Going to Ryeowook’s wedding is probably not the best idea Donghae has in his hands.

He realizes as soon as they stepped on the church, he sees lots of familiar faces he has seen in college, from the least to most liked.

And he realizes even more that nobody knows about his relationship with Hyukjae but Siwon.

Hyukjae seems realizing the same thing as Donghae is, by immediately let go of Donghae’s hand that has been intertwined with this since they were on the parking lot, before throws the younger man a small smile as they enter the church.

The sense of loss in Donghae’s fingers still linger.

It’s… bitter.

It’s even worse when Hyukjae unconsciously gives some distance between them, silently saying we shouldn’t let anyone know about us while greeting their friends, smiling and being polite and whatever adults should’ve done at the moment.

Donghae does the same, however, rather dejected but he tries, he really tries to not show it. He’s an adult; he really should be able to looks composed and collected, just like when he’s in front of his numerous clients he has been through.

He’s a responsible adult that knows how the world works and should have knew how to behave at this kind of event.

He is an adult.

An adult that is know how to behave.

But why his chest is really hurting right now?

The blood that pounds in his ears only make it worse by starting to break him more and more, slowly makes his stomach churns while his mouth starts to feel dry and chapped.

As the time he hides it more, the more he feels his fingers tremble to the point he needs to hide it by crossing his arms on his chest, smiles it up when someone asks him something, chest slowly tightens when someone asks Hyukjae about marriage.

It’s gotten worse when Hyukjae only shrugs the questions off, clearly trying to avoid the topic of marriage itself.

Slowly, as the time ticks, he can feel himself floating, unable to feel the ground he has been stepping for minutes long, unable to differentiate whether he’s breathing or not at the moment.

Breathing suddenly becomes the hardest thing to do.

He tries to pulls himself together, looking around to find something that might calm him down. He doesn’t know anyone. The one he knew that is close to Ryeowook are Siwon and Hyukjae—and asking the latter for help only triggers him more.

After seconds of torture looking for a relief, he never feels more relieved than anything when his eyes lay on Siwon who’s busy talking with Ryeowook.

His body reflexively pulls himself away from Hyukjae—who even got more crowds as the time ticks—and immediately approaches Siwon.

For a breather, it is.

The more he’s closer to Siwon, the more he feels himself on the ground, breath stabilizing and the tremble on his fingers slowly disappears.

His vision suddenly looks as clear as crystal pearls.

He takes a deep sigh before he greets them, trying to looks like nothing happened a while ago. “Hey.” He greets both of them by giving them an open hug. “Fancy to see both of you talk normally like this.”

It seems working by Ryeowook rolls his eyes while scoffs, reacting normally. “Hyung, that’s not funny anymore.” Although it does work on Siwon by him laughing his off. “Ugh, these old men seriously…”

“Why? It’s funny, though?” He can’t help himself to not smile his sincerest today. “Where’s your bride, by the way?”

“Oh, she was with her friends earlier. I don’t know where she is now, though.” The little man replies sounds rather sulking, but soon he beams, “That reminds me, Siwon-hyung said you’re with Hyukjae-hyung?” Donghae only nods in return. “As if, dating?”

Donghae’s eyes dilate in surprise as he immediately turns his head to Siwon, who looks apologetic, clearly in disbelief as he exclaims, “You—!”

“Sorry! It just slipped!!”

Ryeowook ignores the response by curiously asking “But why isn’t he with you, though?” He clearly knows that Donghae in the verge of beating Siwon at the moment but only ended up pinching his biceps hard since he doesn’t want to make any scene at this sacred event. “I mean, you guys are dating, why don’t you disgustingly sticky to each other?”

Now Donghae turns his head to Ryeowook, clearly even more in disbelief, his replies sound squeaky. “Did we actually look like that in your eyes?”

“For a new couple like you two, I can’t see why not.” Ryeowook shrugs, eyes seem found Hyukjae in the crowd before he exclaims rather understanding, “Ah, now I get why don’t you. Hyukjae-hyung is a well-known person, after all.”

Donghae grunts, rather annoyed. “Wow, thank you for being quick at catching things as always.”

“Well, what I’m trying to say is, I have nothing against your relationship—it’s not like you do any harm with it, don’t you? Don’t be so stiff, Hyung.” It must be because today is his wedding that Ryeowook’s harsh tongue has toned down a lot, since Donghae actually founds it weird that his junior being this nice to him—although at some part he does grateful for that, too. “It really shows on your face, you know.”

