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They celebrated Dongheon's enlistment with drinks. It should be insulting, but Dongheon was too pleased with Hoyoung footing the bill to sulk over everyone's good mood over his departure. He'd give them shit for it during his visits; for now, Dongheon basked in the cheery mood and attention.
Kangmin was the one who put the whiskey in the cart, and it was the same high-end brand they got when Kangmin first turned legal. Dongheon knew he did it on purpose, and knowing him, he probably got it for the sentimentality alone.
When they returned to Hoyoung and Minchan's apartment, Dongheon made sure to clink his glass with Kangmin's first. He draped an arm across Kangmin's shoulders, pulled him close, and whispered into the crown of his head, "I'll visit you first," before taking a deep swig of his whiskey.
Kangmin giggled, pleased his ploy had worked, and he sipped his whiskey. His tolerance had grown; his taste buds, not so much. He coughed and smacked his lips together with a frown. Dongheon laughed and refilled both their glasses. He nursed his glass and settled in for a long night—before someone cleared his throat. Dongheon leaned back against the couch and gazed up, meeting Hoyoung's disapproving gaze.
"Don't hog that, hyung," Hoyoung warned. "I deserve to at least try it."
Dongheon conceded and slid the bottle across the coffee table, and Hoyoung snatched it before anyone else could take it—not that there was much competition. Minchan and Gyehyeon had broken into the crate of soju and were debating which flavor to start with; Yongseung was in the kitchen with the champagne to avoid soaking the living room's rug; Yeonho was swirling a glass of red wine with a contemplative look.
Dongheon's eyes lingered on Yeonho. It wasn't often Yeonho bore such a solemn expression, but Dongheon couldn't help but notice whenever he did. Yeonho was always bright and brilliant, and Dongheon freely basked in his glow. It was startling, then, to realize that Dongheon hadn't bothered to return the favor and shine some light upon him with his charming presence.
Dongheon placed his glass on the coffee table, stood from where he sat on the floor, and approached Yeonho. Yeonho had claimed Minchan's rocking armchair and sank comfortably into its leather cushion. When Dongheon stood before him, Yeonho merely offered him a wordless nod to the wine bottle he'd managed to fit into the armchair's cup holder before lounging back and rocking gently.
"Careful, Yeonho-ah," Dongheon said as he plucked the bottle from the holder. "You might melt into that."
"I'm sure Minchan-hyung won't mind," said Yeonho.
"You'll mind, though, when Minchanie sits and takes a nap on you."
Yeonho barked out a laugh and took a languid sip from his glass. Dongheon drank straight from the bottle, and Yeonho raised a questioning brow.
"Have you forgotten your manners, hyung?" Yeonho teased.
"I'm not raiding their cabinet for a different glass—"
A resounding pop echoed from the kitchen, and Dongheon started and whirled around. He met Yongseung's sheepish grin, and Dongheon realized Yongseung had finally managed to open the champagne bottle. He turned back to Yeonho, who was sporting an amused grin.
"Don't smile," Dongheon whined. "What if I'd gone in there, huh? I would've gotten hit, and then I'd have to explain to everyone at boot camp why I've got a black eye on my first day."
"You could lie," said Yeonho, swirling his nearly empty glass. "Say something that makes you look tough. I'm sure nobody would bother you, then."
"No, they'd haze me."
"You watch too many dramas, hyung."
Dongheon huffed and took another swig from the bottle. He glanced around the living room and realized that all the seats had been taken; Minchan and Gyehyeon had joined Hoyoung on the couch, and Yongseung had taken Dongheon's spot next to Kangmin. Dongheon always complained that Hoyoung and Minchan needed more cushions, and they never listened. Now, Dongheon was paying the price for their incompetence as hosts.
Normally, Dongheon didn't have any issues just sitting on the floor. Hoyoung was a neat freak, so Dongheon didn't doubt that the floor was cleaner than anything in his own apartment, and the rug was always soft to the touch.
But this was technically a celebration in Dongheon's honor, and he deserved to demand a little more.
"Move over," he said, nudging Yeonho's knees with his own.
Yeonho stared at him. He blinked slowly like the wine had already gone to his head—before he chuckled.
"Hyung, you're not gonna fit," he said.
It was easy for Dongheon to act as childish as Kangmin, but with a few drinks in him, Dongheon knew he was worse. Like a toddler demanding everything he desired, Dongheon released his inhibitions and made his wants known.
