As they walk, Jaebeom receives a call. At first he ignores it, although Jinyoung doesn't mind but he understands the older wants to be polite. However, whoever is calling him is clearly in dire need to communicate because they insist. It's at the fourth call that Jaebeom looks at Jinyoung with an apologetic expression as he mumbles, "I'm sorry, I have to pick this up."

Jinyoung gestures to go ahead and continues walking, trying not to pay attention, and honestly, it isn't hard. The streets are loud, with those store assistants inviting everyone in to see their amazing deals. Yet, his ears perk up when he hears his name.

"I'm with Jinyoung right now, I can't just go because you're bored, Jackson," Jaebeom says, looking mildly irritated.

"YOUR JINYOUNG?!" screams someone on the other end of the line, so loud Jaebeom has to pull the gadget away and Jinyoung can hear it over all the noise of the streets. "You promised us a double date why didn't you tell us?"

Jaebeom gives a side look at Jinyoung, face all red in embarrassment and his expression is mortified when he realizes that yes, Jinyoung totally heard that.

I'm sorry, he mouths, so embarrassed even his ears are red.

"Jackson!" the older hushes, stern and demanding. "I never promised you such a thing, you demanded it and I never agreed."

Jinyoung is infinitely curious. He assumes this Jackson must be a friend of Jaebeom, a friend that clearly knows about him and for a while, which is odd considering they met the night before. Given, Jaebeom seems very into Jinyoung and acts straightforward, but isn't too soon to tell his friends about the boy he met at the Han River?

Jinyoung feels this warmth creeping from his neck to his cheeks, and he doesn't even know why.

"I keep demanding to know him!" Jackson is, clearly, not a quiet person and doesn't understand he's being too loud. Jaebeom is desperately trying to lower the volume of his gadget, but Jinyoung is now paying attention. "Just one double date. I promise it'll be fun and we'll help you! Totally innocent and fun and..."

Jinyoung can't hear anything else, Jaebeom has lowered the volume so much he can't pick up anything else from the conversation, and based on how Jaebeom doesn't say anything, Jackson had a lot to say.

"No, Jackson. It won't happen."

"Why not?" Jinyoung finds himself asking, maybe echoing what Jackson says on the other end because Jaebeom looks utterly confused. "Your friend?" he asks, almost whispering and watches how Jaebeom nods his head, still a bit flabbergasted. "Sure, why not?"

"No, no, no, no," Jaebeom mutters, shaking his head vehemently.

"Why? I thought you said you liked me, shouldn't I meet your friends, then?" Jinyoung arches his eyebrows, questioning and challenging.

Honestly, he doesn't understand why he pushes Jaebeom like that, why teasing him like this comes to him so naturally as if they've known each other for a while already. Jinyoung doesn't have friends, or hasn't had for quite a while.

Everything is so odd about Jaebeom, the way he makes him feel, how he acts and just how, weirdly, everything seems all right.

"If you hold my hand like this I think the next step is meeting your friends, don't you think?" And to illustrate Jinyoung raises their hands that in fact Jaebeom hasn't released since he took it like three blocks away.

The younger did not believe Jaebeom could blush more, but he is surprised to see the older so red even his neck is coloured, eyes wide open and mouth slightly hanging open.

"HYUNG!" Jackson screams from the other side, snapping Jaebeom from his stupor and helping him focus on something else. Jinyoung grins deviously, enjoying too much the way Jaebeom is so transparent.

"Aish, Jackson! Not now, okay? Let me just..." Jaebeom curses under his breath, frustrated and Jinyoung gives him a soft squeeze to the other's hand, a bit calming, or maybe just a bit encouraging. "Maybe another day. Not now." He waits, breathing deeply as Jackson replies. "Fine, I promise. If he agrees I—"

"I agree," Jinyoung whispers and watches Jaebeom close his eyes tight, looking a bit overwhelmed.

"You too. Yes, yes, I'll call you later. You're so nagging." Jackson clearly has a lot more to say. "Fine, I love you, too. You're the worst."

Jaebeom hangs up and he looks exhausted as he shoves the phone in his pocket, taking a side glance at Jinyoung and looking a bit reproachful.

"So, when am I meeting your friend?" Jinyoung asks, grinning sheepishly and watches Jaebeom sigh, accepting defeat.

"Not yet, Jackson will monopolize you and I can't allow that yet, I want to spend time with only you first."

Jinyoung would be lying if he said he didn't feel his heart leaping when Jaebeom looks at him that way, as if the rest of the world disappeared around them and it was only the two of them.

"You're selfish. There's plenty of Jinyoung for everyone," he teases, giving himself the chills with such a greasy reply, but it's all worth it when the older laughs out loud, head tilting back and whole body shaking.

"Ah, Jinyoungie, you'll be the death of me," he mumbles, still very amused and not thinking much, because he cups Jinyoung's cheek ever so lightly, impulsively, and he freezes, too surprised with the gentle touch and the endearing look in Jaebeom's eyes.

No, Jinyoung thinks. You'll be the death of me.

         Finally, they make it to the café after awkwardly pulling away when they realize how close they were. They do not talk much on the way to the café after that call and there's a clear tension that becomes very uncomfortable by the time they make it to the café. Thankfully, once there, there's a purpose and they have an excuse for talking: deciding what to order. It does not take too long and Jinyoung is surprised because Jaebeom basically orders sugar with some flavour while Jinyoung enjoys his cup of brewed black coffee and a simple brownie for a perfect combination. On the other hand, Jaebeom orders a huge honey bread with ice cream and chocolate chips and whipping cream. Jinyoung feels he'll get a diabetic coma from just looking at it. To make it worse, the older includes a Strawberry smoothie and Jinyoung is worried for the older's health.

