Chapter Text
“Good morning.”
Donghyuck turned his face into the pillow, clinging to it as he groaned. He could hear Taeil chuckle before he placed a hand on Donghyuck’s back.
“It’s time to wake up,” Taeil tried again. “You told me to wake you up around this time.”
“No, I didn’t,” Donghyuck said.
His voice was muffled by the pillow, but he knew that Taeil could understand him. He had been sleeping so well. Taeil’s mattress was so much more comfortable than his own. Donghyuck always seemed to sleep better when Taeil was next to him. He didn’t want to get up, but he knew that he had to.
“I know that I’m an old man,” Taeil said, kissing his bare shoulder, “but my memory is still just fine. You have to go to work today. The fine citizens at the senior center are waiting to hear your angelic voice.”
Donghyuck groaned again, burrowing even deeper into the bed. The sheets were almost completely covering his head now. Taeil didn’t allow for him to be covered for too long though. He pulled the covers down until they were at his waist. Donghyuck turned over on to his back, keeping the pillow tight in his grasp so that it was still covering his face.
“Are you trying to smother yourself?” Taeil asked. “That is a foolproof way to ensure that you won’t have to work today.” He grabbed the pillow and tugged on it sharply, freeing it from Donghyuck’s weak grasp. “I’m not going to let you do that though.”
“You’re no fun,” Donghyuck said, pouting. “I wanted to become a ghost so that I could hear you give a speech at my funeral.”
“I wouldn’t have given a speech,” Taeil said. “I would have performed Taemin’s ‘Move’ in your honor. Just like you would have wanted me to.”
“With the dance too?” Donghyuck asked.
“Obviously.”
Taeil leaned forward, kissing him. Everything was a little too warm since Donghyuck had been bundled up so well under the covers. Taeil’s apartment didn’t have AC either and the fan running on his bedside table only did so much to help keep the room cool.
Donghyuck brought his hands up to Taeil’s hair. It had grown a bit longer recently and Donghyuck wished that he kept it this length forever. He thought that it really suited him.
It wasn’t often that they were able to have a morning together like this. They were both so busy. Taeil had been workshopping a new musical for the past few months and things were finally starting to progress with it. They would be out of the workshop phase soon and Donghyuck knew that Taeil was only going to get busier. His own life was hectic as well since he had two jobs to keep up with. That didn’t even include his songwriting and recording sessions with Mark.
Donghyuck had more stress in his life now than he had ever had before, but none of it had to do with Taeil. He was so at ease when they were together. Even when they were apart for a few days, or up to a week, Donghyuck wasn’t anxious or worried. He could always come back to Taeil so that he could feel calm and at home.
The sweet morning kisses soon turned into something more heated. It wasn’t a surprise to him either. They had fooled around a bit last night, but this morning it felt like they were taking care of some unfinished business. It wasn’t until Taeil was kissing down his neck, giving Donghyuck a view of the alarm clock on the nightstand, that he realized what Taeil was doing.
“Wait,” Donghyuck said, putting his hands on Taeil’s shoulders and pushing. “Is that the right time? It’s 6:36?”
Taeil turned to look at the clock before glancing back at Donghyuck. He had a boyish, bashful look on his face that Donghyuck would have found cute, if he wasn’t suddenly annoyed with him.
“Is it?” Taeil said. “I thought it was 7:30. That’s when you told me to wake you up.”
“It’s an hour before that,” Donghyuck whined. “I could have gotten another hour of sleep.”
“Sorry,” Taeil said. “I guess I wasn’t–”
Donghyuck reached between them, putting his hand between Taeil’s legs. He palmed at him over his sweatpants and was instantly met with Taeil’s hard-on. Donghyuck raised one of his eyebrows, hoping that it looking appropriately accusatory.
“You woke me up an hour early,” Donghyuck said, “because you woke up with a boner and you wanted to fuck?”
“Well, when you say it like that, it really leaves out all of the romance,” Taeil said.
“Since when does it take us an hour to fuck?” Donghyuck said. “You could have woken me up 15 minutes earlier! That would have been fine.”
