Work Text:
When Hyunjin had gotten into his car and drove out of the parking lot way too far away from his job, he didn’t really have any idea of where he was going. He still didn’t. He wasn’t going home, he had passed the turn 20 minutes ago. He certainly wasn’t going back to his stupid work, his stupid colleagues and his stupid, stupid, stupid boss. Their latest conversation replayed in his head. Unfortunately, your morals don't align with our company, and the project has been handed off to someone else. His morals? His morals?
The project had been one of all the projects they did, helping kids find sports and activities they enjoy and sponsor them to be able to continue them. The projects were wonderful, but weirdly enough Hyunjin had never gotten to actually be out to work with the kids. Or maybe it wasn't that weird. Even though his boss or his colleagues had never said it out loud, he knew it was because he was gay, because of course it was.
With all the other projects, Hyunjin had been fine. Fine in a way where he could bite his teeth, where he wouldn’t cuss at his boss, in a way where he wouldn’t be driving on a foreign road on the way to an even more foreign place. But this project was important to Hyunjin. This time they were planning to invite kids to draw and paint, teach them about the limitlessness of drawing and how to express themselves.
Ever since Hyunjin had been young, he had always loved expressing himself in colors and clothes. He still remembered the way he could sit in hours staring at the beautiful paintings in the living room at home, how he would stare at everything in a park and want to make it stick in his memory forever. When his parents had bought him his first digital camera, he barely walked anywhere without it safely tucked to his side. The last Friday of every month he would walk to a photo lab to get them printed out. He would hang them up in his room, give them as gifts, use them as bookmarks.
When Hyunjin had turned 10, his parents had found a drawing club and signed Hyunjin up. Hyunjin still remembered the first time he held a pencil, a real pencil, and had created the things he saw in front of him. He had drawn before, but he had always seen it as an assignment. Like this, he could spend hours mixing colors until he got the effect he wanted. He would ask his neighbour in the art studio relentless questions about how to make the picture come alive. That neighbour had later become one of his still best friends, Bang Chan.
Till this day he still drew, even though now it had become less about capturing the things he saw and more about capturing the feelings on the inside. Or maybe it was just about capturing who he truly was. Letting the world see what he was, but without understanding what they saw. Being able to openly scream out his identity, without anyone silencing him. He didn’t have as much time as usual to paint, and had looked forward to this project. He had done his best to keep up a “straight facade”, but even so, apparently it didn’t matter.
“This is so unfair!” Hyunjin yelled and hit his hand to the side of the wheel so hard it hurt. Why did Hyunjin have to be treated like this? He wasn’t different from anyone else, different from any of those women gushing over men. All he wanted was to hold a fucking pencil and see his happiness being spread to someone else. See the light in their eyes as they understood. His boss would never understand, because people like him couldn’t. They didn’t have any light in them that could shine up.
The road Hyunjin was driving on was completely empty, except for the ominous dark clouds that finally stopped being ominous and now started pouring down rain. Big drops landed on Hyunjin’s windshield and he turned on the windshield wipers, rhythmically moving back and forth, back and forth. The sound calmed Hyunjin and he realized now how small the road had gotten, completely empty with cars. He made a U-turn, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. He might not go back to work, or home. Just a bar would work fine, but he wouldn’t mind if it was a bit closer to home. The rain in Seoul could get scary sometimes and the last thing Hyunjin needed was to call a towing truck in the late evening.
Hyunjin slowed down a bit in the rain, afraid of slipping when he noticed something in the rain. A dark figure. It wasn’t a car, because it didn’t have any headlights. He slowed down. He didn’t want to drive over an animal. However, when he got closer, the figure started to take form and looked like a human with an umbrella. As he got even closer, he noticed a man struggling with his umbrella in the wind. His hair was drenched along with his white shirt, which was now basically see through. Hyunjin didn’t understand why he even bothered to use the umbrella, but he understood he might need some help.
Without really thinking about it, he turned on the blinkers and pulled up next to the man. The man noticed him and stopped. He pulled the umbrella closer to himself as Hyunjin passed him before stopping right in front of him. Hyunjin noticed how the man walked up next to the car window and Hyunjin rolled it down.
