Archive of Our Own ^beta

1 - Instant crush.

“Fuck he’s so hot” Hyuck muttered, his attention commanded by a man impeccably dressed at the other end of the room.

“Who?” Mark’s voice came from behind, carrying an empty tray.

“That guy, the one by the window” Hyuck gestured with his head.

“Mr. Moon? Dude, he’s the one that hired us, stop whatever you’re doing and get to work, or you’re gonna get us fired”

“Really? Why are we here again?”

“I don’t know, business deal of some sort. The guy’s loaded and apparently these parties are common for him. Rich people are not like us, they don’t just shake hands over lunch”

“Is he dating anyone? Is he single?”

Mark slapped his friend’s arm, forcefully.

“Snap out of it! I don’t know anything about him. If you want intel, go ask Doyoung, he’s our boss”

“Like he would ever give me anything” Hyuck sneered.

“Then try Taeyong but leave me out of it. Now can you please, please do your job?”

2 - Start the chase.

Working for a catering company wasn’t Hyuck’s idea of fun, but it paid well, and the customer base was mostly upper-class individuals, which meant the compensation was usually above average and the tips substantial, especially when people drunk a little too much. Hyuck was enchanting and knew that if he kept his tray full and approached the right target, he’d get more than just his salary. He wasn’t selling himself in any way, he was just being polite and charming. Part of the job description.  

After a few failed attempts to get more information on the mysterious Mr. Moon, Hyuck gave up for a while. Still, the gigs were stable and Doyoung and Taeyong often considered him for the best venues. The ones that not only demanded to look good in a uniform, but being able to strike up a decent conversation, and since Hyuck’s major was hospitality, he was perfect for the position. Added perks were working alongside his friends, including Mark, his bestie.

He hadn’t forgotten about the handsome client, when Taeyong called him.

“Hyuckie! How are you doing? How’s school?”

“It’s killing me Yong, but at least it’s my last year. Once I graduate, I’ll aim for one of the big hotels in the city, I think my experience working with you can help me make my way up the ladder and get a good position in a couple of years”

“If you continue working like you have, Doyoung will write you a recommendation if you want. We always get good comments from the clients about your performance” the older praised. Hyuck smiled to himself.

“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

“We booked another job with Mr. Moon, it’s going to be a brunch/cocktail hour, so I need my best people, are you free this Saturday?” Taeyong queried.

“Hmmm…I was planning on taking the weekend off…exams are coming, and I have to be prepared”

“It’s double the pay due to short notice, and from what I’ve heard, there’s going to be a lot of important people there. Maybe it can be an opportunity to network, without neglecting the job of course”

“Ok, I’m sold”

“I’ll sign you up. Mark’s also coming, and I think I’m going to call Yangyang too, he did good at the last one”

“Perfect. Send me the details, and I’ll be there”

3 - The first taste.

“I’m going in” Hyuck declared, arranging his tray and loading it with the exact drinks Mr. Moon and his group were having. The ones he’d prepared during his break.

“He’s rich, cultured and handsome, why on earth would he go for you when he has tons of people trying to get his attention daily?”

“Because I have something the others don’t” he grinned, mischievously.

“Your dick is not that big man” Mark mocked.

“So crass….and that’s why you don’t get it” the other replied.

“Fine, I’ll bite. What do you have?”

“I have mystery. And I can be whatever he wants me to be”

“And what would that be?” Mark mussed.

“Probably another pretty young thing to parade around…have you seen the guy that is always with him?”

“I think that’s his bodyguard” Mark stated, glancing at the tall, blond, muscular guy in a suit standing next to the man.

“I’m sure he’s a lot more than that, the dude’s stupidly hot, bodyguards do not look like that. And the other one? He clings to him every time they think no one’s watching. Stunning. I might have to share but I can deal if I get something in return” Hyuck pointed out.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea Hyuck…” his friend warned.

“Why not?”

“Cause you like him. You haven’t stopped talking about him since the first time you saw him. And I know you, you don’t go for just anybody, you can fool anyone but me”

“So what?” Hyuck dismissed his friend’s remark, deep down acknowledging the truth behind it. “He’s probably a trust fund baby looking for fun, I can work with that. I’m gonna get myself a sugar daddy”

“How about you stop thinking with your wallet, and start thinking with a little heart…he’s not a thing Hyuck, he has feelings”

“Maybe, maybe not…and I bet he gets this offer all the time, maybe he already has one or two toy boys, I just want my cut in all of that”

“You’re not thinking straight…it’s going to backfire, and you’re gonna get hurt”

“I won’t. I have a plan” the younger stated, fixing his clothes before picking his tray back up. “I’m going in, wish me luck”

“Nope…I’ll be the one picking up the pieces later” Mark lamented, watching his friend walk towards Mr. Moon’s entourage.

4 - Make an impression.

“Good afternoon gentlemen, may I offer you another beverage?”

“Hey, is that a negroni? I thought we weren’t getting particular cocktails today, I had to bribe the bartender to make me this. Mimosas are boring” one of the men joked.

“It’s easier when it’s just a standard menu. Less work, less mess, but I see someone’s been paying attention” Mr. Moon replied, smiling.

“It wasn’t my intention to interrupt, but I took the liberty to make each one of you a fresh drink. Negroni, Dry Martini, and Vodka soda with mint, if I’m not mistaken?”

“Woah he got them all right” a second man joined the conversation.

“Where’s his drink? You forgot about him, and he’s supposed to be the most important person today, it’s his event, in case you’re not aware” the third one interjected.

“Mr. Moon’s drink is not simple or common…same as himself” Hyuck countered confidently, making everyone chuckle. “May I?” he said, taking the almost empty glass from the other’s hand, and bringing it up to his nose.

“Ok…I can detect coffee, vanilla, and…oh, fascinating” Hyuck took a small sip and whirred, pleased. “I’ll be right back with your order” Hyuck fetched the empty glasses and walked away.

“That kid was flirting with you Illie”

“Kid? Why do you always make it sound like I’m a decrepit old man? I’m just 3 years older than you and may I remind you, your husband is almost my age?”

“Johnny just turned 28, and you turn 29 soon…when are you planning to have a mid-life crisis? 30’s or 40’s? I want to be ready” Jaehyun mocked.

“Babe, be nice, we’re after all eating and drinking for free”

“Free my ass, we’re closing a deal. The food is a bonus” the other joked.

“I’m so glad it’s you guys and not those stuck-up fossils he makes business constantly” the last one pitched in.

“Jaem, come on, you have fun from time to time as well” Taeil patted his arm.

“Yeah…a little” the youngest of the group directed a smile in the direction of the man standing a few meters behind Taeil, and winked, making him blush.

“Jaem, leave him alone, he’s working”

“But it’s so fun to tease him!” Jaemin wailed but composed himself. It was, after all, a business brunch.

“You’re forgetting about the kid flirting with him” Johnny whispered.

“Oh right…what about him? It happens every time Illie has an event. It’s either the caterers, the hotel staff, or someone from the other company, what’s new? Nothing” Jaemin replied.

The whole group stopped talking when Hyuck came back with Taeil’s beverage.

“Please taste it. Let me know if you like it”

Taeil smirked, before taking a sip, considering there was no way in hell the other would be able to match his drink. His eyes went wide when the flavors on his tongue tasted exactly the same.

“How did you make this?”

“You’re referring to the sanbitter right? I knew it had something particular, there was no alcohol in it, so it wasn’t Campari, and it’s hard to get. Then I realized, if you were drinking it, there must be a bottle somewhere, so I asked the bartender. He was saving it and when I told him who the drink was for, he gave it to me”

Taeil was still impressed when Hyuck continued.

“You don’t drink?”

“Not while I’m working. Even when it’s entertaining, I have to stay alert, hence, the coffee”

“Ask the waiter how he learned to mix drinks” a voice intervened.

“Jaemin, be polite” Taeil admonished. “I am curious though, your catering company does not offer beverage service, that’s why we’re using the hotel’s barman”

“Anyone can prepare a drink, but a mixologist is the hardest position to fill in a hotel. It’s the one person that can make it or break it for your business. And in my opinion, it’s the most useful skill to know besides my career”

“Are you a student?” Taeil’s interest was piqued.

“Hospitality, senior year”

“Remarkable…”

“Maybe you could point me in the right direction for an internship?” Hyuck queried, soft smile on his lips. He wasn’t implying he wanted to work for Mr. Moon’s chain, but he could definitely convince him later, if his plan worked.

“I can do that. Call my office on Monday, I’ll make sure to set you up with my Head of HR”

“I was thinking more along the lines of you giving me your number, and me texting to go for dinner…or drinks, whatever you want”

Taeil’s eyes widened slightly, and Jaemin – who was openly eavesdropping on the conversation – nodded enthusiastically.

“You’re daring, aren’t you?” Taeil was amused.

“I can be, when I know what I want”

“Do you even know my name? Or are you going to continue calling me Mr. Moon?”

Oh fuck. Hyuck’s cheeks went red at the question. Taeil laughed.

“I’m Taeil. And you are Donghyuck, right?”

“Hyuck’s better. No one calls me Donghyuck, except Doyoung when he’s mad”

“Doie can be strict, but you’ll learn a lot from him”

“Do you guys know each other?” Hyuck’s eyes opened in surprise.

“A little…here’s my card. My private number’s on the back. I’m trusting you with that Hyuck, don’t make me regret it. Now, if you’d excuse me, I have to go. As I mentioned, this is work for me”

“I understand, sorry for taking too much of your time…thank you, Taeil. I’ll text you later, ok?”

“It was a pleasure”

5 - Get to know him.

