Archive of Our Own ^beta

It started, as all bad ideas do, with Gyuvin.

Hao had been sitting at his friend’s countertop, halfway through a tub of chocolate ice cream when everything occurred. It was freezing cold outside, but Hao loved eating ice cream in frigid temperatures. There was something about it that made the dessert taste better.

Gyuvin had been on the other side of the kitchen bar, pacing around nervously as if waiting for someone to burst through the front door and bring harrowing news. It was ironic, really, given the fact that Gyuvin was supposed to be giving Hao big news. News that he refused to spill.

“Come on, Gyuvin,” Hao whined as he dug towards the bottom of his ice cream. “Why would you announce this big thing to me and then refuse to tell me what it actually is? You know how noisy I am.”

“Ugh, hyung!” Gyuvin groaned dramatically and kneeled down to the ground in frustration. Hao couldn’t see him anymore, and didn’t waste the energy to crane his neck to get a glance. “It’s hard, because on one hand I really want to tell you, but I’m also afraid you’ll blab!”

“Kim Gyuvin,” Hao replied, his voice heavy as he peered down to get a glimpse of his friend. “You of all people should know I never spill secrets. Remember when you snuck out to see Ricky in high school and I covered for your ass?”

Gyuvin huffed, as if Hao was the one who was being infuriating. He stood back up and leaned against the counter. “Fine. I’ll tell you.” He took a deep breath before losing composure and drooping onto the countertop.

“Today would be nice,” Hao mumbled. He put the lid back on the ice cream tub. All this drama was destroying the happy mood.

“Shut up!” Gyuvin groaned. He looked up, meeting Hao’s eyes before saying, “I’m going to propose to Ricky on Valentine’s Day.”

Hao dropped the ice cream container on the floor. Shock enveloped his entire body at the words coming from Gyuvin’s mouth. His two best friends, Gyuvin and Ricky, had met at their college campus. They had become best friends with each other (and with Hao) early on, until Ricky finally ended their pining and admitted his crush to Gyuvin. Gyuvin, of course, was ecstatic, but a little mad that Ricky had beat him to the confession. Ricky had laughed it off and joked that Gyuvin could initiate their proposal when they were older.

Truly, Hao never really thought that day would come. He always imagined his best friends would never cross that boundary. He was happy for them, sure, but there was a twisted feeling in his stomach that was hard to get rid of.

“Oh, wow. That’s great! Do you have a ring picked out yet?” Hao told his friend, although it didn’t sound as excited as he wished it would had come out.

Gyuvin nodded and produced a thick silver band void of the box from his jacket pocket. The ring shined in the awful florescent light of the apartment, and Hao had to squint to make sure that what he saw on the ring was correct.

“Is that…a monkey?”

Gyuvin smiled sweetly. “It’s Ricky’s zodiac sign. He’s really in-tune with that kind of stuff. Did you see our names engraved on the band?”

Hao in fact, had not seen. He craned his neck, and just as Gyuvin had said, the names Kim Gyuvin and Shen Ricky were engraved on the inside of the band in rainbow letters. Gyuvin really did have a peculiar taste when it came to picking out rings. He was glad he wasn’t marrying Gyuvin.

“It’s…lovely,” Hao supplied.

Gyuvin caught on immediately. “Hyung? What’s wrong? You look…weird. Your face is all twisted.”

“I’m fine, Gyuvin-ah,” Hao reassured, but once again, he didn’t sound very convincing. “I’m just surprised is all. I thought you wanted to graduate before you got married.”

“I’m graduating in May,” Gyuvin deadpanned. “It’s literally February, hyung. Getting engaged doesn’t mean we’re going to get married immediately. You know how Ricky is. He’ll probably take five years to plan it to make sure it’s perfect.”

“True,” Hao said, but he didn’t feel convinced.

“I think I know what it is,” Gyuvin told him pointedly, a trick he had learned from Ricky. “You’re jealous.”

Hao visibly recoiled. “I am not jealous!” he gasped. “Why would I ever be jealous of you and Ricky?”

Gyuvin pushed himself up off the counter and smiled weirdly. Hao didn’t like that look. “Well, if I recall, you always used to say that you would be the first one out of all of us to get married. And now, Ricky and I are about to get engaged, and you’ve never even had a serious boyfriend before!”

“I have too!” Hao argued. “There was Jeonghyun!”

Gyuvin rolled his eyes. “You mean the guy you met at that gay club you saw for two whole weeks and then dumped because he was balding?” he replied as if bored.

“Hey, you can’t come after me for wanting to protect my children’s genes!”

“Hyung you can’t even- this isn’t the point!” Gyuvin sighed. Hao could tell he was annoyed by the way he rubbed his temple aggressively with his fingers. “Look, I have an idea. It’s been an awful long time since you’ve been on a date. Why don’t Ricky and I set you up with someone? That way you’ll have someone to gush about and all your negative energy will manifest itself elsewhere."

Hao snorted. “Do you even know my type?” he challenged.

“Tall, dark handsome, sweet but with an edge.” Gyuvin listed off. He laughed at Hao’s incredulous look. “You’re so transparent hyung. Literally the last two guys you were interested in looked like they could be twins.”

That was Hao’s last straw. He wilted against the countertop and heaved out a heavy sigh. Part of his actions reflected his inner feelings, the other parts was just for dramatics. “If I agree to your silly little blind date, will you stop coming after me and my stupid decisions?”

Gyuvin smiled mischievously, and Hao recognized the glint in his eyes as the same one he always had when he was cooking up something bad. “Of course, hyung. If only you promise not to make any more of said stupid decisions.”

Which led Hao to where he was now, currently sitting at an open booth in a café located right below his apartment complex (in case he needed a fast exit) waiting for this Hanbin person Gyuvin had set him up with. He didn’t know much about this person, besides the fact that he was Gyuvin’s hyung that went to college with him.

“He’s a really good guy, and pretty much your type to the letter,” Gyuvin had told him over the phone the day before. “He’s in my grad course. I think you’ll really like him, hyung.”

Gyuvin had come up with the brilliant idea of Hao and his date wearing different colors to the café so they could spot each other. Hao was assigned pink, Hanbin blue. Hao sat fuming in his seat at one of the booths, tucked in a corner of the café, wondering how the hell he was going to spot this man when there were so many people wearing blue. And it was Valentine’s Day- there were so many people dressed in reds and pinks. Gyuvin really hadn’t thought this through.

Hao felt a little anxious waiting for his “perfect man” (Gyuvin’s words, not his) to show up. For one, Hao was usually not a blind dater. He was used to meeting his men in clubs or bars or through his work. This was the first time he was going on a date where he had never met the man. It was strange, because what if it was awkward, of what if they didn’t get along, or what if he was ugly?

There was also the proposal going on today. Gyuvin had wanted it to be a private affair, which Hao was perfectly fine with. But he was still anxious to know how it would all turn out, whether Ricky would say yes or no (of course he would say yes) and the little details Gyuvin had come up with to make the proposal perfect.

The bell above the door jingled, knocking Hao out of his worries and drawing his attention to the front of the establishment. There was a young man standing there. He was blonde and had a strong jawline and sharp eagle eyes that caught Hao’s attention. His heart started beating faster. Was this the man Gyuvin had set him up with? Because if that was the case, Hao would be more than thrilled.

There was only one doubt in Hao’s mind: the man was wearing a blue and white checkered sweater. Did that count as blue? The shirt had blue in it. Hao guessed it had to be Hanbin. He straightened a little in his chair before catching Hanbin’s eye and waving him over.

“Hi,” he said sweetly, making sure to bat his eyelashes just enough to catch Hanbin’s attention to his fox eyes. “Come sit down. I didn’t order yet. Have you been here before? I don’t really know what to get.”

“Uh, the macchiatos are pretty good here,” Hanbin said as he slid into the booth right next to Hao. Bold, Hao liked that. “But I’m pretty basic. I usually go for their iced Americanos.”

