Chapter Text
“Hyunjae!” Juyeon shouted. His favorite part of the day is meeting up with Hyunjae to eat at their local cafe, Daydream. Hyunjae turns around and stops walking for Juyeon to catch up to him.
“Juyeon! How are you?” Hyunjae asked, walking once again- this time with Juyeon by his side.
“It was so-so.” Juyeon responded. “All I did was read manhwas and take a three hour nap.”
“Ooh, what manhwas are you reading right now?” Hyunjae asked.
“Secret Playlist.”
“You’re really into the romantic manhwas.” Hyunjae said, and Juyeon chuckled. “Yeah, I just like to read stories and wish for a relationship like the main characters.”
It didn’t take long for them to reach Daydream cafe. Juyeon opened the door for Hyunjae, and went inside. Juyeon heard whispers. “Isn’t that guy beautiful?”, “Isn’t that Hyunjae, the amazing singer on campus? And he’s hanging out with our shining dancer Juyeon!”, “They look like a couple, the looks, the talent!”
That comment made him blush. Because unfortunately for him, he really was in love with Hyunjae, no matter how dense he is. They both reach the counter, with Hyunjae ordering a ‘‘The Stealer’ smoothie, which contains, a smoothie that contains strawberries, greek yogurt, blueberries, and almond milk while Juyeon ordered a ‘Drink It’ Blood milkshake which contained strawberry flavored ice cream, raspberry syrup, chocolate chips, and milk.
“You always order The Stealer Smoothie!” Juyeon said, grabbing his drink.
“As if you don’t order a Drink It Blood Milkshake everytime we come here.”
“Touché.” Juyeon said and looked for a sitting area, noticing the far corner of the cafe was empty. Juyeon patted Hyunjae and pointed to the area and asked, “Should we sit there?”
“Why not?” Hyunjae said, shrugging. They passed by fellow students and sat down. Juyeon grabbed his phone to take a picture of his drink, and looked at Hyunjae. “You wouldn’t mind me taking a picture of you, would you?” Hyunjae nodded yes, and started posing. Juyeon giggled in response, and took some images. “Okay, you can stop posing.”
“I wonder why I didn’t choose the modeling department. Could’ve helped Younghoon with my looks.” Hyunjae sighs, then sips his milkshake.
Juyeon asks, “Actually, talking about Younghoon, do you know why he wasn't able to make it to our hangout?”
“He said he needed Chanhee for his project.” Hyunjae responded, and Juyeon made a silent gasp.
“Choi Chanhee from the modeling department?! But isn’t he known to be busy because of how many people want to take his photos? And sort of strict due to it?”
“I don’t know about the strict part, but the busy part is true. I heard he’s so busy that many people don’t see him unless you share classes with him or know a friend who’s close to him. Wonder what Younghoon did to convince him.” Hyunjae answered, then went back drinking his milkshake. Juyeon hummed and asked Hyunjae, “So you know there will be a performance held by my major tonight right?”
“There is? Sorry Juyeon, university and webtoons keep me distracted enough that I forget that student events are held.”
“Oh, that's okay Hyunjae!” Juyeon said, and went through his pockets. He handed Hyunjae something, and Hyunjae grabbed it. He read ‘Seoul’s Music University Dance Crew. Located at SMU Concert Hall. 21 NOV, 9:00PM. ROW 02, SEAT 11.’
“No way, I sit in the second row?!” Hyunjae asked shockingly, and Juyeon nodded. “Juyeon, you really didn’t have to give me this ticket.”
“I want you to attend Hyunjae, you’re my best friend! I have to have you there, unless you can’t come?” Juyeon said, lying to himself about the ‘you're my best friend’ part.
“I will be able to, just send me a text thirty minutes early so I can arrive on time.”
“I will, should we go? I need to shower, eat early, and bring spares of my clothes.” Juyeon said, and Hyunjae nodded.
———————————————
Hyunjae put on his perfume, and looked at the time on his phone, reading ‘7:55 PM’.
“I’m in the mood for dancin’, romancin’. Ooh, I’m givin’ it all tonight.” Hyunjae sings along to Yuju. His obsession isn’t manhwas, instead it’s kdramas. He watched ‘True Beauty’ and was immediately obsessed with their original soundtracks. The one song that stuck to him immediately was ‘I’m In The Mood For Dancin’. It’s not a usual song choice of his, but it’s probably the rhythm that Hyunjae likes the most.
