Work Text:
Hongjoong sighed as he fixed his tie in front of the mirror for the third time that morning.
He was sick.
And by sick I don't mean sick of his job, or of the loud family that lived in the apartment just above his own.
He was sick sick.
He had woken up with a terrible headache at around five in the morning when his alarm was set for not before seven. He had tried to go back to sleep but no matter how cold he felt he just kept sweating under the covers.
So he had gotten up, made himself some coffee and checked his temperature.
He had really tried to tell his manager that he couldn't come in and that his body temperature was at 38.4 but the manager wouldn't listen to him, so now he had to drive himself to his office with a fever, a throbbing pain that started from his head gnawing at his rational thinking, and two purple eyebags that didn't apparently plan to go away anytime soon.
He slowly put on his shoes and grabbed his coat despite the warm weather of May and made his way out of the door and into the lobby as he slipped on the jacket on his shivering body.
As if they were trained, his eyes immediately scanned the room in hope to find that one specific person.
Hongjoong had been living in that specific building for almost four years now. He had moved in when he was just twenty, this year would occur his twenty fourth birthday.
At first in the apartment right beside his lived a happy family. The dad left early in the morning and the mom usually stayed home with their two children. Until one day the police had shown up and Hongjoong had found out that the man he viewed almost as a perfect husband, always with a smile on his face and loving towards his children, was just an abusing asshole who threatened his family to keep their mouths shut.
For one year the apartment had remained empty.
But then one morning, two years before, Hongjoong had left his apartment to find a pile of boxes in front of the door.
At first he didn't really know who was moving in, and he didn't really care. After that incident with that family he wasn't so eager to know new people. That was until one day leaving for work he had seen a guy, a man, in the lobby talking to San, one of the few people he knew that lived in the building.
He had immediately asked the younger about the man once he finally stumbled upon him in one of the rare moments in which San was actually alone -Mind you, even if they knew each other they had never talked much. Hongjoong didn't like interacting with people- and he had received a scoff in return and a "You don't even know your own neighbor?"
From then on he had kept seeing the man in the lobby at morning when he made his way out to work and his eyes had picked up on their own the habit of searching for that specific black haired head.
And there he was, talking to the guy Hongjoong had always seen beside San. His name was Wooyoung if his memory still worked right.
Anyway, as he walked by his eyes subtly traced the man's features as they did any other day. Those big deep eyes that seemed to hold the universe in them, the curve of his nose, his cheekbones. They stopped a few seconds on the man's lips until Hongjoong realized -more remembered- that he had to go to work.
His headache hadn't weakened even in the slightest and he wasn't sure on how he would be able to drive his car to work without crashing into anyone, but apparently his manager thought differently.
Work was hell.
His office was obnoxiously loud and it only added to the pain. He couldn't concentrate on anything that wasn't keeping his composure as best as he could. And if that wasn't already enough he was so incredibly cold without his jacket.
He couldn't wear it in the office because "It is highly inappropriate for an employee to wear a jacket inside of the office" so he had to endure that too.
When his work day finally ended he was relieved to say the least.
As soon as the digital clock on his desk had hit 05:00 pm he had flown out of the stupidly annoying place and into his car. The whole ride he did his best to keep his focus on the road ahead. If someone asked him if he had almost run over a can his answer probably wouldn't have been no, but fortunately no other's lives were put at risk by his throbbing head.
When he entered the building he didn't bother looking for the man. He was never there in the evening.
He slowly walked up the stairs to the second floor holding his head with one hand, hoping to stop the pain. Obviously it didn't.
As he neared the door of his apartment a familiar sight welcomed him.
There, in front of his door, was a single balloon, floating and reaching the ceiling of the hallway.
Hongjoong had been receiving these balloons for a few months now.
Whenever he came back to work a balloon and a note awaited him in front of his entrance door. Initially he had thought of it as creepy and refused to read the note attached to the string, but the balloons had persisted until he finally gave up and started reading them.
