"Look, I know Songmin and you dated for a while but he's still a good kid." 

Soobin's mother seeing the dismay on her son's face, tried to excuse her actions, "Plus, I didn't even know he was Euntae's son till yesterday when I went to his house for coffee."

Soobin wasn't angry but he wasn't happy either. Songmin wasn't a good person at all. It was the summer of the year prior when the tall man walked into Soobin's convenience store, wearing a fitted suit and shiny shoes. He took the boy by storm. Soobin had known for a small time he was gay but didn't realise just how much he was into guys until Songmin came along.

Songmin made Soobin feel giddy, and he liked that feeling. After being deprived of love since having left his family, Soobin longed for Songmin's touch more than he probably should have.

"Is that all?" he had asked that fateful night. To which Songmin had replied, "What about your number too?"

Of course, at first, Soobin refused out of fear. He'd been in such a situation before with such feelings. But as Songmin returned regularly to the store, always sharing conversations with the blonde, Soobin grew to trust him. Time passed, and he popped the question again. Soobin accepted this time, happy to have found someone who might just be his one. However, as time went on, their relationship seemed to bring out the ugly in Songmin.

He would complain non-stop that Soobin worked too much, talked too much and cared too much. He gaslighted the boy and made him feel guilty for things he couldn't help. He coerced him into things like sleeping together or going to clubs. 

"C'mon, it's been six months, you don't want me to get bored with you, do you?" he used to say, annoyed when the blonde wouldn't do what he asked. 

Songmin made Soobin do things he was never comfortable with, but the boy never bat an eye.

Soobin saw only the good, the very little good at that. He convinced himself that Songmin loved him, even if it hurt. Eventually, the relationship reached a breaking point when Songmin's shitty behavior escalated into him being increasingly toxic and controlling. The latter finally mustered up the courage to end it.

He was standing in the store, his mind in a trance as Songmin yelled abuse at him. It was a familiar pattern between them, his quietness and the older's loudness. He hadn't had a chance to get a word in edgewise, and the things he said hurt. Pitiful, ugly and boring. Those words rolled off his tongue in a fit of anger, clawing at his heartstrings. 

The aftermath of the breakup was difficult for Soobin. He felt like his world was in pieces, and he had to figure out how to pick it up again. He was lost, trying to find his way back to the sense of self he once had. He started to fall back into a familiar, unbothered and repetitive routine. He kept to himself, never wanting to reach out to anyone. He found that it was easier to just stay in his own little world and ignore the one outside. He was content with the thought of being by himself.

"Soobin, honey," 

Soobin snapped out of his memory to see his mother staring at him with pleading eyes. 

"Yes, eomma?"

"Do you think you can come for dinner to meet them?"

Soobin pondered for a millisecond, "I suppose."

His mother clapped her hands together happily, "Alright, you can bring your boyfriend too, if you want." Soobin flushed pink and stifled a cough. Beomgyu just laughed, wondering what the fuck a boyfriend was. "He's not my boyfriend, eomma," Soobin shook his head with a smile. 

"Yes I am," Beomgyu cut in, deciding he liked this term. I'm a boy and I'm Soob's friend. Soob must be lying, or he's just stupid.

"No, you're not," Soobin clenched his jaw and placed a firm hand on the dark-haired's shoulder. Beomgyu looked at him, clueless about what the fuss was. 

"But-" Soobin placed a quick finger on his lips, shaking his head again. 

"You're my friend, Beomgyu. That's all," he smiled and stood up to leave. Beomgyu was a bit surprised, but happy at the same time. At least, he's not stupid.

"Why did you tell her you were my boyfriend?" Soobin asked loudly as he shoved the door shut behind Beomgyu. The boy ran playfully to the couch and threw himself on it, knocking a few pillows to the ground. He laughed at the older's words. 

"Well, we're boys and we're friends," Beomgyu said in a teasing manner, glancing up to see an unamused Soobin. "Really?" he raised an eyebrow, disbelieving. The latter remained quiet and offered a hindered nod. 

