Seoulstruck (Stray Kids, 18+)

Chapter 29: New Beginnings

Jeongin did his best not to jog all the way to the restaurant Hyunjin invited him to, the pair having finally finished their work, going out for a drink after a long day. Hyunjin smiled upon seeing the fox-faced man, embracing him before they went inside.

"So, Jinnie..." Jeongin said once they were seated, their orders taken. Hyunjin locked eyes with the model, giving him his undivided attention. "I... I wanted to ask you something I hope you'll consider. You don't... have to say yes, but I don't think it would be too out of the ordinary." "Go ahead, Innie," Hyunjin said, encouragingly. He smiled warmly, placing his hand on the model's. Jeongin looked down at the gentle touch, swallowing, looking up into the idol's eyes, seriously. "Hyung," he said, a desperation behind his voice. "Let's move in, together."

Hyunjin's eyes widened, feeling taken aback by the sudden offer. "You... want to live with me?" he asked. Jeongin nodded, earnestly, as if he'd wanted nothing more in the entire world. "I... I gave it some thought. I hate it when you leave and you're always so busy. I want the opportunity to do more with you. We could have our own private life, together. We wouldn't have to sneak into each other's rooms, at night. We wouldn't have to wonder what the other is doing. We could just... be happy together. But..." Jeongin paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "I wanted to know... are you happy with me... or do you miss sleeping with Channie?"

Hyunjin's heart rate skyrocketed with all the suggestions, looking down and shaking his head. It was so much all of a sudden, the idol looking up into the model's eyes, lacing their fingers together. "Innie," he said, his voice straightforward and to the point. "Listen... what we have... it means the world to me. I'm already happy with you." He paused, looking down at their hands. "But... if living with you is what it takes to make you confident that I choose you over anyone else, including Channie... then so be it." The fox-faced man's eyebrows rose, leaning toward the idol. "You... you mean you want to?" Hyunjin smiled, nodding. "Of course I do," he replied, leaning over and kissing the model's cheek. Jeongin couldn't hide his smile, relief washing over him as their food and drinks arrived. He no longer felt like he was competing with Chan, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. Hyunjin lifted his bottle of soju. "I love you, Innie. To new beginnings."

Chan had spent the last couple nights staring up at the ceiling, his throat and stomach burning from the liqueur he'd been drinking. He didn't drink as often as his friends, but the sad music playing in his earbuds wasn't loud enough to drown out the pain from having the sunshine drained from his life. He couldn't get Felix's sparkling freckles or smiling face or cheerful voice or starry eyes out of his head, no matter what he tried. The fellow Aussie had been a beacon of light in his life since they'd met, shining down on what seemed to be a road of endless happiness in his mind. But that was gone, now. Chan wasn't sure it even existed to begin with. He thought back on what he had with Hyunjin, the closest thing to an intimate relationship he'd ever had, also stolen away by another man. He sighed, closing his eyes as tears formed behind them, spilling out around his temples. He brought the bottle to his lips, again, feeling the stinging burn pass from his lips, over his tongue and down his esophagus. He hiccuped, the world beginning to spin as he lied drunk in bed, setting his alarm for the morning before passing out on his side, recalling his morning meeting at the last second.