“Ooh from head to my toes, and take me again.” Hyunjae sang along. He pretends his hairbrush was a microphone and dances along. He twirls, and laughs when he thinks of how amateur his dancing skill is while Juyeon is one of the best in the department. He grabs blue jeans, a grey shirt and sweatshirt, with his beige cardigan. He hears his phone ring, and looks to see Juyeon sent him a message.
“You said you’re coming, so you better (｀_´)ゞ”
Another message pops up.
“Also, this is probably a great time because if you come too late, you will be on a line for too long. Also where you live and the concert hall is like a twenty minute walk, so.”
“I can't wait for your performance, you’ll do great! *\(^o^)/*. And I’m already leaving the house, thanks for the heads up.”
Hyunjae grabs his phone and makes his way to the kitchen, spotting his keys along with his earphones on his fruit basket. He smiled when he saw a pig plushie he went with his friends a while ago. He puts the keys in one of the cardigan pockets, he untangled his earphones, and locked the door. He pulls out his phone and puts the earphone cable to listen to ‘I’m In The Mood For Dancing’ again.
While he walks to the concert hall, he feels the cold breeze passing by him. By no time, he arrives around 8:15 PM. He went to the seat, and went on his phone.
Minutes later he heard, “This is for students to put your phones away. The dance crew will start soon.”
Hyunjae knows the event won’t last long, maybe for an hour. But Juyeon asked for him to be here, and why wouldn’t he go when he attended all of Hyunjae’s busking and on-stage performances?
Once he saw the team, he immediately clapped when he met Juyeon’s eyes. He gave a small smile back, before getting into position. Hyunjae attempted to count how many people were on the dance team— he stopped trying— and though the school is somewhat small, they have a large dance team.
Their first dance they did had a remix of Cardi B’s Drip and Rihanna’s Naughty Girl, and saw Juyeon dancing when drip was slowly transitioning to Naughty Girl.
‘Juyeon really is meant to be a dancer on the stage. The way he shines on stage, he’s born for this.’
The dance crew took two-minute breaks, and then went back to their dancing. It didn’t feel long as the event ended, and in his opinion, the event was too fast. Either way, he got up and noticed Juyeon talking to someone. When Juyeon looks his way, he immediately goes over to hug Hyunjae.
“Dude you stink.” Hyunjae said, and Juyeon giggled. “Of course I wouldn’t smell the best like five hours ago at the café. Anyway, did you enjoy the show?”
“I actually did!” Hyunjae said.
“Well, before you have to go home, would you like to go out with me?” Juyeon said. He’s nervous but hides it.
“We already do, you silly goose!” Hyunjae said, and Juyeon was dumbfounded by his response. He clears his throat and tries to elaborate on his words. “I meant like an actual date.”
“Oh.” Hyunjae said, making Juyeon think it worked. “Well sure! I need to study for a test that’s coming up. Maybe I can ask Kevin for us to join along with his study date with Jacob!”
Juyeon dryly laughs. “Of course! Can't wait for our study date with Jacob and Kevin!”
“That’s great, I’ll text him and see if we can meet tomorrow afternoon.”
“Sounds fantastic.”
“I’ll talk to you later then hyung!” Hyunjae said, and when he left, Juyeon only had one thing to think.
‘God, why am I in love with a dense boy.’
———————————————
Dumbfounded is probably the right word to use for Juyeon.
“How does asking someone equal to me wanting to study? Even worse, it’s Kevin and Jacob, they are in their newlywed era in their relationship.” Juyeon complained to Younghoon.
“I don’t even know why you’re complaining. At least he didn’t say no.” Younghoon responded.
“It’s more like he interpreted it as me wanting to study. I don’t mind studying, but I just want to go on a date. Is that too much to ask for?”
“Well, just attend the study session and try again! Say it more directly. Like, flatter him on his eyes, his lips, his hair—the way he parts his hair. Actually, just say you love him.”
“Are you quoting a TikTok meme?”
“To be fair, it’s true to some degree.”
“YOUNGHOON!” Juyeon yelled and Younghoon laughed loudly.
“Younghoon, I’m here!” Juyeon heard from the background, and met Younghoon’s eyes, and he hung up.
