LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES...CHAPTER 16.1/?
Title: Love Knows No Boundaries
Author: tikibuddy91
Characters: EXO; BAP (Focus on Himchan, Yongguk, Jongup, and Junhong (YES, JUNHONG)); JB; SECRET (Hana and Jieun).
Word Count: ~5500 of 8560
Rating: PG
Genre: College, AU, Crossover
Summary: College students. Blind, Deaf and Mute. Their lives deal with the ups and downs, like a roller coaster. They find relationships, and companionships. Life does not always have a happy ending but they can try to get their happy endings.
Author Note: Yongguk and Himchan start working on a project...that Himchan apparently did not hear about...*cough* he wasn't paying attention really *cough*...HIMCHAN IS SERIOUSLY AWKWARD WITH MAKING FRIENDS. More is revealed about Himchan's life...and there is a secret to behold. (In which you will find in the next part!) Himchan meets Yongguk's friends for lunch, and oh my god, he has an overwhelming first meeting with social life. And this time, he does not have Jonguppie with him (poor Himchannie ;~;) ALAS, WE MEET JUNHONG!! FINALLY. And what is this... Jieun wants to tag along and Hana wants to tell her something? Hana doesn't seem aware of it. WHAT IS THIS SECRET. FIND OUT IN THE NEXT PART.
Sign Language Guide
Families
Prologue | Jongdae | Chapter 1 | Daehyun | Chapter 2 | Zitao | Chapter 3 | Kyungsoo | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 Part 1 | Chapter 14 Part 2 | Chapter 15 Part 1 | Chapter 15 Part 2 |
“Himchan…ah.”
Himchan has just written the last few key points of his professor’s lecture in his notes; the professor has recently dismissed the class and now, amidst the sounds of students once again hustling and bustling their ways out of the classroom, Himchan hears Yongguk calling out his name behind him, with a suffix that he has never heard Yongguk address him with before. He slowly turns around, facing Yongguk with a wary look. The past few days have been awkward for them, though Himchan was relieved last Thursday when Jongup returned his notebook from Yongguk through Jongin.
Ever since his notebook was returned, Himchan has not known how to act around Yongguk, looking for any signs of Yongguk knowing what he wrote in his notebook. Even though Yongguk knows, he does not let it show, leaving Himchan to believe he has never seen Himchan’s doodles. However, Yongguk has toned down his blunt flirting, since they soon need to start working on their project that is due in two months’ time. Himchan has avoided Yongguk these past few days, and Yongguk has wanted to share his brilliant idea for the project.
Now, in the almost empty classroom, Yongguk and Himchan hold their longest eye contact ever, until Yongguk looks away, clearing his throat, and he asks Himchan.
“I want to suggest something for our project…”
Himchan frowns at him in slight panic. “What project?”
Yongguk’s eyes flicker back to Himchan with a surprised look. Blinking, he speaks slowly, later picking up the pace. “The…project. The one our professor mentioned last week…Well, he hadn’t mentioned anything about it since then but…I’m sure you must remember the project? The one due in December, where we have to create a presentation for the class, dealing with the interaction and exposure to different styles. The professor mentioned we could do anything we want with music.”
Himchan’s eyes glance around in confusion, obviously unable to remember anything about it. He shrugs lightly.
“Wow,” Yongguk breathes. “You really did not pay attention that day…Well, I asked you if we could be partners, do you remember that?”
“YAH, I’m not that stupid to forget that,” Himchan complains, but he does not know that he subconsciously is gripping his notebook. “I…remember that part. So what do you have in mind?”
“Well,” Yongguk shifts a bit in his seat, leaning forward. Himchan slightly backs away on instinct. Yongguk catches that brief movement and chuckles, “I was thinking of creating a hybrid genre. You see, you have your strong traditional music background, and I have my strong western hip-hop music background. We can find some way to merge these two music styles. What do you think?”
