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The day Kim Taerae officially met his roommate, Kim Jiwoong, he instantly knew he was doomed.
A senior, majoring in acting, and jaw-droppingly gorgeous. His blonde hair was a striking contrast with his sharp features and the bright, ethereal look – youthful and refreshing. Admirers around the SNU campus described him as a prince, his appearance nothing short of angelic.
Even his personality was admirable – confident and focused, hard-driven and committed to his goals. He exudes a naturally warm vibe, is playful around his closer friends, and is unmistakably kind. Not only popular, but extremely successful. He volunteered in multiple clubs and participation groups, had experience in public speaking at events, and strove for the highest possible achievements.
Jiwoong was perfect– it was undeniable. He also happened to be the epitome of Taerae’s ideal type, which was horrifying, especially given the fact that they live in such close quarters.
When they first met, Taerae had stuttered so hard that his face had swelled up red. He had initially expected another senior who was highly achieving but not popular, like someone from the computer science majors, or even astrophysics. The last person he expected was Kim Jiwoong, standing opposite him with a friendly smile.
To make matters worse, Jiwoong was so sweet. It made Taerae’s teeth deteriorate just thinking of his vibrant personality. While greeting himself (very gracefully), he had regarded Taerae with an understanding look, already comfortable in their newly shared apartment. He even listened intently as Taerae struggled (desperately) to introduce himself in return, making a bigger fool of himself than before.
And just the cherry on top– Taerae had been crushing on Jiwoong ever since they moved in together. He had definitely heard of Jiwoong around campus, but interacting with him daily was solely different.
“This is terrible, Matt, terrible.” Taerae groaned, pacing the living room floors nd leaving a burning trace behind the rapid padding of his feet against the carpet.
Matthew, however, rolls his eyes at his best friend from where he is sprawled on the couch. “I don’t see what’s so bad. You’re just attracted to him; it’s not like you’ve popped a boner thinking about him.”
“I’ll have to see him every day!” Taerae’s arms flailed around in a panic. “Like, every waking second of every minute, of every hour, for the whole year.”
“That’s a lot of overthinking for 9:00 in the morning,” Matthew mumbled at his rambling, shaking his head with a sigh. “At least it’s someone friendly and not a complete asshole.”
“Yeah, okay, that’s true.” Taerae tuts his lips, “But honestly, living with a homophobic psychopath sounds a little better than being forced into a one-sided, embarrassing crush on my roommate.”
Matthew’s head snaps up, pointedly ignoring Taerae’s ridiculous wishes as he exclaims, “Maybe you should see this as an opportunity!”
Taerae’s eyebrow raises, “An opportunity? Really?”
“Yes, to finally get yourself some dick.”
“Matt, that’s… inappropriate.”
Matthew scoffs, pulling Taerae back down beside him on the couch. “You always shame my ideas, but seriously– you can take this chance! Who did you say it was again?”
Taerae hesitates before answering, “Kim Jiwoong.”
Matthew’s eyebrows furrow in thought, blinking away for a second before returning to Taerae’s figure with discovery welling behind his eyes. “…as in, the acting major?”
“Yes.”
A dreadful silence followed before Matthew whispered, “…Oh!”
“What does that mean?” Taerae’s eyebrows furrowed in return, and he tilted his head.
“What does what mean?”
Taerae points at him accusingly, “That ‘oh ’ – what was that?”
“Nothing, nothing.”
“You sounded a little surprised.” Taerae narrowed his eyes at Matthew, choosing not to believe him. “Are you taking back your suggestion?”
“No, no, I just– there’s no way for me to explain this in a good way.” Matthew pauses, searching for the right words to connect. “I know absolutely nothing about Kim Jiwoong. I mean, I haven’t heard dating rumours, but I heard that he actively goes on dates. Possibly– actually, don’t trust my word. I don’t know.” He eventually gives up, throwing his arms in the air with little commitment.
Taerae, meanwhile, collapses back into the couch, pleading that it would swallow him whole so he wouldn’t have to face this newfound challenge. “Oh my god, I’m so doomed, Matt. This is so humiliating!”
“It could be worse, seriously.” Matthew had the kind decency to pat Taerae’s shoulder with sympathy. “And you never know; there’s no harm in trying. At least get to know him first!”
As sweet as Jiwoong was, he was also stubborn – just like Taerae. In their first few weeks of living together, they had argued about furniture placement more often than they had proper conversations. At first, Taerae didn’t want to appear bothersome with his ideas and opinions, but eventually warmed up enough to give his input on how he wanted their shared apartment to look.
A saga of Taerae ‘making a fool of himself’, as Hao had deemed it, continued. When they were shuffling a new dining table into their apartment, Taerae had stubbed his toe not once, but three times. He had also, embarrassingly, tripped over the carpet almost every morning without fail.
There were awkward silences during their meals that made Taerae want nothing more than to gouge his eyeballs out of their sockets. It was insufferable, utterly terrible.
Despite this, they managed to get closer and slowly ease the awkward air around them. It still lingered, but it felt lighter than before. Like Taerae could finally breathe around him without having to worry about how loud it would be.
✧˚ ༘ 🏠︎⋆｡♡˚
Taerae had never learned how to cook.
Alternatively, he could successfully heat a bowl of rice in the microwave, crack an egg over a saucepan, or place bread into a toaster. But he never taught himself how to cook at a mediocre level.
