Work Text:
Earlier
“YOU WHAT????” Wooyoung screamed, earning a few startled stares from his coworkers.
“I confessed to Hongjoong. We’re together now.” Seonghwa snickered as he sipped his coffee, thoroughly entertained by Wooyoung’s reaction. “So now, gain some courage and confess to your crush as well.”
“THIS WASN’T A BET????”
“It is now.” Seonghwa smiled sweetly. “Chop chop. Time’s ticking.”
–
Currently
Jung Wooyoung’s going to murder Park Seonghwa.
Never in a million years did Wooyoung expect Seonghwa to confess to his crush of nearly a fucking decade.
Now, Wooyoung is actually quite happy for them. He isn’t an asshole.
It had always been painfully obvious that Seonghwa didn’t just like Hongjoong. The man was in love with him. Wooyoung had seen the sparkle in Seonghwa’s eyes every time he started talking about what Hongjoong did that day, what Hongjoong wore, what Hongjoong said, the list went on.
But never in a million fucking years did Wooyoung expect either of them to actually have the balls to confess to each other.
Nor did he expect Seonghwa to throw that victory directly into Wooyoung’s court and expect him to do the same.
He made it a bet.
Wooyoung hates losing bets.
Especially bets against Park Seonghwa.
If that hopelessly pining, lovesick loser could confess to his equally hopelessly pining, lovesick loser, then why couldn’t Wooyoung?
Except–
Well.
San stresses him the fuck out.
Wooyoung isn’t usually someone who gets nervous around hot people. He can appreciate a good-looking man without spontaneously forgetting how to function.
But Choi San?
Choi San has a ridiculous effect on him.
And apparently, on everyone else, too.
Wooyoung would need more than two hands to count the number of people he’s seen staring at San with the exact same lovesick expression he’s probably wearing right now.
The whole world is in love with Choi San.
Unfortunately, Wooyoung is no different.
That’s why Wooyoung hadn’t even bothered with the whole confession thing until now.
A man like San definitely wouldn’t be single. It was impossible. A man like San was the kind of man you married.
San was sweet, helpful, caring toward the people around him, funny, kind, and always cheerful. He had cute dimples, a nice muscular build, and was constantly laughing, smiling, and joking around with everyone.
He had big muscles.
Like, really big muscles.
Which was obviously relevant.
But the point is, a man like him could not be single.
Which was exactly what Wooyoung had been trying to get through his idiot desk buddy’s thick skull.
“But you never know unless you ask him!” Seonghwa replied indignantly.
Wooyoung took a deep breath.
“Park Seonghwa. Do you not understand how weird it would be to walk up to your incredibly hot and charming coworker, who, mind you, works in an entirely different department, and go, ‘Hey! Are you single?’”
“But! Not all hot people are in relationships! Look at Hongjoong. He was single the entire time I knew him!” Seonghwa argued.
“Oh my god, we get it. You think Hongjoong hyung is hot. That isn’t the point!” Wooyoung groaned.
“No, dammit! I’m trying to say good-looking people can be single. I was single the whole time, wasn’t I sexy?”
Wooyoung groaned again.
“Yes, Seonghwa hyung, you’re very sexy. But you were single because you were hopelessly pining after the same human being for almost ten years, and now you’re no longer single.”
Seonghwa opened his mouth, but Wooyoung immediately raised a hand.
“Don’t.”
Seonghwa closed his mouth.
“Do you know how many people were dying to date you, hyung? If you hadn’t been hung up on your best friend, you could’ve easily gotten someone. Just like I think San could’ve.”
Wooyoung said it with the finality of someone presenting an irrefutable scientific fact.
Seonghwa stared at him.
Then he smirked.
Wooyoung immediately regretted everything.
“So,” Seonghwa began slowly, “are you trying to say you’re losing the bet?”
Wooyoung narrowed his eyes.
“Did I win?”
“Okay, for the record, I did not consent to a bet.”
“I consent to it.”
“That’s not how bets work.”
“I don’t care.”
“You’re fucking annoying.”
Seonghwa snorted. “What do you think the prize is?”
“I don’t know. What is it?” Wooyoung asked, fake interest blurring into sarcasm in his voice.
“The prize is a relationship with the love of your life.”
Wooyoung stared at him.
“That’s fucking boring.”
Seonghwa leaned back into his chair with a smirk, “It isn’t boring if you get to wake up every day next to the love of your life and kiss them and cuddle them and fuck th–”
“OH my god, shut up shut up shut up!” Wooyoung groaned, waving his hands frantically. “God, I do not need to hear the details of your sex life.”
Seonghwa snickered.
The audacity of this man. He got into a relationship and finally got some action, and now he was acting like he’d been doing this for years.
Wooyoung genuinely couldn’t believe him.