“I thought it might take you awhile to get going,” Taeil said before quickly adding, “I’m going to make you breakfast.”
“You better make me breakfast,” Donghyuck said. He pushed the covers completely off of himself before getting out of bed. “I’m going to pee and brush my teeth. I expect you to be ready to go once I get back. I’m going to give you enough time to make me a deluxe breakfast!”
“Yes, sir,” Taeil said, giving him a salute from the bed.
Once Donghyuck was in the bathroom with the door closed behind him, he pressed his hand against his mouth, trying his best to muffle his giggles. Taeil was so cute. Even when he was trying to be sexy, Donghyuck couldn’t help but to find him adorable.
He peed first and then went to the sink, grabbing his extra toothbrush that he kept at Taeil’s place. Donghyuck looked at himself in the mirror as he brushed his teeth. He wasn’t exactly an ethereal vision so early in the morning. There was a line on his cheek from the crease of the pillow. Dried spit was on his chin. A pimple was budding on the tip of his nose and his eyes were puffy. His hair was also sticking up in weird directions and it had been a few days since he shampooed it, so it was due for a wash.
And that was all fine. He didn’t care and he knew that Taeil didn’t either. In fact, Taeil was even less refined than Donghyuck was in the morning.
After brushing his teeth, Donghyuck went back to the bedroom. Taeil was still on the bed, but he was naked now, lounging on top of the sheets and not even trying to hide his erection. He was holding a condom wrapper between his teeth and once they made eye contact, Taeil did his best to wiggle his eyebrows.
Donghyuck couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed so hard.
“I can get under the sheets, if you want,” Taeil said, the condom falling from his lips as soon as he started to speak. “I know how much you like to be cozy.”
“You really do know me too well,” Donghyuck said. He joined him on the bed and settled on to his back. Taeil made him wake up early for this. Donghyuck was not planning on doing any of the work. “It’s too hot to do it under the covers today.”
He had gone to sleep wearing a tank top and a pair of cotton shorts that he had borrowed from Taeil. Donghyuck pulled the shirt over his head and pushed the shorts down his legs as soon as he could. There was no need to stall or act shy now.
“You’re so beautiful,” Taeil said, cupping Donghyuck’s cheek with his palm. “I’m never going to get tired of looking at you.”
“Don’t say that,” Donghyuck said. “You can’t say too many nice things. You’ll end up jinxing something.”
“I didn’t think you were so superstitious,” Taeil said.
“I’m not,” Donghyuck said. “You just say too many nice things.”
“Allow me to say something rude then,” Taeil said. Donghyuck knew what he was going to say before Taeil could even open his mouth to speak again. Taeil’s lips went to Donghyuck’s chest, lightly kissing each nipple and making Donghyuck roll his eyes. “Good morning to my favorite tits. Both of you are still as tiny as ever.”
Taeil took one of the nipples into his mouth, sucking on it while his hand went to rub the other. Donghyuck didn’t think his chest would ever be that sensitive. He allowed Taeil to have his fun though, running his fingers through his chair as he mouthed at Donghyuck’s chest.
His kisses went further down eventually, Taeil dipping his tongue into Donghyuck’s navel before spreading his legs. Donghyuck reached behind his head, holding onto the pillow when Taeil ran his tongue over Donghyuck’s folds. He would never get tired of this. They both knew that this was Donghyuck’s favorite thing. He loved having Taeil eat him out. It was even better than getting fucked by his cock.
“I just remembered that you peed right before this,” Taeil said.
Donghyuck laughed, his head going back against the pillow.
“That’s what you’re thinking about?” Donghyuck said. Taeil didn’t pause his movements at all, despite his sudden realization. “You’ve had your tongue in my ass before.”
“I have, haven’t I?” Taeil said, as if he was fondly recalling a forgotten memory. “You loved that.”
“I love – oh!” Donghyuck gasped. He wanted to say that he loved everything with Taeil, but he had started to suck on his clit. “Oh, hyung.”
