Work Text:
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
That was the number of times Geonhak looked up to Seoho in the twenty-four minutes since they arrived at the coffee shop. Always with that brightness in his eyes that Youngjo only saw once in their long time being friends, and that only meant one thing: he was probably falling for the cute barista with orange hair and a wide smile.
“You should talk with him,” Youngjo said after one more look.
“And you say it like it's the easiest thing in the world.”
“And it is?”
“Hyung…”
“I can’t believe I'm agreeing with him…” Keonhee said, pointing to Youngjo. “But Youngjo has a point, Geonhak, you should talk to him. It’s already been what? One month that we come here every day?
“Two months.”
“Two months!!! And you don’t even ask for the coffee you drink every day, it’s always one of us.”
“I don’t have anything to say!”
“Right, because you don’t look at him in every possible moment, and not only here, but at the university too.” Keonhee rolled his eyes. “You think I didn’t notice how you don’t pay attention to calculus class when he is around, which is basically every class?”
“Calculus is hard!”
“Yeah, and because of that, you should pay attention in class!! Not on Seoho-Hyung.”
“Jesus, you are insufferable.”
Youngjo laughed at the interaction of his two best friends and took the last bite of his cinnamon roll, thinking about how he could help Geonhak finally admit his feelings, or at least talk to Seoho. The one thing Youngjo couldn’t do was leave this all to Geonhak because it will probably end like the last time: his best friend eating a lot of carbs and proving that big boys do cry.
“Geonhak, it's simple, you go there, order, say something nice, and ask for his number,” Youngjo said.
"Then why don't you go over there and do it?"
“Because you're the one interested in him?”
“No, Youngjo, he has a point…” Keonhee started.
“What?”
“You should show Geonhak-Hyung how it’s done… After all, aren't you the one who's known as a walking flirt machine around campus?”
Youngjo narrowed his eyes, uncertain about that line from Keonhee. There was some truth in them, as flirting was so natural to him that he did it even without thinking. But there was something, a catch, about them that Youngjo didn't understand right away.
"And if I do that, will Geonhak talk to Seoho?"
"Argh!" Geonhak yelled after being kicked by Keonhee under the table. “Yes, yes, I will.”
“Right.”
When Youngjo got up from the table, Geonhak looked at Keonhee with confusion in his dark eyes, not understanding what had just happened and why he had been kicked like that by his friend. It was only when the taller one pointed to the counter, where a figure that was not Seoho, Dongju, or Na Goeun was behind the cash register, that Geonhak understood.
“You know that won't stop him, don't you?” The blonde closed the notebook he was using.
“Youngjo can flirt with anyone, anything, Keonhee, Hwanwoong-ssi won't be the exception.”
“Shhh, just be quiet and watch, maybe you'll learn something.”
Youngjo walked confidently to the counter, thousands of pick-up lines and possibilities running through his head as he tried to find the perfect one. He'd done it so many times during those three months they'd been here every day that the boy thought Na Goeun, the barista in charge of the afternoon shift, would probably send him out this time. But he said he would do it, didn't he? However, he realized when he arrived at the counter, that whoever was there was not the girl with long purple hair, but a boy with short, light pink hair and small, dark shiny eyes. A boy that Youngjo had admired several times in the halls of the university and the only time he had attended one of Geonhak's dance classes. At that moment, Youngjo felt that he had lost the ability to speak. His mouth felt dry as if he hadn't had water in years, and his heart was beating as fast as it had on the days when his best friend dragged him to his morning runs.
“Good afternoon, what is your order today?” the barista asked and his voice, which Youngjo had never heard until now, could match his physical beauty.
The sober part of Youngjo's brain, the one that wasn't intoxicated by the pretty sight of the barista, knew he should just place the usual order and head back to the table. Heavens, maybe it was better to just go back to the table and pretend he'd forgotten his wallet or something.
However, he did none of that.
“Do you come here often?” The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it and wanted to dig a hole to bury himself in forever. His whole face turned scarlet and he felt his body heat up with shame.
Do you come here often? What the hell was that?
“If I don't get fired, then yeah.” The barista replied with raised eyebrows and eyes shining with a mixture of doubt and amusement.
