↱RIBS↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

じゅうに

It's a Monday and It's Five pm

Seonghwa's slumps in through the front door, shivering as he takes off his coat, hat, scarf, mittens, and shoes, shuffling into his slippers.

It's frigid outside and he's been running around all day, going to class, then to therapy, then to get something for Hongjoong to eat and bring it to him at the studio.

Hongjoong is still god awful at taking care of himself most times, and Seonghwa feels better if he knows he's at least eaten a good meal.

He had stayed and talked about how therapy went while Hongjoong ate it, like a zombie, his eyes half-closed and his movements sluggish.

"You should come home and rest."

"But- Seonghwa-" He looks guilty but also determined, and Seonghwa knows he's not gonna get anywhere if he argues.

"Fine, at least nap on the napping couch then."

"I'm sorry, I'm just really close this time."

"You always say that."

"I- I know. I'll give myself a curfew, okay? If I can't finish it by then, I'll come straight home. I promise."

"Promise?"

"Yeah."

"Okay... nine o'clock," Seonghwa says. "I hate it when we don't fall asleep together."

"Okay, nine. I love you."

Hongjoong kisses him, and Seonghwa makes him drink half a bottle of water in front of him so he knows he's hydrated before he leaves.

He feels a bit better after that.

But now that he's home, changed into warm, comfortable clothing and curled up on the couch, he just feels a little tired and a little lonely and a lot like he can't bring himself to get any work done.

He sits there for a moment, bored, before he realizes this is the perfect opportunity to see one of his friends.

He finds his phone in the pocket of his coat, and hits his text conversation with Jongho.

'Hey jjong, where are you?'

He gets a response within a minute.

The boy always has his phone on him, it's usually in his hand, and he'll reply fast if it's Seonghwa.

Or Yeosang.

Anyone else, though, and he'll probably tell himself he'll reply later and completely forget.

'Out, eating. Why, you okay?'

'Yeah, just miss you. Have fun!'

Yeosang's conversation is right under Jongho's, so Seonghwa tries him next.

'Hey bb what are you up to?'

The response takes a little longer, but within five minutes Seonghwa's phone buzzes.

'Jongho took me out for dinner~~! Why, did you wanna hang?'

Interesting.

So Jongho's just 'out, eating' huh?

Seonghwa laughs to himself.

The little punk.

He has no reason to not tell Seonghwa that he's out with Yeosang, no reason at all, except that he's Jongho and if he's not saying something it's because it means something and it matters to him and he doesn't want other people to know his heart.

Too bad Seonghwa already does, has known it since Jongho was still wearing pull-ups, and there's no escaping him now.

Seonghwa types a quick response to Yeosang, and before he can try someone else, his phone begins buzzing with an incoming call.