Work Text:
Though his tall frame stood out among the toy displays and brightly colored decorations, Kim Gyuvin wore his blue bear builder apron with pride at Build-a-Bear Workshop.
While he wasn’t the biggest fan of stuffed animals (that honor belonged to his manager, Hanbin), Gyuvin found that being a bear builder was extremely rewarding for a first part-time job. Whether it was a toddler receiving their first toy or an adult purchasing a birthday gift for their mother, Gyuvin loved to see the pure cheerfulness and elation the customers had upon welcoming their furry friends into the world, and he was grateful to be a part of it.
(Plus, it certainly helped that the job paid well, worked around his hectic university schedule, and offered a generous thirty-percent off employee discount when he needed last-minute gifts for his friends and little siblings.)
After almost a year of working there, Gyuvin had grown used to the routine of his shifts at the Workshop. After the opening checklist was complete, it was often a slow start to the day. Once it hit the afternoon, most of the store’s clientele (read: elementary school children and their parents) were free to browse through the store and make as many stuffed animal friends as they pleased. Other types of customers visited as well— high school couples celebrating anniversaries, Build-a-Bear fanatics adding to their collections, organizations hosting team-building events— but they were few and far between, and Gyuvin only saw them when he covered his coworkers’ weekend or night shifts.
Thus, when Gyuvin had begun his early Friday shift, he had expected much of the same: fulfilling the opening checklist, watching the store, tending to those who wandered in to look at the displays, and watching the store some more until the afternoon rush came in.
Since customers had yet to enter the store, Gyuvin and Hanbin were restocking the “Dress Me” stuffed animal clothing displays, adding in the new merchandise the branch had received for the company’s spring collection.
“Gyuvin-ah, look at this,” Hanbin gushed as he pulled a blob of white fabric with black lining out of the box beside him. “Isn’t this so cute?”
Gyuvin studied the item for a few moments. “I don’t know what that is.”
Hanbin looked affronted. “Isn’t it obvious? It’s an oyster!”
“Why would you dress a stuffed animal… As another animal?” Gyuvin shook his head as he turned back to finish hanging a set of pink floral dresses on one of the racks.
Hanbin frowned as he began placing the oyster costumes onto a shelf. “You wouldn’t get it. Only a true plushie connoisseur would understand.”
Gyuvin let out a noise of disbelief. Before he could come up with a snappy comeback, he caught a glimpse of a potential customer walking through the entrance of the store.
“Hello, welcome to Build-a-Bear,” Gyuvin greeted as he dusted off his apron and pushed his box of toy clothes toward Hanbin to organize. Though Hanbin stuck out his tongue in response, they both knew that if the customer ended up making a stuffed animal, it would be best for Gyuvin to approach them sooner rather than later.
As Gyuvin straightened up and walked toward the front of the store, he made eye contact with the customer. Dressed in a matching black shirt, sweatpants, and sneakers with a baseball cap pulled over his face, Park Gunwook held a stuffed animal in each hand, his stance awkward and closed off as he stared intensely at the options before him.
Gyuvin froze in place, his jaw open in shock. He had seen a couple of people from his university around before, but this was the last person he would have expected at Build-a-Bear Workshop. Gyuvin was much more used to seeing Gunwook in the history department’s study lounge for office hours.
The previous semester, Gyuvin had enrolled in a Korean history course to fulfill his last general education requirement. As one of the few third-years in the course, Gyuvin had come to the first lecture ready to search for other upperclassmen to sit next to, befriend, and study with throughout the semester. Upon entering the lecture hall, he had spotted a man in all black toward the front of the room. Though he was sitting, the man appeared tall, and his chiseled facial features, strong eyebrows, and broad shoulders highlighted his mature, masculine physique.
Thrilled to find an older student, Gyuvin rushed to the front row to sit right next to the man. The man startled in his seat as Gyuvin turned to him with great enthusiasm.
“Hi, my name is Kim Gyuvin,” Gyuvin introduced himself, taking one of the other’s hands between his own and shaking it energetically. “It’s nice to meet you!”
“Nice to meet you,” the man replied quietly. “I’m Park Gunwook.”
Gyuvin grinned. “Gunwook-sunbaenim, I’m so glad you’re here. I thought I was going to be the only third-year taking this class for a grad requirement, but I’m glad to meet another upperclassman here. I hope we can become good friends!”
Gunwook suddenly turned red and his lips opened and closed as he formulated a response. However, he soon lost his opportunity to reply and hurriedly faced forward as the professor entered the room and began setting up for class.
Smirking to himself, Gyuvin found Gunwook’s shy behavior a cute contrast from the tough exterior Gunwook presented at first. Though Gyuvin was hoping for just a study buddy, he couldn’t ignore the spark of intrigue he felt at meeting Gunwook. Given the opportunity, Gyuvin was more than willing to learn more about the other boy outside of class.
With one last glance at the other, Gyuvin pulled out his laptop to take notes and read over the course materials his professor had emailed the night before. He opened a new word document on his computer and began typing away as the professor breezed through details on course content, homework assignments, and exams.
