Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The café smelled like roasted beans and sweet vanilla, and Minhyuk was already waving his hand wildly from the corner table the moment Kihyun walked in.

“You’re late!” Minhyuk called out, his grin too bright for Kihyun’s heart to handle.

“I’m five minutes late.”
“That’s still late,” Minhyuk said, sliding Kihyun’s favorite drink toward him. “I could’ve died of boredom.”

Kihyun rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “You’re too dramatic.”
“Maybe,” Minhyuk said, leaning back with that sparkle in his eyes that always made Kihyun’s chest tighten, “but you still showed up, so who’s the real problem here?”

Kihyun laughed softly and sat down. He’d known Minhyuk since high school — from the day Minhyuk accidentally spilled juice on his notes and promised to rewrite every single page (he didn’t). Somehow, through college, jobs, and every dumb argument, they stayed inseparable.

Minhyuk was all light — bright, talkative, magnetic.
Kihyun was quieter, sharper with words, but he always found himself orbiting Minhyuk like gravity refused to let go.

They hung out like this at least twice a week, usually joined by their friends — Jooheon, Hyungwon, Shownu, and Changkyun — but today, it was just them.

“By the way,” Minhyuk said mid-sip, “Jooheon said we should plan something for my birthday. You’re in charge.”

Kihyun snorted. “Why me?”
“Because you’re the only one who won’t forget,” Minhyuk said, poking at Kihyun’s arm with his straw. “And because you love me the most.”

The words slipped out so easily from Minhyuk’s mouth — playful, teasing — that it made Kihyun’s throat tighten.
He met Minhyuk’s eyes and said it again.

“I do love you.”

Minhyuk froze, then broke into a laugh. “There it is again! You never get tired of this joke, huh?”

Kihyun smiled faintly, resting his chin on his palm. “Who said I was joking?”

Minhyuk blinked, pausing just a little longer than usual. The air between them seemed to ripple for a heartbeat — until he laughed again, brushing it off like always.

“Yeah, yeah, okay, Romeo.”

Kihyun chuckled, but his heart sank a little. He’d been saying it for months — years, maybe.
He confessed every time they met, always with a smile, always letting Minhyuk think it was part of their banter.
It was easier that way. Easier to pretend that being near him was enough.

They talked for another hour, about work and Hyungwon’s weird new skincare obsession and how Changkyun accidentally crashed Shownu’s car last week (“It was just a scratch,” Changkyun had protested over the group chat).

When the sky turned orange outside the window, Minhyuk stretched and smiled. “Wanna walk home together?”

Kihyun nodded.

They walked side by side under the fading sunset, shoulders brushing occasionally. Minhyuk’s laughter filled the air, carefree and genuine, and Kihyun thought he could live off that sound forever.

Halfway through the walk, Minhyuk suddenly stopped and turned to him.
“Hey, Ki.”

“Yeah?”

“Why do you always say that?”

Kihyun blinked. “Say what?”

“That you love me.” Minhyuk looked curious, almost shy, though his tone stayed playful. “Is it like… your way of saying I’m your favorite friend?”

Kihyun wanted to answer yes. It would’ve been simple, safe.
But he’d spent too long hiding behind smiles already.

“Because it’s true,” he said quietly.

Minhyuk tilted his head. “You mean you actually—?”

Kihyun nodded once, eyes soft but steady. “Yeah.”

For a moment, Minhyuk didn’t move. Then he gave a small laugh — awkward, nervous, the kind he used when he didn’t know what to say.
“You’re too much, Kihyun,” he said finally, giving him a light shove on the shoulder. “You’ll make someone really happy one day, you know that?”

Kihyun smiled, even though it hurt. “Yeah, maybe.”

But he thought to himself, it won’t be me if it’s not you.

---

Later that night, the group call was chaos as usual.
Jooheon was trying to convince everyone to wear matching outfits for Minhyuk’s birthday, Hyungwon was half-asleep on camera, and Shownu was calmly reminding everyone that the restaurant needed a reservation.

“Kihyun, you got it, right?” Jooheon asked.

“Yeah,” Kihyun said. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Minhyuk’s face popped up in the call. “You’re the best, Ki!”

Kihyun smiled softly at his screen.
If only Minhyuk knew how much that simple sentence meant.

---

That night, while lying in bed, Kihyun’s phone buzzed. A message.

