Archive of Our Own

"Will you marry me?"

Wooyoung chokes on the ramen he was slurping before he begins to coughs excessively and reaching for his cup of water. It's only after his fit had disappears entirely that he glances upwards at his very platonic best friend, San.

"… What the fuck did you just say to me?"

San readily repeats himself, eyes unbearably earnest. "I'm asking you if you want to get married."

Wooyoung stares at him, his mouth agape in disbelief.

"… Did you hit your head or did your crush on Yunho somehow turns you senile?"

San blinks, cheeks heating up. "Wh- Why are you even bringing him into this conversation!?"

"Because-!" Wooyoung slams his chopsticks onto the tissue placed on the table before pointing at him. "One: the only person I could ever picture you wanting to marry is him, and two: I don't swing that way."

"You definitely swing this way."

"Yeah but I definitely don't swing your way."

San opens his mouth to argue but ended up shutting it back up.

"… So, Are you in for marriage or not?"

Wooyoung huffs, crossing his arms as he lean back against his chair. "What part of I don't swing your way you don't understand, hm? I thought we agreed it's all platonic after high school."

San pouts, letting the silent stretches as he looks down on his cooling ramen. Poking into the noodle, he finds it already clumping, worsening his already disappearing appetite. "… Who said marriage has to be explicitly romantic anyway?"

"What the fuck are you even-?" Wooyoung begins to shout before taking a deep breath, calming himself down as he make a show of rubbing his forehead. "Okay, no, this is not working. Why are you talking about marriage all of a sudden?"

San froze, his hand that was holding the chopsticks staying in place. "… If it's a no then it doesn't matter."

"Choi San." Wooyoung raised an eyebrow, expectant. "I thought you'd know better than to hide anything from me."

San hesitates only a few minutes more before he gives in. After all, Wooyoung was right when he said that San cannot even try to hide anything from his best friend.

"… Money's a bit tight lately." He mutters, shoulders slumped in defeat. "The university requires us to move to a new dorm for next year's semesters but…"

Wooyoung frowns. "… You don't have the fee for motel fund?"

"Pretty much, yeah." San sighs, eyes moving everywhere but at Wooyoung. "My grades are high enough for scholarship but somehow not enough for free dorm room. I heard that married students got offered free rooms though since their quarters are rarely full so…"

Wooyoung rolled his eyes. "Why didn't you just say so earlier? I was getting worried that things were about to get awkward between us."

"I still have my pride you know." San retorts before, after a few more prodding on the broth, finally taking a bite out of his food. He hasn't eaten since morning so, even without appetite, he has to eat something. Besides, it'll be a waste of his money if he doesn't and he's already short of those.

Wooyoung snorts. "With me? Don't even pretend you have any."

"Fuck you." San said in-between his chewing. Wooyoung scrunched up his nose in disgust and throw a piece of napkin at him.

"Don't talk while you're chewing that's gross."

San stuck out his tongue at him before taking another bite. Wooyoung sighs, staring at the other silently as he continues to eats.

"…Well," Wooyoung starts again, catching San's attention. "I guess today's lunch on me. It's the least I could do."

San blinks, swallowing his ramen. "Eh? No need. I can still pay for my share-"

"San, you just ordered a bowl of ramen and water. It won't bother me really. Most importantly," Wooyoung shot him a concern look. "What are you going to do? I really can't afford to marry you right now since, well, I do have a boyfriend I'm actually in love with and we're moving out of the dorm next year. I would offer a room for you but the apartment we're renting barely have enough space for us both…"

"You and Jongho are moving out?!"

"Not the point. What are you going to do?"

San paused at his friend's serious tone, eyes looking downward at his reflection from his now empty ramen bowl.

Frankly speaking, he also have no idea. He doesn't have any parents to turn to and he can't afford to call his grandparents about this. They're old and frail now so San couldn't possibly make them work any harder than they already did when he tossed himself as a burden to them when he was young, not after he reassured them he'd be fine with only his part time job—one that he still hadn't been able to tell them he got fired from.

"… I guess I'll figure it out."

Wooyoung doesn't look too satisfied with the answer.

"Come on, isn't there anything else you can think of? What about your roommate? I'm sure Mingi can-" Wooyoung stops, eyes lighting up with idea.

"Mingi!" Wooyoung slams the table, causing it to rattle and catching the attention of some other costumers who were startled by the sudden loud noise.

"Don't be so loud!" San scolds, bowing slightly at the costumers around them as an apology before turning back to his best friend warily. "What is it though? What about Mingi?"

"He's Yunho's best friend right? I'm sure he can work something out between you two!"

San pinches the bridge of his nose, annoyed. "Why do you keep bringing up Yunho? Hell, what can Mingi even do about this situation?"

Wooyoung shrugs. "I don't know but I'm sure he can figure it out for you two. Mingi's smart."

San pursues his lips, still hesitant. "We can't be troubling him with this…

Wooyoung's grin don't falter. "Just ask first. You never know!"

-

Wooyoung drags him all the way back to Mingi's and his room, all while he babbles about the campus latest gossip. San, however, was too busy contemplating his choice of choosing to talk about this with Wooyoung and wondering if it's the right course of action.

When they got there, they startled Mingi by slamming the door open, causing the man to choke on the chocolate he was nibbling on.

Wooyoung didn't even spare a glance at the other's struggle before he begins his request, much to San's horror and Mingi's confusion and annoyance.

"… Marriage? With Yunho?" Mingi said as soon as he recovers from his coughing fit, balking at Wooyoung and San who has move away from the door to sat on the latter's bed. The former nods at him eagerly while San has his head buried into his beloved plushie, Shiber, resisting the urge to scream out of embarrassment and wishing the earth would swallow him before they even begin to talk.

"Hm…" Mingi squinted at them, popping a chocolate into his mouth before turning to San. "What's with the sudden proposal?"

"I just-" San sputters, peeking at him from behind shiber with a pout. "I need a place to stay next year, Mingi-yah. Money's a little…"

"… Ah," Mingi scratch his cheek, suddenly seeming a little sheepish. "That's right we have to leave this dorm for next year's semesters. I guess you're planning to get the married quarters?"

San resist the urge to whine, only burying his face deeper into his plushie again.

"Enough about that!" Wooyoung interrupts, catching the taller's attention again. "Is there something you can do? I heard that Yunho has been looking for a partner so…"

"Wait, what?" San shot up, looking at Wooyoung with a betrayed look. "You didn't tell me that-?!"

"You really don't keep up with the gossip, do you?" Wooyoung scoffs. "Literally everyone in our department have heard of this. No wonder you were so confused when I said to ask Mingi for help."

"Wha-?!"

"I mean," Mingi interjects, throwing the now empty chocolate box onto his table before scanning his messy desk. "I guess I could try asking. He's been rejecting people left and right still though…"

"Oh, I've heard of that too." Wooyoung frowns. "I've been curious about that. He said that he's looking for a partner but he's rejecting people. What's his problem?"

Mingi waves his hand dismissively, moving to grab for his phone that was buried under a discarded hoodie on his desk. "It's because he's looking for a fake partner. Not a real one."

Wooyoung blinks, his previously enthusiastic demeanor fading entirely. "… A fake?"

Mingi, oblivious to the sudden change of atmosphere, hums. "He's also looking to get the quarters. Said something about needing to move out of his parents house but not enough money to do so. He doesn't want like, an actual romance, just a contract marriage roommate, I guess."

San continues to bury his face into his plushie but Wooyoung seems to hesitate about this decision this time, looking at San with a scowl that deepens by the minute before turning back to Mingi.

"… No."

San finally lifts his head up, surprised at the sudden firm denial by his friend while Mingi paused in his texting to look at Wooyoung.

"…What?"

"Absolutely not. San doesn't need this whole contract marriage thing." He scowled, crossing his arms. "He shouldn't be used as some prop for someone's benefit-!"

"Woah, woah, hold the phone there." Mingi sputters. "Yunho's not trying to- It's nothing like that, man. He just need a place to stay and this marriage quarter is his only choice right now, same as San-"

"But-!"

"Wooyoung." San ended up interrupting, pinching his shirt slightly to catch his attention. "Stop that, hm? It's fine."

"No, it's not fine." Wooyoung disagrees, teeth gritted. "You don't get it, San. I saw what happened last time— I saw what that stupidly big heart of yours does to you for a man. I'm not letting you-"

"You- You worry too much, Wooyoung-ah. It's a little embarrassing when you put it that way, you know…" San chuckles nervously, avoiding Mingi's questioning gaze. He feels a little bad for making him witness this, especially when he has no context on what they're even talking about.

It's nice to know that Wooyoung cares so much about him but, as much as he was hesitant about this, he needs this. His financial situation are not going to fix itself anytime soon after all. He went through worse before, like Wooyoung said, so a fake marriage won't even hurt him anymore.

Besides…

"Yunho wouldn't do that to me." San said, if only to get Wooyoung on board. "You know how he is too, don't you? More than I probably do."

Wooyoung's jaw clenched. He seems to want to argue more but Mingi ended up interrupting their argument with a clearing of his throat, holding up his phone awkwardly. "Uh, Yunho answered me. He said that if you really want to go through with this, then you should go and meet him at the cafe near the library now if you're free."

Wooyoung looks at him and San stares back defiantly, raising an eyebrow as if challenging him.

Unfortunately for him, San can as stubborn as him when he wants to be.

In the end, the former back down with a sighs. "Fine. Let me at least walk you to the cafe, will you?"

San hums, nodding with a satisfied smile.

It's been a while since he won an argument with Wooyoung so he'll take this as a win.

"… Well, what are you waiting for?" He stands up, suddenly very spirited. "Let's go. Can't keep your Romeo waiting now, can we?"

Mingi looks at them, confused.

"Uh… Congratulations on your marriage in advance… I guess?"

Wooyoung shot him a glare that immediately shut him up while San lets out a loud, genuine laughter.

Maybe things will be fine after all.

-

Things doesn't seem like it would be fine and they're only on their way to the cafe.

Wooyoung walks by his side, still trying very hard to change his mind despite the fact that he was technically the one that starts this whole situation in the first place while San only smile and nods at every point he's making, trying so hard not to be annoyed.

"I ask Seonghwa-Hyung about him, they were roommates last semester, and he said that Yunho doesn't do his laundry on time-"

"You also don't, Wooyoung, that's nothing unusual. Besides, you know Hyung is a clean freak so-"

"Okay, yeah, but he also said that he always comes back late and he sometimes accidentally wake him up-"

"Wooyoung-ah." San sighs, exhausted. "It's really not that serious-"

"No, it is that serious! You already have a messy sleep schedule, especially with your insomnia, I can't have him waking you up in the middle of the night when you can sleep just because he came back late-!"

"Stop it, will you?" San snaps at last, hissing as they come to a stop right next to the cafe door. "I'm not changing my mind. I'll be fine, okay? I'm not made out of glass. I can handle something like this."

"Well, you shouldn't have to." Wooyoung huffs, crossing his arms. "There's gotta be other safer option. There's no need to sacrifice your emotional stability for money like this."

San rolled his eyes. "In this economy, sacrificing my emotional stability is the safest thing I can do. Now, can you please just leave and let me handle this?"

Wooyoung raised both of his hands in a surrending motion, though he doesn't seem pleased at all. "Fine, I'll let this be. Let's go in."

"What-!? No! Go away! You're not going to sit in the middle of our meeting like some sort of observer! Even my grandparents have never do this to me!"

"You were dating secretly! That doesn't count!" Wooyoung snaps back, tapping his foot impatiently. "Besides, I have something to discuss with him. I'll leave you two alone after that."

San narrowed his eyes at him. "Will you really?"

Wooyoung nods eagerly.

"… Fine. Just- don't do anything weird, okay?"

With a sigh, San pushes the door to the cafe open and scans the place to look for the familiar mop of blue black dyed hair. Yunho has been dyeing his hair a lot lately, something that San would have told him off for if they're closer with each other, so it's a little hard to tell when his hair is what colored. Thankfully though, he has been sitting on that one hair colour specifically for a while now so that make it easier for him to be spotted.

His eyes landed at the back of the cafe and perks up when he sees him sitting at a table near the window, the sunlight highlighting his frame and making him shine in his eyes. He's looking downward at a paper, his legs crossed and a cup of coffee sitting on the table.

San gulps. He hasn't talked to Yunho one on one since a few weeks ago now, their last conversation topic was literally about a syllabus for one of their classes too, so he can't help but feel a little nervous.

Yunho, however, seems to sense his gaze on him and looks up to meet San's eyes before a wide smile stretched on his lips as he waves for him. "Hey, over here!"

San smiles back and was about to answer when Wooyoung suddenly walk past him without a word. His eyes widened and he immediately chased after him. "Wait, Woo-!"

Yunho, spotting Wooyoung heading over his way continues to smile, his mouth opening to greet him too. "Hey Wooyoung! You're here too-?"

