[SC27] Straightforward And Sincere
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Hanchul
Genre: AU!Romance
Theme: Bags, Phrase to include: "there's a secret code behind every word"
Summary: He's easily one of the more difficult people to understand, either he does it purposely out of spite or just for fun, questioning even the purest of motives. He deems that everyone truly fails at listening to what he wants, however, there's one man who could prove that to be otherwise untrue.
-
"You're giving up on dating? Why?" Leeteuk asked, Heechul stabbed his fork into his chicken. They were sitting at a table in a nearby casual restaurant.
"Because men are idiots."
"I see." Leeteuk took a bite from the same plate. "Want me to set you up with someone?"
"No one you've set me up with in the past has ever worked out."
"That's because you were never clear enough with them. The way you communicate doesn't even make any sense to me. Its like there's a secret code behind every word with you."
"Ah, but you get that there's something behind it. No one else does." Heechul pointed out, Leeteuk shook his head when his phone vibrated, he took out it out and flipped it open. Heechul continued to eat the dish when Leeteuk smiled as he closed it.
"Who was it?"
"A friend of mine, I told him he could come by."
Heechul narrowed his eyes. "Without my permission? How dare you." Leeteuk smiled when he looked up and waved. Heechul didn't bother to turn around as he took another bite. He chewed slowly as he kept his eyes on the plate when he noted the friend pulled up a seat to their table.
Leeteuk lightly nudged his leg to greet his friend, Heechul lowered his eyes at Leeteuk who simply smiled in return. "Hi." He said, not directing it completely towards the friend.
"Hello." The friend said kindly in return. Heechul flipped his hair and didn't follow the conversation when Leeteuk gave a much more forceful nudge to his leg.
Heechul looked up to see the friend's face and mentally shook his head disappointingly. His clothes weren't tailored right, there was a failed attempt at fixing his hair and though he was handsome he was nowhere near Heechul's type.
Leeteuk's phone rang again and he sighed. "I have to go now, work called me."
"Tell your boss to stick it in-"
"No." Leeteuk said sternly and smiled apologetically at his friend. "Hankyung, sorry about this, we'll try to meet up another time." He nodded and Leeteuk smiled but gave a warning look to Heechul before leaving the restaurant. Heechul sighed, he knew this meant he would have to now entertain the man called Hankyung.
"So... how do you know Leeteuk?" Heechul asked dryly, he didn't particular care but instead his thoughts loomed to a certain store nearby.
"We went to the same university." He replied, an accent evident in his speaking, Heechul nodded and waited for more. When he looked up, Hankyung was looking around.
"And?" Heechul asked, Hankyung met his eyes.
"What?"
"...And care to go into details about how you know him?" Hankyung was making conversation difficult for him at the moment, it was making Heechul talk more than he wanted to.
"You don't seem like the type to care about the details." Hankyung said, Heechul blinked. "I'll bore you with them too, its not too fascinating."
Heechul pushed away his plate when he was done. "I'm attempting here, just tell Leeteuk that much."
Hankyung smiled. "What are you thinking about?"
Heechul arched an eyebrow. "Aren't you being a little too direct there?"
Hankyung nodded. "It was just... you seem so lost in thought. I apologize for my rudeness." He did a slight bow, Heechul blinked.
This man was rather innocent in a sense, something Heechul found he wasn't particularly used to. He admitted that his accent was quite cute, but it was a passing thought.
"It's fine." Heechul said. "And I was just thinking of this store I passed by earlier, it was having an amazing sale that included all items in the store such as handbags, scarves, shirts, clothes, accessories-" He stopped himself before he could divulge any more, as if this man would find his obsession with shopping anywhere near interesting. No one really understood his interests.
"Do you want to stop by there?" Hankyung asked to Heechul's surprise. Heechul shifted himself in his seat.
"Can we?" He tried to hide his hopeful tone and looked from the corner of his eye at Hankyung's nod.
"Let's go." Heechul smiled excitedly when he reached for his plate, however Hankyung beat him to it and grabbed it. Heechul watched as Hankyung put away his plate by the bins and even held out the door for him.
