Chapter Text
“So, how are you and Hyunjin going? Heard he’s quite busy these days.” Chan leaned against the counters in the break room, dusting his hands on his apron. Jisung sighed.
“Yeah, way too busy…” Jisung pouted, adjusting his apron a bit. “I’m kinda afraid he’ll overwork himself by taking every job he possibly can. Every time I ask him if he has time for a date he says he does, but then he shows up exhausted.”
“That’s rough… and you’ve only been dating for like two weeks, right?” Chan gave him a compassionate look.
“Yeah, but I’m actually mostly just worried about him as my best friend.” Jisung muttered and he knew Chan was probably equally worried about him, Hyunjin was equally his friend.
They both knew Hyunjin from high school and their friend had pursued a career in dancing. Even though Jisung thought the boy was very talented and hard-working when it came to dancing, Hyunjin didn’t get many job offers and it was hard to earn enough, he couldn’t seem to get a steady, long-term offer. He had gotten modelling offers but he had rejected them, wanting to focus on dance.
A couple of weeks ago Jisung and he had started dating, but Hyunjin had gotten threats from his landlord that he would be kicked out of his apartment if he kept getting behind on his rent, so he started working even harder than he already was. And they hadn’t been able to go on proper dates after their first two.
Chan had offered him an extra job in the coffee shop, but Hyunjin again had said he wanted to focus on dance, that he just needed that one push to get him started. Hyunjin also had the urge to want to do everything himself, accepting help only in the form of a listening ear or a comforting hug.
“Hey, Jisung? You ready to get to work again? Maybe we shouldn’t leave Changbin alone for too long, he’ll get lonely.” Chan patted Jisung on his shoulder. He nodded.
He joined Changbin again in the main part of the shop and he saw him talk to Felix, Chan’s friend from outside of the city, but he still often came all the way to this coffee shop to see Chan, even though the older was usually in the back. Felix was a very sweet guy and Changbin and Jisung had also become friends with him recently.
Jisung briefly greeted the boy, who greeted him back with a sunny smile. It wasn’t very busy in the shop, as it was later in the afternoon already, so Jisung was just planning on chilling behind the counter. It should become busier when everyone would get off work, so he thought he’d take it easy until then.
He was staring into nothingness while he hummed one of the new songs he had made with Chan and Changbin. He thought about some of the songs they were still working on, but his thoughts were interrupted by Changbin’s loud voice.
“Hey! Is that Hyunjinnie?” He exclaimed, pointing outside. “Did he finally come to visit you?”
Jisung frowned and looked outside to see the silhouette of his boyfriend disappear out of his sight. That’s weird, he usually never comes here if he’s busy. Does that mean he isn’t busy? Why isn’t he coming in then?
He excused himself and went outside. “Hyunjin?” He called out.
Hyunjin stopped walking and slowly turned around, an uneasy expression on his face. “Hey! Jisung, funny to see you here!”
Jisung gave the taller an unamused look. “Funny to see me at my work? Why are you here, Jinnie?”
Hyunjin pressed his lips together, probably debating what to say. Jisung walked over to take him by the hand. “Why don’t you come inside and tell me what’s on your mind?”
The taller boy sighed and followed him into the shop, reluctantly. “I don’t want to disturb you at work, though…”
“It’s not that busy right now, I have time.” Jisung opened the door to the shop and led them inside. “And besides, Changbin and Chan will be happy to see you too.”
And indeed, Changbin happily came over to hug the man. “Hi!”
“Hey! No hugging customers!” Chan exclaimed from behind them and he came over to hug Hyunjin as well.
“This what I meant with I don’t want to disturb your work!” Hyunjin laughed. “But thanks, I already feel better.”
“Why? What happened then?” Jisung took Hyunjin’s hand again and sat them down. “You can come to disturb me anytime, you know. Changbin will just take over for me.”
Changbin grumbled something inaudible and Hyunjin laughed again, it was nice to see him laugh, Jisung really liked the way his face scrunched up and whiskers appeared beneath his eyes. He was glad he knew how to make the boy laugh.