Wooyoung slams his hands on the table, surprising him and causing him to immediately drops his smile at the sudden aggression.

"Jeong Yunho." He said, his voice slightly deeper than usual and causing Yunho to sit up straight as if he were a soldier that were caught slumping in his chair. "I know all about your little arrangements here. Fake marriage for quarters, I get it. Money is tight for all of us. However…"

"Wooyoung-!" San said, reaching out a hand to pull him away from Yunho only for Wooyoung to slaps it away before pointing a finger at Yunho and causing the man to startle at the sudden gesture.

"If I even hear a word of you messing around with Sannie's feelings… Hell, if I even sense something is wrong," He starts, the pointing finger now jabbing onto the other's chest. "I will bury you before you can even dream of graduating and no one will ever find your body. Am I making myself clear?"

Yunho blinks while San couldn't help but covers his face with his hands, trying to hide his face in embarrassment. He had feared that Wooyoung would do something like this but part of him were hoping he wouldn't be as explicit as this in his threat.

"…I understand." Yunho ended up saying after a brief silence and making San lowers his hand to finally takes a look at him. Yunho has his hand on his chest, his friendly demeanour from before transforming into a sincere expression. "I assured you, I'm not playing around with him, Wooyoung-ah. It's an arrangement that benefits both of us. He's my friend too. I wouldn't dare to do such things to him."

Wooyoung doesn't seem convinced at all but he huffs, nodding and turning to San with a softer look. "I'll be at the library nearby. Just call me up before you leave, yeah? I'll treat you to something tonight too."

"Sure, I'll text you later." San smiles at him, giving his shoulder a pat. Wooyoung gives one last glare at Yunho before huffing once again and making his way to the cafe door, disappearing outside without another word.

"… What was that?" Yunho asked, a little shaken.

San gives him an uneasy smile. "… Let's just say you're not in his good book for a while."

"What does that mean-?"

"We can talk about Wooyoung later." San waves him off, hurriedly pulling the chair in front of Yunho out and sitting down. "Let's get started?"

"… Right, yeah." Yunho clears his throat, sliding a piece of paper and a manila file towards San. "I got the documents necessary for us to register our marriage. The procedure shouldn't be too complicated. As long as we filled these up, we can register it into the system and apply for the room."

San nods, examining the documents himself. Like Yunho said, it's nothing complicated to do. They just have to fill in their's and their family's information in some sections. "That's great. Is there a reason that you call me here for a discussion then? Or do we just fill these up and be on our way?"

Yunho hesitates and he could even feel his still warm ears, Wooyoung's threat still ringing in his ears. "Well, I figure that, since we're just in a… fake marriage, we should lay down some rules…? You know, just in case…"

"Oh…" San blinks, a little disappointed despite knowing exactly what this fake marriage would entail. "Uh, sure? What kind of rules are we talking about?"

Yunho pulls out a notebook and pen from his bag before turning it to a blank page. "I called you here because I'm also not sure. We should discuss it together since we'll be living together for the next few semesters."

"I guess groceries?" San suggests. "We should split the bills for it, right?"

Yunho nods, agreeing. "That's true. Let's see now…"

The discussion continues smoothly— they laid down some basic rules, Something that both of them seem to already knows since they've both lived with roommates before such as keeping quiet during the night or doing laundry on a timely manner, before they paused at one thing.

"… Ah," Yunho scratched the back of his head. "We can't… Have another relationship in general at the moment. Just in case the university found out about this marriage being fake. Is that alright?"

"Totally, yeah." San shrugs. "I don't really have anyone I like anyways. Do you?"

"… Huh? Oh," Yunho gulps, shaking his head. "No, I also- I also don't have any."

"Then it's settled." San nods, satisfied. "Do we fill it out now?"

"Sure." Yunho agrees, closing the notebook and putting it back into his bag while handing over the pen to San. "Next week, we'll apply for the marriage quarter as soon as our marriage got registered. Let's meet at the city hall right after class. Sound good?"

"Perfect." San said, busily scribbling on the marriage form before handing it back to Yunho with a smile. "I guess I'll see you next week then?"

Yunho paused as he took the form and pen from San, eyes quivering slightly as if he's searching for something to say before sighing. "Of course."

"Okay then." San stood up with a smile, taking out his phone from his pocket before clicking on Wooyoung's contact as he walks away. He turns to see Yunho staring back at him before giving him a wave with a wide smile.

"See you later!"

Yunho smiles back, albeit not as bright as usual. "You too!"

-

The marriage registration took less time than they thought.

San was running a little late due to his final class taking a bit longer than it probably should but Yunho doesn't seem to mind, only giving him a wide smile as soon as he spots San coming out of the building.

Bless him for being so patient, really.

They then headed to the city hall together on the bus, seeing as Yunho's car is under repair and San doesn't have one to speak of. They sat in a comfortable silence for most of the ride, only conversing over something meaningless a few times before they got to their destination.

And then, just as soon as they got into the city hall, they were already married when they left 10 minutes later. The staff didn't question why they're getting married at a place like that, though San has a feeling that they're used to having their kind of case judging by the suspicious amount of photo booth materials they had.

"Congratulations on your marriage." The woman sitting on the desk said, smiling up at them. She must be new, considering that she actually thought they're getting married for love unlike her colleagues who already seems to realise the real reason they're here on a random Tuesday. "Hope you'll have a happy life ahead!"

"Thank you." Yunho nods with a surprisingly genuine smile. If San doesn't know any better, he would think they're actually getting married.

It's a little depressing.

The weather was chilly by the time they left, the previously hot afternoon air finally cooling down as evening beginning to creep in. They're both silent as they step onto the pavement, Yunho examining the paper in his hand carefully while San tries to not let his internal panic show on his face.

He's a married man now. What a weird thought. He should make sure to not say anything to his grandparents yet though, he's pretty sure their heart cannot take this if he were to just drop it on them all of a sudden.

"Well," Yunho starts, pulling San out of his thoughts. "This was… Certainly easier than expected, huh?"

San, despite everything, couldn't help but let out a chuckle. The situation is just too absurd. "I know. it barely took us ten minutes, and look," He mused, pulling out a strip of photo from his jacket. "We even got a wedding photos. How nice of them."

Yunho snorts, taking it from San's hand and handing over the document to the other instead. San tries very hard to not have any reaction when their fingers brush as the exchange happens. "Well, it's better than nothing. I guess they thought we could at least laugh about it in the future or something."

San laughs, waving off the sentiment. He doesn't want even to think about the end of this arrangement— at least not yet. "Anyways, shouldn't we apply for the room now?"

"Ah, " Yunho blinks, pocketing the photo and pulling out his phone. "That's true. Let's just find an internet cafe somewhere— they should have a scanner for this document…"

San hums. "Or we could just go to the library. We don't have to pay for it there."

"… Ah, you're right." Yunho rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, his cheeks tinted red slightly. San couldn't help but think that he looks so fucking cute. "That didn't even cross my mind for some reason."

"Well, let's head back then?"

Yunho beams. "Sure."

The ride back to the university wasn't anything eventful either, though San doesn't make much of an attempt to talk to Yunho this time. His— he still can't believe this even if it's fake— husband seems to sense his needs for silence and wordlessly comply, busying himself with looking out of the window instead.

Thankfully, the bus stop are placed right next to the library door. They made a beeline to the glass door as soon as they stepped out and shivers at the sudden gust of cold air that greets them upon entering the place. There doesn't seem to be a lot of students at this time of the day luckily enough, meaning that the usually busy computer section are empty at the moment.

"Let me scan it. You should open the website first." San instruct without thinking, examining the printer sitting next to the computer.

"Aye, aye, captain." Yunho salutes jokingly before turning to the computer.

San fight back the blush that he's sure is rising on his face, not even sparing a glance at Yunho as he place the marriage document into the printer and clicking the 'on' button. He listens to Yunho insistent clicking of the computer mouse while he waits for the old thing turns on.

It's the price of using free public asset, he supposed. He can't complain about it being hard to turn on.

Then, suddenly, the consistent clicking stops abruptly and doesn't start again for a long period of time.

San took his eyes off the printer to look at Yunho only find the man staring at the screen with wide eyes. "Is something wrong? Don't tell me it's full all of a sudden?"

"No, no. Nothing like that- it's plenty empty actually, uh." Yunho's eyes dart from the screen to San a few times before he beckons him over. "Just- um, look at this."

Raising an eyebrow, San moves towards him and lowers his head to look at the old style computer screen. He doesn't see what's wrong at first until he reads a particular warning on the form, making him freeze in place.

"… Yunho-yah."

"… Yeah…"

Disclaimer regarding furniture and bed placement: In compliance with the university rules and safety regulations, married quarters will only be provided with one King sized bed. Students are NOT allowed to bring in new furnitures such as bed, couch or closet. Only small addition to the room are allowed.

They both stares at the screen for a long while without saying anything.

Yunho breaks the silent first, facepalming.

"Wooyoung is going to fucking kill me."

"… I mean, we can still make this work." San tries, smiling uncomfortably. "The room have a couch, right? I can just sleep there."

"What?" Yunho pales. "No, no, absolutely not. If anyone's taking the bed, it should be you. Nevermind the fact that Wooyoung would kill me if I so much as looks at you wrong-"

"Yunho, he wouldn't actually kill you-"

"-But it would be unfair. I asked you for this deal first. If anyone's sleeping on the couch, it should be me."

San waves him off, making a mental note to talk to Wooyoung later. It really wouldn't do for Yunho to keep being scared of him like this. "It's alright, really. I don't sleep much at night anyways so…"

Yunho blinks. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I guess it's insomnia? I have extreme trouble to fall asleep at night," He chuckles, scratching his cheek. The problem started in high school, when he's too… well, busy to care about sleeping, but Yunho doesn't need to know that. "Most of the time I just took naps rather than sleep. These days especially I spent a lot of my time at night studying than actually sleeping so…"

"… That won't do."

"Huh?"

Yunho shakes his head, sighing. "That won't do, San-ah. If anything, this is especially why you need the bed."

San's heart skip a beat. "Yunho…"

"Well, since we're just going to continue fighting over this," Yunho continues, lips pursued as he continues typing. "We might as well just share the bed. If it makes you uncomfortable, we can just put something in the middle— like a throw pillow or your plushies. You have a lot, right? I'm sure one of them can be used as a barrier."

San sputters and pouts, playfully swatting him on the arm out of habit. "Don't treat my children like they're just some commodities to be used."

Then, he blinks, face turning red at an alarming speed when he finally realises what he's done and the person in front of him is not Wooyoung or Mingi. "Oh- Oh my god, I'm… So sorry. I usually joke around with Wooyoung like this so-"

"No, no, don't worry about it!" Yunho immediately reassures him, laughing. "I do worse thing with Mingi. I kicked him on the back once because he stole my pudding when he came over to my house."

San stares at him, shocked. "Huh?"

Yunho looks up at him, tilting his head in curiosity. "What's wrong? You said it before, you joke around with Wooyoung like that too. I'm happy you are comfortable enough to do that to me too. We are friends… right?"

"Of course!" San nods, eagerly. "Of course we're friends. I'm sorry- I don't know why I act like that."

"Then it doesn't matter." Yunho hums, turning back to the computer. "Let's settle this for now. Is the printer on yet?"

"Ah, right. I'll scan it now."

San immediately goes back to his task, finding the printer finally turned on. "… Okay, it's on. There should be a scanner app on the computer. Just use that to scan the document."

"Gotcha." Yunho answers and the sound of clicking begin again as San waits at the side, contemplating on their earlier exchanged.

They are friends, Yunho is literally best friend with his roommate, and that is exactly the problem. Yunho doesn't know that San has a big crush on him and likes him more than a friend does. To him, he's just a friend who just so happens to share the same goal at the moment.

"And… done." Yunho mused, stretching on the chair before turning back to San. "I think this should be good for now."

San smiles, internally shaking his earlier thoughts at the moment. Those won't do him much good now anyways. "Cool. Uh, what about the key collection?"

"I'll handle that. They don't need us both to come pick it up. Although, there is something I want to ask…"

"Hm?"

Yunho paused, eyes not leaving the computer for a while as he closed the tabs on the computer. "… Are you staying here for semester break? If so, we can start moving in right after finals."

San's thought goes into a halt. "… We?"

"Yeah. I'm moving in immediately after this…" His eyes flashed with something before he continues. "I don't really want to go home so I'll be here for semester break. If you're not though, I can set everything up while you go home for the break."

San almost scoffs at him even though he knows that Yunho doesn't know the full story of his situation. He can't go home even if he wants to at this point in time— not with how expensive bus tickets and taxi fare is.

Instead he laughs awkwardly. "No… No, it's fine. I'm staying here for semester break so we can settle in together. It's probably for the best anyway."

"You sure?" Yunho furrowed his eyebrows, worried. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to…"

"No, it's okay." He insists. "I don't have much to do at home anyways. We're almost in our final year so I was thinking that it's probably for the best for me to stay and study until graduation roll around."

