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[ENTER-TALK] ZEROBASEONE…Ah it’s been so long ㅠㅠ

I was going through my phone and I came across these photos of Jebewon from their debut days…ㅠㅠ Ha…hasn’t it been too long? It’s been 3 years since we all said goodbye, but it still feels like yesterday ㅠㅠ 

Everyone is being so busy these days, they’ve all really hit big!!!! This noona is proud, so so so proud, but Jebewon!!! Can’t you spare this noona a reunion ㅠㅠ Ha…I miss my kids ㅜㅜ

[image description: Series of photos from ZB1’s debut days, starting from their initial profile photoshoot, to their first win as a group. Pictures from their last concert as a group follow. The last photo shows a collage of recent photos of the members from the past year.]

[+2,810 / -529]

1. [+678 / -90] Wow but they did really hit big ㅋㅋㅋ I don’t think I can walk in Gangnam these days without seeing at least one of them on a billboard somewhere

2. [+595 / -38] But seeing this you really can’t deny that they hit big no? ㅋㅋ Even their foreign members still generate buzz

3. [+521 / -75] Ah, but aren’t the members’ relationships too f*cking good? It’s been years but they still seem close

[+59 / -5] I think it’s really because of Hanbin-nim! Even until now, he still acts like their leader and posts about the kids all the time, they’re obviously all good friends it’s f*cking refreshing ㅋㅋ

4. [+419 / -28] Jebewon…come back soon…I still play Abs Pop whenever summer comes around~

Barely into June and already, Hanbin feels like he wants to die. He hates airports.

The crowd pulls and pushes from every direction possible, jostling the bags on his shoulder as the bodyguards around him try to keep them away. Hanbin watches one of the bodyguards grabs a fansite hurtling towards him by the shoulder, making them drop them drop their camera in the process. It's an expensive one, he notes, remembering Gyuvin talking about it when the younger boy entered a photography phase all those years ago. 

From beside him, his manager grumbles to himself, keeping a firm hand on the small on his back as the reporters scream questions into their ears, something about the Dior show this, the solo album that. It's tiring work, and Hanbin can't help but sigh through his nose as he spots another incoming crowd headed their way. The bodyguards seem to spot this, too, by the way they seem to close in around Hanbin even more, effectively trapping him in like some kind of pseudo-tortoise formation. "What's happening, hyung? Who's there?"

"I don't know. Nobody else was supposed to fly out today," Jaeha grumbles back, checking the groupchat that Hanbin knows he shares with the managers of other active artists. Impossibly, his manager looks even more irked, rapidly turning his head this way and that, trying to spot who is it that's drawing another crowd comparable to their's. It's always a hard time, getting in and out of airports without feeling like everybody's trying to squeeze the air out of you, but it's even harder when other celebrities are present. "Why isn't anybody moving?!"

His manager is truly pissed off now, as the bodyguards around them come to a standstill. The mob around them is still as lively as ever, though, and Hanbin thinks that at least one fansite probably got a closeup of his nose, the microphones of the reporters millimeters away from hitting his jaw as he tries to keep a straight face. "They're blocking the way!" one of the bodyguards shouts back, gesturing to the approaching crowd in front of them. At the rate they're going, both mobs are going to inevitably mix and it'll all be such a mess. "They need to pass before we can make our way through!"

Hanbin breathes out another sigh. He just wants to go home. 

It takes some time, but suddenly the other crowd is upon them, and Hanbin has never felt as jostled as this in his life. He feels his manager's grip tighten and he winces, but Jaeha's grip doesn't falter as the bodyguards around them start to push forward, the push from the crowd and the bodyguards meeting like some force Hanbin is pretty sure he studied in high school. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? a voice croons into his ear and he feels the phantom presence of somebody once again, his side left cold even with all the people trying to push against it. 

It's as they're about to finally, finally, get close to the exit that he hears a resounding gasp echo among the crowd, drowned out only by a familiar voice that calls out: "Hanbin hyung!"

"Hanbin hyung!" he hears the voice shout out once again, and he cranes his head to see a familiar figure jumping from the heart of the crowd, gray hair like a beacon amongst the sea of black and flashing lights. He feels his stoic face slowly start to morph into a wide smile at the sight, and against his better judgment, twists away from Jaeha's grip as the figure waves frantically.

"Seokmae-ya!" he titters out, and it's as if those are the magic words that spur the crowd into action, parting and making a way for the both of them to come together. Hanbin thinks that they'll probably sensationalize this later, liken him and Matthew to some kind of K-pop Moses parting the crowd like the Red Sea. He thinks it's probably starting now, seeing the way some fansites and reporters have already started to click away, the flashes following him while he runs up to the waiting man at the other side of the crowd still wildly gesturing for him.

He can't find it in himself to care, though, as he encases Matthew in a hug big enough to trap the other man against him. "Seokmae-ya! It's been so long!" he exclaims, unable to reel in his delight as Matthew squirrels out of his embrace and barks out a laugh, equally as delighted.

"Hanbin hyung, we saw each other a month ago!" Matthew laughs out, still unable to keep the whine out of his voice even after all these years. Hanbin thinks that it's that whine that allows him to get Jiwoong to do anything he wants, even if their hyung barely has time to sleep. He distinctly remembers an episode involving a watermelon, three darts, and a glass just a couple months back. The Matthew Whine is a powerful thing. "And besides, I'm not the one who's too busy to contact, Mr. Global Ambassador!"

Hanbin throws his head back in another laugh at Matthew's words, grasping onto Matthew's shoulder for support, "Matthew-ya! Let's catch up, it's been so long." He thinks he should probably tell his manager about this change in schedule, but Jaeha's one step ahead of him as always, approaching the both of them with Matthew's manager in tow and cutting through the crowd to whisk them off to the nearest cafe. 

"I have a flight in like an hour or two, but if Kijung hyung is okay with it, then it's fine," Matthew waves him off and moves to walk in step with him. Like this, Hanbin can almost pretend that they aren't both respected solo artists in their own right and that instead they're both ZEROBASEONE's Hanbin and Matthew again, best friends who challenged the world and—against all odds—actually managed to debut together. If he squints a little bit, he can imagine that the gray of Matthew's hair is actually a strawberry blond, the color he had when they debuted, and that anytime now, Jiwoong or Gunwook would come running up to them to tell them off for running away from the manager.

Hanbin hums, and they walk in companionable silence as their managers chatter on about their schedules while looking for the nearest cafe they could settle in. 

They end up at a Starbucks. Hanbin can't help but crinkle his nose as they step inside the franchise, Matthew chuckling at the look on his face. "Is there really nowhere else?" he questions and Jaeha gives off a light chuckle before ushering them to the table Matthew's manager somehow got for them, lining up after taking both his and Matthew's orders. He hates Starbucks, and everyone who's anyone in his life knows that. 

"So, hyung," Matthew starts as they settle in, and Hanbin turns all of his attention from cursing out the Starbucks franchise in his head to the gray-haired man in front of him. Said gray-haired man has a teasing smile on his face, and Hanbin braces himself for the words that are to come. "How was China?"

Hanbin rolls his eyes and takes a sip of the iced Americano on the table. He crinkles his nose. Nasty. "It was okay, you know how it is."

"Oh, really," Matthew simpers out before pointedly taking a sip from his latte. Hanbin tries to ignore the knowing look in his eyes. "I heard something about a ski resort, though?

Hanbin resists the urge to pinch his ears as Matthew giggles at him, shoulders shaking as he takes in the flabbergasted look on Hanbin's face. "How did you even find out about that?" he asks, because not even his mom knows about the ski resort situation, and he tells his mom everything. "Matthew-ya!"

Matthew simply smiles and shakes his head, miming zipping up his lips as he takes another sip of the latte, "A groupchat admin doesn't share his secrets, hyung." He even throws a wink in. If they weren't in public, Hanbin would've strangled him. Matthew knows this, if the way his smile widens even further is any indication, looking like the cat that got the cream. 

"But enough about me!" he tries to change the topic, and thankfully, Matthew lets him. "What about you, Seokmae-ah? Are you off to the Ralph Lauren show?" 

"I'm off to shoot something for them, actually, yeah," Matthew replies, and Hanbin nods back, having heard of it sometime last week. He tells Matthew as such, and watches the way Matthew's eyes slightly widen as he chuckles, hitting Hanbin's shoulder in the process. "Ya, Sung Hanbin! Why do you even know my schedules better than me!"

"Jaeha hyung told me about it last week! Apparently, Dior was supposed to shoot something too, but they moved it to a few days before the show," Hanbin defends, raising his hands up like someone who just got exposed for stealing from the candy jar. Then, seeing Matthew's expression, he teases, "And besides, I'm your leader, aren't I? I should know these things!"

At his words, Matthew's smile takes on a softer edge, and Hanbin feels his heart squeeze at Matthew's slow nod. He feels Matthew's hand squeeze his for a second, understanding passing the both of them for a quick moment. Of course, you'll always be my leader, hyung, Matthew's smile seemed to say, and my best friend, too. 

They pass the hour talking about everything and anything in their lives. Matthew asks him about what could be a good birthday present for their July babies. Hanbin tells him he'll send a list later. It's all so mundane, and for a moment, Hanbin feels like he's not in Starbucks but instead in the old ZB1 dorms, where he and Matthew used to do the same thing—except over cups of coffee that actually taste good. By the time the airport notice for Matthew's flight is called out and his manager steps up to their table to fetch him, Hanbin's pretty sure that they've caught up to everything that happened in their life in the past month or so.

"See you later, Hanbin hyung!" Matthew calls out as he and his manager step out of the Starbucks together, a bright smile on his face as he waves goodbye to Hanbin. "Oh, and advance happy birthday!"

Hanbin simply smiles and waves, the pinging of his phone getting his attention as Matthew and his manager disappear from his immediate line of sight.

Don't forget to kiss Mao hello for me, the text reads.

Jaeha peers at his phone and holds back a snicker, "The car's here, Hanbin-ah. Let's go home?"

I MEAN IT. DON'T FORGET, another text follows.

Hanbin bites back a smile, "Let's go home, hyung."

#HANBINxDIOR @SHB_CENTRE

[image description: Photo of Hanbin where he could be seen exiting a gate with PEK - ICN displayed on the LED screen.]

[PRESS] 290601 Hanbin coming back from Beijing today! He recently attended the Dior Pre-FW Show, and is set to fly out again in a few weeks for Milan Fashion Week.

#HANBINxDIOR

#DIORxHANBIN

#SHBForMFW

🐱🐹✨🎻🦝 @centerzthoughts

[image description: The first photo shows a collage of Hanbin at the airport from different dates, as evidenced by his changing clothes. The second photo is from today; in it, Hanbin could be seen exiting a gate with PEK - ICN displayed on the LED screen. Unlike the other photos in the previous collage, though, this Hanbin is seen wearing what looks to be a clip in his hair. This clip is seemingly nonfunctional, since it doesn't keep his hair away from his face, whatsoever.]

has anyone noticed that in almost all of hanbin’s overseas schedules he made a stop in…china…of all places…guess who’s currently in china 🤔

may #DripDropOUTNOW @613bins

seeing actual ha*bin fans still existing when the two haven’t been seen together in YEARS is actually so funny 

🐱🐹✨🎻🦝 @centerzthoughts

[image description: The first photo shows a collage of Hanbin at the airport from different dates. The second photo is from today; in it, Hanbin could be seen exiting a gate with PEK - ICN displayed on the LED screen.]

has anyone noticed that in almost all of hanbin’s overseas schedules he made a stop in…beijing…of all places…guess who’s currently in beijing 🤔

zhang hao’s eyelash counter  @crownprincezh

may is going to get all the ha*binists on her ass again 😭 she literally just got her acc back from last time

may #DripDropOUTNOW @613bins

HDFHSJSJ NOO 😭 but like atp i get them like if i didn't get a kongdakz selfie in a year i will quite literally just start making shit up

zhang hao’s eyelash counter  @crownprincezh

RIGHT like that's me with mattwook 

SEOK MATTHEW UPDATES @SMT_Global

[image description: Set of photos showing Matthew at the airport today. He sports a new hair color, and is seen dressed in Ralph Lauren from head to toe, as part of his ambassadorship from the brand. The '02 liner sports a wide smile as he poses for the cameras.]

290601 Matthew @ Incheon Airport getting ready to fly out early for MFW! 

#MATTHEWxRALPHLAUREN

#석매튜 #SEOKMATTHEW

kio ♡’s matthew @myseokmae

DHSHSHEUSSUS THE GRAY HAIR HE LOOKS SO GOOD I WISH I WAS A BUG SO I CAN JUMP IN AND NIBBLE ON HIS HAIR CUTICLES AND

🍓🦊 @mattyucomethru

help @seokryupsychward

lia #MATTHEWxRALPHLAUREN  @smtlocket

[image description: Series of photos from today’s airport scene. In them, you can clearly see Hanbin waving to Matthew as the crowd parts for them, and the younger boy running up to Hanbin. The last photo features the both of them standing in line to buy coffee in the airport Starbucks together.]