“Need a drive?” Hyunjin asked. “This weather is horrible.” This close up, Hyunjin noticed more things about the man. The fact that he was around his age, had a strong jaw and eyes that pierced into him like a fox. He was the type of person that either wasn’t your type, or was so much your type you felt goosebumps on your neck. Hyunjin felt a shiver down his neck.
“Really? Thank you so much!” the man said. The man walked in front of Hyunjin’s car and Hyunjin noticed how muscular he was. Who was this person? An actor? A model? Hyunjin didn’t recognize him, but he was also awful with knowing actors, Chan had complained about it many times while trying to get him into movies.
The door opened and the man jumped into the passenger seat. Hyunjin chuckled to himself. He was letting a complete stranger into his car, the first advice on the list on how to get kidnapped. Probably also what his boss meant when he said “your morals”. Letting strange men into your car might be what all other gay men did, what did Hyunjin know? He hadn’t hooked up with anyone since… Since two years ago, he realized, and that was with his stupid ex.
Hyunjin had heard about the saying that if everyone around you is the problem, then you might be the problem, and Hyunjin wondered what big of a problem he must be if everyone around him either betrayed him or ignored him. The only reason his work had found out about his sexuality was through his ex. His ex had sent an email to his work after they had broken up, or rather, his ex had cheated on him and felt so guilty he broke up with Hyunjin. The only true friend Hyunjin had was Chan and his parents, even though they didn’t know about this specific part of him, and they never would.
Hyunjin wished he could tell them, he really did. However, sometimes there are things they don’t need to know, like who Hyunjin has in his bed. They would only get worried for him, and he didn’t want that. It was only in Hyunjin’s most honest times he could admit to himself that he was scared, not for how they would react, but how their relationship would change. Even if they weren’t worried, or worst case scenario, upset, it still wouldn’t be the same. His parents would know he wasn’t like everyone else. That they wouldn’t get to tell everyone about their son’s wife, about his beautiful kids. Hyunjin had accepted it, but he wasn’t sure whether his parents could.
“Ehm…” the stranger said, pulling him out of his thoughts. “I’m Yang Jeongin.”
“Hwang Hyunjin,” Hyunjin said. “Where are you going?”
“I’m visiting a friend, Mr. Hwang. He said he lives in Gangseo. Here is the address."
Jeongin held up his phone, surprisingly not drowned in the rain. Hyunjin recongized the address. It wasn’t too far from a familiar bar.
“I know it, I’m going that direction.” Hyunjin drove out on the road again. “And you don’t have to call me Mr. Hwang. Just Hyunjin is fine.”
“Okay,” Jeongin said. “And Jeongin works for me. If you want to, I mean.” Hyunjin smiled. This Yang Jeongin was cute. Maybe he should pick up strangers more often. It would certainly increase the level of suspense in his life. His heart was beating hard in his chest.
“Did you… Did you drive the wrong way?” Jeongin asked. Hyunjin raised an eyebrow in question.
“It’s just… I saw you driving in the other direction before.”
“Oh,” Hyunjin said. “I just… Changed my mind.” Jeongin nodded in his periphery.
“And why did you decide to pick me up? Aren’t you scared I’d be a serial killer?”
Hyunjin laughed.
“It’s hard imagining a serial killer walking aimlessly in the rain with the most see-through shirt I’ve ever seen.” Hyunjin noticed Jeongin covering his chest instinctively.
“I have a hoodie in the back seat if you need it,” Hyunjin said. Jeongin shook his head.
“I'm fine.”
“Speaking of,” Hyunjin began. “Why are you walking aimlessly with the most see-through shirt I’ve ever seen?”
“My part… Well, ex-partner dropped me off.”
“Did you get lost on the way?” Hyunjin asked, noticing how he said “partner” and not “girlfriend”.
“No, like… Kind of right where you found me,” Jeongin said, his cheeks blushing.
“What did you do for them to throw you off?” Hyunjin asked. “Did you try to serial kill them?”
Jeongin chuckled, and the sound was surprisingly free and unhinged compared to his careful, soft speaking. Hyunjin liked it.
“They broke up with me in the car and then told me to get off.”
