Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Daaad, loooook!”

The sound of rushing footsteps was heard from the living room. Hyunwoo was running impatiently towards his father who was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.

"Hmm? What is it, Hyunwoo?"

Yejun glanced down at Hyunwoo who already stood beside him holding something in his hand, grinning very widely as giving his precious art project to his father. It was made from colorful popsicle sticks arranged in a square shape with paper glued to its front with a blue ribbon placed in the corner of the paper.

"I made this for you. We made it at school yesterday as a present for Father's Day."

"Really? Let me see..." Yejun hastily washed his hands and carefully took the present, examining it with a heartfelt smile. "Aw, thank you, sweetie. It's absolutely lovely," he said, unable to tear his gaze away from the artwork.

"Come on, Dad, read it!" Hyunwoo urged.

"Alright, alright," Yejun cleared his throat. "10 things I love about my Dad..." He glanced at his son, whose eyes were filled with anticipation. Despite the messy chicken scratches, fortunately, the words were readable. Yejun occasionally chuckled at some point, like when Hyunwoo stated his love when his dad bought him a pizza, or read him bedtime stories. And Yejun burst into laughter at the part ‘My dad is the most handsome man in the world.’

"Oh, wow! Am I that good-looking?" Yejun playfully inquired.

"YES! You're the most handsome Dad in the whooooole world! And you're great at magic too!" Hyunwoo cheered, his face lighting up with admiration.

"Yeah, that trick never gets old," Yejun was holding back a snicker. "Later I will teach you my ultimate magic trick."

"What's that?"

"It's called the thumb trick," Yejun replied with a mischievous grin.

Hyunwoo tilted his head, unsure of what to expect.

"It's a trick to remove your thumb from your hand," Yejun explained.

Hyunwoo's eyes widened, and his imagination quickly ran wild, shuddering at the thought of his thumb getting cut and disgustingly bleeding all over the place.

"Eww, gross! I don't want to hurt my thumb!"

Trying to hold back his laughter at his son's dramatic reaction, Yejun reassured him, "Silly, don't worry. It's completely safe! Should I show you the magic first?"

"Only if it's not scary and doesn't hurt you," Hyunwoo cautiously agreed, concern etched on his face.

"I promise it's not scary at all." Yejun was crossing his heart.

Hyunwoo's face transformed into awe and excitement. "YES, PLEASE!" he shouted, jumping up and down eagerly. Yejun positioned himself at the perfect angle to hide the secret behind the trick, his hands and shoulders wiggling animatedly as he prepared to astonish his son with his magical performance.

Sometimes it amused him to see Hyunwoo was always interested in his ridiculous trick. Hyunwoo was 3 years old when Yejun showed him magic for the first time. It was a simple 'missing coin' trick, where you made your coin vanish or moved from one hand to another. But maybe that simple trick had left a big impression on him, so he was always excited to see more.

"Are you ready?" Yejun asked. The thumb was already resting against the side of his other hand. Hyunwoo nodded. But, before he could pull the last trick, the doorbell was heard from across the living room. They cast their eyes toward the source, not expecting someone would be coming at this hour.

"Too bad, Sweetie. I'll show you later, okay?"

Yejun rushed to the front door, only to find a tall man grinning from ear to ear, a large paper bag in hand.

"Surprise!" the man exclaimed.

"Uncle Eunhooo!"

Hyunwoo shrieked with excitement as he ran towards Eunho who had kneeled, opening his arm to hug his nephew. Hyunwoo hugged him back and didn’t forget to give a cute peck on Eunho's cheek.

“Here, I bring you something."

Eunho took out a robot from the bag, causing Hyunwoo's face to light up with pure joy. It was the very same popular toy he had been yearning for, and his happiness was palpable.

Yejun, on the other hand, let out a sigh. He had been trying to teach his son patience by postponing the purchase, but it seemed that Eunho had just undone weeks of tough-love parenting.

"COOL! Dad, Uncle Eunho buy me the robot!" Hyunwoo cheered.

"Eunho you don't have to–"

"It's okay! I want to spoil my cute nephew too." He winked at the kid, clearly proud of his gift.

Yejun sighed once more. "What do we say, Hyunwoo?"

"Thank you, Uncle Eunho!" Hyunwoo exclaimed, hugging the robot tightly before racing back inside the house.

Eunho stood up and took out a bottle from inside the bag. “And this is a first-class wine for my lovely brother,” He gave it to the older, but Yejun just raised an eyebrow, suspicious of his brother's sudden generosity.

"What?" Eunho asked, feigning innocence

"You never buy me anything, though."

"So? Today I bought you something."

"What do you want? Do you need to borrow money?" Yejun asked, skepticism creeping into his voice.

Eunho retorted, clearly offended, "Do I look like someone who'd wanna borrow money?"

"Kinda."

"Geez... At least can I come inside?" Eunho huffed, attempting to brush off the banter.

Finally, Yejun let him in and Eunho lay down on the couch as soon as he entered the house. Hyunwoo sat next to him, busy gathering all his toys to play with his brand-new robot.

"I'll get you something to drink. What do you want, Eunho?" Yejun offered, making his way to the kitchen.

"Perfect! I'm really thirsty, you know. It's kinda hot outside!"

"We have iced tea and orange juice," Yejun listed the options.

"Ah, a chocolate shake would be perfect. Thank you!"

Yejun glared at him in disbelief, “You’re very welcome to make it yourself.”
Eunho rolled his eyes but ultimately followed Yejun to the kitchen. They’ve always bickered over trivial matters since they were kids. Some people might assume that they didn't get along very well, but actually, this was the way they showed their love to each other.

Eunho opened the refrigerator and scanned the compartments one by one, looking for something that he'd like to drink yet nothing caught his eyes, except a carton of milk placed at the side of the compartment. He pulled it out but it was almost empty. Then he checked on other foods, most of them were only raw vegetables, fruits, and some dish ingredients.

He turned to Yejun. "Hyung, what are you making for dinner?"

"Kimchi fried rice," Yejun answered. "We have a lot of leftovers to use up."

Eunho nodded in understanding. "Okay then, I'll be staying until dinner." It seemed he would have to hold off his thirst and hunger for a little while longer.

"Sure, why don't you wait and maybe play with Hyunwoo while I finish this?"

Eunho nodded. He stepped out of the kitchen just to see Hyunwoo still playing with his new robot. He held it up high, flying the robot around, and made a scene where he was at war. He shot out a missile to fight back the enemy, which was the giant hippo plushy. Once in a while, he'd talk to himself, making dialogue between the robot and the enemy.

“If you don’t surrender now, I will destroy the city! Muahahahaha…” He pretended to be the enemy. But then he answered back as a hero, “Huh, try me, you ugly hippo!” Then the war continued.

“Hey, Hyunwoo let’s play together,” Eunho interrupted.

“Okay, you can be the hippo,” Hyunwoo said.

“No, let’s play another game.”

“What game?”

“I don’t know,” Eunho’s eyes were scanning through the living room, trying to find something to play with, besides robots, animal stuff, and other Hyunwoo’s toys. And his attention caught something on the top of the shelf, “Let’s play iPad!” He immediately walked towards the shelf and took the iPad.

“Daddy said I’m not allowed to play it.”

“Relax, I’ll talk to him,” Eunho then sat back on the couch and Hyunwoo shifted closer so he could lay back on Eunho’s arm. When they turned it on, a dating app interface suddenly popped out of the screen. Guess, Yejun forgot to close it. They looked at it for a minute, reading Yejun’s profile.

There were a lot of men who asked for a reply in a chat room. But, Yejun seemed not interested in them. Eunho pushed a play button on Yejun’s profile and they could hear his soft voice coming out.

‘Hello, I’m Yejun. I live in Seoul. Nice to meet you.’

Eunho never expected that his brother was actively using dating apps, as Yejun never seemed interested in romance since his last relationship a few years ago. Whenever he asked his brother to find a boyfriend, he always told Eunho that he didn't have time to date; he was busy and had to take care of Hyunwoo. He didn't need a boyfriend right now.

Well, yeah, being a single father might be lonely sometimes.

"Uncle Eunho, what's that?" Hyunwoo asked, his curiosity piqued by the colorful app displayed on the screen.

"Oh, this is an app where you can find friends," Eunho replied with a grin.

"So, Dad was looking for a friend to play with?"

"Yep, exactly!" Eunho confirmed.

"But why doesn't he just play with me? I have lots of toys! We could play together!" Hyunwoo whined, clearly feeling left out.

"It's different, Hyunwoo. Your dad needs someone his own age, so they can talk about grown-up stuff," Eunho explained patiently. "It's a grown-up thing."

"Why doesn't he just talk to you, then? You're an adult," Hyunwoo persisted, trying to understand the situation.

"Because I'm tired of talking to your father almost every day! That’s why he needs to make new friends. Isn't it fun to make friends with new people?"

Hyunwoo pondered this for a moment. "I guess..." he replied hesitantly. "Can I also meet new friends here?"

"I don't think so," Eunho said gently. "Like I said, it's for grown-ups only."

Hyunwoo fell silent, deep in thought. "But I don't want Dad to make friends with a bully, like my not-so-nice friend at school. He's mean to me."

"Ah, about that..." Eunho considered his words carefully. "I think your dad knows how to pick good friends."
Suddenly, Eunho's eyes lit up with a brilliant, if slightly funny, idea.

"Or... maybe we could help your dad find the perfect friend for him! How about that?" he suggested enthusiastically.

"How?"

"See..." Eunho touched some buttons on the screen to go back to its home page. "These are profiles of people on the app that we can choose to be friends with. If you like them, you can swipe right, and if you don't like them, you can swipe left, like this..." Eunho demonstrated briefly by swiping left and right.

Hyunwoo's eyes widened, "Wow, this is fun! I want to swipe, I want to swipe!" he exclaimed, bouncing with excitement. "Okay, I'll choose carefully, so Dad can have a really good friend."

Eunho couldn't help but giggle at Hyunwoo's eagerness to find a 'friend' for his father. "There you go, buddy!"

They started with the first profile. Hyunwoo swiped left because he thought this guy was scary. The next one was the same, not good enough for Hyunwoo’s taste. The third, the fourth, and the fifth, Hyunwoo didn’t like them. But for the guy number six, Hyunwoo paused for a minute. He was studying the man’s face.

“What’s wrong, Hyunwoo? Do you like him?”

“He looks like a cat!” Hyunwoo giggled. “And he looks nice. I think Dad could get along with him.”

"You're right. Oh, he's a dancer! He must be a fun and cool person too," Eunho pointed out the man's occupation.

“Yu Hamin it is!” Hyunwoo swiped the profile to the right.

But after that, they just swiped left for the next twenty people. Hyunwoo started questioning this app, whether it was the best place for his dad to find friends because most of the guys there either looked like a bully– from Hyunwoo’s perspective– or just not convincing enough. They continued looking for the perfect match until Eunho suddenly let out a high-pitched shriek. "STOOOP!"

“Oh my God! Uncle Eunho you surprise me.”