Through the flurry of information, Gyuvin snuck glances at Gunwook, who had yet to take out a laptop, notebook, or binder throughout the entire lecture. Maybe he’s the type who doesn’t take notes during syllabus week? Or maybe he can just remember everything without having to write it down. That must be nice.
Regardless of Gunwook’s note-taking methods, Gyuvin quietly resolved to offer his notes to Gunwook at the end of the lecture— a chance to spark conversation after class as well as ask for his phone number. Gyuvin nodded to himself in satisfaction.
Once the professor had finished explaining the grading schema for the course, she stopped and looked down at the front row.
“Gunwook?” The professor called. “Do you have anything else to add?”
Gyuvin’s eyes widened in horror as he turned toward Gunwook. No way he’s already in trouble…
Gunwook seemed to take the callout in stride as he stood up and began walking toward the professor’s podium. However, instead of giving a harsh scolding, the professor smiled at Gunwook and moved away so he could take her place in front of the mic.
“I don’t think so, Professor, but I’ll go ahead and introduce myself.” Gunwook said. He paused to put on a confident face before continuing on. “Hello, my name is Park Gunwook, and I’ll be your teaching assistant for the course. I’m a third-year history and political science major, specializing in East Asian history. This is my first time as a TA, but I’ve graded for this class before, so please feel free to email me or see me in office hours with any questions or concerns you have. I’m excited to get to know you all this semester!”
Gunwook gave a small nod before bowing to the professor in thanks and heading back to his seat. As Gunwook settled in beside Gyuvin, Gyuvin avoided eye contact by hiding behind his laptop screen and only darting his eyes up to glance at the professor.
Dude, no way I just embarrassed myself in front of the TA of this course… Not only did I assume he was older than me, but I openly told him I’m just taking this to graduate…
By the time class ended, Gyuvin decided that he would drop the class and find a different social studies course to take— preferably something not in history or political science. Before he could run out of the lecture hall, though, Gyuvin felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Gunwook, who wore a smirk as he stood over Gyuvin’s seat.
Gyuvin opened his mouth to apologize for his behavior before class, but the words died in his mouth as Gunwook bent down to meet him at eye level.
“Kim Gyuvin,” Gunwook called with faux innocent eyes. “I’ll see you in my discussions and office hours, right?”
Gunwook giggled and removed his hand from Gyuvin’s shoulder as he stood up and began walking out of the classroom. As Gyuvin felt the remnants of Gunwook’s warmth radiating through his body, he came to a final conclusion.
Gyuvin was going to stay in the class for two reasons. Reason number one: he didn’t want to go through the entire course catalog to find another social studies class that would fulfill his general education requirement and fit in his existing schedule.
Reason two: Gyuvin was not going to disappoint the hot and scary history TA, especially after he had already introduced himself and promptly embarrassed himself. If he didn’t have the chance to apologize, Gyuvin would at least make it up to Gunwook by putting in his best effort for the class, even if his initial intention was to do just enough to pass.
Thus, that whole semester, Gyuvin had attended every weekly discussion section and gone to all of Gunwook’s office hours, no matter how much he longed to study anything else. Since humanities weren’t his strong suit, Gyuvin often had questions to ask Gunwook, but even on days when he didn’t, he still went to extra help sessions just to see Gunwook help other students with the course material. Despite his initial first impression, Gunwook was a shining star, and having him as a TA gifted Gyuvin the opportunity to learn so much more about him.
Gyuvin liked how animated Gunwook became during discussions. He liked how Gunwook’s face lit up while excitedly rambling about the Joseon dynasty. He liked how Gunwook gave sweet and gentle encouragement when the students did poorly on their midterms. He liked how focused Gunwook looked as he read over essay drafts and gave constructive feedback in office hours. Though Gyuvin only saw Gunwook in a classroom setting, he felt as though he had unlocked many different sides to the history TA, and Gunwook maintained a quiet, assured confidence and a genuine demeanor that shined through it all.
Seeing Gunwook multiple times a week should have made Gyuvin more immune to the teaching assistant’s charms. Instead, Gyuvin thought that seeing Gunwook in his element every time made Gunwook even more attractive and intimidating.
Thus, upon turning in his final exam for the course, Gyuvin had uttered a quiet “thank you for teaching me this semester” and scurried out of the lecture hall before Gunwook could reply. Though he didn’t get an opportunity to apologize or befriend the other, Gyuvin appreciated the fact that he had at least seen Gunwook so enthusiastic and passionate about something he was interested in.
With the completion of his social studies requirement, Gyuvin had vowed to never step foot in the history building again, and he was certain that with how big their university was, he would never have to see or talk to Park Gunwook again after that term.
Clearly, Gyuvin was wrong, because after seeing him multiple times a week the previous semester, there was no mistaking the fact that his Korean history TA, Park Gunwook, was standing a few feet away from him, about to see him in all of his blue bear builder apron-clad glory.
Gyuvin glanced back at the “Dress Me” section, hoping to signal for help from his manager, but Hanbin (and their two boxes of restock) seemingly disappeared. There went the only other person in the store.
