#hui fluff

The first time you laid eyes on him, you were at a disco-themed club. He had a silver suit on and a large collared shirt. His strawberry-cream hair stood out to you in the midst of the crowd. You couldn’t see anyone else as he glided around the LED squares. He caught you staring and winked. And for the first time in a long time, you were flabbergasted.

Maybe it was the amount of liquid confidence you drank. But you danced up to him and asked if he'd like to dance with you. He smiled, and soon you were in each other’s arms and spinning around to the songs together. It took another song before you asked if you could kiss him, and he nodded. When you pulled away, you both were blushing red, but he initiated the second kiss as you two slowly rocked back and forth. 

When the night ended, and you parted ways, you realized you never caught his name, too caught up in the feeling of having his lips on yours. You sighed as you got into bed, and your roommate, who was still up, asked, “So, how was the disco?” You shook your head, “It was magical. Yet, I never learned his name.” He laughs, “Damn, you should have.” He looks at the time, “Shit, how long did you make out with him?” You look at the time and see it’s three in the morning, “I thought you were going to be home at one!” You laugh, “Did you base your sleep schedule on when I returned?” He huffs, “Yes, usually you have two drinks and come home.” You shake your head, “Yeah, but that was before I saw him.” He sighs, “Did you at least get his number?” You pout, “No.” He shakes his head at you, “And you say I’m hopeless.” You sigh, “You have me there.” 

You throw yourself onto your bed, and he follows suit, throwing himself on his own,  “Did you end up going on a date today?” He nods, “Yeah, it was successful.” You pout, “Fucker.” He laughs, “But I didn’t make any bases.” You do a little fist bump in the air, “I win!” He rolls his eyes, “At least I know her name.” You shrug, get under the covers, and go, “Whatever, good night, Joo.” “Good night, (Y/n).” 

---

The second time you met him, you still didn’t know he was your best friend’s older brother. You watch as his band performs at your college’s packed bar. His strawberry-cream hair still drawing you to him. But hearing his singing voice and watching as his fingers glide across the fretboard of his guitar had you enraptured. You just had to know more.

When his band leaves the stage, you return to drinking and conversing with the people around you. You're asking for a second drink. When someone asks sweetly, “Is this seat taken?” You turn your head to see him again and shake your head no, and he sits beside you. You still can't believe he came up to you, but come up with, “I didn’t know you could sing?” He grins, “It’s my major!” You laugh, and he finally tells you his name, “I forgot to introduce myself the last time we were with each other, but I’m Hoetaek, but almost everyone calls me Hui.” You grin and introduce yourself, and he says, “That’s a beautiful name.” You blush and thank him. 

You talked more than you had kissed, but you still couldn’t get enough of him. He left you starstruck. You wanted to know everything and more about him, like what his favorite songs were and his favorite kind of weather. You went back home, and your best friend was already fast asleep, having learned his lesson from last time. His name should have rang a bell, but you still couldn’t place where you’d heard his name before as you fell asleep.

You didn’t register it until you were brushing your teeth in the morning. You gasped as you brushed your teeth, “Hoetaek?” You rushed to your roommate’s photo frames, toothbrush still in your mouth. And there they stood at the beach together. Your best friend was disgruntled in the photo while Hui was smiling wildly. You clutch your shirt, not believing the coincidence. You drag your feet back and finish brushing your teeth. “No fucking way.” You had always heard about his older brother, the absolute dork, and here you were, making out with the said dork. For a dork, he certainly knew how to kiss. You went to class and shook off the thought. He probably didn’t even know you were best friends with his little brother. Just like how you didn’t realize he was your best friend's older brother. 

---

The next time you saw him, you were sitting with Joo on a blanket, studying on the campus grounds, when he came up. “Hey, did you get mom’s text?” Joo blinked at him before quickly grabbing his phone and looking, “Oh, she wants us this home this weekend?” He nods, “Yeah.” Joo asks, “Are you going to go?” Hui shrugs, “I have band practice.” You tune them out, fantasizing about what it would be like to kiss him again. You shook your head at those thoughts because he's supposed to be Joo's dorky older brother. But you couldn't help it. 

Joo interrupts your thoughts, “Oh, (Y/n).” You look at him, and he says, “I never introduced you to Hoetaek. Hui this (Y/n), and (Y/n), this is Hui.” His cheeks were red as he smiled at you and shook your hand, “It’s nice to meet you again.” You blushed as you shook his, “Yeah. I didn’t realize you were Joo’s older brother.” He laughs, “I didn’t realize you were his best friend.” Joo goes, “Ahem,” and you both immediately detach. Joo crosses his arms, “How do you two know each other?” You scramble to find an answer, and Hui says, “We met at the disco club two weeks ago.” Joo nods, “You could have told me you two knew each other.” You shake your head, “We didn’t realize who the other was.” He nods, and Hui gets up from the blanket, “I have to walk to class now, but I’ll pick you up on Friday night.” Joo nods, and when he is far enough away. Joo goes, “Tell me everything.” 

You blushed, “I um, I didn’t realize he was your dorky older brother. Firstly, he was an amazing dancer. And I… may have ended up exchanging a few kisses with him.” He groans, “Ew… He was the whole reason your night was magical?” You nod, and he squints, “Nothing further?” You shake your head, “Unless you consider that we met at his gig a week ago, too…” His jaw drops, “Holy fuck. You two left out a major detail…” You blush and hide your head in your hands, “I know.” He shakes his head, “I’ve always thought of you as my sibling, but you didn’t have to make it official.” You whine, “I know.” And he goes, “Again, you know he’s not cool unless he's in his element.” You pull your hands away, “You’ve said that, but I’ve met him in his element, and god he’s…” He deadpans, “I do not need to know.” You smirk and tease, “Are you sure? I thought you loved hearing the details?” He rolls his eyes, “Yes, I’m sure. I do not need to know whether or not he’s a good kisser.” You smirk, “He is.” He sighs, shaking his head, “Anyways… Do you like him?” You look down at your hands, “I think so.” He smiles, “Well, when are you gonna make a move?” You blush, “Joo...” And he goes, “Well, now that I have the opportunity for you to become my sibling officially. I want this process to speed up a little faster.” You roll your eyes and go back to studying. 

As you’re finishing your homework, you hear Joo say, “Hey, Mom!” You hear her sweet voice over the phone, “Oh, honey, I was wondering when you would get my text!” You look at him to see the smirk gracing his lips, “I was wondering, (Y/n) has nowhere to go this weekend… Can they come too?” You glare at him. And you hear her go, “Oh, of course, we love having (Y/n) over!” He tells her sweetly, “Thanks, mom!” And she asks, “Anything else, honey?” “No, we'll see you this weekend. Love you.” “Love you more!” When he hangs up, “You little-!” You tackle him immediately, and he cackles as you tickle him, “You brat!” He laughs even harder, “You’ll thank me later.” You roll off of him and finish your homework, refusing to talk to him. “I thought you loved my parents?” He asks with a pout, “I love them. You, however? Not so much.” He shakes his head, “If you say so.” You sigh, and you both walk back to your dorm room together. 

---

You don’t see him again until Joo opens the door and lets you in behind him. You kick off your shoes and turn to look towards the living room to see him sitting there playing guitar. If you didn't have no way back to the college, you would have taken your belongings and ran for the hills. Why is he already here? You thought you'd at least have an hour before you had to face the music. Your brain is unraveling fast, and you do everything to lie low. 

