Chapter Text
By the end of the night Soobin is regretting everything, from saying his mom could visit to asking Yeonjun to be his fake boyfriend. It was like the two were teaming up on him, especially when they turned in for the night.
As Jieun turned into the guest room, she didn’t miss the chance to call out to the pair, “I’ll have my earbuds in boys, good night.”
Yeonjun, despite turning the darkest shade of red yet, was no help. “We won't be loud.”
Soobin didn’t understand immediately but soon pieced it together slowly as Yeonjun continued his teasing as they settled in bed. Then he proceeded to scold his hyung, not forgetting to throw a few pillows for good measure.
Changbin, the next day in class, doesn’t help much either. “So did you and Yeonjun have a good night?”
Soobin never wanted to cry so much from pure embarrassment. The only good thing that came from it was Arin stepping in to shut down Changbin’s teasing.
“C’mon now, it’s not all that bad. I mean Yeonjun said your mom bought the act, and you weren’t doing anything more than you usually do.”
Still the brunette sulks, whining about Yeonjun’s teasing last night.
It’s silent for a moment before Soobin hears a lighthearted mumble from the girl, “dramatic.”
“Momma favors hyung.”
The two laugh at the whining boy. They bicker all period, even after the professor throws a stern look at them.
“When are we meeting your mom?” Arin inquires. No way was she gonna miss the chance to be Mama Choi’s favorite.
“Never,” Soobin sighs as they prepare for their next lesson.
“You can’t gatekeep your mom, Soobin.”
“I can and I will.”
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“You should invite Yeonjun over for dinner, Binnie.”
Soobin looks up from peeling potatoes and gives his attention to his mom. “I thought you wanted it to be just us and Taehyunie?”
“Well that was before I met your boyfriend. He’s such a joy to have around.” Usually Jieun would take a teasing tone when talking about potential partners for Soobin, yet she seemed so genuine. Maybe it was because this time the potential partner wasn’t a random, attractive waiter at their favorite diner, and that he also wasn’t potential- at least to her knowledge. Waves of warmth hit him just before a pang of guilt. This was all staged, yet his mom seemed genuinely happy for her son. “I’m sure Taehyun would have no issue with having an extra guest.”
Soobin contemplates for a moment. He knows Taehyun couldn’t care less, but would Yeonjun? Did Yeonjun have any plans tonight? He’d already be done in the gym by this time and usually he asks Soobin to join him if he had plans with friends. Soobin is almost certain the older had finished all of his homework during lunch. Soobin made sure that he was working on it because either wise Yeonjun wouldn’t touch it until a week after its due, when it was affecting his overall grade.
“I’ll ask him.” Soobin continues peeling the potatoes in his hand momentarily before turning his attention back to his mom, who was still looking at him, waiting. “Now?”
“Yes, please.”
Soobin sighs, “okay.”
He places the half peeled potato on the counter to rinse his hands in the sink to rid of the starch and dirt. His mom still waits, gaze on her son as he dries his hands and picks up his phone, unlocking it and opening his contacts.
“I’m gonna take this outside.”
“Don’t get too distracted.”
Soobin shakes his head, “I won’t.”
Soobin exits the kitchen through the sliding door leading to the backyard; a sigh leaves his chest. With two more taps against the screen, the phone begins ringing, awaiting the other line’s answer.
“What’s up, Bunny?”
Soobin gets hit with that familiar twing in his stomach that he gets every time he hears the nickname.
“Hyung, what are you doing from five to eight?”
There’s a hum on the other line, “nothing yet, why?”
“Momma wants you to come over for dinner with us and Taehyunnie.”
“I should be able to make it. I’m doing laundry right now, so… it’s 4, there’s 30 minutes left… I’ll be just a few minutes late.”
Soobin hums, glancing through the window of the sliding door to see his mother peeling the last few potatoes left on the counter. He’s never seen her so genuinely content. Sure, she was good at putting up a front around people, Soobin especially, but Soobin could almost always see through it.
“Soob? Are you there?”
“Oh, yeah, sorry,” Soobin pauses for a second, “dinner won’t be done for a bit, so don’t worry about being on time, hyung.”
“You’re cooking? That’s new.”
“Shut up.” Soobin scoffs, he doesn’t really cook, but he knows his way around a kitchen. Well, at least now he does. “Yes, momma and I are cooking.”
“What are you making?”
Soobin, with a smile on his lips, hums into his phone’s microphone. “Guess you’ll have to find out when you get here.”
His stomach turns at the sound of Yeonjun’s chuckle, “I guess so, Bin. I’ll see you in a little.”
“Yeah, see you in a little, hyungie.”
After a few seconds and the phone call still running, Soobin sighs, almost amused. “We’re not doing this again, hyung. Hang up. You know I don’t like to.”
“And if I don’t?”
Soobin could see the older’s teasing smirk in the back of his mind, burned into his memory after spending so much time with him.
“Hyung, please, momma’s waiting for me.”
“Jieun won’t mind. What if I want to keep talking to you? What if I miss you?”
“Hyung, we saw each other two hours ago, and you’ll see me in an hour again. You’re fine, I’m sure of it. Now, please?”
