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Hao hums as he listens to Ricky on the other line of his phone, journaling. Some disaster of Gyuvin wearing flannel on their latest date. He’d been invited out by his mother to greet their new neighbours, but priorities.
“Anyways,” Ricky concludes. “You should go see your mom outside.”
“Ricky,” Hao grumbles into his phone, “must I say hi to these neighbours?”
“It would be courteous,” Ricky notes.
Hao walks over to his window, eyes trailing over the neighbour’s lawn. “Yeah, but I’m in the middle of journaling, and–” Hao’s jaw drops, ending his sentence.
“Hello?” Ricky asks, his words falling on deaf ears. “Hao, are you there?”
Hao stares out of his window in disbelief. “Okay, nobody told me the neighbour’s son would be hot. Ricky, I have to go speak to this man.”
“But, Hao, I–”
Hao snaps his phone shut, jumping in front of the mirror to toy around with the strands of his hair and adjust his glasses before popping a breath mint in his mouth and running down the stairs and out onto the street.
Hao’s mother is already there, speaking with whoever the mother moving in is. Hao, however, turns his attention to the boy and girl, more specifically, the guy. He’s handsome. He is so, so handsome, and Hao is literally going to pass away if he says anything
“Nice shoes.”
Hao looks down. He hadn’t even thought about the panda slippers that he had slipped on earlier in the day, too concerned bout his face looking decent enough. He reddens, much like his hair. “Oh, thanks.” Not the first impression he wanted to make, especially with the slight panting from running out of the house. “So, you’re moving in?”
“That’s what it looks like,” the cute boy laughs, and Hao laughs along—albeit unnaturally and forced, but it’s what it takes for him to prolong their interaction.
“I’m Zhang Hao,” Hao introduces, pushing his glasses up his nose.
“Sung Hanbin.”
Hanbin. Hao notes the inflection in Hanbin’s voice, the slight raise on the bin. It’s cute, really cute, Hanbin-cute.
“So.” Hao sways back and forth on his heels, a habit that he has kept up his entire life. “What made you guys decide to move to Seogwipo-si?”
“Well, my family is from Cheonan—Ssangyong-dong, to be specific” Hanbin starts, “but my mom’s sister already has a family here, and she figured it would be a nice opportunity to move and be closer to her sister.”
Hao nods. He probably knows how Hanbin’s aunt is, most likely, and the curiosity crosses his mind for a second.
“What about you?”
“What?”
“You moved here too,” Hanbin notes. “Your last name is Zhang—you’re from China, right?”
My last name could easily be Sung. “I moved here when I was younger. We just wanted the new opportunities, I guess.”
Hanbin lets out a little “ah” in understanding. Hao thinks it’s the cutest thing. Where has this man been all his life? “Since you know the area so well you have to tell me any good places. Even if they’re touristy.”
“All of the tourists go to Jeju-si instead anyways,” Hao jokes. “But I’ll be sure to let you know. I could even take you around town, if you’d like.”
Hanbin smiles. “Well, you know where to find me.”
“Hao!” Hao’s mother finally notices him. “Come say hi to Ms. Sung!”
Hao does as his mother pleases, forcing his way through conversation with Hanbin’s mother (“Ms. Kim? Really?” as if there aren’t many, many Ms. Kim’s she could be talking about) before slinking back into his house and upstairs, where he doesn’t forget to give Ricky an update.
[ From ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; DID YOU FORGET ABOUT ME LITTLE SHIT ]
(No message.)
Delivered 1:24pm
[ To ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; HOT SINGLES ARE IN MY AREA ]
sooo i did go talk to the guy. he’s so… i can’t even describe it in words. the man is actually SO FINE dont even piss me off. i offered to take him around town so… look at me go!! only problem is that i was in my panda slippers and they were the FIRST thing he pointed out. gonna go cry now.
Delivered 2:04pm
[ From ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; OKAY ]
honestly good for you! minus the slippers i personally would not have spoken to you after this. also: gyub is hosting a bbq tmrw, so lmk if you’ll be there!
