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Seonghwa was bored. The venue was packed full of people – fashion designers, sponsors, a few kpop idols, and plenty of models such as himself. The music was loud, making his entire body vibrate and the colorful lights were flashing in time to the beat. The wine glass in his hand was still over halfway full despite getting a refill close to an hour ago.
Normally Seonghwa enjoyed these kind of nights, the kind where he was paraded around on the arm of a fashion designer, making connections with sponsors and other people who could elevate his modeling career. Drinking until he was on the pleasant side of tipsy. Perhaps even finding someone to take home. But something about that night just felt off.
Perhaps it was the fact that Seonghwa already knew every single face at the party. No conversation felt new or exciting. None of the photos taken by the few reporters invited into the party would elicit interest that benefited Seonghwa. The evening just felt rather dull and Seonghwa was beginning to wonder if he could come up with a good enough excuse to leave the party so soon without coming off as rude.
But then it happened. Excitement walked through the door.
Seonghwa prided himself with being familiar with rising stars from any industry, whether that was the modeling world, kpop idols and other musicians, influencers, or actors. So the moment he noticed Kim Hongjoong, television's current golden boy, walk into the party alone, Seonghwa's interest piqued.
He's seen the man on TV and on covers of magazines, but this was the first time Seonghwa was seeing him in person. Hongjoong was a handsome man, there was no denying that, and he carried himself in a way that spoke of confidence without seeming arrogant. Just the type of person Seonghwa was looking for.
If the reporters got photos of him conversing with Kim Hongjoong, possibly even flirting or dancing, his follower count would rise and a new sponsorship might come his way. For that reason, Seonghwa abandoned his wine glass at an empty table and found himself a seat at the bar.
"Can I get you something?" the bartender asked.
Seonghwa smiled. "Just some water for now, thank you."
The bartender nodded, probably believing Seonghwa to already be tipsy and in the need to hydrate. While Seonghwa's face was a soft hue of pink thanks to the first glass of wine he'd had earlier, he was still a couple of drinks away from being drunk, depending on how strong the drink was. The misfortunes of being a lightweight.
From where Seonghwa sat at the bar, he was able to watch the other guests at the party without being too noticeable, which meant he was able to keep an eye on Hongjoong. He could have approached the man himself, but Seonghwa liked being pursued, liked how men were pulled into his orbit believing they'd made the decision on their own, when it was what Seonghwa wanted all along.
It didn't take long for Seonghwa to feel the heat from someone's gaze and as the bartender placed the glass of ice water in front of him, Seonghwa watched as Hongjoong made his way toward the bar. Directly for Seonghwa. The man's eyes traced every inch of Seonghwa's body in a way that was equally respectful as it was hungry, and a tiny grin tugged at the corner of Seonghwa's mouth.
He knew he looked good in his sleek all black outfit. His top was a sleeveless tailored blazer vest that cut low down Seonghwa's chest, his neck decorated by a simple gold rose pendant. The back of the vest was nothing more than a thin panel of fabric that showed off roughly seventy percent of Seonghwa's toned muscles underneath smooth honey tanned skin. His black slacks were loose around his legs and he was a few inches taller than usual thanks to the black heeled boots he wore.
His hair made him stand out, dyed platinum blonde along with his eyebrows, a few strands of his bangs falling loose across his forehead and into his eyes. His makeup was rather minimal, just enough to highlight his cheekbones and full lips. Lips that stretched into a warm smile as Kim Hongjoong stopped directly beside him, gesturing toward the empty seat.
"Mind if I join you?" Hongjoong asked, leaving Seonghwa a little shocked.
Most men would just sit down without asking. Hongjoong's manners were quite refreshing.
"Be my guest."
Seonghwa noticed the man's eyes light up as he took a seat before offering his hand to Seonghwa.
"I'm Kim Hongjoong."
A chill ran up Seonghwa's arm as he wrapped his fingers around Hongjoong's hand, pleased by the smoothness of the man's skin.
"A pleasure to meet you, Hongjoong. I'm Park Seonghwa."
Hongjoong nodded, as if he was more than aware of Seonghwa's name. After ordering a drink, Hongjoong twisted in his seat so that he was angled toward Seonghwa, giving the model a proper view of his bare skin beneath his black asymmetrical suit jacket. His skin was slightly paler than Seonghwa's, but look just as soft, and Seonghwa couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like against his fingertips.
"Do you typically sit by yourself at these parties?" Hongjoong asked before taking a sip of his drink.
Seonghwa smiled. "Only when I'm wanting a handsome man to keep me company."
"Well, damn. I guess I should leave then."
Hongjoong started to get up before Seonghwa reached out to grab his arm, a light chuckle escaping his lips.
"Oh, please. Don't act like you don't know how handsome you are, Kim Hongjoong."
"I might know it, but that doesn't make receiving such a compliment from someone as beautiful as you less flattering."
Seonghwa's cheeks warmed at Hongjoong's words and he allowed himself to lean a little closer, crossing a barrier that was never really there to begin with.
"Stick with me tonight, and I'll give you all the compliments you want."
"You don't have to tempt me with flattery to get me to keep you company, Seonghwa. I'm quite happy where I am."
"Good." Perfect.
Hongjoong ended up buying Seonghwa a drink while the two men sat at the bar conversing, enjoying each other's company. Seonghwa often kept an eye out for the reporters circling the party, making sure he looked good every time he saw one of them raise their camera.
A part of him felt guilty for not focusing solely on Hongjoong, especially since it seemed like the man was actually interested in Seonghwa. His laugh was genuine, his eyes looked no where else but at Seonghwa. It wasn't that Seonghwa wasn't interested, he simply had different priorities. Kim Hongjoong helped him make headlines. Indulging in a little bit of flirting was just a bonus.
