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The three members were sitting on the sofas. They were busy writing on their respective golden balloons with markers, unaware that they were being watched by their leader. Sunggyu didn't join the members because he needed to wait for a staff member who was setting up an ipad for him. The ipad he was gonna need to lead the show.
Sungjong began to mutter as he stretched out his phone to Woohyun, who with a laugh shook his head, unwilling to accept it. Sungjong then handed out his phone to Sungyeol who was sitting next to him on the same sofa, but the older wouldn't even spare him a glance. Sungjong started whining, made Woohyun finally relented and took the phone from the younger's hand. Then the three of them posed for a selca.
"Sunggyu Hyung should have joined us," Woohyun uttered after they took a few selcas, turning his head to look at some staff members who were standing behind the cameras. He found Sunggyu next to the main camera, who was smiling at him, and he immediately averted his gaze. Woohyun quickly tossed Sungjong's phone back to its owner.
A little surprised by Woohyun's awkward reaction, Sunggyu walked up to his members, leaving his ipad behind, and immediately put his arm around Woohyun’s shoulders. He pointed to a staff member who was already holding a phone to take their photos, and the four of them immediately smiled. Sunggyu saw Woohyun's smile from the corner of his eye, but he felt the man's body stiffen as he put his arm around him closer.
When Sunggyu straightened his back and went outside the camera angle to take his ipad, unconsciously Woohyun exhaled a long breath. He doesn't know why he feels so awkward. Maybe it's because he hasn't been in front of the camera for a long time along with Sunggyu? Or maybe because he desperately needed something else…
Sunggyu was sitting on the one person sofa next to Woohyun's and he was well aware that the younger felt awkward. When Sunggyu was talking, that man just occasionally stole glances at him, instead of turning his head and looking him in the eyes. Woohyun's glances made Sunggyu also a little awkward. As much as he could recall, he didn't do anything wrong while drinking with Woohyun a few nights before. They weren't even drunk. Then why did that man act so awkward around him?
Dongwoo, who arrived late because he had another schedule before the show, finally appeared. His beaming face even made Sunggyu forget Woohyun's awkwardness for a moment. Cheerfully Dongwoo sat next to Sungyeol on the big sofa, greeting the others with excitement. Even after a grueling busy schedule, he remained in good spirits and began to chatter with Sungjong and Sungyeol. He made the atmosphere more joyful with his presence.
Then Sungyeol with his actor's distinctive voice read a comment about a female fan who had held their hands.
"She said had held our hands. All of us." Sunggyu commented, looking down at his own hands, then looking at his members in turn. "I can't even remember the last time we held each other's hands."
Sungjong cheerfully began to sing a song with the lyrics: "holding hands", and grasped Sungyeol's hand who was sitting next to him. Sungyeol happily allowed his right hand to be held by Sungjong while he held Dongwoo's hand with his left hand. Dongwoo smiled from ear to ear happily, but his eyes scanned Woohyun and Sunggyu who looked a little awkward.
"Hyung, hold my hand," Woohyun said, for the first time actually turning his head and looking at Sunggyu. He stretched out his right hand to Sunggyu.
"Eh? Is it necessary?" Sunggyu is a little shocked because Woohyun suddenly becomes himself and is no longer awkward. But why did he ask to hold his hand?
"Hold my hand. Or a handshake is fine too," Woohyun replied quickly, thinking it would be strange if the two of them held hands for no apparent reason. Sungjong, Sungyeol, and Dongwoo have obvious reasons; they sat together on a big sofa and the three of them held hands together. But if he and Sunggyu, there were just two of them in front of the camera, so... "Let's just do a handshake, Hyung."
Now it was Sunggyu who felt a little awkward, but as usual, he couldn't say "no" to Woohyun. So he stretched out his hand, put his palm in Woohyun's hand carefully. He realized that at this time the camera recorded their hands, then moved on to Sungjong. Luckily the camera didn't record his face as Woohyun commented while chuckling.
"Wow, your hand is still the hand that never suffers."
Sunggyu blinked his eyes, trying to interpret Woohyun's comment. In his brain there is only one meaning that appears: your hands are still as delicate as ever.
Woohyun calmly released his grasp from Sunggyu's hand, and Sunggyu began to read the next part written in the script. The show went well to the end.
"Thank you for the hard work," the five members stood up and bowed to the staff around them, then exited the broadcast studio.
The five of them stood by the wall outside their group waiting room to record a session of "impressions of today's show" which will be published on Sunggyu's Youtube channel. From left to right stand Woohyun, Dongwoo, Sunggyu, Sungyeol, and Sungjong.
"Well, today's show is over. It's great to meet the children again as a whole today," Sunggyu said with a smile, then observed the members one by one. "But maybe they can't be called 'children' anymore because everyone is already an Ahjussi."
Woohyun focused his attention on Sunggyu. "Eyyy, what are you talking about?" He pouted, then winked innocently. "Appa."
Sunggyu laughed immediately, as did the other members. Woohyun hasn't referred him as "appa" for a long time. It's not that he likes that nickname, but Woohyun who blatantly teases him makes Sunggyu feel closer with the man again. "I've never had a son like you."
