🗑 wip: facing the sun

[9ofcups]

facing the sun
pairing: sunoo/jake/sunghoon
word count: 3.1k
au: summer romance, polyamory, travelogue

"It takes two weeks for Sunoo to fall in love in San Diego, California."

Maybe it's Sunoo's fault for not noticing it earlier.

Maybe it’s Sunoo's fault for not noticing it earlier. As soon as the plane started its descent he scrambled to get his phone out of his pocket, pausing his music in favor of switching airplane mode off and smiling beatifically at his mom when she raised a disapproving eyebrow at him. Ever since then he’s been practically glued to his phone, save for when they entered the baggage claim area before the conveyor belt began its run-through and Sunoo turned around to see floor-to-ceiling windows and the sprawling San Diego landscape ahead of him.

“Oh my god,” he said, awed. “Mom. Those are palm trees.”

His mom laughed. “You could’ve seen them earlier if you paid attention.”

This is true. But the thing is, Sunoo hates airports. He loves to travel and can deal with even the longest of flights as long as he’s stocked up on snacks and has his headphones and a book with him. But to him, the act of being in an airport is inherently depressing. The process is long and arduous, and when they’d made it past security and his mom asked him to grab food before going to their assigned gate, the line for the single Korean restaurant there was so long and slow-moving that Sunoo nearly fell asleep standing up.

The process of getting from the airport to the hotel is just as terrible, if not worse because Sunoo wants nothing more than to take a long shower and sleep in a normal bed. That’s why he stays glued to his phone, texting his friend a picture of palm trees against the early afternoon silhouette when they make it through the skyway and down the steps to where the taxis are waiting. He alternates between closing his eyes and scrolling through TikTok on the relatively short drive to the hotel, and when they pull in he’s too focused on getting his suitcase out of the car and fixing his hair using his selfie camera to realize that, well.

“What the—” he squeaks, coughing awkwardly when one of the valet boys sends him an odd look. He turns to his mom, who takes her sunglasses off and hums her acknowledgement. “Mom! What the hell is this?”

“A hotel, sweetheart,” his mom says as she scrolls through her phone. “Are you going to come inside? The line for the receptionist is long, but you can sit in one of those couches.”

There are definitely couches. There are couches everywhere, which would be normal if the main floor wasn’t huge as shit with the most beautiful decor known to man. On either side of the main floor are spaces under open sky with identical bars and an impossibly long island that’s—“Is that on fire?” He whispers, horrified before he realizes it’s contained.

Everyone in line is dressed to the nines. In comparison, Sunoo feels like he shouldn’t even be allowed to even so much as look at this place with his sweatshirt and sweatpants. He gingerly takes a seat in the corner and gives someone staring at him a smile that he hopes doesn’t come off a grimace.

He really should’ve ran downstairs all those months ago when his mom asked him if he wanted to see what the hotel looked like, but alas. He’d been running on two hours of sleep at that point and told himself the surprise would be worth it.

Objectively, the surprise was a little too worth it. When his mom gestures at him to come over after twenty minutes of waiting in line, Sunoo nearly drops his suitcase in his haste to get over there, and the receptionist gives him a kind smile.

“You’re going to have your own room, Sunoo,” his mom says, handing him a keycard. When she catches Sunoo’s frown she explains, “All the doctors that chose this hotel will be staying on the top floor, and I don’t want you to have to be stuck with me, sweetheart. Is that good with you?”

Sunoo shoulders his backpack and tries to stifle his excitement at the idea of a hotel room to himself for two weeks. “Oh, absolutely.”

The receptionist laughs. “You’ll be on floor four, room 470,” she says. “Room service is available 24/7, but please notify us in advance if you’d like something overnight. The pool is on the sixth floor, alongside the spa and indoor gym. Breakfast every morning will be free for doctors, spouses and offspring in that area.” She points towards one of the open-sky areas. There’s a closed door at the very end that must lead to the restaurant, and Sunghoon’s stomach growls at the mere thought of eating what must be the high-quality food here. “Anytime you order food we will hold it for you down here or send it up to your room if you call. Your hotel will be cleaned out by the crew whenever you are absent so as to ensure privacy. Does that make sense?”

