Archive of Our Own

Minhyuk doesn't know how he ended up here.

He blinks, looking at the person in front of him.

Chae Hyungwon is smiling at him. Not in a friendly manner. Chae Hyungwon doesn't know what friendly means. He smiles in a sly way, it's actually more like a smirk, Minhyuk thinks. Except they're in a public place, so Hyungwon has to put up a façade and pretend that he's a decent human being. Even if he's not.

"So," Hyungwon says, and his voice is calm, and soft, as if he was trying to make a good impression. Minhyuk wants to barf. "What brings you here?"

They're in a coffee shop. Kihyun is going to have so much fun listening to this.

He will enjoy hearing about Minhyuk's misery, squealing about something as cliché as this. Of course he's going to get excited about Minhyuk recreating one of these stupid, nauseating love stories that he used to read when they were in university and talk Minhyuk's ear off about shit like fate and soulmates and lovers.

Really, coffee shop is such a dull idea.

Unlike Kihyun, who has a perfect life and a perfect boyfriend with whom he's been for years already, Minhyuk doesn't believe in romance. He is a practical kind of guy. Minhyuk is a materialist, he believes in money and in leading a comfortable type of life.

He doesn't feel very comfortable right now, though.

Minhyuk fidgets in the chair, trying to get somewhat relaxed, or at least less nervous, but it's hard. There's nothing relaxing about sitting by one small table with Chae Hyungwon and having to pretend that he doesn't want to rip Hyungwon's head off. Or at least punch him in that stupid, pretty face.

Of course, Minhyuk doesn't actually want to punch Hyungwon. Minhyuk is nice and well-mannered, and nothing like Chae Hyungwon.

And yet the thought of punching him is nice.

"I could ask you the same thing," Minhyuk says shortly.

Hyungwon raises his brows.

Minhyuk takes a sugar bag and rips the top off. He adds it to his coffee, and then grabs the second bag. After the third one Hyungwon looks at him funny, so Minhyuk grabs the fourth one, too, looking at Hyungwon daringly.

But Hyungwon doesn't say anything.

"Is there a problem with my coffee?" Minhyuk asks.

He wonders if maybe he should add the fifth bag, just for the hell of it. He has a sweet tooth anyways, five bags of sugar in his coffee is nothing.

Hyungwon has problems trying to keep himself from laughing. "No, of course not." He covers his mouth with his fist. There are wrinkles around his eyes. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this Caramel Macchiato?"

Minhyuk almost, almost, rolls his eyes. He doesn't, because he's polite.

"And?" he asks and okay, maybe his voice isn't very polite right now, but Minhyuk is trying. Really. Cut him some slack.

Hyungwon shakes his head. "No, nothing," he says, but he's still smiling.

Somehow, it's irritating.

"I'm just worried about your sugar level," Hyungwon continues. "And teeth. Too much sugar causes cavities."

"My sugar level and my cavities is none of your business," Minhyuk snarls.

Hyungwon nods. "Right. I'm sorry. I won't mention this again."

He takes his own cup and lifts it slowly, blows at the coffee before touching the cup with his lips. Hyungwon takes a sip and somehow it looks like he's showing off.

Chae Hyungwon looks good. He looks more than good. He looks like a freaking model. Minhyuk knows this. As much as he dislikes the guy, he can't deny it. In a way, Hyungwon being handsome and hot is one of the reasons why Minhyuk came to dislike him so much. No, it's not jealousy. Yes, Minhyuk has a very valid reason to hate Chae Hyungwon.

The thing is, Hyungwon also knows that he looks good. And he's using that right now, shamelessly, against Minhyuk. He shows off how attractive he is, and how elegant he seems to be, and honestly? Minhyuk wants to scoff. Because Minhyuk knows Hyungwon, and Hyungwon is anything but elegant. This is just an act.

So why does Hyungwon look so natural like this?

"Who made you do this?" Hyungwon asks then. "Let me guess. Was it Kihyun?"

And now Minhyuk actually scoffs, as if what Hyungwon said was as funny as a joke. Except it's not a joke, and it's not really funny. Minhyuk just really doesn't want to admit that Kihyun has the power to persuade him to do something.

"Why would it be Kihyun?" Minhyuk asks back.