“Okay… I… hm…”
“Your order?”
“Three Iced Americanos, please.” He said quickly, already handing the card to the barista.
“Your name?”
“Youngjo.”
“I'll bring it to the table when it's ready, Youngjo-ssi.” The barista teased, causing the red on the older man's face to intensify.
“Right, thank you.” Youngjo thanked him with a bow and turned away, heading back to the table with his friends as if his life depended on it.
“That was not a good way to flirt with someone,” Geonhak said as his friend sat at the table with white lips and extremely red cheeks.
"Oh yeah, are you kidding?" Keonhee rolled his eyes. “Hyung, what happened?”
Youngjo looked at Geonhak, then at Keonhee, and repeated this movement twice before looking at the barista who was preparing the drinks, feeling his face heat up more if that was possible, and his heart speeds up.
“I do not know.” He muttered, more to himself than to his two friends.
And it was true, Kim Youngjo, the K-University flirt machine, had no idea what had just happened. The young visual arts student never had any problem flirting with anyone — even with himself in front of the mirror — but when he met the cafeteria barista's dark, glowing eyes, it was as if his brain had gone haywire and he forgot how to function as a normal human being.
“I think you finally found someone who broke you, huh.” Keonhee joked, patting Youngjo gently on the shoulder, who looked at him with eyes filled with a feeling that looked a lot like despair.
Before Keonhee could say anything else to make fun of his best friend, the small figure of the barista arrived at their table with the order, depositing each glass in front of one of them. Youngjo's glass was the last one, and the barista stood there for a few seconds looking at the bigger one with curiosity on his pretty face, then shook his head, bowed to the trio, and left.
“Since that didn't work, I don't need to talk to Seoho-Hyung, right?”
“You, Kim Geonhak, are a lost cause.”
~~~~
Youngjo’s wishes these days were simple: he wanted to pass that ridiculous programming class — which he doesn’t know why he chose to take anyway —, have more time to paint, and no longer have to go back to the Dalbit cafeteria.
Obviously, he wasn't succeeding in any of those.
And he was so frustrated that he didn't understand object-oriented programming, that he couldn't even make the first drafts for his final semester project. The young man slammed the sketchbook shut for the third time in a short span of twenty minutes and sighed, throwing his head back and staring at the pretty lamps in the cafeteria. Geonhak and Keonhee were almost worse than him, desperately studying for the next day's calculus test while stuffing themselves with more caffeine and sugar than recommended.
“More coffee, please…” Keonhee looked up from his notes and stared at Youngjo with that stray dog look he knew the older one just couldn't deny him anything.
Youngjo sighed, took the card Lee was offering, and walked slowly to the counter. Hwanwoong was there, just like every day since that fateful day, reading a book, distracted as the cafeteria was practically empty if not for the three friends studying. The eldest tried to see the name of the book, but when he saw something about 'throne of...' the barista closed it and looked at him with a polite smile on his face.
“I think you're one of the few on-campus reading a normal book” Youngjo jokes, trying to ward off the ghost of his bad pickup line.
“First semester perks,” Hwanwoong laughed. “But I know it won't take long to be like you and your friends.
"Enjoy it while you can." The brunette smiled. “This series is great by the way.”
“Better than A Court of Thorns and Roses?”
“May Rhysand forgives me, but yes.”
"So that's where you got your flirting skills from?" Hwanwoong raised an eyebrow and Youngjo felt his whole face heat up in embarrassment. “Rhys?”
“Maybe I did more like Cassian that day” He laughed awkwardly.
Hwanwoong smiled a smile that made Youngjo's heart miss two beats.
"Three Iced Americanos?"
“Yes, please.”
He held out the card, but the fair-haired young man shook his head.
“On the house, to help you with these tests.” The smile widened and he winked at Youngjo. “Also… I may have a very strong weakness for the Illyrian General.”
And again, Kim Youngjo found himself speechless in front of Yeo Hwanwoong, walking back to the table with his cheeks redder than the rose painted — by himself — on his sneakers, his heart racing faster than on running days and his mind more frantic than when he was trying to understand programming.
