“Thanks for meeting me,” the singer said to the producer who sat opposite him. August nodded in response to January and at the same time, a waitress came up and served their beverages, a cup of English breakfast tea for the producer and an Americano for the raven-haired singer. They were at ‘200° Caffe’ in the city where August agreed to meet January last week. 

Today, August wore a thick light green jumper and dark-blue jeans in contrast to the last time they met. Blonde hair was neatly combed back, and he wore thin round glasses which caught January by surprise and took a little while to adjust to this version of August. The singer couldn’t help thinking he was really cute and tried incredibly hard not to hide his face in his hands.

“So...um, has everything been alright?” August asked awkwardly, taking a sip of his tea as the waitress left them alone.

Wow, small talk is not his forte…

“Uhm, yeah, thanks, what about you?” January replied, taking a gulp of his own drink. “Yeah, all good, thanks,” the producer answered quietly. “Listen, I wanted to apologise.” January started, putting down his drink and looking at August.

Taken aback, August met his gaze questioningly. “You- why?”

“I was a right asshole to you last week and I should’ve been listening to you from the beginning of the session,” January explained uncomfortably. “You were trying to help, and my ego got in the way of that.”

“Well look at that,” August smiled genuinely. “Modesty suits you a lot.” January chuckled.

“So, did you hear your voice after the session?” the producer said. “Yeah I did. It made the world of difference so uhm, thanks.” January replied, nodding to him. “There’s a reason why I’m in this business, January.” August laughed. The singer smiled at the producer’s laugh. It was magically different and melodious.

And it was the first time August called him by his name.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about how I sounded that day after you- well I mean we- “

“No, I’d like to apologise now, I mean- if you don’t mind,” August interrupted. January cocked his head to the side, wondering what he meant. Nevertheless, he gestured for the other man to continue.

“I wanted to apologise to you about kissing you out of nowhere.” August looked away, his face turning red. “It was completely unprofessional, and I didn’t ask you before, so, uhm…I’m sorry.”

“Oh,” January let out, not really sure how to feel about that. 

Well, it was always a possibility that he did it to get the song done…

“If you don’t mind, now can I ask you something?” January asked, his hazel eyes gazing at his green ones. “Sure,” he replied, turning back to face him again.

“I know you kissed me because you probably needed to get the song done but…can I ask, uhm…are you attracted to me?” he asked slowly, a rosy pink appearing on his face. August’s green eyes widened at that question and his face burned a darker shade of red, pushing his glasses up nervously.

So cute…

“Uh, well- we were in a unique circumstance and- uh- we needed to finish the song and- I- well…” August stammered but then he sighed and nodded. “You know what? You were decent enough to say your piece, so I’ll be honest. Yes, I- *sigh* I’m attracted to you.” August confessed.

Then it was January’s turn to go wide-eyed and he blushed furiously red. Covering his mouth with his hand, he smiled despite that and reached over the table and held the producer’s hand with his other hand.

“Well, I hope this clears up how I feel about you too,” he said flirtatiously, rubbing small circles with his thumb on the back of August’s hand. “Really? You too?” August asked.

“Honestly, I didn’t really clock until you kissed me but then I couldn’t get you out of my head for love or money,” January smiled. “I looked for you after the session but my manager told me you left to oversee another session.”

“Yeah, kind of,” August replied, interlocking their hands together. “I felt a lot of guilt after that and I couldn’t face you as well.” 

“So…uh- how about a date tomorrow night if you're free?” August asked him. “Uhm, does this not count as a date?” January asked, perplexed.

“Depends on how the next hour or so goes,” the producer grinned mischievously, raising his eyebrows. “Well I’ll start by giving this back to you,” January commented, taking August’s beanie out of his pocket and handing it back to the shorter man. August stared at him incredulously, taking his beanie like a lost friend. And then, the two musicians laughed, losing themselves in each other as they continued to drink, talking more about music, their stories and their lives.

*

“That was beautiful Jan,” August smiled warmly as he stepped out of the recording booth, clutching the sheet music as he came up to him and kissed August lightly.

“Thanks, baby,” January grinned, wrapping his arm around the shorter man’s shoulder. They went over to the main desktop computer and August sat down and began to do some light mixing of the latest vocal January just laid down. The singer just gazed lovingly at his husband as he worked earnestly.

Sometimes January couldn’t believe life turned out like this. He was now living with the love of his life and the two were creating music together. It was certainly was the best moment of his entire life when he surprised August with a proposal in front of their friends and family. And since then, the two were happily married for three years.

A lot of things changed during these few years. Charlotte began dating a girl she met whilst overseeing another artist called Lily. She was an engineer for another artist’s session and January couldn’t get enough of their romantic adventures when they often met for a drink. January and August were now singing regularly together after the singer insisted that he had a beautiful voice and just ‘had to use it properly’. The duets they wrote and sang together captured so many people’s attention and they couldn’t be more grateful for the love and support their friends, family and fans showed them.

“August, d’you want a cuppa?” January asked, stopping in the doorway. August turned to him and rolled his eyes, the glow of the computer highlighting his eyes and deliciously pink lips beautifully. “When have I ever said ‘no’ to tea?” the blonde replied with a smirk.

“You won’t be long right?” the taller man said, resting one hand on his hip. “Course not baby, I’ll be there in ten. Just gotta finish EQ'ing your tracks,” August said with a wink. January chuckled and left him to it. 

Walking up the stairs and to the kitchen, he boiled the kettle and got two mugs, one of them, a ridiculously gold glittery mug that read ‘Stay Gold’ on it. January couldn’t believe his husband’s taste, but he insisted he loved it because it was ‘ironic’ though January knew it was also because of an unintentional BTS reference. Fetching two teabags and pouring the water into the mugs, he let it brew and sat down at the kitchen island, lost in thought over their journey till now.

August was nothing like when they first met. He was a mystery to January, who in contrast, was an emotional guy who wore his heart on his sleeve. But the more January got to know him, the more he understood that August had a hard time letting his walls come down. Pride swelled up in him when January thought about this, understanding that August could never show this side to anyone else but him. He’d found a home in him and he in his.

“I should’ve known you’d poison me with cold tea,” a pleasant voice sounded from behind him as he felt warm arms wrapped around his middle. “An honest mistake my love,” January laughed.

"Heh, don’t worry, I’ll make it,” the shorter man offered with a smile. January just watched him, like he did those years ago when he began to understand he was falling in love with him.

“What’s got you thinking so much?” August inquired, putting two more teabags into the rinsed mugs and pouring boiling water in again. “Just how you and I met actually. I can’t believe you’re so different to how you portrayed yourself,” January commented thoughtfully.

“Come on.” August raised an eyebrow as he mixed milk into the two (still hot) teas. “If I was myself, how much of me would you have taken seriously?” He hesitated, looking over his shoulder. “But you were so seriously cute that I couldn’t resist you,” he added, smirking seductively at him.

“True.” January flexed flamboyantly, waggling his eyebrows. “I am really irresistible.” “Fuck, shouldn’t have said that,” August rolled his eyes. 

“That’s your fault,” January teased, with an impish grin. August shook his head and handed one tea to the singer and set his own down.

“Hey, in case I’ve not told you today, I love you August.” January leaned forward, pressing his lips against his. The blonde blushed furiously but nevertheless melted into it.

“Do I even need to tell you how much I love you?” he smiled against his husband’s lips, cupping his face.

The End.