Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Growing up, Hongjoong heard the countless stories of people finding their soulmates, the way their lives changed for the better when they found their other half. His parents were the prime example, a chance meeting leading to a happy marriage and a family they would want in every life.

Maybe that’s why Hongjoong always eagerly awaited his eighteenth birthday, the day his symbol would appear, proving the existence of someone meant just for him; the person he would spend his life with.

His childhood friend, Seonghwa, had always shared his sentiment for soulmates, and when he received his own symbol, Hongjoong was the first to know. It was small, a music note that stretched into a star, somehow perfect on the older’s skin. Seeing it for months leading up to his own birthday had him more excited, eagerly counting down the days.

When Hongjoong turned eighteen and saw the same symbol etched on his own body, he didn’t believe it at first. It felt almost like a joke, the universe playing into the teasing of their classmates.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how Seonghwa filled everything he wanted in life, evened out the sides of Hongjoong that felt incomplete yet too much at the same time.

But Seonghwa didn’t feel the same. Not that he said it, of course; he was too nice to outright reject Hongjoong like that. When Hongjoong hid his symbol, eagerly asking the other what he wanted in a soulmate, Seonghwa described everything that wasn’t him.

Hongjoong was crushed, the realization truly hitting home that Seonghwa didn’t view him the same way, that Seonghwa wouldn’t settle down with him. They graduated, getting ready for college, and then it happened. Seonghwa had left, moving in to take care of his mother across the country, taking a small piece of Hongjoong with him that would never return.

♪ ༘⋆

The blue light of the monitor was starting to hurt Hongjoong’s eyes, but the piece was still wrong. His boss had asked for something for an up-and-coming pop singer, an upbeat preppy girl whom Hongjoong had suffered through multiple meetings with. He didn’t dislike her per se, but there was only so much of her he could handle on the little sleep he got each night.

He wasn’t particularly fond of writing songs like this, full of yearning towards someone you couldn’t quite have, just out of reach, to where you have to let them go. It hit a little too close to home. But the job paid well, and he had gotten through songs like this before, so he could do it again.

Hongjoong squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ease the pain building in his head. It had been hours, time fading away as he focused on each file in front of him. The waves on his screen were beginning to etch themselves into of his eyes, his back protesting the position he had been sitting in for the last few hours.

He twisted around in his chair, popping his back with a sickening crunch, shaking out his arms, and running his hands through his hair. It was already mussed from the last time he’d done it, bleached ends sticking out every which way.

Hongjoong knew he should push through, get the project done so he could work on something he actually gave a damn about. But he also heard the nagging in the back of his head, Woyoung and Yunho chatising him for working until his fuel ran out.

With a final sigh, Hongjoong saved the project before shutting down his computer and basking in the darkness that was left behind. He let himself sit in the silence for several minutes, the lack of light lessening the ache that had built behind his eyes. Hongjoong blindly patted the desk until he found his phone, clicking it on. The sudden brightness of his lock screen startled him; his chat log with Yunho greeted him as his face ID registered.

There were several missed messages asking if he had eaten or at least taken a break, and Hongjoong quickly swiped out of the chat. The lack of reply was answer enough. It was too late for the buses to be running, so he placed a request for an Uber before starting to clean up.

Hongjoong tossed old energy drinks, coffee cups, and various snack wrappers into the trash can, deeming the space clean enough. He threw on his jacket and grabbed his messenger bag before heading out, locking up behind him.

He only waited outside a few minutes before the driver pulled up, and Hongjoong gave them a tight smile in greeting before staring out the window as they drove through the empty streets. The driver had the radio playing quietly, soothing piano music that only fueled the heaviness in Hongjoong’s body.

They pulled up to the apartment building twenty minutes later, and Hongjoong quickly thanked the driver as he slid out of the seat, fumbling through his bag for his keys. The lobby was empty, and he bypassed the still-broken elevator to the staircase. He luckily lived on the second floor, the lack of proper nutrition making itself known by the time he stumbled into his apartment.

It was small and old, the floor creaking under him as he toed his shoes off in the entryway. He didn’t spend enough time here to worry about it; it was close enough to his studio, and his friends hung out at Yunho and Mingi’s apartment more often than not.

Hongjoong shuffled to the kitchen, grabbing some random leftovers Wooyoung had forced into his fridge a few days prior. It was some type of soup, easily reheated in the microwave before he was able to settle on the couch.

He ate on autopilot more than anything, doing his best to ignore the peaks of the sun starting to stretch light into the sky. He really should shower, maybe clean up the growing collection of instant ramen cups littering the coffee table, but that was too much for now. He did at least put the soup bowl in the sink. Progress.

Belly full and limbs heavy, he made his way into his bedroom, barely stripping down to his boxers before falling into bed. He haphazardly plugged his phone in, pulling the blankets over his head before falling into a dreamless sleep.

♪ ༘⋆

Hongjoong was woken late afternoon, the sun shining fully through the curtains he had forgotten to draw the night before. His phone was buzzing beside him, and he pointedly ignored it as he rolled over.

The noise stopped, and Hongjoong had nearly fallen back asleep before the buzzing started again. Each time he didn’t answer, the person called again. By the fourth call, Hongjoong gave up.

He snatched the phone off the nightstand, swiping to answer it. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice rough and throat scratchy.

“Good afternoon to you, too! It’s Saturday, Joong.” Yunho’s voice was far too bright, loud as Hongjoong grumpily pulled it away from his ear.

“Okay?”

“You promised you’d go to the club with us tonight. You didn’t forget, right?”

Hongjoong huffed in annoyance, rolling onto his back. “No, I didn’t forget. It’s like four o'clock, Yunho. I thought we weren’t meeting until later?”

“We aren’t, but I figured you’d need some motivation. Soooo I’m waiting outside with coffee and food. Let me in?”

“Yeah, yeah, one sec.”

Hongjoong hung up, tossing the phone to the bed and rubbing his eyes with both hands before fully sitting up. He threw on a basic hoodie and shorts before walking to the door and throwing it open.

Yunho stood there smiling, holding up a drink carrier with two coffees and a paper bag.

“I got coffee from your favorite spot and some fried chicken from next door.”

Hongjoong snatched the bag from his hand, ignoring the other’s laugh as he led him to the couch. Yunho pointedly ignored the mess, which Hongjoong appreciated, simply pushing things to the side so they’d have space to eat.

After a few sips of coffee and bites of chicken, Hongjoong was starting to feel more human again. “You’re really buttering me up, huh?”

Yunho chuckled at that, shaking his head as he smiled at the elder. “I know you don’t like going out much, so I figured I should make it worth your while. If you really want, you can sleep in, and I can come back and get you, though.”

Hongjoong hummed around his bite, covering his mouth to reply. “Nah, it’s fine.” He finished chewing, smiling in appreciation. “We can watch that stupid show you kept talking about before we leave, if you want.”

“Okay!”

Yunho reached forward, grabbing the remote off the coffee table before turning on the TV and scrolling through the various channels. He finally found the aforementioned drama, putting it on and settling back into the couch. It wasn’t quite Hongjoong’s type of show, but it was bearable. They made it through a few episodes before turning it off, instead catching up on what had happened since the last time they met. The hours passed, and before they knew it, it was time for Hongjoong to get ready.

Leaving Yunho on the couch, Hongjoong went to his closet and picked out an outfit: a graphic shirt with a jacket over it, a pair of jeans, and a watch to cover his wrist. Just in case.

Hongjoong took a quick shower, drying and styling his hair until it was swooping properly over his forehead. He stared at his reflection, taking in the dark circles under his eyes and his roots growing in. He’d have to fix them soon.

He sighed, quickly grabbing some concealer under his eyes to try to hide how tired he looked. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough. Deeming himself ready, Hongjoong stepped back into the living room.

Yunho looked up from his phone on the couch, pausing the video he had been watching.

“Bad news; Wooyoung got called into work, and Jongho has food poisoning.”

Hongjoong sighed as he tugged his boots on, hopping on one foot as he tried to shove them in properly.

“This was Wooyoung’s idea, didn’t he plan this specifically so I could quote ‘meet his hunk of a soulmate’?”

Yunho laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, well, I guess money is more important than us.”

“He'd better buy us dinner with that money then,” Hongjoong sighed. “So it's you, me, San, and his friends?”

“Mhm. I think he said there were three of them; I can’t remember their names, but I’ve hung out with San a couple of times, and he’s nice. You’ll like him, I promise.”

Hongjoong hummed at that, successfully tying his boots and moving to grab his wallet, keys, and phone. “Well, at least you’re driving.”

They made their way down to Yunho’s car, and Hongjoong settled himself into the passenger seat as he tried to calm himself down. He wasn’t the best with new people, and the lack of Wooyoung’s excitement to take most of the attention off himself had him worried.

The car ride was quiet, almost a little awkward, as Yunho focused on the road and Hongjoong watched the various buildings rush by. They reached a stoplight, and Yunho glanced over as he nervously tapped on the steering wheel.

“Yknow, me and the others…”

Hongjoong groaned as he leaned his head back against the seat. “Yunho-”

“Hongjoong, we barely get to see you anymore. And I know you’re busy and your work is important to you, but you can’t pull all these crazy hours for it. Or if you do, at least take care of yourself properly. When’s the last time you had three meals in one day? Or drank enough water?”

Hongjoong didn’t answer, glaring out the window in protest. “If tonight was just an excuse for you guys to stage an intervention, then you can take me back home.” His voice was flat, tone low in agitation.