"I'll sit on you if I have to," said Dongheon.
Somewhere behind him, someone choked on his drink. He hadn't realized, but the lively conversations surrounding him and Yeonho had turned to soft murmurings as everyone listened in on their banter. Dongheon turned around to glare at them, maybe playfully scold them for being rude—before he stopped short.
The majority of them were sporting knowing grins. The only one who showed any signs of guilt was Kangmin, who took a sudden interest in his half-empty glass of whiskey—although his burning ears exposed him easily enough. Everyone else, however, held a strange glint in their eye and shared conspiratorial glances with one another.
"What?" Dongheon demanded.
"Oh, nothing," said Minchan breezily. "Just enjoying the show. Don't mind us."
"Don't make it sound so creepy, hyung," Gyehyeon scolded. He raised his soju shot and nodded toward Dongheon. "But, really, don't mind us, Heonie-hyung. It's not every day you manage to catch Yeonho-ah totally off-guard."
Dongheon halted and turned back toward Yeonho, ready to laugh off the whole thing with him, but...
Yeonho's face, although half-obscured beneath his palm, was visibly flushed. It spread like wildfire; from the apples of his cheeks to the tips of his ears—it was all dusted in a faint pink. It even bled down into his neck, spreading across the small exposure of his collar bones that his loose tee revealed.
It was strange. Dongheon hadn't the slightest clue what got Yeonho so flustered, yet his heart raced all the same. He did that. Gyehyeon said as much; Dongheon managed to completely and utterly shatter Yeonho's composure.
Yeonho met Dongheon's stare and held his gaze for a long moment. His eyes flickered, searching, and Dongheon didn't know what he was looking for, but he'd gladly offer it up.
Dongheon couldn't do much of anything (which might've been a blessing because he would've undoubtedly done something stupid) because Yeonho sighed melodramatically and lifted himself from the armchair. The chair rocked away from his weight, and Dongheon stared at its empty cushion for a long moment.
"If you wanted it that badly, all you had to do was ask," Yeonho teased. Dongheon watched as he shuffled next to Yongseung and lowered himself to the floor, his earlier flush dying down. "I swear, hyung, you're worse than Kangminie sometimes."
Kangmin spluttered out his complaints, and everyone cooed and laughed, the earlier tension forgotten and abandoned. It always stunned Dongheon how lively and easygoing Yeonho was and how he could get the others back on their feet with just a few quips. Not even his own embarrassment could keep him from shining upon others.
Dongheon settled into the armchair. It was suffocatingly hot, holding and trapping Yeonho's warmth, and Dongheon sank into its plush cushions unabashedly. He sipped some more wine and found it too sweet for his taste. He motioned Gyehyeon to hand over his whiskey, and after passing the glass to the other end of the couch, Minchan delivered it with a raised brow.
"You don't think you're overdoing it?" he asked.
"If you're so worried, Chanie-ah, why don't you order a late-night snack to keep me full?" said Dongheon, mostly teasing.
He plucked the whiskey from Minchan's hands and sipped it. The smokiness washed away the wine's sweetness, and after he nodded approvingly, Minchan shuffled back toward the couch.
"What, you don't think we're spoiling you enough already?" Hoyoung joked.
"Not nearly!" Dongheon whined, and a mixture of groans and laughter filled the living room.
Minchan did eventually put in an order for fried chicken and jokbal. Dongheon cheered and demanded that Hoyoung coughed up the whiskey bottle. Hoyoung wasn't nearly as reluctant as Dongheon expected when he handed the bottle over, and it was only when he saw Yongseung pouring Hoyoung a glass of champagne that he realized why Hoyoung was so compliant. At least Dongheon didn't have to worry about fighting over who got the last serving.
When Dongheon finished his glass, he placed it in the chair's cup holder and sipped straight from the bottle.
"He's marking his territory," said Yongseung, something like awe creeping into his voice.
Yeonho snorted. "He's being a child."
Dongheon licked the whiskey from his lips and fixed Yeonho with a stern stare. "This child is making the most of his last night of freedom."
Yeonho smiled, something forlorn and distant in his eyes. "I guess you are..."
