- boy i'd like to love💓
hey, woo, i still want to know smth tho.
why'd you ask?

Wooyoung grinned when he saw the new message from San's contact name enter his phone, his highly strung nerves finally settling bit by bit.

He was sat at the furthest corner of the wide dinner table, cheers and laughter erupting from the other end as the rest of his family clinked wine glasses with the other family they were having a get together with. As soon as dinner was done with and dessert had been served, Wooyoung had politely excused himself from any further festivities to be held, before camping at a reclusive spot that he still resided at since he wasn't technically allowed to leave yet (thanks to his father's stupid, nonsensical orders).

It wasn't like his family members gave a shit about where he went or even what he ate, but at least he wasn't forced to act nice to guests who were fake as hell and were clearly only around to bask in his parents' money. But it wasn't any of Wooyoung's business.

- wooyoung
ask what, dear?

- boy i'd like to love💓
dear???
u sound like a grandma

- wooyoung
i'll be the only grandma you love kissing

- boy i'd like to love💓
ok
thats fucking weird

- wooyoung
do you prefer prettyboy the most then

- boy i'd like to love💓
have you eaten?
and why do you wanna know about my grandpa

- wooyoung
relax, prettyboy
1) yes i already ate because guests came over so its obligatory to

- boy i'd like to love💓
did your parents do anything?

Wooyoung couldn't help but chuckle. San was too thoughtful, especially when it came to someone like him.

- wooyoung
if you mean ignore me and make sure i never get an opportunity to speak up, then yes

- wooyoung
and 2) i didnt know you had a relative named choi daehwan.
just saw some name online and wondered if it had anything to do w you because of the family name

- wooyoung
dumb, i know

It was a dumb excuse. Wooyoung was usually good at lying, but he hoped San wouldn't probe further since the younger male wanted what he was planning to fall through.

I'm doing this because of you, Wooyoung wanted to tell the older. Even though the type of relationship they had had grown even more indistinct, teethering in a grey area, Wooyoung knew for a fact that he was ready to do whatever it took to ensure San's happiness. He'd never been more sure of anything in his life.

- boy i'd like to love💓
you sure?

- wooyoung
mhm dear

- boy i'd like to love💓
ugh, stop.

Wooyoung smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He adored the way San was slowly beginning to get more and more confident with him, both in texts and calls, and in real life as well. It warmed his heart and made him feel a kind of way when he remembered how San could barely look him the eyes at the start of their orthodox friendship, to how both boys now made eye contact with each other whenever they could.

- wooyoung
what about you
have you eaten?

- boy i'd like to love💓
hmmmm
lasagna

- wooyoung
wish i was there w you
then we'd eat lasagna together

- boy i'd like to love💓
shh i'm sure whatever you ate with ur parents was a thousand times fancier

- wooyoung
spending time with those people ruins my appetite

- wooyoung
i'd rather be with you
holding your hand, eating with you and kissing you

San took some time to respond, which only meant one thing to Wooyoung: the boy was probably blushing his arse off.

- wooyoung
i see i got u all 'hot and bothered' hmm?

- boy i'd like to love💓
ur disgusting 💕

- wooyoung
that sentence and that emoji are giving me mixed signals

- wooyoung
pls explain urself a bit better

- boy i'd like to love💓
✨ur disgusting 💕✨

Wooyoung couldn't control the giggle that left his lips. He had no idea when San had become so daring with him, and even if it wasn't much by Wooyoung's standards, it still meant a lot to him that San was now comfortable enough around him. He was becoming a much freer version of himself.

- wooyoung
i think you're spending too much time around me
you're becoming mean

- boy i'd like to love💓
you want me to leave?

- wooyoung
nooooooo
i want you here, with me.
always♥️

Again, San took some time to reply. By now, Wooyoung could predict whenever the older boy got flustered or even mildly affected by something. He could almost picture the scene -- San's phone screen lighting up his features, revealing his pink tinted cheeks and growing, dazzling smile. The image made Wooyoung beam just thinking about it.

