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It's either Seungcheol has a doopelgänger or he has started doing drugs.
Okay. A bit far-fetched.
But in Jeonghan's defence, the other man is buzzing with the kind of energy that'd honestly give melona room Seungcheol a tough competition.
His current self would lose, because....well, at least he's not going around trying to kiss people within ten meters of his radius.
He looks one slip away from doing body shots though.
Jeonghan just hopes the night ends soon and with some of their dignity intact. He didn't sign up for no scandal.
Actually, he didn't sign up for any of this.
He couldn't wait to bid goodbye to his military service life and get back to his idol one- he could totally wait, but it doesn't matter because there was Seungcheol, standing between the smooth transition, with his bag packed and a resolve to finally do their years-impending Jeju trip.
Yes, Jeonghan did promise they'd go after his service but he didn't mean just a day after. He even tried to reason with how much idol work he had on his schedule but Seungcheol was ready to abduct him, ready to throw him onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and plop him into his trunk, if that's what it took.
Jeonghan should've known this was going to go sideways right then.
He didn't resist enough and now, he's regretting ever being born- again, far-fetched. But what good he could see when he's surrounded with wasted strangers and a bestfriend who for sure isn't drunk but might as well be doing dopamine shots.
Well, he could try and make the best of whatever this-
Oh. Seungcheol has climbed on top of the bar and is taking his shirt off.
"What did you do to my innocent baby seal, Kim Mingyu?", Jeonghan greets the younger with an accusatory question.
"Does Jeonghannie hyung have a baby seal?", Mingyu asks someone. Probably, his housemate, Wonwoo.
"Nah, he's lying", No. It's Joshua.
"Or he could have a baby seal, we can't be sure", And Dokyeom, "He's always adopting weird things..."
"Always lying as well-"
"Yah! I'm talking about Seungcheol."
"Why are you calling Seungcheol hyung a baby se- nevermind, we have stopped questioning what you do."
"You were the one who was attached to his hip for these twenty one months that I spent doing my service. What have you done to him? He keeps taking off his clothes for no reason."
Images from last night rushes to the front of his mind, unwanted, not unwanton- Seungcheol moving his hips a little too sensually as he dances on the bar, bare-chested. He had gotten sprayed with water and alcohol, both of which glided down his perfectly crafted upper body so temptingly Jeonghan wanted to lick it clea-
"Oh, yes. He has gotten confident about his body."
Of course, he has.
Why else would Jeonghan not only go to sleep with the memory of, but also wake up to the sight of Seungcheol's naked torso. The elder was looking for something in Jeonghan's room, moving around like a dangling piece of meat- bait- nope, doesn't sound any better.
But the question is why is Seungcheol now so comfortable in exhibiting the body that only belongs in Jeonghan's private museum- Come on!
Jeonghan needs to change the topic for his own sanity.
"And why is he flirting with literally everyone?"
"Because he's our bisexual king", Mingyu says with utter pride. "I still don't see why you are upset with me the first thing in the morning. What's the problem?"
"The problem isn't that Seungcheol is flirting with everyone", Mingyu has seemed to put the call on speaker, because apparently, this discussion deserves no less than a round table conference, and Joshua deems it right to answer the question on Jeonghan's behalf, "The problem is that he's not flirting with Jeonghan".
Wish the answer was right as well.
"No- I mean yes, he's not flirting with me but no, that's not the problem."
"Then is the problem him showing the sexiness of his 30s? He promised the world to do so", Dokyeom pipes in.
"Yes! Yes, that. He's at the age of becoming a father."
And why is this whole thing Jeonghan's concern? He'll get back to you in a minute.
"Okay. Then make him one. Give him a baby."
What?!
"He would if he could", Ugh, Hong Jisoo.
"I'm a man."
"I and many fans believe Seungcheol hyung can do it if he tries hard enough", So, Mingyu has completely ignored the stated fact, which is also implicit, by the way.
"Yeah, even I think Seungcheol hyung has what it takes. He's an S-tier Alpha. He can do it-"
"Again, I'm a ma-"
Dokyeom continues explaining, "And Jeonghannie hyung is an S-tier omega, he can totally have the environment to grow a baby insid-"
"Guys, it's not possible. I'm a man!", Jeonghan shouts.
"We won't know for sure till you try!", Joshua shouts back.