~~~~
“Your music was perfect,” Youngjo said as they walked through the halls of the university. “What is the problem?”
"There's something that doesn't fit," Geonhak sighed. “I can't explain it, I just… and it's something in the music, not the choreography, my partner thinks that too. "
“Your teacher won't mind if I'm there?"
“No, it’s just me and Hwanwoong-ssi today.”
“Hwanwoong?”
“Yeah, you know him, he is the Dalbit barista and-” Geonhak stopped talking as he remembered that one particular day. “Oh.”
"Yeah…" Youngjo said awkwardly.
“I still don't understand how that happened, Youngjo,” Geonhak laughed. “I've never seen you freeze like that, or use such a ridiculous pick-up line.“
“And I don't know what happened either, I just… When I saw his face I… I crashed? I don't know, Geonhak…” He sighed and fiddled with the strap of his bag nervously.
“He's very pretty,” Geonhak commented and patted his best friend on the shoulder.
“Yeah, he is.” Youngjo's cheeks reddened.
“And very talented too, you'll see today.”
“I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing,” they both laughed, Youngjo more nervously than amusedly. "What if my brain shorts out for good?"
“Is Kim Youngjo finally falling in love with someone?”
“Don't talk nonsense, Kim Geonhak, I don't even know him well.”
“And yet you lost the ability to speak like a normal human being as soon as you laid eyes on him in the cafeteria, right?”
“Says the guy who doesn’t dare to go talk to Seoho.”
Geonhak stopped walking, sighing, and leaned against the wall.
"It's just… I don't know, Youngjo…" He bit his lip. “Seoho is so… Seoho… He's a genius, in a weird, funny way, and he's so… brilliant, on the days he wears that damn yellow scarf it feels like a little sun in the middle of the room and I can't pay attention to anything anymore…”
“Who is really in love here?”
Geonhak shrugged his shoulders as if declaring his defeat when it came to his massive crush on Lee Seoho.
“Ask him out, Geonhak.” Youngjo leaned against his friend.
"What if he says no?"
“You'll only know if you ask.
“My brain shorts out every time I think about talking to him.” Geonhak put his hands on his head and sighed.
“That I understand very well.”
The two laughed and walked back towards the dance practice room.
~~~~
Youngjo saw that Yeo Hwanwoong was very, very talented. And he doesn’t know how it’s possible, but the dancer seems to be even more beautiful while he dances. He moves with such passion that Youngjo’s heart was beating extremely fast all the time he stood watching him dance. At the same time that he wanted to grab his sketchbook and draw that scene, he also didn't wanna take his eyes off Hwanwoong.
“Can I…” he stopped, thinking if he needed to ask this question.
But Geonhak asked for his help, right?
“Can I record the choreography?
“Record?” Hwanwoong lifted one of his eyebrows.
“Yeah, nothing fancy just…” Youngjo takes a deep breath, ignoring the way his heart only seems to care about the barista and his handsome face and pretty moves. “I can see what Geonhak said about something off in the song, but I can’t quite say what it is now… I probably will have to watch a few times, listen to the song separately to figure out the best way to help you two.”
“We will be here all afternoon.” Geonhak cleaned his face with his shirt and moved closer to Youngjo.
“I have a class in thirty minutes, and unfortunately it is one I can’t miss if I still have any hopes to not fail.” He gave a shy smile. “But I can come back later if you guys are uncomfortable with recording.”
“No, no I don’t want to disturb you!” Hwanwoong said quickly. “It’s ok for you, hyung?”
“Sure, I trust my life on Youngjo.” Geonhak smiled and Youngjo felt his cheek turning red.
“Let’s make a good impression then. “ The youngest smirked at his dance partner. “For the camera”.
Youngjo picks up his phone quickly and holds it firmly in his hand. He tried very hard to focus on the dance moves and how they match with the song. How he could improve the beats, maybe remix some parts or replace them with something new, something that fits all that passion that Geonhak and Hwanwoong tried to express with the dance.
But the truth is: all he could do at that moment was to stare at the Dalbit barista in awe.
