like the rest of us did. It's like there's this weird balance between you two, like you've been living together for years already." Wonwoo placed his palms on Seungkwan's knees. "The fights are a part of that balance, they're a part of living together."
"No, but maybe Vernon is already tired of living with me. Maybe he's tired of the nagging." Seungkwan looked at Wonwoo imploringly, his eyes filled, looking like a kicked puppy. "He's never been this upset when we fight."
"Don't say that about yourself, Vernon isn't tired of living with you, you would've known. He's not exactly good at hiding his expression when you're around." Wonwoo squeezed Seungkwan's knees. "And you know how Vernon is. He cares about you; fighting with you makes him upset. Maybe he’s just guilty over forgetting your anniversary, and the guilt finally got to him."
"Yes, that sounds a lot like him.” Seungkwan sighed, swallowing and taking a deep breath. “But it makes me upset too, Hyung." He side-eyed Wonwoo, a playful expression on his face now, "You only take his side."
"Aigoo, okay, I won't. Can I appeal my innocence with a hot, soupy bowl of beef soup?" Wonwoo smiled because he knew the storm had passed, and turned back to reach for the kitchen cabinet where he kept his ramen.
"And potato pancakes?" Seungkwan asked hopefully, blinking. Wonwoo chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"Sure, if that makes you feel better." Wonwoo brought his apron out from the shelf below his kitchen counter and shrugged it on. His “I like to rub meat” apron, a very thoughtful gift from Mingyu, for finally learning how to cook. Wonwoo hadn’t known what the English words meant until he had worn the apron during a monthly barbecue with their friends, and Joshua had to tell him. And then Mingyu had to sit through the lecture Wonwoo had sent his way for the next 15 minutes in the middle of Seungcheol’s backyard.
Wonwoo walked to the sink to wash his hands. His phone rang while he was drying his hands, so he took it out of his pocket. Mingyu. He picked it up quickly and put it to one ear while he got the ingredients from the fridge.
"Min?" Wonwoo nodded when Seungkwan hopped down from the counter and gestured in the direction of the hall bathroom.
"What's for dinner?" Mingyu spoke as a way of greeting.
"Beef soup and gamja-jeon," Wonwoo said automatically, washing the potatoes in the sink.
"I’m done with the show, and the afterparty is boring. I'm coming over," came the reply. Wonwoo sighed. Mingyu was probably talking about the Christian Dior fashion show he had to walk in that day.
It wasn’t that far out of the ordinary. Not at all. Mingyu always came to Wonwoo’s after a show, starving, because he hadn’t eaten anything in the last 48 hours, in preparation for the show. After all, it was expected. The moment Mingyu came out of Wonwoo’s bedroom, after having cleaned up and changed into his own clothes, clothes that had their own drawer in Wonwoo’s bedroom, he would see his favorite meat dishes waiting for him on Wonwoo’s turquoise six-seater dining table, and he would sigh dramatically, ever so grateful and vocal about his hyung being the best part of his day.
"You can't, Seungkwan's here, and he's not in a great mood for company," Wonwoo informed Mingyu, trying to put a stop to his sudden visit.
"Perfect, then Vernon can come along," Mingyu said, his voice as if coming from far away, like he was speaking to his car Bluetooth. As if he were already on his way, and had just now remembered to inform Wonwoo.
“Hey–”
"See you soon. And make extra for three." And then Mingyu was hanging up before Wonwoo could ask him who the third person was.
He hadn’t been expecting Mingyu to come today at all. He had thought that after Lee Hyeri was in the picture, this tradition, like many others, would stop. Why would he come to his friend’s home after his fashion show when he had his girlfriend, or, more likely, her cook, to serve him a better-looking home-cooked meal?
Wonwoo, silently ignoring acknowledging his thoughts, lit up the stove and put the potatoes to boil. Because if he acknowledged them, he’d get his hopes up again. And that never ended well.
