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Taesan and Leehan haven’t seen each other or had a proper conversation in a long time.

If you told people who didn’t really know them that, they’d assume they had an argument and needed space from each other, or that they were on a break just to gather their thoughts so they could have a proper conversation when they finally had the time to talk. But if you told the people who really knew them and understood what their jobs were, they’d know that this wasn’t a fight or some petty silent treatment—they were both busy. Leehan is an actor, and Taesan is a producer, and since they both work in the entertainment industry, there are times when things get busy, and they can’t do anything about it because it’s work.

And they both knew what they signed up for—they prepared themselves for days like this, and as much as it hurt, there was nothing to complain about, as long as they chose each other at the end of the day.

They hadn’t seen each other in a week, and the most they could do was video call each other a few nights ago—but Taesan was so tired that he fell asleep while Leehan was talking to him, and Leehan didn’t mind; he knew how much his voice calmed Taesan down, especially after a long day of Sungho nagging him over the smallest things.

But since then, their messages had been a mix of good morning, or hey, Sungho said something stupid, or a photo of the set with a cheeky message like if you were working on this project... Which would normally lead to something dirty, and most of the time, Taesan would just send Leehan a middle finger emoji, and he’d be flushed for the entirety of the shoot.

Although today was one of those days where they couldn’t see each other, except they found a loophole—their filming locations were only ten minutes away from each other, and right in between, just five minutes from both sets, was a convenience store. It was Taesan who brought up the idea. He missed Leehan, and he didn’t know how he had managed to survive an entire week without seeing him, relying only on video calls and text messages. And who was Leehan to say no to him?

So Taesan was more than giddy, it came to a point that he volunteered to help with a few things on set today—which was rare, considering he would only do something if Sungho specifically told him to. He actually caught himself smiling at nine in the morning after he got the text confirmation from Leehan saying, i can meet you later!! Even if it would only be in between schedules.

Juwon looked at Taesan, then looked at Geonwoo. “Why is he smiling before nine in the morning? Did he hit you?”

Geonwoo looked more than mortified when he heard that. “No, he didn’t! Why are you assuming he hit me?”

“Because he’s always threatening to hit you in the morning!”

“I—hello? Disrespect—”

Sungho appeared behind the two producers before he spoke. “Why is Han Taesan smiling before 2 p.m.?” Which slightly startled Juwon, while Geonwoo barely reacted.

“We don’t know,” Juwon answered honestly, “but it’s really weird.”

Sungho narrowed his eyes at Taesan, who was quietly arranging the shooting schedule on the whiteboard while absentmindedly humming to himself. That alone was enough to make everyone in the room uncomfortable because Han Taesan did not hum. He complained, sighed dramatically, threatened Geonwoo at least once before lunch, but he did not stand there looking like the happiest man alive while color-coding cue sheets. Something was very, very wrong.

“Taesan,” Sungho called, folding his arms over his chest. “Look at me.”

Taesan looked up almost immediately. “Yeah?”

“…Why are you smiling?”

Taesan frowned, completely oblivious. “Am I?”

“Yes,” Juwon answered before anyone else could. “You have been smiling since you got here. You even said good morning to the staff.”

“I always say good morning.”

“No,” Geonwoo deadpanned. “You grunt in our general direction.”

Taesan scoffed. “That's not true.”

“It is,” Sungho said without missing a beat. “Last Tuesday, your good morning was just you pointing at the coffee machine.”

Juwon leaned against the table, watching the exchange with narrowed eyes. “Did something happen? Did you win the lottery? Is your favorite restaurant giving away free food? Did your stocks suddenly go up?”

Taesan stared at him for a second before shaking his head. “None of those.”

“...Then why do you look like you just got proposed to?”

For a split second, Taesan's ears turned pink. It was subtle—so subtle that he probably thought nobody noticed—but unfortunately for him, he worked with people who had spent years studying every microscopic expression he made whenever he was hiding something.

Juwon's jaw slowly dropped, Geonwoo gasped, and Sungho pinched the bridge of his nose.

“…It's Leehan,” the three of them said at the exact same time.

Taesan let out an exaggerated sigh, pretending to be annoyed even as the corners of his lips betrayed him again. “Can you all stop acting like I'm predictable?”

“You are predictable,” Sungho replied immediately.

“You've become worse since you started dating him,” Geonwoo added.

Juwon nodded enthusiastically. “It's honestly kind of disgusting.”

Taesan rolled his eyes, though there wasn't much conviction behind it anymore. “I'm meeting him for two hours later.”

The room fell silent. The pause was so loud that its mother had to yell shut up! Before it actually listened.

“Two?” Geonwoo repeated.

Taesan nodded. “Our sets are close to each other.”

“And you're this happy over two hours?”

Taesan looked at them like the answer was obvious. “I haven't seen him in a week.”

No one teased him after that. Even Sungho simply looked away with a quiet sigh, muttering something under his breath about how hopeless people in love were before clapping his hands together. 

“…Fine. Since you're in such a good mood, carry those lighting stands to Studio B.”

Taesan blinked. He’s known that Sungho was always this evil when it came to love—he can’t even properly commit to Jaehyun for fucks sake—but Taesan just lets him because there’s surprisingly a part of him that actually pities Sungho, especially with the fact that he doesn’t know about his relationship with Leehan. So he just sighs, then responds with a deadpan, “You're exploiting my happiness.”

“Yes,” Sungho answered without an ounce of guilt. Taesan is immune to that by now. “And you're still smiling, so get moving.”

Leehan, on the other hand, was just as excited to see his boyfriend in real life instead of through a screen. He’s the type of person who’s always in a good mood, so he’d come onto set greeting everyone good morning and handing out coffee to the staff. But if he was in an even better mood than usual, he’d crack a few jokes here and there just to make the atmosphere on set feel lighter.

And that was exactly what he was doing right now.

Woonhak—his manager—already knew what was going on even before Leehan told him. When you’ve been best friends with someone since high school and eventually become their manager, you start picking up on even the smallest things that affect their mood. Woonhak knew that a small smile from Leehan while he was looking at his phone almost always meant Taesan had something to do with why he was in such a good mood.

Today, Leehan had to film a kissing scene. If you had told Taesan that two years ago, he would’ve pretended not to care and acted like it never happened. But if you told him now, he’d just look at you with the smuggiest grin on his face and say, but I’m the better one, right? And Leehan would always do some annoying baby voice and reply with yes, sweetheart. You are the better one, which would always make Taesan a bit shy. Leehan finds that really cute.