And, for once, Hyungwon looks surprised. "Was it Changkyun, then?"

Minhyuk frowns. "No. Why?"

"Right, Changkyun doesn't seem like he would care so much to make you join me tonight," Hyungwon nods. "So, Kihyun, then. What a surprise. I will have to thank him for this."

"No one made me do anything," Minhyuk denies. "I'm just nice enough to accept a date when I'm invited to one."

This time it's Hyungwon who looks as if he heard something hilarious.

"Even if this date is with me?" he asks, playfully.

Minhyuk furrows his brows.

Chae Hyungwon knows exactly how Minhyuk feels about him. Not that Minhyuk would expect that he didn't. Surely Minhyuk's resentment towards Hyungwon is so obvious that anyone in their workplace knows about it, but it doesn't change the fact that Minhyuk didn't think Hyungwon would be so upfront about it.

But Minhyuk is a great actor, so he just shrugs.

"You're paying," he says simply. "I decided I could spend one evening with you if it meant free coffee and cake."

The smile on Hyungwon's lips doesn't change, but even if it stays the same as it was before, it seems to infuriate Minhyuk more and more.

He can't wait for the date to end.

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad."

If Kihyun was anywhere near Minhyuk, and if glares could kill, Kihyun would be a dead man by now. But Kihyun is at his apartment, and Minhyuk is at his own, and they talk through the phone, so Minhyuk can't do anything to him for now.

"Sure," Minhyuk scoffs. He slams the microwave door and punches the keys angrily to heat up his food. "It was fine. Perfect, actually. Just peachy."

There's a sigh, and Minhyuk doesn't need to see Kihyun to know that he just rolled his eyes. He doesn't need to see Kihyun to know what exact expression he has either.

"But it was bearable at least, right? You two talked?"

Minhyuk grunts.

"So you did." Kihyun sounds satisfied. No, not satisfied. Triumphant. How unnerving.

"What about?"

"About how annoying you are."

"And?"

"And how much your ideas suck."

"Sure you did." With each passing second, with each word leaving Kihyun's mouth, it's clear that Kihyun is getting impatient. "Because that's how you spend your dates, right? Bitching about me."

Minhyuk groans. He rubs his face, leaning against the kitchen counter.

"If you know so well what we were doing, which you seem to do, why won't you tell me about it instead?" Minhyuk huffs. "Why ask all these stupid questions?"

He's getting irritated. It's a well-known fact among his friends just how much he dislikes Chae Hyungwon, and yet Kihyun tricked him into going on dates with him. Dates, because it isn't just one, but three.

Kihyun is a merciless man.

"Come on, of course I don't know how it went," Kihyun says. "That's why I'm asking."

"Okay."

"Do you really think I wouldn't question you about the date you had with the Chae Hyungwon from the sales department?"

The microwave beeps and Minhyuk opens the door to get his food.

"I don't know what you want to hear," Minhyuk admits as he closes the microwave. "It was such a dumb idea," he mumbles.

"Oh?" Kihyun asks, intrigued. "So something happened."

"Nothing happened," Minhyuk denies sharply. "I just regret that I wasted an evening on meeting that bastard when I could do something better instead."

"Going on a date doesn't seem too bad when the alternative is playing video games," Kihyun states.

"Going on a date with Chae Hyungwon is horrible when the alternative is playing video games," Minhyuk argues.

Kihyun scoffs and Minhyuk feels mildly offended and gravely disturbed.

Minhyuk knows that Kihyun hasn't had much contact with Chae Hyungwon. He also knows that Kihyun isn't one to make assumptions about someone he hardly knows. But Kihyun has also known from the very beginning how Minhyuk felt about Chae Hyungwon, and Minhyuk thought it was enough. Kihyun was supposed to be loyal, even if he doesn't know just how infuriating Chae Hyungwon really is.

"Anyways, it wasn't too bad," Kihyun decides.

Minhyuk clenches his jaw as he grabs the plate and goes to his bedroom. Why is Kihyun stating something like this on Minhyuk's behalf?

"It was just one date."

"One too many."

"Just one date," Kihyun repeats, punctuating each word. "But yes, of course, it was horrible and all that stuff. Too bad there are two more dates to go."

Minhyuk snorts at the reminder.