[Minhyuk 💛]: can’t sleep lol. u still up?
[Kihyun 🐹]: yeah. what’s wrong?
[Minhyuk 💛]: just thinking about stuff.
[Kihyun 🐹]: heavy stuff?
[Minhyuk 💛]: nah. just wondering how u always know what to say. like when i’m tired or sad. u just… get me.

Kihyun stared at the message, feeling warmth bloom in his chest.

[Kihyun 🐹]: maybe it’s because i love you.

A minute later, Minhyuk sent a bunch of laughing emojis.

[Minhyuk 💛]: stoppp 😂😂😂 goodnight loser.

Kihyun smiled faintly at his screen.
“Goodnight, Minhyuk,” he whispered to the dark.

---

But lately, things hadn’t been the same.
Kihyun had been feeling weak — headaches, nausea, dizzy spells he brushed off as stress. He’d been pushing through it quietly, not wanting to worry anyone.

He told himself it was nothing. He still had to plan Minhyuk’s birthday. He still had to see him smile.

Even if Minhyuk would never really see him the same way.

Chapter Text

The café was louder than usual that weekend. Their group had taken over the entire back corner table — Jooheon drumming on empty cups, Changkyun scrolling through the playlist, Hyungwon yawning dramatically, and Shownu sipping his iced coffee like a patient parent.

Minhyuk was in the middle, of course, laughing with that sparkle that always drew attention. And beside him, as always, sat Kihyun.

“Okay, okay, focus!” Jooheon said, slamming his palms on the table. “We’re planning Minhyuk’s birthday! This is a sacred mission.”

“It’s not that serious,” Minhyuk laughed. “You guys could just buy me food and call it a day.”

“No,” Hyungwon said flatly, “because then you’ll complain that no one loves you enough.”

Minhyuk gasped dramatically. “I would never— okay fine maybe a little.”

Kihyun smiled faintly as he listened. Even when Minhyuk was teasing or exaggerating, everything about him felt so alive. It was hard not to stare sometimes.

“So,” Shownu said calmly, “we’ll book a restaurant. Maybe that rooftop one near the Han River?”

“That’s perfect,” Jooheon nodded. “Kihyun, you’re handling the reservation, right?”

Kihyun blinked, realizing everyone was looking at him. “Ah— yeah. I already checked their available slots. Friday night works best.”

“See?” Changkyun said. “Told you Kihyun’s the only one reliable enough to handle this.”

“Because he loves me too much to mess it up,” Minhyuk said, grinning, eyes flicking to Kihyun with that teasing lilt.

Kihyun’s heart gave a small painful thump.

“Guess so,” he said with a small laugh.

---

They stayed for hours — laughing, eating, arguing about the cake flavor (Minhyuk wanted strawberry, Jooheon wanted chocolate, Hyungwon wanted to go home).
Everything felt normal, easy, familiar.

Until Kihyun stood up too fast, and the world tilted.

“Whoa, hey,” Shownu said, steadying him. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Kihyun forced a smile, pressing his hand to his temple. “Just stood up too quickly.”

Minhyuk frowned, leaning closer. “You’ve been looking kinda pale lately. Are you sleeping enough?”

“Minhyuk, when do I ever sleep enough?” Kihyun joked weakly.

That earned a laugh from everyone — but Minhyuk’s eyes stayed on him a second longer, brows drawn together in worry before he smiled again.

---

The next few days blurred together.
Kihyun was busy — work during the day, planning the surprise dinner at night. He wanted everything perfect. It was Minhyuk’s birthday, after all. He deserved the best.

But his body was disagreeing.

He’d wake up with a pounding headache, get dizzy walking down the stairs, sometimes his vision would blur for a moment. He kept promising himself he’d go to the doctor after the party.

Just after.

On Thursday night, he got a call.

[Minhyuk 💛]: you better be free tomorrow night 👀
[Kihyun 🐹]: of course. wouldn’t miss your big day.
[Minhyuk 💛]: good. cuz i want my favorite person there.

Kihyun smiled at the message even though his chest felt heavy.

[Kihyun 🐹]: i’ll always be there, min. i promise.

---

Friday came faster than expected.
By late afternoon, the restaurant was set, the decorations in place. Kihyun double-checked everything — balloons, banner, the cake he’d personally ordered.

He looked at the clock.
Two hours until dinner.

He sat down for a minute to rest his head on the table — and when he opened his eyes, everything was spinning.