But with Joo talking to you in the hall, it was enough to be spotted by him. You gulp as he stops strumming and waves to you, and you wave back. Joo turns at that, and he smiles, “Hui! You’re home!” He grins at his brother as he gets up and hugs him. Joo whines about his hug but accepts it anyway, “I thought you were going to be late because of your band practice?” Hui shakes his head, “No, I told them I was heading home for the weekend.” Joo hums and tries to wiggle out of the hug, and Hui whines, “I thought you were happy to see me!” And Joo goes, “I was!” And he mutters, “Until you kept hugging me.” Hui laughs before he lets him go, and you both awkwardly smile at each other before he goes back to his guitar. 

You both give a quick hello to his parents before dragging your bags up the stairs to Joo’s room. As you walk to his door, you can’t get the sight of Hui out of your head. The memories of kissing him play in the back of your mind, ruining your resolve of a peaceful weekend. Joo and you take time to set up your air mattress, and he giggles, “You sure you want to sleep in my room?” You gasp, “It is my best friend privilege!” He smirks, “Yeah, but don’t you wish to sleep next to your crush?” You squint, “Oh, so that's how it is.” He smirks, “I’m teasing you forever for falling for my brother.” You groan, “I should have never told you!” He smirks, “But you couldn’t keep a secret like that from your best friend and roommate, could you?” You groan again, “I’d try.” He continues smirking, “I’d find out anyway.” You sigh, “I’m starting to see how you’re the little brother.” He pouts, “Hey, that was mean.” You roll your eyes, and with the mattress finally filled, you cap it as he unplugs the blower, and you both head downstairs. 

When you reach the kitchen, their dad looks away from the pot he's stirring, “Oh, (Y/n)! Have you ever met our eldest, Hui?” Hui, who is currently wearing an apron and cracking eggs, causing your heart to burst into a million pieces. You smile, scrubbing the heart-melting moment from your mind, “Yeah, we’ve met.” Hui turns around and smiles at you. His dad grins, “How did you two meet? I know how you met Joo. You both are roommates.” You turn red as his dad flips the vegetables in the pan, and Joo nudges you to say something. And you go, “We met at a disco night.” His dad gasps, “You know disco?” You laugh as you nod, “Yeah, I love it.” He sighs in relief, “Ahh good, you can move in forever if you’d like.” You cackle, and Joo goes, “Where’s Ma?” And Hui says, “Back in the garden.” Joo grins, “Okay, later!” 

He exits the kitchen, and you’re still standing in front of the island. Hui asks, “You’re not joining him?” You shake your head, “I know better than to leave when food is about to be served.” Hui laughs, and his dad asks, “Can you get the plates out?” You nod, walk around the island, open the first cabinet, and pull out five plates. You set them out, head to the silverware drawer, and grab utensils for everyone. They finish what they’re making as you get a seat for yourself as you do. Their dad comes over, “I’m sorry I would have gotten that out sooner! I forgot you were coming.” You shrug, “It’s okay, Mr. Lee. It’s just a chair.” He pouts, “But you’re our guest.” You shake your head, “It’s okay.” And he sighs, “Okay.” 

Hui comes over, and you ask, “When did you get here?” He looks at the clock, “About an hour and a half before you two.” You nod, and he places his dish in the middle while his dad calls for the other two to come in for dinner. Your heart is hammering out of your chest, but you try to be cool about it. He opens his mouth to say something. And before he can get a syllable out, the rest of his family returns. Joo sits beside you, and Hui sits across from both of you. You speak minimally throughout the dinner, just focused on eating and trying not to think about the man across from you. 

---

While Joo snores peacefully on his bed, all cuddled up, you can’t help but roll to your side again. Even after begging to whatever’s up there, you’ll fall asleep. You can’t. You sigh as you get up, deciding to get a glass of water. You fill up your glass, drink a few sips, and head back towards Joo’s room. You hear music coming from the basement with nothing better to do. You decide to investigate. You shut the door behind you and start walking down the steps. 

And that’s where you see him again. He’s playing guitar along to the radio and humming the tune. He hears your footsteps as you come down the creaky old wood and looks back at you, and you ask, “Do you mind if I join you?” He shakes his head no, and you come in further, and he goes, “I come down here when everyone’s sleeping, so I don’t wake them up.” You nod, and he gestures for you to sit beside him, “Can’t sleep?” You softly tell him no as you sit down next to him. It felt awkward to be alone with him again. Because the last time you were perfect strangers making out in a bar. And now you were in an odd dynamic of him being the older brother to your best friend. Not knowing what to say, you sit there and listen to him play along to the radio.

As the next song starts, he grins, “I haven’t heard this since I was in high school.” He starts playing along effortlessly, and you smile, “It’s Led Zeppelin.” He smiles, “Dazed and Confused.” As the song nears its end, he asks, “Did Joo invite you?” You scrunch your nose, “No, rather, he asked his mom to let me come over in front of me.” He hums, “He’s always been an odd one.” You laugh, “What about you? You never skip band practice.” He smiles, “I finally had a reason too.” You blink at him, and he says, “I heard you were staying here.” You blush, and he asks, “Do you always stay here on breaks?” You nod, “Yeah, ever since I’ve become best friends with Joo.” He nods, “Interesting.” After a moment, you ask, “Do you remember the first time we met?” He smiles, “I couldn’t forget it.” You blush, “Me neither.” He asks softly, “Is that why you can’t sleep?” You hum, “Something along those lines.” 

He stops playing and puts his guitar on its stand. He turns towards you, “Is it because my brother is your best friend?” You tilt your head, “Well, no.” He waits for you to continue, “It’s more so the fact that we’re under the same roof.” He holds his hand out to you, and you carefully take it in yours, and you ask, “Is it weird because I’m your little brother’s best friend?” He shakes his head, “No. But maybe it's a little awkward that we’re in my parent's house, though.” You laugh, “Yeah.” He smiles and squeezes your hand, “It kinda reminds me of being a teenager again.” And the two of you laugh. 

The radio starts playing a slow song by Smokey Robison, “Would you like to dance with me?” You smile, “I’d love to.” He pulls you up, and you both sway to the music, but instead of kissing, you talk. You ask, “Is it true that you’re out of your element outside of music?” He blushes, “Yeah. If you met me in the florist shop I work at, I would have shriveled up and asked Hyunggu to run the cash register.” You laugh as you softly tell him, “I would have still found you dreamy.” His cheeks are red as he asks, “Really?” You smile, “Yeah.” 

He twists you under the recessed lightning, and you two giggle as you spin around. You can’t help but get lost in his eyes and wonder what it would be like to kiss him again. You ask softly, “Would it be bad to say I really want to kiss you right now?” He giggles as he says, “No, I want to kiss you too.” You tangle your fingers in his hair as you place your lips on his, and he reciprocates. You both slowly sway to the song as you kiss. When you both pull away, he leans his forehead on yours, and you play with his pink locks. He looks into your eyes and asks, “Would you want to get breakfast with me tomorrow? Like as a date?” You can’t help but grin as you tell him, “Yes.” He kisses you again, and you both giggle into it. 

When the song ends, you sit back on the couch closer than before. You both stay up the whole night talking. As the clock reaches five in the morning, you yawn. And he smiles, “You should probably head upstairs to bed.” You yawn again and agree, “Yeah.” You get up off the couch before looking at him again, “I can’t wait for our date.” He smiles, “I can’t wait either.” You hear him yawn as you round the couch to the stairs, “Good night, Hui.” He smiles, “Good night, (Y/n).” You head upstairs, open the door, walk to the kitchen, clean your empty glass, and head to bed. When you finally rest your head on your pillow, you fall asleep. 

