Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Take me back to where we all began

Here we are again like we should've been

Oh my lady, can I have this dance?

— Infinity, AJR.

DEC 31ST 2020 - JAN 1ST 2021

He was supposed to be at home. 

Usually, New Year's Eve means cozy nights with blankets tucked safely under his feet, warm mug between his hands. It means hearing his parents arguing with his brother over which shitty (yet classic) Christmas movie they'll rewatch, even if Christmas has already passed. Jeongin knows that routine like the back of his hand, and is always pleasantly excited for it when a new year comes to its end.

However, his parents had decided to take an impromptu trip somewhere else for the holiday— No Kids Allowed. Jeongin hadn't even asked if he could go, but his dad had texted him something along the lines of it's like a new honeymoon for us… if you know what i mean anyway and he'd been rightfully disgusted. He'd decided to not even acknowledge his messages until the date their plane took off and just so he could wish them a safe flight. 

His brother had quickly arranged plans of his own, inviting his boyfriend and a couple other friends to their hometown and, therefore, their childhood home. Chan had let him know about it with a quick, brief text, and told him he could join them if he pleased. Jeongin did not want to. He loved Chan, and his boyfriend Minho was a great, funny guy, but Jeongin didn't feel like being Chan's little brother for the holidays, and he knew that's what everyone would see him as if he was in a room full of Chan's friends. Politely (read: a text saying no u and ur friends are lame ), he'd declined. 

His roommate Changbin was also not going back home, and there was a wordless agreement between the two: if you find anything to do for New Year's, you invite me. Jeongin hadn't actively looked for any events, hoping they could just spend it lazing around in their tiny apartment, but his friend Jisung had texted him out of nowhere the day before New Year's Eve telling him there was a party at some club and that they should go. 

Jeongin had stared at the text for five minutes, contemplating saying no thanks , but the implied agreement between him and Changbin had forced him to mention it to the older. 

"Jisung said there's a party at some club he knows for New Years," Jeongin had exclaimed from his bed, hoping it'd reach Changbin who was eating cold leftover pizza in their small kitchen, "I don't have any more details."

Changbin had shuffled his socked feet across their floor until he'd reached Jeongin's door frame, "Nice," he'd said around a mouthful of pizza, "We're going, then."

There hadn't been much room for discussion. So, yeah, Jeongin is supposed to be at home. Instead, he's sitting at a booth with Jisung and Changbin at a club filled to the brim with partying strangers who are way too drunk for 10pm. Jeongin had pulled out his best leather pants for the occasion, but the way his legs had started to sweat with the hot atmosphere inside the place was not sexy at all. 

"I should go get us some drinks," Changbin says, stretching his neck to try and see the bar through the bodies on the dance floor, "Anything specific you guys want?"

"A coke," Jeongin says, "I'm not putting alcohol in my body until at least 11:40."

Jisung boos him, "Boring! I'll have a beer." 

"Be right back." 

They watch as Changbin's frame gets swallowed by the dancing crowd. Jisung compares it to the wardrobe in Narnia and they spend a good five minutes talking about how Changbin is now getting drinks from a half-goat man with horns. The music is loud, so they kinda have to lean over the table every time they want to speak, but it's fine. It's some song that has been playing on the radio lately, so Jeongin mouths along the lyrics he knows and bops his head to the rhythm. 

After a bit Jisung checks his phone, quickly reading a text before standing up, "Changbin needs help with the drinks," he says, and then he leaves Jeongin alone. 

He leans back, stretching his arms in front of him and scanning the room with his eyes. There's a lot of people, and Jeongin wonders if they spend New Years like this often, or if they're first-timers like himself. By the looks of it— if the increasingly tipsy young adults throwing ass this early in the night are anything to go by— this seems to be a normal occurrence for them. Or they're very good at adapting, which Jeongin admires. It's crazy to think that he's spending the holiday with his friends, and yet somehow also with all of these strangers, too.

Soon enough the mysterious dancing crowd spits his friends back, who make their way by pushing people with their elbows. Changbin turns around each time, probably shouting sorry , while Jisung nods along like that'll tell the people he's included in the apology. They set their drinks on the table before sliding back onto the booth and right in front of Jeongin. 

"Why do they give you just a glass?" Jisung complains, eyeing his own drink, "What happened to giving you the entire bottle?" 

"They want you to go buy more," Changbin says. He peels the wrapping off his straw and then points at Jisung with the plastic tube, "Capitalism."

"Of course it's capitalism," Jisung mumbles before taking a sip. 

Jeongin snorts at the exchange. He pulls his own straw out of the wrapper, too, and lets it sink in his glass of coke. 

"How are your parents doing?" Jisung asks him, "They're travelling, right?"

"Yeah, their flight took off like an hour ago," Jeongin says, "They'll probably get there right before midnight."

"Baby's first New Year's without the parents," Changbin coos at him, and earns himself a kick to the shin, "Ouch!"

"What about you, then?" Jeongin asks Changbin after his attack, a satisfied smile taking over his face, "Why aren't you spending it at home?"

"I always pick a holiday to spend with my family, and another one to spend however I want," Changbin explains while rubbing the spot Jeongin had aimed for, "I went back for Christmas, so New Year's was up to me."

Jeongin nods, although he can't understand not spending both at home if given the chance. Maybe it's because his family has always made holidays feel family exclusive or because he has to admit, begrudgingly, that he's just simply a family guy. He misses his parents and Chan, but he's not gonna let it bring down the New Year mood. 

"I'm hours and hours away from my family in Malaysia," Jisung shrugs. He doesn't sound upset, it's just a fact, "I'm used to it, though. We just videochat after everyone has recovered from the hangover." 

Changbin raises his glass, "To New Year's spent with friends."

Jeongin and Jisung follow suit, "To New Year's spent with friends."

Clink . They take one long sip from their drinks at the same time.

.

Jeongin lies. By 11:30, he's already downed two full glasses of two different alcoholic drinks. There's a familiar warm buzz spreading all over his body, down all the way to his toes, though it stays mainly in his chest. Jisung is ahead of him, probably on his tenth glass, but his tolerance is higher so he doesn't seem that affected by it. Changbin, the middle ground between the two, is clearly tipsy yet conscious enough; his slurred words still making sense— which means he's still able to further develop how the root of all problems goes back to capitalism when Jisung comes back with his glass re-filled for the nth time.

Overall, they're all the right amount of drunk. 

When there's half an hour left for 2021 to come knocking on their doors and walk in even when they don't get up to open, the club starts a countdown that shows in the two big TVs propped in the corners of the place. The crowd lets out a loud cheer, and Jeongin chimes in a bit too late, with his yeah stretching for longer than others. Dancing is resumed and, already starting to feel the effects of alcohol in his veins, Jisung jumps up from his seat to join the Narnia-esque group of people. 

Jeongin makes his own first trip to the bar to refill his glass ten minutes later. The bartender behind the counter grins at him upon arrival, and is nice throughout the entire exchange, even going as far as to gift him an average sized bowl of chips for free to bring back to his table. Jeongin smiles genuinely at her, and the girl gestures with her hands to tell him it's nothing. He goes back to the booth thinking about how nice people are a rarity these days. 

Changbin informs him she was flirting. 

"What?" Jeongin asks in bewilderment, "No, she wasn't. She just gave me chips."

"While on her shift," Changbin argues. He's struggling to hold his head on his hand, elbow up on the table, mostly sliding down and then bringing himself back up when he notices it, "Who does that? She has the hots for you."

"You're drunk."

"I'm coherent." 

"She was just being nice," Jeongin insists, pushing the bowl of chips his way in hopes he'll get his mouth full and leave him alone. He does get his mouth stuffed, but it doesn't stop him from talking. 

"Start 2021 in a good way," Changbin says, "She's cute. Baby's first New Year's far from home, baby's first New Year's kiss."

Jeongin spares him from the second kick to the shin of the night only because he's under the effects of alcohol. He throws a chip in his face, however, because it's harmless and he knows Changbin's reflexes are shit enough at this point that he doesn't even try to stop it when it's still in the air. It crashes against his cheek. 

"You said it," Jeongin says, "She's on her shift. She's working. Gaining money, making a living. She's busy."

Changbin attempts to throw the chip back, but it lands far from Jeongin. The younger rolls his eyes.

"I'm just saying… 2020 was shit," Changbin mutters, "2021 should start with something new." 

Partially, Jeongin has to agree. 2020 hadn't been the year they'd all had hoped it would be on December 31st, 2019. It had started somewhat okay and quickly gone downhill. And, apparently, it was contagious, because he didn't know one single person who'd be able to sincerely tell him 2020 was great. Everyone looked for 2021 with hopeful eyes, ready to kick out this trainwreck of a year like an annoying guest who has overstayed their welcome. 

He also agrees that the year should start with something new— something that could tell them if the year is gonna be good or not. A little hint. Jeongin is surprised no one has pulled out the This Animal Predicts How The Year Will Go like they'd done with that poor octopus which apparently predicted the results of football matches. Jeongin kinda wants it to happen still, if anything to have someone to blame if 2021 goes sour. 

What he doesn't agree on is bothering the bartender girl. Or kissing a stranger on New Year's Eve, actually. 

"Should I get you some water?" Jeongin says after a while.

Changbin nods weakly, "Please."

.

Ten minutes before midnight, Jeongin has to pee urgently.

He leaves Jisung and Changbin alone on the dance floor and wiggles aimlessly between sweaty bodies until he catches a glimpse of the bathroom sign. Jeongin really thinks the club should invest in an expansion somehow, because the way he can't walk more than two steps without having to ask for permission to come in between two strangers is a bit ridiculous. He makes a beeline for the toilets and manages to reach the door alive and in one piece; a total of only two accidental hands on his butt. 

He pushes the bathroom door open with his palm flat against the surface, and doesn't notice the lonesome body in there until he's halfway inside one of the stalls and he catches movement in his peripheral vision.

It's a body, yes, and Jeongin quickly realizes it belongs to a boy who, despite looking lifeless, is very much still alive. He's got his eyes closed, and his head thrown back against the wall. It seems like he's struggling to keep himself up. Probably got too drunk too early , Jeongin assumes. He takes a step back from the stall, the half-opened door creaking as it shuts itself. The boy opens his eyes.

"Hi," the stranger hiccups, a lazy smile spreading on his face. Jeongin starts approaching him with a hand stretched, afraid the boy will fall down any second.

"Hi," Jeongin says back, "You okay there, dude?"

The man nods, though Jeongin knows it's a lie. But maybe he doesn't feel like he's lying, because he tries to detach his body from the wall and almost crumbles to the floor. Jeongin catches him before he can, a hand gripping the stranger's arm and the other one pushing at his chest to straighten him up. The stranger giggles absentmindedly with his head lulling from side to side on its own accord.

"You're… You're gone gone," Jeongin thinks out loud. He gets the guy back against the wall so he can loosen his hold on him briefly and try to make him meet his eyes "Hey, what's your name?"

The guy looks up at him through the rebel strands of hair that have escaped from his tiny ponytail and gasps. He brings a hand up to Jeongin's hair, who freezes when he feels the boy's fingers are close enough to trap a fistful in his hand and pull lightly— not to hurt, just in appreciation.

"So white…" The guy whispers in awe, referring to Jeongin's newly dyed (and heavily bleached) hairstyle, "Like a fairy," his hand slides from his hair all the way down to Jeongin's shoulder. 

Jeongin blushes, inevitably, "Thanks," he smiles, and then repeats one more time: "What's your name?"

But the boy only gets dangerously close to his face, "And dimples, too?" He lets out, disbelieving, "Oh, my. You're… an ice prince."

Jeongin looks away for a moment, escaping from the boy's wide eyes and the way these seem to be fixed on his face. The roaring outside is getting increasingly louder, which means 2021 must be close and he should get back to his friends— and that's when his bladder reminds him rather painfully that he still needs to pee. 

The boy has returned to playing with his hair.

"Did you come alone?" Jeongin asks him. The stranger hiccups.

"No," he shakes his head, "Came with Felix and Seungmin."

Jeongin takes the guy's hand away from his head and folds his arm back towards his chest. He pouts. Jeongin rolls his eyes and helps him find enough balance to stand by the wall by himself again.

"Wait here, okay?" Jeongin tells him, "I'll pee and I'll help you find your friends."

"Ok, fairy."

Jeongin's cheeks burn ablaze under the intensity of his blush, "My name is Jeongin."

