Archive of Our Own

Seonghwa drummed his fingers on the desk, biting his lower lip as he stared down at his calculus textbook, all of the numbers floating aimlessly around his brain. It was his own fault for not taking calculus as a freshman like most people he knew had done, but now he was a senior and had conveniently forgotten everything he had once understood about math. 

He groaned, carding a hand through his hair and sitting back in his chair, pushing out his lips in a pout even though no one was around to see it. Every Wednesday and Saturday, he worked at the desk in the campus wide lost and found, and he had actually been faced with a student during a shift only three times. He had been working there for three years. 

The job was about as boring as expected, but he usually just used the time to get his assignments done, because trying to focus on anything in his actual dorm room was completely impossible. At least he had nothing but peace and quiet here, though it didn’t matter much when his brain couldn’t make any sense of the class material anyway. 

Releasing a heavy sigh, Seonghwa closed the textbook with a muted thud, getting to his feet and raising his arms over his head to stretch the tension out of his back. Various items littered the shelves of the lost and found room, most of which would probably never be picked up since he was pretty sure that ninety percent of the school’s population didn’t even know the lost and found existed. 

Countless water bottles decorated the shelves and floor, along with jackets and other clothing items that had never been reclaimed. A giant stack of notebooks sat in the back corner by the desk, and Seonghwa had looked through them once to satisfy his curiosity, finding that the oldest one was almost twenty years old. And no, he hadn’t even found any notes to help him with calculus. 

Clearly the place would benefit from a deep cleaning, but that was well beyond Seonghwa’s pay grade. Every once in a while he took notice of something that hadn’t been there before, and as he scanned the room his eyes caught on an item he wouldn’t expect to find in a college lost and found - a preschool one, perhaps. 

On one of the shelves lining the walls sat a penguin plushie, the bright white of its belly fur standing out amongst all of the other drab colors. He stepped closer, noting that the toy was quite worn despite being clearly well cared for, the fur missing in a few spots. Someone had shown a lot of love to this penguin, and a strange feeling settled over Seonghwa’s shoulders as he looked at it, sad that it had wound up here. He hoped someone would come to get it, although he knew that was about as likely as the penguin walking out on its own. 

An old clock hung above the door, and Seonghwa glanced at it now, the second hand always stuck in place. The other ones worked though, and he was pleased to find that it was already almost eight. Just a few more minutes and he would be able to head back to his dorm. 

He allowed his thoughts to wander in the direction of dinner as he sat back down, his stomach rumbling in response, and he didn’t realize that he had a visitor until someone rapped their knuckles lightly against the door, holding it open. Seonghwa startled at the sound, his head snapping up to the doorway where a man now stood. They smiled awkwardly at one another, and Seonghwa shot to his feet and stepped out from behind the desk. 

Only then did he notice that he had more than one visitor, for a little girl stood a step behind the man, her eyes ringed with red and her cheeks bitten by the wind. “Are you looking for something?” he asked kindly, voice soft as he smiled at the girl, crouching down in the middle of the room since he knew that strangers could be intimidating for little ones. 

“Yes, we are,” the man answered, his tone a bit frantic, and Seonghwa glanced up at him. He possessed delicate features for a man, although they suited him nicely, and Seonghwa ignored how his heart fluttered. He was cute. “My daughter, she lost her favorite toy - it’s a penguin, she’s had it since she was a baby,” he began to ramble, and Seonghwa quickly got back to his feet, raising a placating hand. 

“Oh, don’t worry - it’s here,” he said, turning towards the shelf along the wall and easily finding the plushie. “Is this it?” 

The man took one look and sighed in relief, his features letting go of their tension as he nodded. “Yes, that’s her. Thank you so much, seriously. I couldn’t listen to her cry any longer.” His lips curved into a tired smile, and Seonghwa returned it as he crouched down again, a few steps away from where the man and the girl stood. 

He held out the penguin to the girl, and she darted forward immediately, grabbing the toy and hugging it tight. Long, shiny black hair spilled over the back of her coat, straight cut bangs covering her forehead as she stared at him with eyes wide and shining. “Thank you for finding her,” she said in a small voice, a lisp slightly affecting her speech. 

She couldn’t have been older than three, and Seonghwa’s heart swelled as he nodded at her - he adored children. “She was very sad that she was lost, but I promise I took good care of her and made her feel better,” he said seriously, and the girl beamed at him, her mood changing on a dime like only kids could manage.

Suddenly she was surging forward, wrapping her arms around Seonghwa’s middle, and he chuckled before hugging her back. “Jisu, you can’t just hug people you just met,” the man reminded, though no real anger was present in his words - more like fond exasperation. Seonghwa had the sense that she must do this often. 

“It’s alright,” he responded, for he really didn’t mind. “I love kids.” The man seemed somewhat appeased by that, although he still shuffled his feet awkwardly. Taking pity on him, Seonghwa continued to speak, for he couldn’t deny his curiosity. “So, are you a student here?” he asked, before quickly adding, “I’m Seonghwa, by the way.” 

The man was about to respond when Jisu pulled back from the embrace, her smile revealing a small gap between her front teeth. “Seonghwa, you’re pretty,” she declared, and Seonghwa laughed at her matter-of-fact tone. 

“Jisu, please,” the man groaned, and Seonghwa just laughed harder, winking at the little girl. “Anyways, I’m Hongjoong, and that’s my daughter Jisu. Jisu, tell the nice man how old you are.” She held up three chubby fingers, looking rather proud of herself. “Good job sweetheart,” Hongjoong praised, and Seonghwa could hear the love in his voice. It warmed his heart, and he was grateful that the two of them had stumbled into the lost and found. 

“Anyways, yes. I am a student here, but I only transferred this year. I was taking classes online before that, because of, well, circumstances.” He paused to gesture at the little girl standing between them. “But this school has childcare, so that’s great, and honestly I have no clue what I’m doing but nothing has gone too terrible so far. Well, aside from her losing Flipper, but you’ve solved that problem for us so seriously, thank you.” 

He sounded so sincere, and Seonghwa knew that none of that could have been easy for him, even without knowing the details. “You’re welcome, though I’m sure you’re doing a great job. I’m in my senior year here - I’ve lived here the whole time, though. Pretty sure my roommates never would have survived this long if I had taken courses online.” Shaking his head, Seonghwa redirected his focus to Jisu. “I bet you’re a really good girl while your dad is at school, right?” 

She nodded proudly, stepping back to grab Hongjoong’s hand in her smaller one. “Daddy says that even when I miss him, he will always come back.” Seonghwa cooed softly at that, for the two of them were simply too adorable. He found it surprising that he had never seen them around before now, but he knew he would have remembered them if he had. It wasn’t every day that he saw a cute guy his age caring for a three year old daughter. 

“You’re a very smart girl, Jisu,” he praised, if only to see that gap-toothed smile again. She bounced up and down in her joy, and it was infectious, the entire room filling with it. Seonghwa glanced up at the clock, noting that he should have left five minutes ago, though he found that for once he didn’t actually want to leave. What if he never ran into the two of them again?

Reluctantly, he stepped back towards the desk, shoving his books back into his backpack and slinging it over his shoulder. “I’m so sorry - did we keep you?” Hongjoong asked, and Seonghwa was quick to shake his head, walking back over to the door. 

“No, don’t worry. I was happy to actually see someone, since my time here is usually spent in solitude. No one even knows this place exists.” He waved an arm towards the shelves stocked with lost belongings to emphasize his point as he followed Hongjoong and Jisu out of the room. He made sure to click the lock into place, and the three of them departed the otherwise vacant building.

They stopped once they had made it outside, and Hongjoong rubbed the back of his neck, still holding Jisu’s hand. “So, where on campus do you live?” he asked, the three of them standing before the two pathways that stretched away from the administration building that housed the lost and found. 

If they lived on different sides of campus, they would need to part ways, and Seonghwa hoped for the opposite as he opened his mouth to respond. “I’m over on the west side, you?”

Hongjoong shook his head in response, and Seonghwa’s heart had already begun to sink as he clarified. “No, I don’t live on campus, actually. I didn’t want to jump through all the necessary hoops to have Jisu live with me here, so I just decided to live in an apartment close by. Thankfully it doesn’t cost much more than the on campus housing does, and this way I don’t have to worry about her being around the many questionable people that live here.” He paused for a moment, until pink tinged his cheeks and he raised his hands apologetically. “Not that you’re one of those people! Sorry, that came out wrong.” 