Yunho doesn't really seems like he believes him but he ended up relenting. "If you say so. I'll text you in a few days, okay?"

He paused again.

"Oh and uh, please keep the one bed thing a secret from Wooyoung for now. I don't think he'll take that well…"

San laughs, though Yunho doesn't look as amused.

He is right though. Wooyoung will not take it well at all.

After tidying up, they immediately head towards the door of the library to escape the suddenly crowded library. It's nighttime by now and San is dying to go back and shower.

"Will you be alright by yourself?" Yunho asked as soon as they step inside. "Should I walk you to your dorm?"

"No, it's alright." San declines. He knows Wooyoung is hanging out in his room with Mingi and Jongho right now and with how traumatized Yunho seems to be about him, it's probably for the best that San spares him the heart attack. "I'll see you around?"

"Okay then." Yunho looks up at the sky for a moment, before turning back to San. "See you later… Husband." He give him one last smile and walks away, waving with his back turned on him.

San froze.

…

Yeah, he definitely cannot talk to Wooyoung about this.

-

Time passed rather quickly and, without him even noticing, the semester break had already started. The usually busy campus quietened by the second day as most people already went home right after their finals were over.

The building where San's dorm are placed is also empty by this point in time and in the end, only him and Mingi are left, he's pretty sure.

"I'm guessing you're not going home again this time?" Mingi asked as he watch San moves around the room, tidying up his stuff into the suitcase. His own things have already been packed a while ago and he's just waiting around until it's time for him to leave and take the bus.

San doesn't stop, picking up some trash on his desk to throw into the plastic bag. "Yep. When I say I have no money, I mean it. Bus tickets are so expensive for no reason…"

"Okay, but like, why are you packing up then? The move won't occur until a few weeks before the start of the new semester."

San paused at that, staring at his now empty pin board. "I'm, uh, moving in with Yunho now."

Mingi lets out an 'ah', as if just remembering that San and Yunho are legally tied together. "That's pretty early. I thought that the university would at least make you guys wait a little longer."

"Technically we're not supposed to come in this early but well," He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "The marriage quarters are empty, like, really empty. There's literally only two couples renting the dorm this whole semester so they allow us to go in early."

"Oh, yeah I heard about that. I'm pretty sure one of them is Seonghwa-Hyung."

San paused, his face growing pale "… Who?"

"Seonghwa-Hyung." He repeats, crossing his legs as he tries to get comfortable on his desk chair. "I heard he's moving in with his husband, someone from music major…? Not sure who though."

He thinks for a moment. "I think Yunho knows who it is but well, I'm not 100% sure either. He hasn't been telling me anything these days…"

San frowns, opening his mouth to ask what does that mean before Mingi's phone rings loudly, startling both of them. The latter turn it on and stands up, heading towards the door with his bags. "Well, I gotta go now. Congrats again on your marriage, by the way. I'm sure things will work out between you two so there's no need for you to worry. I know you tends to overthink but you'll be fine. Especially with Yunho."

And just like that, he was gone like a wind.

San stares at the closed door, his grip on the trash bag he's holding tightening.

Even if it's Mingi saying it, it's still hard to believe. He is Yunho's best friend but he's also San's friend as well, meaning that whatever he said could pretty much just meant to be a comfort to him.

He sighs.

"Whatever." He mutters to himself, continuing his clean up. "I should hurry this up. Yunho's waiting too…"

After packing up a few more of his belongings, he's finally done with his clean up. It's a little annoying just thinking about dragging his suitcase and bags across the campus but at this point he's just glad that he could get a place to live.

He spares a glance at the room before closing the door behind him and locking it for one last time. The room is nothing special to him, if he were to be honest, but the late nights he spends here with Mingi and occasionally Wooyoung and Jongho are something he would definitely miss.

One of the downside of being married, he supposed.

San paused. "… What am I even thinking anymore…" He breathed out a sigh, walking downstairs slowly.

The campus are extremely quiet and he hasn't even run into one person since he left the room. The weather is chilly again today, making him shiver when a gust of wind blew pass. He pulls his jacket closer to himself with his semi empty hand.

The silence was deafening by the time he arrives at the married quarters. It's placed right at the edge of the campus and combined with the fact that it's semester break, the atmosphere are extremely peaceful. He spots a few trees around the place, though some of them looks like they're on their last legs.

It looks a little like a horror movie set or something, if he were to be honest. Still, beggars can't be choosers.

"Let's see…" He place a bag he was holding onto the ground before taking his phone out to check on the unit number. Yunho had messaged him a few hours prior, saying that he already pick up both of their keys and move in himself. "Room… 117. Got it."

San begin to pick up his bag again when,

"San?"

He froze. San knows that voice all too well— especially when the said voice tends to nag him and Wooyoung about their tendency to avoid cleaning when they don't need to for the last few years since they got to know him.

"… Seonghwa-Hyung." He said, turning around slowly with a twitching smile. "F-fancy running into you here."

Seonghwa looks like he had just came back from grocery shopping, a plastic bag in his hand filled with snacks and food while wearing a maroon scarf around his neck. He spares a glance at the suitcase and bags San has on himself, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Why are you at the married quarters with all these bags?"

"Ah… Ahaha… Well, funny story, Hyung. I uh…"

Seonghwa raised an eyebrow, expectantly.

Well, no point in hiding it now at this point. He might as well just come clean. "… I'm married now…?"

Seonghwa gapes at him. "Since when?!"

"Hyung, I'm sorry but as much as I would love to catch up with you," and by love he meant 'not'. "I'm in a bit of a hurry so um, we'll talk later…?"

"Hey, no, wait, wait!" Seonghwa grabs him by the shoulder physically to stop him, causing him to yelps. He's been skipping going to the gym lately because of the lack of money but now he's really starting to regret it seeing as how easily Seonghwa practically force him to stay put. "You- Don't tell me you're one of the couple that's supposed move in today?!"

"What… How do you know?!"

"How do I not know?!" Seonghwa hisses at him, eyes moving to the quarter before looking back to his. "Did you- Did you actually got married to Yunho?!"

"How do you even manage to come up with that as a conclusion-?!"

"Because-!" Seonghwa cuts him off. "My husband, Hongjoong, is his brother! He said that Yunho is moving in here but he didn't tell me who his partner was. I just assumed he got married to some girl he was secretly dating or something- and it turns out to be you?!"

"Hyung, when did you even get married-?!"

"Not the point, Choi San! What's going on?!"

"Hyung, please let me speak-!" He shouts as Seonghwa grabs him by the collar and shakes him. "I can't say anything if you keep shaking me like this!"

"If I let you go, you'll run away!" Seonghwa retorts and San couldn't help but feel grateful that they're at least doing whatever this is in an empty place. "Explain now!"

"We just- it just happens, okay? We like each other and since we're moving dorm anyway for this semester we thought we might as well just get the marriage quarters!"

Seonghwa finally stop shaking him, though his hand stays on his collar while giving him a skeptical look. "You can't possibly expect me to believe that. Especially with Wooyoung being so protective of you. How is Yunho not six feet under yet?"

San move his eyes away, recalling the text Wooyoung sent him when he learn that San and Yunho would be staying together during semester break. He's pretty sure that if someone else who is not San sees it, Wooyoung might be handed over to the police.

…

He should probably lock his messenger app later, now that he thinks about it…

"I can't deny that he's a little… weird about my love life."

"A little is an understatement…" Seonghwa mutters.

"But he knows his limit. Yunho is his friend too."

Seonghwa scrutinized him for a long time before huffing and finally letting him go.

"Fine. I'll let you go for now. I know there's something else you're not telling me and I will get the truth out of you or him."

San laughs nervously and practically bolted out of there with a brief wave to Seonghwa, climbing up the complex stairs at an alarming speed even with all of his belongings.

He needs to talk to Yunho.

-

Yunho is in a predicament.

He paces around the room, narrowly avoiding the boxes and bags scattered on the floor around him and trying so hard to ignore the elephant in the room sitting casually on the couch in front of him.

"So… When were you planning to tell me you got married?" Hongjoong asked, nursing a canned of cold coffee in his hand.

"Please shut up for a bit Hyung." He hissed, a bit more aggressivy than he intended. "I don't see you telling me you got married either!"

"Hey, you never asked." He shrugs before taking another gulp of his coffee. "Besides, we never really contact each other all that much anyway."

Yunho huffs. "That's because we see each other here sometimes. I didn't think you'd neglect to mention getting married to someone though. Does Mom and Dad know?"

Hongjoong scowls, rolling his eyes at the mention of their parents. "Of course not. Why would I tell them if I didn't even tell you?"

"Wait, so you weren't going to tell me?"

"I was." Hongjoong paused. "If you asked, that is."

Yunho shoots him a dirty look before breathing out a rough sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration while Hongjoong watches him.

"Who's the lucky guy?" Hongjoong asked, curious. "Is it that boy you mentioned before? What was his name again? Choi-?"

The door to the room slamming open cuts Hongjoong off, startling the two brothers.

Yunho pales while Hongjoong whistles in interest.

"Yunho!" San came barelling inside, his face red and puffy as he drops his bags and suitcase onto the floor before approaching the taller and placing two hands on the other's shoulders and shaking him. "You are in so much trouble with me right now! Do you know who I just ran into?! Seonghwa-Hyung! And apparently he's married with your brother? I didn't even know you have a brother!"

"San-ah, calm down!" Yunho pleads, eyes wide in and ears red as tomato. He spares a glance at Hongjoong before looking back at the man in front of him and hoping he would notice that they are not alone right now without Yunho having to tell him outright. "I can explain-!"

"Yunho-yah, there's a limit to how much stress I can take!" He whines. "I can fake our relationship or whatever but having your direct family involved like this? This is too much!"

"San-ah…"

"Well," Hongjoong speaks up, thoroughly amused as he looks at the two in front of him. "Always knew you'd be a wife guy one day. You always have that vibe on you."

San froze.

"… Yunho. Who is that?"

Yunho bit his lips. "… San-ah, that's… That's my brother. Hongjoong-Hyung, a music major. You probably haven't seen him around before because he's always busy with a bunch of projects but he's actually part of our friend group too…"

San whines again, burying his face into his hands. "Yunho-yahhhh!"

"I'm- Sorry! I'm sorry!"

Hongjoong snorts, standing up from the couch. "Okay, I can clearly see that both of you have your own issue to work on. It's pretty rare to see newlyweds not in their honeymoon phase but eh, I'm not one to judge."

Yunho pats San on the shoulder, shooting him a glare. "You better not say anything about this to Seonghwa-Hyung. I don't need another target on my back."

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." He promise, a bit too casually. "Honestly, even if I do tell anyone, I think they'd believe you guys more than me anyways."

"… What does that even mean?"

Hongjoong shrugs, leaving the room with a wave as he turns his back on them. "Go on with your honeymoon kids. Remember to use protection!"

The door slam shut and they are finally left alone in the room. San looks up at him and Yunho stares back with the same amount of confusion.

"… What was that about?"

"… I don't know either."

Yunho paused before placing both of his hands on San's shoulder this time and twisting him over to face him properly, causing the man to let out a startled shrieks when he leans down to meet his eyes.

Yunho gulps as San stares up at him, cheeks still red and eyes glassy as if he were about to cry.

"… San-ah. I know we need to talk so we should do it now."

San's eyes darted everywhere but on him, only nodding as a sign of agreement.

"Okay." Yunho starts. "First of all, I'm so sorry about this. I genuinely didn't know anything about Hongjoong-Hyung and Seonghwa-Hyung being married. I met him this morning while moving in and uh, let's just say he almost walk away with a black eye."

San breath out the air he was holding, seemingly processing what Yunho had said and relaxing himself. "… Alright..?"

"Secondly, we can trust my Hyung on this. He's not the type to rat someone else's secrets out." He stops for a moment. "Both of us are used to keeping things to ourselves so I'm sure the university won't find out. We'll be fine, alright?"

San blinks, finally turning to look up at him. "You're used to it?"

Yunho hums. "Well, we live in a strict household. It's kinda inevitable."

Just like how it's inevitable for Hongjoong to be chewed out about both his and Yunho's secret when their parents found out about them, whatever they might be… But San doesn't need to know that.

"That's… not nice." San mutters frowning.

"Hm? Well, I guess. I'm over it though and I am living here from now on with you. I trust you won't be an overbearing parents for me too?" He jokes, winking at the other as he removes his hands from the other's shoulders.

San huffs. "I wouldn't do that. Although…"

"Oh? So there is something?" Yunho raised an eyebrow, amused. "Well then, anything you'd love for me to change about myself, honey? I take request~"

San flushes, very cutely if he may add, before huffing and reaching out to swipe at his hair softly.

Yunho froze in place.

