Archive of Our Own ^beta

No one is surprised when Donghyuck brings up the New Year's resolution plan he has for all of them.

He's been complaining about it all year, after all. How it's so boring that none of them have brought anyone new into their group in months now, how it's gone from being cool to kind of being pathetic. They're a group of seven guys — and, if Donghyuck is honest, they're pretty damn attractive — so it's kind of just sad that none of them have managed to find anyone to date over the year.

"We can't keep being losers," he declares, slapping his hand down on the table. Carefully, of course. If he dares to spill anything on Renjun's newly-thrifted table, he's sure he's not even making it to the new year.

"Speak for yourself," Renjun mutters beside him.

"I'm speaking for all of us," Donghyuck says, throwing his hand up. "Look at us! We're cute, we're hot, and we're all just sitting around in Renjun and Jeno's apartment because we don't have anyone else to go out with! That's what losers do!"

"Fuck you, I have my family," Jeno replies.

"I've also got Yangyang, Dejun, Kunhang, Mingi-" Renjun lists off until he's cut off by Donghyuck putting a hand over his mouth to shush him.

"I'd also like it to be known I think it's cool we can hang out all together like this, but okay," Jisung mutters. Jaemin coos at him, reaching over to squeeze his cheeks, and Jisung immediately pulls a face. "I take it back."

"No, Jisungie's right," Mark says, nodding seriously. "It's good to be fulfilled on your own, you know?"

"Oh my god," Donghyuck groans, throwing his head back before he throws himself forward, this time slamming down both hands. "Yes, yes, that's all fine, but the point is that none of us want to be single, right?"

He's met with silence. No one is willing to admit he's right.

He clicks his fingers, leaning back again. "See? So I think I have the perfect New Year's Resolution."

They're all listening now, properly looking at him as he holds the command of the room. He decides to hold onto it for dramatic effect.

"Well? What is it?" Chenle prompts, ever reliable.

"It's that none of us continues on our single streak next year," Donghyuck reveals. "In the new year, we're going to be changed people. We're all going to finally have our K-Drama moment of falling in love with the person perfect for us. In the next year, at the next New Year's, we're all going to have someone we're able to kiss. Fireworks over our heads, magic in the air, all of it."

He looks around the room — everyone is still listening with rapt attention, though he's getting a mix of expressions. A couple of them, like Mark and Chenle, look like they're considering the idea. A few more of them, like Renjun, Jeno and Jisung, look apprehensive.

He's not quite sure what Jaemin's expression currently is, actually. He shakes off his feeling of unease and continues with his grand declaration.

"Considering everyone's track records here, I plan on making this more achievable for all of us. I, Lee Donghyuck, am going to become the greatest cupid of all time. I'm going to put in all the effort to make sure you're all matched up with someone perfect."

He can see he's winning the room over. Chenle is leaning forward in interest, eyes gleaming like he's an investor who's about to sink in millions for this proposal. Jisung looks a little more convinced, and Jeno looks around the room before he shrugs with an easy agreement.

"Let's all take Milk, for example," Donghyuck continues, voice rising with his excitement as he knows the perfect way to get all of them on board. "You work so hard, and your schedule is always pretty full, right? You've said it yourself, you don't have time. And a lot of time goes into talking to someone at first, whether that's in person or on dating apps. You talk and talk and try and figure out if it's worth even going on a first date, right? See, I can cut all that time out. I can work it out for you!"

Mark raises his eyebrows. "I mean, I guess?"

"Hyung," Donghyuck drags out. "Is there anyone in the world who knows you better than me?"

"My mum," Mark says immediately.

Donghyuck clicks his fingers. "Sure, but about your dating life?"

Mark shrinks in his chair. He's routinely lying to his mum about going on dates, and they all know it.

"I can make what you're telling her a reality," Donghyuck declares, and then turns to the rest of the room. "I know all of you, and I know what you like. Who you like — or, at least, who you would like."

He can tell he's winning over the room.

"I think it could be fun," Chenle says, and Donghyuck raises his drink to toast with him.

"You're my favourite," Donghyuck declares, which makes Jisung pout in the corner of his eyes. Bingo.

"I guess..." Jisung agrees.

Jeno shares a look with Chenle. Interesting, Donghyuck thinks, that it seems like Jeno is basing his decision on Chenle's.

"Sure," Jeno says with a shrug, easily in agreement too.

Majority of the room. He's got it. This resolution is happening.

"Mark?" Donghyuck asks, able to tell his resolve is crumbling the quickest out of those left.

"Sure, dude," Mark says, dragging out the words to make it sound like he's more hesitant about it than he actually is.

Once he has Mark, he has Renjun too.

"I don't think it's going to be so easy," Renjun says, just to be contrary to the fact he's going along with Donghyuck's idea. "True love isn't going to just happen because you wished for it."

"And true love isn't going to just happen when you're sitting around doing nothing to find it," Donghyuck retorts. "So why not just try?"

"Fine," Renjun sighs.

One left.

Donghyuck turns his attention to Jaemin, entirely, properly, for the first time since he brought all of this up.

He's surprised to see the stare that Jaemin is levelling him with. His arms are folded, and his lips are turned down — not in a teasing, fun way. But like he's seriously annoyed about something.

It almost makes him hesitate, but the promise of success is so close now, so Donghyuck pushes through it.

"So, Jaemin? Campus heartbreaker? What do you say?"

The nickname is, perhaps, not his greatest move. It just makes Jaemin glower at him.

"I say it's stupid," Jaemin says, surprisingly cold.

Donghyuck blinks at him, taken aback. Immediately, his indignance turns into annoyance in the face of Jaemin's apparent mood. He tries to keep the mood light though, just for the sake of making sure none of their other friends decides to back down now that Jaemin's the first one to really show some resistance to the idea.

He raises his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Jeez, you don't like that nickname, huh? Well, this is the chance to change it, you know!" Donghyuck proclaims, his drink almost splashing over the rim and onto his hand as he gestures around the table like he's gesturing to all the cohorts of people who have ever had an unsuccessful crush on Na Jaemin.

"Absolutely not," Jaemin says. His tone has, thankfully, also lightened up, but he seems entirely uninterested in Donghyuck's plan.

That simply will not do.

He bites down on his lip, considering his options for a few moments, because it seems like he's met an immovable wall. A wall that's got their arms folded, and despite the smile on their lips they send Jisung's way when he goes to ask them a question, does not seem pleased with Donghyuck as their eyes continue to stare at him with unspoken threats.

He's going to break this wall, damnit.

"How about a bet, then?" Donghyuck proposes, leaning over the table like getting into Jaemin's space will make him reconsider everything.

"No," Jaemin says, his smile screaming sarcastic when he sends it Donghyuck's way.

"Oh, come on," Donghyuck prods. "It's nothing serious, you know? I mean, my skills at matchmaking are nothing to joke about, but this is all just a bit of fun."

Jaemin sighs. Donghyuck decides to keep pressing, certain he's found a crack.

"What will the bet be?" Chenle asks, evidently more curious than Jaemin.

"I bet that I, Lee Donghyuck, will be able to find someone Jaemin will date by the end of the year," Donghyuck declares.

"Bold claim," Mark coughs.

"I'm not betting on you," Chenle says at the same time, which makes Donghyuck re-evaluate.

"Alright, fine, I bet that he will go on a second date. Standards are lowered for everyone that way," Donghyuck says.

Jaemin shakes his head. "Not happening."

"Oh, I don't know," Jeno says, a teasing lilt in his words. "It might just happen."

Jaemin looks at Jeno, raises his eyebrows, and then stares back at Donghyuck.

Jeno tilts his head in consideration and then shrugs. "Fair," he mutters.

"Ye of so little faith," Donghyuck dramatically cries, grasping his chest as if he's wounded. "Just you wait! Na Jaemin, in exactly one year from now, I vow to have found you someone you will want to kiss for the New Year."

"Oh god," Jisung mutters.

"Should've stuck to the second date thing," Chenle seems to agree, but his head is inclined in interest at least, which means he has some faith in this working out.

"I'm going to make it happen," Donghyuck vows. "Come on, Minjae! There's nothing to lose."

Jaemin raises his eyebrows and pulls a dramatic face. He slaps his hands down on the table, a mirror reflection of Donghyuck's earlier action, and leans forward. His voice rises with his cries of dramatic incredulously. "There is! There is plenty to lose! My sanity! Perhaps my most valuable possessions! What if you put me on a date with a pickpocket thief, huh? What then?"

"Fair enough," Jisung quietly agrees.

"You don't have any sanity or items to steal anyway," Renjun mumbles.

"True," Jisung says.

"I'm not going to put you on a date with a pickpocket thief, Minjae," Donghyuck laughs. "Just, you know, ordinary people! You might even like one of them!"

"How many dates are you planning on organising?" Jaemin asks, face contorting even more with his question.

"Hopefully not many!" Donghyuck says. "You watch, I'll nail it! Within.... within three people, I'll get it right."

Jaemin's face smooths out. Like a flip has switched, he's suddenly calm, sitting back in his chair. He swirls his drink like it's blood and he's a vampire from the 1200s.

"And what if you don't?" Jaemin asks, coy.

"If I... You do know this is for you, right? This is for all of us," Donghyuck replies, because he does not like the sudden change in Jaemin — something in the back of his mind is screaming danger, danger! at the sight of Jaemin's calm attitude now. It's probably going to be best for him to keep the upper hand. "I'm doing all of you a favour."

"Mhm, no," Jaemin says.

"You did say you'd bet on it," Mark points out. Donghyuck kicks his leg under the table in warning for him to shut his mouth.

Unfortunately, the damage is done. Donghyuck had said he'd make it a bet, has basically goaded Jaemin into doing this as a challenge with stakes involved, and he supposes there must be a price for that.

Well. He'll just have to make sure he wins.

Jaemin gasps like he's just realised something, clicking his fingers at Donghyuck. "Are you scared that you'll lose?"

"Fuck off," Donghyuck says immediately, because he knows exactly what Jaemin is doing, damnit, and he's not going to fall for it, he's not— "I'm not scared. If you think a bet is somehow going to stop me from being right, then you're wrong."

"Alright," Jaemin grins. "So if you're wrong?"

"Then... we'll figure it out," Donghyuck dismisses, waving his hand.

Jaemin hums. "You'll owe me."

"Owe you what?"

He shrugs. "We'll figure it out."

"Fine," Donghyuck says. "Deal? I'll find you the perfect match-up, Na Jaemin, just you wait."

"For the record," Jaemin says, looking around at all of their friends, "I still think this whole idea is ridiculous."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it." Donghyuck holds out his hand, and Jaemin shakes it in agreement. Then, Jaemin turns his hand around, offering his pinky, and Donghyuck is hesitant for only a second before he intertwines his own in Jaemin's.

Chenle claps, the rest of their friends following suit for a couple of moments before all their excitement about it dies down and they move on. Donghyuck feels Jaemin's eyes following him the rest of the night as they ring in the New Year, though he does his best to ignore the sensation.

The next morning, when Donghyuck goes to leave, all of them nursing a hangover in the presence of Jaemin's ruffled hair and bright grin — because he, unlike all of them, is not dying from the light coming in from the windows.

"Don't worry everyone," he declares to the room, as loud as he dares with all their hangovers, "I'll find you all someone perfect this year!"

He gets some zombie-like groans of agreement.

But Jaemin just stares at him, as unimpressed as he was when Donghyuck first pitched the idea, and Donghyuck resolves himself to make sure he absolutely finds someone for Jaemin.

Only three hundred and sixty-five days to go.

Perhaps Donghyuck's reasons for his New Year's Resolution are not so selfless.