Delivered 2:09pm
[ To ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; OFC I WILL DUH ]
and imagine if hanbin’s there too oh id pass away
Delivered 2:14pm
[ From ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; PROLLY NOT LOL ]
but i will admit that i feel like i recognize that name from somewhere… hm. looking forward to seeing you tmrw!
Delivered 2:18pm
“You have no idea, Ricky.” Hanbin’s face crosses Hao’s mind again. “He was so…”
Ricky stares at him, unimpressed. Hao has only been at the barbecue for a few minutes, but he has already told Ricky everything he knows about Hanbin. Twice. “Hao, your descriptions don’t help me if you never finish them.”
Hao huffs. “You’re practically my younger brother. You should be able to read my mind.”
“We aren’t even related.”
Hao pouts, turning his attention elsewhere. Their parents are all chatting it up in a corner, leaving a few groups of kids Hao’s age and, of course, his own. Jiwoong, Gyuvin’s older brother, watches them from afar, attached to his best friend, Seobin. Gyuvin’s dad is working on the grill, Gyuvin’s mother hovering around him.
“Gyuvin,” he whines, “how long until we eat?”
Gyuvin rolls his eyes, turning his head back to the gate leading to them. His eyes widen as the next guest walks towards them. “Hanbin!”
Hanbin? Hao nearly jumps when he looks where Gyuvin has now started walking. Sung Hanbin is greeting him with a grin, engaging in a bright conversation.
“Oh!” Ricky snaps his fingers. “Hanbin is Gyuvin’s cousin. He’s mentioned him in passing before.”
As if that information will help at all. “Ricky, I look like ass right now. There’s no way that he’s going to even glance at me when I’m dressed like this.”
“You look fine.” Ricky looks over Hao’s cropped graphic tee and flared, low-rise jeans. “This is all you wear. You look fine.”
Hao tries to convince himself. It’s definitely a step up from yesterday’s oversized outfit, but it’s not his best. Had he known Hanbin was coming…
“Oh, Hao!” Hanbin waves, smile bright and welcoming. He remembers who Hao is.
Ricky nudges Hao slightly, so Hao stands up from his lawn chair and waves back. “Hanbin! I didn’t think I’d see you here!”
“And I didn’t think you were thirsting over my cousin,” Gyuvin mutters under his breath, but Hao elbows him hard in the stomach.
“I know, right?” Hanbin shoves his hands in his pockets. “It’s really a small town, isn’t it?”
“Oh, definitely,” Gyuvin answers for Hao.
Hao shoots Ricky a certain look, one that hopefully screams get your boyfriend away from me and my future boyfriend. Ricky takes the hint, placing his hands on Gyuvin’s shoulder. “Hi, Hanbin. I’m Ricky, Gyuvin’s boyfriend.”
Hanbin gives him a wave as Ricky hastily whispers something into his ear.Gyuvin’s face goes distant, dazed as he usually is whenever Ricky confesses his undying love or offers to go have them make out in a corner. Clearly, it’s the latter, and Hao shoots Ricky another look (this time apologetic) as he leaves him and Hanbin.
“Gyuvin’s right,” Hao says, picking back up the conversation. “It just helps you get to know everyone a bit more.”
He hangs on to Hanbin's arm a bit, pointing out the people around them. When he squeezes ever so slightly, he can feel muscle concealed by his jacket. It’s nearly 30 degrees—why is he wearing that?
“You should take off your jacket,” Hao offers for the sole reason of it being hot and not because he wants to see Hanbin’s arms.
Hanbin shrugs off his coat and lays it down on an empty lawn chair, revealing just what Hao’s been hoping is underneath. Namely, a tank top with low-cut sides.
Hao tries not to stare as Hanbin turns back to face him. “You’ve got quite the community going on here, then.”
“You could say that.”
“Can I get your number, then?”
