Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Unfortunately for Minghao, the other thing that’s happened since the day of his and Junhui’s long talk is that Mingyu’s decided to invite himself to Minghao’s room whenever he’s feeling distressed about Wonwoo. 

Minghao guesses it’s because that was also the day Mingyu had first come in and told Minghao about his feelings for Wonwoo over however-many glasses of wine. But that's not the most important thing that happened to Minghao that day so that's not how he chooses to remember it.

Generally, no, Minghao doesn’t mind hearing his friend out because why else would they be friends? It’s the “inviting himself to Minghao’s room” part he's starting to have an issue with, especially since it’s been ongoing for a little over a week now.

Sure, Junhui’s been inviting himself to Minghao’s room for months (which Minghao has missed in the time they were giving each other space) but Junhui has special boyfriend privileges that Mingyu doesn’t. When Minghao told him this, Mingyu argued that Minghao’s room is safe since it’s a solo room, on a floor away from Wonwoo, Mingyu’s his best friend, and he's in crisis.

(“I thought I was your best friend?” Junhui had asked in a small voice.

“We’ve been over this, Jun-ah. You’re my best friend and my boyfriend that I make out with. And Mingyu’s my best friend that’s an idiot,” Minghao replied with a fond smile and a gentle pat to Junhui’s cheek, habitually wiping some crumbs from the corner of his mouth.

“I am literally right here,” Mingyu said dryly from his spot on the floor.

Minghao didn’t even look at him. “Yeah, well, you shouldn’t be.” )

At first, Junhui didn’t say anything since he knows how close Minghao and Mingyu are. The first few visits, Junhui just said ‘okay’ and left the room to give them privacy whenever Mingyu barged in to say some variation of ‘I need to talk to Myungho’. 

But he finally asked Minghao about it after that time Junhui had gone to Minghao’s room, as usual, but found Mingyu waiting on Minghao’s bed while Minghao was finishing a shower. It was not a situation Minghao thought he’d ever be having with his boyfriend. (He never wants to hear Junhui say ‘HaoHao, why do you have another man that’s not me waiting for you after you shower?’ ever again, even as a joke.)

After chasing Mingyu out, Minghao tells Junhui about his best friend’s crush dilemma. But, out of some sense of guilt towards Mingyu, he doesn’t mention that the crush is on Wonwoo, just says that Mingyu’s in a lot of distress over it and needs someone to talk to. Technically, he knows it’s more than a crush since Mingyu was pretty sure he specified “having romantic feelings”, but calling it a crush just seemed easier for now. 

Either way, Junhui just accepts this and doesn’t bother asking who it is, which Minghao is thankful for. He figures Junhui’s loyalty to Wonwoo means he would either probably outright tell Wonwoo immediately, or at the very least, drop him the least subtle hints ever to try and help. 

Minghao briefly worries that just telling Junhui that the crush exists is a bad enough betrayal of Mingyu’s trust; telling Junhui everything about the crush would probably upset Mingyu even more.

However, the next evening, Minghao is sitting against the headboard on his bed with Junhui, who’s staring at the door like he’s anticipating something.

“Jun-ah, what are you—”

“Shh,” Junhui urges. “For some reason, it always happens when…” And then there’s a hand on Minghao’s thigh. When nothing happens, Junhui frowns and Minghao can’t help but laugh watching him. Until Junhui leans close and starts mouthing and nipping at a spot near Minghao’s ear.

“Junnie…” It comes out a bit breathier than he wanted but he doesn’t care.

Then the door opens. “Myungho!” Dammit.

“It’s like he can sense it,” Junhui says in a low amused tone near his ear, smiling against Minghao’s skin and he pulls back quickly. “There he is. Mingyu!” he exclaims, smiling wide and gesturing to the bean bag chair. “Sit.” 

Minghao covers his face and groans into his hands. He would’ve found it funny how Junhui's guess was correct, but he hates that it basically means he’s going to keep getting interrupted by his best friend.

Meanwhile, Mingyu looks mildly worried before doing what he’s been told, his large frame looking a bit awkward in Minghao’s bean bag chair. He experimentally folds his legs about before deciding it’s not comfortable and just crosses them in front of him. Once he’s settled, he urgently looks at Minghao for any explanation but since Minghao is just as confused, he shrugs. 

The last time Junhui gave an order to sit, it didn’t end well for him. So no, he doesn’t want to get involved. Especially when he still thinks he’s on thin ice for it.

Junhui slips off the bed to sit cross-legged on the floor in front of Mingyu, grabbing his hands and smiling warmly. “It’s okay, Mingyu, you’re here about your crush problem, right? I want to help, so I’m here for you.” Technically, Junhui was here to spend time with Minghao and no, Minghao is totally not bitter that they’re doing this instead. Nope. Not at all. Absolutely goddamn not.

“You told him?” Mingyu’s whiny protest cuts through Minghao’s thoughts and looks over to see the taller boy staring right at him with a pout.

“Okay, in my defense,” Minghao starts forcefully, “you put me in a weird position. As much as I don’t mind helping you, if you’re going to keep coming in my room, particularly when I’m with my boyfriend, then said boyfriend at least deserves to know why.” He just didn’t know what Junhui was going to do with that information, especially not… whatever this is.

“Aww, HaoHao!” Junhui coos at him with a beaming grin.

Mingyu just rolls his eyes and looks away. “Ugh, you guys are like, disgustingly cute.”

“Thank you!” Junhui chirps, particularly cheery. “We try.”

Minghao clears his throat, momentarily caught off-guard and feeling himself flush. “Y-yes, well. If it makes you feel any better, Mingyu, I didn’t say who it was. I didn’t think it was my place.” It’s only partially true, but it sounds convincing enough that they both seem to accept it.

Junhui wiggles their arms to get Mingyu's attention back. “So this person you like, do you two talk often?” he asks cheerily. 

“I-I guess? We’re pretty close…” Mingyu mutters nervously, looking everywhere except Junhui’s eyes. Then, all of a sudden, he looks up at Minghao again to telepathically ask for help. Minghao takes in Mingyu’s state and quickly stifles a laugh. “Ow! Junnie, w— it’s not Myungho, I promise!” 

“Ah, yes, of course.” Junhui smiles brightly and Minghao looks down at where their hands were joined. The sides of Mingyu’s hands have slight fingernail marks in them.

Huh. Minghao has an odd sense of deja vu. This must be something Junhui picked up from Jisoo. He reaches down to gently rub the back of Junhui’s neck. “Jun-ah, it’s not me.” 

Junhui just raises his eyebrows at him that Minghao reads as ‘pft, I know’, before turning back to Mingyu. “So you’re close and you talk a lot. What’s the main issue you’re having then?” he asks curiously. “Do they like someone else?”

Mingyu’s eyes widen like he hadn’t considered that possibility. “I-I’m actually not sure. I haven’t asked him.”

“Oh, it’s a guy,” Junhui mutters softly to himself, nodding. 

“I—” Mingyu starts. “Sorry, Junnie. I appreciate you wanting to help, but do you mind if I just talk to Myungho about it? I kinda feel awkward…” Now Minghao starts feeling bad that he told Junhui about the crush, judging by how uncomfortable Mingyu looks. Like a child pleading with their older sibling not to snitch on them to their parents. 

Junhui nods. “I mind,” he asserts boldly, startling the other two. 

Minghao guesses Junhui’s bothered by how much Mingyu keeps taking Minghao away to talk about his crush, but he didn’t need Junhui to protect him from his own best friend. “Jun-ah, it’s okay.” 

“HaoHao…  please.” Junhui’s words come out far more serious and earnestly than Minghao expected. Junhui keeps staring right up at him and after a few moments, Minghao starts to understand. 

Junhui’s not acting like this because he’s annoyed about Mingyu coming in and is now marking his territory; Junhui sympathizes with Mingyu because of his own crush all those months back. He probably knows everything about how Mingyu might be feeling. He wants to help Mingyu navigate through it and support him so it doesn’t turn into a weird mess like theirs was.

Minghao tightens his lips together and starts nodding. “Okay.” He kisses Junhui’s forehead and stands up. “I’ll leave you guys to it.” If Junhui’s going to talk about his crush on Minghao from way before, he’s not sure if the older boy would want him there to hear about it. Especially after what happened when Jisoo tried to talk about it in the restaurant.

“Wait, what? What just happened?” Mingyu pipes up, looking between them in confusion. “You guys said like, two words and I feel like I missed a whole conversation.”

“It’s just as he said, Junnie’s going to help you. I’m giving you guys privacy,” Minghao answers, flicking his phone screen on for a split second to check the time before pocketing it. 

“You don’t have to leave,” Mingyu insists. “Does he, Junnie?” He looks at him pleadingly for permission to let Minghao stay. He slightly resembles a sad puppy that got its toy taken away, although Minghao doesn’t want to think too hard about the implication of that.

Junhui glances up at Minghao again. “He doesn’t,” he finally answers. “He can, but he doesn’t have to.”

Minghao looks between them for a few seconds. Junhui’s okay with this? With letting him know the worries he was embarrassed about before? 

He kneels down at an angle behind Junhui, draping over his back and leaning a chin on his boyfriend’s shoulder. “Go ahead, Mingyu.”

Mingyu still looks like he has no idea what just happened. “O-oh, okay, yeah” he stutters again. “Right. Well, we’re close, yeah, but I haven’t really heard him talk about anyone else he likes.” He looks at Junhui sort of anxiously. 

Minghao swears that if Mingyu slips up right now and asks Junhui if he’s heard Wonwoo talk about liking someone else, he will have to hit him.

Junhui just tilts his head sympathetically. “Are you worried about what would happen if he did and he’s not telling you?” Mingyu looks pensive for a bit and then nods quickly. Junhui smiles fondly, looking down for a bit. “Ah. Yeah, I worried a lot about that stuff with Myungho before too.”

