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They were simply walking together, going through the park on the way to their destination on the other side of the city.
Cale is telling a funny story about something that happened at his work while Roksu listens, content to just look around the park, making humming sounds occasionally to indicate to Cale that he's still listening.
It was around the bridge that Roksu's attention was caught by several pairs of lovers that walked by them, one after the other.
Roksu thought about his observations, looked at Cale who is still talking animatedly beside him, decided that yes, that looks nice, he'll try that, and then proceeded to intertwine his fingers with Cale's, holding his hand with his.
Cale stops in his tracks.
Cale looks at Roksu, then at their hands, then at Roksu, then back at their hands, eyes wide and mouth agape.
"What's the matter?" Roksu asks, tilting his head a little, curious at Cale's strange reaction.
"We... you...." Cale starts, flustered, and Roksu watches as Cale stops functioning, his eyebrow up in question, not understanding what's happening to Cale.
"Cale?" He tries again, but instead of answering Cale whips out his phone and dials the first person he sees in his contacts.
"CHOI HAN WHAT DO I DO???" Cale almost screams, and Roksu could hear a somewhat panicky tone of inquiry at the other end.
"Were holding hands!! Right now!! Hands! HAN!!" Cale explains to the phone, his face panicked and blushing tomato red, and Roksu's looks at him with a "what??" expression.
There was silence on the phone and then, Roksu assumes a shout of expletives when Cale jerks the phone off his ears, listens again, and gingerly hands the phone to Roksu.
"Explain." Roksu says immediately, while Cale slowly crouched to the ground, burying his face on his knees although he did not let go of Roksu.
From the phone Choi Han asked him a question.
"Roksu-nim, are you two holding hands right now?"
"Yes..?"
"Then that's why."
"That doesn't make any sense." Roksu replies, brows furrowing and not understanding, "Holding hands is normal for couples, right?"
So many couples were holding hands in the park, why is them doing it be any different?
He felt Cale's hand twitch in his hold, and Choi Han gave him a long-suffering sigh.
"How long have you two been a couple, Roksu-nim?"
"3 months and 12 days." The answer came immediately.
"And when was the last time you held hands?"
Roksu opens his mouth to reply, then closes them again when he realized he didn't have an answer.
When Roksu remained silent Choi Han added on, chuckling before hanging up:
"Cale wanted to hold your hands so much Roksu-nim. He's just being an idiot about it."
Roksu stood there blinking while Cale whisper screams his mortification on his knees.
Neither of them made a move to let go.
Finally, after processing Choi Han's words for a few silent seconds, Roksu crouched down beside Cale, not caring for the looks they were receiving, and gently took Cale's other hand in his as well.
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted to hold hands?"
There was a squeak and Cale peeks out, still blushing hard, taking a deep breath before answering.
"I wanted you to feel comfortable with me first."
When Cale sees the confusion in Roksu's face he added,
"I... I want to get it right... To hold your hand properly when the time is right."
Roksu let out an amused huff, smiling despite himself.
"So, when is the supposed right time to hold hands with me then? Hmm?" He teased, bumping foreheads with Cale, thinking how cute Cale is being right now.
Cale chuckles despite himself, deciding to just fess up now that he is caught.
"Well, I was thinking of asking you out on a date for the festival." Cale started, and they both stand back up, hands still linked with each other.
"We'll be going to different booths, and I'll buy you everything that you wanted."
There's a smile on Cale's lips as he looks down at their linked hands, imagining the words as he spoke them.
"Sounds about right." Roksu chimes, and they laugh softly again.
"Then, when the night comes, it'll be crowded because of the fireworks. That is when I'll offer you my hand and I'll say a cheesy line about not wanting to lose you."
Cale closes his eyes, cringing at himself, and then steeling his resolve he opens them, looking up at Roksu's eyes, trying to convey in it all the love and devotion he feels for Roksu.
"I'll then lead you to a special place where we can enjoy the fireworks together away from the crowd, and I'll keep holding your hand and not let you go, and I'll confess my love to you again with the decorated night sky as our witness."
Cale raises their intertwind hands and places a chaste kiss on the back of Roksu's palm, eyes softening with affection.
"I know being in a relationship like this is all new to you, and I know how it could be overwhelming for you."
Cale still has his eyes on their intertwined hands, trying to articulate his thoughts and feelings.
"I wanted you to experience each milestone in the best way I can give. I... I don't want to rush you or overwhelm you. Being with you has been so wonderful and I don't want to mess this up, to mess us up..."
Cale looks up, meeting Roksu's eyes.
"I wanted you feel special."
There was a few beats of silence as Roksu drank Cale in.
This lovely adorable Cale that had slowly and persistently scaled the walls to his heart and accepted him fully, scars and all.
"I think you're missing something here, Cale." Roksu says, letting go of one of Cale's hand in favor of holding his face tenderly, smiling as Cale leans into his touch.
"I wouldn't have accepted your affections if I'm not comfortable with you."
Roksu, who is used to keeping a firm boundery of himself away from others, is now willingly letting himself be open with Cale.
"For me, everyday with you is already special."
That is the truth.
Cale smiles, closes his eyes for a moment to truly feel the weight of Roksu's words, and intertwines his fingers to the hand on his cheek, dragging it to his lips to place a soft kiss on the warm palm.
"Ah. I really love you, Roksu."
Their eyes meet, and the intensity of Cale's gaze had Roksu turning away, a blush dusting his ears.
"Let's go, we're going to be late." Roksu manages to squeak, dragging Cale by their intertwined hand to their destination and refusing to acknowledge the blush creeping up his face.
Cale only laughs, following along, and noting the squeeze on his hand as Roksu's hold tightens as if afraid he'd accidentally let go.
This may not be the moment Cale envisioned it to be, but somehow, it is better.