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It’s the usual Friday night after exam week. Everyone is trying to let go of the stress as they are still delightfully oblivious to the results. It’s their friend group’s tradition by now to go to the same cheap bar every Friday after exam week so there is Taeil, surrounded by the people he loves the most in the world and yet still feeling lonely.
His friends don't seem to notice it. Doyoung is poking fun at Jungwoo and Jaehyun, the new lovebirds, as Yuta amusedly laughs at the newest couple who can’t seem to keep their hands off of each other. Mark animatedly chats with Taeyong, who seems to only be paying half of his attention to the dork in front of him as the other half is focused on observing Doyoung with a smug look on his face. Donghyuck is getting them another round of drinks.
Taeil recoils himself. He doesn’t see how he can fit into any of these situations in his current mood. Truth is, he wants to go home, but he’d probably get a couple of annoyed texts from Taeyong the next morning so decides against it.
The bar’s ventilation system doesn’t help to vanish the feeling of being trapped and, before Donghyuck can get back with drinks, he goes to the porch to breathe properly. Maybe because it’s still early in the night, he finds it empty and he is glad it is.
Taeil can only enjoy his own presence for a brief three minutes before Donghyuck shows up with his drink at hand, saying he looked for him everywhere. The youngest of the group has the tannest complexion of the bunch and the brightest smile too. That’s why many of them call him the sun of the group. Taeil is too grumpy to be affected by it and mumbles some poor excuse as he gets the glass out of Donghyuck’s hands.
He expects the younger man to leave. They are probably the most distant of friends in the group as Hyuck enjoys the company of the younger ones and Taeil’s usual trio consists of Taeyong and Yuta. Still, Donghyuck stays, asking Taeil some ice-breaker question about university.
It’s obvious why Donghyuck doesn’t leave: he wishes to make Taeil company. He doesn’t try to convince the older to come down to the bar yet he won’t budge from where he is. Taeil feels like a pity-case but knows it’d be worse if he fought against it. Donghyuck is a good kid, he only means well.
He goes down again to pick a second drink for the two. When he returns, he goes straight for the subject they’ve been looming over but never addressing.
“What’s up with you lately?”
Taeil shrugs and looks down at the street. “Just exams, I guess.”
He hopes that by avoiding Donghyuck’s gaze, his lie won’t be caught. It doesn’t work.
“I call bullshit,” the younger says back confidently. He points a finger at Taeil. “I’ve seen you during exams week before, Illie, you’re a nerd.”
Taeil rolls his eyes, mumbling, “Nerds get stressed too.”
Donghyuck nudges on him with his shoulder. “Come on.”
Although his tone is playful, Taeil can see from his eyes that this questioning comes from an earnest concern. Taeil bites his bottom lip, hesitantly. He didn’t even tell this to Yuta and he tells him everything. It is one of these secrets better kept like that, not only because of Taeil but of everyone it affects. Speaking about it will only make his sadness real.
Against his better judgment, Taeil quietly reveals, “It seems like everyone I’m infatuated with gets a boyfriend the next second.”
Donghyuck’s eyes widen in surprise. “You were into Jungwoo?”
Taeil shakes his head and his jaw drops further.
“Jaehyun?!”
“Shut up,” Taeil hisses between his teeth, already regretting having told this brat his secret. Imagine if only he knew that before Taeyong and Doyoung started having their fling, he was starting to develop feelings for Doyoung too. Taeil’s romantic life is a disaster with zero body counts.
“Well, Jae and Woo sorta match, not gonna lie to you,” Donghyuck says, approaching a deflated Taeil. He puts an arm on his shoulder, gently tapping it. “I think that it’s better to wait for the right person to come along so it’s all worth it.”
Taeil sighs. “I’ll die waiting.”
Donghyuck shakes his head, that cheeky smile back on his lips. “Don’t die so soon, they might be just around the corner.”
Somehow, when Donghyuck says it so confidently, Taeil thinks he can almost believe him.
ʚɞ
Taeil didn’t know that day but he sees now how important it was for them to become closer. It happens naturally—or as naturally as an hyperfixated and excited Donghyuck can manage without scaring Taeil away. They meet after classes, watch trashy TV shows and even study together. Donghyuck has self-designated himself as Taeil’s hype and wingman.