Hao looked over at the man, astonished. “Iced in the winter?”

Hanbin shrugged. “Sure. I feel like the cold matches well with the temperatures outside.”

Oh, Hao was ready to marry this man on the spot. Gyuvin was going to earn his spot as Hao’s best man for sure.

“I feel the same way!” Hao exclaimed. He leaned against the table, making sure to cast his pretty puppy eyes Hanbin’s direction. “Do you believe in destiny?”

Hanbin laughed, a deep resonating sound. “Sounds like you’ve been thinking about destiny a lot.” He replied with a playful smirk.

“Oh, all the time.” Hao mused. “I always dream about meeting my one true love in a dusty café with awful pop music blasting through the speakers.”

Hanbin leaned into him, their arms casually brushing because of the proximity. Hao’s heart fluttered even more. “You know what?” he said lowly. “That’s always been my dream too.”

If Hao could have liquified and turned into a puddle, he would have on the spot. Hanbin was such a character, and they matched so well. All of Hao’s worries started to dissipate. Maybe Gyuvin really had set him up with his dream man. Maybe everything was turning around after all.

Just as Hao was about to further the conversation, maybe asking the man about his other quirks to see just how well they matched, a voice cut in.

“Zhang Hao-shi?”

The man who had called out was standing directly in front of their table. He had a dark head of hair, with sharp features but soft eyes that reminded Hao of melted chocolate. While Hanbin’s features were rough and rugged, this man was soft and sweet. This man rivalled Hanbin’s beauty in more ways than one. He looked delicate while he stood there playing with the sleeve of his baby blue sweater.

What was it with all these attractive men coming out of the woodwork?

Wait, blue sweater. Oh shit. Now as Hao took in the man’s outfit, he noticed the sweater and blue light washed jeans and even a navy blue backpack. Hao’s heart, which had once been soaring with the clouds, plummeted to the earth and splattered on the sidewalk.

“Yeah?” Hao answered back unintelligently. He was at a loss of any other words.

“Um, I’m Hanbin? The date Gyuvin set you up with?”

Silence enveloped the booth as Hao looked back and forth between Hanbin and this total stranger who currently had his arm draped over Hao’s seat who also looked utterly bewildered. Hao’s brain seemed to short circuit, unsure of what to do or what to say or really what to even think.

This was bad. This was very very bad. Gyuvin was no longer invited to be his best man.

“I can leave,” the real Hanbin murmured as he scooted closer to the door. “Or we can reschedule. Whatever works for you, because I’m open to whatever.” He rambled on, obviously trying to make up for the awkward air.

“No need,” not-Hanbin said as he stood from the booth and made way for Hanbin. “I’m Kim Jiwoong, by the way. Definitely not Hanbin.” He told Hao helpfully. “In my defense, I didn’t realize what was going on here, so I apologize if I caused any trouble. Sorry, man. Enjoy your date.” He nodded to Hanbin sympathetically as he walked away.

Hao watched him go forlornly, not really knowing what to do. He probably should just escape back home, yell some infuriating things at Gyuvin’s answering machine, and swear off blind dates for the rest of his life. But Hanbin looked so confused, so petrified, that he made himself stay.

“Sit down, please,” Hao borderline begged. At this point, they were probably causing a scene in the café, and although Hao liked being the center of attention, he didn’t like bad attention. “We should start over. It’s nice to actually meet you, Hanbin-shi.”

“Likewise,” Hanbin replied back with a gentle smile as he sat across from Hao in the booth.

Silence engulfed them once again, and Hao realized that maybe he should have taken the out and ran back home when he had the chance. He watched as Hanbin smoothed out his sweater from the opposite side of the booth, grasping for anything he could say that might spark some semblance of a conversation.

“I’m sorry,” he finally settled on. His head drooped as he spoke. “I’m usually not like this.”

“Like what?” Hanbin asked quizzically. His eyebrows raised into the fluff of his bangs that dripped over his forehead. Hao couldn’t help but find it cute.

Hao groaned and hid his face behind his hands, too mortified to even admit it. “Embarrassing,” he whined. “I promise I don’t flirt with strangers before the actual date!”

Hanbin laughed, light and delicate like spun sugar. “It’s okay. Assigning colors to each other probably wasn’t the best move. I told Gyuvin that, but you know how he is.”

“Always the stubborn one,” Hao continued for Hanbin. “He’s the one that insisted that I was so single it was infringing on his own love life.” The words escaped his mouth before he even realized it. It sounded desperate, something Hao never wanted to come across as. “No! Wait, what I meant was I had to tag along with him and Ricky on their dates all the time…no, that sounds bad too.”

Hanbin chuckled and put a reassuring hand on Hao’s arm. “Hey, it’s okay, I get it.” He told the man across from him. “I’m also painfully single, if that makes you feel better.”

It did, but it also didn’t. The whole mix up had thrown Hao completely out of sync that now he didn’t even know how to talk without sounding utterly stupid. He liked Hanbin, he really did, but maybe this was the universe’s way of warning him. He needed a distraction.

Suddenly, the familiar sound of his ringtone sounded throughout the booth. Perfect timing. Hao offered a quick “excuse me” to Hanbin before fishing his phone out of his bag and answering.

“Hyung!” a voice on the other side of the line cried out. Hao recognized it immediately as Gyuvin. “Hyung, I need your help!”

“What’s wrong, Gyuvin-ah?” Hao asked as calmly as he could.

“I lost the ring, hyung!” Gyuvin hissed into the speaker. “I took Ricky to the Valentine’s Day festival in town and the ring was in my pocket and I lost it! What am I going to do?”

Hao shot a glance at Hanbin, whose brows were raised quizzically. Hao gave him a sheepish grin and turned his attention back to the call. “Do you know where exactly you dropped it?”

“I don’t know! We went to so many booths and we were there for half the morning. The proposal is in three hours! I don’t want to ditch Ricky because he’s going to find it suspicious!” a gasp rang through Hao’s ears. “Wait! Hyung, could you go look for it? You’re not busy right now, are you?”

If Hanbin hadn’t been sitting right across from Hao, he would have given Gyuvin a piece of his mind right then and there. But he controlled himself and muttered, “I’m on my blind date right now. The one you set me up on, remember?”

“Hanbin hyung is there?” Gyuvin exclaimed. “Perfect! He’s great in dire situations. Bring him with you too! I have to go, hyung. Ricky’s asking why I’ve been in the bathroom for so long. Just make sure you get the ring to me before the band gets here! Got to go!”

The call ended and Hao was left sitting in utter shock. Kim Gyuvin, when I get my hands on you…

He took a deep breath and turned to look at Hanbin with a tight smile. “Well, I guess we’re moving locations.”

Hanbin shot him another confused look but stood from his seat all the same. “What do you mean? What’s wrong with Gyuvin-ah?”

“He lost the ring he was going to propose to Ricky with,” Hao sighed. He had no idea why he let himself get roped into situations like this. “He wants us both to go to the festival in town and look for it.”

“What about our date?” Hanbin questioned. He looked like a kicked puppy, and Hao felt bad, he really did, but he had a friend to save.

Hao waved him off. “We can put it on pause. Or you can go and I’ll go find the ring myself. I would understand if you wanted to leave.”

Hanbin didn’t say anything. He just leaned against the table, pondering over his choices. Hao felt bad, and didn’t want to drag this man into anything he probably didn’t want to be a part of. He really liked Hanbin, as was previously mentioned, but he wanted to spare himself from anymore awkwardness. “I’ll go by myself,” he concluded. He began to walk away, taking a few steps to distance himself from Hanbin before he turned. “It was nice meeting you, Hanbin-shi. I’m sorry this was probably the worst date ever.”

“Wait, Hao!”

Hao turned back to see Hanbin looking down at the floor nervously. He looked so small standing there, despite being just a tad bit taller than Hao himself. Once again Hao felt his heart go out to Hanbin. He felt awful.

The other man scrunched his nose once, twice, before speaking again. “I want to go with you.”

