Archive of Our Own

Under the bright azure sky, the city of Cheongdo, wrapped in the warm embrace of summer, shimmered like every building and streets in its vicinity were awash in liquid gold. Sunlight streamed between huge, white clouds lazily hovering across the heavens, casting radiant rays over bougainvillea cascading on stone walls, and jade fescues dancing with the gentle breeze of July. The hum of air conditioning units in every house and establishment was more apparent, and the loud cackles of the youth, enjoying their time off school, rang in every corner of the parks, the ice cream parlors and the bustling beach.

Yoon Jeonghan, despite his preference to stay indoors and spend the whole day under piles of blankets in front of his new Samsung S90C OLED, enjoyed summer the most out of all the other seasons. There was no need to bundle up and cocoon himself in a far too expensive, and heavy coat or parka when the sun was out, and there was no need to take his seasonal shots when there was no pollen to trigger his rhinitis; how he can eat popsicles on the daily and not be judged was also a plus, and how everyone seemed to be taking everything slow like they had all the time the world, was definitely an additional bonus.

June, July, and August, according to everyone who knew Jeonghan, were the months he glowed and thrived the most, and he couldn’t really protest when it was factually and proven to be correct. Confidence ran through his bloodstream as he donned a large pair of sunglasses, holding a very cold and very tall cup of iced coffee, prowling the streets of Cheongdo like he had his life figured out, and flaunting his long and lean legs under a pair of cream shorts, or a high-waisted linen pants, the smooth skin of his arms and chest, deliciously exposed through his collection of tasteful tank tops and soft, oversized shirts.

There had always been something in the vibrant energy of summer that immeasurably lifted Jeonghan’s spirit, its bright days and sweltering nights making him feel as radiant and as pretty as the season itself. And with his lips tinted with a bright red gloss flavored with artificial strawberry, and the scent of talc clinging to every fiber of his being, he was invincible. Theoretically, he would seize every single day of summer, and if someone said he would be caught off-guard, tongue-tied, and flustered as a sliver of sunlight hovered over half of his face, he would’ve been on the floor laughing because there was in no way anything like that could happen; not when summer was always on his side.

But it wasn’t even half past six in the morning, and Jeonghan had already been gobsmacked, rendered speechless as he practically speed walked along the barely awake streets of Cheongdo, sweat dotting his forehead while his running attire clung to his body like a second skin, pointedly ignoring the medium-sized, white fluff wriggling inside his arms. Cursing under his breath, he maintained his speed despite the protests of his shins, determined to get his problems solved as soon as he could.

“I knew jogging was not a great idea,” he muttered to himself, chest heaving as he ascended up a flight of stairs in an apartment building he could call his second home, his limbs getting heavier every step he took. Regret came in a form of tight chest and the sound of ugly wheezing, strands of hair plastered on his wet forehead. Jeonghan didn’t feel hot as the article about jogging he read late last night said, the sense of fulfilment the journalist babbled about nowhere to be found as he only felt gross; he would’ve probably felt better if he slept late and got himself an iced caramel macchiato and a large stack of pancakes doused in syrup. “Hot summer girl my ass.”

Feet landing on the floor of his destination, Jeonghan wasted no time and trudged forward, thanking the heavens for keeping the hallway empty; he thought he wouldn’t be able to cope if one of his best friend’s neighbor saw him in his current state- smelling like a wet dog, and probably even looking like one, too. Totally not cute, and totally not Jeonghan.

Gritting his teeth, he frantically knocked on the thick, wooden door in front of him, balancing the squirming mass of fur on his hip, and thanking God for having a best friend who was almost always available for him to bother no matter how early it was in the morning or how late it was in the evening. With the best pout he could muster, he sniffed and held Hong Jisoo’s gaze, whose head peeked from the small gap of the opened door, donning a wry look, and suspicious glare.

“Well, well, well,” Jisoo drawled, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Jeonghan from head to toe, nose scrunching. The other man, despite his bed head and bleary eyes, looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine instead of rolling out of his bed; people who are blissfully in love were really in a different caliber, and Jeonghan couldn’t help but let his pout fall to sneer at the reminder of his predicament. “What have you gotten yourself into this time?”

“Long story,” he muttered under his breath, although it was everything but a long story. The bottom line was that he was a dumbass who clearly wasn’t allowed to wake up earlier than the sun and be permitted to jog alone just in case he bumped into one of his past suitors and make a fool out of himself, which he did, his mind still reeling at the sight of Chae Hyungwon, all muscles and sweat, looking incredibly flawless for someone who had just ran more miles than what Jeonghan could comprehend, hands on hips as he gushed at how long time had passed, and asked how he had been. “I don’t even know why I blurted out I’m dating someone now! He didn’t even ask! And now I’m invited on a double date this afternoon and I just can’t not show up!”

“Do you really think Hyungwon would believe us if we showed up at the festival as boyfriends?” Jisoo queried, frowning as he moved around in his little kitchenette, the smell of coffee and toast making Jeonghan salivate just a tiny bit. Curled up pathetically on the floor beside the trash bin, the only spot where he was allowed to sit, Jeonghan sulked, petulant. “Not only are we both bottoms, we’re also the pettiest people on this planet. Even he would know our relationship won’t work for… how long did you say you were off the market again?”

“Two,” he whispered, avoiding Jisoo’s burning glare.

“Two months?” Jisoo queried, his tone laced with disbelief.

“No,” he breathed out, picking at his hang nails and grimacing when his best friend asked if he said two weeks. “I actually said two years. Have some faith in us, Jisoo!”

“Jeonghan, we wouldn’t even last for two fucking days!” Jisoo yelled, exasperated as he slammed his hand down on his counter and immediately let out a pained ‘Ow!’ Somewhere in the other man’s apartment, there was a clang, and then the sound of muffled footfalls; both of which made the two men look at the direction of the living room, where a white cloud was currently wagging its tail, making its way to Jeonghan. “And why the fuck do you have a dog?”

“The dog ran up to me and I just picked it up like this,” he murmured, cradling the dog before holding it up like it was Simba; even the sunlight was playing its part, sneaking between Jisoo’s curtains, and showering the squirming dog with an orange glow. “Then I said, ‘me and my boyfriend are so serious, we adopted a dog.’ In my head, we could've definitely lasted two years, lived under one roof, and raised a dog.”

