Work Text:
When Hyungwon had suggested the idea of meeting for a lunch, Jeonghan had panicked as he always does when the question of interacting with people outside of Seventeen came up. The interaction wasn't the problem as much as the setting was. At this point in his career, Jeonghan was more comfortable with industry friends in front of a camera than he was in the privacy of a booth in a fancy restaurant having a one-on-one meal. What would they even talk about beyond the hellos and how you beens? Jeonghan wasn't as great a conversationalist as his on-screen persona made him out to be. His bandmates could attest to that. Well, he was way less awkward with them now than years before, but they've all seen him fumbling his words and fake his laughs too many times to count now.
So really, when he texted Mingyu, it was as a mercy to Hyungwon, who didn't deserve to be subjected to Jeonghan's brand of 'beating around the bush' talks alone.
Jeonghan
Minggoo-ya, do you wanna grab lunch this Saturday?
MIngyu
just us...?
Jeonghan
Hyungwon hyung is also coming
Mingyu
hyungwon from monstax? ur boy crush? 😜
Jeonghan paused for a moment, startled. How did Mingyu even know about that? Had he seen the pic Jeonghan posted with Hyungwon? But he didn't remember Mingyu liking that post. Hmm.
Ignoring his burning curiosity, he started typing.
Jeonghan
Which other Hyungwon do you know?
It took a while for Mingyu to reply, almost long enough for Jeonghan to wonder if he'd been left at read. Wouldn't be the first time when it came to this particular brat.
Mingyu
hyung if u r goin wid him, y invite me?
Jeonghan
...
It'd be awkward otherwise
Mingyu
hav u asked Seungkwan? he went last tym wid u.
Jeonghan
Yes but he's not coming this time.
Mingyu
so I'm ur second choice since Kwannie rejected u.
Jeonghan
Nobody rejected me!!? I took back my offer because he was being rude to me.
Anyway, that's not even the point. Focus, Minggoo!
Mingyu
wat did he say?
Jeonghan
I just told you that's not important.
...
He called me a coward.
What Jeonghan didn't specify was that Seungkwan called him a coward for "not wanting to go on a date-like lunch with Hyungwon, your 'boy crush' because god-forbid your actual 'crush' crush get the wrong idea when in reality, you're too scared to even admit your feelings to yourself let alone confess to him!"
...
Whatever that meant. Jeonghan himself didn't understand what Seungkwan had been on about, so really how would Mingyu get it?
Mingyu
lmao ok
Jeonghan
Yah, you jerk! Are you coming or not?
Mingyu
can I invite sum1 too?
Jeonghan
Who? Minghao?
...Jungkook?
Mingyu
no i was thinkin eunwoo. havnt met him in sum tym
Jeonghan
Yeah, alright. Why not.
Just don't ditch me or I swear Kim Mingyu!
Mingyu
I would never do that, Jeonghan hyung.
The unexpected seriousness took Jeonghan aback. Truly, for a man as honest as Mingyu, it was surprisingly hard to understand him. For how can a person be that earnest and mean it? That wasn't how the world worked, right? But that was precisely how Mingyu worked, a fact which worried Jeonghan greatly. Because people like Mingyu were most liable to 'get scammed within five years' as Seungkwan was so fond of saying.
But no one was allowed to dupe Mingyu except Jeonghan himself. Not as long as he was around.
Jeonghan
Oh good! You know how to spell words properly.
Mingyu
😑
Jeonghan
Saturday at noon, don't forget.
Mingyu
👍
When Jeonghan had suggested the idea of going out for a lunch, Mingyu had been inexplicably excited. It wasn't often that the older initiated their outings plus it had been a while since they had gone out together to eat, just the two of them. So imagine his disappointment when it turned out that he was being offered to be the third wheel in whatever weird flirting thing Hyungwon and Jeonghan had going on. He should've said no; he almost said no (who was he kidding?) but Mingyu had always made it a point to be there for his friends, so a yes it was.
And really, how bad could it be? Mingyu would have Eunwoo to talk to if Jeonghan started ignoring him in favour of Hyungwon and he'd get a free meal out of it (because no way was he paying when Jeonghan was dragging him to moon over his boy crush). So free food and a hang out with his friend? That wasn't a bad deal at all.
...
Or Mingyu might have underestimated just how bad his luck usually is. Because the lunch hadn't even begun and Mingyu was already done with all of it. Who made him forget just how fussy Jeonghan can be? Mingyu should have seen this coming in all honesty.
It started when he reached Jeonghan and Seungkwan's place to pick up his hyung. He'd been on time, noon as Jeonghan had said or rather nagged everyday since they first agreed. And for all those reminders 3 times a day, he'd expected Jeonghan to be waiting and ready to go but when he called, a confirmation of the same was not what he got.
"Ah, Mingyu-ya, you're here?" Jeonghan asked as soon as he picked up.
"Yeah hyung. Come down."