Heechul remained wary of the man, he was too polite, he obviously wanted something from him. He decided, however, that shopping would take precedent for the time being and used Hankyung's kindness to his advantage. But it continued to bother him, Hankyung without complaint held his shopping bags and even drove him to other stores. Even his past boyfriends were never this nice.
"What do you want from me?" He asked directly when Hankyung walked him to his apartment door, Hankyung raised his eyebrows. "Don't act oblivious, you obviously want something from me, so spill."
Hankyung tilted his head. "I just want to be friends."
Heechul scoffed. "Good, because that's all we'll ever be. Anything more will only be in your imagination." With that he entered his apartment and closed the door behind him. He felt better knowing he set it straight with the man and smiled as he looked down at his many bags.
Leeteuk palmed his forehead as he heard the previous day's account from Heechul's own mouth. "Why would you be like that to him?"
"Because he was way too nice to a complete stranger." Heechul reasoned, he sat across from Leeteuk in his office.
"And that makes him an enemy?" Leeteuk asked incredulously. Heechul nodded, Leeteuk loosely crossed his arms. "Just so you know, he really is like that with everyone. He's nice and sometimes too much for his own good, back in college a lot of people tried to take advantage of that. And the way I see it, it seems you already have."
Heechul felt a bit of guilt, at both Hankyung's expense and Leeteuk's disappointment in him. "I'll apologize to him later." Leeteuk gave a small smile and nodded approvingly. Heechul did exactly that in their next meeting and Hankyung just smiled, seemingly unaffected by his somewhat conceited accusations.
Somehow during the months that passed, an unplanned friendship occured between the two whose contrasting personalities shocked even Leeteuk. But Heechul found Hankyung was a refreshing breath of fresh air, he was kind without motive and often went along with his often ridiculous demands. Sometimes with protest, but Heechul would quickly diminish any he had.
Heechul was walking through the sidewalk when he recognized Hankyung a short distance away. He was about to call out his name when some person hugged him. Hankyung gave the man a brilliant smile and returned the hug.
Heechul was unprepared for the tug he felt in his heart. He felt a lump in his throat as he watched the two interact, he didn't like this feeling at all. He quickly turned around on his heel and walked off, unwilling to see any more of this.
"What did he do to you now?" Leeteuk asked in a accusing manner in their office once again later that week. "Did he pay your dinner bill? Clean your car? Maybe he decided to fold all your laundry." Heechul narrowed his eyes at Leeteuk's mocking tone. "I'm sorry, I'm just...what did Hankyung do to receive your harsh treatment?"
"Why do you want to know in the first place?"
"Because Hankyung hasn't been able to reach your cell and has been calling me for advice because he's just as confused."
Heechul sighed, the scene from that day plagued his thoughts and he wanted nothing more than for that random stranger to suddenly disappear without a trace. "It's nothing." Heechul lied. "You know how I get, Hankyung just hasn't been around me long enough to understand my mood swings."
"You've got a point." Leeteuk murmured. "I'm hoping your mood swing is over then?" Heechul bit his cheek but nodded. "Good, then I can lay Hankyung's fears to rest."
Heechul sighed, he regretted how he ignored the man's constant phone calls and concerned text messages. But he couldn't help it, any thought of Hankyung always brought him to that day and it crushed his heart every time.
Hankyung smiled understandably when he met up with Heechul later the next day. They were walking through the streets, the cold wind occasionally hitting against them. "Leeteuk explained everything to do me, I'm sorry I called you so much, I must have been a bother."
"You weren't." Heechul stated as he tugged his jacket closer. He also doubted that Leeteuk could have explained everything, even he was unsure of his own actions.
Hankyung reached for the bag Heechul was carrying. Heechul quickly pulled away. "It's fine, I can carry my own bag." He felt his legs ache slightly and he looked around for somewhere to sit. He took a quick stride towards the cement blocks in front of a restaurant and sat down. Hankyung mimicked his movements and sat beside him.