“You’re a mess, and not even a hot one.” Jisoo snorted, motioning for Jeonghan to release the dog that immediately ran back to the living room before he abandoned the coffee maker and the toaster. On the floor, Jeonghan watched his best friend open his laptop, hip propped on the counter, with a very determined face; he probably would've whined about the lack of breakfast if Jisoo was on a better mood, but because he needed to be on the other man's good side, he remained silent. “We’re going to hire a boyfriend for rent as anyone would do in this kind of situation.”

Actually, fuck being silent.

Jeonghan was on his feet even before Jisoo could spray him with water, and keep him where he belonged, slotting himself beside his best friend and shoving his face on the laptop screen where a website was already pulled up, flashing him with colors that didn’t mesh well together, outdated fonts, and a shit ton of ads that made him thank God that Jisoo figured out how to enable his Windows Defender.

“I’m not going to go out with someone from this shoddy-”

“Okay, do you have other ideas?” Jisoo challenged, elbowing Jeonghan, who grunted exaggeratedly, nursing his side as he pouted; it was summer, and he wasn’t supposed to be sulking when the day was so pretty, and when he could be just as beautiful, too, but how could he not thump his forehead on the counter when he was feeling gross and cornered, and when he had done something so stupid? “Mingyu would go with you, but he’s out of town. Jihoon is too lazy, and I’m not going to let you borrow my boyfriend!”

“Seokmin and I would look really good together, though,” he sighed, lifting his head up from the counter to give Jisoo one of his prettier beams, hoping that his best friend would give in and allow him to frolic around the summer festival downtown with his hunk of a boyfriend. But instead of a tender ‘fine,’ he got a painful kick on his shin instead. “Would you please stop hurting me?!”

“Then stop being a dumbass and stop making me so damn mad!” Jisoo yelled, snatching his laptop away and making a beeline to his couch, throwing Jeonghan a dirty look. Jeonghan wondered how they stayed close for so long, and was reminded immediately that their ability to humble each other was exactly the reason why they worked; it helped, too, he guessed, that they truly wanted what was best for one another- they could be stupid at times, after all, and who would help a dumbass if not another dumbass? “Don't even think about sitting here.”

“Fine! Hire a super hot guy with a banging body!” He barked, taking in a deep breath and telling himself that too much frowning would give him wrinkles. Schooling his features, he convinced himself that the day could still be salvaged, and he still could seize it. But first, he needed a reset. “Hey, can I use your shower?”

“Please do. You stink,” Jisoo replied, eyes glued to the laptop on his lap. Jeonghan didn’t stay to argue, fully aware that, although he was far from smelling funky, he did reek of sweat and desperation. Navigating his way in the apartment, he moved with haste, his best friend’s voice echoing in the narrow hallway connecting the living room and the kitchen to the bedroom and the bathroom. “If this dog pees on my carpet, I’m holding you responsible!”

Already feeling a tiny bit better, Jeonghan cleared his head as he peeled his running attire from his body, balling his shirt and shorts before tossing the offending pieces of garment on an empty hamper. Breathing deep, and breathing loudly, he locked himself in the bathroom and hurriedly stood under the shower, the cold spray of water instantly making him perk up as the smell of lavender from Jisoo’s shampoo and body wash filled his lungs.

Summer or not, he knew he needed to get his shit together. What he did in the park, in front of Hyungwon, was embarrassing, yes, but it could lead to something good, too. Jisoo cared about him, after all, and if the other man thought that hiring a boyfriend online would be the best solution to his predicament, then he would trust him wholeheartedly. Plus, his best friend knew him well, he wouldn’t let him walk around the festival with anyone who wasn’t his type.

With renewed vigor, Jeonghan stepped out of the bathroom smelling like a well-tended garden in a rich man’s yard, pulling on a soft, white jumper over his head and stepping in a pair of beige shorts he found neatly folded on his very own, small dresser, in Jisoo’s bedroom. He was ready to seize the day, he figured, despite the sirens softly blaring at the back of his mind, he was determined to ignore the anxiety brewing somewhere in his chest, choosing to focus on what was in front of him instead of what was about to come.

“Don’t get attached,” he warned as he walked in the living room. Jisoo was a cat person, but considering who he was currently dating, a firefighter, who had three enthusiastic dalmatians, Jeonghan wasn’t surprised to see his best friend lying on the carpeted floor with the dog sleeping on his chest.

“Coffee Cove,” Jisoo whispered, looking up as he stroked the dog’s back tenderly. “Eight o’clock sharp. Don’t be late.”

“It’s seven thirty-five,” he hissed back, cursing under his breath as his best friend only gave him a shrug. “I hate- I love you, but sometimes, I hate you.”

Time flew as Jeonghan ransacked Jisoo’s closet, not at all sorry for flinging clothes onto the bed and the floor, all of which landed in haphazard piles in the room. Sweat dotted his forehead as the clock ticked loudly, its hands moving far too fast for his liking. When he was still living with his mother, the older Yoon would always watch him frantically search his closet for something to wear, always cooing at him and assuring him that even if he wore a potato sack, he would still be the prettiest boy in the world. And although Jeonghan was aware that was probably true, he just couldn’t turn up in a less than impressive outfit for a man he didn’t know. The thing was, he needed to make an impression that didn’t scream ‘I’m-a-painfully-single-dumbass-who-needs-a-fake-boyfriend-because-I-couldn’t-keep-a-relationship-for-more-than-a-few-weeks.’

“Jisoo, would you please stop cradling that dog and help me?” He half-whispered, half-yelled, stomping down the hallway and onto the living room, donning a lightweight, pastel blue shirt that billowed with his purposeful strides, and a sandy, cotton shorts that ended just above his knee. Hands on his hips, Jeonghan groaned at the sight of Jisoo, still on the floor, curled around the dog he kept calling Kkuma; how and why he came up with that name, Jeonghan didn’t know and frankly, he didn’t care. “How about this combo-”

“If you ask me one more time about your outfit, I'm going to report you to the police for taking a dog from the park,” Jisoo threatened quietly like he wasn’t enjoying the dog’s company, his glare sharp and mean despite his gentle tone. “Eight o’clock sharp, Jeonghan. Look for a hunk wearing black.”

Fighting off a loud groan and giving in to the temptation of blowing off Hyungwon’s invitation, Jeonghan hurriedly stepped out of Jisoo’s apartment, the summer sun pouring over him, chasing away his anxiety and filling his chest with buoyant joy instead. The heat was invigorating, and the smell of fresh mangoes and watermelons from a fruit stand just outside his best friend’s building helped lift the weight from his shoulders completely. Oh, the day could be good, and time, once again, had run faster than he would’ve liked. One second, he was twiddling his thumbs in a cab, and the next, he was sitting in Coffee Cove, one pair of round, umber eyes staring back at him.