"Ok~ I'll be there in 15," came the cheery reply.
Mingyu stared at his reflection in the side mirrors, watching as his brows visibly tensed at the words. "What do you mean 15 minutes? You said noon, it's noon! I'm right on time."
Jeonghan hummed distractedly, "I said that in case you were late. We agreed for lunch at 1 and it takes what... half an hour to get there? We'll be fine."
"What do you mean by fine?" Mingyu grit out. "Hyung I told Eunwoo 12:30 because you said noon! He'll be there so early and for what? Yoon Jeonghan you!"
Jeonghan sighed on the other end of the line, "Ayy, nobody is coming early. I'm not that heartless, you know? I took his number from Dokyeom and texted him the correct time. So relax Mingoo-ya."
"Ok whatever. Fine," Mingyu grumbled out before ending the call.
He could not believe the audacity of this man. Jeonghan would go so far as to text his friends behind his back just so that he could prank him? Astounding. But was it really? Maybe Mingyu should stop being so shocked by his antics by now.
The longer he sat waiting in his car under the glare of the sun, the more annoyed he felt. This must have been one of Jeonghan's tricks to get under his skin: leave him to rot in the heat just so he could be smug about pulling one over him. Mingyu considered texting the Seventeen group chat to whine about the unfairness of it all but knowing his bandmates, they were likelier to laugh at him than scold Jeonghan. Such was the world he lived in sadly.
Mingyu was on the verge of hatching a fool proof plan for getting back at Jeonghan when the devil himself knocked on the passenger side window. For a second Mingyu thought of leaving him there and driving off, but again, he wasn't evil unlike some others. Another impatient knock prompted him to unlock the car and let Jeonghan in.
"Yah! I almost got sunburnt!" Jeonghan said as he got comfortable in his seat, checking his arms for redness.
Mingyu couldn't help but roll his eyes, "As if you didn't bathe in sunscreen before stepping out."
Jeonghan sighed long-sufferingly, "these things take some minutes to be effective, pabo-ya. And if I'd taken any more time you would've chewn me out."
Mingyu had to wonder why Jeonghan didn't think he could still chew him out for giving him the wrong time. Just how did this guy's mind work?
"What?" Jeonghan asked when a whole minute had passed of Mingyu watching Jeonghan put on the seatbelt without saying anything.
"Hyung," he answered in a deadpan voice. "I'm not your chauffeur."
Jeonghan turned, silently raising a brow at him. And for a moment, Mingyu really thought if he'd lost some bet somewhere and agreed to chauffeur Jeonghan around for a day. Wouldn't be out of the realm of possibilities when it came to Seventeen, but especially not when it came to Jeonghan in particular.
Mingyu shook his head, speaking with a renewed vigour to state his case, "you didn't even have the decency to invite me in, hyung."
Jeonghan stared, bewildered, "why would I do that?-"
"Hyung!"
"-Because if I did then I'd have to offer you a drink like a good host and we don't exactly have time for that, do we?"
Mingyu gave up. There was no arguing with this man. Refusing to rise to the bait, Mingyu started the car, taking one last glimpse of the curb side where his peace of mind was ejected out the moment Jeonghan got in.
Hopefully he would survive the ride to their lunch venue.
"What's that smell?"
Maybe he spoke too soon.
"What now?" he asked, glancing at Jeonghan sniffing around like a dog.
After several more seconds of Jeonghan checking every nook and cranny, he focused his gaze on the dashboard where the car freshener sat. "Did you change your freshener brand?"
"No?" Mingyu was unsure, "but it's new. I bought the orchid one this time."
"It's shit," Jeonghan declared, pinching his nose. "God, open the windows a little."
Mingyu gave him a look, "hyung. It's like 37 degrees outside."
"I don't care, it stinks inside! Turn that shit off." And while saying so, he had successfully lowered the passenger side window a few inches, sighing in dramatic relief as he stuck his face close to the glass to breathe in the outside air.
Mingyu rolled his eyes but complied, closing off the freshener. He had personally liked it, yet Jeonghan always had been sensitive so it could be possible he actually found it repulsive and wasn't just being a nuisance for the hell of it. Sighing, he made a mental note to throw this one out and buy the lavender one that Jeonghan liked best.
"What do you need freshener for anyway? If you're driving, your perfume should be enough. It's nicer in any case," Jeonghan commented after a few minutes, when he had rolled his window back up.
For a moment, Mingyu couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. Jeonghan had a tendency to talk like life was a game of two lies and one half-truth; and Mingyu was far from being an expert. So here, if Jeonghan brought up his perfume twice and in positive tone both times, then it was safe to conclude he didn't hate the smell of it. But was he also implying that Mingyu sprayed too much? That the projection was too strong? Mingyu didn't know and was wise enough not to ask.
