Just as another formal warning, this book takes place after INSOMNIA, please do not read any further if you have not read Insomnia in its entirety!

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Mentions of alcoholism/sobriety are highlighted throughout the chapter as well as sexual content and hints of mental health topics such as anxiety and depression. Please do not read any further if these topics are sensitive to you.

⸻✧ ༺ ∞ ༻ ✧⸻

The summer passed in a fog. The sun crawls up and down in the sky, dawning on a new day that rests upon the shoulders of two hopeless fools in love. Each passing hour was filled with laughter and kisses, every night passing with naked skin pressed up against each other. The same apartment, a new routine and new perfect relationship, all dosed by the light of the sun and drowned in honey. It's annoyingly sweet, but something about it was so intoxicating.

Wooyoung and San had been together for four months now, abandoning the rules of their friendship the moment Wooyoung had kissed San twice. But it led to something beautiful, blissful; something they both secretly begged and longed for.

It was Sunday. It was partially cloudy, the normal blue sky clinging to its cloud cover to break away from warm temperatures. Though it's cooled off in recent weeks, the overhanging clouds were always welcomed.

The smell of greasy fast food hangs in the apartment like the looming nimbus clouds, flooding Wooyoung's senses as he rests on the couch, laying on his back with his head tilted towards the television. He was bored, finally staying at home on his day off from his new job while he waited for San to come home from running errands.

He was constantly flipping through channels, not finding anything even remotely interesting, but the longer he surfed through shows, the harder it was to find something worth watching. He checks the time every few minutes, growing impatient and wishing he could just fall asleep.

He was still struggling with insomnia, but not to the extreme that he used to in the summer. San was always trying to help, trying to make everything easier by kissing him to sleep and feeling him, but Wooyoung struggled nonetheless.

At this point, Wooyoung wasn't reliant on alcohol, straying away from the urges to drink for nearly two months. It was a hard adjustment, something he didn't realize would be so difficult, but with San staying sober with him, it became easier the more time had passed.

With a new job and new routine, Wooyoung found himself at peace. He was working at a library, doing his best to organize books and sell titles of unheard smaller authors, living out his bookworm dreams at a large city library. It paid well enough, a few dollars more than his shitty job from the summer, and it kept his humble life in check. He wasn't drinking, wasn't partying, making sure to love San more everyday and finding himself in a better place mentally. He's no longer confused, no longer missing something; everything was noted as perfect.

Seonghwa had basically moved out, leaving the two males to their incredibly spacious apartment. Seonghwa was still on the lease and still paid rent, but he spent four or five days out of the week with Hongjoong in his also newly vacant apartment. Yeosang had finally bit the bullet and moved in with Jongho across the city while Mingi and Yunho were still living with one another just a few blocks down the street.

Everything had fallen into place for everyone, apparently the change of season just does that. But the longer he lives with San alone, the more he finds himself wishing they could move elsewhere. He doesn't hate the apartment by any means and he still wishes to see his friend from time to time, but he wants to start anew. He wants to find himself wrapped up in bliss from a new apartment with a single bedroom and unlimited privacy. Plus, rent would be cheaper.

The moment the door clicks open, Wooyoung's mind shoots awake and eyes pull open from whatever haze he was stuck in, sitting upright to see San coming through the door.

"San'ah," Wooyoung greets happily, rising from the couch to greet the taller male at the front door.

"Hey," He smiles, setting down his bag onto the floor, arms open as he waits for the incoming bear hug he was about to be engulfed into. "I missed you."

"You were gone for too long." Wooyoung presses into San, face melting into his shirt and his cologne, arms wrapped around his body tightly.

"I know. I had to drop off a check at the bank." San presses a kiss to Wooyoung's head, then nuzzles down to his shoulder, feeling the younger only nuzzle further into him.

"Did your parents give you another check?"

"Yeah, but I start my internship at the studio next week. So I told them to slow down with the payments so I can make my own money."

"I'm proud of you," Wooyoung leans back to kiss his chest, then his exposed lower neck, listening to the elder hum contently.

"Thank you." San opens his eyes and looks forward, spotting the garbage from their breakfast still sitting on the coffee table. "Did you not throw away your food from earlier?"

"Too lazy." Wooyoung mumbles, feeling San chuckle a bit as he leans into him.

"I know. It's your day off. I wouldn't want to do anything either."

"I hate working six days a week." Wooyoung frowns, but San reassures him with gentle strokes down his back.