Jiwoong, however, was a mastermind (at least in Taerae’s eyes). Whenever Jiwoong stepped foot into the kitchen, the aroma that swept through the apartment was mouth-watering, toe-curling, and everything Taerae could ever wish for.
The first week, Taerae was too nervous to ask for a plate of his own. However, after deciding that he would most likely throw up at the mere thought of another night with plain rice and a singular fried egg, he trudged over to the kitchen and quietly asked if he could also have a plate of Jiwoong’s cooking.
As previously mentioned, their awkwardness began to dissipate the longer they spent time together. Most times, Taerae would stuff his mouth full of food so he wouldn’t be expected to prompt conversation. But now, he could ease into asking about Jiwoong’s day or vice versa.
The emptiness he had initially felt from being too nervous around Jiwoong and isolating himself in the process was forgotten over their meals. The older’s cooking helped tenfold, with beautiful colours and plated to perfection; Taerae felt himself relax whenever they ate together.
That was before Jiwoong’s schedule changed, and he was expected on campus until late. Staying back until after the sun had set, then returning home only to have already eaten while out, and immediately collapsing into his bedroom to finish any assignments that were bordering the overdue mark.
As the days blurred, Taerae saw glimpses of Jiwoong walking around the apartment rather than a regular appearance. At one point, he wondered if Jiwoong still lived with him. Even if silence was what he was used to, it felt lonelier than it had before.
Taerae ate alone– nudged back into his routine of takeout and his at-home meals, if you could even call it that. When he returned home from lectures or study halls, the apartment was silent and dark, with no proof that life had entered recently. He’d scroll on his phone to pass the time, eventually deciding to call his friends just to have someone to speak with.
Jiwoong would return to their apartment when Taerae had already fallen asleep, ensuring not to wake him up when he returned. In the morning, Taerae would leave before Jiwoong woke up, as he had early classes and lectures to attend.
He couldn’t help but begin complaining to his friends about the loneliness of his apartment.
“It’s like I live with a myth.” The pout was clearly evident in Taerae’s tone, carried through the phone speaker. “I’m always here alone– it’s so depressing, hyung.”
Hao audibly sighed on the other line, “Well, it’s not Jiwoong’s fault that he has later classes. But I understand what you mean about it being lonely.”
Taerae tuts his lips, ruffling his hair that splays freely on his pillow. “I know it’s not his fault; I don’t want to shift the blame to him for anything.” He says with an obvious tone before quieting his voice. “But… it gets sad.”
“Is it just because of his cooking? Now you have to revert back to your old, concerning ways for survival.” Hao jokes to lighten the mood, and Taerae is grateful that he does.
“Mostly,” Taerae jokes back, rolling his eyes as he rolls over to his stomach, propping his phone on the bedsheets and laying his cheek on the pillow. “It’s not just his cooking, hyung. It’s just too… quiet. And I used to like that, but not so much anymore.”
“Matthew told me that you called him while you were eating,” Hao states, not a hint of judgment in his tone, just purely an observation. “Should I start coming over? Or, if you want, you can come over here? I’m sure Hanbin wouldn’t mind extra company.”
Taerae stifles a small, light-hearted laugh. “That’s okay, hyung, but thank you.” He quickly denies, knowing how domestic the couple get, even in public. “It’s selfish of me to say anything, but I wish I had someone with me more often. Even if it’s just for a little bit.”
The other line went silent, and with each passing second, Taerae felt increasingly ashamed of his requests. “Sorry, that sounded stupid–”
“No, no, it’s nothing bad, Taerae, don’t worry.” Hao quickly reassured him, followed by some muffling in the background. “My offer still stands. I know how meaningful it is to you to have someone at home with you. I know you can’t stand being alone for too long, even if you value your personal space.” He points out, a smile heard through his voice. “If you need someone, I’m always available, Taerae. Don’t forget that, okay?”
Taerae hummed, the sound vibrating through the bedsheets. “Okay. Thank you, Hao hyung.”
As the first golden rays of sunlight leak through Taerae’s window curtains the following morning, an undeniable toast scent wafts through the slim cracks of his doorframe. He stirs immediately at the smell, his alarm blaring into his eardrums until he groans in agony and slides out of his bed.
Rubbing his eyes, Taerae’s hand hovers above the doorknob in confusion, suddenly catching sight of a very particular fact. ‘Who is cooking? Did Jiwoong have a day off?’ With furrowed brows, he twists the doorknob slowly and creaks the door open, peering through to establish the setting, ensuring no intruders are breaking in to burn his kitchen to the ground.
Thankfully, the sight that greets him instead is Jiwoong, flawlessly dancing around the kitchen, plating two simple dishes of toast and bacon with seasonal fruits. Taerae pauses at the threshold, staring at his roommate, whom he was convinced was recently a myth, now standing in front of him and preparing breakfast.
The sight of Jiwoong in the early morning hours was truly unfair: messy, unstyled blonde hair that fell over his eyes, a plain white tee that accentuated the bulging muscles from his recent workouts, grey sweatpants that rested just above his hips – a faint trace of his v-line, barely visible.
Maybe Taerae shouldn’t be so thankful, however, as the straining in his pants suggests otherwise.
Taerae blinks slowly, like capturing the moment, until his senses finally snap back into place. Stepping forward, he casually murmurs, “Good morning.” As if he wasn’t just shamelessly checking out his roommate, and almost needing to cower back into his room to deal with an incoming boner.
