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Jungwon is completely, absolutely, 100% certain of one thing. Everyday his belief grows stronger, his patience thinner, his sighs deeper. He just knows that there’s something going on that none of his five hyungs are aware of, not to mention his maknae. He knows. But he honest-to-god has no freaking clue how none of the six kids he lives and breathes with haven’t figured out that there’s something going on between Jongseong and Sunghoon. And he for sure doesn’t get how in the world they haven’t figured it out themselves.
***
It was subtle, at first, even to Jungwon. To be fair, he didn’t really know the pair before I-LAND, not in person. He recognized the handsome boys entering together and remembers thinking ‘they’re gonna make it’. He was certain then and he was proven right, but the road to debut had been anything but straight or easy for either of them, and a lot of things happened along the way. Things that planted the curious seed in Jungwon’s mind in the first place.
Like that time Jay was sent to the Ground, and Sunghoon wouldn’t look anyone in the eye for a good 30 minutes after he had left. Like the red puffiness above his cheeks that his pale complexion was powerless to disguise.
Like that time Sunghoon was asked to take Jay’s place in the representative competition, but didn’t utter a single word during the decision process. Like when Jay stayed up late to help him practice the routine, and Jungwon saw the tight embrace Sunghoon gave Jay before entering the room he shared with Jungwon and Heeseung.
Like that time Sunoo picked Sunghoon when they were down one member for Chamber 5, and Sunghoon absolutely lost his mind, and the only one who knew how he needed to be handled was Jay. Like how the rest of the trainees stayed away, uncertain how close to thread around him, but Jay kept him fed and rested and close until it passed. The episode made Jungwon wonder how Sunghoon had handled giving up figure skating for all that time without debut in sight, and how Jay had literally been there through the whole thing.
Like that time they were chosen as members of the debuting team, and when Jungwon joined the first four, Jay included, but they still hadn’t heard Sunghoon’s name. Until suddenly his name was all that Jungwon could hear, as he realized that Jay was practically chanting his name under his breath, a constant SunghoonieSunghoonieSunghoonie. When his name was finally called, Jungwon wonders if anyone but him saw the relieved tears staining Jay’s cheeks as Sunghoon made his shaky way over.
***
It wasn’t something that struck him as lightning would, as the realization that dawned on him when he heard his own name being called out as the number 1 in the rankings. It was nothing like that. Watching Jongseong and Sunghoon interact with each other on a natural level, outside of the I-LAND building, is what finally unfogged Jungwon’s eyes and let his mind catch up with the feeling he’d had for a long time.
It was obvious to anyone that Jay and Sunghoon went years back, even to the complete strangers that many of the other I-LANDers were. Jungwon knows. There was an unwritten rule among many of the younger, less experienced trainees not to approach certain others. K and Heeseung might have been the most prominent ones, but while the Ice Prince certainly was alluring, ‘approachable’ was not a word that came to mind. And Jay, Jungwon had to agree, had this larger-than-life, ambitious, driven aura that along with his experience intimidated many of the younger trainees. It didn’t matter that they were both huge sweethearts who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Sunghoon never even left I-LAND, so it made sense that the Grounders would find him frightening simply because of that. Jay did, and he took responsibility wherever he went to do the best for his team and the other trainees, taking the time to teach them instead of practicing himself. Jungwon knows, remembers this, but he also remembers trainees his own age looking at Jay with wonder and a certain distance in their gaze, as if he would always remain untouchable and out of reach.
Jungwon got over that fairly quickly, though, if he may say so himself. He likes to think he got close with Jay pretty fast, and thinks Riki would say the same thing. Sunghoon was harder to crack, but he bonded with Jake who Jungwon knew also had a hard time. A short trainee period made both the actual training and the social aspect harder. Jungwon secretly thinks that this fact, the ‘splitting’ of Jay and Sunghoon worked in Enhypen’s favour, as the members probably felt more bonded than they would have if the clique - Heeseung, Jay, Sunghoon - had stuck to themselves the entire time. He’s grateful, he thinks. But even though the group got an advantage of becoming close-knit, the time after they actually formed a group is where Jungwon’s exasperation truly hit.
