The next morning, Soobin woke up first. As his gaze landed on Yeonjun, still sound asleep, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. He decided to wake Yeonjun as if nothing had happened the night before.
"Yeonjun-ah, wake up," Soobin said softly, gently shaking his shoulder.
Yeonjun stirred awake, groaning as he sat up. The pounding headache hit him immediately, and his face contorted in discomfort. "Ah, my head..." he muttered, clutching his temples.
Soobin handed him a glass of water with a knowing look. "Drink this. It'll help," he said, his tone calm and casual, betraying nothing about the events of the night before.
Yeonjun took the water gratefully, downing it in one go. He felt nauseous and disoriented. "What even happened last night?" he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples as if that would help jog his memory.
Soobin, already prepared for this moment, replied, "You got a little tipsy and went to bed."
Yeonjun nodded absentmindedly, not catching the subtle edge to Soobin's words. He stumbled into the bathroom for a shower, hoping the cold water would wash away his discomfort.
But as the water cascaded over him, fragments of last night began to surface. The warmth of Soobin's hands on his back, the kisses, and the undeniable intensity of their shared moment came flooding back.
He froze under the water, his heart racing. What have I done? Panic began to set in. He didn't know how to face Soobin now, didn't know if he'd crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed.
When he finally stepped out of the shower, Yeonjun made a decision. I'll act like I don't remember anything. He convinced himself it was the best way to avoid any awkwardness or confrontation.
Emerging from the bathroom with a forced casualness, he joined Soobin and the others-for breakfast. Everyone seemed in good spirits, and Yeonjun made it a point to smile and engage as if nothing weighed on his mind.
The morning passed with light conversation and laughter as they played games together.
Yeonjun couldn't shake the feeling of Soobin's eyes occasionally lingering on him, but he pushed it aside.
Soobin, on the other hand, noticed every subtle shift in Yeonjun's behavior. He saw the way Yeonjun avoided looking at him directly for too long, the slight tension in his posture. But Soobin didn't push. For now, he decided to match Yeonjun's energy, pretending that everything was normal.
By afternoon, things felt almost natural again as they continued to hang out together. Yet beneath the surface, unspoken thoughts and emotions lingered between Soobin and Yeonjun, waiting for the right moment to surface.
-------
It was nearing midnight. The others-Taehyun, Beomgyu, and Kai-had already retired to their rooms, leaving Yeonjun and Soobin alone. The two had decided to take a walk after finishing a movie. The cool night air was refreshing, and the silence was comfortable.
Yeonjun tilted his head back, gazing at the expanse of stars above. "The stars are looking so beautiful," he murmured, his voice soft with awe.
Soobin, walking beside him, wasn't looking at the stars. His eyes were fixed on Yeonjun, the way his features glowed in the moonlight, the way his eyes reflected the tiny lights in the sky. To Soobin, nothing in the universe was more beautiful than Yeonjun in this moment.
Yeonjun noticed Soobin's silence and turned to him. "What are you staring at?" he asked with a small laugh.
Soobin quickly averted his gaze, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Nothing," he replied, his voice betraying his embarrassment.
They continued walking until Soobin suddenly stepped behind Yeonjun and gently placed his hands over his eyes.
"Huh? Soobin, what are you doing?" Yeonjun asked, confused but intrigued.
"Just trust me," Soobin said with a chuckle. "Walk straight and carefully. I'll guide you."
Yeonjun tried to protest, but Soobin's firm yet gentle hold convinced him to comply. "Alright, but if I trip, you're the one who's carrying me back," Yeonjun joked, making Soobin laugh softly.
As Soobin guided him along the path, Yeonjun's curiosity grew. "Where are we going? What are you planning?"
"Patience," Soobin said, his tone teasing. "We're almost there."
Finally, Soobin stopped. "Okay, you can open your eyes now," he said, removing his hands.
Yeonjun blinked a few times to adjust to the dim glow of lights, and when his vision cleared, his jaw dropped.
In front of him was a small, beautiful setup. A table was covered with a white tablecloth, surrounded by sheer curtains that swayed gently in the breeze. Strings of fairy lights hung above, casting a warm glow over the scene. But what caught Yeonjun's attention the most were the photos hanging from the lights-pictures of their childhood together, photos from their recent adventures, and candid moments Yeonjun didn't even know Soobin had captured.
On the table sat a small cake, adorned with simple decorations with a cute little fox and the words "Happy Birthday Yeonjun" written in elegant script. A bouquet of Yeonjun's favorite flowers rested beside the cake.
