Chapter Text
“Hyung,” Junghwan says, “I like this girl for real, you know,” he smiles as he continues typing on his phone.
Doyoung chuckled, “Man, whatever.”
“Man, whatever,” Junghwan mimics as he glances at Doyoung briefly before chuckling.
Doyoung was leaning his head on the car’s window, casting his phone’s flashlight to their fans as he bid goodbye. “For sure when we start shooting overseas again, you’ll have to break up with that one,”
“Bullshit,” Junghwan comments, paying him no mind as he continued to smile at the texts he’s receiving from this girl. “You’re looking down on me,”
“-and when you break up you will have to deal with the burden of not being able to do anything every time you’d miss her,” Doyoung absentmindedly mumbled.
It only made Junghwan snicker. “Be honest,” he said as he puts his phone down, “are you still hung up from that girl,”
“Just speaking from experience,” Doyoung shrugs as he bites his pinky, arms still resting on the window.
“Tch.” was all Junghwan managed to say. “Hyung, please park over there.” Junghwan said and instructed their manager, Jihoon, to stop by at a certain block where his girlfriend’s car was parked. The street was only dimly lit, just dim enough for spectators to not recognize Junghwan- not that his cap and mask weren’t enough. Still, in their line of work, it was always the better option to be quiet and discreet.
“I’ll text when I get home.” Junghwan said. Doyoung wasn’t sure if he meant to tell it to him or to their manager. The younger guy’s eyes were on the car where his girlfriend was, giddy to be next to her in an instant. Doyoung only looked at him briefly before checking his phone and reading the text his mom had sent him a day ago. He forgot to reply to her again.
🌱
“He really likes that girl, huh?” Jihoon asked as he shook his head, watching Junghwan’s girlfriend’s car take off.
Doyoung briefly released a breathy chuckle before answering, “Yeah,”
“Do you know where they met?” Jihoon probed as he took a u-turn, aiming to take Doyoung to his parents’ house for the night.
“Nope,” Doyoung simply answered as he laughed at a meme Jeongwoo sent him.
“That’s weird,” Jihoon sighed, “he tells you everything,”
“I didn’t want to hear it,” Doyoung answered, almost as immediately as Jihoon commented, “I mean,” he chuckled slightly, “He wanted to tell me but you know how Junghwan gets about girls. I just didn’t want to hear him talk about his nonsense shenanigans. Hyunsuk-hyung probably knows it. He listens to whatever the kids on set have going on,”
Jihoon hummed, “That boy, I can’t believe he's got me driving him to his girlfriend now,”
Doyoung nodded, forcing a smile, “I know.” He once again took his attention back to his phone, mindlessly scrolling through his gallery. A habit he developed during quite a long drive like this. His parents’ neighborhood was at least 40 minutes away so he always opted to do something. A photo of Junghwan sleeping next to him appeared on his screen, and for some reason, Doyoung stared at it a little longer. Junghwan’s mouth was slightly open, his shirt a little crumpled and his hair was a lighter shade of brown than the colour he has now. He was obviously sleeping peacefully. Doyoung doesn’t remember why he had taken the photo. It was probably out of habit. He takes pictures of Junghwan even when the boy doesn’t tell him to. He forgets to ask for permission sometimes, but those times were never an issue. He thinks it was genuine that he had photos of him to post on special occasions.
“You want to open the windows?” Jihoon asked, seeing how Doyoung kept glancing at the window. “We’re in your neighborhood already. No fans are around,”
“It’s freezing outside,” Doyoung drily laughed, shaking his head, “You’ve never seen me open this window before, hyung.”
Jihoon only looked at Doyoung through the rearview mirror, “Why did you want to go home to your parents’ anyway? We have an early schedule for an ad tomorrow, remember?”
“My mom,” Doyoung simply said.
🌱
“Doyoung,” his mom said as she combed Doyoung’s hair, “I just recently confirmed that my menopausal stage has started,”
“So that’s the big news?” Doyoung asked as he cheekily followed her to her bedroom, “I thought you and dad are having another baby,”
“Oh my god,” his mom laughed, slapping Doyoung’s arm slightly. “I wouldn’t want another child. What if they’d want to be a celebrity like their older brother and leave me here alone too?”
“It’s not like you can have another one now anyway,” Doyoung answered with a chuckle of his own, teasing his freshly menopaused mother, “You’ll have to put up with an ambitious child like me and another one who's abroad.”
“That’s why I asked you to pay me a visit,” his mother said as she took a seat in front of her vanity mirror, “It gets lonely sometimes. It’s lonelier now that my body feels older.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Doyoung said as he sat on his parents’ bed, watching and adoring his mother wipe her makeup off. “You’re really pretty, mom.”