“Haven’t we met each other before?” Jeonghan found himself breaking the silence, blinking as his heart, for some unknown reason, couldn’t stop thrashing in the constraints of his rib cage. In front of him was a man, whose dark hair was tousled adorably on top of his head, and whose thick eyebrow was raised, his plump mouth, red and glistening under the soft glare of the sun, parted.

“I don’t know,” the man drawled, his voice rich, velvety, and so familiar, a subtle, almost knowing smile playing at the corner of his lips. “You tell me.”

Jeonghan could feel himself nearing his climax, back arching as large hands gripped his waist, holding his hips tight and upright as the man on top of him buried his throbbing cock between his hot, clenching walls leisurely, slowing his pace the more Jeonghan squirmed, and the more he begged for release. Whimpering, he lifted his arms up and beckoned the other man closer, threading his fingers through lush, sweaty hair as his request was granted with a smug grin.

“You want to come, baby?” The man’s voice was a seductive murmur in his ears, filled with confidence and allure, and Jeonghan was putty, melting as he spoke, each word tantalizing, drawing him closer and closer to his release. Jeonghan whined, looking up and almost combusting at the sight of the man, whose expression was pinched but calm, amused but oh, so pleased. His eyes, half-lidded and dark and intense, sparkling with mischief and soft fondness as he thrust in between his words, punctuating his sentiments with a squeeze on the hip, and a kiss on the collarbone. “You’ve been so good, haven’t you? Taking me so fucking well like you were born to take my cock, Jesus- so tight, and so perfect. My baby deserves to come, right?”

“Yes, please,” Jeonghan babbled, using his remaining strength to meet each thrust the other man was making, mewling so pathetically, so desperately over the cock splitting him open so deliciously, and over the low, quiet voice that continued praising him, calling him sweet names, and telling him dirty, filthy things of what he wanted to do to him, of where he wanted to fuck him, what positions, and God, Jeonghan was such a goner for his voice. “Continue, please keep talking. I- fuck, I love your voice so much, I can- I can come with just your voice.”

And he did, oh, he did. Convulsing inside the other man’s strong embrace, he came untouched, still getting nailed on the mattress as the man continued whispering sweet, filthy nothings in his ear, nipping on his skin, leaving purple bruises on his flushed skin. Jeonghan didn’t know how it was possible to come several times in one night, but with the stranger he met in one of Jisoo’s favorite high-end clubs, nothing seemed to be impossible.

Jeonghan blinked, something akin to thrill running up his spine as goosebumps spread all throughout his body; at the back of his mind, the siren blared a little louder, his throat dry at the recollection of someone whispering ‘Baby’ in his ear, over and over again, with the same voice as the man in front of him had, the praises moaned on the crook of his neck several months ago, making his pulse race. But that man couldn’t be the man before him, could it? There was no way they could meet again like that, not in such a ridiculous kind of way- fate wasn’t supposed to have a sense of humor.

“Do you have a name?” He blurted out, palms clammy as the other man titled his head to the side, holding his gaze. “My best friend-”

“Set this up, I know. Jisoo already filled me in.” the man assured, his grin growing impossibly wider while he, himself, grew more and more handsome. Jeonghan swallowed hard, staring down at the outstretched hand in front of him, subtly wiping his palm on the fabric of his shorts before accepting the gesture of greeting, heart skipping at the contact. “My name is Choi Seungcheol. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You have a funny name,” Jeonghan said through his fit of giggles, clenching his hands on the fabric of the other man’s shirt as his neck was peppered with fleeting kisses, the butterflies in his stomach flying wildly while being devoured so gently, so sweetly. “Why is your name so funny, huh?”

“Let’s see if it’s still funny once you start yelling it later,” the man grunted, although not displeased if the smile on his mouth when he raised his head was any indication, pressing himself closer to Jeonghan, who preened at the lack of distance between their bodies. Feeling bold, he pulled the other man down for a kiss, trapping the man’s bottom lip between his teeth, biting softly, before sucking on the soft flesh, proud when the man moaned so beautifully. “Hmmm so glad I dragged my ass out of my apartment tonight… so glad I saw you at the bar looking so pretty… so glad you chose me out of so many men staring at you- fuck, do you always do this? Command the room, look so alluring, and choose who’s going to get lucky?”

“No. I- I’m kind of surprised this is happening, actually,” he admitted, feeling seen and vulnerable as the other man held his gaze, nodding somberly as his thumbs drew circles on the sliver of skin peeking between his shirt and pants, the gesture was sweet and welcomed. “I don’t- I like being looked at, but being touched like this by a stranger? Not so- not so much.”

“We’ll go at your pace, I promise,” the man mumbled, pressing a chaste kiss on his mouth and nose. “If I do something that you don’t like, tell me and I’ll stop. And we can just watch a movie, or I can just go home-”

“Nuh-uh, you’re not going home.” He shook his head, snaking his arms around the other man’s neck and pressing himself on the man’s growing arousal. “I want you so much… want everything with you… please.”

“I’m pretty special, then?” The man queried, his eyes sparkling, clearly pleased as he let his hands wander down Jeonghan’s side, squeezing his ass tight before grinding his bulge on Jeonghan’s own. “Considering I can do this to you… considering you invited me back to your apartment.”

“It’s not fair how you look a hundred times hotter when you’re smug like this,” he exhaled, shuddering as the other man ducked down to nip the flesh of his neck, biting and sucking like he had every intention to devour him like a tempting meal. Jeonghan’s chest caved, tugging on the man’s locks as he rolled his hips on the thigh that was slotted between his trembling legs. “I don’t want to stroke your ego, but fuck, mmm’so glad I met you tonight, Choi Seungcheol.”

Statistically speaking, coming across people with the same names was high in South Korea. So the Choi Seungcheol in front of Jeonghan, could possibly not be the Choi Seungcheol that fucked him so good and so hard that he swore he started seeing stars. There was no way they could be the same person, right? Not when the Choi Seungcheol before looked at him with so much lust, so much wanting and the Choi Seungcheol in front of him had big, baby cow eyes, looking at him like how any other people would, with adoration and reverence.

