𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔶 𝔪𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯.

it’s not the date itself that’s making him so nervous — no, not when he’s already got all the experience he needs, having been on countless dates before, so many that he’s honestly lost count. it’s just that maybe, just maybe, all he wants is to impress his boyfriend, to make sure that their first date as an official couple will be a memorable one, to make him feel special, because that’s what he deserves. because sanggil truly is the most important person in his life, and jinwoo would to anything to make him happy. “ i just really want everything to be perfect, y’know? ” cue jinwoo’s famous pout as he leads the other into the elevator once the doors open, pressing the ground floor button and then leaning down to peck his boyfriend’s cheek, his hand resting protectively on the small of his back. “ i know i probably sound like a broken record right now, but god, you just look so stunning tonight. i mean, you’re always beautiful, but y’know. i love you so much, babe. ” and there he goes again, blabbering on and on about how whipped he is — it’s a miracle that he hasn’t scared sanggil off yet. once they reach their destination, he guides the other out of the elevator, then out of the building, an infatuated grin gracing his features as he holds the door open for his beloved, a cool breeze greeting them.

jinwoo: i am pouting and it’s your fault jinwoo: like, for the love of god and sweet baby jesus, let me knock that mf’s teeth out jinwoo: or at least one tooth jinwoo: pwetty pwease !!

jinwoo: it’s an angel! it’s a goddess! jinwoo: no, it’s just jiyeon! jinwoo: daily reminder that you’re valid and important and i love you!

（ ✩ ）—  if this were someone else, anyone but rian, he probably wouldn’t even hesitate to poke a little fun at them ( didn’t she always claim that getting attached to people is the biggest mistake one can make? or does that not apply to jesse? ) just for the hell of it, but then again, jinwoo has already learned his place. or rather, she has taught him that nothing good ever comes out of trying to mess with her. and so he chooses to dismiss her comment ( the most important person in the world, huh? ) even though her words keep replaying in his mind, an underlying glint of curiosity present in his gaze. “ yeah, she’s a real joy to be around. maybe a bit too pushy for her own good, but i wouldn’t have it any other way, you know? ” he admits, partly just to please the girl, and partly because he actually happens to enjoy her company, despite her difficult personality. many people find it hard to deal with her self-absorbed nature and overbearing assertiveness, yet jinwoo finds it almost ( keyword: almost ) cute. she’s a pain in the ass, yes, but she’s his pain the ass, and friends are meant to accept each other’s flaws. perhaps he’s just always had the gift of seeing something good and worthy of love in everyone, no matter how troublesome or damaged they seem, and so that’s why he simply puts up with her sharp tongue without ever taking her occasional temper tantrums and mean comments to heart. “ see you guys inside. ” with a meaningful wink, mostly aimed at his friend, he skips off on his own in order to give them some time alone, entering the club and making his way towards the bar to get himself a drink, ready to finally have some real fun.

among the infinite number of things jinwoo adores about his boyfriend, there’s something particularly endearing that never fails to make his heart skip a beat or two — the fact that his body is so honest around him, from the way the corners of his lips curl up into a content smile whenever he holds his hand, to the way his cheeks flush when jinwoo makes yet another racy joke. just one look at his face is enough for the younger male to be able to tell how he’s feeling, and truth be told, he’d be lying if he said he doesn’t take advantage of that, at least from time to time, teasing his beloved just to get a reaction out of him. “ that’s because it’s a secret, love. i told you to leave it all to me, didn’t i? ” and he truly did take care of everything, after spending an entire week planning out every single tiny detail, worrying about things he’s never really cared about before ( is the location he picked fancy enough? should he buy him a present, too, while he’s at it? perhaps a pretty bouquet of red roses— but wait, does sanggil even like flowers? ) just to make sure their very first date would be an unforgettable experience. “ let’s go, then, shall we? ” grabbing his keys, he opens the door for the other, not forgetting to lock it once he escorts him outside, his hand resting on his lower back as he leads him towards the elevator. “ are you excited? ”