“What is he doing on this app?”

“Who is this?” Hyunwoo asked him, but Eunho’s mind was pretty occupied with his shocking findings.

“He never told me that he’s gay, Ya Chae Bonggu, I thought we were best friends!” Eunho yelled, feeling betrayed by his best friend. He was so focused on Bamby’s profile until Hyunwoo asked him an undeniable question.

"Uncle... what is gay?"

Eunho's face snapped towards his young nephew, his eyes wide and uncertain. Explaining the concept of "gay" to a 6-year-old was uncharted territory.

"It's... Uhmmm... It's..." Eunho stuttered.

Hyunwoo gazed back at him, innocently confused. Eunho knew he had to proceed with caution.

As long as he explain it properly, it'll be alright, right? he thought.

Looking straight into Hyunwoo's eyes, he explained, "Okay, look... gay is when two men love each other. Understood? It's about love. It's beautiful. You get that?"

Hyunwoo responded with a soft nod, and Eunho breathed a relieved sigh, glad to have navigated the sensitive subject.

"So, it means you and Daddy are gay, right? And I'm gay because I love you and Daddy," Hyunwoo reasoned.

"Yes– I mean, NOOO!" Eunho quickly corrected himself.

From the kitchen, Yejun called out, "What's with all the yelling? Everything okay?"

"Dad, we find–" Hyunwoo began, but Eunho swiftly covered the boy's mouth with his hand.

"NOTHING! We're just watching a film here," Eunho shouted back, knowing that Yejun couldn't find out about this conversation. He didn't want to be beaten by his brother for his clumsy explanation.

Eunho lowered his voice and said, "Listen up, kiddo... You're not gay, okay? I'll try explaining it more to you next time. But for now, this whole conversation and our mission to get a friend for your dad are secret, alright? Consider it a surprise gift from us."

"Oh, so it's for a Father's Day present!" Hyunwoo exclaimed. "I already gave him one, though. But alright!"

Eunho wasn't sure what Hyunwoo was talking about, but he agreed anyway. "Yeah, right... Okay, let's continue!"

They swiped for another profile and stopped to look at this man’s photo. The next guy pulled them two into pause mode for a moment. He was legit, a high-quality single man worth pursuing.

Han Noah.

Graduated from university in Paris.

Currently, working in a game developer company in Korea.

Handsome, charming, and his smile was so enchanting.

“Hyunwoo, what do you think of him?” Eunho asked.

“He’s handsome. He looks like a prince in the story. He’s an alpaca.” Hyunwoo giggled while looking at his uncle.

“So, does that mean it’s a ‘swipe right’?” He snickered.

“Yeah! I think Dad will be happy to play with him.” The kid seemed satisfied with his choice.

“Okay! Swipe right it is!!”

After that, Eunho pushed the play button on Noah's profile and they could hear his sweet light voice in an accent, ‘Hi, I’m Noah. I hope we can be friends and who knows what’s going to happen next…’ Then they hear a beautiful chuckle in between, ‘…anyway, nice to meet you.’

They both still stared at the screen but weren’t aware that Yejun was already in the living room.

“Who’s that?”

They almost threw out the iPad. Their surprise was an understatement. They looked nervous, making Yejun more curious.

“What are you doing with my iPad?” Yejun walked closer with a suspected scary face on him.

They’re both looking at each other, waiting for an answer they could give. Hyunwoo was panicking. He didn’t want to get yelled at by his father, so it left Eunho to make an excuse. But Yejun accidentally glanced at the iPad screen that was a little bit tilted to the back, showing his dating app interface. Yejun’s eyes widened and a red tint started creeping up on his face.

“You’re showing Hyunwoo that app?! What were you thinking?!!” Yejun screamed.

“Hold up, hold up, let me explain…” Eunho was trying to calm his brother before he could throw any tantrums. “We do this for you, Hyung.”

“What do you mean?” Yejun asked.

"We want to give you a Father's Day present!" Hyunwoo said.

“Huh?” Yejun still didn’t get the idea. He needed an explanation more than that.

“Well, the point is we want you to be happy…”

“Do I look unhappy right now?” Yejun replied in a somewhat sassy.

“You look clearly upset though,” Eunho replied.

“Right, why would I be mad when my brother taught my 6-year-old son to use dating apps?”

“Okay, that’s, my bad. But I always told you to get a boyfriend right? And the fact that you use this app means that you actually need one. You need love, Hyung. You need to get laid.”

“Language!” Yejun yelled in embarrassment. Eunho quickly closed his mouth, forgetting that an innocent kid was sitting beside him. Yejun told Hyunwoo to eat first so he could talk privately with his uncle. Hyunwoo left with a guilty face. He didn’t want to leave his uncle in misery but he didn’t want to get yelled either.

"Now, please explain," Yejun said, crossing his arms when only the two of them were in the room.

“Listen, Hyung, you need to try again. It's been ages since your last relationship, don't you think it's about time?” Eunho asked.

Yejun knew that after his last relationship ended, he had become afraid to date again. A young, single man would want to live freely, love passionately, and be in a relationship without the weight of responsibility. In Yejun's case, his boyfriend needed to understand that when they came into his life, they had to accept both him and Hyunwoo. They couldn’t ask Yejun to choose them over his son. It has to be that way. Both or nothing.

None of his previous relationships had lasted more than a year, as most partners either couldn't handle the situation or couldn't accept that Yejun was a single father. Some found the relationship boring, while others simply weren't ready to help raise a child.

He was tired.

Day after day, he mindlessly swiped through profiles on the app. But when they both matched, he'd always back out, convincing himself it would never work. He believed he didn't need a boyfriend as long as he had Hyunwoo in his life. However, he knew, deep down inside, he’d always dreamt about love.

As Yejun pondered these thoughts, a notification suddenly pinged on his iPad. Eunho glanced at the screen first, his face was excited as he tried to maintain his composure while handing the device to Yejun.

"By the way, some of these guys already have Hyunwoo's approval. He handpicked them for you."

Yejun's gaze shifted between the iPad and his brother, who was now sporting a smug expression. A new, unopened chat room awaited a response. Hesitation washed over Yejun's face as he contemplated his next move.

“So, Hyung, what are you gonna do?”

Chapter Text

"I’ve had enough! I don’t want to go on a date anymore." Yejun said as he threw his body onto the couch. He pouted and wrinkled his body while hugging a small pillow in his arm.

"What's the matter?" Eunho asked curiously. "I thought he likes you."

"Well, he did..." Yejun was silent for a moment then took a long sigh, "You know, I started to like him too. He's funny, we laughed a lot, and we really had a good time. And I thought maybe... Just maybe this time will finally work out..."

"...But?"

"But then he heard me speaking on the phone with you..."

*Many hours ago*

Yejun sat on the bench with his head bowed. Sweat poured down his forehead as he muttered to himself, why was he doing this?

They could have met at a coffee shop or perhaps had dinner together for their first date. But in the end, he gave in to this guy’s suggestion to meet at an amusement park. On their 30-ish. The man was so irresistible and Yejun couldn't resist.

It was already night but the weather was still hot and Yejun hated hot. He hated summer. He hated how sticky his body was when it drained with sweat. He looked up and saw the place was still crowded with families, kids, and teenage couples. It was Saturday night, what did he expect… he looked around and saw a father carrying his son on his broad shoulder while they were waiting in line for the carousel. It reminded him, the last time he went here was when Hyunwoo's birthday.

Hyunwoo cried and cried to get a puppy as a present. But Yejun knew that it would eventually be his job to take care of it and he wouldn't let that happen. So instead of buying him a puppy, he thought of taking his son to an amusement park. They played for a whole day and it was one of the most precious moments for both of them. It was Hyunwoo's first time going there and he swore nothing could beat Hyunwoo's expression as he rode the Ferris wheel that night. He couldn't stop smiling and cheering in awe at the city lights below them. That's what Yejun wanted to share with his son.

He thought he'd come back here again with Hyunwoo. Turned out, he was coming back again, but with this guy named Yoo Hamin.

He was Yejun’s total opposite. He was a bit chatty and playful, but also funny and feisty. It was fun and exhausting at the same time. But honestly, Yejun enjoyed his company.

"Hey, choose one. I bought lemonade and iced tea."

Yejun looked up to the man in front of him. He was smiling as he handed two different cups.

"The tea's fine. Thanks." Yejun smiled, taking the tea from his hand. Hamin followed sitting beside him, and drank the other one. But his face turned frown and his nostril widened as soon as he sipped it.

"Yuck, what kind of lemonade is this??" He stuck his tongue out while Yejun snickered at Hamin's reaction.

"Here..." Yejun gave his iced tea to the guy beside him. Hamin was hesitant.

“Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah, you're the one who bought it anyway."

"Okay then, thanks!" Hamin swallowed the rest of the iced tea only in a few gulps leaving the cup empty.

"I don't know if you're genuinely thirsty or the lemonade was that sucks." Yejun cooed.

"A bit of both... Sorry, I'll buy you a new one."

"Haha, It’s okay," Yejun chuckled as Hamin smiled at Yejun’s response. Then, he suddenly clapped his hands and asked, "Alright, so what's next?"

Yejun was a bit flustered by the question, "You've never run out of energy, have you?"

"Hey, we're still young! Doesn't it fun to do something like this once in a while?"

"Yeah... but I’m not used to going to a place like this and playing all day."

Hamin paused for a moment, "Okay, so what do you do for fun?"

"Playing piano, having a cup of coffee..." Yejun looked up to think of another answer.

"Aaand...?" Hamin bent down slightly towards Yejun and the way his eyes were expecting another exciting stuff coming next.

"That's it. I couldn't come up with anything else."

"Really?" He pulled back and gasped, "Wow Yejun… you're boring... No offense."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Yejun’s tone slightly raised.

"I mean it's a good decision that you went out with me today." He grinned, "I'll teach you how to have fun."

Yejun blushed at Hamin’s words who further laughed at his reaction, "Geez, Yejun, you're so cute. I like you."

A warmth crept into Yejun's face and before he knew it his face turned completely red. Hamin adorably stared at him for a second making him even more nervous. But as Yejun wanted to say something back, suddenly the other stood up.

"Let's go! Don't wanna waste your time here, do you?" He extended his hand and smiled broadly.

Still unsure, Yejun reached out to Hamin's hand slowly and gave himself to the younger for the rest of the night.

Yejun didn't expect that tonight would be so much more fun than he thought it would be. He had almost forgotten what it was like to go on a date like this. Hamin took him out of his comfort zone and Yejun saw many other sides of Hamin that night. Like how Hamin embraced him while Yejun screamed himself to death as they rode the roller coaster. Or how Hamin shamelessly took tons of selfies everywhere and always dragged Yejun into it. He made Yejun laugh a lot and that made him very happy.

Then they finally rode a Ferris wheel as their last destination. Hamin said they should keep it as the best for the last.

Yejun sat across from Hamin who was attentively looking at the beautiful city lights outside. Occasionally the light from the other direction came in and shone on Hamin's face. His face was very attractive and Yejun couldn't take his eyes off the man in front of him.

