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The hallway is dark; Yoongi quietly slips off his shoes, trying to make as little noise as possible. He was supposed to be home almost an hour ago, having promised his older brother he'd be back by half-past ten, but he got delayed helping Namjoon put away the equipment and, predictably, forgot to call and let him know he'd be late. In the doorway leading to the living room, a faint bluish light flickers, drawing the boy's attention. The room that welcomes the late guest is steeped in cozy silence.
"Hyung?" he whispers softly, noticing a light-haired head peeking out from behind the back of the couch, illuminated by the laptop screen's light.
"Yoongi," the worried sigh makes him blush with embarrassment — his older brother must have been worried, patiently waiting for his unresponsive sibling — and rush to the couch into the welcoming arms. "Kiddo, why didn't you answer? And why didn't you text to say you'd be late?"
"Sorry, hyung," he mumbles, pressing trustingly against the boy. "I didn't think I'd be so late. Joon asked for help with the equipment, and when I wanted to call you, I realized my phone was dead..." he quietly explains, giggling softly at the gentle touches to his soft black curls, and reaches for his brother's hair in return. His brother's hair is contrastingly white, dry from constant bleaching, yet still dearly loved by both its owner and his younger sibling.
"Alright, what am I going to do with you," the older one sighs, setting the laptop on the low glass table in front of the couch, and leans back against the soft backrest, running his hand through Yoongi's hair. "How was your evening?"
"Second place," Yoongi answers, pouting cutely, fiddling with the many rings on his fingers, clearly upset by the outcome.
"And who got first? That kid, Jisung, again?" the older one asks with genuine interest, understanding all too well how frustrating it is to come second in the underground scene — he himself spent his best youthful years in nightclubs, honing his rap skills and rarely missing a chance to showcase his abilities in battles supported by both participants and spectators — even if Yoongi didn't plan to tie his life to music, choosing it as a beloved hobby.
"Yeah," the boy grumbles gloomily, snuggling into the warm arm wrapped around his shoulders, and crosses his legs. Ready to comfort his younger brother, he almost chokes on his words, staring at the soft head in surprise when he hears a quiet sigh, belatedly remembering — in-love Yoongi — and Yoongi, who seems truly in love right now — is terribly fickle, capable of switching from any topic to thoughts about the object of his affection at the slightest mention.
"Hosuk?" he repeats, frowning, unsure if he heard correctly. "I didn't know girls go to clubs for battles. They usually prefer more... civilized ways to showcase their talent."
"Not Hosuk, hyung, Hoseok," Yoongi shakes his head, nervously clutching the sleeve of the leather jacket his brother recently bought. "It's a boy."
"Hoseok, then," the older one repeats, unexpectedly stopping to run his fingers through the fluffy soft strands, causing Min to instantly tense and turn towards him in anxious anticipation of his reaction. "So, Yoongi, you like him, don’t you?" he softly smirks, resuming to gently mess with his hair.
"A lot," Yoongi whispers, unable to suppress a dreamy smile that immediately mirrors on his older brother's face — they smile almost identically, which the younger one secretly likes a lot—and tilts his head back, squeezing the other's hand in uncontrollably growing excitement, which always bubbles like glitter in his veins at the thought of the cute boy with the bright heart-shaped smile.
The older Min doesn't respond, continuing to carefully comb through Yoongi's hair, who almost purrs with delight, happy that no one is sending him to bed, excusing it with the need to get up early in the morning; in the younger's immodest opinion, his older brother is simply amazing, and not just because of that.
"Are you going to confess to him?" the man asks casually, glancing at the love-struck boy and involuntarily recalling his own first date and first love. "Kiddo?"
"I don't know," Yoongi sighs sadly, instantly deflating and stopping smiling. "Hyung... what if he doesn't like boys?" he whispers, shocked by the possibility for the first time since realizing his own uplifting feelings.
"And what if he does?" his older brother whispers back in the same tone, tenderly studying his younger brother's face, genuinely starting to worry for him — what if his first real crush really doesn't like boys? What will he do with his little brother's broken heart then? "Listen to me, Yoongi-ah," he calls, gently squeezing the other's hand. "I'm serious. Try talking to him. At least find out if he likes boys."
"Alright, hyung," giving in to the inevitably futile persuasion, the boy whispers, shifting his gaze from the beloved face to the laptop and back with a clear hint, waiting to hear another masterpiece from his older brother, and wiggles his eyebrows pleadingly, happily smiling when his silent request is understood almost instantly, as the treasured music begins to play.
***
Yoongi nods his head to the pounding beats in his headphones, glancing up again. Hoseok sits at the other end of the nearly empty classroom, chatting cheerfully with Taehyung next to him; his beautiful smile never leaves his face, repeatedly catching the eye of the silently fidgeting Min. A sweet, excited shiver runs through him as he remembers that they'll walk home together again — lucky that they both live in the same direction from school — which means he'll once more half-listen to Jung's enthusiastic chatter about everything and nothing at the same time, all his attention focused on that bright smile, the soft squint of his eyes, and the attractive curve of his eyelashes. Their last class is separate, which means Yoongi has at least some chance to concentrate on the subject rather than on staring at the boy who seems more than just handsome.
hyung, what should I do
we're walking home together, what should I do
take him to eat
come on, kiddo, don't be silly, go for a walk somewhere
WHERE?
yoongi-ah, calm down
do you still have classes?
yeah, the last one
and him?
also the last one
then go eat afterward. go study for now. love you
love you too, hyungie
Yoongi smiles faintly, setting his phone aside as the elderly English teacher enters the classroom, reluctantly opening his textbook. Usually his favorite subject, English, now brings no joy—all his thoughts are revolving around one handsome boy with chestnut-colored hair and the endlessly delightful prospect of spending time with him — and the seemingly fleeting lesson drags on forever, making him impatiently glance at the clock almost every five minutes.
Nearly fifty minutes later, he fidgets in his seat, repeatedly glancing at the slowly moving minute hand, waiting for the class to end. The long-awaited bell rings through the corridor, signaling Yoongi into action — he sweeps his scattered notebooks into his backpack in one motion, slings it over his shoulder, hurriedly bids the teacher farewell, and runs out of the classroom, heading to the exit. Hoseok isn't at the agreed spot yet — probably held up by a teacher — so Min exhales in relief, pulling out his phone. Checking his card balance turns out to be a good idea — his eyes widen in alarm when he notices a balance just over a thousand, and he nearly panics, reopening the chat with his older brother.
HYUNG
HYUNG URGENT
send money please I'm out of cash
"Yoongi, hi," comes a voice very close by. Yoongi turns, feeling everything inside freeze at the sight of Hoseok standing a few steps away, his fluffy bleached hair and soft lips curved in a shy, friendly smile with cute dimples at the sharp corners. Jung, with Yoongi's name on his lips and a light peachy blush blooming on his cheeks, looks even better than usual — Yoongi smiles back, blushingly averting his gaze. "Sorry, I got held up."
"It's okay," he replies quietly, stuffing his hands into his pockets and trying to put on as relaxed an expression as possible — Hoseok doesn't need to know that every time he comes into Min's view, Yoongi, usually diligently maintaining the image of a pompous tough guy, involuntarily adopted from the underground scene, feels his heart skip a beat and nearly struggle to breathe—as they slowly head toward the park leading to home.
Hoseok habitually starts rambling about numerous random things — Yoongi listens intently to every word, not daring to turn his head because he knows that the carefully gathered fragments of concentration will scatter into a golden dust of a hot blush on his face as soon as he sees the sparkling eyes of the boy walking beside him. He doesn't join the conversation on the first try, getting distracted by Jung's warm giggles; he also doesn't immediately notice his phone vibrating in his pocket.
gosh kiddo
check your balance
just eat something decent, agreed?
"you’re the best hyungie," he types quickly, adding a small heart without thinking, stopping next to Hoseok at the red light, and glances at the boy—a very cute, neat profile with soft waves of chestnut bangs, long eyelashes, and a gracefully curved nose that Yoongi finds himself gazing at almost too often. "Handsome," the casual compliment flashes in his admiration-filled head, begging to be spoken—Min bites his lip slightly, trying not to say anything unnecessary, anything that might push Jung away from the hopelessly smitten him.
"Hobi", unexpectedly calling out to the boy walking beside him, Yoongi finally turns to him, looking into his caramel-colored eyes that shine with surprise in the still-cold sunlight. "Do you want to grab something to eat? My treat", he blurts out in one breath, anxiously gripping the strap of the backpack slung over his shoulder and pressing his dry lips together. "If you're free, of course", he adds after a second, not giving Hoseok a chance to respond. "We don’t have much homework for tomorrow, and if you don't have any plans…"
"I’d love to", Hoseok replies with a shy smile, tucking his cold hands into the pockets of his crinkly jacket. "Where should we go?"
