#yanghyuck

“Did you put some ads online?” Donghyuck asked over a mouthful of rice. It had been two months since Ten had moved away with Johnny and they had had no success in finding a third roommate.

“Not yet…” Yangyang mumbled, playing around with his own food.

“Yangyang I,” Donghyuck sighed, “look, I know you miss him but he’s- he’s not coming back…”

“You don’t know that”

“It’s a bad sign if he does…do you want him and Johnny to break up?” It was a low blow and Hyuck knew it but, at the same time, he couldn’t help but wanting to know Yangyang’s answer; they had been close, very close , and he had always wondered if there was something else to their friendship.

“Of course I don’t!” Yangyang said, sounding offended that Donghyuck would even ask him that question.

“And that’s why we need a new roommate…Yangyang, please, I can’t take more extra shifts and we don’t have enough for rent…”

And that was the only reason Donghyuck was even insisting on this. He loved that he and Yangyang were spending more time together now that Ten was living his best life with Johnny and the cats, but the truth was that neither of them could afford living like this for much longer.

Yangyang looked up from his plate, right into Hyuck’s eyes and Donghyuck would be lying if he said his heart didn’t randomly pick up, his palms getting clammy and his cheeks heating up.

“Fine, okay, okay…I’ll do it this afternoon,” Yangyang said, trying to sound annoyed but immediately softening at the smile Hyuck was giving him, “happy?”

~~~

“Okay, so what was wrong with the last one?” Donghyuck sighed as tiredly fell on the sofa as Yangyang finished setting up the movie.

“I don’t know, the vibes, I guess?” Yangyang shrugged as he sat down next to Hyuck, ignoring the way he was gaping at him, and covered them both with a blanket.

“The vibes?” Hyuck said as he tried - and failed - to hide the judgement in his voice.

“Look, he - he just wasn’t the right person, okay?”

Hyuck wanted to keep arguing, this was getting ridiculous, but he couldn’t help soften at the vulnerable look Yangyang was giving him. The move had been hard on Yangyang, he had known Ten almost his whole life, had been living with him long before Hyuck joined them, and he had this habit of suffering in silence, shutting everyone out - even Ten - but his eyes didn’t lie.

They stared into each other’s eyes, neither saying anything but both feeling like there was something to be said. And Yangyang just couldn’t look away. It felt big. It felt important, the way electricity seemed to be flowing between them.

It was a moment . And then, just as quickly as the moment arrived, it was lost when Hyuck coughed awkwardly and looked away.

“It’s okay, we’ll find someone…now come here, it’s cold without the heating on…”

Yangyang quickly pressed play on the movie before pressing closer to Donghyuck under the blanket, his arms breaking out in goosebumps - from the cold, obviously.

“Have you eaten, by the way?” Donghyuck asked when his stomach grumbled, breaking the comfortable silence they had going on.

“Yeah, Kun made us food, there are leftovers in the fridge if you want…” Yangyang replied, yawning softly as he laid his head on Hyuck’s shoulder. He didn’t understand why his heart had started beating faster inside his chest, rattling against his ribcage, almost as if it was going to jump out.

“After the movie. I’m too lazy to get up and you seem too comfortable to disturb…,” Hyuck said, jokingly wrapping one arm around Yangyang’s shoulder and lying his head on top of Yangyang’s.

“Spoken like a true cat dad…” Yangyang said with a small laugh that instantly grew when Donghyuck jokingly scratched under his chin, letting out a series of high pitch coos. Yangyang tried to ignore the way his stomach twisted and turned inside him.

A comfortable silence fell between them once again as they watched their movie. It was one of the things Hyuck loved about being able to spend more time with Yangyang; neither felt the desperate need to fill the silences anymore, letting it fall between them like a warm blanket.

“I miss them,” Yangyang whispered, so low Hyuck almost didn’t catch it, “the cats, that is…”

“You should have pulled a parent trap and kept one cat each - hey, I’m serious!” Hyuck said, laughing lightly when Yangyang slapped his arm, failing to keep a serious face. Hyuck would never get tired of Yangyang’s laugh.

~~

“If you saw me stealing cat food,” Jeno said as he shoved a can of wet food in his pocket, “no, you didn’t.”

“Didn’t take you for a criminal” Hyuck replied as he restocked the shelves, pulling a packet of dry treats and throwing it at Jeno.

“A father will do anything for his children” Jeno replied, fake seriousness lacing his voice as he put the treats in his back pocket, ignoring the disgusted look Donghyuck was giving him.

“But seriously, why are you taking it?”