Gyuvin schooled his expression into an amiable one before he called for Gunwook’s attention. “Hello, is there anything I can help you with today?”
Gunwook put the two stuffed animals back in their respective bins and looked up. If he was surprised to see Gyuvin there, he didn’t show it. “I’m still deciding which stuffed animal I want.”
Gyuvin stepped closer so that the two were facing the bins of stuffed animals together. “Is there anything in particular you’re looking for? Or a favorite animal you’d like to take home?”
Gunwook bit his lip and looked away. “I, um. I’ve actually never been here before, so I don’t really know what I’m doing.”
“That’s okay,” Gyuvin reassured. “We only just opened this location last year, so it’s totally fine if this is your first time here.”
“No!” Gunwook exclaimed. He furiously blushed upon realizing how loud he had been in an empty store so early in the day. “I mean, I’ve always wanted to come here since the store opened, but… I just didn’t really have the opportunity.”
Gyuvin wasn’t sure if he should acknowledge the fact that he was familiar with how busy Gunwook had been because he had seen the TA work last semester. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to find out if Gunwook even remembered him from a class of over 200 people.
Gyuvin decided on, “I totally understand; it must’ve been hard to find free time in your schedule to come here.”
“Well, that’s true, but—” Gunwook caved in on himself, fidgeting with his hands. “Every time I told my ex-boyfriend I wanted to go to Build-a-Bear, he would always make fun of me and call me childish, and I didn’t have time to come by myself, so… I wasn’t really allowed to come here until after we broke up.” Gunwook let out a weak chuckle before joking, “But I’m finally free now! I, um… just didn’t expect to see anyone from school around here, though…” Gunwook snuck a glance at Gyuvin before looking back down.
Gyuvin blinked. This wasn’t the same confident TA he’d crushed on last semester. Who would have the audacity to trade Gunwook’s effortless bubbliness and joy for self-doubt and insecurity? There was a lot to take in from what Gunwook had said, but before Gyuvin could think of what to respond, he let out, “Your ex is an asshole.”
Gunwook let out a surprised laugh as Gyuvin covered his mouth in embarrassment.
Gyuvin frantically looked around and was glad to find that Hanbin was still gone and that there were no other customers to hear him curse in the store. “Sorry! I’m not supposed to say that in uniform. Um, anyway. I’m so sorry that happened to you; you don’t deserve to be treated like that at all.”
“Here, how about this,” Gyuvin began as he gestured to the rest of the Workshop. “I’m gonna make your first Build-a-Bear Workshop experience the best it can be. It’s my job to make sure you and your new furry friend have the most incredible time ever. Okay?”
Gunwook looked up then, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Okay.”
“Awesome!” Gyuvin beamed and started pointing at different sets of bins in front of them. “So we have a couple of options here. There are brands like Sanrio or Pokémon, and there are some characters from TV shows and movies that you could take home, too. We also have some special seasonal friends here, like the pastel bunnies or ducklings we have for spring. And if you don’t like any of those, there are the more traditional stuffed animals for you to choose from.”
Upon finishing his explanation, Gyuvin turned back to Gunwook to see that Gunwook hadn’t looked at any of the displays.
Instead, Gunwook fixed his gaze on Gyuvin, tilting his head with a curious, expectant expression. “Which one do you think is best?”
“O-Oh. Um, I’m not really a stuffed animal collector, but…” Gyuvin scanned each of the stuffed animals on display. He tried to wrack his brain for information he could remember about Gunwook, but all he had learned last semester was that Gunwook’s closet was mostly monochrome and that Gunwook was a huge history buff. Neither of these facts were helpful in choosing the perfect stuffed animal for him.
Gyuvin quickly skipped over all of the branded characters. He wasn’t sure if Gunwook was familiar with any of them, and it would be a colossal failure if Gyuvin chose a character Gunwook didn’t like. Of the remaining options, Gyuvin figured that it would be safest to go with one of the more common stuffed animals rather than any of the bright or flashy limited edition options.
Eventually, Gyuvin’s gaze stopped on a fluffy puppy plushie in the second row of bins. The puppy had soft, floppy ears, and its fur was mostly grey with large patches of white on its snout and belly. What made the stuffed animal stand out the most, though, was its facial features: sparkly embroidered eyes, a small button-like nose, pink patches of fabric for blushy cheeks, and a gently curved smile. Gyuvin picked up one of the grey puppy plushies from the bin and handed it to Gunwook.
“What do you think?” Gyuvin asked, nervously playing with his fingers behind his back.
Gunwook looked back and forth between Gyuvin and the puppy in his hands. “What made you choose it?”
Gyuvin hadn’t expected follow-up questions. “I feel like it’s a timeless design, you know? Like, branded characters and trends can go in and out of fashion, but everyone loves puppies. And look at it! You just can’t say no to this face.” Gyuvin pointed at the puppy’s sparkly eyes and pink cheeks. “Plus, I… I think it kind of looks like you. Really cute, that is.”
Gyuvin pulled his hand away from the stuffed animal and risked a glance up at Gunwook.
Gunwook seemed to be holding back a giggle. “Okay, I’ll go with this one, then. What’s next?”