And they never stopped. The notes were harmless, most of them were ust sweet phrases scribbled onto a pastel pink piece of paper.
Hongjoong had stopped wondering who left them a few weeks ago.
He unlocked his door bringing the colorful thing inside as well. It was translucent green this time. He reached for the piece of paper attached to it and read the words written in the pretty calligraphy.
Hey, you didn't look too good this morning, I'm concerned.
Maybe you were just tired and weren't feeling too well but I really hope it isn't something serious.
Have a nice evening<3
As he read through the note Hongjoong sighed. So even other people could tell he was sick. Great. Just great.
He walked to the cabinet in his kitchen where he kept all the medicinals and took a pill that could hopefully help his temperature go down.
He reached for his phone in his back pocket. It wasn't there. Hongjoong groaned, of course he had to forget his phone in the car.
He grabbed back his keys and went to his car once again. As he walked back to his house, this time with his phone, something caught his eye on the floor of the hallway, right in front of the man's door.
Something was sparkling, reflecting the light flom the lamp on the wall and hitting Hongjoong's eyes. He crouched down to take the little thing into his hand.
"An earring?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. It was probably the man's since it was right outside his house, but Hongjoong had a crush on th at man, and he was a coward. But it wouldn't be fair to keep the earring, what if it was one of the man's favorites? What if he was looking for it and couldn't find it?
His headache was slightly getting better, it was there, but it was better, so he decided that talking with the guy after two years of him living there couldn't hurt more that the headache. Or maybe it was only because of the fever that he could actually muster up the courage to knock on the door.
Whichever was the reason, he did it, proceeding to stand awkwardly in front of the door.
When the door opened the man wasn't really as Hongjoong remembered him. In the morning he was always flawless. His hair pulled back, his suit without any wrinkles.
The man that was standing in front of him now was definitely no less handsome, but he had a hint of softness added to him.
He was wearing an oversized wrinkled black t-shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants. His hair fell messily on his forehead and if Hongjoong paid attention he could still see a few wet strands, he had probably washed them earlier.
The man wasn't speaking. He was just staring at Hongjoong with wide eyes and mouth slightly ajar.
Hongjoong probably could have felt the stare even if he wasn't looking at the man. He embarrassedly scratched his nape holding out his open hand, the earring shining in his palm.
"Uh... I- I found this on the floor and- It was in front of your door so I thought maybe it was yours?" Hongjoong mentally facepalmed himself. Couldn't he be a little less awkward? no right?
The man's expression however visibly relaxed once he saw the earring in Hongjoong's hand.
"Yeah... It's mine." The man hesitantly looked at Hongjoong's eyes. "Thanks."
Hongjoong wondered why he had thought the guy was so intimidating. It had been the one and only reason why Hongjoong had never dared to approach him in the first place, his intimidating aura, but the man standing in front of him right now was everything but intimidating and Hongjoong could probably melt by the smile the other was giving him alone.
"I'm... I'm Hongjoong. We've never properly introduced ourselves." He muttered out. He really hoped his attempt of a smile wasn't as awkward as he felt it to be.
The man's eyes widened slightly once again, but his smile widened as he offered his hand to shake.
"...Seonghwa."
Seonghwa. To be a star. It was a beautiful name. Hongjoong smiled to himself, his fever long forgotten even if he could still feel the subtle pounding of his head that just told him to go back to his house and catch up on the sleep he had missed in the morning.
"I- I would invite you to get a cup of tea, or coffee or... something but- You don't look too good... Are you okay?" Seonghwa spoke, and Hongjoong could probably listen to him all day, but of course he didn't want Seonghwa to get a fever. He would accept the invite in a second if it wasn't for it.
"Oh no, It's ok. I have a fever and I don't, Yeah I don't want to pass it to you."
"But you went to work this morning."
Hongjoong looked up and if his ill mind wasn't playing tricks on him he could have sworn he could see concern behind Seonghwa's eyes.
