Archive of Our Own

It’s been three weeks since Yoohyun and Yerim forced Yoojin out of the house to do… well, something. Yoohyun was worried that his hyung never got any sunlight anymore, and Yerim had consequently begun planning all kinds of fun activities that would be good for relaxing and getting one’s mind off of things. She claimed that doing something artistic would be good for him, and after a few rounds of searching, handed him a schedule for a pottery class.  It was a cheap class with a start-up teacher, no commitment needed, just show up once you’ve signed up.

Casual enough for Yoojin to not feel too pressured when joining. So, that Saturday, he puts on clothes that he doesn’t mind getting dirty, as instructed on the somewhat poorly-made website, and walks into the classroom.

The classroom is a concrete floor room with pottery wheels scattered about, lit by dusty windows all around three of the four walls. On the fourth wall is a chalkboard that had some complex-looking math on it. Looks like it wasn’t used for this class.

Yoojin sits down on a wooden stool near the front of the class. There are ten wooden stools lined up, but so far only he and two other people are there. He thought he’d arrived just before the class starts… is everyone else late?

Right as the clock chimes, a haggard looking man walks in. His tussled brown hair is pulled lazily into a bun on the back of his head, and his coal black eyes seem almost dead as he looks at the seven empty seats.

“Haha… looks like it will be just us three today,” the man says, looking up with a forced-looking smile. His face looks hollow and lifeless, and Yoojin is almost concerned for him.

“My name is Yoo Myungwoo. I’ll be your teacher today. Lee Minseok-ssi, Noah-ssi, its nice to see you two back again. And our new student…”

Myungwoo looks in Yoojin’s direction. Yoojin realizes quickly that he must mean for him to introduce himself, and stammers,

“Yoojin. Han Yoojin. It’s a pleasure to be here.”

Myungwoo simply nods. “A pleasure to have you. Are you also a beginner?”

“Yes,” Yoojin admits. “Actually, I’ve never really done anything artistic before… but a friend of mine suggested using art as a means to relax my mind a bit.”

Myungwoo nods, a hint of a smile appearing on his hollow-looking face. “Everyone has to start somewhere. I’m glad you’re starting here, with us.”

After a quick exchange and introductions, Myungwoo fetches some clay and sends everyone over to a pottery wheel. He shows Noah and Lee Minseok the ropes one more time, but they don’t need much instruction since they’ve been to class before. With Yoojin, however…

Myungwoo grabs a stool and plops down beside Yoojin, tucking a long, loose strand of hair behind his ear.  Yoojin is sitting awkwardly at the wheel, his feet tucked shyly under himself instead of resting on the platform. Myungwoo smiles and places his own foot on the pedal to show Yoojin how it’s done.

“Clay is a rather fickle creature, especially when wet. And we need to keep it very wet for all of this to work. Speed needs to be fairly consistent, too, so don’t forget to keep pedaling. I’m sorry we couldn’t afford the fancy electric wheels.”

As he speaks he throws down a ball of clay into the center of the wheel and wets it with the water lying in a bucket at the edge of the table. The wheel begins spinning a bit faster, until it was at a fairly consistent speed.

“Now that we have it up to speed, it’s time to begin shaping. We’ll start with a simple bowl today. Reach out your hands and push gently into the clay.. Ah, not like that–”

Myunwoo looks like he wants to stop Yoojin but his hands pause before he touches him. “Ah. S-sorry… May I touch you?”

Yoojin pauses at the question. “Excuse me?”

“Your hands. Can I–? Um. It’s easier for me to show you by doing, rather than explaining– s-so-! If you don’t want me to touch you t-that’s fine too! I just–”

“Ah, my hands? Yeah, that’s fine, Myungwoo-seonsaengnim.”

“Oh! Um. J-just Myungwoo-ssi is fine…” Myungwoo said, looking a little embarrassed. “I’m not really a proper teacher.”

“You seem to be teaching just fine, though… But I get it, Myungwoo-ssi.”

Myungwoo smiles, and puts his hands around Yoojin’s, guiding his thumbs to press a hole gently and slowly into the center of the spinning clay lump.

“Good,” Myungwoo praises. “Keep slowly pulling that rim outwards like you're pulling it into a bowl shape. Gently, slowly, and keep wetting it if it feels dry.”

Yoojin nods and does so, gently pulling the clay into a wider donut shape while Myungwoo gets up to check on the other students.

They continue like this for the remainder of the lesson; Myungwoo guides him gently and carefully, occasionally holding Yoojin’s hands to guide him carefully in the right direction. When Yoojin messes up and ruins the bowl completely, Myungwoo only grins and congratulates him on making the most common rookie mistake ever.

“It’s part of the learning process. I’ve done it hundreds of times. Keep going, don’t get discouraged. Don’t let something this small defeat you.”

Somehow those words stick with Yoojin for the rest of the day. Even when he messes up a second time, he doesn’t even break a sweat and just crumples the clay into a ball again to start over.

At the end of the day, Yoojin gains a small, poorly-shapen clay bowl. It’s ugly and crude-looking, but it’s his. He made it himself. Myungwoo takes it from his hands with great care and puts it into the kiln. “I’ll fire these along with everyone else’s. If you’d like to keep the piece, come back next week and we’ll go about glazing them.”

Yoojin starts to wish the classes were more often. He has to wait a whole week to see the results of his work?

Seeing the disappointed look on Yoojin’s face, Myungwoo rushes over to his side. “Yoojin-ssi? Is something wrong? Were you… not satisfied with the class?” He’s wringing his hands together nervously, looking for all the world like he’ll start crying if Yoojin says he didn’t enjoy it.

Yoojin quickly reassures him that he did appreciate the class, and wonders when the next class will be.

“N-next class? You’ll come?” Myungwoo sounds surprised. Why?

“Yeah? I want to keep working at it. You told me not to let the little things defeat me, right? So I should keep trying, until I can make something usable.”

“Is that so…” Myungwoo muses. A small but genuine smile creeps onto his tired face, and Yoojin thinks he’d like to see him smile like that a bit more often.

After saying goodbye to Noah and Lee Minseok, Yoojin returns home feeling satisfied. Yoohyun smiles at him, happy that his hyung seemed to have enjoyed the classes. Yerim is also excited that the class worked out. Yoojin is excited for next weekend. Suddenly it feels so far away…

———————————

A week passes, and Yoojin overworks himself as usual. Yet on occasion, he finds his mind wandering back to the tiny pottery class he attended last Saturday. He’s excited to try and make another work, and to see how his last one turned out.

At last, it’s Saturday again, and Yoojin rushes out the door. He ends up arriving a whole thirty minutes early and finds Myungwoo at the wheel himself. The sight takes his breath away.