“That makes perfect sense,” his mom says, beaming up at Sunoo when all he can do is dazedly nod along. “We’ll go get settled in our room, thank you so much.”

“Would you like help with your suitcases?”

“It’s just two,” Sunoo says politely. “No worries.”

The receptionist nods. “Let us know if you need anything. We hope you have a lovely stay here!”

“Oh, I’ll have a lovely stay alright,” Sunoo hisses a few minutes later once they’re out of earshot, as they wait for the elevator. “Mom, you didn’t tell me this place was fancy.”

“I tried to,” his mom says lightly. “Do you like it, though? The hospital’s really outdone themselves this time, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a hotel this fancy. And to think the other one is even more high-end...”

“Is that even possible?” Sunoo wonders aloud as the elevator door opens with a ding. A family steps out and gives them polite smiles, and then they’re headed up to the fourth floor. “Wow. This feels like a fever dream.”

“It definitely isn’t one,” she says fondly. “Don’t let the shock ruin this trip for you.”

The elevator door opens again, and his mom urges him out with a promise to visit him later. For some reason, Sunoo feels a strange shock of vertigo as he starts walking down the hallway. Something about it feels a little like a sign.


When Sunoo agreed to go on a two-week trip to San Diego, California, he’d kept his expectations fairly low. The trip’s sole purpose was as a retreat for doctors, with all-day lectures that his mom didn’t look too excited for when she explained it to him. Honestly, the only reason why he said yes was because he didn’t want her to be alone.

He thought they’d get an average hotel, which was fine by him. Maybe he’d go out on a walk every so often and try some solo tourist-y activities, but otherwise his life for two weeks would look like this: sleeping in every morning, staying up late every night to watch TV and order room service, guiltlessly charging it to his mom’s credit card.

And, well—it’s not as though he plans on doing anything differently now just because he has his own hotel room. He’s pretty sure there’s an exponentially higher chance of him doing these exact things now that his only company will be himself. But when he goes downstairs to pick up the pizza he ordered as soon as he got settled in, he accidentally makes eye contact with another guy who smiles at him before walking over.

“Hey,” the boy says. He’s obnoxiously pretty, but his smile softens his features into something boyish and approachable. He’s taller than him, with appraising eyes and a blatantly appreciative gaze that makes Sunoo’s mouth go dry. “You’re kind of familiar. Have I seen you around?”

Sunoo decides holding eye contact with him is impossible after just a few seconds, looking away, but he finds himself replying, “Um, no? I think I would’ve recognized that face.” At this, the boy grins, clearly pleased, and Sunoo blushes. “Uh… okay, that kind of slipped out, but yeah. I’m not even from here.”

“Me neither, but I swear I could’ve…” he pauses before lighting up and exclaiming, “Oh! Are either of your parents doctors, by any chance?”

“Oh, yeah, my mom is,” Sunoo says, smiling. “You too?”

He nods. “Yeah, my dad’s here. Pretty sure I’ve seen you around at a banquet somewhere back home. My name’s Sunghoon. Yours?”

He marvels at the idea of possibly seeing this guy around and not noticing him. “Sunoo.”

“Nice to meet you, Sunoo.” Sunghoon leans in a little. It isn’t enough to make Sunoo uncomfortable but it’s enough to make him raise an eyebrow at the intent in his gaze. Sunoo wonders if he’s like this all the time, or if it’s just something in the Californian air. “Do you want to eat dinner with me and this other guy? We ordered way too much fried chicken from this expansive ass place. You can say no.”

Sunoo weighs the options in his head. He could attempt at making a friend or two—but maybe it’s too soon either way, right? There's very little permanence when it comes to the people one meets while they travel, even if permanence is kind of guaranteed with Sunoo being stuck at this hotel for two weeks, too.

Either way, he could hang out with this guy and whoever he's brought along, or he could go back to the safety of his hotel room once his delivery shows up. Which—“Oh, wait. I ordered food, too,” he says. “Pizza.”

