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Chapter Text

Wooyoung hates hospitals. As a child, he had broken his arm once after falling down a tree in his grandmother’s garden. He had needed surgery which made him stay in the children´s ward for three days. It had been the worst three days of his life. The smell, the food, the stupid clown who went into every room trying to cheer the children up; he had hated it all. Now, twenty years later, he still hates it. Just thinking about hospitals gives him the chills.

Him, San, Seonghwa and Yeosang are waiting for the doctor to come out of Hongjoong´s room to tell them about what is going on and to let them see him. He doesn’t even know why he’s here.  Him and Hongjoong? They hate each other. They don’t get along. They never had.

Ever since Seonghwa had introduced them to each other, they´ve been clashing heads. No matter what Wooyoung does, Hongjoong always finds something negative about it. Once, when all five of them were at Yeosang´s flat to celebrate his birthday, it had completely escalated between them. Hongjoong had said something mean about Wooyoung´s sweatshirt, the one he had gotten from his mother as a birthday present, which had made Wooyoung say something even meaner about Hongjoong´s reformed jacket. Their argument had ended in a shouting match where both of them had screamed everything they hated about the other into each others faces. Their friends had been so fed up with their childish behaviour that they threw them both out.  Of course, they had both apologised the next day and promised that they would start to behave better.

Still, whenever they see each other, they start bickering and fighting. And often saying one mean comment after another. Wooyoung doesn’t even know why. They just simply hate each other. So why is he here? Hongjoong´s accident hadn’t even been that bad. He had been standing at a red light and waiting for it to turn green when someone drove into his car. The other driver hadn’t hit the brakes quick enough, making his car knock against the back of Hongjoong´s. Hongjoong had hit his head from the hard impact which brought him to the hospital.

That is all Wooyoung knows. The hospital had called Seonghwa to inform him about what had happened, as he is listed as Hongjoong´s emergency contact. Seonghwa had called the others immediately which brought them all here. Wooyoung only hopes that Hongjoong will not strangle him the minute he will see him walk through the door. He had thought about not coming, but he knew he would have felt bad about it. After all, they are still acquaintances. Well, kind of.

Wooyoung´s thoughts get interrupted by the door opening. A middle-aged man walks out carrying a clipboard while he is writing something on it.

“How is he?” Seonghwa asks as he is getting up and causing for the man to look at them.

“You are all friends of Mister Kim?” he asks them and gets four nods in return. He sighs and closes the door behind him. “He hit his head pretty badly. Fortunately, he didn’t need any stitches, but he still needs to keep the wound clean. We did a scan of his head which showed nothing alarming. Your friend was really lucky.”

“Thank god,” Seonghwa whispers relieved. “Can we see him?”

“Yes, but I need to warn you about his mental state,” the doctor says before he grabs the empty chair next to Yeosang to sit down.  “Physically, Mister Kim was lucky, but his memory seems to be damaged from the impact. Right now, he only remembers his name, his age and where he lives, so I don’t know if he will remember or recognize any of you. But don’t worry, it’s nothing unusual. It happens quite often after such a hit on the head.”

“So,“ San clears his throat while breaking the silence which had followed after the news of Hongjoong not remembering. “His memory will come back?”

“Yes, in most of the cases the patient’s memory comes back after a few days. But it can differ from patient to patient. Sometimes it takes them weeks or in the worst cases even months or years until they can remember everything again. But I don’t think your friend will be one of the worst cases, as he already remembers some things about himself. I’m positive that his memory will come back soon,” the doctor tries to calm the four boys down.

“Alright,” Seonghwa says a little too loudly. “Can we see him now?”

“Of course,” the doctor replies and gets up. “I will go with you. I want to see if he remembers or recognizes any of you, so we can discuss what will happen after his release in two days.”

Wooyoung gets up from his chair to follow his friends and the doctor into the room. He doesn’t know what to expect and he surely isn’t ready to face a Hongjoong who doesn’t have any memories besides knowing his name, age and address. Will he even recognize him or any of their friends? Or will he only look at them like a lost deer who accidently found his way into a stranger’s garden while not knowing how to get out and into the woods again.

As the five of them step inside, Hongjoong´s eyes get wide as he musters the four new people in the room. Wooyoung watches as Hongjoong scans every one of them, starting from Seonghwa until he ends his observation on him. Wooyoung feels the intense stare Hongjoong has on him. It makes him twitch and wanting to get out. He feels uncomfortable with having the eyes of the guy who hates him that intensely on him.

“Mister Kim,” the doctor starts which causes for Hongjoong to take his eyes off Wooyoung. “Can you remember or recognize any of these people?”

Wooyoung swears that his heart almost stops as he feels Hongjoong´s intense gaze on him again. Hongjoong doesn’t even look at any of their other friends. He only lifts his hand and points with his finger at Wooyoung. “Him,” he says confidently. “I recognize him.”

Wooyoung feels too many pairs of eyes on him, but the only person he can focus on is Hongjoong who is looking at him with a shy smile. The doctor clears his throat, making the two boys break their eye contact to look at him instead. “Can you tell us his name? Or do you only recognize him by his look?”

“No.“ Hongjoong sits up while shaking his head at the last question. “I know that his name is Wooyoung and that he feels familiar to me. I don’t remember anything else about him, but I do know who he is.”

“And what about the others, Mister Kim? Do you recognize any of them?” The doctor asks further while writing something on his clipboard again.

“No, I don’t. Only Wooyoung,” Hongjoong answers quietly as he can feel the intense gazes of the four boys on him now.

Especially Wooyoung is watching him in complete shock. He doesn’t understand what is happening. Why would Hongjoong only recognize him? They hate each other. It just doesn’t make any sense. Why him? Why not Seonghwa, who Hongjoong knows the longest? Or why not San, who is like Hongjoong´s little brother? Or Yeosang, who Hongjoong has a soft spot for? So again, why him?

“Wooyoung?” Seonghwa asks while grabbing Wooyoung by the shoulder. “Did you listen to what the doctor just said?”

“No, sorry,” Wooyoung shakes his head. He had been completely lost in his thoughts while not hearing or understanding what is happening around him.

“He wants to talk to you. Do you want me to come with you?” Seonghwa offers after noticing the lost state of the other.

“Yes, please.” Wooyoung agrees immediately. He does not think that he will be able to follow everything the doctor will say to him.

“It´s a good sign that he recognizes you, Mister Jung. I think it will help Mister Kim the most if he is having someone who is familiar to him accompanying him for the next few weeks. At least until he starts to remember more about himself and his life. Would that be a problem for you, Mister Jung?” The doctor is looking at Wooyoung in the hope that he will agree to his proposal.

 He must think that him and Hongjoong are friends and that staying with Hongjoong won’t be a problem for him. Thinking about it, Wooyoung only sees problems with staying and looking after Hongjoong. They can’t stand each other. Surely the Hongjoong who is sitting in the hospital room behind them will start to hate him too. It is only a matter of time until the two of them will start to butt heads again.

Wooyoung wants to answer and tell the doctor that he will not do it when Seonghwa cuts in.

“Of course, he will do it. It won’t be a problem for him. He has no issue with moving in with Hongjoong. Right, Wooyoung?”

Sensing Seonghwa´s burning gaze on him, Wooyoung only nods. He is way too afraid of making Seonghwa mad. He knows how protective the other can get when it comes to Hongjoong. Especially now with him being in such a vulnerable state.

“Perfect! I think it will really help Mister Kim to remember again. The only thing I ask you to do is to not push him or wanting him to remember faster. He will start to remember on his own pace. Just be there for him and I’m sure that it will all work out,” the doctor says optimistically. He doesn’t give Wooyoung a chance to say anything, as he turns around and goes back into Hongjoong´s room. Seonghwa follows him while pulling Wooyoung along by the arm.

The doctor explains the next steps to Hongjoong. He will stay for two more days at the hospital and then go home to his flat again. Only this time with Wooyoung accompanying him. Hongjoong only looks and smiles at Wooyoung the whole time the doctor tells him about their upcoming plan.

Wooyoung doesn’t know how to feel. The Hongjoong sitting on the hospital bed smiling at him feels like a completely new person. Nothing reminds him of the other Hongjoong. The one he can´t stand.

“I can´t believe that he only recognized you,” Seonghwa tells Wooyoung shocked. They are both in Seonghwa´s car. His friend is driving Wooyoung home. San had driven him to the hospital, but Seonghwa had insisted on driving him back.  Wooyoung doesn’t have a car, but he does have a driver’s licence. His work place is near his flat and the next supermarket is right around the corner, so he had never felt the need to get a car.

“You two hate each other. It just doesn’t make any sense to me,” Seonghwa continues with clearing his thoughts. “Am I not his best friend? I mean he didn’t even really look at me. His eyes were almost glued to you the whole time we were there.”

“I know, Hwa. And I get that you are frustrated, but it’s not my fault that he only recognized me,“ Wooyoung argues back. “How do you think I feel about this? Having the person you usually hate only recognizing you? And the way he kept smiling at me? I´m not used to this. This will be as much as a challenge for him as it will be for me. So I would really appreciate it if you would support me in this and stop with being pissed at me.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Woo,” Seonghwa apologises. “It wasn’t fair of me to let my frustration out on you. It was just so weird for me to not get recognized by my best friend.”

Wooyoung had noticed how hurt Seonghwa had been after they left the hospital. He gets it. He would be hurt too if his best friend wouldn’t recognize him. Especially when the only person he would recognize, would be the guy he usually hates. Yeosang and San had been sad too but not in the same amount as Seonghwa.

“I´ll pick you up on Monday at 8 am sharp. We will need to go to the grocery store first before we can pick Hongjoong up. You don’t have a car, but I bet it will be ok for you to use Hongjoong´s. It will be back from the repair shop on Wednesday,” Seonghwa starts to list off which makes Wooyoung´s ears ring with all this new information.

“Alright, Hwa. I will be ready then. Don’t worry too much about it. We will make this work. I just don’t know how yet,” Wooyoung tries to calm his friend down.

He doesn’t need for Seonghwa to stress him even more. He knows that it won´t be easy. He has no idea how Hongjoong will be now that he doesn’t have any memories about them both not getting along.  Will he be a totally different person? And will Wooyoung be able to treat Hongjoong different too? Wooyoung doesn’t know yet. He can only hope for the best.

-

Wooyoung is sitting on his bed while he is looking at the clock on his wall. It is 7:30 in the morning. Seonghwa will pick him up in thirty minutes. He had already packed his bag the night before, so he has nothing left to do.

He doesn’t know what to expect from the weeks lying ahead. He doesn’t even know where Hongjoong lives. They had never met up at his place. They are usually at Seonghwa´s or sometimes at Yeosang´s. Does Hongjoong even live in the same city as him? Or does he live on the other side of the city? Wooyoung starts to notice how little he actually knows about the other. Every time they had met up it had been because of their other friends. There had been no reason for them to meet up by themselves. Why should they? They hate each other. Or hated each other? This Hongjoong certainly does not hate Wooyoung. But what about Wooyoung? Does he still hate Hongjoong? The thing is, he doesn’t know. He will have to find out.

The Hongjoong in the hospital had confused him. The little smiles he had given him and the innocent look in his eyes while he had looked at all of them. He had seemed like a child who had just discovered a whole new world. Well, he kind of had. Hongjoong does not remember anything from his past. Only his name, age, and address. Everything will be new for him and Wooyoung will be right beside him to accompany him during every new discovery.

Wooyoung only hopes that it won’t be too hard and that him and Hongjoong will get along. He knows he needs to let all the previous encounters with Hongjoong go. This Hongjoong doesn’t remember any of them, so he can’t let them have an effect on his behaviour towards him. When him and Seonghwa will pick Hongjoong up today, he will be as nice as possible. He will not push Hongjoong and he will not try to force him to remember.  He will be supportive and he will be there for him no matter how bad it will be. He doesn’t want to make this situation any harder on either of them.

Later, when Wooyoung and Seonghwa walk into the hospital room, Hongjoong is already standing in front of his bed while he is holding his bag in his hand. Seonghwa had brought him some things for his stay at the hospital.  But now he really seems excited to finally be able to get out of here.

“Hi, Hongjoong,” Seonghwa greets him which makes Hongjoong smile at him.

“Hello. I´m sorry, what was your name again?” Hongjoong asks. It makes hurt flash in Seonghwa´s eyes, but he catches himself before the other can notice it.  “I´m Seonghwa, and this is-“

“I know who he is. His name is Wooyoung,” Hongjoong interrupts while turning towards Wooyoung and giving him his whole attention. “Hi, Wooyoung. You will live with me, right?”

“Hi, Hongjoong, and yes, I will. You could say that I´m your new roommate,“ Wooyoung answers smiling.

The other returns his smile and keeps his eyes on him, which makes Wooyoung look away. He isn’t used to having all of Hongjoong´s attention on him. At least, he never had his positive attention. It had always been because of something negative. But now having Hongjoong smile at him like he is the solution to all his problems is making him nervous. He looks at Seonghwa and hopes that the other will understand his pleading look, which he thankfully does.

“Well, we should get going. We already talked to your doctor. You will have to come in for a check up on Friday, but other than that we´re free to go,” Seonghwa explains while taking Hongjoong´s bag and walking to the door.

Hongjoong and Wooyoung follow him. They make their way out of the hospital and towards Seonghwa´s car. During their walk out, Hongjoong keeps glancing at Wooyoung as he wants to make sure that the other is still there. Wooyoung smiles at Hongjoong every time he catches him looking which only makes the other smile wider. All the smiling makes Wooyoung feel weird. He had never gotten so many smiles from Hongjoong. He can’t even remember when the last time had been that the other had smiled at him. He doesn’t even think that the other had ever smiled at him like this.

This Hongjoong is definitely different.

On the drive back, Hongjoong doesn’t talk much and neither does Wooyoung. Seonghwa is the one who tries to keep a conversation going.  It’s mostly small talk with asking Hongjoong about his last two days in the hospital. It’s a bit awkward to not know what to talk about with someone who can´t remember anything from his past. But they manage and the drive back to Hongjoong´s flat goes over quickly. Hongjoong lives a fifteen-minutes’ drive away from the hospital. It’s not on the other side of the city, but it will still need a forty-minutes’ drive to make it to Wooyoung´s flat.