The walk to the nearest convenience store, not far from school, takes exactly five stolen glances and six shy smiles, fleetingly appearing on Yoongi's face. He occasionally adds a word or two to Hoseok's carefree chatter and mentally scolds himself a couple of times for being so foolishly transparent with his blazing feelings. His brother's gruff voice echoes in his mind, persistently repeating the same simple request: "Find out if he likes boys or not." Perhaps he really should ask this before making a confession, which teases his tongue with a tempting sweetness.
"Hobi?" Yoongi cautiously calls out to the boy sitting next to him, putting down his half-eaten ramen. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure", Hoseok replies with a renewed smile, chewing on a piece of fragrant kimbap as he turns to his classmate. Yoongi carefully reaches forward, plucking a small fluff from the soft waves of Hoseok’s bangs.
"You know, I recently read a book…" Yoongi begins in a thoughtful voice, improvising a somewhat plausible story on the spot. "And in it… Well, the main characters were two boys. And they… How should I put it…"
"They were gay?" Hoseok asks calmly, taking an unnoticed sip from the banana milk he had smoothly taken from Yoongi, causing the latter to choke on his sweet soda in surprise.
"Uh, yeah", Yoongi mutters, flustered, rubbing his brightly flushed cheek. "Anyway, I just wanted to ask… How do you… How do you feel about that?" he exhales sharply, gripping the chopsticks stained with spicy sauce in his hand, and turns to the smudged window, simultaneously fearing and eagerly awaiting the answer.
"It's fine", Hoseok shrugs, taking another sip of the sweet milk. "I think people can love whoever they want, regardless of whether it's a guy or a girl. What’s the difference? Actually, you know", he adds, blushing bashfully. "When I was in middle school, I had a crush on an older boy. Can you imagine? I even tried to confess to him, buying sweets and trinkets and leaving them in his class before lessons. My mom thought I was crazy because I’d ask her to drop me off at school half an hour early. And he…" he trails off quietly, frowning sadly.
"What about him?" Yoongi asks softly, inching a little closer without realizing it.
"He never reciprocated. I think he was quite the homophobe — I… I overheard him and his friends laughing about my love letter once. I wish I hadn’t heard it. It hurt so much — because he mocked my feelings. He was the first boy I fell in love with, and the little fourteen-year-old gay inside me wasn’t ready for such a harsh rejection. After that, I never tried to approach a guy again", Hoseok laughs bitterly, running his fingers through his bangs in awkward embarrassment.
"He was just a jerk", Yoongi shrugs, not fully comprehending what Hoseok just told him, his main focus on comforting his friend. "I’m sure your next boyfriend will be way better", he smirks slyly, unexpectedly even to himself playfully winking.
Turning away in the hot wave of embarrassment from his own uncharacteristic behavior, Yoongi doesn’t immediately notice the strange expression on Hoseok’s face as he thoughtfully twists a half-empty soda bottle in his hands. Hoseok looks at him with surprise for a few seconds, finding the strength only to mumble a quiet, barely audible "I hope," feeling his face begin to flush with a rosy tint.
"Yoongi?", Hoseok gently calls out to him, smiling cautiously. "Listen, you… want to come with me to the mall? My mom’s birthday is coming up, and I have no idea what to get her. Could you help me pick something out?"
Yoongi agrees eagerly to the offer — he still has plenty of free time before his older brother comes home and would rather not spend it alone. It’s much more enjoyable to spend these few hours with the boy he likes so much, and not just to be with him but also to help with a task, even if it’s not too difficult but still important. They leave the nearest mall, a five-minute subway ride away, in the evening — the dark blue sky reflecting the lights of brightly illuminated skyscrapers and office buildings, with countless tiny stars barely visible. The boys also make their way home together — Yoongi listens intently to everything Hoseok says, not remembering the route until he’s close to his own place. Min shakes his head, laughing at another genuinely funny joke from his classmate, and admires the profile of the endlessly talking Hoseok — making him laugh so genuinely is usually something only his older brother can achieve. Speaking of which, Yoongi pulls out his phone, opens the latest chat, and exhales loudly — five unread messages and one missed call.
"Damn", he mutters, gripping his smartphone and turning to Hoseok with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Hoseok, I need to get home urgently. I think my brother might be worried about me", he nervously chuckles, hiding his eyes under his bangs.
"Is everything okay?" Hoseok asks with concern, taking a step closer — Yoongi’s gaze meets the warm blush on his cheeks.
"Y-yeah", he stutters, smiling even brighter, forgetting that he didn’t intend to be this sweet, wanting to charm Hoseok in a more familiar way. "Don’t worry. I… I’ll text you later, okay?"
"I’ll be waiting", Hoseok smiles back, extending his hand. Yoongi quietly shivers as he shakes it — Hoseok’s hand is soft, thin, gently wrapping around his with a warm touch.
Five minutes later, his hands are still trembling — as are his legs, heart, and thoughts, vibrating unevenly at the memory of the light touch that warmed his palm — as he tries to unlock his phone to call his older brother and reassure him, surely anxious but never showing it.
kiddo, if you finish before me, pick up something from the store, I’m really hungry :(
yoonie, hey
okay, got it, when you’re with Hoseok, you're lost for the rest of the world. I hope you ate something
Yoongi, I hope you haven’t lost your phone
*missed call*
Yoongi, call me back, I’m worried
Yoongi anxiously bites his lip when he notices the time gap between the first and last messages is almost four hours. He rushes to the front door, quickly inserting the key that’s slipping from his fingers into the lock and turning it hurriedly. This time, the hallway is neither dark nor quiet — a dim, warm yellow light flows from the noisy kitchen’s exhaust fan, and the air is filled with the aroma of spicy seasonings. Yoongi kicks off his shoes and takes off his jacket, hanging it next to his brother’s smooth black leather jacket, and hurries towards the smell, carefully peeking into the doorway.
"Hyung, I’m home", Yoongi calls softly to his older brother, who is standing by the stove, hiding his cold hands in the pockets of his school trousers. The older brother doesn’t hear him, stirring the contents of a pot with chopsticks, frequently glancing at the phone lying on the table. Yoongi clears his throat and tries again. "Hyung!"
"Yoongi", he exhales sharply, turning abruptly and setting the chopsticks aside, folding his arms across his chest. "Why didn’t you answer? Where have you been?"
"Sorry, hyung", Yoongi mumbles awkwardly on the threshold, digging his fingers into the back of his hair. "My phone was on silent."
"Go change", the older brother says after a moment, shaking his head with a frown, and turns back to the stove. "And come straight to the table."
Yoongi doesn’t need to be told twice — he quickly disappears into his room, pulling off his blue school uniform with the school crest as he goes; he manages to change in record time, realizing that his brother isn’t actually angry with him — at least not as much as their parents, still living in their hometown, who had decided a few years ago that their grown-up sons could take care of themselves and each other, would be. Yoongi had been very pleased with this arrangement — the prospect of finishing school at a prestigious city school and living with his older brother, whom he had always liked a bit more than his parents, was exactly what he needed as an ambitious teenager with a big dream of becoming an architect.
Quickly pulling on a stretched t-shirt with the logo of his older brother’s favorite band and black pants hanging loosely from his thin legs, he rushes back to the kitchen, promptly setting the table. His brother, noticing his return, doesn’t say anything — he just hums quietly while arranging various dishes on the table. Yoongi smiles appreciatively, giving a slight bow when his brother places a steaming bowl of freshly cooked ramen in front of him and sits down across from him, wishing him a good meal. They eat their dinner in pleasant silence; the older Min smiles at the sight of his brother eating with gusto and sets aside his chopsticks, clearing his throat softly to get his attention.
"How was your outing?" he asks gently, smiling at the sight of Yoongi’s eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Hyung, he’s so…" Yoongi begins dreamily, smiling shyly. "He’s so handsome", he sighs lovingly, not noticing his brother’s quiet chuckles as he fiddles with his chopsticks. "And his smile… And he has such soft hands… Hyung, I think I’m in love", he adds unexpectedly seriously, blushing brightly and lowering his head as his brother’s quiet laughter turns into a full-blown, embarrassingly loud laugh.
"It was obvious from the beginning", the older brother laughs, reaching out and affectionately ruffling Yoongi’s hair. "Just look at yourself right now, kiddo", he shakes his head, gently brushing through the soft strands of Yoongi’s bangs.
"And also", Yoongi adds, less enthusiastically, as the hot blush fades from his cheeks. "I talked to him like you suggested. Turns out he does like boys."