An easy laugh passed through Seonghwa’s lips, for he knew exactly what kind of people Hongjoong had been referring to. “Don’t worry, I know what you meant. After all, I live with two of those people - I witness their insanity first hand every day.” His expression grew solemn, and Hongjoong stared back at him in concern until he broke the facade, winking as he took a step forward towards the path that led to his dorm. “I’m just kidding - they’re my best friends.” 

He stopped by the start of the path, looking back at Hongjoong and tilting his head. “So, which way do you have to go to get home, anyway?” he asked, and Hongjoong quickly stepped forward to walk beside him, gesturing at the path stretching out in front of them. 

“This way works for me, too,” he responded, and Seonghwa grinned, beginning to walk as Hongjoong and Jisu fell into step alongside him. Jisu walked in the middle, and when she reached up to hold Seonghwa’s hand, his heart melted. “Jisu, you should really ask-” 

“Oh, it’s okay,” Seonghwa reassured, squeezing the small hand in his grasp as the three of them walked together. “Your dad is right - with people you don’t know, you should be careful about being so friendly, because sometimes the people you meet might not be as friendly in return. But you don’t have to worry about that with me, okay? I would love to hold your hand or give you a hug whenever you would like.” 

Jisu beamed up at him and nodded, a small skip to her step as she tried to keep up with their longer strides, and Seonghwa found her to be so adorable that it actually made his chest ache. Glancing back up towards Hongjoong, he was surprised to find an expression of shock on his face. “Oh, I’m sorry if I was overstepping,” he was quick to say, his cheeks heated in embarrassment. Of course he had blown it already, with the one cute guy who happened to stumble upon the lost and found with the cutest daughter he had ever seen. Wooyoung and San would have a field day if they knew. 

“No, no - I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make it seem like I was bothered by what you said - not at all. I was just surprised to see how easily she listened to you, because she always gives me a hard time when I try to tell her things like that. Probably because I’m her dad, but still… she likes you a lot. I don’t know how you managed that, because she’s usually more reserved around people she doesn’t know very well,” Hongjoong explained, and Seonghwa’s shoulders slumped in relief, for he hadn’t ruined everything after all. 

It seemed that both of them were equally awkward and afraid of saying the wrong thing, and that gave him hope. Perhaps he wasn’t the only one dreading their imminent parting of ways. Jisu began to sing to herself, her voice high in pitch as she mumbled words that were definitely incorrect, and Seonghwa shared a fond glance with Hongjoong. I love her, Seonghwa mouthed, and Hongjoong smiled wide, the resemblance between him and his daughter striking in that moment. 

Me too, he mouthed back, neither of them wanting to interrupt her song. Seonghwa’s dorm building came into view not long after that, and he tried to drag his feet to prolong their time together, but that was pretty impossible when Jisu was skipping with joy and pulling them both along after her. “This is where I live,” he said as they approached, unable to avoid it any longer. 

Hongjoong gently pulled Jisu to a stop when they reached the door, his face illuminated by the dull light positioned outside of the building, casting his skin in a muted orange glow. “Oh, alright,” he responded, his bottom lip catching between his teeth for a second as he glanced towards the door to the building, and Seonghwa swore that he seemed just as disappointed. “Well, it was really great meeting you. Right, Jisu?”

He nudged her, and she snapped her head up to look at Seonghwa, realizing that he was leaving. Her lip stuck out in an exaggerated pout as she surged forward to wrap her arms around his legs, for she wasn’t tall enough to reach any higher. Seonghwa sank down into a crouch and returned her hug, patting her back before he pulled away. “Can I see you again soon, daddy’s friend?” She stared up at him with eyes illuminated by the light, and Seonghwa smiled at her, unsure of how to answer. 

“Um, about that,” Hongjoong ventured, and Seonghwa turned to face him, grateful for the interruption. “I’m sorry if this is too forward, but would you want to hang out sometime? Like, you and me. On a date.” He raised a hand to rub at his brows, shaking his head at himself. “God, I’m so sorry. I’m not really used to this kind of thing, if you couldn't tell. Don’t ask how I wound up with a daughter.” He smiled sheepishly, and Seonghwa returned it, endeared by his clumsy way of speaking. 

Butterflies swirled around his stomach at the thought of seeing Hongjoong again, and he was quick to accept the invitation, heart skipping a beat. “I would love to,” he assured, and Hongjoong’s tension visibly deflated. “Don’t apologize - it’s endearing. I would love to see you again, though I am curious as to what I did in the last,” he checked the time on his phone, “twenty minutes to make you want to ask me out. I can’t say that I receive invitations like that very often.” More like never. 

“Well, for one, Jisu evidently loves you,” Hongjoong pointed out, for she was still clinging to him. “And, the fact that you’re very cute doesn’t hurt either. I have a thing for pink hair, I think.” Blushing, Seonghwa reached up a hand to touch his hair, mentally thanking Wooyoung for pushing him to dye it. Not that he would ever thank him to his face, because he did not need the ego boost. 

Pulling away from Jisu, Seonghwa patted her shoulder before getting back to his feet. “Then yes, Jisu, you’ll see me again soon.” He lingered for another moment before finally heading for the door, his steps light now that he knew he had a date with the cutest guy he’d seen on campus in a long time. The scanner beeped as he pressed his ID over it, and he grabbed the handle to the door, pulling it open a crack and pausing to glance back over his shoulder. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re cute, too,” he said with a grin, waiting just long enough to watch Hongjoong’s cheeks flush before he stepped inside of his dorm building. 

He lived up on the third floor of the building, and he walked down the hall to the stairs still thinking about the turn his shift had taken, grateful for once that he had decided to keep working at the lost and found during his senior year. Calculus assignment entirely forgotten, he hardly felt the weight of the books in his backpack as he trudged up the stairs, for the elevator always seemed to be out of order. One of the many wonderful things about living in a dorm building that had to be decades old. 

Upon reaching the third floor, he turned down the right side of the hallway until he reached his room, already shrugging the straps of his backpack off his shoulders. Wooyoung and San would already be inside, and his stomach rumbled at the thought of whatever dinner they had brought back for him tonight. The three of them were probably the only students older than freshmen who actually chose to share a triple room with a set of bunk beds, but at least in this building they had their own bathroom and kitchenette. 

Using his key to open the door, Seonghwa pushed it open and stepped inside, setting his backpack down by the door. A small hallway led to the kitchenette and common area, with a bathroom on the left and their shared bedroom on the right. He didn’t hear any noise from the common area, so he figured that Wooyoung and San were in the bedroom, and sure enough the door opened just as he was about to touch the knob. 

“Seonghwa!” San exclaimed, as if they hadn’t just seen each other a few hours before. “We got ramen for dinner, from the good place - yours is on your desk.” Seonghwa thanked him and headed straight for the food, mouth already salivating from the mere thought. He hadn’t eaten since lunch before his classes that afternoon, and he plopped into the chair at his desk, already unwrapping the bag that held his dinner. 

His desk sat beside his bed, the only single bed in the room, for Wooyoung and San were more than willing to share the bunks. They shared a desk too, and even when the school had offered to bring them in a third desk, they had declined in favor of having more open space. After all, Seonghwa had never seen either of them do actual school work there - it was mostly occupied by their shared fish tank, one small goldfish swimming around in the large space. 

“Why did you come in here smiling?” Wooyoung asked from where he sat on the bottom bunk, San quick to join him. “You usually look half dead after those lost and found shifts. No offense.” 

Seonghwa shook his head, immune to Wooyoung’s teasing after years of being on the receiving end. Even now, as he opened the ramen contained and snapped his chopsticks apart, he couldn’t keep the smile from his lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he jested, taking his first bite of dinner, pleased to find that the broth was still hot. 

“Did someone actually show up to find something they’d lost?” San pressed, and Seonghwa took his time while chewing, pondering his answer to the question. They were both watching him, their impatience clear, and he decided he wouldn’t make them wait any longer. After all, he wanted to talk about how cute Hongjoong and Jisu had been to someone, and his roommates had been waiting for this day ever since the three of them had met. 