After a few more jokes, Woohyun couldn't restrain himself from touching Sunggyu. He did choose not to stand next to Sunggyu because he would definitely not be able to keep his hands to himself, even at this time, he also hugged Dongwoo from the side. Woohyun shrewdly reached out, snatched Sunggyu's hand and then held the slender pale hand with both of his hands.
"Thank you to Sunggyu Hyung for inviting all of us to this show to celebrate Infinite's twelfth anniversary." That was the only excuse Woohyun's brain could think of so that he could hold Sunggyu's hand without being suspected. And it turns out that the excuse does work, for everyone except Sunggyu.
"Thank you, Hyung," the other members joined in the gratitude, making Sunggyu smile while shaking his head.
"Thank you to the PD and the show's staff," Sunggyu said, smiling as the members had started raving cheerfully, except Woohyun who was still quietly holding his hand. Woohyun's hands are slightly larger than Sunggyu's, and because Woohyun uses two hands to hold his hand, Sunggyu's hand is completely invisible from the outside.
Woohyun felt incredibly reluctant to let go of Sunggyu's hand, but he realized he had been holding his Hyung's hand longer than a normal "handshake" should be, so he slowly released his grasp. He realized Sunggyu didn't mind his hand being held by him, as Sunggyu didn't pull his hand out of his grasp or even fidgeting when Woohyun held his hand.
"Okay, okay, you all should stop talking. The show is over. Thanks for today. Now go home, all of you," Sunggyu drove away the members playfully, and he got ahead of the others to get out of the camera angle. The other members followed Sunggyu out with a laugh.
Dongwoo, Sungyeol, and Sungjong have already gone home, but Woohyun still stays in Sunggyu's personal waiting room. He was waiting for Sunggyu who was still discussing something with some staff for tomorrow's show. After a few minutes their conversation was over and after all the staff walked out of the room, finally Sunggyu was alone with Woohyun in the waiting room.
"Why didn't you go home?" Sunggyu gently asked, patting his cheek with a makeup remover cotton pad. "The others have gone home, right?"
Woohyun nodded, scanning Sunggyu who was staring at the mirror to clean up the remaining makeup under his chin. "Can I borrow your hand, Hyung?"
"What?" Sunggyu turned to Woohyun who was sitting on the sofa attached to the wall behind him. He patted his face a few more times with the cotton pad before throwing it in the trash bin and walking up to Woohyun.
"Hand," Woohyun asked, extending his right hand towards Sunggyu.
"Why?" Now that they are no longer in front of the camera, Sunggyu can freely stand close in front of Woohyun and took the outstretched hand with his left hand. "Do you have anything you want to tell me?"
Woohyun didn't answer, just held Sunggyu's hand and gently pulled him, asking Sunggyu to sit next to him. After the older sat down, Woohyun leaned against the sofa backrest while closing his eyes. He held Sunggyu's hand tightly with both hands on his lap.
"Woohyun-ah," Sunggyu called softly, started to feel worried. "You can tell me anything–"
"I know," Woohyun interrupted, still with his eyes closed. "I can tell you everything and you're not going to spill it to anyone. But for now, I just need your hand, Hyung."
So Sunggyu closed his mouth for a few minutes. He let Woohyun hold his hand, until he felt Woohyun's grip getting looser and looser. It looked like Woohyun was starting to fall asleep.
"Woohyun-ah," Sunggyu gently nudged Woohyun's palm with his finger, whispering carefully. "Go home. You cannot fall asleep here."
Woohyun's forehead wrinkled for a moment before he finally opened his eyes sleepily. He turned his head to Sunggyu, who was smiling reassuringly at him. With sad eyes Woohyun whispered. "We should have stayed together in the dorm and I wouldn't miss your hand like this, Hyung."
"Why do you miss my hands?" Sunggyu asked innocently, trying to make Woohyun spill anything he kept alone to help the younger feel better.
"Calming effect. You're the only one who has this kind of non suffering hands that can keep me calm." Woohyun was still holding Sunggyu's hand carefully like he was holding a gem stone. "I hope we can stay together again so I can use your hands freely anytime I need them."
Sunggyu felt his heart sting a little bit. So Woohyun just needs some attention to calming his mind. Most importantly, his attention. Now Sunggyu understands why Woohyun was so awkward before. When he put his arm on the younger shoulders, maybe that was the time Woohyun felt more vulnerable and started to act more awkwardly. Living alone is hard sometimes, and maybe this was that one particular day when Woohyun felt lonely and needed him.
Woohyun mumbled something that Sunggyu cannot hear, while tracing Sunggyu's fingers one by one with his index finger.
"Woohyun-ah?" Sunggyu sweetly called while fidgeting his fingers against Woohyun’s palm because Woohyun's touch became too ticklish for him. "About the non suffering hands? What is that supposed to mean?"
Woohyun rolled his eyes, looking at Sunggyu who was smiling teasing him. He knows the older well, and he knows Sunggyu definitely understands him. Maybe Sunggyu just wants to hear what's in Woohyun's mind. Woohyun stared at Sunggyu’s eyes for a moment, and because the older started to act cute in front of him, Woohyun couldn't help but smile and finally said it.
"Your hands are soft and warm, Sunggyu Hyung."
Sunggyu just about to laugh Woohyun’s compliment off, but Woohyun hasn't finished his sentence yet. Woohyun looks at Sunggyu's hand on his lap adoringly. "And I need them."