Chapter Text
"I will wait for you even if it takes years for you to come back to me, do not doubt my love for a second that I will love anyone but you. Even if we both forget. Even if they separate us. I know for a fact that we will find our way back to each other. Our hearts will remember the one they always have beaten for . No one can stand in the way of our love. Not even ourselves. That is my promise to you."
Jihoon wakes up with a gasp, body all sweaty and clothes sticky to his face, he tries to wip his face with his fingers but they were as clammy as he felt and only made his face feel even more disgusted, he tries wiping them on the sheet desperate to get the weird feeling out of his system. He could not remember exactly what his dream was about, but he remembered the sweet voice holding him tightly and talking to him desperately. It was not the first time he had such a weird dream or nightmare that made him this flustered, he had been losing sleep for years over them. He visited a doctor who prescribed him sleeping medicines but he never had problems with sleeping in itself, he can sleep easily, the problem is in waking up specifically. So he ended up having a lot of naps once his shifts ended since strangely he never had those kinds of dreams then.
He looks at the time and groans, exactly what he wanted on a Monday to wake up at 4 am and then have to deal with his stupid coworkers, Working in a vinyl shop has never been his number one job or something he was really interested in, he knew he wanted to do something that could at least include music for a while until he could figure his future so he made peace with the fact that with this job he has infinite access to music and most of the customers that go there are classy enough not to be stupid or annoying, boring maybe and unexpressive but it was always better than children. However, he had to deal with one of his coworkers, and in other words, Jihoon would rather eat a lemon than spend a day in her presence and on 3 hours of sleep too? yeah, he knew today was going to suck so bad at least she starts her shift just an hour before his ends so he will not have to deal with her a lot.
He looks to his side body freezing for a few moments, the figure of his girlfriend sleeping peacefully not even bothered by him waking up, she never knew about these dreams or bothered asking him and Jihoon liked it that way. It's not that he did not trust her because he did but something inside of him always pushed him to keep it in, to keep that part of himself just to him after all who wouldn't freak out if their boyfriend woke them up talking nonsense about dreaming of someone calling them theirs. She might think he is cheating on her or something and Jihoon doesn't want unnecessary drama in his life. Plus the girl could sleep like a rock nothing could ever wake her up, it would sometimes bother Jihoon because he was a light sleeper but again the peace he could have alone at home was sometimes worth it.
He pulls the cover over her tiny body tucking her better once he realizes it has fallen then gets up, there was no sleep after this anyway. He remembers he met her around 2 years ago, both of them still college graduates, and something clicked, they didn't share a lot of hobbies or similarities but she always stuck around and never left even though Jihoon didn't show any interest in her. Wherever he goes that girl will be walking behind him, trying to get his attention, buying him coffee, getting him meals when he forgets to eat, just around. He never had anyone's attention on him before like that so it was a refreshing thing to feel wanted in a way and at the end of the day he thought to try it out, what was he going to risk if he tried, maybe it will surprise him. But even after two years, Jihoon still gets annoyed easily by a lot of her habits, he prefers staying at work to home to not listen to her talk about random things. It was not like he hated her but Jihoon's patience had been dwindling day by day and he could not on top of everything deal with her quirks on the daily even if he sounded extra mean admitting this. She was more of a friend than a girlfriend, Jihoon knew that but she loved him dearly and Jihoon could not break her heart, he had no one than her in this world after all. It was this or being utterly all alone for the rest of his life.
The day wasn't any different than any other. Sometimes Jihoon wonders how could these people be always this happy in this town, they were always smiling, always laughing, and he doesn't remember the last time he saw someone screaming or crying. Thinking about it always rubbed him on the wrong side, it felt abnormal and yet he couldn't say anything, how could he blame people for being this happy just because he wasn't?
He had a nice job, a beautiful kind girlfriend, and a roof over his head with no debts whatsoever. No matter how much his life would feel so perfect to strangers, there was always something missing and Jihoon could never put his finger on it. So he just lived every day for its day, getting up, working, listening to music, eating, and entertaining his girlfriend for a while so she would not suspect something was wrong and sleep again. The only exciting time of his day would be his dreams. They make him wake up so early and take off his sleep which always annoys him but they are also the only moments in his day when Jihoon feels complete like everything somehow makes sense. Like he was not a mistake in this world, never fitting to everyone's standards. Never fitting to the style of life everyone around him seems too content to be living. Those are the dreams where he cries and screams and loves with all of his heart and it makes him feel human not like a robot going through each day the same damn way every single day in an infinite repetitive cycle.