“Leehan-ssi! Let’s get ready!” one of the choreographers for the scene shouted, pulling Leehan out of his thoughts.

Years ago, this would have scared him. He had gotten used to the dark sets and emotionally draining characters that would leave him mentally exhausted, but ever since he met Taesan, things had gotten better—lighter. If you had told him years ago that he would eventually find his way out of the darkness in his head and fall in love with a producer who had been assigned to him for a rom-com drama—and that they would end up dating for almost two years—he wouldn’t have believed you. He would’ve looked at you with complete confusion before eventually forgetting the conversation altogether because, back then, he had always put healing before dating. But as he slowly started to feel better, things became lighter. He still had his episodes, yes, but they weren’t nearly as bad as they had been when he was filming Lightphobia.

“Places, everyone!” the assistant director called, and almost immediately, the chatter around the set died down. Staff hurried into their positions while the cameras were adjusted one last time, and Leehan instinctively handed his phone to Woonhak before walking toward the taped mark on the floor. He stretched his shoulders once, letting out a slow breath as the makeup artist rushed over to dab a bit more powder on his face. 

The actor playing opposite him was already waiting, smiling politely as he flipped through his script one last time. This was the first time Leehan was going to act with him, and it would be a little bit odd to say that Leehan has been looking forward to acting with him—he has seen a few of this guys’ works and he’s a fantastic actor.

“You okay?” The actor—Jun—asked quietly, noticing how unusually distracted he seemed. Well, not necessarily distracted, but he seemed lighter, happier, than their usual shooting days. Normally the actors would come in tired, but still make small talk with the staff, and make up would do its job to pretend that they were never really that tired while shooting.

Leehan smiled back and nodded. “Yeah. Just... looking forward to something after work.”

Jun raised an eyebrow. “A date?”

“…Maybe.” Leehan let out a chuckle. He may be the happiest person on set right now. He still doesn’t really understand how he was able to survive this long without seeing Taesan in person.

Jun laughed softly. “That's the fastest I've ever gotten an answer out of you.”

Leehan scratched the back of his neck, unable to stop the smile from creeping back onto his face. He wasn't even trying to hide it anymore. Normally, before a kissing scene, he'd spend the last few minutes mentally preparing himself, making sure he was emotionally in the right place for the character. But today, all he could think about was the fact that, in a few hours, he'd get to see Taesan—even if it was only for two hours over a convenience store kimbap and canned coffee.

From the other side of the monitor, the director watched him for a moment before chuckling. “You're in a good mood today.”

“I am?”

“You're smiling before we've even rolled the cameras.”

Leehan blinked before instinctively touching the corner of his mouth. “…Am I smiling that much?”

“The entire makeup team has already noticed,” one of the stylists chimed in. “You usually smile, but today it's... brighter.”

Leehan let out an embarrassed laugh, ducking his head as warmth spread across his cheeks. He swears he’s not that obvious. “Sorry.”

“Don't apologize,” the director said with a grin. “Whatever's making you this happy, keep it up. Your character's supposed to be in love this episode, and I don't think you'll have to do much acting.”

That only made everyone around the monitor laugh.

Standing a few feet away, Woonhak folded his arms with an amused shake of his head. He didn't even need Leehan to confirm anything anymore. The bright smile, the constant checking of the time whenever no one was looking, the way he'd subconsciously reached for his phone three separate times in the last ten minutes—it all pointed to one person.

Yeah, Woonhak thought to himself as he glanced at the lock screen lighting up with another notification from Taesan. They're definitely going to spend their entire two hour break pretending it's the greatest date they've ever been on.

“Ready?” the director asked, looking between the two actors.

Leehan nodded once, his expression softening almost instantly as he slipped into character. It was something everyone admired about him—one second he was laughing with the staff over a terrible joke, and the next, he was someone else entirely. The warmth in his eyes shifted into something quieter, more longing, and the set fell silent as everyone watched him transform without any visible effort. Woonhak had seen it happen hundreds of times, but it still amazed him every single time.

“And... action!”

The scene itself wasn't particularly complicated. His character had finally confessed after spending almost half the drama dancing around his feelings, and the kiss was meant to be gentle—hesitant enough to feel like a first love, but certain enough to tell the audience that this was the beginning of something real. Leehan performed it exactly as rehearsed, never rushing, never overdoing it, allowing the silence between the characters to carry just as much emotion as the dialogue had. When the director finally called cut, the entire crew seemed to let out the breath they'd been holding.

“Good,” the director said with a satisfied nod. “Let's get one more for safety.”

The second take went just as smoothly. By the time they finished, one of the assistant directors was already moving on to the next setup while the makeup artists rushed in to touch everyone up. Leehan stepped away from the set, accepting a bottle of water from Woonhak before immediately reaching for his phone just to see if Taesan sent anything to him for the past 20 minutes.

“You lasted...” Woonhak glanced at his watch dramatically. “Thirty-eight seconds.”

Leehan twisted the cap off his water bottle. “What?”

“Before checking if your boyfriend texted you.”

“Shush, be quiet.”

Around the afternoon, two hours before the two of them would finally have their shared two-hour break and meet each other, Taesan ran into his biggest rival in life—Kim Junseo, the guy who had kissed Leehan back in the drama Taesan helped produce Love Is Here to Stay, long before Taesan could even admit his feelings for Leehan to himself. He still remembered how uptight he had been while filming that scene. He remembered excusing himself just to get some fresh air, convinced that staying on set any longer would make him lose his mind. And he also remembered Leehan appearing in front of him out of nowhere. He remembered going out with him to get some street food and earning reassurances when they weren’t even together. The memory still made Taesan laugh whenever he thought about it. Leehan had looked genuinely worried, standing there with two skewers in one hand and a fish cake cup in the other, carefully choosing his words as though Taesan's feelings were something fragile that needed to be handled with care. He had gone on and on about how it was just acting, how Junseo was professional, and how he hoped Taesan wasn't uncomfortable because of the scene. Meanwhile, Taesan had been standing there wondering why his chest hurt every time Leehan smiled at someone else.

“Taesan-ssi.”

Taesan blinked, pulled back into reality by the familiar voice.

Junseo smiled politely as he walked over, dressed casually between takes from the project he was currently filming. “It's been a while.”

“…Junseo-ssi,” Taesan greeted with a small nod. “Yeah. It has.”

“I heard you're producing another drama.”

“You heard right. It’s this one.”