"You shouldn't dye your hair so much. It's not healthy for your scalp." San advised before moving to grab one of his bags and standing back up and moving to the door. "I don't know if it's your coping mechanism or whatever but there has to be a better one. I mean, I'm glad that it is healthier than your previous one but still. Take care of yourself, Yunho-yah."

Yunho watch as he checks for his wallet in his bag before he turns to back to him again, smiling. "I need to go and pick up some groceries. We'll split the bill later, alright? I'll be back!"

The door slams shut once again and Yunho only watch him without a word.

A beat of silence went by.

"… Fuck." Yunho curse under his breath, covering his mouth with one hand. He might die one day if Choi San keep that up.

Maybe Hongjoong had a point on him being a wife guy.

-

"You did what?!" Wooyoung shouts through the phone, causing San to wince at the sudden loud noise invading his ears.

"I know, okay? It was stupid." San grumbles, eyes examining the shelf in front of him. He can't lie and said that he wasn't just deflecting when he said he was going to get groceries but well, they both just moved in today so he might as well actually get some. "I just bolted right after too…"

"… Choi San, you're such an idiot."

San pouts, picking up a packet of ramen and throwing it into his trolley. If he recalls correctly, it should be the one that Yunho likes. "You're so mean to me. Shouldn't you be supportive of me right now?"

"Well you did kinda ignore me when I said to not do this whole fake marriage thing. You can't blame me for being at least a little bitter, can you?"

San scowls, opening his mouth to answer that technically he was the one that came up with the idea in the first place when suddenly he heard a rustling sound from the other side and an inaudible conversation. Eventually, it ended with a high pitch shrieked that no doubt comes from Wooyoung.

"Hello?"

"Ignore him, Hyung." Jongho's voice suddenly came through the phone this time, as relaxed as ever. "You know how petty he can get."

Another shrieks came from the background and he could hear Jongho scoffing and scolding the other.

"I didn't know you're spending your break with Woo, Jongho."

The younger usually went home right after finals, something that Wooyoung always complains about to San since both of them don't really like spending time at their hometown and tends to spend their break on campus.

"We're checking out the new apartment." Jongho answers. "We figured that since we'll be staying here for a while, we should get used to it before the next semester rolls around, just in case."

"Ah," San adds a pack of pasta into his trolley. Maybe they should have some for dinner, now that he thinks about it. He can make a pretty killer pasta if he says so himself. "What about your family? I'm sure they're surprised."

"Nope. My parents sound quite cheerful if anything, said something about me finally taking a real vacation for once, whatever that means."

Well, that checks out, honestly. Jongho is the hardworking type so he has no doubt that even at home, the guy probably still does something productive instead of taking an actual break.

"I wonder." San mused, moving to another section of the store. "I'm guessing Wooyoung already told you about Yunho and me?"

"Take a guess." Jongho snorts, though it sounds rather fond. San couldn't help but feel a little jealous. "I think he told me more than I should know. I'll keep it a secret though, no worries."

San hesitates on saying anything for a while as he busied himself with grabbing a few instant coffee packets. "… Uh, what do you think about this?"

Jongho paused. "… About what?"

"This… whole situation in general. I'm sure you already know all the necessary details so…"

Jongho hums and San could hear some movement from his side, as if he's shifting in place and gathering his thoughts. "Well, I do understand why you choose to do it."

San gulps. "… But?"

"But you really should consider your feelings more." Jongho continues without missing a beat. "I get why you have to fake your marriage but do you have to choose the guy you're crushing on and complicate your relationship even more than it already is? I mean, yeah, I guess Wooyoung is to be blamed too-"

San hears a distant shouts of "Why am I to be blamed all of a sudden?!", though Jongho doesn't even seem to acknowledge it.

"But you could have said no and go after someone else, you know? Hell, why didn't you just go with Mingi-Hyung? He's single and you've both been roommates for a while now. I'm sure he is a way better option for your mental health."

San couldn't do anything but keep his head down the whole time, partly ignoring the scolding as he continues his shopping because he really couldn't refute any of the younger's points. Mingi is single, at least, if they ignore whatever he has going on with their other friend, Yeosang from the law department, and he could have at least asked him before going to Wooyoung. It is for a free dorm room after all so it would benefit Mingi too so, chance are, he probably would have said yes.

"That said," Jongho begins again. "There's no used talking hypotheticals anymore so I guess for now I'll give you two a congratulations. Who knows, maybe either you or him will end up proposing for real at some point."

"I… Don't think that will happen anytime soon." San chuckles nervously, looking at the items in his trolley. It seems to be quite full already and he doesn't really have the money to buy any more than what he got so he might as well go and pay.

"Hyung-" Jongho starts again before he suddenly let out a yell and Wooyoung's loud voice came through the speaker.

"Enough already! Let me talk to San now!"

"Woo, he's stressed enough, he doesn't need you to add more on his plate-"

"Are you calling me an annoyance-?!"

"I didn't say that but if you think it fits..."

San smiles at the cashier in front of him, contemplating on hanging up on the two of them as they continue to bicker right next to the phone speaker. They're being really noisy and he even spies the cashier smiling slightly at one particularly funny insult that Jongho throws to counter Wooyoung's.

He took out his wallet as soon as the cashier was done scanning the items, wanting to get out of store as soon as possible, when a hand comes out from behind him out of nowhere, handing the exact cash needed for the payment.

San blinks and turns to see Yunho pocketing his own wallet, wearing the exact same clothes as he did in the apartment with the exception of a not very thick jacket.

San hangs up his call without a word, eyes wide as he turns to the other. "Yunho? What- How did you even find me here?"

"Well, you said you're buying groceries and there isn't really anywhere else on the campus that's open for the break except here." He beams. "There isn't much to be done in our room anyways. I might as well help you with these. You bought quite a lot."

He grabs the heaviest plastic bags and left the only light one to him. "Let's go back? It's getting late and chilly outside."

San eyes the bags in his hands, feeling the urge to take it in his own. Yunho, however, didn't wait for his answer and begin walking away, making him scrambles after him with the lighter plastic bag.

"Wait- we need to split our bills! I didn't get the receipt yet…"

"Don't worry about that." Yunho waves him off, looking over the content in his bags. "Think of this as a treat for you. Besides, I'll be eating these too."

San finally catch up to him, walking side by side as the other while frowning.

"It's not fair though. I should pay too."

"Oh, pasta!" Yunho's eyes light up before looking at him. "Well, since you insist on paying, why don't you make dinner tonight? Mingi brags about having a taste of of your pasta once and he make it sounds like a divine making or something. I would love to have a taste."

"Is… That all you want?"

"Sure!" Yunho grins. "I pay and you cook, doesn't sound like a bad deal, right?"

San gapes at him, his chest aching at the offer. He turn his head away from Yunho, hiding his probably extremely red cheeks.

Mingi's word from earlier echoes back to him for no appearent reason, making San feels a bit too hopeful.

What a dangerous feeling.

"… Let's hurry back then." San hurried his pace, his face still turned away from the other. "I'm sure you're getting cold too. I'll make dinner and we can rest for tonight…"

"Sweet! I'm looking forward for dinner, Sannie!"

San smiles.

… Oh well. Nothing wrong with being a little hopeful.

"By the way,"

"Hm?"

"Did you tell Wooyoung about the single bed? He sent me a text a few minutes ago, said something about burying me alive?"

"… I'll talk to him later."

He probably should suggest Yunho to lock his messenger app too.

-

San wants to die.

The clock had striked 3:45 am and he is still sitting at the kitchen table, his laptop screen being the only source of light illuminating his face and opened notebook. He's crossed at least a few dozens part time work by now— some because it doesn't fit his class schedule and some because it's just too consuming.

The sound of shuffling make him freeze for a moment before the familiar quietness comes back, making him let out a sigh of relief.

Yunho, like the sleepyhead he is, had fallen asleep right after dinner. San remembers him taking bite after bite of the pasta he had cooked, complimenting San every on how delicious it is every few ones and forcing him to interrupt the man a few times just to stop his face from turning redder. He had offer to help with the clean up but San could see that the day had taken a toll on the man judging by how hard he was fighting to stay awake.

San just shooes him off to shower, insisting that they can clean up the dish together the next morning. The other man was hesitant but his exhaustion won over in the end and he ended up complying, taking the first turn for bath. By the time San finished with his own shower, he finds Yunho passed out on his side of the bed with his phone laying next to him and no blanket covering his body.

San had fondly sighs and proceed to cover him with the blanket along with charging the device. He contemplates cleaning up the dishes himself despite what he said but the sound of clanking might wake Yunho up, no matter how heavy of a sleeper he claims to be.

He then proceed to turn off the light and brings his laptop and notebook out of the bag before continuing on his job hunt. Unsurspringly, there aren't a lot of job being offered at the university during the break, at least not one that you get paid for, and while he wouldn't mind getting a job outside, taking a bus fare every day for his shift sounds like he'll be losing more money than gaining it.

He hasn't sent anything for his grandparents for two months now too. Sure, they insist that he keep the money himself but they're both are not so well off even with their retirement fund. He should at least contribute to their household a litte.

San groans, rubbing his eyes.

He doesn't feel all that sleepy yet but the constant scrolling and brightness of screen are causing his eyes to stings.

"San?"

San shrieks, straightening on his seat and bumping his leg on the kitchen table before turning around with wide eyes.

Yunho is standing right behind him, his eyes squinted as they move between the laptop screen and San.

If only San isn't so anxious about this whole situation, he would have find his unusually messy and unkempt state adorable.

"Why are you still awake?" Yunho questioned. "It's late, isn't it? Just because it's the vacation tomorrow doesn't mean you can sleep late like this…"

San closes the tab hurriedly. Yunho did sees it but thankfully, he had it open on the university portal so he might have not seen anything too obvious. "I uh, I'm just looking up for some study materials. I can't sleep so I thought I might as well do something productive, you know?"

Yunho's lips contorted into a displeased frown. "… You should sleep. Come on."

"Huh? W-wait, Yunho-yah-" Yunho grabs his hand and forcefully pull him towards the bed without waiting for a response. He made San sit on his side of bed before climbing up himself while San eyes him.

He settles into his place with the blanket on before looking at San expectantly.

"… What is it?"

"… You're not sleeping." Yunho pouts with pleading eyes, one that really reminds San of a neglected puppy. He could practically see his ears and tail dooping.

The imagery really does not help in calming down his racing heart.

"Yunho-yah, I told you. I always have some trouble sleeping… You can go back to sleep I just need to settle some matters…"

"No."

San blinks and, despite everything, couldn't help but find this whole situation a little amusing. "No?"

Yunho nods, vigorously. "If you want me to sleep, you have to sleep first."

San sucks in a breath to contain his laughter. "Yunho, seriously-"

"Sannieeeee." He whines and San have to pretend his laugh to be a cough.

Huffing, Yunho throws the blanket off him and turns to San with a glint of… something in his eyes that cause San to instantly stop laughing. "I guess there's no other choice…"

"Wait, what-"

San's eyes widen when suddenly, Yunho enveloped him in his arms and pulling both of them down onto the bed. Instantly, his senses are filled with Yunho— his hair tickling San's nose, the leftover scent of his cologne from the evening, the warmth of his body and his puff of breath as he buried his face into San's hair—

San froze completely, heat rising up to his cheeks.

His brain seems to short circuit for a whole 5 seconds and he feels this urge to pull away and do just about anything— shove Yunho off of him, apologize and pulls away slowly, screams out of sheer mortification of this situation— anything to get him out of here.

However, another part of him, the one who has been enduring these last two months with nothing but sheer willpower and mental strength, make him want to stay put. He feels so, so safe here in the other's arms, as if every other problems he's been facing are nothing more than a bad dream.

San feels the first tear fell as he throws his head back and laughs, the sound more genuine than any of the one he had done for the last few months.

He's so tired of everything but just for tonight, the tiredness seems to disappears— all because of one stupid decision he made because of his lack of money. He had such bad times, made so many dumb decisions and yet—

"Sannie…" Yunho's tired voice came again, slurred and low in volume. He seems unbothered by San's sudden laughter, only pulling him closer as he bury his face deeper into his hair. "Go to sleep…"

San sniffs, his laughter mixed in with his sobs. "I will… I will, just… Give me a moment."

Yunho hums and San finds himself latching closer to him, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. "Everything will be okay… Morning always… comes after a long period of night…"

San laughs again, albeit slightly more subdued.

And so, surrounded by the warmth that he thought he will never get, San's tears stopped, replaced by a peaceful and comforting darkness and silence.

-

Yunho, honestly speaking, is utterly terrified of Wooyoung.

It hasn't always been like that; in fact, when they first met, Yunho would even go so far as to say that he's actually one of the most harmless person he ever has the pleasure of knowing. He's kind, cheerful, considerate and extremely devoted.

The problem he has with Wooyoung is nothing personal. It's more about the fact that he keeps threatening Yunho at least 3 times a day now and Yunho is really starting to get curious.

