another one of my fave chapters. actually the last few chapters of this fic are my faves 😍

* * *

- san 🌻
are u awake rn sunshine
i'm defintely sure u are cause of what u sent

- wooyoung
what did i send 👀👀

- san 🌻
wooyoung

- wooyoung
whaaaat?

- wooyoung
i just wanted to see if u could relate to it
even if i think i may have overstepped and sent u waaayy too many articles

- san 🌻
yeah
u did

- wooyoung
sowwy 😭😭😭

- san 🌻
i can feel ur sarcasm all the way from over here

- wooyoung
sowwyy
but then again, i learnt it from the best
☝🏼

- san 🌻
alright i guess youre right

- wooyoung
are u mad

- san 🌻
i could never be with u
and im not mad at what u sent either

- san 🌻
but i dont want to be pinned down to a label

- wooyoung
but the description did fit u, right
cause u said u never had romantic feelings for anyone

- san 🌻
i know i did
and i relate to it
but it makes it look as if im heartless or some shit

- wooyoung
youre def not heartless

- san 🌻
im basically unable to have those feelings most people have
and everyone wants someone to have those kinds of feelings for them

- san 🌻
im like the odd one out

- wooyoung
it isnt as weird though
i think i'm getting used to it
and deep down i'd always suspected it so it didnt come as much of a surprise

- san 🌻
it was that obvious huh
and youre not mad?

- wooyoung
why would i be

- san 🌻
me being aromantic means i wont be able to love u like u want

- wooyoung
well tbh it did sting a little
but for a very very very short moment tho

- wooyoung
because i know u being aromantic doesn't mean u can't love me in another way
and i know u really like me
u care a lot about me too
i've seen it so many times

- san 🌻
i care about u so much wooyoung
and if u want i can change for u

- wooyoung
change how??

- san 🌻
like being more romantic and stuff

- wooyoung
the way we are is alright san
isnt being aromantic like being gay or bi?
it means thats just who u are, and that is perfectly okay

- san 🌻
are u sure?

- wooyoung
yepp
and like, romantic love isnt the only type of love that exists
i did a lot of research so bear with me

- wooyoung
theres the love u have for family, for ur pets, for friends, for ur passions/work, for urself etc etc

- wooyoung
and i know u enough to know that u have so much love to give

- wooyoung
like u always make sure to compliment me
and from the moment i mentioned being uncomfortable with being naked u tried ur hardest to make me ok with it even if u didnt have to

- wooyoung
u always cuddle with me
u spend time with me
and whenever we start making out and stuff u always make sure im alright with it before we go further

- wooyoung
and u love my mom and my mom loves u, so thats a plus

- wooyoung
so i know u love me, even if its not like, 'romantic'

- san 🌻
wooyoung
i dont know what to say

- wooyoung
u dont need to say a thing
just accept it
bask in ur greatness

- san 🌻
youre ridiculous oh my god
what am i going to do with u

- wooyoung
dont worry cause youre stuck with me now lol
and i mean that in the least threatening way possible 😅

- san 🌻
u have no idea how much ur words mean to me

- san 🌻
all the relationships i had never ended well cause they didnt get it, and i never did either
so i just figured i was better off hooking up so i'd be free of all those expectations

- san 🌻
and for a while it worked
but i still knew something was wrong with me

- wooyoung
nothing's wrong with u san
just because u love differently doesn't mean ur different is wrong

- wooyoung
i mean it was confusing at first, but i totally get it now
i totally get u now

- wooyoung
and i love you

- wooyoung
not just in the 'romantic' sense, but like in every way

- wooyoung
i love you

- wooyoung
sorry for repeating it
i just like how it looks
and it makes me feel nice

- san 🌻
i don't want to disappoint you

- wooyoung
if youre disappointing then the earth is purple and the sky is like, frickin green or smth

- wooyoung
u can never be disappointing
youre as perfect as can be

- wooyoung
p e r f e c t

- san 🌻
i really dont deserve u sunshine
youre so nice to me

- wooyoung
because u deserve it
and you've been so amazing to me

- san 🌻
thank you

- san 🌻
you've been so amazing to me too
incredibly amazing
though that sex-ed project brought us together u still hung out with me after we were finished with it

- san 🌻
u still wanted to be my friend
you still wanted to get to know me

- wooyoung
i admit part of it was due to my sudden crush on u but go on

- san 🌻
god i love how honest u are

- wooyoung
are u flirting with me rn san?