Hongjoong´s flat is a one-room apartment with a bed, a kitchen tile, a television, a desk, a small bathroom and a small wardrobe. The apartment looks nice and cosy. There are some pictures on the wall, even Wooyoung is in one of them. It´s a group picture of the five of them which they had taken at Seonghwa´s last birthday. Wooyoung is surprised to find himself at Hongjoong´s wall. He has the same picture lying in his desk drawer at home.

“These two are the ones who visited me too, right?” Hongjoong asks after also noticing the pictures on the wall.

“Yes, their names are San and Yeosang. You have been friends with them for years,” Seonghwa explains while stepping closer to Hongjoong. “And this are your parents.”

Seonghwa starts to explain every picture while making Wooyoung feel useless. He had not known that the people in the pictures were Hongjoong´s family. What will he do when Hongjoong starts to ask more about them? He doesn’t know anything about them. Only Seonghwa does.

“Did you inform them about my accident?” Hongjoong asks quietly. He is still looking at the pictures on the wall with a smile starting to grow on his face.

“I tried to, but they seem to be on vacation. I could not reach them on their phones,” Seonghwa admits. “I´ll try again tomo-“

“No,” Hongjoong interrupts which shuts Seonghwa up. “I don’t want to worry them.”

“Hongjoong, I really think it would be better to inform them,” Wooyoung starts carefully after noticing the helpless look in Seonghwa´s eyes after Hongjoong had interrupted him.

“No, not right away. I want them to enjoy their vacation. When they come back and contact me, I will tell them.” Hongjoong says firmly while not leaving any room for arguments.

Seonghwa and Wooyoung don’t add more, as they don´t want to make Hongjoong upset. They let him observe his flat a bit more while they unpack his bag. Or more like Seonghwa unpacks it while Wooyoung keeps watching Hongjoong. He doesn’t know where Hongjoong´s stuff belongs to anyway.

Seonghwa leaves in the evening, causing for Wooyoung to panic. He does not know what to do with Hongjoong. They had cooked and eaten together. Hongjoong had asked some questions about their work, their other friends, and his own work. At the end, Seonghwa had explained that Hongjoong works as a florist and that he would have the whole week off from work.  Him and Seonghwa are colleagues with them both working at the flower shop of Seonghwa´s aunt. Wooyoung himself has also the coming week off. He loves his job as a kindergarten teacher, so he will definitely miss seeing all of his kids, but he knows that Hongjoong needs him now.

“Wooyoung?” Hongjoong asks and pulls Wooyoung out of his thoughts. “Are you alright? You seemed a bit lost in your head.”

“Sorry, I was just thinking about what we could do next,” Wooyoung tells Hongjoong as he smiles back. His answer makes the other perk up in interest.

“Can we go outside? I saw a park around the corner,” Hongjoong suggests with his eyes shining in excitement.

“Sure,” Wooyoung agrees quickly. He is thankful for the other´s suggestion.

Making their way to the park, Wooyoung feels Hongjoong´s hand gliding into his. When he turns towards him, the other only gives him a shy smile.

“I´m sorry, it’s just that I feel safer this way. You know, just having you nearby.  All those new impressions, the unfamiliar surroundings- you are the only thing that is at least a bit familiar to me,” Hongjoong explains quietly. He is not looking at Wooyoung anymore. A blush is forming on his cheeks while he waits for the other to say something.

“We can hold hands. I don’t mind,” Wooyoung assures him.

He feels bad for the other. He can’t imagine what it must feel like to not know anything or anyone around you. Discovering a whole new world while being surrounded by nothing familiar but one person. And for Hongjoong this person is Wooyoung. He is the only one who gives Hongjoong a bit of safety and makes him feel calm. Wooyoung still doesn’t understand why Hongjoong choose him as this person, as he is still the only one Hongjoong recognizes. Hongjoong had never shown him any signs of tolerating him. They had always been at each others throats, but Wooyoung does not want to let Hongjoong down. Not this Hongjoong who is looking around the park with eyes full of wonder and excitement. He seems so innocent, making Wooyoung question everything he had thought about him. Is this the real Hongjoong? The one he had never got to meet due to their hard feelings for each other which had been there since the first time they had met?

Hongjoong keeps holding onto Wooyoung´s hand even when they make their way back to his flat. The feeling of Hongjoong´s hand in his makes Wooyoung´s mind go crazy. He would have liked this Hongjoong much more than the one he had met years ago. This Hongjoong is so soft and gentle with him. Not rough and mean like Wooyoung had been used to. This Hongjoong is shy, almost innocent, while he looks at Wooyoung like he is the most perfect person in the world.

It makes Wooyoung feel nervous. He isn’t the person Hongjoong thinks he is. He isn’t even his friend, but he will try to be. At least until Hongjoong remembers again. Then he will surely not behave the same way towards Wooyoung anymore and everything will go back to normal. Wooyoung only hopes that it will not take Hongjoong weeks to remember again. He does not know if he can handle living and being with this Hongjoong for such a long time.   

-

“Wooyoung?” Hongjoong whispers into the quietness of the flat. They had both gone to bed early. Hongjoong had been tired from their long walk in the park. They had only eaten some sandwiches for dinner before washing up and going to bed. Wooyoung had forgotten about the fact that Hongjoong has only one bed. There is no couch or another mattress on which he could sleep on.  Hongjoong had not minded sleeping next to Wooyoung and sharing his bed with him. He had only grabbed Wooyoung´s hand and pulled him down to him. Wooyoung´s heart is still beating loudly over it; his nervousness keeps coming back.  He is not used to being this close to Hongjoong and it will take him a while until he will be.

“Yes?” Wooyoung whispers back while he turns around. He is now facing Hongjoong who is lying on the right side of the bed and is already looking at him. 

“Thank you for being here and for looking after me. I really appreciate it,” Hongjoong tells Wooyoung while keeping an intense eye contact. Wooyoung is suddenly thankful for the darkness of the room, so the other cannot notice the blush that starts to appear on his cheeks. 

“It´s nothing. I´m sure you would have done the same for me,” Wooyoung tries to wave off, but Hongjoong only shakes his head.

“It is not nothing, Wooyoung.  Having you here while everything is new and strange to me, means everything to me. So please do not try to downplay what you are doing for me and what you are sacrificing for it. You have your own life and you still gave it up for an unknown amount of time to take care of me. So again, thank you.” Hongjoong says firmly before reaching out for Wooyoung´s hand, which is lying on top of the blanket, to squeeze it.

“You know,“ Hongjoong continues while not even giving Wooyoung a chance to response. “The last two days in the hospital, I felt so lonely. I didn’t know anyone there and I didn’t know anyone outside of the hospital. Only you. You were the only one familiar. You were and you still are the only person that I recognize. Not knowing why almost drove me crazy. I could not even fall asleep at night as my thoughts kept returning to you. You, that one guy with red hair who was just standing in front of my bed after the doctor had told me that I lost my memories. At first, I didn’t even acknowledge the other people who were there with you. I only saw you. Suddenly, I did not feel so helpless anymore. You had something so familiar, it just made something click in my head. A voice in my mind started screaming your name. I knew nothing else, just your name and the way you made me feel safe. Almost like I could trust you.” Hongjoong stops and wipes away some tears. He had not noticed that he had started to cry while telling Wooyoung about his experience at the hospital. Wooyoung´s eyes are wet too. He had also started to tear up while listening to Hongjoong slowly breaking down.

“Seonghwa was the only one who visited me,” Hongjoong continues. “He told me that you were preparing everything in my flat, so you could t move in with me for a while. He also told me that San and Yeosang wanted to visit too, but that the doctor told them not to. He did not want to overwhelm me.  I was not sad about them not visiting. I was only sad that I could not see you. I hoped it would be you coming through the door and not Seonghwa. I felt so bad about it. He was always so nice and he also helps me a lot, but I really wanted to see you. I-”

“I´m so sorry,” Wooyoung interrupts as tears start to flow down his face. “I did not think about the consequences of me not visiting. I started to pack and clean my flat so I would be ready to move in with you. I did not mean to let you down.”

Wooyoung feels a small hand brushing his tears away. “You did not let me down, Wooyoung. You are here now. And you are supporting me. It´s not your fault that I got attached to you so quickly,” Hongjoong tells him gently.

“I´m not only sorry for not visiting, Hongjoong,” Wooyoung continues. “I´m also sorry for what happened to you. Forgetting everything and not knowing the people around you who claim to be your friends. Having an accident with your car and being left alone in that grey and cold room in the hospital. I´m sorry for it all, Hongjoong.”

“Don’t be,” Hongjoong replies. He is still stroking over Wooyoung´s cheek and brushing the falling tears away. “It´s not your fault, Wooyoung. You had nothing to do with it.”

“I know, I just- Imagining what you went through and not being able to do anything about it. All of it just makes me so sad,” Wooyoung admits quietly. His tears are slowly starting to stop falling. “I wish that I could help you more.”

“You are!” Hongjoong says in a louder voice, making it echo inside the quiet room. “You are, Wooyoung. You being here helps me more than anything or anyone else.”

Wooyoung does not know what to reply as too many of his emotions are building up. Hearing Hongjoong so honest and thankful is too much for him. He only pulls Hongjoong into a hug which the other immediately returns. Wooyoung feels a bit guilty about not knowing if he should tell Hongjoong about their usual behaviour towards each other. Maybe he should, but not right now. The doctor had told them to take things easy and to not push Hongjoong. So he won’t.

“Wooyoung?” Hongjoong asks again. The two had calmed down and are now just lying next to each other while trying to fall asleep. “Can you hold me? Everything feels so unfamiliar. Even my own bed does.”

“Come here,” Wooyoung replies and lets his arms fall open so Hongjoong can come closer and cuddle up to him.

“Thank you,” Hongjoong whispers against Wooyoung´s shoulder. “Good night, Wooyoung.”

“Good night, Hongjoong.” Wooyoung replies. His skin is tingling where he can feel Hongjoong´s breath hitting. 

Hongjoong falls asleep quickly. Only Wooyoung is still lying awake. He can´t sleep. Not after what Hongjoong had told him. Also having Hongjoong so close to him, makes Wooyoung slowly lose his mind.

The whole day, Hongjoong had been unusually touchy. He had never been a fan of skinship, not even with the others. Seonghwa, San and Yeosang may get a hug or a pat on the shoulder but that was normally it. Hongjoong had never hugged Wooyoung. Too big had been their differences with each other. Will this touchiness stay? Will he only be this touchy with Wooyoung? Hongjoong had not touched Seonghwa at all, not even a hug goodbye or as a thank you.

Lost in his thoughts, Wooyoung doesn’t notice that he had started to stare at Hongjoong´s face.  Due the other already sleeping, his facial features are completely relaxed.  Wooyoung had always known that Hongjoong is attractive, but now seeing him so at ease is making Wooyoung realise how unbelievingly beautiful the other actually is.

Wooyoung feels overwhelmed with all the new emotions the other is awakening in him.  He tries to calm down and sleep, but his mind keeps coming back to what Hongjoong had told him. No matter what the next weeks will bring and no matter how Hongjoong will react when he hopefully remembers everything, Wooyoung will be there for him. And he will do his best to make things as easy as possible, so Hongjoong won´t have it more difficult than he already has.

With these thoughts in mind, Wooyoung finally falls asleep while holding the guy he slowly starts to feel drawn to in his arms.

Chapter Text

“He´s fine, Seonghwa. He had a little cry on me yesterday, but other than that he´s alright. He seems optimistic about the next days. You really do not have to worry so much and please do not start with calling me every morning,” Wooyoung speaks into his phone.

Seonghwa had called him early in the morning with wanting to know how the night had gone.  

“He cried? Oh, no. Are you sure he´s alright? Do you want me to come by? I could take the day off. It would be no pr-“

“Seonghwa! It´s fine, really!” Wooyoung cuts his friend off. “Right now, we cannot do anything to speed up the whole remembering-process. We can only be there for him and give him the time he needs, ok?”

“Ok,” Seonghwa sighs defeated. “Still, call me when something happens, alright? Anything, even him only remembering what his favourite colour is or what he likes to eat. Anything, Wooyoung, and you will call me, ok?”

“Yes, I will,” Wooyoung agrees. He knows that the other won’t accept a no from him either way.

“Good. Where is he now?” Seonghwa wants to know after not hearing Hongjoong through the phone.

“Showering. Later, he wants to go to the grocery store. Who knows, maybe he will remember something while looking at all the food there,” Wooyoung explains. He is trying to sound optimistic about the upcoming event.

“Yeah, maybe. Just please take care of him,” Seonghwa says seriously. “I trust you on this, Wooyoung.”

“I will, Hwa. I promise that I won´t let him down” Wooyoung responses gently.

He can’t even imagine how hard this whole situation must be for Seonghwa. Not being able to be there for his best friend who is not even remembering him and having to trust someone else to take care of him.

Wooyoung means it. He will not let Hongjoong down. Because he does not want to make this whole thing harder on him or on Seonghwa.

“Alright. I must get going or I will be late.”

“Have a good day at work, Hwa.” Wooyoung answers. He hopes that going to work will help his friend, but he doubts it. Hongjoong is also his colleague and not having him there will constantly remind Seonghwa of the whole situation.

“Thank you. For everything! I know that this whole thing with Hongjoong is hard for you too,” Seonghwa says quietly.

“It´s no problem. Really!” Wooyoung does not want for his friend to worry too much and he does not want to be treated like a hero who is doing something extraordinary for Hongjoong. He only wants to make the best of the whole situation.

“Wooyoung?” Hongjoong´s voice sounds from the bathroom and makes him end his call with Seonghwa.

“Yes?” He replies while stepping in front of the closed door.

“I forgot to take my underwear with me. Can you bring me something?” Hongjoong asks embarrassed.

“Sure,” Wooyoung agrees before he makes his way to the other´s closet.