Hao’s eyes widened in surprise. “You do? Why?” he asked.

Hanbin shuffled his feet, still looking down at them as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. There was silence for a second, and Hao really thought Hanbin was going to tell him to forget it, to just go and leave him behind. “Because,” he said, his voice a little shaky. “I don’t think this is the worst date ever.”

Hao looked at him crazily. “You don’t?”

Hanbin gave a tiny shake of his head and pressed his lips together before answering. “Well, it’s way better than sitting here and making small talk for an hour don’t you think? Besides, Gyuvin’s my friend, and I want to make sure this special moment in his life goes right.”

Hao felt his heart beat faster, but he couldn’t let his guard down just yet. He was still suspicious. “So what? You like watching other people getting plunged into chaos?”

“Not usually,” Hanbin admitted, rubbing the back of his head nervously. “But I really liked talking with you. And you’re, like, really pretty.”

Hao wanted to giggle like a high school girl, but he reigned it in to try to appear calm. “That’s…kind of dumb, but sweet nonetheless.” He replied. “Are you sure you’re up for this? There’s going to be crowds and chaos, and me screaming at someone in frustration. Probably Gyuvin.”

Hanbin sighed and pushed off the table. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he said. He looked a little more confident as he spoke, and Hao found himself beaming at the thought. He was making Hanbin come out of his shell. He felt proud.

“The festival is pretty far away from here,” he mused as they walked out of the café and into the parking lot side by side. “We could take a bus, but it’ll be crowded. Or we could walk.”

“Or drive,” Hanbin added before producing a sleek pair of car keys from his pants pocket.

Hao’s mouth hung open. “Wait, you drive?”

Hanbin laughed at his response. “I do. My car’s right there.” He pointed to one of the shiny cars parked out front that looked very sensible for a college student to own. He turned back to Hao with an amused look. “Why are you so surprised?”

Hao shrugged. He didn’t know why he was surprised, really. Gyuvin had said before that Hanbin was the most responsible person on the planet. It would make sense in hindsight. “You just don’t look like a driver. You give off ‘perpetually lost pedestrian’ more than anything.”

Hanbin rolled his eyes, though Hao could see a smile creeping on his lips. “I can assure you that I am legally allowed to operate a motor vehicle.” He deadpanned. “Now jump in. We have a ring to find.”

Hanbin held the door open for Hao as he slid inside. Hanbin’s car was clean and smelled like one of those fancy car fragrances. He was impressed to say the least. Once Hanbin had climbed in on the driver’s side and made sure Hao had buckled his seat belt, the car gently roared to life. Hanbin shifted gears, and the car started backing out of the parking spot.

On the passenger side, Hao was gripping onto the handle and his seat belt for dear life. He made sure to look over every once in a while and make sure Hanbin didn’t hit a trash can, a building, or a child.

“You don’t trust me,” Hanbin noted once he had pulled out of the spot.

Hao snorted. “Of course not. You’re a stranger. For all I know you could have a million speeding tickets.”

“You’re the one who got in the car, though.” Hanbin pointed out. Hao hated the playful smirk that hung from his lips.

“Yeah, well I live for the thrill.” He muttered sarcastically.

Despite Hao’s worries, the drive to the festival was uneventful. Boring, even. Hanbin never took his hands off the ten and two, never looked away from the road, and always put his blinker on before he turned. Even the music he played from the radio wasn’t astronomically loud so he could focus.

“I was hoping you’d suck at this,” Hao mumbled once Hanbin had found the perfect parking spot just outside the festival grounds. He was currently parallel parking with precision and ease. “I wanted to at least find one fault in you.”

Hanbin hummed thoughtfully and put the car in park. “Would it help if I told you I failed my driver’s test on the first go around?”

Hao perked up. Finally he had some dirt on the other man. “Really?”

The playful smirk reappeared on Hanbin’s face. “No.”

Hao huffed and leaned back into the seat, crossing his arms and using his deadly pout. “So you’re a liar, then? I can’t believe Gyuvin would want to set me up with someone so low.”

Hanbin rolled his eyes, but his smile never wavered. “Come on, we have a ring to find.”

They exited the car together and walked the short block to the festival grounds. The festivities were in full swing the time they arrived. There were what looked like millions of booths decorated in reds and pinks lined down the street. There was a massive crowd, mostly formed from couples with interlocked arms, laughing and talking and enjoying the event. Hao’s heart sank. This was going to be way harder than he thought.

“This place is huge,” he told Hanbin with a sigh. “There’s no way we’re going to find that stupid ring. It’s hopeless.”

“Hope is not lost yet,” Hanbin said to him confidently. “Just think: if I were a ring, where would I be?”

Hao raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yes. Very helpful. What would I ever do without you?” he replied sarcastically.

But the question did make him think. If Ricky and Gyuvin were here, which booths or attractions would get their attention? Hao scanned the nearby booths with a careful eye before his gaze landed on the prize.

Bingo.“The art booth!” Hao exclaimed. “Ricky loves art, and Gyuvin can never say no to him. They must have stopped there!”

Hanbin nodded. “See? There’s hope yet.”

The two battled through the thick crowd of couples before they came to the booth labelled “Love Is Art” in black smudged letters. The booth itself had been dipped in a dark red color. Pink glitter covered everything: the canvases, the easels, even the booth itself. Rose petals even lined the ground around them.

“Wow,” Hao muttered as he took it all in. “This is a lot.”

Hanbin also surveyed the booth in front of them with watchful eyes. “It’s very festive.” He replied lightly.

“You mean aggressive,” Hao corrected. He squinted at a group of bizarre Valentine’s revisions of famous artwork that hung from the booth: Mona Lisa winking and holding a box of chocolates, The Thinker pondering over a bouquet of red roses, and the most disgraceful, in Hao’s opinion: The Birth of Venus where Venus was holding a heart-shaped latte.

A man emerged from behind the counter. His hair was closely shaven to his head, bringing attention to his soft features and cat-like eyes. His smile was a little too sweet and his overall vibe screamed mildly untrustworthy.

“Welcome, lovebirds!” he greeted in a deep raspy voice.

Hao turned and without thinking about social norms, grabbed onto Hanbin’s arm tightly. “Oh, absolutely not. I do not trust his guy.”

Hanbin gave him a sideways glance. “But we just met him.”

“Exactly!” Hao whispered. “He’s only said two words and I already feel like I’m about to get scammed!”

The man at the counter leaned over, his paint covered apron getting dangerously close to the register. “I can hear you, you know.” He whispered loudly.

Hao gaped and his ears turned red on the spot. He squeezed Hanbin’s arm tighter than before.

Hanbin just patted Hao’s hand reassuringly before taking the reins. “Sorry about that, sir. We mean no harm.”

The man put his hands up in defense. “No harm done. Besides I like this one. He’s feisty.” He ushered to Hao and sent a wink his direction which made Hao’s stomach curl. “I’m Hyunjin, by the way. How can I help you two lovely gentlemen?”

Hao wanted to hide behind Hanbin like a child would hide behind his mother and peek out curiously from behind her skirt. But he refused to let this man get the best of him. So instead, he rolled his shoulder back, stood his ground, and faced the man head on. “We’re looking for a ring,” he told Hyunjin seriously.

The man’s eyebrows danced in a suggestive way. “A ring, you say? Who’s proposing? Out of the two of you, I’d assume the baby-faced one…”

“What? N-no!” Hao denied quickly.

“So the feisty one wears the pants huh?” Hyunjin continued, much to Hao’s disdain. “Hm, interesting. I thought it would be a ‘taming of the brat’ situation, but…”

“We’re looking for our friend’s ring.” Hanbin interjected on Hao’s behalf. Both their faces had turned tomato red by then. “It’s a silver band with a monkey etched into it. Have you seen it around?”

“Ah, the noble quest.” Hyujin declared, but he sounded a little disappointed. “Now, let me think… monkey ring, monkey ring… Ah, yes! A teenager picked something up like that right around where you two are standing.”

