Chapter Text
He doesn’t always see him like this. Lee Jihoon would say he could only remember a handful of times he saw Kim Jongin lost in deep thought. This might mean that he’s stuck in his projects again, or there is a family problem. Jihoon knew Jongin long enough to be sure of it and as awkward as he is, he won't want to ignore this. Both of them are away from their own families; they are each other’s support.
But since he is awkward, Jihoon could only take a seat on the sofa where he knew Jongin will notice him and played with his phone. When his friend didn’t acknowledge him, he fakes a cough. The other finally looked at him, smiling crookedly when he saw his friend pretending to focus on his phone.
“Yo,” he said.
“Yo,” Jihoon stopped pretending and put his phone down, giving his full attention to the other. This time, it is Jongin’s turn to look at his phone. “Something wrong?”
There’s a beat of silence before Jongin answered.
“Mom is remarrying,” he said, voice cracking at the end of his short sentence.
This, Jihoon is aware, is the sore part of Jongin’s heart. Jongin looked up to his late father so much; for being a good provider, a good friend, and as emotional support. He chose his career path because his father was an Engineer. However, his father succumbed to his illness before Jongin could graduate. He battled the illness for six years and died a year ago.
While his father worked hard to put a roof over their heads and food on their plates, Jongin’s mother found another man and formed a family with them. When Jongin learned of this while his father is bedridden with illness, he got angry, but his father already forgave them.
“Let her be. When I die, no one will support you, your brother, and your mother.” He would say.
Jongin couldn’t bear his anger towards his mother, so when he graduated high school, he made sure to choose a university far away from home and left his family.
“Mom didn’t even force me to attend. But, Mingyu asked me to.” Jongin said as he caresses his phone. On the wallpaper is a badly drawn man with a safety helmet and a building behind him that Jihoon knew is made by Jongin’s younger brother. “I don’t want to leave him alone there.” He said sadly.
Jongin is overprotective of his younger brother. Kim Mingyu is just a twelve-year-old boy, eyes still shining from the wonders of elementary school, and oblivious to the gossips around his family. Jongin knew he can’t just get Mingyu off his mother’s care, he knew he is still too young not to be raised with a proper family, and so Jongin left his brother for his good. But he can’t stop feeling that he abandoned his only family when he left his old home. He could still hear the confusion on his brother’s voice when he saw him packing his things to move to Seoul.
Jihoon knew all of these and he still doesn’t know what to say to comfort his friend. He kept quiet. Maybe a listening ear is what his friend needs.
“Hey, Jihoon,” Jongin said after a long time and Jihoon eagerly listened, “wanna come back to Anyang with me?”
"Fuck this shit, I give up," Jongin exasperatedly throws his hands up the air in surrender, bending his back towards the sofa behind him in a stretch. In his exaggeration, Jihoon could hear the pops of his spine from his place just behind him.
"Isn't that due by next month?" Jihoon reminded him, absently tapping his pen on the blank page of his notebook. Jongin glared at him from below.
"Yeah, and aren't you supposed to be writing for your client's summer comeback?" Jongin retorts.
Jihoon just shrugged and resumed humming absentmindedly.
Most of the time they are sensible, responsible adults. They are renting a 3BR condominium unit in the heart of Seoul; two small bedrooms for Jongin, 1 as his actual bedroom and the other room turned into his private office while Jihoon got the master bedroom as his production studio and sleeping quarters.
But both turn their living room into a temporary joint working space when they began to feel suffocating. Thus, two stressed, pressed, and working-towards-deadline adults share their living room for the night, not that they managed to do something productive, but at least they are not alone in their suffering.
Jongin and Jihoon have been friends for a long, long time. They are schoolmates during middle school, classmates during high school, dorm mates during college, and housemates since they could finally afford the luxury of renting a condominium. Their own families even knew the other, Jihoon spent a vacation in Jongin's house a decade ago. They are practically joined at the hip.
"I just want a break," Jongin sulked, rubbing his tired eyes with his equally tired hands. Jihoon looked down at his blank notebook littered with small black dots and almost said the same .
They dreamt of this, a long time ago. Jongin being a partner at a well-known engineering firm in the town, and Jihoon being a fixed producer of a well-known recording company. They'll have their condo, with lots of cash for their gadgets and impromptu travel, and foods. They'd be successful.
They finally have all and they are all of what they dreamt of, but they are tired. And maybe a bit lonely. Both of them have been focused on their respective careers, so much that they do not have any time for themselves.
"Wanna take a vacation with me?" Jongin blurted out. Jihoon stopped doodling and turned his attention to his friend.