You wake up to Joo loudly stretching, “Dude. You’re so loud.” He rolls his eyes before he stares at you, “You weren’t here when I rolled over at one in the morning.” You look at everything but him, “I got a glass of water.” He hums, “Is that why you weren’t back until 5 am?” You sigh, “Nothing can get past you, can it?” He laughs before he asks, “So?” You sigh, “I just wanted to investigate where the music was coming from.” He leans his chin on his hand, “Yeah?” You blush, “And then we danced and talked until then.” He tilts his head, “Did you not confess?” You smile as you move the blanket away, “Something better.” 

He gasps in horror, “Not underneath my roof!!” You shake your head, “No! That’s not what I meant! And this is your parent’s roof!” He cackles, “So, what is it?” You smile, “We kissed a few times throughout the night, and he asked me to go to breakfast with him.” He gasps, “Omg?! We have to get you dressed nicely!” He pulls you up fast, and you both dig through your travel bag and find something nice to wear. “Okay, go to the bathroom! If he comes up before you’re ready. I’ll distract him.” You laugh and high-five him, “Thanks, Joo!” You rush into the bathroom and freshen up, and you hear outside Hui coming up the stairs. 

Joo asks, “So, was it you or (Y/n) that asked first?” Hui blushes as he rubs the back of his neck, “Well, we were dancing in my room, and they asked if it was bad if they wanted to kiss me. And I told them ‘No,’ that I wanted to kiss them too.” And Joo goes, “And?” Hui turns bright red as he says, “They kissed me first.” Joo smirks, “That’s my best friend!” Hui laughs, “Then I asked them to go to breakfast with me.” Joo claps his hand on his shoulder, “You know, for being a musical nerd, I didn’t know you had it in you. But man, I can’t be prouder.” Hui wrinkles his nose, “Ouch. But thanks. So, how did your date last week go?” Joo nods before telling him. 

The two talk for a few more minutes before you return from the bathroom. Joo leaves you two to head downstairs to the kitchen and sits at the table as his parents make coffee. His mom asks, “Are (Y/n) and Hui joining us?” He shakes his head no, “You’ll see.” They both draw their attention to the stairs, waiting for the two of you to appear. 

In the quiet hallway, you tell him softly, “I like your black and white striped sweater.” He grins as he tells you that he likes your outfit. After another beat of silence, Hui asks if you’d like to hold hands on the way cause the diner is just a block away, and you smile as you agree. You walk down the stairs hand in hand, and his parents gasp as Joo grins. They whisper and ask him, “Oh, they’re going on a date?” He nods, “Yeah!” You walk over, and both bid them goodbye, and Hui tells them where you’re going before leaving. 

---

His dad smiles, “So, do you have all the details?” And Joo grins as if shining an apple on his shirt. He blows his hand and wipes it on his shirt, “Of course I do. They’re my brother and best friend couple.” He tells them how you two met at his gig, and his dad says, “We knew that, though.” He smirks, “Did you know the two kissed?” His parents gasped, “No, did they know each other then?” He shakes his head, “They didn’t know until after they met at his gig.” He shares a few more details before his mom asks, “How did they end up going on a date then if neither of them confessed to their feelings?” He smirks as he gets to rat them out, “They were in his room last night, and they danced to classic rock songs. And Hui finally confessed.” His mom grins, “Oh, that’s so sweet.” 

---

You walk hand in hand down the block, swinging your arms, talking about various things. You open the door for you two, and you both walk in and sit down across from each other at a table for two behind the interior wall. You look at Hui, admiring him as you wait for your waiter, his black beret making him look even cuter than before. You smirk, “Loverboy? Is that true?” He blushes as he remembers the branding on his hat, “For you, yeah.” You blush and look down, “Hui…” He grins, his cheeks red as he lifts your chin and winks, “You’re cute when you’re blushing.” You shake your head, “You’re cuter.” He pulls his finger away as the waiter comes over, hands you each a menu, and asks what you'd like to drink. You tell him, and he comes back shortly with the drinks and gives you time to figure out what you want for breakfast. 

He returns and gets your orders before putting them in the kitchen. Hui puts his left hand up on the table, and you smile as you catch onto what he means and place your left hand against his before interlocking your fingers. He grins and moves your hands back and forth happily, and you can’t help but grin and squeeze his hand in yours. He asks you questions about yourself, and you ask them back after answering. You smile as you realize you’re learning more about Hoetaek, the kind and silly, than Hui, the older musical nerd in the family. And you can’t help but feel endeared. 

The waiter brings your food, and your hands part to eat. He makes you laugh as whipped cream coats his lips, and he laughs as you get some on your nose. He licks his lips, and before you wipe the whipped cream from your nose, he grabs his napkin and swipes his napkin over your nose. “All better.” You shake your head and smile, and he’s grinning right back. 

You finish up your breakfast, and before he has a chance to pay, you do. And he pouts, “But I asked you out on this date. I should have paid.” You wink, “There’s always next time.” He gasps before he grins, “You’re right.” He wraps his arm around your waist, and you smile as you do the same, wrapping your arm around his. You grin, and as you walk through town, he softly hums along to the songs playing, and you can’t help but smile and do the same. You both walk-in time at each other’s pace, strolling around before heading back to his house.

When you reach the front door, he asks, “So, when we head back tomorrow. Will you attend my gig as my special guest?” You grin, “I’d love to.” He smiles and kisses your cheek before unlocking the door and letting you in first. Joo sits on the couch, watching TV. He looks at you two, “So how was it?” You blush, “It was nice.” And Hui goes, “I’m glad I got the courage to ask.” Hui asks, “You don’t mind if we’re together for the rest of the day?” Joo shakes his head, “Nah, I hang out with you two too much. I need some alone time, too.” You cackle, “As if you aren't texting people twenty-four-seven in there.” He rolls his eyes, “Yeah, but it’s hard to text people when someone is talking about how handsome my brother is.” You gasp, “Mean!” 

He cackles, “Yeah.” Before he shoos you two away, “Go have fun. You can tell me all about your date later!” You both smile, and he leads you to the basement door, “What do you say to me, you, and my favorite records?” You grin, “Well, considering your taste in music… Hell yeah.” He smiles, and you both walk down the stairs. And you dance and talk until its dinner time. 

“We organized it so it’s more comfortable for us to eat!” His dad says all cheerily, and he has you sit at the end of the table while Hui is on one side and Joo is on the other, and he happily sits across from his wife. You immediately say, “You didn’t have to.” And he shakes his head, “I was going to do this the other day, but I didn’t get time to.” The five of you laugh, and underneath the table, Hui holds your hand, rubbing his thumb against the back of your hand, and you can’t help but smile as you eat. 

"always choose princess peach for the win, what did i tell you?" Hui says, contently shuffling around in his spot.

"you won 'cause you cheated and pushed me," you huff, taking the gaming consoles and putting them away before switching the tv off.

"a win's a win either way. now, you owe me some pancakes!" Hui cheers.

"coming right up," you grumble, standing up, but Hui pulls you down again to kiss the top of your forehead before letting you go.

as you're preparing the pancake mix, Hui joins you in the kitchen and leans back against the counter.

"this reminds me of our first date," he says, smiling at you fondly.

on your first date, Hui invited you over to cook together, except neither of you were confident, so you ended up just making pancakes. it all took place in your kitchen, just like things are happening now. back then though, the two of you were more nervous and didn't know each other that well.

"i dipped my finger in the mix and touched your face, but the mix slid down and it looked like you were crying," Hui reminisces, slowly walking over and doing the same thing he did back then.

you pout and act as if you're truly crying, and Hui kisses your lips with a laugh, wiping the pancake mix off your face.

"back then, i realized i really loved you," Hui says, stroking the top of your head.

"really? i knew that from way before. that i love you, i mean," you say, stirring the pancake mixture.