"It's the way of the world, Young'ah. I'm proud of you for sticking with it."

"I haven't missed a single shift. Did you know that?" Wooyoung leans back, eyes staring up into San's.

"I do know that." San nods slightly, leaning his head down with his nose just barely touching Wooyoung's. "I'm really proud of you for that, too."

"Thank you." San leans down, pressing his lips to Wooyoung's in a very soft, but chaste kiss that lasts no longer than a few seconds. The younger hums happily, watching San break away with a subtle smile.

"Seonghwa is gonna be home soon. Let's clean up."

"When does the lease end again?" Wooyoung asks, watching San leave his arms and head towards the coffee table.

"Not for another month or so." San grabs the two empty plastic bags filled with containers and napkins, listening to the rustling caused by the sudden rummaging of their morning garbage. "Are you in a rush to get Seonghwa out?" San turns and looks at the younger, watching him play with the sleeves of his sweater timidly.

"No." Wooyoung pouts, watching San turn around again, grabbing another bag before heading off into the kitchen. "Just wanna know when everything is gonna change."

"Woo-" San sighs, knowing the sadness hidden within his partner's tone.

Wooyoung was truthfully excited to have alone time with San without fear of interruption, but the fear of changing everything so suddenly was stuck, engraved rather, in the back of his mind. He loved his friends and he loved the life he built with them, especially in their little trio housing situation, but everyone was older now. Everyone was graduating from college and had mature, adult jobs with blossoming relationships budding with deep and very real feelings. Their group of eight was changing faster than he ever imagined.

Wooyoung was partially scared of change the entire summer, especially after kissing San like some hungry animal at Mingi's beach house. The fear of their friendship breaking apart because of his annoyingly loud feelings consumed his mind for weeks. Even after the turmoil that followed the first time the two had relations, Wooyoung felt it then, the despair associated with falling in love with someone he had known since he was twelve. He never thought that just over ten years later he'd be kissing that someone, wanting his hands on his body and to sleep next to him until he drifts away from this plane of existence.

But as he looks at San, eyes jokingly pitiful with a tinge of sadness lingering in his words, he knows what he wants more than anything. Despite his fears and anxieties, Wooyoung would do anything to have a true future with San. He just wanted what his friends had; the comfort of sharing your own place peacefully with the one person you love more than anything this world could offer. He really wouldn't ask for anything more or anything less.

"Nothing is really changing, you know that right?"

"I mean, we're not really a trio anymore." Wooyoung strides to the couch, lazily swinging his legs up onto the cushions, chest leaning against the back of the seat so he can watch his boyfriend linger in the kitchen, shoving the empty bags into their steel trash can. Wooyoung lowered his head, his left palm reaching to hold his head up with his elbow pressing into the material of the couch.

"You know we all had to move on eventually, right?" San watches Wooyoung's face fall slightly, and he instantly feels guilty.

"I was really afraid you'd leave without me."

"I remember you telling me that. But don't you remember what I told you?"

"I do." Wooyoung watches San approach slowly, hands reaching for the back of the couch as they rest on the opposite side of his propped elbow and other lazily hanging arm.

"Then tell me what I said."

"San'ah-"

"Come on, Young'ah." San leans down a bit further, a smirk pulled across his lips. Wooyoung is biting his tongue, holding the smile threatening to cross over his lips hostage as he feels a breath hitch in his throat. "Tell me."

"You said you'd never leave me."

"I meant it then, and I mean it now." San presses a kiss to Wooyoung's forehead, leaning away almost immediately afterwards.

"I know. You know how I feel about change lately."

"It's gonna be weird. But, hey. Maybe we can take advantage to search for another apartment. One with fewer rooms and maybe closer to campus or closer to the library."

Wooyoung tilts his gaze upwards at the elder, not completely hating the idea of looking into a fresh apartment. He was dreaming of it one day, but so soon seemed a bit advantageous.

"You think Seonghwa would be okay moving out so soon?"

"I think he's going to be more than fine with it."

"Maybe I'm overthinking it," Wooyoung shakes his head timidly, letting a small exhale roll through his lips.

"You tend to overthink a lot of things." San watches Wooyoung roll his eyes, slouching down into the couch just barely enough to let his head fall out of his palm and lean on the cushion. "Try not thinking and kissing me more instead."

"Very tempting offer," Wooyoung smiles, watching San smile right back. "But you said that we have to clean first."

"Well, it can wait," San approaches again, this time on the other side of the couch, looming over the younger, hands placed on either side of his waist. "Besides. . . he's probably sucking face with Joong right now."

