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Sunsets are Woochan’s favorite time of the day. Simply because he’s a daytime person and appreciating the sun getting low in the sky is good enough to do in leisure time. They’re back at the coach’s house because they’ve been training while Haekang and Yoondam are away with their national team business and for once, Insol is there. The fact that Yongtae is enthusiastically screaming at his phone with someone during a round of the game he’s playing doesn’t faze him; it just works as a funny background sound for what he’s currently doing: nothing.
Suddenly, as the slightly cold wind picks up and rustles leaves around, something breaks his attention and forces him to look behind; Insol is coming from inside the house with refreshments for all of them- this makes Yongtae finally look away from his phone to warmly smile up at Insol, who conveniently snaps a can open and hands it to Yongtae, like he’s used to it.
Maybe he’s used to it, by now. Their eyes meet when Insol’s focus changes.
He asks, “What are you doing?”, to which Woochan shrugs, “Nothing in particular.”
Woochan doesn’t expect him to do the same thing he did for Yongtae, but here he is, walking towards Woochan and opening a can for him too, out of pure need to be helpful. Woochan forces himself to smile wider than he normally would, and scoots away a little so Insol can sit and maybe do nothing together.
“I’m just looking at the sky,” he adds. Insol hums and looks up too.
Woochan remembers feeling nothing specific when the news that another boy would enter the team and this boy was no one other than Jeong Insol. Woochan respected Insol the same way the rest of the school did: with a light touch of endearment and fear. Not only because of his intelligence but also because of his wittiness. He could be stingy if he wanted to, but he was generally neutral to be around, if you weren't a trainwreck of a human being, like Haekang.
When Haekang was first introduced as a new student and an addiction to the team, he immediately brought trouble. For someone as mild as Woochan tried to be, focused just on the right thing as best as he could, Haekang's behaviour was somewhat both interesting and disarming to watch.
Insol was dragged into their lives like he does everything else: slowly but surely, with purpose. Woochan wasn't quick to notice that, but now that they've had enough time to memorize at least a few of each other's quirks and mannerisms, he gets to point out what's on character for a person like Insol.
Despising Haekang is maybe something that Insol would do. But Woochan only notices that because Haekang himself doesn't, too lost into his own spite to see it; it's always an experience to behold.
He has no reason to prompt Insol into saying anything. They sit outside for as long as the sun lingers, painting their skin golden, a little too algid to be considered anything other than the farewell of another day.
Woochan turns a little to see if Insol has his eyes on the horizon: he does. The breeze is cutting through his fringe and the tips of his hair graze his forehead in a light touch, lips pursed as if he's too into a thought to notice the action.
"What're you thinking about?"
Insol angles his head to look at Woochan, friendly smile back to his features, "School."
Woochan frowns.
"Why school? Of all things."
"If I think about badminton for too long, I end up getting nervous."
Woochan opens his mouth but doesn't say anything. Insol fills in the silence,
"It's because I don't like feeling doubtful."
"Me too. I don't like it, either."
"If I think about school, which is something that is familiar enough, I feel…", he trails off, going back to look at the sky. It has gotten more dark blue, streaks of purple and orange slowly turning greyed-out but the second.
"Sound?"
"I- Yeah, basically. Sorry for rambling, though."
Insol does something with his mouth when he's embarrassed. Woochan hadn't quite caught it a lot in the past, since they've been nothing more than classmates (ones that don't interact much, specially since Woochan and Yoondam sit at the back of the classroom and Insol is all teachers' pet), but now that they hang around each other a lot, he's been able to notice it.
He dips his head down and it's like he isn't waiting for Woochan to say anything else.
But Woochan goes, "No problem."
Insol's eyes go wide, but he schools his expression a little before smiling again, "Fine."
They stay there for a while more, until it begins to feel like they should head back for dinner. Around the house smells like it by the way, and Woochan's stomach grumbles loud enough that they get the memo without much problem.
The next time Woochan gets to talk to Insol, they've been training for the whole afternoon after school; Haekang is chewing Yoondam's ears off about something in the background, while the coach tries to listen to diligently– It isn't like Haekang's got more to teach than his own father, but there's this specific trait Coach Yoon has that most of the adults they deal with don't: he's always willing to listen.
Yongtae, Insol and Woochan are drawn back, collecting their messy materials to make the gym look somewhat presentable again, listening to the heated conversation on and off; Insol is precisely looking at Haekang.
Woochan approaches him to snatch the shuttlecocks off his still hands, "Do you worry a lot about him?"
It catches him off guard, the shuttlecock almost falling out of his hands, "Should I not?"
Yongtae butts in, "He would probably hate it if you said that to his face."
Woochan slaps his head slightly, which does the job at making him mind his business. Insol, despite himself, snorts a laugh.
"I know he'd hate it. I don't worry about him alone, I worry about what he's able to do with the team. Like, negatively."
"I don't think you should," Woochan says, as softly as he can. "He knows what he's doing."
"Does he?"
Woochan looks in the same direction Insol is looking at: Haekang with his hands on his hips and Yoondam looking like he's had enough. Woochan aches to go there pat his friend's back comfortingly, but obviously doesn't; they have to look like they're too engrossed in the activity to pay attention to the drama galloring at the side.
"What do you say about going for ice creams?" he blurts out, looking at Insol and Yongtae respectively. Maybe if they go out and make sure that the others are listening to them disappearing, the cloud above their heads won't be too heavy when they eventually reach home today. Insol won't be going with them, so Woochan thinks it's only fair to drag him to hang out before he has to go back to his own house.
"I'm in," Yongtae announces.
Insol only raises a hand and gives him a curt nod.
The walk to the ice cream parlor is mostly quiet. Woochan thinks about how he's now so used to hanging out with Yongtae and Insol that it doesn't feel awkward like it's been in the start. Now, Yongtae has another person to charm, annoy and receive playful glares from. Insol is just a little too naggy sometimes, but if it tames Yongtae, it tames Yongtae.
Woochan isn't very keen on the whole nagging thing, mostly because he's like an older brother for Yongtae and Yongtae is basically shielded from all sorts of authority besides Coach Ra.
