k-pop; promise you forever 2/5

[tatoeba]

Chanyeol looks up from his papers when a styrofoam cup is placed onto his desk right in his line of vision. Amber is standing on the other side of his desk with a grin on her face and a similar cup in her hand. “Yo,” she says, stepping back and flopping herself down onto a chair. “What’s with the disheveled, homeless look? Did you just crawl out of a gutter?”

“Very funny,” Chanyeol says as he takes the cup, the cardboard ring around it not enough to mask the warmth from the coffee. He takes a sip and tastes a little caramel and it’s soothing. “I don’t look that bad,” he adds, rubbing his hand over his jaw. He pauses, looks at her in slight alarm. “Do I?”

“Well, your kids keep coming to your class, so you haven’t scared anyone away yet.”

Chanyeol snorts, drops his hand from his face and picks up his pen again. “What’re you doing here?”

“Quick break,” she says. “I have a class in a half hour, thought I’d stop by and see how you were.” He looks up at her, raising a brow, because Chanyeol saw her just this morning as they were coming into campus and there’s no real reason for her to just stop by. She smirks around the rim of her cup and adds, “Kyungsoo said you were still having trouble. With the proposal thing.”

Chanyeol groans. “Don’t bring that up,” he says. “It’s on my mind enough already when I’m at home, I try to not think about it while I’m at work.”

“Kyungsoo thought I might have some ideas for you.”

Chanyeol blinks at her. “Do you?” he asks, and he hopes she doesn’t catch the eagerness in his voice.

“Not really,” she says with a shrug and Chanyeol slumps back into his chair.

“Go away,” he mumbles and she laughs at him.

“Take him out to dinner,” she says. “Haven’t you been whining about how he’s been super busy lately? Take a night for the two of you and then propose. Make it all fancy and shit.”

“Jongin’s not a girl,” Chanyeol reminds her with a roll of his eyes. “We’re not really fancy date night kind of people. And besides, that’s so predictable. He’ll know right away.”

“Aren’t you overthinking things?” Amber says, raising a brow. She brushes her bangs back from her face, her hair now a bright blonde unlike the soft brown it’d been a few months ago. Chanyeol thinks it looks surprisingly good on her. “If you don’t want to make it romantic like that, then just do it while you’re both at home, watching television or something incredibly boring like you guys probably do. Since you’re practically a boring married couple already.”

“You are the most useless friend ever,” Chanyeol announces.

Amber finds no offense in his words though, just laughing at him even more. “How rude, I brought you coffee,” she teases. “Come on, Chanyeol, don’t you think you’ve been dragging this on long enough? You shouldn’t think too hard about it, since, you know...it won’t be legal here, in Seoul.”

Chanyeol sighs, closing his eyes as he nods. “Yeah,” he says solemnly, “I know.” He tries not to think about that part too often because it makes him wonder if it’s really even worth the trouble. While South Korea’s attitude toward same-sex couples has improved in the last couple of years, marriages are nowhere near legal. He and Jongin could get married, but in the eyes of the law, it’d be as if they hadn’t gone through with it at all. Too many people still, much like Jongin’s parents, haven’t accepted this as a part of life and Chanyeol feels it everyday, when he can’t hold Jongin’s hand in public or, in light of recent events, can’t even be legally married to the one person he truly loves.

“Sorry,” Amber says suddenly, pulling Chanyeol out of his thoughts to look at her again. Her expression is deeply apologetic. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s okay,” he says, waving away her apology with a flick of his hand. “We know that, but despite it, we’d like to do it anyway. Maybe have a small little wedding with our friends. Register just for the hell of it, even if it’s rejected. Maybe someday it won’t be.” He shrugs and runs a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face as it flops right back down.

“Well, then, no matter what, I’m sure Jongin is going to be happy however you choose to propose.”

“That’s what you think, but I know Jongin, and he’ll give me fucking shit for days if I do something stupid,” Chanyeol says.

“Yeah, he’ll tease you about it, sure, but he’s gonna love it regardless,” Amber says seriously and well, she does have a point, there. It’s like what Zitao told him ages ago when he’d gotten the rings. Jongin will love whatever Chanyeol does, because Jongin will say yes, no matter what. He already knows that. And yet, the idea of springing the question on him is driving Chanyeol insane.

“I just want to do something, I don’t know. Special, I guess,” Chanyeol sighs, scratching the back of his neck.

Amber laughs and jumps up to her feet, her heavy boots thudding against the carpet as she leans across the desk and pinches Chanyeol’s cheek. “So cute,” she coos at him, patting his face when Chanyeol tries to swat her away. “Just man up and do it, Chanyeol. Everyone’s getting tired of hearing you whine.”

Chanyeol pouts. “You’re all useless,” he grumbles, but as he looks at Amber who is grinning at him, he can’t help but grin back. He lets out a deep breath and straightens up, squaring his shoulders. “You’re right though,” he says finally. “I should just go for it.”

“Of course I’m right,” Amber says. “And you should. Though I suggest shaving for once before you ask Jongin to marry you, because if I was Jongin, I’d say no if I saw you looking like that.”

Chanyeol uses his long legs to his advantage to aim a kick at her shin from under the desk, but he’s laughing, feeling a little better about the whole proposal thing than he has in days. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he tells her. “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” Amber says, and raises her cup of coffee at him with a grin.

-

The thing about proposing to Jongin that Chanyeol finds most difficult is finding the right time. He still isn’t too keen on the whole dinner date thing as a way to propose, but he starts to wonder if that would be easier, because he could easily tell Jongin they haven’t had a chance to just relax together in a while and if Jongin could meet him at one of their favorite restaurants on Friday night, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. He doesn’t think he could be brave enough to propose in public though, not here where the relationship he has with Jongin is not commonly accepted. But a nice dinner together would be a good start to the night, and maybe when they get back to the apartment, Chanyeol could pop the question.

He’s still not sure about it though, and he really wants it to be as perfect as possible. Jongin means so much to him, and now, as they’re taking this huge step in their relationship and starting a family together, Chanyeol wants his proposal to be even more memorable, even more special.

He thinks about it sometimes, in the mornings when Jongin is curled up against his chest, face smooth in sleep and hair in his face. He thinks about just waking him up gently with a kiss and asking him if he would marry him. Or, maybe as they’re tangled together on the couch watching some anime that Jongin likes that Chanyeol watches to indulge him, if he should bring it up then, when the show goes to commercials and Jongin leans his head on his shoulder. Maybe even as they’re unwinding for the night, when Jongin comes home and he climbs into Chanyeol’s lap to kiss him after a long day, if that’s the right time, when Jongin is breathless and holding his face in his hands. Those moments, to Chanyeol, are so perfect, so simple and natural and never fail to make his heart beat faster, his body warm and happy because Jongin is there, solid and real and his. In those moments, Chanyeol feels the most in love.