“Wooyoung, I’m not trying to force you into this just because I think it’s funny,” Seonghwa said, his voice suddenly turning serious. “I’ve seen the two of you talk before. He really seems interested in you. He looks at you differently.”
Wooyoung fell silent.
He hated that Seonghwa was making sense.
It still felt weird, though. Trying to get with your coworker? Was that even allowed?
Was it a violation of his contract?
Did his employment contract have a clause specifically prohibiting him from falling in love with a man from Sales?
Was that even enforceable?
Wooyoung frowned.
The head of IT and the head of Marketing were married, so clearly workplace relationships weren’t against company policy.
Probably.
He hoped.
Maybe he should check the employee handbook before risking his entire career for a crush.
Actually, no.
That would somehow make this even more embarrassing.
“I’ll tell you what,” Wooyoung said finally. “I’ll flirt with him. Let’s see how he reacts.”
Seonghwa snorted.
“As if you haven’t been flirting with him this entire time anyway.”
Wooyoung gasped.
“I have not!”
Seonghwa stared at him, thoroughly unimpressed. Then he raised his voice, waving his hands around as he began mimicking Wooyoung.
“‘Oh, San-ah! I loved the coffee you made for me the other day. It was exactly my taste!’” Seonghwa cooed. “‘San-ah, your shirt looks great! It really suits you! San-ah–’”
“Okay, shut up now,” Wooyoung interrupted. “That’s not flirting, those are just compliments.”
Seonghwa raised an eyebrow.
“Of course, you wouldn’t know shit about flirting.”
Seonghwa opened his mouth in protest, but Wooyoung spoke before he could get a word out.
“No.” Wooyoung straightened in his chair, suddenly very confident. “Real flirting is going to start now.”
–
Wooyoung was a man with a plan.
He was going to march into the break room, right around the time he knew San would be taking his daily coffee break.
He was going to talk to the man.
He was going to flirt with him, within the legally permissible limits of workplace flirting.
He was going to make him blush.
Simple.
His steps were confident as he marched toward the break room, silently praying it would be empty so no nosy coworkers could witness his greatness.
He swung the door open.
And stopped.
San was there.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone.
Choi Soobin from Sales.
Oh.
He was irritated.
Now, Wooyoung had no personal beef with Soobin. None whatsoever.
That is, until he started noticing how friendly the man had been with San lately.
Now?
One-sided beef.
Why the fuck was Soobin talking to San?
Why does one guy from Sales need to talk to another guy from Sales?
Don’t they see each other all day?
Wooyoung narrowed his eyes.
Suspicious.
Wooyoung wanted to leave immediately.
Very slowly, he began backing toward the door, hoping he could make his escape without either of them noticing.
He had almost made it.
Then–
“Hey, Wooyoung!”
San’s beautiful voice called out to him.
Dammit.
Wooyoung plastered a smile onto his face and slowly turned around.
“Hi, San! Hey, Soobin!” he greeted sweetly, hoping the sheer distaste he felt for the other man hadn’t somehow made its way into his voice.
“Hi, Wooyoung!” Soobin replied cheerfully, giving him a little wave.
Wooyoung smiled back.
He hated him.
For no reason other than wanting an excuse to talk to his crush.
He was insane. He knew this.
“Grabbing some coffee?” San asked, shifting slightly away from the coffee maker.
Wooyoung had an idea. He wasn’t actually here for coffee, but he could work with this. He noticed San hadn’t moved very far from the coffee maker. If Wooyoung stood at just the right angle, their arms would brush.
Perfect.
Wooyoung nodded and confidently stepped right beside him.
He deliberately let his arm brush against San’s as he poured water and coffee powder into the machine.
Then he stayed there.
He made absolutely no effort to move away as their shoulders continued to brush.
Surprisingly, San didn’t move either.
Suspicious.
Wooyoung continued making his coffee, pretending he wasn’t standing practically arm-to-arm with San.
For the sake of his sanity, and to avoid somehow fucking up his coffee, he ignored the way he could almost feel the firmness of San’s arm every time they brushed against each other.
He nearly forgot Soobin was even in the room until the man spoke.
“Well, Sannie, I’m gonna head back. Don’t forget about those reports I need signed by the end of the day!” Soobin called as he made his way toward the door.
“Will do, Soobin.” San gave him a playful salute and a smile.
The second Soobin left, San turned his full attention toward Wooyoung. He shifted his body to face him completely, resting one hip against the counter.
Their arms were no longer touching.
Much to Wooyoung’s disappointment.
He tried not to stare as San stood there, looming comfortably over him. His eyes drifted over the broad shoulders and muscular arms before he quickly looked away.
God.
What would it feel like to get hugged by this man?
Would his arms completely wrap around him?
Would Wooyoung fit against his chest?
Would San–
Snap out of it, Wooyoung.
He mentally slapped himself.
After the silence became almost unbearably suffocating, Wooyoung finally spoke. “You want coffee, Sannie?”