At first, Taeil considers this a superfluous friendship. One that he has fun with but doesn’t get into the deep stuff like he does with Yuta. However, that is soon deemed impossible by how much they text everyday. Some of Taeil’s frustrations are bound to come up when Donghyuck asks if everything is okay. It’s also easier when the younger easily opens up about Mark annoying him and a college professor wanting him dead.
Their age dynamics are inverted. Instead of Taeil taking care of Hyuck, Donghyuck takes that place easily in his life. He’s the one who convinces Taeil to keep a diary to write how he’s feeling, an advice Taeil follows almost every day. When Donghyuck takes the music major’s phone from his hand to add a sparkly pink heart to his name, he does so without hearing any complaints. Next thing Taeil knows, the sparkly pink heart emoji has become their thing.
Their sudden closeness doesn’t go by unnoticed by their friend group and it doesn’t take long for them to start making comments about it.
“So, now that Taeil and Donghyuck are dating,”Jungwoo says, getting a loud “hey!” from Taeil that goes ignored. “And Doyoung and Taeyong are going through whatever the hell they are,” he continues, only for Doyoung to try launching at him “now you shut the fuck up!” Jungwoo turns to Yuta and Mark casually chatting on the couch. “When are Yuta and Mark settling down?”
“Okay, we all know Doyoung and Taeyong fuck,” Donghyuck agrees only for Doyoung to get up from his seat and be held down by Yuta. Donghyuck grins, always pleased when getting under his nerves. “But Taeil and I have nothing between us.”
Doyoung stops struggling and everyone’s attention turns to Donghyuck, who has Taeil placed between his legs as his hands rest on his tummy.
“You call him ‘your baby’,” Mark says, dead-faced
Donghyuck pouts and picks Taeil’s cheek, who lowers his head shyly. “Because he is my baby.”
Mark rolls his eyes. “That is very platonic of you.”
“Thank you,” he says back, acting blind to the irony in his friend’s words.
“We have a bet going on when you’re gonna fold and kiss him in front of us,” Taeyong reveals, a sly smile on his lips.
Doyoung doesn’t seem as amused, huffing, “Yeah, stop trying to make a point! It’s okay, you two are boyfriends now.”
Taeil doesn’t understand how he’s ever thought Doyoung was sexy when he’s the most annoying person on the planet. Donghyuck doesn’t seem affected by their friend’s bossy attitude.
“We just don’t want Mark to lose his shit,” Donghyuck reveals in a mock-whisper, playing along.
Among their friends, Mark is the one who most loudly supports Taeil and Donghyuck’s future relationship. He argues he’s never seen Donghyuck this dedicated and smitten by someone before and that he will do what he can for the two clueless men to see it.
“Well, if you two don’t make out soon he might start posting fanfiction on LiveJournal!” Jungwoo jokes, causing everyone to laugh.
Except for Taeil and Yuta. Yuta bites his lips as he observes his friend tensing from his seat.
“Can you guys stop?” Taeil asks quietly. It’s enough for everyone to be silenced. The older looks at his friends but they avoid his gaze.
Taeil detaches himself from Donghyuck’s arms and gets up from the floor, walking down the corridor to the right. He can’t kick out his friends from his apartment but he can at least enjoy the privacy of his own bedroom.
He’s only through half an Aminé song when there’s a knock at the door. Taeil already knows who it is and tells him to come in.
Donghyuck walks in slowly. He’s been in Taeil’s bedroom before, just never alone with him. Taeil is tense now. For a brief moment he thinks about what the others will say about this and he hates himself for it.
“What’s up?” Donghyuck asks, sitting next to Taeil on his bed.
Taeil shrugs. “Nothing.”
“What is it?” Donghyuck asks again. His question is as soft as before but his frown dissolves Taeil’s defenses.
“Don’t want them to make us awkward,” he mumbles, playing with his own hands.
“Nothing is gonna get to us,” Donghyuck is quick to reassure. He holds Taeil’s hands and they lock gazes. “They may laugh but only I know why I call you baby. It’s between us two.”
Taeil nods before finally saying, “Okay.”
A smile spreads across Donghyuck’s face as he pulls Taeil close to his chest. He plants a kiss on his forehead before whispering against his hair, “Love you, baby.”
ʚɞ
Donghyuck has a new routine every morning. He checks his phone to text Taeil good morning. As his classes are late, he usually wakes up to a good morning text already. Some days—around once or twice a month—Taeil forgets to text him first and Donghyuck sulks, resisting the urge to text him first. He always ends up quitting and texting “why didn’t you wish me good morning” with many sad emoticons attached to it.
