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"I think San got a new hobby," Wooyoung starts as he places some cakes on the display counter.
"Really? What is it?" Yeosang asks.
"Baking."
"Wait, what? I thought he can't cook?" Yeosang confusedly asked.
"I know! And he calls me everytime he finishes baking something."
"How is it?"
"Horrible." Wooyoung admits as his face contorts.
"Oh. I think I understand. He even had ramen taste horrible– like how do you make ramen taste bitter?" Yeosang reminisces as his face also contorts– the same as Wooyoung– in a look of disgust.
"Give the man a break, San isn't just meant to be in a kitchen." Wooyoung tries to argue.
"No shit, Woo." And Yeosang rolls his eyes, "So, then? You told him to stop right?"
Somehow, Wooyoung avoids Yeosang's eyes.
"You did right?" Yeosang asks again.
Wooyoung gulps.
"Okay, let me explain–" Wooyoung starts.
"Oh hell, no, Wooyoung." Yeosang cuts him off, "What did he feed you?"
"Well, the first one was the undercooked muffins that managed to disintegrate the moment I poked it with a fork–" Yeosang glares at him, "I– I didn't eat it, I swear! So then I told him to start with cookies if he wanted to try something easy since he's only starting to bake. Then fast forward to when he baked one– I legit thought he succeeded but the bottom– the underside part of the cookies are burnt. Burnt like ash, black as hell."
"Did you eat it?" Yeosang squints his eyes at Wooyoung.
"I needed to!" Wooyoung exasperatedly flings his hands in the air because Yeosang can't control his face expressions right now and actively judging Wooyoung like what he did is the most stupid thing in the world– maybe it is but it's San.
"Look, I didn't eat the undercooked muffins, and if you would just see what he looked like– his eyes–"
"Yeah, his sparkly, puppy eyes–" Yeosang butts in.
"-exactly! And I felt bad, okay? I said I will try his next attempt, which happened to be the cookies, so I just… scraped the burnt part. The cookie was tasteless so maybe I lucked out on that."
"God, Wooyoung. You are hopeless."
"Oh shut up, it's San, okay?" Wooyoung argues.
"Yeah, it's San and you're practically 99 percent in love with him. I know, I've heard that enough, really."
"You don't understand! Don't you know how beautiful, lovely human being San is? He's the most precious person I've met!" Wooyoung explains.
"Yes, I actually don't understand. But what if you quit your whining and ask him out already?"
"Because I don't deserve him!" Wooyoung even pouts as he looks down and plays with his fingers.
"Uh, since when? Wooyoung, you are stupid and all but you deserve everything and that's what you need to understand. I don't know if San is everything– you're the only one who will know. But if he rejects you then you cry and move on. I can punch him if he did–"
"Yeosang! "
"-maybe I won't punch him. But! You can't know anything if you won't do something! Nothing even started yet so stop speaking about a future you don't control."
Wooyoung stared at his best friend, "Sometimes you do make sense, Yeo."
"For your information, I always do. And you're just too stubborn to listen to me most times." Yeosang states.
"Whatever," Wooyoung dismisses, "But this isn't the main issue! San texted me last night and asked if we could hang out tomorrow and I'm so sure he's gonna make me eat another of his failed baking attempts. What should I do?!"
"Uh, maybe call an ambulance in advance so if the worst comes at least they'll come in time and you won't need to see the light."
"Yeosang! " Wooyoung whines again.
"Wooyoung!" Yeosang mocks, "I honestly don't know what you want me to answer? Saying 'no' exists in your vocabulary, doesn't it? Do you need me to teach you common sense?"
Wooyoung groans, "Seonghwa-hyung, did you hear that?" Wooyoung addresses the man who just emerged from the staff room.
"He's so mean!" Wooyoung adds.
"Yeah, I can't blame him," Seonghwa softly admits.
"What?!" Wooyoung exclaims and dramatically gasps.
Just then, a customer came in and walked straight to the counter where Wooyoung, Yeosang, and Seonghwa are near.
"I mean," Seonghwa quickly adds, "If San really wants to learn, why don't you teach him? Then maybe you can observe what he's doing? And at least know you won't end up in a hospital bed?" Seonghwa reasons as he heard everything they were talking about for the past minutes; they weren't exactly quiet, also thankful that the cafe has less customers in the morning on a weekday so their talking volume isn't much of a disturbance for the few present customers.
"Well, of course, I did volunteer. But he said he wanted to learn by himself. He seemed so determined, okay? So I just dropped it." Wooyoung explains.
