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“It's not a date. You know it. I know it. And the way you've been screaming at the top of your lungs since morning, I'm pretty sure Mrs. Kim next door knows too. I don't understand why you are making such a fuss over the entire situation. Just pick something and wear it. Who cares? You could wear a sack and still pull it off.”
Sieun is royally fucked, to say the least.
Suho has sent him the address where they're supposed to meet, and he was still undecided on his outfit. He has some two odd hours to prepare himself mentally and decide what to wear. He is not going to make it out alive, that's for sure. One major relief, though, is that the café Suho suggested is surprisingly close to his house.
A 15-minute walk and he’ll be there.
He had other things to worry about right now, and Juntae getting on his nerves could very well be the last straw before he completely crashes out.
“Yes, I know, I know it isn't a date, but God forbid a man wants to look pretty!” Sieun replies, completely exasperated.
“Oh, I'm sure,” Juntae snickers, earning himself a death glare from Sieun, who continues rummaging through his closet for anything decent enough to wear tonight.
He reasons with himself that it's not a bad thing if he wants to impress Suho. His admiration for the man is growing tenfold every day, making it harder to think about anything else. He wants to give them a chance tonight and see if they fit into each other's lives, if conversations with Suho flow effortlessly, and if time begins to feel like an illusion when they are together. He might be the only one falling between the two, but he wants to take the risk. One meeting might not be enough for all of that.
But it could definitely be the start of something new, something special.
Juntae’s voice is what pulls Sieun out of his reverie. “Okay, that . That's perfect.”
Sieun is now holding a white T-shirt with ‘Dickies’ written on it, black pants and a Denim jacket. It's not so bad, he thinks. He’ll definitely look cute in it.
Sieun glances at Juntae, who’s giving him a double thumbs-up with the cutest smile on his face.
He has a crackhead as his best friend but Sieun knows he wouldn't be able to function without him even if he tried.
<>
Ahn Suho is a simple man. If he has a meeting or an appointment at 3 PM, he’s fully ready for it by 10 AM.
So, naturally, that's exactly what he does today too. He is meeting Sieun at 5 pm – but he has been ready since 1.
It's not exactly a pit of nervousness he is feeling, he only wants Sieun to enjoy his company today while they discuss the movie and everything that comes along with it. He's worried about his… actions and words. What if he says something that unveils the true extent of his admiration for Sieun? That might just scare the pretty guy off.
Suho is sitting on the living room couch when Yeongi walks in from the main hallway. Watching her enter, he thinks to himself, that God really does send his angels in the guise of lesbians whenever a gay man is in distress.
Suho clears his throat once to get Yeongi’s attention. And just as expected, she looks up in 0.2 seconds. He offers one of the softest smiles he can muster and says, “Hey. Can I ask you something?”
Yeongi raises one lone eyebrow, wordless but clearly giving him the green light to keep going.
“I'm meeting Sieun today at a café. Alone.” Suho pauses dramatically. “And listen, to be completely honest with you, and you cannot share this super private information with anyone in our group, but I'm freaking the fuck out right now. I'm nervous as hell and I don't know what to do. I've planned the entire meeting in my head but I'm scared that I will fuck up. Please help me…”
Yeongi chuckles and Suho expects her to pass a snide remark, but she surprises him.
“Okay, here's the deal. Just meet him like you would any other actor who is starring in your movie. Respect his boundaries. Ease into it. Compliment him. Flirt a little if you've still got the moves, Grandpa.”
She winks.
“Just be yourself, yeah? I have a good feeling about today. I think it'll go smoother than you think.”
God, he hopes she's right.
Glancing at the clock again, he grabs his jacket. It's time. He believes that it's always better to arrive embarrassingly early than be fashionably late.
He’s a punctual man, after all.
He wouldn't admit it to Sieun’s face, but he had intentionally picked a café close to his place on purpose. He just hopes the plan he has laid out for today works in his favour.
The devil works hard, but Ahn Suho works harder.