Himchan blinks, stunned to hear a word that Yongguk is saying. “Are you asking me to deface the well-respected reputations of these traditional instr-”
“No no, that isn’t even my intention at all. My intention is quite the opposite. I want to bring these instruments to light, because I can see their potential to make awesome music, you know what I’m saying? It’ll be fun!” Yongguk has this gummy smile on his face, like he has found gold.
Himchan looks at Yongguk dubiously, “…I suppose.”
“Great! May I get your contact info? ‘Cause I tried to ask you last week but you ran off, and uh, you’ve been kind of avoiding me lately.” Yongguk’s smile fades and an expression of uncertainty replaces his then-excited face as he scratches the back of his neck.
“Oh…right, yeah...” Himchan trails off, the memory of last Thursday still creeping into his brain, and he blushes. “Um, here, lemme write it down.” A little distracted, he immediately writes his phone number and email on a page of Yongguk’s notebook; not noticing how Yongguk tried to stop him because he already has his cell phone out on his desk.
“Okay, great so uhm…heh,” Yongguk chuckles at Himchan’s distracted state of mind, craning his head to read Himchan’s email username, ‘MusicOfOld_gnr8N’, Music Of Old generatioN. Even though Yongguk thinks it is a long username, and a corny one, at least he can tell that it has Himchan’s surname in it. He enters Himchan’s phone number into his phone. “I’ll give you a call and you can save it into your phone; same for emailing, I’ll email you. Lemme call you right now.” Yongguk says as he dials and brings his phone to his ear.
“But wait, there’s pe-“ Himchan looks around the classroom, and it is mostly empty except for the two of them. “…Never mind.” He takes out his cell phone and stares down at it, waiting for Yongguk’s call to go through. When it does, he feels his cell phone momentarily vibrate before he pushes the button hurriedly to turn the vibration off. Himchan sees Yongguk’s number and saves it into his contacts.
“So, when would you like to meet up, after school today, or this weekend, or what?” Himchan briskly asks Yongguk.
“Yeah, we can meet up today. You don't have to bring anything. We’ll go to my house, and I can show you some of my albums you can listen to, you know, just to get the feel of it. Let me warn you, though. I have a younger brother who’s in high school, so he can be a bit too much to handle, for other people, it seems. I also have an older sister who’s a free-lance rapper and a dance instructor. You know, I think I might have seen your brother…if ‘Jongup’ is your brother?” Himchan blinks at him and slowly nods, wondering how the heck did Yongguk know this. As if reading his mind, Yongguk replies with a smirk, “It wasn’t that hard to hear you last Tuesday during lunch when you called out to him.” It leaves Himchan blushing and stuttering to make up some poor excuse for not being so composed with himself.
Yongguk chuckles and continues on, “Jongin and Sehun told me about Jongup. He seems like a nice kid, from what I hear. But anyway, next week Saturday, we can meet up at your place. You can show me your instruments, and I can listen to your cds of your performances and other traditional music performances. In the weeks to come after that, we’ll experiment at one of our studios and work out a piece for us to play for the class. What do you think?”
Himchan nods, thinking hard about this. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all, I think this could work out really well, he thinks to himself.
A sudden vibration on his cell phone interrupts Himchan’s thoughts as he jerks awake, and Yongguk gives him a concerned look. Himchan looks at his cell phone, a text message from Hyosung. He checks it and receives good news.
To: Kim Himchan
From: Jeon Hyosung
Himchannie! I got the job! You’re looking at the dance instructor teacher assistant right now! I’m gonna go celebrate with some old friends, is that okay? I kinda promised them that I would meet up with them. We’ll celebrate sometime this weekend if we can.
Huh, old friends? She must mean the friends from her college, I guess…Eh, I’ll surprise her later this weekend with a date, Himchan thinks to himself with a shrug.
“What was that about?”
Himchan jolts, forgetting that he is not the only one in the room, as he looks into Yongguk’s concerned eyes. His mind goes blank, and all he can say is, “Mm…”
“…Mm?”
