Work Text:
it started with a text.
[ manager-nim🎅] schedules all cancelled tomorrow
[ manager-nim🎅] good job on the concert yesterday
[ manager-nim🎅] rest up kids~
the dorm went completely silent for exactly 4 seconds.
then the group chat started to blow up once again
[ woonagi🐻 ] IS THIS REAL?? HYUNG-NIM
[ myeong mc🐶 ] HYUNG I LOVE YOU YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN MY FAV MANAGER 😭😭😭
[ riuriuriu🤠 ] I AM CRYING. SOBBING. SCREAMING
[ corydoras👽 ] Thank you for your noble sacrifice, Manager-nim. We will honor you by doing
[ corydoras👽 ] ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TOMORROW ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧
sungho, half-buried under his blanket, blinked at the screen like it might vanish if he stared at it too hard. a whole day off. no alarm going off at 4am. no vocal warm-ups. no rehearsal schedule suddenly appearing mid-afternoon.
as his brain was still processing everything, someone let out a loud whoop from the hallway. a door slammed open. sungho could hear the downstairs dorm members running and jumping all over the place. his brows furrowed as he now heard music blasting from upstairs at full volume.
[ yeppiyeppiyeppi😇 ] ㅋㅋㅋ u guys are so ridiculous
[ yeppiyeppiyeppi😇 ] nobody come to my room tomorrow <3
[ myeong mc🐶 ] ill be knocking on your door at exactly 4:09am hyung <3
[ yeppiyeppiyeppi😇 ] try that and ill make you clean the whole dorm by yourself <3
[ myeong mc🐶 ] I'm sorry.
sungho chuckled at the quick reply from myung jaehyun as he dropped his phone on his chest. he flopped back onto his pillow, arms out like he could (and totally would) physically hug the concept of free time.
in his head, he was already piecing together a dream itinerary: sleep until noon, scroll until his thumbs went numb, maybe tidy up his room a bit? the usual.
as he sat straight, already taking in the mess of his room (thats a lie, he's the COAT), a new buzz came in.
not from the group chat this time.
[ taesanie🪰 ] hyung
[ taesanie🪰 ] r u doing anything tomorrow?
said hyung stared at the message blankly, silently praying he wasn't going to get dragged into going out on his free day. (but if it was with taesan...)
[ park linkin💪 ] planning to do nothing actually
[ park linkin💪 ] why?
as taesan was texting his next reply, the group chat was still exploding and buzzing with excitement.
[ woonagi🐻 ] group outing?? LETS GO TO THE BEACH!!
[ myeong mc🐶 ] who's gonna drive tho
[ myeong mc🐶 ] 난 차도 없고 면허도 없어~ (i ain't got a car nor a driving license)
[ riuriuriu🤠 ] we can rent a bus
[ corydoras👽 ] Do you wanna pay for that, hyung?
[ riuriuriu🤠 ] nevermind...
sungho watched as the plans spiral and crash before they even lifted off. as it always did...
another notification from his chat with taesan came.
[ taesanie🪰 ] great
[ taesanie🪰 ] be ready by 11
sungho squinted at the screen like it personally wronged him.
[ park linkin💪 ] ...for what.
he stared blankly at the screen, waiting,
[ taesanie🪰 ] fun adventure
[ taesanie🪰 ] trust
he paused for a beat.
[ park linkin💪 ] should i be scared
[ taesanie🪰 ] yes
[ taesanie🪰 ] bring ur wallet
sungho narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
but... he was already shifting in bed, calculating how early he needed to wake up to look like he hadn't just rolled out of bed. 11 wasn't too early, shouldn't be too hard.
besides, when they usually went out on their 'fun adventures,' it usually included walking around the city, making each other try on the weird clothes, going to secret cafes that they saw on instagram, and somehow always managing to end the day by relaxing in bed.
and maybe-- sungho would never admit this out loud-- but he kind of liked those days.
he scrolled back up to taesan’s last text.
[ taesanie🪰 ] bring ur wallet
sungho snorted.
[ park linkin💪 ] im not buying another keychain
[ park linkin💪 ] brat
[ taesanie🪰 ] too late
[ taesanie🪰 ] i already saw one with a cat wearing sunglasses
[ taesanie🪰 ] it looks exactly like u in the abcdlove mv
sungho stared at the screen for a moment before sighing dramatically.
he tapped out one more reply.
