Chapter Text
One year later
The alarm blares loudly at 7 in the morning, waking Chan up from a deep slumber. He slaps his hand on the table, trying to find his phone and shut it while keeping his eyes closed. But as is life, he can’t find it like this. Heaving a great sigh of exhaustion, he opens his eyes and feels annoyance creeping in when he sees his mobile was right there all this time, at the edge of the side table just near his fingers.
Can’t have nice things now, can we?
“Chan!” a voice whines grumpily from behind him, directly into his ears “Shut it off” it growls.
With a shiver down his spine, Chan mumbles “Yes I am shutting it off”
The alarm turns off and he closes his eyes, snuggling into the arms holding him under the blanket. The warmth around him and the comforting rhythm of breaths from behind is enough to make him doze off a little, until he remembers today’s date.
“Oh my god!” he flings away the covers as he sits up straight, remembering “It’s the wedding day!”
Chan turns to look beside him. Mingyu is staring, blearily, at him. His hair falls into his half open eyes as he gapes at him “...I’m not marrying you though?”
“And they say romance is dead” Chan mutters, before getting up from the bed “Wedding, Mingyu! Seungkwan and Vernon’s wedding!”
That works like an electric shock on his boyfriend “Oh yes!”. Even though he’s still sleepy, Mingyu’s eyes shine brightly as he excitedly exclaims “The wedding!”
“Finally you remember” Chan turns to glare at him. But then he stops, looking at the man staring back at him with a growing smile and a naked chest. Flushing, he turns back, very much aware of his own state. He bends down to pick up his pyjamas and quickly puts them on, glaring at the floor now instead of the literal god lounging naked in his- their bed “Now get up please, I need to get ready quickly”
“Chan calm down, there’s still a few hours before the ceremony even begins” Chan can hear his fond smile as he says that.
“You do realise this is Boo Seungkwan’s wedding we are talking about? I’m his best man and if I arrive even a minute later than 9, I’m going to be a dead man then”
Mingyu starts moving as he laughs, bed squeaking under his weight indicating he does take Chan’s foreboding thoughts seriously “Don’t worry, pebble” he says feet hitting the floor “I’ll protect your honour”
Chan turns to look at him, smiling at the stupid one-liner “You’re so dramatic”
Talk of pot and kettle here , Chan thinks amusedly.
But Mingyu isn’t done. “That’s not what you said last night” he leans back on his hands, smirking up at Chan.
Blank. That’s what Chan is right now. He blinks rapidly as his mouth hangs open, completely floored from the statement. He’s so …Chan flushes deep red as he remembers clearly what he had said last night.
“Mingyu-ah!” he giggles, feeling very hot suddenly. He bends down and picks up his boyfriend’s pyjamas as well, throwing it straight on the latter’s chest “Dress up, you pervert”
“Pervert?!” Mingyu falls back, howling with laughter “Wrong answer! You said something along the lines of-”
“Okay! Okay, I yield” Chan giggles as well, climbing on the bed again to kiss his boyfriend. He settles into his lap, kissing him softly.
“You smell bad.” Mingyu says, mockingly scrunching his nose at Chan.
Chan leans back, looking at him with raised eyebrows and a very sassy smile “Really? That’s not what you said last night”
He gets off a gaping Mingyu’s lap and off the bed, walking around the bed and going towards the kitchen.
He hears Mingyu shuffle around as he makes them both a cuppa. Today’s a big day. His two best-friends are going to get married. Chan has always known this day would come, he’s actually known it for years now. When Seungkwan and Vernon started dating, he’d always feel like a third wheel, but it was interesting to see their dynamics; where Seungkwan was the loud, outgoing type, Vernon was the quiet, territorial type of person.
But, whenever Chan sees Seungkwan with Vernon, it’s like they swap places with each other. Vernon becomes more talkative, more open than before, whereas Seungkwan simmers down a little, quietly admiring his boyfriend (read: fiancé and soon-to-be-husband) with love the moment he breathes in his direction.
It’s quite sickening, if Chan’s being honest. Utterly disgusting. Very much so. But. He doesn’t really have a say in this.