"Ok, Jeongie."

Close enough . 

Jeongin gets inside the stall at record speed and does his business, paying careful attention to any noise from outside that could tell him the boy is moving, or that someone has come in. (Jeongin likes to think most people are decent, but since they're at a party in New Year's with hundreds of people he doesn't know, and the stranger is visibly way too drunk to do anything but talk, he can't help but be wary; afraid someone could try and take advantage of him.)

Having been the one to find him, he feels a sense of responsibility to take the boy back to his friends safe.

He zips up his pants when he's done, stepping out and heading straight to wash his hands. The boy is right where he left him. He looks at Jeongin and giggles.

"You're back."

"I am," Jeongin says, turning the faucet off and shaking his hands in the air to dry them off. He looks down at them momentarily and then up at the stranger, an idea forming in his head, "Do you wanna wash your face before we go out? It could help you sober up a little."

"Mmkay."

Jeongin helps him walk the short distance to the sinks and then turns the faucet on. The boy spends a maddening amount of time looking down at the water running and pushing his hair out of his face. The strands fall back each time. Jeongin watches him struggle for long enough and decides to intervene.

"Can you stand by yourself for a little?" He asks him, "I'll fix your ponytail. You can hold onto me if you want."

"Mhm."

The other man grabs a fistful of Jeongin's shirt and puts a hand on the counter where the sink is for extra balance. Jeongin twists his body to reach behind and untie his hair. He lets it fall, sneaking a glance at the mirror to see the stranger's face framed by the long, golden locks. It suits him. 

"What's your name?" Jeongin asks a third time, working on the stranger's hair. It's soft to the touch when he runs his hands through it to pull it up into a half ponytail, and it flows easily as Jeongin moves it around to make it go through the hair tie three times for good measure. 

"Hyunjin."

"All done, Hyunjin," Jeongin shows him the ponytail in the mirror, where their eyes meet briefly. Hyunjin giggles and then hiccups. Jeongin snorts, "Let's freshen you up."

Hyunjin gets his hands under the water and splashes some on his face, hissing at the cold feeling. Jeongin's still holding his arm just in case he needs the support, but otherwise Hyunjin does it all on his own. He stares at his own reflection when he's done, water droplets sliding along the bridge of his nose and the edges of his lips, and then shakes his head like a wet dog. 

Jeongin fans him with his hands for a little, "You'll dry up soon enough," he tells him. He turns the faucet off before grabbing Hyunjin's arm and throwing it over his own shoulders, "Let's get out, okay? Can you walk?"

Hyunjin nods.

Jeongin takes the first few steps with caution, trying to measure the truth behind the boy's gesture. They get to the door without much trouble, and Jeongin takes it as a chance to speed his walking a notch. 

One look at the TV tells him there's only 5 minutes left before 2021. Jeongin curses under his breath, wondering if his friends have been looking for him or are potentially in Hyunjin's same poor condition. Jeongin tightens the hand on the boy's hip and tries to push him up a little so he's not resting all of his weight on Jeongin— who's strong, but to a certain extent. 

He sticks to the sides of the dance floor, going around it instead of through it. He wouldn't come out alive from there, or he'd lose Hyunjin in the endless push and pull. Jeongin decides to take him to his booth first, already realizing he won't be able to parade them both around the place for too long. Hopefully, once seated and having drunk one or two glasses of water, Hyunjin will be able to give Jeongin a description of his friends. 

.

Changbin and Jisung's faces when they see him standing in front of them with a stranger clinging to him are worth taking a picture of to frame and hang in someone's house. 

"I wasn't just gonna leave him alone in the bathroom," is the only explanation Jeongin offers, "Can one of you go grab him a glass of water?"

"Jesus Christ," Jisung says.

Changbin stands up to get the drink as Jeongin helps Hyunjin sit down. The boy looks way better than he did minutes ago in the toilets, but he's still pretty out of it. Jeongin slides next to him and Hyunjin finds his place back on Jeongin's shoulder again, nuzzling into the fabric of his shirt. Jisung lifts an eyebrow.

Before his friend can start asking him about the situation he's found himself in, the countdown for the last minute of 2020 starts rolling. The crowd cheers again, screaming the numbers at the top of their lungs. Sixty seconds aren't a lot, but with the crushing pressure of delivering a stranger to his also stranger friends, they certainly feel eternal to Jeongin.

Changbin arrives at their table with the water when there's five seconds left. He puts the glass down and pushes it softly towards Jeongin, who in turn shakes his shoulder to get Hyunjin to open his eyes. The boy lifts his head up right on time for the last three, two, one before the crowd erupts in even louder mayhem and people start hugging their friends. 

"Drink this, Hyunjin," are the first words Jeongin mutters in 2021, and they're directed at a boy he met ten minutes ago and also last year . 

Hyunjin grabs the glass with one hand, fingers loosely gripping the fragile material, and stands on the booth much to Jeongin's surprise. He wobbles a little, still mildly dizzy, but manages to stay stable enough to raise the water in the air and shout a lively: "Happy New Year!"

Surprisingly, that gets a lot of strangers to reply back with the same phrase and lift their cups up in his direction, too. Jisung starts cackling from his spot on the booth while Jeongin stays frozen; his mouth hanging open. Changbin chuckles too, merely an observant in the younger's undoubtedly new way of beginning the year. 

"Hyunjin, come down," Jeongin speaks, tugging at the man's hand, "You can hurt yourself."

Hyunjin looks down at him when he feels the pull on his arm, "Happy New Year, Jeongie!" He exclaims with a tipsy, lopsided smile on his face

"Yeah, happy New Year," Jeongin sighs, resigned. He points at the glass he's holding, "How about you drink some water to start the year off, hm?"

Hyunjin nods, as if to say that sounds like a good idea . He takes the glass up to his lips and tilts his head back, gulping down every drop of water fast. Jeongin winces. If that's how he had been drinking before Jeongin even knew of his existence, it's no surprise he'd ended up drunk enough to be hiccuping the night away in the bathroom. Jeongin grabs the glass from his hands once he's done and tugs at his fingers again.

"Please, come down," he insists one more time.

Thankfully, this time Hyunjin listens. He sinks back onto the fluffy cushions of the booth with an oof. Jeongin relaxes his muscles with a sigh now that he knows he doesn't have to be on edge just in case Hyunjin were to take a wrong step and fall.

"Can you describe your friends to me?" Jeongin asks when he's sure he's got the other boy's attention, "We still need to find them so you can wish them a Happy New Year, right?"

“Mmkay,” Hyunjin says. He leans his head against the back of the seat, “Felix is cute. He’s… blonde. And he has freckles! He’s really so, so cute, Jeongie. He also looks like a fairy; like you,” He stretches a hand forward to boop Jeongin’s nose, “My fairy friends…”

Jeongin chuckles softly, “Okay. What about Seungmin?”

“Seungminnie is tall,” Hyunjin says, twisting his head to look up at the ceiling like that’s where Seungmin’s height is supposed to take him, “I’m taller, though! And his hair is black. He, uhm…. He looks like a puppy.”

“Like a dog?”

“A puppy!” Hyunjin exclaims, making sure Jeongin knows that, apparently, it is not the same thing, “Golden Retriever.”

Jeongin hums. The hair colors, Felix’s freckles and Seungmin’s height are the only relevant things in Hyunjin’s description, and one single scan around the room tells him there are at least a dozen blonde guys and ten others that seem to stand out because of how tall they are. It seems to be a habit of Hyunjin to compare people he knows to other things and, no matter how endearing it might be, Jeongin can’t go around the club looking for people that look like a Golden Retriever puppy— he’s not sure he’d know what to look for, even. A tail? Ears? Trying to picture a human with canine features is more of a terrifying image than a helpful one.

“If you remember anything else that might help us find Felix and Seungmin, you tell me, okay?” Jeongin says.

“Okay, Jeongie.”

“Seungmin?” Jisung chimes in suddenly, “Kim Seungmin, perhaps?”

Hyunjin nods excitedly at the mention of his friend, “Yes!”

“We shared a couple classes this year,” Jisung says, pulling out his phone from the back pocket of his jeans, “I might have his number saved.”

Jeongin sighs, visibly relieved. He leans back, shoulders falling tiredly, and closes his eyes tightly for a couple seconds. He hears Jisung tell him he’s found the contact and has just sent Seungmin a text. Hyunjin will make it safe to his friends, and Jeongin will be able to properly say Happy New Year to his own friends and family. 

His first good deed of the year, only minutes into it. 2021 better be good to him.

.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Hyunjin.”

Seungmin stands at their table with his hands on his hips, like a mother scolding a child. Felix stands behind him, trying to hold in his laughter when he sees the way Hyunjin shrinks on himself like a kicked puppy.

“I’m never doing this again, by the way,” Seungmin continues, index finger up and pointing at Hyunjin with every word, “I’m never going out with you, ever. How are you just gonna run off? And when your phone has died? Do you know how long we’ve been looking for you?”

“I’m sorry, Seungmin,” Hyunjin tells him with a pout.

“We were worried, Jinnie,” Seungmin sighs, lifting a hand up to rub at his temples, “What if something happened to you?”

“Nothing happened to me,” Hyunjin says, “I met Jeongie! He’s nice.”

For the first time since he got there, Seungmin looks down at the three other boys at the table. 

(Jisung had gotten a reply to his text merely seconds later, with Seungmin telling him he was gonna be there as soon as possible. Jisung had tried to explain their location as best as he could, and soon enough Seungmin was standing in front of them looking a little frantic. His heart, which had been very obviously at his throat, had gone back to its designated spot when he’d caught sight of Hyunjin, safe and playing fight with two straws. 

And then he’d let out his worry in the form of angry scolding. Honestly, Jeongin gets it.)

Sensing that Seungmin can’t figure out for the life of him which one is Jeongin, the younger boy lifts his hand up.

“I’m Jeongie—” He shakes his head, “Jeongin.” 

Seungmin lifts an eyebrow up at the slip, and Jeongin tries to fight back the heat crawling all the way up to his cheeks. He can't be blamed; that's what Hyunjin's been calling him the entire night, of course it was gonna stick. Right?

"Thank you, Jeongin," Seungmin finally says, "And sorry, on his and my behalf. I should've never taken my eyes off of him."

"It's no problem," Jeongin assures him, "Hyunjin was… uh, cooperative," He sneaks a glance to his right, where Hyunjin has picked up the straws again, "I just couldn't leave him in the bathroom all alone. I wouldn't have forgiven myself."

"Thank you," Seungmin repeats, nodding once to show he's genuinely grateful. He focuses back on Hyunjin, his gaze now clearly fond and soft, "C'mon, Little Prince, it's time to go home."

Hyunjin whines, "I don't wanna leave Jeongie," he says, "He's my new friend."

"And he'll still be your friend even when you're at home," Seungmin reasons, "Let's go. Felix already called a cab."

Hyunjin looks upset, and unlike every other time he's puckered his lips in a pout during the night, this one seems the most real. Jeongin gets out of the booth to give Hyunjin space to slide off of it himself, but the boy doesn't move. He looks at Seungmin with the corners of his lips turned downward in an attempt to show utmost sadness. His friend seems unfazed.

Jeongin calls Changbin's attention by snapping his fingers in front of his face, an idea brewing quickly in his mind. 

"Give me a pen," he says. 

He knows Changbin carries one around at all times in case he gets an idea for his lyrics, often scribbling on his own arms when he can't find paper. True to Jeongin's word, the older pulls one out from the pocket in his shirt immediately upon request and hands it to him. Jeongin grabs a napkin and starts writing. 

xxx-xxx-xxx

Jeongin   Jeongie :)

He folds it a couple times under the curious eyes of his and Hyunjin's friends, feeling a bit nervous. Then, he pushes the napkin toward Hyunjin.

"That's my number," Jeongin says. He feels embarrassed, knowing all of them are watching him exclusively, "So we can still be friends, see? You should go home and get some rest."

Hyunjin gasps delightedly, taking the napkin and pocketing it in his jeans quickly. He slides out of the booth then, Seungmin by his side with an amused glint in his eyes as his friend clings to him once he's within reach. Hyunjin stabilizes himself in Seungmin's hold and then turns around, calling Jeongin with his hands and gesturing for him to get a bit closer. 

"Come here." 

He does. 