A tranquil quiet fell over them then, with Jeonghan humming along to some ost playing on the radio. Mingyu was bemoaning the state of the traffic to himself, sighing in frustration every few seconds. They'd been stuck at the same red light for the second cycle now and the line was long still, but Mingyu was determined to clear it this time, lane cutters be damned.
"Here." Jeonghan said, holding out a chapstick for him to take. When Mingyu just stared at the offering, he explained, "you've been licking your lips. Makes me think you're about to say something. It's distracting."
Again with the lies and half-truths, and now omissions too. Because what exactly was distracting? The idea that Mingyu was about to speak? Or his tongue swiping over his lips? Or was it both? Or neither? Maybe what was distracting Jeonghan was the fact that he was noticing Mingyu's lips and their dryness? Once again Mingyu didn't know what to make of it, so he simply reached out and took the balm.
Swiping it along on his lips once then twice, Mingyu didn't think of how it was the very balm Jeonghan must have used today if he was carrying it with him. And he also didn't think of how Jeonghan might use it again after this. He really didn't. But what he did think about was the flavour.
"Oh, it's pomegranate," he remarked quite redundantly, since Jeonghan must be aware of his own lip balm's flavour.
Jeonghan continued to look out the window, not meeting his eyes as he replied, "yeah, I like it."
Neither of them mentioned how it was Mingyu who had always loved pomegranate flavour, even when Jeonghan had favoured strawberry before. Neither of them mentioned how the balm was the same brand as Mingyu's too.
And as he handed the stick back, Mingyu had a feeling that perhaps his time today with Jeonghan wouldn't end the same way it had started.
When Mingyu had suggested the idea of accompanying him for a lunch, Eunwoo had been apprehensive. He was being asked to dine with not just Mingyu but Jeonghan and Hyungwon as well. Or as Eunwoo liked to put it: with his friend, his friend's crush, and his friend's crush's boy crush. Complicated, right? Eunwoo would have avoided going but Mingyu had begged very persuasively asked him and Eunwoo couldn't say no. It was about time he caught up with his same year friend anyway. So Saturday at 12:30 it was, a hangout among friends and people whom Eunwoo hoped to turn into his friends by the end.
But imagine his surprise when two days before the designated date, Jeonghan texted him saying the time was now shifted to 1pm. He didn't understand why Mingyu couldn't have told him that but he'd long learned of the oddities of one particular Yoon Jeonghan from Mingyu, so he chucked it off as some strange shit between the two and confirmed his presence yet again at the lunch to the older.
On the day of, Eunwoo arrived on time and found Hyungwon waiting with a room reserved already. Eunwoo was familiar enough with the older, having met numerous times at events but never in a personal setting like this. So on he went, bowing and shaking hands with his sunbae and exchanging quiet pleasantries. Everything was progressing as it should for a meet-up among friends. Except. Except it wasn't a simple meet up, was it?
The first sign of the strangeness came with the pair themselves: Mingyu and Jeonghan. They arrived a few minutes late, despite living closer to the venue than him and Hyungwon. And they arrived... 'loudly', for want of a better word. It wasn't the noise so much as their presence that drew attention. Though the noise was there too; they could hear them talking before the door even opened. And as Mingyu held it open, Jeonghan hit him on the pecs as he passed through - a clear reaction to something Mingyu had said right before - which elicited a squawk of outrage and then the taller was furiously whispering to the older, dogging his steps.
Meanwhile, Eunwoo and Hyungwon were silent spectators to whatever spat the two seemed to be having. It was interesting really, how they could continue their argument even as Mingyu pulled the chair for Jeonghan to sit and Jeonghan smoothly moved the glass and tableware out of range of Mingyu's wandering hands - a move that Eunwoo very much appreciated.
(It had happened once at a 97 line dinner. Mingyu had accidentally tipped over the expensive red wine they'd especially ordered that night, right into Eunwoo's lap draped in his favourite long white cashmere sweater. Needless to say, Eunwoo had made it a point to not sit next to Mingyu in crowded spaces. Mingyu still hadn't caught on to the avoidance and what he didn't know couldn't hurt him, in Eunwoo's opinion.)
With them sitting at the table, Eunwoo and Hyungwon could now also play audience to the argument. So Eunwoo didn't feel as bad for paying close attention.
"Maybe we should stop, Mingyu?" Jeonghan asked, in a tone that clearly conveyed it wasn't a suggestion. "We've kept our friends waiting long enough."
"And whose fault was that?" Mingyu countered, not looking away from Jeonghan, even as the latter glanced pointedly at the other two.
"Not mine," was the quick denial. "I even told you to come early. You're just a slow driver."
Mingyu sputtered, "slow!? Hyung, there are traffic rules to follow." He then paused for dramatic effect, "oh sorry, you don't know what 'following rules' means, do you?"
"Yah!" Jeonghan shouted, moving to hit Mingyu on the arm, but the younger easily captured his hand. Jeonghan tugged to free it yet Mingyu held firm, prompting Jeonghan to sniff in mock disdain. "I at least follow the rules of etiquette, punctuality one of them," and now it was Jeonghan's turn to pause dramatically, "oh sorry, you don't know what 'punctuality' means, do you?"