He sighed.
"My manager wanted me to come in anyway..."
Seonghwa nodded, humming. Hongjoong smiled.
He bid his goodbyes and went back to his own apartment. A bubbling feeling had blossomed in his chest. He had actually talked to Seonghwa.
He had talked to his crush, and he was absolutely adorable.
That night he went to sleep with a smile on his lips.
***
The next morning Hongjoong woke up refreshed.
The pill he had taken the evening before had fortunately lowered his body temperature and he had managed to sleep soundly all throughout the night.
As he got ready to face the day, and probably his horrible manager's complaint about the day before, he thought back to Seonghwa. To his sweet smile that looked so welcoming and his sweet voice that had lulled him to sleep the day before in his memories.
When he walked down into the lobby his eyes immediately found the man. He was back to his flawless self, he probably had to dress like that for work Hongjoong thought. Not that he looked bad, absolutely not, but it definitely made him look much less approachable.
He wanted to talk to him again.
His heart almost burst out of his chest when the other turned around and their eyes met. And he was positive his soul left his body when Seonghwa's lips turned upwards in a big grin. He looked so squishable.
Hongjoong awkwardly returned the smile with a little wave of his hand before walking out of the building and making his way to work.
05:00 pm came in a swift and he left the office with a smile. He hadn't gotten to meet his manager; apparently he had gone on a vacation the evening prior, so that meant no complaints and less screaming around the office.
His happiness though wasn't due to the absence of his manager. He maybe, just maybe, hoped to be able to talk to Seonghwa again, maybe invite him for tea or coffee like the other had suggested the day before. He was over the moon, but then a thought crossed his mind.
Seonghwa was perfect. Why would someone like him like guys? Hongjoong tried his best to shake off the unpleasant feeling. Even if Seonghwa didn't like men they could be friends. Eventually his crush would go away, and the black haired man seemed kind enough not to get mad if he accidentally found out about Hongjoong's feelings.
Yeah, they could be friends.
The drive back to his apartment was silent, Hongjoong's thoughts trapped inside of his mind without any way out. Not even the soft music coming through the speaker of the car was able to lift his mood.
He parked his car, entered the lobby, walked up the stairs. He made his way to his apartment door just to hesitate and linger for a few seconds in front of Seonghwa's.
Snapping out of his mind he shook his head and walked over to his own door, where a blue translucent balloon was already waiting for him. He took it inside as he read the little note attached to it.
You have a beautiful voice, it really suits you.
I could listen to it all day if I'm being honest.
Have a nice evening, take care<3
Hongjoong furrowed his eyebrows. The person of the balloons had never talked about his voice before, maybe they never heard it? But…
He didn't have the time to think more about it when a knock sounded through the door.
After the painful realization on his way home he wasn't really in the right mood to talk to someone. He could ignore it and pretend not to be home maybe. No, that's just straight up rude.
He walked over to the door to open it. He also probably thanked all the gods and deities he could think about when he saw who had knocked on his door.
In front of him stood a smiling Seonghwa in an outfit similar to that of the day before. The t-shirt was white this time and the sweatpants were black. He still looked as adorable as Hongjoong remembered.
Seonghwa was fidgeting with his hands as he stood, and Hongjoong had to fight the urge to just take his hands in his own to make him stop.
"You... said you were sick yesterday. I wanted to ask if you were feeling better."
Hongjoong found himself smiling without even trying. The warmth in his chest was definitely making itself felt.
"...I am. Thank you." A few seconds passed when neither of them were talking.
Hongjoong was busy trying to push down his feelings and the heat that was threatening to reach up to his cheeks, and Seonghwa... Seonghwa was awkwardly trying to avoid his gaze.
Hongjoong was mesmerized by the light layer of pink dusting the other's cheeks.
"I- I also- God sorry if this sounds creepy. I made cookies. I was wondering if you would like to, like, maybe, try them with me?"