Gyuvin straightened up with a grin. “After you, sir,” he said, gesturing to the stuffing machine and bowing with a princely flourish. In response, Gunwook performed a curtsy and walked to the next station with exaggerated elegance and grace.
Once Gunwook stood expectantly at the side of the stuffing machine, Gyuvin sat down at the stool beside the station. “Next, we’ll be adding stuffing and a heart to bring your furry friend to life,” Gyuvin explained. He pointed at the computer and small displays beside him. “If you want, you can add on some other accessories, like scents or sound effects.”
Gunwook scrunched his face into a small frown. “Scents? Sound effects?”
“You could make your stuffed animal smell like strawberries, lavender, cotton candy…” Gyuvin began scrolling between the different sound options on the computer and played a few audio clips. “Or you could give it a heartbeat or a song from a kids’ movie soundtrack. Or both! There was a kid last week who asked for a birthday cake-scented green dinosaur with the sound for ‘Let It Go’ in its left front paw. The possibilities are endless with these.”
Gunwook’s eyes darted around the array of scents and sounds the Workshop had to offer before settling back on Gyuvin. “Uh, I think I’ll pass for now; thanks.”
Gyuvin shrugged. “No worries.” He kicked out a wired pedal from under the stuffing machine then reached his hands out toward the puppy plushie. “We can go ahead and start the stuffing process then. How soft or firm do you want your puppy to be?”
Gunwook handed the puppy over with a quizzical look. “Um… Maybe somewhere in the middle? I guess I’ve never really thought about it before.”
“We can play it by ear,” Gyuvin reassured as he brought the plushie toward the fill nozzle. “This part is going to be loud, but if you step on this pedal, it’ll help with filling the stuffed animal.”
Gunwook covered his ears and began stepping on the pedal, watching Gyuvin go to work at fluffing up each part of the stuffed animal with fiber fill. After a minute of loud whirring and stuffing tumbling out of the machine and into the plushie, Gyuvin tapped the outside of Gunwook’s arm to get the other to ease off of the pedal. He pulled the stuffed puppy away from the nozzle, grinned at its cartoony embroidered face, and then handed the plushie to Gunwook, who received it with a look of wonder.
“Here, give it a hug and tell me how it feels,” Gyuvin suggested. “I can always make it more soft or more firm— whatever you like best.”
With pink tinging his cheeks and a moment of hesitation, Gunwook gave the plushie a hug, tucking the head of the stuffed animal into the crook of his neck and his shoulder and slowly swaying back and forth. It seemed as though Gunwook was comforting a real puppy in his arms, one hand supporting the plushie’s lower back and the other patting the side of its head. Gyuvin watched with a fond gaze, allowing the silence to lull Gunwook into a more comfortable headspace.
This wasn’t the mesmerizingly attractive history TA Gyuvin had gotten to know last semester, nor was this the shy, embarrassed boy Gyuvin had welcomed into the store just a few minutes earlier. This was Gunwook at his most comfortable and vulnerable, and Gyuvin was honored that the other boy had opened up to him so quickly.
Gyuvin found that he didn’t mind the many versions of Gunwook he had met thus far; in fact, he only grew more curious about the other aspects of Gunwook he had yet to see.
After a few moments, Gunwook released the plushie from his embrace and handed it back to Gyuvin. Though he seemed calmer than before, a hint of longing remained in his expression.
“Is that okay?” Gyuvin prodded, adjusting the stuffed animal in his lap. “We can still change anything you want.”
“Could you make it a bit firmer?” Gunwook asked shyly, his foot hovering over the machine’s pedal. “I… I want to feel like it’s hugging me back. If that makes sense.”
Gyuvin felt an ache in his chest as he attempted to tamp down the cute aggression he was developing toward Gunwook. He eagerly wanted to pinch Gunwook’s soft, round cheeks, and in turn, he made a conscious effort to loosen the grip he had on the plushie in his hands. Not trusting himself to speak, Gyuvin gave a jerky nod before he brought the stuffed puppy back to the machine’s nozzle. When Gunwook stepped on the pedal, Gyuvin allowed the noise of the stuffing machine to drown out the rush of giddy thoughts and feelings he was experiencing. Once Gyuvin felt as though he had added enough fiber fill to the plushie, he motioned for Gunwook to lift his foot off the pedal as he pulled the stuffed animal away from the machine.
“Try this.” Gyuvin held out the puppy for Gunwook to take.
Gunwook gathered the plushie carefully into his arms before giving it an earnest hug. Once he felt the soothing pressure of the puppy’s body against his chest, he melted into the embrace, his eyes fluttering shut and his face even more serene. Though Gunwook had only just met the puppy plushie moments ago, Gyuvin could see how Gunwook’s hold emitted so much love and happiness. Though the stuffed animal could not truly interact with him, Gunwook was over the moon at simply being able to hold the puppy to his chest.
Gyuvin wondered how so much affection could exist within one person.
