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When Hanbin says he knows Hao inside and out, he means it.
He can pinpoint exactly what Hao's feeling with a single look. Its a fact he prides himself on. His friends call him a Hao encyclopedia and he feels like he's triumphed the world.
And above all, he knows the look Hao's giving him right now.
The woman in front of him— Jiyeon— keeps speaking, voice level. Unfortunately, Hanbin isn't listening to a single word leaving her mouth. Forgive him, but he honestly would very much be in a locked room with his boyfriend right now.
The champagne in his flute swirls as he tries to look around as casually as he can. Truthfully, he only wanted to look at Hao. He's speaking to someone himself— an older man, who smiles too wide for his liking. However, the wicked feeling brewing in his stomach disappears when their eyes meet. Hao winks at him and he smiles in response before turning back to Jiyeon.
“It feels like an honor to be standing in a room full of such talented individuals.” She looks around, admiring eyes raking over the hall.
Hanbin honestly disagrees. Talented? Most people present are here because they had the power of nepotism on their side. He can count the number of actually capable people here on two hands.
He nods anyway, but mutters a “most” under his breath. It would come off as arrogant to blatantly disagree. Honestly, he doesn't think he's conceited. He just knows what he's doing and it's better because he works for it instead of leeching off of daddy's money.
The conversation is mostly professional, staying within the confines of discussions of his job and the modelling industry.
“You're so funny,” her melodic laugh rings in the thick air around them as her hand rests on his bicep.
Hanbin wants to pull away from her. He isn't new to this. He knows what she's trying to do. When the company had said to make connections, he's sure this wasn't what they meant.
“I don't meet people as charismatic as you often.” Hanbin wants to laugh. He's been talking modelling for the past fifteen minutes which he is not charismatic about at all. In fact, he'd rather people focus on his dancing career more. They all seem to ignore that though, eyes caste over pictures where his neckline dips a bit too low instead of his dance videos.
“Ah, thank you, thank you.” He replies. The smile he gives her looks more like a display of teeth.
Her smile doesn't falter the entire time they talk. Hers his more natural; his, however, is more customer service, honestly.
“Oh, you graduated from NUA? So you're smart too.” She nods, as if deep in though. Then, while laughing, she adds, “beauty and brains together are rare."
The first person that pops up in his mind is Hao.
“You're too kind, Jiyeon-ssi. I would say you're quite brilliant yourself.”
The champagne remains untouched as he brings the lip of the flute to his mouth. The floral tones barely touch his tongue before he's pulling the flute back. She's blushing, he's able to tell even under the strong lighting above.
The question he's been dreading is finally dropped on him. “I'm leaving soon. Would you like to come with me?”
Hanbin's hands feel uncharacteristically sweaty, his suit suffocating.
“I apologize, but he's leaving with me.”
Hao stands beside him, wearing a smile that almost feels mocking. He's glowing, Hanbin absentmindedly thinks. His sun.
Jiyeon's clearly taken aback too. Confusion overtakes her face before she schools her expression back into the one with a default smile.
Before she can get a word out, Hao's arm is extended towards her. His pretty smile doesn't disappear for a single second. “I'm Zhang Hao. Hanbin's boyfriend. Nice to meet you.”
Jiyeon takes the hand, shaking it for barely a second before they're both pulling away. “Yoon Jiyeon. Nice to meet you too.”
Hanbin curls his arm around Hao's waist. In fact, he doesn't even realize he's doing it until he looks down and finds his arm wrapped around Hao. It's muscle memory, he gleefully thinks.
“I'm here for YSL. What about you?”
“Dior.”
The conversation flows for a while. Jiyeon is surprisingly respectful and doesn't push herself onto him after learning he's taken. She doesn't even shoot him dirty looks like most people do. Hanbin likes her, but only as an acquaintance— someone to only wave to from a distance.
The room feels suffocating. Hao's body is pressed up against him, looking so, so gorgeous. He thinks he outshines everyone in this crowded hall. All of these people combined couldn't amount to even a speckle of his beauty.
Despite the way the conversation had began between Hao and Jiyeon, they're currently talking quite interestedly. Suddenly, Hanbin feels the overwhelming urge to leave the room. It's too hot here.
“Excuse us, Jiyeon-ssi. We'll get going now.” He randomly croaks out. Even Hao looks surprised.
“Of course. I have to leave as well. It was nice meeting you two. I hope to see you around.” She bows and they bow in return, exchanging goodbyes and good wishes before Hanbin's tugging them both towards the balcony.