He knows that Wooyoung is a long time best friend of San— hell, he's pretty sure half of the campus does. They are always together if Wooyoung is not seen to be with either Jongho and Yeosang. They spend semester breaks together according to his Seonghwa-Hyung and Mingi. They never join any university offered program without the other either.

Still, the threat that Wooyoung gave him the day they decided on their marriage leads him to believe that there's more to the story. That protectiveness Wooyoung have for him wouldn't come from mere long term friendship.

That said, Yunho already accept the fact that he's not involved enough in San's life to ask about it.

Now though, the reason he is even thinking of his fear of Wooyoung is not because of those things— but because he has completely messed up.

"… Yunho," Yeosang asked, leaning down to examine the screen of his laptop while carrying a tray filled with two drinks and pastries. "Why are you searching for plane tickets to Morocco?"

"Because I don't want to get killed." He grumbles, staring at his laptop with narrowed eyes. "But this shit is way too expensive so I honestly prefer getting thrown into the ocean in a body bag now."

Yeosang placed the tray onto the table before sitting down across from him. "What does that mean? Did you borrow money from the loan shark or something? I have some lawyer I can contact for you if you want."

"Worse."

Yeosang raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"

"I think I pissed off Wooyoung. He's going to come after my head in a few days and then no one will ever see me alive again after that."

Yeosang scratches the back of his head, still not catching on. "What the hell did you do?"

Yunho sighs, grabbing the black coffee cup and taking a long sip before answering. "You know that I got married right?"

Yeosang gasped. "What?!"

Yeah, now he's starting to think that he is the wrong person to talk to about this. However, he knows that Mingi is at home at the moment (and honestly, he's sure that it's only because Yeosang is staying for the break this time) and he can't possibly call up his Hyungs this early in the morning. Jongho is obviously out of question since Wooyoung seems to always know where he is even without Jongho telling him (and appearently the younger like it that way…? Yunho was honestly to scared to ask when he confessed that) so he doesn't have much of a choice at this point.

Besides, Yeosang is working the morning shift at the coffee shop. He figures that since it's semester break, there won't be much people anyway and it wouldn't be too much of a bother for him to come and talk to him for a bit. The man looked utterly dead inside until Yunho came about a few minutes ago so he assumed that Yeosang doesn't mind his presence either.

"I got married for the marriage quarters." He explains, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And well, the guy that I married was…"

"You married San?!" He shrieks, his complexion paling. "Dude, how are you still alive? The last guy who tried asking San out almost got his jaw broken!"

It's quite impressive really, the fact that Yunho can guess what exactly Yeosang would say regarding the matter. The news about a guy almost getting his jaw broken is new information though. As if he's not scared of Wooyoung enough already.

"Trust me when I say this, I look behind my back several times a day the moment our agreement were made." Yunho sighs. "It's just supposed to be a business arrangement, it really is, but something happened last night and…"

"You guys fucked?!"

"What-? No!"

"Half-fucked then?!"

"What in the world is even-?" He groans. If Wooyoung even heard a word from this conversation, Yunho has a feeling being buried alive is the last thing he should be worried about. "No, Yeosang, listen, we slept together in the same bed last night and-"'

"So you guys did fucked?" He tried again.

"No fucking happened!" He snaps, cheeks flushed red. At this point, he's just happy that the cafe is empty. "Look, he couldn't sleep last night and I found him at the kitchen table at like, fucking 3 am. I was- I was sleepy and all I could think of is that he looks cold and well, small, like a- a kitten or something, so I drag him to bed and we- we ended up cuddling."

Yeosang nods with an 'ah', though his expression still looks rather grave. "… I don't know what to tell you. That… Honestly sounds way worse than having sex somehow."

"I know." He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I don't regret it but well, I did run out of there the moment I woke up…"

Yeosang gapes at him. "… Yunho, Wooyoung is going to kill you."

"I'll start preparing for the funeral later." Yunho waves it off, though the fear in his chest grows stronger at the confirmation.

There is something more pressing he came to talk about with Yeosang today, something that doesn't involve his death. "I actually have another reason for coming here though."

Yeosang picks up a donut from the pastries plate, curious. "… If you want me to write your will, I don't think I have the clarification for that yet. I'm still just a senior."

"None of that. At least not yet." He rubs the back of his neck. "I heard from Mingi that you know quite a lot of part time places around the campus? I'm wondering if any place are hiring now."

Yeosang seems to deflate slightly at the mention of Mingi, taking a bite out of the donut before answering. "Well, there are a few that I know of. Why are you asking? I thought you already got a job as a part time assistant at the library?"

"It's… Not for me."

Yeosang blinks. "Ah, it's for him then?"

"I don't know the full story." Yunho admits, playing with the straw of his drink. "I remember seeing him looking at the university portal for empty positions and stuff vividly last night. This morning too, I saw his notebook still opened on the kitchen table filled with shops and cafes name so…"

"Hm…" Yeosang take one last bite of his donut. "He's searching for a long term part-time job then. Maybe he's like you. I remember Wooyoung saying that he had a part-time job before though… I wonder if he quits or something."

"Either way, it's not really my business." Yunho shrugs. "I just want to help him out if he is in need of a job."

Yeosang pulls out his phone and taps on it silently for a while before showing something to Yunho. "Is this alright? It's in the library too but I think the manager wouldn't mind as long as you two keep it professional in the work place."

Yunho blinks, eyes shining in delight. "Oh, perfect!"

"I'll send it to you then." He shrugs, sending the digital flyer into his private message before turning to look at the wall clock of the cafe and sighing. "Well, I gotta get back to work. I'll prepare a coffee and some more pastries for you two. Just…"

Yunho, who was busily scanning his phone, looks up at him. "What?"

"Talk with him, will you?" Yeosang frowns. "Mingi said that San is the type to keep things to himself and you're not the epitome of communication either. I have a feeling that both of you are overly underastimating your importance to each other."

Yunho hesitates, though he gives him a smile. "Sure."

Yeosang stares at him before huffing. "I'll get your food for you. Make sure you go straight home after this."

-

Things starts looking better for San by the second week of the semester breaks.

The morning after, well, that day, Yunho had came back into the room before San could even begin to overthink. They didn't really talk about what happened, but he came back with a bag of pastries and coffee, as well as a flyer on his phone that he claims his manager coincidentally sent to him. It's a little suspicious and San was sure then that Yunho had figure out about his situation but San only smiles and buys into it, agreeing to submit a form to ask for a job at the same library that Yunho works at.

Everything goes well afterwards— Wooyoung did harass Yunho a bit more about them working at the same place and Yunho had starts begging him to give him a break but otherwise, things have been more or less peaceful and they both easily fell into an domestic routine together. Their shift starts at the same time so they would just wakes up at the same time and have breakfast together before heading to work while laughing about some mundane news and gossips about their friends.

San is just glad he's finally staring to earns his keeps again even if it's less than before.

He manage to scrape by enough to send some money to his grandparents. They had asked about his wellbeings, as always, and San could finally tells them that he is living quite happily in university without it being a lie, eyes fixed on Yunho as he clumsily attempts to boil some rice cakes and making the sauce from scratch for dinner.

It's a bit too peaceful but he's not one to complain, especially after how many bullshit he had to deal with for the last few months.

On Tuesday of that week, right after San and Yunho came back from their shifts, Wooyoung drops by their place unannounced. It's a little impressive how fast his mood change between talking with San and Yunho, though San would rather not have him giving his husband mini heart attacks every time he so much as glance at him.

"He hasn't been doing weird things to you, have he?"

"No, Woo."

"Did he cheat on you? Made you uncomfortable in any way?"

"No, Woo, he did not. Also," San sighs as he close the lid of the teapot he had been making tea in. "Please stop talking about him as if he's not here."

Yunho, who had been standing silently behind San at the kitchen counter, straightens when his name was mentioned. "Uh… Actually, if you guys prefer me to not be here, that would be fine too. I can get some snacks! We're running out of snacks, right? I can get you that kind that you really like, Sannie. Even the ice cream!"

"Yunho-"

"That sounds perfect, actually." Wooyoung hums, casually lounging on the bed. "Make sure they're actually his favorite though. I will check them myself when you get back."

Yunho chuckles nervously before practically bolting out of the door, only giving San a small wave goodbye as he disappears. Even in this circumstance, San couldn't help the fond sigh that escapes him when he heard the door being locked. Yunho had always been rather meticulous about that kind of stuff.

"What's with that smitten look on your face?" Wooyoung scrunches his nose, annoyed. "It's disgusting."

San rolled his eyes, bringing the teapot over to the kitchen's table while giving his friend a dirty look. "You and Jongho are worse so I don't want to hear that from you. Where is he anyway? Finally got tired of you for the semester and went home?"

"Haha, so funny." Wooyoung deadpanned. "Do you even believe what you're saying, Sannie? Jongie would never got tired of me."

San shudders. Maybe he doesn't have the right to talk since he's technically part of the reason they're together now but Wooyoung and Jongho have a… weird relationship. San kind of gave up on understanding whatever they have going on but it can't be normal.

Still, they are happy with their current dynamics so maybe it doesn't really matter.

"Come on, get off the bed." San nags, grabbing some cups from the cabinet and setting them up on the table. "At least drink something while we wait for Yunho."

Wooyoung huffs, moving to get off the bed he was perching on. "Fineeee, I'm coming-"

A sudden harsh knocks on the door cut off the previously calm atmosphere, startling the two of them.

"Who could it be?" San wonders out loud, moving to the door. "Is it Jongho?"

Wooyoung frowns, shaking his head. "He's still at his soccer meeting right now, I'm sure."

… Yeah. He's never getting used to that.

Shrugging off the sudden wave of exhaustion, San unlocks the door and pull it open with a polite smile on his face. "Hello, how can I-"

His words die in his throat.

Standing in front of him seems to be a couple— a woman and a man in a poised, elegant suits that certainly doesn't fit their surroundings at all. The woman seems to be lookin around the hallway with disgust, judging every perimeter she laid her eyes on while the man stares down at San with a stern look, arms crossed with silent authority.

"… Who… might you be?" San asked, thoroughly intimidated and confused. He has never seen these two before and they don't look like students. Could they be parents mistaking their room for another student's?

"You're Choi San?" The man asked, his voice deep and raspy. San flinches, hands instinctively pulling the door slightly closer to himself.

"Y-yes… How do you know me?"

"You are Choi San?" The woman interrupts, her voice carrying disdain underneath and her expression contorted to disgust. She scans over his outfit— a casual hoodie and sweatpants he had changed into right after he got back from work a while ago. "Who would've thought he would have settled with someone like you. His brother may have influenced him too much."

San shrinks into himself.

Her attitude towards him… really brings him back some horrible memory.

"San?" Wooyoung calls, rushing towards him and stopping right besides the door. San was about to shooed him back inside but he was faster, peeking behind him and noticing the newcomers. "Who are you? Do you know anyone here?"

"Another one?" The woman huffs, crossing her arms. "Gosh, that boy. Can he sink any lower? As if he doesn't caused enough trouble already."

"Enough, Soo-Kyung." Her husband scolds, only earning a rolled of eyes from her. He turns back to the two of them, anger clear on his face. "Who are you two? Where is my son?"

"Your son?" San asked, shrinking again the man's attention came back to him. "Are you talking about Yunho?"

"If you knew then why are you even asking? Bring him here!" He roars and San takes a step back, startled. Wooyoung steadies him and give the man a glare.

"Excuse you, old man." He snaps, pushing San behind him as he squares up against the him. "You came here, bang on the door like you're about to break it down and now you're being rude to the owner? Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Who do you think you are?!" He shouts back, raising his head high. "How dare a mere student like you talk back to me? I could ruin your life with a snap of a finger!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Wooyoung dares, crossing his arms, not at all intimidated. "And, for the record, your son is not even here at the moment so-"

"Don't lie to us now." The woman hissed at them, her high heels clicking as she approach the door and leans down slightly to their level. Wooyoung barely move an inch but San couldn't help but flinch again at her sudden intrusion to their personal space. "He's here, isn't he? Throwing a tantrum as usual. He's not a child anymore to be hiding behind his servants."

Wooyoung gasped, angry. "What did you just say to us, old hag-?!"

"Woo, wait, wait!" San pulls him back when he notices Wooyoung was literally about to lay a hand on her, panicked. "Don't do that! You- we'll get in trouble!"

"What-? Who cares? These old bastards won't learn their lessons if we just let them get away with doing shit like this!"

"What did you say?!" The woman shouts, seemingly losing her temper as she raises a hand. "You rude brat-!"

San pales, immediately putting himself between the two and Wooyoung. "Wait, ma'am-!"

"San!"

Smack!

-

"You got kicked out by Wooyoung?" Mingi's teasing voice came from the other side of the phone, making Yunho sighs in defeat.

"It wasn't really like that… I was the one that offered."

"Because you want to get away from him?"

Yunho huffs, his movement slow and steady as he make his way back up to his dorm room with a plastic bag full of San's favourite snacks and some of Wooyoung's.

