Chapter Text
The seven boys were sitting around a picnic table outside when their weekend planning began. The sun was ever-present on this late March afternoon. Unfortunately, the school uniforms wouldn’t be switching to the spring attire for another week, so long sleeves would have to do. Sunghoon sat across from Jay and Jungwon, and next to Jake. Heeseung was sitting on the table beside where Jake had his arms crossed and his head resting between them. Niki lingered somewhere near the table. Sunoo was completely opposite of Sunghoon, sitting on the edge of the bench, facing Heeseung’s back.
The boy’s auburn hair blew slightly in the wind, and his skin reflected—
“Sunghoon?” Jay suddenly asked. “Are you even listening?”
No. “Yes?” He replied, making his voice appear slightly annoyed.
“Great, so I’ll see you at my house?”
Sunghoon nodded his head, “As always.”
He was surprised when witnessed Jay lean forward in his seat to smack his shoulder. “Gosh, Sunghoon, can you please be present for once? We’re going to watch a movie tonight at Sunoo’s.”
Sunghoon was speechless. Partially because he’d never actually been to Sunoo’s and also because he’d just been exposed for zoning out.
Honestly, it was his fault for not opening the group chat. Of course the movie started at 8. Why would he assume they wouldn’t change the time halfway through the evening? Would’ve been nice to know this before he found himself knocking at Sunoo’s front door.
He was greeted with a smiling, but definitely confused face.
Why is he looking at me like that? I know it’s 6:54, but I’m only six minutes early?
After a couple seconds of awakes staring, Sunoo stepped aside. “Come on in, just take your shoes off at the door.”
The two had talked before. No need to be so weird about things. Yes, the first time going to anyone’s house was different, especially when you’re the first to arrive. To Sunghoon’s surprise, the red-head still wore his uniform. School had gotten out four hours ago.
Seemingly reading Sunghoon’s lingering eyes, he clarified. “I was about to change, I kinda just got home from– nevermind. You can take a seat, I’ll be right back.”
Sunghoon wasn’t even given enough time to react before the younger disappeared up the stairs. He curled around the back of the couch and stiffly sat down. His fingers tapped his thigh as his leg restlessly shook. He had no reason to be nervous, he knew that. But why did something feel so off?
When Sunoo returned, he was wearing a soft pink tee shirt and grey sweats. He stopped walking once he reached the coffee table. As if a question was forming he scrunched his face.
“Do you…have a reason you’re here so early?”
Sunghoon looked down at his watch. “I’m… on time? It’s seven.”
Sunoo’s confusion was instantly replaced with sympathy of some sort. “Sunghoon, this starts at eight.”
“Oh– I uhm… I’ll get going then,” he said, embarrassment running through his chest.
As he was turning out the door, he heard the younger one speak. “You can stay. I mean, if you want. There’s no reason to go home when you’ll be back in an hour.” Seeing the contemplation on his face, he continued, “Plus, I could use some help with making the snacks. I know cooking’s not really your thing, but it’d give you something to do?”
Sunghoon just nodded and followed Sunoo into the kitchen. “I’m making pigs in a blanket, it’s simple, really.” He rummaged through the fridge and pulled out meat, croissants, and butter.
After preheating the oven and briefly explaining how to form the ‘pig’, Sunoo gave him the chance to try by himself. As expected, he failed.
“Hyung, you are seriously so bad at this. No offense, but have you ever dealt with a croissant?”
Sunghoon sighed and looked at the boy standing next to him. He hadn’t noticed how close they were. Sunoo was turned sideways, one hand on the counter, the other ghosting over his forearm. The blonde’s chest was just centimeters from his arm.
“Diet, Sunoo. I don’t eat flour,” he got out.
Sunoo just shook his head and turned back to his own workspace. “Well you will be tonight. There’s no way we’ve already spent fifteen minutes and you won’t even eat one.”