Hyunjin lands a big, loud smooch on his cheek, unprompted and without warning. Jeongin's eyes widen. It's short, and Hyunjin is soon detaching himself from him to get both of his arms back around Seungmin's neck. Jeongin has to make a conscious effort to resist the urge to touch his cheekbone with his hand, right where Hyunjin's lips had been. 

"Bye, Jeongie," Hyunjin says in a bubbly tone, "Happy New Year!" 

"Bye," He says, though it comes out as a whisper that he's sure Hyunjin can't hear. 

He watches as the three boys make their way to the exit, catching the last bits of their conversation. Jeongin is a nice person, but not everyone is like him. You could've seriously gotten hurt, from Seungmin and wait, oh my God. Seungminnie, Lixie— Happy New Year! from Hyunjin. Jeongin watches them until they disappear behind the sea of people and the only thing he can see every now and then is the half ponytail he'd helped Hyunjin fix. 

"That was… interesting," Jisung says after a moment of silence. Changbin hums in agreement.

"Happy New Year, guys," Jeongin blurts in response, which prompts them all to erupt into a fit of giggles. 

Changbin throws an arm around him and lifts his other hand up to mess up his hair, "Happy New Year, Jeongie. "

Jeongin elbows him in the stomach.

.

JAN 3RD 2021 

Jeongin takes a bus to his hometown on January 3rd and spends the entire ride trying to avoid getting hit by the small toys the kid sitting next to him keeps throwing in the air. Jeongin makes eye contact with the mother sitting in the seat right across the aisle a couple times; the young woman smiling apologetically as she tries to make her child calm down. When he finally gets off the bus, Jeongin can't feel the right side of his body from being pressed against the window the whole time. 

The taxi ride to his parents' house is much quieter and comfortable. The driver doesn't speak to him more than necessary, merely asking for an address and then turning the volume of the radio up once he's got it. Jeongin revels in the wide backseat he's got to himself, setting his backpack next to him instead of under his feet like he'd had to do on the bus, and sighs in contentment.

The outside of the house always brings Jeongin back in time: memories of him and Chan rolling around the grass in the front yard and their mother screeching when she would see the state in which they'd leave their clothes, white t-shirts turned brown with dirt; memories of scraped knees and cheeks wet with tears and his dad sticking cartoon band aids on his skin. Jeongin likes to take a long look at the front door every time he comes to visit, consumed by images of his past, because he knows that once he crosses the threshold he's back to being 19.

"Happy New Year!" 

Chan greets him from the door before Jeongin has even started walking up to the entrance. His brother runs to him and tackles him into a tight hug, Jeongin's backpack sliding off of his shoulder and falling to the ground with the impact. He hugs back, chin resting on Chan's shoulder, and enjoys knowing he's at home. 

"Happy New Year," Jeongin says back once they've parted, bending down to pick his bag up. Chan snatches it from his hands before he can protest, and they both start walking towards the house where Minho now leans against the door frame with a smile. 

"Hey, Jeongin," His brother's boyfriend grins, a hand already up in the air for Jeongin's own to smack against in their characteristic high-five greeting. Jeongin follows through as planned, "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, Minho," Jeongin says as he walks into the house, "If you guys let any of your friends spend the night in my room I'm gonna be pissed."

Jeongin makes a quick trip up to his bedroom, where he thoroughly checks nothing has been moved or damaged in his absence. His bed is made, his old Avengers figurines are still on the shelves, and the small notebook he'd used as a diary during his most angsty teenage years is still hidden somewhere deep in his closet (thank God). He throws his bag on the bed and then walks down the stairs with quick steps, ready to get a bite of whatever his brother and Minho have cooked. 

"We got pizza from that delivery place nearby," Chan announces as he steps into the kitchen. He slides the box towards Jeongin, "We woke up too late to cook and we knew you'd be coming around this hour, so."

"No complaints," Jeongin says, already taking a slice up to his mouth and chasing the melting cheese with his tongue, "I didn't even have breakfast, so I'm very hungry. I could eat anything."

"Yeah, we can tell," Minho teases as he watches Jeongin get half the slice into his mouth in one single bite, "Slow down, Jeongin, my God." 

Chan takes a seat at the table with him, grabbing a slice himself, "So, how was your New Year's?" He asks, "It was... different, right? I felt weird. I asked Minho what Christmas movie we should watch after our friends left and he looked me in the eyes and said why would we watch a Christmas movie? "

"Unbelievable," Jeongin gasps, "He did not do that."

"I've never spent New Year's with your family," Minho says defensively, "How was I supposed to know it was punishable by law to call Christmas movies on days that aren't Christmas nonsensical?" 

"You've been dating my brother for what— like, seven years?" Jeongin points an accusatory finger at him, "And you don't know the Bang traditions?"

"It's been five years," Chan chimes in, munching leisurely on his pizza as he watches his younger brother and his boyfriend bantering like they usually do.

"Just five?" Jeongin frowns, "God, I feel like Minho has been bothering me forever."

"I'm gonna feed you tissues again," Minho threatens, "And I know you love me, anyway. Or have you forgotten about that really sweet letter you wrote me for my birthday?" He reaches across the table to try and pinch Jeongin's cheeks.

"I was 15!" Jeongin exclaims indignantly, batting away his hands.

"It's in my wallet—" 

"Why do you have it in your wallet!?"

Chan swallows the last bite of pizza and decides to interrupt, clapping his hands loudly to get their attention, "Stop. Jeongin, you didn't even answer my question."

Jeongin sticks his tongue out at Minho before replying, "It was…fun, I guess," He says; the image of Hyunjin's drunken smile flashing in his mind. He shifts on the chair, clearing his throat, "Changbin, Jisung, and I went to some club."

Chan nods. Jeongin doesn't want to get relentlessly teased again (he'd had enough with his friends already) which is why he doesn't feel like mentioning the situation, and is glad that Chan isn't that much of a curious person when it comes to what Jeongin does when he's out with friends. 

Minho, however—the bane of his existence—, narrows his eyes at him in an evaluating gaze as soon as he stops talking.

"Something happened," He concludes after he's studied Jeongin's face for long enough to collect his data, "Hm. Did you… get super drunk?"

"No," Jeongin answers easily, "I didn't drink that much." 

"Did your friends do something crazy, or embarrassing?" Minho further questions, like they're playing a game of Clue and he needs to figure out who did it.

"I don't know. To be honest, they probably did do something embarrassing at some point," Jeongin says, like the accomplice covering up the crimes that tries to deceive the detectives.

Unsatisfied with the answer, Minho keeps prodding, "Did you… meet someone?" Jeongin gulps, tongue pushing against the inside of his cheek, unable to say something back quick enough. Minho slams a hand on the kitchen table, "You did!"

Jeongin turns to face his brother, "It's not too late to break up with him. For the sake of our own relationship as brothers."

Chan snorts, "Sorry, I'm in love with him."

"Exactly," Minho agrees, sending flying kisses to the older from where he stands, "You won't get rid of me. I'm gonna marry your brother."

"God," Jeongin groans, crossing his arms on the table and resting his forehead against them, "Forever. Until death do you apart…"

"Amen," Chan leans forward to grab another slice of pizza. 

"So, tell us," Minho insists, "Who did you meet? Don't even try to lie— I know I'm right."

Jeongin lifts his head with a sigh. He gives in, "Just some guy. He was drunk and all alone in the bathroom, so I helped him find his friends."

He was also the first person to wish me a Happy New Year, and I spent the first seconds of 2021 telling him to drink water and sit down , Jeongin thinks. He can't help but feel like there's something important there, something worth keeping in mind— maybe because he's never had such a hectic beginning of the year in his whole life. 

Either way, even though the same thought has been taking up a big part of his brain the last few days, he still can't come to an agreement with himself on whether it's a sign on how 2021 is gonna be (chaotic, messy, unexpected) or something along those lines or if it's just a crazy thing that simply happened to involve him. A coincidence.

"That's nice of you," Chan says, ruffling his hair. Jeongin gives him a small smile, "Were his friends super drunk, as well?"

"No, they were okay," Jeongin tells him, "They had been looking for him for a while but couldn't find him anywhere. One of them started scolding him right in front of us."

"Damn."

"Yeah. But I get it. He was worried, and apparently this guy's phone had died earlier in the night. We were lucky Jisung knew one of his friends and had his contact saved."

"Why did you not want to tell us this?" Minho asks, confused, "I thought it was gonna be something more juicy. You're the hero of this story."

"Not a hero, just a decent human being," Jeongin says, licking his fingers clean of pizza grease, "And I didn't wanna tell you because I already got teased enough by Changbin and Jisung."

"Teased for what? Saving the day?" 

Jeongin sighs. He can feel the blood rushing to the tips of his ears along with another thin coat spreading over his cheeks, "He kept calling me Jeongie, and— and I had to give him my number so he would go home because he didn't wanna leave me," He admits.

Chan's eyebrows shoot up, surprised, and Minho's smirk grows like the Cheshire cat's smile. Jeongin throws his head back, already dreading whatever words Minho is about to say out loud. 

"Now that's the juicy part." God.

"Stop calling it juicy," Jeongin says, "Nothing juicy about it."

"It does sound pretty juicy," Chan joins his boyfriend in making Jeongin's life miserable. 

"I hate you both. The combination between you too is the worst thing that has ever happened to me."

Jeongin's phone starts vibrating in the back pocket of his jeans as Chan and Minho laugh delightedly at having gotten on his nerves. The younger shows them his middle finger as he fishes the device out with his other hand, eyeing the number on the screen. He doesn't recognize it. He slides his finger across the screen to pick up the call and lifts the phone up to his ear.

The middle finger turns into Jeongin holding his index finger up to tell Chan and Minho to shut up for a moment.

"Hello?" He says, "Who's this?" 

"Hi!" The person on the other side answers quickly, "It's, um. It's Hyunjin? From the New Year's party. Is this… Jeongie?"

Jeongin is speechless for a moment, eyes widening comically. He'd thought Hyunjin wouldn't call at all, since it had already been two days since the night at the club. Jeongin was fine with that and, to be honest, that's what he'd expected the entire time. But now he's got the other boy on the line right after he's finished retelling their encounter to his brother and Minho— Jeongin starts wondering how many coincidences can take place in less than a week. 

"Yeah, this is Jeongin," He finally replies.

"Sorry, I... Jeongie was written on the napkin and I couldn't remember your actual name," Hyunjin sounds embarrassed. 

"It's fine. How— How can I help you, Hyunjin?"

"Oh!" Hyunjin exclaims, like he's just remembered why he'd called, "Yes. I just wanted to say sorry, you know. For ruining your New Year's," He chuckles humorlessly, "I can't imagine taking care of a drunk stranger counts as a nice way to start the year." 

"It's really no problem," Jeongin assures him, "I already told Seungmin that night. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I just left you there. You needed help." 

"Still," Hyunjin insists, "Sorry. And thank you. And also sorry for calling, like, days later. I was extremely embarrassed and couldn't dial your number without wanting to disappear."

That gets a laugh out of Jeongin. Chan and Minho are still in front of him, trying to pretend they're not listening to his every word and failing miserably at being subtle. Jeongin can tell they've already figured out who he's talking to, and he won't give them the satisfaction to tune into his conversation. He gets up from the chair and starts walking toward the stairs to go to his room.

"I understand," Jeongin says, the hand not holding the phone tracing the railing lightly as he goes up, "Again, it's nothing."

"I felt like I really needed to apologize. And I also want to… make it up to you, somehow," There's a small pause, "Do you, uh, do you wanna go get coffee or something? Today?" Hyunjin asks, words crashing against each other with the speed in which he utters them, "My treat. As a thank you gesture for keeping me alive, I guess." 

Jeongin closes the door to his room behind him as he steps inside. He's shocked. This wasn't what he'd thought would happen by writing his number down. At most, he'd thought he'd just get a thank you text. Jeongin takes a couple seconds to reply, stunned by the offer. 

"I'm currently not at home," He says, bringing a hand up to scratch the back of his neck, "I'm at my parents' house."

"Right. God, sorry. I should've asked if you were free, first, I just— went for it."

"We can totally do it some other day, though," He continues, wanting to free Hyunjin from the embarrassment he's obviously feeling; his voice too full of it to ignore, "I'll probably get back in two days or so. This is your number, isn't it? I'll text you."

It's Hyunjin's turn to fall silent. Jeongin finds the corners of his lips twitching slightly in an almost involuntary smile as he waits. 

"Sure. Yeah, this is my number," Hyunjin speaks, "Text me whenever you're free."