Mingyu’s expression softens and it seems now he understands why Junhui wanted to talk to him. “What did you do?”

“Probably a lot of what you’re doing. Overthinking scenarios in my head, thinking that if we were really close, he’d tell me if he liked someone else, right? What would happen to me if it was true? I’d be okay if he did, wouldn’t I? Would it just be better to not say anything? All those things, right?”

While Mingyu nods somewhat enthusiastically, Minghao lets out a nervous sigh and uses the arm he slung over Junhui’s shoulder to hug his neck.

“I kept them mostly to myself and even bugged Shua for a while,” Junhui continues, patting Minghao’s arm. “I thought I could deal with my feelings by not being around Myungho so I avoided him for a while. But then he called me out and asked why. It made me realize I was also affecting him, he was still my friend but I wasn’t acting like it.” 

Mingyu lets out a small chuckle and nods a couple times.

Junhui pauses for a bit, letting out a small chuckle. “Okay so, this might sound weird but you might know what I mean. Sometimes I felt like I was sneaking around, like I wasn't being honest with him. And it was really hard because all I could think about, and all I wanted to do, was tell him how I felt but for some reason, I couldn’t.” 

Minghao shifts and leans his forehead against Junhui’s shoulder to avoid letting either of them see his face, taking a deep breath.

“I kept thinking about all these things about how he would react, you know, like if he would hate me or not want to see me again or would we still be friends? All the ones in your head that you know sound ridiculous and don’t make sense, but you can’t help but worry anyway?” Junhui asks in a bit of a ramble and Minghao looks up, seeing Mingyu smile in understanding and nod some more.

“So I think…” he trails off, staring at an odd spot past Mingyu’s shoulder. Minghao leans forward a bit to look at him and keeps hugging his neck. “Well, I think it’s good you’re not carrying these things all by yourself since you have Myungho. But I also think you should think about what the guy really means to you, if it’s worth going after, if this is what you really want, and if you would be okay even if it might not go well. 

“And when you figure that out, since you’re close, I also think you should talk to him, make it clear that you have feelings for him and trust him,” Junhui finishes with a nod and a smile. 

Mingyu absorbs this, looking pensive again before he mirrors the gesture. “Thank you, Junnie.”

Minghao has to let go when Junhui leans forward to pull Mingyu into a hug, slightly awkward due to the crossed-legs situation but they make it happen. Minghao watches Mingyu over Junhui’s shoulder; he’s pretty sure he might’ve blurted out ‘Junhui, marry me’ on the spot if Mingyu weren’t right there.

But Mingyu is here and the hug has been longer than four counts, so Minghao settles for flicking his forehead. “Okay, that’s enough, get off him now,” he grumbles dryly. Junhui just laughs and lets Mingyu go.

“Ow! You guys are like, weirdly disgustingly cute,” Mingyu murmurs, rubbing the sore spot as he pulls away. “I’m kind of jealous but at the same time grossed out.”

“If you’re so grossed out, then leave!” Minghao half-yells, also half-serious, as he stands up, pointing to the door.

Mingyu purses his lips in thought as he also stands. “Hmm, I’m getting the feeling I’m not wanted here…” 

“Ai—” Minghao tsks to himself. 

Junhui, on the other hand, puts his hands on Mingyu’s shoulders when he stands up. “Are you okay now? Do you feel better? Did that help at all?”

Mingyu beams fondly at Junhui, nodding. “Very much so, thanks again, Junnie.” He has the audacity to hug Junhui again now that they’re standing, smug face and all. Minghao just groans, walking around the bed while glaring at Mingyu. “I can’t believe I didn’t come to you earlier.”

Minghao gives Mingyu a scandalized look because, oh my god, Mingyu should know exactly why he didn’t come to Junhui earlier. 

“Aw, no problem, Mingyu-yah. I know what it’s like,” Junhui says soothingly into the hug. “Hope it goes okay.”

“Thanks, Junnie.” And Minghao doesn’t know what they’re doing now but he’s not fond of this hug, nor Mingyu’s smug face during it.

“Jun-ah. Sleep.” He tucks himself in the bed with a huff, probably a bit too forcefully, facing away from them.

He hears Junhui laugh again and then steps moving about on the floor. “Bye Myungho!” Mingyu’s voice calls out. He just grunts back and waits for the door to click shut before Junhui starts laughing. Minghao doesn’t want to respond until he feels Junhui lay down behind him.

“For the record, when he came in here to talk about his crush before, he mostly would just tell me about how cute or pretty he thought the guy was.” Minghao stops himself before mentioning that one of the things was how Mingyu gushed about Wonwoo with glasses. He feels like even just mentioning glasses would be too dangerous.

“Oh…” Junhui’s voice deflates. “Do you think I went too serious then?” he asks in a small voice.

Minghao tosses around to face Junhui. “Well, he did also worry a lot about how to approach the guy since he was scared of ruining their friendship, so I thought what you said was great. Thanks for helping him.”

“Of course you’d like it.” Junhui rolls his eyes, smiling. 

This time, Minghao plants a kiss on Junhui’s forehead. “I’m serious, though.”

Junhui just covers his face with his hands and starts giggling. “Ah,” he says after a few sputters, “I’m so embarrassed.” He flops onto his back and kicks his legs around.

“Why? It’s just me,” Minghao asks in a small voice.

“HaoHao, please. You know why,” he replies flatly.

Oh. Right. Minghao just clears his throat and gently pries Junhui’s hands away from his face. “Yeah, I know.” He quickly lands another kiss on Junhui’s nose.

“I do have a question though.” Junhui folds his hands over his chest, staring at the ceiling and Minghao just grunts for him to continue, nervous. “I didn’t get to ask before, but why did you try to deal with everything on your own? I just remembered when I mentioned it to Mingyu.”

“Ah, uh, l-like my feelings and everything?”

“Yeah, you said that day with Jeonghannie was the first time. So that means for the other five months we’ve been together, you didn’t say anything to anyone? Not even to Mingyu or anyone else?”

Minghao just blinks a couple of times, mouth open. He’s not exactly sure of the answer either. The times he did mention anything about their relationship to anyone before were because Hansol and Jeonghan approached him. “I uh, I don’t really know. It kind of just happened like that.”

Junhui tosses over to look at him, eyes particularly large and lips pouting. “But that must have been so hard! Why didn’t you say anything?” Junhui quickly shakes his head. “I don’t mean just to me, just to, like, anyone at all. Like if you had said you were talking to like, Jihoonie, I would be like ‘oh okay’ because at least it’s someone but then now you’re saying you weren’t and it’s just—”

Minghao quickly puts a hand on Junhui’s shoulder to calm him down since he knows Junhui has a tendency to ramble like this if he gets particularly nervous or worked up about something. He keeps nodding and smiling at Junhui, who understands and takes a deep breath, nodding along with him.

The simple answer is ‘I didn’t think I had to’, which just reminds him of the exact reason for the fight. ‘I didn’t think I had to tell you how I feel, I thought you already knew.’ Minghao doesn’t want to be reminded of that, of Junhui pointing out that Minghao’s inability to say things is a hindrance to them.

But the alternative is lying to Junhui, making up some reason that sounds somewhat noble to save face and not deal with that again. 

“Okay so,” he starts, voice low and a bit shaky, scrunching his eyes shut. “So, uh… the thing about that is uh….”

“Um, HaoHao? Can you please stop doing that?” His voice is gentle and fond and not what Minghao was expecting.

“Uh, doing what?” He opens his eyes and dares himself to look at Junhui.

“You always seem sort of panicky whenever I try to ask you something, and then you answer like you think you’re going to get in trouble, like you’re scared of me.” Junhui’s expression is particularly hurt as he says this and Minghao really is an idiot, isn’t he? 

“Junnie, I’m sorry. I didn’t even know I was doing it—”

“That just makes it worse!” 

So not only is Minghao worried that Junhui will somehow ask him something related to his feelings, but he can’t even say that’s why he’s always so worried. And then all of it just made Junhui think that Minghao is scared of him and, likely, doesn’t trust him, which, you know, isn’t a nice feeling because he’s basically hurting Junhui. 

And that’s the exact thing Minghao has been trying to avoid.

But it’s just great, everything’s great, it’s all just great. “Junnie, you know that I trust you, like probably more than anyone, and I want to be able to tell you everything, I really do, it’s just that I can’t right now, and I’m sorry, I promise I’m working on it, I just don’t want you to be mad or anything but I still—” 

“Oh my god! No, wait, HaoHao, please don’t cry! I’m sorry,” Junhui says with a small panicked whine, gently swiping at Minghao’s eyes with his thumb. Minghao didn’t even realize he started crying. “I’m not mad, I just don’t like you thinking that you would somehow get in trouble if you said something to me. Oh no, I broke you,” he continues in a cooing ramble, cupping Minghao’s tear-stained cheeks in his palms and quickly kisses his forehead.

Minghao just sniffles. “You’re not going to get mad at my answers?”

“Why would I get mad? We agreed to tell each other about our concerns, didn’t we?” Junhui asks with a pout before straightening his neck and grinning. “Go ahead, tell me all your ugly answers! I can’t really promise I won’t get mad, but I promise that even if I do, I’ll still come back to you.”

Oh, no. Minghao cries a bit more, sniffling a few times as Junhui’s thumbs take turns brushing off oncoming tears. It takes a few minutes for him to calm down, with Junhui placing occasional kisses on his forehead to try and help, and Minghao covers Junhui’s hands with his own. 

“So about me not talking to anyone about my feelings for months before Jeonghannie…” he starts slowly and Junhui starts nodding enthusiastically. “My ugly answer is that I didn’t think I had to. I — It didn’t really occur to me for some reason.”