Taeil pressed two fingers into him, his mouth continuing to tease at his clit. Donghyuck’s heels dug into the mattress. It had been a long time since he had last been self-conscious of the noises he made during sex. Every single moan and whine and embarrassing plea left him freely now. He could tell that Taeil loved it and it made sex better, not having to worry about how shameless he sounded.
The fingers that had entered his cunt left almost as quickly as they had been pushed into him. Donghyuck whined, missing them already. He expected Taeil to just be teasing him. Taeil would fuck back into him soon, this time with three fingers. It was a move he did so often that it was predictable, but Donghyuck still loved it.
He didn’t go with the predictable move though. Instead of Taeil’s fingers returning to his cunt, they went lower, pressing against his rim and rubbing there while his tongue continued to work on his clit. Donghyuck inhaled sharply, his thighs shaking at the unexpected touch. Taeil didn’t go any further, his fingers just pressing against his rim.
“Is this okay?” Taeil asked.
“Yeah,” Donghyuck said, nodding his head. “Yeah. Please, hyung, please just–”
Taeil pushed one of his fingers, already wet with Donghyuck’s slick, into his ass. Donghyuck mewled, both of his hands now grabbing the pillow beneath his head. They didn’t do this often. It was usually something they planned and talked about in advance, but Donghyuck didn’t mind the spontaneity this time. In fact, he didn’t think he had ever been this turned on this early in the morning. Moon Taeil was truly a miracle worker.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” Taeil said. Donghyuck’s eyes were squeezed shut. He couldn’t look at him. It would be too much. So, he completely missed the look on Taeil’s face as he took him in. “Pup, you’re so perfect. I don’t know how you’re real.”
Donghyuck wanted to tell Taeil that he didn’t know how he was real. Taeil was his favorite person, his most perfect person. Donghyuck didn’t know how he could exist.
His mouth went back to Donghyuck’s clit, pressing his lips against it in some sort of kiss as he worked now two of his fingers in Donghyuck’s ass. He could feel how open his cunt was, how it was leaking and practically begging for attention. Donghyuck didn’t need it though. Everything that Taeil was giving him now was more than enough.
“Hyung, I’m so close,” Donghyuck said.
It was too soon. They had barely started and he was already ready to fully coming undone. They had only started this because Taeil had woken up hard, but now Donghyuck was the one receiving any pleasure. He couldn’t allow himself to point that out though. Donghyuck was too selfish. He wanted to come and he didn’t want to wait for it.
Taeil didn’t acknowledge his words. He didn’t seem to care that Donghyuck was about to come without him. His movements didn’t stop, if anything they even picked up speed. Donghyuck was feeling so stimulated and so overwhelmed by sensation that all he could do was hold onto the pillow and wait for the inevitable.
His orgasm pulled a loud, gasping moan from out of him. Donghyuck’s back arched and his thighs tried to press together on instinct, pushing slightly against Taeil’s head. He could feel slick gush out of him, pooling underneath him on the bed. Donghyuck’s eyes eventually fluttered open. He had been closing his eyes so tightly that spots were dancing across his vision.
Taeil sat up, finally giving Donghyuck relief from his touch. His legs had drawn up on the bed, so Taeil was easily able to kiss his knee.
“I’m definitely washing these sheets today,” Taeil said. He joined Donghyuck at the top of the bed and then kissed his jaw.
“Because I came all over them?” Donghyuck said.
“Because we both did,” Taeil said with a snort. He rolled over onto his back and Donghyuck watched as he ran a hand through his hair. “I feel like a teenager. I can’t believe going down on you made me come.”
“It did?” Donghyuck said. He quickly sat up in bed, looking toward the end where Taeil had been while he had settled between Donghyuck’s legs. “You really came? Just because you made me come? You’ve been lying about your age. You’re really 21, aren’t you?”
“Oh, shut up,” Taeil said without any bite in his voice. “I know it’s your favorite thing and I like taking care of you and I, well, you were there. You know what happened.”