Dongheon blinked and found himself, once again, captivated by Yeonho. It was strange. It wasn't like Yeonho to be this sentimental about anything, least of all Dongheon's enlistment. Even up until yesterday, he'd been completely fine and joked around like nothing had changed. Because nothing had changed, and nothing would change because Dongheon wouldn't allow it. He'd maintain the status quo even while on duty, damnit! Dongheon wasn't losing him—any of them.
Dongheon paused and glanced down at the whiskey. Maybe he was overdoing it.
Dongheon was startled from his thoughts when the doorbell rang. Minchan went to answer it and returned a moment later with a grin and food. The others cleared the coffee table to make room, and Hoyoung escaped to the kitchen to fetch plates and chopsticks. Minchan graciously served Dongheon first, and Dongheon rewarded him with a wink. Minchan cringed away, and Dongheon laughed merrily.
The food was hot, the whiskey was warm, and the company was achingly familiar. Truly, Dongheon was making the most of his last night.
Dongheon didn't realize he'd dozed off until someone nudged him awake. The living room lights smeared across his blurry vision, and it took another nudge to rouse his eyes open once more.
"Yongseung-ah and Kangminie are leaving," Hoyoung murmured. "Want to go with them?"
Dongheon stretched his arms above his head and considered the offer for a moment before shaking his head. He didn't want to impose on them. Plus, he doubted they wanted to keep him company when he was like this, all loose-lipped and jovial; he'd no doubt get them a noise complaint. That is if Kangmin wasn't already asleep.
Dongheon peered around Hoyoung and spotted Kangmin slung across Yongseung's back, total dead weight.
"It's funny," said Hoyoung, following Dongheon's gaze. "You two are so alike you may as well be twins."
"Kangmin's the older twin," said Dongheon, and Hoyoung snorted. Dongheon cast his gaze around and realized his whiskey had been taken from him. "Mind bringing that back to me?" Dongheon asked, nodding his head toward the abandoned bottle on the coffee table.
"Minchan might be right," Hoyoung muttered.
Dongheon met Hoyoung's eyes, and Hoyoung failed to mask his conflicted expression in time. He turned away and fetched the whiskey, handing it over after a moment's hesitation.
"Don't make yourself sick," Hoyoung warned. "It'll be a pain to clean up."
"I won't, Mom," said Dongheon as he uncapped the bottle.
Hoyoung huffed but left Dongheon on his own. He joined the others, who seemed to have lost interest in the drinks. They all bid Yongseung and Kangmin farewell and leaned against each other as they passed around stories they'd all heard and told a hundred times before.
Yeonho was at the center of it all, of course. He must've not indulged himself because he wasn't nearly as boisterous as the others: He laughed, but he didn't collapse into a fit of breathless giggles like Gyehyeon; he sang, but he didn't belt out the notes like Minchan; he spoke, but he didn't exaggerate his movements like Hoyoung. It was strange to see Yeonho be the mediator in their group. That was probably why he didn't refill his glass; the others were too far gone to keep themselves in check.
Apparently, Dongheon was included in that list.
"Heonie-hyung," said Yeonho.
Dongheon blinked and realized everyone had turned their attention toward him.
"Huh?" he said rather intelligently.
Yeonho smiled, laughter bubbling into his voice as he asked, "You have any dirt on Yongseungie? He's turning out to be squeaky clean."
Yongseung's floor cushion wasn't even cold yet, and they were already scavenging up whatever they could on him. Dongheon knew it wasn't for anything malicious; passing around embarrassing secrets of each other had long since been a tradition among them, and it was especially easy when they all had a few drinks in them.
Normally, Dongheon would attempt to defend his dear dongsaeng's honor if only because Yongseung truly did not have any secrets worth sharing, but...
Yeonho's eyes compelled him. They were deep, captivating, and, with the honey-toned living room lights illuminating them, they were positively enchanting. Dongheon couldn't deny them whatever truth they sought.
"He only opened up the flower boutique because Kangmin wanted it," Dongheon blurted.
The living room erupted. Suddenly, everyone had something to say. They clambered over each other to get the final word in, Dongheon making out a very sharp "I told you so!" amid the chaos.
Yeonho didn't pay it any attention. He merely grinned at Dongheon, and if Dongheon didn't know any better, he swore Yeonho's eyes were shining with pride. Maybe a little affection.
But Dongheon did know better, so he raised the whiskey bottle to his lips and drank.
