Work Text:
Park Moondae can't figure out what's gotten into Lee Sejin lately. Sejin's always been a bit of a weirdo, but this week he's been acting even stranger than usual.
"For a friend?" Moondae raises an eyebrow so high it almost disappears under his fringe. "You don't have other friends, Sejin."
Sejin gasps like he's been slapped. "Excuse you! I have tons of friends."
"You have me," Moondae deadpans, "and that's because you're clingy and I tolerate you."
"Wow." Sejin presses a hand over his heart in mock pain. "Just come with me, okay? I'll buy you pizza after. Hawaiian." He pouts like his life depends on it.
Moondae might've given in, he's weak for food and he knows it, but he still has some pride left. "Ask one of your 'other friends' to help you pick out the suit."
And with that, he spins on his heel and walks off. Sejin's offended yell follows him down the hallway.
"Moondae! You little shit. Hey!" Moondae flips him off without looking back.
The next day, Moondae's still irritated. He walks into the study hall, sees Sejin grinning like a dumb puppy, and immediately wants to strangle him.
"Moondae," Sejin calls sweetly, holding out a pizza box like it's some peace offering from the gods.
"What do you want?" Moondae says flatly. He tries not to look at the box, but his stomach betrays him by growling. Of course it's Hawaiian.
Sejin beams. "Just that little favor from yesterday. Help me buy a suit for my friend. Please?"
Moondae grabs the box and opens it. The smell nearly makes him forget why he's mad in the first place. He's reaching for a slice when Sejin grabs his wrist.
"What the fuck?" Moondae says with a straight face, shooting him a look. Sejin immediately lets go.
"The pizza's yours! All yours. But please? Moondae, my puppy, my cutie pie, my—"
"Why me?" he interrupts, half because he's tired and half because he's genuinely curious.
"You're the same size as him! And it's a surprise. Come on, it's important."
Sejin's hands come together in front of his face like he's praying. Then, without shame, he drops to his knees right in the middle of the student lounge. What the hell.
"Oh my god," Moondae groans. "Fine. But not today. We still have Finals, and I actually study."
Sejin lights up like someone handed him a diploma. "You're the best. Seriously."
Moondae looks at him and sighs. Sometimes Sejin's smile hurts to look at.
::
"Sejin," Moondae says, the moment they sit down at their usual table in the library.
Sejin doesn't answer. He's got his nose buried in his notes, muttering something about Signification and Symbolism under his breath.
"Lee Sejin," Moondae repeats, louder.
"Mm?" Sejin hums, still scribbling.
Moondae's eye twitches. "Lee Sejin!" he yells, right next to his ear.
Sejin jumps, pen flying. "What the hell, Moondae? I'm trying to memorize Structuralism here."
"I can tell. Sorry. Just who is this friend, anyway? The one you're buying a suit for? You even bribed me with pizza."
Sejin doesn't answer immediately and Moondae narrows his eyes.
"Spill."
"It's... Bae Sejin hyung," he mumbles.
"What the actual fuck," Moondae says, gaping. "Sejin hyung?! He's literally with Ahyeon. Are you serious right now? You're ruining a ship years in the making—"
Sejin slaps a hand over his mouth. "Ahyeon asked me to buy it! I don't like Sejin hyung that way. I swear."
Moondae pulls back, squinting. "Liar." He's lying! How dare he lie to him? His ears gave him away. They are so red! He badly wants to smack his best friend right there and then.
"I'm not! Let's just review, please." Sejin says and goes back to his review, his lips quivering.
Sejin's definitely hiding something. Moondae just sighs, turning back to his own notes. "Whatever," he mutters. He's not going to push. What's the point? He already knows where this is going.
Just last week, Sejin had dragged him to a flower shop without warning. Told him to pick out something nice for "a friend." Moondae silently hoped it was for him.
He had gone all in, picking the softest arrangement he could find, even blushing a little as he imagined Sejin holding it out to him with that dumb smile.
But then.