“I actually don’t,” Donghyuck said. Without warning, he swung his leg over Taeil, straddling him. Donghyuck cupped his face in his hands and squeezed Taeil’s cheeks together. “I was too busy having my own orgasm. I don’t know any of the details of yours. I require an accurate, detailed retelling to fully understand what happened.”
“You’re insufferable.”
“You love me.”
“I do.”
Donghyuck let go of Taeil’s face. His hands were awkwardly hovering in the air for a moment before he rested them on the bed, on either side of Taeil’s head. He was waiting for a laugh or a joke or for Taeil to look just as surprised as he felt. None of those things happened though.
Taeil smiled at him, one of his hands coming up to circle Donghyuck’s wrist, stroking the soft skin there.
“I do,” he repeated. “I do love you, Lee Donghyuck.” He brought Donghyuck’s wrist to his lips, kissing it. “I’m so in love with you.”
It was like he couldn’t stop saying it, now that he had said it once. Donghyuck felt more exposed now than he did when he was underneath Taeil and moaning for him. He leaned down, pressing their lips together with an urgency that wasn’t needed. Taeil laughed against his mouth and the sound of it made Donghyuck feel like he was soaring.
“I love you, too,” Donghyuck said, quickly pulling away from the kiss. “I should have said that before I kissed you, sorry.” He went back in for another kiss before retracting again. “We just had sex. We can’t tell each other that after sex. Can we? Isn’t that a rule? Is this even allowed?”
“I’m going to choose to allow it,” Taeil said. “We can do whatever we want. And I want to tell you that I love you.”
“I want to tell you that, too,” Donghyuck said. “All of the time. At least three times a day.”
“Three times a day?” Taeil said. “I never realized how obsessed with me you were.”
Instead of picking up on his remark and responding with his own smart comment, Donghyuck chose to kiss him again. He had never been so happy, so content. Donghyuck wasn’t even upset anymore that Taeil had woken him up too early. And if that wasn’t true love, then he didn’t know what was.
☼ ･ ☽
Apparently, confessions of love had an insanely positive effect on Donghyuck. At work that day, instead of miserably performing for a group of complaining, ungrateful senior citizens, he was upbeat. Donghyuck was even happy when the performance went on longer than it should have by nearly an hour because one audience member kept insisting on an encore. He had left work with pep in his step and a smile that couldn’t be shaken.
Donghyuck went back to his apartment afterward to change out of his hanbok and into a pair of black trousers and a dark green sweater instead. The July heat wasn’t letting up at all, but he had to be presentable for the evening wedding he was singing at. His hanbok would have been appropriate to wear to the event, but the many layers would make him sweat more than the sweater would.
Most days were like this, with him running from one venue to another, singing as well as he could to songs he didn’t particularly care for. The day would end at his apartment or at Taeil’s place, exhausted and not looking forward to the next day. Donghyuck wasn’t sure how long he was going to stay energized by Taeil’s love confession, but he was going to enjoy it while it lasted.
He returned home after the wedding ceremony, choosing not to stay for the reception. Donghyuck was ready to change his clothes once more and to head out of the apartment for the final time that night. If he hadn’t had such a good day, he would have called Jaemin, making up an excuse for missing his party that night.
Jeno and Jaemin were having a small get together at their place. Donghyuck just hoped that it wasn’t a surprise baby shower or a going away party or anything else like that. The surprise wedding had been more than enough.
“Renjunnie!” Donghyuck said from the entryway of their apartment. He slipped off his shoes before looking around. The living room and kitchen were both unoccupied. “Are you here?”
“I’m in my room!”
Donghyuck went to Renjun’s bedroom and didn’t bother with knocking before he entered. Renjun was sitting at his vanity table, frowning adorably at his reflection. He was already dressed for the party, judging by his light pink, floral printed blouse that was tucked into a pair of high-waisted white shorts. Perfectly summery for a perfect Renjun.
“You should change,” Renjun said, looking up at him and wrinkling his nose. “I can see sweat stains through your shirt.”