“Uh…no, it’s uh…” Himchan blinks as he waves with his cell phone in his hand, making out as brushing off air, “It’s just that my girlfriend got the job, heh. But she’s celebrating with her old friends, though I think she means her friends from college, which was not too long ago…she’s gonna be this” - he reads his cell phone - “dance instructor teacher assistant.” He looks up at Yongguk, who raises his eyebrows at the title.
“That’s a long name to be addressed.”
“That’s what I thought too. But as long as she’s happy with what she’s doing, I’m fine with that. And uh…” Himchan turns around as he makes to stand up from his seat, still holding his cell phone in his hand. He gathers the rest of his stuff into his laptop bag, “…I think we should get going for lunch, we’re the only ones here, Yongguk-sshi.”
“Hm? Oh, are we?” Yongguk looks around from his seat. “Oh wow, seems like you’re right. Wanna join me for lunch?” He gathers his stuff and stands up as well, glancing at Himchan when he offers lunch.
“Ah, no that’s o-”
As Himchan makes to follow Yongguk up the stairs since Yongguk is already walking up, there is a sudden vibration in his hand, which causes Himchan to look down at his cell phone again. A text from Jongup…wait, is he okay?, Himchan mildly panics as he flips open the cell phone and reads the text.
To: Himmie Hyung
From: Cheetos
Hyung, I’m going to go eat with Jongin and Sehun for lunch. Is that okay with you? Please don’t be mad or worried, hyung~ I’ll be eating with them at the food courtyard but it’ll probably be in a different area. I’ll see you after class! ^_^;
“Actually, I’ll take up the offer.” Himchan continues to walk up the stairs, as Yongguk is waiting for him at the top. “My brother’s gonna eat with his friends. Is that okay with you, Yongguk-ssh-”
“Himchan-ah,” Yongguk interrupts with a slightly pained voice, making Himchan falter in his steps, “we’re friends. No need to be all polite and ‘-sshi’ with me. I’ve called you ‘Himchannie’ for the past few days, and even ‘Himchan-ah’ today. We’re even in the same year. Speak comfortably with me, ok?”
Himchan fidgets in his standing position, appearing to think about it. Finally, he gives in. “…Okay…Yongguk…a-…kie.” Himchan cringes a bit.
Yongguk notices the slight movement, and he suddenly asks Himchan, “Don’t you have your group of friends? Since you’re kinda well known in the music department, as I’ve heard from my girlfriend too. Actually, more like really well known. Figured a guy like you would have some friends, though…”
Himchan blushes. Yongguk waits for Himchan to say something, but Himchan is thinking to himself, Man, I have been blushing like this one too many times with him around. Why does it have to be Yongguk? He continues to walk until he is at the top of the stairs, standing in front of Yongguk. “I…don’t, actually…erm…yeah. Hyosung, my girlfriend, is also my only best friend. I don’t really have a time to be social, anyway.” They start to walk out of the classroom and head to the Food Courtyard. Yongguk is paying attention to every word he says, and Himchan is half-nervous and half-glad that someone cares about his well-being. “Er…I-I came here to study, and to help my brother do well in school. I have even done some part-time jobs inside and outside of campus; right now, I’m assisting an old professor of mine. He’ll call on me the night before to either temporarily preside the lectures in the next day or help him grade some papers. Our pa-…” Himchan catches himself from saying the rest of the word “parents”, because he does not want to think on the memory of his parents. Yongguk has been looking ahead and listening to him, until he hears Himchan hesitate and he looks at him, waiting to hear the rest of it.
Himchan clears his throat, “I’m sure people have spread rumors that I have a rich status, but I don’t. I never called myself rich, because the money I had…was passed down. I don’t even intend to use that money unless necessary, and I can manage working jobs to earn enough money for Jongup and I. I earned my own money to be able to pay off half of both my and Jongup’s tuitions, using some of the inherited money to pay the other half.”
