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“Shuji~” Jeonghan called his friend cutely by his own-invented nickname across the dressing room. He just finished his first solo part in today’s photoshoot and needed some attention. Yet, the black hair vocalist got only a small hum in reply. “Hmm. What’re you looking at?” He whined while walking toward his friend. “Look at me, Shuji~”
Joshua didn’t look up from what he was watching on his phone; nonetheless, he felt the older man walking closer so he shifted his position on the long sofa to silently tell Jeonghan where to sit. The second oldest of the group complied. He flopped down on the black cushion and rested his head on the younger one’s shoulder.
“Oh. Jeonghan. Please. Don’t. Your hair’s gonna be a mess.” He protested but didn’t do anything to get rid of the weight on his left shoulder.
“It’s okay.” Jeonghan spoke casually. “Noona’s going to style it again later, anyway.”
“Don’t add works to them, will you?”
“Oh come on, Joshuji. I didn’t get anything on my hair except that mist and two drops of water spray after I got my hair done this morning.” Jeonghan moved his hand up to remove his tied and unbutton the first three buttons from his shirt. It’s cold. It’s still in winter. But the heater in the room was doing its job perfectly. “She will put a lot on my next shoot.”
“With me?” Another vocalist of the group asked, eyes still glued on the phone.
“Yeah. Maybe with Cheol too. And the three of us, of course.”
Joshua nodded at the information. Today, they-- the three eldest of the group-- have a photoshoot for a February issue of one magazine. It’s rare for them to have a work together. They tended to have unit schedules more.
“Where’s Cheol? Is he doing his solo shoot now?”
“Umm.” Jeonghan hummed. He closed his eyes to take a rest. His body got used to work from morning to evening, or even to practice until late night. However, he still wanted to rest during the day as much as he could. Joshua already did his first solo part. “Lower your shoulder a bit. Shuji~”
“Are you going to nap like this?” Even in his dazed state, Joshua still complied to Jeonghan’s request. He shifted to hold the phone with only his right hand.
“Yes.” The older vocalist slurred; voice heavy with tiredness.
“Won’t it be better to lie down?” Joshua nudged to the other side of the sofa. It was so long that Jeonghan could lie down without getting his feet on Joshua’s lap. There’s no reply nor any movement from the black hair vocalist. “Jeonghan-a. Your neck will be stiffed later.”
“It’s comfy here.” His same age friend murmured in response to his nag, yet, Jeonghan didn’t bother to move any bit. “You know very well that I can sleep on your shoulder all night and wake up cool and fresh.”
It’s a half-truth half-lie remark. Both of them knew that.
Jeonghan can sleep on Joshua’s shoulder all night and wake up cool and fresh, mentally. Not physically. There was a time when they had to wait for hours for the next schedule or for the set to be ready. Not many places have a long sofa like this so they always ended up sleeping on each other’s body. And, out of everyone in the group, Jeonghan loves Joshua’s shoulders (or sometimes lap) the most.
He loves Joshua. In a more-than-friend way. With their works and careers, he has to keep it as a secret, keep it inside his heart, cover it with his playful acts and teases. His closet friend (exclude Joshua) in the group knew. He’s not good at being subtle anyway (that’s how Seungcheol told him).
There’s no further conversation between them. Jeonghan’s breathing sound slowly subsided into somewhere near when the older man actually fell asleep. His hands lay naturally on his own lap, tie in one of his hands. Joshua’s attention was still on his phone, but the volume of the video was lowered. So low that Jeonghan almost didn’t hear anything apart from Joshua’s steady beating heart.
He smiled to himself. Joshua always cares him and cares for him. He did those to other members as well. Yet, the gestures are different. He feels the difference. He’s sure other members feel it too.
There’re little pats and taps on Jeonghan’s need-more-styling hair from Joshua’s free hand, lulling him to sleep. Corners of his lips curved up more; he almost grinned at this point. He couldn’t help putting on a poker face. Affectionate gestures from his best friend always make his heart bloom.
Jeonghan moved closer to Joshua a bit. His breath now fanned on Joshua’s neck. The ash brown hair vocalist wore a wide collar black shirt for his solo shoot so Jeonghan’s hot breath touched Joshua’s tan skin. It’s ticklish. It’s familiar. Joshua craned his neck to the side when he chuckled at whatever he was watching. That action made Jeonghan’s nose almost touched his cheek. Joshua didn’t jolt or back away with the closeness. He just sat there, doing whatever he likes, being a human pillow for his best friend to rest, relaxing in Jeonghan’s scent.
They are so close, and Jeonghan likes that. He loves how they are so comfortable with each other’s presence. How they fit so perfectly in each other’s circle. Jeonghan soon drifted into the dreamland.
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“Thank you for your hard work.” Jeonghan bowed to the director and staffs. “Thank you for taking care of us the whole day.” He bowed again and again in different directions to thank all of the people who took part in today’s photoshoot.
