Chapter Text
“You never wrote a song about me,” Kyung says. He has been here since 10 in the morning, way before Jiho woke up because Jiho has spent another night holed up in the studio working on a track that he probably won’t release anyway.
Kyung has let himself into Jiho’s house, woken him up, and complaint about the lack of the food in the fridge before taking it upon himself to call delivery. So basically, just another Monday when Kyung is bored.
“I didn’t write a song about him,” Jiho clarifies and picks up another cheese stick, taking a mental note to check later if Kyung ordered all this food using Jiho’s credit card.
“Inspired,” Kyung hums, in a voice that is probably supposed to imitate Jiho’s but comes out more like he has a bad sore throat. “Same shit.”
“I got inspired by the smallest things,” Jiho defends, although he is not sure why he even has to defend anything.
This is all Minho’s fault. Last night, he sent a text that said “I can’t believe ur new song is abt seungyoon wtf”, and Jiho, in his dumbest hours, replied. “I was just a little inspired by him.”
And then, Minho screenshot that shit and sent it to the group chat aptly titled “We could have had it all – Block B version”. So now, Hanhae is harassing Jiho on Kakao talk and Kyung is harassing him in person. Yukwon and Minhyuk are staying silent, as expected of them. Or it is possible they have that group chat on mute.
“All I am saying is,” Kyung says, finishing up his soda. “Bros before hoes, man.”
“Seungyoon is not a hoe.”
“Really?” Kyung gives him a bitchface. “That’s all you took away from everything that I’ve been saying?”
“I am just saying we are all bros here.” Jiho replies. “There is no hoe in this equation.”
“Bros don’t write sappy songs about another bro.” Kyung says, gesturing wildly, the crumbs from the pizza slice in his hand flying all over the floor. “That’s like rule one of the bro club.”
Jiho opens his mouth to reply, but his phone rings, and he looks down to see a text from Seungyoon.
>>Congrats on the song, hyung. I really like it. Btw, I am cuter than Holly, right? ☺
Jiho smiles, and then restrains himself because Kyung is a snitch. He clumsily wipes his grease-stained fingers with a tissue, and picks up the phone to quickly type out a reply.
“Buckwilds hyungs.” He says to Kyung as an explanation. He is not sure why he is lying. It is not like he and Seungyoon are whatever Kyung thinks they are, and he has nothing to hide.
But, at the same time, Kyung is a meddling meddler, and it’s fine with Jiho, really. He has known Kyung for more than half of his life – he can deal with Kyung. But he doesn’t want Kyung to go and harass Seungyoon as well because he totally would.
Seungyoon is too pure for Kyung.
>>Totally! I would have asked u for the mv if u are not so busy with ur comeback.
>>Thank you btw
He sends back a couple of texts to Seungyoon, and while he is at it, scrolls through the schedule manager hyung sent this morning – the one that Jiho has been trying his best to ignore.
“The dance practice is at 4?” Jiho asks Kyung, who is trying his best to defend jjo-ddong from jumping onto his lap.
“Just because you have a few hit songs,” Kyung replies and shoos off jjo-ddong, who just coolly licks at Kyung’s shin in reply. “you think you can just forget about the group practice?”
“Say that shit in public and I’ll kill you.” Jiho warns him. “I know we have a dance practice. I just thought it’s at 1, not at 4.”
“Jaehyo hyung’s check up session got moved. He said that in the group chat yesterday.”
Right. Jiho vaguely remembers Jaehyo saying something like that. Honestly, he is used to just skimming messages from Jaehyo because nobody has time for Jaehyo’s sentimental outbursts at 3 in the morning.
But this means he just has a lunch spot opened.
Jiho picks up his phone, and sends Seungyoon a quick text.
>>Got some free time during lunch. Wanna go try that Mexican restaurant you’ve been talking about?
“I am going to head to studio,” Kyung says, finally giving in and picking up jjo-ddong to sit her down on his lap. “Do some vocal re-records. You wanna come along?”
“I’ll drop by later. Probably.” Jiho replies. “Got lunch with someone.”
“Which someone?” Kyung narrows his eyes, like the most serious investigator in the world.
