Work Text:
5:30am.
Jongseong came home to an empty apartment from a night of blurred people writhing against each other, music so loud to the point that it’s deafening, and shots of Patrón, salty skin, and wedges of lemons. Keys were gingerly placed on the bowl near the entrance of the apartment fearing that any form of sound might trigger his migraine.
Inebriated— he walked sluggishly on his way to the fridge to fetch some water, hoping to drink some before dozing off on the couch which by the way looks really inviting.
After getting a bottle of water, he leaned on the countertop for support as he finishes his water. He looks around their apartment, it was spotless and clean. He caught a whiff of the air and smelled lavender with a hint of citrus lingering.
He chuckles softly.
Ah. He was always like this. Jongseong thought to himself. Always leaving the apartment clean and fragrant, warm and cozy– just like a proper home. He never failed to do this whenever he, Jongseong, would go out for a drink with his friends.
Looking back, he thought that living in an apartment with his best friend would such a bad idea and would turn out to be hell.
But living with Kim Sunoo…
Isn’t any of those things he thought prior to moving in together so that they were near their university. Just like he said earlier, living with Sunoo feels like a proper home.
Always so tidy, the apartment. The smell of essential oils being diffused wafting throughout the entire apartment– setting a comfortable ambiance even in his current state.
He makes for the couch and turns on the air conditioner in the living room on. The soft humming of the machine accompanied by the scent of the lavender slowly lulling himself to sleep– eyelids heavy with drowsiness and even breathing as he lets himself be pulled to sleep.
He counts from 1 to 10 before his surroundings start to blur and turn completely pitch black.
Off he goes to dreamland.
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Jongseong woke up to the sound of rustling paper bags a few hours later. His eyes flutter open, squinting as his dark orbs meet with the blinding light streaming from the huge windows.
He looked down at his body when he felt a heavy comforter settled comfortably on him. The boy across the room must have bundled him up considering how cold the living room has gotten.
He groans when his head is hit with a skull-splitting migraine– hands flying up to his temples, drawing circles and clutching on them to help alleviate the pain.
Suddenly, a scent of vetiver with notes of patchouli, cedarwood, lavender, sandalwood, and cypress invades his senses. A comforting hand caressing the top of his head and the other hooking under his back, lifting and guiding him to sit up.
“Drink up this electrolyte water, hyung.” A voice, laced with honey and so soft that it lulls him back to sleep, says. Arms extending to reach for the center table, retrieving the bottle of the electrolyte to give to the older along with a tablet of painkiller.
Jongseong mumbles a soft thank you as he looks at the younger who is beaming at him. His breath hitches when he noticed that the younger’s light brown eyes are glowing, the sun rays doing a great job at illuminating them. He also doesn’t miss the way Sunoo’s soft and supple white skin glow. They stare at each other for God knows how long— air thickening with awkwardness. A familiar blush creeps up at the younger’s face, turning to the side as he clears his throat to reprieve the awkward tension between them.
“Umm,” Sunoo rubs his neck, craning towards their breakfast nook. “I made brunch and coffee, hyung.”
He beckons for the older to join him.
Jongseong, albeit nursing a splitting headache, can never say no to Sunoo. No. Not when the younger is always taking care of him. Not when the food he cooked, which he only noticed now, smells so good. And most certainly not when he likes, nay, loves the attention he is getting from his best friend.
He blithely trails after the younger to their nook and the prettiest tablescape greets him as they passed by the wooden slats separating the dining and living area.
Sunoo has this incorrigible habit of adorning the table with vases of; dried corn flowers, phalaris, and bunny tails. Little ornament and succulents running along the median plane of the table— meeting plates of avocado toasts, bacons, and eggs at the center axis and coffee siphoning on the side.
It was like straight out of pinterest— it was rather picturesque.
They sat down and fell into a comfortable silence as they munch on their food. Jongseong pours coffee on the younger’s mug, dropping two sugar cubes, and pouring steamed milk. The younger smiles, never needing spoken words to thank the older.
They’ve memorized each other to the core.
It was a Saturday and Sunoo still has to go to uni for his afternoon class while the older is pretty much unoccupied for the rest of the day.
“What time did you get home, hyung?” He heard the younger ask him, headache finally subsiding thanks to combined effect of painkiller, electrolyte water, and a blend of essential oils being diffused.
Jongseong lets his eye travel to the younger’s face— checking his facial cues and for expressions that might be a sign of being subjected to scrutiny. Like the way a person would raise their eyebrows when interrogating someone, or like when a person would narrow their eyes in displeasure and disagreement.
But none of these were in Sunoo’s face— he is void of any of these expressions. His body language says so too. And he most certainly did not feel like a specimen being studied under a microscope. If anything, it’s like Sunoo is projecting comfort and openness to him.
It was nice, you know? Being cared for like this. Being— just coexisting with Sunoo. Spending their mornings like this.
