Work Text:
"Alright! Since you all declined the Halloween costume party idea, how about we go to some horror house in town?" Taeyong announces.
They are all seated at their usual spot in the university field, under a mulberry tree. Taeyong's suggestion earned mixed reactions, mostly agreeing and liking the idea except for Jungwoo, who is known to be the group's scaredy-cat.
"I totally hate that idea. Taeyong, think of something else!" Jungwoo loudly says.
"Anyone besides Jungwoo hates the idea?" Taeyong asks with a slightly teasing tone to the younger.
"I think it will be fun if we can all go together," Yuta says with genuine interest.
"I'm down as long as we go to that horror house near the river." Haechan offers.
"The one that went viral because of actual ghost sightings?" Johnny hops on Haechan's idea.
"Okay, you two are clearly messing with me," Jungwoo says. "I still don't like the idea!"
The group momentarily ignored Jungwoo's plea to think of something else as an activity for Halloween night. Still, the group is adamant about it as it will be a new experience for them. Their small group who gathered and grew unimaginably and unusually may come off as a very random lot, but they all go along together. At first, it was just Jungwoo, Doyoung, and Taeil. Then Doyoung started dating Taeyong, the trio met Johnny, Yuta, and Jaehyun. Later on, the young ones, Mark and Haechan, were introduced through Taeil's association. Then ten months after, they are now Jungwoo's comfort group.
"Fine! Go to that dumb horror house, but I'm not coming in with you. I'd rather stay in the car or wait outside for you all." Jungwoo says with a pout and furrowed brows to show his annoyance but cutely because that's how he is.
Right then, Jaehyun, who is sitting next to him, quietly says, "Hey, don't worry so much. I'll protect you there."
"There you have it, Jungwoo!" Taeil says.
"Yeah, Jaehyun will be your knight in shining armor," Taeyong happily says while giggling.
The rest of the group continued enjoying the moment of teasing Jungwoo and planning on what they'd do after the horror house trip.
-
As Doyoung and Jungwoo enter their dorm room,
"I'll protect you." Doyoung imitates Jaehyun.
"Stop it! You've been teasing me the entire way home."
Doyoung just laughs, and Jungwoo can't help but roll his eyes. Being Jungwoo's best friend for years now, Doyoung became one of the few people aware of Jungwoo's big fat crush on Jaehyun.
"Woo, I'm telling you that guy is down bad for you the same way you are to him."
"He is totally not! Stop making things up, Doyoung." Jungwoo denies.
"But Doyoungs's right, though." Taeil suddenly shows up, and yes, he also knows Jungwoo likes Jaehyun. It is a bit hard to hide things like this when you live together, and at the same time, Taeil is the big brother of the group. Everyone leans into him more but Jungwoo in particular since they're cousins.
"I thought you won't be home 'till 10," Jungwoo says.
"Didn't want to stay up late. We still have to go to that horror house tomorrow." Taeil says in a teasing tone.
"Ugh. Stop with the teasing already. Also, Jaehyun will never like me, and that's it. You two keep putting things in my head. My hopes are getting up for nothing." Jungwoo sadly says as he sits down on their rundown couch.
Doyoung went next to him, putting an arm over his shoulder as a sign of comfort. "Woo, we're not teasing you. We are telling you the truth." He says.
"Jungwoo, I don't know if you've noticed it. But no friends would treat you the way Jaehyun is doing. I mean, you two even have a special day solely to meet up with each other." Taeil states.
"What? Our Saturday morning coffee runs? It's just for funsies! We didn't realize it's been going on for months now! Plus, some of you join us sometimes." Jungwoo tries to downplay the accusations.
"Okay, but remember when your dumbass took the wrong route on your way home for thanksgiving, who literally drove for two hours just to pick you up and bring you home? Aunt Kim even met him before me!" Doyoung adds.
"Oh-oh! Isn't Jaehyun also the one who confronted your psycho ex-suitor?"
"Yeah, he also punched the guy when he started badmouthing Jungwoo." Taeil agrees.
"Geez. What is this? List all of Jaehyun's good deeds to Jungwoo time?" He then stands up and makes his way to his room, clearly done with this conversation.
