Eric woke up first, and despite the early morning couldn’t go back to sleep. As the room slowly got brighter, he debated with himself whether or not to wake up Jihoo to watch the first sunrise of the year together. He looked at his partner's face half buried in the pillows, feeling the weight of his arm around his waist. The image was so beautiful that he slowly reached out to his phone and snapped a quick shot thinking he was discreet. But the smile on Jihoo’s face told him otherwise. 

“Morning paparazzi... I could sue you for that, hyung…” said Jihoo, his voice deeper than usual, but already teasing Eric.

“But will you?” asked Eric with a smile. Jihoo propped himself up on one elbow, studying him. 

“Hum… I don’t know. What will you give me to keep you out of trouble?” 

Eric leaned and kissed him. 

“Is that enough?”

“For now.” replied Jihoo as he was getting out of bed. He took Eric’s hand and dragged him out with him. “Let’s watch the first sunrise of the year together.” They took all the blankets with them and sat on the balcony freezing a bit but happy to spend these first moments together. Eric couldn't stop looking at Jihoo’s face. Was he dreaming? A few months ago he would have never imagined starting the year in this way. It felt like time had stopped and that they were living in a different world where everything would be easy with nothing to worry about. 

After a while his alarm went off on his phone and the spell broke. They came back in and as Eric switched off the alarm he saw the notification reminding him of his flight later that day. He turned the screen face down without saying anything. Jihoo hugged him from behind and asked.

“When are you leaving?” with a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Tonight…” replied Eric softly, knowing that it was not what his lover was expecting. He then added “I’m sorry, I need to be in the office tomorrow…” The young man didn’t reply and just hugged him more tightly as if this physical contact would make the time pass slower. 

They stayed like this until Eric’s second alarm went off. Reluctantly, Eric got out of bed and reached out to his bag. He handed Jihoo a small box and said “I almost forgot, I brought you something from Paris.” Jihoo’s face lighted up as he peeked inside. 

“You remembered I love macron!”

Eric blinked. “You love what?” He asked with a teasing tone.

Jihoo pointed at the pastels treats. “This, it’s macron right?”

Eric couldn’t hold his laugh any longer. “You’re so cute! Sorry, but it’s macaron, not Macron. Macron is our middle aged president.”

“Ah… I guess the only French thing I’m good at is French kissing since you didn’t complain last night…” Replied Jihoo flirting. 

Eric smirked and feigned ignorance pulling out another box from his backpack. “Time for lesson two.” He handed over the perfume. “Its smell reminded me of you. L’Homme ideal from Guerlain. It means…” He paused for the dramatic effect. “... the ideal man.”

Jihoo narrowed his eyes and teased. “It reminded me of me huh? Are you saying I’m your ideal man?”

Eric shrugged and replied. “I said the smell… not the name…”

“Sure hyung. I’ll accept the title though. Ideal man. Sounds about right.”

Eric shook his head, fighting a laugh. God, he was already all smitten.

They slowly got ready, neither of them wanting to admit that Eric’s departure was getting closer and closer. A buzzing sound got them out of their bubble. It was Jihoo’s phone this time. He glanced at it and chuckled.

“What?” Asked Eric curious, sliding his watch on.

“My friends from last night. They are curious about who I ditch them for.” He proceeded to show Eric the text.

Haneul:
Wow, you did ditched us like a pro last night. Not even a goodbye, just a vague text. Did you spend the new year’s eve getting laid 😏? Soomin said you got yourself a date. 

Jihoo smirked while typing his answer. “If only they knew…”

“What will you tell them?” Asked Eric out of curiosity. 

“I replied : Oh wow, can’t a man just have deep philosophical talks under the fireworks without you turning me into some sex-deprived guy? 😇” 

Eric tried to keep a straight face, but the corner of his mouth betrayed him. 

They spent the last hours like thieves. They left the hotel together, stepping into the streets a bit blinded by the bright winter sun. They took a last walk along the beach, Jihoo carrying his lover's backpack on one shoulder, his hands into his jacket pockets. Without thinking Eric stepped closer and slid his fingers into one of them, intertwining their hands together out of sight. Jihoo looked down startled then up at him with a happy smile on his face.

“You’re bold today…” He whispered, teasing. 

“What do you mean, I’m just keeping my hands warm.” Eric deadpanned.

“Sure.” Jihoo leaned closer. “I guess this is part of the Ajhussi romantic tactics. Noted.” 