Jiwoong startles at first, turning around to where he fusses over the toaster before smiling warmly. “Morning, Taerae,” He greets, glancing at the plates sitting on the table before gesturing for Taerae to take a seat. “Do you have any lectures today?”
Humming, Taerae sits where Jiwoong gestures, easing into the seat, still drenched with disbelief. “I do, at 8:30,” He replies, blatantly staring at the two plates as Jiwoong takes the seat opposite him at the dining table. “Is this for me?”
“Who else would it be for?” Jiwoong rolls his eyes, smiling softly after him as he places a set of cutlery for Taerae to use.
Taerae shrugs unknowingly, “I don’t know; you could be expecting guests.” He mumbles in defence, picking up the cutlery that was kindly handed to him.
Jiwoong stares at him quietly, glancing between the plate and Taerae’s face with an indecipherable expression. Then, he smiles, “No, I’m not. If I were, then I would tell you beforehand.”
Tasting Jiwoong’s cooking on his tongue made Taerae almost convulse on the spot, hurdle across the table and kiss him senseless. He has to physically hold back from moaning at the mouthfuls he takes, even if it’s a simple breakfast. Jiwoong continues peering over at him every so often, noticing his expression changes and smiling to himself.
Before Taerae finishes the plate, he catches Jiwoong’s gaze. “You’re up early today. Do you have a day off?” He asks, pretending not to be so curious about why Jiwoong was suddenly cooking for them after weeks of nothing.
“No, I don’t have a day off,” Jiwoong denies, plucking a slice of fruit into his mouth.
“Then… why are you awake so early?”
Jiwoong scoffs, “What, I can’t be awake at this hour?” He questions, eyes peering over to the wall clock a few meters away.
“I didn’t mean it like that!” Taerae scrambled to assure, hands flailing over the table. “It’s just that– you’re usually still asleep when I leave for my lectures.”
Jiwoong hums lowly, placing his cutlery to the side as he thinks over an answer. “I am,” He replies, still searching for another response. “But we haven’t eaten together in a while, so I thought I’d wake up a little earlier.”
A fleeting warmth rushes over Taerae’s face, dusting his cheeks pink before he quietly replies, “You don’t have to do that. Really, it’s okay.” Even though it was definitely not okay, he had seriously been tossing up accepting Hao’s offer, wedged between the obnoxiously handsy couple with no escape route. Just another thought sent shivers down his back.
Finding another excuse, Jiwoong shakes his head lightly. “Don’t worry about it, Taerae. My schedule has changed, anyway.” He adds with a certain tone.
“It has?” Taerae repeats, dumbfounded by the sudden turnaround. “When did it change?”
Jiwoong leans back in his seat, raising a hand to brush through a few strands of hair while Taerae pretends not to salivate at the simple action. “Oh, yesterday was my last filming class that went into the evening. I’ll have mostly midday and afternoon lectures from now on.”
Before Taerae can reply, Jiwoong quickly adds, “Which means I’ll be back in time for us to have dinner together. I’ll cook,” He suggests, pausing for a second, “Unless you already have plans. Then, I understand.”
Taerae shakes his head slowly, “No, no, I don’t have any plans. I’d love that, actually.” He smiles, his pulse increasing at the mere thought of having Jiwoong back in their apartment more often.
Jiwoong grins, satisfied with the outcome of their routine. “Perfect. I know you probably wouldn’t prefer having another bland meal of microwaved rice and a fried egg.” He has the audacity to laugh, and Taerae feels his pulse increase at the pleasing sound.
“Hey! I was trying my best, okay?” Taerae groans, crossing his arms over his chest with mock indignance written all over his body. Jiwoong only laughs at him, standing from his seat and taking the initiative to collect their plates and begin cleaning up.
Over the next few days, Taerae fails to notice the countless letters that appear at their front door, addressed to Kim Jiwoong, written to him about his sudden absence from evening lectures.
✧˚ ༘ 🏠︎⋆｡♡˚
Blinding flashbangs of LED, colourful lights smack into Taerae’s retina, mixed with over-exhausted speakers blasting upbeat party music, sending Taerae into a sensory assault. The cold liquid of soju glides down his throat, too many shots thrown back to register the sting he realised at the first shot.
The hordes of strangers dancing and grinding against each other, terrifying at first glance, now felt oddly comforting a few hours later, evidence of young adults around Taerae’s age simply enjoying a night out with friends.
Taerae was far past the point of coherence, mumbling his own sentences and stumbling across the dance floor to join his friends. Catching the familiar sight of a blonde-haired friend, Taerae grinned widely as he crossed the space in a matter of seconds.
“Ricky!” He called from behind, almost tripping over his soles before Ricky caught him just in time. “Where have you guys been?”
Ricky smiled down at him, chuckling as he examined his friend. “You separated from us, remember? You had to go to the bathroom?”
Taerae couldn’t confirm or deny this statement. His mind was in a constant state of fuzziness and static that pierced through his skull. He giggled suddenly, his thought process a swirling mess as he slurred back. “Yeah, I think I did.”
Sensing that Taerae was most likely not in a state that was appropriate for staying in a club, Ricky’s hands braced Taerae’s shoulders. “Are you okay, Taerae? We can leave soon if you’re not feeling well.”