Hao blinks. He somehow successfully stops the “guhhh” brewing in the back of his throat, fumbling for his phone in his back pocket. He fails at flipping it open a few times before finally succeeding. “Yeah. Sure,” he answers, throat dry.
Hanbin gets his phone out too, quickly exchanging numbers with Hao. At that moment, Gyuvin and Ricky return, faces red. Ricky looks over Hao and Hanbin before whispering something into Gyuvin’s ears.
“Hanbin,” Gyuvin starts, “we need one more table. Can you help me move it out?”
“Sure.” Hanbin gives a little pat to Hao’s shoulder before following Gyuvin back inside the house. Hao walks towards Ricky, who has a knowing smirk on his face. “What did you do?”
“Nothing,” Ricky shrugs. “I just know what you were staring at.”
At that moment, Hanbin and Gyuvin exit this house, a table between them. Clearly, Hanbin’s doing most of the work, but that only gives Hao a better look at the flex of Hanbin’s arms.
“Ricky, I’m going to kill you.”
“Oh, don’t even lie,” Ricky sneers. “I accept thanks in the form of cash or chocolate covered strawberries.”
Hao only rolls his eyes, sitting down in his chair. Hanbin appears by his side, moving his chair closer to Hao’s before sitting down beside him. It’s truly a small gesture, but Hao knows that it’s the type of thing he’ll be giggling about to Ricky at three in the morning whispering “he wants me so bad!!!!” into the night.
“Don’t forget to message me,” Hanbin whispers into Hao’s ear at one point, and somewhere between the breath on his neck and the hand on his thigh, there are butterflies swarming through his body.
Hao finally forces himself to message Hanbin a few days later, biting his nails as he sends a few messages. One of the hotspots of their city is their central mall, and Hao figures that they can go on a little date/totally platonic hangout.
Hanbin agrees to it, and within an hour, he’s knocking on Hao’s door. Hao adjusts his glasses on his face one last time before slipping out of his front door, smiling at Hanbin.
Hanbin grins back. “So, the mall?”
“Pretty sure that’s what my message said,” Hao quips.
Hanbin scoffs, playfully shoving the other. Hao documents this as a highlight before sighing and leading the way towards the mall.
Once they arrive, Hao immediately takes them to a clothing store, gawking at the displays. He points inside, grinning. “I should buy you something. As a welcome gift.”
Hanbin’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head. “Oh, please, you don’t have to do all that.”
“When’s your birthday?”
“June 13th.”
“Take it as a late birthday gift.”
Hanbin doesn’t argue with that. “When’s your birthday?”
“July 25th,” Hao answers absentmindedly, already pulling Hanbin into the store alongside him.
Hanbin nods. “It’s coming up soon, then. I’ll have to get you something.”
“Oh, you don’t need to.”
“How hypocritical.”
Hao doesn’t answer that. “I’ll buy you whatever you look good in.”
The problem is that Hanbin looks good in everything Hao picks out for him, but Hao does not have limitless money to buy everything (if he did, Hanbin would be swimming in clothes). Those café tips from the previous summer did not do wonders, unfortunately. He looks effortlessly good in varsity jackets, sweaters, button-ups, low-cut tank tops(!!), and even the blazer that Hanbin throws over his graphic tee as a joke.
“You look good in everything,” Hao grumbles, draping a shirt over Hanbin’s body.
Hanbin’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Then I’ll decide.” Hanbin smiles, even with the stack of clothes in his arms. “You look around and see if there’s anything you like.”
Hao only does a brief survey of the store. There’s a few cute looking bags hanging around, this fuzzy pink sweater that his eyes linger on for a moment, a few nice tees…
“This one,” Hanbin decides, holding up a bright pink varsity jacket that had been buried at the bottom of the pile. Hao laughs a bit when he sees it, taking the rest of the items to hang onto the return rack for the dressing rooms.
“Way to make a statement,” Hao scoffs.
Hanbin beams. “It’s a nice colour.”
Hao can’t deny that, so he takes the hoodie to the cash register and buys it, as promised. He even asks for a bag for the extra gag, and he refuses to let Hanbin see what’s inside.
