When I think of love as something new (Troisbang #2)

[qiguai]

Title: When I think of love as something new
Pairing: OT4 (Jinon/Leeu/Kan/Yejun)
Word Count: 12,000+
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Language, suggestive situations
Summary: One band, four boys, four love stories. 'We are F.cuz!'
Notes: A mix of fact and fiction, meaning my interpretation of how F.Cuz came to be. :) Dedicated to all the beautiful F.Cuz fans of the world. ♥



I.

A tall boy is sitting in Yejun's seat when he walks into homeroom. Even sitting down, the boy is obviously taller than Yejun, and that's saying something when Yejun typically towers over the entire class. The girls are arranged in a semi-circle around Yejun's desk with mouths gaping and cell phones whipped out. The boys are sitting in their normal seats, or a least trying to around the female crowd, all with sneers on their faces. The moment Yejun walks in, the boys all look to him at once with begging eyes that clearly say, 'Please do something,' and he sighs.

He despises being the only member of his class with a backbone.

The boy doesn't notice Yejun until he's at his side, looming with crossed arms and a crosser face. When he finally does notices and look up, the first thing Yejun thinks is, 'What, is he even Korean?' Foreign or not, he doesn't react as Yejun's expects. According to Yejun's observations, when approached in such a way- an obviously semi-hostile stance, surrounded by new peers- new students react in one of two ways: either they panic and apologize, or they get hostile back. In this case, with the boy's obviously larger stature, Yejun is banking on the former.

But this boy looks up from where he earlier had his head buried in his arms and smiles. He tilts his head curiously and asks, "Can I help you?"

The question throws Yejun off-balance a moment and he lets his arms fall back to his sides. "That's... my seat." What is supposed to be an implied threat comes out in mumbles.

"I didn't see your name written on it anywhere." But he pauses, and looks around the room. "I'm sorry, is there assigned seating?"

"No, but-"

"Then shut up and sit down," he laughs. Yejun bristles, ready to storm away and brood in a corner, but the new kid decides to surprise him yet again. Just as Yejun turns to go, a hand grabs his wrist and holds him still. The boy is still smiling, though his eyes are tired from his earlier nap, and he pulls out the chair next to him with his other hand. "I meant, sit down here," he insists. Yejun tries to pull away, but the crowd around them is starting to mumble. He whips around to sit in the offered chair, but tells himself it's only because the teacher will be here soon.

The boy returns his head to his arms, but keeps his face turned to watch Yejun. "What's your name?" he asks.

Yejun heaves a huge I'm-only-telling-you-this-because-I-have-to sigh before answering. "Yejun."

This seems to please the other boy, who sits up as the teacher enters the room. "Nice to meet you, Yejun. I'm Younghak."

"That's a stupid name," he mutters before he can stop himself. Immediately he flushes and his eyes dart from Younghak's surprised face to his desk. The whooping laughter that breaks the tense silence of the room makes him look back up, at Younghak with his head thrown back, entirely unconcerned about the glare he's getting from the teacher.

Every morning Yejun finds Younghak in that same seat, smiling with that expectant gleam in his eye as Yejun takes the adjacent seat. Not saying a word, Yejun waits, every single morning, for Younghak to speak first. It becomes almost a game, a wager he a bets against himself. But Younghak is surprisingly quiet, endlessly patient, and it's always Yejun who breaks down and ends up emptying every thought in his mind to the mountain of a boy beside him. Younghak listens with his eyes focused just away from Yejun's face, politely avoiding eye contact while still giving constant reassurance that he's listening. Somehow, this expression keeps Yejun babbling on and on every morning, every day, until finally it's just what they do.

Yejun talks; Younghak listens. Yejun forces Younghak to come over after school everyday when he discovers his friend spending a good thirty minutes on one simple algebra problem; Younghak whispers pronunciation tips and grammar corrections to Yejun during English. One morning Yejun enters the classroom to find the seat next to his empty and he spends an entire hour furiously texting Younghak until, finally, Younghak replies at lunch, 'sry i had a drs appt.' The simplicity and and obviousness of the words hit Yejun like a cold, dead weight in the chest. It's only then that he realizes Younghak's never missed a day of school for the six months they've now known each other. Younghak is waiting on Yejun's doorstep that afternoon when he arrives gripping a box of homemade cookies with a lop-sided but somehow apologetic grin.

Yejun discovers that Younghak is gullible. Clear lies fly right over his head and leave Yejun smacking his forehead in frustration as he reminds his friend, once again, that no one really owns a pet giraffe. Younghak frowns and says, 'Then why do you keep saying that?' Yejun sighs and this time smacks Younghak's forehead, 'Because you keep believing it.' He then receives a good half-hour long lecture on lying and the many reasons Younghak's mother says it's wrong.

But Yejun catches Younghak lying, if only once. They're lying on Younghak's floor amongst scattered comic books and long-discarded homework. Younghak's mother is watching some dramatic romance film, the kind with cheesy lines and smeared mascara, and the volume is turned up so loud they can hear the dialogue perfectly. Out of the corner of his eye, Yejun sees Younghak mouthing the words with his eyes closed and somehow it's fitting.

"You actually watch that crap?" he asks despite himself and inwardly he regrets ruining the moment. Younghak blinks his eyes open in a look of perfect innocence.

"This is a classic," he says deliberately as if stating an obvious fact to a slow child.

"What kind of warped world do you live in?" Yejun muses, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he seriously considers the question himself. Younghak rolls his eyes and wacks Yejun in the face with a comic.

"You say that, but I bet you love those movies, too."

"Oh, really?" Yejun moves to rest upon his elbows and forearms.

A slight smile begins to form at the corner of Younghak's mouth. "Deep down, everybody loves them." He winks. "Want to know why?"

His stomach tightens in an omen of his impending doom, but Yejun can't stop himself from answering, "Enlighten me."

Younghak does a half-roll onto his side, resting his face in one hand. "Because everybody wants to kiss." He scoots closer and grins when Yejun instinctively leans away. "See? You want to kiss. Right now."

Yejun almost chokes laughing because it had honestly been the furthest thing from his mind. Somehow, though, whatever game Younghak has started is intriguing. "Friends don't want to kiss friends," he says and wags his finger for effect. "Boys don't kiss boys."

This is when Younghak's eyes sparkle in a strange way that alerts Yejun to the lie. "Sure they do." He tries to lean in again and Yejun shoves him away by the forehead.