~~~~
The first thing Youngjo looked for when he entered the cafeteria was Geonhak. They had arranged to meet that day to discuss the song, which Youngjo finally finished editing, but he needed some thoughts about the ones that were dancing to it. He was fifteen minutes late, and Geonhak probably would curse him, but that damned programming teacher held the class until after hours.
And he wouldn’t be the one to tell anything to contradict Mr. Park.
“Hey, sorry I’m late, the professor held us…” He said to Hwanwoong, who was delivering a coffee to a student. “Geonhak is late too?”
“No, he just left five minutes ago with Seoho… said something like studying for calculus?” Hwanwoong shook his arms. “But he said that he trusts us to decide anything about the song or the performance.”
“I know exactly what kind of calculus he will study with Seoho…” Youngjo sighed.
“That two?”
“You didn't notice? We’re only here every day because of that”
“Well, it's rare when I’m here at the same time as Seoho… but” Hwanwoong smiled.
“But?”
“Seoho kind of mentioned a cute boy from his calculus class?”
“Well, thank god Seoho took the first step because Geonhak would never take it.” Youngjo smiled thinking about his friend and his crush together. “Anyway, are you busy?”
“No, Dongju will cover the rest of my shift so we’re good.” Hwanwoong took off his apron and hung it beside the door that led to the kitchen. “Do you want to drink anything?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
They climb the stairs to the second floor, where it used to be less crowded so they don’t disturb anyone who is trying to study. They sat in front of each other, and before Youngjo got lost in his thoughts about how Hwanwoong was beautiful today, he grabbed the laptop from his bag and opened it in the middle of the table, in a way the youngest could see the screen.
“It was a little tricky editing this song… “ he started, playing the video he had recorded that day. “When listening to it alone you would say it was perfect, but when analyzing your moves” he pointed to the screen where the boys were dancing “I could see that it needs something more… raw? To match with all the passion that you were trying to show.”
Hwanwoong stays quiet, only listening to Youngjo and surprised by his words.
“At the same time, those are the parts” he moves the recording forward “where there is such a vulnerability that the song couldn’t be such a contrast.” he smiled and looked at Hwanwoong for one second before opening the new version of the song. “So I created this.”
They both watched the recording quietly, it was edited on top of the old recording so perfectly it could be the original version. Hwanwoong got so surprised with the new version that, at the end of it, he stares at the black screen for almost two minutes before looking at Youngjo with his mouth open and eyes shining.
“You didn't like it?” The oldest asked worriedly. “I can make more changes and-”
“No, no!” Hwanwoong finally spoke, putting one hand on top of Youngjo's. "It's perfect! I'm at a loss for words because it fits so perfectly…” he smiled broadly. “You’re an artist.”
“Well… I’m a visual arts student so…” Youngjo’s cheek reddened because of the other's touch.
“Not like that…” his smile widened. “The way you understand the true feelings of the performance, how you transfer that to the music, and the way you talk about it’s just… You have an artistic soul, and it is very beautiful.”
“Thanks, Hwanwoong… it’s… “ Youngjo looked at the table for a few seconds. “It’s very good to listen to something like this.”
“It’s good to listen to what you do with this song.” The barista laughed. “We will surely get an A just with that.”
“If it was a competition, you two would win without a doubt.”
“I’m sure we would.” Hwanwoong smiled again. “How can we repay you for this amazing work?”
“Ahn… well… I…” Youngjo took his hand away nervously and closed the laptop, fingering the lid of the device not knowing how to ask the thing he wanted to ask. “Well…” he cleared his throat.
“Do you want a date or something?” Hwanwoong provoked, his smile turning into a smirk.
“No!” Youngjo said too quickly, making the other chuckle. “It's just… I have this final project for one of my classes where we have to paint something and I was stuck until I saw your performance… So I thought that…” He cleared his throat once again. “That if you allowed me, I would like to paint you dancing.”
“Me?”
“Yeah… you are a true performer, Hwanwoong, it’s really beautiful seeing you dance. You said that I understand the feelings of the performance, but it was easy when you were the one dancing.” Youngjo smiled shyly.