After a few moments, Gunwook turned to Gyuvin, his face still half buried into the puppy’s soft fur. Though the plushie obscured part of Gunwook’s face, the combination of cute crinkled eyes and round, raised cheeks let Gyuvin know that Gunwook was more than content.
“It’s perfect,” Gunwook said. He gave one last squeeze to the stuffed animal before placing it back onto Gyuvin’s lap. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” Gyuvin replied with an easy smile. He pulled a small stuffed heart made of silk and cotton from the pocket of his apron. “Now’s time for the fun part: giving your friend their heart.”
Gunwook tilted his head in confusion, but Gyuvin answered by pointing toward a small box attached to the front of the stuffing machine.
“If you reach into that box, you can choose a heart to put into your furry friend,” Gyuvin revealed. “Pick one that really speaks to you.”
Gunwook peered into the bin with his hand over his chest, seemingly frozen in place as his gaze flitted over each of the small hearts. After some time, he took one of the plush hearts from the pile and clasped his hands protectively around it. Once he was certain he had a secure grip on the heart, Gunwook looked back at Gyuvin for the next step.
“Now, we’re going to do the heart ceremony,” Gyuvin said, holding up his own stuffed heart in his hands. “We’ll be doing this together, okay? But if you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed, let me know. We can skip it entirely or change it around at any time, okay?”
With his eyes full of trust, Gunwook nodded.
Upon receiving confirmation from the other, Gyuvin put the heart between his palms and began rubbing his hands together. “Rub the heart to warm it up; we want to make sure it works well for our friend.”
Gunwook complied, his eyes fixing on his own stuffed heart in determination.
As Gyuvin went through his routine lines for the ceremony— tapping the heart for a heartbeat, jumping up and down for energy, rubbing the heart on the arms for strength— Gunwook followed along without hesitation.
Gyuvin was more than used to teenagers openly cackling at the plushie making process, and he had seen his fair share of adults on their phones as their children were wholly engaged in the furry friend experience. However, Gunwook performed the actions in earnest, his face radiating delight throughout the whole ceremony.
Though Gyuvin could have ended the heart ceremony as he normally would, he decided to add an extra flourish to his script by personalizing the last few traits for Gunwook. He began rubbing the heart on top of his head, saying, “Rub the heart on your head so that your friend will become as smart as you are.”
Gunwook listened, although he bowed his head as he rubbed the heart on his head. Though his ears flushed bright red, he made no sign to stop, so Gyuvin continued on.
Gyuvin rubbed the heart onto his cheeks. “Now, rub it on your cheeks so your puppy will have a pretty smile like yours.”
Keeping his head down, Gunwook moved the heart from his head to his cheeks.
Gyuvin refused to have it. “How do I know you’re following along if I can’t see your cheeks? Come on, show me that beautiful smile,” Gyuvin teased, trying to get a glimpse of Gunwook’s face.
After a few moments, Gunwook tilted his head back up, revealing bright pink cheeks and an even wider beam than before. Gyuvin mentally patted himself on the back for making Gunwook grin— if he wasn’t sure if Gunwook was having fun before, he at least had the other’s silent giggles to tell him he was heading in the right direction.
“Okay, last one,” Gyuvin said as he put his stuffed heart back into his apron. “Close your eyes, and make a wish. When you’re ready, you can give your heart a kiss and put it into the back of the plushie.”
Gunwook closed his eyes tightly as he held the heart in front of his lips. Though Gyuvin couldn’t make out what Gunwook’s wish was, he noticed how wholeheartedly Gunwook put his hopes and aspirations into the plush heart, and he waited patiently until Gunwook puckered his lips, gave the heart a peck, and placed it into the stuffed animal.
“I hope you and your friend can make your wish come true,” Gyuvin said genuinely, holding eye contact with Gunwook. After a moment, he then bent down to fix the threads in the back of the plushie. “Let me sew this up for you.”
After a few seconds of pulling the threads taut, tying knots, and cutting off the excess string, Gyuvin took the puppy between his hands and stretched out his arms toward Gunwook. With an appreciative nod, Gunwook received the stuffed animal with both hands and moved it so that it was embraced in his grasp.
“Alright! If you’re all ready to go, you can head over to the ‘Dress Me’ station now,” Gyuvin suggested, standing up and gesturing toward the other side of the store.
However, instead of walking away, Gunwook adjusted his hold to grab one of the stuffed animal’s front legs and expectantly looked at Gyuvin. When Gyuvin answered with a confused expression, Gunwook maintained his grip on the plushie as he pushed its body toward Gyuvin’s empty hand.
“It wants to hold hands with you,” Gunwook added with a pout.
Gyuvin startled in surprise. “Oh, usually customers don’t really need help past this point—”
“Are you really going to say no to us?” Gunwook showcased his puppy dog eyes as he brought the stuffed animal’s face next to his own.
Gyuvin opened his mouth in shock as he looked around the rest of the Workshop. Hanbin was still nowhere to be seen, and no other customers had wandered near the entrance since the mall opened. If no one else can see how down bad I am, then it’s fine, right? And how can I say no to that face…
Gyuvin took a deep breath before he shook himself back into reality. “It would be an honor to hold hands with you and your new friend.” He gingerly took hold of the plushie’s other front leg, and once the puppy settled between the two boys, he began walking toward the many racks and shelves of plushie clothing.