"You're very pick and choose with what you want to remember," Soobin said, narrowing his eyes. 

Beomgyu blinked rapidly. 

"You seem to remember trivial things, like how to swear. Though, I give it to you, you didn't know what ass was." 

"Yeah, looking at yours sure was a revelation."

Soobin choked on his words, "What?" 

Beomgyu laughed and sat up, a smirk on his small face. The blonde felt his face burning up and ears turning red, "I-"

"I wasn't made to forget swear words, Soob. Not when they were constantly being yelled at me." 

"Oh,"

The mood took a dark turn, making Soobin's expression soften. He sat next down to the boy and placed a comforting hand on his back, rubbing in soothing circular motions. "That's okay, I believe you," he assured the boy in an ephemeral voice. Beomgyu gave him a small smile, resisting the way Soobin looked at him like some sort of charity case. 

"What is a boyfriend if it's not us?"

Soobin felt a grin tugging at his lips. 

"Basically, it's a person's close companion who they have a romantic relationship with." 

Beomgyu nodded, still a little unsure, "What's romantic?"

The latter felt himself die internally. This poor kid had so many questions, and the answers weren't coming easily. "Romantic is, uh... when two people care about each other a lot and show it through kind acts." 

The younger hummed in understanding, before finally speaking again, "So if we do that, we'd be boyfriends?" 

Soobin smiled and ruffled Beomgyu's hair, "Yup. We'd be boyfriends." 

His heart felt so full it was ready to burst. Beomgyu's smile made his heart flutter for some reason. It seemed like the younger still hadn't quite fully grasped the idea of being in a romantic relationship, let alone being gay. 

Beomgyu grinned back, adding to the blonde's giddy feelings. "So what are we gonna do now?" 

Soobin chuckled. 

"I don't know. We could go to the park, get some ice-cream, watch a movie, or just hang out here? Whatever you want." 

"Is ice-cream food?"

"Yes."

"Is it yummy?"

"Of course, I know you'll love it."

Soobin took Beomgyu's hand with a wide smile, "Let's go get some ice-cream." 

Beomgyu's eyes twinkled with excitement as the blonde pulled him up. He eagerly followed Soobin out of the house to the nearest shop. When they arrived, Soobin took the boy straight to the freezers. Beomgyu's eyes widened in awe at the different flavors. He couldn't decide which one to get. 

Soobin laughed at Beomgyu's indecisive expression. He suggested they get a few different flavors and share it. Beomgyu agreed, and they got a couple of ice-creams from the freezers, and the dark-haired proudly carried them to the front counter for Soobin to pay for. 

With the dairy treats secured in a bag in Soobin's grasp, Beomgyu grabbed his other hand. Their fingers intertwined, swinging their arms happily as the older led them to a nearby park. They sat on a nearby bench and enjoyed the ice-cream. Beomgyu tried the matcha one first, eyes scrunching up at the delicious flavor. He couldn't help but smile as he enjoyed the sweetness of it. Soobin smiled back at him, happy to see him so excited. 

"Good aye, Beom?"

"Yes," his feet did a little happy dance, as he looked at the ice-cream with cheerful eyes. He glanced at the one in Soobin's hand, a chocolate coated bar that made his mouth water. "Can I try yours please?" he asked employing his cute doe eyes. "Here ya go," he didn't even resist, readily handing the boy the ice-cream bar. 

Beomgyu took it gratefully, biting straight into it.  

"Ah, don't do that," he tried to advise the younger, but it was too late. 

His mouth fell open. 

"Ow," he whined, pointing at his front teeth. 

Soobin cringed, he knew the pain of sensitive teeth, "That's what I meant." 

Beomgyu shook his head with a sour face and handed the ice-cream back. Soobin rolled his eyes, watching the boy stare at it like it had insulted him. 

"Try a different one then, Beom," he gave him a sympathetic pat on the back.