Yongguk looks at Himchan with pitiful eyes, figuring out what Himchan was trying hard not to say out loud. However, he does not bring it up, and can only wait until Himchan is ready to tell him. “Himchan-ah,” Yongguk lifts one of his arms to drape over Himchan’s shoulders, and he can feel Himchan flinching a bit before getting a bit stiff under his arm. “Whoa, okay. First of all, you need to relax, I’m your friend from now on. I mean it. Second of all, I really respect what you do. You sound like a hero to your brother, a role model that everyone can learn from you and respect you so much. Your parents must be proud of you.” He does not miss Himchan’s slight reaction to when he says ‘your parents’, as Himchan looks down and sag his shoulders.
“Third, you’re gonna be meeting my younger group of friends, as well as my girlfriend. I’ve known some of them for quite a long time. Third, I know you’re mature enough, but I will let you know two of my friends, that you’re about to meet, are deaf.” Himchan glances at Yongguk upon hearing ‘deaf’, and he frowns a bit as he listens to Yongguk. “One of them wears hearing aids, so he can talk for himself most times. His brother sometimes interprets for him. The other one, whom I have known, and his brother too, for a long time, is fully deaf, so don’t be surprised at his hands. However, it is courtesy that you look at him when you talk, but you can look at his brother, or his friend, or me, when we interpret for him. Fourth, I have just recently met the other group of friends through my recently acquainted friend, and among that group of friends, one is blind and the other is mute. Just so you know, it’s quite a big group when you have two groups of friends together.” Himchan nods in understanding and smiles a bit.
“Why are you doing this?”
Yongguk smiles and shrugs, “You look lonely most of the time, even when you have your girlfriend and your brother around. I figured you need a friend, or actually, one large group of friends, in this case.” Himchan chuckles, and Yongguk suddenly looks at him, a grin creeping on his face. “Yah, Himchan-ah…did you just chuckle?”
Himchan stares at Yongguk, unsure if he hears it right. “…I think so? Yah, I’m not the stiff, formal type. I’m just dignified; it doesn’t mean I’m a robot or some kind of stoic person.” He lightly hits Yongguk on the chest with the back of his hand, and Yongguk looks slightly amused.
It does not take long for the duo to find Yongguk’s group of friends at the plaza court and all eyes, except for one guy’s Himchan notices, are on him when the duo arrives. Himchan spots Joonmyeon and is surprised to see him there. Joonmyeon shows a smile and a nod, but says nothing to acknowledge their recent acquaintance. Yongguk lets his arm drop away from Himchan’s shoulders to let Himchan introduce himself to the group. Himchan notices how the only female in the group seems a bit star-struck as she looks at him, and some of the guys are looking impressed by him. Himchan assumes that either Yongguk must have told them about him or that they knew him by rumors and traveling news in the music department.
“Er…” Himchan glances at Yongguk, who gives him an encouraging nod. “H-hi, I’m Moon Himchan. Music Grad Student.” He sees a younger guy with a nice, alluring face of a child, as the guy appears to be making shapes with his hand to two other guys who are glancing between Himchan and the guy with the shaping hand. He falters a bit before coming back on track, “I’m with him.”
Himchan points to Yongguk, and everybody raises their eyebrows at him before looking at Yongguk. The guys then glance at Jieun and back at Himchan, looking a bit confused. Himchan realizes his mistake a few seconds later, and he corrects himself.
“UH, I MEAN…ahem…I mean, I’m in the same class with Yongguk-ss…“ - Himchan suddenly sneaks a glance at Yongguk, who is watching him with a ‘what did I tell you?’ look - “…goon.”
“Yongguk’s goon? You’re in the same class, not with Yongguk-hyung, but with his friend?” Chanyeol asks, and Baekhyun wheels around in his seat, facing him.
