lean on me (or fall in love, maybe); myungyeol
lean on me (or fall in love, maybe)
oneshot; fluff, romance, drama; minor crossover
In which Myungsoo is the best friend who is always willing to offer a hand or a shoulder (or any parts of his anatomy, really) because Sungyeol needs it. Also, there is a little sister who might or might not hate him.
this is written for myungyeolbaby's 2nd anniversary in the kpopdom. also posted here.
Lee Sungyeol is an orphan, but he does have a 6-year-old sister, Nikki. Once they had a family, but all things break eventually, so one day three years back they woke up to the news of their parents’ flight crashing; no one survived.
“Good morning, oppa!”
He watches as Nikki traipses the three steps from their bed to the little table stationed in the middle of their rooftop room. Sungyeol takes a sip of his coffee while Nikki sits down across from him, rubbing the sleep off of her eyes.
“How’s my princess’ sleep?” he asks, sure of the answer.
Nikki scowls at him. “I am not a princess.”
“Of course you are! You’re the most adorable princess there is!” Sungyeol says enthusiastically, conveniently ignoring the glare his little sister is sending him in favor of serving her toasts and eggs. “Your presence lights up the room like the sun. Oh yes, my sister is like the princess of the suns!”
“Oppa, please stop.”
“Okay.”
Thirty minutes later, Nikki is clinging on Sungyeol’s back as he descends the staircase.
“Will you be able to pick me up later, oppa?” inquires Nikki quietly, her little hands playing with her brother’s hair. “Or are you going to be late at the convenience store again?”
Sungyeol cringes a bit at this; for a young girl, his sister really understands, but he can’t deny that he’s disappointed her enough times that maybe she’s just immune to it by now. “Of course I’m picking you up. Just wait for oppa, okay?” Nikki clings to his neck a bit tighter as she nods in understanding, and he knows he probably needs to cram another one of his write ups for Research, and talk to Woohyun so he can leave his job early but it’s worth it. His sister doesn’t need any more disappointments.
“Thank you, oppa. I really don't like Myungsoo-sshi picking me up,” she grumbles.
Nikki’s refusal to call Myungsoo oppa doesn’t surprise Sungyeol, and if it weren’t for the way Nikki stares at his best friend, he would have thought her dislike for him is genuine. “Why don't you like him picking you up?”
A door opens and a face peeks out.
“Yeah, why don't you like me picking you up? And good morning, Nikki. I made you lunch.”
“Sungyeol oppa, put me down.” As soon as her feet hit the ground, Nikki walks away with her hands clutching the straps of her backpack. She looks back once to scowl at Sungyeol and Myungsoo.
“I see your sister is as warm to me as ever,” Myungsoo comments, pursing his lips on one side. “I don’t know why she doesn’t like me; I swear I am nice to her.”
Sungyeol pats the tap of his head. Myungsoo clings to that arm after handing the lunchbox to Sungyeol.
“Maybe because you’re too handsome? She doesn’t like perfection, you know.” They both reach the lobby and see Nikki there, playing kai bai bo with herself. “She colors everything black when her drawing looks remotely good.”
“But I’m not perfect.”
“Well, that’s not what she sees.”
“Good morning, Teacher Dongwoo,” slurs Nikki, sitting down in her chair at the back of the room. As usual, she’s too early for her lessons.
It’s okay, though - Teacher Dongwoo’s smile brightens up her bleak morning. “Ah, my favorite student! Oops, don’t tell anyone!” And then he laughs her favorite laugh in the world.
Nikki smiles, almost smug. “I always knew I’m your favorite.” But then her expression turns sour. “I was mean to him again.”
Immediately, Dongwoo knows what his pupil means - who she means. “Why? Was he being too nice to you again?”
Nikki nods, picking up the drawing book and crayons under her desk. “He still talks to me even though I told Sungyeol oppa that I don’t like him picking me up when oppa can’t. And he even said good morning. And he made me lunch.” She gingerly shows him the black lunchbox to prove it and then puts it back down when Dongwoo nods.
“This young lady! You need to let other people be nice to you, dear,” Teacher Dongwoo tells her as he approaches her and crams himself in a seat. “Maybe he likes being nice to you and your brother.”
Nikki just pouts and continues drawing. Her fingers grip the crayon too tightly and it breaks.
When she doesn’t move to pick up another one or the same crayon and use it again like she usually does, only stares at the paper dejectedly, Dongwoo realizes that this is really bothering her young pupil’s mind.
“What’s wrong, Nikki?”
She looks at him then and says quietly, like she doesn’t want the world to know, “Myungsoo-sshi is the closest to a family that Sungyeol oppa and I have, but we’re not his.”
And Dongwoo sees her drawing - a rectangular structure at the back that represents their residence and three stick figures, two taller male stick figures holding the hands of a shorter female stick figure in between them; there’s a sun, big and bright.
It’s exactly like the rest of her works stacked inside his office cabinet. Her family.
The lecture hall is already half full by the time Myungsoo drags himself in there. He doesn’t look around and just automatically heads to his usual seat, eyes almost closed because of drowsiness.
A sleepiness that is immediately gone when a flash of pink beside his seat meets his eyes.
“Sungjong!”
The said boy only grants him a short look before going back to typing on his phone.
“Sungjong! Your hair is pink!”
Sungjong closes his eyes and breathes in deeply, like the dumb is too early to test his patience - it is, actually. “Yes, hyung. I'm glad you figured this out on your own.”
Myungsoo frowns because Sungjong is using this condescending tone on him again. “I don't understand why you’re not more bothered. Don’t you realize that your hair is pink?”
“I refuse to further engage in a conversation with you.”
“Did Howon do this to you?” asks Myungsoo with squinted eyes, using Sungjong's boyfriend’s real name to elicit a reaction out of the younger.
He’s not disappointed. “Don't call him that!”
Myungsoo almost smirks. Almost, because he can’t sass the Sassy Princess.
“Seriously, hyung, are you asking for trouble? You know he doesn’t like being called Howon.”
“Yeah, but he colored your hair pink.” Myungsoo stresses the last word to convey just how freaked out he is.
“Well, technically, the hairdresser did.”
Just then, Myungsoo’s retort gets cut off by a bag slamming down on the seat on his other side. And then his jaw drops.
There, sitting beside him, is Lee Howon (Hoya), both lean and buff in his badass leather jacket and purple hair.
“Take a picture,” he says, amused because Myungsoo is still staring at him open-mouthed. “Actually.” He takes out his own phone and snaps a photo of Myungsoo’s face.
The shutter sound snaps Myungsoo back to his senses. Shaking his head, he mutters, “And I thought my best friend is weird.”
Hoya laughs at him. “You mean your best friend that you want to become your boyfriend?”
Myungsoo stiffen; that’s a sensitive topic. “Well...”
“You’re not going to tell him soon, are you?” inquires Sungjong, his pity for Myungsoo and his inability to confess leaking out of every word.
“He doesn’t have time for me in that way. You know what it’s like for him recently, with his job and university and his sister,” he replies plainly. In hopes of changing the subject, he smiles and tells the two, “Speaking of his sister, you guys should visit Nikki sometimes. She’ll like your eccentric hair choices even if it’s weirding me out. She’ll like you two even more.”
“And he even prepared her food,” Sungyeol says, exasperated, “I don’t understand why she still can’t call him oppa. She calls you oppa. Why is she so formal with him?”
“You should like that; your sister is so well-raised that she’s formal even with your best friend,” Woohyun replies flatly, carelessly flipping pages of his Psychology textbook. Woohyun has always been a presence in Sungyeol’s life ever since middle school, way back when his mediocre pranks wouldn’t work and would only leave a dangerous mess to the boys comfort room, way back when only the class’s vice president’s expertise could save him from failing, up to the point when Sungyeol needs a job for him to feed his sister. They have a sticky relationship, probably an unhealthy one, too - unhealthy for the people surrounding them.
Sungyeol gives him a dirty look. “You’re not even reading that. How do you expect to not fail that test later if you're not reading?” He snatches the book from Woohyun, who doesn’t even flinch. “And Nikki is too formal with Myungsoo, like an adult who’s dealing with a person she doesn’t like-”
Woohyun fakes a gasp. “Are you implying that your sister doesn’t like Myungsoo? How judgmental of you.”
Sungyeol kicks him under the table and then goes back to typing to his laptop. He can worry about Nikki and Myungsoo later when he’s done with this report.