"I will."

"Okay. Then, that's all, I guess. Sorry again, for that night. And now for, uh, calling unannounced."

"It's okay. I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I should go now… My brother and his boyfriend are probably eating all the pizza without me."

Hyunjin lets out a breathy chuckle, "Then I won't hold you here anymore. Bye, Jeongin."

"Bye."

Jeongin looks down at his phone once the call ends. He merely holds it in his hands for a moment, eyes fixed on the call log that tells him Hyunjin and him talked for around 5 minutes.

He gets back to the kitchen with one new contact saved: Hyunjin .

.

JAN 4TH 2021

Jeongin

Hey

In case you didn't save my number, it's Jeongin

I'm going home early tomorrow. Will probably be free in the afternoon :)

Hyunjin

Of course I saved your number!!!!

And that's great ~ 

Text me tomorrow and we can meet up

Jeongin

Will do!

.

JAN 5TH 2021

"Where are you going all dressed up?" 

Jeongin looks up at Changbin, still bent down to reach his shoelaces and tie them up. Hyunjin had suggested a place an hour ago and they'd agreed on the time easily, giving each other the chance to take a quick shower and get ready in general. 

"What about this—" Jeongin points down at his plaid white shirt and jeans, "— is dressing up ?"

"Nothing, that's just what people say. You're clearly in a rush, though."

"Yeah, I want to get there on time."

Jeongin makes a quick run back to his bedroom to grab his wallet and keys, pocketing both items as he walks past Changbin sitting at their kitchen table. He takes the first jacket he finds; one Jeongin had left hanging on the back of one of the chairs a couple days before after going grocery shopping. Jeongin slides it on, sniffing it in the process. It seems fine. 

"Where are you going?" Changbin asks one more time.

"None of your business," Jeongin replies, and then steps out of their apartment. 

The café Hyunjin had mentioned is thankfully close enough to his apartment building that he can just walk there. He rushes his steps unconsciously with every block he leaves behind, checking the time in his phone every now and then. Jeongin catches sight of the big sign outside the café 10 minutes after leaving home, right from where he stands in a corner waiting for the light to turn green so he can cross the street. The time reads 6:01pm. 

The bell above the door rings when he pushes it open, announcing his arrival to everyone in there. A couple curious heads look up from their beverages to see who's walked in but quickly go back to their own things after realizing it's just some guy to them . Jeongin scans the room looking for Hyunjin and decides to pick an empty table when he doesn't see him— apparently, he's the first to get there. 

He plays around with his phone, opening months old game apps he hasn't used in a while to try and pass the time. A waitress comes over to ask for his order, and he has to timidly tell her he's waiting for someone, and that he'll order then. She leaves two menus on the table anyway for when his date comes. Date . That's what she calls it. Jeongin doesn't get to correct her as she turns around and goes right back to work like she hasn't left him blushing. 

The door opens again after a while; the harmonious ringing being a clear telltale of newcomers entering the café. Like the curious eyes that had watched him, Jeongin lifts his head up to see who it is. 

Hyunjin closes the door slowly, the bell ringing softly when it's touched a second time. The recognizable long, blonde hair that had caught Jeongin's attention that night isn't tied up this once, instead flowing down and lightly grazing Hyunjin's shoulders. He starts looking around the room much like Jeongin did. To make it easier for him, Jeongin starts waving his hand. Hyunjin finds him quickly after that.

"Hey," Hyunjin greets him with a smile as he sits down in front of him. It's not like the ones he'd shown on New Year's Eve, wobbly and clearly drunken. This one is softer, smaller, and with a lot less alcohol-induced confidence behind it. 

"Hey. How's it going?" Jeongin says, already beginning to feel a bubble of awkwardness surrounding them and trying to find a way to pop it, "I was gonna try and be funny and say something like haven't seen you since last year , but."

Hyunjin chuckles, tensed shoulders relaxing as the laugh comes out of him, "Can't believe we met last year," He jokes, "It doesn't feel that long."

"Right?" Jeongin says, like it's something unbelievable, "Time flies by so fast— it's already 2021. Can you believe that?"

"Seems like it was just yesterday."

"Or 6 days ago."

They both laugh this time, the sounds intertwining with each other in the cozy atmosphere. Jeongin doesn't want Hyunjin to feel ashamed, knowing the memories that are just a wild story for him are an embarrassing recollection to the other boy— those you cringe at when you randomly remember them—, which is why he tries to ease both of them into a casual conversation. 

The awkward bubble disappears like they've just poked it with a needle— though there's still smaller ones lingering around them. 

"Did you order already?" Hyunjin points at the menus.

"No," Jeongin shakes his head, "I was waiting for you."

"You didn't have to do that," Hyunjin tsks, picking one up to read.

"It would have been rude. Plus, you showed up just a bit later. I didn't have to wait that much."

Jeongin calls the waitress over when they finally decide on their drinks. He belatedly remembers how she'd referred to their meeting as a date and prays to God she doesn't somehow bring it up in conversation. Thankfully, she slides over with a smile on and her notepad out and doesn't stay for longer than she needs to. After quickly scribbling their orders down, she takes the menus from them and tells them it'll be ready in a minute.

"So," Jeongin blurts after the waitress has left, "uh… how did you deal with the hangover?"

Hyunjin winces, face contorting in distaste, "It was awful ," He says, "I woke up with a splitting headache, my mouth super dry and Seungmin throwing the painkillers in my face. Took me hours to get rid of the pain."

"I imagine. I mean, you were…" Jeongin throws his hands up at the lack of word to use. Drunk doesn't even begin to cover it, "But you looked like you were having fun."

"Well, I guess I was. Everything's fun when you're not sober," Hyunjin snorts, "I wasn't planning on getting that bad, though, I just wanted to start 2021 pleasantly tipsy and with a positive attitude since 2020 sucked."

Jeongin nods, sharing the sentiment, "It did. 2021 has been okay so far, at least."

"Yeah," Hyunjin whispers, suddenly shy again, "It has."

The waitress comes over to their table holding a tray in one hand and two placemats in the other. She sets the latter down first and then carefully lowers the steamy mugs in front of them, fitting the empty tray under her arm once she's done. 

"Here you go," She exclaims cheerily, "Enjoy! If you guys need anything else, feel free to call me."

Both boys dive into their orders with gusto, blowing on the hot liquid for a bit before taking a first sip. The warmth travels along their bodies, heating up the tips of their fingers and ears. For a moment, all they do is enjoy their drinks in silence, the sound of spoons crashing against the inside of mugs being the only thing they can hear in the quiet café.

"Thank you for accepting the coffee offer," Hyunjin speaks up when their cups are already half empty, "I'm sorry, again. I don't know how many times I've said it, but I really feel so bad that you had to deal with me when you were supposed to be celebrating with your friends like everyone else."

"Hyunjin, I didn't have to do anything," Jeongin insists. He holds Hyunjin's gaze so he knows he means it, "I chose to do it."

Hyunjin purses his lips, looking down at his mug and lifting it up for another sip.

"And you should stop saying sorry," Jeongin goes on. Hyunjin looks up at him as he still has the cup in front of his face, covering almost half of it, "You certainly made my night more… unexpectedly different. In a good way. Plus, you kinda left me a good story to share— could make me look interesting at parties."

" The night I saved a poor drunk ," Hyunjin grins. Jeongin laughs. Hyunjin puts the mug back on its little plate and crosses his arms on the table, leaning against them, "I'm really grateful it was you that walked into the bathroom that night."

"Me too," Jeongin says. Hyunjin is looking at him with a small smile on his face, which makes Jeongin feel some kind of way. He grabs the empty sugar package he'd dumped in his drink before and starts folding it, looking down at his fingers, "I'm also glad Jisung had Seungmin's number— it made finding your friends way easier."

"Yeah! What are the odds?" Hyunjin chuckles, "I guess the world really is a small place."

"Yeah," Jeongin sighs. Coincidences can be a funny thing, he supposes. Nothing to overthink, "I guess it is."

They finish their coffees in a relatively comfortable atmosphere, making small talk between each sip they take. There's still a layer of awkwardness coating their words, but it gets less obvious as time passes by; slowly easing themselves back into conversation each time there's a moment of silence that stretches for a bit too long. 

The waitress comes over with the bill when they're done and, true to his word, Hyunjin ends up paying for both of them. Jeongin insists on letting him pay his part, but Hyunjin shakes his head no every time. My treat, remember? 

They walk out of the café together, jackets zipped all the way up to guard themselves against the chilly air. Jeongin holds the door for Hyunjin and then walks out himself, the ringing bell now signaling their departure instead.

"Thanks for the coffee," Jeongin says as they both stand on the sidewalk, "I had a great time."

"Me too," Hyunjin smiles, putting his hands inside the pockets of his long coat, "It was really nice meeting you, Jeongin. Both drunk and sober."

Jeongin laughs, "It was nice meeting you, too," He points at the direction in which he's supposed to walk, "Do you take this route too?"

"No," Hyunjin shakes his head, "I live the opposite way, so..."

Jeongin stretches a hand forward, "Bye, Hyunjin. Thank you for today."

Hyunjin takes it in his, both of them shaking their arms in a firm handshake, "Bye, Jeongin."

.

JAN 31ST 2021 

"Get the ones that are shaped like a bowtie," Jeongin hears Changbin say through the phone, "I love those." 

Jeongin balances his phone between his shoulder and his right cheek as he attempts to fit his groceries in the singular shopping basket he'd picked up when he'd walked into the supermarket half an hour before. He scoffs at Changbin's request, eyeing the endless shelves filled with pasta packages while simultaneously pushing down the mayonnaise he'd thrown along with the other products to try and make it fit. 

"I don't see bowties at first glance," He tells the older, "I'm just picking a random one." 

Changbin whines, "But the bowties."

"All pasta tastes the same."

"You're factually wrong," Changbin argues. Jeongin rolls his eyes. 

He sets the basket down, the stubborn mayonnaise package sliding off to the floor in the process. Jeongin holds the phone with his hand now, craning his neck to take a better look at the top shelf. He spots the god-damned pasta shaped like bowties a couple seconds after, still listening to Changbin telling him how the shape of the pasta alters its flavor (Jeongin's pretty sure he's pulling everything out of his ass). 

"Whatever," Jeongin cuts him off mid-rant, "I found the bowties." 

"Nice," Changbin says, dropping his monologue entirely, "I'll pay you back when you get home." 

"Next time, you're coming with me," Jeongin mutters into the phone, standing on his tippy toes and stretching his free hand up to try and grab the package, "I just wanted to pick a few things up for my birthday, and now I filled the basket with your stupid requests." 

"We can level up our roommate relationship with some good grocery shopping whenever you want, Jeongie." 

Jeongin cringes, landing his feet flat on the ground again with a sigh. Changbin and Jisung have been calling him Jeongie since New Year's Eve— at first to tease, then maybe to get him flustered randomly, but now it has genuinely just… stuck. He doesn't think they're using the nickname to get his cheeks to warm up anymore, but rather because they've simply gotten used to it.  

(It's not that Jeongin has a problem with the nickname per se; it's cute and it sounds nice. The problem lies in the images that project in his brain automatically every time he hears it— long hair waving in the chilly wind and eyes looking at him from behind a coffee mug— and the contact saved in his phone under Hyunjin that he's opened an embarrassing amount of times these past few days. 

To do what? He's not too sure himself. Jeongin clicks away from it before he can really do anything , anyway.)

"I'm gonna hang up, I need both hands for your stupid bowties," Jeongin says into the phone.

"Hasta la vista, baby."

"Can't you just say bye like a normal person?"

"Bye, Jeong—"

Jeongin hangs up.

He pockets the device with quick hands, now stretching both arms up and poking his tongue out between his lips in concentration. His fingers lightly touch the package a couple times, slowly inching it closer to his grasp. One particularly strong push with his index sends the bowties flying to his face, and when he manages to pull it away he also catches sight of at least a dozen other packages free falling. He covers his head with his arms and hears the chaos rather than sees it.

When he lowers them and opens his eyes, he's surrounded by packages and packages lying on the floor and a couple people that have come from other aisles to see what the commotion is all about. Jeongin smiles apologetically at them and falls to his knees, gathering some in his arms and then standing back up. People give him weird looks but ultimately decide to continue with their own shopping. 

"Stupid Changbin," He mutters under his breath, pushing the pasta back on the shelves, "Stupid bowties."