He deliberately mimicked the exact tone Soobin had used when saying San’s name.
San chuckled.
“I already had a coffee with Soobin just a moment ago.” He glanced toward the coffee machine before looking back at Wooyoung. “But…it wouldn’t hurt to have another one.”
Wooyoung glanced up at him, only to realize just how close the two of them actually were.
His heart gave an embarrassing little jump.
“It’s a bit dangerous to have too much coffee, San,” he mumbled.
“Maybe I like living a little dangerous.” San’s voice dropped into a whisper. There was something in his eyes, a glint Wooyoung couldn’t quite place.
Okay.
This was getting suspicious.
Wooyoung stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out whether San’s words had some sort of hidden meaning.
Maybe he was flirting.
Maybe he wasn’t.
Maybe Wooyoung was simply so hopelessly attracted to the man that he was turning every innocent sentence into something dirty.
Honestly?
Either option was entirely possible.
Two can play at that game.
“How dangerous, San?” Wooyoung asked, deliberately lowering his voice to a whisper.
He held San’s gaze, refusing to look away even as he noticed the faintest hint of pink spreading across the other man’s cheeks.
Maybe he really was onto something.
San took a step closer, close enough that they were nearly chest to chest.
Wooyoung’s breath caught.
Then San lowered his head, leaning toward Wooyoung’s ear.
“Pretty dangerous,” he whispered.
Wooyoung’s heart immediately started pounding.
Holy shit.
What the fuck was happening?
If anyone walked into the break room right now, they were going to have questions.
San was practically pressed against him, whispering directly into his ear, with barely any space between them.
And they were standing in front of a fucking coffee machine.
At their workplace.
This had to violate at least three company policies.
Probably more.
Wooyoung should have stepped away.
He should have laughed it off, grabbed his coffee, and left before he did something embarrassing.
Instead, he stood perfectly still.
And, if anything, the sheer absurdity of the situation only made his heart beat faster.
Because this was suspicious.
Very suspicious.
But also, very exciting.
Deciding he wasn’t going to back down now, Wooyoung leaned closer and whispered directly into San’s ear.
“Think you can show me?”
For a second, Wooyoung almost snorted.
San’s eyes widened in surprise, and the confident expression he’d been wearing moments ago completely disappeared. A pretty flush spread across his cheeks, and Wooyoung would be lying if he said the sight didn’t do something to him.
So San could be flustered.
Interesting.
The smooth, effortless confidence San had displayed just moments ago had shattered, leaving him staring at Wooyoung with an almost adorably stunned expression.
Wooyoung couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his lips. Maybe Seonghwa was onto something after all. He grabbed his coffee and turned toward the door. “See you later, Sannie.”
He barely made it a step.
San suddenly reached out, caught Wooyoung by the hand, and spun him back around.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Wooyoung’s breath caught, his eyes widening as he stared straight into San’s.
But San didn’t do anything.
He just stared back.
His eyes were just as wide, his expression filled with shock, as though he couldn’t quite believe he’d been the one to reach out and stop Wooyoung.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
They simply stood there, frozen in place, as if some invisible spell had been cast over them.
Wooyoung honestly had no idea what he was supposed to do.
His gaze betrayed him.
For just a second, his eyes dropped to San’s lips before he quickly forced them back up to meet his eyes.
Please tell me he didn’t notice that.
Except–
San’s eyes dropped, too.
Right to Wooyoung’s lips.
And unlike Wooyoung, he didn’t immediately look away.
His gaze lingered.
Oh.
Oh, fuck.
Wooyoung’s heart hammered against his chest.
Maybe this was his chance.
He was already in too deep, and there was absolutely no way he was going to lose a bet to Park Seonghwa of all people.
Besides, what was the worst that could happen?
Well.
Quite a lot, actually.
Especially if someone walked into the break room right now.
But Wooyoung decided not to think about that.
Taking a breath, he slowly leaned forward.
Then, before he could overthink it, he pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to San’s lips.
The second he pulled away, San’s entire face turned bright red.
Wooyoung blinked.
Oh.
He was starting to worry San might actually pass out.
Then, without saying a single word, San abruptly stepped backward, turned around, and practically bolted for the door.
He left without even looking back.
Wooyoung stood there alone.
Silence filled the room.
Did–
Did he just go too far?
Oh no.
He went too far.
He definitely went too far.
Wooyoung’s breathing grew quicker as panic began to set in.
Was San going to report him to HR?
Was he going to get fired?
God, he didn’t want to make San uncomfortable.
He hadn’t meant to cross a line.
Shit.
What had he done?
–
Wooyoung practically sprinted back to his desk, praying Seonghwa was still there.
He felt a little guilty about dragging Seonghwa away from his work. He felt even worse knowing he wasn't doing his own work either, but that could wait.
Seonghwa was probably days ahead of schedule anyway, what with his ridiculous tryhard tendencies. Surely the man could spare thirty minutes.