But is that enough? That’s what Chanyeol’s worried about.

It isn’t until a week after Chanyeol’s talk with Amber that he finally plucks up the courage, that he just goes for it. He doesn’t particularly plan anything special, but he tells Jongin that Thursday morning to come home early if he can, so they can have dinner together.

“It’s been awhile,” he says, brushing Jongin’s hair from his face. “I just want to have a nice night with you.”

Jongin looks at him a little suspiciously for a moment, but Chanyeol’s a pretty good actor, if he says so himself, and the look fades from his face in the next second, replaced by a big grin. “All right,” he says. “I don’t think it’ll be a very long day, anyway.”

They leave together that morning, separating at the station so Jongin can head off to the SM building and Chanyeol can get to campus on time. Chanyeol returns home around five in the evening after his last class, and he tidies up around the apartment, tossing laundry that’s all over the floor into the washing machine and vacuuming the whole place. He takes a shower and dresses nicely, black slacks and a deep, red button-down that Jongin loves him in. He cooks up Jongin’s favorite chicken and he takes the ring out of its hiding spot, tucks it into his pocket. He’s going to go through with it, tonight. He doesn’t know exactly when he’ll say it, if it’ll be over dinner, or later as they unwind on the couch with a movie. Maybe not even until they get ready for bed. It doesn’t matter when, Chanyeol finally decides. He just has to do it.

“I can do it, right?” he asks Potato and Jjanggu as time ticks by slowly and he gets more and more nervous. “He’s going to say yes, right?”

Jjanggu gives him a sort of exasperated expression while Potato barks enthusiastically and Chanyeol sighs, shaking his head as he pets Potato in thanks. Jjanggu yips at him for attention too, and Chanyeol sits on the floor of the kitchen with his pets as company and anxiety slithering around his stomach.

When Jongin gets home, Chanyeol has finished cooking and is a bundle of nerves. He gently smacks himself in the face a few times to calm down and goes to greet Jongin with a grin, and he desperately hopes Jongin doesn’t catch onto what he’s hiding. “You made it,” he says, taking Jongin’s coat from him and hanging it up in the hall closet.

“I said I would,” Jongin replies. “They’re all working on other things these days so the dance practice has been cut a little short. But I have to meet with the management to choreograph something for SHINee’s upcoming return soon, so things will get busy again.” He sighs deeply, looking rather put out about it, but Chanyeol knows Jongin loves his job and that even if he complains, he wouldn’t want to do anything else.

“Then it’s a good thing we’re taking a slow night off together,” Chanyeol says with a grin. “Right?”

Jongin smiles at him. “Right,” he says firmly, and then blinks as he takes in Chanyeol’s appearance. “Was that what you were wearing this morning?”

“I spilled something on it while I was cooking,” Chanyeol lies easily. “So I changed.” He shrugs. “You want to shower before we eat?”

“Yeah,” Jongin says slowly, still looking at Chanyeol a little uncertainly, like something is off but he can’t figure out what. “Yeah, okay. I’ll be right back.” He disappears down the hall and Chanyeol lets out a deep sigh.

“That was close,” he whispers to Potato who has stayed by his side while Jjanggu followed Jongin into the bedroom. “Come on, Potato,” he says, heading back to the kitchen, “let’s get things set up.”

Potato barks excitedly as he follows and runs around at Chanyeol’s feet as he finds plates and utensils, setting them up onto the table properly. They don’t sit there and eat much, opting to lounge on the couch and use the coffee table instead as they watch a movie or something. But Chanyeol wants this to be special, and he wants to take it slow and easy. He wants to just sit here with Jongin with no other distractions than Potato and Jjanggu and he wants to have to a nice dinner. Chanyeol’s not the best cook in the world, but Jongin is always enthusiastic about what he makes, and Chanyeol made his favorite tonight.

“Wow, this smells great, Chanyeol,” Jongin says, walking into the kitchen a few minutes later. He’s pulled on a pair of jeans and a nice shirt and his hair is still wet, dripping down onto the peek of clavicles under the collar of his shirt. Chanyeol swallows and has to tear his eyes away, forcing himself not to jump the gun here. He has a mission. If everything goes well, then hopefully he’ll get some of that later.

“It’s your favorite,” Chanyeol points out unnecessarily. “I haven’t made it for you in awhile.”

“I haven’t been home for dinner in awhile,” Jongin says and he ducks his head a little apologetically. “I’m sorry.”

Chanyeol waves his hand at him quickly. “It’s okay, it’s work,” he says. “And that’s why we’re enjoying this together.” He takes Jongin’s hand and leads him to the table. Jongin’s eyes widen as he takes in the fully set table, everything in place perfectly, a bottle of wine waiting in the middle for the two of them.

He turns to Chanyeol with his eyebrows raised and there’s something frightfully knowing in his eyes as he stares at him. “Isn’t this a little excessive?” he asks. “It’s nice and all, don’t get me wrong, but you didn’t have to do all of this.”

“I wanted to,” Chanyeol says and he shrugs, trying to pass it off as no big deal and he really, really hopes his face doesn’t give him away.

But Jongin peers at him a little longer, eyes narrowing now as the surprise fades into suspicion. It’s the same sort of look he gave Chanyeol that morning, except now Chanyeol can practically hear the wheels in his head turning as everything sort of clicks into place. And when it does, Jongin’s jaw drops and he thrusts a finger into Chanyeol’s face, exclaiming, “Oh my god!”

“It’s not what you think!” Chanyeol says quickly, holding his hands up as Jongin bounces on his feet, his eyes so bright and a grin working its way across his mouth.

“Really?” he says doubtfully. “Because it looks like you’re finally fucking proposing!”

Chanyeol’s mouth opens in a retort but nothing comes out as panic fills his veins instead. He was really hoping Jongin wouldn’t be able to tell but he should’ve expected, that after all this time together, that Jongin can read him better than anyone can. And this is not how he wanted to do this, so suddenly without going over that tiny speech he’s been mulling around in his head at least ten more times, but Jongin is standing right in front of him with his eyes full of wonder like maybe he’d given up on Chanyeol ever proposing that Chanyeol, despite the temptation to deny it and come up with a new plan, can’t find it in him to back out now.

He reaches out and takes Jongin’s hand that’s still pointing out at his face, gently uncurling his fingers to he can thread his own between them instead. His heart rate has picked up considerably, like he’s just run a marathon even though he’s barely moved an inch, but the way Jongin continues to stare at him makes him feel so impossibly breathless it’s practically the same thing. The suspicion on Jongin’s face has faded into something much more like fondness and he’s already smiling that beautiful smile of his that Chanyeol can never get enough of, even though Chanyeol hasn’t even said a word.