He dives down again, at least ten more packages waiting to be picked up. Jeongin gets lost in his own mind, planning to get revenge on his roommate and thinking about the possibilities to do so. I just won't buy the bowties. No, I should make it unexpected. Get him with his guard down. Hm… those shampoo pranks…? He'd look funny with fluorescent green hair—

"Do you need help?"  

Jeongin takes a quick look to his right, seeing a shopping cart parked next to him and someone's feet standing behind it. 

Jeongin shakes his head, "It's okay, I can do this. It was my fault anyway."

"It's really no problem," The stranger says, shoes squeaking with every footstep as they get close to him. They crouch near Jeongin and start piling packages in their own arms, "Four hands work faster than two."

"Thank you," Jeongin says, lifting his head up to look at the stranger. Blonde hair up in a man bun, only two strands free from the hair tie— Jeongin is pretty sure he almost swallows his own tongue when he recognizes him, "... Hyunjin?"

Hyunjin meets his eyes, eyebrows drawn together in a frown at the mention of his name. His face contorts into genuine surprise when he realizes who he's talking to, "Jeongin?"

"Oh," Jeongin stands up, arms still filled with pasta, and Hyunjin follows suit, "Wow."

"Yeah…" Hyunjin chuckles, "What a coincidence."

(Jeongin will really need to start looking into coincidences, too many of them happening to him for his liking. All linked back to the same event— is that how they work? Has anyone studied the science behind coincidence, if there's even any science behind it?)

"Thank you for helping me," Jeongin says after a second or two, getting the packages back into the shelves as Hyunjin starts doing the same with the ones he has in his arms, "I'm never buying anything for my roommate ever again." 

"It's no problem," Hyunjin assures him, "Why didn't your roommate come buy his, uh …." He stops, flipping the package to read the label, "... farfalle pasta himself?"

"I came here to buy stuff for my birthday, which is in a few days. He knew I was coming and called to ask me to buy some things for him. Now the basket is full and I still haven't gotten what I actually came for."

"Which is…?"

"Alcohol," Jeongin picks up the last two packages and gets them back on their place as Hyunjin fits his last one, finally done with fixing the mess. 

"Hm. When's your birthday?" Hyunjin asks as he makes his way behind the cart and gets his hands on the handle again. Jeongin lifts the basket with one hand and grabs the mayonnaise package in the other.

"February 8th," He replies. He balances the mayonnaise on top of the other things and then adds the pasta package on top of that . It's a matter of minutes until they both fall from the pile, but he'll take it, "20 years old."

"Oh, that's so close. Happy early birthday," Hyunjin says, to which Jeongin replies with a thank you . They start walking side by side, slowly, "And I'm actually surprised— I'm older than you." 

"Really?"

Hyunjin nods, "I'll be 21 in March."

"Happy early birthday to you too, then," Jeongin says, battling with his overflowing basket as they make a turn toward the dairy aisle.

"A month prior?" Hyunjin laughs. He looks over at the younger, who's clearly still struggling with his roommate's pasta. He clears his throat, "Do you— Do you want to put it in the cart?" He motions down to the carton of eggs and the toothpaste box in it, "I don't think I'm buying much more."

"Oh, no, it's okay," Jeongin shakes his head, "I'll just go get a cart from the front myself, or something. I don't wanna bother you."

"I just pick the cart because I like leaning against it," Hyunjin admits, like it's a secret no one else knows, "I'm seriously not gonna buy more than this, a loaf of bread and maybe some apples. It's really not a bother."

"... Okay," Jeongin agrees finally, lifting the basket over the side of the cart and lowering it inside. The contents he'd struggled to fit fall immediately, finally having somewhere with space to be in.

"Oh, I thought—" Hyunjin stares at the inside of the cart and then looks up at Jeongin. The corners of his mouth go up into an amused smile that he tries to hide by licking his lips, "I thought we'd, like, exchange… I'd get the basket, and you—"

"Oh," Jeongin says, something clicking in his brain. He can feel his face getting got, "Oh, my god. Yeah, that makes more sense."

"We can totally shop together, though," Hyunjin quips.

"Shut up," Jeongin murmurs, emptying the basket as Hyunjin giggles at the situation. 

Once he's done, he grabs the handles and takes it out of the cart with ease. Jeongin offers it to Hyunjin, trying to keep eye contact without burning alive from embarrassment. Their skin touches when the older grabs it, his hand momentarily half on top of Jeongin's as one of them lets go of it and the other wraps his fingers around it. Hyunjin settles his carton of eggs and toothpaste box in the basket and then fits his arm through the handles until they're resting on a deeper part of his forearm.

"Thank you, again," Jeongin says, the tips of his ears probably still a bit red, "Have a nice… rest of your shopping?"

Hyunjin chuckles, "You too! It was nice seeing you again."

"Yeah, same," Jeongin turns the cart around to start walking the opposite way, twisting his head to look over his shoulder and wave his hand at Hyunjin, "Bye."

"Bye," Hyunjin waves back. He takes a few steps forward before turning around again, "Hope you have a nice birthday!" 

Jeongin smiles, "Thank you." 

.

(Jeongin gets back home half an hour later, three bags full. He closes the door with his hips and then sets them down on the floor, rummaging through them until he sees what he's looking for.

"Changbin!" He calls. The older steps out of his room, unaware, and almost falls on his butt when Jeongin throws the padta package straight at him as soon as he sees his face.

"Wha–?"

"I have more in the bags," Jeongin threatens. 

Changbin trips over his own feet in his rush to get back inside his room.)

.

FEB 8TH 2021

Jeongin wakes up startled, a sudden pain spreading across this forehead. He opens his eyes slightly, a hand flying up to rub at the place where he'd felt the hit, and is met with Changbin's big grin and his hands centimeters away from Jeongin's face— ready to land another finger flick on him if necessary. The younger groans, his hand sliding down to cover more of his face than just his forehead.

"What are you doing?" He asks groggily, morning voice cracking with the first words of the day. 

"It's your birthday," Changbin offers as an explanation. He singsongs the congratulatory phrase, "Happy birthday, Jeongie."

Jeongin parts his fingers, eyes open and spying the older through the opening. His friend is now holding a big muffin with a small candle stuck in it on his hands. The younger's heart expands at the sight, and he ends up smiling fondly as he sits up in bed to receive it.

"Thank you," Jeongin says, touched by the gesture. Changbin crawls onto the bed too, flopping down on his belly right next to Jeongin, "Did you make this…?"

"I bought it from the bakery nearby," He admits with a shrug, "You know I can't cook for shit. It's the thought that counts, though!" 

Jeongin laughs, nodding. Changbin pulls out a lighter from the pockets of his jeans and motions for Jeongin to get the muffin closer. He lights up the candle easily and sings Happy Birthday purposefully out of tune, with Jeongin joining in for an awful and uncoordinated high note at the end. 

"Make a wish," Changbin encourages.

Jeongin thinks it over, landing on a simple I hope good things happen this year and then blows softly on the flame. He takes the candle out afterwards, splitting the muffin in two as best as he can and handing one half to Changbin. 

Jeongin takes the first bite, letting out an appreciative sound at the delicious taste. Changbin shoots him a thumbs up too when he munches on the piece he'd just thrown into his mouth, agreeing without words. 

Jeongin grabs his phone from the nightstand, deciding to read some messages as he enjoys the sweet flavor. 

There's one from his brother, of course:

Channie

Happy birthday bro!!!! I love you ❤️

Jeongin

Thank you channieee 

love you too ❤️

One from Minho:

Minho

Birth.

Jeongin

I only accept gifts that are cash

One from his mom (which means it's also from his dad, by extension):

Mom

Happy birthday baby! Hope you can visit soon. We miss you… ❤️

Jeongin

Thank you mom!!!

I'll try to go next weekend. I miss you too

One from Jisung:

Jisung 

Yo man happy birthday 

Jeongin

Thanks dude

And, although it takes Jeongin a moment to really process it, there's also one from Hyunjin:

Hyunjin

Happy birthday Jeongin! :D 

Jeongin

wow, you remembered! Thank you ^^

Jeongin swallows his last bite of muffin as he hits send, fingers slightly hovering over the keyboard still even if he knows he doesn't have anything else to say. He doesn't notice he's smiling until Changbin starts poking at his leg insistently to call his attention.

"Who texted you?" He asks. Instinctively, Jeongin pulls the phone screen closer to his chest to hide it. He curses himself when he catches Changbin's eyebrow lifting up and his mouth curving into a smirk, "Oh? Now I actually gotta know who it is."

Jeongin flips around, already expecting the attack, and clutches his phone tightly against his body. The bed shakes as Changbin throws himself at him, draping himself all over Jeongin's back and trying to find a way to get his hand under him to find the phone. 

"Go away," Jeongin yells, though it's muffled by the mattress his face is pressed against, "It's my birthday! Leave me alone!"

Changbin hears him anyway, "You're texting someone and you haven't told me? I'm your bestest friend!"

"I'm not texting anyone."

Changbin doesn't stop, instead choosing to jab his fingers in Jeongin's sides. It's unfair, Jeongin thinks as his body starts jerking involuntarily— Changbin is aware that he's extremely ticklish. He knows it's a lost battle as soon as he feels the older begin to use this against him: in a matter of seconds, Jeongin is folding himself and flipping around again to come up for air. Changbin, victorious, uses the opportunity to take the phone away from his fragile grasp— which had been weakened by his laughter.

It takes a bit for Jeongin to recover, and that's enough for Changbin to reach his and Hyunjin's chat. 

"Hyunjin?" He says out loud, "Why does that sound familiar?" 

Jeongin kicks his back instead of answering. He's still breathing heavily, and he won't give Changbin any kind of help to figure it out. Changbin groans at the kick and blindly tries to punch his leg in retaliation as he continues to stare at the phone and think. He misses.

"Oh— Oh, oh, oh! I got it!" Changbin speaks up after a moment, "The guy from the party!" Then, with much more shock laced with his voice: "The guy from the party!?"

Jeongin sighs, "Can I have my phone back?"

"You're going out with him? What? Since the party?" Changbin twists his body to face the younger. Jeongin sits up.

"I'm not going out with him," He argues with a frown, "He just called me a month ago to apologize for the party incident and invited me to get coffee—" Changbin's eyes widen, "— as a way to say thank you ," He clarifies before the other can get any ideas, "I ran into him in the supermarket a few days ago and my birthday came up in conversation and he just… He remembered. That's all."

Changbin looks delighted, "Oh my God. Coffee? He remembered your birthday? Jeongie…" 

"Stop," Jeongin says, already knowing what he's gonna say, "He's genuinely just incredibly nice. Seriously."

"Hm," Changbin hums unconvinced, looking at Jeongin like he wants to say what he was gonna say anyway. He gets another idea before he can do that, however, an expression Jeongin does not like taking over his face— the same one he gets every time he finds a way to bother Jeongin, "You should invite him to the party tonight."

"Changbin, no," Jeongin starts shaking his head immediately and so abruptly he almost gives himself whiplash, "No. I barely know the guy."

"But—"

Jeongin's phone vibrates in Changbin's hand conveniently. They both press against each other in their hurry to read who has just texted. Jeongin tries to take the phone back as soon as he sees the H and Changbin starts pushing him away just as fast.

"He sent a smiley face," Changbin reads as they both struggle, "And, look, what a coincidence—" Jeongin is gonna start a petition to remove that word from the english lexicon, "— he just asked if you're doing anything to celebrate."

"Don't you dare."

Changbin does dare. The bastard. He jumps up from Jeongin's bed and zooms to their little living room, the younger running behind him. They get into a cycle of chasing, circling the sofa as Jeongin tries to stop him and Changbin tries to escape from him.

"I'm having a party at my place tonight, nothing too big," Changbin quotes his own words as he types them. Jeongin wants to yell, "You should come if you're free! " 

Jeongin stops running, noticing that Changbin is too focused on the messages to watch where he's really going, and sticks out his foot. The older trips with it when he gets close, just like Jeongin had planned, and lets go of the phone as he falls down knees first with an oof. Jeongin picks up the device quickly, opening the chat with hope.

The messages appear as sent.

"This is so embarrassing, Changbin," Jeongin says with a groan, "I hate you."

"You'll thank me later," Changbin exclaims from the floor.

Jeongin's phone vibrates with another message before he can kill his roommate.

