Work Text:
"Is your guitar tuned, Jungwon?"
"Yes"
"And your bass, Sunoo?"
"All good, hyung."
"Do you have your drumsticks, Ni-ki?"
"Yes, mom!"
Sunghoon glared at the youngest who simply winked in return.
"Let them be, Sunghoon ah. I'm sure they've got everything." Heeseung said "Just relax"
"Yeah, you're more anxious than us and you're not even performing." Jake said
"Someone should be nervous for you. This might be your big break!" Sunghoon said
"Or everyone will hate us and throw rotten tomatoes at us." Jake fell on the couch
"Hyung, this isn't the 18th century," Jungwon said, "they'll boo at us and tell us to get off the stage."
"Stop it, you guys are going to be great up there. Everyone will love you. I promise." Sunghoon reassured
"But you don't know that, Sunghoonie," Heeseung frowned
"Hyung, remember when I used to hate you guys?" Sunghoon said
"Only because of Jay hyung." Ni-ki snorted
"Yeah, whatever," Sunghoon waved a hand on dismissal "but it was irrational. Then I saw you guys perform at our school festival and I was in love."
"With Jay hyung," Sunoo interrupted
"With your music!" Sunghoon corrected him. "The six of you are so amazing and talented. You're passionate about your music so I'm sure the audience will understand that. Just get out there and give it your all!"
"I guess you're right, manager nim." Jungwon smiled "We just gotta go out there and give it our all."
"Speaking of giving it our all, where's Jay?" Jake asked, looking around. There was no of the raven-haired guitarist.
"He's probably somewhere getting his pre-gig smooches in." Sunghoon rolled his eyes. The others looked at each other sheepishly.
"W- well, you've cleaned up for the occasion, haven't you?" Heeseung changed topics to avoid any particularly sour conversations for Sunghoon.
"Oh yeah," Sunghoon readjusted his bright red jacket, "thought I'd get into the festival mood and enjoy myself little."
"Looking like that, you might even get some tonight, hyung." Sunoo smirked
"Sunghoon hyung is mine!" Ni-ki pouted jokingly, clinging to the older.
"You're a kid." Sunghoon laughed, patting the youngest's head
"I'm seventeen!"
"Still a kid."
"Hyung!" Ni-ki sulked
"You all seem chipper." Came a voice from the door to their small makeshift dressing room.
"Oh, Jay!" Jake exclaimed, "There you are!"
Sunghoon sneaked a look at Jay who was dressed in a simple white shirt, jeans and a blue denim vest. One that Sunghoon had hand-picked patches for and ironed on for him. His electric was slung over the back of his shoulder and even with messy hair and smudged lipstick on his face, he looked gorgeous.
"You can't go on stage looking like that!" Sunghoon shrieked pulling away from Ni-ki's arms, much to the youngest's disappointment and hurried over to smooth down Jay's hair and wipe away the hot pink lipstick marks.
"What's wrong with the way I look?" Jay joked as Sunghoon fussed over him.
Sunghoon tried to swallow his jealousy as he swiped a wet wipe around the guitarist's lips. Maybe he was being a little harsh or maybe the lipstick stain was too stubborn, clinging onto Jay's face.
"Was she hot?" Heeseung asked
"A decent seven." Jay shrugged "You're gonna rub my lips right off, snowflake."
"I wouldn't have to put in this much effort if you'd just picked a girl who doesn't wear highly pigmented lipstick now would I, firecracker?"
"Aren't you two adorable." Jungwon rolled his eyes.
"Your pet names are taking me out" Jake laughed
"How'd you even come up with firecracker?" Ni-ki asked
Sunghoon stepped away from Jay now that he'd gotten the lipstick off. Jay smiled at him, and Sunghoon smiled back.
"We're not telling you." Jay blew a raspberry at his bandmates.
"Sunghoon hyung will tell me," Ni-ki said, wiggling his eyebrows at the manager.
"Nah, I want to keep that to myself." Sunghoon said, "Anyways, you guys do your final checks, I'm gonna check in with the stagehands on your slot."
A chorus of 'thank yous' and grunts followed. Sunghoon exited the green room.
Jay slumped against the wall and pulled a small tube out of his pocket, tossing it to Sunoo.