Eunwoo had never seen Mingyu turn that red before. And his expression... it was one for the books. There was infuriation, exasperation, defeat, stubbornness, pleasure, fondness, and - surprisingly - respect, all rolled into one. Eunwoo made a note of it to use in his acting someday. It was truly a masterpiece (minus the blatant sexual tension Eunwoo was pretending he didn't see at all).
"Hyung! How can you..."
And on Mingyu went, carrying on their seemingly endless bickering. But wait. Were they holding hands now!? Eunwoo craned his neck to get a better look and indeed, the hand Mingyu had caught to prevent being hit was now being gently caressed with his thumb. The gesture seemed absent-minded and the way their hands curled into each other, it was as if they remembered the shape of the one holding them and had moulded to fit together by habit. Maybe Mingyu's crush wasn't just a crush anymore.
Averting his eyes away from the display of casual intimacy, Eunwoo sank back into his seat. Glancing around to focus on anything that was not the arguing couple, Eunwoo made eye contact with Hyungwon, who seemed to be in a similar predicament. Hyungwon looked as flustered as the love birds would've had if they had any shame, which they clearly didn't. So Eunwoo decided to put Hyungwon out of his embarrassed misery and loudly cleared his throat, effectively bursting the bubble Mingyu and Jeonghan had been in.
"Oh! Sorry!" Mingyu said, finally noticing the world that existed outside of their rose-tinted one. "Have you guys ordered?"
"What, no 'hey, how you doing?'" Eunwoo joked, reaching over to thump his back.
Jeonghan shifted then, gently letting go of Mingyu's hand to pick up his glass of water. "Yes, how rude of you, Mingyu-ya."
Hearing the words Eunwoo froze, fearing a reprisal of their quarrel but Hyungwon stepped in saying, "I'm doing great, Jeonghan, thanks for asking." Eunwoo bit his lip to stop himself from smiling at the cheek while Mingyu had no such hesitation and was giggling away beside him.
"Ah hyung~" Jeonghan whined as he got up and went around Hyungwon's chair to engulf him in a back hug. "I missed you."
Mingyu, who had been following Jeonghan's every move with his eyes, was suddenly pretending very hard not to care. Then he noticed Eunwoo watching him and a genuine smile lit up his face. "Hey, you've been booked and busy lately, huh?" Mingyu teased and Eunwoo was flattered that he was able to have his apparently full attention, even as Jeonghan and Hyungwon conversed while still embracing each other.
"Not as much as you," he said, then had to smother a smirk when Mingyu almost looked away at the sound of Jeonghan's laugh - like a sunflower with the sun.
"I wasn't the one who cancelled plans so frequently though," Mingyu pointed out and his smile kept growing unconsciously the longer Jeonghan let out little titters in the background.
Eunwoo shrugged, "touché." The truth was that Eunwoo was indeed working far more than before. And that wasn't just because he was getting more projects but because he was willing to have a hectic schedule. Sometimes work was the only thing giving his life meaning but that wasn't something he could share at one in the afternoon. Such conversations were best left to have after a few bottles of soju at midnight.
"I'm still not over Island, by the way," Mingyu commented, shaking his head in either awe or denial, Eunwoo wasn't sure. "You should do that genre more. It really brought out your acting skills."
"What? Supernatural action fantasy?" Eunwoo asked, trying to be nonchalant when inside he was blushing from the compliment.
"Yeah. All that dark broody vibes, it fits your serious aura."
Eunwoo was so close to hiding his face in abashment but he was saved from replying as a hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up to find Jeonghan smiling down at him.
"Eunwoo-ssi. Is this our first time meeting?"
Mingyu had told him about how Jeonghan was nicknamed 'angel' because of his birthday but just then, with the light setting him aglow from behind and the aircon breeze gently blowing his hair across his face while his cologne wafted around them, Eunwoo believed he was named 'angel' because he looked like one.
Schooling his expression into one that didn't scream stunned (lest Mingyu get jealous), Eunwoo stood up, bowing politely in greeting. "We've met a couple times before," he replied. "But this can be our official first meeting, Jeonghan-ssi."
"No need to be so polite," Jeonghan waved it away, but not before he himself had bowed too. "After all, you didn't see Mingyu greeting his elders, did you?"
And here they went again. But Mingyu seemed to be better disposed to take a joke now as he simply rolled his eyes and bowed to Hyungwon from where he sat opposite him on the round table. "Sorry, Hyungwon hyung. Nice to see you again."
All the while, Hyungwon was frantically shaking his head to pre-empt the formal greeting, and then hastily bowing to return it. "No need, no need."
Jeonghan cackled at the exchange, "that's better." Placing a hand once again on his shoulder, he addressed Eunwoo, "just call me hyung, yeah?"
