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Jeongin loved his candy store more than he loved Minho, that was a fact. But sometimes he loved Minho too.
That stupid day they accidentally got married was always a persecution for him, Minho instead seemed to have given up. His stupid coffee shop, his stupid smile and his stupid idea to share a place, Jeongin sort of hated him these days, even if they started as such good friends.
.
The problem was that he was too drunk to remember what happened, he only remembered how Minho was about to marry the worst person for him and while Minho finally opened his mouth to confess how he knew the other cheated on him, Jeongin was half drunk. When Minho cried in his arms knowing full well the ceremony was about to start, even without the other groom, they were both wasted. And for some reason, talking and speaking, Jeongin didn’t remember anything till the next day when he woke up in a hotel room, still fully dressed in black with Minho next to him dressed in white and it was done, they got married. And Jeongin thought that was the weirdest accident of his life.
.
The reason why he hated Minho was fucking simple: that charming prince. A prince in their city, one that loved to eat and visit places that sold food. He loved sweets, he loved coffee and he loved to smile.
He was delicate, he had such a round face and maybe that was Jeongin’s impression but he also loved to flirt. The problem was, he flirted with Minho too.
Which should be ok but Jeongin was slowly getting attached to him. Being married to the other man your love interest flirted with wasn’t really the best.
It wasn’t Jisung’s fault, he had every right to do however he pleased but Jeongin truly hoped to leave an impression on the prince, for the simple reason that his toothy grin while he ate candies was the sweetest (probably tasted the sweetest too).
But the prince also loved bitter coffee in the morning and pastries and Jeongin was not selling those so he had to wait for Jisung to be back from that dumb coffee shop after a big breakfast to buy snacks. And the way Jisung always greeted him happily and with interest made Jeongin’s stomach tighten every time.
Jisung was a charming prince, no one could deny it. And he dressed so simply, he didn’t really get the people’s attention and even when he did, no one usually recognized him.
But Jeongin and Minho knew who he was and sometimes that felt overwhelming as an information, but mostly because Jeongin adored him so much he thought it definitely had to do with Jisung being a prince. Usually Jeongin didn’t care about that stuff but Jisung was so sweet and maybe it had to do with the fact he was royal, Jeongin wasn’t sure, but he was so fascinating.
Jisung made him forget he was married and he couldn’t openly flirt with him all the time, he made him feel like he was so into a new relationship that his heart seemed to tremble when he saw Jisung enter his shop.
Although he had to admit being married to Minho brought lots of advantages to both, especially when it came to insurances and stuff, probably the only reason they didn’t divorce or shit, it definitely ruined that friendship they used to have.
-———-———-
The day usually started well since all sorts of kids invaded his shop, but Jeongin was bored before Jisung entered through that door.
And right when he got inside, it was the best time of the day.
Jisung was never alone, but Jeongin didn’t even notice the bodyguards.
He loved so many candies, he chose them with such precision like he truly cared and he enjoyed especially the strawberry and sour ones.
And he kept asking Jeongin so many questions he probably knew the answer to, but Jeongin was always glad to answer again and again.
“I will try to see if I prefer lemon or lime more,” Jisung said after paying, “but suggest to me your favorites.”
His favorites were definitely the sweetest kind, like gummy bears and lollipops. It was his way to tell someone he liked them, with sweets. Somehow he always did that and Minho did the same, maybe that was why he flirted with his husband too.
“Maybe try them first.” Jeongin leaned on the counter, dreamy eyes at him that were matched with Jisung’s expression, all focused on Jeongin – and Jesus, they felt like burning his skin.
“ Oh , I will,” Jisung nodded softly, hand slowly sliding to where Jeongin’s was, “everything you want.”
God , Jeongin wanted to get close to him so badly, to hold that hand and not only feel Jisung’s hands linger on his while he handed him the card back.
Push and pull, it was so exhausting considering how easily they could simply get closer and–
“Hope you enjoy them.”
“I will,” Jisung repeated, “I will think of you and this place, hope you will too when you eat this.”
And then he slipped a lollipop on the counter, one that he chose at first and Jeongin took it to look at it, blinking in surprise and gaping for words. The giggle Jisung let out was sort of smug, he was smug and Jeongin wanted to taste that smug mouth.
When he was ready to go, he winked at him and after that, Jeongin felt ready to scream. Jisung truly did a finger gun in his direction and licked his lips, waving goodbye with a radiant smile, fuck , Jeongin was so gone for him.