Hongjoong felt frozen for a couple of seconds. Oh he would love to try the cookies, and Seonghwa really did seem like he wanted Hongjoong to accept, but what about his poor delusional heart that was screaming at him that Seonghwa was trying to flirt with him? It was obvious he was just being a kind neighbor and Hongjoong knew that too, but he couldn't shake off the hope that this could be something more than just the other wanting to be friends.
He really needed to get himself together.
Even so, he nodded, probably smiling like an idiot, and followed Seonghwa when he turned around to go into his own apartment.
When Hngjoong entered Seognhwa's apartment he noticed the layering was just like his own. A big living room right in front of the door, the kitchen on the left, and the bedroom and bathroom to the right.
But it was different at the same time.
While Hongjoong's apartment was mostly in black and white with some sprouts of color here and there, Seonghwa's whole apartment was the opposite. The walls were painted in different light pastel colors and they changed depending on which wall it was. A small red couch was in the middle of the living room facing a medium sized TV on a small cabinet. Beside the couch was an orange armchair and in front of it a pastel yellow carpet with little ducks painted on it.
The walls were covered in pictures and paintings, even a few posters here and there, and even if Hongjoong didn't really know Seonghwa personally that well he immediately thought that the ambience fit the other perfectly.
A pleasant smile reached his nostrils as Seonghwa led him into the kitchen.
This room was also really colorful.
Hongjoong awkwardly stood while Seonghwa walked up to the oven to take out a tray full of chocolate chip cookies.
Hongjoong wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. This whole situation was so awkward. Seonghwa wasn't talking and Hongjoong didn't even have the slightest idea on what to say, but he couldn't just walk away.
Plus, he wanted to be there with the other.
He just didn't know what to do to make everything less pressuring and more natural.
"This is... more awkward than I expected it to be." Seonghwa's sweet voice reached his eardrums. He was glad he wasn't the only one feeling the awkwardness.
"Definitely" He laughed.
And again, his mind probably really liked playing tricks on him because he could see Seonghwa's eyes light up at his laugh.
"...You can sit at the table if you want, you know?" Seonghwa smiled, moving the cookies from the tray to a plate and setting it down in the middle of the table.
So that's what Hongjoong did. He walked up to the wooden piece of furniture and carefully sat down on one of the four chairs surrounding it. Seonghwa sat down in front of him.
At first the conversation was mostly tense. Seonghwa asked him about his work and Hongjoong found out that Seognhwa mostly worked from home even if he usually had to attend one or two meetings in the morning. He didn't really pick up on what the other actually did for a living but he figured it had something to do with some sort of business.
Minute after minute the two loosened up and the conversation started flowing more naturally.
They talked about their interests. Hongjoong happily shared his passion for music even if his job didn't actually leave him a lot of time for his hobby and Seonghwa was just as eager to share his passion for fashion and art. That explained the paintings in his living room.
The cookies remained untouched until they weren't burning hot anymore, but even after an hour when there weren't any anymore Hongjoong didn't make a move to leave, and Seonghwa didn't press him to either. So they stayed there and talked about anything and everything that came to their minds.
Hongjoong was about to pop another question at the older when suddenly there was a knock on the door. He was about to stand up and leave Seonghwa with whoever came to visit him, but he was stopped by Seonghwa himself standing up.
"I'm sorry, I'll go see who it is."
And Hongjoong complied, sitting back down on the chair.
As Seonghwa walked out of the kitchen Hongjoong's eyes followed him, until he spotted his fridge and his lips curled upwards.
The fridge was covered in little post-it in each and every color, a few magnets here and there.
Hongjoong stood up and walked to the fridge. Most of the notes were about groceries or reminders of something the other had to do, but it was strange. Hongjoong felt like he was missing something.
And then it hit him.
Because it was much too familiar, that handwriting. It was the same one on the notes that waited for him every day for the past few months, along with the balloons.