“Are you gonna do it, or are you just gonna stare at me?” Jongin teases him, but he sounds a little incredulous, too, like he can’t believe this is really happening.

“Shut up,” Chanyeol laughs, but he tugs Jongin closer, until he can press a swift kiss to his forehead. “I wanted to do something really special,” he manages to say, “but it just figures you’d ruin that for me.”

“Hey!” Jongin exclaims, punching Chanyeol in the arm, hard. “Is that anyway to start a proposal?”

“I already know you’re going to say yes, so how I do this can’t really hurt,” he replies as he shoves his left hand into his pocket to pull out the ring. Jongin gives him a look like he’s half tempted to tell him he could still change his mind, but before he gets the chance, Chanyeol is slipping the ring onto Jongin’s finger.

“I think this is something we should have done years ago,” Chanyeol says, staring at Jongin’s face while all Jongin can look at is his hand, and his lower lip is pulled between his teeth like he’s trying to stop himself from getting too emotional. “But it’s okay that it took so long because that’s just how we are, and I’ve never needed something like this to tell you how much I love you, even if that ring does look really nice on you.”

Jongin huffs out a laugh, and Chanyeol runs his thumb over the polished titanium on Jongin’s ring finger. When Jongin finally looks back up at him, his eyes are glossy and Chanyeol is already trying to fight back his own tears. He didn’t really expect to cry like this, because Jongin is the emotional one between the two of them, but his heart just feels so full, like it can’t contain every wonderful thing he’s feeling or thinking, like it’s seconds from bursting straight out of his chest, overflowing with happiness. He just thinks about when he first met Jongin, when they first kissed, when they boxed up their apartments and moved into the one they’re living in now together, when they got caught in the rain and Jongin kissed him under the awning of a closed shop at midnight. He looks into Jongin’s eyes and he sees the time they had their first real argument, or the time their bed broke after Chanyeol had fucked Jongin into the mattress, or the evenings when Chanyeol came home from work to find Jongin asleep on the couch with Potato and Jjanggu napping with him.

And he sees not only the past, their many, many years together, but also their future. The welcoming of their new baby, crying at each other over how to change diapers and how to do this whole parenting thing. And he sees them growing old together, forever at each other’s sides. And it’s beautiful, he thinks. Every moment he’s spent with Jongin and every moment he will spend with him in the days to come, it’s everything Chanyeol has ever wanted, and so much more.

“Jongin,” he says softly, “will you marry me?”

Jongin clenches his fingers around Chanyeol’s hand and his lips quiver slightly as he grins and weakly punches Chanyeol in the chest repeatedly. “Fucking finally,” he cries, and then he’s hugging him, wrapping strong arms around Chanyeol’s waist and pressing his face into the crook of his neck. He pulls him in so close it’s like he’s trying to mold their bodies into one and Chanyeol’s received many hugs from Jongin over the years but nothing quite compares to this one.

He’s laughing now, because this is not at all how he planned this to go and his impromptu speech was rather terrible, but Jongin is giggling into his skin and his hands are fisting into the back of his shirt so Chanyeol doesn’t care. He squeezes Jongin tight around the middle and he can practically feel Jongin’s own heart beating rapidly through his chest, and he doesn’t want to let him go.

It’s Jongin who pulls back first, but just enough to take Chanyeol’s face in his hands and say, “Yes, you idiot, I will marry you.” He doesn’t even give Chanyeol a chance to reply before he’s kissing him, pressing those full, warm lips to his own so enthusiastically Chanyeol just moans and clutches at his forearms to keep himself steady.

Chanyeol’s not sure how much time passes when they finally part, but his face hurts from the grin that’s taken over his features and his lips feel a little swollen but he doesn’t mind. His veins are singing with a kind of giddiness he hasn’t felt in ages, the sort of irrepressible happiness that makes him want to run down the streets or shout off the rooftops like they do in movies. Instead, he just gives Jongin one last kiss to his temple and says, “So, now that that’s over--should we eat?”

Jongin’s soft laughter seems to sound even more beautiful now, now that he can look at him and actually call Jongin his fiance. “Okay, yeah,” he says, finally letting go of Chanyeol to pull his chair out from under the table. “That’s a good idea.”

They settle down quietly and Chanyeol can’t quite take his eyes off Jongin who can’t quite take his own eyes off the ring on his hand. Chanyeol is amazed he’s even still breathing, considering how fast his heart is pounding. He almost drops his plate with his unsteady hands as he fills up with food while Jongin unscrews the wine and pours them glasses. He smiles around the rim as he drinks, his gaze now on Chanyeol who feels suddenly uncomfortable with the way Jongin is staring at him.

Just as he opens his mouth to question him, Jongin muses aloud, “You know, that was a pretty pathetic proposal,” and Chanyeol squawks indignantly (nevermind that Jongin’s kind of right) and accidentally drops Jongin’s favorite chicken onto the floor.

-

It’s by some sort of miracle that they’re able to find a minister willing to perform the ceremony for their impromptu wedding. They don’t make it a big fuss, and they don’t have the means to do so anyway, what with the surrogacy eating up most of their savings. Chanyeol really couldn’t care less about having a grand wedding and Jongin agrees.

“I just want it to be our closest families and friends. And our puppies,” Jongin tells him after they get the call from Baekhyun, who, for whatever reason, has a friend that would be more than happy to do the service for Chanyeol and Jongin. Baekhyun knows a lot of strange people, so Chanyeol doesn’t question how he even met this person, just thanks Baekhyun excessively until Baekhyun threatened to take it all back.

“Of course the puppies,” Chanyeol laughs, curling onto his side in bed as Potato and Jjanggu demand all of Jongin’s attention. “We could have Jjanggu walk the rings down the aisle. Potato would probably eat them.”

“Maybe that’s a better job for Daeho. Or one of your nephews or something,” Jongin says, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. Jjanggu barks at him like he’s offended Jongin thinks he can’t do the job and Jongin chuckles, appeases the poodle with a scratch behind the ears. He slinks down into bed then, sliding over just enough so the space between them is practically nonexistent, and Chanyeol reaches out first to glide a hand over Jongin’s bare hip. It’s getting colder but Jongin still insists on sleeping practically naked, pulling on just a bare of boxers and using Chanyeol as a heater instead. Chanyeol can’t say he particularly minds.

