Chapter Text
Growing up in a household filled with affection, Mingyu has always believed that if he loved someone, it’ll surely be reciprocated with the same exact intensity and hunger.
Until he met Jeonghan in the spring of 2013. 17 years old, lanky and self-effacing. Mingyu, who was then 15, naturally extroverted, all smiles, canine-baring, instantly took interest in the older boy.
To get his attention, he’d crack a joke around him, expecting the other to smile in response. However, the bashful boy refused to pay him attention, and would much rather spend time with the rest of the team.
Mingyu, who has never experienced being ignored before, sulks in the corner and wonders what else could he do to make Jeonghan notice him.
Years later, all of his questions were answered after a drunken party with the team and the executives. Mingyu, now 27, learns that Jeonghan evaded him like the plague due to his lame jokes.
Admittedly, Mingyu was the first trainee that he had noticed. A tan beauty with a charming smile. Sadly, those first impressions vanished to thin air when the taller deceived him, a newbie, into thinking he was older.
“How are things as a trainee so far, Jeonghan?” asked Seungcheol.
Jeonghan wipes off the crumbs of bread on his lips before replying, “Things are going well. I think I get along with everyone okay. Everyone is so nice, especially Seokmin and Mingyu hyung.”
“Eh? Mingyu hyung?”
“He’s nice to me,” Jeonghan answered. “Though I think his humor is broken.”
“Jeonghan, you’re older than him by two years,” Seungcheol said, confusion evident in his voice.
Oh, his humor is broken, alright. To Jeonghan who’s the first-born in their family, he doesn’t play with formalities and honorifics.
Because of this, he then swore to make Mingyu’s life a bit more interesting with his annoying antics.
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Over the years, their relationship grew deeper as the group went through ups and downs in releasing more tracks, touring the world and meeting thousands and thousands of fans.
With lips quivering in the winter, Mingyu whispers, “Hyung, I’m cold.”
The older one gets a whiff of the peach soju they shared earlier. Naturally, Jeonghan snakes an arm around Mingyu to keep the boy warm.
After years of being together as a group, hugs and other forms of skinship have become a language all of them spoke. A rather kind gesture that’s shared with everybody else.
As for the two, though, it’s different. Maybe both of them have unconsciously painted their intentions with malice but there were times that one would intentionally hold the other’s hand, making them dither before finally letting it go.
Mingyu and Jeonghan have forgotten when everything started to change between them. However, none of them was brave enough to discuss the elephant in the room.
The once innocent sharing of gazes felt more intimate each time, like honey refusing to separate from its comb. Jeonghan, a notorious sensitive sleeper, would spend the night over at Mingyu’s, arguing whether to leave the lights on as they succumb to deep slumber.
Mingyu, who doesn’t like being told what to do, would voluntarily do things for Jeonghan with no words uttered, just a shared sweet gaze and warm smile. Their embrace is no different as one would always hug longer, letting their musky scent linger on the other.
While they are discreet, Mingyu knows it himself that things weren’t the way they used to be. This is why whenever it’s time to practice, he sees to it that he wouldn’t hold Jeonghan’s hands too long for comfort.
“Mingyu-ya, are you going to miss me?”
“It’s different,” Mingyu answers with a heavy sigh, his fingers fidget under the former’s hold. “I’m not going to see you for what, for a good twenty-two months tops?”
Jeonghan’s chuckles reverberate inside Mingyu’s cold, dark room as he feels his embrace wreathe him tighter.
“Those twenty-two months will pass by more quickly than you’ll ever imagine, Mingyu-ya,” Jeonghan replies with mirth. But because he’s Mingyu, he hears the slight quiver in his answer.
Enlistment has always been a bittersweet topic not just between them but for the whole group as well. They have been together since they were young, scrappy boys, and they have never experienced being apart for long.
“I don’t think I can wait for another twenty-two months, hyung,” Mingyu moves swiftly to face Jeonghan whose face is illuminated by the moonlight seeping through his bedroom window.
Jeonghan only hums. Mingyu gathers enough courage as he inhales, and finally faces the fact that he’s put off for far too long, and says, “I think I’m in love with you.”
A blank. He can hear the cicadas buzzing outside. Mingyu can definitely hear his heart racing inside of his chest. However, he doesn’t hear any response from Jeonghan.
One thing Mingyu knows, and hates as a matter-of-fact, is Jeonghan’s penchant for impermanence. Jeonghan used to say that military duty is only temporary.
“Mingyu-ya, don’t…”
“I just wanted to let you know, hyung,” Mingyu reasons out. Truth to be told, he still has a lot of things to say. The words are trapped in his throat, gnawing the insides of his mouth.
While being the oldest in the group, Jeonghan was never fond of accountability, and he would always find ways to get away. Sadly, it’s the same for relationships and feelings and commitments.
“It will pass,” Jeonghan says with finality.
To Mingyu, it feels like a guillotine beheaded him, and he is condemned for loving someone he shouldn’t have loved more than friends do.
Mingyu grew up being loved and has always been capable of loving other people, like Jeonghan, who would always leave.
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SEVENTEEN JEONGHAN ANNOUNCES MILITARY ENLISTMENT
2024.11.23 10:00 A.M. KST
SEVENTEEN Jeonghan enlisted in the military today.
On November 23, SEVENTEEN’s agency Pledis Entertainment shared that Jeonghan finally enlisted in the military to dutifully carry out his service.
A photo of the idol was shared through the group’s official Instagram account. Jeonghan also showed off his buzz cut with the caption, “I promise to return safely and in good health.”
Earlier in October, Jeonghan informed his fans that he would be enlisting through his birthday live on the streaming platform Weverse.
He said, “I have been called by my country and will be serving in the military. The time has now arrived. I will return as a greater version of myself so please anticipate it.”
Jeonghan promised to do his best as he fulfills his military duty, and come back safely to his beloved group and fans.
Let’s wish SEVENTEEN Jeonghan all the best during his military service!