Chapter Text
It all starts when Jungwoo is back from his hiatus.
All the members cheer happily and even hold a small celebration (ordering his favorite chicken along with beer, playing their usual games for the rest of the day) to welcome Jungwoo, who just come back from his six months-long hiatus. During the break, Jungwoo chose to go back and stay at his home in Gimpo. Sometimes Jungwoo would tell them how he’s doing by texting all the members and, if he had the chance, he called them.
“Hyung, I missed you so much!” Haechan, again, gives Jungwoo a bear hug and whines in a sad voice. Ever since Jungwoo came back, the youngest doesn’t want to let Jungwoo go and keeps declaring how much he missed Jungwoo.
It’s not only Haechan, though, but the others are also showering Jungwoo with all of their affection, even Taeil, who rarely shows his affection towards others. Kim Doyoung, famous as Jungwoo’s number one supporter slash protector, doesn’t want to be separated from Jungwoo even for a minute.
Jungwoo chuckles happily, hugging Haechan back and resting his head on Haechan’s head. “I missed you too.” He says, then they pretend to cry. This will happen if you put them together; loud, dramatic, yet funny duo.
“Okay, let’s stop your fake tears and let eat first.” Taeyong sighs tiredly. He had repeatedly told Haechan to free his hug from Jungwoo. To be honest, he missed Jungwoo so much. Since Jungwoo comes back this morning (which surprised them in their practice room) he doesn’t have a chance to talk to Jungwoo because other members are also trying to get Jungwoo’s attention.
They truly missed Kim Jungwoo. The empty place that Jungwoo left behind really cannot be replaced by others, and now that Jungwoo is back, they will try their best to make Jungwoo feel like home; warm, comfortable, and safe.
“Here, I, Chef Yuta, grilled this delicious meat only for you.” Yuta puts the meat on a small plate and then gives it to Jungwoo. “Eat a lot. And you, step aside. Let Jungwoo eat.” Yuta pulls Haechan away from Jungwoo, making the youngest whine in protest and kick Yuta’s foot.
“Eat a lot, pals. Doyoung’s treat.” Everyone cheers as they heard Johnny’s words. Doyoung, on the other hand, shouts in protest. He points at Johnny’s face with the chopsticks he was holding, ready to make his expletive.
“No way! You should pay for your own food!” Doyoung says. He makes the funniest face that makes Jungwoo burst into laughter. “In this room, I only know Jungwoo, and I will pay for his food only.”
Taeil snorts, “So stingy.”
Jungwoo smiles in between his chews. He watches all his friends who were getting louder and louder. Mark and Yuta were at odds over who would buy Jungwoo ice cream after this and this was followed by Haechan’s whining who also wanted to buy ice cream. Then Johnny and Taeil were still mocking Doyoung, followed by Taeyong (Doyoung’s No.1 frenemy), then Jaehyun.
Oh, right, Jaehyun. He hasn’t said anything, he just laughed over their jokes, but he doesn’t get into their conversation. He’s busier with his food, munching on his food, eyes focus on the meat in front of him. Jungwoo smiles, holding himself not to laugh. Jaehyun looks like a child right now.
“On the fifth floor, there are me, Doyoung, Haechan, Johnny, and Seojun-hyung.” Taeyong reminds him for the fifth time that day. Jungwoo just nods, his eyes looking at Taeyong but his mouth still busy eating ice cream that Mark bought for him. “You’re on the tenth floor, on the same floor with Yuta, Mark, Taeil-hyung, and Donghyun-hyung. I bet you’re happy because you’re on the same floor with Mark.” Then, Taeyong points at Jaehyun. “And this boy is your roommate.”
“You are my roommate,” Jaehyun gives Jungwoo his broad smile and pointing at himself proudly. Jungwoo, again, just nods. He already knows that Jaehyun is his roommate. Since they moved dorm last December, their manager has shared their list of rooms.
“We are roommates. You and I, roommate.” Jaehyun repeats one more time when he doesn’t get the response he wants from Jungwoo. He pats his chest, then pointing at Jungwoo and back at himself. Taeyong and Jungwoo are looking at each other, not sure if they’re confused or worried by Jaehyun’s antic, then looking back at Jaehyun. “You are going to share a room with me. Me, your favorite hyung.”
Oh. Jungwoo starts to understand now. He smiles amusedly because of Jaehyun’s somehow childish behavior. But, before he can say anything, Taeyong burst of laughs and teases Jaehyun. “Oh, too bad you’re no longer hold that title. You haven’t known that Jungwoo gives that title to me?”
Jaehyun looking at them with a devastated face, he gaps like a fish out of water (not as big as Doyoung if he gaps) couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Taeyong nudges Jungwoo, “Right, Jungwoo? Jaehyun has lost the title as your favorite hyung. Tell him.”