Taeil says he’s sorry, that since Donghyuck slept earlier than him, he expected Hyuck to say it first. Hyuck wants to argue but Taeil is earnest and sweet so he can’t help but blabber about his entire day to him. He texts about the cold water at the dorms, how Mark farts every five seconds, how he wishes Taeil studied in the same department as him. There are times he wonders if Taeil tells him everything too. That thought is quickly forgotten when Taeil texts him back.
However, when his friend is busy, bad thoughts take over his mind. He questions if Taeil loves him as much as Hyuck loves him too. Perhaps the younger is too needy, too juvenile, too clingy, and Taeil has smarter, older friends he can rely on. Rationally, he knows Taeil has his own life and schedule and tries not blaming him but it’s hard when all he wants is to receive a sparkly pink heart notification.
“What’s the long face about?” Mark asks once he’s done playing his silly cellphone game.
Donghyuck looks away. “Taeil hasn’t texted me in a while,” he reveals, hoping Mark won’t go into another full-on rant on how they treat each other as boyfriends. He accuses Donghyuck of faking it till he makes it but Donghyuck wants to make nothing, just for his friend to text him back.
“Must be in class,” he suggests, more chill than usual.
“His Friday classes only go till midday.”
Mark raises his eyebrows. This time he cannot hide the grin on his lips. “You got his timetable memorized?”
“Shut up,” he says to him, suppressing the gay urge to kick the shit out of Mark. His phone vibrates and he turns to it. Finally, a sparkly heart notification.
He notices his lips have stretched into a smile without his consent. Perhaps he’s become a little dependent on Taeil for his happiness, but it’s just the addiction of a brand new friendship. Time will cure Donghyuck’s clinginess.
“He’s coming over,” he informs Mark, getting his towel to take a quick shower.
ʚɞ
“Hey, sorry I didn’t text you, Hyuckie!” Taeil greets as soon as he walks into the dorm. Donghyuck still has his hair wet from the shower but goes out to hug him. “You always smell so good,” Taeil whispers against his neck.
Donghyuck smirks. He loves when Taeil compliments his perfume.
“No problem,” he says, scratching the back of his head. He sits on his bed and Taeil follows suit.
They have the room for themselves. Mark was kicked out as soon as Hyuck got out of the bathroom. He wants to enjoy Taeil’s presence without his friend’s googly eyes analyzing their every move.
Donghyuck wraps his fingers around Taeil’s. The older squirms and his shy smile widens. He’s never seen his face this bright before.
“Why you smiling like that?” Donghyuck asks, smiling back at him.
Taeil looks down, stammering, “I think- Uh, I’m not sure really… I don’t know—“
“Illie, just spill it.”
Taeil takes a deep breath. “I think Johnny just asked me out on a coffee date.”
Donghyuck’s face falls flat. Johnny is Taeyong’s new friend from the art department who is slowly taking part in their friend group. He’s tall, handsome, almost the same age as Taeil and basically everything Donghyuck is not.
Taeil excitedly retells how Johnny charmed him after class and got him to agree on a coffee date. Donghyuck hums along. When Mark knocks on the door because he forgot his charger, Donghyuck welcomes him in and makes him stay. Mark is confused but follows orders. Taeil and Mark start chatting about Johnny but Donghyuck doesn’t have the patience to follow the conversation.
“Hyuckie, why the long face?” Taeil asks, bambi eyes bringing Donghyuck back to reality.
The younger fakes a smile and explains he’s just tired. Taeil seems unsure of his answer and is about to press him on the matter when Mark makes another question about the coffee date. Donghyuck wishes he had not seen that sparkly heart notification earlier that day.
ʚɞ
It’s hard for Donghyuck to not be grumpy right after waking up, especially when someone deprives him from his afternoon power nap. However, he tries to appear chill to Taeil as his friend looks sorry for having accidentally woken him up when knocking on his door. That proves to be an exceedingly difficult task when all Taeil can do is complain about Johnny standing him up at the coffee shop.
Donghyuck hums to whatever his friend is saying and scratches his messy hair. Coffee. That’s what he needs.
He gets up from his bed to get some instant coffee. Taeil continues listing how Johnny has wronged him.
“He sucks at texting me back…” Taeil says with a pout.