Donghae, well, does realize it too but he’s been ignoring himself at this point. “I know.” But soon he sighs rather dejected, unable to pent up his feelings anymore. “I know that much.” Soon he sighs again, feels aggrieved. “That’s why I’m here with you guys.”

The response from him seems like surprising them by Siwon speaks up, “Why, something’s wrong?”

“I… Well, they asked Hyukjae about marriage since he’s old enough to do so but he looks so cautious and I…” soon he rubs his face, stopping himself to not cause a ruckus since he feels like he can explode at any moment soon, both of his eyes suddenly feel warm. “I don’t know, I just… don’t wanna be there.” He must be look so pathetic that it makes Siwon pulls him for a hug again. “God, Ryeowook, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to be like this on your wedding—" Ryeowook shush him as he joins the hug. “Oh God..."

Ryeowook soon laughs, however, seems trying to break the ice, "We're like Teletubbies right now."

“Are we?” Siwon slightly looks up as he looks around, only to realize that they started to get some attentions from the guests. “But what I’m sure of we sure got lots of attention here.”

“Well,” Ryeowook grins, “I’ll let go then.” Which soon he does, letting Siwon comforts Donghae by hugging him tighter, letting the latter to hide his face on his shoulder. “What happened, though, Siwon-hyung?”

Although Siwon seems unsure by the way he speaks, he still tells Ryeowook anyway, “Well, there’s… lot of things on Donghae’s mind these weeks so he’s kind of stressed at the moment.”

“I see,” which soon Ryeowook helps Siwon to comfort Donghae by patting his back. “Let’s act normally so nobody notices this then.”

“Alright, then…” and Siwon starts to talk normally to Ryeowook, covering Donghae whom breathing only become ragged as he reflexively Siwon’s shirt, trying to control himself to not letting everything out or it’ll only become obvious to Hyukjae later—which Siwon takes the hint by rubbing his back, trying to comforting him. “Shh, Donghae, Donghae, it’s alright.” But still talking to Ryeowook while occasionally glances to others—who seems don’t pay attention as much as they got before.

Donghae is never been glad to be smaller than Siwon in this kind of situation as the older man able to hid him.

It takes around ten minutes before Donghae finally let go of Siwon’s embrace, immediately fishing handkerchief out of his pocket, carefully rubbing his face to clean any sadness left on before he looks up and asks, “Do I look alright now?”

“Better,” but soon Siwon adds, “Let’s fix yourself on the restroom later.”

“Donghae-hyung,” the youngest man calls, rather worried. “I don’t know what happened, but, hang in there, alright?” Ryeowook seems got called to another place as he hugs Donghae for the last time rather tight by hands patting his back before he excuses himself, “Sorry, I’ll contact you later!”

Donghae mouthed yeah sure and congrats for your wedding! in reply before he averts his face to Siwon, who patiently waiting for him to explain everything that happened not too long ago.

He doesn’t have any choice but explain, not after borrowing Siwon’s body as an escape.

“Let’s… go to a quieter place, then.”

Sighing could be heard from Donghae after he washes his face, rather in relief while his head still hanging low, eyes strongly nailed the basin while Siwon leaning on the counter, facing the opposite direction but he knew the latter must be crossing his hands in front of his chest, still waiting for Donghae to explain everything.

Not that Donghae really have to explain, Donghae knows that Siwon understands that much, but the younger man does owe him some.

“Are you okay, though?” Siwon’s tone sounds a little bit worried when he asked, but he still doesn’t move. “You look pretty awful a while ago.”

Ashamed still hovering Donghae’s entire body system, but he manages to answer although his voice comes out more nasal than he thought he is, “I’m… better, I think.” He sighs again, however, before he musters some courage to finally lift his head up to seeing himself on the mirror. Yep, he looks alright now. “Sorry to trouble you”

“No, no, it’s okay, as long as you already feel better.” Siwon still back-facing him, but his head turns to Donghae’s direction before he asks, “Can I ask you something?” Donghae hums in reply. “I assume you haven’t talk it out with Hyukjae, have you?”

“I… no, I haven’t.” which soon Donghae grits his teeth, actually upset by himself that isn’t courageous enough to face Hyukjae about this worry of his. He grips the edge of the basin before he tells, “He has lots of project in his hands at the moment; I don’t want to break his pace.”

