Tossing and turning, Seonghwa's body refused to get comfortable. Not only was this couch agonising to sleep on but any comfort he may have felt faded away when he remembered the reason he was even here to begin with.

Seeing Hongjoong cry like that because of something he did filled him with so much regret. He had hurt the person he cared most for all over again. He didn't know what it was but he just couldn't get it right with him anymore and now he's fucked up. He's royally fucked up and now he has to face the consequences of his actions.

For the betterment of Hongjoong, Seonghwa figured it would be best if they didn't stay in the same room. At least for the time being. But there was a storm rolling through soon and his friend suggested he stay at home in the meantime instead of travelling to go to his apartment. Which left him where he was now. Frustrated.

No matter what he did, he just kept making the same decisions. He kept being an asshole and he had no clue why.

Seonghwa turned to his side, pulling out his phone to look at the background. It was a photo he and Hongjoong had taken in their freshman year at KQ. They were both smiling, not a single care in the world or a troubling thought to worry about.

How he wished he could go back to that time. He would do so many things differently.

I miss when you were mine...

-ˋˏ *.·:·⟐..·:·.* ˎˊ-

The first year of Seonghwa and Hongjoong's relationship was nothing but pure bliss from the start. As often as possible, the two were cuddling in each other's arms. Despite how the younger claimed to despise skinship, there wasn't a moment he wasn't itching to be in his boyfriend's comforting grasp. Together, they would go out to cafes, restaurants, festivals and had rarely left each other's side. Hell, they even wore matching sweaters.

"Kim Hongjoong. You are the most brilliant person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. You're smart, witty and the closest thing to angelic that this world has to offer." These are the words Seonghwa spoke when he asked Hongjoong to be his boyfriend, tears in the younger's eyes as he listened to the beautiful things his lover had to say. "Never forget, that whatever happens, you'll always be divine to me."

Neither of them could find a single thing they disliked about their partner. Seonghwa loved everything about him, his hard-working attitude and feisty persona. Even things others may find unfavourable, like the way Hongjoong rambled or how his constant overthinking could lead to breakdowns. None of it mattered because he accepted every part of him. Good and bad.

Of course, they couldn't always spend time together. After all, they were in school and had degrees to work on. Seonghwa had a business major that heeded his attention, while Honjoong pursued music. Even still, it wasn't an issue for them to make time for each other. However, that all changed in their second year of school.

Since the beginning of term one, he had been blowing Seonghwa off. Every time he would propose something, Hongjoong would say, "I can't. I need to be in the studio that day." It was frustrating, yes, but Seonghwa understood.

Or at least, that was what he kept telling himself. In truth, after the fourth time, it started to irritate him greatly. The fifth time was the last straw. He decided it would be best if he just surprised Hongjoong at his dorm and brought him out then and if he was going to the studio, then Seonghwa would just go with him.

Seonghwa packed them a small lunch, some cookies, a few drinks and a couple of sandwiches. Nothing too fancy but he thought a picnic might be a fun way for them to spend some time together after not being around one another for so long.

Knocking on the door, he had waited a little longer than expected. Usually, Hongjoong would race to answer the door no matter who it was or the time of day. Could he have gone to the studio already?

This question was answered when Hongjoong's roommate, Mingi, was the one to let him in. "I wasn't expecting you to be here, Seonghwa!" He said, grinning brightly. Seonghwa would always be taken aback by the freshman's deep voice. Despite being tall, he had such a baby face so it was always a shock when he spoke.

Nevertheless, Seonghwa still smiled. "Is Hongjoong in?" Mingi tilted his head towards the bed on the right side of the room. There sat the man in question, noise cancellation headphones on his head, listening to something whilst muttering a few things under his breath. It was clear that he was in 'work mode'.

Mingi was apparently on his way out already and said his goodbyes to the pair, closing the front door on the way out. That left the couple alone together. Seonghwa cleared his throat, although it did little to garner Hongjoong's attention.

It took him removing the headphones from his head to finally notice. "Hwa!" He exclaimed, smiling brightly at his boyfriend. "When did you get here?"

"What are you doing?" Seonghwa didn't mean to sound harsh but he was sceptical. Hongjoong had been avoiding him and the first thing he sees is him on his phone? Things weren't adding up. "Are you texting someone?"

Hongjoong snickered at the tone of his voice. So protective. "No. I'm just listening to a track a few of my seniors, Maddox and Taeyong, sent me." Despite this, Seonghwa didn't seem entirely convinced. Even so, he let it go and held up the basket in his hands.

"You free?"