They get food from the food court (which Hao also pays for after finding out Hanbin is a year younger than him, stating that “hyung will treat you”). Their date(? Can Hao even call it that without confirmation from the other party?) ends at Hanbin’s doorstep, where Hao finally unveils the bag to Hanbin again.
“Happy belated birthday,” Hao announces, holding out the bag.
Hanbin takes it from him, holding back a laugh. “For me? Crazy!”
He opens the bag and takes out the jacket, oohing and ahhing as required. He slips it on and everything, where Hao finally assures him that the joke can die.
“In all seriousness…” Hanbin smiles. “I had fun today, Hao.”
“Oh.” Hao blushes. “I did too. Really.”
“Promise we’ll do this again sometime?”
Hanbin sticks out his pinky as he does so, and Hao smiles. It’s cute.
He links their pinkies together. “Of course we can.”
Hanbin’s offer materializes in a message a few days later.
[ From ; HANBIN]
[ Subject : BEACH TRIP? ]
hey, hao hyung! i was wondering if you wanted to go to the beach tonight?
Delivered 4:50pm
Hao stares at the message. He had made plans to go out with Ricky and Gyuvin, but sometimes he had to have priorities.
[ To ; RICKY ]
[ Subject CANT MAKE DINNER OOPS]
sorry not sorry! hanbin just asked me out on a date
Delivered 4:53pm
[ From ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; HAVE FUN ]
see normally i’d be pissed off but you’ve been less bitchy every since he moved here so i’ll let it slide
Delivered 4:54pm
[ To ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; WTF ]
now what’s THAT supposed to mean??? i was going to ask to reschedule but now i dont think i will
Delivered 4:56pm
[ To ; HANBIN ]
[ Subject ; OF COURSE ]
let’s head out at 8 :)
Delivered 5:00pm
Hanbin knocks on Hao’s door at 8:00 on the dot, wearing the bright pink varsity jacket that Hao bought him. Hao was right; it is a little over the top, but it still fits Hanbin perfectly as he offers out a hand.
“You look like a dork,” Hao jokes, taking Hanbin’s hand.
Hanbin laughs, voice bright and full. “But you bought it for me. Of course I have to be over the top.”
The beach isn’t far from their corner of the city, only a short walk, but it’s enough time for Hao to be conscious of the fact that he and Hanbin hold hands the entire way there.
When they arrive, the sun is setting much earlier than it usually does. It gives them a moment to waste away in the sand, looking up at the forming stars before observing the beautiful colours of the sunset once more.
“Want to walk?” Hanbin asks after a while. Hao nods, but the first thought to cross his mind is the fact that they’ve been sitting in a comfortable silence with each other the entire time,enjoying nothing but each other’s presence.
Hanbin takes Hao’s hand again to pull him up, but he doesn’t let go as they start to walk across the shoreline. Can I say something crazy? Hao wants to ask. I’ve been in love with you since the moment I laid my eyes on you.
But that feels like too much, even in those moments where Hanbin stares at him like he built up the entire universe and hung the stars. It feels like too much, even on a day like today, where they walk hand in hand on the beach and watch the sunset like a couple.
Couple. That’s what they are, aren’t they? In the talking stage?
“Hey.” Hanbin’s voice snaps Hao out of his thoughts. “What are you thinking about, Hao?”
“Nothing,” Hao lies.
“Stop lying.”
So they’re at a point where Hanbin can read him easily. “Nothing. Everything.”
“Be more specific,” Hanbin prods further, nudging Hao slightly.
Hao takes a breath. “Us.”
Hanbin doesn’t say anything to that, and Hao can’t decide if he’s thankful for the silence or scared for how Hanbin’s interpreting his words. They continue walking, hand in hand, and Hao looks towards the sunset to distract himself.
“Can I say something?” Hanbin asks.
Hao doesn’t look at him yet, but he nods.