But, Jongseong, he is just a person. A person full of ambitions and dreams and goals. And he could not help but, you know, crave for something else. Other than this type of cliché, almost romantic kind of thing.
But— Oh yeah, I remember Sunoo asking me something, Jongseong thinks as he racks his brain for the question still lingering in the younger’s lips.
“Umm I got home around 5:30am?” He answered and the younger hums and nods his head in response.
Sunoo talked about how he went for a quick jog around the same time at the park nearby and how he came home to a knocked out Jongseong. He chuckles– Sunoo, eyes glimmering with what Jongseong could not perceive.
They continue eating their brunch in peace.
I could get used to this, Jongseong thinks. The familiarity of the younger’s warmth and bright aura is something that he has become accustomed to already. His natural softer and aldehydic rose scent blending in perfectly with whatever the younger’s choice of perfume has been ingrained to this mind, never to be forgotten.
He could get used to this type of domesticity. A sigh of contentment escapes Jongseong’s lips making the younger whip his head towards him.
Sunoo quirked his eyebrows followed a by question, “What’s wrong, hyung?”
The older pursed his lips together and looked at the younger, eyes going wide comically, seemingly confused at Sunoo’s question. And then he realized– he must have sighed loudly, hence, prompting the sudden question from the younger.
Jongseong’s fingers drum against the steel-brushed fork trying to compose his thoughts but ended up just responding with an open-mouthed ‘erm’. He swears that he could conjure up a better response than this.
He was usually good at carrying a conversation and could go on for hours on end— most especially with his best friend. But with ethanol still lingering in his system and the thoughts of the younger flooding his brain… He just lets his head hung low and sigh silently.
The older shakes his head no, muttering something under his breath that Sunoo didn’t quite catch.
As much as Sunoo’s curiosity was aroused, he decided to not press of the matter and besides…
Holy shit! It’s almost 12 noon already! Sunoo cursed inwardly, gasping at the sudden realization that he still had 12:30 classes. Catching the older’s attention, his hands flying instinctively atop the younger’s.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Flabbergasted by his best friend’s loud gasp, Jongseong asks, in full alert– eyes searching for any discomfort in the younger’s face.
Sunoo rose from his seat, picking up his remaining avocado toast and rests it in between his lips as he frantically fishes out his bag settled on the couch.
The older looks at the digital clock resting on top of their center island and reads 11:57am. “Ah, right. You have a 12:30pm class.” Sunoo responds with a muffled ‘uh huh’ and goes for the main door until Jongseong calls his attention.
“Sunoo-ah, I’ll come pick you later, okay?” He turns around and faces the older and smiles.
“Alright, hyung! See you later!” Sunoo said, voice gradually fading in the background as the door shuts close.
Jongseong’s phone vibrated, he fishes it out of his pocket and checked the ID.
From: Sunoo
Hey hyung! I’m sorry for leaving you with the dishes.
Jay
It’s okay, Sunoo. Don’t mind me here. I’ll see you later, k?
Sunoo
Alright, hyung! Get some rest, okay? Love youuu :3
Jay
Alright take care! Love you too :3
Jongseong smiles. He puts his phone and finished his food, after which, he got up and cleaned the table and did the dishes.
Deciding to take a bath first, he quickly hopped in the shower. Hot water seeping into his skin– muscles relaxing as his body’s temperature adjusts to the heat of the water. He scrubs his skin and rids off the dried up alcohol and sweat stench.
He fills the bathtub after cleaning his body and submerges himself in it. He saw Sunoo’s bath salts in the marble shelf just beside their tub and drops in a few scoops of it. After what seemed like 30minutes, he gets up and drains the tub.
He grabs his towel off the wrack and circles it on his waist.
Jongseong walks in to his bedroom and puts on a pair of grey sweatpants and a white fitted shirt. He opted to sleep again in the living room.
While he was sauntering his way to the living room, he caught glimpse of Sunoo’s bedroom. It was open. And a lavender scent with citrusy notes hit his nose. Comforter gingerly sprawled on the bed, fluffed up pillows, and sun light streaming between the alternating block-out and sheer curtains.
It was as if the Sun incarnate’s room was enchanted, luring him in a trance, and there was an obvious gravity pulling him deeper inside the room.
Once his body collided with the bed, a deep sense of drowsiness washed over him and off he drifts to sleep, but not until he sets his alarm for later to pick Sunoo up.
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A few hours later, Jongseong’s alarm goes off and wide his eyes went— shooting up from the bed that his body has undone whilst snoozing off. The blaring noise, that was getting irritating, from his phone was still yet to be turned off. His arms scrambled around the bed searching for his phone.
When he successfully turns it off, he gets up from the bed and makes it so Sunoo won’t get mad at him for sleeping on his bed (although he doubts that).
Jongseong quickly exits the room and went to pick Sunoo up, retrieving his car keys on the bowl right by the main door.
The drive to their uni was just a short one, but the younger’s building was far from the main gate of the campus.