“I don’t wanna.”
Soobin sighs, “fine.”
“Fine? What do you-“
Soobin ends the call with hesitance and chuckles when Yeonjun texts him a shocked emoji. He chuckles as Yeonjun continues with his emotional rollercoaster of emojis. Turning off his phone, Soobin goes back inside to wash his hands and rejoin his mother in cooking with a new smile on his face.
“Well,” Jieun urges her son. “Is he coming?”
“Yes, momma, hyung is coming.”
With excitement Jieun goes on and on about Yeonjun and how great his manners are and how attractive he is. Soobin decides against asking her to calm down, glad see his mom so excited. He only takes his attention away from her when his phone alerts him of a text.
Yeonjun Hyung
Hey, is Taehyunie already there or does he need a ride? I can pick him up on my way over.
You
His dad said he’d drop him off, but I’m sure they’ll both be glad if you picked him up.
Yeonjun Hyung
Alright I’ll pick him up then
You
I’ll let him know
Thank you hyungie :)
Yeonjun Hyung
No problem, Bin <3
Soobin quickly informs Taehyun of Yeonjun’s offer and the younger quickly accepts. Then the sudden gasp from Jieun startles Soobin.
“What about dessert? We haven’t prepared anything.”
“They won’t mind, momma, besides I think I have sweets here.”
“It won’t do. When will they be here?”
“Around 5; momma seriously, Taehyun doesn’t eat a lot and hyung doesn’t care for sweets too much. There’s no need.”
“No, we’re grabbing dessert. I’ve made up my mind. Text me something they both like, I’ll take the car and go to the market. You stay and watch the food.”
“I can go, momma.”
“I need some fresh air, I’ve been in this house for too long.”
As Jieun makes her way out of the kitchen, Soobin accepts his fate and starts mentally preparing for the dinner ahead of him.
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Jieun only returns a few minutes before their two guests arrive. She had bought a strawberry shortcake trifle, and she was ever so proud of her choice of dessert after Soobin’s assurance that both Taehyun and Yeonjun would enjoy it. She was even further filled with pride after Taehyun spotted the desert and his big eyes widened even more with anticipation.
If Soobin knew one thing about the boy, it was that he had an insatiable sweet tooth, and anything with Strawberries was enough for him to give you his hand in marriage. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why he and Kai got on so well after meeting for the first time.
While Taehyun settled into conversation with Jieun quickly, automatically helping her set the table as Yeonjun joined Soobin in the kitchen where the younger man was cleaning up the mess from cooking to the best of his abilities. He stands for a moment watching Soobin’s hectic approach to cleaning. He had been trying to wipe up the split broth and seasoning from the counter, as well as trying to do as many dishes as he could before Jieun called the couple to the table.
Honestly, it was entertaining- and frankly, endearing.
“Need some help, Bun?”
Soobin only spares the older a glance and warm smile before continuing wiping away at the counter. “It’s alright, hyung. I got it.”
Yeonjun only chuckles before walking up beside him, stopping in front of the sink and picking up the sponge and a dirty pan. As he begins scrubbing away at the remnant of oil and spices, he smiles at the pout on his best friend’s lips.
“I said I had it, hyung. I didn’t invite you over to do my chores.”
“Too bad, I’m helping.” Yeonjun nudges Soobin away from him as he tries to take the sponge from him. “You looked like you were gonna break something; and I prefer if you kept yourself intact so we don’t have to drive you to the hospital.”
“I’m not going to- hyung, c’mon!” Soobin whines as Yeonjun removes the sprayer attached to the faucet and aims it at the younger with a laugh.
Despite the puddle it leaves on the floor he continues to spray the younger as much as the tap allows, “Back, foul beast! Back I say!”
“Hyung! Stop it,” Soobin, despite his obvious grin, whines as he blocks his face, running away from the older.
“Next time, just let me help then, “ Yeonjun justifies with a smug grin as he puts the spout back in its resting spot, turning off the water.
With a pout Soobin wines again, scrunching his nose the way Yeonjun just adores, “You made a mess, hyung.”
Smiling, Yeonjun glances at the large puddle and trail water stopping under Soobin’s feet. “Just get a towel,” Yeonjun stifles at the sight in front of him.
Soobin’s shirt was soaked, excess water making its escape onto the floor. There was no chance he could go the rest of the night in that blue t-shirt clinging so nicely to his torso, as much Yeonjun would prefer. He even managed to get some of Soobin’s hair wet- he may as well have given the man a shower.
“You’re a pain,” Soobin sighs.
“Mom says for you two to stop messing around and come eat,” Taehyun walks in with three towels, two for the large amount of water on the floor and one for Soobin’s drenched figure. He almost snorts when he takes in Soobin’s appearance, “maybe you should get changed first, hyung.”
“Yeah, what Taehyunnie said,” Yeonjun teases the tall man further.
“Both of you are pains.”
With that Soobin leaves the kitchen for his bedroom.
“Mom?”
“I’m just that amazing.”
Yeonjun snorts and ruffles Taehyun’s hair on his way out of the kitchen