Yunho sighed, looking forward again as the light turned green and they continued forward. “It’s not, I promise. It’s just that I’m… we’re worried about you,” he said softly, nearly a whisper. Yunho hated fighting, and Hongjoong could tell he was trying to avoid an argument. “We miss you, and it’s hard seeing you so exhausted every time we’re together.”

Hongjoong remembered the dark circles he’d seen earlier, the way his usually well-fitted shirts had been a bit looser on him lately. He glanced at Yunho, seeing the worry swimming in his eyes as he turned into the parking lot.

“No, I’m sorry,” the older said around an exhale. “You’re right, maybe I could take better care of myself.”

Yunho parked the car before looking over sadly. “Do you want me to take you home?”

Hongjoong rolled his eyes, unbuckling his seatbelt. “No, just cut it out with those puppy eyes. And you better not leave me alone with.”

Yunho beamed, quickly turning off the car and hopping out. “Aye aye, sir!” he said with a little salute that Hongjoong rolled his eyes at.

The two made their way to the front, waiting in line to have their IDs checked before heading inside. The club was loud, music thrumming through Hongjoong’s bones as he followed Yunho. It was overwhelming, people were everywhere, and Hongjoong found himself starting to regret agreeing to come. He gripped Yunho’s hand to keep them from being separated, following the taller man to a miraculously empty hightop.

The two sat down, Yunho pulling out his phone to check the chat.

“Alright, they said they found a booth along the other wall. Wanna grab a drink before we head over there?”

Hongjoong nodded, glancing at the people surrounding the bar. “Uh, do you mind grabbing me something?”

Yunho smiled, pocketing his phone. “Yeah, no worries. I’ll be back.”

Hongjoong waited at the table, fingers tapping absentmindedly as he rested his chin in his hand. His gaze wandered around the room, glancing from person to person. It was only a few minutes before Yunho returned, thrusting some cocktail at him.

“Here you go! Now, help me find them.”

Hongjoong watched Yunho glance around as he looked for the group, able to see over a good amount of the crowd. Hongjoong started to look around himself when he saw him. Hongjoong’s eyes widened in disbelief, his hand gripping his drink so tightly he was worried it would break. There was no way. He had no reason to come back, to put himself back into the life Hongjoong had built without him.

And yet there he was, looking as beautiful as Hongjoong remembered. His curly hair fell in dark waves over his forehead, his kind eyes shining brightly in the shitty lighting of the club.

Seonghwa.

He wore a wine-red blouse that hugged his torso nicely, a sliver of skin exposed as he stretched to wrap an arm around the broad man next to him. His dark pants rode low on his hips, tapering into a pair of black boots. It was simple, but it looked amazing on him, and Hongjoong swallowed against the churning in his stomach.

“Oh, there they are!”

Yunho shocked Hongjoong out of his gaping, and he followed the other’s eyesight to the group Seonghwa was surrounded by.

No. No no no, there’s no way.

“Come on!” Yunho grabbed Hongjoong’s free hand, dragging him towards the booth.

Hongjoong panicked, nearly falling over as he tried to keep himself tethered to the safety of the hightop, far enough away from Seonghwa and things he did not want to think of.

Yunho’s grip was too strong, though, leading them effortlessly through the crowd.

“San!” he yelled out to be heard over the music.

The man Seonghwa was leaning against looked up at the sound, beaming as he saw them approaching. “Yunho, there you are!” he called, eagerly waving them over.

That drew Seonghwa’s attention, and he looked over at the pair. His smile faltered for a beat when he realized who Yunho was dragging, his eyebrows going up in shock as they stopped in front of him.

“Hongjoong, is that you?”

Chapter Text

“Hongjoong, is that you?”

The rush of noises dulled as Seonghwa and Hongjoong locked eyes, the swirling in his gut beginning to climb to his throat.

Yunho turned from where he was greeting San, glancing between the two with confusion.

“Wait, you guys know each other?”

“B-bathroom,” Hongjoong choked out. He shoved his drink into the chest of the person closest to him, who, with his luck, managed to be Seonghwa, of course.

He whirled around quickly, stumbling through the crowd and bumping shoulders with several people dancing until he reached the safety of the bathroom. He all but slammed the door open, staggering to one of the sinks to lean against as he breathed heavily.

The bathroom seemed to be empty, the cool linoleum under his hands and bright lights serving to be his only companions.

Hongjoong took several more deep breaths, willing himself to calm down. He glanced at the mirror, his own eyes panicked and wide as he stared at himself.

“Get your shit together,” he gritted out, glaring at his reflection. “So what if you thought you'd never see him again? Now you have, and you need to act normal.”

That's the thing, though. This wasn't normal for him, and Hongjoong didn't think he'd spend his Saturday night trying not to throw up in a club bathroom before he had even taken a sip of his drink.

The door opened again, much softer this time as Yunho poked his head in. He saw Hongjoong standing against the sink, leaning against it as if it were the only thing that kept him standing.

Yunho walked over, hand hovering over the older’s shoulder for a moment before letting it fall back to his side.

“You okay?”

Hongjoong nodded, turning on the sink to splash some water against his face.

“Fine.” His voice was tight, barely managing to choke the word out from the tightness in his throat.

Yunho didn’t believe him, judging by the way he looked him up and down, but he didn’t press it.

“So, you’ve met Seonghwa?”

Hongjoong laughed, a forced exhale that sounded anything but happy. “Yeah, I’ve met him. We were best friends growing up, until he moved away.” He ran a hand through his hair, finally standing properly.

Yunho looked at him for a moment before sighing, leaning against the wall next to him. “I’m sure there’s more to the story, but I won’t push you.”

Hongjoong didn't reply, looking at his now messy hair with a frown. Yunho rolled his eyes, pushing off the wall to start combing through it.

“You're the oldest, but you have me looking after you like you're the baby,” he muttered as he fixed the ends sticking out. “I swear, I'm going to get wrinkles from how much you stress me out.”

“You already have some,” Hongjoong said quietly as he looked up at him.

Yunho scoffed, stepping back after he deemed his hair fixed. “Yeah, yeah. Now, are we going to go get wasted and forget whatever happened between you two?”

Hongjoong wasn't thrilled at the thought of going back; anxious thoughts crept back into his head at the notion of seeing Seonghwa.

But Yunho was here, and Hongjoong wasn't about to ruin the other's night over something that happened years prior.

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

The taller finally smiled, walking towards the bathroom door when Hongjoong gripped his sleeve, stopping him.

He made a noise of confusion, twisting back with slight concern to look at the other.

“Thanks, Yunho.”

“Don't mention it.”

♪ ༘⋆

The group at the booth seemed not to dwell on their absence, chatting casually amongst themselves as Hongjoong and Yunho slid in beside them. It was a little cramped, Hongjoong all but shoulder to shoulder with his friend, and when he glanced up, he realized Seonghwa was sitting across from him.

The eldest slid the drink Hongjoong had shoved at him earlier across the table, giving him one of those soft smiles he had missed so dearly.

“Here’s your drink.”

Hongjoong gave a tight smile in response, taking a sip and scrunching his face at the taste of the alcohol. Yunho laughed at his reaction, patting him on the back. Hongjoong could’ve sworn he heard a laugh from someone else at the table, but when he glanced around, no one was looking at him.

“Oh!” the man from earlier, San, suddenly clapped. “I almost forgot introductions. I’m San, as I’m sure you already know. That’s Seonghwa, Yeosang, and Mingi.” He pointed at each person as he introduced them, and they each gave a small wave or a small smile in return.

Yeosang and Mingi looked almost as nervous as Hongjoong felt, and he had an inkling they were both pretty quiet.

“I’m Yunho, and this is Hongjoong,” Yunho said, wrapping his arm around the other’s shoulders. “Our friend, Jongho, couldn’t make it, but I’m sure you’ll meet him eventually.”

The group naturally drifted into conversation, Yunho getting to know the others while Hongjoong casually sipped on his drink. He was content to listen, to let himself absorb the chatter surrounding him, before Seonghwa cleared his throat. He glanced at the other through his lashes, drink still halfway through his mouth, before raising an eyebrow slightly.

“It’s been a while,” Seonghwa said quietly, barely heard over the laughter of the others. “How have you been?”

Hongjoong sighed, setting down his drink and leaning back into the booth more. “I’ve been… fine. Work a lot, stay up late; I was always kind of like that, though.”

Seonghwa chuckled, looking down at his lap. “Yeah, you were.”

The pair went quiet, the awkwardness settling over them before Seonghwa spoke again.

“Look, Hongjoong. I’m so sorry we lost contact. After I moved, my phone got destroyed, and when I got a new one, I tried to find your number or a way to talk to you, but I couldn’t.”

Hongjoong blinked at him, the words latching in his mind. He pictured that long year after Seonghwa had left, the promised messages and calls never coming through. He grew tired of it, blocking him a couple of months in and moving on, trying to pretend they had never met. He was quiet, reserved, and refused to let anyone else in until Wooyoung and the others had practically forced him.

But through it all, no matter how much he tried, he could never find it in himself to hate Seonghwa. Seonghwa, who had been there all those years before, through every long night, every impulsive trip to the park where they spent hours staring at the stars and talking. How could he ever hate him?

Yunho gasped suddenly beside him, causing him to inhale his drink and choke on it slightly. He coughed loudly as he tried to take a breath, startling Hongjoong from his thoughts. Hongjoong patted him on the back, eyebrows furrowed in concern, until the other said he was okay. Content, he turned back to Seonghwa, who was staring at him with clear nervousness and regret.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers again, and a piece of Hongjoong that he thought he buried ages ago broke at the sad tone.