Wooyoung could always work overtime to make up for it.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted Seonghwa hunched over his laptop, completely absorbed in whatever spreadsheet he was working on in Excel.
Perfect.
Without giving him so much as a warning, Wooyoung grabbed Seonghwa by the arm and practically hauled him out of his chair.
“Wooyoung—what the hell?!”
Seonghwa let out a startled yelp as Wooyoung dragged him away, ignoring the older man's growing list of complaints and increasingly frantic questions.
He didn't stop until they reached an empty conference room.
Then he practically threw Seonghwa into one of the chairs.
“Wooyoung, what is wrong with you?” Seonghwa gasped, staring at him like he'd lost his mind.
“It's bad, hyung.” Wooyoung was practically hyperventilating. “I'm actually going to pass out. It's bad. It's so fucking bad. I screwed up so badly. Oh my god, I'm actually going to die–”
“Hey, hey, hey.” Seonghwa immediately cut him off, placing both hands on Wooyoung's shoulders. “Wooyoung, you're rambling. What happened?”
Wooyoung sucked in a shaky breath.
“I flirted with San.”
Seonghwa's eyebrows shot up.
“And he flirted back,” Wooyoung continued, words tumbling out faster and faster. “And then he got really close to me, and then–and–and maybe, possibly, by accident, I might've kissed him.”
Seonghwa's eyes widened.
“And then he ran away.”
Silence.
Seonghwa's hands slowly fell from Wooyoung's shoulders.
His mouth dropped open.
Then both hands flew over it.
“It was just a peck!” Wooyoung immediately defended himself, panic surging through him again. “It was a moment of weakness! He was so close to me and–HE LOOKED AT MY LIPS!”
Seonghwa stared at him.
Wooyoung stared back.
Neither of them spoke for several seconds.
Then Wooyoung pointed at Seonghwa accusingly. “Don't look at me like that!”
Seonghwa threw his hands in the air, “I didn't even say anything!”
“You're judging me with your eyes!” Wooyoung accused.
“I am absolutely judging you with my eyes.” Seonghwa deadpanned.
“Oh my god.”
Wooyoung dragged both hands through his hair, frustration and anxiety twisting together in his chest.
He had no idea what to do.
He couldn't understand why San had simply turned around and walked away without saying a single word. If he didn't like the kiss, then fine. Wooyoung could handle that. He was a mature adult, after all. Rejection wouldn't kill him.
At least, that's what he kept telling himself.
What he couldn't understand was everything that had happened before it.
San had been the one staring at his lips.
San had been the one who continued looking.
San had been the one who flirted back when Wooyoung had barely managed to string two coherent thoughts together.
And San had been the one who grabbed Wooyoung's hand and stopped him from leaving.
So what the hell was he supposed to make of that?
“Wooyoung, I think you should talk to him–” Seonghwa started.
“He walked out without even explaining himself,” Wooyoung huffed. “I don't think he wants to talk to me.”
Seonghwa sighed.
“Wooyoung, you might've just caught him completely off guard. He could've panicked.” He paused thoughtfully. “God knows what Hongjoong would've done if I'd randomly kissed him without first spelling out how hopelessly in love with him I was.”
“Yeah! But San isn't supposed to be as emotionally constipated as Hongjoong hyung!”
“Hey!” Seonghwa snapped, looking offended.
Wooyoung immediately waved his hands.
“Okay, okay. Let's not get into that right now.” He groaned and dropped his hands to his sides. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Talk to him, Jung Wooyoung!” Seonghwa replied, exasperation clear in his voice.
Wooyoung scoffed.
“I know you're not the one lecturing me about communication, hyung–”
“Wooyoung.”
The sudden seriousness in Seonghwa's voice made him stop.
“I mean it.”
Seonghwa's expression softened, but his voice remained firm.
“I lost almost a decade of my life that I could've spent with the love of my life because I couldn't communicate how I felt. I don't want you to go through the same thing.”
Wooyoung's expression immediately fell.
“Hyung...” His voice softened. “I didn't mean to be rude.”
Regret washed over him almost instantly. He really shouldn't have spoken to Seonghwa like that. Not after everything he'd been through.
“You're not being rude, Wooyoung-ah,” Seonghwa assured him.
He stepped closer and gently placed both hands on Wooyoung's shoulders.
“I understand. Really. You're stressed, and you're scared, and you don't know what just happened. I get it.”
Wooyoung looked down, chewing nervously on the inside of his cheek. Seonghwa gave his shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
“But I really think you should talk to him. You both need to talk.”
Wooyoung slowly nodded.
He hated it.
He hated that Seonghwa was right.
Again.
“Fine,” he mumbled.
Seonghwa smiled faintly. “Good.”
“But if I get fired because I kissed a coworker in the break room, I'm haunting you.”
