Serendipity (A BossNoeul story)

Wordplay

He rolled out of bed around noon, the most beautiful thing about a day off was no alarm clocks. He probably should have gotten up and gone to the gym for a bit, but he told himself that since Fort was too busy to join him today he would wait for his buddy to go with him. His mom hadn't dropped off any breakfast so he had to scrounge around in the cupboards to pull together a meal before showering. His phone greeted him with a happy buzz as he was leaving the bathroom, still just dressed in his towel. Without any thought he answered the video call.

"Did you eat yet?" Noeul's face visible in the screen.

"Sort of, there wasn't much here." Boss answered, looking thoughtfully into his closet at the same time.

"I'll get us something for when you get here."

"Sounds good, I'll be ready to leave soon."

He set the phone down, the screen back to black, as he pulled his shirt over his head. There wasn't a need to dry his hair or wear anything less than absolute comfort on his off days, so he threw on some sweats, slides, and a cap before collecting his things (and Noeul's) and headed out the door. The drive would have been more peaceful, even with the traffic, but for the thoughts he kept fighting.

They had always been how they were. From the first day they met at casting. From the first week when they shared hugs. From the photo shoots of shared smiles and ease. From the salon day that he first pinched Noeul's cheeks. So, what had changed? He still wanted to do all those things, he wanted to do those things more even. But... it felt like something else now. He suddenly remembered the feeling of Noeul's lips on his. He had answered in an interview once that he thought Noeul was the better kisser out of them, at the time, that was just him answering honestly and without anything behind it. Now he was savouring the memory of his friend's tongue darting out to meet his and he had a warm feeling in his gut. "That was Payu" he scolded himself. "That was Rain" He said out loud again, trying to center himself. Besides, that was months ago. They had been the same as before; they worked, and that was work. They played, and that was friendship. He had never held back before, and Noeul had already questioned him if something was wrong so he had to just be chill. He would prove to himself that it was just his trouble letting go of the character. "Payu is not in charge here, Boss is." He reminded himself as he took a breath and put the car in park.

Noeul was waiting at the door to let him in, happy to have his bag back. He checked it over to make sure nothing had fallen out.

"It's half a blessing and a curse you don't keep your keys in there, one way you'd have been sleeping in the lobby, but the other, at least you'd notice it was missing sooner." Boss grinned.

"I'd just sleep at your house," Noeul said casually as he put his things aside on the table by the door, a place he, hopefully, wouldn't forget them again. "The real blessing was the cash I had crumpled at the bottom of my jeans pocket or we'd be really hungry right now."

Boss was still thinking about the idea of a sleepover when Noeul waved a bag of food in front of him. He wasn't sure if his face was red or not. They had slept near each other many times, there are always a lot of naps on set, but they weren't private and they weren't in his bed. Just be normal, he reminded himself.

They ate across from each other at the small table, their knees practically touching,(something Boss was a little too aware of) and chatted about what they were going to do with what remained of their day off. It was decided they would definitely eat dinner out because having to gather ingredients and then cook sounded like something neither of them wanted to deal with today. They didn't really want to go anywhere if they didn't have to. So, it was decided they would each pick something the other had to do. Noeul wanted to watch anime, so Boss agreed, like he always did when Noeul wanted to do something. Boss wanted to continue his Korean lessons on his online course and Noeul was more than happy to agree to helping, like Boss knew he would when he suggested it.