"Do you want to talk?" Hankyung bravely asked, Heechul closed his eyes.
"Does it sound like I want to talk?" Heechul cringed, he wanted his demeaning nature to take a break but it dominated him in the worst of times.
"If you ever want to, just know I'm here." Heechul opened his eyes and looked from the corner of his eyes at Hankyung's comforting smile.
Heechul couldn't hold back. "Who was that guy you were with the other day?" Hankyung blinked. "That tall guy with the glasses, you seemed pretty cozy. Was he your boyfriend or something?" His words were full of disdain that he failed to hide.
"Ah," Hankyung said in realization, unaware of Heechul's negative tone. "You mean Zhou Mi."
Heechul lowered his eyes, holding back from insulting the man called Zhou Mi. "You're close?"
"Very." Heechul winced and looked away. "He's a good friend of mine."
"How heart-warming." Heechul said sardonically, he mentally slapped himself. He was being more obvious by each passing minute that Hankyung will notice.
Hankyung tilted his head at Heechul. "You're mad." He stated.
"I am not." Heechul retorted sternly.
"Did I make you mad?" Heechul glanced at Hankyung's concerned expression and sighed heavily.
"No, you didn't do anything... It's just mood swings again." Heechul muttered.
Hankyung however didn't seem satisfied with that answer. "I'm sorry for whatever I did-"
"I didn't say it was your fault-"
"I know." Hankyung interjected. "But it has something to do with me, and though I'm sorry to say I'm not sure what I did, I want to apologize nonetheless."
Heechul's heart tightened even more, he hated that Hankyung felt the need to apologize for everything when it was his own negative outlook at fault.
"It really isn't you, whether you believe it or not. I'm just torn at the moment and you're involved to some degree." Heechul said. "I'm the one who should be sorry, especially for the way I've been treating you lately."
Heechul took a deep breath, he had to know. "Hankyung," He looked up in response. "What is Zhou Mi to you? Is he a boyfriend or really just a friend?"
"We're friends." Hankyung answered. "We're not interested in each other that way, I'm not even his type." He laughed.
Heechul scoffed. "You'd be surprised how people take interest in those they thought weren't their type at all."
Hankyung shook his head. "We're really not like that, he's even interested in someone else at the moment."
Heechul smiled, suddenly more cheerful. "I see." The energy he wasted in being angry that day took its toll and he found himself yawning.
"Do you want to head home?" Hankyung asked.
"I don't really feel like moving." Heechul uttered, he closed his eyes when he felt himself being suddenly lifted. He widened his eyes at Hankyung who continued to hold him as he walked through the sidewalks. "You can let me down."
"It's not a problem."
"I may be conceited, but even I admit I'm not that light. Let me down." He ordered.
Hankyung disobeyed. "It's fine." Heechul sighed.
"You're really going to do this the whole way?" Hankyung nodded. "Have it your way then." He leaned his head against his shoulder and closed his eyes the whole way home. Even when they reached his door, did Heechul have to fight to be let down and open his own door. When he did enter inside, he turned to see Hankyung about to walk away.
"Wait," Hankyung looked back. "It's cold out, come inside for a bit." Hankyung smiled at the invitation and came inside. Hankyung was about to sit on the couch when Heechul tugged his sleeve.
"The heater's broken in here, only working one is in the bedroom." He turned back quickly with a quick glare. "Don't you dare get any ideas."
"I'm not." Hankyung reassured, Heechul remained slightly wary as they headed to his bedroom. Hankyung was surprised the size of the room, it even had a couch on one side beside the bed. He walked towards there as Heechul took out some clothes from his drawers and walked to his bathroom and closed the door.
Hankyung shifted slightly as he waited, Heechul then opened the door while drying his hair with his towel after his warm shower while fully-clothed in his pajamas. Heechul noticed Hankyung's slightly nervous actions, he raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Hankyung met his eyes. "It's... well... It's..." He struggled to find the words, he then reached into his pocket and pulled a small red plastic bag. Heechul knitted his eyebrows and hesitantly reached for the bag gestured towards him as he dropped the towel to the ground. He pulled out a box inside, he sighed as he sat beside him on the couch. "There's such a thing as too much wrapp-" He froze when he opened the box.
