Little late today. Forgive me lol ❤😵‍💫

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Hongjoong releases a shaky breath as he made his way out of the bus, the bright mid day sun blinding his vision a little but he dips his head down, using his bangs as shade.

The door to the public bus shuts behind him before slowly rolling away. The streets were busy as it usually is at this time if the day on weekends. His legs begin moving towards the park he'd agreed to meet Seonghwa at.

What am I even doing? Why did I suggest this? Ugh this was a terrible idea I should turn back. Maybe tell him something came up. He stops in his tracks, eyes fixated on the infamous bright pink leaves of the parks redbud tree. He was close and he felt his heart hammer in his chest.

I'm gonna go. It's not to late. He turns around in an attempt to walk away but his legs wouldn't move. He clenches and unclenches his hand by his side. Then he turns towards the park once again and picks up in a jog. The cool summer air whips around him, blowing his hair every which way as he quickly ran up the small flight of stairs to the grand stairs where he knew Seonghwa was waiting.

Hongjoong arrives at the spot slightly out of breath but couldn't see Seonghwa. There were people walking around the area. A couple. A small family of 4. A man with his dog. But no Seonghwa.

Hongjoong whips his head around in slight confusion as he scanned the area. Am I late? He looks at his phone but he was definitely on time. So then wher-

"Hey" A voice calls behind him and Hongjoong nearly jumped several feet in the air. He knew whose voice that was. How could he not.

He slowly turns around and was met with Seonghwa's large brown eyes. His eyes were the hue of every tree in that park from the early light to the sunset, made all the richer by the golden light. They were so comforting yet so infuriating.

Because now all Hongjoong could think of was how he'd been stupid enough to fall for those spellbinding eyes. He was angry at himself of course but most of all he was angry at Seonghwa.

"I'm sorry I'm late, did- did you wait long?" He averts his gaze from Hongjoong's, the prolonged eye contact making him nervous.

"No. I just got here" Hongjoong also shifts his gaze, suddenly finding the oak tree behind the taller male interesting.

"Ah ok. That's good" He says with a small laugh but Hongjoong wasn't amused. This was a really bad idea. He wanted to go home. Just being there made him uncomfortable. He thought that by seeing him everything would be ok. That he'd feel that sense of warmth and comfort the way he used whenever the older was around. But instead all he felt was heart ache and hurt.

He looks up at him once again, this time he notices something was.. off. He looked distressed. His eyes were puffy and a little red. And though he tried to hide the dark bag under his eyes behind black bangs Hongjoong could still tell. His lips were a dusty pale pink, slightly chapped and in a thin line. All in all, he didn't look so good. Almost like he'd been crying. A lot.

Hongjoong didn't feel like dwelling on that thought. He opened his mouth to speak but Seonghwa beat him to it. "So how have you been?"

Hongjoong just stares at him in slight disbelief. Seonghwa wasn't sure what he said wrong. "W-what?"

"What are we doing here Seonghwa?" Hongjoong asks with a slight exasperation in his tone.

Seonghwa's brow arches slightly at the chill in the shorter's voice. "It was your idea to meet here in the first place?" He blurts out before he even thinking about what he intended to say. He immediately wanted to punch himself in the face.

Hongjoong just looks at him with narrowed eyes then turns to leave. Yup, this was definitely a gigantic waste of my time. But Seonghwa was quick to hold him back, his slim fingers gently wrapping around Hongjoong's forearm.

"Wait. I'm sorry. I just- I've been a little stressed lately. Can we walk? Please" He urges, his voice returning to the gentle pitch it was previously.

Hongjoong obliges but rips his arm out of Seonghwa's grip. Then he looks back at him with a cold look on his face. His soft expression from a few seconds ago having vanished. His eyes glazed over with a fierceness. He had his wall up and would keep them up throughout the duration of their 'walk'.

"Lead the way" He looks towards the paved pathway through with large trees on either side.

Seonghwa felt his heart ache at his distant attitude but he bit down on his bottom lip, hard, adjusts the beanie on his head and begins towards the path. Hongjoong follows but tried to keep a good amount space between them.

(A/N: I'll be putting a pause on the Seongjoong side plot for now and just write everything in one big chapter at the end of the book which btw is close 👩🏾‍💻)

As the pair of step brothers climb out of the bus, Wooyoung was quick to slide his hand inside San's, interlacing their fingers.

San looks at him in slight alarm before looking around to see if anyone had noticed. "What are you doing?"

Wooyoung scoffs at him and pulls him along. "Relax, we're like on the other side of Seoul. No one we know is here I promise" he says reassuringly and part of San calmed down a little.

