Chapter Text
It all started with the first letter.
During Boys Planet, there were more times than Zhang Hao can count where he felt less than. Although he received nothing but praise from the judges and love from star creators, he couldn’t help but feel unworthy of his accomplishments. In times of self doubt, he leaned on his best friend Sung Hanbin.
Of course the feeling was mutual. Zhang Hao always offered his comfort whenever Hanbin let his guard down - something the younger rarely did with others but always with him.
The two of them were destined to be best friends, everyone saw that. They were both centers for the signal song and since then they just never left each other's side.
Zhang Hao always admired Hanbin’s loving and comforting nature, not even just towards him, but to all of the trainees on the show. He was always there to offer a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or to teach the choreography to anyone who needed help. So much that by the end of most nights he would be too exhausted to properly wash up and change clothes.
The first letter that Hao received from Hanbin was a letter of encouragement.
It was when they first got paired together for Tomboy and Zhang Hao found himself struggling a lot with confidence and his overall contribution to the team. Hanbin made sure to stand by him every step of the way; helping him come up with parts to add to the choreo, the pronunciation of his rap verse, and any ad libs he wished to add to the song.
At the end of the first day of Tomboy practice Zhang Hao found a note on his pillow. On the folded paper it was signed Sung Hanbin in pretty cursive and Zhang Hao was bewildered, having no idea how Hanbin even found the time to have written it.
Zhang Hao caresses the paper in his hands before ripping the seal.
The night is not all dark, nor is the day all it seems. But each may bring me this relief - my dreams and dreams.
He feels dumbfounded. Hanbin and Zhang Hao have undoubtedly gotten closer since teaming up for Tomboy, but he couldn’t help but feel touched at the words. In front of him on a piece of notebook paper, only for his eyes to see.
He struggles to make sense of the words strung together in such a poetic way. Nonetheless, he couldn’t deny the warmth that spreads through him as he tucks it away in between one of the pages of a book on his side table.
♡
It was the next day after a long day of practice where Hanbin found himself whining about how hungry he was, because he secretly knew Hao would always offer to eat with him. And that was an offer Hanbin would never refuse.
They didn’t have time to go to a café away from the dorms, and they ate most of their meals in the Boys Planet cafeteria anyways.
Zhang Hao places a container of muchim onto his plate and spoons jjigae into the dipped crevice on his tray. He routinely reaches for a bowl of rice but his eyes light up at a small loaf of bread, snatching it excitedly.
Bread and rice? Zhang Hao thinks to himself as he ponders the weird food combination. He quickly runs through everything he ate today, only able to count with one hand, so he happily places both rice and bread on his tray. He needs carbs for energy to practice anyhow.
At the end of the dinner line he grabs a tangerine, then looks down at his tray. Feeling satisfied with his colorful plate, he takes the seat across Hanbin at the table.
“Hey Bin-ah,” Zhang Hao greets.
Hanbin smiles warmly. “Thanks for eating with me.”
“Of course! We both have been so busy with practice we haven’t had time to fill our stomachs properly,” Zhang Hao replies, picking up his chopsticks and a spoon.
Hanbin hums in agreement, bringing a spoonful of rice to his mouth.
“I think we’ve been making a lot of progress. We’re so lucky to have a team with great synergy,” Hanbin comments.
Zhang Hao nods enthusiastically, a tendency Zhang Hao has that Hanbin would describe as cute. So unbelievably cute. Of course, there are a lot of traits Zhang Hao possesses that Hanbin finds adorable. The older member just exudes a natural aegyo, both through his mannerisms and speech.
They continue eating in silence, both trainees enjoying the food in front of them. Zhang Hao reaches for the bread on his plate and he smiles wide, holding the loaf to his nose and inhaling deeply. Hanbin hardly suppresses his amusement.
“Hyung?” he laughs.
“It’s still warm!” Zhang Hao says happily, squeezing the loaf in his hands. “Smells fresh.”
Hanbin feels joy shoot through his veins like electricity. “Oh yeah? Let me try it too then.”
Zhang Hao gleefully breaks the end piece off the bread and hands it to Hanbin.
“I don’t share my food with just anyone so consider yourself lucky,” Zhang Hao teases.
Hanbin freezes, hand pressed on the table and ready to stand up from his seat. “Oh- I can go get another one-“
“No, no, no, it’s okay,” Zhang Hao grabs his wrist, pulling him back into his chair.
As soon as Zhang Hao touches his wrist, he was even quicker to pull it away, feeling a light blush spread across his cheeks.
“Okay, hyung,” Hanbin says casually, taking a bite of the bread and humming happily. Zhang Hao thinks that if Hanbin had noticed him getting flustered that he was kind enough not to mention it.
The truth is, ever since receiving the letter last night, Hao was confused. He was so touched that Hanbin was further opening his heart to him but he didn’t understand why. He knew the younger was fond of reading and writing poetry, but to write a poem just for him? Was he really that special?
Not only that, but what was the deeper meaning behind the letter?
“Eat it before it cools down,” Hanbin chirps, breaking Hao from his train of thought.
Zhang Hao happily indulges in the bread and the warm bread satisfies his taste buds, comforting him in the best way. Bread is such a happy food, Zhang Hao thinks to himself.
The two members continue eating until their trays gradually empty and all that’s left is some muchim and Zhang Hao’s tangerine.
Hanbin watches as Zhang Hao picks up the tangerine, the bright-colored fruit sitting comfortably in his hands. He brings his thumb up to puncture the skin but halts, smiling a crescent smile at the double produce stickers on the tough skin. Hanbin eyes him incredulously, holding his breath.
In one swift movement, Hao peels off one sticker and sticks it on his cheekbone, laughter emitting from his lips that leave his body vibrating. Hanbin quite literally feels himself melting into his chair.
Zhang Hao takes the second sticker off and leans forward, pressing the sticker to Hanbin’s own cheekbone. He gasps. Zhang Hao laughs even louder, unable to contain the joy to himself. Something Hanbin gladly indulges in with him.
Hanbin would describe Zhang Hao’s laughter like the sound of a beautiful symphony. It awed Hanbin with great joy, like the first time he heard Zhang Hao play the violin.
The older punctures his thumb into the citrus, humming happily as he peels away the tough layer. Hanbin couldn’t even explain how Zhang Hao was making him feel. Hyung is extra cute today, Hanbin thought. I guess the exhaustion is hitting more than just me.
Zhang Hao instinctively shares half of the tangerine with Hanbin, not even tasting the fruit for himself first. The small gesture makes Hanbin feel cared for, even though sharing food was a natural occurrence for the two.
“It’s a sweet one,” Zhang Hao says. “Eat well, Hanbin-ah.”
Hanbin has to physically refrain himself, biting his tongue to not voice his thoughts out loud.
Not as sweet as you.