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Jung Jaehyun is, by all apparent standards, a pretty decent guy. According to Soonyoung’s various sources (read: bribing Kim Mingyu with cup noodles and pestering Xu Minghao incessantly during post-dance practice hangouts), Jaehyun is tall, handsome, a pre-law student, and apparently very charming.
Soonyoung hates him.
Hate is a strong word, and Soonyoung doesn’t like to use it frivolously, but how else is he supposed to feel about this guy, who thinks he can stroll on into Soonyoung’s life and swipe away his crush from right underneath his nose?
(“Soonyoung, he’s Seokmin’s roommate. They literally met each other before you even entered the picture.”
“Don’t talk sense, Jeon Wonwoo. This isn’t the time for that.”)
The thing is, Soonyoung can’t even be upset at Seokmin for liking him.
He’s heard all the gossip, but the first time Soonyoung meets Jung Jaehyun in real life, he has to admit it’s all true. Jaehyun is annoyingly attractive—handsome even in a plain white t-shirt and light blue jeans. His hair looks soft and wind-tossed and Soonyoung only scowls at the stupid dimples on his face when he smiles at Seokmin in greeting.
“Guys, this is my roommate Jaehyun,” Seokmin introduces. “Jaehyun, these are some of my friends—Jeonghan-hyung, Jihoon-hyung, Wonwoo-hyung and Soonyoung-hyung.”
Everyone exchanges greetings except for Soonyoung, who earns himself a subtle smack on the leg from Wonwoo. Soonyoung plasters on a smile and forces himself to nod, glaring at Wonwoo once Jaehyun has his back turned.
“It’s nice to meet you all. Seokmin talks about you guys a lot,” Jaehyun says with a smile, which Soonyoung kind of wants to wipe off his face, especially when he directs it at Seokmin. “You ready to go for class?”
Seokmin nods and gets to his feet. “We share some gen ed classes,” he says by way of explanation. “Today’s is Modern Korean history.”
“Prof. Han?” Jeonghan asks them, taking a sip of his iced americano. Soonyoung cannot understand why his friends are making conversation with the enemy.
Jaehyun laughs. “Unfortunately.”
Jeonghan gives a knowing nod and a sigh. “Good luck.”
Seokmin looks like he might cry, but Jaehyun wraps an arm around his shoulder and nudges him toward the buildings before he says anything.
With that, Seokmin and Jaehyun leave, Soonyoung finally averting his gaze from their retreating backs when Jaehyun says something that causes Seokmin to laugh, the sunshine smile that Soonyoung adores blooming across his face.
“Your jealousy is showing,” Jihoon comments.
“Very obviously,” Wonwoo adds.
“I hate him,” is Soonyoung’s only response, stealing a piece of tteokbokki from Jihoon’s tray in petty retaliation.
Jihoon rolls his eyes. “You literally just met him. At least get to know him first before you decide to hate him.”
At least Jihoon’s on his side, if only sort of.
“I’m sure Seokmin would be sad if he found out you hated one of his friends, though.”
Kind thoughts about Jihoon rescinded, Soonyoung scoffs. “Friend.”
“As much as I love a good gossip session, I think you’re looking too far into things,” Jeonghan says kindly, used to dealing with Soonyoung’s moods. “They’re just roommates and good friends. If they really were dating, we would know—Seokmin would tell us.”
“Maybe they just started dating and Seokmin doesn’t want to tell anyone,” Soonyoung grumbles.
“Then word would get around regardless,” Wonwoo tacks on with a shrug. “You know how the rumor mill is, especially in first year. Apparently Jaehyun’s a catch.”
Soonyoung raises an eyebrow. “Who on earth is feeding you this information?”
The tips of Wonwoo’s ears turn red, and he refuses to say a single word more.
“Soonyoung-ah,” Jeonghan says, “don’t worry about it. I’m sure Seokmin will tell us what’s going on in his life when he’s ready, if there’s anything to tell us about.”
Unfortunately, it’s impossible for Soonyoung not to worry about it.
Soonyoung is on his way to dance club practice a few weeks later when he walks by Wonwoo and Mingyu at one of the tables by the quad, laptops and books spread out across the table and heads bent together in conversation. Soonyoung smirks, announcing his presence by dumping his duffel bag atop the table with a loud “Hey lovebirds!”