"Yeah, certainly he won't ask help from you." A voice from the other side of the counter speaks.
"Oh, Jongho!" Wooyoung greets.
"Hey, you didn't tell me you are coming." Yeosang asks.
"Yeah, but just a quick coffee run before I meet my group mates and actually to briefly see you too." Jongho replies.
"Ugh , please save the flirting when I'm not near you both, will you?" Wooyoung says as he rolls his eyes, "But what do you mean? Why won't Sannie ask for my help?" Wooyoung questions Jongho's earlier statement.
"Hmm, can't tell." Jongho teasingly replies.
"Oh c'mon! So you know something? What is it?!" Wooyoung impatiently exclaims.
"But seriously, I really can't tell you." Jongho states without the playful tone.
"But why?" Wooyoung says in a small voice and pouts.
"Just know it is for you. You know San-hyung never does anything half-hearted, right?" Jongho reasons.
"I know."
"Then don't ask anymore questions. Just trust Sannie-hyung and don't die in the process." Jongho's playful tone was back.
Wooyoung chuckles a bit, "Oh shut up, I'm safe with Sannie. All of you are overreacting."
Yeosang's eyebrow shot up at that, "Excuse me? You were the one that came and almost cried to me!"
Wooyoung fully laughs, "Whatever!" he thoughtlessly mutters then he finished his work by placing the newly baked goodies at the display counter as Seonghwa went back to the staff room and Yeosang taking Jongho's order with a little bit of flirting.
“Hyung, I think Wooyoung-hyung is trying to sneak in a cinnamon muffin for himself again,” Jongho snitches when Wooyoung thought they were still busy flirting.
“Wooyoung, ” Yeosang warns.
“What?! I baked them!” Wooyoung retorts.
“For the cafe, not for yourself,” Yeosang reminds.
“Don’t mind him, Yeo, we both know he will still get away with it.” Seonghwa again pops from the staff room.
Wooyoung then sticks his tongue out to Yeosang’s direction and makes a face.
“He’s such a kid,” Yeosang turns back to Jongho, sighing, “And Seonghwa-hyung, you’re spoiling that child too much. Why did you even hire him here in your cafe? He could be a customer and buy those muffins instead.”
“Nah, it’s fine. The customers love his baking, anyway. He gets the customers to come back.” Seonghwa reasons.
“Right?! Thank you!” Wooyoung beams, “But compliment him too, Seonghwa-hyung, or he’ll be too bitter of me. No favoritism in this cafe,” he playfully adds.
“Of course, Yeosang surely gets the customers to go back too. He’s got his barista skills, and those looks? Customer-grabbing.” Seonghwa supplies.
“I didn’t need that,” Yeosang tries to brush it off but his reddened ears say otherwise.
It was the same night that Wooyoung just came out of the shower and he heard his phone ring.
San's caller ID flashed on the screen and he answered it immediately.
"Sannie, hello!" He answers giddily. It wasn't always that San calls first so if Wooyoung sounded too excited, no one can blame him.
"Young-ah, hey," San replied and it just turns out that Wooyoung will never be used to hearing San's bedroom voice. He sounds so good.
"Are you busy?" San asks from the other line.
"Not really. I just got out of shower." Wooyoung answers.
"Is it okay to video call?"
"Sure!" Wooyoung immediately answers.
Wooyoung then soon sees the request to video call notice on his screen and clicks the green accept button. He quickly sees San, supposed to be lying chest down as he can see his chin resting on a pillow. Then one look at the little screen that appeared at the upper right for himself, Wooyoung then remembered how he was still in a state of undress since he just got out of the shower. He quickly turns his camera off to which was immediately called out by San.
"Why'd you turn your camera off?" San says with a light chuckle and in a teasing voice– he definitely saw Wooyoung being topless on screen. I'm sure he noticed, Wooyoung thinks.
"So remember when I told you I just got out of shower? So yeah, wait a sec while I dress," Wooyoung says as he opens his closet to quickly grab a shirt and sweatpants.
"Oh, Wooyoung, you were talking to me naked? Scandalous! " San further teases.
"Shut up! Like you don't talk to me topless and I see your stupidly broad shoulders and those damn collarbones while you're on bed when we call!" Wooyoung rambles to which San laughs boisterously.
Wooyoung then realizes what he just tattled on, "Fuck, you did not hear that!" he tries to dismiss but depending on how he hears San's laugh increase in volume, he just knew that he heard everything.
"Stop laughing– ah!" Then a thump was heard.
"Young-ah? Still okay there?" San's laugh slowly subsided as he heard the crash.