Hanbin doesn’t start talking immediately, letting the waves fill the silence between them. “I really,” he starts, the slightest bit of an awkward laugh stuck in his throat, “I really like you, Hao.”
Hao clears his throat. “Oh,” he hums, the syllable choked and forced out of his mouth. He clears his throat again, though it doesn’t do anything more for him. “Oh,” he repeats.
Hanbin tsks lightly. “I shouldn’t have said that, huh?”
“No!” Hao rushes to fix the situation. “No,” he repeats, slowing. “No, I really…”
He bites his tongue. No point in concealing himself if Hanbin has the same feelings, huh? “I really like you, Hanbin.”
Hanbin exhales, clearly a breath that he’s been holding. Hao doesn’t know what else to do besides squeeze his hand in reassurance, so he does just that.
“Well,”is all that Hanbin says, squeezing Hao’s hand back. His hands are warm, just like it should be, but the sun gone has Hao shivering a bit.
“Wait.” Hanbin drops Hao’s hand, taking off his letterman jacket. “Hold this,” he instructs, and Hao holds the jacket as Hanbin pulls off his hoodie, revealing a sliver of a toned stomach before his shirt falls again and he swaps the jacket in Hao’s hands for his hoodie. “Put that on.”
“Oh, you didn’t need to–”
Hanbin casts him a playful glare, and Hao slips the hoodie over his head. It’s warm, just like Hanbin, and smells like whatever laundry detergent he uses. It fits the slightest bit oversized on him.
“Let’s go home,” Hanbin says, and Hao nods, finally looking at him properly. Hanbin’s cheeks have the slightest bit of a blush on them, and Hao can imagine that his own are the same.
They walk in silence again, but it isn’t as though Hao wants to keep the silence. He has so much that he wants to say, but no way to put all of it together. He can, however, summarize it like this: he doesn’t want Hanbin to leave him. Ever.
As they arrive at Hao’s doorstep, Hao turns around and smiles at Hanbin. “Thank you,” he says. “Today was nice.”
Hanbin nods, eyes glancing at Hao’s lips for only a moment. Hao hopes that Hanbin will kiss him, but he can tell it’s unlikely once Hanbin looks back up at him.
“I’ll call you?” he asks instead, and Hao nods.
Sure enough, just as Hao is tucking himself into bed, his phone rings. He picks it up the moment he sees that it’s Hanbin calling him.
“Hi,” he exhales into the phone.
“Hi,” Hanbin says back. “So.”
“So,” Hao repeats. His room is dead silent, so all that he can hear is Hanbin’s quiet breaths on the speaker. Part of him wants to stay like this—close his eyes and pretend like he’s laying on Hanbin’s chest. He can imagine the slight rising and falling of Hanbin’s chest, maybe even hands in his hair stroking through it, surrounded by Hanbin’s scent… or that could be the hoodie that he’s still wearing.
“I forgot to return your hoodie,” Hao says, cutting into the silence.
Hanbin exhales a laugh. “You didn’t need to,” he reassures. “Are you still wearing it?”
Hao snuggles into the hoodie. “Yeah.”
“Keep it, then.”
“Oh…” Hao trails off, toying with the strings of the hoodie. “No, I could never.”
“What if I just refuse to take it back?”
Hao scoffs. “I’ll force you to.”
“There’s not really a dramatic backstory to that hoodie or anything.” Hao can hear the indifference in Hanbin’s voice. “Besides, hyung looks cute in it.”
“Uh-huh,” Hao grits out. “How was life back in Cheonan, actually? I never asked.”
So Hanbin tells. He tells stories of his previous friends, Kim Taerae (whose birthday just passed), Seok Matthew, and Han Yujin. Taerae had been the first person that Hanbin met in school, and he had been introduced to Matthew at the beginning of high school. As for Yujin, he was a hoobae the trio met in their senior year.
Hanbin talks about home a little bittersweetly, which is justified. Still, Hao feels a little pang of jealousy when he hears how fondly Hanbin speaks of Matthew and Taerae (Yujin is just Hanbin’s child, as Hao has figured). It’s a given; he’s known them longer, much longer than Hao.
