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Meetings like this — the four of them drinking and catching up with each other — happen less often when Geurae leaves One International. It gets hard to arrange plans when all of them work full time, overtime, and then some.
His absence is felt, truly, but nobody misses Geurae more than the three who came in the same time as him. They've been out a few times before Geurae gets the job at Mr. Oh's company, but this is the second time they're going out ever since Geurae became newly employed. Youngyi comes up with an excuse, tells everyone that it's to celebrate Geurae coming home from the long trip in Jordan. Seokyool, because he loves his friends, knows she does it because she misses everyone, together, can sense her true intentions because he feels the same exact way.
The night passes slowly when they're all finally together, each sip of glowing gold beer slowing down time. Geurae talks about his recent trip to Jordan: his chase for Manager Seo, immersing himself in the culture with the extra time he had, and finally getting the cases back from the locker. He waves his hands around in big motions as he describes driving through the dry desert hills, learning what it means to be a part of something, and talking back to Mr. Oh for the first time — everyone else gasps at the confession, offended on Mr. Oh's behalf. Geurae shamefully hangs his head low, frowning with a pout and faux-guilt.
Seokyool and Youngyi listen intently, wide eyes and mouths gaped in awe, never hearing of such extensive and active work before, both literally and figuratively. They ask about the chase, and Geurae notes that he got hit by a car, which immediately prompts questions of concern. He laughs them off, always has, because he's here with his favorite people (even though he wouldn't admit it) and he couldn't ask for anything else, taking another sip of the beer he's slowly nursing.
Youngyi and Seokyool have always been good with their alcohol tolerance, and Geurae doesn't fall far behind (yes, he got extremely drunk that one time, but that was after at least four bottles of soju, and he was going through a very hard time, give him a break), so they collectively agree on ordering another round of drinks to really let loose in the night.
Baekgi's alcohol tolerance...has never been the best. The drinks they order are definitely not for him, and the other three are pretty sure Baekgi tuned out of Geurae's stories probably a fourth of the way in. "Where are my glasses?" he slurs, swinging his glass of unfinished beer back and forth. The liquid splatters all across the round wooden table, getting on some of their finger food. With a sigh, Seokyool takes the glass out of Baekgi's hands before the youngest has the chance to drop it unconsciously. The other two turn to look at each other and chuckle to themselves; Baekgi being a lightweight always creates some good, non-sober entertainment.
His glasses are, in fact, sitting lopsided on his face, but for the sake of comedy, no one outright tells him that just yet. "I have no clue, Baekgi. Are you sure they're not on your head or something?" Seokyool teases, and Youngyi hits him lightly on the arm for the playful remarks, failing to hide a smile herself. Geurae takes another shot, letting Seokyool's antics play out with a resigned gaze. Poor Baekgi really does pat the top of his head in search of them, pouting when they're not there.
"I'm sure! Look, nothing!" Baekgi throws his hand in front of Seokyool's face, who quickly dodges and catches it with his own hands. He pats Baekgi's hand sympathetically, looking to Baekgi with an excessive pout. Youngyi has to stop herself from spitting out her drink when she looks at Seokyool. Geurae pointedly looks away to avoid laughing.
Baekgi and Seokyool go back and forth with their spats, Baekgi saying something outlandish in his drunken stupor and Seokyool having the time of his life by responding with way too serious of an answer. "Are we sure Seokyool's tolerance is as high as he says?" Youngyi asks Geurae, leaning to the side so the other two don't hear. Geurae shrugs, shaking his head.
"I don't even know. Anyone's sober when met with of Baekgi, but Seokyool doesn't look all too far behind." he responds, leaning towards Youngyi, looking at them with a tired sort of fondness that can only come from being separated from them for this long. Geurae sighs, not intent on watching poor Baekgi suffer any longer. He's heard enough from both Baekgi and Seokyool, knowing exactly what he should say to end it.
"Jagi, they're on your face."
Oh. Whoops.
Seokyool and Youngyi turn to each other, then watch as Baekgi's face brighten up when he finds his glasses, finally, where they have been the entire time. Geurae barely reacts when Baekgi throws his arms around him and starts kissing him all over his face, taking another sip of his beer while he lets the sentence sink in for the other two.
In fairness, Geurae didn't mean to let the nickname slip out. He barely noticed that he even had. It's just that when Baekgi and Geurae had actually confessed to each other, a few things came naturally, and nicknames weren't one of them. They had to test them out a few times, cringing at some and accepting others as the months went by ("honey angel darling" as an example of an immediate no for Geurae). "Jagi" slipped out of Geurae's mouth one day, not too unlike how it just did, and the rest is history.