“No one you need to know.” Jiho retorts as his phone receives a text.
>>I can’t. I’m on a diet ☹ Comeback season.
Jiho is only slightly disappointed.
>>But there’s a really good salad place in Itaewon if you are willing to drive!
Jiho loathes salad.
>>Sounds good. He replies back anyway. >>I’ll pick you up around 1?
>>Ok! Come to YG bldg.
“You know, life would be a lot easier for you if you are a little bit more self-aware.” Kyung says and Jiho looks up from his phone.
“What?”
“See my face? This is my judgmental face.” Kyung continues on like he doesn’t hear what Jiho has been saying. “Because I am judging you. Actually both me and jjo-ddong are judging you.”
“Stop dragging my dog into your nonsense.” Jiho says. It’s already fifteen past noon, so he needs to start moving if he wants to reach YG by 1. “I am gonna go shower.”
“I’ll let myself out.” Kyung replies and stretches. “Have a good lunch with Seungyoon.”
Jiho glares at him, and Kyung just smirks back. Jiho would ask how Kyung knows but then it would just open up more floodgates of nuisance. Sometimes, silence is indeed golden.
“Clean up after yourself before you go,” Jiho says instead and gets up. Jjo-ddong jumps off of Kyung, and comes running towards Jiho. At least, someone is still loyal to him.
“I already called the cleaning lady for this evening.” Kyung says flippantly, and Jiho sighs. Sometimes, he wonders if it is his name or Kyung’s on the lease of this house. “Oh yeah, by the way, I used your credit card earlier to order the food, and to make advance payment to the cleaning agency.”
For fuck’s sake.
*
Seungyoon is late, or Jiho is early. It is only 2 minutes past 1 PM so Jiho just parks his car in the free space and reads the outline script for his next show, doing his best to memorize it. Going to variety without the guys is always nerve-wrecking and Jiho’s big mouth has almost ruined him a couple of times, so it is always better to prepare, no matter how boring the script is.
Someone bangs on the window, and Jiho looks up to see Seungyoon smiling down at him, curly hair flat against his forehead.
Jiho unlocks the doors and Seungyoon walks around the car to get into the front seat.
“Sorry,” Seungyoon apologizes as he gets in. “Did you have to wait for a long time?”
“It’s fine,” Jiho smiles back, and starts the car. “It was only a couple of minutes.”
“I had to take a shower since we were doing dance practice before.” Seungyoon says. “Can’t stink up your car.”
Jiho laughs. “Pretty sure there is one of Kyung’s dirty socks wedged in the backseat. And Dean spilled his beer all over the seats last week.”
“Good to know,” Seungyoon raises an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t bother next time.”
Jiho just laughs at him, and turns the car onto the highway.
*
Minho texts when Jiho is working his way through a Chicken Caesar salad (at least the dressing is delicious, so it wasn’t as much of an ordeal as Jiho was fearing) and telling Seungyoon about the taxing vocal lessons he had to go through for his latest single.
>>Free for lunch? Everyone ditched me ☹
“You didn’t tell Minho we are going for lunch?” Jiho asks Seungyoon, who swallows down his mouthful of green leaves before looking up at Jiho.
“He was going over choreo with Seunghoon hyung when I left,” Seungyoon says. “And I thought you wanted to have lunch just the two of us.” Seungyoon’s face immediately heats up a little right after his words – Jiho would even say he is blushing. “I can call him now.”
“No, no.” Jiho interrupts. “Just the two of us is fine.”
“You sure?” Seungyoon asks, small smile forming on his face.
“Yeah. I am sure.” Jiho smiles back and lifts the water jug to pour more water into Seungyoon’s glass before sending back a “Sorry” to Minho.
Just the two of them is fine.
*
Things get a little hectic after that. They had to change a couple of points in their main single choreo because singing live proved to be a little difficult in the high jumps choreo hyung had them doing. Which means, double the practice hours, especially for poor unfortunate souls who can’t pick up on dance moves as quickly as Yukwon or Minhyuk.