Chanyeol draws tiny circles across Jongin’s skin, eyes on his face that he can just barely make out in the darkness of their room. His eyelids start to droop, breathing evening out as sleep starts to claim him, and Jongin clutches a fist into Chanyeol’s shirt as he says, “Goodnight actual-fiance,” and Chanyeol pinches the skin at his hip and enjoys Jongin’s yelp.

In the end, they have a very small celebration about a month later, inviting their closest friends and family. Jongin left a message for his parents, but they never returned it, nor did they show up, and Chanyeol hugged him tight for ten minutes, smoothing down his hair and telling him it was okay, and reminding him that his sisters were all here and they were going to yell at him if he ruined his makeup because he was crying.

“I’m not crying,” Jongin sniffs at him, shoving him away and delivering a weak punch to his chest. His eyes are a little red but Chanyeol doesn’t comment, just kisses his lips softly.

Chanyeol can’t remember if he ever had a dream about what his wedding would be like, but if he did, he’s sure it can’t compare to reality. To Jongin looking impeccable in his three-piece suit, hair pushed up and off his forehead. He’s got that beautiful, beautiful smile of his stretched across his lips and all Chanyeol wants to do throughout the short service is kiss him, and he’s pretty fucking proud of himself for making it until the end.

They have a little dinner with their guests afterwards at Yixing’s restaurant, Yixing ordering his staff around and ensuring everything is absolutely perfect while giving them both warm hugs even more bone-crushing than the ones Chanyeol’s mother offered them after the ceremony as she cried. Chanyeol’s parents left after that, though, along with Jongin’s sisters, all wishing them such sincere congratulations that it was difficult not to get choked up.

“Don’t worry about mom and dad,” Jaehwa told Jongin as she gave him a hug he didn’t seem to want to remove himself from. “We’re so happy for you.”

She gave Chanyeol a hug too, afterwards, and said, “Take care of Jonginnie, okay?”

“Of course,” he replied firmly, taking Jongin’s hand in his when he returned to his side.

Now, they’re finally just enjoying themselves with their friends. Minseok and Junmyeon both left after the service, too, along with Zitao who had to catch a flight to L.A., but he gave Jongin a long hug and teased him for getting all emotional, even though Chanyeol knew Zitao had cried during the ceremony, too, no matter how much he might try to deny it.

“You still owe me that dinner,” he told Chanyeol before he left and Chanyeol laughed and ignored Jongin’s questioning look at that. Jongin didn’t need to know just how much Zitao helped him with the rings.

Jongin never leaves Chanyeol’s side that evening, or maybe it seems that way because Chanyeol sticks to Jongin like he’ll be deprived of oxygen if he steps away for too long. Jongin doesn’t say anything about his closeness though, just curls into his side as they sit together at a table and enjoy one too many glasses of wine and some of Yixing’s most delicious dishes, prepared especially for all of them.

“You didn’t have to go through all of that,” Chanyeol says but Yixing waves a hand at him dismissively.

“I wanted to,” he says, smiling bright. His dimple peeking out in his cheek. “Think of it as your present. We’ve all only wanted this to happen for years.”

“We could say the same thing about you,” Jongin points out, leaning across the table toward him. “It took you and Yifan even longer to finally get married and it was easier for you guys, what with his whole Canada thing.”

Yixing glances over his shoulder to where Yifan is talking to Baekhyun, the smile on his face widening as he turns back. “Yifan’s a little slow sometimes,” he says. “I had to intervene.”

Chanyeol laughs, remembering how Yifan had called him to complain that Yixing had ended up popping the question on him before Yifan could get around to it, even though he’d had a speech planned for nearly three years. It’d taken Yifan awhile to get over it, but eventually the realization that he and Yixing were finally engaged put this disgustingly sappy look on his face that lasted about a month. They’ve been married for just over two years now, but they act like it’s been much, much longer than that. Chanyeol wonders if that’s what will happen with him and Jongin.

"So, how's the baby thing coming along?" Yixing asks them, pulling Chanyeol from his thoughts. Next to him, Jongin is already pulling out his wallet, a huge grin on his face.

"Great!" he says. "Look, hyung!" He unfolds the photo of their sonogram, the one he scanned after Chanyeol told him not to keep the actual one in his wallet because it'd get ruined. Instead, Jongin made a copy so he could whip it out and show everyone, and they'd pinned the actual photo to their fridge with a magnet. Chanyeol thinks Jongin's enthusiasm about it is adorable, and he sits back and just listens as he tells Yixing everything Soojin has told them about the baby.

Chanyeol’s thoughts are disrupted again as someone suddenly flings himself practically into his lap, and arm wrapping around his neck. "Dude," says a clearly tipsy Jongdae, "you're married."

The awe in his voice has Chanyeol laughing. "Yeah, I am," he says happily, shoving Jongdae off of him and into a chair on his left.

"Married,” he emphasizes again, like he’s never heard of such a thing. “How could you do this to me? We were supposed to be a part of the singles club forever.”

"Jongdae, I haven’t been a part of the singles club for eight years, remember?”

"Yeah, yeah, well, I tend to ignore Jongin’s existence," Jongdae stays with a wave of his hand, and he tips his head back to laugh when Jongin exclaims, "Hey!"

Amused, Chanyeol just slides his left hand over to grasp onto Jongin’s right, resting them atop Jongin’s knee and giving his hand a small squeeze. Jongdae is waving over one of the waiters to get a glass of champagne and Chanyeol asks, “Since when have you been a part of the singles club, anyway? I thought things were going well with Sunyoung?”

Jongdae slumps a little in his seat, staring at his glass as he swirls the liquid around and around. “We had a pretty awful fight,” he says, “about a week ago. That’s why she didn’t come with me today.”

“Have you apologized?” Chanyeol asks. It might be the obvious thing, but Jongdae can be stubborn. And stupid.

“Yes,” Jongdae says, looking offended, and Chanyeol raises a hand up appeasingly. “She won’t return my calls.”

Jongin’s tugging on his hand, clearly wanting his attention. He catches the sound of a chair shuffling across the floor, and then Jongin is undoubtedly pressing up against his side, resting his head onto Chanyeol’s shoulder. “Well,” he says to Jongdae, trying not to get too distracted when his friend clearly needs his advice, “you haven’t technically broke up, so that’s a good thing. I’m sure she’ll come around.” He swallows as Jongin starts tracing little patterns into the skin at his wrist. “I like her,” he adds. “So does Jongin.”

“Yeah, me too,” Jongdae says with a wry smile. He downs his champagne and stands. “I’ll leave you now, since I can tell you’re just dying to turn your attention back to your husband.”

Husband. The word sends a giddy stream of pleasure down Chanyeol’s back. “We should have lunch sometime, soon,” he offers Jongdae, who grins at him and says he’ll call before heading off to bother someone else.