It was just 2pm and Wooyoung had suggested they go out together. At first he picked a mall but San wasn't in the mood for shopping so they decided on a street market in Gwangjang. San would choose food over clothes shopping any day of the week.

So there they were, fingers interlaced as they walked down the busy street and towards the heart of the market. San could already catch the  scent of food and he felt his stomach grumble.

"Yah- you're practically drooling" Wooyoung laughs at him, his bright smile causing San's insides to do flips.

"Can you blame me? I skipped breakfast" He retorts with a pout. They're officially in the market place. Stands lined up on either side of pathway with lots of people along with a lot of foreigners either walking along or getting food from the stands.

"Hey you boys want some spicy tteokbokki?" An elderly lady calls out to them just as they walk past her stand. San immediately nods his head and she chuckles at his eagerness.

"Yes please" He says with a bow showing his respect. Wooyoung just smirks at him as the woman prepared their food.

"Here you boys go. I threw in an extra one because you're both so cute" She beams at them and San smiles widely with gratitude.

"Ah- thank you so much" He bows again.

The woman waves it off. "Don't even worry about it. Not that it's any of my business but how long have you both been dating?" She asks just as Wooyoung places the money in her hand.

San nearly chokes on the rice cake he had already began nibbling on, the question catching him off guard. While Wooyoung's face heats up, a blush creeping up his neck.

"We're not together" Wooyoung spoke since San was still coughing really hard.

"Oh?" The woman cocks her head to the side. "I apologize, you both came walking down here while holding hands so I assumed" She shakes her head with a small laugh.

"No it's ok" Wooyoung laughs with her. "We're very close though"

Wooyoung feels San's eyes on him so he glances at the older and flashes him a soft smile. One that causes San's insides to turn to mush.

"I see. Well you both have a good day ok?" San nods while handing Wooyoung his own tteokbokki.

"You too" Both teens say in unison as they continue on their walk down the busy street.

"She was cute" Wooyoung starts up once they were left with a silence between them.

San chuckles. "She reminds me of my nana"

"Yeah? Whats your nana like?" Wooyoung asks with wide dark eyes. The sun reflecting in them and causing then to sparkle ever so slightly.

San was mesmerized by him. By everything he did. How he spoke. How he walked. How he smiled. Everything. He felt his heart squeeze the longer he stared at him.

Wooyoung's cheeks slowly becomes a flushed pink the longer San just... stared at him. "Yah- w-why are you staring?" He turns his head forward again then nibbles on his rice cake snack.

San blinks back to attention. He didn't even realize he'd been staring for so long. He coughs to cover the awkward. "M-my bad. About my nana- she's just as sweet and loveable as that woman. Always trying to pry into other people's business in an innocent yet embarrassing way"

"Hm. I haven't seen my nana in years. My mom doesn't exactly have the best relationship with her parents" Wooyoung says with a half smile which was more sad than anything else.

"Really? That sucks" San's brows furrow.

Just then they arrive at the heart of the market, a large intersection crowded with even more people. Both males begun walking down a another path. "Y'know sometimes I wonder if I take after her in that aspect" Wooyoung continues.

San looks at him, expression etched with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I tend to screw things up and wonder why I always feel so miserable" Wooyoung bites down his bottom lip as the guilt of hiding San's acceptance letter ate away at him. He suddenly lost his appetite and couldn't even finish his tteokbokki. He felt sick to his stomach.

Just tell him. He'll understand right? Ask to go home then give him the letter. It'll be ok.

The taller male just squint his eyes, still not quite sure what he was going on about. "What are yo-"

"I got in a fight with a close friend of mine" Wooyoung says abruptly using his fight with Seonghwa as an excuse for this sudden odd behavior. Although in hindsight, that fight also contributed to how shitty he'd been feeling lately. "It's a bit complicated but now I'm pretty sure he hates me"

San just sighs and gently takes his hand in his own. Wooyoung thought his hand was extremely soft and reassuring. "I don't know who this person is but I'm sure he don't actually hate you. Just talk to him?"

"No you don't understand. I... took something from him" Wooyoung looks up at him with an unreadable expression. "He hates me because I ruined something so important to him and... I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fix it without making it worse" He gulps.

San nods in understanding, oblivious to what Wooyoung was actually talking about. "I see. I still think you should talk to him. It wouldn't hurt to let him know how sorry you are, y'know? I think that... if you meant a lot to him as he does to you then he'd understand" He finishes with a soft dimpled smile.

Wooyoung fought the urge to wrap his arms around his neck and bury his face in his chest. He needed a hug.

"Thank you" Wooyoung returns the smile, his mood already brightening up. He's right. Just tell him about the letter when you get home. He'll understand.

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