Plus, they have to start recording in Japanese for the new album because they don’t want to lose the momentum they have going with their Japanese fan base. So, Jiho is getting approximately two hours of sleep everyday with a meal break of one full hour if he is lucky. By the time the first week of February is drawing to an end, Jiho is so worn out he is falling asleep on the toilet seat.
Minho and Jihoon decide to host a party just before Lunar New Year starts, to celebrate Jihoon’s birthday + Seunghoon and Seungyoon’s long past birthdays + Jihoon’s play + Winner comeback + New Year (both the Western one and the Lunar one) + everything else they miss. They are all usually up to their necks with work, so combined party once every six months are way more practical and sensible.
The party is at Block B dorm because Jiho changes his passcode and actually padlocks the door to his house. And Winner dorm is apparently off-limit since they have nowhere to put their pets for the night. Kyung grumbles and whines all the way through dinner, but eventually gives up and tells Minho to set up everything back at the dorm.
Minho promises it’s a small party with close friends, but about 40 people turn up, and everyone is pressed from chest to thighs in the small dorm. There are about six people lying on the small couch in the living room the last time Jiho counted.
Jiho, of course, knew all these people because his social circle is as big, if not bigger than Minho’s, so he has to spend a good few hours of the night socializing and trying his best to not get drunk because tomorrow is the new year eve and he has annoying relatives to endure.
Actually, it might be better to get completely inebriated. Mom can’t drag him to visits if Jiho is half dead, right?
“I’ve heard,” Minho is saying, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a glass of whatever-concoction-Kyung-and-Jaehyo-has-whipped-out, “that someone still hasn’t watched our new music videos.”
He tilts his head towards Jiho, and gives a pretty mean glare, leaving no doubt to anyone listening that who that “someone” is.
“I listened to the songs!” Jiho says in his defense. “I was just so busy.”
“I was recording when your songs come out,” Minho says in a betrayed tone. “But I still watched your videos, even if I have to do it when I was pooping.”
“Thanks for the support.” Jiho grimaces.
“Let’s watch them now,” Jihoon claps loudly, and announces. “Starting from their teasers.”
“Nope!” Minho yells and gets up quicker than Jiho can blink. “We need to cut the cake. Where is the cake?”
“He makes out in the videos,” Jihoon turns to Jiho and says. “With girls.”
“I know,” Jiho snorts. “I don’t actually live under a rock.”
“So, Jiho, I was thinking, for our video as well…” Kyung starts and Jiho gives him a big fat nope before escaping the same route as Minho.
Minho is in the kitchen with Seungyoon, trying to lit the candles on the cake. Or trying to set the cake on fire. Jiho is not sure.
“Did you rob a candle store?” Jiho asks, and Seungyoon turns to grin at him.
“24 for Jihoon. 23 for me, and 25 for Seunghoon hyung, but we can only fit 40 on the cake.”
Jiho raises an eyebrow. “You can just, I don’t know, not use all of them.”
“No fun in that.” Minho says, stepping back a little as the flames almost burn his brows out.
“It’s gonna take the whole night to take those candles back out,” Seungyoon turns to Jiho and says as Minho, very carefully, carries the cake out of the kitchen.
“If the dorm isn’t on fire by then,” Jiho reminds him, and leans against the doorframe to watch Minho yelling his way through the thongs of people. He probably doesn’t need to do that since people are already shrieking and getting out of his way once they saw him coming in like some kind of fire demon.
“Haven’t heard from you in a while.” Seungyoon says, leaning on the other side of the doorframe.
Jiho turns his head to look at him.
“I texted you when your album dropped.” He says, sounding as lame as he imagined.
“You haven’t even watched the music videos.” Seungyoon rolls his eyes. Jiho is going to kill Minho.
“Anyway, you used to text me like every night.” Seungyoon says, and looks awkward immediately after. “Sorry, that sounded so clingy, didn’t it?”
“No, no. I mean, a little, yeah, but I mean, I get it. You miss me, don’t you?” Jiho replies, with a wink to make it obvious that he is, in fact, joking. Seungyoon just gives him a little glare.