It is hard to deny, but yes, Jaehyun had done so much to him that he even went overboard sometimes. No wonder Jungwoo fell for him hard. How can he not? The guy is a walking prince charming, and Jungwoo is just lucky enough he was able to be at the other end of the sweet gestures. Jungwoo hates assuming things and is a bit of a pessimist. Hence, he always convinces himself that whatever he and Jaehyun have is just a friendship and that this crush is purely one-sided.
-
"W-why are we driving out of town? Are we really going to the horror house by the river?" Jungwoo panics.
They are now seated in Jaehyun's car. With their big group not being able to fit in one car, they had to split up. Now Jungwoo is with the couple, Doyoung and Taeyong, and Jaehyun, the driver and owner of the vehicle.
"Yup!" Taeyong happily answers.
"B-but the ghost sightings?" Jungwoo worries.
"Kim Jungwoo, don't be such a baby," Doyoung says.
Jungwoo suddenly felt a warm hand on top of his knee, it's Jaehyun's hand giving a little squeeze of assurance to him. "Ghosts aren't real, Jungwoo," Jaehyun says, giving him a soft smile.
Did Jaehyun think this would calm Jungwoo? Now Jungwoo's as red as a tomato, and heart is beating so fast. Those damn dimples. He looks at the driver and stares at him lovingly. He's driving. He can't look at me now, so let me enjoy the view. Jungwoo thought, smiling to himself.
Doyoung and Taeyong noticed what just happened at the front seat but chose not to speak on it and just smiled to themselves. They find it funny how the two are so oblivious to their feelings. Being the good friends they are, they decided to sit this one out and let the two idiots figure out how they feel about each other.
Jungwoo was too busy stealing glances on Jaehyun and the hand on his knee that only leaves when the driver shifts gears but goes back as well comfortably. He didn't notice that they were already at the horror house.
"Finally! What took yall so long?" Donghyuck says as they get closer to the other group who is waiting by the entrance.
"Had to make a couple of stops because someone was stalling." Doyoung eyes Jungwoo nastily.
Mark pulled Jungwoo to his side, arm on his shoulder, "We're all gonna go together, so don't be scared, okay?"
Jaehyun softly pulled Jungwoo away from Mark's hold.
"Here, wear a jacket. It's cold outside."
The older ones are just looking at the scene with knowing smiles and delight. While the younger ones are a bit slow to catch on. Mark is about to protest because Jaehyun pushes him and Donghyuck silently commenting, "But we're going inside, though?" Yuta and Taeil went and silenced the two.
-
"….there will be escape rooms you might accidentally enter, so don't panic if the doors are locked. You just have to solve a puzzle. Also, emergency buttons will be all over the place and are glowing in the dark, alright?" The staff is orienting the group in the horror house.
Jungwoo is too nervous about comprehending a thing. He is busy trying to silence the screams of the earlier group that they can hear, plus the eerie sound effects that can be heard all over the place for the impact.
"Jungwoo, stop squeezing my hand. It's about to pop." Taeil complains.
"Alright! You have thirty minutes to find the exit. Stay safe…and alive." The staff attempts to scare them before letting them in.
Before Jungwoo goes in, "Why do you have to say that? Did people actually die here?" he tries to ask the staff.
"Dumbass, they're teasing you. Let's go!" Taeil pushed him inside.
As soon as they enter, there is a massive jumpscare of a monster-like creature. The group only crumbles a little bit since the scared ones are at the back, while Taeil and Johnny are the front liners since they're the eldest and least likely to be afraid of. Jungwoo is placed in the middle as per his request since he believes this is the best position. As promised, Jaehyun is beside him while Yuta and the couple are behind them.
They were slowly walking past the scary creatures and eerie forest-themed part. They now entered the hospital-like section. Everyone is silently walking and trying to find their way since there is barely any light. Suddenly Doyoung loudly screams, making Jungwoo wrap his arms around Jaehyun.
"Sorry! Someone grabbed my foot!" Doyoung says, feeling guilty for scaring the group.
"That was me. Hehe. Sorry!" Yuta playfully says.
"Bastard."