He looked up then, glancing briefly at his family still chatting with those guests of theirs, the only difference being that they were now seated at the patio. The surrounding lights were on, casting friendly amber lights on their trained smiles and calculative eyes. They all looked the same at that very moment -- like predatory wolves donned in grand clothes and expensive perfume to mask their soulless interiors, amiable beings until the opportunity to stab each other in the back arose. It made Wooyoung crack a humourless chuckle.

He looked away before any of them could catch his stare, but he could overhear them all the way from where he was. They were talking about business issues (as always), but this time around there was news about this upcoming out-of-state conference held tomorrow, which only meant one thing and one thing alone.

- wooyoung
i have something planned for us tomrw n the rest of the week

- boy i'd like to love💓
what

- wooyoung
shh
its a secrettt

- wooyoung
but, since i'm quite a generous master, i'll allow you a hint of what i'm planning for tomorrow for a relatively small price

- boy i'd like to love💓
what

- wooyoung
send a selfie to unlock the hint babe

Oh, Wooyoung could just imagine the blush on San's face. Not to mention, the older boy had the prettiest shade of blush Wooyoung had ever laid his eyes upon, a roseate pink that made him seem all childlike and incorrupt. It brought out the usually veiled protective side of Wooyoung.

- boy i'd like to love💓
i dont usually take selfies though

- wooyoung
i'll take anything.
its you, after all

A part of Wooyoung wanted to just slap himself, because since when did he become so cringey? He never acted like this towards anyone else, most of his years being spent antagonizing or fighting with others because everyone pissed him off at some point in time.

But San... San made him feel like a boy that had nothing but love to offer, like that stereotypical teen girl crushing on a boy and gushing on and on about him until everyone around her got sick and tired of it. It was an unreal but beautiful feeling, one that Wooyoung wanted to experience for as long as he could.

- boy i'd like to love💓
i don't know about this...

- wooyoung
you know you're an attractive human, right?
i'll love whatever picture you decide to send

- wooyoung
and don't you want the hint 👀

San didn't reply immediately. Wooyoung guessed he was probably looking for a picture of himself, and his heart raced with anticipation.

- boy i'd like to love💓

- boy i'd like to love💓
i took this a couple months ago
its more of the more decent ones

Wooyoung hated being dramatic, but he swore his heart stopped, before doing a couple skips and then stopping again.

San was stunning.

- wooyoung
200/10 would makeout with again

- boy i'd like to love💓
ur unbelievable
but tell me the hint please

- wooyoung
wait,,
wait wait wait wait

- wooyoung
i'm too awestruck by this beauty i'm witnessing rn

- boy i'd like to love💓
wooyoouunngg

- wooyoung
why's my heart pounding so damn hard

- boy i'd like to love💓
stopppp
and please tell me the hinttt

Wooyoung softly laughed.

- wooyoung
fine, ok ok
it has to do w my house

- boy i'd like to love💓
your house?
woo, whats going on??

- wooyoung
dont worry tho
my family members won't be involved, trust me.

- wooyoung
i'll handle everything,
all you have to do sit back and enjoy the ride prettyboy

- boy i'd like to love💓
i don't think it's a good idea

- wooyoung
san, just trust me
i may have done horrible shit to you in the past
but i swear i won't let you get hurt
i just want us to have a good time tomorrow, okay?

- wooyoung
let's raise the stakes and do smth crazy

* * *

The weekend so far had been nothing less than eventful thus far, with San pushing past his own borders and doing things he never would've thought he was capable of.

Today was just Sunday, yet it felt like an eternity had passed since he'd shared his first kiss with Wooyoung. San guessed it felt like that because he wanted to savour each and every moment with the black haired male as long as he was allowed to. Years spent getting stuck and pulled into the web always losing something made San all the more cautious of living and loving. He'd eventually learned to treasure and appreciate the present, because the future was malicious and could change its colours anytime like a friend who could never keep their promise.

It was nearing twilight by now, a misty royal blue dissipating the burnt orange of the skies. As the sun began to hide itself beyond the horizon, San received his latest text message from Wooyoung.

- woo 🥰
the dress code is: casual~~
and bring your school bag, school clothes, and other essentials as well~~

- san
what are you planning?

- woo🥰
be patient angel~~
i'll be over at ur house soon

It turned out soon was literally a few seconds, because the doorbell sounded off right after, startling San a lot more than he'd ever admit.