When he opens it, his eyes immediately fall on the reformed jacket which Hongjoong had worn on Yeosang´s last birthday. With the bad memories of their big fight coming back, Wooyoung pushes the jacket into the far end of the closet. He grabs a pair of boxershorts from the pile on the first rack and shuts the door before making his way back to the bathroom.

“Here,” he says while knocking. Hongjoong only sticks his arm out before taking his underwear and closing the door again. “Thanks!” He shouts through the door, which causes Wooyoung to chuckle.

“No problem.”

Grocery shopping with Hongjoong turns out to be interesting. He asks Wooyoung about every product he sees and wants for the other to explain everything to him. Wooyoung does, as he enjoys the way Hongjoong´s eyes light up at every new information. They buy meat, bread, cheese, rice, vegetables, fruits, and some snacks. It is enough to last them for the next few days.

On their way back, Hongjoong spots an ice cream truck standing near the park in which they had taken a walk the day before.

“Woo, what is he selling?” Hongjoong asks curiously while pointing at the blue and white truck.

Wooyoung, taken aback by the nickname Hongjoong had used to call him, turns around and looks confused into the direction the other is pointing at.

“Oh,” Wooyoung says after noticing the ice cream truck too. “He is selling ice cream. It´s that creamy and cold stuff I showed you in the grocery store.”

“Ah, ice cream,” Hongjoong makes an acknowledging sound. “It looks really delicious. Can we buy some?”

“Sure,” Wooyoung agrees which causes Hongjoong to happily jump up and down.

“Great. Let’s go,” he announces while taken hold of Wooyoung´s free hand to drag him towards the truck.   

The line in front of the truck is not long, so they only have to wait some minutes until it is their turn. Wooyoung chooses two portions of strawberry ice cream. He´s waiting for Hongjoong when he notices the other´s overwhelmed expression while he is looking at all the flavours and colours.

“Do you need some help?” Wooyoung offers quickly. He had not thought about the difficulties Hongjoong could experience while wanting to pick an ice cream flavour.

At Wooyoung´s question, Hongjoong looks away from the many different colours and up to him. “Yes, please,” he whispers. “I don’t know what I may like.”

“That´s fine,” Wooyoung assures him. “You usually take hazelnut and dark chocolate. Do you want to try them?”

“Yes, I want to try them,” Hongjoong nods which causes Wooyoung to buy it for him.

During their walk back home, Hongjoong can’t stop gushing about the ice cream. “Its soooo good, Woo. I love it.”

“I´m glad,” Wooyoung says while laughing at the other´s cuteness. “You want to try some of mine too?” He offers Hongjoong who quickly agrees and licks some of the strawberry ice off his cone.

“Wow, it tastes great.” Hongjoong tells him with eyes shining in excitement. “I love ice cream,” he continues and sighs dreamingly, which makes Wooyoung chuckle.

“Yeah, ice cream is great,” he agrees while they start to make their way back to Hongjoong´s flat.

They spent the rest of the day cooking and watching a movie. Hongjoong is still touchy. He is always reaching out for Wooyoung´s hand or shoulder and not letting the other move away from him. Wooyoung starts to get used to all the touches, but it still makes him blush to have Hongjoong´s constant attention on him.

“Woo?” Hongjoong´s voice appears. The two of them are now sitting at the dinner table while eating some kimchi fried rice.   

“Yes?”

“I called your name five times already,” Hongjoong chuckles. “Were you lost in your head or something?”

“Kind of,” Wooyoung responds. “I´m not used to you calling me like that, so I didn’t immediately react.”

“Oh,” Hongjoong perks up confused. “We don’t have nicknames for each other?”

We do, Wooyoung thinks. Things like asshole or idiot, but never something nice.

“No,” he answers instead. “We don’t.”

“I just thought- never mind.” Hongjoong seems sad about thinking that they had been closer. It instantly makes Wooyoung feel bad.

“You can call me Woo, I don’t mind,” he quickly offers which makes the other smile again.

They continue to eat in silence when Hongjoong starts to steal little glances at Wooyoung. This continues for the next couple of minutes until Wooyoung has enough: “Is there still something you want to ask me, Hongjoong?”

Hongjoong, not thinking the other would notice his stolen glances, blushes. “Yes, but I don’t want you to laugh at me,” he admits timidly.

“I won´t laugh at you. You can ask me anything,” Wooyoung tries to calm the other down.

“Alright, but I warned you, so don’t you dare laugh at me,” Hongjoong says firmly before getting quieter to almost whisper his question: “Did we ever hook up?”

Hongjoong´s question makes Wooyoung choke on his drink. He had not expected something like that to come out of his mouth.

“No! We never hooked up with each other, Hongjoong. No- just, no,” Wooyoung tries to answer. He is too shocked about the question and how Hongjoong had come to such a conclusion.

“I´m sorry, I just thought-“ Hongjoong wants to defend himself, but he´s too embarrassed about witnessing Wooyoung´s reaction to his former question.

“You´re just-“ he starts again. This time he is not even looking at Wooyoung. “Since I saw you at the hospital, I feel myself drawn to you and I constantly have this urge to touch you and have you nearby. I do not get where this is all coming from, so I just thought that we, you know, must have hooked up in the past or something.”

“No, we never hooked up. I get why you asked. But really, we have never hooked up or did anything close to it,” Wooyoung explains while a blush is forming on his cheeks. The thought of him and Hongjoong kissing or going further with each other makes his heart almost jump out of his chest.

“I´m sorry for asking. I did not mean to make things awkward,” Hongjoong apologises before shrinking into his seat.

“Don’t be!” Wooyoung jumps in. He does not want to see the other so insecure. “I´m glad that you feel comfortable enough to ask me something like that.”

Hongjoong smiles shyly, as Wooyoung´s words are calming him down.

Wooyoung had not lied. He is glad that Hongjoong feels comfortable with him. He wants to help him, so he will always try to answer him honestly.

Seonghwa visits them the next day while Yeosang and San come by on Wednesday. Hongjoong is not starting to remember again which is fine, as the doctor had told them that it would take some time.  Hongjoong starts to like spending time with their other friends, but he is still the calmest when Wooyoung is near him.

Their new closeness does not go unnoticed by the others.

“What’s with all the touching and hand holding?” Yeosang asks Wooyoung while they bring the trash out.

“It calms him down to have me near,” Wooyoung explains to his friend. Him and Yeosang had been friends since kindergarten, so the other knows him better than anyone else.

“And you don´t mind it? I mean, you and him, you never got along.”

“It´s fine. He´s not the same person anymore and neither am I. It´s not his fault that me and his past-self hated each other, so I will not let it out on him,” Wooyoung tells him. “Anyways, how are things with you and San? Still dateless?” He teases with knowing about his friend’s feelings for San.

“Stop asking me about San when there is nothing to ask about! We are just friends, alright?!” Yeosang objects which causes Wooyoung to hold his hands up in defence.

“Sorry, must have slipped my mind. Of course, you don’t have any feelings for San and you two are only friends,” Wooyoung´s voice is dripping with irony.

For years, San and Yeosang had been avoiding their feelings for each other and driving their other friends mad with it. It is obvious to anyone who spends a little bit of time with them that they are in love with each other. 

Even Hongjoong had seen it, as he addresses it while him and Wooyoung are getting ready for bed after their friend had left:

“San and Yeosang are so cute together. How long have they been a couple?”

An evil grin appears on Wooyoung´s face. He knows it´s mean to lie to Hongjoong, but he really wants to give his two best friends a little push and Hongjoong thinking that they are a couple could be the perfect way to do it.

“I think you should ask them that yourself, as I don’t really know,” Wooyoung lies and gets a nod from Hongjoong in return.

-

Friday morning, Wooyoung and Hongjoong find themselves at the hospital again. They are waiting for the doctor to come back and inform them about Hongjoong´s results. The whole week, Hongjoong had not remembered anything. Nothing had triggered his memory, not even hearing some stories from his friends. Wooyoung is starting to get worried. He is afraid that the doctor will tell them some bad news.

But after almost an hour of waiting, the doctor comes back to tell them that everything is fine and that they just need to keep being patient. On their way out of the room, Hongjoong hesitates before turning towards the middle-aged man.

“I´m sorry, it´s only- I still have some headaches. They are mostly during the day. Could you give me something against them? I didn’t say anything before, but the pills you gave me at the beginning don´t really work,” Hongjoong explains to his doctor all while not sparing a glance at Wooyoung. The doctor ends up giving Hongjoong a new prescription for stronger painkillers against his headaches.

Wooyoung buys them in the pharmacy before driving home. The car ride is quiet. Hongjoong is trying to rest while Wooyoung is driving. But walking into the flat after arriving, Wooyoung has enough.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your headaches, Hongjoong?” He asks upset which surprises the other.

“I just- I didn’t want to worry you. You already have so much on your plate with just having to look after me. I didn’t want to make things harder on you,” Hongjoong admits quietly. He does not want to upset Wooyoung more.

“Hongjoong,” Wooyoung sighs in frustration. “You have to tell me stuff like this, ok? I don´t mind taking care of you, but in order to do so I need you to be completely honest with me.”

Hongjoong, too scared to speak, only nods. Wooyoung, having noticed the others scaredness, opens his arms and sighs again. “Come here,” he tells him which causes Hongjoong to run into his arms to hug him.

“I´m sorry, Woo. From now on I will not keep any secrets from you,” Hongjoong promises while holding onto Wooyoung.

That night, while they are lying in bed sleeping, Hongjoong does not let go of Wooyoung even once. He tightly holds onto him, almost as he is scared of the other leaving.

The next evening finds San, Seonghwa and Yeosang sitting at the small table in Hongjoong´s flat. Hongjoong had insisted on inviting everyone to a little dinner. He wants to get to know them even better and thank them for their patience with him. Wooyoung had wanted to cook, but Hongjoong protested as he had been the one inviting them. They order pizza instead, which makes Hongjoong happy as he pays for them all.

Wooyoung is sitting next to Seonghwa while listening to him retelling a story about a costumer when San jumps up. “Shit!” He shouts while inspecting his shirt. He had dropped one slice of his tuna pizza on it, causing a big stain to appear on the fabric.

“I´ll help you clean up,” Hongjoong suggests before getting up. “Let´s go to the bathroom. There is much more to clean it up with.” He grabs San´s hand and drags him into the small room.

“So how are things really?” Seonghwa, discovering the opportunity to ask without Hongjoong being there, turns expectedly towards Wooyoung.

“As Hongjoong already told you, things are fine. They really are, Hwa,” Wooyoung tries to calm his friend down. “He only had some headaches, but the doctor prescribed him something against them which is helping.”

Seonghwa, wanting to ask further, gets interrupted by Hongjoong storming into the room before screaming at Wooyoung: ”You ass! I can’t believe you did this to me!”

Wooyoung´s heart drops as he is thinking that Hongjoong remembers again when the other suddenly starts to tickle him.

“San and Yeosang aren´t even dating. You lied to me!” Hongjoong screams. It makes Wooyoung laugh out loud and a blush appear on Yeosang´s face.

“You told him that we were together?” Yeosang screeches while joining Hongjoong in tickling his best friend.

Seeing the blushes on San´s and Yeosang´s faces as they say their goodbyes later, Wooyoung thinks that it had been worth it.

“This was really nice,” Hongjoong utters while putting the pizza cartons away. Seonghwa had gone too, leaving him and Wooyoung alone again.

“Yeah, it was,” Wooyoung gives back before grabbing the leftovers and putting them into the fridge. “It was a great idea to invite them all.”

“Thank you,” Hongjoong says shyly. “I like our friends. They are nice.”

“I´m glad. They like you too,” Wooyoung answers while chuckling at Hongjoong´s returned shyness.

“Are you making fun of me?” Hongjoong asks playfully.

“Me? Never!” Wooyoung laughs and begins to run as the other starts to go after him.

“Don’t think I forgot about you lying to me. San´s face got so red; it made me feel really bad,” Hongjoong shouts while cornering Wooyoung in front of his bed. Instead of another tickle attack, Hongjoong only hugs the other.

“Hongjoong?” Wooyoung asks confused. He is not sure why he is getting a hug from him.

“Hm?” Hongjoong only answers before letting go again.

“What was that for?” Wooyoung chuckles as a blush is starting to appear on his cheeks.

“Just felt like it,” the other says cheekily while going to the trash bin to throw something away.

Wooyoung feels warm. The hug had felt intimate. Not like the ones they had shared before. Wooyoung doesn’t understand why. Hongjoong had hugged or touched him during the whole week. Even while sleeping, Hongjoong had been all cuddled up to him. So why had this hug felt so intimate?

They way Hongjoong had looked at him. The way his eyes had lingered on Wooyoung´s lips before he pulled away. All of it is starting to make Wooyoung nervous. He had spent the whole week with Hongjoong while getting to know a completely different side of him.

Is something going to happen between them? Wooyoung doesn’t know, but he had felt the shift in the air. Something is different, but he doesn’t know what yet.    

“Woo?” Hongjoongs whispers while the two of them are lying in bed some hours later. Having a little conversation at night is starting to become a routine. At the end of a day, Hongjoong often has questions left. The quietness at night and the darkness surrounding them seems to calm him down.

“Yes?” Wooyoung whispers back before facing the other.

“How long have San and Yeosang been in love with each other?” Hongjoong asks quietly while looking directly into Wooyoung´s eyes.

“I don’t know. Too long for sure. I think it started three years ago. At least, I noticed it then. Yeosang kept looking at San with so much love in his eyes. They had been almost sparkling. San just told us a story about his work. It was nothing exciting, but Yeosang had looked at him like he was telling him the most amazing thing. But San isn´t better. He looks at Yeosang like he is the most perfect person in the world. Yeosang could do the easiest thing and San would applaud him like he had done something spectacular. They are so in love with each other. It starts to hurt me how they are still not doing anything about it. They even keep denying their feelings for each other. It´s starting to get real frustrating.” Wooyoung had started to let out every honest thought he has about his friends situation.