“You shouldn’t say things like that…'' Hwanwoong whispered, his face reddened and his heart beating too fast for his liking.
“Why? It’s just the truth.”
The sincerity in Youngjo’s words makes the other’s heartbeat even faster.
“Because… nothing.” He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “Yes, you can paint me dancing. Do you need to watch more rehearsals?”
“If it's not a problem for you… my last programming test is next Wednesday, and then I’ll be free.”
“I’ll see you next Wednesday then.” Hwanwoong tried to give an encouraging smile, but it probably looked like he was having a stroke.
“Thank you I know that it is a strange request and-”
“It’s not strange!” Again Hwanwoong’s hand finds Youngjo’s, making both shiver with the touch. “I just got caught off guard by your compliment.”
“Again, I only told the truth.” Youngjo smiled and slowly took off his hand so he could put his laptop away. “See you then.”
The oldest waved and walked down the stairs quickly, ignoring his mind that was in a whirlwind of thoughts and his heart beating so fast it would probably come out of his mouth.
Hwanwoong stays a little more on the second floor, trying to calm down both his heart and his breath. When he thought that was enough, he walked down and joined Dongju behind the counter.
“That was the ridiculous pick-up line boy?” The blond asked curiously.
“Yeap, in flesh and bone.”
“He’s very pretty,” Dongju said with a smirk.
“Yeah, Dongju-ah… ” Hwanwoong said, thinking of the words Youngjo said to him. “He really is.
~~~~
Youngjo was exhausted when he entered the dance room with his painting easel and a huge folder with some of his drawing materials. He didn’t bring a canvas, paints, or brushes, as that process he would be doing in the art room reserved for that kind of thing, so he doesn't have to carry the huge painting back and forth through the halls of the university.
“Hi…” He said putting his things in a corner of the room so it wouldn't disturb their dancing.
“You look like shit,” Geonhak said, patting his back. “Mr. Park really drained you, hm?”
“Please don't remind me of that damn teacher and his damn class.”
“Here” Hwanwoong held out a cup of iced coffee to Youngjo. “I think you need some caffeine.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, taking a sip from the coffee and sighing satisfied, his heart beating a little too fast because of the gesture.
Did he buy that coffee, especially for him?
“You’re blushing like a teenager, Youngjo” Geonhak whispered to him when Hwanwoong walked away to set up the sound system. “Crushing hard, huh?”
“And how was your date with Seoho?” Youngjo tried to change the subject while finishing his coffee.
“It wasn’t a date…”
“I can’t quite believe you in this.”
“Well… he kissed me?”
“He what??” Youngjo almost yelled. “And you tell me this now?”
“Jesus, don’t make a fuss!” Geonhak hid his face in his hands. “When we were saying goodbye, he just kissed me, smiled, and walked away.”
“And you two talked about it later?”
“No… we haven't met again since that day.”
Youngjo sighed.
“Not even a message?” He asked.
“No…” Geonhak took a deep breath. “Can we just start the rehearsal now? We can talk about this later.”
“Sure…” Youngjo said, taking the things he needed to start drawing and positioning them on the easel. “Don’t worry about me, you two can do this how you always do.”
When the music started, Youngjo didn’t draw anything. He observed, even if he had seen that performance thousands of times to edit the song. He watched Hwanwoong move through the floor like he was made of water, so malleable and calm. And when the song changed, he became like a sea in the storm. It was so beautiful that he doesn’t know if he will be able to express half of it in his painting.
But he will give his best, of course. So when the song started again, he picked up his pencil and moved it through the paper the same way Hwanwoong moved in real life. He danced together with the barista in his mind and his sketch pad. When the two stopped a little to rest, he took that time to make little notes on the draft, colors, and techniques that would fit into those movements.
At the end of the rehearsal, he was proud of what lies on his sketch pad.
“Can I see it?” Hwanwoong asked.
“Not yet, it’s just a messy sketch.” Youngjo closed the sketch pad and smiled shyly. “I’ll let you see when it is more organized.”
“Ok…Do you want to eat something? I’m starving.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, Geonhak ran through the door the moment I turned off the sound, didn't you see?”