“Hao-hyung?” Hanbin asked after a while. “You’re quiet.”
“Oh.” Hao sits up in his bed. “No, I’m listening.”
His voice must be stiff, because Hanbin reads him easily. “Are you jealous?”
“…No,” Hao lies.
Hanbin laughs. “If it makes you feel better, they were—and still are—dating each other.”
Hao does let out a little sigh at that. He lies back down on his bed again, pulling the blanket over his body. It’s a little hot, given how warm Hanbin’s hoodie is, but he wouldn’t dare to take it off. “Continue,” he says slowly.
“Alright.”
Listening to Hanbin’s stories is easy. Hao would easily listen to him talk for hours on end just to hear the sound of Hanbin’s voice. Just to be around Hanbin, even. It’s a lovely, lovely thing to listen to, and Hanbin’s passion in his memories that he savours is only another thing that Hao can find to love about Hanbin.
“I…” love you. It almost spills off of Hao’s tongue, so quiet that Hanbin doesn’t pick it up on his end. Hao’s thankful for that, thankful that Hanbin doesn’t know how easy it is to love him.
Hanbin continues. His voice has a sort of lulling effect to it, one that has Hao dozing off. Though he’s near sleep, he still hears the soft “Hao?” before Hanbin sighs and mutters, “good night.”
Hao wakes up on his birthday to find breakfast on his bedside table, still warm. It’s been a tradition that his mom has conformed to the past few years, always serving Hao breakfast in bed with a little note.
Hao smiles as he starts to eat, biting into the toast that his mother worked oh-so-carefully to make. Usually, he’s left alone until he leaves his room, so it comes as a surprise when Hao hears knocking on his door.
“Yes?”
“Hao!” Hao’s mother pokes her head through the door. “Firstly, happy birthday, and secondly, someone’s at the door for you.”
That’s… new. “Who’s there?”
“The boy next door, I’m pretty sure.”
Hao resists jumping out of his bed in order to avoid spilling the tray in his lap. He calmly moves it aside, forcing his way out of bed and down the stairs.
He peeks through the peephole of the door, where Hanbin shifts from foot to foot. He has a bag in his hands, the same from the store that they previously went to.
Hao opens the door. “H–”
“Happy birthday!” Hanbin holds out the bag. “I said I’d get you something, right?”
“Oh!” Hao takes the bag from Hanbin, opening it to find the same fuzzy pink sweater that he had been looking at.
When he looks back up at Hanbin, he realizes that he’s wearing the letterman from that day. Hanbin looks proud of himself, a satisfied grin on his face. “Now we match!”
Sure enough, Hao holds up the sweater and finds that the pinks are a perfect match. “That’s nice.”
Hanbin nods. “Loving the outfit, by the way.”
Hao looks down. He still has on Hanbin’s hoodie, being reluctant to sleep without it since he got it a few days ago, and his pajama bottoms decorated with Miffy’s face. As if to laugh in his face, he discovers that he’s been wearing the same panda slippers from the first day he met Hanbin. “Oh.”
“It’s cute.” Hanbin ruffles Hao’s hair.
Hao looks at Hanbin. Like, really looks. He’s been spending the past few days staying up way too late while talking to Hanbin over the phone, and he hasn’t seen the younger since their walk out on the beach. That day had felt so much like a date, and looking at Hanbin now, Hao couldn’t help but remember wanting to kiss Hanbin badly.
“Hao?”
Hao presses his lips together. Not now. There’ll be a better time. “Come back tomorrow?”
Hanbin eyebrows furrowed. “Sure.”
“It’s nothing bad, I promise,” Hao assures. “And thank you so much, Hanbin.”
He pulls the younger into a hug, hoping that it’ll at least be enough to put Hanbin at ease. “Really, thank you.”