Baekgi and Geurae have been meaning to tell the other two that they're dating, really. But with Geurae's big Jordan trip and the One Inter employees training new interns, there has only been less and less opportunities to get together as four and just let it all out at once. Geurae casts what he hopes is an apologetic glance at Youngyi and Seokyool, making his eyes as wide as possible.
Seokyool sputters where he sits. "Did- did he just say-"
"Jagi?!" Youngyi nearly yells, standing up from her seat. Seokyool and Geurae immediately shush her, pulling her back down when they realize other people have started staring. She's still stuttering as she takes her seat again, struggling to find the right words to address whatever this is. "Since when did you two become-"
Seokyool points an accusing finger at Geurae. Actor of the Year award has to go to Han Seokyool for his succession of performances he's put on today, Geurae rolling his eyes as Seokyool clears his throat to gear up his theatrics. "I thought I had a special place in your heart, Geurae. And it turns out you've been loving up to our Baekgi instead? I'm hurt, I really am." He places his interlocked hands on his chest, giving Geurae the best puppy-dog eyes he can muster and batting his eyelashes like a hummingbird's wings.
"There's space for everyone. Baekgi just happens to take up a big chunk of it." Geurae shoots back, not interested in entertaining Seokyool any longer. Seokyool makes a pained sound and sits back, wounded.
Youngyi finds her words not soon after, curiosity overtaking her shock. "How long..."
"A couple months. I think we started going out a little bit after I left One Inter." Youngyi raises an eyebrow, and Geurae knows it's because that meant they still could've told Seokyool and Youngyi before Geurae went to Jordan. "We meant to tell you, I promise. But we just got so caught up in things that it slipped our mind. We didn't forget you guys. I think we just forgot we didn't tell you."
Everyone (minus Baekgi) chuckles a little a that, because it's so like the both of them to not realize they haven't told the other two yet. Geurae says it with so much conviction that it's a testament to how close the four of them are more than anything. In the back of his mind, he kinda thought Seokyool and Youngyi would've figured it out by now, but quietly remembers that neither him nor Baekgi are big on any sort of PDA, preferring to keep to themselves about their romantic lives even as everyone is gradually opening up to each other. It's no wonder they didn't know.
"You know we're going to need the full story sometime soon, right? Why don't we go out next week?" Youngyi asks, pointedly looking at Geurae since Baekgi is nowhere near sober in his current state. She pulls Geurae close, giving him such a tight hug that he thinks this beer is truly so magical.
Baekgi has put up with so much already, heavy eyelids threatening to close from all the mental energy he's had to exhaust so he could keep up with Seokyool, that Geurae almost feels bad for him still being here and decides that maybe it's time for them to go home. "Of course. That sounds great. Same time, and here is okay, right?"
"As long as the other idiot is okay with it, we should be alright. We care about you guys, y'know. Especially you." Geurae blushes and looks down in his lap, resting his head on Youngyi's shoulder. The two of them lapse into a comfortable silence as they watch Seokyool tease Baekgi with the other's glasses swinging in his hands, laughing as Baekgi gropes around blindly for them with a strong pout.
Fortunately enough, the night closes out swimmingly. Youngyi and Seokyool ask multiple times if Geurae needs help lugging Baekgi to Baekgi's place close by, watching as the Geurae stumbles a bit with someone of Baekgi's size draped on his side and trying not to laugh when Baekgi whines and hugs the smaller man so hard he almost falls. He assures them that they'll be fine, waves them off and reminds Baekgi to wave them goodbye too.
"Byeeee Seokyool hyunggg! Youngyi!" he shouts, dopey smile matching his floppy wave.
"We'll see you tomorrow, Baekgi!" they shout back, turning and walking off into the night.
When they reach Baekgi's place, Geurae fishes Baekgi's keys from the side of the taller man's pants, unlocking the door with practiced swiftness. He makes sure, with all the strength he can muster, that Baekgi doesn't immediately flop on the couch but actually gets to his mattress, flopping down with the energy of a true drunkard.
"You know you're really stupid drinking this much, right?"
Baekgi hums happily, pulling Geurae down on the mattress with him. "You are too, Geurae ya. Told everyone."
Geurae can't really argue with that, burrowing himself deeper into Baekgi's arms. He gives Baekgi a kiss on the cheek that echoes within the quiet of their room.