“No, I was too immersed in the drawing, sorry.” Youngjo smiled. “Well, I need to eat something.”
“The diner three blocks away?”
“Perfect, I just need to drop this at the art room.”
“I’ll take a shower and wait for you at the gates then.”
~~~~
Youngjo thought that it would be weird to go out with Hwanwoong, or that they would at least stay in that awkward silence until one of them decided to leave and they never spoke again.
Well, he couldn't be more wrong.
After they placed their orders, the dancer amended a conversation about Throne of Glass, and Kim Youngjo had never had so much fun talking about a book series. When his orders came in, he felt his heart racing, but not anxiously or nervously. He felt euphoria and happiness coursing through his body in time with the beats in his chest and he smiled involuntarily as he took a sip of the strawberry milkshake he ordered.
“You are different from what people say,” Hwanwoong said, biting one french frie and staring at Youngjo.
“How so?” "Well... people talk about you in the hallways." Youngjo raised an eyebrow. "About how you flirt with everyone... and not just flirt," Hwanwoong smirked. "But once we started talking and hanging out a little more...you don't seem like what they say."
“The first part is true…” Youngjo smiled shyly and shook his head. “The second… not much.” He looked down at his plate. “Flirting is a lot easier than actually getting involved with someone. I think it's a result of training so much with my reflection when I was a teenager, I wasn't very attractive then, you know..."
“I highly doubt that.”
“Oh… believe me,” Youngjo said with flushed cheeks. “Flirting is as easy for me as breathing… maybe because it's never real. When it's real I kind of…” He bit his bottom lip, remembering that day at the cafeteria. “Don’t know what to do?”
Hwanwoong smiled in a way that made Youngjo's heart practically stop in his chest.
"Do you mean that day..." He licked his lips. “Was it real?”
“Hm… yeah… maybe? I don't know… I just…”
“You look so cute when you are nervous like that.” Hwanwoong laughed. “So… thoughts about Manon?”
They went back to talking about books, which was extremely comfortable for Youngjo, who didn't know how to deal with all the emotions building in his heart and the frantic mind that was still trying to understand why he had been so stuck that damn day at the cafeteria. Perhaps, he thought as he watched the dancer speak eloquently about how terrible Manon's grandmother was and how she deserved so much more, with Hwanwoong it was real.
When they finished eating, they walked together to Hwanwoong’s dormitory.
“Thanks for today, it was a lot of fun,” Youngjo said with a small smile. “It was good to undwind my head after that disgusting test.”
“I hope we can do this more often,” Hwanwoong said with a sincerity in his voice that again left Youngjo speechless. And then he stood on his tiptoes and placed a lingering kiss on his cheek.
Youngjo couldn't tell how long he stood staring at the glass dorm door after that.
~~~
He was nervous.
Which was nothing new when it came to Hwanwoong, but on that particular day, Youngjo was much more nervous than usual as this would be the first time the dancer would see the picture he was painting. He'd already seen a few sketches — far more organized than the first one — in the moments Youngjo spent in the cafeteria, but seeing the nearly finished painting felt so much…bigger.
Lately, everything with Hwanwoong seemed a lot bigger.
Youngjo closed his eyes and took three deep breaths.
He'd never felt like this before, his heart racing, his mind slightly confused as he tried to pay attention to every detail of the dancer, his throat dry whenever they started a conversation, but then it seemed like he couldn't stop talking. He had never felt so warm as if that feeling that had begun to take root in the center of his chest was spreading throughout his body and taking that comfortable warmth with it.
He knew what that meant, but Youngjo didn't know exactly what to do with that information, so he just enjoyed those conversations they had when he was at the cafe, or each other's company when they were lucky that both teachers were absent at the same time, where they would sit under the huge cherry tree in the center of the campus, reading some random book and smiling. Or even some nights after practice, where Hwanwoong would go to the art room to drag Youngjo out to eat something and prevent the brunette from staying there until dawn without eating again.
Youngjo knew, but he was afraid that if he said something, or did something, it would all be over. So he just enjoyed those moments as much as he could.
