Chapter Text
Epilogue (+1)
After that fateful night, something had changed between them. Yeonwoo felt like he had punched through barriers of doubt and misunderstanding. In return, his friend (no, his best friend!) had welcomed him into the deepest, darkest corner of his mental space.
The best part? Taehoon had become more affectionate towards him. His casual touches, which used to be violent, had softened.
It began at their HQ. Six company members (plus three allies) were chilling and playing Mafia42 on the couch. Yeonwoo was the Doctor, Hobin claimed himself the Cop, Rumi and Wangguk were the Citizens. There was one biggest suspect because apparently, Seong Taehoon couldn’t lie.
“Taehoon’s a Mafioso,” Yeonwoo said. “I have evidence that he’s lying. He has two contradictions...”
“Dude, what the hell?”
“I agree@!” Eul nodded enthusiastically. “We should eliminate him@!@!”
“What if you’re the real Mafioso, fucker?” Taehoon didn’t give up.
“I swear, Taehoon. I’m not the bad guy!”
When everyone voted to lynch Taehoon on their phones, the guy gritted his teeth and raised his hand. Yeonwoo braced himself for the whack, as usual.
Instead, the hand touched the nape of his neck, fingers lightly brushing his hair. ”You smartass.”
On the opposite side, Rumi gave him a thumb up. Wangguk followed with an awkward, genuine smile. The couple had been the first to know.
It escalated in the changing room at Ha Yan Taekwondojang. After a quick shower, he stepped out to see a bottle of cream for bruises on the bench, and Taehoon sitting right next to it.
“Turn around!” He ordered. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“Taehoon, you don’t have to...”
“I said, turn around.”
“Okay.”
Yeonwoo didn’t want people to see his bruises. People would ask questions, which he would not want to answer. To Yeonwoo, showing the purple, black and red marks on his skin would be one of the most intimate acts.
“Why?”
“Why, huh?” Taehoon curiously poked at the bruise. “Because I’m your best friend.”
Because I hurt you and want to make it up for you. Yeonwoo understood him immediately. If you’ve seen the worst of me and still accept me, why can’t I see yours and accept you too?
Hiding crimson face behind his hands, Yeonwoo murmured, “Thank you, Taehoon.”
Yeonwoo tried. He tried so hard to be realistic about his feelings. But Taehoon didn’t make it easier.
It reached peak intimacy at his apartment. It was midnight. They were movie-marathoning a Netflix horror series, much to Yeonwoo’s displeasure. Wrapping himself in a thin blanket like kimbap, sleep was definitely more alluring than whatever the detective was blabbering on screen.
Should he give in...? Yes, yes he should.
“Sleepy?”
“Hmmm...?”
“C’mere!”
He felt a hand guiding his head to something warm and solid. Taehoon’s shoulder. This must be a dream!
“Drool on me again and I’ll fucking kill you.”
Oh! So it wasn’t a dream. Yeonwoo swallowed and nodded, body stiffened as Taehoon casually slung his arm around his shoulder blade. He had absolutely no idea what to do next. They had been this close before, but one of them (mostly Taehoon) would push the other away after a few seconds. They’d been staying in their positions for the entire episode.
Feeling bold, Yeonwoo turned his head and shifted a bit so that his face nestled in the crook of Taehoon’s neck. As expected, the guy’s scent was addicting.
Just a few centimeters. Just a few, and he could kiss his friend.
No! This is enough. Yeonwoo wouldn’t dare. This is more than enough.
It wasn’t enough. Done watching the last episode, Taehoon yawned and laid down, but he made no move to kick Yeonwoo out. He’d allowed Yeonwoo to rest on the couch with him.
There would be no way two tall, big and bulky guys could fit in his tiny couch. Taehoon sprawled out, long limbs hanging awkwardly at the edges. Yeonwoo couldn’t fold himself any smaller without touching. The only next best solution would be to snuggle.
He did just that: pushing the ‘intimacy’ button by laying on Taehoon’s chest, an arm circling his waist. All while pretending he was half-asleep.