Next person on the list is Insol, of course. Then, maybe Coach Yoon.
Yoondam is his other older brother, as ineffective as Woochan himself.
"Don't make yourself too big of a bowl, Lee Yongtae," he warns when they're there, plastered against the cool glass, eyeing the different kinds of ice cream there. Yongtae has in his hands a bowl that is really too big, designed for friends who want to eat from the same bowl or maybe a couple. They have goblets for individuals, but Yongtae has gingerly rushed past them.
"I can take it," he grins like a gremlin and goes for too many scoops of dark chocolate.
Turns out he can't.
Woochan hadn't particularly said anything regarding this. Yongtae was too sure to be bribed with anything else (even the threat of a harsh scolding session after), and he knew that, so he wasn't going to waste his time trying.
Insol was different, though. That's why Yongtae is sounding even more wounded from the cabin of the public bathroom where he's in right now, moaning and grunting how this is probably all Insol's fault for manifesting his stomach ache.
Woochan rests against the sink to watch as Insol rolls his eyes for the nineteenth time in thirty minutes, a bottle of water on his hands, letting Yongtae speak things he doesn't mean.
"He's not really mad at you," Woochan says in a low voice matter-of-factly, as if somehow Insol needs the affirmation.
He sighs and nods, also lowering his speech as he goes, "I know. Also we should wait outside, it's starting to stink in here."
Woochan laughs and detaches himself from the sink, "Yongtae, we'll be outside. Scream if you need anything."
Yongtae gruffs a response and Insol is the first to walk away.
"Do you think they're home yet?"
Woochan crosses his arms against his chest and thinks.
"Maybe. We should probably warn them about this– Without too many details," he rushes to say.
Insol nods, "I wouldn't know what to say that being the case. Use your phone," he offers.
Woochan frowns slightly, "Why not yours?"
A drop of uncertainty flashes across Insol's face, too obvious to ignore.
"Just use your phone."
Woochan nods. When he grabs his phone, he says, "Is this about–"
"It's about you being more trustworthy," Insol cuts in. Which makes zero sense, in Woochan's opinion.
"Where did you get that from?"
"You're together for longer than I am," he mutters, but then, a bright and small smile adorns his face, "I figured it would sound less like we're just being dramatic."
Woochan's frown deepens.
"What?"
Insol fumbles with the bottle for some time. They're resting on opposite walls right outside the bathroom chamber, where the decoration is still ice cream themed and vibrant. Insol looks kind of out of place with his stance there.
He sighs, "My dad used to say I was too fussy."
"What does it have to do with sending someone a message?" he asks genuinely, even if it earns him a long look.
"Just send the message, please."
Woochan does what he's told, typing away how they went for ice cream and Yongtae ended up eating with his eyes and is now in a little trouble but everything is under control because Insol is supervising. He spares him sly looks while typing, wondering why his logic-driven mind has staggered to the point of not having confidence to send a simple message. He's never been so sure in his life like he's sure that everyone of them are one hundred percent ready to trust Insol with their lives.
It isn't a matter of the time he's been with them, but a matter of how much he works hard to be accepted and taken seriously as a badminton player.
Woochan doesn't say that out loud, and they resume waiting for Yongtae in silence.
It turns out that the problem at the gym doesn't follow them home, since Haekang and Yoondam are amicably sitting across each other in the living room when Woochan and Yongtae finally arrive. Insol had his dad pick him up since he was technically around, but Woochan didn't want to pry when the man offered them a ride.
Yongtae bemoans that he has to drink tea, but Coach Ra forces it down his throat anyways.
One day, Insol brings a book to class. It isn't anything new, but now that Woochan actually knows him and is comfortable enough to suddenly appear by his side when they're having a free period, he gets to ask what it's about.
"Words," he says. At first, Woochan thinks he's trying to strike a joke, but then Woochan doesn't laugh and Insol doesn't get embarrassed; he goes on, "It's about words, in general. Like, why do they mean what they do, things like that."
Woochan opens his mouth in slight awe. It's not that he isn't interested, but the topic is definitely a stretch given all the things they would be certainly interested about, normally. With that he also isn't trying to say Insol is a nerd but–
"Don't look at me like I'm weird."
"You're not- It's not– That's not it," Woochan crouches in front of Insol's desk, perhaps feeling like his added weight due the fact that Insol is sitting down is making things worse. "I was just surprised, that's all."
Insol looks at him and then proceeds to drag a perfectly curated dirty look to the back of the classroom, where Yoon Haekang sits with his legs stretched out and Bang Yoondam fake kicks it out of the way.
Woochan snorts, "Yoondam thinks he keeps calling you that because–"
"Honestly, I don't want to know," he waves the words away like he can see them, "We're both idiots for keeping it up, though."
Woochan shrugs. Then, still there, crouched down, he sticks Insol's head out of whatever he was in when he kept staring at the duo and makes him entertain him by talking about the book. He'd never given much thought to words, now would not be the time to do that either, but he sees no harm in letting Insol talk his ears out about it, until they have to go back to training their focus for yet another class.
During lunchtime, Insol shares a bit more about the words he finds more interesting, and Woochan listens to it all lunchtime long.
The thing about Yoon Haekang and Jeong Insol's continuous battle in avoiding calling each other by their real names in order to keep the constant chaos they've been assigned to at first meeting is truly nothing but the beautiful making of a friendship. Or, that's only what Woochan's mother says to keep him from asking too many questions when she's finally home for a change. Woochan is used to being alone when he's home, but it's not unusual to have his mother there for dinner (even his father, in their fabricated family dinner at least once a week, when he's dispensed from work for a while).
She looked weird at him when he raised the question, barely accustomed with chatting through the dinner-making; he, busy with chopping carrots, and she, busy with the fummy pot in the oven.
"Usually people do that when they want attention," she says matter-of-factly, turning to the pot completely after seizing him up and down for a moment. Then, she visibly shifts into a more relaxed instance, though it looks like she's more interested in what he has to say, if the tone of her voice indicates it, "Is there a girl calling you names around?"
Woochan doesn't stop chopping, a little spellbound by the motions and the sound, "Uh, no. It's not to me, or about a girl."