“By the way, I can give you a ride later. Nikki’s school is on the way to the store, right?”
That’s a good idea because Sungyeol won’t have to leave the university early and his sister won’t have to wait for him for very long. He looks at Woohyun to grab the offer, only to stop himself in alarm.
Woohyun has this look on his face that screams I’m innocent and trying to be nice. To amateur eyes, that’s what they will see, but Sungyeol is
no amateur.
“You know Myungsoo will want to come with me,” he says in clear realization.
A grin breaks out on Woohyun's face. “What are you talking about.”
“You’re going to do and say something stupid, aren’t you. And I will be the one to suffer.”
“If helping you confess and getting you a boyfriend will make you suffer, then yes, probably.”
Sungyeol’s pencil hits Woohyun right on his forehead. “I do not have the time for that. You know this.”
The grin slips off Woohyun’s face. It rarely ever shows, but when it comes down to it, he only wants the best for Sungyeol.
“I know.” The grin comes back in full force. “Doesn’t mean I can’t make some for you.”
In the end, Sungyeol has not succumbed to Woohyun’s offer and Myungsoo has indeed insisted to come with him in getting Nikki. He still doesn’t know how Woohyun antagonizing Myungsoo can benefit him, but he never wants to risk it. Woohyun within his best friend’s hearing range is just begging for catastrophe involving him and his secret.
“I think Nikki’s going to be thrilled when she sees you,” Myungsoo comments brightly as he snaps a photo of a random electric post in the street. “She’ll probably brag about you to her teacher. Dongwoo is nice.”
He’s studying the picture he’s just taken and the crease between his eyebrows is kind of endearing. That’s the look he has when he’s concentrating in his craft; that’s the look that Sungyeol thinks is best suited for him.
“Yeah, I’m sure he is. Nikki always gushes about him.” Sungyeol chuckles.
The afternoon sun is searing too much warmth in their skin, and while Myungsoo takes pictures as he walks, Sungyeol lets his gaze linger. There are already trickles of sweat forming on Myungsoo's forehead.
“I’m nice, too. Why doesn't she like me?”
“What,” says Sungyeol, distracted, as he wipes the sweat away with his palm. “What?”
“I said, I’m always nice to your sister, but why doesn’t she like me?” Myungsoo’s frown gets deeper even as he leans in to the other’s touch. “Have I been doing something a kid won’t like whenever she’s around?”
Siblings have lots in common, factors may be because of how they both grow up and their environment and their genes. Sungyeol likes to think that he and Nikki are both difficult to understand. “Who knows what’s running around her little head.” He pats Myungsoo’s head, sympathetic. “You’ll understand her when she wants you to.”
On the way, they find a cotton candy stand where they can watch the vendor jab a stick inside a machine as the powder turns into a pink web of sweets. Myungsoo buys three sets of it.
“Nikki might want it,” he explains, a little hopeful, when Sungyeol raises an eyebrow. “Does she like sweets?”
Sungyeol gives him an enigmatic smile. “Maybe.”
“She punched her classmate,” Teacher Dongwoo drops them the news as soon as they set foot inside the spacious classroom. “Right here,” he touches his right arm to show where exactly Nikki inflicted her repressed violence. Her teacher looks really tired. Sungyeol winces.
Right then, Nikki tugs on Sungyeol’s shirt and when he looks down he sees a pout. “Well, do you wanna explain yourself, young lady?”
His sister just juts her lower lip stubbornly and looks away. That answers his question. “Just. Just go out to play with Myungsoo while I talk to Teacher Dongwoo.”
Nikki knows when to listen to her brother, and her opinion of Myungsoo is not one she takes too seriously when Sungyeol is pissed off. It’s somehow her fault anyway, that much she will admit, but the snotty kid deserved that punch. It probably doesn’t even hurt that much.
“So,” Myungsoo starts once they’re seated in the swings, side by side, “you punched your classmate in the arm.”
“I did,” she answers plainly.
Myungsoo lets out a sigh. Shaking his head, he reaches out to give the cotton candy to the sulking kid beside him.
Nikki looks at him, alarmed for his own well-being. What is he doing? Sungyeol oppa will kill us both when he sees I’m getting a treat after I hurt my classmate!
Immediately, Myungsoo catches on and tries to salvage the situation. “No, no, no!” He flails his hands for emphasis. “This really is for you; I bought it for you because you might like it, I’m not giving you a treat because you punched someone.”
The kid still looks skeptic, but for the life of her, she can never say no to food, so she accepts the pink fluffy thing with a bow.
But she doesn’t start eating, only pushes her little feet to the ground to move her swing, looking dejected. Myungsoo wonders idly if she prefers blue cotton candy; he worries his bottom lip. “Um. What’s wrong?”
“That boy deserved the punch,” she says stiffly, like Myungsoo is judging her actions. “He said bad things about my friends.”
Myungsoo frowns, because honestly he thinks that’s a legitimate reason to punch somebody. But he can’t say that if he wants to survive Sungyeol’s wrath. “What bad things did he say to who?”
To her credit, Nikki looks a little sorry. “He said my friends Minseok and Lu Han, the Chinese one, are going to... He said they're going to hell... Because... Because they will make babies in the future but they’re not allowed so they will go to hell, so I punched him in the arm! I wanted to punch his face but Teacher Dongwoo would see when it bruised.”
“He said that?” Myungsoo asks weakly after a few terse seconds. Nikki’s hands are closed in fists and Myungsoo is just so baffled - what have kids been eating these days? Who teaches them to judge others these early in their lives? He wonders if the world really is coming to its end.
“He did.”
The silence stretches on while Nikki finally starts eating, chewing thoughtfully. She is halfway through it when she speaks again. “Sungjong and Hoya oppa like each other, and Woohyun and Sunggyu oppa are like married already, and it’s their lives - they can be with each other if they want. It’s none of anybody else’s business.
“I don't mind if Sungyeol oppa likes another boy and I don’t mind if another boy likes Sungyeol oppa, as long as they’re both happy.” Nikki tilts her head until Myungsoo can see the expression on her face, like she knows something she’s not supposed to know about; the look ages her for at least five years.
For a while Myungsoo is stunned, until the words sink in and he realizes what she’s implying. Of course kids notice these kinds of things; you can’t hide anything from them even when you can excuse your actions to the adults.
Now knowing - he’s sure that Nikki knows he likes her brother, one way or another - that this girl is alright with him harboring feelings for Sungyeol, he decides to take as much as he can get. “Does this mean… does this mean Sungyeol likes a guy?” he probes carefully. Does your brother like me, too?
Sungyeol’s sister just purses her lips as she eyes the remaining two plastics of cotton candy, though, as if she’s already done with the conversation and ready to move on to another one. “Are you going to eat that?”
“Uh, no?” Myungsoo offers them to her. “Do you want more?”
She shakes her head but accepts the cotton candies anyway. “I’ll introduce you to my friends, okay? Be nice!”
And then she jumps out of her seat and hollers, “Minseok! Lu Han! My brother’s best friend has something for you!”
Two little boys answer to her call and proceed to run to her. When they get to her, she hands them the sweets. “You like sweet things, right?”
“Yeah, thanks!” they say in unison, look at each other, and then laugh.
Myungsoo watches the two cute little kids in awe as they eat and smile together, sometimes feeding one another, too.
“By the way, this is Myungsoo oppa!” Nikki pulls his arm to bring him in front of the other two. “He bought those sweets for you; he’s sweet, right?”
Myungsoo studies them both, and kneels down to shake their hands. He offers his hand to the doe-eyed one first and tries, “Minseok?”
“That’s me,” the other one chimes shyly, “I’m Kim Minseok, he’s Lu Han.”
Nikki giggles. “He’s not very smart.”
Myungsoo scowls, making the kids laugh. “But Minseok looks Chinese, too.”
“He does look Chinese!” Lu Han yells excitedly, wrapping his thin arms around the other boy. “Let’s go play soccer, Chinese boy!” And then he whisks Minseok away, singing about the sun and the wind and goals and soccer.
“Wow.”
Myungsoo and Nikki jump at the unexpected voice. “’Yeol!”
Sungyeol follows the two boys with his eyes, looking amazed, before focusing on his sister. “It’s a good thing the kid’s mom was so embarrassed by what her son did that she just let this slide, but we are not over with this, okay?”
“Yes, oppa.”