Perhaps, one of the reasons — the main reason — is that he is, embarrassingly, horrifyingly, in love with one of his friends. Has been for a few goddamn years. It's really kind of pathetic, actually. He's been telling himself to get over it for at least a year now, knowing nothing is going to be able to come of it.

Unfortunately, his heart is not in agreement with his head. So here he is, still in love all these years later, and knowing he needs to move on.

It's just not reasonable, really, to be in love with, perhaps, the worst person to fall for in their friend group. Na fucking Jaemin, of every single friend Donghyuck has ever had. Of course. Of course, it had to be him. The bastard.

It's not practical. It's not reasonable. It doesn't make any goddamn sense.

He's fallen for the one guy in the group that he has not a single chance in hell with. At first, he'd been able to brush it aside as a simple crush. A moment of infatuation and interest.

Except it never faded as most of Donghyuck's crushes do. He never lost interest. It only grew until he could no longer deny it to himself — and still, despite all of Donghyuck's best attempts, it never changed.

He tells himself that this it. This has to be the year that he finally gets over Na Jaemin.

The problem, he thinks, is this: he has never seen Jaemin date anyone. Hell, hes never even heard Jaemin speak about someone he likes. Honestly, it's going to be a struggle to figure out exactly who to pair Jaemin with — of all the people in their group, he is easily the person that Donghyuck knows the least about when it comes to who he’s attracted to.

If he sees Jaemin with someone else, perhaps his heart will finally stop holding out the hope that he's the one Jaemin really wants.

So, this year, all he needs to do is solve this problem. All he needs to do, in three hundred and sixty-three days now, is fall out of love with Na Jaemin.

Sure. Easy. He’s totally got this.

Two weeks later, he sends out a questionnaire in the group chat.

Only a couple of people answer it, which is about the amount he expects. Jisung, Jeno, and Chenle remain reliable and send back their answers in a day. Their answers, admittedly, end up being more confusing than anything, but he appreciates the effort.

And then, surprisingly, Jaemin submits his answers.

He's surprised by this until he actually sees Jaemin's answers, which are just emoticon-styled rabbits pulling different faces. It makes Donghyuck laugh, and he sends a screenshot of the page to the group chat for everyone to also be amused by. Jaemin just seems pleased that he's made Donghyuck bemused.

In the group chat, he says: not going to make this any easier for me, are you Na?

Jaemin replies with a simple rabbit emoticon, and that's the end of that. Jaemin, he knows, is going to be the hardest one to pair, and Jaemin certainly as hell isn't going to help him.

And, also, it's going to be hard for Donghyuck too — he needs to find someone that isn't going to make himself extremely jealous to see with Jaemin, but also ensure that it's someone that deserves Jaemin. Someone who can match his energy, someone who can accept all of his strange little habits and be endeared by his even bigger ones.

So, in the end, the questionnaire doesn't do much to help him. The first date he sets up, thirty-four days later, is with Renjun.

He's a little nervous about setting up one of his friends so early, especially if the ultimate goal is for them to last until this New Year. But this will be a good experiment to test things with — Renjun will provide him honest feedback about what did and did not work, and he'll be able to use this to help him with setting everyone else up too. If it works, that's great, but if it doesn't, it's not much of a loss.

Besides, no one else but Jaemin is bound by the three-person rule. Donghyuck really doesn't hope it ever goes beyond that number anyway, but it's a whole lot less stressful.

He messages Renjun a time and location — a small cafe he picks out, decorated with lots of art that Renjun seems to be into these days. He makes sure it isn't going to be too busy at the time he sets, that they should be able to find a table easily, but also that it won't be so quiet that it will just feel awkward.

And, he adds, that he's booked them a painting class after, but only Renjun knows about this side of things. It will be his choice if he's interested enough in his date to continue, or if he'd rather just end things after a coffee.

Immediately, Renjun calls him.

"Donghyuck," he says, and Donghyuck can immediately place that he's both awed and suspicious. It makes him grin.

"Yes, my dear lovely Renjunnie?"

"That— this is so nice of you, but-"

"Does the timing not work? Should I make it another day? I tried to make sure that it wasn't going to interfere with anything..." Donghyuck trails off, knowingly casting the bait.

Renjun, like he expects, takes it. "What, no? No, Donghyuckie, the timing is great. It's just that this is so nice, and— what about the cost?"

"Are you worried about the price of a coffee?" Donghyuck asks.

Renjun huffs, because they both know Donghyuck is side-stepping. "No, of course not. I'm obviously talking about the painting class."

"It's fine," Donghyuck assures. "You can tell the other person to leave, or tell me to tell the other person to leave, and then you can enjoy the painting class on your own. So then it doesn't go to waste."

"You won't tell them to leave," Renjun laughs.

"I will!" Donghyuck argues. "If you don't like them, I'll tell them to leave. I've made a whole contract agreement, you know? They have to abide by it."

"A contract agreement," Renjun echoes in disbelief.

"Yep," Donghyuck says. "Don't you know, Renjunnie? People line up to date you! I'm like your agent."

"You are not," Renjun sighs. "But, really, what if... what if I don't like them? And then the money you paid for them..."

"Is still not a waste," Donghyuck reassures. "Really, Renjunnie. Don't worry about it. I want you to just have fun. I'm the one that set everything up, and you're the one letting me, so let me do this."

"You're being too nice," Renjun huffs.

"No," Donghyuck laughs. "I'm just making sure I win the entire bet."

"Of course you are," Renjun says like he doesn't quite believe him.

"Make sure you just be your charming self! They'll fall in love immediately," Donghyuck reassures. "And I hope you like them too."

"If you picked them, I have a feeling I will," Renjun says. Donghyuck coos, which makes Renjun hang up the call like he's regretting ever complimenting him, and Donghyuck smiles and feels a whole lot less worried about everything.

He doesn't tell the group chat about setting up Renjun's date. It's a lot less pressure off both of them in that way, but on the day of the date, Renjun sends a photo to the group chat.

It depicts two easels, both with half-finished paintings. The subject is the same, but the paint styles are different. Still, together, they look cohesive. Nice. With the photo, he sends a thumbs-up.

Immediately, there is chaos as everyone begins to figure out that Renjun is out on a date.

Donghyuck only sends one message: thanks for using Haechan's Dating Services! Please leave a 5-star rating if you enjoyed your experience!

Jaemin only sends one too. Rather than sending anything about it being a date, or realising like everyone else that Donghyuck has actually begun planning these things, he just tells Renjun that his painting looks nice.

Later, Renjun gives him 4 stars out of 5. His reasoning is that Donghyuck can't get too confident about things just yet as a new business owner.

Donghyuck has to pick up a few more shifts to help cover for the fact he's realised he might sink himself into financial ruin if, for some reason, his friends need more than a date or two each. He wants to make sure they have a good time, and that he pairs them with activities or experiences that suit them, but it's not exactly cheap to do that.

Producing and singing guides has been giving him a fair bit of money, especially as he has gained popularity lately amongst some companies and studios, but he needs something a little more steady

Mark is currently sitting at a table, typing away on his laptop with a coffee that's gone cold beside him. Donghyuck puts down a new steaming hot one beside him and sits on the chair opposite.

"Oh, hey," Mark says, saving his work before lowering his screen down. "You on break?"

"Yeah," Donghyuck stretches his arms up, and then leans over the table so he can devour his lunch in peace. "How's the thesis?"

Mark sighs tiredly. "Yeah, going. Hey, did you know Renjun is going on a second date?"

"Yeah," Donghyuck grins. "Seems like I did a good job."

"Mhm," Mark agrees. "So, who's next on your agenda?"

"Chenle," Donghyuck answers.

Mark raises his eyebrows, leaning back in his chair. "Oh? Why's that?"

"Chenle's easy-going with everyone," Donghyuck begins to list off. "Also, he's honest. He'll be easier to get right, I think."

"So you're getting the easier ones done first?" Mark asks, surprised.

Donghyuck shrugs. "He kept begging me because he wanted to know who I was going to set him up with."

"And who is it?" Mark asks.

Donghyuck clicks his tongue. "That's for me to know only, but good try, Mark Lee. You're not getting any information from me."

"Not even about my own?"

"Especially not about your own," Donghyuck answers, but then he hums. "You will be after Chenle though."

Mark nods easily. "Alright. Hey, don't go too crazy with it. You know I can help put in some money, if that's.... why you're picking up all these shifts. You know any of us will."

Donghyuck sighs. "It's fine. Really. You're being too presumptuous anyway. I'm not spending the money on you guys."

"Alright," Mark says, putting up his hands in surrender. "Fine. But we will, if, you know, ask."

"Jaemin won't," Donghyuck says, changing topic just to avoid the conversation around payment.

Mark lets out a small laugh. "Maybe. But you did kind of make him agree to it. About that, do you have any plans for him?"

Donghyuck figures if there is anyone he can confide in about all of this, it's probably going to be Mark. So he lets his shoulders drop, and he lets his head hang forward as he groans.

"Not the slightest idea," he complains. "He's just so... like have you ever seen him interested in anyone? He acts like he's in love with all of us. Well, not me. But like, all of you guys. Heart eyes and all. It's nauseating. But like, beyond that? I've never actually seen his eyes so much as wander at someone passing by in a club."

"Jaemin doesn't really do clubs," Mark mutters, but then he shakes his head. "Wait, backtrack, what was the comment about him being in love with us?"

"Not like seriously," Donghyuck waves his hand in the air. "But he's obviously so fond of everyone that to like, anyone else, it'd look like he's in love, right?"

"But you said everyone but you," Mark says.

"Well, yeah," Donghyuck replies. "Obviously?"

Mark frowns.

"Not the concern," Donghyuck snaps his fingers at Mark, getting him to focus. "The problem is that I have no idea who to set Jaemin up with. And I only have three tries! He's going to say no to all of them even if he does like them just to spite me."

"Then why did you even bet on it?" Mark asks, and then he freezes. His eyes widen, and Donghyuck watches with growing horror as Mark seems to figure it out. "Donghyuck... are you... are you still in-"

"No!" Donghyuck reaches across the table to slap his hands across Mark's mouth to silence him. He's a little too loud in the cafe, but there aren't many people around, and thankfully they don't really pay him any attention. He settles back in the chair, a nervous laugh escaping him. "What. No. That'd be— that'd be stupid. I never... never even felt like that in the first place."

"I hate to tell you this," Mark says, "but you're doing a really shitty job of lying right now."

Donghyuck hmphs. "Well, I'm not. Why would I even agree to the bet if I actually felt that way? I wouldn't go setting up the person I liked with other people!"

"Evidently, you would," Mark frowns. "I... Donghyuck, unless you're going to put yourself on that date, I don't think this is the best idea."

"Why would I put myself on that date?" Donghyuck laughs, though this time his nerves are just replaced with a sad kind of despair. "Then I'd definitely fail the bet."

"Donghyuckie..."

"My break is over," Donghyuck announces, standing up from the table. Mark is still frowning at him.

"It's only been, like, five minutes," Mark dares to call him out on it too.

"Yeah. Five-minute break," Donghyuck says, forcefully putting a bright tone in his voice. "Here, eat the rest of the meal, I'm not hungry. You need to keep your strength up. Fighting!"

"Donghyuck-"

"I'll see you later! Be prepared for your date later this month!"

He walks away from the table and heads behind the counter, heading for the staff break room. He still has a little while on his break, so he sits down on his phone, and starts to plan out Chenle's date. It's easier to think about that than what he'd left the conversation with Mark of.

Chenle calls him a few hours past the date that Donghyuck has set up.

"Hey!" Donghyuck picks up the phone, holding it up as the video connects. "How'd it go?"

"Sorry," Chenle apologises immediately, rubbing the back of his neck. "She was super cool! I think we'll get along well, but, like, as friends."