“Jinnie, what happened?” He repeated when it got quiet again, dragging his thumb along the back of Hyunjin’s hand. Hyunjin took a deep breath.
“I got kicked out.” He whispered. “My landlord kicked me out.”
“What?!” Jisung yelled a little too loudly because Hyunjin winced. “Sorry. But, he really kicked you out? Can’t he give you another chance?”
Hyunjin cast his gaze down at his lap, eyes watery. “No, I have used up all my chances. I have a month to get something else.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Jisung exclaimed, but then he remembered he was at work, so he quickly lowered his voice again. “I mean, you already have one of the cheapest, crappiest apartments in the city! How are you going to find something, now?”
“I don’t know, I’ve been looking, but it seems everything is at least twice what I can afford.” Hyunjin started fidgeting with his sleeves and Jisung quickly took his arm and pulled him into a tight hug. His boyfriend was for some reason caressing his head.
“It’ll be fine, you can stay at my place.” Jisung held Hyunjin tight as the latter rested his cheek on his shoulder, softly sobbing.
“I can’t though. Remember when you got in trouble because I slept over that one time? Because your landlord thought you were keeping someone in your apartment without them paying rent?”
“We’ll figure something out, Jinnie, we will.”
When Jisung pulled out of the hug, he saw some customers walk in and look at them. He greeted them briefly before turning back to his boyfriend.
“Thanks, Sungie. Sorry to interrupt your work, again.” Hyunjin gave him a short kiss on the cheek and Jisung felt himself get a bit shy at the public display of affection.
“It’s okay. You know that. Why don’t you come by later? I can give you all of my attention then.” He stretched the ‘all’ and booped the black-haired boy’s nose.
“I will. See you then, boo.” Hyunjin giggled as he pinched Jisung’s cheek while the latter rolled his eyes at the cringey nickname.
After Hyunjin left, Jisung worked until it was closing time, telling Chan and Changbin about the situation after work, as they were cleaning and closing up.
“He can stay with me, maybe? I’ll have to make some room and find where to put my equipment, but…” Chan pondered.
“No, Channie, you barely have space for yourself already! I doubt he will accept your offer. I have enough room and Hyunjin is my boyfriend. I’ll just ask my landlord really nicely.” Jisung sighed as he threw his cleaning cloth in the bucket. Sayonara for now, cleaning cloth.
“He really won’t even accept your boyfriend to live with you?” Changbin asked as they locked up the shop.
“Not if he won’t pay rent, I think. But if I ask nicely she may change her mind.” Jisung shrugged. “Anyway, we'll figure it out. Thanks for your offers, though. See you guys!”
Jisung waved his friends and coworkers goodbye and began walking home while texting his boyfriend that he was on his way home. After that, he ordered some dinner for the two of them, wondering if he should make things a little romantic tonight.
He had to admit he was a bit tired from work and he imagined Hyunjin would be tired as well. He'd make things romantic another time. He also remembered to text his landlord to set up a meeting and talk before pocketing his phone and rushing home.
Time to cuddle my boyfriend.
“Really? Come on, Jihyo, you know I don't do flings! When have I ever caused a disturbance in the building?” Jisung felt he was close to begging the woman to make an exception as he stood in front of her stern face.
“Enough times, Han. Every time those two producers come over, for example.” His landlord clicked her tongue, but Jisung knew he was one of her best occupants.
“That's why we always go over to Chan's now! Please, Jihyo, I get that you don't want people letting their boyfriends or girlfriends or whatever over all the time without paying, but this is different.”
“I'm sorry, but I really can't make an exception. It's in the regulations you can't have someone live with you without them signing a contract unless you are married. It's either pay or not. Sorry.” Jihyo gave him a sorry smile and laid her hands flat on the table to signal the conversation was over.