Donghyuck nods, trying not to act dismissive. Taeil’s been taking longer to text him back too but he’s not whining about it (actually he is but only Mark gets to hear it).
Warm arms suddenly wrap around his tummy. Donghyuck tenses as he feels Taeil’s breath on his neck.
“Why can’t he be more like you, Hyuckie?” he whines, voice so mellow it almost sounds like a meow.
Donghyuck swiftly detaches himself from Taeil’s arms and takes his warm coffee to his lips.
“Guess there’s only one of a kind out there,” he murmurs while shrugging.
Taeil sighs but doesn’t argue further. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Something lights inside Donghyuck’s chest and his lip’s corners curl. Maybe Taeil sees that he’s right here in front of him. Perhaps now he will realize who texts him back faster than speed of light, who cuddles him to sleep, who calls him baby.
“Johnny should learn a thing or two from you,” Taeil suggests. It’s a joke but it gets under Donghyuck’s nerves.
“Well, maybe Johnny should get bent,” he says, sounding more spiteful than he had intended.
Taeil almost chokes with the sudden change in tone. “What?”
“You deserve better than a guy who ignores your texts and stands you up,” Donghyuck argues.
“He doesn’t like texting a lot and he must have forgotten the time.”
Excuses. All excuses. Taeil must be really into this guy to be pleased by the bare minimum.
“Sure thing,” he agrees, albeit passive-aggressively.
That seems to scratch an itch. Taeil stares at the younger with furrowed eyebrows. “Can’t you be happy for me? Someone finally likes me,” he says, voice breaking at the end.
It almost breaks Donghyuck’s heart too. Someone finally likes me, he says, as if Donghyuck isn’t standing right in front of him.
“Whatever you say,” Donghyuck mutters.
Taeil isn’t pleased by his nonchalance stance and walks out of the dorm, leaving Donghyuck alone with his warm coffee and cold heart.
ʚɞ
Ever since Yuta warned him to take it easy, Mark Lee has been trying to stay away from Taeil and Donghyuck’s business. Sure, they look perfect for each other. Obviously they treat each other like boyfriends. Yeah, perhaps it is too much for a simply platonic relationship. However, since Mark has self-designated himself as a Sun and Moon shipper, things have taken a turn for the worse.
Taeil is seeing Johnny and barely visits their dorm anymore. Mark knows he’s not in talking terms with Donghyuck or else his friend would still be smiling at his phone like a silly schoolgirl. Yuta told him that maybe they needed some space and sure, Mark gives them that. It goes against his instincts but he tries.
However, once Donghyuck claims he isn’t going to their friends’ final exams celebration, Mark cannot stand idly by.
It doesn’t exactly go well.
“Stop asking me about Taeil!” Donghyuck shouts once Mark tries pressing him on the matter.
Mark sighs, frowning. “Just tell me you’re okay.”
That’s all he wants in the end. Donghyuck and Taeil together are a dream come true. Mark has never seen Hyuck as dedicated and loyal to anyone else in his life, not even to him. But if it comes down to Donghyuck’s well-being in the end, Mark knows what choice he will make.
Donghyuck stops. His defenses crumble down. “He doesn’t see that I like him…” he says, hurt clear in his voice. “I should get over it.”
Mark wants to argue, say that Donghyuck doesn’t know. His insecurities are blinding him. Yet, seeing his friend in this desolated state, he can only offer him comfort.
“Hyuckie…” he murmurs as he pats his back.
Donghyuck shakes his head, devoid of any hope. “It’s no use, Mark. I’ll stay away,” he mumbles, more to himself than to his friend.
Maybe Yuta is right; Mark should respect Donghyuck’s feelings and let things run their course. Taeil would still try a relationship with a guy who doesn’t give him his time of the day while Donghyuck mopes in a corner. Perhaps one day Hyuck will get over it and the two can become friends. Maybe. However, Mark cannot just stand there watching his friends make the worst mistake of their lives.
ʚɞ
Johnny said he’d be there at two. It’s past four and still no texts, no explanations, no excuses. Taeil watches Jungwoo and Jaehyun messily making out in a corner while Taeyong and Doyoung ferociously argue about something dumb only to keep themselves from kissing each other. He has never felt this single before. Mark and Yuta are next to him and try getting him in the conversation but the truth is Taeil wishes Donghyuck was here. Only he would manage to get a smile out of him tonight.