"Thanks for the lipstick." The guitarist said
"One of these days my sister's gonna catch me stealing her lipstick." Sunoo sighed
"Just tell her you're gay." Heeseung shrugged
Sunoo rolled his eyes.
"Or maybe Jay hyung should stop pretending like he can pull bitches just to make Sunghoon hyung jealous." The bassist complained
"You know, Sunoo hyung has a point." Jungwon said, "When are you gonna man up and just confess to him, hyung?"
"I don't even know if he likes me."
"What if I told you that he-" Jake discreetly elbowed Heeseung before the oldest could let anything slip. "I mean you're sabotaging what you could have by brazenly pretending like you're straight and have no interest in him."
"Then maybe it's for the best." Jay said sitting down with his electric and digging through his bag for the tuner.
The rest shared a look. It was obvious that Jay and Sunghoon had feelings for each other but both idiots are simply too stubborn to confess.
Sunghoon had approached Heeseung about his feelings first, simply to get it off his chest but was unwilling to convey his feelings to his best friend for fear of rejection and what it would do to their relationship. He'd pleaded that the oldest keep it a secret and unfortunately, Heeseung could never refuse Sunghoon.
Jay took a different approach, his band members figuring out about his gigantic crush on Sunghoon in the way his eyes softened, lingered and longed for the other. When Jungwon confronted him about it, Jay devised a plan to figure out of Sunghoon reciprocated his feelings. Said plan involved deliberate attempts to make Sunghoon jealous.
However, their manager wasn't the type to outwardly show his jealousy. Instead, it stewed within him and mixed with the strong feelings he had for their band's main guitarist.
The group decided not to intervene in their friends' love lives to just let them figure everything out but unfortunately, it was going downhill.
"Guys," Sunghoon walked back in, "you're up in five minutes!"
"Are we ready?" Jungwon asked looking around the room, getting nods and thumbs-ups in response.
"Let's give it our all then!" Jay exclaimed putting his hand out.
His bandmates came by and stacked their hands on his, Sunoo even pulled Sunghoon along with him. With the seven of them cuddled close, giddy and nervous, Jungwon began their chant.
"ENHYPEN!"
"FIGHTING!!"
"Make me proud!" Sunghoon said when they pulled apart.
The maknae line nodded and went on ahead, Heeseung and Jake running along with behind them with Ni-ki's drumsticks that he'd left behind.
"Well, good luck out there." Sunghoon said picking up his bag, "I'll be in the audience cheering you on."
"It's finally happening," Jay said, uncharacteristically quiet. "We're finally performing in front of thousands of people."
"You nervous?" Sunghoon asked
"More like afraid," Jay said placing a hand on his chest "my heart feels like it's gonna leap out of my chest."
"Your pre-gig make-out didn't help?" Sunghoon raised an eyebrow
"That's just- she wasn't great." Jay lied
"You're such a jerk." Sunghoon snorted
"Gee thanks," Jay said sarcastically, "you're making me feel much bett-"
Sunghoon cut Jay off by leaning in and placing a kiss on Jay's cheek.
"I'm not gonna make out with you but I hope this is enough." Sunghoon smiled
Jay opened and closed his mouth like a fish, shocked. Sunghoon frowned. Maybe he shouldn't have done that.
"What..." Jay said lamely
"I- Fuck!" Sunghoon said glancing at the clock "You don't have time. You have a minute to get up on stage."
"But I-"
"You're gonna be amazing out there, now go bring the roof down on the place." Sunghoon pushed him out of the door.
Jay sighed, his bandmates were waiting for him.
"You'll be cheering us on?" Jay asked
"Always," Sunghoon smiled, "now go get 'em firecracker!"
Sunghoon gestured a thumbs up to the rest. Jay got a quick slap on Sunghoon's ass, another pre-show ritual, he'd like to clarify and walked up to his bandmates.
"Let's do this guys!" Jay said
"We're gonna show them what we've got." Heeseung said patting Jay's back.
"Standby," a stage assistant said. The emcee was already introducing them. Any second now, they'd be standing there in front of a large crowd of people who don't know them, doing what they know best.
They were no longer in Jake's garage or their school's shitty music room or even at their college festival. This was real. Their big break. Their one chance to get their name out there.