“What. Chanyeol, Himchan-sshi just pointed at Yongguk-hyung and called him ‘him’ earlier, remember? He’s just clearing it up, right, Himchan-sshi?”
“Y-yeah,” Himchan nods. “I was just cleari-‘
“Call him ‘hyung’, Baekhyun-ah. Everyone here who is a 91’er or younger will address Himchan by ‘hyung’. Jongin and Sehun will also need to know this. However, this excludes you guys, Luhan-goon and Jieun-ah, will address him as ‘hyung’. I want to invite him into our circle of friends, ok?” Yongguk orders. There is no feeling of resentment on the faces of the group members as they all nod in agreement.
“Actually, Yongguk-hyung,” Joonmyeon’s voice emerges from the chorus of “sure”s and “yeah”s. Himchan looks to Joonmyeon and sees the genuineness in his eyes as he speaks, “Jongin, Sehun and I met Himchan a few days ago, during that time he was with Jongup. He asked us to call him ‘hyung’ at that time, so looking back from today, I don’t have a problem with calling him ‘hyung’ nor inviting him into our group of friends. Himchan-hyung, welcome to our group. I will let the members introduce themselves starting with Jongdae all the way to JB. Jongdae-yah, why don’t you go ahead?”
Himchan looks around and follows everyone’s gaze to a young man named Jongdae who has been looking in Joonmyeon’s direction and he grips the edge of the table as he stands up. Himchan notices that this Jongdae must be blind because Jongdae is momentarily trying to find his surroundings as he extends his arm, assuming where Himchan is standing. Himchan quickly goes over to the guy and takes Jongdae’s hand into his hands. Jongdae almost looked at me in the face but was a bit off to the left, Himchan observes.
“Hi! I’m Lee Jongdae. 2nd year Math student! Nice to meet you, Himchan-hyung!” Himchan is not ready for the blinding smile that Jongdae has the moment he starts to speak, nor the bubbly voice. It slightly reminds him of Jongup, mostly the bright smile. Jongdae makes to sit down and Himchan helps him. The next guy is sitting near Jongdae and he has a nice, long face. He stands up and introduces himself with a smile to be Zhang Yixing, senior dance student. Himchan can detect a faint Chinese accent in his voice. Himchan gives a friendly nod and bow. The next is Luhan, whom Yongguk was referring to earlier, and he calls Himchan “goon”. He explains that he and Yixing are brothers. Wow, they both have that handsome gene for their faces. Luhan’s got quite a doll-like face, Himchan thinks to himself. Luhan then introduces Huang Zitao, who holds up his notepad and on it has his name written in both Chinese and Korean, as well as his major, and an extra line to mention him being classmates with Jongdae. Himchan bows his head in acknowledgement.
Looking to Joonmyeon, Himchan and Joonmyeon chuckle a bit before Joonmyeon says that because he knows him already, he will pass the torch - “so to speak”, he says - to Kyungsoo next to him. The guy named Kyungsoo looks at Himchan, and smiles softly. He raises his hands to speak and sign at the same time.
“Hi, my name is Park Kyungsoo. I’m a 3rd year journalist major. Nice to meet you, Himchan-hyung. And by the way, you can just talk to me, I can hear you fine with my hearing aids.” [Hello, my name B-ae-k G-yeo-ng-s-u. Junior major journalism study. Nice “meet-you”, H-i-m-ch-a-n-hyung. B-t-w, talk “direct-me” can, hear fine hearing-aids.].
At first, Himchan is caught off-guard with the hand motions but he remembers that Yongguk had informed him about his two deaf friends. As soon as the awkwardness inside him dissipates after Kyungsoo says that Himchan can just talk directly to him, he resorts to waving and saying “hello.” Kyungsoo makes a gesture to indicate it is the next guy’s turn, and Himchan looks at the next guy.
As soon as the guy speaks, Himchan gets startled with the odd pronunciations this guy is having, but then Yongguk comes to his side. A few seconds after Daehyun speaks, Yongguk then interprets for Himchan, who gets startled at first but gets used to it later on.
