Work Text:
1
Wooyoung slumps in a booth at the karaoke bar nursing a beer as he looks around, Don’t get him wrong - Wooyoung loves his friends, he really does, but going out with them these days just serves as a painful reminder for how single he really is. Before Mingi started dating Seonghwa-hyung when it was just the “99s squad” it wasn’t that bad, as Yunho and San were the only lovey-dovey ones – so he still had Mingi and Yeosang. But now, even Yeosang, the betrayer, paired off with Seonghwa’s scarily-strong dongsaeng. Truly – the only saving grace of their newly merged friend group was Seonghwa’s best friend Hongjoong. Also single and, if you asked Wooyoung, the most fun to tease. The thing was he wasn’t even here, bailing out on their group karaoke night because he had to “work on a project”, and so Wooyoung sulked in a corner feeling like the ultimate fifth wheel… or seventh wheel as the case was.
Suddenly he feels the seat dip next to him and a solid weight against his side. He looks up to see San peering at him all sneakily.
“What’s got you all sour?” his best friend asks.
“‘M not sour…” mumbles Wooyoung, pout evident in his voice.
“Sure… Is it because your new favourite hyung isn’t here?”
“What?! No!” Wooyoung immediately protests. He doesn’t actually care about Hongjoong-hyung that much… “It’s because you are all disgustingly in-love,” he makes a face to prove his point.
“But Wooyoung-ah you looove us being in love.” San makes a kissy face at him making Wooyoung bat at him irritatedly (he does love them though). “Anyway, I heard Seonghwa-hyung say that Hongjoongie-hyung might actually come in the end. He finished earlier than expected or something”
“Oh?” Wooyoung tries not to let his excitement show. San nods
“SO you will get your man soon! No need to sulk”
“I’m not sulking! And he’s not my man!”
“Uh huh…” That’s all San manages to say before he is enveloped in a hug from Yunho and all but melts, getting instantly pulled into their in-loveisms.
Honestly, one would have thought that after 5 years together, this honeymoon-phase like behaviour would have already mellowed down, but not these two apparently. Wooyoung sips his beer to the sound of Mingi’s passionate rapping. It isn’t until 4 songs from his friends later later that the booth seat dips in on his other side. Two-coloured hair sliding into view.
“Miss me?” Hongjoong asks with a shit-eating grin on his face. Wooyoung wants to wipe it off.
“As if!” he pouts exaggeratedly. “But you left me alone with all of these lovesick clowns! You have to make it up to me now!”
“Oh yeah?” asks Hongjoong. “And how shall I do that, hm?”
Wooyoung pretends to think for a minute, tapping on his lips with his finger. He notices Hongjoong lean in slightly just as he comes up with an answer, finger shooting up in the air between them.
“I know! Sing me a song! But not a rap song. It needs to be proper singing!” he smiles wide. Hongjoong smiles back at him softly.
“Alright. Let me get a beer and then I’ll see what I can do.”
It isn’t until 10 minutes later that Hongjoong is actually standing in front of the microphone, with first notes of G-Dragon’s “This Love” karaoke version playing. Within the first few lines Wooyoung can tell that it’s really no challenge for his hyung. He’s hitting the notes perfectly, his voice gliding smoothly along the melody. He chose well - his timbre of voice really lending itself well to cover the infamous GD. And the bastard knows it too, winking at Wooyoung as he croons “ This love got me high, I'm soarin' / Baby girl, you know I live for it ”
When Hongjoong comes back to the booth he has a smug smile on his face.
“So how did I do? Are you satisfied with my make-up song?” he tilts his head pretending to be cute, and Wooyoung has to stop himself from shoving at him lightly. Ugh, he’s so annoying sometimes - it brings up Wooyoung’s cute aggression.
“Hmmm, I don’t know Hyung. It kinda feels like cheating. G-Dragon is a rapper after all so it wasn’t like a ballad or anything”
“That was not part of your terms, so - I sung you a song as you wanted” Hongjoong raises his eyebrow, and Wooyoung feels his breath hitch a bit. “I heard from a little birdie though that you haven’t sung yet at all. That’s not like you”
“I wasn’t in the mood” Wooyoung shrugs.
“Well, how about now?”
“Mmmm… I might…” Wooyoung muses. He actually does love karaoke, he should get up to that mike.
