Chapter Text
The afternoon was warm when they finally said goodbye to Suhwan’s mother.
After spending a little more time at his house, the two of them were finally on their way back. They walked side by side, their hands naturally finding each other as they left.
Minseok swung their joined hands lightly between them. He looked perfectly content.
“So we’re going home now?” he asked, turning to Suhwan with a bright smile.
Suhwan always loved it when Minseok talked to him like this, all soft and playful. Especially after what had happened in his room earlier, that smile was almost too much for him to handle.
“Nope.”
Minseok blinked.
“Nope?”
“We have another plan.”
Minseok's smile widened with curiosity.
“Another plan?”
Suhwan only gave him a teasing smile before checking his phone again, making sure he still had the right direction.
“Where are we going?” Minseok asked.
“You’ll see.”
Minseok huffed, but he followed without another complaint, their hands still linked as Suhwan led him down the street.
He couldn’t help wondering what Suhwan had planned.
After everything that had happened that day, he thought they would simply head back home after saying goodbye to his mother. He hadn’t expected anything else.
But Suhwan seemed determined to keep surprising him.
They took a bus for a while, sitting side by side. Minseok occasionally glanced at Suhwan, clearly trying to figure out where they were going, but Suhwan only smiled whenever he caught him looking.
At one point, Minseok leaned slightly closer to peek at his phone.
Suhwan immediately tilted the screen away.
“Hey.”
“You’ll find out soon.”
“You’re annoying.”
“You’re curious.”
“I am.”
Suhwan laughed softly.
“Then be patient.”
Minseok sighed dramatically and leaned back into his seat. He lasted less than a minute before glancing at Suhwan again. Suhwan caught him. Minseok looked away. Neither of them said anything, but Suhwan's smile remained.
By the time they reached the coast, the sun had already begun its descent.
The air felt different from the heavy warmth of summer. A cool breeze drifted in from the water, carrying the faint scent of the sea as the two of them walked closer to the shore.
Minseok slowed.
The sky stretched wide above them, painted in deep gold and warm orange where the sun hovered over the West Sea. The colors softened with every passing minute, fading into pale pink and violet at the edges.
“Wow,” Minseok murmured.
Suhwan glanced at him instead of the sunset.
“Pretty, right?”
Minseok nodded, still looking out at the water.
“Really pretty.”
Suhwan smiled.
He had wanted to bring Minseok somewhere like this.
Somewhere they could walk without thinking about projects, exams, tasks, or everything else waiting for them when they got back.
Just the two of them.
And seeing Minseok standing beside him now, looking out at the sea with that quiet smile on his face, Suhwan knew he had made the right choice.
He squeezed Minseok’s hand gently.
“Come on.”
Minseok turned to him.
“Where now?”
Suhwan smiled.
“Still a surprise.”
Minseok narrowed his eyes on him, but before he could ask anything else, Suhwan tugged gently on his hand and led him farther along the waterfront.
The sun was sinking lower now. The breeze had grown cooler, and Minseok instinctively moved a little closer to Suhwan as they walked. Their shoulders brushed every few steps, their joined hands swinging softly between them.
Then Suhwan stopped in front of a building overlooking the water.
He opened the door. Warmth immediately greeted them.
The difference was almost startling. Outside, the evening air had begun to carry a chill, but inside, everything felt soft and warm. Wooden furniture filled the space, with dried pampas grass tucked into simple arrangements and small lamps casting a gentle amber glow across the room.
Minseok's eyes wandered toward the windows.
Beyond the glass, the last traces of sunlight stretched across the sea. The brilliant orange had faded into muted pinks and purples, slowly deepening into blue as evening settled over the water.
“It's pretty,” Minseok said quietly.
Suhwan smiled.
“Do you like it?”
Minseok turned to him, his expression already answering the question.
“I love it.”
Something warm settled in Suhwan's chest.
He had only found this place last night.
He had spent a while searching for somewhere they could have dinner, scrolling through pictures and reviews until he finally found this little place by the sea. The view had caught his attention first, but when he saw the warm interior and the tables by the window, he knew Minseok would like it.
He had almost dismissed it at first. Maybe it was too far. Maybe Minseok would be tired. Maybe the reservation would be difficult.
But he had wanted to try. He wanted to give Minseok a day that felt different from their usual routines. Something that belonged only to them.
He held up his phone to the staff.
“I made a reservation.”
Minseok looked at him in surprise. He didn’t say anything. He just looked at Suhwan for a moment, something soft settling in his expression.
The staff led them toward a booth tucked beside the window. It was quiet there, sheltered from most of the restaurant, with the ocean spread out beyond the glass.