"Ready?"
Jay turned around one last time to see Sunghoon still standing there, a wide smile on his face.
"You got this!" He mouthed
"Let's go!"
"Good evening Seoul!" Jake yelled as soon as they were on stage and Ni-ki was on the drums immediately. Jay began to strum a familiar tune "One in a billion" and looked around the crowd for a certain brunette in a red jacket.
The audience was receptive as Jungwon began to sing, cheering loudly. Sunoo looked ecstatic next to him.
Finally, in the sea of faces, Jay locked eyes with Sunghoon who stood still among a moving crowd, a proud smile on his face.
The adrenaline took over and before he knew it Jay was jumping around, belting out lyrics, headbanging and having the time of his life.
Sunghoon watched as his friends performed. They were already on their third song of the night and the crowd was in love with them. They were particularly fond of the maknaes, cheers deafening for Sunoo. But of course, the older ones got love too. All Heeseung did was wink and the girls right up in front keeled over.
"They're good" Someone came up next to him and said
"They are!" Sunghoon had to yell a little to be heard over all the music and the cheering. He was beaming with pride at his friends' getting praise.
"You here by yourself?" The stranger asked
"Why, you wanna keep me company?" Sunghoon asked glancing at the stranger who smiled back.
"I'm Nicholas" the stranger introduced himself.
"Sunghoon," he said
"So, come here often?" Nicholas asked, eliciting a chuckle from Sunghoon.
"Are you hitting on me?" He raised an eyebrow
"Hey, I thought I'd shoot my shot." Nicholas winked "I'd know if you came often. Would definitely remember someone as beautiful as you."
Nicholas wasn't bad looking, a few inches taller than him, fox eyes, gorgeous. Although, he preferred a certain tsundere, cat-like loser who was currently playing his guitar on stage like he was possessed.
"I'm actually with them," Sunghoon pointed to ENHYPEN on stage "I'm their unofficial manager."
"Unofficial?" Nicholas asked
"I'm their friend who can't play an instrument but happens to be responsible enough to take care of them. So they keep me around." Sunghoon joked
"Then I guess I'm talking to the right person." Nicholas said "I'm a recruiter for belift labels. I wonder if your friends would be interested to sign with us."
The recruiter pulled out his business card and handed it to Sunghoon who graciously accepted and looked at it.
"Oh wow, you're the real deal." Sunghoon's eyes widened, "I will be sure to bring it up with them. They'll be over the moon."
"Do you have any way I could contact you?"
"I don't have a business card."
"Unofficially I mean." Nicholas clarified, scooting just a little closer.
"So you want my number?" Sunghoon asked
"Mayhaps"
"I don't just hand my number to strangers you know." Sunghoon said
"In that case, how about we get to know each other?" Nicholas suggested. "A nice dinner after your band's gig maybe?"
Sunghoon pondered it for a quick moment and glanced towards the stage at Jay who was up in front, crouched down and singing at the audience.
Maybe it's time he moved on.
Sunghoon looked at Nicholas and smiled.
"I'll think about it."
Jay always loved performing but today felt different. The large crowd cheering for them gave him an exhilarating feeling. They're all on their feet, bouncing along to their music.
Jay's eyes naturally gravitated to the section where Sunghoon was standing expecting to catch his best friend's gaze.
However Sunghoin was not looking back at him, instead he was talking to someone. They were laughing. He just leaned in closer. The stranger whispered something in Sunghoon's ear. They're swaying to the music together. They're giggling again.
Jay's vision blurred.
"Hyung?" Jungwon whispered next to him "You kinda froze up, you okay?"
Fuck he'd stopped playing but thankfully the others took over. The song slowly came to a halt and Jake was about to speak into the mic but Jay beat him to it.
"The next song is one we've never really performed before."
This seemed to have garnered Sunghoon's attention, he whipped his head away from the stranger to lock eyes with Jay.
"It's for a special someone out here in the crowd tonight." Jay continued. Sunghoon tilted his head, confused.
His poor bandmates were also looking at him confused. They hadn't planned this.
"This one's called Attention, please!" Jay yelled into the mic, "Hit it Ni-ki!"
The maknae acted on instinct and counted down, hitting the drums with a bang.