His breath hitched. His chest hurt. The dizziness was worse than before.

He tried to stand up, but his knees gave out.

---

Meanwhile, Minhyuk was already at the restaurant with the others.

“Where’s Kihyun?” he asked for the third time, checking his phone again.

“He’s never late,” Hyungwon said, yawning, “so maybe he’s getting your gift.”

Minhyuk laughed nervously. “Maybe. He said he’d be here by now though.”

“Relax, he’ll show,” Jooheon said, already digging into the appetizer.

But as the minutes passed — thirty, then forty — Minhyuk stopped laughing.
He called. No answer.
He texted. No reply.

[Minhyuk 💛]: hey where are you? everyone’s waiting. are u okay?

No response.

An uneasy feeling crawled up his chest.

Then Shownu’s phone rang.

He frowned, answering. “Hello?”

The entire table went silent as Shownu’s expression shifted — surprise, then worry.

He hung up slowly and looked at them.

“It’s the hospital,” he said quietly. “Kihyun collapsed.”

Minhyuk’s chair scraped against the floor as he shot up. “What?”

“They said he was brought in unconscious,” Shownu continued. “He’s stable now but—”

Minhyuk didn’t even wait. He grabbed his jacket and ran.

---

The hospital was bright and too quiet. The air smelled like antiseptic and fear.
Minhyuk’s heart was racing as he reached the nurse’s counter.

“Kihyun Yoo,” he said breathlessly. “Where is he? He was just admitted.”

The nurse looked through her list and pointed. “Room 307.”

He barely heard her before sprinting down the hall.

When he pushed open the door, his breath caught.

Kihyun lay there, pale against the white sheets, eyes closed, oxygen line across his nose. A faint beeping filled the room.

Minhyuk’s knees almost gave out.

He approached slowly, fingers trembling as he reached for Kihyun’s hand. It was cold.

“Kihyun…” he whispered.

The tears came fast, unexpected. He hadn’t even realized he was crying until one dropped onto Kihyun’s wrist.

He remembered every time Kihyun said I love you.
Every time Minhyuk laughed it off.
Every time he ignored the tremor in Kihyun’s voice, thinking it was part of their joke.

But it wasn’t.
It never was.

He’d just been too blind to see it.

---

Hyungwon and the others arrived later, quiet and heavy with worry. Jooheon brought coffee no one drank.

“How is he?” Hyungwon asked softly.

Minhyuk shook his head, still clutching Kihyun’s hand. “They said exhaustion. And dehydration. He’s been pushing himself too much.”

He looked at Kihyun’s peaceful face, his voice cracking.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”

No one had an answer.

Shownu gently placed a hand on Minhyuk’s shoulder. “He’ll be okay. He’s strong.”

Minhyuk nodded numbly, staring at the rise and fall of Kihyun’s chest.

“I didn’t even say thank you,” he whispered. “He did all this for my birthday, and I—”

Jooheon swallowed hard. “He knows you care.”

But Minhyuk wasn’t sure. Not anymore.

All he could hear in his head were Kihyun’s words — the ones he never took seriously.
“Who said I was joking?”

And for the first time, Minhyuk realized what it would mean to lose him.

It would mean losing everything.

Chapter Text

The hospital room had gone quiet after everyone left.
Minhyuk stayed behind, sitting in that hard plastic chair beside Kihyun’s bed. The faint rhythm of the heart monitor was the only sound left, steady and fragile all at once.

He hadn’t left the room once since they arrived.

At first, he tried to convince himself it was just exhaustion, that Kihyun would wake up any second and tease him for “being dramatic again.”
But as hours stretched into the early morning, that small, nervous laugh faded from his memory — replaced by a growing ache in his chest.

The “empty seat” next to him at the birthday dinner had followed him here.
It wasn’t just empty. It felt wrong.

Because Kihyun was supposed to be there — laughing, teasing, rolling his eyes every time Minhyuk said something dumb.
And instead, he was lying here, unmoving.

Minhyuk wiped his eyes and leaned forward, resting his forehead against the back of Kihyun’s hand.

“Hey,” he whispered. “You promised you’d be there, remember? You said you’d always be there.”

He tried to laugh, but his voice cracked. “You can’t just— break that promise.”

He stayed like that until his eyelids grew heavy. At some point, exhaustion won, and he fell asleep right there — head beside Kihyun’s arm, hand still clutching his.

