Hyunsuk chuckled, resting his chin on his palm, amusement dancing in his eyes. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the garden where they sat, surrounded by the gentle hum of conversation from the other patrons in the open café. A light breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it the faint scent of coffee and fresh pastries.  

“I could,” Hyunsuk mused, swirling his drink lazily. “But I enjoy listening to your adventures.” He enjoys the excitement shining in jisung's eyes as he recounts the moment, and his hands gesturing animatedly. he just can't stop the moment.

Jisung huffed, crossing his arms. “That’s not the point,” he grumbled, but the way the corners of his lips twitched upward betrayed him. 

He had no one before to share his work stories with. He just felt enthusiastic about the presence of Hyunsuk next to him, and he didn’t want to be silent, fearing Hyunsuk might think he didn’t want to speak to him or that he was boring. So, he found himself talking about his work every time, it is not like he doesn't have another topic in mind. He wanted to share with Hyunsuk his good memories… and why not, perhaps the bad ones as well.

Jisung glanced up, his eyes meeting Hyunsuk’s for a brief moment before darting away. “It’s just… I feel like I’m boring you.”

Hyunsuk chuckled, the sound low and soothing. “You could never bore me, Jisung.”  

The sincerity in his voice made Jisung’s stomach do a weird little flip. He took a sip of his tea, trying to steady his nerves. The silence between them was comfortable, but Jisung’s mind was racing. He had so many questions, so many things he wanted to know about Hyunsuk

“Do you—” He hesitated, debating whether to ask the question that had been lingering in his mind. Finally, he cleared his throat. “Have you ever dated before?”  

The question slipped out before he could stop it, and Jisung immediately regretted it. His cheeks burned, and he stared intently at his tea, as if it held the answers to all his insecurities.

Hyunsuk’s gaze flickered with curiosity at the sudden change of topic, but he didn’t seem surprised. He leaned back slightly, one hand resting casually on the table. “Yeah,” he admitted, his voice light.  

Jisung’s fingers tightened around his cup, but he forced himself to nod as if the answer didn’t bother him. He wasn’t even sure why it did.  

He averted his gaze, staring out the window at nothing in particular.  

Across from him, Hyunsuk’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. He could read Jisung easily, the slight pout, the way his shoulders tensed just a fraction, the way he suddenly found the outside scenery more interesting than their conversation.  

“But,” Hyunsuk continued after a deliberate pause, “I’ve never been in love with any of them.”  

At that, Jisung’s head snapped back toward him, eyes wide and sparkling like a puppy’s. “Really?”  

A deep hum of confirmation left Hyunsuk’s lips, and he swore Jisung looked like a puppy hearing the word treat. The reaction was so innocent, so unguarded, that it sent warmth trickling through his chest.  

The tension in Jisung’s shoulders eased, and a small, hopeful smile crept onto his face. He looked down again, his fingers fidgeting with the handle of his mug. “I’ve… never dated before,” he admitted quietly.

Hyunsuk tilted his head, interest sparking in his gaze. “Not even once?”  

A shake of the head. “Not even a crush.”  

Jisung let out a small laugh, though there was something wistful underneath it. He glanced down at his hands before continuing.  

“When I was in high school, I used to watch the couples in the hallways. They’d hold hands, hug, kiss… and I always wondered what it would feel like. To be close to someone like that. To… to be loved.” 

Hyunsuk’s brows furrowed slightly, but he didn’t interrupt.

He let out a breath, lips pressing into a thin line. “But my father was… strict. He never let me be around alphas.Said they would only be blinded by my scent and take advantage of me.”    

Jisung shook his head as if to shake off the weight of the memory. “My father wanted me to focus on my studies. So I did, I was always the first in my class, top scores… it was the only thing I was allowed to care about.”  

A brief silence settled between them. Hyunsuk’s chest ached at the vulnerability in Jisung’s voice. He reached across the table, his hand hovering for a moment before gently covering Jisung’s. “Thank you for telling me that,” he said softly. “It means a lot that you trust me.”

Jisung looked up, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I… I don’t know why I told you all that.”

Hyunsuk smiled, his thumb brushing lightly over Jisung’s knuckles. “Because you feel safe with me. And I’m glad you do.”

Jisung’s breath hitched, and he quickly looked away, his cheeks burning. But he didn’t pull his hand away. Instead, he let it rest under Hyunsuk’s, the warmth of his touch grounding him.

For a moment, they sat in silence, the world around them fading away. The café, the chatter, the clinking of cups, it all seemed distant, unimportant.

Finally, Hyunsuk spoke, his voice gentle but firm. “You deserve to experience those things, Jisung. To be close to someone. To be loved.”

Jisung’s heart skipped a beat, and he glanced up, his eyes searching Hyunsuk’s face. “Do you really think so?”

Hyunsuk nodded, his gaze unwavering. “I do.”

Jisung’s lips curved into a small, shy smile. “Maybe… maybe I will.”

Hyunsuk’s smile widened, and he gave Jisung’s hand a gentle squeeze before pulling back. “Good. Because you’re worth it.”

Jisung’s cheeks flushed, and he looked down at his tea, trying to hide his smile. But it was impossible. For the first time in his life, he felt like maybe -just maybe- he could have the things he had always dreamed of.

“Huh!” A hand waved in front of Jisung’s face, snapping him out of his thoughts. He blinked up in surprise, only to find Hyunsuk standing beside him, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. Jisung hadn’t even noticed him getting up.

“Come on,” Hyunsuk grinned, tugging him along.

Jisung blinked, confused. “Where are we going?”

Hyunsuk grinned. “You’ll see.”

Before Jisung could protest, Hyunsuk grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. Jisung stumbled slightly, his heart racing as Hyunsuk’s fingers intertwined with his, and before he knew it, they were off. 

...to be continued

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