"Hm…"
"I was just curious."
"I see."
Then, when he's done with the knife and eager to do something else, she says, "whoever the ones are, it's highly likely that they want to be friends or something more. If they didn't want each other around, there wouldn't be time to be creating nicknames like that, you see…" she trails off a little, stirring the rich soup like she's in deep thought.
Woochan hums in recognition, thinking that it makes total sense that despite claiming that he hates Insol and all of the things that come with him, Haekang is probably incapable of doing so. Insol doesn't deserve the hate and Haekang is more prone to acknowledge that after the needed time.
His mother catches his attention again, "There's this saying… When two people hate each other, they make efforts to be felt, they make sure they're being heard, much like when they're in love. Indifference is the opposite of love."
"So if– If they somehow stop talking to each other and don't feel heated by the mocking, they don't care anymore?"
She turns off the stove and sighs a little, putting a lid over the pot to keep it warm, "Precisely."
He smiles despite the hurl of thoughts taking place in his head, but the exercise is a good activity to keep his head fixated on during dinner, when conversation doesn't come easily because Woochan updates her about badminton and there's nothing else really interesting to talk about. When he lies down that night, he feels strangely detached from the familiar ceiling and the familiar sheets and the familiar scent of all the things that he still keeps in his room, in this home.
When they're training and Insol is just looking, Woochan knows he's taking all the small details and storing them to analyze again after Coach Yoon makes it available. Woochan isn't sure if it's just a hobby or if just something Insol is terribly good at because he's smart, but half of their failures and improvements are noticed and commented on by Insol. Haekang keeps civilized about it, and it's overall very good to not need to stop them from bickering whenever anyone says anything.
When Insol also plays, Woochan doesn't know what goes through his head. Maybe he's overanalyzing his own performance in comparison to the others, maybe he has a tactic where he's able to erase all of it to concentrate better. Woochan himself focuses everything he can and can't in the game; this way, there shouldn't be space to think about the things he keeps thinking about.
That's why he misses the next shuttlecock coming his way and he chastises himself for it even before Coach Yoon says anything.
"Are you okay?" Yoondam asks from beyond the net, twirling his racket and looking at Woochan with a little more care.
"Yeah, you're looking a little distracted," Haekang frowns.
Coach Yoon doesn't say anything, since the words have been spoken loud and clear, but his eyes are reverberating them constantly. Yongtae looks intently from where he's sitting on the side, brows furrowed and lips pushed into a pout.
Woochan clears his throat, "I'm okay. I just have to get more into the game," he reassures them.
Coach Yoon squints, "you're not keeping any injuries a secret, right?"
"What? No, I swear."
"Okay, great," he claps, "Back to the game!"
"We're gonna beat you guys," he side-eyes Yoondam, who childishly shows him his tongue and Haekang, who basically dismisses him with a shrug. Then, he also shows him his tongue.
When Woochan turns around, laughing a little, Insol is right there, hand stretched out to do something Woochan isn't sure of.
"You're really okay, right?"
He touches his arm; it's feather-light, barely there.
"I didn't say anything before because I thought you'd like to keep it to yourself for now. You were doing fine despite the distress," he smiles.
Woochan unconsciously smiles too, but then he creases his forehead, "I'm not distressed?"
"Oh– Then sorry for assuming."
"That's fine. Thanks for…" he gestures vaguely, "Caring."
"It's nothing."
The game goes on. Woochan is too busy defending to keep his thoughts at bay; he's surprisingly good at doing both, he discovers – overthinking and playing. He wasn't totally in the game, but nothing kept him from catching almost every single one of Haekang's fireballs, and by the end, Insol smiles warmly at him even when they lose.
Coach Yoon comments from his point of view and then all of them make their remarks. Insol points out his own strengths and weaknesses, and then goes on a tangent about Haekang.
It's funny to see the other flaring up and then agreeing; Insol keeps this rare shit-eating grin on his face for long enough before Haekang notices it and starts going off about how "This Nerd this" and "This Nerd that".
At some point, Yongtae glues himself at his side and they hug until it's time to go back to the house. He says he's never been that hungry before (which is exactly the same thing he said the day before) and Woochan teases him lightly about it, squeezing him harder.
According to Coach Yoon, they're gonna have something special for dinner and Woochan is mildly excited for it, so it's all they talk about in the car ride.
Woochan discovers he has a lot more to think about than he previously thought. It's nothing that should be out of the norm; Insol doesn't mind touching people, despite Woochan having the almost absolute sureness that he would be too much of the strange type to even do that. Maybe it's for this reason that he replays the slight touch for so many times; careful fingertips grazing his skin so as not to startle him, to not make an undesirable fuss. Insol is, after all, very aware of himself and his surroundings.
When they all lie down to sleep, he usually has Yongtae to keep him company. They're all very cuddly, but he has never given it that much thought, since gladly welcomed company when it came to basically everything in his life.
Even fucking up feels better when you have a trusted friend to take the trouble with you, isn't it?
So he doesn't reject the addition, Yoondam's leg thrown over his in a position he doubts is comfortable, Yongtae secured within his grasp. Some nights, even Haekang scoots closer and puts his head on someone's shoulder; Woochan is used to being everyone's pillow, at this point.
When Insol first links their arms, lying down side by side for what feels like the first time Insol is sleeping over in a century, Woochan doesn't make much of it. It's not really comfortable and they know they won't have linked arms for the duration of the night, but there's this sense of companionship when they're talking before falling asleep and they hold onto each other like that.
Woochan realizes he definitely likes when Insol is over. It never irked him that much when Insol had to go back to his house instead of trailing across the fields with them to catch the bus home, but having him there makes it harder to see him go when he has to, or wants to. The certainty that everyone else feels like that brings a warmth to his heart he didn't think it was possible to feel, but he appreciates it nonetheless.
With their crossed arms, they listen to the others talking. Woochan gives his anecdotes, makes fun of this thing and another until he notices how quiet Insol has gotten.