Okay. It's safe to say this conversation has derailed....by a lot. However, Seungcheol brings it back by walking past Jeonghan in nothing else but shorts.
The villa stands witness to two things - First, Seungcheol's entire body is a form of art. Second, that art is going to be Jeonghan's death.
He groans under his breath and when the culprit is out of the earshot, he shoots a complain, "See, he's roaming around in shorts".
"You also take your clothes off. Fluster him, Jeonghan."
"Have you seen his body?"
"Do you want to get insecure or do you want to get dicked down?"
"Neither! I want neither, Joshua!"
What Jeonghan also doesn't want is to join Seungcheol on another soul-draining, scandal-prone party. Just because they got lucky the first time doesn't mean they've got an exemption from the possibility of their idol image getting tattered.
Seventeen's buffoonery, anyway, hasn't exactly let them build an image of sane, sophisticated idols.
Their reputation precedes them.
And not in a good way.
Also, not to lie, but Jeonghan is downright terrified and somewhat weirded out by this bold and confident Seungcheol.
So, he tells the elder clearly that unlike him who has worked out of his shell, Jeonghan has only dug deeper into his burrow.
It's fair to say he's disappointed when the man leaves him alone. Why did Seungcheol even took the pain to bring Jeonghan here when he was going to spend most of the time partying and socializing?
Maybe he thought Jeonghan would join him on these escapades.
He should've brought Mingyu instead.
That thought and many other unsolicited ones sadden Jeonghan for half an hour or so. Before he could spiral further into how this two years gap has thrown him and Seungcheol poles apart, the latter is back at the villa.
Once again, against Jeonghan's much rational wishes, he is dragged out.
Seungcheol is stubbornly sure he'll like it but if it includes another breathing human, Jeonghan highly doubts it.
The view surprises him but what's funny is that it shocks the planner himself.
"I was going for a platonic private dinner, but I think....they didn't understand."
They didn't.
Because the sight in front of them is very obviously for a romantic private dinner. It's a simple but definitely romantic setup by the sea.
Warm lights, soft flickering candles, rose petals...Jeonghan almost expects someone to come out of nowhere and serenade them.
"I hope you don't mind...", Seungcheol scratches the back of his neck and as adorable as that is, it is equally relaxing for Jeonghan.
He doesn't mind anything that causes Seungcheol to get flustered like this.
"Why would I mind?", Jeonghan merrily pulls out the chair to seat himself.
"Because there's no romantic angle between us", Seungcheol says in a meek voice.
"Oh okay. Thank you for rejecting me indirectly", Jeonghan teases.
He is enjoying this. A little too much.
"I'm not rejecting you. Why would I reject you? I would never reject you", Seungcheol babbles out.
Jeonghan can't hold back laughter anymore.
You know why he started relaxing at the unsurety, why he is able to tease, why his laughs tumble out freely now, why this trip has finally gained a momentum Jeonghan could get behind of...
"There is my Seungcheol."
"Huh?", The claimed man stands frozen.
"My shy, awkward, nervous Seungcheol."
The elder gulps, shakes his head and goes to take the seat across Jeonghan. But Jeonghan doesn't miss the smile Seungcheol tries to hide, or the red tainting his cheeks.
"I like you better this way. Also when you are sulking and begging, like, Jeonghan-ah, please let's do this, let's go here, instead of being all confident and dragging me as you like."
Seungcheol pouts, and Jeonghan is so giddy at the glimpse that even when the pout slowly turns into a slight smirk, the feeling only grows, "Is that a kink, perhaps?"
Ooh, maybe bold Seungcheol isn't that bad. Jeonghan shrugs playfully.
Halfway through their very private dinner, fireworks suddenly fill up the sky. Jeonghan finds himself quite fascinated with the fact that the positioning seem like the feux d'artifice are just for their viewing-
"Is that you?!"
Seungcheol still doesn't raise his head. He appears to be quite interested in dissecting the almost-eaten lobster. But the tips of his ears are fiery red and that is enough confirmation for Jeonghan to burst into a fit of giggles.
"Yes. I think it's a whole package", Seungcheol does grace him with a verbal confirmation.
"You could totally be on one knee right now."
Okay. Maybe, Jeonghan can also do bold.
"So that you can reject me dramatically?"
Jeonghan's mischievous smile softens.
"I would never reject you."