Wonwoo and Mingyu flinch and jerk apart, Mingyu’s cheeks turning red whereas Wonwoo levels Soonyoung with a glare. Unfazed, Soonyoung slips onto the bench across from them. “What were you guys talking all serious about?”
“Nothing,” Wonwoo replies, at the same time Mingyu opens his mouth as though ready to speak.
Soonyoung narrows his eyes at them. “You were going to say something, Mingyu?”
Mingyu looks between Soonyoung and Wonwoo, visibly torn. With every passing moment and looking at Wonwoo’s serious and pensive expression, Soonyoung feels his initial teasing and light-hearted mood leave him.
“Okay, you guys are starting to scare me,” Soonyoung says. “What is it?”
Eventually, Wonwoo sighs. “Mingyu heard a rumor.”
Soonyoung blinks, confused. “Okay…?”
Wonwoo sighs again. “It’s about Seokmin,” he pauses, looking at Soonyoung properly. “And Jaehyun.”
Almost immediately, Soonyoung feels like someone just doused him with cold water. “Oh.”
Mingyu puts his hands out and chuckles somewhat nervously. “Really, hyung, it’s probably nothing. First years talk and gossip about anything.”
Soonyoung smiles slightly, pained, as he slings his bag over his shoulder and gets ready to leave. “Probably nothing,” he repeats faintly, hoping that he can believe the words just by saying them.
(It doesn’t work.)
That afternoon, Soonyoung dances so hard he has to double over to catch his breath, hoping that the exertion will wipe the images of Seokmin smiling and laughing with Jaehyun in their classes from his mind.
The simple solution, Soonyoung knows, would be to ask Seokmin directly about what’s going on. If it were nearly anyone else, Soonyoung would’ve asked already—he’s normally not one to shy away from approaching prospective romantic partners.
The problem, of course, is that it’s Seokmin.
In the precious few months that Soonyoung has gotten to know Seokmin, they’ve developed a strangely synergistic friendship—Soonyoung doesn’t think he’s ever met someone as immediately on the same wavelength as him in all twenty of his years of living. Seokmin is, in many ways, the other half he never knew he was looking for. Seokmin picks up on Soonyoung’s jokes instantly and adds on his own quips until they’re zinging back and forth and everyone else in the group has long since given up on listening to anything they have to say. He doesn’t protest (too much) when Soonyoung clings all over Seokmin, nuzzling his cheek against Seokmin’s own. He understands that even though Soonyoung is often the life of the party, he needs time to himself—Seokmin’s the same way, after all.
Soonyoung would hate to lose Seokmin in any sort of capacity. Sure, he’d like to date Seokmin if he had the chance, but Seokmin is, first and foremost, a fantastic friend.
And friends… they’re supposed to be happy for each other, right?
So Soonyoung tries his best to swallow down his feelings and get used to living life as just Seokmin’s friend.
Soonyoung can’t help being a little nosy, though. If asking Seokmin outright if he’s dating Jaehyun is coming on too strong, he’ll just try and figure out some other way.
“So how’re you and Jaehyun doing?” Soonyoung asks one afternoon. He and Seokmin were on location scout duty, having gotten out of their classes a little earlier than some of their other friends, and they managed to stake a claim on a table at one of the cafes near campus.
“Mm?” Seokmin looks up from his double chocolate chip mint shake. “We’re, uh, fine?”
Not exactly a glowing review, Soonyoung thinks. “That’s good,” is what he says.
“Yeah.” Seokmin takes another long sip of his drink. “Haven’t seen too much of him lately since he’s got a bunch of extracurricular stuff going on, too. I think he joined mock trial or something?”
“Well, if you ever get lonely in that big ol’ dorm room of yours, you can always ask me to hang out,” Soonyoung says.
“Sounds great, hyung.” Seokmin beams. “Oh, huh, is that Jaehyun?”
Seokmin half-rises from his seat, waving at a guy in line for his drink—when he turns over to look, Soonyoung wishes that the floor would swallow him alive.
“Hey guys,” Jaehyun says, greeting Soonyoung with a nod and Seokmin with a strange sort of elaborate hug. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Yeah!” Seokmin says, ever enthusiastic.
“Yeah,” Soonyoung echoes, a pale imitation.
He’s quickly forgotten as Jaehyun asks Seokmin about one of their shared classes, effectively boxing Soonyoung out of the conversation. Resigned to his fate, he picks at the remnants of his sandwich and tries not to think about stabbing Jaehyun (gently!) with his pen.