“I just,” Jiho sighs, “don’t know what is day and night these few days. I barely get out of the studio and that’s only to some group practice.”
“I understand,” Seungyoon smiles slightly. “I was just being sentimental.”
“Did you just quote your fucking song at me?”
“At least you listened to the songs.” Seungyoon winks at him and disappears into the crowd when Minho starts yelling for the birthday boys.
Things kind of blurred together after that. Jihoon called him out front to cut the cake with him as well, apparently to commemorate his mild success at solo attempts and the impending Block B comeback – which is supposed to be a secret and yet all the people at the party are made aware of because Jihoon has no filters on his mouth when he is drunk.
Jiho endures a couple more drinks before he finally decides to cut off for the night. He could stay at the dorm, but he is pretty sure Taeil is only offering so that he can help them clean up in the morning. He doesn’t feel like going home either. He doesn’t feel like being alone tonight.
Great. Now, he is the one quoting fucking Winner’s songs.
So, he turns left at the traffic light before the street to his house, and parks in the parking lot of a building he hasn’t been to in, god, how long has it been, three weeks?
Joon Young looks like it is 6 in the evening, and he is just getting ready for a night’s out. Which knowing him, he probably is.
“You look terrible.” Joon Young says and lets Jiho in, kicking his multiple shoes at the entrance to make room for Jiho’s sneakers. “I thought you are busy.”
“Was. Probably will. Not now though.” Jiho says and head dives onto the couch in the living room.
“So eloquent.” Joon Young snorts, and throws a water bottle at his chest. Jiho chugs it all while lying down, and tries his best not to choke.
“You going out?” Jiho asks, a little more awake now that the ice cold water burns through his throat.
“Just got back, actually. Remember that one actress I was telling you about.” Joon Young says and takes off his shirt, throwing it blindly across the room. “Scored a date with her.”
Jiho snorts. “Has she run away yet?”
“We are going golfing after the holidays.”
“Golfing,” Jiho grimaces. “You are so pretentious. Hopefully, she’s smart enough to block your number after that second date.”
“You must be pretty fucking dumb then,” Joon Young says, and comes to sit down on the same couch that Jiho is lying on. “Since this is like your 20th time here.”
“At least I never went golfing with you.” Jiho says and sighs a little when Joon Young leans down to kiss him.
“You alright?” Joon Young asks, probably because Jiho wasn’t kissing back.
“I am just tired.” Jiho shakes his head. “Not really in the mood.”
“That’d be a first.” Joon Young says and Jiho punches him in the arm. “I need to sleep anyway. Got shit to do in the morning.”
“All of us do.” Jiho says and watches Joon Young gets up and heads towards the washroom. “Hyung, you don’t mind me coming over, right? I mean, even if, we are not gonna.”
“No, you must pay with your body every time you set foot in this house.” Joon Young yells from the washroom and Jiho snorts.
Joon Young comes back out a good few minutes later, face bare and hair wet. “You gonna sleep in my bed or stay out here?”
“Gonna stay out for a little,” Jiho says and wiggles a little to be more comfortable. “I’ll come in later.”
“Fine. Just don’t touch my dick when I am sleeping.” Joon Young says and Jiho throws up a middle finger at him.
It is closing to 4 in the morning, and Jiho should be doing his best to sleep but he can’t. He opened the car windows on his way here to clear his head, and seems like he cleared it up way too much. Normally, Jiho would just head to the studio and work in this state, but right now, he just doesn’t want to move.
He ends up watching Winner’s new music videos, because at least, that will stop Minho from badgering him again the future.
>>Pretty.
He sends a text to Seungyoon right after, temporarily forgetting what time of the night it is.
>>I mean the music videos. Not you.
>>Although you are pretty. Kind of.
>>You are ok, I guess.
He is not expecting Seungyoon to reply in a short few minutes.
>>Thanks! -_-
Jiho stares at the screen for a couple of seconds before pressing call.
“Hey,” Seungyoon’s voice is low, like he is carefully whispering. “Let me just get out of the room first. Seunghoon hyung is sleeping.”
“Did I wake you up?” Jiho asks. “Sorry.”