Upon arriving, he sees Sunoo walking out of the building. Taking notice of his outfit just now, he couldn’t help but smile to himself because the younger was just so— ethereal. It was as if he had just came from a magazine shoot for Harper’s Bazaar— cladded in all Gucci pieces, monogram beige jacquard polo shirt that was tucked inside a pair of chocolate cropped pants. Hands clutched around the top handle of a navy Depeche briefcase.
And Jongseong, being a fashion forward person himself, smiles proudly because he has taught Sunoo so well in finding his own personal style. And to complete the look, Sunoo has partnered his outfit with a pair of Gucci Princetown in cognac.
Sunoo’s eyes lit up upon seeing his car— a bespoke Gray Bentley Continental. A silent laugh escapes his mouth as he see the younger waving his arms at him. But his merry moment was cut short when he sees a guy trailing after Sunoo, around the same height but relatively broader than his best friend.
And just like him, Jongseong, this guy was also sporting a boyish smile, sharp-looking eyes, and a defined jaw line.
Sunoo looked behind him and smiled— so sickeningly sweet. Who was this guy anyway? And why is he with Sunoo? He felt something unpleasant with the way the other guy was giving his best friend a small paper bag.
His car came to a full stop in front the duo who were waiting by the steps. Jongseong was about to go out and open the door for Sunoo but the other guy beat him to it and his eyebrow definitely shot up. It really irked him, so much so that his jaws tightened.
“Hi, hyung!” Sunoo beams and for a moment there, Seong forgets about the unpleasant emotion settling in his stomach.
“Hyung, meet Jungwon. Jungwon, meet Jongseong-hyung. He prefers to be called Jay, though. I personally think I’m the only one whom he lets him call him Jongseong-hyung.” Sunoo chuckled as the two exchanged their pleasantries.
Sunoo gets inside and Jungwon closed the car door after shaking hands. He bids goodbye to Jungwon as Seong slowly pulls out of the lay-by area of the complex.
Jongseong was awfully quiet— Sunoo noticed. Usually the older would ask how his day went or would talk about totally unnecessary things or would talk about unhelpful yet educational trivia. The older loved talking to him, well— talking in general, yet he’s been distant since he’s gotten inside the car.
Sunoo side-eyed his best friend.
Eyes sharp, focused on the road, hands gripping a little too tightly on the steering wheel, pursed lips, and clenched jaw. He began thinking if he’s done something wrong for the older to keep mum and act cold.
Finally, having gathered the guts to ask Jongseong, the younger turns to him.
“Hyung…” Sunoo said, observing if the older would hum or move his head while keeping his eyes on the road. But to no avail, it’s as if Seong didn’t hear him.
“Hyung.” For the second time, the younger called his attention.
Seong heard him the first time but he was too preoccupied pushing this unexplainable emotions he was feeling at the back of his mind, stashing it there for evaluation later on.
“Y-yes?” He responded, choking a little bit on his saliva.
“What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong? You haven’t spoken a word since.” There was a little crack in the younger’s voice. This time, Jongseong looked at him. Seeing Sunoo with a little pout and on the verge of crying shattered his heart.
He slowed down and veered the car to side of the road— coming to a full stop. Jongseong inhales sharply, letting out a shaky breath, organizing his thoughts first before speaking. He doesn’t want to talk about this gnawing feelings he’s been feeling. He isn’t sure yet.
Was he jealous of that Jungwon guy?
Was he feeling a little annoyed about that little gift Jungwon gave Sunoo?
Was he repulsed by the idea of Jungwon receiving the very same smile that Sunoo gives only to him? Call him selfish all you want, but Jongseong is pretty sure he is the only recipient of that smile— not until this Jungwon guy came along and barged into their peaceful lives.
Jongseong scoffs.
This is the first time he’s felt something so strong like this.
He realized that he wasn’t even sure of what he’s truly feeling yet but that didn’t stop him from taking Sunoo’s hands in his.
Rough hands drawing circles on top of the younger’s hand as he stares at the softest skin he’s ever touched. Jongseong raises his head then looks Sunoo in the eye and smiled apologetically.
“No, baby, you didn’t do anything wrong, ok? I just—,” he stopped, recollecting his thoughts. What was he going to say again? Seong mentally scoffed at himself.
“I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to act this way and for you to feel like you did something wrong.” Sunoo nods and mutters a soft ‘okay’. The older brings the latter’s hand close to his lips and kissed the top of it, making Sunoo chuckle heartily as he smacks the older in the head playfully.
“So, where are we going hyung?” The bright and sweet smile was back on the younger’s lips and Jongseong couldn’t help but smile along with Sunoo.
He was his happiness. Sunoo.
No matter what the circumstance or situation may be, Sunoo was Jongseong’s constant happiness. Come to think of it, in everything that he does, you can extrapolate that Sunoo has always been a part of his life.
We can all concur that Jongseong breathes Sunoo.