As he led the way, Gyuvin shot a quick glance at Gunwook to gauge how well the visit was going. Though Gunwook had yet to voice his complaints about the experience, Gyuvin silently feared that Gunwook was going along with his antics out of politeness or convenience.
However, Gyuvin looked back to see Gunwook smiling down at the puppy plushie swinging between them, and once the two made eye contact, Gunwook sent Gyuvin a warm grin that had Gyuvin blushing and facing forward once more.
Once they were in the midst of the many racks of plushie clothes, Gyuvin came to a halt with Gunwook and the puppy plushie quickly following suit.
“Welcome to the ‘Dress Me’ station! There’s an infinite amount of outfit options you can create here,” Gyuvin introduced the area with a grand sweep of his open hand. “There are a lot of year-round clothing items here, but my manager and I also added some new seasonal pieces earlier. You can go ahead and pick up whatever stands out to you.”
Gunwook pulled the puppy closer to himself, and in the process, his fingers brushed over the back of Gyuvin’s hand. Though the touch was fleeting, the sudden contact shocked the bear builder to attention, and Gyuvin pulled his hand away as if it burned. After Gunwook secured the plushie in his grasp, he began wandering between the displays, and Gyuvin took the moment as an opportunity to hide his hands behind his back and calm his heart rate back to normal.
Once Gyuvin finished composing himself, he followed behind Gunwook, watching the other boy browse through multiple clothes racks and hold various clothing options up to the plushie’s body to assess the outfit.
“What kind of style are you going for?” Gyuvin asked as he inched closer. His eyes flitted between the different swaths of black fabric in Gunwook’s hands. He couldn’t really tell the difference between the two, but he was willing to help if it would make Gunwook happy.
“It might sound kind of weird, but there’s this celebrity I’m taking inspiration from.” Gunwook wore a sheepish expression. “You like ATEEZ, right?”
“Yes, I do! I’ve loved them since their pre-debut days.” Gyuvin exclaimed, grasping Gunwook’s shoulders in excitement. He then leveled Gunwook with a bewildered face. “Wait, how did you know that?”
Gunwook seemed to be searching for something in Gyuvin’s expression, and after a brief evaluation, he chuckled. “It was kind of hard to miss the ATEEZ stickers on your laptop. Especially when you showed up to all of my office hours last semester… And introduced yourself to me before the first lecture even started.”
Gyuvin quickly let go of Gunwook to cover his face in shame. “Oh, my God, you remember that? I totally thought you would’ve forgotten who I was by now…” Gyuvin dragged his hands over his face before he grabbed the hem of his apron. “I’m really sorry for how I acted back then, by the way. I just wanted to find another upperclassman friend to study with that semester, but I didn’t mean to undermine you or call you old or anything! I just—”
Gunwook laughed again, waving off the rest of Gyuvin’s apology. “Don’t worry about it; I get that a lot, anyway.” Gunwook’s lips pulled into a smirk. “Plus, how could I be offended when a cute guy comes out of nowhere just to talk to me? That was absolutely unforgettable.”
Gyuvin felt heat rise to his cheeks. “M-me?” He shakily raised a finger to point at himself in disbelief, whipping his head around to check if anyone else was in the room with them.
Gunwook nodded with a wink before turning back to the clothing displays beside them.
“Anyway,” Gunwook redirected, “I’ve never really grown out of my K-pop phase, so I found out about ATEEZ when I was in middle school, and I’ve liked them ever since.” Gunwook chewed on his bottom lip before continuing. “I actually wanted to be a K-pop idol when I was younger... But it was kind of embarrassing being the only guy who still listened to idols in high school, let alone the only guy to listen to boy groups. So I learned to be okay with just liking them from afar, even if it meant I never got to talk about how much I enjoyed their music.”
“I don’t think that’s embarrassing at all,” Gyuvin quietly replied. “I’m sure you would’ve been a great idol. You have the looks and personality for it, at least.”
Gunwook tried to tamp down the smile that emerged in response. “You’re flattering me,” he deflected. “But I’ve always thought their stage outfits were so cool. So if I can’t recreate their outfits, why don’t I live vicariously through my little puppy instead?” He played with the plushie in his grasp, moving his arms around to mimic one of ATEEZ’s iconic dance moves.
“I’m not sure if we’ll find any exact replicas,” Gyuvin warned lightly. “But we’ll make do with what we’ve got, okay?”
With determined faces, the two boys searched high and low through the various merchandise racks and shelves in the vicinity, pulling out any clothing pieces that caught their eye. The two giggled as they sifted past pleated gingham skirts, random sports uniforms, and goofy pajama sets, and they took their time appraising outfit options and comparing them to various images of ATEEZ’s stages.
(“Put down that bunny costume. Yeosang would never wear that.”
“I think my puppy would look great in a bunny suit!”)