A few minutes later, Seungkwan came walking back into the kitchen. "What's up?" He asked as he walked towards the sink to wash his hands. Wonwoo decided not to tell Seungkwan about Vernon coming over, or the younger would scram, and the two wouldn't get a chance to talk things over, which was usually the solution when it came to relationships. Wonwoo wasn’t speaking from experience; he’d just seen it happening with Seokmin and Jisoo’s relationship.
"Mingyu's coming over. I'm sorry, you probably don't want his company right now." Wonwoo apologized, cursing Mingyu inwardly for disrupting Seungkwan’s healing. Seungkwan took it very seriously.
"Eyy, you just couldn't say no to him." Seungkwan wiggled his eyebrows, surprisingly calm, now completely snot-free, and eyes gleaming mischievously. "Is this one of those times?"
"Did you learn that from Jeonghan?" Wonwoo rolled his eyes. "He just steamrolled over me, told me he was coming and bringing a friend, and then hung up. I didn't get a chance to deny him from coming into my damn house." Wonwoo stopped, tilted his head when he saw Seungkwan's lifted eyebrows, and then nodded. "You're right. I'm mature enough not to deny it when you're right. What's become of me?" He sighed.
"Nothing new over the past seventeen years," Seungkwan laughed, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly while he started helping Wonwoo with peeling the potatoes. "It's chill, Hyung, the more the better, right? And it's Mingyu hyung, maybe he'll lighten the mood."
By the time Wonwoo was boiling the noodles on the stove, Seungkwan had already gotten distracted by his phone and had taken a seat in the living room while he waited with bated breath for a message from Vernon.
He didn't have to wait for too long.
Because the next second, long, tan arms were circling Wonwoo's waist, and a familiar, magnolia and woody scent was enveloping his senses while a warmth filled his body.
"I knew you wouldn't let the opportunity to make ramen go, Jeon Buldak." Mingyu snickered from beside his ear, chuckles growing in intensity when Wonwoo cursed loudly, turned, and hit him on the head with his soup spoon.
"Are you crazy?" Wonwoo yelled at Mingyu, trying to swallow his heart back down his throat. "I told you not to sneak up on me like that. Aish, I should really change my door password." He turned and got his first full look at Mingyu. He was wearing a long, loose black blazer, open at the chest, black sunglasses perched on his head, an outfit that was only complete with those canines proudly on display.
“You didn’t even go home to change?” Wonwoo shook his head in disbelief.
Mingyu bent his head automatically when Wonwoo lifted a hand to remove the sunglasses and put them down before they could inevitably break. While his other hand carded through Mingyu’s gelled hair.
“Nope, I couldn’t wait, I’m starving,” Mingyu said, his bottom lip jutting out. “And now I get to eat your beef soup, which you make very rarely, by the way, so I guess now Seungkwan is getting special treatment.”
“First of all, you should be glad Seungkwan was okay with you crashing here tonight. And, yes, he deserves it, so he got it. Just like you did last week, when your first Calvin Klein photoshoot was published.” Wonwoo said, his tone light, almost casual. “Don’t you remember when I made you marinated crab despite my dislike for those smelly sea creatures?”
“You’re right, you spoil me.” Mingyu grinned, the earlier moping now gone. Wonwoo turned away, hiding his twitching lips when Mingyu bent down and kissed his shoulder in silent gratitude, before straightening up and reaching for the spoon.
"Let me taste it, I wanna see how my dearest pupil has done on this soup." He took a sip of the soup simmering on the stove beside the noodles.
All the cooking Wonwoo knew, he'd learned from Mingyu during the six months Mingyu had lived with him when his and Seungcheol's apartment had flooded. Hence the apron. If it weren’t for Mingyu, Wonwoo undoubtedly would’ve never in his life have learned how to cook. His life would’ve been another 40 or so years of takeout, Mingyu’s food, or his last resort, ramen.
"Hyung." Mingyu started to wipe fake tears from his eyes. "My Wonu hyung, my Jeon Buldak, you have officially outdone the teacher." He declared dramatically, his voice all fake and high.
“Thank. You.” Wonwoo declared in an equally high-pitched and fake voice, playing along. He tried to reach for the spoon from Mingyu's hand again, but Mingyu didn’t give it back, instead raising his arms and bringing it out of reach.