“What?” Hyunjin asked. “But you’re so far from home? And it sounds like you’re a tourist.”
“It’s fine,” Jeongin said. “I’m surprisingly unmoved by it. I don’t really feel anything except for relief. As if I finally killed that annoying mosquito in my room.”
Hyunjin couldn’t help but laugh. This Yang Jeongin was so honest in a way Hyunjin really liked. If they had met somewhere other than the literal side of the road, Hyunjin imagined they could’ve become friends.
“Good riddance, then,” Hyunjin said. Jeongin chuckled again.
“Yeah. By the way, why did you decide to pick me up? Am I the one who should be scared of serial killers?” Jeongin asked, but it was relaxed, free.
“Do I look like a serial killer?”
“Isn’t it a common thing that serial killers are handsome?” Jeongin asked. Hyunjin chuckled. He was used to people calling him handsome, but it was rare it came from a guy who wasn’t flirting with him.
“Then should I drop you off in the rain again?”
“I’d rather get murdered by a handsome serial killer than walk in that rain again,” Jeongin said, scrunching his face. Hyunjin let out a chuckle.
“Priorities,” he said. Jeongin smiled.
“We have arrived,” Hyunjin said, surprised. When he was talking to Jeongin, he had barely noticed the time passing. He also noticed he wasn’t really thinking about his boss anymore.
“Thank you so much for the drive,” Jeongin said. “How much do you want?”
“What?” Hyunjin asked before he noticed Jeongin pulling out his wallet.
“Oh, no, no,” Hyunjin said, waving the money away. “This is free. Your company was enough. I needed it.”
“Are you sure?”
Hyunjin just smiled.
“Well, then, thank you again,” Jeongin said. He jumped out of the car, seeming almost reluctant. Hyunjin could relate to the feeling. It was weird, as if his car had briefly become a parallel universe, where only they existed together. Everything else that had happened didn’t matter as much as when Jeongin told him about his awful ex.
Hyunjin’s eyes followed Jeongin as he walked up to the apartment complex. He watched as Jeongin patted his pockets for the key and then as Jeongin’s movements got faster and more panicked. He put the umbrella under his arm and went through every pocket on his jeans when the umbrella broke free from Jeongin’s arm and flew down the path towards the apartment complex before stopping in front of Hyunjin’s car.
Hyunjin stepped out of the car, pulling his hood over his head before grabbing the dropped umbrella. He held it over his head as he walked closer towards Jeongin. Jeongin’s eyes were locked on Hyunjin, his mouth slightly open as Hyunjin held it over his head.
“I think you dropped this,” Hyunjin said and held out the umbrella. Jeongin chuckled.
“Thank you,” he said and took the umbrella in his hand. Hyunjin noticed it was shivering in the cold.
“Are you not finding the key?”
“I think I might’ve forgotten it at my ex’s place,” Jeongin said and groaned.
“Can you call your friend?”
“He’s not here right now,” Jeongin said. “Like, not in this country. I got to borrow the apartment, and now I lost the key.”
“I could drive to get it for you,” Hyunjin said. His evening had already started badly, why not make it worse by driving an hour to get this random stranger his key?
“Oh, you don’t have to. I don’t even know where he is right now. I think I’ll just find some hotel in the area. They’re expensive, but at least I’ll have a place to stay.” Jeongin shook his head, probably at his own forgetfulness.
“You know,” Hyunjin began before he could change his mind. “There’s an amazing bar close to here, so I was planning to go there before going home. If you want to… I mean… My place is free. And I don’t have any pets, or roommates.”
“Oh, you really don’t have to.”
“I know,” Hyunjin said. “I’m doing it because I want to and because you seem to be in true trouble.”
Jeongin stared at him in awe.
“You are the nicest person I’ve met.”
“You should see me in the mornings,” Hyunjin said, flustered by the compliment.
They jumped into the car again, Hyunjin turning on the radio this time, playing calmly in the background.
“Are you traveling in Seoul?” Hyunjin asked.
“Yeah, I’m from Busan,” Jeongin said. Hyunjin smiled. He had noticed a slight Busan accent earlier, even though he hid it well.