“I am too,” he said just as quietly. “I could’ve reached out too, but when you never messaged me… I thought you just wanted nothing to do with me anymore.”

“I will always want to be with you, Hongjoong. There’s nothing you could do to change that.”

He blushed at that, Seonghwa’s tone so soft and honest that it almost hurt. He imagined those words spoken in a different context, related to the symbol on his wrist; one that his younger self would’ve done anything to hear. His hand moved subtly to the symbol, making sure it was still covered.

“Me too. I could never hate you.”

Seonghwa’s smile is bright, the wariness that never belonged on his face disappearing quickly. It formed a smile on Hongjoong’s own face, the other’s happiness infectious.

Seonghwa reaches awkwardly for his phone, swiping it to the contacts app before sliding it across the table. “So… does that mean I can get your number? Again?”

Hongjoong chuckled, rolling his eyes as he grabbed the phone. “Yeah, yeah.” He quickly typed out his number, saving the contact before handing the phone back.

The atmosphere was much more relaxed after that, Seonghwa and Hongjoong joining in on the others’ conversations as drinks started flowing more. Hongjoong slowly settled into the moment, accepting each drink that Yunho shoved at him until he was pleasantly buzzed.

At some point during the night. Yunho, Mingi, and San started competing for who could drink more, taking shot after shot until San was crying because it was too loud, Mingi was asleep in the corner of the booth, and Yunho was leaning heavily against Hongjoong’s shoulder.

Yeosang and Seonghwa seemed unfazed, as apparently both of them had only gotten nonalcoholic drinks. Hongjoong made fun of them for it, words slurring only slightly as he teased them.

Seonghwa chuckled, shaking his head as he started to gather his things. “That’s because we knew this would happen. Yeosang, San, and Mingi live in the same building, so he can at least get them home. Wooyoung told me Yunho tends to get competitive too, so I figured I should stay sober just in case.”

Hongjoong hummed, watching as he and Yeosang slid out of the booth. “Where’re you going?” he asked. His voice cracked slightly, and he bit his lip at the sound.

“Don’t worry, I’m just going to help Yeosang get Mingi and San to his car. Then I can take you and Yunho home.”

Hongjoong settled at that, slipping out of the booth himself and moving so they could grab the others. A few minutes later, Seonghwa returned, looking down at where Yunho was now leaning against the booth.

“Do you think you can help me get him up?”

“Yeah.”

The two struggled slightly as they dragged the taller man between them, but they managed to pull Yunho through the crowd and outside, the crisp air causing Hongjoong to shiver slightly. They made it to Seonghwa’s car, a white SUV that smelled pleasantly of vanilla as they buckled Yunho into the backseat.

Hongjoong sat up front, typing out Yunho’s address into Seonghwa’s GPS app. Yunho lived close, and the ride was relaxing as they made their way through the city. Seonghwa didn’t speak, merely putting on a quiet playlist to break the silence. They arrived only a few minutes later, and the two hauled Yunho into the elevator, the ride having sobered the taller man enough to unlock his door. They dropped him on his bed, clothes still on, and left some water and painkillers on the nightstand beside him.

They made their way back to the elevator as nausea began to swirl in Hongjoong’s stomach. IT got worse by the time they reached the lobby, and he held his stomach, taking a deep breath and scrunching his eyes shut against it.

“You okay?” Seonghwa asked as he paused beside him.

Hongjoong leaned against the wall, nodding slightly as the other hovered around him. “Yeah, just nauseous. I think I’m good now.”

Seonghwa stayed close to him, a hand out just in case the other needed it. They got back to the car, and Hongjoong leaned his head against the cool glass of the window. He told Seonghwa his address, about a twenty-minute drive from Yunho’s apartment.

Hongjoong managed the trip with only a few close calls, accepting Seonghwa’s offer to lean against him as he swiped into the building.

“The elevator is broken,” he murmured as he led him to the stairs. “I’m only on the second floor, though, so it’s not bad.”

The stairs took them longer than usual, Hongjoong stumbling slightly every few steps. His stomach churned the more they climbed, and by the time he reached his apartment, he was running to the bathroom.

☆

Hongjoong barely made it in time, throwing the toilet lid open and falling to the floor before heaving. Nothing came up, and he groaned before heaving again, emptying the contents of his stomach into the toilet.

☆

Seonghwa came in behind him, sighing as he crouched behind Hongjoong. He hesitated before reaching out, rubbing between his shoulders as Hongjoong heaved again.

After several minutes, Hongjoong was finished, slumping back against the cabinets as he shut the lid and flushed. He looked to Seonghwa next to him, covering his face with his hands.

“God, this is so embarrassing.”

Seonghwa ruffled his hair slightly, standing up. “It’s okay, Joong; it happens. Let me get you some water.”

He wasn’t gone long; the apartment was so small that he only had to move a few feet away. He returned with a glass of water and some medicine, making sure Hongjoong took it before helping him up. Hongjoong brushed his teeth, washing his face to make sure there was no trace of what had just occurred.

Once finished, he turned to Seonghwa, unable to look him in the eyes. “I’m okay now. You can go home.”

The other shuffled his weight from foot to foot, looking around awkwardly. “Are you sure?”

Hongjoong looked at him, meeting his bright, kind eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

Seonghwa stared at him for a few moments before looking away. “Let me just get you to bed. I’ll feel better that way.”

Hongjoong huffed but didn’t argue, brushing past him to get to his room. Seonghwa waited politely outside for him to change, glancing around at the plain room once he was let in. Hongjoong lay down, letting Seonghwa leave him some more water and medicine for when he woke up.

He brought the covers up to his chin, staring at the other with a raised eyebrow. “You going to tuck me in or something?”

“Do you want me to tuck you in?”

It was playful, the type of banter they shared years ago, and Hongjoong smiled at the memories it brought up.

“No, I’m okay. Be safe driving home.”

Seonghwa nodded, finally moving to the door and flicking off the light. “Goodnight, Hongjoong.”

“Night.”

♪ ༘⋆

Hongjoong slept peacefully, only a minor headache greeting him when he woke up the next day. His phone was fully charged on his nightstand, and he scrolled through his notifications.

A majority of them were from the group chat, most of them from Wooyoung, asking about the night before and offering to treat them to brunch. Hongjoong accepted the offer, getting up and heading towards the kitchen to get some more water for his dry throat.

He paused in the entryway, however, staring at the living room and how… clean it seemed. He didn’t remember Yunho cleaning off the coffee table, and as he stepped into the kitchen, the counters also seemed clearer than he remembered.

There was a sticky note beside a glass of water and some medicine, which Hongjoong gladly took before reading.

I cleaned up a little, sorry if it’s too much. Hope you feel better in the morning

• SH

Hongjoong blushed as he stared at the note, embarrassment settling again warmly on his cheeks.

“Did he seriously clean my apartment?”

Chapter Text

“Wait, wait, wait, let me get this straight.”

Hongjoong sighed as Wooyoung interrupted him, slumping in his spot in the oversized chair. He and Yunho were at Wooyoung’s apartment, having met there shortly after noon at the promise of free food. Wooyoung all but interrogated them about the night before, and of course, Yunho had let it slip that Hongjoong knew Seonghwa prior.

“He was your childhood best friend, he moved away and didn’t message you, so you freaked out and basically ghosted him back?”

“He was like the only friend I had! When he left and never contacted me, I figured it was just his way of saying fuck you, move on!”

Wooyoung narrowed his eyes at Hongjoong, sipping from his mug of coffee as he looked at him. Hongjoong felt exposed under the gaze, the younger man looking as though he was trying to solve something.

“There’s something you’re not telling me. Like, I know you’re bad at communicating and you’re awkward as hell-”

“Excuse me?”

“But that’s just ridiculous, even for you.”

Hongjoong looked to Yunho, who still looked half asleep as he nursed his coffee. “Yunho, help me out here?”

The taller man merely shrugged, looking between the two. “He has a point, Joong. I mean, I wouldn’t have said it like that, but it is a little weird for you not to reach out to him just to see.”

The eldest sighed, holding his head in his hands as he regretted showing up. “Look, I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

“Aha! So there is more to the story!” Wooyoung cheered, crossing one leg over the other as he beamed.

“Wooyoung,” Hongjoong warned, glaring at the other.

“All I’m saying is I am right, once again.”

“I think what he meant to say,” Yunho interrupted softly, “is that you don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to. But I’m assuming he means a lot to you, yeah?”

Hongjoong dropped the glare, looking down to stir his own drink in thought. “He was everything,” he whispered honestly. “I thought we’d do everything together, and I knew why he had to go, but it still hurt. I tried so hard to hate him for leaving, but I only ever blamed myself. I thought that maybe I wasn’t good enough, that he was tired of me, that I just held him back from what he wanted.”

The others were silent, eyes soft as they listened to Hongjoong.

“He helped me through a lot over the years, and when I really sat down and thought about it, I realized that I would’ve left too if I were him.”

Hongjoong jumped at the sound of Wooyoung practically slamming his mug on the coffee table, the loud thud interrupting the silence.

“That’s fucking stupid.”

“Wooyoung!” Yunho shouted in surprise.

Wooyoung ignored him, staring Hongjoong directly in the eyes. “It’s not your fault that it happened, and from the sound of it, it isn’t his either. Things like this just happen, but don’t you dare blame yourself for it. You don’t hold people back, you’re not too much, and you are one of the best people that I’ve met.”