“I feel–” Taerae interrupts himself with a retch, “–great! Amazing, even.” He eventually finishes, his hands falling above Ricky’s as he intertwines their fingers in a rushed, uncoordinated motion.
Eyebrows furrowing in genuine concern, Ricky shakes his head at him. “No, you don’t look fine. I don’t even know how many drinks you’ve had, Taerae.” He replies, glancing around for any further evidence of their friends’ fatigues.
Thankfully, he catches sight of Hao’s eyelids drooping from afar, his mouth agape slightly in a small yawn that doesn’t last any longer than a few seconds. But it’s enough for Ricky to take the opportunity for them to leave. “Alright, let’s start going home now. I’ll ask Hao to call Hanbin.”
Taerae can do nothing but nod as he sways on his feet, the night flashing before his eyes as Ricky orchestrates their exit. Next thing he knows, Taerae is hurled into a car with his friends, leaning his head on Matthew’s shoulder for purchase as he closes his eyes.
“You drank a lot tonight, didn’t you?” Matthew’s voice comes out quietly into his ears, intended so that none of their other friends listens in.
Taerae grumbled back, “No.”
“Liar,” Matthew nudges him into the side, “You smell of soju. But when I say ‘smell’– I mean you fucking reek.” He reiterates, covering his nose jokingly.
“And? We went to a club; the universal goal is to drink and have fun.” Taerae rolled his eyes in response, his nose scrunching up as he finally got a whiff of the alcohol spills on his clothes.
Matthew raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief, leaning closer into his ear. “I know you, Taerae. I know that you like getting drunk to forget about Jiwoong. And I know that every time you do it, it hurts you.”
Taerae stays silent, speechless at how easily readable he appears from the outside. Or maybe it was just Matthew who could read him inside and out.
Matthew sighs at his stunned silence, patting his hand gently. “You can make your own decisions. But if I see you hurting yourself over this, then I’m getting involved.”
The walk upstairs to Taerae’s apartment, where he would meet the impending doom of crossing paths with Jiwoong while drunk, was longer than he anticipated. Hao and Matthew were stationed on either side of him, Taerae’s arms wrapped around their necks as they hauled him up the flights of stairs.
Constantly mumbling his gratitude for his friend’s kindness, they eventually succeeded in transporting him up the stairs. The cold, hard thuds against their door almost extinguish Taerae’s soul, his eyes blinking back to life as he peers down the hallway in hopes that no one will complain about the noise.
Jiwoong answers a few minutes later, looking groggy and frustrated as he adjusts the seams of his pyjama pants. His expression changes drastically when he notices Taerae’s slumped figure between a supportive beam from Matthew and Hao. “Taerae?”
“And us,” Hao rolls his eyes, sighing as he looks down at Taerae. “He’s drunk– significantly. Please make sure that he drinks water before he sleeps, stays upright for at least 15 minutes, and doesn’t have any early alarms set for tomorrow.”
Jiwoong listens attentively to Hao’s requests, taking Taerae into his arms when they pass him over. “O-Okay, yeah. I’ll do that. Thank you, guys. Get home safe.” Taerae barely has any time to bid his goodbyes when the door closes behind them, and the dawning realisation that he is now alone with Jiwoong is creeping up on him.
With a long, heavy exhale and another look at Taerae, who is actively working on a way not to projectile vomit the poisonous mix of several alcoholic beverages, Jiwoong hums in thought. “Okay. I’ll help you get to the bathroom. You’re pale.”
At the inspection, Jiwoong shuffles him into the bathroom that connects to Taerae’s bedroom, carefully tucking him into the space between the toilet and cabinet as Taerae’s head lolls over the seat in preparation.
Jiwoong’s lips pursed in an attempt at a smile, though the corners of his lips couldn’t seem to turn up. “Stay here, and keep calm for me, okay? I’m going to get a glass of water for you to drink.”
When Jiwoong came back to the same state of a semi-conscious Taerae with his head lolling above the toilet seat, he winced at the scene. “At least your eyes are still open.”
Placing the glass of water on Taerae’s bedside table, Jiwoong helped him up from the bathroom floor, cleaning any remnants or fluid that had been left behind and helping Taerae to sit on his bed, propped up against the headboard.
The bedsheets dipped with Jiwoong’s weight as his palm pressed against Taerae’s forehead, examining his current state. “You’re not sick, just extremely drunk. I’ve never seen you out of it like this.” Jiwoong states, and he couldn’t help but giggle as Taerae stared back at him blankly, trying to make sense of his words.
Eventually, the words were paired together in a way that Taerae’s brain could comprehend. “I’m sorry,” He whispers, almost in shame, as he holds the glass to his lips.
Jiwoong evaluates him, reaching up to hold his hand against the glass, balancing his shaky limbs. “Did you have fun?”
“I did.” Taerae nodded immediately, smiling as he remembered how Matthew had done a few shots with him at the bar, and how Ricky had gossiped with them about his boyfriend, Gyuvin. Or when Hao got flirted with on the dance floor, and he made the most disgusted face Taerae had ever seen.
Jiwoong smiles softly, not opting to let go of Taerae’s hand yet, as he assures himself that he has kept his balance. “Then, that’s all that matters.” He waits until Taerae has finished the entire glass before setting it aside.