The older brother smiles relaxedly, gently stroking Yoongi’s lowered head. Yoongi smiles back, resting his head on his open hands, trusting the person sitting across from him and allowing him to play gently with his black locks.
"What are you planning to do now?" the older brother continues to smile, looking at his younger sibling with a cheerful gaze. "Besides just staring at him dreamily and blushing."
"Hyung", Yoongi hisses in mock indignation, pretending to try to evade his brother’s touches. His older brother just laughs, not intending to stop; on the contrary, he starts messing up Yoongi’s once-neatly styled hair even more. "I don’t know yet", Yoongi suddenly darkens, thinking — what should he really do? Dropping his feelings on Hoseok without any reason or hint might not be the best idea, so it’s better to avoid that.
"Try giving him a hint", his older brother shrugs, gathering his hair into a small, messy ponytail at the back of his head, revealing his shaved temples, and stands up to collect the empty plates.
"How?" Yoongi asks, watching his brother’s bare back with a simple tattoo on one of his shoulder blades. "Hyung, he’s not an idiot; he’ll figure out what I’m talking about right away."
"That’s even better if he’s not an idiot", the man responds, turning his head while scrubbing one of the plates with a foaming sponge. "Maybe something good will come out of it between you two."
Yoongi whispers a quiet “I hope so,” pulling his knees to his chest — there isn’t much room on the wobbly wooden chair for this, but he doesn’t mind, comfortably sitting on the hard seat. There’s something special about evenings like these — when the world contracts to the size of the dimly lit kitchen, hiding in the only important warm smile of the older brother, and the day that has passed leaves behind something so pleasant that it creates a gentle tickle inside, echoing in the trembling of the fingertips.
"Tell me about your first date", Yoongi suddenly asks, interested — his older brother has never mentioned it, always finding silly excuses.
"With a guy, I assume?" the man smiles almost playfully. Yoongi rolls his eyes, realizing that there will be many more teasing and embarrassing jokes, but he nods — there’s no one else to ask. "Well, he was cute— very cute and very shy. So, after waiting for a month and a half without being asked out, I decided to do it myself. You should have seen his face when I showed up at his university after classes without warning and said I wanted to “just hang out.” He was so surprised that he didn’t even think to refuse — just blurted out “Yes, I agree,” took the flowers, and went to his next class."
"It would have been awkward if he had refused", Yoongi chuckles, resting his head on his folded knees.
"You’re not kidding", his brother chuckles in response, wiping his hands with a towel. "Let’s move to the living room; your back won’t thank you for sitting on that stool."
"And what happened with the date?" Yoongi asks curiously, settling onto his brother’s lap on the soft couch.
"Nothing special", the older brother shrugs, starting to sift through Yoongi’s fluffy locks. "We just walked and talked. We got to know each other well on that date. You don’t need to do that; you already know each other pretty well. You may skip to the kissing part right away", he laughs, earning a solid poke in the stomach.
"Hyung", Yoongi murmurs, embarrassed, covering his flushed face with one hand. "You don’t kiss on the first date."
"Not on the very first date", the older brother counters, grabbing Yoongi’s hand and moving it away from his stomach. "But yours isn’t the first."
"It is the first with him", Yoongi stubbornly continues, blushing even more, folding his arms across his chest. "Isn’t that too much?" he asks quietly, biting his lip. His older brother says nothing, just silently takes Yoongi’s hand, squeezing it in his own.
"Alright, kiddo, maybe you’re right. Just know that there’s nothing wrong or shameful about kissing on a first date if you both want it. So if he suggests it, don’t be afraid to agree, and don’t be afraid to suggest it yourself — it’s normal. Besides, I’m willing to bet you want it too", — he laughs again at Yoongi’s muffled “Hyung,” which echoes from behind his covered face. "Then it’s worth finding out what he likes and where you can go", the older brother begins to reflect, carefully running his fingers through Yoongi’s dark hair.
"I was thinking about asking him to the movies", Yoongi murmurs thoughtfully, taking a deep breath. "But…"
"But?"
"I don’t think it’s the best option — we’d just be sitting quietly next to each other. And I… well…" he hesitates under the warm, attentive gaze. "I just wanted… to be with him? Like, not in school or at a club, but… in a special way."
"In a special way…" the older brother drags out thoughtfully, gently rocking their joined hands. "Honestly, there’s one option — I can’t say it’s very special, but it’s proven. Go to the Han River waterfront, have some hot coffee, buy him some punnoppang, walk him home, and give him a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye."
"Do you think so?"
"Why not?" the older brother smiles. "It’s a great way to spend time together without any extravagance — perfect for a first date. So go right ahead and invite him, kiddo."
"I… I’ll invite him later", Yoongi whispers, curling up on his brother’s lap. "A little later."
"Are you scared?" the older brother asks, partially affirming and partially inquiring after a moment of silence, starting to gently mess with Yoongi’s hair again.
"Yes."
"Scared of what?" he asks softly, subconsciously preparing to dissuade his younger brother from the idea he himself suggested — even his little brother’s intense infatuation is not worth the anxiety so uncharacteristic of the usually up to whatever guy.
"That he’ll reject me. That just because he likes guys doesn’t mean I have any chance. That I’m imagining all this for nothing."
"Listen to me", the older brother says in a soothing tone, involuntarily tightening his grip on Yoongi’s hand. "First of all, even if he rejects you, life won’t end — yes, it will be unpleasant, doubly so in your head-over-heels case, but… It’s just a rejection from a guy who didn’t even promise you anything, so you’ll handle it. And secondly, I’m almost sure he won’t reject you."
"Why’s that?" Yoongi almost sadly smiles, squeezing his hand trustingly.
"Where did you go?" his older brother asks suddenly, shifting topics.
"We went to the mall. He asked for help picking out a gift for his mom", Yoongi answers almost instinctively, looking thoughtfully at the ceiling. "In the end, he bought some pretty dinnerware; Hoseok said she seemed to want one…"
"So, he asked you to pick out a gift for his mom?", the older brother asks with a clearly suggestive tone, watching Yoongi with a look he doesn’t notice.
"Yeah", Yoongi shrugs. "He even joked that he would definitely wish her happy birthday from me and say that the gift is from both of us."
"Kiddo, doesn’t that mean anything to you?" the older brother snorts, not hinting but outright saying, gently squeezing Yoongi’s soft black hair. "Just so you know — the first time I picked out a gift mom with someone was before I introduced them to my parents. So, if after this Hoseok doesn’t ask you out — or if you don’t — feel free to send him packing, you won’t get anything serious out of these half-hearted feelings."
"Hyung", Yoongi softly calls him. "Just because you picked out a gift for a mom with someone doesn’t mean everyone does that."
"A gift for a mom is sacred", the older brother insists stubbornly, not noticing the slight mockery in Yoongi’s tone. "Alright, never mind the gift. What did you decide about the date?"
"I don’t know", Yoongi says, instantly losing his smile and looking sad, crossing his arms over his chest.
"If you’re still thinking he might reject you, stop thinking right now", the older brother shakes his head. "After choosing a gift for his mom, he simply can’t say no. Moreover, I’m willing to bet it’ll be him asking you out, not the other way around."
He doesn’t get any response; Yoongi, lost in thought and still holding his brother’s hand, remains silent — as does the man with the smile on his face, reaching for the phone left on the coffee table. A serene silence, occasionally interrupted by Yoongi’s quiet sighs of deep contemplation and his firm grip on his older brother’s hand, hangs in the living room like a warm, enveloping curtain.
"Damn", Yoongi exclaims, suddenly opening his thoughtful eyes and quickly getting to his feet, almost knocking the smartphone out of his brother’s hands. "Sorry, hyung."
"What’s wrong?" the older man asks, bewildered by his younger brother’s abrupt actions.
"I forgot to text Hoseok", Yoongi throws out, already at the threshold, rushing into the dark corridor.
The quiet, resigned “Don’t get hurt” that follows a second later doesn’t diminish Yoongi’s enthusiasm — he doesn’t even notice it, rushing into his room to find his phone. His cold hands start to tremble slightly as he enters his password and opens the chat with Chong. He’s momentarily distracted by the profile picture — he involuntarily smiles as he gazes at the lightened chocolate-colored hair and the pinkish, charmingly smiling lips.
hi hoseokie
are you home yet?
hi yoon (≧▽≦)
yeah, a while ago
Yoongi silly chuckles quietly to himself, pleased that his brother didn’t hear him, upon seeing the cute smiley face. He brightens up instantly as he sees new messages.
there’s a little issue…
I need a tiny bit of help with the gift again
just a tiiiiiny bit
with what exactly?
