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Taeyong and Doyoung were once best friends, turned lovers, then live-in partners. But now they’re just best friends and roommates.
The breakup wasn’t bad. They just one day fell out of love, talked it out like the communicative best friends they are, broke up, but kept living together because of practicality, and to maintain their relationship as best friends.
“Yong? Are you home?” Doyoung greeted as he passed the threshold of their shared house. “Yong?”
“Kitchen”, came the answer. Doyoung padded through the living room and was welcomed by a baking Taeyong of outmost concentration. “You’re home early.”
Doyoung pinched a bit of flour and flicked it to Taeyong, “I have something to tell you”, he said instead as he laughed at the glare he received. Taeyong bent down to put the batter in the oven, ignoring the flour on his head, before giving an acknowledging hum to indicate that he’s listening. “So, I told you about the guy I am seeing, right?” A hum. “They might be moving in with us tomorrow.” Doyoung closed his eyes as he spoke. Sure, they have spoke about the possibility before, but it still makes him anxious if it’s fine with the older.
“What time?” Taeyong asked as he finally faced the younger, “I’ll be in and out tomorrow for some stuff.”
“Sometime in the afternoon, maybe. And I’ll be in the whole day to prepare” Doyoung weighs Taeyong a glance, “You got a date?”
“Nah. Just some work stuff.”
Doyoung just hummed and exited the kitchen to escape thinking about the heaviness in his chest that he convinces himself to be anxiety for having to live with another person other than Taeyong after years.
“Doie?” Taeyong called upon entering and finding a suspiciously quiet house. He was about to knock on the younger’s door when it opened to a disheveled Doyoung.
“Yes? You need anything?” Doyoung answered still panting.
“Uh, no.” Taeyong responded and gave the annoyed-looking person inside a small smile, “Was just curious why it was quiet and wanted to finally meet the new roommate. But it seems like I’m interrupting something so maybe introductions at dinner then.”
Doyoung groaned at Taeyong retreating figure that is obviously trying not to laugh.
“Yongie, this is Jungwoo, Jungwoo this is Taeyong.” The mentioned two exchanged pleasantries before heading to the dining room.
Doyoung and Taeyong instinctively sat beside each other on one side of the table and Jungwoo sat across Doyoung. “Hyung, sit with me?” Jungwoo asked Doyoung who was already pouring rice on his plate.
“I’ve always sat here though. I’m used to sitting here,” Doyoung answered looking confused.
“Then can Taeyong hyung switch seats with me?”
“I don—"
“He’s always sat here though.” Doyoung butt in, still confused with the situation. “What’s wrong with the seating arrangement?”
“Don’t kill the only brain cell you have left,” Taeyong teased Doyoung which earned him a glare, “Here, Jungwoo, sit here.”
“Thank you, hyung.”
“I still don’t get why there should be seat switching,” Doyoung grumbled that Jungwoo, fortunately, did not hear.
The dinner went in relative silence, with Doyoung leaning to his only to stop halfway, as if remembering he’s sitting next to Jungwoo, and not Taeyong.
Doyoung had a bad day at work and came home only to be teased by Jungwoo. “Hyung, I was joking,”
Doyoung kept ignoring Jungwoo as the younger kept wooing him. “What can I do for you to forgive me, Doie hyung?”
“Don’t call me that.”
Jungwoo, glad to finally receive a reaction just kept going, “Doie hyung, doie hyung, doi—”
“I said don’t call me that”, Jungwoo startled with the seriousness in Doyoung’s voice, “only Taeyong is allowed to call me that.” He continued and stormed off the take a bath.
“Hyung, can I have the almond chocolate I saw in the refrigerator?”
“I keep that for late nights, so, I.m sorry but no.” came Taeyong’s voices
Doyoung kept himself hidden by the doorstep as he very quietly switched his work shoes with indoor slippers.
“But you have so many other chocolates,” the pout can already be heard from Jungwoo’s voice.
“There’s a convenience store nearby, you can get as many as you there,” Taeyong was not yielding.
“But—”
“Jungwoo,” Doyoung finally made himself known. And Jungwoo retreated at their room at the tone of his voice.
Doyoung made a move to follow but before he took the fourth step, “hey, don’t scold him. I just can’t afford to give him any right now with the amount of workload I have.”
“You don’t have to explain, hyung. It is your property and it is within your rights to do with it as you please.” Doyoung then continued and ruffled Taeyong’s hair when he passed by him, “Don’t consume too much in one go, though, We don’t sleep in one room anymore for me to monitor your intake.”
Doyoung closed the door behind him, still hearing Taeyong’s chuckle.
“What was that about?” Doyoung asked as he approached the sulky person on the bed. He sighed when the figure just turned his back on him, “Woo, you could’ve called me if you wanted chocolates. You can’t suddenly ask Taeyong hyung for his chocolates when he’s swamped in work.”
“Here we go again.” Jungwoo mumbled to himself, which Doyoung unfortunately heard.
Doyoung sighed again, “I know you think I keep siding with Taeyong hyung and that we living together doesn’t make sense,” he tried hugging the younger, “We might have broken up, but he’s still my best friend, before, during and after our relationship,” but Jungwoo just kept ignoring him.
“He’s out of town with his co-worker and won’t be home tonight,” Jungwoo said aloud as soon as he heard the door open, knowing it’s Doyoung coming through those doors and would call for Taeyong as soon as both his feet makes it inside.
“Okay?” Doyoung said as he sat down next to the younger sitting on the couch. A sudden idea came up his mind, “Do you want to have an impromptu candlelit dinner with me?” , he said in a very sweet voice.
“Only if we’re eating homemade food and not takeout”, the younger teased.
“Of course. For now, stay in the room, and I’ll call you when dinner’s ready”. He instructed then placed a kiss on the younger’s kiss.
It took two hours for the knock on the door to come. “Is the dinner ready?” Jungwoo asked with a smile as he looked at the door, but his smile started to drop as he took in Doyoung’s face.
“Uh…” the older hesitated, “yeah. Dinner’s ready… but do you mind eating alone?” Jungwoo’s smile is completely off his face. “I know I suggested the idea, but Taeyong just called and he’s crying and he said he has no ride home because—”
“I get it, hyung”, Jungwoo sighed, “you can go.”
“I promise. I’ll make it up to you,”
“No need, hyung”, the younger said as he made a decision, “drive safely.”
“I will,” Doyoung hurriedly picked up his keys, phone and wallet from the bedside drawer, “I’ll try to make it back tonight.”
Jungwoo just gave a small smile as he watched the older frantically flee out of the house. And as soon, as Doyoung was out of the house, he started packing his things. He left at midnight, leaving a short letter on top of the bedside drawer, kept in place with his copy of the house keys.
“I hope you find your way back into each other’s arms. Living with you two for a few weeks showed me how you fit perfectly. Thank you for giving me precious memories and an opportunity to see how beautiful your bond is. I hope to find my own someday. See you around, hyungs. :)
JWxx”