Junhui looks at him a little pitifully again as he pauses for a bit. “Why would I get mad about that?” he eventually asks in a soft voice, almost a whisper.

Minghao pouts. “B-because it’s like what you said during the fight that day, you were right that I didn’t tell y—”

“I don’t care about being right.” Junhui cuts in, looking a little disgusted. “I care that you were dealing with everything by yourself. I mean, I don’t totally blame you for not going to me, but at least I had Shua. And Mingyu has you now, but you…. You really thought you had to handle it all on your own. It must’ve been so hard, it kinda hurts for me to think about.”

Minghao nods a couple times, sniffling and trying to smile reassuringly. “It’s okay, it turned out okay.”

“You’re literally crying right now.”

“Right…” Minghao looks away, shy.

Junhui lets out a sigh through his nose and guides Minghao’s head back so he can press a soft kiss against Minghao’s lips. It’s sweet and gentle and it helps Minghao calm down even more.

“So you’re done doing that now?” Junhui asks quietly as he pulls back only a few inches.

“Yeah, um, Jeonghannie talked some sense into me.”

Junhui smiles as his thumbs brush away at another set of tears before he says, “Remind me to buy him a meal then. I do have another question, though, and please don’t panic this time.” Minghao sniffles again as he nods. “Why are you so scared of me being mad?” He takes his hands away from Minghao’s face.

Minghao’s hands replace Junhui’s in holding his own cheeks, taking a deep breath and feeling something pressing on his chest. “I l— I don’t want you to leave again.” He covers his face and he doesn’t know why it hurts so much when he says that.

“You think I’m going to get so mad over something and leave you?” 

That’s what it boils down to, isn’t it? Thinking that Junhui will up and leave when he realizes he deserves better than someone who can’t even tell him how they feel? Minghao nods. After that week of giving each other space on not-so-great terms, he doesn’t think he can do something like that again. He doesn’t want to.

Junhui sighs again, peeling Minghao’s hands off his face. “What am I going to do with you?” he asks in a quiet amused tone and holds Minghao’s hands in his. “It’s like you don’t listen to me all those times I say I would still pick you and come back to you if I get mad. No? None of this sounds familiar?”

An embarrassed whine leaves Minghao’s throat as he weakly hits Junhui on the arm. “I don’t know, I guess it’s like what you told Mingyu, ‘those thoughts that you know sound ridiculous and don’t make sense, but you can’t help but worry anyway?’”

“Oh, so you do listen to me.” Junhui laughs, playfully shoving Minghao a little. 

Minghao shoves him back, muttering back an “Of course I do,” and eventually, they fall into silence for a good twenty minutes, aside from Minghao’s occasional sniffles, staring at the ceiling again.

When Minghao leans up on his elbow and looks over at Junhui to ask his own question, he sees that the older boy has fallen asleep. Right, Junhui can sleep easily whenever there's enough of a lull, the lucky bastard. 

Minghao wipes any of his remaining tears on his sleeve and gently brushes some hair from Junhui’s face. He's not sure what propels him to do so but he caresses the back of his finger down Junhui’s cheek, and it’s only a few moments later that he catches himself staring a bit too long. He quickly gets up to find a tissue box to finally blow his nose before sneaking back on the bed, hoping the movement doesn’t stir Junhui too much.

Good night, Jun-ah.

August

The rest of the week is a blur of Performance Team meetings and Mingyu visits. Except now, even though Mingyu always bursts in specifically calling for Minghao’s help, he actually wants Junhui to stay in the room while he talks about the conflicting feelings he has about Wonwoo. Minghao is actually impressed by how he’s able to pull it off without mentioning a name, since Mingyu mostly focuses on the feelings aspect and some descriptions like “he’s so cute”, among others that Minghao doesn’t want to think about.

It goes well, for the most part, as Junhui echoes off suggestions that Minghao is guessing have come from Jisoo before, while Minghao likes to push the “you need to talk to each other” angle that he’s taken a liking to since his conversation with Jeonghan.

In one of their chats, Mingyu mentions the day of 96-line movie outing to Junhui, citing it as the day he first told Minghao about his feelings (trying to imply he would’ve told Junhui if he weren’t out at the movie as a save to avoid mentioning he would’ve taken tried to watch movies with Wonwoo if it weren’t for that) and Minghao remembers something.

During the next Performance Team choreography session, Minghao approaches Soonyoung, the boy on the floor crouched over his notebook, drawing little circles and arrows about.

Carefully, he sits beside his team leader and leans a head on his shoulder.

“Yes, Myungho, how can I help you?” Soonyoung says in an even tone, free hand coming up to pet his head as he scribbles a note next to one of his arrows.

“I wanted to ask you something. Not dance related.”

“You picked an odd time but sure.”

Minghao clears his throat. “Can you tell me what happened with you and Jihoonie on that 96-line movie outing a few days back?”

Soonyoung’s pencil stops. “What did Jun tell you?”

“Nothing much, just that he and Wonwoo felt like they were on the sidelines of a date at some points,” Minghao recites in a low voice, looking over at Chan and Junhui experimenting with some moves in the mirror. 

“Ah, okay,” Soonyoung mutters to himself, pencil moving again to label another circle.

“I’m grateful for whatever it was, though, since he said it’s why he came to see me that night and we actually weren’t doing so well before then,” Minghao adds quickly. “I’m just curious why you made him promise not to tell.” He finishes in a small voice, and when this time, Soonyoung just puts the pencil flat down and inhales sharply, Minghao gets startled and moves off his shoulder.

“He said we made him promise?” Soonyoung asks in disbelief, quickly turning his head to look at him. Minghao nods twice and Soonyoung sighs. “Wh — I… you guys really are the weirdest couple. Super cute, but weird.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Soonyoung looks up at the mirror at Chan and Junhui’s dancing reflections before continuing his notes and shaking his head. “Jihoonie and I didn’t make him promise anything. He made the three of us promise not to talk about it.”

“What? Why?” Minghao asks in a bit more of a pout thank he was aiming for.

“Look, Myungho,” Soonyoung says with another sigh, flipping the page of his notebook to continue drawing, “I wish I could tell you but Junnie has too much on me that I’m not going to risk it. You can probably figure it out though.”

Minghao’s jaw drops. “But, team leader!” He actually starts pouting. “What about that spat you got into with him about the selfie? You didn’t want him to say anything.”

“That’s not related. Well, sorta, I’m not sure with Jun. But the stuff before the selfie was mostly about Jihoonie that he’s uh, reserved about and I gotta protect that,” Soonyoung answers distractedly and picks up the notebook to show Minghao. “What do you think of this?”

Minghao is a little bitter by how easily he got distracted, but it’s dance so what can he do? Besides, he was lucky to get that much out of Soonyoung during a choreo and dance planning session. He drops the topic for the rest of the session, mind too focused on all the moves and practice anyways.

While leaving the studio, Junhui tells Minghao to go ahead without him since he has a vocal lesson right after. Despite his confusion after his chat with Soonyoung, he feels much better since all the dancing helped him relieve some stress. 

By the time he gets home, it’s late afternoon about to turn into evening. After his shower, he flops face-first on his bed in his fluffy robe, exhausted. Junhui wouldn’t be back for another two hours or so, so he has time to himself before then, but does he really need to ambush Junhui with what Soonyoung told him today? 

The more he thinks about it, the more the thought of it makes Minghao feel a bit gross, like he’d be going too far into demanding clingy territory. It feels like he’d also be going against everything Jeonghan advised him, constantly thinking about things he shouldn’t and tripping over himself. Junhui didn’t want him to know for a reason so Minghao figures it’s best to forget about it.

The door clicks open. “Junnie! …Oh, it’s just you.”

“Mingyu, this is literally my room, don’t act so surprised that I’m the one here,” Minghao replies in a muffled grunt, barely lifting his head to look at the door.

Mingyu starts pouting and takes a seat in the bean bag chair again. “Yeah, but he’s usually here with you.”

“So when you’ve been coming in my room, were you looking for Junnie specifically or you were looking for me and just accepted that he was here?” 

“I —” Mingyu stops, moving his mouth while not making sounds. “Okay, I know how this is starting to look….”

“You’ve been coming in my room knowing Junnie would most likely be here with me, despite also knowing that you cannot talk about your crush in front of him because it’s literally on his best friend. Make it make sense, Mingyu.” Not to mention all the times he’s been trying to make out with Junhui but Mingyu would burst in to interrupt. Minghao is still not bitter. Nope.

“Oh my god, that’s right! I forgot they’re best friends.” Mingyu comes over to sit in the bean bag chair again. “Thanks for not telling him then.”

Minghao lets out an exaggerated groan. “I want to strangle you right now, I really do.” Mingyu is lucky Minghao is basically depleted of energy as he drops his head back into the mattress. 

Mingyu just pats the back of Minghao’s head. “I thought the choreo sessions usually make you less cranky.”

With another tired groan, Minghao swings his arm, trying to swat Mingyu’s hand away. “You make me cranky. I can’t believe you came into my room looking for my boyfriend instead of me.”

“Pft,” Mingyu scoffs, turning away, “you love me.”

“Ugh, unfortunately.”

Mingyu then reaches over and grabs one of the ends of Minghao’s robe sash that was dangling over the edge of the bed. “So how’s stuff with Junnie going?” he asks absent-mindedly, focused on the sash. “You guys still disgustingly cute?”

“We are, thank you very much,” Minghao huffs. He has no intention of mentioning that he cried in front of Junhui the other night, absolutely not. “He’s at vocal lessons, if you’re actually still looking for him.” 

Mingyu just hums, still sounding distracted.

Minghao clears his throat. “Mingyu, you’re obviously trying to fish for something. No need to beat around the bush, what do you want to tell me?” he says cautiously.