"You agreed on that, remember?"

"Yeah," Minhyuk says, regretfully. "Why did I?"

"Because you're proud as fuck and you couldn't stand the thought that I challenged you to do something and you backed off without a fight."

That's true.

It was just two weeks ago when Kihyun told Minhyuk that according to Changkyun—which already starts horribly because the three of them are known for being gossips—Chae Hyungwon was planning to ask him out. Which was only slightly surprising since Minhyuk, not to brag, is anyone's ideal man. Changkyun and Kihyun don't always seem to agree with that, but it's their role as Minhyuk's friends to be a little mean sometimes, and vice versa.

So, having heard the news, Minhyuk didn't have any big reaction. Apart from maybe grimacing because why would Chae Hyungwon think about asking him out? As if he thought that Minhyuk would agree? In his dreams maybe.

But then Minhyuk was actually forced to agree when Kihyun started taunting Minhyuk about it. Talking shit like Minhyuk being stuck way too far in his head to go on a date with someone like Chae Hyungwon. Which Minhyuk denied, obviously, because he is not stuck in his head. He just knows his worth. Why would he torture himself with Chae Hyungwon's presence?

To prove Kihyun wrong, is the answer, apparently.

"Look," Kihyun said those two weeks ago when Minhyuk was done giving him a lecture why going out with Chae Hyungwon is the worst idea anyone would ever have. "You're too proud to admit that you're just an asshole."

Minhyuk gasped, feeling offended. "Excuse me?"

"Just what exactly did Chae Hyungwon do that made you hate him so much?"

Something that isn't maybe too embarrassing generally, but at the same time something that Minhyuk is definitely too proud to admit.

"Hate is a strong word," Minhyuk said, ignoring the question. "I just don't like him too much."

"The way you talk about him suggests something else."

Minhyuk frowned. "What do you want?"

And the smirk that Kihyun gave Minhyuk is something that Minhyuk will recall for the rest of his life. He will recall it on his deathbed, thinking about how Yoo Kihyun made his life miserable with his stupid ideas.

"Go on three dates with Chae Hyungwon." Kihyun was so sly when he said that. "Prove me that you're not an asshole."

And Minhyuk could do anything. He could reject the idea. He could say that he doesn't need to do anything to prove that he's a normal, decent human being, without having to endure something as terrible as this.

But Kihyun was right. Minhyuk is proud as fuck. This, and his stubbornness, will be the end of him one day. Minhyuk knows.

Because Minhyuk isn't just too proud not to prove Kihyun wrong. He's also too proud to tell Kihyun that he and Hyungwon know each other, much better than Kihyun would expect, as a result of one pleasant evening, followed by one passionate night three years ago. A night that Minhyuk thought could mean something but turned out to only be a hookup after Chae Hyungwon ignored him the very next day. And the day after. And for the next months. For the next years.

Minhyuk is so damn proud, so of course he agreed.

And now he knows just how bad of an idea it was.

"You really want to see my misery, don't you?" Minhyuk sighs in the phone, about to sit down by his desk and eat when he realizes that something is wrong.

He forgot his chopsticks.

Kihyun laughs at Minhyuk's comment as Minhyuk goes back to the kitchen.

"Don't be dramatic," Kihyun says. "There are really much worse things than going on dates. And you get free food out of it, at least."

Minhyuk rolls his eyes. "I'm not this cheap. You can't buy me with free food."

Kihyun hums. "No, you're not cheap. Just proud."

It sounds like it should be a jab. It is a jab. But Minhyuk has no strength to fight with Kihyun about it.

The second date is supposed to be on Friday and Minhyuk is dreading it.

On Monday he works as usual. On Tuesday Kihyun starts asking him questions about the next date so Minhyuk avoids him, hiding during the lunch break in Hyunwoo's cubicle instead of going to the cafeteria.

On Wednesday Minhyuk finds himself standing in front of the door to Hyungwon's office.

He needs a moment to prepare himself. Minhyuk inhales and exhales, psyching himself up. It's nothing, he tells himself. This is fine.

Honestly, Minhyuk doesn't know what to expect.

One last time Minhyuk tells himself, it's fine, and then he knocks on the door. Almost immediately he hears the invitation.

So Minhyuk pushes the door open and enters the lion's den.