Junseo nodded, “I wouldn’t have guessed,” he answered playfully, which would’ve pissed Taesan off a few years ago, but he’s trying to keep things civil… for now.

There wasn't even a hint of awkwardness between them anymore. Years had passed since Love Is Here to Stay, and whatever imaginary rivalry Taesan had built inside his own head had stayed exactly there—in his head. Junseo had never once crossed a line with Leehan, never flirted with him outside of what the script demanded, and had always treated him with nothing but respect. Still, Taesan couldn't help remembering the irrational jealousy he'd felt back then, and thinking about it now was almost embarrassing.

“How’s Leehan?” Junseo asked. “I heard he’s filming something right now.”

Taesan nodded, surprisingly civil. He was sure Junseo was completely unaware of the one-sided beef Taesan had been carrying ever since that drama they filmed years ago. Taesan knew he should be over it by now, but he was, admittedly, an incredibly petty person. 

“He is. It’s a love story, apparently. His set is actually just ten minutes away from here.”

Junseo tilted his head before smiling. “Oh, really? That’s good for him.”

Before Taesan could come up with some snarky reply, Geonwoo suddenly appeared out of nowhere and wrapped Junseo in a hug. They were one of the lucky couples—Junseo was the favorite actor of the company Taesan worked for, which meant he ended up seeing him on set more often than he'd like, and Taesan couldn't really complain. Junseo was an incredible actor, he was the kind who made you completely forget who he actually was because he disappeared so effortlessly into every role he played. He didn’t want to intrude—and also wanted to avoid another unfortunate bathroom incident—Taesan quietly stepped away and wandered over to where Juwon was organizing the props for the next scene. He crouched beside a stack of labeled boxes, absentmindedly helping sort them without being asked, earning a suspicious glance from Juwon that Taesan pretended not to notice. Even while his hands were busy, his eyes kept drifting toward the clock hanging above the soundstage every few minutes.

Despite everything that had happened that day, Taesan was still excited to see Leehan. The thought alone made something warm settle in his chest, making the hours feel both painfully slow and impossibly fast at the same time. He felt ridiculous for being this excited over a meeting that would probably last less than two hours, but he couldn't help it. It made him feel like a high school boy waiting to catch a glimpse of his crush in the hallway, counting down the minutes until he could finally see him again.

With the clock ticking down to thirty minutes before their break, Leehan was more than eager to finish on time. He didn't want to leave Taesan waiting at the convenience store—that wasn't something Leehan could ever be okay with. He hated the thought of Taesan waiting for him, and more than anything, he didn't want him to be alone.

So when a miracle happened and the director called for an early break, Leehan's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. He immediately grabbed his phone and sent Taesan a quick message. director said early break, to which Taesan replied with, give me 15 more minutes.

Leehan smiled to himself as he locked his phone. Fifteen more minutes wasn't that long, especially after spending an entire week apart. He could wait fifteen minutes. After all, he'd already spent seven days counting down to this moment.

Leehan looked around the set, suddenly unsure of what to do with himself now that he had unexpected free time. Normally, he'd spend the break eating with the staff or going over the next few scenes with the director, but today, his mind was somewhere else entirely. Somewhere between his set and the convenience store five minutes away. Somewhere a producer with perpetually messy hair was probably staring at a clock just as often as he was.

“You're leaving, aren't you?” Woonhak asked without even looking up from his tablet, if Leehan was looking closely, he’d see that Woonhak was watching reels on silent. 

Leehan blinked innocently. “What makes you say that?”

“You've checked the time six times in the last minute.”

“…Have I?”

“You also fixed your hair after reading your boyfriend's text.”

Leehan instinctively reached for his hair before realizing what he'd just done. Huh. 

Woonhak looked up then, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Case in point.”

Leehan let out a defeated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Is it that obvious?”

“To me?” Woonhak shrugged. “Always.”

Leehan laughed quietly, the sound softer than it had been all week. He leaned against the folding chair beside him, letting the excitement settle in his chest instead of trying to suppress it. There was something embarrassingly teenage about all of this, and he knew it. They were both grown adults with careers, responsibilities, and schedules packed months in advance, yet the prospect of meeting for a convenience store lunch had him feeling like he was about to go on his very first date.

Woonhak watched him for a moment before shaking his head. “You know what's funny?”

“What?”

“You've filmed with A-list actors, walked red carpets, won awards...” He tucked the tablet under his arm before pointing at Leehan's chest. “And somehow, the thing that makes you the most nervous is eating instant ramen with Han Taesan.”

“…I'm not nervous.”

“You're excited.”

Leehan smiled. “…Yeah.”

“That was faster than I expected.”

Leehan looked down at his phone again, reading Taesan's last message for what had to be the tenth time. give me 15 more minutes. He could almost picture him sending it—probably standing off to the side while Sungho barked instructions at somebody, typing as quickly as he could before stuffing his phone back into his pocket. The image alone was enough to make Leehan chuckle to himself.

“You're smiling again,” Woonhak muttered.

“I know.”

There wasn't a single complaint in Leehan's voice when he said it. If anything, it sounded fond. Because that's who Taesan was. Stubborn, dramatic, unnecessarily competitive, and somehow the gentlest person Leehan had ever known, well, at least just to him… he’s not entirely too sure about being gentle to others.

Leehan glanced toward the exit of the studio, already mentally tracing the five-minute walk to the convenience store. Fifteen minutes suddenly felt much longer than it should have. He slipped his phone back into his pocket with a quiet sigh, silently hoping the next quarter of an hour would pass as quickly as the last week somehow had. After all, once those fifteen minutes were over, he'd finally get to see Taesan again—not through a screen, but right in front of him. And somehow, that made the rest of the afternoon feel a little brighter.

The remaining fifteen minutes crawled by and Leehan tried to distract himself by helping the stylists pack away a few costume pieces, even insisting on carrying a couple of garment bags back to the trailer despite everyone telling him to leave them alone. He accepted bottled water from one of the staff members, thanked them with a smile, and even sat down for a minute, but his foot kept bouncing against the concrete floor without him noticing. Every few seconds, his eyes instinctively found the clock mounted near the monitor.

“You're making the clock slower by staring at it,” Woonhak commented as he walked past.

Leehan rolled his eyes, but the smile tugging at his lips gave him away almost immediately. 

When his timer finally buzzed, Leehan stood up so quickly that the makeup artist who had been walking past nearly bumped into him. “Oh—sorry!”

She laughed. “Go.”

“Sorry?”

“You've been waiting for your break all day.” She waved him off with an amused grin. “We'll survive an hour without you.”