After wrestling with the bedsheets of Taerae’s bed, Jiwoong carefully places the blankets over his body and waits on his side as Taerae slowly drifts into a deep sleep.
A smile tugs at the corners of his lips, admiring how cute and peaceful Taerae looks as his lips unconsciously form a pout, his chest rising steadily, and a soft snore emitting from his throat. “Cute,” Jiwoong murmurs into the darkness of the room.
Leaning down, Jiwoong’s lips brush over Taerae’s cheek, hovering before giving a feather-light kiss to Taerae’s cheek. His face lifts with a warm, pink-dusted blush that coats Jiwoong’s cheeks.
“Goodnight, Taerae,” Jiwoong whispers, his hot breath fanning down Taerae’s skin.
✧˚ ༘ 🏠︎⋆｡♡˚
A considerately arranged bouquet of peonies and lavender rustled against Taerae’s clothes as he sat toward the back of the venue hall, glancing around at his peers, awaiting Jiwoong’s first screening to begin.
Invited by the man himself, Taerae had made sure to clear his schedule in advance to attend the screening, which leaned more towards a preview of the acting majors’ recent works, films, and assessments. He had argued with himself more than once, debating whether to bring a bouquet as a gift for Jiwoog’s achievements, and eventually decided to buy a small one.
The venue was dimly lit by atmospheric lighting, with a few tables of appetisers and water cups for refills to the side. Taerae felt mostly out of place in his seat amongst the other students who were admittedly far more popular than he was. He stayed regardless, determined to deliver the bouquet himself and a small ‘congratulations’ to his roommate.
After a few minutes of tireless waiting, the lights dimmed, and out came the acting majors, introducing their films and the hardships they faced while working on them. In the distance, Jiwoong’s eyes narrowed as he peered into the audience seating, pausing at Taerae, hunched in the back, before waving at him with a thankful smile.
Taerae waved in return, shyly, as he made an attempt at a smile back at him. Even though the spotlight wasn’t on him, he nervously mouthed a ‘good luck!’.
Jiwoong nodded at his words, his smile widening further, before he cleared his throat when it came to his turn to introduce their film. “Our film was difficult to shoot with so many evening schedules, but I’m very pleased with the result. I hope everyone enjoys our film as much as we loved creating it.”
When the films began playing, Taerae couldn’t help but admire his roommate on the big screen. It was obvious how seriously Jiwoong took his craft, his emotions conveyed clearly through every flinch, a different expression, and the delivery of his lines. The tension that his character created was palpable, and the life that he gave to his character was admirable.
An explosive round of applause thundered through the venue when all the films had ended, a standing ovation for the time and effort dedicated to their films. “Thank you all for attending; we appreciate your presence and support for our students and actors.” One of the professors called with a grin before the screening ended, allowing peers to approach the actors.
Taerae stood, frozen in the moving crowd that surrounded him as he clutched the bouquet tight to his chest. In a matter of seconds, Jiwoong was enclosed by peers and other university students, complimenting his work and the devotion his practise showed.
The more people who approached him, the more Taerae’s confidence slipped away – breaking off into small pieces to disappear into the abyss. His teeth tugged between his lips, blinking down at the bouquet in his hands that looked weak in comparison to the admirers who regarded him with cheerful grins and kind words.
He turned on his heel, joining the moving crowd gravitating towards the exit as he walked home. The apartment was empty and still, and Taerae sighed as he tossed his keys to the side and slipped into the living room.
Changing into more comfortable clothes, Taerae couldn’t help but feel disappointed in himself for not approaching Jiwoong sooner. It wouldn’t make a difference, seeing as they literally live together, but he wanted to show his appreciation to Jiwoong for his work.
The bouquet was left on Jiwoong’s bed with a small note before Taerae left the apartment to hang out with Ricky instead, to clear his mind from the dissatisfying end of the night, wishing he had done more to congratulate his roommate.
✧˚ ༘ 🏠︎⋆｡♡˚
Taerae feels as if he has been in hiding for weeks now.
Recently, a classmate from his music major class has shown interest in him. Obviously, Taerae has no intention of reciprocating these feelings, as he’s already so infatuated with Jiwoong.
The classmate, Jinyoung, had been initiating conversations with him more often than usual. At least, as usual as a short debrief after an exam could be. One morning, Taerae had crossed paths with him at the campus cafe, half-asleep and picking up the usual coffee order that would help him power through the day.
Jinyoung had greeted him enthusiastically, offering to walk to their lecture together as they discussed coursework and joked about their professor. The next day, Jinyoung offered another walk to class, but this time, they exchanged Instagram handles. Weeks passed of this routine, and Taerae knew exactly where this was leading.
Jinyoung was handsome, undoubtedly. Styled brown hair with light highlights and naturally soft pink cheeks that brighten around Taerae. Stuttering on a few words and making indiscreet hints of being single. It wasn’t rocket science to understand that Jinyoung was somewhat romantically interested in him.
The honest reaction to discovering this information left Taerae feeling dreadful. He was under the impression that they had just become friends and nothing more, but it seemed like Jinyoung had other plans.
He wasn’t quiet about this attraction, either. It was so obvious to passersby that Taerae had begun receiving questions about their relationship, when they started dating, etc. All of these intrusive questions made him feel more uncomfortable. There was no problem with Jinyoung, but he certainly wasn’t interested in him in that way.
To make matters worse, Jiwoong began to pick up on it, too.