“I uh, I did what Junnie said, I thought a lot about it.” Mingyu starts nodding a bunch of times, like he’s psyching himself up. “I’m going to ask Wonwoo out.”

“That’s great!” Minghao exclaims with a bright smile, exerting enough effort to clap a hand at Mingyu’s back. “Good luck.”

Mingyu clears his throat. “Thanks….”

“You still sound unsure about something.”

“I’m just nervous. What if he says no? It’s been hard to spend time with him lately. He’s always with Shua and Junnie when I look for him,” Mingyu mumbles grumpily. 

Minghao actually isn’t sure how good he is at this. Previously, Mingyu mostly just vented everything without really looking for a solution; Minghao was great at listening. Telling Mingyu what to do about most things? Also fine. Telling Mingyu what to do about romantic prospects? Not so much. 

“If he says no, then he says no,” he says cautiously, watching as Mingyu frowns. “But then at least you would’ve told him and you wouldn’t be carrying around these feelings anymore. At least he’ll know. You’re close so he’ll be respectful, just make sure you are too.”

“I guess,” Mingyu replies with a long sad sigh. He looks like he’s seriously thinking for a while before he says, “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Myungho!”

“You’re welcome. You’ll be fine.”

Another silence falls between them for a few moments and Minghao pushes himself up, leaning on his elbows. “Hey Mingyu?”

“Yeah?”

Minghao purses his lips for a second. “I really love Junnie.”

There’s a brief pause and Minghao watches Mingyu to check his reaction. Mingyu slowly turns to look at him, looking slightly confused. “I know you do, buddy,” he says with a nervous smile and an odd tone, like Minghao just told him rain is wet. “But it’s nice to hear you say, I guess.”

It’s not quite the reaction Minghao was expecting so neither speak for another few seconds before Minghao’s defenses kick in and he reaches for a pillow to smack Mingyu’s face. “What do you mean, you know?”

Mingyu starts laughing. “You literally damaged my forehead when I hugged him, how do you not think you’re obvious?”

“You’re actually so dramatic, it was just a finger flick.”

“Yeah, but you have martial arts training and my face is my actual source of income.”

“Don’t hug him for too long then!”

“Stop being a jealous baby then!”

Minghao lands another hit to Mingyu’s face with the pillow before putting it under his chin. “Ugh, I really hate you sometimes.”

Mingyu just snickers. “Love you too, weirdo.”

“Disgusting.” Minghao huffs, dropping his head back on the bed. Mingyu just pats him on the back and he thinks Mingyu starts talking again but he can’t focus on the words as the exhaustion kicks in and he slowly gets swallowed by sleep.

------

When Minghao wakes up the next morning, he takes note of two things: first, he’s actually laying in the bed correctly when he’s pretty sure he was last laying across it, and second, he’s alone. Usually Junhui is here waking him up or vice versa. He scrambles to get up and checks his phone, finding messages from both Junhui and Mingyu.

Junjunjun: lol there are other ways of telling me u don’t want me to sleep in your room than hogging the entire bed

Junjunjun: it’s ok u looked like u were sleeping so soundly i couldn’t bring myself to wake u and make u move (♡°▽°♡)

Junjunjun: but i did move u so u wouldn’t get sore later. I didn’t stay since i wasn’t sure if i was allowed when u weren’t awake lol seungkwannie was so surprised i came back u should’ve seen his face

Minghao frowns, a little sad that Junhui chose not to stay in his room, despite the attached selfie Junhui sent of him next to a disgruntled-looking Seungkwan. It’s cute but Seungkwan’s expression is clearly too staged to be the one Junhui’s referring to. He looks at the newest message from six minutes ago.

Junjunjun: if you’re looking for me today i’m with wonu and shua (o˘◡˘o) we’re working on our hush-hush project~

Me: jun-ah you’re always allowed to stay in my room. don’t do that again (￣^￣)ゞ

Me: have fun with your project. work hard. tell them i said hi

He’s picking out which sticker he wants to send and is surprised when Junhui quickly replies.

Junjunjun: don’t move you again? but haohao your back! Σ(°△°|||)

Junjunjun: wonu says hi, shua says ‘hi eisa ilu and I’m happy for u guys but please stop distracting junnie’ so gotta go ─=≡Σ((( つ≧ω≦)つ

Me: I meant don’t not stay jun-ah, I want you to stay. thanks for moving me (￣▽￣)

Minghao doesn’t really expect a response but lets himself be a little disappointed anyway when Junhui doesn’t send one. He checks his messages from Mingyu.

Kim [dog emoji]: u really fell asleep when i’m pouring my heart out to u wow

Kim [dog emoji]: best friend card revoked

Kim [dog emoji]: jk i wasn’t actually saying anything. toad.

Kim [dog emoji]: btw I told junnie

Me: who is this

Me: but i’m glad you told junnie. good luck with wonwoo

He attaches a confident-looking sticker and sighs, putting his phone on his side table and picks out an outfit for his individual dance lesson for the day. T-shirt, track pants and bucket hat never steered him wrong before, so why stop now?

Minghao’s individual dance lesson ran for about seven hours today and it’s still decently early in the evening when he leaves the studio. On the way back, he goes into a clothing store and picks out a black casual button-up shirt a few sizes bigger than his frame. Plastic bag in hand, he can’t help grinning as he makes his way back to the dorm.

When he opens his door to his room, he’s greeted with the sight of Junhui sitting on the bed, legs dangling over the edge and scrolling through his phone.

“Jun-ah!” Minghao exclaims, relieved. He nudges the door closed with his foot and tosses his bucket hat in the bean bag chair. He then pulls the shirt out of the plastic bag, letting it drop to the floor unceremoniously as he makes his way over to his boyfriend, holding the shirt open by the shoulders.

Junhui looks up and sputters out some confused noises as Minghao holds the shirt against his front. “What’s this, what’s going on?”

“I got you this,” Minghao chimes happily, sitting on the edge of the bed in front of Junhui. “I was a bit worried about the size but I think I know you by now.” He holds up the shirt again to make sure.

A grin creeps on Junhui’s face. “You got this for me?” he echoes, still in disbelief. Minghao nods proudly, passing the shirt over. “Thank you, what’s the occasion?” He starts inspecting it before undoing the buttons to try it on.

“I know you have a lot of white shirts and I wanted to see you try a look with this.”

Junhui stands up, putting it on over his current t-shirt. “But you know I can still just wear a white t-shirt under this, right? Like if I don’t button it up?”

Minghao scoffs and waves a dismissive hand. “Yeah, but it will still be mostly a black look.”

Junhui buttons it up and starts turning to check the movement. Overall, the shirt is still slightly loose on him, but not overly so, and Minghao is trying very hard to resist tucking the ends into Junhui’s pants for a better aesthetic but it’s fine.

“I was thinking you could wear it when you perform your piece with Wonwoo and Shua,” Minghao says, standing to join Junhui and make adjustments.

“Ah, so that’s your angle,” Junhui replies, still smiling. Minghao hums as he pinches at the tops of the shoulders to adjust the fit and Junhui lets him, even when he starts folding up the sleeves halfway up his forearms and brushing away at mostly imaginary dust. “Satisfied?” Junhui holds his arms out and then starts doing various poses.

Minghao backs up and thinks it over, nodding. “But how’s it feel? It’s comfortable and everything?” It’s mostly a rhetorical question, since he can see for himself how it fits and how baggy it is, but he wants to ask anyway. In the midst of Junhui’s posing, Minghao takes out his phone and quickly snaps a few pictures

Junhui giggles a little. “Yes, HaoHao, you picked the size well. I love it, thank you. I’ll definitely wear it.” He gestures for Minghao to pass him his own phone, which he uses to open the camera app in selfie mode to look at himself. He messes with his hair a little before taking a few shots that Minghao definitely joins in on. 

When he’s satisfied, Junhui pockets his phone and starts undoing the buttons but then pauses. He holds his arms open, gesturing Minghao to him. Curious, Minghao goes over and Junhui sweeps him up in a warm hug, rubbing his back. 

When Minghao tries pulling back after a few seconds, thinking the hug is over, Junhui just keeps a firm hold around him. It lasts for far longer than Minghao expected, but it’s so warm and affectionate and absolutely Junhui that Minghao doesn’t mind, letting himself close his eyes over Junhui’s shoulder, despite his heartbeat going particularly crazy. 

Finally Junhui lets go, pulling back and beaming. “Thank you, HaoHao.”

Minghao clears his throat. “I um, I’m glad you like it. You'll let me style you, right?” he asks, remembering the question he was going to ask before the hug happened. He decides to finish unbuttoning the rest of Junhui’s shirt himself.

“Of course, I don't see how I wouldn't, you're really good at it. But you know this is most likely just a project for fun? We might not even film anything for it or use it on stages.” 

Minghao nods, helping Junhui shrug off the shirt. “But you'll still perform it in front of the rest of us, won't you?”

“Ah, so I'll wear it then. Okay,” Junhui agrees easily. He seems surprised when Minghao takes the shirt from his hands and just tosses it into the bean bag chair to join the bucket hat. “Don't I have to bring that to Mingyu for washing?”

“Do it later,” Minghao replies with another hand wave, pulling Junhui’s hands to lead him back to sit on the bed. “I want you to tell me about how your project is going.”

Junhui contemplatively looks towards the ceiling before asking, “Hm, what do you want to know?”

Minghao sits upright and lightly shakes his head, smiling. “Anything, everything. Whatever you want.” He swings their joined hands back and forth.

“Ah,” Junhui says, suddenly thinking of something, “well you know how I was opposed to the falsetto?” Minghao nods. “Turns out they make good points because the contrast of the falsetto with Wonwoo’s low rapping voice is too good for Shua to want to pass up.”

Minghao lightly shakes Junhui’s knee before reconnecting their hands. “You have a good falsetto voice, I don’t know why you don't like it.”