“No, I wasn’t asleep,” Seungyoon says and Jiho can hear a door being closed softly in the background. “And apparently, neither were you.”
“Can’t sleep.” Jiho sighs.
“You at the studio?” Seungyoon asks. “Maybe we can go for supper?”
“If we go at this time, we can only get very early breakfast.” Jiho replies, staring at the clock on the wall. “Anyway, I am not at the studio. Crashing at a friend’s place.”
“Oh,” is the only thing Seungyoon says. Jiho is not sure if he sounded disappointed or unaffected.
“Yeah. I finished watching all of your videos though.” Jiho says. “You didn’t tell me you had a kissing scene too.”
“Ah, it was over a paper card. It was very innocent.” Seungyoon replies.
“If you ask me, that was the sexiest scene in all the videos,” Jiho laughs.
Sound of crashes and subsequent meowing comes through the phone, and Jiho frowns a little. “Everything alright?”
“It’s fine.” Seungyoon says in a rush. “Seems like I woke the cats.”
“As expected,” Jiho smirks. “You are a pussy magnet.”
The line goes silent for a minute, and Jiho sighs. “Fine. That was a lame ass joke. I am sorry.”
Seungyoon laughs from the other end. “As long as you know it. Pally, no, it’s not breakfast time yet.”
“Go feed your kids,” Jiho says. It is now closing to 5 so he really should sleep. Or maybe he can steal some wine from Joon Young. “I am going to try and sleep.”
“Sure,” Seungyoon replies. “I will see you …”
“I will see you when I see you, I guess.” Jiho completes the sentence for him.
“Yeah, I guess.” Seungyoon agrees. “Happy New Year, hyung.”
“Happy new year, Seungyoon.” Jiho replies and hangs up the phone, throwing it onto the table so that he won’t be tempted to open it anymore.
“Happy new year,” he says to himself, and pulls down the hood of his jacket to cover his eyes.
*
Jiho is back in the studio after two days of stuffing himself and wishing it was soju instead of tea he was drinking while making small talk with various relatives he doesn’t see outside of the Lunar New Year.
It is the same shit every year: When are you going to find a girlfriend? Can you even date? How much are you earning these days? Can you send my twice-removed cousin an autographed CD?
He is mentally worn out after just two days, so he tells mom that he has piling work – which is not a lie, the work is indeed piling – and escapes to the studio.
The problem is work in this case means recording, which means he needs more than just himself in the studio.
CEO calls him after he left the third voice message on Taeil’s phone.
“Why are you disrupting other people’s family lunch?” Gyuwook sighs into the phone. Jiho can hear children laughing in the background.
“I asked him to drop by for an hour.” Jiho pouts. “Just to do some vocal redo.”
“It is new year, Jiho.” Gyuwook sighs again. Let’s be real, sighing is usually what he ends up doing 80% of the time he has to deal with Jiho. “We gave you off days for a reason. Go home and just sleep and eat.”
“Did that for the past two days. I am bored.”
“Well, in that case then, you are welcome to just work on your own. Don’t go and call up other members.”
Jiho squints his face and leans back in his chair. “Erugh. Fine.”
“And no calling to any staff member, either.” Gyuwook adds. “That includes the other producers and musicians.”
“I can’t even call them to wish them a happy new year?” Jiho says flippantly. “What kind of a CEO are you?”
“The one who needs to be back in his family lunch right this minute.” Gyuwook says with finality. “I mean it. Don’t go and harass anyone else.”
“Cross my heart,” Jiho sings and hangs up first. And immediately sends a string of texts to Taeil for being a little snitch.
Gyuwook didn’t say anything about text messages, did he?
Taeil doesn’t reply. He doesn’t even read the messages – that asshole. Jiho sighs and opens the container full of food mom packed him up this morning.
He can’t believe he is having lunch by himself on a New Year day. Granted, it is by choice and he is sure his paternal aunts will be thrilled to see him at the lunch mom and Taewoon are currently at. But he’d rather be alone than sit through another awkward meal, trying his best to get out of blind dates.
He snaps a photo of his sad lunch, and sends it to a couple of people, complete with sad emojis.