He doubts that the other cares but he should at least pretends he's a good host.

"He's been threatening bodily harm to me at least once a week. You can't blame me for being a little scared." He grumbles, climbing up the stairs.

Mingi laughs. "It's kind of your fault for making the marriage deal with San of all people. You could've asked literally anyone else but noooo you just have to go to your actual crush."

"… You fucking suck."

"I love you too, man."

Mingi's laughter filled the calls for at least a minute after that exchange, making Yunho wonders if calling him up for emotional support is the right choice. He kind of regrets not calling Yeosang instead.

"Anyways," Mingi continues. "What's going on with you these days? I think it's about time you come clean on why you're moving out all of a sudden."

Yunho scowls, opening his mouth to say that "No, he's not going to come clean about it yet." when a sudden mixed loud voices could be heard from beyond the stairs he was climbing on. He could've sworn it sounds familiar and it didn't take him a long time to figure out why.

Wooyoung's voice are unmistakable, especially since he's always loud in the first place. However, the one that made him freeze are that of a man and a woman, shouting in a tone that he heard countless times at home whenever they have their daily shouting matches with Hongjoong.

His parents.

"Shit," He curses, hurrying his pace as he climbs the stairs. "Mingi, I need to-"

"Wait, ma'am-!"

It's San's voice.

"San!"

Yunho's phone drops onto the floor without him realising as he immediately rushes up the last few steps of the stairs. Just as he turns the corner however, a loud smack echoed through the hallway and Yunho made it just in time to see San staggering back from a hit to the face by his mother, her hand still raise in the air.

Everything was still for a moment, San holding his red cheek while hissing, Wooyoung discarding his attention from the couple to check on his best friend, his mother looking at her hand with thinly veiled shocked, his father staring at them with no guilt in his eyes…

Until Yunho broke it by dropping the plastic bag he was still holding in his hands.

"What the fuck is going on here?" He asked, his demeanour eerily calm as he opens his steps towards them. San and Wooyoung immediately turns to him, shocked at his sudden arrival while his parents simply look at him, his mother already recovering from her action from earlier.

It's funny really. Yunho don't even know why she even bothers to look shocked. It's not like she's never done that before.

"There you are." His father grunts. "Isn't it time for you to drop this already? You're too old to be playing pretend with some commoners, Yunho."

"… Your father's right, Yunho." His mother continues. "Enough with this little rebellious act of yours. You're just causing trouble for everyone."

He stops right in front of them, levelling them both with a silent, empty stares, long enough to make them feels at least slightly uncomfortable.

"Yunho. Are you even listening to me?" His father snaps. "I said-"

"Wooyoung." Yunho calls, not even glancing at the other. "You guys should go in. This won't take long. There should be ice in the freezer if San needs it."

"… Sure. Come on, Sannie. Let's go in first."

"Wait, but- Yunho-"

He turns to San, smiling pleasantly. "It's alright. I'll handle this. Go take a break, yeah? You must be tired."

Wooyoung scans both of their faces before pulling San inside and closing the door behind him without a word. San doesn't fight it, though he does look a little worried as they leave.

Yunho sighs, fond.

Always worrying about others even when he's the one that got hurt.

"Still playing the fool, aren't you?" His father sneers as Yunho turns back to him, all warmth on his face disappearing like it was never there.

"Well, better a fool than an annoyance, don't you think?" Yunho hisses back. He's tired of keeping quiet, tired of running away from confronting them, especially when they do shit like this. "You two are still as much as an embarrassment as before. Can't you at least pretend to have some pride?"

"Watch your mouth." His mother scolds, eyes narrowed. "How dare you speak of pride when you and your useless brother are the one tarnishing it!"

"We're not the one smacking up students in a privately own land, are we?" Yunho snaps causing his mother to flinched. "And to make matters worse, he was my husband. Who do you think you are to lay a finger on him?"

"Who are you to speak to us that way, you ungrateful son!" His father pushes him on the chest, though Yunho barely even move from the shove. "We paid for your schooling, we spent all these years taking care of you, and this is how you repay us? How dare you!"

"We could take back everything you have now. Don't you dare disrespect us this way!" His mother continues.

"Then stop using it as a threat and do it!" He dares, eyes burning with fury. "Freeze my account, cut off my tuition, throw out whatever things of mine you still got at home like you did Hongjoong-Hyung's. I don't give a shit! Just remember that if you show your face in front of me or my husband again, a tarnished reputation will be the least of your worry."

"You bastard son-!"

"How dare you-!"

Yunho towers over them with a glare. "Get out before I call the campus security. This quarters is a private residence for married students. Uninvited guests are not welcomed here."

His father fixed him a glare. "You're a fool, Yunho. Just watch— one day you will come crawling back to us and beg us for scraps while you die of starvation."

"Too bad for you, sir," He retorts, causing the man to grit his teeth. "Even if I were to die of starvation, I would never ask you for a dime."

Yunho watch the two retreating figure heads for the stairs as they grumbles and mutters under breath, their footsteps disappearing little by little as they vanished from his sight.

And so, just like a storm that comes and go, it was, once again, silent.

He breathes out a sigh, slamming his head against the door before he slides down to the floor.

Who would've thought that after years of being the perfect, obedient son they wanted, he finally got the courage to stands up against them?

It's really quite exhausting. His hand twitched for something he never thought he'd ever want again, teeth biting at his lips to the point that he's sure it's bleeding.

Eventually, he stood up and went to retrieve his phone and plastic bags and before approaching the door. He contemplates going in but ended up moving to the balcony of the hallway instead, pocketing his phone and putting the plastic bag down on the balcony before looking out at the scenery. The sun is already setting for the day, bathing the empty area around their quarters in orange hue. If he recalls correctly, Hongjoong should be busy in the studio right now and Seonghwa should be on his own part time shift right now…

Maybe it's a blessing in disguise. He really doesn't want Hongjoong to take any more shit from his parents.

Yunho chewed on his lips again, hand restlessly tapping on the railing. He really should've bought more nicotine patch before coming back.

It's been almost a year since he craves for cigarettes so much.

The sound of door clicking make him paused in his thoughts before turning around, expecting to see San.

Only for it to be Wooyoung, who looks uncharacteristically solemn. His eyes seems to move to Yunho's lips, making him wipe at it to at least remove some of the blood.

Wooyoung, thankfully, doesn't comment on it.

"… How's San doing?" Yunho asked, turning back towards the sunset as Wooyoung comes to his side and lean against the railing with his back. "Is he badly hurt?"

"Not really. That woman's slap aren't really anything against the former taekwondo champion like him." Wooyoung shrugs, voice quiet. "It's been a few years but Sannie had gotten worse injuries before."

Yunho laughs softly. "Taekwondo champion? Now that's the first I've heard of that."

Wooyoung huffs out a small laugh. "Well, Namhae was a small place. He never went outside for proper tournament so only people from there would know."

"Sounds lovely." Yunho commented, tapping rhythmically on the railing to some tune he could remember at the top of his head. "I would love to come and visit."

Wooyoung paused, eyes zeroing in on his hands. "… You look like you need a smoke."

"Hah, you know me. Never seen without my lighter and cigarettes back then." He jokes, a useless attempt as lightening up the mood. "I think the guy who sells it at the convenience store sees me more than he sees his own family. I bet he missed me when I quit."

Wooyoung doesn't laugh, only humming as a response. "What changed then?"

Yunho looks down, smiling. "… Just tryna keep my lungs clean."

"That's good." Wooyoung nods. It's quite weird for Yunho to hear a compliment and not a threat from him for once. "San hates those things. Always used to complain to us that you smoke too much and how dangerous it is. I think he was the first one to notice and celebrate you stopping, even if he doesn't show it."

Yunho blinks, tilting his head slightly as he recalls any interactions with San that involves him smoking and coming up with blank. "I've never…"

"What, don't you remember?" Wooyoung asked, scowling. "You used to take smoke breaks during our hang outs at the usual barbeque place after midterms; sometimes even smoke like 3-4 sticks."

"Huh… I did… But I never announced it, did I?"

Wooyoung rolled his eyes. "You can't be this oblivious. He was watching you, you fucking idiot. He's been worrying about your health all years long now, first it was the smoking then it was the dyed hair. I considered taping his mouth shut sometimes just so he would stop whining about you to me."

Yunho scratch his cheeks, looking away with his face and ears flushing red.

Silence stretched on between them as the sun continues to go down, the sky darkening in a beautiful mix of blue and orange slowly disappearing into the dark.

Wooyoung only ends up talking again after a few more minutes, when the sun was almost completely down and the automatic light of the hallway had turned on. "… Thank you for standing up for him. I didn't expect you to jeopardize your family relationship like that for him. I honestly thought you were just going to let it slide…"

"Of course not." Yunho sighs, fingers twitching again. "He's my husband now. Nobody have the right to harm him."

The moment the words leave his mouth however, Yunho couldn't help but hesitates for a moment.

It's a bit too easy really— the way the word 'husband' rolled off his tongue.

Wooyoung examines his feature; noting the still imminent fury in his eyes and clenched jaw.

Then, he sighs.

"… You must have always wondered why I'm so insistent on threatening you."

"Well," The taller looks down at him. "I didn't think I have the right to ask."

"You just earned it." Wooyoung smiles, though it looks a little bitter. "You have to know, since there's a chance you'll be the one who'll always be by his side now, not me."

Yunho, despite his earlier curiosity, hesitates. "Is… That alright? Shouldn't you have asked him first?"

"I don't think he would mind if it's you." He shrugs, arms crossed as he stares straight ahead. "He's been wanting to tell someone about it, someone who's not me and well, you seem like the perfect person."

"… Alright then." Yunho lean against the railing, putting his full attention to the other man. "Hit me."

Wooyoung closed his eyes before letting out a deep, exhausted sigh. Yunho could see him clenching and unclenching his arms, eyes glassy as he search for the words to start.

"… Back in high school, San was, well, a bit starved for love." He starts, voice unusually quiet. "His parents died when he was young so he only have his grandparents. Don't get me wrong, they were wonderful to him but they didn't have Time to give since they're busy working to get money and support their family. That's probably why San was so… lonely back then."

Wooyoung paused, raising his head to look at the ceiling this time. "He's good at pretending, you know. I didn't even know about his situation until my mom told me. We got into a fight about this once. I thought that he didn't trust me with his life."

Yunho begin tapping on the railing again, humming. "How did that end?"

"It ends with me realising I'm a fucking moron." Wooyoung chuckles, the sound self decaprating and humorless. "It's not that he doesn't trust me— he just don't want to burdened me. He's always…"

Wooyoung's voice crack and Yunho's hand stop, eyes wide in shocked.

He has never seen Wooyoung so emotional before.

"Always like that. He only starts being honest when I cried and literally begged him to rely on me. It's… depressing, to say the least."

Yunho couldn't help but think back to everything they've been through up until now— from the start of the contract to the moment they got a job together that Yunho offers to him…

Had San… only trying to pleased Yunho? Is that why he just goes with the flow and never questioned anything Yunho asked of him?

"He uh- he got a bad taste in men, you know. For the longest time." Wooyoung sniffs, wiping at his eyes and cheeks. "I mean, he had a crush on Itachi from Naruto. That guy is like the epitome of a red flag."

Yunho snaps back out of his thought and scoffs. "What are you talking about? He's not that bad."

Wooyoung shrugs. "The guy did killed his whole family and possible love interest. He puts duty over his family. Not exactly a crush material if you ask me."

"Where is this going?" Yunho grins, amused.

"Ugh," Wooyoung groans, shuddering when a particularly cold gust of wind blew. "I'm stalling here. I can't even stand the memory of that person."

"Well, you promise me a full story." Yunho encourages, pausing before taking off his jacket and offering it to the other. "You're looking a bit cold."

Wooyoung looks at the jacket before rolling his eyes, shaking his head to decline. "It's annoying how nice you are. My threats doesn't feel as genuine."

Yunho chuckles, lowering his hand and clutching the jacket in his hand instead of putting it back on.

He went silent for a long while, eyes going back to be locked onto the ceiling while Yunho waits.

He's not in a rush and he would love to give San a bit more of an alone time for a little longer after what just happened.

"… It's a bit scary, honestly."

Yunho raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"How familiar it felt when he came to me about having a crush on you."

Yunho's mind blanked. "… What?"

"It was the afternoon, on Tuesday, both of us going through some practice questions and studying over snacks and drinks." He sighs again, shoulders slumping. "The very same time and day he told me he had a crush on some random jerk in high school. At this point I'm just glad that the year and date were different."

Yunho's mouth open and closed, gaping unlike of that a fish out of water. Wooyoung, even without looking at him, seems to sense his shocked, only waving it off. "Yeah, yeah, he has a big crush on you, big surprised. Process that later, will you? I need to tell this first before anything."

"I'm… Wooyoung, you can't just drop that and expect me to-?"

