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Wonwoo wasn't the type to volunteer for these types of events, busy as he was with work and the whole single father thing. But, somehow, Ina's teacher had roped him into it. Maybe it was because she was a very persuasive woman, or that she was very pregnant and looked uncomfortable, or that Ina stared at him with her big puppy dog eyes that were her secret weapon.
Maybe it was all of the above. But here he was, October was coming to an end, and school wanted to make it fun for the students, so they spent the majority of a whole month planning an entire day event.
Ina was almost vibrating in her booster seat when Wonwoo helped her undo the straps and climb out of the car. She ran her fingers through her costume, trying to erase some invisible wrinkles from the fabric.
Wonwoo felt an overpowering wave of affection, and he realized he didn't mind that much to be there on his free Saturday. It meant he got to spend time with his daughter doing something other than just going to the park or pestering her uncles, and that he got to watch her interact with other people besides him and his friends.
They walked into the school hand in hand, and as soon as they did, people started greeting them. Wonwoo nodded politely, even if he knew they weren't really talking to him. It was his cross to bear, the fact that he had raised the most extroverted social butterfly in the whole country while being an introvert himself.
They finally made it to the gym, and when he was about to ask her if she saw her teacher, Ina let go of his hand as soon as she spotted her little friends.
"Be careful," he said, resisting the impulse to chase behind her. She turned around and waved her little hand at him before running behind her friends.
He sighed, looking at her little figure disappearing into the crowd to check the multiple stalls that had been set up. An annoying voice that sounded too much like Jun's repeated that he needed to let Ina be her own person instead of constantly coddling her. It soured his mood a little, only for the fact that he had to admit Jun said something coherent every now and then.
"What's her costume supposed to be?" A voice asked beside him.
Wonwoo turned around and he was stunned, to say the least. Standing beside him was a man, an unfairly beautiful one, but he wasn't looking at him, he was staring in the general direction Ina had disappeared seconds ago.
"Excuse me," the man said when Wonwoo didn't reply. "I was watching and couldn't quite figure it out."
"She's a vampire alien," he said, finally, snapping out of his stupor.
The man turned to look at him finally, and Wonwoo felt all the cliches in romantic movies come crashing down on him. His breath got caught in his throat, the world seemed to fade around him, and he could faintly hear wedding bells in the distance.
The man burst out laughing, loud and crisp. Wonwoo was aware he was staring, but he couldn't help it. He had already noticed the freckles sprinkled on his cheek, and he was afraid he'd start hyperventilating.
"I'm Wonwoo," he said, and the smile on the other man's face became more muted, softer, his eyes crinkling at the edges.
"I'm Chan," he said, offering a hand for Wonwoo to shake. It was warm and small inside his. Wonwoo hated letting go of it. "Actually, Wonwoo-ssi, I just checked the worksheet and you're on duty with me, at the drinks stall."
Wonwoo refrained himself from pumping a fist into the air, but he did say a quiet, thankful prayer for his good luck.
"Do you have a kid around, too?" He asked as he followed Chan to the corner of the gym where the drinks were set up.
Chan hesitated for a second before nodding his head. Wonwoo noticed he was about to say something when a group of older kids approached the table. After that, they were busy giving out water bottles and pouring juice.
Wonwoo noticed how good Chan was with kids. He knew what almost every costume was supposed to be, even the niche ones, and he was able to hold a conversation about a number of children's TV shows and movies.
He had been happy to be assigned with him; maybe it would give him the chance to know him better. He was wrong, though. The temperature was high inside the gym, and the kids were sweating under their costumes, which prompted many visits to their stall. It was busy. He wanted to ask Chan questions, but he got interrupted every time.
Then, finally, some other parent approached the table to tell them their shift was done and they were free to enjoy the rest of the event. Wonwoo sighed with relief, his lower back killing him after so many times bending over to reach for water bottles in the cooler under the table.
They naturally drifted around together. Wonwoo wouldn't admit he was following Chan like a lovesick puppy. It was more like he pulled him around, showing him stands and pointing at all the things he found interesting.
"Oh," he said, putting a hand on Wonwoo's arm as he looked at a stall just in front of them. "Wait here, I'll get us a treat."