[ park linkin💪 ] ur lucky i have nothing better to do ㅋ
then he closed his phone and let it fall onto his pillow beside him. despite himself, he felt a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth.
so much for sleeping in.
₍^. .^₎⟆
the morning sunlight filtered in through the thin gap in the curtains, painting soft streaks across the dorm's quiet living room. it was the kind of stillness that only came with no alarm clocks, no schedules, and no one yelling over hair dryers at 5am.
sungho shuffled into the kitchen with a white tank top paired with his usual grey sweats, still blinking sleep from his eyes. he moved on autopilot-- grabbed a banana from the counter, leaning on the fridge door for support as he peeled it. the dorm was hushed, but not in a lonely or disturbing way. just... peaceful.
he heard the soft creak of another door opening, and footsteps padded in behind him.
"you're up early," taesan's voice was low and a little rough with sleep, but you could still here the amusement in it.
sungho didn't even bother to turn around. "you're literally five minutes behind me." he grumbled out, the words sounding a bit funny because of the food in his mouth.
"still earlier than i expected," taesan said, reaching for a cup and filling it with water. "i figured i'd have to drag you out of bed. again."
"i was thinking about ignoring you and pretending i forgot," sungho mumbled through a bite of banana.
"wouldn't work," taesan said simply. "i would've camped outside your room with a plate of meat and guilt-tripped you into coming."
sungho gave him a look, but it lacked any real bite. "i hate that you'd succeed."
taesan simply smiled and leaned against the counter beside him, sipping his water. they stood there for a quiet moment, no rush between them. there never really was.
"you still need time?" taesan asked eventually, eyes flicking to sungho's rumpled hair.
"i can be ready in ten," sungho said as he nodded sagely.
taesan raised an eyebrow. "so twenty minutes?"
sungho scoffed in response. "fifteen."
"deal." taesan concluded with a satisfied smirk.
despite the agreement, neither of them moved right away. taesan watched sungho finish his banana and toss the peel with practiced aim into the bin. sungho stretched, his tank top riding up slightly. he yawned like a cat waking up from a daily 4 hour nap before standing blankly, processing what to do next.
"you really weren't kidding about doing nothing today." taesan mused.
"i had a plan," sungho said, suddenly serious. "it was very ambitious."
"oh yeah? what was it?" taesan played along.
"sleep. scroll. snacks. repeat."
taesan grinned. "a true visionary. and yet here you are. sacrificing your noble quest for me."
sungho bumped his shoulder against him on the way past. "you better have something fun planned. or i'm going back to bed."
"you'll like it," taesan called after him, heading towards his own room. "i made a list."
"you made a list?" sungho called back, voice hinted with disbelief and amusement.
'i like being prepared!" well, that's a first.
"you're so weird."
"then why'd you agree to come?"
there was pause, just long enough for the answer to hang in the air before sungho answered casually, but not carelessly.
"... because it's you."
taesan paused in the hallway, lips tugging up into a quiet, pleased smile.
"get dressed, hyung." he called back. "im not letting you wear that same grey jacket outside."
sungho scoffed once again. "ill wear you outside--"
"promise?"
a choked noise came from sungho's room. "i take it back. im staying home."
yet fifteen minutes later, just as promised, sungho emerged--tank top traded for a clean jacket-- yes. that same grey jacket-- hair fluffed into semi-respectability, sneakers on and face scrubbed fresh. his eyes still half-lidded but mouth twitching like he was trying not to smile.
taesan was already waiting by the door, shoes on, leaning casually against the wall like he hadn't been bouncing on the balls of his feet two seconds ago.
"look at you," he said, leaning back to let sungho through. "presentable."
"i always am, don't make it weird."
"i never do." taesan countered.
sungho ignored him. "don't make me regret this."
"too late," taesan said, and pushed open the door with a grin.
they stepped out into the sunlight together, the dorm door clicking shut behind them.
taesan automatically held the elevator door while sungho tightened his shoelaces just a little. their shoulders brushed as they stepped in, both pretending not to notice.
it didn't need to be said-- but it was nice, sometimes, to say it anyway.
"thanks for coming with me" taesan said quietly.
sungho didn't even open his eyes, leaning against the wall.