AHHH matthew and hanbin saw each other at the airport 🥺 matt’s flying out early for fw, while hanbin just got back oh my mattbin heart 🥹💔

lucy | 0 DAYS SINCE MATTBIN BREATHED!!!!! @mattbinists

DID ANYONE ELSE DRINK THE MATTBIN SPRITE

bun @mrseokmachu

LUCY YOUR COUNTDOWN IS FINALLY OVER WE'RE ROYALTYYYYYYY

reo @lovelickyheartz

CALL ME DELUSIONAL but you cannot tell me the mattbin reunion happening in an AIRPORT of all places like a week before hanbin’s bday isn’t fate like the universe is moving next thing you know it’s ZB1 REU–[gunshot]

mari @jebisdigest

OOMF 🥹🥹 i literally just had the same thought like it’s bp all over again i’m shaking MY JEBIS PLEASE BREATHEEEEE

hambin truther  @allinhanbins

IT BEING HANBIN OF ALL MEMBERS TOO…who says he’s about to collect them all like pokemon slowly we got 1 down 7 to go…

lola @hanbinizer

is hanbin really about to single handedly cause the zb1 reunion in the year 2029 because if anyone’s insane enough to do it then it’s him 

#SketchbookByRICKY @sqruivin

IF THERE’S ANYONE I TRUST IT’S HIM he’s about to get on all these companies’ asses MY MALANGZ WILL FINALLY BREATHE

lola @hanbinizer

RIGHT LIKE get hariboz back in korea it’s been like 2 months @/yuehua

"Hanbinie," Jiwoong croons as soon as Hanbin picks up the call, his elder hyung's voice filling his ears as he places the phone between his cheek and shoulder, playing a balancing act as he helps Mao hop onto the car, her fluffy tail nearly hitting him in the face while doing so.

"Jiwoong hyung! It's been so long," he replies as he gets into the car, giving his mom a final wave and mouthing a Thank you as he settles in. He thinks he hears her shout out for him to take care of 'her Maomao' well as the car door closes, Mao giving a final bark to her grandma at the same time.

"Ah, hyung, can you wait for a second? Let me connect the phone to the stereo," he requests while tinkering with the car's bluetooth function, Mao settling in the backseat like the good girl she is. It takes merely a few seconds until the familiar beep signals the connection. "Is this okay? Hyung, can you hear me?"

"Hanbinie," Jiwoong starts again, voice reverberating in the car's interior, and Hanbin makes a small noise as he pulls the car in reverse and starts driving back home. Mao makes a small noise at the new voice but doesn't do anything further, starting to slowly doze off in the backseat. "Oh, is Mao with you? Hi, Mao-ya."

"I picked her up from my parents' place," Hanbin laughs out, hearing the way Jiwoong's voice had ultimately become softer knowing Mao was around. His hyung had always been soft against fluffy and cute things. It was why he couldn't say no to Matthew, even until now. "We're driving back out to Seoul right now, actually."

"Bin-ah," his hyung's voice takes on a serious tone, as Hanbin pulls up into the highway. It's hardly a long drive to Seoul from Cheonnan but he enjoys it, nontheless, taking every chance he could get to be behind the wheel. "Travel safe, okay? Check all your mirrors."

Hanbin hums in response, but checks his mirrors, regardless. There's a long stretch of empty road before him, and there's barely any cars around since everyone's at work. But, still. It couldn't hurt to check.

"What made you call anyway, hyung? Not that I don't want you to, it's just that I know you're busy."

Out of all the members, Jiwoong's one of the ones that's been hard to reach, lately, being too busy filming for his new movie to actually sit down and talk. Hanbin thinks Jiwoong probably spends at least half of his life on the road now, being shuttled to and fro different filming locations since the start of the new year. His new movie isn't even out yet, and he's already filming for the next one, a melodrama about a man's journey to finally moving on from the hole his brother left in his life as a child. It has a good plot with a good cast and director, all the things needed to make a blockbuster. Most importantly, though, it's a role that Jiwoong has never done before, and it only raises the anticipation for it even further. Hanbin can already see the reviews rolling in, and he can't help but be proud of his hyung even more. 

That doesn't mean he doesn't miss him, though.

"I know, Bin-ah, I'm sorry," Jiwoong apologizes and Hanbin has to resist the urge to immediately refute it. It's not Jiwoong's fault that he's booked and busy. If anything, Hanbin's as busy as him too. "I'll try to make time sometime next week. Maybe we can have dinner, the three of us?"

Hanbin laughs as he sees Mao raise her head through the rearview mirror, the sound of somebody saying the word 'dinner' enough to wake her from her slumber. "I think Mao's definitely interested in your offer, hyung," he says brightly as Mao gives a short bark as if in agreement. He hears Jiwoong laugh through the phone as well, and Hanbin knows that if he were here, Jiwoong would've squished Mao's face already, the pull of cuteness aggression too strong in the '98 liner. 

"I'll be sure to make the arrangements," Jiwoong plays along, because he's always been the hyung that spoiled them the most, letting them all get away with far too much when they were in ZEROBASEONE. Hanbin remembers Jiwoong simply smiling and shaking his head as Yujin called for another yaja time, diligently doing all the things the maknaes had asked him to do like the obedient 'dongsaeng' he was. 

For a while they drive together in silence, Hanbin on the wheel and Jiwoong on the phone, not ending the call even if doing so must be hell for his data plan. In the backseat, Mao huffs away, taking in the sights the highway has to offer without making a fuss like the good girl she is. Hanbin can't wait to tell her other dad about it.

"Oh, hyung," Hanbin suddenly pipes up, remembering that Jiwoong's probably on set and probably shouldn't be taking this long to be on call with him. "Why did you call, anyway? Aren't you on set?"

"I am, Hanbinnie," Jiwoong replies, then pauses for a short while. If Hanbin strains his ears, he thinks he can hear him in a quiet conversation with someone else, hearing the other party say words like 'call time' and 'one-take.' Probably a staff member, then. "Sorry about that, they were just telling me what to do for the next scene."

"It's all good, hyung! But really, why did you call," Hanbin laughs it off. He's curious as to why Jiwoong would call all of a sudden, not that he doesn't appreciate it, though. He's always happy to talk to him, especially now that they barely meet due to his hyung's schedules. 

"Ah, I wanted to say thank you, Hanbinnie," Jiwoong starts, and Hanbin tries to wrack his mind on what he possibly did to warrant Jiwoong's thanks. They haven't seen each other in months. "My manager told me that you sent over the ELOREA PR yesterday. I wasn't home to receive it, but noona's already stored it away from me."

Oh. That's why. "Ah, hyung, it's nothing, really. You know that when it's perfume, you'll be one of the first people I'll send it to," Hanbin sheepishly replies, speeding up a little as the skyline of Seoul slowly forms at the distance.

"Oh? But she told me it was custom, though," Jiwoong hums, and Hanbin feels his ears start to burn as Jiwoong continues. "It even had my name on the bottlecap, engraved and all. Noona says it was quite fancy."

"That's because you're literally one of the only people to receive it, hyung-ah," he explains, even as his voice starts to have a sheepish tone. I didn't think I'd have to reveal this all so soon. "It's part of a collaboration I'm doing with ELOREA. Nine scents for nine members, not that the public would know that, of course."

The ELOREA collaboration is something that's been kept under wraps for the past few months now, nobody in the industry knowing about the line he's been working on, save for those closest to him. When the idea of working on a limited edition scent collection with a Korean brand was pitched to him, he didn't hesitate in saying yes, perfume and scents being one of the few hobbies he's collected over the past few years. The fact that the company allowed him to make nine different ones was just a plus in the whole equation of things. 

He hears Jiwoong gasp at the revelation, the line going silent for a second before the older man coos out: "Oh, Hanbin-ah."

"Aiya, hyung!" he laughs out, ears already red with embarassment. If only hyung was here, Hanbin thinks, as he pulls out of the highway to start traversing the city streets, then I'd probably hit him. He imagines Jiwoong saying his name with that shit-eating grin on his face, ready to tease him but also still eternally grateful. "That means you have to keep it secret, of course! And you have to tell me if you like it or not."

"Of course hyung will like it, Hanbinnie," Jiwoong croons. "It was inspired by me, after all." The older man breaks into a light chuckle.

Before he can even catch himself, Hanbin finds himself chuckling along, jokingly adding a tsk as he says: "I'll pull your scent out myself, Kim Jiwoong-ssi."

He hears Jiwoong break out into laughter, and a few seconds pass before his laughs cease. "Ah, but seriously, Hanbin-ah. Thank you."

"Again, it's nothing, really, hyung," Hanbin tries to pass it off, but Jiwoong is stalwart. "You know, Hanbin-ah, this is the part where you say, 'You're welcome, hyung. See you soon, hyung."

Hanbin laughs at this, and Jiwoong chuckles along. But then he says, "No, I'm serious, Hanbinnie. Repeat that for me."

"You're welcome, hyung. See you soon, hyung," he repeats, because he is nothing if not a dutiful dongsaeng. Hanbin can feel Jiwoong's satisfaction even tens of miles away, his humming a dead giveaway. It's as he's pulling into the underground parking of his apartment complex that Jiwoong speaks up again. "Again, Hanbin-ah. Thank you. I'll be sure to send you my review when I can, but I know I'm going to love it, really."

Hanbin feels his heart squeeze. His hyung has always been considerate. "You're welcome, hyung," he sincerely replies, hoping that Jiwoong can feel just how much Hanbin appreciates him, even when they're apart. "I have to go now, though. I think Mao's gotta go."

He hears Jiwoong chuckle for the nth time in their conversation, but maybe that's because when they're together, they somehow manage to bring out each other's silliest sides. "Let the princess do her business, Hanbin. Let's talk again, soon!"

He hums back an affirmative, and is about to end the call when Jiwoong adds: "Oh, and advance happy birthday!"

Hanbin smiles. "Thank you, hyung~" From the backseat, Mao barks her goodbye, too.

Sung Hanbin to star in Korean adaptation of hit series [FROM ME TO YOU]...Filming to start sometime next year, co-star not yet confirmed

Written by Kim Gyubin

The industry has been set aflame as Sung Hanbin, fondly nicknamed 'The Nation's Golden Boy,' is confirmed to be one of the leads of tvN's upcoming Korean adaptation of hit manga series [FROM ME TO YOU]. Sung, who has expressed interest in acting in the past, has been cast as the series' male lead, Kazehaya Shota, though the question as to who will play his Sawako is still up in the air. According to an insider, auditions for said role will be wrapping up mid-July. With the script mostly finished, it is expected that filming will start by spring next year.

Sung is the fourth of the members of the 2023 project group ZEROBASEONE to venture into the acting scene, with oldest member Kim Jiwoong recently winning the Baeksang Arts Award for Most Popular Actor for his role as Yoo Joonghyuk in the movie adaptation of 'Omniscient Reader Viewpoint.' Kim Gyuvin also proved his acting prowess earlier this year as Lee Doguk from Secret Playlist, capturing millions of hearts across the world with his heartshaking performance. Zhang Hao, former ZEROBASEONE center and now the leader of Yuehua's newest boy group, is currently filming for his role as Xie Lian in the movie adaptation of worldwide phenomenon 'Heaven Officials Blessing,' of which he was announced to be a part of last year.

Now all eyes are on him as Hanbin steps into the role of Kazehaya, a beloved fan favorite amongst romance enjoyers everywhere. Fans have long seen the similarities between the two, as evidenced by the long threads posted on different SNS that have garnered thousands of reactions and upvotes. Given a prime TV slot, it is expected that the drama will receive widespread viewership and success amongst a variety of age demographics, aided by Sung's constantly rising popularity.

"Hyung, are you sure we have the tickets," Hanbin bugs his manager again, Jaeha sighing exasperatedly as they trudge through the throngs of fans together, keeping their head down in case somebody noticed them. Somebody bumps into him for the nth time, the crowd so dense that they'd probably just look like one huge mass from an aerial perspective. Hanbin can feel the sweat trickling down his back, seeping into the varsity jacket he was able to snatch from the other side of the closet. It's mildly uncomfortable, being stuck in a crowd this close together while the sun beats down on you, but Hanbin would rather be nowehere else. "I'm serious, hyung, they won't let us in if we don't."

It's Taerae's first ever solo concert after debuting with ZEROBASEONE three years ago, and then debuting again with the Wakeonez a year after. Hanbin wouldn't miss it for the world.