“Alright, so do the next song and when you get back, I’ll have a fresh beer for you and some fried chicken, hm? Hyung’s treat.” Wooyoung can’t quite read the smile on Hongjoong’s face but he’s not about to say no to fresh food and drinks, so he grins back.
“You got yourself a deal hyung!” he says and scrambles out to the booth to pick a song.
He sings BTS’s “Blood, Sweat & Tears” (and does so perfectly, thank you very much. He worked hard on getting those raps right). Hongjoong smiles at him as he walks back and stands up to let wooyoung back into his seat and walk to the bar himself.
“So, not your man, hm?” Wooyoung hears San’s mocking voice as he settles.
“Stooop, he’s just being a good hyung!” he whines at his best friend”
“Yeah, and that’s why you’re the only one he’s buying chicken and drinks for. Not even for Hwa-hyung - and they’ve known each other for years. Not even for Jongho!”
“Yeah but you all have boyfriends or dates so what’s you point? I’m the only single one, He should take care of me!”
“Right, keep telling yourself that.” San rolls his eyes and Wooyoung bites him in retaliation.
2
Wooyoung looks at the clock on his phone to check the time. It says 10:07 which means Hongjoong is now 7 minutes late. It’s not a big deal, but it’s kind of chilly and Wooyoung kind of wishes he was inside the cozy cafe already. He’s not going to go in by himself however, since it’s Hongjoong was the one who suggested they go to the newly opened puppy cafe. Finally, Wooyoung can see Hongjoong’s split-dyed hair as the man weaves his way through the Saturday morning crowds. He grunts out his hello as he arrives in front of the cafe.
“Hi, hyung. Not to be rude, but you look like death” Wooyoung points out boldly. Hongjoong grunts again.
“I feel like death” he responds.
“Hyuuuuung,” Wooyoung whines. “Did you even sleep at all? You didn’t have to come, we could have rescheduled…”
Hongjoong sighs combing a hand through his hair.
“I… slept some… It’s fine. I wanted to come here with you. Just get some caffeine in me and I’ll be all good”
Wooyoung narrows his eyes. This hyung honestly! But ultimately he gives in. He really wanted to visit this puppy cafe. “Alright, let’s get in then.”
The cafe inside is warm and cozy, with poufs and arm chairs around round tables. There’s a few curious puppies of various sizes roaming around, approaching the customers who are already sitting in the cafe. Wooyoung and Hongjoong make their way to the counter to order their coffees and some of the pastries from the display. The cafe staff that checks them out informs them curtly about the rules of the place: let the dogs approach you, you can pet them, give them the special treats provided in small containers on each table - but not any human food, the cafe operates as a foster-home so if you bond with a puppy you can approach the staff to start a pre-adoption check process. Wooyoung and Hongjoong confirm they understood, pick up their orders at the other end of the counter and choose a table to sit down.
“So, hyung, how’s the exhibition? Is that what kept you up?” Wooyoung asks, looking from the corner of his eyes at the puppies slowly sniffing around them but not approaching yet.
“In part yeah. I’ve been crunching a bit to edit the session photos for one of my clients,” Hongjoong was by no means a big photographer yet, but it seemed like in recent months he gained more popularity, leading to him getting more contracts, all amidst him trying to open his first artistic photography exhibition. “and then yeah - the exhibit. I am in the middle of sorting out some details with the hosting gallery…” he breaks off to take a sip of coffee, just as a larger black-and-white puppy starts pawing at his leg. Hongjoong pets it lightly, scratching it behind its ears.
Wooyoung opens the treat box to give one to the little guy, and he might as well have opened the floodgates, as soon several more puppies come running to their table, clearly having already learned what it sounds like when they are about to get treats. Wooyoung and hongjoong don’t have enough hands to pet all of them or give them the little doggie crackers. Some pups run to different tables as soon as they get their treat, but a few stick around. Wooyoung takes a break from the petting to take another sip of his coffee. Suddenly he feels pulling at the hem of his jeans. He looks down to see a small white puppy with patches of brown fur tugging at the leg of his trousers.