Jihoon was stacking a few returned records in their places, cursing whichever person kept putting some of these in the wrong place, how can you mistake artists this badly after working in here for so long? Jihoon will never understand that. They were alphabetically ordered in the first place. The bell over the door rings signaling someone entering and Jihoon sighs. "I will be right with you, one moment please." Jihoon puts the records he was holding in his arms over on one table to the side trying not to let any tumble to the floor making a check note in his mind to get back to them later as he grabs his clipboard in hand so he can finish noting down the missing records he needs to file a new command to get a new batch of them.
Walking back to the front desk Jihoon saw a guy who was turning around in a circle staring at the shop in awe, he felt his heartbeat doing a flip that came so quickly and disappeared just as quickly that he had to blink again unsure if it was even real or he was imagining it. The guy notices his presence and turns toward him about to get closer to the counter. The moment their eyes meet, both of them freeze in place, eyes growing so wide, that neither of them can even make sense of the situation.
Jihoon's heart constricted so much, he could barely breathe looking at the other's slanted eyes, something about him, something about his gaze, something about his whole demeanor felt like Jihoon had just walked home. Something felt so familiar yet new. His heart wouldn't stop beating so hard that he wondered if he was about to have a heart attack right there. Jihoon has never felt like this before and has never experienced such emotions in this cold world. Emotions so hard that got his whole body trembling from just an eye contact. He was used to feeling indifferent to everyone, never getting a genuine feeling toward any person in this town, not even from his own girlfriend so how could this even happen right now? What the hell was wrong with him?
The clipboard tumbles of his hands to the floor and both of their gazes move to it. The guy moves to grab it at the same time Jihoon does and their hands touch. Jihoon's breath hitches as he looks again at the other's eyes. He could swear the other was trying to tell him something within his eyes but Jihoon could not figure it out. Have people's eyes always been this expressive? Jihoon felt like it was the first time he saw ones so alive so vibrant and not just cold dead irises staring at him.
Jihoon looks down at their hands noticing a small scar on his hand in the shape of a star and Jihoon stares at it even more fully knowing he saw that somewhere before just not knowing where. The guy pulls his hand slowly backward and Jihoon blinks rapidly grabbing his clipboard and getting up.
Jihoon turns toward the wall for a minute hand resting over his heart trying to will it to slow down because this was not normal at all. He was not supposed to get such a reaction like this, he was not supposed to feel this flustered and alive and his heart almost going out of his chest for just a stranger.
"Excuse me?" Jihoon makes a weird noise at hearing the sweet voice of the other, almost willing himself to close his eyes and listen to it for days as a sense of warmness wraps around him.
"Yes?" Jihoon knows it left him shocked and barely there but the other seems to still hear him as he gets closer to the counter watching him like a hawk in interest.
The silence stretches again and Jihoon coughs slightly to get his attention once again to whatever he needs instead of just looking at each other like creepes. "How can I help you?" The guy seems hyper-focused somewhere on his face following his every word with too much attention that Jihoon feels his ears reddening. The guy seems to come to his senses after a while as he shakes his head repeatedly, the curls on his head flopping around like a puppy and Jihoon has to fight the urge to not coo at him and run his hands through them.
"I eh, I usually do not use records but my girl... "He seems to catch his tongue before he finishes the sentence as if realizing something so important and Jihoon feels his shoulders sagging as the same thought hits his head. what is he doing? He has a girlfriend and seems like the other guy is the same as him. Why are they acting like this? Jihoon was not a cheater, and he would confirm, that even if he was not happy he would never do such a thing to anyone let alone to the one person who stood by his side all these years when no one else did. He could feel a small sense of disappointment at knowing the other probably is the same but he still swallows the feeling convincing himself that it was probably for the best because these strange feelings were dangerous.
"My friend is an artist and she usually comes here to grab a few records, she said they help her get in the mood to paint but she is extremely busy finishing this project to come herself so I volunteered to come here instead." Jihoon smiles at the sheepish look the other have and he nods his head in understanding.
"Do you have something in mind?" He shakes his head at him.
"As I said, I really do not know a lot about vinyl records, I would usually play music from my phone if I need to but she insists on having these for the extra aura? I don't even know to be honest." Jihoon laughs at his clueless adorable expression.