"I just don't understand why we have to go through the main entrance instead of through the back like the others," Jaeha grumbles, wiping the sweat from his hairline as he shows Hanbin the tickets secured in his knapsack. Hanbin breathes a sigh of relief, seeing the two little stubs. His manager echoes that sigh soon after, except it's one of pure exasperation, as he shows Hanbin the message he just received from the manager group chat. "Look, Gunwook-ssi and Jiwoong-ssi are already there. In the venue. The cold venue. Why couldn't you just have taken the tickets from Taerae-ssi instead of doing all this?"

Hanbin lets out a gleeful laugh at Jaeha's question. Silly hyung. "Then it wouldn't be a surprise, anymore!"

His manager gives him a deadpan stare. 

"I mean," he starts, because he feels like he's being severely judged right now, and they aren't even in the venue yet. Jaeha can save his judgemental stares for later, when Hanbin inevitably loses his voice after screaming along to all of Taerae's songs all night. "I told him I couldn't make it! How weird would it be to suddenly message him and be like, 'Oh, Taerae-ah, actually I am going to go to your concert, just act all surprised when you see me.' It's no fun!"

Jaeha gives him a withering look yet again, but Hanbin doesn't pay it any mind, too distracted by the line of fans giving away banners and handfans with Taerae's face on it. Beside them, there's a random play dance playing songs that Taerae's featured in, the speakers blasting out Hot Summer as fans of different ages dance along to Taerae's part. Farther along, he thinks he can see at least 5 coffee trucks giving out coffee with Taerae's face on it. Hanbin doesn't know why Jaeha seems so miserable. Concerts are so fun. 

"Excuse me," he hears a voice speak up from behind, and he turns around to see two fans staring up at him, their eyes widening as he gives them his best smile, even with his mask in the way. "Are you Sung Hanbin-ssi?"

Hanbin simply smiles at them, and points at the banner above them, Taerae's shining face beaming printed on it. "For today, I am simply Kim Taerae's number one fan in the world."

The two fans giggle at his words, and Hanbin notices that they're both wearing headbands with Taerae's face on it, the faces bouncing along to every move of their hands. There's Taerae pins pinned on their bags as well, and Hanbin can't help but wish he had some, too. "Ah, excuse me, but where did you get those?"

"Oh, you can have them!" the taller of the two pipes up, and they proceed to rip their headband out of their hair and thrust it into Hanbin's arms in one smooth motion. Hanbin hasn't even blinked yet. "We actually made extras just in case we lost them, so it's okay!" 

Hanbin thinks he hears the shorter of the two mutter a confused We didn't though? as he carefully props the headband onto his head. He shakes his head a bit, and feels the Taeraes on the headband bob along with it, the two fans in front of him holding back squeals at the sight. "Can we take a picture with you?" the one who gave him the headband asks, and though he sees Jaeha start to shake his head from behind the two, he smiles and acquiesces, doing a V-pose as the two take turns taking pictures with him. It's the least he could do, after all, as thanks for the headband.

"Ah, but you can't post it, though," he says and immediately feels bad seeing how the two start to deflate. "I mean, you can't post it right now! I'm here to surprise Taerae actually, so we can't ruin the surprise."

At his words, the two fans seem to become lively again, enthusiastically nodding and promising to keep his presence a secret. Hanbin waves them off as they scurry away, his manager coming to escort him toward the main entrance where the line has finally started to thin out. "You know that they're probably sharing those pictures everywhere now, right?"

"Of course, hyung," because you don't spend how many years in the industry and not know just how fast news gets around these days. Already, he can feel the fans near him give him assessing stares, some even going as far as to take pictures outright with no hint of subtlety. "But Taerae's probably readying to go up on stage now, and he won't know. The surprise is for him, anyway."

His manager gives him another withering look, but Hanbin ignores it as they're finally let inside, the interior of the KSPO Dome bathed in orange as fans all around him chant Taerae's name. Hanbin thinks he sees a smattering of ZEROBASEONE lightsticks among the crowd, the others waving around the Wakeonez lightstick as they all wait for the star of the show. Seeing this, and how far Taerae has come, Hanbin can't help but smile, overwhelmed with happiness for his dongsaeng. He spends the majority of the concert in that happiness-induced haze, loudly shout-singing along to all of Taerae's songs as the '02 liner shines onstage, even if he's sure he has to take at least 3 throat candies to sleep comfortably tonight. 

The happiness-induced haze is momentarily dampened when Taerae brings out his guitar and performs an acoustic version of their debut title track, his heart squeezing as he hears the familiar lyrics that they've all engraved into memory. His heart squeezes even more when he sees Taerae get teary-eyed as he performs, the lights emphasizing the tears in his eyes as he looks upon the crowd singing along with him. Like this, Hanbin can see just how much Taerae has grown, but is ultimately still the Taerae that laughed and cried with him when they felt homesick in the dorms.

It's when the last ment of the night is occurring that Hanbin decides to let Taerae know that he's here. He shouts out a KIM TAERAE!! just as there's a lull in the audience's screams, effectively getting Taerae's attention as the spotlight lands on him. He feels all the fans near him gasp as he removes his mask and cap, lightning fast in switching their phones from videoing Taerae's performance to snapping pictures of the ZEROBASEONE ex-leader in the audience. 

"Hyung!" Taerae exclaims as the cameras point toward Hanbin to show him on the big screens onstage. Hanbin can see himself smile on the screen, the Taeraes on his headband bobbing as he waves enthusiastically at the vocal. "You told me you weren't going to make it!" There's a big smile on his face as he says it, and it only grows wider as Hanbin shoots him hearts.

"Aiya, everyone, do you know that Hanbinnie hyung is a liar? He tricked me!" Taerae fake whines onstage, and the sea of fans all laugh as Taerae's pout is shown onscreen, alongside Hanbin's look of sheepishness. "He told me he was busy today, so I didn't give him a ticket! If he's busy then why is he here?" 

"It was a surprise!" he mouths to the camera, and it's obvious that Taerae got the message as he laughs onstage, eyes creasing in the way that Hanbin is familiar with. 

"Well then, if he's come all this way to surprise me, then I should give something back, right?" Taerae asks the audience. They all cheer back, and Hanbin sees Taerae move the microphone from his mouth to talk to the live band onstage. The pianist nods, and suddenly, Hanbin hears the familiar notes of his debut solo song echo throughout the venue. Oh, Taerae. 

"Hanbin hyung! Happy birthday, this is for you!"

🐶🪕 @0714center

[image description: A screenshot from a fan’s video recording of Hanbin on the big screen during Taerae’s concert. He’s wearing a familiar varsity jacket and a Taerae headband.]

Sung Hanbin spotted in the crowd for our Taerae’s first solo concert today! Fans onsite have also said that Matthew, Gunwook, and Jiwoong are also reportedly in the audience. ZB1 members really do love our MeBo 🥺💗

#SHINEwithTAERAE_D1

#TaeraeIsSHINEing

win #HAOxCannes @haobinyangs

i’m going to go insANEUCEISJSJS 😭😭😭😭 DOES ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THE JACKET OR IS IT JUST ME

taerae's biggest fan @yujinsolo

CHEONNANZ💔 taerae looks so happy to see hanbin and hanbin looks so proud of him oh i'm going to eat the both of them 😭

WHERE IS GYUVIN  @gyuakgae

the jacket…oomfs am i seeing things or is that the yuehuaz jacket UHMMM 

（^人^） @maknaezace

it’s the same color scheme!!! and i think the same patches too maybe it just looks OH WHO AM I KIDDING THATS THE FUCKING YUEHUAZ JACKET 😭😭

poppy #SHINEwithTAERAE_D1 @taeraeraeriyaaa

hanbin still being an honorary yuehuaz even after all this time i wonder whose is it (assuming he doesn’t have one of his own)

WHERE IS GYUVIN  @gyuakgae

all the yuehuaz jackets have their birthdays sewn on the right arm!!! the pictures look too blurry to tell but assuming hanbin borrowed it, the numbers on the arm are either 25 or 20 😵💫😵💫😵💫

kino #HAOxCannes @allinhaos

25…25…HAO–[TRAIN PASSING BY]

WHERE IS GYUVIN  @gyuakgae

all the yuehuaz jackets have their birthdays sewn on the right arm!!! the pictures look too blurry to tell but assuming hanbin borrowed it, the numbers on the arm are either 25 or 20 😵💫😵💫😵💫

TAERAE UPDATES 🐶 @KTR_BOT

[video description: Taerae introducing a new song to the crowd, saying that this is the first time he's ever performing this onstage. He also reveals that he wrote this with Gunwook, and that it'll hopefully be released sometime in the future, adding a wink at the end that causes the crowd to go wild.]

Taerae sang an unreleased song today! He says that he co-wrote it with Gunwook last year, and that the title isn't really meant for kkultaerae's ears 😭😭 but to not worry since it'll hopefully be released sometime soon! 

#SHINEwithTAERAE_D1

#TaeraeIsSHINEing

shai is gearing up for #GOLO @gunwookbff

GSHDHJBJ TAERAE GUNWOOK WE ARE ROYALTYYYY this song is so good why isn't it out yet i need wakeone and jellyfish to start counting their days

slo #TaeraeIsSHINEing @143taerae

kim FUCKING taerae you are a menace why would you do this😭

🐶🐥 @gunraethinker

i just witnessed my notifs explode in real time GUNRAE NATION THE DROUGHT IS OVER TONIGHT WE FEAST

kitty TTSOB D-39 🦋 @kjwdoll

taerae releasing this information and this song at the same time as if we all aren't crazy people

nics @luvrwooks

JHFBSK KITTY this is all so overwhelming like he looks so good too this taerae meal is too much...

kitty TTSOB D-39 🦋 @kjwdoll

he needs to keep it coming though i'm so serious and the rest of the wakeonez need to follow like LEEJEONG GET UP!!!!

cheonnanz lovebot 🐶🐹 @1314vocal

[video description: Taerae performing an acoustic version of Hanbin's solo song, with Hanbin's reaction included at the very end.]

Our Taerae performed an acoustic version of Hanbin's solo debut "Mirror" last night! It's really nice to see how much ZEROBASEONE members still support each other after all this time~ Our Cheonnanz, fighting! 🐹🐶💗

#SHINEwithTAERAE_D1

#TaeraeIsSHINEing

"Hyung, what are you doing here?" is the first thing Gunwook says as Hanbin steps into the studio, a bag of pastries in one hand and a coffee carrier in the other. The '05 liner is barely awake, blinking up at him blearily and squinting against the sudden rush of light. Like this, with Gunwook's cheek smushed against the singular sofa in the small room, hair in disarray as he reaches for the glasses on the floor, Hanbin can't help but feel like he's been sent back to the past—back to the days where he'd personally go and act as the maknaes' human alarm clock, waking them up just in time before Taerae and Matthew devour all of the pancakes Jiwoong prepared. The boy—man now, he reminds himself as he regards the 23-year-old—sits up just as Hanbin closes the door behind him, still half-asleep as he watches his hyung set the food near his desktop. 

"I went to your dorm, and Yeojun told me you were here," he replies and tries his best to mask the disappointment in his voice. Hanbin spares a glance toward the open desktop, where he can see the DAW still running. From just a single look, it's obvious that Gunwook's been holed up here all night, evidenced by the instant coffee packets and sheets of paper strewn around in the room. Though he can feel Gunwook tracking his ever move with his gaze, Hanbin doesn't look back and instead busies himself with fixing the wires near Gunwook's setup. It's only after a few moments that he looks back, only to see Gunwook looking sheepishly at him, as if already knowing why he's there. "Gunwook-ah."

"Sorry, hyung!" Gunwook immediately exclaims, bowing his head as he stands up and tries to give Hanbin a hug. Hanbin reasons to himself that he can't exactly refuse the younger man a hug when he looks that down, which is why he easily accepts it, even as he's still feeling the dredges of disappointment creeping up on him. It's been a while, hugging Gunwook like this, and Hanbin can feel the difference in the way that he seems larger, somehow, as if he's grown even more in the few months that passed since their last meetup before Gunwook went on tour. "I didn't really mean to forget, I just lost track of the time while I was in the studio."

Hanbin feels the frown on his face deepen even more, as he hears the younger say his apologies. "Gunwook-ah," he starts again, because he thinks Gunwook might've gotten it all mixed up, thinking that he was angry at him for not showing up to their planned breakfast together, when it was about something else. "You know that I'm not mad about the breakfast, right? We could always do it some other time."