“I’m Yoon Jeonghan-”

“I know,” Seungcheol hummed, squeezing Jeonghan’s hand before letting go. Breath hitching, Jeonghan’s eyes widened, looking expectantly at the other man. “Jisoo told me.”

So, he wasn’t the Choi Seungcheol that left his apartment after fucking him and promising to take him out on a date; Jeonghan was both glad and aghast, shaking his head as he reminded himself not to make a fool out of himself the second time that day. Besides, the other man didn’t show any indication that they knew each other. Maybe his memory was just hazy; he did get fucked to oblivion that night, perhaps he wasn’t remembering correctly. Nodding to himself, he clapped his hands and decided to get right into business.

“Then shall we discuss the rules?” He announced, smiling as bright as he could, his cheeks warmed under Seungcheol’s unwavering gaze. “I’m sure boyfriends for rent have rules of their own, too. I’d like to talk about boundaries-”

“I don’t have boundaries, but I’ll respect yours,” Seungcheol murmured, the beam on his mouth still intact, still blinding, and Jeonghan almost wanted to run back to Jisoo and shake him by the shoulders because how the fuck was he able to hire someone who was exactly right up at his alley? “Do what you want, I’ll adapt accordingly. There’s no need to make this more complicated than it already is.”

“You do this for a living, how is this complicated-”

“Just let me know your green and red zones,” Seungcheol drew out, interrupting Jeonghan, who didn’t have the heart to get irritated, once again, as he felt his whole body going rigid. “My hands and my mouth will stay away from your red zones, everything else is free real estate.”

“Is this okay?” Jeonghan heard Seungcheol ask seconds after he felt a set of teeth sinking down on his inner thigh, the wet feeling of the other man’s tongue, sliding over the flesh where he was bit, effectively wringing out a muffled whimper from his swollen, and thoroughly ravaged mouth. Sat on the couch with his legs spread wide, back arching, and cock hard, it was as if he was in heaven and not in his living room, his soul practically hovering over his sensitive body as he stared at the man kneeling in front of him, impeccably dressed, still, while he, on the other hand, wore nothing but the most seductive smile he could muster. “I haven’t done anything to you yet and you already looked wrecked- fuck, do you remember your colors, baby?”

“Red for stop, and green for yes, please keep going,” he murmured, inhaling deep and exhaling with a moan as Seungcheol awarded him with a handsome smirk, and squeeze on his hips, his mouth finding its way back to soft flesh of his inner thigh, biting, and sucking, and soothing his nips with languid strokes of his sinful tongue. Threading his fingers through the other man’s thick locks, Jeonghan gripped and tugged, leaning his back on his plush couch as he watched the other man paint his ivory skin with different hues of pinks and reds. “You don’t have to hold back for my sake, you know?”

“I know, and trust me, I have no plans of holding back,” Seungcheol answered, and just like that, with the other man nuzzling his cheek on his knee, leaning on his touch and outright humming with palpable delight, he looked like a docile dog, smiling contently up at him, sighing happily as if he had been dreaming of that moment his entire life, as if he finally found where he belonged. Those thoughts did something to Jeonghan’s heart, his chest constricting as he wondered if the other man would look just as blissful if they were to wake up on the same bed together. “I just really want you to enjoy this, too. So, kindly humor me a bit, and use your colors. I promise to make it worth your while.”

“Green,” he whispered, dragging his fingernails on Seungcheol’s scalp as he bit on his bottom lip, a surge of pleasure bursting somewhere between his lungs as the other man started thumbing the slit of his cock, spreading precum on his head while he slid his tongue up his hard length; the scene before him was obscene, but the sounds that came after he continued chanting ‘green’ was on a whole different level, and he doubted that he would forget about the symphony of mewls and slurps and growls that mingled in the four corners of his living room. The wet heat of Seungcheol’s mouth was absolutely maddening, his tongue, too skillful and too inept, and it was absolutely ridiculous how the other man could deepthroat him and still look gorgeous; looking up at him with big, brown eyes, watery and oh, so filled with veneration, skin flushed and cheeks hollow as he sucked and then swallowing like like he knew exactly what made Jeonghan’s whole body shudder.

“Keep this up and I’ll come down your throat,” he warned, surprised that he was able to form a cohesive sentence after what felt like hours of babbling like a desperate and needy bitch in heat. With a gasp and then a whine, he watched Seungcheol pull away, his mouth oh, so red, glistening with saliva and precum, stretching into a wide, smug grin; heat bloomed under Jeonghan’s cheek when his hips buckled, his cock chasing after the warmth of the other man’s mouth. “Stop staring-”

“Green,” Seungcheol declared, his voice rough and sexy, and Jeonghan wondered how he hadn’t melted under the other man’s ministrations yet. With one swift motion, the man had shifted both of Jeonghan’s thighs over his shoulders, pulling him impossibly close, and Jeonghan felt his hands clenched into fists, nails digging on his palms as Seungcheol licked his lips, eyes him shamelessly through long, dark lashes. “I wouldn’t be opposed to you coming down my throat. In fact, that has been my goal since the beginning. So, please, baby, green. Come for me, come in me. Anytime you want.”

Jeonghan didn’t need to be told twice; folding his body, hands buried on Seungcheol’s hair as the other man took him in his mouth again, swallowing him whole and urging him, encouraging him to come, to let go, and how could he deny the man of what he wanted? How could he deny himself of a good release? With a broken moan, Jeonghan snapped, coming directly down Seungcheol’s throat, limbs quivering as he pulled away slightly, giving the man some space to breathe, to swallow his load. And Jesus, how did he get so lucky? Looking down at Seungcheol, who was busy lapping whatever trace of release that was left on his softening cock, cheeks ruddy and eyes bright.

“Green,” he breathed out, cupping Seungcheol’s face and making him return his gaze. “Green to everything that you want.”

“Your whole body is a green zone?” Seungcheol asked again, although there was no judgement or humor in his tone, Jeonghan still couldn’t stop himself from blushing, ducking his head down to stare at the stack of pancakes in front of him instead of the other man’s handsome face. Timidly, he nodded and stabbed his breakfast with a fork, stuffing his mouth with a huge portion of his pancake, soaked in syrup and butter. “”Do you tempt people like this on the daily?”

“Hey, it’s not like that’s an open invitation for you to grope me in the festival. Just do what you deem fit for a couple who have been going out for two years, and are committed to each other enough to adopt and care for a dog,” he explained through a mouthful of pancakes, ears burning hot when the other man chuckled and offered him a napkin. With a quiet thanks, he snatched the napkin from the man and wiped his mouth, swallowing his food before speaking again. “And no, I don’t- I’m kind of surprised this is happening, actually. I don’t- I don’t usually go out with a stranger.”