Wonwoo waited obediently as Chan approached the stall and pointed at the tray with cake pops decorated as various frightening characters. He chatted with the teacher running the stall for a few seconds, and Wonwoo got reminded of his own daughter, always up for a conversation, making friends everywhere she went.
Chan jogged back to Wonwoo, a blinding smile plastered on his face as he offered him the treat.
"They didn't have alien vampires," he said with a playful smile, "so just vampire will have to do."
Wonwoo accepted the cake pop with a smile and they walked in companionable silence through the gym, biting into their cakes. He was about to ask about Chan's life, to get to know him better, to try to have a grasp of him. He had never felt such an instant spark when meeting someone before, and he didn't want to waste the chance. Wonwoo wanted to know if Chan felt something similar.
But then, a group of kids dressed as popular slasher movie characters came running, barely making a stop before they collided against Chan's legs. They hugged his legs and held up a variety of toys.
"Mr Lee," the one who seemed to be the leader said, and Wonwoo snapped his neck to stare at Chan so fast it gave him whiplash. "Mr Lee, look at the prize I got at the pumpkin carving station!"
"That's very nice, Jaehyun," Chan said with what Wonwoo immediately identified as his teacher's voice. "But be careful, guys, your costumes are so scary you almost gave me a heart attack!"
The boys laughed and took off running again, lightly pushing at each other. Chan looked up at Wonwoo and smiled. It wasn't like the other smiles he had given him, it was quiet. Apologetic, even.
"You are a teacher," Wonwoo said, pointing out what was obvious now.
"I'm Ina's teacher, actually," he said, and when Wonwoo's eyes knitted together in confusion, he continued: "Sub teacher, I mean, until Mrs Yang comes back from her maternity leave."
"Oh," Wonwoo said, feeling like an idiot for not noticing. He felt the heat climbing up his neck and reaching the tips of his ears. Suddenly, he remembered the email blast sent by the school that he had barely skimmed.
"I was gonna call the parents for a meeting next week," Chan continued, looking bashful.
"I'm so sorry for flirting with you," Wonwoo deadpanned, mortified. Chan's smile fell from his face. "It must have been awkward for you."
A few beats passed and Chan bit on his bottom lip before he pointed at the door with his head.
"Come outside with me?" He said, his feet already shuffling. "To have a conversation."
Wonwoo followed, because of course he would. Chan nodded his head at some other faculty members in passing, and waved his hand at the kids who greeted him. Wonwoo spotted Ina not too far, sharing cake pops with her friends. She'd be fine by herself while he talked with Chan.
The double door to the gym swung open, and Wonwoo pressed his hand on the smooth wood to cross it behind Chan. His brown hair was curly and long, fluffy around his neck. The button-down he was wearing was a light shade of blue. Wonwoo swallowed around the knot in his throat.
Chan walked with such confidence in his step that it was hard for Wonwoo to follow. Not in the literal sense, since he had longer legs than he (not that he was staring…), but in a different way. There was security in the way the heels of his shoes hit the linoleum floor, stability.
That was something Wonwoo wanted. Needed, even. Stability. A safe and soft place to land. He didn't dare to want, or to fantasize about what Chan needed to talk to him about. As far as he knew, he could have wanted to discuss Ina's grades. Behavior, even, because she was a polite child, but also, Soonyoung thought it was funny to teach her curse words from time to time.
And he was spiraling. He only noticed when Chan turned on a corner and stopped. The hallways were empty, and the rumble and noise from the gym didn't reach them. It amplified all the sounds, like the noise his jacket made when he awkwardly tried to fold his arms not to look dumb, or the drag of his shoes against the floor.
Chan smirked. It was a small, cheeky thing. Mischievous. He leaned against the wall, broad shoulders accentuated by the white walls.
"So," he said, looking at Wonwoo through his eyelashes. His voice was soft and quiet, like they were sharing a secret. It lured Wonwoo closer into his space. "You were flirting with me?"
Wonwoo felt his ears on fire again. And his whole face, up to his hairline. Chan's smile widened and Wonwoo, even in his embarrassment, couldn't help but swoon for that smile. Chan's eyes wrinkled with delight.