“Are you sure?” Hanbin asked skeptically. Hao could tell he also didn’t trust Hyunjin.

“It was chunky, yes? And had rainbow engraving on the inside?” Hyunjin confirmed. “The kid picked it up thinking it was a child’s toy or some ugly costume jewellry piece.”

“Did you get a name for this kid?” Hao asked, leaning against the counter excitedly.

Hyunjin shook his head. “Afraid not. But I can give you a description. He was a teen with a pretty face and dark hair. Was wearing some kind of green bomber jacket with a logo on the shoulder.”

“Ugh, so now we have to track down some random teenager?” Hao sighed dramatically. “We’re never going to find this damn ring!”

Hanbin smiled, ever patient, and patted Hao’s back soothingly. “Hey, at least we have a lead. Think of it this way: we’re one step closer.”

Hao felt eyes on them. He turned to see Hyunjin staring at them both with that creepy smirk that sent chills down Hao’s back.

“You two are fun,” he said simply, but the way the words were slurred implied something different.

Hao shot him a glare. “We are not fun.” He argued back.

“You’re a little fun.”

Before Hao could say or do something drastic that could possibly cause a scene, Hanbin put a hand on Hao’s shoulder and began to steer him away. “Thank you for the help!” he called back to Hyunjin, who still stood smirking at them as they left.

“Creep!” Hao spat once they were far enough away from the booth for his own gratification. “Well, looks like we better start looking for that kid.”

Navigating the crowd once more turned out to be a nightmare. There were hoards of people around them, and after about twenty minutes of searching, all the colors seemed to blur and Hao didn’t know what he was looking for. Did teal count as green? Or that bluish-emerald color? He didn’t even know anymore.

Hao groaned as he continued to scan the crowd from atop a bench he had come across. “This is useless! That kid could be anywhere!” he whined to Hanbin.

Before the other could respond however, a voice cut through the crowd. “Hey, you! You in the blue sweater! Come over here!”

Both heads turned to see an older teenager with shaggy hair dressed in a red vest and matching top hat that stood before a high striker- one of those classic carnival games where you swing the mallet to hit a lever that sent a puck towards a bell at the top of the tower. It of course was also decked out in Valentine’s Day décor. Hao couldn’t wait to find this ring and get out of this Valentine’s prison.

Hanbin looked over to the teen and pointed to himself. “Who, me?”

“Yes, sir!” the teen yelled. “Step right up! Test your strength! Win a prize! Impress your date!” his eyes landed on Hao and sent a friendly wink his direction.

Hao blinked. Why did everyone think him and Hanbin were a couple? “Oh, no. We’re not-“

“I’ll try.”

Hao whipped his head around to look at Hanbin. “You’re kidding, right? You really want to play? It’s probably rigged. All carnival games are.”

Hanbin shrugged. “We might as well have fun while we’re here. This is a festival after all.” He said as he began walking over to the game. “Besides, we’ve been walking around searching for this kid for so long. Maybe we should wait for him to come to us.”

Hao narrowed his eyes. “That…actually makes a little bit of sense.”

The festival worker handed Hanbin the mallet to him and smiled. “Alright, friend. Let’s see what you got!”

Hao sighed, trying to act annoyed as he stood next to the festival worker as Hanbin stood beside the game. He had resigned himself to his fate of standing there for the next few minutes while Hanbin played a game. They still had to catch that kid before he left and get the ring back and make it back to Gyuvin before the proposal. They didn’t have time for distractions.

And then, Hanbin rolled up his sleeves, and all thoughts left Hao’s head.

It wasn’t a flashy motion, just an absentminded gesture as Hanbin geared up to swing the mallet down. But in that moment, Hanbin revealed something that Hao had not known previously. Hanbin had forearms. Like, really nice ones, at that. Hao felt like he was a Victorian man seeing a woman’s ankles for the first time. Lean muscle shifted beneath Hanbin’s skin as he adjusted his grip on the mallet. His fingers wrapped around the handle that suggested strength. His stance shifted as he focused on his target. Hao felt like swooning.

In the time they had been together, Hao had never thought of Hanbin in that way, not beyond "oh he has a pretty smile", or "he has a really nice voice". This opened up a whole other can of worms Hao wasn’t ready to dissect yet.

Hanbin gave a curt nod to the worker before he lifted the mallet effortlessly and slammed it down with a loud WHAM! The mallet slammed against the lever with a smooth controlled force that caused the puck to glide up to the top of the metal. The bell rang at the top loud enough for passers-by to stop and watch the event unfold. A few of them clapped in congratulations.

The festival worker let out a low whistle. “Damn, you made that look easy! Even I can’t get it to the top!”

Hao, who had been very invested in watching Hanbin’s arms during the swing, snapped out of his daze once he realized there were eyes on him. “Yeah, sure. Nice. Wow.”

Hanbin smiled at the praise as he tried to hand the mallet to Hao. “You want a go at it?”

“Absolutely not.” Hao declared as he shook his head vehemently.

A mischievous glint appeared in Hanbin’s eyes as he tried to get Hao to take the mallet still. “Why not? Afraid that I outshined you?”

“I just have nothing to prove,” Hao replied with a huff. “Come on. We need to stop playing games and keep looking for that kid."

“Right, the kid.” Hanbin seemed to snap back into reality at Hao’s gentle warning. He thanked the worker and handed him back the mallet before slipping his hands into his pants pocket casually. His gentle aura returned, and it left Hao thinking about how unfair it was that Hanbin was able to switch back effortlessly to being soft and adorable.

Maybe there were more sides to Hanbin than Hao realized.

They merged back into the masses of colors, sounds, and movement to continue their search. Despite Hao wanting to grab onto Hanbin’s arm and feel the muscle underneath in a totally not creepy way, they were on a mission, and they had to focus.

They made their way to the center of the festival where many food trucks and refreshment booths were set up. The smell of fried and sweet foods filled the air. Vendors calling out their wares sounded in the space, along with children running and screaming as they chased each other.

Just as Hao was starting to once again loss hope, Hanbin grabbed his wrist. “There!” he said, pointing into the direction of the crowd.

Hao followed Hanbin’s gaze, and his eyes landed on a boy standing just a few paces away. He stood near a snack cart with a cup of bubble tea in his hand. His brown hair was straight and styled to fall into his face haphazardly. The green bomber jacket the art vendor had described look big against his small frame. The boy looked none the wiser that he was currently a suspect in the awaiting men’s eyes.

Hao’s heart pounded with adrenaline. “That’s him,” he whispered. “That has to be him!”

Without thinking, he surged through the crowd, target locked. “Hey!” he called, voice rising over the crowd. “You with the green jacket!”

The boy barely had time to look up from his bubble tea before Hao and Hanbin were towering over him. His eyes widened in alarm, grip tightening on his cup. He tried to back away but realized there was no exit. He was like prey cornered by two scary looking predators.

“Where’s the ring?” Hao demanded, stepping closer. “The silver one with the monkey on it. Hand it over!”

“What?” the boy’s voice rose higher as he spoke. He sounded very alarmed.

“The ring,” Hao repeated impatiently. “The one you picked up earlier!”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the boy stammered slowly. His round eyes seemed to get even larger, and tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. “I didn’t take anything- I swear!”

Hao turned to Hanbin, waiting for him to grill the kid. But Hanbin’s face looked twisted, as if he were conflicted. Was he getting cold feet now? Hao looked back at the kid and saw the way he shook in his stance, his glassy eyes, and his trembling lip.

Oh no. Hao’s stomach dropped a little too late. “Oh my god,” he whispered.

The boy in front of them was now wiping his eyes and standing up straight to try to make himself look confident. “I-I don’t know anything. Please don’t yell at me…” his voice warbled on.

“Oh my god. This cannot be happening.” Hao repeated as he retreated from his close proximity. He dragged a frustrated hand down his face. “Did we seriously get the wrong kid?”