"Yeah, yep, sure," Wooyoung answers after some seconds, "god , I tripped myself while wearing these stupid sweatpants."
Wooyoung walks to his phone and retrieves it from where he placed it on the nightstand and finally opens his camera again. He ruffles his hair as he sits on his bed with his back on the headboard. Once San noticed Wooyoung was already comfortable, he spoke.
"You're wearing a shirt, huh," San starts.
"Of course," Wooyoung bashfully rolls his eyes, "You're the only indecent one here whenever we talk on video call."
"Oops, didn't know you thought of me like that, Woo." Wooyoung reddens at that.
"Is it the collarbones? Didn't know I distracted you like that, huh." San still adds because it seems like he enjoys Wooyoung's dilemma a little too much.
"Oh fuck you, Choi San. You are a menace- did you call to just tease me?!"
"Not really? I mean– at first? Your reactions are too cute, Youngie. I can't help teasing you."
"Getting too brave, Choi San."
"Certainly need it."
And if there's something that Wooyoung noticed for the past few days, it is that San seems to be more flirty than usual. Or is Wooyoung thinking too much into it? But the amount of times that he felt flustered around San was too often than he should remember because it was supposed to be the other way around. Since when did San start to get this bold?
"So, tomorrow. What do we have for the day?" Wooyoung then tries to change the topic.
"Well, about that," San shifts as he mirrors Wooyoung's posture and he sits up and his back on the headboard, "I was thinking if you could teach me to bake cookies?" San says, hesitance laced in his voice.
"I thought you didn't want me to teach you?" Wooyoung questions.
"Well, baking is proving to be difficult and I haven't been really fruitful," San replies in a shy voice as he pouts a little.
Wooyoung nearly coos at the sight.
"No need to be shy, Sannie. Of course, I will teach you."
San's face brightens up because of his statement.
"Okay! That is nice! Oh, but! You won't be touching anything! You will let me handle everything while you command and I will just follow your every step!" San exclaims.
"Oh, that's fair. That's good for me."
"It's settled then," San replies with a wide smile that shows his dimples.
Wooyoung managed to slide down from his initial position while they were talking and is now laying sideways with his left cheek squished on the pillow from the way he lays.
"Sleepy already?" San asks in a low voice.
"Hmm," Wooyoung hums an answer as sleep is crawling its way in at the same time San pointed it out.
"Sing for me?" Wooyoung mindlessly requests as he feels his eyelids getting heavier the more that time passes.
San didn't need to answer as he proceeded to sing upon Wooyoung's request.
Wooyoung wasn't able to finish listening as he fell asleep through it but that night he dreamed of good things– especially because San was in it.
; ; ;
San opened the door for Wooyoung and they walked straight to the kitchen after Wooyoung changed his shoes to an indoor slippers provided by San.
"For someone who doesn't know how to cook, you have almost complete utensils here," Wooyoung mutters as he scans the measuring cups, bowls, mixer, spatula, whisks, pans, and some other stuff related to baking.
"You know my mother loves to cook,"
"Yeah, too bad you didn't somehow inherit it," and San pouts at the statement.
"Can we please just start?" San whines.
Wooyoung chuckles a little, "We really should so we could still watch some movie after this."
Wooyoung walks to where San is but is immediately stopped.
"You stay there, remember?" San reminds as he points to the stool in front of him where the counter should separate them. It looks like San was serious about doing every manpower by himself.
"Oh right, my bad." Wooyoung admits then walks back to the stool and he sits.
Wooyoung is seated when he sees San struggling to tie his apron at the back.
"Do you need help?" Wooyoung suggests.
"Yes, please." San can only sheepishly answer.
So Wooyoung stands up again and places himself a little behind San to tie the apron.
"All good." Wooyoung says as he walks back to his stool and he just hears San say a soft thank you.
Teaching San wasn’t as disastrous as Wooyoung expected it to be. San listened and followed every instruction Wooyoung had said. And when San was usually clumsy, Wooyoung noticed that he’s trying to calculate his every move so as to not cause any accidents today. Maybe San is seriously getting into baking? Wooyoung still doesn't know what prompted this but he’s starting to think that San and baking isn’t that bad of a combination. And not to mention San’s pout whenever he was focusing– it was a sight Wooyoung would like to treasure in his mind. Too cute!
San just placed the cookies in the oven so now they just had to wait until it bakes. San started cleaning up so Wooyoung opted to do the same. There wasn't much to clean since San didn't cause any huge mistakes and when everything was put away, San crouches in front of the oven, seemingly intent on observing the cookies' condition. When San wasn't making any move to move away, Wooyoung joined him at his side.