"Stop staring at me," Hamin said without moving his gaze.

The older was embarrassed by the sudden call out and immediately threw his gaze in the other direction. Hamin looked at him sideways and found Yejun was cute when he got flushed like that.

"What? Do I look handsome now?" Hamin smirked at him.

"No. I–I look at the view behind you. Don’t get me wrong."

Hamin shifted his body and turned his head around to see what was behind him. But he couldn't find anything except plain darkness, "Are you sure, Yejun?" He turned around again and asked with a smug on his face.

"Yes..." Yejun said calmly.

"Okay... Now, why don't you just be honest for once, and admit that you really like me?"

"What?"

Hamin laughed at Yejun's startle when hearing the statement.

"Seriously, Nam Yejun,” He slightly bent over towards the guy. Yejun could sense the softened gaze scanning him. “I'm interested in you."

"Don't tease me. You said yourself that I'm boring."

"No, no, you prove me wrong. Turns out you're more interesting than I thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Some of the things you do are kinda cute to me. Like when I saw you persistently trying to win a shooting game because you don't like to lose. Or when you sang along to yourself quietly when we rode a merry-go-round even though you strongly refused it at first. And what I like the most is when you feel embarrassed after you get caught staring at me and you pretend to be cool after that."

Yejun didn't know what to do after hearing that kind of confession. He was fluttered yet confused at the same time. Truthfully he started seeing Hamin in a different light. Maybe Hamin wasn't what he was thinking before. Maybe he could be the one.

He might be.

"I...I don't–"

"Hey, I want to tell you something," Hamin suddenly cut off his answer. "Come here."

Hamin asked Yejun to come closer like he was about to whisper in his ear. His heart beat faster and faster as Hamin's dazzling face came up to his own.

He waited. Their gaze was locked.

The only sound was his breathing before Hamin finally broke the silence.

"Do you really wanna know?" Hamin cooed.

"Yeah..." Yejun answered in a low voice without moving his lingering gaze.

"Then don't regret this."

Without warning, Hamin kissed him, gently at first. Yejun widened his eyes for a moment, but soon he completely melted into the sweetness of the brushes on his lips. And then with such intensity that Yejun tilted his head to make way for Hamin to part his lips. His insistent mouth sent wild vibrations along Yejun’s nerves; evoking the sensations that he had longed for after so many years. Yejun didn’t realize he was already kissing Hamin back and tended to deepen the lust as his tongue was dancing with the other. Hamin slowly placed his hand on the back of Yejun's head to pull him closer and taste even deeper the sweetness of the kisses.

The ride was getting heavier and out of the corner of his mouth Hamin cooed, "You're good." Yejun could feel the smirk beneath the kiss. His head was clouded with excitement, yet he was fully aware that they were still in the public place. This kinda turned him on with a thought that somebody might see them making out in the ride, while Hamin didn’t seem to be giving any signs of stopping either. They were still sucking each other’s mouths until Yejun finally broke it off first.

Hamin just looked at him for a while and then said, "I've been wanting to kiss you all day, Nam Yejun. That's what I want to tell you."

After he said that the ride suddenly stopped. They both looked to the side only to find that they were already on the bottom of the Ferris wheel. A lot of people were waiting outside and Yejun kind of relieved they stopped at the right time or else the people would get a free ticket to see their steamy scene behind the ride.

Before the door was opened Hamin said again, "I'd love to see you blush like that again. And maybe kiss you one more time."

He winked and got out of the ride first, followed by Yejun behind him. He still could feel his stomach was swirling inside. Fuck butterfly! The whole zoo was going crazy tonight.

They walked side by side without talking. They seemed busy with their own thoughts and Yejun just couldn't forget what just happened. He felt giddy when remembering he had just been kissed earlier, but on the other side, he felt somewhat uneasy. He was still unsure about Hamin's actual feelings and he didn't want to mess up this moment yet.

Hamin excused himself to wash his face when suddenly Yejun's phone was going off. It's Eunho. He stepped a few meters away from there to pick it up, so Hamin couldn't hear his conversation on the phone.

“Hello…”

"Hey, I don't want to disturb you, but how's the date?"

"It's great actually."

"Nice! So that means you're not coming home or what?"

"No no, we're not yet to that exten--"

"Daaaad!!!" Yejun heard Hyunwoo’s screaming in the back, "I wanna talk to Dad!"

"Okay, hold on," Eunho said and gave the phone to his nephew.

"Dad?"

"Yes, sweetie."

"When will you come home?"

"Daddy will be home soon, okay?"

"I'm sleepy. I want you to read me a story."

"Ask Uncle Eunho tonight, alright? I'm afraid I'll be home late."

"Hmm... Alright..."

"By the way, are you being good today?"

"Yes!" Hyunwoo exclaimed with joy.

"Uncle Eunho didn't do something stupid right?"

"No, we only ate ice cream and played together."

Yejun chuckled, "Good. Okay, Daddy gotta go now."

"Okay, good night Dad."

"Good night, Son."

"SON??!!" Now Yejun was surprised to hear Hamin shouting behind him. He turned his body around only to see Hamin just as shocked as he was with his mouth left open.

"Hamin... How long have you been here?" Yejun asked.

"Not long, but enough to know that you have kids," Hamin said.

"One, just one kid."

"Whatever. Do you perhaps… have a wife?"

"No, Hamin... I'm into guy."

"So you're gay and you cheated on your wife?"

"NOO!!! Oh my God, Hamin, listen..." Yejun took a deep sigh and started feeling annoyed. "It's a long story. But I swear I don't have a wife and yes I'm a single father with a son."

"Oh...okay..." Hamin seemed unconvinced.

"Is it bothering you?"

"No, why should I?" Hamin laughed as he scratched his head. "I just, I’m just surprised. I thought you were single, I mean I thought you didn't have a kid. At least you don't look like one."

"Yeah..." An awkward silence was inevitable. Yejun scratched his head, not knowing what else to say.

"Come on! It's okay, just relax... I don't mind at all. Really." Hamin held Yejun's shoulder, trying to comfort the other. "We had a great time together and it was fun spending time with you. I honestly like you. We can still be friends and hang out sometimes, right?" He smiled warmly but Yejun already knew how this would end.

Just a friend.

Or be a stranger once again.

******

Eunho was silent for a while after listening to his brother's story. He couldn’t help but think that it was rather stupid and pathetic at the same time. But as understanding as he was, he should give Yejun proper support.

"I'm sorry, Hyung," Eunho rubbed his brother’s back as a consolation.

"It's fine. It just still hurts a little to be rejected after all this time."

"It's normal to feel that way. At least he said you two can be friends."

"Yeah, right. Friends." Yejun scoffed. "This is the reason why I'm afraid to get back into the dating game."

"To be rejected?"

"No, to get proposed,” He was rolling his eyes.

"Hey, can you not be sarcastic?" Eunho protested. “I'm here to babysit your son and accompany your pitiful ass, yet you dare to be sarcastic."

"Okay, okay, I’m sorry! What is wrong with you being sensitive all of a sudden?”

“Nothing.”

"What? Tell me."

"Nothing! It's fine."

"I don't buy it!"

Eunho was staring at him doubtfully before he finally asked something that’s been bothering him lately.

"Do you know that Bamby… likes a guy?"

"I know," Yejun answered short and plain.

Eunho gasped hearing the answer, "How long did you know?" He asked again.

"For quite a while. Why?" Yejun got curious but his brother only looked at him dumbfounded. Then Yejun kinda got a hint by this.

"Eunho, you don't know...?"

Yejun's question was only answered by a slow nod from oblivious Eunho.

"How could you not know? It was so obvious." Yejun asked.

"Well, he just acts casually with me, so how could I know? I'm so mad that he hid it from me. I thought we were best friends. We always share everything."

"Has he ever told you about the person he likes?"

"Now you’re asking it, I think he never mentions anybody."

"Well, there you go..." Yejun murmured as he looked away.

"What?"

"Nothing..." Yejun stretched out and shifted his body, "Aahh... so annoying, I'm tired." He tried to steer the topic into the skid.

Yejun always knew for a long time that Bamby always had feelings for his brother. They've always been together since middle school and when they were about to enter college, Yejun noticed something different about Bamby. He was more timid when Eunho was around, but sometimes he would steal a glance at Eunho when the other didn’t realize. They threw a banter once in a while every time Eunho complained about something, but after that, Bamby would hug him or give him something to soothe Eunho’s annoyance. But the most important thing was Bamby didn’t seem to want to admit his feelings and chose to cover them up by picking a fight every time he met Eunho.

Yejun was pretty sure that the two of them actually had the same feelings, but his brother was too stupid to realize that. So, Eunho never realized what was going on between the two of them.

"Okay, enough with me. Tonight is about you." Eunho said all of a sudden. His attention was back to his brother who just sat quietly and stared at whatever was in front of him. Yejun played with his finger while his brain was working on something.

"Hey, I've been thinking..." Yejun paused for a minute. "Why don't I go to the club and hit on the guy who came on to me first?"

"Are you being serious?"

"How hard could it be? It’ll be fun and easier to get a man."

"Hyung, you’re not gonna meet somebody in a club that is going to be the true person. They're either lying, drunk, or married."

"There..." Yejun said with a shrug, "I'm hopeless."

"Hyung, sometimes you're more innocent than me even though you're much older." Eunho patted Yejun's head and let him pout. "At least you still have one more date right? With that man?" Eunho asked.

Yejun however showed no signs of excitement, "What if it fails again like today? What if he avoids me once he finds out I have a child?"

“Don’t be too pessimistic. Whatever will be, will be.” Eunho responded to those sad rhetorical questions.

There were many scenarios in Yejun's head at the moment. From the start, Yejun had lowered his expectations and didn't have high hopes for this man. He just thought, if the date didn't go well, he would decide to be a single father for the rest of his life.

Chapter Text

What was your worst blind date experience?

If Yejun was asked this question, he could give you dozens of stories that were unbelievably ridiculous.

But, today might be the worst of it all. It never came to his mind that his previous date would ask him to sing at his wedding. Yejun was blessed to have a wonderful voice that could melt everyone’s heart, but alas, even his golden voice couldn’t manage to get him a partner.

Everyone was in a happy mood that day. The grooms were so beautiful and the ceremony ran serenely. It made him wonder if he could walk on the aisle someday and make a vow to the love of his life as well.

"I can't believe I agreed to sing at this wedding.” He sighed, adjusting his bowtie.

After a brief performance, he took a moment to rest. Just as he began to gather his thoughts, a stranger approached him and suddenly gave him a flower that he knew was picked from venue decoration.

"From the gentleman over there," the man said, gesturing towards a group of people. Yejun scanned the crowd but couldn't discern the sender. With a polite nod, he thanked the delivery guy. He resigned himself to the thought of going home once his duties were done.

Just then, someone tapped Yejun’s shoulder from behind. A familiar voice broke through the ambient chatter, “Yejun, is that you?”

