Work Text:
"I will have my first photoshoot in my life next week actually," Hyuntak, in his mid 20s, says to his new date, Humin, as they sit across each other, sipping coffees from cream-colored mugs on top of which gentle steam rises upward. His brown button-up perfectly fits the overall snug atmosphere of the cafe. "It's nerve-wrecking actually, I'm scared I'd do bad."
He is a new, upcoming model, who just finishes his modelling school after giving up boring, office life. Besides, modelling has been his dreamㅡand people, honestly, wouldn't be against it. He has great physique paired with gifted, godly visual. Modelling can never go wrong for him.
And well, another dream of his is to have a boyfriendㅡa husband, by the age of 30. So here he is, meeting possible partners after partners from dating apps, and Humin, the fine delivery worker who sits across him, looking effortlessly good just in his maroon polo, is the third one he has been meeting for the past year. Nothing has really worked for him; all of them were nice, he can't refute that. But he thinks the sparks just don't last that long. First time he broke it, the second one, his ex called it off. Yes, he is gay.
"Oh, come on!" Baku rebuts, sliding in friendly chuckles in between. "With that look of yours there is no way you'd do bad, trust me!" he says enthusiastically, hands moving in circular motion above the table, referring to how ethereal his date's face is. Holy, he isn't even trying to be tactful. He even screamed when he got matched with someone his caliber, on whose profile is written: aspiring model, looking for long-term relationships, while he has 'I deliver fried chickens for a living.'
Chats after chats bring them here, on their first date, good impressions are given to each other that they are willing to go on next few dates to see how this is progressing.
Hyuntak awkwardly smiles at the compliment. He has gotten used to it... slightly. Even through text, his date has always been busy throwing praises. He loves it, definitely, it really feels like he is interested in him. "Would you like the honor to come to my first shoot?" he asks bravely even when the crippling fear of executing poorly is deeply latent in him.
Humin backs on his chair, not expecting the invitation. "Wait, whoa, I can do that?" he asks, pupil dilated in surprise and excitement. Being a delivery worker really sets him on different side of world from Hyuntak so it seems foreign, yet enticing.
The other laughs at his adorable demeanor, those pair of bubbly, brown eyeballs Hyuntak loves so much in full display. "Surely, you can! I can ask around!"
"T-Then I will definitely come!" he says, eyes beaming in glittering lights like a little kid promised a trip to the most fabulous aquarium in the country, both palms on the edge of the table, body slightly slanted against it. "When is it? When is it?"
Again, Hyuntak laughs. "You're so cute," he mumbles, but loud enough that Humin blushes and leans back on his seat. It's Hyuntak's turn to rest forward, folding his toned arms on the wooden furniture. "Next Saturday, my turn starts around 4 p.m.," he answers with a bright and fervent smile, as he is just filled with joy as Humin. "Really, I'd be happy if you can come."
"Of course I can!" Humin grins from ear to ear. "We can go on a second date while we're at it, what do you say?"
"Lovely!"
"It's a deal then!"
"Although, Humin..."
"Hmm?"
"Humin."
"Park Humin." Hyuntak repeats.
"Park Humin."
Humin forces his eyes open as a voice calls for his name in his in-ear, which feels like it has repeated for a few times. Funny how it blends really well with a mix of memories and dreams about his first date with Go Hyuntak, the pretty guy he stumbles upon that silly dating apps he tried for fun. He pants, lying flat on the concrete ground, breaths a little ragged as mix of blood and sweat trickles down his temple.
"Where's that motherfucker Baku? He meets his end finally?" Another voice speaks across the line, followed with a chuckle, calling him using his nickname.
He snaps back to reality as he sits up, holding his spinning head. "Ah, fuck, sorry," he responds. "That last one guy managed to hit me in the head it seems as I broke his ribs." He recalls the last moment of his consciousness as he punched a gangster in the ribs very hard, a tad too late as he swung the metal pipe on his head. Thankfully, he is innate to a brutal endurance. A blow on his head isn't enough to incapacitate him. "I let my guard down, my bad, how many of them again?"
"Thirty. Thirty tree to be exact," the first voice across the line answers. It was Na Baekjin, the brain of this whole Union organization, a hidden and top secret group that operates in stealth to take care of just as concealed evil corporations like gangsters and mafias. He is a meticulous, rigid, and taciturn of a person. Everything to him is based on logic and data. Though, from Humin's observation lately, something has been gnashing at his heart, although slow yet deliberate. He doesn't know who, though, he is secretive like that.
