𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟐𝟐 • 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐣𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐠

Pins & Beads

The afternoon sun was all but gone now, moody clouds taking its place as night time crept in.

"Hey, umm, are you heading back to the apartment? Did you want to eat together in the courtyard?" Seonghwa asked shyly, wanting to make up for his rude behaviour.

Although he felt bad that he was the one talking to Hongjoong and that Yuna wasn't, he couldn't help but want to keep talking with Hongjoong.

"Sure" Hongjoong said with a smile and a nod.

Seonghwa went to walk in the direction of home but Hongjoong started walking in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going" Seonghwa asked spinning around

"My car . .you coming?"

"Oh" Seonghwa said as he walked back towards Hongjoong

"I came straight from uni, did you drive?" Hongjoong asked as he pulled out his keys

"nah, I don't drive, I took the bus"

There was a little beep at the sound of Hongjoong's silver Toyota Camry unlocking and Hongjoong signalled for Seonghwa to get in.

Once in the car there was a pleasant smell of apples, probably from one of those little car air fresheners, and sitting on the dash were little minion figures stuck down with blue tack.

Hongjoong handed Seonghwa his pizza box and Seonghwa placed it with his on his lap, burning his legs a little but oh well.

The 10 minute walk was cut down to a 2 minute drive, and not before long Hongjoong was parking in the underground parking lot of their apartment building.

Hongjoong jumped out of the car first, running around to Seonghwa's side so he could open the door.

The small gesture made Seonghwa blush as he got out of his car and juggled the pizza boxes.

The boys started walking up the stairwell to the courtyard when surprise surprise it started raining. That beautiful afternoon sun completely swallowed up by dark clouds

The pair looked at each other, questioning what they should do as they stood under the shelter of the stairwell.

"We can eat in my apartment if you want?" Seonghwa offered tilting his head in the direction of his home since his hands were full.

"Sure" Hongjoong said making an OK sign with his hand.

Hongjoong followed along behind Seonghwa up to his apartment and took the boxes from him so Seonghwa could get his keys and unlock the door.

Seonghwa's apartment had the same layout as Hongjoong's, but where Hongjoong had quite a neutral feel to the furniture he chose and was overall quite a clean person, Seonghwa's was decorated with homely furniture, and lots of little knick knacks everywhere. There was a sewing machine and a little art studio kind of corner set up and there was fabric strewn all over his furniture.

"Watch out for pins" Seonghwa informed gesturing at the floor before he took back the boxes and motioned for Hongjoong to sit on his couch.

He placed the pizza boxes on the coffee table "Do you want a plate or do you wanna eat out of the box?" he said pointing at his kitchen

"I'll just eat out of the box" Hongjoong answered gazing at Seonghwa's floor.

"Okey dokey" Seonghwa answered as he walked into his kitchen to grab some serviettes.

Hongjoong was still tentatively standing by the door.

Seonghwa looked out the corner of his eye. It felt surreal to have Hongjoong in his apartment. Never in a million years did he think that he'd be eating pizza with the Hongjoong. He was doing his best to keep his calm and stay confident and not show the fact that he was shaking like a leaf on the inside.