As the older observes the younger’s face, he couldn’t help but trace the whiskers appearing on Sunoo’s face. Stunned by the action of his best friend, Sunoo felt his face heat up and Jongseong does not miss the blush creeping up on the younger’s neck.
God, he’s so adorable, Jongseong gushes.
His hands move instinctively to rub the apples of Sunoo’s cheeks with his thumb, moving just a tad lower to pinch the younger’s cheeks.
Sunoo watched his hyung do his ministrations on his face. He thought that they’ve memorized each other to the core. But there was a glint in his hyung’s eyes— something he is quite unfamiliar of. It has a certain je ne sais quoi— the way Jongseong stared at him while pinching his cheek— and it makes his chest bloom with warmth. And for a moment, he questions himself for not knowing this kind of Park Jongseong.
“Oh umm, we’re eating out. Yeah, I found this restaurant near the beach. They have al fresco seating by the docks and the reviews are pretty great!” Jongseong said excitedly. He was jumping in his seat as he puts his car in drive mode. Driving giddily to the pier where the restaurant is located.
Taking Sunoo to his newly discovered restaurants has always been a habit for him. Interestingly so, as much as the younger loves eating, he’s not as much of a foodie as Jongseong.
Jongseong likes discovering new restaurants or trying out new cuisines, whereas, Sunoo likes to do the whole process, you know? As in like the buying of the ingredients, the chopping, the cooking. All of it.
So, Jongseong, being a good hyung and the best friend that he is, he always makes it a point to at least try out one new restaurant every week with the younger. Not only it is a memory to be treasured forever, but, it is also rewarding to see the look on Sunoo’s face whenever he finds the food decadent.
‘Wah these are really delicious! I can always trust your judgment, hyung!' The honey-laced voice filled with excitement rings in his head and he smiles fondly at the memory.
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The drive to the pier took quite a while but the duo didn’t feel it. They were just talking about things like; how do dogs drink, or how can cats fit into any space, or what it’s like to view the planets from the Sun’s point of view, or how the human brain responds to stimuli and how does it know when to respond.
It’s really random mundane things but the two enjoy talking to each other and, maybe… just maybe, one of them is finally having a major epiphany of what he truly feels. There’s something about the atmosphere inside the car. It’s familiar and comforting and warm.
Almost as if they have been together for forever.
When the car came to a full stop, Jongseong looked at the boy beside him who was looking at the view with an amused look and the glimmer in his eyes was enough for the older to coo at the sight.
Outside, the sun had just started to set on the horizon, string lights adorning the pier were starting spark into life, the sky turning from bight yellow– almost white– into bright orange, and people are loitering around doing the same thing as them, appreciating the magnificent scenery unfolding before them.
But if we’re totally being honest, there is one person who found a better scenery than the sunset. His breath hitched when he saw how Sunoo’s eyes reflect the scenery outside; his irises absorb the sunlight— further emphasizing its light brown color.
It was a sight to behold, Jongseong thinks.
He mindlessly whips out his phone from the side pocket of the car door, pointing it directly at the side profile of the younger— capturing perfectly the Sun’s reflection on his eyes. One photo turned into two, then three, and then eventually he stopped at four photos because Sunoo turned to look at him.
“Were you taking pictures of me just now, hyung?” Sunoo asked teasingly, lips curling just a tad at the edge, obviously teasing his best friend. And Jongseong rolled his eyes.
“No? I was just taking a picture of– of the sun! Yeah.” The older denied, trying to salvage what was left of his dignity after almost getting caught in the action.
Sunoo tutted and muttered a soft ‘alright’ while laughing.
They both got out of the car and walked towards the dock. Standing side by side, elbows situated atop the wooden railings. Seagulls squawking while flying over the sea at a far distance. Soft murmurs of people chattering in the background. And the ocean breeze softly whipping past their faces. They fell into a comfortable silence as they wait for their table to be set up.
And just like that, everything went smoothly.
They were sat down at their table near the docks. Jongseong ordered penne arrabiata and a quattro formaggi pizza for sharing while Sunoo ordered lobster linguini and a pitcher of peach mango lemonade for the both of them.
Once their food were served, only then they realized that a lot of people were looking their way. Who can blame them, though? They were like characters straight out of a manhwa. Sunoo in his Gucci ensemble and Jongseong in his Thom Browne ensemble; Grey button-down dress shirt– with the sleeves rolled-up to his elbows– tucked inside a pair of black trousers and to finish the look, Jay slapped on a pair of black Prada brogues.
If anything, they looked as if they were in a not-so-friendly date. And their suspicion was confirmed when their server served their lemonade saying “Enjoy your date!” before leaving.
This caused the two to cough and laugh, hoping to relieve the awkwardness settling between them.
Sunoo was the first one to break the silence, “Hyung, let’s eat now before our food gets cold.” Jongseong, who was flustered by the server’s remark, mentally shakes his head before slicing a piece of pizza— serving it on Sunoo’s plate.