"Ah, that's unfortunate. I thought that dumbass has finally died," the second voice joins, the most annoying of them all. Geum Seongje, another member of the group, and sadly his long-time friend since high school, along with Baekjin, although Seongje would be reluctant to call them both as 'friends'. He is a juxtapose to Baekjin, on different side of pole. He is noisy, annoying, and impulsive. He acts rashly and purely driven by personal desire. Although Humin can't lie that he is also reliable and loyal. Stupid adversities actually happened between them throughout their lives, but now that they are grown ups, no bad blood remains. And Baekjin, being the brain that he always been, decides to gather the three of them together once again, once renowned as the strongest fighters everywhere they go, to do this 'not-so-saint' underground activities. Humin joins for the benevolent goal as well as the good pay. Seongje joins for the fun. And pay as well.
"Oh, fuck you, Seongje," Humin retorts in annoyance. "You'd have died that day were Baekjin and I not rush toㅡ"
"Whoa, whoa, hold it right there, Mr. Savior," Seongje replies, much to Humin's further annoyance. "For one, I was ambushed. Two, fuck you too." He swears if it's possible, he would like to reach his hand across the phone to choke him to death.
"I swear to Godㅡ"
"Cut it, you two," Baekjin goes in, and it never fails to pull them back to their seats. "Especially you, Seongje."
Humin can hear Seongje scoff as he starts to get up, swatting dust off of his jet black leather jacket. He scans across the abandoned warehouse, finally recollecting full remembrance of his one-man assault against thirty three of these weaklingsㅡnow scattered all across the vacant building like dead meats. They are not dead, just a clarification. As he remembers the blunt blow on his head at that last moment, he traces his head, right around the part where it hurts and well, damn it hurts when he touches it. Solution: don't touch it.
"Humin, two more people are approaching the building," Baekjin warns as he watches the security cameras around the warehouse. Where is he getting the live footages from? Hi-jacked, of course. Did I mention how much of a brain he is? Yes, that's why.
Humin pulls a deep breath and followed his friend's instruction to hide next to the half closed, heavy iron slide door by the end of the corridor. He prepares his stance as Baekjin notifies him that the back-ups are about to sneak in from beneath the gate. Soon as he sees a figure crouching down to pass the door, he moves as fast as lightning with a strong kick using his right foot aimed at the shin of the front guy. Kick so strong that not only it would leave bruise on his foe's leg, the poor guy gets knocked off of the ground horizontally, falling forward in a quick motion that his chin severely hits the ground, sound of bone cracking echoes the little corner.
He then quickly switches to stand on his right foot and hit the other guy, who is still ducking under the metal door, and kick him hard with his knee on the chin. His jaws crack and possibly his skull too as it harshly hit the steel door above him. Humin grabs his neck and puncture his ribs with one deadly jab, retracted immediately upon impact for most efficient damage. Both of the back-ups are utterly disarmed upon arrival. He whips his knuckles a little, feeling the recoil, as he drags the unconscious ruffian with his left hand into the warehouse.
That has always been what Humin is renowned for, regarding his fighting style: a one-hit K.O, a little too similar to Baekjinㅡwell, that's expected, Humin taught Baekjin how to fight in the first place, though Baekjin is now more expert as he combines it with his analytical brain, enabling him to hit weak spots more precisely with a scarily accurate timing. Those two contrast with Seongje, though, who is also strong, but leans more toward multiple blows instead of one decisive and clean punch. Why? He enjoys torture.
Humin slides out the building as Baekjin informs it's safe, closing the door. "I will anonymously tip the police to surround the warehouse later. You can start chasing down the guys that manage to escape from Seongmok and Dongha's strike."
He then rushes to find his delivery bike he parked not far from the assault zone. He now needs to zap the escapees from their center of operations which Seongmok and Dongha just besieged, ending this particular evil organization for all. According to their reports, they might have carried the copy of the sensitive information their client has asked of them to get rid of. Their mission would not be complete were they not to be caught.
"They are currently passing the main crossroad near Eunjang, stuck in a traffic light," Baekjins tarts to brief, sitting on his comfortable seat remaining calm and collected as ever, hands clasped together as he watches countless security cam live footages. "12-SO-7162. A black sports bike, two passengers."