Emboldened by the fact that Chan wasn't reporting him to the PTA for the time being, Wonwoo channelled all the flirty energy he could muster, reaching to press one hand on the wall beside Chan. But of course, because he was a loser, and he was too busy staring at Chan, he missed the mark and almost landed flat on his face on the floor.
The laugh that burst from Chan was amazing. Wonwoo caught himself on his feet with just enough time to get a first row ticket to the experience. It was a full-body affair; he threw his head back and closed his eyes, and his laugh was wild, untamed.
"Are you alright?" Chan asked, hints of a laugh still clinging to the upturned corners of his lips, his hands going to Wonwoo's shoulders to help him regain his balance.
"I was," Wonwoo said, and Chan cocked his head to the side, like a confused puppy, smile still on his lips, and Wonwoo wanted to lean in so bad. "Flirting with you, I mean. I certainly was."
The faintest shade of pink colored Chan's cheeks, and his smile got shyer. They stood there in silence, the furthest echo of the Halloween party reaching their ears.
"I can't date you," Chan said, and Wonwoo's heart fell to the floor. Then his hands were back on his shoulders. "Not while I'm your daughter's teacher."
"How—" Wonwoo's voice came out raspy, so he cleared his throat. "How long until I can ask you on a date, then?"
Chan blinked and the color on his cheeks went a few shades deeper.
"One month," he said, holding a finger up like Wonwoo was also one of his students. It was cute. "Just one more month until Mrs Yang comes back."
Wonwoo wanted to lean in and capture Chan's lips on his own, but he couldn't. He shouldn't. He had to wait. Good things came to patient people, or at least that was what Jihoon always tried to tell Ina.
"Alright," he said, and took two steps back. Chan took a big gulp of air. "One month."
Wonwoo had it, even if he was desperate to reach and grab Chan's waist as they went back to the gym. He had to have it; he didn't want to mess up something that hadn't started yet, but promised to be interesting.
Ina found him as soon as they made it through the doors. She clung to his leg and looked up with a pout.
"Daddy, my tummy hurts," she said in such a pitiful tone that it broke Wonwoo's heart.
He immediately scooped her up and held her tight against his chest. She tried to make herself smaller, hiding in his neck.
"Did you have too many treats?" Wonwoo asked, and she nodded her head.
Chan cooed beside them, reaching to comb her sweaty bangs out of her face. "Does it hurt too bad?" He asked in a very gentle tone, soothing, even. She nodded again.
"I think you should take her home," Chan said, addressing Wonwoo that time, even when his tone was still so gentle. Wonwoo was grateful. "Some chamomile tea is good to soothe the stomach."
"I hate tea," Ina said in a tone that anticipated a burst of tears.
Chan leaned closer, close enough that Wonwoo could smell his shampoo, and he dropped his voice to speak in a whisper, like he was telling Ina a secret.
"You know what?" He said, and even when Ina felt sick, she leaned forward a little, cheek still pressed against Wonwoo's chest. "I often have tummy aches too, and even though I also don't like tea, I'm very brave and drink it all the same because it'll make me feel better. Do you wanna be brave too, so your tummy will feel better?"
Ina seemed to ponder his words until she nodded, with the most prominent pout Wonwoo had ever seen.
Chan's eyes were twinkling when they locked on Wonwoo's again, and he wasn't sure if it was his own imagination or a trick of the light. Or maybe Chan could simply do that.
He mouthed a thank you, and Chan smiled at him before saying goodbye. Then Wonwoo carried Ina to the car and then to their apartment, directly to the couch. She curled on the soft pillows as Wonwoo covered her with a blanket. She then proceeded to demand to watch Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost and Mr Lee's tea. Wonwoo said yes to both.
As he mixed some honey to sweeten the tea for Ina, and the TV blasted in the background, Wonwoo thought that one month was a piece of cake. It would pass by so fast, and he'd be able to ask Chan out on a day, properly. He just needed to be patient for the tiniest bit. He could totally do that.
It was torture. The longest month in Wonwoo's life, second only to that time Ina was teething.
Walking up to Ina's classroom and seeing Chan was straight up stomach churning horrendous. Wonwoo didn't know which was worse: when he wore the softest knitted sweaters, or when he took them off and rolled up the sleeves of his button-ups.
Either way, Wonwoo thought he couldn't make it, and Chan, looking at him when he picked Ina up with his twinkling eyes and his mischievous smile, didn't make it any easier.