Seonghwa snorted. “I’ll deal with that.”
–
Wooyoung spent the rest of the afternoon with his heart practically burning in his chest.
He'd decided to wait until the end of the workday, when most everyone had left, and try to catch San before he went home. Until then, there was nothing left to do but wait.
Unfortunately, waiting was absolute torture.
His leg bounced relentlessly beneath his desk as he checked the clock every five minutes, watching the minute hand inch closer and closer to 5 PM.
He knew that was when San usually left. He'd learned that from their conversations over the past few weeks.
The problem was, Wooyoung had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to say once he actually found him.
Seonghwa had told him to talk to San.
Okay.
Talk about what?
Hey, San. Sorry I kissed you without warning, but I actually have a hopeless crush on you and I'd really like you to be my boyfriend.
Honestly?
That was a pretty solid plan in Wooyoung's opinion.
At the expense of every last shred of his dignity, of course.
He'd also probably have to beg San not to report him to HR or something because Wooyoung really couldn't afford to lose his job right now.
His roommate, Yeosang, would absolutely murder him if he stopped paying his share of the rent.
Although, to be fair, Yeosang would probably understand accidentally kissing your crush better than most people.
But that was a story for another day.
Wooyoung glanced at the clock again.
4:57.
He blinked.
Wait.
When had it gotten that late?
He'd been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even realized there were only three minutes left until five.
“Wooyoung?”
He looked up. Seonghwa stood beside his desk, ready to leave, his bag hanging casually from his shoulder.
“Wooyoung, are you going to talk to San soon?” he asked.
Wooyoung nodded. He wasn't entirely convinced his voice would actually work if he tried to speak.
Seonghwa gave his shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
“It's going to be fine, Wooyoung. Trust me.” His voice was sincere, steady in a way Wooyoung desperately needed. “Text me if you need me. I'll be there.”
Wooyoung's expression softened.
“Thank you, hyung.” His voice came out quiet. “I love you.”
Seonghwa chuckled. “I love you too, Young-ah. See you tomorrow.”
Wooyoung watched him walk away. Before stepping into the elevator, Seonghwa turned around one last time, giving Wooyoung an encouraging thumbs-up and a bright smile.
Wooyoung smiled faintly in return.
He honestly didn't know what he'd do without Seonghwa. Sure, this entire mess probably wouldn't have happened in the first place if Seonghwa hadn't challenged him with that stupid bet.
But still...
Wooyoung was grateful for him.
For all the teasing, the ridiculousness, the way he'd somehow managed to drag Wooyoung into the most terrifying situation of his life, and still stayed by his side.
And right now, that comforting presence meant more to Wooyoung than he could put into words.
Wooyoung glanced at the clock.
4:59 PM.
He practically shot out of his chair.
He slammed his laptop shut, grabbed his bag, and threw it over his shoulder before hurrying toward the elevator, praying he hadn't already missed San.
His heart hammered in his chest with every step.
He was going to find San.
He was going to talk to him.
He was going to make things right.
…
Somehow.
–
San had quite the eventful day.
Six reports that needed to be reviewed and signed.
Soobin had been on his ass about them all morning.
Two meetings with the entire Sales team for their quarterly catch-up review.
And then–
He saw Wooyoung in the break room.
He talked to Wooyoung.
His heart practically stopped every time Wooyoung looked at him.
And then Wooyoung kissed him.
Wooyoung.
Gorgeous, confident, sexy, funny, outgoing, effortlessly social, beautiful, smart, hardworking Wooyoung.
Wooyoung kissed him.
And what did San do?
He ran away.
Because he was stupid.
Because he panicked.
Because his brain simply couldn't process the possibility that someone like Wooyoung could actually want to kiss him.
Wooyoung was perfect.
Not just attractive, although God knew he was that too. There was something about him that made him almost untouchable in San's eyes.
Everyone loved Wooyoung.
How could they not?
He was like the sun, bright, warm, impossible not to gravitate toward. He was like a field of flowers in full bloom, vibrant and beautiful and alive.
And San was just... San.
There was no way someone like Wooyoung was actually interested in him.
There had to be another explanation.
His mind, cruel as ever, had already managed to convince him that Wooyoung was just messing with him.
Playing some kind of joke.
Flirting with him for fun.
Maybe he'd lost a bet.
Maybe his friends had dared him.
Maybe Wooyoung was simply bored and San happened to be an easy target.
The thought made San's stomach twist.
Because, honestly, he couldn't believe Wooyoung would ever be cruel enough to mess with someone like that.
But somehow, that was still easier to believe than the alternative.
That Wooyoung genuinely liked him.
That the lingering looks, the teasing, the compliments, the casual touches–
That all of it had actually meant something.
That Wooyoung had looked at him and thought, I want him.
San couldn't let himself believe that.
Because if he did, then there was a chance it wasn't true. And if it wasn't true, San wasn't sure he'd survive the embarrassment of having hoped for it.