Final exams on Fridays, Soonyoung thinks, hunched over his desk and feverishly re-reading his notes for Early Childhood to Adolescent Development, are a fate worse than death itself.
Most of his friends have already finished their finals, and Soonyoung could only watch with envy and rage at whoever decided that he should have his final dates at the very beginning and at the very end of the two-week period.
He’d been trying to keep away from his phone to focus, but when it keeps vibrating for five minutes straight he can’t help but pick it up, if for no other reason but to silence it.
Seungcheollie-hyung
diamond bar tonight? can everyone make 8pm?
Jeonghan-hyung
ugh we’re really going to start drinking at 8pm?
i’m too old for this
Jihoon
Why do you sound so surprised?
Soonyoung starts drinking at 2. It’ll be his third round by 8
Wonwoo
LOL
Junhui
ㅋㅋㅋ
THAT WAS ONE TIME
and I have my last paper at 2pm ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ
no drinking for me
Jihoon
Sure
Seokminnie
(yet)
Seungcheollie-hyung
…
so I’m going to take that to mean everyone can come
A few hours later, finals are over and Soonyoung is finally free. He chats with some of his classmates for a little but before heading back to his apartment and collapsing onto his bed, making sure to set his alarm for 7pm.
It feels like only seconds have passed by when Soonyoung wakes to the sound of the alarm—he’s actually surprised that he manages to wake up, given how tired he’s been from nearly two weeks of non-stop studying and exam-taking.
He decides to take a shower to fully wake himself up, and gets dressed in an outfit more appropriate for going out instead of the ratty track pants he’s been living in for the past few days. He’s in the middle of fitting some studs into his ear when a few knocks sound at his door. Still fiddling with his right ear, Soonyoung opens the door.
“Hi, hyung.” It’s Seokmin, bundled up in a light brown coat, the tip of his nose tinged a little red from the cold air outside as he smiles sweetly at Soonyoung. Soonyoung’s heartbeat flutters in his chest with affection.
“Seoku,” Soonyoung greets, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Seokmin rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “Thought we could walk to Diamond Bar together? Oh and,” he holds out a plastic bag, “got you some bindaetteok from the corner stall you like nearby. Knowing you, I don’t think you ate lunch before your final paper and you shouldn’t be drinking on an empty stomach, hyung.”
Contrary to popular belief, Soonyoung isn’t an idiot. Diamond Bar is only a ten minute walk from Seokmin’s apartment—it’s closer to a half an hour walk from Soonyoung’s. Seokmin not only detoured in the cold to walk with Soonyoung, but also made an extra trip to his favorite bindaetteok stall to feed him.
I’m so confused, Soonyoung wants to scream. Why are you being so nice to me?
Instead, Soonyoung accepts the plastic bag of food with thanks and gestures for Seokmin to come inside. “I’m almost ready,” Soonyoung says, finally securing the stud into his ear. “I’ll just grab my things and coat and we can go.”
Seokmin beams at him. Soonyoung likes him so much it almost hurts. “Okay, hyung.”
The walk to Diamond Bar together is so lovely that Soonyoung almost forgets all about Seokmin’s murky relationship with Jaehyun and how much it’s been eating at him. With finals and Soonyoung’s complicated feelings, he and Seokmin haven’t been able to spend much time alone together recently. It’s easy and comfortable to be around Seokmin; he hadn’t realized just how much he’s missed the simple joys of just being with someone who understands him and makes him laugh. The night starts off well too, being around his best friends, laughing and drinking and playing pool and darts with them. And it’s an added bonus whenever Seokmin giggles and leans into Soonyoung’s side, made more frequent by Seokmin’s slight tipsiness.
Soonyoung’s in the middle of a game of pool with Seungcheol when he overhears the conversation over at the table that sours his mood.
“I’m pretty worried about the history paper,” Minghao is saying, taking a sip of his drink.
“Don’t worry about it too much,” Mingyu responds. “I think that paper was hard for everyone.”
Seokmin hums his agreement. “Even Jaehyun was stumped by it. And you know how smart and good at writing he is. He said some of his pre-law friends have been worrying about it too.”
Soonyoung hits the ball with a bit more force than usual, sending the rest of the cue balls careening around the table. Seungcheol raises a brow at him, which Soonyoung promptly ignores.
“I haven’t seen Jaehyun in a while,” Minghao muses. “We should all hang out again some time, especially now that finals are over.”