Minhyuk has known that Chae Hyungwon has his own office, but it's the first time he sees it. He tries not to get distracted as he comes inside, although envy squeezes his guts when he realizes how bright and spacious it is, and—most importantly—that it belongs to Hyungwon, only. He doesn't share it with anyone.

All Minhyuk can do in his tight ass cubicle in a room he shares with ten other workers is cry.

"Oh," Hyungwon says, eyes widening when he sees Minhyuk.

"Can I?"

"Yeah, sure," Hyungwon agrees immediately, gesturing at Minhyuk to come closer.

Minhyuk closes the door.

There is a chair in front of Hyungwon's desk and Minhyuk knows that Hyungwon expects him to sit down there, but instead he stands in front of Hyungwon's desk.

He's not going to be here for long after all.

"Is there any problem?" Hyungwon asks with his professional voice, obviously thinking about work.

It's a weird question, considering that they're in different departments, and if Minhyuk has any problem he should be talking to his team leader about it. But Hyungwon looks at Minhyuk intensely, as if trying to show that if there is anything, Hyungwon wants to know. Maybe even wants to help.

"Everything's fine," Minhyuk says. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Work related?"

"No."

It should be obvious that it's nothing about work, but Hyungwon still looks taken aback.

"Okay." He looks at the chair briefly. "Maybe you should sit down—"

"It won't take long," Minhyuk promises.

Minhyuk knows that he shouldn't be doing this, especially not during working hours. But at the same time he doesn't really want to waste any more of his private time on Chae Hyungwon than he has to.

Hyungwon relaxes in his chair. "Okay then."

"It's about our date."

Hyungwon nods, waiting for Minhyuk to go on, but Minhyuk doesn't. He hesitates.

"The Friday date?" Hyungwon asks.

Minhyuk sighs. "Look, I think you should know, but I'm not going on these dates for you."

Hyungwon doesn't answer. His expression doesn't change.

"Actually, there is this bet going on," Minhyuk continues. "I know that I shouldn't be doing this, I'm taking advantage of you, and I don't really feel great knowing that, so I came to tell you this."

"Okay."

Minhyuk blinks.

This is not what he expected.

"Okay?" he echoes.

"Okay," Hyungwon nods with a small smile on his lips. "Why are you so surprised?"

"Why are you so calm?" Minhyuk asks instead. "You asked me out and I agreed but now I'm telling you that I did it for a bet. I thought you'd get upset, or something—"

Hyungwon chuckles. He looks briefly at his papers before looking back at Minhyuk.

"I knew that it was something like this," Hyungwon says lightly.

Minhyuk furrows his brows, feeling his confusion growing.

"It's pretty obvious that you don't like me." Minhyuk would want to deny it because he's polite, and denying that you dislike someone is a polite thing to do, but the words get stuck in his throat. "I asked you out but I knew you would never take it seriously, so when you agreed I thought that it must have been something like this."

"And you're alright with that?" Minhyuk blurts out.

No, of course not. No one would be alright with that. At least that's what Minhyuk thinks.

So why does Hyungwon seem so unbothered right now?

"I wanted to spend some time with you," Hyungwon replies simply. "If it takes a bet or whatever to make you agree to that then that's alright."

"Wait," Minhyuk interrupts him. "So you're not, like, calling it off, or anything?"

Hyungwon shrugs. "Do you want me to?"

Minhyuk doesn't know what to say. He didn't think this far.

"It doesn't matter to me why you decided to meet me," Hyungwon says. "If you came here to tell me that it was just a bet and you want to call it off, then that's alright. But if you just wanted to be honest with me and at the same time go on with the act and win the bet, that's alright, too. I don't mind either."

"Seriously?" Minhyuk asks, dumbfounded.

"Seriously," Hyungwon confirms. "I'm just glad you were honest with me."

Minhyuk had no idea what to expect before he came here, but now that he's talking to Hyungwon and that Hyungwon says all these things to him, Minhyuk knows for sure that this was the last thing he thought that would happen.

"So," Hyungwon asks, amused, "see you on Friday?"

And all Minhyuk can do is nod.

Minhyuk doesn't know what to think. He tries to make sense of it but he can't.