"Yep, flowers secured! Told you Moondae's taste is top-tier," Sejin had said into his phone. "Yeah, he's with me. Pay up, loser. I want my ten bucks."
The flowers were for Bae Sejin. From Ahyeon.
Moondae had stood there like an idiot, bouquet still in his hands. Now, it's a suit. Next week? Probably a serenade.
He glances sideways at Sejin, who's now busy highlighting something on his Formalism notes like nothing happened. Moondae wonders how many people are like him, hopelessly in love with their best friend. Enough to form a support group, maybe. A sad little club.
He hates that he's part of it. It's so cliché. But what is he supposed to do?
Sejin is everything. Those eyes that go wide whenever he talks about literature. That nose that scrunches whenever anyone mentions math. That mouth that never shuts up but somehow makes even dumb ideas sound charming. The ridiculous smile with a million teeth.
Moondae is drowning and no one even knows he's underwater.
He's so lost in his thoughts, he doesn't notice Sejin leaning in until he feels soft hair brushing against his cheek.
"What's Queer Theory again?" Sejin mumbles. "It's the gay one, right?"
Moondae snorts. "It's not 'the gay one,' idiot. It's an approach used in literature when the author, or the voice of the piece, isn't straight. Or even if the narrative challenges gender norms."
Sejin nods seriously. "I like Queer Theory," he says and laughs.
I like you, Moondae thought.
::
Sejin groans and stretches the tension out of his back, joints popping as he leans to one side. Moondae watches him from across the table, a small smile playing on his lips. Sejin barely pauses before diving back into his notes, scribbling furiously like he hadn't just almost folded in half from exhaustion.
"Let me help you with Lit Crit first," Moondae says, already reaching for his notes. "Then help me with Debate."
Sejin's head snaps up like he just heard a miracle. "Finally! I was starting to think you wanted me to fail."
"What part are you still confused about?" Moondae flips open his notebook, even though he could probably do this without it. Literary Criticism is second nature to him.
"Start from the very beginning," Sejin says, all teeth and sunshine.
Moondae just sighs and starts explaining. He keeps it light, gives real examples, breaks down how the different approaches are applied. Sejin listens closely, nodding along as he absorbs every word. When it's his turn to help, he jumps straight into fallacies and syllogisms like he's been waiting all week.
Moondae watches Sejin's lips move a mile a minute, hands flailing with every sentence. The guy talks about logical fallacies like it's a competitive sport. He's so enthusiastic, so animated, that for a second, Moondae actually thinks Debate might be fun. He settles into the quiet hum of studying after, and despite everything, he thinks: even like this, it's perfect.
::
Sejin's fingers fidget restlessly against Moondae's as they sit side by side, waiting for their final exam results. Moondae already knows he passed Debate. Now it's just a matter of whether Sejin survived Lit Crit.
"Moondae," Sejin whispers.
Moondae turns, only to realize they're practically nose to nose. He leans back, raising an eyebrow.
"I think I'm gonna wet my pants," Sejin mutters. Moondae bites his lip, holding back a laugh.
A few moments later, the professor calls out his name. "Park Moondae." He lifts his hand. "Ninety-seven," the professor says. "Top score."
Sejin claps a hand against Moondae's thigh, grinning like an idiot. "Of course my baby got the highest!" he crows, full of pride.
Moondae freezes at the word. Baby?
He leans over and whispers to Sejin, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Before Sejin can respond, the professor calls again. "Lee Sejin."
Sejin throws his hand up with exaggerated nerves. The professor pauses, as if dragging out the moment on purpose.
"Ninety-two."
The sound Sejin makes is somewhere between a shout and a sob.
"FUCKING HELL!" he bellows, leaping to his feet. "I GOT NINETY-TWO! PARK MOONDAE, I FUCKING LOVE YOU!"
He grabs Moondae's arm and hauls him up, both of them flailing into a chaotic dance of wiggles and chest bumps. Sejin laughs wildly, pulling Moondae into a hug, cradling his head against his chest like a trophy.
"I love you!" he says again, squeezing tight.
Moondae stiffens in his arms and suddenly he can't breathe.