"Oh," Donghyuck says, unable to hide his tone of disappointment. He'd been hopeful, a little more confident in this date than with Renjun's, so he's a little surprised by the news.

"Really! You did a good job," Chenle gives him a thumbs-up.

"What's the 'but'?" Donghyuck asks.

Chenle sighs. "Take the compliment. You did well! But I'm, uh, not in the mood for women."

"Oh," Donghyuck coughs. As far as he'd known, Chenle just likes any and all, no matter the gender. "Like... ever?"

"Not for the foreseeable future, no," Chenle hums.

"Okay," Donghyuck nods.

"So, like, not your fault," Chenle says. "Sorry about that."

"No, no, that's okay! I'll do a better job at checking with everyone," Donghyuck gives him his own thumbs-up.

"I'll probably hang out with her sometime," Chenle says. "Really, she was a great choice!"

"But she was not a guy," Donghyuck hums.

Chenle laughs. "Well, no."

"Alright, notes are being taken and plans are being improved," Donghyuck says. "I'll get it perfect next time."

Chenle grins. "Yeah. Thanks!"

It's not until the next week when he checks his bank account that he sees Chenle's paid him back for the entire date.

His failure is reported back to the group chat, and though it's met with bemusement and laughter, he doesn't lose the good standing with his customers.

Well, he never had it with Jaemin, but that's fine.

Mark's date goes okay as well. He's a lot more nervous about that one himself — it's because he knows Mark so well that he's worried about it, but it seems to go well enough thankfully. Donghyuck awaits the news of if there will be a second date while he starts to plan out the dates for Jeno and Jisung, and a re-do for Chenle.

He plans them out, making sure he's got all the timings aligned well over the next couple of months. Jisung goes on his date, though his nerves seem to get the best of him, and he's not sure if there will be a second date. He can tell Jisung feels bad about it, so he makes sure to plan a night out with just the two of them so that he can treat Jisung and reassure him that it's all fine.

Jeno says his date is good. But it doesn't look like there will be a second. That's alright, Donghyuck says. Chenle's second date doesn't pan out either.

At least things seem to be going well for Renjun and Mark, and he's just glad that it seems he's done well enough on the first attempt with two people.

Soon enough, it's the end of May. The middle of the year makes Donghyuck realise that time is going fast, and his deadline is coming closer. The next few days go fast, as he's picked up some more work in music lately, and he doesn't even realise what day it is when there is a pounding at his door which usually signifies Chenle's presence.

He opens the door up, only to be greeted by six of his friends standing in the hallway.

"What?" He asks, blinking at them in shock, trying to figure out if this is something he needs to be worried about.

"Happy birthday!" They all cry out at once, probably way too loudly in the hallway, and they pour into his apartment.

"What," he repeats, still in shock as he's pulled along by Renjun.

"Well, happy birthday for tomorrow," Jeno explains, which makes a little more sense, because Donghyuck had a moment to wonder if it truly was his birthday, and if so, why haven't his parents called? This, at least, explains that concern.

"But today is Saturday, which means we should celebrate tonight," Chenle says.

That's when Donghyuck takes note of what everyone is wearing and how they've styled themselves. They're all dressed up to go out, probably to some clubs, and admittedly, his breath catches as he sees Jaemin.

"Oh," Donghyuck says, looking around his apartment in slight concern. He's definitely not prepared to host people. "Uh-"

"Just go take a shower, figure out an outfit," Renjun says, pushing him into his bedroom. "We'll sort ourselves out. Just sort yourself out."

"Where are we going?" Donghyuck asks.

"It's a surprise!" Renjun laughs, sounding all too delighted.

When he comes out of the shower, they really have gotten themselves sorted out. He must have missed a couple of them carrying some food and snacks, as well as some drinks. They're splayed out around his house, with Mark playing music at a decent level to get them excited but not enough to get Donghyuck's neighbours annoyed. When they realise he's out of the bathroom, no they all end up migrating kind of into his bedroom as he gets ready.

Someone passes him over a shot glass full of soju, and they all cheers and tip their heads back. As Donghyuck starts to rifle through his closet, he reflects on the fact that it's nice to see all of his friends together — especially as Renjun and Donghyuck hadn't been able to make it to Jeno's due to conflicting work schedules for the weeknight he made it.

But it is strange to see all of them actually in his apartment. He usually doesn't host, and it's been a long, long time since he's had Jaemin in his apartment. Donghyuck has tended to avoid inviting him into his space, because he fears his brain is going to run away with the wondering question of what it'd be like to have Jaemin around all the time.

It's happening now — Jaemin's sitting on the edge of his bed, surprisingly sipping at some kind of sweet, fruity concoction of alcohol that probably doesn't contain all that much of it. Donghyuck's kind of trying to ignore his entire presence, but it's hard as he flicks through all the items in his closet and can't help but think Jaemin probably won't like this one, this one doesn't really match, oh god but if I match Jaemin then that'll just look strange—

Chenle comes up beside him and picks out a couple of shirts and throws them at him. "There. Those ones."

Donghyuck looks around the room and holds the two up for a vote.

Jaemin speaks first.

"The black one," he says, surprisingly quickly, gesturing with his chin to it. The room echoes in agreement after they consider it for a second.

Jaemin just stares at Donghyuck like he's already imagining him in it.

"Okay," Donghyuck says, lowering the two shirts with a racing heart.

God, his plan is going terribly, he needs to actually start putting Jaemin on dates before he dies of a heart attack.

He throws the shirt on, and then puts on a pair of pants he knows will work well enough for the outfit.

"Sit," Renjun commands, making Donghyuck sit down at his desk. He's managed to find Donghyuck's hair products, as he holds them up to show him. "Let me."

Donghyuck sits, and he's spun around. He can see everyone in the room looking at him like they're waiting for something.

"What?" He asks them.

Renjun leans over and tells him to close his eyes. Donghyuck makes a questioning noise, refusing to for a moment, but Renjun flicks the back of his head in warning. He does, and he's warned to properly shut his eyes even when he tries to see through his lashes.

The touch against his cheek surprises him, but someone presses their hands against his eyes.

"It's alright, we're just going to do your makeup too," Renjun says.

Donghyuck lets out a long breath. "Please don't tell me Mark is doing my makeup right now."

Mark coughs, decidedly on the other side of the room. "Dude, harsh."

"You trust that we'll make you look good for your birthday, right?" Renjun asks.

"Uh," Donghyuck decides.

Renjun sighs. "We will. Promise, Donghyuckie."

He's made to sit still on the chair, humming along to songs as someone brushes and paints makeup into his skin. Their touch is gentle, if a bit hesitant, like they're not quite sure of how hard to press down. But their movements seem steady enough, and they spend some time on Donghyuck's eyes like they're making sure it's right.

He's given a drink and a straw to sip from as he waits for them to finish. He lets himself melt into the conversation and laughter around him, all of his friends getting more and more excited as the minutes go by. Finally, he's told he can open his eyes.

First, he recognises that there is a mirror in front of him being held up. He blinks to get rid of the spots lingering in his vision, and he leans forward to inspect his makeup. It's like he usually does it if he's so inclined, just a little more dramatic, a little darker around his lashes. Spots of glitter twinkle under the light in his bedroom.

And then, he recognises that the person holding up the mirror is Jaemin.

Jaemin, who's sitting on another seat opposite him. Donghyuck's been listening to the footsteps, but he knows that whoever had been sitting on the seat across from him doing his makeup hasn't changed out.

Jaemin did his makeup.

Jaemin is the one who's been feather-light and careful with every touch, mindful of each and every breath on Donghyuck's skin. Jaemin. It was Jaemin. Oh, fuck.

"So? You look hot, right?" Chenle asks, raising his drink in a cheer.

"Yeah," Donghyuck agrees with a smile, not quite sure if he should linger his gaze on his own reflection or on Jaemin. He settles on himself until Jaemin lowers down the mirror. "Thanks."

His throat feels impossibly dry, his words like they’re scraped over sandpaper, but he thinks it comes across okay as Jaemin looks at him, his grin settling down into something a little warmer, a little calmer. But the intensity of his gaze does not lessen.

"You're welcome," Jaemin says after a couple of moments that feel heavy with intention.

Donghyuck's pulled up from the chair, another shot is passed into his hands, and then they're all heading out of the bedroom so that they can really start the night. Donghyuck doesn't live far from a karaoke place, and he can tell that's where they're heading first.

"If we start here, we might not leave," Donghyuck laughs, watching Chenle and Renjun walk ahead in excitement.

Jeno is currently pressed up against him, always a little more openly affectionate when he's had some alcohol. "Whatever you want to do tonight. It's our treat."

"You guys are spoiling me," Donghyuck teases, reaching over to pinch Jeno's cheeks. Jeno laughs and swats at him, but doesn't step away.

Jaemin steps up on his other side, and Donghyuck is perhaps a little more drunk than he thought, because he doesn't even realise they've made it to the karaoke place until someone purposely gets his attention. He's a little too busy staring at Jaemin's profile, trying to say anything to make him laugh.

Jaemin's a little looser tonight, easier to make smile, and the sight does all sorts of things to Donghyuck's heart.

They book a room, order some drinks, and Donghyuck is passed the remote with birthday privileges for the first song. Chenle picks up the other microphone, and they get a high enough score to earn a long round of applause. Mark and Renjun pick up the microphone next, giving Donghyuck some time to sit down and watch his friends while he sings along.

It goes around the group, but he quickly realises that Jaemin has yet to pick up the microphone. He tries to coax him into getting up, but Jaemin just grins and shakes his head.

"Fine," Donghyuck says, standing up and making sure he grabs both of the microphones. "Na Jaemin, sing this next duet with me."

The room around them ooh's. Jaemin continues to grin, not making a move to take the microphone.

"I'm okay right here," he says, patting the couch.

Donghyuck pouts at him. "It's my birthday, you know? Come on. Spoil me."

His friends begin to chant Jaemin's name. Jaemin sighs, long-suffering a put-upon, but takes the microphone. The room cheers.

The problem is this: Donghyuck doesn't have the remote.

Jeno does.

And he puts on a goddamn love song. Of course he does. He probably doesn't even realise what he's done, has he?

It's a little more upbeat, but not enough that Donghyuck will be able to rely on just hyping up his friends to try and ignore the fact he's singing a duet with Jaemin. Donghyuck swallows down whatever feels stuck in his throat and raises his microphone first. His first note is a little shaky, but he's quick to recover.

Whenever Jaemin isn't looking to the screen for the lyrics, whenever Donghyuck is singing, he's just watching. Staring with an intensity that Donghyuck doesn't know what to do with. He's certain his ears and cheeks are burning red, hopefully hidden under the makeup and the dark lights in the room. The song feels like the longest and shortest three minutes of his entire life.

He crashes back down on the couch when they're done, feeling more wrung out from that song than any other so far. He sits around and watches for a while, a little bit safer, right until Jaemin comes to sit beside him. Neither of them really talks to each other, more content watching and clapping along with their friends, but eventually Jaemin speaks when everyone begins to argue about the next song to pick.

"Jeno says you did a good job for his date," Jaemin says, sounding like he's genuinely curious.

Donghyuck looks over at him and raises an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "Am I winning over my harshest customer? Word of mouth reviews too good to be true?"

Jaemin shrugs, putting his hands behind his head. He looks like an arrogant asshole, except Donghyuck is still endeared by the sight of Jaemin being smug.

"Well, it didn't quite pan out successfully, did it? You're still only 2 for 7," Jaemin points out. "And, I don't think I count as a customer yet. You haven't forgotten about me, right?"

"No," Donghyuck has to swallow down a laugh, because he knows it'll come out way too high-strung and panicked. Softer, he says: "No. I haven't."