"You know, consuming all that amount of sugar in one sitting is a form of suicide," Jinyoung comments when they pick a table, the number of their order sitting between them, blinking with a red light.

Jaebeom laughs, amused. "I might not be that different from you then. You like heights, I like sugars. Deadly, both of them."

Jinyoung can't help his smile and he has to accept how nice it is to joke about death or his suicide tendencies as if it was normal. For him that is what it is, the most normal thing. Wanting to die is his constant companion, just like breathing. Making jokes about it or just stating his opinion about it doesn't come as weird for him. However he is aware the rest of the world doesn't think the same way, jokes about killing oneself are not well received when they are in settings that are dangerous, like sitting at the riel of a bridge over the Han River.

And here is Jaebeom, not looking at him as if he thought Jinyoung should be locked up somewhere safe. It's almost as if the older understood him, as if he accepted the way Jinyoung thinks and feels. It's liberating and comfortable.

"You're just going for a slower death, masochist," Jinyoung accuses and Jaebeom laughs.

"I accept that, but it'll be a sweet death." The older bites his lips, too amused with his lame joke, but Jinyoung doesn't even flinch and keeps that dead serious expression.

"That's the lamest joke ever," he accuses but Jaebeom is grinning, finding it amusing despite his opinion.

"I'm not wrong, though," Jaebeom points out.

"Doesn't make it funny," Jinyoung insists, keeping his poker face but Jaebeom is smiling all cutely, eyes two fine lines and such joy on his handsome features. Such look would make anyone weak.

"Fine, it's lame," Jaebeom pouts and Jinyoung feels that tug in his guts, not thinking he'd appreciate a grownup being cute like that. "But I can't promise I won't make lame jokes in the future. I've been told I have the humour of a middle age father."

Jinyoung snorts, not expecting that and losing the controlled expression that he had. Obviously, Jaebeom beams with delight for making him laugh, smile wide and eyes disappearing. Thankfully, the older does not get the chance to rejoice in the occasion because their number starts buzzing so he takes it, mumbling a quick "I'll be right back" before going to the counter. Jinyoung uses that chance to breathe in and out a few times, trying to calm down.

When he feels a bit more stable, he looks at Jaebeom smiling at the barista as he grabs the tray with their order. Jinyoung also notices how other people turn to look at Jaebeom, whispering and giggling, some even blushing and the younger can't blame them. Even the barista blushes when Jaebeom thanks him. The older is handsome, tall and with those broad shoulders that make him look so manly. He walks with confidence and that brilliant smile when he makes eye contact with Jinyoung. From the corner of his eye he notices a girl taking a picture and he gets this overprotective feeling in his guts, wanting to go to her and demand her to delete that picture but he does not do such a thing because, one: it's childish and irrational, and two: he has no right to feel that protective.

Consciously, he decides to ignore the rest and just watch Jaebeom walking carefully with the tray with all their food. Once again, he is struck with this awe. Jaebeom is probably a very popular guy, he's handsome and charismatic, even if he's quite lame sometimes. With how people react around him in a regular café Jinyoung can assume he does not lack romantic propositions, that he must have dozens of people lining up to confess to him. And yet, here he is, clinging to Jinyoung, tackling him head on and just exposing so openly what he feels.

Why? What did he even see in Jinyoung that night? Why did he approach and even asked him out? The younger knows he is fairly handsome too, but normally that can't overweight his personality and issues. He has dated, but no one has been able to put up with him. The moment they find out what is truly in his mind, how empty he is, they forget about looks and go to find something better.

Someone sane.

Jinyoung has been so open to Jaebeom already, telling him about the coma, his suicide tendencies and even other dark thoughts and Jaebeom is still here, smiling, holding his hands, feeding him sweets and being even more forward.

How can Jinyoung understand?

Maybe Jaebeom is as messed up as he is.

"You're looking at me as if I were a puzzle. What did I do?" Jaebeom asks, sitting again and taking from the tray what Jinyoung ordered.

"You're handsome," Jinyoung mutters and watches the older drop his cutlery before he can even take a piece of the honey bread. "Based on how people look at you, I dare to say you're popular. I'm just wondering what you're doing with me, I'm considered a looser on good days and a total weirdo the rest."

Jaebeom grabs his cutlery and calmly, cuts through the bread as he organizes his thoughts. "I saw you looking so... ethereal on the bridge, I wasn't even sure if you were real and I had to make sure," the older explains, his eyes on the bread, not Jinyoung. "I was happy you were real and I just felt I had to get to know you. I can't explain right now why I felt that way, but you should know I don't think you're a weirdo or a loser, I'm not that judgmental." Jaebeom smiles and meets his eyes this time, looking proud of himself. "I've learned my lesson. Plus, I understand your point of view, I don't share it but I understand where you're coming from and respect it."

Jinyoung is taken aback because out of all the answers he imagined, he could've never predicted that: understanding and validation, not trying to change his mind but respecting what he believes, how he feels. He's always felt everyone wants to change his mind, telling him in every possible way that he's wrong, he needs to change, to get fixed. It's his first time he feels accepted, even the worst part of him.

And in that moment he realizes he's met someone truly special, someone he needed to meet.