“Fucking opportunist.” Taehoon’s amused voice told him his acts couldn’t fool anyone.
“Why?” Yeonwoo asked, glancing up. Why are you doing this to me?
“Because you’re my best friend.”
Because I want to be closer to you. Yeonwoo understood the unsaid. Because I need you.
“I love you,” Yeonwoo blurted.
“I know.”
He’d known Taehoon wouldn’t say it back. It didn’t discourage him, though. He knew Taehoon loved him too. He just didn’t know what kind of love he felt.
For the first time, he was hopeful. All the signs were there, so he decided to test the water.
***
How to test Taehoon’s feelings without exposing his feelings and screwing up their friendship was something Yeonwoo considered with extreme caution. He’d consulted every member of YHC, even Bomi, Wangguk and Gyeoul. Although Yeonwoo had only vaguely described his hypothetical crush’s characters, anyone with two eyes and a brain had already known the true identity of said crush.
According to Hobin, Jiksae and Gyeoul, he just needed to grab Taehoon and go for a kiss. Survival chance wasn’t guaranteed unless he could think of a good excuse. If his crush pushed him away, the answer would be crystal clear—no need for further complication.
Rumi, Eul and Bomi advised for a measured approach. Talk to him and subtly bring up dating. Taehoon would be honest with his best friend.
Wangguk and Mangi told him to keep pining. Time would answer his question.
In the end, Yeonwoo followed the girls. Talking was the fastest and safest option.
So, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, at the front yard of YHC, Yeonwoo addressed the sensitive topic to his friend. They discussed how to prevent flirty comments from making it to the top on Taehoon’s channel. When fans knew Taehoon was very single, those comments were back full force. They annoyed the guy to no end.
“The price of being hot and single.” Taehoon made a double turn and threw a jackknife kick. “Fuck!”
Yeonwoo made an elbow hook and a back fist strike to the sandbag. “Taehoon.”
“What?” Taehoon put his hands on his hips. “Wanna learn the kick?”
“Have you ever thought about... dating someone?”
There it was. The most important question. Yeonwoo held his breath as Taehoon stared at him. His expression was unreadable.
“Me? Dating? Nah.” He shrugged. When he turned away to throw a triple jumping roundhouse kick, he didn’t see Yeonwoo’s face dropped. “Dating is a fucking nuisance. I mean, why need a lover when I already have Taekwondo?”
“Oh.”
Taehoon suddenly stopped kicking. He looked at Yeonwoo funnily. “Dude, you have Karate.”
“Yes, I have Karate.”
“Hmm...” He scratched his head. “We’re like, I dunno, married into two rival houses?”
“Yes, married into two rival houses.”
Of course. What exactly did he expect from Seong Taehoon? Both had shared their disinterest in romance from the beginning of their friendship. That time, he’d dug his own grave, saying with such conviction.
“I don’t want to date anyone at the moment,” he had told Taehoon. “I want to focus on my study and Karate.”
“This dweeb, tsk. I don’t wanna date either. Looks like you and I have something in common, heh?”
Sensing that something wasn’t right, Taehoon dropped his joking demeanor immediately.
“You wanna date someone,” he stated.
“N-no. I’m just thinking, that’s all.”
Neither of them spoke. It wasn’t like he could say it aloud. How foolish of him, thinking they could date. Yeonwoo just wanted to get kicked in the head and knocked out.
Taehoon didn’t pry further. Yeonwoo thought the guy couldn’t care less if he was dating someone else. Someone who wasn’t him.
“Well, this sucks. I’m the only member of The Single Club now.” Taehoon huffed a laugh, picking his ear with his pinky. “Good luck.”
”Thank you.” Yeonwoo forced a smile. There was no such thing as luck for him.
“Don’t abandon your best friend when you have a girlfriend.”
“Of course.”
“Alright. Let’s go inside and have some jjajangmyeon!”
“Y-you go first. I want to practice a bit more.”
Left alone, Yeonwoo collapsed on the colorful mats and cried his eyes out. His fingers clawed at his left chest, like he wanted to pierce his heart and stomped on it. His first love had gone like that. It’d been dead before it could be born.