Swallowing his mouthful of ramen, he turned to face them more fully, holding the warm container in his hands. “Okay, fine. Yes, that’s exactly what happened, actually. I was struggling through my calculus homework until I finally just gave up, and then this guy showed up. About our age, and he had-” 

“Was he cute?” Wooyoung interrupted, and Seonghwa sighed, though he couldn’t hide how his cheeks heated. “Oh my god, he was! Please tell me you did something about it, instead of just staring at him longingly until he left?” They were both staring at him like their love lives were the ones on the line, and Seonghwa rolled his eyes. 

“Will you let me finish?” He stared at the two of them until they finally nodded, Wooyoung trailing his fingers over his lips like he was closing a zipper. “He had a little girl with him, the cutest child I’ve ever seen. They were looking for a toy that she lost on campus, and I gave it back to her. She hugged me, and called me pretty - I’ve never been more flattered.” 

Wooyoung looked at Seonghwa through squinted eyes before shaking his head, turning to speak to San. “I’m not seeing it. Are you?” San shook his head in response, and Seonghwa set down his ramen on the desk, getting to his feet. He approached the two of them, shoving them back onto the mattress with force, their laughter filling the room. 

“I hate you both,” he grumbled, though he was laughing as well as he returned to the desk, taking another bite of his dinner before continuing to tell the story. “Anyway, my shift was already over at that point, so we all left the building together, and they walked with me until we got here. I didn’t want to leave,” he admitted, still picturing how lovely Hongjoong had looked under that dim building light. “But Jisu - that’s his daughter - asked me if she could see me again, and Hongjoong - the guy - well… he asked me out.” 

Seonghwa braced himself for their reaction, but Wooyoung’s screaming still deafened him, both of them shooting to their feet and crowding around his desk. “Oh my god,” San gushed, reaching for Wooyoung’s hands, both of them jumping up and down. “We used to pray for times like these! Seonghwa actually learned how to talk to men!” Seonghwa dropped his head into his hands, unable to look at the two of them as he laughed, so fed up with their antics. 

A hand squeezed his shoulder a moment later, and he glanced up to find Wooyoung staring at him, expression earnest. “You did say yes, right? Please tell me you didn’t let this cute guy get away - I don’t think I would ever forgive you.” 

Knocking the hand from his shoulder, Seonghwa nodded. “Yes, obviously I said yes. He actually seemed more nervous than I was - it was really cute.” Wooyoung practically squealed, throwing his arms around Seonghwa and hugging him tight, San following his lead, and Seonghwa wondered if he would ever be able to finish his dinner. 

“This is seriously the best news I have ever received - I was not expecting this on a random Wednesday. This day will go down in history!” Wooyoung cheered, and Seonghwa feared his eyes would roll straight out of their sockets if they continued speaking like he was completely hopeless. He didn’t even want to know the extent of the embarrassing things they would tell Hongjoong if they ever met him, and he began to peel their arms away, turning back to his ramen. 

They didn’t go back to the bed, however, hovering over him and still vibrating with excitement. “Okay, so you’re gonna let us help you get ready for this date right?” San asked, though Seonghwa didn’t bother to answer, for he knew he would have no choice in the matter. “I wonder where he’ll take you… when is it, anyway? Or did you not figure that out yet?” 

Seonghwa’s eyes flew open wide, and he nearly choked as he swallowed the food in his mouth, frantically turning around to face his friends. “Oh my god - I forgot to get his number,” he breathed, heart thumping against his ribs, and he wanted to smack himself. He had finally found a cute guy who actually liked him back, and he had no way of getting in contact with him - how could he have been so stupid? “I never saw him around campus before today! Fuck, what if I never see him again?” 

Panic heated his skin, and Wooyoung and San stared back at him in disbelief, no one speaking for several seconds. “Seonghwa… you’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding,” Wooyoung responded, but Seonghwa could only shake his head, misery settling over his shoulders. 

“Okay - okay, no, it’s fine,” San reassured, though he didn’t look like he thought it was fine. “He has a daughter, and I’m assuming he brings her to the childcare center on campus. All you need to do is wait there for him to pick her up during the week, and then you can see him again.” 

“San, he’ll get arrested for stalking young children before he ever finds Hongjoong again if he does that, you idiot!” Wooyoung objected, whipping his head around to face San, who raised his hands in surrender. They continued to bicker, but Seonghwa hardly registered what they were saying as he stared down at the carpet, resting his head in his hands. He had been so thrilled, and he had forgotten to ask for the most important thing, his former joy now entirely gone. 

All he could do now was hope that he would run into Hongjoong again, for he wasn’t terribly keen on San’s plan. Maybe Hongjoong would come to find him at the lost and found again on Saturday, or maybe they would see each other before that, somehow. 

The rest of his ramen remained on the desk untouched, his appetite diminished. 

~

The weekend came and went, and Seonghwa did not see Hongjoong during his Saturday shift, returning home with a heavy heart. He knew that he was feeling irrationally upset over a guy he had only talked to for a grand total of twenty minutes, but he couldn’t help it. Hongjoong had been so sweet, and Jisu was adorable, and he wanted to see them again. Every day when he walked on campus, he searched for a glimpse of either of them, but he remained unsuccessful until the following week. 

Backpack slung over his shoulder, he dragged his feet on the way to calculus, already dreading being taught the new material when he didn’t understand anything from last week either. He tried his best to study, but he had always known that he wasn’t a math oriented person, and he found it to be offensive that he even needed to take this class at all. Still, he could at least take advantage of the attendance points by making it to class on time, so he didn’t allow himself to walk too slow. 

At least, until he caught a glimpse of someone familiar up ahead, his heart coming to a complete stop along with his feet. People pushed past him on their way to their classes, but he couldn’t bring himself to move, pressing a hand to his lips as he narrowed his eyes in an attempt to see more clearly. 

Hongjoong. He hadn’t been sure at first, for he was only able to see his back as he walked up ahead, but a slight turn of his head to the side revealed the delicate bridge of his nose and soft slope of his lips. That was definitely Hongjoong, and he seemed to be in a hurry as he weaved through the crowd, the distance between the two of them widening the longer Seonghwa stood there. 

“Move,” someone said as they bumped into him with their shoulder bag, but he had already intended to do exactly that, breaking into a light jog as he passed through the hordes of students. He didn’t care about the strange looks he received - his mind was focused on one person only, and he managed to keep his sights on Hongjoong even as he struggled to catch up. Despite his seemingly short legs, Hongjoong could walk fast, and by the time Seonghwa broke free of the worst of the crowd he was gasping for breath. 

Now he had no trouble catching up without so many people in the way, and he jogged up to Hongjoong’s side, noticing too late that he had earbuds in his ears and didn’t hear his approach. Falling into step beside him, Seonghwa opened his mouth with a smile to say hello just as Hongjoong turned his head in confusion, realizing that he was no longer alone. Seonghwa hoped that his presence was welcome, nerves swirling in his gut, and he really should have paid more attention to where he was going. 

“Hey, Hong-” he started to say in greeting, but the toe of his shoe caught on an uneven portion of the concrete pathway beneath their feet, and he pitched forward with a surprised cry. He just barely managed to brace his hands forward, protecting his face from smashing straight into the ground, though pain flared along his palms and right knee. For a moment, all he could do was lie there face down on the concrete, so consumed by embarrassment that he wished one of the sun’s rays would just vaporize him on the spot. 

“Oh my god - Seonghwa? Are you okay?” Hongjoong asked, surprise clear in his voice as he crouched down beside Seonghwa, resting a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. “Are you hurt? That was a pretty nasty fall - I’m sorry I didn’t see you in time, I could have prevented this.” 

Seonghwa shook his head, muffling a groan as he got back to his feet with Hongjoong’s help, accepting the hand he offered. “You’re bleeding,” Hongjoong pointed out, and Seonghwa looked down at himself, attempting to regain his bearings. Sure enough, his palms were both scraped up, tiny pieces of gravel and dirt embedded in the wounds, and he glanced down at his knee to find blood trickling over his pants. He never should have worn jeans with rips in the knees today, and he mentally cursed himself as he tried to plaster a smile over his face for Hongjoong’s benefit. 