"oh? and when was that?" Hui asks, wrapping his arms around you and engulfing you in a back hug.

"back when we were still friends way back at the start, in high school, even. there was this one time when you sang for the class for your music club presentation... seeing the passion on your face and hearing your voice gave me goosebumps. i fell in love with you a thousand times over in that moment," you explain.

"wait so.. when did you first start liking me, then?" Hui asks, mumbling into your neck as he nuzzles his face into it.

"ah... that's a secret!" you say, starting to feel a bit embarrassed.

"what?! but i already know now it was sometime in high school!" Hui whines.

"and that's all you'll know," you say.

Hui's whines grow louder and he softly tickles you, trying to get any sort of answer from you.

"i'll only stop if you tell me!"

"fine, fine!" you pant, catching your breath as Hui finally lets go.

"i saw you in an empty classroom once before we were even friends. you were practicing singing for something and i couldn't even see your face, just your back. your voice was so beautiful that it made my heart flutter. after that day, i couldn't get your voice out of my head. that's how i knew i liked you."

Hui looks at you in disbelief, shaking his head.

"so you liked me before we were even friends?"

you nod and sigh, pitying yourself and your feelings that were one-sided back then.

"wow.." Hui says.

he's silent for a while as he processes everything. then, he asks you how you were able to feel the same way for so many years and not lose interest.

"because you were and are that special to me," you say.

"would you believe me if i told you you're special to me, too?" Hui asks.

you shake your head, not in disbelief, but at Hui's playful tone of voice.

"i started liking you after you befriended me because you joined my club. back then, you couldn't read music yet, and i taught you how to read it, remember? there was a day when you finally got the hang of it and you came to me all excited, showing me that you could finally read music. my heart raced so hard when you gave me a high-five and ran up to me like that... that's when i realized," Hui explains.

you smile fondly at the memory, recalling the way Hui blushed at you when you thanked him for letting you join his music club and teaching you how to read music.

"back then, i was so unsure of myself, but when i was finally doing something right, i felt so proud. and you were the first person who i wanted to tell," you say.

Hui kisses your cheek and rubs your shoulders, holding you close for a moment as he speaks.

"i remember that. and i know you have times, now, when you're still unsure of yourself. you know that it's okay to be unsure, right? you don't have to know everything, and you don't have to know yourself. just give yourself time to live and experience everything, all the things you want. then, you'll learn more about yourself, bit by bit."

"when did this turn into a lecture?" you ask Hui, who laughs in response.

A friendship blossomed between you and your neighbour, especially once you learned each other’s name and discovered you were of the same age. You learned to associate him with those nostalgic summer afternoons when the sky was a brilliant shade of royal blue, afternoons in which you would run bare-footed with him across the blistering bitumen roads.

Hoetaek was something special, a source of warmth in your life. He would always hold your hand, always greeting you with overwhelming excitement and that impossibly large smile.

One evening, as you both laid on the dry grass of his front yard, watching as puffs of cottony clouds drifted by, he took your hand and intertwined his fingers with yours, turning on his side to stare at you directly.

“I’d like to be friends with you forever, (F/n),” Hoetaek said with surprising maturity, “is that okay?”

You thought it was quite silly that he was asking for permission. You had already assumed that was going to happen because, at that age, you did not have a firm grasp of what forever meant, except that it sounded incredible with him.

“Isn’t that obvious?” You replied with a grin.

That was the first time Hoetaek had made your heart flutter, though you would not realise that until years later.

The memories of primary school seemed to fade and evanesce the moment you began to attend high school. Hoetaek changed, although not in a bad way. He mellowed out, losing much of that goofy glint in his eyes. But there were still shards of his younger self left behind.

Hoetaek was still physically and verbally affectionate. He frequently reminded you that he loved you, and you had memorised how he felt to embrace. As a result, you often dealt with questions asking if you were dating him, much to your embarrassment.

And every day without fail, you left and returned home with Hoetaek at your side. You had only rare moments without him, and in those moments, you were plagued by thoughts of him.

One evening, it clicked.

Hoetaek had accompanied you to your front gate, the sun setting against your backs. Marmalade light painted his tan skin, catching in his tresses of raven hair. The moment you turned to face him, to bid him goodbye, he called to you, “I love you, (F/n)!” And you realised it.

You were in love with him.

It cascaded over you like a warm shower. Everything began to glow vivid colours, streaking together like a rainbow. Hoetaek’s pleasant smile as he sent you off was suddenly the most beautiful smile on this planet.

Everything changed from that day onwards.

Every small gesture he initiated, every slight touch, made you startled and flustered. You could hide it, for now, but your feelings were veiled thinly, and that veil would soon be torn, and then he would know. He understood you well, after all. Better than you understood yourself.

And eventually, he noticed. Just like you dreaded.

You were seated close to each other in the schoolyard, sharing your lunch break, when Hoetaek rested his head upon your shoulder. He had caught you off guard, and it had stunned you. You went rigid beneath him.

Hoetaek lifted his head, peering at you blankly, surprise gradually seeping onto his expression.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong? Do you … not want me to do that?”

“Sorry,” you hastily responded, feigning a smile through your nerves, “I didn’t mean to flinch.”

Hoetaek’s thought process reflected on his face. He silently realised something - that he should not touch you so casually. That it was wrong. That your relationship, under his control, had grown inappropriate for mere friends.

None of this was true, but your reaction had whispered these anxieties into his ear, and soon he was corrupt with doubt.

Distance began to grow like unwanted weeds between you both without the physical closeness. It was tragic; it made you feel ill. Seeing Hoetaek less frequently made the world turn grey. You wept the first morning he did not wait for you at your front gate.

Hoetaek was afraid, afraid of feeling you freeze beneath him again out of what he thought was discomfort. And you were afraid of him discovering your true feelings for him, and so you would only watch as he was swept away from you like he was being carried away by the tide.

One day, months later, he came to you, and your hopes rose upon seeing his wide grin once more. Was he coming back to you?

“I met this girl, Seungyeon,” he began, and dread settled into the crooks of your body like cold snow, “I finally asked her out today, and she said yes! Do you want to meet her?”

No, you thought, that’s the last thing I would like to do. You had to wrestle back tears, biting your bottom lip urgently just to shock you out of your deep despair. It barely worked, and even then, you were masking to hide the remainders.

“I’m happy for you, ‘Taek. I’ll meet her.”

It was a somewhat bitter smile that you left him with, and he acted as if he did not notice it. Perhaps he did see it but was not saying anything.

Perhaps he was already absorbed in his girlfriend.

The latter soon revealed itself to be the truth. You would meet Seungyeon, a girl who seemed perfectly nice and yet you hated her with all of your being.

You had to observe them. Hoetaek treated her the same way he had treated you. He would hold her hand, kiss her knuckles, draw her closer to him to share his warmth with her. Watching them made you feel like throwing up. You could feel the blood rushing from your face to your churning stomach, and you quickly excused yourself.

You stumbled through the empty school corridors as if intoxicated. Your legs were swiftly bleeding strength, and before you reached the bathroom, you collapsed onto the cold floor and began to cry.

“Are you okay?”

Amidst the fog of your depression came a gentle voice, a subtle hand on your shoulder. You looked up, knowing you were a mess, but it was too late to hide it now.

A boy was leaning over you; his eyebrows scrunched with concern. He offered you a hand, and you took it.

Hongseok was like a bandaid, temporarily covering up a wound that bled endlessly. He knew that was his purpose and dutifully performed it for reasons you could not understand.

You could not definitively recall when you first started dating him. Perhaps it was when he first took you in his arms or when he first kissed away your tears.