“Oi!” He says sternly, picking up the pup to look at it at his eye-level. It seems like the doggy is not afraid of him however as it immediately, as it lunges a bit to lick at his nose, but not making any squirming moves suggest that it wants to escape Wooyoung’s grasp. Wooyoung giggles. “That’s okay I guess. You’re too cute to be angry at you anyway.”
He puts the puppy into his own lap where it settles comfortably. Wooyoung pets it gently, already feeling it tug at his heartstrings. Oh no… he might leave here with a pup… he thinks. He glances briefly at the nametag which says ‘Cali’. When he looks up he sees Hongjoong smiling at him softly.
“Hmmm?” Wooyoung hums questioningly. Hongjoong shakes his head with the smile.
“Nothing, nothing. You’re really cute Wooyoung-ah” Wooyoung is about to protest saying it’s the puppy that is cute, but Hongjoong continues “Do you mind if I take a photo of you two?”
“Oh yeah, no, I don’t mind at all.” Wooyoung says petting the pup, as Hongjoong pulls out one of his smaller cameras.
Wooyoung poses with the puppy, bringing it up to his face to give it kisses, letting Cali lay in his hand, with legs hanging to the sides of his wrist as it falls asleep softly and showing it to the camera, all the time smiling widely like a proud dad. Hongjoong snaps the pics and then hides the camera, resuming their conversation. At some point he stands up to get himself another coffee, this hyung - honestly. He should take better care of himself… any other day Wooyoung would scold him but he feels like Hongjoong really needs the caffeine today.
Time flies between the conversation and petting and playing with the puppies, and before either of them realises it, it has become an afternoon. Wooyoung’s stomach rumbles loudly in protest of him having not eaten anything since the initial pastry he ordered, and startles the pup asleep in his arms in the process. Wooyoung chuckles to hide his embarrassment.
Hongjoong looks at the clock. “Oh I’m so sorry Wooyoung-ah. I didn’t realise I took so much of your time.”
Wooyoung smiles at this and waves his hand.
“Not at all hyung. You know it’s my day off, and I loved to spend it with you”
“Oh…”
“Yeah! Us, singles, gotta stick together yeah?!” Wooyoung grins. Hongjoong briefly appears stunned but composes himself before Wooyoung can question it.
“Yeah… Well in that case, since you so enjoy my company, what if we go to eat together as well.”
“YES! I know just the perfect place. They have the best japchae I’ve eaten in Seoul. Well, except mine of course” Wooyoung speaks excitedly. “Anyway, yes, let’s eat. But!”
“But?” Hongjoong raises his eyebrow
“Can you wait for me a bit, I think I want to ask about adopting Cali.”
“Oh yeah, sure. I assumed you would. Since you haven’t let it out of your hands at all” Hongjoong responds grinning.
“Well yeah” Wooyoung doesn’t even bother fighting his hyung on that.
He bounds off to the counter to ask the staff about the adoption process. He is given a bunch of papers to fill in and tries to do that as quickly as possible but it takes a good 20 minutes before he is done. By the time they head out of the cafe, wooyoung with a task of checking with his apartment management what’s the pet policy and a promise of getting a call about the apartment check from an adoption rep, both he and Hongjoong are seriously hungry. They don’t make it to the japchae place, instead settling for a small gukbap place nearby. The food is very tasty, and Wooyoung settles back on the park bench happily with a full stomach, looking at hongjoong who’s still finishing his portion. Yeah, this hyung is a good one.
3
Wooyoung gets out of the metro station and glances at the Naver map in his phone to figure out which way he should go to get to the little warehouse-turned-art studio Hongjoong said to meet him at. When Hongjoong asked him to meet so shortly after their last outing Wooyoung was a little taken aback. But he figured out his hyung was probably feeling a little lonely when he was not working - with Seonghwa having moved from their shared flat to Mingi’s and Jongho also starting to date Yeosang in just the last couple of months. Pretty much mirroring Wooyoung’s own situation. And Wooyoung was happy to be his new best friend. It gave him excellent material to tease both his hyungs, as well as San.
The studio luckily hasn’t been far from the station and Wooyoung got there relatively easy. Hongjoong is already waiting for him and smiles at him as Wooyoung approaches.
“Hi hyung! I hope you haven’t been waiting long?”
“Not at all, I just got here myself. Let’s head in shall we? The session is about to start soon.”
“The session?” Wooyoung asks. He hasn’t actually known much about what they were supposed to do here.