"Hey, mother chicken, your babies won't run from there; you don't need to stare that hard. Should we wait in the living room instead?"
San finally breaks his gaze from the oven and looks at Wooyoung. He looks back at the oven again, then to Wooyoung and he speaks.
"Okay. Um, we could watch a movie while waiting." San finally decides as he stands up and offers Wooyoung his hand. Wooyoung accepts it then San pulls him up.
And their hands stay held as San drags Wooyoung to the living room. It stays, even as the movie plays, only to get separated when they hear the oven ding . But San comes back with the tray of cookies which he places in front of them and San then again interlocks their fingers. Their connected hands in between them, Wooyoung's head rested on San's shoulder; they were comfortable like that. It seems normal for them to be in this position; but it's always little moments like this that Wooyoung would always treasure.
; ; ;
"So I take it the cookies were good?"
It is another day in the cafe where Yeosang is at the counter and Wooyoung is refilling the counter with cake slices when Yeosang remembered how Wooyoung came to teach San to bake some cookies.
"It wasn't bad." Wooyoung simply answers.
"You could just say it's either good or bad, just from two choices. You didn't need to be vague just so you won't hurt the love of your life's feelings, you know?"
Wooyoung rolls his eyes at Yeosang's statement. Love of my life– oh please.
"Cookies are very basic to bake, Yeo. I didn't really expect anything but since it's San, I could say it's fairly good, not that bad because at least this time, it did taste something, not unlike the first one where it is literally tasteless. So at San's level, it's not bad."
"Okay, sir. No need to give me a speech but whatever."
Oh, Yeosang is definitely catching these trays.
Wooyoung was about to hit his best friend with the baking tray but was stopped when the door opened and revealed San coming in with Yunho and Mingi.
“Guess what,” Yunho says the moment they reach the counter, “Choi San has a talent in baking.”
Yeosang only gapes, Wooyoung has his mouth hanging, and San is actually touched as he didn’t expect what his friend said.
“Yunho, babe, you really are too nice for this world.” Mingi says while looking at his boyfriend with hurt in his features.
“What? But you tasted his cookies a while ago right?” Yunho asks.
“I did.”
“It’s good!” Yunho declares and Wooyoung only claps his hand on his mouth as his eyes widen and Yeosang shakes his head in disbelief.
“I thought we had established that Choi San shouldn’t be anywhere near the kitchen and therefore not ever speak about his cooking skills again?” Yeosang says in a monotone voice.
“But it’s real! The cookies were okay! At San’s level, it’s good! It was edible, guys!” Yunho keeps on arguing.
“I don’t know if I should be flattered or insulted…” San says in an almost whisper.
“Take that back, Yunho! Wooyoung is going to cry!” Yeosang exaggerates as he pulls Wooyoung for a hug and Wooyoung fake cries while swiping his non-existent tears.
“Yunho, please don’t add anymore of Wooyoung’s sufferings. We were lucky we tried the later batches… but Wooyoung… he was a strong soldier from the very start.” Mingi dramatically states.
“Excuse me, but I am still alive. Stop talking like the damn cookies killed me.” Wooyoung says with a straight face.
“Oh, Wooyoung!” Mingi continues his monologue and clearly ignores Wooyoung as he fake cries.
“All of you are overreacting! If no one supports my buddy, Sannie, here, then who will?! Guys, we should support our friend!” Yunho exclaims while San looks at him with adoration in his eyes.
“Yunho…” San says as he reaches to hold both of Yunho’s hands.
“I got you, Sannie.”
“What the fuck is happening here?” Comes from a voice behind Yunho, Mingi, and San; All of them turned at the voice and it was Hongjoong.
“I think 99z is being dramatic again, hyung.” Jongho answered who was also beside him and had heard what had transpired with the five.
Seonghwa then emerges from the back room, “What is happening? Why is everyone here?” he asks.
“Hyung, Sannie–” But before Yunho can further add damage, Mingi covers his boyfriend’s mouth.
“Just stopping for some coffee.” Hongjoong answers Seonghwa’s earlier question.
“Me too,” Jongho adds.
Seonghwa then looks at Yunho, Mingi, and San, “What about you three?”
“We’re gonna study here for a bit!” San answers.
“Oh right, you three study the same program.”
Everything seemed to calm down when Seonghwa came and the people behind and in front of the counter finally did their business; Wooyoung arranging the display cakes, Yeosang taking the other’s orders. After a few more minutes, the five got their order but before San went to their table, he called for Wooyoung.