Sunghoon hadn’t noticed the time passing. He was almost disappointed that their baking would have to come to an end. With that thought in mind, he failed to roll another one. Maybe on purpose.
“Hyung, you’ll have to come bake with me again,” Exactly what he was hoping to hear. “You need to know how to bake for your wife someday, or she might leave you.”
The joke was light, but Sunghoon’s heart wasn’t. The word wife replayed in his head. That’s what he always planned on having, so why did it feel uncomfortable hearing it out loud?
To his dismay, all the sausages were now wrapped and baking in the oven. He was leaning against the counter, facing Sunoo. The blonde was sipping a soda and sitting on the small kitchen island.
“Sunoo, if you keep consuming that much sugar you’ll die.”
Sunoo rolled his eyes and giggled. “See, now I’m reminded of why I don’t hang out with you.” He hopped down from his spot and checked the oven. Sliding a mitt on, he pulled the tray out and set in on the stove.
“Well give these five minutes to cool, then you’ll try one.”
Sunghoon followed him into the living room. “So now you’re forcing me to eat your horrific food?”
Sunoo stopped suddenly and turned around. It left a small amount of distance between the two, forcing him to cock his head up to meet Sunghoon’s eyes. “I think you mean your horrific food. The ones I made will taste amazing.”
The lack of space made Sunghoon’s breath hitch in an unfamiliar way. He wasn’t sure why he promptly felt nervous. He rolled his eyes and sat on the couch.
Once the designated five minutes came to an end, Sunoo retrieved them a snack from the kitchen. He split it in half and handed one side to the older. Sunghoon hadn’t broken his diet in months, yet he suddenly felt it wasn’t a big deal to do so.
He bit into the food and nodded his head in satisfaction. “This one must’ve been mine.”
Sunoo sat next to him. Too close. “Why’s that?”
“It’s actually good,” he said, making sure he didn’t meet the other’s eyes.
The five other boys arrived not long before 8. To his surprise, Sunoo didn’t mention him coming early. Maybe it was because it truly wasn’t a big deal. Friends hang out. That’s a normal thing to do.
Though he and Sunoo were on the same couch, the space between them was now filled with Jay and Jungwon.
He’d never even thought of it before. He’d never felt the absence of the younger boy until now.
Once the movie finished and he went home, he felt that absence again. Laying in his bed, he stared up at the ceiling for one last minute of contemplation before grabbing his phone.
Kim Sunoo- 11:02
Me
Movie was good tn
What do u think?
Kim Sunoo
First one I’ve liked in a while
Me
I heard there’s a second one
Maybe we could watch it tg
Kim Sunoo
The Js are all busy tmr
Next weekend?
Me
Just us
If u want
Kim Sunoo
Oh
Come over tmr @ 8
Not 7 lol
At a loss for words, a response didn’t come. He was still surprised with his own sudden confidence. They’d known each other for years, if anything, this should’ve come sooner.
An awkward three minutes of sitting in the chat passed, and Sunghoon finally found something to say.
Me
Ok
See ya
Gn
Kim Sunoo
Going to bed alr?
It’s only 11?
Sunghoon was surprised, for sure.
Is he… trying to start a conversation?
Me
Ig
Plus
11 is late if anything
Kim Sunoo
You’ve got a long way 2 go
Just for that
Movie starts at 10 now
Come over same time tho
Me
Ur evil
What r we gonna do?
Their conversation bled late into the night. Planning some things for tomorrow quickly turned into talking about school. School turned into work, then into family. Family shifted to random things about themselves, then finally went back to night.
Kim Sunoo- 12:14
I should go
Looking forward to tmr
Goodnight hyung
Me
Me too
Goodnight
Sunghoon stayed in the chat for a moment longer. He scavenged his brain for something he could bring up. Anything at all to talk about. They’d seemed to cover it all.
He sighed and shut his phone off.
‘Looking forward to tomorrow.’
The words flooded into his mind. They swirled around in endless loops until his eyes began to close.