Work Text:
“When did you know you love me?”
Tipsy sipping on the cold beer can, as they are cuddling outside on the balcony of their apartment, Inseong asks, grasping knees close to his cheerfully beating heart. Maybe because of the alcohol liquid, under the warm and annatto lights coming from above their heads, with a closed glass door behind, bringing a sense of only the two of them in a secret corner, completely separate from the hustle outside world, his lips naturally curve up.
Feeling the heat crawling up to the ears, Inseong smiles, and head leaning on both of his knees, turning to observe the person next to him, one shared fluffy blanket draping over to keep themselves warm during the night.
Holding another can of beer, tiny steamy water drops along the thin tin leaf, Youngbin takes a sip, then chuckling a bright laugh at the endearing sight line Inseong has for him when turning head to the side. His heart flutters loudly, enough to be heard by Inseong, who is sharing the close, personal space.
“I remember, vividly.”
So clearly that even when at a sudden thought about it, he can always delineate the exact scene, the smell, the sounds, and the touching realization. Back then, in one ordinary dinner party among their small friend group in university, the boys properly could not skip the drinking and gaming section. The next moment he knew, and blinked eyes open, their friends were lying on the sofas, soundly and peacefully sleeping, except for a tall boy that is his same age, his best friend since sophomore.
Standing up to put the wine glass on the counter and gingerly moving around the boys so as not to wake them up from their sweet dreams, the mentioned person came closer to his eyesight. His heart probably stopped for a brief yet eternity then, when meeting with the smiling eyes of Inseong. Though it may seem strange, under the dim, vary colored lights from those cheap decorated lamps hanging randomly on the wall, Inseong was still dazzling like that, tiny sparkling stars jumping from those eyes, entering and making his heart beating again. Once their hand touched, did Youngbin finally think again, and notice the way he had unconsciously held breaths in front of the stunning sight.
And as if the universe was also supporting them, the music that they earlier put on auto changed, tuned in some romantic classical pieces, leaving space for only two of them. Inseong was properly drunk, seeing from a hint of red flushed over his face, craned down to the neck. Slowly, their hands interlaced, and they began moving along the melodiously rhythms, being led by tender notes into steps and gentle swings. A whiff of soft milk mixed with fresh tropical fruits scent lingers in the air, must be coming from Inseong's perfume, the familiar comforting smell that Youngbin used to secretly know on times when they were close.
Yet that is Inseong he is talking about. When they were dancing, suddenly Inseong slipped on the air and fell, obviously because he was not sober enough to stand still. Quickly, Youngbin could catch him from head hitting the wooden floor, hands hugging his waist and broad back. Not letting a second for concern, Inseong bursted a chuckle, then laughed out loud, before on one note also knocked out safely to a sleep because the alcohol hit. The emotions that had been billowing waves inside him over time finally made sense, and softly, Youngbin thought, “Oh, I love him”.
The sometimes out of nowhere clumsiness aside his sharp and intelligent brain, the humor and sensitivity to his surroundings that always makes others delighted to be with him, more, all and above everything. Inseong fell on the ground, and Youngbin fell in love, quite literally.
As telling the story one more time and never not feeling a sense of happiness sweeping over him, in a mellow tone voice, leisurely, Youngbin rests his head on his lover’s firm shoulder, which is slightly shaking since Inseong giggles. Their position can be a bit awkward, but they just love that, being so close that they are able to hear their calming breathing, even following one same tempo, long eyelashes drooping down over twinkling pupils that collect the reflections of thousands of lights from the city.
“How about you?”
Youngbin asks, changing the hand holding the beer can. A night breeze comes by their open place, brushing over and ruffling hair strands a bit. Putting the now empty one can on the ground, Youngbin dried his hand on the hem of his clean shirt first, before stroking some fallen black hair strands off the other’s eyes, tucking them behind ear, and affectionately holding the searching hand from Inseong.
“Probably then.”
Almost obviously, graduated university, as their workplaces were close and to save some money, they decided to rent and share an apartment together. That was the old one, where they used to spend countless nights waking up by constantly knocking caffeine. Not the current one where they are snuggling in a cozy blanket, purchased by the money that had been accumulated. And was when they were clueless about which was called a special person.
It was a normal weekday, after tired working hours as a newcomer with bunches of things to adjust and remember, wearily dragging himself home, during the whole path from the company to the apartment, Inseong had quietly complained and cursed in his mind. Searching for the electronic card in his bag to swipe it through the black board, Inseong stopped on that one second. Hand holding the card lingering in the space between him and the knob, a comfort feeling warming up his tired heart at the thought of behind the door was only one person. The one who would always wait for him to endearingly greet him because his working hours ended sooner, the one who would laugh endlessly that sometimes it would be hard to stop him from dying because of laughs, at his whichever usual jokes were.
Pushing the door open and walking in, Inseong noticed the strange way all the weights on shoulders swiftly being lifted away once he completely stepped and stood inside the house. Meeting with the familiar smiling eyes, the genuinely welcomed him home, the hot water for an enjoyable bath and a delicious meal had been prepared by Youngbin, who was sitting on the sofa in the middle of the living room, Inseong quickly melted.
Because at the end of the day, he was the person Inseong wants to come home to, the person he wants to tell how his day went, and the person he wants to share his happiness, sadness, frustration, and all big and tiny things with. Youngbin is the one who makes him feel at home, and Inseong loves him.
Slightly changing the position so he can place a peck on Youngbin’s nose snorting from laughing noises, Inseong says the confession of his love one more time as if words are never enough to express, and also infect by the cheerful laugh and giggle when thinking about maybe they rented a same apartment also partly because they were secretly having feelings for the other then.
“Thank you.”
They fall on the ground, hug with hands and legs intertwined together, and have one of the greatest examples and definitions of love, while whispering one simple sentence that contains a lot of unnecessary unsaid ideas, feelings and messages. Because there are things between their connection that can be understood without using words to form into a sentence, and any other sentences might not be as enough and beyond.