Humin ignites his vehicle and quickly turns the gas handle, the engine of the poor bike screeching from sudden acceleration. From outside, it looks like a regular delivery vehicle: standard, a cargo at behind and all. But both him and Baekjin had agreed to revamp the inside of it totally for chasing missions like this. Plus, thanks to his years of delivery experience, Humin is a real seasoned road traverser. Tailing down escaping targets, squeezing in late deliveries, navigating through narrow terrains. You name it, he has experience in all.
"So, the fastest route should be through Yeoil, using the shortcuts next to the high school, right?" Humin clarifies as he starts the track down, skillfully maneuvering himself in between cars and narrow spaces.
Baekjin hums. "Considering their speed and trajectory, with your pace you can encounter them still a few kilometers from the warehouse, around Ganghak neighborhood," he confirms. "I can entrust you with this, right, Humin?"
He chuckles. What is the question even for. But he wasn't the only one chuckling, another one follows like an echo. "Lovey-dovey," Seongje interrupts in a way Humin wants him dead right now. "Yo, Bakuㅡ"
"I muted him for you."
Humin laughs, now louder, although the wind blows it away as he speeds up. He mutters a quick thank you before focusing on the road, because apparently, even a millisecond of blurred concentration would end up with him on a hospital bed.
After a few minutes of extreme haste, he finally spots the motorcycle Baekjin mentioned, which is unfortunately also going fast, not letting him slow down or else he fails to catch up with them. His plan was to stealthily tail them until he can find an opening to attack them, but with this pace it seems hard not to be noticed.
So with a change of plan, he deliberately accelerates, sound of his engine blaring through the roads, letting them know that they are being followed. And the chase begins, neither parties want to back and slow down.
Humin racks his brain. Two possible outcomes: they rush to their whatever destination, which he can easily snag as they park their vehicle, or they lead them somewhere quiet so they can ambush him. Humin laughs to himself knowing in both scenario he would win against these pitiful gangsters anyway. He wonders, world be damned if he'dㅡor three of them, Baekjin, him, and Seongjeㅡbe the gangsters instead. They'd be real unstoppable. Fortunately, they are good people.
"That turn leads to a dead-end. Kind of P-letter turn," Baekjin informs Humin, monitoring yet another live footage, as well as Humin's GPS tracking, witnessing the brutes taking a sharp turn into a smaller path from the main road.
"Gotcha."
He follows just in time to see the bike he is chasing taking the turn. If it's really a P-turn like Baekjin said, 100% chance they will crash if he were not to take the turn. He smirks as he riskily speeds up even more, not taking the turn. As he sees the opposing bike speeding to his direction, he boosts the speed one last time before skillfully jumping off the vehicle. Caught off guard with the plan, the two gangsters were far too late to dodge and along with a deafening crash the vehicles got demolished from extreme speed, while the two passengers got thrown a few feet up in the air. Humin quickly retracts from his feet, catching both of them with each hand, slamming them into a nearby wall with enough strength so they concuss their heads to unconsciousness.
"How long should I keep them out until you notify the police?" Baku asks.
"20."
Baku exhales, letting the two guys drop down on the concrete as he gauges that would suffice for more than 20 minutes. He cracks his neck and shoulders from slight fatigue after all the actions. That was one adventure. He then rummages the pockets of the fainted ruffians, looking for any hard drive that would potentially be the data they were asked to protect. After Baekjin confirmed it was correct he snaps the drive into two and keeps it in his jacket, intending to give it to Baekjin later to make sure it's properly destroyed. Well, he doesn't know his device-ry after all!
"Ah, shit, dad's gonna scold me," he says, referring to the destroyed delivery vehicle.
"I can call a mechanic to get it done," Baekjin reassures. "Though, there's a chance we will get you a new one instead."
Humin laughs at the remarks. "Yeah, that's quite likely." He snaps back to his private life as he sees the time on his watch. 3.45 p.m. "Oh, goddammit, how am I gonna get there in 15 minutes?" he rhetorically asks himself, scratching his head and nape in panic.
"A date with that guy?" Baekjin asks, eavesdropping him. "Oh, please, Seongje, you are the only hopelessly romantic here." he continues, seemingly answering Seongje's annoying banners which are still muted to Humin. Satisfying.