Donghae clearly sees Siwon’s expression through the mirror, which says alright there he goes again while he replies, “Are you going to avoid it again?”

Yes, yes, I am. “No, no, that’s—” Donghae tried to explain but with Siwon’s sigh only flusters him even more. “Listen, listen, I don’t want to avoid it, okay? I’m just trying to find the right time to do so. You know how Hyukjae is when he’s working, don’t you?”

Scoffing, Siwon rolls his eyes before he asks straight to the point. “Well, are you really worrying about that?”

Damn Siwon and his observant skill. “No, yeah, I don’t.” He sighs, rather dejected. Even he himself still doesn’t understand why he was like that, being hopeless and weak, a while ago. “Hey, Siwon,” he turns his back to Siwon who has been staring at him for a while before he asks, “Am I wrong to overthinking this much?”

Siwon seems trying to put nice words to comfort him, but in the end, he swallowed everything down to his throat by asking “Seriously, Donghae, why are you torturing yourself like this?”

“I’m not! I’m—I just don’t what things to get ugly!” No, he is torturing himself because he is a coward who isn’t brave enough to bring the topic up to Hyukjae. He just can’t do it. “And the risks too!”

Siwon seems losing his patience by exclaims, “But you love him, right?!”

“Of course I am!” Donghae groans as his head hanging low, spontaneously banging the counter rather angry. Isn’t it obvious?! “I’m frustrated too, you know!”

Although it startled Siwon, he still manages to try to calming Donghae down by approaching the younger man, patting his shoulder rather concerned. “No, I mean, listen, I already told you before how to bring it up, right?”

Donghae sighs as he is trying to calm himself down. He did. He really did already tell him weeks ago but still… “You did, but I… can’t bring myself to say it.”

“Should I help you, then?”

“Uh…” No, Siwon helping him is not necessary—yes, he is tempted, but if he is always involving Siwon when it comes to something like this, he’s afraid that one day he won’t be able to make decisions for himself since he will become dependent to Siwon. “No, no, I appreciate the thought, but you don’t really have to, really.”

Siwon couldn’t help but frowns, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, yeah, I am. You don’t have to go that far, though.” He really needs to get a grip of himself and do talk it out to Hyukjae or he won’t going anywhere at this rate. “I’ll… I will try to talk it out with him soon.”

“Alright—” the older man’s face still looks dubious, but he only sighs before he lightly punches Donghae’s shoulder as he adds, “Don’t stress yourself too much, alright?”

“Sorry for always troubling you—”

“It’s alright, really.”

“But—”

“As long as my friends are happy, I’m okay being troubled.”

Donghae’s eyes are teary for another reason before he pulls Siwon for a wholehearted hug.

He returned to Hyukjae who is in the middle of enjoying some desserts near the chocolate fountain, seems noticing Donghae by waving his hand, signaling to come closer.

Donghae only responds by a nod, secretly let out a big sigh under his breath. You can do this, Donghae. Let’s prepare for the worst.

“Where were you?” was the first thing Hyukjae asked him, eyebrows knitted tight, curiosity paints all over his face, by mouth full of cakes.

Alright, that’s cute. “I went to the restroom.”

“That long?”

“Oh, I bumped into Siwon so we did chat for a while.”

Humming, Hyukjae only murmurs alright then in return before he stuffs the last piece of the cake he had and asks, “Do you want to go home now?”

“Sure.” It’s better to leave now than staying longer, anyway. “Let’s greet Ryeowook first before we go home.” Which Hyukjae only nods as an answer before he put the plate down and tailing Donghae.

They go home after that, with Donghae is the one who’s driving, and the drive is pretty lively by Hyukjae being chatty; telling stories about person A, person B, person C and etcetera. Donghae isn’t really listening, but he tried his best to answers or giving reactions, casually replying Hyukjae.

Since he doesn’t really care about the persons Hyukjae has been telling (he knew none of them anyway) for more than ten minutes on their way driving home.

Fortunately, Hyukjae doesn’t notice Donghae’s disinterest and still going on for another ten minutes.

It was almost four pm when the chat still goes on until they almost reached Hyukjae’s apartment. They stopped for a while in the traffic light, two minutes before the light turns green, and Donghae almost stomp the gas pedal when Hyukjae quietly reaches his resting right hand, finally paying attention when he realizes the older man gently intertwining their fingers.