Eventually, they decided on a simple black suit with a leather jacket, tinted sunglasses, and some jewelry to add some “bad boy” flair to the look. Attached to one of the puppy’s front legs was a wristband that attached a small plastic handheld mic to its paw, and the back paws were clad in black faux leather dress shoes. Though the plushie was no Choi San, it had its own unique, Build-A-Bear-approved version of one of ATEEZ’s “Ice On My Teeth” comeback outfits.
Just as Gyuvin turned to lead Gunwook closer to checkout, he heard a loud gasp from behind him. He looked back to find Gunwook holding an extremely familiar blob of white and black fabric.
“Wait, look! I need this,” Gunwook gushed over the miniature oyster-shaped backpack in his grasp. “Doesn’t this look so cute?”
Gyuvin scratched his chin in fake contemplation before playfully snarking, “Hmm, I don’t recall Mingi wearing that on any of their music show stages, though?”
Gunwook moved to cover his plushie’s ears. “Are you telling my stuffed animal what it can and cannot wear? For shame!”
Gyuvin couldn’t help his adoring look as Gunwook comforted the puppy plushie in his grasp before securing the oyster backpack onto its body.
Once Gunwook was satisfied with his stuffed animal’s appearance, he met Gyuvin at the desk near the register, sitting down at the desktop computer before them.
“This is what makes it official,” Gyuvin said, conviction laced throughout his words. “The birth certificate.”
Gunwook nodded resolutely as he placed his hands over the keyboard, staring at the empty name field on the screen. For a few seconds, he typed in different names into the blank before quickly deleting them. He then turned toward Gyuvin with helpless eyes. “I can’t think of anything,” he whined.
Gyuvin gave Gunwook a gentle pat on the shoulder as he bent down to look at the screen. “You can,” he encouraged. “You’re just stopping yourself before you even begin. Look into your furry friend’s eyes. What’s the first name that comes to mind?”
Gunwook adjusted the stuffed animal in his lap so that he could look at its soft, round face. After a few seconds of silence, he called out, “Nini.”
“Nini?” Gyuvin tested it on his own lips before wrapping his arm around Gunwook’s form. “I think Nini’s a great name.”
Gunwook’s eyes were full of mirth as they glanced at Gyuvin before focusing back on the screen. Gunwook typed in his name and Nini’s into the certificate template, clicking a few more buttons to confirm his choice.
Upon seeing the completion screen, Gyuvin guided Gunwook to checkout before he slunk behind the register. He reached under the counter to grab the freshly made plushie birth certificate from the store printer as well as a white and blue house-shaped cardboard box.
“Just give me a sec,” Gyuvin said as he rang up the different items the two had chosen together throughout Gunwook’s visit. After a few more mouse clicks and keyboard taps, Gyuvin printed out the receipt and placed it into the box along with Nini’s birth certificate. He then pushed the box across the counter toward Gunwook. “Here, you’re all set! You can put Nini in the box if you want, and if you’d prefer, I can give you another bag for you to carry them out.”
“How much do I owe you?” Gunwook hugged Nini with one arm as he patted his pockets to look for his phone and wallet.
“Nothing. I already rang everything up and paid for it,” Gyuvin affirmed.
Gunwook nearly dropped Nini before he readjusted his hold on the puppy plushie. “What?! That’s crazy. I couldn’t possibly ask you to pay that much, I picked out so many clothes and accessories—”
Gyuvin put his hand out to stop Gunwook from spiraling further. “It’s fine. I used my employee discount, so it wasn’t a huge expense,” he consoled. “Plus… I promised you I’d give you a good time. Did you have fun?”
Gunwook pouted before he gave a tight nod in response. “It was more than fun. It was an amazing time,” he muttered.
Gyuvin beamed. “Then that’s all that matters.” He gently tapped the box on the counter before pointing at one of the walls toward the front of the store. “If you’re ready to go, then I can take a photo of you and Nini at the photo wall setup before you head out.”
After Gunwook took hold of the house-shaped box, Gyuvin stepped out from behind the counter and guided Gunwook toward the photo wall. He waited for Gunwook to set the box off to the side and stand under the large Build-A-Bear Workshop logo and the iconic cartoon bear mascot.
Gyuvin stood before Gunwook, stretching out his hand. “Give me your phone so we can take a picture to commemorate your first Build-A-Bear visit.”
Gunwook handed over his phone and struck a pose instantly, hugging Nini tight with one hand as he formed a peace sign with the other. Gyuvin swiped over to the camera function and began backing up to center and accommodate Gunwook and Nini in the frame. As Gyuvin was about to start counting—
“Gyuvin-ah!” Hanbin yelled from the entrance of the store. “What are you doing?”
Gyuvin jumped, keeping a secure grasp on Gunwook’s phone as he brought his hand to his chest to alleviate the shock he felt.
“Hyung, I—”
“How could you leave your little boyfriend there alone?” Hanbin scurried over to take the phone from Gyuvin’s hands before pushing Gyuvin toward Gunwook and Nini at the photo wall.
“Wait, we—”
“Thank you,” Gunwook interrupted with a grin, pulling Gyuvin’s arm to wrap around his waist. “Now, honey, hold onto our baby, won’t you?”