Jungwoo actually wants to say yes, his devil side also intends to tease Jaehyun, but he doesn’t have the heart to do that as he sees Jaehyun’s sad face. Even though, in fact, from the past until now, Jaehyun is indeed his favorite hyung. But it depends on situations and conditions; if Doyoung treats him, then Doyoung will become Jungwoo’s favorite hyung; if Johnny buys him new things, then Johnny will be Jungwoo’s favorite hyung.
Everyone can be his favorite hyung.
“Don’t worry, you’re still my favorite hyung.” Jungwoo gives Jaehyun a side hug, making Jaehyun smile and hugs Jungwoo back. “I already knew you are my roommate. That’s why I wasn’t surprised.”
Jaehyun nods, looking at Jungwoo with a big smile, showing dimples on both his cheeks. “But I’m sure this news will give you a surprise.”
“What’s that?” Jungwoo frowns, feeling something wrong will happen because he knows the smile that Jaehyun wears is his wicked smile. Jaehyun must be hiding something, and Jungwoo sure he will be surprised.
“There is only one bed in our room.”
When he enters his dorm for the first time, all he feels is annoyance. The room is messy (dirty dishes here and there, towels lay on the sofa, trash on the table, on the floor, all over the place) and makes Jungwoo have a strong urge to clean up the room now. Maybe if it isn’t two in the morning, Jungwoo would have cleared up all this mess.
Entering his room with Jaehyun, as the tour guide, Jungwoo is a little relieved.
“Please come in.” Jaehyun opens the door and bends down, acting as if he were a prince who invited his guest to enter. Jungwoo smiles. He pulls his suitcase and stepping into the room, letting Jaehyun close the door to their room.
Jungwoo’s eyes immediately look around the room. The room that will be his room, his safe place, for god knows how long. Jaehyun immediately turns on the air conditioner, patting Jungwoo’s shoulder, and asks. “What do you think?”
Jungwoo blinks, confused. “What do I think? Of what?”
“About our room. Is it nice? Do you like it or not? Too small? Too incapacious?” Jaehyun asks too many questions at once. It makes Jungwoo think why Jaehyun sounds like a salesman who convinces Jungwoo to take this room.
Jungwoo looks around this room one more time. Jaehyun’s bed on the left —the only bed in this room —is messy. Then there is a white shelf attached to the wall. Jungwoo can see Jaehyun’s vinyl collection as well as a turntable there, also a Bluetooth speaker and a mickey mouse doll on the top. Jaehyun’s keyboard and a small refrigerator, a computer desk, and a PC near the window.
This room, without a doubt, giving Jaehyun’s vibes. Minimalist, simple, but warm. Jaehyun only plays with black and white, his favorite. The minimal lighting makes this room seem warmer. Jungwoo likes it. Jaehyun really makes this room feel like a home.
(Except Jaehyun’s things that are still scattered, and the computer desk that covers the window. Jungwoo will work with it later)
“I like this room.” Jungwoo looks at Jaehyun. He seems so tense, and Jungwoo chuckles at it. “This room is so you, hyung. Simple but warm.”
Jaehyun’s shoulders loosen, sighs in relief and smiles. “This room is still full of my stuff,” Jaehyun says, feeling guilty. “We’ll clean it up later. This is also your room. I want you to feel comfortable here.”
Jungwoo smiles a little in surprise, doesn’t expect Jaehyun to say that. He stretches out his arms and hugs Jaehyun for a moment. “No worries, hyung, I totally feel comfy here.”
Jaehyun huffs at the laugh, looking at Jungwoo, his feelings became more relieved when he heard Jungwoo’s answer. He doesn’t want Jungwoo to feel uncomfortable being his roommate or even feel pressured because he had to share a room with Jaehyun. He put his arm around Jungwoo’s shoulders, taking Jungwoo closer to him, and then he ruffles Jungwoo’s hair.
“Thank God you don’t mind sharing a room with me.”
“But there is something I don’t like about this room.” Jungwoo’s words immediately made Jaehyun anxious. “We only have one bed, and not to mention, it’s too small for both of us.”
Jaehyun sighs in relief. He is afraid that Jungwoo would say that he doesn’t want to be his roommate for a second. “You were still on hiatus at that time, so they only provided one bed for me.” Jaehyun pinch Jungwoo’s cheek. “We can sleep together tonight. The bed will arrive by tomorrow afternoon, and then we can re-decorate our room.”
“Sounds like a pan.” Jungwoo nods, he leans his head on Jaehyun’s. “Don’t blame me if I kick you out of bed, hyung.”
“Will not.” Jaehyun squeezes Jungwoo’s cheek fondly, making the younger laugh, feeling relaxed with Jaehyun’s touch. “Because I will kick you off the bed.”