Jay shouted to hype the crowd, playing a practised melody on his electric.
"Let's go!" Sunoo yelled into his mic, going along with Jay's impulsiveness.
"Say what you want,
I refuse to be indifferent
Everyone wants me." Heeseung sang
Jay brought the mic close and looked right at Sunghoon
"Among the crowd, it's your heart.
I'm only looking at you." Jay sang
Sunghoon stared back at Jay wide-eyed and then pulled out his phone to check the setlist Heeseung had sent him.
"Is something wrong?" Nicholas asked
"No just, I don't remember them rehearsing this song," Sunghoon said
"Maybe they wanted to surprise you." Nicholas laughed
"Jerks" Sunghoon mumbled
"It's a good song." Nicholas said, "Makes me want to dance."
"It's nice, I've never heard this one." Sunghoon admitted, Nicholas turned towards the stage.
"The main guitarist is looking at you. He looks angry?" The recruiter pointed out
"That's just Jay's face" Sunghoon shook his head and turned his attention back to Nicholas.
Why were they getting closer? And why wasn't Sunghoon looking at him? Jay's strumming became more aggressive.
"I don't have the courage to confess first,
But I want you to notice my feelings for you." Jake sang
"Oh no, I don't know what to do,
A twisted dream,"
"Let's go!" Ni-ki yelled
"Attention, Please,
Everyone pays attention to me, everyone pays attention to me, get it, get it." Jay sang
"But why the hell do you pretend like you don't see me?"
Sunghoon glanced at him, eyebrow raised at his lyrics only to shift his attention back to the stranger who was whispering something in his ear. Both swaying to the beat.
"Why do you pretend like you don't see me again? panic, panic"
It should be me.
"I can't move (save me)"
I want to tell you that I love you
"Falling into a dilemma (at this point)"
Don't look at him. Look at me.
"I'm scared of losing everything"
"Increased follow and heart (Like it)"
Everyone's looking at me.
"The feeling of getting farther and farther away from you"
So why are you looking at him?
"These lyrics are something else huh?" Nicholas chuckled, "Who do you think they're for?"
"Probably some chick in the audience." Sunghoon shrugged trying to ignore the pang in his chest as he said those words.
Jay would never look at him, not in the way he wants him to.
"He seems to be looking at you though." Nicholas said
"Attention please!"
Sunghoon held Jay's gaze for a long moment.
"Everyone pays attention to me, everyone pays attention to me, get it, get it"
Why was Jay looking at him? Why isn't he looking away?
Was he...?
No, Sunghoon needed to stop with these delusions. He can never have Jay.
"But why the hell do you pretend like you don't see me?"
Sunghoon averted his gaze.
"Panic, panic"
"I need to go." Sunghoon stumbled
"You okay?" Nicholas steadied him with a hand on his back.
"Yeah, just-"
Jay was playing his guitar solo, gaze burning into him.
"I need to go."
Sunghoon turned to leave, weaving through the crowd.
"Hey wait!" Nicholas called out after him, getting lost among the sea of people.
The music stopped.
There were hushed whispers.
"Hyu-"
"Hey, snowflake!" Sunghoon stopped in his tracks. "Where do you think you're going?"
"You promised me that you'd be cheering us on, so where are you leaving?" Jay said into the mic.
The audience looked around confused, trying to decipher who the 'snowflake' was.
Sunghoon's ears burned.
"I know you're not a fan of big gestures. Heck, didn't even think I was gonna make a big gesture but I've done it now and there's no going back." Jay said
"Park Sunghoon, I want you to only look at me." Jay confessed.
Sunghoon who was still turned away from Jay gasped. What the fuck was Jay doing?
"I only have eyes for you. I am head over heels in love with you and I'm sorry I hadn't confessed earlier but I was a coward and I didn't want to ruin the friendship we have."
"I thought I'd be alright with us just staying friends as long as I have you by my side but now I realise that I can't settle with just that. I'm selfish. I want all your attention. I want all your love. I want you." Jay said, voice cracking at the end.
"So please, if you feel the same way. Look at me. Only at me." Jay finished.
The audience now having gathered who Jay was addressing among the large crowd parted, giving Sunghoon space.