“It’s not that I don't like it,” Junhui whines, pursing his lips, “I just don't want to rely on it or have that be my only thing, you know? I wanna sing other styles too.” 

“Hm, that’s fair.”

“And we’re omitting my dance,” Junhui adds quickly. “It would be weird, right? Shua has to stay still because of his guitar and then there’s just me and Wonwoo… doing whatever?”

Minghao giggles trying to imagine it.

“See? So we’ll just be on stools, unless Wonwoo gets too into the rap and starts moving around too much,” Junhui rushes out. Then he pauses and thinks to himself. “Actually, I don’t think I want a stool, I might be better standing. I wonder if Wonu will do that too. He’s not really a stool type of rapper, do you think? I should text Wonu and ask.” 

Junhui doesn’t make any move to actually take his phone out, Minghao notices, just keeps going.

“Okay, Wonu and I will be standing and Shua will sit with his guitar. So I guess still no dancing but I don’t really need to showcase that for now. And it’ll just take more time trying to teach Wonwoo-yah too. Maybe we’ll just focus on the lyrics and stuff, right? Ah, I still didn’t get to show you the lyrics I was working on. Okay, I’ll show you next time but Wonu and I should work on that first, don’t you think?”

Minghao is stunned for a few seconds, blinking a few times and trying to absorb everything Junhui just said. “I — uh, yes. Lyrics. Definitely. I’ll look at them for you,” he replies, before bubbling out some more giggles. “You’re so cute.”

“Ah? All of a sudden?” Junhui leans back a bit, a little shocked but pleasantly so.

Minghao shakes his head. “No, always. You’re always cute.”

Junhui pulls his hands away from Minghao in order to cover his face, laughing as he falls backward on the bed. “Wait, no, you have to warn me when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Say cute things. I wasn’t ready.” Junhui turns on his side and tucks his knees to his chest. “Warn me next time.”

“I can’t,” Minghao replies with another giggle. “I don’t plan them, it just comes out.”

Junhui stretches out his body like a starfish and exhales a deep sigh. “I guess my fate is to suffer then.”

Minghao slaps the closest of Junhui’s legs. “You’re saying that me telling you cute things is suffering?”

“It’s not good for my heart, HaoHao, it gets all bubbly and I wanna squish you and pinch your cheeks or something.”

“Do you want me to stop saying cute things to you then?” Minghao teases.

Junhui makes a long humming sound, staring at the ceiling as he thinks it over. “Never mind, that’s way worse.”

Minghao just smiles, gently shaking Junhui’s ankle so he doesn’t fall asleep. “I think you’ll do great with your project,” he says in a gentle voice. “You’re a good singer, even if you don’t use the falsetto. You’re good at writing lyrics too, just make sure they match Wonwoo’s. But no matter what, I’m sure you’ll do well. Just think of me if you get nervous.”

After a few silent beats, Junhui groans, covering his face again and kicking his limbs about. “Ah, HaoHao, my heart is doing the thing again.”

Minghao lets out another set of giggles, patting Junhui’s knee. “Good, keep it like that.” He stands up, grabbing the shirt and bucket hat from the bean bag chair. “I have to shower, but you can stay,” he says, putting the bucket hat back in the closet and heading towards the door.

“Oh yeah, you just came back from your dance lesson,” Junhui says, tossing on the bed as the realization sets in. “Wait, so that means you sat with me while you were all sweaty? Why didn’t you shower earlier? I hugged you.” He spits out the last part with a cutely exaggerated nuance of venom, which is not something Minghao thought he would ever be entertained by.

He just smiles. “I wanted to see you first when I got back.”

Junhui pauses for a few seconds before he laughs and covers his face again. “Ah, HaoHao, you can’t use my lines against me like that. Ai — okay, just go take your shower,” he says quickly as he takes out his phone, laying on his side as he scrolls through the screen.

Minghao gathers up the clothes he’s going to change into and has one foot out the door when he pauses and looks back. “Jun-ah, you’ll be here when I get back, right?”

Junhui lowers the phone and bit and lets out a small chuckle. “If that’s what you want, yeah.” He says it like it’s no big deal, like him saying no wouldn’t scare the shit out of Minghao.

He just nods firmly. “Okay.” He leaves the room, repeating “okay” a couple times to himself as he makes his way down the hallway and tosses the shirt in the laundry basket on his way to shower.

When he gets back, Junhui is still there in his room, fast asleep. Minghao sighs in relief and goes over to pick up Junhui’s phone from next to his face, placing it on the side table. It makes him laugh a little, at how often Junhui falls asleep like this. Minghao doesn’t mind looking after him though.

-----

After his last visit where he declared he was sure he was going to ask Wonwoo out, Minghao is pretty sure Mingyu would be done coming to his room to vent or ask for advice for a while. After they get home the next day, he finds out he is wrong.

Oh my god, not now. Minghao thinks he hears his door open and then click close a few moments later. He’s laying on his back, Junhui’s tongue is dancing in his mouth, hand going up his side, and Minghao is just trying to enjoy it. He deserves that, doesn’t he?

He tightens his hold around the back of Junhui’s head when he hears, “Myungho, I need your help,” in an ever-familiar pouty whine.

“Mingyu, we’re kind of busy right now,” Junhui says before pulling Minghao’s bottom lip into his mouth.

Mingyu just sighs dramatically and Minghao dares to open his eyes to look over at him. Mingyu is going over to Minghao’s wine cooler and pouring himself a glass like he owns the place. 

Kim Mingyu hates Xu Minghao’s happiness: confirmed. 

Minghao taps Junhui’s back to get off him. They regrettably part and sit up to face their guest and Minghao combs his hand through his bangs. “You know, I’m going to start charging you for that. This better be good,” he says, trying to catch his breath and leaning his elbows on his knees.

Once again, Mingyu sits himself down in Minghao’s beanbag chair, “Well, it’s just…” he starts hesitantly.

Minghao wants to be angry, but ever since that visit where Junhui talked it through with him, seeing how nervous Mingyu is just reminds Minghao of Junhui before he confessed and Minghao softens. But only a little bit. 

He looks over and sees Junhui scrolling through his phone, seemingly deciding this isn’t his business this time, but he sure as hell isn’t leaving this room. Minghao gently leads Junhui’s head to lean on his shoulder and pats his head.

“I tried to ask him out,” Mingyu continues.

“And what happened?”

“He asked who else was going.”

“Did you tell him you meant as a date?” Minghao asks with growing impatience. He hears Junhui exhale a sort of laugh through his nose. Minghao just pretends it’s something funny on the screen and strokes his hair.

Mingyu sips the wine in his glass and reaches for the bottle for a refill. Minghao reaches over to confiscate it from him.

“Did you or did you not tell him you wanted it to be a date?” Minghao’s voice lowers. He hears Junhui laugh a little again and feels a hand patting his knee.

“I sort of,” Mingyu says, except he sounds unsure and creaky and Minghao doesn’t like it at all. “Okay, so — so I did say I wanted it to be just us two. But then he looked so disappointed and I panicked. I tried to save it because I was really worried he’d say no and I said…” he trails off, meeting Minghao’s eyes guiltily.

“I said you would be there,” is what Minghao hears before he stands up, lets out a small Mandarin expletive, and fakes at least two swings. Junhui reflexively grabs his arms to hold him back, taking the bottle from his boyfriend’s hand.

“What? Why would you do that? You literally had one job, Mingyu! All you had to do was—” tell him how you feel. Minghao suddenly stops himself and his eyes glance over at Junhui, who’s too busy putting the bottle back to notice.

None of them speak for a few moments until Junhui’s hand moves down Minghao’s arm to hold his hand. “HaoHao, we can go on the double date with them, I don’t mind,” he says cheerfully, swinging their arms.

“Junhui,” he starts in exasperated Mandarin. “Are you sure you want to? You don’t have to do anything because of him. You don’t even know who the other guy is.”

“Yeah, it’s okay,” Junhui answers in Korean because Junhui isn’t as rude or annoyed as Minghao feels right now. “I know Mingyu, and he needs help so….” He swings their arms again and Minghao is suspicious that Junhui knows he has a soft spot for it.

He reluctantly nods and Junhui wraps him in a hug. Over Junhui’s shoulder, Minghao mouths ‘you got lucky, bastard’ to Mingyu. Mingyu just grins.

“So, when is it?” Junhui asks, pulling away from Minghao.

“Uh, Thursday?” Mingyu replies. 

The date he was already set to go out with Junhui, two days from now. Minghao doesn’t want to admit it, but he was really looking forward to that date he set with Junhui since they don’t often get free time to do stuff like that and it would be their first official one since the fight. And he booked it two weeks ago.  

This bastard. 

Junhui seems to sense Minghao’s realization and quickly hugs him again, preventing him from lunging at Mingyu.

“What, why?” Mingyu asks frantically, hugging his arms to his chest and going to the opposite corner of the room to hide.

“Nothing, we’ll be there!” Junhui calls over his shoulder at him. He pulls back to look at Minghao and holds his face in his hands. “We’ll just go out another day, okay?”

Minghao pouts, which is more noticeable than usual since Junhui’s hands are pushing against his cheeks. Junhui’s eyes stare into his for a while, a little bit pleading, kind of reassuring, and Minghao feels his anger somehow fade away. He nods twice, despite his disappointment about the date, and Junhui responds with a forehead kiss.

“Wow,” Mingyu marvels from his corner.

Both their attention goes back to him and Junhui’s hands fall from Minghao’s face. 

“What?” Minghao asks a little bit too defensively, which just makes Junhui laugh.

“Uh, nothing,” Mingyu replies. “You’re both so cute, I want that,” he adds quietly.

“Please leave,” Minghao orders, closing his eyes and waving his hand in a shooing motion.