Seungyoon is the only one who replies.
>>Me too. ☹
Jiho puts down his chopsticks and types a reply.
>>I thought you are going to Busan for the new year?
>>I am. The train leaves at 2.
Jiho switches to the call app, but thinks better and brings his laptop over to open his Face-time.
Seungyoon looks genuinely surprised when he picks up the call.
“Hi!” He blinks into the call, barefaced and hair messy like a puppy that just got out of rain.
“Wanna have lunch together?” Jiho grins and Seungyoon laughs a little before asking Jiho to call him back so that he can pick the call up from his laptop.
“How come you didn’t go back since the eve?” Jiho asks after Seungyoon settles down in front of his laptop, with his own meal.
Seungyoon wipes his mouth with a tissue and shrugs. “Some work stuff to tie up here. Plus, trains on even are pretty crowded.”
“Make sense.” Jiho nods and watches Seungyoon delicately chews on an omelette pancake. “You seems to be have lots of food at least.”
“Yeah, Minho’s mom dropped them off yesterday. I am only to going to eat the new year food today and tomorrow. Can’t break my diet off more than that.”
“You literally weighs less than a feather.” Jiho reminds him, but Seungyoon just shrugs.
“Why are you in the studio, anyway?” He asks instead. “Is work that busy?”
“Songs to compose, tracks to arrange, relatives to avoid.” Jiho answers. “You know how it is.”
Seungyoon laughs. “So, you are hiding out?”
“More or less.” Jiho nods. “And I am officially banned from calling up anyone else to come accompany me.”
“Aww, is our poor Jiho sad to be alone?” Seungyoon makes a crying face and Jiho snorts.
“Your poor Jiho is enjoying the peace and quiet.” Jiho replies easily.
Seungyoon just hums and moves his spoon around on the plate aimlessly. “Do you want to come to Busan with me?”
“Sorry?” Jiho asks.
“I mean,” Seungyoon says casually even though he looks kind of weirdly stiff. “If you don’t have any urgent work to finish. I saw a lot of open tickets when I booked mine this morning. Plus, my mom would love to have you over.”
“I can’t impose on your family dinner.” Jiho says, a little dumbfounded at the suggestion.
“It’s just me and mom tonight.” Seungyoon replies. “We are not doing the extended family things until tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” Jiho asks.
Seungyoon shrugs and picks up a spring roll. “I am sure. Might be nice for you to get out the city for a while also? Rejuvenate for the new year and all that.”
“Busan is as much of a city as Seoul is.” Jiho laughs.
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” Seungyoon smiles at him. “It’s just a suggestion.”
“No, no.” Jiho says immediately. “I want to. Yeah. Let’s do it.”
Seungyoon’s smile gets a little bigger. “I’ll help you book the tickets. Meet me at Seoul station around 1:30?”
“Yeah, sure. Ok.” Jiho nods and watches Seungyoon goes out of the frame to find his phone.
He is going to Busan.
Apparently.
*
Jiho spends a good 20 minutes picking out a good outfit to wear. What kind of clothes say “I am good respectable friend of your son who is totally not intruding on your new year family dinner”?
He finally settles on one of the few jeans he has with no visible rips and a plain shirt. He was going to wear one of his good dress shirts and slacks, but that reminded him of what Kyung wore on that one time when he had a serious enough girlfriend to meet her parents.
He is not going to meet his significant other’s parents. There is no need for him to dress up.
Right?
He changes into the dress shirt last minute. Just in case.
*
Jiho spends more than half of the train ride to Busan making sure Seungyoon doesn’t bump his head into the window glass every time he doses off.
If Jiho finally takes a hold of Seungyoon’s head and settles it on his shoulder, it is only because he doesn’t want Seungyoon to wake up with a nice bruise on his temple.
*
Seungyoon runs off into the washroom the moment they steps onto the platform, and Jiho just idly leans against a column, watching people moving around frantically. A few girls seem to recognize him but they are rushed off by their accompanying mothers before they can come over.
Jiho pulls the brim of his cap lower onto his face, and leaves his spot before the girls break free from their mom and come running. He ends up in the lone convenience store at the station, being manned by an Indian guy who greets him in perfect Korean.