“Oh, it’s nothing,” he dismissed, though he must not have come off as very convincing, for Hongjoong merely raised a brow in response. “Well, I mean… it stings a little, but not too bad. Plus, I’m sure you have to get to class, since you seemed to be in a rush just now. Sorry, I’ll leave you alone - I’ve just been looking for you, because I realized that I never got your number that day. Unless you did that on purpose, in which case you definitely don’t want to be talking to me right now. I’ll shut up now - sorry.” Seonghwa bit down hard on his bottom lip, face flaming. 

Hongjoong stared at him for a moment, processing his word vomit before a fond smile crossed his lips. “I have something that will help, don’t worry. Here, we can use the bench over there.” He gestured towards the seat, and Seonghwa followed him before sitting down awkwardly, looking down at his bleeding hands. “And, for the record, I’ve been looking for you too - I went to the lost and found a few times, but it’s hard to find you without knowing the days and hours that you work. So don’t apologize, alright?” 

That effectively eased Seonghwa’s nerves, and his heartbeat began to return to a normal pace as Hongjoong sat down beside him, shrugging off his backpack and rummaging through the small pocket in front. “These aren’t stereotypical first aid supplies, but they’ll work. I’m sorry for the unicorns, though.” He pulled free a small tin box, no bigger than a cell phone, and once he clicked it open Seonghwa understood the reason for the apology. 

A small stack of bandaids was inside, though they were covered in rainbow unicorns, clearly meant for Jisu. Alongside those was a tiny bottle of disinfectant and a few squares of gauze, which Hongjoong reached for first. He separated three of the gauze squares from the stack and placed them on the bench, opening the disinfectant bottle and looking up at Seonghwa. “I’ll just clean them for you, and then I’ll put the bandaids on,” he explained, and Seonghwa nodded. If he had been alone, he would have just gone to the bathroom and blotted the blood away with some paper towels, but he would much rather have the cute guy tend to his wounds. 

He watched as Hongjoong poured alcohol onto the gauze, saturating the material before reaching for one of Seonghwa’s hands. The tips of his fingers were cold, and Seonghwa’s skin tingled where their hands touched, hardly noticing the sting of the disinfectant as Hongjoong cleaned the scrape with the utmost focus. He moved onto the other hand after that, and then Seonghwa’s knee, until no dirt remained inside of the skin. “There we go - you’re a much better patient than Jisu. She always cries when I do this,” Hongjoong said as he worked, and Seonghwa couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the girl. 

“I can tell you’ve had a lot of practice,” he complimented, and Hongjoong nodded, expression fond as he thought of his daughter. After that, all he had left to do was place a bandaid over each scrape, the unicorn pattern vibrant against Seonghwa’s otherwise pale skin. “Thank you, and I’m sorry again. For, you know, falling and making a complete fool of myself, and probably making you late for class.” Seonghwa pulled his phone from his pocket to check the time, and sure enough, his calculus class had started five minutes ago. 

Gathering up the used supplies, Hongjoong dropped them into the garbage can beside the bench. “Oh, it’s no big deal. I wasn’t looking forward to going to class, anyway - calculus is a bitch.” Seonghwa stiffened at that, his jaw dropping as he stared at Hongjoong, unsure if he had heard his words correctly. 

“You - we’re both in calculus, on the same day at the same time? How did I never see you there before?” He spluttered, shaking his head in disbelief. “Do I really sleep through class that often? Oh my god - no wonder why I’m on the verge of failing.” Hongjoong laughed as Seonghwa dropped his head into his hands with a groan, questioning his entire existence as a student for what must have been the thousandth time. 

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I never saw you either. But I usually sit in the front row, because I actually like math - crazy, I know.” Seonghwa gaped at him, and he laughed harder, nose wrinkling adorably. “I can help you, if you want. I’m sure you’re better at it than you think, it can be hard to understand when you’re in a class of over five hundred people.” 

So not only was Hongjoong very attractive, but he was also good at the one subject Seonghwa was barely surviving? He had never been one to believe in fate, but he had to blink a few times to be sure that Hongjoong was actually real, and that his sleep deprived brain hadn’t just created him as a means to understand calculus. “Wow, yes, please,” he agreed, and the desperation must have shown on his face, for Hongjoong giggled into his palm. 

“I was kind of dreading class to begin with, so I wouldn’t mind skipping if you would care to join me,” Hongjoong offered, and Seonghwa nodded hard enough to feel the strain in his neck, refusing to let Hongjoong slip through his fingers again. “I just have to pick up Jisu - she’ll be happy to see me there early, and she’ll be thrilled to see you. I swear, she hasn’t stopped talking about you since last week.” 

Flattered, Seonghwa had no problem stopping by to pick up Jisu, and they both stood from the bench as soon as he agreed. Before he could forget all over again, Seonghwa passed his phone to Hongjoong, open to a blank contact page for him to input his name and phone number. “I don’t want to forget again,” he explained, and Hongjoong grinned as he took the phone, his thumbs flying over the screen before he passed it back. Seonghwa stashed it back in his pocket, and they headed for the childcare center. 

“So, about that date,” Hongjoong began, and Seonghwa’s heart did a flip as he listened attentively, pleased that Hongjoong was still interested. “How does this weekend sound?” 

“I work on Saturday nights - lame, I know - but maybe Friday night could work?” he replied, and Hongjoong nodded. Even just in casual clothes, Seonghwa could tell that he paid a lot of attention to his style, and he was sure that Jisu would always be the best dressed girl in school if her father had anything to say about it. His backpack was army green, and he wore it over one shoulder, brown bangs hanging into his eyes. He brushed them aside with delicate fingers, his nails painted black. Cute. 

“I just have to figure out what to do with Jisu - I have a few contacts who might be able to watch her, but it’s kind of short notice,” Hongjoong pondered, and Seonghwa bit his lip. He had a suggestion, though it caused him physical pain to imagine the amount of teasing he would be forced to withstand. 

Still, if it meant being able to go on a date with Hongjoong this Friday, he would find a way to bear it. “Well, my roommates are really good with kids - I know I told you they were insane the last time we talked, but I swear I was joking. Mostly. You can obviously meet them first to see if you would feel comfortable letting them watch Jisu, but I can guarantee that they would dote on her for as many hours as we need,” he offered. Though Wooyoung and San were a rambunctious pair, they were very sweet with children, and Seonghwa trusted them to take care of her if need be. 

Hongjoong cocked his head in interest, nodding to himself as he considered the offer. “I would like to meet them, but maybe that could work,” he agreed, and Seonghwa smiled at him, their fingers brushing as they walked. The contact sent shivers up his arms, but the feeling was a pleasant one. 

“Well, unless if you have other plans, maybe we can grab dinner from somewhere on campus and bring it back to my dorm so you can meet them? They’re almost always there at this time, because they like to wait for me to come back from class so we can get dinner together, but I’ll just bring stuff back for them,” he explained, and Hongjoong was quick to agree, seemingly just as eager to prolong their time together. The thought eased Seonghwa’s nerves, and before he knew it the childcare center was coming into view. 

The building was fairly small, white and unassuming on the outside, though as they walked up the path to the door Seonghwa noticed that the concrete was almost entirely obscured by colorful drawings made from sidewalk chalk. He studied them with interest, taking care to step around the artwork, and looked up at Hongjoong when he found one that looked very similar to Flipper, Jisu’s penguin. “That one, is that-” 

“Oh yeah, that’s hers,” Hongjoong said as soon as he followed the path of Seonghwa’s finger as he pointed down at it, his expression one of pride. “She’s quite the artist - she drew a picture of you and her holding hands actually, the day after we met. I think she’s in love with you, which might make this a little difficult, because I happen to be quite interested as well.”

He winked at Seonghwa as they stopped outside of the door, ringing the doorbell. “You don’t say,” Seonghwa replied with a hand over his heart, exaggerating his reaction even as his heart thumped below the skin. “Well, in that case, you might be out of luck. I can’t possibly say no to her.” Hongjoong looked over at him then, and Seonghwa saw real gratitude in his eyes, so genuine that it left him momentarily stunned. Even as the door opened, he struggled to tear his gaze away from the man beside him, again floored by how much love he openly held for his little girl. He had claimed to not know what he was doing, but Seonghwa knew then that it didn’t matter - as long as he loved her this strongly, she would turn out just fine. 