But, at last, the month was over, and Wonwoo had survived the lingering stares and tension during drop-off and pick-up. He thought he deserved a Pulitzer for his accomplishment.
Mrs Yang was set to come back to her classroom the following Monday, so it was Chan's last day as Ina's teacher. When Wownoo picked her up, she clung to Chan's legs because she didn't want him to leave. Luckily for her, if Wonwoo had a say on it, Chan wouldn't leave their lives.
"Tonight at 8?" Chan asked as he handed him Ina's empty lunchbox, and Wonwoo held Ina's tiny hand in his. "I'll pick you up."
"Oh," Wonwoo said, heat coming to his ears at the evidence that Chan was as eager as him to take their relationship to a non-professional setting. "Let me give you my address."
"Don't worry," Chan saved him to pat his own clothes in search of his phone. "I got your info from admin."
Then he winked at him and Wonwoo's hand went automatically to his chest, the plastic box hitting right over his heart. Chan laughed and waved a hand before he approached another parent.
In the car ride back home, Ina kept talking about the small party they had thrown for Mr Lee and the card they had signed for him as farewell. It was all very sweet. Wonwoo held the wheel very tightly between his hands.
They finally made it home and once Wonwoo had helped Ina put all her things away and had sat her on the kitchen table to have an after-school snack, he checked his phone.
He swiped his thumb over some social media notifications, and then one new text caught his attention. It was from an unknown number.
Can't wait for tonight ;) -C
Wonwoo pursed his lips to avoid smiling, because Ina was nosey and she'd ask what was funny. Instead, he replied with the same sentiment before he saved Chan's number, and frantically texted the group chat with his friends and offered a full fried chicken dinner in exchange for babysitting services.
"You look fine," Jihoon said from the couch. "If you change clothes one more time, I'm tearing all my fucking hair off."
"Language," Wonwoo chided, even if Ina was currently taking a bath. "Besides, you're bald."
"By choice," Jihoon replied, running his hand through his pink buzz cut. "Follicles are well secured, thank you very much."
Wonwoo rolled his eyes just as Ina called his name to help her wrap her in a thick towel. Once her hair was dry and she was wearing her Halloween pajama set, he sent her to the living room.
He could hear Jihoon and Ina talking in the other room as he desperately tried to fix his hair that, merely five seconds before, looked fine and now looked hideous. He wondered if he should ditch his glasses and go for contacts when the doorbell rang and he felt his stomach do a somersault inside his body.
Wonwoo almost ran out of the bathroom before Jihoon could even attempt to get off the couch to check the door. He felt like a teenager going to his first date all over again.
He took a quick, grounding breath, hand hanging from the doorknob, ignoring Jihoon's scoff, before he opened the door.
"Hi," Chan said, standing in the hallway like something that came straight out of Wonwoo's dreams. He was wearing jeans and an oversized jacket, the yellow color complementing his skin.
"Hey," he replied, the air escaping his lungs like he had been punched in the chest.
"Got you something on the way over," Chan said, and then Wonwoo noticed he had his arms full. "They made me think of you."
Wonwoo was an adult man; he had been in relationships, he had been on dates, he knew the game. And yet, it was the first time someone got him flowers for an occasion that wasn't his graduation. Chan handed him a bouquet of yellow flowers, mostly sunflowers. He grabbed them as he fought the light-headedness taking over.
"Thanks," he said, holding the flowers close to his chest. "I should put them in water."
They stood there for a few beats before Chan raised his eyebrows, playful smile still on his lips.
"Can I come in?" He asked, amusement in his voice.
Wonwoo blinked at him like an owl for a few seconds, and Chan's smile got the tiniest bit wider, before he pointed inside.
"Yes, of course, come on in," he said. "Ina wanted to say hi, too."
Chan walked inside with a sort of confidence that baffled Wonwoo. Like he knew he was exactly where he was meant to be at all times, like he had always known that he'd end up taking off his shoes in his entrance on a random Friday night. Wonwoo could get used to the image.
Ina's eyes got bigger and brighter the second she spotted Chan. She jumped from where she was jumping on the couch (which she wasn't allowed to do, but Jihoon liked to dismiss his parenting), and ran to him.