“Thank you, Hao,” Hanbin responds, relaxing into Hao’s arms. Hao lightly presses a kiss against Hanbin’s neck before pulling back.
Tomorrow is going to be a day, if Hao has anything to say about it.
Hao, for the first time in the summer, chooses to wake up early. He throws on his new gift and a similarly coloured beret, sighing at himself in the mirror. He knows that it’s a little too early in knowing Hanbin for them to go through confessions of undying and comically extreme love, but a man can dream.
Hanbin knocks on the door at 12, and Hao is there to open it. He can tell that Hanbin’s nervous based on how he’s shifting side to side, but Hao smiles at how Hanbin is wearing his letterman (for the second day in a row, but that can be ignored) and knows that his planned date will go according to plan. Hopefully.
“So…” Hanbin trails off as Hao exits his house and starts walking down the road, “where are we going?”
“Last time we went to the beach, all of the shops there were closed,” Hao explains. “There’s a bubble tea shop on the boardwalk that I think you’d love. It’s an essential spot.”
And the hotspot for romance.
Hanbin follows behind Hao quickly, a soft “wait!” escaping his lips. He takes Hao’s hand from behind as he steps into line with him. Hao tries to not show how affected he is by such a small motion, but he can feel the heat on his cheeks anyways.
“Oh, sorry.” Hanbin lifts their intertwined hands, concern written all over his face. “Is this alright?”
“Of course.” Hao nearly chokes on the words, but they’re out of his mouth and that’s that.
They walk down to the beach in half an hour, where Hanbin examines the stores on the boardwalk for the first time. Hao has to admit, there’s an interesting selection. A tattoo parlour, a barber shop, a small market, a few pricey restaurants. Hao wouldn’t mind checking out every store here with Hanbin, prices be damned.
Hao notes Hanbin’s eyes on the tattoo parlour. “Are you planning on getting a tattoo?”
“I already have two, actually.” Hanbin pushes his varsity jacket off his shoulders to display the words Don’t regret what you do on his bicep. He pulls the jacket over his shoulders again and pulls on the collar of his tank top, revealing a sun, star, and moon intricately illustrated on his collarbone.
Hao wants to kiss each celestial body. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You never asked,” Hanbin shrugs, letting go of his collar and taking Hao’s hand again.
Hao leads Hanbin down to the bubble tea shop, the atmosphere as pink and lovely as it usually is. Valentine’s day will just make it even crazier. “Do you know what you’re ordering yet?”
“I’ll… probably get a regular milk tea.”
“Boring,” Hao jokes, leaning over the counter. It’s Park Gunwook working now, and once Hao orders, he casts a look at Hanbin.
“Is he…” he whispers, shaking his head. “Are you two…”
“Not yet,” Hao answers. “But soon.”
Gunwook offers an encouraging thumbs up before turning around to make their drinks. Hao sits them down in one of the booths in the corner. The shop isn’t very busy, with only a few other couples, and Hanbin looks around in interest. “Does anyone come here alone?”
“Oh, it’s a sort of hotspot for couples,” Hao shrugs. “It makes sense; Ricky and Gyuvin showed me this place.”
Hanbin nods. Gunwook calls them up for their drinks (and a complimentary brownie, accompanied by a “good luck!” note), and Hao brings them back to their table.
“Woah,” Hanbin gasps, staring at the brownie. “When did you pay for that?”
“I didn’t,” Hao answers, tucking the note away and setting the brownie down on the table. It’s understandable, because the brownie is huge. On the menu, it’s labelled as the Made for Two Deluxe Brownie, but Hanbin doesn’t need to know that.
The two work through both the brownie and their drinks slowly, and once everything is cleared, Hanbin leans back and sighs. “God, that was good. I’ll have to pay you back again now.”
“Oh.” Hao stands, grabbing the plate and his empty cup. Hanbin follows behind him. “You really don’t need to do that. This is hyung’s way of treating you.”
Hanbin frowns as he watches Hao return the plate and throw out his cup. He follows. “But I want to pay you back.”