The conversation continued for a while, but the buzz of Yongseung's exposure eventually fizzled out. Gyehyeon excused himself to take a walk outside, promising Yeonho that he wouldn't leave without him. Hoyoung started to clean up the living room while Minchan bid everyone goodnight, stumbling down the hallway into his bedroom. Hoyoung, after trying and failing to take the whiskey away from Dongheon, followed suit, his sleepy smile hiding something devious and knowing once more.
It took Dongheon a long moment to realize it was just him and Yeonho. When Dongheon's wandering gaze finally settled on Yeonho, he was startled to find Yeonho's eyes already on him.
"You're drinking a lot, hyung," Yeonho murmured, inclining toward Dongheon.
"I'm celebrating," said Dongheon. Heat prickled his skin, and he hastily tugged off his jacket. "It's my party, isn't it?"
"Of course it is. We wouldn't buy this much alcohol for anyone else."
"And it's not like you guys would've been able to finish this off without me chugging it."
Yeonho stared at Dongheon, his eyes flickering between him and the bottle, contemplating. He stood from the cushion he'd all but melted into since Yongseung's and Kangmin's departure and approached Dongheon. Dongheon watched him curiously, and as he stared up at Yeonho's deep, captivating eyes, he realized he was in danger.
"What?" Dongheon laughed. He wiped his palms along his jeans—God, when'd they get so sweaty?
"You shouldn't chug it, hyung," said Yeonho.
Yeonho reached for the bottle, and Dongheon relinquished it without resistance, his fingers flinching against Yeonho's for a brief second. Yeonho leaned back, and Dongheon hadn't realized how Yeonho had been towering over him—how he'd done it so seamlessly and easily.
Yeonho lifted the bottle to his lips, his eyelids heavy and low as he met Dongheon's eyes. "You savor it, Dongheon-hyung."
Yeonho sipped the whiskey slowly, his throat bobbing with each gulp, and Dongheon watched, transfixed.
Maybe it was Dongheon who would melt into the armchair. A fever ran through his body, and he couldn't imagine ever finding relief—not when an inferno burned within him.
Yeonho shone, bright and brilliant, and Dongheon was finally melting under his watchful gaze.
"Do—"
Dongheon's voice gave out, fleeting and weak against his fever. He was, mercifully, saved from his mortification because Yeonho lowered the bottle. However, Dongheon couldn't help but notice the sheen on his lips. It was horrifying, then, to realize how intoxicated he truly was.
"Don't drink it all," Dongheon said.
He meant to sound commanding—to have some leverage over Yeonho, but his voice lacked conviction. It was meek and unsteady, and it took him a moment to notice that he'd run out of breath. He was panting like a dog, yet Yeonho didn't move away.
In fact, Yeonho drew in closer—impossibly so. He stopped to place the bottle on the floor before climbing onto Dongheon's lap. The heat radiating from his body was unbearable, the armchair rocked tremendously with his weight, and the grin on his face was positively blinding.
And yet, Dongheon couldn't look away. His face was hot, and he could feel pinpricks of sweat building in his hairline, but he couldn't look away.
Yeonho wouldn't let him, anyway. He dipped down and pressed his lips to Dongheon's swiftly like he feared Dongheon would manage to escape. Not that he would want to. Being trapped beneath Yeonho's weight felt heavenly.
Yeonho's lips moved against his, and Dongheon tried not to be useless. He roamed his hands against Yeonho's waist and held him steady to keep the rocking to a minimum. Yeonho shivered and trembled above him, and Dongheon couldn't see how; heat rolled off the both of them, and he could feel himself getting drunk off it.
Wait, no, it was the taste of Yeonho's lips. The whiskey had stained them, and Yeonho had kept some within his mouth. It was dribbling out now, and Dongheon lapped it up reverently. Never before had whiskey tasted so sweet.
Yeonho pulled away first. He struggled to catch his breath, bowing forward and resting his head on Dongheon's shoulder. Dongheon held him close, combing his trembling hand through his hair and clenching the back of his shirt. The armchair rocked them gently, and Dongheon felt like he was floating, which wasn't ideal. He was supposed to be grounded and stable to help Yeonho recover, and then they'd properly discuss whatever this was, but...
The heat wasn't suffocating anymore. It embraced Dongheon and lulled him into a gentle, peaceful slumber, and he wondered if this was what it was like to sleep with the sun held within his arms.