True to his words, Sungyeol is not done with Nikki’s display of violence, and as punishment, he arranged for Myungsoo to pick Nikki up from school every afternoon. This is a good idea, as he is conveniently hitting two birds with one stone: punishing Nikki, because apparently he doesn’t like hanging out with Myungsoo, and helping Myungsoo get closer to Nikki.
(
“Really, it’s okay.”
“But I don’t want to bother you, Myungsoo, why are you so stubborn.”
“I’m not being stubborn; I just know she’s so close to finally warming up to me. She even called me oppa once, when she introduced me to her friends.”
“What, seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.”
)
Life seems to be as good as it can ever get with this set up, until one afternoon, Sungyeol realizes that he is so comfortable that he forgets his important responsibility of paying their bills, his realization punctuated by the call from Myungsoo while he is on shift in the store.
“Some of your things are outside your rooftop room; the notice said that the landlady confiscated most of your appliances to pay up your debt.”
Sungyeol feels a terrible headache coming, but he can’t let it come so he holds tight to the counter and his phone, and just nods. Yes. It’s his responsibility. He needs to face it now. “Is Nikki okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine, I got her. Don’t worry, Sungyeol.”
After checking that no box or bag of clothes is left in the rooftop, Myungsoo enters his apartment to see Nikki wandering around the living room, holding what seems to be-
Lemon candy.
“Is Sungjong here?”
“Hello, hyung!”
Sure enough, Myungsoo finds Sungjong and Hoya sitting in the couch together, feeling comfortable and totally at home. Like always.
“Look, oppa, they brought lemon lollipops!” Nikki tells him excitedly, while waving around the jar full of yellow things.
Hoya shrugs when Myungsoo sighs tiredly because how many times has he warned them not to bring too many candies? “You did tell us to visit Nikki.”
“You will ruin her teeth,” he answers, distress ringing in every word.
Sungjong rolls his eyes, “She’ll eat them moderately, I already explained to her that you guys won’t ever let me near her if she gets tooth ache because of my candies.”
“That’s a little extreme.”
“Whatever.”
Suddenly, Nikki jumps to the space beside Sungjong and plays with his hair. “And look, Myungsoo oppa, his hair is pink! Isn’t it so pretty?”
He manages a weak twitch of a smile while she plays with Sungjong’s hair, cooing about it and then playing with Hoya’s. Deciding that he won’t have anything to do but watch Nikki entertain herself with Sungjong and Hoya’s life choices unless he gets up and busy him with something else, he picks up his phone and makes his way out to call his brother.
The door opens just as he touches the knob, revealing Sungyeol’s anxious face. “Hey! Oh, my god, I am sorry for bothering you like this, Myungsoo.”
“It’s okay, really, why are you even apologizing,” he replies with a smile. It really is kind of insulting the way Sungyeol always feels apologetic whenever Myungsoo does something to help him, like Myungsoo isn’t welcome to do it.
“But-” But the sight that greets Sungyeol washes away all his worries down the drain: Nikki is in the couch with Sungjong and Hoya, trying to reach their hair while they tickle her sides. Her laughter fills the entire apartment. Sungyeol can’t help the sagging of his shoulders in relief.
“See. I told you I got her.”
“You did.” Sungyeol turns to him then.
There is a feeling bubbling in the pit of Myungsoo’s chest when his gaze meets Sungyeol’s and if he ever tried to explain this feeling to his brother, Sunggyu, he’s pretty sure he will receive a suspicious squinting of eyes and an even more suspicious, “Are you high?” But he’s always been high with the way he feels about his best friend’s entire existence to his life, why is it different this time? Why is it more intense this time?
“Can I kiss you?”
For one alarming second, Myungsoo thinks his tongue filter has finally given up on him, but he realizes just in time that no, that isn’t him.
“What,” he says, extremely dazed.
“Uh, I just said could we talk?”
Myungsoo is pretty sure that is not what he heard, but as usual with Sungyeol, he will take what the other is willing to give.
Sungjong and Hoya excuse themselves when they notice the two looking at each other the way they usually do, only this time, they’re not doing it while the other is looking the other way. This spells progress.
“We’ll see you some other time, okay?” Sungjong assures Nikki, holding Hoya’s hand now. “Behave.”
Hoya nods. “Don’t punch people who can punch back.”
“Where’s Nikki?” asks Sungyeol the moment Myungsoo steps inside his room. They both decide to talk privately while the little girl was vowing to inspect every inch of Myungsoo’s apartment - a detail that Myungsoo wants to change soon.
“She’s in the living room, watching Naruto.” He sits beside Sungyeol on the floor, their backs resting on the bed. “I could practically hear her thoughts judging my life choices when I told her I didn’t have Pororo DVDs.”
Sungyeol promptly throws him a look that screams incredulity. “You don’t have a collection of Pororo DVDs?”
At first Myungsoo is so alarmed that he almost defends himself, until he sees the familiar teasing glint in Sungyeol’s eyes. He shoves him until the other is rolling on the floor, laughing.
He lets Sungyeol regain his breath while he psyches himself up. This isn’t a selfish offer, he convinces himself. This is for Sungyeol and for Nikki - something that he has to do to help them even just a little.
“Sungyeol,” he starts when Sungyeol sits upright again, wiping tears from his eyes. “I was thinking…”
“Wait, me first.”
“Oh, okay.”
His best friend clears his throat and looks him in the eye, a gentle expression on his face. “Well, I am really grateful that you’re always, always there when I need you, ever since the beginning. You’re like an angel to Nikki and me, even until now - taking care of her when I can’t.”
“That’s what friends do, right?” ah, Myungsoo feels dirty using their friendship to explain his actions when all these time, he sees Sungyeol and Nikki as family. “You’ll do it for me, too.”
“Of course.” Sungyeol clears his throat again. “I’m always here for you.”
“I know.”
“But-”
“What do you mean but?”
“But you can’t keep doing that.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
Myungsoo raises an eyebrow. “Why don’t you just live with me? You and Nikki.”
Exasperated, Sungyeol flicks Myungsoo’s nose. “Are you even listening to me?”
Myungsoo scrunches his face cutely. “It’s better if you just live with me! We can split the rent and all the bills and the food - that’ll be cheaper for the two of us - I can take care of Nikki when you’re too busy. Also, Nikki is a growing girl - she needs more space to roll around. And things.”
Sungyeol looks extremely unconvinced. “And things,” he repeats drily.
Myungsoo nods vigorously. “Win-win.”
Naturally, Sungyeol gives in to Myungsoo's offer, but not until his conversation with Nikki does he finally admit to himself how right that decision is.
(
“Sorry that I wasn’t there, princess. Oppa won’t let things like that slip from his mind again.”
Nikki gives him a tight hug. “It’s okay!”
“Were you scared?”
Nikki looks at him questioningly. “Why would I be scared?” she asks in genuine curiosity.
“Because we got thrown out of the rooftop and we had nowhere to go.”
“But Myungsoo oppa was there with me. I knew he wouldn’t let us become homeless,” says Nikki matter-of-factly, like this is common knowledge and Sungyeol should have known. “And he didn’t.”
)
The next day, the first face that Myungsoo sees is-
“Sunggyu hyung!?” A thud. Myungsoo gets up from the floor, rubbing the sore spot that he hit when he fell. “What are you doing? What are you doing here?”
Myungsoo’s brother, completely unperturbed with his outburst, sits coolly in his bed, legs crossed. “I never knew you had it in you, I must admit.”
Myungsoo checks his phone for the time and groans. “Hyung, it’s six AM!”
“And you are now living with the man you’ve been in love with since who knows when,” Sunggyu snaps, managing to do it while still looking relaxed. “And I wouldn’t know about it if Nikki didn’t tell me.”
The younger’s brain refuses to function properly until slowly, Sunggyu’s words weave their way inside his consciousness. “Nikki told you I’m in love with his brother?” he whispers confusedly, still trying to swim in his murky mind.
Utter disbelief colors Sunggyu's face. “Are you this stupid in the morning?”
“It’s six AM," Myungsoo shrugs.
“Nikki called me last night using Sungyeol’s phone and told me about what happened; I was surprised she was so calm. But anyway, I just want to give you some advice.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re young and sexually repressed and the love of your life is living in the same apartment with you. And there is a kid here, too.”
Myungsoo doesn’t like where this is going; his face heats up considerably.
“Do you see the problem?”
He doesn’t reply.