Jungwoo then realizes where his hands are, wrapped at Jaehyun's big and muscly arm. He tries to let go, but Jaehyun stops it,
"b-but... it might be uncomfortable," he whispers.
"Then just hold my hand," Jaehyun says, holding onto Jungwoo's hand, interlocking their fingers and grasping onto it tightly.
It's been fifteen minutes since they went in. There were a few more jumpscares from here and there every time that happens though Jungwoo's hold on Jaehyun's hand just grows tighter. He knows the older hand is probably pale and lifeless by now, but dear Jaehyun doesn't complain.
They are now in a long hallway with some doors on the side that probably leads to the escape rooms and mazes. They are still arguing on what rooms to take since some don't want the escape room or maze, but the thing is, they can't precisely decide that since there is no clue on what is on the other side of the door. Jungwoo is oblivious to what is happening since he didn't even listen to the instructions earlier. Just like before, he isn't listening to them right now.
He's still holding Jaehyun's hand, though.
"No, no, I think it's better if we take Johnny in the maze so he can just peek over and find the exit." Mark reasons out.
"You're not even sure if that door leads to the maAAAAHHH!!" Taeil screams.
A zombie suddenly charges towards them, making the group split. Johnny, Taeil, and Haechan, who is near the door on the right, got in. Mark, Yuta, Doyoung, and Taeyong continued running straight away, making the zombie chase them.
That leaves Jungwoo and Jaehyun going to the other door to the left. As soon as they got in, they both clearly heard the door locked, even with the noise. With that, a timer went on. Jaehyun knows they got in the escape room, but Jungwoo doesn't, and so he panics.
"Oh god! OH, GOD!" Jungwoo says, roaming around the small cramped room. "We're gonna die, we're gonna die! It's locked, and now we're stuck. Oh my god!" He keeps repeating his words while moving around the small space.
Jaehyun tries to calm him down, but the other must've been too shocked with the chase earlier to function correctly. Instead, Jaehyun tries to work on the mission at hand and attempts to look for clues and instructions,
"This is it. This is my end. This is where I'll die! At a dirty horror house!" Jungwoo kept on rambling while walking around.
"Jungwoo—"
Before Jaehyun can attempt to calm Jungwoo, the other must've pressed something to trigger a smoke machine to go off, shocking him to the core. It didn't help that the timer alarmed, and the wall in front of them started moving. It must've moved along with the time. This further puts Jungwoo on edge and makes him jump and hold onto Jaehyun for support.
Jaehyun is shocked but was quick on his feet to support him and the younger.
"Fuck!! We're going to die! we're gonna die here, oh god!" Jungwoo says, hiding his face on the crook of Jaehyun's neck.
Jaehyun tries to calm Jungwoo by whispering calming words to him.
However, Jungwoo is literally all over the place, and he clearly isn't thinking straight anymore, too shocked to properly function. I can't die here like this. I haven't told Jaehyun I like him yet. He thought. Jungwoo looks at the timer and notices the numbers quickly passing.
Should I?
Nah...
But what if...
Fuck it,
"Jaehyun, in case I die here today, I-I can't just leave without telling you this. So listen to me well." Jungwoo declares.
Jaehyun, who was busy looking around the place with one hand and the other holding Jungwoo, stopped and looked at the younger.
"I-I know that you think we're just really, really good friends b-but actually that isn't the case for me..." He suddenly tears up.
He is so scared he needs to do something about this. So he unravels some truth about himself.
"You know how we have this friendly Saturday morning coffee runs… the truth is sometimes I like to think it's a date. A-and remember when you went home with me for that one thanksgiving… my grandma actually thought you were my boyfriend. Up until today, I never corrected her. That means she probably thinks we're dating. Honestly, that doesn't sound absurd to me because I think dating you and being your boyfriend would be really, really cool." Jungwoo sniffs and catches his breath for a second.
He clearly isn't thinking straight anymore. Jungwoo is so scared that and this rambling thing he is doing is definitely to ease his fright inside the cramped scary room. At the same time, vocalizing these unsaid thoughts is like a drug he can't just stop doing once he gets the hang of it, and so he continues.