Hongjoong let the words sink in, each one soothing old doubts that lingered in the back of his mind. The air felt heavy, the conversation serious, and it brought a mistiness to his eyes.

“Even when you don’t reply to us because you’re focused on work,” Yunho started, “ or when you forget to take care of yourself, we’ll be there. We’re not leaving.”

Hongjoong nodded, finally relaxing as the two comforted him. He couldn’t thank them out loud, the words finding themselves stuck to his tongue, but they didn’t seem to mind, especially as his smiles shone brighter and his laughs were louder.

Hongjoong didn’t stay for too long afterwards, the late nights and emotional whirlwind of a weekend catching up to him. He savored the bus ride back home, watching as clouds began to cluster and the sky grew darker. He managed to make it back before the storm started, letting random videos play on the TV as he scrolled through social media.

He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, letting the world move by around him as he properly relaxed for the first time in a while. Eventually, he grew hungry, and he microwaved some instant noodles and rice before settling in to watch a movie for the night.

It was dark when the movie ended, the storm still beating against the windows as Hongjoong decided to go to bed early. He went about his routine, changing and getting his clothes ready for the next day, when his phone buzzed.

Seonghwa

Are you feeling better?

Hongjoong stared at the message for a few moments, thumbs hovering over his keyboard before he typed out a reply.

Hongjoong

I do! Thanks for taking me home

Oh and cleaning up, you didn’t have to

Seonghwa

It’s nothing, you know I enjoy cleaning

The three dots appeared, signifying Seonghwa was typing. They disappeared, before popping up again for a few moments, only to go away again. Hongjoong shrugged, getting into bed and checking his emails before another notification popped up.

Seonghwa

Do you want to call?

Hongjoong blinked at the message, brows furrowing as he read it again and again. Seonghwa wanted to call him? About what? He hesitated for a few moments before sighing, quickly typing out a response before he could overthink it.

Hongjoong

Sure

It only took a few seconds for the notification to appear, his screen lighting up with the notification that Seonghwa was calling. Hongjoong answered, immediately putting it on speaker and setting it beside him.

“Hey,” Seonghwa greeted. He sounded a little far, likely having Hongjoong on speaker as well.

“Hi. What’s up?”

Seonghwa sighed, the sound of paper rustling coming through the phone. “I have to cut out a bunch of paper for our crafting time tomorrow, and I got a little lonely. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to, though.”

“I don’t mind,” Hongjoong quickly reassured. “You went into teaching, right?”

Seonghwa hummed on the other line, the sound of scissors starting up. “Mhm. I teach third grade.”

“What’s the project?”

The older man laughed. “We’re making these little squirrel wreaths they can hang up for fall. We don’t have much time to work on them, though, so I decided to just cut out all of the leaves for them. I’m seriously regretting that decision.”

Hongjoong smiled, shaking his head as he closed his laptop. “That sounds cute, though. I’m sure they’ll love it.”

“They better,” he grumbled, but he was clearly joking. “I’d ask if you went into music, but I don’t think I could see you doing anything else.”

Hongjoong rolled over, taking the phone off speaker and pressing it to his ear. “Yeah, same here. I’m a producer at Aurora Music Group.”

“Oooh, look at you. Did you make any songs that I’d know?”

Hongjoong thought through all of the songs he’d produced for other artists, trying to sort through the ones he was most proud of. “Uhhh,” he chuckled. “Maybe?”

“Oh…?”

“Hold on, I’m trying to think of the good ones.”

Seonghwa hummed, giving Hongjoong a moment to process. Hongjoong grabbed his phone, quickly grabbing links to the ones he deemed appropriate. He could hear Seonghwa’s phone buzz as the message went through, the older man making a noise of confusion as he grabbed it.

“Those are a couple, I figured it may be easier that way.”

The other line was silent, Hongjoong rubbing his arm in nervousness. He ignored how important it was to him that Seonghwa liked them, chalking it up to his pride as a producer.

“Hongjoong…”

“Do you not know them? That’s fine, I didn’t really expect-”

“Literally like half of these are on my playlist.”

Hongjoong blinked, the sentence pulling him out of his growing spiral. “Really?”

“Yes, really. When Star 1117 came out, I didn’t shut up about it for weeks. Mingi threatened to throw my phone away.

“Oh,” is all Hongjoong managed to reply. Because how the hell is he supposed to respond to his ex-but-also-returned-childhood best friend and soulmate liking his music? “Thank you. That’s… very flattering, actually.”

“Of course! Maybe I’ll have to look for your other songs, too.”

That brought a blush to Hongjoong’s cheeks, his face quickly growing hot. “Oh no, you really don’t need to do that.”

“Maybe not, but I want to.”

The call went silent for a few moments again, the older always managing to find a way to leave Hongjoong speechless. It wasn’t awkward, however, merely a shared understanding passing between them.

“Well,” Seonghwa eventually started. He sounded closer to the phone, and Hongjoong figured he must have finished his project. “I should probably get to bed.”

Hongjoong glanced at the time, making a noise of acknowledgement. “Yeah, me too.”

“Thanks for keeping me company.”

“Anytime.”

Hongjoong started to move the phone away, ready to hang up, when Seonghwa’s voice stopped him.

“Wait, really quick.”

“Yeah?”

“Is it… are you okay if I call you Joong, still?”

The name brought back memories of their time spent together as they grew up; laughter as they shared popcorn at the movies, music flowing through Seonghwa’s beat-up car as they drove home from school, the stars twinkling in the sky on a night where Hongjoong’s mind wouldn’t stay quiet.

In the past, those memories would have hurt, would have brought a strange loneliness that would stick to his skin like bruises. But this was now, and the answer was obvious.

“Yeah,” he said softly. I don’t mind.”

“Alright.” He could hear the smile in the other’s voice, imagined how bright it was in the dim lighting of the other’s bedroom. “Goodnight, Joong.”

“Night, Hwa.”

♪ ༘⋆

No matter how much Hongjoong didn’t want to admit it, apparently, his weekend did have some effect on him. By lunch on Tuesday, he had managed to finish the song for the pop singer; it wasn’t perfect, but he was happy enough with it, and she seemed to love it.

He dove back into his various project folders, finding himself more inspired than he had been in nearly months. By the end of the week, he had finished composing several songs and had lyrics for even more.

And, to really put the cherry on top, he had managed to do it with a decent work-life balance. No excessively late nights, he remembered to eat meals on most days, or at least some protein-heavy snacks.

His boss noticed the change too, practically kicking him out of the office by early afternoon to make up for all of the hours he’d worked in the past. He messaged the chat to see if anyone was free, and by four o'clock, he was in a booth at a nice cafe with San, Wooyoung, and Yunho.

San and Wooyoung were disgustingly sweet, sharing their drinks and sweets while practically hanging off of each other. Hongjoong spent the majority of the time grimacing at the display, while Yunho was uncharacteristically quiet beside him. Hongjoong didn’t press, however, trusting that the taller man would come to him when he was ready.

“Yknow…” Wooyoung said suddenly, his face serious as he looked around the table. “I actually have tomorrow off. Maybe we can try and get everyone together again?”

Hongjoong groaned, leaning back in his chair. “I am not going to the club again. That sucked.”

“I second that, surprisingly,” Yunho said softly beside him.

San thought for a moment before his face lit up with an idea. “We could hang out at our place. Mingi insisted on a big TV for his shows, and we have a Switch set up.”

Wooyoung immediately latched onto the idea, practically vibrating in his seat. “We can play games and then watch a horror movie!”

Hongjoong noticed San pale slightly at that, but Wooyoung continued before he could point it out.

“That’s such a great idea, Sannie! Let me text the chat. Oooh, better yet, why don’t we just make one big group chat?”

He had his phone in his hand before he even finished talking, furiously tapping on it before Hongjoong felt a series of buzzes come from his pocket. San sighed, adding his group of friends to the chat before sending Wooyoung’s idea to the chat.

By the time they left the cafe, all eight of them agreed to meet at San’s place the next day, each of them volunteering to bring various drinks and snacks. Wooyoung nearly threatened everyone to wear their pajamas, and after the realization that a majority of them would likely be scared by the movie, the hangout turned into a ‘big kid sleepover’ as Seonghwa called it.

Hongjoong made sure to get his stuff together the night before, not wanting to risk missing the bus. Partway through the process, his phone dinged with a text from Seonghwa, something he had begun to grow used to throughout the week.

Seonghwa

Do you need a ride tomorrow?

San asked me to bring some more popcorn, so I can get you on the way to the store.

Hongjoong smiled at the message, quickly typing out a response.

Hongjoong

That would be great!

Do you need my address again?

Seonghwa

Yes, please.

Hongjoong

Xxxx

Here you go!

Seonghwa

I’ll let you know when I’m leaving, probably around 3

Hongjoong

Sounds good

Seonghwa

See you then

Goodnight, Joong

Hongjoong

Night

Hongjoong finished getting his stuff together, making sure he had everything he could need before going to bed, finding himself excited for what the day would bring.

Chapter Text

Hongjoong woke up before his alarm, excitement keeping him from falling back asleep. After a few minutes of tossing and turning he gave up, going to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

It was around 9, and his messy hair greeted him as he squinted his eyes against the bright lights, eyes drawn to his roots that continued to grow. He had time, and spare bleach…

Deciding he might as well, he quickly brushed out his hair, scrambling through the cabinets for his gloves and dye brush. They luckily were where he had left them, and he quickly got to work mixing the powder and sectioning his hair.