So instead, he ran.
He'd left Wooyoung standing there without an explanation, looking completely stunned.
And now San was sitting alone at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen, wondering how he'd managed to fuck up what might have been the best moment of his life.
Because Wooyoung had kissed him.
Wooyoung had actually kissed him.
And San had run away.
Idiot.
He was a fucking idiot.
San glanced at the clock.
5:00 PM.
He let out a quiet sigh before shutting down his computer and gathering his things. It had been a long day, and he was more than ready to go home. He slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way toward the main entrance.
The moment he pushed open the doors, he froze.
Wooyoung was standing near the entrance.
He was biting nervously at his nails, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. He looked like he was waiting for someone.
San's heart immediately soared.
Maybe he's waiting for him?
Hope bloomed in his chest before he could stop it.
Maybe he could apologize.
Maybe he could explain why he'd run away.
Maybe he could finally tell Wooyoung that he'd had an embarrassingly massive crush on him for far longer than he'd ever been willing to admit.
Maybe–
“San?”
San's mind went completely blank.
He slowly turned toward the familiar voice, his eyes widening when he saw Wooyoung standing there. Every carefully rehearsed thought he'd had vanished the second their eyes met.
He couldn't speak.
He simply stared.
It wasn't anything new. Wooyoung had always been ridiculously attractive, but right now, standing directly in front of him, he looked fucking gorgeous. His black hair had grown a little longer, the ends brushing past his ears. His large eyes were fixed on San, and for a moment, San genuinely thought his knees might give out.
Then his gaze caught on the small, pretty mole beneath Wooyoung's eye.
San's chest tightened.
He wanted to kiss it.
Just once.
A soft, gentle kiss right against that little mole.
His eyes immediately darted away.
Especially from Wooyoung's lips. He absolutely could not look at those. Not after what had happened earlier. If he let himself remember that kiss right now, he was pretty sure he'd actually pass out.
San suddenly became painfully aware of how ridiculous they must look. The two of them were standing nearly six feet apart, staring at each other in complete silence. Neither of them seemed capable of moving.
“Can we...go outside?” Wooyoung finally asked, his voice timid.
San swallowed, then he nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak.
The two of them stepped outside the building and made their way toward a nearby bench.
They sat down beside each other.
Silence.
Neither of them said a word.
San was going to explode. He couldn't handle the tension. He couldn't handle the silence. He couldn't handle sitting this close to Wooyoung while having absolutely no idea what was going through the other man's head.
Every second that passed made his heart beat harder.
He finally opened his mouth, desperate to say something, anything.
But Wooyoung beat him to it.
“Please don't report me to HR.”
San blinked.
“Huh?”
Report him to HR?
Why the hell would he report Wooyoung to HR?
Wooyoung looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
“I—I'm—” He stopped, dragging a hand down his face before letting out a frustrated sigh. “Fuck it. I'm sorry, San.”
San's heart dropped.
“I shouldn't have kissed you. That was so rude of me, especially at the workplace. That was just so fucking stupid. I just—”
Wooyoung's voice faltered.
“I really wanted to...” He swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence. Then he looked down at his hands. “It's clear you don't see me that way. I'm sorry I did that to you.”
San's mind went completely static.
And yet, somehow, it was also louder than a fucking soccer stadium.
Wooyoung thought he didn't like him?
Wooyoung thought he'd been uncomfortable?
Wooyoung thought San had run away because he hadn't wanted him?
San stared at him, utterly speechless.
Because apparently, while San had spent the entire afternoon convincing himself that Wooyoung couldn't possibly like him, Wooyoung had spent the same afternoon convincing himself that San couldn't possibly like him.
They were both idiots.
San finally managed to find his voice.
“Um... Wooyoung?”
Wooyoung looked up at him.
“Do you... like me?”
Wooyoung froze.
He looked like a deer caught in headlights, staring at San in complete shock. His eyes darted around as the gears in his head visibly turned, as though he couldn't decide whether he should answer or run.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
San's heart pounded harder with every passing second.
Then, finally–
“I do.”
Wooyoung's voice was barely above a whisper.
San nearly passed out.
Wooyoung liked him.
Wooyoung actually liked him.
The realization hit San so hard that he had to physically restrain himself from grabbing Wooyoung and pulling him into his arms right then and there.
He wanted to kiss him.
He wanted to hug him.
He wanted to make sure Wooyoung understood just how badly San had wanted him.
But then San noticed the way Wooyoung's gaze dropped toward the ground. His shoulders had slumped slightly, and there was something almost defeated in his expression. Like he was already preparing himself for rejection.
San's heart broke.
How dare he think I'd reject him?
How could Wooyoung possibly think that?
San couldn't let him sit there believing it for another second.
He needed to tell him. He needed Wooyoung to know how much he liked him. How long he'd wanted him. How badly he'd wished for this exact moment.