Eric smiled without replying, enjoying the moment while it lasted. In a blink of an eye the days passed and they were already at the airport. The terminal was busy with people returning home from the end of the year trip. Eric hated it already. Jihoo was walking beside him in silence, their shoulders brushing as they moved through the crowd. When they reached the security gate, Eric stopped. The last time they’d been together in an airport, it was in Incheon, a few weeks ago. The memories rushed in Eric’s mind.

“Jihoo.” His voice came out lower than he expected.

The younger man looked at him with silent expectation. Eric didn’t give him time to speak. He took his hand and dragged him to the nearest restroom. Fortunately the room was empty, Eric shoved his boyfriend in one of the open stalls and pushed him against the wall. Jihoo was already smiling, he was clearly remembering their last goodbye too. Eric pressed his entire body against Jihoo, hooked a hand behind his neck and kissed him passionately. Jihoo didn’t need to be asked twice and kissed him back.

It was then time for Eric to leave, they couldn’t push it back any longer. Eric forced a smile, though his chest hurt. “Happy new year again.”

Jihoo stepped in and hugged Eric, arms tightly wrapped around him. People hugged in airports all the time, no need to pretend. 

“Text me when you land.” Jihoo murmured against his ear.

“Always.” Eric squeezed back and then let go because if he didn’t do it now he never would.

As he walked toward security, he looked back once more. Jihoo was still there, watching him until he couldn’t see him anymore.

Hong Kong greeted him with a quiet cold, like the city knew he’d left someone behind. The city skyline unfolded under his eyes but he didn’t pay attention. His body was back in Hong Kong, but his mind hadn’t left Busan. 

The first few days of the year were easy, work devoured his days between meetings and errands. But after a week it became clear that the time was passing slower and as the nights came the silence between the walls felt louder than anything. Despite texting constantly, Eric found himself doom-scrolling through Jihoo’s instagram stories: neon lit bars, selfies, friends clinking glasses. Jihoo wasn’t doing anything wrong, just living his student life like he should be doing in his early twenties. Eric started to question himself, what the hell was he doing?

Jihoo’s messages were bright, filled with campus gossip, late-night cravings, and random memes. Sometimes Eric would wake up in the middle of the night to see a “Hyung, you awake?” blinking on his screen. They fell into video calls that lasted hours, Jihoo’s laughter spilling through the phone like light in a dark room. Still, distance had teeth.

One night, Eric saw Jihoo’s Instagram story: a table crowded with soju bottles, Jihoo’s smile wide, friends pressed close. The caption read: Same old crew. Eric stared at it longer than he should have. The ache surprised him, not jealousy but fear. Fear that one day Jihoo would realise that their lives were too different from each other and that this, them, would be an inconvenience he didn’t need. Realising that his mind was spiraling Eric closed the app and threw his phone on the couch, hating himself for feeling like this.

On top of the self-depreciation, Eric faced the growing pressure from his parents. Calling him every evening talking about their Lunar New Year plans, about staying with him “hotels are so expensive, you don’t need to spend your money on us, we are family we are staying with you, end of discussion.” About why he skipped the family gathering for New Year’s Eve and more. Each question felt like an accusation. He was surprised how easy it had become for him to lie to them.

The only thing that kept him from feeling completely cornered was the knowledge that his Seoul trip was just around the corner. It had been in his work calendar for weeks, but now it was more than a business obligation and it was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Eric landed in Incheon early on Saturday morning. He had booked a midnight flight as he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his lover. As he was strolling through the arrivals, his heart was beating fast like he was doing something illicit and maybe he was. He hadn’t told Minwoo that he would arrive a weekend early. Jihoo was waiting for him near the exit, and as soon as their eyes met each other they both couldn’t stop smiling.

“You’re finally here…” Said Jihoo, relieved as they hugged.

“Did you think I’d bail on you?” Asked Eric, teasing the young man.

“No…” Replied Jihoo, softly. “I just missed you…”

“Do you want me to drag you to the restroom?” Grinned Eric. 

Jihoo laughed lightly and sneaked a kiss on Eric’s cheek and before his partner could react he walked towards the taxi stand. 

As Eric followed him through the sliding doors, Jihoo added casually, “By the way Minwoo thinks you're coming Monday.” 

“That’s the point!” Eric replied, smiling in spite of himself. 

“You’re such a sneak.” Teased Jihoo.

