Chapter Text
It's the month of April. Chan stood behind the door, in the quiet room of someone who he barely knew. His heart swelled up with lots of emotions he did not even bother to think of. His eyes stayed on the two men, sitting in front of a fire in the furnace where it's the only thing that lit the whole room up. Their faces look clear even from the lack of light existing in the room. There they are, two men with their lips tangled, seeking for each other and feeling nothing but hunger in their mouths.
And Chan knew he shouldn't feel hurt, or angry at all. He just caught him making out with someone… and so what? Clearly, he doesn't have any relationship with that person at all. They only meet occasionally, and the only thing that connects them is their mothers being longtime friends. He is also five years older than Chan, and that adds up the reason for them to interact less. Even Chan can tell that his existence to him—to Wonwoo, did not even bother nor took part in his whole life.
So in conclusion, Chan ends up doing nothing but tries to hide himself more, not wanting to get caught. And then he thinks, so this is allowed when you finally reach college? …He shakes his head, feeling conscious of himself and his thoughts. Let's not think that.
But what should he do, watch? Is that appropriate?
"Chan, what are you doing there?"
His heart almost jumped out from his body the moment he heard his mother's voice echoing throughout the hallway. He turns around to greet his mom only with a smile, and shifts his gaze back to Wonwoo only to regret it quickly. He suddenly feels like his soul just left his body when their eyes met.
Shit, he saw me. And Chan only gets more nervous thinking Wonwoo just caught him. He immediately starts walking away, towards where his mother is. His pounding heart gets louder than his footsteps, and before he could even talk to his mother, she starts calling someone.
"Wonwoo, you're here too?"
Chan stopped moving, his heel completely stuck in its position as he heard whose name it is. He doesn't look back.
"Yes, I find it warm here Mrs. Lee," Wonwoo's deep voice echoed and all Chan could think of was how it sent shivers to his nape that he couldn't help but touch it.
"Oh, that's great. Chan must have wanted to feel warm too, since he followed you there."
Chan immediately shakes his head, "No. I didn't see him there. I was just roaming around to kill time. Let's go now, mom."
And before his mother could even say anything, he starts walking away and never stops until he feels like he's a kilometre away. He never dared to look back too.
——
Time passed by quite fast, especially for Chan who just graduated high school and is preparing for college. At first, it didn't feel real for Chan to finally be in college until he had to face it because of the constant nagging he got from his mother. Scholarship programs and financial expenses related to his college, all of that must be prepared once his classes starts. It's not even a month from his graduation, and now he's stressing over it.
"You know, a part time job might help too. My friend Reina, has a son, Wonwoo. Do you remember him? He is now handling one of their companies, maybe you can try to intern there."
Chan stops from typing on his laptop as soon as he hears his mother. He slowly turns around his chair to face her only to see a worry plastered in her face.
He sighs, "I remember him."
Chan clearly does, even though it's been years since they've last met. Not to mention their last encounter with each other wasn't even something worth to remember, especially to Chan. His mother continued about Chan applying as an intern in the company that Wonwoo is handling, saying she will talk to her friend about it and get him a slot for interviewing. Chan refuses with her plan, for obvious reasons, but she insists for him to try.
"There's no harm in trying, my sweet son."
So he ended up inside a huge building, sitting nervously in a chair as he held his own hands and played with it to ease himself down. He really is going to be interviewed. His mom won him over, saying if he gets hired then Chan can have his Christmas spent with his cousins. She adds up more good deals until Chan gives up to it and here he is.
"So, Lee Chan, tell me about yourself."
He gulped once before providing good answers that he practised for a week. Chan felt like they weren't impressed, just by looking at their faces while he continued to answer their questions. Not even ten minutes had passed when someone walked in through the door, and their interview immediately stopped. A man with broad shoulders walked in front of him, his back facing Chan and he couldn't almost see the interviewers with how big he was. He remained on his seat, while the interviewers stood up and bowed to the man standing in front.
"I'll take it from here, you must go attend to your duties."