Sunggyu sighs because really, this should be very obvious. “Myungsoo, my dear brother, the problem here is that when you and Sungyeol finally let those hormones reign in, an innocent child might witness it. Nikki might be scarred forever, become a recluse or never marry. Just think of that damage.”
“Why,” Myungsoo swallows, “why do you talk like Sungyeol likes me, too?”
Sunggyu’s bored look slowly becomes a blank one, and in an equally blank voice, he says, “What.”
“You said-”
“Shh! Woohyun has a class in two hours and I know he’s still asleep.” Sunggyu stands up and brushes imaginary lint off his clothes. “I gotta go and wake him up.”
Myungsoo blinks. What is wrong with people?
Two months after Sungyeol and Nikki move in with Myungsoo, Woohyun finds it his responsibility as Sungyeol’s best buddy and Myungsoo’s future brother-in-law (or whatever) to organize a meeting with all persons involved - except Sungyeol and Myungsoo, of course - to discuss what to do with the situation. Sungyeol doesn’t have to worry about a lot of things now because with the rent and bills split, he can finally have enough budget for everything. He doesn’t even have to worry about Nikki when he’s late from work. This means he can finally have the chance to get a boyfriend.
“Really, the way they look at each other is how I know I look at Sehun. Promise!” Nikki swears vehemently before demurely sipping on her milk tea.
Hoya frowns. “Who is Sehun?”
Sunggyu frowns. “What’s his last name?”
Woohyun frowns. “How old is he?”
Sungjong sips on his green tea frappe. “Is he cute?”
Nikki nods excitedly. “Yes! His eyes go like this,” she squints her eyes into crescents to demonstrate, “when he smiles! Cute!”
“Nikki, you are not allowed to have a boyfriend until you’re 25,” Woohyun chimes pointedly and without letting the little girl reply, continues,
“And back to the topic. Sungyeol and Myungsoo. We know they like each other, yes?”
“Yes,” the other four answer in unison.
“The proofs are..?”
“Their gooey looks for each other.”
“Myungsoo’s inability to take his hands off Sungyeol whenever he’s within his reach.”
“Sungyeol’s high tolerance for Myungsoo’s clinginess; if it were others, they would be sporting broken bones after.”
“They play footsie when they think no one will notice.”
“Ugh, I remember that. How can they not realize they like each other if they’re already doing that? That’s like the classic flirting technique!”
“A child is present!”
“Sorry.”
“Next.”
“Their hugs always linger, like they don’t want to let go.”
“They’re both territorial with each other already. Remember when Sungyeol laid his jacket on Myungsoo’s shoulder when he caught Bora talking to him?”
“Woohyun, that was you when Bora talked to me in a party,” Sunggyu scoffs. “You are such an idiot.”
“Oh. Well, they’re still territorial with each other.”
“True. Myungsoo always steals Sungyeol’s attention whenever it’s directed to someone that isn’t him or Nikki.”
“Let’s not forget that Myungsoo oppa is always present to be my brother’s superhero.”
“Yeah, that, too.” Woohyun approves. “What do we do now?”
“Lock them up in a closet, of course!”
Sunggyu shakes his head patiently, “Nikki, no.”
“Okay.” She continues sipping on her milk tea contentedly.
Sungjong looks at Nikki, deep in thought, “That’s a good idea, though.”
Hoya stares at him. “Excuse me?”
“Not exactly a closet, of course. Just the idea that they’re alone in an area. Knowing the two of them, it doesn’t even have to be locked or small. They just need to be alone.”
“I’m home,” Myungsoo announces as he toes off his shoes, one and then the other. “Where’s Nikki?”
Sungyeol answers from the kitchen, “Woohyun and Sunggyu hyung kidnapped her. They said she needs some break from us, whatever that means.”
Myungsoo is about to ask if they mentioned where they’d bring her when he catches a whiff of his favorite food. He heads straight to the kitchen and finds Sungyeol standing over the stove while stirring something.
Sungyeol looks over his shoulder to send him an excited smile. “Kimchi jjigae!”
“You’re making that for me?” Myungsoo asks dumbly.
“Yeah; who else likes kimchi jjigae like it's the best food on earth if not you?” he says. “How was that wedding gig, by the way?”
The younger of the two trudges to where Sungyeol is, drapes his arms around his waist, and rests his head on his back. “Rigorous. The mother of the groom wanted so much photos taken even after the photo op. I thought she’d ask me to follow the newlyweds to their honeymoon,” Myungsoo mumbles tiredly.
Sungyeol chuckles and gently pats the hands folded across his stomach. “I can give you a massage later if you want.”
Myungsoo holds on to him tighter. “You’re my hero.”
Minutes later, Sungyeol manages to dislodge Myungsoo from his back so they can sit in the dining table to eat the soup that he made. It’s too entertaining to watch Myungsoo inhale the food, though, so he does just that.
“Careful,” he chides when Myungsoo starts coughing.
“Sorry, I’m just so hungry and this is too good.”
Sungyeol cups his chin in his right hand. “It’s delicious?”
Myungsoo nods while scooping a spoonful of rice.
“Myungsoo?” Sungyeol supposes now is a moment as perfect as any to say what he has been meaning to say - they’re alone, and he’s ready. He can face the consequences later. If Myungsoo feels the same way, then Sungyeol will probably be the most contented man alive, but if not, well... he’ll cross that bridge when he gets there.
His best friend only looks at him briefly to indicate that he’s ready to listen because his mouth is too full for him to speak.
“I like you.” Sungyeol swallows; somehow that’s lacking. He doesn’t think that covers how he feels, so simple words for such strong feelings. “I mean, I really really like you. I think I may be in love with you.”
Myungsoo chokes on his rice and proceeds to die.
Or so what he initially thinks.
Myungsoo grabs the glass of water and frantically takes a huge gulp, mentally thanking Sungyeol for placing it beside his bowl moments ago and therefore saving his life
After calming down enough, Myungsoo grabs Sungyeol’s glass and empties that one too. Did Sungyeol just confess to him? For real? Apparently yes, because it hurts when he slaps his cheeks.
“Hey!” Sungyeol yells in alarm. He runs to Myungsoo’s side and shakes him a little. “What are you doing!?”
“I-” Myungsoo tries to explain himself, but how come Sungyeol is suddenly so close to him? There’s barely enough breathing space for the two of them.
Myungsoo feels like exploding the moment he crashes his lips to Sungyeol’s.
It's been two weeks since Woohyun and Sunggyu caught Myungsoo and Sungyeol making out in the kitchen, promptly shouting for Hoya and Sungjong to keep Nikki out of the building. Sunggyu, for the most part, looked like he wanted to bite Myungsoo's head off because, “I did warn you! Nikki could have seen you! How irresponsible of you!” while Woohyun was furiously scribbling something on a piece of paper, which turned out to be a set of rules for the two to follow to protect Nikki's innocence. “That should be the main priority,” he has said solemnly.
Presently, though, all six men are all up and about inside the same apartment to prepare for Nikki’s seventh birthday. Woohyun is in the kitchen, in charge of cooking everything while Sunggyu watches him like a total boss, occasionally throwing orders here and there; Hoya and Sungjong come up with games and activities they can play; and Sungyeol just tries his best to keep Myungsoo away from the kitchen and save everyone from the pain of trying his questionable beek shank taste.
The sound of doorbell disrupts Nikki from distracting Myungsoo from his pursuit to cook and convincing him to give her a pet dog instead. She shrieks and runs to the door.
“Teacher Dongwoo!”
She pulls him inside till everyone is looking at them.
“Hyung!” Hoya’s face shows utter surprise. “You’re Nikki’s teacher?”
Dongwoo’s face is a beam of sunshine, as usual. “Yes! What a small world!”
Hoya explains to the others when he notices the matching confused looks - even Nikki’s smile looks confused. “He was the one who taught me how to dance when I was in middle school.”
And when he hugs Dongwoo like the old friend that he is, all ice gets broken, introductions are made, and everything feels warm and fuzzy and like home.
In the middle of all of these, Nikki feels her eyes burn a little. They give her badly wrapped but perfectly wonderful gifts and they sing her the most beautiful version of the Happy Birthday song she’s ever heard, and when it’s the time for her wish to be made she doesn't make one.
She looks at these men who take care of her, who makes her happy when she thinks she never will be, who gives their best to protect her, who makes her want to be a grown up and be awesome like them but at the same time makes her want to be a child forever and be with them as long as possible.
