Please do not read any further if the following topics are sensitive to you: non-explicit sexual content, discussions about depression and mental health, discussions about grief and a loved one's death.

⸻⸻ .·:*¨༺ ♛ ♡ ∞ ♡ ♛ ༻¨*:·. ⸻⸻

Three weeks pass.

It was officially winter break for their term, leaving responsibility of attending online classes behind them, stirring habits of late nights and sleeping in past eleven to occupy their routines calmly. San's mother had come by like she said she would and helped organize his father's things, boxing up certain items while also donating clothing. San was adamant about keeping a specific army green coat that was rather dirty and old, claiming that he'd wear it and didn't want anyone else to. Pictures were hung, others taken down; replacing old memories with new ones to make the space feel lighter. San's mother hired a cleaning company to clean the living space while begging the younger males to rent a room at a nearby hotel for the evening, claiming that they can come back once the place was clean and rid of the looming stench of alcohol and bleach. They did exactly that, quietly existing in each other's arms while watching movies to pass the time. San barely said anything that entire night.

The next couple of days pass by without issue. The funeral comes and goes, and San asks Wooyoung not to attend.

"I don't want you to see me like this right now, Young'ah." San would say at the end of their bed, looking down at his hands with reddened eyes the day before the funeral.

"I'm here for you in the storm and out of the storm, San. Please don't push me away."

"I just-" San sighs, rubbing his hands on his face tiredly, mentally exhausted and nearing a mental burn out. "I want a reason to leave early. I don't want to linger around and talk to family I haven't heard from, is all. Last thing I want to do is explain to everyone how I ended up having a boyfriend and as a dance major."

Wooyoung's heart cracks at the words visibly, but San wouldn't look up in time to see it. "I just want a reason to come home. You're my reason to come back, Woo. I just want to look forward to something, and if that something is you, then I'm gonna be selfish and ask for you to stay-"

"That's okay. I'll stay. Only if you promise to call me if you need me."

"I wouldn't hesitate. You're the first person on my list." San's eyes raise to meet Wooyoung's, and for the first time in a while, San was the one dejected and broken, seeking comfort from the younger in an exchange neither of them thought they'd be having. "I-I didn't mean what I said like that by the way. My family just isn't really accepting sometimes, so I just don't want you to be uncomfortable. My mom loves you and everything, I just don't. . . y'know."

"That's the last thing I'm worried about Sannie. Everything is at your pace, remember? One issue at a time. Exposing our relationship right now isn't really a priority to me. The people we want to know, know. That's all that matters to me."

"C'mere," San holds out his arm, watching Wooyoung walk over to him, pulling him down to the bed with him as he leans back, immediately pulling Wooyoung as close as he could. Wooyoung just follows suit, wrapping his arm over San's midsection, nuzzling into his chest after pressing a few delicate kisses to his skin. San's eyes close and his heart stutters, words catching on the edge of his tongue as he feels sudden sadness cling to his tongue. "I love you."

"I love you too, San." Wooyoung tilts his head up, kissing the side of his neck. "More than you know."

Wooyoung didn't sleep that night. He's wide awake, counting San's breaths, staring into the darkness, hoping that something will crawl out and drag him into the abyss, praying for some type of relief. Everything was too much; it all felt like too much. Between losing his parents to a disagreement, having to abandon his college hopes and his beloved roommate all with the suffocating possibility of having nowhere to live after this fantasy disappears became suddenly overwhelming. He was trying to remain strong for San, knowing he had to be the elder's rock in his time of need. He would always place San before any of his own issues, regardless of how important any of them were. But as of late, all of this weight placed upon his chest was getting harder to bear. So he lays awake, blinking into the realization that everything he had crumbled into pieces beneath him and he was left standing on a foundation that was soon to give out, too.

The morning would come quickly and the day would fall just as fast, over and over again until Wooyoung finds himself sitting on the couch, one week before the famed winter holiday, alone and unbothered, eyes tired and staring at the television. It had been a long three weeks to get to this point, filled with constant reassuring and lots of time spent talking, escaping the house when San felt up to it and ordering in, avoiding almost all social interaction besides themselves.