It hurt, but it’d hurt less if Taehoon didn’t know the truth.
It was okay. It was enough. Their relationship was more than enough.
Yeonwoo didn’t think he would date anyone soon. Probably never. He couldn’t envision his future with anyone else.
Maybe, if they stayed like this forever, it’d be okay. He’d be okay.
***
When friends asked about the results of his crush, Yeonwoo only shook his head.
“Nothing’s going on between us. Taehoon doesn’t like me that way.”
“Then why are you still close to him?” Bomi asked.
“Because we’re best friends!” Yeonwoo gave her a dazzling smile. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
Yeonwoo would be lying to himself if he said everything was a-okay with their friendship. He couldn’t help distancing himself from Taehoon again. Not overt like last time, it’d be too painful. They still acted like best friends - affectionate and aggressive. They still fought like crazy, occasionally hugged and cuddled. But there were times he would push Taehoon away.
Like this time.
He was exercising a Karate breathing technique at Ha Yan Taekwondojang. It was the Yō – Ibuki, a hard and noisy style of breathing, which was a part of Sanchin Kata. Seong Hansoo had permitted him to practice Karate when there was no other student. Yeonwoo was immensely grateful for the special treatment.
Seong Taehoon, though, was an annoyance whenever Yeonwoo practiced Karate.
“It’s a sacred Taekwondojang. Dojang, okay? Not a dojo. No Karate in here!” Taehoon had said.
Speaking of the big cat, his footsteps had revealed his attempt to sabotage Yeonwoo’s training. Yeonwoo expected a side tackle.
“Ji Yeonwoo!”
What he didn’t expect was him being lifted by the waist. Since when did Taehoon get this strong? Yeonwoo recognized the iconic Hwang Mangi’s Ssireum move. Taehoon was trying to pick him up from behind and throw him down like a sack of rice.
“Taehoon, put me down!”
Yeonwoo folded himself forward and lowered his body weight into a horse stance. Unmoveable. Unbeatable. He sighed in relief when his feet touched the ground.
“Yeonwoo!” Taehoon mumbled playfully into his shoulder. “Yeonwoo… hehe...”
“I heard you!” Yeonwoo responded, exasperated. “You don’t need to repeat my name.”
He felt those arms tighten as if Taehoon hadn’t given up messing with him. He was messing in the most intimate way.
“W-why?” Yeonwoo croaked. Why are you doing this to me? Why are you calling my name all of a sudden?
“I dunno?” Taehoon was as puzzled as Yeonwoo. “I like the sound of it, I guess?”
“Yeonwoo.” A chin rested on his shoulder blade. A nose nuzzled into his sweaty neck. “Yeonwoo, Yeonwoo...”
At this rate, his heart couldn’t take it. Hearing his name from Taehoon’s lips was too much.
“Seong Taehoon,” he almost pleaded. “Let go of me!”
“Nope!” A small puff of air was blown into his ear. “What are you trying to do now?”
Yeonwoo was not a grappler, but he knew the basics of ground fighting. In response to Taehoon’s provocation, he folded himself in half, pushed his hips backwards and put two hands on the ground. One leg placed between Taehoon’s legs, the other leg hooked behind. He jumped and grabbed Taehoon’s ankle, finishing a clean takedown.
“I’m trying to do this.” A heel hook.
“Ack! Hey, hey, stop!” Taehoon tapped out.
Yeonwoo only glared.
“Sheesh! Pissy, heh?”
“Don’t do it again!” Yeonwoo only mustered up a half-hearted warning. “I don’t like it.”
He promised himself. One day. One day he would set boundaries. He would draw the line between friendship and romantic relationship. But today, he would let it slide, because he was a “pathetic dipshit” to Taehoon.
“Well, loosen up!” Taehoon, oblivious as ever, cracked his knuckles and threw a spinning back kick to Yeonwoo’s stomach. “Or I’m gonna fuck you up today.”
“Are you sure?” Yeonwoo made a cross block. “Because I’m about to do the same.”
Their sparring session was just getting started.