Mingyu doesn’t need to be told twice and scrambles out, leaving them alone finally.

“So, reschedule?” Junhui offers, going back over to the bed to pick up his phone. “I can do another two weeks from now,” he says, looking through the screens.

Minghao just nods and flops face-first onto the bed with a groan, his mood effectively ruined.

-----

When Thursday afternoon finally comes, he and Junhui head down to the sixth floor to meet Mingyu. Minghao’s clothes are a bit more casual than usual; he picked out a black t-shirt under an open deep blue button-up top with ripped jeans. He still makes sure that it matches Junhui’s outfit of black jeans with a blue t-shirt under a denim jacket. It’s a small thing, the matching, but it’s important to Minghao.

Junhui senses his trepidation and tightens his grip on Minghao’s hand. The sixth floor dorm door opens, revealing an energetic Mingyu listing off, what Minghao is assuming, what he’s planned for today, and an attentive Wonwoo, smiling and nodding along to the beats Mingyu’s listing. Minghao is a bit curious about what Mingyu was worried about, Wonwoo seems interested enough.

“Oh, hey! Look, Myungho and Junnie are here!” Mingyu exclaims with a gesture towards them.

“Yes, they are,” Wonwoo says with a chuckle and slight fascination in his voice, pushing his glasses up. Minghao wants to know how Wonwoo would be amused by Mingyu stating the obvious but he won’t ask.

“Oh! Wonwoo-yah?” Junhui starts but Minghao quickly elbows him. Gently, of course.

Mingyu claps his hands. “Okay, let’s get going then.” He leads the way down the stairs.

“HaoHao , why didn’t you tell me it was Wonwoo?” Junhui asks in Mandarin. His feet are moving quicker than usual and Minghao’s focusing on keeping up.

“Mingyu didn’t want me to tell anyone, he got pouty enough when he found out that you knew he even had a crush,” Minghao responds, still in Mandarin. “And I thought you’d immediately go tell Wonwoo.”

“You have so little faith in me, HaoHao,” Junhui jokes with a tsk . He’s still smiling when they exit the building.

On the streets, Mingyu and Wonwoo walk closely in front and Minghao eyes the distance between them.

“Guys, we may not understand Mandarin, but we know when you’re saying our names,” Mingyu reminds casually, craning his neck to look back at them.

Junhui repeats Wonwoo and Mingyu’s names rapidly in an almost tongue-twister fashion, sticking his tongue out at the end. This earns laughs from both Minghao and Wonwoo and Mingyu ducks a bit in embarrassment.

“So, where are we going?” Minghao asks after his giggles fizzle out.

“There’s a village I wanted to show Wonwoo,” Mingyu says.

“But why do you need us here?” Minghao asks out. Junhui gives Minghao a mildly offended look. “What? It’s a village he picked out for Wonwoo, not us.”

“That’s not the point, HaoHao,” Junhui explains softly in hushed Mandarin.

“Then what is the point, Jun-fei?” Minghao replies in equally hushed Mandarin.

Junhui chuckles nervously, not really sure of the answer himself. Minghao lets go of his hand and bounds up, slinging an arm around Wonwoo’s shoulders as he picks up his pace. Mingyu gets pushed back towards Junhui in the process.

“So, Wonwoo, let’s talk,” Minghao says, gleaming over his shoulder to peek at Mingyu.

Mingyu’s jaw drops and he turns to Junhui. “Junnie, please stop him,” he pleads in a whining tone Minghao’s heard too many times.

Junhui responds with a wide-eyed shrug. “Literally out of my hands now,” he replies, holding up the hand Minghao abandoned for Mingyu to see.

That’s all Minghao hears of them before picking up the pace beside Wonwoo, pulling him a few good feet ahead of his best friend and his boyfriend.

“You and Junnie are wearing couple outfits, it’s really cute,” Wonwoo muses suddenly, looking up and down at Minghao’s attire.

Minghao beams. “Thank you, it was my idea.” He moves a gesturing hand up and down himself. “It’s my style.”

Wonwoo laughs and doesn’t have anything to say to that. Minghao watches his face for a bit.

“So, tell me, Wonwoo,” he says, leaning a bit closer to him. “What did Mingyu tell you about today?”

“Oh, uh,” Wonwoo says with a nervous chuckle, “he just said there was a village he wanted to show me.”

Minghao hums and nods, waiting for Wonwoo to keep going but he seems too nervous. Minghao’s going to have to work harder to coax answers out of him, it seems. “He told me you asked who else was going.”

“Yeah, that was— ” Wonwoo adjusts his glasses again, starting over again. “I was trying to gauge if he meant as a group or something. Like if he was already planning on going with Soonyoung or Seungkwannie and just wanted me to tag along or something,” he shrugs.

Minghao’s mouth furrows in a pout when he senses disappointment in Wonwoo’s voice. “What did you want it to be?”

“I wasn’t sure, that’s why I asked who was going. At first he said it was supposed to be just us two but then he said ‘oh, Myungho’s coming’. I said ‘really?’ and he said ‘yeah, of course’. He didn’t mention Junnie but I figured he might come if you were going.”

Minghao thinks it over for a bit, hearing Mingyu from behind them yell to turn at the next corner. He waves his free hand in acknowledgement. “Listen to me, Wonwoo. Mingyu’s a big clumsy idiot,” he says urgently. Wonwoo lets out a small, amused laugh. “He wanted to ask you out on a date but got scared because he said you looked disappointed. He just threw in there that I was coming so you’d still agree to go because he really wanted to go out with you. We’re not supposed to be here, this isn’t a group hangout, Junnie thinks this is a double date to help Mingyu.”

Wonwoo turns to look over his shoulder back at Mingyu and Junhui. Minghao follows suit. They probably look like weird meerkats peeking over in the space between their shoulders, and Junhui makes a curious face at them as such. They turn back in sync, causing Mingyu to yell out for their attention. They ignore him.

Wonwoo starts chuckling and says in a low voice, “I know I said I wasn’t sure before but I was sort of hoping it was a date?” Minghao looks at him doubtfully. “It’d just be embarrassing if I was hoping it was a date and Mingyu did just want it to be a casual hangout.”

Minghao can sympathize with that. He and Wonwoo are a lot more alike than most of the others so he can understand Wonwoo guarding himself a bit until he was certain he felt safe.

Wonwoo continues. “He probably thought I looked disappointed because he only said there was a village he wanted to show me, like it was just a hangout.”

“But he said it was supposed to just be you two,” Minghao points out in a flat tone, trying to make sense of the mess Mingyu made.

“He did,” Wonwoo clarifies. “But that could just be any normal two-person hangout, not like a date- date, you know? Like how Junnie and Soonyoung go hang out all the time, or how if you and I go hang out. Which we should do one day.” 

“We should, ” Minghao muses as Mingyu’s voice behind them yells that they’re almost there. After a few more steps, Minghao catches sight of flower-painted stairs in the alley and figures that this is it. He suddenly retracts his arm from Wonwoo, backs off, and slows his pace.

“We’re done here,” Minghao says, holding his hands up in surrender. He goes over and grabs Junhui’s hand again. “Fix this,” he hisses with a finger pointed in Mingyu’s face before pulling a confused Junhui off.

When Wonwoo whirls around to see what Minghao’s doing, Minghao just gestures between them while walking backwards. “You two need to talk,” he calls before turning back and heading towards a nearby café he saw along the way. “Dragged us out here for nothing,” he grumbles to himself. They clearly made this more complicated than they had to if they’d just talked.

However, Junhui catches it and starts laughing, waving back at Mingyu and Wonwoo, and letting Minghao drag him away. “We can still take pictures on the stairs while we’re here, HaoHao . I know how much you like that stuff,” he offers.

Minghao thinks about it, “I do.” He stops walking. “But those two idiots are there and they need alone time.”

Junhui takes out his phone and is already scrolling with his free hand. “They’re at the dandelion stairs, but there are also some fish ones nearby?”

Minghao nods. “But first, I wanna see if this place has tea I like.” He pulls Junhui into the café.

While they’re waiting for their order, Junhui whispers to Minghao, “So is this still a date?”

Minghao quickly nods because yes, it is and he won’t let Mingyu take that away. “I did initially ask you out for today, didn’t I?”

They decide to sit at one of the tables by the window for a while. Junhui is quickly on his phone, scrolling away, and Minghao just feels slightly better that he's not typing.

“So what did you and Wonwoo talk about that got you so riled up?” Junhui eventually asks with a grin around his iced americano straw, glancing over.

Minghao sighs dramatically, leaning his chin in his hand, elbow resting on the table. “He also wanted it to be a date. Mingyu just made him think it was always going to be a casual hangout so that's what made him seem disappointed, and that’s when Mingyu panicked and ugh….”

Junhui seems amused by his reaction, a fond exhale of a chuckle escaping through his nose and he puts his phone away. A few moments go by before he asks, “Did you really think I would’ve told Wonwoo about the crush?”

“I thought you would’ve either told him or hinted extremely hard,” Minghao replies firmly to defend himself. “You’re extremely loyal to him.”

Junhui doesn’t have a response, just smiles one of his typical cat smiles.

Minghao looks out the window. “I like that about you, though,” he says wistfully, almost as if he was talking to himself. He smiles a little at Junhui's reflection. 

Junhui still doesn’t say anything, but Minghao sees his reflection look inquisitively up towards him. There's an odd feeling in his throat as he watches some people passing by in the window before he turns back to stare down at his tea, placed in a standard to-go coffee cup.

“I like a lot of things about you, actually,” he adds, not really thinking about it, fingers skimming idly along the rim of his cup. “You’re kind, patient, you always look out for people, try to make sure they feel included and taken care of. You work really hard, sing really nice, dance really pretty.” He hears Junhui give a small chuckle at the last point.