"So what I'm actually saying here is that if God is really gonna take me today, I need to tell you that…I-I like you. Not in a friendly bro type of way but more of kissing you, poking your dimples, and conquering the world with you type of like. I just really really like you…." Jungwoo finishes.
No way he just admitted his feelings to Jung Jaehyun . Realizations are slowly creeping upon him.
Jaehyun was about to say something when suddenly the moving wall lightened up, showing a horrifying zombie staring at the both of them.
Jungwoo screamed so hard and then went limp next to Jaehyun.
He fainted.
Jaehyun quickly pressed the emergency button next to them. Everything around them stopped, and white lights turned on for the emergency.
-
"Yeah, just feed him something before you two come here. He's usually really really hungry when he passes out like that." Doyoung says through the phone.
"Alright, I'll just grab a subway sandwich on the way." Jaehyun answers.
"Okay. Thank you, Jae! And don't be nervous. Jungwoo often faints like that," Doyoung laughs before hanging up the call.
The car suddenly stopped. Jaehyun turns off the car engine, grabs his wallet, and looks at the sleeping body on his passenger seat. He brushed off a stray hair right above Jungwoo's eye and lingered for a look for a while, then got out.
When Jungwoo finally made sure that Jaehyun was nowhere near the premises of the car, he slowly got up and turned on his phone.
It's only been almost ten minutes since Jungwoo regained consciousness and Doyoung is right. Fainting is a recurring episode for him. All the screaming must've gotten to him.
He checks his phone to see what happened while he was out.
Funnily, Doyoung is updating him through texts. So after he fainted, their stay inside the horror house was cut short. They clearly weren't satisfied, so the gang decided to extend the party at Johnny's place. Jaehyun was assigned to take care of Jungwoo since the guy couldn't separate himself from Jungwoo in the first place. Doyoung also asked in his texts what happened at the escape room for Jaehyun to act that way after.
And that's when it hit him.
His dumbass ended up confessing to Jaehyun. Did I really do that? Maybe it's just a hallucination. Jungwoo convinces himself.
When he got a glimpse of Jaehyun walking towards the car, he quickly turned off his phone. He went back to his earlier position, pretending to still be passed out.
Jaehyun settles inside the car, then starts the engine and goes on their way. Meanwhile, Jungwoo is feeling things out. He's wondering where they are headed.
When they're at a stoplight, Jungwoo subtly tries to peek.
Jaehyun softly laughs.
"Woo, I know you're up. Do you want a bite of this sandwich?"
That shocked Jungwoo.
A lot of thoughts were running around his mind. Am I really hallucinating about the confession? Or is he pretending he didn't hear it earlier as a sign of rejecting me? Also, what sandwich did he buy? These are a few of Jungwoo's thoughts.
"I bought the spicy shrimp sandwich, sorry that's all I can think of earlier," Jaehyun says, making Jungwoo think if he's speaking his thoughts again.
"Uh… it's fine. I like spicy shrimp." Jungwoo just answers, then grabs the sandwich and eats.
Doyoung is right. He needs to be fed to be totally well after passing out.
Jungwoo is still thinking if he should bring up what happened earlier, technically he only fainted. He didn't hit his head and lose his memory, so he remembers his stupid actions inside the horror house.
"So…what happened…after I passed out?" He tries to make conversation.
"Well, the horror house momentarily stopped, and everyone had to go out. Haechan and Taeil are pissed that they had to go out but were the first ones to come to you once I got you out of the room." Jaehyun says.
"Did you carry me out?"
"Of course, who would if I didn't?" Jaehyun chuckles.
"I see. Sorry for fainting like that. I ended up ruining everyone's night," He dejectedly says.
"No, you didn't, look. We're going to Johnny's now to continue the party so you can make up for what you lost earlier." Jaehyun says, fixing a stray hair covering one of Jungwoo's eyes.
Jungwoo's heart ended up beating more and faster. But he outwardly acts unfazed and continues eating his food.
They silently sit in the car once Jaehyun already parked it outside Johnny's apartment. If Jaehyun isn't bringing up anything about what I said earlier, then I just have to accept defeat . Jungwoo thought.