“Good evening to you, too,” Donghyuck said. “I also hope that you had a nice day.”
“My day was fine,” Renjun said. “I went shopping with Chenle. We stopped by an outdoor market and I bought some really nice strawberries. I also got a new vase and I’m very happy to say that it does not look like a penis.”
“That’s too bad,” Donghyuck said. “I miss that vase. It was like an old friend.”
“Donghyuck.”
“Yes, dear?”
“Go change your clothes.”
“Your wish is my command.”
He blew Renjun a kiss before leaving to go to his own bedroom. The only people showing up to the party was the seven of them, like always, with the additions of Taeil. Jisung was on a brief leave from the military, so they were all excited to see him. Donghyuck thought that Chenle was the most excited since Sungchan wouldn’t be joining them. Even though, Jeno and Jaemin had both invited him, much to Chenle’s annoyance.
Donghyuck took off his sweater and trousers, more than happy to shed the heavy clothes. He changed into a t-shirt and pair of ripped jeans, instantly feeling better. Unlike Renjun, Donghyuck didn’t bother with makeup and his hair still looked okay, so he went back to Renjun’s room.
“I’m ready to go,” Donghyuck said.
“I’m not,” Renjun said. “You can leave without me.”
“Why would I do that?” Donghyuck asked. “We always go to these parties together. And I love being fashionably late.”
“I just assumed that you would want to get there to be with Taeil-hyung,” Renjun said. “I’m sure he’ll show up on time.”
“He can wait for me,” Donghyuck said. He sat down next to Renjun on the little bench that sat in front of his vanity. “Our friends love him. He’ll survive without me.”
“I’m sure he will,” Renjun said.
It looked to Donghyuck that his makeup was done, but Renjun grabbed a compact, opening it up to reveal a peachy blush. He grabbed a makeup brush, but didn’t make any move to apply it. Donghyuck had never seen him so aimless.
“Are you okay?” Donghyuck asked.
“Of course I’m okay,” Renjun said. “Why wouldn’t I be?” He started to apply the blush to the apples of his cheeks and Donghyuck stopped himself from cooing at how pretty it looked. “How was your day? I already told you about mine.”
“It was busy,” Donghyuck said. “I had a performance with the choir at a senior center. There was an old man who kept insisting on more songs. He was acting like he was at a noraebang and he could just order whatever he wanted.” Renjun chuckled and Donghyuck felt himself become lighter because of the sound. “Then, I went to a wedding. It was a small one at a park, but there were plenty of trees at the venue, so at least there was shade.” He watched as Renjun scrunched up his nose as he looked over his collection of lip tints. “And this morning, I was at Taeil’s place and… and he told me that he’s in love with me.”
Renjun dropped the pink lip tint that he had decided on. It fell on the table before rolling off of it and onto the floor. Renjun turned to him with wide, sparkly eyes.
“Hyuckie,” Renjun said. “Really? He told you that he loves you?”
“You don’t want to ask about the old man who kept forcing me to sing more songs?”
“Lee Donghyuck,” Renjun said. His voice sounded breathless as he flung his arms around him. The bench wasn’t that big, so Donghyuck nearly fell off of it since Renjun had hugged him with a surprising amount of force. “I’m so happy for you! You said it back to him, right?”
“No,” Donghyuck said. “I left as soon as he said it. I think I might break up with him.”
“Oh, please,” Renjun said. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you said it back to him.” He said it with the amount of certainty that an eye witness would say it, as if he had been in the room with them. “He’s your perfect person.”
“Yeah,” Donghyuck said, pulling away from Renjun. “He really is, isn’t he?”
He looked at Renjun and found that he still thought that Renjun was the most beautiful omega in the world. His love for him had shifted and changed so drastically over the past ten months. Donghyuck used to think that Renjun was his perfect person. And maybe in another life, in another universe, he could have been. But Donghyuck would be a liar if he said that he wasn’t happy with how everything had turned out. He was more than satisfied.