She doesn’t make a wish, but she blows the candles and thanks the heavens for blessing her with these seven men.
fin.
oneshot; fluff, romance, drama; minor crossover
In which Myungsoo is the best friend who is always willing to offer a hand or a shoulder (or any parts of his anatomy, really) because Sungyeol needs it. Also, there is a little sister who might or might not hate him.
this is written for myungyeolbaby's 2nd anniversary in the kpopdom. also posted here.
Lee Sungyeol is an orphan, but he does have a 6-year-old sister, Nikki. Once they had a family, but all things break eventually, so one day three years back they woke up to the news of their parents’ flight crashing; no one survived.
“Good morning, oppa!”
He watches as Nikki traipses the three steps from their bed to the little table stationed in the middle of their rooftop room. Sungyeol takes a sip of his coffee while Nikki sits down across from him, rubbing the sleep off of her eyes.
“How’s my princess’ sleep?” he asks, sure of the answer.
Nikki scowls at him. “I am not a princess.”
“Of course you are! You’re the most adorable princess there is!” Sungyeol says enthusiastically, conveniently ignoring the glare his little sister is sending him in favor of serving her toasts and eggs. “Your presence lights up the room like the sun. Oh yes, my sister is like the princess of the suns!”
“Oppa, please stop.”
“Okay.”
Thirty minutes later, Nikki is clinging on Sungyeol’s back as he descends the staircase.
“Will you be able to pick me up later, oppa?” inquires Nikki quietly, her little hands playing with her brother’s hair. “Or are you going to be late at the convenience store again?”
Sungyeol cringes a bit at this; for a young girl, his sister really understands, but he can’t deny that he’s disappointed her enough times that maybe she’s just immune to it by now. “Of course I’m picking you up. Just wait for oppa, okay?” Nikki clings to his neck a bit tighter as she nods in understanding, and he knows he probably needs to cram another one of his write ups for Research, and talk to Woohyun so he can leave his job early but it’s worth it. His sister doesn’t need any more disappointments.
“Thank you, oppa. I really don't like Myungsoo-sshi picking me up,” she grumbles.
Nikki’s refusal to call Myungsoo oppa doesn’t surprise Sungyeol, and if it weren’t for the way Nikki stares at his best friend, he would have thought her dislike for him is genuine. “Why don't you like him picking you up?”
A door opens and a face peeks out.
“Yeah, why don't you like me picking you up? And good morning, Nikki. I made you lunch.”
“Sungyeol oppa, put me down.” As soon as her feet hit the ground, Nikki walks away with her hands clutching the straps of her backpack. She looks back once to scowl at Sungyeol and Myungsoo.
“I see your sister is as warm to me as ever,” Myungsoo comments, pursing his lips on one side. “I don’t know why she doesn’t like me; I swear I am nice to her.”
Sungyeol pats the tap of his head. Myungsoo clings to that arm after handing the lunchbox to Sungyeol.
“Maybe because you’re too handsome? She doesn’t like perfection, you know.” They both reach the lobby and see Nikki there, playing kai bai bo with herself. “She colors everything black when her drawing looks remotely good.”
“But I’m not perfect.”
“Well, that’s not what she sees.”
“Good morning, Teacher Dongwoo,” slurs Nikki, sitting down in her chair at the back of the room. As usual, she’s too early for her lessons.
It’s okay, though - Teacher Dongwoo’s smile brightens up her bleak morning. “Ah, my favorite student! Oops, don’t tell anyone!” And then he laughs her favorite laugh in the world.
Nikki smiles, almost smug. “I always knew I’m your favorite.” But then her expression turns sour. “I was mean to him again.”
Immediately, Dongwoo knows what his pupil means - who she means. “Why? Was he being too nice to you again?”
Nikki nods, picking up the drawing book and crayons under her desk. “He still talks to me even though I told Sungyeol oppa that I don’t like him picking me up when oppa can’t. And he even said good morning. And he made me lunch.” She gingerly shows him the black lunchbox to prove it and then puts it back down when Dongwoo nods.
“This young lady! You need to let other people be nice to you, dear,” Teacher Dongwoo tells her as he approaches her and crams himself in a seat. “Maybe he likes being nice to you and your brother.”
Nikki just pouts and continues drawing. Her fingers grip the crayon too tightly and it breaks.
When she doesn’t move to pick up another one or the same crayon and use it again like she usually does, only stares at the paper dejectedly, Dongwoo realizes that this is really bothering her young pupil’s mind.
“What’s wrong, Nikki?”
She looks at him then and says quietly, like she doesn’t want the world to know, “Myungsoo-sshi is the closest to a family that Sungyeol oppa and I have, but we’re not his.”
And Dongwoo sees her drawing - a rectangular structure at the back that represents their residence and three stick figures, two taller male stick figures holding the hands of a shorter female stick figure in between them; there’s a sun, big and bright.
It’s exactly like the rest of her works stacked inside his office cabinet. Her family.
The lecture hall is already half full by the time Myungsoo drags himself in there. He doesn’t look around and just automatically heads to his usual seat, eyes almost closed because of drowsiness.
A sleepiness that is immediately gone when a flash of pink beside his seat meets his eyes.
“Sungjong!”
The said boy only grants him a short look before going back to typing on his phone.
“Sungjong! Your hair is pink!”
Sungjong closes his eyes and breathes in deeply, like the dumb is too early to test his patience - it is, actually. “Yes, hyung. I'm glad you figured this out on your own.”
Myungsoo frowns because Sungjong is using this condescending tone on him again. “I don't understand why you’re not more bothered. Don’t you realize that your hair is pink?”
“I refuse to further engage in a conversation with you.”
“Did Howon do this to you?” asks Myungsoo with squinted eyes, using Sungjong's boyfriend’s real name to elicit a reaction out of the younger.
He’s not disappointed. “Don't call him that!”
Myungsoo almost smirks. Almost, because he can’t sass the Sassy Princess.
“Seriously, hyung, are you asking for trouble? You know he doesn’t like being called Howon.”
“Yeah, but he colored your hair pink.” Myungsoo stresses the last word to convey just how freaked out he is.
“Well, technically, the hairdresser did.”
Just then, Myungsoo’s retort gets cut off by a bag slamming down on the seat on his other side. And then his jaw drops.
There, sitting beside him, is Lee Howon (Hoya), both lean and buff in his badass leather jacket and purple hair.
“Take a picture,” he says, amused because Myungsoo is still staring at him open-mouthed. “Actually.” He takes out his own phone and snaps a photo of Myungsoo’s face.
The shutter sound snaps Myungsoo back to his senses. Shaking his head, he mutters, “And I thought my best friend is weird.”
Hoya laughs at him. “You mean your best friend that you want to become your boyfriend?”
Myungsoo stiffen; that’s a sensitive topic. “Well...”
“You’re not going to tell him soon, are you?” inquires Sungjong, his pity for Myungsoo and his inability to confess leaking out of every word.
“He doesn’t have time for me in that way. You know what it’s like for him recently, with his job and university and his sister,” he replies plainly. In hopes of changing the subject, he smiles and tells the two, “Speaking of his sister, you guys should visit Nikki sometimes. She’ll like your eccentric hair choices even if it’s weirding me out. She’ll like you two even more.”
“And he even prepared her food,” Sungyeol says, exasperated, “I don’t understand why she still can’t call him oppa. She calls you oppa. Why is she so formal with him?”
“You should like that; your sister is so well-raised that she’s formal even with your best friend,” Woohyun replies flatly, carelessly flipping pages of his Psychology textbook. Woohyun has always been a presence in Sungyeol’s life ever since middle school, way back when his mediocre pranks wouldn’t work and would only leave a dangerous mess to the boys comfort room, way back when only the class’s vice president’s expertise could save him from failing, up to the point when Sungyeol needs a job for him to feed his sister. They have a sticky relationship, probably an unhealthy one, too - unhealthy for the people surrounding them.
Sungyeol gives him a dirty look. “You’re not even reading that. How do you expect to not fail that test later if you're not reading?” He snatches the book from Woohyun, who doesn’t even flinch. “And Nikki is too formal with Myungsoo, like an adult who’s dealing with a person she doesn’t like-”
Woohyun fakes a gasp. “Are you implying that your sister doesn’t like Myungsoo? How judgmental of you.”
Sungyeol kicks him under the table and then goes back to typing to his laptop. He can worry about Nikki and Myungsoo later when he’s done with this report.
“By the way, I can give you a ride later. Nikki’s school is on the way to the store, right?”