How can he? This whole thing is because of Jaemin.

"I guess it isn't only me," Jaemin says, letting his head roll back slightly on the couch. "You haven't gone on any either, have you?"

Donghyuck is glad that he's just managed to swallow down his next sip, as he's sure he would have choked on it otherwise.

"Well, I'm a good, uh, business owner," Donghyuck struggles to say, trying to connect together any kind of words that will stop him from explaining yeah, well, the plan of getting over you isn't going so well. "I'm just making sure my customers have everything they need before I start treating myself too."

"Right," Jaemin says, his gaze back on Donghyuck now, like he's seeing right through his skin and straight into everything he ever is and will be.

"You just wait," Donghyuck says, a little louder now over the sound of their friends shouting lyrics. "I'll find you a date so perfect that you'll believe in love at first sight!"

Jaemin laughs. "Stop making it harder for yourself, Donghyuck."

He's pulled up to sing before he can even think of a retort. It's a good thing, he thinks, because he isn't so sure he'd be able to keep his words straight around Jaemin — he'd already been struggling enough.

Over the course of the night, with more music and more drinks, he starts to notice something else.

It's because he is, perhaps, looking so desperately elsewhere other than Jaemin, as he smiles bright and wide and laughs and sings and glows. Donghyuck is so in love he thinks he might throw up, honestly.

And looking elsewhere, he starts to see something. He stows it away in the back of his mind, and in a note on his phone to make sure he remembers this when he's sober too.

He's not quite sure of it yet, but — there's definitely something there. Definitely something between Jeno and Chenle as they smile at each other, as Chenle grips onto Jeno's arm and never lets go, the way Jeno seems to do anything to make sure Chenle's attention never wavers from him.

Interesting, he thinks, and tells himself to remember this. He forces himself to focus on the rest of it for the night, in fact, because he thinks his lovesick expression might just be too visible if he looks anywhere in Jaemin’s direction.

But when Jaemin presses up against him, soft and pliant from his small amount of alcohol, Donghyuck is warm and happy, and he holds him so that he doesn’t leave his side.

He crashes over at Chenle's house after a shift. Chenle's watching a game of basketball, fingers occasionally stroking through Donghyuck's hair as he lies over his lap. He fought for his place here with Daegal, and while she's sulked about it at first, she's pretty content on Donghyuck's stomach too.

"What do you think about Jeno?" Donghyuck asks during a break time, knowing better than to expect a proper conversation if he tries to ask during the game.

Chenle still takes a moment, humming as he looks down at Donghyuck.

"Jeno?" Chenle asks, confusion evident in his features.

But — there. Donghyuck catches the slip of Chenle's lips tilting up in the corners.

"Yeah, Jeno," Donghyuck says. "What do you think of him?"

"Why?" Chenle asks.

Donghyuck is a little more reassured by this question. Chenle usually doesn't bother with the why's — he'll answer a question if he actually has the answer. And he certainly does.

"Because I'm wondering how you'd feel about dating amongst the group of us," Donghyuck says.

Chenle's fingers tap against his skull. His smile grows.

"Ah," he says. "I knew we gave it away on your birthday."

At this, Donghyuck sits up in surprise.

"Oh," Chenle says, just as surprised now.

"We. You and Jeno are on the same page," Donghyuck realises.

"Well, yes," Chenle replies, a little confused.

"I was just going to maybe set you up on a date with him, but..."

Chenle pulls a face, which smooths out into some kind of sheepish apology. "Sorry."

"You guys are already dating, aren't you?" Donghyuck asks, mouth dropping open.

"Yeah, we are," Chenle admits. "Uh. Congrats on figuring it out though! Jeno didn't think you had. Oh, wait, I should call him."

Before Donghyuck's head can stop spinning, Chenle has dialled up Jeno.

"Hey," he says in greeting.

"What?" Jeno asks, his standard reply on a call. After a beat, he inquires: "isn't there a game going on?"

"Half-time," Chenle says. "Anyway, I have Donghyuck here. He figured it out. Kind of, anyway."

"Hey," Donghyuck says, just so Jeno knows he's listening. Jeno grunts in response.

"Kind of?" He asks.

Donghyuck's not going to admit to his own errors, but Chenle covers him anyway.

"He was going to set us up on a date together," Chenle answers with a smile.

"You should've let him," Jeno laughs.

"Don't be mean," Donghyuck whines. "Who knows about you two?"

"Uh. Maybe Mark? We didn't get together long before last New Year's, and we wanted to play along," Chenle replies, with Jeno making a noise of agreement. "So we didn't really tell anyone in case they ruined it."

"So I was going to fail before I began," Donghyuck says, putting a hand on his chin and nodding seriously. "I see. This makes sense now. The problem was never me or my matchmaking skills. It's the fact you were both cheating."

"Shut up," Chenle laughs, nudging him. "Besides, you got it! Mostly, anyway. We can count it as a success."

Chenle and Jeno hang up, and there are only a couple more minutes left of half-time.

"Four out of seven now," Donghyuck says with relief. "Thank god, honestly. Hey, there's no chance Jisung is in a relationship too, is there?"

"No," Chenle answers. "No chance, unfortunately. You're going to have to work that one out."

"Yeah, I figured," Donghyuck sighs.

"Have you gotten Jaemin a date yet?" Chenle asks, for once seemingly more interested in the conversation than about the game about to start again.

"I'm working on it," Donghyuck sighs. "I think I might have something."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"Thanks," Donghyuck says. "I sure hope so."

Chenle smiles like there's something he's hiding, but he's not going to tell, so Donghyuck doesn't ask.

Chenle and Jeno announce their relationship to the group.

It goes well, though everyone is a little affronted at the fact that they managed to hide it for so long just to go along with Donghyuck's whole plan. Everyone is excited for them though, wishes them well, and then the conversation moves on.

It seems... easy.

That has always been a fear of Donghyuck's — that if there's a relationship in their group, that if Donghyuck is involved, things might fall apart. They might all fall to different sides and everything will change.

But no one is nervous about this. No one is worried about Jeno and Chenle. They're only excited and happy for them.

He messages Jaemin, saying his odds have just improved a whole lot, and now Jaemin's turn is incoming. Jaemin just sends back a cat video.

Over the next couple of weeks, a few things happen.

Donghyuck focuses on setting up another date for Jisung. Mark's date doesn't work out, but he ends up meeting a mutual friend of theirs and goes on a date with them, so Donghyuck counts the credit for it anyway. They would have been his third choice anyway, so it was only a matter of time.

Admittedly, he's delaying it. Delaying sending that text to Jaemin, detailing the location, the time, appropriate clothes to wear, and a small simple fact about his date. He knows he's found the person he wants, knows that they're going to be his best, least-heartbreaking option if he sees them with Jaemin. And still, he delays.

Delays it as long as he can before he runs out of excuses, and then... he sends it. He has to.

His heart pounds in his chest. Jaemin doesn't reply to the message for a couple of hours, leaving Donghyuck anxiously checking his phone as he's meant to be working. Waiting, waiting, heart pounding so hard it hurts.

Jaemin sends back three green checkmarks and nothing more.

On the night of Jaemin's date, Mark rocks up at his door with a bag of snacks and a couple of beers.

"Hey, man," Mark says, holding them up in offering. "Heard it's Jaemin's date night."

Donghyuck lets him in without another word. He really just planned on laying on his couch in an oversized hoodie and eating alone as he watches dramas, but he supposes it'll be better to have company for those activities. Especially if said company brings beer.

"Oh, yikes," Mark says, seeing his current set-up. "Dude."

"Yeah yeah, I know," Donghyuck replies, unashamedly brushing some of the crumbs off the couch. "Didn't exactly expect visitors."

"Wallowing is not a good look on you," Mark sighs, but sits down and passes over a beer. "Seriously, dude, it's weird that you're, like, doing this to yourself."

"I'm doing this for myself," Donghyuck says, twisting off the cap of his bottle.

"Torturing yourself by... setting the guy you're in love with up on dates that you, yourself, set up?" Mark asks.

"Well, yeah," Donghyuck says. "But if it breaks my heart, that's good. I can then get into the process of moving on from him. Immediately. Hopefully right now."

"I don't think that's going to work," Mark mutters.

"Sh," Donghyuck hushes. "You came here to make me feel better, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then stop telling me I'm wrong," Donghyuck says, nudging him in the side. "Come on, you joined in the good bit of the drama."

They sit back on the couch, slowly sipping at their beers and eating food, and Donghyuck tries to stop glancing at his phone for any updates from Jaemin.

"It's been going for a while," Donghyuck says, voicing his thoughts aloud. Maybe the alcohol is making his tongue a little looser.

"Mhm," Mark says, checking the time. "Not really? Small talk takes a while sometimes."

Donghyuck huffs. "I wonder if he'll even like it."

"The... person?"

"No," Donghyuck laughs. "It's just, like, a small picnic thing. I think I was out of ideas."

Mark hums, and then shakes his head. "Yeah, I don't think that's the truth."

"Huh?"

"If you're in love with someone, you plan out all these different things, right? You think about your first date, or your fifth, or even your— well. Beyond that. You think about the future. You think about what they'd like best," Mark says. "I'm sure you have all these ideas. You just... probably didn't want to give them to someone else, right?"

Donghyuck presses his lips together, trying to suppress his immediate words that rise defensively and snappishly. Mark is being open and earnest, explaining something he genuinely believes in — it's not his fault he's managed to make Donghyuck feel like he's a live-wire, exposed and suddenly frayed as he's opened up to the world.

"I'm sure he'll like the picnic," Mark says after he doesn't get a reply. "Jaemin's kind of easygoing like that. But there's no guarantee he'll like everything else."

"We better hope he does," Donghyuck huffs, "just so I never have to go through this again."

Mark presses his lips together and seems to wrestle with himself about saying something. Donghyuck sighs, signalling his impatience and that Mark should just say it already.

"I just think... like, I don't know dude, you're setting yourself up. Like, you're not even considering asking him? Seriously?"

"Why would I ask when I know the answer," Donghyuck groans. "I'd rather just save it being all awkward between us, because you know Jaemin will get weird about it."

"He's weird about everything," Mark sighs, "but he's good when it comes to his friends, you know? He wouldn't let that happen."

"Fine, then I'd get weird about it," Donghyuck says.

"God," Mark says, running a hand down his face. "I just think, you know, it'd be worth asking him?"

"What makes you think that? Have you seen what he's like with me? He'd pick me last if it was only the seven of us left in the world. Even if I was the last one, I don't even know if he'd pick me."

"He... fine, he does treat you a little differently," Mark admits, and Donghyuck feels vindication and disappointment twist up inside of him.

"See?"

"But Jaemin, like, isn't going to fall in love with any of us, you know? He loves us as friends, sure, but you can tell, right? There isn't really anything... romantic, or whatever, with everyone," Mark says, hands gesturing as he tries to make some kind of physical representation of his words.

"I mean, sure," Donghyuck says. "But I haven't really seen him fall in love with anyone either."

"Well, no," Mark says, "that's— hang on, listen, I had a point to this. It's the fact that Jaemin treats us differently, right? But there's no chance he's going to date, you know, me. But you... I don't know, Donghyuck. The way he treats you... I don't think it's as hopeless as you seem to think it is."

Donghyuck leans over, right in Mark's space, and raises his eyebrows. "Has Jaemin told you he likes me?"

"Well, no-"

"And do you think that you can, truthfully, ever tell what Jaemin is thinking? Or feeling?"

"I mean, sometimes, yeah," Mark answers. "Like, I can't prove anything, but I just... I think it'd be worth asking him out, rather than doing, uh, whatever your entire plan for this year is."