"What?"
"I think I'm like this because I haven't been able to rest for a while. You know, take a break from work for a few days. I can't even remember when I last went on a vacation. You need this too, don't you?" Jongin took a seat on the couch to face Jihoon properly. "I don't think I even saw you leave the unit unless you're going to your office or the grocery store."
"It’s because I don't have anywhere else I need to go to," Jihoon rolled his eyes.
"That's why you're still single. Aish, you need to go out more," Jongin complains.
"Then why not just ask that guy you like? Kyungsoo? Have a vacation with him," he taunts the other, in which Jongin just scratched his head.
"I wanted to relax, thank you. With him, I don't think I could do that. Plus I don't want to take care of two grumpy people," he snickered. Jihoon throws a pillow at his face.
"I'm grumpy?!"
"You're not aware? I think Mingyu is the only person in the world who'll like that grumpiness of yours. He still thinks you’re cool," Jongin laughed, then realized something. "Oh! Mingyu should go with us! He'll be taking his licensure exam next week, so if we schedule the trip next month, he'll be free. This will be my gift for him,"
"Wait–,"
"Plus if he goes with us, then we already have someone to cook for us, to look after our stuff, and maybe he'll help me plan this trip." Jongin then proceeded to play with his phone, probably to message Mingyu.
"Hey, stop disturbing the kid. He's probably studying now," Jihoon slapped the phone away from Jongin's hands. Jongin is a bit shocked but realized that his friend is right.
"Hmm... you're right. I'll just tell it to him after his exam. Maybe it'll be therapeutic for him– to take his mind off the test results? I'll just look for the possible locations for now." Jongin danced a little from his place. Jihoon scoffs.
"Whatever. Just tell me how much I need to contribute to and the travel date. I'm fine wherever. I better get that relaxation you're offering me for all the trouble you'll give me for taking a week break," Jihoon started to leave, already checking his mental calendar on how he can finish at least 55% of his tracks in a month.
"Don't worry, I got this covered!" Jongin shouted after his retreating form.
"So you're telling me, you can't come with us on the vacation trip you planned yourself? For yourself?" All 182cm of Jongin's height seems to fold under the glare Jihoon is directing at him.
"Well... Jongdae suddenly gave us this–" he throws a wedding invitation on the table, the name on the paper registered as Jongin's dear college friend in Jihoon's mind "–and you know I can't say no to him. The wedding is scheduled on the second day of our tour, so I really can't come." Jongin apologetically said. Jihoon sighed in defeat, it would be mean to stop him from that.
"Well, can you still cancel the flights and the accommodation?"
"I could still cancel my flight, but you should still go. I mean, Mingyu is with you, you won't be alone. He's an adult now, you don't have to look after him like before. Maybe he'll even take care of you now," Jongin snickered. Jihoon ignored him.
Unbeknownst to him, Jihoon is distracted due to the incoming deadline of his first reversion for the current project. So the questions about room arrangements, tour schedule, and plans flew over Jihoon's mind, absentmindedly agreeing to all that Jongin said.
"Okay! That's settled. I'll tell Mingyu about this too, so you don't have to worry." Jongin smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry about this, Jihoon. I know you also worked hard to get this vacation, so I'll make sure Mingyu won't bother you."
"It's fine. You should enjoy your friend's wedding too. Say congratulations to them for me," Jihoon patted his friend's knee. Jongin just ruffled his hair and left him to his own devices.
Since they arrived at the Kim household, Mingyu has been glued on their side. He is excited about his brother’s arrival, and all angst temporarily escaped Jongin’s mind. Mingyu lead them to their rooms, Jongin will stay with Mingyu at the latter’s room and Jihoon will use the guest room. They will stay there for a month, so Jongin encouraged Jihoon to unpack his baggage.
Once he was left alone, Jihoon looked around the bare guest room. The Kims moved out of their old house after Mr. Kim’s death. Their current location is far from their old house, even if it’s still situated in Anyang. Jihoon’s own house is far from here. Since Jihoon’s parents are spending a month away for a business trip, he didn’t bother returning to his own home.
A chubby head peeked in from the door and Jihoon smiled invitingly at the kid. Mingyu smiled back and entered the room. While the kid does the ‘beating around the bush’ dance, Jihoon looked at him properly.
He could see Mingyu’s resemblance on Jongin. Back when they are still elementary students, Jihoon is sure he saw Jongin with the same tan skin, chubby cheeks, and toothy grin that Mingyu has now. Although Mingyu is somewhat short for a twelve-year-old boy, he’s certain that he will also shot up taller when puberty hits him, since Jongin and his mother are tall people. Maybe Mingyu is just a late bloomer.
