Chapter Text
Saving all thoughts of murdering Yugyeom for later, Jinyoung takes a deep breath, striding into the spotlight to meet Jaebum on stage. He nearly trips in his dress, blinded by the glaring stage lights, and he curses when he finds himself alone on stage,”Fucking Im Jaebum, pretentious bitch who can’t even show up on stage.”
Yes, Jaebum was the entire reason behind Jinyoung’s decline, it was all his fault for being charming one moment and a bag of dicks the other. Jinyoung grits his teeth as he glances around the empty hall, suddenly furious,”I can’t wait until this play is over, I hate this-”
He digs around in his skirt for his phone, belatedly remembering that he’d left it back in the dressing rooms. Things really were like that, huh, Jinyoung decides, huffing in exasperation
Jinyoung feels like he’s been abandoned, alone in the empty hall, and he can’t help but brood. Did he offend anyone, or misunderstand Youngjae’s words? He struggled to find an alternate meaning of ‘You’re on’, but maybe the cast was playing tag? He barely makes it three steps away from the centre of the stage before someone calls,”Jinyoung, wait.”
Jinyoung spins around at the sound of thudding footsteps, coming face to face with Jaebum. It’s pathetic, how Jinyoung can’t help the relieved sigh that escapes from his lips the moment he sees Jaebum, who’s dressed in full costume. “Finally,” He grumps. “Where were you? I was about to leave.”
“Sorry,” Jaebum gasps, breathless. The lapels of his blue suit are slightly crooked, his hair just a bit rumpled, and Jinyoung’s fingers itch to help him fix them. His hands are clasped behind his back, or maybe he’s holding something behind his back. Either way, Jinyoung decides he doesn’t care, even though Jaebum looks so handsome it’s devastating, sheepish grin making his heart twinge.
“Let’s start,” Jinyoung shrugs, hiding his nervousness with nonchalance. To calm down, he pretends he’s texting Yugyeom, just like every time he has a breakdown.
pepinotjr: omg im alone with jaebum
pepinotjr: he looks so good i hate him
pepinotjr: my dignity vs jaebum’s shoulders
pepinotjr: when he opens his mouth i
pepinotjr: not to be gay but i literally want to k*ss him
pepinotjr: he REALLY SAID FUCK JINYOUNG LIVES HUH
pepinotjr: wait shit he’s talking to me
“Jinyoung?” Jaebum asks, eyebrows furrowed in concern. “It’s your line.” “Oh, sorry,” Jinyoung flinches, tearing his eyes away from Jaebum’s pretty face and putting on his Janet Voice,” Oh, Brad, wasn’t it wonderful? ”
Jinyoung’s voice falls flat as Jaebum frowns, his own faked enthusiasm dissipating. “That’s not your line, Jinyoung,” Jaebum sighs heavily. “What’s the point of running through our lines if your head’s not even in it?”
“I, I-” Jinyoung stammers, thousands of thoughts flurrying around in his mind. “Yes Brad? ” “Not that either,” Jaebum shakes his head, shoulders slumped, and Jinyoung feels like the most unprofessional actor in history.
“ Oh… It’s nicer than Betty- ” Jinyoung simpers, trying to get back into character, but Jaebum only offers a bitter chuckle,”Quit it, Jinyoung. I know we agreed to talk things out on Thursday but there’s no way we’re going to pull off acting like a couple when you hate me so fu-”
Was Jaebum blaming Jinyoung for getting mad after he talked shit about Jinyoung to his swim team friends, now? “Hold on.” Dropping his sugary sweet tone, Jinyoung simmers. “Sorry I can’t act nice after what you said to your ugly ass friends? I thought you-” Liked me. “I thought we were friends, you asshole.”
“What ugly ass friends?” Jaebum’s getting mad now, jaw tense and eyes slanted, and Jinyoung feels himself get heated as well, glaring at Jaebum with the same fire. “I don’t care what you think about me, but leave Jackson out of this-”
“What about Jackson?” Jinyoung growls, frustration filling his lungs. “I’m talking about your other swim team friends, Yoo Kihyun and the Chinese guy.” “I’m not friends with them,” Jaebum retorts hotly. “And do you want to know why? They were talking shit about you, and I got into a fight with those assholes, but I guess it wasn’t worth it, huh?”
“Wait, you did?” Jinyoung stares at Jaebum blankly. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “To not hurt your fucking feelings?” Jaebum snaps, “I did hate you, in the beginning, when you disliked me as much, but I would never, ever say anything bad about someone I considered a friend.”
“A friend,” Jinyoung repeats dumbly. Did he get everything wrong, from the start? Dumbass, Jinyoung curses himself. He should’ve confronted Jaebum about the swim team kids, or at least asked Jackson. But instead, he just blamed everything on Jaebum and refused to communicate with him, while he was only trying to protect Jinyoung’s feelings.