The usually tired and frail-looking Myungwoo is focused intently on the clay between his hands, molding it and bending it to his will as if by magic. He gracefully pulls upwards and the clay follows, forming a tall, beautiful vase shape. Myungwoo slows the wheel down and brings out a tool that Yoojin remembers from last week, but can’t quite remember the name. It looks like a wire with two sticks at the end? And with another series of swift motions, the edges of the circular vase are removed to form a much sharper and refined shape.  Myungwoo then takes a sharp object and carves swirls into the spinning clay, ending with a beautiful design in just mere moments. Yoojin can’t help but gasp at the result.

Myungwoo hears the gasp and looks up, startled at Yoojin’s sudden presence. “O-oh! Yoojin-ssi! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there! Come in, come in!” He stands up, the tools in his hands clattering into the pottery wheel’s bowl. “I was just- um– making something silly while I–”

“Myungwoo-ssi, you’re amazing!!” Yoojin finally exclaims as he enters the room.

“H-huh? Me?”

“Pfft– yes, Myungwoo-ssi. You! That was seriously like magic, what you just did there.”

“Oh…”  Myungwoo’s ears turn a little red and he scratches the back of his neck, then freezes. Yoojin freezes, too.

“Ah.”

“Ah…”

“I’ll get you a towel!” Yoojin says, rushing to the sink where the clean towels are. “Any one is fine, right?”

“Yeah. I’ve washed all the ones hanging up there, they’re all clean.”

Yoojin grabs one towel and wets it with warm water, then rushes back over to Myungwoo, who is embarrassedly holding the quickly drying clay against the back of his neck. “Ah… It’s gotten in your hair,” Yoojin mumbles. “I’ll wipe it away now, okay?”

“Mm. Okay.” Myungwoo responds, removing his clay-dirtied hand and wiping it on the towel he had on the side of the splash bowl.

Yoojin worked steadily, making quick work of the clay in Myungwoo’s hair. He gently pushes those strands away from Myungwoo’s neck, upwards toward where his loose bun is hanging, and wipes down Myungwoo’s neck as well. Gently at first, but the thin layer of clay has already hardened, so he wipes again a little harder this time, and Myungwoo inhales sharply. Yoojin freezes.

“Myungwoo-ssi…? Did that hurt?”

“No, it just. Um. I’m not used to other people touching my neck, that’s all.”

‘That’s all’, he says, but Yoojin can see the back of his neck turning bright red, along with his ears. So he’s ticklish there, huh. That’s kind of…

‘Cute.’ Yoojin thinks to himself. The thought startles him a bit; he’s never really found a man cute before, except for his brother, of course. Although Myungwoo’s ‘cute’ was much different from Yoohyun’s fluffy puppy energy.

Yoojin pushes these thoughts away as he gently wipes clean the rest of the clay. “All done~!” he hums.

Myungwo smiles at him appreciatively, and Yoojin can’t help but notice that the smile, combined with the faint blush still left on his cheeks, really does fill his face with life. Yoojin really would like to see that face more.

“Pretty…” he breathes.

“Hm?” Myungwoo tilts his head. “W-what…? Ah, the pot?”

“Y-YEAH! Yeah! The pot… its really pretty, Myungwoo-ssi. I’d love to learn to make something like this… can you teach me?”

Myungwoo’s face lit up again. “Of course! I think today you can try pulling a bowl again, and if you get it right, we can try pulling something a bit taller. Or… is it the textured look that you want to learn?”

“The textured look! What tools were you using to make that? They look so cool… that wire tool, what’s it called?”

“...Wire tool. And this wooden tool here is called a wooden tool. This thick needle looking tool… is called a needle tool.  I’m sure there’s fancier names for them somewhere, but nobody uses them,” Myungwoo chuckles.

“EH? Really? Well that does make it easier to remember them!” Yoojin laughs.

Myungwoo nods in agreement. “Oh, would you like to watch the removal of a pot? We went through it briefly last week, but it might be nice to watch me do it.”

Yoojin nods, and Myungwoo demonstrates cutting off the foot of the vase, then removing the vase from the base with the wire tool.

After a few more minutes, Noah showed up as well. He greeted Myungwoo and Yoojin warmly.

The day went about quite normally, with Yoojin only failing to set a bowl a couple times. The third time, Yoojin presses gently into the edges and successfully makes a bowl. In his excitement, he quickly calls over Myungwoo, who was talking to Noah. Myungwoo rushes over with a look of concern, but a quick look between a successful bowl and a sparkly-eyed Yoojin makes his face relax once more.

“You did it! Great job, Yoojin-ssi.” Myungwoo claps, and Yoojin is about to habitually scratch his neck when Myungwoo rushes forward, leaning over the wheel, and grabs his hand.

“Yoojin-ssi… let’s not make the same mistake that I did earlier, okay?” he says, laughing. Yoojin laughs as well, but can’t help but notice how easily Myungwoo’s calloused hands wrap around his wrist, and how close his face is right now.

He nods, clearing his throat, and carefully stands up. “Let’s take the bowl off the wheel so I can clean my hands off,” he says, not daring to look back up at Myungwoo’s face. Did he overwork himself too much this week? Something really seems off with his thoughts today.

The day finishes off relatively uneventfully, with Yoojin carefully glazing his first bowl and putting the second bowl in the kiln for it’s first firing. Myungwoo explains that the glazes will change color, and brings out examples of what the finished product would look like. Yoojin chose one that he thought would be red, only to find out to his dismay that he’d accidentally chosen the pink one, which was right next to the red and looked nearly identical. Myungwoo only laughs, saying he thinks it suits Yoojin somehow.

And with that, Yoojin thanks Myungwoo again, says goodbye to Noah and Lee Minseok, and is about to head out the door when Myungwoo stops him.

“Yoojin-ssi. About next week…”

Yoojin tilts his head and comes back inside the classroom toward Myungwoo. “What about next week? Are we doing something special?” he asks, a slight sparkle in his eyes at the thought.

Myungwoo completely deflated. “Actually… We’ll have to cancel class. I need at least two people to be allowed to hold a class, and next week… you’re the only one.”

Yoojin froze. “What? Wait, why? What about Noah-ssi and Lee Minseok-ssi?”

“Actually, Minseok-nim is a pottery teacher himself. He’s a friend of mine that has been filling in seats for as long as he can… but his own classes will be starting up soon, and he can’t come anymore. And Noah-ssi is returning home for a while.”

“Home?”

“France,” Noah responded, approaching the table where they were chatting.  “I have some duties I must attend to back at home,” he said, looking apologetic. “I’m really sorry, Myungwoo-hyung. And to you, as well, Yoojin-ssi. You seemed to be really enjoying the class.”