Eunwoo smiled, "alright, Jeonghan hyung."
Jeonghan nodded solemnly in approval and then clapping his hands together, dictated in a loud voice, "Ok, now that that's done, let's order!" And with one more smile directed towards Eunwoo, he moved back to his place where Mingyu had already pulled the chair out - noticeably closer to his own than before. Eunwoo also didn't miss how as Jeonghan passed by Mingyu's chair, his hand stroked the younger's broad shoulders from right to left, briefly lingering on his nape for a quick squeeze. Eunwoo would have been visibly scandalised by the shudder Mingyu let out then, but he wasn't an actor for nothing.
The next few minutes were spent conferring over the menu and Eunwoo finally felt like this was a hangout among friends. And this feeling lasted well into their third dish, if you ignored the brief hiccup when Mingyu reached over to take the bottle of kombucha before their server could open it, only to twist it open himself and hand it to Jeonghan. Eunwoo was happy to bask in the vibe of the moment as they talked about their lives - sharing weird fan experiences, trash talking entitled executives, lamenting their busy schedules, and most of all exchanging lists of good places to eat at while abroad.
It was when Jeonghan was telling a story of one such praiseworthy restaurant they had visited in Japan that the feeling slowly dissipated. He was quite a good storyteller actually, setting up the scene as if the listeners themselves were about to be served with the food he was talking about. "They had this fusion pasta where they mixed sashimi with macaroni and-"
"No hyung, we had that on the trip before this one," Mingyu gently interrupted. "It was a different restaurant."
Jeonghan turned to him with a furrowed brow, "no, I remember, we had the sashimi pasta this time."
Mingyu shook his head, "we went for supper to that bistro this time. That fusion pasta we had for brunch, which was on the trip before."
"I think we went to the bistro for that brunch and to the fusion restaurant for dinner," Jeonghan argued, putting down his chopsticks and sitting back, apparently done eating even as his plate still had some food left.
"No, no. It's the other way round," Mingyu replied and as Eunwoo watched, he pulled Jeonghan's half-eaten food towards his own plate and started eating the leftovers, all the while he was explaining, "we had a shoot in the morning so we skipped breakfast and then you said you were hungry and the fusion place was right around the corner..."
The couple started debating who was correct in their recollections of their Japan outings - a thing they could actually debate because there were numerous times where they had ventured out in that country, all on their twosome.
Seeing as how the two were once again engrossed in their own world, Eunwoo silently finished his own food and then leaned around to whisper to Hyungwon.
"Wanna ditch these two lovebirds and go for desserts, hyung?"
When Eunwoo suggested the idea of ditching the lunch, Hyungwon was conflicted. On one hand, Hyungwon was tired of blushing in second-hand embarrassment every time Jeonghan and Mingyu were too into their PDA; but on the other hand, this meet-up was happening at his behest so leaving it midway would be even more embarrassing and rude. Moreover, the couple weren't as bad as some others he knew in making one feel hopelessly single. At least their hands didn't wander in risky territory, like disappearing under the table for minutes on end with sudden squirming around to match (no, Hyungwon won't share whom and when, it was traumatising enough to witness without having to suffer through the retelling).
So while he was grateful, Hyungwon silently shook his head in reply to Eunwoo, who chuckled in commiseration at Hyungwon's no doubt long-suffering expression. Jeonghan and Mingyu were still nattering away about their - was it the US tour now? - various exploits in foreign cuisine to each other, blissfully oblivious to the room Hyungwon and Eunwoo sadly yet occupied. Hyungwon left them to it, instead surveying their table with the intention to finish whatever dishes were left so that they could order desserts, if any. Finding some dumplings, he offered them to Eunwoo first and the ever-polite guy insisted on sharing them.
"We last met at the Love Your W event, right?" Hyungwon asked, trying to make conversation just so he could block out the pouty tone Jeonghan had taken up as he got more and more animated in his talk with Mingyu. If nothing else, today was turning out to be enlightening because Hyungwon had never heard Jeonghan make in-love noises before.
"But that was in October," Eunwoo said, turning his chair to face him more fully. "It's been that long already?"
"Time flies when you're busy," he commented, shrugging as he split the last piece of the pizza and handed the larger piece to the younger. "At times, you'll find it harder to hold onto your day-to-day life than your professional momentum."
"I already feel like my youth is over before it even began," Eunwoo groaned.
Hyungwon nodded sagely, "we've all been there."
"Where? Jakarta?" Jeonghan suddenly interjected, startling Hyungwon. He stared wide-eyed at Jeonghan, who was similarly wide-eyed in curiosity; then Hyungwon turned to Eunwoo and soon as their gazes met, they both burst into laughter.
Mingyu leaned forward in interest, "what? What's funny?"
