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The key to their successful cohabitation, Sangwoo had found, was finding order in the chaos.
It was true that Jaeyoung would wake up at any random hour of the day, stipulated that he had no plans, but if Sangwoo left out a fresh pair of underwear and a can of milk coffee, his boyfriend would be up and functioning at nearly double the speed compared to when left to his own devices.
This had the added bonus of a sleepy Jaeyoung hugging him from behind and pressing sloppy kisses behind his ear, thanking him for being the best robot boyfriend in the world, but that was simply a (very, extremely, tremendously wonderful) perk of maintaining his routine.
Sangwoo liked adding Jaeyoung to his routine.
Allotting ten minutes every night to gather and properly place Jaeyoung's randomly discarded clothes from the day was not the hardship he had pictured- in fact, his heart was never more full of love than when he found all their clothing folded very poorly as thanks when he got back from class the next day.
The same goes for Sangwoo saving his lover portions of the quick dinners he makes, plastic wrapped to perfection and labeled clearly:
Jaeyoung, Please eat within two days or else it will be disposed of. -Sangwoo
And like clockwork as well, he could find convenience store cakes, fancy free sample puddings, and all other manner of random sweets that Jaeyoung clearly scrambled to get that same day.
Sangwoo, thanks for the meal. Please eat these within two days or I will cry, accompanied by a small, simplified portrait of Jaeyoung crying.
If Jaeyoung was aware of this systemization of their domesticity, Sangwoo didn't know- until one day.
"Jaeyoung, we are going to be late," Sangwoo called, standing by the door fully dressed in his famous flannel (hat in hand but forgone on his head. He might not want to hide anymore, but there might always be a situation for a hat), tapping his foot impatiently, "We agreed to meet Yuna at two p.m."
"Yuna is gonna be the one who keeps US waiting!" Jaeyoung called from the bathroom, followed by the distinctive dull thud of plastic bottles knocking into each other, "Where is my-"
"Top right shelf, behind the headache medication."
"And my-"
"Bottom shelf, next to the eyedrops."
There were two minutes more clanking and clamouring before a fully ready Jaeyoung emerged from the bathroom, looking far too pleased for someone who made them late.
"How did you know what I needed?" he asked, dutifully following Sangwoo of the door, long legs ensuring his lazy stride still matched up with his boyfriends famous brisk pace, "I didn't even finish my sentences!"
"Easy," Sangwoo replied, checking both ways at the crosswalk before snatching Jaeyoung's sleeve and tugging him along (knowing and enjoying but not looking at Jaeyoung's lovesick grin at the gesture), "You always lose track of your hairspray and cologne every morning because you always put them somewhere different when you're done. I added 2 minutes to my nighttime routine to put them in the same spot every night before bed."
For a moment, there is a quiet between them. It's only broken by Sangwoo's small yelp, caused by Jaeyoung going completely still, his greater weight making him a tall, handsome anchor.
"Sangwoo."
"What is it now? We're already-"
In a flash, Sangwoo was pulled against an abandoned storefront, caged in by a red faced, grinning Jang Jaeyoung. Who then leaned in close, their nose brushing in a familiar, but no less pleasant, way.
"I love you so much. So. Much."
Sangwoo's face- no, whole body, felt warm at those words, despite hearing them almost every day.
"You, of all people, factored me into your routine," his breath blew hot against Sangwoo's cheeks, "I've seen you plow through crowds like a bulldozer to make sure you keep to your schedule, but you do all these little things for me despite all the time it adds."
Pouting, Sangwoo tried his best to glare, knowing he could never muster up the vitriol he felt when they first met, "Of course. We are dating, so you're a part of me, and a part of my routine."
Jaeyoung staggered even closer, mouth now by Sangwoo's ear, "That kind of stuff is what makes you so special, you know that? 'You're part of me?' No screenwriter could think of something so poetic. You're going to be the death of me."
University freshman Sangwoo would never have cracked a joke at a time like this, but that Sangwoo had long been retired.
"You still owe me reparations from all that time you spent harassing me. This is just me making up for that."
The passionate kiss he received for his remark was effective at shutting him up and making him weak in the knees.
...and at making them late.
(But it was, in fact, Yuna who was even later, just as Jaeyoung predicted.
Perhaps he needed to invite her out more often so he could allot more time to kissing in his departure routine.
Yes, that's exactly what he'll do.)•