"Makes sense why I never saw you before here, come, I have a few things you might like that would fit what you say and if she does not like them you can always come back to change them we have too many records here to fit everyone's style." The guy seems to follow him the moment Jihoon starts moving as he reaches the back pulling on some random picks. "Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Dorris Day, these are some of the most popular records that keep being sold out too quickly so I am sure she will like them for whatever vibes she is looking for."
The stranger grabs the records from him flipping them to look at the back and then the front in a confused pout and Jihoon tries his best to ignore the way his heart jumps at the small touch of their fingers.
"What about you, what do you like then?" Jihoon stares at the records for a second then shrugs.
"Nothing specific I listen mostly to Jazz but I don't have a favorite, but maybe I can give you a personal suggestion if you someday come back?" Something about that makes his eyes light up as he nods vigorously as if Jihoon has told him the best news ever in the world.
Jihoon coughs slightly while hearing the door ring once again ushering him back to the front. "I will come back soon." The guy smiles at him, eyes disappearing in the process as he stares at Jihoon on his way out. Jihoon's eyes widen about to scream but he ends up hitting his head on the still-open door the other customer left open.
"I'M OKAY!!" He rubs his forehead slowly, a few strands of hair standing wildly then looks again at Jihoon with the same bright smile making him shake his head fondly watching him leave. This whole exchange has brightened his whole day from having to deal with anything else.
Jihoon turns his head toward the next customer noting his cold demeanor and non-impressed face, Jihoon sighs, right back to the real world...
"Why do you like these kind of songs?" Jihoon could hear the person behind him, chin over his shoulder as they lay on the bed cuddling asking him out of nowhere. Jihoon shrugs grabbing the hand on his waist and rubbing it slowly. He could recognize the song playing this time in the background was 'Laughing on the Outside' by Dinah Shore. Jihoon hums slowly to the music leaning further on the warm chest behind him.
"They're soothing, nothing of the new music that makes people jump or over excess use of instruments, it's just pure music that you can sway to, have in the background and just smile to you know? Jazz is such a chill kind of music, you can never go wrong with it." The person behind him nuzzles his nose in his neck nodding making Jihoon giggle slightly at the sensation.
"hmm, whatever you like my love I will like that as well, it could be our thing you know. Listen to Jazz music together, doing nothing, but still enjoying each other's company." Jihoon grins about to turn around in place to face the other and tell him how much he really wants that as well but instead, the world turns blurry too quickly around him.
Jihoon opens his eyes disappointed at yet again failing to see his dreams' lover's face. He has been trying for years, but something always stops him a mere minute before he does. In every single dream, the person is so far from his sight, Nevertheless, he smiles softly moving his arm toward the notebook waiting for him on his bedside desk and he jolts down the song name before he forgets.
It became a habit, more often than not, he would have dreams that included old jazz music and Jihoon would write them down. He has been creating a collection with all these records. He never also let anyone know about his collection. He doesn't know why, but it feels like it's something personal, something so important for him. That's why he started working in the vinyl shop in the first place, the first few times he struggled to find the songs, but with more practice, he started recognizing them the moment he heard them.
Jihoon smiles contently at having a happy dream this time, a hand falls on his waist and Jihoon looks to his side, his smile falling immediately... right his girlfriend. Jihoon falls back in bed letting the girl cuddle him as he sighs in place. At least he has the memory to keep him company, the memory of a small moment of happiness and he could close his eyes and pretend he was still in that world instead of in this cold bedroom.
Jihoon was once again alone in the shop, honestly, he preferred having it that way instead of dealing with a co-worker with him, he could mind his business, and have music working on the whole day without anyone interrupting him or patronizing him around the shop, of course, unless a customer comes in but it was a Sunday and it was usually a slow day so Jihoon didn't expect anyone to stop by till at least after 10 am. He was singing to a song playing in the shop around the back as he was searching through boxes of broken records on the floor that he didn't notice the door opening until the song ended when he jumped startled at the sound of clapping.
Jihoon turns back to the front where the stranger from the other day was staring at him with a sheepish smile. "Sorry if I scared you." Jihoon instead smiles widely shaking his head as he jumps back to his feet walking toward the counter.
"It's okay I'm just not used to not hearing when the bell rings that's all, and I did not expect to have customers this early."
"You have a pretty voice." The guy puts his elbow on the glass counter his cheek resting on his palm as he stares at Jihoon lovingly with stars in his eyes making the other blush fiercely looking down at his fingers instead.
"Thank you but it's nothing really, I was barely singing."
"None sense you should be singing and famous or something you have the voice for it!" The other nods quite seriously at him getting more excited with each word and Jihoon laughs at the enthusiasm.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence but wish it was that easy." The other rolls his eyes but still nods.