They immediately did as told, no questions further asked. As soon as the door clicked, indicating that it was closed and that there's no one left behind aside from him and the man in front. He blinks twice, feeling more nervous than before. He could be their boss, knowing how they treated him. He felt his nail slowly digging through the skin of his thumb as he thought of better answers to impress the man in front. Feeling more distressed than he could ever feel ever since the day started.
"I heard you're going to college now," the man starts to speak and Chan holds his breath as soon as the man turns around to face him.
Wonwoo.
He feels more and more nervous that he might have been in a chokehold. He really is Wonwoo. He looks more matured now, his features in his face got even sharper. His body was somehow slender before, Chan remembers, but right now he looks buff, bigger than before. His hair also suits him, a clean cut side by side. Chan feels like a gap grew more between them while he thinks of changes in Wonwoo.
"Do you really want to work here?" Wonwoo speaks again with a question, and it cuts off the thoughts that've been occupying in Chan's mind.
Chan gulped as he opened his mouth to answer, "I need to."
A long silence enveloped between them, and Chan felt more conscious as Wonwoo's eyes stayed at him the whole time. He doesn't really mind the silence, it is always like this when they are around each other. He's gotten used to it… but the stare? Wonwoo never paid this much attention to him.
Their silence gets cut off when a phone starts to ring and the noise covers the whole room to fill in the silence that's been going around them. Wonwoo immediately slides his hands through his pockets and finds out that it is his phone that's been ringing. Someone is calling him. Chan immediately lowers his head down as he waits for whatever decision Wonwoo will make.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Wonwoo tells him.
Chan quickly gives him a nod, "Thanks, hyung."
One last glance to Chan and then, he left.
——
It's been a week since he started as an intern. He never saw Wonwoo since that day, another person welcomed him the day after saying he's going to be the one that will train Chan. They got close after, and he seems so fond of Chan for some reason.
"Jeonghan hyung, don't you have some other things to do?" Chan asks while he's busy with sorting papers that are needed after lunch. Jeonghan shakes his head as he gives him a sweet smile.
"Why? Am I bothering you, Channie?" Jeonghan asks him in a teasing tone.
"Not really," Chan answers him.
He's enjoying Jeonghan's company, it's just that Jeonghan may have realised by now that he's not really that fun to hangout with. Yet, he stayed the whole time until lunch was over. Chan didn't have the time to eat so Jeonghan left him a burger he bought from the building's canteen. Saying he should not let himself starve no matter what he's doing. He left the burger on his desk to save it for later and proceeded to take the papers he sorted at the meeting room, on the upper floor.
The elevator doors opened and he immediately got inside it, not bothering to see who was inside with him. He holds on to the papers tightly as he slowly walks to where the button is, trying to extend his point finger to click on it. As expected, he failed to do so. Someone behind him clears his throat and so Chan quickly looks to see who it was.
Oh.
"Taking those to the meeting room?" Wonwoo asks and Chan gives him a nod as an answer. He quickly tiptoed himself away from Wonwoo, to give themselves a good distance. Chan thought Wonwoo would like that, a distance between each other.
"I'm going there too, I've already clicked it." Wonwoo speaks again and Chan can only nod again as an answer. It's like he's tongue tied, and ran out of possible words to say so he remained silent.
There are still a few floors before they reach it so whenever it opens, another bunch of people would come in and greet Wonwoo as soon as they see him. The good distance Chan tried to maintain between him and Wonwoo, slowly filled in until there were too many of them and now he's just an inch apart from Wonwoo. He feels his heart beating fast, as he tries to calm himself down. Not really the right time to acknowledge his feelings towards the man standing behind him.
Someone tried to move backwards and Chan could feel himself panic when he felt himself get pushed from someone in front of him. His eyes widened, he failed to keep his balance and was about to fall when a hand quickly slipped into his waist and held him steady. His breath hitched, and then he got pulled closer until he could finally feel Wonwoo behind him. He blinked too many times trying to process what just happened.
"Be careful," a whisper added up to the tension and Chan feels like he's going to lose his mind anytime now. Wonwoo slowly embraces Chan's waist fully, pressing their bodies closer.