They worked ceremoniously around the table; serving each other food, refilling each other’s glass with lemonade, letting each other have a taste of their orders. Their domesticity fills the atmosphere and wafts throughout the entire open space and people around them are drawn.
Some would even come up to them and tell them that they look really good together, or that the way Jongseong stares at Sunoo lovingly brings warmth to their hearts.
To say that they were appalled by how other people viewed them is an understatement. But that’s a topic for another day.
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The second time the Jongseong felt this churning sensation in his stomach again was when Sunoo spent a whole together with that Jungwon guy.
It was a Friday morning and Sunoo didn’t have any class. Coincidentally, Jungwon, who had a totally different schedule except during Saturdays wherein him and Sunoo share the same class, had no classes as well. Isn’t that— swell?
What’s more surprising is that at 9am, the cat-eyed guy is at their door. Asking for Sunoo to have breakfast with him and maybe spend the whole day together. Jongseong, who was in the kitchen making his coffee, had to watch this guy whisk his best friend away from him. He laments at the very thought of Sunoo leaving this early.
Dear God, why must I suffer like this? And what am I feeling right now? Jongseong’s inner turmoil has resulted to him just staring blankly at the ceiling.
It’s not even about Sunoo hanging out with Jungwon. No. It’s about how Sunoo agreed so quickly not even asking him if he could, not that he is obligated to nor has to. But a simple ‘hey Hyung, I’m hanging out with Jungwon today’ would suffice to ease the jealousy settling in his stomach.
Yup. He has finally figured out what he was feeling the first time he saw Sunoo with Jungwon.
a/n: Congratulations, Jongseong. Now can we wrap up this story? It’s supposed to be just a drabble.
He reckons he has been feeling this growing attraction towards his best friend for quite some time already but didn’t pay any attention to it.
The reason?
Maybe he’s just too comfortable that Sunoo won’t be viable for anything closely related to a commitment nor a relationship anytime soon. But just the thought of his best friend (read: lover, yes, he already deludes himself into thinking that him and Sunoo will be together) possibly being in a relationship with that guy who was just a couple of months younger than Sunoo.
Should I do something? He thought to himself— already trying to come up with a scheme to stop Jungwon from pursuing his Sunoo. But the man could not be any more wrong, he’ll discover later on.
Jongseong shrugs off the thought. This might cause a dispute between him and the love of his life. See how fast his feelings are developing? He just recently found out that what he feels for the younger isn’t a platonic as he used to think yet he’s here, already deluding himself.
Can a so-called bestfriend make you plan a future with him being the future just cause you see him everyday? Most certainly not.
Oh, oh. How about those butterflies he’d unconsciously give to him just by waking him up to eat breakfast together? No? Yeah, exactly, no.
What he feels isn’t just a mere attraction. It’s something more than that, and most certainly, it’s something much powerful and it gets stronger each day. So much so that he finds himself breaking down in the shower. How can he possibly confess to Sunoo now?
And let’s not forget the fact that they are best friends. He most certainly do not want to do anything that might tarnish their friendship. Another thing he’s wrong about which he will find out later on.
For now, he wants to forget about this and just let loose. And so, he does what he does best.
Party.
He shoots a message to his other friends and asked them to party, since it’s also a Friday. Fridays are best spent partying like an animal.
…………
As soon as Jongseong and his friend arrive at the club; trays and trays of tequila shots, and bottles of whiskey doled out. They all screamed in ecstasy.
“Let’s party!!!” He hears his friend, Sunghoon, shout through the blaring EDM filling the whole club. When the beat drops, their moods changed almost instantaneously.
To say that Jongseong is unusually quiet and seemingly extremely parched will be an understatement. Normally, the guy is chaotic yet watches his alcohol intake.
His skin turn saltier by the second as he downs shots and shots of Patron. Wincing a little as the tequila cascades down his throat followed by a salty and citrusy sour taste.
Heeseung was the first one to notice the change in Jongseong’s demeanor so he taps him by his shoulder.
“Hey, you okay?” Heeseung leans in, asking a little too loudly piquing his other friends’ interest. Jaeyun and Sunghoon, being the other two, sits closer to Jongseong and Heeseung— huddled together like that of a football team.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Jaeyun asked, eyebrows scrunching in concern.
The second eldest just sighs, “It’s nothing, really.”
“Well, it’s not nothing if you’ve been downing the Patrón like it was just a keg of beer.” Heeseung said.
“And you’ve been awfully quiet, not to mention you’ve been shooting daggers at the floor.” Sunghoon added.
Befuddled with his friend’s observations, he sighs in exasperation. “Fine. It’s about Sunoo.” He crosses his arms as laid back on the couch.
“Uh-oh. What happened, lover boy?” Jaeyun asked teasingly. And this time, Jongseong narrows his eyes on the Aussie boy. Clearly confused with the nickname.
“What do you mean ‘lover boy’? Sunoo’s my bestfriend.” Jongseong raised his eyebrows.