"You're not?" the confusion on Gunwook's face reminds Hanbin that even all grown up like this, at his core, Gunwook is still the same boy he met in Boys Planet—that even with all the time that has passed between them, Gunwook will always be one of his precious dongsaengs that he resolved to take care of the moment they had first spoken, all those years ago. Like this, he's reminded just how young Gunwook still is— that regardless of the charts he's landed himself in and the records he's broken, Gunwook is still practically the same age that he was, all those years ago, when they first debuted in ZEROBASEONE. Thinking of how much he didn't know at Gunwook's age only fuels his worry and disappointment even further, and he breaks away from the hug to hold the younger man at arm's length.

"Yeojun told me you haven't been sleeping at the dorm these past few days," he starts, immediately getting to the point and watching the way the '05 liner's eyes widen at the revelation. "He also told me you haven't been eating the meals the manager has been sending you, and that you're practically living off of coffee these days." 

Hanbin watches the blood rush to Gunwook's face, embarrassment evident on his features as he gets berated by one of his closest hyungs. Normally, Hanbin would stop there, confident that the shame from being called out by a hyung he admires will be enough to bring Gunwook to his senses. But he's talked with both Yeojun and their manager, and this has been going on for months. Hanbin feels his heart start to hurt as he grips Gunwook's shoulders tight, making the younger look up at him. "Gunwook-ah, that isn't good for you."

He sees Gunwook start to rapidly nod in agreement, apologies still falling from his lips and his heart squeezes even further. He looks even younger like this, impossibly small despite his height, and Hanbin can see the bags underneath his eyes as a result of late nights and coffee-powered all nighters. He looks tired, impossibly so for someone like him who's usually full of vitality and energy, always ready to be somebody else's energy during the most tiring of schedules. It's only been a few weeks since tour ended, so for Gunwook to end up like this in that relatively short time frame means that he's been at it almost every night—choosing to hole up in this little room with his MIDI instead of getting proper rest like he should be.

A moment passes. Then, Gunwook lets his head fall forward, resting it on Hanbin's shoulder. Hanbin lets him, and together, they take a few deep breaths, silence quickly enveloping the room.

"Gunwook-ah, what's wrong?" he finally asks, and he feels the way Gunwook seizes up in his arms before letting out a big sigh. It's the kind of sigh that people only do when they're particularly worn out, the one that happens when that tiredness becomes bone deep and you can't seem to ever get rid of it, no matter how many nights you spend trying to sweat it out. Hanbin knows because he's been that tired, too. "Talk to hyung."

It feels like forever before Gunwook lays his head on Hanbin's shoulder, the younger man's own shoulders sagging as he takes another big sigh. "It just feels so overwhelming, hyung." Hanbin hums and rubs Gunwook's back, letting the younger know that he's listening. "All this attention suddenly on us. It feels like I constantly have to do something so we don't get pushed out by somebody else."

At once, Hanbin knows what Gunwook's talking about. He remembers waking up one day and seeing Gunwook's group's last comeback—which the younger had produced himself—on the top of the MelOn TOP100, beating out more seasoned competitors after having gone viral overnight after being used in the background of Running Man. The next thing he knew, he was scrambling to call Gunwook, the younger man freaking out alongside him as the song had achieved RAK-status, then a PAK. It was like another 'underdog wins' story, seeing Gunwook's song win against all their seniors and fellow monster rookies, despite the lack of promotion from his company. Hanbin couldn't be anymore proud, and he remembers telling Gunwook that before the younger man had left for their tour. He remembers how full his heart had felt, seeing his dongsaeng's hardwork finally come to fruition.

Seeing him now, though, all broken down and tired from the pressure being put on him, Hanbin's heart is anything but full. 

"Gunwook-ah," he starts, but pauses as he feels the younger take in a deep breath to continue. "Hyung, everytime I wake up, the first thing I do is check the charts. And then I think to myself, 'How can I top this?'. And then I remember all the comments calling us one-hit wonders and I wonder 'Are they right?'" Gunwook breathes out again, continuing to lay his head on Hanbin's shoulder. "It's just so...tiring, hyung."

Gunwook doesn't cry, but Hanbin can feel his despair all the same, the heaviness of his words reminding Hanbin of a time so long ago, when he felt responsible for the success of a rookie boygroup formed over a survival show, the burden of leader being saddled upon him even before they've formally debuted. He wonders just how fast time flew by, to have the same burdens he carried now be passed on to Gunwook, who—even now as the leader of his own group—still feels like the 18-year-old who once gifted him a Tayo the Bus chair for his birthday.

"Gunwook-ah," he starts again, pulling the younger man into a hug as he does so. Impossibly, he feels Gunwook sag against him even more, his dongsaeng soft in his arms like he wasn't 187cm and made of almost pure muscle. "You shouldn't keep these things to yourself."

He feels Gunwook start against him, but Hanbin shushes the younger with a caress of his hair. "I know that I'm not really the best person to say this," he chuckles, as he remembers the times he had kept all the burdens of being a leader to himself, unwilling to ask for help because that was his job, his role, and why should anyone else help him? "But your members aren't there just for you to lead and guide them around. They're there to help you. To share the burden, as well."

He remembers the lightness he felt once he had stopped shouldering everything and instead actually talked it out with the others—first with his hyungs, and then with Matthew and Taerae, as well—the feeling of relief that had overwhelmed him once he stopped taking on everything, and instead let the others also help out. He desperately wishes that Gunwook would feel the same relief, soon, as well. "I mean, you guys are a team, right? Even just by talking with Yeojun earlier, I already saw just how worried they were about you. I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't ice you out if you tell them about your worries."

"And besides, your hyungs are there too. Me, Hao, Jiwoong hyung, Matthew, Taerae, Ricky, Gyuvin...even Yujin! You know we're only a call away, right?" he continues as he hugs Gunwook even tighter, the younger still sagging in his arms with his face pressed against Hanbin's shoulder. "We can't do anything about how the industry works, but at least we can all support each other through it, right? A lot of people love you, Gunwookie. You don't have to do this alone."

He feels Gunwook start to chuckle at his words, the '05 liner raising his head from its perch on Hanbin's shoulder to playfully swat at him. "Hyung, you're so cheesy." 

And maybe Hanbin is cheesy, a pure romantic at heart that tries his best to only see the good in things. Still, his cheesiness got Gunwook to start laughing again, so he takes it as a win. 

"Still, thank you, hyung," Gunwook smiles, a little smile that lets Hanbin know just how thankful he is—if not for the talk, then for his presence. "It's nice to have someone hear me out like that every once in a while."

"And I'll always be here to hear you out, okay? Hyung will make time," Hanbin smiles back, unable to stop himself from pinching Gunwook's cheeks as the younger's smile slowly grows. "But really, clean out this room, Gunwookie! How can you even live like this?"

"Okay, hyung."

"And call Yeojun soon, okay? Poor thing was worried sick when I went to the dorm."

"Okay, hyung."

"And we're having breakfast after we clean up. I brought coffee and bread."

"Okay, hyung."

juiiiii 👼💗 & han🫘

 

juiiiii👼💗 (17:55): hanbin

juiiiii👼💗 (17:55): hanbin 

juiiiii👼💗 (17:56): hanbin 

 

han🫘 (17:57): jui hyung! 🤗

han🫘 (17:58): it’s been so long

han🫘 (17:58): what’s up

 

juiiiii👼💗 (17:58): we literally saw each other last week 🙄

juiiiii👼💗 (17:59): anyways

juiiiii👼💗 (18:00): [image sent]

juiiiii👼💗 (18:00): he misses you lol

 

han🫘 (18:02): ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

han🫘 (18:03): what is that on his head 

han🫘 (18:03): ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

 

juiiiii👼💗 (18:03): [image sent]

juiiiii👼💗 (18:03): a fan gave it to him while we were walking around

juiiiii👼💗 (18:05): [image sent]

juiiiii👼💗 (18:05): he told me to tell you not to laugh at him 🤭

 

han🫘 (18:05): oh cute ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

han🫘 (18:06): [image sent] 

han🫘 (18:06): ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

han🫘 (18:06): tell him i miss him too

han🫘 (18:06): [image sent] 

han🫘 (18:06): mao misses her papa too

 

juiiiii👼💗 (18:06): MY MAO BABY 😭 i miss you 

juiiiii👼💗 (18:06): you both are disgusting btw 

juiiiii👼💗 (18:06): by you two i mean NOT mao

juiiiii👼💗 (18:07): will do 🫡

juiiiii👼💗 (18:07): (you two owe me dinner)

 

han🫘 (18:07): thank you hyung ☺️

han🫘 (18:07): (tell him to treat you now)

han🫘 (18:08): (i’ll pay him back once he’s back)

 

juiiiii👼💗 (18:09): this is why you’re my favorite hanbin-ah 😍

juiiiii👼💗 (18:09): (he told me to tell you)

juiiiii👼💗 (18:10): (you owe him 45,000₩ in total btw)

juiiiii👼💗 (18:10): (because you left the dishwasher running last time)

 

han🫘 (18:10): 😟

In the three years since ZEROBASEONE disbanded, Hanbin knows that he's got three things: a successful solo career,a home that he shares with a dog that loves her other dad more than him and said other dad, and six best friends that he wholeheartedly believes are his brothers from another life. He knows that, for anyone else, it doesn't get any better than this.

(He also has someone who he knows loves him nearly and dearly, but that someone didn't respond to his texts last night—even when they promised to—so maybe he is feeling a little petty). 

Objectively speaking, he's somewhere most people at his age only ever dream of being, a comfortable life that he's built for himself with his blood, sweat, and tears, helped along by just the littlest bit of luck. Bottomline is: Hanbin knows he's got it good. 

That doesn't stop him from cursing his life, though, as incessant ringing echoes through the quiet apartment, breaking the quiet peace that only ever occurs in the mornings. From the way he hears Mao huff out from her doggy bed in the corner of the room, she's probably cursing, too. 

He tries to ignore it and go back to sleep, but the consecutive buzzing at his door wakes him up before the sunlight does, Mao nudging him awake as the doorbell annoys her too. Hanbin finds it a blessing that she's stopped herself from harmonizing with it the way she usually does, sparing him the concert and instead giving him a final judgmental side eye before going back to sleep. It's times like these that Hanbin's reminded just who her other dad is, the side-eyeing so familiar that if he were any crazier, he would swear it was genetic. 

The doorbell rings again, one last time before Hanbin calls out a frantic "Coming!" and rushes to find a clean shirt that would at least make him look respectable. He makes a ruckus as he does, and not for the first time, he curses his past self for thinking that sleeping without a shirt was ever a good idea. Mao opens one eye to stare at him and gives one loud huff—clearly annoyed at his antics, before going back to sleep. Just like her papa.

"Who is it," he calls out yet again as the person behind the door takes to knocking instead, frantic knocks that only make Hanbin rush toward the door. "I swear to Go—"

"Mao-ya, Uncle Gyuvin is here!" Gyuvin screams as he bursts in, rushing to take off his shoes as he looks for his designated puppy indoor slippers. He's been over enough times that he practically lives here, having his own set of slippers that Hanbin bought for him during their last trip to Everland. All that's missing is the key. Hanbin hears the tell-tale padding of Mao's paws across the hardwood floors, and it's obvious that Gyuvin hears it too, from the way his face splits into a smile of pure delight. 

"Not even a good morning?" Hanbin asks as Gyuvin runs towards Mao, smushing the Samoyed's cheeks and cooing to her as if she was a baby. To her credit, Mao just sits there and lets him do it, the thumping of her tail betraying her delight even as she gives Gyuvin a quick side-eye when he isn't looking. "I swear, you only come here for my dog."

"She's not your dog, though," Gyuvin teases as he asks Mao to weave through his legs, procuring a treat from seemingly out of nowhere when she does so. "She's only here because her papa is away."

"Gyuvinnie, we literally live together," Hanbin deadpans.

"Eh, semantics," Gyuvin calls out as he leads Mao to the kitchen, walking around as if he owns the place. With the way he's throwing open all the cabinet doors, Hanbin thinks, he might as well do. "Hyung, don't you have any food here?"

"I think there's ramen on the top shelf," he calls out as he enters the kitchen, settling down into one of the bar stools near the counter. "Gyuvin-ah, it's so early. What're you even doing here?"

Gyuvin simply hums back, busying himself with filling a pot up with water to boil ramen. Feeling Hanbin's searching gaze, though, he replies: "I was just bored."

Bored? 

"What do you mean by bored, Gyuvinnie?" he asks, but is ignored, the younger cracking up the ramen as he chucks it into the now-boiling water. Hanbin thinks that's not particularly safe, and cranes his neck to check if the fire extinguisher is still there. 

"Oh, hyung, what's this," Gyuvin asks as he saunters to the fridge and plucks the bright yellow sticky note from the door. The note reads 'Don't forget to clean out the dishwasher' in familiar handwriting, and Hanbin sees Gyuvin stifle back a laugh at the mundane, but seemingly funny note. "Did you clean out the dishwasher?"