Meeting Minho’s eyes from the other side of the street felt horrid somehow, but for no real reason except the fact it felt like something was wrong between them.
They both liked him – for what Jeongin knew at least – and Jisung did too, Jeongin was sure. But they kept saying around that they were still happily married, which was such a big fat lie.
Everyday Jeongin hoped to not be married to Minho, even with all those benefits, was it even worth it after so long?
-———-———-
Today had been a mess so far but nothing made it worse than the fact he didn’t see Jisung all day. And yesterday either – even if maybe it was because he kept the shop open for less hours since it was the weekend. In all these months though, Jisung never missed going there every single day, even if only to buy a lollipop.
First he waited in the morning, then he hoped Jisung would be there at some point during the afternoon, but he didn’t show up. And he was getting a little worried because three days in a row was a lot.
And he couldn’t take it anymore staying inside his shop so he decided to step out.
The air of July was suffocating, but at least it was getting cooler now that it was almost time for dinner. Him and Minho didn’t eat together usually and they had different meal times, he wondered what he’d make himself for dinner and also how, such a dumb irony of his life, he never considered smoking till now that he was stressed and people walked around with cigarettes.
Then Minho crossed the street.
Fuck Minho.
But also, Jesus , he needed Minho.
He sighed next to him, looking up and then meeting Jeongin’s eyes like he was in pain.
And Jeongin was just about to get back inside when Minho opened his mouth to talk
“It’s been days…”
Huh?
“Wait…” Jeongin stopped in his steps, turning to Minho, “he didn’t go to yours?”
Minho tilted his head up, suddenly surprised by the other’s words, “why would he? He liked you more.”
“No, no,” Jeongin frowned, “not at all, he was always around you, I thought he stayed in your shop and then went home.”
“No, I haven’t seen him in a couple good days…”
And he didn’t tell Jeongin… why were they even sharing an apartment?
“I think we’ll close for today, since no one is coming inside anymore.” Minho said again, turning away to go.
And Jeongin felt encouraged to do the same because he wasn’t waiting for anyone else.
Walking home together was so weird, the silence between them was so loud till one of them started talking, and Jeongin didn’t remember who because now they were on the verge of fighting at the door of their apartment.
“You kept this away from me to make me feel bad or something.” Jeongin said, voice raising and then realizing how much damage it will create.
“Listen, it’s not my fault, you always think I ruined all this but–”
It was late.
“Drop it,” Jeongin suddenly said, sighing and looking down, he was in no mood to fight, “let’s go inside, today is over, I miss him and no one else is coming.”
Minho nodded softly, he seemed so sad.
The house was too hot, but they could open a couple windows and let it cool down. At least till dinner, because when Minho cooked, he intoxicated the whole place.
“At least you could tell me.” Jeongin said right after shower, but he swore he only wanted to tell him how hurt he was.
Jisung was flirting with both, he knew it, and he suddenly stopped coming to his place and apparently he didn’t go to the cafe either and now his literal husband played him when he knew he adored Jisung.
Minho sighed exaggeratedly and Jeongin braced himself. They didn’t discuss, they argued till ignoring each other for days.
Home was where they fought the most.
And of course, they were fighting again now.
Fuck.
“Listen Jeongin, it’s not my fault he’s not spending that much time with you,” Minho argued back, “he’s not attached to my hip or my counter either, he sits in a corner eating his cheesecake–”
“You always take from me.” Jeongin didn’t mean that but… it was what he felt right now. Minho took so much space in his life and now he took Jisung’s attention too, all the time.
“I don’t, it’s not my fault.”
Minho repeating that as if he didn’t start all that mess after they both willingly decided to keep that marriage on and they started fighting the worst when they shared a space as husbands.
Fuck.
“It’s never your fault, but we always fight because you never admit when you do something wrong.”
Fuck, Jeongin was crying.
He didn’t want to cry, not in front of Minho but now he kept going and he covered his face, looking away from Minho before the other could talk back.
But he didn’t.
Those harsh words Jeongin expected never came and instead Minho only walked towards him and slowly hugged him.
Jeongin broke down in those arms.
Shit, he missed that so much.
They used to be so close and so affectionate and that stupid accident of a marriage ruined them, especially when they thought they would be fine. And they clearly weren’t.
“Ok, I understand,” Minho murmured in his ear, arms around his neck, “please, don't cry Jeonginnie .”