“My stupid landlord nearly doubled my rent…God, I hate that man so much, so greasy and disgusting and - “

“Why don’t you move?” Donghyuck interrupted, turning to face Jeno. He had heard enough creepy stories from Jeno involving his landlord since he had changed apartments a year prior. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, I’m being serious!”

“Do you know how hard finding an apartment is? If you have any suggestions I’m all ears!” Jeno said, his arms crossed as he stared at Donghyuck, his brows furrowing at the way he was looking at him.

“Jeno, my friend, I have a proposition for you!”

~~

Yangyang couldn’t stop pacing the room as Hyuck went down to help Jeno with his bags. He had definitely heard about him but had never really met him before. He didn’t like change. He hated change. Part of his brain was unhelpfully reminding him that he had felt this way right before Donghyuck moved in with him and Ten and it all ended up fine but he shut it out as much as he possibly could. He froze in place when he heard the front door unlock and Hyuck’s cheerful voice travel through the air.

“I think you’re gonna like it here, come…” Hyuck said as he led Jeno into the apartment and down to the living room where Yangyang was.

“Oh, hi…” Yangyang said, waving a little awkwardly from where he was, standing in the middle of the room like a misplaced Christmas tree.

“Hey, I’m Jeno…Hyuck told me a lot about you!” Jeno said, bowing slightly towards Yangyang.

“Yeah, I heard a lot - wait, you have pets?” Yangyang said, quickly getting closer to Jeno before squatting down to peek into the carriers he was holding onto.

“Yeah, three cats…you want to meet them?” Jeno asked, smiling at the way Yangyang instantly nodded, the tension and apprehension melting away from his body. He put the carriers down and kneeled on the floor so he could open them. “So, this is Bongsik,” he continued as he pulled a white and grey tabby from the carrier and pushed it towards Yangyang, “that is Seol,” he said, pointing at the calico that left the carrier right after, sniffing the floor curiously, “and this - oh come on, cooperate a little - this is Nal, he’s a little shy at first…”. Jeno looked up after wrestling Nal out of the carrier to find Yangyang sitting on the floor, Bongsik cuddled in his arms as Seol climbed on his lap, the softest of smiles on his lips. He now understood why Hyuck never shut up about him.

Yangyang looked up towards Donghyuck, a bright, gummy smile plastered on his face before leaning down to kiss Bongsik’s head and, in that moment, Hyuck knew he had made the right choice asking Jeno to move in.

~~

Donghyuck cursed the day he asked Jeno to move in with them.

“Can we watch a movie tonight?” Donghyuck asked Yangyang as he washed the dishes Yangyang passed him.

“Oh, I was already watching one with Jeno, but you can join us if you want!”

Hyuck replied with a noncommittal sound, aggressively wiping a plate. It felt like he barely had any alone time with Yangyang since Jeno had moved in. At first he had been happy to see them interacting, Yangyang seeming much happier and at ease than he had been in months and, Donghyuck had to admit, walking into the living room to find Yangyang asleep on the sofa snuggled up to a cat just did funny things to his stomach. But, as the other two got closer, always hanging out in each other’s rooms, at first just playing with the cats but then talking well into the night, Hyuck couldn’t help but feel - well, feel…wrong. He couldn’t quite explain how he felt.

“Hyuck? Are you joining us?” Yangyang said, pulling Donghyuck out of his thoughts and the plate out Hyuck’s hands.

“Nah, don’t think so…you guys always choose terrible movies…” Hyuck said with a fake laugh, ending it in a cough, hoping Yangyang hadn’t noticed it.

“Oh, okay then…” Donghyuck wanted to slap himself at the hurt look on Yangyang’s face.

They finished doing the dishes in silence - a silence that was once so comfortable and now became unbearable. Without another word Yangyang left the kitchen, probably to wait for Jeno in his room , Hyuck thought bitterly. What was so great about Jeno anyway?

It was only later that night, as Hyuck laid in bed, tossing and turning for what felt like centuries, that he allowed himself to remember the way Yangyang’s face fell when he refused to hang out with him, or the hurt look he gave him whenever Hyuck avoided him. He had been doing a lot of that later, but only because Jeno was always around, always wanting to do things together when all Hyuck wanted was to spend time alone with Yangyang, talking about anything and everything or just quietly enjoying each other’s company, just like before. With a sigh, he got up from his bed and trudged next door to Yangyang’s room, hoping he would still be up and he could apologize. The room was empty. That weird, bitter feeling that always seemed to take over him lately came back in full force as he walked towards Jeno’s room, watching from the half open door that both Yangyang and Jeno were sleeping, cuddled under a blanket, Yangyang’s head on Jeno’s shoulder as their faces were lit up by the movie still playing on the laptop screen. It burned. That weird feeling burned in his chest and spread through his body, anger mixed with sadness mixed with - mixed with something else.