Hongjoong hums opening the door for Wooyoung and then walking in after him. “Oh right I haven’t explained what this is right?. It's like a wine and paint session, but for the wine part it’s actually also tasting.”
“Really?” Wooyoung queries as they take off their coats and shoes to stuff them into a locker.
“Yeah, I figured it could work great for both of us. I could be artsy without the pressure of the exhibition in the back of my mind, and you get to try wines and learn more about them. Could be useful for your new bougie clients if you gotta pair wines with their dinner.” Hongjoong explains and Wooyoung marvels at his hyung’s thoughtfulness. His meal prep home-chef business still isn’t big, but it’s a nice side hustle, and he recently got recommended to a client who’s one of the higher ups in a well-known company.
As they get to the registration desk, Hongjoong confirms their booking for tonight. They get pointed out the room and walk in there to take their seats. There are a few other people around, some couples and some smaller friend groups (mainly women) it seems like. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. They pick the two easels to the left of the rooms and settle down.
“So how is it going with Cali?” Hongjoong asks Wooyoung while they wait for the instructor.
“The building administration and the landlord agreed. I already paid the extra pet deposit. The visit from the adoption agency also went well, so now I’m waiting for a call from the adoption agency about when I can pick her up.”
“Oh that’s great Young-ah” Hongjoong smiles, and Wooyoung can feel himself blush lightly at the diminutive version of his name. It’s weird though because many of his friends call him that and usually he doesn’t blush, so why…
He doesn’t have much more time to think about it though, as this is when the instructor walks into the room. She has her hair gathered into a short ponytail.
“Hello everyone! My name is Chungha, and I’ll be leading this session today. If you haven’t been to one like this before, let me explain how it works. Each of you has a canvas in front of you along with the paints, a mixing palette, variety of brushes and other tools, as well as an apron - which I suggest you all wear since it’s all too easy to get stains on your clothes.” Wooyoung grabs the apron and puts it quickly on himself, and then helps Hongjoong who got slightly tangled in his, as the instructor continues speaking. “You can paint whatever you want. It can be a landscape, a portrait, still nature, or abstract. We have lots of props on the shelves you can use, or photos and pictures on the walls for inspiration. As you paint throughout the evening we’ll be bringing out various wines for you to try and telling you a little about them. This session is planned to last around 3 hours. At the end of the night you’ll be able to take home your paintings, we will also provide you with small guidebooks to the wines along with discount coupons to our befriended specialty-liquor store who supplied all our bottles for tonight. Are there any questions?” She looks around, but no one gives any indication they have things to ask so she says “Allright, look around for your inspiration then. We’ll bring out the first wine in a few minutes.”
Wooyoung stands up along with the others. He looks over the props on the shelves and all the art hanging on the walls, before he settles on a photograph. It shows a beach with stormy sea, the sky above it all grey. It reminds him of home, and also the photo itself feels somewhat familiar.
He sits down with the photo next to Hongjoong who is setting up two hand-mannequins into a pose. Hongjoong briefly glances at the photo Woouyoung places on the smaller easel, and suddenly chokes seemingly on nothing. Wooyoung instinctually thumps his back.
“You alright hyung?” he asks, worried.
“Yeah. Yeah. I’m good Young-ah. Thanks. Uh… I like the photo you chose…”
“Yeah? I like it too.”
Wooyoung’s talking gets interrupted as suddenly a member of the studio’s staff appears near them and pours a white wine into their glasses. The instructor at the front starts speaking again.
“I hope you all chose your props or inspiration pieces, we will be starting the tasting now as well. What you have in your glasses is a Pouilly-Fumé. It’s a dry white wine from the Loire Valley region of france. It’s made from Sauvignon-Blanc grapes. It is a dry, crisp whine and pairs wonderfully with seafood dishes.”
Wooyoung swishes the wine in the glass and takes a sip, grimacing lightly at the tannins. It is a good wine though, he can tell. The instructor continues to talk about the wine as Wooyoung sets the glass back on the table and starts adding paints to his palette and begins painting. The evening proceeds slowly as they sip and paint, talking quietly with hongjoong. The instructor walks around the room whenever she’s not explaining about the wines. Eventually, she approaches them as well.