It didn't take long since it was just a touch-up, and he wrapped his hair before quickly making breakfast. A few eggs and a piece of toast later, he was dunking his head in the shower, washing out the bleach and adding some toner.

He let the toner set while he did his skin care, finally hopping into the shower to wash his hair and body properly. The bathroom was filled with steam by the time he was finished, and he was proud of how productive he was being.

He heard his phone ringing from his bedroom as he was towel-drying his hair, and he quickly ran over to grab it, answering the call.

“Yunho?”

It was quiet on the other line, but he could just pick up the sound of the other's breathing.

“Yunho?”

“H-hey,” the other stuttered out, causing Hongjoong to frown.

“Hey. Everything okay?”

He heard what sounded like a hiccup, before some shuffling and what sounded like the phone being picked up.

“Yunho?”

“I don't think I can come tonight.”

The words were rushed, nearly stumbling over each other as it sounded like Yunho tried to force them out. He sounded upset, almost like he had been crying.

“That’s okay, I'm sure no one will be mad. Is everything okay?” He tried again.

Yunho breathed heavily into the phone, and Hongjoong was about to speak again before Yunho finally answered.

“It's Mingi.”

Hongjoong made a noise of surprise, not expecting the answer.

“Do you not like him? You seemed to get along when we were at the club.”

Yunho sighed, and Hongjoong could picture him running his hand through his hair.

“That's the problem! I do like him.”

“Okay? Are you worried he'll be upset if you can't come?”

Yunho made a noise of frustration, finally forcing the sentence out.

“He's my soulmate.”

Hongjoong stood there, blinking in surprise into his dark bedroom as he processed the words.

“Oh!”

“When we were at the club, he took off his watch, and I was staring at his hands because he's hot-”

“Gross,” Hongjoong automatically said.

“And I saw the symbol on his wrist!”

“The weird curvy heart?”

Hongjoong could fully hear the panic in the other's voice, his breathing coming faster. “Yes, the stupid fucking curvy heart!”

“Okay, let's calm down. Take a few deep breaths, it's not the end of the world.”

“Says you!” Yunho exclaimed. “You've never met your soulmate!”

Hongjoong felt a pang in his chest, squeezing his eyes shut as he took a deep breath. He knew Yunho didn't mean it, his brain overloading as he panicked about the situation.

“Shit, Hongjoong. I didn't-”

“It's fine,” he cut off, not unkind. The words only stung a little. “You need to breathe, you're just going to freak yourself out more.”

The line went quiet, and he could hear Yunho taking deep breaths. After a few minutes, he seemed calmer, his breathing no longer heard on the other line.

“Now,” Hongjoong started. “Are you freaking out because he's your soulmate, or for some other reason?”

Yunho didn't answer at first, likely thinking about the question before finally speaking up. “What if he doesn't want me back?”

And yeah, that made sense; it was a pretty common fear, wasn't it?

“You're never going to find out unless you tell him, Yunho. But from what Wooyoung has said about him, I think you'll be fine.”

“Yeah, I know. Maybe I'll talk to him tonight, if there's a time that feels right.”

“And if you don't, then that's okay; you don't have to rush things.”

Yunho sighed into the phone. “Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry about what I said, about your soulmate.”

Hongjoong finally moved, heading to his dresser where he'd set his clothes out the night before.

“It's fine, Yunho. I haven't been entirely honest with you guys, though.”

“What do you mean?”

Hongjoong sighed as he leaned against the dresser, forehead pressed into the wood.

“I met my soulmate years ago. I just never told him.”

♪ ༘⋆

Seonghwa arrived exactly on time, calling Hongjoong to let him know to come down. Hongjoong took the steps two at a time, not wanting to keep the other waiting. He was out of breath by the time he reached the bottom, quickly hopping into Seonghwa’s car outside.

“Thanks again,” he said, breathing still a little heavy.

Seonghwa chuckled, waiting for him to buckle before pulling out of the parking lot. “No problem. Besides, it gives me time to talk with my friend.”

The words brought a slight tint to Hongjoong’s cheeks, and he quickly looked out the window to hide it.

“So,” he said, clearing his throat. “Mingi… how is he about the soulmate thing?”

Seonghwa made a noise of surprise, glancing over to Honfjoonf before focusing back on the road. “Mingi? Why do you ask?”

“Just trying to learn about your friends; might as well if Wooyoung is going to keep making us all get together.”

They reached a red light, and Hongjoong finally looked back over to the other.

“Yeah, that’s fair. He doesn’t talk about it much, but I know he would like to meet them.” The light turned green, and they continued forward before getting into the turn lane. “He’s not the love at first sight type, though.”

Hongjoong hummed, watching as Seonghwa pulled into the shopping center. He quickly grabbed his phone, typing out a message to Yunho before pocketing it again.

Seonghwa found a spot near the front, and he turned the car off as they both hopped out, walking into the grocery store.

“Alright,” Seonghwa said as he grabbed a basket. He dug around in his pocket, finally pulling out a sticky note with some writing on it. “We need their popcorn, some soda, and then you were bringing chips, right?”

Hongjoong didn’t pay attention, too busy holding back his laughter as he stared at the other. Seonghwa was staring so seriously at the sticky note, like the words would change if he didn’t analyze them properly.

After a lack of reply, Seonghwa turned to him, eyebrows furrowed. “Joong?”

Somehow that did it, and Hongjoong burst out laughing, his hand quickly covering his mouth as his body shook with his amusement. There was a mix of emotions on Seonghwa’s face, both concern and something Hongjoong couldn’t name as he stared at the other.

“I- why the hell do you have a sticky note?”

“It’s my list…”

“Seonghwa, it's three things! Plus, all of the messages were in the group chat!”

Seonghwa sighed, walking towards the aisles as Hongjoong was still giggling beside him. “Don’t make fun of my lists.. I should’ve never brought you with me.”

Hongjoong merely smiled up at him, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, be honest; you’d be bored without me.”

“Maybe, but at least I’d still have some dignity.”

Hongjoong wasn’t sure why the note had such an impression on him. While yes, it was a little silly in his mind to have a list for three things, most people used physical shopping lists. Maybe it was how methodical Seonghwa was, or the familiarity of the same colored sticky note he always used, that hadn’t changed over the years. Maybe the sticky note was a sign that while time had passed, and they had been apart, things hadn’t completely changed.

He managed to calm down by the time they reached the snack aisle, Seonghwa grabbing a box of the popcorn San had asked for. He watched Hongjoong peruse the shelves of chips, trying to decide which ones to get.

“I know Wooyoung and Jongho like these,” he said as he pointed at some. “But what about the others?”

Seonghwa hummed, standing beside him to see the options better. Their arms briefly brushed each other, and Hongjoong tried his best to ignore it.

“Maybe these?”

Seonghwa reached up, standing on his toes to grab something from the highest shelf. He handed it to Hongjoong, who shrugged before dumping it in the basket.

“I’ll just get a couple to be safe.” Hongjoong grabbed a few more options before deeming it acceptable, following Seonghwa to the soda aisle.

They grabbed two liters of the requested drinks, Hongjoong carrying them since they wouldn’t fit in the basket. They went up front, and Seonghwa swiftly scanned everything in the basket before paying, not giving Hongjoong the chance to grab his wallet.

“What the hell? Seonghwa, I was supposed to get those.”

The older waved him off, holding out two of the bags for him to grab. “It’s fine, I’m the one who dragged you here.”

Hongjoong sighed, shaking his head as they left the store, storing everything in the trunk of Seonghwa’s car. It was four now, and the two decided it was time to head to the house.

It wasn’t too far from the store, and the two chatted about their week and how they thought the night would go. They shared banter back and forth, the drive feeling only seconds long by the time they arrived. The two grabbed their groceries and bags, and Hongjoong followed Seonghwa.

They were in the nicer part of the city, and Hongjoong didn’t want to think about how much the three were paying to live here. Yunho and Wooyoung’s cars were already parked along the street, and Seonghwa took them up the driveway, managing to free a hand to knock on the door.

It opened shortly after, Yeosang smiling softly as he stepped aside to let them in. They kicked their shoes off by the door, and he followed Yeosang and Seonghwa into the kitchen before dumping the bags onto the counter with a huff.

The kitchen was nice and bright, with a counter that doubled as a breakfast bar overlooking the living room. Hongjoong could tell the usual furniture was pushed to the sides of the room, leaving a large space in the center for them to watch the movie. For now, there was soft lighting and various blankets draped along the sofas.

Wooyoung was in San’s lap, giggling at something the other man said while Jongho stayed far away from the couple. They were all in their pajamas, donning various onesies. Wooyoung seemed to be a fox, while Jongho’s was covered in bears. San’s was a blue cat, and Yeosang’s was a panda. Mingi and Yunho were nowhere to be found, and Hongjoong was about to mention it when he heard voices down the hall.

Maybe Yunho decided to confess sooner rather than later.

“I’m surprised we’re the last ones,” Hongjoong mused as he leaned against the counter.

“That’s because someone took forever looking at chips. Now go change before Wooyoung freaks out.”

“Hey!” could be heard from the living room, but Hongjoong ignored it in favor of walking down the hall.

There was only one open door that led to a nice bathroom, and he quickly changed into his own onesie, a red panda one he had gotten from Yunho, before slipping back out.