Jisung sighed and relented, he knew when to give up. For now. He wasn't going to give up completely, of course, but he just needed to think about his next steps. He bid his landlord goodbye and left the room.
As he left the building he took out his phone from his pocket and pondered for a bit who to call before he dialled Chan's number. Hyunjin said he would be practising this afternoon, I think it's better to first consult with Chan and Changbin.
“Hello, Sung? Sup?” It sounded from his phone.
“Hi Channie, you home?”
“Yeah, why? Oh! You just spoke to your landlord, right? Jihyo. Do I need to talk to her as well?”
Jisung was surprised he said her name with such familiarity for a second, he had forgotten Chan knew literally everyone.
“Yeah I did, but no luck yet. You don’t have to talk to her, thanks, though. I actually wanted to talk to you and Changbin about it, what I should do next.” He was already making his way over to Chan's place, even though he didn't know if the older had time.
“Okay, I'll ask Changbin to come over too. See you in a bit.” He had time, apparently. Jisung smiled as Chan hung up and quickened his pace a little, he had a feeling that they would figure it out together.
Chan's apartment was small, their recording equipment taking up a lot of space, but he didn’t mind. They had gotten a proper studio recently, but since Chan had a habit of writing all night long, Changbin and Jisung had insisted he’d keep some of the equipment so at least he was close to his bed on those nights.
“So,” Jisung began as he sat cross-legged on Chan’s sofa with Changbin on the armrest. He folded his hands over each other. “You guys are probably wondering why I gathered you here—”
“This is my house, though—” Chan interrupted him.
“Yes, but I gathered you here—”
“And we aren’t even wondering, we know you’re going to tell us about how it went with your landlord.” Changbin betrayed him as well. Jisung gave him an exasperated expression.
“ Anyway —” He started again, looking at his friends pointedly, silently telling them to not interrupt him again. “As I told Chan already, no luck with my landlord yet. She doesn’t want to break the rules, not even for her best resident!”
Jisung checked his friends’ reactions and saw a mix of compassion and doubt.
“Aw, are your neighbours that bad?” Chan asked, with a smile that betrayed that he was kidding. Jisung gave him a look and continued.
“She doesn’t want the occupants to bring their ‘flings’ all the time, so she’s pretty strict about having people over without paying, especially for longer periods, you know?” He explained.
Changbin scoffed. “You and flings? She knows you at least a bit, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, I get it, if your neighbours find out, they are definitely going to complain and I don’t think she wants that.” Chan said.
“I know, and I get it as well, but— I just don’t want him to go homeless.” Jisung sighed and slumped against the couch. “I wanted to ask you guys for advice, cuz— What do I do now?”
“Hyunjin still refuses to take another job?” Changbin got off the armrest and plopped down next to Jisung.
“He told me yesterday that he does now regret not taking the modelling offer, but we don’t even know if that would’ve been enough. The training costs money as well and if modelling means giving up dance then I’m sure he would come to regret the decision.” Jisung knew Hyunjin would be a great model and have a high chance of being successful, but he shouldn’t take the risk if he doesn’t think he’ll like it.
“Understandable. What about the coffee shop?” Chan looked at him in a way that said that he knew Jisung had probably already thought and asked about this. “We do need more staff, it’s becoming busier.”
“I told him, yeah, but he’s afraid that either he still won’t earn enough to find something decent without dancing less or that you are going to pay him more than what he works for.” Jisung was afraid he was depicting Hyunjin as difficult and uncooperative or something, but he knew Hyunjin’s concerns were real and his friends knew Hyunjin well, they probably understood.
“I— Okay, those are genuine concerns.” Chan frowned a bit in thought. “What to do… what to do?”
“Okay,” Changbin slapped Jisung’s thigh lightly to get his attention. “Tell us again why he can’t live with you. Like what’s exactly in the contract if you know what I mean.”
“So, uhm, Jihyo— my landlord said ‘It's in the regulations you can't have someone live with you without them signing a contract unless’ —” He stopped, an idea popping up in his head. Maybe a stupid idea, but it was the only idea he could think of.