With no surprise, he rolls his neck a little to stretch it, then looks over at Insol's sleeping face. His face is really smooth for a boy, Woochan thinks. Maybe he does a bunch of those things Hansol likes to do before sleeping; when Seyoon and Hansol are there, the latter practically forces Seyoon to accompany her with the night routine. It's funny but definitely too complicated; also, Yoondam seems to like staring at Hansol when she has a sheet mask blocking her entire face, for some reason.
He doesn't know why, but he reaches over before he can hold it back; in a second, they're ready to sleep, and in the other, Yoondam is zeroing at his hand and then at his face for long enough that he feels strange by doing nothing, fingers hovering over Insol's temple like he should be patting the hair over his eyes.
"What are you doing?" the captain asks, and he can physically feel the others' eyes on him when he swallows.
"Nothing," he mutters, hand finally going back to place. Insol is an immovable object, sleeping soundly.
"It didn't seem like nothing," Haekang sneers, tucking the sheets around himself, turning around to face the nearest wall. Yongtae is still looking at him but there's basically only void in his eyes; he's too gone with sleep to really pay attention to and discern what is happening, so Woochan pats the back of his head until he closes his eyes properly and starts snoring.
Yoondam doesn't let go of the bone, "Wanna talk about it in the morning?"
"Talk about what ? And in the morning, even," he says, hoping that Yoondam catches the playful tone even if he's inwardly not very interested in having serious talk in the morning . Why not the end of the day?
"I'm just saying, dude. If you need me I'm here."
"Don't really know what for," and he's being serious.
Yoondam hums a good night and closes his eyes. Woochan stays awake staring at the ceiling until Insol stirs at something – a bad dream, maybe – and curls closer. Woochan sleeps holding Yongtae's head and his whole other arm is tucked under Insol, who fits there at least a little too well.
Speaking of the girls, when they're around it seems like everything should feel more put together for some reason, but it doesn't. They blend in to their mess with ease, and maybe Woochan is now too fond of observing everything to be able to notice that one, Yoondam is definitely a little infatuated by Hansol – who never seemed to hide that she liked him in first place – and two, Haekang and Seyoon will definitely be a thing. Maybe not now, maybe not in the near future. He looks at them and sees them dancing around each other until they all have to leave for college one day, and just then they'll act like they got struck by lightning and that solely helps them get their act together.
Perhaps, Woochan is reading too much into things. He's been outside for a while now, having long given up on partaking in the shared homework-doing culture they have, excusing himself after claiming he's done. He wasn't. He would definitely go back to finish the rest of the list he was answering then, but now, watching as the sun goes down feels more important.
Woochan has always been described by his few relatives as closed off and quiet, but maybe that was because he was so used to making himself look, sound and act proper in front of his father that it became his default personality for a while. Nothing was ever miscalculated, so he took the chance to try his luck once and it landed him on the badminton team, with the bestest friends he could ask for.
He may have difficulty expressing those feelings, but he has no doubt all of them are aware of it. Since he is an only child, Yongtae is more or less like a little brother to him, and even if he isn't that much older than him, there's a sense of responsibility he feels like following everytime Yongtae even thinks of doing something that is completely in character for his age. He doesn't bring his father's harshness into picture– He wouldn't like to replicate this behaviour onto anyone, especially someone as important as Yongtae.
Yoondam and Haekang are more like friends he feels like have been with him since they were children. Which is basically impossible, since Haekang has only been here for barely a year, and he got to truly know Yoondam only after applying for the team. Nevertheless, there's a bond he's eager to strengthen the same as he's willing to get better at badminton each and every single day; he has learned how to look at them and see people who are trying to help him and he takes it to his heart.
Insol is the best addition to the group they could have in miles. In light-years, maybe. It's true that Woochan didn't see anything particularly outstanding about him at first, despite having as much of a strong will as Woochan himself, seeing as he braved through his "entrance exams" like he means business.
Insol's true interest in badminton is still a mystery, at least to Woochan, but there's no doubt he treasures being here as much as the others. So Woochan is happy he's here. He's happy Insol likes playing and having fun with them at home.
He likes that Insol is there when they have trouble with homework – or when they have troubles in general, like that time when they went to the neighboring city only to escape practice and Woochan was definitely a little puzzled by the questionable behaviour of the so-called "nerd", accompanying them maybe to make fun of them later.
(Part of Woochan thought, at that time, Insol was only going along to maybe tell an adult about it after. There was this indescribable aura around him that told Woochan this boy would never be on the kids side if it was to gain credits with the adults. Maybe Woochan isn't as good at dealing with adults as Insol is, because the day turned out to be decisive to the way he used to interpret Insol since then).
Someone opens the back door and Woochan looks over– Yoondam is walking towards him, then he sits by his side with a little grunt.
"Done with homework?" he asks, only to receive another grunt in return.
Then, Yoondam sighs, "Insol was ever helpful before, but now that he's here it's even better."
The commentary doesn't seem to hint for anything other than what it explicitly stated, so Woochan vehemently nods in agreement.
"So," Yoondam turns to look at the sky too, "about that day."
"About what day?"
Yoondam nudges him.
"I didn't know that about you."
Woochan takes the jab, physical and emotional, "Know what?"
He looks at Yoondam and Yoondam smirks at nothing in particular before looking at him too.
"Nevermind."
Someone (he doesn't remember who, exactly) proposes hanging out. It's been some time since the last time; granted, they're all very eager to comply with the idea. Hansol chirps something about a mall, and for that they would have to travel a little. Yoondam studies the idea, and they all end up talking over each other until Coach Ra comes to the living room due the loud aproar and gives her own ideas. Yongtae is either full of original ones that not everyone is very eager to try or never tired of going for the same old one, no in between.
In the end, they all decide the mall is the best option. So, one day after breakfast, weekend rolling around full force after a week of exams, they all prepare to go. The girls come by so they can get there together, and despite Coach Yoon offering (begging, to be honest) to give them a ride there, they'd rather enjoy the long bus ride.
At some point during the hangout, as it was honestly expected, the couples kind of… Drift off. Hansol and Yoondam have this really endearing way of turning into each other and having a hard time acknowledging the world around them, so the group sort of lost them inside a cheap jewelry shop and gave up on trying to drag them back. Seyoon made sure that they were still in the vicinity through a cheesy chat that she rubbed into their faces once it ended, decorated with a picture of Hansol and Yoondam in the end. Woochan only snorted and nodded proudly at that– Yongtae didn't seem very bright about it.