As the night went on and Seonghwa's skin warmed by both the alcohol and Hongjoong's attention, he decided being seen chatting at the bar wasn't enough. The real headlines would come if he was seen being a lot more physical with television's golden boy.
Luckily, a new song began playing from the speakers, giving Seonghwa the opportunity he needed. Grabbing Hongjoong's hand, Seonghwa pulled the man away from the bar and to where a large group was already moving to the music.
"Let's dance," Seonghwa said as he wrapped his arms around Hongjoong's shoulders and began swaying his hips to the beat.
Hongjoong stood there awkwardly with his hands down at his sides and his cheeks bright red.
"I, uh, I'm not much of a dancer."
Seonghwa grinned as he reached down to grab one of Hongjoong's hands and placed it on his hip.
"Just follow my lead. And have fun."
After a moment, Hongjoong placed his second hand on Seonghwa's hip and began matching his movements, their bodies naturally inching closer together. Seonghwa could sense the reporters circling the dance floor, he knew they would eventually see him with Hongjoong and take photos that would be all over the internet within a couple of hours.
But as Hongjoong roamed his hands up Seonghwa's back, stopping just before he touched skin, Seonghwa forgot all about his ulterior motives for wanting to be seen with Hongjoong in the first place. He pressed his body closer to the smaller man, basking in the warmth radiating from his body. Hongjoong's breath grazed against his neck, sending pleasant shivers down Seonghwa's spine.
The hunger that had been in Hongjoong's eyes when he had approached Seonghwa at the bar earlier intensified as they danced, and Seonghwa had no doubt the other man was seeing that same kind of unashamed desire reflected back at him.
As if pulled by an unseen force, Seonghwa leaned down to press a kiss underneath Hongjoong's ear and a breath hitched in the man's throat.
"Seonghwa?"
"Want to get out of here?" Seonghwa asked before ghosting his lips against Hongjoong's skin again, pleased by the goosebumps he left behind.
"And go where?"
"My place." Seonghwa leaned back to meet Hongjoong's gaze, not even trying to hide his intentions. "Come home with me."
Hongjoong glanced down at Seonghwa's lips before meeting his gaze again. "Okay. Let's go."
The two men managed to slip out of the party undetected, fingers intertwined and the rush of anticipation pumping through their veins.
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The moment the elevator doors closed, Seonghwa and Hongjoong gravitated toward each other, their lips colliding in a passionate kiss. Hongjoong cradled Seonghwa's face in his hands as he mapped out every inch of Seonghwa's mouth with his tongue. Seonghwa moaned into the kiss, melting into Hongjoong's embrace as they rode the elevator up to Seonghwa's apartment.
When they reached the top floor, Seonghwa broke away from the kiss and led Hongjoong into his place, giving enough time to take off their shoes and turn on a couple of lights for soft mood lighting before they were touching each other again. They stumbled their way into Seonghwa's bedroom, hands tangled in hair and caressing skin that was already exposed, their lips already tingling from the contact.
Seonghwa reached for the button of Hongjoong's jacket, popping it open before sliding the fabric off of his shoulders and onto the floor, allowing his hands to graze against Hongjoong's skin as he undressed him. Hongjoong sighed at the sensation, wasting no time to remove Seonghwa's clothes as well. Once they both stood bare before each other, Seonghwa climbed onto the bed, pulling Hongjoong on top of him.
"Do you have a preference for how this goes?" Hongjoong asked as he kissed across Seonghwa's jaw and down his neck, the man's hand caressing the side of Seonghwa's thigh.
Seonghwa rocked his hips forward, eliciting a moan from Hongjoong.
"I want you inside me. Please."
Their lips connected with almost a sense of desperation as the desire that had been building all night overtook them. Their hands traced every curve, their mouths wrapped around sensitive skin, until finally Hongjoong had his chest pressed against Seonghwa's back and he was rocking his hips forward in a steady pace.
"Fuck," Seonghwa gasped as he grabbed onto the headboard, his knees already shaking.
The room was filled with moans and whimpers from both men as they chased toward their release, hips moving against each other erratically until they tumbled over the edge. Seonghwa fell face down on the bed, with Hongjoong collapsing on top of him. For a while, the two men laid skin to skin as the trembling slowed down and their breathing returned to normal.
The faint sound of incoming notifications echoed from Seonghwa's phone somewhere across the room, the device still in the pocket of his discarded pants. He contemplated sliding out from underneath Hongjoong to check the notifications, but the pleasant rise and fall of Hongjoong's chest on his back kept Seonghwa in place. He was pretty certain he knew what he would find when he looked anyway, so there was no real reason to check at that precise moment. Seonghwa could spare himself a few more minutes of silent pleasure.
But then notifications started buzzing from Hongjoong's phone and the man grumbled wordlessly as he crawled off of Seonghwa and searched for the device. Seonghwa turned to lie on his back, watching as Hongjoong swiped open his phone and stared at what Seonghwa assumed was dozens of photos of the two of them at the party. The look on Hongjoong's face started off amused, if not slightly annoyed.
But then something in his expression changed. His lips pulled in a tight line and his brows pinched together.
"What is it?" Seonghwa asked, starting to feel awkward by the silence.
"Did you know?"
"Know what?"
"Did you know the reporters were taking pictures of us tonight?"
"Hongjoong, we were at a party filled with celebrities. Of course photos were being taken of us."
"I know that, but that's not what I mean." Walking back to the bed, Hongjoong turned his phone around so that Seonghwa could see the photo he had been looking at when his expression changed. "Were you aware that they were watching us?"
