Chapter Text
“Sweetie you must take better care of your skin ok? If I have to put more make up on you it will look very cakey! You need to stop losing sleep!” The makeup noona whines while finishing up her work. Ong promises to be more careful and sends her a smile that never fails to charm whoever receives it.
He’s called up to start the shooting, he’s modeling for a clothing brand that was a complete success last season when he modeled for them for the first time so they asked him to model again.
The hours it takes to complete the shooting fly past too quickly for his liking. This is the last shoot he will have this week and it’s only Wednesday, he will have to find something else to do with his new free time. If he had had this opportunity two months ago he would have been over the moon happy for having free time but now he is nothing but bitter.
He would had stayed in with Daniel, watched a movie or two, catch up with the stupid drama they both loved to pretend to make fun of –they honestly loved the cheesiness of it- or just stayed in bed with him, with only being in each other presence was enough, they needed nothing else.
At least that’s what he thought.
This is not worth it
Ong shakes his head as if that would help him not remember those hurtful words. He changes back into his clothes and leaves the studio. It’s not too late so he decides to walk his way back. He can see the campus’ gate when his phone vibrates in his coat’s pocket, he takes it out and unlocks the screen to read Jonghyun-hyung’s message
JongHyung: Hey are finished with your shoot?
Omg: Yeah, I’m actually almost at the campus
JongHyung: Then come to our party, you need to go out srly
Ong sighs out loud, he knew Jonghyun was going to remind him. He had invited him a couple days back. Minhyun, Minki, Jonghyun, Dongho and Aaron always throw a party at their frat house before the examination period starts, it’s the only thing people look forward to when they see the examination period is getting closer again.
Omg: I’m sorry hyung, I’m really tired, I’ll go next time for sure
He is expecting Jonghyun to insist a little more but he doesn’t, instead he just reads his message and doesn’t reply. Ong is confused but he’ll take it. He thinks maybe Jonghyun has had enough, there must be a limit to his patience.
He really doesn’t feel like going out, it’s true he hasn’t gone out in a while, 75 days to be exact, but he really is not in the mood to do nothing but stay in his dorm room.
Ong is busy thinking what subject he should use his time to study on so he doesn’t notice the man that quickly catches up to him when he’s a couple feet away from his building.
The unknown man suddenly wraps his arms around him scaring him out of his mind. Ong lets out a scream before the man covers his mouth and shushes him but Ong fights back and elbows the man in the chest, his elbow hitting the man’s ribs with enough strength to push him back.
The man lets him go and Ong is ready to turn around and fight him –he was about to run away to be honest- but before he can the man speaks up.
“Seongwoo calm down it’s just me!”
Oh, it’s Jonghyun.
“Hyung! Why did you scare me like that?!” Ong whines as he watches Jonghyun rub the now sore spot on his chest.
“I forgot how much of a scaredy cat you are,” Jonghyun mutters but Ong manages to hear him but he can’t say anything back to that so he pretends he didn’t. “I came here to get you, come on,” The older reaches to grab his wrist and makes his way into Ong’s building, forcing the younger to follow him.
They take the elevator to the 4th floor where Ong’s room is. “You came here to get me?” Ong finally asks confused as to what Jonghyun meant when he said that. Jonghyun nods.
“You will come to my party, you need this, I know you’re still sad about Daniel but-“Ong shakes Jonghyun’s hold off and curses internally that they are in the elevator, he needs to get out now. “Seongwoo don’t be like this, you can’t run away every time he’s mentioned,” Jonghyun frowns but Ong chuckles bitterly.
His friends have been trying to get him to move on, to at least try. Jonghyun and Minhyun always invite him to go out, to take a cup of coffee with them, stay over at their frat house. Hyunbinie tries his best to cheer him up too, showing him how better his dancing has gotten since he signed up to a class with Seonho. Samuel invites him over to the Videogame Fridays he always hosts with Daehwi.
But they don’t understand.
There is no moving on from Daniel.
“You’re so overdramatic, you really are an acting major,” Dongho had said when he walked in Jonghyun and Minhyun trying to cheer him up a month after Daniel had broken up with him. They were sitting in Nu’est’s living room but they were supposed to be alone in the house. Jonghyun had grabbed the closest thing in his reach–to Dongho’s luck it was a couch cushion- and throw it at Dongho yelling at him to shut his mouth.
“Please just try it, if you still feel uncomfortable you’re free to leave,” Jonghyun promises and when Ong looks warily at him Jonghyun offers him his pinky. Ong sighs and believing in Jonghyun’s words, decides to go to the party He will go and stay about 10 minutes –only so Jonghyun can’t complain he didn’t try- before he leaves.