"Yes, I di—Oh, don't change the subject, Kim Gyuvin," he bites out and sees Gyuvin give him an amused glance from the stove. "What do you mean by bored?"

"Just that, hyung. Bored. Can't a bored guy bother his favorite hyung in peace?" Gyuvin laughs out, and normally Hanbin would tease Gyuvin for saying that to every hyung he has, but now all Hanbin can see is a tension near his temple that normally isn't there. The '04 liner stirs the ramen in the pot as he continues. "Yujinnie is busy with his solo, so I can't exactly bother him right now. Seungeon and Yunseo were gone when I woke up, but they're probably in the practice rooms by now. I have a meeting about my solo later, but it's still so far away. So, yeah. I'm bored."

Hanbin notes the lack of mention of a distinctly blond figure. Interesting. 

"And that's why you're here," Hanbin deadpans. Gyuvin looks up from stirring the pot, and nods, giving him a thumbs up. "You're here because you're bored," he repeats again, waiting for the younger to refute. Gyuvin's stubborn, though, as he nods his head once more. "And not because you fought with Ricky again."

"Hyung!" the younger cries out, affronted. "Why do you think, everytime I come here, that it's because I fought with Shim Ricky? Do you think my life revolves around him? He can never go back for all I care!" Gyuvin looks ruffled as he busies himself once again with stirring, but Hanbin can see him stealing glances at his phone on the counter, as if waiting for a notification from a certain someone. Bingo.

"Okay, okay, then you're not fighting with Ricky, I get it," Hanbin acquiesces, watching the younger try to appear unbothered even if Hanbin does catch him stealing glances at his phone every now and then. "You mentioned your solo earlier. Tell me more about it."

Gyuvin proceeds to tell him all about the nitty-gritty details of the Yuehuaz solo project, a year-long promotion of solos that has already started with Yujin, the youngest, and will end with Zhang Hao, the oldest—only to culminate in a full group comeback by the start of the next year. It's an ambitious project, for sure—and it'll probably be tiring—but as he watches Gyuvin's eyes shine as he discusses the tracks he's been presented with and the concepts he's hoping to try, he can't help but root for his dongsaeng. "One of the tracks reminds me a lot of Taemin sunbaenim's Press Your Number, and I think that one's my favorite! We'll be deciding on the concept and final song later, but I really hope it's that one." 

"I hope it is, too, Gyuvinnie. I haven't heard it, but from the way you described it, I think it'll show off your charms a lot," he comments, and watches the way the younger man's eyes shine. Still, Hanbin can't help but notice how he steals another glance toward his phone, the lack of notifications probably unsettling the poor kid. 

"Oh, you're slated to go after Ollie and Yunseo, right?" Hanbin asks and Gyuvin nods in response. "Yujinnie's going to be promoting for around two weeks, I think, and then once that's done the teasers for Ollie's solo will come after."

Hanbin thinks Gyuvin will probably talk to him about it once he's ready, but the two have been fighting on-and-off so much these past few months, to the point that even Matthew had asked about it once. So he can't help but try to insert Ricky in the conversation, curious to know just what is going on and how he can help. 

"Wah, then that means Ricky is going to come after you, right?" Hanbin feigns ignorance and watches the way Gyuvin's shoulders become tense at the mention of his fellow '04 liner. "Say, do you know when he's coming back to Korea? He's been in Shanghai for 3 mo—"

"Hyung," Gyuvin turns off the stove, stopping his stirring to look back at Hanbin with a tense smile. "The ramen's ready. Where do you keep the bowls?"

Gyuvin's been over enough times that he practically lives at the place. It's unlikely that he doesn't know where the bowls are. Still, Hanbin knows when to leave it be, which is why he simply smiles back at Gyuvin and points towards the cabinet nearest to the stove, where he knows Gyuvin knows the bowls are kept. The younger man ladles the ramen into the bowls and deposits them on the counter in front of Hanbin, before settling down so they can start to eat.

A few moments pass before Gyuvin starts: "Hyung." 

Hanbin hums back, engrossed in his ramen but also paying attention to Gyuvin, just in case he's about to go off about Shen Ricky all over again. "Hyung," Gyuvin says once again, this time sighing deeply right after, as if saying the honorific proved much too strenuous for his lithe body. "Hyung."

"Hm, Gyuvin-ah?" he asks after slurping a noodle up. The sounds of them eating seems to have summoned Mao from wherever it is she went to earlier, the Samoyed sniffing around the kitchen for any droppings from their meal. Hanbin stands up from his seat to go and prepare her breakfast, knowing that his girl must be hungry, especially after being smushed by Gyuvin so early in the morning.

"Hyung, about the thing with Ricky," he hears Gyuvin continue, and he hums back from the counter where he's shredding chicken to put into Mao's bowl. "We'll sort it out, okay? I can't really talk about it now, because even I don't know what the hell is going on, but..."

He hears the '04 liner's voice taper out and looks back to see him glancing at his phone again. From what Hanbin can see, there's still no notifications—it's so sad, that if he was Gyuvin, he'd think that the smiles on the Yuehuaz group picture he'd set as his lockscreen were probably mocking him. "But...?" he prompts Gyuvin to continue, as he turns around again to continue shredding chicken for Mao.

"But we'll figure it out," Gyuvin continues, looking away from the phone and opting instead to play with Mao who's been swatting at his leg for the past minute or so. "And you said it yourself. His solo comes right after mine. He can't keep running away from me forever." The younger man sighs, looking all forlorn for a second, before pouting his lips and scrambling down from the stool to coo at Mao. "At least I know my Mao will never leave me! Am I right, Mao-ya."

Now used to it, the Samoyed simply licks at Gyuvin's hands as he squishes her face, tickling her belly as Mao flops down onto the floor. It's such a cute sight that Hanbin can't help but feel his heart melt a little, seeing the way Gyuvin laughs out as Mao's tail hits him in the face. Quietly, he curses the chicken he's shredding for giving him chicken hands and making him unable to take a picture. At least Mao will enjoy it, though.

"But Gyuvinie," he says, once Mao's eating and Gyuvin's back on the stool, eating what's left of his ramen. "You know you can always talk to me, right? Like not just about the Ricky thing. You can talk to me about anything."

Gyuvin swats at him playfully, and again, Hanbin is reminded of the Yuehuaz' tendency to nyang nyang punch anyone in their immediate radius. "Of course, I do, hyung-ah. I wasn't lying when I said you were my favorite hyung, you know." Still, the smile he gives Hanbin lets him know that the sentiment is received, and is very much appreciated. 

Still, Hanbin is nothing but a little petty. "You literally told Matthew he was your favorite hyung like, two weeks ago," he counters, and watches the way Gyuvin throws his head back and laughs. When he looks back at Hanbin once again, he doesn't spare a glance at his phone, and Hanbin considers that as a win. 

"Okay, so maybe you're not always my favorite, but you're my Top 1 for this month, hyung! You know how much I love you," he makes a kissy face and this time, it's Hanbin who swats at him.

"Because it's my birthday?"

"Because it's your birthday."

beeeeen_0613

[image description: A photo of Gyuvin eating ramen noodles at a kitchen counter. Hanbin can be seen in the reflection of the mirror behind Gyuvin, and his pajamas imply that the house they are in is his. In the background, you can see the living room with the TV running. Slightly visible also is a violin on display near the couch, though the reason as to why it's there is still unclear. The tail of a Samoyed can be seen in the corner of the picture.]

Liked by sqricky and 2,008,242 others 

beeeeen_0613 bin&bin 🐹🐶🐱

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hermesbin MY 2BINZ AHSAWHDAJDHS

hanbinswife good to see you both together!!!

haosmao HHHH IS THAT A SAMOYED TAIL I SEE MAO IS THAT YOUUUUU

gyuvingyuvout HELP pls tell me ur kitchen is still intact

lovelyuehuaz CUTE!!!! but since when did hanbin play violin or are my eyes deceiving me

ivebinthere @lovelyuehuaz violin???? hanbin???? where did you get that lmfao

lovelyuehuaz @ivebinthere assuming that this was taken in hanbin's house, it just struck me as weird that he'd have a violin there idk

ivebinthere @lovelyuehuaz but where's the violin...?

lovelyuehuaz @ivebinthere top right!! it's displayed in the background near the couch

hambeans IS THIS A ZB1 SOFT LAUNCH OR AM I CRAZY AGAIN

"Ricky-ah," he coos as soon as the younger picks up, angling his phone up to show him the sunglasses currently perched on his head. "I got the package, thank you so much, Mr. Saint Lauren Ambassador!" He tries to turn his head to show the sides off, the gold RICKY on the temples being the highlight. It's one of the three eyewear included in the package, all emblazoned with a golden RICKY on the sides as part of his collaboration with the luxury brand. "It's all so pretty, I can't choose my favorite, seriously."

"Ah, hyung, you're too much," Ricky smiles at him from the screen, the younger moving the phone the slightest bit to change the angle. For a second, Hanbin gets a closeup shot of Ricky's nostrils as the call lags. He's slightly jealous of how the '04 liner can never seem to have a bad angle. "But also, thank you. It's been a rough few months."

"You've worked hard, Ricky-ah! And it paid off, seriously, these look so good," Hanbin gushes as he flips the camera to show Ricky the other eyewear in the package—as if he wasn't the one that helped design them. He sees Ricky give a small smile at Hanbin's praise, ears turning slightly pink. Still, the background behind him does look familiar. "First eyewear, then we move on to clothes. I can already imagine it, ah, you're really amazing, Ricky-ah."

The further praise makes Ricky's ears turn even pinker, as he playfully moves to swat at the camera. "Hyung, that's too much," Ricky laughs, but it's obvious that he's pondering on it. Hanbin wouldn't be surprised if he's got some designs stored away somewhere in those many sketchbooks of his. "And besides, I can't design clothes right now! I have an album to promote!" The blond exclaims, referring to the mini EP he recently released and is currently promoting in China. 

"Don't forget to send me a copy, Ricky~" Hanbin jokingly croons and Ricky rolls his eyes, as if to say When did I ever forget you, hyung? The motion, though, directs Hanbin's gaze to his eyes, making him see how tired he looks. There are bags underneath his eyes that weren't there when he saw him three weeks ago, and his lips seem to be slightest bit chapped, as if he's been slacking on the extensive lip care routine he's established way before they met on Boys Planet. 

"Ricky," he starts, watching the way the younger boy keeps his eyes shut far longer than necessary while blinking away a stray eyelash. When Ricky looks back at him, the tiredness is much more evident on his face, as if he's spent the last few days tossing and turning instead of sleeping soundly. "Have you been getting enough sleep?"

He sees the younger man's internal fight with himself on whether to lie or not play out on his face, because Ricky has always been an open book if you just knew how to read him. Years of being his leader, and even longer being his close hyung have made reading Ricky as easy as breathing air; it's why Hanbin immediately knows when Ricky decides to tell the truth, the blond sighing out a "No, hyung." At the admission, Ricky gives him a tired smile but says nothing else, as if waiting for Hanbin to say something.

"Is it because of your schedules?" Through the little he's seen, Hanbin knows that most of Ricky's schedules right now are variety. He also knows just how long the recordings for these shows go on, the producers raring to go all night at the chance of possibly getting all the footage they need in one take. Hanbin can't imagine being shuttled to and fro variety shootings all day, having to maintain that high tension energy even as your body slowly shut down from the lack of rest. "If you want, we can end the call right now so you can take a nap. I just wanted to thank you, that's all."

"Oh no, really, it's fine, hyung," Ricky protests, even as he tries to suppress another yawn. He's obviously sleepy, still, but Hanbin lets him do what he pleases anyway, calling over Mao in the hopes that maybe seeing the Samoyed would at least alleviate some of the tiredness the blond is feeling. "Ricky-ah, look. Mao says hello!"

He flips the camera again and pans over to where Mao is situated, the Samoyed looking straight at it and letting out a little huff. He hears Ricky coo at the sight, and when he looks at the screen, once again, he sees the younger making grabbing motions with his other hand, as if wanting to squish and prod at Mao through the screen. It's both funny and endearing to see, like a cat wanting to squish a dog's face. "Mao, oh, I missed you. See you soon."

"She's gotten so big, hyung," Ricky comments as soon as Hanbin flips the camera again so they could start catching up once more. "I swear, the last time I was there, she barely reached my knees. Now I think she's about my thigh."

"You'll be surprised just how much things can change in three months, Ricky-ya," Hanbin laughs, as Ricky continues to gush over Mao and just how big she's gotten. "The next thing you know, she'll be learning how to unlock the door and I'll find her at least three blocks away from the complex."