“We can share everything,” Sunghoon says easily. “Unless you don't want to. Either way, the offer's on the table.”

Sunoo decides he likes Sunghoon. “Nah, I'll hang out with you guys,” he says, and Sunghoon gives him a sweet smile. “We'll share. Where are we going?”

Sunghoon points out to the open-sky area, and Sunoo realizes a boy is sitting at the long island table, watching them. When he notices they're looking back he waves them over excitedly. “We're gonna have a good time, yeah?”

Yeah. Sunoo wants that.


His delivery comes in as soon as Sunghoon starts walking over to the table so he tells him to sit down, that he'll come in a few, no I won't run upstairs, don't make assumptions about me. He knows nothing about Sunghoon but he can tell he's the type to tease, and it makes him blush despite himself even as Sunghoon relents and turns around to head to his friend. Or boyfriend.

With the way they're leaning into each other like the two of them are magnetized, Sunoo is tempted to say boyfriend. He asks unapologetically because it's hard to ignore the way he feels like he's third-wheeling as soon as he enters the open-sky area with his box of pizza and soft drink.

“Oh my god, no,” Sunghoon laughs. “This is Jake. We met—what, twenty minutes ago?”

Jake has an easy smile, a relaxed posture that contrasts the way Sunghoon holds himself like he has high standards. His Australian accent also comes as a surprise when he says, “Yeah. I bumped into him in the hallway just now, so—”

“Hey, wait.” Sunghoon frowns but there’s nothing real about it. With the way he’s leaning in to talk to Jake over the fire, Sunoo is pretty sure he’s trying to flirt. “Bumped is an understatement. You barreled right into me as I was turning the corner and I spilled my drink all over myself.”

“Which is why I offered to buy you dinner,” Jake points out. “So it’s working out, don’t you think?” He puts his chin in one hand and eyes Sunoo. “What’s your name again?”

Sunoo absentmindedly draws little patterns into the marble island. He doesn’t know how Sunghoon manages to lean in to catch Jake’s attention, firelight glimmering in his mischievous gaze. It’s much too hot. “My name’s Sunoo.”

“Sunoo’s a cute name,” Jake says. Sunoo wants to roll his eyes, but somehow he manages to make it sound sincere. “Sunghoon told me you're also stuck here while the adults do their medical stuff or whatever. Is this your first time?”

“Nope. I've been to Miami, Seattle, and—” Sunoo pauses to think. “Baltimore, but it was a long time ago. Nothing was quite like... this.”

“Right?” Sunghoon laughs. “My dad showed me pictures of the hotel and I was like, what the fuck? And it still didn't prepare me for anything.”

“I may have fucked up and refused to look at the hotel interior until we were standing right in front of it,” Sunoo admits, and Jake snorts.

“Oh, shit. That must've given you a scare.”

They quiet down once the delivery guy for Jake’s fried chicken shows up. With the glass containing the fire in the way, it's hard to maneuver all the food, but soon they're scarfing down overpriced chicken (for good fucking reason, Sunoo thinks deliriously, because this is maybe one of the best things he's ever eaten) and pizza.

It's easier to feel comfortable when they're all quietly eating, but he still feels prickles of nervousness when he catches Jake looking at him.

“Wait, I gotta know,” he pipes up. “How old are you guys? I'm 18.”

“I just turned 18,” Sunghoon says. “Like, three days ago.”

“Also 18,” Jake says.

Sunghoon looks deep in thought, staring down at his drink before he says, “So none of us can drink yet, then.”

Jake rolls his eyes. “I know we just met, but stop scheming. I don't plan on getting drunk during this trip, have you seen the nightclubs here? And this area is confusing as shit. I'd rather die.”

“You're a pussy,” Sunghoon says flatly before he turns to Sunoo. “What about you? Would you get drunk here?”

Sunoo shifts uncomfortably, trying to shove down the guilt already bubbling up. “I wouldn't get drunk, period. Sorry.”