“I was! I still am! I… I-is there anything I can do? If I bring my brother and my ward here, they can count as enough people for a class, right?” Yoojin was getting desperate. But why? He wasn’t quite sure, but he had a feeling he needed to continue these classes. To keep Myungwoo’s art going. Because the way Myungwoo looked on the wheel and out of class was worlds different.

Myungwoo on the wheel looked like he belonged there, like he was born for pottery. His focus was unwavering as he molded and shaped clay like it was a part of him. His posture was sturdy and confident, unlike the Myungwoo standing before him now, shoulders slumped and apologetic.

“Myungwoo-ssi.” Yoojin places a hand on Myungwoo’s shoulder and stares at him. Hard. With his hunched-over moisture, they are eye-level with each other.  “You want to continue to teach pottery, right?”

Myungwoo glances and the hand on his shoulder and then back at Yoojin with wide eyes. “Y-Yes! But nobody wants to-”

“Am I nobody to you?” Yoojin replies, faking a pout.

Myungwoo looks stumped and is about to answer when Yoojin cuts him off again. He doesn’t particularly want to hear the answer to that question.

“Anyways. How many do you need? Three people? Four? By when? Next week? Signed up today? I’ll make phone calls, I’ll drag my brother and my ward here, so– please. Please, Myungwoo-ssi. I want to keep coming to your classes, to keep seeing y- um, keep seeing your art and pottery…”

Yoojin almost bites his tongue to cover the slip-up. Though it’s true he wants to continue pottery classes, he can’t quite imagine how they’d be without Myungwoo teaching. He doesn’t really want to find out, either.

“You’ve… Seen my pottery?” is Myungwoo’s only response, his eyes glancing around the room but always drifting back to Yoojin.

“Yes? It’s literally displayed in the hallway.”

“That doesn’t have a name on it, Yoojin-ssi.”

“But it has your style. Or— at least I thought.” Suddenly Yoojin feels insecure about his guesses. The large vase outside looked just like the one he'd seen earlier that day when he came in early. The way the cuts were made and the glaze was brushed on looked exactly like what Myungwoo had taught him today. But what if Myungwoo is simply using standard techniques, and those pots really aren’t his? He’d felt excitement when he first made the connection between teh beautiful unnamed vases and the man quietly focus on his craft, but now he feels foolish for making an assumption.

“Nevermind. I’m just a beginner, afterall. I must have been wrong.”  Yoojin looks at the floor, downtrodden, and turns to leave again, letting go of Myungwoo’s shoulder. Yet as he turns, Myungwoo speaks up again.

“You’re right.”

“Hm?” Yoojin whirls back around.

“You’re right, Han Yoojin-ssi. Those unnamed works are mine.”

“Why not name them, then? People should know who you are and the amazing work you do!”  Yoojin clasps Myungwoo’s hands in his, a sparkle in his eyes. “I think people would love to join your class if they knew such a skilled master was teaching them!”

“M-master? I’m not—”

“I don’t know much about titles in the pottery world, Myungwoo-ssi. But as a simple beginner, if I saw your work and how skillfully easy you make it look, and how gently and kindly you teach, I’d want to join your class, too. Well. I’m already in your class, but I want to take it even more! To learn from you even more! So! Please… Let me make some phone calls. I’ll do my best to find enough students for next week. Please hold a class.”

Yoojin lets go of Myungwoo’s hands and reaches for the phone in his pocket. Myungwoo’s hands hang in the air for a second as if he’s too stunned to move, but he finally reaches around to the back of his neck to run his hands through his hair.

“Yoojin. You don’t have to do this, really. There are other teachers—”

“I only want you,” Yoojin replies instantly, scrolling through his phone contacts, not looking at the way Myungwoo’s tan cheeks turned rosy at his words. When he finally pressed the call button and looked back up at Myungwoo, the blush was gone and Myungwo had returned his face to normal.

“Yerim-ah,” Yoojin says with a wide grin, holding his smart phone to his ear. “Will you join me for class next week? Yeah, pottery class. You will?! Can you bring a friend? Fantastic.”

Yoojin hangs up the phone and grins wide at Myungwoo. “See you next week.”

—————————

The following week drags by at a snail’s pace. Yoojin drowns himself in his work to get the time to pass by faster, goes to sleep earlier as another way to pass time. Yerim grins at Yoohyun, who is watching his hyung with a concerned face.

“He’s fine, Yoohyun. Just excited for his next class. I’ll bet the week is passing so slowly for him. He’s actually looking forward to the weekend for once, so be happy for Ahjussi, okay?”

“Hm,” is Yoohyun’s only response, but he seems satisfied by the sight of his hyung getting to bed on time, so he leaves it alone.

—————————

The next week, Yoojin is joined by a bouncing Yerim and an energetic Kang Soyoung. Yoojin proudly shows the girls the pottery he made in the previous weeks, and they cheer for him and look excited to try as well. Myungwoo watches the scene with a smile, though stays a little further from Yoojin than he usually does.

“Yerim-ah, you agree with me that Myungwoo-ssi would be very popular if he shared his pottery online, right?”

Yerim nods. “Myungwoo-oppa would be suuuuuuper popular! Oppa, do you have a blog?”

Myungwoo looked stunned at Yerim. Yoojin looked a little surprised, too. “Oppa? You two just met, though.”

“Ah. Right. You talk about him so much that it feels like I’ve known him as long as you have, ahjussi.”

“And wait, why am I ahjussi if he’s oppa? Actually, Myungwoo-ssi, how old are you?”

“I’m 25. Yoojin-ssi, how old are you?”

Yoojin’s face lights up. “The same! So I should be oppa too, Yerim-ah.”

Yerim just crinkles her nose. “Nah. Ahjussi is Ahjussi.”

“Then Myungwoo-ssi is also ahjussi!” Yoojin insists, but Yerim just shakes her head.

“Myungwoo-oppa is oppa.”

Yoojin gives a pleading look to Soyoung who just grins and shakes her head. He turns to Myungwoo with the same pleading look and Myungwoo looks flustered but laughs.

It's a nice laugh, Yoojin thinks.

Soyoung and Yerim exchange a look.

“Anyway!” Soyoung interrupts Yoojin’s staring. “I’m here for some pottery. Can I learn to make a dragon?”

Myungwoo shakes his head. “Eventually, if you practice hard enough, you can make anything you want. Today, we’ll stick to the basics.”

Myungwoo gets three wheels prepped and ready with Yoojin’s help. Yoojin’s help is a little clumsy at first but he manages not to bump into Myungwoo as he gets water for each table and grabs three sets of wooden tools, wire tools, and sponges.  Yerim and Soyoung help each other into aprons in the meantime.