"Maybe in your universe," he grumbles, but Younghak knocks his arms, making him fall over. He starts to curse but finds himself staring up into Younghak's eyes which have gotten way way closer in the split second he was distracted. Younghak is grinning smugly and humming a tune Yejun doesn't recognize. "You are the weirdest person I've ever met," Yejun murmurs and this time doesn't stop Younghak when he cranes his neck and lightly presses his mouth again Yejun's.

They end up staring into each other's eyes a full two and a quarter minutes- Yejun knows because he counts the second- before bursting into peals of laughter and spilling cola all over Younghak's favorite comic. But that doesn't stop them from giving it a second try, and then a third, and then...

All Yejun can make out are blurred faces and grunted curses as Younghak drags him across the school at full speed. Try as he might, his friend's grip is a vice on his wrist and he has no choice but to stumble after Younghak and be thankful for his long legs. Anyone shorter would have fallen long ago.

They- or rather, Younghak- finally stops outside a classroom with a colorful flier pasted on the window reading, "Dance Club-- Tryouts Today!" Yejun blinks a few times while trying to catch his breath and gives his friend an incredulous look.

"You aren't serious," he says, not as a question because he can't possibly be-

"We're joining," Younghak replies with an innocent smile tinged with something else. Yejun grimaces; it's not a question. He turns tail to run but Younghak grabs his arm and whirls him back around.

"You can join if you want, but I'm not going."

Younghak doesn't even flinch. "We should both try out!" His voice is firm and Yejun thinks this is the first time he's ever heard his friend speak in such a way. For added effect, Younghak crosses his arms and frowns. "If we're going to be idols, we need to be able to sing and dance."

"I know that!" he practically spits with indignation. Then, with a quick smirk, he adds, "I can learn to dance any time, what are you going to do about your singing?"

Younghak raises his eyebrows. "You've never heard me sing."

Yejun falters, but only for a second. "You can sing?"

A shrug. "My singing isn't the issue here." He jerks a thumb at the door. "This dance club is famous; we have to join. Do you know who was once a member?"

Though he already knows the answer- after all, how many times had Younghak brought it up throughout the year?- Yejun feigns curiosity and asks, "Who?" The glee that brightens his friend's eyes at the question makes Yejun's heartbeat quicken.

There's a girlish glee in Younghak's voice when he answers in a half-squeal, half-whisper, as if it were a great secret, "Rain!"

Yejun is barely able to contain his roll of the eyes.

"Which is why," he continues after allowing the answer to sink in a few seconds. "we absolutely have to join!" A few male students politely push past them and through the door, giving them off looks on the way.

Yejun pulls Younghak over to stop blocking the door and whispers harshly, "Just because your idol was in this club, doesn't mean I have to join." He's about to turn and leave, but Younghak fixes him the the most pathetic gaze complete with quivering bottom lip. On his handsome, manly face, it's more comical than anyone, but Yejun groans, hangs his head, and lets himself be pulled through the door.

It turns out to be a bad decision, as Younghak is so giddy with excitement he pulls Yejun so roughly he ends up smacking into another boy who is leaving the room just as the pair enters. Yejun glances up into confused eyes that flash angrily at Yejun before softening almost instantly.

A lump forms in his throat. Unable to form an apology, Yejun shuffles to the side and, for some reason instantaneously dizzy, sinks to the floor. He sees Younghak smiling in amusement over the shoulder of the third boy, who stoops and extends Yejun his hand to help him up. Yejuns nods gratefully and rises, dusting off his uniform in shame.

"Sorry about that," the boys says. His voice is incredibly deep and melodic, the kind of voice that could terrify if it wants or alternatively lull a baby to sleep all on its own.

"No, it was my fault," Yejun mumbles. The boy looks from Yejun to Younghak, who is smiling and shaking his head.

"Are you two joining the club?" The boy grins, extending his hand to Yejun, but this time as a handshake.

"Yes!" Yejun answers quickly and he can't help but notice Younghak almost choke on his laughter behind the boy. He grabs the boy's hand and tries to keep his smile from shaking. "My name is Yejun, and that jerk is Younghak."

Without looking, the boy nods with the same broad smile. "I'm Jinchul. I've been in this club for three years now. I'm sure you'll love it." After giving Younghak a quick nod, he continues on his way out the door.

Younghak wraps an arm around Yejun's shoulders and whistles merrily as he steers the stunned Yejun in toward the rest of the club members. "What the hell are you so cheerful about?" Yejun snaps when he finally manages to collect his thoughts.

As Yejun had expected, Younghak quickly becomes the star of the dance club. He'd watched Younghak practice enough during their sleepovers to know that Younghak was good- really, really good, and not just by their school's already high standards. Which is why, when he ends up sitting on the sidelines of practice most of the time with his two left feet, he doesn't really mind. It's nice to see Younghak at the center of attention for once without Yejun spinning ridiculous stories about him.

Another plus, Yejun soon discovers, to not being around Younghak during practices is that Jinchul decides to keep him company. Jinchul is nowhere near as a good a dancer as Younghak, but still better than Yejun, so while Younghak shows off and practices the more advanced routines, Jinchul tries to teach him as best he can. Very little actual learning or improving occurs, but Yejun gets a kick out of watching Jinchul try and teach him the moves when it's obvious Jinchul couldn't teach a fish to swim.

What's even better is that Jinchul doesn't seem to mind Yejun's cutting sense of humor. After faking their way through their routines, they collapse on the floor of the practice room and quietly poke fun at their friends. He tells Jinchul about the time he caught Younghak practicing ballet moves in front of the mirror in his room and Jinchul isn't able to look their friend in the eye for a week and a half. He doesn't frown and tell Yejun he should be nicer, like Younghak does. Jinchul tells crude jokes and encourages Yejun to be himself. He doesn't feel guilty for being imperfect or for lying now and then. He feels comfortable.

One night after practice, lying on the floor of Younghak's room as he does every day, Yejun doesn't flinch when Younghak kisses him. Their kisses are always quick and playful, more pranks than anything. This time, Yejun reaches out and pulls Younghak close to kiss him again. He lets his lips linger on Younghak's as long as he can until his friend finally pulls away. "What are you doing?" Younghak says. Yejun apologizes and turns away, his face flushing bright red.

He doesn't tell Younghak he'd been trying to imagine what it would feel like to kiss Jinchul.