“Hongjoong-ah, my lovely dongsaeng!” she chirps, enveloping Hongjoong in a hug, as the man squirms and cringes and tries to move away.
“Hi, sunbae,” he eventually says when she releases him from the embrace.
“Yah! I told you to call me noona!” she mock-scolds him.
“You two know each other?” a question escapes Wooyoung before he can stop himself.
“Uh, yeah. Chungha- noona was my senior at the Seoul Institute of the Arts.” Explains Hongjoong.
“That’s right,” she nods. “Hongjoongie here was my adorable dongsaeng. And yet you forgot to forgot to introduce me to your lovely companion here” she says, directing it at Hongjoong.
“Ah, right. This is my… this is Wooyoung.”
The tips of Hongjoong’s ears turn suddenly red. The wine must be getting to him - he must be a bit of a light-head. But Wooyoung doesn’t have time to wonder now, how he will get his future-drunk hyung home in several hours, as Chungha’s attention is now on him.
“Nice to meet you seonsaengnim” he says politely and bows as much as his sitting position allows him.
“Oh, no need for that Wooyoung-ssi. Any… friend of Hongjoong is a friend of mine.” She smiles. “And please call me noona as well.”
“Oh, thank you… noona.”
Chungha looks pleased.
“You chose a nice photo for inspiration, I see. Did you know Hongjoongie here provided us that?”
Hongjoong makes an aborted sound but Wooyoung is too surprised to pay much mind to that.
“It’s Hongjoong-hyung’s picture?” he asks.
“Yup. Most of the photos we have here are the ones he took and gave me. Said they didn’t fit his portfolio vibe, but I think they are super nice and we can always use new inspiration pieces.”
“They are super nice, hyung!” Wooyoung assures, looking at Hongjoong.
“Thanks Wooyoung-ah” Hongjoong mumbles. The blush seems to have spread a little. Definitely a light-head.
“Alright, I’ll leave you to your paintings. We’ll be bringing the next wine soon,” Chungha says as she walks away.
“Maybe you can sit this one out, hyung” Wooyoung suggests.
“Hm?”
“The wine. You can pace yourself, it’s alright if you don’t drink as much as others here.”
“Oh, I’m alright Wooyoung-ah. Just a little tipsy.” Hongjoong says, his focus firmly on the painting in front of him.
“Hmmm… If you say so. But if you puke in the taxi back home, I am not paying for the cleaning fee.”
“You brat!” Hongjoong huffs. “See if I take you somewhere nice ever again!”
4
He does take Wooyoung once again somewhere nice it seems.
Wooyoung climbs into Hongjoongs car and fastens the seatbelt. He doesn’t know where they are going exactly but it must be nice since Hongjoong told him to ‘dress smart’ and insisted that he will pick Wooyoung up to take him to their secret birthday ‘date’, friend date, birthday friend date. It’s his first time leaving Cali at home by herself since he formally adopted her. Normally if he’s out Yeosang is home, but today Yeosang had to stay out much longer. Cali is much bigger than when he first saw her though, and she settled in really well so it should be fine, he thinks.
Wooyoung looks at the road as Hongjoong confidently drives them into the Gangam district. And when they park, Wooyoung can’t help but notice how close they are to the acclaimed Mingles.
“No way!” He says. “Hyung, really?”
“Really” Hongjoong says with his signature smug smile.
“I’m not sure I can afford this place” Wooyoung says as they slowly walk up to the restaurant.
“Well, it’s good that I am paying then.”
“Hyuuung”
“As a hyung I want to treat you for our birthdays. And also I just got paid really well for my recent photoshoot.”
“Oh… in that case… I guess I’ll order whatever and however much I want” Wooyoung grins mischievously, but Hongjoong only smiles placidly at him.
They enter the restaurant. and approach the hostess stand, where two other pairs are already congregated. The hostess looks slightly nervous as she looks at her notes and the people in front of her.
“I’m very sorry, it seems there was some error in the bookings, and your two reservations got conflated and moved to a four person table…”
“Well, don’t you have a two-person one we could move to?” A large middle-aged man booms angrily.
“I’m very sorry sir, but we’re fully booked in tonight.”
“I SAW an empty table as we walked through the floor.”