“Hi, mai nem Shung D’aeheohn. Sem wid K’eonz-oo, therd yir shurnlist mayshor. Nais meezu, Himjan-‘yeohng.” [Hi, my name J-eo-ng D-ae-h-yeo-n. “Same-Kyungsoo”, Junior major journalism. Nice “meet-you”, H-i-m-ch-a-n-hyung.]
Yongguk’s voice fills Himchan’s ears and Himchan cannot resist a little shudder, slightly blushing. “My name is Jung Daehyun…I’m also a third year student with Kyungsoo, and in journalism. Nice to meet you, Himchan-hyung.” Himchan glances between Daehyun and Yongguk, a little confused with Yongguk’s usage of “I”, but he dares not to question it. The awkwardness comes back again and he tries to push it aside by just doing the same thing he did with Kyungsoo: smile and wave, but also say “Nice to meet you too.”
Himchan then meets Baekhyun and Chanyeol, and he will be lying if he says that he does not know that they are a couple, because Chanyeol has Baekhyun in his arms with Baekhyun’s back relaxing against his chest. After them, he meets Jieun, who is feeling nervous but she keeps her posture as she introduces herself. Himchan thinks to himself, She’s quite pretty, Yongguk is lucky to have her. Youngjae and JB then introduce themselves last, and Himchan feels a little overwhelmed with a lot of names. He experiments with the group in guessing their names, and he gets it right on the first try.
“Shall we sit down then?” Yongguk offers to Himchan and they both sit across from Kyungsoo and Daehyun. Himchan glances at Jieun, thinking that she might be jealous that Yongguk is not sitting with her, but to his surprise, she is not. She still maintains the happy, shy look on her face when they make eye contact. The whole group fall into conversation and Himchan finds himself chuckling and talking comfortably with them during lunch. Although Himchan does not notice, Yongguk has been keeping an eye on him most of the time with a smile on his face, and glancing at Jieun to wink at her.
Himchan keeps a lookout for his brother as he takes out his lunch that he has made once again for himself and for Jongup. He tries to do it as subtly as possible, but with having so many friends surrounding him, it is bound to happen that at least one member will catch on to what he is doing. Yongguk, Daehyun, Zitao, Kyungsoo and Youngjae notice his behavior, and after hearing that Jongin and Sehun have accompanied Jongup, they assure Himchan that the trio will be just fine. Himchan bites the bottom of his lip in worry but he nods, accepting their reassurance.
After the group splits up, everyone except Yongguk and Himchan go to classes. As for the two of them, they spend some time talking about each other while waiting near the entrance gates for Jongup and JB to finish classes. The two guys are playing rock-paper-scissors game when Himchan hears Jongup shouting his name. Yongguk notices the mixture of relief and exhilaration on Himchan’s face when Himchan looks at Jongup. He looks in the same direction as Himchan and sees Jongup accompanied with JB and, surprisingly enough, Jieun. Himchan gets up, unintentionally ignoring Yongguk, and walks over to Jongup to give him a hug. With one arm, he wraps Jongup’s back and cups the back of Jongup’s head with another hand before bringing Jongup close to him, resting his forehead on Jongup’s head.
“How’s my little Jonguppie-ah? Hyung really missed you a lot, you know.”
“Hyung, haha, I know, I missed you too. I heard from JB-hyung and Jieun-noona that you met our big group of friends, though. Didn’t I tell you that they’re pretty nice?” Jongup beams up at him as he slightly pulls away from Himchan. Himchan smiles as he nods.
“AIGOO~ YOU TWO. IT’S SO CUTE. Jonguppie is so precious, I feel like crying,” Jieun coos. “Yah, Himchan-ah, why are you so affectionate only to your brother? Can’t you show us some affection too?” She pouts.
