Chapter Text
Yoon Jaehyuk blinked his eyes rapidly, unable to process what his best friend had just told him a few seconds ago.
His best friend just stormed off right to Jaehyuk's apartment using his spare keys in the middle of Sunday afternoon, where Jaehyuk was already planning to just crawl inside of his bed.
"Oh, come on! It's only for a few weeks, jae~~ I'll be back before you even notice." Jihoon pleaded, hovering in front of Jaehyuk.
Jaehyuk snapped back to his senses, and gave Park Jihoon —his best friend— a death glare. He pulls Jihoon aside, "What the hell are you thinking?! How can I babysit your cousin? What will the neighbors think when they see another man coming in and out from my apartment?!"
"Well, you could take it as a good opportunity to forget about Asahi." Jihoon said, switching his tactics. "You are here sitting on your couch, alone, feeling miserable, while he's already moved on and dating a senior in your department." Jihoon flashed his puppy eyes, though it is not really working on Jaehyuk.
Jaehyuk, who was still in the middle post broken up process, protested immediately when Jihoon mentioned his ex's name. "Do you have to rub salt on my wounds?! And are you seriously trying to matchmake me with your cousin?!!!"
The two continued bickering inside the apartment. Jihoon keeps begging, while Jaehyuk keeps denying Jihoon's request. Neither noticed that someone was already standing outside the unlocked apartment door, catching every word of their argument
BRAAAK
"Hyung, forget it. It's no use. I'll just crash at Haruto's place."
Jeongwoo, the cousin that was mentioned by Jihoon several times, pushed the door fully open with a loud thud. He looked exhausted as he'd been up since dawn packing because Jihoon had just simply "forgotten" to mention his trip plan with Junkyu until the last second.
Jaehyuk stared at him, surprised by the sudden entrance. If he remembered correctly, Jihoon had mentioned his cousin was three years younger than Jaehyuk. He is quite massive for someone who had just turned twenty one.
"And do what? Watch Haruto and Junghwan being lovebirds all day? You definitely aren't gonna last a day." Jihoon responds and gives Jeongwoo a side eye. He knew for sure that Jeongwoo would definitely lose his mind living with two of his best friends being lovey dovey during his temporary stay.
"Jaehyuk-ah, please. Just this one time." Jihoon swift again to Jaehyuk. "I'll buy you so many souvenirs! Please let him stay here while I'm on this trip with Junkyu. I'll bring him home the second I'm back. Jeongwoo might seem a bit blunt, but he is a good kid when you know him. Please???"
Jaehyuk took another glance at Jeongwoo. He saw the younger boy was already bringing his bag, ready to bolt out. Jaehyuk let out a long sigh, "Okay, he can stay for a few weeks here. But he's out the moment you come back!"
"Really???!!! For real?!!!" Jihoon let out a high pitched squeal and gave Jaehyuk a tight hug.
"PARK JIHOON, LET GO OF ME!!! ONLY FOR THIS TIME! NOW FUCK OFF BEFORE I CHANGED MY MIND!" Jaehyuk tried to escape from the older embrace, but Jihoon seemed to squeeze tighter just to annoy him.
"Jihoon hyung, let him go, he can't breathe." Jeongwoo intervened, reaching out a hand, helping Jaehyuk escape from bone crushing Jihoon's embrace. "And check your phone, Junkyu hyung is already bombing my phone with messages, he's probably bombing yours too."
"Oh right, Junkyu is waiting for me in the car downstairs. Bye Jeongwoo, please behave. And Jae. I really owe you a big time!!! BYE GUYS!!!"
Once the door shut behind Jihoon, a heavy, suffocating awkwardness filled the room. Both Jaehyuk and Jeongwoo stood by the door in silence, neither of them trying to talk. Jaehyuk took another peek of Jeongwoo through the corner of his eyes. Still unable to wrap his head around how a twenty one year old boy could be this big. Not only is Jeongwoo taller than him, but Jeongwoo's broad shoulders make the younger look massive. And the hands, wow! Jaehyuk couldn't describe it in words.
Jeongwoo clutched the strap of his bag tightly. "So, where should I put my things... Jaehyuk-ssi?" Jeongwoo tried to break the silence. Feeling surprised by Jeongwoo's sudden question, Jaehyuk jumped slightly in his position. "Sorry, did I startle you? It's just a bit awkward standing here."
"It's okay, Jeongwoo-ya." Jaehyuk said while smiling to reassure the younger one. "You can put your stuff in my room for now. And is it okay if you sleep on the couch? I didn't have any extra mattress yet. You know, this is so sudden."
Jeongwoo nodded, "I'm fine with the couch. I'll help with the house chores, Jaehyuk-ssi. I won't be a burden to you."
"No no, you don't have to do that," Jaehyuk waved his hand. Well, Jeongwoo's presence may still have shocked him, but the kid so far seemed polite enough. "And please, just call me hyung. You don't need to be so formal with me."
"Okay then. Jaehyuk... hyung?" Jeongwoo tilts his head to the side, checking if it's really okay for him to call Jaehyuk, hyung.
"Right, just like that. And it's close to dinner time. What do you wanna have?" Jaehyuk asked the younger man while scrolling his phone, searching for places he could order for tonight's dinner.
"Anything is fine, hyung."
Hearing Jeongwoo's answer, Jaehyuk selected a nearby chicken place, confirming the order with Jeongwoo before hitting the "order" button. Afterward, he showed Jeongwoo around the apartment—the bedroom, the bathroom, and the laundry area—and even pulled out a fresh towel for the younger to use during his temporary stay.
"Thank you, hyung. I know it's weird to take care of your friend's cousin. Especially this was too sudden for you," Jeongwoo stood in front of Jaehyuk, hands holding the towel tightly. "You barely even know me in the first place. I actually already told Jihoon hyung, I'll just stay at his place, but he insisted on not leaving me alone there."
Jaehyuk once again gave the younger one a smile. "Don't worry about it, Jeongwoo-ya," Jaehyuk said softly. "Now go, put your bags down. The chicken will be here in twenty minutes."
Then they had dinner for the first time as "temporary" roommates. Both thinking, maybe this arrangement wasn't so bad at all.
Or was it?