Not when he’s literally in a relationship with Mingyu.
They both crossed the one year mark this March, a week before Mingyu’s birthday. Honestly, Chan is surprised they made it this far. He sometimes looks at Mingyu roaming around in his house, their house (they took Seokmin’s advice, much to the man’s delight), and thinks about how they went a long way, but they really did make it.
And Chan’s glad. Really glad, because he really doesn’t know what he’d do without Mingyu now.
When Mingyu had said he would be there to catch him if he fell, he really wasn’t lying. At their first ever official date on Valentine’s Day, Mingyu had taken him to the park again, making snowmen and playing snowball fights with him, just like they used to. They had found an ice-lolly shop open in that cold weather after much effort, almost an hour away from Iksan, then they came back and ate it on the same bench, reminiscing on their childhood, talking about their current selves, and thinking about the future. It was there when Mingyu had said “I know we’re clear on where we stand about each other. But I don’t want us to start a relationship right now” he had looked straight into Chan’s soul “I want to do this in a more old-school way, romancing you and stuff…Are you okay with that, pebble?”
Romance him in an old-school fashion? Oh Chan was definitely fine with it.
And so began a month and a half of dates, dropping each other at home, kisses at the front door, chocolates and favourite snacks as a gift, surprising Mingyu with pick-ups from the office and visits to beaches and other photogenic places for his love of photography, and showering Chan with hydrangeas of every possible colour, most of them blue. And then, they took the final step on a date to the Han River to watch the sunset in the last days of March.
Carefully and oh-so-slowly, Mingyu had proven all his past doubts wrong. He was more than happy to move in with Chan, vibrating with excitement about finally getting to wake up and go to sleep beside you in real time instead of living off on your voice messages, love . On Wonwoo’s birthday party, even though half the people were ogling him blatantly, he kept himself pasted to Chan’s back, crooning along to I only have eyes for you straight in his ears.
On Sunghoo’s death anniversary, Mingyu had quietly asked if Chan wanted to meet him, saying “He was the only one whom I told everything about us, about my one real friend. It seems fitting that now he gets to meet him as my one real love”.
Chan had gone with him without batting an eye.
Their friends have been so happy about them getting together that, when they both arrived together to Seoul, hand in hand, they’d arranged a party in Joshua and Seokmin’s flat to “celebrate the two star crossed idiots who finally made it home to each other” (as Jeonghan had eloquently put it). Wonwoo had joined them on a video call from Vienna, clapping loudly in his hotel room as he heard Mingyu tell him how his pictures helped him win over Chan (making the older one too proud of himself, never shutting up about it since then). As a gift from the group, Soonyoung immediately included them in their group chat with all the eleven other men. Mingyu looked at each one of them in such an offended manner, Chan had to turn his back at him for at least half an hour, afraid he’d have a heart attack from the way he was laughing at his now boyfriend.
Jihoon and Soonyoung had taken Mingyu to a corner and, judging by his facial expressions, had given him the dad talk. Jeonghan on the other hand had claimed Chan as his own property, taking his hand and spending the whole party like that, saying “You’re my best friend now!”. Mingyu had to physically tear Chan away from him for that, much to Seungcheol’s delight (Chan really believes the older man gets some sadistic joy seeing his best friend so upset).
Jisoo and Seokmin had become their photographers for the night, claiming the hosts should provide for all aspects of the party. And Minghao had joined them, clicking aesthetic pictures of Chan and Mingyu together with a giggle and vague promise of “for future purposes”. Seungcheol had taken Chan by hand to a side the moment Mingyu left him alone (which in itself was a difficult thing to achieve). He had hugged him and whispered “Thank you, I’ve never seen him this happy before”, leaving Chan feeling so touched he had to excuse himself to shed a few tears in the bathroom. Jun had arrived last, bringing them all a cake, drinks and food and becoming the star of the party. But he had become completely feral when Soonyoung tried to eat the cake, saying “This one’s for the couple, Young, back off ”.
Chan has never seen Jihoon so delighted as he was when Soonyoung stepped away in fear.