Donghyuck quietly went back to his room, quickly wiping at his eyes. He should just go to sleep.

~~

“Ten, I don’t know what to do…why does he hate me all of a sudden?” Yangyang whispered into the phone, a stubborn tear sliding down his cheek.

“He doesn’t hate you, baby,” Ten replied, his voice soft and reassuring, “try to spend some time with just him…he might open up more if Jeno isn’t around”

“You think that will be enough? What if he knows?” Yangyang continued, sounding panicked.

“I don’t think he knows…but you know how I feel about it…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s- it’s just not the right time…oh, Jeno’s here, I’ll call you later!” Yangyang said, quickly getting up from the bed when he heard the front door opening, followed by Jeno’s voice cooing at the cats.

~~

It would be another week of awkwardness and cold shoulders until Jeno managed to exchange shifts so that Yangyang and Hyuck would be home alone. Yangyang’s hand was shaking as he knocked on Hyuck’s bedroom door, his heart beating at a quick pace.

“Yeah? Come in…”

“Hey, I was wondering if you’d like to hang out?” Yangyang said, standing awkwardly in the doorway as he looked at Hyuck, sitting at his desk, his game on pause.

“Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? Jeno’s room is across the hall…” Hyuck replied, turning back to his computer. Deep down he knew he was being an asshole but he couldn’t stop the words from coming out.

“Yes? Jeno’s not home…” Yangyang said, his brows furrowed in confusion at Hyuck’s words.

“Ah! So that’s why…Jeno isn’t home so I guess old Donghyuck will do…” Hyuck said, bitterness dripping from his tongue before he turned back to face Yangyang.

“What? No, I - I just wanted - I miss you…” Yangyang stuttered, in such a small voice it was barely understandable.

“Well, I’ve been here…all this time,” Hyuck got up from his chair, getting closer to Yangyang, “and yet, you only hang out with Jeno, only care about Jeno - JENO, JENO, JENO!”

Hyuck knew he was being unfair, he could see the hurt appearing in Yangyang’s face and he hated himself for it but he couldn’t stop. The walls he had put up were crumbling down and all the pain and anger he himself had been feeling for the past few weeks was just flowing free.

“Why do you even care so much?” Yangyang yelled back, tears welling up in his eyes. He hated how easy he cried when he got angry, it made him look weak.

“Because I love you!”

Silence fell in the room at Donghyuck’s words. Yangyang’s eyes widened, his mouth dropping open for only a second, the time it took for Hyuck to realize what he had said.

“I - I gotta go…” Hyuck whispered, running out of the door, leaving a dumbfounded Yangyang behind. He had been so stupid. How could it have taken him so long to realize his feelings? Or maybe to admit them, deep down Hyuck knew he had always been on the verge of voicing his feelings to himself, always running away at the last second. But saying it now, it had felt right, it had felt like such an absolute truth, he didn’t know how he could have ever doubted it.

“Hyuck, wait - I-” Hyuck was nearly at the front door when Yangyang grabbed onto his forearm, holding him in place.

He had screwed up, screwed it all up. Why did he have to open his stupid mouth. He was going to lose Yangyang, his Yangyang and he couldn’t take it. He let himself be turned around, preparing himself for the worst, for the rejection, for Yangyang to kick him out of the house, to laugh in his face - Yangyang would never, he was too good for that - but he wasn’t ready for soft lips landing on his.

“I love you too,” Yangyang whispered against Hyuck’s full lips, his hands coming up to hold onto his cute cheeks, “I love you, I love you, I love you…” he said, punctuating each I love you with a peck. He could barely believe how easy it rolled off his tongue; but it was the truth. He loved Donghyuck, had so for a long time now.

“Please don’t lie to me…” Hyuck said as he pulled away, searching Yangyang’s eyes for any sign of dishonesty. But all he found were the same eyes he had fallen for, open, vulnerable, deep, beautiful. So beautiful. Like everything about Yangyang.

Yangyang didn’t reply, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him into a hug. It had been a while since they had been this close, since he could feel Hyuck’s body against him, his warm breath on his neck, his scent enveloping him like a comfortable sweater.