---

When he woke up, sunlight was spilling softly through the curtains.
He blinked the sleep from his eyes — and froze.

Kihyun’s eyes were open.

Weak, but awake.
His lips curved faintly. “You look terrible.”

Minhyuk let out a shaky laugh that came out half like a sob. “You— you scared me, idiot.”

Kihyun smiled a little. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to ruin your birthday.”

“Don’t say that,” Minhyuk said quickly, grabbing his hand again. “I don’t care about that. I just—”
He stopped, words tangled in his throat.

Kihyun studied him quietly. “You stayed all night?”

Minhyuk nodded. “Couldn’t leave.”

A moment of silence stretched between them — fragile, uncertain. Then Minhyuk exhaled shakily and brushed a stray strand of hair from Kihyun’s forehead.

“You should’ve told me you weren’t feeling well,” he said softly.

Kihyun gave a tired smile. “Didn’t want to ruin your big day. Plus, I figured you’d worry too much.”

“You think I’m not worried now?” Minhyuk asked, voice trembling. “Do you have any idea how scared I was?”

Kihyun’s eyes softened. “Min—”

“No, listen,” Minhyuk cut him off. “You can’t just keep everything to yourself like this. You— you always take care of everyone else and never let anyone take care of you. You plan everything, fix everything, smile through everything.”

Kihyun looked away. “It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to me!” Minhyuk’s voice cracked. “Because it’s you.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and real.

Kihyun blinked, eyes searching Minhyuk’s face. “Me?”

Minhyuk swallowed hard. “You’ve always been—” He stopped, exhaling sharply. “Every time you said you loved me, I thought you were just being your usual dramatic self. I laughed because I didn’t know what else to do.”

Kihyun’s throat tightened. “It’s okay. I never expected you to—”

“Don’t,” Minhyuk said, cutting him off again, voice low. “Don’t make it sound like it doesn’t matter.”

He reached up, fingers brushing Kihyun’s cheek — gentle, trembling. “Because it does. It always did.”

Kihyun froze, eyes wide.

“I was just too stupid to see it,” Minhyuk whispered.

The room went completely silent. The monitor beeped steadily, the sunlight flickered against the curtain, and all Kihyun could hear was his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.

“Minhyuk…” he breathed.

“I love you too,” Minhyuk said, the words spilling out like he’d been holding them back for years. “I don’t know when it happened — maybe it was always there — but I can’t stop thinking about you. And when I saw you lying here—”
He broke off, his voice trembling. “I realized I can’t lose you. Ever.”

Kihyun’s eyes blurred, tears stinging his lashes. “Don’t say things like that just because you’re scared.”

“I’m saying it because it’s true.” Minhyuk squeezed his hand. “You told me you loved me a hundred times, and I laughed every single time. So let me say it back until you believe me, okay?”

Kihyun let out a small, breathless laugh that turned into a quiet sob. “You’re such an idiot.”

“Yeah,” Minhyuk said, smiling faintly through his own tears, “your idiot.”

Kihyun blinked at him — and before he could stop himself, he tugged weakly on Minhyuk’s sleeve.
Minhyuk leaned closer instinctively.

Kihyun’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Then… prove it.”

Minhyuk’s breath hitched.

And in the small, sterile light of that hospital room, he leaned forward — hesitating just for a moment before pressing his lips softly to Kihyun’s.

It was slow, careful, almost fragile.
But to both of them, it felt like something new was starting — something they should’ve found years ago.

When they pulled away, Kihyun was smiling faintly, cheeks flushed. “You missed your birthday dinner for me.”

“I’d miss a hundred birthdays if it meant you’d be okay,” Minhyuk said.

Kihyun chuckled softly, voice weak but warm. “You’re such a sap.”

“And you love it,” Minhyuk said, squeezing his hand.

Kihyun looked at him — really looked — and for the first time, Minhyuk didn’t see teasing or friendship or confusion in his eyes.
Just love.

---

Hyungwon peeked in through the door later that afternoon, stopping mid-step when he saw Minhyuk sitting at Kihyun’s bedside, both smiling like the rest of the world had faded away.

“Guess we don’t need to ask what happened,” Jooheon muttered behind him.

Hyungwon smirked. “Finally.”

Shownu just nodded approvingly, while Changkyun whispered, “Took them long enough.”

Jooheon grinned. “Can we eat now?”

---

That night, when visiting hours ended and everyone left, Minhyuk stayed a little longer, his hand still linked with Kihyun’s.