"My plan this year found you a good date," Donghyuck replies, jabbing a finger in Mark's chest. "Don't knock it."

Mark throws up his hands. "I'm not, I'm not! It's good, you know, for all of us. But I'm just thinking about you."

"Very admirable of you," Donghyuck says, patting Mark's hair. "Thanks, but trust me, I'm good. Now are we watching this drama or not?"

Mark recognises when he's lost a fight, as he just sighs and settles down on the couch. "Fine. Play it."

So he does. It's easier to distract himself from the thought of Jaemin and his date, wondering how it's all going, wondering what Jaemin's wearing to it, wondering if his date has managed to make him laugh.

An hour and a half since the date started, Jaemin messages him. Donghyuck's eyes catch the notification popping up on his screen as he reaches over the table to get a snack.

He picks up his phone and settles back down on the couch, and it's like Mark can tell he needs the extra support, as he looks over as well as Donghyuck opens up the message.

He's sent two green checkmarks this time, and one big red 'X' replacing the third one that he sent earlier.

And tries to tell himself it's disappointment that he feels when Jaemin simply messages him: two chances left, Lee.

Jaemin's birthday lets them all meet up again. They don't go out, as it's not really Jaemin's scene, so they settle with everyone's schedules to have a nice lunch together. He looks good — enough so that Donghyuck almost chokes on his food when Jaemin sends a bright smile his way.

Eight months in, he mentally bemoans, and this plan hasn't worked in the slightest.

Jaemin swings between lapping up the attention and shying away from it, but whatever he's doing, Donghyuck can't quite tear his eyes away. Perhaps he's being a little more obvious about it — Mark keeps shooting him glances, then looks pointedly between Jaemin and Donghyuck like there's possibly something mutual between them.

"Jaemin," Renjun calls sweetly, leaning over the table with a smile that promises trouble, "how was your date?"

Jaemin simply holds up two fingers and isn't keen on explaining, and while Donghyuck also has no intention of explaining it either, Jaemin's gaze meets Donghyuck's. And he, of course, stares.

The rest of the table — sans Mark — stares at him too, waiting.

Donghyuck is quick to give in to the pressure, and he jerks a thumb at Jaemin. "He's saying I have two chances left."

Their voices all rise in a clamour, all of them trying to find out the details of Jaemin's ever-so-secret date. Jaemin doesn't budge, happy to sip at his coffee and just grin at them all without saying a thing. Donghyuck doesn't say anything, even if the pressure makes him sweat.

They begin to realise they're not going to get anything about Jaemin's date, so Chenle changes track.

"Donghyuck, what about your dates? Have you been on any?" He asks, though there's a knowing glint in his eyes that makes Donghyuck wary. He wonders how much Chenle knows — it always seems to be more than he lets on.

He can feel Jaemin's gaze staring straight at him again, and he shifts in his seat, determined not to let his eyes wander to Jaemin's side of the table.

"Uh," he says, knowing his answer is going to be pushed back against. "No, not really. I've been busy with everything else, you know!"

"You haven't even been looking," Renjun retorts. "You're running out of time to meet your New Year's goal, you know."

"Yeah, Donghyuck," Jaemin's voice says, joining the conversation with a type of slyness that makes Donghyuck even more wary than he'd been with Chenle. "You're running out of time."

"I know," Donghyuck replies, waving a dismissive hand, still very pointedly not looking at Jaemin. "Don't you guys worry. I'll have it all sorted."

He's met with amusement around the table, and thankfully the conversation changes after that. Their lunch doesn't last all that long. Mark and Jisung have to go, and while the rest of them stay around a little while longer, they start to part ways soon enough.

As they say goodbye to each other, Jaemin opens up his arms, and Donghyuck is quick to take his opportunity to wrap his arms around Jaemin in turn.

"Happy birthday, Nana," he says.

Jaemin's hand rubs down his back. "Thanks for the present, by the way."

Donghyuck pulls back, looking at Jaemin. "Everyone put in for it."

Jaemin smiles, patting Donghyuck's cheek. "Yes, but you planned it all, right? So thank you."

"Ah," Donghyuck laughs, resisting the urge to duck his head down as he gets all of Jaemin's attention like this. "It wasn't a big deal. You know it's hard for anyone else to organise things."

Jaemin hums, not indicating if he disagrees or agrees with the statement. His gaze lingers, and it seems like he's thinking over something, like he's hesitating, like he's going to ask Donghyuck something but he isn't sure how to just yet—

Jaemin looks away, his cheeks puffing out for a quick second before he turns back and gives Donghyuck a smile. Something a little more distant, not as personable.

"Thanks, really," Jaemin says.

Donghyuck nods, his arms unwinding from Jaemin's waist and he desperately tries to tell himself not to memorise the feeling of it.

"Yeah. Uh, happy birthday."

He goes home and feels like he's just missed something.

Jisung's next date is a little more successful, at least. Maybe not a guarantee for a second one, but better than his first one, so that's something he seems to be happy with.

And now, there are no more distractions. The last person on Donghyuck's list is Jaemin.

Two chances to go. Four months remaining. He can do this. He can absolutely find Jaemin someone to date. He can absolutely fall out of love in that time.

He's a little more doubtful on the second point, but he's always been an optimist. It can happen. This plan can still work.

He makes a whole board. Sticky notes and all as he pins down the perfect person and the best date that he can create, because fuck you, Mark Lee, for being overly perceptive and right all the damn time.

It is, admittedly, hard to give up one of his better date ideas. One that he's had in the back of his mind for months now, the biggest what-if that seems to haunt him. But he figures he's not going to be able to put it to use, so he may as well give it to someone else.

Besides, it's like... second-hand vicarious living. He can live out his date ideas through someone else, just without the risk of being rejected personally. Yeah. It's better this way.

Jaemin's schedule is a little busier, as is Donghyuck's, so it takes a couple of weeks to organise something once he's actually got a plan.

The night of, Mark is busy with work, so Donghyuck can't turn to him for emotional support. It's not like he'd get as much this time — Mark is exasperated by the fact Donghyuck won't just ask Jaemin on a date himself, and he's losing sympathy for Donghyuck's self-made problems.

So Donghyuck is left to deal with the night alone, trying to distract himself from looking at his phone. Jaemin doesn't post anything on his socials, no indication that he's out on a date right now, and Donghyuck is split between feeling glad and worried — maybe the conversation really is so good that Jaemin has no desire to upload anything, or maybe it's just so bad that he doesn't want to.

Two hours later, Jaemin messages him again.

There are now two red crosses.

One chance left.

"Hey, Donghyuck?"

Donghyuck quickly writes down the number he's counted to, making a mental note of where he's stopped as he looks at his coworker, Yerim. "Yeah?"

"Someone's up front to see you," she says, holding her hand out to take the clipboard. "I'll take over for you, Sungchan's clocking in so he can cover the front."

"Who is it?" Donghyuck asks. He isn't expecting anyone to come by, and whenever Mark or Renjun come by, they usually just sit at a table and wait for him. It's unusual for them to ever actually announce their presence to him.

She shrugs. "I don't know. He was cute though. Is he single?"

"I don't know who he is," Donghyuck sighs as he passes over his list. "I'll just go on break now, I guess?"

"You should have gone on one a while ago," she grumbles, pushing him out from the back. "Go on, get out."

It takes him a moment to register who's waiting at the counter for him. Jaemin's leaning against it, eyes already locked on Donghyuck when he comes into his vision. Donghyuck quickly glances around the cafe, but it looks like Jaemin is alone.

"Hey," Donghyuck says, a little confused. Jaemin doesn't really come by on his own — it's out of his usual path, and it's not really like he goes out much unless it's one of their friends dragging him out with them.

"Are you on break?" Jaemin asks, head tilting.

"Am now, yeah."

"Great! Come on, let's go for a little walk," Jaemin says, and he holds up his hands to show two takeaway bags that the cafe has.

"I only have thirty minutes," Donghyuck replies, still confused.

"Then we better get going." Jaemin pushes himself off the counter and heads for the door, forcing Donghyuck to follow him. Jaemin leads him across the road and to the park that Donghyuck sometimes wanders through if he finishes up earlier and has the energy to stay out.

Jaemin manages to find a table, and he slides across one of the paper bags for Donghyuck. Donghyuck can usually swindle his way into taking home some of the pastries left over, and his friends usually know that as Donghyuck sometimes appears at their gatherings with more than a couple, but Jaemin has still bought this. Bought it for Donghyuck.

It's one of the pricier things in their cabinet, something Donghyuck doesn't get all that often. He's appreciative of it, as he tends to get sick of eating the same flavoured muffins after a while.

"Thanks," he says, but he's still confused, so he decides to just ask the question. "Is there a reason you're gracing me with lunch and your presence?"

"It's closer to dinner," Jaemin frowns at him, ignoring the question for now. "Didn't you have an early shift today?"

"Yeah," Donghyuck admits, taking his first bite. He hadn't been all that hungry, admittedly, but now that he's had a bite, his hunger suddenly wakes up from its dormancy. "Yunho and Yuna had to call in sick, so I'm doing a double."

"And you haven't eaten?" He expects Jaemin's voice to rise with that question, his usual nagging tone of disbelief, but now it lowers past his usual register.

Donghyuck shrugs uncomfortably, staring at his food so that he doesn't meet the expression Jaemin is giving him. "I mean, I have. Coffee and, uh, some snacks."

Jaemin's foot hits his own, too purposeful to have been accidental.

"How often is this happening?" Jaemin asks.

Donghyuck shakes his head. "Seriously, not often. Not, like, ever. This is my first double in months. It's just something going around."

Jaemin huffs, knocking his feet against his own again. "You have to make sure you're taking care of yourself. You're going to get sick if you miss meals."

"I am taking care of myself!"

Jaemin gestures to the food on the table, and then to himself. Donghyuck just sticks out his tongue and knocks his feet back against Jaemin's. They finish up their meal, and Donghyuck stretches his arms up, lethargy starting to hit him now that he's had some food.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Jaemin asks, looking around.

Donghyuck tilts his head up to the sky and groans. "Honestly, no, but I probably should. I might fall asleep on this bench if I don't."

Jaemin sighs, long-suffering, and Donghyuck hears him moving around. Suddenly, Jaemin is in his field of view, standing over him. He pats Donghyuck's cheeks, and when Donghyuck lowers his head, Jaemin offers out his hand to help him up.

"We've got a bit of time," Jaemin says. "Come on."

Donghyuck gets to his feet, stuffing their rubbish into his pockets so he can get rid of it at work. Jaemin's hand slips out of Donghyuck's hold, and he's unable to bite back his tongue as he offers out his elbow.

"Here, let me take you on a guided tour," he says. "You don't walk around here much, right? Let me tell you all about my favourite trees."

"Oh?" Jaemin laughs, but slips his hand into the nook of Donghyuck's elbow. "Go on then."

"Uh..." Donghyuck looks around and points out a tree. "I like that one."

"Why's that?"

"It's... big. It's been here forty years, you know? Planted by the cafe owner's father to bring prosperity to the cafe," Donghyuck says.

Jaemin snickers. "Hasn't the cafe only been open five years?"

Donghyuck purposely jostles Jaemin, trying to nudge him in the side even though Jaemin's holding onto him. "It was for the future! You know, good luck for his future career."

"I see," Jaemin says, but he's shaking his head, clearly not believing the story that Donghyuck has spun just for him.

They walk along some of the path, and Jaemin's hand doesn't slip out from his elbow even as Donghyuck doesn't exactly continue with a tour.

"You know, your guide recording got leaked," Jaemin says suddenly. Donghyuck almost trips over his feet.

"I know," Donghyuck replies. "The studio told me."

"Do you know that it's starting to go a little viral?" Jaemin asks, blinking prettily at him, like he's trying to act innocent.