Before he could think of anything else, he heard the three quick, characteristic knocks on the door before it swung open to reveal the person he had been thinking about seconds ago. A smile formed involuntarily on his face and he adjusted the canvas on the easel one more time before getting up and walking over to Hwanwoong.
“Ready to see yourself transformed into a painting?” Youngjo asked, his playful tone hiding the nervousness that took over his heart.
"I confess I didn't sleep well that night. I was so anxious." Hwanwoong laughed and nudged the other's shoulder. "But I trust you, I know it's going to be amazing, even if your reference was ridiculous workout clothes and not the outfit I'm going to wear to the performance."
“You look good in anything so…”
The dancer's cheeks turned pink.
“Feel free to go and see.”
Hwanwoong looked at him one last time, and without saying anything slowly walked over to the easel that held Youngjo's painting. The young artist followed closely behind him, his poor heart beating faster and faster with anticipation.
"Wow” Hwanwoong whispered and held up a finger, almost touching the canvas. “It's so beautiful"
"Well, it's you, so..."
Hwanwoong's cheeks turned red this time.
"Improving your flirting skills, Illyrian boy?"
Youngjo laughed.
"My flirting skills are fine, ok... but," he looked at his shoes "there is... something about you that makes my brain just..." He looked at Hwanwoong again and he was smiling.
"Must be all my beauty." He blinked and Youngjo smiled.
"Yeah, I'm sure it is."
Youngjo's eyes were shining so much that this time it was Hwanwoong that lost his words.
~~~~
With the end of the semester, the long-awaited day of presentations has also arrived. Youngjo was calm, the teacher had praised his painting so much that the young man was even embarrassed. As for Hwanwoong and Geonhak, the duo was looking forward to performing in front of so many people, and they knew they would do an excellent job.
And at the end of that magnificent dance, they were given a standing ovation, including Youngjo who had his eyes shining and his heart racing for that beautiful performance they had done. He wanted to stay there, waiting for the two of them to leave to say in person how good they had been, but the exhibition time for the paintings would start in a few minutes so he just took one last look at the stage, where the dancer who had stolen his heart was staring at him even amid all those people and smiling in a way that seemed just for him.
Youngjo ran to the gallery like a kid who had just been given candy.
Keonhee and Dongju were the first to appear in the gallery. They were surprised by Youngjo's painting, especially Dongju who had never seen anything the eldest drew because he started hanging out with them a few weeks ago. The dark eyes shone brightly and he was smiling as he looked at the painting.
“You need to paint me one of these days.” He turned his neck to face Youngjo. “The next play we are going to stage deserves a painting like this.”
“It will be an honor, Dongju,” Youngjo replied smiling. “I'm sure you'll look great with extensions and traditional clothes.” And he winked at the younger one. “Have you seen Hwanwoong?”
“Probably still getting thousands of flowers and compliments.” Keonhee said and put a hand on his best friend's shoulder, continuing quietly, "If you don't do something soon, you can be sure someone will see."
"Don't worry, Keonhee, that one only has eyes for this handsome painter." Dongju gave Keonhee a light elbow.
The two laughed as Youngjo felt his face heat up and his heart race.
“Shall we do something later to celebrate the end of the semester?”
“Of course, it will probably end here around six… then I just need some time to put things away.” Youngjo agreed.
"See you later then." Keonhee and Dongju said goodbye, waving excitedly and walking towards the other frames talking.
Geonhak and Seoho appeared a while later, with huge smiles on their faces – which was quite a feat for Geonhak – and their fingers intertwined, which made Youngjo smile with happiness for both of them.
“Wow,” Seoho said and Youngjo gave a slight chuckle at the reaction. “When Hwanwoong told me about the painting, I thought it was going to be something like Titanic.”
“Titanic?” Youngjo asked, confused.
“Yeah, ‘paint me like one of your French girls’.”
Youngjo remembered that specific scene and started to cough nervously.
“Really, Seoho?” Geonhak sighed and rolled his eyes.
“It’s not like that…” Youngjo whispered, covering his face with his hand.
“I know, I know, I’m just joking with you.” Seoho put a hand on Youngjo's shoulder.” It's really amazing, Youngjo. Geonhak was right about your talent.”