“Hi there, Hongjoong! Oh, Jisu will be so thrilled to see you,” said the woman who opened the door, her voice sweet as she called over her shoulder for Jisu. Seonghwa tried to see past her, but the doorway was fairly narrow, and he didn’t catch a glimpse of Jisu until she was bounding for the door with her backpack hanging from her shoulders. Long strands of hair blew out behind her as she ran forward, catching sight of Hongjoong and beaming with her gapped teeth. 

“Daddy!” she cheered, and Hongjoong crouched down just in time to catch her in a hug, his joy just as infectious as hers. “I missed you, but I had a lot of fun at school! We drew pictures with chalk, did you see?” She began to speak rapidly, and Hongjoong laughed, standing up and taking her smaller hand in his own. 

“I saw, I knew exactly which one was yours,” he answered, and she smiled up at him. Today, she was wearing a pink dress with black sparkly leggings beneath, her coat over top of her clothes, and she looked extremely adorable. Hongjoong allowed her to drag him down the pathway, and Seonghwa followed, content to watch the two of them until Hongjoong paused at the start of the path that would bring them back towards the center of campus. “But Jisu, wait,” he said, and she stopped along with him, her cheeks flushed from the cold air. “Look who I brought with me - you remember Seonghwa, don’t you?” 

She finally noticed Seonghwa’s presence then, and her eyes grew comically wide as she stared at him, a thin braid woven into the front strands of her hair beside her bangs. “Hi, Jisu,” Seonghwa greeted, raising one of his hands in a gentle wave. “You look lovely today - did you pick out your dress yourself?” She nodded, letting go of Hongjoong’s hand and running over to Seonghwa, pulling on his sleeve as she looked up at him. 

“Are you going to come pick me up with my daddy from now on?” she asked, and Seonghwa laughed even as he felt his face grow warm. Children were always so blunt, and he had a feeling that they would have Jisu to thank for a lot of admissions of feelings as their relationship developed. If it developed - he was getting ahead of himself, for they hadn’t even gone on a date yet. For all he knew, Hongjoong could decide that he wasn’t so interesting after all, and that could be the end of his brief time with the two of them. 

He wasn’t quite sure what to say, so he changed the subject, for he also knew that children were easily distracted. “Are you hungry?” She nodded eagerly, moving her hand to wrap her fingers around Seonghwa’s pinky, and his heart melted at the contact. “Let’s get you something to eat, then. Come on.” 

The three of them continued to walk, and Jisu grabbed for Hongjoong’s hand too, walking between them like she had the other night. It did not escape Seonghwa that they probably looked like her parents to any outsider who happened to see them walking, and he found that he enjoyed the thought. 

They picked up some easy takeout food from one of the food courts on campus, and Seonghwa made sure to get plenty of different things for himself, San, and Wooyoung. He struggled to carry all of it in one hand, but he refused to let go of Jisu’s hand in order to carry the food more easily, and at least his dorm wasn’t far. The smell of the food alone made his stomach rumble, but they walked at the pace set by Jisu’s short legs, her glittery sneakers slapping down against the ground. 

“So, Jisu,” Seonghwa started, getting her attention before he continued. “How did you learn to draw so well? I saw your penguin drawing, and I loved it.” 

She pursed her lips, the compliment making her shy, and Seonghwa couldn’t handle how cute she was. “My daddy is good at art, too,” she said in a smug voice, and Seonghwa got the indication that she probably bragged about her dad quite often. “He showed me how to draw lots of stuff.” She paused after that, and they all took a few more steps in silence before she spoke again, squinting up at Seonghwa’s hair. “I like your pink hair. I think it’s pretty, and so does daddy. He told me, and he helped me draw it when I didn’t know how.” 

Seonghwa smiled at her, reaching up to touch his hair, relieved that he had washed it that morning. “I’m so glad you like it - I wasn’t sure if it would look good at first, but if you say so then I believe you. You have quite the eye for fashion.” He gestured to her outfit, and she broke free of their hands to do a spin, her dress flying out around her. Seonghwa already found it adorable enough that Hongjoong had a daughter, but to see that he indulged her in all of her sparkly pink and unicorn-covered antics warmed his heart. He encouraged her to be herself, that much Seonghwa could already see. 

“My daddy sometimes has pretty hair too!” she explained, and Seonghwa burst into laughter at Hongjoong’s offended expression. 

“What do you mean sometimes? I think my hair looks fine!” he protested, and Jisu stared back at him with her arms crossed, examining his hair before shaking her head. 

“No, daddy, it’s boring. I like the colors!” She fell back into step between the two of them, grabbing onto Seonghwa’s pinky finger again. “He’s had blue hair, and red, and pink, and orange, and… well, I don’t remember the rest, but there’s been lots,” she said for Seonghwa’s benefit, and he looked at Hongjoong in surprise, for it wasn’t often that people dyed their hair such extravagant shades around here. 

Hongjoong sighed and nodded, reaching up to run a hand through the strands, currently a dark brown. “Yeah, I like to go for different colors sometimes. Fashion has always been a special interest of mine, you could say, and I think that a lot of people neglect to understand that hair can be a canvas for self expression, too. Though I clearly don’t need to be telling you about that - you’re giving me a run for my money, apparently.” 

Jisu continued to tug them forward, and they eventually came to a stop outside of Seonghwa’s dorm building, though this time they wouldn’t be parting ways so soon. He let go of her hand long enough to scan his ID at the door and hold it open, guiding Hongjoong and Jisu towards the stairs, not even bothering to check if the elevator was in working condition. The last thing they needed was to get stuck inside of it - Seonghwa had already experienced that more than once, and it wasn’t pleasant even when he was alone. He couldn't imagine what it would be like with an energetic three year old. 

When they reached the door to his room, he opted to knock on the door rather than using his key, too lazy to dig it free from his pocket with all of the food in his hands. He heard footsteps coming from the other side, and they didn’t have to wait long before Wooyoung was there to tug it open, San right behind. “Seonghwa! Oh, you got us dinner? That’s - oh, and who is this?” Wooyoung greeted, instantly sidetracked by Hongjoong and Jisu. His eyes lit up mischievously, for he already knew exactly who they were. 

“Hi,” Hongjoong said, raising his hand in a wave as he gestured to Jisu. “I’m Hongjoong, and this is my daughter Jisu. Um, Seonghwa told us that it would be okay if we came back here, but if not…” he trailed off, shuffling his feet, but Wooyoung was quick to reassure him. 

“Oh, of course! Come on in, we have plenty of room. We’ve heard a lot about you both, and we’ve been dying to meet you.” Seonghwa groaned, but he couldn’t go back on his decision now, even as regret burned at his skin. Wooyoung bent down to say hello to Jisu, his smile turning sweet and his eyes sparkling. He looked so kind like this, nothing like the devil Seonghwa was used to. “Hi there, sweetheart,” he greeted. “You’re a beautiful girl, you know that? You look just like your dad.” 

Jisu smiled at him, and both Wooyoung and San cooed at the sight of her, already smitten just as Seonghwa had known they would be. “Can I take your backpack? I will take very good care of it, I promise,” San vowed, and Jisu seemed to consider this for a moment before sliding it from her back and extending it in his direction. San took it, bowing at her like she was some kind of princess, and her high pitched giggles had them all wrapped around her finger. 

“Oh my god, she’s so adorable I’m going to die,” Wooyoung whispered to Hongjoong and Seonghwa while she took San’s hand and let him guide her further into the room. The two of them walked down to the common area at the end of the hall, for they would have the most room down there, and Seonghwa followed after them, Wooyoung and Hongjoong behind him. He couldn’t hear what Wooyoung was whispering, but he knew it was nothing good, and he took a deep breath to maintain his sanity. 

Assuming that their date went well, Hongjoong would have had to meet them eventually anyway - might as well get the worst of the embarrassment over with. Placing down the bags of food on the table, Seonghwa began to unload all of the different containers, grateful that they had been given paper plates as well. Each of them took what they wanted, and Hongjoong made a plate for Jisu as well before they all sat down. Seonghwa took the seat beside Hongjoong and Jisu on the couch, leaving Wooyoung and San to sit on the floor. 

They all ate their first bites in silence before Seonghwa finally broke it, looking to his friends on the floor. “So, I need to ask you guys something,” he broached, and they both stared back at him with undisguised interest, mouths full of food. “Hongjoong and I - we’re going on a, um… a date this Friday, and we need someone to watch Jisu while we go. I told him that you guys would probably be willing to do it.” 