"I... kind of?" Donghyuck replies. He's overly aware of any mention of his name on the internet, really. "It's not that viral."

"But it is getting noticed," Jaemin insists. "Come on, you can't tell me you haven't read all the comments?"

"I've read a few," Donghyuck admits.

"See! And what do they all say? That you have a nice voice. They want to hear more," Jaemin encourages.

"I don't know," Donghyuck sighs. "I'll have to see if this leads to anything. I've been trying to get out there for so long, and I've already gotten further than most do."

"I'm sure this will lead to something," Jaemin says, voice surprisingly kind. Donghyuck takes it in for a moment, trying to commit this entire scene to memory. But Jaemin's presence hasn't become any less of a surprise than before, and he's still curious.

"Hey," Donghyuck says, "really, Jaemin, what are you doing here?"

He feels Jaemin shrug against him. "Just ended up this way."

It's a flippant kind of response, Jaemin purposefully making sure he sounds casual about it so that they can both breeze past it. But Donghyuck holds onto it, wondering why Jaemin is really here. Is he here just to see Donghyuck?

"How did you know I was working anyway?" Donghyuck asks.

"You weren't replying in the group chat," Jaemin says.

"I never reply."

"Mhm, true. But Renjun said you weren't replying to him, and then Mark checked your location, and we figured out you were working late," Jaemin says.

Ah, Donghyuck thinks. Is this the reason? Was Jaemin sent here on behalf of all of their friends, just to make sure Donghyuck's doing alright?

There are so many things he wants to ask Jaemin. He wants to ask about the date. He wants to ask what had gone wrong, why Donghyuck's plan hadn't worked, what Jaemin just hadn't seen in the person Donghyuck picked out.

But Jaemin presses closer, tucking himself more into Donghyuck's side as they walk, and Donghyuck swallows down the questions. He doesn't quite think he'd be able to speak — he thinks if he did, right now, he'd give it all away. They're walking along the park, arm in arm, comfortable and close to each other.

He'd just ask don't you think this is nice? Don't you think that, maybe, we can make this work? You and me, just like this? Do you feel it too?

So he remains quiet, tries to tell his heart to calm down, and tries not to imagine the thought that they could be doing this as boyfriends if Donghyuck just had the guts to ask. If Jaemin somehow, impossibly, just liked him back.

They have to loop back around so that Donghyuck can make it back in time. Jaemin walks with him back to the front of the cafe, and his hand slips away again. Donghyuck resists the urge to reach out for it — he thinks he's asked enough today of Jaemin.

"Thanks, Jaemin," he says sincerely.

"Make sure you eat a proper meal tonight," Jaemin stresses, wagging a finger at him. "Send a photo to me, okay? Are you working tomorrow too? Make sure you have something sustaining!"

"I got it, I got it," Donghyuck laughs. "I will."

"You better," Jaemin says, but he's smiling now, losing that seriousness.

Donghyuck's going to walk back in a minute late. He finds that right now, looking at Jaemin in front of him, he suddenly does not care.

Jaemin is the one to usher him back inside. "Go on, go on. Have a good rest of your shift."

He walks back into the cafe in a slight daze. Yerim slides up to him quickly.

"So. Is he single?"

Donghyuck looks back through the glass of the door, where Jaemin has just started walking, hands in his pockets and a small smile on his face. Donghyuck thinks there's one on his own too.

Then, smoothing his expression over, he looks back at Yerim.

She'd be good on a date with Jaemin, he thinks. He'd like her.

"Sorry," he says, "but no."

Word, naturally, gets back to the group chat about the second failure in Donghyuck's dating plans.

Again, no one can get any details from Jaemin about the date. Donghyuck even goes to Renjun and Jeno privately to ask, but neither of them really has details either. Or, rather, they're not sharing them with Donghyuck.

So now, the pressure is really on. Donghyuck is down to his last chance. He has, at best, a little over two months to get it right.

"I'm overcomplicating it," he declares to Mark one afternoon, currently crashed on Mark's bedroom floor.

"What?" Mark asks, looking over from his desk.

"The plan," Donghyuck explains. "The plan for Jaemin. I'm overcomplicating it."

"Finally," Mark sighs in relief.

"It's just finding someone that Jaemin wants to kiss, right? For New Year's? What if I just bring along some really attractive people to the party? Surely Jaemin will want to kiss one of them."

"Nevermind," Mark mutters, mostly to himself. He clears his throat and raises his voice so that Donghyuck is actually part of his conversation. "That's leaving it a little late. Besides, that feels like a cop-out, you know?"

"It's called being strategic," Donghyuck argues.

"I don't know, have you ever seen Jaemin kiss someone at a party? He's not really, like, the kind to do that, you know?"

"I don't know, actually," Donghyuck grumbles. "He's given us nothing to work with! I don't know who he likes, what's his type, even who his celebrity crush is!"

"Hm," Mark hums. "Yeah, me either."

"I'm just stuck when it comes to him," Donghyuck sighs. "Like, I've done pretty well with everyone else, right? But Jaemin..."

"He's an interesting guy," Mark shrugs. "Oh. Hey, aren't you also meant to find a date?"

Donghyuck pulls his hoodie over his eyes, not wanting to be part of the conversation any longer.

Mark sighs. "I don't know, maybe it'll be better to do it sooner, right? Get it over with. Maybe you can convince him to give you a fourth chance if it doesn't work out."

"I doubt it," Donghyuck huffs.

"Okay, well, your New Year's plan of inviting so many people isn't going to work. He's going to avoid all of them just to annoy you," Mark says.

"Stop being logical," Donghyuck complains. "I don't want to have to think about another date to organise."

"You can tell him that, he'd be happy to stop," Mark says.

Donghyuck groans. "Then he wins. I can't have that."

"Then I don't really know what to tell you, man," Mark says, "you're going to have to plan this third date and hope it works out."

"I don't even know if I want it to," Donghyuck whines, speaking before he can really think about it.

Mark is torn between being sympathetic or exasperated. His expression twists into a combination of the two in a way that makes Donghyuck laugh.

"Do you see now why I have to get over him? This is pathetic. The great Lee Donghyuck, down so bad for a man that's more gremlin than actual man."

"You're also more gremlin than man," Mark says.

"That's why you love us," Donghyuck sing-songs.

"You're more gremlin than him, actually," Mark continues.

"Alright, alright," Donghyuck knocks his feet against Mark's leg. "Here, listen to some of the ideas I have."

Donghyuck ends up brainstorming a new date idea aloud — Mark doesn't help much in terms of actually helping provide answers, but his presence helps motivate Donghyuck into actually getting something together. He needs to make sure this is Jaemin's best date yet. That it's with the person best suited for him.

"This seems solid," Mark says at the end, looking over all the notes that Donghyuck has made. "Probably your best chance yet."

"Can you at least try and sound like you have any belief in this working out," Donghyuck begs.

"I do! I believe in you," Mark reassures, sounding a little more genuine at least. "Like, I mean, even if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world. You've had like, a pretty big success rate this year with all of us, y'know? You've done well with it, and it's not like we really expected Jaemin to actually go along with it all."

"You were going so well at the start, and then you went right back into the not-believing-in-me territory."

"I'm just trying to encourage you, really!"

"Do a better job of it," Donghyuck complains, hitting him again with his foot. "I need this to work, do you hear me? If I go into another year of being stupidly in love with Na Jaemin, I'm going to lose my mind. Seriously."

"I think you already have," Mark mutters.

Donghyuck graciously decides to ignore that comment. For now, he saves the plan, makes sure that Mark will check in with him just to put some pressure on himself to make sure he organises this date. Mark still doesn't seem all that pleased about it, but Donghyuck figures he's too far into it all now and Mark knows it. Nothing Mark says is going to convince Donghyuck to change his plans.

And, like watching the tide receding far, far back, knowing there is a big tsunami wave to follow, Donghyuck sets the plan in motion.

He purposely makes sure to align Jaemin's date while he's on a shift. That way, he's a lot less likely to check his phone and he's a lot more distracted. It doesn't really help much — his head is a mess, he trips on his feet more than he stands up on them, and he almost spills coffee on Yunho twice, and almost three times with different customers.

He's so wrung-out and tired by the end of the shift that he almost manages to forget entirely about checking his phone. When he sees that the only notification he has is from Mark, he doesn't think there's anything wrong for a moment.

And then, he realises that Jaemin's date was meant to end a couple of hours ago. He hasn't sent Donghyuck any messages.

His heart sinks.

Has the plan worked? Did Jaemin actually like the date? The person he was spending it with?

He misses the first bus that comes to his stop to get back home. He's too distracted by all of his thoughts, his mind relentlessly going through different scenarios. What if Jaemin really does go on that second date? Brings them to New Year's?

"Oh, god," he whispers to himself, putting his phone in his pocket. "Shit."

He's so in love, and this hurts a whole lot more than he ever thought it would.

He's able to piece himself back together enough to get the next bus, at least, but he still gets home later than he means to. Donghyuck just has enough energy to eat a small meal of leftovers, wash up, and then crash in his bed. By the time he falls asleep, Jaemin still hasn't messaged.

The next day, he messages the groupchat. A typical kind of argument starter that will get Jaemin to reply indignantly to whatever theoretical question Donghyuck has posed.

Thankfully, he's not the first one to bring up Jaemin's absence. Jisung brings it up first, wondering why he's not getting Jaemin's usual support. Jeno answers the question for all of them — Jaemin's caught up in work, and he probably won't be checking his phone for the next couple of days.

Okay, Donghyuck thinks, nothing to stress about.

Except he catches himself scrolling through a gift site, trying to think of a way to cheer up Jaemin who's likely under some pressure at work. He thinks okay, friends do this. Jaemin came by the cafe just to do this.

Except Donghyuck is scrolling in the 'for your partner' section, with hearts and cute little bears and definitely all romantic in intentions. So he quickly exits out of the tab and tells himself to just send Jaemin a quick message to check in.

He's burning with questions, wanting to know how the date has gone, wanting to get out of this limbo and just find out if his New Year's plan has actually succeeded. If Jaemin is about to admit defeat in this. He holds back on asking outright, but he's sure his message basically screams please tell me if the date worked.

Jaemin doesn't open it or reply. Two days later, though, Donghyuck receives a piece of mail.

Envelope and all. Stamped with express postage.

The handwriting is very familiar. All the little stickers and hearts placed all over the envelope also give it away. He takes a photo of it and sends it to Jaemin with the caption "should I feel nervous? or is this just you displaying more weird 12th-century habits?"

He opens it after a minute, too impatient to wait for a reply.

Inside, there is a simple slip of folded paper. A small thing compared to the size of the envelope. On the outside of the paper, he sees a scribble, and he unfolds it.

There are three crosses, all filled in with red pen.

Donghyuck flips the paper over, and on the other side, Jaemin has written three strikes. You're out.

The sense of relief almost makes him stumble on his feet. The tsunami wave has arrived, but it doesn't knock him over like he expects — despite everything, despite this whole stupid entire plan being about the fact that Donghyuck needs to get over Jaemin, he can't help but feel so incredibly relieved that it hasn't worked.

He scrunches up the piece of paper in his fist and presses it against his forehead.

He can't keep feeling like this. Is this what's in store for him next year — just trying to act like he wants Jaemin to find someone, like he thinks Jaemin will look so good with someone else, like his heart doesn't sink and crumble at the thought of that? Is it just going to be more of Donghyuck trying to pretend like he isn't helplessly, hopelessly in love with Jaemin?

Another year of just trying to get over him? Just trying to break his own heart?

He knocks his fist on his forehead. He can't keep going on like this. Something needs to change.

