Chapter Text
As Seungcheol sat at the table of their favourite bulgogi place, he couldn't help but feel like a paranoid parent, counting heads, making sure he hadn't accidently lost someone. Jeonghan found himself mentally doing the same; reminded once again, why he preferred to have his friend gatherings in the comfort of his own home. Of course, they were all adults who were capable of handling themselves, but some were more prone to being direction blind than others; and Jeonghan couldn't help but be overly protective at times.
Once, Seungcheol had lost Jihoon at a subway station, and it nearly gave both them both a heart attack. Jihoon had almost taken the line all the way to Incheon. So, really, you couldn't blame Jeonghan. At the thought of Jihoon, Jeonghan realized that his homebody workaholic friend still hadn't arrived. This would be the third time in a row that Jihoon turned down their group hangouts.
Jeonghan turned to his left, interrupting an animated conversation on whether the chicken or the egg came first. "Soonyoung, didn't you say that Jihoon would make it this time?"
Soonyoung, checked his phone with a pout, "He said he would."
Seungcheol sighed. With such a large group of friends, they tried their best to hang out all together at least a few times a month. It's not the same if one of them skips out.
"Don't sweat it, hyung, Jihoonie will be here this time. I threatened him - no late night dinner hangouts or workouts for a month." Soonyoung said, proud of himself. Jeonghan's lips turned up at the way Soonyoung smiled with his cheeks, eclipsing the sharpness of his eyes.
Wonwoo, who was quietly eating a slice of the pickled radish that had just arrived at the table, pushed his glasses up to keep them from sliding off the bridge of his nose and chimed in, "We always have plan b, if he doesn't show."
Jeonghan arched an eyebrow. Wonwoo shrugged and answered, "Mingyu drags Jihoon here dangling by his ankles," he backpedalled when Seungcheol gave a disapproving expression from beside Jeonghan; "well, maybe not. He'll probably carry him in like a bag of flour, though."
Lo and behold, just as Wonwoo said, Jeonghan spots Mingyu passing the restaurant's front window; all 6 foot of the giant boy, and Jihoon dangling over his shoulder, limp. If Seungcheol didn't know them, he'd think that Mingyu was kidnapping a child and dialled the police. He suspected that Jihoon's lack of struggle meant that it was somehow comfortable for him; this wasn't the first time Mingyu has had to forcefully transport his hyung from point A to point B.
That, or Mingyu had taken extreme measures and drugged Jihoon - though, Jeonghan couldn't imagine Mingyu doing such a thing. The boy measures out Nyquil to the millilitre, fearing accidental overdose. As they neared the entrance, Jihoon smacked Mingyu's back, and the taller of the two winced before letting his hyung down for them to walk in casually - as if no one in the restaurant noticed their theatrics.
Their friends looked up from their overlapping conversations, as the two roommates approached their table. Seungkwan, with his penchant for grand entrances, did not pass up the opportunity to give his friends center attention, "Well, well, well, look what the puppy dragged in."
Chan, the youngest of their group, stitched his eyebrows together in confusion, "You mean cat. The expression is 'look what the cat dragged in.'"
Seungkwan shook his head, "Does Mingyu hyung look like a cat to you?" The two launched into light bickering, as always.
Mingyu sat down beside Minghao with a pouted huff, used to Seungkwan's harmless ribbing. He gave Minghao a small smile as the lanky boy placed a warm hand on his knee in greeting.
Jihoon shuffled into the empty seat beside Soonyoung. He was sporting his usual 'I'm barricading myself at home for three days to work on music' look; donning an oversized black t-shirt, shorts that ended half-way up his thighs, a pair of slides, and a ball cap to stuff his unwashed hair under.
"Aigoo, our Jihoonie! We are so honored that you have squeezed some time for us into your schedule!" Jeonghan teased.
Jihoon picked up his chopsticks and tapped them down on the table with a grumble, waving off Jeonghan in favor of picking at the side dishes laid out on the table.
It wasn't that Jihoon didn't enjoy the company of his friends - they were the most important people in his world - it was just hard to take a break when he got into work mode. It took him a moment but he soon warmed up, listening to Soonyoung gush about a new up and coming dance crew that was breaking into the competitive dance scene. Jihoon demanded to be shown clips because Soonyoung's attempt at recreating a dance crew performance, on his own, seated at a table, was not terribly impressive.