He slips away quietly, lowering himself back into his seat while Sejin is still riding the high.
"Moondae!" Sejin drops down beside him. "Where's my 'I love you too,' huh? Huh? Huh???"
He laughs and keeps wiggling, oblivious to the way Moondae has stopped smiling.
Those words echo long after class ends.
Moondae lies awake later, replaying the way Sejin yelled those three words loudly and carelessly. He's said it before, in that half-joking best friend way. It hurts that Sejin can throw those words not knowing its effect is different for Moondae.
Sejin would lose his mind if he ever found out. Park Moondae, the great pretender, completely crumbling over three words that weren't even meant for real.
::
First semester is over. They passed everything. Moondae should be able to relax now, but peace is a lie.
"Moondae!" Sejin's voice rings out across the courtyard.
Moondae doesn't even look up. "What now? If this isn't about food or sleep, I don't want it." He's not in the mood to deal with anything right now. He wants to celebrate surviving the semester so no one is allowed to disturb him!
"Remember that favor? The suit?"
And just like that, the mood is gone. Poof.
"I don't remember anything. I don't remember having a best friend either."
Sejin just grins. "You love this best friend, though!"
Moondae's hands move on instinct. He grabs Sejin's cheeks and squishes with all the pettiness he can muster.
"There. Now you look like an asshole. Also, for the record, I don't love you."
Because I really, really only love you so fucking much and I hate it.
"Asshole," he mutters again.
Sejin keeps smiling, cheeks still in Moondae's grip. Even with a puffed-up face and zero brain cells, Moondae still thinks he's the most perfect person alive.
::
"Ahyeon is filthy rich," Moondae grumbles as they step into a boutique that smells like clean money and pain. "Tell him to marry me instead of Sejin hyung."
Sejin shoots him a look. "Didn't know you were that type, Moondae."
He rifles through a rack of designer suits, then adds, "Weren't you being all protective about Sejin hyung last time? Now you wanna be Ahyeon's side piece?"
And of course, he pouts. The little shit.
Moondae had a killer comeback ready, but Sejin's pout stopped him from saying anything. Instead, he shrugs and walks away.
Ahyeon's planning to propose. He and Bae Sejin have been together since freshman year. They're disgustingly happy. Moondae's only role here is as the unpaid consultant who keeps getting dragged into these romantic schemes by someone who doesn't even realize he's breaking hearts.
"You wouldn't be Ahyeon's type anyway," Sejin says breezily. "Actually, you wouldn't be anyone's type." He darts out of reach just as Moondae reaches for him.
Moondae freezes in place. Not anyone's type? He looks down at himself, unamused. Is he that ugly? He can't be that bad. Either Sejin is completely blind or he's stupid.
Moondae sighs and trails after him, wondering if it's possible to die from pining alone.
They choose different kinds of suits, and for a while, Moondae stays quiet. He still can't believe Sejin just indirectly rejected him. Like okay, he knows he's not perfect, but did he have to rub it in? He mutters under his breath and picks five suits from the rack.
"I'm gonna try these first," he says, disappearing into the dressing room.
Inside, he stares at the mirror and cycles through a few expressions. If Sejin can't see the full package in front of him, then fine. His loss. He strips off his shirt and pants, pulls on the first suit, and gives himself a wink.
"Wow," Sejin says after he came out.
"Asshole," he mutters, and then freezes. Sejin is just staring at him. His eyes are wider now, mouth open like he's trying to speak but forgot how. For a second, Moondae wonders if they're not trying on suits for someone else's wedding, but their own, and Sejin's the lovestruck boyfriend rendered speechless by the sight of his soon-to-be husband in a three-piece suit.
"Asshole!" Moondae snaps, louder this time. A couple of fancy-looking shoppers throw him judgmental looks. He doesn't care. He walks over and waves a hand in front of Sejin's face.
Eventually, Sejin blinks back to life, but he's still staring dumbly. God damn it Lee Sejin, stop doing that or I'm gonna drop dead in this store.