“Hey, Young-ah,”
“Yes, Sannie?”
“Free yourself on Tuesday, next week, okay?” San informs with a small smile on his face.
“Tuesday?” Wooyoung thinks; he doesn’t really have any plans for next week so, “Okay!” is what he immediately answers.
“Good,” San says and if his smile got bigger, where his pretty dimples are showing, Wooyoung doesn’t think much of it. It always brought a smile to his face too, anyway.
When San walked away, Wooyoung turned and saw Yeosang staring at him with one of his eyebrows raised.
“That easy?” Yeosang says questioningly.
“What?” Wooyoung confusedly asks.
Yeosang only rolls his eyes, “You tell me.” Then he goes back to managing the counter.
What is Yeosang’s problem this time?
; ; ;
It was two days later, when Seonghwa started to decorate the cafe with hearts and anything romantic that Wooyoung understood.
The cafe is closed and he and Seonghwa are the only ones left in the cafe.
“You’re still not going home, Hwa-hyung?” Wooyoung asks.
“Umm, no. I will just put up these decorations then I will go home after.”
“What decorations?”
Seonghwa looks at Wooyoung with question in his gaze but answers him nonetheless.
“It's already February, Wooyoung-ah. I should have put this up last week but I was so busy that I forgot. And it's Valentine's next week. So I'm decorating now. Mind helping me?" Seonghwa explains.
"Sure," Wooyoung only answers.
While helping Seonghwa decorate, Wooyoung seems to be forgetting something.
"Valentine's…" Wooyoung thoughtlessly mutters.
"What about Valentine's?" Seonghwa asks when he heard Wooyoung speaking to no one in particular.
"Valentine's day is next week?" Wooyoung faces Seonghwa this time while holding red and pink paper garlands.
"Yes. You have plans?" Seonghwa asks, suddenly curious.
"Next week…" Wooyoung only ponders.
Seonghwa only waits, stares at Wooyoung as he thinks deeply.
"Woo–"
"Ah!"
"Oh my god– why are you suddenly screaming?!" Seonghwa exclaimed when Wooyoung screamed in his face.
"Is Valentine's next Tuesday?!" Wooyoung frantically asks Seonghwa, dropping the garlands and putting his hands on his hyung's shoulders.
"Yes." Seonghwa answered, a little confused as Wooyoung is getting a little cryptic right now.
"What? Do you have a date? Who?" Seonghwa asks again.
Wooyoung's mind is running a mile a minute. Valentine's day is next week, Tuesday. And San asked him the other day to free his Tuesday next week. So does that mean that he was asked on a date? But San didn't clarify anything! Was Wooyoung supposed to assume it was a date? But what if San also didn't know it was Valentine's day? So it isn't a date after all?
"I have a date? Or not?" Came Wooyoung's confused answer to Seonghwa's question.
"What the hell?"
"Hyung, I'm sorry but I have to go!" Then Wooyoung quickly gets his bag and rushes out of the cafe.
"Kang Yeosang!" Wooyoung screams as soon as he enters their shared apartment.
Wooyoung runs to the living room and sees Yeosang seated on the floor while various books, papers, and notebooks are opened at the coffee table and some also on the floor.
"Why are you screaming at this hour, Woo?" Yeosang irritatedly says as he turns to Wooyoung's frantic looking self.
"You! Why didn't you tell me immediately?!" Wooyoung accuses.
"What? What did I do?" Yeosang confusedly asks.
"Tuesday! Next week!" Wooyoung only yells back.
Yeosang's eyebrow furrowed, confused about what Wooyoung was talking about. He was about to retaliate but then remembered what happened two days ago.
Yeosang snorts as he remembers.
"Huh? You're laughing? You're really laughing right now?!" Wooyoung says as he runs to Yeosang and decides to tickle him.
"Oh fuck– Woo, stop–" And Yeosang can only laugh in between.
"You were laughing, right? Now laugh!"
"Bitch, it wasn't my fault you immediately said yes." Yeosang said when Wooyoung decided to take mercy and they both calmed down.
"But you should have told me!" Wooyoung complains.
"And not see you panic like this? Heh, I'd say it was worth it."
"Are you really my best friend?"
"I am your best friend because I am like this."
"Ugh– you are useless! What should I do? Should I assume he asked me on a date or not? He didn't even tell me what we will do that day!"
"Now that I think about it, San was kind of smooth, wasn't he? Asking you like that when your guard is down? Real deal."
And Yeosang even has the time to praise San when his best friend is in a dilemma.
"Really? Can we please focus, Sangie? What should I even think of this?!" Wooyoung complains again because his best friend is not one bit helping.