Seonghwa was in the kitchen, a glass of water in hand when this happened. Almost immediately, he made his way to the door, smiling impishly at San.

"Oh," he whispered to his younger cousin once realizing it was Wooyoung, "your friend is here. Date?"

San made the wise decision to ignore him, instead rushing into his room to pack his stuff and not waste the younger's time.

And to be honest, he couldn't get rid of the nervousness he felt. His heart wildly raced, excitement mixing with slight dread as to what tonight would be made of. He found himself wishing to whatever being was up there that nothing would go wrong tonight. That was the last thing he and Wooyoung needed.

When he finally entered back into the livingroom, he spotted Wooyoung and Seonghwa by the doorway, engaged in what seemed to be a hushed, private conversation. Wooyoung's eyes then met his, and instantly he stepped back, an affectionate smile brightening up his features.

"Apparently you're sleeping over at his house now," Seonghwa said, his eyebrows raised in mild questioning. He didn't look mad though, just genuinely curious.

San resisted the urge to hold Wooyoung's hand once the younger male helped him with the bag that held all his stuff, stiffly letting his arms fall to his sides instead.

"Yep. We're gonna hang out and stuff." Wooyoung's icy blue shirt and smokey grey shorts looked inexplicably good on him as he busied himself with adjusting the bag's strap on his shoulder. The cotton fabric of his top brushed against San's body due to the little distance between them, and heat tickled the older's insides. He could only hope he wasn't blushing yet again.

"Well, you guys have fun." Seonghwa looked out the window, before facing the two boys in front of him again. "Looks like you guys have a ride."

Wooyoung flung his arm around San's shoulders, his fingers discreetly rubbing the latter's back and providing him with a sense of comfort. Seonghwa didn't see. But if he did, he never commented on it.

"Yes, we do," Wooyoung nodded, glancing at the boy beside him. When San noticed his stare, they both couldn't hold in their smiles.

The air outside was cold and windy, casting shivers down San's spine and sparse goosebumps littering the surface of his skin. But he soon discovered that he wouldn't be cold for long, because as soon as Seonghwa locked the door, Wooyoung's arm slid down his back and settled itself around his hips, warming San right up.

"W-Woo," he began, disliking the way he stuttered, "what if Seonghwa hyung's still around?"

Wooyoung just chuckled. "I don't think he is. And even if he was, I don't think he'd crucify you because another boy just so happened to hold you close. We are friends, after all."

San bit his lip. Yes, he and Wooyoung were friends, but for some reason that word didn't sit right with him. Not anymore.

Being here with Wooyoung and under this weather brought San a sense of deja vu, which promptly made him remember that kiss they'd had in the rain once again.

"Jongho, unlock the damn doors. It's too cold out here."

San settled back into reality once he heard Wooyoung's words, and he sincerely hoped Jongho hadn't witnessed what he and Wooyoung had been doing. Not that he wanted to keep things a secret because they were both boys, but because he kind of preferred things to be more on the private side. These special feelings of want and romance were still new to him, after all, and he wanted to get used to it first and foremost.

He wanted to be able to know and love Wooyoung first before the world knew about them.

Jongho rolled his car's windows down and flashed his familiar gummy smile at San, prompting San to also return it. "San! I haven't seen you in a hot minute. What's up?"

"I'm good." San sweetly chuckled, his dimples appearing for a second. He missed the way Wooyoung watched him then with a fond, doting look in his eyes.

And Wooyoung, in an attempt to make his previous actions a lot less obvious, proceeded to stomp his foot like a child demanding candy from his parents. "Unlock the fucking door, Jong."

"You're speaking casually to me. For that, San can take the passenger seat."

"I knew you liked San more than me," Wooyoung remarked, before opening the door to the back with a petulant huff.

San, on the other hand, let out a giggle and then opened the door to the passenger seat, doing as Jongho requested.

In a few seconds, Jongho started the car and drove down the road.

"You have no idea how annoying Wooyoung has been since morning," the college student soon begun, shooting San a couple glances from time to time. "Ordering me around like I'm some chauffeur, asking me a bunch of relationship questions as if I'm some kind of Cupid? Man, this kid's got some guts."