However, before they could answer, he whipped his head around to look at Hongjoong, guilt surging in his chest. “Oh my god, and I should have definitely made sure that you were okay with that before I mentioned it. God, I’m sorry - I’m the worst.” He shook his head at himself, rubbing a hand over his forehead, but thankfully Hongjoong didn’t seem to mind. 

“Oh, don’t worry - I was actually about to tell you that I think Jisu would have a great time with them. If they’re friends of yours, and you trust them to watch her, then I don’t see an issue.” His lips curled into an easy smile, and Seonghwa released a breath, nodding and turning back to his friends. 

“Okay, then. Would you be able to watch her for us? Probably not for that long, we don’t really know the details yet, but-” 

“Um, obviously we will!” San interrupted, and Wooyoung nodded as well. “And that way, the two of you can take all of the time you need. Trust me, we don’t mind waiting.” He winked at Seonghwa, and he had to restrain himself from smacking the two of them. He would rein in the violence around Hongjoong until after the second date, as difficult as that was already proving to be. 

“And Hongjoong, you really don’t have to worry,” Wooyoung assured. “We’ll take great care of her, and we’ll treat her like a princess for the night. It’ll be fun!” Jisu didn’t seem to fully understand what they were talking about, but at the sound of that she jumped up from the couch, and her plate would have fallen to the floor if Hongjoong didn’t reach out to grab it just in time. 

She bounded over to them, and San caught her in his arms, tickling her sides and eliciting that same adorable laughter. “Please, daddy! I want to be a princess,” she begged as she looked over at Hongjoong, and he visibly melted at the sight of her, eyes softening with undisguised affection. 

“Okay, I’ll allow it, as long as you don’t forget about me, your most loyal knight,” he agreed, fixing her with a pointed look even as she giggled. She promised, and he nodded in satisfaction, turning to Seonghwa as San and Wooyoung played with her. “Well, sounds like a plan, then,” he said with a grin, and Seonghwa mirrored the expression, surprised at how comfortable he felt. This was the first time they had all been in the same room, but something about it felt so natural, and he already dreaded Hongjoong’s imminent departure as he finished the last of the food on his plate. 

“They’ll be great with her. Clearly,” he said, gesturing towards the three of them playing on the floor. “And I think it’ll be nice, to be able to get to know you, just the two of us.” Seonghwa’s heart fluttered when Hongjoong nodded, and he found that he struggled to look away, his eyes wandering to Hongjoong’s lips before he could stop himself. They were pink and delicately shaped, just like the rest of his features, and Seonghwa wondered what they would feel like against his own. 

He hadn’t realized just how badly he wanted to find out until that moment, and he had to physically force his gaze away for fear of staring for too long. Hongjoong’s eyes still lingered over his face even after that, for his skin burned at the feeling, and somehow they wound up closer than before, until the sides of their legs pressed together. Warm flickers of flame illuminated Seonghwa’s body from the inside, and he hoped his blushing wasn’t too obvious, though from the looks Wooyoung kept sending him from across the room he had the sense that it was even worse than he wanted to imagine. 

Easy conversation passed between the four of them, until finally Hongjoong stood from the couch, regretfully beckoning Jisu back to his side. “We should probably go, it’s getting late for her,” he explained, and Seonghwa rose to his feet as well before he even understood what he was doing.

“We’ll see you on Friday, Jisu!” San said with a grin, waving along with Wooyoung, smiles growing when she gave them a small wave in return. “And it was great to meet you, Hongjoong. Thank you for asking our friend here out on a date - he was seriously in need of that, the poor thing.” 

Seonghwa rolled his eyes, and Hongjoong laughed, saying goodbye to the two of them. “I’ll walk you guys out,” Seonghwa offered, and Hongjoong followed him to the door, Jisu’s hand clasped in his larger one. They followed the same path back down to the front door, and Seonghwa tried to conceal how he dragged his feet, not wanting their time together to come to an end. At least this time, he had Hongjoong’s number and a planned date on Friday, so his heart was considerably lighter in his chest. 

They exited the building, standing under that same dim light, neither of them willing to separate just yet. “I’m glad I ran into you today,” Seonghwa said, glancing down at the bandaids covering his palms. “I’m sorry you had to see how clumsy I can be, though. I can’t believe you still like me after seeing me fall flat on my face.” 

“Well, you look cute covered in unicorn bandaids, what can I say,” Hongjoong replied, and Seonghwa couldn’t help but notice how perfect his teeth were when he smiled. “I was really glad to see you, too. I just… sorry if this sounds too forward, but I have a really good feeling about you. And it’s been a while since I’ve allowed myself to hope for something like that, so even though we only just met, I really enjoy the time I get to spend with you.” 

Seonghwa bit his lip, trying and failing to contain his grin. “It’s not too forward at all. I really love spending time with both of you. And, you know, your face helps a little bit, too.” Hongjoong threw his head back in laughter, and he reminded Seonghwa of a little kid in that moment, so carefree despite the stress he undoubtedly carried from raising a child on his own so young. 

“I’m glad I met you,” Hongjoong said honestly, nudging Jisu, who had been kicking a small pile of leaves that had accumulated against the side of the building. “Right, Jisu? Aren’t you happy that you met Seonghwa the day we lost Flipper?” 

It took a few seconds for her to understand the question, but then she was nodding, her eyes wide and alight with joy. “Yes, I love Seonghwa!” she declared, turning to her dad and lowering her voice to speak her next words. “I’m gonna marry him one day, I think.” Hongjoong pressed his lips together to restrain his laughter, and Seonghwa had to look up to the sky, amusement threatening to overcome his composure. 

“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Jisu. You’re three,” Hongjoong deadpanned, and Seonghwa covered his laughter with the palm of his hand, waving at them as Hongjoong guided her towards the path. “I’ll see you Friday!” he called, and Seonghwa nodded, waiting until they disappeared from view to head back inside, his steps light and euphoric. 

~

Friday couldn’t come soon enough, and Seonghwa was vibrating with excitement by the time he finished his last class for the day. He had been in touch with Hongjoong to set a time, and though they had decided on dinner, Hongjoong had refused to tell him where they were going. All he had told Seonghwa was to dress nice, and that left him with a lot to think about. Lucky for him, Wooyoung and San had been eager to help, and between all three of their wardrobes they had managed to put together an outfit that his friends insisted would keep Hongjoong’s eyes on him the entire time. 

He wore a cropped blazer with billowing sheer sleeves, just a small sliver of skin visible between the end of the garment and his pants, a well fitting dress pair that he had never actually worn before. Though he felt slightly exposed, he also liked the confidence the outfit provided, and by the time Hongjoong arrived with Jisu he was practically bouncing against the walls with anticipation. 

Jisu went easily into the dorm room with San and Wooyoung, waving goodbye to them until the door closed, and Seonghwa admired Hongjoong all the way back down to the exit. Similar pants clung to his hips, though he wore a textured jacket over a white shirt, black with white detailing. His hair had been styled away from his face, fully exposing his perfect features, and Seonghwa knew as they walked beside one another that they made quite the pair. 

Once they exited the building, Hongjoong led him down the path in the direction that would bring them off campus, his skin glowing under the setting sun. “Okay, so I was going to drive here, but the place is pretty close so I figured we could walk,” he explained, and Seonghwa had no problem with that. His shoes were comfortable, a black boot with a slight heel, and the night was chilly but not unbearably so. 

“I can’t believe that we’re actually going on a date,” Seonghwa remarked, and he didn’t miss the curve of Hongjoong’s lips as they walked. He had offered his arm to Seonghwa as they descended the stairs back in the dorm building, and they hadn’t separated since. Seonghwa could feel the warmth of his skin through their clothes, and his head was occupied by clouds, light and airy and electrified every time their skin brushed. 

“Well, you better start believing it, because I intend for there to be a lot more of them after this one,” Hongjoong quipped back, casually making Seonghwa’s heart skip a beat, unaware of the power he held. Well, perhaps he was a little bit aware, for he seemed rather pleased with himself. 