"You know what, Woo, you are overthinking this. Why don't you just ask him?" Yeosang suggests the most obvious thing.
"Yeah, I should ask him tomorrow about it."
It was the most obvious thing. Like it was actually that easy.
; ; ;
It wasn't easy.
Because Wooyoung can't help but overthink this. His crush may or may have not asked him out on a date and if he did actually ask San about it and he replies the latter then it will actually break his heart.
Wooyoung likes San. He is a ball of sunshine; his dimpled smile alone can immediately lift up his spirits on a bad day. San just always knows how to make his feelings better and he only wishes that he does the same. San is always there for him, too selfless because this man grew up full of love so he's naturally kind and caring that you could never really hate him.
Wooyoung likes San because he takes care of Wooyoung the best. When most people shy away from him, saying the way he expresses his affections were burdensome, sometimes aggressive, and borderline annoying; San wasn't the same. He accepts Wooyoung as he is, and gives back the energy just the same.
Wooyoung likes San because he never judges Wooyoung; always eager to know the why's because Wooyoung wasn't always the best at expressing his feelings. San always understands, and still accepts Wooyoung as he is.
Wooyoung just likes San; because he is San.
He can't really explain more.
; ; ;
"You still haven't asked him?" Yeosang asks when they got home this Monday evening.
"No," Wooyoung defeatedly says.
Yeosang can only sigh, "It's tomorrow."
"I know," as Wooyoung also sighs.
Just then, Wooyoung's phone rings.
He sees the caller ID and it was San. San is calling.
"Yeo! Yeo! San is calling!!" Wooyoung panics as he shows Yeosang his phone.
"What are you doing?! Answer it!" Yeosang quickly says as he joins Wooyoung on the couch. He sticks to his best friend and listens as Wooyoung answers the call.
"Youngie, hi!! " San says from the other line.
"Hey, Sannie. What's up?" Wooyoung replies as he tries to push away Yeosang from eavesdropping on their call.
'Ask him now!' Yeosang mouths at him.
'I will! I will!' Wooyoung mouths back and Yeosang returns to eavesdropping.
"You didn't forget tomorrow, right? " San says.
"O–of course!"
At this point, Yeosang smacks him continuously in the arm and mouths again, 'Ask him! Quickly!'
But he only pushes his best friend away. Also how Wooyoung was talking with Yeosang without any noise and talking to San on the phone simultaneously actually amazes him. And although Yeosang is being nosy, he isn't wrong. Because now that he was given a chance to ask San about it a day before Valentine's, he suddenly gained the confidence to settle this once and for all.
"What are we doing tomorrow, Sannie? You really haven't told me about it." Wooyoung nervously asks.
And Wooyoung would have laughed because Yeosang is actually being annoying, sticking by Wooyoung and his phone as he listens in on their conversation but Wooyoung is too anxious to give it much thought.
"I baked another batch of cookies! You should try it, Youngie. " San enthusiastically answers.
Wooyoung's jaw drops and Yeosang's slaps his hand to his forehead.
"Young-ah? Still there? " San says when a few seconds pass and Wooyoung hasn't answered.
"Y–yeah. Just that?" Wooyoung clarifies.
"Yes, Youngie. Did you want to do another thing? We can do it after!" San suggests.
"Yeah. Sure, I will tell you tomorrow when I have thought about it. See you tomorrow, Sannie." Wooyoung says as San also greets his goodbyes and they end the call.
"So he'll feed you another batch of his failures?" Yeosang disbelievingly says.
"Yeah, seems like it." Wooyoung blankly answers.
"I didn't know why I got so invested. I wouldn't be this disappointed then." Yeosang says as he stands and heads for his room.
"You tell me," Wooyoung thoughtlessly replies.
"Goodluck tomorrow. Don't die." Yeosang says before he disappears into his room.
What a way to celebrate Valentine's day.
; ; ;
Wooyoung arrives at San's house and he's a little grumpy.
He just can't believe that he was overthinking for days and San only asked him out today because he has another batch of cookies for him to taste. And Wooyoung isn't exactly looking forward to it.
Maybe it was kind of his fault for not asking immediately but he's just too nervous to listen to any kind of reply.
San opens the door for him and lets him in. As they are walking to the kitchen, Wooyoung decided to be a little petty.
"Do you know what day it is today, Sannie?"
"Tuesday! The fourteenth? Oh ! It's Valentine's day today, right?"
The way San answered totally annoyed Wooyoung. So did he know? Was San actually aware when he asked Wooyoung to hang out today? Or did he also realize it late? God, why do I have to like this airhead?