It wasn't just one photo that Seonghwa was now staring at, but a collage of three photos taken in succession of each other. The first two appeared to be candid, with Seonghwa and Hongjoong smiling and laughing together. But the third was different. Seonghwa had a hand strategically placed on Hongjoong's knee, a knowing grin on his lips and his eyes weren't focused on the man in front of him.
In that split second the reporter had snapped the photo, Seonghwa had looked at the camera. Almost like he knew what moment was being captured. Because he did.
"Hongjoong…"
"Please, just… be honest with me, Seonghwa. Did you know we were being photographed? Is that why you were so welcoming to me when I approached you? You just wanted a good headline?"
A part of Seonghwa felt guilty, especially looking up at the hurt that was now filling Hongjoong's eyes, but he pushed that aside in place of annoyance instead.
"And if I did know, so what? In the end, we both got what we wanted."
"What?"
Seonghwa rolled his eyes before climbing out of bed and putting his boxers back on. "I got my name in the headlines, you got to fuck me. It was a win-win for both of us. I don't understand why you're making a big deal out of it."
Hongjoong stood there in silence as Seonghwa grabbed his discarded clothes from the floor to retrieve his phone, too stunned to even move. It wasn't until Seonghwa began rummaging around in his bathroom, feeling the sudden urge to wash the night off of his skin, that he heard the sound of Hongjoong picking up his own clothes back in the bedroom.
"Right. Of course. I'm clearly overreacting." Despite trying to sound nonchalant, there was no mistaking the hurt in Hongjoong's voice. "I'll get going then."
Unable to stop himself, Seonghwa peeked out of the bathroom, catching sight of Hongjoong just before he turned around and headed for the front door. While he tried to mask his voice, Hongjoong did nothing to hide his hurt expression and another pang of guilt twisted in Seonghwa's stomach.
He took a step out of the bathroom, almost like he was going to run after Hongjoong and stop him from leaving. Before he could take another step, the few lights that were on flickered off with a loud pop, startling both Seonghwa and Hongjoong.
"Shit," Seonghwa mumbled as he slowly walked into his closet to retrieve one of his flashlights before heading for the main living area.
Hongjoong stood there at the front door confused, looking around the room like he was waiting for the lights to come on again.
"What was that?" Hongjoong asked as he finally tried opening the door, only to discover it wouldn't budge.
"Power outage. No use trying to open the door, you're locked in until the power comes back on."
"Locked in?"
"Unfortunately, yes." Seonghwa walked throughout his apartment, grabbing extra flashlights and handing them to Hongjoong before heading to the kitchen and transferring some perishable food from the fridge to the freezer. "There should be enough power in the backup generator that powers the building's water tank to allow you to shower before bed. The spare bedroom is already made up and the extra bathroom will have everything you need. I'll find you some pajamas and place them on the bed for you."
Seonghwa began walking back to his own bedroom when Hongjoong stopped him.
"Wait, how long until the power comes back on?"
"Could be back up in the morning, but it could also be a day or two." Seonghwa glanced over his shoulder, giving Hongjoong an apologetic smile. "Looks like you're forced to be around me for a little while longer. Sorry."
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Seonghwa woke up feeling exhausted, having barely slept through the night. Instead of waking up with pleasant aches left over from great sex, Seonghwa was sore in all the wrong places from tossing and turning restlessly.
With an exasperated sigh, Seonghwa crawled out of bed and made his way into the bathroom to wash up for the morning. He tested the light switch, but nothing happened. Still without power. Luckily there was still running water to use, though Seonghwa knew that wouldn't last much longer.
Not bothering to change out of his pajamas, Seonghwa walked out of his room and into the kitchen to quickly assess what food he had. There were a few perishables he had placed in the freezer the night before that didn't need to be cooked, while mainly fruit was left in the fridge, a stash of unhealthy snacks that he indulged in every once in a while and half a dozen bottles of water left in the pantry. Not a great selection, but with any luck the power would be back on before the end of the day and he could order some delivery.
The sound of soft footsteps caught Seonghwa's attention and he turned to find Hongjoong walking into the kitchen. The man still looked half asleep, strands of hair sticking up in odd directions and the sweatpants Seonghwa loaned him bunched up around his ankles. He looked so soft and Seonghwa resisted the urge to reach out and flatten his hair back into place.
Instead, Seonghwa silently began arranging the fruit into two separate bowls.
"Still no power?" Hongjoong asked as Seonghwa cut the apples into thin slices.
"Nope. Shouldn't be too long though."
"Does this happen often?"
Seonghwa shook his head before placing one of the bowls in front of Hongjoong. "I've lived here for over five years and this is only the third time." Hopping onto the counter, Seonghwa plopped a grape into his mouth before meeting Hongjoong's gaze. "First time being locked inside with someone else."
"Just my luck, huh? That's what I get for lingering too long." Hongjoong winced at his words, looking away from Seonghwa as he spun to bowl between his hands. "Sorry. However I feel about all of this doesn't give me the right to be a dick. I just… I don't like feeling like I've been used. It makes me question whether anything about last night was genuine."
A wave of guilt washed over Seonghwa, as well as something else he couldn't identify, and he struggled to remain rational about the whole thing.
"Why does that matter?" Seonghwa eventually asked, and Hongjoong chuckled humorlessly.
"It doesn't," he mumbled before grabbing the bowl and walking over to the window in the living room, staring out at the world beyond as he sat down on the floor and nibbled on the pieces of fruit.
Seonghwa watched him silently, conflicted by his own emotions. How had he actually expected the night to go? With past hookups, Seonghwa sent them on their way shortly after they had finished having sex, feeling no desire to linger in their embrace. But with Hongjoong, it was different. Seonghwa wasn't exactly sure how, he just knew that it was.