He opens up his phone, and stops in shock when he sees that Jaemin has actually opened the message. He's typing something, but before Donghyuck can think any better of it, he calls Jaemin.

"Hey?" Jaemin answers. His voice sounds a little deeper, like he's just woken up. It's late, but he likely finished late, and he's just had time to rest now.

"It was a joke," Donghyuck says, the words rushing out of him.

"...What?"

"The... the third date. It was a joke. That wasn't the actual attempt," Donghyuck scrambles to piece the words together. "It was just, ah, a trick. Making you think I was done."

For a couple of seconds, Jaemin is quiet on the other end. And then, in a voice a little more awake, he speaks again. "It didn't feel like a trick."

Donghyuck supposes it's unfair of him to be throwing the person he set Jaemin up with under the bus like this, but he's desperate for any kind of excuse.

"Well, it was— like a movie, you know? It's like... when you suspect one character of being the traitor, and all the signs are there, but then it turns out to be the like, bubbly best friend. See? You thought that was the final person, but they were just the red herring. I've got the actual third and final person for you. The real one."

"I've had three dates, Donghyuck," Jaemin reminds him, though his voice is lightening up. Teasing, if Donghyuck pushes him enough, but his heart is racing and he can't quite think fast enough to be able to match Jaemin's cheekiness right now.

"Okay, fine, so I... I owe you, right?"

"You do," Jaemin says, filling in the space when Donghyuck is quiet for a second too long.

"Right. So, how about you just... you go on this last date. And I'll owe you twice over," Donghyuck offers.

"Three times over," Jaemin counters.

Donghyuck lets out a breath. "Sure. Three times over if you don't like the date."

Jaemin hums, considering it. Donghyuck can tell that Jaemin is just doing it to tease him, to draw out the anxiety that Donghyuck is sure is palpable down the phone.

"Can I use the one you do owe me right now?" Jaemin asks.

"What?"

"The one thing you owe me. Can I use it right now?"

Donghyuck stares at the wall, his mind racing as he tries to imagine what Jaemin might use it for. "Uh. How about you tell me what you want first, and then I can decide if I can do it right now?"

"What do you mean, you decide? You owe me," Jaemin huffs.

"Okay, but if you make me, I don't know, get you breakfast in the morning tomorrow? I can't do that, I have an opening shift," Donghyuck says.

"I just want a question answered," Jaemin replies, "that's all."

Donghyuck's heart pounds against his chest. "I... I guess so."

"Okay. You owe it to me to tell me what makes you think this date will be different," Jaemin says.

"That... that feels like a waste of the wish," Donghyuck admits, but then he can't help but let out a laugh. "But hey, if that's what you want to use it on, sure. No take-backs, okay?"

"Just answer," Jaemin says.

"I think... I think this person will be completely different," Donghyuck replies. His words feel a little more tense now, more wrought with nerves as he speaks. "They'll be the complete opposite, actually."

"Oh?"

"They'll probably try their best to make you laugh. All the time. They talk a lot, and they'll probably get on your last nerve," Donghyuck continues to speak, not quite able to stop himself. His words are hurried, rushed together, and he's not even sure if Jaemin can properly understand him right now. "And you'll probably get on theirs, too. You're too alike to each other, but sometimes you're the complete opposite. They make convoluted plans just to— well. Nevermind. But they'll be totally different to any of the previous people you've gone on dates with."

His heart is still pounding. He can't really hear much but the blood rushing in his ears. The other end of the phone is silent.

He's about to take it all back. He's about to say no, actually, sorry! This was the joke. The plan all along was to make you use up what I owe you, and now we're even, haha! I guess I'll see you in New Year's. Yeah, that's like, two months away, but if I disappear off the face of the earth and take up a post on the planet called embarrassment, then don't mind me! Haha, it's fine! Hope you find someone really nice to kiss who isn't any of those things I just said!

Jaemin, finally, lets out a long breath. Donghyuck doesn't know what to think. He's about to open up his mouth, about to blurt out all of his thoughts and panic, about to try and salvage the situation because there is no way that Jaemin hasn't realised who he's talking about—

"I think I'll look forward to that date, then," Jaemin says.

Donghyuck is in such shock that he almost chokes on his tongue.

“You… you do realise I’m talking about me, right?” Donghyuck asks, a little hysterical.

Jaemin laughs. “I do.”

"You— okay. Okay," Donghyuck breathes out, feeling himself fold forward in utmost relief. His stomach is still turning, a mixture of nerves and excitement. Jaemin must have pieced it together, but this is his response to Donghyuck finally — though perhaps inadvertently — asking. "I'll, um, text you the details. As always."

"And I'll let you know my schedule," Jaemin says.

"Cool. Cool, okay, yeah. Uh. Thanks, Jaemin. Bye."

"Bye, Donghyuck."

Donghyuck hangs up the phone, grabs the pillow from the couch, and smothers a scream into it.

Of course.

Of fucking course, Mark Lee seems to be right again.

He doesn't tell Mark about it.

Jaemin and Donghyuck do not make an announcement to the group. Jaemin never mentions the third date he'd gone on, so everyone is still waiting for it, thinking it's yet to come. Donghyuck hasn't told them about the new plan either— the fact that he's the one getting ready for the date.

It's getting colder, and Donghyuck wraps himself up in a couple of layers. It's a bit disappointing, he thinks, that he's waited this long — it would have been nice to be out in the sun, where they don't have to worry about getting too cold if they spend too long outdoors.

And, admittedly, Donghyuck just likes the thought of there being fewer layers between them. But he's getting a little ahead of himself there.

Just in case this all backfires, just in case Jaemin isn't actually wanting this, he doesn't want this really getting out to their friends. If it goes terribly, he can laugh it off, make a joke about it, and he's sure that Jaemin will do the same if just to keep the peace.

The problem with that is the fact that Donghyuck ends up not being able to message anyone as his nerves begin to work up during the night before the date. He's made the date something casual, a restaurant that's a bit nicer with a good view for lunch, and the opportunity to walk around and talk if they want to. He's also sure that Jaemin will probably want to drag him into some of the stores that are around the area.

The day of the date doesn't start off too well — he wakes up later than he intends to, and he ends up having to rush himself as he gets ready. It's not too bad — he knows Jaemin usually tends to run late as well, and he's pretty calm when other people do too, but Donghyuck doesn't want anything to go wrong today. He already feels like he's on an edge, and one misstep makes him feel like he's going to tumble down from a cliff.

Despite being the one to make the plan, Donghyuck still checks the text he sent Jaemin, triple-checking his information. Even though he's sure he's got it all correct, that this is the correct date, the correct time, he still feels nervous as he heads to the chosen cafe.

He arrives first. He's ten minutes early, which means he has to wait outside, trying to look like he's not too eagerly scanning the crowds for a particular person. He hadn't given Jaemin a description of the person he was meeting with, not like his usual information provides, and he starts to worry. Does Jaemin really know it's Donghyuck coming? What if Jaemin thought he was talking about someone else?

He's pulling nervously at the seam of his pants, thinking maybe this isn't the best idea, maybe he still has time to cancel, when the shadow of someone's figure stops just before him.

Donghyuck looks up, and his breath catches in his throat.

Jaemin always looks nice. Donghyuck's seen him in plenty of outfits, all kinds of different formality levels, and every single time, Jaemin looks good.

This isn't the most he's seen Jaemin dressed up, but it's still enough to feel like he's been punched in the stomach.

"Hey," Donghyuck says, cursing the way the first second of it sounds breathless and the rest of it squeaky. He clears his throat, kind of hoping Jaemin ignores it. By the way that Jaemin's smile lifts, he doesn't quite think he's lucky enough.

"Just the person I was looking for," Jaemin says in greeting, which makes Donghyuck's heart do all sorts of ridiculous front flips in his chest. He has to kick his brain into gear just so he can think of something to say, otherwise he fears he might stand here all day just gaping in shock.

"You look nice," he manages to say. Jaemin lights up.

"Thanks. You do too," he replies — and though it's the nice thing to do, the standard thing to compliment someone back, Donghyuck can still tell Jaemin is being earnest.

"Uh, should we?" Donghyuck gestures to the cafe at their backs, and Jaemin's eyes flicker over to it like he's only just noticed the whole building is there. Donghyuck takes the moment that Jaemin isn't looking to give himself a little self-talk: stop acting weird. It's just Jaemin. Jaemin, on a date with you... Okay, nope, don't freak out about that. Don't blow it just because you're nervous now.

They head inside and are able to find a table. It's not too busy, and they manage to get a table right by a window. It's not like Jaemin is really appreciating it though — he seems intent on just staring at Donghyuck rather than anything outside.

Donghyuck is glad for the distraction of being able to look at the menu, at least. He's already looked it over and knows what he's going to order, but it gives him the chance to think of some conversation topics.

The problem, really, is that they can't fill up the first date with things like small talk. They already know a lot about each other, and all their friends are the same, so it's not really like they have any new stories between them.

Eventually, he can't keep looking at the menu, so he looks up.

"Do you know what you're having?" He asks Jaemin, who's at least taken to looking at the menu as well. Jaemin recites back his choices casually, not realising Donghyuck is already moving out of his seat to go up to the counter and pay for it all.

When he realises, he scrambles to pass Donghyuck over his phone so he can use it to pay, but Donghyuck makes him put it down.

"My treat," Donghyuck says. "I'm the one that invited you out, right? So..."

"Okay," Jaemin concedes, settling back in his chair. "Then I'll get it next time."

Next time. The words basically put a skip in Donghyuck's step as he heads up to the counter, though he's careful to make sure each step is measured and controlled so that he doesn't do something embarrassing like trip over. He orders the food, pays, and turns around to see Jaemin looking out the window.

The sun is just hitting his cheek in a soft glow, and his lips are upturned in a privately pleased kind of smile, and Donghyuck thinks happiness looks wonderful on him.

When he sits back down, Jaemin looks at him.

"So, when did you realise?" Jaemin asks, leaning forward over the table.

"Realise...?" Donghyuck copies, trying to figure out what Jaemin means. "When I... wanted to ask you out on a date?"

Jaemin tuts. "Well, more like when I wanted you to."

"You… really wanted me to?"

He suspected, over course, after hearing the way Jaemin reacted to him speaking about going on a fourth date with someone very closely matching his own description. But he never really had that confirmation — not until that moment.

Jaemin pulls a face, and then it goes into a neutral expression. "Did you not realise?"

Donghyuck laughs, a little nervous. "Uh. Not until I was, like, running my mouth describing myself."

"Not before that?"

"Uh, not really," Donghyuck admits. "I was kind of just really hoping, but I didn't... I didn't ask you on this date thinking it was, like, what you wanted me to do."

"Oh my god," Jaemin says, his voice so full of dramatic despair that it makes Donghyuck laugh.

"Wait," Donghyuck says suddenly, leaning over the table now to get closer into Jaemin's space. "Since when have you wanted me to?"

"A year and... eleven months," Jaemin says.

Donghyuck feels his entire body freeze. No way. No fucking way.

"That long?" Donghyuck's voice is quiet in disbelief. "No way. You're joking, right?"

Jaemin looks a little hurt in the face of Donghyuck's belief, though it eases quickly as he clutches a hand to his heart and plays it up. "You're really doubting me?"

"I mean, a little, yeah," Donghyuck admits, and then something clicks as the information catches up to him. "Wait— wait. A year and eleven months. Please tell me you do not mean-"

"It was in the hospital room, you know? When you were so drunk that New Year's you somehow managed to break your leg, and yet you somehow managed to fall asleep and drool on my shoulder in the waiting room," Jaemin recalls, sounding utterly delighted.