“Jongin said you have a PSP with you? Can I watch you play?” Mingyu finally asked. Jihoon shrugged, he can entertain the kid for a while.
“Sure. I got some sick games here.” Jihoon patted the bed and got his PSP. Mingyu joined him and watched him play.
Half an hour later, Jongin peeked in the room and laughed.
“Jihoon, I told you to unpack. Mingyu, you didn’t even let him do that. You’re excited to meet him, huh?” Jongin laughed and patted Mingyu’s head.
Mingyu and Jihoon will meet inside the airport, as relayed by Jongin. Mingyu took the Anyang to Seoul flight, so he didn't meet his brother. Unfortunately, Jongin left his phone when he gave Jihoon the ride to the airport. Good thing Jihoon already asked for Mingyu's phone number the night before in case the internet in the airport is slow.
After a series of exchanged text messages, they agreed to just meet each other when they are already boarded at the plane; their seats are beside each other after all. With Jihoon arriving almost late in the airport and him not knowing what Mingyu looked like after a decade, this was the best solution.
He could somewhat remember the boy's face, after all, he and Jongin got a huge resemblance. But 10 years is not a short time, so imagine Jihoon's shock when he saw the towering man with a toothy grin and sun-kissed skin called for him before taking his seat beside Jihoon, possibly coming from the lavatory.
"Hyung!" The handsome guy excitedly said. There's anticipation on his eyes.
"M-Mingyu?" Jihoon questioned. If possible, the wide grin on his face broadened.
"It’s been a long time!" Mingyu said, his whole body turned on his seat to fully face Jihoon. He looked like he still got a lot to say, but the captain is finally speaking, reminding the passengers to listen to the emergency procedures, and Mingyu patiently closed his mouth and listened, giving Jihoon a few minutes to recollect his thoughts. When the flight attendants finally made the final check before take-off, Mingyu turned his expectant eyes to him.
"So, hyung. How are you lately? We got a lot to talk about!" The other said.
Jihoon mentally calculated. The flight duration is almost 5 hours. Thinking with this in mind, he sighed and entertained the other.
After that, Mingyu is almost always with them. Sometimes, he played with Yuvin, their stepbrother, but most of the time he’s alone with Jihoon.
Mrs. Kim talked to Jongin and asked that he look after Yuvin and get along with him. Seeing that the kid is just a year younger than Mingyu, Jongin might have been feeling conflicted. He’s the product of his mother’s infidelity, but he is too young, too innocent to be a subject of hate. In the end, he reluctantly does what his mother wants and tried to be a better brother to the youngest.
So Jihoon is stuck with Mingyu for a while. Jihoon doesn’t mind, Mingyu is old enough to do responsible things, he’s not someone that Jihoon has to keep an eye on all the time. Mingyu is quite knowledgeable in household works.
For some reason, during the morning, he would always see Mingyu vacuuming the house even if it’s relatively tidy. When he saw that Jihoon is finally awake, he would say where the food is, the food that Jongin later commented is prepared with the help of Mingyu. Mingyu also played with Yuvin before lunch, then would help prepare the dishes for lunch. Even with the grownups absent, busy for the preparation of the wedding, the house is lively and doesn’t look like it is neglected or the state of the house you’ll imagine left under 2 teenagers and 2 pre-teens’ care.
“Hey, don’t you have friends to visit?” Jihoon asked one time. When he was younger, his mother would scold him for playing outside for hours. Mingyu just shrugged.
“Nah. I don’t have a lot of friends. I started school a little late, and some of my classmates are mean. They said I’m small and fat. So I don’t play with them. I play with Yuvin just fine,” he said. Jihoon patted the boy’s head.
“Okay, I promise to play with you instead,” he said. Mingyu looked up at him, wide-eyed. Maybe they’re a bit shiny, but that may be just a trick of the light.
“Really? Promise?” he asked and held out his pinky finger.
“I promise.” Jihoon linked it with his own.
“Hyung, you’re so cool,” Mingyu said, awestruck.
That summer, maybe, Jihoon also made a new friend.
During the long flight, Jihoon learned a lot of things. Mingyu talked about all his experiences since they last met.
He shared that he finally got a circle of friends when the school year after they visited have started, those that stayed with him until now. Then he realized his passion for designing houses and buildings, so he took up Architectural Design. He stayed in Anyang because there’s a good university there, but he wanted to work in Seoul, where his late father’s friend has a firm that would take him in if he passed his board exam. He told how he reviewed day and night to ace it, and how he interned in a small firm in Anyang while waiting for the results.