"W-Well, no, but yes... but no, I don't know."
His phone buzzes in his leather jacket pocket. "I sent you a location of our station nearby. They can lend you a vehicle and spare clothes. Perhaps all you need even."
"Oh my god, Na Baekjin! You are such a lifesaver!" he shouts in huge relief, looking at the location which are only a few hundred meters away. "Okay, Baku's signing off today, guys! Ciao!" And with that, he rushes his way before any crowd start forming from the noise, butterflies growing in his stomach thinking about meeting his new boyfriend, no other than Go Hyuntak.
Park Humin
[9:09]
me: are you really coming today?
me: you really don't have to, humin!
[9:15]
Park Humin: ofc i am!!!
Park Humin: how can i miss your first modelling job!!!
Park Humin: though i have some works later
Park Humin: hopefully i can finish on time
[9:21]
me: hahaha that's so sweet of you
me: alright see you there, humin!
me: don't forget 4 pm!
Park Humin: 😳
Park Humin: alr8! see you, hyuntak!
[15:35]
me: hahaha i'm actually nervous now that i'm prepared on the set
me: you are really coming?
[15:50]
me: humin?
me: are you not coming?
Hyuntak closes his phone, placing it on the vanity table in the dressing room as he sends that one last message. He lets out a deep breath, both from trying to mentally prepare himself for his nerve-wrecking first job, and from slight disappointment that his new date might not make it. He isn't sure, though, why he would feel that way. It's really unlike him. It was never the case with his exes. So, why now with Humin?
He can't deny, though, that Humin is lovely. His lively and quite rumbunctious demeanor both during the date as well as through texts make him fall for him completely, and more importantly, this quickly. It has never happened with his past lovers before. He is excited. He is curious. He wants to know more about him. He wants more between them. He wants them to take this into more serious relationship. Only even after one meeting.
He shakes his head, shrugging off the nonsensical thoughts. Because there is no way Humin would think the same, no?
"You got his, Hyuntak," he says to himself, eyes closed. As he opens them once again, he can see himself looking all dolled up in the mirror. A crew cut, pink-reddish cheek, and a black and blue sleeveless shirt showcasing his fit arms. He can't lie, he is proud at how good he looksㅡthanks to the visual director and the makeup artists as well. The concept for today's shoot is casual youth so he would be make wearing quite childish setups, yet comfy and homey, topped with matching makeups to make him look younger.
Just as he regains his composure, the director pops out by the doorway, letting him know that the his turn is starting. Honestly, he thought with or without Humin would make no differenceㅡhe landed this project before he knew him after all! But now that he is aware of the chance Humin might see him, he wants to do good. But that opens another door, of disappointment, from knowing that he isn't going to make it like they agreed. But either way, show must go on.
So Hyuntak walks out following the director to the shoot area illuminated by variously angled lightings and cool photographic equipment he learnt about in his course. The nerve hits him as he gulps. It really isn't as easy as he thought. It's just a photoshoot, he thought, what would be so different from a photo studio or something? But with eyes of the crews anticipating good works from him, the pressure feels compressing.
"Hyuntak!"
He heard it, faint, half-shouting. A familiar voice he has been longing to hear. He quickly bats his eyes behind the crowds, spotting a very familiar tall figure, waving his hand up in the air, with a wide smile plastered on his face. And there goes all his worries as he giggles on his own. He smiles back briefly, before retracting all of his focus to his work, now that his heart is at rest knowing Humin kept his promise.
After two full hours waiting and watching his date posing under the spotlight, numerously mumbling to himself, "Whoa, he is really pretty...", subconsciously, and a few outfit changes later, the shoot finally finishes early thanks to Hyuntak's professionalism. Hyuntak, now wearing a bright and colorful long-sleeved polo shirt and a pair of black shorts only covering half of his thighs hops from the spotlight, rushing his way towards Humin behind the crowd.
"You came!" he greets excitedly, taken over by a soaring elation that he involuntarily wraps his date in a hug.
Humin freezes, eyes wide opened as that was never in his imagination as to what their greeting today would look like. His amazement hat has been persisting every time Hyuntak posed now turned into total astonishment his jaw dropped to the floor. He hasn't even finished processing how sexy he looked in those skimpy getups and now he is wrapped in a tight hug. He can't even bring himself to return the hug. He is completely petrified and shuffled, cheeks flushed pink, almost matching Hyuntak's exaggerated blush.
