implied sexual content (nothing explicit/graphic)

* * *

The sun was at its peak today, the clouds in the sky barely present. A steady breeze danced with the leaves of the sturdy trees that littered that public park that afternoon.

The picturesque scenery calmed a now twenty year old San as he inhaled a deep breath. The crisp air felt cold and refreshing despite the warmth that the sun radiated, but that was one of the many charms of Summer. San had never been one to notice and observe the seasons, but at that moment he couldn't help but revel and appreciate the nature that surrounded him.

A collared Golden Retriever then pranced up to him with excited pants, its bouncing tan fur burning a vibrant shade of orange under the beaming sunlight. It lovingly wriggled its face into San's palm as it passed him the tennis ball it'd held in it mouth, and its tail excitedly wagged while it waited for San to throw it.

It caught the dark haired male by surprise, but this wasn't his dog. In fact, he'd never owned a pet before. He'd never interacted with one either, unless the excitable beagle Mingi and Yunho had adopted together a year ago counted.

But nonetheless, San took the ball, the dog's round and expressive eyes igniting a tight feeling in his chest. They reminded all too much of painful memories, ones about a boy who'd travelled away three years ago and never came back.

Crap, San thought, peering down at the smiling, friendly dog before him. He'd came here to think and put himself together, even declining the offer of going out with his cousin because his thoughts as of late had been too jumbled up and heart-wrenching. But now he was back to thinking about him, and all of a sudden the mess of emotions he'd felt after parting with him resurfaced stronger than ever.

San's lower lip trembled as he bit hard on it. No, there was no way he'd tear up right now. He wouldn't allow it. He'd came to this park to cheer himself up with the outside world because he'd been spending far too much time cooped up at his house, but now it seemed as though his attempt at livening up his mood would fail once again.

Yes, there were moments where San smiled and laughed. Mostly when he'd seen Seonghwa's adorable and charming boyfriend in person for the first time, and whenever Mingi and Yunho invited him over to babysit their childlike puppy from time to time as they embarked on one of their nightly escapades. He also smiled a lot when he watched a show he liked, or listened to good music.

But there had never been a moment in his three years without Jung Wooyoung where he'd truly been happy.

The Golden Retriever casually licked his palm, its hefty paws fisting the intensely green grass rather impatiently.

"Must've been waiting for some time, huh?" San questioned while forcing on a smile. But before he could finally throw the ball, a woman hurriedly rushed down to where San and the dog were. Her black and white polka dotted dress contrasted wildly with the colourful theme of the park.

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed with wide astonished eyes, her voice rather low for how babyish her features were. Her hair was pitch black and long, falling over her shoulders in healthy waves and complementing her scarlet shaded lips. "Sorry -- Star really likes people. I hope he didn't bother you too much."

San shook his head, before passing over the ball to her. The dog -- Star -- began wriggling his furry tail in a rapid fashion, his royal blue and sparkly collar tinkling once he took notice of his owner. "Nah, it's fine. Your dog, right?"

The female sat next to San on the bench and threw the ball to the distance, Star immediately following after it.

Although the time of San being insecure of his looks and feeling inadequate had long since passed, especially with the few consultations he'd had with psychologists over the years as well as with his grandfather's help, San was still a bit cautious with this woman around. It wasn't like she posed any threat to him or looked interested in dating him, but even if that were the case, San would've politely declined because he wasn't straight and he just couldn't bring himself to date anyone that wasn't Wooyoung.

"I'm Song Yuqi," she finally introduced with a bright grin, scratching her friendly giant of a dog behind the ears once he came back to her.

"I'm San," San replied. He had no qualms with sharing his name with her as she seemed harmless enough. Plus, her bubbly vibe was contagious.

"Can you tell it's my first summer here in South Korea?" Yuqi asked with a smile.

"Really?" San looked at her, her dimples and shining eyes faintly reminding him of Wooyoung again. It seemed as though wherever he went, he just couldn't escape his thoughts about the younger male. It was a cruel cycle, because San had only managed to keep in touch with him for some months before they lost all contact.

"Mhm," Yuqi nodded, throwing the ball back into the main field. "Hope it doesn't sound too sloppy. I already have to keep up with Chinese being my mother language, as well as having to speak and communicate in English in America. It was just a huge hassle to deal with."

At her mention of America, San was taken back to a point in time where he'd so desperately wished for everything to be different, only to no avail. God, he missed Wooyoung. He really did.