Jeonghan’s mind reeled at the overwhelming sense of deja vu that hit him in the chest, almost choking when one of Seungcheol’s eye, twitched.

“Then, you set the pace,” Seungcheol drawled, leaning back on his seat as he brought his cup of coffee to his mouth, inhaling the aroma deeply before taking a small sip. Jeonghan bit on his tongue, the familiar scene unfolding right before him reminding him of the other Choi Seungcheol who gave him one of his best nights, and one of his worst mornings. “Tell me more about this dog we adopted.”

“She’s a medium-sized pup shaped like a cloud,” he answered, shaking his head to get rid of the thoughts threatening to cloud his better judgement, and focusing on the more important stuff right in front of him. Determined to show Hyungwon that he was already a happily taken man, he was quick to keep himself from unravelling, taking out a small notepad and a pen he stole from Jisoo, and telling Seungcheol the details of their relationship. “We met in Sanctuary, I took you home, you fucked me good, we went out for waffles the next day, and the rest is history.”

“How about I fucked you so good, left my number for you to call the next day because I needed to leave due to an emergency, you never called, and we eventually met again in a festival?” Seungcheol suggested, and Jeonghan could only frown, glad that he wasn’t chewing or drinking because he probably would’ve choked or spat his juice at the other man’s quip. Frowning, he remained silent, unsure of what to say next. “You know, to make it more dramatic.”

“Maybe we should keep it simple,” he mumbled cautiously, avoiding eye contact and choosing to look at the other man’s forehead, reminding himself again that the Choi Seungcheol in front of him was different from his Choi Seungcheol, because if his Choi Seungcheol did leave his number, Jeonghan would’ve surely called. Concluding that the boyfriend-for-hire simply had a flair for the theatrics, he found the courage to hold his gaze again. “Hyungwon won’t ask us many details about our relationship, he’s respectful like that. We just need to be lovey-dovey to be convincing. Make me smile, make me blush, and we’re golden.”

“Alright, simple enough,” Seungcheol heaved, a flicker of disappointment flashing in his eyes, his grin returning even before Jeonghan could overthink again. A beat of silence passed between them, the sound of the coffee shop, the hum of the coffee machines and the sound of patrons talking were enough to not make the stillness on their table awkward and uncomfortable. “This Hyungwon guy, is he an ex-boyfriend of yours?”

“Oh, no. He used to be a suitor of mine,” he elaborated, swirling the metal straw on his drink and watching the ice cubes spin and melt as he told Seungcheol how persistent Hyungwon was, how steadfast in pursuing him and making him his boyfriend. “He was- he is a nice guy, don’t get me wrong. I just didn’t like him enough to make a commitment. We parted ways as friends, years passed, and we bumped into each other this morning. I panicked, I think, assuming that he was going to make a move on me again. That's why I just blurted out that I already have a boyfriend.”

“Great intention, poor execution,” Seungcheol commented, eyes crinkling with amusement. Huffing, Jeonghan rolled his eyes, defending himself and insisting again that he panicked because he wouldn’t be able to take it again if Hyungwon started courting him again. It would break his heart, he said, chewing on the inside of his cheek he surmised that as much as he enjoyed people’s attention, he hated leading them on. “So you don’t just go with anyone, then? Let’s say someone tried to pick you up in the club, you say no, then?”

“No, unless they’re interesting and I see a future with them,” he admitted, blushing furiously when Seungcheol raised an eyebrow. “It’s just- I think it’s a waste of time to spend time with people I wouldn’t even be able to see again. Do you think that’s weird?”

“No, I don’t think it’s weird.” Seungcheol shook his head, a curious look blooming on his face. With a jolt, Jeonghan felt the other man’s knee nudging his own under the table, his breath hitching at the sudden contact. “You’ve never been picked up from the club, then? Considering you’re in need of a fake boyfriend.”

“I’ve been picked up once,” he shared, the taste of maple on his tongue replaced with the taste of cherry soaked in an overly sweetened mocktail. Taking in a deep breath, he stood up and cocked his head to the side, motioning for the other man to do the same. “But we should really get going. The festival is probably in full swing right now. And the earlier we go, the earlier we can end this.”

Jeonghan didn’t think that at the tender age of twenty-seven, the butterflies in his stomach could still flutter so wildly. Yet, there he was, elbow propped on a small circular table, his chin resting on his hand as he marveled at the wonderful sight in front of him. Draped in darkness and dancing neon lights, Choi Seungcheol, a nameless stranger smiling at him from the other side of the club just minutes ago, grinned boyishly, charming his way to Jeonghan’s pants as he talked about getting dragged out of his apartment by his friends.

“This isn’t my usual scene,” Seungcheol explained, scrunching his nose as the crowd on the dance floor collectively cheered at the start of, what seemed to be, their most requested song. Somewhere in there, Jisoo was probably dancing, too, with Seokmin, who had two left feet, but a heart big enough to grant his boyfriend’s request to jive with the rest of the sweaty clubgoers. “I don’t have enough energy to deal with all of these after work.”

“What do you do for a living anyway?” He asked, his curiosity reaching higher peaks the more he spent time with the other man. Jeonghan didn’t usually entertain anyone in clubs, often choosing to drink his mocktails in silence, soak in the attention without actually giving anyone a chance to flirt with him or whisper sweet nothings in his ear. But Seungcheol was different, and the fact that it was Jeonghan who made his way to where the man was silently watching him spoke volumes, garnering a knowing smile from Jisoo, who caught him ambling up to the other man, dressed to the nines with his white button-up and black slacks.

“I’m an athletic trainer,” Seungcheol answered, chuckling when Jeonghan tilted his head slightly and dragged his eyes on the other man’s exposed forearms, cursing his sleeves, rolled up to his elbows to hide the rest of his glorious form. Trapping his bottom lip between his teeth, Jeonghan urged him to continue speaking, letting him talk about why he chose to be a trainer instead of an athlete, listening as he continued to eye the man’s arms. “You can touch my arms if you want. I’m not going to stop you.”

“To be fair, I am listening to you talk, and I’m glad to know that your parents supported you and your passion,” he explained, face heating up as he held Seungcheol’s gaze, looking embarrassed, but unabashedly slid one hand on the other man’s arm, giggling under his breath when he felt the athletic trainer flexing, encouraging his ministrations, and entertaining his whims. “And in my head, we’ve been dating for a while and we’re thinking about getting our own place so we can adopt a dog together, and live happily ever after.”