"Come outside, I want you to meet someone." Mingyu started, putting the spoon down on the countertop.
He hastily explained further when Wonwoo was already shaking his head.
"Do you remember Minghao’s birthday party last year? He invited a Chinese friend, Jun, and you told Minghao later how you liked him." Mingyu said, recalling a memory he shouldn't have had in the first place. Minghao, Wonwoo cursed inwardly.
What was it about Wonwoo that made his friends like to be so up in his business all the time? Did it seem like he needed help getting dates? At least it wasn't Lee Hyeri who was in his home right now.
And it wasn't like he had actually liked Minghao's friend when he'd told him that. He’d just liked the way the Chinese boy looked; he liked admiring beauty, sue him.
Mingyu, I can get my own dates. We're not in college anymore. Not that I needed help in college either. And bringing a stranger to my house when you know how sacred this place is to me. Wonwoo said, or could've said. Well, there were a lot of things he could’ve said to Mingyu. But in that moment, he didn't say what he thought about Mingyu bringing a stranger into his house, because he knew Mingyu would just get that sad look in his eyes, which always made Wonwoo feel like shit.
So instead, he’d switched the stove off and turned to Mingyu, "Okay, I'll be out in a minute."
"Cool, he's been waiting downstairs, I'll tell him to come up." Mingyu squeezed Wonwoo's hand and jogged out of the kitchen. Wonwoo should've known Mingyu wouldn't do something he knew Wonwoo hated.
When the doorbell rang, Wonwoo walked towards the front door to open it, ignoring the sight of Seungkwan and Vernon hugging tightly on the living room sofa.
I told you so.
He couldn't hold the sigh in. He wasn't an avid romance lover most of the time, but seeing his best friends together always made his heart sigh.
Wonwoo opened the door and was immediately met with the sharp, feline eyes, set in a face carved with high cheekbones and wreathed all around with unruly blonde hair. Jun was smirking slightly as he introduced himself, and Wonwoo was suddenly remembering why he'd liked the way Jun looked.
Wonwoo smiled back at him politely and let him in, closing the door behind him and walking him towards the living room where everyone else was.
“I’m so sorry if this was sudden,” Junhui spoke apologetically, while taking a seat on the blue one-seater sofa. “Mingyu said you wouldn’t mind.” He said, oblivious. When in fact, Wonwoo did mind, and he made it clear as he shot a discreet glare towards Mingyu, who was toying with his KAWS collectibles, trying to avoid Wonwoo’s eyes.
“We were just out and about, coming back from the Dior show afterparty. I told you about that.” Mingyu nodded in Wonwoo’s direction. “And they had nothing edible to eat except those hors devours and really expensive champagne.”
“Hors d'œuvre.” Wonwoo corrected automatically, taking a seat between Vernon and Seungkwan on the sofa, because they looked like they were two seconds away from sucking face again.
Jun gave an awkward laugh and said, trying to save Mingyu, “Right, we were really hungry after the party, and I said we could just go eat at a restaurant, but Mingyu insisted on coming here.” Jun grimaced, still apologetic. “I’m so sorry if I’m intruding.”
“No, it’s fine.” Wonwoo quickly reassured the newest addition. “You said you were coming back from the Dior show? You model as well, right, Jun-sshi?” Wonwoo said, trying to make conversation, which was so uncharacteristic for him.
“Ah, yes, sometimes,” Jun spoke, suddenly looking shy now.
“He’s actually also an actor,” Mingyu added earnestly, abandoning the sculptures and coming to sit on the only one-seater chair in the living room. “A very famous one. You might’ve heard of The Shadow’s Side; he was on that.” At this point, he wasn’t even hiding the fact that he was trying to be a matchmaker.
God, didn’t this endearingly clueless man know that Wonwoo didn’t want someone else? He wanted the one he couldn’t have.
A gasp was heard from the sofa. “I’ve watched that movie! I knew I recognized you from somewhere!” And then Seungkwan was suddenly standing up and crossing the room to where Jun was to shower him with compliments for his acting, his looks, and anything he could find, while Vernon sat where he had been and gazed intently at his boyfriend.