“The results will be announced on the school page on Saturday, and I couldn’t sleep every night while thinking about it. This trip is well-timed. Too bad Jongin can’t come with us,” he finishes. Jihoon grunted.
“He will be missed,” he solemnly said. Mingyu laughed loudly, Jihoon has to slap his arm again to keep quiet. The man beside Mingyu has been glaring at them for a while now.
“So hyung, Jongin told me you’re producing for famous people. Share some juicy stuff with me,” Mingyu playfully said. Of course, he couldn’t say confidential stuff, but maybe he could tell Mingyu about that one time a girl group gush over him because they thought he’s just an intern.
It’s good to know that ten years after they last met, Mingyu still look at him like that.
Picture this: two adult men in a whitewashed room where the gentle waves of the sea could be heard, staring over one (1) king-sized bed with rose petals in the center formed in a heart shape. Two towels folded as swans kissing in the middle of the heart welcomes them, the soft linen of the bed inviting after a long flight. However, no one attempts to move, both having different levels of confusion.
"Uhm. Mingyu?" the shorter guy inquired.
"Yes, hyung?" The taller one answered.
"What's this?"
"Huh? This is our room. Wait– Jongin didn't tell you about this?"
"No?" Or maybe he did, but Jihoon might not be listening.
"Oh."
In the hindsight, maybe this would be prevented if Jihoon paid more attention. If he listened to his best friend plow about his planned vacation for them and not just hummed accordingly when asked for his approval. He might have said no, don't take the couple's room for a discount .
"So what now?" Jihoon sighed heavily after he sat down on the edge of the bed. Mingyu took a seat on the sofa across the bed. Jihoon fans the collar of his shirt, feeling sticky from the sudden heat of the tropical country. Mingyu stared at him, looking a little lightheaded before he shook his head.
"How about you take a shower first while I clean up the room and our things so it won't be messy? Then let’s talk about sleeping arrangements while we eat dinner?" He kindly offered. Jihoon agreed and took his toiletries, a change of clothes, and one swan towel to take a bath. There, he blasts the water in the coldest temperature possible, but it is still not enough to cool down.
Philippine weather is hellish during summer. It’s currently 5 in the afternoon, the sun is still high in the sky, and the atmosphere makes the sweat stick to their skin uncomfortably. Jihoon made sure to scrub his body thoroughly to remove the sweat and dirt on his body.
After he put on his large black t-shirt and white shorts, he toweled his dripping hair and exited the bathroom. He could see their bags carefully tucked on the door-less cabinet beside the bathroom door, Mingyu’s bag on the top shelf, Jihoon on the second, and their shoes already on the bottom shelve. Mingyu’s jacket is already hung on a hanger together with his pants, his toiletries and change of clothes are ready on the bottom of it. Jihoon could see that Mingyu still likes cleaning.
Mingyu is tapping away on his phone, the television is on to a movie channel. The swan towel is now draped over his lap, maybe because he’s now stripped down his boxer shorts. The bed is now free of the petals, but Jihoon could still smell a hint of them in the room. When Mingyu saw him, he put his phone down and stood up, hand secured on the towel he wrapped around his waist.
“Hyung, I already put your bag there, so just unpack what you need and hung what you want. I also turned on the aircon, but they said we could only put it at 20,” he pouted and went to the direction of the bathroom. Before he closed the door, he peeks out again and said, “Think what you want for dinner!” then he closed the door and started showering.
Jihoon doesn’t know why he does the things Mingyu said before, but he unpacks his sliders and his clothes for tomorrow’s schedule. He also left a message to his parents and Jongin, saying that they arrived at their hotel safely before charging his phone. Then, he laid on the bed and think about dinner, the shower running as background noise.
Rice is a must since he’s finally realizing that he’s hungry. They could check out the nearby restaurants, he saw some Chinese restaurants near the hotel or that local restaurant that grills fishes on their storefront. Thinking about food made him hungrier.
Mingyu finally emerged from the bathroom. He’s wearing a plain white shirt and black shorts. His hair is already combed and he smells like powdery cologne. When he hung his wet towel to dry, Jihoon sat up and checked the time: 6:30 PM.
“You’re ready to go, hyung?” Mingyu asked.
“Yeah,” Jihoon grunted and moved to stand and moved to slip on his black sliders.
“Oh?” Mingyu exclaimed. Jihoon turned to him, confused. Mingyu pointed him out.