“And you?” Jeongin asked.
“I live here,” Hyunjin said. “I’ve lived here my whole life.” He parked outside the restaurant. He glanced over Jeongin, smiling at the still see-through shirt.
“I don’t think you can go in like that.” Hyunjin reached back to get his extra hoodie in the back. He noticed a hint of rain from Jeongin. It smelled nice. Hyunjin found the hoodie and handed it to Jeongin.
“Are you sure I can borrow it?” Jeongin said. Hyunjin noticed how he shivered on the hands. Hyunjin realized he must be ice cold after being in the rain for so long.
“I barely even noticed I forgot it in the car,” Hyunjin said. “You can have it.”
“Thank you.” Jeongin said and pulled it over his head. Hyunjin adjusted the strings that had fallen inside the hoodie. Jeongin’s skin was cold against Hyunjin’s.
The bar was located on a street surrounded by restaurants, a lot of the people finishing up their food and walking under umbrellas. Hyunjin parked as close to the bar door as he could before he and Jeongin ran inside, covering their heads with their hands.
“Hi,” Hyunjin said to the bartender and smiled. The bartender in question was Chan, and the reason he knew about this place. Soft music played in the background on the speakers. The soft lightning made the place feel comfortable, like home. Somehow, Chan knew every single person who went here, and Hyunjin would always have fun conversations with people. This time however, he was only looking to make Jeongin comfortable.
“Hi Hyunjin,” Chan said. “I see you brought a friend with you.”
“This is Yang Jeongin,” Hyunjin said, and felt weirdly proud about it. Jeongin smiled.
“Hello,” Jeongin said and bowed. Chan smiled.
“Bang Chan, but you can just call me Chan.” Chan cocked his head. “Do you have a bit of a dialect?”
“I’m from Busan,” Jeongin explained. “I’m on vacation here and… it’s a long story.”
“We’ll take that another day,” Hyunjin said. “Just give me the strongest you have.”
Chan laughed.
“And I’ll have to drive you guys home? Can your friend handle it?”
“My friend can drink how much he wants,” Hyunjin said and put a hand on Jeongin’s shoulder. This time it didn’t feel ice cold.
“I’m fine,” Jeongin said. “I think I might need it too.”
Hyunjin and Jeongin sat down by the bar as Chan served the drinks to them before he went on to help another group of people. Hyunjin took a sip and felt it burning down his throat, a sweet taste on his tongue. Jeongin took a sip too.
“I’ll pay for it,” Jeongin said. “As a thank you for driving me, and taking care of me.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Hyunjin said. “I’ll pay for it. You’ve helped me talk out the thing that bothered me.”
Jeongin smiled.
“You haven’t even said anything about it,” Jeongin said. Hyunjin raised his eyebrows, pausing with his glass on its way to his lips.
“Oh? You’re right,” Hyunjin said and took another sweet sip. “It’s actually pretty simple. I was upset about work.”
Jeongin nodded understandingly.
“There was a project I wanted, but I didn’t get it,” Hyunjin said. He smiled bitterly, hiding it behind his glass as he took one more sip. He started feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
“Did it matter a lot?” Jeongin asked. Hyunjin sighed. He circled the bottom of his glass on the table.
“I guess it did,” Hyunjin said and looked away. “Sometimes I wonder whether it’s my fault. Whether I’m the problem, and everyone else is right. If everyone tells me I am, I must be, right? Why not just give the project up? Why not just quit entirely?”
Jeongin sat silent, simply listening to his rant. Hyunjin met his gaze and for a moment it felt like he understood, even though Hyunjin knew that all he had been saying was meaningless twaddle.
“I guess I maybe just care too much,” Hyunjin said. He looked away again. Jeongin took a deep breath next to him and leaned forward on the bar table.
“I might not know you very well,” Jeongin said and Hyunjin met his eyes, smiling. “But from what I’ve seen you caring is a good trait. If you didn’t care like you did, I’d probably be dead in a ditch.”
Hyunjin leaned back. He hadn’t thought about it in that way before.
“I like that about you,” Jeongin said. “I like that you care, and not just because I would’ve been dead in a ditch otherwise.”
Hyunjin chuckled.