Not that it made a difference anymore, not with Hongjoong regretting every second they spent together. How did it get this way? How did Seonghwa get this way?
No longer feeling hungry, Seonghwa placed the bowl of fruit back into the fridge before locking himself in his room, away from Hongjoong. Away from everything.
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When Seonghwa emerged a couple of hours later, he found Hongjoong still in his pajamas and standing in front of the main bookshelf in the living room. It held an array of knick-knacks, photos, magazines and books, little things that gave someone a closer look at the person Seonghwa was.
Curious about what could have possibly caught the man's attention, Seonghwa walked across the room and stood beside Hongjoong. One of his hands was resting on the edge of one of the middle shelves, his finger tapping on an old picture frame. Inside the frame was a photo of Seonghwa being embraced by his family, a warm smile on his face and tears of joy streaming down his cheeks.
"That was after my first runway show," Seonghwa explained softly, unable to stop the smile that formed on his lips from the memory.
There was no response for a moment, but then Hongjoong asked, "How old were you?"
"Nineteen. I had always wanted to be a model, ever since I was a kid. But there was one thing I kept hearing over and over again – I wasn't tall enough. My mother told me not to listen, that someone would see the potential in me and scoop me up off the street." Seonghwa chuckled as he leaned against the bookshelf. "That's exactly what happened when I was eighteen and I was thrown into the modeling world, quickly realizing it was a lot more competitive than I ever imagined. But I worked hard. I fought for my spot and by nineteen I was walking my first show. This industry rewards ambition."
Hongjoong simply nodded before turning his attention to the small collection of bunny figurines on a lower shelf, an amused smile on his face.
"Bunnies?"
"What? I happen to like cute and small things."
That got Hongjoong to laugh and Seonghwa could feel some of the tension between them start to fade.
"Any other interests of yours that will surprise me?" Hongjoong asked as he finally met Seonghwa's gaze for the first time since their conversation earlier that morning.
While his expression was still a little guarded, Seonghwa could see a hint of playfulness in Hongjoong's eyes, a softness that tugged at Seonghwa's heart. Seonghwa rubbed the back of his neck nervously before nodding in the direction of the hallway.
"My office is where I keep most of my private collection. I can show you if you're actually interested."
"Private collection? Now you have to show me."
Seonghwa felt his cheeks warm as he led Hongjoong down the hallway and into the room across from the spare bedroom the man stayed in the night before. He couldn't help but hesitate once his hand wrapped around the doorknob, worried that Hongjoong would judge him for what he was about to witness on the other side of the door. But when Seonghwa glanced over his shoulder and saw the genuine interest in Hongjoong's eyes, he let the door swing open.
One small window allowed for sunlight to illuminate the interior of the room, giving Hongjoong full view of its contents. Seonghwa called the room his office, but there was no desk or even a piece of furniture to sit on. Several glass cabinets lined the walls, all filled with Star Wars lego sets and other Star Wars memorabilia. There was even a lightsaber placed on display hooks on the wall, surrounded by movie posters. One smaller display case held lego sets that weren't related to Stars Wars, and were much more colorful and cute.
Seonghwa leaned against the doorframe, watching anxiously as Hongjoong took his time looking at every built set in every case. After a while, Hongjoong finally spoke.
"Did you build all of these yourself?"
"Yeah. Keeps my hands busy and I like the feeling of accomplishment when I'm done."
"And you like cute and small things," Hongjoong added as he tapped against the display case he was in front of, pointing at the bunny lego set inside. "Tell me, how many people have been privileged enough to see what's in this room?"
"Not including my family?" Seonghwa nibbled on his bottom lip before answering. "Just you."
Hongjoong looked up at Seonghwa, his eyes softening with surprise.
"Wait, really?"
Seonghwa shrugged. "No one's ever asked before. It's just some legos anyway. It's not that exciting."
"I disagree. I feel like I'm starting to get the full picture of who you are, Park Seonghwa."
"Oh? And what do you see?"
Hongjoong crossed the room to stand in front of Seonghwa, glancing up at him beneath beautiful long lashes. How had Seonghwa not noticed them before?
"It's too soon to tell, but trust me, bunny. I'll figure you out before the end of the day. There's not much else for me to do while I'm locked in this apartment."
Something fluttered inside of Seonghwa's chest as his lips parted and closed a few times before he finally stuttered, "Bunny?"
"It feels like an apt nickname for you."
"But… why? Why would you give me a nickname?" Seonghwa looked down at his feet while he played with the hem of his t-shirt. "After last night, after everything, why even be nice to me?"
Hongjoong stepped closer to Seonghwa, making him meet the man's gaze. "Because I've decided to wipe the slate clean. Start over. Which means," Hongjoong offered his hand before continuing, "I'm Kim Hongjoong."
Hesitantly, Seonghwa shook Hongjoong's hand. "I'm Park Seonghwa."
"Nice to meet you, Seonghwa. What do you say we head back into the kitchen and get you something to eat? You're looking a little pale."
It was only in that moment that Seonghwa realized how weak he felt, using the doorframe to hold himself up properly. Aside from those few pieces of fruit earlier, when was the last time he actually ate?
"That sounds like a good idea."
While Hongjoong didn't touch him, Seonghwa felt the presence of Hongjoong's hand near his back as the two men made their way to the kitchen, as though Hongjoong would happily help Seonghwa if he needed someone to lean on. It made Seonghwa's head feel fuzzy. Or perhaps that was the lack of food in his stomach.
Seonghwa made it to the island counter before collapsing onto one of the stools and Hongjoong immediately retrieved the bowl of fruit from the fridge, placing it in front of Seonghwa.