Chanyeol slides around in his seat toward Jongin, who glances up at him from beneath his lashes and smiles beautifully and Chanyeol just wants to kiss him. So he does, uncaring about everyone around, no one is really paying them much mind anymore and besides it is their wedding. Jongin’s lips stretch into a grin as Chanyeol kisses him, and a hand reaches up to clutch at the lapel of his suit and tug him even closer. Slick, warm heat welcomes him as Chanyeol slips his tongue into Jongin’s mouth, and god, he can’t believe that they’re here, right now, on their wedding night. It’s almost too good to be true.

“Hey, get a room!” Baekhyun shouts loudly, followed by lots of laughter. Chanyeol doesn’t particularly want to stop, seconds away from giving Baekhyun the finger when Jongin breaks the kiss and hides his face into his shoulder.

There’s a smug look on Baekhyun’s face when Chanyeol finds him in the crowd and glares at him. But, as he thinks about it, Chanyeol figures maybe Baekhyun’s got a point. It’s not entirely that late, but Chanyeol’s really had enough of the congratulations and thanking everyone, enough of being stuck in this suit and enough of having to push down the urge to pin Jongin against a table and kiss him until he’s breathless.

“Actually,” he says, “I think it is time for us to go home.”

Jongin looks up at him in surprise while Jongdae wolf-whistles from a few tables over, Baekhyun soon joining in. A grin spreads across Chanyeol’s face even as Jongin covers his own with his hands in embarrassment. “What do you say?” he asks Jongin, leaning in close to speak into his ear. At Jongin’s responding shudder, Chanyeol smirks; he already knows the answer.

But Jongin slowly drops his hands, eyes intense as they meet his. He licks his lips and says, “Let’s get out of here.”

-

The headboard of the bed bangs loudly against the wall as Chanyeol is pushed down onto the mattress with a soft thud. Jongin’s laughing into his mouth as he climbs on top of him, hands cupping either side of his face as his knees slide along the sheets. His thighs press warm and snug against Chanyeol’s hips and Chanyeol grins wide as he grabs Jongin’s waist and tugs him close.

“I almost thought,” Jongin says between kisses, “we’d never be able to leave.”

Chanyeol chuckles, settling back on his elbows as Jongin draws away to shake his suit jacket off his shoulders. It lands on the floor and then he’s swooping in again, catching Chanyeol’s lower lip between his teeth and rutting down against him. It draws out a low moan from Chanyeol, who fists a hand into Jongin’s perfectly done up hair, a little rough from the spray his sisters had used to keep it in place, and tugs gently until Jongin is gasping into his mouth, too. Heat fills Chanyeol’s veins from every brush of Jongin’s fingers, from the one too many layers of his suit, and he feels a little like he’s suffocating from pleasure. He pushes Jongin back, sucking in deep breaths and says, “Clothes. Off. Now.”

Jongin doesn’t waste a second to comply, sliding Chanyeol’s jacket off his shoulders and then working on the buttons of his shirt while Chanyeol undoes his vest. The cool air of the room is welcoming to his skin, even as Jongin’s fiery touch leaves him aching, hands skimming across his torso, lighting teasing his nipples. Jongin laughs when Chanyeol nips at his earlobe in retaliation, but the sound slowly turns into a drawn-out moan as Chanyeol unzips his slacks and rubs the heel of his palm over the bulge in his underwear.

Jongin scrambles to quickly undo his own shirt and vest, shaky fingers popping open buttons as Chanyeol drags his pants down his legs. He tosses them off the bed, following the rest of Jongin’s clothes, and then Jongin’s climbing into his lap again, making quick work of the rest of Chanyeol’s clothing until they’re pressed up skin to skin. Jongin’s mouth latches along the column of his neck, as Chanyeol slides a hand down his back and cups his ass, hissing between his teeth.

Warm lips press along the jut of Chanyeol's collarbones, licking softly overheated skin as they make their way down and Chanyeol can't do much but sigh at the pleasure. Jongin is always good at teasing, at working him up until he's aching. Chanyeol likes it, though, the way Jongin knows exactly what to do to pull a groan out of him, or react by clenching his hand tightly in Jongin's hair. He tugs on the strands the way Jongin likes, gasps out loudly when Jongin mouths over a nipple and then continues further down, laving his skin with the warmth of his tongue. Arousal pools in the pit of Chanyeol's stomach and he's been burning with the want to fuck Jongin all evening, and he really doesn't think he can last long enough if Jongin continues this sort of lazy body worship.

"Come here," Chanyeol says, tugging at his hair again, and Jongin's brows furrow a bit but he complies. Chanyeol pulls him into a kiss that makes Jongin laugh a little into his mouth, and as Jongin relaxes in his hold, Chanyeol hooks a leg around Jongin's and flips them over. The bed screeches in protest and Jongin bites into his lower lip before he laughs again, breathless, and his hands slide up Chanyeol's back, fingers drumming gently along the bumps of his spine.

Jongin looks up at him, his hair a slight mess from Chanyeol's efforts, falling into his face now, and he's just a little flushed. The smile he gives him is so soft, so beautiful, it makes Chanyeol's heart expand in his chest, too big to fit. Chanyeol brushes his bangs back, trails his fingers down the side of his face and whispers, "Husband," and Jongin grins so wide that when Chanyeol kisses him, he feels more teeth than lips.

"That really has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" Jongin says when they pull apart, gasping.

Chanyeol hums in agreement, kissing his way down Jongin's chest the way he had done to him earlier. Jongin fists his hands into the bedsheets and arches up against him as Chanyeol sucks a mark just above his navel. He's leaking against his stomach there, and he groans when Chanyeol takes him in his hand, strokes him firmly a few times.

"Please," Jongin gasps, "don't stop."

"Grab the lube," Chanyeol replies and Jongin throws out an arm toward the bedside table, yanking open the drawer and sending whatever is inside tumbling around with a loud clatter. He lets out a tiny sound when he finds it, tosses the small tube to Chanyeol who pops the cap and coats his fingers.

Jongin lays back against the bed, spreads his legs apart a bit for Chanyeol and reaches down to stroke himself, but Chanyeol knocks his hand away. "Wait," he says when Jongin whines at him, eyes narrowing. "Can you come from just my fingers?" He pushes in the first as he says it, watches the way Jongin's jaw sets a bit and he bites down on his lower lip.

"You already know I can," Jongin says pointedly and Chanyeol laughs against Jongin's knee.

"True," he says, because after eight years, they've tried many, many things together and Chanyeol knows just what to do to get the best reactions out of Jongin when they're like this. "But that doesn't mean I don't want to try again."

"Just hurry up," Jongin mutters. "I don't care what you do, as long as you let me come."