"You, uh... look good," Sejin finally says. Moondae huffs and returns inside to try on the rest.
In the end, they buy the first one, even though Moondae protests. He wanted that suit for himself. He wanted to see that reaction again. And though he tries not to read into things, Sejin's reaction really was something.
They walk side by side afterward, silence settling between them like a fog.
"Motherfucker," Moondae mutters again. Sejin flinches. Good. "I know I looked good in that suit. You probably wanna marry me instead," he jokes, laughing it off.
But then Sejin grabs his shoulder. "Park Moondae," he says, and it sends shivers down Moondae's spine. "Park Moondae."
Moondae doesn't hear the second one. His ears are ringing. Sejin's eyes are too dark, too warm. It makes him want things he knows he can't have. Moondae stares down at Sejin's hand, now sliding from his shoulder to his fingers, squeezing gently.
It fits too well. It hurts.
Sejin smiles and Moondae almost blurts out those three words.
"Thank you," Sejin says instead, and then leans in, pressing a light kiss to his cheek.
Moondae almost says it again. The words sit at the edge of his tongue, the same way they did the day he realized he was in love with his best friend.
Almost is a cruel kind of hope, just close enough to hurt.
"Let's have pizza," Sejin says, smiling that crooked smile on his otherwise unfairly perfect face.
Then he jogs ahead, leaving Moondae breathless.
Lee Sejin, do you even realize what you've turned me into?
::
Park Moondae, do you even realize what you've turned me into?
The second Moondae steps out of the dressing room, Sejin forgets how to breathe. There he is, scowling and muttering, already beautiful without even trying.
Sejin is fully aware that he looks like a fish out of water, but he can't help it. It's like the world narrowed itself down to one thing: Park Moondae, standing in a suit, looking like someone Sejin should be in love with, and unfortunately, is.
When Moondae comes closer, Sejin panics.
"Asshole," Moondae says, and Sejin thinks, Yes. I'm your asshole. Forever. (What the hell)
Moondae waves his hand in front of his face. Even that is beautiful. His brows furrow, lips forming a tiny pout. Jesus Park Moondae, stop doing that or I'm gonna drop dead in this store.
He buys the first suit. Of course he does. Moondae looked good in all of them, but that one? That one left Sejin breathless.
He came so close to kissing his beautiful best friend on the sidewalk. Secret Love Song by Little Mix was playing in his head (Again, what the hell), but he forced himself to stop.
Instead, he kissed his cheek. Instead, he said thank you, instead of those three words because he's too scared of what might happen if he says anything else. But he really almost blurted it out.
For now, almost have to be enough.
"Let's have pizza," Sejin says. Or else I wouldn't be able to control myself again.
::
After the suit incident, Moondae starts feeling off. He doesn't want to admit it, but having Sejin look at him like that and kiss him, even if it was just on the cheek, unlocked something dangerous. He is becoming greedy, he wants more. It made him restless, bitter, and prone to stabbing his ice cream with unnecessary force.
He tries not to blame anyone, but suddenly he's annoyed at Ahyeon for picking out the bouquet and the damn suit. And he's actually pissed at Sejin, who probably volunteered to handle the 'perfect gift' like he always does.
He can see it: Sejin flashing that bright smile, saying, "I'll take care of it! Moondae's taste is perfect!"
And because Moondae is tragically in love and stupidly supportive, he let himself be used. A part of him keeps hoping he'll be perfect in Sejin's eyes, not just the guy with good taste.
A voice yanks him out of the spiral. "Hey, Moondae."
It's Bae Sejin. Moondae offers a smile, albeit a little forced.
"Hey."
"How are you and Lee Sejin?" Bae Sejin asks, his eyes way too sparkly to be innocent.
Moondae chokes on nothing. "What the hell are you saying? Shouldn't I be asking you and Ahyeon that?" He tries to laugh it off, tries to throw the focus somewhere, anywhere. Because the truth is, it hurts. There is no 'them.' There never was. It's always just been Lee Sejin and Park Moondae.
Bae Sejin tilts his head, about to say something. "Lee Sejin bought a su—" But he got cut off by his own boyfriend.