After ordering their food, they settled into their seats across from each other.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Soft music played somewhere in the background, blending with the quiet clinking of dishes and the occasional murmur of other conversations. A small lamp on their table glowed between them, its reflection appearing faintly against the window.
Minseok looked outside again.
The last sliver of daylight disappeared beyond the horizon. Inside, the little pool of warm light remained.
Suhwan found himself watching Minseok admire the view. Minseok eventually glanced back and caught him staring. Suhwan only smiled.
“You really have great taste,” Minseok beamed. “You actually searched for this place last night?”
“Hmm,” Suhwan nodded, looking pleased with Minseok’s reaction.
Minseok smiled at him.
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
Suhwan smiled back warmly.
A comfortable silence settled between them again. Neither of them seemed bothered by it.
Minseok had begun to realize that this was one of the things he liked most about being with Suhwan. They didn’t always need something to say. Sometime they could simply sit together, share the same view, and let the quiet exist between them.
It hadn’t always been this easy.
There had been a time when every silence made Minseok wonder what Suhwan was thinking. Now, silence simply meant they were comfortable.
Their food arrived a few minutes later.
Minseok’s eyes immediately went to the dishes as the server placed them on the table one by one. The warm smell of the food filled the small space between them, and he leaned forward slightly, looking more interested than he had been in anything else since they arrived.
Suhwan couldn't help smiling.
“Hungry?”
“A little.”
“A little?”
Minseok looked at him.
“Okay. Very.”
Suhwan laughed.
The meal passed slowly, without either of them feeling the need to fill every quiet moment. They shared dishes between them, occasionally reaching for the same one and laughing when their hands met. Minseok made a few quiet comments about the food, and Suhwan listened, smiling whenever he became particularly enthusiastic about something.
At one point, Minseok pushed a dish slightly toward him.
“Try this.”
“You like it?”
“It's good.”
Suhwan took a bite. Minseok watched him expectantly.
“Well?”
Suhwan nodded.
“It's good.”
Minseok smiled, satisfied.
“You're welcome.”
Suhwan laughed.
“You're acting like you made it.”
“I recommended it.”
“Right.”
Minseok smiled into his drink. Every now and then, he looked out the window.
The sky had completely changed by then. The colors of sunset had disappeared, leaving only the dark sea stretching beyond the glass, dotted with faint lights from the shore.
Inside, everything remained warm. The small lamp on their table cast a soft glow over their plates and their hands, while the music continued in the background.
By the time they finished, most of the dishes between them were empty. Minseok leaned back against his seat with a quiet sigh, looking satisfied.
“That was good.”
Suhwan smiled.
“You ate a lot.”
“You told me to order whatever I wanted.”
“I didn't know you'd take that as a challenge.”
Minseok laughed.
The server came by to clear the table, leaving only their drinks and the small lamp between them.
Minseok took a sip of his drink before looking at Suhwan again.
“I really like this date. You look like a pro,” he teased.
“What? This is my first time…”
Minseok laughed quietly.
“You’re pretty good at it for a first-timer.”
“I tried my best because it’s my first time.”
Minseok’s expression softened.
He looked at Suhwan for a moment. His heart had been fluttering almost the entire day.
Maybe it was because of all the little things Suhwan had done for him. Bringing him to see all the parts of his world that Minseok hasn't been there. Taking him here after dinner plans he had only thought of the night before.
None of it was particularly grand. But Minseok had found himself smiling again and again. It was the thought behind everything that stayed with him.
“You really thought about all of this.” Minseok said, looking softly at Suhwan.
“I wanted today to be special.” Suhwan shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Minseok smiled.
“It is.”
Suhwan looked down at his drink, trying to hide the smile that had immediately appeared on his face.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Minseok watched him quietly, his fingers tracing the edge of his glass.
There was something he had been thinking about for a while. Maybe today had made him feel brave enough to finally say it.
“Suhwan-ah…”
Suhwan looked up.
“Hmm?”
Minseok hesitated for a moment.
“Do you remember when I acted strange and avoided you?”
Suhwan stared back at him. He immediately understood what he meant.
The question hung quietly between them. Minseok took a small breath.
“Back then, I was trying to understand myself. I just couldn’t face my feelings when I realized I didn’t want someone else standing beside you... I wanted it to be me.”
For a moment, Suhwan couldn't find anything to say.
He had spent so long wondering what had been going through Minseok's mind back then. He had replayed those days more times than he wanted to admit, wondering if he had done something wrong.
Do you like him that much?