Vernon had recorded them cutting the cake together with a huge smile on his face, directed at Chan. His friend had never been the one to be very judgemental or commenting on Chan’s love life, remaining chill and advising him when he needed to. But that day, it had made something glow in him, watching his friend beaming with happiness and pride. Vernon might come off as slightly off and too lost in his own world type of guy in people’s point of view, but he was always quietly observing and caring for those he loved, and that day proved it to Chan.
Again, he had to take a detour to the washroom to cry.
Where, mind you, Seungkwan had found him, saying he knew he was “bawling like a baby here”. But then he hugged him and said “It makes me happy to see you happy, Channie. Keep smiling like that. It suits you”. And that just made everything worse for the man’s poor heart.
Clearly, Chan was an emotional mess that day.
Chan and Mingyu have been inseparable ever since, much to their friends’ and their own delight.
Just as he finishes pouring tea in their cups, Mingyu comes from behind and engulfs him in his arms, peppering kisses down his neck “Earth to, Pebble”. Chan lets himself come back to the present and giggles. Mingyu sways them side to side, before leaving him to take the cups to the dining table, turning around to put bread in the toaster. They dance around each other, working to make breakfast together, just as they have been doing for the past year (Chan had to start waking up a little earlier than usual to match Mingyu’s time, but it was alright, really. They get to eat their first meal together).
“I’m so excited for today. And I’m not even the best man here” Mingyu says as they finally sit down to have breakfast. He hooks his long legs around Chan’s, a habit he developed over the year.
Chan smiles at him, sipping on his tea “You will be soon enough. I have a feeling Seungcheol hyung is going to pop the question”
“Oh yes he will” Mingyu bites into his toast. Chewing it, he continues “Both have already talked about marriage and kids a lot by now, so he knows for sure he won’t be rejected. He’s just waiting for Jeonghan’s birthday”
Chan feels himself choke a little. A birthday proposal … “That’s so sweet of him” he looks down at his tea, feeling his vision dance a little. He feels the feet around his squeeze a little, making him look up. Mingyu smiles quietly at him.
“You like that?” he whispers.
Chan looks at him, feeling embarrassed for some reason. “Yeah, I do,” he says. A blush forms on his cheeks as he admits it.
Mingyu’s smile softens more at his reply and his sparkly eyes shine brighter. He leans forward taking Chan’s hand which was around his cup just now.
Chan looks at their hands, feeling his heart jump to his throat at the sight. If someone had said to his 14-year-old self that, one day, he’d be sitting with Mingyu, as his boyfriend, on his best friend’s wedding day, having breakfast with him squeezing his hand and feet so softly with his own, looking into his eyes with such adoration and coating his every syllable with love, Chan would have ran the other way, hissing and crying his heart out.
But here he is still, watching as Mingyu keeps looking at him and brings his hand up to his lips to press a kiss on one of his knuckles. The ring finger one.
“I’ll keep that in mind” it was a promise if he ever saw one.
And Chan feels himself smile at Mingyu as he acknowledges its quiet presence with an even quieter “I know”.
-----------------
Contrary to his fears, Chan does make it to the venue on time. Yes, he did almost have a heart attack when Mingyu joined him in the shower and got them late. He never got dressed so fast in his life, Mingyu almost dying with laughter as he jumped across the room trying to get his socks on. Both of them had gotten their outfits together. While Chan got himself a maroon suit jacket and trousers with a chequered-pattern and a white shirt, Mingyu bought a tweed jacket and trousers suit combo with a yellow shirt. Chan had a really hard time keeping his hands off him when Mingyu had first worn it.
(Not that Mingyu was any better. The man’s libido scares him sometimes)
They actually arrived a few minutes before 9, making Seungkwan give a sigh of relief the moment his eyes landed on him.
“Really? Is that what you think of me?” Chan had asked when they arrived, looking with pure hurt at his best friend “Whatever happened to trust in friendships nowadays?”
“Shut up, drama queen. It’s not you that I don’t trust, it’s your boyfriend” Seungkwan had said, earning him a big laugh and a hug from said boyfriend.