Leehan scratched the back of his neck, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed that apparently everyone had noticed. “Was I that obvious?”

The stylist standing beside her didn't even hesitate. “Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Go see your boyfriend already.”

Heat immediately rushed to Leehan's cheeks. “...Thanks.”

He offered a small bow to everyone nearby before grabbing the tote bag Woonhak had already prepared for him. Woonhak had packed it while Leehan was busy filming, making sure he had a cap, a mask, and a pair of sunglasses tucked neatly inside.

“You're welcome,” Woonhak said, tossing him the bag. “And don't lose track of time.”

“I was five minutes late.”

“You were twenty-three.”

Leehan winced. “Hey, in my defense, he kept talking.”

“No,” Woonhak corrected. “You kept looking at him.”

Leehan didn't even bother denying it, Woonhak was right, and it was true—about a year ago, he was filming this coming-of-age film about six friends trying to survive life together. They were given an hour of a break, so he decided to meet up with Taesan in a mall nearby because Taesan just so happened to be running errands. They met up, and Leehan got carried away. He was lucky that they didn’t go straight to filming right away, a prop went missing, and everyone was looking for it for a good thirty minutes. (Leehan still thinks that one of his co-actors did it on purpose so that he won’t be scolded).

With another quiet thank you, he pulled his cap lower over his eyes, adjusted his mask, and slipped out through the side entrance of the studio. The afternoon air greeted him immediately, warm with the lingering heat of the sun, carrying the familiar scent of food stalls and passing cars. For a moment, everything felt strangely calm.

His phone buzzed. on my way. 

Leehan stopped walking for half a second just to read those three words; his heart did that stupid little flip again. me too, he typed back.

He hit send before slipping the phone into his pocket, unable to stop smiling beneath his mask as he started walking toward the convenience store. Neither of them had planned anything extravagant. There wasn't a fancy restaurant waiting for them, no candlelit dinner, no hours to spend together. Just a convenience store somewhere between two filming locations, two cups of coffee, probably instant ramen, and whatever snacks caught their attention.

Taesan was already standing outside the convenience store when he spotted Leehan’s silhouette making its way toward him from across the street. The tension that had been sitting on his shoulders since the morning seemed to disappear the moment he recognized the familiar figure, and he found himself smiling without even realizing it. He knew how much Leehan adored his smile, always insisting that it was his favorite expression in the world because it was so rare for everyone else to see. 

Leehan was wearing a cap pulled low over his head and a mask that covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible. Taesan loved his eyes more than he could ever explain—there was something about the way they softened whenever they landed on him that made the rest of the world fade into the background. He'd seen videos their friends had secretly taken of Leehan watching him from across rooms, and every single one captured that same unmistakable look of quiet adoration. Sometimes Taesan replayed those clips on difficult days just to remind himself that someone could look at him with that much love. Looking into Leehan's eyes now, after an entire week apart, reminded him all over again that there was still so much love left in the world.

The moment Leehan finally stopped in front of the convenience store, Taesan didn't waste another second before lifting his arms and pulling him into a hug. Leehan immediately melted into the embrace as though it had been the most natural thing in the world, wrapping his own arms securely around Taesan's waist without a second thought. His hugs always carried a warmth that Taesan wished he could stay inside forever, the kind that settled deep into his chest instead of simply surrounding him. It was the sort of comfort that made everything else seem quieter, gentler, as though the rest of the world had politely stepped aside to give them this moment. Taesan buried his face against Leehan's shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of his shampoo and the faint trace of coffee that clung to his clothes from set. A week wasn't a particularly long time in the grand scheme of things, but standing here now, it felt impossibly long. Leehan gently rubbed slow circles against Taesan's back, smiling beneath his mask when he felt the producer relax against him little by little. Neither of them seemed remotely concerned that people occasionally walked past them on the sidewalk, too caught up in the simple relief of finally being together again. For those few quiet moments, the schedules, cameras, scripts, and endless meetings simply didn't exist. All that mattered was that, after seven long days, they were finally in the same place again.

“I missed you so much,” Taesan murmured into Leehan’s shoulder, holding onto him a little tighter.

Leehan smiled. “I missed you, too, darling,” he replied just as gently.

They didn’t let go for another thirty seconds. They had the next two hours to be together, and if this was how they wanted to spend the first ten minutes, then so be it—they were exactly where they wanted to be.

“Okay, let’s go inside before Dispatch catches us,” Leehan muttered, pulling away from Taesan, though he kept one arm wrapped loosely around his waist.

Taesan shook his head. “Dispatch can suck my dick.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not letting that happen,” Leehan said with a laugh as he took Taesan’s hand and led him inside the store.

The place was just your typical store—there were different aisles for different things people needed, and the two of them went straight to the instant noodle aisle because they both wanted to have a quick dinner together and just have a real conversation that isn't through the phone.

They had a small argument about who should pay, which was honestly the least surprising thing about their relationship. Taesan insisted that he should be the one paying because he was the one who had asked Leehan to meet up in the first place, while Leehan argued that Taesan had already been working since the crack of dawn and deserved to be treated for once. Neither of them was willing to budge, and the cashier simply watched the two of them with quiet amusement.

“You paid last time,” Leehan reminded him, reaching for his wallet before Taesan could pull out his own card. “It's my turn.”

Taesan frowned. “That doesn't count.”

“How does it not count?”

“Because you stole the payment terminal before I could even react.”

Leehan looked at him with the most innocent expression he could manage. “Sounds like a skill issue.”

Taesan let out an offended scoff. “You're unbelievable.”

“And yet you’ve been smiling at me like that since I came,” Leehan said with a grin.

Taesan opened his mouth to argue, only to realize he couldn't deny it. He sighed dramatically before slipping his wallet back into his pocket, shaking his head as Leehan tapped his card against the payment terminal with a satisfied smile. “Fine,” he muttered. “But I'm paying for dessert.”

Leehan accepted the compromise with a small nod before grabbing the plastic bag from the counter. “Deal,” he said, naturally reaching for Taesan's hand as they walked toward the seating area by the window. Even something as simple as arguing over who got to pay somehow felt comforting, another ordinary little routine they had unknowingly built together.

They settled into the small table tucked against the window, the kind that was clearly meant for people stopping by for a quick meal rather than spending their entire break there. Taesan set down the ramen cups while Leehan arranged the drinks and snacks they'd impulsively thrown into the basket. Neither of them spoke for a moment, content with simply existing in the same space after spending the past week separated by packed schedules.