“Sir, that table has another reservation attached to it. And I think these guests have just arrived.” The hostess says calmly, at the same time acknowledging that she noticed Hongjoong and Wooyoung’s arrival.
The other couple stands calmly, discussing quietly with each other. Until one of them speaks up.
“That’s alright, we will forgo our reservation tonight. They can have the table”
The voice sounds familiar, and as the middle-aged man harrumphs triumphantly, Wooyoung asks loudly “San?”
The couple turn around and they are indeed San and Yunho.
“Oh I have an idea!” Wooyoung announces and turns to address the hostess “Miss, no need to cancel any reservations. We will move to the four-person table with these misters, and the other gentleman and his lady can have our two-person table.” He then turns to look at Hongjoong who has an odd expression on his face, before he schools it back into a smile. “Is that alright with you hyung? I think they should still let us split check into two”
“Yeah, it’s alright Young-ah. Let’s do it like this.” He confirms to the hostess, who thanks them clearly relieved and takes the middle-aged couple to their new table while calling over her colleague to lead them to the four-seater.
As they sit down, a reflection dawns on Wooyoung.
“Oh my gosh, Yunho, San - we totally crashed your date, didn’t we? I’m so sorry”
“Nah, it’s okay Young-ah. We crashed yours so I guess we’re even”
“Ah, it’s just a friend-date, nothing serious” Wooyoung protests just as Hongjoong says
“It’s no problem Yunho-ya. We can call it a double d…” He breaks off with that odd expression, hearing Wooyoung’s words. But Wooyoung does not have a chance to question it as they’re interrupted by a server with the menus.
Hongjoong takes the opportunity to excuse himself to go to the toilet. Wooyoung looks after him with a furrowed brow. San sighs loudly in the seat opposite to him.
“What?” Wooyoung snaps.
“You should stop denying that you’re dating. It’s obviously hurting hyung.” San drawls
“What? But we aren’t… Me and hyung just hang out because we're both single you know.”
“Uh huh… Sure…” San deadpans, raising his eyebrow.
“God, I am so glad you were never this obtuse…” says Yunho, kissing San on the cheek. Wooyoung’s best friend all but preens (seriously how are they still so cheesy after 5 years).
Wooyoung pouts though as it gets to him that Yunho called him obtuse. He is not.
That’s just the moment when Hongjoong comes back. Gone is the odd expression, replaced by a perfectly neutral face.
“Why are you pouting Young-ah?” He asks.
“Yunho was rude to me”
“I’m sure whatever he said, he was completely right” The tone of Hongjoongs voice tells Wooyoung his hyung is teasing him.
“Hyuuuuung,” he still whines at Hongjoong. “You should be on my side.”
“Oh should I?” Hongjoong teases further. “But Young-ah, you keep rejecting me…”
“This is not fair,” Wooyoung mutters. “It’s three against one, I did not sign up to be teased like that,” he says, theatrically picking up his menu and hiding his face behind it.
He hears Hongjoong chuckle and feels as the older man pats his shoulder placatingly.
5
Wooyoung walks in through the gallery door a little nervously. He tried to dress the best he could to match the vibe, and brought flowers for Hongjoong to congratulate him on the exhibition. It’s been so many months of hard work for his hyung, he was happy to support him. That didn’t help with his nervousness. Or the fact that he felt so out of place.
Wooyoung giveshis name to the host with the guest list, and once his invitation is confirmed he is let into the exhibition room. He can’t find Hongjoong anywhere at the first glance. Honestly, what is he doing here with all these fancy people around? His anxiety alleviates some when he notices the familiar faces of their friends. He beelines to them.
“Hi!” he says simply and is greeted by a chorus of voices.
“Oh, you brought flowers?” Seonghwa notices looking at the bouquet in Wooyoung’s hand. “Are those marigolds? Hongjoong will love that.”
“Uh, yeah. I know they mean a lot to him as his birth flower. Um. Is Hongjoong-hyung…?” he breaks off, unsure how to finish that sentence.
“I think he’s showing around his donors at the moment, but he’ll for sure come by at some point,” Seonghwa explains.
“Yeah, you’ll see your boyfriend tonight Young-ah. No worries.” San dead-pans at him off to the side.