For a good portion of the class, Myungwoo focuses on the basics with Yerim and Soyoung, since they’re both new to pottery. Yet the two girls are quite skilled in arts and crafts and quickly pick up the basics, giving Myungwoo a chance to go and check on Yoojin, who is trying to make a vase. It keeps falling over and breaking every time he tries bringing it above where a cup would be.

“Ah. Yoojin-ssi, you’re pinching it a bit too hard. If you apply too much pressure, the neck will be very thin and unable to hold up any weight, which is why it keeps breaking. Hold your sponge like this,” he says, demonstrating the way his hands should hold the sponge along with the side of the vase.

Yoojin tried it, but it looked a bit off.

“Ah, not quite a little more… hmm. Do you mind if I touch your hand?”

Yojin nods, and Myungwoo stands beside him, reaching around his shoulder, down his arm, and touching his hand. If he would just come a couple inches closer, they’d be in almost a hug, but Myungwoo is hovering carefully out of the range of body contact except for the hand, just as he’d said he would. He guides Yoojin’s hand gently to pinch the vase with less strength and slowly pull the clay up into a more vase-like shape.

“Good. You’re doing great,” he says encouragingly, but because of their position his voice sounds right next to Yoojin’s ear and it makes him blush. With a gasp, he flinches back, now leaning into Myungwoo’s chest. In that same moment he removes his clay covered hand from the wheel and covers his ear, splashing bits of wet clay onto both his face and Myungwoo’s.

They both fall silent.

The wheel slows to a stop as Yoojin silently removes his foot from the pedal and clears his throat, refusing to look Myungwoo in the eye until his face has cooled down and his heartbeat has slowed.

“Yoojin-ssi…”

“D-Don’t… I’m not doing it on purpose, I swear.” He could feel the blush slowly rising to his ears.

“Looking for a repeat of last time?”  Myungwoo teases, his voice still close behind Yoojin.

“N-NO!” Yoojin squeaks out, wishing he could cover his face right now. His cheeks are burning now from embarrassment, and so are his ears and neck.

The potter just chuckles, enjoying the cute sight of Yoojin as red as a tomato. He steps back from Yoojin to go fetch a wet cloth and then returns to wipe gently around Yoojin’s ear before splashing a bit of water on his own face to clean it off.

The two of them are in their own little world, completely unaware of the slack-jawed stares from Soyoung and Yerim, who had long since paused their wheels to gawk at the scene.

“Unnie,” Yerim whispers, leaning over to Soyoung. “What did Oppa mean by ‘last time’…?”

“Um… I don’t think it’s anything we need to worry about, Yerim-ah. Let’s just keep working and talk later. Shall we stop by a cafe after class?”

“Yeah!!” Yerim cheers and starts her wheel again.

Soyoung watches the two men for a moment longer before starting her own wheel again. She was starting to see why Yerim said Yoojin was so desperate to continue this class.

The class ends somewhat normally, with a few mishaps on Soyoung’s and Yerim’s end, in which Myungwoo swiftly swoops in and cleans up the mess. The girls are a bit surprised at the care in which he takes not to let either of them get clay in their hair, saying that it’s a great pain to get out once it’s dry. He points to his own hair and says,

“Just last week—”

“Myungwo-ssi!” came Yoojin’s voice from behind him, his eyes practically begging Myungwoo not to continue.

Myungwoo turned toward him and laughed. “Ah, am I not allowed to tell the story? Such a cute little mishap, though.”

“It’s not cute, it's embarrassing!” Yoojin pouts. “Besides, you make it sound like it was just me, but you also—”

“Ah! Right, okay, I get it! Let’s keep last time a secret!” Myungwoo hurriedly interrupts.

A satisfied smirk tugs at Yoojin’s lips. Then, slowly, his smile fades.

“So… Next week…?”

Both men glance at Soyoung and Yerim.

“We can come!” Yerim responds cheerfully. “But Myungwoo-Oppa… does your class have any social media? Soyoung-Unnie and I took some cute pics and we want to tag you!”

“Oh, no, I… I didn’t think anyone would be interested, so.”

“Whaaat!! That’s no good, Myungwoo-oppa!” Soyoung scolds. “How will your class get more popular if you don’t advertise!? Put up some pretty pictures of your finished works! You have some, don’t you?”

Myungwoo throws his hands up as if in self defence of the younger girl’s onslaught. “I-I do, but they’re not very good!”

“Lies!” Yoojin gasps, joining in on the attack. “Your finished work is stunning! Anyone would be amazed by it! You just have to show them! And actually name the artist! Credit yourself! You deserve it!”

After a bout of bickering between an adamant Yoojin, a flustered Myungwoo, and encouraging statements from Yerim and Soyoung, Myungwoo finally makes an SMS account.

“Ahjussi! You should post what you made and tag Oppa in it! Then he’ll definitely get popular!”

“Hmm~” Yoojin hums. “Should I put Chirpie in the bowl and take a picture?”

“Yess!!! Good idea!” Yerim squeals.

Myungwoo looks between them in confusion. Soyoung sees that and says, “Yoojin-ssi has a super popular account because of his cute pets. It’s really more of a pet account than his own personal one at this point.”

“It's my account! But who would want to see my ugly mug when there’s an adorable Peace and Chirpie right there?”

“Yoojin-ssi is not ugly!” Myungwoo insists.

Yoojin whips around to face him,  a somewhat surprised look on his face.

Soyoung grins and elbows Yerim, who understands immediately and beams. “Right, Myungwoo-oppa!? Ahjussi is super cute!!”

The potter hesitates for a moment but nods. “Very cute. You shouldn’t speak so poorly of yourself, Yoojin-ssi.”

Yoojin has his head in his hands. “Yerim-ah, don’t say things like this. Myungwoo-ssi, it’s okay not to indulge her sometimes. Also— wait— oi!” He pauses to look up from his hands to glare at Myungwoo.  “You’re the one always talking bad about yourself! Have you put your name on the pieces in the hallway yet?”

“No…” Myungwoo replies, voice small.

Yoojin crosses his arms. “Do it. This week. You’ll have more students soon, so it will be nice to show off the amazing work you can do.”

“I’ll have more…? Yoojin-ssi, what do you mean?”

“Because I’ll be praising you constantly on social media! People are bound to come and see once they realize how cool you are.”

———————————————

Over the next few weeks, Yoojjin does just that. His posts are wildly popular as always, but this time they feature a cute little bowl that is a perfect fit for Chirpie to rest in. The post text reads,

> I started taking pottery classes recently. I have 0 art skills, but the wonderful teacher @GoldenForgePottery helped me make this on my first day! You all should come try it out if you’re in the area!”