Leehan rested his chin on his hand as he watched Taesan peel the plastic lid off his ramen. “You're staring,” Taesan pointed out without looking up.

“I know.”

“…Why?”

Leehan smiled to himself before answering, “I missed looking at you.” he knows he’s practically proving Woonhak’s point right now, but that’s not important—the fact that Taesan is real and in front of him right now is something way more important.

Taesan's movements slowed for just a second before he clicked his tongue, pretending the confession hadn't affected him. “That's so cheesy.”

“It is.”

“You're lucky I like cheese.”

“I know you do.”

Taesan finally looked up, only to find Leehan still watching him with that same soft expression he'd caught in countless videos their friends had secretly taken over the years. It was almost embarrassing how loved those eyes made him feel. He reached across the table without thinking, quietly intertwining their pinkies where no one passing by the window would notice.

Leehan glanced down at their hands before smiling to himself. He gently squeezed Taesan's pinky once, just enough for Taesan to feel it, before the producer instinctively hooked the rest of his fingers around Leehan's hand. Neither of them commented on it. They simply continued eating their convenience store lunch like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“So,” Leehan began between bites of ramen, “did Sungho exploit your happiness again?”

Taesan let out the most dramatic sigh imaginable. “You have no idea.”

Leehan laughed so hard he nearly choked on his noodles. “He actually did?”

“He made me carry lighting stands.”

“…That's not that bad.”

“He made Geonwoo supervise me.”

Leehan pressed his lips together, already failing to hide another laugh. He tried taking a sip of water to compose himself, but the sight of Taesan’s defeated expression only made it harder. Across the table, Taesan groaned and slumped forward, burying his face in his hands. 

“That somehow makes it worse,” Taesan continued. “Geonwoo kept saying, 'Wow, you're carrying that so well,' like I was five.”

Leehan finally burst into laughter, lowering his head onto the table as he tried to compose himself. Hearing that laugh in person again made Taesan realize just how much he'd missed it. A week suddenly felt far too long to go without hearing it.

“You're laughing at my suffering,” Taesan accused.

Leehan looked back up, eyes crinkling. “I'm laughing because I missed hearing your dramatic storytelling.”

Taesan couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. “…Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Leehan replied softly. “I missed everything.”

Taesan watched as Leehan reached for one of the ramen cups, immediately leaning across the table before he could even peel the lid back. “Okay, give me your ramen,” he said, already holding his hand out expectantly. “I'll cook it for you.”

Leehan looked down at the cup, then back at Taesan before pulling it closer to his chest. “No,” he said simply. “I'll do it.” He stood from his seat, already making his way toward the hot water dispenser.

“You never let me do anything,” Taesan complained, following right behind him with an exaggerated pout. He crossed his arms as Leehan carefully opened the ramen cup and unfolded the seasoning packets. “I'm trying to be a good boyfriend here.”

Leehan couldn't help but laugh as he emptied the seasoning into the noodles. “Darling, come on,” he said, glancing at Taesan over his shoulder. “I know how to pour hot water into a cup.”

“Come on, sweetheart,” Taesan replied immediately, dragging out the pet name with the exact same tone Leehan always used on him. Leehan was slightly taken aback with the sudden use of a pet name coming from Taesan, but he sort of liked it. “Let me take care of you for once.”

Leehan paused mid-motion before slowly turning to look at him. He stared at Taesan for a few long seconds, completely betrayed by the smug grin spreading across his boyfriend's face. “...I can't believe you're using my own pet names against me.”

“It worked, didn't it?” Taesan asked, trying—and failing—to hide how pleased he looked with himself. He reached for the ramen cup again, only for Leehan to smoothly sidestep him without missing a beat. “You're so mean.”

“No,” Leehan said, setting the timer on top of the cup before gently poking Taesan's forehead. “You're just dramatic.” He smiled beneath his mask as he reached for Taesan's own ramen. “Now give me yours. I'll cook yours, too.”

Taesan blinked at him for a moment before handing over the cup without another complaint. “...Okay,” he mumbled, suddenly far less interested in winning the argument. Leehan only laughed to himself as he prepared the second cup, knowing full well that this had been Taesan's plan all along.

Taesan stood beside him the entire time, refusing to go back to the table even though there was nothing left for either of them to do except wait. He leaned against the counter, absentmindedly watching Leehan place the lids over the ramen cups before setting the timers. Every now and then, he'd steal a glance at Leehan instead of the noodles, smiling to himself whenever he thought Leehan wasn't looking.

Leehan caught him on the fourth glance. “What?” he asked, laughing quietly.

“Nothing.”

“You're staring at me.”

“I know.”

Leehan shook his head fondly before looking back at the ramen. “You really missed me, huh?”

Taesan didn't even hesitate. “So much.”

There wasn't an ounce of embarrassment in his voice. He said it so casually, so honestly, that it made Leehan's chest tighten. Sometimes Taesan was terrible at expressing what he felt, but whenever he did, it came out with such sincerity that Leehan never had a reason to doubt him.

Leehan reached over without thinking and quietly intertwined their pinkies again. “I missed you, too,” he murmured, gently rubbing his thumb against Taesan's hand. “I kept reaching for my phone this week because I wanted to tell you every little thing that happened.”

Taesan smiled to himself. “You still did.”

“I know.” Leehan laughed. “But it's different telling you in person.”

“It is.”

The timers on top of the ramen cups finally beeped, but neither of them moved right away. They simply stood there for another second, hands still linked together between them, savoring the kind of silence that only came from knowing someone so well. Eventually, Leehan let go with a reluctant smile and handed Taesan his cup.

“Careful,” he said. “It's hot.”

No shit. Taesan wanted to reply, but he just accepted it with both hands before grinning. “Thanks for cooking for me.”

Leehan rolled his eyes. “I poured hot water into a cup.”

They finally dug into their ramen, and for a few minutes, the only sounds between them were quiet hums of approval and the occasional slurp of noodles. It wasn't a fancy meal by any means, but neither of them cared. They had eaten at expensive restaurants before, yet somehow, convenience store ramen shared during a filming break felt infinitely more special. Maybe it was because they had fought so hard just to find these two hours together.

Taesan looked up from his cup. “How was filming?”

Leehan let out a long sigh before setting his chopsticks down. “Good. We finished the kissing scene this morning, so the rest of the day was a lot easier.” He watched Taesan carefully, waiting for a reaction.