Their conversation was interrupted when Seungkwan skipped over to their end of the table with his camera in hand. "Hyung-deul! We're playing the balance game, is it okay if I film you?"
Jihoon sighed. Seungkwan was an internet personality, an influencer, people called it. Jihoon would wrinkle his nose at those titles people called his dongsaeng, because Seungkwan was a very talented PD as well, for shows on large networks. It was impressive, especially considering his young age. So, as much as Jihoon wasn't in the mood, he found that it was always hard to say no to Seungkwan.
Seungkwan pointed his camera at Jihoon, who busied himself with dipping his samgyeopsal in some gochujang, making sure to maintain an air of indifference. "Jihoonie hyung; a moping Mingyu for 24 hours, or a clingy Soonyoung for 24 hours?"
Jihoon paused; he could feel a headache coming on just at the thought. "Neither, I just want to live in peace."
"That's no fun, you have to choose one, hyung."
"Fine, Soonyoung." Jihoon winced; he could practically feel Soonyoung's body light up in surprise and excitement.
"Really? So, I can-" Soonyoung started.
"No." Jihoon couldn't let Soonyoung get any leeway, "This is not permission for you to lounge on my couch for any longer than you already do."
"Why'd you choose Soonyoung hyung?" Seungkwan would've thought Mingyu, for sure.
Jihoon popped a spoonful of rice that was topped with a slice of meat into his mouth, honestly more concerned with eating than the question, "Soonyoung's clingy most of the time anyways; it wouldn't be much different." He waved his chopsticks around in nonchalance.
"You let him half the time, hyung. That's on you." Seungkwan pointed out.
Soonyoung frowned. Jihoon sighed, "Yeah, because you can't just ignore Soonyoung. He needs attention to survive."
Peripherally, Jihoon caught Soonyoung smiling to himself softly, and fought the urge to not roll his eyes.
Seungkwan turned his camera at Wonwoo, "Wonwoo hyung, 5 Moon Junhuis, or a 5 year old Moon Junhui."
Wonwoo responded with confidence, "5 Moon Junhuis. They can fool around and entertain each other. A 5 year old Moon Junhui would be ten times as hyper."
"Yeah, but think about how cute child actor Junhui would be!" Soonyoung gushed. Junhui was a child actor back in Hong Kong, before he came to Korea and signed with a modeling agency.
"Think about how messy-"
And Jihoon thought, 'ah yes, life was all about serendipitous comedic timing'.
Because Junhui, sat on the other side of Wonwoo, engrossed in his phone as usual, absentmindedly knocked a glass of water into Wonwoo's lap. Jihoon laughed with mirth at Wonwoo's exasperated expression and Junhui's flustered apologies.
"Ah, Moon Junhui, you've done it now!" Jihoon teased playfully, as he handed his two friends some napkins.
Feeling bad, Junhui made a wrap, chock full with samgyeopsal, and fed Wonwoo.
Wonwoo didn't hold grudges over these kinds of things, but that didn't stop him from reveling in Junhui's groveling.
Jihoon smiled at his fellow 96-liners fondly when he was interrupted by Soonyoung: "Say ahh!"
He stared cross-eyed at the wrap held in front of his face. Soonyoung motioned the wrap encouragingly, "Come on, Wonwoo ate Junhui's wrap."
Sighing, Jihoon went to take the wrap when Soonyoung pulled away. "Nuh-uh, let me feed you."
Jihoon made a face, "No, thanks," and shoveled some japchae into his mouth. Soonyoung had an innate tendency to ham things up when there was a camera around, and Jihoon was determined to not let Soonyoung get his way.
Often, Soonyoung became hyper and loud, and affectionate, as if the camera made him drunk. Jihoon could understand though; it was the performer, and pleaser, in Soonyoung - knowing Soonyoung, he probably didn't even notice the switch that happens.
Nonetheless, Jihoon was the opposite, forced affection made him feel awkward and stilted, especially if it was in front of an audience. Soonyoung was making Jihoon want to shrink; embarrassed at the idea that the camera was catching them in frame.