There was a weight in his words that his mom felt but couldn’t point out. Instead of guessing, she asked, “Of course, you wouldn’t have that face if I was ugly,” she smiled, “Are you okay?”
“Yup,” Doyoung said as he leaned back until he felt the soft mattress on his back, the smell of his mother’s lotion on the linen sticking to his nose. “Just tired. Celebrity stuff.”
His mom laughed at the cockiness in Doyoung’s tone, making Doyoung grin. “I told you to study law before,” his mother retaliated, rolling her eyes at Doyoung.
Doyoung only laughed genuinely, “No way,” he answered. If Doyoung had taken another path; he probably wouldn't have been famous. He liked being known. His parents will never say it out loud but it was assuring to see Doyoung save up a lot for himself because of his job, too.
On a more serious note, had he followed his mother, he wouldn’t meet Junghwan.
Oh.
Honestly that would have been better. His brain made an abrupt u-turn, “You’re right,” he said as he sunk his face on the pillow, “I should have taken up law. Your fault for sending me to talent tutorials anyway,”
“How is it my fault now? Why? Shouldn’t I have been supportive?” his mom asked, looking at Doyoung ridiculously as if she couldn’t believe him.
“Yeah!” Doyoung yelled back before further sinking his face on the pillow.
🌱
“Are you okay?” the junior producer of the morning talk show Doyoung and Junghwan frequently guest at, Jeongwoo, asked. He wasn’t able to pick up Doyoung’s answer as Junghwan entered the studio, “Hey, man,” he greeted and shook hands with Junghwan.
“Hey,” Junghwan smiled and took Jeongwoo’s hand, eyes immediately finding Doyoung who was blowing his nose. “Woah. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, the weather’s a little bad. I think I caught a cold last night,” Doyoung answered as a makeup artist fixed his blush. The powder made him sneeze another round. “To many more,” he thought.
“How’s auntie?” Junghwan asked, standing beside Doyoung as he crossed his arms, gaze affixed on the camera crew Jeongwoo was organizing. “Was it serious?”
Doyoung released a genuine laugh, “Nah,” he said and tilted his head to look at Junghwan, “She’s going through something she couldn’t accept yet.”
Junghwan’s forehead creased, “Like what?”
“It’s a family matter,” Doyoung answered, his cheekiness evident in the glint of his eyes.
“Am I not your family?” Junghwan challenged, raising his eyebrows at Doyoung.
“No,” Doyoung simply said before sneezing again.
“Geez, what’s your issue, hyung?” Junghwan asked as he briefly glared at Doyoung. “Don’t ask about my personal life from now on, too.”
“Gladly,” Doyoung answered as he pocketed the tissue he had neatly folded awhile back.
“You,” Junghwan frowned, but Doyoung only winked at him.
“Doyoungie,” Jeongwoo yelled, hand raised up to call Doyoung’s attention.
“Doyoungie,” Junghwan repeated in a sing-song, slightly chuckling and finding both guys’ new found familiarity a little annoying.
Doyoung tapped Junghwan’s back once before going to the spot where he would be recorded. Junghwan leaned back on the table where Doyoung was earlier, quietly observing him and subtly smiling when Doyoung did so.
🌱
On their drive back to their apartment, Doyoung found himself being wrapped in a thick blanket their manager had put over him. It was no-brainer he had to share his place with Junghwan because they shared most of their schedule and a manager at that. The neck pillow around his neck was only a little comfortable but what choice did he have? He was sick, and the best they could do was lean his seat back.
Junghwan opened the car’s door, eyeing Doyoung before sitting on his usual spot, “You’re still sick?”
“Yeah. You might catch it, too. Wear a mask for me. I can’t breathe with one now so,” Doyoung tried to explain with his runny nose, but Junghwan was already reaching for the dashboard and unwrapping a mask himself. Doyoung chuckled slightly, finding Junghwan too blunt somehow. He decided to close his eyes, his eyelids getting heavier by the second. It was sudden, but it did not come as a surprise that Doyoung felt Junghwan’s palm on his forehead to feel his temperature.
“Did he take medicine, hyung?” Junghwan asked Jihoon, palm relaxed against Doyoung’s skin.
“Yeah,” Jihoon replied, attention focused on the road.
Doyoung felt Junghwan’s palm on the expanse of his neck next, further checking his temperature. He swatted Junghwan’s hand away before crossing his arms to get more comfortable. Junghwan only hissed before leaning back on his seat and pulling his phone up. There were three texts he needed to answer, yet his eyes zeroed to his girlfriend’s good morning text. Yeah. This is how he should start his day; all butterflies and sweetness. Before he could type a reply, Doyoung slightly grunted out of discomfort, turning his back on Junghwan to avoid back pain later.
“Hey,” Junghwan asked, loosely gripping Doyoung’s arm to check if he was okay.