there’s nothing surprising about the girl’s slight disbelief. only god knows how many innocent souls they’ve managed to deceive with their sweet words that are always meant to hide something. even in the past, no one would believe him when he tried to talk about the way they treated him at home, and even if they did, the entire blame still managed to fall on jinwoo — because he was a troublemaker, and he deserved to be punished. somehow, he was always the bad guy, even when he was the one with a busted lip and a broken heart. and so he doesn’t blame sohee, shrugging nonchalantly before he reaches out to take his own glass. “ these people can’t even love their own children properly. do you really think they actually care about a bunch of strangers? realistically speaking. ” her stunned expression amuses him, but then again, who wouldn’t be shocked to find out that he’d grown up in an abusive household? “ that one time when i called jinyoung an idiot and my dad broke my nose? that shit was hilarious. ” more like traumatizing, but it’s not like he’s willing to admit that yet. she’ll have to work harder to fully unlock his tragic backstory. letting out a deep chuckle, he brings his glass up to his lips to take a sip. “ what do you do for a living, though? my parents probably told me, but i couldn’t be bothered to pay attention since i was too busy being an asshole. ”

at times, it genuinely seems like his boyfriend is completely unaware of his own beauty and the effect it has on him — after all, he can’t see the way jinwoo always looks at him with so much love and longing, as if he’s the most exquisite thing he’s ever laid his eyes on, but that only makes the younger male want to pamper and praise him even more. “ hold on, what are you saying? ” his long lashes flutter as he blinks a few times, lips drawn into a concerned frown. careful not to startle the other, he wraps his arms around his waist from behind and pulls him against his chest, resting his chin on his shoulder and pressing a feathery kiss against the side of his neck. “ my baby is the prettiest, and that’s a fact. ” at last, he manages to detach himself from sanggil, reaching out to gently intertwine their fingers and slowly guiding him through the apartment he’s grown to love so much ever since they’ve started living together. then he finally lets go of his hand so he can slip his shoes on, looking around almost frantically and patting his pockets, making sure not to forget anything. “ i’ve got my phone right here— and my wallet, of course. and that’s it, i guess? ”

it’s so easy to love sanggil, with all his endearing little quirks and adorable habits that never fail to warm his heart like nothing and nobody else does. as each day passes by, he slowly finds himself falling deeper and deeper in love with the pianist, discovering new and even more fascinating sides of him that always leave him aching to see even more, getting to know his mind, body and soul, the entirety of his being. “ mm, i do look pretty good, just so you know. ” there’s a playful grin on his lips, one that sanggil cannot see, though he can probably feel it in his voice as jinwoo runs his fingers through his hair, looking almost smug, yet sinfully charming. “ but you’re absolutely gorgeous, baby. ” the urge to pull him right into his arms and kiss him is unbearable, but somehow, god knows how, he manages to suppress it, reaching out to gently poke his forehead instead. “ come on, get ready. ”

yes, he’s being absurdly stubborn, and yes, he does feel somewhat bad about it, although admittedly, that doesn’t really seem to be the case, judging by his shit-eating grin and facetious remarks. but no matter what his friend thinks, he does appreciate him, maybe even more than he imagines, even if he doesn’t always show it as much as he probably should. “ c’mon, don’t be like that. you know i don’t want you to sit here and watch me get wasted. i just want us to have fun. together. isn’t that what friends do? ” except, alas, this is nowhere near jihoon’s idea of fun, and jinwoo simply doesn’t seem to get it, dragging him along to the wildest parties, perhaps expecting him to magically loosen up and have the time of his life. unfortunately, that’s not how things work, and a bottle of cheap beer certainly won’t be enough to change his mind. “ fine, whatever. what do you want to do, then? ” heaving a defeated sigh, he shoves his hands into his pockets and looks up at the other expectantly. maybe, just maybe, he’ll let him have his way this time. “ it’d be a pity to go home. ”