I forgot about the bouquet and now I don’t know what flowers to buy
and what flowers does your mom like?
that’s just it, there aren’t any special ones she likes many kinds
then just pick the ones you like)
I think she won’t mind
hmm, good idea
thanks yoon (◜‿◝)♡
He blushes quietly and sends a little heart in response before pressing the phone to his chest and lying back on the bed with a wide smile, feeling his already rapid heartbeat quicken with renewed force, irregular shivers spreading through his chest. The tips of his fingers tingle lightly with pleasant excitement, the warmth spreading through his veins; Yoongi doesn’t immediately realize that the gentle shiver tickling his hands is coming from the vibrating smartphone.
oh no yoon problem
I can’t choose which flowers I like (๑•﹏•)
hoseokie, are you serious?
yes
which ones do you like?
I… haven’t thought about it?
try looking for tulips, it’s their season now and they look very… delicate
and they shouldn’t be too expensive
sounds good
thanks again yoonie (ʃƪ＾3＾)～♡
you’re welcome hoseokie♡
"Do you want some tea?" a voice with a clearly audible smile comes from the entrance; Yoongi looks up, noticing his slyly smiling brother standing in the doorway.
"No, thanks", he grumbles, returning to his phone. The man leaning against the doorframe doesn’t leave, continuing to watch him softly; Yoongi sighs, setting aside his phone and propping himself up on his elbows. "What?"
"Nothing", the older brother shakes his head, his smile instantly fading. "We’re losing you", he says gloomily, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what I see, kiddo", he shakes his head. "You’re smiling at your phone and squealing at the messages. What will happen if you go on a date?" dramatically touching his chest over his heart, the man pretends to sigh. "I won’t survive if something happens to you. Literally, I won’t survive — our parents will kill me if something happens to you."
"Hyungie, I’m starting to regret telling you", Yoongi grimaces.
"Oh, sure", the man snorts, letting his still-gathered hair fall loose and brushing his bangs back. "Alright, kiddo, I need to get some work done. Call me if you need anything", he says with a smile before turning and disappearing into his room, closing the door behind him.
“Alright, hyung", Yoongi chirps softly, stretching lazily, and sits down at the computer — unfortunately, homework doesn’t do itself, so it’s best not to put it off. Completing the project takes an inordinate amount of time — so much so that, upon finishing and glancing at the clock, he nearly groans in frustration. It’s well past midnight, and no sounds come from the apartment — his older brother has likely gone to bed in an attempt to at least partially maintain the disrupted schedule, which had been somewhat restored only after Yoongi moved in, with his school schedule and some semblance of routine still in place.
The night passes unnoticed in a whirlwind of colorful dreams — it seems like he’s just settled onto the soft mattress, hugging the fluffy kumamon pillow from home, and closed his eyes, and now someone is shaking him by the shoulder, saying something loudly.
"Yoongi", a voice calls out next to his ear. "Yoongi, get up, you're going to be late. Come on, kiddo, rise and shine!"
"What's going on?" he mumbles sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
"You overslept! Hurry up!" the man almost shouts, pulling up the blinds and flooding the room with bright sunlight.
"Overslept?!" Min jolts awake, sitting up too quickly and clutching his now-spinning head.
"Yes, you did. No time for complaints. Come on, get ready faster, I'll drive you."
It takes him a record-breaking eight minutes to get fully dressed — his older brother smirks, rinsing out his coffee cup, grabbing the still-warm lunchbox, and nudging the younger one toward the hallway. Yoongi smiles gratefully when, already in the car, he opens the plastic lid to find warm waffles with berries for breakfast. He digs in, barely registering the quiet hum of the radio. They reach the school faster than usual — Yoongi manages to feed his brother a couple of waffles drenched in sticky-sweet syrup and finish his hot instant coffee.
"How many classes do you have today?"
"I've got some extra ones today", Yoongi sighs, putting the lunchbox with the leftover waffles on the dashboard and reaching for a pack of napkins from the glove compartment.
"Until when?"
"Until six, maybe a little longer."
"Call or text me, okay? If I can, I'll pick you up."
"Okay, hyung. Have a good day. Love you!" Yoongi blurts out, grabbing his backpack and hopping out of the car as the man pulls up carefully in front of the school entrance. He waves goodbye as the car pulls away, its headlights flashing in farewell, and heads inside.
The day, filled with classes and activities, flies by quickly, as usual. The only downside is that he barely runs into Hoseok. In nearly ten hours spent at school, Yoongi spots him only a couple of times in the hallways and cafeteria. Surrounded by his friends, Jung always smiles at him, waving with the hand not holding a stack of textbooks. Yoongi returns the gesture with a similarly friendly, slightly embarrassed grin that shows off his gums.
yoonie
when are you done?
in twenty minutes
starting to regret going for architecture :(
you’re doing great, yoonie (˘³˘)♡
i’m waiting for you by the entrance
Min smiles as he sets his phone on the edge of the desk, reluctantly returning to the overly long and confusing trigonometry problem. These kinds of difficult exercises aren’t covered in their regular classes — there's no need for them unless someone plans to take math as an entrance exam subject for university — so they’re left to tackle them after school, when the brain is completely fried and refuses to recall even the simplest formulas needed to get the correct answer. The thought of Hoseok waiting for him downstairs does nothing to help him concentrate — on the contrary, the moment Yoongi thinks of his classmate, his cheeks flush with a soft strawberry blush, making it even harder to focus on the teacher standing by the blackboard, covered with formulas and symbols.
The next twenty minutes are indeed spent trying to make sense of the tedious and barely understandable solution. Yoongi sighs in exhaustion, closing his notebook, the last few written formulas almost unreadable due to his slanted, sloppy handwriting. He quickly stuffs the notebook into his backpack, says goodbye to the teacher and friends, pulls on his jacket with a soft rustling sound, and slings his half-empty bag over his shoulder as he rushes out of the school building, scanning the area for the boy waiting for him.
"Hoseok-ie?" he calls out with a smile, running over to the boy who turns at the sound of his name.
"Hey, Yoongi", Hoseok smiles softly, carefully holding a paper bundle close to his chest, which he extends towards Yoongi, whose eyes widen in surprise. "This is for you."
"For me?" Yoongi asks, gripping his backpack strap tightly, staring dumbfounded at the bouquet of vivid red and soft pink tulips wrapped in fragrant brown paper that Hoseok holds out to him.
"Yeah... I mean", Hoseok stammers, his cheeks reddening as he awkwardly continues, still holding out the flowers to the equally blushing Yoongi. "You said you liked them. I know this probably isn’t what you meant, and I may have gotten carried away, but I just wanted to give you something I knew you’d like, and... well..."
"Thanks", Yoongi blurts out, his blush deepening as he interrupts Hoseok's awkward stream of apologies. He carefully takes the sweetly fragrant bouquet from Hoseok, biting his lip as his hands brush against the other boy's warm fingers. A soft, tingling sensation runs through his fingers at the gentle spark of contact, and he quickly pulls away, feeling a pleasant warmth spread where their hands had touched. "Really, thank you. It... it means a lot", he adds, smiling shyly, a rare expression for him, as he hides his gleaming eyes and hugs the flowers to his chest, feeling a strange yet sweet tingling sensation in his fingertips.
"I'm glad", Hoseok beams, his smile both bright and bashful. He stuffs his hands, still carrying the invisible imprint of Yoongi's touch, into his pockets and rocks awkwardly on his heels before lifting his gaze again. "Yoongi... you don’t have to rush home, do you?"
"No", Yoongi replies, tearing his eyes away from the vibrant flowers that match both their flushed faces, and looks up at Hoseok with shining eyes.
"Want to take a walk?"
"I’d like that", Yoongi smirks playfully, trying to mask the growing awkwardness with a teasing confidence, and slowly falls into step behind Hoseok.
Usually chatty and full of random stories, Hoseok is uncharacteristically quiet, and Yoongi, walking beside him with the bouquet in hand, is equally silent. He glances over at the bashfully subdued Hoseok, his soft curls, and the elegant profile of his face, illuminated by the fiery orange glow of the setting sun. The silence between them — warm, peaceful, and just a little awkward due to their mutual shyness — starts to weigh on Yoongi, causing him to anxiously search for something to say. Each topic that crosses his mind seems wildly inappropriate for the boy he likes, the boy who gave him flowers without explanation. Yoongi sighs internally, dismissing yet another conversation idea, and shifts his gaze back to Hoseok, his eyes lingering affectionately on the contours of his face and the way his lashes flutter when Hoseok suddenly flinches slightly.