Hao casts Gunwook a wave as they leave. “No.”
Hanbin keeps pestering Hao as they walk down the boardwalk towards the steps that lead down to the beach.
“There’s one thing that I guess I want related to you,” Hao finally admits.
Hanbin visibly brightens. “So what is it?”
Hao sighs. He leads down Hanbin to his favourite spot on the beach, a small corner near a waterfall that leads to a tiny pond. “Let’s sit.”
Hanbin sits down beside Hao, shifting. Hao needs to decide how he’s going to form this confession.
“Okay.” Hao turns to Hanbin. Hanbin faces him as well, and Hao would easily get lost looking at his face and how his hair falls into his eyes, but he has to focus. “Sung Hanbin.”
“Zhang Hao.”
“Sung Hanbin.” Hao sighs. “I think I’m in love with you.”
“I think I’m in love with you.”
Hanbin stares at Hao with adoration, fondness, even, and it doesn’t take Hao a second to realize that’s how Hanbin has always looked at him. He grins, and Hanbin smiles back.
Slowly, Hanbin reaches for Hao’s hands. It almost feels natural how they fit together now. “Hao,” Hanbin starts cautiously, “can I kiss you?”
“Yes,” Hao answers, and he would berate himself for being so eager, but the speed at which Hanbin brings their lips together only shows him that he isn’t the only one that’s been waiting for this moment.
Hanbin cups his cheeks, and Hao slowly drapes his arms over Hanbin’s shoulders. Kissing Hanbin is freeing, like Hao’s been avoiding just how strongly he feels about the younger.
Hanbin pulls back, only a bit, and Hao giggles as their noses bump together. “I can’t even believe…” he starts, trailing off because he can’t decide what he wants to say. He’s on cloud 9.
Hanbin pulls Hao closer, if that’s even possible. “God, I really love you.” Hanbin presses their noses together again. “I know it’s soon and all, but…”
“No, no.” Hao beams. “I love you so much.”
Hao kisses Hanbin again, leaning over and nearly on top of Hanbin. Hanbin responds by rolling them over in the sand, dropping Hao off to the side as he squeals.
“God,” Hao huffs. “Today was not a good day for a sweater.”
“It’s the summer,” Hanbin supplies. “It’s never a good day for a sweater.”
“Smartass.” Hao ruffles Hanbin’s hair, pecking the latter on the cheek. He can see as Hanbin smiles, and he’s totally gone.
Finally reaching for his phone for the first time in hours, Hao checks through his messages.
[ From ; RICKY ]
[ Subject ; DINNER ]
remember that reschedule? yeah it’s tonight at 4 not 7 because gyuvin had a change of plans. see you on the boardwalk
Delivered 2:33pm
[ To ; RICKY ]
[ Subject: RE: DINNER ]
sorry was busy kissing hanbin see you in 5!!
Delivered 3:58pm
Hao didn’t even realize they’d been out for that long. “Hanbin?”
“Hm?”
“I have dinner in two minutes with Gyuvin and Ricky.”
Hanbin sits up, taking Hao’s hand. “You should get going then, right?”
“Depends.” Hao mirrors Hanbin, starting to stand up. “Are you free for dinner?”
“I’m sure I am.”
Hao pulls Hanbin up, pecking him on the lips. “Then I’m sure they won’t mind if we make it a double date.”
Hanbin pulls Hao close, wrapping an arm around him. Hao settles into his touch, feet dragging in the sand. He watches Hanbin’s footsteps, falling into line with him.
“Zhang Hao!”
Hao and Hanbin both look up at the yell, seeing Ricky leaning over the ledge of the boardwalk. Gyuvin looks concerned at how far he’s leaning, especially with the way he wavers his phone over the railing. “What is this message?”
“Nothing!” Hao lies, grinning.
Hanbin turns to him, concerned. “Should I be running?”
Hao shakes his head. “We have nothing to worry about.” He casts Ricky (passionate) and Gyuvin (stressed) another glance. “Nothing at all.”