Kihyun looked up at him, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. “You really meant it?”

Minhyuk leaned down, brushing a light kiss on his forehead. “Every word.”

Kihyun smiled softly, finally letting sleep take him.

Minhyuk stayed there, watching him breathe, his thumb tracing lazy circles over Kihyun’s knuckles.

He whispered, almost to himself —
“I’ll make up for every time I laughed instead of listening.”

And maybe, he thought, that was how love really began —
not with fireworks, but with one person deciding never to take the other for granted again.

Chapter Text

Kihyun was discharged the next day, though he complained the entire way through.
“I’m fine,” he grumbled, tugging at the sleeve of his hospital gown. “They’re overreacting.”

“You fainted, Kihyun,” Shownu said patiently as he helped gather Kihyun’s bag.

“I was just tired.”

“From what, breathing?” Hyungwon muttered.

“Can you not?” Kihyun shot back, though even his annoyed tone came out weak.

Minhyuk stood by the door, watching the familiar bickering with a small smile. For the first time in days, things felt normal.
But then Kihyun looked over at him — really looked — and Minhyuk’s chest tightened.

It wasn’t normal.
Not anymore.
Something had changed between them, quietly but completely.

---

When they finally got him home, Minhyuk insisted on staying.

“You don’t have to,” Kihyun protested as he lowered himself onto the couch.

“Yes, I do,” Minhyuk said, crossing his arms. “You’re not supposed to overexert yourself.”

“Minhyuk, I just sat down.”

“Exactly. You might get up too fast again.”

Kihyun laughed softly. “You sound like Shownu now.”

Minhyuk frowned. “Good. Maybe you’ll actually listen.”

Kihyun smiled — tired, fond. “You’ve really changed, huh?”

Minhyuk blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You used to brush off my confessions,” Kihyun said casually, though there was a hint of fragility beneath the words. “Now you won’t even let me stand up without supervision.”

Minhyuk walked closer, crouching down in front of him so their eyes met.
“I was stupid,” he said quietly. “And I can’t undo that. But I can make sure you never have to doubt what I feel now.”

Kihyun’s breath caught, his heart stumbling at the sincerity in Minhyuk’s eyes.

“You don’t have to prove anything,” he whispered.

“I want to.”

Minhyuk reached up, brushing a thumb over Kihyun’s cheek. “For all the times you said you loved me and I laughed. For every message I ignored, every moment I didn’t say it back.”

Kihyun’s throat tightened. “Minhyuk—”

“No,” Minhyuk interrupted softly. “Let me say it now, properly.”

He leaned closer, their foreheads nearly touching.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I love you for real, Kihyun.”

This time, there was no laughter.
Just silence — and Kihyun’s quiet tears as he smiled.

“Say it again,” he murmured.

“I love you,” Minhyuk repeated, voice steady and warm. “I love you.”

Kihyun let out a shaky laugh, covering his mouth. “You’re making me cry.”

Minhyuk smiled faintly. “Good. Now you know how it felt every time I almost lost you.”

---

Over the next few days, Minhyuk practically moved into Kihyun’s apartment.
He cooked (badly), cleaned (worse), and made sure Kihyun rested (too much).

One afternoon, Jooheon dropped by with soup and Hyungwon with flowers. Changkyun immediately took a selfie with the “sick patient,” while Shownu reminded everyone to keep the noise down.

Kihyun sat there surrounded by all of them — laughter echoing off the walls, the smell of takeout filling the air — and thought, This is what home feels like.

But his gaze kept finding Minhyuk, who was trying to stop Jooheon from stealing dessert.
And every time Minhyuk’s eyes met his, that quiet warmth came back.

---

That night, after everyone left, Kihyun found himself sitting by the window with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. The city outside buzzed softly — lights flickering, distant traffic humming like a heartbeat.

Minhyuk came up behind him, holding two mugs of tea. “You should be sleeping,” he said gently.

“Can’t,” Kihyun murmured. “Feels too quiet when everyone’s gone.”

Minhyuk sat beside him, handing over a mug. “Then I’ll stay awake with you.”

Kihyun smiled faintly. “You’re already doing too much.”

“Not enough,” Minhyuk said. “I’ve got years of making up to do.”

He hesitated, then looked at Kihyun’s profile — soft in the glow of the city lights, eyes reflecting faint stars.
“I used to think you were joking,” he admitted. “Because it was easier. If I believed you were serious, I’d have to face what I felt too.”

