Why me? >Woosan<

epilogue

"Where are we going?" Wooyoung asked, trying to peek around San as they walked, their fingers laced together. The evening sun stretched long shadows across the pavement, warm and unhurried.

"It's a secret," San said, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.

This was their seventh real date, no hiding, no rushing, no looking over their shoulders, and it was his turn to plan it.

"Come on. Tell me," Wooyoung said, pouting deliberately.

"Nope." San popped the p, swinging their joined hands between them.

"You're no fun."

"But you love me anyway."

"Yes, I do," Wooyoung replied, feigning annoyance even as a grin betrayed him.

He stopped short when he realized where San had led him.

Bold letters stretched above the doorway

TATTOO STUDIO

Wooyoung stared.

"You've always talked about wanting a tattoo," San said, watching his reaction closely, eyes bright. "So... here we are."

"Are you serious?" Wooyoung's mouth fell open.

"Yeah." San rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking a little shy. "I thought maybe we could do it together."

Wooyoung blinked.

"Like... a couple tattoo?"

"If you want to," San said quickly. "We don't have to if it's too much or if you'd rather..."

"San," Wooyoung cut in, laughing breathlessly. "This is amazing. Let's do it."

San's shoulders dropped with visible relief, his smile softening as he squeezed Wooyoung's hand and guided him inside.

-

Three and a half hours later, they stepped back out into the cool night air, the faint scent of ink and antiseptic clinging to their clothes. The city hummed around them, unaware.

On Wooyoung's thigh

Amicus ad aras.

The same words were etched into San's skin.

"I love this," Wooyoung said, leaning in to kiss him, careful but sure. "You can't get rid of me now."

"I wasn't planning to," San murmured against his lips.

-

They wandered aimlessly after that, drifting toward the park as the city lights flickered on, eventually finding their way to the little café that had quietly become theirs.

Somehow, it had stayed off the radar, the staff respectful, the corner table always waiting.

San pushed the last crumbs of cheesecake around his plate, his smile fading just a little.

"We'll be leaving soon," he said finally, voice low. "A whole year. It's... a long time."

Wooyoung reached across the table, covering San's hand with his own.

"It's going to be okay. You know I'll be waiting for you."

"I know," San said, squeezing his fingers. "It's just hard not to think about everything that could..."

"San," Wooyoung interrupted gently. "It's just a year. We've survived worse."

San looked up.

"Last time, everything was against us, silence, fear, misunderstandings, and we still found our way back here."