As they finished their pancakes, Jaehyun's mom wiped her hands on a dish towel and smiled warmly at the boys. "I'm heading out to run a few errands. You two have fun, okay?" She reached out to ruffle Jaehyun's hair, then gave Woonhak a gentle pat on the shoulder. "It was really nice meeting you, sweetie. Remember, you're always welcome here."

Woonhak nodded shyly, his eyes flicking up to meet hers. "Thank you, Ms. Myung."

"Haewon," she corrected softly with a wink before grabbing her keys. "See you later!"

The sound of the front door closing left a quiet calm in the house. Jaehyun turned to Woonhak, his eyes bright with an idea. He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table. "Hey, do you wanna come to the park with me and Japchae? He loves running around when the weather's nice."

Woonhak looked up, his gaze drifting toward the window where sunlight streamed in, painting warm patches on the floor. He hesitated, brushing a crumb off his plate. Finally, he nodded. "Yeah... okay."

Jaehyun's face lit up, and he grinned. "Great! He's gonna love having you there." He reached out to gently squeeze Woonhak's wrist before standing up. "Let's get our shoes on."

***

Japchae walked ahead of them, the leash tugging gently in Jaehyun's hand. The golden retriever's tail wagged furiously as he trotted down the sidewalk, clearly thrilled by the promise of a few hours outdoors.

The spring air was crisp and smelled faintly of blooming flowers and fresh grass. Woonhak walked beside Jaehyun, his hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. His gaze drifted downward, watching Japchae's paws pad along the pavement.

For a while, they didn't say much. The silence wasn't awkward - it was peaceful, punctuated by the rustling of leaves and the distant chatter of other people enjoying the day. The sun warmed their faces, and Jaehyun occasionally looked over to check on the younger, feeling reassured by the quiet calm in his eyes.

As they turned a corner into the park, Jaehyun decided to break the silence, his voice soft and easy. "Do you like dogs?"

Woonhak glanced over and nodded. "Yeah... they're nice. Friendly."

Jaehyun smiled. "Japchae's pretty much the friendliest dog ever."

A faint smile tugged at Woonhak's lips, as he bent down for a second to pat the dogs head.

They wandered deeper into the park, where the grass was a lush green and the trees swayed gently in the breeze. The sunlight filtered through the branches, dappling the ground with patches of gold. Jaehyun kept the conversation light, asking Woonhak simple things - his favorite colors, whether he liked spring, what kinds of snacks he preferred.

Woonhak answered in short, soft sentences, but he seemed less hesitant now. His shoulders were relaxed, and every so often, his eyes met Jaehyun's with a flicker of warmth.

***

When they reached a quiet, open field, Jaehyun unclipped Japchae's leash. The dog bounded away joyfully, circling back and barking for attention. Jaehyun laughed, crouching to clap his hands. "Alright, boy, let's play!"

He glanced at Woonhak, a playful glint in his eyes. "Wanna help me tire him out?"

Woonhak hesitated, but when Japchae ran up to him, his tongue lolling out in a happy grin, something softened in his expression. He reached out to scratch behind his ears, and the way his tail wagged furiously made the boy's lips twitch into a smile.

Jaehyun tossed a ball a few feet away. "Go get it, Japchae!"

Japchae bolted after it, his paws kicking up grass. When he returned, he dropped the ball at Woonhak's feet, looking up expectantly. Woonhak bent down, picked it up, and hesitated only a moment before throwing it - not too far, but far enough. Japchae darted off again.

A quiet laugh escaped Woonhak, light and unguarded. It was soft, almost hesitant, but pure. The sound hung in the air, clear as a bell, and Jaehyun felt his heart skip a beat. The world seemed to narrow for a second, the breeze, the sunlight, the distant sounds of the park fading into the background.

He laughed.

It was the first time Jaehyun had heard that sound, and it was beautiful. Like a melody that was both fragile and precious, carrying a warmth that settled somewhere deep in Jaehyun's chest. A smile stretched across his face, wide and genuine, and he realized how much he wanted to hear that sound again.

Woonhak caught Jaehyun staring and blinked, his cheeks flushing slightly. "What?" he murmured, his smile fading just a little.

Jaehyun shook his head, his voice soft. "Nothing. Just... I'm glad you're here."

Woonhak's eyes widened for a moment, then his expression softened, the corners of his lips lifting just enough to let that shy smile return.

"Me too," he whispered.

Japchae barked, breaking the moment, and they both laughed - this time, together.

---

Word count: 814

What's your favorite BND song?🎶

I can't choose only one, it's impossible... I think So let's go see the stars, Serenade, But sometimes, E,W&F, One And Only, But I like you and Nice Guy are my favs :)