Kihyun turned to him, brow slightly furrowed. “What you felt?”

Minhyuk nodded. “Every time you said you loved me, I felt something — and it scared me. I thought I’d ruin what we had. But then you weren’t there on my birthday and suddenly, nothing else mattered. Not the party, not the friends, not the noise. Just you.”

Kihyun’s chest ached, but in the best way. “You’re really bad at realizing things.”

Minhyuk laughed quietly. “But I’m good at fixing them once I do.”

He leaned closer, resting his forehead against Kihyun’s.
“Can I kiss you?”

Kihyun’s answer was a whisper. “Always.”

Their lips met softly — slower this time, steady and full. There was no rush, no hesitation. Just warmth, and the faint taste of mint tea and relief.

When they parted, Kihyun exhaled a shaky breath. “You really are trying to make up for everything, huh?”

Minhyuk smiled. “Yeah.”

He took Kihyun’s hand, pressing a small kiss to his knuckles. “And I’m not stopping.”

Kihyun looked down at their hands, fingers intertwined, and whispered, “Then I guess I’ll let you try.”

---

By the end of the week, Kihyun has fully recovered.
They met up with the others again — this time with no surprise parties, no fainting, just laughter.

At one point, Jooheon nudged Minhyuk. “You’re extra soft these days, hyung.”

Minhyuk shrugged, stealing a fry from Kihyun’s plate. “Guess love does that to you.”

Hyungwon rolled his eyes. “Disgusting.”

Changkyun grinned. “Admit it, you’re happy for them.”

Hyungwon sighed. “Unfortunately.”

Kihyun laughed, shaking his head as Minhyuk draped an arm around his shoulder.
For once, he didn’t hide how happy he was — didn’t hide the love that had always been there, waiting for Minhyuk to finally notice.

---

That night, when they walked home, Kihyun stopped midway and looked at Minhyuk.
“Hey,” he said softly.

Minhyuk hummed, looking down at him.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For finally catching up,” Kihyun said with a small smile. “I was starting to think you never would.”

Minhyuk laughed and leaned down to kiss his forehead. “Guess I just needed a little scare.”

Kihyun chuckled quietly, fingers brushing against Minhyuk’s.
“Just don’t scare me back, okay?”

“Never again,” Minhyuk promised.

They walked on, the night cool around them, hands brushing before finally linking together.

And for the first time, there were no jokes left unspoken — no words left unsaid.
Just two people, finally choosing each other in the quiet after everything.

Chapter Text

Spring came quietly that year — soft breezes, blooming streets, and café windows fogged with laughter.
Kihyun was back on his feet completely, his usual energy returned, though everyone (especially Minhyuk) still treated him like he was made of glass.

“Minhyuk, for the last time, I’m fine,” Kihyun groaned as Minhyuk reached to carry his grocery bags.

And Minhyuk just being dramatic

“You’re recovering,” Minhyuk countered, taking them anyway. “Don’t lift heavy things.”

“It’s literally vegetables.”

“Dangerous ones,” Minhyuk said with a straight face. “That lettuce looks suspicious.”

Kihyun snorted. “You’re impossible.”

“Yep,” Minhyuk grinned, “and you love me for it.”

Kihyun smiled, shaking his head. “Unfortunately, I do.”

---

The days that followed fell into a rhythm that felt almost domestic.
Morning coffee runs together. Lunch breaks where Minhyuk would drop by just to “check if you’re eating properly.” Evening walks by the park that always ended with them sitting on a bench, shoulders pressed together, talking about nothing and everything.

It wasn’t dramatic or loud. It was simple — and maybe that was the best part.

Sometimes, Kihyun would still catch himself staring at Minhyuk, wondering how long it had taken for this warmth to finally reach him.
Other times, Minhyuk would glance at Kihyun mid-laugh and think about all the moments he could have missed if he hadn’t realized sooner.

But now, they had time.
And Minhyuk was determined to use it well.

---

One evening, their friends met up again — a small get-together at Jooheon’s place.

“Okay,” Jooheon declared, holding a bottle of soda like a microphone, “important question. Who here thought Minhyuk would never get his act together?”

Everyone raised their hands, including Kihyun.

“Hey!” Minhyuk protested.

“Be honest,” Hyungwon said lazily from the couch. “We all saw it coming. You just didn’t.”