Chan took her attempt at tackling him with a stride, his hands going to fix her bangs. Then he eyed Jihoon, still sitting on the couch, and he waved a hand.
"This is Jihoon," Wonwoo said, his hands still clutching the flowers. "He's babysitting Ina tonight."
"Hi," Chan said, the face of politeness. "I'm Chan."
Jihoon was about to say something, probably pointing out how ridiculous Wonwoo looked, with his flowers and still stunned, as if he had been hit by lightning.
Thankfully, Ina came to his rescue and pulled at Chan's hand to get his attention, and she showed him her pajamas, pointing at the tiny bats printed all over them.
"Still Halloween themed, I see," he said, his eyes going to Wonwoo.
"In the Jeon household, it's Halloween up until December," he shrugged. "It's Ina's favorite holiday."
Chan smiled. "I know," he said. "Which brings me to this," he searched in the pocket of his jacket and brought her favorite candies.
Ina squealed in happiness as she grabbed it before saying thanks, running back to the couch to show them to Jihoon.
"Sorry, I didn't bring anything for you," Chan said to him in a joking tone. "I don't know what you like."
Jihoon nodded. "Coke Zero will do next time," then he said to Ina: "We're sharing those."
It was a relief, certainly. As a single dad, it was always nerve-wracking having to break to someone that he had a child, and it was always disappointing to see the immediate change in the other person. Eventually, he stopped trying to date altogether. But it was nice that Chan not only knew from the beginning, and he didn't seem to mind. Or, even more than that, he clearly enjoyed Ina's company, and she liked him already.
It seemed like a win-win situation.
"Mr Lee," Ina called, almost climbing to the backrest of the couch so they could see her. "Are you and my dad getting married?"
"God," Wonwoo said, almost dropping the flowers. He ignored the way Jihoon hid his face behind his palm so he wouldn't catch him laughing. "We had a conversation about this, remember?"
Ina's face crumpled in dissatisfaction. "Uncle Jihoon said Mr Lee would become my new dad."
Wonwoo shot a murderous glance at Jihoon as he said narc under his breath. Ina's eyes were wide and disappointed.
"Ina, I—" he started, but Chan stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Let me?" He asked in a soft tone, and Wonwoo nodded, curious.
Chan walked to the couch and offered his arms to her before she allowed him to pick her up, which he did with ease. He hummed as he seemed to think how to word his answer, pursing his lip in a cute expression.
"Your dad and I are not getting married right now," he said, and Ina's pout became more pronounced. "Right now we want to be friends, but we'll let you know if that changes. Are you fine with that?"
Ina seemed to think it over before she nodded. "Can I go with you?"
"Maybe next time," Wonwoo intervened, finally. "Tonight you're staying with uncle Jihoon."
Before she could pout again, Jihoon held up the remote high. "We'll watch a scary movie."
Ina lit up with that and wormed her way out of Chan's arms to flop back again on the couch.
"Not too scary," Wonwoo said, finally walking to the kitchen to find a vase to put the flowers in. He also used that moment to collect himself, trying to keep his act together.
When he walked back into the living room to tell Chan they could leave, Ina decided she was full of questions for Chan.
"Are you going to kiss my dad, Mr Lee?"
Jihoon made a sound halfway to a squeal and a laugh, and he brought her closer to cover her mouth with his palm.
"That's enough torturing your dad," he said, and even though Ina's eyes were twinkling with curiosity, she didn't say anything else.
And, if Wonwoo was honest, if she had any more questions, that was Jihoon's problem now. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and said goodnight before he reminded her of the house rules that still applied during Jihoon's stay, and then she wrapped her tiny arms around Chan's neck.
She said something that Wonwoo couldn't make up, but Chan's smile softened.
"I'm not your teacher anymore, Ina," he said. "You can call me Chan."
She became shy all of a sudden, and hid in Jihoon's arms as they walked through the door, waving her tiny hand at them.
"I'm sorry," Wonwoo said, deciding to be honest as they waited for the elevator. "I don't go on a lot of dates, so she isn't very used to it."
"Oh!" Chan said, and Wonwoo examined him. Then he noticed Chan was flustered, the tips of his ears were red, and he kept biting his bottom lip until it was bruised and red. "Don't even mention it! And I guess I can say it now, Ina was my favorite since I took the position."