Jaeyun actually snorts, blithely snickering at the panicked look on his friends face. “Yeah, and I’m your father.” The Aussie boy rolled his eyes and Jongseong stands up to smack him in the head.
“All I’m saying is that, you’re attraction for your ‘bestfriend’,” Jaeyun quotes the word bestfriend in the air, “isn’t actually subtle.” He finished.
“Yeah, Jake’s right.” Sunghoon added, “Man, you do things for him that a bestfriend wouldn’t normally do. You’re always on the phone with him when you’re with us even though you two live together. You even take him out at least once a week to try new restaurants.”
“Hoon’s ticked all of the boxes that leads to your undying love for your bestfriend, Jay. I mean you look at him as if he is your world and when a guy approaches him, you this look on your face that says ‘back off’.” As if Sunghoon’s adage isn’t enough proof that he has been unconsciously in love with his bestfriend isn’t enough, Heeseung has to wrap it up with another evidence.
“So what is it with you and Sunoo?” Jaeyun asks again.
“It’s just that–,” Jongseong starts, “there’s this guy, his name is Jungwon, and every since Sunoo met him. The guy would just whisk him away from me, you know?” His brows furrowed, opening his mouth again to speak.
“Just earlier today, that guy even picked him up at our place and asked him to have breakfast with and spend the whole day together. Sunoo didn’t even spare me a glance when he went out.” He pours out his heart, and he didn’t notice that a lone tear was cascading down his cheeks.
And Sunghoon, being the person who finds pleasure in other people’s misery, snickers and proceeds to make a snide remark, taking advantage of the drunken stupor of his friend.
“Aww, our Jongseongie is jealous, isn’t he?” The obnoxious blonde laughs boisterously when the emotional man threw an ice cube at him.
“Shut up, Hoon.” Jongseong deadpans.
“Alright, that’s enough. Lets just enjoy and have fun!” Jaeyun offers.
… …
Jongseong ends up being totally hammered. He’s been crying about how Sunoo doesn’t care for him anymore and he even attempted to dial the younger. Good thing, his friends were there to stop him.
So now, he’s just there on the couch, body sprawled and he’s totally blacked out.
It was almost 2am and his friends were already asking him to go home but he doesn’t want to. Not unless it’s Sunoo who’ll pick him up. He was being irrational because of the influence of alcohol and he still feels that jealousy in his chest. Only getting bigger and getting stronger as time pass by.
Heeseung, who was the only one in the right condition to be making phone calls, fishes out his friend’s phone from his pocket. It was a miracle that is has no passcode and that made it easier for him to contact this hammered guy’s bestfriend.
A few seconds and a few rings later, Sunoo, on the other line picks up. Heeseung thanked the gods that the younger was still awake.
“Hello? Hyung?” The person on the other line speaks. “Where are you?” He followed up.
“Hello? Sunoo-yah, it’s Heeseung.” The older responds.
“Oh hey hyung! What’s up? Where’s Jongseongie-hyung?” Heeseung laughed awkwardly as he doesn’t know how to tell the younger about his bestfriend’s current state. And he didn’t wanna burden the younger with fetching this stupid guy anymore. But Jongseong stands firm and refuses for his friends to bring him home to his Sunoo.
“Hehe. Well, that’s why I called. Jay here is hammered and he umm—,”he pauses. “He said he didn’t want to go home if it’s not you who’s going to fetch him. I offered to bring him home so that it be a bother to you but he refused, firmly so.” An awkward chuckle erupted again from him.
“Oh it’s okay, hyung. He’s my burden, anyway.” Sunoo laughs heartily. And Heeseung’s spine tingle in ways he cannot explain, that melodic laugh is music to his ears and he would recognize that anywhere. “Just send me the location and I will be there, hyung. Thank you!” Sunoo mutters from the other line.
“Oh, and hyung! Don’t let Jongseong lie down flat on his stomach, unless you want him to barf his guts out there.” There was a playful tone in the younger’s voice that Heeseung finds himself smiling.
“Alright, Sunoo. Be safe on your way!” Heeseung said before ending the call.
Once he returned Jongseong’s phone, he heard Sunghoon speak. “What was that?” Sunghoon asked, brows furrowing at their hyung.
Heeseung’s eyes widen, flabbergasted that Sunghoon heard and saw the whole conversation. He thought that the younger was dozing off on other side of the couch.
“Hyung, I saw you smiling and– and laughing. Don’t tell me— OH MY GOD.” Sunghoon was rambling and Heeseung swears he could just smack the blonde on the head.
And he did.
The blonde yelped and proceeds to rub the stinging pain that Heeseung’s hand left on his temples. “I wasn’t being anything, stupid.” Heeseung scoffs when he saw Sunghoon pouting. And it brought chills all over his body.
“UGH stop pouting. You look like a fucking duck.” The older winces as if it was the most disgusting look he’s ever seen.
Sunghoon brings his hand on his chest, clutching at his heart while the other hovers his mouth to cover it— gasping dramatically while his eyes go wide.