That’s a good idea because Sungyeol won’t have to leave the university early and his sister won’t have to wait for him for very long. He looks at Woohyun to grab the offer, only to stop himself in alarm.
Woohyun has this look on his face that screams I’m innocent and trying to be nice. To amateur eyes, that’s what they will see, but Sungyeol is
no amateur.
“You know Myungsoo will want to come with me,” he says in clear realization.
A grin breaks out on Woohyun's face. “What are you talking about.”
“You’re going to do and say something stupid, aren’t you. And I will be the one to suffer.”
“If helping you confess and getting you a boyfriend will make you suffer, then yes, probably.”
Sungyeol’s pencil hits Woohyun right on his forehead. “I do not have the time for that. You know this.”
The grin slips off Woohyun’s face. It rarely ever shows, but when it comes down to it, he only wants the best for Sungyeol.
“I know.” The grin comes back in full force. “Doesn’t mean I can’t make some for you.”
In the end, Sungyeol has not succumbed to Woohyun’s offer and Myungsoo has indeed insisted to come with him in getting Nikki. He still doesn’t know how Woohyun antagonizing Myungsoo can benefit him, but he never wants to risk it. Woohyun within his best friend’s hearing range is just begging for catastrophe involving him and his secret.
“I think Nikki’s going to be thrilled when she sees you,” Myungsoo comments brightly as he snaps a photo of a random electric post in the street. “She’ll probably brag about you to her teacher. Dongwoo is nice.”
He’s studying the picture he’s just taken and the crease between his eyebrows is kind of endearing. That’s the look he has when he’s concentrating in his craft; that’s the look that Sungyeol thinks is best suited for him.
“Yeah, I’m sure he is. Nikki always gushes about him.” Sungyeol chuckles.
The afternoon sun is searing too much warmth in their skin, and while Myungsoo takes pictures as he walks, Sungyeol lets his gaze linger. There are already trickles of sweat forming on Myungsoo's forehead.
“I’m nice, too. Why doesn't she like me?”
“What,” says Sungyeol, distracted, as he wipes the sweat away with his palm. “What?”
“I said, I’m always nice to your sister, but why doesn’t she like me?” Myungsoo’s frown gets deeper even as he leans in to the other’s touch. “Have I been doing something a kid won’t like whenever she’s around?”
Siblings have lots in common, factors may be because of how they both grow up and their environment and their genes. Sungyeol likes to think that he and Nikki are both difficult to understand. “Who knows what’s running around her little head.” He pats Myungsoo’s head, sympathetic. “You’ll understand her when she wants you to.”
On the way, they find a cotton candy stand where they can watch the vendor jab a stick inside a machine as the powder turns into a pink web of sweets. Myungsoo buys three sets of it.
“Nikki might want it,” he explains, a little hopeful, when Sungyeol raises an eyebrow. “Does she like sweets?”
Sungyeol gives him an enigmatic smile. “Maybe.”
“She punched her classmate,” Teacher Dongwoo drops them the news as soon as they set foot inside the spacious classroom. “Right here,” he touches his right arm to show where exactly Nikki inflicted her repressed violence. Her teacher looks really tired. Sungyeol winces.
Right then, Nikki tugs on Sungyeol’s shirt and when he looks down he sees a pout. “Well, do you wanna explain yourself, young lady?”
His sister just juts her lower lip stubbornly and looks away. That answers his question. “Just. Just go out to play with Myungsoo while I talk to Teacher Dongwoo.”
Nikki knows when to listen to her brother, and her opinion of Myungsoo is not one she takes too seriously when Sungyeol is pissed off. It’s somehow her fault anyway, that much she will admit, but the snotty kid deserved that punch. It probably doesn’t even hurt that much.
“So,” Myungsoo starts once they’re seated in the swings, side by side, “you punched your classmate in the arm.”
“I did,” she answers plainly.
Myungsoo lets out a sigh. Shaking his head, he reaches out to give the cotton candy to the sulking kid beside him.
Nikki looks at him, alarmed for his own well-being. What is he doing? Sungyeol oppa will kill us both when he sees I’m getting a treat after I hurt my classmate!
Immediately, Myungsoo catches on and tries to salvage the situation. “No, no, no!” He flails his hands for emphasis. “This really is for you; I bought it for you because you might like it, I’m not giving you a treat because you punched someone.”
The kid still looks skeptic, but for the life of her, she can never say no to food, so she accepts the pink fluffy thing with a bow.
But she doesn’t start eating, only pushes her little feet to the ground to move her swing, looking dejected. Myungsoo wonders idly if she prefers blue cotton candy; he worries his bottom lip. “Um. What’s wrong?”
“That boy deserved the punch,” she says stiffly, like Myungsoo is judging her actions. “He said bad things about my friends.”
Myungsoo frowns, because honestly he thinks that’s a legitimate reason to punch somebody. But he can’t say that if he wants to survive Sungyeol’s wrath. “What bad things did he say to who?”
To her credit, Nikki looks a little sorry. “He said my friends Minseok and Lu Han, the Chinese one, are going to... He said they're going to hell... Because... Because they will make babies in the future but they’re not allowed so they will go to hell, so I punched him in the arm! I wanted to punch his face but Teacher Dongwoo would see when it bruised.”
“He said that?” Myungsoo asks weakly after a few terse seconds. Nikki’s hands are closed in fists and Myungsoo is just so baffled - what have kids been eating these days? Who teaches them to judge others these early in their lives? He wonders if the world really is coming to its end.
“He did.”
The silence stretches on while Nikki finally starts eating, chewing thoughtfully. She is halfway through it when she speaks again. “Sungjong and Hoya oppa like each other, and Woohyun and Sunggyu oppa are like married already, and it’s their lives - they can be with each other if they want. It’s none of anybody else’s business.
“I don't mind if Sungyeol oppa likes another boy and I don’t mind if another boy likes Sungyeol oppa, as long as they’re both happy.” Nikki tilts her head until Myungsoo can see the expression on her face, like she knows something she’s not supposed to know about; the look ages her for at least five years.
For a while Myungsoo is stunned, until the words sink in and he realizes what she’s implying. Of course kids notice these kinds of things; you can’t hide anything from them even when you can excuse your actions to the adults.
Now knowing - he’s sure that Nikki knows he likes her brother, one way or another - that this girl is alright with him harboring feelings for Sungyeol, he decides to take as much as he can get. “Does this mean… does this mean Sungyeol likes a guy?” he probes carefully. Does your brother like me, too?
Sungyeol’s sister just purses her lips as she eyes the remaining two plastics of cotton candy, though, as if she’s already done with the conversation and ready to move on to another one. “Are you going to eat that?”
“Uh, no?” Myungsoo offers them to her. “Do you want more?”
She shakes her head but accepts the cotton candies anyway. “I’ll introduce you to my friends, okay? Be nice!”
And then she jumps out of her seat and hollers, “Minseok! Lu Han! My brother’s best friend has something for you!”
Two little boys answer to her call and proceed to run to her. When they get to her, she hands them the sweets. “You like sweet things, right?”
“Yeah, thanks!” they say in unison, look at each other, and then laugh.
Myungsoo watches the two cute little kids in awe as they eat and smile together, sometimes feeding one another, too.
“By the way, this is Myungsoo oppa!” Nikki pulls his arm to bring him in front of the other two. “He bought those sweets for you; he’s sweet, right?”
Myungsoo studies them both, and kneels down to shake their hands. He offers his hand to the doe-eyed one first and tries, “Minseok?”
“That’s me,” the other one chimes shyly, “I’m Kim Minseok, he’s Lu Han.”
Nikki giggles. “He’s not very smart.”
Myungsoo scowls, making the kids laugh. “But Minseok looks Chinese, too.”
“He does look Chinese!” Lu Han yells excitedly, wrapping his thin arms around the other boy. “Let’s go play soccer, Chinese boy!” And then he whisks Minseok away, singing about the sun and the wind and goals and soccer.
“Wow.”
Myungsoo and Nikki jump at the unexpected voice. “’Yeol!”
Sungyeol follows the two boys with his eyes, looking amazed, before focusing on his sister. “It’s a good thing the kid’s mom was so embarrassed by what her son did that she just let this slide, but we are not over with this, okay?”
“Yes, oppa.”