Eric had booked an airbnb in Jamsil again as he liked the area but it was not his usual one. Secretly he wanted to impress Jihoo, especially since he set the bar pretty high with the hotel in Busan. This time he rented out a flat with a floor to ceiling window and a view on the Lotte Tower and the Seokcheon lake. Jihoo entered first and dropped his bag on the floor as he noticed the view, then he looked around and realised that the bedroom had the same view with the bed facing it. He turned back to look at Eric. “Ajhussi knows what he is doing. This is nice, I would even say this is romantic.”

Eric, bringing their luggages to the room, his face slightly red, replied shyly. “I’m trying, okay?”

What followed wasn’t explosive, wasn’t cinematic, it was better: comfortable. Quiet touches while unpacking, shoulders brushing as Eric passed Jihoo a cup of yuenyeung he had brought from Hong Kong. Jihoo took a sip, frowned in thought, then smiled. “It’s like coffee and milk tea had a baby,” he said, and Eric made a mental note to bring it again. The first dinner was simple, almost domestic, a tiny BBQ spot tucked in a side street. Jihoo grilled meat like he was auditioning for a cooking show, smirking as Eric tried, and failed, to flip a sliver of garlic without launching it into the lettuce basket. “You sure you’re even Chinese? I might need to see your ID.” Teased Jihoo. During their dinner Eric laughed more than he had in weeks.

Back at their airbnb they sat on the bed, back against the headboard, watching the view in silence. At some point Eric’s head drifted onto Jihoo’s shoulder, the steady sound of Jihoo’s breathing and the city lights soothing him to sleep. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth seep into him. Jihoo shifted only to pull the duvet over both of them, his shoulder unmoving under Eric’s head.

The next day, they walked around Seokchon Lake, the winter air carrying a clear, cool bite that made the tower’s lights shimmer even brighter. 

“Slowing down already? Didn’t stretch, ajhussi? Or should I carry you?” Teased Jihoo as Eric slowed to take in the view. 

“Try it and I’m charging you for emotional damage!” Shot back Eric, tugging Jihoo’s scarf in mock retaliation, pulling him closer than necessary.

That night, in the cozy atmosphere of the Airbnb, they kissed like the world outside didn’t exist. Slow at first, then deeper, the kind of kiss that didn’t need to rush because it already knew where it was going. They moved together with a tenderness exacerbated by longing, by the distance, by the quiet fear that none of this would last. When they finally fell asleep tangled in each other, Eric thought: if happiness has an expiration date, let it come later. Just not tonight.

And like that in a blink of an eye, it was already Monday. The cocoon they had been living in for the weekend broke down and now they were back to reality. Eric watched Jihoo get ready to leave for class, his hair still damp from his shower. 

“You’ll be ok here?” Asked Jihoo, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

“I’ll manage,” said Eric, “meetings, zoom calls, spreadsheets, existential dread, the usual.”

“Sounds thrilling. Don’t miss me too much!” Grinned Jihoo.

Eric wanted to ask him to break the dorm rule and spend the nights with him but he kept quiet. Instead he pulled him for a goodbye kiss, and like that the door clicked shut and the silence crashed like a wave.

The week unfolded in parallel: Jihoo’s world buzzing with energy, lectures, late-night pochas, selfies with friends, while Eric sat hunched over his laptop between the office and the Airbnb, watching Seoul sparkle through the window. Meetings blurred. Evenings stretched into overtime. Sometimes Jihoo would call, his voice warm through the speaker, telling small stories about campus life. Eric listened, smiling, looking forward to meeting Jihoo again at the end of a week.

When Friday finally came, Eric left work early. He couldn't wait anymore, he wanted to see his lover as soon as possible. They met after Jihoo’s class, shoulders brushing as they walked through Sinchon. Eric kept his hands shoved in his coat, fighting the urge to reach.

Then, Minwoo texted:
Party at the usual spot. First one of the year. You ready, Grandpa? I asked your crush to join too. 😜

Eric groaned at the screen. “Should we?” 

Jihoo glanced at Eric smiling. “If you don’t go, it’ll be suspicious.” 

Eric sighed, thinking it through. “Then we should arrive separately.” 

Jihoo smirked. “Wow. So dramatic. What is this, a secret mission? You want me to show up in sunglasses with a fake name too?” 

Eric rolled his eyes. “I’m serious.” 

“I know, that's what makes it funny.” Replied Jihoo.