The model, who has been hugging him for quite a few seconds with eyes closed, finally comes to his sense, his eyes burst open abruptly, realizing what kind of crime he is committing. He immediately lets go, his cheeks burning red in color. "I-I-I'm sorry, I wasㅡ"
"I-It's okay!" the other quickly responds, trying his best not to get caught freezing from a mere hug.
...
He was, in fact, not the only thing stilling, stiff as a cardboard. The air between now them fills with awkwardness, none of them dares to say anything to break the silence.
"Thank you for coming!" "Y-You did really well!"
...
Oops. Awkward.
"Y-You first!" "You first!"
...
Both of them now have their eyes on the floor, not enough mental strength to deal with the fiddly atmosphere. Humin has both his hands behind his back, fingers busy playing with his own nails while Hyuntak has his in front of him, clasped together, thumbs continuously tapping against each other. He wants to bury himself alive for his hasty action. It's only a hugㅡthey did once, actually, but maybe the timing is just really abrupt this time that he can't forgive himself.
"Y-You did well!" Humin says finally, looking up just by his eyes, catching a glimpse of his shy date as he looks up upon hearing his voice. As Hyuntak lifts his head, Humin can swear the world falls into slow motion. The way his delicate eyelashes flutter as he looks up and his beautifully sculpted face comes into vision as he gazes back at him. Oh my, he is beyond pretty all dolled up like this he wants to kiss him so badly. Wait, what? "V-Very well, actually!" And continues with an inaudible mumble, "and looked insanely handsome too."
Hyuntak replies with a laugh, a little bit relieved that Humin just helped release the tense air between them. "Thank you," he responds with a soft smile, "and for coming too."
"Of course I came! I promised!"
Humin is really trying his best, I'm assuring you, but with Hyuntak looking like a mythical being in front of him, his chest drums heavily as if his heart is begging to get out of his ribcage. His face is still red from the excessively pumped up blood. At that moment, he thought, maybe God made evil in this world then sent Hyuntak down as an apology.
"Humin?"
"W-Whoa, yes?" He was caught in his own thoughts, not realizing that Hyuntak has been moving his head and face closer, making sure if he is still attached to Earth.
The model laughs heartily at how cutely Humin reacts. "I think I'm gonna get changed first," Hyuntak says. "Let's go somewhere to eat after I'm done?"
He just nods excessively in a quick motion, utterly paralyzed by his beauty. Hyuntak laughs again, followed with a smile before turning around, going back to the dressing room.
"W-Wait, Hyuntak!"
Hyuntak is stopped with not only a sudden call, but also a hand grabbing his wrist. As he turns around, he finds himself suddenly enveloped in a tight hug, his chin resting on Humin's wide shoulder. He can feel Humin's breath on his neck it's making his heart race. Thanks to that though, Humin, with his heart also racing at the same pace as Hyuntak's, won't have his date aware of his wildly beating heart as they are both busy minding their own speeding pulses.
"At least let me return the hug from before."
It's warm. Very warm. Hyuntak gives in to how snug and homey Humin's hug feels. It's as if he brings solace and repose. He closes his eyes, slowly wrapping his arms around Humin's surprisingly snatched waist as he digs into Humin's shoulder blade with his face. The two just stay that way for a few seconds. No words, no movement. Just a mutual warmth shared through an embrace of each other's affection.
Onion Ringz🧅
[18:37]
baekjinnie: Hello, everyone @me @fuckass seongje, sorry for the sudden notice, but we have an urgent meeting at 8 p.m. tonight.
baekjinnie: I repeat, urgent, please do attend at our hideout. Any nuisances would be properly compensated.
fuckass seongje: damn no time to even rest
baekjinnie: It's just an initial meeting, nothing more. We are striking a partnership for a new mission.
[18:38]
me: fine...
fuckass seongje: na baekjin look at what youve done lol you ruined bakus date
me: don't act like you care???
baekjinnie: I know, Humin, I'm so sorry. But it's an emergency.
me: yeah, dw i'll be there
[18:39]
fuckass seongje: i wont be there
baekjinnie: No, you will. End of discussion. See you, everyone. Thanks for the cooperation.