"But what if he comes home?" Wooyoung bites his bottom lip, feeling San move to rest in between his parting legs as he leans back into the cushions and pillows.

"I'll be quick." San teases, hand snaking its way between Wooyoung's legs and up the side of his thigh.

"Is that a promise?" Wooyoung breathes, eyes staring upwards at the elder hungrily.

"Not too quick," San mutters, gently racing forwards to tilt his forehead down to greet the younger's. "I still want to be able to feel you."

"Then touch me, San'ah." Wooyoung raises his lips towards San's, breathing in his air, brushing his lips against his. San looks down at him, teeth grasping the edge of his tongue as Wooyoung hushes a plea against his lips. "Please."

"Not on the couch again, guys" Seonghwa groans as he opens the door, standing in the doorway with an unamused grimace plaguing his expression. "Come on. Even after the last time I caught you guys banging on the couch, you're seriously going to do it again?"

San leans back, feeling Wooyoung's legs wrap around his waist preventatively, ankles crossing behind his lower back. "First of all, hyung, the first time was an accident. Second of all-"

"I don't know if I want to know the second reason," Seonghwa steps inside, setting his bag down on the floor before closing the door behind him and turning the lock. "Besides! Lock the damn door next time and maybe you'll have a warning that I'm coming inside. I'm just glad you weren't both naked."

"We have some decency." Wooyoung sputters out, but Seonghwa hardly believed that.

"Sure, Woo. Sure." Seonghwa sighs, looking towards his roommates still wrapped around one another on the couch, a certain statement lingering on the back of his tongue for a second. "I'm just gonna say it."

"Oh god," Wooyoung sighs, hands finding his face as he hides his fake shame. "Please don't give us the safe sex talk again."

"I'm not!" Seonghwa huffs. "Just use protection and maybe-"

"Alright, mom, what's on your mind?" San interjects after moving his sitting position, ass finally against the cushions with the younger's legs draped over his lap.

"I'm moving out." Seonghwa watches the horror pale over Wooyoung's face, and the tinge of instant guilt swells in his stomach. "Joong asked me this morning. His lease ends next week and he wants me to sign on with him."

"Next week?" Wooyoung's voice is pitched and San turns towards him, hand reaching up to gently smooth circles over his chest.

"I know it's a lot of change and a lot of moving around, but, I'm just a floor below you guys."

"Actually," San tries to be gentle with his statement, knowing Wooyoung was especially sensitive about all of it suddenly. "We were looking to move to a different apartment. One with fewer rooms and one with cheaper rent that's closer to his job or campus."

"When did we grow up?" Seonghwa sighs, a sad, but happy smile pursing across his lips.

"We've always been grown, hyung." Wooyoung sadly smiles too, but somehow finds comfort in knowing that Seonghwa was sharing his sadness.

"I'll be sad to see this apartment go. There's a lot of memories here." Seonghwa takes a look around the small living space before he glances at his friends again, wondering when the hell everything changed so fast.

"Don't make me so emotional, Hwa!" San laughs, his free hand that wasn't laid over Wooyoung's chest now gently wrapped around one of Wooyoung's ankles. Wooyoung reaches his hand over and grabs onto San's, entrapping the hand on his chest into an entangled hold.

"I didn't mean to! I just-" Seonghwa tries to smile again. "I'm happy for us, is all."

"I'm happy for us too. We've all really paired off, haven't we?" Wooyoung smiles when San meets his gaze lovingly, wanting nothing more than to kiss the smile from his lips.

"Mingi and Yunho have yet to see how bad they're pining for each other." Seonghwa mutters quietly.

"Mingi is too wrapped up in that chick he's dating." San scoffs lightly at Wooyoung's comment.

"Is it still that girl he met when we were at the beach house?" San turns to look at Seonghwa who nods disapprovingly.

"Yeah. What's her name again? Hyeon?"

"Something like that. Just surprised he's sticking to one girl this time." Wooyoung rolls his eyes, adjusting his positioning against the pillow he was leaning into.

"Well, maybe we can throw a little goodbye party for the apartment, hm?" Seonghwa offers, which drags the attention of both of his roommate's gazes towards him.

"Just our group, right?" San asks quietly, earning a humble nod from Seonghwa that soothes his nerves.