And oh. He feels something hard pokes his ass. He can't help but gulp a lot of times, he feels something tingle in his stomach and his body starts to heat up.
There's still a few more minutes before they arrive on that floor, and Chan can't help himself. He wants the contact, and maybe he wants more, a friction to it, so he tries to move his ass. He quickly heard a small grunt behind him as he felt Wonwoo's breath on his neck. It tingles him more.
Chan bites his bottom lips and was about to continue doing it when the elevator door opened and now they're on the floor that they will get off. Chan immediately snaps out of it, quickly moving away and excuses himself through the crowd of people as he holds on to the paper tightly. He succeeded in getting out and Wonwoo walked past him as if nothing just happened, he never looked back to Chan.
And Chan could feel his heart digging down, as if hoping it was just the air from the hallway. He walks to the meeting room and quickly finds himself looking for Wonwoo, and he immediately spots him. He puts the stack of paper on the small table, his eyes never leaving Wonwoo. And Wonwoo never looked at him until Chan was told to go. If he would just look even for a second…
Chan feels desperate, so he decides to walk through him. Still, nothing. So he gets out of the meeting room, his shoulders feel heavy and so much more to his heart.
——
College starts in a week from now and Chan is already tired, but it's his last day as an intern now. He's quitting since he's already earned enough for this year's expenses in college. Nevermind for next year, that's for next year's problem. He wants to quit too, he can't handle working here anymore. And it's not because the work environment is toxic or anything, it actually is so better than any jobs he tried to do part time back then. His co-workers were civil and some were nice. He also made friends, two of them.
It's just that he can't handle seeing Wonwoo after that incident. He expected not to see him after that since the building is big, and his workplace is a few floors below from him. The chances of them bumping into each other is small so he must not worry at all. But that didn't happen. Instead, Chan could see him everywhere in the building. Even at the cafeteria, and it's usually not Wonwoo's lunch place, he knows that since Jeonghan told him about it. Jeonghan tells him how strange the CEO is acting these past two months, eating at the cafeteria and checking their department more often than before. Asking for updates and whatsoever when Wonwoo never batted an eye on their department back then.
It's coming to Chan's head and he might lose his mind before he even starts college if it keeps going. So he decided.
"Are you really quitting? How about me, Channie?" Jeonghan asks him, acting sulky with his pout forming on his mouth. Seungcheol beside him, nudges him with furrowed brows.
"Of course he is. He's starting college, he must focus on his studies." Seungcheol answered him and Chan could only nod, feeling more apologetic.
"Sorry, hyung."
His eyes couldn't help but look at the table beside them, to where Wonwoo is and someone beside him who's busy talking to him with so much smile. Wonwoo looks like he's enjoying their talk too, his smile never left his lips.
"Oh now, he's with his boyfriend." Jeonghan noticed too and commented about it.
Chan blinks, "his boyfriend?" he asks in a low voice. Thankfully, Seungcheol heard him and gave him a nod as an answer.
"He brings him on special occasions, so surely that's his boyfriend." Seungcheol added and Chan slowly nodded.
It was really foolish of him to think that what happened in the elevator two months ago meant something to Wonwoo. He has a boyfriend, and clearly he's in love with him. That must be just nothing and Chan thinks he already forgot about it. That was just a big deal only on Chan's side.
Evening came, and now Chan is carrying his box filled with the things he brought to work. His resignation got approved, and now he's waiting for the elevator door to open so he can go back down. Trying his best to hold his phone, he books himself a taxi so it won't be a hassle when he arrives down there. The elevator doors opened and Chan quickly hid his phone in his pocket.
His eyes quickly landed on someone standing inside, and his heart started to beat on its own, faster than it usually was. Their eyes met, so Chan immediately avoids his gaze and goes inside. He stands near the door and clicks the Upper Ground button. Right now, he needs a good distance away from Wonwoo. So silence filled over them when the elevator doors closed. A few more floors to pass before they reach the upper ground, and Chan wishes the elevator would just go down quickly.
"You're going home?"
