Chapter Text
"Come on, i haven't find the one yet!" Hwanwoong dragged his friend by the sleeve, taking him to another aisle on the department store.
The day was freezing cold. New year was just three days ago. But Hwanwoong have to stand up wandering around the mall because his boyfriend's birthday is coming up soon. He needs to buy a gift. The thing is, looking for a gift might be hard if you've been together for almost a decade. Hwanwoong is running out of idea what to give anymore. They don't even do surprises like they used to, but Hwanwoong is determined to at least make the gift a surprise. His boyfriend deserves to get everything special.
"I'm so fucking tired," Geonhak, the friend in question, sighed deeply. Walking sloppily following wherever Hwanwoong dragged him. He had a trade with Hwanwoong: he agreed to accompany Hwanwoong to the mall in exchange of Hwanwoong working out together with him. Geonhak usually gets excited when he has a workout buddy, but Hwanwoong dragged him to the fourth store today. Third aisle from this store alone, and he still haven't decided what to buy yet. Geonhak started to wonder if the trade off was worth it.
"For fuck sake, just buy anything!" Geonhak finally stop getting dragged because Hwanwoong decided to stop by a padding jacket section. His little friend is now busy scanning bunch of jacket, trying to find the best one.
"Hak, please show me which one of these are purple?"
"This one," Geonhak pick one jacket and gave it to Hwanwoong. "That's the only purple padding here."
Hwanwoong scanned the jacket, trying to decide if the style will match Dongju's - his boyfriend. He look again at another jacket on the hanger then look at Geonhak, "Are you sure it's the only purple jacket here?"
"Yes it is."
"Are you lying because you're tired and wanna wrap this up as soon as possible?"
Geonhak furrowed his eyebrows, offended, "Why would i lie!?"
Hwanwoong giggled. It's funny to see Geonhak mad. He raised his hands when one of the store employee passed by, "Excuse me, what color is this?"
"It's purple."
"Oh, thank you!" Hwanwoong bowed slightly and letting the employee walked by, then grin at Geonhak who is currently crossing his arms with furrowed eyebrows.
"Seriously? Why would you drag me here if you don't even trust me?"
Hwanwoong laughs. He pats Geonhak's shoulder. "Hey, hey, I'm sorry! You lied to me for fun sometimes!"
"But it's a birthday gift for Dongju and he's my friend too, why would i lie-"
Hwanwoong phone vibrates, cutting Geonhak's nag off as Hwanwoong showed his phone screen with a jolly grin on his face.
"Dongju videocalled! Oh fuck wait-" his smile dropped when he realized he's now holding something that would be Dongju's birthday gift this year. He put the purple padding back to its place and pick up Dongju's call.
"Baby!!" Hwanwoong waved happily when the call connected. He pulled Geonhak closer. The guy doesn't look amused.
"Woongie, where are you?" the screen showing Dongju laying down on the bed, hugging a pulshie that he named Doongdoongie. His face was frowning. "You said you'll go home soon?"
"I'm at the mall. Geonhak is trying to buy a new workout shirt because he ripped one today." obviously a lie. Hwanwoong doesn't believe in God, but he prayed to one that Geonhak will play along with his lies.
"Yeah. Hang up the phone now we're almost done." Geonhak answered to Dongju. Hwanwoong made a mental note to say thank you to God later.
"Okay, peanut, please go home soon." Dongju whines. His lips are slightly pouting. This is it. This is what Hwanwoong's talking about. His boyfriend gets ten times more clingy during times like this. Maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the birthday hormone (if it was even a thing). Hwanwoong doesn't complain. Who doesn't love it when a pretty guy was obsessed with you?
"Wait patiently okay? Bye bye, Ju! I love you!" Hwanwoong exchanged good byes and I love yous with Dongju before hanging up the call. Geonhak made a disgusted face upon that.
"Gross."
Hwanwoong glared, "YOU!" pointing at Geonhak's nose, "Out of all people, calling me gross?"
"This isn't about me." Geonhak took the purple padding jacket from the hanger and walk away, ignoring the angry little man behind him. "Let's pay this up and go home."
"KIM GEONHAK YOU HAVE TWO BOYFRIENDS!"
"Shut it up, Hwanwoong."
The way back home was quite. Geonhak put all his focus on the road as he drive Hwanwoong back to his and Dongju's shared apartment. Meanwhile Hwanwoong was busy thinking how Dongju will react to his gift.
Dongju would never hate anything Hwanwoong gave and he would certainly love a gift in his favorite color. To think about it again, Dongju own so many purple stuffs. His shirt, blanket, jacket, shoes, room decoration, socks, even the heart emoji he uses. It's all purple. Hwanwoong can't help but to wonder how pretty this color is. How vibrant it was to the point Dongju was obsessed with it. Having partial color blindness to green and red hues has never affect Hwanwoong's life that much until he fell in love with Dongju. He swear he would kill if it means he could see what purple actually looks like.
"Thank you for driving me home, and please keep the gift carefully until it's time."
They finally arrived at Hwanwoong and Dongju's shared apartment complex. Geonhak drop Hwanwoong off there and keep the gift on the car as Hwanwoong's wish. He nods and smile to Hwanwoong.
"Sure. 7PM at the gym tomorrow. Don't be late. You've been slacking off lately."
"Ah shit here we go again..."
"Don't complain, you signed up for this."
"Yes, sir." Hwanwoong waved at Geonhak until his car drove away. He sighed. A hard workout training is looking forward to him. But this sacrifice is nothing. He needs someone to help him pick a purple gift for Dongju and he already get one. As long as Dongju is happy, Hwanwoong can get through a hell training with ease.
A pretty guy with big smile welcomed Hwanwoong when he arrived home.
"Woongie!" Dongju run fast to Hwanwoong who is standing still at the front door, he pulled Hwanwoong into a hug, so tight as if they've never seen each other in decades.
"Dongju," Hwanwoong wrapped his arm around Dongju's waist to hug him back, leaning his chin on Dongju's shoulder. It's an everyday occasion for Hwanwoong to get a hug as a welcome greetings, but honestly it a rare occasion to see Dongju waiting for him to arrived home at the front door like today. It's especially weird because Hwanwoong was only away for a couple of hours. "What's up? Anything happened?"
"I just missed you."
"Really? You don't even let me take my jacket off first."
Dongju released the hug. He helped Hwanwoong took off his jacket and wait until he took off his shoes. Hwanwoong step forward and hold Dongju's hand, in which Dongju take gladly while following Hwanwoong's step to the living room. Hwanwoong glances at Dongju, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Dongju looks a bit uneasy. "Something is definitely up!" he cupped Dongju's cheeks, staring at him eye to eye. Dongju tried to look away before finally staring straight to Hwanwoong's eyes.
"Actually, Dongmyeong found his soulmate today."
So this is it. They both took a seat on their living room couch. Facing each other with fingers still intertwined with each other's. "Really? Tell me about it."
Hwanwoong was right. Something was definitely up.