<>
Sieun arrives at the café right on time. If he had to pick a favorite place in the entire city, this would probably be it. The barista knows his order by heart, the staff is always kind, and over the years he has made some genuinely warm memories here.
It’s his comfort place.
He hopes today adds to that collection.
As if guided by muscle memory, he walks straight to his usual seat. It overlooks a small man-made stream that cuts through a patch of lush green. It's his favourite place to sit whenever the weight of the world feels a little too heavy on his shoulders. Watching the stream flow seamlessly always calms him, grounds him in the present.
Just as he’s settling in, he hears the café door chime.
Sieun looks up instinctively—and freezes.
Sieun knew Suho was a handsome man. He has spent a good amount of time on his private twitter looking at the man’s pictures and watching his interviews on YouTube.
But nothing could’ve prepared him for how he looks right now, walking through that door.
Warm, soft, and stupidly beautiful.
He watches as Suho stands near the entrance, scanning the café in search of him. There’s a slight furrow in his brow like he’s really concentrating.
It’s… cute. Unfairly so.
Sieun stares for another two minutes. Completely unbothered by the fact that he’s just sitting there, grinning like a fool. He’s wearing his dumbest smile, and thankfully, Suho doesn’t have to know that.
Not yet at least.
Sieun is still watching the other when Suho finally spots him and raises a hand in a small wave. A second later, he’s walking over with that same warm energy Sieun’s been trying (and failing) not to obsess over.
“God, I really hope I am not late.” Suho greets as he slides into the chair across from him. “I’m sorry if you’ve been waiting long.”
Sieun smiles, soft and genuine. “Hey there. Of course not. I just got here a few minutes ago. You’re right on time.”
At that, Suho lets out a relieved breath and flashes him a grin so warm it should be illegal. Sieun might as well melt like Olaf, because Ahn Suho is entirely too pretty. And Sieun? Well, he’s just a weak, weak man.
“Thanks again for agreeing to meet me today,” Suho says. “I’d love to answer any questions you have about the movie, your role, anything at all.”
“Sure,” Sieun replies, leaning forward slightly. “I’ll let you know if anything specific comes to mind. But first… I’ve been curious about something. How did you get into directing?”
Suho is a little taken aback by the question — not in a bad way, just surprised. He had not expected this to be the first thing Sieun asked.
Tilting his head slightly (in a way, that's, frankly, unfairly adorable), he smiles.
“Well, thank you for asking that. it's quite rare for people to do that, I appreciate it.”
With a gentle breath he continues. “I was a Psychology major with Beomseok in university. During our second year, we had this elective on Filmmaking. At first, I used to whine about it non-stop – like, why do I have to take this when it’s got nothing to do with my degree? But somewhere along the way, I just… fell in love with it.” He chuckles softly before adding, "Fell hard enough to request the Head of Department to let me switch majors. Those three weeks were hell. Between convincing my parents and the university board, I nearly lost my mind. But… I made it. And I’m here now.”
He shrugs, flashing that innocent smile again.
Sieun smiles back. “That must’ve been really hard. But I’m glad you chose to go after it. Life only really feels meaningful when you’re doing something that fuels your heart to keep beating.”
Suho nods. “It was tough. But I had people who stuck by me and kept me anchored when things got rough. I’m forever grateful for that.” Then, without missing a beat, he asks. “What about you? When did you know you wanted to act?
Sieun leans back slightly, eyes lightning up. “Ever since I was a kid. My parents made me participate in school plays, even if all I did was stand in the background dressed as a tree.” He laughs at the memory before continuing. “Then in Highschool I started getting bigger roles. The teachers were simply head over heels with the way I approached the characters.”
He pauses when he notices Suho smiling. Something about the expression on his face makes Sieun's heart skip.
“What?” he says, squinting playfully. “If you think I’m bragging, I swear I’m not. I was just quoting my teachers.”