Two weeks later, he doesn't need to imagine anymore. During one of those rare moments when Younghak is not by his side, Yejun finds himself horribly tongue-tied. His friendship with Jinchul so far has been on the basis of complete honesty and he wants to tell his friend about his weird thoughts. Jinchul is good at speaking and understanding, so Yejun just knows he'll be able to figure out what the hell is wrong.

"I have a question," he blurts out. Jinchul eyes him from the side, a bottle of water pressed to his lips.

"Then ask it."

"Only if you promise not to get weirded out."

Jinchul looks mildly annoyed at Yejun's unusual timidness. To his humiliation, Yejun can feel himself blushing under Jinchul's scrutinizing glare. Any kind of stare felt like a glare with Jinchul; he had one of those intimidating kinds of faces.

After a moment, Jinchul sighs, "I promise."

His relief lasts for only a second. "Well, um," he mumbles, then takes a deep breath. "How do you know when you're in love?"

Jinchul laughs out loud in shock. "Jesus, I thought you were going to tell me you were dying or something!"

Yejun manages a weak smile as he waits for Jinchul's answer, which doesn't come for a full three minutes. "I don't know if there's any way to know for sure."

"That's not helpful!" Yejun whines, exasperated. Jinchul shrugs and takes another sip of water. He scoots a little closer to where Yejun is sitting on the floor and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"If there was a way for me to give you a straight answer, I would." He pauses, then looks at Yejun carefully. "Is this about Younghak?"

The stream of curses that leaves Yejun's mouth serves as answer enough.

"Then who could our Yejunnie be in love with, hm?" Jinchul muses with a playful grin. Yejun tries so hard to keep his composure, but something much give him away- his posture, the way he avoids looking at his friend, or most likely the fact that for once he's lacking a smart remark. He feels Jinchul stiffen slightly beside him, though he doesn't move away. "Oh."

Yejun turns and looks Jinchul straight in the eye. "I just freaking confessed to you and all you're going to say is, 'oh'?" His hand twitches at his side, his urge to smack his friend growing by the moment and somehow pushing his embarrassment to the side. "No wonder you've never had a girlfriend!"

Jinchul's eyes widen and he glances around the room. "C'mon, I told you not to tell anyone that!" he whispers and clamps his hand over Yejun's mouth when he smiles and goes to shout it again. After making Yejun promise to be good five times by nodding, Jinchul removes his hand. "What do you want me to do, huh?"

Yejun pretends to think for a moment, putting his finger to his cheek and making his signature pout which he already knows to be super-effective on all of his hyungs. With an evil grin, he makes his demand, "Kiss me." Jinchul's face goes pale and he starts to sputter protests, but Yejun cuts him off. "If you were going to reject me you would have done so already."

As expected, Jinchul can't argue with that. Yejun admires the way his friend's eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles and can't remember why he was so nervous. Jinchul grabs the back of Yejun's head in the most un-romantic way possible, yanking his hair and almost making him slap the hand away all-together. At the last second he's able to spot just a little twinge of uncertainty in Jinchul's expression, so he puts his hands on either side of Jinchul's face and closes the distance himself. This close, he can smell Jinchul's shampoo, his aftershave, and his lips taste like cherry-flavored chapstik.

Just when Yejun is thinking so this is what it's like, what sounds like a giant canary, but is actually something much larger and much more annoying, comes marching unceremoniously into the room. Yejun recognizes Younghak's whistling and is tempted to pretend he doesn't, but Jinchul is already pulling away- and somewhat breathless, too, Yejun is proud to note. He turns to find his gigantic friend standing, hand on hip, with the most disgusting smile plastered of his face. Yejun eyes the abandoned water bottle mere inches from his hand.

Younghak takes a step forward and licks his lips. "So," he says, and Yejun's forehead wrinkles at the tone. "Can I join in, or what?"

The yelp Younghak emits when the bottle bottle flies across the room and connects with his nose is the most beautiful sound Yejun's ever heard in his life.

II.

Seunghyun sinks into the soft leather of the backseat and contemplates a nap. Unfortunately, his father is lecturing him about something and sleeping with his eyes open isn't a skill he's perfected yet. Not that he hasn't been practicing, mind you.

"Try and relax. Let me handle everything," his father says softly while staring out the opposite window. "All of the technicalities of the contract have already be ironed out. I need to speak with them about a few little things, but that'll only take a few minutes. I would have let you stay home, but they told me the other boy will be there and I thought you'd like to meet him."

"I should be there anyway," he replies, chin in hand. "It's my contract, after all." Woondo nods thoughtfully. Seunghyun is amazed at how exhausted his father looks and how much older he seems after these past few weeks. And all for him. Once again, Woondo is putting his reputation on the line for his son. They're on their way to another talent agency to sign another contract in hopes that, this time, Seunghyun can debut. Seunghyun wants to say again and again how grateful he is, but it doesn't seem appropriate.

The CAN&J building is small such that they almost drive right by it. "Companies that look flashy on the outside are dangerous," Woondo reminds his son as they approach the doors as if worried Seunghyun is disappointed. The lobby inside is small, but tidy and the woman at the front desk is polite to the father and son. Seunghyun admires the pictures of past and former artists lining the hall on their way through. They're seated in a small boardroom with simple but tasteful decor. Seunghyun is fiddling with a pen on the varnished wood table when two male figures enter. One is short and middle-aged, his eyes immediately going to Woondo as he extends his hand in a formal handshake. The other is incredibly tall, at least in Seunghyun's eyes, wearing a t-shirt and jeans distressed from wear and tear, not fashion. Seunghyun starts to feel very out of place in his stiff, brand-name and tailored-to-perfection suit.

He avoids the other boy's eyes as the two sit directly across from Woondo and himself. The older men start in with the formalities and Seunghyun tunes them out, too preoccupied with trying to ignore how the strange boy won't stop staring. His face has an odd intensity to it, with the potential of being terrifying when angry. He's classically handsome, not with the feminine features that are so trendy nowadays and which Seunghyun is usually so proud of possessing. Suddenly Seunghyun is very aware of his need for a haircut.

"We very much look forward to working with Seunghyun," the older man says, grabbing the distracted boy's attention. "Isn't that right, Jinchul?" The boy, Jinchul, bows his head politely but does not speak and Woondo smiles approvingly.

"Seunghyun and I appreciate you and your company giving us this chance," Woondo replies. He and Seunghyun give similar polite bows. When he looks up, he can't help but notice a small smile playing on Jinchul's lips.