"Hey... Um, I don't mean to pry or anything, but... are you okay?" Yuqi asked, her tone seeping with worry. "You look a bit sad."

San shook his head. He let his hand rest on his chest, absentmindedly fiddling with that same locket Wooyoung had gifted him those years ago. The closed heart still held one of those pictures Wooyoung had taken of them kissing because San couldn't bring himself to change it.

"I'm fine," he exhaled. "Just a bit tired, is all."

Yuqi nodded with a smile. "Hey, I know we just met, but I feel like we should be friends."

San couldn't help the chuckle that left his lips. "Really?"

Yuqi laughed. "Really. I just think we'd get along well, not that I'm interested in you or anything. I mean, I am interested in you, but not in that way, you get me? God, I'm rambling again aren't I?"

"A little," San grinned, noticing how Yuqi watched him with a hint of wonderment before focusing on her dog.

"I'm hosting a lil' something later this evening. It's a 'bonfire by the beach' sort of thing, and everyone's invited since my family just loves splurging on things like these," Yuqi eventually said. "And, I don't know, would you like to come? It'll be fun~"

San never liked beaches since the day he almost lost his love in one, and as a result, he slowly shook his head.

"I'm not sure I can make it," he answered, hating the fact that he was basically turning down a person who only wanted to be his friend.

But Yuqi didn't look offended though. She waved a dismissive hand and laughed. "It's no biggie. Hey, can I get your number so I can send the time and place to you in case you ever change your mind?"

Don't you dare say no, San's inner voice berated. She's only trying to be nice to you.

So San pulled out his phone and flashed the female next to him a small, persuaded smile. "Alright..."

* * *

Wooyoung stared out the window of some restaurant his friend had requested him to be in, lost in a bunch of thoughts circulating his head about a certain boy with soft, purple hair that never strayed too far off from his dreams and memories. Despite being excited to be back in Korea, exhaustion in the form of jetlag weighed on his limbs even when it was only his second day back here.

As Wooyoung rubbed his eyes that were strained with fatigue, he couldn't stop the shame and hopelessness that swallowed him whole because he hadn't spoken to anyone here in a long, long time. His grandparents had been the most at fault for this, those strict yet loveable people adamant on bringing him back to his feet by putting him up for psychotherapy and getting him to quit his addiction to nicotine.

The first months with them had been extremely hard on Wooyoung, mostly because he found their personalities overbearing and because it'd finally dawned on him that he really was now away from San and all his other friends.

He'd lash out, fight with others and skip school, indulging in dangerously impulsive stunts that almost landed him in the hospital at one point. But even with that, his grandparents never gave up on him. They made sure he studied hard, attended his classes and had his weekly sessions with the psychiatrist they'd gotten for him until he began to show changes in his character. The tough love they had for him was nothing like the neglect his actual parents showed him, and Wooyoung grew to greatly appreciate it as it made him a better person.

If only it hadn't put a wedge in his and San's relationship...

His feelings for San were just as strong and as prominent as they'd been three years ago, and at that point he just couldn't wait to see him again.

"Thanks for waiting for me!" A female voice suddenly chirped, before a familiar face pulled out the seat in front of Wooyoung.

Wooyoung just shrugged, meeting his friend's eyes. "No problem. Although you're kinda late."

"I call that being 'fashionably tardy'," Yuqi replied, bringing about an eye roll from Wooyoung. "Don't blame me though, blame Star for being so cutely needy that I just had to take him to the park today."

Wooyoung took a small sip out his soda can. "How are you so bubbly? Didn't you travel here with me just yesterday?"

"Hey, I'm just an excited person in general, alright," Yuqi tried to defend herself. "And plus, aren't you planning on reconnecting with your past friends?"

Wooyoung ran a hand through his icy blond locks and bit his lip in thought. "...Yeah. But I kinda lost contact with them. Hopefully they still live in the same area and work at the same jobs."

"Hopefully..." Yuqi nodded with a sympathetic frown. She greatly understood others and strived to help them whenever she could, and that was one of the many things Wooyoung liked about her ever since they'd met at their freshman year at college in Manhattan. She was never discouraged for long, and she was fiercely loyal too, even having no problem moving countries with Wooyoung when he finally had the chance to.

"Okay, on an unrelated, but slightly related note," Yuqi grinned coquettishly, "I met this guy at the park earlier. And gosh, he's a total bombshell. Like, he looked so damn attractive just sitting there with Star that I just had to go talk to him."