"I'm done eating now. Let's go." He says, opening the door.
But Jaehyun suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"Wait—"Jaehyun says. "We're not done talking yet."
"Jae, we have nothing else to talk about. Let's go, silly." Jungwoo tries to laugh it out, and this time he's able to lunge out of the car.
When Jaehyun spoke again,
"You can't just tell me you like me and act like it didn't happen."
Jungwoo sat back with a bounce and a huge shock.
"So you..heard…want t-to talk..about it?" Jungwoo stammers.
"Definitely. How can I let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass?" Jaehyun says with hope.
While Jungwoo is still very confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, how can I just ignore the fact that the guy I am very, very attracted to confessed to me?"
"What?" Jungwoo dumbly asks.
Jaehyun grabs both of Jungwoo's wrists, making the other face him and look straight into his eyes.
"Jungwoo, I like you too."
Jaehyun takes a deep breath first then continues talking. "I never expected that I'll find out these feelings I have are actually reciprocated, let alone hearing about it in the middle of a horror house. But heck, Jungwoo, I like you as much as you like me too. Honestly, I think I like you even more than I actually thought," Jaehyun says, and he feels his ears heating up.
Jungwoo is left speechless. He likes me too. He can't seem to wrap his head around the fact the guy he's been crushing so hard for months now ended up actually wanting him back. Everything feels surreal right now for Jungwoo.
They've been sitting in the car silently for minutes now. Jungwoo is just staring down at his own palm situated in his lap. While Jaehyun is silently staring at him,
"...Jungwoo, say something...please,"
"U-Uhm, why?"
Jaehyun chuckles, "What do you mean why?"
"Why do you like me?"
"Jungwoo, you're not exactly hard to like. But if you're really curious, I guess it's probably how you made me feel so comfortable around you. And how you were the first person to always tell me that I'm doing a great job even at the simplest thing or how you always assure me that everything will be okay."
"Eventually, I just started falling without even knowing it. Before I sleep, that voice of yours often lingers in my ears and also that smile, your dimples, something about it being so addicting that I can't get it out of my mind. Next thing I know, the mere thought of watching you eat makes me so so happy already," Jaehyun laughs at that silly thought.
"And just so you know, if angels exist, I think it would be like you," Jaehyun says, staring directly at Jungwoo's eyes.
Jungwoo blushes. "Yeah, right, prince charming." He says, chuckling.
They were both laughing and then looked at each other in silence, just staring intensely at one another. Jaehyun then leans in until he and Jungwoo are so close.
"Can I?"
That was Jaehyun's way of asking if he could kiss Jungwoo, in which the other eagerly nods.
And so they kissed.
It was chaste, careful, and also full of Longines like you can tell they've been both waiting for this for some time now.
"So what are we now?"
"We can be whatever you want," Jaehyun says, staring at Jungwoo's lips. "I remember you saying something about being boyfriends?" He teases the other.
"Stop teasing me about that," Jungwoo says shyly.
Jaehyun can't help but steal a quick kiss on the other's cheeks, "My boyfriend is so cute."
When they part, they just stared at one another with a smile.
They were comfortably staring at one another again and just smiling at one another, processing their own thoughts silently.
Until Jaehyun spoke again,
"We better go. I can see Taeil trying to peek through the shades from here."
-
The two decided to hold hands before they got in, hoping that the group would receive a message of what had happened. But their expectations were not met, most are drunk, and the other half are busy playing some drinking games.
"Hello?" Jungwoo tries to get their attention.
"Oh, finally. Took you guys long enough." Taeil comments that Jungwoo scoffs as a reply.
"What took you guys so long? Did you make out or something?" Mark asks, and Haechan pushes him, then whispers, "We're not supposed to tease them like that, dumbass."
Jungwoo and Jaehyun just laughed at the two. Then Jaehyun pulled Jungwoo for a hug and kissed his head to show off to everyone. They earned a mixed reaction from the group, some were cheering, and there was some crying coming from Doyoung.
"We talked... and yes, Doyoung. We're dating now." Jungwoo confirms and hides his face in Jaehyun's chest.