The venue is a quaint little church on the outskirts of the city, with a wedding hall attached to it. The decorations, all in whites and blues, were seen by Seungkwan himself, whereas catering was done by Jun and Minghao only. Chan had (almost) teared up when Jun had hugged Seungkwan and said “Don’t worry about the money, Kwannie. It’s my treat”. Vernon and Jihoon had worked together on the music. Chan was a bit doubtful about that duo, feeling that they might turn the ceremony into a disco, but when he hears Seungkwan’s favourite songs playing in soft and calm tones over the violins as the man walks down the aisle, he feels stupid to have ever doubted them.
The wedding had gone smoothly. It was nothing large, just Seungkwan and Vernon’s close family, their friends and some of their colleagues. Everyone from Chan and Mingyu’s circle was there, having become a close-knit friend circle in the past year. Chan can see Soonyoung shedding a tear as Seungkwan smiles at Vernon and says “I do”, with Jihoon comforting him, crying himself. When the rings are exchanged, he gives out the rings, feeling a tear falling down his cheek as he sees his two best friends exchange them. Seungcheol and Jeonghan glance at each other when the grooms are announced as husband, making Mingyu whisper in Chan’s ear “Told you”. As the newly married couple shares their first kiss, their group is the loudest to cheer them on, making everyone look at them with baffled (and in some cases, disgruntled) expressions on their faces.
But Chan couldn’t care less, and so couldn’t the rest of his friends.
They’re at the reception now, Seungkwan and Vernon obviously the stars of the show. Both cut the cake and, in a moment of bravado, Vernon takes a bit of the whip cream, putting it on Seungkwan’s cheek and licking it, making the whole hall erupt in cheers. Seungkwan gets so flustered by this, he turns completely red and hides his face in Vernon’s neck, making the latter looking smugly at his now-husband.
Chan can’t feel any prouder than he already is.
Slowly, as the day settles down into late afternoon, Chan starts getting more and more nervous. They had decided to keep the best man’s speech at the end, before the couple’s speech, and finish with the dance. When this was being decided, Chan had gladly accepted the decision. He’s by no means a man with low-confidence, but he can’t help feeling anxious in this case; It’s his Kwannie and Sollie’s wedding after all.
He walks around, catching Jun and Wonwoo engaged in deep conversation. Probably about cats , smiles Chan as he walks past them. He keeps looking around trying to find his boyfriend, when he feels someone come and hug him from behind.
“Hey” Mingyu whispers.
Chan turns around immediately, wrapping his arms around the taller man’s neck and letting the sandalwood scent wash over him as he whispers back “Hey”
“You’re nervous” Mingyu says. He tightens his hold around Chan’s waist as someone pushes past them. They are standing in the middle of the way around the hall, to be fair. But Chan couldn’t give a flying fuck about him and Mingyu blocking people’s way right now. He has more pressing matters to think on.
“Yeah, I am. I don’t even know why…” Chan says. He sniffs at Mingyu’s collar “I’ve been practising since last week, even today in the morning, and I didn’t feel nervous then”
“Maybe it’s because it's extremely important for you to do right by your duty as a best man here, Pebble. This is Seungkwan and Vernon’s wedding we’re talking about. We all know how important those two are to you”
Chan sighs “Yes, that’s true. Do you think I’ll be good?” he asks, feeling a bit jittery.
Just then someone announces over the mic “Everyone, kindly take a seat. The best man’s speech is about to begin”
Oh my goodness…
Chan’s heart beats loudly as he leans back to look into Mingyu’s eyes, feeling so nervous he feels he’s going to faint. And maybe it’s also obvious on his face, judging from the way Mingyu looks alarmed for a few seconds, before he leans down and kisses him.