Hyuck waited two days before texting Taeil. He didn’t want to seem desperate, but also, he didn’t want the other to believe he wasn’t interested. It took Taeil a whole day to reply with a few scattered phrases. Hyuck preferred to think it was due to his busy schedule and continued trying.

Five days went by until Hyuck managed to convince Taeil to meet him. The older agreed and offered to pick him up at his apartment. The second he opened the door, he gasped.

“Hi…are you wearing that?” both men uttered at unison. Hyuck was used to seeing Taeil in fitted suits, gelled hair, flawless. Now, he was in jeans, a hoodie, sneakers, and his bangs fell softy on his forehead.

“I’m overdressed” Hyuck pointed at his attire. It was their first date – or something akin to it, they agreed to eat together, no labels – and the younger wanted to impress Taeil with his appearance.

“You’re fine!” Taeil soothed him. “If anything, you’ll be the best dressed there. Let’s go”

They exited the building, and Hyuck looked around, as if waiting for something.

“What are you doing?“ Taeil spoke.

“Where’s your driver?” the other queried.

“I don’t have one. Jeno drives me when I need to, but if not, I take an uber or a cab. Or walk” Taeil replied calmly.

“But you have a car, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I have a Spark, but we don’t need it, the place we’re going is near”

You gotta be kidding me, Hyuck reflected to himself. That was one of the most reasonably priced cars in the country. What about a BMW or a Porsche? And who the hell was Jeno?

“Odd choice” was the only thing he could muster.

“Just because I have money, doesn’t mean I have to flaunt it. Besides, I like my car, it gets me where I need to be. Let’s go, I’m hungry” he finished, leading the other.

Hyuck was familiar with his neighborhood and there weren’t any fancy restaurants in sight. The flashiest venue was a pizza place, and that was confusing. He was expecting a 5-course meal, with more forks than he could ever be taught to use, but it seemed that wasn’t Taeil’s plan at all. As they walked, Hyuck noticed they were getting close to the food truck park.

What on earth was going on?

“This place has the best burgers I’ve ever tasted” Taeil grinned, but suddenly paused. “You like burgers right? I never asked”

“I love burgers” Hyuck supplied. Even when he was slightly disappointed, he did enjoy the cheap treats of the food trucks. Taeil walked confidently to a particular one and greeted the people inside.

“Taeil, long time no see! The usual?” the cook asked.

“I’m here now, Mr. Bong” the man smiled softly. “For me, yes. What do you want? Pick whatever”

“I’ll have what you’re having” Hyuck countered, coquettishly. Taeil nodded to place the order.

“Two burgers with everything, large fries, chicken nuggets and cokes!!” the man yelled. Taeil paid for the meal, and guided Hyuck towards the tables.

“I hardly have time nowadays to do this, or to come here” Taeil sighed, relaxed. “Thank you for joining me”

Once their food was delivered, Taeil dug in with gusto, savoring everything on his tray. Hyuck was impressed. Taeil was full of surprises, and even when he knew he was rich and powerful, watching him eat with so much happiness made his heart do a funny flip. Their conversation was light and Taeil took his time asking the other about college and himself. Hyuck gave up the information freely, however, he noticed Taeil wasn’t keen on sharing about his work or upbringing. It wasn't unusual, considering it was their first time alone. He let it slide.

When the meal was over, Taeil walked him back to his apartment, and called a cab to come pick him up. He shook the younger’s hand politely and left.

Hyuck didn’t know what to think.

As they continued to spend more time together, Hyuck learned that Taeil was a very simple man. All the places they went were extremely affordable, and not once did the older seemed to be out of place. It was like he belonged everywhere. Hyuck was cautious with his questions, and despite Taeil’s ability to carry on a conversation, he felt as if knowing him would take a lot of time.

Surprisingly, Hyuck wasn’t bothered. And that worried him.

6 - Wrong move, wrong reasons. 

Two weeks after they started hanging out, Taeil texted Hyuck and invited him to one of the most popular restaurants in the city. The type of place that required to be someone important just to get a foot on the door or make a reservation months in advance. Hyuck was ecstatic. He chose his best outfit and Taeil picked him up in an Uber black.

“Where’s your car?” he joked, the second he entered the vehicle.

“Jeno’s using it. What, you don’t like this one?”

“It’s fine” Hyuck replied, nonchalantly. Taeil cackled.

“Why are we going there? Tired of fast food?” Hyuck was dying to know why the sudden change of scenery.

“I don’t know, I just felt like it. My friends say it’s a nice place, why not try it out?”

Hyuck nodded, and the rest of the trip was silent. When they arrived, Taeil helped Hyuck get out of the car and guided him inside the restaurant. The hostess greeted them politely, swiftly directing the pair to a private sector of the room, handing them the menu. The dishes sounded complicated and there wasn’t any price tag on any of them. Proper, Hyuck contemplated. Rich people didn’t need to worry about cost, they could pay for whatever.

The privacy of their room and the intimate environment allowed Hyuck to unwind and consider his next move. Taeil was always a gentleman and never hinted about wanting a relationship of any kind with him. Hyuck hadn’t crossed any boundaries, but he knew it was the perfect instance to go for at least a kiss. That would keep Taeil interested, he debated. Nonetheless, he doubted it. Taeil was not what he was expecting, and he feared his feelings for him were growing beyond his carefully crafted plan.

The food was excellent, and the service impeccable. They shared a bottle of wine, and when the main course was finished, Hyuck decided to take action.

“How about we spend a little more of daddy’s money and get dessert, uh? You don’t mind, right? And maybe we can do something else too” Hyuck leaned in and whispered seductively in Taeil’s ear, accommodating himself for a kiss. Nonetheless, the words tasted sour in his mouth, and he could not explain to himself why he’d said them. He could not even recall why he approached Taeil thinking it was a good idea only because he had money. Over the course of their acquaintance, Hyuck had discovered a few basics on the other that were more than enough to make him forget his wealthiness. Taeil was funny, playful, and always on board with trying new things. He treated everyone with kindness and respect, regardless of their positions. He was an amazing human being, through and through. Why did his stupid brain farted that loudly, ruining everything?

Taeil put his fingers delicately under Hyuck’s chin, lifting it to stare deeply into the other’s eyes, bringing him closer. Hyuck closed his eyes, expectantly.

“Hmmm” the older exhaled, centimeters away from their lips touching. “I hoped you were different, but you’re just like the others… my mistake” he leaned in, kissed his cheek, and stood up.

“What do you mean?” Hyuck opened his eyes and panicked, reality dawning on him. “What did I do wrong? What do you want me to do, I’ll do whatever you want”

“I wanted this to be real, and you to be who I thought you were” he replied, a perfect smile gracing his face. “I find you really attractive Donghyuck, but I don’t exchange sex or love for money. And by the way, it’s not daddy’s money, it’s mine” Taeil sighed. “I grew up in a very poor family, and I never met my father. My mom raised me by herself until she met my stepdad, and all I have today is the result of their values and hard work. No one has ever given me anything for free, I’ve gained it. I can do whatever the hell I want with my wealth, and when or if I decide to spend it on my partner, it’s going to be because I want to, not due to a business transaction. I can introduce you to some associates though, they have their daddy’s money and are into playing games. You’re pretty enough for their taste, if that’s what you’re searching for”

Hyuck knew what Taeil was telling him was true – for the most part – but it stung. It was offensive, borderline disgusting. However, he was right. Hyuck approached him and struck up a conversation, got his number and exchanged messages, calls and dates just in hopes of getting something in return. In his mind, it was a simple deal. Then, why did it hurt so much? Was Mark right all along? Was he deluding himself into thinking he didn’t want anything more from Taeil?

Fuck

Taeil dropped a few bills on the table to settle the tab and walked away. Hyuck remained frozen in place, processing his revelation.

7 - Erase and rewind.

Hyuck woke up the next morning knowing he’d made a horrible mistake. Over the following days, he attempted everything at hand to apologize to Taeil and get a chance to speak with him. He texted nonstop, called, he even tried videocalls that kept getting nowhere. Taeil didn’t even block his number, which only bothered him further. He seemed nonchalant, unaffected by his actions.

Hyuck decided that in this case, it was go big or go home, and chose to drop by his office. He walked into the building like he belonged there, dressed immaculately, no one even blinking when he pushed the elevator button that would lead him to the top floor. No one was going to stop him from seeing Taeil again.

Except for his bodyguard. Hyuck faced his stone expression the second he tried to enter his office. The man didn’t even touch him, his stern glance menacing enough to make him hesitate. Nevertheless, Taeil’s door was open, and Hyuck called his name repeatedly, until the older lifted his gaze, unfazed.

“Taeil, can we talk?”

The other didn’t even flinch. A strong hand landed on his chest, pushing him backwards.

“Sir, I’m going to need you to exit the building. You’re not welcomed here”

Hyuck didn’t recoil and continued.

“Taeil! Taeil! Illie please, just hear me out!”

The older stopped at the nickname, standing up.

“Don’t call me that, it won’t get you anywhere” Taeil replied loud enough to be heard despite the distance, his bodyguard pushing harder, ready to get rid of the intruder.

“Five minutes, that’s all I ask…then your gorilla can throw me out” Hyuck pointed at the man standing in front of him, making him scoff.

“Jeno hardly looks like a gorilla, but I would not tempt fate with him”

“Mr. Moon, I think it’s enough. Let me escort him outside. And I’ll have some words with the staff, he should’ve never made it here, this is unacceptable”

“Don’t worry Jeno…I’m sure he charmed his way up here, he can be extremely persuasive” Taeil sat back. “Five minutes, not a second more. Jeno, please wait outside, and come back when his time’s over”

“But Mr. Moon…at least let me search him”

“Jeno…”

“It’s ok, I don’t mind” Hyuck extended his arms and allowed the other to touch him thoroughly. When he deemed he wasn’t a threat, he left the room. Taeil pointed at the chair in front of his desk. Hyuck sat down, unable to speak. Taeil waited a few seconds.