"Did you really have to make me come here and taste whatever you baked? On Valentine's?"
"What? Like you have anything better to do." San says and Wooyoung actually got offended.
"Hey! What if I had a date?" Wooyoung just says anything at this point.
"You don't," San says in a confident voice.
"Yeah, I don't." Because he likes a certain man with the cutest dimples and as strong as a mountain just like his name, that he'd probably spent the day alone thinking about his one-sided love.
Honestly, if Wooyoung is already this down bad, he should just confess. He'll think about it seriously soon, but just not today, maybe. Despite being petty about it, Wooyoung is still happy to be spending the day with San. He could get selfish, just for today, maybe?
Because if he did confess soon, he won't guarantee that he would still have blissful days with San like this. If he did confess, everything would be awkward between them and Wooyoung's sure it won't be easy for him to move on.
So will it be worth it to confess, then?
"Is this ok?" San gives Wooyoung a plate of his chocolate chips and red velvet cookies.
Wooyoung tries some and surprised himself.
"San! This is good! Did you bake this?" Wooyoung can't actually believe that he's praising San like this.
"Of course!" San proudly answers.
"Did you bake lots? Can I have some of this?" Wooyoung asks as he finishes the chocolate chip and tries the red velvet one.
"No," San says firmly.
"What? You're mean! I've tasted everything you've done since the beginning! Do you know how dangerous that is to my stomach?!" Wooyoung complains.
"Hey, stop overreacting," And San giggles.
Wooyoung can only pout, "And you're ungrateful."
"Okay, okay. Stop pouting. I'll get some more and meet me in the garden?" San suggested.
"Yeah, whatever," Wooyoung huffs.
Wooyoung walks into the garden and he sees a table set up there. The sun is almost gone and the orange sunset glow it gives makes everything prettier and the ambiance sweeter.
Wooyoung didn't know if he should continue walking into the garden; for all he knew, this looks like a Valentine's day date set up– a round white glass table with food and two seats facing each other. Fairy lights hanging at the trees and even the garden area naturally having the pretty flowers makes everything romantic.
"Why are you just standing there?" San says from behind him.
Wooyoung turns to San with the plate of cookies in his hands.
"What is this? Do you have a date?" Wooyoung didn't know why he was so nervous, also why he didn't want to know the answer to his question the moment he asked it.
"No, I don't," San answers easily.
Wooyoung felt the relief that immediately came.
"Then why do you have this set up here?" Wooyoung asks then.
"I don't have a date... yet."
"Huh?" Wooyoung was baffled by San's answer.
"Young-ah, will you be my Valentine's date?" And San stretches his hands as he offers the cookies to him.
Is Wooyoung dreaming? Or is he hallucinating everything here because San actually baked a really bad cookie that he just lost it?
"Young-ah?" San calls for him when Wooyoung wasn't responding.
"Huh?" Wooyoung gets taken out of his thoughts, "It's the cookie, isn't it? What did you put in there? Am I just hearing things? Did I hear that right?" Wooyoung rambles.
San laughs lightly, "The cookies are fine, Young-ah."
"Really? Seriously though, what did you put in there?!"
"Um…" San acts like he's thinking what to answer, "Love?"
Now, Wooyoung is pretty sure his brain is short circuiting. Red lights blaring in his mind as all his thoughts came to a stop.
“What? Why?” Was all Wooyoung managed to say.
“‘Why’ you mean?” San asks in a confused voice, only stares at Wooyoung. And when he realized Wooyoung was being serious, he laughed lightly.
“And here I thought I was already being obvious.”
“What? About what?”
San only stares at him– fondly , if Wooyoung should describe it. There was warmth and adoration in San’s eyes, which he didn’t really want to point out but how can Wooyoung even miss this? He just wishes he isn’t really dreaming right now.
“Follow me,” San says, then walks to the garden and to the table set up. He places the tray of cookies on the table then he faces Wooyoung, reaching for both his hands and keeping his hold.
San stares again with that look, and Wooyoung badly wants to look away but something tells him that he will regret it. So he does, and stares only at San’s deep brown eyes and there he sees–
San looks like what? – San looks at Wooyoung with–
“I like you, Young-ah.”
San says it before Wooyoung even realized what it was.
That’s it. Wooyoung is truly gonna lose his mind.
“What did you say, San-ah?”
“I like you.”
“Repeat it again please.” Wooyoung says in a frantic manner, “You know how everyone needs to be straightforward to me, right? ‘Cause sometimes you need to say it outright for me to fully understand.” He rambles.