The party is already in full swing by the time they arrive –Jonghyun did not let him half ass his look- so Ong feels a little better, he won’t have Jonghyun breathing down his neck. He goes to the kitchen to grab himself a really needed beer and stays there a couple minutes. He’s already on his second beer when some familiar faces walk in.
Two of Daniel’s best friends, Choi Taewoong and Yoon Jisung. They stare at each other for long moment before Taewoong gives a small push to his boyfriend to get him moving again. Jisung sends Ong a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes and walks to the impromptu bar.
If they are here, it must mean Daniel is too.
The simple idea makes him feel sick, his hands start sweating and shaking so he places his beer down in the counter. Jonghyun will understand if he leaves right now right?
Before Ong can escape the room Jisung calls his name making him stop. He surprised turns to face the older that is making his way to him, boyfriend following behind holding another can of beer and a mojito that only confirms his suspicion of Daniel being here.
“I’m glad to see you Ong!” Jisung beams and Ong gives him the fake smile he’s perfected so well, but when he looks up at Taewoong he can see in the elder’s face he doesn’t buy it for a single moment.
“Likewise!” Ong replies in what he hopes seems a cheerful tone. He doesn’t need them to know how he’s still not over their friend. He has to pretend he’s over him “I’ve been very busy so it’s been a long time since we last ran into each other, huh?” He asks, trying to keep the conversation going for a little more before he excuses himself.
But maybe he said the wrong thing, judging by the way Taewoong clenches his jaw and Jisung frowns. “Yeah, we know you’ve been busy,” Jisung agrees after an awkward moment of silence “Congratulations by the way! You will have so many job offerings before you graduate at this pace,” Ong smiles and thanks him. Taewoong turns to look down at his front pocked where his phone must have vibrated, before excusing himself and his boyfriend.
Ong sends them off with a smile and once they are out the kitchen he lets his head fall forward in the counter. He stays like that for a few moments while he gives Taewoong and Jisung time to get far away from the kitchen, they must be going to the living room –currently being used as the dance floor-. Once he’s sure he won’t run into them by leaving the kitchen, he stands up, takes his beer and leaves.
Once Ong is finally on his doom room he can breathe a little easier, he quickly pick a changes of more comfortable clothes and goes to take a quick shower, he knows he won’t feel like showering the next morning. Once he is back in his room he lies down on his bed, taking a pillow and covering his face with it. He can’t believe how close he was to seeing Daniel again. What would he have done if he had run into him? He doesn’t think he could have pretended he was doing ok, it’s not like Daniel would believe him, he always knew when he was acting.
He changed his dancing class from Sunday to Saturday so he can avoid running into him in the dance building, he stopped going to that cafe near the subway station that made Daniel’s vanilla latte the way he loved it, he doesn’t get anywhere near Daniel’s dorm building, heck he even stopped talking to a couple of friends they have in common – Park Woojin, Ha Sungwoon and Noh Taehyun were always closer to Daniel anyways-
His phone vibrates where he left it on top of his bedside table, without opening his eyes or taking the pillow off his face he reaches for it. He counts to 10 before sitting up, pillow falling to his lap, and unlocks his phone.
He still has a photo of him and Daniel as his phone background. Hyunbin took it when they all went out to grab dinner together
They were walking back from the barbecue place where they decided to celebrate Jonghyun getting a work offer for when he graduated this year, at the one entertainment company he always dreamed to work in.
They were all a little bit drunk except Hyunbin who they didn’t allow to drink much, the youngest is a real light weight and has horrible hangovers. They passed by a group of street performers that were playing a song that Ong knows really well.
He had stopped walking, his grasp on Daniel’s hand forcing the younger to also halt in his tracks. Daniel had turned to look at him confused but his beautiful smile still present like always. Ong had bowed a bit clumsily before pulling the other closer and placing his free hand on Daniel’s waist “I can’t believe you!” Daniel exclaimed once he realized what his boyfriend was planning to do.
Ong had beamed at his boyfriend before he started to move slowly side to side, Daniel followed his lead naturally, slow dancing to the music the street performers were playing so beautifully.
“You dance really well, have you ever taken any classes?” Ong joked and Daniel had thrown his head back laughing way too much considering the cheesy joke “I’m being serious!”
The others had stopped walking and turned around when they heard Daniel’s laughter. The sight of their friends slow dancing in the middle of the sidewalk made them sigh in fake annoyance. “Why are they so embarrassing?” Minhyun had mumbled to Jonghyun who could only shrug as he kept watching them dance, a dopy smile on his face.
