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It had been a couple of weeks since Noah and Yejun kissed. Nothing had changed in their dynamic, except getting texts each day when they woke up. This was all a different experience to Noah. He had never had a partner - girlfriend or boyfriend - so he didn’t know what to expect. It was all new when Yejun would give him good morning texts, or small voice messages wishing him a good night.
They hadn’t spent any time together due to their schedule. Between lives, practice and promotions the band had barely any time to sleep, much less any time for Noah and Yejun were caught up in their hectic schedules.
It was late at night when a knock came on Noah’s door. He got up from his couch and looked through the security camera. It was Yejun.
Noah cracked the door open. “What are you doing here? It’s midnight.”
“Just thought I would drop by,” Yejun smiled. “I brought beer?”
“Well, now that you say that you have beer that changes everything,” Noah laughed. “Seriously, why are you here?”
“Are you saying no?” Yejun deflated slightly.
“Come on in,” Noah opened the door and Yejun walked through. After he took off his shoes and jacket, Yejun placed the bag on the kitchen counter. “I ask you again, why are you here?”
“I can’t visit my…uh, my best guy?” Yejun asked in return.
“At this hour?”
“Should I leave…?” Yejun asked.
“No! No,” Noah walked up to him and placed his hand on his shoulder, not really knowing how to show physical affection. “Stay.”
Yejun smiled, and held up a can.
“Please,” Noah grabbed a can, and Yejun followed. They propped themselves on the couch, watching a random variety show. Noah saw Yejun typing away on his phone. “Who are you texting?”
“Bubble.”
“Now, what could you possibly be saying to the fans? ‘Noah and I are on a date’?”
“No, just saying that I miss them,” Yejun chuckled.
“You sure like doing that.”
“Jealous?”
“Absolutely not,” Noah smiled. “You already sent me voice notes.” He got closer to Yejun on the couch, putting his head on Yejun’s lap. “We should go on a date.”
Yejun had some beer in his mouth. “Hm?”
“You know. Me or you go out, and one of us pays for dinner. Or a movie. Or we stroll along the Han River.”
“Have you ever been on a date?” Yejun smiled as he put his hand through Noah’s blond hair.
“Sure, absolutely,” Noah lied.
“You liar.”
“I am not lying.”
“Yes you are. I can tell you have a tell because you lie all the time on stream.”
“I am not lying, I am merely expanding the lore.”
“Well then, date expert, let’s go on one. Our first,” Yejun smiled. They watched a couple more episodes before Yejun packed up to go. “So when do you want to go?”
“Monday?”
“As far as I know we are off that night. As long as we don’t get called at the last minute, I think that day is good,” he grabbed Noah’s hand, and intertwined it with his.
Yejun smoothed out his button up, and took a deep breath. He wasn’t nervous. Definitely not nervous.
He rubbed his hands on his face. The last time he had a date was in high school when he took out his classmate for ice cream. Him and Noah decided on a simple dinner, and Yejun found a small restaurant around the corner from Noah’s apartment. Herald by locals, at least that is what the review said, so he decided to try it out with Noah by his side.
He rode the subway to Noah’s place, tapping his shoe the whole way there. Yejun faced the door and took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell. The door beeped and Noah answered. He was in slender khakis and an argyle sweater. He’s seen Noah like this before, but it was in a different light. This was for him. “Hi.”
Noah smiled. “Hi.”
“Are you ready?”
The air suddenly became tense. Noah had his jacket in hand. “Let’s go.”
The restaurant was loud enough to make them feel like they weren’t the only people in the world, but quiet enough that they could have their own conversations. They ordered their drinks, and then their dinner. Noah looked at Yejun. Really looked at him. The wispy strands of his blue hair fell neatly against his face, framing his face as though it was part of an art exhibition. All Noah wanted to do was brush it away, but he stopped himself. He would save that for when they were alone.
The food arrived, and Noah and Yejun were still quiet.
“So,” Noah cleared his throat after he sipped his water.
“Easier when we weren’t entangled, huh?” Yejun smirked. “We’re still friends, just…a little bit more to it.”
“Kind of feels awkward, to be honest.”
“Yeah?” Yejun took another couple of bites of his food. “We can…we can just go after the food?” He was slightly disappointed.
“No, no. I like it, please don’t get me wrong,” Noah assured him. “It’s just. We’re friends first, not…” Noah tried to find the correct words. “Well, what’s going on with us,” he cleared his throat, “first.”
“Ah. You’re not sure how to navigate this?” Yejun asked in return.
“That’s a whole lot better way of putting that.”
“If it makes you feel any better, me either. This is entirely new in so many ways,” Yejun said. He pushed his empty bowl forward. “This is our first outing. No need to rush it.”
“Why do you always have such a way with words?”
“Not sure,” Yejun shrugged. He looked at Noah, his hair falling on his shoulders, looking at him in a new light. He always saw him, just now it was like he was a shining star. He shook his head slightly to get rid of the intrusive thought. He wasn’t ready to think like that. Taking things slow meant thinking that he was attracted to Noah, not falling in love so fast. Noah’s head was facing down. “Who are you texting?”
“Bubble,” a smile came across Noah’s face.
“Now what could you be saying to the fans?”
“That I’m buying you soup. That we’re on a date,” a sly smile struck Noah. “Oh they’re not gonna believe anything. We’re like this all the time with the fans, let’s be real.”
“Fine,” Yejun laughed, “as long as you hold up your deal and pay for dinner.”
“You got it,” Noah smiled.
“Where to next?”
“Ice cream?”
They walked down the crowded street, avoiding people from hitting them, while eating the treat. There was comfortable silence the whole time, but it wasn’t awkward, not in the slightest.
After a short time, they got back to Noah’s apartment. They popped inside, and stood in the foyer.
“This was nice. Really nice,” Noah said. He took off his jacket and shoes. “Do you want to come in or…”
“I think I’m going to go home,” Yejun mentioned.
“Did I do anything wrong?”
“Not in the slightest,” Yejun smiled. “Just tired. Long day tomorrow.” Yejun closed the gap between them. “I hope we can do this again. Can I kiss you?”
“Yes,” Noah smiled.
Yejun leaned down slightly and softly kissed Noah. He smiled into it. “You know, I really enjoy kissing you,” he pulled apart.
“We can do it more. Nothing is changing,” Noah held Yejun’s chin, and kissed Yejun again. A chaste one, but a kiss nonetheless. “Go, before your beauty sleep gets interrupted.”
“I should say the same to you, but you’re going to stay up until 3am and then complain again when you get to work.”
“Shhh,” Noah chuckled. “Goodnight, Yejun. Thank you for tonight. Maybe…we can do it again?”
“My treat next time.”
“Make it a promise.”
“I promise,” Yejun smiled.