“You know,” Hongjoong starts. „I think that sometimes you don’t notice what is being right in front of you. Even if you have been knowing this person for years. Maybe it´s still not the right time for them. Maybe they need something to happen, so they will finally see that the one person for them has been there for a long time already and that they were just too blind to see it.”  

Hongjoong´s advice causes Wooyoung to grab his hand to squeeze it, as he is moved by the other´s way of thinking. He wonders where all of this is coming from with Hongjoong not remembering anything, but he doesn’t want to ruin the moment and ask him about it.

“You really think so?” Wooyoung asks instead which makes Hongjoong squeeze his hand back.

“Yes. I think that everything happens for a reason and that one of these reasons will bring you to that one person. The one who will fit you better than anyone else. I don’t know where this is coming from, but I know that I believe in it. I think my one person is out there too. I just didn’t notice it yet,” Hongjoong explains further which causes warmth to fill Wooyoung.

“I hope you are right and that San and Yeosang will wake up and notice it soon,” Wooyoung wishes quietly.

“I hope so too,” Hongjoong whispers while cuddling up to the other.

“Good night, Woo,” he says with a muffled voice due to his face being smashed against Wooyoung´s shoulder.

“Good night,” Wooyoung whispers back. He is enjoying the warmth and the tingling feeling of having Hongjoong so close.

-

“I will pick you up at five, ok?” Wooyoung says to Hongjoong while they are both standing in front of the flower shop from Seonghwa´s aunt. Wooyoung had driven them here. The car Hongjoong had his accident with is back from the repair shop.

“Ok,” Hongjoong answers. He is holding onto Wooyoung´s arm as he does not want to let the other go.

Ever since he had come back from the hospital, Hongjoong had been with Wooyoung. He is not used to being without him. Although he knows Seonghwa now, it is still Wooyoung who is giving him the most comfort. 

“Do you want me to go in with you?” Wooyoung offers. He knows how hard it will be for Hongjoong to be without him. Wooyoung himself does not like the thought of being without the other either. He is used to his constant presence and he feels nervous about leaving him alone.

“Yes, please,” Hongjoong accepts Wooyoung´s offer gratefully.

Both of them walk into the shop. A little bell is signalling their arrival to Seonghwa who steps out from the backroom.

“Hongjoong! Wooyoung! Oh, I’m so glad to see you back here again, Joongie,” Seonghwa greets them while stepping closer. He notices how Hongjoong is holding onto Wooyoung, which makes him look at the slightly younger of the two with a raised eyebrow.

“Hongjoong,” Wooyoung starts as he is trying to get the other to let go of him. “Seonghwa will show you everything. He will let you start with something small, ok? No one wants to overwhelm you. When it gets too much for you, you will tell Seonghwa and he will let you take a break, alright?”

“Alright,” Hongjoong sighs before finally letting go of Wooyoung´s arm. He walks towards Seonghwa who is holding his hand out for him to take.

“We will take it slowly, Joongie. I will only show you the shop today,” Seonghwa explains before dragging Hongjoong with him while waving Wooyoung goodbye.

Wooyoung gives a thumbs up to them before making his way out of the shop. He had missed going to work, so he is looking forward to seeing all the kids again who had hopefully missed him too.

A screamed “Mister Wooyoung!” Is the first thing Wooyoung gets to hear while he is stepping into the kindergarten. Two little boys and one little girl are running up to him and starting to hug his legs.

“We missed you!” They shout, causing Wooyoung to laugh and hug them back.

“I missed you too. Did you do lots of funny stuff while I was away?” He asks them and gets three shaking heads in return.

“NO! It was soooo boring without you,” the youngest of the three kids states.

Wooyoung only laughs some more while picking the boy up. He makes his way to the playroom where he is greeted with another round of screaming. He had missed his kids. They are all full of energy, causing his and Mrs. Lee´s days to be full of life.

Mrs. Lee is Wooyoung´s colleague. A 45-year-old woman who loves her kids in kindergarten, but who also has a soft spot for Wooyoung.

“How are things with your friend?” She asks him later when they are cleaning up after the kids had already been picked up by their parents. Mrs. Lee knows about the accident. Wooyoung had told her about it when he asked for one week off.

“Better. He is still not remembering, but he does not get headaches anymore. He even seems a bit happy. He is dealing with it better than I thought he would,” Wooyoung answers while picking a doll up and putting her back on the shelf.

“That is good to hear,” Mrs. Lee says as she is observing her co-worker. “You seem happy too,” she adds which causes Wooyoung to blush.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to imply. I´m just glad that he is taking everything so well, that is all,” Wooyoung defends himself as he does not like the direction their conversation is going.

“I didn’t imply anything, Wooyoung. I only said that you seem happy, nothing else,“ Mrs. Lee objects and folds some of the blankets the kids love to lie on. “But don’t think I didn’t notice the blush on your cheeks,” she teases while walking out of the room to grab her purse.

Wooyoung keeps thinking about Mrs. Lee´s words even when he walks into the flower shop to pick Hongjoong up. The little bell over the door jingles again, making Hongjoong look up as he is standing at the front desk while reading something.

“Woo!” He shouts before running towards Wooyoung and hugging him. “I missed you. It was so weird to not have you around. Every time Seonghwa showed me something new, I had the urge to tell you about it, but then I remembered that you weren’t there.”

Hongjoong doesn’t let Wooyoung get any word in as he drags him to the backroom to show him a little flower bouquet he had made.

“I know you and Seonghwa wanted me to take it slow, but look! Isn’t it beautiful? I had so much fun doing it. Seonghwa showed me the basics.”  Hongjoong almost throws the bouquet in Wooyoung´s face while letting him examinate his work.

“It looks great, Hongjoong. You can be proud of yourself,” Wooyoung says honestly while observing the green, blue, white, and red bouquet.

“Thank you,” Hongjoong whispers touched. “I made it for you. It´s kind of a thank you because you are staying with me.” Hongjoong hands the bouquet over to Wooyoung while not making any eye contact.

Both of them are blushing when Seonghwa steps into the backroom. He had been at the café next door getting some treats which he gives a decent amount of to Hongjoong. They say their goodbyes before Wooyoung and Hongjoong drive home.

The whole week goes on like that. Wooyoung drives Hongjoong to work before he makes his way to the kindergarten. And at five pm he picks Hongjoong up again. He is still getting greeted enthusiastically with a hug every time he makes his way through the door and lets the ring of the little bell echo through the shop.

Hongjoong´s memory is still not back, but the work in the flower shop seems to help a lot. He is happy about being able to learn something new every day. He always tells Wooyoung about his day at work when the two of them are lying in bed together while being all cuddled up. In return, Wooyoung tells Hongjoong about his own day at work. Hongjoong always loves to hear about the little kids and how Wooyoung´s day had been.

It all goes well until Saturday. Because then, things start to change. Hongjoong is quiet. He had been quiet the whole day. They had gone grocery shopping and cooked something together, but Hongjoong had not talked as much as he usually does. Wooyoung had asked about it, only for Hongjoong to deny his unusual behaviour and cutting the topic off as he had not wanted to talk about it more.

They are both sitting on Hongjoong´s bed now. The first Harry Potter movie is playing on the tv when Wooyoung hears snivels coming from Hongjoong´s direction. He pauses the movie and turns to the side. The sight that greets him is causing his heart to break. The other is sitting lulled into his blanket on his side of the bed with tears flowing down his cheeks.

“Hongjoong? What´s wrong, baby?” Wooyoung asks while not even noticing the pet name he is using.

“Its just-“ Hongjoong starts, but more tears are starting to come out which is making him sob. “It´s just so frustrating to not remember anything. It has been two weeks already. Why can´t I remember anything, Woo? Why? When will it finally start to come back to me again? Next month? Next year? Never?” Hongjoong cries into his hands, as he is fully breaking down by now.

Wooyoung comes closer to take Hongjoong´s hands in his and starts to wipe his tears away.

“I´m sorry, Hongjoong. I wish I could tell you, but I don’t know when you will start to get your memories back. I can imagine how frustrated you must feel. I wish I could take it all away and make you remember again,” Wooyoung whispers while stroking over Hongjoong´s wet cheeks.

“I just want to remember something. Anything! It doesn’t have to be all at once, just some little things about my life,” Hongjoong says quietly. His voice is breaking as new tears start to flow down his face.

“I´m so sorry, baby.” Wooyoung gets closer while he is still holding Hongjoong´s face in his hands. The other is looking at him with big sad eyes. It is breaking Wooyoung´s heart all over again.

They get stuck looking at each other. Wooyoung is still stroking over Hongjoong´s cheeks when he suddenly feels Hongjoong´s lips on his. He can’t even react as fast as the other pulls back again which causes for his hands, which are still holding onto the other´s face, to fall.

“I´m so sorry. I don’t know why I just did that,” Hongjoong apologizes with embarrassment clear in his voice.

“It´s fine,” Wooyoung assures with not wanting for Hongjoong to feel worse.  

The other does seem grateful that Wooyoung does not make a big deal out of it. He only presses play and lets them continue with the movie.

The kiss causes them to get closer. Things start to feel more intimate. Every time they hug or reach out for each other, it feels like taking a step further. Wooyoung doesn’t know towards where, but he can’t deny that he had liked the kiss. It had been short but enough to make him acknowledge his growing feelings for Hongjoong.

The way he had reached out to Hongjoong while holding his face and stroking his cheeks. He had liked the feeling of the other being so close that he could feel his breath against his face and then his lips against his.

The first two weeks, Hongjoong had been the one always reaching out and trying to touch, but now Wooyoung is also earning for it. He wants Hongjoong close. He wants to hold him and cuddle him and to not let him go. He knows how complicated the whole situation is, but he does not want to think about it.

Not yet.

-

“Hongjoong?” Wooyoung shouts into the flat after getting back from the grocery store. Hongjoong had wanted to stay home with being too tired from work that day.

Wooyoung hears footsteps approaching as he makes his way through the door with holding three bags full of groceries in his hands.

 “Can you help me with this?” Wooyoung asks Hongjoong who had appeared in front of him. The other only gives him a nod before taking two of the bags and making his way to the kitchen.

“My mother called right when you went out and to the grocery store,” Hongjoong tells Wooyoung while unpacking the bags.

“Your mother? Did you tell her about your accident?” Wooyoung asks as he brings the last bag with him.

“No, I didn’t,” Hongjoong admits quietly and turns away.

“Hongjoong-“ Wooyoung starts but quickly gets interrupted by the other.

“I didn’t know how. She seemed so happy while telling me about their vacation. I just could not ruin that. And you weren’t here and I panicked not knowing what to do, so I just lied and pretended that everything is fine.” Hongjoong is looking at Wooyoung now. He had turned around while talking. He pouts as he makes his way towards the other as he is wanting a hug.

“I´m sorry, but I can’t be always there, Hongjoong,” Wooyoung explains while he hugs the other tight and strokes over his back. “You will have to tell your parents. Not now, but in the future, alright? You can’t keep this from them forever.”

“I know,” Hongjoong admits before letting go of Wooyoung. “I will. I promise!”

Satisfied with Hongjoong´s promise, Wooyoung pokes him on the nose which makes him giggle. Laughing at Hongjoong´s cuteness, he goes to the last bag he had brought in and pulls a blue stress ball out of it.

“Come here,” he tells Hongjoong while he is gesturing to his lap and making the other sit down on him.

“This-” he starts while putting the blue object into Hongjoong´s hands. “Is a stress ball. I want you to squeeze it whenever you feel stressed or overwhelmed and I can´t be there to help you.”

Hongjoong, touched by Wooyoung´s thoughtfulness, gives the stress ball a little squeeze.

“Thank you.”

He turns around while still sitting on Wooyoung´s lap, which causes them to be chest to chest. “I love it,” Hongjoong whispers again while gently starting to stroke Wooyoung´s cheek.

Wooyoung is overwhelmed with having the other so near again. Memories of their kiss come rushing back as Hongjoong once more presses their lips together. Although this time, he does not pull back quickly. Even if Hongjoong had wanted to, Wooyoung does not give him a chance to do so, as he grabs him by the waist and pulls him closer while returning the kiss. 

His head is screaming at him to stop, but Wooyoung does not listen. The feeling of Hongjoong sitting on him, his lips moving against his and the little sounds he is making is driving Wooyoung crazy. Hongjoong´s lips feel soft against his and he is tasting like the strawberries they had eaten earlier.

They almost seem addicted to each other, as they can’t stop making out. Hongjoong keeps sitting on Wooyoung´s lap while they continue with tasting each other. Wooyoung feels hot all over while wanting to basically devour the other. He knows he should stop. His guiltiness is already coming up again.

He knows he is taking advantage of Hongjoong´s situation. He should push Hongjoong away from him and not keep kissing him, but he can´t. He knows he should listen to his head, but his heart is much louder with beating as he had run a marathon. He does not want for this to stop and judging by the way Hongjoong keeps moving his lips against his and letting his hands wander all over his body, neither does he.

Them kissing becomes a thing. Every time Wooyoung drops Hongjoong off or picks him up from work, he gets a kiss. At night, when they are lying in bed talking about the day they had, they end up making out. Wooyoung is lucky that Seonghwa had not seen them yet or he would get an earful from his friend. He knows he has to stop this. He is taking advantage of Hongjoong, but he doesn’t know how.

With every kiss, it gets harder and harder for Wooyoung to break things with Hongjoong off. It also doesn’t help that Hongjoong seems much happier, as he is not having another breakdown over his lost memories the following days.

Not knowing what to do, Wooyoung meets up with Yeosang and tells him about everything that had happened between him and Hongjoong.

“This has to stop, Woo. You know that, right?” Yeosang urges. “You’re taking advantage of Hongjoong losing his memories. Especially about his memory of you two hating each other.”

“I know,” Wooyoung answers quickly. He knows that his best friend is right. “It´s just-“

“Just what?” Yeosang pushes while still sounding gentle. He understands how hard this situation must be for the other, so he doesn’t want to be too harsh on him.

Wooyoung takes a deep breath before continuing:

“It’s just that I’m falling for him, and I don’t know how much of this Hongjoong is the real one.”