"Sejin hyung!" Ahyeon jogs over, expression unreadable. "Hey, Moondae."
"Hey," Moondae says, still spinning from earlier.
"I'm stealing Sejin hyung for a bit, sorry! Bye!"
"Oh? Okay. Bye, Moondae!" Bae Sejin blinks, clearly confused. Moondae nods back, just as confused.
"Bye."
What was Bae Sejin saying? Lee Sejin bought something? And what the hell was with those sparkly eyes?
::
Strawberry ice cream. It's Moondae's tried and tested comfort.
Even with no classes left to worry about, Moondae feels like he's vibrating out of his own skin. He needs something to keep him occupied. So he sits, ice cream in hand, zoning out hard. Until something screeches and ruins the moment.
Of course. Of course it's Sejin. His idiot best friend.
"Hey, Moondae," Sejin says as he orders a chocolate cup and plops down across from him. Moondae doesn't answer. Keeps eating his ice cream like Sejin isn't there.
"Heyyyyy," Sejin whines, reaching his hands across the table. After much struggle, Moondae sighs and lets Sejin take his hands.
"What's wrong?" Sejin asks, thumbs stroking gently across Moondae's knuckles.
Moondae finally looks at him and says, "Nothing. You're just annoying."
And Sejin beams like that was the sweetest thing he's ever heard.
"I know," he says, grinning, and then starts wriggling their hands like he just had the most brilliant idea.
"What the hell, Lee Sejin," Moondae deadpans, yanking his hands back.
"Let's go somewhere else?" Sejin asks just as his ice cream gets handed over.
"You? Asking me out over ice cream?" Moondae scoffs. "Absolutely not."
Sejin's face falls like he's been kicked. And of course, Moondae caves.
"Finish your ice cream, then we can go wherever."
Sejin lights up like he's powered by sunlight. Moondae has to look away.
::
"I thought you were the romantic type," Moondae says, unimpressed as they approach the mall. "You couldn't even fake it with an amusement park or something?"
"I was gonna ask you, but you'd complain either way," Sejin shrugs, too cheerful. "I need help with designs!"
Moondae frowns. "Designs? For what?"
"Just, stuff. Don't ask." Moondae stops walking after hearing this.
"This another one of your goddamn favors?"
Sejin freezes in his tracks. "Well, yeah, but—"
"I thought you brought me out to cheer me up. I thought you actually gave a shit. God, I'm so stupid. Of course it's still about someone else. If one of our friends wants to propose, they should do it. Not you. Not me."
Sejin looks like he's just been hit.
"I'm tired, Sejin. Go play charity with someone else."
And he walks off. Leaves Sejin standing there, looking one blink away from crying. But Moondae can't afford to look back. Because if he does, he might stay.
::
Moondae feels guilty. He shouldn't have said those things to Sejin. He knows what kind of person Sejin is. Kind, dependable, the type who'd take on everyone else's problems if it meant helping someone he cared about. But still, being used over and over again hurts. And Moondae knows it's bound to happen again. Wouldn't be surprising if he suddenly got a call asking him to test out rings for Ahyeon because Bae Sejin's planning something next.
He sighs.
Come to think of it, Ahyeon and Bae Sejin are clearly together. Moondae wouldn't be shocked if they already have a Pinterest board of wedding inspo. But that just makes the whole thing more confusing. Why would Sejin offer to buy things for them? They aren't the type to let someone else pick out the most important gifts of their lives.
And that weird encounter with them… Something's up. Moondae's heart clenches.
He called Bae Sejin first.
"Hey, Moondae," Bae Sejin answers cheerfully, and Moondae silently thanks the heavens he's not interrupting anything.
"Hey, Sejin hyung. Just curious. Uh, you and Ahyeon, are you guys thinking of settling down soon?"
There's a pause. "Hmm? We already planned our future out. After graduation, we're getting married," Bae Sejin answers happily and Moondae is a little envious.
"Oh. That's great, that's really great."