"Yoongi?" Hoseok calls softly after glancing at his phone screen, then looks up at him with an apologetic twist of his lips. "Sorry, my sister texted me. She wants me to come home soon. Do you want to head back together?"
"I was going to stop by my brother’s", Yoongi shakes his head, feeling a small pang of disappointment as he notices the fleeting hint of letdown in Hoseok’s eyes. "But I’ll walk you. We’re going to the same station anyway."
Hoseok agrees, and they head off toward the closest metro station from the school. Once again, they fall into silence—but this time, it’s a bit lighter and more comfortable, like soft clouds of pale blue cotton candy with a hint of peach and strawberry. They walk past brightly lit shops and restaurants adorned with colorful signs, and Hoseok sneaks a glance at Yoongi, who is still holding the rustling bouquet. In an unthinking moment, Hoseok reaches out his hand as if to hold Yoongi's, but quickly pulls it back before Yoongi, lost in his own thoughts and smiling faintly, even notices.
"Thank you again", Yoongi repeats, his voice still tinged with bashfulness, as the train pulls up to the platform crowded with people eager to get home after a long day. "For the flowers."
"No problem", Hoseok replies, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he awkwardly scratches the back of his head. He glances at the train filling with passengers and takes a step back. "Well, I... I should get going."
"Oh... yeah", Yoongi blinks, somewhat flustered, before extending his hand toward Hoseok. "Bye, Hoseok-ie. Text me when you get home, okay?"
The unspoken promise rings in Yoongi's ears like soft chimes, even as he watches the train disappear down the tracks. He moves to a nearby bench, finally letting out a suppressed squeal, which is swallowed up by the soft tulip petals as the emotions of the past few minutes bubble over. He momentarily forgets the people around him, none of whom are paying any attention to the schoolboy.
HYUNG
HE GSVE ME FLPWERS
HYUNG
hyung, I’m coming over now
The messages are read almost instantly, and within seconds, his phone begins to vibrate rhythmically in his hand.
"Where are you, Yoongi?" his brother's voice comes from the speaker, skipping any greeting. Yoongi can hear the familiar smile behind the question, and his own face lights up, showing his gums as he grins.
"I'm at the subway, Hyung. My train’s coming soon."
"Yoongi, maybe you should just head home?" his brother half-heartedly tries to convince him, raising his voice to be heard over the background noise. "I won’t be free for a while."
"It's late already, Hyung", Yoongi snorts, stepping into the nearest train car as it arrives and stopping near the door.
"Fine", his brother sighs, and Yoongi smiles even wider, knowing that the futile attempt to change his mind was never going to work. His brother had long since stopped objecting to his visits to the studio in Gangnam. "Do you have your pass?"
"Of course", Yoongi nods, forgetting for a moment that his brother can't see him, and pats the side pocket of his bag. The pass, gifted to him by his brother soon after he moved to Seoul, always stayed in his wallet, allowing him access to one of the top entertainment studios in the city.
"Good. See you."
It takes Yoongi less than fifteen minutes to get to the station he needs. The towering building’s windows reflect the last rays of the sun as it dips below the horizon. As he approaches the main entrance, he pulls out the plastic card from his bag. The friendly receptionist smiles warmly at him, recognizing the familiar face, and after checking his pass, lets him through without a word. The brightly lit hallway, lined with cool white lamps, is nearly empty. Yoongi, grinning from ear to ear, quickly makes his way to the familiar door with the nameplate that reads "Min" polished to a shine. Just as he reaches for the handle, he hears laughter echoing from a side hallway. Peeking around the corner, Yoongi spots his older brother talking animatedly with a tall man who looks vaguely familiar.
"Hyung!" Yoongi calls out impulsively, his excitement causing him to bounce slightly on his toes as he runs toward his brother. Startled, his brother instinctively opens his arms and catches him in a tight embrace. Yoongi wraps his arms around his brother’s waist, the coolness of his cheek from the outside air pressing against his brother’s face. His older brother looks over at his colleague with an equally surprised expression.
"My kid is going to give me a heart attack", his brother murmurs, affectionately ruffling Yoongi’s hair.
"You don’t have a kid", the other man quips in a deep voice, grinning as he watches the two brothers hug.
"I’ve got Yoongi", his brother sighs with mock resignation, continuing to gently muss Yoongi’s hair. "That’s pretty much the same thing", he adds, smiling despite the feigned irritation, nudging Yoongi’s head affectionately with his chin.
They chat for a couple more minutes — all the while, Yoongi quietly clings to his brother — before the man says his goodbyes, heading off for another meeting. Yoongi’s brother gives him a light pat on the back, drawing his attention. "So, kiddo, anything you want to tell me?" he teases, his eyes flicking to Yoongi’s crossed arms, still holding the fragrant bouquet of tulips. He chuckles when Yoongi’s cheeks flush an even deeper shade of red, and, gently detaching his younger brother, he leads him by the hand into his studio.
"So, Yoonie", his brother begins with a grin as he settles into a chair across from Yoongi, who’s still clutching the bouquet. "What's the story with the flowers? What's the occasion? They’re from your Hoseok, right?"
"Yeah", Yoongi mumbles, blushing even harder as he gazes down at the vibrant tulips.
"Kiddo?" his brother coaxes gently, brushing aside Yoongi’s bangs with a playful motion. "Did you ask him out?"
"Hyung", Yoongi’s face falls into a frown, the playful tone of the conversation dissipating. "I don’t think it’s the right time yet. What if he doesn’t really like me?"
"Yoongi, I get that maybe the gift didn’t fully convince you, but after giving you flowers, doubting his intentions is the most pointless thing you could do. Just give it a shot. Even if you don’t end up being his type and he turns you down, he can go... well, wherever, but at least you’ll have tried."
"Why are you so set on me asking him out?" Yoongi asks quietly, lifting his eyes to his brother, concern darkening his gaze.
"Cuz... Yoongi, sweetheart, I remember how you acted when you had your first crush on that girl from the other class, and that... infatuation was nothing like what I’m seeing now. You light up when you talk about him, constantly smile when you say his name, and you even told me about him! How many of your crushes before Hoseok did I know about? Exactly, none. But Hoseok? You've been going on about him non-stop for days. Listen to me, please," his brother gently pleads, softly running a hand through his hair. "Let yourself fully experience this crush — go on that typical date by the Han River, even if it’s just one, kiss him ridiculously under a train overpass, and live that evening in the euphoria that only a first date with the first guy you’ve fallen for in high school can give. You won’t get another chance like this."
Yoongi stays tense, staring at the wall behind his brother with an unblinking, unreadable gaze, clearly deep in thought about everything his brother had said in the heat of the moment. You won’t get another chance like this.
"Hyung," he calls out quietly, tilting his head slightly and leaning into the warmth of his brother’s palm. "Where can I get good bungeo-ppang by the river?"
***
alright, I’ll wait for you by the subway
deal
see you soon, hoseokie♡”
(っ˘з(˘⌣˘) sorry, that might be a bit too much, haha
n ope :)
Yoongi smiles dumbly, rereading the last few messages again, and sets his phone aside, raising his gaze to the mirror in front of him. In the reflection, his brother is standing behind him, carefully brushing his hair and spritzing sections with a sharp-smelling hairspray. Yoongi glances at the nightstand beside him, staring in quiet, growing horror at the array of different bottles and jars lined up there. He’s managed to endure the hair treatment without a word of protest, but when an eyeshadow palette appears in front of his face, panic begins to set in.
"Hyung, why?!" he exclaims in alarm, pulling back from the brush loaded with dark shadow hovering near his eye. "What are you doing?"
"I’m turning you into a snack so you definitely come back kissed from your date," his brother replies calmly, pushing aside Yoongi’s hand that was raised in protest. "And if you complain, I’ll even add some lipstick."
To Yoongi’s surprise, the threat works — he falls silent, shooting annoyed glances at the soft brush sweeping over his eyelids. He tries a couple of times to appeal to his brother’s reason with a plaintive “Hyung” and cutely widened eyes that are actively being made up, but to no avail. After several minutes of fussing with the old, crumbling black eyeshadow — bits of it scattering onto his cheeks — his brother, muttering contentedly as he carefully applies the makeup, finally pulls back and reaches for a clean tissue.
"Alright," Yoongi’s older brother nods with satisfaction after critically inspecting his face, wiping away the last bits of eyeshadow from his cheeks. "Look at yourself," he smiles, turning his younger brother towards the bathroom mirror, which is smudged with streaks from dried water droplets.
"Hyung," Yoongi asks nervously, studying his reflection — his hair styled in soft waves, powder on his cheeks, and surprisingly neat, shadowed eyes. "What the... I look like a damn emo!"