Chapter Text

Wooyoung knows he should listen to Yeosang´s advice and end this thing with Hongjoong before it gets too intense, but he can´t. He´s falling for Hongjoong and with every new day it gets harder for him to let go.

Not only are his feelings for the other starting to grow, his actions towards him are also starting to get more intimate.

“Wooyoung,” Hongjoong moans while he is sucking another love bite into his skin. Hongjoong is squirming underneath him, as he is loving every second of having Wooyoung´s mouth on him.

“Woo!” He shouts as Wooyoung bites into his shoulder and leaves teeth marks behind. “What are you? A vampire?” Hongjoong laughs, which causes the other to let go and sit up.

“Sorry,” Wooyoung says while not sounding sorry at all. He lets his fingers glide over the many marks he had left on Hongjoong´s body.

They are all underneath Hongjoong´s neck, so no one of their friends can spot them. Because Wooyoung does not need for them to know.  Especially not Yeosang who knows about his growing feelings for Hongjoong and who had urged him to end this thing between them.

“Its fine,” Hongjoong giggles. “I love how much you like to leave your marks behind. Makes me feel like I´m yours.”

Hongjoong´s words let Wooyoung´s guiltiness reappear. Because Hongjoong isn’t his. Not without him not remembering their whole past.

It makes him feel like the biggest liar on the planet. Hongjoong thinks that they had always been friends and gotten along with each other. Wooyoung had not wanted to correct him as he is loving the way they are with each other now. But hearing Hongjoong say that he is his and his growing feelings for him are starting to make things difficult.

“Woo?” Hongjoong asks and waves his hand in front of Wooyoung´s face. “Lost in your head again?”

“Yeah, sorry. Just thought about tomorrow,” Wooyoung lies quickly. He is suddenly thankful for their plan to meet up with the others on the following day. Seonghwa had invited them all to his place as he wants to cook for them and spend the evening together.

“I can´t wait to see Seonghwa´s flat,” Hongjoong says while sounding really curious.   

“You will like it. He has three rooms and a really nice balcony,” Wooyoung explains as he is thankful for the change of subject.

“That does sound nice,” Hongjoong replies while coming closer to cuddle. And Wooyoung lets him. Because he does not have the heart to deny him his late-night cuddles.

“We should sleep,” he suggests after seeing the other yawn.

“Yeah, we should,” Hongjoong agrees and intensifies his grip around Wooyoung´s waist.

“Good night, Woo,” he whispers before pressing a kiss against the other´s nape.

“Good night,” Wooyoung replies. His heart is running a marathon in his chest again with having Hongjoong so close.

Hongjoong quickly falls asleep, which leaves Wooyoung with his thoughts alone. He has to stop this all before it will get too hard for him to do so. The problem is that he doesn’t want to break Hongjoong´s heart and neither does he want to break his own.

It´s scary how fast they had gotten attached to each other. Only one month ago, they had hated each other with always starting a fight every time they met. It’s weird how he had caught feelings so fast for someone he could not stand before. But this Hongjoong is so different.

He is so pure and innocent and full of love. Wooyoung had never experienced Hongjoong like this. Sure, he had always been softer with their friends, but never like this. Never in the way he is with Wooyoung now.

Wooyoung doesn’t even know why they didn’t get along before. It had always just been that way. Knocking heads over the simplest things, always wanting to have the last word, and to not let the other win.  Thinking back, Wooyoung does not get why they had behaved like this. And it starts to make him mad.

If they had gotten along, this whole situation would not be so difficult for him. Now he doesn’t know how Hongjoong will react to the little thing they have going on after the moment his memories will come back. Only thinking about it scares Wooyoung.

Will Hongjoong go back to hating him? And will this whole thing between them mean nothing to him? Wooyoung doesn’t know and to be completely honest, he doesn’t want to find out. He doesn’t want to lose Hongjoong, but he knows that wishing for him to stay memoryless will only worsen things.

-

 “Look, that´s me,” Hongjoong claims while pointing at one of the pictures on Seonghwa´s wall. “We look so young here.”

Him and Wooyoung are looking at a picture which shows his younger self and Seonghwa at the beach. The picture had been taken on a family vacation with both of them only being thirteen years old. Observing the picture for a bit more causes Hongjoong to realise how long him and Seonghwa must have known each other.

“I feel bad about not remember anything about my friendship with him,” Hongjoong says quietly, which makes Wooyoung look at him.

“It’s not your fault, Hongjoong. And I know that Seonghwa isn’t mad about it. You are still his best friend. If he has to, he will wait forever until you start to remember again,” Wooyoung jumps in with not letting Hongjoong think further and making himself feel sad again. It had been a while since his last breakdown and Wooyoung wants to keep it that way.   

“Thank you, Woo. You always know what you have to say to make me feel better,” Hongjoong replies. A bright smile is forming on his face which is making Wooyoung laugh.

“You´re too cute, baby,” he points out and causes for Hongjoong´s eyes to start lighten up before he basically throws himself into his arms.

But their little cuddling session gets interrupted by the ringing of Seonghwa´s doorbell, as San and Yeosang want to be let in. Seonghwa had been busy in the kitchen with preparing their salads, which had left Hongjoong and Wooyoung wandering around his flat.

Their dinner goes great. All five of them manage to not leave any food on their plates. Seonghwa had prepared different meat with many side dishes. And at the end, right before dessert, Hongjoong offers to take the dirty dishes into the kitchen. Wooyoung, not wanting for him to carry all the plates alone, helps with it.

“I´m really happy for San and Yeosang,” Hongjoong says while he walks to the dishwasher.

During their dinner, San and Yeosang had told them that they went on their first date. They want to take things slow and look where it will take them. The other three had been over the moon while congratulating them. Wooyoung in particular is very happy about his two best friends finally being brave enough to take the next step. The past encounter in Hongjoong´s flat must have really made them think.

“Me too,” Wooyoung tells Hongjoong as he is putting the plates, which can´t be washed in the dishwasher, into the sink. “It´s really heart-warming to hear Yeosang talk about the way San makes him feel.”

“Yeah, it’s exactly like you are starting to make me feel,” Hongjoong answers in a whisper while stepping in front of Wooyoung to look at him.

Hearing Hongjoong so honestly and carefully talking about the way Wooyoung makes him feel makes the other snap. He doesn’t even realize that he is grabbing Hongjoong´s face and pressing their lips together until he feels Hongjoong´s arms hugging and pulling him close.

Wooyoung doesn’t let go as he keeps moving his lips against Hongjoong´s. His hold on Hongjoong´s face gets tighter, causing for the other to moan and open his mouth wide enough for Wooyoung´s tongue to slip in. Hongjoong tastes like the coke he had earlier; sweet and bubbly and making Wooyoung want to taste more.

Hongjoong even starts to chase Wooyoung´s tongue with his own. A battle of dominance is starting to begin when they hear the door to the kitchen opening.

“Oh my god!” Seonghwa shouts shocked after walking in on Hongjoong and Wooyoung basically devouring each other in his kitchen.  His shout causes them to jump apart with a string of salvia still connecting their lips. Hongjoong starts to blush while he wipes his lips and looks apologetic at his friend.

“I´m so sorry. We really shouldn’t have made out in your kitchen,” Hongjoong says guilty.

“Yeah, you really shouldn’t have,” Seonghwa responses while only looking at Wooyoung.

Hongjoong, still embarrassed at being caught, steps out of the kitchen and makes his way back to the living room. Wooyoung wants to follow him, but Seonghwa grabs him by the arm and stops him from leaving.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Seonghwa hisses as he tightens his grip on Wooyoung´s arm.

“I know, ok?! I know it’s wrong and that it has to stop,” Wooyoung defends himself while trying to loosen the tight grip the other has on him.

“Then stop it! Immediately!” Seonghwa demands. “What were you even thinking with letting it get so far? You two hate each other. That Hongjoong isn’t remembering it now doesn’t mean that you can take advantage of it!”

“Hated. We hated each other,” Wooyoung throws in while not looking at his angry friend.

“What do you me- oh, no. You can´t be serious, Wooyoung. Please tell me that you are not catching feelings for Hongjoong,” Seonghwa begs after noticing how the other is trying to avoid any eye contact.

“It´s not my fault, alright?! It just happened. I mean did you seriously think that I would make out with Hongjoong just for fun? I like him, Seonghwa, and I know that I am taking advantage of him not remembering our past,” Wooyoung admits, which makes the taller grab him by the shoulder to shake him.

“This is wrong, Wooyoung! Wrong! I knew Hongjoong started to have a crush on you, but you also having one on him and acting on it? Never! So you have to break it off. Do not let it go any further. We don’t know how Hongjoong will react to all of this when he will start to remember again. You know this, right?”  Seonghwa is still shaking Wooyoung as it will help him to understand the seriousness of their situation.

“I know, Seonghwa! I know that I have to break it off, ok? And I will. I should have never let it come so far. It´s just that I´m really scared of breaking his heart,” Wooyoung tells his friend who finally lets go of him.

“I get that, Wooyoung. I really do and I’m sorry that you started to fall for him. But this needs to stop. The Hongjoong who is sitting outside with San and Yeosang?  The one you are starting to fall for? He will not stay for long. The second he will start to remember; he will be gone,” Seonghwa says while feeling bad for hurting Wooyoung´s feelings by telling him the truth.

“I know, Hwa,” Wooyoung whispers as he is trying not to break out into tears. “I know that he won´t stay. I just didn’t want to accept it. I guess I just needed someone to tell me that. So, thank you. I will end it.”

Wooyoung takes some steps back and makes his way out of the kitchen. He knows that Seonghwa is right and that he only wants the best for his friends, but it still hurts. He also doesn’t know how and when, but he knows that he will break things off with Hongjoong.

-

“It was really nice at Seonghwa´s,” Hongjoong tells Wooyoung while getting into bed.

“Yeah, it was. And San and Yeosang really made my day with finally getting together,” Wooyoung answers and tries to move so he is not too close to the other.

“Yes, they are so cute together. Did you see how red San got after Yeosang kissed him?” Hongjoong giggles and starts to move closer.

Wooyoung, not having any space left, has no other choice then to let the other cuddle up to him.

“Yeah, he was really embarrassed,” Wooyoung chuckles as he is trying to downplay his upcoming panic. He feels Hongjoong getting closer and bringing their faces together. But before he can give him a kiss, Wooyoung quickly turns away.

“Sorry, I´m just really tired.”

“Oh- it´s fine. I´m tired too,” Hongjoong answers while still cuddling up to Wooyoung.

“Good night, Woo,“ he whispers, only to get a “Night” in return.

The next morning, Wooyoung drives Hongjoong to work. Normally, he only lets him out of the car and does not go inside with him, but today Hongjoong needs his help with carrying something inside.

Seonghwa, who is already behind the counter, looks surprised and a bit angry at seeing Wooyoung accompanying their friend.

“Thanks for helping me, Woo,” Hongjoong says before giving Wooyoung a hug and kissing him goodbye. It all goes so fast that Wooyoung can´t even react.

Seonghwa watches it all happening with a raised eyebrow and a murderous gaze in his eyes. After Hongjoong steps back and makes his way into the backroom, Seonghwa walks Wooyoung out.

“I thought you would end it!” Seonghwa says angrily, which makes Wooyoung shrink at the hardness in his voice.

“I will. I just didn’t find the opportunity to do it yet. I didn’t know that he would kiss me in front of you again,” Wooyoung defends himself.

“Alright,” Seonghwa sighs. “From today on I will be the one driving Hongjoong to and from work. I don’t want you to drive him anymore. Because the less time you spend with each other, the easier it will get for you to end this. And don’t worry, I will explain it to Hongjoong, ok?”

“Ok. Let’s do it like that,” Wooyoung agrees. He knows that Seonghwa is right. It will make things easier and he will, hopefully soon, be able to end things with Hongjoong.

In addition to Seonghwa being the one driving Hongjoong to and from work, Wooyoung also tries to stay out during the evening and to not go home immediately after work. He starts visiting Yeosang and San more. Since they had started dating, they are always together. Either at Yeosang´s or San´s apartment. They notice Wooyoung´s strange behaviour as they are not used to seeing him without Hongjoong by his side anymore. But they don’t talk to him about it.

Yeosang, knowing about Wooyoung´s feelings for Hongjoong and that he needs to break it off, doesn’t want to make things harder for his best friend. He had also told San about it, who had been pretty sad about the whole situation. He thinks that Wooyoung and Hongjoong would make a great couple, but not with Wooyoung remembering everything about their past and with Hongjoong who doesn’t remember anything at all.

Wooyoung only tells Hongjoong that he has to stay longer to clean up at work and to prepare some new games for the kids. He hates lying to him, but he doesn’t know what else to do. When he does go home, he tries to avoid Hongjoong´s kisses and touches. He is sure that the other must have noticed his unusual behaviour, but he still has not said anything about it yet. 

Wooyoung almost wishes Hongjoong would confront him so he can finally get it over with.  Because he hates how things are. Having to behave like this is making him sad. Even at work the kids and Mrs. Lee notice his sad mood.

Wooyoung had always been happy and keeping a smile on his face no matter what. But now he isn´t like that anymore. He tries to be happy while playing with the kids, but he sometimes slips and lets his sadness show.

“Wooyoung? Is everything alright? You are so quiet these days,” Mrs. Lee asks him while they are both cleaning up.  

“Yes, everything is fine. It’s just a bit complicated,” Wooyoung answers as he does not want for her to worry about him.

“Is this about your friend?” Mrs. Lee asks further. “The one that had the accident?”

“Yes, it is. He is fine, it just- things between us have been weird lately,” Wooyoung says while not revealing too much of the truth.

“I´m sorry to hear that, Wooyoung. I´m sure you two only need some time and things will start to look better again,” Mrs. Lee gives as an advice.

Wooyoung thanks her for her words and finishes cleaning up. He does not look forward to going home, as he can’t go to see San and Yeosang today. The two of them are having a date night. And he certainly does not want to go to Seonghwa, as he is not keen on having to hear more about how he has to finally break things off with Hongjoong.