He was the last one to finish the second part of the solo shoot. After the nap he had on Joshua’s shoulder, there were couple shots of Joshua and Seungcheol. Then, it’s couple shots of Joshua and him. The three of them (in different clothes). Joshua’s second solo shoot. Couple shots of him and Seungcheol, and lastly his second solo shoot (apparently he had a good nap because Seungcheol took two parts of his solo shot continuously)
Now, when he finished shooting, he could call it a day. Jeonghan bowed again while taking off his coat and handing it to the stylist. He went into the dressing room to change back to his own clothes. The black hair vocalist stopped his track when he saw his best friend slept on the sofa, leaning his ash brown hair on the armrest. It looked uncomfortable.
Seungcheol had other works tonight so he’s gone since his shoot was finished. Joshua finished before that; thus, the manager offered to drop Joshua at their dorm, as it was on the way to Seungcheol’s next schedule. It’s Jeonghan’s turn to shoot so he didn’t catch the answer. He felt good that Joshua was willing to wait for him to go back together. He also felt bad to let Joshua wait for so long. The younger vocalist should have sleep soundly at their dorm rather than waiting for him here.
“Shua.” He tapped his friend’s shoulder. Joshua shifted slightly but didn’t open his eyes. “Wake up, sleeping beauty. I’m done.”
“Hmm.” Joshua opened his eyes but didn’t move to sit up. Jeonghan assumed that he was still half-asleep. “Are you finish?”
“Yeah. Let head home.”
Joshua nodded slightly. He got up, but the dizziness of early night nap got him down. His vision black and he needed to close his eyes. The ash brown vocalist lost balance and stumbled forward, into Jeonghan’s waiting embrace. He knew Joshua might dizzy. Despite their irregular sleep pattern, a short nap has never been Joshua’s good friend.
“Thank you.” Joshua mumbled, leaning into Jeonghan’s lean arms.
“You’re always welcome.”
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“Do you want me turn off the music?”
Jeonghan glanced up from his phone when he heard the manager’s voice. There had been silence in the car (apart from the slow ballad music). He was sitting at the far back seat so he didn’t catch what the manage said.
“Yes, hyung?”
“Do you want me to turn off the music?” The manager asked again when the car reached traffic. His eyes signaled to the youngest one here who rest his head on Jeonghan’s shoulder.
The black hair vocalist looked at Joshua fondly. Normally, they would sit on the first row to have their own seat when having a ride. Today might be a long day for Joshua as the latter requested to sit at the long back seat. Jeonghan didn’t follow. It wouldn’t be much space if he sat there too.
Yet, Joshua shifted continuously like he couldn’t find a perfect place to sleep. So Jeonghan moved there to be a human pillow for him. Like a magic, Joshua slept a moment after Jeonghan’s hand hugged his waist. Jeonghan’s jacket covered him like a blanket.
“No need to, hyung. He already fell asleep.”
“He must be tired. He rarely sleeps on the car.”
“Umm.” Jeonghan nodded. They were very busy with the award shows and year-end performances. “Why don’t you drop him home earlier?” He asked.
“He wanted to wait for you. He said that you would do it too if he was the last one to finish.” The manager laughed affectionately at the bond his kids have.
Jeonghan couldn’t help but smile widely. He would. He definitely would.
Almost an hour later, the car parked at their dorm’s parking lots. Joshua woke up at the same time like his body set an alarm.
“Why’re you smiling? What’re you watching?” The younger vocalist leaned closer to look at the phone in Jeonghan’s hand. “A rabbit?”
“Isn’t it cute?”
“So cute.” Jeonghan giggled at how Joshua’s eyes twinkled at the scene of the rabbit swimming. “I’ve never known rabbits can swim.”
“Me too."
“Send it to me. I’ll show my mom.”
“I can send it to her for you.”
“Don’t try to be my mom’s favorite.” Joshua jokingly narrowed his eyes. “You can’t beat me.”
“Then, what’s about trying to be yours?”
“What?”
“Your favorite.”
“Hmm.” The ash brown vocalist hummed teasingly. Grinned on his face, showing off his small bunny teeth. Cuter than the rabbit he has seen. Joshua sat up. The jacket on his body moved downward. “You don’t have to try.”
“Isn’t that mean I am your favorite?” Jeonghan asked with fake innocent eyes. He knows he is.
Joshua put the jacket on his lap on Jeonghan’s shoulder. He put his own coat on top of it. He’s perfectly fine with this temperature. The older man always gets cold easily.
“Only when you don’t tease me.” He got off the car first, feeling the cold winter breeze.
“You can’t hide your smile and that cute loving bunny teeth when I tease you, Shua.” Jeonghan got off after. “I know you like it, Shuji~”
“Maybe” He tilted his head back to look at the older man. Jeonghan quickened his steps to walk side by side with his best friend.
The night was silence. The atmosphere was comfortable. The smiles on their faces. The feelings inside their hearts.
Everything is perfect.
The love is perfect.
Just like this.