“I —When we first started going out, I was really worried that I wouldn’t be able to return your feelings properly. But then, I don’t know, being with you made it really easy, even when I was scared. Then I didn't have to worry about that stuff. And even if I did worry, you were there. I should’ve told you that earlier,” Minghao says with a small sigh of regret, his lips coming together in a sort of sad, squished smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t.”

He finally looks up to meet Junhui’s eyes and really tries to see him. Right now, Junhui just seems confused at where Minghao’s going with this, and a bit like he’s afraid to speak in case he interrupts. But past that, Minghao also sees Junhui's pureness and his warmth and Minghao realizes what Jeonghan meant before.

“I don't think there was a specific moment or anything like that. I don’t really have any reason. Like, it was just you, and being with you. And all these things that just sort of built up until it was just there and it was the only thing that made sense.” Minghao sees Junhui mouth 'moment' inquisitively to himself and smiles. “I don’t know how to not be fascinated by you. I think — no, actually… I’m pretty sure I'm in love with you.”

Once he says it, Minghao doesn't feel an instinct to hide in embarrassment or rush to take it back the way he’s sure he would have before, the way he wanted to when he told Jeonghan. Instead, he starts giggling at Junhui as if he's been comfortably saying it the whole time. His smile only grows as he watches Junhui's expression absorb what he said and take on a wide grin.

Then suddenly, Junhui stands up, picks up his coffee cup, and reaches around the table to pull at Minghao’s hand. Curious, Minghao grabs his own cup and lets himself get dragged out of the café.

“Jun-ah, what's going on? Where are we going?” Minghao asks, watching plenty of the mural-decorated buildings pass by.

Junhui eventually stops beside the fish-painted stairs that he mentioned earlier.

“Jun-ah, what—” is all Minghao gets out before Junhui suddenly moves his hand behind Minghao's neck to bring their lips together.

There's suddenly a rush of emotions crashing into him, along with the faint taste of caffeine but Minghao doesn’t mind. It’s slow and sweet and Minghao can feel any remaining worries melt away. Junhui slowly licks into his mouth and Minghao almost wants to cry at how affectionate and tender it all is. The only thing Minghao can sense is Junhui.

There are a lot of things Minghao tries to communicate through the kiss: I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier , I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out , I’m sorry you waited so long, thank you for waiting for me. He hopes Junhui can understand him. It’s all a bit tricky when Minghao remembers he’s still holding the coffee cup with a good amount of tea left.

Junhui pulls back. "Go out with me?" he asks mischievously, eyes sparkling. He brings his straw to his lips and Minghao sees there wasn’t much left in Junhui’s cup anyways.

In any other moment before this, he would've hit Junhui in the arm for teasing him. This time, Minghao puts his chin in his hand and keeps his gaze right into Junhui's eyes. "Only if you go out with me first," he says boldly before he lets out some giggles.

"Whoa," Junhui exclaims, leaning back. "I didn't expect you to say something greasy like that." He shows Minghao his hands from where his fingers are scrunched up.

Minghao refuses to feel embarrassment for this. "Hmm, oh well, guess you'll have to live with it." He steals a quick kiss.

Junhui stands there stunned. “I’ve created a monster.”

Minghao nods and takes another quick kiss. “Yes. Yes, you have.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m in love with you too,” Junhui says after a beat, “by the way. In case you were wondering. Somehow.” He keeps shoving Minghao’s shoulder at each pause and looking like he’s waiting for a response to a bad joke he just told. 

Minghao sighs, trying to hide his smile, and takes Junhui’s hand to lead him directly in front of the fish-painted stairs where he insists on taking a number of selfies, mostly with Junhui. While Minghao scrolls through the camera roll to inspect them, Junhui fiddles with the empty coffee cups and makes a grumbled comment about Minghao being too artsy. Minghao ignores him, setting one of the selfies as his phone background.

They spend a good rest of their afternoon checking out all the murals, where Minghao does insist on taking plenty of pictures. Junhui is relieved when not all of them are selfies but is less relieved when Minghao asks for almost a whole pictorial to himself. Minghao does return the favor, however, so Junhui doesn’t complain as much.

Junhui complaints all but disappear when they find a golden cat statue that attracts some stray cats, including Junhui, that Minghao can’t resist taking more pictures. Watching Junhui so engrossed in communicating with the cats through the phone camera screen brings back the familiar sensation of watching Junhui with the kites during their first date. 

He quickly changes Junhui’s display picture in his phone to one of Junhui with the cats next to the golden statue. It takes Minghao a significant amount of effort to eventually drag Junhui away from the statue and the strays though. 

“How do you think Mingyu and Wonwoo are doing?” Junhui asks on the walk back to the dorm, swinging their linked hands lightly. 

Minghao makes a sour face to himself, “Hopefully goddamn well because I don’t know how else to help them.”

Junhui chuckles, bringing their hands up so he can kiss the back of Minghao’s hand. “By the way, I already knew Mingyu’s crush was on Wonwoo,” he says.

Minghao feels his brows furrow and his jaw fall open a bit. He’s mildly offended. “You already kne w ? How? Why didn’t you tell me?” Now Minghao feels like an idiot for trying too hard to keep it a secret for him.

Junhui laughs. “Mingyu wasn’t exactly subtle with his descriptions whenever he came to the room.” And Mingyu had been coming to the room for over a week. Great. “And I didn’t tell you because you were trying so hard to keep Mingyu’s secret for him. It was really cute.” Junhui giggles, reaching over to play with Minghao’s reddening ear.

Minghao pouts again, trying to feel his other ear to test if it’s as warm as he thinks. “So you were just acting when you saw Wonwoo today?”

“Of course! You think I was a child actor for nothing?”

Minghao sighs and looks away, smiling.

-----

When they step through the door, Seungkwan looks over from the sofa where he’s watching a movie with Hansol. Or at least, Seungkwan’s watching a movie because Hansol’s head isn’t even facing the screen; he’s just looking straight at Seungkwan.

“Jeonghan, they’re home!”

Minghao looks at Junhui to see if he knows what’s going on, but his boyfriend only offers a confused shrug.

Jeonghan emerges from the kitchen and launches himself towards the couple. “Oh good, you’re here. Do you know how late it is?”

Minghao checks his watch. “It’s…quarter to eleven.” His voice deflates.

Jeonghan gives him a pointed look that has ‘I told you so’ written all over it.

“Why are they watching a movie at eleven at night though?” Minghao whines a little as a way to get out of this.

Seungkwan turns around shocked. “Excuse me, at least we’re home where Jeonghan can see us!”

“You’re right, they should be sleeping,” Jeonghan concedes. “But since you were out late, I asked Seungkwannie to stay up and tell me when you’re home in case I missed it.”

“Then why is Hansol up?” Minghao fires back when he sees Seungkwan sticking his tongue out at him. In the midst of this, he barely notices Junhui slink his hand away and grumble his way back to his room.

At the mention of his name, Hansol silently stands up with a very noticeable “whoops” look on his face and heads to his room.

“See what you did?” Seungkwan asks in a whining exasperation, turning off the TV and chasing after Hansol.

Jeonghan turns to Minghao, “Well, I hope you have a good explanation for this.” 

Minghao stares right at Jeonghan and he pulls his lips into a tight line, trying to resist smiling. “I told Junnie,” he says, a little shy. 

Jeonghan gives him a disgruntled look, about to ask what he’s talking about. It’s when Minghao starts rocking back and forth on his heels that Jeonghan seems to figure it out.

“Oh my god, you told him?” he asks. Minghao nods quickly and Jeonghan’s hands cup his face. “Aww, sunflower!” he exclaims, hugging Minghao’s head to his chest.

Seungkwan emerges from Hansol’s room, toothbrush in hand, and gasps. “Wait, so he’s not even in trouble?”

Minghao makes a bratty face at Seungkwan whose expression melts into “fight mode” and fakes a swing at him. Minghao knows he’s safe since he’s still being embraced by Jeonghan.

When Jeonghan finally lets him go minutes later, he goes to his room and finds the familiar sight of Junhui already on his bed. He’s laying casually on his back, typing away on his phone screen.

Minghao goes to his closet to rummage for clothes to change into. “Hey, Jun-ah?” he calls over his shoulder.

“Yeah, HaoHao ?”

Minghao looks back and sees Junhui making faces at his screen, typing even more rapidly. “Back during that fight when you said I never told you how I felt,” he begins slowly, removing his shirt to replace it with the crewneck sweater he pulled from the closet.

“Yeah?” Junhui makes a sour face at the screen, but sits up so he’s cross-legged on the bed, facing Minghao.

“You looked like you were going to ask me to tell you how I felt but you never did.” Minghao plays with the shirt in his hand and Junhui pauses, eyes moving up to meet him. “And even a couple times since then…Why didn’t you?”

A look of 'oh that' crosses Junhui’s face as he nods. “Because I knew you weren’t ready. After I kissed you during the fight, I saw that you did love me, but I also saw that you weren’t ready to say it.” He shrugs casually. “Knowing that you did was good enough for me, and I didn’t want the first time you told me to be because I practically forced you.”

Then that means Junhui knew the whole time. And purposely avoiding saying it until Minghao did first. “Is that why you didn’t really mention your feelings since then?”

Junhui looks a bit sheepish and scratches the back of his neck. “Oh, you caught that? Yeah, I knew it would pressure you into thinking you had to say something back, but that’s not what I wanted. I mean, it was really hard at times not to tell you I love you, because you’re so cute and everything, but I could tell that you were freaking out about saying it back, you just wouldn’t tell me.”

“Okay, I was,” Minghao admits. “I just thought it was so important for you to hear me say and I wanted to be able to do that for you.”

