Chapter Text
“Are you sure you don’t wanna come, hyung? I’m sure the festival will be fun!” Axin restlessly asks Junseo through the phone whilst the latter rushes into the busy street trying to get a cab during rush hour.
“I am very sorry, Xin-ah. I still have to submit my draft to the production I applied to and the final meetings to attend in our organization. Besides, I am graduating in three days, so expect busy days ahead!” Junseo reasons out.
“But it will be more fun if you come along! Just take a breather. You deserve it!” Anxin whines as Junseo smiles with the remark.
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it there even without me. I’ll make sure to be present at the next outings that you will plan.” Junseo reassured the younger.
“Ok hyung…” as sadness in Anxin’s voice is evident from the other line. “I’ll tell Geonwoo hyung and the group that you can’t tag along with us.”
Junseo stopped in his tracks as he heard that name. Geonwoo. Kim Geonwoo. His fucking best friend. He felt a little pang in his heart at the name mentioned. Seven years of holding his feelings for a man whom he secretly admires from far away, with the perfect personality, humor, and especially his smile, made him feel butterflies, even though Geonwoo does the bare minimum when they are together.
Thinking and talking about Geonwoo in his early years of liking him has that excitement that cannot be fathomed, even if it was explained in layman’s terms that everyone can understand. However, as time flew, tugs and aches were present as he grew his feelings towards Geonwoo. His name hurts Junseo, well, tortures him at most.
“Hello, hyung? Are you still th—” Anxin asked Junseo after his long minute of spacing out, distracted by the name mentioned earlier.
“Wait, Xin.” Junseo interrupted as he made another dumb decision in his life. “I think I will join the festival with you.”
“OMG, hyung, really? Don’t take that back. I will smack you through this phone if you cancel with us. I am happy and excited to have you there!! This will be one of the last trips before you graduate. Kinda sad though that you will be leaving us here at uni.”
Graduation is approaching. How time flies so fast that he’s already graduating to achieve his dream of being a filmmaker. He experienced many trials in his way, and he managed to suppress this growing affection towards Geonwoo, which started with a mere ‘happy crush’ that motivates him to do well. He realizes that since he’ll be graduating soon, he’ll gather up the courage to come out of his box and confess to Geonwoo once and for all.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I just need a breather. I will ask the production house to let me pass my draft after graduation, and I will tell the org that I won’t attend the meeting and will just read the minutes.” Junseo stated. At this rate, he’s just torturing himself just to see the love of his life, even if it hurts.
“Nice! I’ll tell Geonwoo hyung that you’re also tagging along. We’ll pick you up early tomorrow around 2 AM. Take care and be safe during your commute, hyung! Mwah! Bye bye!” Anxin giddily said to his hyung as he dropped the call. Junseo took a deep breath and waved to the cab approaching in his direction.
No matter the outcome, at least he will release that heavy baggage he has been carrying for seven years already. Still, hope embraces his heart that his love will be reciprocated. He will try to give all his heart out instead of keeping it to himself, which leads to regret that will haunt him forever.
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The cold breeze touches Junseo's skin as he waits on a bench near a convenience store for the group to take their trip to the festival at the junction near his neighborhood. With his lightly packed bag, he surely can't hide his anticipation of having a trip with his friends, especially with Geonwoo.
Putting all his backlogs in his drafts and worrying that his mom would find out he went on a trip without permission, he's all set to just relax for a whole day. He has been putting up his courage to spill what is on his mind and heart to Geonwoo on graduation day. That will be the perfect timing for him to confess and make his move.
Upon hearing a honk from a car, Junseo stood up, wearing his smile. He saw Anxin in the passenger seat, waving his hand through the window on his side. He scanned the car, seeing Leo as the driver, Xinlong, Sangwon, and Sanghyeon in the backseat, bickering and laughing out loud.
"Hyung! It's nice to see you!" Anxin squealed. The rest of them collectively rejoiced when they had their hyung join the festival with them.
"It's been a long time, hyung. We almost thought you had already ghosted us, for God knows what you are doing in your program and your organization." Xinlong saluted Junseo as the latter bent down to Anxin's window.