Sunghoon was shaking. He couldn't believe Jay had just admitted his feelings to him. In front of thousands of people. And was now waiting for his response.
So many eyes were on him. Sunghoon felt nauseous.
"Please, just look at me."
Sunghoon turned around, complying with the guitarist's request. Suddenly, there was nothing else. The thousands of people disappeared, Jay's bandmates disappeared. Nicholas disappeared.
"I- I" Sunghoon stuttered out before taking a deep breath.
"Did you really have to stop playing to confess to me though?" Sunghoon yelled
Jay blinked. His bandmates chuckled. There were a few snickers from the audience too.
"Finish your set and then I'll tell you how I feel." Sunghoon said
Jay smiled because he already knew. Sunghoon was looking at him now and only him.
"Attention Please!"
"Everyone pays attention to me, everyone pays attention to me, get it, get it"
____________
Jay was hastily packing up his guitar, they'd just finished their set and Sunghoon wasn't backstage.
"That was a bold move Jay-ah" Heeseung chuckled "didn't think you had it in you."
Jay grumbled, eyes darting to the doorway as each member walked in.
"Jay hyung!" Jungwon wiggled his eyebrows
"Please, just look at me." Ni-ki mocked Jay making Sunoo laugh loudly
"Go easy on him guys, he's probably embarrassed enough after that confession." Jake said
"Wow, thanks," Jay rolled his eyes "Aren't you the bestest friends I could ask for."
"You should be grateful that they went along with your impromptu stunt back there." A new but familiar voice said
Jay whipped his head towards the door only to see Sunghoon... and the stranger from earlier.
The guitarist clenched his jaw. It was over for him.
"I'd like to introduce you all to Nicholas," Sunghoon said "He's a recruiter from belift labels..."
As life-altering as that sentence was, Jay couldn't be bothered to listen to Sunghoon yap about this dude. He'd made his choice and it wasn't Jay.
He should just pack up and leave. Let the others handle everything, they'd understand.
"...Jay? Jay,"
Fuck, there were tear drops on his guitar case. He wanted to play it off cool. He thought he could handle getting rejected by his best friend. He thought he'd handle it with more grace at least.
Jay shut his eyes tight, wanting to dissappear. Hopefully the darkness will take him.
A warm pair of lips brushed against his, a hand hovered over the back of his neck.
Jay opened his eyes.
Sunghoon was looking at him, faces inches apart. Lips parted lightly, lashes fluttering. Eyes waiting.
"You told me to look at you but now that I'm looking, you won't pay attention to me." Sunghoon said, lower lip jutting out in a pout.
God, Jay just wanted to lean in and kiss him.
"Do it, idiot." Sunghoon prompted
Jay leaned in closing the gap. Finally, Sunghoon plush lips were against his own. It was electrifying, a feeling that could only be rivalled by the exhilaration of standing on stage. Jay wanted more.
"My virgin eyes!" Ni-ki cried out making the two pull away.
"Why were you watching?" Sunghoon yelled
"I shot my shot." Nicholas shrugged "should have known though, the pretty ones are always taken."
"Damn right," Jay glared at the stranger.
"Jay-ah, be nice." Sunghoon warned
"Well at least I don't have to steal my sister's lipstick anymore." Sunoo sighed in relief
"Huh?" Sunghoon asked confused
"Get this hyung!" Jungwon giggled "you know those pre-gig make-out sessions that Jay hyung would have?"
"Don't say another word, Yang Jungwon!" Jay threatened
"Yeah those were just Jay attempting to make you jealous." Heeseung said instead "he didn't even kiss anyone, he'd just smear Sunoo's sister's lipstick on his lips."
"What?" Sunghoon asked, more amused than anything else.
"Oh, that's rough my guy!" Nicholas said
"Shut up! You don't even know me!" Jay grumbled
"Be nice Jay!"Sunghoon chided again
"Yeah Jay be nice, if it wasn't for Nicholas-sshi, you wouldn't have been jealous enough to confess." Jake said
"You were jealous?" Sunghoon raised an eyebrow.
"I hate you all!" Jay groaned eliciting chuckles from the group.
Sunghoon leaned in slightly and whispered to Jay, "I love you, Jay"
And Jay melted right there.