"I know what you mean, but hey at least acknowledge that!" Jihoon nods reluctantly.
"Will that make you quiet?" The guy nods and Jihoon sighs. "Then I will admit it I suppose, happy now?"
"Very happy." Jihoon tries to ignore the grin on the other's face as he busies himself with his fingers.
"So you came back really fast, did your friend not like the records?" The guy shakes his head with a smile.
"She liked them, in fact, she said she didn't care who was singing or what was said as long as the vibes were there, to be honest, I don't get what goes in her mind, she doesn't care about the music that much but as long as she likes it whatever I guess." Jihoon lets his head fall to the side in confusion.
"What a bummer when someone cannot appreciate the music but I kind of get it, my friend has that habit too when she writes she tends to not care what's playing if it gives her the vibe so there's that." Jihoon bit his cheek at calling his girlfriend a friend instead but the other did the same even though looking at each other both of them knew the exact truth but none would even address it, it didn't feel right to say it or maybe they just didn't want to focus on that when it was just a normal exchange and they were not close enough to discuss private lives.
"So can I get today your very personal preference suggestion?" The guy rubs his palms in anticipation and Jihoon giggles.
"Sure and I think I have the perfect thing for you." Jihoon grabs into a record he had put to the side handing it to the other who stares at it in anticipation as if Jihoon has handed him the most precious thing in the world. "Do you want to have a listen before you go?"
"I can do that?" Jihoon laughs at the incredulous look he has shaking his head, he's so precious.
"Well of course, it's a vinyl shop, we do have a few phonographs in here for people to try on the records, here let me show you how to use it." Jihoon drags the guy to the side pulling the record out from its case and plugging it in place.
Immediately the notes of laughing from the outside start playing and Jihoon smiles suddenly feeling at peace, he had some weird urge to give this record to the other guy, maybe he was still giddy from the dream he had the other night, but he felt like sharing a tiny bit of his short-lived happiness to the other. He had never before even dared to do it before but between the other's bright shiny smile and the giddiness of a child he brought to him from just two encounters Jihoon strangely felt closer to him than he ever did to any other person he ever met before.
Jihoon watches his face as it transforms from confusion to wonder to utmost joy and disbelief "This song... I heard this before..." Jihoon raises an eyebrow at him. "This is incredible, can I have this?" Jihoon shrugs in response.
"Sure, I have more copies anyway, you can keep it. Consider it a gift because you came back here this quickly." The other brightens up immediately pulling the cover close to his chest as if scared it will suddenly disappear somehow.
"Thank you so much!"
"Of course." Jihoon answers in confusion slowly unplugging the record as the other takes it from him and running outside like a madman. Jihoon watches him with a weird expression on his face feeling and only then does he realize that he has failed once again in asking for his name. Sad but he hopes they will have the opportunity to meet once again.
"Jihoonieee" The door opens and Jihoon barely opens his eyes as he was sitting on the floor writing something in a journal, he could not make up the words but he knew he was concentrating really hard on it. "I have a surprise for you." Before he could even turn around and look the person put both his hands over his eyes, hands vibrating in excitement
"ah, what is it?" Jihoon tries to shake the hands over his eyes but the other does not relent and instead leans to kiss the side of his neck a couple of times and Jihoon could feel the smile on his skin bringing him happiness as well.
"Come on baby try to guess what it is?" Jihoon groans internally but then he sags in the other's embrace completely lax leaning his head on the other's shoulder.
"What did you find this time? I swear if it's another random thing like that one rock you brought the other day and told me it looks like me I will throw you out of our dorm room and you can sleep in the hallway." He could feel the body behind him laughing so hard, hands slipping a little from his eyes and Jihoon could see a little bit of light from the corner of his eyes due to that, he can easily shake the other off but he stays still entertaining the other whatever he was planning this time even if he looked a little annoyed internally he was just basking in the attention and love he was receiving from his lover.
"No you silly, so I sneaked into the kitchen, and there was a staff birthday and they were making muffins so I took two without anyone noticing." Jihoon gasps and hits the other's hand away this time for real from obscuring his sight.
"Are you crazy? You idiot if you get caught once again you will be thrown in the white room again." He shrugs behind him and then puts the muffin right in front of his face, Jihoon stares at the muffin in his hand, eyes falling on the star mark shape on his right hand.