Changkyun grinned. “Denial’s a strong force, man.”

Shownu nodded sagely. “Very strong.”

Kihyun laughed, leaning against Minhyuk’s shoulder. “You should’ve listened to them sooner.”

Minhyuk sighed dramatically. “I’m never living this down, am I?”

“Not a chance,” Jooheon said. “We waited too long for this. We’re milking it forever.”

Minhyuk groaned, burying his face in his hands while Kihyun patted his back sympathetically. “There, there. At least they love you.”

“I’d rather they didn’t right now,” Minhyuk mumbled.

---

Later that night, after the teasing and laughter died down, they walked home together under the streetlights. The city felt alive, buzzing with faint noise and a thousand small lights — but between them, everything was calm.

Kihyun looked up at the sky, watching the soft glow of the moon. “You know what’s funny?” he said quietly.

“What?”

“I used to tell myself that if you ever loved me back, I’d probably faint from happiness.”

Minhyuk chuckled, squeezing his hand. “Guess we both did the fainting part.”

Kihyun laughed, eyes crinkling. “True.”

They stopped by the riverside, leaning on the railing as the water rippled below. The air was cool, filled with that soft scent of spring and possibility.

Minhyuk turned toward him. “You know, I still feel bad sometimes.”

“For what?”

“For not believing you sooner.”

Kihyun tilted his head, smiling gently. “You believed me when it mattered.”

“I still wish I could go back and tell that idiot version of me to just look at you properly.”

Kihyun chuckled. “You’d probably ignore yourself.”

“Probably.”

There was a pause — quiet, peaceful. Then Minhyuk spoke again, voice low and sincere.
“I meant what I said before, you know. About making up for all the time we missed.”

Kihyun turned to him, curious. “And how do you plan to do that?”

Minhyuk grinned, pulling out something from his pocket — a small silver bracelet, simple but gleaming under the lights.

“By starting with this.”

Kihyun blinked, surprised. “You didn’t have to—”

“I wanted to,” Minhyuk interrupted. “Think of it as an ‘I-finally-realized-I’m-in-love-with-you’ gift.”

Kihyun laughed softly as Minhyuk gently fastened the bracelet around his wrist.
It fit perfectly.

“There,” Minhyuk said, smiling. “Now you can’t run away from me even if you try.”

Kihyun raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I can try.”

Minhyuk leaned closer, grin widening. “You won’t.”

Kihyun held his gaze for a moment — and then smiled, quietly, fondly. “No. I won’t.”

---

Weeks passed, then months.
Kihyun’s color returned, his laughter louder, his smile brighter.
Minhyuk’s old playful chaos remained — but now it came with gentleness, a steadiness that anchored them both.

There were still small fights, of course — over takeout choices, over who forgot to text first, over who used whose shampoo.
But they always ended the same way: with a kiss, a laugh, and whispered words of “I love you, idiot.”

Because now, neither of them ever wanted to leave those words unsaid again.

---

One evening, as they sat by their favorite café window — the same one where it all began — Minhyuk looked across the table and smiled.

“Hey, remember when you used to confess to me here?”

Kihyun smirked. “Used to?”

Minhyuk blinked. “You still do?”

Kihyun leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand. “Every time I look at you, it feels like I’m confessing all over again.”

Minhyuk froze, then let out a helpless laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Who said I was joking?” Kihyun said, eyes glinting with mischief — echoing the words from years before.

Minhyuk shook his head, smiling so wide it hurt. “You win.”

“Finally,” Kihyun teased.

Minhyuk reached across the table, lacing their fingers together. “Let’s just call it even. You loved me first, but I’m never letting go.”

Kihyun’s heart warmed, and he squeezed his hand back.
“Deal.”

Outside, the sunset melted into soft golds and pinks — the same way it did on the day everything started. But this time, they weren’t two people caught in misunderstanding. They were two hearts finally moving in sync.

---

As they walked home, Minhyuk slipped an arm around Kihyun’s shoulders.

“You know,” he murmured, “for someone who confessed a hundred times, you’re still kind of shy when I kiss you.”

Kihyun laughed softly. “That’s because it still feels new.”

Minhyuk smiled. “Good. Then I get to fall for you like it’s new every time too.”

Kihyun leaned into him, eyes fluttering shut against the cool evening air.
“You’re doing pretty well with this whole making-up thing, you know?”