He recognized it immediately, it was a silver watch that he had his eyes on since that day in the store so many months ago. "How...How did you know?" Heechul asked, his hair covering his eyes. "I didn't even say anything."
"I saw the way you looked at it, I knew you couldn't afford it at the time. So I saved up some money and bought it for you." He said cheerfully, satisfied that Heechul seemed to like the gift.
Heechul continued to stare at the watch. "You'd make a good boyfriend." Heechul commented, Hankyung gave a weak smile.
"I doubt it."
"Why?" Heechul asked, he looked up as Hankyung who looked at the floor.
"Because no one would ever even notice me.... I don't stand out compared to everyone else. It's understandable why no one really finds me attractive... or even interesting enough to date." Hankyung gave a timid smile that made Heechul cursed every person that had ever hurt the broken man in front of him.
Heechul leaned his head against his shoulder, lifted his head slightly and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Hankyung widened his eyes at the sudden gesture. "Don't ever think of yourself so lowly like that. There's a reason I only pay special attention to you."
Heechul cleared his throat as he got up and placed the gift on top of his dresser. Suddenly self-conscious at his actions.
"Wait," Heechul froze and looked at the mirror in front of him that was attached to the dresser. He saw Hankyung's seated reflection. "But you said that we can only be friends-"
"I know what I said, but I changed my mind, deal with it." Heechul cringed again, it hard to contain that side of him.
"Heechul." Heechul felt his heart beat faster, he still faced the dresser away from Hankyung. "Do you like me?"
"As direct as always." Heechul stated. "But yes, I do like you, though like seems too weak of a word. Even I'm surprised that I do, but I can't help it." He gave a bitter smile. "I'm sorry you had to have someone like me fall for you."
Heechul looked down. "It's fine if you leave, I'd understand. I'd be pissed off, but I'd understand...eventually." He muttered. He was surprised when he felt Hankyung's arms link around his waist.
"I'm sorry I fell for you too." Hankyung murmured, Heechul widened his eyes when he regained his smile.
"You better not be, it's the best thing that could ever happen to you."
"I know." Heechul's smile widened as he turned within his grasp and looked up at Hankyung. He pulled in Hankyung towards him, both closing their eyes when the phone rang. Heechul pulled away momentarily and cursed under his breath as Hankyung took out his phone.
"Sorry." He apologized as he answered the text he received.
"You better be." Heechul said. "Ruined a perfectly good moment." Hankyung smiled when he looked back at his phone.
"It's getting late." He said dejectedly. "I should get going-" Heechul suddenly pushed him back onto the bed and pinned him down.
"You're not leaving," He declared. "I'm sick now, you have to take care of me."
"You're not sick." Hankyung said doubtfully.
Heechul gave a horribly attempted cough. "There, I am." Hankyung chuckled at Heechul's childish actions and nodded. He linked his arms once again around Heechul's thin waist and held him closely. Heechul closed his eyes and leaned his head against Hankyung's chest.
The phone rang again and before Hankyung could answer it, Heechul grabbed it, took out the battery and did the same with his own phone and threw it all into the bag the gift was given in earlier. "There, no one can disturb us now."
Hankyung chuckled as Heechul pulled him to his side and forced himself in his arms. Heechul gave a slight shiver, the heater within the room proving to not be in its full use. Hankyung then pulled the blankets over them and pulled Heechul even closer against him.
Heechul smiled. "What made you think you could do this?"
Hankyung touched his forehead to Heechul's and closed his eyes. "Because you wanted me to."
"You missed one thing though." Hankyung opened his eyes slightly then smiled in realization. He leaned in and kissed him fully on the lips. He pulled away afterward and closed his eyes once again, Heechul grinned as he closed his eyes as well and murmured. "That's exactly what I wanted."