“Seriously, will you stop that?” Wooyoung hisses. “Hyung and I are not… He isn’t… I…”
The problem is, Wooyoung is. He is so into Hongjoong, he recently began to realise that. Well he realised that after not seeing Hongjoong for a good couple of weeks since they were in the Mingles. He knew hyung was busy with his exhibition so close to the opening so he didn't want to bother Hongjoong. But he has missed him, more than he thought he’d miss him. Differently then he would miss ‘just a friend’. But that didn’t matter now. Now he was here to support his hyung on his first exhibition opening.
Wooyoung comes back from his thoughts and realises he must have zoned out, because his friends moved on to discussing other topics. He hums and looks around. There’s so many photos in various sizes lining the walls and the poster boards set up around the room.
“I’ll go look at the photos” he says and gets affirmative nods from his friends.
“Enjoy,” says Seonghwa. “We’ll see you later, yeah? We’re thinking of taking Hongjoong to a congratulatory barbeque after.”
“Oh yeah, I’m totally in. See you later, hyung” Wooyoung confirms and starts walking towards the first set of photos.
They are all incredible. It’s very clear Hongjoong is a talented photographer. Wooyoung is fascinated by the depth of emotion emanating from the still pictures. He stops a little closer at a set with a familiar landscape. It looks to be Jeju island. Maybe it’s even from the trip they all first took together as a merged friend-group to get to know each other.
“I really like this set.” Wooyoung gets pulled out of his thoughts suddenly by Hongjoong’s voice.
“Hyung! Hi!” He greets awkwardly and then pulls out a bouquet all but pushing it into Hongjoong. “Congrats on your first exhibition or something”
Hongjoong chuckles.
“Thanks Young-ah. And thank you for the flowers. I love them.”
“I knew you would,” Wooyoug grins mischievously, making Hongjoong roll his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, you brat. So, how are you liking the exhibition?”
“I love the photos,” Wooyoung gushes. “You’re seriously so talented hyung.” He smiles, it’s very clear how pleased Hongjoong is, hearing his words. “Um these photos here.. Are they from Jeju?”
Hongjoong nods. “Yeah, I took them at our trip.”
“I thought the views looked familiar.” Wooyoung looks at the photos again and notices a silhouette on a few. Silhouette that looks like… him. “Hyung, is that me?” He asks.
“Yeah. You make a great model. Very inspiring.” Hongjoong answers, his tone level.
“Awww. Thanks hyung. I guess I know now I can pivot to artistic modeling if my cooking career doesn’t take off.” Wooyoung teases.
That makes Hongjoong chuckle. He looks like he’s about to say something but before he can he is interrupted by the event coordinator announcing Hongjoong as the creator and inviting him to the small stage for a small speech. Wooyoung follows him as he makes way to the podium and then stands in the front row as Hongjoong explains the meaning behind the collection and his motivations and then thanks all those gathered at the gallery for their support.
Hongjoong makes his way back to the floor, but instead of going to talk to various people again he heads back to Wooyoung’s side. They don’t get to talk just between each other though, as just the moment after Hongjoong walks up to him they are approached by Chungha-noona from the wine art session.
“Hongjoong-ah, I’m so proud of you,” she says, clearly taking pleasure in teasing her dongsaeng, as she pinches his cheek. “Such a big exhibition. And it’s so amazing!”
“Thank you noona,” Hongjoong responds, massaging out the cheek she abused.
“Wooyoung-ah, nice to see you again!” Chungha then brings her attention to him, moving in for a hug.
“Likewise” he responds in the embrace, before she lets him go.
“I’m so glad you kept this one Hongjoong-ah. I like him.”
“Not like he could get rid of me, he’s stuck now.” Wooyoung wraps himself around Hongjoong’s arm, posing cutely and making Chungha laugh.
“I wouldn’t want to anyway” he hears Hongjoong answer.
What are we hyung, he thinks. Because this, this no longer feels like just friends to him. But he doesn’t ask Hongjoong the question. He can’t face the possibility of rejection because he misread something.
+1
Wooyoung shuffles into Hongjoong’s apartment with groceries in one hand, and a bag-carrier with Cali in the other. He puts it all on the floor to take off his shoes. Hongjoong opens Cali’s transporter to let the puppy out and looks at the groceries.
“I knew you’d bring Cali, but what’s all that.”