“Don’t–” Jeongin hiccuped, “don’t call me that.”
“I’m sorry, for everything,” Minho detached, but only to wipe Jeongin’s tears away with his thumbs, “truly, I didn’t mean to hurt you like this, never.”
Minho slowly pulled Jeongin down on their couch, wiping his tears away and caressing his face gently till Jeongin eventually stopped crying and shaking in his arms.
“Calmer now?”
He was, Minho was such a safe space and it was so fucking unfair.
“You like him so much Jeongin but you’re not the only one, because I like him too.”
Jeongin hummed, he imagined it but to hear it was completely different.
So they were married and pining over the same man?
A prince nonetheless?
What a weird situation they were in.
When he calmed down, they finally started talking properly and it felt ok, like coming home.
“Do you ever want to squish his cheeks?”
Jeongin bit back a laugh, getting next to Minho on the sofa, it was the closest they’ve been in months and Jeongin didn’t hate it, “I do, he’s adorable.”
“I used to think you’re that type of adorable too.”
“I’m not that round anymore.”
“To me you still are and will always be,” Minho mused, but softly, then whispered, “adorable, I mean.”
Jeongin looked at him and for a moment was left with nothing to say.
Minho did… did he… what was he even saying?
Jeongin gaped for a moment and Minho only smiled, leaning closer and placing his hand over Jeongin’s, a warm and slightly sweaty one that only by touching it Jeongin felt the need to jolt.
But Minho’s smile only grew into a half grin, “don’t pretend like you didn’t notice.”
Did Jeongin notice?
He wasn’t sure, but for a moment Minho’s soft eyes got him shaky and Jeongin scooted closer, “I didn’t.”
Minho blinked eloquently, but he didn’t seem as surprised as he pretended to be showing through that insignificant gesture, “can you start noticing now?”
Jeongin hummed, taking Minho’s hand and for a moment, having the other close was so perfect.
Maybe that stupid marriage didn’t ruin things, they got so close and Jeongin supposed their lost friendship was coming back flourishing.
No.
Jeongin didn’t expect that to happen, because the moment Minho giggled in his shirt and Jeongin tugged at his wrist to pull him closer, his first instinct screamed at him to kiss Minho, not only hold him.
-———-———-
The next day was weird, because probably neither of them slept and they were so tired at work.
They waited but again, at some point Jeongin closed the store because except for the fewer kids around, no one went inside and definitely not Jisung.
He met with Minho shortly after and it seemed so unreal to see him through slightly rosy lenses, red cheeks and an adorable smile as he reached for Jeongin’s hand and pulled him down on a bench.
Minho quitted smoking a few months ago, he was so bored now and he kept playing with Jeongin’s fingers in his attempt to distract himself for the intense urge to actually start shaking his leg in that obsessive way Jeongin hate and all that, Jeongin could tell all that just by looking at him, he was getting too used to Minho now, fuck .
It was mostly the way Minho smiled at him, it reminded Jeongin of when he was truly convinced he was in love with him and now he was sure that feeling was coming back, stronger.
They were staring at each other at some point and Jeongin would be damned to guess which one of them surged in first, thing was, their lips brushed against each other once, then twice and they stayed locked.
All that time lost arguing and being distant and Jeongin found himself kissing Minho like it was always meant to happen.
The kiss was soft but lips were definitely slowly parting to get more intense and Jeongin fought the urge to pull Minho closer. And he lost because the next second, fingers clenched around the shirt and apron he still had on and if it wasn’t for someone coughing in front of them, Jeongin could have made that an indecent show for the streets.
Jeongin looked up first, trying to recognize the figure in front of them. He looked familiar but only when Minho turned to him, Jeongin realized who he was.
“Chan…”
The man coughed again and Jeongin finally put the pieces together: he was Jisung’s bodyguard, right?
“The prince wants to see you both.”
-———-———-
Jeongin wished he had changed his clothes but he was too busy looking out of the window of the most chic limousine he had ever seen like it was the first time seeing his town.
There was a castle just a couple miles away and he didn’t know about it before.
And oh it looked so gorgeous from afar, such a dreamy structure and golden details on a big door guarded by a couple people.
That looked so pretty, going inside was like stepping into a different world, full of royals. They looked around like it was a fairytale, Jeongin couldn’t believe there was such a royal estate in their town.
“Jisung is waiting for you in the dinner haul.”