"I mean, it's pretty obvious. He thinks he hid it well but like, even Mingi figure it out without asking him. Do you know how obvious you have to be for that to happen?"

Yunho opens his mouth only to clamped it back shut because, well, there isn't much he can say to refute that.

"That's exactly why I was so mad when I found out you were looking for a fake partner, not like, a real date." Wooyoung pouts. "I had heard you were looking for someone and well, we're friends. I figured that you'd be safe enough for him to date since I thought I know you well. I thought that you wouldn't do what his ex did to him."

"Wooyoung-"

"But then Mingi said that word. 'Fake'. That's the exact thing that ruins San's whole high school life, you know. His feelings, no matter how much you want to play it off as a contract, is real. I can't just let you use that for an arrangement like this. You can't expect me to trust you easily after that."

"Wooyoung." Yunho pleads, taking a hold of the other's arm with his free hand and making Wooyoung look at him. "Tell me. What happened in high school? I can't- what if I've been hurting him this entire time and I didn't even realize it?"

Wooyoung, for the first time since this whole arrangement started, look at Yunho…

And soften.

"… During senior year, San had a crush on this really popular guy." He starts, not slapping away the other's hand that is still gripping his arm. "I never liked him. He's too perfect, too popular. He just- doesn't give off a good vibe to me. Still, when he said that he had a crush on the guy, I can't really say anything because I was…"

Wooyoung licks lips, slumping his shoulders.

"I was terrified that San would curled into himself again. I don't want him to stop talking and consulting me so I… I just enable it." Wooyoung shook his head. "I regret that until now. I should've said something earlier."

"… You said that he's his ex. So they…"

"They dated, yeah." Wooyoung nods. "For half a year, right on our final year. It was a secret relationship— but San doesn't mind. He was just happy to have someone he likes like him back."

A paused.

"The problem starts when he starts sleeping in class. San was diligent even if he's not the smartest. He doesn't do that because he respects the teachers and everyone who are actually interested in learning." Wooyoung rubs at his face, letting out a shuddering breath. "Then he starts looking sick and pale. His sleep schedule was practically non-existent all of a sudden. I didn't know what to do. He wouldn't say anything when I asked so all I could do was watch him ruin himself over something I don't know."

"What happened then?"

"I found out later that he was working himself to death to earn money and finishing up the final high school project for his crush." He sniffs again, a few tears finally slipping down his cheek. "He wasn't sleeping or eating. He locked himself in his room every free time he had all to pleased that guy. His grandparents doesn't have anyone else they can call about him. Just me."

Yunho's jaw clenched, biting his lips again without even caring about the pain it caused on his already wounded skin.

"That's not even the worse part. He wouldn't listen to me when I tried to tell him to break it off. I told him many times that it's getting unhealthy, that it's not how relationships work, but every time I did, San defends him." Wooyoung clears his throat when his voice starts to get too uneven, wiping at his face again. "It hurts, you know. I wasn't even mad he's not listening me— I was scared that if he keeps it up, he might actually die."

Yunho gulps, tasting the iron on his tongue.

"… How did it end?"

"What do you think?" Wooyoung choked out a laugh, the memory clearly still heavy in his mind as he glares at nothing in particular in front of him. "The bastard calls San out in front of the whole school during graduation, brags about his achievements in academics as if he made everything himself and he just— admit that it was all for a stupid dare."

Yunho lets go of the other arm's before burying his face into the jacket he's holding, resisting the urge to chuck it away in a fit of rage.

He wants to scream so badly. Wooyoung didn't say it directly but it's clear to Yunho that he already are doing exactly what San's ex did to him— putting him in a fake relationship for his own benefit without giving anything back.

San has been the one cooking them dinner, agreeing to every clauses that Yunho came up with, saying yes to anything Yunho suggest without question, all while smiling.

He's— such an asshole.

"Hey," a hand landed on his shoulder, making Yunho peeks at Wooyoung who is now looking at him with concern. "I know what you're thinking right now but you're already different from that jerk, even on day one. I was just being petty really. You were honest with him, you never gave him fake hope or anything like that. You told him straight up that the relationship were fake, he kinda did walk into this on his own."

"But still… I shouldn't have…"

"No, really." Wooyoung reassures him with a smile. His eyes are still red and moist, cheeks still wet with leftover tears but he looks… relieved. "I know you've been taking care of him. San talks to me sometimes, those threats that I made to you didn't came out of nowhere."

Yunho could feel his own eyes getting wet, lips wobbling slightly. "… Are you sure? I can break up with him right away if you…"

"Yunho." Wooyoung starts, sternly. "I think it's time both you and him stops this. You know he likes you and you like him too. If you keep dancing around like this, he won't be the only one suffering anymore. I know I've been threatening your safety daily these days but… You're my friend too. I want you to be happy."

Yunho looks up at him.

And sighs before nodding.

"… We'll talk. Maybe not today since we're quite exhausted as you can see but… We'll talk it out."

Wooyoung squeeze his shoulder before patting it gently. "Good. Now, go in. Jongho's here so I'll be taking my leave."

"… How do you even know that?"

"Magic." He grins, taking his hand off Yunho and walking away with a wave. "Say goodbye to Sannie for me. I'll see you guys later!"

Yunho stares at his retreating back…

And shudders.

Wooyoung and Jongho can be so creepy sometimes.

-

Yunho has been acting strange.

It wasn't obvious, not with how affectionate he can be and how fearful he is of Wooyoung, but these days he have been really… Clingy.

"You're cooking dinner? Let me help, San-ah!"

"Laundry? Don't worry! I'll do it. You just sit tight, San-ah."

"Groceries? I can pay! Let me pay, San-ah."

"Oh my-! Those look heavy. Let me carry it for you, San-ah"

"San-ah, say ah~"

"… And that's what been happening." San groans, burying his face into his hands.

He can't believe it really; finding himself in a cafe on a random Tuesday night during semester break, complaining about his Situationship life to his best friend and said best friend's boyfriend.

What has his life comes to?

Wooyoung and Jongho, who are currently sitting in front of him, exchanges a look with each other before Jongho feeds him a bite of rice cake. "I mean, isn't that good? You guys are married."

"Well, yeah but it's not… Our relationship isn't real anyways…"

"Well, maybe he wants it to be?" Wooyoung suggest, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Jongho rolled his eyes before picking up Wooyoung's ice chocolate glass and feeding him that too.

San pouts, playing with the fries on his plate. "I doubt that."

"Wooyoung may be stupid but he is surprisingly intelligent with this kind of stuff." Jongho shrugs, ignoring the other's shriek at the insult and taking a bite of rice cake himself. "Speaking of him, I noticed thag Yunho-Hyung has been running around doing a lot of odd jobs recently."

San blinks, scowling. He noticed that Yunho has been busier lately but he didn't say anything about finding another jobs. "He has?"

"Yeah." Jongho shrugs, wordlessly feeding another bite of rice cake to Wooyoung when the other starts whining. "I saw him at the cafe near the station the other day, handing out flyers. We talked and he said that he's saving money but other than that, he didn't say much else."

Wooyoung taps his chine before letting out a gasp, eyes shining. "Maybe he's buying you a ring?"

"I- what?!" San squeaks, drawing some attention from the other patrons. He bows at them when he realizes his volume before turning back to the two of them with his face completely red, shaking his head vigorously. "No, no, definitely not! He wouldn't- why would he even… W-Why are you so supportive of us all of a sudden anyway? You were literally threatening him every day a while ago!"

Wooyoung shrugs. "Things happens. I'm a changed man now."

San levelled him with a weirded out look.

"Don't mind him." Jongho waves him off, uncaring. "Woo can be a little weird."

"Both of you are so mean to me." He pouts, crossing his arms and turning away from Jongho. "Is this how you're announcing our break up, Jongie? How cruel…"

Jongho didn't even spares a glance at his boyfriend's antics, taking another rice cake and practically force feeding it into his mouth. "Seems like you're missing your husband already."

"Please don't call him that…"

"Mm!" Wooyoung stood up, slamming both of his hands on the table. "Let's go see him then! Where is he right now?"

San shakes his head. "I don't know. He said that he's somewhere with Yeosang today but I'm not sure…"

"Jongho!"

"On it, dear."

"Wait-" San's eyes widen, watching as Jongho pull out his phone and tapping on it before bringing it to his ear. "What are you doing?! Don't bother him!"

"No can do!" Wooyoung scolds, pointing a finger at him. "Your man is going out with another man and you just let him be? Come on, San-ah. Fight for this a little!"

"He's not my-"

"Ah, hello, Hyung? Where are you right now? You're with Yunho-Hyung?"

"Jongho-!"

"Hm, alright. We're coming. Is that okay? Cool. See you in a bit." Jongho turn the call off and shrugs. "Seems they're both working the night shift at the cafe today."

Wooyoung immediately pick up his bag and throws it onto Jongho who didn't even voice a complaint as he stood up. San then watch as he make his way towards him and force him to stand up. "Come on! Let's go surprise your husband at work. Maybe it'll give him more motivation~"

"We're- We're not going to bother him while he's at work, Wooyoung!"

"It’s still you, I still love you~"

"Jongho! Stop singing and help me-!"

San's protest fell on deaf ears as they both ended up dragging him all the way to the campus cafe, belting out the song even louder. San stops fighting the moment he realises they'll embarrass all three of them by singing even louder if he continues to resist, only deciding to mentally prepare himself to see his very much fake husband that he certainly do not have a crush on.

The cafe door comes into view a bit too fast, right after Jongho belts out a high note for the song. San couldn't help but wonder he's drunk or something. Seems a bit over the top no matter how whipped he is for Wooyoung.

Wooyoung drags inside as he push the door open, announcing their arrival cheerily as if he's the owner of the place. "We're here!"

"Hey!" Mingi waves at them from one of the middle table, weirdly giddy. Hongjoong and Seonghwa are there too, the former giving them a short nod in acknowledgement before going back to his laptop while Seonghwa simply smile. "Took you guys long enough."

San blinks.

"You're here, Mingi-yah?" He asked, surprised. "I thought you'd still be at home."

"Hm~" He hums, looking extremely pleased with himself for some reason. "Well, something happened so I came back. I'm crashing at Yeosang's room though since, well, we already return our room key for the semester."

"Huh," Jongho peeks out from behind San, whistling. "You two settled whatever was going between you?"

"Nope." Seonghwa answers for them, taking a sip of his Americano. "They're still figuring it out but they're talking so…"

Wooyoung snorts. "That's an improvement really. Don't you agree, San-ah?"

"Uh…"

"… Ah, you're here. I was wondering why it's so noisy all of a sudden." Yeosang said as he came out of the staff room, looking thoroughly exhausted. "Any reason why you're here right aside from making my job and life harder than it already is?"

"You're not even busy." Hongjoong scoffs, though his eyes didn't move from his laptop.

"I'm sure he's talking about Mingi, Joong."

"Stop bringing him into this." Yeosang huffs as he approach the counter and turning to the three newcomers who had moved to squeeze into the seat with Seonghwa, Mingi and Hongjoong. "What do you guys want?"

"I'll take a black coffee. Give Wooyoung a milk tea with less sugar."

"But Jongieee-!"

"Quiet." Jongho scolds, though it sounds weirdly soft. "You already had way too much sugar today."

San feels the urge to throw up. They're so sweet it's disgusting.

"What about you, San? What would you-"

"San?!"

San's face heats up at the voice as the staff room's door slams open, revealing Yunho who beams immediately open setting his eyes on him. "San-ah! You're here!"

"Hey, Yunho." He waves, eyes following the man as he approached him. "I didn't know you work here…"

"Sorry I didn't tell you." Yunho scratch his cheek sheepishly. "I've been so busy it kind of slip my mind. How are you doing now? Feel cold? Want a jacket? Want something to drink?"

"Yunho, please." San chuckles, his previously tight chest loosening by the second. "Just a drink is fine. Latte, maybe?"

"Sure! I'll bring you a slice of strawberry cake too! Free of charge!"

"Yunho-yah…"

"I'll be back in a minute!" He rushes all the way back to the counter and starts moving right away, not even sparing a glance at Yeosang. The other man rolled his eyes as he begins working on Wooyoung's and Jongho's order as well, grumbling under his breath.

"Woah, what was that?" Mingi raised an eyebrow. "I left for barely two weeks and you guys got all lovey dovey?"

"Things happened." He answer shortly, waving him off. Truthfully, he doesn't know what is the 'things' he's even referring to but whatever would get him out of answering it properly.

"How are you doing?" Hongjoong speaks up again, eyes still fixed on the screen. "I heard you got slapped a while ago. That sounds like it'd hurt."

"Slapped?" Mingi asked, eyes wide. "Wait- is that, like a week ago? I think I was on call with Yunho at the time."

"How do you even know that?"

"My mom won't stop blowing my phone about it for days." Hongjoong shrugs. "Ask me who you are, who your family is, stuff like that. I think Yunho went to yell at them again after that though so they've been quiet."

