Not another cinderella story

5

As time went by, Ricky's mother kept her promise, not even once trying to meddle in her son's relationship, listening to his stories and providing helpful guidance. Despite not having had the chance to meet Jiwoong again after that night, she made sure to convey her warm regards through Ricky whenever he facetimed his boyfriend. Her genuine interest in Jiwoong's well-being was evident in those brief exchanges.

Ricky's mother believed in the power of simple gestures and genuine connections. She understood the significance of these small moments in nurturing relationships, even from a distance. Every hello or inquiry about Jiwoong's life carried with it a genuine warmth, fostering a sense of inclusion and care within Ricky's relationship.

Jiwoong, too, appreciated these messages conveyed through Ricky. He found comfort in knowing that Ricky's mother not only respected their relationship but also cared about him as an individual. Her occasional greetings and inquiries about his life added a touch of familiarity and kindness, making him feel more connected to Ricky's family.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and Ricky headed to the mall to meet up with his friends for coffee. He had arranged the meeting so that Jiwoong could finally get to know his friends better, since Hanbin and Hao had some shopping to do.

As they made their way towards the coffee shop, Ricky spotted the boys already there, talking to a tall, light brown-haired guy wearing a black leather jacket, jeans, and a black baseball cap. The guy, however, left just before they arrived.

When Ricky and Hyujjin finally entered the shop and joined their friends at the table, Hanbin was laughing amused while Hao looked at him fondly.

"Hey, what happened?" Ricky asked, after greeting them and introducing Jiwoong as they sat side by side on the couch.

"Kim Gyuvin is so fucking cute!" Hanbin blurted out, still giggling.

"What?" Ricky sounded confused.

"Gyuvinnie was here just now," Hao explained calmly, one hand caressing Hanbin's arm. "They were just joking around and Gyuvinnie was kinda grumpy. And, well, he really does look cute as hell when he's moody!" He also laughed softly.

"Oh... This Kim Gyuvin isn't that guy Yujinnie always talks about? The one who was living abroad?" Ricky asked curiously.

"Yeah, he is here for his sister's birthday, he'll go back to London tomorrow," Hao answered, and Ricky nodded in understanding.

They ordered their drinks and sat back down, when Hanbin's phone received a text and he promptly got up, excusing himself. "I have to see this thing with Gyuvin really quickly, I'll be right back. He's at a shop downstairs," he pecked Hao's lips and walked away waving at the other two boys.

Ricky promptly turned to face Hao, surprised. "What's going on? Your boyfriend is calling some other guy cute and you're not jealous at all?"

"I used to be jealous of Gyuvin when Hanbin and I started dating, since they bicker a lot and are always teasing each other, but with time I realized they look more like siblings, you know? Since Hanbin doesn't have a younger brother, Gyuvin kinda took this role. And Gyuvin only has younger siblings, he enjoys having this "Hyung" figure," Hao patiently explained.

"Ah, I see. So you trust Hanbin completely then?" Ricky asked again. 

"Of course I do. I trust him with my heart. And besides, I also think Gyuvinnie is really cute. No one can say otherwise," he smiled and took the last sip of his coffee.

"That's good. You and Hanbin are so cute together, I would hate to see anything come between you," Ricky nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, as Hao proceeded to drink the coffee Hanbin had left behind.

They continued chatting and laughing, Jiwoong slowly opening up and getting more and more comfortable around Hao, until Hanbin came back more than half an hour later.

"Sorry about that, Gyuvin needed some help with his shopping. He's so bad at picking presents, I swear!" He chuckled, sitting back down and reaching for the table only to realize his coffee was no longer there. Hao only giggled cutely at him with a guilty look.

"Did you manage to help him out?" Ricky asked to make conversation.

"Yeah, I gave him some ideas and we finally settled on something. I'm not telling you what it is, though! Not even you, stop making this face," he laughed as Hao pouted at him. "What were you three gossiping about while I was gone?"

"Hey, no gossiping here! We were just chatting," Hao protested feigning offense, but couldn't hide the mischievous smile on his face.

"Hm, I don't believe you. But fine, I'll let it slide this time, even if you stole my coffee," he leaned closer, pinching his boyfriend's cheek. "Let's go take a look around? I need new shoes."

Hao nodded eagerly, standing up and grabbing his boyfriend's hand, and Ricky and Jiwoong followed suit. They wandered through the mall, occasionally stopping to admire a display or try something on. Hao and Hanbin led the way, expertly navigating the corridors and pointing out the best stores.

As they passed a bookstore, Ricky couldn't resist and pulled the group inside. They spent a while browsing the shelves before he decided on a collection of poetry, which made Jiwoong's eyes widen as he saw how expensive they were. Hanbin, on the other hand, picked out a coffee cookbook, eager to try out some new recipes.

After leaving the bookstore, they continued their shopping trip, eventually making their way to the shoe store Hanbin had mentioned earlier. He, Hao, and Ricky spent some time trying on different shoes and laughing at each other's fashion choices, as Jiwoong awkwardly sat beside them. In the end, Hanbin settled on a pair of classic black boots, while Hao ended up with a new pair of Converse shoes.

"Hey, didn't you like anything?" Ricky whispered to his boyfriend, who just shook his head no with a bright beautiful smile.

They spent a couple more hours there, Hao and Hanbin also buying some clothes and jewelry, before finally deciding to call it a day.

As they drove through the quiet streets, Hao leaned his head on Hanbin's shoulder and closed his eyes, feeling content and safe next to him. The car was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by Ricky and Jiwoong occasionally quietly whispering on the back seat, and the sound of a car passing by or the soft music playing from the radio. 

After dropping the two boys off at Ricky's house, Hanbin turned to Hao. "Do you wanna come to my place for a bit?"

"Sure, I'd love to," Hao nodded, smiling.

As he parked the car, they walked inside hand in hand, chatting about their day and making plans for the rest of the weekend. Once inside, they took off their shoes and coats and settled on the couch in the living room, cuddled up under a blanket and chose a movie to watch together, enjoying each other's company and the warmth of the other's body.

As the movie ended, Hanbin turned off the TV and turned to Hao, cupping his face in his hands and softly saying, "You know I love you, right?"

Hao nodded smiling and leaned in for a kiss. "I love you too. You make me so happy."

They kissed again, slow and tender, savoring the moment and the feeling of being together. Eventually, they pulled away, both feeling a little breathless.

"Do you want to stay the night?" Hanbin asked, his voice low and husky.

"Yes, please," Hao nodded again, his eyes shining with anticipation.

Hanbin grinned and led him to the bedroom, his heart beating fast with excitement and love. They spent the rest of the night wrapped up in each other's arms, lost in their own world.