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Beomseok wasn't used to being doted on. His experiences in life was always cold shoulders and sharp glances. He wasn't the best at physical affection, always connecting it with underlying motives for people to get close to him, whether it was for money that he no longer had as he cut off ties with his "father" or some type of social hierarchy.
When he met Wooyoung he didn't really pay attention to him, his moniker in Beomseok's calculated mind was "Suho's MMA friend." He would occasionally tag along with Sieun to watch them spar. The only sounds you could hear in the gym was the sound of non detrimental punches and the whispers of whatever conversation that Beomseok and Sieun were having at the moment.
"Thank you guys for coming. I hope it wasn't too boring for you." Suho grabs a towel from Sieun's outstretched hand, his words somewhat muffled as he wipes the sweat from his face. "No problem. I love to spend my Saturdays watching two men punch at each other." Beomseok spat with no real bite behind his words. "Do you guys want to go out to eat? I'm starving." Beomseok turned to Sieun at Suho's words, who nodded in a agreement. "Yeah i'm down." Beomseok replied as Suho grabbed Sieun's hand leading him out the door making decisions about where they should eat.
"Let me grab your stuff for you." A voice called out softly from behind him. Beomseok turned around to see Wooyoung waiting patiently, a nervous look shadowing his face. "I can carry my stuff but thank you." He slings his bag over his shoulder, somewhat struggling to grab the books that he was using for his Intro to Art history class. Wooyoung takes the books from his grasp and walks out the gym ignoring the protests from the other man who storms out behind him.
Despite Beomseok's complaints, Wooyoung carrying his items for him becomes a very familiar habit. One day, It was his books. The next day, It was his art supplies for his latest project that he was having trouble moving to his dorm. The day after, he wasn't even struggling with carrying anything but Wooyoung was somehow determined to carry his bag for him, stealthily sliding it off Beomseok's shoulder to his own. (Which Beomseok would never admit he did find the notion somewhat attractive.)
"Have you ate anything?" He said, trailing beside Beomseok as he walked towards his dorm. "Not yet. I think I have some left over cup noodles in my cabinet." Beomseok tried to picture the contents that currently reside in his kitchen cabinet. "Let's go get something to eat." Wooyoung grabbed Beomseok's hand leading him towards to the resturant Suho works at. Beomseok tries to ignore the fluttery feeling he got in his chest at the gesture, quickly deciding it was from his lack of substenance today. "I'm okay. I can eat at the dorm." Beomseok protested but Wooyoung didn't slow down his pace.
"It wasn't a question." He continues to drag Beomseok into the restaurant and sits him down sliding a menu infront of him. "Seriously Woo i'm okay." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat at the kindness despite it not entirely unwelcome is something he is not completely used to even though he has been friends with Suho and Sieun for years and they are two of the kindest people he ever met, but he would never tell them that. "This looks good. We should get that. What do you think?" Wooyoung turns the menu towards him and points out a ramen dish. "I'm not that hungry." Beomseok's stomach betrays him as it growls at the mention of the delicious food he's looking at. "That's telling me something different. We're getting it." Beomseok internally curses at his stomach in his mind, as if it could cower in fear at his tense words.
"Hey guys. You ready to order?" Yeongi strolls up to the table, slightly bewildered because she never saw these two together without Suho or Sieun. "Yeah. Can we just get two bowls of beef ramen?" Wooyoung says, sliding the menus towards her. "For sure. It'll be here in a couple minutes." Yeongi walks away with both of the menus in her hand, reciting their order to the kitchen.
"How has your classes been lately. Did you finish that project you were bringing back to your dorm?" Wooyoung casually sips from his drink, his eyes meeting Beomseok's. Beomseok feels his face heat up at the other's stare looking down at his cup, anxiously stirring his drink with his straw. "Yeah I did. My professor didn't really like my assignment though, which I am frustrated about though because I followed all the requirements and he said and I quote, "Your art doesn't accurately showcase different ways to use light and shadow." Beomseok lowers his voice, in a way to mock his professor. "Like what the hell. I'm not trying to tell anyone how to do their job or whatever but this other person didn't even use light or shadow at all, like you can tell this person is just using this class as a way for extra credit and not actually has it as their fucking major but he gave them full fucking marks like actually what is his damage." Beomseok's wide eyes meet Wooyoung's warm ones at the other's quiet laugh. "I'm sorry for rambling ."
"No don't apologize. I never heard you talk that much since I met you, it makes me happy for you to be that comfortable."
Both of their meals get put infront of them and Beomseok couldn't tell if the heat coating his face was from the steam of the noodles or from the person he was sitting across from. "Why did you bring me out today?" Beomseok's words come out muffled, as he stuffs his face with the noodles.
"Outside of you being one more skipped meal from passing out on the university floor?" Wooyoung says, letting out a small laugh as Beomseok rolls his eyes. "You're being dramatic. I wasn't about to pass out."