"Impatient," Chanyeol teases as he presses in another finger and crooks them up inside. Jongin groans, his hips bucking up instinctively, and Chanyeol pins him down with his other hand. He gets a glare for that, but it's quickly wiped off his face when he leans forward and licks a stripe up Jongin's dick.

Jongin cries out instantly, body trembling under Chanyeol's palm as he tries to move toward the pleasure but can't, not with Chanyeol holding him down. It's amazing, watching the way Jongin writhes under him, a pretty pink flush spreading down his neck. His eyes clench shut as Chanyeol works him open with his fingers and sucks him down at the same time, pressing the tip of his tongue to the slit the way Jongin likes it, tasting beads of precome before pulling back to lick his way down again. The fleeting kisses his leaves across Jongin's thigh has him quivering, the muscles of his body tightening around his fingers and he murmurs, "Open up for me, baby," to fit in a third.

And when Chanyeol finds that spot inside him, Jongin cries out loudly and Chanyeol lets go of his hip so he can rock down onto his fingers as he pushes them in and out. "Oh god," Jongin moans as he circles his hips and Chanyeol takes the head of his dick into his mouth again. He's close, Chanyeol can tell, and he picks up the speed a little, pushing Jongin straight to that edge of ecstasy and the sounds Jongin makes grow even louder. He swirls his tongue around the tip and sucks Jongin down as far as he can, presses his fingers up against his prostate again and again until Jongin is yanking on his hair hard and gasping, his dick twitching on Chanyeol's tongue just seconds away from coming.

That's when Chanyeol pulls back completely, slipping his fingers out of Jongin's body and letting his dick fall from his mouth to wrap his fingers around the base. Jongin lets out this strangled sound, somewhere between a cry of outrage and a pleasurable moan. His eyes are wide, pupils blown as he stares up at Chanyeol who just smirks down at him and enjoys the way Jongin trembles against the sheets, sensitive from being so close to release and being denied.

"Chanyeol," he whines. He lets his hand in Chanyeol's hair slip out and reaches for his cock again, but Chanyeol pushes it away. "Come on."

"Don't worry," Chanyeol says, sliding down against him and kissing along his jawline. "It's not like I'm gonna leave you hanging."

Jongin glares at him. "I'm not so sure."

"It's our wedding night, I won't be that mean," Chanyeol laughs. He kisses Jongin on the lips now, and Jongin is tense for a moment before he reciprocates and pulls Chanyeol in even close with hands on his hips. Chanyeol groans into his mouth as his neglected erection rubs up against Jongin's hip, reminding him just how close he is, too. Just as he thinks about pulling away to get on with it, Jongin is pushing him back, back, back until Chanyeol is sitting on the bed, eyes widening as Jongin climbs up into his lap.

Jongin grabs the discarded lube and slicks up Chanyeol's dick, hands sliding firmly up and down and drawing a shuddered moan out of Chanyeol at the attention. He gasps when Jongin wraps an arm around Chanyeol's shoulders and uses his free hand to hold Chanyeol's dick as he slowly sinks down onto him.

"Fuck," Chanyeol gasps, grabbing Jongin's hips to steady him. He feels dizzy from the tight heat that wraps around him, from the solidity of Jongin's body in his arms, clinging onto him as he adjusts. His breath is tickling into Chanyeol's clavicles, and his nails dig into the skin at his back and everything feels like it's too much but not enough at the same time. Chanyeol doesn't think he could ever get enough of Jongin like this, hot and tight around him, Chanyeol's name falling from his lips in a breathless sort of mantra. It's perfect. And right now, after everything that has happened that day, Chanyeol doesn't think he's ever felt so incredibly complete.

"Chanyeol," Jongin whispers, pulling back a bit to stare into Chanyeol's face. "Whatever ridiculous thing you're thinking, can you do it after this?" He tugs on Chanyeol's hair. "Move, already."

Chanyeol lets out a burst of laughter, happiness spreading out through his body and mixing in with wonderful pleasure that's already settled within. "I love you," he says, catches Jongin's lips in a fierce kiss, as he pushes up tentatively and feels Jongin clench around him.

Jongin rocks his hips down to meet Chanyeol's thrusts, and from there it's a quick, steady pace that has them both groaning and tumbling toward the their climax together. Chanyeol knows Jongin won't last long at all, not after what he did earlier, so he shoves a hand between them to jerk him off in time to their fucking, eager to get him off first so he can feel it all around him. He focuses on everything else than his own desperation to come, the way Jongin's nails are scratching down his back so hard he's sure it'll leave marks, the way Jongin's lips are parted with his gasped breaths, his lips a slick and gorgeous red. Chanyeol brushes his hair away from his face, watches how Jongin's eyelashes flutter against his cheeks, how he focuses in on Chanyeol through the haze of his own pleasure and he smiles at him, that wondrous smile that Chanyeol thinks is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.

It's gone in the next second though, as Chanyeol rubs his thumb over the head of Jongin's dick and feels him tense under his hands. "Are you close?" Chanyeol whispers into Jongin's ear and Jongin only manages to nod frantically in response. "Jongin, come for me."

It takes just a few moments until Jongin does, clenching tight around Chanyeol and clutching to him as his body goes taut and he moans loudly into the crook of Chanyeol's neck. Chanyeol strokes him through it until Jongin is gasping at him to stop, and he lets go only to grab Jongin by the hips and push him down onto the bed again. Jongin groans as Chanyeol lifts his legs over his shoulders and thrusts into him quickly, arousal coiling in his belly and taking over his senses. Jongin slides a hand around the back of Chanyeol's neck and holds on, fingers pressed down hard into the skin, and his eyes never once leave Chanyeol's face as he chases down his own pleasure. He's so close he can taste it, and as Jongin's body spasms around him, so deliciously hot and tight, it doesn't take much more time at all until Chanyeol comes, too.

Jongin draws him in with the hand at his neck to muffle his sounds into his mouth, kissing him so deeply Chanyeol feels it in his bones. A shudder wracks through him, his veins searing with pleasure, and he pushes in a few last times until he feels far too overstimulated. He pulls out with a small groan, breaking away from Jongin's kiss to collapse into his chest, forehead pressed against his collarbone.

He feels the soft rumble of laughter almost before he hears it, Jongin's hands threading soothingly through his hair as his chuckles fill the room. Chanyeol grins into his skin and he kisses Jongin's chest before snuggling against him even more. He feels so content that he doesn't think there's anything that could make this moment better. All he wants right now is to lie here with Jongin, with his husband, and indulge in the warmth and happiness surging through his body.

"Chanyeol," Jongin whispers after a few minutes, "I love you, too."