Seokmin grins and nods readily and the way he speaks on Jaehyun’s behalf makes Soonyoung’s skin crawl with irritation. “Sure! Jae’s just been studying a lot in the dorm or with his other friends, but I’m sure we can find some time to catch up now.”
“Soonyoung, it’s your turn.”
Just as Soonyoung forces his attention back to the game, he hears a female voice call his name.
“Soonyoung!”
It’s two of his coursemates from a shared class they all took together back in first year, Mina and Hyeri. Jihoon was in the class too, so he comes over and joins the conversation. Soonyoung introduces them to Seungcheol who, being the nice guy he is, invites them to play a round of pool. As Soonyoung takes a swig of his beer and gets ready for the new round, he catches Seokmin looking over at him, a small, questioning look in his eye as he watches the way Hyeri rests a hand on Soonyoung’s shoulder and leans up to speak into his ear.
It’s the childish part of Soonyoung that leads him to place a hand on the small of Hyeri’s back and say something stupid that causes her to laugh. Soonyoung almost regrets it with the way Seokmin’s expression crumbles instantly, dropping his gaze.
Seokmin has always worn his heart on his sleeve. It was one of the things Soonyoung found most precious about him.
Soonyoung ends up winning the game. Seungcheol ends up having to down a drink and do something dumb with Jihoon for losing. Everyone’s laughing. Hyeri is still giggling against his arm and Mina is suggesting a game of darts. Soonyoung should be happy.
Except he’s not, because all he can see is the confused hurt in Seokmin’s eyes and the slump in his shoulders as he leaves early with Jeonghan.
Soonyoung’s raging headache the next morning isn’t enough to make him forget how much of a fool of himself he made in front of Seokmin, but Jeonghan inviting himself over the following afternoon means he can’t just let it fade away as an uncomfortable memory.
“We need to talk,” is the first thing Jeonghan says when Soonyoung opens the door after hearing the knocks. “Hi, Jihoonie.”
Jihoon nods at Jeonghan in greeting from where he’s rummaging for food in the kitchen. “What do we need to talk about?” Soonyoung asks, closing the door behind Jeonghan.
“Don’t play dumb with me,” Jeonghan says, hanging up his coat and looking straight at Soonyoung. “I’m talking about whatever it is you’re trying to do with Seokmin.”
Soonyoung bristles slightly. “I’m not doing anything with Seokmin. He’s attached.”
Jeonghan rolls his eyes. “For the hundredth time, I really don’t think he is.”
“You don’t hear the way he talks about Jaehyun,” Soonyoung bites back.
“You don’t hear the way he talks about you.”
Soonyoung blinks. Jihoon comes to lean over the small counter separating the kitchen and living space, digging into a container of leftover kimchi fried rice and joining Jeonghan in staring at Soonyoung.
“Seokmin doesn’t talk about me,” Soonyoung mumbles.
Now it’s Jihoon’s turn to roll his eyes. “He namedrops you in almost every conversation when you’re not around,” he says, jabbing his spoon in Soonyoung’s direction.
“And anyway, that’s beside the point,” Jeonghan continues, crossing his arms. “I know what you were trying to do last night, at Diamond Bar. You shouldn’t have done that.”
Soonyoung sighs, running a hand through his hair in defeat. “I know,” he admits. No point in hiding, especially not around Jeonghan and Jihoon, who know him better than he knows himself at times. “I didn’t even want to act like that. I was just being stupid.”
“You’re lucky we know you’re not that kind of person,” Jeonghan says.
“How was Seokmin, when you guys left?” Soonyoung can’t help but ask.
“Obviously sad, but he didn’t want to talk about it,” Jeonghan replies, giving Soonyoung a pointed look. “You know how he shuts down. You need to talk to him and sort this out—I’m tired of seeing you two act like fools about this whole thing.”
After Jihoon hums his assent, Jeonghan and Jihoon strike up their own conversation, leaving Soonyoung to mull over what to do. Eventually, he pulls out his phone.
hey seoku
you free tmr evening?
Seokminnie
I am. What’s up?
come over for dinner?
Seokminnie
Sure
Thanks for asking me, hyung
＾ω＾
Seokmin doesn’t seem terribly upset with Soonyoung when Soonyoung lets him into his apartment, but Jeonghan always tends to know things that Soonyoung doesn’t.