"It suits you, don’t deny it," his older brother shrugs, placing his hands on Yoongi’s shoulders. "Please! Handsome, don’t be coy, come on fu..."
"HYUNG!" Yoongi yells, his face burning with embarrassment as his brother leans closer and starts huskily humming in his ear.
"Alright, alright, I’ll stop," his brother laughs, giving him a quick, loud kiss on his fluffy head before stepping back to clean up the hastily gathered pile of makeup. "Go get ready. Being late to a first date is not a good look," he says in an exaggeratedly serious tone, causing Yoongi to snort in amusement as he actually heads to get dressed.
He returns five minutes later, stopping in the doorway and giving a small cough to get the attention of his brother, who is still busy sorting the makeup. His older brother looks up, and after a quick glance from head to toe, gives him a wide approving grin, nodding with satisfaction.
"Kiddo, you’re a little rock star," he chuckles, eyeing the ripped black skinny jeans and the unzipped leather jacket with wide, folded lapels. Yoongi blushes shyly at the sweet compliment, adjusting his bangs before casting a quick glance at the clock on the wall.
"Hyung?" he calls quietly, tilting his head to the side.
"Yeah?"
"Why do you call me that?"
"Call you what? Kiddo?"
Yoongi gives a small nod, prompting his brother to smirk softly.
"Mom and Dad couldn’t decide on a name for you for a long time, and to make life easier for themselves and for Mom, who was constantly stressed out, Dad suggested calling you "kiddo" in the meantime. Of course, they finally settled on a name a couple of days before you were born, and they spent a while trying to explain to me that your name was “Yoongi” now, but seven-year-old me decided I liked “kiddo” more than “Yoongi” and ignored your actual name until you probably went to school."
"Knowing mom, I bet she scolded you for that at least a couple of times."
"A couple of times?" he snorts in amusement. "The whole last year of kindergarten, she did everything in her power to explain to me that you were already too big to be called "kiddo"."
"Let me guess — the explanations didn’t work?"
"Exactly," he grins. "The compromise that worked best for both of us ended up being just using the short version of your name."
Yoongi nods, briefly lost in thought — his older brother really did only use his actual name on rare occasions; most of the time, what came from him was a soft “Yoonie,” an affectionate “kiddo,” or one of the many other nicknames, hardly ever related to the name their parents had chosen.
"What’s up?" his brother suddenly asks, as if realizing something. "Did you get tired of it? Should I stop?"
"No," Yoongi shrugs, trying to seem indifferent — though, in reality, just the thought of his brother giving up this habit he secretly adored to the point of almost being defensive about it was hard to even consider — and he forces down another uninvited smile. "Anyway, hyung, I’ve gotta go," he says softly after a pause, pushing off the doorframe and heading toward the exit, his brother's approving murmurs trailing after him.
Yoongi smiles briefly to himself, glancing at his reflection in the small mirror by the front door as he tightly laces up his high black Converse and sprays a couple of spritzes of a bitter-sweet cologne on his wrists and neck.
"Got everything?"
"I think so," he mutters, patting his pockets — phone, keys, wallet — all set. Then he turns to see his brother standing in the hallway with a large bouquet in his hands.
"And I think you might’ve forgotten something," his older brother smiles, handing him the flowers neatly wrapped in creamy paper, while Yoongi’s shadowed eyes light up with uncontrollable excitement.
"Hyung, you..." he breathes out in awe, bouncing on his feet and running over to wrap his arms tightly around him. "You’re the absolute best. I love you so much," he whispers, pressing his cheek to his brother’s collarbone through the fabric.
"I love you too, kiddo," his older brother smiles softly, feeling a warm flutter in his chest, gently rubbing Yoongi’s back. "You won’t be late, right?" he asks reluctantly, hugging him a little tighter.
Yoongi runs out the door two minutes later, holding the fragrant, sweet-smelling bouquet close to his chest, a goofy smile playing on his lips, which are lightly glossed with a strawberry-scented balm. He recalls his brother’s mischievous grin as he sent him off, “I don’t expect you home before half-past ten, kiddo, you’re not the only one with a date tonight.” Yoongi smirks — if his brother was meeting his boyfriend, it really was better for him to avoid coming home too early to prevent any unwanted psychological trauma. That means he could stay out with Hoseok a little longer tonight.
He arrives at the metro station quicker than usual, stopping on the platform near a group of dignified-looking elderly ladies who glance approvingly at the well-dressed young man carrying flowers.
"Someone’s lucky," he overhears one of them say.
"Must be on his way to some beautiful girl," another agrees with a smile. —"And those flowers, just right for his special someone."
"If only you knew I was on my way to see a handsome guy, not a girl, you wouldn’t be so happy about it," Yoongi hides a smirk, glancing at his wristwatch — he still has almost twenty minutes until the agreed time. The train heading toward the station where the boys were meeting arrives fairly quickly; Yoongi slips inside, standing by the door, flipping the bouquet upside down to protect the delicate petals from the careless crowd. A schoolgirl sitting across from him notices the new passenger and flashes him a flirtatious smile, adjusting her neatly styled hair. Yoongi twitches the corner of his mouth in a polite attempt at a smile before averting his gaze.
The Han River greets him with a lively crowd out for a stroll on a warm Saturday evening, unwinding after a long workweek. Golden rays of sunlight dance across benches and numerous food stalls, filling the air with the aroma of freshly prepared street food, while the gentle lapping of water creates a soothing background noise. Yet, amidst the colorful scene, Yoongi’s eyes are fixed solely on the figure of his classmate, who is turned towards the subway entrance. He recognizes him by the soft curls of his slightly lightened hair at the nape, broad shoulders concealed by a light denim jacket, and takes a nervous breath as he approaches the unseeing Jung.
"Hi, Hoseokie," Yoongi says with trembling lips, stopping behind him.
"Hi," Hoseok turns and flashes a charming smile. Yoongi freezes, momentarily lost in the brilliance of his eyes and smile — the already incredibly handsome guy, in Yoongi’s somewhat biased opinion, looks especially good today.
"You look so handsome," Yoongi blurts out admiringly, only realizing from Hoseok’s shocked expression that he actually said it out loud. "I mean, that’s not what I meant. I meant, you really are handsome, but I didn’t want to say it out loud. Anyway, these are for you," he adds, his cheeks flushing bright red as he finally falls silent, cutting off the stream of awkward words, and extends the flowers to Hoseok, lowering his gaze. He feels so embarrassed.
"Thank you," Hoseok murmurs shyly, a bit nervously, taken aback by the unexpected compliment. He thanks Yoongi, unsure whether it’s for the flowers, the compliment, the admiration in Yoongi’s eyes, or perhaps everything all at once — his gaze softens as he looks at the delicate petals of the fragrant roses and tender alstroemerias, feeling a pleasant, tingling warmth spreading through his body, tinged with the freshness of mint. "Where should we go?"
Choosing to come to the promenade was more than just the right decision — Yoongi becomes increasingly convinced of this with each passing minute. As Hoseok, nervously fiddling with the flowers in his hands, gradually relaxes, he draws Yoongi into their usual pointless conversations about school, mutual friends, and future plans. Hoseok quickly adjusts, smiling as he takes up the conversation and relaxes his shoulders. Following Yoongi’s example, he keeps one hand in his jeans pocket, steadfastly ignoring the strong urge to instead take Yoongi’s hand and gently intertwine their fingers in a simple gesture that would speak volumes about his sincere feelings.
Hoseok smiles warmly as he sees Yoongi’s eyes light up with enthusiasm while talking about getting into his desired university, excitedly discussing preparations for entrance exams. He watches Yoongi’s rosy cheeks, which have rounded out with a wide smile, his soft hair falling over his forehead, and his cat-like eyes, glistening seductively from beneath his lashes.
"Hoseokie?" Yoongi suddenly calls out, nodding towards the street food stalls. "Would you like some punnopang?"
The satisfied smile on Hoseok’s face at the suggestion and his immediate perkiness say it all — Yoongi giggles softly, gently draping his arm around Hoseok’s shoulders in a light, innocent gesture of affection, and leads him towards the stall with the aromatic buns. The stall owner, a friendly-looking woman with crinkled eyes, greets the potential customers with a warm smile, curiously watching Hoseok and Yoongi, who is peeking over his shoulder at the display of freshly baked fish-shaped buns.
"Which ones do you want?" Hoseok asks quietly, turning his head and almost pressing his nose against Yoongi’s in surprise.
"Doesn’t matter," Yoongi responds automatically, still blushing as he takes the bouquet after a soft "Hold this," stepping back a couple of paces. Hoseok returns with two paper bags, each revealing tails of sweet dough, and hands one to Yoongi.