That made Wonwoo puff his chest in pride, and also Chan seemed more relaxed after that. He even opened the passenger's door of his car for Wonwoo, and the conversation flowed naturally for them on their way to a restaurant.
The place he had picked for the date was nice and quiet, the thick of the crowd still not hitting since it was early. Wonwoo liked that it was a family-owned place and the ahjumma behind the register knew Chan by name. It felt meaningful, like he was sharing something that was important to him with Wonwoo, so he hollowed the palms of his hands and grabbed it gently.
The date, if anything, solidified whatever it was that Wonwoo felt the first time he saw Chan across a room. He was sweet and had a laugh that ran like a river over Wonwoo's body. He felt permeable around him, like all the good things that he kept discovering about Chan also rubbed off on him.
The night was chill since November had already rolled around, and December was just around the corner.
Wonwoo burrowed under his scarf, the wind messing with his hair. Chan had suggested a small walk to compensate for the heavy meal, and Wonwoo, under the guise of spending more time around him, had accepted.
"Are you cold?" Chan asked in that puppy-like way of his, but he didn't wait for Wonwoo's answer before he grabbed his hand and interlocked his fingers.
Wonwoo was grateful he could blame the cold for the color in his cheeks, and he held tighter to Chan. His hand was warm, and even though it was small in his, he did feel warmer.
The walk came to an end too fast for Wonwoo's liking, but Chan kept being worried about the cold. They came to a stop just beside his car, parked in a dark street. Not many people were around, on account of the cold and the late hour, and the few passersby were too much in a rush to care about them, Wonwoo noticed.
"I'll drive you home," Chan offered, and his hand reached for the passenger door, to open it for Wonwoo.
But Wonwoo was faster, and his hand went to stop him. Chan looked up at him, both surprised and concerned. He wanted to say something, Wonwoo noticed, but he didn't give him enough time to do so.
His hands came to cup Chan's face, and their noses touched as he leaned in to capture his lips in his. Chan's face was cold from the wind, but his tongue was warm and soft against Wonwoo's. His arms went to grab onto Wonwoo's scarf to pull him closer, until their bodies were pressed together.
Eventually, Wonwoo had to pull away. Just a bit, enough so they could catch their breath. Chan's cheeks were rosy and his lips were red and shiny with spit. His eyes were half hooded, and his hands were tight around the scarf, like he was scared of letting it go.
"I wanted to do that," Wonwoo confessed, "all night long."
Chan laughed, throwing his head back. It gave Wonwoo a view of the elegant line of his neck, and he had to refrain from running his finger down his throat.
"I wanted to do that," he said, standing on his tiptoes to press his forehead against Wonwoo, "since I saw you."
They remained like that for a few seconds, eyes closed, just savoring the moment, before Wonwoo involuntarily shivered after a particularly harsh gust of wind.
"Do you want to come back to mine?" Chan asked, his hand reaching for the door again.
Wonwoo nodded before climbing into the car, followed by Chan, who kept messing with the heater and asking if he was still cold. It was sweet.
The elevator ride up to Chan's apartment was both too long and too short, and Wonwoo sighed with relief when the front door closed behind them.
Chan's hands were on him immediately, his fingers going to undo the knot of his scarf and help him shed off his jacket.
When his fingers went down his body and caught on the button of his jeans, Wonwoo fished his phone from his pocket. Chan's lips were on his neck, and they hadn't even made it through the entryway to the living room.
He used mostly muscle memory to send a text to Jihoon asking him to stay with Ina for the night, and that he owed him big time. He hoped his thumbing at the screen resulted in a coherent enough text before he locked the phone again and decided to forget about it.
Chan gave him barely any time to take off his shoes, tripping as he followed him. The grip he had in his hand was turning him on, as it was firm and confident.
Wonwoo felt clumsy and inexperienced, as if it was his first time, but Chan guided him gently, and he was so patient. He pressed him against the mattress and looked closely for every micro expression on Wonwoo's face.
Chan pressed soft kisses all over his face, and Wonwoo felt himself swooning over the other man, his hand searching for his to intertwine their fingers.
Wonwoo woke up the next morning to an empty bed, but an apartment filled with the smell of homemade breakfast.