"Start with that for now," Hongjoong said as he began rummaging around the pantry, looking for items to make a more substantial meal. "I'll admit I'm not the best cook on most days, but considering we have no power, I might be more useless than normal."
"There's some kimbap in the freezer that you can take out and let thaw," Seonghwa said as he bit into a crisp apple slice. "This fruit will be enough for now."
Hongjoong nodded before retrieving the kimbap and setting the two rolls on the counter. He then grabbed a bottle of water and handed it to Seonghwa.
"You should drink something as well."
Seonghwa accepted the bottle gratefully, taking a long swig of the liquid before popping another piece of fruit in his mouth.
"Feel free to grab a snack from the pantry. I shouldn't be the only one eating."
Hongjoong grabbed a water bottle for himself and a small bag of chips before taking a seat next to Seonghwa. Nothing was said for a while as the two ate, with Seonghwa beginning to feel better by the time most of the fruit was gone.
"You said a power outage has happened before," Hongjoong eventually said, leaning his elbow against the counter so that he could rest his chin on his palm. "What did you do during those times to keep yourself busy? We've only been up for a few hours and I'm already going crazy."
Seonghwa chuckled. "I read books or built a new lego set if I had one. Watched videos on my phone until the battery died. More than anything, I just relaxed. As a model, and I'm sure as an actor as well, getting time to ourselves to truly and genuinely relax is not something we come by often."
Hongjoong nodded. "I'm sure it must be a relief, being able to let your guard down and simply be. No expectations. No people to impress. Being able to breathe without feeling like you're–"
"Suffocating," Seonghwa whispered, finishing Hongjoong's sentence himself.
The two men looked at each other and Seonghwa was once again met with a softness he didn't feel like he deserved. Hongjoong was a kind and genuine individual that, no matter how much interest he did have in the man, Seonghwa had taken advantage of.
"I'm sorry, Hongjoong."
"Clean slate, remember?"
Seonghwa shook his head. "You still deserve an apology. Yes, I knew what being seen with you would get me in terms of headlines and public response. I welcomed it with open arms. But that doesn't mean everything about last night was disingenuous."
The ghost of Hongjoong's touch brushed against Seonghwa's skin, leaving goosebumps behind. Based off of the look in Hongjoong's eyes, he was picturing the two of them wrapped in each other's arms as well. A soft pink hue flooded Hongjoong's cheeks as he turned away from Seonghwa.
"It wasn't like I was upfront about what spending a night with you would mean to me. Hell, ending up in your bed wasn't even how I was expecting the night to go when I approached you at the bar."
"It wasn't?" To say that Seonghwa was shocked was an understatement. "Then what were you expecting, Hongjoong? Because the look in your eyes when you walked toward me was quite heated."
The blush in Hongjoong's cheeks deepened as he rubbed the back of his neck, and a nervous chuckle escaped his lips. "Any man would find it difficult to hide their attraction for you, Seonghwa. I mean, fuck. I don't think I'll ever meet another person as beautiful as you are."
It was Seonghwa's turn to blush. Feeling the need to escape from Hongjoong's gaze, Seonghwa hopped off the stool and walked over to place the empty bowl in the sink before heading into the living room. He grabbed a book from the shelf, not even sparing a glance at the title, and plopped down on the couch.
Why was he feeling so shy? They've already had sex, getting a small compliment like that shouldn't have Seonghwa blushing in this way.
The sound of an incoming text buzzed from Hongjoong's phone and Seonghwa peeked over the top of his book to watch Hongjoong reply. The man was biting the inside of his left cheek as he typed quickly, tossing his phone on the counter before heading over to take a seat on the opposite side of the couch.
"Everything okay?" Seonghwa asked.
"Just my manager asking for updates. I kind of forgot to let him know I was leaving the party with you, so a lot of the messages I received last night were from him."
"I'm sure he's probably freaking out about all the rumors circulating us right now."
Hongjoong shrugged. "I have no clue what's being said. I haven't checked my phone aside from replying to my manager since last night."
"Neither have I." Another apology was on the tip of Seonghwa's tongue, but he swallowed it. "If you weren't expecting the night to end with you in bed with me, what were you expecting when you approached me at the bar? What were your intentions?"
"Honestly? I just wanted to talk to you, to get to know you a little. It's practically impossible to live in this country and not know who Park Seonghwa the supermodel is. But I was curious about the rest of it. About who you were underneath all the glitz and glam. At most, I was hoping to maybe walk away with your number, with the possibility of taking you on a date." Hongjoong chuckled lightly. "We kind of skipped a few steps."
Seonghwa tossed the book onto the coffee table and brought his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around his legs.
"I really don't understand you," he mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"You're television's golden boy and the most you were hoping for was to get my number by the end of the night? That doesn't make any sense to me."
Seonghwa felt the sting of tears behind his eyes and he buried his face in his knees, trying his best to hide from Hongjoong. But it wasn't long until Seonghwa heard the sound of Hongjoong moving across the couch until the man was sitting close enough that Seonghwa could feel his body heat. A warm hand wrapped around Seonghwa's wrist and he automatically raised his head at the touch.
"I can't imagine how hard it's been for you, Seonghwa. Dealing with people who only take and take and take. It's made it difficult for you to recognize when someone wants to have a genuine connection with you, instead of something transactional. That's why you said what you did last night, that it was a win-win situation for both of us." Slowly, Hongjoong raised his hand to caress the back of Seonghwa's head. "This was never transactional for me, bunny. Not even a little."
Seonghwa couldn't stop the tears as they began streaming down his cheeks and within seconds he was being pulled into Hongjoong's arms, his face cradled against Hongjoong's chest. He allowed himself to be enveloped by the man's warmth, listening to the steady beat of Hongjoong's heart as he cried. Hongjoong didn't say anything, he simply held Seonghwa close, resting his cheek against the top of Seonghwa's head.