They chatted all the way through the campus, approaching the road that brought them to the amalgamation of different shops and restaurants lining the sidewalk across from the school. Seonghwa still didn’t know where they were going, but that didn’t seem to matter when Hongjoong took his hand, making sure no cars were coming before pulling him to the other side of the road. HIs grip was firm but still gentle, and Seonghwa couldn’t resist the urge to steal glances down at their intertwined hands, struggling to believe that this was actually happening. Hongjoong had asked him on a date, and they were holding hands, and he looked so attractive that Seonghwa struggled to breathe every time their eyes met. 

As they walked further down the sidewalk, Seonghwa had a sneaking suspicion about where they were headed, and as the restaurant came into view he knew he was right. “Oh, I love this place!” he exclaimed, for he knew that the food was delicious. “Wooyoung, San, and I always come here at the end of the semester - it’s a tradition, at this point.” 

Hongjoong looked over at him with a grin, and he squeezed Seonghwa’s hand. “Well, I’m happy to know that you like this place. That takes some of the pressure off - I was really agonizing over where to take you.” He ducked his head sheepishly, looking down at his shoes for a moment as they approached the restaurant. “Maybe that was a little dramatic, but I just wanted it to be perfect. A lot of things haven’t gone as planned in my life, but at least I have control over how I make you feel, and I wanted you to know how much I like you.” 

A blush rose to Seonghwa’s cheeks at the candid words, and he reached for the door to the restaurant, but Hongjoong beat him to it. He held it open, gesturing for Seonghwa to go first, and he was surprised that he didn’t melt into a puddle right there. “You can’t just say things like that,” he whispered as he passed by, Hongjoong following right behind him, a warm presence at his back. Though, in reality, he didn’t want Hongjoong to ever stop being so enchanting. 

Hongjoong had reserved a table for them, and a waiter guided them to their seats, placing menus down in front of the two of them. After coming here plenty of times, Seonghwa knew exactly what he wanted to order, and he made a few suggestions to Hongjoong until they were both ready. The waiter took their orders, and poured sparkling white wine into twin glasses, placing one in front of each of them. “You two make a lovely couple,” the man said with a knowing expression, and Seonghwa half expected his body to vaporize into dust, never to be seen again. 

As they waited for their food, Hongjoong stared at Seonghwa with unwavering eyes, a soft curve to his lips. “You look beautiful tonight,” he complimented, and the lights from the fixture above their heads reflecting in his gaze, sparkling and kind. “You’ve looked beautiful every time I’ve seen you, but especially tonight.” 

Seonghwa reached for his glass, sipping at his wine before responding, if only to make sense of the jumbled mess of thoughts in his brain. “Well, I could say the same for you. I think we make a ravishing pair together, personally.” He didn’t know where these words were coming from, for he was mentally combusting inside, but something about being treated to a fancy dinner with a handsome man made him feel like perhaps he was just as much of a princess as Jisu. 

“I would have to agree,” Hongjoong replied, and he appeared comfortable as he sat back in his chair. Seonghwa was grateful for that, because things really did feel natural between them, and he was pleased to find that Hongjoong was just as relaxed in his presence. “Now, I wanted to ask you. Is there a reason why your roommates still share a bunk bed? I thought those were only for freshmen.” 

Nearly spitting out his wine, Seonghwa raised his napkin to his lips, shoulders shaking with silent laughter as he swallowed. “Oh, you’ll find that they are perhaps the least conventional people you’ll ever meet. I love them for it, but they’re about as unique as they come. We were randomly assigned as roommates years ago, and the two of them clicked instantly. I swear, I lost so many brain cells around them - I still do. But I couldn’t find it in myself to be annoyed, because they were too damn sweet, despite their antics.” 

He shook his head at the memory, his affection for Wooyoung and San surging. “They’re my best friends, and the three of us never wanted to split up, so we just kept the bunk bed. They drive me crazy most of the time, but they’ve also always taken care of me, and I’ve done the same for them.” Seonghwa shrugged, for there really wasn’t much else to it. “And they love to tease me, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.” 

Hongjoong chuckled at that, for it would have been impossible not to notice. “That is not a surprise to me, but I’m glad that you have them to rely on. And I’m grateful to you for allowing myself and Jisu into that part of your life - if you couldn’t tell, it’s been just the two of us for a while, so it can get a little lonely sometimes.” He cast his eyes down towards his silverware and nodded to himself, and Seonghwa could see that he carried more of a burden than he let on. His heart ached for him, and before he could think over his actions he was already reaching under the table, grasping Hongjoong’s delicate hand within his own. 

“I really like you, okay? And I want to spend more time with you, if that’s something you would also be interested in. I won’t pretend to understand what you’ve been through, but I can tell that it hasn’t been easy for you, and I would love to help ease that burden if you would allow me to,” Seonghwa said, his voice earnest, and when their eyes met this time something unspoken seemed to pass between the two of them. A sense of understanding, one that Seonghwa could tell Hongjoong hadn’t experienced before. 

Inhaling an audible breath, Hongjoong caught his lip between his teeth, biting the skin for a moment before releasing it. “Thank you,” he murmured, expression more serious than Seonghwa had ever seen it. “I love Jisu with all my heart, and I am trying so hard to raise her right, but it’s just… it’s hard sometimes. It can be hard to fill the roles of two parents as only one person, and I really don’t mean to dump all of this onto you, because no one in their right mind would want to hear all of it.” 

“But I do,” Seonghwa interjected, and he found that he really did mean it. For a long time, he had never been interested in any of the men he had come across, desperate for a maturity that most college boys didn’t possess. But Hongjoong was different - he was so different, and Seonghwa’s heart ached to know him, to provide him with the support that he was lacking. “I do want to hear it, because this is a massive part of who you are. And I don’t mean that in a negative way - you are handling your life and hers at the same time, and it’s remarkable.” 

Hongjoong exhaled softly, pressing his lips into a strained smile as he looked at Seonghwa from across the table. “She is my life,” he admitted, and Seonghwa would have cooed at how adorable that was if the mood had been lighter, but now wasn’t the time for that. “And I just get so afraid that I’m going to irrevocably ruin her, no matter how hard I try to do the opposite. I never knew how to raise a kid, and now I have one, and I love her so much that it terrifies me. I never knew that my heart was capable of so much love, that a small person could contain such life.” 

He shook his head, the movement full of fondness even as his eyes shone under the glittering lights, and Seonghwa had the barely restrained urge to embrace him right there in the middle of the restaurant. “I think it would be more of a concern if you didn’t feel worried about that,” Seonghwa offered, for even in the short time he had known the two of them, he had seen enough. “You care for her so much that anyone can see it, and that will be enough for her to grow up happy. You’re not going to ruin her - not even close.” 

Seonghwa squeezed his hand under the table, hoping that his support was evident. “God, where have you been all this time?” Hongjoong asked, and Seonghwa smiled to himself, enjoying how special the question made him feel. “I know we barely know each other, but I just needed to hear that, and no one else has ever stuck around long enough to say it. I’ve gone on dates, but as soon as they find out I have a kid, it never works out. And I’m lonely, but I’d rather be alone than introduce Jisu to the wrong person, you know?” 

“I understand,” Seonghwa responded, his voice gentle. “I’ve had a hard time finding someone who I feel comfortable around, but you’ve been so wonderful. I really mean it. And I love Jisu - she’s the sweetest girl. Though, I might just wind up marrying her.” He winked, if only to lighten the mood, and Hongjoong cracked a smile at that. 

“Don’t let her hear you say that,” Hongjoong warned, resting his chin against his palm. “She loves you, though. And you’re so patient with her, it makes me so happy to see. Most people are instantly turned off when I tell them about her, but not you - you’re different.” 

Seonghwa had never been happier to be different, for all he had done was just be himself. “But I do feel like I owe it to you to be honest. Because I think you’re amazing, but I don’t want to waste your time,” Hongjoong continued, his grip slackening in Seonghwa’s hand. “It’s hard for me not to feel guilt when I look at you, because even if this all works out between us, my heart would never be fully yours. She will always be the most important person in my life, and I struggle to let myself care for anyone else, because I fear the day that such an imbalance will cause a problem.” 