"wouldn't spend a day off with anyone else," he muttered.
the elevator dinged, and they stepped out. it felt easy, familiar, like they'd done it a thousand times.
and maybe they had.
₍^. .^₎⟆
they didn't have a destination. that was the point.
the city had just started to wake up when they slipped out into it, hoodies up and masks on, blending in like breeze through morning air. their steps were unhurried, their chatter light-- punctuated by the occasional shoulder bump or sidestep when one veered too far into the other's path.
their first stop was a bookstore.
the kind that seemed to exist outside of time. the air was thick with the comforting scent of paper, dust, and that indescribable warmth that only age can bring. this time, there were no cameras to capture moments, no mirrors to reflect them-- just quiet aisles of shelves, each spine whispering tales of places, people, and dreams far beyond the walls.
the creak of wooden floorboards beneath their steps felt almost like the murmur of approval from the space itself, as though it knew it was exactly where they belonged. It was a haven of stories untold and memories waiting to be unearthed.
sungho stopped at the manga shelf. taesan crouched by the travel guides.
“planning your next escape?” sungho asked, fingers flipping a well-worn cover.
“mentally,” taesan replied. “physically, i’m stuck here with you.”
"lucky you."
taesan smirked but he didn't look up. "yeah."
they didn’t buy a single book. they didn’t need to. the real treasure was in the quiet wandering-- drifting lazily through the rows, fingertips grazing the spines as if tracing the pulse of lives captured between pages. covers passed back and forth with effortless flicks of their wrists, laughter bubbling up when one of them stumbled across something absurd or unexpected.
so when taesan held up a romance novel with a dramatic shirtless cover. sungho didn't even flinch.
"you'd look good with abs like that," taesan said casually.
"ah-- yah-- what is that?" sungho spat out, failing to hide his amusement.
taesan laughed, low and fond, before placing the book back on the shelves.
their shared glances held a silent understanding: in this peaceful, unhurried moment, surrounded by the worn wisdom of countless stories, they already had all they needed.
they exited with hands empty, but hearts a little fuller.
₍^. .^₎⟆
the convenience store was their next stop-- a world of fluorescent lights and neatly stacked goods.
they lingered in front of the ramen shelf, its vibrant packaging forming a mosaic of reds, yellows, and greens. it wasn’t just a quick decision; it felt like they were curating an experience, each flavor studied like a piece in a gallery exhibit.
they nudged each other with lighthearted commentary-- mocking the bold advertising of "spicy volcanic flavor" or debating the merits of extra seaweed packets.
their laughter echoed softly, blending with the hum of a distant refrigerator. it was simple, unremarkable even, but in that small act of shared focus, something warm settled between them-- the ease of two people simply being.
"this one looks spicy," taesan said, holding one up.
"they all look spicy." sungho replied.
"not true. that one looks spicy. but it's secretly sweet."
"sounds like someone i know."
taesan gave him a look, and sungho's mouth curved-- barely.
after ten minutes of exaggerated strategising, five increasingly dramatic rounds of rock-paper-scissors ("3 isn't enough!!"), and a heated debate over broth thickness, they finally emerged from the convenience store.
they left with bags in hand. three ramen flavours carefully selected "for research," and two cans of soda that had ended up in their hands, unexamined and impulsive, like an accidental trophy.
but it was the triangle kimbap that started the real chaos.
"no." sungho said, already grabbing the one he wanted. "you're not putting the soy sauce packet inside. that's wrong."
"it's better that way," taesan grumbled, holding up his with mock offense. "it soaks."
"yeah. it gets soggy."
"it marinates."
"it's wrong."
taesan bit into it dramatically, chewed once, and said with his mouth full, "delicious."
sungho stared at him like he was witnessing a crime. "you're disgusting."
"you love it."
"i tolerate it."
"same thing."
and after a beat of silence, taesan added, "you soak." (suck)
sungho stared at him in disbelief.
they ate on a bench outside, the afternoon sun dipping low behind them. their kimbap wrappers rustled in the breeze. a pair of pigeons pecked near their feet. someone walked by with a dog in a sweater.
"do you think we'd look good with matching jackets?" taesan asked suddenly.
sungho glanced at him, chewing. "why would we--"
"no reason. just thinking."