Junhui makes a low kch sound in his throat and scrunches his face. “I mean, it was important to me to know how you felt and where I stood. It's sweet you wanted to say it for my sake, but, I don't know, I didn’t want you to think you were obligated to say you loved me, especially after I figured out that you did but couldn’t say it.”

Minghao hums in response and Junhui turns his attention back to his phone, making an offended gasp before typing once more and giggling to himself. Minghao nods, even though Junhui isn’t looking at him, and changes the rest of his clothes.

He has one foot in his track pants when Junhui speaks up again. “Besides, when you kissed me during the fight, you kind of did it like you were worried I’d leave you.” Junhui moves his lips together like he’s trying out new lip balm. “Like you were desperate,” he says with a grin that melts into a chuckle.

Minghao finishes pulling on his track pants with utmost swiftness to go over and hit his boyfriend with the nearest pillow. Junhui’s laughter does not fade at all, even after falling over backwards yet again. Minghao moves to sit on his knees on the bed. “I was, though,” he says through a pout.

“I know, HaoHao ,” Junhui replies, sitting up and quickly kissing Minghao’s mouth.

Minghao stares at him. “I love you,” he says with a firm nod.

“I know, HaoHao ,” Junhui repeats cheekily, earning him another smack with a pillow. “I love you too.”

Minghao rolls his eyes and hugs the pillow to his chest. “Who are you texting anyways?” Curiosity got the better of him and he couldn’t keep pretending he couldn’t see what Junhui was doing the whole time.

Junhui contemplates for a while. “Hmm….” He pauses for too long and Minghao watches him expectantly. “I’m having an affair,” he finally says in a completely flat voice.

Another pillow smack. “Shut up,” Minghao whines, grumpily laying down facing away from Junhui.

Junhui’s laughter increases and he lays down behind Minghao, passing his unlocked phone to him. Minghao feels Junhui drape himself over him to peer over his shoulder, scrolling to the top of a chat history.

Minghao eyes the screen; Jisoo’s Chinese name is at the top. Minghao slowly scrolls through.

Me: i’m back from my date w myungho

Me: he said he’s in love w me

Jisoo: and all you said was that u liked him

Jisoo: weak lolol

Me: I mean

Me: it’s a little forward lol

Jisoo: omg shut up

Jisoo: you’ve literally been dating for like six months

Jisoo: he finally told u though that’s great

Jisoo: do you feel better now?

Me: well I mean

Me: his confession sounded way better than mine did so I’m a little bummed

Jisoo: it’s not even a competition tho ???

Me: but I feel way better

Me: u interrupted me but ok

Jisoo: actually fight me then ???

Jisoo: but told u it would be worth it

Minghao’s thumb tries to scroll to see if there’s more but that’s it. He turns to look at Junhui who looks more sheepish than earlier. Of course Junhui had to tell Jisoo; after all the worries he’d been telling him, Jisoo at least deserved to know when things were going really well too. It was sweet. 

He makes a mental note to take Jisoo out for a meal as he hands the phone back and kisses Junhui’s forehead. “You’re right, mine did sound way better. Step your game up, Moon Jun.” 

Junhui lowers his head in embarrassment. “Yes, dear.” He stretches to put his phone on the side table and settles back down behind Minghao, draping an arm over his side.

After a few minutes of silence, Junhui speaks up again, “Oh, HaoHao ?”

“Yeah?”

“As cool as your confession speech was and everything —and I kinda love you more for it— when we fought that day, I actually just wanted to know how you felt. You didn’t have to go all out and say you were in love with me.”

Minghao’s eyes widen and he’s relieved Junhui can’t see his face. “O-oh….”

“Really, I would’ve been happy with ‘yes, I do like you, Jun-ah’ or ‘yes, I have feelings for you Jun-ah’,” Junhui recites in a dramatic high pitch, causing Minghao to gulp. “Or ‘you’re the most handsome person in the world, Jun-ah, how could I not want to be with you’. But you know, this is good too.”

“Please stop talking.”

Junhui just laughs and presses a light kiss to his cheek. 

September

Minghao looks around at most of the other members gathered on the couches around him. He shifts a little in his spot and Junhui looks over to check on him, likely thinking he’s uncomfortable. Minghao sends him a reassuring smile that he’s fine, playing with both of Junhui’s hands in his own lap while he waits. 

He hasn’t spent that much time in this dorm, but eventually Mingyu and Wonwoo emerge from a room that Minghao can only guess belongs to Wonwoo.

“Thank you all for coming today,” Mingyu begins, fidgeting with his hands. He looks like he needs to be holding cue cards. “I have called you here to inform you, that I, SEVENTEEN’s visual, Kim Mingyu, am no longer single. I am now dating the uh – Jeon Wonwoo.”

“Fucking finally,” a Jihoon-like voice grumbles from somewhere around him. 

A small giggle bursts through Minghao’s mouth before he can stop it. He makes quick eye contact with Wonwoo, who starts chuckling nervously and pushes up his glasses.

Seungcheol raises his hand. “You guys know you don’t have to hold these meetings every time you get into relationships, right?”

“Yah!” Junhui objects. Minghao is completely certain that, if he weren’t settled directly between Junhui’s legs, Junhui would be standing up in protest by now, but Minghao refuses to give up his seat. “You’re just going to blatantly rip off my relationship announcement ceremony?”

“ ‘Our’, Jun-ah,” Minghao says in a low voice, tilting his head slightly to look at his boyfriend. “Our relationship announcement ceremony.” He pats Junhui’s hand twice in comfort.

“My relationship announcement ceremony with Myungho!” Junhui corrects. Minghao shrugs and rolls his eyes because it's close enough.

Mingyu shrinks back a bit. “Uh, I will now take questions from the audience.” He sounds far more uncertain than when he started.

Junhui shoots a hand up aggressively. “So you’re just going to steal my relationship announcement ceremony”—Minghao quickly taps his other hand— “with Myungho, and then ignore my first question about ripping it off?”

Mingyu looks towards Wonwoo for support. Wonwoo just laughs and says, “Yes,” quite confidently.

Junhui’s tongue pokes the inside of his cheek in annoyance. Minghao giggles and raises his hand. “If you were going to steal our announcement ceremony, could you at least do it right?”

Soonyoung laughs while pushing Seokmin’s arm a little while Seokmin starts laughing and clapping from his spot, almost standing up, but not quite.

“We’ll try,” Mingyu says in a small voice. This is not going the way Mingyu hoped and Minghao will work to keep it that way. He meets Seungkwan’s eyes and he seems to have a similar idea as they nod at each other.

Seungkwan eagerly shoots his hand up. “Does this mean you’re not going to take care of the rest of us anymore? Just Wonwoo?”

Mingyu is stunned for a few seconds, blinking with his mouth open and he shrinks back even more.

Minghao starts looking around and sees Seungcheol and Jeonghan quietly arguing among themselves, with Jeonghan occasionally making big hand gestures and swiping at Seungcheol’s arm. He’s guessing they’re trying to figure out how to go about this new relationship after the way they dealt with him and Junhui’s didn’t work out well.

Turning his attention back, Minghao asks if all the sessions Mingyu’s been coming to his room to cry have helped, which Jihoon concurs with, saying he had a similar experience. It eventually turns into a round of Minghao, Jihoon, and Seungkwan asking various over-the-top scenarios of whether Mingyu will still take care of them or only give Wonwoo preferential treatment.

When Mingyu doesn’t answer, they follow it up with inflated bouts of feeling bad for Wonwoo having to deal with Mingyu’s tendencies. Seungkwan starts getting carried away until Hansol has to hold him back because Mingyu hasn’t been able to get a word in for about eleven questions.

“Yah! Why aren’t you answering us?”

“Why would you open the floor to questions if you weren’t going to answer any?”

Mingyu sighs into his hands, “I can’t keep up! You’re going too fast!”

“ Yah , weren’t you an Inkigayo MC?”

“Yeah, shouldn’t you be quicker to adapt?”

“I’ve been taking you under my variety show wing and you haven’t learned anything?”

Mingyu sighs and turns away, trying to gather himself.

When Minghao looks over to check on Wonwoo, he's gesturing and mouthing things towards Junhui. Minghao knows Junhui can’t gesture back due to his grip on his boyfriend’s hands, but sees Junhui mouthing something exaggeratedly back at Wonwoo and then shrugging with a smile.

“Jun-ah, what are you doing?” Minghao asks in a tiny voice.

Junhui meets his eyes. “Nothing, HaoHao. Wonwoo wanted me to stop you, but I said I can’t do that.”

“Oh, okay.” Minghao smiles proudly and Junhui plants a quick kiss to his cheek.

He then watches Wonwoo gesture towards Jisoo who’s been silently watching the whole time. Jisoo has a slightly dumbfounded open-mouth expression and his eyes flit slowly from hyperactive Seungkwan and Jihoon (who have since been joined by Soonyoung and Seokmin in asking ridiculous questions tailored specifically to target Mingyu), to Mingyu (who is still trying to get a word in), then back to Wonwoo. Jisoo shrugs.

Seungcheol is still whispering in urgent hushes with Jeonghan and Minghao wonders how Junhui got their announcement meeting ceremony thing to go so well.

Minghao then decides to ask the PDA question, which finally alerts Jeonghan and starts another round of yelling questions at Mingyu. Wonwoo tries to disrupt them by saying that Minghao has no rights to ask that after what he’s been doing with Junhui, and, unfortunately for Wonwoo, it gets drowned out by all the yelling. Wonwoo sends Minghao a slightly annoyed stare, which Minghao returns with a shrug and a smirk. Suddenly he feels one of Junhui’s hands stroking his hair.

Minghao pats Junhui’s hand to get his attention, “I love you, Jun-ah,” he says in his tiny voice.

“Yeah, love you too,” he replies, leaning his chin on the top of Minghao’s head.

Minghao smiles and settles back against him, satisfied with watching Mingyu try to get out of this.