Mark asks Yuta for a very elaborate drink and he, being the gentleman he is, gets up and walks to the counter. Next thing Taeil knows, Mark has his face dangerously close to his.
“I know I shouldn’t be doing this but enough is enough,” his friend says, sounding desperate. He speaks in a hushed tone even in the crowded bar. “Donghyuck likes you, Illie.”
Taeil rolls his eyes, in hopes of dismissing this matter before it gets under his nerves. “Stop this.”
“I’m serious,” Mark says. He takes a quick look at the counter and sees Yuta is still getting the drinks. “He really likes you. He loves you, even. But he doesn’t think you love him.”
Taeil gulps. After their fight over Johnny, Taeil had considered that perhaps Jungwoo, Mark, and everyone in their friend group was right and Donghyuck has been harboring feelings for him since. He wants to discard what Mark is saying as mere wishful thinking but he can see the despair in the younger’s eyes. It also explains Donghyuck’s behavior and his lack of texts in the last week.
“And I know he is wrong but he won’t believe me,” Mark adds, pleading silently for Taeil to do something.
The older shakes his head. “I don’t see Hyuckie like that.”
“Really?” Mark scoffs with disbelief. “Didn’t you say you wish Johnny treated you like he does?”
Taeil doesn’t have anything to add. He cannot believe Donghyuck shared this information with him.
Mark takes a quick look to the counter and sees Yuta coming so he makes one last appeal. “Hyuck has been treating you like his boyfriend. Not even he knew that. But hey, fake it till you make it, right?”
Yuta sits down with them, clueless to what they are talking about. He starts asking about the soccer season that Mark keeps up with.
The drinks taste sour in Taeil’s mouth. He cannot stand this bar any longer. Who the fuck cares if Taeyong will complain he’s early? Taeil gets up from his seat and leaves enough money to pay for his bill before leaving.
ʚɞ
The next few days were hard. Taeil barely leaves his bedroom. Yuta offers him quiet support, offering to watch movies together, cooking him dinner. He never asks what’s wrong and Taeil appreciates it because he himself doesn’t know what’s wrong. Donghyuck likes him. He is trying to get over him, that’s why he’s away. Taeil misses his friend, but why does it hurt so much?
He picks up his diary for his weekly writing session. He isn’t quite sure of what to write. His mind is hollow, nothing inside. It’s better if he reads his diary. He’s never done that before.
At first he’s astonished by how messy his handwriting is but finds his way around it. Next thing he is shocked about is the sheer amount of times Donghyuck is mentioned. Taeil writes about how Hyuck is his first morning text every day, how he adores getting that pink sparkly heart notification, how he lights his dark days.
He reads every word of every sentence on every single page. It dawns on him he’s been in love with Donghyuck. He can’t quite tell since when, even in his accounts he can’t see when it’s turned from platonic to romantic, but it happened.
His alarm rings. He cannot spend any more time reading or else he'd re-read his words again and again. Now it’s time to take action.
“What are we?” he asks before ordering anything in the coffee shop. This should be quick.
Johnny almost chokes on his Americano. “Hm?”
Taeil looks at him through his round-rimmed glasses. Johnny is certainly charming. He is the type of man that makes anyone’s heart flutter. However, he was only ever mentioned in the diary when Taeil complained Johnny didn't show him any signs of mutual feelings. Taeil now questions if there were any feelings coming from his own side.
“I think… Honestly speaking, Johnny, I don’t think I like you romantically,” he says, cutting straight to the chase.
“Oh, thank god,” Johnny sighs in relief. It is a little offensive, Taeil would at least expect him to feign sadness. Before he can leave, Johnny adds, “Actually, I was starting to get interested in that Yuta guy from the art department, you know him?”
“He’s my best friend,” Taeil informs him dryly.
For the first time, he can recognize a guilty expression in Johnny’s face.
“Fuck.”
Taeil doesn’t have time for this. He has one last place to go to settle all this mess. Without bidding goodbye, he leaves in a rushed pace to a building he knows quite well the path to.
ʚɞ
His footsteps lead the way. There’s no clear reason for him to be running and breathless but perhaps he’s watched too many 90s rom-coms and this is his grand run to the airport. Donghyuck doesn’t have a flight scheduled but any second without him feels like the younger is slipping through his fingers. What if, in the short time they were apart, Donghyuck has fallen in love with someone else? It’s only fair after Taeil acted like that but still, he selfishly hopes Donghyuck is too hung up to fall for someone new.