Which is a funny thing to think about, because as much as he likes to point out how he's in puberty now, he still acts like the majority of boys in kindergarten: violently ignoring the possibility of liking someone in a way that would make you feel probably uncomfortable at first.
Woochan has zero acknowledgement in this field so he understands him. But instead of avoiding the thought of it like the plague (as if Yoondam liking and possibly dating Hansol is worse than repeating the school year, or something), he gives it thought. And lets it simmer… Then, forgets about it.
Despite never once admitting out loud anything , it's quite clear that Haekang and Seyoon will also disappear at any given moment now. They're searching for the most ridiculous pieces of clothing they can possibly find inside a thrift store, and Woochan is now only able to see the top of Haekang's head a copious amount of clothing racks ahead. Seyoon is too small to be seen, but of course she's there somewhere. Which leaves him to tend to Yongtae, who is still almost drowning in a pile of t-shirts, claiming that he saw one that would be especially great for the look he is aiming for. Insol juggles by looking at said shirt with Yongtae and seriously considering purchasing couple hats for everyone.
Woochan vividly disagrees, "I don't look good in hats."
"I've never seen you wearing one," Insol replies, gingerly fingering through the available options in that section. They are hideous, simply said.
"Exactly."
Insol makes a sound that is neither new or totally unheard of; but it still makes Woochan's head snap up.
"But give it a try," Insol says, dragging the end of the sentence a little.
Is he…?
Woochan looks around. He catches Yongtae's eyes but sadly they're not on the same wavelength to communicate through it– Woochan is desperately confused and Yongtae is just plainly frustrated because he still can find the t-shirt.
"Alright," he blurts out, without knowing what to do.
Insol finger guns him and punctuates it with a wink, "amazing."
Woochan feels a little something. It could always be just the warmth, after all the store does feel a little too stuffy, with all its various pieces of clothes kind of everywhere, but he also has the feeling it isn't just that. It drowns in whatever else he feels when Insol starts putting different kinds of hats on his head and asking Yongtae for opinions.
Poor Yongtae also isn't very thrilled about the idea of couple hats, but Woochan is suspicious it's only because he gave up on finding his shirt and nothing makes sense for him as of this moment. Given the time, he will jump into the bandwagon and start providing Insol with his own innovative ideas.
It should feel like a hassle. He doesn't see Haekang's head anymore (Insol calls him airhead again exactly when he notices the other is not around anymore, which meant Seyoon wouldn't be able to try out the hat he chose for her), he can't do anything other than let Insol take over.
He has never felt like a mannequin before but there's always a first for everything. He also isn't sure if what Insol is saying makes any sense, but he always sounds so intelligent whatever he's saying– Woochan doesn't do much other than nodding when Insol mutters I think darker colors suit you better, but pink is never a wrong choice for anyone .
In the end, he confesses, "I barely know what I'm doing myself. Fashion is kind of funny in this sense, because everyone can lie."
Woochan gasps, "You like lying?"
"Only when it's harmless. So, what's your favorite?"
He's holding a baby pink bucket hat and one that looks too black to be dark blue. Yongtae is somewhere singing under his breath, unintentionally making Woochan confirm he's still around.
"Whichever you like better," he ends up saying, mainly because he wasn't really paying attention to himself when Insol dragged him to the nearest mirror, running his mouth about something he can't quite put a finger on.
Insol's eyes go large, "but it's for you."
When Woochan doesn't say anything, Insol puts the dark blue one on his head and starts picking on the invisible lines on the pink one in his hands.
"Everyone else's is picked, but you're here so you get to choose."
Now that he looks at it, the one in Insol's head fits him quite perfectly. The one in his hand is snatched away so Woochan can look at himself properly in the mirror; it's not terrible. He's wearing plain clothes so nothing clashes – instead, it gives the outfit a little bit of personality.
"I like this one," he admits, to which Insol solemnly claps his hands, nodding like he's accomplished something particularly difficult.
"I'll buy all of them. I hope we get to use them all together at least once."
Woochan raises his hand, "I'll use mine now."
"That's the spirit."
They complete the purchase (Yongtae adds a weirdly colorful button-up to the mix, which Insol ends up paying for because… Woochan isn't sure), lose total sight of the top of Haekang's head, search for them inside the store and that's more or less when Haekang sends a file to the group chat: a picture of Seyoon with a plushie on her head, caption saying: one and only Han Seyoon~.
Woochan replies with some emojis. He throws a look at Insol to see if he's checking the chat too, but he's already putting his phone away after struggling a bit with the two bags he's carrying now.
Woochan offers to take them and he is eager to comply. Yongtae goes slotted between them when they walk around looking for other things to do, which of course include searching for an arcade and spending the rest of the morning there until they eventually have to eat something for lunch.
Lunch is lost in his mind when he goes around basically following Yongtae and Insol, who seem to agree so rapidly to everything the other says Woochan is a little thrilled. When they find the arcade, though, Yongtae spots a couple of his friends and he bashfully excuses himself to keep them company for a bit.
He will still be around when Insol and Woochan finish whatever they're going to be playing until someone's stomach growl loud enough, and until then, Woochan will have spent quite a serious amount of time trying not to laugh out loud at how bad Insol is at Mortal Kombat.
He wins another round with a weak character and goes, "You seriously had to be bad at something, at this point."
Insol angles his head to the other side, muttering, "I'm actually bad at a lot of things, though…"
"That's not even true. But the one thing you're bad at, you're just horrible at it."
He turns to look at Woochan again, mildly scandalized, "Why do I feel like this will be a recurring topic to you now?"
"Because it will!"
"Airhead can't know about that. He'll probably ask to beat me here too," he rolls his eyes.
"Nah, I won't let him," he says, reaching for his pocket to grab a coin for yet another round. Insol stops him mid-motion.
"Let's try another thing, should we? What about the claw machine?"
"Isn't it a scam? I can never catch anything," he says, mood turning a little sour for the times he had spent a lot trying to win a little thing.