God, everyone with eyes could see how much Jaebum cared about the swim team, and he gave that up- just to defend Jinyoung’s honour? Jinyoung feels like he’s about to vomit, it was all his fucking fault, and now Jaebum hates him and the play is going to be shit because he’s a whiny lil bitch.
Wow, the Virgo jumped out! He can almost hear Yugyeom say.
“Okay, maybe-” Jaebum’s still pissed, jaw clenched, but there’s a hint of softness in his eyes as he looks at Jinyoung. “Maybe more than friends, but that doesn’t matter now, does it?”
More than friends? The Im Jaebum Fanclub member in Jinyoung squeals, but rational, angry Jinyoung manages to stay composed, “Then why did you say something?” “You were avoiding me, dumbass.” The fight seems to leave Jaebum as he snorts, staring at his palms like looking at Jinyoung physically pains him.
“I’m sorry,” Jinyoung blurts, feeling drained and furious at himself instead. “It’s all my fault, I was mean to you when you joined the club and I was being a judgemental bitch for a long time."
"I forgive you," Jaebum's stare softens, "I was wrong too, talking shit about you when I didn't even know the person you really were."
"Yeah," Jinyoung exhales, Jaebum's eyes are smiling, and it feels like a heavy burden's been lifted off his back. "Things would've gone better if we were just honest with each other."
"You're right, "Jaebum offers him a wry twitch of his lips. "Why were you so terrified of talking to me? Am I really that unapproachable?"
“I just-” Say it, coward.“I knew I cared, but I didn’t want to say it because,” Jinyoung takes a deep breath, Jaebum’s eyes are on him and it’s so hard to speak with the lump in his throat. “because you’re Mr. Popular, the one everyone likes and I’m just the weird, bitter, overly-obsessed drama kid and why would you care-”
“Hey,” Jaebum’s face is unreadable, tone menacing as his gaze drills into Jinyoung. “You’re not allowed to say that about the person I like.” The person Jaebum-? “Your what? I don’t-” Jinyoung splutters, but his sentence is cut off when Jaebum reaches out and pulls Jinyoung into his arms.
Jaebum’s warm, and Jinyoung can smell his minty breath as he rests his chin on a broad shoulder, hands stretching tentatively to rest on the back of Jaebum’s neck. His heart feels like it’s about to burst from both giddiness and Jaebum’s proximity, and he can’t stop his lips from curving upwards, barely suppressing a content sigh.
“Do you get it now?” Jaebum asks, his head a welcome weight on Jinyoung’s own shoulder, and Jinyoung can hear his smile. “Yeah, I do, kinda.” Jinyoung leans closer into Jaebum, feeling Jaebum’s heartbeat against his satin dress.
“Good.”
“On second thought, can you tell me clearly? My reading comprehension sucks.”
“Fine, you piece of shit.”
“How romantic, Im Jaebum, Your fangirls are-” mmph “Get off me, I have lipstick on-”
“Just shut up for once.”
And Jinyoung does, in fact, shut up.
------
(chat dramallamas1718)
pepinotjr: can you guys come back to the hall
ndefpeace: yeah we’re done rehearsing
kkkkgyeom: omg
misterbam ™: omg
twaeotter: omg
twentyonetuan: omg
flyingfish852: omg
pepinotjr: what
flyingfish852: rehearsing huh
kkkkgyeom: @jb do jinyoung’s lips taste like bitterness and disappointment
twaeotter: oh WORM
twaeotter: CONGRATS YOU GUYS
twentyonetuan: sis u just realised?
misterbam ™: my pure CHILD
flyingfish852: bammeth youngjae is literally older than u
misterbam ™: ew what is that
misterbam ™: pay up losers
twentyonetuan: yeah yall owe me n bammathan big time now
pepinotjr: we fucking breathed can u guys come to rehearsal
kkkkgyeom: you breathed,,,, with jb’s tongue shoved down your tongue? talent
twentyonetuan: i hope the audience throws toast at you
twentyonetuan: i hate love
twaeotter: mark hyung means congratulations
misterbam ™: did jinyoung's dick kill jb? why isn’t he replying
ndefpeace: don’t be vile ur gross
flyingfish852: bro ur man is being clowned right now
kkkkgyeom: the clownery,,,,, jinyoung’s brain has left the chat
misterbam ™: jinyoung’s love for jb: open!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pepinotjr: stop
pepinotjr: jackson i will pee your fucking pants
pepinotjr: come to rehearsal ffs
twaeotter: omw rn!
kkkkgyeom: ok fine but u guys better not be exchanging spit when we show up
flyingfish852: jaebum,,,, bro you're dating a psychopath
misterbam ™: we been knew, one yeehaw = one prayer
kkkkgyeom: yeehaw
twentyonetuan: yeehaw
ndefpeace: maybe,,, i like him anyway ;)
flyingfish852: the Real Freak of the rocky horror picture show
pepinotjr: PLEASE stop talking i’m begging you