- ❄ Challenge 26 ❄ | ❄ Challenge 28 ❄ -
~ SuJu 31-shot Masterlist ~
Pairing: Hanchul
Genre: AU!Romance
Theme: Bags, Phrase to include: "there's a secret code behind every word"
Summary: He's easily one of the more difficult people to understand, either he does it purposely out of spite or just for fun, questioning even the purest of motives. He deems that everyone truly fails at listening to what he wants, however, there's one man who could prove that to be otherwise untrue.
-
"You're giving up on dating? Why?" Leeteuk asked, Heechul stabbed his fork into his chicken. They were sitting at a table in a nearby casual restaurant.
"Because men are idiots."
"I see." Leeteuk took a bite from the same plate. "Want me to set you up with someone?"
"No one you've set me up with in the past has ever worked out."
"That's because you were never clear enough with them. The way you communicate doesn't even make any sense to me. Its like there's a secret code behind every word with you."
"Ah, but you get that there's something behind it. No one else does." Heechul pointed out, Leeteuk shook his head when his phone vibrated, he took out it out and flipped it open. Heechul continued to eat the dish when Leeteuk smiled as he closed it.
"Who was it?"
"A friend of mine, I told him he could come by."
Heechul narrowed his eyes. "Without my permission? How dare you." Leeteuk smiled when he looked up and waved. Heechul didn't bother to turn around as he took another bite. He chewed slowly as he kept his eyes on the plate when he noted the friend pulled up a seat to their table.
Leeteuk lightly nudged his leg to greet his friend, Heechul lowered his eyes at Leeteuk who simply smiled in return. "Hi." He said, not directing it completely towards the friend.
"Hello." The friend said kindly in return. Heechul flipped his hair and didn't follow the conversation when Leeteuk gave a much more forceful nudge to his leg.
Heechul looked up to see the friend's face and mentally shook his head disappointingly. His clothes weren't tailored right, there was a failed attempt at fixing his hair and though he was handsome he was nowhere near Heechul's type.
Leeteuk's phone rang again and he sighed. "I have to go now, work called me."
"Tell your boss to stick it in-"
"No." Leeteuk said sternly and smiled apologetically at his friend. "Hankyung, sorry about this, we'll try to meet up another time." He nodded and Leeteuk smiled but gave a warning look to Heechul before leaving the restaurant. Heechul sighed, he knew this meant he would have to now entertain the man called Hankyung.
"So... how do you know Leeteuk?" Heechul asked dryly, he didn't particular care but instead his thoughts loomed to a certain store nearby.
"We went to the same university." He replied, an accent evident in his speaking, Heechul nodded and waited for more. When he looked up, Hankyung was looking around.
"And?" Heechul asked, Hankyung met his eyes.
"What?"
"...And care to go into details about how you know him?" Hankyung was making conversation difficult for him at the moment, it was making Heechul talk more than he wanted to.
"You don't seem like the type to care about the details." Hankyung said, Heechul blinked. "I'll bore you with them too, its not too fascinating."
Heechul pushed away his plate when he was done. "I'm attempting here, just tell Leeteuk that much."
Hankyung smiled. "What are you thinking about?"
Heechul arched an eyebrow. "Aren't you being a little too direct there?"
Hankyung nodded. "It was just... you seem so lost in thought. I apologize for my rudeness." He did a slight bow, Heechul blinked.
This man was rather innocent in a sense, something Heechul found he wasn't particularly used to. He admitted that his accent was quite cute, but it was a passing thought.
"It's fine." Heechul said. "And I was just thinking of this store I passed by earlier, it was having an amazing sale that included all items in the store such as handbags, scarves, shirts, clothes, accessories-" He stopped himself before he could divulge any more, as if this man would find his obsession with shopping anywhere near interesting. No one really understood his interests.
"Do you want to stop by there?" Hankyung asked to Heechul's surprise. Heechul shifted himself in his seat.
"Can we?" He tried to hide his hopeful tone and looked from the corner of his eye at Hankyung's nod.
"Let's go." Heechul smiled excitedly when he reached for his plate, however Hankyung beat him to it and grabbed it. Heechul watched as Hankyung put away his plate by the bins and even held out the door for him.