Parking Hongjoong´s car in front of his building, Wooyoung looks at the fifth floor and sees that the lights are on. Of course, Hongjoong is home. He always is. He hates going out without Wooyoung, which lets Wooyoung´s guiltiness only grow.

Making his way up the stairs until he is standing in front of Hongjoong´s flat, Wooyoung hesitates. He is already holding the key in his hands. He only needs to unlock the door and go in.

The problem is that the last couple of days Wooyoung had always gotten home after dinnertime. He had only made his way to the shower and then went to bed. All while trying to avoid talking to Hongjoong or letting him come close. He still wakes up with Hongjoong cuddled up to him, but he had managed to avoid everything else.

Taking a deep breath, Wooyoung unlocks the door and steps in. He smells Chinese takeout as he takes his shoes and jacket off and makes his way into the room. Hongjoong is sitting on his bed with a box of fried rice and chicken on his lap when he sees Wooyoung walk in.

“Woo!” He shouts before putting his food away and getting up. “I´m so glad that they let you go earlier today.”

Hongjoong hugs Wooyoung before the other can even react. He had missed him the last few days. It had not been the same without the other keeping him company.

“I´m sorry that I didn’t manage to come home earlier the last couple of days.”

Another lie. Another kick to Wooyoung´s heart while saying it.

“It’s fine, Woo. I just missed you,” Hongjoong admits quietly before slowly letting go.

“I missed you too, baby,” Wooyoung answers and could slap himself for using that pet name again.

“I know a way you can make it up to me,” Hongjoong whispers while dragging Wooyoung down and onto his bed. “I really missed the feeling of you, Woo.”

Hongjoong doesn’t give Wooyoung any chance to respond as he presses their lips together. Wooyoung, who had missed the taste of Hongjoong and the feeling of having him close, gives up and lets go. He even grabs Hongjoong by the waist and pulls him onto his lap. He shuts his mind off to only enjoy the warmth of the other´s body.

They keep kissing for what feels like hours when Wooyoung feels Hongjoong´s small hand tugging at his belt. It feels like cold water is being thrown over him as he understands in what direction this situation is starting to go.

“Stop!” He shouts and makes his voice echo loudly through the quiet flat. He pushes Hongjoong off him and onto the bed.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Hongjoong asks confused. He is not understanding what is happening. It had been all fine only some seconds ago.

“We can’t keep doing this, Hongjoong. It´s wrong and it has to stop,” Wooyoung voices out and hates himself for doing so.

“I don’t understand. Why stop when we both want it?” Hongjoong asks further. He is getting closer again and making Wooyoung get off the bed.

“It’s wrong, alright?! It´s just wrong,” Wooyoung answers. His voice sounds weak, as he doesn’t have any good explanation. He also feels overwhelmed with the situation and only wants to get out of Hongjoong´s flat.

“Did Seonghwa say something to you? You started to act weird ever since we left his flat last Sunday.” Hongjoong gets up to follow Wooyoung on his way to the door.

“It doesn’t matter what he said, Hongjoong. I just know that this can´t continue.” Wooyoung puts his shoes on and wants to grab his jacket when Hongjoong´s hand shoots out to grab his arm.

“Don’t go, please! Don’t do this to me! I want this and you want this, so I don’t get where the problem is. I like you, Wooyoung. I like you a lot. And I know that you like me,” Hongjoong cries out as he is trying to drag the other away from the door. Tears start to flow down his face which is causing Wooyoung to tear up too.

“I´m sorry, Hongjoong, but I can´t stay here. It´s too much.” Wooyoung tears himself away from the tight grip on his arm, which makes the other stumble. He grabs the doorknob and wants to open it, but Hongjoong throws himself at the door while starting to sob loudly.

“Don’t leave me. Please! I can’t do this without you, Wooyoung,” Hongjoong shouts. His cheeks are tear-streaked as the tears don’t stop from falling down.

Seeing him like this almost rips Wooyoung´s heart out of his chest. He had never felt such pain. Pushing Hongjoong away from the door to open it, is the hardest thing he had ever done. The other, too weak from all the crying, doesn’t protest anymore as Wooyoung makes his way out of the door before shutting it behind him.

The whole walk down the stairs, Wooyoung doesn’t cry. Only when he walks up to Hongjoong´s car and gets inside, he can’t stop the tears from falling down his face.

This had been the hardest thing he had ever needed to do. Seeing Hongjoong breaking down and begging him to stay had taken all of his willpower to not give in. He had still heard Hongjoong´s cries echoing through the stairwell on his way down.

Wooyoung can also feel his heart beating loudly, but it feels like he had actually left it in Hongjoong´s flat with the person he had fallen in love with and the person he had just broken. Never in his whole life, not even after his former fights with Hongjoong, had Wooyoung ever felt this bad. He only wants to get to his own flat and sleep until he can forget everything that had happened.

But the next morning, Wooyoung finds himself in front of Hongjoong´s door again. In his hurry on the day before, he had left his jacket with his phone and his bag there. Wooyoung is sure that Hongjoong is already at work, which causes him to be surprised when he unlocks the door and sees that the other is still inside.

Hongjoong´s face is a bit swollen up with tried tears visible on his cheeks. He looks up when he hears Wooyoung enter.

“Wooyoung,” he whispers. His voice is too weak to speak louder, as he had cried the whole night. “I knew you would come back.”

“What are you doing home?”

“I told Seonghwa to pick me up later. As I already said, I knew you would come back. I noticed that you left most of your stuff here,” Hongjoong explains as he is stepping up to Wooyoung, which causes the other to take a step back.

“Please don’t leave again. We can talk about this, Wooyoung. And we will find a solution for it,” Hongjoong tries to smile encouragingly, but the other only shakes his head.

“There is no solution other than you remembering,” Wooyoung says and makes Hongjoong´s smile drop with it.

“Why? Why are you saying this? You never minded me not remembering. Why now? I don’t get it, Wooyoung. What changed? What aren’t you telling me?” Hongjoong pushes, which finally breaks the other.

“Because we hate each other, Hongjoong! We never got along. Never! This can’t work, don’t you get that? The moment you will remember, you will hate me again. Even more than before after what I did to you,” Wooyoung shouts as he is letting all his frustration out.

Hongjoong only looks at him with eyes widen in shock as he is trying to understand what Wooyoung is telling him.

“I don’t care,” he says firmly after making sense of the other´s words. “I don’t care that we hated each other. I´m falling for you, Wooyoung. And me remembering will not change that.”

Wooyoung shakes his head. He is not believing what Hongjoong is saying.

“It’s easy for you to say that now. You’re not remembering how mean we were to each other- how mean I was to you. You will not want this thing between us continuing, Hongjoong. Believe me.” Wooyoung grabs his phone and bag with wanting to make his way to the door, but Hongjoong doesn’t let him.

“Tell me why you can fall for me while remembering all of our past fights while saying that for me it will be impossible?! Don’t you think that the new memories I made with you will outweigh the old ones, Wooyoung? I promise that it won’t change anything. I want this! Don’t you get that?” Hongjoong is crying again while he is standing in front of the other and blocking the way to the door.

“I´m sorry, Hongjoong. But I don’t believe you. You will hate me when you will start to remember again.”

“Don’t go! Please!” Hongjoong begs again as Wooyoung steps around him to walk to the door.

“I´m sorry,” Wooyoung tells him one last time before opening the door. And just like the night before, he walks out and leaves Hongjoong who is crying and screaming for him to stay.

This time, Wooyoung doesn’t hold back his tears. This time, he lets them fall as he walks down the stairs. In not even twenty-four hours, he had broken Hongjoong´s heart not only once but twice.  And he hates himself for what he had done, but he also knows that it had been the right thing to do.

-

Wooyoung calls in sick with not being able to get through work with the way he is feeling. He buys groceries and cooks some kimchi fried rice while remembering how he had cooked it for himself and Hongjoong. It had been Hongjoong´s first week back from the hospital. He had been so happy about trying the food and complimenting Wooyoung for his cooking skills. The memory makes Wooyoung almost cry again.

He had gotten so attached to Hongjoong that not having him with him is driving him crazy. He feels like something is missing. Like he isn’t whole without having the other here. He can’t even begin to imaging how difficult it must be for Hongjoong. Wooyoung is his comfort person, his safe place, and he had taken that away from him.

Wooyoung´s phone rings the whole day. San, Yeosang and Seonghwa are trying to reach him, but he does not answer. He doesn’t want to talk to anyone. Hongjoong must have told them about their argument. But Wooyoung does not need to know what the others are thinking about him. Seonghwa wanted him to break things off and that is what he had done. He is just glad that they don’t come by to knock at his door. They must think that he´s at work.

Wooyoung does not know how he gets through the day. Being in his flat feels strange and nothing like home. The past night, he had been so exhausted that he had fallen asleep fast. Now after spending the whole day in his flat, he notices how much he actually hates being here.

It´s all so quiet. No Hongjoong who is sitting on his bed while telling him about his day. No Hongjoong who is lying next to him while they are cuddling. No Hongjoong who is showering him with kisses and whispering the sweetest things into his ear. And no Hongjoong who is making him feel things that no one else had ever made him feel.

Over the last weeks, Hongjoong had become his home. So it does not wonder Wooyoung that his flat feels so unfamiliar and cold. Because it is not full of love and laughter like it had been while staying in Hongjoong´s flat with the other.  

At the end of the day, Wooyoung has thirty missed phone calls and almost fifty unread messages. He does not bother with opening any of them. He only turns his phone off and gets ready for bed. He hopes that he will be able to sleep, but two hours later he is still lying awake. It just feels too weird to not have Hongjoong next to him.

He needs the other´s warmth and the feeling of being safe while holding him close. Wooyoung had never missed someone as much as he is missing Hongjoong. He even misses his smell; the light parfum he uses paired with his body wash and own body scent. Wooyoung starts to cry when his feelings are getting too much for him to handle.

With tears streaming down his face and a headache forming, he finally starts to fall asleep.

The next day, Wooyoung goes back to work again. He does not bother with turning his phone on as he is still wanting to escape the reality and chaos he had caused. He barley gets through the first three hours of work when Mrs. Lee tells him to go home. She had noticed the bad state of her co-worker.

“No, please. I need to work! I can’t go home,” Wooyoung begs. He doesn’t want to go back to his flat and get confronted with his feelings for Hongjoong and what he had done the day before.

“Wooyoung, you seem sick. I don’t want to overwork you.” Mrs. Lee doesn’t mind staying alone with the children. She had already done it the day before and she would rather have a healthy Wooyoung here the next day than a weak Wooyoung right now. But seeing the desperation in the younger´s eyes, she lets him stay.

So Wooyoung keeps working. He even stays late to clean and put the different games away. He doesn’t want to go home, so he goes to a restaurant after to waste his time. Only at eight pm, he walks back to his flat. He didn’t use Hongjoong´s car as his workplace is nearby.

He unlocks his door and wants to step inside when he notices that the light in his living room is on. Had he forgotten to turn it off this morning? Probably, Wooyoung thinks while shutting the front door and walking into the room. There he stops dead in his tracks as he can see San and Yeosang sitting on his couch while they are looking directly at him.

“How did you get in?” Wooyoung asks shocked before he drops his bag onto the ground.

“Did you seriously forget about giving me your spare key?” Yeosang asks as he can’t believe that his best friend had actually forgotten about it.

“Oh. Well, it still doesn’t give you the right to just go into my flat unannounced, Yeosang.”

“If you would have looked at your phone, you would have seen my announcement about us waiting inside your flat, Wooyoung.”

“Alright, I´m sorry. I had it off the whole day,” Wooyoung admits. “It was just too much.”

“I get it, Wooyoung, I really do. But you have no idea what you caused yesterday,” San speaks up.

“If you came here to scream at me for what I did to Hongjoong, you can leave. You all pushed me to end things with him and I did.” Wooyoung doesn’t need to hear his friends nagging. He knows it had not been the best way to break things off, but he already feels bad enough on his own.

“We are not here to nag at you, Wooyoung. It´s something else. Something that happened to Hongjoong yesterday,” San replies carefully with not wanting to scare the other.

“What do you mean? What happened to Hongjoong? Did he have another accident? What is it? Tell me!”

“No, its nothing like that. Its just-“ San breaks off before looking at his boyfriend. Yeosang only nods which encourages him to speak further.

“He remembers, Wooyoung,” San continues quietly before almost whispering his next words: “He remembers everything.”

Chapter Text

Wooyoung is on his way to Hongjoong´s flat. He´s driving in Hongjoong´s car, as he is sure that the other will want his car after getting his memories back. San and Yeosang had not said more to him. Only that Hongjoong remembers again and that he wants to see him.

Wooyoung is scared. He does not know what will happen the moment Hongjoong will see him again. He is sure that other´s feelings for him are gone. They must be as Hongjoong remembers their fights and their hatred for each other again. The problem is that Wooyoung does not hate him anymore. Will Hongjoong even consider that? Or will his hatred for Wooyoung be too much and make him push their happy memories from the last couple of weeks away?

Wooyoung would love to keep driving and to never reach Hongjoong´s flat, but he knows that running away will not help him. He prepares for the worst while turning the last corner and parking in front of Hongjoong´s building. San and Yeosang are already waiting for him. They had taken Yeosang´s car and gotten there faster than Wooyoung who had fought with himself first before getting into Hongjoong´s car.

“Are you ready?” Yeosang asks carefully.

“No, but I don’t think I ever will be,” Wooyoung answers honestly, which gets him pitiful looks from his two best friends in return.

Taking a deep breath, he opens the front door and steps in before starting to make his way up the stairs. He still has the key for Hongjoong´s flat, so he does not bother to knock. As he unlocks the door, a heavy fear comes over him. Standing in front of Hongjoong´s flat makes his memories of the last couple of weeks appear.

How happy Wooyoung had been every time he had gotten back from work with Hongjoong by his side. All the love he had felt while being here with Hongjoong and getting to know him more and more. He had always loved to come back here. And now?

Now he is opening the door with fear and nervousness of not knowing what to expect. He feels San´s hand giving him an encouraging squeeze on his shoulder while he starts to walk in.