Years passed by.

You and Hoetaek took separate paths because you could no longer emotionally withstand being on the same path as him. Although Hongseok eased the pain, there was a constant feeling as if you were incomplete. Hongseok knew it, too, but he was kind enough to stay.

It was your final year of high school. Each of you had grown into adults, although you were yet to adjust to it. Your emotions surrounding your ex-best friend were hardly as jagged as when you were younger, but they were still a sore point.

One morning you rose for classes, dressed lazily and clasping a thermos of hot coffee between your fingers, as you had done so since the beginning of your frantic senior year. You opened the front door to greet the cold morning - instead meeting a familiar gaze.

“Hoetaek…?”

“(F/n),” Hoetaek managed a small smile upon hearing his name from your lips, “I-I broke up with Seungyeon. Last week. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I realised something wasn’t right. I missed you.”

He looked fatigued, dark half-moons beneath his eyes, his face fraught with anxiety. You could not help but match his worried expression, frowning out of concern, forgetting that you were heartbroken over him.

You tried to return his smile, although due to the mood, it came out crooked, “I missed you too, ‘Taek.”

“I mean, I missed you. I missed your smile. You’re the reason that I broke up with Seungyeon.”

Upon hearing those words, it felt as if your world came crashing around you. The castle you had built to protect your hidden feelings crumbled to dust, leaving you bare and vulnerable. You were unsure what expression you were currently making, but it was certainly bittersweet. All of a sudden, your love for Hongseok seemed small and naive.

“‘Taek…I-I’m sorry, I’m seeing Hongseok.”

Hoetaek tried to force a smile, but it disintegrated into sobs. It was the most pained look you had ever seen him make, a terrible, regret-filled expression that made tears burn in your own eyes. You could only wrap him in your arms and embrace him tightly.

“I’m sorry,” you repeated, and in a whirlwind of movement, he tore away from you and disappeared back through your front gate as if to save himself further embarrassment, and you could only watch his retreating back.

You stood frozen for a moment, trying to sort through what seemed like an immense storm of emotions and discovering you were unable to. Instead, you forced yourself to walk to school, all the whilst distracted by your thoughts.

Hoetaek was seared into your mind. That desperation, that rampant exhaustion that doused him from head to toe, the tears that paved a way down his cheeks. He was suffering, and the only way to relieve him was to go to him as more than a friend. However, after all these years he had spent at your side, it would be cruel to betray Hongseok like that.

You immediately found Hongseok, and to his credit, he knew something was wrong within moments.

You were honest with him as you cried on his shoulder, ignoring the sound of the school bell.

“I’m confused,” you mumbled, and Hongseok smiled, unbothered, “I know.”

You were wrought with guilt. You loved Hongseok, but that was nothing compared to how you loved Hoetaek. Your love for Hoetaek was as large as the universe, stretching further than you could describe with words.

Hongseok had known that the moment he had met you, and so the end of your relationship was inevitable.

It came only a few months later.

You were traversing the campus, searching for him to bid him a final goodbye before the weekend began. You turned a corner, and there he was. With another girl.

His face was angled away from you as he tucked hair behind her ear, leaning forwards and kissing her.

“Hongseok?”

He jolted away from her, turning to face you, guilt leaking over his features.

“(F/n), I…” he seemed to be struggling for words, so you concluded things for him, “I guess it’s over, isn’t it?”

Hongseok breathed for a moment, hesitating, chewing on his cheek.

“You know it never really started, don’t you? This relationship was just a distraction for you from Hoetaek.”

You somehow arrived home despite hardly remembering the walk.

His words should have stung. They were true and biting, and yet you felt nothing. Not even shock or sadness. Like a cut that should have bled, but didn't.

You simply left, not even shedding a tear for the unfortunate ending of a five-year relationship.

For a while, you simply drifted, numb and cold. Without Hongseok, you had to face things with Hoetaek. You could no longer pretend to ignore the matter with the forced pretence that you were already with someone. Because of that realisation, you left home the moment the sun set.

You wandered over to Hoetaek’s house. The same place it had been almost a decade earlier when you had first become acquainted with him.

You hesitated for just a moment before knocking. Hoetaek emerged, wearing sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. His hair was soft and bouncy, as if he had showered just hours earlier. He scanned you, his surprise melting into concern.

“(F/n)? Are you okay?”

You didn't know how to answer that, your mouth opening and closing as you searched for a response. Hoetaek smiled, soothing your hollow distress.

“Come in,” He offered, “it’s just me home.”

He led you through his house. It looked hardly different from when you were last here, and the familiarity put you at ease. He had you sit on the sofa before reclining in the armchair nearby. For a while, there was only silence as he stared at you, attempting to decipher your endless sea of emotions.

“Did something happen?” Hoetaek inquired slowly, treading carefully, “was it Hongseok?”

You were still numb as you finally responded, “yeah but, I don’t even feel that upset about it. He’s dating another girl, I think; I caught them together.”

Hoetaek furrowed his brow.

“You don’t feel upset about it?”

“I…no. It’s like I was waiting for something to happen, for an excuse to end the relationship.”

You erupted into tears unexpectedly. You did not even know why you did, but they were burning and almost relieving.

Before you knew it, Hoetaek had stood and guided you into his arms. It was just like the old days when you would trip and graze a knee, and he would hold you. Except now, the reason behind your tears was far more complex, and his embrace was secure and adult.

It did not take long for you to stop crying, but you refused to let go, and so did Hoetaek. When he finally withdrew, he hovered over you, his palm smoothing over your cheek. You recognised that look in his eyes but were suddenly too flustered to register it, not until he finally bridged the gap between you.

It was as if the world had collided with you when Hoetaek finally kissed you.

Nothing mattered anymore. Hongseok’s infidelity, your broken heart, the years that you had suffered watching Hoetaek date someone else. All of that felt a lifetime away as you kissed him.

Things quickly grew heated, which was unsurprising. It was a hot and dizzying kiss, overflowing with desperation. Hoetaek straddled your hips, pressing you against the back of the couch. You were both breathless when he stopped, staring at you through these dark, syrupy irises, pupils blown with lust and passion.

“Can I take you to bed?” He asked. There was no hesitation, no wavering of his confidence. He knew your answer before you gave it.

“Please,” you gasped, “I need you.”

Hoetaek drew his arms around you, carrying you to bed with your legs crossed behind his back. You clung to him tightly, your heart fluttering. He had always made you feel like a princess.

He laid you across his mattress carefully, as if you were fragile. You had been in his bedroom many times, but today there was something different in the air. It gave everything this surreal haze, thick and electric against your skin.

Hoetaek kneeled over you and removed his shirt, tossing it onto his bedroom floor. You took a moment to admire the ruts of his abs, obviously staring at his beautiful olive skin and his deep collarbones.

“‘Taek,” you mumbled, overwhelmed all of a sudden with shyness.

“Shush,” he replied, caging you between his arms, “let me make you feel good.”

Hoetaek kissed you again, slowly warming you up once more. His palms left your face, feeling over your waist, boldly grasping past your breasts and ending up between your legs. He pinched your inner thigh, a wordless warning that that was where he was headed with his intentions.

“Can I?” He broached the question politely, knowing it would cross a line that neither of you could return from. You nodded, swallowing nervously.

Hoetaek observed your face as he sunk his hand beneath the waistband of your shorts, finally making contact with your pussy, his fingers ghosting over the crest of your folds. You gasped and buried your teeth in your bottom lip.

“Wow, you’re pretty,” Hoetaek murmured, his eyes crinkling as he smiled. He slowly rolled his fingertip against your clit, maintaining eye contact the entire time.