“You’re an interesting man, Yang Jeongin,” Hyunjin said. Jeongin held up his glass.
“Cheers,” he said.
“For being interesting and caring,” Hyunjin said and clinked his glass against Jeongin’s.
A few moments later, and after not so few of “the strongest Chan has”, Jeongin and Hyunjin were pretty drunk.
“And you know what?” Hyunjin said. “I don’t even care about stupid Lee whatever his name is. He can go fuck himself!”
“Cheers to that!” Jeongin said and clinked Hyunjin’s glass. Hyunjin laughed feeling warm. He put an arm around Jeongin’s shoulder.
“You know what,” he said. “You are my best friend in the world. And you know what?” he yelled. “If I could marry you, I would!”
Jeongin stared at him for a few seconds before he started laughing. Hyunjin naturally started laughing too, barely sure what the joke was, but sure it didn’t matter. Jeongin smiled at him as he leaned against him, Hyunjin losing his balance a bit. Jeongin pulled him up and they started laughing again. Jeongin held up a finger, pointing towards Hyunjin’s face.
“If my husband was this handsome, I’d gladly marry him.” They started laughing again until Hyunjin’s stomach started hurting.
“Hey,” Chan called. Hyunjin looked up at him, still giggling.
“What?”
“Do you think you can get home on your own? We’re closing?”
“I’m Hyunjin,” Hyunjin said. “Of course I can get home on my own.”
A few minutes later, Hyunjin and Jeongin were safely tucked into the backseat of the car. Hyunjin stretched his arms and accidentally brushed his arm against Jeongin’s. He let his arm slide down Jeongin’s before grabbing his hand. Jeongin intertwined their fingers.
“Where are you guys going?” Chan asked.
“My place,” Hyunjin said.
“And Jeongin?”
“Hyunjin’s place,” Jeongin said. “I’ll pay you back,” he added to Hyunjin. Hyunjin just waved lazily with his hand.
“You’re my best friend, remember?” Hyunjin said. “Best friends shouldn’t pay.”
“Does that only apply to Jeongin’s in your life?”
“Hey!” Hyunjin said. “You’re older, of course you should pay.”
“Is that how you talk to people older than you?”
Hyunjin just muttered something and focused on the warm sensation of Jeongin’s hand instead. He smiled sheepishly at him and Jeongin smiled. He had smiled so much that night Hyunjin had forgotten what Jeongin had looked like when he wasn’t smiling. Hyunjin didn’t mind it though. He had a pretty smile. Hyunjin wasn’t sure whether he said the last part out loud or not.
Chan parked outside Hyunjin’s apartment complex and helped them both out. Chan helped balance Hyunjin while Jeongin held onto Hyunjin.
“You’re the best, Chan,” Hyunjin said.
“I know,” Chan said. “Where is your key?”
Hyunjin searched his pockets before picking up the key. Chan unlocked the door and turned on the light.
“Remember to lock the door,” he said before closing the door behind them.
“Oh, it’s hot,” Jeongin said and took off Hyunjin’s hoodie. He hung it on the hanger and Hyunjin hung up his own next to Jeongin’s. Jeongin’s shirt had dried a bit and was slightly less see through.
“I’ll get a blanket for you,” Hyunjin said and stepped into the apartment, Jeongin following shortly after. Hyunjin stopped in front of his couch, or at least what was supposed to be his couch. In its space stood a pile of IKEA packages.
“Is it fine if you sleep in the same bed as me? Hyunjin asked.
“We’re best friends, right?” Jeongin asked and smiled. Hyunjin smiled back.
“Just so you’re comfortable.”
“You’re a comforting person to be with,” Jeongin said. Hyunjin gazed upon him for a moment. He looked to his right eye, his left, his right. Both of them were honest. It was the first time in weeks, maybe even years that Hyunjin had felt like he didn’t make everyone around him uncomfortable, or question his morals.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice shivering a bit. “Let’s sleep then?”
They laid down in the bed, both of them kicking off their jeans. Hyunjin laid down as far to the side as he could to give Jeongin space. He pulled the blanket over them, carefully tucking Jeongin in. His cheeks were blushing red and his eyes closed, probably already half way on his way to sleep. Even like this, there was a slight smile on his lips.