“Wooyoung-ah– my Youngie, I like you.”
Wooyoung didn’t even notice he was close to tears until it actually fell.
San holds his hands tighter as they stare deeply at each other.
“I like you,” San repeats, slowly and carefully to make Wooyoung believe that this is real.
“I like you, for quite a long time now. I thought I was being obvious ‘cause it seems that everyone caught on already– except you, apparently.” Then San chuckles.
“Young-ah, you don’t know how much I love seeing your smile, hearing your laugh, and just overall how much your presence alone can bring immense comfort for me. People have told me that I always bring my heart out on my sleeves, and that I am easy to hurt. But you have never judged or regarded me as weak for being this way. Instead, you have protected what I have and told me just to be me.”
“I like the Jung Wooyoung, who is strong and confident. But I also like the Wooyoung, who is not afraid of showing his feelings. You said you don’t know how to express your feelings well, that you get misunderstood a lot because of the raw emotions you always let out. But to tell you the truth, your raw emotions just show how much of a pure and genuine person you are, Young-ah. And I hope you know how much of a beautiful person that makes you. Inside and out.”
“Sannie…” Wooyoung doesn’t even know why he’s sobbing but San hugs him and lets him be as his heart just feels so full right now.
Wooyoung had calmed down for a while now, and San must have noticed it but he is still hugging Wooyoung so that made him not want to move because he’s very much comfortable right now.
But there are things he still wanted to hear from San so he only lifts his head from where he was nuzzling San’s neck and looks at him.
“Hey, Sannie.”
“Hmm?” San only hums as an answer.
“Say it again.”
“What?”
“That you like me.” Wooyoung says with a shy smile on his face.
“Haven’t you heard it so many times now?” San teases.
Wooyoung only pouts and whines, “but I wanna hear it again.”
“I like you. Young-ah, I like you very much.”
“Good. Because I like you too.”
That must have surprised San as his eyes widened but he recovered as quickly as he smiled his dimpled smile as his eyes turned to crescent and Wooyoung would like to melt.
The fears were gone and Wooyoung can proudly express how much he likes San, and oh, what a truly beautiful feeling this is. Wooyoung’s chest definitely feels lighter now that he had said it to the one person he’d always wanted to hear it.
There are stupid smiles on their faces until San slowly leans towards Wooyoung, eyes flicking from his eyes to his lips. Wooyoung received the silent permission so he closes his eyes then feels the soft touch of San’s lips to his own moments later.
It is only brief; but then Wooyoung is winding his arms along San’s neck as San’s hands hold his waist and no one really knows who leans in first, but they were kissing; and kept on kissing because somehow this is their only way to show how much they wanted each other at the moment.
When they part, they only stare at each other again. And that even without words exchanged, they can tell how much the both of them have waited and wanted, only for this day to finally happen just by looking at each other’s eyes.
“I like you, Sannie.” Wooyoung repeats just because he can.
“I like you too, Young-ah.” San replies because it is only right.
Then San kisses Wooyoung’s forehead and Wooyoung closes his eyes through it with a smile on his face.
Their Valentine’s date was successful, they ate the food that San prepared at the garden while talking about random things, bickering here and there because that’s just how they are.
“Wait,” Wooyoung suddenly says as he remembered something, “Did you actually make me taste all of those failed cookies just so you could ask me out in the end?”
San then looked shy as he scratched the back of his head, “Yes…”
“Oh you sly bastard,” Wooyoung says lightheartedly as he chuckles.
“Did you really like the cookies?” San asks with a slightly serious look on his face.
“Yes, Sannie. Also these are my favorite cookie flavors so I can’t be lying right now.” Wooyoung answers and San smiles so big, relieved with Wooyoung’s reaction.
“Yeah, I know. That's why I baked chocolate chips and red velvet cookies just for today.” San answers and Wooyoung just feels how his heart swells again because of the small detail.
“But actually, I wasn’t supposed to give you cookies. I wanted to bake cinnamon muffins for you because that’s your favorite, right? But I just can’t and it’s hard.” San tells with a frown.
Wooyoung is taken back to the first time San had asked him to taste what he baked, a muffin. So that was why.
“But you baked good cookies at the end, Sannie. And that is enough. The fact that I know how much effort you have put in this is so sooo much appreciated. So thank you, really.”
That brought back the smile to San’s face so Wooyoung is quick to mirror it.
“So, since I did good, should I try making muffins now?”
“Maybe when February finally gains a 30th date, Sannie.”
“But that’s not happening.”
“Exactly.”