A part of him feels that after he admitted to betting on Hyungwon there shouldn't be another date, not because he doesn't want to go (and he really doesn't), but because it feels unfair. Except it would be more unfair if Hyungwon didn't know about it, but now he does.

Hyungwon is so chill about it. He makes it look like he doesn't care. Like going out with Minhyuk was enough, even if Minhyuk doesn't take it seriously.

Maybe Hyungwon doesn't take it seriously either, Minhyuk wonders. Maybe there's something else going on, and Minhyuk just doesn't know about it. That would make sense.

Minhyuk is close to asking Hyungwon about it but he decides not to, in the end. It's not his business. Minhyuk has no right to be nosy when it's him who has bet on Hyungwon in the first place.

The Friday date happens.

This time it's in a restaurant. Minhyuk doesn't get any free food, like Kihyun told him he would.

"It's alright if I pay for both of us," Hyungwon says when Minhyuk is looking through the menu.

The statement makes Minhyuk uncomfortable.

"It's okay," he says. "This isn't real. I'm not going to spend your money when I'm taking advantage of you already."

"It's not taking advantage of me if I know about it."

Except it still feels like it is, but Minhyuk doesn't argue.

Still, he doesn't allow Hyungwon to pay for him.

This makes Minhyuk realize that during their last date Hyungwon actually paid for both of them. Shame settles in his guts and burns on his cheeks as he brings it up. It's the right thing to do, he reasons, to pay Hyungwon back. But Hyungwon doesn't want to hear about Minhyuk giving him back the money.

Minhyuk exhales, slightly frustrated.

He decides that the next time they meet he's just going to pay for both of them, then.

They finish their food and then the date ends. Hyungwon has come with a car, so he offers Minhyuk a ride back home, but Minhyuk declines. He doesn't live far from subway station. And he doesn't even have to transfer.

So Hyungwon accepts it and they both bid each other goodbye.

The whole time Hyungwon is nice and polite and, honestly, Minhyuk is fed up.

He keeps thinking about it when he's in the subway, and he still thinks about it when he's back at home. Minhyuk thinks about it when he showers and even when he goes to bed.

Hyungwon acts like nothing was happening, as if Minhyuk had no reason to dislike him, or at least to be angry at him. Hyungwon behaves as if everything was fine, almost fine, and as if everything that Minhyuk felt was just in his head.

The thought makes Minhyuk even angrier.

People in the office keep asking him why he dislikes Hyungwon so much when Hyungwon is such a kind, funny, and hardworking coworker. Minhyuk wants to scoff every time he hears someone say that.

Whatever, he thinks, tired of his thoughts. Just one more date, he tells himself.

Then he'll be done with it.

"This time it's me paying," is the first thing that Minhyuk says during the third date.

Hyungwon raises his brows, amused.

"What's this?" he asks in a teasing voice. "Are you trying to be nice for betting on me?"

Minhyuk frowns.

"I am nice," he argues.

"Oh?"

"You paid for me the first time." Minhyuk shrugs, trying to seem indifferent. He doesn't really want to explain this. It feels awkward and Minhyuk hates it so he tries to hide it. "I guess it's only fair if it's me paying for you this time."

"And you do know that you don't have to?"

"I want to," Minhyuk insists. "I don't want to have a debt or anything."

Owing Chae Hyungwon anything sounds horrible.

Hyungwon chuckles. "I wouldn't demand money from you just because I paid for our date once."

"Fake date," Minhyuk corrects him. "It wasn't real. And besides, who knows. I'm not taking risks."

Hyungwon just laughs as he opens the door to the coffee shop and lets Minhyuk in first.

Minhyuk pressed that the third date should be in a coffee shop, too. He figured that if Hyungwon bought him a cup of coffee then it'd be only fair if Minhyuk did the same. Apart from assuring Minhyuk that he didn't expect to be treated, Hyungwon didn't really object, so now here they are.

It's the same coffee shop that they went to last time.

The interior of the coffee shop is wooden, and there are yellow couches and armchairs with pretty cushions, and there are a lot of plants, too. It looks warm, and cozy, and Minhyuk thinks that generally, it is a nice place to go for a date.

They are on a date, Minhyuk has to remind himself. A fake one, but still.

It's a shame that Minhyuk knows about this place because of Chae Hyungwon.

