Work Text:
Jungwon has never been a great fan of noises. As his ears tend to get overly sensitive every time he hears such, it was something he could never be fond of. He bet no one ever does, making him categorize it as just a normal nature for a person to refuse every possibility of getting surrounded by any sort of disturbance.
That explains the reason for the profound irritation every time his members get overboard by the noise he could only hold, resulting in him being quiet, which is, by the way, completely out of his character, or the times where he has to use his leader card in order to shut them down.
You see, they are a group whose members consist of love to talk and talk and talk - and sure, Jungwon treats his members like his own family that it would be plain ignorance to claim that he wasn't part of 'it' when it happens (presumably it happens every day), but just because it's a daily phenomenon in their lives doesn't mean that he always have every bit of his energy reserved to keep up.
The only time Jungwon could bear it, is of course when he has a part that greatly contributes to it, or every time he gets to be on stage and perform that he tends to be too overwhelmed when hearing and be able to witness the fans' support towards him and the group, or… the third reason is something he's still not quite sure of.
At least he hates to admit it now that he's currently hearing a loud slurp coming from a medium-sized cup of ramen towards the mouth of a person who's sitting together with his stack of papers filled with his highlighted lessons and formulas he has to memorize.
To describe being an idol and a student at the same time as something hard is definitely an understatement, left alone carrying the leader role of the group at the age of 18.
Totally tired from always making sure the whole gang could work best as a team, including himself, and attending his classes every chance he could get. Jungwon has a little patience to spare as he has already poured his soul upon his field of work and life in general.
It's been months since they've had a break, or if a break can be considered as still making music and content to deliver to fans when the right time comes, yeah, they're definitely on a break. Jungwon doesn't want to appear like he loathes what he's doing, because it'd be like refusing to breathe when you have to in order to be alive. That's his work for him. It makes him feel free, and extremely gratified. But sometimes, the feeling of doing nothing makes him perceive the same things, especially now that all he wants to do is close his eyes and lay himself to the comfort of his bed, not something that requires him to use his energy, and definitely not something that irks the hell out of his system.
He put down the book he'd been long clutching to lay his gaze on Riki, who, according to Jungwon's observation, was totally enjoying his food. Jungwon's eyes immediately noticed the small stains on one of his papers due to the few drops that came from the food in his mouth.
"Riki, can you tone it down?" Jungwon calmly asked the younger one. His voice evidently sounded groggy for the hours of studying he had spent, and for the lack of liquid in his body because he's too occupied to even drink.
Usually, Riki would play some games with the hyungs. Either it's a game that has to be played on the computer or just some random games that would suffice the youngest's boredom. Yet, every time Jungwon would choose to study, Riki is always ready to forget all of it and join Jungwon, not to do the same, but just to be with him. Take tonight as an example.
Jungwon figured that maybe Riki misses studying too, for ever since they debuted, Riki also has to stop his education for awhile, too soon; he also realized it was never the case because he couldn't recall a moment that Riki laid his attention to any of his school stuff. And Jungwon never showed that he disagrees with 'this' whole set-up. In fact, he loves it. It feels great to have someone who looks out for you and won't want you to suffer alone… but Jungwon has one problem with it. And that single problem almost erases all the good things. Riki always talks. Like the most random shits, sometimes it makes some sense, but Jungwon has other things in mind to even bother. Or even if he's not, Riki's just normally messy, and loud, and careless. And Jungwon feels more responsible than he already does.
Riki took his time to swallow the food in his mouth before he cluelessly replied, "Tone down what?"
Jungwon sighs.
"Please eat quietly," Jungwon answered in a way not hiding his intention; he already can't; he doesn't want to. Though, Riki has no purpose in hiding how his brows start furrowing either. Only for it to be followed by a simple shaking of his head.
"No," he firmly said.
"Why not?"
"Because it's too quiet."
They never get angry at Riki with whatever he does. No matter how annoying his pranks are, or his teasing. Upset, okay, they scold him when they need to, of course, but they couldn't hate or ignore him for so long.
Jungwon has tons of business that requires him to use every bit of his brain cells that he couldn't ponder enough whether it's a reason worth understanding. He's exhausted, and coming off from an utterly loaded day only for it to be rewarded by another set of tiring things that needs to be accomplished. Jungwon couldn't be more than irritated, so much that he totally forgot how good he is at handling his temper.