“Hm.” Doyoung managed to answer even if it was troubling to open his eyes.
Junghwan’s loose grip naturally turned into slow caresses around the expanse of Doyoung’s arms, extending to his shoulder. “How did you get sick?” he asked as his other hand put his phone down.
“Hmm hmm hmm.” was all Doyoung replied, although its intonation sounded a lot like a slurred “I don’t know.”
Junghwan’s caresses turned into light presses and massages over Doyoung’s muscles, he was also talking about muscle knots Doyoung has heard from his mother before.
“You should get acupuncture,” Junghwan’s voice and Doyoung’s mother’s voice echoed in his head at the same time.
“You should get acupuncture,” Junghwan repeated, taking note of Doyoung’s chapped lips and rolling his eyes in the process. The boy was probably dehydrated.
“Man, shut up.” Doyoung finally voiced out. Junghwan’s nagging added onto his headache and honestly, he also felt like throwing up.
Jihoon turned the mellow music resonating around the car a decibel higher from hearing their banters. It continued until Doyoung fell asleep.
When Doyoung woke up, he was already on their apartment’s couch, uncaring who brought him there. He was snuggled with blankets with a cooling pad on his head, Junghwan was sitting on the floor as he pieced a decorative puzzle they bought together on a table.
“Hey,” Doyoung whispered, patting Junghwan’s head once. An idea of ruffling Junghwan’s locks came across his mind but Doyoung decided not to.
Junghwan turned his head to him, “I hope you don’t mind that I started the puzzle already,” Junghwan said before returning his attention to his puzzle.
“Water,” Doyoung gathered his voice again to whisper, the dryness of his throat was killing him.
Junghwan guided the water bottle he had prepared for Doyoung earlier to the boy’s mouth. But Doyoung sat up and took a hold of said bottle himself, his gaze drawing onto the puzzle as he drank. Junghwan was able to put a third of the puzzle together; some of the other puzzle pieces were scattered around the floor. Doyoung hated this about Junghwan; when he doesn’t keep the other pieces on the package while he’s solving the rest. Junghwan hated Doyoung for hating it. Doyoung decided to sit next to Junghwan, slowly lifting his body up to sit on the mat with him.
“You’re still sick?” Junghwan asked, still focused on the puzzle in front of him.
“Yeah,” Doyoung replied as he slowly picked up the scattered puzzle pieces and piling them up together.
“You should get–” Junghwan started, but Doyoung completed it for him.
“Acupuncture?” Doyoung supplied, “you and my mom keep saying the same thing.”
Junghwan chuckled. The smile on his face made Doyoung smile, too.
“Whatever,” Junghwan says as he rests his elbow on Doyoung’s folded knees. He did it so naturally that Doyoung’s gaze naturally landed on it.
Everytime Junghwan takes care of him, the more Doyoung trips over trapped emotions. He was a good friend and a good roommate. He was simply put a personable straight guy. It would be ridiculous for Doyoung to hate him just because he wasn’t capable of feeling what Doyoung wished he felt.
“Hate this,” Doyoung said as he leaned back on the couch and rested his head on it.
“Is there actually anything you like?” Junghwan chuckled as he struggled to find the right puzzle piece.
Doyoung did not answer, feeling himself slowly doze off again.
“Go back up to the couch if you want to sleep again, hyung,” Junghwan advised but Doyoung couldn’t bring himself to lift himself up.
“Just shut up and do your puzzle,” Doyoung replied, not wanting Junghwan to remove his arm over his knees.
“Just shut up and do your puzzle,” Junghwan mimicked teasingly. “How mature.”
“How mature.” Doyoung commented when he bought said puzzle set with Junghwan.
🌱
“I mean we can frame this up when we complete it,” Junghwan said as he looked at the set’s packaging, “You said you’ll buy me something if you lose the bet,”
“This is not what I meant,” Doyoung clarifies and points at the ridiculously expensive puzzle set, “I said if we find a car plate with 777 on it, I will buy you something useful. No offense but if it’s only decorative, it’s useless.”
“Come on,” Junghwan persuades, “a bet is a bet.”
“So follow the rules of the bet,” Doyoung challenged.
“Just admit you’re stingy.” Junghwan said as he put the large puzzle set on the cart, “I’ll pay for this.”
“Choose a pair of shoes, a shirt, a mug or something,” Doyoung suggested as he followed Junghwan. Junghwan ignored him, opting on reading the french signs above him. Doyoung frowned, “You don’t even understand what’s written there,”
“Just like your lack of comprehension of how art is useful for the soul regardless if it is mobile or still.” Junghwan replied, hiding a smile as he anticipated Doyoung’s retaliation.
“Dude, alright,” Doyoung frustratedly surrendered through gritted teeth, slightly swatting Junghwan’s hands away as he gripped the cart’s handle himself. Now they’re pushing a cart containing only 1 thing- it was probably even less than three kilograms.