A grin spreads across his face and he lifts his head just enough to lean up and kiss Jongin soundly on the mouth.

-

Nothing really changes after the wedding, except constantly needing to remember to wear his ring in the morning and enjoying the way Jongin's hand looks with the addition of his own. Every time Chanyeol gets a glimpse of it, his heart races in his chest and he feels the need to tug Jongin close and kiss him. That's hard to do whenever they're in public, but he can't seem to help the loving gazes he sends Jongin's way instead, that makes Jongin flush a bit and any of their friends they're with to roll their eyes in exasperation. Baekhyun says it's like their honeymoon phase, but Chanyeol's not so sure that's really possible to have when he and Jongin have already been together for eight years. Almost nine, now, as the months start to pass by at a steady pace, November chill transforming into snuggling together with hot chocolate and fuzzy socks in the freezing December weather.

Christmas comes and goes as a celebration with Chanyeol’s family that has the sadness in Jongin's eyes replaced by a brightness Chanyeol always wants to see. Jongin was only able to call his mother for a moment, to offer her well wishes and receive them in return, but she made no effort to ask about the wedding she did not attend, or about Chanyeol, or anything. He wasn't invited to his own family Christmas party that his sisters were going to, and even though it's not the first year this has happened, Chanyeol can tell that, with everything that's happened in Jongin's life - the marriage, the baby - that he wants so terribly to share that with his family. Chanyeol wishes he could, but he's just glad that his own parents never fail to welcome Jongin in with warm hugs and smiles. Yura buying him the latest volumes in some silly romance manga that they both like definitely helps, too.

Chanyeol's parents get them a crib for the baby which has them both protesting profusely in the beginning until Chanyeol's mother threatens them with her spatula to shut up and accept it. Jongin looks like he might cry, but he just clutches Chanyeol's hand and lets Chanyeol pull him close and kiss the top of his head.

It’s a nice weekend full of laughter and happiness and Chanyeol’s mother’s best dishes. It’s Jongin playing with Yura’s two boys, who seem to love him as much as they love Chanyeol, hanging off his shoulders and insisting he plays with them out in the snow. Chanyeol’s heart grows so warm as he watches them, because it’s so easy to imagine coming home to Jongin running around with their kid, Jongin snuggling up in bed together with him or her, Jongin teaching them how to play his favorite video games, Jongin welcoming him home with a kiss while their kid clutches at Chanyeol’s legs and calls him dad. It makes Chanyeol so excited. He can’t wait.

After Christmas, the new year comes all too quickly, but Chanyeol and Jongin start to grow more anxious as the months toward Soojin’s due date nears. The baby room has finally been cleaned out, the crib Chanyeol’s parents got them built one Saturday afternoon among a lot of frustration and snapping until Jongin accidentally sends a hammer down on Chanyeol’s thumb instead of a nail. Chanyeol whines a little too much, milking the moment of Jongin’s over-enthused apologizes and kisses to make it better. Lu Han and Minseok stop by with dinner and Minseok takes over the crib building with Jongin while Lu Han schools Chanyeol at FIFA 13.

On Jongin’s birthday, Chanyeol makes reservations at a nice restaurant that he heard about from Yixing and comes home early to surprise him. He doesn’t expect anyone to be there, though, so the pair of heels in the doorway are a surprise. He wonders if maybe one of Jongin’s sisters stopped by to wish him happy birthday, too, and he eagerly slips out of his shoes and coat to greet them; he hasn’t had a chance to see either one since the wedding.

Except it’s not Jaehwa or Sunjung. It’s not even Yura. At the kitchen table next to Jongin, is Jongin’s own mother, whom Chanyeol has only met once before. He freezes in his spot as Jongin turns around quickly, eyes wide.

“You’re home,” Jongin says in surprise. “I thought you weren’t done for another hour or so.”

“I canceled my last class,” Chanyeol says slowly, tearing his eyes away from Jongin’s mother who stares at him warily. He looks at Jongin instead, who seems a little troubled. “Sorry, it was supposed to be a surprise. So we could, uh, spend some time together before dinner.”

Jongin flushes, wringing his hands and he casts his mother a glance. He clears his throat and says, “Mom, you remember Chanyeol.”

Remembering his manners, Chanyeol gives her a quick bow. “It’s nice to see you again,” he says.

She’s tight-lipped as she nods. “You, too,” she says. “It’s good to see you’re both well.”

“I’m great, mom,” Jongin insists. “I’ve honestly never been so happy.”

That makes Chanyeol grin despite everything, despite the fact that Jongin’s mother doesn’t seem to find his statement as comforting. She glances at Chanyeol again, and it’s not a very pleasant look, and Chanyeol really doesn’t want to deal with this. Least of all today, when he had such a great evening planned for the two of them. But he knows how much Jongin cherishes the rare moments he can talk to his mother, and he won’t begrudge him that. He gives Jongin’s shoulder a quick squeeze and says, “I’ll let you two talk,” and heads out of the room before Jongin can try to stop him.

He goes to take a shower in hopes that when he comes out, Jongin’s mother will have gone. Chanyeol doesn’t really know her well enough to hate her, but after everything she has done to Jongin over the many years that they’ve been together, it’s hard for him to think of her in a positive light. He wishes, almost, that Jongin would just cut his parents from his life entirely because to Chanyeol they only seem to be a cause of unhappiness. Jongin doesn’t need them, he thinks as he shampoos up his hair and frowns at the shower walls. Jongin his him, has Chanyeol’s whole family who love him like he’s their own, and he has his sisters and their families who, despite their parents beliefs, are always there for Jongin and for Chanyeol, too. That seems like enough to Chanyeol, but it’s clearly not for Jongin, who clings to the hope that someday his parents will change their minds.

Chanyeol’s not sure that will happen, when it’s been eight years and only Jongin’s mother talks to him every few months. He hasn’t spoken to his father at all, and today is the first day Jongin has seen his mother in years. At least, Chanyeol assumes it is, because Jongin’s never mentioned before that he has, and Chanyeol believes him.

He finishes up his shower and steps out, toweling himself dry and slipping into some sweats for now. They don’t have to head to the restaurant for a few hours, so Chanyeol thinks he can use this time to relax and not think about Jongin’s mother sitting in the kitchen. He calls out for their puppies and both Jjanggu and Potato run eagerly into the bedroom, joining Chanyeol on the bed after he shuts the door. He’s glad he can’t hear anything in here from down the hall because he’s not sure he wants to know what Jongin and his mother are talking about, even though at the same time he wonders if Jongin finally told her about the baby. He wonders what she said when she saw the ring on Jongin’s finger.