Hanbin, to his credit, immediately tried to fix the situation. He raised both hands up in defense and softened his voice. “Hey, it’s okay. We’re not trying to scare you. We just…there was a little bit if a misunderstanding.”

The boy sniffled. “You’re not going to mug me?” he asked, his expression still wary.

“What? No!” Hao exclaimed, absolutely mortified. “Jesus, kid, we’re not criminals-“

“Hao,” Hanbin warned. He gave him a look from the side. Hao shut up immediately.

They stood in awkward silence for a few second before the boy wiped at his face for the last time and stuck his hand out to shake. “I’m Yujin,” he said softly.

Hanbin gave him another look, so Hao reached over and shook the snotty hand. It was what he deserved, he supposed. “Nice to meet you, Yujin-ah. And again, we’re really sorry about all this.”

There was another pause before Hao spoke again. “So, you don’t know anything about a ring?”

Yujin shook his head frantically. “No, I really didn’t know about whatever ring until just now!”

Hao exhaled and rubbed his temples. “Great. Amazing. We just harassed a minor for no reason.”

Yujin pursed his lips and looked back up and Hanbin and Hao tentatively. “…But I did hear a about a ring recently.”

Hao and Hanbin’s heads snapped up. “What?” they asked in unison.

Yujin fidgeted with the end of his sleeve, poking and prodding at it in nervousness. “I’m here on a class trip with my school. A bunch of us are wearing matching jackets, so I guess you thought I was someone else.”

Hanbin groaned. “That explains everything.”

“And, um, I think one of my classmates, Gunwook hyung, was the one who actually found the ring you’re looking for.” Yujin continued.

“Where is he?” Hao asked, his excitement returning.

Yujin glanced around the crowd, as if he was expecting Gunwook to appear. “No idea,” he said after his search. “But if you want, I can help you find him. Our teachers took our phones, but I have an idea of where he might have gone.”

Hanbin smiled, still ever gentle, which made Yujin relax on the spot. “That would be very helpful. Lead the way.”

While Hao and Hanbin shuffled through the crowd, dodging children and sickly sweet couples, Yujin glided through like a boat cutting through the ocean waves. Hao wondered how it was even possible for the boy to be surprisingly fast for a kid who had been scared to tears less than ten minutes ago.

“Come on, slowpokes!” He called behind him as he darted past a family with an insanely large baby stroller.

“We are not slowpokes!” Hao yelled back as he successfully dodged a kid with a sticky cotton candy stick.

Hanbin chuckled from beside him. “We kind of are compared to him.”

Hao glared at him then turned back to Yujin, who was currently darting towards the exit. “Are we even going the right way?”

“Of course,” Yujin answered, breezy. “Gunwook hyung was talking about selling the ring, so I figured we could check the pawn shop.”

Hao nearly stumbled. “The pawn shop?”

Yujin hummed in affirmation. “It’s right down the street. We’re almost there!”

The kept moving, dodging past booths selling everything from handmade jewellery to stuffed animals. Hao was starting to think they would never emerge from the sea of people when his foot caught on something.

One moment he was walking. The next, his body was tilting forward at a very concerning angle, arms flailing in a desperate attempt to not faceplant in the middle of the huge crowd. Just as he was bracing for impact, a hand shot out and grabbed him firmly by the wrist. Another hand held securely onto his waist, pulling him back against something solid.

Hanbin.

Hao barely had time to process anything besides the feeling of warmth- Hanbin’s chest pressed against his back, his strong arms steadying Hao, warm fingers pressing into Hao’s skin that lingered for just a moment longer than necessary. They were close. Too close. Hao’s breath caught as he glanced over his shoulder. Hanbin was looking at him in almost the same way he had looked at Yujin- soft worry laced with maybe something more. His lips parted, as if trying to find the right words to speak.

“You okay?” he finally asked, just above a whisper.

For a split moment, Hao forgot how to speak like a normal human being. Then his brain caught up, and he hurriedly straightened. “Y-yeah. I’m fine.”

Hanbin’s hands dropped away once Hao was back on his feet, leaving behind an odd lingering heat that Hao wished he could have more of.

Yujin, completely oblivious to the moment the two had just shared, turned back with a raised eyebrow. “You guys good, or do we need to stop for a moment?” his voice was light and teasing.

Hao shot him a look. “Shut up, kid.”

Yujin snickered behind his hand. “Relax,” he drawled. “We’re here anyway.”

Hao followed Yujin’s gaze and sure enough, just past the last stretch of festival booths stood a small, dimly lit pawn ship, its neon open sign flickering weakly.

Hao drew in breath and tried to calm his heart. “Great, let’s go see if Gunwook is inside.”

The moment they stepped inside, the smell of dust and old things hit them square in the face. The pawn shop was a chaotic mess, like a dragon’s hoard packed into the small space of the storefront. Shelves bowed under the weight of long forgotten trinkets like antique clocks and porcelain dolls with eerie glass eyes. There was a whole section of vinyl records, some void of their casing, stacked as tall as the ceiling. There was also an unsettling number of taxidermized animals hanging from bookshelves and cabinets. Dim yellow lights buzzed from the ceiling from a few lightbulbs hanging precariously, casting a strange shift of shadows along the aisles.

“I feel like we just stepped into a horror movie,” Hao muttered under his breath. He turned to Hanbin. “If we die in here, tell my mom I fought bravely.”

Hanbin stood beside Hao, scanning their surroundings with a watchful eye. He snorted at Hao’s remark. “I’ll let her know.”

Despite the older two’s internal conflict with the shop, Yujin seemed entirely unbothered. He had already wandered off to someone else in the shop with his eye on a few antique Samari swords hanging up on the wall. “This place is so cool,” he breathed out in awe.

“I think we clearly have different definitions of cool.” Hao exclaimed.

Before Hao could continue to rift to Yujin about his choices, a voice pierced through the air like a knife cutting into the silence. It made all three of them jump, before they turned and came face to face with a man who had been clearly laying behind the counter. He was short and had short, almost spiked hair to match. His eyes were deep-set and dark, with a knowing sort of smile on his lips that made you wonder if he was suspicious or kind. His fingers tapped out a song only he could hear, causing a rhythm to echo throughout the shop.

“Ah, travellers in search of lost fortunes,” he called as he spread his arms high up like an eagle about to take flight. “Welcome. Are you here to find something, or perhaps lose something?”

Hao blinked. “Yeah, we are definitely in a horror movie right now.”

Hanbin cleared his throat in a polite manner. “Uh, actually. We’re looking for a missing ring. Has anyone sold one to you recently?”

The man, who had a name tag on that read “Matthew”, smiled a little broader than before. “A ring,” he murmured, as if rolling to word on his tongue like a fine wine. “A perfect circle. A promise that never ends. So easy to lost, yet so difficult to forget…”

“Hey old man, could you just say yes or no like a normal person?” Yujin called from where he had been standing (read: hiding) behind Hao.

Matthew smirked and sent a wink the kid’s direction. “Now where would be the fun in that?”

Hao turned to Hanbin, now thoroughly exasperated. “I hate this. Gyuvin isn’t worth all this trouble.”

“Let’s just see if he has the ring. Then we can leave.” Hanbin squeezed Hao’s arm in an affectionate way.

Matthew hummed and continued to talk. “There are many rings that live here,” he began, motioning to the glass display case in front of him. “Each with a tale to tell, a secret to whisper, a weight carried from one heart to the next. But the question remains. Which one calls to you?” His dagger eyes fell on Hao, who suddenly felt very out of breath.

“Can we take a quick look?” Hanbin asked as he motioned to the display case.

Matthew studied them for a moment, as if trying to deem if they were worthy enough, before he slowly, almost theatrically, plucked a small brass key from his pocket and unlocked the case. His movements were deliberate, like he was handling a sacred ancient relic.

That’s when Hao saw it. Nestled between the deep velvet of the display, thrown beside a stack of gold coins and an extremely sketchy looking preserved rabbit’s foot, was a small silver ring with a monkey emblem embedded into the silver. His breath hitched in excitement. They’d found it.