The following week, a couple of new students appear, much to the bewilderment and excitement of Myungwoo. He tends to the new students as well as Yerim who also comes along, and occasionally checks in on Yoojin who is doing fairly well on his own for the most part.

That afternoon, several new posts about the Golden Forge Pottery class go viral online. The following week, even more students show up, and the cycle continues for several weeks.

Yoojin is happy to see Myungwoo’s class growing in popularity, although it does mean he gets less time to see Myungwoo personally. However, he always makes sure to stay behind after class to help clean up and chat with Myungwoo. He also arrives early to class to help set up, since Myungwoo still has no extra teachers and the large amount of setup for a large class is getting overwhelming.

Myungwo always smiles brightly when he sees Yoojin enter the door. Sometimes it makes Yoojin’s stomach do a little flip, but he ignores the feeling.

One time, Yoojin comes super early and Myungwoo is still eating lunch. Yoojin has also brought his lunch and they sit down to eat together. Curious about the food Myungwoo has, Yoojin asks if they can trade.

“Thank you for the food~!” Yoojin hums as he takes a bite. He chews for a moment before his eyes grow big and he turns to look at Myungwoo with big, sparkling eyes. “Myungwoo-ssi… this…!!”

“Ah, is it not to your liking?”

Yoojin frantically shakes his head, trying to chew and swallow before speaking.  “It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted! Myungwoo-ssi, you eat like this every day?! No wonder you’ve got so much muscle…”

Myungwoo nearly chokes on his next bite of food. “Y-yoojin-ssi?”

Yoojin gasps, realizing what he’s said. “I just mean! You um, I… I’ve noticed, sometimes, when you teach, or when you lift big blocks of clay, you’ve got really nice muscles, is all.”

“Yoojin-ssi…”

“I’m just admiring! You know, when someone else has a nice body and wears such tight shirts you can’t help but admire the—“

“Yoojin-ssi??”

“— muscles and arms and back. Not in a creepy way just in a ‘woow, what a nice—’”

“Yoojin-ah.” Myungwoo rests a calloused hand on Yoojin’s cheek, finally managing to stop Yoojin’s panicked rambling.

Yoojin gasps softly at the contact, the touch and the way Myungwoo calls his name completely breaking him out of his thought spiral.

“I’m not upset about it or anything. You don’t have to defend yourself,” Myungwoo chuckles. He takes his hand away before Yoojin has a chance to say anything about it and offers more food.

Yoojin accepts, and Myungwoo watches as he eats eagerly, acting as if the food he is consuming is the most heavenly dish on the planet.

Yoojin is so focused on the food that he completely misses the admiring gaze from the man next to him.

From then on, Myungwoo brings his lunch to class more often, and usually packs a little extra.

—————————

As time passes, Myungwoo's classes begin to fill up faster and faster. Eventually, they fill up so fast that Yoojin makes a mistake, and misses the chance to sign up. Yerim hasn’t been going lately either, since she’s busy with her other friends, so Yoojin has nobody to trade places with.

Devastated, he is forced to stay home.

“Can’t you send Myungwoo-oppa a message? Tell him you won’t be around today. He usually gets a lot of help from you, doesn’t he?” Yerim is sitting at the breakfast table watching Yoojin mope around.

“He does, yeah… But it would be awkward to help out and leave, wouldn’t it? Besides, the new assistant teacher is supposed to start coming this week. He’ll be fine.”

“Ahjussi. You should still call him.”

“Oh… I don’t have his phone number.”

“WHAT?!”

“What do you mean ‘WHAT’, Yerim-ah?”

“I mean, aren’t you two.. like.. d… friends?”

”No? I mean… I sure would like to be. Maybe we are? I’d love to be friends with him…”

Yerim smacks her head against the table then leaves, saying something about needing to call Soyoung.

Later that evening, Yoojin finds a private message in his inbox on instagr*m.

> Yoojin-ssi, are you okay?

Yeah. Sorry Myungwoo-ssi, I missed the sign-up window. <

It went by so fast I didn’t even realize I’d missed it.

You’re really popular now.

> Oh…

> I’ll save you a seat from now on.

> If that’s okay, I mean.

> You are never forced to come.

Of course I’ll come! Save me a seat, teacher! <

> Haha. See you next week, Yoojin-ah.

————————————

In the following few weeks, Yoojin notices several things.

First, Myungwoo’s pieces, which are now properly on display, have been growing fancier and even more stunning. He’s opened up a shop on the side, and it’s very successful. Many of his works sell out quickly.

Second, Myungwoo himself seems to be getting taller and more dazzling. His muscles look even more well-defined, and his posture is straighter and more confident, perhaps resulting in his perceived growth.  Was he always that tall?

Third, some of the other students seemed far more interested in Myungwoo than in pottery. Sure, Myungwoo is tall, handsome, strong, and kind… But that doesn’t mean they can blatantly flirt with him in class!

From the back of the class where he usually sits, he overhears a couple of young ladies mentioning how they’d love to marry someone wealthy and talented and hot like Myungwoo. ‘He’s so good with his hands, just imagine how he’d be in bed~!’ They giggle.

The thought hits him like a truck. Images of shirtless Myungwoo— which he’s only seen once— and the way Myungwoo would look at him on occasion, or hold his hands with his big calloused ones, makes Yoojin’s stomach flip. He pushes those thoughts away. He really shouldn’t be thinking such things about someone he’s not even sure he can really call a friend.

Yoojin’s distracted mind doesn’t notice how hard he’s pulling the wire tool in his hands until he hears a loud plop! and the large vase he’s working on flops over into his lap. The wire part of the tool digs into his finger and cuts him.

“Shit..” Yoojin mutters under his breath and hurriedly stops the wheel. That wheel should have been off before he used the tool, and he knows that, but…

The thoughts start running through his head again just as Myungwoo appears beside him.

“Yoojin-ssi!!” The potter hurriedly grabs the ruined pot off of Yoojin’s lap and tosses it back onto the wheel. “Yoojin-ssi, you’re bleeding. Are you alright?” He grabs Yoojin’s wrist to take a look at his hand but as soon as he feels those calloused fingers on his skin again, Yoojin gasps and yanks his hand back.

Myungwoo’s thick eyebrows raise in surprise. “I’m sorry… Did I hurt you? I thought you injured your hand. Does it hurt somewhere else, too?” His eyes are scanning every inch of Yoojin’s face, body, and hands, checking for further wounds, but he finds none.

“I’m fine,” Yoojin finally chokes out. His mind is reeling. He’s in shock at himself for having such thoughts in the middle of class about such a dear… teacher. Friend? Either way, such thoughts are no good. Yoojin’s face burns in shame.

