Archive of Our Own

Dohoon sat on his bed, eyeing his roommate with disdain. 

Jihoon glared back, wearing a displeased expression.

“I saw you, you know,” Jihoon started, not breaking contact.

“Doing what? Talking to my fellow member ? My same-aged friend ?”

“Shut up, you know what I mean. I saw you getting all touchy with him. He would never like you, you know. Youngjae Hyung’s taste is way too refined to be interested in someone as annoying as you”. 

Dohoon barked out a laugh, “And he would like you?”

“Shut up”, Jihoon turned away, rolling his eyes. “You’re ugly”, he ended, clearly trying (and failing) to find a comeback that wasn’t obviously false. 

“Sure”, Dohoon went back to staring at his phone, scrolling through photos of him and Youngjae, grateful his roommate stopped distracting him.

-

It had been like this ever since Jihoon had entered the company, the two’s rivalry being apparent from the start. 

It was to be expected, honestly.

They both liked the same guy, and on top of that, had the misfortune of sharing the same room. They couldn’t ignore each other if they tried (which, they did. A lot.)

And while Youngjae didn’t favor one of them over the other, Dohoon and Jihoon were sure that wasn’t the case.

Regardless, the two would never get along, no matter what. 

-

Jihoon sighed.

The room was dark, the day having reached its end, the other members already settled into their beds. 

He looked to his left, at his roommate, the guy he hated the most. Well, the guy he usually hated the most. 

With how hopeless he was feeling, the hatred didn’t feel as strong as it usually did.

“Hyung”, Jihoon called out in the silence.

Dohoon turned around, awkwardly staring as the younger’s tone held no bark.

“Come here”, Jihoon motioned to his bed.

“What-Why?” Dohoon spluttered, trying to sound angry but more confused than anything. 

He ended up walking over anyway, sitting on the bed, still confused as ever.

The younger just stared, silently. His face showed a glum expression. 

“Well? What is it?”

“Hyung”, Jihoon started, voice low, “Do… Do you think Youngjae would ever like one of us?”

Dohoon’s face morphed from a confused expression to an offended one. “Uh, yeah. Me. Youngjae would definitely like me. Han Jihoon, are you trying to-”

“Hyung!” The younger interrupted, something desperate in his tone. “I’m being serious”.

He stared at his hands, calloused from his constant practice. “I mean, all this time has passed, and nothing has changed. Youngjae’s had all the opportunities in the world to show interest, but he hasn’t. He avoids them, if anything. He just smiles like he always does, and moves on.”

The dancer sighs. 

Dohoon, who, for once, was stunned to silence, motions at the younger to continue.

“I just-I don’t want to spend my whole life waiting for something that’s never going to come. I just keep trying, keep trying to get closer, and nothing changes”.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely gotten closer to him…” 

“Not like that!” Jihoon’s voice is raised, startling them both. Usually, something that would cause an argument. But right now, Dohoon feels that he understands why he did that, what feelings lie beyond that tone. So he remains silent.

“Sorry…” Jihoon apologizes, for the first time ever. “Not like that…” He starts again, tone much softer than previously. “I just mean- I do- we do everything we can for him to like us, but all that strengthens is our friendship. No relationship has been built. There isn’t a budding romance starting. There’s nothing.”

“I’ve never even dated someone before, yet here I am waiting for someone who doesn’t want me… I even hate my roommate all because of this crush! I don’t even know why I’m telling you this”. Jihoon’s eye raised, hesitantly meeting the man in front of him.

“You’ve never dated someone?” Dohoon asks, not even trying to hide his smirk. But this time, it's playful, not full of intent to hurt.

“That’s not the point!”

“I know, I know. It’s just…” He sighs. “I get what you mean. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, trying to take a step back from this crush. It’s not like it did me any good or anything. All that came out of it were some awkward moments with Youngjae and endless fights with you, so…” Dohoon pauses, not knowing what to say. 

“Ugh, you’re right. It’s not like I really hated you or anything either, but this crush made things so hectic”. Jihoon whispers the last part out, as if it’s a secret.

“You didn’t hate me?” Dohoon questions, bewildered. “You, Han Jihoon, didn’t hate me? Don’t lie, I saw the way you looked at me every time I walked into our room”.

“Yeah, well, duh, I wasn’t obsessed with you or anything. You liked the same guy as me! And anyway, Youngjae was closer to you. He didn’t avoid you as much. And as much as I don’t want to admit it, you had a better chance with him than I did. You’re talented, and really attractive, and just-” Jihoon paused as he realized he was rambling, “You get my point.”

“Oh…” Dohoon paused, taking in the information. “Well, for the record, I didn’t really hate you either. Just kinda needed someone to blame for my unrequited love. And you were kinda just there, so…”

The air in the dimly lit room shifted from something awkward and angry to something calmer and more understanding, something that some would call a new beginning. 

“Well, I guess we’re on the same page now…” Jihoon spoke quietly, not knowing what else to say. 

“Hey! That doesn’t change the fact that you just ruined my crush, you know”.

“How did I do that?”

“You just crushed my dreams. You crushed them, Jihoon-ah”. The older boy dramatically sighed, putting his hand on his head.

“Uh, well then… Sorry, I guess. I ruined my dreams too if that’s any consolation”.

“It’s not.”

“Well, how am I supposed to make it even then?”

A pause.

Something changed in the look on Dohoon’s face. 

“You said you’ve never dated before, right?”

“Right…”

“So, you’ve never held hands, kissed, went on dates, any of that?”

“No, I didn’t! What’s your point?”

Dohoon quickly moved his face towards Jihoon's, capturing the other’s lips with his own. The kiss lasted long, a bit too long for a simple joke. 

He moved away. Jihoon’s face was brighter than Dohoon’s favorite red jacket, and the younger immediately covered his mouth in shock. 

“Wait, that was kinda nice…” Dohoon said out loud. “Hold on a second”. 

Dohoon moved his roommate’s hand away with his own, keeping it in his grasp as he went in to continue the kiss that had previously been left unfinished. 

Jihoon’s inexperienced lips met Dohoon’s, the younger obviously struggling to keep up with the movements of the older.

Dohoon moved away again, licking his lips before getting up from the bed. 

“That…” He started, eyeing Jihoon, whose heart was obviously racing.

“ Wasn’t enough consolidation. I liked Youngjae for two years, and you ruined it in a matter of minutes.”

Dohoon smirked before leaning close to Jihoon, who had gasped at the close proximity.

“Well, it’s fine. We have all the time in the world, roomie ”.