Hyungwon was too breathless to answer, all he could do was shake his head. It was Eunwoo who gasped out a "nothing" amidst his chortles, confusing the other two even more. And the thing was, it really was nothing they were laughing at, just the absurdity of the situation they had found themselves in.
Jeonghan waited until they had calmed down to pick up the menu again, "are we ordering desserts?"
Eunwoo immediately refused, "I can't. The Dior summer show is just days away and I've already gone overboard breaking my diet."
"Neither should I," Hyungwon said, cautious because of he was still the MC for Inkigayo and had the TAG Heuer event scheduled for the next week.
Snapping the booklet closed, Jeonghan added, "well, I'm not particularly in the mood for sugar today either." Then he tilted his head to take a look at Mingyu, who was hunched over and suspiciously silent. "You want something, don't you?"
It was weirdly fascinating for Hyungwon to watch such a tall man uncurl to his usual height and still somehow appear small sitting next to Jeonghan's dainty form. "No, hyung, it's fine. We can just go," Mingyu responded with just the slightest hint of his lisp leaking through.
"Order something if you want, pabo-ya." Jeonghan sounded almost irritated as he hit Mingyu upside the head with the menu.
Ducking his head in vain to try to avoid the inevitable hit, Mingyu whined, "why are you getting angry again?"
"Because I want you to eat well," Jeonghan bit out, stopping his assault and laying the booklet in front of Mingyu. "They have the blueberry cheesecake you like."
"They do?" Mingyu perked up, reminding Hyungwon of a puppy who had been scolded by his human but was now being treated in recompense.
"Yeah. Order that if you want. We can share."
"But you just said you weren't in the mood for sweets."
Jeonghan arched an eyebrow, "I can still taste it, you jerk!"
"Ok ok," Mingyu placated, before turning to Hyungwon and Eunwoo, "you guys really don't want anything?"
Eunwoo caught his eyes then and Hyungwon didn't even have to twitch a muscle for Eunwoo to understand him. "We're good," Eunwoo replied, amusement colouring his tone. Apparently he too couldn't wait to do some lovebird watching, especially in the dessert sharing season they had now entered.
The four of them fell back into their casual chatter, though the pace was more subdued than before as they were more comfortable with lapsing into silences, now that they all knew each other better. Jeonghan had put his head on Mingyu's shoulder at one point and the other accommodated him habitually, offering him small bites of the cheesecake in between his own enthusiastic devouring of the dessert. And Hyungwon found he didn't feel as awkward about the 2+1+1 dynamic this particular gathering sported anymore. Because every time he felt the need to avert his eyes from the PDA, he would invariably meet Eunwoo's gaze and they would share a smile of their own or an eye roll at the pair's expense. The cheesiness (pardon the pun) of the couple's easy affection became fun when Hyungwon didn't have to witness it alone. He could laugh about it with Eunwoo now.
So with his humour restored, Hyungwon was better inclined to appreciate his friend's fortune in love. And as he and Jeonghan went to the reception to pay, he remarked good-naturedly, "I'm glad to see you so happy, Jeonghan-ah. Being in love suits you."
Jeonghan looked bewildered, "what are you talking about?" He let out a short, confused laugh, then he seemed to regain his footing as he added, "of course, just seeing you makes me happy, hyung."
Hyungwon blushed despite himself, "stop that. What if your puppy gets jealous?" He was careful to omit the word 'boyfriend', even as the cashier seemed busy processing their receipt. You never know who might be listening.
Even without any name, Jeonghan understood whom he was talking about, "why would he get jealous?" But evidently he didn't understand why he would bring Mingyu up.
"He's a sweet kid, don't tease him that much." Hyungwon had the impression of Mingyu as a sensitive and affectionate person, easy to please and difficult to truly anger. The perfect balance for Jeonghan who was more closed off with his emotions. "And he clearly adores you to bits," Hyungwon added after a pause.
"Who? Mingyu?!"
"Who else? He can't even stay mad at you for a full minute, the puppy is that much in love."
Jeonghan sputtered, "That's... That's... He's not-" And before Hyungwon's astonished eyes, Jeonghan actually fled in embarrassment, beelining straight to where Mingyu and Eunwoo were stood waiting. Mingyu didn't even turn away from Eunwoo - who was in the middle of speaking - as Jeonghan barrelled into his side and hid his face against his chest. Mingyu simply lifted his arm to pull Jeonghan even closer by the shoulders, sparing a quick glance to check if he was alright. Eunwoo though, he searched the sparsely populated hall to locate Hyungwon and silently asked him what was up. Hyungwon was taken aback at his own ability to effortlessly read the younger's micro-expressions after such a short time together. And evidently, the younger could read him too, going by the way Eunwoo's mouth fell into an o-shape after a couple seconds of him measuring Hyungwon's disbelieving headshake.