“You wound me, hyung. Really. You wound me.” His hand pounded his chest, acting like he was really hurt but Heeseung just rolled his eyes.
They were all starting to get drowsy and almost falls asleep until Sunoo arrived. Jaeyun, who was groggy from his slumber is now fully awake. The trio; Heeseung, Sunghoon, and Jake, were shaken from their drunken stupor. There Sunoo stood, wearing a cream half-zip turtleneck jacket paired with light brown track pants coupled with a pair of triple white Air Force 1s.
They rarely see Sunoo, usually they see him on Jongseong’s instagram stories and that’s it.
“Hey, hyungs.” The youngest among them waves and breaks the ice with a warm smile. Sunoo’s eyes travel to west side of the couch. There he saw his bestfriend; head hung low and out of his wits.
Sunoo walks ever so slowly to approach Jongseong. He crouches down and lightly shakes the inebriated man, coaxing him awake from his deep slumber. Bringing his mouth near the older’s ears, and whispers– hot breath fanning over his cheeks.
“Hey, hyung. Wake up. Let’s go home.” His voice, ever so soft and sweet, effectively wakes up the older. Three pairs of eyes watch as the scene unfolds before them. Amazed by the effect of Sunoo on Jongseong.
Jongseong slurs something incoherent yet Sunoo seemed to have understood it. “Yes, hyung. It’s me. Now, come on. Let’s get you home, yeah?” Sunoo says as he slings the older’s hand around his shoulder, his free hands calls for assistance from the other three and all three took Jongseong from Sunoo’s grasp.
“Sunoo-ah, where’s your car?” Jaeyun asked, looking around looking for the car as if he knows Sunoo’s car.
“It’s there, hyung.” Sunoo points, “the grey Urus.” He presses his car keys to awaken its headlights. The trio murmurs a couple of wows and woahs.
Sunoo thanked his hyung’s friends for helping him once they put Jongseong on the shotgun seat, securing him with the seatbelts. Assuring him that he can manage getting Jongseong up their apartment.
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The drive back to their apartment was quick since the streets were empty anyways. He turns off the engine and walks around his car to carry his hyung.
“Geez, hyung. How much have you had to drink? You reek of alcohol.” Jongseong groans, he was awake, but he was in a daze and he isn’t really aware of what’s happening.
“Think you can walk, hyung? The elevator’s not that far, anyway.”
“Wha— what? Ehehehe oh it’s Kim Ddeonu-ssi ehehee.” He was smiling goofily, but as soon as the name rolled off of his tongue, his goofy grin was replaced by a frown and the younger was dumbfounded.
“Ddeonu-ssi is mean.” The drunk man slurs and starts crying. Sunoo, who had no idea of what’s happening, was left befuddled by the sudden burst of tears from the older’s eyes.
“God, you’re heavy when you’re drunk.”
“Hyung, why are you crying? Shush.” They finally arrived to the elevator and in they go to the elevator cab. Sunoo slumps his hyung on the floor since their floor is still far.
Jongseong’s cries subsided already, his limp body leaning against the wall. Soft snores and even breathing from the older echoes inside the elevator.
Once the elevator dinged and open its doors to their floor, he picked up Jongseong from the floor and assisted him to their apartment. Sunoo was thankful that the older can walk better compared to when they have just arrived.
They stumbled inside their apartment and Sunoo sat his bestfriend on their couch. Removing a layer of clothing on his sweaty bestfriend. As he was unbuttoning the older’s dress shirt, he felt eyes on him, gaze so intense that made him look at the older’s face.
Pretty. Pretty. Pretty. Was all Jongseong could think of even in his drunken state.
He stares at the plump and pink pair of lips. God, I wanna kiss him so bad. He can see how Sunoo’s cheeks turn pink and, God forbid, Jongseong really wants to press his lips against those cheeks.
Even when he’s sober, he will always be drunk in love with Sunoo. He thinks.
Then suddenly, his world slowed down. He doesn’t know if it’s the effect of the alcohol or Sunoo’s effect on him. But everything slowed down.
He could hear his own hear beat. Could hear Sunoo’s breath hitch. Could hear the younger’s heart beat— it was hammering against his chest. And Jongseong took this chance to place a chaste kiss the younger on the lips.
Jongseong pulled back as soon as his lips touched the younger’s. It was soft. So freakishly soft that he wanted to do it again so he could get a taste of the younger.
Sunoo’s eyes widen, gasping in the process as he comes to a realization that his bestfriend stole his first kiss.
He doesn’t utter a single word.
He just stood up and walked slowly back to his room, leaving Jongseong in the living room.
Guilt started gnawing at him as soon as the door to Sunoo’s room close. He inhaled sharply and closed his eyes and started banging his head on the sofa.
SHIT! He cursed mentally.
There he goes. He just told himself that he wouldn’t do anything that could tarnish and put their friendship at risk. Yet here he was, kissing him willingly knowing full well that that’s his bestfriend’s first kiss.