Wooyoung took another sip of his drink. Of course, being friends with Yuqi meant he was no stranger to the frequent crushes she had on guys. Even when she introduced a bunch of interested ones to Wooyoung in America, the blond male only turned them down. He couldn't risk being with someone else when he still loved San.

"Did you get his number or something?" Wooyoung asked, not really interested in the topic of conversation.

"Yep!" Yuqi beamed. "We even talked as I walked my dog back to my car, and his personality seems so endearing. Hell, he even has a nice butt."

Wooyoung grimaced, glaring at Yuqi who started cackling due to his expression. "Gross."

"Don't act as if you don't check guys out too."

"I do not."

"Well, you definitely will check him out if he decides to show up at the beach tonight," Yuqi assured her frowning friend. "He's just that striking." She flung some of her long hair behind her shoulders. "You are coming, right?"

"...Yeah." Wooyoung wouldn't dare tell her how he'd almost drowned at a beach three years ago. Besides, he'd already gotten over his slight fear of them by now, and it wasn't like he was going to swim there anyway.

"Sweet!" Yuqi cheered. "You owe me twenty if I catch you fawning over him."

Wooyoung rolled his eyes. "Geez, you're really caught up on that guy aren't you?"

"He's a hottie."

Wooyoung just shook his head in disbelief, but then he smiled, because it was a difficult task in itself to stay annoyed at Yuqi. She was just too cute. "Whatever."

* * *

As people laughed and chatted about, the bright, sturdy flames of the bonfire sprinkling its surroundings with light and warmth, Wooyoung leant against the beach house with a beverage in hand and Yuqi next to him. She was donned in a pretty sundress, her red painted nails twirling a strand of her hair as she listened to him talk about how he planned on getting a separate apartment for himself instead of just moving in with her.

Truth was, he was kind of reserving himself for another roommate, one with stunning dimpled smiles and crinkled eyes that gave him hope. Wooyoung had no idea if San lived alone now or if he still lived with Seonghwa, but he still wished to have his own place with the older by his side no matter how selfish the thought sounded.

You stopped contacting him and left him, as well as all your other friends in the dark for three years, Wooyoung's mind muttered darkly. What makes you think he still loves you?

These thoughts stung, because they were right. There was no guarantee whatsoever that San still liked him, or was even still single. For all Wooyoung knew, San might've had someone else by now, someone who was actually around and treated him like a king, because that was how San deserved to be treated. Wooyoung had been absent from the older's life for three whole years, so he shouldn't be disappointed if San turned out to have another person now, promises be damned.

Despite his unhappy mood, Wooyoung still socialized around with Yuqi at his side. He willed away the frustration and disappointment he felt and told himself that everything was going to be alright, no matter how bleak the future turned out to be.

The sky looked beautiful tonight, twinkling stars decorating its navy blue palette. Wooyoung kept looking at it, wondering if San was watching it too.

He suddenly heard Yuqi silently gasp next to him.

"Oh my god, it's San. The nice butt guy!"

Wooyoung's grip on his bottled beverage tightened simultaneously. Beside him, Yuqi was grinning, excitedly waving over the boy who'd plagued his mind for years now.

He felt his heart stop when San's eyes met his from across the dimly lit beach. The older looked drop-dead gorgeous in his all-black ensemble, his dark hair slicked back with some loose purple strands daintily falling over his widened eyes. They were the same exact shade of purple they'd been before Wooyoung had moved away.

San looked as if he'd just seen a ghost, and Wooyoung would've joked about it if he probably didn't already look a million times worse.

Yuqi, being oblivious to what was happening, proceeded to drag Wooyoung over to where San stood, both men still shell-shocked at seeing each other's faces for the first time in a long while.

San couldn't believe his eyes. His heart was pounding so quickly he swore he was almost getting a heart attack.

Wooyoung was here.

Platinum blond and still as devastingly beautiful as ever, Wooyoung stood right there in front of San, his arm hooked with the same woman San had just gotten to know today.

"Hi! I'm pleasantly surprised seeing you here," Yuqi gushed. Her sunny yellow dress greatly complemented the thin button-up Wooyoung had on, and San felt himself gulp. Are they a thing?

"Well, I decided to give it a shot." San didn't know how his voice came out so steady, especially when his lungs at that moment made it increasingly difficult to breathe properly. He kept staring at Wooyoung, disbelief reflecting off his stare. Was he dreaming, or was Wooyoung really there?