“Well…what do you want to say? Your time is limited”

“He’s scary as fuck…where did you find him?” Hyuck tried to break the ice. Taeil wasn’t impressed.

“It’s only a temporary job for him, he’s destined for greatness. Still, we’ve known each other for years and I protected him when he was little…guess now the tables have turned. Is that all you wanted to share?”

“I’m sorry…” Hyuck’s voice was low and nervous. “I have no excuse for my behavior, or for what I said last time, I wasn’t thinking. I swear I’m not like that, I’m not a gold-digger, and I don’t care about your money. I was stupid and reckless and I…”

“You hurt me, Donghyuck” Taeil stated, cutting his speech. “I let you get close to me, and you did it with ill intentions. Was that all what I was for you? A meal ticket?”

“You’re not! Listen to me…I’m not a bad person Taeil” Hyuck countered, embarrassed. “I got carried away, I believed that was what you wanted…a plaything, someone to look good on your arm, and I thought, well, maybe I can be that and get something out of it. But the moment we started talking and sharing our lives, things changed. My feelings grew. I cared about you and I wanted to win you over, avoid to be tossed aside like a toy. Guess the joke’s on me because I’m pretty sure you won’t give me an opportunity to demonstrate otherwise”

Taeil seemed to mull over the words.

“Are you just saying that to appease me, or are you actually interested? If I had nothing, would you still pursue me?”

“Yes. I like you for you, not for your money, I don’t give a shit about that. Please, allow me to make it right”

“I don’t know Donghyuck…I’m going to need time to think about it…”

“Take all the time you need…but I won’t go down without a fight. I’ll prove it to you” Hyuck saw a glimpse of hope in the other’s eyes and decided to put all the cards on the table. Taeil’s flawless stance cracked almost imperceptibly.

“Mr. Moon, it’s time for your guest to retire” Jeno entered the office and stood beside Hyuck, ready to forcibly remove him from the premises if necessary.

“I’ll leave, for now. But I will text and call until you pick up, so don’t block me ok?”

“We’ll see” Taeil finished. Hyuck nodded politely and exited the room.

The minute he was out of sight, Jeno spoke.

“You’re not really considering trusting him again, right? Illie, don’t, he tried to take advantage of you, I’m not gonna accept it” he spat.

“Jen…he’s not a bad person…”

“You’re being naïve! Who says he’s not gonna do it all over again, with worse repercussions? I knew he was up to no good when he flirted with you at that brunch weeks ago”

“Faith will decide”

“That’s it. I’m calling your brother” Jeno fished for his phone, but Taeil quickly got up from his desk, taking the device from his hand.

“Hey! Give it back! If I can’t make you come to your senses, he will!”

“Leave Jaemin out of this” Taeil placed the phone in his back pocket, the younger wrestling to retrieve it. “It’s in our blood, we’re hopeless romantics, he’ll side with me on this...Hey, don’t touch my butt!”

“As your bodyguard, I can grab whatever part of your body I want, and I’m marrying your brother, we’re practically related already, this is clinical!!” Jeno laughed, both men collapsing on the couch. Taeil handed the phone back, and Jeno put it away.

“Listen, I know you worry about me, but I’m the adult here. I know I haven’t had the best luck with relationships, but somehow, this feels different. And I’m not gonna make things easy for him, he’s gonna have to earn it”

“Fine. For the record, I’m agreeing under protest” Jeno stood up and gave Taeil a hand to do the same, fixing his suit tenderly. “And if he hurts you again, I’m gonna break his stupid face”

“Ok, just don’t get arrested, Jaem would never forgive me”

8 - Try again

Hyuck hated uncertainty. He was accustomed to plans and things under control, despite his free-spirited personality. It was one of the first times he found himself without a roadmap, not having the upper-hand. As expected, Taeil was not replying to any of his calls or messages, even when he knew he was at least reading them. Hyuck felt lost and anxious.

Fuck caution. He was going down swinging.

Against his friends recommendations, considering Taeil was not responding, and going back to his workplace was not going to be easy, Hyuck decided to stake outside of his building until he could get him alone. He knew Jeno’s warning was real and also, he knew he would break him like a twig if he tried to sneak into the office again. Luckily, Taeil wasn’t a diva and mentioned frequently getting coffee from a place nearby or buying lunch for his team. It was amazing. Hyuck wanted to kick himself for not noticing sooner how different he was, for not figuring it out when he had him.

Three days passed and Hyuck finally got a stroke of luck. Taeil exited the building, and crossed the street towards the coffee shop, Jeno nowhere in sight. It was now or never.

“Taeil!” he called, surprising the other. Taeil froze in place.

“What are you doing here?”

“You’re not returning my calls, or answering my texts…this was the only thing I could think about”

“What? Stalking me?”

“Kind of” Hyuck almost found the situation amusing but sobered up quickly. “I just have one question”

“What? What do you want?” Taeil walked towards him.

“Are you seeing him? Any of them?” Hyuck asked, knowing it was not his place to demand any additional information, or lurk outside his office like a creep.

“What? Who?”

“That guy with the pink hair, the one that’s with you all the time…he’s constantly touching you. And your bodyguard, the relationship seems too personal…”

“Why are you inquiring?”

“Because if that’s your type I’m screwed, I can’t compete with them!” Hyuck huffed, losing it a bit.

Taeil laughed loudly, making some people stare, but rapidly composed himself when he noticed the death stare in Hyuck’s eyes.

“Pink hair guy? His name is Jaemin, and he’s my brother, Donghyuck, and Jeno’s his boyfriend, that’s why they’re always with me. Jeno’s not even a bodyguard, he’s a martial arts teacher and accompanies me when he deems some situations may be complicated. If not, he hangs around the office when he has time, because Jaemin is my Head of PR”

“Oh” Hyuck uttered, realizing he’d fucked up again. Big time.

“What did you think I was doing with them?”

“In all honesty? I thought they were your…toy boys or something” he replied, ashamed.

“Were you jealous?” Taeil deadpanned.

“Insanely jealous” Hyuck retorted, boldly.

“You judged me without knowing me…even with all our conversations, you made an idea of me in your mind, not bothering to check the facts. You tried to use me”

“I realize that now, and I’m sorry…fuck, I’m gonna continue apologizing until you give me another shot”

“Why are you here, Donghyuck?” Taeil repeated the question.

“You weren’t answering me…and it seemed like a good idea to wait for you here like a loser until I could get your attention”

“I’m not ready to let you in again… yet. Can’t you respect that?” Taeil wondered.

“I’m trying, but it’s so fucking hard! I miss you so much. Just one more chance, please, I’m begging you”

Taeil felt his heart melt. For someone so confident, it seemed Hyuck wasn’t above making a fool of himself to win him back.

“What is HE doing here?!” Jeno’s voice resonated loudly, his hands curling into fists. Taeil stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“It’s fine Jeno, Hyuck was leaving…”

The younger lowered his head, defeated.

“But you can call me later, preferably after 8pm. I have a lot of things to get done”

His head snapped so fast, Hyuck could swore it would hurt the next day.

“Really?” his eyes sparkled, and his smile was so wide, Taeil couldn’t help but grin in return.

“Illie…” Jeno admonished.

“It’s just a call Jen”

“You” Jeno pointed a finger at him, ready to pounce at the slightest motion. “If you hurt him again, I will hurt you back, understood? You’re lucky he’s even sparing you a second glance, conniving motherf…”

“Babe, that’s enough” Pink-haired guy joined, taking Jeno’s hand. The latter relaxed immediately. “I think he understands”

“I do…” Hyuck hesitated. Why was Jaemin defending him? They were total strangers, but the man was watching him with interest. “You’re busy, I’ll get going”

“Don’t forget to call him Hyuckie!” Jaemin singsonged, as the trio made their way past him. However, he stopped for a second and leaned into his space “And as Jen said, break his heart, and we’ll break your face, got it, sweetheart?”

Gosh. For someone who looked as angelic as Jaemin, he surely knew how to be delightfully hostile.

“I won’t. I learned my lesson. I’ll do my best to prove him I’m serious”

“You better, I’m rooting for you!” Jaemin patted his shoulder and walked away.

“What was that?” Jeno queried, grabbing his boyfriend’s hand.

“Just a friendly reminder of what will happen if he doesn’t behave. Two times is better than one, in all things” he raised an eyebrow, slyly.

“I’m still here, by the way” Taeil spoke. The others laughed. “Let’s get some food ok?” he finished, turning around just enough to see Hyuck still standing there. Taeil shook his head and smiled.

9 - Brother knows best.

Hyuck barely ever recurred to his brother for guidance regarding his love life, or anything extremely personal. Taeyong was so different from him that most people had a hard time believing they were even related. He was calm and adorable, and everyone loved him. And his relationship with Doyoung was picture perfect. How could he even begin to comprehend what he was experiencing?

Extreme situations call for extreme measures. And considering his brother’s personality, it was going to be a hard pill to swallow. Hyuck called Taeyong and dropped by the apartment he shared with his boyfriend one afternoon he was alone. He didn’t want Doyoung’s judgement as the cherry on top.

Taeyong opened the door and hugged him warmly. Hyuck made his way to the kitchen and sat at the counter, bracing himself.

“I need your opinion about something…someone”

“Is this about Taeil?”

“How did you know”? his eyes opened wide.

“Because Jaemin has a big mouth and my phone number” Taeyong explained.

