𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

#.. THIRTY-FOUR

once hyeongjun arrived, jooyeon was already waiting outside the hospital, his arms wrapped around his body.

"how long have you been waiting?" the elder asked with a slight smile, reaching the second helmet towards jooyeon.

he seemed used to that routine, pulling over the helmet as he hopped on the motorcycle behind hyeongjun, his hands laying on his waist.

"not long" he giggled. "even if - it'd be worth it for you."

this made hyeongjun laugh. "okay, romeo. hold on tight."

letting out a groan as jooyeon pressed his hands onto his skin (purposefully hard), they started the drive towards their school again.

the wind was clashing against them as the elder sped up, the motor roaring through the street.

communication wouldn't even be possible due to the noise, but it was not needed. hyeongjun needed to concentrate and jooyeon focussed on the feeling of the other's body against his.

he thought about gunil's words. and that it really is time to get official. but how was he supposed to approach hyeongjun?

a prompt normal "will you be my boyfriend?" was too basic and boring, no?

jooyeon quickly came to the conclusion that he was overthinking, deciding to just let it happen normally. but was this the right time?

arriving at school, jooyeon quickly came up with a solution. "wanna come to my place after that?" he asked with a small smile.

he'd prefer to ask hyeongjun in a private setting, especially not in front of a school. but the elder sighed.

"my mom wants me to come home immediately after the event ends, sorry, joo."

pecking his cheek, hyeongjun then nodded him towards the entrance. "jiseok and i still have to present our song, you're not that late."

[...]

at noon, hyeongjun drove jooyeon back to his place again. "i swear i'll pay for the gas sometime" the younger insisted but hyeongjun just laughed.

"it's okay, really. i'm just glad i can spend more time with you." taking off their helmets at the same time, they looked at each other with a warm smile.

was this the right time? jooyeon took a deep breath, yet hyeongjun talked first. "i gotta get going..." he sighed, confused over why he took of his helmet in the first place as he put it back on.

but jooyeon wanted to get it done. "before you go.." he started, making hyeongjun turn around again to face jooyeon.

"i..." he couldn't really finish, not knowing what to say. sometimes it was better to overthink what to say, jooyeon concluded.

"um.. so, we have quite an interesting relationship going on and- um- you know that i love you and i know that you love me- i think-"

hyeongjun couldn't help but smile upon seeing and hearing how flustered the other was.

"and- well, how do i put this-" jooyeon did not have to finish his sentence, hyeongjun did it for him.

"can i be your boyfriend?"

the sentence swung in the air and it took jooyeon some time to realise what he said. all of this was mutual. hyeongjun really wanted him.

with a bright smile on his lips, jooyeon nodded. "that's what i was gonna say. but yes."

they hugged, warm and tight, like it could cure any of their problems. it felt amazing, soothing and protecting one another from the cool whistling wind that made the leafs of the trees around them rustle.

normally, the sounds would sound eerie and make a shiver run down their spines, but in each other's embrace it felt nostalgic.

like a confirmation that all of this was true.

despite the hug lasting for only a few seconds, it felt like eternities. and upon pulling apart they immediately missed the gentle touch of their skins.

"now go - or else your mom will get mad" jooyeon chuckled with reddened cheeks, feeling his blood rush up to his head as his face heated up.

it was the same for hyeongjun, though. "yeah yeah, fine. i'll text you once i'm home. love ya!"

then he started the motor, waved jooyeon one last time before dashing away.