The kiss is deep but soft, not lacking passion but encouraging Chan. He feels a sudden calm wash over him as the other squishes his cheeks and practically fills him with energy with his lips. Mingyu pulls back slightly and whispers “You’ll be phenomenal , Chan. Don’t worry, you got this. I know you do. Go”
Chan nods, feeling better. He turns around and sees Seungkwan and Vernon sitting there, looking at them both smiling. Ah, we kissed right in the middle of the hall , he realises as he hears Jihoon laughing softly on the table beside him. Feeling his cheeks heat up, he moves forward, but not before he’s snatched back into Mingyu’s embrace. The older man hugs him tightly, kissing his hair as he whispers “You’re the best, Chan. I love you”, before letting him go.
The hall whoops as he makes his way to the table. He turns back to the audience, right as Vernon says “Are we sure it’s our wedding, Kwan-ah?” making Seungkwan giggle and Chan blush all the more furiously.
He glares at him a bit, smiling at the same time to maintain his lovely-friend-turned-best-man image, before he glances back up, immediately finding Mingyu’s eyes. The man has situated himself at the back, standing tall and smiling at Chan. While everyone else is sitting, he opted for standing at the back, using his height to his full advantage to catch Chan’s eyes and wink, mouthing All the best .
Chan feels calm.
He can do this.
And so, looking deep into the eyes of the man he loves the most, he starts.
“Good evening, everyone. We’re gathered here today for the union of my two best friends, Seungkwan and Vernon….”
-----------------
The speech goes superbly .
Chan had thought his speech would be boring for people around them, not wanting to listen to his words, but they had loved it so much that he kept getting congratulations for the rest of the evening. He had started the speech while looking into Mingyu’s eyes, but by the middle of it, he had gone back to his confident self, catching everyone’s attention with his one-liners, dramatic expressions and exaggerations. He was making everyone laugh, cry and hoot when he wanted. He shared the stories of his and Seungkwan’s shenanigans from when they were kids and told them how they met each other (in Chan’s crib when Seungkwan’s mom visited them with the boy. Both had almost killed each other while trying to pull an alien toy towards them but then had also fallen asleep holding each other half an hour later. That cemented their moms’ beliefs that they would be friends for life. And obviously moms know the best, as it was proven true). The guests had a little cry when Chan told them that even though they fight a lot, bicker and almost kill each other most of the time, he knows for sure that he probably wouldn’t be standing there if it wasn't for Seungkwan.
By the time he’s done with his speech, Seungkwan drags his chair back, standing up and stumbling into an alarmed Chan. His face is a mess, red and blotchy, teary and snotty, but Chan hugs him tightly, feeling he’s going to look the same soon.
“Are you okay?” he asks quietly
Seungkwan leans back to look at him, offended. He exclaims “Okay? Okay ?! Lee Chan, that's the most emotional you’ve been with me since we fought in that crib and you ask if I am okay?”. The hall laughs loudly at his exclamation.
“Ah, stop it, you punk!” Chan laughs loudly, eyes going blurry looking at his snotty best-friend “If you feel like that, then why did you ask me to be your best man in the first place?!”
They both hug each other again, laughing and crying together now, Vernon coming to pat their backs. The audience cheer loudly, clapping. He can hear Soonyoung’s loud shout of You two are the cutest pair of best-friends!
Chan leans back, smiling at Seungkwan. He turns to look at the audience and his eyes lock on Mingyu, who’s still standing at the back, clapping loudly while silently crying himself. His gaze meets Chan and he mouths You were amazing, pebble. I’m so proud of you
Oh dear lord , Chan’s going to cry again now.
The stage is set for the grooms’ first dance as a couple shortly after Seungkwan and Vernon are done with their speeches as well. Chan takes this opportunity to step out and get some fresh air, feeling a bit overwhelmed. He texts Mingyu he’ll be back in 5 minutes. As a therapist himself and having been with Mingyu for more than a year now, Chan does his best to keep as little of what he feels from the other as he can. They’ve gone too long doing that after all.
When he re-enters the hall, he sees the dance is almost about to start. Seungkwan has obviously freshened up a bit, his face looking less blotchy than before and his suit also looking pristine again. Vernon looks the same though, having not had as many emotional breakdowns as both his best friends today. Both the grooms, shining apart from the others in their white suits and blue ribbons for ties, take the stage.