“Whatever he told you, I swear it’s not that bad”

“So you didn’t try to lure him into liking you and then told him you were after his money, and when you realized you fucked up, harassed him until he agreed to speak to you again? I think that summarizes everything Jaemin told me”

“Yeah, that’s kind of true” Hyuck sighed, defeated. “I shat the bed, and now I have to clean up the mess. I know you and Doyoung have known him for a while, and I want to make things right. What do you think?”

“Doie’s been his friend longer than I have…why didn’t you ask him?”

“I’m not ready for him to give me a piece of his mind”

“I can’t believe you’re still scared of him” Taeyong mocked. “But yeah, he won’t be lenient. You made the right call”

“Can you tell me more about him? Anything that can help” Hyuck requested. Taeyong served some iced tea and sat in front of his brother.

“You know what I like best about Taeil?”

“What?”

“He’s exactly the same person I met almost 9 years ago when I started college. He’s smart, kind, supportive and humble. He’s the same man that took Doyoung under his wing on his first year, when he was nothing like you know him to be now. He’s the only one that believed in us from the beginning, even when our business plans were crap and I barely knew how to boil an egg”

“That’s ridiculous, you’re one of the best cooks I know” Hyuck spat, surprised.

“Now” Taeyong cackled. “Taeil worked several jobs, including being a barista in a small coffee shop, and that’s how I met him. When he introduced me to Doyoung, gosh, I fell for him immediately. Taeil helped us get together, and also listened to our crazy idea of having a catering company. As I mentioned, we didn’t have anything solid, we just knew we wanted to spend every single second by each other’s side and use our professions to do it. So, Taeil came up with an idea, to see if we were serious about it. He asked us to set up a meal for a small group of his friends, paid, of course. I was shitting myself, it was my second year of school and I was struggling to adapt to the rules and measurements. Cooking is a lot like a science, and my brain could not wrap around it, for me, it’s always been art. However, I wanted to impress him, and chose the most complicated recipes I could find, things I’ve never tried before”

“Let me guess, it was a success” Hyuck scoffed. His brother was brilliant, everyone knew that.

“Far from it” Taeyong added, much to the younger’s shock. “It was a trainwreck. The meat was rock-hard, the pasta was undercooked, I put salt instead of sugar in the desserts… it was horrible and tasted like shit. Till this day I’m amazed no one ended up in the hospital, although Mrs. Moon ate all of it just to encourage us and got diarrhea” his brother laughed. “Don’t tell him that, I still feel remorse every time I see her”

“What happened after?”

“He paid us like he promised, despite the disaster. All his friends gave us feedback and advice, a couple of them were seniors at my culinary school and offered to train and teach me. Taeil also revised our business plan and tweaked it until it was coherent and doable. We would’ve never made it without his assistance, and not once did he try to take credit for it. Doyoung and I learned and flourished, and when we graduated, Taeil had already succeeded with his first hotel. He gave us another shot, and this time, we knocked it out of the park. His guests were impressed, and we began to build our clientele. That was four years ago”

“How come I wasn’t aware of this?”

“Because you were too busy giving mom and dad a headache” he stared fondly at the younger. “Besides, Taeil didn’t have any time to hang out after class, he was always working, and you never crossed paths. When you chose hospitality, I knew you were paying attention, but you only did when we were already established, you never saw our struggles and failures. Letting you work with us was my way of showing you that effort gets rewarded, and even when you complain a lot more than any of our employees, you’ve changed as well. You’ve matured. So that leads me to my next question, why the fuck did you think Taeil’s money was more alluring than his personality? That’s unlike us, that’s not the way we were raised”

“Honestly, I have no idea. I guess I was trying to convince myself I didn’t have any feelings for him, so when he rejected me, it would not hurt. As you know now, I was extremely wrong”

“You are my brother and I’ll always love you no matter what. But Taeil is basically the perfect man. You’ll be lucky to have him in your life. Therefore, if you are serious this time, I’ll see what I can do. I can put you in all his events if you want”

“In fact, I want you to do the opposite. He asked for space and time, I want to respect that. If he wants me to come back, I’ll do it, but only if he agrees”

“You know this means less money right? He’s our best paying client” Taeyong warned.

“I know. I’ll find another job if necessary, but I’m good, I’ve saved most of my paychecks”

“If you are sure, fine” the older consented. Hyuck embraced him, thankful, before bidding goodbye.

“And Hyuckie…please, no more games. He’s my friend and I care for him”

10 - With a little help from my friends.

Taeil was accustomed to holding at least one gathering a week for current and potential clients. Managing and owning 3 hotels was not an easy feat, but his team was incredible and Jaemin had an outstanding eye for marketing and business, making it hard for others to ignore Taeil’s knack as a hotelier. Part of his success was also being surrounded by the best assistance possible, hence the reason why he kept returning to Taeyong and Doyoung for his events. They’d been with him since the beginning, and they knew exactly what he wanted and expected for each occasion.

It was their third event in two weeks, and Donghyuck remained nowhere in sight. Taeil still received calls and texts from him, but they were scarce and incredibly polite. In all fairness, Taeil wasn’t giving him the opening for more either. However, the younger continued to dance around his thoughts, and the older wondered if he was being too harsh, scaring him away too fast.

Taeil decided to get information on his own.

“Where’s Donghyuck?” Taeil managed to utter, controlling his tone and posture to not give away anything.

“He requested to be placed with other clients” Doyoung informed. Taeil’s face almost dropped, but years of practice helped him manage the situation.

“Oh, I had no idea. Was he not pleased with our company?”

Doyoung gave him a side glance and rolled his eyes.

“Cut the bullshit Illie, I know you better than that, you can’t pull tricks on me. Besides, your lip twitched”

Taeil suppressed a chuckle.

“Is this the way you speak to all of your clients? How rude, I may have to write a complaint”

“I’m one of the owners, I can do whatever” Doyoung sassed. “Why are you asking?”

“I…” Taeil hesitated. He was aware that Jaemin had contacted Taeyong – something he was unable to stop, considering his brother never listened to him and meddled in all his affairs – and even when the pair had been together for a while, Taeyong was Hyuck’s brother. Perhaps Doyoung wasn’t privy to all the details regarding their situation.

“If you’re speculating if I know what happened between you two, I do. Yong was forced to tell me, because despite everything, Hyuck’s one of our best employees. He can be a brat sometimes, but gets the job done and customers love him. I guess that includes you”

Taeil remained silent for a moment.

“I don’t know what to think Doie, or what to do…if you really know what’s going on, can I have your insight?”

“As your best friend, I would’ve never allowed you to give him another try, I agree with Jeno on that…but, as his future brother-in-law” Doyoung paused. “He knows he fucked up. Yes, he can be intense, and he gets on my nerves more times than I can endure in the span of a few hours, but he’s a good kid with a good heart, and now, he’s on the correct path. That being said, it’s your life and your call, whatever you decide, I’ll back you up”

“Can you bring him back?” Taeil requested, shyly.

“I’ll see what I can do”

11 - Face to face

“Why is his brother waving at you? What did you do? I believed you when you said you were leaving Mr. Moon alone for a while! Is he gonna hit you?”

“I’ve only texted and called a few times, he’s the one that requested me! Maybe this is payback and I’m gonna get beaten to a pulp in an alley” Hyuck shared his friend’s concerns. He had already disclosed Jaemin and Jeno’s identities to him, and the odds were not in his favor.

“If he brings the boyfriend, you’re fucked…Well, it was nice knowing you!” Mark chirped pushing him, leaving no choice but to walk towards Jaemin.

“Hi Hyuckie! Glad to have you back, we’ve missed you” Jaemin cooed. Jeno immediately walked forward to block him from reaching Taeil, who was unaware at the moment of the other’s presence.

“Sir, I don’t think this a good idea” Hyuck whispered, eyes filled with fear.

“Why?”  Jaemin looked around and saw his boyfriend come close “Jeno? Nah, he’s not going to do anything” he reassured, turning his head to him. The second their eyes met, Jeno backed down. Hyuck was impressed. The other continued.

“I just wanted to know, when are you going to take my brother on a date huh? It’s been what, almost 3 weeks? Can you be any slower?” he hesitated. “Gosh, can you? You’ll need an intervention”

“Sir…”

“Jaemin is fine”

“Jaemin…the situation with your brother is complicated, I think you know that. I don’t want to overstep or get it wrong again. I’ll give him all the time he wants or needs as long as it demonstrates I can be respectful of his boundaries”

“What are you doing here then?”

“He requested that I joined the service today”

“Ha! I knew it” Jaemin spat, triumphally. “He’s on the fence, you need to make a move quick”

“Beg your pardon?”

“He misses you! Why else would he want you back? You’re not that great of a server, you spend too much time messing around with your friends, and your drinks were not that good”

Hyuck’s face suddenly felt as if it was on fire.

“I’m…I’m really sorry if my performance was not up to your expectations…”

“Jeez, light up, I’m kidding! You’re actually pretty good, and you’re smart. Now put two and two together and wake up. Ask my brother out. If he comes to me for advice I will say yes. Come on! What’s the worst it can happen?”

Hyuck considered his options in the blink of an eye, and fished out the little notebook he used to write customer’s special requests. He scribbled down quickly, folded the paper, and handed it to Jaemin.

“Can you give this to Taeil? I have to go back to work, excuse me”

“I absolutely can” Jaemin grinned.

Hyuck walked away but kept an eye on Jaemin, watching how he approached his brother and slipped the paper in his jacket pocket, whispering into his ear. Taeil flinched imperceptibly but nodded, and resumed the conversation he was having.

Hyuck walked back and returned to his service duties. Once the event was over and he was busy putting everything back into place, Mark touched his shoulder.