"Oh, time passes by so fast," Ricky says in reply, strangely somber for the mostly jovial conversation. Hanbin tries to decide whether or not to ask him about it, knowing that if Ricky really wanted to, he'd be able to weasel past Hanbin's questions and change the topic as easily. It seems that he took too long though, as Ricky adds: "One day you're debuting in a group with guys you just met, the next you have a hyung with a dog named Cat."

Hanbin laughs, "That's why you have to come back now, Ricky-ah. Before you know it, I'm going to be introducing you to my cat named Fish." Then, because he can, he adds: "Everybody misses you, you know."

At the mention of everybody, Ricky gets a strange look in his eye that seems to tell that there's something he wants to let out, but doesn't know how to. He's seen the same look on Ricky's face a bunch of times before, being his roommate for most of their stay in the old dorms. "Hyung," he hears Ricky start and he hums to let the younger man he's listening, nodding his head in a way that he hopes shows him being interested rather than patronizing.

"If somebody told you they loved you right after you saw them kissing someone else, what would you do?"

Oh.

It's an...interesting question, to say the least, something that he wasn't really expecting Ricky to ask when he got the strange look on his face. He suddenly feels awkward, not knowing what to say. Thie is the first time, ever, that someone's come up to him and ask anything somewhat related to love. "Well, maybe they meant it in a platonic way, Ricky-ah. Not every love has to be romantic." 

"But then, they kissed you, afterward. After they said they love you, I mean," Ricky expounds, and Hanbin feels a headache start to form, praying to whoever it is up there that Ricky's only talking about hypotheticals or maybe even a scenario he saw being enacted in a drama—anything but real-life. 

"Is this a hypothetical, Ricky-ah or have you let cheesy dramas get to you lately," Hanbin tries to joke, but Ricky stays strangely silent, still looking as troubled as he did a few moments ago. Oh no. Hanbin can feel the headache even more now. "Hm, then maybe it should be like this: maybe the person should ask themselves if they love the other back."

"They don't know," Ricky responds, way too fast for the situation to either be a hypothetical or something from a drama. Hanbin feels his heart start to squeeze at the confused look on Ricky's face, as if Hanbin's response truly did change how he views the situation as a whole. "I think that somebody spent their whole life thinking the other was annoying. Kind, yes, but annoying. But also annoying in the they-can't-imagine-life-without-them sense."

"So maybe that somebody should take some time to reevaluate their feelings about the other person before doing anything," he comments, and then, after thinking it over, adds: "And maybe that person who kissed somebody else should actually explain why they kissed that other person, especially if they already love that certain somebody." Hanbin thinks he isn't making much sense, the vagueness of the terms making them difficult to use, but Ricky nods along, as if absorbing everything Hanbin is saying.

For good measure, he also adds: "And maybe if I was that somebody, I wouldn't run away. Maybe I'll come back as soon as I can so I can sort things out with the person." It probably hits way too close to home, and he internally cringes as he watches Ricky pause for a second, registering the situation Hanbin's somehow created to be too similar to his own. Then, he lets out a big yawn. 

"Hm, maybe you're right, hyung," Ricky yawns out. "I could see why ge likes you a lot."

"Well, he better," Hanbin laughs at Ricky's statement, then flips the camera over to show Mao on her back wriggling about on the floor. "Because I have his daughter right here."

Ricky laughs and coos at Mao again, twisiting around to get in a more comfortable position. As he does so, Hanbin thinks he spots a familiar coffee table, the dent in the side too noticeable. "Oh, Ricky-ah, where are you, by the way?"

At his question, the younger man snickers, flipping the camera to show off the place where he's currently staying. "I'm at your place, hyung. Look!" he pans the phone slowly to show Hanbin, who, even in the dark, recognizes the layout of the unit in China, dented coffee table and all. "Ge left me the keys since I was in the area and nobody was home, so I'm staying here instead of the hotel."

"Oh," Hanbin nods, because it does make sense. Then, Ricky continues: "I don't really sleep on the bed, though. I don't even go near the master's bedroom, to be honest. God knows what those walls have seen."

It's such a derailing from the earlier tone of their conversation that it immediately flusters Hanbin, the tips of his ears burning a bright red at the younger man's insinuation. "Ya, Shen Ricky!"

"What? I said nothing, hyung," but there's the shit-eating grin on his face that reminds Hanbin just how much of a menace Ricky can be, when he chooses to be. He hears a ringing coming from the background, and Ricky turns to it before waving to the camera. "Manager is here, I got to go. Thanks for the chat, hyung!"

"Thank you for the package, Ricky! And please, come back soon! Mao misses you."

"Give her lots of pet for me, hyung," Ricky says as he stands up from wherever it is he's been lounging on for the past few minutes. "And maybe I'll even be back before your birthday, ha, advanced happy birthday, Hanbing hyung!"

The call cuts off. 

[instiz] F*ck…ZEROBASEONE are still close after all this time…

Survival show groups sometimes have a hard time because the members don’t really become close, and you can really see that after they disband…But f*ck, I really think Jebewon beat that…It seems like the kids are still in touch and are close…ㅠㅠ

[image description: Photo of Hanbin, Jiwoong, Gunwook, and Taerae backstage at Taerae’s first ever solo concert, posing in front of a coffee truck. Looking closer, you can see that the truck is actually a support sent by the Yuehua half of the group with Matthew, with an edit showing Hao, Gyuvin, Ricky, Matthew, and Yujin's faces surrounding a flower Taerae.]

Our Hanbin leader-nim especially seems close with all of them ㅋㅋㅋ I even saw some I-fans say that he’s collecting them like Pokemon these days ㅋㅋㅋ 

[image description: Screenshot of Hanbin’s Instagram story thanking Ricky for the PR Package. In the story you can see that he’s captioned the story with ‘feeling young and rich with @sqricky 😎 thanks bro #SQRxYSL #YSLByRICKY ’ with Ricky’s solo song playing in the background.]

[image description: Photo of Hanbin with the Yuehuaz during their debut showcase. In it, you can see the Yuehuaz with their respective jackets, and Hanbin in the middle, flashing two V-signs.]

[image description: Screenshot of Matthew's Instagram post with Hanbin and Jiwoong, when they were on Running Man together. In the photo, Hanbin is sleeping on Jiwoong's lap, while the older man scrolls through his phone. The photo is captioned 'oh i caught it @official_kimjiwoong @beeeeen_0613 🙈']

Wah, seriously...they're f*cking family at this point ㅋㅋㅋ Hao even joined our leader's family for Chuseok...and there's been reports of Taerae going to Ludia (Hanbin's mother's cafe) everytime he's in Cheonnan...

[image description: Screenshot of Hanbin's sister's Instagram post, showing Zhang Hao smiling with Hanbin on his left side and Hanbin's mom on the other, both also smiling. The post is captioned 'happy holidays!!! 🥳' with only Ludia Cafe's Instagram being tagged.]

If anything, you can really see Sung Hanbin's character from the way they all stayed close...I feel like he must've been such a doting leader, to have such close relationships with his hyungs and dongsaengs like that...ㅠㅠ Ahh, Hanbin-ah, I can't help but like you more, walk the flower path well~

[+1,703 / -391]

1. [+899 / -268] Wah, they really are close...but isn't the one with Hao just ㅋㅋ It looks like a son-in-law paying respects to his in-laws...ㅋㅋ

[+387 / -109] Heol I see it ㅋㅋ But Hao has always been one of the closest with Hanbin, I wasn't even a ZE_ROSE then and I knew about them ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[+104 / -23] Ah, but aren't they so close that Hao's dog even stays with Hanbin when he's away ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I think he talked about it once on broadcast, I'm not sure

2. [+725 / -231] Our leader-nim ㅠㅠ The members all showed up for his solo debut showcase too!! Even HaoRicky who had international schedules at the time ㅠㅠ

[image description: Photo of the members at Hanbin's solo debut showcase. In the photo, you can see all of them happily grinning, with Jiwoong and Gunwook messing up Hanbin's hair.]

3. [+567 / -202] Now I can't help but wish for a reunion...Our Jebewon ㅠㅠ

4. [+385 / -160] Oh my, I'm not really a fan, but just looking at this, isn't Sung Hanbin too perfect...? His face is at the top, his skills are no joke, and you're telling me he's got a good personality too..? Wah, I can't help but think 'So people like this exist in the world, too' ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[+95 / -8] OP-yah, I think at this rate, you should join us and become an Allin too~ Hanbinie is always showing amazing stages but he's keeps saying that he's still working hard to be better too!! ㅋㅋPlease continue to shower our egg yolk with lots of love~

5. [+100 / -75] Ah, Jebewon members, please continue to love our Hambinie well~

He keeps his head low as he navigates through the throngs of staff milling about, bouquet clutched in his hands as he scours his surroundings for a 182cm bunny. It's dark and a little hotter than he would like backstage, the lights from the main stage making those in the back feel hot, as well. Hanbin kind of regrets wearing double layers as he feels sweat start to form near his nape. He really wishes he had a fan right now. 

As if having mercy on him though, it only takes him a few minutes of waiting before he spots Yujin from the crowd, clad in his stage outfit of baggy shorts and a shirt with a basketball jersey over it. It's not personally Hanbin's taste, but from a purely conceptual standpoint, he kind of understands what the stylists were going for. Yujin's solo concept was about bright first loves after all, and the outfit just added to the overall vibe of the song. 

"Yujin-ah," he calls out as the maknae steps down from the stage, the sweat from the pre-recording making his skin glisten under the bright lights. He's a little farther away from Yujin than he likes, but he'd rather stay here than distract the numerous staff going around, least of all the hair, makeup, and stylist noonas that would surely give him hell for even attempting to distract them. "Yujin-ah!" he tries again, louder this time in the hopes of Yujin finally hearing him amidst all the commotion.

He sees the exact moment Yujin hears him as the younger looks up from listening to the manager next to him, eyes widening as he finally registers Hanbin and the huge bouquet of roses in his hands, "Hanbin hyung!" He's lucky that Yujin's seemingly done with recordings for now, as the younger runs up to him with a big smile. Like this, smiling up at him with his hair a little mussed from dancing, he looks eerily identical to the teen he'd met all those years ago, barely even out of middle school before being thrusted into the world of survival shows. He's grown up well, Hanbin can't help but think, seeing the way Yujin has grown into his skin over the past few years—his solo being the culmination of the growing he's spent. 

“This is from the both of us,” Hanbin says as he thrusts the bouquet of flowers into Yujin's hands, the maknae scrambling to make sure that it isn't crushed in the process. At his words, Yujin looks up from the flowers and into Hanbin's eyes, then back at the flowers again. Hanbin can see the smile on Yujin's face start to grow as the boy—a man now, his brain reminds him—caresses one of the petals of the numerous blue roses in his arms. "He's really sorry he couldn't make it, you know."

"Of course, I do," Yujin simply replies and urges him to follow into the waiting room, still carefully carrying the roses in his hands as to not crush them. Once there, he urges Hanbin to take a seat and gives him a slice of cake in one motion, Yujin coming to settle in the chair in front of him as he, too, munches on a slice of cake. "Hyung told me he prepared a cake to be sent for me last night, but he didn't say anything about the flowers." 

"Oh, is the cake from that one bakery we always get cakes from?" Yujin nods at his question, and proceeds to stuff a big chunk of it into his mouth, making him look even more like a bunny than usual.  They sit in companionable silence for a while, occasionally commenting on the performances being aired on the TV in the room. It's a bit weird, being there and not actually performing, feeling underdressed when put next to Yujin who—even after demolishing a slice of cake—still has impeccable hair and makeup. He tells this to Yujin, who just laughs at him.

"It's even weirder being the only performing onstage, hyung," Yujin says as they watch a girl group dance onstage. "Everytime I do a turn, I keep expecting to bump into Seungeon hyung or Ricky hyung, because we always manage to do it, especially during the first take." The '07 liner laughs as he reminisces probably a memory of him doing exactly what he just said. "Except when I look around, it's just me and the dancers onstage. It's so weird."

Hanbin feels himself smile at the shudder Yujin exaggerates, letting out a chuckle at the face the younger man makes while doing so. "I know what you mean, Yujinnie. I was like that, too, during my first solo debut. It's weird being up there by yourself."

"Right?" Yujin exclaims, arms flailing around. "I asked hyung about it once, and he told me that I'll just get slowly used to it. But," the boy pauses, engrossed at the Taemin performance airing on the TV. Hanbin didn't even know that their sunbaenim had finally had a comeback. "It's so incredibly lonely, you know? I miss the hyungs. I don't think I ever want to get used to it."

Hanbin's heart can't help but ache at what he hears, Yujin's words sending him back to a time when he felt that way too—missing his members as the spotlight shone solely on him, the stage feeling empty without Zhang Hao's little laughs and Gyuvin's buttslaps of encouragement. It had made him miserable, at first, feeling the loneliness Yujin had spoken about as he navigated all his schedules alone. He had missed being in a group—being in ZEROBASEONE—terribly, and the constant fumbles he had during the first months of his solo was testament of that.