“There,” he pointed. “That one looks exactly like the ring we’re looking for.”

Matthew’s eyes flickered to the ring and a look of amusement took over his face. “Ah, yes. The trickster’s token. A playful spirit, always slipping through the fingers of those who seek and need it most.”

Hao groaned. “Can we just see the ring please?”

Matthew chuckled. He plucked the ring from its resting place and set it on the counter. “Go on,” he said as his eyes twinkled. “See if it knows you.”

Hao did not like the sound of that, but as curious as he was, he picked up the ring to examine it. It was light in his palm despite its chunkiness. It looked like the exact ring Gyuvin had showed him in his apartment a few weeks ago- same silver band, same small monkey carving, even the same slightly worn edges, suggesting it had been cherished once. Hao already felt a surge of relief rise in his chest.

“This has to be it, right?” he asked as he delicately handed the ring over to Hanbin.

The other man didn’t answer right away. He held the ring up to the light, carefully inspecting it before putting it back in Hao’s hand. His brow furrowed slightly. Then, quietly, he exhaled. “No inscription.” He said, hushed.

Hao’s stomach dropped. “What?” he asked as he flipped it over himself. Sure enough, the inside of the band was completely smooth- no initials, no date, nothing. His heart sank.

Defeated, he set the ring back on the counter with a small sigh. “It’s not the right one.” He told Matthew. He really wanted to argue with himself: maybe Gyuvin hadn’t gotten the inscription, maybe it was just a dream or a figment of his imagination. Maybe he should call Gyuvin to make sure. But there was no use. Hao knew it was impossible; it wasn’t the ring.

Matthew, watching the realization settle over them, smiled apologetically. “Ah, so close, yet just out of reach. Such is the way of fate, I suppose.”

Hao thunked his head against the glass case. “I am so over this. Gyuvin owes me a lifetime supply of durian now.”

Hanbin obviously bit back a chuckle. He turned back to Matthew as he tried to suppress his giggle. “Thank you for your help,” he told the man.

Matthew gave a slow appreciating nod. “Should you ever seek other treasures, you know where to find me.”

On their way out the door, Yujin offered a wave behind him. “Bye, creepy shop guy!”

Matthew merely chuckled, almost endeared. The sound lingered in the air as the door creaked shut behind them.

“I absolutely hated that.” Hao declared once they were back on the street. “I don’t understand why that guy was talking in riddles. I thought he was about to give us a quest to steal the heart of a sleeping dragon or something.”

Yujin laughed, almost directly in Hao’s face. “I liked him!” he protested.

Hao shot him a look. “Again, awful taste.”

Hanbin smiled and nudged Hao gently with his elbow. The initial touch surprised Hao, but he was able to gain focus after a few seconds. “Well, at least we’re not completely back to square one. If the ring isn’t here, then it must still be with Gunwook-shi. All we have to do is find him.”

Hao groaned. “I am so tired of tracking people down!”

“I don’t think you’ll have to track him down.” Yujin said, rather loudly, as he pointed at a figure just up the street. “There he is!”

Hanbin and Hao both turned. A tall teenager, broad shouldered, dark headed, and dressed in a green bomber jacket, was strolling down the street with his hands shoved into his pockets. He looked relaxed and completely unaware of what was about to happen.

“Gunwook!” Hanbin called out, his voice strong and rising above the nearby crowd.

The second his name was called, the teen froze mid-step. His head snapped toward them and his body stiffened up like cardboard. His gaze darted between Hanbin and Hao, lingering a second too long on Yujin before he took off at break neck speed.

“Are you serious?” Hao yelled. He wanted to collapse onto the sidewalk and scream.

Hanbin and Yujin, however, didn’t waste any time. They took after Gunwook, footsteps heavy on the sidewalk. Hao, not wanting to be left out, sighed and sprinted after them, barely missing a collision with a vendor selling heart-shaped balloons at the front entrance of the festival.

Gunwook was fast, faster than a kid his size had any right to be. He swerved through the bustling crowd. He dodged a man holding a massive teddy bear, weaved past a line of couples waiting for heart-shaped churros, then hurdled over a tipped over trash can with ridiculous ease.

Hanbin, who was proving to be impressively light on his feet, mirrored Gunwook’s moves and stayed right on his heels. Even after Yujin had slowed, Hanbin made sure to keep up the pace.

“Stop running!” Hao wheezed. He was barely keeping up with Yujin, let alone Hanbin and Gunwook.

“You guys look like cops! Of course he would run!” Yujin yelled over his shoulder with a happy grin. Hao realized that the younger was enjoying this.

“Hao!” Hanbin called from somewhere in front of him. “Try going back and cutting him off!”

“Cut him off? How am I supposed to cut him off when he’s moving like a damn parkour athlete?” Hao yelled back. But it was too late, Hanbin was already out of earshot.

Obeying, Hao ran towards the back of the festival entrance, swerving between two carts, trying to angle himself ahead. Gunwook noticed, panicked, and abruptly changes direction, straight into a narrow alley.

Hanbin came back into Hao’s sight and lunged forward, grabbing the back of Gunwook’s jacket to keep him from escaping again. “Got you!”

Gunwook yanked free, stumbling back against the alley wall. His eyes had a wild look to them. “I-I don’t know what you guys want, but I swear I didn’t steal anything! I just- I just found it!”

Hao, finally arriving on the scene, hunched over with his hands on his knees. “Kid, you, phew, you are in so much trouble!” he wheezed.

“We’re not mad,” Hanbin countered, holding his hands up in a calming gesture as if to placate a wild animal. “We just need the ring back. That’s it.”

Gunwook’s hand automatically slipped into his pocket. Then, he seemed to hesitate. He scoured his surroundings, and both Hanbin and Hao got ready to run in case Gunwook tried to make a break for it. Then-

“Hey, you four! Hands where I can see them!”

Hao turned as if he were on a swivel to see one of the festival security guards behind them. He had one hand on his belt, right where his taser was, and the other was pointing directly at them.

Hao’s stomach churned. “What?” he breathed out. “Are you kidding me?”

Hanbin instinctively stepped in front his Hao, hands still raised non-threateningly. “Sir, this is a misunderstanding…”

“Stay where you are!” The guard warned in a deep and authoritative voice.

Gunwook choked, and Hao noticed he was now trembling like a lamb. He fumbled in his pocket, finally pulling out the coveted monkey ring. “Wait, wait look, I was going to give it back!”

“Don’t move!”

Gunwook yanked the ring out of his pocket, only for his fingers to fumble. The ring flew through the air in what seemed like slow motion. They all watched in horror as the small band twisted and tumbled through the dim alley light like some kind of acrobat. It gleamed in the light before landing with a soft, metallic plink right in the sewer grate in the ground.

Pure, horrific silence filled the air. No one even breathed.

Hao broke the silence first. “Noooo!” He yelled dramatically, like his soul had just left his body.

Gunwook’s face turned ghostly white. “No, wait!”

Hanbin lunged forward in a vain attempt to catch the ring, only landing on the pavement in a heap. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said once he realized it was too late.

Yujin turned to Gunwook, an accusatory finger pointed at his friend. “Dude, you just dropped our quest item into the void!”

The guard, now realizing that the ring in the grate was more important than anything else happening, also dropped to his knees next to Hanbin. “I’m guessing we need to get this ring out stat. Anyone have any ideas?”

The group went silent.

Hao dropped to his knees, dramatically sprawled out against the pavement, and wailed. “This is it. The ring’s gone. Gyuvin’s proposal is ruined! We’re failures!”

Gunwook hovered nearby awkwardly, unsure whether he wanted to jump into the action or not. “I swear I didn’t mean to drop it! I’m so sorry, I really am!”

Hanbin, who was still kneeling by the grate, seemingly ignored the chaos around him and focused on the ring stuck in the grate. His eyes scanned the area as he remained deep in thought. “I think we can get it out.”