“Hey, that weird dude gave me this for you, he said it was important” he waved the piece of paper in front of his face. “Please tell me it’s not his number and you’re not trying to get with him now, the guy’s taken!”

“I’m not! How dare you say that!” Hyuck countered.

“Stranger things had happened since we’ve been friends…what is it?”

“It’s the rest of my life” Hyuck replied, opening the paper.

Burger?

Yes ___ No ___ Maybe ___

Hyuck felt his stomach churn when he realized it was empty. Until he caught the phrase written at the bottom.

Tomorrow, 8pm, let’s meet there.

 “So??? What is it? Tell me!!” Mark shook him. Hyuck smiled dumbly.

“It’s my second chance”

12 - Can we start over?

Hyuck got to the park at 7.45pm and paced around nervously. He was aware it was his only shot with Taeil. He knew that if he couldn’t convince him to really try again, he’d be gone for good. Probably he’d still be considered for some events, but he’d return to be another nameless face in the crowd.

At exactly 8pm, he watched Taeil approach the same food truck from last time. Hyuck walked the distance in a hurry, afraid the older would think he was late and decide to leave.

“Taeil” he called, softly. The other half-smiled, acknowledging his presence. “Thank you for coming, I wasn’t sure you…”

“I said I would, and I keep my word” the other replied, sternly.

“What do you want? The usual?”

“Yeah, that’d be ok”

Both men got to the truck, greeting the people inside, and Hyuck requested the same order as before, remembering it perfectly. Taeil fished for his wallet, but Hyuck put a hand on his arm, halting him.

“You’re not spending a cent on me again. I invited you, I’m paying” he handed a few bills to the cashier, including a hefty tip, and walked to one of the empty tables.

“You’re buying? That’s new” Taeil observed, seeing Hyuck’s face morph into a sad expression. He wasn’t a cruel person, and the comment was uncalled for. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, I deserve it”

“No, you don’t. Despite your previous actions, I have no right to treat you like that, I’m not that type of man”

“I know you’re not, you’re amazing” Hyuck stated. “But I don’t expect you to forgive and forget either. I know it’s going to be a long time before you even consider trusting me again, let alone give me a second chance…give us a second chance”

“What do you really want, Donghyuck? Why me? Why not move on?” the question was driving Taeil crazy, and he decided to just vent out.

“Because I can’t” the other breathed in, ready to put his heart on the line. “The moments we’ve shared, albeit insignificant to you, they meant a lot to me. I’ve never met anyone like you. Even when you didn’t reveal much about yourself, I was able to get a glimpse of you, and that was more than enough to make it impossible for me to let you go without a fight. Taeil, I know I screwed up, I know I hurt you, and I know you have no reason to believe anything that comes out of my mouth, but if you give me another shot, I promise I’ll never make the same mistake again. What I feel is real, even when it took me losing you to notice”

Taeil was silent, and his façade remained perfect. Hyuck was about to continue his ranting when the food arrived. The older grabbed his burger, and bit into it, closing his eyes for a second. He finished chewing and spoke.

“I’m Taeil. You’re Donghyuck right?”

Hyuck could’ve swore his heart exploded into a million pieces. Taeil was willing to let him in again. He was willing to start over.

“Hyuck is fine. No one calls me Donghyuck, except Doyoung when he’s mad” he replied, replaying their first conversation.

“Doie can be strict…he’s my best friend, did you know that?” Taeil smiled, knowingly.

“Really? How did you guys meet?” Hyuck continued, their future already taking another path.

“We met in college. I introduced him to Taeyong”

“He’s my brother, by the way” Hyuck grinned. “Can you tell me more about that?”

Taeil nodded and took a sip of his drink.

“How much time do you have? It’s an interesting story”

“For you? I have all the time in the world”

13 - Let go

“How are things with Taeil?” Mark asked one morning, while the pair was cleaning the apartment.

“Fine, I think…”

“You think?” Mark returned.

“We went on one date, Mark. And I don’t know if he’s going to accept another. I’ve said sorry so many times I feel it lost its meaning. But what else can I do?“

“Maybe you should stop” his friend added.

“I won’t. He’s the one for me, I’ll keep trying until he forgives me”

“No Hyuck, stop apologizing”

“What do you mean?” Hyuck queried.

“You already said sorry, and he pardoned you. If you keep begging every time you see him, he’s never going to let it go. I’m not saying he will, but that needs to be put in the past for you to have a future”

“So, what do I do now? I don’t have a lot of money, I can’t take him to fancy places or shower him with gifts” the younger supplied.

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem, from what I’ve gathered, the best times you’ve ever had was eating at Mr. Bong’s food truck, right? Keep it simple. Make him see that it’s not the place that matters, but the company…his company”

“What does that even mean!!” Hyuck huffed, annoyed.

“That you see him for who he truly is as a person, not his money, or status. That you’re not afraid to show him your weaknesses or shortcomings, show him that you trust him completely”

“So basically, your master plan is to be myself and wait till shit hits the fan?”

“Everyone that knows you ends up loving you, why would he be the exception? And you’re missing the key point, he wants to know you. Quit doubting yourself. You’re enough”

14 - Whole new way

Mark’s recommendation was uncalled for, but strangely, it struck a chord in Hyuck’s mind. In the beginning, trying to be ideal didn’t work. And Hyuck realized he’d already done a lot of weird shit – borderline psycho – and Taeil was still there. Maybe not having a plan was the best plan in the end.

Taeil began to take less time to reply to his messages, and called him unexpectedly, making his heart fill with joy. Hyuck took advantage of every opportunity laid in front of him to get more information, to get deeper and deeper into Taeil’s mind. Like Alice in Wonderland, he was falling down the rabbit hole.

Hyuck feared cheap places and dates that were probably not Taeil’s standards would push him away, however, whatever they tried together continued to pull them closer and closer. Their conversations were profound and meaningful, and every new thing Hyuck learned about Taeil just made him fall harder. As Taeyong had mentioned, he was indeed, the perfect man. Simple, charming, smart and generous.

Graduation was approaching fast and Hyuck didn’t have a lot of spare time for Taeil. Nonetheless, the older remained by his side, supporting him, comforting him with calls and texts, and when the day finally arrived, he was in the front row, cheering for him. Jaemin was also there, yelling his name and clapping like crazy. It was embarrassing, but Hyuck knew the other had finally accepted him as well.

Once the ceremony was over, Taeil hugged him and kissed his cheek softly. Despite all their dates and conversations, nothing romantic had occurred, but Hyuck was set on taking things at whatever pace the other set.

“This is for you” Taeil handed him a bouquet of sunflowers.

“How…?”

“I know some people…I may have asked about your favorite flowers, and your favorite food…and I may or may not have prepared a small dinner in your honor at my apartment. If you want to come, of course”

“We’re going too, just in case you were planning to Netflix and chill” Jaemin teased.

“I also invited Taeyong, Mark and the rest of your friends, if that’s ok?” Taeil blushed. “I want you to be surrounded by people that are proud of you, and all you’ve accomplished”

“Are you?” Hyuck queried.

“Ridiculously proud” Taeil reached for his hand, and squeezed it, softly. “Shall we?”

15 - Get you alone

Hyuck felt whole for the first time in weeks during the little gathering Taeil had planned for him. The other never left his side and even brushed his hand a few times, making him shiver. When everyone bid their goodbyes and he was about to follow, Taeil invited him to stay. This is it, Hyuck thought. The moment of truth. But he was paralyzed. What if it didn’t work? What if he made another mistake and never recover?

Taeil could feel Hyuck’s gaze burning him, not paying a single second of attention to the movie playing on the tv. But the younger was not making a move, and probably would not do it unless explicitly requested.

“You can kiss me if you want” he uttered, not taking his eyes off the screen.

“What? Why are you saying that” Hyuck panicked. Was he that obvious?

“You’re giving me the look” Taeil teased.

“No I’m not!”

“Yes you are”

“No I’m not” Hyuck continued.

“So you don’t want to kiss me?” Taeil cocked an eyebrow, meeting his eyes.

“No! Yes? Ugh, stop confusing me! Why are you laughing!” the younger spat.

“You’re cute when you’re flustered”

“I’m not…come on! Why are you doing this to me?” he asked.

“I’m not doing anything to you Hyuckie…do you want me to?” Taeil countered with determination.

Hyuck knew that his answer would define their relationship. He could say yes, and indulge in a heated make out session that would probably end up in more – exactly what he wanted -. Or he could refuse, and risk offending Taeil. He was afraid. Another misstep and he’d be gone forever.

“Taeil…” he began, nervously.

“It’s ok if you don’t feel the same any longer…I know I’ve been cold and distant for a while, and if you lost interest…”

“What are you saying? Don’t even think for a second I’m not dying to kiss you…but I don’t want to fuck up again. You’re very important, I can’t afford to lose you”

“Then kiss me…” Taeil caressed Hyuck’s face, softly. “I’m not going anywhere”

Hyuck had his first kiss when he was 15, and he remembered it because it was the most significant event in his life up to that moment. In the present, getting ready to finally kiss the man of his dreams was scrambling his brain. Fortunately, his last neuron was enough to land a hand on the back of Taeil’s head and pull him towards him. It was real. Taeil was kissing him back, and fireworks were dropping in the background. He was so into it he didn’t register the older trying to break it.

“Hyuckie, there’s something I want to discuss with you” Taeil put some distance between them, and Hyuck feared the other shoe was about to drop. “It’s nothing bad, stop frowning”

“What can be better than this?” Hyuck quickly ignored any dramatic scenario in favor of leaning in and capture Taeil’s lips again, making him giggle.