It was hard, after all, suddenly being left all alone when you've gotten used to eight other hands holding you up through the waves of the Korean music industry. 

"Thankfully you won't ever have to be alone, then, Yujinnie," he brightly remarks, ignoring the urge to ruffle Yujin's perfectly messy hair. "Even when Gyuvin, Seungeon, and Yunseo have to enlist, you'll always have the others. Maybe you can even be in a subunit with Hao and Ricky, like BSS."

"No, hyung," Yujin shakes his head at Hanbin's words. He suddenly looks so serious that Hanbin wonders just what he said wrong. He's about to apologize, before Yujin beats him to it and cuts him off. "We won't be BSS. We'll obviously be Orange Caramel, hyung."

Hanbin laughs as he imagines the three of them dancing in synch wearing sushi outfits. He thinks that if that were to happen, Ricky would quite literally die. He tells this to Yujin, who laughs out loud at the image, immediately getting his phone to go and talk about it in the Yuehuaz group chat. "Ricky hyung told me that he'd rather switch places with you, Hanbin hyung!"

"Hm, why not? I think I can pull off a sashimi headpiece," he plays along, even as his mind is plagued by the possibilities. A subunit with him, Hao, and Yujin. What a concept. Hanbin thinks that even if they had him singing about bananas and monkeys, he'd still take it, not letting an opportunity like that pass. "Ah, this is so silly, Yujin-ah."

"But why not, hyung?" Yujin laughs, playfully swatting at him. That's 3 out of 4 now, he mentally counts, 3 out of 4 Yuehuaz swatting at me. He's really starting to think that there's something in the Yuehua water that makes every single one of them go nyang nyang punch. He thinks he should probably visit soon to try. "The possibilities are endless! Maybe we can even perform something like that at like, the future ZB1 reunion, or something."

"A reunion? Yujinnie, do you miss me that much?" he teases, and Yujin moves to swat at him again, but Hanbin is quick to move away, already anticipating it. "But that would be nice, right? Our anniversary is coming up."

"You're saying that like you have a plan, Hanbin hyung."

"No? This is how I literally talk, Yujinnie."

Yujin looks at him suspiciously. Hanbin simply smiles, raising his hands as if to prove he isn't thinking of anything. 

"But you always have a plan," Yujin says, and Hanbin laughs because he's right. He does always have a plan. And maybe some plans work, some don't. But Hanbin's learned to adjust and plan ahead over the years, contingencies upon contingencies to make sure that at the very least, he achieves his goal. So maybe he does have a plan. A plan that's been 3 years in the making, and maybe he's had to adjust it a few times, but this time he hopes it's enough.

"Let's get you that Orange Caramel stage at the reunion concert, Yujinnie!" he says brightly, even as Yujin looks on confused. 

"You're being weird again, Hanbin hyung."

Hanbin simply smiles and winks. 

ZEROBASEONE Reunion in the works…”The company has been in contact with the other companies and negotiations are underway."

Written by Kim Gyubin

The long-awaited reunion of Boys Planet project group ZEROBASEONE is reportedly in the works, an insider reports, as the group's 6th debut anniversary is set to occur. While details are still not yet finalized, the possibility of the reunion pushing through is at an "all-time high," with a group live broadcast planned to occur on July 10th. This live will be the kickstarter to ZEROBASEONE's reunion event, which will feature a reunion album and a possible world tour. It should be noted that ZEROBASEONE's last world tour back in 2025 garnered unexpected success, setting a standard for all the other group tours to follow. 

Spearheading the negotiations for said reunion is SH1NE Entertainment, the company of which leader Sung Hanbin is both the founder and current CEO. Based on insider reports, the company is currently negotiating for the terms stated above, with most of the other members' companies in agreement. One company is said to still be hesitant, though, especially as ZEROBASEONE members primarily make up a group of theirs that has a new project that was recently launched this year. It is expected that negotiations will end sometime this month, though the results of said negotiations are still up in the air. 

Hao comes home on the Tuesday before his birthday. 

Hanbin knows this because as soon as he steps into the front door, he sees that the shoes by the cabinet are neatly arranged, unlike the mess that he left it last night. He also doesn't have a faceful of Samoyed running to greet him, which means that Mao's probably with her other dad, who she always seems to like better, even if Hanbin's the one that buys the expensive treats for her. Anyone who says that fur children can't show favoritism is clearly a liar. 

He sees that Hao's indoor slippers—the red panda ones that they got during that one trip to Everland with the rest of the members—aren't in the cabinet, confirming his suspicions that he's home. "Hao-ge, welcome home!" he calls out in clumsy Mandarin, still not used to the language despite years of Hao teaching him and spending half of his time in their little penthouse in China. There's no response even as he repeats the utterance in Korean, not even from Mao, who usually trots out of the bedroom as soon as she hears him come home. Where could they be?

"Hao-ge," he calls out again as he steps into the living room, seeing Hao's carrier put away near the couch. There's no response—not even a little bark from Mao, the apartment as quiet as ever. It's a bit unsettling, being surrounded by this silence, when he's spent the last few years in anything but. Since they've all but moved into this unit together, Hanbin's life has been nothing but constant barks and exclamations of expletives in a foreign language. "Hao-ge, where are you?" he tries again. Still no response. 

Maybe they're trying to pull a prank on me, Hanbin thinks, as he peeks into the kitchen and sees no trace of his Hao and Mao. Zhang Hao, as a housemate, was surprisingly cheeky—his calm facade tricking you until you're suddenly finding yourself at the mercy of a Chinese man and his big white dog, the two of them making gleeful noises as said dog holds a basket of all the other pairs of your socks on the day you're running late after you forgot to empty the dishwasher out. The unexpected duo was surprisingly good at being menaces, and the rest of the members, too,  had found themselves at their mercy at some point in the past few years. Hanbin particularly remembers an incident with Ricky and a big tub of black hair dye. 

"Baobe-" he starts as he enters the bedroom, but stops himself at the sight, heart immediately melting into a puddle of goo. Hao has always told him he's way too soft, sponge-like in the way he accepts all of Hao, his love, pranks, expletives, constant nagging to empty dishwasher and all. Still, Hao can't possibly fault him for the way he melts now, not when Hao himself is sleeping on their shared bed, the left side that's ran cold for the past few months finally welcoming back its owner after some time away. Cuddled up next to him is Mao, and maybe Hanbin should be annoyed that he's possibly going to find dog fur in between his pillows for the next few weeks, but he can't bring himself to when he sees the way Hao snuggles in further into Mao's coat, clutching it as the both of them are claimed by the vestiges of sleep. It's like something straight out of Hanbin's dreams, his little family that he's managed to build for himself in spite of all the shit life has thrown his way. 

Hao makes a little noise and, impossibly, presses deeper into the sheets. Hanbin's heart officially melts into a pathetic yet overflowing puddle of love goo. 

He snaps a quick picture before he goes into their shared bathroom to quickly shower, careful to not make too much noise lest he wake up the two sleeping beauties on the bed. It's as he's toweling himself dry, the steam from the shower still hitting him, that he hears Hao call out, Mao's little bark following shortly. "Bin-ah?"

"Hyung, I'm in the bathroom!" he responds, busy drying his hair that somehow manages to never completely dry unless he hits it with a blow dryer or has Hao towel it for him. He hears Hao pad into the bathroom softly, sleep-soft and still evidently sleepy as he stares at Hanbin for a few seconds before giving him a little smile. Hanbin, helpless to his hyung's wiles, especially so that he's seen him again after weeks of separation, smiles back. "Bin-ah, I thought it was your birthday. Why're you the one giving me a gift?" 

Hao motions to Hanbin's abs with a giddy little smile, the little towel he's used to cover himself seemingly invisible under the heat of Zhang Hao's gaze. Hanbin simply throws his head back and laughs, walking over to Hao with open arms. Hao walks to him, too, and they meet in the middle just like that, with Hao in his pink sleep shirt and Hanbin in nothing but his towel, hugging as the steam of the shower he just took threatens to overwhelm the both of them. Hanbin thinks he should probably feel bad for getting Hao all wet, but Hao himself doesn't seem to mind as he buries his face into Hanbin's neck and leaves a little kiss there. "Welcome home, hyung-ah. I missed you."

"We literally saw each other two weeks ago," Hao separates from him to hit his chest, but smiles up at him anyway. Like this, all sleep-soft and giddy and his, Hao is all of his dreams come true. He tells him that and watches the way his hyung's ears start to burn, eyes widening as he swats once more at Hanbin's chest. Seeing Hao wear his familiar pink sleep-shirt and all blushed up, Hanbin can't help but remember the both of them in the Boys Planet dorms, stealing touches just like this in the privacy of the communal showers in the dead of the night. Oh, we've come so far, Hanbin thinks, and we're only getting started. 

His heart surges in his chest, overwhelmed by love for the man in front of him, his hyung who effectively captured his heart with just a single glance, his other half who he knows will be walking with him until they're both old and gray and he can't find it in himself to try and one-up Hao's pranks anymore. 

"You just can't say things like that, Bin, what about my poor old man hea—" he's cut off as Hanbin presses a soft kiss onto his lips, barely needing to lean down to do so. Immediately, he feels Hao start to reciprocate, the push-and-pull of their kisses like a dance that the two have mastered over the years. It's like muscle memory, at this point, as he grips Zhang Hao's waist and feels Hao start to massage his nape, the ministrations making him soft as putty in Hao's hands. It's a testament to how far they've come, that they're able to just simply kiss and touch without feeling the need to eat each other up like they once did back when they were first starting out. Hanbin knows that Hao knows that he'll always want him, and he knows that Hao will always want him too, but it's also nice to just do this without feeling the burn of want coursing through his veins. 

The burn is still there, of course, but more contained. It's like they've transitioned from the raging wildfire that they were back in the day—constantly doing shit to get a rise out of the other, the push-and-pull a remnant from their days as competitors— to this contained flame. Burning bright, yes, but not enough to hurt. A flame that serves to nurture and to keep the other warm, and to make sure that the days of the other will continue to remain bright and happy. It's that kind of flame, and Hanbin knows just how lucky he is to find someone that's as willing as Hao to keep the flame alive with him. 

For a while, they just stay there, Hanbin's wet hair effectively drenching the right side of Hao's sleep shirt as they stay just like that, pressed together and simply breathing the other in. "Hanbin-ah," Hao starts as he cards his hands through the wet strands of Hanbin's hair. "I missed you, too, but we really need to dry your hair or else you're going to get sick." Hanbin whines at this and presses Hao closer to his chest, the older man letting out a chuckle at Hanbin's display. "I'm serious, Bin-ah, you have Fashion Week in a few days. Dior will have your ass if you get sick."

At the entrance to the bathroom, Mao barks, as if agreeing with Hao's words. Hanbin sees her and sticks his tongue out a little as he hugs Hao even tighter, causing the Samoyed to bark even louder. Still, even as she barks, Mao doesn't step into the bathroom, years of training evident in the way she prevents her feet from touching the wet floor, knowing she'll make a mess if she does so. That's my good girl, Hanbin thinks as Hao notices the barking Samoyed and proceeds to baby her, talking in a voice that he's only ever heard Hao use with the younger Yuehuaz when he's drunk. Under his ministrations, Mao melts and writhes on the floor, obviously delighted by now having all of Hao's attention on her. She gets that from me. 

"Hyung, what do you want for dinner," he asks as he bypasses the two to get to their closet, shrugging on one of Hao's bigger shirts and a pair of loose lounging pants. Walking past Zhang Hao rubbing Mao's belly near the bathroom, he checks by the sink for his ring, slipping it on immediately. On his way out, he chances a look at the clock near Hao's bed and sees that it's nearly 8pm, the 19:49 blaring red and signalling that they're well-past dinner time. "Maybe we can order in? I don't think we have anything left in the fridge, I haven't gone out, yet," he says just as Hao motions for him to sit by the bed so he can start drying his hair.

"You don't think that you don't have anything left in the fridge, Sung Hanbin," Hao starts as he's toweling Hanbin's hair dry. Hanbin doesn't know how, but he's always so soft with it, even more so than the stylist noonas at the salon and during shoots. Hao does something with his hands that somehow alleviates the tension Hanbin's feeling near his temple, and Hanbin can't help but let out a small moan, the sudden release of the knot there surprising him. "You know that you don't have anything left. Gyuvin told me that last time he came here, you only offered him ramen. Ramen!"