Minhyuk kissed the top of his head. “Told you I’d make up for all the time we missed.”

Kihyun smiled, fingers curling around Minhyuk’s sleeve. “Then don’t stop.”

“I won’t,” Minhyuk whispered.

And as the city lights shimmered around them, their laughter carried through the night — two voices, two hearts, finally at peace in the love that had always been waiting.

Chapter Text

The café was the same one where everything started — cozy, full of sunlight, and filled with the familiar sound of laughter.
Only now, the corner table by the window had a small plaque attached to it.

> “Reserved for Kihyun & Minhyuk — serial confessors and caffeine addicts.”

Jooheon swore he had nothing to do with it.
He was lying, obviously.

“Seriously,” Kihyun said, staring at the plaque with a mix of disbelief and fondness. “You all think this is funny?”

Changkyun grinned. “We think it’s accurate.”

Hyungwon, sipping his iced latte with lazy amusement, added, “You’ve practically owned that spot since forever. Might as well make it official.”

Shownu nodded approvingly. “Looks nice.”

Minhyuk laughed, slipping his hand into Kihyun’s under the table. “I like it. It’s romantic.”

Kihyun rolled his eyes. “You would.”

“Of course,” Minhyuk said, leaning closer, voice teasing. “You confessed to me here, remember?”

“Multiple times,” Jooheon chimed in, smirking. “Loudly.”

“Too loudly,” Hyungwon corrected. “I thought the barista was going to quit that day.”

Kihyun covered his face in mock embarrassment while Minhyuk grinned proudly. “What can I say? I inspire passion.”

“Delusion,” Changkyun muttered.

“Tomato, tomahto,” Minhyuk shot back.

---

When the teasing finally calmed down, Minhyuk turned to Kihyun, his smile softening.
“So,” he said, “happy birthday.”

Kihyun blinked. “You remembered?”

Minhyuk gasped dramatically. “Excuse me, remembered? We’re boyfriends, of course I remember! I’ve been planning this since last month!”

Kihyun raised an eyebrow. “Should I be scared?”

“Maybe a little.”

At that cue, Jooheon slid a small cake onto the table — simple, white frosting, strawberries on top. The candles spelled out “LOVE YOU x100.”

Kihyun’s mouth fell open. “Oh my god.”

“You confessed to me a hundred times,” Minhyuk said proudly. “I’m just returning the favor.”

Kihyun laughed so hard he nearly cried. “You’re ridiculous.”

“But you love me,” Minhyuk said, grinning.

“I do,” Kihyun admitted, smiling softly. “I really do.”

Minhyuk leaned forward and kissed him, gentle and lingering — and their friends cheered like it was a public event.

“Can you guys not?” Kihyun muttered, cheeks red.

“Nope,” Jooheon said. “We’ve waited years for this kind of entertainment.”

Hyungwon clinked his glass. “To Kihyun and Minhyuk — proof that love can survive even when one of them is incredibly dense.”

Minhyuk groaned. “I feel attacked.”

“Accurate though,” Changkyun said.

Shownu just smiled, raising his drink. “Happy birthday, Kihyun.”

“Thank you,” Kihyun said, glowing — not from the candles, but from the quiet happiness that came with knowing that this, all of this, was real and lasting.

---

Later, after everyone left and the café grew quieter, Kihyun and Minhyuk lingered by their little corner table.
The candles had melted down to soft wax puddles, and the city lights painted warm gold across their faces.

Minhyuk brushed Kihyun’s hair away gently. “You know,” he murmured, “I still owe you more ‘I love you’s.’ I don’t think I’ll ever catch up.”

Kihyun smiled, resting his head against Minhyuk’s shoulder. “You don’t have to. I like hearing it one at a time.”

“Good,” Minhyuk whispered, kissing his forehead. “Because I plan to keep saying it for the rest of my life.”

Kihyun chuckled softly. “You’re still as dramatic as ever.”

“And you still fall for it.”

Kihyun looked up at him, eyes warm. “Every time.”

---

Outside, the night hummed with life — laughter from passing strangers, the rustle of leaves, the quiet heartbeat of the city.
Inside, at that small table by the window, two hands stayed intertwined, a promise kept and renewed in every soft touch.

Because in the end, love wasn’t just about grand confessions or perfect timing.
It was about showing up, again and again — even after misunderstandings, after missed chances, after years.

And they had both shown up.

Every single time.