Chanyeol’s halfway through a level of Pokemon on Jongin’s DS when the door to the bedroom opens and Jongin walks in a little tentatively. Potato’s off the bed in a second to run up to him and Jongin smiles, petting the retriever's head even as his eyes are on Chanyeol.

“She called suddenly and asked if she could come over,” Jongin says when Chanyeol doesn’t say anything. Chanyeol loses his game and sighs, tossing the DS onto the bed. He finally looks up at Jongin and his brows are creased, nervous. Chanyeol pats the space next to him and Jongin lets out a sigh and walks over. “She might’ve asked first if you were home or not before coming,” he admits as he sits down.

Chanyeol runs a hand through his hair. That doesn’t surprise him. He nudges Jongin’s shoulder and says, “Don’t make that face. It’s okay that she came.”

Jongin looks at him warily as he absentmindedly pets Jjanggu who has curled up into his lap. “Really? Because you don’t look okay about it.”

The last thing Chanyeol wants to do is get irrationally upset over this, but the second he opens his mouth it’s like everything he’s been thinking about over the past hour that he’s been sitting here alone comes tumbling out. “Well, what do you want me to feel, Jongin?” he says, his voice sounding harsher than he means. “She hasn’t been a very good mother to you ever since we’ve been together and she definitely hasn’t made any effort to know or like me, so can you blame me for not wanting her around?”

Jongin turns quickly so he can give Chanyeol a glare, but he looks more stricken than angry. “She’s my mom!”

“And she’s always making you so sad!” Chanyeol retorts. “She didn’t even come to the wedding, Jongin!” He won’t forget how upset that had made Jongin, how much he’d worried over telling his parents in the first place, how he’d whispered to himself when he thought Chanyeol couldn’t hear that they wouldn’t miss my own wedding, right? Except they did, and Chanyeol knows it still gets Jongin down. He swallows thickly and asks, “Did you tell her about the baby?”

Jongin bites his lip and nods. His hands clutch into the bedsheets at his sides.

Impatient, Chanyeol prompts, “And?”

“She said...God, she said she didn’t think it was right,” Jongin says, his lower lip quivering, “She didn’t think it was right for us to do that at all.” The words make Chanyeol’s heart hurt more than he would ever admit; he’s not surprised, he really isn’t, but still, hearing this makes him feel awful. Upset for Jongin, who he knows must be hurting much worse than him, and anger towards Jongin’s mother for having the gall to come here and then say something like that. He’s not sure what sort of expression is on his face as he thinks this, but it must be horrific as Jongin suddenly grabs his hands and scrambles to add, “But she’s just. She doesn’t understand, Chanyeol. It’s not that she’s against it--”

“Except she is. That’s exactly what it sounds like!” Chanyeol tears his hand away and instantly regrets it as Jongin looks at him in shock. And even though he doesn’t want to upset Jongin, he can’t stand this, right now. The fact that Jongin still wants her around even after everything she’s said. He slides off the bed, needing to put some space between them, needing to think as he paces. Jongin stands, too, looking a little uncertain but also angry, like he doesn’t understand why Chanyeol is so pissed. “She’s never been supportive, Jongin,” he says finally, voicing the opinions he’s had for years and always held back. “And you still want her in your life despite that?”

“She’s my mom, she will always be my mom, Chanyeol, I can’t just--”

“If her opinion matters to you so much then why did you even--” The last of his words are cut short as something hard connects to his jaw and he goes stumbling back into the nearest wall. He just barely hearts the loud, upset barks from both Potato and Jjanggu over the ringing in his ears of surprise, his eyes flying open wide as he clutches his face and turns to Jongin who is nursing his fist to his chest. His eyes are shining with tears and he looks like Chanyeol just struck him, even though Chanyeol’s the one now sporting a bruised lip.

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, Chanyeol,” he says in a wobbly voice that makes Chanyeol’s heart twist in his chest like someone’s wringing it out with their hands.

“Jongin,” he starts as he realizes just what he had been implying, and he can’t believe he’d even let himself think that. “I’m--”

“No,” Jongin says, stepping back away from him and furiously rubbing at his eyes. “No. I just...I need some air.”

And he’s out of the room before Chanyeol can stop him, Jjanggu hot on his heels. In the utter silence of the apartment, he can hear Jongin’s light sniffles and it makes him ache. Chanyeol hesitates to go after him; he knows he should but he also thinks they might actually need some time apart right now, to clear their heads. Once he hears the front door open and shut, does he finally move, dropping his hand from his face to rub his lower back where he’d banged up against the wall when he’d stumbled. He heads to the kitchen to get some ice, and he sees that Jjanggu is gone, too, so he knows Jongin took him with.

As he presses the pack of ice to his mouth, he remembers with a start that it’s Jongin’s birthday and that he had those reservations at the restaurant. He remembers the tickets to the new action movie that Jongin wanted to see stuck in his wallet. He slumps down into a chair at the table and groans, feeling like a complete asshole for what he said. He should’ve just let it go. He shouldn’t have said anything.

Potato sits by his feet and whines up at him, giving him sad puppy eyes that makes Chanyeol smile a little. He pets him and whispers, “What do I do?” Unfortunately, Potato licking up Chanyeol’s palm doesn’t give him much of an answer, but it does, strangely, make him feel a tiny ounce better.

He expects Jongin to return within an hour, but after three pass by he grows incredibly worried. He’s canceled their dinner reservations and he’s sitting on the couch staring at his phone in his hand. He called twice, but it just went straight to voicemail and a sick feeling sinks into his stomach, his anger from before now a horrible coiling of worry. Is Jongin okay? Has he gotten into some sort of accident? Chanyeol makes himself nearly crazy with uncertainty, wishing now he had gone after Jongin when he’d tried to leave.

Around eight thirty that evening, he finally gets a message from Jongin, the vibration from his phone almost scaring the life out of him in the silent apartment.

hey, don’t worry, i’m at sunjung-noona’s. i’m okay, i’m...not really mad anymore. but i think i’ll stay here until tomorrow.

Chanyeol breathes out a sigh of relief. He’s okay, he’s fine. He wishes, though, Jongin would just come home, so he could wrap him in his arms and tell him how sorry he is. Instead, he just types up a response.

im so sorry jongin. i think i just ruined your birthday. :(

Two minutes later, he gets another text from Jongin:

you can make it up to me later :P

Chanyeol already has plans for that. He sends back: i love you. i’ll see you tomorrow.

He doesn’t get anything in reply the rest of the night but he doesn’t mind. He’s just glad Jongin is okay, that he doesn’t seem to be angry with him anymore. He goes to bed early, feeling incredibly discomfited without Jongin snuggled up next to him, and wills the night to go by as fast as it can.

i | iii | iv | v