At some point they started moving together, swaying from side to side like a well known dance.

And none of them wanted to be the first to let go.

~~

“Where are we going?” Yangyang asked as Hyuck led him through a maze of streets, never once letting go of his hand. They were doing a lot of that lately. Hyuck was especially happy when Jeno complained about how much they clung to each other.

“Here!” Hyuck happily pointed to a store, the windows decorated with different kinds of cats.

“A cat cafe?” Yangyang smiled brightly when Hyuck nodded before following him inside.

Yangyang was in heaven. He didn’t know how long they stayed there but it must have been hours. He made sure to meet all the cats they had, playing and petting them all as Hyuck followed him around, hearts flying out of his eyes. He couldn’t have asked for a better first date.

Hyuck felt like his heart was going to explode. It was unfair how cute Yangyang could be, excitedly talking to the cats, giving them the treats he had begged Donghyuck to buy.

Yangyang hardly noticed Hyuck getting away from him, concentrated on the cat in his lap happily exposing her neck for him to scratch, light purrs leaving her throat. He wasn’t away for long though, quickly sitting next to Yangyang, wrapping one arm around his waist before leaning in to kiss his cheek.

“Which one is your favorite?” Hyuck asked, pulling back again to look at Yangyang’s face.

“Hmm, Dambi for sure! You’re the cutest baby, aren’t you?” Yangyang said in a high pitched baby voice, looking back down to the fluffy orange cat with folded ears in his lap.

“Here…” Hyuck said, handing Yangyang a paper he had been sneakily keeping behind his back.

“Huh, these are adoption papers…”

“Oh, did I forget to mention this cafe belongs to an animal shelter? Oops, here’s a pen!” Hyuck replied, a devious smile on his face, happy to have been able to surprise Yangyang.

“But we already have three cats?” Yangyang said, grabbing the pen nonetheless, as he read the paper.

“No, Jeno has three cats…Dambi will be ours, now sign them quickly before someone else takes her first!”

Yangyang laughed as he signed the adoption papers. He couldn’t help the stupid smile plastered on his face when Hyuck got up and ran to the front desk, his competitiveness showing. No one was going to take Yangyang’s favorite cat away from him if Hyuck had anything to say about it.

A few minutes passed before Hyuck showed up again, a pet carrier in one hand and a bag of toys and treats in the other. He stopped to stare at his boyfriend, leaving soft kisses on Dambi’s fluffy head and playing with her ears. He didn’t think it was possible to fall more in love with Yangyang but here he was, heart in his throat, an almost irresistible urge to let go of everything and take him in his arms.

December was cold, scratch that, fucking freezing! Yangyang thinks as he buries his hands in his jacket pocket, shivering as a gust of wind flies past the open corridor. Why did he think that this was a good idea to wait for him outside of the classroom, in the hallway instead of the warm, cozy cafeteria with a warm box of chocolate milk. 

Honestly, he thinks he can answer it but really, who’s he kidding. In this weather, it’s a gift that he can still do basic math and not fall on his butt when walking. Back at the ranch, the only reason why Yangyang is waiting outside of the classroom is that, there sitting in his backpack, lies someone’s Geography book which he borrowed seconds before the bell rang. 

That said person is there, inside the classroom, waiting for the second bell for dismissal. (Yangyang was out early because he had a free period, but that still doesn’t explain why he’s waiting at the hallway.) The bell rings and he hears the book’s owner shout in glee.

“We’re done!” His voice rings out, making the rest of the class giggle when the teacher reprimands him.

“Yah! Lee Donghyuck! Keep it down!” And Yangyang lets out a small chuckle.

Then finally, the classroom door opens along with the flood of students. Yangyang stretches his neck and looks, his eyes of the red scarf warmly wrapped around his friend’s neck and his eyes shines.

“Haechan!” Yangyang calls out and he sees Donghyuck wave his classmates goodbye before walking towards his friend.

“Yangyang, what’s up!” Donghyuck greets, cheeks flushed from the sudden change in temperature.

“I have your book,” Yangyang slings his bag to the front and was about to take the textbook out to give it back to his friend and swiftly head home but Donghyuck stopped him by tugging his arm and leading him out of the corridor. “Wh-where are we going?” Yangyang asks, zipping his bag.

“I’m hungry,” Donghyuck simply states, “Wanna grab some tokbokki?” Donghyuck’s eyes sparkle for dramatic effect and Yangyang can’t say no to that. I mean, having an afterschool snack with your friend slash crush? Yeah, Yangyang can’t deny that.