"I didn’t know which ones you like, so I got one with red bean paste and one with custard," Hoseok says with a gentle smile, reclaiming the flowers and waiting for Yoongi to take his dessert before nodding towards a surprisingly quiet area of the promenade.
Yoongi feels as though he’s falling in love with Hoseok all over again as he watches him in the ruby light of the setting sun slipping over the horizon. The sun reflects softly in his eyes, plays gently on the small rings in his earrings, and touches his lips, leaving a hint of sweet peach flavor — Yoongi gazes at him, tasting the ripe fruit on his tongue, and bites into a piece of pastry, overcoming the urge to savor the peach with the sweetness of the red bean paste. The decision to grab a couple of cups of coffee comes instantly when he spots a drink machine near one of the stalls — Yoongi calls out to the guy savoring his dessert, pointing to the machine. Hoseok nods at the silent suggestion and follows Yoongi, his loving gaze lingering on Yoongi’s all-black silhouette.
Yoongi beams his most charming smile — the one that slightly shows his gums and, according to his teasing mother, makes him look like a slightly overcooked but absolutely adorable dumpling — as he hands a paper cup of hot coffee to Hoseok, who responds with a barely audible mumble of thanks, his tone betraying gratitude. Hoseok stretches his lips into the sweetest smile with tiny dimples at the corners, accentuating his already full cheeks. Yoongi quietly giggles, completely enamored, as he extends his hand and gently wipes a small dab of cream from Hoseok’s soft lips; Hoseok blushes, nearly choking from surprise, while Yoongi maintains a calm expression, carefully keeping his face composed.
Yoongi sighs, feeling his heart pound against his ribs and the slight burn of his fingertip where it touched the warm skin, taking a sip of his coffee to hide the silly smile threatening to spread across his lips. Hoseok remains silent, his eyes wide in surprise at Yoongi's calm demeanor, while his own insides twist, causing his heart to beat with an almost painful rapidity. A pair of free, gently swaying swings catch his attention; Hoseok exhales quietly, making what seems like a perfectly reasonable decision, and extends his hand, gently wrapping it around Yoongi’s.
"Shall we?" he almost whispers, softly pulling Yoongi towards the swings. For a moment, Yoongi, stunned by the gesture, stumbles awkwardly but follows the quietly smiling Hoseok without protest. His mind blanks for a split second before exploding into ecstatic "He took my hand!" thoughts that flash in his head, alternating between a high-pitched squeal and silence as Yoongi carefully holds Hoseok's soft hand, which gently encircles his own. He doesn't care where Hoseok leads him — as long as he doesn't let go of his hand and continues to guide him confidently.
Despite the spacious bench, which shifts slightly with a gentle push, Hoseok sits very close. Yoongi exhales shakily, feeling his cheeks flush with strawberry-red warmth as Hoseok nudges his knee slightly, smiling with the corner of his mouth, and Yoongi, unable to contain his smile, lightly traces the sharp knuckles with his finger, feeling a ticklish shiver of goosebumps.
"Yoongi?" Hoseok calls softly, lightly stroking his knuckle. "The makeup looks really good on you," he says with a shy smile, looking away. Yoongi blushes deeply, whispering a quiet, grateful "Thank you," gently caressing the warm skin of Hoseok's hand.
"It's strange," Hoseok muses quietly a few minutes later, slightly moving his hand. Yoongi opens his fingers, then reclaims the pale hand, waiting for Hoseok’s long fingers to close around his own again.
"What is?" Yoongi whispers in response.
"It seems like every happy moment in my life happens on swings. I met my best friend because we couldn't agree on who got to use the best swings in the playground, and we ended up arguing and crying — but we’re still friends. My middle school graduation — again on the swings. I was so happy then — I passed my exams, got my diploma, and had a spot in high school in Seoul practically in the bag. And today, with you — again on the swings. I think it’s destiny to be on swings when something good happens in life."
"Then maybe we should go to an amusement park sometime?" Yoongi tilts his head with a smile. "They have so many swings there that they’ll ensure your happiness for life."
Hoseok just chuckles softly, placing the bouquet beside him and gazing at the stars peeking through the darkening sky, continuing to stroke Yoongi’s hand in silence.
"I don’t think we’ll be able to try them all at once. Promise that we’ll come back until there are no swings left that we haven’t tried?"
"I promise," Yoongi whispers softly, squeezing Hoseok’s hand once more and looking up at the stars — not the distant twinkling lights in the vast cosmos, but the stars reflected in Hoseok's eyes, shining within the depths of his pupils. Hoseok smiles — possibly in response to Yoongi’s promise or perhaps to his own thoughts — and Yoongi, unaffected by the reason behind the smile, remains still, feeling a sweet shiver inside and a warm glow spreading through his body.
"And what about you, Yoongi?" Hoseok asks softly, turning his head towards him. "Is there something that accompanies your happiness?"
"Would it be too cliché if I said it's my brother?" Yoongi replies with a laugh.
"Not really, to be honest," Hoseok giggles, moving a bit closer. Yoongi flinches slightly as he feels Hoseok's warm touch on his thigh through his jeans.
"I don’t know why, but... it’s somehow easier to share everything with him. It’s like he understands what I want to say exactly the way I say it, without adding his own interpretation to my thoughts."
"That’s important," Hoseok breathes out quietly, squeezing his hand a little tighter.
"Yes," Yoongi nods in agreement, momentarily thinking, "Sharing everything with you seems easy too, for some reason — everything except what I really should share, the things I so want to tell you."
"It seems like you’re really close," Hoseok smiles, enchanted, moving even closer, so that he can lightly touch Yoongi’s shoulder with his own and place their intertwined hands on their joined knees, setting aside the empty paper cup.
"Yes, very close," Yoongi mirrors his smile, grinning widely. "And what about you? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"An older sister," Hoseok’s face is hidden from Yoongi, but his voice clearly carries a smile, and Yoongi feels the warmth on his cheeks. "She moved to Seoul when I was still little, and when it was time for me to start school, my parents decided to follow her. She has a very sweet daughter," he adds fondly with a chuckle.
"And the daughter has a very sweet uncle," Yoongi chuckles quietly, raising an eyebrow as Hoseok suddenly turns to him. "And what am I wrong about?"
"I don’t even know," Hoseok mumbles with a feigned discontent, trying to hide his embarrassment, and squeezes Yoongi’s hand a bit tighter.
A few minutes later, Hoseok remains silent — he doesn’t say anything, and Yoongi, gently stroking the cool skin of his knuckles with soft movements and momentarily pondering where the courage came from that had been shyly babbling compliments just a few hours ago, feels urged to say something that might make Hoseok blush as adorably as usual.
"Yoongi?" a hopeful whisper suddenly comes from beside him; Hoseok’s eyes sparkle with inspiration. "Would you like to go to the shooting range?"
"I would," Yoongi smirks, pushing off the ground one last time on the swinging swings, and, waiting for them to slow down, stands up, pulling the firmly holding Hoseok along with him.
They reach the brightly lit area with numerous booths offering cheap entertainment fairly quickly — Yoongi looks incredibly pleased that Hoseok continues to hold his hand all the while, strolling past food stalls and empty benches. Among the many attractions, where groups of strolling teens and hand-holding couples were actively gathering, they quickly find the shooting range adorned with dozens of stuffed bears. Hoseok, smiling, quickens his pace, dragging Yoongi along with him as he hurries towards the red-and-white tent with yellow lights around its perimeter.
"Are you good at shooting?" Yoongi asks as they stop behind the last couple in line, reluctantly letting go of each other’s hands, and takes out his wallet.
"Not really," Hoseok shrugs. "I’ve been to a shooting range a few times — sometimes I’m lucky, sometimes not. I hope I’ll have some luck today," he smiles, extending his hand and gently adjusting a dark strand of Yoongi’s hair that had fallen out of his soft bangs.
"I hope so too," Yoongi sighs, as Hoseok steps away, gripping the soft leather of his wallet, and takes a few steps forward, following the advancing line. He jokingly chirps about how he’ll win the fluffiest bear for Hoseok; a blushing Hoseok laughs and lightly taps Yoongi with the bouquet in response. The pollen powder will come off the black jacket — Hoseok gently brushes the fragrant crumbs away, running his fingers over Yoongi’s shoulder, and leads him forward to the counter.
"Alright, Romeo, you promised a fluffy bear," Yoongi laughs as the attendant in the bright shirt hands him the rifle loaded with plastic pellets. Yoongi snorts in dissatisfaction, rolling up his sleeves, and takes aim.