The first thing he sees is Hongjoong who is sitting on his bed. He has a blanket tied around his body and the little stress ball Wooyoung had given him is in his hand while Seonghwa is sitting next to him. Hearing the door opening, Hongjoong looks up and gasps.

Wooyoung sees the emotions in the other´s eyes running wild. He seems to fight with himself as he is moving back and forth on his bed while his mouth keeps opening and closing again. Wooyoung does not know what to say to make the situation easier. He is too scared of what Hongjoong will choose to do next.  Which is why the two of them end up staring at each other while not saying anything. And the other three don’t know if they should interfere or just let them be.

After minutes of only staring at each other, Wooyoung has enough and sighs.

“I´ll just grab the rest of my stuff and go,“ he announces while turning towards Hongjoong´s wardrobe.

“NO!” Hongjoong shouts and makes Wooyoung freeze with it. He also gets up and makes his way towards him.

“Please don’t go,” Hongjoong begs as he comes to a halt in front of Wooyoung. “Please don’t leave me again.”

He seems unsure as he keeps looking around nervously. Wooyoung notices it and also Seonghwa does, which is why he gets up from the bed.

“I think we should go,” he suggests as he looks gently and also supportive at them. San and Yeosang just nod at his words.

They all know that it is better if Hongjoong and Wooyoung can talk alone and not with them being here.

“Thank you for everything, guys. For all your patience with me and all the comfort you tried to give me,” Hongjoong tells them before hugging each one of them goodbye.

“We´re just glad to have you back again, Joongie,” Seonghwa answers while hugging his best friend tight.

Him, San and Yeosang then slowly make their way out to leave Hongjoong and Wooyoung alone. But not without giving them both an encouraging smile. They just hope that they will be able to talk everything out. They had seen how Hongjoong had been the last two days and how much it affected him that Wooyoung had left. But Yeosang and San had also seen how done and sad Wooyoung had looked earlier, so they just want for them to finally be able to be happy again. And this time for real without anything standing in their way.

The second they are alone again, Wooyoung can feel tears building as his eyes are starting to get wet. He tries to not let it show as he looks at Hongjoong in anticipation, but the other had already noticed his emotional state.

“Woo, I-“ he starts unsure as he steps up to Wooyoung again. “I really don’t want you to leave again. Because I don’t want to let you go, Woo. I missed having you here with me way too much,” he whispers while carefully wiping the other´s tears away.

“But I-“ Wooyoung breaks off as he shakes his head. He has no idea how to handle this really emotional situation.

Because standing in front of him is the man he had fallen for and the one he is still feeling so drawn to, even though he is possibly not the same person anymore.

But God, how much he is hoping that Hongjoong is at least a bit the same. And the way he is wiping his tears away while being as gentle as possible is definitely speaking for that.

“I know that you are scared right now,” Hongjoong starts quietly. “I am too, Wooyoung. Because I´m feeling so many different emotions right now. After starting to remember again, I was so confused about everything at first.”

“How?” Wooyoung gets out as he is wanting to know what had caused for Hongjoong´s memory to come back. “How did you remember again?”

“You,” Hongjoong chuckles wetly. He is also starting to tear up. “When you told me that we hated each other and never got along, you must have triggered something. After you left, my mind was running wild. I was trying to understand what you had told me. Then when Seonghwa picked me up for work, I wanted to grab a jacket as it was starting to get cold. The moment I opened my closet, my reformed jacket fell out. I picked it up and while looking at it I felt like something hit me. Pieces of our fight on Yeosang´s birthday started to come back. I remembered us screaming at each other and getting thrown out together. Slowly, it all came back. It was so weird and overwhelming.”

Hongjoong´s explanation is making Wooyoung snap. He pulls the other into his arms and hugs him as tight as possible.

“I remembered everything, but at the same time I had all these new memories from the last weeks. And every single one of them involved you, the guy I was supposed to hate,” Hongjoong continues while he is intensifying his hold around Wooyoung´s waist. “I remembered how you made me feel and how patient and soft you had been with me. And even though Seonghwa was there, I only wanted to see you.  I remembered my best friend again and what I had put him through the last couple of weeks and still, I only wanted you.”

“I´m so sorry. I should have been there for you. I should not have left you,” Wooyoung whispers regretful. “I-“

“Don´t,” Hongjoong interrupts. He grabs Wooyoung´s face, which forces the other to look at him. “I understand why you left, Woo. You were scared and hurt. It must have been so difficult for you to tell me that this thing between us has to stop while you actually didn’t want it to.”

“Are you really not mad at me? I left you, even though I swore to not let you down. I broke my promise of not leaving you alone and I did it while you were crying and screaming at me and basically begging me to stay,” Wooyoung argues. He does not believe that Hongjoong would just forgive him everything he had done to him.

“But you came back, Wooyoung. And that is what matters. I admit that it did hurt like hell when you left me, but I´m not mad at you for doing so. Getting my memories back made me understand why you handled the whole situation like that. Now I´m only happy to have you here while you are holding me and making me feel safe,” Hongjoong explains before he hugs the other again.

The second Wooyoung feels Hongjoong´s arms around him, he melts into his embrace. All his pent-up fear comes crashing down at him, which causes him to finally let go and sob loudly.

He is just so overwhelmed with the whole situation. It makes him take his arms from Hongjoong´s waist to grab his face instead and press their lips together. And Hongjoong responses immediately. He kisses Wooyoung back with desperation as he is also glad to finally taste and feel the other again.

“I missed you so so much,” Wooyoung whispers after pulling back a bit. “It was hell without you. And I hated myself so much for leaving you like that.”

Hongjoong only smiles sadly before pressing another kiss against Wooyoung´s lips. This time, he tries to put all of his emotions in it to show that he is still feeling the same way as he had before remembering again.

When they let go of each other again, Wooyoung keeps pressing kisses against Hongjoong´s forehead while holding him tight. He does not want to let him go. Never in his whole life had he thought that Hongjoong would want him back. Not with having his memories and being his old self again.

“I can’t believe this is real,” he says with disbelieve in his voice. Him and Hongjoong are now lying on the bed while they are cuddling. Hongjoong had pulled him onto it with still hugging him tight.

“It is, Woo.” Hongjoong underlines his answer by giving the other yet another kiss. “I told you, didn’t I? Me remembering will not change my feelings for you,” he continues earnestly.

It makes Wooyoung pull him closer to nuzzle his face into his neck and to smell his scent. He had missed this so much. Just being able to be close and to enjoy Hongjoong lying next to him again is meaning the world to him. He can also not believe that Hongjoong would just forgive him like that. He truly doesn’t deserve this man who is next to him and holding him tight.

Looking at him, Wooyoung still sees the person he had fallen for. Because he is still there as the Hongjoong he had started to have feelings for is not gone at all. Not with the way he keeps stroking with his fingers over Wooyoung´s hand and looking at him with such a fond expression on his face.

“I don’t deserve you, Hongjoong.”

“Yes, you do, Jung Wooyoung!” Hongjoong answers firmly. “Don’t ever try to talk yourself into believing that you don´t.”

Hongjoong closes the short distance between them to press their lips together. Wooyoung sighs happily into their kiss and enjoys the other´s taste and the feeling of his lips against his own. Their tongues join in soon and they get totally lost in each other, which he had misses a lot.

By the time they pull back again, Hongjoong has some drool running down his lips. Wooyoung wipes it away while chuckling slightly.

“You have no idea how happy I am,” he whispers as he strokes over Hongjoong´s left cheek.

“I bet I do,” the other laughs. “It´s as happy as I am after having you here with me again.”

The rest of the evening, they keep cuddling with each other and exchanging kisses as they want to savour every moment and the feeling of being so close again. Hongjoong also tells Wooyoung about his visit at the hospital.

He had been there this morning. He had needed a check-up after remembering again. His doctor had been really happy for him and also assured him that everything is fine. Wooyoung is relieved to hear about Hongjoong´s health. He had been worried about the other´s state a lot.

“I´m glad that you’re alright,” Wooyoung says while pressing a kiss against Hongjoong´s temple. Hongjoong gets closer and almost ends up lying completely on top of him.

“Good night, Woo,” he whispers as his exhaustion of waiting for Wooyoung the whole day is catching up on him.

“Good night, baby.”

Within minutes, they both fall asleep. Having the other close again had helped them to relax and let go after their big fight the day before.

Because now everything is alright again and Wooyoung can finally be with Hongjoong without feeling any guilt about their past.

-

“Bye, Mister Wooyoung,” little Myeong screams while waving at Wooyoung.

“By, Myeong. See you on Monday,” Wooyoung shouts and waves back. Myeong is the last one of the children to get picked up.

Really, Wooyoung´s whole day had been great. He had woken up by getting kisses from Hongjoong. They had also cuddled and then showered together before getting ready for work.

Hongjoong had insisted on Wooyoung taking his car as he wants to keep their routine of the last couple of weeks.

“Alright, who are you and what have you done to the Wooyoung from yesterday?” Mrs. Lee jokes. Wooyoung had been smiling the whole day. A drastic change from yesterday’s Wooyoung who had looked close to tears all the time.

“Something great happened yesterday. That’s all you are getting out of me today,” Wooyoung laughs.

“Ok, that´s good enough for me. Well, for now,” Mrs. Lee winks and starts with cleaning up.

Wooyoung helps her. He goes to the biggest playroom and picks the scattered toys up before putting them into their homes.

He is almost finished with the room when Mrs. Lee shouts for him:

“Wooyoung, someone is here for you!”

Not knowing who it could be, he walks out of the room and into the hallway at the entrance.

Mrs. Lee watches with a fond smile as Wooyoung notices who exactly is standing in front of him.

“Hongjoong! What are you doing here?”

“I got off early and wanted to visit you,” Hongjoong explains chuckling. “I thought it was only fair of me to visit your work as you visit mine almost every morning.”

Mrs. Lee senses that the two boys in front of her are trying to hold something back, so she decides to cut in.

“I´ll better get going. Wooyoung? Be a dear and close up behind you, ok?” She asks and gets a nod from Wooyoung in return. She then steps up to him while grabbing her bag.

“I guess he is the “something great” that happened to you yesterday?” She teases, which causes Wooyoung to blush. “I want more details on Monday, Wooyoung.” 

Mrs. Lee wishes them both a nice weekend before going out of the door and leaving them alone.

“She seems nice,” Hongjoong says while stepping closer.

“Yeah, she is great,” Wooyoung answers before he grabs the other´s hand and pulls him into a hug.

“This is a really nice surprise, baby,” he whispers and kisses Hongjoong, which makes the other smile brightly.

“To be honest, I think I annoyed Seonghwa so much with my non-existent patience to finally see you again that he let me off earlier,” Hongjoong explains laughing.

“You missed me that much?” Wooyoung chuckles after pressing another kiss against the other´s lips.

“I guess I did.” Hongjoong winks at Wooyoung before grabbing his hand and pulling him into the next room.

“Now I want a roomtour. Show me everything, Woo!”

Wooyoung can only laugh before nodding. He shows Hongjoong all the toys and the little play-kitchen the kids love so much. After that, he goes into the garden to show him the small playground. The kindergarten isn´t big, but it has everything the kids need to play around.

Wooyoung´s workplace also has three bathrooms; two for the kids and one for him and Mrs. Lee, as well as a little room which is filled with blankets and pillows. They also have a little kitchen and at the entrance there is a hall with clothes rails and benches.

“This is really nice,” Hongjoong says while lying on a blanket in the smaller room.

“Yeah, this is actually my favourite room. The kids love to come here and let me read for them,” Wooyoung explains as he is stroking over Hongjoong´s stomach. They are lying next to each other while enjoying the quietness and coziness of the room.

“I’m glad that I decided to visit you,” Hongjoong whispers as he holds onto the other´s hand.

“Me too, baby. But how did you even get here? Your car is with me.”

“I took the bus. It did not even take me that long. Only like 20 minutes,” Hongjoong explains before he turns in Wooyoung´s embrace and makes them face each other.

“I would have driven hours to see you, Woo. It´s like you’re a magnet pulling me back every time I move too far. Since you dropped me off this morning, I wanted for you to pick me up again.” Hongjoong starts to stroke over the other´s left cheek. “I think that I´m falling in love with you, Wooyoung.”

“I think that I’m already halfway there, Hongjoong. Falling harder and faster every day that I get to spend with you,” Wooyoung whispers against the other´s lips before closing the small gap and kissing him.

“Are we boyfriends?” Hongjoong suddenly asks a little bit later. They are sitting in his car on their way to Wooyoung´s flat. He had demanded to spent their day there as he had never been at the other´s place before.

“I hope so. Because I really want us to be,” Wooyoung answers while turning left. Hongjoong does not know the way to Wooyoung´s flat, which is why he is not the one driving them.

“Me too,” he replies. A big smile is appearing on his face and making Wooyoung chuckle.

“Heeeey, don’t laugh at me!”

“I´m not laughing at you, baby. I swear. You were just too cute with that happy smile of yours.”

“Ok. I guess that I can forgive you for laughing at me, BOYFRIEND,” Hongjoong emphasizes.

“Well, I’m grateful for your forgiveness, BOYFRIEND,” Wooyoung answers, which makes them both laugh loudly.

Getting to Wooyoung´s building, Hongjoong almost runs up the stairs to get to the flat.

“Wooow, your place is much bigger than mine,” he claims as he is looking around Wooyoung´s living room after finally getting there.

“It´s only one room more.”

“Still, it is one room more than I have,” Hongjoong argues while looking at the books standing in one shelf.

“I like it here. Everything smells like you,” he explains after seeing the whole flat.

“I´m glad, baby. I would love for you to spend more time here. It didn’t feel like home anymore after I came back from yours,” Wooyoung admits, which causes Hongjoong to come closer.

“I know what you mean. I felt the same way while staying alone in my flat. It was weird to be without you. It felt like something was missing to make it feel like my home again,” he says as he is grabbing the other´s hands and squeezing them.

“I guess we became each other´s homes,” Wooyoung suggests.

“Yeah, I guess so too,” Hongjoong smiles before pulling him into a hug.