You see, back when they were younger, Jongseong would always, always scare off the guys who wanted to court Sunoo. Back then, he only thought of it as him being a protective older brother but now that he’s thought of it, it was really him not letting any guy come close to Sunoo. Yet there’s this guy named Yang Jungwon, who seems to have gone under his radar.
Without much energy left in his body, drained by the obnoxious amount of liquor accompanied with the predicament that he has put himself into, he resigned to his bedroom. Walking sluggishly as he puts himself in the shower before snoozing off.
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Jongseong woke up later than usual and the moment his eyes open, he felt a splitting headache almost instantaneously. He groaned in displeasure as he ties recall memories of last night. And when he did, tears pricked his eyes.
He cried quietly as images of Sunoo’s face from when he kissed him flash in his mind. What have I done? Sunoo must hate me so much right now. He made a mental note to apologize to the younger later on.
Jongseong decided to make his coffee, as he was about to stand up, he noticed a glass of water and a painkiller on his bedside table.
“Sunoo must have left them here for me.” He softly murmurs. Guilt doubling as he realized that even when he did something to the younger, he always so, so nice and understanding.
He saw a post-it sticker attached on the glass of water and read it:
“Hey hyung. I didn’t wake you up anymore because it looks like you need to rest up some more. So, umm, here, take this painkiller once you wake up.
Sunoo :)”
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Jongseong was in the living room watching something on netflix when he heard the door unlock. He sat up and whipped his head so fast that he feels blood rush to his head.
“Sunoo, hey.” He mumbles softly.
Suddenly the atmosphere thickens with tension and awkwardness, mainly awkwardness and Jay doesn’t like it one bit.
“Let’s talk, baby, please?” He pleaded, his eyes turning glossy as Sunoo still hasn’t spoken a word since he got back from school.
He pats the space next to him when Sunoo approaches him. Seong turned his body to face the younger and took his soft hands in his rough ones. He recollects his thoughts and draws in a huge breath.
“Sunoo—,” he starts. “I’m so sorry for how I acted last night and for, umm, you know, kissing you and stealing your kiss.” Sunoo blushed unabashedly at the mention of first kiss.
“I– I know you like Jungwon, yet I too—,” he was cut off when a loud ‘What?’ came from Sunoo’s mouth.
Sunoo lolls his head back, stifling a laughter that was threatening to erupt from his lips. But soon proved to be futile since his shoulder started shaking vigorously.
Sunoo wiped a tear in his eye when he finally was able to calm down from his manic laughing session.
“Where did you get that idea, hyung? HAHA!”
“I don’t like Jungwonie like that, no. And besides, he already has a boyfriend AHAHAHA!” Sunoo laughed again– finding joy in his bestfriend’s misery.
“Then what about that gift he gave you a few weeks back? The one in the paperbag?” Jongseong’s brow furrows, a clear indication of confusion. Sunoo must be tripping him to lessen the blow when he rejects him.
“Oh that? That was Jungwon’s gift for his boyfriend, Riki.” Sunoo’s eyes widen in shock.
“Is that why you were so quiet when you fetched me?” Jay blushes, feeling extremely embarrassed about this whole Jungwon debacle.
“The– then why did you suddenly walked out on me last night? Do you hate me? Did you feel repulsed when I kissed you?” Sunoo shushes him— soft hands cupping his face, effectively shutting him up.
“First of all, I got so shy after that chaste kiss. Secondly, no, I don’t hate you. I could never hate you, hyung. And lastly, I— I umm,” it was his turn to get shy. Face turning beet red as he tries to say the words.
“I don’t— feel repulsed. Okay? I—,” Sunoo didn’t get to finish his sentence anymore as Jongseong presses his lips on his own.
It was soft and very intimate. And Jongseong loved every second and every part of it. His heart was beating erratically against his chest and he took this as a good sign.
God, he loves Sunoo’s lips so much. It was addictive and his taste is intoxicatingly sweet. He knows he will only get more and more obsessed with it with each passing day.
They pulled from the kiss at the same time, a pink dust adorning the younger’s cheeks and Jongseong couldn’t help but steal a kiss on the younger’s cheeks.
Oh stupid Jay! How could he forget to ask Sunoo.
“Sunoo-ya, will do me the honors of being my boyfriend?” Jongseong asked nervously, heartbeat picking up again.
“I don’t know, hyung. It’s too early to tell.” Sunoo said seriously and Jongseong’s lips quiver. His head hung low, trying to keep the younger from seeing that he was about to cry. But it didn’t go unnoticed by the younger.
He laughs silently as he cups the older’s face again to make him look at him.
“I’m kidding. I’m KIDDING. Of course, hyung! I will be your boyfriend!” Sunoo laughs as the older lets go of his tears.
The ravenette threw himself over the younger and hugged him tightly. Muttering a series of thank yous and I love yous.
Jongseong felt like he is the luckiest man alive.