Most of the time when San left the house, like today, he left to go to a nearby gym, boxing out his stress and worries, only to come back quiet and tired. Wooyoung hadn't moved from his spot on the couch since San had left nearly two hours ago, wondering when the elder was going to return. Normally San would've texted him by now, saying something about being on his way back before driving home, but Wooyoung's phone was silent.

Wooyoung struggled to keep his eyes open and focused, mind wandering to different lengths of anxious ideas that were incredibly unlikely, but without anyone present to deter his mind away, he let his brain consume him. His anxiety truly had a hold on him, strangling him in times of true stress, other times letting him breathe only to take his lungs hostage again, wrapping it's devilish claws around his airway until he was struggling to break free. Anxiety was a bitch, Wooyoung would be the first to admit it. But the last three months had been far worse than he imagined. There was some light within his darkness, and as much as he tried to focus on that, sometimes he found it hard to just live and exist in the moment. San was all he had anymore, and as much as he didn't want to be so reliant on him, he really felt he had no other choice.

"Hey," the front door suddenly opens, jolting Wooyoung awake and out of his head, snapping to look at the open door, feeling the chill of the outside air settle into the home as it drifts inwards. "Sorry. I forgot to text. I was on the phone with my mom."

"Oh? She called again?"

"Yeah, she's been asking to call me more often. It's weird, but I don't really mind it." San locks the door behind him, untying his shoes carefully before setting them off to the side while speaking quietly. "She probably wants to build a better relationship with me now that. . he's gone, I guess."

"Well, you are her son." Wooyoung cocks his brow, watching the elder curiously.

"No, I know that. It's just an adjustment." San sighs, now eyeing Wooyoung sitting in the exact spot he had left him in. "Have you moved? Or done anything?"

"No," Wooyoung leans back into the couch, eyes drifting away towards the television. "Haven't felt like it."

"Did you eat?"

"Only the granola that I stole from you earlier."

"Young'ah-" San groans, approaching the couch. "I need you to eat. Can you do that for me?"

"I just don't really feel up to it," Wooyoung leans into the cushions, a puff of air leaving his slightly pouting lips. "I just want you to c'mere. I'm lonely and I'm cold."

"Alright, but only if you promise to eat in a little bit."

Wooyoung turns his head playfully towards San, puppy-dog eyes on full display as he sighs and nods, holding his arms outstretched. "Fine."

San heads over, carefully leaning into the couch as he braces himself for the added weight on his chest. He slides his right leg behind Wooyoung, leaning back into the arm of the couch as the younger tilts at his waist, placing his weight into the comfort of San's upper torso. Chests greet one another as Wooyoung turns around, arms hugging San tightly as he buries himself in the elder's scent, humming in surprise the second cologne greets his nose.

"You showered at the gym?" Wooyoung mumbles against San's shirt, feeling San's hand curl into his hair gently.

"Yeah," San breathes. "That's also what took me a bit longer. I got carried away on the treadmill and I got really gross, so I just decided to shower there."

"I'm gonna go with you next time." Wooyoung decides quietly after a brief moment of thought, listening to a quiet chuckle stir in the elder's chest.

"If you say so. That means you gotta wake up with me instead of trying to keep me in bed."

"But you should really try staying in bed with me one morning. It's warm and cozy-" Wooyoung's arms squeeze the male tighter slightly, a smile curling across his lips. "I relax easier when you're with me."

"I know, Woo." San's arms reach to wrap around Wooyoung's lower back, one hand slightly moving along the line of his spine in gentle drags that Wooyoung nearly melts into. San's presence was so comforting; it was so easy to turn into mush wrapped in his tender arms. Everything about San's hold on him was relaxing enough, and he really couldn't ask for more.

"What d'you wanna do today?" Wooyoung mutters sleepily, eyes lulling shut, breaths deepening more as the seconds tick past.

"This." San smiles, feeling Wooyoung hum contently against him. "I'm sorry I've been distant."

"You don't have to apologize for healing, Sannie."