"Really?" San questioned just as Wooyoung kicked the back of Jongho's seat, huffing even louder when the oldest male didn't even react.

"San, don't listen to that old man," Wooyoung answered.

"Old man?!" Jongho gasped, before quickly handling Wooyoung the middle finger because he was a responsible driver and wanted to focus on the road. San, in the meantime, quietly laughed to himself.

"Once I get my driver's license this summer, I won't need you anymore," Wooyoung continued.

"You wish. You'll always need me."

"Pwahck!" Wooyoung pretended to throw up.

San laughed even more, entertained to bits. He'd forgotten just how funny Wooyoung could be when he wanted to.

* * *

San didn't know what he'd expected when Jongho finally pulled up in the driveway to Wooyoung's house, but it definitely wasn't what he ended up seeing.

Stark in the middle of carefully preened and plucked shrubbery, was a place that looked more like some grand ensemble of architecture instead of a basic house. San could only stare at the place through the window, an unforseen force keeping his feet planted in Jongho's safe haven of a car. He suddenly felt like he didn't want to open the car door.

Wooyoung waved at him and grinned, the soft minimal lights from the front doors of the house bathing him like stardust.

"San, what're you doing?" Wooyoung shouted from where he was. He looked happy -- excited. Like he had something particularly crafty up his sleeve. "I have a lot of stuff planned!"

"Loud boy is right; he planned a lot of stuff," Jongho nodded in agreement. "So hurry along now."

San could've sworn he saw the older wink, but maybe he was seeing things. It was a little dark outside after all.

Eventually, San shut off the negative voices in his head that kept whispering about how horrible tonight was going to turn out, and left Jongho's car with his bag. In less than ten seconds, Wooyoung had already grabbed his hand, leading him up the cobblestoned pathway and closer to the closed metal doors.

"Woo -- " San let out, a bit breathless because of the impromptu run he and the younger boy just had. Since the start, he'd never been the athletic type. "Jongho -- We didn't get to say goodbye to him."

Wooyoung laughed, a hearty and breathtaking sound, and then softly stroked the older's chin with his thumb and index finger. San immediately gulped.

"You're such a good person," Wooyoung remarked, his voice low. "Makes me wonder how much of you I can ruin."

Silence; deepset and palatable.

But then Wooyoung was yelping, because San had smacked his chest with his bag.

"You're such a perv. Is this the surprise you had waiting for me?" San asked a grumbling Wooyoung, trying really hard to contain his laughter. Truth was, the younger's words did affect him, so in return he had to do something -- fast. And his impulsive side had won over.

"No -- no!" Wooyoung shook his head. "Do you have that little faith in me, Choi?"

"I was just wondering," San answered. He gulped once again when Wooyoung stared at him with those puppy dog eyes of his. "Please don't get mad at me."

Wooyoung chuckled and patted San's back. "I really like you, why would I get mad at you?" He rapidly pressed a couple numbers on the house security code, and the doors opened, revealing yet another private door a couple feet away.

"Okay," Wooyoung clapped his hands after the previous doors were locked. He gestured to the one in front of them. "I'll unlock that door and enter, and then I'll call you to do something for me, okay?"

San nodded. He was so damn curious as to what the younger had planned. "Okay..."

And that was what Wooyoung did. He held San's bag for him and entered the house first, while San patiently waited in the short hall, nervously fiddling with his phone.

At last, his phone rang.

"State your identity."

San blew a small breath, the edge of his lips curling into a tiny smile. "...San..."

"You may enter," Wooyoung commanded, but his tone made it sound like he was this close to laughing.

San did, shock filling his insides when he was faced with nothing but darkness and these medium-sized glow-in-the-dark arrows every few feet.

"First question."

"Woo, what is this?" San questioned, but the younger ignored him.

"First question," Wooyoung repeated. "If you get it correct, the arrows would turn green. If you're wrong, then red. You can only advance if you get the question right."

"Wooyoung, I'm asking again, what's this?" San didn't want to admit it and ruin everything, but the darkness was slowly getting to him. It reminded him of memories he so badly wanted to forget.

"Your first question: what animal makes honey?"

San inhaled a steady breath. "...A bee."

