#ALSO I--WEIUDHAKSDH

[jeoseungsaja]

It’s just another gift from one friend to another. A gift for a friend. A friend whom he wants to give a gift that he once gave Felicity on this day. Speaking of which, does Hyuk even celebrate this holiday- “I don’t know if you celebrate but…here you go.” He hands his dear friend a homemade cup of hot chocolate and scratches his cheek, a little flustered. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Hyuk-ah.” ( hahaha so Patrick….seeing the grumps(tm)- )

@ofgentleresolve ♚ 💖hyuk can feel the love💖

♔ ———–

   For Lee Hyuk, Valentine’s Day could easily pass him by. Most of the times, he’s too swamped in work to even remember what day is it, let alone realize if said day contains something special or different about it. Sometimes he’s vaguely aware of it when someone mentions holiday to him, or when images stare right back at him, like heart-shaped decorations clinging to street lights around Seoul or those obnoxious vendors convincing passersby to buy flowers and plush toys for loved ones. 

    Needless to say, he doesn’t celebrate it that much; never been too big on following festivities, which often led past crushes to be disappointed in him whenever he didn’t go that expected extra mile on Valentine’s Day, or White Day, or any of the ‘12 Love Days’ celebrated in Korea. 

    He doesn’t think they’re ridiculous or anything, he just...never had the full motivation, really, to get into something that could open some emotional floodgates he fails to handle with ease. So he’s sort of grown to stay detached from this, looking from afar and treating it with apathy. 

    There’s just something different about this year, though.

     He doesn’t realize this, but his knee is slightly bouncing up and down under the table, as if uneasy about something whilst brown eyes move left and right, staring at dear friend’s motions; how Patrick fetches something that looks like a cup as the faint sound of liquid boiling echoes through. Of course he’s treating this as another wonderful opportunity to see Patrick, his dear friend. One call is all it takes for the detective to come where the professor is, no matter what he’s doing; he’d drop everything to spend time with him, especially whilst knowing how constricted their schedules get at times. Any chance is a good chance to visit. 

    And if all these visits and encounters with his friend bring him ease, why is he feeling mildly troubled? Must be because of the weight in one of his pockets, one he now hesitates to have because he gained it on impulse. A hand slips inside blazer as fingers slowly touch what he’s been hiding since the beginning of this meeting, feeling the shape and silently scolding himself for bringing it with him. He shouldn’t have done this. What is he doing? He shouldn’t have---

   His thoughts are interrupted by the sight of Patrick approaching with a cup around his hands, Hyuk taking out his palm from where it was, as if something burned him and needed to get fingers out of the way before getting caught with flames. How ridiculous, Lee Hyuk. 

   The detective uses that palm to press it against gifted porcelain that’s gone pleasantly warm; unconsciously brushing fingertips with Patrick’s as thumb gets hooked onto mug’s ear, bringing the item closer to him.

    This definitely isn’t the usual tea; the scent is telling him so.     He looks down.     It’s chocolate. Hot chocolate. 

    Patrick speaks and as he does so, Hyuk feels in some vortex of confusion. He stares at the cup again, kind of double-checking that he’s seeing right, and then looks up to see the professor. Hyuk, attentive as he can be toward certain details, notices the little smile; the rather endearing hesitance, the...hand reaching out so nails can scratch cheek with a little disquiet. Why does Patrick seem...bashful? A little unsettled? 

    Must be because this is, indeed, different, isn’t it? The gesture, the way Patrick wishes Hyuk a Happy Valentine’s Day when they really...haven’t engaged in this before. Not with each other, at least; not when both are rigid when it comes to situations that could get...gooey. 

    They never had the need, really. Why show a friend you appreciate them in a particular day when you can demonstrate it through small details across different days? Besides, they’ve always had a sort of secret code when demonstrating fondness toward one another; a code the two of them fully understand, a code that goes beyond any kind of holiday.

    But this, this is...new. 

    “Thank---Thank you.” The bobbing of his leg dies down; clearing his throat. He wonders in silence, how Patrick used to celebrate this day before...well, painful disruption happened. The detective remembers the vague mentioning of Patrick and Felicity celebrating together, but he didn’t really ask anything beyond what his friend used to tell him; deeming the topic private. He won’t ask today, either. Everything at its own time, whenever words decide to naturally come out...if they ever. 

    Hyuk brings the mug to his lips, giving it the first sip. The scent is rich as is the taste; mellow and nice --- like a hug in a cup. He feels his insides getting warm and he wants to fully blame it on beverage’s temperature, yet he knows that the way Patrick fondly says his name always sends a wave of comfort all over him. “I didn’t know you could make a good cup of hot chocolate.” He decides to lightly tease as a distraction; one hand hiding his lips so he can lick them; getting rid of any trace of chocolate foam. “It’s...very nice.” He slowly puts both hand and cup down, deciding that if Patrick gave him a gift...he should do the same, right?

   “I, uh...” Finally, he takes that weight out of his blazer. It’s not even that heavy, just a small box with a bracelet inside, one made of knitted, dark green string with a Chrysanthemum knot. “This is...for you. There were many colors but I...thought this one was best. Suits...you.” Green, a color that means generosity, growth and safety; tranquility, reassurance --- restoration. Hyuk slowly slides the box Patrick’s way and then proceeds to take the cup of hot chocolate between his hands. 

    He doesn’t desperately gulp from it as a diversion, no. Hyuk wants to take his time with this, because Patrick took the time to make it, because this is a gift he utterly appreciates; one he’ll surely remember fondly. 

   “Happy Valentine’s Day, Dae-yah.” 

———– ♔