"Hope you're enjoying it so far," Yuqi replied. "And oh -- this is my close friend Jung Wooyoung. Jung Wooyoung, meet San."

Wooyoung's fingers itched to grab onto San and hold him tight, but he had no idea if the older male felt the same way anymore. His gaze lingered on San's neck, but the taller had on a turtleneck so he had no way of telling if he still wore their couple locket. Probably not.

"Choi San..." He found himself whispering, which caught Yuqi's and San's attention almost immediately.

"Wait..." Yuqi's eyebrows rose as she watched San once again. Recognition flashed across her features. "You're Choi San?"

Wooyoung felt his insides bubbling with embarrassment, and then he was grabbing his friend and whispering into her ear.

"I need to talk to him," was all he said, but Yuqi understood completely.

"I'll talk to you guys later!" she said with a huge smile, before ushering herself out of the conversation.

Several people surrounded San and Wooyoung, but it felt like it was just them there, nothing else mattering at that moment.

"Woo..." San began. He wanted to touch Wooyoung so bad, to feel him close and discover him once again, but just stood there, unable to move.

Wooyoung gulped. The air between them suddenly felt exceedingly warm, the intense feelings they had for each other finally seeing the light of day again.

"Let's..." Wooyoung gulped, "let's talk someplace else. Please."

San nodded. They left the beach and walked closer to where the cars were parked. The air was filled with tension so thick it felt suffocating, and when Wooyoung turned around to look at San, the older quickly looked away.

There was just so much to say that Wooyoung didn't know where to begin from. "I...I came with Yuqi, but I want to talk to you somewhere that isn't here."

San quickly nodded. His eyes were warm and contained that same tenderness Wooyoung could never get tired of seeing. "I-I brought a car. We can go wherever you want."

* * *

As soon as the door to Wooyoung's room at the hotel he currently stayed at was shut, he pulled San in for a heated kiss. The older moved accordingly, his arms tightly slipping around Wooyoung's waist.

San's body was hot to the touch, the older passionately kissing and sucking the slope of Wooyoung's neck, and Wooyoung loved it. Salty tears formed in his eyes as his body tremoured with clear want, melting into San's careful hands and powerful caresses.

"I m-missed you so much, Sannie," Wooyoung whispered. His throat made it hard to breathe properly and his voice felt all choked up, but even with that he was so happy San was with him again.

"I missed you too." San laid him gently on the plush bed, the hazy amber lights of the bedroom illuminating his bloodshot eyes and trembling lips. Despite all this, Wooyoung thought he was nothing less than breathtaking. "I can't believe you're here right now with me."

More tears ran down Wooyoung's cheeks as he allowed San to unbutton the rest of his shirt, the soft, warm pads of his hands igniting something akin to flames that tightly coiled inside his stomach.

Wooyoung's locket felt tremendously cold against his burning skin, glinting against the low lights of the bedroom. San's fingers glided along it and down Wooyoung's unclothed chest with newfound admiration that made the younger's heart twist with anticipating knots.

"You're so beautiful, Woo," San told the younger because that was what he believed, because that was the truth. "You're so fucking beautiful..."

Wooyoung lured him in with another kiss that tasted of adoration and sweetness. Their lips moved in accordance as their warm tongues entered each other's mouths. San's eyes bored into Wooyoung's with such volatile desperation and need it left Wooyoung breathless, his hands delicately exploring the world the younger was made out of.

Bathed under the comforting, serene darkness that drowned them in secrecy as San slipped himself in, their bodies became connected in ways they never had before. As their limbs clung to each other, pleasured mewls seeping into the night and hands grasping at each other's skin, their hearts bloomed and flourished with a plethora of new sensations. That was when San knew he would never forget this special moment for as long as he lived.

* * *

"I've got like, a huge amount of missed calls from Yuqi as well as my grandparents who worry a hell of a lot," Wooyoung's voice echoed from the distance as he laid his phone on the marbled counter. He had on a long silk robe that exposed his tan and perfectly toned legs, and San loved seeing them.

San grinned once Wooyoung made his way back to him on the bed again, the younger smelling of gentle vanilla when he rested himself inside San's arms. "How was it? The time you spent with your grandparents, I mean."

Wooyoung's pale pink lips quipped into a small grin. His skin glowed, and San could feel the steady beating of his heart on his chest. He was happy. They both were.