Yeonjun's hand flew to his mouth, his eyes glistened with unshed tears as he turned to face Soobin. Without a second thought, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Soobin, holding him as though he'd never let go.
"Happy birthday, Yeonjun-ah," Soobin whispered warmly, his arms gently encircling Yeonjun in return.
Yeonjun pulled back slightly, just enough to meet Soobin's gaze, and smiled softly. "Happy birthday, Bin-ah," he replied, his voice tender and full of emotion.
Taking a step back, Yeonjun then reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. Opening it, he revealed two delicate silver chains nestled inside. Soobin's eyes widened in surprise as Yeonjun carefully took out one of the chains.
"This..." Yeonjun began, his voice soft and trembling, "I wanted to give you this."
He held up the chain, and Soobin noticed the charm hanging from it-a small pendant shaped like a half-heart, with the letter Y engraved on it. His chest tightened as Yeonjun gently fastened the chain around his neck, letting it rest against his skin.
"There," Yeonjun said, his voice laced with a mixture of nervousness and affection. "It's yours."
Soobin's hand instinctively went to touch the pendant, his fingers trembling as he stared at Yeonjun, speechless. Before he could respond, Yeonjun took out the second chain, this one with an S engraved on the other half of the heart. He handed it to Soobin with a smile.
"You...you put it on me?" Yeonjun asked, his cheeks tinged with pink.
Soobin nodded, his own hands shaking as he gently placed the chain around Yeonjun's neck. The charm fell perfectly in place, its half-heart completing the one Soobin now wore.
Yeonjun brought their chains together, the two halves clicking softly to form a complete heart. "See?" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "They fit perfectly...just like us."
Soobin's eyes welled up, a single tear slipping down his cheek. He pulled Yeonjun into a tight embrace, holding him as though he'd never let go.
"Yeonjun-ah," Soobin whispered, his voice breaking. "This is... I don't even know what to say. Thank you."
Yeonjun smiled, wiping away Soobin's tears. "You don't have to say anything. Just...wear it, always."
Soobin couldn't hold back anymore. He wrapped Yeonjun in a tight hug again, his emotions spilling over as he cried quietly, like a child finally finding comfort. Yeonjun simply held him, caressing his back soothingly, letting him release everything he had been holding inside.
"Thank you, Yeonjun ah," Soobin whispered against his shoulder. "For everything."
"When did you plan all this?" Yeonjun asked after a while, his voice still gentle but curious.
Soobin sniffled and managed a small smile. "Yesterday. After you fell asleep in the room."
Yeonjun nodded with a soft hmm, his expression touched.
They both sat down on the chairs, side by side, and together they cut the cake. The sweetness of the moment filled the air, their quiet laughter making it all the more special.
Afterward, Yeonjun noticed the photos hanging with the lights. His eyes widened as he spotted a few pictures of himself asleep. "Yah, Choi Soobin, you shouldn't take photos without my permission!" he exclaimed, pointing accusingly at the pictures.
Soobin smirked, clearly amused. "Oh, really? I seem to recall a certain someone taking a selfie with me while I was asleep on my book."
Yeonjun's mouth fell open. "How do you know about that?" he asked, flustered. "But wait-that was one photo! You took like six of me!"
Soobin laughed softly, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. From now on, I'll ask your permission before taking a picture of you."
Their laughter echoed softly in the night as they leaned back in their chairs, looking up at the sky. Yeonjun rested his head on Soobin's shoulder, the quiet intimacy of the moment filling the space between them.
As Soobin glanced down, he noticed Yeonjun's eyelids beginning to droop. "Come on, Yeonjun-ah," he said softly. "Let's head back to the room and get some sleep."
Yeonjun hummed in agreement, his voice a sleepy murmur. One thing was clear in his mind as they walked back: he would tell Soobin everything-about JISUL.
But not tonight.
For now, he wanted to savor the warmth and peace of being with Soobin.
End of Chapter 16
25/11/2024
to be continued...
Hey everyone!
I finally got some time to write, and I'm super excited to share the latest update with you all! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Oh, and there's a new character introduced-what do you think about Jisul? I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories!
On a side note, I've just finished my internals and now I have my externals coming up with five subjects to tackle. It's a busy time, but your support and patience mean the world to me. Thank you for sticking with me! 💕
Can't wait to hear what you think of the update!
Love,
EUNHAE