The question Minseok had asked him while he was lying on his back surfaced almost immediately. He finally understood what Minseok had really been asking.
“So you thought I had a crush on someone else?”
Suhwan finally asked him.
Minseok looked down at his drink.
“...Maybe.”
Suhwan watched him quietly for a moment.
“Don’t tell me…” He paused, already knowing the answer. “You thought it was Yechan hyung?”
Minseok looked up, startled, as though Suhwan had just said something obvious.
Suhwan let out a quiet sigh.
“So it was him…”
He had tried so hard to push the thought aside back then, convincing himself that he was probably just overthinking things.
But he had been right all along.
“I’m sorry that I hadn’t mentioned him before. But he was just a really close hyung I respected and trusted. Nothing more.”
Minseok nodded softly.
“I’m silly…” He sighed. “Sorry. I should've just asked you, but I don’t know how to actually say it.”
The apology came so quietly that Suhwan's expression softened.
“You don't have to apologize.”
“I still feel bad about it.”
“You were figuring things out.”
Minseok looked back at him. Something about those words settled gently inside him. He loved how easily Suhwan understood him now.
Maybe that was what he had been afraid of all along—not simply being rejected, but being misunderstood of saying something he couldn't take back and watching it change the way Suhwan looked at him. But Suhwan was still there. Still looking at him the same way. Still listening.
Suhwan’s gaze remained on Minseok.
“Honestly…” Suhwan began. “I was so confused back then. I didn't know if I could let myself believe that you might feel the same way, hyung...”
Minseok went still.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The words settled quietly between them, leaving behind a silence that felt different from the ones before.
Minseok looked at Suhwan, really looked at him.
There was no teasing smile on his face now, no attempt to hide behind a joke. Just a quiet honesty that made something in Minseok's chest ache.
He had spent so much time thinking about his own fear back then. About how difficult it had been to understand what he felt, how afraid he had been of wanting something that might never be his.
He hadn't realized Suhwan had been carrying his own uncertainty all along.
Maybe they had both been standing in the same place, just looking in opposite directions.
The realization was almost bittersweet.
How many moments had they misunderstood?
How many times had one of them wanted to say something but stopped themselves?
How many ordinary days had passed while they were both quietly hoping for the same thing?
Minseok lowered his gaze for a moment, letting himself take it all in.
When he looked back at Suhwan, his expression had softened.
“You really thought I couldn't like you?”
Suhwan gave him a small, almost sheepish smile.
“I wasn't sure.”
Minseok's lips curved faintly.
“We really made things difficult for each other.”
“Yeah.”
Suhwan smiled.
“And neither of us said anything.”
Minseok looked at him for a long moment.
“I think I'm glad we finally did.”
Suhwan's expression softened.
“Me too.”
A silence settled between them.
The restaurant had grown quieter around them. The soft music continued in the background, barely noticeable beneath the occasional clink of dishes and the low murmur of conversations from the remaining tables.
Minseok looked out the window.
The sea was almost completely dark now. The lights along the distant shore shimmered faintly against the water, their reflections breaking apart whenever the waves moved.
He thought about how different everything felt from a few months ago.
Back then, sitting across from Suhwan like this would have made his heart race for all the wrong reasons. He would have wondered if he was looking for too long, if his feelings were becoming too obvious, if Suhwan might somehow notice everything he was trying so hard to hide.
Now, he could simply look at him. And Suhwan would look back.
There was something comforting about that.
They had spent so much time trying to understand each other without actually asking. Reading too much into small gestures, making assumptions, keeping questions to themselves because they were both too afraid of what the answers might be.
It seemed almost ridiculous now.
But Minseok didn't regret it. Maybe they had needed that time. Maybe some feelings needed to be understood before they could be spoken. And perhaps that was why he wanted to keep talking now.
He didn't want to leave anything unspoken anymore.
He turned his gaze back to Suhwan. Suhwan was already looking at him.
Their eyes met, and neither of them looked away.
Minseok smiled softly, his expression growing thoughtful again.
“You know, Suhwanie…”
He paused.
Suhwan’s gaze remained on him.
“I think I really like being with you.”
Minseok looked him in the eyes, wanting to make sure Suhwan understood that he truly meant it.
Suhwan stayed silent, his heartbeat quickening softly in his chest.
“I don’t even know when it started, but it’s just different whenever I’m with you. It feels like… being beside you is where I’m supposed to be.”
Minseok’s voice grew quieter toward the end.
They had already told each other how they felt. They had confessed, kissed, and finally allowed themselves to call this a relationship.
But somehow, Minseok still wanted to tell him.