They stayed like that on the couch until Seonghwa's tears dried and he remembered about the kimbap that was left on the counter. The two men then migrated back to the kitchen to put together a simple lunch before enjoying it at the island counter.
Seonghwa's face felt puffy from crying, but he found that he didn't really care. If there was one person he could be his unfiltered self with, Hongjoong was proving to be that person. And Seonghwa was beginning to realize how much he liked it.
"Your turn," Seonghwa said as he nudged Hongjoong's leg with his foot.
"My turn to do what?"
"I've shared a lot about myself today. But I want to know more about you."
The way Hongjoong's eyes sparkled at Seonghwa's admission brought the fluttering back to Seonghwa's chest.
"I'm an open book, bunny. What would you like to know?"
"Anything." Everything. "Any hobbies or special interests that not many people know about?"
"I dabble a bit in music production, but it's more for fun than anything else. I also really enjoy photography."
"Oh, come on. Those are both perfectly normal hobbies to enjoy. Give me something better."
"I don't know what to tell you, Seonghwa. Not everyone can be on your level of geek."
Seonghwa playfully punched Hongjoong's shoulder. "You're lying. Tell me."
"Okay, okay. Fine. If you really must know, I'm particularly a fan of Minions."
"Minions? Like, those little yellow guys from that animated movie?"
"Yes. They're funny and I find them amusing."
"That's it? You find them amusing?"
Hongjoong avoided Seonghwa's gaze as he muttered, "I might also have a pair of Minion slippers that I wear when I'm home alone."
Seonghwa wasn't sure what he expected Hongjoong's answer to be when he initially asked the question, but it definitely wasn't this. Knowing that behind all the confidence, the talent, the charm and the handsome face that Hongjoong was just as big of a dork as he was made Seonghwa smile.
"And you called me a geek."
"Oh, shut up."
"You know what? Wait here."
"Where am I going to go?"
Seonghwa ignored him as he hopped off the stool and walked down the hallway to his lego room. Might as well call it what it is, even if it's silently in his mind. Leaning up against one of the display cases was an unopened lego set that Seonghwa had been saving for a day when he really needed to focus on anything but work. It was one of the smaller spaceships from Star Wars, so it wouldn't take that long to build, especially with two people. But it was a perfect way to pass the time.
Grabbing the box, Seonghwa brought it back out into the kitchen and presented it to Hongjoong. "Build this with me," Seonghwa suggested as he bounced on the balls of his feet, making Hongjoong chuckle.
"You're really living up to your nickname, bunny. Are you always like this when you're excited about something."
"Yes. Now will you build this with me?"
Hongjoong discarded the dirty plates into the sink before walking over to the small dining table and taking a seat. He glanced over his shoulder at Seonghwa and patted the chair beside him.
"What are you waiting for, bunny? Let's build some legos."
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"You're starting to feel frustrated, aren't you?" Hongjoong asked as he looked through the instructions once again to figure out which lego piece went where, all while Seonghwa was building his portion of the spaceship seamlessly.
They'd been working for close to an hour already.
Seonghwa replied softly, "No, not at all."
"But I'm taking forever to even figure out which piece is which."
"There's no rush, Hongjoong. I can wait as long as you need."
A half hour later, the spaceship was complete and Hongjoong looked like he lost a few years of his life.
"I'm going to assume you're never building legos with me again," Seonghwa chuckled as he placed the spaceship on one of the empty shelves in the display case before turning to face Hongjoong, who was leaning against the doorframe.
"I think it's best to let it just be your thing."
"Fair enough."
When the two men walked back into the living room, Hongjoong immediately fell face down onto the couch.
"I'm exhausted," he grumbled.
"You're being ridiculous, Hongjoong. You helped build a small lego spaceship, not run a marathon."
Hongjoong flipped onto his back and glared at Seonghwa. "This is your fault. You should make it up to me."
"Really? And how should I do that?"
Before Seonghwa knew it, he was being pulled onto the couch and wrapped up in Hongjoong's arms. Seonghwa's breath hitched as his cheek brushed against Hongjoong's jaw, the two men now lying chest to chest.
"Rest with me for a while."
Seonghwa couldn't speak. He could barely even move, not that he exactly wanted to. This wasn't like when Hongjoong held him while he was crying. That embrace was out of comfort. But this? Seonghwa couldn't help but think that this was more than two almost strangers cuddling on the couch.
Was he wrong to hope that it was more? Sure, Hongjoong had told Seonghwa that he was beautiful, and they laughed together, and they built a stupid lego spaceship together, and Hongjoong called him bunny and made his heart flutter.
But even if Hongjoong had decided to wipe the slate clean and start over after Seonghwa ruined everything last night, that doesn't mean there was still a chance of anything blossoming between them.
Yet Seonghwa couldn't find the strength to pull away. Instead, he melted deeper into Hongjoong's warmth, wrapping his own arms around the man's waist and closed his eyes.
The sun was beginning to set when Seonghwa opened his eyes again, still cradled against Hongjoong's chest. He glanced up to find the man already looking at him, a soft smile on his lips.
"What?" Seonghwa asked as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
"Nothing. You're just cute when you sleep."
Seonghwa's heart swooped in his chest and he gently pushed himself away from Hongjoong so that he could stand up.
"I'm going to make us some dinner."
Their dinner was more snacks than anything else, all the perishable food already eaten or thrown out because it inevitably spoiled. Seonghwa quickly checked his phone to see if there was an update on the power. All he had received that day was an email saying it was being worked on and that it would hopefully be fixed by the morning. Seonghwa just hoped that would be the case.