Sunghoon’s eyes soften. “Hey, no, that's fine. It's just that literally half of the downtown area we're in consists of bars. We can still dine inside, of course, but it's gonna feel a little weird.”

“No one’s gonna look at us strangely for ordering regular soda,” Jake points out. “We don’t even look legal.”
Sunghoon looks offended. “The hell is that supposed to mean?”

Sunoo takes a sip of his Pepsi before he says, “You look… kinda legal to me. Like if you keep your straight face on all the time you’d look like a fully-fledged adult. But when you smile…”

“Yeah, I was gonna say that.” Jake honest-to-god giggles, and Sunoo can’t suppress his smile. “Your smile makes you age backwards at least ten years.”

Sunghoon flushes, but his lips are valiantly trying to twitch up. “That’s not my fault!”

“Of course it isn’t,” Jake laughs. “But it wouldn’t help your case, either.”

Sunghoon rolls his eyes. “So no alcohol, then.” He eyes the two of them carefully. “Do you guys have plans with your families for the two weeks?”

Sunoo swirls his straw in his drink, looking at Jake, who shakes his head. “I’m here with my mom, and I’m an only child, so… nope. She’s giving me full independence of what I do but only because she probably thinks I’ll end up doing nothing.”

“Same here,” Sunoo says. He’s starting to feel that telltale thrum of anticipation, watching Sunghoon look back and forth between them. “I wasn’t planning on doing much, to be honest.”

Sunghoon stares at them incredulously. “What thef—you’re kidding, right? There’s no way you two planned to spend all of your time here in the hotel. I know it’s nice here, but still. There’s gotta be something you want to do.”

“Go to the beach?” Sunoo suggests.

Jake shrugs. “I mean, sure.”

Sunoo hums. “I guess there are other things to do here. Like the convention center. Or like… yeah, I don’t know.”

Sunghoon gapes at them. “So you two haven’t even looked up stuff to do here?”

“Nope,” Sunoo says, and Jake nods his agreement.

“Oh my god,” Sunghoon mutters, dragging a hand over his face. On the other end of the island a couple not-so-subtly watches them as they eat their own dinner, and Sunoo wonders how they look together to the average passerby. “Okay, okay, this is fine. I have a suggestion, actually.” He pauses, and Sunoo feels like it’s just for dramatic effect. “Why don’t we spend our vacation doing stuff. Like, together?”

Nervousness flutters in Sunoo's stomach as he stares at Sunghoon. “Wait, really?”

“I mean, yeah,” Sunghoon says. “Why not? It isn’t like we’re going to see our parents for long enough to do things with them, save for the weekend, right? My dad would be cool with it.”

Jake runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t think my mom would mind either, even though she’s kind of protective over me… but we’re in the downtown area, right? We should be good in terms of distance. And honestly, the only thing holding me back from doing tourist-y stuff is the idea of doing it myself.” He turns to Sunghoon, eyes practically sparkling in excitement. “What are your thoughts?”

Sunoo sucks on his straw, contemplating it quietly. He’s pretty sure a part of him made his decision as soon as he met eyes with Sunghoon, but the stubborn, cautious piece of him he’s used as a defense mechanism for years recoils, making itself known.

For one, he thinks, he’s known them for less than an hour. He’s great at making friends, but it’s a little strange under the current circumstances. And with the way Sunghoon seems a little eager for reckless behavior, a part of Sunoo isn’t sure if he can trust them.

But they’re mild concerns, when he dwells on it for long enough. Sunoo can take care of himself, knows when to put a foot down if he’s reached his limit. Jake feels equally as careful as him, and even Sunghoon seems disciplined. What could go wrong? Many things, maybe, but Sunoo is a little tired of constantly reassessing the pros and cons to every good thing that comes into his life.

But maybe that’s too deep. The simple truth: he wants to have fun. Sunghoon being devastatingly attractive, Jake being sweet and charismatic—those are simply bonuses that Sunoo won’t say no to.

“Why not, right?” He says with a nonchalant shrug that does nothing to betray how excited he actually is. Sunghoon grins and Jake whoops, clapping his hands together. “We’ll have to create an itinerary.”