“Eh? But you have Yongguk for that, Jieun…ah,” Himchan says the suffix a bit tentatively; he is still trying to get used to acknowledging them as equals, as friends.
“Oh, I know but it’s like a whole another side of you that we have never seen, and I, well most of us would like to see you like that. You’re so comfortable and more yourself, instead of stuttering and all.”
“Ah, well, then in that case, Jongup will have to join me every time we all meet. I’m sure you don’t have a problem with that, hmm, my little Jonguppie?” Himchan shoots the question to his brother, who looks up at him with a teasing look.
“Hyung, you know I don’t have a problem with you hanging out with us but come onnn~ hyung, I’m getting too old to be little. I’m in college!” Jongup whines.
“Not if you act like that, you aren’t. You’re still my little brother, you’ll always be my little brother,” Himchan holds Jongup’s head in his hands and brushes noses with him, ignoring Jongup’s complaining grunt and attempts to resist Himchan’s affections. JB looks on, a little bit amused but slightly uncomfortable to this kind of brotherly affection. Yongguk blinks and glances at Jieun, who is still rooted to her spot, fawning over them. After Himchan pulls away, he drapes one of his arms over Jongup’s shoulder and nudges him gently. “Come on, we’re going home later; Yongguk’s inviting us to his place so we can check out some music for our project. He has a younger brother who’s in high school, see if you can hang out with him too. Also a noona. We’ll be home for dinner, don’t worry. Shall we go, Yongguk-goon?” Yongguk nods and, gathering JB and Jieun close to him, he leads the way to his apartment.
On the way to Yongguk’s place, Yongguk asks Jieun what is the reason that she is joining them.
“Oh, your sister wants to see me.”
“Did she now? Huh…may I ask why?” Yongguk’s curiosity gets the better of him.
“It’s a secret, she says~” Jieun singsongs and Yongguk deflates. The others laugh.
When the chatting group gets to the door of Yongguk’s apartment on the fourth floor of the apartment building, a voice calls out behind the door, just as Yongguk is about to reach for his key in his pocket.
“HYUNG~ IS THAT YOU? JIEUN-NOONA? OH, JR. JB-HYUNG’S HERE, TOO. Annndd two other people I do not know.”
“Wha…Junhong-ah, how did you know?” Yongguk and everyone are surprised. There is no peephole evident on the door.
“’Cause JR and I saw you earlier and rode home on our skateboards as fast as we could. Got here 10 minutes ago and now I’m watching you from under the door. It’s a tight space to look through but better than nothing.”
Yongguk glances down to the floor and knocks on the door, announcing that he will be letting the group come in, else he will sweep Junhong on the floor with the door. He hears Junhong scrambling and unlocking the door before the group sees Junhong in person.
Himchan and Jongup are shocked.
They do not expect Junhong to be…well…tall.
Junhong stands over six feet tall, almost as tall as Yongguk himself, a few inches taller than Himchan and over a head taller than Jongup. At first, Junhong stares at Himchan and Jongup with big, curious eyes and then he suddenly bursts out a smile so infectious and charming. Himchan suddenly starts to have the urge to baby him as well.
“Hello! My name is Bang Junhong! I’m in high school. Come on in!” Junhong steps aside to let the group enter the place. “YAH, JINYOUNG-GOON! JR-YAH!”
A scrambling of feet hurries from the hallway and everyone sees a young man with a honey skin tone and spiked black hair coming in. There is a huge height difference between JR and Junhong. JR greets with a wave, “HI HYUNGS, HI NOONA! Ah, who are you two?” He cocks his head at the sight of Himchan and Jongup.
Yongguk smiles and raises one of his arms to indicate towards the Moon brothers, “These are our friends, the Moon brothers. Junhong-ah and Jinyoung-ah, this is Moon Himchan and Moon Jongup. Himchan’s my year in music and Jongup is one year older than you two; he’s a dance major, so maybe you two can get closer with music, yeah? Call them ‘hyungs’, okay?”