Humin closes his phone, audibly sighing because just like Seongje has pointed out, the date, which is something that has been in his mind the whole day, is annulled today. Disappointed is even an understatement! He has been imagining a nice dinner with his pretty soon-to-be boyfriendㅡbeing hopeful now, aren't we? Now, it seems that has to wait. Baekjin rarely uses the words 'urgent' and 'emergency'ㅡhe is one of the most true-to-his-word person Humin has ever known, so he knows when he says something, he really means it.
And yes, Humin named the group chat.
Breaking him from his sorrow is a familiar voice talking in quite a low tone, as if he is making sure no one can hear him. Well, not the case for Humin, thanks to his experiences, eavesdropping to faint voices isn't much of a challenge. Though, that being said, it's unfortunately too subtle to tell what he is saying through his phone. That, or he just can't focus enough because the voice hits his ears like a melting honey. Hyuntak's. It's sweet and melodious. A voice that'd fit perfectly as something he would hear as soon as he wakes up every day, saying, 'Good morning.' Huh? What?
Hyuntak finally spots Humin jumping from his seat as he puts his phone in his grey blazer pocket. Beneath it is a slick and clean, skin-fit white t-shirt, accentuating his build, completed with a pair of dark jeans and milky white sneakers. Oh, wow, Humin has always thought Hyuntak is a fine man. But this, right here, is even more than that. Ravishing, if he is to borrow Baekjin's wide vocabulary.
As Hyuntak approaches him, groggily scratching his own nape as if he is holding in something to say, Humin doesn't even hold back. It's like his mouth has a brain of its own. "You look gorgeous..." he blurts out.
"W-What?" the other can barely reply, not expecting that reactionㅡwell, at least, not this soon. Just like Humin, he has been looking forward to today. He spent a good chunk of time in front of his wardrobe, deciding what to wear as he wants, like wants, to impress Humin with his lavish looks. And well, it's working and he is definitely happy that he can't hide the natural blush crawling up his face. A little throwback to how Juntae, his friend, responded to his text about how he has nothing nice to wear to go on a date, 'Oh, well, then just wear nothing!'.
Humin takes a second to glance down at his own fits. Long, plain, a little ragged from the fight earlier, black t-shirt and ripped jeans. He is almost feeling apologetic for looking like that for Hyuntak. "I-I'm sorry," he utters, "I didn't present myself as good as you..."
The confusion in Hyuntak's face from the suddenly apology quickly turns into a smile. "Oh, come on, it's okay!" he reassures. "It's just a casual date anyway! Plus, you look good enough just like this." He pauses with a sigh, recalling the phone call and uneasy feeling from earlier. "Well... what might have been a date."
"Hmm?" Humin hums in response to that questionable last remark, the smile from being called looking good slowly dissipating.
"Thing is... Sorry, Humin, I... don't think I can go today," he courageously says, feeling very heavy for the sudden cancellation. He looks him in the eyes, trying to assure the other that the apology is genuine. "W-Wait, what happened to you?" he suddenly asks, changing the topic, as he just realizes the torn and dried bloody part at the corner of Humin's lips. Silly him, he swears. He spent a few minutes talking to him, even hugging him, and just now realized the scar? "Are you okay?" he instinctively lifts his hand to attempt caressing the wound, his thumb almost brushing with Humin's pink lips.
The other freezes, heartbeat raging inside him as Hyuntak just breaches his space once again. "I-I-I'm fine, really! Just a little accident at work earlier..." he excuses.
Hyuntak surprisingly isn't retracting any time soon, although his brain and heart have been fighting on if he should push forward or not. "Does it hurt?" he asks, gently touching his thumb on the woundㅡyeah, his heart won.
"Just a little."
He sighs. "Get it treated before it gets worse, okay?" he lectures him as if Humin isn't used to this kind of wounds, though Humin still nods slowly. After pulling his hand back, Hyuntak steps closer, eliciting a dilated pupils from Humin. "Umm... Humin," he says, their faces never been this close before. Hyuntak gulps, mentally preparing himself before closing his eyes and leans his face closer.
Humin disfunctions, completely stoned, heck, even his heart feels like stopping from how mad it is rampaging inside his chest. It's real. It's just not his delusionsㅡyes, he imagines about this. Hyuntak's lips are pressed delicately against his, his long and pretty eyelashes on full display right in front of his eyes, and their noses grazing against each other. It's a reality that feels totally like a dream due to how lulling it feels.