“Yeah?” Seungcheol whispered, and Jeonghan, transfixed, could only swallow hard as the other man stood on his full height, taking his hands and placing them both on his chest, hard and warm, his heartbeat thumping against his palm. Bewitched, Jeonghan allowed himself to touch, hands running on the wide expanse of the other man’s chest before sliding up to his wide shoulders and down his impressive arms. The air between them was electric, and suddenly, he couldn’t breathe. “Do you want to know what’s in my head, Yoon Jeonghan?”

“Please,” he whimpered, throat dry as the other man pulled him closer by grabbing his hips; a warm breath ghosted over the bare skin of his neck, Seungcheol’s mouth hovering on his ear. “In my head, I’m calling you baby and fucking you hard.”

Cheongdo’s summer festival was held in the central park that year instead of the pier by the beach, and Jeonghan was so glad that he didn’t need to deal with granules of sand wedging their way between his toes. The large patch of land covered in soft grass was quite a bonus, too, because without that, he wouldn’t find himself lounging between Seungcheol’s legs, back resting on the other man’s wide chest, head on his shoulder, as they both devoured the largest cup of snow cone they could buy. Above them, the sky had turned a brilliant shade of cerulean, and the white clouds drifting across had provided them with a much needed entertainment.

“That looks like a bunny humping another bunny,” Jeonghan gasped with mirth, pointing up at the heavens where a cloud that actually looked like two bunnies getting some action meandered by, his imagination earning himself an amused laugh from Seungcheol, who had been questioning how he saw things since they started lazing about, busying themselves with the white puffs overhead. “And that one looks like your eyebrows!”

Jeonghan was rewarded with a pinch on the side from that remark, his yelp causing yet another string of quiet chuckles from Seungcheol.

Between playing rock, papers, and scissors to determine who would pay for breakfast, and the much too stiff conversation about the weather during their ride from Coffee Cove to the central park, something had shifted the second both of their feet landed on the path winding through the park, the gravel crunching softly under the soles of their shoes. Looking at Seungcheol the second their cab drove away, clad in a soft, black long sleeves, thin enough for the summer, and cargo pants that weren’t too loose or too tight, Jeonghan couldn’t help but lick his lips, appreciating the other man’s appearance under the bright sunlight, before erasing the distance between them; their hands lacing together so naturally, their steps in sync, and their smiles easy.

The first thirty minutes of their time as an official fake-couple was spent trying to look for Hyungwon and his date, but by the time they finished rounding the park, their palms sweaty yet hands still intertwined, both of them had just given up, much to Jeonghan’s delight, and decided to just enjoy the festival instead; it would be a shame, after all, if they squandered their time away doing nothing.

Time passed by slowly, and Jeonghan wouldn’t have it anyway, as he and Seungcheol walked through brightly colored tents and stalls dotting the lush landscape of the park, the banners in different shades of reds and yellows fluttering with the wind from the trees where they were hanged- ‘Cheongdo Summer Festival,’ each one of them said, the lettering bold and intricate. It was the first time the other man had been in a festival, he shared, and Jeonghan was compelled to give him the best experience anyone could ever have.

It was easy to persuade Seungcheol to join a game of tug-of-war and sack race under the condition that Jeonghan would kiss him on the cheek if he won, and Jeonghan truly couldn’t determine whether he was relieved or not when the other man had lost on both games, only ever earning two ribbons with a large ‘2nd’ printed on it. Thoroughly charmed, Jeonghan had to spend some time in the comfort room, slapping himself as he did his absolute best to stop smiling so widely, but really, how could he not beam when the other man could’ve actually pushed to get his well-deserved kiss, but only pouted, lamenting over his back-to-back loses.

Seungcheol with his wide girth and intimidating presence shouldn’t look that cute as he sulked, but there Jeonghan was, chewing on his lips as the mental picture of the other man grumbling under his breath, brows furrowed, remained in his subconscious, and he was sure it would stay there for days. Upon his return, the man had perked up, like a damn puppy, pulling him to an open area where a three-legged race was about to commence, both of their names already registered, and God, as much as Jeonghan didn’t want to look like a damn clown in front of a huge crowd, one ‘please’ from the other man and he was already talking smack to their competitors, easily winning the race with Seungcheol, who practically dragged him across the finish line, a strong arm wounded around his waist, gruff voice on his ear.

“Do I get a kiss for that?” Seungcheol asked after claiming their sash, wearing the blue and pink satin across their chests proudly. His grin appeared almost shy, smaller than the one he had been flashing earlier that morning, his cheeks tinged with the faintest crimson; Jeonghan had to look away, shooing the butterflies flying in his chest.

“No, because I did half the work,” he muttered despite his whole body buzzing at the prospect of having an excuse to kiss the other man, choosing to think about what they could do next instead of zeroing in on how their hands easily found each other, fingers slotting between each other perfectly. Looking up ahead as he made a move to walk, Jeonghan felt a tug, his heart bursting when a pair of warm lips was pressed on the back of his hand, fire spreading from the area where he was kissed and then, to his whole body.

“And they said chivalry is dead,” Jeonghan breathed out as the stranger from across the club ducked his head down to plant a kiss on the back of his hand. That was endearing despite it being such an outdated gesture, pulling the corners of his mouth up for a faint smile. When he braved the crowd and walked through the sea of well-dressed partygoers, he expected a smug welcome, and although the man before him stared back with a dark gaze, and darker intent, he was surprised to be pulled to the side so gently. “May I have your name, kind sir?”

“Choi Seungcheol,” the other man answered easily, a quiet sound of gaiety and amusement pushing past his plump lips. Sanctuary had its distinct smell, the heavy scent of musk and alcohol lingered in the air, but so close to Seungcheol, Jeonghan could only smell the cologne he wore, something woodsy and citrusy, something he wouldn’t mind drowning in. “And your name, princess?”

Jeonghan shuddered at the nickname, preening at the attention he was getting from the other man, and far too pleased to sense more than a couple of eyes watching his exchange with the man, who had been nursing a glass of something dark and rich, eyes glued on him since they both found each other alone in the club. “Yoon Jeonghan.”