He was just going to buy maybe a few drinks, but there are some ready-made bouquets displayed on the counter, so he gets one.
Seungyoon stares at Jiho wide-eyed when he walks out of the store with a big-ass flower bouquet.
“What is this?”
“I can’t just turn up at your house empty-handed!” Jiho argues.
“And I thought you wanted to give me an early Valentines gift.” Seungyoon drawls.
“I can do better than a 8,000 won bouquet for a Valentines gift.” Jiho snorts.
“Is that a promise?” Seungyoon smirks, and Jiho rolls his eyes before asking him to lead the way before people start recognizing them.
*
“Mom is still out, I think. She should be back before dinner.” Seungyoon says and unlocks the door to the apartment. Jiho follows him in and puts the flowers on the coffee table in the living room before taking off his coat.
“Isn’t that shirt Prada?” Seungyoon looks over at him and asks. “Why are you wearing a 3,000 dollar shirt on an off day?”
Well.
“That’s what I always wear.” He shrugs, as nonchalantly as he could.
Seungyoon chuckles and hands him a glass of water. “Sorry. I didn’t realize the wardrobe cost of Korea’s number one producer.”
“Not everyone can be rich and famous and hot.” Jiho raises an eyebrow and plays along.
“Too bad you only bought us a 8,000 won bouquet, Mr. rich and famous and hot.” Seungyoon laughs and brings the flowers into the kitchen.
He should have just worn that damn t-shirt.
Seungyoon comes back out with a vase full of the roses, and puts it onto the table. “Mom texted. She won’t be back for another half an hour. Wanna go for a walk on the beach?”
“Yeah, sure.” Jiho nods. “Kind of a wasted trip to Busan if you don’t go to the sea, right?”
“Exactly.” Seungyoon grins at him.
*
The sea wind is colder than Jiho expected it to be and he wraps his arms around his torso, and hops a little in his steps.
“It’s quite empty.” He says, looking around and seeing only a couple of other people on the beach.
“It’s usually super crowded during daytime.” Seungyoon says. “Especially on new year, but I guess everyone is at dinner now.”
Jiho looks down at his watch. “It’s already 7?”
“You are not hungry at, are you?” Seungyoon asks. “We can go back and eat something light if you are.”
“No, no. I am fine.” Jiho assures him. “I ate a lot during lunch.”
“Hmm,” Seungyoon hums and picks up a small stone before throwing it into the sea. “You’d better have some space for dinner later though. Mom usually cooks for an army even if it’s just for her and me.”
*
Seungyoon wasn’t lying. Mrs. Kang really cooked a hell lot of food, and she didn’t even know beforehand that Jiho was tagging along.
“You are always so thin.” She tsks and puts another dumpling into Seungyoon’s bowl. “Eat up.”
Seungyoon sighs but picks up the dumpling and shoves it into his mouth dutifully.
“Jiho, do you want more rice?” She turns to ask him, and Jiho nods, holding out the bowl with both of his hand.
“You eat so well.” She says with a big grin, and Jiho can see where Seungyoon got his smile from. “Seungyoon, you need to be more like your hyung, and eat a lot so that you have energy to work well.”
Seungyoon mumbles a yes but glares at Jiho when she turns her back on him. Jiho just makes a show of biting a huge chunk out of his chicken.
*
“You don’t really need to do this.” Mrs. Kang hovers around him as Jiho rinses out another bowl.
“It’s ok.” Jiho turns his head and smiles at her. “I turn up so suddenly. This is the least I can do.”
“You are such a polite boy.” She smiles and says. Seungyoon makes a face behind her. “Let me go cut up some fruits for you.”
Seungyoon comes to lean next to the sink as soon as his mother left and elbows Jiho. “Suck-up.”
“She said my mom must be really proud.” Jiho winks at Seungyoon. “I think she likes me better than you.”
“I can’t believe I invited you out of the goodness of my heart and you stole my mom.” Seungyoon grumbles.
Jiho just laughs and turns the faucet off.