Dongheon awoke to sunlight streaming through the living room windows. He lay sprawled across the couch, his neck and shoulder aching from his position—no doubt to keep him from choking on his vomit. A quick downward glance confirmed his theory; a bucket stood at attention, mercifully empty and clean.
Dongheon eased himself up. His body ached, all worn and tired like he'd already gone through boot camp. His neck and shoulder thrummed and throbbed, and he tried to massage them and stretch himself out, but his head spun with his every move.
Dongheon shuffled into the kitchen and reached into the cupboard to grab a glass. He ran the tap and filled the cup, draining it empty before putting it under the faucet again.
Dongheon placed the cup in the sink when the kitchen tiles stopped spinning and shut off the faucet. He retreated to the living room, rubbing and rolling his neck and shoulder all the while, and stopped short when he met Minchan's eyes.
"Hoyoung thought you died," said Minchan.
Dongheon stopped, properly stumped.
"You were completely unresponsive," Minchan continued, his grin bleeding into his voice. "Like you'd fallen into a coma. Like you never wanted to wake up."
"Would you want to in my situation?" Dongheon asked, hunkering down on the couch.
Minchan's grin turned wry. "It's not just the hangover, is it?"
His headache was the least of his concerns. Dongheon at least had another day to recover from that.
Dongheon made to run his hand through his hair—before he stopped short and frowned. God, he was going to miss that.
"Look on the bright side, hyung," said Minchan. "You'll finally be with people your age."
Dongheon barked out a laugh. "Three years is not that big a difference, Chanie."
"No, but seven is. Even five is pushing it."
Dongheon grimaced, and Minchan took the hint.
"Well, at least you still have the heart of a twenty-year-old," said Minchan.
Dongheon hummed noncommittally and asked, "Do we still have jokbal?"
"You ate everything that was left, hyung."
Dongheon sighed and slowly stood from the couch. "Well, I guess this is goodbye."
"You should stay for breakfast," Hoyoung said as he floated in from the hallway, startling Minchan. "Minchan's making gamjajeon," he continued, unperturbed.
"I am?" Minchan teased.
Hoyoung shooed him, and Minchan conceded with a chuckle. He retreated into the kitchen, and Hoyoung forced Dongheon to join him on the couch.
"Kangminie says you should drop by the boutique for a surprise," said Hoyoung.
"What could it possibly be?" Dongheon mused, grinning at Hoyoung's pout.
"Well, you shouldn't ruin the surprise for yourself. You should go see him, anyway. You know it's gonna break his heart saying goodbye to you tomorrow."
"I already told him I'd visit him first last night. He's at least got that to look forward to."
"Still, you know how he is."
"Yeah, I do."
Inexplicably, Dongheon wondered how Yeonho was going to handle it. He thought he knew how Yeonho would react, but then last night, everything changed within just a few short hours, and now Dongheon's completely lost. It's like he's starting from scratch as he mapped out a blank canvas for Yeonho within his head.
"Are you okay?" Hoyoung asked. "You're being pretty quiet. Is your hangover that bad? Do you need medicine?"
Dongheon hummed, and Hoyoung must've taken it as an affirmative because he was off to the bathroom to look for their hangover medicine.
Minchan called for breakfast while Hoyoung was gone, and Dongheon joined him at the quaint dining table without tripping over himself. Minchan placed bowls of rice around the table, and Dongheon shoveled a few bites into his mouth, eager to fill his stomach and mind with anything but the inevitable.
Hoyoung returned triumphantly with the hangover medicine in his hands. He passed it off to Dongheon, who chugged it down grimly. He ate the rest of his meal earnestly, eager to rid himself of the medicine's bitter flavor.
"Better?" Hoyoung asked as Minchan began to clear the table.
"Good enough to go see Kangmin's 'surprise'," said Dongheon.
"Without showering?"
"Do I look greasy?"
"You look like you're recovering from a hangover."
Dongheon sighed and stood from the table. "Good enough. I've got a busy day ahead. I can't waste it staying holed up in your guys' apartment."
"Of course," Hoyoung sighed good-naturedly. "I can't keep the man of the hour in my home forever."
"Don't keep Kangminie waiting, Heonie-hyung!" Minchan said from the kitchen.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Kangmin's surprise burst into Dongheon's face when he walked through the flower boutique's door.