“Seokmin-ah,” Soonyoung says, fidgeting with the cuffs of his sweatshirt as Seokmin takes off his shoes, “I, um, wanted to apologize for the other night. Jeonghan-hyung mentioned that I might’ve made you uncomfortable.” That’s safe, right? He can’t very well say I made an extremely dumb misguided attempt to make you jealous because I wish you were dating me instead of your stupid hot roommate.
“Oh.” Seokmin straightens up, eyebrows furrowed. “It’s okay, hyung. Jihoon-hyung mentioned they were classmates of yours?”
“Yeah,” Soonyoung says. Why does Seokmin seem so okay with this?
“I get it,” Seokmin grins, but something about it doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and Soonyoung realizes that Seokmin’s putting on a front. “Sometimes you do dumb things when you’re drinking with friends.”
Soonyoung struggles to think of a response, but Seokmin seems to have had enough of the conversation, tipping his head in the general direction of the kitchen. “So… dinner?”
“Oh—yeah,” Soonyoung follows Seokmin to the kitchen and opens the fridge. “I was thinking kimchi jjigae?”
Seokmin’s smile this time is genuine. “Sounds great, hyung.”
Perhaps it’s poor form for Soonyoung to invite Seokmin over only to have Seokmin cook for him. But in Soonyoung’s defense, he bought all of the ingredients, and he’d be doing the world a service if he didn’t cook, so there.
What Soonyoung fails to take into consideration is that this results in Seokmin rolling the sleeves of his chambray shirt up to his elbows, forearms flexed as he chops kimchi and green onions into bite-sized pieces, and popping three buttons of his shirt open as he stands over the stove and drops dried anchovies into a pot of boiling water.
It’s devastatingly handsome in a devastatingly domestic way. Maybe this is Soonyoung’s punishment.
“Seokmin-ah,” Soonyoung says, leaning over to peer into the pot, “do you have any plans coming up? Anything you need to do?”
Seokmin turns around to look at him, still stirring the kimchi jjigae. Soonyoung’s painfully aware of how close they are—Seokmin’s fringe nearly tickles against his nose. “I… need to add the tofu?”
“No, like, for the end of the semester. Finals are over, and it’s Christmas next week—aren’t you and Jaehyun doing anything together?”
“Oh.” Seokmin turns back to the pot and adds in cubed tofu. “No, he’s doing a thing with some of his club friends tomorrow.”
“He didn’t invite you?”
Seokmin shakes his head. “He did, but I didn’t really want to go. They’re planning to get wasted, and I, um, had other plans for tomorrow, anyway.”
“Lee Seokmin,” Soonyoung gasps, ignoring the way his stomach clenches painfully at the thought of Seokmin canoodling with Jaehyun, “that’s no way to treat your boyfriend! You’ve been spending so much time apart lately, and you’re going to leave him to get drunk with his pals?”
There’s a sudden clatter—the spoon Seokmin was using to stir the jjigae seems to have slipped from his hand. “My what?”
Soonyoung crouches down to pick up the spoon, only to find himself face-to-face with Seokmin, who’s also dropped to the floor.
“You—your boyfriend,” Soonyoung stammers, “Jaehyun. Aren’t you guys dating?”
Seokmin’s cheeks flush bright red. “No, no!” He waves his hands frantically in front of his face. “We’re literally just roommates. Friends. Definitely not dating.”
“Then what about all the—you know,” Soonyoung waves his own hands around, trying to come up with the right words. “Date-like behavior!”
“Date-like behavior?” Seokmin asks.
“You know, the whole constantly hanging around each other, hand-holding, cheek kisses goodbye behavior!”
“You literally kiss Jihoon on the cheek any time you can,” Seokmin deflects, “and you two aren’t dating.”
“Jihoon doesn’t like it, that’s the point—that’s beside the point!” Soonyoung puffs his cheeks out in frustration.
“Ah, what am I going to do with you, hyung,” Seokmin half-laughs, half-sighs. “Jaehyun’s just friendly. I, ah, have someone else I like, anyway.”
When the lord giveth, he must taketh away, Soonyoung supposes. Sure, Seokmin might be single, but if he’s already got his eye on someone then Soonyoung’s too late, regardless.
“Oh,” Soonyoung tries to laugh it off, hoping that Seokmin can’t tell how vaguely hysterical he sounds. “Is it anyone I know?”
Seokmin’s cheeks are still bright red. “You could say that.”