“Does that feel good?” He hummed, although it was clear that it did. You were already raising your back from the mattress.

“It feels amazing,” you groaned, reaching up and intertwining your fingers with his hair, dragging him back down into a kiss and flitting your tongue across his lips. Hoetaek grinned, returning the favour.

He tasted sweet, utilising the sheer power of his kiss to eat up the noises that were swelling up in your chest. He was intensifying, losing the gentle grace he initially had treated you with. Soon his fingers were firm and fast, rubbing tight circles that shocked you with pleasure.

“‘Taek, I’m close,” you breathed. Hoetaek interlaced his fingers with yours, holding your hand as you came. Waves of pleasure washed over you, made easier to handle by the fluttering kisses he trailed across your jaw.

Surprisingly, he did not relent.

“Hoetaek, th-that’s-,” you hiccuped a sob of pleasure, realising you were hurtling towards a second orgasm, and he was adamant on bringing you there.

“Do it for me again, (F/n), come for me again. I know you can do it.”

And that you did, cumming far harder than the first time, writhing beneath Hoetaek. Beneath the buzzing of your ears, you could hear him chuckling softly.

“Do you want to keep going?” You heard him ask, your eyes fluttering open to catch a glimpse of his beautiful smile. The orgasm had overloaded your bloodstream with endorphins, amplifying that feeling of love and endearment.

“Of course,” you answered, “I want to feel you inside me.”

“Okay. Stand up with me.”

Hoetaek offered you a hand paired with a warm grin, helping you onto your feet. You stood shakily, still reeling from the overstimulation. He held you close, his arms slung around your waist.

“Take this off,” he tugged at your shirt, and you simpered shyly, pulling your t-shirt over your head. Hoetaek reached around and unclasped your bra as well, letting it slip away, revealing the peaks of your breasts.

Hoetaek remained wordless, but his face told you everything. Encouraged by the awe that painted his features, you dropped your shorts and your underwear onto the carpet, baring yourself in your entirety to the man you so dearly loved.

Now you reached for Hoetaek’s pants, glancing up at him for permission. He smiled keenly at you, and so you dragged the sweats down his legs. You made embarrassed eye contact with his cock, straining against the confines of his grey boxers, before removing those as well.

Hoetaek looked glorious, made of stretches of tan skin, toned muscles, and sharp edges. The evening light filtered through his bedroom blinds, colouring him a shade of warm orange. Last of all, but certainly not least, was his cock. Lengthy rather than girthy, but not lacking thickness either, with a soft, pearly pink tip that glistened in the light.

You realised you were holding your breath, releasing it in a heavy sigh.

“‘Taek, you’re gorgeous,” you mumbled dazedly, mesmerised. He could pursue a career as a male model, you thought.

He laughed, his fingers trickling down your bare collarbones, pinching your nipples teasingly, “I could say the same thing to you.”

Hoetaek rested his hands on your hips, and you kissed him. It was intimate, your nude bodies brushing against one another’s, warm even whilst bare of clothing. He pushed you back down horizontally on his bedding, raising your thighs at a ninety-degree angle. His cock rested on your lower belly.

“Are you ready?” He hummed, swirling his thumb over the tip of his cock in a circular motion.

You were more than ready; you were desperate. You needed him. The walls of your pussy were aching with emptiness.

“Please.”

Hoetaek nodded, his chest rising and falling erratically as his nerves began to sink in. As he aligned himself with your entrance, his hand was trembling, and so you reached down and assisted him.

Slowly, carefully, he pushed inside of you.

“Ah!” You both exclaimed simultaneously, and Hoetaek panicked visibly, “are you okay? Did that hurt?”

Hoetaek drew back his hips and worked his cock in and out of you, slowly, measuredly increasing his pace. It felt incredible, and you had to lean against him, wanting him deeper inside of you.

You shook your head feverishly.

“No, please, fuck me, ‘Taek.”

As he fucked you faster, the effort was discernable on his face. Sweat was gathering on his forehead in glassy beads, rolling down his face and catching in his fringe. He furrowed his brow, groaning with each thrust. He started to become rough, pleasure shocking through your core and across your skin.

“Hoetaek,” you pleaded, reaching for him for support. He found your hands, “I know, sweetheart. I’m getting close.”

His grip on your hands grew iron-like, his breathing coming out ragged, and so was yours; you wanted him to cum, to throw his head back and release a desperate cry.

And finally, he did, in precisely the same way you had just been fantasising about, pulling out of you all at once and spurting strings of hot semen all over your stomach.

You just stared at each other, somewhat out of disbelief. Finally, Hoetaek broke the short silence, laughing sheepishly.

“I wasn’t too rough, was I?”

“Mm, I liked it,” you smiled.

Hoetaek laughed again, this time freely, the pleasant sound bouncing around the still room, and he leaned over you to kiss you - uncaring that he was currently grazing against the mess he had made on your chest.

“Do you want to have a shower together?” He inquired; a silly question, really. He hardly needed to ask.

You locked your fingers with his, submersed in a strange and fuzzy nostalgic feeling as if you had been dating him for years and this was just another evening together.

And really, things were the same as before, but also different. This was where you were always supposed to end up with Hoetaek, with or without Seungyeon and Hongseok as distractions along the way.

L ⇴ LAUGHTER

If there’s one thing to expect with Hoetaek, then it’s always his poor attempts with dad jokes, which the other members very quickly warned you about when you first started dating. At the best of times, Hoetaek could tickle you by how funny he was, but it was the dad jokes that he always knew were your weakness, and so on those days when you’d been feeling particularly low or moody, he knew the answer to cheering you up again. They never got better, in fact they probably only got worse, but somehow you just found yourself laughing even more at them, even if it was at Hoetaek’s expense.

M ⇴ MISSING

He’d often try and laugh it off whenever he was missing you, if another member ever asked him how he was feeling, he’d joke around and brush it off as if it was nothing. It was usually only when he was in his hotel room alone, did Hoetaek really begin to think about you and realise how much he missed you. Whilst he could joke around with the boys, when it came to seeing you on screen or receiving a text from you, that’s when it often hit him that you were miles away. Around you, he’d crumble a little more, opening up about how as the leader he’d try and keep it together around everyone else as he knew they were struggling too.

N ⇴ NICKNAMES

You loved to tease him with all the terrible nicknames you’d heard the other members call him by, winding him up endlessly. He’d always be able to come back at you though with childhood nicknames he’d learnt from your parents.

O ⇴ OBSESSION

He was obsessed with your eyes, and how intently they always looked across at him whenever he spoke, making sure that you knew that he had your attention.

P ⇴ PDA

In public, Hoetaek knew he had an image to uphold, and so for the most part, he’d be very cautious and calm with being affectionate towards you. However, when the two of you found a little more of a private space, he wouldn’t be quite so careful, teasing you and messing around until you had to scold him to stop.

Q ⇴ QUESTIONS

He loves nothing more than to ask for your opinion on the various projects that he’s working on, although he knows that the work is his own, he loves to get your input and see if you think any adjustments could be made.

R ⇴ RANDOM FACTS

Hoetaek has quite the hobby of writing little songs just for you, he’ll often ask for your opinion on a piece of work, only for it to be a little something dedicated to you, or ask you to the studio on a date, only to surprise you with some lyrics that are all about you. Music is his biggest passion, as are you, and so Hoetaek loves to combine the two and create several keepsakes of your relationship to hold onto through song.

S ⇴ SEX

The charismatic side of Hoetaek most definitely comes out to play during intimacy, he loves to tease you and get you back for all of the times that you tease him, especially when he’s busy with work. He’s definitely not opposed to something quick too, the two of you are known to leave the studio in quite the mess from your time together, always cleaning it up before anyone enters or suspects anything going on.