Hyunjin

oh

Jeongin 

im so sorry 

that was my roommate

Hyunjin

hahah its okay

caught me off guard

Jeongin 

sorry!!

his sole purpose in life is to annoy me  

Hyunjin

haha don't worryyy

is the invitation not on the table then?  

Jeongin looks up from his phone, meeting Changbin's eyes. Changbin lifts his head from the floor.

"What did he say?" He asks.

"I told him it was you and he asked ' is the invitation not on the table then?' "

Changbin laughs loudly. Jeongin kicks his ankle.

Jeongin

oh

you can come if u want

Hyunjin

mmm im just teasing u ~~~

^-^

"He just said he was teasing me," Jeongin says. He forgets he's mad at Changbin in order to actually get someone's help with this conversation.

"He's not," Changbin speaks with the confidence of someone with a degree in Texting A Boy , "He's just testing you. Be confident— tell him to come over tonight."

"I don't— Ugh, you got me into this mess! I hate you," Jeongin punctuates his statement with another kick to Changbin's ankle.

"Stop kicking me!"

Jeongin

no really

invitation still stands, even if my roommate was the one to type it 

Hyunjin

oh

really?? 

Jeongin 

you can tell seungmin and felix too! 

we're probably just gonna order pizza and drink  

Hyunjin

:o well it sounds tempting!!!

ill tell them

and ill let you know!

Jeongin 

okay 

Jeongin locks his phone and stares at the black screen. 

"What did he say?" Changbin asks, now on his side and resting his head against one of his hands.

"He'll let me know," Jeongin tells him. He blinks down at the phone in his hands like he's never seen one before, "I have no idea what just happened."

Changbin chuckles fondly, "You just invited a cute boy over to your house, that's what happened."

"You invited him, if we're being technical," Jeongin argues, "But he's just... a potential friend— I invited a friend."

"Sure, birthday boy."

Tonight is gonna be interesting. 

.

"So let me get this straight."

Minho sits in front of Jeongin, arms folded on the table; Chan is somewhere behind him mixing a drink for himself, though Jeongin knows he's also listening to every word of their conversation; Jisung has his body turned on the sofa, intrigued by Jeongin's story as well and, lastly, Changbin stands against the fridge as he observes, amused. 

Jeongin has his hands on his face, hiding from their judgemental eyes.

"You invited the drunk guy you helped on New Year's Eve to your birthday party," Minho goes on, "And you've talked to him... how many times?"

"Like three times if we don't count the New Years party," Jeongin answers, still refusing to look at them.

"Three times if we don't count the New Years party," Minho repeats. A moment of silence envelops the room, and then: "... Why?"

Jeongin lowers his hands, feeling offended, "You make me sound like I'm insane." 

Minho looks around the room, seemingly meeting eyes with everyone else in it before going back to Jeongin, "Aren't you?"

Jeongin sighs, "Changbin invited him."

"No," Minho says, resolute, "Hyunjin gave you the chance to leave it at something silly your roommate did. You insisted on the invite," He leaves another pause in between, enjoying the dramatics a bit too much, "... Why?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do," Jisung says from his spot on the sofa, "You like him."

"Well, he's nice," Jeongin says defensively, shrugging the accusation off his shoulders, "The few times we've seen each other face to face have been… enjoyable. I wouldn't mind being friends with him."

Minho snorts, "That's really sweet and really middle-school-crush-that-you-don't-realize-is-a-crush-yet of you, but I think we all meant that you think he's hot."

"I don't— I mean, I—" Jeongin sputters, "You would too! He's nice looking, so what?"

"No, I wouldn't," Minho says, crossing his arms over his chest. He lifts his chin up to seem almighty, "I haven't found a man attractive since Chan."

"That's a lie," Chan chimes in from behind his boyfriend, letting a straw fall into his drink and making his way to the table they're all gathered around, "Yesterday he told me if Bear Grylls hit him up he'd leave me."

"Bear Grylls?" Changbin talks for the first time after a while, disgust coating his words.

"It's the survival skills," Jisung says, like that explains everything.

Minho points at the younger with his finger, "Yes, thank you, Jisung. If I got lost in the woods Bear Grylls would get me out alive," He twists his body to face Chan, who stands next to him sipping his drink. He lifts a hand up, making the older look at him, and then caresses his cheek softly, "You would die and then I'd kill myself because life without you is unfathomable to me, my love." 

"That's not the romantic scenario you think it is," Chan says, though he leans down and indulges Minho in a kiss that leaves him chasing after it when he pulls apart, "Also Bear Grylls drinks piss to stay hydrated— what do you have to say about that?"

"It's only for life or death situations!" Minho exclaims indignantly, "It's not like he has lunch with a piss cup next to him."

"We've strayed from the topic at hand," Changbin interrupts, watching the discourse taking place with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment, "Jeongin likes Hyunjin."

Jeongin groans, "You guys are insufferable. I don't like him."

The bell rings. 

Everyone freezes, heads snapping in different directions yet all of them looking straight for the door. Jeongin jumps from his chair, pushing Changbin out of the way in their rush to get there first. I'd rather die than let Changbin do anything else for me , he thinks, look how that text turned out . 

(Hyunjin had messaged him only three hours after their last text exchange, telling him that Seungmin and Felix had agreed and asking for when and where they should be at. Jeongin had replied with his address and an hour quick enough, getting another smiley face and a we'll be there! in return. 

Jeongin still felt lost and like he had no idea what was going on.)

He puts a hand on the doorknob. His heart is beating erratically, though he decides to attribute it to the run and not to the funny feeling his conversation with Minho had left in him. Jeongin shakes his head and pulls the door open.

Hyunjin, Seungmin and Felix stand behind it, all of them showing friendly smiles as soon as Jeongin comes into view. They're dressed casually, jeans and graphic t-shirts, and Felix is carrying two bottles of beer in his hands. 

"Hey, Jeongin," Hyunjin greets him with a small wave of his hand. 

"Hi," Jeongin says, making sure to nod at all three of them and not let the greeting come out as Hyunjin-exclusive.

Seungmin peeks from behind Hyunjin, leaning forward and looking between the two, and then settles his eyes on Jeongin, "Happy birthday."

"Oh, yes," Hyunjin murmurs, embarrassed, "Happy birthday!"

Jeongin chuckles, "Thank you. Come in!" He moves away to leave room for them to step inside, "You can leave your shoes here, if you want," He points at the pile next to the door.

"Where can I put these?" Felix lifts the beer bottles as he takes his shoes off and pushes them near the others. Hyunjin and Seungmin do the same.

"In the fridge. The kitchen is right over there," Jeongin points at the room. He closes the door once he's sure they're all in and then gestures for them to follow him, "That's where everyone is, let's go."  

A chorus of hi and hello erupts as soon as Jeongin's friends see the trio of newcomers, smiles and handshakes being exchanged as they all greet each other. Minho is the one to break the cycle, gasping when he finally tears his eyes away from where they'd been appreciating Chan's biceps and finally lands on the guests' faces.

"Hyunjin?" He asks, confused, "Felix?"

"Minho?" Hyunjin asks back in the same tone, "Hi."

"What are you—" Minho gasps again, connecting the dots. His mouth drops open, " You are Hyunjin? You're the drunk guy Jeongin helped on New Year's Eve?"

Seungmin snorts, like he's just remembered the night again, and Hyunjin hits his arm before cringing as the memories flood him too, "Do you have to say it that way?"

"Oh, this is… wonderful," Minho says with a smirk, "This is the best day of my life."

Jeongin blinks a couple times, looking around the room to try and find someone just as lost as him. He realizes that everyone except Chan and Felix looks like they have no clue what's happening, and it makes him feel a bit less dumb. Still, he purses his lips and clears his throat.

Felix is the one that takes pity on him and the rest, speaking up first to explain, "We all go to the same dance club."

Oh. The previously lost people all nod in unison. Makes sense. For the third time that day, Jeongin feels like his life is not real. He remembers Hyunjin's words from the café, I guess the world really is a small place, and wonders how much more it is willing to shrink in order to intertwine his life with Hyunjin's in the oddest ways. 

"Before Minho can terrorize you guys some more," Chan exclaims, "Anyone want anything to drink?"

Seungmin raises his hand, "We brought beer." 

Felix shakes the two bottles in his hold, and Chan beckons him over so they can pop them open. Seungmin follows because he doesn't know what else to do, and shoots Hyunjin a small smile as he leaves him standing alone next to Jeongin.

"Thank you for inviting me— us," Hyunjin speaks up after a fleeting moment of silence, "I know you said it was your roommate… You didn't have to."

"You don't have to thank me for something like that," Jeongin frowns, "And, yeah, it was him at first. But I like you." 

Jeongin lets the words come out of his mouth without thinking— although the thinking comes immediately after: Jisung telling him he likes Hyunjin and Minho insisting; not as a friend but as something else. Suddenly, the sentence doesn't mean what he'd intended it to mean. The words you find him hot echo in his mind, and he looks away before he can start contemplating Hyunjin's attractiveness as he's standing right next to him. 

(He was honest when he'd said everyone else would think so, too— the boy is undeniably handsome.)

"I mean, like. Like you're... fun to be around," He stumbles over his own words, hand flying up to rub at the back of his neck, "That's why I invited you."

"Thanks," Hyunjin whispers along with a soft chuckle, "Not for the invite, then, but for saying that," Jeongin dares to sneak a glance at the boy and finds that Hyunjin is doing the same. Both of them abruptly look forward as soon as they catch each other's eyes, "I like you, too."

Wow , Jeongin thinks, my heart's still beating crazily from that run to the door. 

Huh.

.

Hyunjin knows Jeongin and Minho, Felix knows Minho, Seungmin knows Jisung. Their entangled social circles help to ease the initial awkwardness, and paired with two or three glasses of alcohol running through their system it's no surprise they end up having a heated discussion about pineapple on pizza merely an hour after knowing each other. 

Changbin makes the employee of God's Menu Pizzeria on the other side of the phone wait for the verdict.

"You're gross," Hyunjin says, pointing at Jisung, "Gross."

"It's just like any other topping," Jisung sticks his tongue out at him.

"Except it's fruit," Chan shudders at the thought.

"Well, what do you have to say about tomatoes then?" Seungmin chimes in, accidentally shining light on a different discourse.

"Oh, you're one of those people…" Minho looks Seungmin up and down with distaste. 

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Seungmin exclaims, hands thrown up frustratedly at the turn the conversation has taken.

"Those people that believe tomatoes are fruits."

"I mean, they are fruits," Jeongin speaks up. Hyunjin gasps next to him.

"My own blood," Minho laments, clutching his chest in exaggerated fake pain. 

"We are not related."

"Do I order half pineapple or not?" Changbin begs, hoping the innocent dude working the night shift that had had the misfortune of picking up their call hasn't hung up yet.

"Yes," Jisung says, "I'm the one that's gonna eat it, anyway." 

Changbin nods, raising the phone up to his ear again, "Hello?"

"Jesus," The worker says. Maybe Changbin hadn't done a very good job at covering the speakers and microphone like he'd thought, "So, yes to pineapple, then?"

Changbin sighs, "Yeah."

.

Eight glasses of alcohol in, Jeongin notices the ribbon on Hyunjin's hair. 

It's tied up in a half ponytail again. Instead of a typical hair tie, however, a black silky lace is keeping the hair up this time, wrapped around prettily with its long ends mixing with blonde strands every now and then. It bounces along with Hyunjin, who is currently dancing to Twice's What Is Love? in a duo with Minho.

(Jeongin takes a look down at the glass in his hand. Are his brother's boyfriend and a guy he met at some club when he was meant to pee really dancing together in his house right now, or has he just surpassed his alcohol limits?)

Hyunjin plops down next to him on the couch when the song ends, panting from the effort. The room claps, and Chan goes as far as to wolf whistle for his boyfriend who in turn makes a ' call me' gesture— as if they aren't going home together later. Minho drags Felix to the center of the room next, the insatiable dancer that he is, and picks a new song to perform. Jeongin takes another sip from his drink.

"You're a great dancer," He says, directing the compliment at Hyunjin even if he's not looking at him.

Hyunjin smiles, "I was just fooling around. Thanks."

"That was fooling around?" Jeongin asks, genuinely surprised. Hyunjin had looked great, movements precise yet flowing gracefully when necessary. He made a great pair with Minho, "Wow. Then you must look mesmerizing when you're doing it seriously."