After eating their pathetic excuse for a dinner, Seonghwa and Hongjoong found themselves back on the couch, listening to soft music from Hongjoong's phone as they watched the last sliver of sunlight disappear beneath the horizon. When Seonghwa glanced over at Hongjoong, he found the man smiling.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I was just thinking about today. All things considered, it wasn't as bad as I initially thought it would be, being stuck in this apartment with you."
Seonghwa shifted nervously on the couch. "Does that mean you no longer regret lingering last night?"
"I don't regret anything from last night, Seonghwa. Not approaching you at the bar. Not coming home with you. And definitely not lingering in those quiet moments after, your skin still pressed against mine."
"Why?"
Hongjoong moved closer to Seonghwa on the couch, stopping only when their knees touched.
"Because it led me here. I got to know you, the real you. That's what I wanted from the very beginning."
"What if things had been different? What if last night had happened the way you had hoped, where we simply talked and you left with my number added to your contacts? What kind of date would you have taken me on?"
Reaching out his hand, Hongjoong brushed a strand of hair behind Seonghwa's ear before resting his palm on Seonghwa's cheek.
"Something simple. Laid back. Our lives are hectic enough as it is, I would want our first date to be the total opposite." Seonghwa's heartbeat sped up in his chest as Hongjoong caressed his cheek with his thumb. "Something not too different from what we had today would be perfect."
The thumb that had been caressing his cheek moved down to Seonghwa's mouth, gently swiping over his lips. Seonghwa leaned into the touch, every inch of his skin growing warm. Hongjoong looked down at Seonghwa's lips before meeting his gaze again.
"May I?" he whispered.
"Are you asking to kiss me, Hongjoong?"
"Yes."
"Isn't it a little late to ask that?"
"No."
"But we've already had sex."
"I know." Hongjoong leaned forward, stopping just as their noses touched. "May I?"
Seonghwa nodded and Hongjoong slowly closed the distance, pressing their lips together in a tender kiss. Gentle hands cradled his face as their lips moved in sync with each other, the touch familiar yet new. Last night had been all about heated desire. But this kiss? This moment? Pure longing driven by emotions that were nurtured over the course of the day with every piece of themselves they shared with one another.
When Hongjoong leaned back to allow them both to breathe, Seonghwa's skin was aching for more.
"Are you going to take me to bed now?"
"Only if you want me to. I could happily stay just like this if that's what you prefer."
Seonghwa leaned in to press a chaste kiss against Hongjoong's lips. "I'd like you to take me to bed, Hongjoong."
In one swift movement, Hongjoong hoisted Seonghwa off the couch and wrapped Seonghwa's legs around his waist. Seonghwa let out a surprise gasp as he clung to Hongjoong's shoulders while the man carried him to the bedroom as though he weighed no more than a feather.
Hongjoong pressed gentle kisses to Seonghwa's neck as he was placed on the mattress, with Hongjoong slowly climbing up on top of him. For a while, that's all Hongjoong did. Kissed Seonghwa's neck. Kissed his jaw. Kissed the tip of his nose. Seonghwa sighed with every touch, his hands slowly running up and down Hongjoong's back.
It was clear that Hongjoong had no plans to rush this moment, and Seonghwa was more than happy to let him take his time. As Hongjoong finally brought their lips together, his hands slipped under Seonghwa's shirt and caressed the warm skin that lay beneath. His fingertips mapped every inch of Seonghwa's body that he could reach, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
"Hongjoong," Seonghwa gasped between kisses. "Please. I want to feel more of you."
With a gentle tug, Seonghwa's shirt was raised above his head and tossed onto the floor. Hongjoong kissed along Seonghwa's collarbone and down his chest while removing Seonghwa's sweatpants and boxers, discarding them without his lips ever leaving Seonghwa's skin.
Before Hongjoong's touch traveled lower than Seonghwa's hip, he leaned off of Seonghwa to remove his own clothes. Once completely bare, Hongjoong hovered over Seonghwa, their bodies slightly grazing against each other. It was Seonghwa who leaned in first, capturing Hongjoong's lips in a kiss that was slow and deep, pulling Hongjoong closer until no space was left between them.
Hongjoong broke away from the kiss to crawl down Seonghwa's body, finding a comfortable position between Seonghwa's thighs before lowering his head to connect his mouth with sensitive skin. Seonghwa buried his fingers in Hongjoong's hair, and he struggled to catch his breath as he was slowly pushed toward the edge, Hongjoong's touch lighting a flame beneath his skin.
"Oh, god. Hongjoong, I–"
The words died on his lips, replaced by a chorus of moans as he found his release, chasing after the sensation until he had nothing left. Sweat glistened his temples and his chest as Hongjoong gave one final kiss to his inner thigh before hovering above Seonghwa properly once again.
"Everything still okay, bunny?" Hongjoong asked as he brushed wet strands of hair away from Seonghwa's face.
Seonghwa smiled. "Everything's perfect. Don't stop now."
Their lips connected in a kiss just as tender as the last, with Hongjoong swallowing Seonghwa's whimpers as his fingers moved with a slow precision that had Seonghwa trembling beneath him. It was becoming clear just how badly Seonghwa's body ached for Hongjoong, so even though he wasn't in a rush, Hongjoong gave Seonghwa what he wanted.
With Seonghwa's legs wrapped around his waist, Hongjoong rolled his hips forward until their bodies were connected completely, pausing long enough for the both of them to relax into the new sensation before starting a slow yet firm pace. Now that they were connected, Seonghwa didn't mind that Hongjoong was taking his time again. Every move of his hips, every kiss against Seonghwa's skin radiated so deep within Seonghwa that he felt nothing but Hongjoong's presence, the rest of the world fading into nothing.