He turned his face and was surprised to finally find familiar faces in this place, “Seulgi-ya! Wow, it’s been a while! I had no idea you were friends with the groom.”

“Small world, huh? I’m her co-worker, actually.”

“Ah, I see… such a small world.” Yejun laughed softly.

Seulgi's expression softened as she studied her old friend. "You look a bit worn out. How's life been treating you?"

“Oh, you know... work, kids, and a never-ending series of terrible blind dates. Just living the dream." They both laughed at Yejun’s joke, although he put a pinch of truth in that.

“Yeah, you always did have the worst luck with dating,” Seulgi said. “Still, with that voice of yours, I'm sure you've melted many hearts of men and women.”

Yejun's cheeks warmed at the compliment. "Thanks, Seulgi. I appreciate that."

"Anyway," Seulgi began, glancing around the venue, "I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine, but it seems he's disappeared. He works with me – the two of you would have really hit it off!"

Yejun shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. "Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah, I think he was quite taken with you," Seulgi continued. "He mentioned how much he enjoyed your singing earlier."

"Thank you," Yejun said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Perhaps we can meet up another time, Seulgi. I should get back to work now."

"Of course! I'll get in touch soon."

As they both said goodbyes, Yejun returned to his post, his heart swelling with a mixture of hope and trepidation. Who knew his soulmate was here, somewhere, and they just needed a little bit of push and momentum to finally reveal themselves.

Losing himself in the romantic ballads, Yejun poured his heart into the music, yearning for that serendipitous encounter. Yet as the evening wore on and the wedding guests began to disappear, he couldn't help but feel that luck, once again, had not been on his side.

*******

Eunho had been sulking all day, his lower lip protruding in a pronounced pout. Bamby had tried his best to ignore the silent treatment, but as the day wore on, he knew he couldn't let it continue. He grabbed a bag of their favorite snacks and made his way to Eunho's room.

Knocking softly, Bamby entered, finding Eunho sprawled across his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Hey, buddy," Bamby said gently. "I brought reinforcements."

Eunho glanced at the bag of snacks, his resolve faltering slightly. "You can't bribe me with food, Bamby."

"No? Well, then I guess I'll just have to eat these all by myself." Bamby made a show of opening the bag and fishing out a particularly tempting treat. "Mmm, this looks amazing. Are you sure you don't want any?"

Eunho hesitated for a moment before sitting up, a scowl still etched on his face. "Fine, but only because I'm hungry. Not because I forgive you."

Bamby suppressed a smile as he handed the snack to his friend. "Fair enough. But you know, Eunho, it's not like I was intentionally keeping my sexuality a secret from you. It just never seemed important enough to mention."

"But we're best friends!" Eunho exclaimed, his eyes wide with hurt. "We're supposed to tell each other everything."

"I know, I know." Bamby sighed, patting Eunho's shoulder. "But it's not like I have any juicy gossip to share. I'm gay, and that's about it. You're not missing out on any wild love stories or secret crushes."

Eunho mulled over Bamby's words for a moment before his lips quirked into a reluctant smile. "Well, when you put it like that, I guess it's not such a big deal. But don't think you're off the hook just yet, mister."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Bamby replied with a grin. "Now, let's finish these snacks and plan our next movie marathon, okay?"

Eunho's smile widened as he dug into the bag. "Deal. But this time, I get to pick the movies."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

As the days went by, Bamby found himself constantly battling his feelings for Eunho. He knew he couldn't risk their friendship by confessing his love, but keeping it all bottled up was slowly eating him away. Every time Eunho smiled, every time they shared a laugh, Bamby's heart ached with the knowledge that he could never have more than that.

In an attempt to distract himself from his one-sided love, Bamby turned to dating apps. He could manage to meet different guys, and each one was supposed to be different from Eunho. But no matter how hard he tried to focus on these new connections, his mind always drifted back to the silver-haired boy who had stolen his heart years ago.

It was during one such terrible date that Bamby finally admitted the truth to himself: he was irrevocably in love with Eunho, and no amount of denial or distraction would change that. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him breathless and overwhelmed.

As he walked home that night, Bamby gazed up at the stars, wondering if there was any way he could continue being Eunho's friend without letting his true feelings slip. The mere thought of losing Eunho's existence in his life was enough to send a sharp pang through his chest.

"I can do this," Bamby whispered to himself, his voice echoing in the empty street. "I can be the best friend he deserves, even if it means hiding my feelings forever."

And so, Bamby threw himself into their friendship with renewed determination, vowing to cherish every moment they spent together. He would be Eunho's rock, his confidant, and his biggest supporter – everything a best friend should be.

In the end, all that mattered was Eunho's happiness. And if that meant keeping his own feelings locked away, then so be it.

Chapter Text

Have you met someone that is exactly your type and your heart went boom boom all over the place? Yes, that’s what Yejun felt when he met Noah for the first time.

Sure, Noah was undeniably handsome in his photos, but Yejun wasn't one to be easily swayed by appearances alone. However, Noah's undeniable charm in person had Yejun feeling a little nervous.

“So, how long have you been using the dating app? It's not always easy to meet people online, right?" Noah asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

"I've been on and off it for a while now. And you're right; it's definitely a challenge. What about you?"

Noah took a sip of his drink, "I'm fairly new to it, actually. But I'm glad I gave it a try, or I wouldn't have met you."

Yejun was slightly blushed by the blonde’s flirting attempt. Damn, how could Noah be so perfect, and on top of that, he’s a smooth talker. Yejun cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink as well to cover his nervousness.

”You look like you've got something on your mind," Noah gently prodded, clearly trying to get Yejun to open up.

Yejun looked up, searching for a proper response. "Well, let's just say I've had my fair share of dating mishaps. So, I'm sorry if I come across as a little awkward. I’m honestly not sure what to do."

Intrigued, Noah leaned in slightly, "Oh yeah? Like what?"

“For starters, I've been scammed, met a guy with a weird fetish, and even had a date who couldn't stop talking about his ex."

Noah laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners, "Wow, that's quite a list. But it sounds like you've got some entertaining stories to tell.”

"Oh, I've got plenty of stories,” Yejun agreed with a rueful smile.

“Actually, I have experienced the latter though. That sucks for sure. My date back then just rambled on and on about this guy who I thought was his ex, but turns out that guy is his friend who never realized his feelings.”

Yejun sighed, “So you understand what I’m feeling, right?” He chuckled. “But the worst is I even sang at the wedding of a guy I went on a blind date with a few days ago. It's like my love life is cursed or something."

"Well, maybe you've just been looking in the wrong places. Love has a way of finding us when we least expect it."

"I hope you're right."

Noah smiled warmly, "I'm sure you will. And who knows? Maybe that person is closer than you think."

As their eyes locked in a meaningful gaze, Yejun felt his heart flutter in a way he hadn't experienced before. The sensation was a curious mix of comfort and excitement.

“So, um, what do you do for a living?” Yejun stirred to another topic.

“I’m an assistant project manager at the game company. How about you? What’s your passion?”

“I work in marketing, but my real passion is singing.”

Noah widened his eyes, “Really? you must have an amazing voice. I’d love to hear you sing sometimes.”

Yejun nodded shyly. As they continued their conversation, Yejun felt himself becoming more comfortable around Noah. They discovered shared interests in music, movies, and even their love for trying new cuisines. However, Yejun still couldn't find the courage to express how attractive Noah was.

"You know, you seem a bit nervous, Yejun. Are you sure everything is okay?"

Yejun cleared his throat, "Oh, I'm fine. I just... I'm a little overwhelmed. I mean, you're really easy to talk to."

Noah teasingly raised an eyebrow, "Just easy to talk to? Nothing else?"

“Ye-yeah? Maybe?”

Noah laughed, “What an ambiguous response.”

Ah, even his high-pitched laugh was like music to Yejun’s ear. He didn’t expect this date would be this smooth. Maybe, God finally answered his prayer all along.

Before Yejun could reply, his phone rang, interrupting their conversation. As he checked the caller ID, his heart sank.

“I'm sorry, Noah, I have to take this."

"Of course."

Yejun answered the call, his brow furrowing as he listened to the person on the other end. As Yejun's phone call ended, he felt a jumble of disappointment and urgency wash over him. His heart raced as he realized his perfect date with Noah was about to take an unexpected turn.

With a heavy sigh, he turned to face Noah, who had been patiently waiting for him to finish the call.

"Noah, I'm really sorry, but I have to go pick up my son from school. There's been a bit of an issue. My brother was supposed to pick him up today, but he's stuck at work."

Yejun's gaze dropped to the table, his fingers nervously playing with the napkin as he awaited Noah's response. He had planned on revealing more about his son to Noah later in the evening. Turns out, he had to come clean a little bit early, which might have ruined his almost perfect date. However, to his surprise, Noah's lips curved into a reassuring smile.

“Don't worry about it. I hope everything's alright.” A brief silence hung between them before Noah spoke again with an unexpected suggestion, “Can I come with you?”

Yejun's eyes widened in surprise at Noah's offer, a glimmer of hope reigniting within him.

“You… you want to come with me?”

“Yeah, let’s go pick up your son together. Shall we?”

******

At the entrance of Hyunwoo's school, Yejun's heart pounded in his chest. Was it really a good idea to bring Noah here? He had never brought anyone other than Eunho to pick up his son. This felt strangely intimate, and Yejun wasn't sure he was ready for it.

Noah, on the other hand, appeared calm and collected. Yejun couldn't help but feel like he was the only one nervous about the possibility of his date meeting his child on their first outing together. He just didn't know how to react.

As they approached the school, a teacher greeted them with a warm smile and a slight bow. "Well, hello, Hyunwoo's Dad."

Yejun returned the gesture, bowing in greeting. "Hello, teacher. I'm here to pick up Hyunwoo."

The teacher asked them to wait for a moment. Soon, Hyunwoo ran bounding out, his arms outstretched. "Daaaaad!"

Yejun scooped up his son, holding him close. "Hi, sweetie. Are you hungry?"

Hyunwoo nodded eagerly, and Yejun chuckled. "Okay, let's eat outside! But my friend is coming with us. Is that okay with you?"

Hyunwoo finally noticed someone had been standing silently behind them. His eyes widened, sparkling that he instantly recognized the blonde-haired man.

"MR. ALPACA!" Hyunwoo exclaimed.

Noah looked confused. "W-what?"

"Hyunwoo, don't be rude!" Yejun chided his son, but Hyunwoo insisted. "No, he really is the Mr. Alpaca I saw before with Uncle Eunho."

Yejun's face turned beet red as he quickly covered Hyunwoo's mouth, trying to prevent any further embarrassment. His head hung low as he stammered, "I-I am sorry, Noah. He didn't mean to."

but Noah found the whole exchange amusing and burst into laughter. Well, it’s not a bad decision to go with this cute guy after all.

Smiling warmly, Noah extended his hand to Hyunwoo. "It's okay, Hyunwoo. I'm Noah. Let's be friends."

Hyunwoo grinned and shook Noah's hand, forming an instant bond that melted Yejun's heart.