A dinner haul?
What was even that?
Jeongin looked at Minho with a confused frown and the other, just to calm himself down probably, took Jeongin’s hand and squeezed it, following the bodyguard inside a large room, the ceiling so high Jeongin almost felt dizzy looking up.
The windows were so big, it might be cool to live like a royal there. And enjoy balls as well, Jeongin wasn’t sure those were still a thing.
He decided to stop looking around when his eyes caught a man on a chair that vaguely looked like their prince and it seemed to be truly Jisung when he greeted them from afar.
He looked sort of sick though, now that they got near him to see him. Oh, Jeongin missed him so much. Jisung looked a tad pale, but he seemed to be able to stand.
“I’m sorry,” Jisung started with those words first, inviting them to sit next to him, “I’m just in a poor state because of an indigestion and now I got feverish.”
Oh, that explained why he suddenly disappeared.
“Did you eat something wrong?” Minho asked gently.
“It might be that I’m allergic to dairy and I forgot to take my pills,” Jisung explained with a soft voice, sitting at the table comfortably and Chan leaving his side to give them privacy, “I had a very wrong breakfast a few days ago, I should have come to your cafe but I had stuff to do and I couldn’t be there in time for breakfast and… shit happens, I guess.”
“I’m sorry.” Jeongin said, he felt so bad for him, he had been suffering from sickness for the past few days.
“It’s fine, I truly wanted to see you two, so badly.”
“Oh?” Minho tilted his head at that, surprised, just as much and Jeongin was, “how so?”
“Yea,” Jeongin interjected, “I thought you might want to see Minho but not truly me… I mean yea but–”
“I like you both so much,” Jisung cut him off suddenly, not looking at any of them but instead playing with some food in his plate he didn’t get to finish apparently, “it’s a little out of the blue to say, I know.”
Wow.
Wait… he liked them?
“I found out you were married and I truly wanted to stop flirting with you both but I just couldn’t, you also seemed to not hate it but…” Jisung continued, a bitter chuckle going past his lips right after, “I got sick and I couldn’t confront you seriously about my feelings and today I just couldn’t wait anymore.”
Oh!
Jeongin snorted, he didn’t mean to do that but he found all that so amusing.
Jisung liked them, god it felt so good to know, it was like everything was suddenly ok. It wasn’t just baseless flirting, it was more than that.
A prince flirting with them… it sounded surreal.
Minho chuckled as well, taken aback by Jisung’s words and the prince got red, embarrassed and right when he was about to excuse himself or find a way to apologize for that, Jeongin stopped him, placing his hand over Jisung’s.
“Jisung, we like you both.”
It felt so liberating to say it, after months or playing around it.
Jisung’s eyes comically widened, then he turned his head to Minho, looking for confirmation.
“Wait… truly?”
“Yes,” Minho nodded, “and you can keep flirting with us, and we’re always happy to see you.”
For a moment Minho made eye contact with Jeongin and the other smiled, because he was ok with that, he was finally happier to know things would settle better, among all three of them.
“I want to stop…” Jisung said, and took their hands each, “I just wanted to confess.”
Jeongin smiled, leaning in, “we can totally make it work between us from now on, if you want to.”
The answer came on Jeongin’s lips and as he thought, Jisung’s mouth was so, so sweet.
-———-———-
They ended up catering for Jisung all week but it was worth it, seeing him in his royal clothes and duties was like getting to know him so much more.
And soon, after a couple weeks, they ended up sharing a lot together. Jisung visited them at work as usual, he came to visit them at their house – and Chan there was fine, he ate well and it made Jeongin happy to see someone else enjoying Minho’s cooking. Speaking of Minho, he started being so touchy and they talked a lot and their relationship grew into a beautiful one, it was quite alright to be called husbands these days. They kissed so much, fuck there was a lot of kissing, especially in front of Jisung and also cooking together, even sleeping together now that they got to share a room – and Chan, since he was such a good bodyguard, stayed the night with the prince all the damn time, but he at least had a bed to sleep in.
Jisung was a great boyfriend, he was so sweet and Jeongin was so happy to have both him and Minho in his life.
Now, after months together, it felt like a dream to go live all together.
The palace they lived in was very big now that Jeongin visited it all but they ended up going to work as well, since their Jisung loved to go see them at work and steal a kiss here and there and Jeongin was happy to know they could be together like that, especially since they could live happily with him.