𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 | Seongjoong/Ateez ff

Chapter TwentyFive

A little over a week.

That's all the time Hongjoong had had before Seonghwa asked for them to hang out again. He had talked to San about his feelings a few days after their performance because he felt like he was going crazy, thinking about it over and over again in his head like he didn't know how to do anything else.

He had even told San about what had happened. As much as he was embarassed about it he had spoken about the first time he and Seonghwa had drunk together. He had spoken about the warm feeling that seemed to swallow him whole everytime he talked to the older. He had told San everything about that night, from Seonghwa drunken confession to him sleeping on the couch after he had taken Seonghwa home.

San had told him "drunken words are sober thoughts" and Hongjoong had pretended to smile and appear more relaxed, but he couldn't trust those words, because even if he wished they were true with all his being the voice in his head wouldn't leave him alone for not even a second.

And now he was standing outside a diner after Senghwa had asked him if they could eat together, and his selfish brain had decided to agree.

He had checked his phone at least ten times through the morning, hoping to find a text from the older that he couldn't make it, or that he didn't want to hang out anymore, but of course that hadn't happened. Of course.

He looked up from his phone once again. His heart immediately almost gave up. Partly from the fact that Seonghwa was so fucking close to his face -not that he never got that close obviously, but he was still an hansome man, and Hongjoong crush- and partly because that did, in fact, scare him. A lot at that.

And apparently his body was still able to react and make him flush red from embarassement as he crouched down after the scare. And Seonghwa's laughter probably just added to the mix.

After he finally managed to calm down his frantic heartbeat -damn you, Seonghwa- Hongjoong finally stood up straight, and with an awkward cough they made their way inside the diner. They were fortunately seated right away by a sweet guy working there and ended up at a small booth beside the window and oh god. Hongjoong could be sure that this crush was going to be the death of him as soon as his eyes met the beautiful human being sitting right across him.

Seonghwa was... stunning. Not particularly for the way he was dressed -he was just wearing a long sleeved black t-chirt and some jeans- but just... just his existense was a treath to Hongjoong's ability to breathe. His silver hair shone so brightly,reflecting the beautiful rays of the sun coming from outside, and his eyes were as mesmerizing as always.

Okay, maybe since Hongjoong aknowdeledged the fact that he liked Seonghwa might have been the reason he now was able to appreciate the other male so much now, but Seonghwa really did look otherwordly.

"So..." Seonghwa started setting down his menu, "How are you doing? We haven't texted much and you seemed not in you best conditions through the phone."

So it was visible that he was distressed even by text. Nice.

Hongjoong sighed internally, setting down his own menu after glancing one last time as what he was planning to order, "I'm fine, I... I'm thinking a lot lately. That's all."

"...ok."

"What about you?"

Seonghwa seemed a bit hesitant before answering. Hongjoong mentally facepalmed himself. God, "how to make one of your friends worried" by Kim Hongjoong. He should really write a book about that, he seemed to be expecially skilled in that matter.

"I'm fine too actually. I hung out with Woo earlier this week and he told me he got a date with San." Seonghwa smiled. "I actually wanted to thank you again for last Saturday. You know, for... bringing me home and getting food the next day."