Before the older man can resume their discussions, Jinchul politely asks them if he could give Seunghyun a tour. They agree and Seunghyun follows the other boy out of the room. "Glad we got out of there," Jinchul says in a long exhale, grinning at Seunghyun. "Do you really want a tour or do you mind if we go somewhere else?"

Seunghyun blinks and, very slowly, nods. Jinchul gives him a strange look, but whatever it is passes in a moment. They leave the building in silence and Seunghyun has no idea what he can do to make this less awkward. After walking a block, Jinchul turns around and frowns. "Are you normally this stiff or do you really not like me that much?"

"I don't not like you," Seunghyun says quickly, voice cracking halfway through. His companion laughs and his face grows warm, but the subtly booming sound of Jinchul's laugh is somehow reassuring. "I'm sorry; I swear I'm not normally like this."

Jinchul waves off his apology. "I can tell. Just relax, okay? I'm not as scary as I look."

He wants to argue, because there isn't anything scary about the way Jinchul looks- on the contrary, Seunghyun can't help but be a little jealous of how manly this boy looks. He probably never gets confused for a girl. But he stays perfectly quiet as they stroll along the oddly deserted sidewalk.

"Are you hungry?" Jinchul asks, casting Seunghyun a curious glance.

Despite the sudden hollow churning in his stomach, Seunghyun quickly shakes his head. Jinchul frowns and shoves his hands in his pockets.

"Do you mind if I stop by a vendor anyway? I'm starving."

Seunghyun shakes his head again, but inwardly groans when Jinchul heads into a small park and makes right for a vendor selling Seunghyun's favorite food in the universe- ice cream. He settles himself onto a bench and tries his best to ignore the vendor and, most of all, the almost pain-inducingly wonderful things he's handing out to the children gathered around him.

When Jinchul returns, Seunghyun almost wants to cry because he'd been hoping and praying Jinchul would eat near the vendor or just somewhere else. Blinking back tears and hugging his coat tighter around himself to hopefully stifle the growls his stomach insists on making, he tries to think back to the last time he ate- yesterday? Last night? Maybe.

"Eat," Jinchul grunts, shoving a second cone into Seunghyun's hand. Seunghyun stares at it for a full minute before looking away and trying to hand it back.

"I'm on a diet," he says weakly. Jinchul shrugs.

"So am I. If you eat it fast enough, we can pretend this never happened." He shoots Seunghyun a sly grin and downs his in exactly three monstrous bites.

He's tempted to continue protesting, but the cone moves towards his mouth with a will of its own, and before he knows it, the only evidence left of their crime is a sticky residue on his fingers. With a sigh and one last glance back at the vendor, Jinchul gets to his feet and motions for Seunghyun to follow.

"They should be done with the boring stuff by now. Shall we head back?" Jinchul smiles and for the first time all morning, Seunghyun feels at ease. He straightens his shoulders and walks alongside Jinchul with a slight bounce in his step all the way back to the CAN&J building, and from then on never stops talking.

Shoving off the headphones, the lyrics and notes on the sheet music blur as Seunghyun's eyes fill with angry tears. The vocal trainer says nothing, but rises and steps away from the piano, signaling that the lesson is over for today. Before he can leave the room in shamed silence, the trainer waves him back to where he's sitting at a small desk in the corner. Seunghyun tries to look the older man in the eye, but can't and ends up staring at the empty surface of the desk instead.

"You're not improving at all." The words hit him like a block of ice, making him flinch and go cold in the same moment. He nods, not trusting his voice in more ways than one, and the trainer frowns in frustration. "Did you really almost debut? I don't see how that's possible." The older man shakes his head and pulls out some notes from the desk to read them. Seunghyun understands that it's his cue to go, so he does.

He wishes they wouldn't remind him every time, and even more he wishes they wouldn't sound so damned surprised. In this market a failed solo singer is a dime a dozen, but the second he steps in front of a vocal coach he can feel the expectations rise. You got closer than most so you must be good. Except that's a damn lie, because not everyone relies only on their talent. There's nothing more depressing than wondering how far you would have gotten had your father been someone else. He tries not to think about it but fails.

A strange mix of relief and guilt makes his stomach turn when he finds Jinchul waiting for him, the third time this week, outside in the hallway. "Don't you have lessons or something?" Seunghyun asks with a sarcastic smile. Jinchul grins and doesn't answer, but hooks an arm around Seunghyun and leads him away, like always. The farther they get away from the practice room, the easier it gets to breathe as the weight that had been settling onto his chest during the lesson gradually fades away. Soon he's yammering away in Jinchul's ear about anything and everything, but mostly about what he wishes he could be eating at the moment, his favorite subject.

But just as they reach the dance practice room, Jinchul pauses and regards Seunghyun with such seriousness, he gulps and looks away. "Don't let the teachers get to you," he says in.a low voice. "They're a little harsh, but they're just trying to push you to improve."

Even though he knows his friend is trying to cheer up him, Seunghyun shoves his arm away and scowls, because he'd just managed to forget the whole thing and would rather not think about it. "What the hell do you know?" he growls and tries to leave, but Jinchul gives him a look that dares him to walk away, and he finds himself unable to move.

Jinchul doesn't show it, but Seunghyun can sense the anger dripping from his words. "You think you're the only failure around here?"

A pang of guilt keeps Seunghyun from trying to retort, but his mouth twists with the unspoken words. Before he can get them out, Jinchul pulls him into a bruising hug and laughs in his ear so loud it hurts. "Lighten up, would you?" The tears from earlier burn in Seunghyun's eyes and he hides them in Jinchul's old t-shirt, hiding his face in the soft cotton.

Somehow this is happening more and more frequently, his need to lean on Jinchul emotionally or physically or more often both. What's worse is that Jinchul won't push him away, like Seunghyun wishes he would, but lets him do as he wishes. Propriety, embarrassment, nothing seems to keep Jinchul from being at exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Seunghyun wonders since when he was suddenly the princess in his own fairytale, relying on a prince who is known not for his heroics but for his Kwon Sangwoo impressions. What he wants is to be independent and finally not need support from anyone, but instead he finds himself shifting from leaning on one to leaning on another.

Countless people walk by while they're standing there, and Jinchul replies to greetings in a perfectly casual way that clearly says there's nothing weird about this and if anyone disagrees, they'd better not say so. After who knows how many minutes of Seunghyun crying silently into Jinchul's shoulder, he pulls away with a tired but genuine grin and rubs his swollen eyes. Giving him a pat on the shoulder, Jinchul leads the way to dance practice and apologizes to the teacher for their tardiness.