Admittedly, since their rushed beginning of a relationship, San and Wooyoung had become homebodies. They rarely go out with their friends anymore, trying to avoid indulging into alcohol since they promised to remain sober for each other. San didn't need to be sober, but he promised to stay sober so Wooyoung wouldn't have to be around any type of liquor. They spend most nights at eachothers throats, leaving loving bruises trailing across collar bones and the depth of each other's necks. Other nights they lay on the couch, cuddling one another under the warmth of a shared blanket, watching Harry Potter or Marvel films to pass the time.

Wooyoung would come home from a long shift, eyes red and body exhausted, but San would always have dinner ready for him and be waiting to greet him with a longing, but loving kiss. Wooyoung would melt into him, hands wrapped around the back of San's neck as he forces him to the couch and reaches a loyal hand down his pants.

It felt like the honeymoon phase, drizzled with love and spiked by the heated passion of sex nearly every day, but Wooyoung wouldn't have it any differently. He was finally at peace with his demons and finally in love with the one person he deemed his soulmate; everything felt good.

But, now with the looming separation of their trio, Wooyoung can't help but feel the pit grow in his stomach. He didn't want to say goodbye to this apartment, nor did he want to say goodbye to living with one of his best friends, but he finds himself torn. Moving forwards with San was what he truly wanted, but saying goodbye to everything he's known terrified him.

"Just our friends." Seonghwa acknowledges, reaching for his phone that lay in his back pocket. "Did you want to do it tonight? Otherwise it might have to wait until Saturday."

"I'm okay with that." San shoots a glance towards Wooyoung, watching the younger internally fight with his own thoughts.

San knew he was always overthinking, always overly conscious about his mistakes and his transgressions. That's just what his life was like battling with anxiety. Coping with alcohol made it easier to deal with, easier to relax and easier to live with; but now with that gone, Wooyoung had little to no way to cope.

San never wanted to mention anything, but he would do his best to love Wooyoung with everything he had, hold him until the trembling stopped, and whisper nothing except words of adoration towards him, making sure he knew he was the center of San's universe. But here, right now? San wants to hold him and kiss the worry from his lungs, only stopped by the presence of their hyung standing by the front door.

"I'm okay with it too," Wooyoung finally breathes, hand squeezing San's gently. "Can we plan for like six?"

"I'll let them know. I'm gonna shower and clean up a bit." Seonghwa grabs his bag and heads into the apartment further, swinging his old bedroom door open and disappearing into his room without another word, leaving the two lovebirds nestled against one another on the couch.

"San'ah?" Wooyoung beckons timidly, watching his partner turn towards him with a smile on his lips.

"Hm?" San hums, hands still entangled together and the other still resting on Wooyoung's ankle.

"You're not gonna drink tonight, are you?"

"No." San affirms quickly, shaking his head to add to his disinterest.

"If you want to, you can. Don't let me stop you."

"Hey," San lets go of Wooyoung's tangled grasp, hands grabbing Wooyoung's legs to gently push them off of his lap, quickly shuffling to tower over the younger again, just barely inches apart as he leans close. "I will do anything for you."

"I don't want you to stop having fun just because I can't control myself."

"Alcohol doesn't make the night fun for me. Being around you is all I care about. I don't have to drink soju and be buzzed to have fun when you're around."

"You're just saying that." Wooyoung pouts, but San is quick to run his thumb across Wooyoung's bottom lip, eyes trailing across the younger's slightly saddened gaze.

"I love you, Wooyoung. As long as I have you, I don't need anything else."

Wooyoung smiles up at him, nose tilting up just barely to touch San's. "I love you more, San'ah."

San leans down and kisses him, at first pulling away with the intention to climb off the couch and help Seonghwa eventually clean, but Wooyoung's hands thread into his hair and hold the back of his neck preventatively, dragging him back down to the intoxicating taste of Wooyoung's lips.

This was the reassurance that Wooyoung needed to remain at peace with his decision. He was scared, sure. But with San here with him, everything Wooyoung needed was present in this moment. He didn't need to cope by drinking himself into oblivion, he just needed to feel San, kiss his lips and taste him again. Day by day he made the choice to be happy with San, especially because he wasn't sure if he could ever be happy for himself.

"Quit kissing me like that before Hwa comes out and yells at us for screwing on the couch again." San mumbles against Wooyoung's lips, pressing one more kiss against them before trying to pull away.

"Then take me elsewhere, hm?" Wooyoung teases, teeth reaching to grab San's bottom lip, gently biting and tugging at the flesh with a tuned smile when he hears San groan into his mouth.