"It's chocolate and blueberry your favorite Jihoonie, come on have a bite from this, I am sure you will love it, you need to eat." Jihoon's face twists from annoyance to endearment real quickly as he sighs.
"Ugh, why would you risk this? I would have been completely content with you coming back in one piece." But still, Jihoon reaches toward it taking a bite and humming happily.
"It is worth seeing your happy expression my love, I will do it again if I need to, you know your smile is always my priority even if I have to get punished for it. We don't have much time left on here so I rather us be happy on our last days." Jihoon groans and buries his head in the other's chest.
"Thank you I love you but please let's tone this down a little, I would rather have you here next to me than have a muffin, what would we do if you got stuck there for the rest of the days we have left, I cannot bare with it if that would have been our goodbye." Jihoon feels arms sneak around his back pulling him closer then the ghost of lips over his forehead.
"Whatever you say, my love. I will always be by your side."
Jihoon wakes this time seeing the room already light and he blinks in confusion, it's weird to wake up in the morning instead of in the dead of the night for one and for two he didn't get any song this time in his dream which disoriented him so much. After al this time, he got so used to the music it felt like he was robbed of something important.
"Oh, you're still here." Jihoon looks to his side to see his girlfriend smiling at him. "Since you are here let's have breakfast together?" Jihoon hums running a hand over his messy bedhair. It has been a while since they did, Jihoon usually wakes up extra early and leaves before she even wakes up, and she never complained either way about it so he never bothered to change that habit but today he feels a little guilty looking at her. He had never promised her anything when they started dating, she agreed fully knowing that he feels nothing for her and Jihoon suspects she knows it's just a matter of time before they break it off but she still pretends like they are still okay, like they ever were okay, were a normal couple.
"Do we have everything?" He asks getting up from bed and the girl shrugs skipping to the kitchen, the sound of her feet echoes around the silent apartment and Jihoon slowly follows her watching as she looks around the fridge.
"Okay how about I make a quick run to the bakery then we can eat, please stay here till I come back it has been a while since we did and I don't want to miss you leaving again so let me do this." Jihoon shrugs, he knows he should ask if she wants the company or offer to go himself but he doesn't feel like it.
She stops mid-kitchen, eyes wide and mouth half open and Jihoon furrows his eyebrows as he walks toward her putting a hand on her cheek in concern. "Eunha are you alright?" She doesn't respond at first but then blinks slowly at him as if she did not see him at all. Her face distorts and she smiles widely.
"Actually I don't think I feel that good can you go to the bakery instead." Jihoon stares at the weird smile she had and nods in confusion as he prompts her to sit down on the couch.
"Rest a little, I'll be back as soon as possible okay?" Eunha nods to him as she sits immediately on a chair unmoving watching him move around and Jihoon gives her one last look creeped out before he heads back to his bedroom to change his clothes and leave.
Jihoon rubs his eyes as he walks on the pavement, people greeting him with smiles and he only nods in acknowledgment humming to one of the songs he found through his dreams, the bakery wasn't that far away, it was right across from the vinyl shop actually and yet Jihoon never had a reason to venture inside it. and the whole place was just across the street from his apartment as well which doesn't make sense to him in the first place how he never walked in it.
Jihoon pushes the door to the bakery open sighing at the delicious smell inside, stomach rumbling in hunger, he should've at least gotten a coffee before he left the house in a rush away from his girlfriend. "Coming right up." Jihoon hears a muffled voice from where he thinks is the kitchen before a sliding door opens and someone brings a tray full of croissants putting them on a side table to cool down.
Jihoon's mouth opens wide when he sees the familiar black curls greeting him. "Oh, it's you..." He mumbles to himself but the other's head turns to him eyes widening and glinting in happiness.
"Hey, records guy!! We meet again." Jihoon laughs at the nickname nodding his head.
"I did not expect to see you here." Jihoon shrugs and the other puts on some plastic gloves as he puts the croissants on the display counter.
"Well, I work here sooo." Jihoon nods sheepishly, makes sense again why he didn't know the other before.
"Yeah I never came here before, usually my friend does pick up pastries otherwise I don't have a big of a sweet tooth." Soonyoung gives him a look and then grins.
"Looks like we both lived in our own circles and somehow we managed to still meet despite how many times we probably missed each other, it's fate if you ask me." He winks at Jihoon prompting the other to almost choke on his saliva face reddening. "I'm joking hey sorry please do you want some water?" He laughs so hard mid talk and Jihoon only glares at him in exasperation.