They order their coffees and sit down by one of the tables. Everything seems nice about there. Only one other table is occupied, and Minhyuk thinks that's a shame. If there were more people and if the place was noisy then maybe the atmosphere wouldn't feel so intimate.

Minhyuk scrunches his nose at the word.

It's not intimate. The atmosphere between him and Chae Hyungwon is not intimate.

He wants to barf at the thought.

They don't talk much, although they attempt to try with some small talks, because Hyungwon is actually trying for the date, and because Minhyuk doesn't want to seem cold. He knows that there aren't many people that could watch them. No one pays them any attention, most probably, but still. He prefers to be safe.

When the buzzer goes off Hyungwon offers that he will go get their orders, so Minhyuk stays by the table and waits for him.

"So," Hyungwon starts when he's back in his seat, probably having realized that Minhyuk isn't going to say anything. "I'm curious about something."

"About what?" Minhyuk asks.

"The bet."

Oh.

Minhyuk shifts in his seat and crosses his legs. He doesn't feel nice being reminded that this whole thing is a bet. Even though he was clear with Hyungwon about that, making sure that Hyungwon would know exactly what Minhyuk was doing, going on those dates with him, he can't help but feel guilty. He never thought he'd step so low and bet on dating someone.

Hyungwon's lack of reaction doesn't really make it any better.

"You can ask about anything," Minhyuk says.

He feels that as much as he dislikes Hyungwon, he owes him at least this.

If someone told Minhyuk they were seeing him just because of a bet Minhyuk can imagine that he would have questions, too.

"Who did you bet with?" Hyungwon asks.

This isn't such a bad question, Minhyuk thinks. "Kihyun."

Hyungwon grins. "I knew it," he says. "During the first date, remember? I asked you if it was Kihyun who convinced you to come."

"Wait, I have questions, too."

"No, you can't," Hyungwon interrupts him and Minhyuk throws him an offended look. He can't? "I am taken advantage of here, so my questions go first."

He's only teasing Minhyuk, obviously, but the reminder makes Minhyuk feel anxious enough to accept that.

"Okay," Minhyuk agrees. "So what's your next question?"

"What do you get if you win?"

"Nothing."

Finally, the teasing smile disappears from Hyungwon's face. He actually looks confused, and Minhyuk isn't really surprised. He thinks that it may seem weird.

He sighs.

"After you invited me for the date the first time," Minhyuk starts explaining, "Kihyun said that I'm too proud to go out with someone after getting invited to a date, only because I'm prejudiced against them."

"I mean, you are prejudiced against me."

Minhyuk looks at Hyungwon, dumbfounded. No, he is not. Minhyuk has a very good reason to resent Hyungwon. The fact that Hyungwon either doesn't see it or doesn't acknowledge it is enough for Minhyuk to know that his reason is very much valid.

Asshole.

"So you decided to prove him wrong," Hyungwon finishes. "And that's it? You don't get anything apart from the satisfaction?"

Minhyuk shrugs. "Would you prefer it if I bet on money?"

"No, I was just curious. I told you."

"Then that's it."

"Although it would be better if you bet on money." Hyungwon giggles suddenly. "I'd have convinced you to change the bet so you'd get even more money than promised and then give me a half."

"Now, why the hell would I do that?" Minhyuk frowns.

"You did tell me about the bet," Hyungwon notices. "If you bet on money, I can imagine it would make you feel bad."

Minhyuk snorts.

"Anyways," he says, "can I ask my question now?"

Hyungwon nods.

"If you knew that it would be difficult to get me to agree to go out with you, why did you even try?" Minhyuk asks.

This is something he was curious about from the very moment Hyungwon asked him out. And from the moment Minhyuk found out that Changkyun and Kihyun knew about it, which later prompted this whole bet to happen.

Minhyuk got especially curious about it the moment Hyungwon admitted he knew exactly how much Minhyuk wouldn't want to go.

Hyungwon hums, thinking about the answer.

"I guess I thought that at least I can try, even if you reject me," he says at last as if it was nothing, but Minhyuk still doesn't understand. "I already knew that you didn't like me so I really had nothing to lose. Because, seriously, I wouldn't worsen my situation in any way."