After a few seconds of warmth placed on Humin's lips, he finds Hyuntak pulling back, face all red from the valiant action. It's not hard for him to assume that he is probably just as red as he is, maybe even more. "I-I hope that'd make up for it," Hyuntak explains with an awkward smile. "For cancelling the date, I'm sorry. I can't make it tonight... I have somewhere else to be."
"Oh..."
Oh.
Humin, still dazed from the kiss as it was unbelievably wonderful, stays put on his feet. He heard Hyuntak's words and is fortunate enough to process it, but it feels like his whole body is shackled, unmoving. He just stares, eyes locked not at Hyuntak's eyes, but a little lower. Lips. It still feels unreal.
"H-Hey, Humin?" Hyuntak snaps his date, waving a hand in front of his face. "S-Sorry, that was so sudden, I know," he apologizes again. "Thing is... I do like you. Your presence is so comforting. And I'm not against us going out... if you'd like that."
The confession feels really out of the blue Hyuntak wants to bury himself 6 feet under the ground for the second time as the silence is painstakingly stabbing him. Humin, who was been in a system-crash error state for a while, is spiraling down even more after the revelation. His heart would scream at his dense head, 'Come on, tell him back! Tell him you do too, idiot!'.
"Hey, say something, will you?" Hyuntak says, face getting even redder from embarrassment.
The model jumps in his spot as Humin abruptly prompts to numerously slapping his cheeks with both his hands, forcefully taking him back from his absentmindedness. He pants, releasing puffs and puffs of air as he shakes his head slightly. "I'm sorry," he finally says back, now the ice that traps him has melted. "T-That was too sudden, yes, I was pleasantly surprised."
"Ah," Hyuntak responds, drawing a sheepish grin, scratching his nape.
"Pleasantly," he repeats. "I'd love that. Going out. You and I."
"W-Wait, really?" his eye shoots up, wide-open, as Humin just reciprocates his feelings. "I meanㅡ"
This time, it's Humin's turn to act boldly. He cuts Hyuntak's off mid sentence with a forefinger gently tugging his chin, face leaning in to close the gap between them, a little slanted for a better angle. A kiss takes place again, but instead of an awkward, one-sided type, this time it's far sweeter. Hyuntak can't even get himself to describe how attractive Humin's digit under his chin is. And to think that they are, ahem, officially going out now is surreal.
"Is that for your answer?" Hyuntak says as they part, smile wider than ever, not seeming to diminish any time soon.
"No, that's for cancelling today's date," he says, repeating the same excuse Hyuntak pulled earlier. "I can't make it today too, so I'm returning the kiss. We are even now, right?"
"Oh..."
Oh.
"Well, then, let's plan another date for another day?" Hyuntak suggests.
Humin nods, casually offering a place he knows: his dad's chicken shop, to which the other laughs adorably but is not against the idea. Rather, he is a little too enthusiastic accepting the offer. Humin then offers a hand, to which his new boyfriend raises his eyebrows. "I know it'd be just brief, but would you like walking out holding hands?"
It's silly, Hyuntak thinks, but will he complain? No. In fact, it might be the best day of his life this year: his first dream job going smoothly, and his target not to be single by 30 is progressing, rapidly at that, at least let's hope. He takes Humin's hand, the staggering difference in size catching him a little off-guard. It's a good thing though, his hand is just as comforting as his presence. Imagine waking up in the morning between those arms, in a tight hug. Huh?
And so they part ways for the day, both having different appointments to tend to, yet also having the same lingering feelings of content sprucing up their evening.
The next date would be very wonderful, they just know.
A few minutes ago, Hyuntak's phone call.
"Hello, guys, sorry for the sudden group call."
"No worries, what is it, Sieun? Group call usually means something urgent?"
"Well, yeah, it is."
"Oh my god, is something happening at our base?"
"Yes and no. You two know about The Union right? Apparently, we are up to an opportunity to work with them for a new espionage mission."
"Wait, The Union?"
"Yeah."
"The one led by your crush Baekㅡ"
"Ahem, Juntae, so we are holding a meeting with them tonight at 8."
"Wait, what am I missing about this crush thing?"
"... Alright, 8 it is, okay? I will send you the address. See you there, Hyuntak, Juntae."
"Sieun has been having a crush on thㅡ"
"..."
The line cuts off.