One question from Wonwoo, and Chan felt that he needed to look back as respect and gave an answer. Their eyes met.
"Yes," he replied shortly. He gives Wonwoo a smile and then bowed his head to him.
"Is someone going to pick you up?" Wonwoo asks again.
"I booked a taxi," Chan answered.
"Cancel that," Wonwoo quickly says, making Chan look back again at him with confusion.
"I'll drive you home," he added and the elevator doors finally opened. Chan blinks, and slowly walks outside the elevator.
"Thank you for the offer, but—"
Chan gets cut off when someone walks past him and greets Wonwoo with a hug. He quickly steps away, as he immediately knows it is Wonwoo's boyfriend.
"Good thing you're just down here, I was about to go to your office and tell you…" His boyfriend started talking and so Chan did not waste his time and started walking away as he did not bother to greet Wonwoo off. He won't drive Chan home, his boyfriend just arrived. That's obviously decided.
He never looked back, he held his box tightly. Good thing the moment he steps out of the building, his taxi arrives right in front of him so he quickly puts his box inside it. Stopping for a second, he glanced back to the building inside and saw Wonwoo busily talking to his boyfriend. For a moment, Chan hopes he'll look his way before he goes inside the taxi.
Wonwoo did look at him. And Chan can't help but smile, a bittersweet smile.
Until we meet.
——
Weeks passed by quickly and tomorrow is his first day in college. Chan just finished his dinner and shower, and now he's busy drying his hair while surfing through the internet on his phone. A notification pings above and Chan quickly clicks on it after seeing the content.
You have received ₩500,000
in your bank account. Your new
balance is ₩934,000.
Ref No. 240494*******
Chan stared at his phone, trying to process the numbers in his phone associated with his bank account. Did his mom just give him another allowance? But she knew his allowance was really enough. She's not the type to just send this much money when she knows Chan still has enough. But he still texts her.
Mom (answer asap)
mom, did you just send me another allowance?
What? No. I paid the remaining money for something I really needed.
so you did not?
I did not.
Chan exits their conversation and then checks the message again. Did someone just accidentally transfer a huge amount of money to him? This huge luck? Then a message came, and it was from an Unknown Number.
Unknown Number
Did you receive it?
Chan looks at it. Then, the dots quickly connected. Someone intentionally transferred it to him.
Unknown Number
Who are you?
Wonwoo.
What the fuck. He blinks twice, and even scratches his eyes if he reads it right. He does read it right. It says, and is spelled there, Wonwoo.
Unknown Number
Wonwoo hyung?
Yes.
Were you the one who sent ₩500,000?
So you received it.
Yes, I was the one who sent it to you.
Use it.
Why?
You need it.
How did you even know my bank account number hyung?
I asked your mother.
Chan's lips parted, not really processing what he just read. He needs this to be true, it feels like an illusion. Something he dreamt of back then or what. So he hit the call button, and waited for the phone to ring. Then, someone immediately picks it up.
"Chan?" Wonwoo's voice immediately fills in the silence. And he even calls for his name. Chan feels like floating but he managed to speak.
"Hyung, why? Why did you do that?"
"You didn't tell me you're quitting."
"Do you have to know?"
"...Yes"
"What for, hyung?"
"So I can see you one last time, clearly."
"You're confusing me."
Chan's heart did not stop beating faster. This whole conversation with Wonwoo is making him feel a lot of things. Why is Wonwoo talking like that?
"Don't think about it too much. Is your class starting tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Then I shouldn't keep you awake. Go to sleep now."
Chan could feel his frustration building up. Wonwoo isn't giving him clear answers. Like a puzzle wanting to be solved, and Chan hates that kind of thing. He hated indirect answers and hanging clues. He needs a clear answer.
"How could I go to sleep, hyung? You just did that out of a sudden when we are not even friends, or anything. We barely talk. You and I don't even know things about each other."
Chan holds his breath after finally letting that out. He feels more and more frustrated when Wonwoo does not answer. Just silence on the other line. It went on for five minutes until Wonwoo finally spoke.
"Can we meet tonight, Chan?"