That night Jinchul sleeps over for the nth time in the past few months, and Seunghyun kisses him. It's their first kiss, and though it doesn't feel like the first, Seunghyun is never one to question his feelings.

The floor of the practice room is cold against Seunghyun's sweaty skin. He closes eyes and pretends not to hear Jinchul when he tells him to keep going. After the third failed attempt at getting Seunghyun's attention, Jinchul joins him on the floor, just as Seunghyun had expected. It really is too easy to get what he wants. Putting on his most angelic smile and turning to his hyung, he coos, "Hey, we should get ice cream today."

Jinchul doesn't even open his eyes. "You're never going to let me forget that, aren't you?"

"You set the precedent," he mutters, pouting in defeat. Okay, maybe it isn't that easy. He rolls onto his stomach and pokes Jinchul's arm. "What's with you, huh? You're grouchy."

Jinchul groans and doesn't answer right away. "Things are starting to get serious," he finally says, deflating. "There's talk about new members, how many, who they should be, how much training they'll need..."

"Do you think we'll end up being as big as Super Junior?" Seunghyun jokes.

Jinchul laughs dryly. "No, they don't want a group that big. They've been asking me a lot of questions about what I think." He rubs his face in frustration.

"It makes sense; you've seen how bands work first-hand. Your opinion is probably going to be much better informed than the company's or anyone else's." At this, Jinchul is quiet, and Seunghyun worries he's crossed the line again.

"Bigger numbers tend to sell better," he starts in a sudden burst of energy, as if he'd been holding back these ideas for a long time, "because there are more faces, more personality. It gives the fans a higher chance of finding something specific to like about a new group. But as the numbers grow, so does the chance of awkwardness." He holds both hands out in front of his body, splaying his fingers. "When you have a band that, say, has ten members, there are going to be a couple or even a few members who are not comfortable around each other. It's easy to cover up, and might come in handy if you end up being able to go on a show like Intimate Note, but it's hard to live with." He puts down a few fingers until there are seven. "Seven seems to be a good number to sell lately, but that's still high enough to have awkwardness. In that case, you're more likely to have one member who just doesn't fit in with the rest..."

Seunghyun may not be the smartest kid, but he knows enough to realize that, when Jinchul suddenly falls silent, he should let him. Five minutes go by before the atmosphere improves enough to ask a question, "Heard anything from Kwangsu-sunbae recently?"

Immediately brightening, Jinchul smiles. "He's busy in Japan, as usual." His gaze clouds a little as he continues dreamily, "Those guys have been working so hard."

"You've been working hard, too," Seunghyun points out with a frown and Jinchul just cocks his head a little.

"Maybe, and getting nowhere fast."

Not liking where the conversation is heading, Seunghyun rolls his eyes and flops onto his stomach with a grunt. "Not true, the producers are asking for your opinion, not just anyone's." With renewed interest, he peeks at his friend curiously over his arm. "So what number do you think is good, hyung?"

Jinchul perks up and removes one of his hands, holding up four fingers. "Four is the best," he says with the confidence Seunghyun is accustomed to hearing in his voice. "Four is few enough that there is little to no chance of awkwardness. No one gets left out; everyone can become close friends no matter how much of a time crunch they're put under. It helps even more if a few of them know each other already, too..." He blinks and glances at Seunghyun nervously. "It's just an idea, though."

Seunghyun grins and sits up. "Just tell the producers that you want to bring them in for an audition," he says quietly and shoves Jinchul's arm.

Jinchul frowns, lines creasing his forehead and making him look years beyond his barely two decades. "Them?" Seunghyun shakes his head with a beaming smile.

"Younghak and Yejun," he replies in an amused whisper, a child telling his best friend a secret.

"How did you-" Jinchul starts, voice rising with surprise and panic and probably fear, but Seunghyun stretches like a cat and shoves his hyung's arm again.

"You talk about them with everyone except me," he says and doesn't try to hide the pout in his voice. He turns to find Jinchul staring at him with a strange mix of guilt and anger. "I'd like to meet them."

He is visibly pained as he replies, "But it's complicated..."

"What?" Seunghyun asks cheerfully. "That you love one of them?" At that, Jinchul's face goes bright red and he rolls over on the floor, apparently refusing to answer.

Though what he wants is to slap Jinchul upside the back of his head, Seunghyun chooses to wrap his arms around the older boy's torso tightly and rest his chin against his back. It's awkward, because neither have quite adjusted to what their relationship is rapidly transforming into, but Seunghyun feels Jinchul relax in his arms after a moment. "It's okay, hyung."

Seunghyun releases him and, after a small exchange of smiles, they return to practice.

The next morning, Seunghyun walks into the producers' offices and tells them that Jinchul has recommendations for new members. The men in their suits and with their tired eyes look confused, but hopeful. As Seunghyun exits the office, Jinchul is called in, and he gives Seunghyun an alarmed look in passing.

Hours later, he walks into the practice room and says to Seunghyun directly, "I don't understand you at all."

"That works," he replies, not pausing in his routine and, for once, nailing every move with perfect precision. He sees Jinchul nod and smile in the mirrored wall.

"Yeah, I guess it does."

III.

Growing up, Younghak developed an obsession with romance movies. His mother would watch them late at night after closing her beauty parlor when Younghak would supposedly be sleeping upstairs. The dramatic music and the sounds of women crying and men shouting always drew him from his bed, and he'd end up kneeling at the top of the stairs, watching from a distance.

He loves the tension of it all, how the two lovers never get together until the very, very end. By the time he's in high school, he's lost all sense of shame and sits with his mother late on the weekends- when he's not with his friends doing more manly things, of couse- and they watch their movies together. His mother cries, he cries, and they always celebrate the main characters' tearful final confession with huge bowls of ice cream.

Younghak believes in true love, and, deep down, he believes in love at first sight. Someday, he tells himself, he'll meet someone and just know. Love isn't rational, and neither is Younghak's mind. So whenever he passes a pretty girl on the street, he looks very carefully, just in case. Nothing ever happens, and he tells himself he just needs to keep waiting. It'll happen.

Yejun gets a little miffed when Younghak tells him his secret and Younghak can't blame him. What they do and what they feel isn't Younghak's ideal, fireworks-inducing, head-reeling kind of love, and Yejun knows Younghak craves that it. Younghak kisses Yejun's forehead and tells him that when he finds his true love, Yejun will be a part of it- always. Yejun scoffs and shoves his friend away, but Younghak can see him smiling.