“And we all like him so much,” Renjun said. He reached down to pick up the lip tint from the floor. “His sense of humor is a little strange, but he’s so nice and he adores you. He loves you.”
Renjun’s tone was joyful and his lips were turned into a smile, even as he applied the lip tint. His hand was shaking slightly though and Donghyuck couldn’t help but notice how wet his eyes looked.
“Renjun,” Donghyuck said, “what’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange, these past couple of weeks.”
He expected for Renjun to brush him off again. Donghyuck waited for Renjun to tell him that he was emotional because he was so happy for Donghyuck.
“It’s stupid,” Renjun said.
“What’s stupid?”
“The reason why I’m upset.”
Donghyuck watched as Renjun tilted his face toward the ceiling, his eyes unblinking. They were still full of tears, but it was as if he was trying not to let them fall.
“I’m sure it’s not stupid,” Donghyuck said.
There was a box of tissues on top of the vanity and Donghyuck took two before handing them to Renjun. He clutched them tightly in his hands, staying perfectly still.
“I downloaded a dating app,” Renjun said. “And I hate it.” He lifted one of the tissues to his right eye, gently pressing a corner of it to his actual eyeball. The tears that had settled there slowly absorbed into the tissue. He then did the same thing to the other eye. “I guess I’ve been feeling lonely lately. Jeno and Jaemin have each other. Jisung is in the military. Chenle is so busy with his work these days. Mark-hyung was all over Yuta and now that they’ve stopped seeing each other, Mark is obsessed with his music. You’re working so much and you have Taeil.”
He dropped the tissues onto the table and then slowly lowered his head so that it wasn’t tilting upward anymore. Renjun blinked a few times before his shoulders slumped in relief. There would be no crying tonight, so his makeup remained unscathed.
“If you want me to make some time in my schedule to hang out, all you have to do is ask,” Donghyuck said. “I don’t have to spend all of my time with Taeil.”
“I know,” Renjun said. “I appreciate that you would do that, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to spend time with me. I spend time with Kun, Ten, Sicheng, and their friends too, but they’re a really close group. They always make me feel welcome, but sometimes I do think of myself as an outsider around them.”
“And you think that a dating app is going to change things for you?” Donghyuck asked.
“No,” Renjun said. “That’s why it was stupid. I don’t want to meet someone through an app. I just downloaded it because I was curious. I’m not going to use it.” He paused for a moment and Donghyuck could tell that he wanted to say something else, so he stayed quiet and waited. “But I do want to meet someone. I want… I want to be with someone. I want an alpha.”
“And do you have a specific alpha in mind?” Donghyuck said. “Or are you going to walk outside and announce to the world that you want a boyfriend? I guess an Instagram announcement post would work too.”
Renjun stood up, his hands resting on his hips as he looked around his small room. Donghyuck appreciated being able to fully sit on the bench now, instead of hanging off the side while sitting on it with Renjun.
“I’m not announcing it to anyone,” Renjun said. “I’m just going to keep living my life and if an alpha asks me out, even if I just know in my gut that he isn’t right for me, I might say yes. I’m going to start agreeing to more things.”
“Do you get asked out often?” Donghyuck asked.
“What would you consider ‘often?’” Renjun asked. “At least twice a week?”
“Yes,” Donghyuck said. “I would definitely consider that often. You get asked out twice a week?”
“Mostly,” Renjun said. “Usually at cafés and restaurants. I don’t know why alphas want to ask me out while I’m eating.”
Donghyuck couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He supposed that he was so used to Renjun being against dating. Renjun wanted to wait for his perfect prince charming. It made sense that he turned down every offer he had received, but for some reason, Donghyuck hadn’t imagined Renjun getting many offers. Now that he was thinking about it, he realized how stupid he had been. Alphas frequently asking Renjun out on dates made complete sense. He was the perfect omega. What alpha wouldn’t want to ask him out?
“And you’ve turned down all of these alphas because you don’t think they’ll be your perfect match?” Donghyuck said. “Not because of a certain alpha?”
