Work Text:
TRANSCRIPTION
[Vertical video of a random New York City street, posted on Instagram by @meetcutesnyc. A young man, around 30, walks into frame in a white beanie, with his dyed blonde hair peeking out, and dressed in a oversized black hoodie, distressed jeans, and Air Forces. He’s walking hand in hand with another man, also around 30, with neck-length black hair, and dressed in a black band t-shirt, red corduroy pants, and Jordans. They’re walking leisurely, seemingly caught up in light conversation in Korean.]
INTERVIEWER: [Off-camera] Excuse me, sorry, are you two a couple?
[The two men turn to face the camera, conversation halted, and the blonde furrows his brow, arm coming up to wrap around the other’s waist protectively.]
BLONDE MAN: [In English] Yeah…why?
INTERVIEWER: Would you mind telling me the story of how you first met?
[At this, the couple immediately brighten, turning to each other with soft smiles and nodding. A username and name pops up on the blonde’s body, edited in, @sound_of_coups, Seungcheol. On the other, @jeonghaniyoo_n, Jeonghan]
SEUNGCHEOL: [Amused] You wanna go, or—
JEONGHAN: [Tilting his head, giggling softly] I like my version of the story better. [Looking at the camera] We grew up together, in Korea…like childhood best friends basically. We did everything together. Our parents were friends, we went on trips together, we even went to college together, living together through all of it. We were absolutely inseparable, but also, in our minds, definitely only platonic. [The pair stifle a giggle]
JEONGHAN: [With a deep exhale] After graduation came enlistment—
[Jeonghan takes a pause, then, and Seungcheol moves his hand to squeeze his hand, reassuringly, and Jeonghan looks to Seungcheol with a small, thankful smile.]
JEONGHAN: —and we were separated for a bit then.
SEUNGCHEOL: [Looking fondly at Jeonghan] It was hard, simply because we were such close friends, but it also finally taught us to get our heads out of our asses and realize what we had been looking for was right in front of us.
JEONGHAN: [Eyes widening like he just remembered something, excitedly jabbing a finger into Seungcheol’s chest] Remember what Shua said when we went public?
SEUNGCHEOL: [Brow furrowing before he suddenly lets out a loud snort] Oh my god, yeah. [To the camera] Our friend told us that if we hadn’t started dating when we did, he’d frame us for murder just so we’d get locked in solitary confinement together.
JEONGHAN: He’s such a weirdo.
INTERVIEWER: What did you guys do on your first date, especially considering you had known each other for so long beforehand?
JEONGHAN: Seungcheol was, and still is, super romantic, and he decided to go all out for our first date. Planned this whole sunset cruise thing on the Han River in Seoul with a candlelight dinner and rose bouquet, and even a violin player to serenade me. [Sighing] It was beautiful, until I dropped his phone into the water.
SEUNGCHEOL: [Grumbling, though there’s no real anger] He tried to take a video of the sunset over the edge, and he was, like, folded over the railing too.
JEONGHAN: [To Seungcheol, in Korean] You’re making me look like such a bad boyfriend Cheol-ah.
SEUNGCHEOL: [To Jeonghan, in Korean, with mirth] What if I said you are?
JEONGHAN: [To Seungcheol, in Korean, frowning, and with his arms crossed] Take that back Choi Seungcheol!
SEUNGCHEOL: [To Jeonghan, in Korean, giving in, easily] Of course I don’t mean that, Hannie, I love you. [To Interviewer, in English, with an easy smile] Sorry, he wants me to clarify that I don’t think he’s a bad boyfriend and that I am no longer upset about him drowning my phone.
INTERVIEWER: [Chuckling] So, how long have you been together for?
JEONGHAN: [Without missing a beat and with a wide grin] We just passed eight years two weeks ago.
SEUNGCHEOL: We’re on our anniversary trip right now, actually.
INTERVIEWER: Oh wow, congratulations! [To Seungcheol] Eight years in, what’s your favorite thing about him?
SEUNGCHEOL: [Eyes completely on Jeonghan, as if the camera isn’t even there] You understand me in a way I thought no one ever would. You never fail to make me laugh, and you still have a sort of energy to you that keeps me excited to wake up next to you every morning, and hopefully for the rest of my life.
JEONGHAN: [Lips pursed into a pout] You sap! [He playfully slaps Seungcheol on the shoulder before smiling and shaking his head.]
INTERVIEWER: [To Jeonghan] What’s your favorite thing about him?
JEONGHAN: [Facing Seungcheol] You always speak your mind and say what feels like exactly what I need to hear. Plus, you’re so attentive and observant, I feel so loved with you.
SEUNGCHEOL: [Softly, eyes completely trained on Jeonghan] It’s easy to love you.
INTERVIEWER: And what are your names?
SEUNGCHEOL: I’m Seungcheol.
JEONGHAN: Jeonghan.
[The pair walk away, hand in hand, the camera following them as they do so, and Jeonghan placing his head on Seungcheol’s shoulder as they walk. The video ends.]