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Their group of friends were getting too noisy as they stay at one of the tables located at their university’s field. It serves as a picnic area of the students during break time. Donghyun who was already getting bored, wanting to play games in his phone, asked one of his friends Jibeom if he can connect to his pocket wifi. The nicest guy within the group couldn’t say no and lent it to Donghyun before resuming making jokes with the rest of the group as they talk about recent happenings in one of their classes.
Donghyun excitedly turned the small device on and took his phone out to connect to the wifi but was greeted with Jibeom’s wifi requiring a password. He was about to ask the taller about it but looked around briefly as he noticed that his friends were too busy reenacting a funny scene about Joochan. It was about the second youngest of their group being late for his first class this morning which he shares with Jaehyun and Youngtaek. So, he decided that it would be best not to disturb his friends for now.
Getting impatient, he stares down at his phone while thinking of possible combinations for Jibeom’s wifi password and playfully types his own name plus his birthday.
“Eh?”
It was too late for Jibeom when he noticed Donghyun getting confused beside him and remembers what his wifi password is. He stared at the slightly younger guy in horror as they make eye contact before he finally decided that it was best to snatch the device from Donghyun’s hand.
“Wait, I forgot to tell you that there’s a password. Give me your phone, I’ll type it for you.”
Donghyun smiled sheepishly and reluctantly gave his phone to Jibeom for his friend to see that he already got connected to the wifi, wanting to see the latter’s reaction as well. He stares at Jibeom as the guy went to the wifi settings before his eyes met the other’s with Jibeom sporting an unreadable look on his face. “You already connected to it?”
Donghyun slowly nodded and pursed his lips while waiting for Jibeom to say something before looking away. He’s slightly hoping that their friends won’t notice the awkward interaction that they had. Well, not until he felt a hand touching his and a whisper to his ear saying, “Let’s meet here again later after class.”
It was time for their group of friends to disperse and head to their respective classes. Donghyun and Jibeom were never happy about having different classes during the afternoon. Not until what happened with the latter’s wifi password.
After classes, Donghyun feels a little reluctant with meeting Jibeom at their group’s usual hangout spot. He does not know why but he feels nervous about it. While walking to their meeting place, he remembers how he also started catching feelings for the older. Recalling how he keeps on being in-denial about it, he started realizing that he feels relieved that his long-time friend feels the same thing.
If someone is going to ask Donghyun about it, he will deny it quickly even though his mind says otherwise. He knows to himself that he finds Jibeom handsome and funny. The younger Busan guy of their group is certainly charming with his wit, kindness, and loveable characteristics. Well-
“Donghyun?”
He turns to see the slightly older guy panting, looking like he ran a marathon. Donghyun just watches his same-age friend get a towel from his bag to wipe his sweat off while explaining the haggard state that he is in.
“I had to run since the prof asked me to go to his office for awhile to talk about something. I was kinda worried that you might think I’m not gonna show up.”
Donghyun laughs and waves a hand while mumbling a soft, “It’s okay.”
It was silent for awhile as they look around the surroundings while avoiding looking at each other before they finally decide to sit down. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Jibeom cleared his throat to initiate the conversation.
“About my password… You already know what that means, right?”
The older looked at Donghyun with a hopeful look and the latter gave him a look of hesitation. “I’m not really sure. You—You like me? I thought you’re doing well with Jaehyun.”
Jibeom snorts and reaches his hand out to ruffle the slightly younger’s hair. “Hey. I have to say the same thing about you and Joochan since the group likes your bickering dynamics a lot. But no—I don’t like Jaehyun. He’s my best friend and I get—”
Jibeom paused and cleared his throat upon realizing that he’s been rambling non-stop. Donghyun avoided Jibeom’s gaze while fixing the hair that the older messed up. He knows what Jibeom was about to say and hesitates for a second before he explains. “I don’t like Joochan and he’s just my best friend as well. Don’t get it wrong, Joochan likes someone else.”
The older of the two chokes on his own saliva with what Donghyun said and asked, “Who?”
Instead of answering directly, Donghyun snickers and whispered to Jibeom’s ear. “The youngest.”
Jibeom’s face brightens up with realization and understanding upon finding out about Joochan’s secret crush and nods. He places a hand on top of Donghyun’s head and smiles while exclaiming, “I don’t have to hesitate with pursuing you then.”
Donghyun can’t help but feel his face heat up at the sudden bluntness that he receives from the taller and looks down briefly before mumbling, “You’re confident about it, huh. Who told you I’ll allow you to pursue me, hm?”
The older looked at Donghyun with wide eyes and grabbed the slightly younger guys’ shoulders to shake them a little. “Yah, am I getting it wrong? Don’t you like me too?”
Donghyun lets out a laugh and did not stop himself from covering his face. The older’s reaction was just too funny.
“You’re so easy to tease. I do. I do like you too, but let’s take this slow. Is that okay with you?”
Jibeom sighs in relief before he looks at the younger with a fond smile and carefully places a hand on Donghyun’s delicate one. He’s been longing to touch this soft hand, so he couldn’t stop himself from giving it a squeeze and intertwining their fingers. “There’s no need to rush. We’ll take this in our own pace, yes?"
Donghyun smiles and squeezes the larger hand wrapped around his own before comfortably leaning his head on Jibeom’s shoulder. It feels like the heaviness in his chest from before went away just like that. Well, this is Kim Jibeom we are talking about. It was so easy for the latter to melt his worries away even before all of this happened.
“Are you ready to tell the others though? That I’m courting you?”
The younger of the two looks ahead as he smiles while watching their friends walk to their direction. They have different kinds of reactions upon seeing them in an intimate position and the two chuckles heartily.
“Well, there’s no use hiding it. It’s them after all.”
“Right.”