“Not at all,” Renjun said. “Getting stood up by Oreun was a bad experience, but I’m not going to let that ruin things for me. I should be willing to give other alphas a chance.”
“I’m not talking about your classmate,” Donghyuck said. “I’m talking about Doyoung.”
He hadn’t dared to speak Doyoung’s name since the last time Renjun had encountered him. Donghyuck could still remember their argument in Kun, Ten, and Sicheng’s apartment. Renjun had been so humiliated that night. Doyoung hadn’t been mentioned since, not even by Jeno once Donghyuck had told him what had happened.
Renjun didn’t seem happy to hear his name now, but Donghyuck knew that he had to mention him.
“Kim Doyoung has nothing to do with this,” Renjun said. “He has nothing to do with me. We barely have any sort of past. We definitely don’t have a present and I want nothing to do with him in the future.”
He said it with such resolve, that Donghyuck couldn’t argue with him about it, even if he wanted to. It seemed that Renjun really had moved on from his long-term infatuation with Doyoung. He couldn’t blame him either. All of their recent interactions had been tense and awkward and humiliating for Renjun. Donghyuck was glad that Renjun had given up on him.
“You’re going to find an alpha who’s perfect for you,” Donghyuck said, bringing the conversation away from Doyoung. “He’s out there and he’s going to make you so happy.”
“I hope so,” Renjun said. “I really do hope so.”
Renjun finished getting ready. He showed Donghyuck the new vase he had bought before they left the apartment. Donghyuck said that it was pretty. He did not mention that it was shaped like a vulva.
They took a cab to Jeno and Jaemin’s apartment and Donghyuck was suddenly filled with a rush of nostalgia. It had been a long time since the seven of them had been together. Jisung’s birthday had been the last time, five months ago. It felt like even longer than that.
Once they arrived, Jaemin swept Renjun up into his arms. Jeno greeted Donghyuck at the door and it all felt so normal. Everything was exactly the way that it had always been.
When Jaemin let go of Renjun, he brought his attention back to Jeno, wrapping his arms around his neck and bringing him in for a kiss. Jeno smiled, his hands resting on Jaemin’s waist as he asked what the surprise kiss was for. Jaemin shrugged and told him that he just felt like doing it.
Chenle was sitting on the couch, pressed up against Jisung’s side. The courting collar he usually wore had been replaced by a new one and Donghyuck imagined that Jisung had bought it for him during his brief leave from the military. Jisung was talking excitedly, recounting a story about something that had happened on his base. Chenle listened along, nodding when he was expected to and making overly exaggerated facial expressions.
Donghyuck found Mark next, sitting at the kitchen table. His shoulders were slumped and he was looking at his phone. Donghyuck could tell that he wasn’t in the mood to be at a party. He hadn’t been in the best mood ever since he had told Yuta that he needed space, that he didn’t want to be around him anymore. Donghyuck was still glad that he had decided to show up, despite his bad mood. They all missed him.
Renjun seemed to have instantly sensed where he was needed the most. He joined Mark at the kitchen table and when Mark looked up to see who had joined him, he smiled. It even seemed a little genuine.
Finally, exiting the short hallway, most likely leaving the bathroom, was Taeil. He looked just as perfect as he had that morning. Taeil instantly saw him and his face broke out into a wide smile.
“I was beginning to think that you weren’t going to show,” Taeil said. “I thought that this was another test. You wanted to see if I could survive hanging out with your friends without you there.”
“I would never make you take that test,” Donghyuck said. “They all like you too much. A test like that would only make them realize that they like you more than they like me.”
“That is certainly possible,” Taeil said. “I’ve been told that I’m very likable.”
“You are,” Donghyuck agreed. “You’re also very lovable.”
“Am I?” Taeil said, his broad grin softening. The fondness in his eyes was impossible to miss. “I think you’re very lovable as well.”
He kissed Taeil then, short and sweet and nothing special. It made both of them smile though.
“I love you,” Donghyuck said, just because he could. Because he felt like it. Because Taeil was his perfect person and Donghyuck could tell him anything.