He stared at Seonghwa like he was expecting to be abandoned here at the dinner table, but that was perhaps the farthest thing from Seonghwa’s mind. “I would be concerned if you felt otherwise,” he admitted, and he really did mean it. “That doesn’t bother me. Maybe it would bother other people, but I think I’ve known that from the moment you walked into the lost and found that day. And I adore how blatantly you adore her - I would never expect for that to change.” 

Hongjoong appeared to have been bracing himself for the worst, but now all he could do was blink, surprise clear on his face. Just as he parted his lips to respond, their waiter returned with dinner, setting the plates of steaming hot food down in front of them. It smelled divine, and Seonghwa smiled at Hongjoong before pulling his hand away, reaching for the silverware. “Listen - I’m grateful that you feel comfortable enough to tell me those things, but I promise that you aren’t going to scare me away. I want to be here with you, and I want to see where this goes. I think your daughter is precious, and right now, that’s all that really matters. So let’s just enjoy dinner, okay?” 

Moving a beat behind, Hongjoong reached for his utensils as well, the tension bleeding from his frame. “Thank you,” he murmured, and Seonghwa took his first bite with a happy heart, none of his former nerves lingering. “You are really great with Jisu, though. I’ve been struggling my way through the last three years, but you just have this natural kindness to you, and it shows. Kids are influenced by the energy of the adults around them, I really do believe that.” 

Seonghwa nodded, for he had always believed that as well. Their conversation carried over the rest of dinner, considerably lighter than before now that they had gotten the heavier stuff out of the way, and he only grew more endeared the more they spoke. Hongjoong made him feel special, like he was different in a good way, and he hadn’t felt like this in a long time. 

Eventually, the waiter returned with dessert menus, though they were both full to the point of pain. Seonghwa groaned as he read over the options, and Hongjoong muffled his laugh with his palm. “We don’t have to get dessert, you know,” he pointed out, but Seonghwa shook his head without any hesitation. 

“The dessert here is too good to pass up - even if it pushes me over the edge. You might have to leave me here, I don’t know if I’ll be able to walk back to campus after this.” And of course he had worn a cropped blazer - a little foresight would have been nice, but alas, it was too late for that now. 

So they decided to share a slice of chocolate cake, and when it came out they both took alternating bites, until only one bite remained. “I swear, this is like those stupid romance movies that San always watches,” Seonghwa commented, if only to make Hongjoong laugh. He seemed to be doing a lot of that, and Seonghwa was very proud of himself for his humor. “Only, I’m definitely not sharing this bite with you. It’s way too delicious for that - hey! Oh my god, you traitor!” 

Hongjoong grinned around the mouthful of cake, for he had swooped in and taken it before Seonghwa had even been able to finish his sentence. “Sorry, but when it comes to the last bite of dessert, it’s every man for himself,” he said with a shrug, and Seonghwa dissolved into laughter, pressing a hand to his stomach when an ache formed there. 

After an argument over who would pay the bill, Hongjoong had refused to allow Seonghwa to so much as touch the leather booklet, asserting that he had been the one to ask for the date. Seonghwa had eventually relented, and the two of them left the restaurant arm in arm, hearts as full as their stomachs. 

During the time they had spent having dinner, the air had grown a bit more humid, and they walked quickly across the street to make it back to campus before the imminent rains began. Storm clouds obscured the stars above, the moon barely peeking out from behind them, and the street shone with moisture. It was a beautiful night, and Seonghwa laughed freely as Hongjoong tugged him down the sidewalk, the sounds snatched by the wind. 

The beginnings of a drizzle touched his skin, and he shivered at the feeling, drawing close to Hongjoong for the warmth he provided. Hongjoong slung an arm over his shoulder without a second of hesitation, and Seonghwa nearly dissolved into the touch, unable to keep the smile off of his lips. “What are the odds we actually make it back to the dorm before it starts pouring?” he asked, and Hongjoong pondered the question for a moment, squinting up at the sky. 

As if the clouds had heard Seonghwa’s voice, a boom of thunder shook the air, and heavier drops of rain began to fall, splattering against their hair and clothing. No one else was outside other than the two of them, and they managed to make it through the entrance to campus before Hongjoong pulled Seonghwa into a bus stop with an overhang. The rain pounded hard against the roof above their heads, and Seonghwa ran a hand through his hair, hoping that the rain hadn’t completely ruined it. 

Not that it mattered, for Hongjoong’s bangs were hanging down in front of his eyes, water droplets running down his face. The sight of him made Seonghwa giggle, and he reached over to brush the hair away from his face, using the fabric of his sleeve to dry away as much of the rain as he could. “There,” he said when he was done, intending to step back, but Hongjoong pressed a hand against his waist to keep him in place. 

His fingers were cold, and they sent shivers up the strip of exposed skin along Seonghwa’s middle, firm but gentle. They stared at each other for a moment, and Seonghwa’s body forgot how to breathe. Even drenched in rainwater like he was now, Hongjoong was the most enchanting man he had ever had the pleasure of standing nose to nose with, and he knew what was coming before it happened. 

“I had a great time with you,” Hongjoong murmured, and though his voice was nearly drowned out by another crash of thunder, Seonghwa swore the words rang in his ears regardless. He raised a hand to tuck Seonghwa’s hair behind his ear, polished fingers delicate in their movements. “But I will say, I’ve been wanting to do this since the day we met.” His hand drifted down to cup Seonghwa’s cheek, cold against the heat of his face, and Seonghwa allowed his eyes to flutter closed as his heart pounded against his ribs. 

Hongjoong’s lips brushed over his own with no real force at first, just a tender graze of contact before he pulled back enough to make sure Seonghwa was receptive. Seonghwa glanced up at him with hooded eyes, and he could see the moment that Hongjoong’s patience ran out, his expression shifting towards desperation as he leaned forward once more. 

Their lips collided with eagerness this time, and Seonghwa wrapped his arms around Hongjoong’s shoulders, their chests touching as they clutched onto each other to keep out the chill. Hongjoong’s lips were impossibly soft, and they moved with practiced ease, deepening the kiss after what felt like both an eternity and a second’s time, sliding his tongue over the seal of Seonghwa’s mouth. A soft sound rumbled in Seonghwa’s chest, and he leaned further into Hongjoong, completely unconcerned that they were sharing quite a passionate kiss in public. No one was around anyway, and all that mattered to him right then was the man who had taken him out on the kind of date he had always wished for. 

He ran his hands over the lean muscle of Hongjoong’s shoulders before resting them around the back of his neck, feeling the pulse of his skin as it matched his own, both of them shaken by the other. Hongjoong’s hands roamed the skin of Seonghwa’s waist, sliding beneath the cropped edge of his blazer, and Seonghwa had been rendered completely breathless by the time they pulled apart. 

His lips were swollen, and as he looked at Hongjoong he noted that he wasn’t the only one. They were both blushing, but even then they remained with their bodies pressed together, the icy rain entirely forgotten. “Damn,” Seonghwa breathed, and Hongjoong grinned, his face flushed. “I always thought dads were sexy, but damn.” 

Hongjoong burst into surprised laughter, covering his face with his hands. “Oh my god, you did not just call me a dad. That feels so weird - I’m still in my early twenties!” 

“But you’re still a dad,” Seonghwa insisted. “And that was still really hot, so I wouldn’t protest too much if I were you. Now I understand why you have a child.” 

Hongjoong’s laughter grew in volume, until it seemed to reverberate around the bus stop, drowning out the sounds of the storm. “You’re ridiculous. I’m flattered, but please - I think you’re giving me too much credit. Don’t underestimate yourself, either.” Now it was Seonghwa’s turn to blush, and Hongjoong grinned at him, soaked with rain and more beautiful than Seonghwa could stand. “It doesn’t seem like the rain will be letting up for a little while, though. And Wooyoung and San did say that we could take our time…” his voice trailed off, and Seonghwa rolled his eyes, his heart beating in anticipation. 

“Oh, please. They would wait for years if they knew why we were taking so long.” He returned the grin, stepping close and lacing his fingers behind Hongjoong’s neck, blinking the raindrops out of his eyes. “So enough with the talking - please just kiss me again.” 

And Hongjoong did exactly that, their lips meeting again as they waited out the storm, hearts content and full of hope for what the future could potentially hold for the two of them. Right then, Seonghwa didn’t want to be anywhere else, and the irony was not lost on him - Hongjoong had come into the lost and found that day, and they had both found a lot more than they had bargained for.