“Yoojin-ssi…?” Myungwoo stares at his flushed face, pushing back Yoojin’s hair to put a hand on his forehead.

Yoojin flinches back at the touch, not daring to look Myungwoo in the eyes. “I’m fine. Really, Myungwoo-ssi.”

Myungwoo doesn’t seem to believe him, but nods anyway. “Let’s get you cleaned up, then. Perhaps you should go home early today.”

“Wooow~!” Says the woman who’s been sitting next to Yoojin. “Myungwoo-seonsaengnim treats Yoojin-ssi so kindly. Can’t I get a bit of the special treatment too, Myungwoo-seonsaengnim~?”

Myungwoo spares her nothing more than an unamused glance. “If you are injured, I will pay the same amount of attention to you.”

Myungwoo guides Yoojin to the sink and helps him wash the clay off his hands.

“Myungwoo-ssi, really, I’m not that badly hurt. I can wash my hands on my own.”

Myungwoo gives him another once-over, then nods, going to grab the first aid kit. Meanwhile, the assistant teacher is hovering around the classroom, trying to do all the work Myungwoo usually does on his own. He’s actually quite skilled at it, flickering between students and giving them masterful tips before moving to the next student.

“Your assistant is quite skilled.” Yoojin comments absentmindedly, trying to escape the awkward situation his thoughts had put him in.

“Oh. My assistant quit after the first day. That’s actually my old teacher, the one who taught me pottery. He’s a good teacher, but he’s a bit… hmm. Hot-headed?  He prefers working alone in his shop rather than teaching, but he’s agreed to help me out for a bit.”

“Oh! I’d love to meet him properly, then.”

“Next time. Yoojin-ssi, you should go home for today.”

“Huh? W-why? I’m fine, I can help you clean up later!”

“You shouldn’t work with wet clay with an open wound on your hand.”

“Ah… right.”

Yoojin ends up going home in the middle of class that day. Yoohyun is there to meet him when he arrives home, and is shocked upon seeing his injury. Yoojin quickly calms the fuming Yoohyun, saying it was his own fault for not paying attention and that Myungwoo wouldn’t let him be injured any further. That seemed to satisfy Yoohyun’s anger, but he still seemed very worried about his hyung.

“Hyung, you look… confused? Concerned?” Yoohyun does his best to pick up his hyung’s emotions, but can’t quite get what emotion his hyung is feeling at the moment.

“It’s more complicated than that. Is Yerim-ie home?”

That night, Yerim and Soyoung had a long, excited, giggle-filled phone call.

————————————

The following week, Yoojin finds himself a little less excited about class and more nervous. He decided to sit at a different wheel, away from the two young ladies that had been chatting about such scandalous things. He sits next to a couple of nice-looking young men who seem friendly enough.

This would turn out to be a mistake.

He can’t help but notice that both their eyes follow Myungwoo as he walks by. They always stare at his back, their eyes slowly drifting downwards… and suddenly Yoojin is glad Myungwoo has his jacket tied around his waist today. He clears his throat and glances back at the vase he’s trying to pull. It’s lopsided from his lack of focus, and he sighs, looking at his hands as if they were at fault.

“Yoojin-ssi? What’s wrong? Does your hand still hurt?”  Myungwoo’s voice soundsfrom behind him and his large warm hands are examining Yoojin’s clay-covered ones before Yoojin even knows what’s happening.  Myungwoo stretches out his fingers and examines his palm not unlike what one would do to a cat’s paw.

“Ah.. Myungwoo-ssi, I’m fine, really. I was just deep in thought again, and now my vase is… Well.”

“Mm…” Myungwoo hums. “You’re really thinking hard about something, huh? Artwork is often a reflection of the artist’s state of mind. If it’s something related to this class, we can talk about it after, if you’d like?” the potter offered.

When Yoojin finally looks up into his eyes, he’s met with a kind gaze full of warmth and.. Something else, he couldn’t quite place. He’s seen Myungwoo look at him like this a few times before, but still has never been able to place the exact kind of emotion in those deep black-brown eyes.

“Yeah… I’ll help you clean up after class.”

“Oh! Um! Myungwoo-seonsaengnim! Could I perhaps… talk to you a bit after class, too?” says one of the young men beside Yoojin. His eyes sparkle as he gazes at the potter.

“Hm? Sure, if it’s not something you can say now.”

“I-it isn’t… please let me speak to you after class,” says the young man, his voice shaking slightly as if he’s nervous.

“I see. Then I’ll see you both after class. Yoojin-ssi, do you need help correcting the vase?”

Yoojin shakes his head. “I can handle it. You’ve taught me so many times before,” he says. ‘And I don’t think I can deal with your hands on mine right now…’ he thinks to himself.

An hour later, the class ends, and all the students clean up their areas and leave the classroom. All except for Yoojin and the other young man. Yoojin motions for the other man to go ahead and say what he needs to, and begins to clean up the other stations. He doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s curious as to what this young man, who was gazing at Myungwoo’s back so intently, has to say.

The young man shifts around nervously. “Um. Myungwoo-seonsaengnim… I um… I’ve been really enjoying your classes! And! I-I!” The young man’s voice is caked over in nervousness and growing louder as he tried to fake his own confidence.  “I! Think you’re really hot, please go out with me?!?”

Yoojin almost drops the wooden tools he’s been gathering.

Myungwoo also gives the young man a surprised look. He’s completely stunned. “Me?”

“Yes! You! Yoo Myungwoo-seonsaengnim! You’re exactly my type, please!” The poor man’s face is beet red now, and he has his body bowed at a 90 degree angle as if begging. Well, perhaps he is begging.

Yoojin’s heart drops. Myungwoo seems actually flustered about this. Is he going to say yes? Wait, does Myungwoo actually like men? Yoojin is frozen in place, his thoughts converging into one single panicked thought: ‘I don’t want someone else to take Myungwoo.’

It’s the result of several thoughts he’s had over the past week. Does he like Myungwoo? Does Myungwoo like him back? Is he even into men? Yoojin had been convinced that he was into women only, but his feelings for Myungwoo have suddenly crashed down on him like a tidal wave. He doesn’t think of Myungwoo as a friend anymore. Yoojin takes a step forward, then another, heading toward Myungwoo and the young man as if he could put a stop to this.

But before he could even say anything, Myungwoo gives a cold reply.

“Sorry. I won’t date my students. If that’s all you’re here for, please leave.”

It feels like a bucket of ice water has just been poured over Yoojin. His grip on the wooden tools slips, and they all clatter to the floor.

Myungwoo’s attention is instantly on him. “Yoojin-ssi? Are you okay?” The potter starts walking toward Yoojin, but Yoojin backs away a step.