Neither of them are ready when Younghak falls in love, because at the time love couldn't be farther from their minds.

A vocal trainer leads Yejun and Younghak through the narrow halls of the CAN&J building, pointing out this and that room, and Younghak's not paying attention. The morning has been nothing but legal talk and contract signing, complete with his mother squeezing his hand and asking him a thousand times if he's sure.

"You'd make a great actor, too," she says with tears in her eyes and he gives her a hug, silently apologizing for officially rejecting her dream of one day seeing her beloved son in one of her favorite movies. With another tearful but happy glance, she leaves the building.

"You're a bad son, breaking her heart like that," Yejun says with a fake grave look. "You should just stick to your gross acting." Younghak swats his friend's arm, but is too distracted by visions of a stage with spotlights just for him.

"Down this way are the practice rooms," the guide says, interrupting their friendly banter. Younghak snaps to attention, gazing greedily over the man's shoulder. "We only have a few, but they're well-equipped and always available..." He pushes the doors open and Younghak starts to tune him out, only feeling a slight pang of guilt when the guide looks at him expectantly.

"Thank you, hyung," he says with a slight bow, but that is obviously not the expected response because the man smiles awkwardly and looks to Yejun, who shrugs. The man continues into the room ahead of them and Yejun shoves Younghak's shoulder.

"He just said that he'll introduce us to the other members, idiot! At least pretend to be a little excited or nervous or something."

Not bothering to respond to Yejun's frustration, he bolts through the door with a wild grin. The guide is standing in a circle of boys, all in shorts and soaked t-shirts, apologizing for interrupting their practice. In a rush of pleasure, he recognizes Jinchul right away with his wide shoulders and unique way of standing leaning slightly to the side. Jinchul spies him across the room and grins, and Younghak quietly trots across and gives him a rough hug. Yejun follows suit with a decidedly bored expression that softens only when Jinchul pulls him into a tight hug as well.

All eyes are on the three friends when they finally part, and Jinchul apologizes to the group for not introducing his friends. Instinctively shuffling behind Yejun and Jinchul, Younghak peers over their shoulders at the other trainees with an uncertain but polite smile. When Jinchul tells him to introduce himself, he bows and mumbles a greeting and his name, earning a condescending glance from Yejun and chuckles from everyone else. Yejun greets them brightly and confidently with his hands still shoved into his sweatshirt pocket.

Then Jinchul pulls one boy out of the crowd, his arm comfortably around the other's shoulders. "Meet our fourth member," he says with pride as he jostles the boy, who beams. The perfect smile reaches his eyes and Younghak blinks.

"Lee Seunghyun," the boy says in a laughing, melodic voice. "Nice to meet you!" He bows and Yejun bows, but Younghak is too busy blinking. He's still blinking when Seunghyun straightens up and looks at him curiously.

"I'm Yejun." A whap on the shoulder and Younghak is still blinking.

Jinchul sighs. "And he's Younghak," he says for the blinking boy. With an annoyed glare, he mutters, "Say something, idiot."

All he can think to mumble is something along the lines of, "I like to dance." Seunghyun continues to observe him, no malice in his stare but it makes Younghak blush furiously, and he's about to say something when Yejun pipes in.

"Don't mind him; he doesn't talk much." He casts a sidelong grin and adds quickly, "He's just Mexican." Seunghyun's eyes go wide as he nods and Younghak isn't sure whether or not to be grateful for his temporary and unorthodox rescue.

Jinchul gives Yejun a good two weeks before informing Seunghyun that Younghak is not Mexican, not even part. Younghak can't help but notice his hyung's slight disappointment and from that point on, Seunghyun refuses to leave him alone.

"This has got to stop," Yejun cries, pounding his fists into the mattress. "I'm going to die!" He rolls around in the small space left in the tiny bunk bed and alternates between continuing to abuse the bed and abusing Younghak. Meanwhile, Younghak rests his head on Yejun's shoulder and traces outlines on the wall next to the bed. "This bed isn't fucking built for two people!"

"Don't kick me out, Yejunnie!" he whines and pulls Yejun closer by the waist. He buries his face in Yejun's neck and refuses to let go even a little until Yejun stops struggling, running a hand through his rapidly growing hair. Peeking over his friend's shoulder, he grins at Yejun's peeved glare.

"How in the hell are you older than me," Yejun grumbles and tries to sit up in the bed, but Younghak's weight on the right side of his body won't allow it.

The question goes unanswered. "He sang to me," he chuckles into Yejun's neck, making his friend squirm.

Once again Yejun starts to roll around in vain, shoving at Younghak's locked arms. "No," he replies breathlessly after giving up. "He was correcting you because your English is complete shit."

"He still sang to me." Sighing blissfully, the bulkier boy squeezes Yejun. "Hey, do you think he likes me?" He peers up at Yejun with utter innocence and Yejun groans.

"Not likely, considering you never speak more than two words to him," Yejun grumbles. "There isn't much to like about 'Thanks, hyung,' in my opinion." He clicks his tongue and seems to regret his words. "What I mean is you should be asking him this, not me." Another tongue click and he pinches Younghak's cheek. "What are you anyway, a fifteen year old girl?"

For a long time they stay like that, Younghak pressing his cheek against Yejun's shoulder and Yejun begrudgingly allowing it. "Maybe," he finally concedes and sits up in the small bed. Yejun stretches and cracks his neck while watching his friend closely.

"Relax," Yejun says with an amused grin. "You may be dumb, but he's pretty dumb, too. Just draw him one of your beautiful pictures." For a second Younghak thinks his friend it being serious and wonders if Seunghyun would like that, but Yejun gives him a sarcastic wink and a hard punch in the chest. He darts from the bed as Younghak lunges for him.

Jinchul and Seunghyun don't question it when they return to find Younghak and Yejun fighting an all-out pillow war in the dorm bedroom. Instead, they grab the pillows from their upper bunks and join in with excited howls of laughter.

A week after that conversation, Younghak still hasn't worked up the nerve to confess, though he's proud of the fact that he's now able to form complete sentences in his hyung's presence. The look of shock on Seunghyun's face when Younghak came up to him and said, "You did really great during rehearsal today," made him flush and reconsider his plan, but then Seunghyun had smiled his special smile and hugged Younghak so tight Younghak felt himself ready to faint. Maybe becoming more talkative had its advantages.