Hyungwon watched as Eunwoo then turned to the couple and said something, which had Jeonghan pressing his face more insistently into Mingyu's t-shirt. Quickly signing the receipt and taking his card back from the cashier, he hastened to make his way to the trio, but by the time he reached them, Jeonghan had composed himself and was no longer clinging to Mingyu like a koala. Hyungwon tried not to feel too disappointed to have missed a chance to further pull the leg of the self-proclaimed 'Master of Teasing and Pranks'. All the more reason to treasure the memory Jeonghan fleeing their talk before.
"We're being filmed," Eunwoo noted as they walked out the door of the restaurant. His words made all of them tense up and furtively glance around to spot the camera. "Looks like it's fans," Eunwoo added, "10 o'clock to our left."
"How the hell did you even see that?" Jeonghan sounded impressed. And there was reason to be, the fans were some ways away and blocked by tree leaves for the most part.
Eunwoo quirked his lips, "I have a sixth sense when it comes to cameras."
"Distracting when you're an actor, handy when you're an idol," Hyungwon commented, "though it doesn't seem to affect your acting, only enhance it." He tried to appear as nonchalant as he could - both because of the camera and because he wasn't sure if Eunwoo and him were at the casual complimenting stage yet in their friendship.
It was worth the risk though. Because Eunwoo was now flushed ear to neck in response to his words and Hyungwon internally cackled in delight at the sight. What was with them all taking turns blushing tomato red today though? That was twice now that Hyungwon had made usually nonplussed people lose their composure.
"Yah, I can protect myself!" Jeonghan's irritated voice drew Hyungwon out of his mental victory cheer. He turned to find Mingyu trying to shield Jeonghan from the view of the fans' phones, while Jeonghan was having none of it. "And this is your fault, anyway," Jeonghan continued berating the younger, despite him looking like a kicked puppy now - all sulking face and shiny eyes. "They're drawn like bees to your stupidly handsome face. Who told you to be this tall and stand out like a giant?"
"Hyung, you're acting as if you haven't turned heads by being inhumanly pretty!"
"Yes but I don't flaunt my ethereal looks for all and sundry unlike you and your big dumb muscles, flexing any chance they get!"
"That was one time! Ohmygod. Then what about when you untie your fluffy hair, tempting everyone to run their fingers through the silkiness?!"
Seriously? Were they having a compliment battle out on the roadside while their fans not so secretly recorded it all? Hyungwon shared another look with Eunwoo, begging him to do something. But Eunwoo simply put his hands up in surrender, stepping back a little from their circle, refusing to interfere. If it was any of his members, Hyungwon would have kicked him in annoyance, but luckily for the younger, he and Eunwoo definitely weren't at that stage. Yet.
Tempering his nerves, Hyungwon cleared his throat and interrupted the pair, "It's better if we move to our cars."
Jeonghan seemed to suddenly turn conscious of his surroundings, "you're right, hyung."
"Alright then. It was nice to formally meet you, Jeonghan hyung," Eunwoo said with a smile.
"What? It's goodbye already?" Jeonghan uttered in surprise, then he remembered himself and smiled back, "I mean, likewise, Eunwoo." He hesitated for the briefest second before pulling the younger into a one-armed hug. All this while Mingyu watched with the softest expression known to mankind. And maybe Hyungwon was turning mushy in his tender old age of 29, seeing as the scene genuinely warmed his heart.
He was about to turn to discreetly swipe at his eyes but Mingyu had caught him looking and he was soon engulfed in a bear hug. "Don't be a stranger, Hyungwonnie hyung," Mingyu said, squeezing him tighter before releasing his hold.
"You have my number too," Hyungwon grumbled in protest but his tone was probably too light for it to count as one. Mingyu just smiled wider in response, his canines peeking through.
"Hyung~" That was Jeonghan, done exchanging goodbyes with Eunwoo and now stuck to Hyungwon's side like glue. "Do you have to leave?"
Hyungwon patted the arm winding around his chest, "you guys have practice too."
"I'll ditch it for you," Jeonghan stated.
"I won't be a good hyung if I let you do that," he countered gently. "It's ok, we'll meet again soon."
Jeonghan sighed heavily, then turned him sideways for a proper hug, "I'll still miss you."
That brought another smile to his face, "me too."
"Take care, hyung."
"You too."
It was hard to resist Jeonghan when he was being clingy and Hyungwon was touched by his reluctance to let go. So they stayed hugging for half a minute more, rubbing each other's back. When they finally stepped back from the embrace, it was with happiness in their hearts.
After another round of goodbyes, the four parted ways, going in the direction of their respective cars. Hyungwon looked back one final time, to see Jeonghan and Mingyu walking in sync, bumping shoulders every alternate step; and Hyungwon couldn't help but shake his head fondly at them. He turned back around but there Eunwoo was, waving wildly to his right halfway through. Hyungwon laughed, waving back and concluded that the day was one of his more memorable ones certainly.
Hyungwon was so very glad he had proposed the lunch.