Hyunjin's mouth opens a little, eyes wide and cheeks painted in a flustered light pink color. Jeongin knows it's the alcohol making him lose his usual brain to mouth filter, and yet he brings the glass up to his lips again to hide his own burning face, because— there's no way he just said that."

"I still can't believe you know Minho," Jeongin chooses to change the topic of conversation when he's done emptying his drink. Hyunjin blinks rapidly, trying to adjust to the sudden shift. 

"Yeah," Hyunjin says after a moment, bringing his legs up on the couch and making himself more comfortable, twisting his body so he's facing Jeongin fully, "I can't believe you know him, either.  How long have you been friends?"

"A bit over five years now," Jeongin answers, finger pointing at Chan sitting on the floor and looking up at Minho dancing like he doesn't want to see anything else ever again, "He's dating my brother."

Hyunji looks at where he's pointing, following Chan's eyes. He pouts, "That's so cute. They look really happy."

"They're disgustingly in love," Jeongin tries to make it sound like a complaint, but it comes out fond, "So I'll have to deal with Minho for the rest of my life."

Hyunjin giggles, "Good luck with that." 

The sound travels through the air to Jeongin's ears, and it makes his stomach tingle. He gets a bit distracted by the way the ribbon sways with the slight force of laughter, and he finds himself touching it with his fingers before he can command his arm to stop moving. 

"I like your ribbon," He says, patting it twice and then letting his arm fall on the back of the couch and away from Hyunjin's hair. 

Hyunjin looks at him with a slight smile, eyes filled with something funny. He's figured out Jeongin is past tipsy and edging on properly drunk by now, and recognizes he's talking without thinking.

"Thank you," He whispers, touching the fabric himself.

"Jeongin, Jeongin, Jeongin," Minho approaches them with excited jumps, locking his hand around the younger's wrist and pulling, "Come sing with me."

"No," Jeongin whines, trying to free himself, "I'm not drunk enough yet."

"Yes, you are. How many fingers am I holding up?" Minho shows all 5 fingers, though he hides his hand behind his back at the speed of light and before Jeongin can say the number, "See? Can't even tell me that. C'mon, just one song."

"Go, Jeongie!" Changbin cheers him on from his spot on the floor, too, head resting on Felix's shoulder. Jeongin hopes his drunk brain remembers to ask the older about that tomorrow.

"... Jeongie?" Hyunjin asks at the use of the nickname, looking at Jeongin with a confused frown. 

Oh, no. The younger springs to his feet, taking the chance to run away from possibly having to explain why his friends now use that nickname— a nickname Hyunjin had created himself. He uses Minho's arm to help himself off the couch and nods way too eagerly.

"Okay, let's sing."

Minho grins, dragging Jeongin to the one place in the living room he has deemed as the spotlight. He gives him one of the karaoke microphones and grabs the other one himself, quickly typing a song in the YouTube search bar.

"Dongbaek agassi? " Jeongin groans when he reads the title, "I hate you."

Jeongin had performed the same old trot song when he was 16, in a school event. Just him and the instrumental— it had been one of the most terrifying moments of his life. His parents, brother, and Minho had attended to be his own personal cheer team, but it had only contributed to his nerves. In the end, his voice had cracked during one of the last lines and Jeongin had spent the rest of the day regretting saying yes to his music teacher when she'd asked him to sing for the occasion. 

(His mother was so proud of him she'd showed the recording to every possible family member, embarrassing voice crack included. Jeongin had spent years flinching as soon as his mom pulled out her phone. 

Traumatic, if you ask him.)

"For old times' sake," Minho laughs, "And so you can redeem yourself."

Jeongin approaches the small coffee table where their drinks are and picks up a beer, taking a long sip. He points at Chan as he walks back to stand next to Minho, "Channie. Film this and send it to mom."

His brother chuckles, "Okay. She'll be delighted, I'm sure."

Minho hits play, the first notes of the song filling the room. Their friends sway from side to side with the rhythm, awaiting for their voices. Minho and Jeongin sing together, firmly looking at the lyrics on the TV screen. Jeongin knows them from memory still, but he doesn't really know what else to do as he stands performing dongbaek agassi again after four years.

Minho, a natural performer, soon starts moving his body to the song, acting passionately and like this is the last time he'll ever be able to sing. Jeongin follows, albeit a bit stiffly in comparison, but eventually relaxes enough to move more comfortably. He begins singing confidently as a result as well, voice rising in volume to be actually heard. Their friends yell encouraging words for them, and it makes Jeongin smile. 

Nearing the end, Jeongin gets so into the song he doesn't notice Minho has stopped singing to look at him, and that now he's the only one performing. He hits the high notes in what he thinks is a pretty good manner (at least for someone who hasn't sang in a long time) and then aces the line that had brought him embarrassment all of this time. The song ends a bit later, sound fading along with the letters on screen. 

Jeongin lowers the microphone and looks around the room.

Immediately, everyone starts cheering. Minho throws an arm around his shoulders and pulls him into a side hug. Changbin takes off his socks and throws them at him, and Jisung tosses his rings while yelling I love you Jeongin! Jeongin tries to wiggle himself out of Minho's hold but ends up hugging him back after a futile attempt instead. 

"Did you get it? Did you get it?" Minho asks Chan, who proudly shakes the phone in his hands.

"Got it."

Minho screams wahoo into the microphone he's still holding and then lets Jeongin go after one last tight squeeze. The younger stumbles back to the couch, letting himself fall when he's sure he won't land butt first onto the floor. 

"That was amazing ," Hyunjin exclaims next to him, hands balled into excited fists, "Oh my God… You're a wonderful singer!" 

"Thanks. I was just fooling around," Jeongin jokes, throwing Hyunjin's words from before back at him. He hiccups immediately after and Hyunjin laughs.

"Well, then you must sound mesmerizing when you're doing it seriously," Hyunjin says with a wink. Then, as if nothing happened, he stands up and collects both Felix and Seungmin, "Let's do Fancy ."

Jeongin is too exhausted to fight the blush creeping up his face. He feels the hotness spreading over his cheeks and presses the heels of his hands against them to try and cool them off. He makes eye contact with Changbin, and the older wiggles his eyebrows. Jeongin sinks further into the couch, arms now crossed over his chest. 

Hyunjin's ribbon bounces to Twice once again and Jeongin can't look away. 

.

FEB 9TH 2021

Jeongin wakes up with a slight headache, his forehead throbbing. He tosses and turns in his bed until it becomes intolerable and he has to stand up to get some painkillers. Jeongin pushes himself off of the bed, slides his feet into his slippers and takes his phone with him to the kitchen.

There's a couple Instagram notifications from last night, probably stories his friends had uploaded while they partied and ended up tagging him in. There's also a few unread messages, and he decides to check those first when he sees his mom is one of them. 

Jeongin opens the chat to three texts in a row filled with praises, since apparently Chan had actually sent the video to her. Jeongin blushes, remembering his performance, and quickly types a thank you text back to her. 

The other five are from Hyunjin. It's a series of pictures of both of them— tired, drunken eyes and funny faces on display. The last one is the only normal one, with both of them simply smiling at the camera.

Hyunjin

[image attached]

[image attached]

[image attached]

[image attached]

[image attached]

Jeongin

Good morning

I don't remember taking any of those selfies

Hyunjin

It's 2pm

Also you insisted on taking them last night so I thought you should have them ~~

I think I didn't get to say this before we left, but I had a lot of fun! 

Thank you for inviting us 

I hope you had a nice birthday ^^

Jeongin

Thank you for coming! I'm glad you guys had fun :)

He locks the phone with a smile and swallows down a painkiller, refilling the glass with water before shuffling back to bed with it in his hands. 

FEB 12TH 2021

Hyujin 

Hey what's the name of the song you sang on your birthday

Jeongin

Hi 

It's dongbaek agassi 

Hyunjin

Thank youuuu omg

It's been stuck in my head all this time it was driving me insane

Anywayyyy ~~ how are you? 

Jeongin

I'm fine!! 

Currently solving a jigsaw puzzle with Changbin 

what about you?

Hyunjin

Sounds fun

I'm watching some show on Netflix 

Haven't really been paying attention

Any recommendations?

Jeongin

Have you watched The Queen's Gambit?

It's good

"I could use some help," Changbin's voice brings him back to their living room, where they're lying on their bellies surrounded by tiny cardboard pieces, "We have two thousand pieces right here and we've put ten together in total." 

Jeongin rolls his eyes, "We already have one of the horses' faces."

The sudden snowfall that had hit the city had forced them to stay inside all day, their plans of going out for a run together crashing down quickly. It didn't bother Jeongin, who preferred home over anything else, but Changbin had been sulky at the prospect of having to postpone his daily exercise routine. 

Jeongin had remembered the two thousand piece puzzle stacked under his bed with old pairs of shoes and, after successfully convincing Changbin that brain exercise is just as important as physical exercise, the pout had vanished to give place to a childish, excited grin.

"It's missing an eye," Changbin retorts. He discards yet another piece when he tries to fit it where he needs it to and it turns out it isn't the one he's looking for, "What were you doing, anyway?" 

"Hyunjin texted me," Jeongin says, locking his phone and setting it on the floor next to him, screen facing down, "If you find a piece that looks anything like a horse's foot let me know."

"Will do. What did Hyunjin say?" Changbin picks up a piece and brings it close to his narrowed eyes, looking at it for a moment before pushing it towards the younger, "Is that a horse foot?"

Jeongin lowers his head to inspect it, "I think it's just part of a rock," He goes back to rummaging through the pile of pieces closest to him, "And— nothing much. He just asked for the name of the song I sang on my birthday and then asked me how I was doing."

"Him and his friends were fun," Changbin comments as he slowly but surely starts piecing part of a tree together, "They fit with us easily."

"Yeah, I thought it would be more awkward. But they're cool," Jeongin nods to his own words absentmindedly. He suddenly remembers what he'd seen that night and smirks. He clears his throat and pretends to go back to casually looking through puzzle pieces, kicking his feet in the air, "What was up with you and Felix, by the way?"

Changbin makes a noise, kind of like a caught-off-guard squeak he definitely didn't mean to let out. Jeongin keeps looking down at the one-eyed horse innocently, though his evil smile sure gives away his real intentions. The older coughs.

"What do you mean?"

"C'mon," Jeongin says, meeting his eyes with a deadpan look, "Head on his shoulder, all cuddled up…"

Changbin rolls his eyes, but the red color painting the tips of his ears doesn't lie, "You were flirting with Hyunjin all night and I didn't say anything."

"I wasn't flirting," Jeongin argues.

"You must look mesmerizing when you're doing it seriously," Changbin quotes him word for word, batting his eyelashes and making kissing sounds.

It's Jeongin's turn to squeak pathetically. Changbin laughs at his reaction, happy to have turned the conversation around. 

"I was just complimenting him," He says, looking down at the pieces to avoid showing his frown. Everything his friends say makes his newfound friendship with Hyunjin sound like something Jeongin doesn't think it is, and yet apparently he unknowingly contributes to it. You're flirting. You find him hot. You like him. 

Jeongin's got his fair share of romantic experiences from earlier teenage years, and he doesn't think he understands it all a lot anyway— but he's pretty sure he doesn't feel like he'd felt with those other people. 

Jeongin feels nervous around Hyunjin in the way he's always felt when he meets someone new and, considering the circumstances of their first meeting, he thinks it's actually impressive that they can even look at each other in the eyes. 

Embarrassment, in their situation, is more of a context thing and not a feelings thing, he thinks. The memories of that night still linger in the back of their heads when they talk— or, at least, that's the case for Jeongin— and it brings the same bashfulness Jeongin had felt when he first got called an ice prince and Hyunjin's own shame at his drunken actions and words, dripping a bit of both in their new interactions.

They talk to each other like two people who happened to meet in an odd way and are slowly building a friendship from it. That's it.   

"Just look for that horse foot," Jeongin says in the end.

.

With half the puzzle done, Changbin takes a quick bathroom break. Jeongin sees his life flash before his eyes when Changbin wobbles as he stands up and almost kicks and ruins their hours of hard work. They hold their breaths, hearts beating fast, and let out a sigh of relief when Changbin finds balance just in time. The older runs to the toilet before he can actually cause damage.

Jeongin picks up his phone again, realizing he'd left Hyunjin hanging mid-conversation with a pang of guilt. He opens their chat to a couple unread messages and shifts on the floor into a sitting position so he can read them comfortably.