Wooyoung steps up in the flat proper picking up the groceries and heading straight into the kitchen. Cali already sniffing around the apartment curiously.
“Well, you took us in suddenly. Practically last minute! So I thought I’d make dinner as a thank you.”
“Young-ah you don’t have to,” protests Hongjoong. “It’s my house. I should be the one providing food here.”
“Hyung, I do not trust you in the kitchen. I heard horror stories from Seonghwa-hyung. And you can’t always order food! Seriously, when was the last time you ate home-made food?” He asks, but Hongjoong remains silent. That itself is answer enough. Wooyoung sighs. “Right, that settles it. I’m cooking.”
He grabs the bags and pulls out all the ingredients he bought, washing his hands and starting the prep. He chatters as he’s cutting the vegetables for the side dishes, and Hongjoong sits at the kitchen island stool watching him work.
“Honestly I can’t believe Yeosang sexiled me and Cali like that.” Wooyoung says, expertly and quickly chopping the onion. “Ugh I should get my own apartment at this point probably but I don’t know if I can afford that. I mean the home-chef pays better than what I was getting when I was a line cook, but it’s always a little uncertain how much income I’ll get depending if any clients don’t drop off.” He continues as he throws the onion along with the meat into the grilling pan he found in a cupboard. “I should have gotten myself a rich hyung to be my sugar-daddy the way Mingi did with Seonghwa-hyung.” Wooyoung jokes, hoping to make Hongjoong laugh. But he does not expect the words that next come out out of Hongjoongs mouth.
“Good that I’m your hyung and have the money then.”
“What?!” he asks in disbelief
“What what?”
“Hyung, you sounded as if you wanna be my sugar daddy. What?”
Hongjoong groans loudly and literally facepalms. “Wooyoung… you cannot be serious. I’ve been trying to date you for months” Months? “I thought you finally got it at the exhibition. I thought…” Hongjoong breaks off.
“Oh… so… I guess I was reading it right…?”
Hongjoong blinks up at Woyoung who looks back. Wooyoung doesn’t know how much time passes with them staring at each other, but then the cogs in his brain suddenly turn.
“Wait! Does that mean you want to be my boyfriend?”
Hongjoong sighs. “:Yeah Young-ah. I want to be your boyfriend”
“Oh.”
“Oh.” Hongjoong mimics. Then after a while “So do you…?”
“YES!!!” Wooyoung interrupts him excitedly before he reins himself in “Um. I mean yes.”
HJ smiles at him brilliantly, then raises an eyebrow, as if in a challenge. “Young-ah.” He stands up and approaches Wooyoung. “Can I kiss you?”
“Please”
Hongjoong pulls him in for the kiss, hands tangling in his hair instantly. The moment their mouths meet it’s electric. They start kissing softly but it’s getting more heaters with each passing moment. Wooyoung lets his hands roam Hongjoong’s chet and his arms. There’s teeth nibbling at his lips so he gives back. Their breaths intermingling. Hongjoong pulls on his hair lightly and Wooyoung moans into the kiss. They take gasping breaths but keep kissing with fervour. Wooyoung has never felt anything as all-consuming as this.
Suddenly, there’s loud electric beeping that startles them both. Wooyoung looks to the stove, where smoke is coming out of the pan!
“OH NO! MY BULGOGI” he wails to the accompaniament of the beeping and Cali’s barking.
He quickly puts the lid onto the pan to cut off the oxygen and make the smoke die down, but he knows it’s for nothing. The meat is completely charred. At some point the beeping and the barking stops; Hongjoong must have talked to the admin through the intercom, and calmed Cali down. Wooyoung throws the pan into the sink resigned, as Hongjoong approaches him with Cali under his arm.
“Looks like we are ordering the take out afterall,” Hongjoong chuckles.
Wooyoung sighs to express his internal suffering at the thought but agrees. He takes Cali from his hyung and walks with her to the living room where he settles on the couch as his boyfriend (BOYFRIEND!) starts to make the order through the app. Wooyoung fishes in his pocket for his own phone, deciding to shoot San a quick message. ‘I’m dating Hongjoong-hyung. You were right - I think we were dating for a while now.’ He drops his phone in between the couch cushions choosing to ignore it starting to blow up, and waits for Hongjoong to join him on the couch. He figures they can make out some more before the food arrives.