Heechul remained wary of the man, he was too polite, he obviously wanted something from him. He decided, however, that shopping would take precedent for the time being and used Hankyung's kindness to his advantage. But it continued to bother him, Hankyung without complaint held his shopping bags and even drove him to other stores. Even his past boyfriends were never this nice.
"What do you want from me?" He asked directly when Hankyung walked him to his apartment door, Hankyung raised his eyebrows. "Don't act oblivious, you obviously want something from me, so spill."
Hankyung tilted his head. "I just want to be friends."
Heechul scoffed. "Good, because that's all we'll ever be. Anything more will only be in your imagination." With that he entered his apartment and closed the door behind him. He felt better knowing he set it straight with the man and smiled as he looked down at his many bags.
Leeteuk palmed his forehead as he heard the previous day's account from Heechul's own mouth. "Why would you be like that to him?"
"Because he was way too nice to a complete stranger." Heechul reasoned, he sat across from Leeteuk in his office.
"And that makes him an enemy?" Leeteuk asked incredulously. Heechul nodded, Leeteuk loosely crossed his arms. "Just so you know, he really is like that with everyone. He's nice and sometimes too much for his own good, back in college a lot of people tried to take advantage of that. And the way I see it, it seems you already have."
Heechul felt a bit of guilt, at both Hankyung's expense and Leeteuk's disappointment in him. "I'll apologize to him later." Leeteuk gave a small smile and nodded approvingly. Heechul did exactly that in their next meeting and Hankyung just smiled, seemingly unaffected by his somewhat conceited accusations.
Somehow during the months that passed, an unplanned friendship occured between the two whose contrasting personalities shocked even Leeteuk. But Heechul found Hankyung was a refreshing breath of fresh air, he was kind without motive and often went along with his often ridiculous demands. Sometimes with protest, but Heechul would quickly diminish any he had.
Heechul was walking through the sidewalk when he recognized Hankyung a short distance away. He was about to call out his name when some person hugged him. Hankyung gave the man a brilliant smile and returned the hug.
Heechul was unprepared for the tug he felt in his heart. He felt a lump in his throat as he watched the two interact, he didn't like this feeling at all. He quickly turned around on his heel and walked off, unwilling to see any more of this.
"What did he do to you now?" Leeteuk asked in a accusing manner in their office once again later that week. "Did he pay your dinner bill? Clean your car? Maybe he decided to fold all your laundry." Heechul narrowed his eyes at Leeteuk's mocking tone. "I'm sorry, I'm just...what did Hankyung do to receive your harsh treatment?"
"Why do you want to know in the first place?"
"Because Hankyung hasn't been able to reach your cell and has been calling me for advice because he's just as confused."
Heechul sighed, the scene from that day plagued his thoughts and he wanted nothing more than for that random stranger to suddenly disappear without a trace. "It's nothing." Heechul lied. "You know how I get, Hankyung just hasn't been around me long enough to understand my mood swings."
"You've got a point." Leeteuk murmured. "I'm hoping your mood swing is over then?" Heechul bit his cheek but nodded. "Good, then I can lay Hankyung's fears to rest."
Heechul sighed, he regretted how he ignored the man's constant phone calls and concerned text messages. But he couldn't help it, any thought of Hankyung always brought him to that day and it crushed his heart every time.
Hankyung smiled understandably when he met up with Heechul later the next day. They were walking through the streets, the cold wind occasionally hitting against them. "Leeteuk explained everything to do me, I'm sorry I called you so much, I must have been a bother."
"You weren't." Heechul stated as he tugged his jacket closer. He also doubted that Leeteuk could have explained everything, even he was unsure of his own actions.
Hankyung reached for the bag Heechul was carrying. Heechul quickly pulled away. "It's fine, I can carry my own bag." He felt his legs ache slightly and he looked around for somewhere to sit. He took a quick stride towards the cement blocks in front of a restaurant and sat down. Hankyung mimicked his movements and sat beside him.
"Do you want to talk?" Hankyung bravely asked, Heechul closed his eyes.
