Chapter Text
Yugyeom was 15 years old when he first met Park Jinyoung. His brother, Mark, brought him home one day to play at their home. That was the first time he met with his brother’s friend. Okay not the first time since he already met with Jackson, but Jackson is his brother’s boyfriend, also Jaebeom but he kinda gives him scary vibes because he rarely talks, but this Jinyoung is different.
“Hey Yugy, come here and meet my friend!"
Yugyeom who heard his brother come through the door usually ignored him or his brother would just casually mess with his hair. But he heard Mark call him, despite being annoyed because he was just a second ago playing a game in the living room, he finally approached his brother. He noticed that there’s a new person in the house and that person is really handsome. What? He doesn't know why his brain just came up with that.
Mark then introduced the man, "This is Park Jinyoung, Jackson’s friend who’s also now became my best friend.” His brother looks so giddy, so this guy must be a good person. His brother doesn't trust other people easily.
Since he was kinda shy so he just stood there awkwardly until this Park Jinyoung held out his hand, “Hello, I’m Park Jinyoung, nice to finally meet my famous best friend’s brother, he loved to talk about you, you know.” He smirks at Mark who looks sheepishly. Why is his brother acting weird though?
He noticed that Jinyoung has these cute little eye whiskers when he smiles. Wait cute? Again he questioned his own brain where did that thought come from? He must be making a weird expression and realized that he left the other man's hand hanging because Jinyoung quietly tilted his head while his lips formed a little pout and again cutely before saying, “Ehm.. Did I have something in my face?” “Oh n-no, no, hyung! I’m sorry! I’m Kim Yugyeom, nice to meet you too hyung.” He kinda shouted at the beginning then he started to cringe himself then when he said his name he kinda lowered his voice again. Why is he becoming a stuttering mess like this, come on man up Yugyeom!
Mark, who noticed his brother's weird behavior, thinks it’s the right time to speak, “Don’t worry Jinyoung, my brother is just nervous to see new people.”
“Ah I see, it’s okay Yugyeom-ah I don’t bite or anything.” He said while laughing. When he thinks that his smile is already cute, then he’s in trouble because his laugh was a hundred times cuter. Before he could do something stupid, he decided to just bow to him and then run to his room.
Yep, that was their first meeting or what Yugyeom titled '10 Most Embarrassing Moments in My Life'. But luckily after that day, Jinyoung often comes to their house, with Jackson and Jaebeom too, but not that he minds them since he is only focusing on Jinyoung. They came not just to play with Mark but often to have dinner with their family.
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There was one moment that made Yugyeom got close with Jinyoung. It was the day of his mother's funeral. That was the lowest point of Yugyeom's life. Jackson and Jinyoung came to her funeral, his best friend Bambam and Youngjae came too, while Jaebeom had urgent business with his family. Jackson of course being a good boyfriend that he is, stood beside his brother. His presence already brought comfort to Mark, his brother leaned his head on Jackson's shoulder while Jackson's hand in Mark's waist. Yugyeom was grateful his brother got someone to hold on to while Yugyeom just stood side by side with his father.
After the funeral he didn't feel like talking to anyone so he decided to just take a walk to a playground near their house. At first he didn't know what to do, he just loosely let his legs swung on one of the swing. Then like a dam broke down, tears just pouring out, and he just let it be. All the feelings he held at the funeral just went all out, he didn't want to cry in front of people because that's just how he is, he didn't like to make anyone worry. The fact that he was in the playground that his mother used to take him when he was a child, just made the pain more unbearable.
Suddenly there's a shadow in front of him, the person just standing there. It must be someone from the funeral because of the dress shoes he wore. Then suddenly he was hugged by the person, and he was crying even harder. After a while he realized that he was already hugging the person and his whole suit was wet because of his cries.
"Yugyeom-ah"
Wait, he knew that voice.. Then he looked up and saw Park Jinyoung with a calm smile and gave a very reassuring smile and calmness to Yugyeom.
"H-yung.. I'm so sorry for making your suit wet! I thought you were Mark hyung!" he panicked.
"Yugyeom-ah.. It's okay. I don't mind it. I know how you feel.."
This hyung seems to speak from his experience or something because his face just became sad but when Yugyeom looked at him it just turned back into a smile. He just stared at him and didn't know what to say. He really wanted to say thank you but his throat suddenly felt so dry because of all the crying. Then Jinyoung kept talking.
"You know, you are a strong person Gyeom-ah. But sometimes a strong person needs a break too and they also need someone to lean on. You cannot bear everything by yourself."
Yugyeom just stared at his own hands all the time. He knows how true what Jinyoung just said. He was that type of person who loves to please everyone else though. He rather keeps it all to himself but in front of everyone else he always tried to be happy so everyone could smile.
He felt a pat on his back and somehow he knew that Jinyoung understood. He felt relieved somehow, he felt like Jinyoung was wiser than his age, but of course he didn't say it. Instead he finally managed to say thank you with a croaked voice, and Jinyoung just gave him the most beautiful smile to him, that he'd never seen him smile to anyone like that before.
Yugyeom realized that he likes Jinyoung that day. Like really like Jinyoung or whatever that means. And the good news is they also become closer after that day. Jinyoung kept letting Yugyeom join them whenever they hangout. Then his little crush just grew more and more because of how close they are.
He learned a lot about Jinyoung in a span of one month. He learned that he wanted to be an actor in the future so he tried to focus more on theater in school, also his voice is really good and he sang like an angel. There's one time when they had a sleepover in his brother's room. Jinyoung sang 'Let It Go' as a joke but actually sounds so good, he wanted to secretly record it but then it got over too soon because his brother was laughing so hard. And did he mention that Jinyoung was also a President in their high school. Like couldn't he be anymore perfect?
The only person who knew about his little crush was his best friend, Bambam and Youngjae, who were in the same year as Yugyeom and apparently found a way to join their little group. And maybe his brother also knew since he is his brother, and because his brother knew it means Jackson also knew, and then Jaebeom because he might be secretly a seer with all that mysterious aura. Okay maybe all his friends in their group already know about his crush, and maybe Jinyoung already knew but for some unknown reason just keep being oblivious all the time.
Because of that, they always find a way to tease Yugyeom for his little crush. Like one time he tried to cook lunch for Jinyoung, he spent all morning cooking and as a result a disastrous kitchen just for making a perfect lunch for Jinyoung. He already fought through hell (a.k.a his brother's deathly scream) and his friend that knew about it since they are the one who suggested it could only give him some encouragement. He successfully brought it to Jinyoung's class but because his brother's friend who are also turned out to be a living demon, they ate all of the rice and kimchi, even the soup that he made and Jinyoung didn't even eat a single bite. When he told the story to his brother and his friends, they couldn’t stop laughing, and promised not to do it again in the future, of course Jinyoung just being oblivious to all of this just could only laugh.
"But hyung~ I made it specially for you." he pouted.
"Why Yugyeom-ah? You could always cook for me another time though? You're so childish sometimes, Yugyeom-ah." Jinyoung said while ruffling his hair.
After that he kept trying to make sure his feelings were known to Jinyoung. From making him laugh, bought him some books, and attended all his theater performances. But Jinyoung kept only treating him like a brother. He always brushed off his confession with words like “You’re just like a brother to me Yugyeom-ah, maybe come to me again when you’re older.” Of course it made him frustrated, it’s not like three years difference would make a big deal, like he knew his feelings are real, but Jinyoung just didn’t get it. The one thing that Jinyoung didn't know was that his words actually encouraged him more. So he decided to keep those feelings to himself for a while, with a promise in his heart that when he gets a little older, he would make Jinyoung fall in love with him.