“We matched!” he said. Jihoon looked at Mingyu’s black and white outfit (he got white sliders) to his own. He chuckled amusedly.
“Whatever, let’s go. Let’s check up the local restaurant near here,” Jihoon proceeded to the door, eager to fill his empty stomach.
“Oh no, hyung. Not without a selfie first!”
After walking for fifteen minutes, they found themselves at the local restaurant that Jihoon said.
Their hotel has a five-minute walking distance to the beach in front of it and fifteen minutes to the city properly located at the back. The delicious smell of smoked chicken made both of their stomachs growl in hunger, so they took the only available table in the restaurant. A server noticed their arrival and gave them a menu. They only took a few minutes to call them back and order their meal: a grilled chicken, grilled spicy pork, and grilled milkfish with unlimited rice, crab and corn soup, and pineapple juice. It will take 30 to 45 minutes to be done, but given the number of customers, they agreed. A bowl of soup, fish crackers and the pineapple juice are being served first to temporarily sate their hunger.
“So, about the sleeping arrangement,” Mingyu said after sipping the warm soup, “I think we should just sleep in it together. I mean, we’re both men. There’s nothing wrong with it.” He said frankly. Jihoon groaned.
“But it’s hot!” he said, eating a piece of fish cracker, “and I remember you move a lot when you sleep.” Jihoon countered. Mingyu’s eyes widen in disbelief. He also blushed a bit.
“That was before! You hoard pillows!” he whined. Jihoon chuckled.
“Whatever. Let’s just put the folded comforter in the middle. That way I’ll be protected from your long limbs.” Jihoon continued teasing him. Mingyu looked away and pouted.
“You’re so mean. This is what I get for not suggesting that you take the sofa instead.”
“Huh? You’re making me, your hyung, take the sofa? Wow, Kim Mingyu,” Jihoon said in mock astonishment.
“Why? How do you expect me to sleep there? My legs will dangle at the end of it. Only your size will fit there.” Mingyu teased him back. Jihoon just glared at him and sipped his soup.
“Kim Mingyu, make sure to sleep with one eye open tonight.” He threatened the other. Mingyu’s eyes widen in terror and he whined in high pitch.
“Oh no, what will you do to me, oppa?” he said in a badly imitated girly voice.
Jihoon almost spits out the soup in his mouth in disbelief. Mingyu laughed at his face and he joined when the other snorted so hard he sounded like a pig.
With the sleeping arrangement somewhat settled, they moved to discuss their schedule for tomorrow while they enjoy their dinner at a leisurely pace.
They walked back to their hotel with full and satisfied stomachs. They decided to check out the souvenir shops for light shopping. Mingyu bought a straw hat and colored shades. Jihoon bought a tank top and trunks because he forgot to bring one (“ Hyung, how could you forget your swimwear when you’re going to the beach? ”). They also check out the shops where they could buy snacks, drinks, and other necessities. They also surveyed the nearby restaurants to know where they’ll eat tomorrow’s dinner.
With their stomachs finally starting to settle, they walked back to their hotel in sleepy silence. Once again, Mingyu broke it.
“Let me shower first, hyung. I hate the smell on me,” he said. Jihoon grunted.
“Fine, you’re going first, smelly boy.”
“You also smell fishy,”
“Whatever.”
As agreed on, Jihoon settled on the sofa and waited for Mingyu to finish his shower. The room is cold now that the air-conditioning has been on for a few hours, so he took out the sweater and jogging pants as sleepwear seeing that their only blanket would serve as a barrier.
Jihoon smelled like fish and he’s starting to hate it, so he took off his shirt and bundled it in plastic. His nipples harden at the sudden drop of temperature, so he took his damp towel and wrap it around his shoulders. When Mingyu walks out of the shower, he stopped at the sight of half-naked Jihoon. They kind of stared at each other for a few seconds until Mingyu moves out of the way.
“There’s a water heater in you need it,” he said. Jihoon just grunted in reply.
He took a cold shower since he needs to condition his body to the temperature anyway.
Once he’s done and emerged from the shower, Mingyu is already sleeping in the bed. As promised, the comforter is placed on the middle of the bed, Mingyu even put the sofa throw pillow at Jihoon’s side, so he got more pillows to use.
Once Jihoon finished drying his hair and set his alarm for tomorrow morning, he finally laid down the bed with a sigh. As he closed his eyes, he felt Mingyu shift in the bed.
“Good night, Jihoonie.” He rasps sleepily.
“Good night, Minggu.” He answered back.