"I'm highly sure it is, but never got around to actually searching about it," he says, a little too serious for the occasion, "Either way it's fun and we should try it."
"Okay, then."
Insol smiles and basically runs towards the closest claw machine he can see. It's more about luck than technique, Woochan is sure. He tries three times and loses the little duck he tried to go for. Insol is all pout after he tries and something about it makes Woochan a little upset.
"I bet I can find one of those for sale."
Insol stops aimlessly walking around to stare at him.
"What are you betting on?"
"Uh… If I find it, you buy it for me."
"And if you don't?"
Woochan puts his hands in his pockets and looks around only not to watch if Insol's face will change when he says it.
"Then I'll buy whatever one you want."
He doesn't need to see Insol's face if he can clearly hear his excited chuckle instead.
"Okay, bet."
It was a terrible idea. Not only because they still have to go for lunch after that, so Insol has to drag his new plushie around, but because somehow Yoondam finds it particularly funny. He gets why, though, when Seyoon and Haekang finally reappear and, of course, Seyoon is carrying her own teddy bear like her life depends on it. Haekang is a pro at making it look like he's used to it, but it's clear that they're both too elated to actually conceal the joy in their faces.
It gets a little unbearable, so Woochan turns all his attention to the one person that is thankfully ignoring the whole thing for his own sake: Yongtae.
It doesn't make the fact that Yoondam is throwing him looks suddenly go away, but it masks it; they talk about stupid things and Yongtae runs his mouth about the good time he has spent with his friends at the arcade. Woochan tries his hand at speaking how much fun was the time he has spent with his own good friend at the arcade, but all the things he can remember clearly is how he felt whenever Insol so slightly smiled at him.
When they eventually go back, too tired to make idle chat on the bus, Insol hugs his new plushie to sleep and Woochan snaps a picture of it to make fun of him later.
It's what he says again when he catches himself looking at the picture for the hundredth time in an embarrassingly small period of time. He browses through the most ridiculous ones he has of Yoondam and Yongtae, and it pleases him that it makes him laugh and all, but he always ends up staring at the one with Insol for some reason.
It isn't until he sees the way Insol looks at Haekang that he remembers– hating each other equals…
He won't go so far and say that they truly hate each other. They did have reasons too, in the beginning, but now they're pretty used to each other to have any real quarrells. Insol must still enjoy bickering with him because he never backs out whenever Haekang flares up for the most random of reasons, so everyone still has to endure a little session of pointless fight that almost never gets physical. With all due respect, Woochan thinks, if Haekang was serious, Insol would never stand a chance.
Because it's not serious and because no one is trying to get injured for nothing, their fights are only limited to spoken warfare and the occasional prank. So, everyone gets to laugh about it, and Insol gets to stare at Haekang for far too long to be able to ignore it; it's always with a hint of something Woochan can't quite read. Insol is naturally too finicky to actually drag the looks for it to turn really strange, so his expression changes a little after he's finished.
And then, in the middle of the living room, right in front of the kimchi fried rice Coach Ra has put together to feed the hungry children, Woochan has a revelation.
First, he wasn't expecting to get caught staring at Insol's face on his phone that morning and second, he also wasn't expecting to share his newly formed thoughts so early. But Yoondam finds him sitting on the stairs in a mostly empty corridor and after throwing him a bewildered look, he asks him, "I was looking for you for so long. What are you doing here? And when did you take–"
Yoondam reaches out to snag his phone out of his hands and it's like all the blood in his body rushes to his feet and his head at the same time.
"Hey, give me that back."
"Calm down, I'm just taking a look," he smiles innocently, "this one is cute. You can send it to the chat so we can laugh about it a little."
"No," Woochan says a little too fast.
Yoondam's face doesn't exactly fall, but he can see there was at least a hint of sincerity in his request. Still, it doesn't keep him from squinting at Woochan with the intention of making him recoil.
"...Why not?"
Woochan clasps his palms together.
"Because I don't think he'd like to be made fun of, especially… Especially by Haekang."
Now Yoondam fully frowns, choosing to sit on the stairs too, a little in front of him, lower.
"Why Haekang?"
"What do you mean why– I wouldn't want to be the cause of Insol feeling embarrassed in front of the one he likes," he mumbles, finding it quite difficult to spell out. It sounds like he isn't totally true even for his ears, but it's the reality and he can't choose how it plays out.
Yoondam starts laughing.
"What? What the hell are you even–"
Woochan gets unavoidably thrown off by the laugh, which makes the feelings in his gut boil all in the same pot: he is embarrassed by his self-thought revelation, mad that it makes him upset, upset that Yoondam doesn't treat him seriously and, overall, very confused about things in general. All of them. Even Yongtae, if he lets himself think hard about it.
"I think it's easy to tell if you just look at the way he stares at Haekang. Honestly, I can't even think of a reason it shouldn't make sense."
Yoondam is still enjoying the last bits of his laugh, bending forward and clutching at his stomach like it hurts.
He sighs in delight, "What exactly makes you think that makes sense?"
"My mom said the opposite of love is indifference. If they still like to bug each other, spend time coming up with names to call each other with the excuse of hating, they're not really 'hating'. They're just… Wanting each other around."
Yoondam hums like he's somehow more enlightened about things than Woochan will ever be. Maybe he is. Maybe he is the captain for a reason.
"And you think that alone means Insol… Is in love with him?"
In love?
Strong expression. What "Insol in love with Haekang" would entail?
He unconsciously shudders, "...Maybe?"
"Bro."
"What."
Yoondam takes a deep breath and has trouble keeping a smile at bay. He fails, but at this moment it just looks like he is totally making fun of him.
"When Seyoon and Haekang are dating and Insol likes you? Seems very unlikely."
Something inside Woochan definitely stops working when he fully comprehends the massive weight of these words.
Then, he obviously panics and starts stuttering.
"And what if- What if I d-don't like him?"
The prospect of having to think that he likes Insol in the first place immediately feels like he's being overthrown by the waves of a violent sea. It's exactly like when his parents brought him to a vacation many years ago, and the first thing he did was jump into the water at the same time a wave was breaking at the shore of the beach. He got rolled over countless times. If he forces it a little he can still feel the insufferable taste of salt inside his nose.