“Oh, cool.” Taesan said, blowing onto his noodles before taking a bite. He didn’t bother looking at Leehan’s face—especially now that the mask was off—because he knew himself enough that he’d make a face, which only make Leehan do that pout and Taesan cannot say no to that damn pout to save his fucking life.

“That's it?” Leehan asked. He was expecting something more than just a casual Oh, cool. He memorizes Taesan like one of his favorite scripts. 

Taesan blinked innocently. “What?”

“I thought you'd be dramatic about it.”

“I've grown.”

Leehan snorted into his drink. “No, you haven't.”

Taesan pointed his chopsticks at him. “I haven't finished talking yet.” He leaned back in his chair with an exaggerated shrug. “I trust you. Besides, I know I'm the one you come home to.”

Leehan stared at him for a moment before laughing so hard he had to cover his face with one hand. “You're so unbelievably smug.”

“Can you blame me?” Taesan smirked while he took a sip of his drink.

“A little.” Leehan replied, his eyes looking up and down at Taesan’s frame. 

Taesan grinned, looking far too pleased with himself. “You literally called me darling five minutes ago.”

“I call you darling all the time.”

“Exactly.”

Leehan shook his head with a fond smile, reaching over to steal one of the dumplings Taesan had bought for himself. Taesan watched the theft happen in real time and made absolutely no effort to stop it. If anything, he looked satisfied that Leehan had taken it.

Leehan smiled to himself, chewing quietly as he looked at the man sitting across from him. There were moments when he wondered how he had gotten so lucky. Out of all the people in the world, somehow he had found someone who remembered how he took his coffee, argued over who got to pay, insisted on cooking instant ramen by pouring hot water into a cup, and gave away his favorite dumpling without thinking twice.

“You're staring again,” Taesan said.

“I know.” Leehan was, once again, proving Woonhak’s point.

Taesan laughed softly before reaching across the table to wipe a tiny drop of broth from the corner of Leehan's mouth with his thumb. “You're cute.”

Leehan's ears immediately turned pink. “Eat your ramen,” he mumbled.

“Yes, darling.”

“Don't start.”

Taesan casually took another bite of his ramen before speaking. “Oh, I saw Junseo today.” He didn't think much of it when he said it, but he immediately noticed Leehan looking up from his own cup. “He was on set.”

“Really?” Leehan asked, his eyes lighting up with recognition. “How is he? I've been messaging him, and he doesn't reply.” He frowned as he reached for his drink. “I was starting to think he changed his number.”

Taesan slowly lowered his chopsticks. “…Why are you messaging him?”

Leehan blinked at the sudden question. “We just need an extra actor for an extremely minor role, darling.” He shrugged as though it were the most obvious explanation in the world. “The director asked if I knew anyone who'd fit the part.”

Taesan narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. “So... you're telling me you've been texting the guy who kissed you.”

Leehan sighed, already recognizing that tone. “The guy who kissed me because the script told him to.” He pointed his chopsticks at Taesan. “Don't start.”

“I'm just asking.”

“You're interrogating.”

Taesan tried to look unconvinced for another second before eventually letting out a quiet laugh. “Fine,” he admitted, twirling his noodles around his chopsticks. “He actually asked how you were. He said he was happy you were filming another love story.”

Leehan smiled to himself before nodding. “That's nice of him.” He pulled out his phone for a second, making a mental note to message Junseo again later. “I'll probably just call him tonight instead.”

Why the fuck is Leehan gonna call him? Taesan’s body suddenly remembered what it was like to hate Kim Junseo. “Tonight?” 

Leehan looked up. “…Yes?”

Taesan let out the most dramatic sigh imaginable before dramatically dropping his forehead onto the table. “I can't compete with phone calls now?”

Leehan reached across the table and gently flicked the top of his head. “You're ridiculous.”

“I know.”

“And you're still my favorite person.” 

Taesan knew at that moment that he wanted to spend a lifetime with Leehan, because simple reassurances like that was all it took for Taesan to sit back up again, his earlier dramatics disappearing almost instantly. “…Okay,” he said with a satisfied smile. “You can call him.”

Leehan smiled to himself before taking another bite of his ramen. “You’re lucky Junseo has a boyfriend,” he said casually, stirring the broth with his chopsticks. “Otherwise, I’d never hear the end of this conversation.”

Taesan looked offended. “Excuse me?” He placed a hand against his chest as though Leehan had personally attacked him. “I am a very secure boyfriend.”

“You had imaginary beef with him for two years.”

“It wasn’t imaginary.”

“It was.”

Taesan clicked his tongue before looking away dramatically. “He kissed you.”

“For work.”

“He still kissed you.”

Leehan rested his chin on his palm, trying his hardest not to laugh. “Darling,” he said patiently, “I’ve kissed a lot of people for work.” He tilted his head with a teasing smile. “Should I make you a list?”

Taesan would shoot himself in the head if he was given that list. “No.”

“Good.”

Taesan quietly poked at his noodles for a few seconds before mumbling, “I won anyway.”

Leehan blinked. “Won what?”

“The competition.”

Leehan let out a soft laugh, already knowing where this was going. “And how exactly did you win?” He leaned back in his chair, genuinely curious about whatever logic Taesan had managed to invent.

Taesan looked at him with the confidence of someone stating an undeniable fact. “I’m the one eating convenience store ramen with you.” He gestured between the two of them with his chopsticks. “I’m the one who gets to hold your hand whenever I want.”

He reached across the table and gently hooked his pinky around Leehan’s again, just like back then, when no one knew about them.

Leehan couldn’t help the smile that spread across his own face. He intertwined the rest of his fingers with Taesan’s beneath the edge of the table where no one passing by would notice. “Congratulations,” he said, laughing quietly. “You beat every fictional competition you made up in your head.”

Taesan squeezed his hand once. “Thank you.” He looked entirely too pleased with himself. “It’s nice to have my hard work recognized.”

Leehan shook his head fondly before stealing another dumpling from Taesan’s tray. “Your prize,” he said between bites, “is that I’m paying for dessert, too.”

Taesan gasped in mock horror. “That’s not a prize.”

“It is for me.” Leehan looked straight into Taesan’s eyes, which made Taesan’s heart skip a beat.

“You’re unbelievable.”Taesan rolled his eyes, ignoring the constant beating of his heart. He was so far gone with Leehan that his heart still goes crazy even after two years together.

“I missed you.” Leehan gently said.

Taesan’s expression softened almost immediately. “I missed you, too.”