He wanted Suhwan to know all the little things he had been feeling, even the ones he hadn’t known how to name before.
Maybe he had spent too long keeping everything inside. Maybe now that he finally knew he could say these things and be met with warmth instead of fear, he didn't want to stop.
The words caught Suhwan off guard.
He had known they had mutual feelings now. He knew Minseok cared about him.
But hearing him say it like this, so openly without hesitation, still made something warm spread through his chest.
For so long, he had never imagined that the feelings he had kept hidden could possibly be returned. Now, he was sitting across from the person he had quietly fallen for, listening to him say that being together felt right.
Suhwan's expression softened.
“I feel the same, hyung.”
A small smile appeared on his lips.
“I just want to keep doing things like this with you.”
Minseok smiled.
“Things like this?”
“Going somewhere together. Eating together. Talking like this.”
Suhwan paused, his eyes still fixed on Minseok.
“Just… having you beside me.”
Minseok's smile softened.
“I'd like that.”
For a moment, they simply looked at each other. Neither of them needed to say anything more. For once, there was nothing left to wonder about.
The thought stayed with Minseok as he looked at Suhwan.
Nothing left to wonder about.
It felt strange, in a way. For so long, he had been used to questions.
What if?
What does he mean?
Does he feel the same?
Now there were answers.
Not perfect ones, perhaps. There would still be things they would have to learn about each other. There would still be awkward moments, misunderstandings, and days when they wouldn't know exactly what to say.
But they had finally stopped being afraid of asking. And somehow, that felt like enough.
Suhwan glanced toward the window.
“We should probably head back before it gets too late.”
Minseok followed his gaze. The night had settled completely over the coast.
“Yeah.”
Eventually, Suhwan stood and reached for the bill before Minseok could say anything.
“I’m paying.”
“You already planned the whole date. At least let me—”
“No.”
Minseok blinked.
Suhwan smiled. “Let me do this one thing.”
Minseok stared at him for a moment before quietly smiling back.
“Okay.”
They stepped outside together.
The evening air was cooler than before, carrying the faint scent of the sea. The sky had darkened while they were inside, leaving only traces of color near the horizon.
Neither of them seemed in a hurry to go home. They walked slowly toward the beach, their shoulders almost brushing every now and then.
Minseok glanced at Suhwan. Then, without saying anything, he reached over and took his hand. Suhwan looked down at their joined hands before looking back at him. Minseok pretended not to notice the small smile that appeared on his face.
They continued along the beach side by side, their hands intertwined, neither feeling the need to fill the quiet.
There was no awkwardness to work around, no words left hanging between them. Just the sound of their footsteps against the pavement, the distant waves, and the occasional laughter drifting from somewhere farther down the shore.
The quiet felt different now. Not empty. Full.
Minseok occasionally glanced at their hands. There was something almost unbelievable about how natural it felt.
Not long ago, even standing this close to Suhwan had been enough to make him nervous. Now, he could simply reach for him. No hesitation. No second-guessing. Just a hand finding another hand.
At one point, Minseok nudged Suhwan lightly with his shoulder.
Suhwan nudged him back. Minseok did it again.
This time, Suhwan laughed.
“Are you five?”
Minseok smiled innocently. “What?”
“You keep bumping into me.”
“I’m walking.”
“You're walking into me.”
“Maybe you're in my way.”
Suhwan shook his head, but his smile only grew.
A few steps later, Minseok deliberately walked closer until their shoulders brushed again.
Suhwan glanced at him. Minseok only smiled.
They kept walking like that, occasionally teasing each other, stopping every now and then to look out at the water.
At one point, Minseok stopped near the edge of the shore.
The waves rolled gently toward them before retreating again, leaving thin trails of foam across the sand.
Suhwan stood beside him.
“Cold?”
“Not yet.”
“You're going to be.”
Minseok looked at him.
“You worry too much.”
“Someone has to.”
Minseok smiled.
“I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I know.”
Suhwan looked at him.
“I just want to take care of you sometimes.”
The words were simple. But Minseok felt them settle somewhere deep.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned slightly closer, letting his shoulder rest against Suhwan's.
“Okay.”
They stayed like that for a while. The wind grew colder as the evening settled in. Minseok shivered. Suhwan immediately noticed.
“You're cold.”
“I’m fine.”
“You're freezing.”
“I said I'm fine.”
Suhwan stopped walking. Minseok took another step before realizing he was no longer beside him.
“What?”
“Come here.”
Minseok looked at him suspiciously but stepped closer.
Suhwan reached for the front of Minseok’s jacket and carefully pulled it tighter around him. He adjusted the collar, then tugged the zipper up a little higher, making sure there were no gaps for the wind to slip through.