"Take out the 'A' and the extra 'e'."

"Be...?"

The first arrow turned a trippy green colour, its lights calming San down a little.

"Go to the next arrow, please," Wooyoung instructed.

Once San did so without much complaints, the younger boy asked his next question.

"If a bag is mine, then I call it what bag?"

San chewed on his lip. He still had no idea where Wooyoung was going with this. "Uh... My bag?"

"Take out the 'bag'."

"My."

The second arrow glowed green as well.

"You're really good at this, prettyboy."

"Wooyoung. Ask the next question," San begged into the phone, jokingly rolling his eyes when the younger cackled.

"What are you?" Wooyoung posed his next question.

"What?"

"I mean, your gender."

"Male."

"No. Another word," Wooyoung corrected. His voice had now lost its carefree edge. He sounded a lot more serious.

"...Boy."

"...Yeah." Wooyoung then chuckled, but it held a certain nervousness in it.

San's heart began to squeeze, a part of him starting to realize where this was heading to. But he willed himself to stay composed.

The third arrow glowed green as well, and San walked towards the last arrow.

"What... What were we when we first started hanging out?"

San gulped, his heart pounding loudly against his ribcage. Everything...everything had became a lot more obvious, so much so that he couldn't just turn a blind eye to it anymore.

"Friends."

Wooyoung cleared his throat, his voice coming out awfully small. "The singular version."

"...Friend."

"Use the answers in a sentence."

San tightly shut his eyes, his racing heartbeat storming his eardrums. "...Be my b-boyfriend."

The last arrow lit up in the brightest green, dazzling and sparkling like an emerald gemstone.

"Close your eyes, Sannie," Wooyoung whispered.

San tried to laugh, but his throat felt all tight and clogged up. "I-I already am..."

Footsteps approached him, matching with the uneven pace of San's beating heart. He could feel Wooyoung's presence right next to him -- his warmth. And just like always, it calmed San down and doused his heart in peace.

A clap was heard, brightening up the area where both boys stood.

"Open your eyes, San," Wooyoung commanded, and when the older did, the first thing he got faced with was the younger male staring lovingly at him.

Wooyoung held up a generously sized cake with beautiful purple icing and edible pastel flowers. It even had the flickering candles, fancy calligraphy and everything. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

The tightness in San's throat built itself up, causing his nose to feel all stuffed. He sniffed, and his eyes stung with unshed tears. He had no idea where they came from.

"Y-Yes," San exhaled, clamping a hand over his mouth to hide his watery smile from sight. And fuck, a new set of tears began descending down his cheeks.

Wooyoung smiled as well, his eyes glistening with nothing but joy. "God, I dunno, but I feel like crying too. Fuck, I'm so happy you said yes. Guess today, March 17th, is now the day we became official boyfriends."

He reached out to wipe San's tears away. "Happy boyfriend day, to us."

After San blew out the candles, he pulled the younger close while making sure the cake wasn't in the way, and slowly, passionately kissed him, overwhelmed with so many emotions at that moment that he didn't know what else to do.

And Wooyoung didn't waste time in reciprocating it.

They kissed over the course of that night, again and again. When they took a few slices of cake, cringing at the cheesy romantic songs (that Wooyoung had picked) playing through the speakers. When Wooyoung decided to take pictures for whatever reason, capturing several moments of them in the act. And especially when they eventually ended up inside the mansion's indoor pool, hands interwoven in each other's damp locks and shirtless torsos pressed together.

San had no idea how he'd gotten the confidence to take off his shirt especially when someone like Wooyoung was present, but that high of happiness he'd felt earlier that night still lingered. It bubbled underneath his skin, sizzled from his fingertips and set his heart ablaze, and San loved it.

He and Wooyoung continued to surround themselves with the water and each other's body heat. And at some point, Wooyoung began to trail kisses along San's jaw, neck and any other area he saw fit, letting the older know how beautiful, how irresistible and how precious he was whenever he could. And with each kiss, each caress and each sweet and thoughtful word Wooyoung uttered that night, San finally knew.

He loved Wooyoung.

* * *

a/n: thoughts?

also, milk before cereal or cereal before milk?

hot showers or cold showers?