"But I do have to apologize for not keeping you in the loop with my head. I was forcing myself to heal alone because my mind's been so crazy, ignoring you at times and choosing the gym over you, I just feel bad. I need to be better to you because you've been so patient and so loving, never questioning me for a second."

"It's 'cus I love you. I know you just lost someone so important to you who also had a big impact on your childhood, so who am I to judge how you cope? You've been taking care of me for months without questioning anything I was doing." Wooyoung leans up slightly, hands pressing into the couch to keep himself upright. "What right did I have to be selfish and demand that you stay in bed with me instead of working on yourself?"

San looks up at Wooyoung in a cast of shock and affection. He isn't sure if he should kiss the breath from his lungs or cry into his shirt, thankful that the male was so pure and warm hearted, but he wanted nothing more than for Wooyoung to be happy too. He spent days on end wondering if Wooyoung would ever get tired of him and his silence, plagued by grief and unsure of how to cope. The only way he knew how to think through his problems was to head to the gym as often as he could, avoiding the mental baggage clinging to his mind like a tumor, waiting for the prime opportunity to find the male alone and vulnerable. San never faltered. He stayed true to his routine, adamant on surviving the turmoil plaguing him so he could return to Wooyoung as his happy self, unchanged and healed, ready to give everything he could to his relationship that he loved more than anything else in this world. He just hoped Wooyoung would wait for him.

"I didn't expect you to be so patient." San mutters truthfully, gaze falling away as he sees a glimmer of sadness painted in Wooyoung's eyes.

"I would wait a lifetime." Wooyoung admits, waiting for San to return to meet his loving, lulled eyes. He was tired, admittedly so, clinging to the will to be there for the elder to keep himself awake out of pure intent.

"I really am sorry for neglecting us." San watches Wooyoung open his mouth for a second, ready to speak his mind in an instant, but San's hand reaches towards the younger's shoulder, fingers curling gently. "I-I know you don't want me to feel bad. But I was truly neglectful for a bit. You don't deserve that. Just let me make it up to you, okay?"

"Okay," Wooyoung nods, curiously raising his brow slightly. "How?"

"I want you to move in with me next semester." San's words don't waver, filled with assurance and love, and Wooyoung nearly chokes on his own breath at the statement.

Given what they were doing now was hardly any different, but this was a step he wasn't sure was ever going to come. They had briefly mentioned moving into an apartment if San wanted to sell his father's house, but nothing further than that. This was entirely different. A question lingering between them, hanging in the balance between two souls attached deeply to one another, rooted with passion and adoration; absolutely covered in thick honey. Wooyoung hesitates for a second, searching San's gaze as he looks up into the younger, waiting patiently all the same.

"What about the house? Isn't it too far away?"

"I'll figure out what to do with it when the time comes. I just don't want dorm room walls between us anymore, or nosy roommates." San watches Wooyoung's lips curl into a shy smile, heart on fire. "I just want you. Only you."

Wooyoung leans back further, pulling his legs up carefully to straddle San's lap, hands reaching for San's as he traps his palms with entangled fingers, pressing a subtle kiss to each of the elder's hands. San watches him quietly, swinging his left leg onto the couch, bending both legs at the knees to support Wooyoung's back if he decides to lean backwards.

"Okay." Wooyoung settles on, looking down at San completely smitten.

"Okay?" San tilts his head slightly against the pillow he was leaning into, watching Wooyoung's cheeks redden.

"Yeah. Okay." Wooyoung smirks, leaning downwards slightly, hands trapping San's with his still.

"Okay as in–?"

"I'll move in with you." Wooyoung watches San's expression light up, blinking in realization as he hurries to sit upright, tilting at the waist, legs flattening against the couch. Wooyoung still refuses to let go of his hands.

"You will?"

Wooyoung laughs at him quietly, listening to the disbelief hang on the edge of his tongue. "I'd love to."

San rips his hands free of Wooyoung's grasp, cupping them carefully on the bottom of the younger's jaw, pulling him close and kissing the breath away from him like he longed to minutes before. Wooyoung giggles against him, hands lazily reaching to caress the back of San's neck, fingers messing with the edges of the elder's hairline.