Hyunjin

Omg

Seungmin is obsessed with it

He called his mom the other day to ask if they still had his old chess set from when he was a little kid and everything

Hey

Are you doing anything tomorrow?

Jeongin

uuh, I don't think so

why?

Hyunjin 

This might be weird

But do you wanna go to the ice rink with me?

Seungmin and Felix are busy :( and it snowed so so much today it made me miss it

Jeongin

I've never been

Hyunjin

Jeongin?????? 

There's no way?????

You're coming then right 

Jeongin

Hahah yeah, why not

sounds fun!

Hyunjin

I'll pick you up at like 7

is that okay?

Sorry im just realizing i probably came off too strong  >.<

just got really excited

it's okay if you're busy too

or if you don't want to

Jeongin

Promise I'm not busy

and i wanna go!!!

7 is okay :)

Hyunjin

great ^^

See you tomorrow then ~

Jeongin

byebyeee

He hears the toilet flushing as he sets his phone down next to him. Changbin comes out seconds later zipping his pants up and carefully tiptoes his way back to his spot without endangering their puzzle. They begin scanning the remaining pieces again almost immediately, both of them invested in completing the image the same day.

"Have you ever been ice skating?" Jeongin asks after a moment. Changbin hums as he thinks.

"Once or twice when I was little," He replies, "Why?"

Jeongin shrugs, "Just wondering."

.

FEB 13TH 2021

"Jeongie!" Changbin yells from outside the younger's room. Jeongin looks up from where he's tying his shoelaces, "Hyunjin is here."

"Coming," He yells back, making sure the knot is strong before standing up. He grabs his phone, keys and wallet and takes one last look in the full body mirror, assessing his outfit. 

Jeongin thinks he looks a bit overdressed, but he knows ice rinks tend to be colder than the outside, so he'd thrown in a scarf and a beanie on top of his puffy jacket and jeans for good measure. The weather is chilly even in the streets, so maybe it's actually not that exaggerated. 

That's what he thinks before he sees Hyunjin. 

The older is dressed in jeans, like him, but he only wears a sweater under the long, fashionable coat Jeongin recognizes from the first time they met up at the café. No gloves, no scarf, no beanie— blonde hair tied up in a full ponytail with the exception of two small, thin braids framing Hyunjin's face. 

"I feel like we're going to two different places," Jeongin says, motioning between the two.

"Yeah, you're going to Antarctica and Hyunjin's going to a fashion runway," Changbin joins from the couch, "You look cute, though."

Jeongin gets close enough to smack his head. Nonetheless, immediately after he says: "Thanks."

Hyunjin chuckles, standing at the door with an amused smile. Jeongin bites his lips, looking down at his outfit again.

"Should I change?" He asks out loud. Hyunjin starts shaking his head.

"No, you're fine," He assures him, "It's probably gonna get colder in there, so you're well prepared."

"Okay, then—" Jeongin pats his pockets, making sure everything important is where it's supposed to be, "We can go, I think. Bin, I'll be back later."

Changbin sends him a flying kiss, "Have fun, baby."

Jeongin fake gags.

He and Hyunjin step out of Jeongin's apartment, shuddering at the cool breeze blowing gently that hits them as soon as the door opens a crack. Jeongin immediately puts his hands inside the pockets of his jacket, trying to keep them warm for as long as possible. 

"Lead the way," He tells Hyunjin. The older grins.

Hyunjin is practically bouncing in excitement as they walk side by side, coat flowing behind him. Jeongin keeps the lower part of his face buried in his scarf, shielding his nose from the cold, and smiles behind it at the other boy's enthusiasm. It's surprisingly contagious, with the way Jeongin finds himself eager to arrive even if he has no previous experience and will most probably end up embarrassing himself. Hyunjin describes the ice rink like a mythical, magical place. 

"I haven't been there in so long," He says, voice now edging on nostalgic, "I think I won't even remember how to stand on ice."

"Did you use to come here often?" Jeongin asks.

"Yes, with my friends," Hyunjin nods, "But we've all been so busy lately, with studies and stuff. Seungmin even got a job a couple months ago, so that's one less ice buddy. Felix and I have the dance club, too, and that requires a lot of time."

Jeongin hums in understanding, "But you finally found a chance, at least."

Hyunjin's happy smile is quickly back on his face, "Yeah. It's the weekend, you know? So I thought I should finally visit the ice rink again, since I've wanted to for a while," He nudges Jeongin's shoulder with his, "Thank you for coming with me, by the way. I know I just— came out of nowhere. I feel like I do that a lot with you."

"You do, don't you?" He says it as a light hearted joke, but something akin to guilt shadows Hyunjin's features, so he quickly adds on, "It's fun," Jeongin returns the shoulder nudge with a kind smile.

Jeongin had seen the ice rink from outside many times on his early commute to school, the big sign outside always making him turn to take a look: the image of a skater couple with big smiles on their faces and their hair blowing with their speed on full display. Jeongin stares up at it now, too, as they approach the entrance. Hyunjin opens the door skillfully, with enough strength behind his push to easily let it slide to make way for them. It's obvious he's done it more than a dozen times. 

The reception— the room before the ice rink— is warm, a fireplace burning vividly somewhere in a corner. There are a couple teens gathered around it with mugs on their hands, chatting amicably among themselves. It all looks very cozy. Hyunjin tugs his sleeve as a sign for him to follow, so Jeongin tears his eyes away and trails behind the older. 

"Hi, Hyunjin," The girl at the desk greets him cheerily. She and Hyunjin fist bump, and it almost looks like they've done it so often it now seems like second nature, "Hadn't seen you here in a while."

"Hey, Ryujin. Been busy," Hyunjin says with a shrug, "But I'm here now, and I brought a friend."

"Hello!" Ryujin smiles at him, enthusiastically waving her hand. Jeongin feels a bit ridiculous looking at her dressed in a t-shirt while he's drowning in his winter clothes. He waves back shyly, shaking the scarf out of his face so he can also return the smile, "I'm Ryujin, it's nice to meet you."

"Jeongin. It's nice to meet you, too."

"He's a first timer," Hyunjin says. Ryujin's eyes sparkle.

"Ooh , exciting," Ryujin pulls out a notebook from under the desk, probably where they keep track of the many people that come in daily, "There's just two of you, right?"

"Yup," Hyunjin nods. He twists his body to face Jeongin, who's been standing a bit behind him this whole time, "What's your shoe size?"

"Oh, uh," Jeongin looks down at his feet, "Like a... 40?"

Ryujin scribbles something down on the notebook and then closes it shut, lifting the pen back to rest on her ear. She motions for them to follow her, taking a quick turn to the right and walking into the place designated to put on the skates. She goes straight to two different pairs and sets them down on the wooden floor next to them. Ryujin doesn't spare a second look at Hyunjin, but she spends a bit more time comparing the skates to Jeongin's foot with a professional look. 

"I think they'll fit," She confirms at last, "Do you need help putting them on?" She catches Jeongin's embarrassed twist of his mouth and chuckles kindly, "Don't worry. It's hard at first, and I do this all the time. It's common for first timers to need help, and it's actually better to get assistance because they need to be properly tied up to be safe."

"I can help him," Hyunjin says, already almost done getting his skates on. His shoes are neatly placed together, and Ryujin picks those up without second thought, throwing them in the space where Hyunjin's skates used to be.

"Alright," Ryujin says, "Call if you need me, anyways. And have fun! The rink isn't that full, so you'll have lots of space to practice the first steps."

She leaves for the desk, where a new group of people is waiting to be let into the ice rink. Jeongin toes his own shoes off and puts them where he'd seen Ryujin grab his skates from, copying her actions. He walks back to the bench and slides his socked feet into the skates, wiggling his toes a bit to get used to the unfamiliar feeling. 

Hyunjin pats his own leg when Jeongin's done, signaling for him to put his feet there. Struggling and carefully making sure the blade is nowhere near Hyunjin's body, Jeongin does just that.

"They might feel uncomfortable at first," Hyunjin tells him as he begins tying the skates, "But you get used to it after a couple minutes, promise."

"Do we have to walk to the ice rink in these?" Jeongin asks, eyeing the blades intensely and trying to figure out how is he gonna manage to move, "I feel like my skating career is gonna end before I can even step onto ice."

Hyunjin laughs, "Walking is easy, you'll see."

.

He's right. Walking is easy, which is why the moment Jeongin finally feels the ice beneath his feet replace the previous comfort of a non-slippery wooden floor, he saunters awkwardly in a penguin-like fashion until his hands latch onto the rails propped along the walls for support.

Hyunjin skates gracefully until he's standing in front of him, "What's your first impression?"

"Cold," Jeongin says, blowing softly and watching as his hot breath leaves a smoke-like trace in the cold air enveloping the ice rink, "Also, this might be the day I die." 

"You won't die," Hyunjin says with a light chuckle. He stretches his arms forward and makes grabby hands at Jeongin, "Give me your hands. I'll help you."

Jeongin pulls his scarf back up over his nose first. It's cold, but that doesn't mean Jeongin's blush won't show at all. He lifts one hand from the railing and slowly reaches for Hyunjin's, concentrating on keeping his feet still. Hyunjin slots their hands together, giving him a squeeze, and waits patiently for Jeongin to fully let go.

"How many people have died learning how to skate?" Jeongin says, his right hand still holding on tightly.

"None," Hyunjin assures him. Jeongin's pretty sure he's lying— this feels like something people can definitely die doing, "As long as you don't let go of my hands, you're fine, Jeongie."

The nickname rolls off of Hyunjin's tongue so easily it shocks him, skates suddenly gliding against ice. Jeongin squeaks, immediately scrambling to hold onto something. Hyunjin finds his hand and pulls, effectively helping him regain balance. 

"See?" Hyunjin says.

"See what?" Jeongin exclaims, heart still beating fast in his chest, "That I was right? I almost died."

Hyunjin rolls his eyes with a smile, "That I'm right next to you. I got you."

Hyunjin begins skating backwards at a slow pace, tugging Jeongin along with him. Jeongin curses under his breath, keeping his head down to watch his feet and try to make them work. He manages to slide smoothly every now and then but every time, immediately after, he starts panicking and involuntarily twists his skates in a way that sends him flying into Hyunjin's arms. 

He's gonna die in that ice rink, for sure, but now he's not so sure about the cause.

"Don't walk. Slide. Your feet kinda have to open, if that makes sense," Hyunjin talks him through the process, slim fingers always wrapped around Jeongin's, "Don't slide straight 'cuz it doesn't work like that, like… Ugh, I'm bad at explaining."

"Show me," Jeongin says.

"Huh?"

"You skate. I'll watch."

Hyunjin narrows his eyes at the younger, "You just want an excuse to stand by the rails."

"Definitely," Jeongin admits, making them both laugh. Hyunjin starts pulling him back to what Jeongin has deemed the safe zone, "I suck at this."

"You just need practice," Hyunjin argues, letting go of his hands so Jeongin can grab the railing, "Next time we come here, you'll do much better."

Next time. Something warm and light starts in Jeongin's stomach and spreads all the way to his fingertips, making him tighten his grip until his knuckles go white. 

Hyunjin is friendly beyond Jeongin's conception of the word, giving and gaining trust with minimal effort. The younger already feels the pull of affection tugging at his sleeve; has maybe felt it since he saw Hyunjin's face light up when he got his number on a napkin. Jeongin was truthful when he said Hyunjin is a friend to him, even if he'd had his doubts on whether they could classify as such so quickly— now, however, with every minute they spend together the statement only seems to solidify at an impressive speed. 

"I'll do a lap or two and I'll be back," Hyunjin lingers around him until he's sure Jeongin is steady, then he begins skating away, "Don't slip and die."

Jeongin almost does just that, momentarily losing his balance again, "Hyunjin!" He yells after him, eyes wide and accusatory, but can't help the wide smile on his mouth when he sees Hyunjin turn around skillfully and begin skating backwards only to giggle in his face, "Show off."

"This is nothing," Hyunjin shouts before facing forward again, twisting his head to throw one last look at Jeongin over his shoulder as he gains speed, "Keep your eyes on me!"

Jeongin doesn't think he would be able to look anywhere else even if he tried to.

.

Friendship with Hyunjin blossoms brightly and almost unintentionally like flowers do in Spring, with the help of random outings and laughs that bubble pleasantly within you. It's fun, and it's easy. 

Jeongin finds that he doesn't mind it at all.