The picnic didn't go... exactly as planned. While the park was beautiful as ever to offer a pleasant and somewhat romantic feel to their outing, it wasn't enough. For one, Seonghwa seemed fairly distracted by something, seeing as he would constantly check his phone. He wanted to enjoy his time with Hongjoong, he really did but this just kept irking him. His boyfriend had noticed as well. "Are you okay, Hwa?" He asked right before taking a bite out of his sandwich. "You seem distracted today.

Wordlessly, he pushed his device forward.

"Who's this? A new guy I should be worried about?" The brunette leaned over to see the post he was sharing. It was a photo Yunho had put up a few minutes back and he grinned.

"No stupid," Hongjoong chuckled. "It's just a picture Yunho posted. My best friend from high school, remember? I'm going to meet with him later this week, maybe you should-"

"So you can make time for him but not your own boyfriend?" Hongjoong paused, startled by not only this statement but the disdainful look he received from his boyfriend. "And TaeTaeY? I assume that's your friendly senior?"

"Hwa, don't be like that. He's just a friend, really. And you know I would spend more time with you if I could, I've just been busy. That's all." Seonghwa hummed, pursing his lips.

"Sorry. We just haven't been together lately, that's all. I hate not being able to see you, Joong." The younger smiled at him, taking his hand and caressing his knuckle with his thumb. A simple yet sweet action that made Seonghwa's heart melt.

"It's alright. We've still got that trip to see your parents next month, right? I'll try to make more time for us before that."

He didn't. In fact, after that day, it felt like Hongjoong spent even more time away. It didn't bother Seonghwa too much at first, honestly. Hongjoong explained to him that he was working on a huge project with a bunch of his seniors that they were going to submit to a label.

Joong always had this silly dream of wanting to become a producer. The confidence he had in his skills was admirable, yes, but Seonghwa never saw it as a reasonable goal. Of course, he never told this to Hongjoong. He would much rather be a supportive boyfriend than to be the one to deter him from his fantasies, regardless of thoughtless they may be.

All's to stay, he didn't necessarily agree on what Hongjoong was spending, or rather wasting his time on that instead of being with Seonghwa. Was he being selfish? Sure but at heart, his intentions were good.

When airing these grievances to a friend, he was hit with some less than pleasing information. "Yeah, apparently he's sleeping with a few of the seniors to get better marks on his assignments. I didn't want to be the one to tell you this, Hwa, really."

Of course, Seonghwa scoffed at this accusation. "Ten, do you seriously expect me to believe that my boyfriend would cheat on me like that? He's going with me to meet my parents soon, he wouldn't agree to that if he wasn't loyal."

"Maybe he's just that shameless. How else do you think he's getting grades that good?" Seonghwa bit his bottom lip, brows knitted in consideration. "Just think about it."

Now, it wouldn't be as bad if Ten was the only one claiming this but this was a rumour that circulated quite a bit around campus over the next few days. Did Seonghwa believe it? Of course not. Hongjoong wasn't the type to cheat, not with students, not with professors. No one. He had integrity. Although, Seonghwa would be lying if he said it didn't place a bit of doubt in his mind.

Regardless, he still stuck by Hongjoong's side, however indifferent he may have seemed towards him at times. At times, he had the tendency to be a bit scornful, especially given how Joong would gush about his hyungs. It was annoying, but he sucked it up.

As long as Hongjoong was happy, then that was all he could do.

--------

Class was boring as usual. Seonghwa tried his hardest to take notes but inevitably ended up pulling out his phone and scrolling through Instagram, where he stumbled on a rather interesting post by his boyfriend.

No doubt, he looked stunning yet Seonghwa was still baffled. "He didn't tell me he was dying his hair..." He muttered, scrolling through his phone to get to the messaging app.

Mars
I saw your instagram post

Joongie ❤
You like it?

Mars
You didn't tell me you were dyeing it

Joongie ❤
I thought it'd be a nice surprise! You don't like it?

Mars
I liked the brown...

Joongie❤
Oh...

Mars
It's not bad. I just wish you had told me.

Joongie❤
At the studio but I'll make it up to you when I see you

Mars
Oh yeah? How?

Such a tease... Yet he didn't hesitate to bite his bottom lip at the suggestive photo.

Mars
I'm skipping class

Joongie❤
Sit your ass down park seonghwa

Seonghwa practically pounced on Hongjoong the moment he entered his dorm room, yanking him closer and kissing him like his life depended on it. "A moment to breathe, please?" The newly redhead chuckled.

"You can't just send a photo like that and expect me not to kiss you."

"Devour is a better word for it," He snorted, standing on his tiptoes to peck his boyfriend's forehead. "I'm sorry I'm so late..." Seonghwa wrapped his arms around the lower part of Hongjoong's waist, gaining a decent grip before he hoisted him into the air, gently placed on the bed before crawling over him.