And apparently, his brain decided that the best way to communicate all of that was to completely short-circuit. The words flew out before San could stop them.
“Can I be your boyfriend?”
Wooyoung's head snapped up. His eyes widened, eyebrows shooting toward his hairline as he stared at San in complete disbelief.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
San's stomach twisted.
Oh god.
Had he really just said that?
He'd skipped approximately 12 steps and gone straight from Do you like me? to Can I be your boyfriend?
But he couldn't take it back.
Not when Wooyoung was looking at him like that.
Not when, for the first time all day, San finally knew one thing for certain.
Wooyoung wanted him.
And San wanted Wooyoung.
Wooyoung stared at him for several seconds before finally speaking. “You want to...be my boyfriend?”
His voice was almost disbelieving.
“You like me too?”
San nodded so enthusiastically that his neck practically started hurting. He didn't care. He needed Wooyoung to understand. He needed him to know that this wasn't some joke, some dare, or some stupid game.
“I like you so much,” San admitted, his voice softening. “I'm sorry I ran away. I just...panicked.”
Wooyoung continued staring at him.
Then his eyes narrowed.
Before San could figure out what was happening, Wooyoung grabbed him by the collar and yanked him closer.
Their faces were suddenly inches apart.
“You fucking idiot,” Wooyoung muttered.
San's breath caught.
“Why did you run away?” Wooyoung demanded. “Why didn't you just grab me and kiss me back, damnit?”
San could feel Wooyoung's warm, uneven breaths against his face. His heart was pounding so hard he was convinced Wooyoung could feel it.
“I panicked...” San mumbled helplessly. “I thought you were just messing with me…”
Wooyoung stared at him for another moment.
Then he sighed, shaking his head.
“God, you piss me off.” Wooyoung’s grip on San’s collar tightened ever so slightly. “How could I possibly be messing with you? Why would anyone in their right mind want to mess with you, Choi San?”
San stumbled over his words. “But—but I’m just—”
“You’re literally perfect,” Wooyoung hissed. “You’re kind, you’re smart, you’re sweet, you’re fucking sexy as hell, and everyone wants you. I should’ve been the one wondering if you were messing with me!”
“But, Wooyoung, you’re…” San swallowed. “You’re amazing.”
Wooyoung went completely still.
His eyes widened, almost disbelieving, as though the idea that San could genuinely feel that way about him was something he couldn’t quite comprehend. San hated seeing that uncertainty in his eyes.
“Wooyoung,” San whispered softly, “you’re like the sun.”
A faint blush spread across Wooyoung’s cheeks, and San wished he could somehow preserve the sight forever in his brain.
“You shine so brightly that people can’t help but gravitate toward you,” San continued quietly. “Everyone loves you, and I’m no different. You could have anyone you wanted. I just couldn’t believe that the person you wanted could actually be me. So my mind twisted everything into something else, something that made it easier to believe you were just messing with me.”
San took a pause to sigh.
“Because the alternative was something I wanted so badly that I couldn’t even let myself imagine it.”
A watery laugh escaped Wooyoung. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I had one-sided beef with Soobin because I thought he wanted you, and that you wanted him instead of me.”
San snorted. “Soobin is literally in a serious relationship.”
Wooyoung groaned, dropping his gaze. “Oh my God. This is so embarrassing.”
San’s heart swelled as he looked at him.
He was probably staring at Wooyoung like a complete lovesick idiot, but honestly, he couldn’t bring himself to care. When it came to Wooyoung, he was a lovesick fool, and he was perfectly happy with that.
“I really, really like you, Wooyoung,” San said, his voice sincere and steady. “I just hope you really like me too.”
Wooyoung scoffed, “I really fucking like you, San. Kiss me. Right now.”
There was no real bite behind the command. If anything, Wooyoung sounded almost pleading.
San’s eyes dropped to his lips.
This time, he didn't run.
He wasn't sure which one of them leaned in first. One second they were staring at each other, and the next, Wooyoung’s lips were pressed against his.
Fireworks exploded in San’s chest.
His mind went completely blank as Wooyoung kissed him, their lips moving together as though they had somehow been made to fit perfectly.
San nearly cried at the feeling.
He slipped his fingers into Wooyoung’s hair, discovering that it was every bit as soft as it looked. Wooyoung’s hand left the collar of San’s shirt and moved to the back of his neck, pulling him even closer.
The fact that they were kissing only a few meters away from the entrance to their workplace barely registered.
San couldn't think about anything except Wooyoung.
Wooyoung’s lips against his.
Wooyoung’s fingers tangled in his hair.
Wooyoung’s warmth pressed against him.
Wooyoung.
Wooyoung.
Wooyoung.
Eventually, they broke apart, both breathing heavily.
San could get used to seeing Wooyoung like this.