“Hyuck!” he shouts after loudly smacking the door. “Open up, I know you’re in there!”
Taeil waits a few seconds and is ready to hit the door again when a voice calls from inside.
“How?” Donghyuck asks. Taeil is caught by surprise and takes a moment to answer so Donghyuck says, “I know you don’t have my timetable memorized.”
It’s true. Taeil’s memory is very lacking and he forgets things sometimes. He doesn’t mean to and he tells Donghyuck that but he sees the hurt in his friend’s eyes when he forgets what movies they’ve seen together or what they have eaten the week before.
“Yeah, but I put it on an app so that I know,” he replies.
There’s no answer. Taeil is unsure what he should do. Maybe knock on the door again. Or leave. Perhaps Donghyuck doesn’t want to talk to him after all. Taeil should have realized his feelings a long time ago.
Before he can make a decision, Donghyuck opens the door. He is wearing sweatpants and a shirt. Taeil knows for a fact that he never wears a shirt inside the dorm so he must have put it on before opening the door. It puts an invisible barrier between them.
It’s been little time since they’ve seen each other but Taeil can see Donghyuck hasn’t been shaving or trimming his hair. He could use the shave but Taeil quite likes his hair long like this. He imagines his fingers going through his hair as Hyuck lays his head on his lap and they watch a movie together.
Donghyuck crosses his arms, uninterested but annoyed by Taeil standing at the doorway. The older quickly comes in. He waits for Donghyuck to say something but the younger seems unwilling to start the conversation.
“Do you know why?” Taeil asks.
“Should I?”
“Because I’m in love with you,” Taeil confesses. Donghyuck’s eyes widen and he loses his uninterested pose. Taeil takes a few steps to be closer to him. “I don’t know for how long I’ve been in love with you, but I am and I’m sorry I didn’t see it before. I’m sorry I couldn’t see someone finally loved me back. I’m sorry if I’m too late.”
He looks down. His heart beats in his chest. He’s been indirectly turned down by friends two times before but it never felt like this. They were simple infatuations compared to how his hands sweat and his blood pumps through his veins whenever he catches sight of Donghyuck. Perhaps because his feelings were this strong that Taeil didn’t want to see. He got over Doyoung and Jaehyun in a month. Taeil is not sure if he’s ever going to get over Donghyuck.
A hand wraps around his and he looks up to find Donghyuck’s teary eyes. The younger has always had a softer heart than Taeil. With his free hand, Taeil wipes his cheek with his thumb.
“It could be a year or a decade from now, it’d never be too late,” Donghyuck says, voice breaking from emotion.
Taeil leans closer and Donghyuck does the same. Their kiss starts tame, gentle. Even though they have been friends for so long, it’s a new chapter for them. They will know other sides of themselves. Donghyuck leads the kiss and Taeil happily goes along, opening his mouth and following his motions. The younger pulls him by his waist and Taeil doesn’t know if there’s any part of his body that is not touching Donghyuck. Hyuck lets go of the kiss and wraps himself around Taeil. The older feels as if Hyuck might never let go of him and he might be right.
ʚɞ
When they tell their friend group, they don’t believe it. Not because they don't think Donghyuck and Taeil aren’t in love but it is obvious for them that they have been dating and failing to keep it on the low. Taeil has to vow on Yuta’s life that they have been in fact just been dating for a week. Doyoung still looks suspicious but decides to agree and let the matter go.
Johnny is hesitantly accepted into the friend group. He doesn’t stop trying to pursue Yuta, which Taeil is fine with since he has the best boyfriend in the world now. Somehow, their new friend ends up in a throuple with Yuta and Mark too. No one quite understands them but Donghyuck seems pleased to have Johnny far, far away from his boyfriend.
Once Donghyuck is done with university and Taeil finishes his master thesis, they decide it’s time to live together. They move into a nice little apartment near a park and adopt two cats. Mark suggests naming them sun and moon but Donghyuck boos him as uncreative. Taeil and Donghyuck decide on naming one of the cats Sinatra and the other one MJ.
It’s in their usual routine, when Donghyuck comes later after getting by the supermarket and their cats are extra clingy that Taeil stops and thinks how lucky he is that he found his soulmate. When he was younger he thought he had looked for such a long time, but he was wrong. Donghyuck showed up exactly at the right time and there isn’t a day Taeil isn’t thankful that he didn’t give up on them.