Seonghwa was waiting in the hallway outside, and he smiled at Hongjoong.

“That’s cute.”

Hongjoong sputtered, hugging his bag closer to his chest and moving faster down the hall. He heard Seonghwa laugh as the other entered the bathroom to change, and Hongjoong set his bag beside Jongho’s near the entryway. He entered the living room to see that Yunho and Mingi had emerged, Mingi clad in a capybara onesie while Yunho wore his favorite green and yellow one with the puppy-eared hood.

The two were pressed against each other on the other couch, and Hongjoong raised an eyebrow at Yunho as he sat beside Jongho and Yeosang. Yunho merely smiled and shook his head, mouthing that he’d tell them later.

Hongjoong could tell Wooyoung wanted to say something, but San cut him off. He gently pushed Wooyoung off his lap, stood and gathered the various controllers, and then turned on the switch.

“We can only play four at a time, so maybe rock, paper, scissors, then the top two from each group race for the winner?”

“Sounds good to me,” Seonghwa said as he entered the room. He was clad in a shark onesie, and he looked the epitome of comfort as he plopped onto the remaining armchair.

The group played multiple rounds of rock, paper, scissors before finally splitting into the two teams. The first group was Hongjoong, Yunho, Yeosang, and Mingi, while the other four would play second.

Hongjoong gripped the controller tightly, absentmindedly watching as San loaded the game. Someone turned off the overhead lights, the soft sunlight and the lamp in the corner leaving the room in a much more soothing glow.

The other three moved to the middle of the floor to see better, already arguing over who was going to win. Hongjoong was startled when the couch dipped beside him, Seonghwa plopping down with a teasing grin.

“Nervous?”

“I’ve literally never played this game.”

Seonghwa’s gaze softened, and he pointed to the buttons on the controller. “Hold this to go, use the joystick to move, and use the bumper to drift around corners. Start revving up when the second light is on.”

“Okay,” he sighed, looking at the controller. “That’s not too bad.”

“There’s going to be cubes on the map too, try and pick those up and use them while you can.”

Hongjoong nodded, now focusing on picking his character and making his kart. He chose Tanooki Mario since he looked similar to his onesie, then zoned out while he waited for them to select a map.

Eventually, they were in the game, and Hongjoong followed Seonghwa’s instructions. He didn’t do terribly, but he was in fourth place the entire time. By the second race, he was understanding the game a bit more, ignoring Wooyoung’s whining about Yunho cheating.

Miraculously, he managed to come in third overall, with Yunho and Yeosang winning first and second. They swapped controllers, Wooyoung pouting as the others chose their loadouts. Hongjoong sank into the couch, the stress of the game finally leaving his body as the next round started.

The second group was more vocal, with San, Mingi, and Jongho yelling at each other the entire time. Seonghwa was quiet beside him, focused on the game. He did well, coming second each round. On the final race, he managed to throw a red shell at San, laughing as he passed him and came in first.

San was livid, and Wooyoung took the opportunity to tease him as the others laughed at his sputtering. They quickly set up the final race of Yunho, Yeosang, Seonghwa, and San. The other four ended up beside one of the players, deciding partway through the first race that if they cheered loud enough, their player would win.

Wooyoung and Jongho were yelling over each other, proclaiming their respective players, San and Yeosang, were the best. Mingi was energetic but quieter, and Hongjoong only gave one or two words of encouragement.

They had to pause before the fourth round when Mingi and Jongho proclaimed they needed the bathroom, refusing to miss the race. Wooyoung had somehow convinced everyone that this was worth everything, and that whoever won the round would be crowned the victor.

Seonghwa turned to Hongjoong. “I’d like to file for a new cheerleader.”

Hongjoong rolled his eyes, grinning. “You were doing just fine without me! Me cheering you on would just distract you.”

“No, it won’t.”

“Then prove it,” Hongjoong teased. “I’ll be obnoxious, and if you win, then you get a prize.”

Mingi and Jongho returned, settling back in their spots as Seonghwa perked up, intrigued by the offer.

“A prize?”

“Mhm. You can pick whatever. Within reason.”

Seonghwa hummed at the offer, watching as San moved to unpause the game. Then, just before the round started, he murmured something low between the two of them.

“I want you to make a song for me.”

The request took Hongjoong off guard, and his eyes widened as the buzzer signaling the beginning of the race started. He quickly shook his head, focusing back on the game as he started obnoxiously cheering for Seonghwa. His cheers only spurred the others until you couldn’t hear the game over their various shouts.

It was neck and neck, various items being used as the group collectively held their breath. Eventually, Yunho managed to pull through, getting first and cheering as he raced across the finish line. Seonghwa came in fourth, surprisingly, and Hongjoong immediately teased him as the game was turned off.

“I told you it would distract you!”

Seonghwa shrugged, a casual smile shaping his lips. “Well, at least I lost with my friend cheering for me.”

Hongjoong smacked him, watching Seonghwa retreat with laughter as he went to help Yeosang with the popcorn. The others set up the living room for the movie and their eventual bed, layering various blankets and pillows until the space was comfortable.

Hongjoong stayed curled up on his portion of the smaller couch, content with sleeping a little further from the pile. Yeosang and Seonghwa eventually returned as Wooyoung fiddled with the TV, carrying various bowls of chips, popcorn, and candy to place around the room. Mingi went and grabbed everyone's drinks, and Hongjoong sighed in content with his large bowl of popcorn and soda.

Hongjoong caught Yunho and Mingi holding hands as they turned all the lights off, giving everyone last-minute bathroom breaks and time to settle in. Seonghwa rejoined Hongjoong on the couch, placing a large throw blanket over their laps. He took the bowl of popcorn from Hongjoong, placing it in his lap and forcing the other to lean against him.

Hongjoong glared up at Seonghwa, who grinned down at him.

“What? We both know you’re either going to be scared or fall asleep; at least this way you won’t strain your neck later.”

Hongjoong huffed, not denying it as he rested stiffly against Seonghwa. Wooyoung and San were cuddled on the end of the pile, Mingi and Yunho in the middle, and Yeosang and Jongho off to the side. The movie finally started, the intro for It playing.

San and Mingi reacted to nearly every jumpscare, with the others being startled by a few moments. Hongjoong could tell early on he didn’t like the movie, settling in closer to Seonghwa as the characters entered the sewers.

True to Seonghwa’s prediction, Hongjoong started dozing off, trying to keep himself awake by eating fistfuls of popcorn. He lost the fight, however, finally falling asleep towards the end of the film.

Hongjoong woke up somewhat early the next morning, sunlight beginning to seep into the dark room. Someone was snoring softly, and he could hear the sink running in the bathroom down the hall. At some point during the night, Seonghwa must have shifted, and now Hongjoong was lying on top of him as they were stretched out across the couch.

Hongjoong carefully sat up, maneuvering off the other and going to the bathroom. The door was open, and Yunho was standing there staring at the mirror. He startled slightly when he saw Hongjoong, but quickly relaxed.

“Morning.”

“Morning,” Hongjoong replied, voice raspy with sleep. “Have fun last night?”

 Yunho chuckled softly, moving so Hongjoong could splash water on his face. “I did. I actually talked to Mingi, too, before you guys came.”

Hongjoong hummed, turning off the sink and fully facing the other. “How did that go?”

“Good,” he exhaled. “We’re going to take it slow, hang out some more by ourselves, and see what happens. But he’s excited to try.”

“I told you it would be okay.”

“Yeah, yeah. What about you and Seonghwa? You were like a cat on him this morning.”

Hongjoong groaned, leaning against the sink and hanging his head. It was reminiscent of their time in the club bathroom, the atmosphere much calmer and quieter.

“It’s just… awkward for me. He’s the same Seonghwa I remember, and that somehow makes it worse.”

The other hummed, studying Hongjoong. “Why is it so awkward for you, though? Wasn’t it all just a misunderstanding?”

Hongjoong lifted his head, staring at Yunho for a few moments as he debated his next sentence. Yunho had confided in him the day before, had been there while Hongjoong felt his world crashing around him. Maybe it was time to trust someone else with this burden.

Hongjoong sighed as he ran a hand down his face. “Because Seonghwa is my soulmate, and I never told him.”

Yunho’s eyes widened, mouth dropping in a silent ‘o’ as he processed the information. Hongjoong was distracted, however, by a squeak, and he realized that Yunho was looking behind him, not at him.

Hongjoong slowly turned, heart plummeting as he saw San, standing in the hall with wide eyes and surprise on his face. The look confirmed all Hongjoong needed to know; San had heard him.

Chapter Text

San looked like a deer caught in a pair of headlights, body stiff as he quickly glanced between the two men.

“Oh, hey guys!” he said with forced enthusiasm. “I was just going to grab something from my room, haha. Nothing to see here.”

San took a sidestep towards the other side of the hall, moving slowly as if he couldn’t be seen. Hongjoong didn’t let him continue, stepping forward and gripping his arm tightly. San yelped at the contact, stumbling forward as Hongjoong yanked him into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

San leaned with his back against the door, chest heaving as he stared at Hongjoong with panic.

“You’re not getting out of this that easily,” Hongjoong hissed.

Yunho sighed behind them, sitting down on the toilet lid as he resigned himself to being stuck for the next few minutes.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hear you guys! I just wanted a new shirt because Wooyoung drooled all over mine!”

Hongjoong glanced down at his onesie, noting the wet patches around the neck. “I don’t care. Look, San, you can not tell anyone about this. Especially Wooyoung.”