Donghyuck puts his head in his hands. He doesn't remember all that much of the night — the pain had sobered him up pretty quickly, but it'd been a blur for most of it. He remembers Mark and Jaemin sitting with him, the only two visitors allowed to stay.

Jaemin pokes the top of his head, and Donghyuck looks up.

"Since then? Seriously?" Donghyuck complains, his cheeks burning red.

Jaemin shrugs. "Seriously."

"Why didn't you..."

"When did you want to ask me out, then?" Jaemin asks, taking up the question when Donghyuck's voice faces.

Donghyuck lets out a long breath. "Yeah. About the same time, I guess."

"And so why didn't you ask?" Jaemin fires back, though his voice is light and playful.

"Touche," he says.

"I wasn't sure if you liked me," Jaemin still offers the explanation.

"Same," Donghyuck quietly mutters.

"And you didn't realise until, what, you were asking me out anyway?" Jaemin laughs softly, shaking his head. "I was starting to realise you might have liked me last year. I thought about kissing you at New Year's, because I was pretty sure about it."

"And then I made that plan," Donghyuck realises, sure that his face pales. "Oh my god. Do you... god, do you realise I made that plan because I was trying to, I don't know, force myself to fall out of love with you?"

Donghyuck realises he's said the word love a beat too late, and while he catches the way Jaemin's eyes widen slightly, he also catches the way that the tips of Jaemin's ears go slightly red.

"I suspected it," Jaemin replies after clearing his throat, the words accompanied by a grin. "I was just waiting for you to realise who I actually wanted to go on a date with."

"You should have told me," Donghyuck groans, covering his face again. "We could have avoided all of this."

Jaemin hums. "At first... I wasn't sure. I thought you'd figure it out, but by the third date... I don't know."

"You're stupid. I'm stupid. We're both so stupid," Donghyuck huffs, letting his hands drop. He looks up, and he catches the way that Jaemin is looking at him.

Before, the way Jaemin stared at him used to unnerve him. Now, he finds himself holding Jaemin's gaze, something stirring in the pit of his stomach as he starts to realise why Jaemin is looking at him.

"We ended up here eventually," Jaemin says, voice soft, and then he reaches over and pats Donghyuck's head. "I mean, you're still a little stupid for making that whole plan."

"Oh my god," Donghyuck bemoans, "I'm never going to hear the end of this. Mark is going to have this over me for the rest of my life."

"I also am," Jaemin tells him delightfully.

"You didn't ask me out on a date either," Donghyuck says, wagging a finger at him. They're temporarily interrupted by their drinks coming out, but Donghyuck picks up the conversation again. "So... did any of our friends know?"

Jaemin taps a finger to his lip as he thinks. "Maybe Jeno?"

"You never told him?"

"Not really," Jaemin says. "I think he kind of just knew. Actually, I think Chenle just kind of knew. And he probably told Jeno."

"Of course," Donghyuck sighs. "He probably started a betting ring in the group."

Jaemin laughs. "Maybe."

"Mark probably bet on the fact I wouldn't ask you on a date," Donghyuck says.

Jaemin pouts at him. "I had faith you'd get it right in the end. And now look at you! So clever."

Donghyuck rolls his eyes as he picks up his drink, desperate to hide the flush over his cheeks at Jaemin's compliment.

"Have you told any of them about today?" Donghyuck asks, just to make sure.

Jaemin shakes his head. "No."

Donghyuck clicks his fingers. "Then we need to bide our time and think of a way to announce it that will shock all of them. Destroy betting pools. Surprise even Chenle."

Jaemin raises his eyebrows over the rim of his mug, and when he puts it down, Donghyuck can see the hint of a pout on his lips.

"I don't want to keep you hidden," Jaemin says, entirely too genuine. Donghyuck basically folds over himself in the chair, not letting Jaemin see the mess that his expression has just become. He stays there until he's certain he looks a little more normal, and he looks up.

"Okay, so how about we plan it then? Now?" Donghyuck suggests.

Jaemin hums, but nods with an amused smile. "Sure."

Their food comes out, and they end up talking about different ways to break it to their friends. Their discussion turns into a tame argument, with Jaemin threatening to just send it to the groupchat this very second before Donghyuck concedes to some of his plans.

"Fine! Fine, we'll go find some flowers then," Donghyuck says, shaking his head.

Jaemin grins, putting his hands up in an imitation of excited jazz hands. "Yay."

So that's what they do as they head out of the cafe. Jaemin holds out his hand for him.

"I hope you didn't offer this for all of your dates," Donghyuck teases.

Jaemin wriggles his fingers, trying to encourage Donghyuck to take his hand. "I didn't. Now hold my hand, it's lonely."

Donghyuck laughs, but he slips his fingers through Jaemin's own as they walk to a store. Jaemin seems to know where he's going, as he leads the way, eventually pulling Donghyuck into a small shop. There are a few flowers on display, and Jaemin picks out a few of them. Donghyuck tries to pay, but Jaemin is quicker this time. When he's done so, he turns around and hands Donghyuck the flowers.

"A little soon for flowers, don't you think?" Donghyuck says, even though he's known about this plan for the last half hour.

"And we were a little late on the uptake," Jaemin shrugs easily. "Just making up for the time we should have already spent together."

"Oh god," Donghyuck says, this time lowering his face into the flowers. Jaemin doesn't quite let him, tutting at him to make sure the flowers remain in good shape.

"They have to last," Jaemin stresses as they walk out of the shop. "It's a shame I don't have my camera, so we're going to have to make do. The sun will look a bit better in an hour or so. Come on."

They walk over to a park, and Donghyuck is glad that it's getting warmer now as the day passes by.

"This makes me think of the time you came to my work," Donghyuck hums, half-looking at the scenery around him, half-looking at the flowers in his hands.

"I'll come by some more," Jaemin promises.

"You're busy enough," Donghyuck replies, shaking his head.

"I'm never too busy for you," Jaemin says, looking over at him. Donghyuck hums happily in response, distantly thinking that the cold doesn't mean a damn thing when Jaemin keeps making him flush like this.

They find a spot to sit down at, and they end up talking until Jaemin deems the lighting is nice enough. Donghyuck has, admittedly, been trying to distract him from this.

"Hold up the flowers," Jaemin instructs, currently leaning his body in all sorts of contortionist directions as he holds up his phone to take some photos. "Look down — a little more to your right. Yeah. Okay, now to your left."

It goes like that until Donghyuck eventually groans and lets his body flop back. "Surely there is something usable in all of those."

"There is," Jaemin reassures. He's currently flicking through all the photos, so Donghyuck takes the chance to pull out his own phone and capture the moment when he passes the flowers over to Jaemin. He reaches over to tuck one behind Jaemin's ear — the stem is too long, and it flops forward immediately, and Jaemin is laughing as he tries to save it. And then Jaemin puts it between his teeth, pulling some kind of demonic face as he stares down Donghyuck's camera.

They're both laughing as Donghyuck takes the photos. Some of the later ones are blurry with movement and the imprint of laughter left in them.

They settle to hold half of the flowers each, leaving them splayed out on their laps as Jaemin leans over to show him the photo he's picked out. He's played with some of the settings, and while it's clear that someone is holding up the flowers, it's hard to tell who. Their friends won't be able to tell either.

"Yeah," Donghyuck says, swallowing down something dry in his throat as he thinks oh, I'm about to be soft-launched on Jaemin's Instagram. "That one is nice."

He watches as Jaemin posts it to his Instagram story, and they both sit back and wait. Chenle has Jaemin's notifications on, so Donghyuck is sure that they won't be waiting for long.

Jaemin continues to look through the other photos he's taken, and then he looks around considerately before he sees something. His eyes lock on a tree a little further away, and he ends up pulling Donghyuck up and walking them over closer to it. He props his phone against the tree, keeping it in range, and then makes Donghyuck sit beside him.

He takes one of the flowers from Donghyuck's hands and, as he had done, puts it behind Donghyuck's ear. He smooths back Donghyuck's hair, brushing it gently from his eyes.

Donghyuck's mouth is dry now. He's staring at Jaemin's face, unable to look away.

"You know, you owe me," Donghyuck tries to say firmly, but it comes out closer to a whisper.

Jaemin sits back on his heels. "Oh?"

"You said you wanted to kiss me at New Year's, right?"

"I did," Jaemin replies, also whispering now.

"Then you should make it up to me," Donghyuck declares.

Jaemin smiles. "Should I?" His hand reaches out to brush Donghyuck's hair back again, and Donghyuck cups his hand over Jaemin's own as it settles on his cheek.

"Yeah," Donghyuck whispers. "You should."

He's already leaning closer — there isn't much distance between them now. Jaemin closes it, his lips pressing against Donghyuck's own. It's soft and gentle, just a sweet thing while they're out in public like this.

Their first kiss. Donghyuck feels like he's twelve again, giddy and excited because someone wanted to hold his hand.

Jaemin kisses his cheek, and Donghyuck feels them puff up as he tries to tamper down just how giddy he really is. He can't help it — when Jaemin begins to lean back, he follows, making sure to press another sweet kiss to Jaemin's lips. Jaemin seems to hesitate from pulling back, like he doesn't want to stop, but Donghyuck is acutely aware of the fact they're out in the middle of a park. He's also feeling a little overwhelmed. He settles back with a smile, stomach still doing flips as he tries to come to terms with the fact he just kissed Jaemin. That Jaemin kissed him.

Jaemin settles his head on Donghyuck's shoulder, humming in content as their fingers both play with the flowers on their laps. It's only after a few minutes that Jaemin remembers he's left his phone on the tree, and he shoots up and grabs it. Donghyuck can see the smile lighting up his face as he checks it over.

"Did you just film our first kiss?" Donghyuck laughs.

Jaemin sucks in a breath. "Well, I thought we'd get some cute photos. I didn't expect you to kiss me, and I kind of forgot about it."

Jaemin looks a little worried about it, so Donghyuck just holds out his hands and pulls Jaemin back down to sit beside him. "It's cute. Show me?"

"Uh. The group chat is kind of blowing up," Jaemin explains with a laugh, passing the phone over. Donghyuck tries to focus on the video, a fond smile on his lips as he watches both of them on camera.

It's a little embarrassing, actually, being able to see the way he looks at Jaemin. But, he realises quickly, Jaemin is looking back at him in the exact same kind of way.

How has he ever missed this, he wonders?

He can't pay attention for it too long, because the group chat just keeps going off. Chenle tries to call him, even, which makes them both devolve into giggles. It seems that not even Chenle knows what's going on, and it's clearly frustrating him.

They agree to check in on the group chat, and they scroll up and read through the chaos of messages. Chenle had, as suspected, been the first to put a screenshot of Jaemin's story in their chat, with plenty of question marks to follow. Chaos is quick to consume the chat as all of them try to speculate who's holding the flowers, and who Jaemin is trying to show off.

They suspect it's Jaemin's third date, but no one has any information.

Mark is silent in the chat, just sending laugh emoticons.

"He knows it's me," Donghyuck realises quickly. "But he's not saying it."

Jaemin hums in agreement, resting his head on Donghyuck's shoulder as they check the rest of the texts. When they realise Jaemin's opened up the chat, it goes even crazier.

Donghyuck intended to use one of the photos he took of Jaemin earlier — probably the demonic face one — to send to their friends. But he swaps the app back over to Jaemin's camera roll, and he scrolls through the video until he catches the moment of Jaemin tucking the flower behind his ear. He takes a screenshot of it, turning his head to Jaemin to give him an inquisitive glance, and Jaemin kisses his cheek to show his approval.

Swapping back to the group chat, Donghyuck pastes in the screenshot. He captions it, on Jaemin's account, with something simple.

New Year's Resolution: Success!

He hits send, locks Jaemin's phone, and then turns to kiss him again.

They have plenty to make up for, after all.