Raising both hands in mock surrender, Suho grins. “No, No, I don't think you're bragging. I still agree with your high school professors after all these years. I think they had excellent taste.”
He leans forward slightly, sincerity in his voice. “When I saw you perform with Beomseok that day… I was genuinely stunned. I’ve watched a lot of actors over the years, but there’s something about the way you become one with the character you're playing on stage. It's captivating.”
Suho pauses, almost like he’s choosing his words carefully.
“You’re just… really compelling to watch, Sieun-ssi. It’s like the stage disappears and all that’s left is you and the story you’re telling.” He lets out a small, almost embarrassed chuckle. “So yeah… I’d say your teachers were definitely onto something.”
If the ground could eat Sieun up right now, he'd actually be fine with that. Really. That would be perfect.
With his cheeks now slightly tinted pink, Sieun replies. “Thank you for saying all that, I'm really grateful.”
He pauses to look at Suho’s eyes for an embarrassingly long 10 seconds and then continues, “Acting is all I know at this point in my life. These characters - they're not just words on paper. They are complex people who exist somewhere, in a parallel universe. They have stories worth telling and I guess I’m just the medium who helps share them.”
He offers a small smile and leans back, folding his hands on the table.
Suho is quiet for a moment, caught off guard by the sincerity. He’s never heard an actor explain their passion like that before.
He’s mesmerized. And very impressed.
“That’s… a really beautiful way to put it. I'm seriously impressed, Sieun.”
Sieun smiles again, softer this time. “Thanks. I just said what I felt. I’m glad it came across.”
<>
They spend the next few minutes browsing the menu.
Suho ends up ordering an Oreo milkshake and Fries.
Sieun goes for a Strawberry Milkshake and a Croissant.
Suho finds the order stupidly adorable.
But he doesn’t say it. Not yet.
Soon, their conversation shifts to films and directors. It’s going well, until Suho suddenly leans in a bit, eyebrows raised.
“Okay. Important question. Your answer might decide whether we stay friends or not,” he says, pointing his spoon dramatically. “Which Spider-Man is your favorite?”
Sieun scoffs playfully. “Andrew Garfield. I don’t play about that man.”
Suho freezes, mouth open in mock betrayal. “You mean to tell me that you rate Andrew Garfield over Tobey Maguire? Why has society not jailed you yet?”
“Maybe because I'm painfully correct?” Sieun grins.
“Guess we'll just have to watch the movies together to settle this debate.” Suho shrugs nonchalantly.
Wait —
What?
Did he hear that right?
Did Suho just casually suggest a movie night?
Trying to keep his cool, Sieun clears his throat and simply nods. “Sure, let’s do that.”
They eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, making eye contact every once in a while. Sieun had already suffered a full-blown gay breakdown on Twitter over Suho’s nerdy glasses, but nothing compares to seeing him wear them in person. He looks like someone's book boyfriend personified in all its glory.
<>
Before they even realize it, it’s time to pay.
Cue the age-old “I’m paying” / “No, I’m paying” tug of war.
The author knows it’s a cliché.
Sue her.
“Hey – wait – no! Let me pay, please. That's not fair.” Sieun protests, already knowing he's losing. The mischievous glint in Suho’s eyes says it all.
“Oh, hell no.” Suho retorts, slipping the card in before Sieun can act. “I'm not letting you pay tonight and before you even suggest it, no, we are not splitting the bill either. This one's on me; you can pay next time.”
Next Time?
Sieun raises an eyebrow, playful. “We're doing this again?”
Sliding the receipt back and folding his arms smugly, Suho shrugs, “Sure, if you’d like. I really enjoyed talking to you today, if that wasn’t obvious.”
This man is going to be the death of Sieun.
“I did too,” he admits softly, “and I’d totally like to meet again… if the opportunity presents itself.”
What Sieun didn’t know is – Ahn Suho isn't someone who waits around for opportunities. He creates them.
case in point: choosing a café fifteen minutes from Sieun's house.