"I love you." San breathes, parting for a second before pressing another kiss to his lips. "So much."

"I love you more." Wooyoung smiles, kissing San again and again, almost unable to part from him. San kisses into him, pressing closer with hungry intent, hands lowering away from Wooyoung's jaw down to the sides of his neck, even further so as they drag along his shoulders and down his sides, finding their usual spot on Wooyoung's slim waist.

Wooyoung breaks their searing kiss to press open mouthed kisses along San's chin and jaw, sinking further below until he finds his throat, the hands resting on the back of San's neck keeping his head placed against his swollen, kissing lips. San's fingers accidentally, and almost subconsciously, grip into Wooyoung's waist, sending the younger to grind down into him.

They haven't been this close in almost a month, well, at least not since their last searing standoff that ended with Wooyoung at the mercy of San's hips for the first time. San was dealing with personal turmoil while Wooyoung struggled to focus on himself, doting on the elder every chance he was given. Between the funeral and struggling to cope, San found himself unable to do anything more besides cuddle with the younger, holding him to his chest in an effort to control overflowing emotions that he barely understood. Wooyoung, on the other hand, wanted to distract San anyway he could, whether that was dragging a hand between his thighs or kissing him senseless, he would do anything to make San smile again.

Now, San finds himself nearly unable to resist, enabling pent up emotions he long ignored for the sake of his own healing. Wooyoung isn't one to deny the elder, biting the skin against his pulse with wandering hands that pull and tug on hair. The ache in Wooyoung's stomach is ever present, listening to the subtle grumbles it releases to tempt the urge to eat something, but Wooyoung is now suddenly hungry in a different aspect.

Hands race in a struggle to free themselves from the clutches of clothing that keep touching waists and chests from colliding, hurriedly pulling at fabric as they drag and drag, throwing loose clothing from their bodies and to the floor without a single care. Wooyoung is bare-chested, drinking in the sight of San ripping his own shirt off, lips immediately sinking back down to capture the skin along San's collar bone, licking and biting, hopeful to leave marking bruises in his wake.

San grabs a fistfull of the fabric held to Wooyoung's waist and pulls, tearing the athletic shorts down the younger's legs hungrily until he falls naked in his lap. Wooyoung hums, leaning upright, face to face with San as he ghosts his own lips over San's teasingly; flirting with the idea that he could kiss San, but held some sort of hesitance in doing so. They breathe the same air, eyes flicking down to cast at bare skin and new bruises, hands reaching for anything they can touch.

Wooyoung's fingers reach to curl down at the hem of San's pants, teeth sinking into his bottom lip feverishly, lust stinging his core the longer their standoff remains. San reaches into his pocket suddenly, grabbing his wallet and unfolding it, eyes never leaving Wooyoung as his hands automatically reach into the back pocket, pulling a familiar packet out with a rising smirk.

"Since when did you start carrying those in your wallet, hm?"

"Ever since I had to leave you to go get one with your roommate and my roommate in the same dorm." San watches Wooyoung giggle, eyes drunk with want. "Never again."

Wooyoung kisses him again, fingers finally pulling at the fabric, rolling the joggers down San's legs and tossing them to the side, now leaving them both naked and panting against each other like wild animals.

San melts into the kiss, listening to the television hum in the background beyond them, eyes lulled shut as he reaches a hand between Wooyoung's thighs in a familiar promise. Wooyoung's head tilts back on contact, teeth finding his bottom lip again as he swallows a groan, allowing full access to his throat that San takes full advantage of. Wooyoung wants to be painted in rows of reds and purples, decorated in lustful bites so San could claim him, showing off to anyone who dared to look that he was his and his only.

Wooyoung, impatient as ever, reaches his own hand between San's thighs, breathing with deep satisfaction the moment he hears San's breaths hitch.

It's another standoff, waiting and waiting until one of them breaks away weak and begging for more, but neither seem interested in losing, teasing each other to their full capacity until they're nearly simultaneously reaching their plateau.