Hao perked up immediately. “We can?”

Hanbin hummed in affirmation as his fingers tapped against the cool metal of the grate. “It didn’t fall too far. Look.”

Hao scrambled closer and peered through the grate with the rest of the group. It was a tight squeeze, but they were all able to get a good look. Sure enough, the ring was just barely out of reach, resting on top of a pile of leaves and grime. Not ideal, but retrievable.

Yujin tilted his head, almost head-butting Hanbin in the process. “But how are we supposed to get it out? Our hands are too big to get past the bars of the grate.”

Hanbin stood from the group suddenly, causing all eyes to turn to him. He rolled his shoulders back confidently. “I have an idea. I’ll be right back.”

Hao, stunned, followed Hanbin with his eyes as he watched the other man leave the alley and head straight for a nearby balloon cart decorated in pink streamers and playing some catchy girl-group song from speakers set up. Hanbin plucked a bundle of heart-shaped balloons before turning to the vendor.

“How much for all of these?”

The vendor, surprised by Hanbin’s sudden entrance, blinked at his curiously. “Uh, like five for the whole bunch?”

Hanbin slapped down a bill, grabbed the balloons, and turned to the left where a few picnic tables were set up with abandoned garbage littered on them. Hanbin plucked a straw from one of the cups, wiped it down with a clean napkin, and headed back towards the alley.

Now Hao was really lost. “Hanbin-ah, what-?”

Hanbin knelt and tied one of the balloon strings around the end of the straw. Next he turned to Gunwook, who had been watching with rapt attention. “Do you have any gum, kid?”

Gunwook nodded and rifled through his bag until he produced a stick of gum wrapped in shiny foil. Hanbin took it from him, popped the gum into his mouth, and chewed.

“What is he doing?” Gunwook whispered to Hao but received no reply. The older man was just as confused.

Hanbin continued chewing for a few seconds, then spat the gum into his palm, something Hao would have considered disgusting if not for the desperation of the moment. With one final movement, Hanbin attached the gum to the bendy end of the straw, then threw it down into the grate like a fisherman casts his line.

Everyone crammed in again to see just how this crazy idea was going to work. Delicately, Hanbin pressed the gum-covered straw against the ring. When it had made contact, Hanbin paused, exhaled, and gently lifted the balloon string up.

The ring rose.

Everyone held their breath as Hanbin continued to pull the string up at a slow pace. It rose higher and higher, even hitting against the side of the hole for a second, which caused everyone to worry. Finally, with shaky hands, Hanbin pulled the straw up from between the bars of the grate.

The silver band passed through the bars with ease.

A cheer rang out from among the men as Hanbin snatched the ring before it could fall back in. He held it up proudly, as if it was Excalibur, as everyone rushed to him excitedly.

“You did it!”

“Whoa, that was insane dude!”

Hao was so overcome with excitement, and another emotion he could only label as adoration. With a bright, ecstatic laugh and hope overflowing from his chest, he threw his arms around Hanbin and hugged him tight. “Hanbin that was so amazing! You were so amazing! I can’t believe we finally found that damn ring! I’m so happy I could kiss you right now!”

The words left his mouth before his brain caught up to him. Everyone around them froze. Even Hanbin seemed to tense up under Hao’s hold. Slowly, Hao pulled back just enough to see Hanbin’s face. The man seemed frozen, with wide eyes and his face the color of crimson.

“I-uh, wait, I mean-…” Hao felt like he was dying inside. “I didn’t mean- I just, it’s a phrase, right? A common phrase. Not that I would actually-…”

Hanbin let out a nervous laugh, his cheeks still pink in embarrassment. “No, it- it’s okay! I know what you meant!” Another nervous laugh followed his words.

Hao’s phone began to buzz in his back pocket. Thank god for a distraction. He grabbed it and put it up to his ear.

“Hello?”

“Hao hyung! Where are you guys?” Gyuvin’s voice rang from the speaker. “I’m literally supposed to… do it in like five minutes!”

“Where are you right now?” Hao asked, now all business.

“We’re in front of Kitty Cat Cafe just down the street from the festival. Do you think you can make it in time?” The doubt in Gyuvin’s voice made Hao want to wilt.

Without answering, Hao shoved the phone into his pocket once again. “We got to move!” He yelled before grabbing Hanbin by the arm and basically dragging him down the street before the other man could protest. He wasn’t surprised to hear the footsteps of the other two and the guard close on their heels.

Finally, the Kitty Cat Cafe came into their view. The sun was beginning the set at that point, and the fairy lights strung outside the establishment twinkled like stars in the sky. There were customers coming in and out of the building, holding onto their heart-shaped cookies and cakes. In the center of it all, nervously checking his watch and ringing his hands was a familiar brown mop of hair.

“Gyuvin!” Hao called out breathlessly as he basically threw himself at his best friend.

Gyuvin whipped around and locked eyes with Hao. He let out a sound so dramatic it could have won him an Oscar. “Hyungs! Oh my god, you actually made it!” his eyes soon landed on the ring that Hanbin held tightly. Hao could of sworn Gyuvin looked like he was about to pass out. “The ring! You found it? My saviors, my angels, my bestest friends in the whole world!”

Gyuvin grabbed onto both Hanbin and Hao in the same hold and squeezed them so tightly that Hao felt like a balloon about to burst. “How could I ever repay you? Seriously, that ring is my whole future-“

“Well, you could start by telling me why you have a ring.”

Heads turned to see Ricky, standing behind them in a pink sweater with black hearts sown into it. He was holding onto a cake box and his face showed complete bewilderment. Unlike Gyuvin, he still emitted an aura of calmness.

“What’s going on?” he asked again, a little slower.

Gyuvin unattached himself from Hanbin and Hao and straightened. “Ricky-ah,” he breathed out. He took a few steps forward so he was standing right in front of Ricky, whose eyebrows were still arched in confusion.

Music began playing from behind the building. Hao recognized Kim Taerae, a very famous local singer, round the building with an acoustic guitarist following after him. Taerae wore a bright smile, as well as a sequined black suit that Hao had a feeling Gyuvin had asked him to wear.

“How the hell did Gyuvin book Kim Taerae?” Hanbin whispered to him. Hao wished he knew the answer.

Gyuvin took Ricky’s hands in his and began his speech. “Shen Quanrui, my Ricky, from the moment I met you at that maid themed college frat party, I knew my life would never be the same. Your beauty? It’s unparalleled. Your laugh? More melodious that a symphony."

Gyuvin slowly dropped to the ground on one knee. “More than all of that, you are my home.” He held out the ring, which shined in the light. “Will you do me the honor and make me the happiest man in all the word and be my forever Valentine?”

Ricky stared down at Gyuvin for a second, as if trying to process everything that had happened. Everyone had gone quiet. Even the guitarist had stopped his strumming. Finally, Ricky exhaled and shook his head. “Quibing, you’re insane.”

Gyuvin grinned. “Yes, but-?”

“Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot.”

Everyone rang out into a chorus of cheers. Gyuvin let out the most dramatic gasp of his life as he stood and wrapped Ricky into a hug so aggressive, they looked like they were about to topple over. Kim Taerae began to sing one of his hit love songs as his guitarist accompanied him.

Hao, standing off to the side of it all, couldn’t help but smile. His two best friends were getting married. At first he had been sceptical and a little jealous, but now, seeing it all unfold before him, he felt the happiest he’d ever been. He glanced over at Hanbin, who was watching the scene with soft eyes as well. He looked so serene standing under the lights. Hao’s heart did something weird in his chest.

“We did that.” Hao murmured, soft enough to not break the moment.

Hanbin looked at him and Hao couldn’t help but notice his smile widened. Ever so careful, Hanbin reached for Hao’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Yeah,” he said. “We really did.”

Before Hao could respond to the sweet sentiment, the happy and now engaged couple bounded over to them. Gyuvin and Ricky were wrapped around each other like they were the last two people on earth. They both beamed excitedly as they approached.