"Yeah sure but the reason I brought you out today was because I wanted us to be closer instead of only having ties together because of Suho and Sieun. Is that okay?" Beomseok feels the air slowly leave his lungs at the other's honesty. Most of the people he met because of Sieun and Suho don't make the effort to get to know him. He knows no one means it in a way to be malicious but some people you just aren't meant or fit to get to know and he's accepted that. "Yeah. I'd like that." Beomseok replies, smiling shyly.
After the restaurant outing, Beomseok and Wooyoung began to hang out more often. Sometimes it was coffee shops after classes or Beomseok dragging Wooyoung to painting cafes and Wooyoung dragging Beomseok to his MMA trainings. "What made you want to be an MMA fighter?" Beomseok asked one day as they walked back to his dorm.
"To attract hot men." Wooyoung replied, bluntly which received a smack from Beomseok. "I'm serious. Do you think it's working?" Beomseok flashes a taken aback look, letting it fully sink in that Wooyoung basically called him hot. "Did you just call me hot?"
"Would it be a bad thing if I did?" He turns to Beomseok at the question, his eyes roaming his face lingering on his lips for a split second. Beomseok slids his bottom lip in between his teeth as Wooyoung follows the movement. "I guess not."
"Then yeah I did. Let's go. We're almost late for my time." Wooyoung grabs the other's hand and drags him down the sidewalk.
"So when are you and Wooyoung going to be official?" Beomseok chokes on his water at Sieun's words. "What are you talking about?" Sieun doesn't look up from his laptop but rolls his eyes at Beomseok's faux confusion. "Ya'll hang out all the time. He's constantly doting on you. Carrying your stuff, buying you food even though we all know you obviously have the money, and I know all about your little painting dates."
"They're not dates. We're just hanging out." Beomseok smiles softly at the thoughts of the paintings of Wooyoung's that he has hanging in his dorm room that he was adamant on keeping despite Wooyoung's protests. "What we're doing right now is hanging out. The thing you're smiling brightly about more than I ever seen you smile is literally dates. Don't ruin this by your self sabotaging and not believing that you deserve good things." Beomseok frowns at Sieun's words but doesn't protest it because deep down he knows he's right.
Beomseok is walking out of his class when he sees Wooyoung standing casually against the wall. "You got plans today?" He says, grabbing Beomseok's bag from his hand easily. "No. Why?"
"You ask a lot of questions, you know? I got somewhere to take you, let's go." He grabs Beomseok's hand and leads him towards the entrance of their college. Beomseok spots orgamied shaped flowers on the ground littering the sidewalk in a neat line. "What are these?" Beomseok stares at Wooyoung quizzicaly as the other shrugs. "I don't know. Open it and see."
Beomseok opens the flower to see scratchy handwriting on the inside. "Reasons I like you #1: The soft way you smile when you think no one is looking. " They continue to walk down the path, Beomseok's chest tightening as he continues to read the flowers.
"Reason I like you #2: When I would grab your things at first you would hesitate or prevent me from grabbing them but now you hand your bag to me whenever I pick you up from class"
"Reason I like you #3: The way your face heats up when I hold your hand, your eyes contemplating whether you want to let go or squeeze tighter. Lately, I feel you hold my hand tighter and my heart skips a beat."
"Reason I like you #4: You don't think you deserve to be pampered. I would always see the look in your eye when you would how Suho would treat Sieun and your eyes would equally soften but also have a spark of desire flicker through them that only I noticed. That was the day I realized I wanted to be that person for you."
"Reason I like you #5: How you put all of yourself into art. Every emotion, whether positive or negative can be seen in the streaks of paint. The beautiful feeling of when I saw your smile finally reach your eyes the first time when we went painting together. I want to see that smile all the time."
Tears spill from Beomseok's eyes as they walk towards to the end the sidewalk, as he's greeted with a picnic blanket filled with art supplies and food spread out neatly. "Come on." Wooyoung sits down on the blanket as Beomseok trails quietly behind. "I know I gave you all my reasons already but I have one more thing to read for you."
"Looking at you for the first time. I knew I always wanted to be the Man you need. That I always wanted to be the first one you could come to , whether it was good or bad days. That you'll always have someone to lift whatever weight you have on your shoulders, whether it be a bag or it be your shitty professor not giving you full marks because of light and dark shadows. I hope that I can always be the light in your life whenever you're experiencing dark shadows. I like you, Oh Beomseok."
Wooyoung leans forward wiping the tears off of Beomseok's eyes. "You gonna leave me hanging, pretty boy?"
"I'm not the easiest to love. I have a lot of bad days where sometimes it's hard for me to get out of bed but I do even though I don't talk for most of the day. I have abandoment issues and I do have a fear of people leaving me that I'll push them away first. I just I want you to know that so you can have the chance to change your mind or anything if you want t-" Beomseok's words get cut off as Wooyoung presses a soft kiss to his lips. "When I said I wanted to be the first one you come to even on good or bad days I meant that. Even if you have 3,000 bad days and one good one, I'll still be there because I will try to make those bad days good ones and even if I can't i'll be by your side through the bad days. So can you call me your boyfriend now or do you need 50 more reasons?”
Beomseok smiles and connects his lips with Wooyoung's. "I think I can do that, boyfriend.”