"How long does it take Hwa to shower?" San asks breathily, watching Wooyoung blink up at him curiously.

"Twenty minutes." He shrugs lightly. "But. . . if he does his hair after, that's another twenty minutes on top of that."

San leans down, lips pressing two gentle kisses on Wooyoung's throat before grinning against his skin, voice raspy and low. "Jung Wooyoung-"

"What, San'ah?" Wooyoung giggles lightly, feeling the elder nip at his skin teasingly before leaning backwards to look him in the eyes.

"Are you asking me to take you into our room while Hwa is only a couple of feet away?"

"It never stopped us before," Wooyoung's tongue gently peaks out of his mouth, wiping across his bottom lip feverishly as his teeth bite down on the flesh, holding a growing smirk at bay. "Why stop now?"

"We can't get caught, Woo." San presses another kiss to Wooyoung's jaw, the younger basically squirming under him now.

"I'll be quiet." Wooyoung tries to be convincing, hands snaking their way towards San's waist. "I promise."

San's eyes show a glimmer of something familiar, something that Wooyoung rather enjoys. A burning inkling of lust and wanting, love burning into his core as he watches San stand from the couch, holding out his hand with the promise of intimacy looming on the edge of his fingertips. Wooyoung takes his hand readily, grasps intertwining as they rush into the privacy of San's room, finding the bed within seconds of closing the door.

Wooyoung did promise that he'd be quiet, and quiet he was. Wooyoung was pressed into the mattress minutes later, legs wrapped around San's waist with a hungry expression, hitched breaths leaving his lips as he internally begs for mercy from San's hips.

San's face was pressed deep into Wooyoung's neck, hands gripping the sheets next to Wooyoung's head as he lovingly felt the younger, teeth nipping at his exposed skin to keep himself quiet. Wooyoung bit down on his lip, almost to the point where his flesh would crack open and drip with fresh blood, but he retracts his teeth just before his swollen lips could ever break open.

San whispers loving words into Wooyoung's ears, doting promises curled against his memory as he listens to different versions of I love you coated in different phrases. You're so good for me. You're everything. I love the way you look right now. All things Wooyoung could never get used to hearing and would love to listen to over and over.

The praise always drove him over, nails digging into San's unmarked back, lips finding San's jaw and neck, teeth grasping onto any piece of flesh available to him as he felt San devotedly, heart surging with warmth and lust all in one place.

Wooyoung kept his promise even when he approached his high, hand raising towards his mouth as he bites down on his hand, muffling any version of a whine attached to his euphoric end. San isn't far behind, planting his lips on Wooyoung's the moment his hand is freed from his mouth, breathing his air and tasting his saliva.

"That shit-" San breathes, head falling to Wooyoung's shoulder.

"Uh huh." Wooyoung agrees, arm falling over his eyes exhaustedly, chest heaving up and down as his lungs pace themselves to bring his body back down from ascending into euphorics.

"Please never change, Wooyoung." San kisses his shoulder, then his collarbone, raising his gaze to look at the younger.

"Why would I ever change, San'ah?" Wooyoung's arm drops from over his eyes, head tilting just enough to catch a glance of his partner.

"I don't know." San smiles at him softly, gently pulling his hips away from Wooyoung's. "But I love you the way you are."

"Hm," Wooyoung hums happily, hand reaching for San's cheek and jawline. "I love you most."

A few languid kisses are passed between both males, soft breaths and tender touches fill the void as they rest for the next few minutes before San pulls away.

"I'm gonna run to the bathroom. Do you want to come with me?"

"Are you still not tired from that? You want to go again?" Wooyoung looks exhausted, and San only laughs at him.

"No, no. I just wanna take a shower. Let me take care of you, Young'ah."

Normally, Wooyoung would say no. But with what their relationship consisted of and became, Wooyoung let San take care of him. After weeks of struggling to stay sober, Wooyoung became depressed and helpless, immobile on the couch until San would find him and carry him to bed. Wooyoung was a crying mess, mumbling sorry over and over again in a flurry of worry.

San would hush him, kiss his forehead a million times and lay him in bed, cuddling his fragile body until Wooyoung fell asleep.

Wooyoung wasn't unwanting of San taking care of him, it just made him feel helpless sometimes. He knew San worried about him a lot, especially after the long months of sobriety following their relationship starting. He was always sick, always depressed, but San never left him once.