Oh my God, could he be the one?

Today's date had officially taken an unexpected turn, and Yejun never could have imagined that he'd be sharing a meal with both his date and his son on their first date. Despite the unusual circumstances, there was something charming about the entire situation.

“Easy there, sweetie. Remember to eat slowly.” Yejun gently reminded his son, who was eagerly devouring his pizza.

"But it's so good! I could eat the whole thing," the boy exclaimed.

"As tempting as that sounds, we don't want you getting a stomach ache, do we?"

“It’s a pizza, so it's worth it,” Hyunwoo said nonchalantly while licking the sauce on his finger.

Yejun smiled as he reached out to ruffle his son's hair. Throughout their interaction, Noah watched the tender exchange with an adoring gaze, seemingly content to simply observe this father-and-son moment.

Feeling a twinge of unease, Yejun turned his attention to his date. "Noah, I'm sorry for dragging you into this. If you'd like to leave, I completely understand. We can always reschedule for another time."

“It's really no trouble at all. In fact, I'm glad I got to meet little Hyunwoo today. He's absolutely adorable." Leaning forward, Noah addressed the boy, "Do you want to order anything else, Hyunwoo?"

The little kid shook his head. “No. Thank you.” Hyunwoo continued his meal. He occasionally took a glance at the blonde-haired man in front of him before he managed to say something random, “Mr. Alpaca, you really look like a prince in real life.”

Noah couldn't help but laugh at the endearing nickname. "Is that so?"

"Yeah! You look just like the prince in my storybook, don't you think, Dad?"

Yejun, amused by the comparison, couldn't help but play along. "I think you're right, Hyunwoo. The resemblance is uncanny."

Seizing the opportunity for some fun, Noah decided to join in on the joke. "You're quite observant, Hyunwoo. But you know, there's something I haven't told you... I really am a prince!"

Hyunwoo's eyes darted to his dad, searching for confirmation. "Is... is that true?"

Yejun chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "Why don't you ask him for yourself?"

Hesitant but curious, Hyunwoo turned back to Noah. "Are you really a prince?"

With a theatrical flourish, Noah nodded. "You don’t believe me, do you? Then I'll prove it with my magical powers!"

Hyunwoo's eyes shone bright with excitement. "YES, show me the magic!"

Scanning the table for a suitable object, Noah's gaze landed on the pencil they used earlier to take their order. "Aha! Perfect! Watch closely, Hyunwoo."

He held the pencil horizontally, then began shaking it at just the right speed. As if by magic, the pencil appeared to become bendable rubber instead of rigid wood.

"WHA— HOW?" Hyunwoo gasped, eyes wide.

Snatching the pencil, Hyunwoo tried his best to replicate Noah's movements. Despite his best efforts, the pencil remained stubbornly wooden. Yejun and Noah laughed at the adorable display, utterly charmed by Hyunwoo's enthusiasm.

"You're amazing, Mr. Alpaca!" the boy exclaimed, offering the pencil back to Noah.

"Thank you, Hyunwoo," Noah said with a warm smile.

"You know, Dad can do magic, too! You two are awesome," Hyunwoo continued, beaming with pride. "I'm glad you're friends with my dad, Mr. Alpaca. You're a really kind person."

Instantly, Yejun and Noah looked at each other. Didn't expect Hyunwoo to talk like that. Yejun's heart swelled with love for his son, and it felt like he already got a blessing from Hyunwoo.

"I couldn't agree more, Hyunwoo.” As if sensing the moment's significance, Noah leaned forward, his gaze locked on Yejun. “I'm so glad I got to meet your dad and become his friend."

At that moment, it felt as though a new chapter was beginning for both Yejun and Noah. Slow but steady. Yejun was finally ready to jump on to this adventure called love.

*******

They were on a bus heading home. Yejun sat beside Noah by the window, while Hyunwoo slept peacefully in his lap. It was already nighttime, and Noah had insisted on taking them home, expressing concern for their safety since the bus was almost empty.

Yejun felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. He gazed down at his son, who was sound asleep after an evening filled with fun and play at the park. It had been quite a while since they had spent time together like this as a family.

"Noah, thank you so much for today," Yejun whispered softly. "You must be exhausted after playing with Hyunwoo all day."

"Don't mention it," Noah replied with a warm smile. "I enjoy spending time with kids."

Yejun chuckled, feeling a sense of amusement. "Well, who would've thought that our date would end up like this?"

"Honestly, I've been thinking about this for some time." Noah blushed, avoiding eye contact as he admitted.

"What do you mean?"

A brief silence fell between them as Noah collected his thoughts.

"Remember when you sang at your blind date partner's wedding?"

Yejun nodded, prompting Noah to continue.

"I was there. I was the one who gave you the flower. Do you remember?"

Yejun's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation.

"Actually, I…” Noah took a deep breath. “I fell in love with you instantly when I heard you sing," Noah confessed, his face turning bright red. "At that moment, my heart was racing, and I couldn't even speak properly. That's why I ran away when Seulgi tried to introduce us."

Noah covered his mouth, stifling a nervous chuckle. Yejun couldn't help but find Noah's bashful demeanor endearing.

"I've been interested in you ever since I saw your profile on the dating app," Noah explained. "And now, this feeling has grown even stronger. I asked Seulgi countless questions about you, and I even checked your social media to see how you were doing."

Yejun’s heart begins to pound. He sat there, feeling a desire run from his heart, to his chest, and down toward his inner thighs as he listened to Noah's heartfelt confession.

"When you said you had to leave early, all I could think about was wanting to spend more time with you and your loved one. That's why I asked to come along," Noah stammered. "I'm sorry for suddenly unloading all of this on you."

"No, no, don't apologize," Yejun replied, his smile widening as he gazed at Noah's blushing face. "Thank you for being honest with me."

Leaning in closer, Yejun gently pressed his lips against Noah's in a tender kiss. His lips were warm and soft. Yejun could taste their shared breath, and feel the thud of their combined heartbeat. As they pulled away, they gazed into each other's eyes, their hearts filled with a newfound sense of hope and anticipation. A new chapter had been written, their story unfolding like the pages of a book, each turn as simple and natural as swiping right.

Chapter Text

As a workaholic man, Noah usually would spend his day working or thinking about his next project plan. Even on holiday.

But today was not like every other day. Today was the day when Yejun finally asked to come to his house. A couple of months after their first meetings, they only met twice and most of the time they could only exchange text messages and call each other. Noah's busy schedule had made it nearly impossible for them to find time together.

That night Yejun called him, his voice was very soothing, enough to heal Noah’s frustration cause of his project setback.

“You should take a break, Noah. It’s not good for your health.” Yejun said. “I know you’ve been working hard on this project and I think you deserve a rest.”

“Yeah, it’s been tiring, but I’m fine. Thanks for worrying about me.” Noah smiled. He sipped his now lukewarm coffee as he leaned back in his office chair. He got to work late to finish the revision and it’s already midnight.

"Have you eaten? I can order something for you," Yejun offered, his concern was visible.

"No, it's okay. I had a sandwich for dinner. I'll probably head home soon since my work is done."

There was a brief pause before Yejun spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wish I could be there with you."

Noah's heart skipped a beat. He hoped he hadn’t misheard anything.

Yejun? Midnight? With him?

Instantly his mind wondered wildly at the prospect of spending the night with Yejun. But he quickly reined in his thoughts, bringing himself back to the present.

"I'd love to see you again, Yejun," Noah admitted, clearing his throat nervously.

“Then, should we spend this weekend together?” Yejun shyly suggested.

"How would you like to spend it?" Noah asked softly, feeling full of anticipation and excitement.

"I could ask Eunho to pick up Hyunwoo from my place, and then...” Yejun stopped for a second. Noah could hear his soft breath from across the phone. “Maybe I could stay at your place?" Yejun's voice was tentative, almost uncertain.

A heavy silence fell between them, charged with the weight of their growing connection.

"Alright, I'll come to your place and pick you up. We can go together from there," Noah offered, his heart pounding in his chest.

There was a momentary pause before Yejun responded, a smile evident in his voice. "Sounds lovely."

Now, Noah found himself in Yejun's living room, watching as the blue-haired man bustled about, gathering clothes, toiletries, and snacks for his son. Hyunwoo, meanwhile, was engrossed in choosing between two toys.

“Uncle Noah, which one do you think I should bring?” He handed the toys in front of him. A robot was in his right hand and a spiderman figure was in his left.

“Hmm…” Noah squinted his eyebrow. “Which one is your favorite?” He asked.

“This one!” Hyunwoo raised the robot in his hand.

“Well, I think you should bring that one. Since it’s your favorite, you’ll be happier while playing it.”

“You’re right. Thank you, Uncle Noah!” Hyunwoo smiled at him before fleeing to take his yellow jacket.

As Yejun finally settled down beside Noah, their eyes met, and a silent understanding passed between them. Noah felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, grateful for this new chapter in their relationship.

"You know, I think your son is more decisive than you are," Noah joked, breaking the silence with a playful grin.

Yejun laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth. "He gets that from his mother. I've always been a bit indecisive."

Noah's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Yejun's past, but he quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the moment they shared together. Although sometimes Noah liked to fantasize that one day he would become part of their family. And when he thought about it, Noah sometimes giggled to himself.

“Sweetie, are you ready? Uncle Eunho will be here soon,” Yejun called out, making sure everything was prepared for his son’s sleepover.

“Just a sec, I’m trying to zip up my jacket,” Hyunwoo replied, his tiny hands struggling with the zipper.

“Come here, let me help you,” Noah offered, walking over to assist the little boy. Just as he managed to secure the zipper, the doorbell rang.

“There’s your uncle,” Yejun announced, making his way to the door. But instead of his brother, a pink-haired man stood before him, a surprised expression on his face.

“Bamby! Long time no see! Where’s Eunho?” Yejun asked, caught off guard by the unexpected visitor.

“Hi, Hyung! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Bamby greeted him with a smile. “Eunho got held up at work, so I offered to pick up Hyunwoo for him.”

“Oh, I see... I’m sorry for the trouble, Bamby.”

“No worries at all, Hyung.”

Yejun turned to call for his son. “Hyunwoo, come here! Uncle Bamby is going to take you to Uncle Eunho’s house.”

“Comiiiiing!” Hyunwoo sang as he skipped over to the door, but soon a puzzled look was drawn on his face when he saw Bamby.

“Hyunwoo, this is Uncle Bamby, Uncle Eunho’s best friend. He’ll take you to his house, okay?” Yejun explained.

Hyunwoo nodded slowly, greeting Bamby with a shy wave.

Yejun hugged his son tightly. “Be good, okay? I love you.” Then he proceeded to give a light peck on his son’s cheek.

As they disappeared from sight, Noah approached Yejun from behind with an indescribable expression on his face. “Who’s that guy?”

“That’s Bamby, Eunho’s best friend,” Yejun replied.

“Is he the same guy you told me about, the one who has feelings for Eunho?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s him. Why do you ask?”

