They arrived at a small cafe, ordering at the counter before walking over to a table and only unravelling their hands when they sat across from each other.
"So, Myungjae, how are you liking working at the school?" Hanbin asked first, chin resting on his hand as he admired the boy in front of him. "It's nice. Everyone's kind, the kids are cute, it's way better than the daycare I used to work at. You know, shit flying everywhere."
Hanbin chuckled at his answer. "I'm glad you like it. I've been teaching there practically since I graduated and we don't get many new applicants. It's nice to see some new faces."
"Yeah, I'm glad Junwon hired me in advance."
"Maybe it's fate?" Hanbin said, eyebrows shifting as his hand went down to hold the other's. Myungjae only laughed, tilting his head with a smile. "Well, I'm not complaining."
Just in time, their drinks arrived, the waitress placing it down in front of them as they thanked her before she walked away. Myungjae sipped at the drink, his mind wandering far as his eyes were trained on the boy next to him.
A few hours passed as they talked and got to know each other. Hanbin smiled brightly, but even then, Myungjae couldn't help but notice something wasn't… right. Even though he replied to everything he said, he looked zoned out. Almost like he was thinking of something else.
He tried his best not to frown too much as the taller seemed to notice every little detail. Thoughts would enter his head, doubt filling him from time to time whenever Hanbin seemed to space out.
"Hanbin, are you alright?" Eventually, it was time for him to get to the bottom of it. "I'm feeling great. Why do you ask?"
"Sorry if I'm being rude, but it looks like you've got something on your mind. We can schedule this date for another time if you're okay with that?"
Hanbin paused for a bit. Myungjae was right, his mind was preoccupied and he felt guilty that the other had noticed it when he was obviously supposed to be focusing on his date. As much as he didn't want to, he knew that if he went on and insisted he was fine, the other would only get hurt even more.
"Y-Yeah, that's okay. I'm sorry to ruin our date. I-I don't know what's gotten into me." He knew exactly what he was thinking about. His heart ached each time he did.
"No, it's okay! No worries at all. I could walk you home if you'd like?"
"You're willing to do that?"
"It's getting dark, I don't think either of us should be outside by ourselves. Come on, I already know where you live."
Hanbin laughed at that. They stood up from their seats, leaving the cafe. It was cold outside as the sun was ready to set.
There was a comfortable silence between them as they walked side by side, hands intertwined. No one dared to say a thing, small smiles on their faces.
The taller's apartment was just a few blocks away from the cafe so when they approached Hanbin's apartment within a few minutes, his smile dropped as he did the same with Myungjae's hand.
"We're here." The redhead announced with a soft voice. He moved forwards and turned around so they were now facing each other on the sidewalk, just them, no one else around.
"Hanbin, I need to ask you something."
"W-What is it?"
"Can I kiss you?"
Hanbin froze, eyes blown from his socket. He didn't even understand why he was so surprised, anyone could suspect Myungjae's confession from a mile away.
Before he could even think for another second, he nodded. It was like his body was moving on his own despite the way his brain told him to say no. Just like that, the shorter leaned in, locking their lips together for the first dating. Despite being friends with benefits, they agreed not to kiss each other on the lips until they started dating.
Myungjae's hand was placed behind Hanbin's head, head tilted. He'd been waiting for that moment for so long, wanting nothing more than to finally be with the man he's been pinning over.
But Hanbin couldn't. When he tried to kiss back, his mind told him no and he pushed the other off.
He'd thought of this moment before. Ever since he met Myungjae all those months ago, he thought of the day they'd finally kiss, and he always thought it would be magical. Not like this. "Myungjae, I'm sorry… but I can't. This is wrong."
"What is? If you're worried about what the other teachers would say, I'm sure they don't care-"
"It's not that. I'm sorry for leading you on."
Myungjae gasped quietly, all of the bad thoughts in his head being confirmed just from those very worse.
"Leading me on? W-What are you talking about?" The shorter asked incredulously, confused and hurt. Mostly hurt.
"Listen, I… It's not what you think. I didn't mean to do it on purpose, I-I thought I was ready to move on from my ex, but only now I'm realizing that I'm not over her, and I was using you as a rebound and I know you don't deserve that. I should've never started pursuing you. If you hate me, I get, I just… I'm sorry."
Myungjae stood still, full of hurt and emotions. His mouth hung open, but he couldn't think of any words to say. Just a few seconds ago, he was fantasizing about all of the places they could go for their future dates, or maybe even just chilling at each other's apartment like they've been doing. Now, he was questioning if any of it was even real.
"Oh… okay, uhm… I need to go." He did the most logical thing he could think of at the moment. Leave.
He heard Hanbin call his name behind him in desperation, but he continued to run. Running wherever his legs could take him, even though he knew that his place was the other way.