True to his words, Sungyeol is not done with Nikki’s display of violence, and as punishment, he arranged for Myungsoo to pick Nikki up from school every afternoon. This is a good idea, as he is conveniently hitting two birds with one stone: punishing Nikki, because apparently he doesn’t like hanging out with Myungsoo, and helping Myungsoo get closer to Nikki.
(
“Really, it’s okay.”
“But I don’t want to bother you, Myungsoo, why are you so stubborn.”
“I’m not being stubborn; I just know she’s so close to finally warming up to me. She even called me oppa once, when she introduced me to her friends.”
“What, seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.”
)
Life seems to be as good as it can ever get with this set up, until one afternoon, Sungyeol realizes that he is so comfortable that he forgets his important responsibility of paying their bills, his realization punctuated by the call from Myungsoo while he is on shift in the store.
“Some of your things are outside your rooftop room; the notice said that the landlady confiscated most of your appliances to pay up your debt.”
Sungyeol feels a terrible headache coming, but he can’t let it come so he holds tight to the counter and his phone, and just nods. Yes. It’s his responsibility. He needs to face it now. “Is Nikki okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine, I got her. Don’t worry, Sungyeol.”
After checking that no box or bag of clothes is left in the rooftop, Myungsoo enters his apartment to see Nikki wandering around the living room, holding what seems to be-
Lemon candy.
“Is Sungjong here?”
“Hello, hyung!”
Sure enough, Myungsoo finds Sungjong and Hoya sitting in the couch together, feeling comfortable and totally at home. Like always.
“Look, oppa, they brought lemon lollipops!” Nikki tells him excitedly, while waving around the jar full of yellow things.
Hoya shrugs when Myungsoo sighs tiredly because how many times has he warned them not to bring too many candies? “You did tell us to visit Nikki.”
“You will ruin her teeth,” he answers, distress ringing in every word.
Sungjong rolls his eyes, “She’ll eat them moderately, I already explained to her that you guys won’t ever let me near her if she gets tooth ache because of my candies.”
“That’s a little extreme.”
“Whatever.”
Suddenly, Nikki jumps to the space beside Sungjong and plays with his hair. “And look, Myungsoo oppa, his hair is pink! Isn’t it so pretty?”
He manages a weak twitch of a smile while she plays with Sungjong’s hair, cooing about it and then playing with Hoya’s. Deciding that he won’t have anything to do but watch Nikki entertain herself with Sungjong and Hoya’s life choices unless he gets up and busy him with something else, he picks up his phone and makes his way out to call his brother.
The door opens just as he touches the knob, revealing Sungyeol’s anxious face. “Hey! Oh, my god, I am sorry for bothering you like this, Myungsoo.”
“It’s okay, really, why are you even apologizing,” he replies with a smile. It really is kind of insulting the way Sungyeol always feels apologetic whenever Myungsoo does something to help him, like Myungsoo isn’t welcome to do it.
“But-” But the sight that greets Sungyeol washes away all his worries down the drain: Nikki is in the couch with Sungjong and Hoya, trying to reach their hair while they tickle her sides. Her laughter fills the entire apartment. Sungyeol can’t help the sagging of his shoulders in relief.
“See. I told you I got her.”
“You did.” Sungyeol turns to him then.
There is a feeling bubbling in the pit of Myungsoo’s chest when his gaze meets Sungyeol’s and if he ever tried to explain this feeling to his brother, Sunggyu, he’s pretty sure he will receive a suspicious squinting of eyes and an even more suspicious, “Are you high?” But he’s always been high with the way he feels about his best friend’s entire existence to his life, why is it different this time? Why is it more intense this time?
“Can I kiss you?”
For one alarming second, Myungsoo thinks his tongue filter has finally given up on him, but he realizes just in time that no, that isn’t him.
“What,” he says, extremely dazed.
“Uh, I just said could we talk?”
Myungsoo is pretty sure that is not what he heard, but as usual with Sungyeol, he will take what the other is willing to give.
Sungjong and Hoya excuse themselves when they notice the two looking at each other the way they usually do, only this time, they’re not doing it while the other is looking the other way. This spells progress.
“We’ll see you some other time, okay?” Sungjong assures Nikki, holding Hoya’s hand now. “Behave.”
Hoya nods. “Don’t punch people who can punch back.”
“Where’s Nikki?” asks Sungyeol the moment Myungsoo steps inside his room. They both decide to talk privately while the little girl was vowing to inspect every inch of Myungsoo’s apartment - a detail that Myungsoo wants to change soon.
“She’s in the living room, watching Naruto.” He sits beside Sungyeol on the floor, their backs resting on the bed. “I could practically hear her thoughts judging my life choices when I told her I didn’t have Pororo DVDs.”
Sungyeol promptly throws him a look that screams incredulity. “You don’t have a collection of Pororo DVDs?”
At first Myungsoo is so alarmed that he almost defends himself, until he sees the familiar teasing glint in Sungyeol’s eyes. He shoves him until the other is rolling on the floor, laughing.
He lets Sungyeol regain his breath while he psyches himself up. This isn’t a selfish offer, he convinces himself. This is for Sungyeol and for Nikki - something that he has to do to help them even just a little.
“Sungyeol,” he starts when Sungyeol sits upright again, wiping tears from his eyes. “I was thinking…”
“Wait, me first.”
“Oh, okay.”
His best friend clears his throat and looks him in the eye, a gentle expression on his face. “Well, I am really grateful that you’re always, always there when I need you, ever since the beginning. You’re like an angel to Nikki and me, even until now - taking care of her when I can’t.”
“That’s what friends do, right?” ah, Myungsoo feels dirty using their friendship to explain his actions when all these time, he sees Sungyeol and Nikki as family. “You’ll do it for me, too.”
“Of course.” Sungyeol clears his throat again. “I’m always here for you.”
“I know.”
“But-”
“What do you mean but?”
“But you can’t keep doing that.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
Myungsoo raises an eyebrow. “Why don’t you just live with me? You and Nikki.”
Exasperated, Sungyeol flicks Myungsoo’s nose. “Are you even listening to me?”
Myungsoo scrunches his face cutely. “It’s better if you just live with me! We can split the rent and all the bills and the food - that’ll be cheaper for the two of us - I can take care of Nikki when you’re too busy. Also, Nikki is a growing girl - she needs more space to roll around. And things.”
Sungyeol looks extremely unconvinced. “And things,” he repeats drily.
Myungsoo nods vigorously. “Win-win.”
Naturally, Sungyeol gives in to Myungsoo's offer, but not until his conversation with Nikki does he finally admit to himself how right that decision is.
(
“Sorry that I wasn’t there, princess. Oppa won’t let things like that slip from his mind again.”
Nikki gives him a tight hug. “It’s okay!”
“Were you scared?”
Nikki looks at him questioningly. “Why would I be scared?” she asks in genuine curiosity.
“Because we got thrown out of the rooftop and we had nowhere to go.”
“But Myungsoo oppa was there with me. I knew he wouldn’t let us become homeless,” says Nikki matter-of-factly, like this is common knowledge and Sungyeol should have known. “And he didn’t.”
)
The next day, the first face that Myungsoo sees is-
“Sunggyu hyung!?” A thud. Myungsoo gets up from the floor, rubbing the sore spot that he hit when he fell. “What are you doing? What are you doing here?”
Myungsoo’s brother, completely unperturbed with his outburst, sits coolly in his bed, legs crossed. “I never knew you had it in you, I must admit.”
Myungsoo checks his phone for the time and groans. “Hyung, it’s six AM!”
“And you are now living with the man you’ve been in love with since who knows when,” Sunggyu snaps, managing to do it while still looking relaxed. “And I wouldn’t know about it if Nikki didn’t tell me.”
The younger’s brain refuses to function properly until slowly, Sunggyu’s words weave their way inside his consciousness. “Nikki told you I’m in love with his brother?” he whispers confusedly, still trying to swim in his murky mind.
Utter disbelief colors Sunggyu's face. “Are you this stupid in the morning?”
“It’s six AM," Myungsoo shrugs.
“Nikki called me last night using Sungyeol’s phone and told me about what happened; I was surprised she was so calm. But anyway, I just want to give you some advice.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re young and sexually repressed and the love of your life is living in the same apartment with you. And there is a kid here, too.”
Myungsoo doesn’t like where this is going; his face heats up considerably.
“Do you see the problem?”
He doesn’t reply.
Sunggyu sighs because really, this should be very obvious. “Myungsoo, my dear brother, the problem here is that when you and Sungyeol finally let those hormones reign in, an innocent child might witness it. Nikki might be scarred forever, become a recluse or never marry. Just think of that damage.”