“Yoon Jeonghan,” he heard the other man drawl, his voice pleasant in his ears, and oh, Jeonghan could stay cocooned in warmth like that forever; large arms cradling his body, hard chest pressing so perfectly on his back. ‘God bless Chae Hyungwon and God bless his own stupid self,’ he thought, so happy to find himself enjoying the day despite how hectic it started. “You’re not sleeping, are you? You still haven’t finished your snow cone.”

“I think I want fried dough,” he murmured, snuggling deeper in Seungcheol’s embrace before sighing contentedly; he really shouldn’t be that comfortable with the other man, but he found no shame in relishing in his warmth, not when the man seemed to have been enjoying the close proximity, as well, if the fingers drawing patterns on his hip was an indication. Besides, just because they were fake-boyfriends didn’t mean they couldn’t take advantage of opportunities to get as much affection from each other- their chemistry was insane, and that was something Jeonghan could just not ignore. Plus, if they wanted to convince Hyungwon, who could pop up any minute, they needed to be as touchy as they could; they were dating for two years, after all, with a dog waiting back at home.

“Let’s go, then. I’ll buy you the sweetest one,” Seungcheol exhaled, squeezing his waist before urging him to stand up. Dusting both of their pants, Jeonghan couldn’t help but let out another dreamy sigh when the other man took his melted snow cone and threw it in a nearby trash, returning to his side and helping him straighten his shirt, before tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. Oh, dear God, he was good; Jeonghan could just melt under his tender ministrations. “You’re cute, have I told you that yet? I’m glad Jisoo called me for this.”

Summer was in its peak, Jeonghan was on cloud nine, and he had concluded that his Choi Seungcheol, the one who fucked and left him wasn’t the Choi Seungcheol, who wiped his mouth with napkin after each and every bite of fried dough covered in a thick layer of powdered sugar. His Choi Seungcheol, although a real gentleman, was rough around the edges- his hands were heavy, his tongue was filthy, and he smelled of sex while the Choi Seungcheol beside him, grinning and rolling his eyes at how messy he ate, had gentle hands, soft sentiments, and smelled of vanilla. The difference was huge, and he was so sure that the two men only shared the same name, and a few physical resemblance, but they were different.

Jeonghan was so sure, until Choi Seungcheol, his fake-boyfriend, did something that threw him back to the night that plagued his waking hours.

Hyungwon completely out of his mind, Jeonghan had pulled Seungcheol in a secluded photobooth to commemorate the spontaneous and fun day they shared. The afternoon was slowly making way for the start of dusk, and blues in the sky had turned to different hues of oranges and purples, the dimming glow of the sun replaced with the lanterns and fairy lights hanging around the festival. With a grin, Jeonghan scooted deeper in the booth to give Seungcheol an ample space to comfortably sit, both of them high in sugar and giddy in each other’s presence. Before heading in, the other man had dragged Jeonghan to different games, winning him small keychains and plushies they gave away to kids.

Seungcheol was so fucking endearing, and Jeonghan was both impressed that he was so good at being a boyfriend, and so upset at the fact that he was probably charming as hell, too, with his other clients. Selfishly, he hoped that after their night together, the other man could find another job, and call him up for a real date. He thought he couldn’t take another Choi Seungcheol making him feel good, and then leaving him to daydream about having a steady relationship and adopting a cute dog.

“What should we do? For the pose, I mean?” He asked, timid and suddenly flustered. Cramped in a tiny booth, Jeonghan could tear his gaze away from the other man’s stare and still have his eyes glued on some part of him- the hair curling just below his ear, his Adam’s apple bobbing, the lines of his collarbone, and the swell of his bicep through the thin cotton of his shirt. Oh, he was such a goner for arms, and for men named Choi Seungcheol. “Has anyone ever bitten your arm… wait- hold on. I totally said that out loud, didn’t I? Fuck-”

“I worked hard for my body, you know? I’m glad you’re enjoying the view,” Seungcheol cajoled, making a show of flexing his arms in front with a smug grin on his mouth, and Jeonghan’s mind was reeling once again, his earlier conclusion about the man he met at Sanctuary, and the man he met at Coffee Cove being different crumbling right before his eyes. “You can touch, I don’t mind.”

Body moving in its own accord, Jeonghan found his hands around the other man’s arm even before he could stop and acknowledge another sense of deja vu washing over him, his whole face warm as he squeezed the hard muscle being presented to him like a gift for the upcoming Christmas, his breath hitching when the other man let out a chuckle, different from the jovial sound he was making when they were losing in ring toss. Low and quiet, the rumble of delight sent a shiver down Jeonghan’s spine, eyes widening when the sudden flash of the camera in the booth lit up the rectangular space.

One second, he was running his hands on Seungcheol’s arm, and the next, his palms were pressed on the other man’s chest, the feeling of his warmth, his hard pecs and beating heart so familiar and oh, so discombobulating that he didn’t notice the space between them decreasing the more seconds passed, the more the camera in front of them flashed like lightning during a summer storm. Jeonghan was breathing hard, pinned by Seungcheol’s steady gaze, the hands resting on his hips growing heavy, fingertips branding themselves on his skin.

“You-”

“With all due respect, kiss me,” Seungcheol whispered, and Jeonghan could only obey, closing the distance between them as he crashed his mouth against the other man’s awaiting, parted lips. He tasted of summer, sweet and intoxicating, the smell of the festival, the butter from the popcorn stands and the syrup from his snow cone that dripped down his shirt filling Jeonghan’s senses. There was a tongue gliding along his bottom lip, asking for permission, asking for more, and who was Jeonghan to deny such a request? Welcoming Seungcheol’s eager tongue, he moaned, unabashed, a jolt of pleasure and surprise shooting from his toes up to his head when the roof of his mouth was caressed by an enthusiastic and adept tongue.

“Mmmmm,” Jeonghan hummed, pulling away slightly to catch his breath, gripping Seungcheol’s hair. “Do that again.”

“Do what again, baby?” Seungcheol asked, looking down at him with big, innocent eyes, hands running up and down his sides. “You have to be specific.”

“The one with your tongue,” he whined, pouting as he batted his eyelashes prettily. “It feels good when you caress the roof of my mouth that way.”

“Remember me now, baby?” Seungcheol asked, his smile small, yet so pompous, panting as he caught his breath.