"I wish you'd spend more time with me than in that stupid studio..." Mumbled the older male, pouting like a child. He leaned over Hongjoong, the position making his boyfriend chuckle. "I feel like you love that place more than me..."

"Never in a million years, Hwa." Replied Hongjoong, eyes trailing over Seonghwa's lean frame. "In fact, let me show you how much I love you."

Though not a regular occurrence, neither shied away from the more promiscuous aspects of a relationship. Sex was seldom done but in the rare times it occurred, it was wonderful and sweet. Blissful was the best way to describe it for both parties. Seonghwa loved the way Hongjoong made him feel and vice versa. Even if neither had the best time (which never happened), it wouldn't matter because the aftercare would always make up for it.

"Hwa..." The younger whispered, his body entangled in his boyfriend's loving embrace whilst they snuggled on the bed. Seonghwa glanced at him, humming to insinuate that he was listening. "You know I love you... right?"

"Of course Joongie." He furrowed his brow at how strange his statement was.

"And you know I'd never cheat on you... right?" So that's what it was. Hongjoong had heard the rumours as well. There were very few moments where Seonghwa saw peoples' words affect his partner. His head was usually held high as he easily brushed off their words. Hardly did he begin to shrink to a vulnerable state where a question like that would be uttered. Yet there they were.

Clearly, Seonghwa's silence hadn't helped his anxieties, as his shirt was slowly graced with light tears from Hongjoong's eyes. "Aw baby, please don't cry! You know I don't believe any of those rumours."

"So you've heard what they're all saying?"

"It doesn't matter what they're all saying. Because you have me. And I promise I'll never let anything happen to you or allow anyone to come between us."

Hongjoong sniffed, burying his face deep in Seonghwa's chest, earning a light chuckle from him. "Never?" He whimpered, still unsure. Until he felt a kiss placed on the top of his head.

"Never."

-ˋˏ *.·:·⟐..·:·.* ˎˊ-

Seonghwa's time to reminisce was interrupted by the familiar sound of profanity fading into the room. "Fuck storms, fuck thunders, fuck everything..."

Hongjoong slipped inside of the kitchen, dragging the door behind him before closing it shut. The male grumbled more curses under his breath, ignoring the chilliness that settled inside through a creaked window.

Why, how, and when was it opened? He had absolutely no clue, scoffing with a tut before reaching to bolt it shut. His height laughed in his face, so to say. Even raised on his toes, the sleep-deprived student couldn't come in contact with the handle and was three steps from giving up.

"Why don't I help you?"

"WHAT THE FUCK?!-"

Heartbeat rising, the blueberry accidentally pushed his back into the male behind him, forcing him to stumble onto the white tiles, Hongjoong settled atop. At least the fall didn't hurt... However, he couldn't possibly say the same for the groaning other.

Pivoting his whole body, the shorter grimaced once noticing the blond that chose to creep up on him and literally breathe down his neck the dead of the night.

"Seonghwa- I-" the line of his thoughts interrupted similar to a heart rate monitor whenever a best skipped hurriedly. Searching for his words was forbidden immediately, eyes glimpsing at the taller's averse expression. "Where in the fuck did you come from?"

"Does the word 'fuck' need to be in every one of your sentences?" The male propped himself by his elbows, stuck in place as Joong straddled his hips. "And I was sleeping on the couch then woke up to hear you struggling. Thought I should help you out."

"Well, you surely fu-"

"Fucking didn't? Yeah, I fucking figured." Ignoring the pain in his rear, Seonghwa attempted to sit up, palms pressed against the smaller's waist for support. "What about you? Can't sleep?"

"As usual." The shorter pouted, the gesture not in his intention. It was but a reflex of his current state, an indicator that he needed sleep whether he liked it or not. "It's nothing new."

"Get up, I'll cuddle you."

"Pft-" He chuckled, hair brushed back arrogantly with a flick of his head. "It won't help."

"Wanna bet?"

"I'm broke, Seonghwa."

"Never stopped us from betting before." The younger of the two halted, pondering drowsily for a moment. That is until a light brightened his skull. "If you manage to fall asleep, you'll let me kiss you tomorrow morning. How does that sound?" Grinning, he leaned in.

Now, assuming the late hour Hongjoong had been forced to decide at, his fate was more or less... Fucked. With a mere shrug of his shoulders, the blunette stuck his chest against the other's, face dawning from taunting to utterly flushed in just seconds. Arms linking behind his back, Hongjoong whispered as in a reverie, energies draining already.

"Yeah, whatevs."

Seonghwa couldn't help but smile to himself, already noticing how Hongjoong began to space out. The kitchen was no place to do this. As carefully as he could without disturbing him, he lifted the drowsy blunette into his arms, cradling him gently and bringing him to their bedroom.