"Yeah! Oh, and hey, I heard Sejin's planning something too? Like, I don't know, I heard he's proposing to someone?"
Moondae nearly drops his phone.
"What?"
"Mhm. He's been buying stuff and prepping. I heard it on one of the group calls. The person's apparently really pretty, but that's all I know. Ahyeon won't tell me anything else."
"Oh… okay. Thanks, Sejin hyung." He ends the call with a sinking feeling in his chest.
So, Sejin already has someone.
And Moondae never stood a chance.
::
It's raining. Moondae stares out the window, eating soggy crackers from the sleeve of his hoodie, and thinks, Go ahead. Cry it all out for me, sky. Since I clearly can't.
The ache in his chest feels endless.
He can't believe Sejin had someone this whole time. And he kept it from him. Everyone else knew, but Moondae was left in the dark.
It never even crossed his mind. Sejin having someone? Unthinkable. He was always the type to get clumsy around crushes, stuttering, pacing, blurting out the stupidest things. You couldn't even say the word crush and Sejin in the same sentence without it sounding like a joke.
Moondae always assumed he'd know, that he'd notice the signs. But apparently, he didn't. Sejin grew up while Moondae wasn't looking.
If he weren't so heartbroken, he might've even been proud. But he's selfish. And maybe a little stupid, too.
Because he never saw it. The looks. The way Sejin's eyes softened when they met his. The way Sejin held on just a second longer than he should've. All the signs were there, and he missed them.
Sejin shows up that weekend with a box of cheesecake.
"Forgive me?" he asks, wide eyes practically shimmering with hope.
Moondae wants to punch him. Instead, he sighs.
"Fine. But only because of the cheesecake."
He misses the way Sejin smiles after that, because Moondae's too busy digging into the cake.
::
Moondae noticed Sejin's faraway stare, and it didn't take a genius to figure out something was bothering him.
"You know, you're already not the best-looking," Moondae said, flopping on the couch beside him. "Keep pouting like that and it's honestly just rude to my eyes."
Sejin shrugged, but the crease in his brows remained.
"Come on. Tell me everything," Moondae coaxed. Go ahead, spill about your mystery girl or boy. I’m tough enough to handle it.
"I have to buy a… ring. For a friend."
Friend. Of course. That was what this was all about. He was finally going to propose.
Ouch.
"And?" Moondae asked, because he was a masochist. A dumb little freak. He wanted to know who the lucky girl, or guy, was.
"Uh, you kind of… have the same size as this friend?"
What the actual fuck?
He was shaking, but he played it cool. The fuck. That hurt so bad.
"So?" he said, poker-faced. Don't you dare volunteer, idiot.
"Uhm... help me?" Sejin said, giving him that dumb puppy look.
God fucking damn it. I'll say no. I'll fucking say no this time. I swear on my ancestors.
"...Okay. Let's go."
Somebody give me a trophy. I'm a fucking award-winning clown.
::
Sejin looked so happy checking out the rings. It was almost adorable, almost. Only if it didn't feel like a butcher's knife in Moondae's chest.
He casually touched his sternum. "Stop. Hurting. Now."
"What do you think about this one?" Sejin pointed to a sleek, simple ring.
"Depends. What's your friend like?" Moondae replied flatly, scanning the display when his eyes caught on a black wedding band. Clean lines, no stones, elegant. He leaned in to take a closer look at it.
"That one's pretty," he murmured.
"It comes in pairs," Sejin said. "Wedding bands." He turned to the staff. "Can I see it?"
Moondae wanted to scream. Fucking Lee Sejin. First the suit. Now this. I wanted to buy that shit for myself, you bastard.
He flinched as Sejin gently took his hand and slipped the ring onto his finger.
It fit. It fit perfectly.
And of course, Sejin was already slipping the other one onto his own finger, and it also fits him perfectly. Fucking great. Now they looked like a real couple.
"Do you like it?" Sejin asked softly, as if they were a couple and he's buying the rings for them.
Moondae pulled his hand away. "Yeah," he mumbled, eyes burning. He fiddled with the ring, then yanked it off.