Yoondam looks close to slapping him in the face, just hard enough to make it sting. He bucks away just for precaution.
"My friend, I'm aware that you must have a lot in your baggage already when it comes to being a little slow but that's singlehandedly the stupidest thing you've ever said in your entire lifetime."
"But the… The fact that Haekang and Seyoon are together doesn't mean Insol can't like him. It's not only about Haekang, you see…"
Yoondam purses his lips in a way that only means he's either completely over explaining something again or he's preparing to keep lecturing whoever it is for an entire hour. It doesn't happen a lot because Yoondam is strict and to the point and can't bear nagging, so Woochan breathes in deeply and waits for it.
"Look," he starts, "Haekang obviously had something against Insol when he first got here because you now know who Haekang is and what it means to go against him. Insol has proven to be more than the boring guy that rightfully accused our ace for dropping the school's GPA so, like… They value each other. Isn't it obvious that Insol admires Haekang a lot?"
Woochan sits in silence. It is obvious, and that's what he's trying to say –
"Don't misunderstand the way their relationship works. Haekang is stupid but not enough to not notice it. And he admires Insol as much as Insol admires him. In the professional way. As teammates."
"Okay, fine, yeah. Seems believable."
"Of course it is. It's true. Hansol and I have been listening to Insol's struggles for almost two months now."
What?
"Do not look at me like that, buddy. He is in for it, he's literally just waiting for you. The thing is: I couldn't wait."
Woochan is sure he isn't able to see anything. What was once stairs and his friend are just grey goo against his eyes now.
"Neat," he says, "That's cool."
" That's cool ," Yoondam mocks him. "I've never seen you so uncertain about something before. Where is the Woochan I know? Is he somewhere in there?"
The taps in his head should feel insufferable, but at the same time, Woochan lets go and decides to see if Yoondam's rare nagging can actually do something about the absolute turmoil he's going through right now.
"If you're so insecure about it, think of the things that happened. You practically went on a date with him, didn't you?"
Woochan frowns, "That's because you all were on a date. We didn't have a chance to choose."
"...Exactly. You're welcome."
Grandma's food directly means comfort. Since Haekang stopped keeping things to himself and they all got to know the playing room at Grandma's house, they've been welcomed there at basically all times. So, Woochan drowns his sorrows in between side dishes until Grandma herself has to intervene and ask, in front of everyone, if he's feeling okay.
But she asks in her own way, like, "Why are you looking like a girl has dumped you? Heartbreak sure isn't that easy to handle… Here, eat, eat more."
It gets Yoondam privately hollering on the side, mouth full of food and face full of mischief. Haekang looks at Woochan through his eyelashes and frowns in worry, like somehow Grandma's words are reliable in any way. Yongtae is too engrossed in his game to pay attention to Woochan's comic relief moment of the day, which is desirable.
Insol is also looking at him, but he can't bear to look his way, or else Yoondam's words will get tangled in his head and he'll see what he wants to see, and not what it is. He realized he wants to see Insol worried too. And he probably is, but not exactly how Woochan would want him to.
He eats more. And then a little more.
And then –
"Woochan, no more," Insol mutters, physically making him put a little bowl of rice away. "You'll feel sick soon."
"But I'm hungry," he manages out, after munching what else was in his mouth and clearing his throat.
Insol tsks, "It's because you didn't savor it, just inhaled it."
"That's true, Woochan," Yoondam chirps. He's thrown on a bag puff, staring at his phone but probably keeping close attention to whatever Woochan is doing. Or maybe he's keeping tabs on Insol, at this point, since Woochan now knows that they've been helping him out.
"Listen to the captain," Insol points out. "It should mean something."
When he stops talking and everyone is silent, Woochan looks at Insol. He seems entertained by what he's looking at on his phone, so for a moment Woochan thinks he shouldn't disrupt it. Then, Yoondam messages him a talk to him .
It's punctuated with a glare, to which he nods at.
He starts typing a message. It goes somewhat like I think I like you. Then, he erases it, I like you . He erases it again, Wanna go for a walk?
Sending it feels too real and too fantastic at the same time; he's sure Insol is wide-eyed at something else entirely when he clutches his phone, looks around a little panicked and then conceals his face like nothing happened.
He replies, Sure .
It's at least a little funny how Insol is dealing with getting stared at as they just stand up to leave, claiming Woochan needs to walk for a bit in order to feel better. It isn't entirely a lie, but the insanity of being able to tell they all know it's not just because of that is something he had never thought he'd be going through someday.
Maybe someday, but definitely not today. Or any day in the close future, for that matter.
The walk is silent and constant; they stare at the fields and at the sky and Woochan doesn't pick at the cuticles of his fingers because he keeps both his hands inside his pockets. It's basically a tactic to seem more calm than he truly is.
They end up reaching the big tree that marks the end of this road and the start of another, and there's a bench there that somehow turned into a symbol of sincerity. In here, you have to speak the truth at all times , said Yongtae, with the naïvety of a child.
Insol sits on the bench and Woochan hurries to take the other side.
As if prompted by a whiff of magic, Woochan blurts out, a little less tactful than he'd wish to be, "I thought you liked Haekang."
Insol turns to him with wide eyes.
"I- I mean. I didn't think you liked me."
"You didn't come to that conclusion on your own," he says, and it's not a question. Woochan scoffs but doesn't do much to retaliate because it's the pure, unabashed truth.
"No."
"Damn it, Yoondam," he curses under his breath. It's a break of character of some sort, but at the same time it doesn't faze him to the point of acting surprised.
"He was just trying to help…"
Insol clicks his tongue and Woochan wonders if he is mad.
"I know that. Why was it so difficult for you to see?"
"I don't know. Maybe I got used to the idea of you liking another person so I wouldn't have to deal with the fact that I… Like you," he says, and it takes a lot to not just stand up and run like he's been burned.
Insol starts playing with his fingers, toning down a little from his outburst, "I read you all wrong, I think."
"Wh- Wait, why?"