"Damn," he mutters ruefully as only two out of five loud shots hit the target, knocking tin cans onto the sandy floor. Hoseok’s eyes sparkle with a cheerful “Don’t be upset” as the attendant with a sad smile takes the gun back. Yoongi smiles back at Hoseok, taking the offered bouquet and stepping aside to let him have a turn.
To his pleasant surprise, Hoseok manages to win the unlucky bear, proudly handing the stuffed toy to the blushing Yoongi. The white fur, made of long, silky plush, feels very pleasant to the touch as Yoongi, with a quiet and completely enamored “Thank you,” presses it to his chest, heading with Hoseok towards the empty promenade. The cheeks, warmed by the blush, are cooled by the gentle breeze coming from the softly rippling water. Yoongi reaches out his hand, brushing against Hoseok’s casually lowered hand, and gently nudges it with a subtle hint, opening his palm. The warm, trusting touch envelops his hand almost immediately — their faces light up with matching shy smiles as the two walking side by side feel the same sweet warmth spreading inside with a pleasant tickle.
The renewed silence this time doesn’t feel uncomfortable — the soft quiet hangs in the air like fluffy clouds of overly sweet cotton candy sticking to their cheeks and lips. Yoongi turns the smiling embroidered toy in his free hand, examining it with interest, unaware that Hoseok is watching him with the same fascination.
"Do you think I should give him a name? — Yoongi asks with a chuckle, turning his head and waving the bear.
"Why not?" Hoseok smiles, adopting a serious demeanor as he begins to come up with a name for the gift. "Let me think..." he mutters thoughtfully, lighting up. "How about “Haenbok” (happiness in korean)?"
"Haenbok?" Yoongi repeats in surprise, momentarily lost in the feeling of Hoseok gently stroking his hand, tracing the outer side of his palm.
"Yeah," Hoseok shrugs with a light smile. "Let it be something that accompanies your happiness too," he says softly, gazing into Yoongi’s bright eyes that have involuntarily stopped. "What?"
"Nothing," Yoongi responds, feeling his heart racing almost painfully in his chest again. The skyscrapers on the shore, twinkling with countless lights in the dark, reflect in the softly rippling river along with the silhouettes of the guys standing next to the cast iron railing. Yoongi, softly smiling at the fleeting thought in his head, turns his gaze towards Hoseok, who is studying the barely distinguishable landscape, and involuntarily nods in agreement with the confident “Handsome” — the only word coming to mind when looking at the guy beside him. "Haenbok it is."
The softly ticking wristwatch on Yoongi’s wrist reflects a bright glint, indicating that time is slowly but surely approaching eleven o’clock in the evening. Yoongi gently squeezes Hoseok’s hand, smiling sweetly, and whispers, “Shall we go home?” He then leads him toward the nearest subway station. At this late hour, the subway is almost empty — at least the station they are headed to is not crowded with passengers waiting for the approaching train. There are plenty of empty seats on the train as well — Yoongi pulls Hoseok to a vacant row and sits him down next to him. Acting on a sudden impulse, he carefully rests his head on Hoseok’s shoulder. Hoseok smiles, tucking his wallet into his pocket, and extends his open hand, waiting for Yoongi’s pale hand to settle in it before gently squeezing it.
They hold hands all the way home — Yoongi snorts in annoyance when he hears the disapproving hum from, to his surprise, the awake elderly women who have decided to venture out on the warm night and are clearly dissatisfied with the sight of the loving couple. According to their views, it’s atypical for two guys to be so interested in each other, one hugging a plush toy and the other holding a lavish bouquet, while gazing at each other. Yoongi tightens his grip on Hoseok’s hand and quickly passes by. A small lamp hanging above the entrance door casts a warm wave of bright yellow light over the pair standing by the entrance, softly illuminating the blush on their cheeks.
“Thank you for the evening,” Hoseok says with an adorable smile, taking a tiny step forward. Yoongi quietly hums, stretching his lips into a shy grin, and lifts his head to look into Hoseok’s eyes.
“And thank you,” Yoongi whispers, admiringly, squeezing the soft body of the plush bear, and steps forward, stopping just a couple of centimeters from the breathless Hoseok.
“Yoonie?” Hoseok calls softly, using his free hand to take Yoongi’s hand, and he sighs unevenly. “I need to tell you something.”
“Yoonie, I’m not sure if I understood you correctly, or if I’ve been imagining things, and if this evening really was... more than just an evening,” Hoseok begins to babble hurriedly, nervously squeezing the crinkled bouquet in his hands. “I just thought it’d be better to tell you now. In short... I like you, a lot. And... I’ll understand if you reject me now and...” He babbles incoherently, suddenly stopping when he notices Yoongi’s attentive gaze.
"Hoseok-ah?" Yoongi calls out softly, gently squeezing Hoseok’s hand.
"Hm?"
"Can I kiss you?" Yoongi whispers cautiously, his nose brushing against Hoseok’s cool one. He watches as Hoseok's eyes widen in surprise, the golden tone of his soft skin grazing against Yoongi’s pale complexion as he gives a barely noticeable nod. Closing his eyes, Yoongi leans in gently.
Hoseok’s lips are soft, sweet, like marshmallows dusted with powdered sugar and the taste of ripe peach. They yield easily under Yoongi’s tender pressure, and he feels as though he's melting into them, like sticky syrup with a bright strawberry flavor. Hoseok kisses remarkably well — better than Yoongi could have imagined. As he carefully presses against those warm, sweet lips, his grip tightens on Hoseok's hand, his heart pausing for a split second before pounding wildly in his chest. His ears begin to ring softly as Hoseok squeezes his hand back, tilting his head slightly and parting his lips, exhaling into the kiss. Yoongi can taste the sharp sweetness of peach, strawberry, and something else — something entirely unique and unlike any flavor he’s experienced before.
Yoongi blinks in surprise when Hoseok pulls back a few seconds later, instinctively leaning forward to follow him, their flushed noses brushing together again. Hoseok grins widely, letting out a soft giggle against Yoongi’s smiling lips, feeling a pleasant, tingling coolness spreading inside him like fresh mint.
"Alright, Yoonie," Hoseok chuckles, reluctantly pulling away. "I should get going."
"Text me when you get home," Yoongi mumbles shyly, stepping back and waving the plush bear in his hand as a goodbye.
The apartment greets him with silence once again, which is immediately replaced by the excited squealing of the high schooler spinning around, burying his face into the soft plush toy. Completely overwhelmed by emotions and making no effort to quiet his enthusiasm, he doesn’t notice the man stepping into the hallway, smiling as he watches the younger one bounce around by the door.
"Hey there, kid," the older one finally speaks up, smirking at the comically surprised expression on Yoongi’s face. "How was your night out?"
"God, hyung," Yoongi exhales, tossing the plush bear at his older brother, who laughs softly as Yoongi begins kicking off his Converse, now covered in the dust of the road.
"What’s this, Yoonie?" the older one asks, curiously turning the plush toy over in his hands. "Did you rob Lotte Mart or something?"
"Hoseok won it at the shooting range," Yoongi mumbles, walking toward his brother. His attempt to reclaim the cherished gift is unsuccessful, as the older one holds it high above his head, laughing while Yoongi jumps, trying to reach it. With a chuckle, the older brother gently grabs Yoongi by the shoulders and steers him toward his room.
"So, kiddo?" the older Min coos affectionately as the two flop onto the bed. Yoongi, fully expecting the usual "Take off your jacket before getting into bed" lecture, raises an eyebrow when his brother says nothing about him still being in his outdoor clothes. It's strange — since they moved in, the older Min had become a neat freak, often scolding Yoongi for flopping onto the bed in his jacket. "Did you have a good time?"
"I did," Yoongi smiles, hugging the cologne-scented bear tightly to his chest.
"I’m glad," the older man mirrors his smile, resting his head on his arm. "Just next time, when you decide to make out by the building entrance, stand closer to the door. Everyone could see from their windows. You know how our dear neighbors are — they’d love to tear our little gay half-family apart for 'that kind of indecency,'" he grumbles, mock-seriously.
"You saw that?" Yoongi whispers, mortified, his fingers freezing in a mix of shame and embarrassment as he quickly sits up, staring at his relaxed, smiling brother.
"No," his brother shrugs. "Well, almost no. I left right away, I swear! And besides, didn’t I tell you you'd come home kissed?"
"Hyung, you..." Yoongi groans, burying his face in his hands, then flops back onto the soft blanket, mumbling complaints while his brother laughs brightly.
"What can I say, kid?" His laughter finally subsiding, the older brother speaks in an exaggeratedly serious tone, reaching out to ruffle Yoongi’s messy hair affectionately. "Mom’s going to be thrilled to hear that her last hope for grandchildren seems to have put on a rainbow uniform."
"HYUNG!"