“Um. Actually. I think… I think I should go.” he says, trying to keep his voice from shaking. He can feel his face starting to heat up, feel the tears coming, and he doesn’t dare cry in front of Myungwoo. He turns tail and flees, ignoring Myungwoo calling frantically after him.

————————————

Yoohyun spends the following week concerned for his Hyung. He’s been locked up in his room for the better part of the week. As soon as he comes home from work, he shuts himself up in there, dragging Peace and chirpie with him but not allowing anyone else inside.

Not even Yerim can get through to him, nor his coworker Sung Hyunje, who seemed worried about how he’d been behaving at work. Apparently his ‘aura of doom’ had caused several animals to paw at him in concern.

“Hyung, please. Talk to us. What can we do for you?”

“Just leave me alone. Please. I’ll be fine, just give me time,” said Yoojin’s shaky voice through the door.

Yoohyun and Yerim gave each other looks, but there was nothing they could do.

On Wednesday, Yerim broke into Yoohyun’s home office.  “Yoohyun!! I’ve figured it out!!”

Yoohyun stood up from his desk immediately. “What is it, Yerim?”

“Love!”

“Huh?”

“Ahjussi is heartbroken, I think!”

“What on earth makes you think that? Hyung doesn’t even like any–”

“Ugh. Actually, I’ll call Soyoung-unnie.”

“Hey! At least let me know what’s happening!”

Yerim rolls her eyes. “I’ll put her on speaker.”

Yerim pulls out her phone, rings Soyoung, and puts the phone on Yoohyun’s desk.

< Yerim-ah? What’s up?>

“Unnie! Ahjussi’s in trouble! It looks like he and Myungwoo-oppa had a fight? Or a misunderstanding or something?”

<Huh?! Did they break up?>

“WHAT?” Yoohyun interjects, but is quickly shushed by Yerim.

“Actually, Unnie, I don’t think they were ever dating. I’m afraid Ahjussi is a bit too oblivious.”

“Hyung is not–”

“Shut up or I’m taking this call somewhere else. You aren’t in the know.”

A tired sigh comes from the other end of the phone.

<I was afraid this would happen. Myungwoo-oppa is a sweet guy, but a bit too passive in his approach. And Yoojin-ssi is way too oblivious for his own good. He didn’t even realize he liked Myungwoo-oppa until recently, even though we saw it on the first day we met Myungwoo-oppa.>

Yoohyun gives Yerim a look of shock and disbelief. Yerim only responds with a short nod before continuing.

“Today Myungwoo-oppa messaged me on instagr*m. He said he couldn’t get in contact with Ahjussi and was really worried. Apparently Ahjussi ran out of the classroom after saying he’d talk with Myungwoo-oppa about something?”

<Huh? That’s pretty unlike Yoojin-ssi. Does Myungwoo-oppa have any idea what could have caused it?>

“Hmm. He says he’s not sure, but apparently right before that some other student confessed to Myungwoo-oppa and asked him out!”

A gasp came from the phone.

<And how did Myungwoo-oppa respond?! Did he say yes?!>

“He said… He won’t date his students.”

A beat of silence. Then,

“Oh.”

<Ohhh.>

“...Oh…”

All three parties realized what had made Yoojin so upset.

<... We need to form a plan. >

“To get him away from my hyung for good?”

Yerim slaps Yoohyun’s arm. “To get them together!”

————————————————————

Yerim finally gets a chance to talk to Yoojin after basically camping out in front of his door.

“Ahjussi! Myungwoo-oppa—”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But he says he—”

“Yerim-ah. Please. I need time to process things.”

Yerim stomps her foot. “Ahjussi isn’t listening to me!”

Yoojin finally stops and turns around to face Yerim properly. His eyes are puffy and red, with black circles underneath.

“Myungwoo-oppa wants to talk to you. He’s begging to talk to you. He says you won’t answer him on social media, so he has no other way to contact you.”

“I’m sorry, Yerim, but I have a lot of things that I need to process before I talk to him again.”

“Then, this weekend’s lesson—”

“Not going.”

“But—!”

“I’m not going, Yerim-ah. I know Myungwoo wants to talk to me, and I want to talk to him, too. But I’ve just learned something major about myself, and about him, and gotten my hopes up and had them crushed all in the same day. I’m tired, and I just need a little space to think.”

Yerim finally backs down. “Can I at least let him know you’re okay?”

“Sure. Tell him I’m fine, and that we'll talk… eventually.”

——————————————————————

The following weekend, Yoojin stays home. Yoohyun and Yerim force him to take a walk outside to get some sun, so the three of them walk together. Yerim and Yoohyun bicker as usual, but always grow quiet as they realize that although Yoojin normally would have broken them apart by now, he is silent, walking with his eyes on the ground, deep in thought.

It’s Yoohyun that finally breaks the silence.  “Hyung, you said pottery helped you organize your thoughts a bit, right?”

“… Yeah. But right now, Myungwoo—”

“Hyung. There are other pottery classes, aren’t there? Can’t you try one of those?”

Yoojin looks thoughtful for a moment. “Right… yeah. You’re right. I like pottery for pottery, not for Myungwoo.”

“Then why not sign up for a different class next weekend?”

Yoojin thinks for a moment, then slowly nods. “Okay. I will.”

———————

The next weekend, Yoojin signs up for a different pottery class. He explains to Yerim that he’s desperately trying to prove that he likes pottery for pottery itself, and the space that it gives him to think, and not just because he likes Myungwoo. Yerim encourages him to try it, simply wanting to see her Ahjussi back to normal.

The new pottery class is actually a couple buildings down from Myungwoo’s shop and classroom. The class itself starts a bit later than Myungwoo’s class, so Yoojin rushes by Myungwoo’s classroom windows, hoping that Myungwoo will be busy with class and have his back turned. However…

“Yoojin-ssi!!”

A voice that was so familiar and comforting, and yet one that Yoojin really doesn’t want to hear right now. Even the way Myungwoo calls him ties his stomach into knots.

Myungwoo is handing out the door to the classroom, seemingly having paused the class or encouraged everyone to keep going without him. He looks back inside, says something to what Yoojin assumes is the assistant, and runs toward Yoojin.

He’s hurrying so fast that he nearly trips right in front of Yoojin, but manages to hold his ground, resting his recently-washed hands on Yoojin's shoulders.

“Yoojin-ssi… Are you okay? You’re alright? You aren’t mad at me for something? I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?”

Myungwoo’s frantic eyes glance around Yoojin’s face and body, finally landing on his face once he’s finished a full body scan of Yoojin’s health. His shoulders are slumped down in worry and he looks nervous and a little frazzled, just like he was on the day they first met.