Approaching Taerae after one of his lectures, Jiwoong asked if they’d like to get lunch together off-campus instead of inside their apartment for a change. “I was thinking of getting barbecue; there’s a place that just opened a few weeks ago near the campus.”
“That sounds nice,” Taerae responds honestly, staring at his feet as they walk together. “What time should we go? It must get busy.”
Jiwoong hums, tilting his head in calculation. “Your lecture ends before 11:00, right? Would 1:00 work with you?” But his question fades in volume as he notices a new figure approaching them from afar.
“Taerae!” The familiar voice wields apathy through Taerae as his head begrudgingly lifts to meet the excited expression of Jinyoung.
Taerae makes his best attempt at a smile yet. “Hi, Jinyoung.” Meanwhile, Jiwoong glances between them from beside him with a confused stare.
Jinyoung grins back at him, so wide that Taerae almost winces. “I was wondering if you had any lunch plans. We could go together after our lecture. What do you think?” He asks, sparing a glance at Jiwoong with a wholly different facade, much different from the excited one that he upholds around Taerae.
Before Taerae can stammer around a rejection, Jiwoong intercepts in his place. “Actually, we’ve already made plans for lunch.” He replies with a curt, respectful bow of his head.
Jinyoung’s smile falters minutely as he turns towards Jiwoong. “Oh, is that so? Well, I’m sure you two wouldn’t mind if I joined, right?”
“Yes, we would,” Jiwoong challenges back. Taerae is surprised at his forwardness, not expecting him to be this bold. “You see, it’s just a roommate plan. You know what I mean? Inviting others ruins the whole roommate part of our plans.”
“Oh, right,” Jinyoung inwardly groans, turning back to Taerae with a pout. “Well, that’s okay. I’ll message you, and maybe we can hang out this weekend, Taerae!”
“Y-Yeah, I’ll see if I’m free,” Taerae responds quietly, finally exhaling in relief when Jinyoung leaves first to go to class once he realises that Jiwoong won’t leave so easily.
After the most gruelling lecture Taerae has ever experienced, provided he was sitting beside Jinyoung for the entirety of it, Jiwoong met him outside the classroom as they walked together outside of campus. Since Jiwoong had taken the initiative to begin grilling their meat of choice, Taerae bought some water for their table.
As Jiwoong was flipping a few pieces of meat, “Do you have anything planned for this weekend?” He asks, feigning nonchalance despite the restless twitch of his fingers against the table.
“No, not that I know of,” Taerae responds, not thinking much of his question as he takes another sip of his water. “What about you?”
“I don’t, either,” Jiwoong replies casually, resting the tongs to the side as he places a few pieces of grilled meat onto Taerae’s plate. “But I was thinking of trying a new cafe. Would you like to come with me?”
Taerae’s head snapped up in a heartbeat, a smile blooming on his face as he nodded a little too eagerly. “Yeah, I’d love to!”
A few more days of tolerating Jinyoung passed, receiving multiple messages from him on a daily basis and feeling terrible for not replying, but being unable to bring himself to do so. Taerae groaned as he melted into the dining table seat, across from where Jiwoong was diligently cooking them dinner.
Jiwoong turns around just in time to catch a glance of Taerae’s phone buzzing with incoming messages from Jinyoung. “He’s still texting you?” He asks calmly, bringing the saucepan over to plate their food.
“Yeah,” Taerae confirms with his forehead pressed against the wooden table.
Humming, Jiwoong serves their food and takes the seat opposite him, stirring around with his cutlery until he finally can’t help but ask. “Are you two dating?”
“No!” Taerae almost explodes with mortification, “I know he likes me, but I just don’t feel the same. It feels so rude to say it outright to him, because he’s a great friend, but it’s hard to look past his actions recently.”
Which catches Jiwoong’s attention instantly. “Has he done anything to you?” Jiwoong questions, eyebrows raised in a small gesture of concern.
Taerae ponders, “Just– telling people that we’re ‘talking’. Or pretending that we’re dating, even though we’re not. It’s… weird, and I don’t like it.”
Nodding slowly at Taerae’s explanation, Jiwoong tuts his lips. “I’m sorry that’s happening to you, Taerae.” He apologises anyway, transferring a few pieces of meat from his plate to Taerae’s with a comforting smile. “I’m sure it’ll pass eventually.”
Jinyoung began avoiding him. Not the kind of avoidance where it was coincidental or backed up with an explanation, but blatantly, intentionally avoiding Taerae at any chance he had.
It was a huge change, considering that Taerae had gotten so used to another figure constantly gravitating around him daily, but he was thankful to have a break from the other man, as harsh as it sounds. Even a glance in the hallway and Jinyoung would frantically sprint the other way, turning on his heel and heading for the next available exit.
“How has your friend been? Is he still texting you?” Jiwoong asked one day after another lecture, watching as Jinyoung had yet again sprinted in the opposite direction of Taerae.
“No, he’s stopped texting me now. And people have stopped asking me if I’m dating him.” Taerae responds with a grateful, cheerful tone. Although the company was nice, he couldn’t handle a few more weeks of torment. “I’m thankful it’s stopped, but I wonder what happened to make him this avoidant suddenly.”
Taerae missed the small “I handled it.” that slipped from Jiwoong’s lips as they walked back to their apartment together, bumping shoulders as they walked, Jiwoong teasing him for ‘being too unapproachable with his T-type personality’ – which Taerae just laughed along with him.