*
He doesn’t mean to stay so late, but he doesn’t end up leaving until it was 10 at night, and the last train back to Seoul is only a 15 minutes away.
“You should just stay over.” Mrs. Kang says as she walks around the kitchen preparing the snack that she absolutely insists Jiho must take for his train ride back. “It’s so late.”
“I promised my mom I’d come back and sleep at home every night during the new year.” Jiho shrugs. “She likes making me breakfast over the holiday.”
She smiles over at him.
“I am glad Seungyoon meet you,” She says and puts a Tupper ware full of egg tarts into Jiho’s hand. “It’s nice to have someone other than his members looking out for him.”
“Ah, it’s not like I take care of him that well.” Jiho splutters. “Wait. No, that’s not what I mean. I am not saying I don’t look out for him.”
“I know what you mean, dear.” She laughs, and shoos him out of the kitchen. “You should probably go if you want to catch that last train.”
“Happy new year, ma’am.” Jiho bows and says. “Thank you so much for having me over, and for all the food.” A shitload of food.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Let’s meet up for tea sometimes when I come up to Seoul.” She says, and Seungyoon looks over in wide eyes from where he is sitting on the couch. “Or you can always visit us. Even without Seungyoon.”
“Why don’t you just legally adopt him as well?” Seungyoon stomps over with a pout, looking every bit like a puppy who lost his favorite toy.
“Thank you.” Jiho just says and puts on his coat. “I’ll give you a text if I am ever in Busan.”
“You have my mom’s number?” Seungyoon follows him out of the door and asks.
“Duh.” Jiho answers with a smirk. “Didn’t you hear? She wants me to come and visit even without you.”
“She likes taking in strays.” Seungyoon grumbles, which is ironic giving that Seungyoon is the one looking like a puppy right now.
“No, but seriously,” Jiho says as they steps out into the hallway. “Thanks for inviting me. I really had a lot of fun.”
“You are welcome.” Seungyoon smiles. “But, are you sure you don’t want to stay? If you are worrying about imposing on us, it’s really no trouble.”
“I am sure.” Jiho assures him.
“Hyung, just.” Seungyoon starts. Jiho stares at him, waiting for him to finish the sentence.
“Don’t be alone for the next two days?” Seungyoon bites his bottom lip unsurely. “I know you wanted to avoid your relatives, but you can always go and see your friends or colleagues. It makes me a little sad to think you are spending the new year by yourself.”
“I…” Jiho says, not knowing why there is warmness growing in the bottom of his stomach despite the cold air outside. “I will try. Minho’s mom’s been asking me to drop by, so I can visit them.”
“Yeah, that’s good. You can always come back and see me if you are really bored.”
“I think the three-hour train ride will be really boring without you snoring into my ears.” Jiho laughs.
Seungyoon punches him on the chest softly, and doesn’t take his hand off. Instead, he zips up Jiho’s coat until it reaches the end of the zip-line.
“It’s quite cold. Make sure you don’t get sick.”
“Yeah, ok.” Jiho nods numbly.
“And text me when you get back to Seoul so that I know nobody tried to rob you for that 3000 dollars shirt.”
“You can’t even see the shirt when I am all bundled up like an Eskimo.” Jiho says and pulls the fur hood onto his head. “I should really go.”
“Yeah.” Seungyoon nods. “You remember where the cab stand is?”
“Go straight and turn right.” Jiho answers and presses the elevator down button. “Get inside. You ask me not to catch a cold, but you are the one in a thin sweater out here.”
Seungyoon shrugs and walks backwards down the hallway. “I mean it though. Text me when you reach home.”
“Yes, sir.” Jiho gives Seungyoon a mock salute, and watches him go back into the apartment after a small wave.
God. He hopes he is feeling all these uneasy thumps inside his heart because all the fried food has given him heartburns or something.
*
Jiho goes down to Yongin the next day to visit Minho’s family and sends a selfie with him and Minho to Seungyoon.
Seungyoon sends back a picture of him with both of his thumbs up and smiling widely with his eyes closed.
If Jiho saves that picture onto his phone, well, it is nobody’s business but his.