Neither of them said anything after that. They simply continued eating, occasionally stealing food from each other’s trays without asking, the silence settling comfortably between them. It wasn’t awkward in the slightest. It was the kind of silence that only existed between two people who had long since learned that they didn’t always need words to enjoy each other’s company. 

Taesan was the first to glance at the time. “…An hour left.”

Leehan followed his gaze to the clock before letting out a quiet groan. “Don’t remind me.”

Taesan reached across the table and absentmindedly brushed his thumb over the back of Leehan’s hand. “Alright, then let’s not think about it yet.”

Leehan looked down at their hands before smiling to himself. “Okay.”

“For the next hour,” Taesan murmured, “you’re not Actor Kim Leehan.”

Leehan raised an eyebrow. “And you’re not Producer Han Taesan?”

“No.”

“Then who are we?”

Taesan thought about it for a second before smiling. “Just Leehan and Taesan.”

For some reason, that simple answer made Leehan’s chest feel warm. There were no cameras here, no directors calling for another take, no producers waiting for revisions, and no staff needing their attention. For one short hour, they could simply be two people sharing instant ramen in a convenience store.

The two of them would absolutely love to be just Leehan and Taesan, even if it were just a day—but then again, they did know what they signed up for, and they both have to understand why they can’t really be seen much in public—Leehan is a big time actor now, especially after Love is Here To Stay, he’s now known for more romantic-comedies and coming-of-age rather than the heavy concepts like Lightphobia. 

With Lightphobia, no one really bothered to approach Leehan in public. He used to go out freely without a mask on and pretend he was one of those normal people with a 9 to 5 job, but the freedom ended after another successful coming-of-age that was filmed a year later—people would approach him and ask for his autograph and start piling around him. The crowds would get so big that Taesan was being pushed away, and no one would be Leehan’s anchor when he gets overwhelmed which sucked. Woonhak told him over and over again to wear a cap and a mask from now on to avoid situations like that; especially when Leehan getting overwhelmed easily by a swarm of people. 

Leehan rested his elbows on the table, absentmindedly tracing the rim of his paper cup with his finger. “How have you actually been?” he asked, his teasing smile fading into something gentler. “How’s work?”

These are the real conversations they normally have about an hour to a date—they actually check up on each other after flirting with each other for an hour. They both care about each other so much that these conversations are needed just so that they’re actually updated with each other’s well being. Leehan knows how overwhelmed Taesan can be especially when he’s working on a big, and Taesan knows how exhausted Leehan can be when he’s been on set for days—he remembers that one time Leehan fell asleep on his shoulders when he was tired after a long shoot on Love Is Here To Stay—Taesan still can’t help himself but smile at the memory.

Taesan looked down at his ramen for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. “Tired,” he admitted. “Sungho's been… Sungho. I swear he's been finding new things to complain about every single day just to make my life harder.” He rubbed the back of his neck with a groan. 

Leehan laughed quietly. “What did he do this time?”

“He told me that my script was too emotional.” Taesan looked genuinely offended just remembering it. “Then he told me it wasn't emotional enough after I changed it. Make up your mind, Park Sungho.” He threw his hands up dramatically. 

Leehan couldn't stop himself from smiling. “You still like working with him, though.”

“I do,” Taesan admitted after a beat. “He's just unbelievably annoying.if he says one more sentence that starts with, 'Producer Han, quick question,' I'm quitting.”

“You've been saying that for years.”

“And one day I'll mean it.”

Leehan chuckled before his smile softened again. “I'm glad you're eating properly, at least.” He tilted his head slightly. “You haven't been skipping meals, right?”

Taesan shook his head. “No.” He smiled sheepishly. “I've been hearing your voice in my head every lunchtime telling me to eat.”

“Good.” 

Taesan looked at him for a moment before quietly asking, “What about you?”

Leehan understood the question immediately. He looked down at his hands before answering honestly. “I've been okay.” He gave a small shrug. “I had a nightmare last week, but it wasn't bad.”

Taesan's expression changed instantly. He’s aware that Leehan still has nightmares, especially after Lightphobia. He had this silent vow two years ago about protecting him from those even if it was psychologically impossible, he’d do anything for the nightmares to stop. “You did?”

Leehan nodded. “Just one.” He offered him a reassuring smile before Taesan could spiral. “I woke up, got water and took a few deep breaths.” He reached across the table and gently squeezed Taesan's hand.

Taesan let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. “And therapy?”

Leehan smiled a little wider. “Once every two months now.”

Taesan's shoulders visibly relaxed. “That's good.”

“She therapist thinks I've been doing well.” Leehan absentmindedly played with Taesan's fingers beneath the table. “We're mostly just checking in now instead of working through crises.”

Taesan looked at him for a long moment before quietly nodding. “I'm proud of you.”

Leehan felt his chest tighten at those four words. Out of everyone in his life, hearing them from Taesan always meant the most because he knew exactly what those darker years had looked like. Taesan had never tried to fix him; he had simply stayed, even on the days when Leehan wasn't sure he deserved anyone to. He feels safest talking about this to Taesan only, because Taesan wouldn’t judge him; he’d listen to him talk about it even if it took hours. If Leehan’s thoughts are tied into a knot, Taesan helps him untie them carefully.

“I missed this,” Leehan admitted softly. They both looked at each other, and Taesan could feel himself falling in love with Leehan all over again.

He smiled gently, too. “Convenience store ramen?”

Leehan smiled and shook his head. “You.”

Taesan scoffed and muttered a Let’s just clean up to avoid embarrassing himself in front of his boyfriend, who he has an insane highschool-like crush on. 

Sometimes it just hits Taesan like a soccer ball being kicked directly to his head that he’s dating someone he actually likes. Not even like at this point, someone he has a crush on, and it’s not like his admiration from the bands he listens to—but can you blame his celebrity crush on Gerard Way?—but more of a romantic crush, someone he truly adores, and would vow to the entire universe that he will protect and love this boy for the rest of his life.

By the time they had finished eating, the table was littered with empty ramen cups, crushed drink cans, and opened snack wrappers. Taesan glanced at the clock hanging above the refrigerators before quietly sighing. 

“Fifteen minutes.”

Leehan followed his gaze and frowned. “Already?” He leaned back in his chair, disappointed by how quickly the last hour and forty-five minutes had disappeared. “I swear we just got here.”

It’s funny how time moves so fast when you’re with someone you love. It’s like the universe is telling you two to move quickly and move on with your lives because there are other important things to do, but it never feels important when you’re with them.

Taesan stood up first, gathering the empty containers into one pile. “Come on.” He nodded toward the freezer section at the back of the store. “I still owe you dessert.”