Noah burst into laughter, leaving Yejun utterly confused. “What’s so funny?”

Once Noah managed to catch his breath, he explained, “Remember when I told you about that date I had with a guy who couldn’t stop talking about his crush?”

Yejun nodded. He thought for a moment, until he finally realized something clicked. His mouth hung-open. “NO WAY!”

“Yeah, it was him!” Noah confirmed, laughing even harder. “It’s funny. Who knows the person he has crushed on is your brother.”

“Poor Bamby, falling for an idiot.”

Yejun shook his head in amusement. Taking a mental note to hit some sense to his brother’s head later.

As the laughter subsided, Yejun took a moment to scan his surroundings, feeling a sudden emptiness in the house without Hyunwoo's presence. "Soon, he'll grow up and leave the house," he mused, his voice tinged with sentimentality. "I don't think I'm ready for that."

Noah drew closer and wrapped his arms around Yejun’s waist. “You don’t have to worry about that just yet,” he whispered reassuringly. “I’m planning to stay for a long time, so you won’t feel lonely. That, if you allow me.”

Their eyes on each other. Both of them breathing, watching, and tired of waiting.

“I’ll be very lucky to have you in my life, Noah.”

“Hmm, same here.” He smiled.

Yejun’s heart was beating fast, the intensity of Noah's gaze igniting a fire within him. The anticipation of what was to come was almost too unbearable as their faces were getting closer.

Noah closed his eyes. Yejun kissed him gently, carefully, but it wasn’t gentleness that Noah wanted. Not now. Not after all this time. Noah knotted his fists in his shirt, pulling Yejun harder against him. He groaned softly, low in his throat.

Yejun’s lips melted in his mouth. He uttered a moan as Noah’s tongue played with his. The kissing intensified with sensitive touches. Noah plunged his tongue deeper and deeper savoring the taste. Yejun moaned harder, he couldn’t hold any longer.

“Noah, wait,” Yejun pulled himself back. The other had a puzzled expression on their face.

“What happened?”

“I just want to make sure if this is okay with you?” His eyes begged for an answer. “Because if we continue to do this, I don’t think I can hold myself any longer.”

Noah slowly smiled, he leaned his forehead to Yejun’s. As their gaze met, Noah said, “I’m okay with everything as long as it’s you.”

At that time Yejun just realized how beautiful Noah’s blue eyes were. He always knew that it’s blue, but today, they were exceptionally captivating. His thin lips were very tempting and seductive, inviting him to move closer. As Yejun brushed Noah’s soft hair behind his ear, he said “I’m so glad to have found you, Han Noah.”

Yejun leaned forward to cup Noah’s face in his hands and engage him in a deep and passionate kiss. Noah responded quickly, kissing back in a fierce way. Yejun loved it. Every time his tongue stroked Noah’s it felt like a mini-firework going off.

Spurred on by the adrenalin that was rushing through his body all the way down to his groin, Yejun lifted Noah up into his arms, eliciting a gasp of surprise that quickly changed into moan. Noah’s legs were wrapped around his waist, their lips never parting as they moved towards the bedroom. While lowering Noah carefully onto the bed, Yejun took a moment to savor the sight of the man beneath him. But Noah had other plans. In one swift movement, he had Yejun pinned under him.

"I'm going to show you a good time, Baby," Noah murmured, his voice low and full of promise.

Noah pulled his shirt over his head in much too slow, but Yejun marveled at every centimeter of his flawless body which came to light. Yejun got impatient, and he started to take his shirt off as well and threw it far from the bed. Noah smirked, he slowly leaned in and connected their lips again.

The cologne on Noah’s body clouded Yejun’s head in seconds. The sweet fragrance mixing with the little haze from the kiss fucked with his mind effortlessly. Yejun opened his mouth slightly to trap Noah’s supple bottom lip between his lips, gently sucking on it. Noah pushed his entire front against Yejun to increase their closeness. In return, Yejun slided his arms around the other’s waist.

Noah retreated, only a mere centimeter, lips still lingering close but not touching. It’s so intimate, so pulse-quickening. They open their eyes to behold the other, reveling in each other’s rapture.

“You’re so beautiful,” Yejun said in a low voice.

Yejun cupped Noah’s face and kissing him again. They are tasting each other with a slowness Yejun didn’t expect they would be capable of.

They continued this game of softly licking and teasing, until they little by little ran out of patience. It made way for the hunger and the urgency, which they already felt during their last call, to come out.

Yejun let one of his hands slide down Noah’s lower back to explore the lovely roundness of his butt freely. Another thing he waited an eternity for to finally do. He felt the plump curve of his ass weigh heavy in his palm and it’s something he would never forget. His other hand came down to join the fun and together they are palming his butt cheeks entirely.

They both were moaning uncontrollably into the kiss when their crotch hard on rubbing over each other. Noah stepped up his game and increase the eagerness, while Yejun got weaker by the sensation in his pants that was growing stronger.

“No-Noah, we need to calm down,” Yejun said beneath the kiss.

“Why? I don’t want to calm down.”

“My pants are too tight for this.”

“Then we can get rid of them.” Noah said as he continued kissing the blue hair while taking off their pants eagerly. Yejun groaned, “Noah, God, why do you have to be so beautiful and so fucking hot at the same time?”

Yejun wrapped his arms around Noah and flipped them over, causing Noah now lay under him. “Sorry, gorgeous. I’m on top,” was all he said before his lips attacked on Noah’s neck, licking down the soft skin, outlining a wet trail leading to his collarbone. Yejun licked along the prominence of them and nibbled the delicate under them, leaving sexy red marks all over the area.

“God… Yejun-ah,” Noah was panting. Yejun loved to hear Noah’s arousal voice calling him. He trailed his tongue down to his pink bud, then sucked and swirled it around, making Noah moaned even louder.

Now his finger moved to Noah’s bottom, carefully pushed all the way in. Yejun moved cautiously inside the man while he still enjoyed licking Noah’s pink bud. When he felt Noah got comfortable, he added another finger as careful as the first one. He worked him loose gently. Noah seemed didn’t endure a terrible pain while Yejun was scissoring inside of him. That seemed to be Yejun’s cue to put the real thing that had been waiting hard.

Noah was truly enjoying the process. He pushed his ass until Yejun was inside him knuckle-deep. The blonde was groaning with every careful thrust and it was such a turn on. Tiny whimpers accompanying every puff of air.

“Yejun-ah, I’m ready for more.” Noah was panting.

“Okay,” Yejun whispered as he pulled his fingers out. Below him, Noah was beautifully wrecked, blushing and his eyes told the other that he needed more. “Are you always this fucking sexy, huh?”

Noah never heard Yejun say something like that. But when he did, Noah silently turned on by the rough saying. Yejun spilled a lot amount of lubricant on his hand and stroked it to his own length. Then he took his own cock lined up with Noah’s hole. His tip rubbed against Noah’s entrance teasingly, making the blonde whine, “No teasing! Just put it in, Yejun-ah!”

Yejun chuckled, “Such an impatient princess.”

Yejun slowly pushed inside Noah’s entrance and the feeling was overwhelming. The tightness was making his stomach flip and a tingling anticipation built up in every fiber of his being. Yejun had to shut his eyes to take in the sensation entirely.

Noah’s thighs trembled against Yejun’s sides, body shaking from the pleasure of being filled, “Move… Yejun-aah,” he’s pleading.

As Noah wishes, Yejun began pulling out and pushed himself back in, earning a lewd moan from the blonde. Yejun picked up the pace, the sensation of his cock sliding in and out of him made Noah’s breathing unsteady again. Moans and whimpers were falling from their lips, every noise more pleasing than before.

“Yejun-aah… so good… oh, fuck! FUCK! HARDER!” Noah’s breathless voice laced with his needy face. Yejun’s hands wrapped around Noah’s thighs, spreading him wider so he could reach deeper and harder. Suddenly, Noah gasped, he could see stars in his eyes. Yejun knew he hit his sweet spot right away. He was pulling out almost completely and pushed himself back harder, again and again, resulting in a loud moan from the other. “Oh my God, Yejun, please, please! More!”

Yejun was ready to give everything to please the man below him. He slammed into the blonde with powerful thrust at a furious rate. Yejun scanned the way Noah’s body was shaken by thrust. It had a seductive beauty of its own. He gripped Noah’s throbbing length, using the leak precum to make the slide even easier.

“Aaahhh… Yejun-ah!”

“Feeling good?”

“Y-yeaaah…” Noah moaned. His voice breaking slightly at the pitch.

Yejun pounded into his ass and tugged mercilessly on his erection, resulting only more cries from the other. His hips started to stutter, so Yejun attacked again without slowing his pace on Noah’s cock. The blonde’s body tensed up as he released a shattering groan.

“Yejun-aaah,” Noah’s head sank lower into the pillow as he gripped tighter onto the sheets, hair sticking to his forehead from the sweat. Just a couple more rocking and Noah shivered, calling out Yejun’s name in the way Yejun had never heard his name before. It sounded raw and dirty, and Yejun loved it. Noah came after that, painting their stomachs in white. Yejun swallowed, sweat rolling down the side of his head.

Fingers digging into Noah’s hips, Yejun snapped his hips forward, giving the hardest into each thrust. Yejun couldn’t help his own moans escaping his lips as Noah’s walls clenched tightly around his cock. The pressure was so delicious, forcing the hungry animalistic instinct out of him. He sighed, pulling out and pushing back into Noah’s flushed hole harshly, rough and throughout. The feeling was so good. So satisfying. So perfect.

Right now, Yejun was loving the moans he’s earning from Noah’s mouth. The blonde hair was getting hard again just from Yejun fucking him roughly into the mattress. And that flipped so many switches in Yejun’s head.

Yejun felt like he should reciprocate Noah’s beautiful performance with something. He reached in between them and circled his fingers around Noah’s leaking cock again. Yejun watched as Noah’s eyes flew open and a sharp gasp rolled from his tongue. Taking that as a cue, Yejun started moving his hand, stroking Noah hard and slow. The blonde arched off the bed again, legs wrapping securely around Yejun’s hips, pulling Yejun deeper inside him, if that was even possible.

“Yejun, d-don’t do that…” Noah barely whispered out, voice already wrecked, “I’m going to cum…”

“Mhmm,” Yejun hummed, eyes lazily half-closed, “Then cum.”

Noah blushed, “I…”

Yejun picked up his speed on Noah’s cock, and at the same time, rammed back into Noah’s ass. Noah squeezed his eyes shut, biting down on his lips, hands fisted the sheets under him until his knuckles turned white. He threw his back in pure pleasure as Yejun thrusted into him and stroked his rock hard dick. This was too good to be true.

“I’m coming…” Yejun grunted, eyebrows furrowed and eyes closed. Yejun finally reached his climax and cum inside the blonde.