"Oh… " San sighs, rubbing his forehead. "He should stop doing that. I feel bad that he's ruining his relationship with his parents…"

"Don't worry about it." Seonghwa cuts in, placing back his Americano on top of the table. "If anything, I think it's good that he's cutting ties with them properly. It's long overdue."

Mingi frowns before leaning back against his chair and crossing his arms. "I still don't know the full story. Yunho just won't tell me."

"I'll fill you in later." Hongjoong waves him off, sighing as he click something on his laptop and closing it. "I don't think he's hiding anything anymore, he's just really busy."

Mingi pouts before turning to Yeosang who is putting two cups on the tray. "Yeooo, I want more muffin."

"I hear you. Just give me a sec. Do you want a refill too?"

"Yes please!"

Wooyoung scrunches his nose, draping himself onto San. "This is kind of disgusting."

"Not hearing you out, Woo. Not when you're happily in a relationship with Jongho."

"Hmph!"

Yeosang approached them with a tray before putting it onto the table and taking a seat next to Mingi and sighing. "Take your drinks. Not you though, San. Yunho is decorating the damn cake for you."

Hongjoong laughs. "I know I was right. He's definitely a whipped type."

Jongho took his drink and hand over another one to Wooyoung. "Like someone else we know, clearly."

San rolled his eyes and turn away from his friends deciding to busied himself with staring at Yunho instead. The man seemed to be quite content working on the strawberry cake with his pipe bag, even humming slightly under his breath.

He sighs.

Cute.

"Will you guys be done with the shift soon?" He hears Mingi asked.

"In an hour." Yeosang answered. "We could close now but we get paid according to the hours unfortunately."

San smiles to himself. He should cook for Yunho when they got home later. Maybe some pasta since Yunho seems to like them so much.

"Oh. Someone's coming in."

"Ugh… Yunho, are you done with your little decoration project yet-?"

The bell attaches to the door rings open and footsteps resounded as the person steps inside.

San feels Wooyoung froze against him, making him turns to him. "Woo?"

"Oh? If it isn't Choi San and Jung Wooyoung."

San pales. He didn't even need to turn to see whose voice it was that had just calls his name in that very condescending tone.

"Hwajoon." Wooyoung hisses the name with venom, his earlier easy going nature now where to be seen. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"What? I go to this campus too. Man, it's so lucky to run into you two here! I've wondering what happened after he left the auditorium crying that day-"

"Shut your damn mouth!" Wooyoung said through gritted teeth. "How dare you even show your face to us now-?!"

"Woah, calm down. Still haven't changed have you, Woo?" He grins, smugly. "A rabid dog protecting its owner."

"Watch your tone." Jongho interrupt, glaring intensely at him. "Don't talk to him like that."

"Oh? Seems like you got your own rabid dog now? How nice isn't it, Wooyoungie?"

"You-!"

"Anyways, how are you doing, Sannie?" He smiles, sickeningly sweet. San hasn't lifted his head the whole time but his body flinch violently when his name was mentions. "I heard something interesting the other day. You got married? Congratulations!"

"Sir," Yeosang said, standing up from his chair. "If you're not buying anything, please leave."

"What? How cold!" He scoffs. "You're not doing your job right, man. Why are you kicking out your costumers?"

He took a deep breath. "… Sir, like I said, if you're not buying anything-"

"Go and bring me some coffee then. I'll stay and chat. We're old friends, after all."

"Sir-"

"Yeosang," San shakes his head. "Just… Give him what he wants. He'll leave us alone when he gets what he wants."

"But San…"

"It's fine, really."

He just have to endure it, as usual. It's nothing new, that's how it always is in his life. Endure not getting time with his grandparents because of their work, endure being humiliated in front of his whole school after ruining his life for a boy he thought loved him, endure this fake marriage-

"I can see what the guy sees in you, though." Hwajoon smirks, leaning downwards to be closer to him. "Maybe it's your body? Hah, you always do have that really cute build. Shame that we never got that far, huh?"

"Hey, that's going way too far-!"

"You piece of-!"

"Wait, shit- Jongho!"

"Jongho, Jongho, wait-!"

"Seonghwa, put the chair down-!"

"Mingi! Help us stop them-!"

A plastic tray slamming down onto the table quietened the whole shop immediately.

Seonghwa and Jongho, who are both holding onto a chair with Hongjoong and Mingi holding onto them, turns to see Yunho calmly taking a take out cup of hot coffee out of the tray and putting it right in front of Hwajoon who only looks up at him with a raised eyebrow.

"What's this?"

"Your coffee. Now," He nudges at the door with his head. "Leave. Get out of here."

"What, not even going to ask for payment?"

"Free of charge. Think of it as a request."

Hwajoon huffs, amused. "Oh?"

"I'm requesting you to never come here again." He steps closer to him, looming over the man and trapping him in place with a blanked, cold stare. "I heard a lot about you. Hwajoon… Was it? Seems like you weren't kind to my husband back then? Made him the laughing stock of the school for your entertainment?"

Hwajoon laughs, a nervous glint appearing in his eyes. "It's just- just a prank man. He was the one that said yes when I asked-"

"Prank?" Yunho repeats, his voice so deep and threatening that it even made his friends flinch.

San, on the other hand, could only watch with wide eyes, not being able to understand what in the world he's even seeing right now.

"You thought making him cry is a prank? You thought messing around with his feelings is funny? You thought traumatizing him is a joke?"

"Traumatizing?" Hwajoon scoffs. "We were just having fun. Come on, it's not that serious-"

"… Seems like you still don't understand me." Yunho shook his head, breathing out a sigh that could only be described as pitying. "I hope, for everyone's sake, this will stay in this place."

Hongjoong blinks before something seems to occured to him, eyes widening. "Yunho, wait-!"

Before anyone could react, he pick up the hot coffee he has placed onto the table and took off the lid before pouring it right onto the other's head.

Hwajoon screams.

"Please," Yunho smiles, politely. "Take your coffee and get out of here."

"You fucking-!"

"Okay, that's enough." Jongho stands up before physically shoving him away from them, even opening the door before throwing him outside. "Don't ever come back here if you don't want another coffee thrown at you."

"You'll regret this!"

"No, no, I think you're misunderstanding something." Yunho chuckles, coming up from behind Jongho before abruptly locking eyes with the other, his eyes flashing dangerously. "If you ever run into my husband, or worse, me, being buried alive is the least of your worries."

Hwajoon sputters before scrambling to stands up and fleeing into the night, screaming profanities at them the whole time.

Yunho barely paused before he immediately runs back towards San while untying his apron, throwing it apron onto Mingi who happens to be standing next to him. The taller man barely reacts to the sudden object being abruptly shoves into his arm, eyes wide as he follows Yunho who suddenly seems to look more like a human personification of golden retriever as he fussed over his husband.

"Sannie, are you alright? You're not hurt, are you? He didn't touch you, right? Sorry I took so long to help!"

San blinks, looking down at him with his mouth agape. His hands are both in Yunho's as the other swipes at his hair and cheeks softly. "He didn't touch your cheek, right? The swelling finally went down so…"

"Yunho, you…"

"Let's- Let's take a walk, yeah? It'll help take your minds off of this for a bit. Come on." The hand in his pulls him up before leading him to the door. San barely registers Yunho asking Yeosang for a break, something that the latter just waves off, and finds himself walking around the flower garden of the campus, illuminated only by the garden lights.

"Night walks are nice." Yunho mused. "The air feels so clear at this time of the day. It was raining this evening too so…"

San listens to him absent-mindedly, eyes fixed on their hands that are still connected. Yunho hasn't let it go since they left. As a matter of fact, he seems to squeeze his hand occasionally.

"- I mean, do they have a word for air after rain? I think they deserves their own word. It's so nice. I think we can even make a cologne after it."

"… Petrichor." San murmurs, eyes moving up to meet Yunho's eyes. "It's a word that can be used to describe the smell of air after rain… Though not a lot of people knows or used it. Probably because it doesn't sound natural enough to be used in a conversation."

"What? But it sounds pretty! Maybe we should use it ourselves, San-ah. As a name for our dog or cat or something. If we decide to adopt one that is." He chuckles, ears red. "You're so smart, Sannie. Who would've known such things except for you, hm?"

San hesitates before stopping in his track and causing Yunho to stop as well. "Yunho, wait a minute. We need to talk."

Yunho turns to him, concern painted on his feature. "Sannie?"

Their hands are still connected and San couldn't help but feel his throat dried even as he gulps.

"You… Yunho, what are you doing? What are we doing here?"

Yunho's hand in his tightened as the man chewed on his lips.

San feels tears building up when he realizes that Yunho forgot to put on his lip balm again today. "You said this was a contract. You said this is fake. So why… Why are you doing this to me?"

San sees his panicked face when tears starts to spill onto his cheek. "What are we?"

"San- Sannie, oh god, wait, listen to me, please." Yunho immediately lets go of his hand to cup his cheek, wiping away the tears that had fallen.

"Yunho, I can't… Take this anymore. If you're just playing with me…" He chokes out. "I beg you, please, just leave me alone. Don't- don't do this to me."

"No, no, of course not." He insists, eyes turning glassy as well. "Sannie, you're… You're the most important person in my life. I just- I just had so many problems in my life, so much on my back. My parents, my bad habits… I didn't want to drag you into my mess."

San watch him blink away his own tears, sniffing. "You know I wouldn't mind that… Wooyoung told you, didn't he? I'd stay no matter what."

He laughs, though it sounds a little sad rather than happy. "I know, Sannie. I know you'd stayed, that's the problem."

He paused.

"… I've been in love with you for a long time, you know." Yunho admits, quietly. "I know that you might not believe me when I say that but trust me, I am. You were just so… kind. I've never met anyone quite like you."

"Yunho… " He narrowed his eyes. "This better not be some sort of sympathy confession…"

"Just- trust me." Yunho pleads, eyes so very earnest. "Do you remember when we first met?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "The group project?"

Yunho laughs. "Is that all you remember?"

He tilted his head, frowning. "I mean, there wasn't much else that happened then, was there?"

He smiles, tucking a strand of hair behind his ears. "I grew up in a… bad environment, San-ah. Everyone around me constantly threw each other under the bus, talk shit behind each other's back, selfishly does something for their own gain. Hongjoong was the only one who tried to keep me away from that kind of behaviour but he was gone by the time I was in my senior year. It has been… tough to hold on to my likeable qualities without anyone encouraging it."

"Yunho…" San frowns, raising his own hands to touch the other's on his cheeks.

"San, you were one of the first friends I made here, just after Mingi. You showed me that kindness can be easy to maintain, that I don't need someone else's approval or influence just to be a good person. As our friend group grew bigger and bigger, I got to learn more about you— when you help Mingi study all night for an exam you didn't even take for the semester, when you help Yeosang with a rude costumer during one of his shift, when you help Seonghwa and Wooyoung for their club project even though you're busy yourself…"

He paused, cheeks turning red. "I'm uh, I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're… You're my inspiration. Along the way, I just happens to… fall in love."

San could feel his vision turning blurry, his hand that has been on Yunho's squeezing it gently.

"I still have a lot to learn." Yunho continues, eyes downcast. "I wanted to stay close to you but I didn't want to tie you down to me either. I didn't want to… Ruin you. San, I am so, so sorry for everything. I hurt you so much since the beginning of this arrangement and I only just noticed it a while ago. It's time for me to stop being a coward and be brave— if not for myself, then for you."

Yunho gently pushes him, putting a small distance between them with their hands still connected. With one free hand, he reach into his jacket pocket while still biting his lips.

San didn't even think twice to gently smooth over his lips. "Stop that, Yunho-yah. It's okay, you don't have to be nervous. Tell me what you want. I'll accept it."

"Don't-" Yunho breathe out a shuddering breath. "Don't say that without knowing what I'm about to say…"

San huffs, a carefree smile stretching on his lips as he watch Yunho fumbles for something inside his jacket again.

Yunho sighs. "Okay, alright. Choi San, my love, my inspiration, my beloved husband in law and not yet in love,"

San's smile drops as he watch the taller man drop to one knee, opening a box that slowly reveals a diamond ring sitting snugly in the middle.

"Wait… Yunho, are you-"

"Will you marry me? For real this time, that is."

San chokes, tears falling right away. "Oh my god… Yes, of course-"

Yunho lets out a watery, breathless laugh of his own and slides the ring onto the other's finger before immediately gathering the smaller into his arms.

A bout of laughter escapes San when he felt Yunho kissing the top of his head repeatedly, his chest filling so full he feel like it's about to burst. "Stop that. It tickles…"

"Too bad now, Sannie." Yunho grins, looking down at him with shiny eyes. "You're mine now, permanently. No more tack backs or contract."

San huffs, though the smile on his face betrayed his attempt at seeming annoyed.

No more contracts, huh?

That doesn't sound too bad if you were to ask him.