"I don't care if you still want to have fun but I need you to shut your mouth," He snapped. "Or just leave me alone if you can't do that. The least thing I want right now is some nuisance," totally snapped.
Jungwon has to scoff as he feels a heavy weight trying to escape, but he doesn't want to let it be, but it suddenly came out of rage before he could even know.
Riki stared at him, entranced because of what went to his ears. Jungwon has no prior knowledge of whether the other was just purely surprised or if he got offended, to say the least. Riki is a sensitive kid, and Jungwon is well aware of it, alongside the other members, so they always take note to be gentle when they have matters to discuss. Yet, Jungwon can't stop thinking that he failed at that aspect in this exact moment.
"It's just… annoying that here am I trying to focus, and here you are enjoying your food aloud like you don't care at all and you're… you're much of a… distraction," Jungwon tried regaining where his emotions are coming from for Riki to at least acknowledge it.
Riki only answered by being quiet, not spitting any words for a minute. Until it passed and he responded with an apology that goes, "Okay, okay.. I'm sorry."
Their eyes met each other as Riki slowly set aside every food he had around him after apologizing. Despite everything, and Jungwon giving him a glare that eventually faded right away when Jungwon realized what he just did, Riki laced a smile of mischief while glancing back at Jungwon.
"I love you, hyung," Riki added, eyes scrunching, trying to conceal his giggles that are needy to break free.
They both know Jungwon never meant those words. He was just tired, bombarded up, and, oh, maybe, now really pissed off with the way Riki's presenting himself.
"Come again?"
"You look so good today, Jungwon-ah."
"That's it, I'm telling the hyungs about this," Jungwon threatened, but remained seated. Much to his dismay, the younger only replies with a chuckle he eventually had given up to mask.
"You know, you look so fabulous with your specs touching the bridge of your nose," Riki commented out of the blue. Well, not really, just that Jungwon immediately shrank to astonishment. The angels and demons inside Riki's head probably got tired of hearing his countless hesitations to voice out that compliment towards the older that it reflects on Riki himself, and he just had to say it. Like a small piece of seed from a fruit that he doesn't want to swallow, like a day coming by, and he can't always stay in the dark as he always wanted to. Eventually, it'll come out; eventually, he has to let it out. The same way Jungwon can no longer contain himself, and when it happens, it explodes.
"Riki-yah, I don't have time for you and your jokes," Just maybe not now. Jungwon was even surprised that he acted differently than the scenario he had on his mind. Or maybe it wasn't the type that could result in a whole place burning into fire– it was like that before, though… Jungwon just couldn't figure out the time it started to water down. Or, another, or, is because of what Riki told him, only he doesn't want to admit it.
Showing his familiar down-turn smile, like how Jungwon came to familiarize every detail of Riki's face every time he silently admires him… and Riki always acting unbothered. Unbothered in a way he has already mastered the art of making the other forget each reason that resulted in him being stressed and mad. It's safe to say they know each other better than anyone else, and better than themselves.
"You look beautiful wearing specs," and the heavy slump was out. It rolls out of Riki's tongue so easily, that Riki, for the first time that day, felt at ease, yet, he senses his chest still thumping hard. He couldn't stay calm the moment he saw his Jungwon hyung with specs on. That he'd done everything to just make the older look at him. It's impossible to ignore him. He's so gorgeous, was the only phrase that kept on repeating inside his head together with other pleasing words that Riki still didn't find sufficient to fit with how he greatly views Jungwon, and he couldn't be more joyful that he was able to finally say it out loud - confidently, and always been certain.
Riki, on the other hand of him being complacent, was expecting Jungwon to quickly remove his glasses. For the Jungwon he knows by heart is someone who would take it in a way, "oh so you like me wearing this? Okay, I'm taking it off because there's no way I'll give you that kind of entertainment, especially not when I am in the middle of my torment",
Riki landed his chin on his palm.
In contrary, he hears Jungwon sigh and puts his book in his hands once again, with a face flushing red. He watches as Jungwon slightly bows down and starts mumbling every word coming from that book silently, his eyes following the movement of his lips, with his few strands of hair touching a part of his forehead, and his specs slightly falling down his pointed nose, his eyelashes touching the frame of it every time he blinks.
He never did.