“Yejun-ah…” Noah immediately tried to angle his head in a way so he could see Yejun’s face clearly. A moan passed between his beaten lips when his eyes met with Yejun’s blissed out face. “God… You’re so hot…”

It didn’t took long for Noah to follow and cum for the second time. Witnessing the face Yejun was making when he came got Noah all excited. The room then filled with their heavy breathings as they were both trying to come down from their highs. When Yejun’s head was spinning a little too much, he pulled out of Noah, ignoring the white streak of sticky cum dripping from the blonde’s hole.

Yejun knocked his head back, staring up at the ceiling of his own room. He felt so exhausted. Everything seemed so unreal… So… Perfect.

They both laid down for a while, catching up some breath. Noah glanced at Yejun, “I didn’t know there’s a beast behind those goody two shoes.”

Yejun smiled, still panting, “Well, I guess I could be decisive in bed.”

“Yeah, apparently.” Noah chuckled. He shifted closer to Yejun and the other opened up his arms to invite Noah into his embrace. They were hugging quietly for a moment before Noah broke the silence, “Should we move to my place or should we continue to the second round here?”

The blue hair laughed at the question. He gently kissed Noah’s hair as he said, “I don’t mind the place as long as I’m with you, my love.”

Chapter Text

Bamby couldn’t believe he would meet again with that guy.

YEAH, THAT GUY!

Han Noah.

The guy that had struck a nerve during their terrible blind date. Why was it terrible? Because Bamby was forced to realize his feelings for Eunho that night. The feelings that he tried to throw away.

Why is he at Yejun Hyung’s house? Are they friends? Are they dating? He wondered.

When he picked up Hyunwoo, he accidentally looked inside the living room and that's where their gazes met. The mere sight of him made Bamby flushed with embarrassment and awkwardness from their last encounter. Desperate to escape the situation, Bamby hurriedly bid farewell to Yejun and whisked Hyunwoo away to his car.

While driving to Eunho’s studio, he occasionally stole glances at a young boy beside him who was enjoying the song from the radio. Bamby asked and played hyunwoo's favorite song on purpose, because he didn’t want Hyunwoo to feel uneasy with him.

“Hyunwoo,” Bamby ventured, “the guy in your house… is he your dad’s friend?”

“Uncle Noah? Yeah, he’s dad’s friend.” Hyunwoo replied.

“Does he often come over to your house?” Bamby probed, hoping to get a better understanding of the relationship between Noah and Yejun.

“No. My dad said Uncle Noah is a busy man. Super duper busy. So, he doesn’t come often.” He cutely explained.

Oh, if he didn’t come very often maybe they really were just friends after all. Bamby thoughts.

“Have you eaten, Hyunwoo?” Bamby asked, attempting to shift the conversation. “We can grab something on the way.”

“Hmm…” Hyunwoo took his time to think. “I want a milkshake and a burger!” He announced with excitement.

“You got it!” Bamby smiled, turning the car towards a nearby burger joint.

The street they drove felt familiar in the back of Bamby’s mind. As he turned right from the intersection in front of them, he could see an industrial-style building that was not yet open. Bamby took a glance at it and remembered that it was a bar where Bamby met Noah for the first time.

The bar was bustling with energy that night as Bamby anxiously waited for Noah, the blind date he hoped would help him move on from his unrequited feelings for Eunho.

The two finally met and started chatting, but as time passed by, Bamby's nerves got the best of him. With a few too many drinks in his system, he began rambling about anything and everything.

Before long, Bamby's thoughts turned to Eunho, his vision becoming blurry as he became lost in his daydream. He started to talk as if Eunho was sitting right there with him, completely unaware that it was Noah who was actually listening to his inebriated confessions.

"Eunho, you're my best friend, but I can't do this anymore," Bamby slurred, his heart pouring out to the imaginary Eunho. "Why can't you see that we're meant to be together?"

Noah watched with a mix of concern and amusement as Bamby continued to pour his heart out to the absent Eunho. “I’ve done everything I could to make you notice me, but no, you never take me more than just a friend. Don’t you see I’m always there for you when you get in trouble, look out for you, and stay up all night comforting your ass when you get rejected by that bitch!”

“Whoah, easy there…” Noah tried to calm down the pink hair who had been absolutely wasted. Bamby groaned in frustration, then laid his head down on top of the table, his expression softened.

“Eunho… What more can I do to make you really look at me?”

Noah silently sat in his place, feeling sorry for Bamby who clearly has kept his own feelings for who knew how long.

“I hate this feeling,” Noah could hear a small sniff from the other. “I love you so much, it hurts.” Tears suddenly streamed from Bamby’s eyes and he started bawling his eyes out.

Bamby no longer cared about the people around him. All he wanted was to let his heart out that night to the man who had always filled the space in his head. Noah let out a sigh. The date had certainly taken an unexpected turn, but perhaps there was still something to learn from this strange encounter.

"Bamby, it's okay," Noah interjected gently, snapping Bamby back to reality. "I understand how you feel and it's clear that Eunho means a lot to you, but holding on to unrequited love takes a lot of courage and sacrifice."

Bamby looked up at Noah with bleary watery eyes, trying to process his words.

“Are you a fighter?”

Bamby was totally silent.

“Do you want to give up now?” Noah asked.

Bamby still didn’t budge.

“Do you want to give up the person you love so much?”

This time Bamby slowly shook his head.

“Do you want to give up the person you love so much and let him be happy with someone else but you?” Noah repeated his question, which made a sharp ring to Bamby’s head as he quickly replied with a low voice.

“No.”

“Then why are you still here with a stranger in the bar? Go get your man!”

And he knew Noah was right. As the night wore on, Bamby found himself filled with a new determination and after that night, Bamby was not the same anymore.

As Bamby drove past the bar and remembered the scenes, he couldn’t help but think how different his life would be if it weren’t for Noah’s intervention. He might have left Eunho and his world by now. But here he was, still deeply involved, and found himself wanting to be Eunho’s rock, his confidant, the best ‘friend’ he could ever ask. Heck, he was even playing chauffeur to Eunho’s nephew right now.

Hyunwoo bounced excitedly in his seat as they pulled up to the drive-thru, and his eyes sparkled when he received his chocolate milkshake. Sipping it with relish, he couldn't contain his delight.

Bamby chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah! It's so good! I love chocolate milkshakes!" Hyunwoo exclaimed.

"Hyunwoo, you remind me of your uncle so much," Bamby mused, a fond smile playing on his lips.

"Really? Some people say I look like my dad when he was a kid," Hyunwoo replied, curiosity lighting up his features.

"Not physically – it's your attitude and behavior," Bamby clarified. "He’ll be very excited when he sees delicious food too."

"Yeah! Uncle Eunho always treats me to delicious meals. And I love eating!" Hyunwoo said happily, digging into his burger with gusto. Seeing the boy's contentment warmed Bamby's heart, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in being able to make Hyunwoo happy.

As they continued their drive, traffic came to a grinding halt, and Bamby's annoyance bubbled to the surface. He wanted to scream at the congestion, but he bit back his frustration, remembering the little one beside him. Instead, he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel to distract himself.

"Uncle Bamby..." Hyunwoo's soft voice broke through the silence.

"Yes, Hyunwoo?" Bamby replied, his irritation ebbing.

"My tummy hurts," Hyunwoo whimpered, clutching his stomach and grimacing in pain. Concern washed over Bamby, and he instinctively knew they needed to get to the hospital. Panic rose within him as he realized they were stuck in gridlock, unable to make a U-turn.

"Can you hold on for a bit, Hyunwoo? I'll get us to the hospital as fast as I can," Bamby reassured the boy, his voice steady despite his worry.

Hyunwoo nodded weakly, his face contorted in discomfort. The moment Bamby saw a gap in the traffic, he slammed his steering wheel to the right, executed a swift U-turn, and sped toward the hospital, his heart pounding in his chest.

As Bamby's car screeched to a halt in front of the emergency room, he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and rushed to Hyunwoo's side. Carefully, he helped the boy out of the car, supporting him as they made their way through the hospital's sliding doors. Hyunwoo's face was pale and clammy, his small hand gripping Bamby's shirt tightly as they approached the front desk.

"I need help," Bamby exclaimed, his voice tinged with urgency. "This boy is in pain and needs immediate attention!"

The nurse behind the desk sprang into action, ushering them to a nearby wheelchair and efficiently wheeling Hyunwoo into an examination room. Bamby followed closely, his heart racing with concern as he watched the boy's strained expression.

Once they were settled in the room, a doctor entered, her kind eyes taking in Hyunwoo's condition. "Hello there," she said gently, crouching down to the boy's level. "I'm Doctor Kim, and I'm here to help you. Can you tell me where it hurts?"

Hyunwoo glanced timidly at Bamby before pointing to his stomach. "My tummy," he whimpered.

Doctor Kim nodded sympathetically and began her examination. Bamby stood nearby, his gaze fixed on Hyunwoo's small form, silently willing the boy's pain to subside. As the minutes ticked by, finally, the doctor completed her examination and turned to Bamby with a reassuring smile. "It seems Hyunwoo has a stomach bug. We'll give him some medication to help with the pain and nausea, and he should be back to his energetic self in no time."

Relief washed over Bamby at the news, and he thanked Doctor Kim profusely. As he watched her administer the medication to Hyunwoo, suddenly the doctor said to Hyunwoo, “Good thing your father brought you here quickly, Hyunwoo.” She smiled.

“Oh, n-no. I’m his Uncle’s friend.” Bamby tried to clear the misunderstanding. The doctor widened her eyes, immediately shifting her gaze from the kid to the pink hair in front of her.

“Aah I see… I’m sorry. I thought you were the father.”

"No, don’t worry. That’s okay.," Bamby smiled reassuringly. As if on cue, Bamby's phone suddenly rang, displaying Eunho's name on the screen. He knew he'd have to contact Eunho soon. Explaining the situation wasn't something he looked forward to, but for Hyunwoo's sake, it had to be done.

Sighing, Bamby answered the call. "Hello..."

"Bamby, where are you? Why are you taking so long?"

"Uh, don't panic, but I'm at the hospital with Hyunwoo..."

"Oh my God! What happened? Are you alright? Which hospital?" Eunho's questions came rapid-fire, his anxiety palpable.

"Calm down, Eunho. Hyunwoo had a stomach ache, but he's been treated. We're at Seonghwi Hospital."

"Wait for me! I'll be right there!"

Bamby closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. This day had been a whirlwind – first, the unexpected encounter with Han Noah, and now Hyunwoo's sudden sickness. He couldn't imagine what else could possibly happen.

As Bamby and Hyunwoo waited in the crowded pharmacy, the boy slowly inched closer to Bamby's side. With his gaze fixed on the floor and a hand resting on his stomach, Hyunwoo asked shyly, "Uncle Bamby, can I lean on you for a moment?"

Bamby flustered but touched by the request, "O-of course you can! Come, sit closer." He opened his arms, allowing Hyunwoo to nestle against him. A wave of warmth spread through Bamby's heart as he wrapped his arms around the small child, silently wishing for the pain to shoo away.

Glancing at his queue number, Bamby realized there were still 15 people ahead of them. He suggested gently, "Try to get some sleep if you can, Hyunwoo. It might help ease the pain." Hyunwoo nodded, and soon his breathing evened out as he drifted off in Bamby's embrace.