“We can do that later!” the other laughed. “Get serious, this is important”

“Fine” Hyuck pouted but returned to his position.

“Remember when you asked about an internship?”

“I already did that baby” the nickname slipped through his lips. “Now I have to find a job, like a real adult” Hyuck joked.

“I know that” Taeil acquiesced. “I’ve done some business with the company you worked for, and they had nothing but praise for your performance…that got me thinking about your future…our future”

“Meaning?” Hyuck was now nervous. Why had Taeil queried about his internship? He wasn’t even aware of the connections the other had, but apparently, the net was wider than he expected. And the phrase our future made his body turn into jelly.

“I have an offer for you…actually, I have two. Johnny and Jaehyun have an opening in one of their hotels, and they want you on their team. The position has a lot of potential for growth, if you do a good job”

“And the other?”

“The other…” Taeil paused and inhaled. “Is to work for us. For one of my hotels”

“Taeil…I don’t want you to give me anything for free. I have to earn it”

“Oh, you will” the older chuckled. “You’ll be working for Jaemin, not me. Don’t let his face or personality trick you, he’s very demanding and his team is excellent. He has a lot of experience and he’s worked in hotels around the world. I didn’t hire him because he’s my brother, I hired him because he’s the best. And he thinks you two could do great things together”

“The salary is almost the same in both openings, and you’ll have opportunities as well. The decision is entirely yours. If you want to go with the J’s, I won’t be offended, and I don’t want to pressure you into working for us just because…” Taeil halted. He was about to imply relationship, when he realized they’d never talked about it. They’d just shared their first kiss, for god’s sake.

“Because you’re my boyfriend?” Hyuck finished the sentence.

“I don’t recall being asked” Taeil countered.

“I was about to, but you had another plan for our evening!” Hyuck whined. “Taeil…do you want to... would you accept me as your boyfriend?” the younger asked, eyes shining with expectation.

“Hmmm…I guess you’ll do for now”

“TAEIL!!!”

“Of course I want to be your boyfriend”

“Really?”

“Really” Taeil confirmed, pulling Hyuck by the hand and kissing him tenderly. “I still need a decision, eventually”

“Let me think…working for the J’s or working for Satan in disguise. Tough call”

“Jaem is not that bad!”

“Could’ve fool me…wolf in sheep’s clothing. How can anyone look like that and be so intimidating, I have no idea”

“Me either. You can take your time though, I don’t want to rush you”

“Babe…I’m more than ready to make a deal with the devil. Sign me up”

16 - 3 small words

“Wow this is amazing, I can’t believe I’ve never tried this ice cream” Taeil licked a mouthful off his cone, while walking with Hyuck back to his apartment. “How did you even find that place?”

“It’s the one with the waffles, the ones I bought the first time I slept over. I didn’t want to wake you, so I wandered the streets, and it was the only place open that early”

Hyuck reminisced about his graduation dinner, almost 2 months ago. The occasion he’d gotten everything he’d wished for: the man of his dreams, and a job. The first time they’d spend a night together, the one that only solidified his feelings for the older. And Taeil wasn’t kidding when he warned that Jaemin was not what he seemed. He was a ballbuster, but brilliant, and Hyuck was constantly learning from him. He was happy.

“I wonder if they sell this by the gallon…we should’ve gotten more, I don’t think this is gonna cut it” Taeil gestured at the bag hanging from his boyfriend’s arm.

“Baby, I think it’s going to be more than enough for the weekend”

“Who said anything about that, I’m eating it now, as soon as I finish this” Taeil laughed, bouncing like a little kid, releasing momentarily Hyuck’s hand to take the bag and inspect the flavor inside. Hyuck stopped walking to observe Taeil. His heart was beating fast and loud, and his mind was clouded. Everything about him was mesmerizing. He loved how happy he was with the smallest things. How smart and savvy he presented himself in front of his clients. How kind he acted towards his employees. He loved all of it. He loved everything about him.

“I love you” Hyuck expressed, Taeil turning around at the words, realizing the man was not by his side but inches away.

“What did you say?”

“I said I love you. I’m in love with you” Hyuck repeated with glassy eyes. Taeil closed the distance and stood in front of him, mouth slightly open.

“You don’t need to say it back, I understand if you’re not there yet. I just wanted to tell you”

“I…” Taeil stuttered, surprised. “I need some time”

“It’s fine baby…loving you makes me happy, and being with you is enough” Hyuck reassured, caressing Taeil’s face and pecking his lips softly. He grabbed his hand again and they resumed strolling. Taeil finished his ice cream, and Hyuck reached out for the one in the bag, and a spoon.

“Eat it if you want, I’ll go back later and get some more”

“Babe…” Taeil began.

“You want ice cream, you’ll get ice cream, your wish is my command!” Hyuck joked, however, Taeil wasn’t smiling “What’s wrong? You don’t want it?”

“I love you too”

“What? But…” Hyuck tried to convey a thought, failing miserably.

“That was enough time. I love you too. I feel the same, I’m sure. Let’s go home” Taeil kissed him softly and took the ice cream from his hand. “And it’s a yes on the ice cream by the way”

Hyuck fell into step with a huge grin plastered on his face.

“Babe…”

“Yes?”

“Would you still love me if I was a worm?”

“You’re so weird” Hyuck chuckled.

17 - The world is not enough

Hyuck still felt butterflies every time he laid eyes on Taeil. He was head over heels, unembarrassed, in love with him. Sometimes, he felt like he couldn’t breathe without Taeil. He counted the hours, minutes and seconds to see him. It wasn’t sufficient.

“Baby, there’s something I want to discuss with you”

“Sure, but can it wait? I’m cooking us dinner” Taeil moved around the kitchen as if he belonged there. Hyuck had given him a key the second they started dating and spending time at his place. Taeil tried to do the same with Hyuck, but he refused, the ghost of his past mistakes still haunting him.

He does belong here. Hyuck was ready to leap and take the next step.

“No, it can’t” 

“Hyuckie, you’re scaring me…what is it?” Taeil stopped what he was doing and approached the younger.

“Taeil…every second I’m with you, it’s magical…it’s unreal. And I don’t want it to be over. I love you. I don’t want to let you go. I want to wake up every morning by your side and convince you that you made the right decision. Taeil…move in with me, please”

“Babe, you don’t need convince me of anything, I thought this subject was over. You’ve apologized suitably to last me several lifetimes. You have to forgive yourself, it was so long ago…and you know I love you”

“I know, and I’m trying…” Hyuck grabbed the older’s hand. “You don’t want to live with me then? Is it too soon? Too fast? I know it’s been only six months but…”

Taeil grinned, patting his boyfriend’s hand lovingly.

“We spend almost every night together, and neither of us know the meaning of the word slow at this point…but babe…your place is soooooooooooo tiny and you have a roommate who might be already scarred for life with our…activities” Taeil pointed out.

Oh yes. Mark. How could he ever forget.

“I don’t care, I’ve heard worse, he’ll get used to it”

“But I mind. And I don’t share my apartment with anyone, so…” Taeil lingered the question. “Why don’t you move in with me?” the other countered, leaning in for a kiss. Hyuck embraced him the second their lips touched.

“Are you sure? Absolutely sure?”

“I am. I don’t want to let you go either”

18 - Dreams come true

“I just want to say, there’s no coming back from this Taeil. You take him, you keep him. I’m changing the locks as soon as he leaves”

“You’re such a jerk” Hyuck punched Mark on the chest, making him flinch.

“This violence is the reason why I’m glad he’s taking you away!”

“Shut up and grab another box, you agreed to help”

“Only cause it’s going to make you disappear faster”

Taeil observed the exchange, amused.

“I’m not returning him, don’t worry. I know what I’m getting myself into…I think?”

“Mean!” Hyuck pouted, quickly hugging Taeil from behind. “I love you, you know that? I love you, I love you, I love you” the younger finished every word with a kiss, making the other snicker.

“Ugh you guys are disgusting. I’m so glad I won’t have to put up with your…things anymore”

“Baby, how about we…” Hyuck wiggled his brows, intentions clear. “For old time’s sake, to give Mark a proper goodbye”

“Ha! I’ve already packed your bed, it’s being picked up this afternoon by the guy that bought it”

“You still have a couch, and your bed”

“Don’t you dare Donghyuck or I’ll never speak to you again!”

“Why is no one bringing the boxes outside? Do we have to do everything by ourselves?” Jaemin complained, entering the apartment, Jeno behind him.

“He’s so lazy Illie, please reconsider” Jeno commented, earning himself a dirty look from Hyuck.

“You know you love me Jen, come on”

“I don’t. You’re at best an acquired taste, and I still have my eye on you. One wrong move and it’s straight to the hospital”

“Honey, stop it!” Jaemin kissed Jeno’s cheek, making him blush. “We volunteered. Let’s just take the boxes outside, ok?”

19 - Hello future

A year together wasn’t enough for Hyuck to convince himself it was real. That his stupid plan that had horribly bombed was the catalyst to grant him everything he’d ever dreamed of and more. As he watched Taeil play in the park near the apartment with their dogs, he couldn’t believe his luck. He was determined to continue showing Taeil daily how much he loved him. How much he cherished him.

“What are you doing just standing there! Bella and Leon want their papa’s attention too!” Taeil screamed, as Hyuck watched the puppies threw themselves all over Taeil.

“If you can’t handle them, how are you ever going to handle our kids?” Hyuck queried, grinning.

“Kids?” Taeil wondered, surprised. Hyuck ran towards them, enveloping Taeil in a hug, the dogs distracted for a second.

“I want everything with you…and I’ll give you everything you want”

“Is that so?” Taeil countered.