"A bouquet," said Dongheon, not the least surprised but still pleased. Kangmin knew how to make him feel special.
Kangmin pulled the bouquet away from Dongheon's face and held it close to his chest, a sheepish smile on his face. "I know you can't take it with you, so I wanted to give you something you can keep at home! You can just put them in a vase and they'll be fine. Mostly."
"You don't have to lie to him, Kangmin-ah," said Yongseung from behind the register. "I suggested we gift it to you and take care of the flowers while you're gone, but Kangmin wouldn't have it."
"Then it wouldn't be his!" Kangmin whined.
Dongheon chuckled. "Kangminie, I don't want to clean up the withered and dead petals when I'm visiting."
Kangmin pouted before gasping. "Have someone else take care of it! Not us, though, because we're giving it to you, so you shouldn't give it back to us."
"Then who else is there? Everyone else is pretty busy, Minie."
Kangmin struggled for a moment before gasping again. "Yeonho-hyung!"
Dongheon blinked, parting his lips to say...something before closing them again.
"He'll take care of them!" Kangmin continued. "He always takes care of your stuff, hyung! He won't let them rot away!"
Dongheon glanced toward Yongseung and swallowed at the helpless, knowing grin that'd spread across his face. Dongheon met Kangmin's eager eyes before slowly taking the bouquet into his arms.
"Alright," said Dongheon, his voice grave and determined. "I'll give it to Yeonho-ah."
Kangmin cheered and just barely managed to not fling himself at Dongheon. It wouldn't do any good to damage the gift he and Yongseung had labored over.
Dongheon took a moment to inspect the bouquet, curious. "Isn't there a language for flowers? What's this all mean?"
Kangmin turned toward Yongseung expectantly, and Yongseung smiled. He stood from the stool and approached Dongheon, peering into the bouquet curiously as though he hadn't already spent hours laboring over its message and arrangement.
"These are bells of Ireland," Yongseung began, pointing to the vibrant green flowers that encircled the bouquet. "They mean 'luck' in the language of flowers; we wish you luck, Heonie-hyung. And these"—he pointed to the flowers with pink staining the edges of their petals—"are gladiolus. They represent strength of character, faithfulness, moral integrity, and remembrance."
"That's a lot more than the bells," said Dongheon.
Kangmin giggled, resting his chin on Yongseung's shoulder to watch his presentation.
"Well, they just happen to be grander than the bells," said Yongseung. He pointed toward the sole sunflower that crowned the bouquet's center. "Sunflowers symbolize good luck and ambition. And these zinnias"—he waved his hands over the entire bouquet that the vivid, bright flowers were peppered throughout—"represent friendship, daily remembrance, good memories, and...lasting affection."
Dongheon paused and glanced up to meet Yongseung's gaze. He didn't shy away, but he wore an awkward grin, and the tips of his ear blushed a faint red.
"Oh," said Dongheon.
He took a moment to look down at the bouquet with all the knowledge Yongseung had given him, and he wondered how long it would last. Yeonho would do his best to take care of the flowers (if he accepted the task), but would that be enough? Would this gift—this symbol of Yongseung and Kangmin's affection last long enough for him to return and see it again and again?
“Hyung?” Kangmin asked. “Are you...okay?”
Dongheon blinked and met Kangmin's nervous stare. He grinned, and Kangmin's reservation disappeared as he mirrored Dongheon's joy.
"Yeah," said Dongheon, gazing down at the bouquet again. "It's perfect."
Dongheon arrived at Gyehyeon and Yeonho's condo and found that he didn't feel nearly as nervous as he should. Dongheon figured when it came to things like this, he'd be sweaty and anxious and intolerable to be around because he wouldn't be able to relax until he got it done.
But, instead, he felt airy and light, like he'd already found peace. Maybe he had; the whiskey was still there, smokey and strong.
He knocked on their door, and Gyehyeon greeted him. He looked surprised and like he'd just gotten out of the shower; his hair hung wet and low across his face.
"Hyung?" he said. He glanced down at the bouquet and barely suppressed a laugh. "Okay, Yeonho-ah's gonna hate that."
"It's not for him," said Dongheon, barely stopping himself from snapping. "Could you let me in? I don't wanna stand out here all day."
Gyehyeon conceded and moved out of the way. Dongheon slipped inside, kicked off his shoes, and followed Gyehyeon into the living room.