"You're known for braving through the adversities and making a name for yourself. Going against your father, and all that."
"Yeah."
"I thought you would… Notice. And make a move."
Woochan raises an eyebrow, "Maybe I'm not as straightforward as you thought."
"Maybe," he mutters, then suddenly perks up with a question, "Why do you like me?"
Sitting beside someone has never felt that nerve-wracking. It brings him peace that he can stare out the green grass and the clear sky instead of burning holes in Insol's face like he once thought he'd have to do after Yoondam opened his eyes to the truth, but nothing ever comes as natural as their previous conversations.
And now, this.
He fights the urge to just say I don't know. But is that true?
Woochan likes that Insol is a weird mixture of daring and awkward, so sometimes the free spirit dies out and it leaves him red faced and embarrassed. It doesn't happen often, because then again, Insol is also very aware of the things he says and he does. Nonetheless, seeing him embarrassed is cuter than it should be – his serious nature is thrown off-axis. He's also very smart. And interesting. And is the owner of a different kind of humor. Also, he has cute eyes and cute lips. And his skin looks soft.
Woochan tells him that much.
He's met with silence, and it's what makes him turn to look at Insol.
He is tearing up.
Their eyes meet, "W- Hey, don't look at me," he squeaks and stands up, walking just enough to hide his face from Woochan's alarmed eyes.
He has made Insol cry.
"Don't cry," he pleads, deciding to go after Insol even if his first instinct is to let him come back first. Insol is frantically rubbing his face to get rid of the tears, which is a funny visual if he really thought about it, because the only time he saw Insol cry was when he lost to Haekang that time.
He doesn't know what to do or to say to effectively make him stop, so he kind of just waits for him. But Insol keeps wiping his face and washing it with more tears, to the point of making it look irritated.
Then, Woochan makes an intervention.
"Hey," he mutters quietly, "You're gonna hurt yourself."
Taking Insol's hands between his is possibly the bravest thing he has done after almost touching his face that time. Skin to skin contact isn't exactly foreign but in this situation is close to alien; he holds Insol's fingers and adjusts their hands to slot together and it sends sparks all over his arms and his back, pretty much like an electric shock.
Insol looks down, his stained face a little blotched and pink, tears still rolling down.
"Why are you crying so much?"
"Nothing," he lies, and Woochan remembers where they are.
"You can't say that here."
"We're not on the bench."
"Don't worry," he says, dragging Insol closer to the bench again, "we'll be."
They sit back down, hands still clasped. When Insol starts talking, he's fighting a battle inside his head that consists of telling himself that he should keep holding hands and convincing himself that he should gently wipe Insol's tears away.
Insol talks about insecurities. He talks about bravery too, and Woochan listens. Then, before the tears can completely dry, Woochan finally raises a hand to touch Insol's cheeks.
He's sure Insol is saying something, but he realizes with terror that he's being completely deafened by the beat of his own heart in his ears.
"...Woochan," he hears. Insol, with his face being held by Woochan, looking up at him like he's demanding something and Woochan realizes he wants to–
It's fast and impossible to detain; Insol gasps when Woochan's lips bump on his forehead and then detaches like it hurts for a brief moment.
"That was–"
"I just wanted to kiss you," he exhales heavily. "Sorry."
"Don't say sorry. I'm happy. Do it- Do it again."
And Woochan goes for it again, softer this time. He nuzzles Insol's forehead and then angles his face a little to peck his temple. It just makes sense that Insol lets go of his other hand so they can hug; Woochan holds his head against his shoulder and just breathes.
The wind passes by and it's an excuse to squeeze him closer, even if sitting side by side isn't really that comfortable. Woochan doesn't care much, he just does what's possible.
Insol rubs his face against his shirt a little.
"Yoondam said you never tell people when you like them."
Woochan scoffs lightly, "Is there anything he hasn't said about me?"
"Well, yeah, so I could find out for myself."
Lee Yongtae is pissed off. There's no other expression that better explains the absolute bummed look he's got on his face for a week now; and it's understandable.
Insol and Woochan do their part in trying to be subtle about it as hard as they can, but there's just too many chances to let it pass. They practically live together and since Insol has been spending more time with them instead of going off grid for his house, it's just too easy to fall into the trap of… Forgetting that not everyone has the guts to deal with three newly formed couples.
Woochan himself doesn't. He tends to ignore them all a lot.
Insol is not the type to show off or be too clingy or just give off the vibes that Hey, they're dating, can't you see? So he thinks, for their part, is kind of okay. But then, he notices how often he reaches out to touch Insol out of nowhere, like brushing his hair out of his face when he isn't looking or playing with his ear when he's working and generally not wanting to be distracted.
Hansol and Yoondam just ooze couple vibes even when they aren't doing anything. It's not annoying but it's oppressive and Yongtae feels oppressed (basically because after denying their relationship with all his living force, he had to face it and it was ridiculous, to say the least). Seyoon and Haekang still manage to be at least a little awkward, to the point of making tension start reeking the whole house. It's almost palpable.
So, Woochan takes it upon himself to make his friend start feeling welcomed again and does his best to recreate the easy energy he used to cultivate with Insol before.
It goes more or less like:
"Bro, stop doing that already, I beg," Yongtae says, sprawled dramatically across the table in the living room. "You never did that before."
Which is, for context, running lazy fingers through Insol's hair while he reads a book.
Out of nowhere, Haekang pops next to the couch and goes, "That's not true, he did that before."
Insol finally takes his eyes off the pages, frowning slightly, "You did?"
"I–"
"It doesn't matter," Yongtae whines, "I will tell Coach Yoon I'm leaving the team."
"Aw, c'mon, Yongtae!" "Don't even think about that, you little demon." "You don't mean it, buddy… I'm sorry, I'm gonna stop. Promise!"
The ruckus doesn't stop so soon. It makes Yongtae leave the house with heavy stomps, prompting Insol into a bright laugh that makes him forget about the book he'd been reading. Woochan's fingers automatically go back to his head, and he sighs.
The fuzzy feeling in his gut never seizes. It's not constant either, so sometimes he really has to stop and breathe for a moment.
It goes easily like that.