“Oh, ok! Hello Himchan-hyung and Jongup-hyung!” Junhong and Jinyoung greet the brothers warmly with a bow. Yongguk switches the tables around, introducing the Moon brothers to Junhong and Jinyoung, adding that Jinyoung is Jaebum’s brother - “we mostly call them JR and JB,” Yongguk adds.
“Hello, guys! OH, HI JIEUN-AH~!” An older female with blonde hair enters the area where the whole group is gathered, and her outfit makes her look as if ready to go out somewhere, with her purse hanging on the crook of her arm. She spots Jieun among the group.
“Hey, noona. This is Moon Himchan and Jongup, they’re brothers. Himchan’s my year and Jongup’s a freshman in college, a year older than Junhong-ah and Jinyoung-ah. Guys, this is my noona, Bang Hana. She’s a couple years older than me.” Yongguk introduces the party.
“Hana as in hana, dul, set, A, B, C~,” Hana singsongs with a chuckle. Himchan and Jongup smile and nod, before bowing to her. “Very nice to meet you both! But oh my goodness, Moon Jongup, is that correct?” - Jongup blinks as he points to himself, and nods - “AIGOO, you’re so cuuute!! I mean, Junhonggie-ah is cute but he’s tall so it kinda ruins it for me” - “NOONA!” Junhong exclaims in despair - “hehehe, but with your height, no offense, Jonguppie-yah, it just makes you all the more adorableee~, Yah, Yongguk-ah, why did you not tell me Jongup was adorable?? And Himchan-ah,” Hana giggles, and Yongguk gives her a warning glare, “you are very handsome. Yongguk must be lucky to have a really handsome guy friend like you, don’t you think so, Yonggukkie?” She gives Yongguk a smug look, and Yongguk shakes his head faintly with a glare still on his face.
Himchan smirks and scratches his nose, glancing at Jongup, who is slightly blushing and smiling at the compliment. They thank her and Hana coos back.
“Unnie, did you need to tell me something?” Jieun asks, getting Hana’s attention. Hana looks at her blankly for a moment before remembering the text she sent her earlier. “Oh yeah! Jieun-ah, we should get going! I wanna show you something very cool! Sorry guys for being here for a short time, but it was nice seeing you all! Bye!” She hurries to take Jieun’s hand and Jieun waves to Yongguk in a rush before the guys see the two girls exit of the apartment.
“Wonder what it is that noona wants to show Jieun-noona?” Junhong mutters to himself.
“Jinyoung-ah, we need to go. Are you almost ready?” Jaebum asks his brother. JR nods and goes into the hallway to Junhong’s bedroom to get his stuff. “Yongguk-hyung, my brother and I best be going. We’ll see you next week, yeah? Himchan-hyung, Jongup-ah, it was nice to meet you guys!” - JR comes back with his backpack and skateboard - “Okay, guys. Have a great weekend!” JB bids goodbye to the group as JR does too, and the whole group says their “goodbyes” as well. JR closes the door, being the last to leave, and now the Bang brothers and Moon brothers are left in the room.
“Jongup-hyung, wanna come to my room and dance? I got some hip-hop albums and R&B albums that you might want to give a listen to.” Junhong beckons Jongup to follow him, and Jongup glances at Himchan before nodding with a gentle smile. Jongup follows Junhong into the hallway and they head to Junhong’s room.
“Guess all that’s left for us to do is head over to my room and get down and busy, eh? My apologies, princess. Would it please your majesty if I may escort you to my chambers?” Yongguk smirks as he nods his head towards the hallway where his room is located in. Himchan blushes as he shakes his head in amusement, chuckling, “Again with the princess, enough of that, you punk. Hahaha, if you mean filling my ears with your powerful bass sounds of booming beatbox beats, then yes, we’re getting down and busy.”
Part 2 (because I felt like this was a good time to stop before you get your emotions ready. :3)