"San'ah–" Wooyoung warns, head craning down to lean against San's shoulder. "We better. . stop before–"

It's only then that San breaks first, hand falling away in defeat as Wooyoung's wrist rolls to a halt. Wooyoung's tongue slides across his swollen bottom lip, eyes red and face drowned in beads of sweat, hands reaching up to San's shoulders as he pushes the elder onto his back, leaning down and kissing him with haste. San can't really believe what's happening, hands gripping Wooyoung's sides as the younger grinds down again, leaving them both nearly breathless and anxious, anticipating more friction; more of something.

San's hands snake beneath them to tear the packet open, eyes glancing up at Wooyoung momentarily before preparing himself. Wooyoung looked beyond fucked already, pupils heavy, eyes bloodshot and hair a mess; San was so fucking in love with him.

Wooyoung hesitates for a moment, shifting himself forwards and upright, chest heaving and lungs gasping for air, his heart heavy with anticipation. He would give San anything to make him happy again, and for a moment, all of his own traumatizing thoughts drift out of the locked door, leaving his mind blank and eyes solely focused on that of his beloved.

He sinks down onto him, hands glued to his shoulders, nails lightly digging into skin with parted lips that struggle to contain noises leaving the back of his throat. San isn't much better, head leaning back, eyes fluttering, hands gripping on for dear life; nearly lost in the feeling of everything.

"Stay with me–" Wooyoung breathes, a shaky hand moving up to rest against San's jaw. San looks back at him, eyes blinking curiously, jaw tight with confusion as the younger's statement rings through his ears. He isn't sure what the younger meant, because he was here, he wasn't ever going to leave.

"What?" He manages to mutter, watching Wooyoung lean back down towards him.

"Y-You said your mind has been crazy, right?" Wooyoung breathes shakily, remaining still, allowing them both to adjust.

"Woo–"

"Stay here." Wooyoung's right hand moves to grab San's, intertwining their grasp, holding onto it firmly. "Don't drift off. Stay right here with me."

San finally understands. The last three weeks had been spent in near silence and avoidance, only speaking about his problems to himself, letting his own thoughts traumatize him further. He would often disassociate, leaving Wooyoung talking to himself or the wall, nearly missing most of their shared conversation simply because he couldn't stay here in reality. Wooyoung remained patient, holding out hope that San would crawl back to his normal self with time, but he was scared nonetheless. Out of fear, Wooyoung was asking for San to stay coherent with him, begging for the elder to stay awake; to stay present in the moment and out of his mind. San's heart breaks for a moment, realizing now how lonely Wooyoung must've been regardless of how closely he clung to him for nights on end. He never wanted Wooyoung to feel like that ever again, brows furrowing with slightly narrowed eyes, swallowing his sudden crashing feelings to listen to Wooyoung's pleas. "I'm not going anywhere, Young'ah."

Wooyoung smiles at him, almost teary-eyed, hips languidly grinding forwards with hesitance. Both males hiss between their teeth, looking at one another with shared promise, unable to speak the words lingering in their chests. They knew what they meant when they looked at each other like this, with words or without; they just knew.

Wooyoung's eyes search inside San's, a gentle smile curving on swollen lips, reddened cheeks hueing brighter with sweat beading around the edges of his hairline. San looks right back, enamored and completely smitten, lost in the moment they sit and stare for no longer than a minute.

They loved each other. Completely, whole-heartedly; without a single wavering doubt. They didn't even have to say it anymore to know it.

Wooyoung leans back down, slotting their lips together for a second before shifting his hips forwards and back, using the grip San had on his hip to keep him steady. Their hands grip one another tighter, nearly falling apart at how good all of it felt. Wooyoung groans into his mouth, falling away, his free hand planted into the couch to support his weight to avoid crushing the male below him.

Wooyoung continues to move languidly, nearly groaning with every breath he lets slip through his lips, spurring on even further as he hears San fall apart beneath him.