✧˚ ༘ 🏠︎⋆｡♡˚
It was no surprise that Jiwoong was popular around campus. He had admirers left, right and centre, approaching him whenever the opportunity presented itself, asking Jiwoong if he had any spare time on his hands to make for them.
Taerae tries his best to stay expressionless, to prevent himself from feeling jealous, even if it feels like the hardest task to do. Which is why, when he hears of another admirer planning to ask Jiwoong out, it strikes him to the heart. It wasn’t like he could say anything first, given their living situation and how awkward things would become between them if those feelings weren’t reciprocated.
Taerae sees the admirer, Hyunwook, a few days later, who was confidently flirting with Jiwoong in the hallways of the creative department building. Pretending as if he had never seen the two interacting, Taerae sped past them to attend his lecture.
“Oh, Taerae–” He heard Jiwoong’s melodic-like voice call for him, but it soon faded into the crowd as he entered his lecture hall.
When Taerae arrived home the following afternoon, the first thing he noticed was a bouquet of fresh roses, thoughtfully arranged in a vase on their kitchen counter. Stepping closer, he noticed a small note upon further inspection. ‘Dear Jiwoong-hyung, thank you for being so kind to me! I’m so happy that we’re getting to know each other :) From Hyunwookie!’
Oh. The message made Taerae’s heart crash to his abdomen in severe disappointment. Are they dating? Why hadn’t Jiwoong mentioned anything? Was it even any of Taerae’s business to be warned beforehand?
At that moment, Jiwoong decided to step out of his bedroom with fresh clothes and partially damp hair. He smiled at Taerae, unaware of the inner turmoil he was facing. “Hey, are you hungry? I was about to start cooking dinner.”
As an impulsive, careless decision, Taerae stutters through an excuse to remove himself from the situation immediately. “O-Oh, actually, I made plans with Matthew tonight. Sorry, hyung.”
“Oh,” Jiwoong blinks at him, then his facial muscles twitch back to life as he collects his thoughts. “Yeah, yeah– okay. I’ll see you later, then?” He smiles at Taerae again, but it doesn’t reach the corners of his eyes like it usually does; it looks strained.
Nodding, Taerae left without another word, knocking on Matthew’s door with haste. Matthew, the dear friend that he is, let him inside instantly as they talked for hours. Taerae didn’t come home until much later, seeing Jiwoong fast asleep whilst watching TV, seemingly waiting for his return.
This Hyunwook guy was starting to get on Taerae’s nerves.
He couldn’t have a day alone – Hyunwook kept following him with thousands of questions about Jiwoong’s taste, his ideal type, favourite foods, ideal date and more. It etched every little inch of restraint Taerae had until he finally snapped, asking Hyunwook to leave him alone and ask Jiwoong instead, not him.
After the barrage of questions, Hyunwook began sending messages to him through Instagram, something useless about ‘getting on the roommate’s good side!’ or ‘thinking they will become great friends in the future’. Taerae has never wished hell upon another human being like this before.
Days passed until Taerae saw Hyunwook and Jiwoong walking alongside each other through the campus, chatting with laughter echoing through the silent grounds. Defeated, Taerae slipped away and out of sight, slowly scuffing his feet back to their apartment. He figured that this would be the time that Hyunwook finally asked him out.
It wasn’t like Taerae had any right to intervene, and he had already subconsciously avoided Jiwoong out of shame.
A few hours later, Jiwoong arrives home, pausing when he finds Taerae watching a film on the TV, legs sprawled along the couch in an exhausted position. Jiwoong smiles at him, “Hey, Taerae. Have you eaten yet?”
“No, I haven’t.” Taerae huffs, his stare piercing through the TV screen, unfocused and heart-heavy as he doesn’t pay too much attention to Jiwoong’s entry.
Jiwoong, however, narrowed his eyes at the other with observation. “Are you okay? You’ve been kind of… off? These past few days.” He asks, taking a seat beside Taerae on the couch, peering down at him from where he sits upright.
Taerae nods begrudgingly, “I’m fine, hyung. Don’t worry.” But his tone is off, unfamiliar, and Jiwoong picks up on it immediately.
“Taerae,” Jiwoong pries, confused by his recent actions. “Talk to me about it. I won’t judge you for anything, I promise.”
After a moment of deliberate silence, Taerae reluctantly sits up from where he’s sprawled, refusing to meet Jiwoong’s gaze. “It’s just…” He mumbles, hands fidgeting above his lap. “Are you and Hyunwook dating now?”
“Hyunwook?” Jiwoong echoes, baffled at the sudden mention. He shakes his head at the question, “No, we’re not dating. He asked if I would be interested, but I said no.”
Taerae pauses at the revelation, finally meeting his gaze in shock. “You said no?”
“I did,” Jiwoong confirms, leaning back against the couch, but his eyes stay focused primarily on Taerae. “Is that what bothered you?”
Biting his lip in embarrassment, Taerae nodded his head slowly. Jiwoong smiled, leaning forward with a tease. “You have to say it, Taerae. What were you bothered by? Tell me.” Taerae doesn’t realise how close they’ve gotten until he can feel Jiwoong’s warm breath fanning his face, raising goosebumps along his skin.
