When the doorbell rang, Japchae's ears perked up immediately. He let out a soft bark, tail wagging energetically as he bounded toward the door. Jaehyun chuckled, trying to keep up with his overly enthusiastic dog.

"Hold on, Japchae," Jaehyun said with a grin, reaching for the doorknob. "I'm the one with thumbs, remember?"

The moment Jaehyun opened it, Japchae practically jumped onto Woonhak, his tail wagging furiously. Woonhak took a small step back, eyes wide, but the smile that tugged at his lips was small but sincere. He gently patted the dog's head.

"Hey, Japchae," Woonhak greeted, his voice still soft, though there was a warmth to it.

Jaehyun couldn't help but smile at the sight, feeling a lightness in his chest. "I guess he's been waiting for you," he said, "Looks like you're already his favorite person."

Woonhak offered a shy smile, looking down at the golden retriever.

"Come on in," Jaehyun said, stepping aside, "I'll show you the hamsters"

Woonhak nodded quietly and stepped inside, kicking off his shoes as Japchae followed him inside, still wagging his tail in excitement. Jaehyun led the way upstairs, glancing at the younger every now and then. His steps were slower than usual, but not hesitant.

As they entered Jaehyun's room, Woonhak's eyes widened. The glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, the pictures of Jaehyun with his mom, Japchae and his friends, the cozy desk cluttered with schoolwork and random trinkets-it all felt warm and lived-in. He glanced at the soft blankets on the bed and the shelves lined with books and small figurines.

Jaehyun smiled, noticing the look of quiet admiration on Woonhak's face. "I know it's a little messy, but I like it this way. Feels cozy."

The brunette nodded, a slight blush creeping up on his cheeks, as if unsure how to respond. Jaehyun's attention shifted to the hamster cage sitting on top of the dresser. "Oh, right," he said gently, "I should finally introduce you to the hamsters." He walked over to his dresser with the cage on top.

The little golden hamsters scurried around inside, one nibbling at a piece of food, the other climbing up a tiny ramp. Woonhak's gaze softened as he watched them, the nervous tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly.

"They're awake?" he asked, voice quiet but curious. "Aren't they supposed to sleep during the day?"

"Yeah, usually," Jaehyun replied, tapping gently on the side of the cage. "They're probably just curious about you."

Woonhak gave another small smile at that, though his eyes were still focused on the hamsters as if unsure how to interact with them. Jaehyun watched him, careful not to push too much.

"Do you want to name them?" Jaehyun asked, trying to keep things light, but not too overwhelming. "It's part of the project, so if you want, you can pick whatever names you like."

Woonhak hesitated for a moment, then looked at the hamster nibbling its food. He was a little bit darker that the other one. "How about, uhh... Mandu?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but there was still a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Jaehyun laughed softly, nodding. "Mandu? I like it. And the other one?"

Woonhak glanced at the other hamster, then his lips quirked again. "Dubu."

Jaehyun's smile grew wider. "Mandu and Dubu. Perfect."

They both watched the hamsters for a while, the air between them comfortable, if still a little quiet. Woonhak was way more relaxed now, though he still hadn't completely shaken off the tension. Jaehyun didn't mind; he was glad that Woonhak was starting to settle in.

For a few moments, they just watched the hamsters, letting the silence settle around them.

Then, a few minutes later, Jaehyun cleared his throat. "My mom will be back soon, by the way," he said, trying to sound casual. "I don't know if you're... okay with that? She's very nice, though, I promise."

The younger tensed slightly at the mention of Jaehyun's mom, his gaze flicking to Jaehyun with a hint of uncertainty. "Uh.. yeah, I'm okay...." He trailed off, looking down at his hands.

Jaehyun nodded quickly, not wanting to make him feel pressured. "No worries. We'll just hang out here for a bit. You don't even have to talk to her if you really don't want to. She's a bit of a chatterbox, though." he added with a playful tone, hoping to ease the tension.

Woonhak's response was a small, tentative smile as he returned his attention to the hamsters. It wasn't a big smile, but it was there-his lips curving just slightly, a soft expression Jaehyun hadn't seen before

---

Word count: 782

By the way, for those who don't know:
Mandu = Korean dumplings and Dubu means tofu.
"Japchae" is also a Korean dish :)
In Korea people believe that their pets will live a long and healthy life if you name them after food.