Slowly the dance begins. Everyone hushes into quietness as the group of singers croon out the intro of the song. It’s dreamy and feels straight out of heaven, the soft lyrics making the whole room bathe in fuzziness. The stage is covered with soft white light and the rest of the hall is in darkness, making the grooms stand out in the middle. As Chan watches them, he quickly makes his way towards the other end of the room to stand with Mingyu, Jun, and Minghao. He moves towards his boyfriend and takes his hand in his, smiling lovingly up at him. Mingyu spins him around and hugs him from behind. He whispers “You okay, now?”
Chan keeps watching the couple dancing on the stage “Yeah, I’m better”
“That was one hell of a speech, Pebble. You’re so good at getting the audience’s attention…” the awe in Mingyu’s voice makes him blush.
“I was literally going to faint beforehand, Mingyu-ah” he giggles
“So? You didn’t, right? You went there, you gave the speech, and you got everyone wrapped around every word you said” Mingyu whispers “That was pretty hot. You being confident is pretty hot”
Chan flushes red. He groans out “You’re not getting horny here, Kim. I swear-”
“I know, baby. This is more important. My… pressing needs can be taken care of later” Mingyu’s emphasis on the word gets them both chuckling quietly.
Minghao looks at them and says “Gosh, keep it in your pants, you two”
“It’s okay, Hao-Hao” Jun shushes his husband “I bet you they’re next”
“Next in what?” Mingyu asks, swaying Chan slightly now. He glances at Jun in question.
Minghao smirks at him. “Next in marrying, Mingyu.”
Both Mingyu and Chan blush hard this time. Chan turns to look at his friends and lets his boyfriend handle the teasing. He’s never been good at that and besides, whatever they say, their friends won’t listen to it anyway.
Dreaming the same dream and feeling the same way
You see we are spending the same night together
Even if I give you everything in the world
I will never change
Promise me eternity
If you feel the same way as I do
Chan smiles as he sees his best friends dancing to the lyrics. Seungkwan is singing along, leaning his head on Vernon’s shoulder, who, in turn, looks like the most content person in this world. He hears a bit of sniffing from his side and turns to see Seokmin wiping his tears, patted on his back by Joshua. Behind them, Seungcheol is the same, holding Jeonghan from the back but shedding quiet tears, especially when Jeonghan turns his head to say something to him. On the other side, Soonyoung is gently swaying Jihoon, who’s also singing along to the lyrics with a smile on his face. Chan tries to find Wonwoo, but sees him on the other corner, his camera in his hands as he kneels beside the floor and takes pictures of the happy couple with a smile of his own.
A sudden wave of happiness engulfs him as he realises that some of the most important people in his life are in the same room right now, celebrating the union of his two best friends. Honestly, there’s nowhere else he’d rather be.
And just as he thinks this, the one who’s even more important than them all buries his nose in the crook of his neck, singing along to the outro of the music.
No matter what happens
Don't worry, I'm by your side
Chan feels himself smile wider at the lyrics. Right after the song ends and they all cheer the couple on the stage, Chan turns around and pulls Mingyu down by his collar, kissing him passionately. Mingyu makes a surprised noise but easily submits to his boyfriend’s lips, feeling the words Chan wants to say directly in his mouth.
Chan pulls back. Many people have taken the stage, the DJ still playing soft songs at the moment. He looks into Mingyu’s eyes, those sparkly, shiny eyes, and whispers “Dance with me?”
Mingyu doesn’t waste a second in smiling and replying “Always”
They both make their way to the stage, finding a place for them to dance. Mingyu takes his hand in one and the other goes to his waist inside his suit jacket, swaying them gently. Chan keeps looking at him quietly, observing how the probe lights throw a soft white hue on his features. His straight nose glistening at the tip with sweat, his hair swaying gently as they move side to side, his plush lips forming into a smile as he recognises the song. He takes in his eyes as they shine in the lights on the stage, looking back at him with as much love as he himself feels for the man.