“Mingyu, can I talk to you for a second over here?” Wonwoo widened his eyes threateningly at Mingyu and tilted his head towards the seat Seungkwan had deserted. Mingyu flinched but nodded and slipped into the seat.
“Will you tone it down a little with the matchmaking?” Wonwoo nudged Mingyu’s shoulder with his own. “Do you think I need your help to get the guy? Not that I’m interested.” He added quickly.
“Sorry if it was too much,” Mingyu winced guiltily.
"You were already on thin ice, Gyu, and now you pull this. I didn't want to say anything before, but this is taking it too far."
“Don't be angry with me. It’s all with good intentions.”
And wasn’t that one of the toxic traits every person in a relationship seemed to have? Once they found love, they believed finding love was everyone else’s goal too. That it was their responsibility to help everyone around them find love like they had.
Except they never took the paradox factor into consideration. The factor said that broken people like Wonwoo didn’t deserve someone; they deserved to stay alone for the rest of their lives. It was the sins of their parents they carried.
So, no, Wonwoo didn’t like his lovesick idiot of a best friend setting him up on dates, hoping against hope that it would finally work out, when everyone in their friend group and their mother knew it wouldn’t.
*
Once the clock had struck ten and dinner had wound down, Jun finally found time alone to talk to Wonwoo.
Once the dinner was over, Mingyu decided to make hot chocolate for everyone. He claimed he had finally mastered how to make the drink, so much so that his drink might turn out to be better than Wonwoo's own, which was a beloved, religiously made hot chocolate that everyone loved, including Mingyu.
He knew his way around Wonwoo's kitchen, so in no time, while everyone was sitting in the living room, Mingyu had made and brought over all the cups one by one. The last one to receive his was Wonwoo.
Mingyu came out of the kitchen holding Wonwoo's favorite cup, with the duck with a construction hat on it. In an absentminded, almost natural gesture that went unnoticed by everyone, himself included, Mingyu slowly blew on top of it, took a sip, and then, after nodding in satisfaction over his work, handed it over to Wonwoo. And then he took a seat beside Wonwoo on the couch, folding his legs up, and tucked himself into Wonwoo's side, laying a hand around his middle.
Although the entire exchange went unnoticed by everyone else, Wonwoo saw Jun clocking it out of the corner of his eye.
If Mingyu really wanted to throw Wonwoo to the sharks, i.e., Jun in this case, then the man was absolutely not helping his own case by clinging to him like a koala in front of Jun. Not that Wonwoo minded.
They talked for a few more minutes, about their jobs, about Junhui's acting, with Seungkwan asking most of the questions. But Mingyu didn't talk much. He was probably sleepy after the last two days of preparation for the show, Wonwoo thought.
So he looked down at his chest and saw Mingyu already asleep, with his head still resting on his chest. And okay, even though Wonwoo was supposed to be upset with Mingyu, his heart hadn't gotten the memo. Because warm fingers reached into Wonwoo’s ribcage and squeezed, but he didn’t mind it. Because, as it happened, the night was cold, and a razor-edged wind blew snow outside the apartment. So Wonwoo gave himself a few minutes to enjoy the warmth, simply listening to the others talk.
Then, he nudged Mingyu's shoulder, met with hard rock, and nudged harder. When Mingyu blinked sleep from his eyes, Wonwoo softly said, “Go sleep in my room. You're too tired to go home.”
By the time Mingyu had gotten his sleepy self into bed, everyone else had already scattered around the living room; Seungkwan was sitting on the chair now positioned in front of the fireplace, wrapped in the beige crochet sofa throw, and his mug of hot chocolate in his hand. Vernon was still on the sofa, scrolling through his phone with one hand, with a mug of coffee in the other.
In a quiet moment, while the kitchen was still smelling of chocolate and coffee, Wonwoo found himself alone, cleaning up, washing the dishes in the sink, and thinking.
