Chapter Text
Changbin was late for practice and he knew Minho Hyung would kill him. It wasn't like he came too late to their practice often but Minho Hyung texted them earlier that today was a special day. Changbin cursed under his breath and opened the door to the dance studio. He greeted the young woman at the reception and ran up the stairs. Carefully but still with strength he knocked on the door to their regular practice room then he let himself in. The first one he saw was Minho-Hyung who looked at him with a glance he couldn't quite identify but he was still kinda terrified.
"I'm sorry for being late, Hyung", he muttered, bowing lightly. Eventhough Changbin and Minho were best friends for several years now, he was still the leader of their little dance group.
"You are always on time, why do you have to be late today out of all the day?", he hissed angrily. Changbin swallowed hard as he heard Minhos voice. He decided to say no more and just let himself fall down next to Jeongin and Seungmin.
"It's not your fault. Hyung was already stressed when I came here and I was about 20 minutes too early", Seungmin whispered into Changbins ear. It made him feel better. Just a tiny bit but it made him feel not as guilty. Still he wondered why Minho was in such a bad mood.
"Alright, I think now everyone is present, right?" Changbins head snapped around towards the man that was standing near the sound system. It was the owner of the dance studio, Mr. Choi, and also their old dance teacher but now that they were all grown ups they didn't have dance lessons with him anymore.
"That is right." For a second Changbins eyes got wide the moment he recognised the voice. His eyes drifted towards the other side of the room. A bit away from the practice room door sat another group of four men. He was so focused on not getting a kick in the ass from Minho that he didn't notice them at all. For a moment he stared at them. He couldn't help but wonder why they were here. Not just the others but all of them. Mr. Choi knew that both dance groups couldnt be in the same room peacefully. Changbin held back a sigh and looked again toward the middle aged man. He was more than curious to learn why they were here.
"Thank you, Hyunjin", he said and gave him a smile. "I already talked with Hyunjin and Minho a bit about what I will tell you now." Changbin was starting to feel nervous. What was this all about? His glance travelled towards the other side of the studio. For a moment he met eyes with Hyunjin and he nearly rolled his eyes. It was not like he hated Hyunjin. Changbin just found him annoying sometimes. He couldn't help it. Maybe it was all because of the revality between the two dance groups but he couldn't tell. Changbin didn't even notice that he was still staring at Hyunjin but Hyunjin did.
"What the hell is he doing?", Hyunjin muttered, which attracted Jisungs attention. The younger one looked at his Hyung.
"Just ignore him. His brain is probably all empty." On Hyunjins lips a smirk grew as he thought about it.
"Probably ", he replied, which made Jisung laugh a little.
"Like I said, I told Hyunjin and Minho already that my studio got the chance to send one dance group to a TV show", Mr. Choi said with a wide smile. Meanwhile Changbins mouth fell open. That was a really big chance for them.
"That sounds amazing", he whispered, Seungmin and Jeongin agreeing with light nods. They were also very surprised. But the next words spoken by Mr. Choi cushioned their excitement.
"Both of your dance groups are really good and I'm sure you could win the show but I won't decide which one of you will go. You are all grown up so I want you to discuss which group will go. I'm also open to new constellations." Changbin was too shocked to even say anything. His glance kept wandering between Mr. Choi and the dance group of Hyunjin. He knew they would never back away. This opportunity was just too good.
"You will have time to find a conclusion till the end of the month." Both Hyunjin and Minho stood up and bowed to him. Still in shock, Changbin watched how Mr. Choi leaves the eight young men alone in the studio. For a moment the studio was quiet.
Hyunjin looked at Minho.
"I think we can agree that my team will go to the tv show. We are better than you", he said with his chin up high and a self-confident smile but all Minho could do was laugh.
"I didn't know you were good at making jokes", Minho fired back, crossing his arms while he looked like he was about to fry Hyunjin alive.
"I'm not joking! We are better than you."
"I guess you need to clean your ears again because Mr. Choi said both groups are equally good", Seungmin hissed, getting up and standing next to Minho.
"Don't speak so disrespectfully with someone that's older than you", Hyunjin said with anger in his eyes.
"Then imagine I said it instead", Changbin replied while he stared with half closed eyes at Hyunjin. For some people he might have looked intimidating but not for Hyunjin. Alright maybe a little but he couldn't show that Changbin.