Taerae hesitates, torn between meeting his gaze, looking away, and shamelessly staring at his plump lips. “I-I was bothered by Hyunwook asking you out.” He admits in defeat, his eyes dropping to Jiwoong’s lips on pure instinct.
Jiwoong’s eyes flicker to his lips, leaning closer while intently inspecting every expression shift of Taerae’s face, ensuring he isn’t uncomfortable before finally closing the distance and allowing his lips to fall onto Taerae’s. Their kiss was slow, unsure as they moved delicately against each other, with gentle suction and lingering pecks.
Jiwoong pulled away first, looking over Taerae’s figure with a shy smile. “Did that bother you?”
Wordlessly, Taerae shook his head in shock. Jiwoong grinned at his reaction, his palm cupping the side of Taerae’s cheek, thumb brushing over his cheekbone before tipping his jaw up to meet his lips again in a kiss more desperate and frantic.
Jiwoong laughs when they part again, suddenly realising Taerae’s earlier words. “Were you jealous, Taerae?” He teases, bursting with fits of laughter when he sees Taerae pouting, not wanting to give in to his teasing. Jiwoong coos after him, pecking Taerae’s lips a few more times like he can’t refrain from doing so.
“I wanted to ask differently, but Taerae, would you like to go on a date with me?” Jiwoong asks again when he can finally pull himself off of Taerae, his smile brightening when Taerae agrees.
✧˚ ༘ 🏠︎⋆｡♡˚
Taerae is the happiest he has ever been. Jiwoong, now his kind and loving boyfriend of 5 months, was calling him after lectures to ask when he would be arriving home to their apartment. “I’m still getting your surprise ready. I’ll send you some money to get a coffee; don’t come back until I tell you!”
Taerae giggles at his boyfriend’s devoted antics, knowing he is extreme about their anniversary dates. “Okay, I’ll come home when you message me.” He tells him, hangs up the phone after exchanging goodbyes, and walks through the campus until Jiwoong texts him half an hour later.
As he walked into the apartment, the first thing Taerae noticed was the rose petals scattered along the carpet, vanilla-scented candles filling the air, and a prepared dinner on the counter, still steaming with Taerae’s favourite foods.
“Do you like it?” Jiwoong’s voice appears by his side, smiling as his arms encircle Taerae’s waist from behind, drawing him back into his chest. “Happy anniversary, baby. I love you.” He whispers into Taerae’s ear, pecking his earlobe as he does.
Over dinner, they talked about their day, exchanging funny stories and little details that don’t matter but that they wouldn’t care about anyway; just hearing each other’s voices is enough. After dinner, Taerae is writhing in the bedsheets as Jiwoong pounds into him with almost animalistic thrusts, pelvis crashing against his with spit and lube trickling down Taerae’s thighs.
“You’re so beautiful, baby,” Jiwoong whispers into his ear, cupping his face as his thumb slips into Taerae’s mouth, letting him suck on the skin. “So perfect, always listening to me. Isn’t that right, baby?”
“A-Ah, hyung, I– hm!” Taerae moans uselessly as Jiwoong’s other hand massages sensually slowly at his waist, kneading the skin deliberately as Taerae squirms in his grasp. “Oh my god, h-hyung, please…”
Jiwoong groans when Taerae involuntarily clenches hard around him, the first definite sign that Taerae is close and that he’ll finish soon. “Can you count down with me, baby? From 10, very slowly, and when you reach 1– then you can come. Okay?” Jiwoong’s lips graze his earlobe, nibbling gently as Taerae nods, unable to speak from the overwhelming pleasure.
“Go on, baby. Whenever you’re ready.” Jiwoong tells him as he buries himself deep inside, grinding deliciously against the spot he knows Taerae screams most at. “Be good for me.”
“10…9– ah! 8…” Taerae begins counting, his back arching into Jiwoong’s touch as he squirms beneath him.
Jiwoong’s hand wraps around his waist, holding him down to keep him from escaping his grasp and holding his palm down to Taerae’s abdomen, making him feel even deeper than before. They both moan in sync at the feeling, “Keep going, my love. You’re doing great.”
“7…6, 5– hm, oh– hyung, r-right there,” Taerae splutters frantically, his nails clawing down Jiwoong’s back. “4…3, 2, 1.”
“Good boy, so perfect. Come for me, Taerae.” Jiwoong commands, his voice low and husky as Taerae immediately convulses under the pleasure. “Such a good listener, hm? I love you, Taerae, so much.”
Taerae gasps as he feels Jiwoong fill him up to the brim, arching back with a lewd moan that borders on pornographic. “I-I love you too, hyung.”
Jiwoong happily holds him through the aftershocks, lips tracing every bite and mark that he left behind as he kisses along his collarbones. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. Just rest with me, okay?” He whispers lovingly, pulling Taerae into a deeper, but slow kiss when his breath evens out. “You’re beautiful, so pretty.”
“Mm, you too, hyung,” Taerae murmurs back helplessly, smiling against his lips in a lovesick way. “I hope we don’t get any noise complaints again.”
Jiwoong hums idly, like he’s thinking carefully about his response. “You’re right. No one should be able to hear you but me. Isn’t that right, baby?” He smiles wickedly at Taerae, enjoying how flustered his boyfriend looks at his words.
“You’re so stupid,” Taerae argues, but his tone is weak, and Jiwoong laughs at him with an affectionate look, pecking his lips again.