And as he holds Yoojin’s shoulders, looking over him with those familiar worried eyes, Yoojin finally breaks.

“I’m okay. I’m fine, I just… I can’t… I can’t come to your classes anymore. I keep having these thoughts and it’s just.. so uncomfortable!! I’m going to a different class to try and organize my thoughts today. I’m so sorry, Myungwoo-ssi. I shouldn’t be feeling this way, but I am, so I thought it’d be best to stop coming!” He says through tears.

Myungwoo is shocked. What kind of thoughts…?

“You… Come talk to me after class. I’ll be here, the same place as always. I have food for you, so come, okay?” When Yoojin stares at the ground and doesn’t respond, Myungwoo continues. “… Please, Yoojin-ah.”

Yoojin inhales sharply at the familiar way Myungwoo calls his name. He nods slowly, his voice small.

“Yeah… I’ll come.”

He shows up a couple hours later as his own class ends, and knocks on the classroom door before shyly opening it. Myungwoo is cleaning up the clay and equipment and wiping down the pottery tables. When he hears Yoojin come in he drops everything and rushes to him, hurriedly scrubbing his hands clean so he can grab Yoojin’s.

Yoojin is standing at the doorway, surprised at how hurriedly Myungwoo rushes over to him. He doesn't feel comfortable coming into the classroom somehow… a wave of guilt crashes over him.

“Myungwoo-ssi… I… I’m so sorry,” he begins. “I really can’t be your student anymore,” he says, pushing down the tears that are threatening to well up again.

“Yoojin-ah.” There it is again, that familiar and friendly way Myungwoo calls his name, a comforting warmth in his voice.

“I… haven’t considered you just a ‘student’ in a long, long time. You’ve supported me in a way that nobody else has. Even when I was just a teacher with no regular students, you believed in me and came to class. That alone encouraged me to continue. And yet… you kept going further. You helped clean up after class, you advertised my classes to others, you helped me gain both confidence and popularity… Yoojin-ah, really, I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. I owe you… everything.”

Yoojin shakes his head. “You owe me nothing. Towards you, I have such… ugly feelings, Myungwoo-ssi… Even though I’m the one who advertised your classes, and was happy to see others appreciate your work, I— I can’t stand how the other students flirt with you and — I don’t have the right to be jealous of other students when we don’t even have that kind of relationship!! So— so… !!”

Yoojin turns his face away, unable to face Myungwoo after spilling out and confessing all of his ugly feelings. But Myungwoo’s grip on his hands only tightens.

“You… felt…. jealous?” Myungwoo says, his voice quiet as if in disbelief.

Jealous? Is that what this feeling is? Slowly, Yoojin nods, still not daring to look Myungwoo’s way. He tries weakly to pull his hands away, but Myungwoo’s grip only tightens.

“Yoojin-ah.” There it is again. Has Myungwoo always called him this sweetly? Yoojin’s stomach does flips every time.

Myungwoo brings one of Yoojin’s hands up to his lips and gives his fingers a brief kiss.

“Yoojin-ah. Look at me.”

He doesn’t even need to say that, because as soon as Yoojin feels his lips on his fingers, his focus has snapped back to Myungwoo with a gasp, his eyes wide in shock and disbelief.

“M-Myungwoo-ssi?!”

“Yoojin-ah. I care very deeply for you. I want to see you healthy and happy, always. And lately… I can’t help but feel like I want you to stay close to me. Do you feel the same way about me as I feel about you?”

Myungwoo’s voice quivers ever so slightly, as if he’s also a little afraid of the words he’s saying. But his eyes look hopeful, and full of a particular kind of warmth that Yoojin has seen in his eyes before, but never quite placed the feeling. But now…

“M-Myungwoo-ssi. I… I want everyone to know how wonderful you are but I also… I also want to keep you to myself. So… if that’s the way you feel, too, then..!”

Yoojin’s stuttering speech is interrupted by a puff of laughter. He freezes, wondering if he’s mistaken Myungwo’s feelings, but when he looks up once more at Myungwoo’s face, he’s met with slightly rosy cheeks and the biggest, happiest, most beautiful smile he’s ever seen on Myungwoo’s face. It’s a look that absolutely takes his breath away.

“Myungwoo-ssi… Myungwoo-yah. I think… I really like you.”

Myungwoo laughs more, holding Yojin’s hands tightly now. “Yoojin-ah. I like you too. I’ve really liked you for a while, so… will you go out with me?”

Yoojin breaks away from Myungwoo’s grasp and hugs him tightly. Myungwoo throws his hands up in shock.

“Yoojin-ah! I’m still covered in clay, it’s dirty!!”

“I don’t care!!” Yoojin laughs. “I’m way too happy to give a shit about that! I’m in my pottery clothes anyways; they were bound to get dirty. Right now, I just really want to hug you.”

Myungwoo smiles again and hugs him back, no longer caring about getting more clay on Yoojin’s clothes. “Then, is that a yes?”

“Are you kidding!? Of course it’s a yes!!” Yoojin replies, his head still buried in Myungwoo's broad shoulder.

Myungwoo softly kisses the side of his head. “Yoojin-ah. I have food, if you're hungry.”

“Hmm~? Asking for a first date already?” Yoojin teases.

“Yoojin-ah,” Myungwoo’s voice is practically pleading. Yoojin pulls back from the high to see a delightfully shy-looking Myungwoo.  “I would never take you on a date this shabby. We're both covered in clay and I'm still at work. You deserve much more than that. A fancy restaurant and—”

Yoojin cuts him off with a kiss to the cheek. “I'd rather have your divine cooking and a familiar, peaceful place than a fancy restaurant.”

“Then…” Myungwoo's gaze flicks distractedly between Yoojin's eyes and his lips. “Dinner at my place?”

Yoojin hums and nods. “I'd like that,” he says, before finally closing the short distance between them.

Their first kiss is soft and chaste, but sweet. Myungwoo chases his lips, capturing them again in a longer kiss that has Yoojin grinning.

“Myungwoo-yah, are you aware exactly how many windows this classroom has?” he teases.

Myungwoo gasps and backs away. “Sorry, Yoojin-ah! I got carried away. I haven't even asked how you feel about PDA… I'm a horrible.. boyfriend,” he drifts off, the last word making both men blush.

“Hmm… I guess I mind it a little bit. And I don't particularly want to get on the bad side of all of your fans. But you are not a horrible boyfriend… and I'm quite new to all of this so… I can't promise I'll be that great either. But. I'll try my very best, so try yours too. That's all I ask. That aside…” Yoojin's finger traces small, shy circles on Myungwoo's chest. “Shall we go somewhere else?”

Myungwoo nods. The two men quickly finish cleanup, and Yoojin leaves with Myungwoo right behind him.