“You good?” Hao asks. He doesn’t even question the fact that he’s tugging them away from the center of the hall. “I trust you with my life, loser”, he remembers Hao had said once. His sweet, sweet Hao.
“I’m good,” he breathes out. “Just wanna get away from here.” Hao nods, not saying a single word until they’re standing on the balcony. It’s empty and only a little bit of light enters from the transom, enough for him to see the relief in his lover’s eyes.
The cool air hits his face and it feels a little bit like coming home. He hastily pulls his suit jacket off his shoulders and drapes it over a chair. He thinks about taking the vest underneath off too but that might be a bit too much for such a formal event so he opts for unbuttoning the first few buttons of his dress shirt. Immediately, he feels a million times better. The fresh night air is a lot more comforting than that sweltering room.
He looks at Hao only to find him looking back already. “Damn, you’re hot.” He says.
Hanbin raises his brow at him. “In which sense?”
“Both.”
They both laugh in sync. Hands in pockets, Hao leans against a wall, on the far end of the balcony where the light from the inside barely reaches him. Hanbin still sees him clear as day. He looks so pretty like this, Hanbin thinks, which is something he thinks all the time. Though he’s grown into his features, Hanbin still sees his boyish Hao— the one who would pull Hanbin out of parties like this so he could have a break where they’d end up pressed together like puzzle pieces.
It’s comical how it’s Hanbin pulling them out of parties now— or, well— these events. It’s not his fault. He just doesn’t enjoy plastering a smile on his face and talking to people who don’t give a fuck about him. Seeing people too close to him, or Hao, irritates him and a part of him wants to buy an entire island just for the two of them to reside. Hopefully when he has his own dance company.
He shoves his hands into the pockets of his dress pants and pulls out a cigarette. Hao doesn’t smoke but when he sees Hanbin’s fingers curled around the cigarette, he’s already pulling the lighter out from his pocket. Hanbin holds the cigarette in front of him and watches with something crazed in his eyes as Hao lights it up for him. As soon as it lights up though, Hao moves away from him wordlessly. They both lean against the railing, the distance between them almost feels mocking.
He’s always known Hao doesn’t like it when he smokes but he’s never stopped him. He’s never pulled out the cigarette from between his lips and thrown it away. But when he moves away from him, the one foot distance between them feeling like miles, Hanbin quickly puts out the cigarette and disposes of it and pulls Hao closer instead.
“I didn’t like that guy talking to you earlier,” he whispers, as if someone would hear them. “Why was he grinning like that? Weird asshole.”
Hao laughs— the most canorous sound he’s ever heard. “And the girl with you? She was way worse.”
Hanbin finds himself grateful that they can joke about it like this. He’s glad to see the trust Hao has in their relationship. He’s no longer the jealous Hao who fussed over any person talking to them— though he loved that Hao just as much.
“You took care of that though, didn’t you?”
Hao nods, hair not moving due to the hairspray even when a gust of wind passes by them. His eye lashes flutter, doe eyes blinking softly. “I did.”
Hanbin tightens his grip on his waist— its very rightful place. He playfully tilts his head at Hao, “maybe you should’ve been bolder.”
“Even bolder? Do you want me to suck your dick to assert dominance?”
Hanbin finds himself pressing a kiss to Hao’s cheek. “Maybe.”
“Don’t give them a bad porno, Hanbin-ah.” Hao replies.
Hao is Hao— so unbelievably perfect for him. It’s like they were made keeping the other in mind. He looks up at the sky— the same sky he looked at with Hao when they were both scared and seventeen, lying on cold concrete. It looks a lot prettier when he’s with Hao, he realizes.
“What's up there?” Hao tuts. “You should look at me.”
When Hanbin does, he finds galaxies and stars— a sky far prettier than the one above.
Things have changed so much. Their kisses aren't bitter with fear anymore. He no longer has to call Hao his best friend— though he is that as well— Hanbin just prefers the term lover. He's lost so many versions of himself and Hao but honestly, he wouldn't have it any other way. He wouldn't want Hao any other way.
He presses his lips against Hao's, only briefly, lest he ruins their makeup. “I love you,” he says, soft, sensual. Eight years. I’ve loved only you.
“I know.” Hanbin feels prideful at the other's words. Good. “I love you too.”
“Let’s get back inside,” Hao says before he tugs at Hanbin’s wrist. Hanbin lets himself be dragged. He’ll go anywhere Hao takes him.
The next time a girl gets too close to Hanbin, Hao settles in his lap like he’s belonged there for eternities.