They threw their trash away before wandering toward the row of freezers, walking much slower than either of them normally would. Neither of them was in a rush anymore. If they walked slowly enough, maybe those fifteen minutes would stretch just a little longer.

Leehan instinctively reached for Taesan's hand the moment they were out of the cashier's line of sight. Their fingers slipped together naturally, as though they had done it a thousand times before, and Taesan gently rubbed his thumb over the back of Leehan's hand as they strolled through the aisles.

“You know,” Taesan said, looking at the colorful ice cream wrappers behind the glass, “I think this is illegal.”

Leehan blinked. “Holding hands while deciding between chocolate and vanilla?”

“No.” Taesan looked at him with mock seriousness. “Making me choose just one.”

Leehan laughed, the sound echoing softly through the nearly empty aisle. “You're so dramatic.”

“You love it.”

“I do.”

They stopped in front of one of the freezers, still refusing to let go of each other's hands. Leehan crouched down to look at the bottom shelf while Taesan leaned over him, reading every flavor as though it required serious consideration. More than once, another customer walked past them, and each time, they instinctively shifted a little farther apart before quietly finding each other's hands again the moment the aisle was empty.

“What are you getting?” Leehan asked.

Taesan hummed thoughtfully. “The cookies and cream bar.”

“You get that every time.”

“Because it's good?”

Leehan reached into the freezer and pulled out a melon bar instead. “I'm getting this.”

Taesan looked at him with narrowed eyes. “You say that every time.”

“Because it's good, darling.”

They stared at each other for a second before bursting into laughter at the exact same time. The cashier glanced over from the counter, smiling to herself before returning to her magazine, leaving the two of them to continue their very serious debate over convenience store ice cream. 

After they finished it, Leehan crumpled the wrappers into neat little balls while Taesan gathered the empty cups and napkins from the table. They wordlessly divided the cleanup between themselves, meeting by the trash can at the same time before tossing everything away together. It wasn't anything special, but somewhere along the way, cleaning up after each other had quietly become another habit they shared.

When they returned to their table, neither of them sat down immediately. Taesan glanced at the clock before letting out a quiet sigh. “Ten minutes.”

Leehan followed his gaze, then looked back at Taesan. “Don't count anymore.” He stepped closer until their shoulders brushed. “I don't want to know.”

Taesan nodded without saying another word. Instead, he gently rested his head against Leehan's shoulder, his body leaning just enough for their weight to settle comfortably against each other. Leehan instinctively wrapped an arm around Taesan's waist, absentmindedly rubbing slow circles against his side.

The convenience store carried on around them as if nothing remarkable was happening. Customers wandered through the aisles looking for snacks, the cashier scanned items with practiced efficiency, and the refrigerator compressors hummed softly in the background. Yet inside their little corner by the window, it felt as though time had slowed down just enough to give them a few extra moments together.

“You're warm,” Taesan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

“So are you.”

“I missed this.”

Leehan smiled to himself and rested his cheek against the top of Taesan's head. “I know.” His fingers found Taesan's hand again, quietly intertwining with it. “I missed you leaning on me.”

Taesan closed his eyes for a second, letting himself relax completely. There was something about Leehan that made everything feel quieter, as though every anxious thought that had been running through his head all week had finally decided to take a break. If someone had offered him an expensive vacation right now, he would've turned it down in favor of these ten minutes. Neither of them spoke after that. They simply stood there, leaning into each other while watching cars pass outside the window, silently committing the moment to memory before work inevitably pulled them apart again. Even knowing they'd have to say goodbye soon, neither of them wanted to be the first one to move.

Eventually, one of their phones buzzed.

None of them reached for it immediately. They already knew what it meant without having to look—break was almost over, and reality was calling them back. Taesan let out a quiet sigh before reluctantly pulling his head away from Leehan's shoulder.

“…We should go.”

Leehan nodded, though he didn't sound very convinced. “Yeah.” He gave Taesan's hand one last squeeze before finally letting go. “Our directors are probably wondering where we disappeared to.”

They stepped out of the convenience store together, the little bell above the door chiming softly as they left. The afternoon sun was beginning to mellow, casting long shadows across the pavement, and the two of them naturally slowed their pace, neither wanting to be the first to split off toward their respective sets. They walked side by side in comfortable silence, their shoulders brushing every now and then as though they were subconsciously trying to stay as close as possible.

They reached the in-between point of it all—the front of the convenience store, the place that’s exactly 5 minutes away from each set that was 10 minutes away from each other.

“…Guess this is us,” Taesan said quietly.

Leehan nodded with a small smile. “Guess so.”

For a second, they simply looked at each other. They fell in love with each other two years ago, and they both went through the rollercoasters of hiding a relationship from co-workers and the public, but nothing has really changed. Leehan was still the actor Taesan fell in love with behind the screen, and Taesan was the producer Leehan fell in love with in front of the screen. There’s still so much to unpack in the future, but they’re not rushing—they’re both taking their time.

Taesan reached up first, gently adjusting the brim of Leehan's cap before smoothing a few stray strands of hair that had escaped beneath it. “There,” he murmured. “Now you look less suspicious.”

“I was suspicious?”

“You were holding my hand in a convenience store.”

“You were holding mine, too.”

“…Good point.”

Leehan laughed softly before taking one small step closer. He glanced around the quiet street out of habit, making sure no one from either production was nearby, then gently cupped Taesan's cheek. “Come here.”

Taesan didn't need to be told twice.

Leehan leaned in first, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against Taesan's lips. It wasn't rushed or desperate, just slow enough to say everything they hadn't managed to fit into the last two hours. Taesan smiled into the kiss without meaning to, and Leehan could feel it, smiling right back before they finally pulled away.

“Text me when you get back to set,” Leehan said, his thumb brushing lightly against Taesan's cheek.

“You text me first.”

“You're impossible.”

“I've heard.”

Leehan chuckled before giving him one last quick peck on the lips, far shorter than the first. “That one's for good luck,” he said.

Taesan smiled so brightly that Leehan almost wanted to kiss him a third time.

“Go,” Leehan laughed, gently nudging his shoulder. “Before I decide I don't want to go back.”

Taesan took a few reluctant steps backward, never taking his eyes off Leehan. “Call you tonight?”

Leehan nodded immediately. “Always.”

Only then did they finally turn toward their own sets, each of them glancing back one last time before disappearing around opposite corners, carrying the warmth of the afternoon with them long after they had gone their separate ways.a