He didn’t know what to think of Jun; personally, he was sure Jun was a nice enough person. Other than all the information he had in his mind now about the actor, thanks to Mingyu. Wonwoo now knew too much about Jun; he knew Jun could speak in four languages proficiently, that he was the first Chinese actor who had also debuted in a K-pop group, one with a name Wonwoo was supposed to recognize, according to Mingyu. Jun, for one, looked like he was embarrassed throughout the dinner.
“Do you need help here?” A voice came from the kitchen entrance. Wonwoo looked up from the sink, his hands still submerged in the soap, while his glasses slipped down his nose.
He chuckled low and said, “Sure, I’m not going to decline help. There are gloves over there by the rack.” He gestured.
Jun matched his chuckle, stepping further into the kitchen, tugging the gloves on. “At your service.” He came and stood beside Wonwoo, automatically picking up a bowl and scooping some soup into it. “I should’ve come sooner to offer my services. But I thought Mingyu was already here.” Jun raised a brow pointedly, hands scrubbing now.
And even though this was only the second time they were meeting, Wonwoo understood the insinuation in what he said, as if he was trying to tease out the story from Wonwoo’s tongue. Except there was no story to tell. Fucking hell, Wonwoo thought cringing inwardly, maybe he really was getting sloppy in hiding his feelings if a random stranger he had only met twice now knew.
“No, he went to sleep already,” Wonwoo said, avoiding meeting Jun’s eyes. But apparently, he wasn’t as subtle as he thought he was.
“Sorry, it’s just that I’m an observer, and I saw the way you looked at him, and I just thought…” Jun trailed off. “I’m sorry if I offended you.”
“No, it’s okay. You’re just reading too much into things, that’s all. There’s nothing there, at least not on his side.” Wonwoo confessed, truthfully. And he didn’t know why he was telling that to this stranger, but Jun, for some reason, felt safe to him.
“Does that mean I can shoot my shot, then?” Jun grinned at Wonwoo. Wonwoo whipped his head up, surprised, and met the other’s eyes. He was shocked at the audacity, to say the least.
“If you know how I feel, why waste your time here?” Wonwoo inquired, puzzled. Now that Jun knew about his feelings towards Mingyu, why was he still here?
Jun shrugged. “I can always back off, I haven’t known you long enough to be in love with you or something.”
Wonwoo gave an awkward laugh, but he was still far from convinced. “You’re really straightforward aren’t you?”
“Well, I am currently elbows deep in soapwater beside you right now, and it's all for you, so yes, in fact, I’m going to indulge in a small liberty” Jun winked at Wonwoo, who was a little surprised by the out-of-place word choice.
Jun saw the surprise and went on to explain, “I don’t usually use such big words, but Mingyu told me it would impress you, so here we are.”
“I’m really sorry about the disastrous wingmanning Mingyu was doing out there, by the way, but I personally am good at flirting. I can show you.” Jun wiggled his eyebrows at Wonwoo, flicking soapwater in his direction.
This time, Wonwoo’s laugh was genuine while he wiped the water from his cheek and tried to flick some water back at the other man. Jun retaliated by laughing.
“Is this what they call flirting nowadays?” Wonwoo teased the other, smiling, turning the water off in the sink, and removing his gloves. He then turned to Jun, who was still wearing the gloves along with the grin that was still on his handsome face.
“Then do it.” Wonwoo nodded. “Back off. I’m really not interested, I don’t think I ever will be interested.”
“In anyone other than him?” Jun asked, and Wonwoo couldn’t deny it. So he just gave a tight-lipped nod and turned to leave.
But Jun caught hold of his hand, “I have a toxic trait I kept from Mingyu.” Jun went on to admit. “When you said you weren’t interested, it made me like you more, and now I find you interesting and mysterious.” Jun winced, as if it were the worst curse to be that fickle-minded, while having a face and a body like his. Wonwoo was sure that’s how all actors were.
“One date. One single date.” Jun pleaded, squeezing Wonwoo’s hand. “Just one. If it’s still a no by the end, I’ll not only back off, but I’ll also be such a damn good wingman for you.”
Wonwoo was impressed by the man’s stubborn resilience.
“I don’t need one,” Wonwoo admitted, “I’m not deluded or a hopeless romantic.”