Ong moved Daniel away confusing the younger for a moment before he tried to twirl him around, but considering their drunken state he failed miserable, making Daniel stumble on his feet. Ong pulled him back ending with Daniel’s broad back pressed impossible close to his chest. Daniel again threw his head back in laughter, resting his head on Ong’s shoulder. Ong pressed his face into Daniel’s neck as he too couldn’t stop himself from laughing.
Hyunbin had taken his phone out and captured the moment, taking a lot of photos in burst mode. He sent the best ones to them a couple days later.
Daniel had turned his face to the side, pressing a chaste kiss to Ong’s hair “You dork,” He had mumbled, voice full of adoration. Ong felt like his chest would explode with how big his heart felt, he was sure Daniel could feel how fast it was beating.
Ong pressed a kiss to Daniel’s neck making the younger squirm in his arms “Stop it!” Daniel had giggled pretending to be embarrassed. Jonghyun decided to stop them before they embarrassed themselves further in front of the street performers who had kept playing their music while smiling at the happy couple.
“I love you so much,”
“I love you too.”
Ong could feel his eyes tear up at the memory but he ignored it and opened the message. It was from Jonghyun.
JongHyung: Hey Seongwoo! Where are you?
JongHyung:( ಠ _ ಠ )
JongHyung: Did you already leave?! Ong Seongwoo you didn’t even try did you?
JongHyung: At least tell me you’re ok
JongHyung: Are you ok?
Ong took a deep breath in and let it out before typing in that he ran into his friends so he couldn’t risk staying there. Jonghyun quickly replied as if he had been waiting for an answer from Ong. He probably was.
JongHyung: Do you need me to go your room?
Jonghyun was an angel, Ong was sure of it.
Omg: No its ok hyung, I’ll just go to bed now. Have fun and keep an eye on Hyunbinie please.
JongHyung: Ok, you know you can call me at anytime and I’ll be there
Omg: I know hyung, thank you.
Ong woke up with a start at the sound of his alarm ringing loudly through his room. He sat up and reached for his phone to turn the alarm off. It was 11am and he had to attend a lecture at 12:30 so he stood up and changed into whatever he found first.
He may be considered a model by now but he really didn’t pay that much attention to how he dressed, not anymore. He can still make the worst of combinations look great, nothing looks bad on him anyways. He can’t be bothered to style his hair so he just puts a snapback on. Ong made his way out his room after grabbing his backpack and went down to the first floor using the stairs. He still had time to grab something to eat so he decided to check the kitchen that was part of the common room.
He recognized the back of Hyunbin’s head. He was sitting down in the sofa and talking with another friend of his. Ong was going to get closer and bid him a good morning, ask him if Jonghyun let him drink anything last night – of course he didn’t, it was before noon and Hyunbin was out and about, that was rare but impossible if he had ingested even the smallest amount of alcohol-
“I can’t believe Daniel-hyung was like that! You should have seen him, he was dancing with this guy I swear I have no idea where he found him, never seen him before, I’m pretty sure they were flirting, thank God Seongwoo-hyung didn’t go to the party!”
"What did you just say?" Hyunbin yelps and turns around to face a stone faced Ong Seongwoo. Oh no, this is bad Hyunbing thinks. He turns quickly to look at his friend Hyeonwoo who he was speaking with, begging him with his eyes to help him get out this situation, but his friend shakes his head no, there’s no way he can help him out of it.
"A-ah, I said Nu'est's party was really fun! The music was great and the-" Hyunbin rants on, trying to avoid the unavoidable.
Ong raises a hand and presses his fingers down on this thumb, a sign for Hyunbin to stop talking and the man does.
"You know what I meant Hyunbinie, so repeat it." Ong commands in a flat tone. The younger fumbles with his hands trying to think of a way to get out of this situation but he finds no solution.
Hyunbin swallows nervously and looks at the common room's floor "I said...I said I saw Daniel-hyung dancing really close with a guy I've never seen before…” Time seems to have stopped for no one in the common room moves or even breaths, even Seonho and Hyeongseop that had been busy sharing a bag of chips in the other side of the room have stopped eating.
Then the unexpected happens.
Ong smiles.
“Oh, ok that’s good for him then,” Ong nods, smile still in place “Thank you Hyunbinie, I’ll see you around.” Hyunbin can do nothing but watch speechless how the older leaves the room.
“Uh?” Hyunbin mumbles confused then turns to back to Hyeonwoo “Did that just really happen?” Hyeonwoo nods slowly, he himself can’t believe it.