"Are you even eating your meals? You've lost weight, dearie." Sangwon remarked at the sight of Junseo. "Yeah, you also turn down my gym invites." Leo pouted.
Junseo just smiled at what the younger ones said. He just shrugged and told them, "Well, I'm here now to make up the lost time with you guys. I missed you all."
Anxin barfed at the statement, and the rest just snickered at his playful response. "Stop the cheesiness, hyung." Anxin rolled his eyes. Junseo ruffled Anxin's hair, earning a side eye from the younger.
"Ok, let's go, then. Before I forget about it, congrats on your graduation, Leo and Sangwon!" Junseo greeted them with brimming joy. "You too, babe! You too!" Sangwon responded with affection, and Leo showered Junseo with finger hearts.
"Well then, let's get this celebration on the road!" Xinlong stated that it earns weird celebratory noises from them inside the car. Junseo perked up since he noticed they won't fit in the car. "But how can I squish here, there's no space?"
"Oh, Geonwoo hyung has his car, he's just tailing behind us." Sanghyeon grinned as if he implied something.
Right. They know that he likes Geonwoo. Thank you, Anxin, for exposing him at an event a couple of years ago. Now he suffers from the teasing of his 'supporters' for his one-sided love for Geonwoo.
Xinlong elbowed Sanghyeon as if he had committed some crime, only for him to realize what would happen soon, opening his eyes widely and gasping, earning sighs from the people around him.
"What?" Junseo asked Sanghyeon about his reaction. Sanghyeon just yelped, "Nothing, hyung." Junseo sensed something was wrong, but he just brushed it off. "Hmm, Ok. Now, where is he?"
At an instant, another car honked, signaling that Geonwoo is here. Junseo hurriedly went to the back of the car, waiting for the vehicle Geonwoo was driving to stop, and he realized he was not alone. An unfamiliar face is sitting at the passenger seat, smiling gleefully.
Geonwoo already lowers his window at his car's full stop while Junseo approaches him with scrunched eyebrows. "Hey Junseo! Get in!" Geonwoo cheerfully motioned his hand, pointing to the backseat. Junseo felt his stomach flip when his name was called. He surely misses his 'best friend' because he always has this different effect on him.
He opened the door and was greeted with some bags and other things occupying half of the backseat on the side of the passenger seat. Junseo entered nervously, not knowing the reason why. "Don't mind the bags. I was 'assigned' by Anxin to carry all the bags. I was held at gunpoint and had no choice!"
Both Geonwoo and the mystery face laughed out loud. Junseo clenched his chest at the sight as if he were expecting some bad news to reach him at this point.
"This is my best friend, Junseo." The unknown face offered their hand, and Junseo timidly shook it. "Nice to finally meet you!" Junseo was still clueless about the situation, plastered an awkward smile, and shyly said, "Hello."
"This is Kangmin, my first love." Geonwoo proudly said.
Junseo felt his heart shatter with the sudden news he had gathered. Questions arose from his dumbfounded mind, which made him speechless. 'What? I didn't know about this. Is this a prank? Are there any hidden cameras around here? Why didn't I know about this?'
These questions clouded him, and he could not process the situation. He feels like the world is spinning endlessly.
His train of thought was interrupted by Geonwoo's question to him, "Let's go?"
Junseo just nodded and plastered a fake smile through the rearview mirror where Geonwoo was looking at him. The latter then signaled the car in front of them with their headlights so that they could start their trip. Junseo fetches his phone from his pocket and messages Anxin about the situation in this car.
"Did you know about this? Geonwoo and his first love?" Junseo typed with shock and ache as if they betrayed him in this. "Hyung, we also found that out just earlier. Let's talk about it when we reach there." Anxin replied. Junseo mentally face-palmed at this impediment he will face in the next two days.
"Sleep whenever you need. I'll wake you up when we arrive there." Geonwoo reassured Kangmin and received a smile and nod. Junseo took this as his signal to put on his headphones and pressed the shuffle button. Music blasted, he closed his eyes by starting his torment on this trip with the song' Eleven Eleven' by Conan Gray.
'This will be a long ass ride…'