“Unless what?” Changbin asked curiously and shook his shoulder a bit. “Hello? Jisung?”
Jisung felt Chan close his mouth for him and he looked him in the eyes. “Finish the sentence?”
“Oh right.” Jisung shook his head, still going over the idea in his head. “So, unless we’re married he can’t live with me without a contract.”
“Oh. Well, that doesn’t help.” Changbin sighed, but Chan squinted at Jisung.
“Jisung… your face.” The oldest of the three pointed at him, finger right between the eyes. He already sees right through me.
“Wh— what about it?” Jisung pretended to not understand, afraid he would be judged before even proposing his idea.
“Oh my God!” Changbin yelled. “Don’t tell me—”
“Guys! Why are you judging me before I’ve even said anything!”
“We’re not. Tell us what your idea is.”
“Well, I can ask him to marry me.” Jisung almost whispered the last two words, a sudden blush creeping up his neck. He didn’t want to think of what marrying Hyunjin would imply right now, his priority being to help his dear friend and boyfriend out.
“I’m judging!” Changbin repositioned himself to sit on his knees and lean on his arms, toward Jisung. “That’s kinda rash, don’t you think? And I’m saying it, not even Chan!”
“I know, but, look— it's— I don't know what else to do! I was already planning on taking him on a romantic date, so—”
“Jisung, you guys have been dating for two weeks. ” Chan said it as if Jisung didn't know that himself.
“I know! It's gonna be just on paper, so we can live together. It's not that uncommon that best friends get married for reasons like this.” Jisung defended himself. He was beginning to doubt if coming here to discuss this was a good idea, but then again he wanted his friends to support him and Hyunjin. “Do you guys have a better idea? This way he'll have time to dance as much as he needs to get the recognition he needs.”
“You're right, but—” Chan started, but didn't finish his sentence, instead searching for the right words.
“But…? If I want Hyunjin to have a home next month, I need to hurry a bit. So— will you guys help me?” Jisung decided to just straight up ask for help, despite his friends' worries. He needed to be fast, getting married in a month probably wasn't the easiest thing in the world. Maybe he could sway his landlord in being lenient if they were at least engaged.
His friends were quiet, which was better than them rejecting the idea.
“Look, I know friends marry each other sometimes, but you guys are in the beginning stages of dating. I don’t know if this is the best idea for your relationship.” Chan said. “I don’t want you guys ruining things.”
“I don’t think we will, we’ve known each other for a very long and we can talk. It’s because we’re in our beginning stages that we can think about this as a platonic marriage for now, you know?” Jisung appreciated the concern, but he really didn’t need his friends worrying about him when he had a proposal to plan.
“Okay, that makes sense. If you’re confident it’ll work out, do it, I guess.” Changbin shrugged. “I guess I would marry one of you guys as well if you were kicked out and this was the only way, but I’m not dating you.”
“Yeah.” Chan said shortly, giving him a hesitant, but encouraging smile.
He waited for one of his friends to say something else and when they didn’t, he stood up and clapped his hands together with a smile. “If you guys have any tips for me, for a romantic proposal, hit me up! I have some planning to do!”
His friends laughed at him, telling him he shouldn’t ask their single asses for proposal advice. Jisung told them he never said he wanted good tips.
As he left he immediately texted Hyunjin to call him and plan a date together, before taking the bus to the city centre to look for a ring he could afford.
Jisung found himself frozen in front of a glass cabinet of way too expensive engagement rings. His cheeks were warm and his heart was pounding in his ears. Did he even know the size of Hyunjin’s hands?
He curled his fingers to try and remember the size of his boyfriend’s hands in his own. He knew that the boy’s hands were way bigger than his own and that his fingers were slender, but his own fingers couldn’t remember the exact feeling.
A more familiar place where Hyunjin would place a hand was on the back of Jisung’s head. He unconsciously brought his fingers to his head as he almost felt his boyfriends fingers in his hair, his hand almost as big as Jisung's head.