"I mean if she wasn't feeling unwell I wouldn't have come so maybe you have a small point either way." The other smirks finally closing the display and putting the empty tray away.
"Then should I ask for your name if we are going to keep bumping into each other I would love to put a name to a face." Jihoon rolls his eyes at the overly flirty way the other speaks but still he shakes his head endeared, he still finds the other cute and his overly smiley self would just make Jihoon feel better about his life.
"Lee Jihoon I suppose." Jihoon shrugs and the other nods his head in greeting.
"Kwon Soonyoung at your service. Now mister Lee how can I help you on this bright lovely day?" Jihoon snorts barely able to keep his laughter at bay.
"Well Mister Kwon, I would like to get something sweet, what is your specialty?" Soonyoung seems to put a finger under his chin thinking then lets his hands over the glass counter.
"How about I suggest you something like you did the other day to me?" Jihoon nods even before he could finish his sentence.
"Sure, bring it on." Soonyoung grins putting a finger up to wait as he walks back inside the kitchen then reemerges with a smaller tray than the previous one.
"These are a little personal favorite and I felt like making them early this morning. So it's not a daily sale on here." Jihoon tries to peek to see what could the other be referring to only seeing a bit of brown stuff.
"Oh, are those muffins?" Jihoon's mouth waters at the sweet smell and Soonyoung nods vigorously.
"Yep, fresh chocolate and blueberry muffins right from the oven." Jihoon's mouth opens in surprise, last night's dream resurfacing back to the front of his mind, of his lover smuggling those same specific muffins for him.
Jihon stares in wonder at the guy in front of him who was pocketing a few of them in a box, a smile never falling from his face.
Is this a coincidence? This is so weird to be a coincidence...
Jihoon still can't help but smile back when the other looks back at him handing him the box. "Hope you enjoy these Jihoonie."
Jihoon feels a jolt go through him at hearing his name being uttered by that nickname and he almost drops the box if Soonyoung didn't have a strong reflex to catch it before it was too late.
Soonyoung puts the box over the counter taking off his gloves and taking a turn from behind it to stand in front of Jihoon. "Are you okay? Do you need to sit down or do you need water or anything?" Soonyoung reaches his hand to his arm to usher him to a table at the side. Once Jihoon sits down Soonyoung crouches down hand resting on Jihoon's knees in genuine concern.
Jihoon's eyes almost immediately fall once again over the other's hands seeing that star-shaped scar once again, only now remembering seeing it in his dreams as well. He lets his hand rest next to the other's hand and Soonyoung looks down as well at both their hands. Jihoon has always had this sort of bracelet he never takes off his hand, he doesn't remember much but he had an accident a few years ago where his inner wrist was burned and he always kept that one on, sometimes he would take it off to clean it a little but he would never linger to stare at his hand but now with shaky fingers he slowly unclapses it and stares down at the numerous scars on his wrist but there in the middle Jihoon could barely see it but the unmistakeble shape of a similar star scar staring at them right in the face.
"Oh wow we are matching," Soonyoung says in wonder eyes moving back and forth between both hands, voice a little sad probably not wanting to ask what could have happened to Jihoon's wrist but still fascinated by the coincidence meanwhile Jihoon was one second away from panicking. He closes his eyes for a moment and Soonyoung notices. "Jihoonie do you need something? I think you just have low sugar you probably ate nothing before coming here, right? Come on have a bite from this, I am sure you will love it, you need to eat."
Jihoon opens his eyes so quickly turning so panicked at hearing the last sentence, remembering it exactly the same way from the previous night. with the exact same voice and the exact same tone and softness. He grabs the muffin from the other with a shaky hand biting from it, the savory feeling slowly toning down his panic a little especially watching the other's smile never faltering for a second, a constant calm in front of his sea of chaos.
What is going on though? This could not be possible theoretically. The similar scar? The same muffin? The same soft sweet voice he has heard every single night for years? He has memorized that voice to recognize it anywhere he goes but he did not want to think it could be possible in the first place. Could he be reading so much into this or is it really a coincidence? But even if his observations were right, would it even be real? Why would he be dreaming of Soonyoung all these years?
Jihoon feels his heart constricting the moment soonyoung reaches to touch his hand in concern, heart doing flips and turns in his chest, and Jihoon gasps at the feeling and instead of sitting there and voicing his concerns to the other he ends up getting up so quickly and pushing the other's hands off him and running out of the shop like a coward, the bell leaving a ringing sound behind him. This was too much to take for him and he needed to think on his own...