“… Hyukjae?” The tone in his voice is clearly says that he is confused, but Hyukjae shows no response when Donghae turns his head to face the older man. “What is it?”

Hesitant, Hyukjae slowly speaks up, but still haven’t facing Donghae, only tightening the grip on their holding hand. “Do you… want to come over?”

Donghae couldn’t help but flabbergasted by his eyes dilate rather large.

Hyukjae? Inviting him? In this manner? That’s not Hyukjae-like at all? What happened? “You don’t have any schedule tomorrow?”

“I have one in the evening, so I can spare some time.” He notices Hyukjae nervously bites his plump lower lips, eyes still avoiding Donghae, but he still manages to speak calmly like it’s normal for him to invite him like this. “So… will you?”

If this situation happens at the normal days, Donghae would use every way to tease Hyukjae being so inviting but today isn’t the day, not after what happened hours ago. “Hyukjae,” he calls, trying to get Hyukjae’s attention on him but the older man still stubborn enough to not facing him while the reflection on the rear mirror clearly shows his nervousness. “I don’t mind, but are you sure is everything alright?”

Blinking, Hyukjae throws him a confused look through the rear window, asking him back in reply, “Why did you ask that?”

“No reason,” He takes a quick glance to the traffic light timer; it’s still a minute and half before the light turns green. They still have some time. “Just trying to make sure.”

Hyukjae heaves a sigh, which sounds like a relieved sigh more than anything, seems become calmer than before by finally facing Donghae, throws him a small smile. “I just want to spend more time with you.”

“I see.” It won’t hurt to stay until late on Hyukjae’s place, right? It’s not like Donghae has anything to do tonight—and the fact that he already calmed down after he lashed everything out with Siwon is a plus point for him to not get triggered again, hopefully. “Sure, but do you have anything in your fridge right now?” since Hyukjae can’t cook anything but ramyun and Donghae can’t cook without any ingredients unless they’re sims in a game who can cook anything as long as they have simoleons or money.

The older man ponders for a while, seems trying to remember if there’s anything left in his fridge as he finally says, “Probably… only kimchi and eggs?”

Sighing rather in exasperation, Donghae soon snaps, “Just what did you actually eat when you’re not with me, Lee Hyukjae?” Hyukjae seems almost speaks up but Donghae soon cuts him off, “Oh, how silly of me for asking, of course it’s ramyun and take-outs, huh.” Hyukjae’s face says it all; both guilty and unable to say his objections. “Let’s go to your home first and change these suits before we go shopping then.”

“Do you have any clothes for change, though?”

“Well I can take yours like usual so what gives?”

Fortunately, the light already turns green before Hyukjae even have chance to hit Donghae’s head in reply.

Donghae really take Hyukjae’s clothes for changing his suit when they arrived in the latter’s apartment.

Hyukjae seems doesn’t mind, however, when he shows no response of Donghae clearly taking clothes on his closet in front of him, only sighing rather in disbelief before he changes his clothes, turns his back only to show his pale shoulders as the older man taking the shirt off.

Which, strangely in a perfect timing, Donghae happens to see it by the way his shirt effortlessly falls down until his upper arm, showing expanses of his smooth pale shoulders.

Donghae gulps, clenching his fists rather tight, holding himself to not giving a feel of Hyukjae’s upper body skin on his fingertips, trying to distract himself by taking off his suit and changes his clothes to a more comfortable pieces he can found. With the dim light of Hyukjae’s closet and the ray of sun that almost set seeps through the curtain, shoots through Hyukjae who already changed his pants by illuminate his back and his brown hair, only to make him even looks prettier.

Dammit.

It seems like the older man doesn’t notice that Donghae has been staring at him for a while before he puts an oversized gray hoodie that Hyukjae often wear and turns his back, reflexively throws him a questioning look as he speaks up, “What?”

Donghae only sighs. He needs to train his self-control more, really. “Nothing, just enjoying the view.” Hyukjae frowns in reply. “Of you.”

“What are you saying.” He rolls his eyes in return before he stretches his hand to Donghae as he demands, “Give me your suits, I’ll wash it.”

So Donghae did, and soon Hyukjae left him on the closet to the washing room, only making the younger man lets out a relieved sigh after as he palms his forehead, cursing under his breath of his state right now.