- san 🌻
maybe 😘

- wooyoung
dork 💞

- san 🌻
u are so cute
i like u so so much wooyoung

- san 🌻
im so thankful u became my friend and accepted me
even though we're dating i feel like i can call u my best friend

- wooyoung
i like the sound of that
i also like how u call me ur 'favourite person'

- san 🌻
youre my favourite person

- wooyoung
and you are mine
(dont tell mom or yunho or mingi tho)

- san 🌻
dont worry
my lips are sealed (;

- wooyoung
we should shake on it

- san 🌻
how? we arent talking face to face

- wooyoung
picturess hehe

- wooyoung
i want a pic from my boyfriend/favourite person/best friend/very loving and perfect buddy

- san 🌻
what a long description

- wooyoung
can u do one for me?
pretty please

- san 🌻
okay uh
u are my favourite person/cutest boy alive/best friend/boy with a sparkling heart of gold and rad glasses

- wooyoung
what do my glasses have to do with this lmao

- san 🌻
i like them and i think theyre very cool

- san 🌻

- wooyoung
wait wait wait
u cant just send something like that without a warning

- san 🌻

- san 🌻
how about these

- wooyoung
u look very hot
extremely

- wooyoung
i feel attacked
and sad
cause i dont have any hot pics

- san 🌻
send anything
i dont mind anything as long as its u

- wooyoung
hmmm okay

- wooyoung

- wooyoung
u get an eyeful of my glasses lol

- san 🌻
i think my heart just burst out of my chest
u are so cute

- san 🌻
looks like i just got a new picture for my lockscreen

- wooyoung
shut uuup lol

- wooyoung
waitt i have another one

- wooyoung

- san 🌻
i love my little church boy

- wooyoung
i was at a dinner!!
with my mom
it was a year ago

- san 🌻
alright alright
i love my little dinner boy

- wooyoung
that doesn't sound right

- san 🌻
dont tell me you're horny again

- wooyoung
why would i be horny rn???!!!

- san 🌻
because youre literally always like that

- wooyoung
i am not always horny 😭😭😭

- san 🌻
if i sent a shirtless pic rn would u like it

- wooyoung
this is a trick question
but i would,, of course
cause u have a nice chest
and body

- wooyoung
i mean i already saw u almost naked
and u looked good
like, rlly good
v e r y hot

- wooyoung
so of course i'd like it
if u sent one i wouldnt mind
like if u sent one rn i would totally be okay with it
totally

- san 🌻
wooyoung

- wooyoung
okay i see what u mean

- wooyoung
but its not because i'm horny
youre just really irresistible and nice and kind and sweet and
totally my type

- wooyoung
so i get a little...over the top sometimes

- wooyoung
i dont mean to
it just happens

- san 🌻
i'm not mad though
and i totally get it

- san 🌻
youre irresistible too
its kinda hard to control myself around you
especially when we start kissing and u let me touch u

- san 🌻
and i was just making a joke about u being horny all the time
its totally fine to feel that way about me
i'm not stopping u

- wooyoung
u have no idea how much im blushing rn
this is so weirrrd to talk about

- wooyoung
but okay
though i wish u were with me rn

- san 🌻
in what way

- wooyoung
....
what way are u implying sirrr

- san 🌻
i want to call u
we should talk
i wanna hear ur voice

- wooyoung
talk about what

- san 🌻
how we're feeling rn

- wooyoung
😳

- wooyoung
okay
lets talk

- san 🌻
i was alluding to a normal conversation

- wooyoung
oh
sorry

- san 🌻
i was just kidding
call me

- san 🌻
i got a surprise for u

* * *

Wooyoung eyes the bouquet in his hands for what he thinks is the thousandth time, the pink and yellow flowers immensely colourful compared to the clinical white walls and deathly silent air of this place.

In here, it's like time has slowed down, a few people mulling about with gifts similar to his, hushed and solemn as they're led into different rooms.

It's hard to feel happy in a place like this, especially when your relative's staying there because they don't have much time left, but San doesn't look as burdened as the rest of the visitors. He doesn't look as burdened as Wooyoung either, so Wooyoung tells himself there's no reason to be.

But he is nervous, though. After all, he's about to see San's mother, and despite the circumstances that led them to meeting today, Wooyoung still wants to make a good impression on her.

"Don't be anxious," San says next to him just as they're called to enter, looking like an angel in the white dress-shirt he's donned on. "You brought a bouquet of pretty petunias for her. She'll automatically like you."

His words draw a smile out of Wooyoung, but it's brief, dampened by how much he's freaking out on the inside. He even made sure to dress a little more formal, wanting to treat this like just a normal get-together with his boyfriend's parent, but right now he has no control over how fast his heart's currently beating.

A nurse opens the door, and San steps in first, his calm demeanor making it obvious he's been here many times before.

Wooyoung enters too and stills, not expecting the room to look so...open. It's spacious, the walls a soft, cozy beige that match the opened curtains. A light breeze flutters past the windows, the lush greenery outside of them giving the entire space a homely feel.

San takes the bouquet from his hands, their fingertips brushing, and that's when Wooyoung takes notice of the woman in the bed located at the left corner, a book in hand. She's thin and has a beanie on her head, her brown eyes so similar to San's, which are now peering at him curiously.

Wooyoung freezes at the attention, too stunned to say a word.

But San quickly comes to the rescue. He moves towards the two chairs beside the woman's bed, gently beckoning him over with a smile.