Jisung felt warm and a bit awkward, thinking about this in public, but he needed to know. He tried replicating the gesture with his own hand, comparing the feeling to when Hyunjin would do it. It was kinda embarrassing, but he pretended to just scratch his head after.
Okay, I think his fingers are about as broad as mine, Jisung concluded. He tried looking for a simple ring, something that wasn’t too fancy, something that could be interpreted as friendship rings or something, something that was affordable .
Hyunjin had to like it as well and, even though Jisung knew his taste in clothes and accessories, nothing looked right .
He sighed and contemplated asking his friends for help, but Changbin and Chan were probably going to tell him that he should at least pick the ring himself, that he would know best. Why didn’t anything seem right, then? Why was every ring in this goddamn store either too fancy and expensive, too ugly or too plain?
After making his way through the store for the sixth time, Jisung finally decided to accept help from an employee.
“So, what are you looking for, sir?” The woman asked a simple question, but Jisung already panicked. Do I say I’m looking for an engagement ring, but I’m broke? Do I say I’m looking for a gift for a dear friend?
“A ring,” he began. “It’s for my boyfriend.”
“An engagement ring?” The woman gestured to a couple of fancy rings with gems in them that looked more expensive than Jisung’s life.
“Uhm, we aren’t together for that long.” He decided to say, instead of answering.
“Oh, okay, so you are looking for something that’ll convince him to marry you? Or just a gift?” The woman first grabbed the most extravagant ring in the store, to show off, and then showed him a simpler ring.
“More something like the second one.” He pointed to the simpler model.
“Okay, come with me, we have some more simple rings over here. What does your boyfriend like?”
“He likes classy and sleek stuff. He has— He has very long fingers, slender, about the same size as mine.” Jisung hesitantly showed his right hand to the employee, where a ring already decorated his index finger.
“Okay.” She examined his hand and ring before looking back into the cabinet and picking out a ring. “What about this one?”
What? How could he have missed this ring? It was a simple one, a bit thick, but not too thick and engraved with a slim and stylish line. The woman handed him the ring to try on and it fit perfectly. This is perfect!
“And? What do you think?” She asked, a satisfied smile on her face. Before he could answer her, his phone rang, making him jump. ‘ Jinnie uwu ’.
“Excuse me, it’s my boyfriend.” He apologized and the woman nodded, silently telling him to take the call. Jisung turned his back to her to answer. Of course Hyunjin would call just as he’s buying him a ring.
“Hey, Jinnie. What’s up?” He asked and he heard his boyfriend laugh.
“What do you mean ‘what’s up’? You texted me to tell me to call you, you idiot!” Hyunjin laughed.
“Of course! I knew that!” Jisung laughed his awkwardness away, distracted from it by Hyunjin’s cute laugh. “I wanted to ask you when you’re free for that romantic date I promised you?”
“Oh? A romantic date hmm? I can’t say no to that. Is it going to be as romantic as that time you wrote a rap about me, but you misspoke and — ”
“Shut it! Don’t remind me of that!” Jisung almost yelled but remembered to keep his voice down in the store.
“Hmm? You’re whispering? Are you in public?”
“Yes I am, so please don’t bring up any more embarrassing things I’ve done. This date will be romantic.” He said with a bit too much confidence because he didn’t have a clue yet what he was going to do. “When are you free?”
“I have some more practice tonight, but tomorrow night I can make some time. Or is that too soon?”
“No.” Jisung blurted out before he could think about it. “The sooner the better.”
“Okay!” Hyunjin sounded adorably excited. “See you tomorrow then, Sungie. Kissies!”
Hyunjin said goodbye with a smooch-sound and Jisung did it back, his kiss-sound muffled slightly by a giggle. “See you tomorrow, honey-buns.”
The phone call ended with a cackle from Hyunjin. Jisung smiled at his phone and turned back to the employee, pointing at the ring on his finger.
“How much is it?”