He’s almost thirty-two this year and yet being in front of Hyukjae sometimes still making his heart beating fast like a teenager who only found his first love, thumping his ribcages in discomfort which making him clutching his own chest, trying to calming himself down.

He really loves him this much.

It really hurts.

“What do you want to make, though?” was Hyukjae’s question when Donghae returns with some tofu, chili pepper pastes and leeks, dumping them in the trolley that the older man brought. “I don’t see any correlations in these ingredients at all.”

“You just don’t see it because you can’t cook.”

“Rude, I make a great fried and poached egg!”

That’s true, but it still doesn’t count based Donghae’s knowledge in cooking. “Anyone can fry eggs, you know.” He utters as he drags the trolley to the fresh ingredients shelves, eyeing the meats that displayed while fixing his specs. “I was thinking of making a stew.” Said Donghae as he takes one of the wrapped meats to take a good look. “Probably that’s why you’re unfamiliar with the items in the trolley right now.”

“Well, but…” although without Donghae looking he is aware that Hyukjae throws him a judging stare behind his back before he says, “I don’t know you put milks and yogurts in stew.”

Sighing, he takes another wrapped meat, slightly baffled by Hyukjae inside of his mind. “… I never said I will put them in the stew.” He turns his back, finally facing Hyukjae, deadpans as he asks, “Do I ever said that?”

Blinking, Hyukjae carefully asks, still looks clueless, “You’re not?”

“…are you being serious right now?”

Hyukjae shuts himself after that, seems realizing how stupid his questions are.

They shop for a while—it takes a good effort for Donghae to stop Hyukjae went to the noodle shelves and stuffing him to healthier options—before they pay the groceries, taking a while to put them on the plastic bags as Donghae pays for them all.

They ended up bringing equal amounts of groceries bags in each hand.

Since the shop is actually near Hyukjae’s apartment, they walk home by feet, strolling the busy Friday night of Seoul. They don’t talk much, only commenting anything they see on their walk before they finally arrived on Hyukjae’s apartment, hurrying putting everything on the dinner table before the older man excused himself, probably to do some business on the toilet or something.

Donghae sighs, rather dejected, before he rolls up his sleeves and taking out groceries off the plastic bags, filling Hyukjae’s fridge that almost have nothing but kimchi, bottled water, and some cans of beer, which can’t help but makes him sighing, rather in disbelief this time.

Sometimes Donghae wonders how Hyukjae can survive his life by eating nothing but only this plus ramyuns on his kitchen shelves.

It takes a while for Donghae before he starts to cook. Silently, he got drawn into cooking as lots of thought start coming in his head, by thinking from why he got triggered back then in Ryeowook’s wedding to why he had interest in marrying Hyukjae to begin with. Sure, he does love him, but the more he thinks about it, the more he feels that he forces everything to Hyukjae, whether the dating and the marriage, or the love, even.

The love he had for a whole more than two years after he realized his feelings for Hyukjae.

(And somehow, he feels sorry to Hyukjae for keeping up with him, and ended up their feelings being mutual, although it’s the first time for them having relationship with the same .)

Donghae heaves a big sigh after the thought of asking Hyukjae to marry him returns his mind again, which soon follows Siwon’s faces that mouthed do ask him at least his opinion or talk it out with him, haunting him. Other than Siwon, Heechul already warns him for being playing too safe, but still…

Still.

He can’t do it.

“Hey, you’re done?”

Hyukjae’s call snaps Donghae to reality, realizing that the stew almost overflow that he reflexively turns off the stove. As he sighs again before he turns his back to Hyukjae, who surprisingly behind him and throwing him with a curious look, he throws the older man a little smile as he asks, "Where were you?" but soon he stops when he notices Hyukjae changed his clothes to a short pants and oversized t-shirt, which he couldn't help but stare the expanse of the older man's smooth legs as he says, "Never mind, no wonder you took so long.” While his hands unconsciously approach Hyukjae’s exposed legs as he asks, “Did you shave?”

Humming, he replies, “The shoot I have at next Sunday needs me to wear shorts so I need to shave it now.” But soon Hyukjae beams, rather proud, “It looks good, huh?” Donghae hums in approval, feeling the smooth skin on his palm, unconsciously slides through Hyukjae’s shorts. “Hey, hey, don’t touch it like that—” soon Hyukjae yelps when Donghae reaches his , reflexively slaps his hands away as snaps, “Hey!”

