Work Text:
Hanbin isn’t used to checking his own mail again yet. It’s a novelty for now, though he’s sure it’ll be a chore by the time he has to get used to everything passing through someone else’s hands before it ever reaches his eyes. It’s mostly junk mail and invitations to weddings he can’t attend from people he went to grade school with.
It’s still nice to see them—to see his former friends find love in ways he might not ever be allowed to.
There’s no return address on the heavy cream envelope, just what he suspects are more stamps than necessary and Hanbin’s own address penned in a somewhat familiar hand. Hanbin hesitates before he tears it open, running his finger over the corny glitter heart sticker sealing it shut. He steams the envelope until the adhesive dissolves and he’s able to prize out its contents.
Save the date! the card cheerily entreats, as if it isn’t postmarked with the same date.
You are cordially invited to witness the union of
Matthew Seok & Gunwook Park
Saturday, 14 February 2026
Vancouver, BC
The invitation is simple, yet elegant—austere serif on quality cardstock. The letter crammed into the envelope alongside it is less so, handwriting cramped near the last few lines, as if its author hadn’t the foresight to procure a second sheet of paper.
💌
Hey Hanbin-hyung,
I know the “proper” etiquette would be to send out invites before the wedding, but you’ll have to forgive me for printing something off on the way back from the courthouse. I don’t think you expect me to do anything “properly” at this point.
In my defense, I didn’t plan this. Can’t say the same for Gunwookie, though. You know how many tabs he had open? Too many. He was searching up spousal visas and shit. All that and he didn’t even think to get me a ring. Unbelievable.
It feels dumb to say I didn’t realize he was this serious. Maybe I really am that dense. But it kind of felt like we’ve been playing house this whole time. Like we could be all lovey dovey and promise eternity to each other because we knew deep down it could never last. But I guess that’s one of the things I love about him. He’s supposed to be the realistic and reasonable one but he’s still innocent enough to dream. I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to make money. Thinking how long I can wait to redebut before I can’t afford to keep bumming off my uncle.
Like I didn’t think it would be over last month. Me and Gunwook. But in the same way I didn’t break up with my high school girlfriend before college. Like we would be okay. But if it ended I wouldn’t be surprised. Is that mean of me? Unromantic? I wasn’t trying to move on but… Gunwook would be able to if we had to. There’s only so long we could’ve lasted, might as well love him with all I could for as long as I was able to. You get that. Right, hyung?
But Gunwook wasn’t thinking about any of that, even if it seems like he’s always thinking about everything. He was plotting with Yaeby before I even invited him to come on this trip, you know. Mom didn’t forget to wash the guest room sheets for him. Like damn. Maybe I am that clueless. My family knew before I did. Maybe you knew before I did. Did you know? Did he tell you? I feel like you would’ve known even if he didn’t.
But it’s still real even if it doesn’t feel like it. I don’t even have a new contract lined up yet, but I have a marriage certificate I can never file with all of the signatures it needs. I don’t have a ring. I didn’t have a wedding or a reception or anything else I thought I’d never be able to have with him. But he’s lying in my childhood bed looking through my grade school yearbooks and petting my dog and every time I look back at him because I can’t think of what I should even be writing to you right now he’s already smiling at me like he can’t believe I’m real.
I never let myself think that I could have anything like this but it still feels like I’m missing out. I wish you could’ve been my best man. I wish we could’ve had a real proposal. That I could’ve acted all offended that Gunwook beat me to it and took him out to a beach at sunset and proposed back the same day. You know how he did it? We went to a game store and when we were opening up cards at home he pretended he pulled a really good card and didn’t want me to see cuz he knew I’d try to steal it and he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from caving but his hand wouldn’t stop shaking with how nervous he was and he dropped the stupid fake will you marry me card on the ground and bent it. I wish I could post it on Insta. I wish I could tell everyone.
But I wanted to tell you. Even just to make it a little more real. Maybe it’s selfish that I’m doing this more for me than you. But maybe that’s okay. I can treat you to dinner when we get back and you can laugh at me the whole time.
Love,
Your Seokmae 🧡
💌
There’s something else written up the right edge of the back side of the letter. There wasn’t any other space left to squeeze it in.
PS Gunwookie says hi and is “mad” I didn’t already tell you
💌
There’s really only one way he can respond:
ZERO. Hanbinnie-hyung
you owe me 100k btw
Taerae 🎸
???
for what
ZERO. Hanbinnie-hyung
have you checked your mail yet?
[pic]
Taerae 🎸
…
will send it in a minute
blocking matthew rq