It was an experience Seonghwa had never had before, being adored and worshipped this way by another man. And as his release drew near and Hongjoong's movements grew faster, Seonghwa knew that no one other than Hongjoong would ever make him feel like this.
"Seonghwa," Hongjoong moaned, his face buried in the crook of Seonghwa's neck.
The sound of his name on Hongjoong's lips pushed Seonghwa over the edge and Hongjoong followed moments after, their moans and whimpers echoing off the walls as their release vibrated through their bodies. They didn't move once they came down from the high, not for a long time.
It was after they cleaned up and started to settle back in each other's arms that a weird buzzing sound filled the air. Seconds later, the few lights that had been on before the power outage flickered back to life.
"Well, would you look at that," Hongjoong chuckled as he sat up, leaving Seonghwa feeling cold without his warmth. "Finally."
Before Seonghwa could respond, Hongjoong was climbing out of bed and the sound of his footsteps disappeared from the room. Seonghwa froze as a sense of dread filled up inside of his chest. Was Hongjoong leaving? No, he wouldn't do that. Right?
"Hongjoong?" Seonghwa called, getting no response.
He did leave. Whatever moment Seonghwa thought they'd just shared was all in his head. Take, take, take. That's all people do and Seonghwa was a fool to believe–
"Bunny?" a gentle voice whispered, breaking through Seonghwa's thoughts and soon warm hands were cradling Seonghwa's face. "Why are you crying?"
Seonghwa hadn't realized he was until Hongjoong was gently wiping away tears from his cheeks.
"You're here? You're… staying?"
"Of course I'm staying, bunny. I wouldn't leave you like that."
"But you left."
Hongjoong crawled back into bed and pulled Seonghwa into his arms, warmth enveloping Seonghwa the moment their skin touched.
"I was just turning off the lights."
Seonghwa buried his face into the crook of Hongjoong's neck, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
"Oh."
"I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm here."
Hongjoong kissed the top of Seonghwa's head and the two men drifted off to sleep wrapped in each other's arms.
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The annoying sound of incoming texts and phone calls woke Seonghwa and Hongjoong up the following morning, interrupting their peaceful slumber. No doubt both of their managers wanting updates on the power outage and needing to discuss how to handle all of the rumors that have been building since the party.
"Do you think they'll leave us alone if we ignore them?" Hongjoong asked as he traced his fingertips down Seonghwa's back.
Seonghwa pressed a kiss against Hongjoong's chest before shaking his head. "Unfortunately, no."
With great effort, the two men climbed out of bed and Seonghwa led them into the bathroom to take a quick shower. It felt so natural, waking up together, washing each other's hair and skin, pressing tender kisses against shoulders and foreheads. But with every chime of an incoming notification, Seonghwa was slowly pulled back into reality.
The moment Hongjoong walked out the front door, the little bubble they had lived in the previous day would be gone. No longer Hongjoong and Seonghwa, but television's golden boy and South Korea's supermodel.
As soon as they were both dressed, Hongjoong finally answered one of his incoming calls.
"Hi, Jongho. Yes, the power is back on. I was just getting ready to leave. Out the back?" Hongjoong looked at Seonghwa, his cheeks growing red. "Okay, I understand. I'll be down in a few minutes."
"What happened?" Seonghwa asked once Hongjoong ended the call.
Hongjoong chuckled nervously. "It turns out we might not have snuck out of the party unnoticed. Someone saw us leaving together and a couple of paparazzi have been camped out across the street since then."
Seonghwa groaned as he finally checked his phone for the first time since the night of the party, and he was bombarded with dozens of articles, blogs and tweets all speculating his relationship with Hongjoong. This would have been exactly what he wanted the other night, but at that moment Seonghwa felt annoyed.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
Hongjoong walked over and pulled Seonghwa in for a lingering kiss, and Seonghwa practically melted on the spot.
"Don't be sorry, bunny. I'm definitely not."
"But this is no longer just between us. Now everyone is watching."
"I know. We'll figure it out." A new chime echoed from Hongjoong's phone. "I guess I should go."
Seonghwa nodded before leading Hongjoong out of his apartment and to the elevator. Luckily, all of his neighbors seemed to still be asleep, so Seonghwa didn't have an audience as he and Hongjoong said goodbye. With one final kiss, Hongjoong stepped into the elevator, the longing in his eyes unmistakable as the doors began to close.
Before they shut completely, Seonghwa reached out his hand and pulled the doors back open. "Wait," he gasped as he kept the doors open with force. "Let me see your phone."
Hongjoong handed the device to Seonghwa before holding the button down to keep the doors open while Seonghwa quickly typed. He left the screen open so that he could see Hongjoong's immediate reaction when he gave the phone back. A wide smile spread across Hongjoong's face.
"I see that you've embraced my nickname for you."
"You were right. Bunny suits me." Seonghwa leaned in for a quick heated kiss before pushing Hongjoong back into the elevator. "If after everything you still want to take me on that simple date, text me."
"Goodbye, Seonghwa."
"Goodbye."
They continued to hold each other's longing gaze until the elevator doors eventually closed, and Seonghwa was left alone in the hallway. Breathing in and releasing a deep sigh, Seonghwa made his way back into his apartment, now too empty and silent without Hongjoong there to keep him company. Had his apartment always felt this lonely?
Seonghwa was leaning against the closed door, his eyes shut tight as he struggled to fight back tears, when a notification chimed on his phone.
what's your schedule look like this saturday, bunny?? 😏
A smile tugged on his lips and his heart swooped inside of his chest as Seonghwa read the message over and over before finally typing out his response.