Hanbin laughs at Hao's exasperated tone, his hyung continuing to towel dry his hair and massage his head at the same time. It's a routine that has stuck with them ever since Boys Planet, the simple act of drying the other's hair being one of the only times they can stay together and just relax, the tiredness of the day washing away as soon as he feels Hao's fingers in his hair. Hanbin remembers the way the other members teased them for it at the dorms, yet still managed to give them enough space so they can complete the routine even if they were assigned to different rooms. "You know I'd just burn down the kitchen if I do anything other than boil water, hyung-ah."

"Sometimes I wonder how we've survived together for so long, knowing that between the two of us, the only dishes we know how to cook is boiled water and ramen with eggs," Hao mutters and Hanbin barks out a short laugh. A second later and Hao is laughing too, until they're both so deep into their laughs that Mao rushes into the room and starts barking along with them, almost as if she's harmonizing in her own dog way. Blinking back a few tears away, Hanbin reaches out and pets Mao on the snout, getting a lick to the cheek in the process. "I'm so serious, Bin-ah. I can't even look at mom in the eye whenever we go to Cheonnan for the holidays, knowing that all I feed her boy is a few packs of ramen and call it a day."

He starts to giggle again at Hao's serious tone, but it's less from humor and more from the fact that he's all giddy over hearing Hao call his mother 'mom,' as if that was a new thing and not something Hao has picked up since meeting his family years ago. It doesn't fail to make his heart jackrabbit, hearing the way Hao refers to his family in such familiar terms, the formalness slowly shedding away as they spend more years by each other's side. The happiness he feels when he hears Hao do so is only rivalled by the happiness he feels when Hao's family calls him Binbin, the nickname a testament as to how Hanbin and Hao have slowly integrated themselves into the other's family units, enough so to warrant a nickname that's said with fondness and love. 

This is the first time I've brought somebody to meet my parents, he remembers Hao telling him years ago, back when a break during ZEROBASEONE promotions allowed Hao and Ricky to come home to China and rest. Hao had asked if Hanbin would like to tag along. Hanbin said he would've followed Hao to the ends of the Earth. He had met Hao's parents on that trip, and then his extended family, and then his college friends, and then the rest was history, adding only to the ever-growing story of HanbinandHao that seemed to start a new chapter that trip. He still can't believe just how far they've come, after all this time.

Hao hums while he's patting away at Hanbin's hair, as if he has an idea as to what Hanbin's thinking about and he's agreeing. With the way things are, Hanbin wouldn't even be surprised if there was a psychic connection between them. It'll just be another universe thing, like the way Hao was born 323 days earlier than him, and the way their moon phases are surprisingly identical. It's normal, at this point. 

They're fated after all. Again, Hao hums from above him as if agreeing with him, Mao huffing soon after when Hanbin's hand stops scratching her back. Hanbin smiles. He's home. 

0️⃣⚾️☝️HANBIN BDAY BASH DON'T ADD HIM HERE!!!!

 

maechu 💪 (20:01): hao hyung

Kim Jiwoong (20:01): hao 

maechu 💪 (20:02): hao hyung 

maechu 💪 (20:03): open up we're here 

 

mao's papa 🐼 (20:03): HUH 

mao's papa 🐼 (20:04): it’s still early though? 

 

taetaeraerae 🌞🥵 (20:04): hao hyung you literally said 8 on the dot

king gyubing 🐶 (20:05): he can't type rn since he's carrying the pizzas but ricky says to hurry up 

king gyubing 🐶 (20:05): OMFG IT IS HOT hao hyung his hands will burn

taetaeraerae 🌞🥵 (20:06): they're abt to squabble omfg ricky don't do it

Yujin 🐰💗 (20:06): HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

 

mao's papa 🐼 (20:08): WAIT 

mao's papa 🐼 (20:08): his hair is still wet

 

wookie 🐣 (20:09): hao hyung pls open up

wookie 🐣 (20:09): jiwoong hyung almost dropped the cake

 

mao's papa 🐼 (20:10): huh  

mao's papa 🐼 (20:10): @king gyubing @wookie didn't i tell you not to let jiwoong hold the cake

 

Kim Jiwoong (20:12): 😞

Yujin 🐰💗 (20:12): HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

maechu 💪 (20:13): hyung pick up the phone

His musings are cut short as he hears Hao's phone buzz by his head, the older man too busy drying Hanbin's hair to notice. "Hyung, your phone is ringing." 

"Oh, thank you, Bin-ah. Wait a second," Hao smiles as he takes one look at the screen, as if to end the call before it even started. However, one glance at the screen has his eyes widening as he immediately picks up the call, going quiet as he listens to the speaker on the other side of the call. Hanbin watches as he hums and gives clipped replies, making it hard for Hanbin to ascertain what the call is all about. He simply focuses on petting Mao who's settled by him, half-heartedly drying his hair as he tries to listen in on the call. "Bin-ah," Hao suddenly calls out, startling Hanbin who is quick to give him a small smile. "What time is it?"

Hanbin chances a glance at the clock near Hao's bed. It reads 20:15. He tells Hao as such, and watches the way Hao's eyes widen, quickly ending the call after a rushed goodbye. "Who was that?"

Zhang Hao simply gives him a small smile as he peruses the cabinet for a shirt, picking out one of Hanbin's own to replace the sleep-shirt that Hanbin had drenched earlier. "Just a friend, they were asking me if I was free to guest on a show." Hanbin simply hums back, hair now passably dry as he continues playing with Mao. The Samoyed's all worked up now, jumping and running to try and get the toy from Hanbin's grasp. 

"Say, Hanbin-ah," he hears Hao start as he finishes putting the shirt on, the older man chancing another glance at the clock near his bed. Hanbin looks, too. 20:22. He turns at the sound of his name, and sees that Hao's standing before him, holding his hand out to help him up. "What would you like to do for your birthday?"

"Can't we just do what we always do, hyung?" he asks, because he's nothing but a hopeless romantic at heart who loves nothing but having little couple traditions, something between the two of them that nobody else can get in between. For birthdays, it's staying up late and eating take out on the couch, watching cheesy Korean and Chinese dramas that have them cringing out of the sheer cheesiness, and then sobbing when somebody expectedly dies. It's a tradition that started as early as their ZEROBASEONE days, and while Mao has slowly snuck into the tradition over the past few years, snuggling with them on the couch as sauces get stuck in her hair, it's something that has mostly stayed the same. Just the two of them with their kid, eating junk that they'll probably regret eating in the morning when they're all puffy for a schedule, and cheesy dramas that are too good to be true. The perfect birthday. Hanbin feels giddy just thinking about it.

"Hm, of course we are, baby," Hao smiles as if Hanbin was stating the obvious. Of course I'll sit in my pajamas with you and rewatch that Boys Over Flowers yacht scene over and over again, his smile seemed to say. Hanbin has never been more in love. "I just wanted to ask since maybe you wanted to do something different, maybe something during the day?"

That makes Hanbin think. Then, he remembers the way he's met up with all of the members in the past few weeks, and feels his heart start to twist again. Oh, he misses them a lot. "Then maybe I'd want to do something with the members! It's been a while since we all just met up."

"You met them all recently, though," Hao teases.

"But it's not the same when you aren't there, hyung. It's not ZEROBASEONE if we aren't all together, you know," he reminds him, letting some of that leader voice seep into his tone as he does so. Hao simply nods his head and laughs, agreeing to Hanbin's statement. It's no secret, after all, just how much Hanbin loves the group. He'd been the one most desperate in the days leading up to the disbandment after all, praying day after day that somehow a miracle would occur and a contract extension would be released. "And it's not ZEROBASEONE either without you, Hanbinnie," Hao replies back. "You keep us together, you know."

Hanbin smiles. Hao smiles back. Then, he asks: "So that's what you want then? A mini ZB1 reunion for your birthday?"

He pretends to ponder for a bit, before giggling a little and enclosing Hao in his arms, the older man's hands automatically holding onto his waist. He squeezes him as he thinks about the possibility of everyone finally getting together after all this time, drinking and eating together the way they did back then. The last time everyone had been together was for his solo debut, and that was a whole 3 years ago. Hanbin can't believe it's been that long. "Wouldn't that be the dream, though? Having my little family back together for my birthday!" He sees Zhang Hao smile at the use of the word 'family,' what he knows to be fondness dripping out of him in waves. Hanbin knows this because he knows Hao like the back of his hand. 

"Everyone is busy these days, though," remembering how Matthew's probably in Italy, while Jiwoong is busy filming for his movie. Ricky's probably still in Shanghai, and Gyuvin's probably busy with preparations for his solo. He knows Yujin's busy with promotions, and Taerae and Gunwook are probably busy negotiating with their companies to get their song together formally released. My little family, he thinks again, all busy and doing grown-up things. I can't be more proud.

He directs another smile toward Hao's way as he says: "Maybe next time! When everybody's a little free, maybe we can host a little trip out to Jeju, like the old days." And hopefully with a little less fansites stalking our every move, he silently adds. He sees Hao stifle a laugh as they share a look, most probably sharing the same thought. 

The moment between them breaks as the doorbell sounds, a singular ringing that echoes through the unit. It startles Mao enough that she starts barking, and Hanbin stifles a laugh as he tries to calm her down. "Hyung-ah, are you expecting anyone?" 

"Can you get the door, Bin-ah? Maybe it's just a package," Hao smiles as he heads towards the kitchen, probably off to get himself a glass of water. Still, a package this late? Hanbin feels himself grow wary of whoever it is by the door, stealing another glance at Hao as he passes through the kitchen. The older man smiles at him and waves him off, gulping down another glass while doing so. Beside him, Mao is strangely quiet too, the only sounds she's making being from the padding of her feet against the hardwood floors. Hanbin gives her one last pat before checking the intercom to see who is it, but it's strangely powered off.

What the fuck?

He unlocks the door, bracing himself for the worse. He thinks Mao can probably hold whoever it is off for a while—because she's his good girl—while Hanbin runs off to get Hao so the three of them can bolt it out of there. The Yuehuaz dorms are the closest, so they can probably stay there for the night while their managers sort shit out. 

Now armed with a plan, he opens the door, sending out a silent prayer to whoever up there is listening. He's met with silence. And then he hears somebody clear their throat.

And then: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUNG HANBIN~"

A cacophony of noise envelops him as he hears the rest of ZB1 members sing happy birthday, every single one of them starting at a different time so it starts sounding like 'Birthday Happy Hanbin' at some point. Strangely though, they're all still in tune, the culmination of the years they've spend perfecting encore stages together. Still, Hanbin doesn't care about any of that vocal theory shit as he watches Gunwook and Gyuvin flail around holding a lit cake, Ricky doing a little dance beside them with boxes upon boxes of pizza in his hands. In the back he sees Yujin and Jiwoong with confetti poppers in both hands, brightly singing along with Matthew and Taerae as the latter hits a tambourine against the underside of his hand. 

It's all such a mess, and their neighbors are probably going to be on his ass tomorrow for making such a ruckus, but all Hanbin can do is stare in shock at the scene before him, the members now singing another rendition of Happy Birthday, this time led by Gunwook who's somehow passed the cake on to a hesitant Jiwoong. It's such a familiar sight, and it's as if Hanbin's been transported back in time to their old dorms, celebrating his first birthday as ZEROBASEONE'S Hanbin with flowers in his hair and his members by his side. He thinks that if he blinks now, he'll see the pizzas turn into chicken boxes, and the cake turn into the cupcake that Jiwoong had somehow found time to bake even if they were swamped with debut preparations.

"Happy birthday, Bin-ah," he hears someone say from behind, and he's looking back to see Hao, wearing a ribbon around his neck that says HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANBIN in bold letters. Beside him is Mao, who's somehow been convinced by Hao to wear a flower headdress, looking like a stray daisy with her pure white fur. Oh.

The members start with the birthday song again, and this time Hao joins in, followed by Mao who barks along as if harmonizing. Hanbin feels his chest seize at the sight, feeling overwhelmed by the love he has for this group of people, who somehow made the life he's built for himself unlike the lonely desert he's imagined it to be, but instead full of love and light.

This is my family.

Hanbin can't help it. He cries. 

zhanghao

[image description: A series of photos taken during Hanbin's surprise birthday dinner. The first photo is of the ZEROBASEONE members all together, smiling together as Hanbin holds up his cake. aIn the picture, Hanbin's eyes are strangely puffy, but the happiness he feels is still evident in his whisker smile. The second picture is similar to the first, except the members are all pulling weird faces while Hanbin smiles, unaware. The third photo in the series features a shot of all their hands piled on top of each other, eerily similar to the first ever photo they shared as a debuted group; highlighted in this are the matching silver rings each hand sports. Notably, two hands sport another pair of rings that the others do not have. The fourth photo is a shot of just Hanbin and Hao, the former drunkenly giggling while the latter watches on with fond eyes. The last photo is almost the same as the previous one, except in this one, Mao is peeking her face in the gap between both of their bodies.]

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zhanghao day one

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