“Good night, stranger I found by the side of the road,” Hyunjin said.
“I have a name,” the stranger Hyunjin found by the side of the road mumbled. Hyunjin snuggled in closer.
“Good night, Jeongin,” he mumbled, his lips accidentally touching Jeongin’s ear, or was it Jeongin’s ear that touched his lips? Hyunjin couldn’t tell, and it didn’t matter as Hyunjin’s breathing slowed down before he didn’t notice anything around him anymore.
Hyunjin woke up feeling surprisingly well, remembering the majority of what happened the day prior. He glanced to the side, Jeongin still sleeping next to him. His face was turned towards him, and for once, he wasn’t smiling. He had a slight frown on his face, covered half way by his hair hanging in his face.
Hyunjin carefully brushed his hair away from his forehead and noticed how hot his skin was. Hyunjin paused before gently pressing his fingers to Jeongin’s forehead. His skin was burning. Hyunjin checked his own temperature before checking Jeongin’s again.
“You have a fever,” Hyunjin mumbled. Jeongin didn’t say anything, still asleep. Hyunjin carefully sat up on the side of the bed. He went out into the kitchen and looked around. What did people usually do when they got sick?
Hyunjin could barely take care of himself, nevertheless a different person. His couch was just a pile of IKEA packages, he drove in a car when he was angry, and drank way too much. Hyunjin didn’t want Jeongin to suffer for it. Hyunjin pulled up his phone and googled for what you do when you have a fever.
“Rest, drink a lot of water, cool water cloth,” Hyunjin read. He could do that. He pulled out a bowl and filled it with cool water before placing a clean towel in it. He carried it carefully back into the room. Jeongin had woken up and sat up. He coughed.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning,” Hyunjin answered back. “Sit down again, you need to rest.”
Jeongin looked confused as he laid back down.
“You have a fever,” Hyunjin said. “You need to rest.”
“Minho can take care of me,” Jeongin said. “My friend, I mean. He got back this morning.”
“Well, if you don’t trust me…”
“I do,” Jeongin said. “I just don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“I actually enjoy the distraction,” Hyunjin said. “I might not be the best at it, but I’ll take care of you.”
Hyunjin wringed out the towel before carefully placing it on Jeongin’s forehead. He let out a little sigh.
“How are you feeling?” Hyunjin asked, worried. “Does your throat hurt? Do you need me to get you anything?”
“Water would be nice,” Jeongin said. “But I can get it mysel-”
“I’ll get it for you,” Hyunjin said and quickly went back to get it. He heard Jeongin cough in his room, and Hyunjin couldn’t help but think it was his fault. Maybe if Hyunjin had brought Jeongin home to warm up he wouldn’t have gotten sick in the rain. Hyunjin went back into the room and handed Jeongin the glass.
“You’re better at taking care of people then you think,” Jeongin said.
“I don’t know anything,” Hyunjin said. “Or else you wouldn’t have gotten sick.”
Jeongin took one more sip of his water.
“It’s not your fault I have a stupid ex-boyfriend,” Jeongin said. They both froze for a second, staring at each other. Hyunjin’s suspicion had turned out to be true.
“Right,” Hyunjin mumbled.
“And if it weren’t for you, I’d probably still been walking on that road.” Jeongin laughed. "You've actually done so much for me, much more than I’ve done for you.”
“I told you I was the one who wanted to,” Hyunjin said.
“And that makes you a good person,” Jeongin said.
“You don’t know me,” Hyunjin said, and it was clearly the wrong thing to say. Jeongin pressed his lips together, turning away his head. Hyunjin felt his heart shatter on its edges, the pieces reaching out towards Jeongin, desperate to make him happy again.
“I’m gay,” Hyunjin blurted out. “The reason I didn’t get to work on the project is because I’m gay.”
Jeongin turned his head back to him, slowly, carefully. His eyes met Hyunjin’s.
“Why are you telling me that?” he asked.
“So that you will know me,” Hyunjin said. “And because I trust you.”
“Because I’m also…”
“No,” Hyunjin said. “I think I must have trusted you the second I let you into my car.”