T ⇴ TEXTS

He’s always checking up on the other members as the leader, and so it’s almost an instinct for Hoetaek to often check up on you too and send you messages to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself.

U ⇴ UNIVERSE

Although Hoetaek often knew how to charm most people, he never imagined he’d be able to charm someone like you. He loves that he has someone who will humour him, even if sometimes his charms are lacking in replace of his terrible jokes.

V ⇴ VACATION

He always dreamt of being able to go on a proper holiday with his other members, but also you too. Whilst they travelled the world, Hoetaek wanted nothing more than to spend proper time at a place with them all, and also get the best of both worlds by being able to spend plenty of quality time with you as well.

W ⇴ WHINING

Hoetaek has a bit of a habit to whine at you when he wants to tease you, if he’s not got your attention when he craves it, he’ll be a little bit of a moaner.

X ⇴ XXXXX

Every kiss that comes from Hoetaek is always dedicated, he never gives you a lacking kiss, his full energy always goes into every single one. He’ll make it a habit to always make sure that he kisses you when he greets you and when he leaves you, and make sure that you do the same to him as well. That way, in amongst everything that goes on, he always comes and goes by letting you know that he loves you.

Y ⇴ YOU

You were a challenge to Hoetaek, he loved having to work hard for your love and affection.

Z ⇴ ZZZ

Most nights his mind is still hard at work, and so it’s up to you in the evening to try and keep him relaxed and not stress himself. You’ll lay, sometimes for hours, and let him talk his mind clear before finally being able to fall asleep.

---

It was late, and the only restaurant still open on your way to the studio was a small shop next to a karaoke bar, and you stopped by to pick up some fried rice. It wasn’t the most exciting meal out there, but for a 2am dinner run — or rather, breakfast-lunch-dinner run, if you were Hwitaek — it seemed pretty fitting.

When you arrived at the building and made your way to the studio floor, you saw the tall boy sitting on one of the benches in the hallways. He was hunched over, scrolling mindlessly on his phone and you could tell he was trying his hardest to stay awake for his leader’s sake.

You said a soft greeting as you approached him and he sent you a smile before letting a worried expression wash over him again. The door to the studio slightly ajar and Wooseok gestured for you to take a peek into the small gap, placing a warm hand on your back as he stood behind you.

“Just look at him.” He whispered, and you stared at your best friend working away on his computer, seemingly without any breaks to even think about what to do next. He simply clicked a few times, played something, shook his head, and then repeated the process all over again.

You turned back to Wooseok and began ushering him away from the door. “I’ll take care of this. I’m also guessing he hasn’t eaten much—” He nodded in agreement when you said that. “—so I brought some food with me. Go home and get some rest, I know you’re tired, just tell the others that I’ll bring him home... eventually.” You smiled reassuringly, but had to add in that “eventually” because deep down, you knew how just stubborn Hwitaek could be, and getting him out of the studio was a hefty task. Add in the upcoming planned promotions, then you get an even more stubborn version of him to work with — one that doesn’t understand the boundaries between work and self care.

Wooseok nodded slowly and your heart melted at the exhausted expression on his face. They’ve all been working so hard recently, heck, their packed schedules were a constant these days, and you could sense that it was taking a toll on them. Though no matter how tired they were, they always made sure to look out for each other, and you wanted to do your best to help ease at least some of the stress off the group. With a little more convincing, you finally got Wooseok to leave, giving him a hug before he did, and then you turned towards the task at hand. Even though the door was already opened, you knocked once to grab Hwitaek’s attention.

No answer.

You knocked again, this time calling out his name a couple times.

When he still didn’t answer, you gently opened the door all the way and let out a sigh when you fully took in his appearance.

“Hey, Hui.”

Still no answer.

You walked closer to him and leaned over to get a better look at his face. His eyes looked like they were seconds away from slumber, and his head rested on his hand like a makeshift pillow. “Hui? Hwitaek? Hui? Pentagon of Leader? Huiiiiiii?”

You placed the takeout gently next to his keyboard and then slowly nudged it so that it touched his arms resting on the table. When he didn’t respond to that either  — and opted to mess around with the dynamics of the percussion in his composition instead — you stood straight up and let out a huff.

“Lee Hwitaek!” You called boldly and for the first time that day, he took notice of your presence.

“Oh, hey y/n. Could you check if this sounds okay?” He greeted you nonchalantly as if you hadn’t travelled all this way in the middle of the night to see him, and proceeded to play an excerpt of what he had splayed out on the screen. You stood there speechless until the music finished blasting from the speakers and then just stared at his expectant face.

“Hui you need to snap out of it! I know this comeback means a lot to you and you want to get the work done but you can’t do it like this.” You told him exasperatedly.

“What do you mean I can’t do it like this? I’ve always been doing it like this, and it works every time.” He defended, and he replayed the section for you to hear, but you still refused to pay attention to it.

“You do this every time only to have one of us literally drag you out of the studio! And then you face the consequences days later ‘cause your body’s exhausted, your mind’s exhausted — don’t you think you’ll work better if you were refreshed?” You moved his hand away from the mouse when he tried to go back to work and ignore you.

“I just have a little bit left to do and I’ll finish up soon, I promise.” He muttered. It was almost as if he was entranced by the idea of never ending work hours, and Lee Hwitaek was being sucked into the void of his monitor right before your eyes.

“I’ll finish it up soon, my ass. We’ve been best friends for what? 12 years now? I know you’re lying when you say that, and I know that you’ll be sick by the time you ‘finish’ this and then you’ll regret it later. It’s the same cycle over and over again and you need to stop, please I’m begging you, we’ve been through this so many times already.” You tried to calm yourself down. Getting frustrated over his stubbornness wasn’t going to do any good, if anything, it’ll only make the problem worse. He finally gave you his full attention when he noticed that you took a deep breath to collect yourself. Taking a deep breath has always been a sign that you meant business.

And yet he still replied to you blatantly. “If I don’t finish it up all at once, I’m going to forget about it later.”

You rubbed your forehead, trying to get rid of the annoyance that was building up within you. “And then you’re going to finish that part, only to think of another idea to work on right after that. Like I said, it’s a cycle and you need to realize that. Please, I’ll give you 30 minutes to finish what you’re doing and write your notes down, and then we’re going to take a walk, no matter what you say.”

He nodded at your firm tone and quietly got back to work after muttering a small “okay”. You spent the next 20 or so minutes watching him work, occasionally feeding him spoonfuls of the rice you brought, until he finally shut everything down and turned to you to scarf down what was left in the foam container. 

“I didn’t realize how hungry I was.” He pointed out the obvious when there was no rice left, and he stretched before getting up from his seat. You giggled when you heard his joints crack at the sudden movement.

“Geez, you really are getting old, huh? And that’s what happens when you get stuck in sitting in this chair for more than 24 hours.” You lightly smacked his head to get some sense into him. “You don’t take care of yourself and don’t realize that your body needs food.”

He rolled his eyes, giving in to your light scolding. “Okay, okay, you’re right.” 

“Sir, I am always right.”

-----

Not too long later, you were both taking a walk outside the building, entering the quiet night life of the city.

The winter air had a chill to it and you shivered a little, taking Hwitaek’s free hand into yours. He responded by squeezing it gently. 

Small physical affirmations like these have always got you through your friendships. As people who both relied on them as a source of comfort, it’s what allowed you to be as close as you were now. Though there were times where you’d have your disagreements — take the little argument you had earlier — holding hands especially, has always been what you used to remind yourselves that in the end, you still loved each other. That you were still best friends.