“Seongwoo-hyung took it pretty well, maybe he is really getting over Daniel-hyung,” Seonho adds and Hyeongseop shakes his head sadly.
“He was obviously pretending.”
Ong opens his room’s door, walks in, lets his backpack fall to the floor and closes the door gently behind him. He leans back on the door and slowly slides down to the floor. His vision gets blurry, his hands start shaking, and he feels heaviness on his chest he has only felt once.
It’s how he felt once Daniel had walked out his room that morning, and just like back then, he blindly reaches for his phone and calls the person he knows he can count on.
It rings a couple times and Ong prays it doesn’t go to voicemail, he doesn’t know what else to do. He feels sick, like he could vomit at any moment, he can’t be alone right now. He sighs in relief when the call is picked up.
“Seongwoo?” Jonghyun asks confused at the sudden call. Ong can’t hold back the tears anymore once he hears Jonghyun’s voice and the elder must have heard how his breathing was getting uneven for he worriedly asked him what was going on.
“Please come here, hyung.”
Ong is still sitting on the floor but he moved away from the door when Jonghyun walks in. The elder’s eye widen at the sight of his friend sitting there on the floor, hugging his knees to his chest, his eyes swollen and red from how much he must have wiped them, trying in vain to stop the tears that keep escaping him. It a too familiar scene, one he hoped he never had to see again.
Seongwoo?” Jonghyun had asked as he opened the door to the younger’s room. It was around 8am when he was woken up by his phone ringing. When he had picked up he was totally woken up in seconds. Ong had called him in tears, asking him to please go to his room, when he had asked him what was going on the only reply he had gotten was incoherent mumbling but he managed to catch the name of Daniel and that had scared him further. He feared something bad must have happened to the pink haired boy and so he quickly changes out of his pajama and put on the first change of clothes he had found.
He had slammed the door open to find Ong sitting down in the floor. Tears were streaming endlessly down his cheeks, his body shaking as he struggled to breath against his crying. Jonghyun had kneeled by his side and Ong reached forward, clutching the front of his shirt tightly as he leaned onto his chest, his tears quickly soaking though the material.
“He left me.”
Jonghyun sits by Ong’s side and the younger stops hugging his knees to instead clutch the front of Jonghyun’s shirt again. Jonghyun wraps an arm around Ong’s shoulders and hugs him to his chest. The only thing that can be heard in the room for what feels like hours is the muffled crying of the model. Jonghyun shushes him in a soft tone, rocking his body back and forth in a soothing manner. Even after Ong finally stops crying Jonghyun still doesn’t ask him what happened, he will let the younger tell him when he’s ready.
“He… He’s seeing someone,” Ong mumbles, his voice still shaky. Jonghyun’s eyes widen but he manages to stop himself before he gasps “At your party yesterday, Hyunbinie saw him dancing with some guy, he said they were flirting…”
Jonghyun has nothing to reply to that, nothing to say that can offer any comfort to his friend. He can’t say it’s not true since he didn’t even see Daniel last night –he doesn’t like to dance like his friends do so he’s never near the impromptu dance floor, he may have to ask Minki if he saw what Hyunbin did- and if it really is true… it had been something he had been not looking forward to.
Daniel was the one to break up with Ong and that meant he of course would move on and start dating again before the other even came close to it. He knew that even if Ong had also moved on by then, when he found out about Daniel dating again, his heart would break and possibly get him back to square one.
“Do you want me to stay?” Jonghyun offers, he knows Ong should not be alone right now. Ong pitifully nods his head and Jonghyun taps his back comfortingly “I’ll stay here then, come on, the bed is comfier than the floor.”
It’s been a couple days after Nu’est party, everyone is studying for their exams that officially start on the 15th so it’s still 2 days away. Ong is trying to catch up with the lectures he missed the 2 days he didn’t go to class, a classmate – the Japanese kid- lent him his notes after Ong kindly asked him to. He’s trying his best to focus on the numbers before him and to understand it but he’s having no luck -maybe he will have to ask a friend for help or maybe he’ll ask the owner of the notes, he seems really kind. What was his name again? Kenma? Kenta?- when someone is suddenly knocking at his door.
Ong jumps in his seat by his desk, he reaches for his phone to see if someone had sent him a message or tried to call him before but there’s no new notifications. Confused he stands up “I’m coming!” He calls as he closes the notebook and tries to make his desk look a bit more orderly.
Nothing can prepare him to what he finds when he opens the door. To who is standing outside his room.
Standing there is the man responsible for all the hurting he has done the past 82 days.
“Can we talk?”