Jeongin’s eyes softened. Hyunjin suddenly realized two things. He first realization was that they were two gay people alone in an apartment, both of which were half naked. His second was that they were sitting close, too close. Hyunjin sat on the edge of the bed, Jeongin pushing himself slightly up. They were so close Hyunjin swore he could feel Jeongin’s breath on his cheek.
Don’t look at his lips, don’t look at his lips, don’t look at his- Hyunjin told himself when Jeongin looked at his lips. Hyunjin automatically licked his own lips. He inched closer, just slightly, when Jeongin turned his head away and coughed. Hyunjin flinched at the sound and quickly leaned back, looking away.
“Ehm…” Hyunjin began. “Do you want to watch something?” he asked in an attempt at get rid of the weird tension between them. Jeongin took a sip of water. Hyunjin noticed his ears had turned red.
“Watch what?”
“A movie?” Hyunjin asked. Jeongin nodded. Hyunjin got his laptop and carefully sat down next to Jeongin in the bed. He put up the pillows so they could sit comfortably. Jeongin inched closer and their bare legs pressed against each other, Jeongin’s too hot skin warming his. Hyunjin turned on a movie and sank deeper into the bed. He leaned his head against Jeongin’s shoulder.
“You might get sick,” Jeongin said carefully.
“I won’t,” Hyunjin said. “And it’s more comfortable this way.” Jeongin didn’t say anything more to that, just focused back on the movie.
A few hours later, the movie had ended and they had stopped to just talk, Jeongin coughing in between. It was comfortable, like hanging out with Chan, but in a way not. Chan was someone Hyunjin knew everything about, someone he saw as a brother. Jeongin… felt more like someone he had known for a long time, even though he technically didn’t know anything.
Or maybe he knew a little bit. He knew that he would like to meet Jeongin again, even after his friend Minho arrived and brought him back home, even after their whole time together. Hyunjin was already missing Jeongin, even though if he laid right next to him, smiling.
“Let me check your temperature,” Hyunjin said. He carefully placed his hand on Jeongin’s neck. He pulled away from the touch.
“I’m ticklish there,” Jeongin explained.
“Really?” Hyunjin asked and placed his hand on Jeongin’s neck once again and smiled when Jeongin pulled away.
“Your temperature seems normal now,” Hyunjin said. “How do you feel?”
“Better,” Jeongin said. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
Hyunjin smiled, when the doorbell rang.
“Minho,” Jeongin said.
“I’ll open it,” Hyunjin said, quickly pulling on a pair of jeans and pulling a hand through his hair. He opened the door and found a man his age waiting, a worried expression on his face.
“Where’s Innie?” the man, Minho, asked. Hyunjin smiled at the nickname.
“I’m here, hyung,” Jeongin said and walked into the hall, wearing his jeans. He had apparently put the towel back in the bowl. His hair was still damp from it.
“Thank you for taking care of him,” Minho said.
“My pleasure,” Hyunjin said. Jeongin stepped next to him and smiled at Hyunjin.
“I’ll wait in the car,” Minho said and nodded towards Hyunjin. “Say goodbye to your friend first.” Minho closed the door behind him and Jeongin stepped in front of him. Hyunjin opened his arms and Jeongin wrapped his arms around Hyunjin. Hyunjin smiled when he noticed Jeongin had to stand on his tipytoes to reach. Hyunjin let go of Jeongin, but held onto his waist.
“Goodbye the stranger I found by the side of the road,” he said.
“I have a name,” the man Hyunjin met by the road said.
“Goodbye Jeongin,” Hyunjin said. “I hope we’ll se each other once again.”
Jeongin smiled.
“Will you come to Busan?”
“When I have the time,” Hyunjin said. The air between them went silent, but Hyunjin wanted to hold onto this moment for a bit longer. Jeongin, too, seemed reluctant to let go.
“Wait,” Hyunjin said and put his hand in his pocket. He pulled out a post-it note where he had drawn an apple when he was bored during his lunch break. He put it in Jeongin’s hand.
“So you won’t forget me.”
“I will never forget you,” Jeongin said. “Because you found me by the road.”