Minseok stood still, watching him.
Suhwan was completely focused on what he was doing, his brows slightly furrowed as he fixed the jacket with far more seriousness than the situation probably required.
“There.”
He gave the collar one final adjustment before stepping back. His expression immediately brightened with quiet satisfaction.
“Better.”
Minseok stared at him. Suhwan looked almost proud of himself.
“You look like you’re about to receive an award,” Minseok said.
Suhwan laughed.
“I just made sure my boyfriend doesn't freeze to death.”
“Your boyfriend?”
Suhwan raised an eyebrow.
“Is that a problem?”
Minseok's lips curved into a smile.
“No.”
He stepped closer. For a moment, he simply looked at him.
Suhwan was still smiling, his hair slightly tousled by the wind, his hands falling back to his sides after making sure Minseok was warm.
Minseok thought about everything they had said inside. About all the things they had been too afraid to say. About how long they had spent looking in opposite directions, never realizing they were waiting for the same thing.
He thought about Suhwan's voice when he said I just want to keep doing things like this with you.
He thought about how easily Suhwan had accepted him. How carefully he listened. How he always seemed to notice the smallest things.
And suddenly, Minseok felt an overwhelming tenderness for him. Not the nervous fluttering he used to mistake for fear. Not the uncertainty that had once made him pull away.
Something warmer. Something steadier. Something that made him want to get closer simply because he could.
Before Suhwan could say anything else, Minseok reached up, grabbed the front of his jacket collar, and gently pulled him down.
Suhwan barely had time to react before Minseok kissed him.
The kiss was soft at first. Almost tentative.
Not because Minseok was unsure anymore, but because he wanted to take his time. He wanted to feel this moment.
Suhwan stayed still for half a heartbeat before leaning into him.
Minseok's fingers remained curled around his collar as he tilted his head slightly, letting the kiss deepen naturally.
There was no urgency in it. No need to rush.
They had nowhere else they needed to be.
Suhwan’s arm slowly wrapped around Minseok’s waist, drawing him closer. Minseok's other hand came to rest against the side of Suhwan's neck.
The wind moved around them, cool against their backs, but neither of them seemed to notice anymore.
The kiss lingered. Softened. Then deepened again.
It felt less like a question and more like an answer.
I like being with you.
I want you beside me.
I want more days like this.
All the things they had finally managed to say seemed to exist there too, in the way Minseok held onto him, in the way Suhwan kept him close, in the quiet certainty between them.
Minseok didn't know how long they stayed like that.
Long enough for the rest of the world to feel distant.
Long enough for him to forget about the cold.
Long enough for him to realize that he didn't need to find the perfect words anymore.
He simply loved being here. With him.
When they finally parted, they stayed close, their foreheads almost touching.
Suhwan looked at him, still a little breathless. So did Minseok.
For a while, neither of them moved. They simply stayed there, holding each other close. Minseok's hand was still resting on Suhwan's neck, while Suhwan's remained at his waist.
“Thank you for today,” Minseok said with a soft smile.
Suhwan’s expression softened. “You liked it?”
“I loved it.”
Minseok’s hand moved to Suhwan’s cheek, his thumb gently caressing it.
“I really did.”
He paused for a moment, his smile growing a little more playful.
“So… I guess this is your award.”
Suhwan blinked. “My award?”
“For taking me on such a nice date.”
Suhwan looked at him for a moment before a small smile appeared.
“Being with you is my award.”
Minseok stared at him for a second, caught completely off guard.
Then he laughed softly, his cheeks warming.
“You're getting cheesy.”
“You started it.”
“I did not.”
“You called me an award.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
Minseok couldn't come up with an answer.
Suhwan smiled, leaning a little closer.
“Still counts.”
Minseok rolled his eyes, but his smile never left.
Suhwan smiled. He reached up and gently took Minseok's hand from his cheek, holding it between both of his.
His fingers were cold. Without saying anything, Suhwan rubbed his hands gently over Minseok's, warming them between his palms.
Minseok looked down at their hands. Then he looked back at Suhwan.
“Then you're welcome,” Suhwan said softly.
Minseok laughed quietly.
“You're looking so proud of yourself.”
“I should be.”
Minseok shook his head, smiling.
“Unbelievable.”
Suhwan laughed, and for a moment, they simply stood there together. Neither of them was in a hurry to let go.
The sea stretched quietly beside them, dark beneath the night sky.
For once, neither of them felt the need to wonder what tomorrow would bring.
Whatever came next, they would figure it out together.