***
It was subtle at first, the main piece of evidence being how comfortable Jongseong and Sunghoon were with each other. Jungwon probably would have guessed they’d already lived together for years, judging purely by the way they functioned in the dorm. How Jongseong made the exact breakfast he knew Sunghoon would want, all done by the time the younger stumbled into the kitchen as Jongseong and Jungwon were on their way out for school, and the way Sunghoon would sleepily mumble a ‘thanks, hyung’ in return. Jungwon remembers his head shooting up the first time, expecting Heeseung - or more like the walking zombie he resembled at this time of day - but only finding Jongseong looking quietly through his bangs at a chewing but softly smiling Sunghoon.
Another memorable occurrence was when Jongseong got sick not long after their debut, one award show left to attend. It wasn’t serious, thank the heavens, and it didn’t stop him from practicing with the rest of them. But they all saw the way he moved slower, breathed heavier, frowned harder. Jongseong usually was a ray of light in the practice room, bringing energy from the deepest pits of himself to share with his worn-out members. Not that day. When they got into the car back, Jongseong immediately burrowed down into his jacket and stayed there, eyes closed, until they got to the dorm and he went straight to bed. No shower, no food, no conversation. He was exhausted, and none of them had seen him like this. Or so Jungwon had thought, until Sunghoon slipped into action and did all the things Jongseong usually took care of for them. Sunghoon ordered food, ushered the members into the shower one by one (or by two in Sunoo and Riki’s case), and cleaned up the mess they’d left in the morning. Once the food arrived, Sunghoon took two servings and closed the door to the bedroom behind him. When Jungwon opened an hour later, checking if it was safe for the rest to go to bed or if they needed anything else, he wondered quickly if Jongseong had left for somewhere. One blink later, he realized that the bundle between Sunghoon’s arms, pressed up close to his chest, was in fact said missing boy.
***
All in all, Jungwon thinks, it’s just the little things adding up. Beside specific events like the ones already recollected, there’s so many smaller, everyday things that with time has started feeling like red exclamation marks yelling at Jungwon to force his hyungs to get their stupid shit together.
Like the way Sunghoon’s mother always asks how ‘little Jongseongie’ is doing and if Sunghoon is taking care of him, and how Sunghoon’s little sister doesn’t want to facetime her brother if his handsome friend isn’t home. Or the way Jongseong’s mother always makes sure to include Sunghoon’s favourites, whether she’s sending food or sweets.
Like the way Jongseong makes sure to take Sunghoon out of the house to get some fresh air or an ice rink or a treat Sunghoon won’t let himself eat when in his ‘work headspace’ when Jongseong deems it necessary. It doesn’t matter that the other members don’t know when this time comes, what Sunghoon needs or when, because Jongseong does. It doesn’t happen often, but Jungwon has started referring to these outings as ‘Jonghoon dates’ because no one ever asks to join and they don’t tend to invite anyone. There’s also the fact that they always return with rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and wide smiles.
Also, incidentally, like the way neither of them can hide their tightening smiles or hardening eyes whenever another member gets too close at the wrong time. Jungwon has certainly been plenty a time on the receiving end of the Ice Prince Glare, sometimes even during live streams, but he’s honestly grown so used to them by now he just smiles wider in glee when he sees and prays to every holy power that maybe this will be the day Sunghoon realizes. Sadly, so far he hasn’t been proven right.
***
In the end, no one can really blame him, Jungwon reasons, not really. He’s doing them all a favour, even if no one knows it yet. Jungwon is the leader and if no one is planning on solving the frustrating situation constantly before his eyes, he will. And that’s exactly what he tells his hyungs, too, before pushing them into the huge closet and locking the door.
“I don’t care how you do it or how long it takes,” Jungwon yells through the door and over the confused banging from the other side, “just fix your shit. I’m telling you this as Enhypen’s leader, with everyone’s best interest and my own sanity as motive. Please, Jongseongie hyung, Sunghoonie hyung… I can’t watch you two lovebirds dance around each other any longer.”
Absolute silence. A fantastic ending statement pops up in Jungwon’s mind.
“I don’t care what you think, I’m not unlocking this door until I hear gross kissing noises from the other side.”