Wooyoung listens, hands clasped and hoping he doesn't look as frightened as he feels. It has nothing to do with San's mother's cancer however, and everything to do with the fact that he's meeting her for the first time and doesn't want to mess this up. He wonders if that was how San felt interacting with his mom for the first time, considering how eager he'd been at that moment to please.

Upon approaching San's mother, Wooyoung bows his head, polite as ever. His ears burn when a faint smile flits over her features.

"This is Jung Wooyoung," San starts, hands moving as he speaks. It takes a lot longer than it should have for Wooyoung to realize he's doing sign language. "He's my boyfriend, and he's always wanted to meet you."

Wooyoung doesn't know how to react, so he just waves as a greeting. "Hi, Ms Choi."

His cheeks warm when the woman's smile widens, and although it's not by much, it eases his nerves. It's quite amazing how much she resembles San like this.

Wooyoung leans closer to him. "Can you show me how to say 'I'm really happy to see you today, Ms Choi' in sign language?"

San nods, a bit of a smirk on his face when Wooyoung's mouth parts in surprise at how intricately his hands move.

Wooyoung doesn't let the complicated seeming movements get to him. He repeats it as best as he can, his face as red as tomatoes when he hears Ms Choi's airy, faint laughter.

"Did I do badly?" He asks.

San shakes his head, eyes following the symbols his mother slowly forms with her fingers. "No. She just thinks you're really cute."

Wooyoung doesn't think he can ever get people to stop thinking of him as cute, and at this point, he'll just accept it as a part of him. He's just glad San's mother already seems to like him.

They soon sit, San's hand in his when his mother communicates slowly with her fingers again.

"She's thanking you for the flowers," San says, lips curled with joy as he glances over at Wooyoung. "I told you she'd like them."

Wooyoung nods, blushing like mad under San's attention and his mother's compliments. It's almost too much being regarded so fondly by two people he cares immensely about, but he'll be lying if he said he doesn't like it.

"Please tell her it's my pleasure," Wooyoung tells San. He's unable to look away when the taller does as he asks, his dimpled smile appearing as he addresses his mother. He looks at her with so much love in his eyes that it makes Wooyoung want to tear up, and it's apparent from this conversation alone how much San adores her.

He also trusted Wooyoung enough to introduce his mother to him, and Wooyoung will always be grateful for that.

"She wants to know more about you," San tells him after a moment.

"Me?" Wooyoung repeats dumbly. He clears his throat, embarrassed as he locks gazes with San's mother. She looks so frail, her skin pale and sallow, but the light in her eyes is still there. She's still the same woman Wooyoung saw in that framed picture at San's apartment, kindness oozing out of her in waves.

Ms Choi nods, probably reading his lips.

"I'll translate everything for her," San clarifies, nudging Wooyoung a little. His excitement is obvious.

"Um, I'm Jung Wooyoung -- as you already know," Wooyoung begins, quite shy. "San and I have known about each other for a while, but we started getting really close around two months ago since I'm turning eighteen in three days. And uh, I like the way the sky looks when the sun sets, my mom's cooking and I really, really like San's bike."

San stops signing when Wooyoung's done, eyeing him with a brow raised. "My bike? What about me?"

"Your bike is really cool," Wooyoung answers. He dodges San's leg when the taller playfully tries to kick him, and laughs. "Okay, okay, you're also really cool. Extremely cool."

"Wooyoung was just talking about how awesome I am," San says while signing for his mother. The woman nods, amusement in her eyes, and then she's signing back.

Wooyoung notes how San's face reddens. "What did she say?"

San hesitates, running his fingers through his hair. "She asked if we love each other."

"Yes, I do," Wooyoung nods, his blush mirroring San's.

"I love him too, mom," San says, his grin directed at the boy next to him. It's so soft, so affectionate Wooyoung can't help but avert his stare, heart thumping like crazy inside his chest.

"I can do anything for him," San continues, fingers swift and purposeful to let his mother understand. "He makes me so happy."

Wooyoung's blush extends to his ears, insides warm and fuzzy at how sincere San is. Looking at San's mother, it's clear her son's words have moved her too.

She reaches for Wooyoung's hand to his shock, but he lets her hold it, careful with his movement. Her fingers tremble, a little cold, but he doesn't mind.

She then smiles, signing something with her free hand.

Wooyoung watches as San places a hand on theirs as well, brown eyes sparkling. When he turns to face Wooyoung, they're full of devotion.

"Mom says she's thankful to you for loving me, her son," he tells Wooyoung, and his expression wavers. His eyes glimmer with unshed tears."...And that even when she knows she'll be gone soon, she doesn't have to worry any longer because...because now she knows I'll be okay."

Wooyoung knows he can't cry, so instead he wraps his arm around San and tries to stay strong for the both of them. And San relaxes into him, letting his head rest on his shoulder.

* * *

a/n: thoughts? i love them all so much :')