“He’s known for his gossip,” Yunho piped up behind him.

“And he would never let me live it down,” Hongjoong added.

San nodded quickly, hands up in surrender. “Got it! Don’t tell Wooyoung. Your secret is safe with me; scout’s honor!”

Hongjoong narrowed his eyes at the younger man, making sure he was telling the truth.

“Hongjoong, it'll be fine. I'm sure he won't tell anyone.”

Eventually the oldest sighed, backing up to let San open the door. “Okay. Just be careful, please.”

“Of course!” San scrambled for the door handle, nearly falling as the door swung open. “No one will ever know this extremely sensitive information, especially Seonghwa!”

“What am I not knowing?”

The three of them froze, staring as Seonghwa stood outside the bathroom, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Hongjoong mentally cursed every divine being that must be laughing at him, opening his mouth to speak before San began to ramble.

“Hongjoong was just, uh… telling us about his…”

“His lease is expiring soon,” Yunho cut in smoothly. “I keep telling him he should move somewhere else, maybe get a roommate, but he's a bit of a loner.”

“Hey!”

Seonghwa blinked between the three of them, tired and obviously confused by how strange they were acting.

“Okay… I mean Yunho has a point. That place was kinda scary.”

Hongjoong sighed as Yunho enthusiastically agreed. “Alright, we get it; my apartment building sucks. Can we all move on now?”

The men finally shuffled out of the bathroom, letting Seonghwa in so he could wash up.

“I think that went well!” San said cheerfully.

Hongjoong groaned.

♪ ༘⋆

The rest of the morning managed to pass without any issues. San made it through mostly normal, though Wooyoung spent the better half of breakfast eyeing him like a puzzle he couldn't solve.

Eventually the group went their separate ways, and Hongjoong found himself trailing along Seonghwa towards the older man's car.

He tossed his bag in the back seat before sitting up front, sighing as Seonghwa started the car. Seonghwa hummed along to the radio, occasionally tapping his hands when they came to a stop.

“Oh! I almost forgot.”

Hongjoong made a noise from the back of his throat, showing he was listening.

“When does your lease end?”

Oh, right. He's lucky Yunho had been telling the truth on that one, at least.

“Next month. I debated resigning, but I might be able to get something closer to the studio.”

Seonghwa was quiet, thumbs tapping at the steering wheel as they arrived at Hongjoong's apartment. He parked the car before slowly turning in his seat to face the other.

“Or… you could move in with me?”

Hongjoong wasn't expecting the offer, brows shooting up in surprise. “Huh?”

“Well I just mean that my place is closer to the others’ buildings, and probably your studio! There's also a coffee shop next door that I think you'd like!” Seonghwa was rambling, words coming out rushed. “It has two bedrooms and separate bathrooms, and I can cook since I doubt you eat properly.”

He finally finished, looking back at Hongjoong for his reaction.

“Seonghwa,” he started, hands folded in his lap. “You don't have to offer just because my lease is ending. I can find somewhere else, I'm sure.”

Seonghwa's face fell, brows pinching as he looked at him with a pout that worked way too well.

“I'm not just offering because of that. It would be nice to have a roommate, and we can spend more time together… like we used to. If you don't want to, I understand, but…”

Hongjoong searched the other's face, seeing the genuine sadness at the thought of Hongjoong not saying yes. He knew it was stupid, that so much could possibly go wrong, that Seonghwa was almost guaranteed to see the mark on Hongjoong's wrist.

But Hongjoong was a greedy man, and Seonghwa's pout was enough to make him move mountains.

“Okay. I'll move in with you.”

Chapter Text

Hongjoong smiled and waved at Seonghwa before entering the building, thankful to see that the elevator was finally fixed. It was both a blessing and a curse, really; he was tired of taking the stairs, but the time spent waiting for the thing to move finally gave him too much time to think.

‘Okay. I'll move in with you.’

“Fucking idiot,” he hissed under his breath as the elevator gave a haphazard chime. He all but ran to his apartment, barely shutting the door before dropping his bag and pressing his back against it.

‘We can spend more time together… like we used to’

He squeezed his eyes shut, like the darkness would erase the image of his friend… his soulmate staring at him with those pleading eyes. Instead, it burned itself in the back of his mind, the words sticking uncomfortably to his brain.

Hongjoong took a deep breath, trying to calm himself against the anxiety that threatened to choke him. There was no way he could live with Seonghwa. That was the truth, plain and simple. It was too risky, too greedy for a man like Hongjoong. He didn’t deserve to share a space with someone like him, stupid symbol or not.

But here in the unsettling silence of his shitty apartment that everyone hated, Seonghwa couldn’t stare at him. Couldn’t make Hongjoong bend to his will with a simple flutter of his lashes. He immediately reached for his phone, thumb shakily clicking on the other’s contact and calling.

‘If you don't want to, I understand, but…’

The call connected, the sounds of Seonghwa’s driving soft in the background as he cheerfully answered.

“Hey, Joong! Did you leave something in my car?”

“No, I have everything. I just wanted to talk to you… about moving in?” The words felt like lead, heavy as they left his throat.

He took a breath, steeling himself to break the other’s heart before Seonghwa spoke first.

“Of course! If you'd like, you could come by this week and see it! I’m busy tomorrow and Tuesday… how about Wednesday?”

Hongjoong closed his eyes, trying to ignore the excitement in Seonghwa’s voice. “Seonghwa, I don’t need to see the apartment…”

“Nonsense! You should always tour a place before you move in. That’s how you avoid ending up in places like the one you’re in now.”

Hongjoong sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Seonghwa…”

“I’m sorry, but it’s true. Now, does Wednesday work for you or not?”

Hongjoong stood there, eyes blinking open to look around his apartment; slightly discolored walls, oddly painted cabinets, the shower across the hall that took too long to heat up. With one final breath, he surrendered.

“Wednesday works. Just text me the info.”

♪ ༘⋆

The next day, Hongjoong didn’t go to the studio. He sat on his couch, nervously biting his nails as he stared at the moving boxes in front of him. He had gotten several last night, texting Yunho and asking him to help him pack stuff.

There was a light knock on the door, and Hongjoong was quick to let him in. He looked tired, but still gave a smile as he slipped inside. He kicked his shoes off, taking in the mess of labels, tape, and cardboard on the living room floor.

“You’re actually labeling your boxes? I figured you’d throw stuff in until they were full and call it a day.”

Hongjoong chuckled, awkwardly rubbing at the back of his neck. “I think Seonghwa would have a fit if I did that.”

Yunho made a noise of confusion, looking away from the mess. “Why would Seonghwa care? Is he helping too?”

“No. I’m moving in with him,” Hongjoong huffed, running his hand through his already mussed hair.

Yunho was silent, and when Hongjoong looked at him, his face was twisted with confusion. “You’re moving in… with Seonghwa?”

“He offered yesterday, on the way here.”

“And you agreed?” Yunho seemed dumbfounded, an emotion Hongjoong couldn’t name floating across his face as he looked at him.

“Yes!” Hongjoong whined. He fell to the couch, head dropping to rest in his hands. “He did those stupid pleading eyes, and I caved! Seriously, you should learn from him.”

“You agreed because he pouted at you?”

“He’s very hard to resist! Besides, I thought you wanted me to find a roommate and get out of this apartment building.”

Yunho let out a noise of exasperation, leaning against the counter with his arms folded. “That doesn’t mean you had to live with him!” His tone grew more frustrated as he spoke, surprising Hongjoong. “I was just trying to bail you out.”

“And I appreciate that. But why are you making it such a big deal?”

“Why am I making it a big deal?” He said incredulously.

“Yeah!” Hongjoong found himself growing frustrated, never seeing Yunho angry like this. “I thought you’d sympathize and offer some words of advice or something.”

“Hongjoong, you spent a good chunk of the morning threatening San not to let it slip, and you had only just told me you knew your soulmate after we’ve been friends for how long?”

“It never came up!”

“And now you want to live with him, which means you’ll see him every day! Am I the only one who sees how this could go wrong?”

“Of course, I see how it could go wrong! Every day, I’ll wake up never knowing if he’ll find out. It doesn’t matter at this point; he wants me to go see the place on Wednesday.”

Yunho sighed, shaking his head. “You could still back out, you know. You don’t have to risk it.”

“Why are you suddenly so worked up over him finding out?” he accused. “Yesterday, you were judging me for not saying anything. Hell, you and Wooyoung were on my ass for never messaging him after he moved! And now you don’t want me to take any risks?”

“Well, excuse me for wanting to look out for you! What happens when he finds out and gets mad at you for lying to him, huh? Do you think he’s just going to forgive you because of a mark on your wrist? That he’ll ignore the fact that you lied to him for years and ghosted him because of it?”

Hongjoong glared at the space between them. “Why are you being such a dick? Did you lose a ranked game or something?”

Yunho rolled his eyes. “Yeah, that’s what it is,” he said sarcastically.

“No, enlighten me! You find your soulmate, go quiet for a bit, confess to him, and after cuddling each other all night, you show up here looking for a fight!”

“I wasn’t looking for a fight! You just make everything so fucking difficult, and I’m tired of it!”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re quick to argue, you shut down when we try to make sure you’re okay, you barely take care of yourself, and half the time it’s like pulling teeth to get you to talk! It’s been like this for years! It’s almost like you’re trying to make everyone around you leave!”

The room was silent, and only their heavy breaths were heard as the two of them stared at each other. The words floated through the air between them, poking the anxieties Hongjoong though he buried long ago. He felt them prickle at his skin, quickly bringing his hands to rub at his arms.