Hongjoong decides to spend the day and the weekend in the other´s flat. They talk about the future arrangement and decide to spend one week at Wooyoung´s and one week at Hongjoong´s. For others spending so much time together may seem too much, but Hongjoong and Wooyoung don’t want to be without each other anymore. The past couple of weeks had changed a lot in their lives, causing them to not want to be apart.

-

“You will pick me up at five?” Hongjoong asks while hugging Wooyoung in the middle of the flower shop.

“Yes, baby, I will pick you up at five,” Wooyoung answers for the third time before kissing his boyfriend goodbye.

“Don’t make that face at me or I will not be able to leave and go to work,” he demands after seeing the beginning of a pout forming on Hongjoong´s lips.

“That’s the plan,” Hongjoong tells him before getting another set of kisses in return.

“If I wasn´t so happy for you two, I would throw up,” Seonghwa laughs as he is coming out of the backroom.

“Sorry, Hwa,” Hongjoong laughs embarrassed and finally lets go of his boyfriend.

“It´s fine. I´m glad it all worked out,” Seonghwa replies honestly. 

“Us too,” Wooyoung tells their friend. “But now I really must go.” He gives Hongjoong another kiss goodbye before turning towards the exit.

“Don’t forget to invite Seonghwa to my place tomorrow,” he shouts before making his way outside.

Him and Hongjoong want to invite their three friends to a little dinner. They want to thank them for everything they had done for them. Wooyoung had already texted San and Yeosang who had both quickly accepted their invitation.

Getting to the car, Wooyoung finally makes his way to his own workplace where he spends hours having fun while playing with all the kids.

“Your friend who was here on Friday,” Mrs. Lee starts while her and Wooyoung are cleaning up at the end of their workday. “Is he the one who had the accident and the one you stayed with?”

“Yeah, that’s him,” Wooyoung answers and picks a doll from the ground. “He remembers everything again.”

“I´m glad that he does. He seems like a great guy.”

“He really is,” Wooyoung replies dreamingly and makes Mrs. Lee laugh with it.

“Is someone in love?” She asks teasingly, which gets her a stuffed animal thrown at her face.

“And what if I am?” Wooyoung laughs before catching the dog plushie Mrs. Lee throws back.

“Then I am really happy for you, Wooyoung,” Mrs. Lee answers honestly. “You deserve a person like him. He seems to be someone who loves you and who wants to be with you.”

“Thank you,” Wooyoung replies touched. “He really is such a person.”

He is still smiling happily for the rest of the hour until he makes his way to the flower shop again.

It all just feels so domestic with the way Hongjoong almost runs into his arms as he spots him coming through the door.

Seonghwa can only shake his head at them while having a teasing look on his face. He also tells Wooyoung that he can’t wait to meet up with them on the next day again.

Hongjoong is a bit nervous about their planned dinner, but he really doesn’t have to because everything goes alright.

Wooyoung had prepared many side dishes with even letting Hongjoong help with it and he keeps grilling their meat during the whole evening.

Their friends are also not surprised by finding out that Hongjoong is staying at Wooyoung´s flat. Especially San and Yeosang are understanding the young couple with being one as well.

“I´m so thankful for our friends,” Hongjoong tells Wooyoung while helping with washing the dishes. The others had left again after staying until nearly midnight.

“Me too,” Wooyoung answers. “I would not have known what to do without them while dealing with your accident and everything else.”

“I´m glad about the accident,” Hongjoong states, which causes for Wooyoung to abruptly stop with washing the dishes to turn towards him. “I would have stayed in the dark much longer and not have realised what a great person you are.”

Overwhelmed with hearing what Hongjoong is saying, Wooyoung grabs him by the waist to kiss him as gently and slowly as possible.

Hongjoong responds quickly and tries to deepen the kiss. He also jumps up and makes Wooyoung carry him while they slowly start to make their way into the bedroom.

Getting there, Wooyoung walks backwards until he is sitting on his bed with Hongjoong on his lap. On their way to the bedroom, they had not broken their kiss even once.

Wooyoung lets his hand slip underneath Hongjoong´s sweater and lets it wander until he is pulling the fabric up and off of his boyfriend, which causes them to break their kiss.

It seems like time stands still as the two of them only have eyes for each other while the only sound in the room is caused by their heavy breathing.

Wooyoung would love to freeze the moment and save every little detail of the man sitting on his lap. He can´t believe that they had once hated each other as he is looking at Hongjoong and noticing all the love in his eyes.

He then starts to kiss down Hongjoong´s chest and makes the other whimper with it. Hongjoong seems to be really sensitive around his chest area as he keeps squirming while Wooyoung licks and tugs on his nipples which are already hard.

“Woo,” Hongjoong moans and tugs on Wooyoung´s shirt. “Off!”

Wooyoung gives Hongjoong´s right nipple one last lick before grabbing his own shirt and pulling it off. It seems like that was all the other had waited for as he pushes Wooyoung back. He makes him lie on his bed and starts with decorating his upper body with kisses.

He starts at Wooyoung´s neck. He licks, sucks, and bites at the skin before he takes one of Wooyoung´s nipple into his mouth while using his hand to play with the other one.

Wooyoung feels hot all over as he can feel Hongjoong going more and more downwards. The other licks over Wooyoung´s navel and starts to unzip his jeans. He quickly gets rid of it as well as tugging Wooyoung´s boxers down and throwing both items onto the ground.

“Fuck,” Hongjoong hisses as he can see Wooyoung´s half-hard and red cock spring free. “Your big,” he notes while his eyes light up like he had just gotten the best present ever.

“I can’t wait to have you in me and to feel you splitting me open,” he adds and starts to lick a long stripe along Wooyoung´s shaft, which makes his boyfriend moan out loud.

“Fuck, baby,” Wooyoung curses at feeling of the other going down on him. Hongjoong swirls his tongue over his tip before he starts to hollow his cheeks and sucks.

He keeps licking and sucking along Wooyoung´s cock until he feels the other´s orgasm approaching. He then quickly pulls off as he wants for Wooyoung to cum when he is inside of him.

“Baby, we don’t have any condoms or lube,” Wooyoung tells him after Hongjoong had told him about his wish.

“Look under my pillow,” the other requires and watches how Wooyoung pulls out a little bottle of lube and some condoms.

“Did you plan for this to happen?” Wooyoung chuckles and watches Hongjoong blush.

“No, but I hoped that we would need it.”

“You drive me crazy; you know that?” Wooyoung pushes Hongjoong off to climb on top of him.

“Now,” he starts as he is making Hongjoong lie on his stomach while letting his fingers glide into his trousers. He pulls them and Hongjoong´s boxers off, leaving them both naked. “You had your fun going down on me and now I will have my fun going down on you. I have to open you up first, don´t I, baby?” Wooyoung whispers, which causes Hongjoong to shiver.

“Yes, please! I want you, Woo,” he cries out. His desperation is already clear in his voice.

Wooyoung chuckles and slides down Hongjoong´s back before getting to work. He eats him out first, but not with letting him cum. He purposely avoids hitting his prostate after finding it and makes Hongjoong scream out loud with it. He doesn’t want for his boyfriend to cum yet. He wants to be inside of him and to feel his cock getting caged by his trembling walls while making him reach his high.

After Wooyoung had his fun with eating Hongjoong out, he starts to finger him open. It causes his boyfriend to almost lose his mind.

“Please, Woo, stop! I´m ready, baby. I need your cock. I need you now!” Hongjoong screams and begs his boyfriend to finally fuck him.

“Your wish is my command,” Wooyoung says teasingly before pulling his lube covered fingers out and grabbing one of the condoms.  

The second he pushes in; it causes them both to moan out loud. Feeling Hongjoong´s tight walls around his cock and his warmth and wetness feels like the last puzzle piece had clicked in place and is completing a long-awaited picture.

Wooyoung waits a bit and lets Hongjoong get used to his cock before starting to thrust in and out of him. They also change positions. Wooyoung is lying on top of Hongjoong now, causing them to face each other. This way he can see every movement on his boyfriend´s face and every emotion he is going through.

Both of them had been close to cumming before, but now with finally being able to feel the other it is hard for them to procrastinate their approaching orgasms.

Hongjoong is the one who cums first. He is trembling and shouting Wooyoung´s name while squirting his cum all over his and his boyfriend´s stomachs.

Seeing Hongjoong´s fucked out expression and feeling the tightness around his cock takes Wooyoung over the edge and makes him cum too. He keeps thrusting into Hongjoong while riding his orgasm out before pulling his cock out and lying down next to him. The other immediately cuddles up to him and starts to press kisses against Wooyoung´s shoulder.

“That was incredible,” Hongjoong whispers. He is still feeling out of breath from all his screaming and moaning.

“Yeah, it really was. Who knew you were such a slut for my cock, baby. You were practically begging for me to fill you up,” Wooyoung chuckles and gets a playful hit from the other in return.

“Shut up,” Hongjoong whines. “Blame your big cock, you ass.”

“I´m just kidding,” Wooyoung laughs. “I love that you seem to like my big cock so much.”

Hongjoong blushes again and hides his face into the crook of Wooyoung´s neck. The other only chuckles before kissing him on the forehead.  They keep lying in bed and enjoying their closeness when Wooyoung remembers Hongjoong´s dried cum on him.

“Baby? You can´t sleep yet. We need to shower first,” Wooyoung suggests in the hope that his boyfriend had not fallen asleep yet.

“Don’t want to,” Hongjoong whines again. “Too tired.”

“I know, baby, but we can’t go to sleep with your dried cum all over us,” Wooyoung says before grabbing Hongjoong´s face and making his boyfriend look at him.

“Ok, but only if you carry me,” Hongjoong demands before holding his arms out for the other to pick him up.

“Deal,” Wooyoung laughs and gets up to carry his sleepy boyfriend to the bathroom so they can take a shower together.

-

Days later, Wooyoung meets up with Yeosang after work. It had been a while since he had last met up with his best friend. They are at a ramen restaurant near Hongjoong´s flat. It is a new week, which means that Hongjoong and Wooyoung will spend the next days in Hongjoong´s flat.

“I slept with Hongjoong,” Wooyoung starts the conversation with not being able to hold back anymore. He needs to talk with someone about it. It had been the best night of his life with finally feeling the person he had fallen fast and hard for at his fullest and most vulnerable state.

“Okay? Congratulations? Is that what you want to hear?” Yeosang asks confused about what Wooyoung wants for him to say. “I mean I know you two are together. So it is not that much of a surprise that you had sex.”

“I know, but I just needed to talk to someone about it. It was sooooo good, Sangie,” Wooyoung explains. “Can you believe that me and Hongjoong hated each other for so long?! And now? Now we are almost completely in love and having all kind of feelings for each other. Most of the time, I don’t even know where to put all of my feelings for him. He makes me go crazy.”

“I have to say that I did not see that one coming at first. Even when Hongjoong only recognized you, I didn’t think that it would develop into a romantic relationship,” Yeosang admits. “But when you started to tell me about your growing feelings for him and seeing how you two behave around each other now, it does make sense.” He ends up smiling at Wooyoung. “I´m really happy for you two, Woo.”

“Thank you, Sangie,” Wooyoung smiles back. “Speaking of boyfriends; how is Sanie?”

“Good, great even. It’s getting more serious the more time we spent with each other,” Yeosang answers dreamingly. “I´m glad that we were finally brave enough to take the next step.”

“Me too, Sangie. You two deserve each other,” Wooyoung replies honestly. He had waited years for them to finally overcome their fears and to get together.

“By the way, Sanie wants to go on a double-date with you and Hongjoong. He keeps talking my ear off about it, so you better agree.”

“We would love to go on a double-date with you.”

“Good, but it has to be after our little vacation,” Yeosang says, which causes Wooyoung to look at him in confusion.

“Vacation? What vacation?”

“Sanie is taking me to Tokyo over the weekend.”

“Awww, that sounds awesome.”

“Yeah, it was a really nice surprise,” Yeosang admits shyly.

“Look at us talking about how great our boyfriends are,” Wooyoung laughs. “Who would have thought about this scenario happen months ago?”

“Definitely not me,” Yeosang chuckles before clinging his glass with Wooyoung´s.

They stay in the restaurant for a long time, which makes Wooyoung come back to a dark flat at the end of the evening.

“Baby?” he whispers while climbing onto the bed. He knows that it is a bit later than planned, but him and Yeosang had lots of stuff to talk about.

Hongjoong had wanted to wait for his boyfriend, so he is still awake.

“Hey,” he answers and giggles when Wooyoung presses kisses all over his face.

“How was dinner with Sangie?”

“Good,” Wooyoung replies. “Him and San invited us onto a double-date.”

“Sound´s fun,” Hongjoong answers. “I will talk to Sanie about it.”

“Alright.”

Wooyoung presses a final kiss against Hongjoong´s temple before standing up to make his way into the bathroom to get ready for bed. When he comes back into the bedroom, he immediately lies down and cuddles up to his boyfriend.

“Woo?”

“Hm?”

“Will you come with me the next weekend? I want to visit my parents and tell them all about my accident,” Hongjoong asks quietly.

“Of course I will, baby. I won’t let you go through that alone,” Wooyoung answers. He is sounding much more awake than he had seconds ago.

“Thank you. I was afraid of going alone.”

Silence begins to fall over the bedroom until Wooyoung chuckles and makes the other look at him.

“What?”

“It´s just- who would have thought that we two would end up together?”

“Don’t you remember what I told you?” Hongjoong answers while reaching out to stroke over Wooyoung´s cheek. “That sometimes you don’t notice what has been right in front of you, even when you have known this person for years. And that sometimes you need for something to happen to make you see this person for who they really are.”

“I remember,” Wooyoung whispers touched by the other´s words.

“I think my accident and me only recognizing you was meant to happen,” Hongjoong continues quietly. “It made me see who you really are, Woo.”

“Who am I then?” Wooyoung asks in a whisper.

“You´re it, Wooyoung.” Hongjoong kisses his boyfriend on the lips and making him smile brightly before continuing:

“You´re the one.”