"Does it sound like I want to talk?" Heechul cringed, he wanted his demeaning nature to take a break but it dominated him in the worst of times.
"If you ever want to, just know I'm here." Heechul opened his eyes and looked from the corner of his eyes at Hankyung's comforting smile.
Heechul couldn't hold back. "Who was that guy you were with the other day?" Hankyung blinked. "That tall guy with the glasses, you seemed pretty cozy. Was he your boyfriend or something?" His words were full of disdain that he failed to hide.
"Ah," Hankyung said in realization, unaware of Heechul's negative tone. "You mean Zhou Mi."
Heechul lowered his eyes, holding back from insulting the man called Zhou Mi. "You're close?"
"Very." Heechul winced and looked away. "He's a good friend of mine."
"How heart-warming." Heechul said sardonically, he mentally slapped himself. He was being more obvious by each passing minute that Hankyung will notice.
Hankyung tilted his head at Heechul. "You're mad." He stated.
"I am not." Heechul retorted sternly.
"Did I make you mad?" Heechul glanced at Hankyung's concerned expression and sighed heavily.
"No, you didn't do anything... It's just mood swings again." Heechul muttered.
Hankyung however didn't seem satisfied with that answer. "I'm sorry for whatever I did-"
"I didn't say it was your fault-"
"I know." Hankyung interjected. "But it has something to do with me, and though I'm sorry to say I'm not sure what I did, I want to apologize nonetheless."
Heechul's heart tightened even more, he hated that Hankyung felt the need to apologize for everything when it was his own negative outlook at fault.
"It really isn't you, whether you believe it or not. I'm just torn at the moment and you're involved to some degree." Heechul said. "I'm the one who should be sorry, especially for the way I've been treating you lately."
Heechul took a deep breath, he had to know. "Hankyung," He looked up in response. "What is Zhou Mi to you? Is he a boyfriend or really just a friend?"
"We're friends." Hankyung answered. "We're not interested in each other that way, I'm not even his type." He laughed.
Heechul scoffed. "You'd be surprised how people take interest in those they thought weren't their type at all."
Hankyung shook his head. "We're really not like that, he's even interested in someone else at the moment."
Heechul smiled, suddenly more cheerful. "I see." The energy he wasted in being angry that day took its toll and he found himself yawning.
"Do you want to head home?" Hankyung asked.
"I don't really feel like moving." Heechul uttered, he closed his eyes when he felt himself being suddenly lifted. He widened his eyes at Hankyung who continued to hold him as he walked through the sidewalks. "You can let me down."
"It's not a problem."
"I may be conceited, but even I admit I'm not that light. Let me down." He ordered.
Hankyung disobeyed. "It's fine." Heechul sighed.
"You're really going to do this the whole way?" Hankyung nodded. "Have it your way then." He leaned his head against his shoulder and closed his eyes the whole way home. Even when they reached his door, did Heechul have to fight to be let down and open his own door. When he did enter inside, he turned to see Hankyung about to walk away.
"Wait," Hankyung looked back. "It's cold out, come inside for a bit." Hankyung smiled at the invitation and came inside. Hankyung was about to sit on the couch when Heechul tugged his sleeve.
"The heater's broken in here, only working one is in the bedroom." He turned back quickly with a quick glare. "Don't you dare get any ideas."
"I'm not." Hankyung reassured, Heechul remained slightly wary as they headed to his bedroom. Hankyung was surprised the size of the room, it even had a couch on one side beside the bed. He walked towards there as Heechul took out some clothes from his drawers and walked to his bathroom and closed the door.
Hankyung shifted slightly as he waited, Heechul then opened the door while drying his hair with his towel after his warm shower while fully-clothed in his pajamas. Heechul noticed Hankyung's slightly nervous actions, he raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Hankyung met his eyes. "It's... well... It's..." He struggled to find the words, he then reached into his pocket and pulled a small red plastic bag. Heechul knitted his eyebrows and hesitantly reached for the bag gestured towards him as he dropped the towel to the ground. He pulled out a box inside, he sighed as he sat beside him on the couch. "There's such a thing as too much wrapp-" He froze when he opened the box.