With every grind and the sudden tightening grip on Wooyoung's waist, San's hips buck upwards, teeth gripping onto his bottom lip as he struggles to keep himself from breaking, listening to Wooyoung hum contently over him.

"'S good, huh?" Wooyoung chuckles, feeling San's gripped hand suddenly break away to smack at the skin on his bare hip. "Go ahead, Sannie–"

Wooyoung groans again, leaning down and kissing the elder's jaw, nearly whispering in his ear. "I'm g'na too." The assurance was all San needed to let go, back arching and eyes screwed shut, allowing himself to linger closer to his tipping point. Wooyoung lets his lips grace the skin of San's throat, biting and tugging, feeling San's hands grip him tighter as he tilts over the edge. Wooyoung isn't far behind, body crashing forward with his head landing on San's left shoulder, tired breaths rolling through his lungs as he tumbles down from his high.

"I needed that," San mumbles, pressing a few soft kisses to Wooyoung's warm cheek.

"I know–" Wooyoung presses a kiss to his shoulder before leaning upright slightly, hissing at the oversensitivity the second his hips accidentally move. "I did too."

Wooyoung carefully removes himself, rising from the couch to lean over and grab for their discarded clothes, sorting through who had what, tossing San's items of clothing onto his bare chest.

"I'm gonna shower," Wooyoung sighs, raking a hand through his sweaty locks of hair. "Wanna come with me?"

"I already took a shower, Young'ah." San smiles, watching Wooyoung bite his lip and shrug his shoulders.

"Another one isn't gonna kill you, hyung."

San cocks his brow, sitting up with a slight smirk. "Since when do you call me hyung, huh?"

"Only when I wanna catch your attention–" Wooyoung starts walking away, tossing one final comment over his shoulder teasingly. "Hyung."

San rises from the couch, clothes dropping from his hand as he leaves them abandoned on the couch, chasing after the younger into the bathroom. Wooyoung is laughing and trying to run away, hiding in the safety of the bathroom as he hurriedly turns on the water for the shower. San wraps his arms around Wooyoung's waist, pulling him away the second after the water turns on, leaving the younger male squirming and laughing, arms pinned to his chest with San's hands preventatively wrapped around his wrists.

"You're being a brat." San laughs, holding Wooyoung tightly against his chest.

"You like it when I'm a brat." The younger teases, unable to free himself from San's grip.

"Do I?" San hums, lips an inch away from Wooyoung's ear.

"Mhm." Wooyoung smiles, teeth grabbing onto his bottom lip. "Admit it."

"I don't think I will," San breathes as he lets go of the younger male, gently pushing him towards the shower door. Wooyoung turns around, one hand swinging behind him to open the shower door, the other grabbing onto San's wrist. "You don't get to know."

"Just get in here, San'ah, geez." Wooyoung huffs with a smile, pulling the elder into the pouring warm water, letting the steam crowd around them as liquid trails down flat stomachs and flushed skin. San immediately pulls Wooyoung closer to him, lips gently kissing his forehead, then his cheek; a subtle hint of happiness lingering in his eyes.

"Seriously, thank you for being here through this with me." San eyes him adoringly. "I don't know what I would've done if I was alone through the funeral and stuck by myself in this house."

"It's the least I can do since you've been with me through all of my parent's bullshit." Wooyoung smiles at him, furrowing his brows slightly. "Did you think I wouldn't have agreed to come with you?"

"Well, we were only together for a month at the time and you already had so much going on, I didn't really want to drag you into it–" San sighs. They've talked about this to death, but now feeling as though he's on the other side of the dark tunnel he had been trapped in, he finds himself appreciative of the younger's presence alone. Wooyoung didn't have to do anything and San felt comfort in just knowing that he could always come home to him regardless of where his feet carried him. "I didn't want to add to the weight that was already on your shoulders."

"You're too sweet, San'ah." Wooyoung wraps his arms around San's lower back, tilting his head back slightly to kiss the elder on his lips chastely. "Don't you ever doubt how important you are to me. Ever."

"Only if you promise the same," San answers back, watching Wooyoung's face flush with sudden redness.