——————————————————
The next day, Juyeon received a message from Hyunjae saying that he, Kevin, and Jacob will be at the library in the afternoon. So, Juyeon arrived ten minutes before the clock stricks 12 pm. He places his backpack down on the ground, grabs his laptop and headphones, and listens to ‘I’m In The Mood For Dancing’ while starting his work.
Minutes go by, and Juyeon feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns around to see Hyunjae smiling.
‘God that man is beautiful’.
He turns his music down, with Hyunjae sitting next to Juyeon conversing themselves into small talk.
“Hope you didn’t wait too long for me. Jacob and Kevin are coming in a couple of minutes.”
“Don’t worry Hyunjae, I didn’t wait for too long. I just got started with my work.”
“I’m glad. Let’s start on our work then.”
When Jacob and Kevin arrived, they immediately went into ‘couple mode’ as Juyeon likes to call it. They are holding hands, glancing at each other, and looking away when one of them makes a sudden movement, it’s just cringe to Juyeon. Or it could be the fact that he wants to do that to Hyunjae, but the chance for Hyunjae to notice doesn’t work.
When Kevin and Jacob left, Juyeon and Hyunjae were left behind. Juyeon turns around, breathes in and out, ready to get his ego hurt again. He pats Hyunjae's shoulder, and hums.
“Hyunjae, you look really nice today.” Juyeon says.
“Thanks, Juyeon. You also look great today.”
“When you’re done with your work, do you want to see the movies with me? I have two tickets for us to watch the romantic movie that came out a while back.” Juyeon asks, and Hyunjae nods.
They arrived at the movie theater. And if there is anything Juyeon learned about living for twenty-three years is that he and Hyunjae are ‘pretty guys’. There’s nothing wrong with being a ‘pretty boy’, but he always hated when people stared at him. So he takes out his phone and pretends that he’s looking at something but he’s only looking at a black screen because his phone died earlier.
All he can think about is what if Hyunjae buys one cup of popcorn, and they accidently touch hands. Just the thought of that makes Juyeon blush. He looks up in time to see Hyunjae carrying two small buckets of popcorn. “I had a coupon where I’ll get two free popcorns within this week, so I took advantage.”
‘I should’ve just paid the popcorn myself, so I could live out my dream.’
“Yay!” Juyeon said, faking his enthusiasm. “Let’s go to our seats since the line took too long.”
“Alright then.” Juyeon and Hyunjae went inside room 011 and saw people talking, acting lovey-dovey until he realized, “Don’t tell me you accidently bought ourselves a couple’s seat.”
“I think I did, the attendee just recommended it for me, and it was cheaper so…’ Hyunjae’s voice trails off.
“Well, let’s sit then?” Juyeon sits on the couch, and looks at Hyunjae, motioning himself to sit at the couch. “It’s so comfortable!”
Hyunjae nods as they both get comfortable on the couch. Juyeon wasn’t sure, but he’s sure he heard someone said, “Look at those two boys, that’s how we were when we went on our first date.” Juyeon blushes as he looks to see the theater becoming dark. He silenced his phone, starts eating his popcorn while glancing at Hyunjae every couple of minutes.
——————————————————
“Wow, that movie was great!” Hyunjae said. “It’s so cheesy but like, in a good way.”
“I agree with that statement.” Juyeon said, and Hyunjae laughed. “I’m really not used to you talking like that.”
“Talking like what?” Juyeon asked, trying to play dumb.
“Playing dumb isnt your strongest, I see.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, nothing!”
“HYUNJAE!” Juyeon whispered-yelled. “Well, I really enjoyed today. We were able to study and have some fun.”
“Me too.”
There was a comfortable silence between them until Juyeon broke the silence. “We really should do this, but as a date.”
“But we already went on a date.”
“But I mean an actual date, like us going to the zoo and eating at a restaurant.”
“Of course we can do that! Let’s do that tomorrow since we both only have two early morning classes!”
“You mean it as a date, right?”
“A hangout silly! We aren’t a couple going on dates.”
Despite Hyunjae saying this, he feels like he can’t give up just yet. “Right, let’s go tomorrow then.”
“Good! I have to meet up with Kevin and Jacob unless you want to come along?”
“I’m good, thanks. I need to read my manhwas and sleep.” Juyeon said and Hyunjae nodded and left.