Showering with San wasn't intimate in a sexual way, but it was intimate in the way that San just took care of him the entire time. He wanted to wash his hair, lather up his body and kiss the flushness from his cheeks. Wooyoung would always return the favor, pressing longing kisses to San's broad shoulders and his chest, showering him with love so that could never imagine what feeling unloved was like.

This was no different.

"I'll let you take care of me," Wooyoung confesses, leaning upright on his elbows. "But you have to make sure Hwa isn't nearby. I don't wanna get scolded again."

"Alright, alright." San reaches for his sweatpants that were discarded on the side of the bed, tugging them over his legs and waist. Wooyoung watches with intrigue, eyes raking over San's abs and chest, admittedly a little bit smug over the fact that only he gets to see San like this.

San pokes his head out of the door, eyes glancing from the front door and towards the kitchen, leaning back into the safety of his bedroom to look at Wooyoung, who was also tugging his pants back over his legs and waist.

"Seems clear enough."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Wooyoung stands from the bed a bit wobbly, but is right behind San as he slowly opens the door and steps out into the living space. It's quiet from the moment they take a few steps into the apartment until they hear a door close to their right and they automatically freeze in their place.

"At least you guys had the audacity to do it behind a closed door this time."

"How did you even hear us?" San swears they were mostly silent, turning to look at his older friend who was standing just outside of his own bedroom door.

"Well considering that Wooyoung's neck is covered in red hickeys and you both don't have shirts on, I would say that it's a pretty good guess."

"God, he is like a mother." Wooyoung rolls his eyes, arms folding against his chest.

"I'm not shaming you guys for. . . showing your love for one another, but please refrain from doing it when I'm around. Is that fair?"

"Plenty fair." San nods, gaze tilted down shamefully. "Sorry, hyung."

"Don't be sorry. I know that we're adults and we have feelings. Joong and I are not immune to those feelings-" Seonghwa smiles at himself, listening to Wooyoung stifle a laugh. "Just please act cautiously until I can move my shit out."

"Fair enough." San smiles, watching Seonghwa shyly smile back.

"I'm glad you guys are happy, though." Seonghwa admits, walking towards the kitchen before he notices how sweaty and truly gross both of his friends were after their quiet relations. "Please go shower before our friends get here."

"That's where we were headed." Wooyoung admits, grabbing San's hand and starting to pull him down the hall.

"You guys have barely two hours before they show up. Don't take too long in there!"

Wooyoung hurries into the bathroom with San directly behind him, closing the door and flicking the lights on quietly. Wooyoung turns towards the white cabinet, opening the long doors to pull out two towels, ones that he didn't know whose were whose, but he plopped them down on the sink anyways. San opens the shower door, turning the water on a bit warmer than usual, but nothing that was too hot.

Wooyoung brushes a few strands of his hair out of his eyes, eyes raking down the length of San's torso again as he feels the same longing affection clinging to his tongue and simmering below the band of his joggers.

"Come on," San mutters, sliding off his gray sweatpants before stepping into the shower, instantly wetting his hair but holding the opaque door open. Wooyoung bites his lip subtly, following suit and dropping his joggers to the tiled floor, scurrying to get into the shower with San.

Wooyoung turns around, head tilting backwards to let his hair drown in the stream of the shower head. The water was warm as it ran through his ebony locks, trailing down his neck and lingering on his spine.

San leans forward, lips pressing to Wooyoung's jaw and cheek, hands finding his shoulders as the water pours down on both of them. His body is lax, letting San's hands smooth over his flushed and warm skin, unable to keep his happy hums silent as San's fingers begin to trek through his hair. San took pride in taking care of his boyfriend, lovingly massaging his scalp with soap soon after.

The entire routine takes roughly ten minutes by the time San finishes taking care of the younger, so Wooyoung decidedly does the same for his partner, asking him to turn around as he returns the favor. San hums contently, feeling Wooyoung place gentle kisses on his shoulders and lower neck, a few loving bites tugging at his skin to tease lightly.

"It's a good thing we showered after Seonghwa," Wooyoung says softly. "Otherwise we'd be stealing all of the warm water."

"He would live," San chuckles, eyes closed with a smile glued to his lips.

"It would only make me want to stay in here longer," Wooyoung mutters in an almost-whisper, lips an inch away from San's ear as he presses a chaste kiss to his jaw.

"What would you want to do here, Young'ah?"

Wooyoung's hands trail up San's abdomen, stopping when he reaches the center of his chest. His pointer finger lingers there, pressing lightly into his skin. "I have a few ideas."