Yunho frowned at the action, watching Hongjoong close in on himself. His face began to soften, the realization of what he said hitting him like a freight train.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean-”

“Doesn’t matter,” he muttered wetly. “It’s how you feel.”

“No, it’s not. I promise you that-”

“I don’t want to fucking hear it, Yunho,” Hongjoong hissed. It only proved the other’s point, but the weight of his presence just felt suffocating now. “Just go home, or go blow off some steam with Mingi. I won’t make things difficult for you anymore. I dealt with this shit by myself before, and I’ll do it again.”

“Hongjoong, please-”

“Get out.”

Hongjoong pointed to the door, glaring at Yunho and daring him to continue. Yunho opened his mouth, words on the tip of his tongue as he looked at Hongjoong pleadingly. He finally sighed, hanging his head and walking to the door. Hongjoong didn’t watch him put his shoes on, still glaring at the spot he was just in.

“I’ll talk to you later.” It was said more like a question, a sad tilt at the end as if to ask if they were okay.

Hongjoong’s silence was answer enough, and the door finally closed with a soft click.

♪ ༘⋆

He wasn’t sure how long he sat on the couch after Yunho left, staring numbly at his hands until they finally stopped shaking. His phone had buzzed several times next to him, but he ignored it.

Eventually, he managed to stand. His body moved stiffly, grabbing a box, a marker, and some tape before moving to his bedroom. He didn’t have much, but the repetitiveness of grabbing something, putting it in a box, and moving on to the next kept him somewhat grounded.

Once finished, he properly labeled the box, setting it in the hallway before grabbing another and starting on his clothes. The process continued until his bedroom was bare save for the necessities, and he allowed himself to take a break.

Hongjoong grabbed his phone, quickly swiping away the notifications from Yunho and Wooyoung. Satisfied, he opened his delivery app to order some food. He decided to continue packing while he waited, moving to the bathroom to sort through his disaster of hair products.

The food arrived shortly after, and Hongjoong shoveled it down while watching a random YouTube video. He went back to work, and before he knew it, he was moving to the kitchen and repeating the process in there.

His mind was clear while he worked, the argument from earlier fading to the back of his mind, with only the imprint of the words lingering on his skin. He packed for hours, neatly placing things in boxes and labeling them properly. It wasn’t until it was late, the sky having gone dark long ago, that he allowed himself to stop. He all but fell into his bed, sleep claiming him as soon as he shut his eyes.

♪ ༘⋆

He slept in the next day, groggily patting around for his phone to check the time. It was late afternoon, and he had several messages from his boss telling him to just take the rest of the week off. It bugged him, but he ignored the prickly feeling on his skin. There were a few messages from Seonghwa that he checked, confirming the details for Wednesday.

As he stared at the messages, a new notification popped up; Jongho, whom he hadn’t bothered to mute, who handled Hongjoong differently than the others when he got into his head.

The message was simple, just a beer emoji with a question mark. Hongjoong smiled slightly, a mere upturn of his lips. He sent back a thumbs up, watching as it was immediately read.

Hongjoong tossed his phone aside, getting up and stretching before quickly taking a shower and brushing his teeth. Jongho arrived not long after with a firm knock on the door, a case of beer, and some chips in his hands.

They moved silently to the couch, Hongjoong still trying to wake up as he automatically accepted the beverage Jongho handed to him.

“So…” the youngest eventually said, watching as Hongjoong grimaced at a sip.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Jongho leaned back, ripping open a bag of chips and setting it between them. A peace offering.

“You’re going to be more specific. There’s a lot I could be talking about.”

Hongjoong gave him a pointed stare, grabbing a handful of chips and munching on them. “I’m sure Yunho told you everything. There’s not much more than that.”

Jongho nodded, grabbing the remote to throw on some documentary in the background. It helped Hongjoong feel less pressured, like the focus wasn’t solely on him.

“Honestly, I have that chat muted. All I know is he kept whining that he fucked up and you hate him.”

“So you came to check up on me, to make sure I’m taking care of myself?”

“I came here to hang out with my friend,” he corrected. “We’ve both been busy, and before that ‘big kid sleepover’, I haven’t seen you in nearly a month.”

Hongjoong hummed, lowering his guard as he nodded.

“Besides, I think Yunho and Wooyoung would be upset with me if they knew I was feeding you beer and chips.”

Hongjoong scoffed, giving him a light kick as he leaned into the corner of the couch. “You all act like you’re taking care of a child when you check up on me.”

“I’d compare it more to feeding a wild squirrel. They try to give you seeds and berries, and I provide the acorns. The good shit.”

Hongjoong kicked him again, laughing at the comparison. Jongho laughed along, settling more comfortably on his side of the couch to face Hongjoong properly.

“So,” he started, clear curiosity in his eyes. “What do you want to tell me?”

Hongjoong searched his eyes, finally sighing before explaining everything from the beginning. When he received his soulmate mark, when Seonghwa left, seeing him again, all up until Yunho came over the day before.

Jongho didn’t interrupt, nodding slowly to show his understanding. He didn’t judge, didn’t tell Hongjoong he was ridiculous or had made the wrong decision. He merely listened, because that was enough.

“So Yunho got upset with you because you agreed to move in, and that led to an argument?”

“Yeah, pretty much. I feel like something was bothering him; he just seemed so… off. But…”

“But that’s still not a reason to take it out on you,” Jongho reassured. He let a hand fall to the other’s knee before grimacing and quickly drawing it back.

“He said that I try to make the people around me leave. That it’s hard to get me to talk, to let others care for me. And it hurt because he’s not wrong.”

The realization hit him hard; the reason behind the heavy layers on his skin, the buzz in the back of his skull that the alcohol barely lessened. It hurt because it’s what he feared, what he thought Seonghwa had felt when he never reached out after leaving.

“Do you want people to leave?”

Hongjoong quickly shook his head, reaching for another can. “No. It’s hard to get close to people because of how I felt when I thought Seonghwa abandoned me. But I don’t know what I would do if you guys left me now. I don’t think I could handle it.”

“Then he’s wrong. Sure, you don’t let yourself be taken care of the way we want to, but that doesn’t mean you’re actively pushing us away. It’s hard to accept help from others when you can barely accept help from yourself.”

Jongho said it so simply, and the words washed away the prickling on his body the way the lukewarm water couldn’t before.

“You’re right, though; Yunho wouldn’t usually say that. It’s not an excuse, but it’s something to think about.”

Hongjoong nodded slowly, letting everything sink in. “I still don’t want to talk to him quite yet,” he said softly, hesitance in his voice.

“You don’t have to. I think it’s better if you both sit down when you’re ready. Just don’t sit there thinking that he hates you, or that he cares about you any less than the rest of us.”

They switched to lighter topics after that; what they’d been getting up to, what they thought of San’s friends, things in the news. Simple conversations, ones much lighter and helped to clear the weight from his shoulders.

Jongho slept over that night, offering to get coffee together in the morning and kill time before Hongjoong had to visit Seonghwa’s apartment. It was cloudy, and they took a walk through a nearby park as they drank overpriced coffee and chatted. They went shopping, Jongho begrudgingly letting Hongjoong pick out some outfits for him.

They finished about an hour before Hongjoong was supposed to meet Seonghwa at the school, so they grabbed a snack from a nearby convenience store. Their conversation lulled as they ate, the day and the night before catching up to the usually quiet duo.

Eventually, it was time, and Hongjoong found himself standing awkwardly on the sidewalk as a few students still waited for their parents to pick them up. Seonghwa finally came out of the gates, dressed in slacks and a pretty cardigan that matched the falling leaves around them.

He beamed as he saw Hongjoong, gesturing for him to follow him to the car. Hongjoong quickly caught up to him, grabbing some of the binders he had clutched in his arms.

“Thanks! I have to grade some stuff, but if you want, I could make some dinner, and we can watch a movie?”

Hongjoong hummed, handing the binders over for Seonghwa to set in the backseat. “You don’t have to cook if you’re tired. I don’t mind ordering takeout.”

Seonghwa waved him off and started the car, waiting for Hongjoong to buckle his seatbelt. “I promised you home-cooked meals, and I intend to keep that promise.”

Hongjoong laughed, shaking his head as he watched the buildings go by.

“Hwa, I haven't even seen the place yet! What if I hate it and change my mind?”

Seonghwa gasped, glancing at him in offense before flicking on his turn signal. “First off, rude. I'll have you know my apartment is the best out of everyone's. And it's too late to change your mind! I'll lock the door and never let you leave.”

Hongjoong smiled, the threat having the opposite effect of Seonghwa’s intent. The rest of the drive passed with simple conversation, Seonghwa talking animatedly about something his students had said earlier in the day.

Hongjoong helped him carry his stuff into the building, eyes widening at the lobby. It was bright and welcoming, and the elevators made the one in Hongjoong’s building look like kids' toys.

Seonghwa lived on the eighth floor, and the ride was smooth as the elevator played a soft tune in the background. Seonghwa was talking about ideas for dinner as he led Hongjoong down the hallways, fumbling with his keys for a moment before ushering him inside.

Seonghwa sighed as he tossed his keys in the bowl by the door, shrugging off his cardigan and hanging it neatly on a hook. Hongjoong admired the cleanliness of the apartment, decorated neatly with a homey feel to it.

“Well,” Seonghwa started as he managed to finally get his boots off. “Shall I start the tour?”