Be my only one
The name I want to call you by
Let's hold hands and walk along
For the millionth time in his life, Chan tries to pin-point the exact moment where it all started. When did he fall for Mingyu exactly? And how? Maybe it really was that slow-burn trope of friends to lovers that you read in books. Or maybe it was so sudden, that Chan could never guess what exactly caused it. Be as it may, this feeling of utter devotion and affection for the man pulling him closer right now is so intense, it baffles Chan to his core. How can humans even feel something so fiercely?
On rainy nights or on lonely days
Please colour me with your shiny light
I'll do better when you promise me, we will stay together
Mingyu whispers “Wonwoo hyung is taking pictures of us”. A giggle escapes him as he glances back at the elder. Chan smiles too, but he’s too dazed by the taller man’s beauty, and his own feeling, to care about whatever it is that Jeon Wonwoo is doing right now. He steps forward a little just as the chorus of the song starts, feeling his heart singing to the lyrics. Mingyu looks down at him, squeezing his waist as he smiles faintly and sings along:
Now I believe
La-la-la-la-la, I sing a song like this
With the one I was desperately looking for
My, oh my, oh my, oh my love
Be my only love (My only love)
Every step we take
It's like a dance we perform together
My, oh my, oh my, oh my love
Be my only love
Chan feels his vision go blurry. He’s speechless with how the song fits them both. Looking up, he sees Mingyu is the same, mouthing along the song as he looks deep into his eyes, shining with love and enamour Chan still can’t get used to seeing.
Be my only one
I don't have to hide my feelings anymore
The words I sincerely wanted to say
I say, "I love you,"
“I love you” he sings along the vocals in the song, feeling the words to be too weak to convey his emotions.
Mingyu stops singing along and just sways them from side to side “I love you too, my pebble”
Chan rests his head on Mingyu’s shoulder, the outside world completely forgotten. He doesn’t care what the others are doing right now. He has the one he always wanted, always adored in his arms. He can feel Mingyu’s heart beating loudly in his chest, bringing his hand from the other’s shoulder to feel it through his coat. Mingyu tips his head up to look at him, sparkly eyes making Chan feel alive like never before. He grabs the material beneath his palm and pulls him down, kissing him softly. He leans on the other, trusting him to carry his weight without a doubt.
My only one, when I see you
I want to lean on you, I want to have you
A love like this would make
Even the most immature dream come true
They stay like that, kissing and swaying in their own little bubble. Chan wraps his hands around Mingyu’s neck, not caring one bit who sees them. He waited for this for his whole life, able to see all the paths he took and that led him to this, to Mingyu. And now, here he is, feeling like he’s the happiest man alive.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
My only one
The song ends and cheers erupt around them, making them both jump apart. But then Chan stumbles back into Mingyu as his pendant gets stuck in Mingyu’s suit jacket, making them both lose their balance a bit and almost fall. Luckily, Mingyu is able to maintain his balance and catches Chan in his arms. They both laugh and lean back a little to see the hydrangeas engraved pendant gleaming in the lights on the stage.
Chan looks up at Mingyu, smiling “Your gift made me fall”
Mingyu pulls it off, looking at it for a moment before smiling back at Chan “Luckily, I was right here to catch you”
Chan is immediately reminded of last year and the turmoil they both went through. He looks back at Mingyu, and stands on his toes to kiss him deeply. They were kids when they met, teens when they fell apart, and here they are, adults when they finally found their way back to each other. They both went through hell and back, had to fight their way through so many words and acts committed by both of them, had to work tirelessly to get here. But they’re here now, together and in love. Chan is sure they’d have their rough patches in the future too. What couple doesn’t, really? He knows they’d fight, scream, cry and be upset with each other. But he’s also sure about one other thing: through all that, they’d still love each other. That they’d always be in love and be loved by one another.
Chan really loves Mingyu.
And he knows Mingyu really loves him too.
And that’s what matters in the end, doesn’t it?
Mingyu pulls back and Chan’s reminded of how they’re still at the wedding and not their kitchen. A pop song starts playing and immediately recognising it, Mingyu asks “Want to dance with me?”
Chan smiles “Always”.