"Oh, you're awake," Chan said, entering his bedroom with a tray in one hand and a cup in the other. The smell of coffee filled Wonwoo's senses, and he felt more awake already.
"What time is it?" He asked, grabbing his glasses from the bedside table. Chan sat on the bed beside him and offered the mug. He was wearing the lowest possible sweatpants and nothing else. Wonwoo's heart was racing.
"Early," Chan said, before he placed a kiss on his temple. It felt oddly domestic. It felt right. "I figured you'd want to be back home before Ina wakes up.
Wonwoo gulped down the coffee to pretend that the hot beverage was what got him flustered, instead of Chan's thoughtfulness.
After eating breakfast and a quick shower, he drove Wonwoo home. Before he hopped out of his car, he grabbed him by the neck to give him one last kiss.
"Call me later," Chan said, and Wonwoo almost floated to the entrance of his building. He only drove off once he was inside, and Wonwoo had to fight the blush creeping up his neck.
When he unlocked the door to his apartment, he found Jihoon fast asleep on the couch, in a position that would inevitably hurt his neck, and Ina eating a bowl of cereal at the table.
Wonwoo greeted her with a kiss on her head and when she asked if Chan and he were good friends now, he smiled at her and simply said yes.
🎃
Ina wanted to dress as a vegetarian zombie for Halloween, whatever the hell that was. Luckily for Wonwoo, Chan and Ina were on the same wavelength, so he was happy to delegate the costume preparations to them.
They were a good team after all, so it became a common occurrence to come back home and find them on the floor of the living room, cutting fabric or spreading red glitter all over the apartment.
Honestly, since Wonwoo gave Chan the code to his place, he found him there more often than not. He had gotten a permanent position at Ina's school, but in kindergarten, which was a relief since it meant he wouldn't be her teacher again.
Wonwoo was going to ask him to move in. Soon. Probably before Christmas. Wonwoo's place was closer to the school, so it was convenient. The fact that he felt warm all over whenever he crossed the threshold and found his favorite people already in the same place also had something to do with it.
Wonwoo volunteered again for the Halloween party, and even though he and Chan weren't assigned together, he didn't mind it. He shared a booth with Seungkwan, the music teacher, and also Chan's best friend, which made their shift pass by quickly.
Then he got to explore the rest of the fair with Chan, and even when he itched to hold his hand and couldn't, he enjoyed spending time with him, laughing and just being together. Ina popped around every now and then to tell them something exciting that had happened, and Wonwoo felt the face-splitting smile every time she called Chan Channie oppa.
Wonwoo was thinking about asking for more than just moving in, but he also knew patience. He knew Chan wasn't going anywhere any time soon, if the way he looked at him meant anything.
"Remember our first date?" Chan asked suddenly, after Ina had just come running to them to show them the theme bag Mrs Yang had made for them, and then ran off again.
"Of course," Wonwoo said.
Chan avoided his gaze, but a small smile pulled at his lips subtly. He didn't grab his hand, but he was bold enough to link their arms together.
"She told me her dad was very lonely," he said, in that tone he loved to use, halfway conspiracy, halfway secret. "So that she hoped I would stick around."
Wonwoo had to scoff so he wouldn't do something dumb like be emotional in public. He did make a mental note of hugging Ina extra hard that night before bed.
"Was that what convinced you to stay?" He asked, trying to go for lighthearted, but his voice was a little hoarse.
Chan pushed him with his shoulder as he laughed.
"I felt sorry for you, old man," he said, before he dropped his voice so only Wonwoo would hear. "I love you, Wonwoo hyung."
"I love you too," Wonwoo replied, and Chan smiled with his whole face, open and so beautiful. Wonwoo had to clear his throat before he continued. "Should we grab Ina and pick up fried chicken on the way home? What do you say?"
Chan cheered before he let go of his arm. Wonwoo missed the contact, even if he knew it would be short-lived.
"I'll go get Ina, you go get the car?" He asked, already walking away before Wonwoo shot him a thumbs up.
He couldn't even hold it against Ina, the new information he had. He had been lonely, and even when he tried his best to make up for it when Ina was around, she was smart and intuitive. She noticed things. He was glad she did, in the end. They made a good team, all three of them.