“My heroes!” Gyuvin sang as he patted Hanbin on the back. “Seriously, you guys saved the day. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Seriously,” Ricky continued, a laugh bubbling off the tip of his tongue. “Gyuvinie told me all that happened. I’m sure it was a lot of hard work. Thank you.”

Hao scoffed. “Understatement of the year!” he exclaimed. “But I would do anything for you both. You know that.”

“So would I,” Hanbin chimed in. “If you ever need to find any more rings, you know where to find me.”

With one last round of thanks and goodbyes, Gyuvin and Ricky finally walked off, hand in hand, lost in their own little world. Hao watched them go, feeling something in his chest loosen. It was over. Finally.

He glanced over at Hanbin, who was now looking at him, and realized they were all alone. Because of all the action and chaos that had taken place, Hao had literally forgotten that this was supposed to be a first date. The reality of it all seemed to hit him: the running, the security guard, his sarcastic comments the whole way. It was a disaster.

“Um,” he began, shifting awkwardly on his feet. “Look, I just want to say thank you for helping me out today. I’m sorry this was probably the worst date you’ve been on in your life. You don’t have to stick around because of me. I totally understand if you want to go home and pretend this never happened.”

Hanbin tilted his head slightly, as if considering. “You know, this actually isn’t the worst date I’ve ever been on. Definitely the most exciting, but definitely not the worst.” He turned to Hao, and the two locked eyes. “But you really think I’d leave?"

Hao shrugged, feeling a little small under the other man’s gaze. “I mean, I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

Hanbin sighed and stepped a little closer into Hao’s personal space. “Hao,” he said, his voice quiet and more thoughtful. “I had fun tonight.”

Hao’s brows furrowed slightly. “Even with all the running? And the yelling? And the part where we almost got arrested?”

Hanbin laughed. “Yes, I loved every single part.”

Hao stared at him, as if trying to find a hint of sarcasm or a clue that Hanbin was lying to him. But there was nothing. “…You’re weird,” he finally said.

Hanbin just smiled. “Maybe. But we’re still standing in front of a café.” He motioned to the building behind them. “Since we’re already here, do you want to go in?”

Hao reeled back in surprise. “You still want to…”

“We never actually got to sit down for our date, did we?” Hanbin asked with a shrug. “Besides, I think we have a lot to talk about now, don’t we?” His eyes sparkled as he spoke, rivalling the fairy lights around them.

For a second, Hao didn’t say anything. Then before he could stop himself, he grinned. “Alright,” he said, nudging Hanbin lightly. “But if Gyuvin calls me again, you’re answering the phone this time.”

With that, they stepped inside together, disappearing behind the pink walls of the Kitty Kat Café. Their night was far from over just yet. Maybe this was their own beginning.

Hao took a slow sip of his wine as he watched Ricky and Gyuvin glide around the roller rink with the grace of two people who couldn’t skate to save their lives but were too in love to care. It had been a year since the “ring slip”, what they had coined the missing ring incident. And now here they were at a wedding in a roller rink. Of course Gyuvin had to have some big elaborate reason why- something about it being his and Ricky’s eighth date, correlating to the number eight being lucky in Chinese culture, etc. Hao was still convinced, however, that Gyuvin just wanted an excuse to wear a flashy sequined suit and dance under a disco ball to throwback music. Hao had to admit, as weird as it was, it was also kind of perfect.

“Hey.”

Hao turned at the voice, only to almost spill his drink in surprise. There standing in front of him was Yujin and Gunwook, both of whom he had not seen since the ring slip incident. “What are you two doing here?” he asked.

Both Yujin and Gunwook looked utterly confused and completely out of place among the rest of the adult party-goers. At least Yujin had dressed for the occasion in a button up shirt and tie that admittedly was a little too big for him. Gunwook had at least tried- his dress shirt peeked out from underneath his hoodie.

“We don’t know,” Yujin answered flatly. “We got invitations in the mail. I don’t even know how they found our addresses.”

“But why?” Hao asked, still incredulously confused.

Gunwook shrugged. “We’ve been asking ourselves that for the last month.”

Hao was about to question it further when a new voice entered the mix.

“You look good.”

Hao didn’t need to turn around to know why it was, but he still did anyways. Behind him was Hanbin, dressed ridiculously well in a perfectly tailored suit the color of midnight. His hair was slicked back, exposing his forehead, just the way Hao liked it. He looked so unfairly handsome, that Hao forgot how to breathe for a second.

“I’ll take your silence as a compliment,” Hanbin told Hao as he planted a soft kiss on Hao’s cheek and took a seat next to him.

Gunwook elbowed Yujin. “Dude, let’s go see if they’re serving the cake now.”

“But I want to say hi to Hanbin-hyung…” Yujin’s cries fell on deaf ears as Gunwook dragged his friends back into the crowd.

“Enjoying the wedding?” Hanbin asked before he took a sip of whatever was in his own glass. He winced at the harsh taste and set it down on the table in front of them.

Hao, who was always in tune to Hanbin, switched their drinks. “If by enjoying you mean questioning why Gyuvin and Ricky invited strangers off the street, then sure.”

Hanbin laughed softly and shook his head, causing a few pieces of hair to fall into his face. “It’s Gyuvin. He probably thought it would be funny.”

They sat in companionable silence, watching Ricky and Gyuvin continue their uncoordinated attempt at skating. At one point, Ricky almost fell, but Gyuvin grabbed him dramatically, spinning them both in a way that was neither graceful or intentional.

Hao snorted. “Can’t believe they actually pulled it off.”

“You have to admit, they’re kind of perfect together.” Hanbin replied with a smile. He took a sip of the new drink and hummed in contentment. “There’s no question. If any couple were to stand the test of time, it would be them and their weird love of disco.”

Hao swirled his- Hanbin’s- drink absentmindedly. “You know, if we get married, we are not having the ceremony at a roller ring. And if you propose to me with a monkey ring, I will literally commit arson.”

Hanbin stared at Hao with wide eyes before he actually realized what he said. “Wait,” Hao backtracked. “That wasn’t… I didn’t mean…!”

Hanbin raised an eyebrow, fighting back a smirk. “What do you mean ‘if’?”

“Oh my god,” Hao muttered. He covered his face with his hands to shield the redness from his embarrassment away from his boyfriend. “Please forget whatever I just said.”

Gently, Hanbin reached over and took Hao’s hands away. Then, without missing a beat, he said, “Okay, no roller rink. And definitely no monkey ring.”

Hao shot him a glare and huffed. “You’re insufferable,” he muttered.

Hanbin grinned and crossed one of his legs over the other in his seat, an action that shouldn’t have flustered Hao but did for some reason. “For what it’s worth,” his boyfriend began, his voice a little softer this time. “I don’t think I care where I get married. As long as it’s you, I’d be the happiest man in the world.”

Hao’s breath caught in his throat. Hanbin always knew what to say in the exact way that made Hao feel like he was about to go into cardiac arrest. Hao turned to face him, searching for any teasing glints, but there was none. The only thing he could pinpoint was the sincerity radiating from Hanbin’s face. It made Hao’s chest ache even more.

“Hanbin…” he said, gentle and soft like the moment between them.

Hanbin looked a little self-conscious at his call out and looked down at the ground shyly. “What? Too much?”

“No,” Hao replied as he reached for his lover, tilting his head up so they could have some semblance of eye contact. “Just enough.”

As their lips met in a sweet and delicate way, Hao couldn’t believe how this had all started for them. If it wasn’t for Gyuvin’s stupidity and the adventure that it led them on, Hao might not be sitting there, dressed in a scratchy suit, currently making out with the love of his life.

Maybe he needed to get Gyuvin and Ricky a bigger wedding gift.

“Hey, Hao-hyung,” Gyuvin said as he sat at Hao's kitchen counter, sipping from a steaming cup of coffee. “What if I told you that me losing that ring was all planned to get you to fall in love with Hanbin-hyung?”

“Kim Gyuvin, I swear to God!”