<>
They both are now standing on the moon-lit road – Suho with hands tucked in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels. Sieun, meanwhile, is looking up at the starry sky in awe.
Suho can’t stop looking at him.
The whole evening felt like a quiet kind of magic, and every smile Sieun had thrown his way nearly short-circuited Suho’s brain.
He wanted to go on another date with him. Not that this was a date, but still, it oddly felt like one.
Maybe he owed Beomseok a thank-you after all.
He only snaps out of his thoughts when he hears Sieun’s voice, gentle and warm.
“I guess this is my cue to leave. It was really wonderful meeting you, Suho.”
Sieun gifts him another smile and Suho makes sure to tuck it safely in his heart.
“I'll be on my way, then.”
Suho just nods twice, quietly whispering. “Okay.”
Sieun starts moving forward, turning his back to Suho, only to hear footsteps following him.
Sieun pauses and turns back to look at Suho, confusion written all over his face. “What are you doing?”
Suho answers casually, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, “Nothing. Just walking you home.”
Sieun blinks like he’s hallucinating.
“You’re… walking me home?”
“Yeah,” voice a little unsure now. He’s starting to feel a little anxious.
He tightens his shoulders and looks Sieun in the eyes. “Is that okay with you?” Suho asks.
He’d planned this. Hell, he picked this exact café just so he could do this . But he didn’t want to overstep.
“You know you don't have to do that, right? You're saying you're gonna walk me all the way, then come back here to get your car and then drive back home?”
“Mhm, exactly.” Suho says without hesitation. “I could drive us, sure – but I figured you live nearby, since you were about to walk home and not hail a cab or anything... The weather’s perfect and…” He pauses, just for a second, before continuing, “Okay, this might sound a little pathetic, but I just don’t want the conversation to end here. If I can get even fifteen more minutes with you, just talking about anything and everything, I’m taking it.”
Sieun didn't really know what to say.
His ears burn, and he’s sure his face is following suit.
He wills himself to say something — anything — but words seem to have abandoned ship.
He didn't want to part ways with Suho either.
He knows he’s serving a flushed, red tomato right now, but he just shrugs and replies.
“Okay. This way.”
They walk side by side in calm, comfortable silence. Every now and then, their shoulders brush – a fleeting touch that neither of them comments on but is welcomed by both.
The road ahead is empty, devoid of people. It's just the two of them walking beneath sleepy yellow street lights.
The night promises a soft, slow kind of life that neither Suho nor Sieun gets to live. Come Morning, they’ll return to their duties, to the noise and the rush. But just for tonight, they get to pause. They get to bask in the stillness of the universe where the cool air kisses their cheeks and ruffles their hair.
Sieun takes a glance at Suho and catches him looking up at the sky.
“You like stargazing?” he asks, his voice softer than usual.
Suho hums.
“Yeah. It helps me - breathe better, I think. Life is quite chaotic but whenever I look up at the sky, I'm reminded of how small we really are and how many people, just like us, exist out there with problems bigger or smaller than ours, just trying to live life one day at a time. At the end of the day, no matter how alien we might feel on earth, no matter how much we think we don't belong, we’re all ultimately like one big family, aren’t we?
Sieun turns his head slowly, not to look at the sky, but to look at Suho.
The Other catches Sieun looking at him intensely and feels slightly flustered.
He rambles a lot, doesn’t he?
Still, he continues. “Looking up at the same sky, sharing the same stars and moon. It’s almost like we’re living under the same roof. It’s oddly calming... gives me a sense of belonging.
Sieun notices the way city lights catch in Suho’s glasses, his expression thoughtful and sincere. It shouldn’t be legal to be this soft and this pretty all at once.
Sieun swallows, his voice barely above a whisper, “That’s kind of the most comforting thing I’ve heard in a while.”
Suho glances sideways and smiles, the corner of his mouth tugging up. “Yeah? I’m glad.”
They walk in silence again — not the awkward kind, but the kind that fills itself with warmth.