“ i’m not biting my nails! ” cue a childish retort, as if he wasn’t just totally caught in the act, completely forgetting about his boyfriend’s keen sense of hearing and then digging his own grave with a particularly loud crunch. “ or fine, maybe i am, but you don’t have to call me out like that, you know? ” it’s easy to see that he’s all fidgety and restless, pacing around the room, unable to sit still while he’s waiting for sanggil to get ready. it’s a special evening, one that’s supposed to be perfect, and he isn’t willing to let anything or anyone ruin it. “ oh, c’mere. ” he mumbles, gently pulling the other closer so he can help him, buttoning his shirt with ease and not-so-lowkey checking him out once he’s done. “ god, you’re so beautiful. ”

（ ✩ ）—  if there’s anyone who can out-talk jinwoo, it’s nobody but rian, and that’s one of the many things he appreciates about her. there’s no need for him to hold back and filter himself when they’re together, partying from dusk till dawn and enjoying every moment of their youth, because she’s one of the few people in his life who can truly keep up with his raw energy and spontaneity. but this is a bizarre sight, watching her disconnect herself from the rest of the world, lost in her own thoughts, so calm and taciturn, completely different from the rian he knows. yet strangely, he doesn’t try to question her, studying her peculiar demeanor with evident curiosity, but not saying anything, no matter how much he’d like to tease her. maybe, just maybe, even people like rian have a vulnerable side, carefully hidden behind a pretty smile and a sharp tongue. the last thing he wants is to bring her wrath upon himself, and so he shrugs it all off instead, minding his own business likes he always does when it comes to her. by the time they reach their destination, rian’s already back to her usual lively self, making jinwoo laugh at her eagerness as she jumps out of the car almost instantly, not even bothering to wait for him. “ hey, where are you— ” before he can even finish his question, the girl’s already gone, casually skipping off without even looking back and greeting some dude he’s never seen before. “ —going...? ” he mumbles to himself, his lips sticking out in a tiny pout before he shakes his head, turning to face the others with a puzzled look on his face. “ what the hell was that? ” they can only laugh at his confusion before finally explaining the situation, making jinwoo see his friend in a new and entirely different light. “ oh, so that’s how it is. ” he can't help but blink a few times, surprised yet oddly pleased to know that there's someone who has that kind of power over her. “ interesting. ” curious to see how she acts around him, he decides to approach them, making his way towards them and lightly tapping rian’s shoulder to get her attention, a friendly grin plastered on his face. “ why’d you run off like that, huh? ”

call him whipped, but nothing could ever compare to sanggil’s smile ━ that gentle, yet dazzling smile that never fails to make his heart swell with love. “ the stars may be beautiful, but you’re absolutely stunning, gil. ” his voice is unusually soft as he speaks, mumbling absentmindedly, almost as if he’s just thinking out loud, stroking the other’s locks with a drowsy smile. “ there’s always room for improvement. i want to be even better ━ more understanding and less annoying. even though you’ve always been so patient with me. ” a serene chuckle leaves his lips as he recalls all the times he’s unintentionally managed to push every single one of sanggil’s buttons, yet he’s never snapped at him, handling his shenanigans with nothing but tolerance. and then he finds himself blinking sleepily, unable to stifle a yawn, his body shifting ever so slightly to make sure the other’s comfortable enough in his arms, his lashes fluttering gently. “ it’s late. we should sleep. ”

the more they talk, the closer they get, and the more jinwoo’s starting to regret judging her so rashly. he’d been so quick to dismiss her, brushing her off as just another rich snob, yet there’s something different about sohee, something pure and endearing. and so he can’t help but warm up to the girl, finally allowing himself to loosen up as he plops down in one of the empty armchairs beside her. “ my therapist, huh? ” he leans further back in his seat to make himself comfortable, one eyebrow quirked upwards and an amused grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “ here’s the thing — my parents aren’t really as amazing as you seem to think they are. and if you knew what they’re truly like, you’d be pretty pissed off, too. ” somehow, he feels bad to burst her bubble like that, but the truth’s always better than any white lie. “ they don’t care about anything but money and power. i know they were praising me just now, but that was nothing but an act. ” and a pretty good one at that, if they’ve managed to fool sohee. in reality, his family's never truly cared about him. never offered him any words of encouragement. never loved him like they love his brother. and it hurts to admit it, but that’s the truth, and there’s nothing he can do about it. “ you should really tell your parents to stay away from them. ”