"Hyung please do something", Felix whispered near Chan's ear, while he looked back and forth between Hyunjin and Minho, Changbin and Seungmin. Felix never really understood the revality between their two dance groups. Chan let out a sigh, looked at the younger one and patted Felix's thigh lightly. He stood up, walked towards Hyunjin and softly put a hand on the younger one's shoulder.
"What do you want, Hyung?", Hyunjin asked, still deep into the confrontation with the other men.
"Fighting gets us nowhere", Chan muttered and then also looked at Minho with serious eyes.
"You are right Hyung", Minho said. Even though Chan and Minho were in different dance groups they were quite close. Hyunjin was still staring at his Hyung, not believing what he just did. He let out a little "tsk" but kept quiet.
"We need to find another way."
"I know something!", Jisung nearly screamed, while he jumped up and down in excitement. Changbin barely held back his smile.
"And that would be?", Minho asked, eying the younger one suspiciously. Jisung on the other side smiled even wider.
"Okay, okay listen to me. Two out of the groups are gonna try to make the other one fall in love. Whoever makes the other one fall for them wins and that team will go to the tv show." Jisung looked very proud of his idea, Jeongin on the other side just started to giggle while Minho was shaking his head slightly.
"Sounds good."
"Sounds good? Hyunjin, it sounds good? Are you nuts?", Chan hissed, grabbing the shoulder of the younger one harder.
"What? I'm gonna win anyways", Hyunjins said confidently. Changbin was surprised by Hyunjins action. How could he be so confident? "Which of you will try against me?"
"Hyunjin this isn't a game", Chan muttered but was ignored. Hyunjin just looked at Minho, still waiting whether the older one would agree with such an idea.
Minho himself glanced towards Changbin, who didn't noticed the glance at first but then shook his head intensely.
"Why me?"
"Because Jeongin is too young for this and Seungmin is Seungmin, he would never get someone to fall in love so quickly. He is more like the one you fall in love with over the years but then it would be forever."
"I'm 21, Hyung. I'm not a baby anymore", Jeongin pouted.
And what about you, Hyung?" Changbin didn't want to do that.
"I would do it but", Minho stopped for a second and bit his lower lip. "But I already like someone." Changbin stared back at Minho and was just speechless. Why has he never told Changbin?
"So will you do it?" His head snapped towards Hyunjin who was looking at him with a little smirk. He looked so confident about winning that Changbins mouth betrayed him.
"Yes I will", he stated.
"Please overthink this one more time", Chan tried to change their minds one last time but it was hopeless. He let out a frustrated hum and then walked back to Felix who was still sitting against the wall observing everything.
"This will clearly backfire", he muttered and fell down next to Felix who immediately side hugged him.
"It probably will. We just don't know for which side", Felix muttered.
"Alright then everything is clear. We will start tomorrow", Hyunjin decided. Hesitantly Changbin nodded. He had this strange feeling in his stomach that everything would end up in a mess but he also wouldn't let Hyunjin win this easily. Performing in the tv show could mean the beginning of something big and he knew how hard Minho worked the past few years for such an opportunity.
Hyunjin backed away and went, followed by Jisung, to Felix and Chan.
"Let's go and start practicing. I hope the studio I booked is still free. We are 15 minutes late." Not even a minute later they left the studio.
For a moment Minho closed his eyes, rubbed over them and let out a little sigh.
"Don't get nervous, Hyung. Changbin Hyung will make him fall easily", Jeongin tried to comfort the older one.
"Who wouldn't fall in love with Changbin Hyung? I mean at least when they don't like someone else already." Minho gave them all a light smile.
"Thanks for doing it", he said and patted Changbins shoulder.
"I hope I will not regret it", Changbin laughed nervously and looked down towards his shoes. But then his eyes fell on the older one.
"But when did you plan to tell me that you like someone?" Changbin said, with a smirk he couldn't hold back, how Minho's ears started to redden up.
"Let's start practice. We already lost nearly 20 minutes because of this." Changbin held back a sigh and nodded.
"Tell me when you are ready, Hyung", he said, softly smiling at Minho. He knew Minho would tell him someday and he would wait patiently.
"Alright let's go."