<>
A few minutes later, Suho spots a small puppy sitting in the corner, under a streetlight. Without thinking twice, he walks towards it, crouches down and starts petting. Sieun stands a few steps behind, quietly watching the scene untold.
“Hey champ, how are you doing, hm?” Suho asks softly.
He has always loved dogs. When he was young, his parents never let him have one. And now that he is older and could technically adopt one, his job doesn't leave a space for it – not with the constant chaos of scripts, deadlines, and night shoots.
So, meeting & petting stray dogs on roads like this? That's his version of therapy. Of stillness and joy.
Sieun watches, heart pinching for reasons he can’t quite name. Maybe it’s the way Suho speaks to the dog like it’s an old friend. Maybe it’s how gentle his hands look. Or maybe it’s just Suho, crouched under a streetlight at midnight, looking like the softest version of himself.
In another two minutes they'd reach Sieun's house.
He is genuinely glad that Suho decided to walk him home. Really, he is.
His head was a mess with jumbled up thoughts about how he'd approach Suho today, whether they'd be able to click or not but Suho had tossed all those worries out the window the moment he stepped foot in the café.
If Sieun didn't already have a full-blown crush on Suho before, he definitely does now.
Their pace slows as they Sieun's place. The street is quiet, lined with sleepy houses and trees that with the wind.
Sieun stops first, turning slightly to face Suho. “This is me,” he says quietly. The words feel heavier than they should.
Final, almost.
Suho looks at him for a moment too long. “Right…,” he replies, but he doesn’t make a move to leave. Neither does Sieun.
The stars are bright tonight. Suho’s glasses reflect a glint of moonlight, and Sieun can’t help but stare. Again.
It’s stupid, really.
How pretty one person can be.
“I’m glad we did this,” Sieun says softly, his voice almost lost in the night.
Suho smiles, but there’s something quieter in his eyes now. Not playful. Not teasing. Just soft.
“Me too.”
Their bodies are angled towards each other, closer than before. Not quite touching but close enough that Sieun can watch the way Suho’s lashes flutter when he blinks.
There’s a shift in the air. It’s so subtle it could be ignored, but neither of them does.
Suho tilts his head just slightly.
And Sieun forgets to breathe.
His heart stumbles. His fingers twitch. He swears Suho’s gaze flickers down to his lips for a second too long, and god, is this really happening?
It feels like it is.
Suho leans in slowly, carefully.
Close enough that Sieun can feel the warmth of his breath against his cheek, hear the way his heart beats at a frantic rate.
But then—he stops.
Their noses almost brush.
Their lips are mere inches apart.
And Suho, with the gentlest of smiles, whispers, “Not tonight. But soon. If you’d want that.”
Sieun blinks up at him, disoriented. The air whooshes back into his lungs.
He nods dumbly. Once. Slowly.
“I’d like that.”
They both smile.
Suho has never felt this euphoric in his entire life and he’s sure his smile is a clear giveaway of that. He’s pathetically crushing on Sieun right now; no man has ever made him feel the way he does.
Sieun, on the other hand, is suffering from a terrible case of heart-stopping and brain-melting giddiness. There’s a ridiculous grin stretching across his face and he just hopes it conveys his emotions to Suho.
Suho links their pinkies together, tugs once – gentle & playful – all while looking at Sieun like the latter hung up the moon and stars himself.
And just like that, the moment dissolves.
Suho takes a step back, nods once, and raises his hand in a quiet goodbye.
Sieun lifts his own hand to mirror the gesture.
And Sieun thinks that maybe — just maybe — the promise of seeing Suho again is even better than a kiss.
Suho doesn’t leave until Sieun disappears safely behind the main door. He lingers for two more seconds, hands in his pockets, heart just a little louder than it had been all night.
Then he turns to walk back towards the café, with a prep in his steps and the corners of his mouth lifted in something between a smile and a sigh.
The night went better than he could have ever imagined.
Still, one thought tugs at him all the way back.
He should have kissed him.