Sejin didn't even get to say goodbye, Moondae was gone before he could finish paying.
::
"Moondae!" He got started by the knocks on his door. The knocking was followed by more knocking. He already knows it's his best friend.
He sighed and cracked open the door, only to be crushed into a warm hug and that familiar musky scent.
"You left me all of a sudden!" Sejin whined into his neck. "How dare you."
"You got what you wanted, what else do you need?" Moondae kept his arms to himself, and wriggled his way out of the embrace.
Sejin pulled back, brows drawn. "Moondae. What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he replied, eyes averted. "Did you give the ring to your friend already?"
There it was. The question that would slice his chest open and leave him leaking all over the damn floor.
"I haven't," Sejin said. "And it's a special friend, by the way. I'm... I'm planning to propose, Moondae."
Stop saying it. Go find your forever. Stop hurting me.
"I really love him. I want to spend my life with him—"
So it was a guy. That was almost funny. Even knowing Sejin was gay and he still didn't stand a chance.
"—that's why I bought the ring—"
Sejin's words die in his throat because all of a sudden, a pair of soft lips is pressed against his.
Moondae surged forward and kissed him. He couldn't bear hearing any more about the person Sejin loved. He couldn't take another word about how perfect and special and lucky he was. He kissed him because if he didn't, he'd never be able to breathe again.
The kiss tasted like regret, he knows this kiss will change their friendship. He was just about to pull away, already mourning their friendship, when Sejin's hands curled around his waist and pulled him back in and kissed him deeper.
Sejin's arm wraps firmly around Moondae's waist, his other hand cradling the nape of his neck to deepen the kiss. Moondae clutches at Sejin's shoulders, melting into the moment, welcoming the sweep of Sejin's tongue with a helpless sigh. He kisses back just as fiercely, rising onto his toes to chase the warmth of Sejin's lips.
When the lack of oxygen became an issue, they finally pulled apart.
Moondae had no regrets. Even if this ruined everything, he'd always have this moment. This one kiss. The way Sejin had held him like he meant it.
They stared at each other, and Moondae felt it, the fear that someone else would take Sejin's lips away. That someone else would get to call him theirs.
Then Sejin kissed him again and Moondae was a goner.
Moments later, Sejin pulls out the ring they bought and slides the smaller one back onto Moondae's finger.
"Will you be mine, Moondae?" he says, voice rough from the million kisses they've just shared, lips swollen, eyes open and honest as they look straight into his.
Wait, what?
"What?" Moondae breathes out. He hates how breathless he sounds.
Sejin laughs. "The ring is for you. I've been trying to propose this whole time. The room I decorated? It was supposed to be for this. The suit? It was never for Sejin hyung. It was for you. The bouquet? Not for him either. I—God—I had a plan, I really did. I didn't want to do it like this, just... after kissing you senseless. I had ideas, I had—"
Moondae kisses him again. "Yes," he says, lips brushing against Sejin's. Then louder this time, his eyes stinging because of how absurd this entire thing is. "You fucking idiot, yes!"
They end up grinning like there is no tomorrow, with their hands tangled and their eyes wet from laughing and loving too much.
They are both idiots. Idiots who are pathetically, ridiculously in love with each other.
::
"I still can't believe you, you dipshit. I can't believe it was for me all this time." Moondae mutters as he rolls away, thoroughly exhausted from how intensely they made out.
Sejin snorts. "Why would you even believe Ahyeon wanted me to buy a suit for Sejin hyung? He doesn't even like my taste in fashion."
Moondae groans and drags his hand into Sejin's. Their fingers intertwine, the rings catching the light. They're simple bands but they shine like treasure, like they were meant for them.
"Asshole," Moondae mumbles, eyes burning again as he squeezes Sejin's hand.
Sejin yelps and pinches Moondae's cheek. "How are you this pretty?" he says with an incredulous grin, eyes shining. "I can't believe you're mine. My beauty." Sejin then leans in and kisses those soft lips, savoring the way Moondae melts with a sigh.