“I’m so proud of you, you know that?” You told him quietly.

He laughed. “What? Am I getting a pep talk now?”

Your cheeks heated at his words and you stopped walking, pulling him into a stop as well. “I’m being serious here!”

He gave you a teasing look. “I know you are, and I appreciate you always coming to take care of me. Even though I’m not in your shoes, I do know how stubborn I can get and how frustrating it must be for you guys to watch me make the same mistakes over and over again.” He let out a sigh and scratched the back of his head. “But some habits are hard to break, yeah?”

You let out a small hum in agreement. It was true, everyone had their own habits — some good, some bad — and while Hwitaek had a fair share of endearing habits, between you and the rest of the boys, his were also the most concerning. You’d all rather have him stay healthy than have him work his soul away on some songs that can ultimately, only do the group so much. And getting him to realize that was a challenge, but it was a challenge you were all willing to take.

Your walk didn’t have a set destination, and you crossed streets and changed directions on a whim, adding more thrill to your little adventure. At one point, you even stopped at one of the convenience stores still open so that he could buy himself a drink. Which ended up simply being a carton of milk after you insisted that no, coffee at 3 am is not going to help him rest at all. You allowed him to at least get chocolate milk though. And you spent your time talking about anything unrelated to his work, sharing stories that you’ve missed during your time apart.

The two of you pretended like it wasn’t the middle of the night and that you weren’t freezing in the cold because neither of you were responsible enough to have prepared layers for the weather. Because so what if it was pitch dark and the only sign of life were the lonely taxis that drove by? If the only sound joining the chirps of the crickets were your laughter and you couldn’t feel the tips of your ears anymore? Your best friend finally had the chance to rest and be himself once again, and you’d be there for him no matter what time of day it was. As long as you got to see his shoulders relax a little and his smile genuinely reach his eyes again. As long as you knew that he’d listen to you, as his best friend, and that he’d let you take care of him when you needed to. It didn’t matter how often that had to happen.

When you turned the corner back to the entrance of the entertainment building, you looked at Hwitaek and nodded your head towards the floors upon floors towering above. “You wanna go back to the studio and work for a little while longer to let me hear what you’ve got so far?”

Getting him to take a break was already a miracle, and as much as you wished he would at least spend the night resting, you felt bad for dragging him out like this. You understood that he probably worked best if he was allowed to follow his train of thoughts without disruption, as bad as that habit was.

Thinking that he would agree to your offer, you were already making your way towards the entrance. But to your surprise, he grabbed your wrist to stop you and instead gave you a relaxed smile.

“Nah.” He pulled you closer to him and slung an arm around your shoulder, leaning into it a little bit. His body was pleasantly warm against yours.

"Why are you rushing now, Hui?", you asked, laughing at his concentrated face.

"When you stopped to people watch, I actually saw what time it was, and now we're late".

You couldn't even ask what you were late for before he took off again, you stumbling to catch up with him. 

After a few minutes of walking and Hui checking his phone for coordinates from time to time, you arrived at the final destination and you gasped. Of course, how could you forget. The main reason Hui insisted on coming specifically to this town was the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony that happened every year on the day before the eve. On the 24th, the tree, already lit, was surrounded by many choruses and people from around the world. But the lighting ceremony was something as special as that, since it represented the new perspective of a new year and all the brightness of Christmas. 

"I wanted to find the best spot to watch it from down here, couldn't miss it", he smiled brightly at you, hand twirling you gently. "See, there's our room at the hotel", he pointed straight at the tall building across the street. 

"Are we that close?", you whispered. 

"We are. I wanted to be down here for the ceremony, wanted to be part of something like this", he squeezed your hands in his.

You two were whispering even though you were close. The world was buzzing around you, loud noises and voices all around but in that moment, that small confession from your boyfriend made the world fade. Of course he was already part of something huge, he was an amazing vocalist and producer and was famous but in that moment, inside something so big and worldwide like that ceremony, he wanted to be part of it with you. You felt like crying, Hui meant the world to you and you saw much more than his idol persona, knowing he understood what that meant and reassured how much he wanted that piece of world with you was so important. In that ceremony he wasn't famous, wasn't important at all, but he was to you. He knew it and he wanted it. Just Hui and Y/N.

The streets got quieter when almost all the lights went off, gasps being heard. Hui had his arms around his, his torso warm against your back, you sighed, content to be there. When the lights on the huge Christmas tree started to shine, starting from the bottom, you felt Hui's breathing heaving, your hands shaking a bit from excitement. When all the lights got lit up, everyone erupted in claps and whistles, it was as if the city itself woke up to celebrate, everything was so alive. You turned and stared at your boyfriend, tears in your eyes. You could see his eyes were shining too and you couldn't help but kiss him. It was a peck but it held all your emotions. He chuckled and kissed you once again, fully laughing afterwards, he truly was like a kid on Christmas. 

The day after came and so came the preparations for the Christmas eve party. You were thankful that the hotel lobby would be the place for the party and all you had to worry was to dress up nicely. You spent the whole day walking alone in the city to find the perfect dress and shoes for the occasion, nearly missing your beauty day, scheduled especially for the party. Hui left the hotel room early as well, the two of you agreeing to dress up separately to not ruin the surprise. 

When it was almost 7 P.M. you managed to get to the room, waiting in the small kitchen for Hui to leave the bathroom. When the coast was clear you took your time in the tub, using every soap and cream they had and that would be good for your skin. The tub was strategically good since the make up was basically done and you couldn't ruin it. Putting on the dress and shoes, you fixed yourself a look in the mirror and was shocked at how perfect you looked tonight. Stepping out of the bathroom, you saw your boyfriend fixing his cufflinks, his tux smooth and shoes shining. It took your breath away and you gasped in surprise.

Hui looked up and gasped as well, voice clearly failing when he opened his mouth and gaped like a fish. You laughed and twirled cheekily, welcoming his arms when he stepped up to hug you.

"You look more perfect than ever, Y/N", he breathed.

"You too, Hui. Perfect", you smiled. You gave him a quick peck and stepped back, checking the clock. "It's almost 8, we'll miss dinner". 

The dinner was perfect, the menu was delectable and the dessert was the best they ever served. Hui kept on talking about his day and was genuinely curious about yours as well, asking all sorts of questions. After eating, the beautiful couple you were, took some time to record videos for both your families and friends, making sure to record a special one for Hui's members. All eyes were on you and Hui, even though it was a five star hotel and extremely fancy, you both knew you two made quite the powerful couple and he led you all night gracefully, feeling proud and in love with you. 

The night went by perfectly, the music and the champagne somehow matching and Hui made sure you had at least three dances with him, surprising you with how he could slow dance. Near midnight, both of you went back to your room, the balcony providing a perfect view of the illuminated tree. It was windy but the weather was nice and warm, no space for coats nor hot beverages so you were enjoying some fancy juice you even forgot the name for. 

The dress you bought came with an echarpe that made it look way more elegant and you held it close to you until Hui delicately took it from you to place it on the couch. Watching him made the butterflies in your stomach fly around agitated and you felt like your heart could burst from love. It was even more special knowing that somehow Hui felt the same way towards you. 

"The countdown is starting, love", Hui said cheerfully after hearing it come from the lobby.

Both of you got comfortable against the fence and watched as the choruses prepared to burst into singing any minute now. It was a nice silence on your balcony, the tree was very close and so was the view of the people with lyric cards in hand. When the city chimed midnight, all people started to sing at once, making you cry without even meaning to, turning to Hui and smiling, speechless.

"Merry Christmas, my dear", he whispered, coming close and kissing you passionately.