“Is it Jeonghan-hyung?” Soonyoung asks. “You two have been awfully close lately. He’s taken, though. Or Jihoonie? Don’t think I haven’t caught you two cuddling!”
“No, hyung, it’s not either of them.” Seokmin’s looking down, fiddling with his fingers now. “It’s, um, okay this is not how I wanted to tell you, but—”
“Oh, please tell me it’s not Wonwoo!” Soonyoung exclaims, “he’d be absolutely insufferable, the worst boyfriend ever—”
Plush lips suddenly cover his own, and Soonyoung’s eyes go wide as he falls backward to land heavily onto his butt.
It’s not a great kiss—everything is misaligned and the kitchen floor really isn’t very kind to his elbows—but Soonyoung is so shocked by the fact that Seokmin is kissing him that everything else seems so inconsequential.
(Somewhere above them, the jjigae boils over. Soonyoung simply cannot be bothered to care.)
Seungcheol bullies them all into one last get-together before they go their separate ways for the winter break.
This means that Seokmin has to take a pit stop at his dorm, because as much as Soonyoung has enjoyed Seokmin’s company (and Jihoon has had to, with many long and grudging sighs, deal with Soonyoung draping himself over Seokmin at any opportunity that he can), Seokmin can only wear Soonyoung’s clothes for so long.
“I’ll only be a second,” Seokmin says, “did you want to come in? Or you can just wait out here.”
“Here’s fine,” Soonyoung says. He pecks Seokmin on the cheek (he can do that now! And it’s totally okay!), and Seokmin ducks into his room.
A few moments later, the door opens, but it’s not Seokmin who comes out—it’s Jaehyun.
He looks infuriatingly handsome as always, dressed casually and with his hair lightly tousled. He smiles when he catches sight of Soonyoung, but the dimples don’t piss Soonyoung off the way they used to. “Hey, Soonyoung-hyung. Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Yeah,” Soonyoung says. He hadn’t exactly wanted to see much of Jaehyun, but the underclassman doesn’t need to know that. “Finals were a bitch. You know how it is.”
Jaehyun runs a hand through his hair, chuckling. “No kidding. I’m glad it’s over.”
There’s a beat of silence between them; Soonyoung, still waiting for Seokmin, makes no move to leave, and Jaehyun seems like he’s on the way to going somewhere but is for some reason still standing in the middle of the hallway with Soonyoung.
“So,” Jaehyun eventually says, “you and Seokmin?”
Soonyoung nods, not entirely sure where Jaehyun’s going with this.
Jaehyun, however, just grins. “That’s great. He really likes you, y’know. And I guess that means we’ll be seeing more of each other, then.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jaehyun’s grin only grows wider. “Seokmin didn’t tell you? We’re living together next year, too.”
Thankfully, Seokmin comes back out before Soonyoung can start sputtering any rubbish. And Soonyoung doesn’t know if he’s just imagining it, but he can almost see the mirth in Jaehyun’s eyes.
“Oh,” Seokmin starts, smiling at Jaehyun when he notices the other boy. “Jae-yah, I thought you were heading out?”
“I am,” Jaehyun answers with a smile. “Was just saying hi to Soonyoung-hyung.”
Soonyoung bristles when Jaehyun messes playfully with Seokmin’s hair as he sidesteps the two of them to walk to the end of the hall. “I’ll probably stop by the mart on the way back later to get a bit of food. Let me know if you need anything, Seok.”
With that, Jaehyun shoots them one last smile before he continues down the hall to the elevators. Seokmin then turns to face Soonyoung, brow lifting in mild confusion at the calculating way Soonyoung is looking at him.
“Hyung…?”
Soonyoung crosses his arms and mumbles under his breath.
Seokmin leans in a little. “I didn’t catch that, hyung.”
“I can’t believe you’re still rooming with him next year.”
A pause. And then Seokmin bursts into giggles.
Soonyoung glares at the younger. “I don’t see how this is funny.”
“Oh hyung,” Seokmin has stopped giggling, but he’s still smiling. “Is this why you asked if I’m dating Jaehyunnie?”
When Soonyoung doesn’t respond, Seokmin’s smile softens. The affection on his face makes Soonyoung want to simultaneously press in closer and hide. “Jaehyun’s just a friend. Has been since day one and will stay that way. It’s only you I’m interested in, hyung—no one else.”
And when Seokmin leans in to seal his words with a tender kiss, Soonyoung wonders why he ever worried about Jung Jaehyun in the first place.