"You might have to show me." San leans down, hair soaked and stuck to his skin, freshly washed and smelling something similar to citrus.

"Not now, San'ah." Wooyoung's teeth bite down on his bottom lip, tilting his jaw upwards to place his lips inches away from the elder's. "Later. I promise."

"You're making a lot of promises today, aren't you?" San smiles and Wooyoung internally screams, once again smitten by how incredibly attractive his boyfriend was.

"I kept my last promise, didn't I?" Wooyoung's lips brush past San's teasingly, hand trailing back down San's chest and towards his midline, further and further until he stops just above his waist.

"Fuck." San mumbles under his breath, feeling his skin burn warmer than the water that was beating down against his back.

"We gotta get ready," Wooyoung removes his hand, raising both of his hands to rest against the back of San's neck. He didn't want to leave the warmth of the shower, eyes glimmering up at San with the hope that he didn't want to leave either. But, for the sake of the water bill and Seonghwa's sanity, both males knew they couldn't stay there forever.

This level of closeness and this type of intimacy was everything Wooyoung had secretly craved. He knew what he wanted from San, heart filled to the brim with love and lust bundled over as he looked up at San, water dripping down his face and curling under his jaw. When San looks down at him, Wooyoung hopes that the happiness tuned in his gaze felt the same want that Wooyoung had for him.

"Sadly." San sighs, hand reaching behind him and towards the faucet to turn the water off. But the moment the water stops running and the water drips down into the drain, Wooyoung grabs San's jaw, pulling him into him, kissing the breath from his lungs before parting quietly. San simply smiles at him, full of adoration.

"Go get dressed. I gotta do my hair." San hurriedly opens the shower door, watching the younger raise a brow at him with a subtle smirk.

"Who says I don't wanna do my hair?"

"Go use the mirror in my room." San persists, but Wooyoung remains complacent.

"Trying to rush me out of here, San'ah? Why's that?"

"Because! You're irresistible and distracting," Wooyoung smiles as San laughs, rolling his eyes all the same regardless of the butterflies stuck in the pit of his abdomen. He wasn't going to admit it, but he felt the same exact way about San. Sometimes, he barely thought he could keep his hands off the elder. "I can't focus when you're around."

"Fine. Do you want me to bring you some clothes at least?" Wooyoung asks once he steps out of the shower, pushing his hair out of his line of sight.

"Mhm," San steps free from the shower too, reaching for the towel in Wooyoung's grasp as he hands it over to him, a towel already wrapped around the younger's waist. "Please."

"I'll leave you to style your hair in peace, then." Wooyoung teases softly, grabbing his joggers from the floor and opening the door with a hiss as the apartment's cold air conditioning tickles his skin. He closes the bathroom door behind him, quickly rushing to his shared bedroom after making sure Seonghwa was nowhere to be found. He barely cares enough to close his own door as he drops the towel to the floor, he just hoped Seonghwa was busy enough to avoid peeking in for at least the next minute until he could put boxers on.

So, as anyone naked and afraid does, he rushes through his drawers, pulling out a pair of boxers for both him and San, rushing to get them over his legs with a sigh of relief once the danger is over and the band snaps to his waist.

He makes his way towards the closet, pulling a pair of ripped jeans out from the closet for himself, perusing through his shirts until he pulls a simple black tee from a hanger, slinging it over his torso and using his hands to smooth out the fabric afterwards. He rounds the end of their messy bed, scavenging through his small chest of jewelry until he settles on a few silver necklaces and a few rings to deem himself presentable.

As for San, he grabs out San's favorite black and white dyed shirt, printed with some sort of brand in the middle to go with his go-to black skinny jeans, ones Wooyoung swears San has multiple pairs of. He decided to let the elder accessorize himself if he wanted to, leaving the jewelry box hung open. So, he tugs his ripped jeans over his legs carefully before returning to the bathroom with a small knock on the door.

"San'ah?" Wooyoung opens the door, eyes greeting San's gaze as they look at one another. "I hope this is good enough?"

"You grabbed my favorite shirt," San smiles happily, taking the clothes from Wooyoung's grasp. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me." Wooyoung eyes San's hair, and for a second, he almost regrets convincing San to dye his hair six months ago. San's hair was black now, which admittedly, Wooyoung rooted for. San's hair used to have a tuft of blonde in the front, which did look really good on him, but San was itching for a change during the summer, claiming that a new hairstyle would get him through his summer term of college. "I'm gonna help Hwa before he goes crazy. Come out when you're done."