Several months later
When the four of them had decided to meet once again for yet another hangout but as a dinner this time, the general outlook had been anticipatory. Mingyu couldn't contain his excitement while Jeonghan was barely keeping up his façade of calm. And on the other side, Hyungwon and Eunwoo were positively looking forward to the night, unlike the uncertainty that had clouded them last time. So when they all sat down, clinking their mocktail glasses together, the vibe was way more casual and cheerful right off the bat. They smoothly fell back into the easy camaraderie of before, chatting idly about this and that and enjoying the frankly delicious dinner.
Then midway through the meal, the real reason for their gathering was revealed as Mingyu drew their attention with a soft clearing of his throat. "Ok, we might have had an ulterior motive for inviting you two here today," he began, glancing at Jeonghan meaningfully at the 'we'.
"Oooh, sounds mysterious," Eunwoo teased with a grin. "You aren't going to ransom us, right?"
"As if anyone would pay for your stupid self," Mingyu shot back.
Eunwoo shrugged, "my company has me insured."
Hyungwon decided to intervene before their banter could go any further, "right. What is this about?"
Mingyu immediately adopted a serious mien. "Eunwoo-yah," he addressed, "remember at our lunch in June? When we were waiting for these two to pay? And you said something to me?"
Eunwoo was confused if his scrunched up brows were anything to go by. "Maybe. We talked about a lot of things."
Mingyu shifted in restlessness, probably displeased at Eunwoo's non-answer. "You told me to cherish what I have," he said, his lisp becoming more pronounced. "And I didn't understand what you meant then but-"
"Oh my god." Jeonghan, who had been silently sipping at his drink all this while, muttered in apparent embarrassment. "What he means to say," he continued, raising his voice to cut Mingyu off. "What he means to say is that unfortunately, I now have to suffer his ass in my home too. Because we're dating."
There was silence for a full three seconds before Mingyu burst out, "hyung! Can't you be a bit more romantic?"
"What? Like you were being romantic with your inane rambling?" Jeonghan retorted, rolling his eyes.
"I wasn't rambling, it was all leading to what you said, just with more feelings."
"Be thankful I didn't say 'oh surprise guys, we're dating. My ass has to suffer in the bedroom now.'"
Hyungwon couldn't say who let out the shocked gasp out of the three, but the muttered "TMI" was definitely Eunwoo who had shifted closer to Hyungwon on the sofa they were sharing.
"Hyung!" Mingyu was appalled, his mouth closing and opening like a goldfish. "How can you be so crass?!"
Jeonghan was chugging his drink now to hide his nervousness, belied by the way his hands trembled minutely. "What's crass is your technique."
There was a chocking sound beside Eunwoo, who hastily moved to thump Hyungwon on the back as he coughed up a lung. Eunwoo himself was too stunned to do more and like watching a horror movie, he couldn't help but turn back to the couple, even as he knew he'll have to turn his eyes away soon enough.
"Yoon Jeonghan you!" Mingyu truly sounded upset now, mortified beyond belief.
Jeonghan seemed to realise the same as he moved to encompass the taller in a hug. "Aigoo, you big baby," he cooed, kissing Mingyu's cheek even as the other struggled to push him away.
"Don't call me baby!"
"Hannie is sorry, baby," Jeonghan coaxed, swaying them both from side to side. "It's ok, don't pout. Hyung will teach you."
Mingyu blushed even more, but his voice sounded mollified now, "I'm not pouting."
Jeonghan then whispered something in his ear, which had Mingyu hiding his face in his hands, before he gently bit his earlobe and...
And Eunwoo had seen enough. He turned to a flustered Hyungwon beside him, "my offer still stands."
It took a second for Hyungwon to get what Eunwoo was talking about. "Of ditching them for desserts?" Eunwoo simply wagged his eyebrows in response. Hyungwon glanced at the still whispering couple and murmured back, "hell yeah. Let's go!"
Sneaking away wasn't difficult. First, Hyungwon left with a mumbled excuse of going to the washroom - Jeonghan only nodded distractedly in acknowledgement. Then Eunwoo came out not even a minute later, pretending to be on a call. And the moment their eyes met, they both grinned conspiratorially, huddling close to exit the restaurant. Eunwoo led them to his car, parked round the back, all while they were on the lookout for cameras like last time.
When they were safely ensconced in the vehicle, Eunwoo asked, "so where to, hyung?"
Feeling mischievous, Hyungwon replied, "take me to see the stars, astro boy!"
Eunwoo turned to him with a blank face and they stared at each other for one, two seconds, before bursting into giggles like children. Hyungwon didn't think he'd had as much fun as this when ditching someone - not even his one and only disastrous blind date.
"Hyung, that was way more cringe than those two," Eunwoo said once they had their laughter under control.
"More cringe?"
"Yeah, I mean," Eunwoo shrugged, "they're kinda adorable together too."
Hyungwon smiled fondly, for he knew exactly what the younger meant.
"Yes... yeah, they're made for each other."