“You!” He yelled, tearing himself away from the other man’s embrace as he connected the dots he probably should’ve connected earlier. In front of him, Choi Seungcheol, the one who he met at Sanctuary and the man he met at Coffee Cove morphed into one, and Jeonghan hadn’t felt so stupid up until then. Hitting the other man on his chest, he was so glad that the camera had stopped taking pictures, his blood boiling when Seungcheol barked out a laugh, catching his fists and holding onto them tightly. “You motherfucker! You dare play with me like this like bolting out of my place after a good night wasn’t fucking enough?”

“To be fair, it was you, who didn’t recognize me. The second you walked in Coffee Cove, I was so glad, but then you blinked at me and asked if we met before like I didn’t fuck your brains out. You wounded me, you know?” Seungcheol explained, and Jeonghan gaped for a few seconds, defending himself and saying that they hadn’t seen each other for months, so sue him for being unsure, huffing incredulously when the other man waved dismissively. “And no! I didn't bolt out of your house! I left, quite sadly, if I say so myself. You- you were amazing in bed and a much more amazing person when you weren't whining for harder, faster, for more and more and more. And I told you I wanted to see you again, that I didn't want this to be some kind of one-night-stand.”

Jeonghan’s heart hopped like a mad rabbit, the temperature around them dropping to the point that he could feel his shirt sticking to him like a second skin, reminding him of when after coming for nth time that night, the sheets around him had clung to his back and his legs as he huffed and puffed, trying to even out his breath. Beside him, Seungcheol was still, staring down at him like he was the best thing that happened in his life, and Jeonghan recalled being so confident that he probably was. Where else could the other man find someone as pretty and as flexible as him? And his thoughts were confirmed when he was pulled in an equally sweaty chest, sweet nothings murmured on his skin, and a whisper of wanting something more than just fucking was confessed on the crook of his neck.

“I left, yes! And I know how bad that looked, but I didn't just leave,” Seungcheol continued, and Jeonghan was so dizzy. “But before I did, I left my name and number on your bedside drawer. God, I even rewrote my name a couple of times because my hands were trembling so much. I- I wrote that I wanted to see you again, that I wanted to see what you looked like under the sun. I didn’t just leave. You’re the one, who didn’t… who didn’t call-”

“You didn’t leave your number! I would’ve called if you did!” He exclaimed, crossing his arms on his chest as he racked his brain for a number and a name left in his room, but recalling none. Because he really would've called even if the other man left his boxers, he would’ve found a way to track the other man down and return his cute Calvin Klein undergarment. But the man didn’t leave anything, but the broken promise he made as they cuddled under a fresh, new blanket. “And besides, if you really wanted to see me again, you could’ve just woken me up!”

“Oh, sorry for not wanting to disturb your peaceful sleep! You told me you had a long week, so I didn’t have the heart to wake you up,” Seungcheol retorted, shaking his head with a faint smirk on his mouth, almost bitter. Jeonghan did remember saying that before they slept, cheeks growing hot as the other man continued insisting that it was him that broke the other one’s heart and not the other way around, and that he didn’t have the right to get mad at him. “I wouldn’t have left, I told you I wanted to go on a date with you, right? That I wanted more. But my dog-”

“You have a dog?” He queried, perking up and focusing on that particular fact as he remembered the dog he accidentally picked up earlier that morning.

“And you stole her! You-”

“I- I stole- what?” He exhaled, eye twitching as Seungcheol clicked his tongue, telling Jeonghan how he and Kkuma were out for a run that morning, but his dog, uncharacteristically ran off course and bounded up on him; the rest was history. “And you just allowed me to take her? What kind of-”

“Kkuma is a big girl and can make her way back home,” Seungcheol grumbled, mimicking him and crossing his arms as a bright hue of red appeared on the apples of his cheek. Jeonghan’s fingers itched, yearning to run his thumbs across his smooth, flushed skin. God, he could not take how cute the other man was. “She has a collar, too, with my name and number with it, and I was hoping that you know- you’d call me and we’ll meet again and that did happen! Only differently because it was your friend that called me and explained to me what happened, and it would’ve been cute, too! But you didn’t- you didn’t remember me and-”

“I’m sorry!” He blurted out, admitting and accepting the fact that most of their misunderstanding was his fault, suddenly recalling balling up a piece of paper from his bedside drawer, blinded with anger and pain when he woke up alone on his bed without the hunk who promised him a date. “I should’ve- I should’ve made an effort to find you again. I could’ve gone back to Sanctuary, and I could’ve trusted you more, but you have to understand that I don’t hook up a lot, and when I woke up alone, I just- I thought you only wanted a one night stand.”

“Jesus, how can I be mad at you if you’re pouting so cutely like that?” Seungcheol sighed, the hard edges of his features softening as he massaged his temple. Jeonghan chewed on his lip, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt as he eyed the gaping distance between them, something that the other man didn’t miss. “I’m sorry, too, then. I could’ve just helped you remember. It’s just- I just don’t get how you could forget who I was.”

“Because in Sanctuary, you’re so… different! You were more self-assured and bold, and today, you’re so, very cute and I just- I’m sorry, okay!” He groaned, biting on the inside of his cheek because his lip was starting to sting. Sniffling, he watched the other man’s smirk melt into something more mellow, a small beam that tugged his heart, his whole body buzzing when the man reached out to take his hands again, pulling him close until they were chest to chest, the tips of their noses touching. With how close they were, Jeonghan could only stare at the other man’s mouth, his heart racing, and his throat constricting. “Are you going to kiss me-”

Seungcheol answered with a chaste kiss, holding him by the chin, and peppering his face with saccharine kisses; so different from the kisses he trailed down his neck that one fateful night, so different from the nips he made across his chest and the bites he left on his thigh, and oh, Jeonghan was so bewitched. “Ever heard of duality, baby?” The other man whispered before pulling him down for a searing kiss, deep and wet, and sounded so unholy that when someone clears their throat somewhere outside the booth they didn’t hear until loud knocks pulled them both out of their reveries.

At the small entrance of the booth, Hyungwon stood, grinning as he waved a couple of film strips in the air. “It’s not too late for the double date now, is it? My partner got caught up at work, but they’re here now,” the man explained, chuckling as he shook his head, handing the photos to Jeonghan, who was too happy in Seungcheol’s arms to feel any semblance of shame. “Or we can do a raincheck?”

“We should reschedule, yeah,” Jeonghan agreed, one hand reaching for the pictures, and the other still tangled in Seungcheol’s locks, his heart fluttering when the other man leaned on his touch, squeezing his knee before letting it rest under the fabric of his shorts; another reason was added once again why he loved summer so much. “Our precious dog is waiting for us back home, after all.”