“So you two are together now?”
"Well..."
They looked at each other and automatically moved a little closer as if the idea of being apart was terrible. They smiled before turning back to face Youngjo.
"Yes, we are."
“I'm happy for you guys” Youngjo smiled and held back the urge to hug his best friend, so as not to disturb the newly formed couple. “Our time at the cafeteria is only going to increase by the looks of it.”
“Ah yes…” Seoho smirked and looked back, seeing someone in the crowd. "I'm sure it will."
Geonhak looked at the same place as Seoho and understood.
“See you later then? Keonhee said something about celebrating…”
"Yes."
“And bring Hwanwoong too, I didn’t get to talk to him today,” Seoho commented and they started walking and waving.
He started to think that he hadn't exactly spoken to the dancer today either, but then his eyes met those of Hwanwoong, who was walking towards him and he lost any coherent train of thought. Youngjo couldn't help the relieved sigh that escaped his lips, because part of him feared the smaller one wouldn't come to the show.
"Do you come here often?" Youngjo jokes.
"Only when there is a cute visual arts major around" Hwanoong smiled and winked at him.
“You were incredible today.” He said sincerely. “Sorry for not having any flowers or gifts to congratulate you.”
“Nah, you don’t have to… You gave me this” Hwanwoong pointed to the painting, reminding Youngjo that he promised to give the canvas to him. “And it’s so beautiful that I don’t know how I can repay a gift like that.”
“Well, I have an idea…” Youngjo said with a smile that made Hwanwoong blush.
“Yeah? And what is your idea, Illyrian boy?”
Youngjo takes a deep look at Hwanwoong, trying to read his expression one more time before making his move. He watched his dark eyes that were shining so much, and Youngjo remembered how he tried so hard to paint that same glow on his canvas. He looked at the outfit that the dancer chose, and maybe it was the leather jacket that fits so well on him or the red all-star that was Youngjo’s favorite, or even just because, in the end, it was all Hwanwoong.
He smiled and took two steps closer to the dancer.
“You can go out with me tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow?” Hwanwoong lifts one of his brows and smirks. “Why not today?”
“Because today we were requested to go out with the boys to celebrate.”
“Oh… I see.” This time it was Hwanwoong that took two steps closer, making him look up to stare at Youngjo. “I agree with your idea, and I have two things to add.”
“What?” Youngjo whispered.
“A second date and…”
“And?”
“A kiss.”
Before he loses his will, Hwanwoong pulls on Youngjo's jacket, making him bend over towards him. He looked one last time into the painter's dark eyes, then closed his own and pressed their lips together. That kiss made that root in Youngjo's heart finally bloom, spreading red flowers all over his body, making his skin shiver. He placed his hands on Hwanwoong's face and deepened the kiss, feeling all those sensations only increase even more.
They were panting when the kiss ended. Faces still so close together, Youngjo's hands still on Hwanwoong's face. They were smiling, beaming, and with red cheeks and slightly swollen lips. There were still a few people in the gallery, but none of them minded.
“I think I might be falling in love with you,” Youngjo whispered, their lips touching lightly as he spoke.
“You think?” Hwanwoong asked, bringing his hands up to the taller's neck, threading his fingers through his dark hair and making Youngjo shiver as the small nails caressed his scalp.
“Yeah…”
“Well, I’m pretty sure that I’m falling in love with you.”
Youngjo's eyes widened at Hwanwoong's confession, which he didn't expect. But then he smiled, feeling those words mingle with those newly bloomed flowers inside him, warming every part of him.
In the end, it was really all Hwanwoong.
Hwanwoong that made his brain short circuit the first time they talked.
Hwanwoong, who danced so beautifully, and was a muse for him to get back to drawing his project after months stagnant by that terrible calculus subject.
Hwanwoong, that brought him coffee at the rehearsals, rescued him to eat when he insisted on staying at the university until late and talked about books under the cherry tree.
Hwanwoong with his pretty face, amazing smile, and shining eyes.
It was all Hwanwoong, and now Youngjo doesn't think that he might be falling for him.
Because he knows that he is.