“Yes, but wouldn’t you like to know what Lee Hyeri was like at acting school?” Jun asked, almost casually, but his eyebrows were twitching.
Wonwoo let out a surprised laugh, his own eyebrows shooting straight into his bangs.
“Oh yeah.” Jun nodded, raising his eyebrows pointedly at Wonwoo. “I know this shit.”
“I really don’t want to get into whatever this is. I don’t want to know.”
“Liar.”
Not that Wonwoo had anything to do with the information, but he really was curious to know. That didn't mean he condoned the blackmail Jun had resorted to, which he told Jun in exactly those words. But Jun just laughed and thanked Wonwoo for the meal, before taking Wonwoo’s number so that they could arrange the date. Then he left after saying his goodbyes to his newest fan in the living room. Seungkwan was the only one sad to see him go.
Notes:
Introducing Wonwoo: a character who loves poetry, and art, but is not an "avid romance lover"? A character who's been in love with their best friend forever but is not an "avid romance lover"? a character whose heart races when his best friend calls him silly nicknames? please, bros kidding himself. But also, that's just how he is, he's nonchalant about his love like that. Because with his character, I was going for someone who doesn't like romance but unknowingly indulges in it with his best friend, he's someone who's in love with his best friend, but doesn't make that the entire story of his life. He's like, okay, so I'm in love with this idiot, big deal, I'll just hurt in solitude, and not do anything about my feelings until someone eventually ends up bringing it up.
That urijib sofa has witnessed many love stories unfold and break🙂↕️
About Wonhui, I really did contemplate having it be a huge part of the story, but I really couldn't do it, I want this to NOT turn into a love triangle. I wouldn't torment yall with that, when I myself despise love triangles with all my heart. So, Jun isn't gonna be a love interest for long, maybe another two seconds, trust.
P.s: Made myself cry with this chapter, btw, so I hope u did 2. JK. I Love yall ♡ I hope you know that you deserve all the love, and that you deserve that one person who makes you feel loved, regardless of it being romantic or not.
WonnaBeWithGyu on Chapter 1 Sat 19 Jul 2025 06:29PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 1 Sun 20 Jul 2025 05:47AM UTC
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Sparkykomaaa (Guest) on Chapter 1 Thu 24 Jul 2025 04:29PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 1 Thu 24 Jul 2025 06:15PM UTC
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Dinaaa25 on Chapter 2 Tue 05 Aug 2025 03:07PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 2 Thu 07 Aug 2025 05:53PM UTC
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Dinaaa25 on Chapter 2 Thu 07 Aug 2025 06:18PM UTC
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Sparkykomaaa (Guest) on Chapter 2 Tue 05 Aug 2025 04:15PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 2 Thu 07 Aug 2025 06:03PM UTC
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Wontontolike on Chapter 2 Wed 06 Aug 2025 12:57PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 2 Thu 07 Aug 2025 06:15PM UTC
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Wontontolike on Chapter 3 Thu 07 Aug 2025 03:33PM UTC
Last Edited Thu 07 Aug 2025 03:33PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 3 Thu 07 Aug 2025 06:08PM UTC
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Wontontolike on Chapter 3 Fri 08 Aug 2025 11:59AM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 3 Sat 30 Aug 2025 08:57PM UTC
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untresbien on Chapter 3 Thu 07 Aug 2025 03:43PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 3 Thu 07 Aug 2025 06:12PM UTC
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Dinaaa25 on Chapter 3 Thu 07 Aug 2025 03:58PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 3 Thu 07 Aug 2025 06:13PM UTC
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WonnaBeWithGyu on Chapter 3 Sat 16 Aug 2025 06:32PM UTC
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Chronically_vernonchalant on Chapter 3 Sat 30 Aug 2025 08:59PM UTC
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Dinaaa25 on Chapter 4 Sun 31 Aug 2025 06:08AM UTC
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Sparklekomaaa on Chapter 4 Sun 31 Aug 2025 12:57PM UTC
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WonnaBeWithGyu on Chapter 4 Mon 01 Sep 2025 05:06PM UTC
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