"Okay." He kisses San again, lingering an inch away for another kiss, but he bites back the urge to melt into him again. "I meant to ask you something yesterday, but you didn't seem to be in a great mood."

"What was it?"

"I wanted to see if you wanted to invite Hwa and Joong out for a bit. They texted me a while ago mentioning that they were gonna be nearby visiting Joong's grandparents if we wanted company. I just didn't know how to respond."

San stays quiet for a long minute, listening to the shower continue to rain down on them, warm water trickling between them innocently. Wooyoung almost regrets asking, hesitance reaching his tongue as the question continues to linger between them in awkward silence.

"I-I think that would be alright."

"Are you sure? Don't feel pressured to say yes just because I brought it up–"

"No. It'll be nice to see them. I need to get myself back into the swing of things instead of avoiding all responsibility. Getting our relationship back to where it used to be was my first goal, and I feel like we're there. Don't you?"

"I agree." Wooyoung smiles at him, hands and arms still snaked around his waist.

"Then tell them yeah. How long are they in town for?"

"I think Joong said the rest of the week. I'll ask him when we get out."

"Alright." San leans down and kisses him again, quietly humming I love you against his lips before pressing another kiss to his lips. Wooyoung smiles against him, breathing I love you most right back once they part.

Forty minutes later, Wooyoung is settled on the couch, hair nearly dry and eyes staring into his phone, re-reading the text messages from his friends from the day before. San was lying on the opposite end of the couch, legs tangled with Wooyoung's, a large blue blanket covering both of them equally. San was watching the television, eyes lulled and sleepy, but awake nonetheless.

Seonghwa-hyung (Monday, 5:55 p.m.)

Just let us know when you can, Woo! We'll be staying with them until Friday.

I hope Sannie is doing okay.

Wooyoung bites his tongue, eyes looking towards San before trailing back to his phone, fingers moving quickly to type a response to the day-old message.

Talked to San about it. He's up for it.

Wanna come out tomorrow?

Joong

We'd love to. Let us know the time and place.

I'll text you the details in the morning. I'm excited to see you both!

Seonghwa-hyung

I'll bring cookies :)

Wooyoung peaks back over his phone, blinking a few times before realizing that San had fallen asleep. Wooyoung smiles to himself, heart admittedly weak for the elder, watching San finally be able to drift to sleep peacefully without having to hold onto him.

The hard times were likely far from over, but somewhere in the collective silence does Wooyoung finally feel that he is able to see light shining through. Their entire relationship had been shrouded in darkness from the moment they had met, but now was finally settling into something warmer. He prayed for normalcy for the both of them, and somehow he finds himself content with where they were.

On top of all of that, Wooyoung loves living with San. It felt so easy, so normal. Everything about the last three weeks, despite the lingering sadness and grief, felt so casual. Wooyoung used to like loneliness, finding it hard to be actively social. But now he finds himself sad the moment San leaves, scared that he'll never come back. He craves San's attention everyday, wanting to touch him and kiss him, loving the freedom of simply existing with him because he just loved him.

He would've never guessed he'd be so smitten over some muscular, dancing major, heart gone astray and catching feelings so quickly, finding them suddenly overwhelming and hard to understand. But San never gave up on him, something his parents did time and time again.

In moments of silence, Wooyoung finds himself wishing that San had come into his life sooner, selfishly hoping to have more time with him.

But right here, right now? Wooyoung hangs onto the hope that they're soulmates; destined to meet again in another future far after they've left this reality.

Wooyoung shifts himself on the couch, tucking his phone away and moving carefully to the otherside of the couch, sneaking his way behind San's back. San doesn't wake, calmly breathing himself into deeper sleep. Wooyoung slowly settles in, taking in a soft breath of relief the moment he gets comfortable, an arm moving to hang over San's midsection. Wooyoung presses a tender, warm kiss to the back of San's neck after adjusting the blanket, holding the elder gently against his chest as he sleeps, keeping the memory close to his heart.

He needed San just as much as San needed him, and that was the only admittance Wooyoung felt compelled to hear as he too drifted off to sleep without worry.