He recognized it immediately, it was a silver watch that he had his eyes on since that day in the store so many months ago. "How...How did you know?" Heechul asked, his hair covering his eyes. "I didn't even say anything."
"I saw the way you looked at it, I knew you couldn't afford it at the time. So I saved up some money and bought it for you." He said cheerfully, satisfied that Heechul seemed to like the gift.
Heechul continued to stare at the watch. "You'd make a good boyfriend." Heechul commented, Hankyung gave a weak smile.
"I doubt it."
"Why?" Heechul asked, he looked up as Hankyung who looked at the floor.
"Because no one would ever even notice me.... I don't stand out compared to everyone else. It's understandable why no one really finds me attractive... or even interesting enough to date." Hankyung gave a timid smile that made Heechul cursed every person that had ever hurt the broken man in front of him.
Heechul leaned his head against his shoulder, lifted his head slightly and gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Hankyung widened his eyes at the sudden gesture. "Don't ever think of yourself so lowly like that. There's a reason I only pay special attention to you."
Heechul cleared his throat as he got up and placed the gift on top of his dresser. Suddenly self-conscious at his actions.
"Wait," Heechul froze and looked at the mirror in front of him that was attached to the dresser. He saw Hankyung's seated reflection. "But you said that we can only be friends-"
"I know what I said, but I changed my mind, deal with it." Heechul cringed again, it hard to contain that side of him.
"Heechul." Heechul felt his heart beat faster, he still faced the dresser away from Hankyung. "Do you like me?"
"As direct as always." Heechul stated. "But yes, I do like you, though like seems too weak of a word. Even I'm surprised that I do, but I can't help it." He gave a bitter smile. "I'm sorry you had to have someone like me fall for you."
Heechul looked down. "It's fine if you leave, I'd understand. I'd be pissed off, but I'd understand...eventually." He muttered. He was surprised when he felt Hankyung's arms link around his waist.
"I'm sorry I fell for you too." Hankyung murmured, Heechul widened his eyes when he regained his smile.
"You better not be, it's the best thing that could ever happen to you."
"I know." Heechul's smile widened as he turned within his grasp and looked up at Hankyung. He pulled in Hankyung towards him, both closing their eyes when the phone rang. Heechul pulled away momentarily and cursed under his breath as Hankyung took out his phone.
"Sorry." He apologized as he answered the text he received.
"You better be." Heechul said. "Ruined a perfectly good moment." Hankyung smiled when he looked back at his phone.
"It's getting late." He said dejectedly. "I should get going-" Heechul suddenly pushed him back onto the bed and pinned him down.
"You're not leaving," He declared. "I'm sick now, you have to take care of me."
"You're not sick." Hankyung said doubtfully.
Heechul gave a horribly attempted cough. "There, I am." Hankyung chuckled at Heechul's childish actions and nodded. He linked his arms once again around Heechul's thin waist and held him closely. Heechul closed his eyes and leaned his head against Hankyung's chest.
The phone rang again and before Hankyung could answer it, Heechul grabbed it, took out the battery and did the same with his own phone and threw it all into the bag the gift was given in earlier. "There, no one can disturb us now."
Hankyung chuckled as Heechul pulled him to his side and forced himself in his arms. Heechul gave a slight shiver, the heater within the room proving to not be in its full use. Hankyung then pulled the blankets over them and pulled Heechul even closer against him.
Heechul smiled. "What made you think you could do this?"
Hankyung touched his forehead to Heechul's and closed his eyes. "Because you wanted me to."
"You missed one thing though." Hankyung opened his eyes slightly then smiled in realization. He leaned in and kissed him fully on the lips. He pulled away afterward and closed his eyes once again, Heechul grinned as he closed his eyes as well and murmured. "That's exactly what I wanted."
- ❄ Challenge 26 ❄ | ❄ Challenge 28 ❄ -
~ SuJu 31-shot Masterlist ~