"Hmmm, well..." Wooyoung cleared his throat. "I was kind of a bitch to them during my first few months there even when they tried their best to help me. But it's not my fault though. I just missed you and the others terribly. Those years without you were hard."

San stroked the younger's smooth blond hair. The almost white colour looked celestial and commanded attention, which described Wooyoung perfectly. "But you're here now, right?"

Wooyoung's round eyes met his as he let out a contagious giggle. He looked so alive now, so full of vigor that it warmed San's heart. Yes, Wooyoung was all grown up now, but he still had that ambition and playfulness in his eyes that San had seen all those years ago. His Wooyoung was okay now.

"I still can't believe Yuqi, of all people, led us together again," Wooyoung laughed. "She'd talked about meeting you at the park yesterday, but I assumed you were some other dude. If I'd known it was you I would've ran after you like, straight away."

San chuckled, leaning into Wooyoung's touch when the younger stroked his cheek.

"...But I'm glad she did." Wooyoung's lips met San's once more, and even when they'd kissed a lot the night before and even earlier that morning in the shower, they both still couldn't get enough of each other. After all, they'd been deprived of each other for three years. They at least deserved this.

"I should've known she was talking about you though," Wooyoung muttered between kisses. "She said you have a nice butt, and you really do."

San's whole face flamed up. He shut his eyes as his hands fisted the younger's clothed chest. Wooyoung had begun kissing him below his jaw, an area on his face that got him particularly affected.

"Before I meet up with the others, how are things going with everyone?" Wooyoung asked San. They were hugging now, limbs tangled and hands intertwined.

San smiled into the younger's cotton soft hair as pleasant memories overtook him. "So...I got to finally meet Seonghwa's boyfriend in person last Christmas, and it turned out to be a hell of a meaningful meeting. Nina, Yeosang and Jongho still keep in touch with me and they're all amazing. Also, Yunho and Mingi adopted a new puppy together last year. They named her Woosan."

Wooyoung paused. "Woosan? Why would they name their dog 'umbrella'?"

San jokingly punched his arm. "They named her after us, dummy."

"Oh. Oh."

San laughed, pecking his boyfriend on the lips. "Yeah. They didn't like seeing me so sad, so they named her after us and made me hang out with her a lot."

"That's cute. I'd love to meet her when we finally go see them."

"She'll love you," San muttered. Just like how I love you.

"Did you get to meet Choi Daehwan?" Wooyoung asked after some time had passed.

San nodded, raking his fingers through his dark hair. "Yeah, I did a few weeks after you left, actually. Luckily, he told me I came at the right time and helped me with my bleeding problem."

"What did he do?"

San held out his hands to Wooyoung, staring at the blond in other to witness his reaction. "You see these lines?" He whispered, a small number of goosebumps dotting his skin as Wooyoung ran his fingers along the those specific lines. "After I met him, I realized I didn't have them on both hands. They were hardly anything I noticed before though."

"Anyway, he called them lifelines and said he'd stitch new ones for me to get rid of what I have," San concluded, while Wooyoung's face contorted in confusion.

"Stitch new lifelines?"

"He kinda used this magic pin and custom-made new lines for me. They were hardly painful -- just strange."

Wooyoung exhaled a relieved sigh. "I'm really glad. So...no bleeding again?"

San grinned, shaking his head. "No bleeding again. Only when the lifelines run out would I need to worry. Also, he said that you were extremely lucky to find that website, since it chooses whoever it wants to appear to."

"I have no idea whatever that means," Wooyoung said with a heart-stopping smirk, "but I assume it has something to do with me being meant for you?"

San stared at Wooyoung, at his love. The man who saved him. "Maybe."

"Then...move in with me when I get a house, San. We'll have our own place to return back to after a long day of work or school," Wooyoung proposed. "We can even get a pet like Yunho and Mingi, and decorate the area anyhow we want. We'll also have plenty of alone time as well where no one can be able to disturb us. We'll have fun and go crazy while experiencing the many joys of life. Together."

San couldn't contain the vibrant smile on his face, indescribable happiness filling him up. "Of course, Woo. Anything you want, we'll do it."

"Really?" Wooyoung's smile mirrored his.

"Yes, really."

And San truly meant it.

*FIN*

a/n: aaand thats it, guys. overall thoughts?

maaaybe i'll also write one or two bonus chapters? maybe later on

alsooo, woosan found out about mingi's prosthesis before woo left, just wanted to add that lmao