Except that as Younghak speaks more and more openly, Seunghyun starts spending more and more time with him, which delights and torments Younghak at the same time. Their awkward, but steadily growing more comfortable conversations leave Younghak wanting to dance and sing and jump for joy, but growing closer to Seunghyun comes with one distinct disadvantage, at least for the love-struck dancer- Seunghyun is a professional personal space invader.

During even the simplest conversations, Seunghyun will grab Younghak's arm, his waist, poke or play with his face and hair. As he walks down the halls he sometimes finds himself suddenly grabbed from behind and whirled around by his hyung, who laughs at Younghak's panicked confusion and says with no qualms at all, "You're so cute."

As a result, Younghak is constantly on edge whether Seunghyun is present or not. He can't relax, and every time Seunghyun touches him or compliments him his heart pounds so intensely he worries he might collapse. When Seunghyun one day after practice decides that Younghak's lap makes for a suitable chair, as opposed to the dozens of actual chairs surrounding them, all Younghak can do is try not to choke on his water and rest his forehead on Seunghyun's back while he attempts to re-learn to breathe.

Yejun finds his friend's new-found stress and constant state of exhaustion hilarious, of course, and now and then when it's just the two of them he'll call out Seunghyun's name just to see Younghak freeze and stop breathing.

"Jesus, you're jumpy," Seunghyun comments as he slides in next to Younghak on the couch, of course choosing the spot directly next to him as opposed to anywhere else on the large piece of furniture. Balancing a bowl on popcorn on his lap, Seunghyun smiles mockingly at how Younghak jerks away. Their legs tough just enough to make Younghak blush and he hangs his head. He's too tired for this, now with trainer and coaches and everyone breathing down their necks about debut coming soon though no date has been set.

"Just stop touching me," he snaps and tries not to notice the hurt look on his friend's face. Seunghyun doesn't move away or argue, but scoots closer and grabs the remote. The small television flickers on and Seunghyun leans against Younghak's shoulder. Too tired to react, the slight weight is actually kind of comforting to his shot nerves. "Sorry," he says quietly and Seunghyun shakes his head a little in answer, engrossed in a news broadcast. "Where are the others?"

"Manager has a meeting," Seunghyun yawns. "Yejun took Jinchul to the movies. Guy's been working way too hard." He offers Younghak the bowl of popcorn and he takes a small handful. Smiling to himself, he wonders if Seunghyun has any idea what really goes on during those trips out Jinchul and Yejun like to take together. Without thinking he puts an arm around Seunghyun and sinks deeper into the couch. He's tempted to nod of right there, but Seunghyun appears to want to chat. "You've been working really hard, too. You always look so tired." There's worry and a little bit of sadness in his voice, which is confusing and Younghak's brain is too fried to figure it out.

"I'm just... tired," he says and feels like an idiot. He expects Seunghyun to laugh at him, but he doesn't. Instead, he sits back and looks at Younghak with such a strange mix of worry and frustration that Younghak almost blurts out an apology when he knows he hasn't done anything wrong. Well, he thinks he hasn't, anyway.

Before he can say anything, Seunghyun puts a hand up. "I'm going to say something, and it might be completely weird and wrong and freak you out, but it needs to be said and I'm going to say it." Younghak feels a lump form in his throat and he breaks out in a nervous sweat, but he nods obediently. After a moment of hesitation, Seunghyun mumbles something so quickly Younghak wouldn't have been able to understand him had the words been anything but what they were, "I think you like me."

This is when Younghak is supposed to answer and deny everything, which is what his brain screams at him to do, but all he can do is sit with his mouth hanging open and stare at the wall behind Seunghyun's head. Luckily for him, Seunghyun doesn't expect him to answer, as he smiles and sets down the bowl of popcorn. Taking Younghak by surprise as always, he leans across the couch and puts his hands on his friend's shoulder with a wicked smirk. "I knew it!" He says something else, too, which Younghak only learns later is, "I like you, too," because the words get muffled as Younghak decides at that very moment to close what little space is left between them in a failure of a kiss which results in more laughter against lips than romance.

Being with Seunghyun turns out to be far easier than either of them imagine simply because there is no drastic change in their behavior. Those around them are already accustomed to Seunghyun constantly petting and touching Younghak, so they notice nothing after that night except maybe that it happens a little more often, perhaps a little more mutually.

For the two of them, the difference is like night and day. What used to be awkwardly one-sided actions laced with too many unspoken things to be enjoyable become instantly natural, like breathing. Younghak's mood improves and so does his health as their interactions no longer cause him stress, and Seunghyun seems to delight as slowly but surely Younghak starts to reciprocate his silly touching. During dance practice they take turns making faces at each other behind the instructor's back, and when no one is looking Younghak likes to grab at Seunghyun's arms and make him stumble. As soon as the lesson's over, Seunghyun tackles him from across the room, only to be practically picked up and tossed to the side as Younghak flees. Seunghyun always follows, and they always find a quiet, deserted room where Younghak lets Seunghyun slam him against the wall and fake being angry until he gives up and finally presses his gorgeous mouth against Younghak's and they do what they were thinking about throughout the entire lesson.

It's like finding a kind of best friend he'd never knew he didn't have, and so much more at the same time. Aside from what they do when no one looks, Seunghyun laughs at Younghak's dumb jokes, and laughs earnestly. When they watch television or read comics together they always pause and laugh or cry at the same moments, shaking and holding each other because finally they've found someone who understands. Seunghyun doesn't mind the way Younghak hovers with his camera in hand, quite the opposite he encourages it. They take turns with the camera, trying weird or interesting poses and laughing at their results. Late at night they lie in the living room of the dorm and quietly tell each other stories of their childhoods, what they used to like, what games they played and anything else that comes to mind. They know that Jinchul and Yejun have probably noticed everything, but are grateful for their friends' lack of questions.

"We have a few free days coming up," Seunghyun says with an excited glint in his eye. Younghak nods enthusiastically with his chopsticks still in his mouth. Jinchul and Yejun are sitting a ways off, chatting about the usual boring things they like. The two have been taking advantage of Seunghyun's and Younghak's new bonding to spend more time together, and he's noticed not without a little bit of bitterness. "Let's go visit your mom."

Cocking his head, he's a little surprised but agrees. Over the past few months, his mother had made several, maybe even too many, visits to see her dear son and check on his condition, and she'd extended the invitation to all of the band to come visit anytime they pleased. He can't even remember the last time he went home himself, so a visit seems like a good idea, and Seunghyun going along just makes it better. He calls her that even and in a stream of ecstatic shouts she says she'll be sure to cook his favorite foods and have his room all clean and ready for them.