Gyuvin barely had time to pose before Hanbin began counting down for the picture. He could only hope that he had a pleasant-looking expression as he secured his hold around Gunwook and Nini. Even after Hanbin put Gunwook’s phone down, Gyuvin remained frozen in place as Gunwook skipped toward Hanbin to collect his phone.
“I just kept taking photos, so hopefully one out of the twenty I took should be good,” Hanbin smiled at Gunwook as he passed the phone back.
“It’s okay,” Gunwook replied. “I already like Gyuvinnie as is, so I’m just glad he and I have a picture together.” He quickly swiped through the new photos in his camera roll before opening a different app and presenting the screen to Gyuvin.
Gyuvin slowly looked down at the screen in front of him, blinking rapidly before he saw the empty contact page on Gunwook’s phone. “You… want my number?”
Gunwook hid his laugh between Nini’s head. “I mean, we’re co-parenting a child together.” He raised Nini to Gyuvin’s eye level. “Wouldn’t it make sense for me to have your number?”
Opening and closing his mouth a few times, Gyuvin eventually took the phone and entered his information into Gunwook’s contacts before stiffly returning the device to Gunwook.
With one last smirk, Gunwook pocketed his phone and stepped around Gyuvin to place Nini into their cardboard house. Once the plushie was secure, he walked toward the exit, calling out, “I’ll see you around, Gyuvin-ah!”
In disbelief of the sudden turn of events, Gyuvin silently walked behind the checkout counter, standing next to his manager.
Hanbin watched as Gunwook disappeared into the rest of the mall before he elbowed Gyuvin. “I think he’s a keeper.”
“Shut up,” Gyuvin grumbled, kicking at Hanbin’s shoes. “Where were you, anyway?”
“Taking my lunch break,” Hanbin replied easily. “I was lucky enough to catch you ringing him up, though.”
Gyuvin heaved a great sigh. “... I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
“Nope. But you can thank me later if you guys end up together.”
Gyuvin made to playfully slap Hanbin, who quickly ran out from behind the counter toward the storerooms. “Hyung, I swear—”
Pulling the glass doors open, Gyuvin sprinted into the seating area of the student center, frantically whipping his head around to look for Gunwook. Several hours after Gunwook left Build-A-Bear Workshop, he texted Gyuvin asking if he was free to get dinner at one of the on-campus restaurants or cafes. They had settled on the following Monday since they both had the fewest classes that day, but Gyuvin certainly hadn’t taken into account the difficulty of that week's three-hour lab when making their plans.
Upon spotting Gyuvin, Gunwook stood up from his chair and waved his hands to get the other’s attention. Once they made eye contact, Gyuvin squeezed past the various students, professors, and visitors to get to Gunwook’s table.
Sitting back down with crossed arms, Gunwook shook his head in mock disappointment as a panting Gyuvin noisily took a seat across from him. “How dare you show up late. And in front of Nini, no less!” He gestured at the puppy plushie at his side, who was seated in their own chair.
“I’m sorry,” Gyuvin got out between gasps of air. “I was on the other side of campus, and my lab ran late. I tried to get here as fast as I could.”
Gunwook patted Gyuvin’s shoulders to comfort him. “It’s okay, I’m just kidding. It’s only our first date, so I’ll forgive you. Here, I bought you a coffee while I was waiting.” He pushed one of the iced Americanos on the table toward Gyuvin.
Gyuvin gratefully accepted the cup with two hands, taking two large gulps of coffee before catching his breath and looking up. “Date? This is a date?”
Gunwook glanced down at Nini before giving Gyuvin an unimpressed stare. “Gyuvin-ah. I called you cute. I asked for your number. I didn’t protest when your manager called us boyfriends. I asked you out to dinner as soon as I could. If this isn’t a date, what is?”
Gyuvin bit the straw of his drink and stared into space as he processed the thought in his head. Sighing, Gunwook placed his hands over Gyuvin’s and leaned forward to make eye contact with the other.
“Let me make this clear,” Gunwook began. “You really did leave an impression on me when we first met last semester. I wanted to get to know you more, but you always seemed uncomfortable around me in class, and I couldn’t really make a move on you since I was a TA, and you were, technically, one of my students.” Gunwook pulled one of Gyuvin’s hands away from the coffee cup to hold it. “But whenever I passed by the Build-A-Bear these past few months, I always saw how excited you were to help the customers in the store, and I couldn’t help but fall further.”
Gyuvin intertwined his fingers with Gunwook’s, looking down at how their hands perfectly fit together. With a quiet voice, he pressed, “Do you really mean that?”
Gunwook squeezed Gyuvin’s hand. “Of course, I do,” he confirmed. “Now, unless you’re paying for other boys’ Build-A-Bears, I think you like me, too, right?”
“I do!” Gyuvin exclaimed, ignoring the sudden looks he was receiving from other students seated around them. “I really, really like you.”
Gunwook grinned. “Great, then. Let’s start this date properly then, yeah?”
Gyuvin nodded excitedly.
“Awesome,” Gunwook replied, before gesturing to himself and Nini. “Now tell us more about yourself.”