“Just wait and see”

Both men smiled. Hyuck knew it was meant to be. He’d found his everything and would not let him go. He already had a plan for that. One that would hopefully, not fail.

20 – Be my forever only…

A month later

“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live…”

“I don’t know” the man being addressed replied. “Maybe he should dance first. You know what they say, if he can’t dance, then he can’t fu…” he stopped, seeing the warning look in the officiant eyes.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve already corroborated that”

“How dare you imply such a thing, I’m clean as a whistle”

“He does have good hands, they were very firm. I speak from personal experience” the first man added.

“Excuse me what? Jen?” Jaemin raised a brow and stared at his groom.

“I briefly touched his butt once, but it was nothing, I’m his bodyguard” Jeno threw his hands up in surrender.

“Who touched my baby?” another voice interjected. “Apologize now or I’m gonna start a rumble”

“Hyuckie…” Taeil smiled, softly. “It was nothing, you know that. And why are we even talking about this, we’re supposed to be rehearsing for tomorrow, in case you’ve forgotten, the wedding is tomorrow, pay attention!”

“You’re the one distracting me!” Jaemin countered.

“Me? I’ve done nothing, you told me to do it exactly like the movies, this is what happens in the movies, including having an officiant ordained by a dubiously legal website” Taeil grinned “You’re the one going rogue”

“We have our license, we only need the witnesses to sign it. The rest is for kicks”

The group erupted in laughter and continued bickering. The couple watching from a few meters had their own conversation.

“If this is the preview, it’s going to be a long ass ceremony” Johnny huffed.

“Yeah, but we already knew that, and we agreed to help with… you know” Jaehyun squeezed his husband’s hand softly. “By the way, did you practice your lines?”

“I did, cause the kid made a script…a script! Who does that!”

“I think it’s extremely romantic” Jaehyun continued, sighing. “You should’ve proposed like that”

“I proposed at the top of the Eiffel Tower! Was that insufficient?” Johnny feigned offense.

“It was incredible baby…that’s why we’re married now” he finished, kissing Johnny’s cheek. “But you know what, I was thinking, this whole thing…it’s actually a good idea”

“It is. Taeil’s gonna be blown away”

“No baby, I mean for real. We should make it happen”

“He won’t agree, you know that” Johnny paid closer attention to Jaehyun’s words.

“We can bring Yuta back from Japan to fill in for him, and we can make it six months instead of a year if needed. It will be like a long pre-honeymoon, and Jaemin and Jeno are going to be here”

“I don’t know hon…do you think Hyuck’s going to be ok with this? Us making changes to his plan?”

“We won’t tell him, we’ll just do our part and then make the offer on the spot” Jaehyun declared

“Since when you became such a conning mastermind?” Johnny queried.

“The merger of our two smaller hotels is on the way, regardless of the decision they make today. But don’t you think it’ll be great if, on top of that, we open a joint branch abroad? They won’t need to leave anything behind, and we both know they have skills we need, that’s why we’re doing business together. And we’ll pay for everything” Jaehyun explained.

“What if one of them says yes, and the other says no? What if they break up because of our stupid idea?” Johnny knew in the back of his mind that his husband was right, and he’d thought about it before the other brought it up. A side project developing a small B&B in the little Italian town they fell in love 2 years ago. Offering the position to Donghyuck had been the excuse for him to propose to their friend, although Johnny had heard the pair talking about the idea before, and in Taeil’s opinion, it was doable, with a lot of hard work and determination. Starting something from scratch was not Jaehyun or Johnny’s forte, considering they’ve had assistance developing their projects in the city, and their hotels were smaller than Taeil’s. The one that could definitely make it happen was him, and with Hyuck by his side, considering how much the younger had learned since working for Jaemin, it was a done deal.

“Baby, they’ve been together for over a year. Hyuckie’s been waiting for a long time to marry Taeil, and Illie was even willing to let him work for us when they began dating. They support each other, they would never let something like this come between them. They’re a team”

“I don’t know babe…can I think about it?” Johnny requested.

“Sure. But you have until tonight, we can discuss the details with them after dinner, alright?

“Hey, what are you doing there? Are we boring you?” Jaemin’s voice resonated in the empty venue.

“A little” Johnny teased, grabbing Jaehyun’s hand and walking towards the little stage. “This is not even the official rehearse, this is like, the rehearse of the rehearse”

“You are the best man, you have to be here and agree with everything I say” the younger pouted.

“I’m the replacement, since you decided to have Taeil officiate the wedding at the last minute”

“Potato, potahto, whatever” the man dismissed. “I think we’re done here. You guys wanna grab brunch? It’s almost noon”

“I can’t, I have a few meetings and calls to get done. But we’ll see each other in a few hours”

“It’s Saturday, you sure you can’t take some time off?” Taeil queried.

“Are you taking the afternoon off?” Johnny questioned, already knowing the answer.

“Point taken. Let’s meet an hour before everything starts, deal?”

“Deal”

At 8pm sharp, the venue began filling with friends and family of both grooms. The dinner was simple, and its main objective was to be together and celebrate the couple. Mrs. Moon was beyond excited to see his younger son getting married.

“Jaemin sweetie, I’m so happy for you…I wish your mother could’ve been here for this” she said, stroking the man’s hair.

“I know what you mean, but you are here mom, you’ve always been there for me” Jaemin squeezed the woman’s hand tightly. He was little when his dad got married to Mrs. Moon, a few years after his mother passed away. He remembered bits and pieces of her, but it wasn’t a sad memory, he knew she’d loved him till the very end. He was happy watching his dad smile again when the couple met, and excited about having an older sibling. Since Taeil never met his father, Mr. Na became the man he looked up to while growing up. Even with the struggles they had to face, their family was perfect.

“Honey, stop, you’re going to make me cry” Mr. Na added, wiping a few tears with his sleeve. “Now we need to get our eldest married” he winked at Taeil, who was standing beside his brother.

“Dad, I’m in a serious relationship, but we’re taking things slow, so don’t you dare harass Hyuck and question him about us getting hitched ok?”

“Son, I would never!” his dad replied, cackling. “That’s your mother’s job”

“Don’t worry dear, I will have some words with him and force him to make an honest man out of you” Mrs. Moon finished.

“Mom!” Taeil whined, embarrassed. Even when he was an adult, his mother still knew how to push his buttons.

“Mom, leave Illie alone, his time will come” Jaemin grinned. “This is my day, you should be paying attention to me, and only me”

“You’re right honey. But the wedding is tomorrow, I’m allowed to tease your brother today”

“Mother…” Taeil deadpanned.

“Fine. You guys are no fun. Come on honey, let’s go find our table” Mrs. Moon took Mr. Na’s arm and walked away.

“You know she means well right?” Jaemin interjected.

“I know…you also know she’s nosy as fuck, so let’s keep the spotlight on you, and her away from Hyuck”

“You’re in luck, mom and dad are at my table. You’re with the J’ and some friends. You can thank me later with a few weeks of paid vacations, love you!” Jaemin walked away. Taeil stared at him and sighed, relieved.

The event was a hit, the food amazing – thanks to Doyoung and Taeyong, who refused to only attend as guests and insisted on catering not only the dinner, but the wedding as a gift – and the place was filled with familiar faces, wishing nothing but the best to the couple. There were a few speeches, mainly from Jeno and Jaemin’s parents, and the best men – Johnny and Jaehyun -. Once the meal was over, everyone remained at their tables, eating, drinking and talking lively.

Hyuck was getting nervous. He’d agreed with the J’s to bring up the subject after dinner was done, and his cue was approaching faster than expected. He wasn’t nervous about what was about to happen, but he did fear his plan would backfire, just like when he tried to get close to Taeil for the first time. Still, he inhaled slowly, and tapped Jaehyun’s hand subtlety. The man understood, and spoke.

“Hyuckie, there’s something we want to discuss with you”

“Now? Jae, can’t it wait?”

“Why not? There is no better time than now”

“Babe what is it” Taeil queried, leaning into Hyuck’s space.

“I have no idea” Hyuck replied, trying to hide a smile.

“We’ve been thinking about doing some business abroad” Johnny began to deliver the lines he’d practiced “Jae and I want the best team to make this happen, and we want you on board”

“It’s only for a year, initially, but we can make it more permanent, if you perform well” Jaehyun added.

“Guys, I’m flattered, but I have a job. I can’t quit, and I won’t leave Illie” Hyuck delivered his lines, perfectly composed.

“You won’t have to quit, if Taeil agrees” Johnny continued.

Taeil seemed deep in thought, carefully considering his next words.

“If you want to do it, I won’t be the one holding you back babe…I’ve seen how talented and hardworking you are, it seems like a great opportunity. However” Taeil paused. “I don’t want you to feel tied up, so I think we should break up if you decide to go. I want you to be free to do whatever you want there, without worrying about me being here”

“What?! No” Hyuck spat immediately. Jaehyun feared everything would go to shit, even when he initially thought otherwise.

“It’s the right thing to do. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Maybe, when you come back, we can see if there’s something still between us. If not, I’d still be happy just being your friend” Taeil said, with a serious face.

“I’m never breaking up with you, are you breaking up with me? Don’t you want us to be together anymore?” Hyuck panicked, dreading he’d start to cry at any moment.

“I didn’t say that, Hyuckie” Taeil appeared to be extremely calm, despite the conversation.

Hyuck wasn’t.

“I’m not going anywhere without you, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. I love you, I’ve been in love with you since the moment I met you. I know I did some stupid shit at the beginning, but I’ll never do it again. Leaving you would be the dumbest move for me. This…” Hyuck hesitated, before crumbling down. “This plan is bullshit, this was not the way it was supposed to happen!”

