Hidden | YEONGYU/BEOMJUN

06

It was late.

The kind of late where the cicadas had already quieted and the street outside was empty except for the occasional barking of dogs echoing between houses. The Choi house was quiet, lights dimmed, the old standing fan whirring softly in Beomgyu's room.

Yeonjun was there, lying on Beomgyu's bed with him, their legs tangled lazily as the fan's breeze moved their hair in soft tufts. The glow of Beomgyu's phone cast pale light on their faces as they watched some random cat videos, Yeonjun chuckling, Beomgyu biting back his laughter so he wouldn't wake the house.

They weren't supposed to be here like this.

Usually, when Yeonjun came over at this hour, it was only to sneak glances, quick touches in the hallway before they slipped out to the roof or out to the convenience store. But tonight, Beomgyu had pulled him inside, tugged at his hand, and whispered, "Come to my room."

So here they were, lying together under the thin summer blanket, the ceiling above them cracked with old glow-in-the-dark stars Beomgyu's sisters had stuck there months ago, and Yeonjun was tracing mindless patterns on Beomgyu's waist through his thin shirt.

"Yeon," Beomgyu said softly.

"Hmm?" Yeonjun hummed, his thumb pausing against Beomgyu's skin.

Beomgyu swallowed, turning his head to look at Yeonjun's face illuminated by the phone's light. His lashes were long, lips parted slightly as he breathed, eyes half-lidded with the softness that made Beomgyu's chest ache in the best way.

"I think I'm ready."

Yeonjun's eyes widened instantly. His hand on Beomgyu's waist tightened, pulling their bodies flush together as his pupils dilated, a slow grin forming on his lips.

"Are you sure?" Yeonjun whispered, leaning closer, noses brushing, his warm breath ghosting over Beomgyu's lips.

Beomgyu blinked, confusion crossing his face for a split second before he realized, chuckling under his breath. "No, you idiot, that's not what I meant."

Yeonjun froze, blinking. "Huh?"

Beomgyu smirked, pressing his forehead against Yeonjun's. "I meant I'm ready to introduce you to my family."

Yeonjun's mouth dropped open, his eyes somehow going wider than before. "Wait, really?" His voice cracked, betraying how much this meant to him.

Beomgyu shrugged, though his heart was pounding so loud he was sure Yeonjun could feel it against his chest. "Yeah. I don't care anymore. I'm tired of hiding. They can say what they want."

Yeonjun's lips twitched, eyes shimmering in the dark as he broke into the softest, brightest smile Beomgyu had ever seen. He leaned in, nose brushing against Beomgyu's cheek as he whispered, "I'm proud of you."

Beomgyu's breath caught.

"I love you," Yeonjun whispered.

"I love you too," Beomgyu replied, voice trembling just a little.

Yeonjun didn't wait. He moved, shifting on top of Beomgyu so they weren't awkwardly kissing sideways anymore, his knees on either side of Beomgyu's hips, hands cupping his face as he kissed him.

It was soft, almost shy despite how many times they'd kissed before. Yeonjun kissed him like he was something precious, like he was something fragile, his thumbs stroking Beomgyu's cheeks as their lips moved slowly, savoring each second. Beomgyu's hands slid up Yeonjun's sides, gripping his shirt, pulling him closer as their hearts beat in sync, the world outside forgotten.

They kissed for what felt like forever, until their lips were swollen, and Beomgyu was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling under Yeonjun's steady weight.