“Why,” Myungsoo swallows, “why do you talk like Sungyeol likes me, too?”
Sunggyu’s bored look slowly becomes a blank one, and in an equally blank voice, he says, “What.”
“You said-”
“Shh! Woohyun has a class in two hours and I know he’s still asleep.” Sunggyu stands up and brushes imaginary lint off his clothes. “I gotta go and wake him up.”
Myungsoo blinks. What is wrong with people?
Two months after Sungyeol and Nikki move in with Myungsoo, Woohyun finds it his responsibility as Sungyeol’s best buddy and Myungsoo’s future brother-in-law (or whatever) to organize a meeting with all persons involved - except Sungyeol and Myungsoo, of course - to discuss what to do with the situation. Sungyeol doesn’t have to worry about a lot of things now because with the rent and bills split, he can finally have enough budget for everything. He doesn’t even have to worry about Nikki when he’s late from work. This means he can finally have the chance to get a boyfriend.
“Really, the way they look at each other is how I know I look at Sehun. Promise!” Nikki swears vehemently before demurely sipping on her milk tea.
Hoya frowns. “Who is Sehun?”
Sunggyu frowns. “What’s his last name?”
Woohyun frowns. “How old is he?”
Sungjong sips on his green tea frappe. “Is he cute?”
Nikki nods excitedly. “Yes! His eyes go like this,” she squints her eyes into crescents to demonstrate, “when he smiles! Cute!”
“Nikki, you are not allowed to have a boyfriend until you’re 25,” Woohyun chimes pointedly and without letting the little girl reply, continues,
“And back to the topic. Sungyeol and Myungsoo. We know they like each other, yes?”
“Yes,” the other four answer in unison.
“The proofs are..?”
“Their gooey looks for each other.”
“Myungsoo’s inability to take his hands off Sungyeol whenever he’s within his reach.”
“Sungyeol’s high tolerance for Myungsoo’s clinginess; if it were others, they would be sporting broken bones after.”
“They play footsie when they think no one will notice.”
“Ugh, I remember that. How can they not realize they like each other if they’re already doing that? That’s like the classic flirting technique!”
“A child is present!”
“Sorry.”
“Next.”
“Their hugs always linger, like they don’t want to let go.”
“They’re both territorial with each other already. Remember when Sungyeol laid his jacket on Myungsoo’s shoulder when he caught Bora talking to him?”
“Woohyun, that was you when Bora talked to me in a party,” Sunggyu scoffs. “You are such an idiot.”
“Oh. Well, they’re still territorial with each other.”
“True. Myungsoo always steals Sungyeol’s attention whenever it’s directed to someone that isn’t him or Nikki.”
“Let’s not forget that Myungsoo oppa is always present to be my brother’s superhero.”
“Yeah, that, too.” Woohyun approves. “What do we do now?”
“Lock them up in a closet, of course!”
Sunggyu shakes his head patiently, “Nikki, no.”
“Okay.” She continues sipping on her milk tea contentedly.
Sungjong looks at Nikki, deep in thought, “That’s a good idea, though.”
Hoya stares at him. “Excuse me?”
“Not exactly a closet, of course. Just the idea that they’re alone in an area. Knowing the two of them, it doesn’t even have to be locked or small. They just need to be alone.”
“I’m home,” Myungsoo announces as he toes off his shoes, one and then the other. “Where’s Nikki?”
Sungyeol answers from the kitchen, “Woohyun and Sunggyu hyung kidnapped her. They said she needs some break from us, whatever that means.”
Myungsoo is about to ask if they mentioned where they’d bring her when he catches a whiff of his favorite food. He heads straight to the kitchen and finds Sungyeol standing over the stove while stirring something.
Sungyeol looks over his shoulder to send him an excited smile. “Kimchi jjigae!”
“You’re making that for me?” Myungsoo asks dumbly.
“Yeah; who else likes kimchi jjigae like it's the best food on earth if not you?” he says. “How was that wedding gig, by the way?”
The younger of the two trudges to where Sungyeol is, drapes his arms around his waist, and rests his head on his back. “Rigorous. The mother of the groom wanted so much photos taken even after the photo op. I thought she’d ask me to follow the newlyweds to their honeymoon,” Myungsoo mumbles tiredly.
Sungyeol chuckles and gently pats the hands folded across his stomach. “I can give you a massage later if you want.”
Myungsoo holds on to him tighter. “You’re my hero.”
Minutes later, Sungyeol manages to dislodge Myungsoo from his back so they can sit in the dining table to eat the soup that he made. It’s too entertaining to watch Myungsoo inhale the food, though, so he does just that.
“Careful,” he chides when Myungsoo starts coughing.
“Sorry, I’m just so hungry and this is too good.”
Sungyeol cups his chin in his right hand. “It’s delicious?”
Myungsoo nods while scooping a spoonful of rice.
“Myungsoo?” Sungyeol supposes now is a moment as perfect as any to say what he has been meaning to say - they’re alone, and he’s ready. He can face the consequences later. If Myungsoo feels the same way, then Sungyeol will probably be the most contented man alive, but if not, well... he’ll cross that bridge when he gets there.
His best friend only looks at him briefly to indicate that he’s ready to listen because his mouth is too full for him to speak.
“I like you.” Sungyeol swallows; somehow that’s lacking. He doesn’t think that covers how he feels, so simple words for such strong feelings. “I mean, I really really like you. I think I may be in love with you.”
Myungsoo chokes on his rice and proceeds to die.
Or so what he initially thinks.
Myungsoo grabs the glass of water and frantically takes a huge gulp, mentally thanking Sungyeol for placing it beside his bowl moments ago and therefore saving his life
After calming down enough, Myungsoo grabs Sungyeol’s glass and empties that one too. Did Sungyeol just confess to him? For real? Apparently yes, because it hurts when he slaps his cheeks.
“Hey!” Sungyeol yells in alarm. He runs to Myungsoo’s side and shakes him a little. “What are you doing!?”
“I-” Myungsoo tries to explain himself, but how come Sungyeol is suddenly so close to him? There’s barely enough breathing space for the two of them.
Myungsoo feels like exploding the moment he crashes his lips to Sungyeol’s.
It's been two weeks since Woohyun and Sunggyu caught Myungsoo and Sungyeol making out in the kitchen, promptly shouting for Hoya and Sungjong to keep Nikki out of the building. Sunggyu, for the most part, looked like he wanted to bite Myungsoo's head off because, “I did warn you! Nikki could have seen you! How irresponsible of you!” while Woohyun was furiously scribbling something on a piece of paper, which turned out to be a set of rules for the two to follow to protect Nikki's innocence. “That should be the main priority,” he has said solemnly.
Presently, though, all six men are all up and about inside the same apartment to prepare for Nikki’s seventh birthday. Woohyun is in the kitchen, in charge of cooking everything while Sunggyu watches him like a total boss, occasionally throwing orders here and there; Hoya and Sungjong come up with games and activities they can play; and Sungyeol just tries his best to keep Myungsoo away from the kitchen and save everyone from the pain of trying his questionable beek shank taste.
The sound of doorbell disrupts Nikki from distracting Myungsoo from his pursuit to cook and convincing him to give her a pet dog instead. She shrieks and runs to the door.
“Teacher Dongwoo!”
She pulls him inside till everyone is looking at them.
“Hyung!” Hoya’s face shows utter surprise. “You’re Nikki’s teacher?”
Dongwoo’s face is a beam of sunshine, as usual. “Yes! What a small world!”
Hoya explains to the others when he notices the matching confused looks - even Nikki’s smile looks confused. “He was the one who taught me how to dance when I was in middle school.”
And when he hugs Dongwoo like the old friend that he is, all ice gets broken, introductions are made, and everything feels warm and fuzzy and like home.
In the middle of all of these, Nikki feels her eyes burn a little. They give her badly wrapped but perfectly wonderful gifts and they sing her the most beautiful version of the Happy Birthday song she’s ever heard, and when it’s the time for her wish to be made she doesn't make one.
She looks at these men who take care of her, who makes her happy when she thinks she never will be, who gives their best to protect her, who makes her want to be a grown up and be awesome like them but at the same time makes her want to be a child forever and be with them as long as possible.
She doesn’t make a wish, but she blows the candles and thanks the heavens for blessing her with these seven men.
fin.