Taeil smiled, much to Hyuck’s dismay.

“And what was supposed to happen, babe?” he caressed the younger’s hand.

“I was going to…I wanted to…fuck! Taeil, I want you to marry me. My whole plan was to make a big gesture and show you that no matter what comes my way, I’ll always choose you first. But I guess I’m bound to get it wrong all the time!” Hyuck grunted, angry. Taeil just seemed amused.

“Hyuckie…remember when I told you that I loved you for the first time? I also told you I was sure of my feelings for you. It’s true that I will never tie you down or make you stay by my side out of duty. But I was also thinking, since you were willing to do it, how about I ask you to marry me instead? You did take the first step to be boyfriends, I guess it’s fair that I ask you to be my husband. And I’ll go to the end of the world with you, if you want to take Jae’s offer”

Hyuck stared at Taeil, unable to understand the situation.

“What’s going on? Are you serious?”

“I am” Taeil smiled, raising his hand for Jaemin to notice. The second their gazes connected, Jaemin grabbed the mic and spoke.

“Jen and I want to thank everyone for coming. Everyone close to me knows I’m a sucker for a good love story. I want to share something with you…my brother wrote this and I want to read it…Hyuckie, this is for you” Jaemin unfolded the paper he was holding, and spoke.

“I was never the type to believe in love at first sight. I think I was a little cynical before you came into my world. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic, but life showed me that some of us were not destined to have a great love. Nonetheless, when I met you, I began to believe I could be the exception. That we could be the exception”

“You fill my life with laughter and somehow, you make it better. You ease my troubles. You are my best friend. All your insecurities, all the dirty laundry never made me blink. There's no love like your love and no other could give me more love. There's nowhere unless you're there. Home is wherever I’m with you. You’re one of a kind and I thank the universe you’re mine…and I want you to be mine forever…”

Jaemin blew a kiss in his brother’s direction. Taeil took his cue, and stood up, taking a small box from his pocket. Hyuck’s eyes went wide when he grasped the situation.

“You stole my fucking proposal” Hyuck mussed, pretending to be mad, but his smile gave away everything.

“You stole my heart. I think we’re even now” Taeil opened the box and presented it to his boyfriend. “Hyuckie, I love you. I’ll never stop loving you, for as long as I live. Will you do me the honor of being my husband?”

Hyuck stood up, and hugged Taeil tightly. “We’re not remotely even” he whispered, breaking the embrace. Taeil looked confused, when Hyuck waved his hand at Jeno.

“Well, I have something to share with you as well. Illie, this is for you” the second man stood up, reading from the card in his hand.

“Meeting you was the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. Our path hasn’t been easy, and I’ve made so many mistakes along the way. Despite all my errors, you stood by my side. I think some things are meant to be. When you put your arms around me, you let me know there’s nothing in the world I can’t do. I’m strong by myself, but I’m invincible when we’re together. For a chance to be with you, I’d gladly risk it all. You have my heart, and I want to give you my life as well…forever”

Taeil’s mouth opened and closed. Then, he laughed.

“I can never win with you, uh? Not even with this?”

“You taught me to always have a back up plan. This is it” Hyuck smirked, taking a tiny box out of his pocket. “Considering great minds think alike…will you do me the honor of being my husband?”

The room went silent as everyone was now watching the couple’s interaction, Jaemin and Jeno included.

“I asked first” Taeil whispered, softly.

“It’s a yes from me…and you?” Hyuck queried.

“I guess you’ll do…”

“TAEIL!”

“It’s a yes from me too baby…I love you, you know that? I’ll never leave you, and I wasn’t lying before. I’ll go wherever you want, I’ll do anything to make you happy”

Hyuck grabbed Taeil by the waist and sealed the deal with a kiss. Everyone began clapping and cheering.

“I guess we’ll be planning another wedding soon, everyone’s invited, by the way!” Jaemin chirped. “Enjoy the drinks, and we’ll see you all tomorrow for our wedding, in case you forgot why you’re here” he joked, sitting down.

Jaehyun was watching the scene with a puzzled look. That was not the way they’d planned the whole thing. Why was Taeil taking the lead and proposing? And why did he agree to go when he wasn’t privy to the plan? Then, it hit him.

Johnny.

“What did you do?”

“What I always do. The right thing” Johnny declared. “Hyuckie’s plan was good, but ours was better. And he wasn’t the only one thinking about forever. Taeil was also waiting for the right time to pop the question and approached me for advice. I told him to wait, but considering our conversation this morning, I believed it was the perfect opportunity. So, I cancelled my meetings, called him to go for lunch, and laid out the plan. He wasn’t sure until I brought Yuta up, and after that it was a done deal. He also asked me if Hyuckie knew he was thinking about proposing. I couldn’t lie to him babe, that man has a knack to see right through me, and even when he’s short, he scares the fuck out of me. I ended up telling him everything. He was moved, but he also thought it was only fair to have his shot at the same time. And well, here we are”

“I… I don’t know what to say…” Jaehyun was stunned.

“You don’t have to say anything babe. It works for us, and it worked for them. In fact, Taeil wanted to be the one asking the question because of their history. Hyuckie did a lot of things to win him over, and Taeil always feared he hadn’t done enough to prove his love to him. He truly is a romantic”

“But how?”

“He built an empire from nothing, you really thought he would not be able to whip up a proposal in less than 5 hours? That dude’s amazing”

“Hyuck didn’t tell us everything either. Jeno and Jaemin were on this the whole time? Did you know?”

“That I didn’t know, but well, what can I say? The kid has tricks”

Hyuck and Taeil were in their own bubble, giggling and kissing. Their rings also matched – thanks to Johnny taking Taeil to the exact same spot where Hyuck had gotten his – Their happiness seemed never ending, until Mrs. Moon and Mr. Na approached their table. Mrs. Moon grabbed Hyuck by the arm.

“Hyuckie! You dirty little weasel! This was not what we planned!” she muttered, delighted.

“Sorry mom, but you and dad were my plan C and D. And plan B worked perfectly”

“Excuse me? Mom? Dad? Plan C and D?” Taeil was flabbergasted. Were his parents also in it?

“I’ve already told you babe…you and Nana taught me to always have a backup. Jen was my plan B, and your mom was plan C. And if everything went to crap, Mr. Na was plan D, even when he didn’t want to meddle” Hyuck stared adoringly into Taeil’s eyes. “And excuse me, you did try to steal my proposal! What was that about?”

“Johnny” Taeil said, shortly. “We met for lunch and he couldn’t hide it from me. And I already had my own plans, although my initial idea was to wait until after the wedding. I didn’t want to steal the attention from Jaem”

“Oh sweetie, your brother volunteered, we’ve been discussing this for weeks now” his mother pitched in, providing a vital piece of information.

“Dad, did you know about this too?”

“Yes honey, I did. Hyuckie met with us a couple of months ago and asked for your hand in marriage. We said yes, of course. He made a very compelling argument”

“I’m great with parents, in case you didn’t notice before. Thank you, mom and dad” Hyuck smiled at the older couple.

“Are you gonna call them that now?” Taeil queried.

“We’ve already adopted him sweetie, don’t fight it” Mrs. Moon ruffled Hyuck’s hair, making him snicker. “He’s adorable, he’ll make a great husband, we’re sure of it”

“See? They love me” Hyuck stated, proudly.

“And I love you” Taeil countered, kissing his soon to be husband.

Mark almost dropped a completely full tray when he realized what was happening in the room. He put the object down, and ran towards the kitchen where Taeyong and Doyoung were, completely oblivious.

“Mark, glad you’re here, can you tell me what’s going on? Jisung came and requested another round of champagne for everyone, is that correct? I thought the toasts were over” Taeyong hesitated. “Or is Jaemin making Jeno strip on the table? That would be a good reason for all the clapping and cheering”

“Taeil and Hyuck just got engaged” Mark blurted unceremoniously.

“They what?!” Doyoung stopped moving the second he heard the words.

“I wasn’t paying attention to the whole deal, but apparently they propose to one another at the same time”

“Well, took him long enough” Taeyong smiled.

“Did you know about this?” his boyfriend queried.

“No babe, I didn’t, but that’s my brother we’re talking about, and I’ve never seen him in love before. I’m actually surprised he didn’t do it sooner. Good for them”

“But this is Jaemin and Jeno’s dinner, it’s kind of rude”

“Oh Doie come on, how about some good old if you’re happy, I’m happy?” Taeil strolled inside the kitchen, making everyone stare.

“Fine. If you’re happy, I’m happy” the man grunted. “Better?”

“Once more, with feeling” the older chuckled, tapping his shoulder, and going to Taeyong.

“Yongie, I know it’s late to ask this question, but can I marry your brother? I know your parents don’t live in the city, but I’ll call them soon, but for now, can I have your blessing?” Taeil stood in front of the other man, with a serious glance.

“If I say no, will you take it back?”

“Not a chance”

“Then what can I do besides agree. I’m sure this was his idea in the first place”

“Not to rain on everyone’s parade, but does that mean we’re being laid off? I heard you guys are moving to Italy” Mark was afraid of losing everything, considering he was newly graduated and still searching for a better position.

“You are moving? That’s it, sorry Yong but I’m going to kill your brother now” Doyoung power walked to the door, being successfully stopped by Taeil.

“Not so fast Doie” he laughed. “I can’t marry a dead man, so you’re not allowed to do that. And don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of work coming your way”

“Really?” Mark asked, excited.

“The J’s are bringing Yuta in to replace me for a few months, I’m not moving, just opening a new business there. That’s the deal”

“Who’s Yuta?”

The whole group smiled at Mark’s question.

“He’s an old friend of ours…you better be prepared for what’s coming”