"... not the ugly varsity ones, though."
taesan grinned. "you thought about it."
sungho threw a balled-up wrapper at him.
they stayed out until the sun started to yawn. not really walking anymore. just drifting.
₍^. .^₎⟆
by the time sungho and taesan made it back to the dorm, the others were already sprawled across the living room, casual and unbothered. no one bat an eye when the two slipped through the door, looking comfortable, a little tired, but undeniably content.
"good day off?" leehan asked, not even looking up from the video he was watching on his phone.
"yeah," taesan replied with a soft smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "we had fun."
sungho nodded, a small, quiet smile tugging at his lips, though he didn’t speak. he flicked a quick glance at taesan, catching the same unspoken understanding in the other’s eyes-- no need for words. just another day spent together. just another day they wouldn’t need to explain.
woonhak gave a small nod, too, his smile laced with an easygoing familiarity. “good for you two. hope you didn’t end up getting lost.”
“we’re fine,” Sungho said, though his voice carried no real weight behind it, as if that part didn’t matter.
“bet you two could wander off anywhere and still have fun,” jaehyun added from his place on the couch, tossing a glance at taesan and sungho with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
sungho just shook his head, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he disappeared into the kitchen.
and that was it. no more words, just a comfortable silence between them, the hum of the room's relaxed atmosphere wrapping around them like a warm blanket. just the usual quiet understanding that always seemed to wrap around the two of them like a second hoodie-- soft, familiar warm.
taesan wandered into the kitchen.
sungho had already poured two glasses of water.
he took one without asking.
"next time," sungho said, leaning back against the counter, "i pick the ramen."
taesan toom a sip, lips twitching. "we'll see."
they didn't look at each other.
they didn't need to.
the evening fell quiet around them.
the lights in the dorm flickered on, casting soft shadows on the walls. the others were scattered about, each lost in their own quiet world. riwoo hummed a song in the corner. woonhak was half-draped over the couch, eyes glued to a show. leehan and jaehyun had a low conversation, barely audible.
but the kitchen was still. taesan leaned against the counter, looking out the window, fingers tapping absently against the edge of the sink. the hum of the fridge was the only sound that filled the space.
sungho, quiet as ever, was perched on the stool, his hands wrapped around a warm cup of milk. his gaze flickered to the side, catching taesan's profile in the dim light. there was something peaceful about it-- the way his silhouette blended into the soft glow of the room. it was the kind of moment where nothing needed to be said to know that everything was just.. right.
taesan's voice broke the silence first, but it was barely a murmur. "thanks for today."
sungho didn't look up, but his lips curled just slightly. "don't mention it."
the words were simple. small. and yet, there was something in the way taesan stayed close, something in the way sungho kept his focus on the mug in his hands-- like they both knew what the other was thinking.
the clock on the wall ticked quietly. and then taesan straightened, rolling his shoulders with a soft sigh. he picked up his own mug, and, without saying anything more, moved to sit beside sungho. just like that-- no hesitation, no need for words.
they sat for a while, not needing to fill the space with anything but the quiet comfort of each other's presence. taesan's shoulder brushed against sungho's once, and it stayed there.
the silence stretched on, but it was warm. easy.
sungho finally let out a breath, and when he spoke, his voice was barely over a whisper. "you good?"
"yeah," taesan replied, his eyes on the steam rising for his mug. "just... this."
sungho's eyes softened. the smallest tilt of his head, a barely-there shift of his fingers against bis mug, and then he relaxed back into the seat.
a few minutes passed, and when taesan reached out to place his empty mug on the counter, he left his hand resting just next to sungho's as if without thinking.
sungho didn't pull away. they stayed like that for a while-- just two hands, side by side, the quiet clinking of mugs in the background, the warmth between them a comfort in the stillness.
then, softly, taesam spoke again.
"next time, i'll make the ramen."
sungho glanced at him, eyebrow rasied, but there was a smile in his eyes that was more than enough to annswer.
"only if it's tonkotsu."
tasen laughed quietly, the sound deep and familiar. sungho felt a lightness in his chest, something that didn't need to be explained.
they stayed there until the night grew late, not needing to talk, just being. the soft hum of their friendship-- like the quietest song that played just for them.
and when they finally went to bed, it wasn't with words of thanks or promises of tomorrow. it was simply with the knowledge that, for today, everything had been exactly as it should be.
hope you enjoyed!!