"Yeonho's in the shower right now," said Gyehyeon as he fell into the couch, "so you're gonna have to wait and watch my drama with me."
Dongheon glanced toward the television and frowned at the paused moment of a romantic shot of the main couple standing together under an umbrella. "You're still watching that one?"
Gyehyeon hummed. "It's been pretty busy for me. When I'm not working, I'm sleeping. And when I'm not sleeping, I'm eating."
"Can't you change your shifts?" Dongheon asked as he collapsed onto the couch beside Gyehyeon.
"I'm about to get a promotion, so it doesn't really matter."
"You sound pretty confident."
"My manager told me herself. Everyone knows, but it just hasn't become official yet."
Dongheon hummed, rubbing one of the sunflower's petals. "Gyehyeon-ah?"
"Hyung?"
The drama was coming to a close, a montage of the series' memorable moments passing through as the main OST played over the characters' lines.
"Everything's changing."
Gyehyeon scoffed quietly. "Yeah. Life tends to do that."
Dongheon sighed and leaned his head against the couch's backrest. "But it doesn't feel overwhelming. It's like everything's right the way it is, and I'm kind of okay with it."
"Is that what you're not okay with?"
"No, not really. I just... I want to resolve something."
The bathroom door opened, and Dongheon could feel the steam pouring out.
“Hyung, I think we’re out of—oh, Heonie-hyung. Hi."
Gyehyeon silently stood from the couch, and Dongheon watched as he offered him a small smile before disappearing into his room. A hairdryer immediately went off, and Dongheon figured that was as much privacy as they were getting.
Dongheon looked toward Yeonho and saw him in a similar state as Gyehyeon, all wet and flushed from his shower, his skin glowing under the mid-morning sunlight. It was startling, just then, realizing how much Dongheon would miss that—to see him shining, bright and brilliant as always.
“Is that from Yongseung, or Kangmin?” Yeonho asked.
Dongheon glanced down at the bouquet and shrugged. "Both, technically. Though, Kangminie was the one who gave it to me."
"Didn't have time to drop it out at your place?"
"No, I wanted to give it to you."
Yeonho frowned, his eyebrows raising, and he slowly crept over to join Dongheon on the couch. "You're giving me a gift meant for you?"
"Not to keep," said Dongheon, turning so that they faced each other. Yeonho blinked, surprised—before his face eased out into that familiar, gentle smile. God, Dongheon was going to miss that, too.
"I don't want you to keep it," he reiterated. "I want you to take care of it while I'm away. Once I'm back, I'll take it to my place."
Yeonho hummed, staring at the bouquet—before he reached forward and ran his fingertip along the sunflower's petals. "Okay. I can do that much."
Dongheon breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Yeonho-ah. It means a lot."
"I know it does. You never ask me for favors like this unless it's life-or-death for you."
Dongheon laughed and inclined further toward Yeonho. "I hope you don't mind me relying on you. It's probably going to happen more often."
Yeonho's finger paused, and he met Dongheon's eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
Dongheon's lips twitched into a grin, and, God, he was already sweating. "You remember last night, right?"
"Of course." Yeonho averted his eyes, the hint of a blush overcoming the shell of his ear. "I was more sober than you, hyung."
"Yeah." Dongheon swallowed, and he could still taste the whiskey. "I want to try savoring this. If that's okay with you."
Yeonho still wouldn't meet his eyes, but his mouth was already forming a grin, his twin snaggleteeth on full display. "Promise me you won't always be this cheesy."
Dongheon pulled a flower free from the bouquet—a zinnia, he remembered—and placed it behind Yeonho's ear. Yeonho finally met his eyes, and Dongheon swiftly lurched forward to kiss him. He pulled away when the mint of Yeonho's toothpaste began to waft through the air, and even then, it wasn't enough. Although, he supposed it never would be. He'd always been greedy.
"Sorry, Yeonho-ah," said Dongheon as he brushed his fingers over the zinnia. "That's a promise I'm going to break. Again and again."
Yeonho laughed, loud and bright and brilliant. "Well, I guess I'll have to endure it. Again and again."
Dongheon knew it wasn't going to be perfect. After all, they had tomorrow to worry about. And the day after, and the day after.
But right now, right here, today, Dongheon would savor every last moment.