Yangyang was trailing one step behind Donghyuck, the latter talking about his day in class. Such as sleeping through social studies, Renjun clowning Jeno for his Korean despite being a foreigner and Shotaro beating the crap out of Jaemin in PE. Yangyang was familiar with Donghyuck’s friend circle but the only close friend he had in school was really just Donghyuck.

They arrived at the tokbokki stall and Donghyuck told Yangyang to grab them seats inside the tarp tent while he orders for them.  Yangyang takes a seat and he hugs his bag to try to gain some warmth. 

Yangyang was one of the newcomers to Neo High, just 2 months earlier than Shotaro. He’s heard lot of good things from his older brothers, of how interesting the classes were (which was the only thing he disagrees with), how chaotic the sports days were (he can’t wait for that, how can March come earlier?) and how friendly the students were. He couldn’t say no to that, obviously. Donghyuck and his friend group accepted him once they noticed that Donghyuck had a new locker neighbour. Donghyuck was so funny and so relaxed to hangout with, it was easy for Yangyang to lower his walls and accept this new group of friends into his life even though it was as early as 3 days into his new school.

Donghyuck showed him the ropes, from where each stupid classroom was located, to how to cheat the tuck shop ladies to give them free snacks, which was very helpful in some cases. Donghyuck helped Yangyang with Korean vocabulary when Renjun wasn’t available (aka kissing face with his senior boyfriend). Throughout his four month study in Neo High, Donghyuck was there for every step of the way. It wasn’t hard for Yangyang not to fall for the sunkissed boy.

Donghyuck calls out to Yangyang and breaks Yangyang out of his trip down memory lane. Donghyuck placed down the two bowls of tokbokki and sits down across Yangyang, his smile widens as his mouth waters at the hot snack in front of them.

The two friends share the warm snack with laughs and random topics, like how the both of them are gushing over the adorable Chinese TA also at the new cute soccer team player who could definitely kick Jeno’s ass at the sports day. They talked even after they finished the food, making the owner come by and ask if the boys needed seconds. 

That was the cue for them to leave. Once the two leave the small tent, they get attacked by the harsh December wind. They both shivered and tried to crawl in on themselves to keep themselves warm. 

Donghyuck looks at Yangyang, and the lack of fabric around his neck. He takes off his red scarf and wraps it around Yangyang’s neck, startling him.

“What are you doing?” Yangyang asks, “Won’t you get cold?”

“Please,” Donghyuck swats at the air, “I’ll be fine. Besides, if Ten hyung knows that you caught a cold while hanging out with me. He’ll snitch to Johnny hyung and I’ll lose that special ‘Dongsaeng’ status,” He says with air quotes, “I like being Johnny hyung’s beloved dongsaeng, I’m not risking it.”

Yangyang laughs and then he hears Donghyuck mutter out, “Also, you were cold too.” And Yangyang’s heart melts.

They talk, well mostly Donghyuck actually, while on the way back. And Yangyang thinks of something Renjun said to them during lunch break, in Chinese for obvious reasons

“If you like him that much then just confess, don’t be wuss about it. Besides, even if he rejects you he’ll still be your friend. Or maybe he’ll harass you into being his friend again.”

Yangyang never knew that he was that oblivious about liking (achem, whipped) Donghyuck. But if Renjun knows about it, it’ll only be a short while for Jeno and Jaemin to catch up, and god forbade Donghyuck knowing before Yangyang confessed.

“So, Haechan,” Yangyang chirps, “You free this Sunday?” 

“Christmas eve?” Donghyuck asks, “Yeah I think I’m good. We have that Christmas dinner with the guys at Taeyong hyung’s place right?”

“Oh yeah,” Yangyang remembers, “I mean before that.”

“I’m cool, what about it?”

“It’s nothing, but I heard that there’s a new game launching on the 23rd, you wanna play it at my place?” Yangyang asks, crossing his fingers inside his jacket pocket.

“I’ll be down, sure.” Donghyuck laughs and Yangyang smiles. “Well see you to school tomorrow.” And Yangyang didn’t notice that they were already at his house. “See ya tomorrow Yangs.”

Yangyang says a quick goodbye before going back into his house. He unlocks the door and takes off his shoes, saying hello to Bella as he places down his bag.

He reaches his neck and suddenly remembers that Donghyuck gave him his scarf on the way back. He reaches to the door and was about to shout for him to get it back before his phone ringed.

“You can give back my book and scarf to me on Sunday.”

Yangyang’s heart flutters. Sunday, two days later.

He’ll confess to his crush. He’s going to confess to no other than the sun in his life, Lee Donghyuck.