the one that got away | seongjoong (✓)

• XLV •

a month flew by after hongjoong moved in with seonghwa. the younger hadn't felt this safe in such a long time, almost so long that he'd forgotten what it felt like. seonghwa was doing better as the days went on, beginning to fully accept that he didn't need his parents to be happy. all he needed was hongjoong, and the boy was always going to be there by his side.

seonghwa had the day off today, and considering there were only a few more weeks until hongjoong would be going back to work (yet, he still planned to stay away from social media a bit longer), the two were going on a date today. it was more formal than past dates had been, but after receiving the news from youngjae that hongjoong was expected to come back and start at the very least recording some stuff within the next couple of weeks, they decided they wanted to celebrate.

hongjoong was still getting ready when seonghwa went out to the balcony and called mingi.

"he's going to love it, hyung. you have nothing to worry about."

"i know... i just... i want this to be perfect."

"it's not like you're proposing, hwa! it's a promise ring. you guys are already basically bound by a promise, adding a piece of metal into the picture isn't going to change that."

"you really think so?"

"i know so. hongjoong loves you, seonghwa. he would walk to the ends of earth if you asked him to, i'm sure of it."

"okay... okay, thanks, min."

"any time. now if you'll excuse me, my boyfriend wants my attention."

"ahh, i see. you two have fun."

"we will, see ya," mingi said, hanging up.

"hey, hwa?" hongjoong said, making his way to the doorway.

"yes, love?"

"it's just lunch, right? nothing too fancy?"

"mhmm... why? everything okay?"

hongjoong pouted a bit, shrugging and making grabby hands at seonghwa, who took the hint and walked inside. hongjoong quickly hugged onto the older, his anxiety really getting the best of him today. seonghwa felt the boy shaking slightly in his arms and frowned as he rubbed hongjoong's back, gently kissing his head over and over.

"we don't have to go if you're feeling anxious. it's okay, i promise."

hongjoong shook his head, looking up at seonghwa quickly.

"no, no i w-want to go... please, hwa..."

"baby..."

"p-please..." hongjoong whispered, eyes welling with tears.

seonghwa just nodded, resting their foreheads together a bit to comfort the younger. hongjoong let his eyes flutter shut at the comforting feeling, and soon, seonghwa pressed their lips together.

"hwa..."

"yes, love?"

"i-i'm sorry that i always do this."

"no... baby, don't be sorry. what's important to me is that you feel safe and calm as best you can. it's okay that you get anxious, it never bothers me."

"i-i just... i feel like i'm really hard to love sometimes. especially when m-my anxiety gets out of control."

"joong... you're being too hard on yourself, love. sure, love isn't always easy. we have our ups and our downs, but you make me so happy. you're easy to love even when we have harder days because i know that in the end, we're going to push through. you mean the entire world to me, hongjoong."