Even as tears trickled down his face, he didn't stop. His vision blurred and his legs began to ache, but he didn't stop. Myungjae kept his eyes forward, pathetic sons coming from his mouth as he couldn't help but cry.
It was his fault. He should've never gotten into someone so early in his new job, let alone someone who, as Myungjae was told multiple times, still wasn't over his ex.
What was so good about her, anyway? What did she have that Myungjae didn't? Was anything they had even real? Was everything a lie?
Questions filled his mind as his legs finally gave out and he collapsed in front of a secluded building, falling to his knees as his tears did, too. He tried to calm down, but everytime he tried to, more sobs would come out.
He felt pathetic, crying over a man he'd only known for a few months. This is his karma for trying to move things too quickly.
Myungjae reached into his pocket with shaky hands and took out his phone, dialling the number at the very top.
"Myungjae? Why the sudden call?"
"H-Hyunwoo hyung? Can you- please p-pick me up? I-I don't know where I am. Please, I-I'm all alone…"
"Shit, turn on your location on Snapchat. I'm with Minseo and Jinho right now, we'll get you."
The call ended and he did just that. His crying subdued a bit, but the tears stains on his cheeks were clear evidence. His phone began to blow up, text messages from Hanbin apologizing and asking where he was and if he was okay.
Myungjae only bit his lip as he turned off the device, staring into the dark sky as he waited.
Minutes later, there was a car in front of him and out came a concerned Hyunwoo with Jinho and Minseo right behind him. The three immediately went over to Myungjae, picking up his sleepy body from the ground and helping them into the backseat of Hyunwoo's car. The scene to any bystander would look like they were kidnapping him.
"Myungjae, wake up." Jinho said, slapping his face slightly to bring him to his senses. Eventually, the younger did, sniffling. "Are you okay?"
"I'm f-fine. Thank you guys." He thanked them and pulled Jinho into a tight hug.
"Who did this to you?" Minseo asked from the passenger seat, already fuming. Hyunwoo sent him a glare at the tone.
"H-Hanbin, he- he was leading me on. It's hard to explain b-but something about his ex. I don't remember…"
The air in the car stiffened. Practically everyone knew about their date as Yuma had announced it in their groupchat, they just… never expected it to go that way.
"Listen, let's all talk about this later. Our number 1 priority right now is getting Myungjae back to Hyunwoo hyung's place."
"We can go to mine! It's closer." Jinho intervened, Hyunwoo and Minseo agreeing as Hyunwoo changed direction.
They arrived at Jinho's apartment and helped Myungjae out. His legs were numb so Jinho offered to hold him the entire way as the other two helped open the doors.
The four made it to his room and Hyunwoo opened it with the keys he received from the other, Jinho settling Myungjae on the couch as soon as they got there. "I'll get him some water and a change of clothes."
Hyunwoo nodded and sat next to the younger, carding his fingers through his hair comfortingly. "Do you wanna talk about it, sweetie?"
"I really thought he would be the one, hyung. I thought he at least would like me back but… it was all fake. Maybe he didn't mean it, but it still hurts." He leaned his head onto the older's chest, emotions pouring out all over again.
"I can punch him if you want? He stole my mints the other day so you don't have to feel bad." Minseo butted in, only for Hyunwoo to send him another glare. "You aren't punching anyone."
"No need, Minseo. It was my fault for falling in love so quickly."
"Don't say that, Myungjae-ah. Maybe he just isn't the one. There's plenty of fish in the sea, you know?"
The younger nodded with a pout. He knew that, but Hanbin was the one he wanted. No one else could be as kind and caring as he was.
Jinho came back with a pair of pajamas and a glass of water, handing them to Myungjae. "Should we take you back to your place or do you wanna spend the night here?"
"If it's not too much trouble, would you mind if I stayed?"
"Not at all."
———
It was around 1 am when Minseo and Hyunwoo finally left, leaving Jinho and Myungjae to their own devices.
"You can sleep on my bed, I'll sleep on the couch." The older said, already grabbing a blanket from his closet until the other stopped him. "No, we can sleep on the same bed. I already feel bad enough to crash at your place like this."
"It's okay, Myungjae-ah. Don't be so hard on yourself. Go to sleep now, okay?"
"Hyung, please?"
Jinho's breath hitched as the younger looked at him with batting lashes, eventually giving in with an annoyed groan. "Fine, but only because you asked for it."
"Yay!"
He laid on the bed next to Myungjae with a pillow in between them and their backs facing each other, creating a space to keep themselves separated.
The older of the two closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep as Myungjae opened his mouth in a hush whisper.
"Thank you. For everything."
But he was fast asleep.
———
(a/n - sorry if some of these chapters don't make sense or are incoherent because i usually write at 1-5 am so im half asleep most of the time and usually make the plot up in my head 😭)