"I will." San rushes for the door suddenly, not hesitating to press a quick kiss on Wooyoung's forehead before returning back to his spot in front of the sink, hands already reaching to mess with his hair again.

"Love you, San'ah." Wooyoung smiles, watching the elder smile back in the reflection of the mirror.

"Love you, too."

Wooyoung closes the bathroom door with a cheesy smile just in time to hear a knock ring out at the front door, to which Seonghwa also notices, head tilting up from the kitchen counter curiously. Barely an hour had passed when Seonghwa had given them a two-hour warning, so Wooyoung couldn't guess who would be at the door this early. But, it was extremely likely it was one of their friends anyways. Seonghwa makes his way to the front door, Wooyoung not too far behind as he unlocks the door and slowly opens it.

"Oh, hey." Seonghwa greets calmly, stepping to the side to let Mingi and Yunho into the apartment.

"Hey," Wooyoung greets afterwards, making what felt like awkward eye contact with Mingi and Yunho both. "What's up with you two?"

"Mingi broke up with his girlfriend because she refused to come to this party tonight." Yunho sighs, stepping over to the couch before sitting down. Seonghwa stands by the front door, letting the door shut quietly on its own before eyeing Mingi suspiciously.

"You don't look too upset about it, Mingi." Seonghwa raises his brow. "Why?"

"She was jealous of Yunho." Mingi rolls his eyes. "It's stupid."

"Doesn't seem stupid," Seonghwa sighs, accepting the fact that Mingi was not going to be honest about the reality of the situation, so he elects to simply walk away and continue cleaning the kitchen like he was doing before their intrusion.

"Where's San?" Yunho turns to look at Wooyoung, who points to the bathroom.

"Getting ready. Should be done soon, though."

"I wanna get fucked up." Mingi interjects, earning a glare shot into the side of his head from Yunho and Seonghwa both. Mingi turns to look at Yunho after a minute of their intense staring before raising his brow and quietly muttering what? "Oh shit. Sorry Woo."

"It's okay. If you guys wanna drink, you can. We just don't keep any here."

"Nah, we don't need any. You're sober, we're gonna respect it."

"You guys-" Wooyoung groans. "Please don't let me be the party pooper because I can't handle my liquor."

"You're not a party pooper, Woo. We're just respecting you and choosing not to drink. It's that simple." Mingi reassures, but Wooyoung doesn't feel very convinced.

"We're fine, Wooyoung. Please wipe that sad puppy look off your face." Yunho smiles slightly at his friend, who is quick to shoot a non-threatening glare towards him afterwards.

"If you're sure." Wooyoung sighs, running a hand through his damp hair, eyes moving over to the television as Yunho reaches for the remote. "Put on something interesting, would you?"

"Yeah, I'll find something."

Just then, another few knocks ring out at the front door and Seonghwa audibly groans. Wooyoung wasn't sure if he was annoyed at the continued intrusions or just frustrated at the fact that he can't completely finish cleaning. So, Wooyoung insists on opening the door instead, leaving Seonghwa to tend to his dirty countertops.

Wooyoung opens the door again, spotting Hongjoong waiting on the other side. Wooyoung smiles at him at first, then briefly looks down to catch the sight of a bottle of soju in his hands and his smile suddenly fades. Wooyoung's breath catches in his throat, but he steps to the side and lets the elder into the apartment, blinking rapidly to try and understand why Hongjoong would dare to bring alcohol, especially since he was dating Seonghwa.

Wooyoung's sobriety wasn't necessarily a secret, so Hongjoong had to have known. Seonghwa was incredibly protective over Wooyoung and San equally, so knowing that only added to the confusion lingering in Wooyoung's chest.

"Hwa," Hongjoong says happily, almost without a care in the world, heading over to show his boyfriend the bottle first, turning the label towards him excitedly.

"Joong!" Seonghwa tries to be quiet, looking at Wooyoung who was standing still, eyes staring into the floor with his jaw tight. "I told you not to bring anything!"

Wooyoung can hear them muttering something about a celebration and needing alcohol to celebrate, followed by the delicate issue of Wooyoung's sobriety that they whisper through. Wooyoung then lifts his head, blinking himself back to life before turning to look at Seonghwa and Hongjoong, a smile pulled to his lips haphazardly.

"It's okay. Really, it is. Let's celebrate."

Seonghwa and Hongjoong share the same, worried and confused glance before watching Mingi rise from the couch with his hand outstretched.

"Open the fucking bottle, hyung. Please?"