The clock read 3 am when both Jeonghan and Seungcheol decided it was time to go home so they could get at least a little sleep. Even though it was weekend and they had time enough to stay in bed as long as they wanted, Seungcheol still insisted on Jeonghan getting some more rest.
He was crazily worried after seeing Jeonghan so exhausted the day before when he fell asleep on Seungcheol's bed. Jeonghan went everywhere but his house at night, which only gave him about 3 hours of sleep if he was lucky and it started draining the life out of him. His eyebags looked darker than ever before. And what made it only worse was that they had only met four days ago. In such short period of time you shouldn't be able to see such drastically changes on someones appearance.
Seungcheol was also well aware that if he didn't take at least a little responsibility, probably no one would. Seeing how his dad used to treat him ever since he was just a kid and his mom couldn't even take responsibility over herself.
Seungcheol didn't doubt a second on his friends. Jeonghan's friends were great, the best in his opinion. But how were they supposed to help him if they barely knew a thing of what was going on inside Jeonghan's head.
"You're still coming tomorrow night, right?" Seungcheol shot a glance beside him, seeing Jeonghan in all his glory under the light of a sparkling moon. Even his long brown hair reflected the moonlight, showing off how soft it was. So soft, Seungcheol reminisced the moment his fingers wandered through it just half an hour ago, when he had him inside his arms. While they were now back to walking next to each other with their shoulders barely brushing.
"Of course! Two o'clock right?" Seungcheol asked, while the wooden planks that led them up the dunes came in sight. Both knowing Seungcheol's black, shining new jeep would be parked there and Jeonghan had to walk himself home again. "Two am it is then!"
The wood squeaked under their feet the moment they stepped on it, making their way back up the dune to say goodbye to the sea for the night. Jeonghan always hated to go back. The beach was a place where he could be himself. Where he didn't have to hide in his room all day to avoid his mom, who constantly dragged him down. Or where he had to act happier than he actually was, because he was scared to disappoint his friends.
Although he knew very well they would be there for him no matter what, something in him stopped him from showing them the real Jeonghan every single time. At the dark, abandoned beach he could lose that worried side of him. Even if it was just for a small hour, he was able to be his carefree self. The one he used to be before all the misery his parents caused him.
"What are you thinking of?" Seungcheol's voice shook him out of his thoughts, making him realize they were already at the top of the dune and they had to walk down to the other side again to turn back to civilization. They walked straight up to the parking lot that counted a total of 5 spots and had a big black Jeep right in the middle of it. Their surroundings were poorly lit by a few lampposts on the pavement right next to the small parking lot, which had only one that actually worked between them.
"Nothing in particular, why?" Seungcheol pulled out his car keys and pushed one of the buttons, lighting up the brake lights ones to indicate he turned the locks off. "You just were a little silent, so I figured something might've been on your mind."
Jeonghan didn't really know how to respond, so instead he gazed down to the tops of his sneakers, avoiding any kind of eye contact with Seungcheol who stood in front of him, ready to hit the road again. "Just tell me if there is any." Seungcheol assured him. "Do you regret that I hugged you earlier? Because if you do you can tell me you know."
Jeonghan still didn't say a thing and shuffled forward, laying his nose against Seungcheol's shoulder while he gently lay his arms around his waist. "It's not that.. You know I like to cuddle." Seungcheol made the last step forward, connection their chests together. He pulled Jeonghan a little closer to him by bringing one hand up to the back of his head and the other one in the middle of his shoulder blade.
"I was just scared I might be rushing you or something." Seungcheol cleared his throat, not knowing for sure if Jeonghan returned any of the feelings he was feeling himself. "But I don't even know if I should have more thoughts about it than the two of us being friends. Or maybe just teammates."
Jeonghan suddenly chuckled. In his opinion Seungcheol looked adorable. He suddenly seemed so shy and vulnerable while letting out his own feelings towards Jeonghan. And although he thought that Seungcheol's confident side could only sped his heart up, the honest and shy one made his heart beat on a whole different level.
"I definitely feel way too much to be just friends or even worse, just team mates to work on a project." Jeonghan didn't know what gave him the confidence to talk so openly about his own feelings. But apparently seeing Seungcheol like that gave him some sort of confidence boost to make sure Seungcheol wouldn't feel insecure about his feelings. Because Jeonghan definitely returned them.
"You do?" Jeonghan chuckled again, pulling himself a little tighter against Seungcheol. He didn't know for sure if his words would sound convincing so he tried showing it through his actions, hoping he would catch up on it anyhow. "Honestly, I can't even believe how you haven't noticed it already. I might be a cuddly person but I really considered myself being way closer to you. But we might have to spend some more time for you to see that."
"I really like to find that out." Seungcheol said, almost in a whisper. "But we should get going now, I really want you to get some sleep Han." Jeonghan nodded and was the first one to take a step back and let go of Seungcheol's warm body. What he regretted instantly, because the cold air hit him harder than he expected.
"Goodnight Cheol."
"Sleep well. And see you tomorrow!" Seungcheol was the first to turn away and grab hold of his car door. But the moment he turned around to open his car Jeonghan pulled him back by his shoulder, turning him around in the process and kissing him on his cheek.
It was just a little kiss, but it was enough to increase the speed of their heartbeats by at least twice the speed. "Thank you."
And with that, Jeonghan walked off, not looking back and leaving the frozen Seungcheol behind.