Treading the alleyway of wherever with Junghwan wasn’t new to Doyoung. He’s been to many places with the other boy since he was 19 and he’s 22 now. He has probably spent more time with him than his own parents in recent years. It was depressing to actually think about but it was what their job demanded of them. They host this travelling educational program where they interview kids about their ideas on environment and resource conservation.
“Look,” Junghwan pointed to two french guys seemingly on a date. “Do you think they’re dating or just a couple of friends just sharing their coffee together?”
“They could say the same about us,” Doyoung responded with a flat expression, “and stop staring at them. It’s rude.”
Junghwan laughed as he continued walking, “Don’t say that,”
“Say what?” Doyoung raised an eyebrow at Junghwan but Junghwan only shook his head.
“Doyoung! Junghwan!” Jihoon waved his hands, hurrying them as he waited on the counter.
Junghwan pushed the cart faster, leaving Doyoung behind who wasn’t as eager to obey their manager’s demands. Doyoung took his time walking, looking at Junghwan who’s hurrying him now that he’s side by side with their manager. He looked excited, and Doyoung couldn’t quite remember when he started admiring that look on Junghwan’s face.
Hah.
Sharing the hotel room with Junghwan wasn’t new neither was recognizing some of Junghwan’s sleeping habits.
Nothing was honestly new about Junghwan except how Doyoung has been perceiving him recently.
He found himself staring longer at Junghwan’s back, assessing what these novice emotions were or if they even are worthy of being felt.
“Sorry,” Junghwan, from the other bed, turned his body to face Doyoung, “But why are plants green again?” he asked as he looked at Doyoung, making Doyoung a little grateful he’s taken him out of his trance of thoughts.
“Is that part of your script tomorrow?” Doyoung asked, pertaining to their concept for tomorrow.
“No,” Junghwan replied, “the kid we interviewed today asked me while she was getting her hair done.”
Doyoung chuckled, remembering how smart the kid was. He thinks she was probably just testing Junghwan. “Plants’ leaves absorb all the other wavelengths of light except green so the green color gets reflected back to our eyes when we look at it.”
“I see,” Junghwan answered flatly, making Doyoung laugh as he closed his eyes. “I hope she won’t join an online forum and tell everyone I don’t know that.” Doyoung only laughed louder– genuinely so, making Junghwan laugh, too. “You were great today, hyung. That kid had so many questions I didn’t know what to answer.”
“She can’t know everything for sure,” Doyoung replied.
“You sure it wasn’t because she wanted to embarrass me?” Junghwan asked, actually slightly offended because of it.
“As I said, that’s probably part of it.” Doyoung teased, making Junghwan flare his nose in frustration.
Teasing Junghwan was always a feast of amusement for Doyoung because he was cute when he was being like it.
“You were great today too, Junghwan.” Doyoung said as he rolled over and turned his back on Junghwan. He’s sure Junghwan would show him that certain wide toothy smile he does because of the compliment. Doyoung, ever so proactive, turned his back to avoid it. Said certain smile always made him feel bothered.
🌱
Doyoung sighed at the memory, discarding it in one of the shelves he especially built inside his head. "So Junghwan” was written on top of the shelf. It was confidential, quite the little secret. The dream sorters that live in his nervous system sometimes files away the cute memories of him to play like a movie when Doyoung was asleep.
Well Junghwan was like a double-edged sword.
Those dreams consisting of Junghwan being endearing were classified as “sweet dreams”; the ones related to Junghwan finding out Doyoung possesses such dreams were classified as “nightmares”.
Doyoung was battling against himself, sick and snuggled next to Junghwan who was busy piecing the puzzle together.
The puzzle pattern Junghwan decided to buy was just a plain, huge portrait with nothing else but the yellow color on it. It was bright as hell.
It was totally not worth the price, at least with how Doyoung perceives it. But Junghwan seems to be enjoying every bit of the process of solving it.
“This is driving me crazy,” Doyoung groaned as he laid his legs straight on the floor.
Junghwan chuckled, thinking it was just one of Doyoung’s regular side comments about his interests. "What's driving you crazy?"
"You. You fucking asshole." Doyoung yelled and climbs the couch again. Junghwan almost slid towards the floor because he was leaning his elbow on Doyoung's knees.
"Fuck you." Junghwan hissed, punching Doyoung softly on the chest. "Geez. I'd punch you for real if you weren't sick, hyung."
"You think I won't punch you back?" Doyoung challenged, putting up a fight even if his head was starting to ache again.
"Just sleep. God. Stop talking back." Junghwan said as he returned his attention back to his puzzle.
Doyoung grabbed a pillow and hugs it, in the process, allowing Junghwan to rest his head on that pillow, too. "You sleep, too."