"How old is he?" A pregnant woman sitting in front of Bamby inquired softly, her hand resting on her rounded belly.

"He's 6," Bamby replied with a warm smile.

"How cute! What happened to the little one?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern.

"Just a stomach bug. Nothing serious, thankfully," Bamby assured her.

The woman nodded sympathetically. "When you have a kid, you really need to pay extra attention to what they eat. My oldest son used to throw up whenever he had dairy. Turned out he was lactose intolerant." She sighed, shaking her head.

Bamby listened attentively, nodding as she shared her story.

"Does your son have any allergies?" the woman asked.

"Oh, he's not actually my son," Bamby clarified with a polite smile.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I just assumed..." The woman blushed, clearly embarrassed by her mistake.

"It's okay, really! Don't worry about it," Bamby chuckled awkwardly, trying to ease her discomfort. This was the second time someone had mistaken him for Hyunwoo's father, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was starting to look old.

It was true that Bamby was in his 30s, but he certainly didn't feel mature enough to be a father figure. His coworkers had even joked that he wasn't ready for marriage, let alone kids. However, deep down, Bamby had occasionally found himself fantasizing about a future— of course, with his best friend.

As Bamby pondered these thoughts, a figure running toward him caught his attention. He focused on the approaching man, recognizing the silver-haired figure in a black leather jacket. Eunho was panting and drenched in sweat as he drew nearer.

“What did the doctor say?” He asked.

Bamby tapped an empty seat next to him as if telling Eunho to sit and calmed his ass down. Eunho followed him and sat on the seat that was just pointed before.

“It’s not serious. Doctor said it’s only a stomach bug.” Bamby said.

"Thank goodness, I thought it might be something serious. I mean, it was so sudden..."

Feeling a pang of guilt, Bamby tightened his embrace around the sleeping Hyunwoo. He hesitated to admit that the milkshake and burger he'd bought earlier might have been the culprits. "I... I bought him a burger and milkshake. Maybe that caused it. I'm sorry," Bamby confessed weakly.

"Well, it's not your fault, Bamby. Kids get stomach aches all the time." Eunho smiled reassuringly. Gently stroking Hyunwoo's cheek who had managed to fall asleep, safe and sound. “Besides, you took care of him when it mattered most."

Bamby's brow furrowed. "Please don't tell Yejun hyung, though. I don't want him to think I can't take care of his kid. I mean, it’s been a while since I met him, and I'd hate to ruin that impression."

Eunho laughed hearing Bamby’s pleading, “Since when do you care so much about his impression of you? It’s not like you two are strangers. He has known you since we’re middle school!”

Bamby kept his stone-face. He inwardly wanted to shout at him 'Of course I have to make a good impression on my future brother-in-law! Stupid!'

Just then, a voice called out, "Number 1341! Your medicine is ready!"

"That's us!" Bamby looked at Eunho. "Could you grab the medicine, please?"

"Sure thing," Eunho said, heading to the counter. As he left, Hyunwoo began to stir, his eyes fluttering open.

"Hey, Hyunwoo," Bamby whispered softly. "Feeling better?"

Hyunwoo rubbed his eyes, wincing slightly. "Still hurts a little, but not as bad as before."

"You'll be alright. Uncle Eunho's got your medicine." Bamby pointed to the silver-haired man returning from the counter. Hyunwoo looked over and gave a small nod. Eunho noticed the woman who'd been chatting with Bamby earlier had been watching them for some time, he nodded politely in acknowledgment. She responded with a knowing smile.

"You two are such a lovely couple," she remarked.

Bamby's eyes widened in shock, while Eunho simply laughed it off, "Oh, thank you. I appreciate the compliment.”

Bamby slapped Eunho's head unconsciously, his face already bright red at the woman's statement.

"What did I do? Why did you hit me?!" Eunho exclaimed.

With his red face, Bamby hurriedly picked up Hyunwoo and bowed his head to excuse himself from the woman. He didn't know why he hit Eunho, he was just reflexively doing it because Eunho didn't deny what the woman said. He couldn't hide his blushing face and pounding heart. Meanwhile, Eunho just followed the pink hair to their car with a confused look as he rubbed his head.

******

Eunho was the type of person who couldn’t easily read the atmosphere and catch people’s intentions. Many people said that he was oblivious, even Yejun, his own brother, always called him an idiot. But somehow this time he felt something different about Bamby.

Eunho cautiously sat next to Bamby, observing the awkward silence enveloping the room. Bamby was still sitting on his spot watching another movie, while Hyunwoo was already fast asleep in his room after their fun movie night. Despite the peaceful atmosphere, Eunho sensed an uneasy feeling from Bamby.

"Sorry if Hyunwoo's question earlier made you uncomfortable," Eunho murmured, his gaze fixed on the screen.

Bamby turned to him, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. "It's alright. Hyunwoo is just a curious kid, and that's cute of him."

“Yeah, he just likes to ask anything.” Eunho chuckled. He couldn't help but recall the earlier event when Hyunwoo's innocent curiosity had left both of them flustered.

[Flashback]

As the movie progressed, the characters on the screen found themselves in a romantic situation, with the protagonist preparing to confess her feelings to the male lead. Hyunwoo, completely engrossed in the film, but suddenly he turned to Eunho with a puzzled expression.

"Uncle Eunho, what is a boyfriend?"

Eunho chuckled nervously, glancing at Bamby, who seemed equally flustered by the child's innocent question. “Well, a boyfriend is when you are more than just a friend with someone.”

“What’s more than a friend? Like being Mommy and Daddy?”

"Uh, it's not exactly like that," Bamby interjected. "A boyfriend is someone you have special feelings for. It's like when you love someone or want to be with them all the time. And if that person feels the same way, then you become boyfriends."

Eunho amazed at Bamby's ability to explain complex subjects gracefully to a 6-year-old. Hyunwoo nodded in understanding, and for a moment, it seemed they had successfully navigated the tricky topic. But Hyunwoo just had to ask a follow up question, “Then, Uncle Bamby do you love Uncle Eunho?”

Bamby looked at his best friend who was looking back at him. His heart was racing so fast. But he calmly managed to say something, “Yes.” He replied softly.

Then, Hyunwoo turned his attention to his uncle and asked the same question, “What about you, Uncle Eunho? Do you love Uncle Bamby?”

Eunho found himself lost in Bamby's softened eyes with Hyunwoo's question hanging in the air. The weight of the child's innocent question settled between them.

Do you love Bamby?

Eunho's mind raced with a series of questions. Was it love if he was happy to see the boy’s face every morning? Was it love if he couldn't stay away from him even for a minute? Was it love if he felt upset when Bamby met a guy other than him? Was it love if he wanted to be with him all the time? Was it love when he felt like his world was crumbling when he knew Bamby was in the hospital? Was it love when he found out that Bamby liked men and felt an extreme sense of relief?

Could he even imagine a life without him?

Eunho froze at the question. Because in that moment, everything seemed to fall into place, and he realized something with startling clarity. As the seconds ticked by, Eunho struggled to find his voice. He knew his answer would change everything between them, and he desperately wanted to get it right.

He stared at Bamby, his lips parting slightly. "Yeah," he breathed, his voice barely audible.

Hyunwoo looked at them both with a smile. "Then you two are boyfriends because you love each other, right?"

[Flashback Ends]

Hyunwoo’s words were still lingering on his mind. Boyfriends. Eunho suddenly chuckled, making the pink hair confused.

“Hey, do you remember how many ‘are-you-guys-dating?’ we used to get when we’re in high school?” He asked.

Bamby laughed, his unease slowly disappeared as he reminisced about their shared past. “Yeah, we used to laugh it off or I responded ‘no’ so quickly. You got so offended because it made you look like a not relationship-worthy kind of guy.”

“Well, I did. I mean, come oooon… look at me, with this face, and this height, aren’t I an ideal type?”

“What a narcissist,” Bamby rolled his eyes playfully. Soon, the silence fell between them for a while as they both were busy with their own thoughts, only the sound of TV was heard in the living room. Suddenly, Eunho broke the silence with his question, “Bamby, what if one of us starts to like each other?”

There!

Bamby froze at his spot.

“You know, back in high school, people told me that it’s impossible for two people to get so close like we do and be ‘just friends’. I laughed at them. I told you about it, and you laughed too… But, what if one of us starts to have feelings for each other?” Eunho shifted his gaze at the pink hair beside him.

Bamby's mind raced, frantically searching for the right words. It shouldn’t be hard, but since he already had feelings and the thought of Eunho possibly reciprocating his feelings was too tempting to ignore. Taking a deep breath, maybe it was the right time to be honest with ourselves for once.

“Then, I think we should just be honest with each other about our feelings. Don’t you think?”

Eunho only nodded softly, his expression unreadable. Silence descended upon them once more, broken only by the rapid pounding of Bamby’s heart. He was contemplating to convince himself that now was the moment— the moment to finally confess the feelings he’d held onto for so long.

Summoning every ounce of courage within him, suddenly Bamby heard a whispered word he’d longed to hear all this time from the silver hair, “I love you.”

Bamby casted his eyes towards Eunho, but the silver hair remained silent, his gaze locked on the TV screen as his face flushed a deep red. Bamby's heart nearly stopped, uncertainty flooding his mind. But then, Eunho turned to face him, his eyes filled with a mix of vulnerability and determination.

"I love you," he said again, his voice stronger this time. "I've loved you for a long time, but I was too stupid to realize it. I'm sorry, and I love you."

Bamby's breath caught in his throat, joy and relief surging through him. In a single, fluid motion, he closed the distance between them and cupped Eunho's face in his hands. Their lips met in a gentle, passionate kiss, each touch igniting fireworks in their chests. As their lips parted, Bamby couldn't help but grin, his heart feeling lighter than it had in years.

He brushed a lock of Eunho's silver hair away from his forehead, leaning in to press their foreheads together. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear those words," Bamby confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Eunho chuckled, his breath warm against Bamby's face. "Well, you've heard them now. And I'll keep saying them as long as you want me to."

Bamby pulled back slightly, gazing into Eunho's eyes with wonder. "I hope that's a promise."

"It is," Eunho affirmed, a soft smile playing at his lips. "I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to never let anything come between us. Not even your questionable fashion choices."

Bamby pretended to be offended, "Excuse me, but my fashion choices are flawless, thank you very much."

"Mhm, sure," Eunho teased. "Just remember, I loved you even when you went through that phase where you thought neon green and orange was a good combination."

Bamby burst out laughing, recalling the disastrous outfit in question. "I blame you for not telling me I looked like a radioactive tangerine!"

"Hey, I'm your best friend, not your fashion police," Eunho countered, grinning.

"Best friend?" Bamby arched an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I think we've moved a bit beyond that, don't we?"

Eunho's smile widened, and he drew Bamby closer, their lips meeting once more in a tender, lingering kiss. The night stretched out before them, brimming with possibilities, and for the first time in a long time, Bamby felt truly content.