Donovan didn't invite people over to his apartment, mostly because it was only his apartment by technicality of where he slept and his roommate's apartment in every other aspect down to his long list of absurd and uncompromising rules that Donovan usually followed to keep peace. And Altan, who was conveniently on a trip to New York for the weekend, didn't like visitors to the point he even gave the pizza delivery man a hard time. Which was fine, because the number of people Donovan knew was few and his desire to have anyone over was nearly nonexistent, preferring his time alone to recover from the rest of the day. So he wasn't quite sure how he invited over the boy he'd only met the week before, except that he owed Kyu-Sik a meal after his inability to pay for sushi.
He was even more surprised that Kyu-Sik agreed, sure that he'd be sick of seeing him by now by the quick accumulation of time spent together in a relatively short period. Every incident had felt punctuated by one unfortunate misstep after another until he was backed into a corner, causing Donovan to divulge far more to the other boy than he'd ever intended. Not to Kyu-Sik, not to anyone. A thought that caused him to tense up at the memory of his confessions, berating himself for what he offered far too easily, and then relax again with the knowledge that nothing bad actually came of any of it.
But it felt okay, almost freeing to have the worst of his past known, and his vulnerability met not with sympathy nor revulsion, but a firm push not to make excuses. Maybe that's why he felt drawn to Kyu-Sik, a sense of stability he'd lacked in his own life for so long, and yet a relatable sort of lost.
While Kyu-Sik had a strange tolerance for him despite everything, Donovan knew better than to press his luck or make any assumptions about where anything might be going. His relationships with others rarely led anywhere long-lasting, usually with him disappearing from sight the moment somebody noticed him too closely. He expected this to dissolve almost as quickly as it began, but he'd enjoy it while it lasted.
He was busy in the kitchen when Kyu-Sik arrived, and answered the door wearing a light blue apron and casually clutching a chopping knife in his left hand. He stared a moment as if he'd forgotten he was expecting anyone at all, then offered an easy smile in greeting. "Get inside before the lady across the hall spots you," he warned, stepping back to allow Kyu-Sik entrance. "Or she'll tell you all about Jesus. Unless you're into that sort of thing. But her cooking isn't as good as mine." If Donovan allowed himself any sort of pride, it was in his cooking. And for once, they were in a situation that favoured his talents, hoping tonight would prove that he was actually capable of not making an awkward mess of himself.
The apartment was a lot nicer than anyone who knew Donovan would expect him to live in, clearly far out of his budget and decorated in tastes far too impeccable to be his own. It was clean, other than the few history books he had sprawled across the sofa. Although less frumpy than usual, he'd almost look out of place in the chic modern interior, except Donovan was far more comfortable and relaxed than any other context he met Kyu-Sik in.