Seonghwa was giving him those balloons. Seonghwa was writing him those notes.
It was Seonghwa who was concerned for his well being the day before, and it was Seonghwa the one who had said he liked his voice. It was Seonghwa the one who had been writing him sweet sentences all along. And maybe the thought of Seonghwa liking males didn't seem so impossible in Hongjoong's mind anymore.
"It was just San. He came to ask me if I wanted to eat with him and his boyf- Are you ok?"
Hongjoong hastily turned to Seonghwa, his eyes wide. The man had just came back into the kitchen and was now looking over worriedly to Hongjoong.
Well, it was fair. Hongjoong probably looked incredibly shaken. Doubts were gnawing at his mind as his eyes searched Seonghwa for any possible hint, but there was none.
"Hongjoong, are you ok?"
Seonghwa walked forward to him, but it was too much information at once. Hongjoong took a step back. Seonghwa stopped in his tracks.
"...Hongjoong?"
"Give me a second."
Hongjoong was well aware of the concerned gaze of Seonghwa on him but he needed time, at least a few minutes to internalize everything. He would have been lying if he said that he didn't feel the urge to confess right then and there, but even if he had been liking the other for quite a lot of time, and even if Seonghwa probably had too, it was too early.
They knew each other, but they didn't know each other.
"...Hongjoong... Did I do something wrong?"
"No! No, I- No it's- I'm just- Overwhelmed, it's, it's not your fault." A nervous laugh left his lips. It didn't seem to ease Seonghwa's nerves, not even a bit.
After a few minutes Hongjoong finally managed to bring his breathing back to normal. Seonghwa was still in front of him, he still looked worried.
The first thing Hongjoong wanted to do was run away and gather the courage to talk about it with the other, but it was not possible at the moment, and if he knew, Seonghwa probably needed to know that.
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"...You have a nice handwriting."
Seonghwa furrowed his eyebrows. Understandable; Hongjoong had freaked out in his kitchen and the first thing he had decided to say was that he had a nice handwriting? Hongjoong would be confused too.
"...I don't know how I'm exactly supposed to... address this? I- The balloons and the notes..."
Seonghwa's eyes widened. This time it was his turn to take a step back.
Ok maybe Hongjoong should have chosen a different approach.
He tried to reach for Seonghwa but the sight was breaking him. Seonghwa's eyes were glossy, he looked like he was on the verge of tears, frightened. Hongjoong probably wasn't supposed to find out.
"Seonghwa- It's fine, it's okay, I-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Hongjoong's eyes widened as tears started falling out of Seonghwa's eyes. He had covered his ears with his hands and he looked so... frail.
"Seonghwa..."
Hongjoong walked over to him and gently took his wrists in his hands.
"...Seonghwa, I don't understand I-"
"The rejection," Seonghwa's voice was feeble, barely above a whisper. "I don't want to hear it."
Hongjoong's grip on the other's wrists loosened.
"...We don't know each other," He started.
"Please don't..."
"...And in the two years you've been living here we never really talked before yesterday,"
"Hongjoong please..."
"...But I would love to get to know you more."
Seonghwa's body stiffened, the sobs previously leaving his mouth coming to an abrupt stop once he held his breath.
Hongjoong smiled.
"...Can I ask you out on a date?"
Hongjoong could feel the heat radiating off his cheeks, he could feel the warmth on his ears. He was probably redder than a tomato and he dreaded the answer as much as he wished for one.
He could hear his own heartbeat.
But nothing mattered anymore once Seonghwa lunged forward and buried his face in the crook of Hongjoong's neck, hugging him close.
This couldn't possibly be good for his heart.
He carefully wrapped his arms around the other's body, stroking his back with one hand while the other settled on his head to caress his hair.
So, Seonghwa did like men, and he probably was trying to flirt when he had invited Hongjoong over.
Hongjoong smiled to himself as he kept Seonghwa close.
This was probably the best day of his life.