Annoyed at his own embarrassment, compounded with his work stress and sleepiness, Jihoon started to bicker with Soonyoung, as if they were back in their middle school days. Seungkwan had now long returned to his seat at the other end of the table, camera put away. Their friends had paid no attention, unalarmed by the sight of what they deduced was Jihoon and Soonyoung's typical quarrelling.
"I'm going to the washroom," Jihoon mumbled, standing up.
Jihoon stalked away, making it halfway to the washroom when he sensed that Soonyoung was hurrying to follow after him. Distracted, Jihoon's slipper snagged on a mat laid out on the floor of the restaurant, and tripped, falling into a broad shouldered guy in a tan fall coat, almost toppling the two of them to the ground.
Almost.
Thankfully saving the both of them from the public humiliation of falling on their butts, the stranger instinctively caught Jihoon and steadied them both.
Startled, Jihoon jumped away, putting some distance between him and this stranger. The stranger gave him a polite smile, "Are you okay?" His voice was soft and light, in contrast to his sharp angular features, was Jihoon's first thought.
Jihoon could positively feel his skin burning up with embarrassment, now.
"Ji-" Soonyoung started, having caught up to him, met with the situation, "oh, Seokminnie, hey, you made it!"
Jihoon mentally face-palmed. Of course he had to make a fool of himself in front of one of Soonyoung's friends; that was worse than embarrassing himself in front of a stranger. He was definitely going to have to bump into Seokmin again, eventually, and pretend as if Seokmin's first impression of Jihoon wasn't of him tripping. Damn Kim Mingyu for rubbing off on him after all these years.
"Hi Soonyoung hyung!" Great, he was also younger than Jihoon.
"Sorry I'm late. Work ran long." Seokmin rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
Jihoon lowered his head, eager to end this situation, knowing that it was going to join the other mortifications his brain ran through at night in the hour before he falls asleep.
Soonyoung assured Seokmin that it wasn't a big deal, before he turned to Jihoon.
"Jihoonie, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed it." Soonyoung's hand hovered, unsure.
Jihoon took a deep breath. He was tired; Soonyoung wasn't to blame for his short temper, he told himself. Jihoon turned, gave Soonyoung a smile, and patted his arm in reassurance. "I'm alright, just tired, you know how I get. You catch up with uh-Seokmin-ssi," Jihoon averted his eyes from Seokmin, "I'm going to the bathroom."
When Jihoon returned to the table he found Soonyoung in his seat, and Seokmin sitting where Soonyoung was. For a moment, he stood awkwardly behind them, looking around the restaurant for spare chairs, and found none. It was a Friday night, and the place was starting to get packed.
"You're in my seat, Soonyoung." Soonyoung looked up at him with a startled jump, as if he wasn't expecting Jihoon to come back to the table or something.
"Oh right, uh, sorry about that, we couldn't find a spare chair. Uh, here." Soonyoung turned a little and patted his leg, gesturing for Jihoon to sit on his lap.
At Jihoon's narrowed eyes, Soonyoung spluttered, "Okay, yeah, never mind, I'll get up."
Seokmin, who was watching the whole interaction, intently aware that he was the cause for their dilemma, suggested, "It's alright, maybe I'll just hang around for a couple minutes more, and make my way home."
Hearing this, Jihoon and Soonyoung turned to protest. Jeonghan, who overheard, was firm in Seokmin staying, "No, no, Seokmin-ah it's fine. Jihoon can sit on Soonyoung's lap."
Jeonghan addressed Jihoon, "Jihoon, this is Seokmin, my new favourite dongsaeng." Soonyoung opened his mouth to protest, Seokmin flushed, and Jihoon rolled his eyes. Jeonghan's favourite dongsaeng changed with the days of the week, so it really didn't mean much.
Though, Jihoon knew that it was Jeonghan's way of letting him know that he should start getting comfortable with Seokmin. Great.
Jihoon adjusted his ball cap, and silently went to sit down on Soonyoung's lap. He picked up his second bowl of rice, trying his best to not shrivel in embarrassment.