The second they step through the door, she showers them with attention and compliments- Seunghyun skin looks so good, Younghak's muscles are getting so big, but both of them have lost too much weight and she'll be sure to fix that. She orders Younghak to take their overnight bags upstairs to his room, which he finds in much better condition than he left it. He smiles to himself and comes downstairs to find his mother patting Seunghyun's cheeks and beaming. "You have such good friends," she sighs to her son over her shoulder.

Throughout dinner Younghak stays relatively silent as his mother and Seunghyun dominate the conversation, both naturally more talkative people. The entire time, though, he's smiling to himself and he almost forgets to eat anything. His mother loves everything about Seunghyun- his round face, his charming eyes that form perfect crescents when he smiles, and most of all the easy way he carries the conversation. "You speak so well," she cries with a pleased smile. "Unlike my son," she adds and squeezes Younghak's hand, but he's not offended. He watches the two chat so comfortably and it feels warm, complete.

That night the three of them squeeze onto the slightly too-small couch for one of Younghak's and his mother's favorite movies. At first, Younghak is embarrassed and tries to hide it when his eyes start to water at his favorite scene, but a peek to the side and he sees Seunghyun crying openly. His mother breaks out the box of tissues and soon they're all blowing their noses and shouting at the television together. Sometime toward the middle of the film, Younghak takes advantage of the dark to grab Seunghyun's hand, and neither of them let go until the credits start to roll and his mother rises to turn on the lights.

"Ah, look at the time," she sniffles with red, happy eyes. "You have to leave early, too." With that, she hurries them off to Younghak's room and shuts herself in her own.

Stretched out comfortably on his blanket on the floor, Younghak already feels his eyelids growing heavy when Seunghyun pokes him in the shoulder. He rolls onto his side and can't really make out Seunghyun's face in the darkness, but he can imagine it there, tired but always smiling.

"Thanks for inviting me over," he whispers.

"You invited yourself," Younghak chuckles back. Now he can see Seunghyun frown a little, his eyes having adjusted to the dark. "But I'm glad you did." At that, his friend's brilliant smile returns full-force, and he moves across the small distance between them on his elbows.

"So I was thinking," he says, leaning over Younghak and not finishing his sentence as he kisses a lazy line across Younghak's jaw. Younghak wraps his arms around Seunghyun's back to drag him closer and Seunghyun's blanket comes with, tangled around his feet. While Seunghyun struggles to detach himself from his blanket, craning to look over his shoulder,Younghak kisses his bared neck. Seunghyun squirms against his side and, finally freed, turns back to capture Younghak's wandering mouth with his. Smiling against the familiar softness of Seunghyun's lips, his mind goes fuzzy and relaxed, that is until Seunghyun sneaks a hand under his shirt and starts playing with the hem of his sweatpants.

"Hyung," he says in a loud whisper, but Seunghyun puts a hand over his mouth. He ignores Younghak's alarmed grunt and bites Younghak's ear, then his neck, kissing the same spots as Younghak's breathing gets just a bit shakier. He removes his hand and at the same time slides the other up under the pinned boy's shirt. The gentle touches make Younghak shiver despite the fact that the room feels uncomfortably warm. He can't find the words to protest when Seunghyun roughly grabs his shirt and yanks it up over his arms and tosses it somewhere across the room. Seunghyun crawls across to complete pin Younghak down, straddling his legs and grinning, obviously pleased with himself.

"Guess what I brought?" Seunghyun asks, drawing squiggly shapes on Younghak's chest with his fingers. He doesn't wait for an answer, but reaches to the side, into his bag and brings out a small grocery bag. The bags slips from his fingers and spills onto the floor, countless small, tinfoil squares scattering as far as Younghak's closet. Seunghyun flushes and tries to gather them up and Younghak snorts in an effort to keep from laughing out loud.

"Why the hell did you bring so many?" he asks more in an effort to hide his own embarrassment. Seunghyun gives up on trying to clean up and turns back to Younghak with a dark glare. Rolling his eyes, Younghak pulls him back down for a rough, sloppy kiss and pats his head affectionately.

"Way to ruin the mood," Seunghyun grumbles and rolls over to lie beside Younghak. Though Younghak wants to argue because it really wasn't him who ruined it, he slaps Seunghyun's thigh to comfort him. Seunghyun responds by rolling onto his side and flopping one arm over Younghak torso. "It's such a waste," he says, poking at his friend's bare flesh and grinning when Younghak giggles.

Sighing with relief and exhaustion, Younghak gives him a goodnight kiss and says quietly, "There's plenty of time for a second try," which seems enough for Seunghyun as he nods a little and closes his eyes.

When they wake up the next day still like that, Seunghyun lying half on-top of half-naked Younghak, both panic and walk downstairs with their heads bent in shame. But if Younghak's mother had seen them, she doesn't say anything, just piles their plates high with breakfast and gives them both smacking kisses on the forehead.

The prospect of a "second try," however, leaves Younghak feeling nervous and giddy at the same time. His first instinct is to talk to Yejun, and the younger boy seems confused when Younghak asks him shyly a few days later if they can take a walk. He tells what happened while staring at his shoes and, to his surprise, Yejun doesn't laugh.

"I figured Seunghyun would be the aggressive one," he says thoughtfully and Younghak blushes and tries to protest. "Do you even know how to have sex with a guy?" Yejun asks, interrupting.

His blush spreads to the roots of his hair and he grumbles quickly, ""I have a vague idea and don't want to talk about it." Yejun laughs kindly and pats him on the back. "Have you and hyung...?" He asks, and Yejun slaps him on the back of the head.

"No," he says and makes it very clear that that is all he'll say on the matter. "We'd better head back soon or they'll murder us," he sighs and Younghak agrees, feeling better like he always did after talking to Yejun. He's already yawning by the time they reach the dorm, and he grunts in frustration when Yejun pauses in the doorway as they come in. "Um," Yejun says, continuing it hesitate and looking over his shoulder at Younghak with fear and uncertainty in his eyes.

But he spies right away the source of Yejun's hesitation. In the living room just beyond the doorway, Jinchul and Seunghyun stand lip-locked and blissfully unawares to their returning members. They become very aware, though, when Younghak storms across the small apartment and locks himself in the bedroom.

(next)