His cheeks were flushed, his lips swollen and slightly shiny from the kiss, and there was something about the sight that made San's heart skip all over again.
“So...” Wooyoung began, still trying to catch his breath. “Does that mean you're single?”
San stared at him for a second before letting out an incredulous scoff. “Yes?”
He shook his head, unable to believe that was the question Wooyoung had chosen to ask. “And I'd like to not remain single now.”
“So,” Wooyoung murmured, “Boyfriends?”
San smiled.
“Boyfriends.”
Wooyoung grinned.
“Finally.”
San laughed again.
“Finally.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then San looked up. “Can I kiss you?”
Wooyoung's lips curved into a small smile. “Why are you even asking now?”
San laughed, the sound escaping him before he could stop it.
“Just because.”
“I can’t argue with that.”
And then Wooyoung kissed him.
He leaned into it, closing his eyes as Wooyoung's hand gently cupped his cheek. The kiss was incredibly soft. This one made him feel safe.
Wanted.
Loved.
When they finally pulled apart, Wooyoung rested his forehead against San’s, both of them still catching their breath.
Then, without warning, Wooyoung suddenly pulled away and reached for his phone.
“What’s wrong?” San asked, slightly confused.
“I can’t wait to tell Park Seonghwa that I am officially not losing a bet against him as long as I live,” Wooyoung announced with a triumphant grin.
San blinked.
“Seonghwa? As in, the marketing manager?”
Wooyoung nodded proudly.
“You two made a bet?” San asked, his eyebrows lifting. “What kind of bet?”
“Um...” Wooyoung hesitated, his grin turning sheepish. “Well, Seonghwa had this hopeless crush on his best friend for, like, years. And he refused to confess until he finally did, I honestly don't even know how he managed it.”
San listened, still trying to piece everything together.
“And then,” Wooyoung continued, “he showed up the next day and told me that I needed to confess to my crush too.”
San stared at him.
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Wooyoung rolled his eyes. “I never even agreed to it, but he kept instigating me. He wouldn't shut up about it.”
He shook his head, though the amused smile on his face made it clear he wasn't actually annoyed.
“He just didn’t want me to pine hopelessly like he did,” Wooyoung continued, glancing down at his phone with a soft smile, “this whole time, he was trying to make sure I confessed so I could be happy.”
San's heart warmed.
He didn't know Seonghwa very well, but from everything Wooyoung had told him, he seemed like a genuinely sweet person and an even better friend.
“Well...” San began, a small smile tugging at his lips. “It seems like your friend is pretty similar to mine.”
Wooyoung immediately looked at him, eyebrows raised.
“What do you mean?”
“My roommate, Jongho, has this huge crush on someone for years too,” San explained vaguely. “But apparently, that guy accidentally kissed him, and now they've both been avoiding each other like the plague.”
Wooyoung blinked.
“Wait, wait.”
San looked at him.
“Was the guy who kissed him named Yeosang?”
San's eyes widened.
“Oh my God, yes?”
There was barely a second of silence before Wooyoung threw his head back and burst out laughing.
“He's my fucking roommate! He’s in love with a Jongho!”
San burst out laughing.
Jongho was like a brother to San. He loved the guy more than he could put into words, but listening to him ramble endlessly about his crush on someone from the company's dance department could be borderline aggravating.
It was also pretty damn cute.
Especially when Jongho started gushing about Yeosang like some lovesick teenager, his entire face lighting up whenever he talked about him.
The problem was, Jongho refused to actually speak to the man.
According to Jongho, Yeosang was far too beautiful, and since their departments rarely had any reason to cross paths, it was easy enough for him to admire his crush from a safe distance.
That was, at least, until the company party.
Apparently, Yeosang had gotten a little too drunk that night and, in a moment that had left both of them completely panicked, kissed Jongho.
Neither of them had known what to do afterward.
So they did what any two emotionally constipated idiots would do.
They avoided each other like the plague.
San, much like Jongho himself, had assumed Yeosang simply wasn't interested. It seemed like the only logical explanation for why he'd been avoiding Jongho so completely.
But now...
It was obvious.
Yeosang wasn't avoiding Jongho because he didn't like him.
He was avoiding him because he was embarrassed and apparently couldn't bring himself to face the man he'd accidentally kissed.
“Well, we can play matchmaker later,” San said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Are you free this evening?”
Wooyoung nodded.
“Yes, I am.” A mischievous smile spread across his face. “Where are you planning to take me, boyfriend?”
San smiled at the title.
“Wherever you want, baby.”
He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his now-boyfriend’s lips.
Wooyoung's smile only grew.
Hand in hand, the two of them walked away together, neither of them bothering to hide their happiness.
–
Me
yeosang
your love story may have some hope
best friend kang yeosangie
what do you mean wooyoung
????
answer mf
is this about jongho
???
???????
Jung Wooyoung.
what do you mean dude
WOOYOUNG