Yet Donghae doesn’t look sorry at all as he exclaims, “Why your is really flat though.”

“Well, sorry for being skinny!” Huffing, Hyukjae slaps Donghae’s head rather annoyed before he turns his body to the stove, checking the food Donghae has been cooking a while as he lifts up the lid of the pot. “Oh, you cooked sundubu jjigae huh.”

Seems unaffected, Donghae only hums as he takes two rice bowls before he walks to the rice cooker as he asks, “Do you want to eat now?”

“Yeah, can you get me the rice too?”

“Take out some kimchi for the side dishes then.”

“Alright.”

They ended up having their dinner pretty fast, since both of them apparently hungrier than they think they are as the foods got emptied faster than usual before Hyukjae take initiative to clean the dishes, leaving Donghae still eyeing the smooth legs of the older man’s from behind, checking from the bottom to the top while can’t help but wondering as he unconsciously gulps when the legs move a bit, changing the position to more presentable way to him.

He does know that Hyukjae shaves his legs sometimes, but this is probably the first time he shaved it after they are dating, and somehow, it’s probably Donghae’s first time of finally noticing that Hyukjae’s legs are actually really pretty.

Like, it probably fits so right in his palms if Hyukjae allows him to.

“Are my shaved legs that great that makes you keep staring at it?”

Donghae immediately looks up, only to found a dumbfounded Hyukjae, both of his eyes throw him a baffled stare.

Well, it is, so he brazenly replies, “Uh-huh, it is.” Showing no shame of admitting it.

“What a brazen reply!”

“What, why should I lie if it really looks great?” blinking, he lowers his gaze to Hyukjae’s legs again before he speaks up, complimenting him, “Your legs do look great.”

Hyukjae scoffs, mouthing yes, yes, thanks for that before turns his back, putting the wet plates and pots to the rinks before he turns his back again, eyes squinting as he asks rather warning Donghae, “You’re gonna keep staring like that?”

“I can’t?”

“Nope.”

“Aww.”

“Don’t aww me, dammit. Stare at something else!” he groaned as he splashes some water to Donghae, but the latter only chuckles in return while dodging him.

Donghae’s grinning rather sly as he states, “But you’re pretty like this.”

“Ooh, look at this guy? Just how brazen are you going to go?”

“Is it wrong of me want to compliment my dear, hm?” Donghae gets off his seat, walks to Hyukjae who does react to his compliment by the hints of feeling happy clearly seen in his face, masked by his annoyance, as he asks again, “Do you dislike it?”

Hyukjae sighs, partially denies by saying “Of course I am!” but his face says otherwise, before he realizes what Donghae is trying to do as he warns, “Don’t get closer, you.”

“Why?” he drags out the question, leaning closer to Hyukjae by both of his hands on the counter, blocking the older man to prevent him to escape. “It burdens you?” Hyukjae mouthes of course it is! In reply, which actually makes his heart feels like being lightly flicked by his response, but Donghae keeps smiling as he says, “But I want to?”

“Don’t be like that,” Hyukjae’s whine goes louder as Donghae teases him by leaning even closer, leaving their face only three inches apart, the tips of their nose almost touched, which he looks so cute right now by the way his entire face reddened. “Don’t be like that!”

Chuckling, Donghae finally stops, only ruffling Hyukjae’s hair in return before he apologizes while turning his back, “Alright, alright, I’ll stop then.” As he secretly sighs, actually relieved for some reason before he turns his back again to Hyukjae and says, “Then since you’re already being fed and you have schedule tomorrow so I’ll just go home then?”

It seems that his action confuses Hyukjae by he reflexively mouthed “You’re not staying the night?”, which Donghae immediately answers by shaking his head, yet it makes the older man frowns, “You sure?”

“Yeah, I actually have meeting on tomorrow afternoon so I’m gonna pass on that.” He stops, noticing some specks of disappointment on the older man’s face before he grins, “I’ll see you on Sunday?”

Soon Hyukjae’s eyes sparks in delight, but he plays it off by being coy as he calmly nods, “Uh-huh, I’ll see you on Sunday, then.”

Donghae lightly nods before he excuses himself out of Hyukjae’s apartment, only to be stopped by the latter for a goodbye kiss on the cheek and an embarrassed smile from the older man in return.

He returns the kiss on Hyukjae’s forehead in return before he went home, strangely feels relieved more than anything.

Which is, Donghae sure, isn’t a good sign.