It still doesn't explain what Minhyuk wants to know.

"I mean, I still don't get why," he says, his brows furrowed. "Is it also some kind of a bet? Inviting on a date someone that will most likely reject you?"

Hyungwon chuckles. "No."

Minhyuk doesn't know how it's possible that Hyungwon laughs so often. It seems like he can find anything funny and entertaining. As if he took everything as a joke.

"Then?" Minhyuk asks.

"Obviously, I knew that you don't really like me," Hyungwon explains. "But I don't like it when I have conflicts with someone without trying to communicate with them first. But it seems that every time I tried to talk to you, you ignored me."

Minhyuk almost snorts hearing that.

It's not Minhyuk who ignored Hyungwon first. Minhyuk tried to talk to Hyungwon, too, except it was three years ago. Hyungwon was the one who kept ignoring Minhyuk back then. Minhyuk can't believe that Hyungwon thinks that Minhyuk would suddenly be willing to talk to him, just like that, when he had a sudden change of heart.

Now, this is something that Hyungwon should find ridiculous, Minhyuk thinks. It's laughable, but he doesn't say anything.

"I just figured that asking you out would be probably the last thing I could do to get your attention," Hyungwon finishes.

"So if I didn't agree you wouldn't bother me anymore?"

"No, why would I?" Hyungwon shrugs. "As much as I want to have a peaceful life, I'm not going to waste my time on someone who is set on hating me."

"I don't hate you," Minhyuk denies.

Why does everyone think that Minhyuk hates Hyungwon? He doesn't hate anyone. There are many people he dislikes, and Hyungwon is one of them, but it's not like he hates anyone.

Hyungwon rolls his eyes. "Okay, then whatever."

"Anyways, it's our third date," Minhyuk says. "How is this whole communicating thing going?"

Hyungwon grins at him. "Horrible, as you can see."

"It's not like you tried talking to me about it," Minhyuk comments.

"I'm actually not very good at confrontations," Hyungwon admits. "I thought that I would bring this up sometime, but I guess if you hadn't questioned me about it I would have never said anything about it."

Confrontations.

Minhyuk thinks that he has known that Hyungwon sucks at them for some time now.

"Yeah," Minhyuk scoffs. "I can see that."

Hyungwon just shrugs. It's frustrating how unbothered he is by Minhyuk's attitude.

"You know," Minhyuk says. "You don't really make sense."

"Neither do you," Hyungwon replies. Minhyuk gapes, because, excuse him? "You know, I've got this feeling that you can complicate anything in your life, even though everything could be so simple for you."

"I don't complicate anything," Minhyuk argues.

Hyungwon just laughs, and Minhyuk realizes that everything seems to be much more confusing than he thought it was.

"So."

There are teasing smirks and curious eyes and Minhyuk would rather be anywhere else, doing anything else, than being here doing this.

"The three dates happened," Kihyun says and Minhyuk knows this expression. He has seen it so many times already. Kihyun wants gossip.

Well, Minhyuk isn't going to give him this.

They cornered Minhyuk, actually kidnapped him (Minhyuk isn't exaggerating, this is the exact thing that happened) when his lunch break started, claiming that they had to talk to him and it couldn't wait. And of course Minhyuk knew what it all was about, but he couldn't escape. Believe him, he tried.

And now he has to endure this torture.

"Yeah," Minhyuk says, trying to seem indifferent.

If he showed how much he's exasperated by the whole thing Kihyun and Changkyun would think stupid things. They'd say stupid shit. They'd try to tell Minhyuk that if he feels irritated about it then it must mean he's affected by it, and Minhyuk refuses to hear that he's affected by anything about Hyungwon.

"How were they?" Changkyun asks.

Minhyuk doesn't look up from his plate. He knows they're watching him carefully, trying to catch anything, even the smallest reaction.

No way.

"I don't know," Minhyuk says, acting as unbothered as possible.

The more unbothered he will act the quicker they'll leave him alone and Minhyuk will be able to forget about this whole thing. He will be able to forget that he went out on a fucking date with Chae fucking Hyungwon.

His life is a joke.

Changkyun makes a curious sound and at the same time Kihyun repeats, "you don't know?"

"No idea," Minhyuk states. "We met, we went out. Then we went back home."

"Together?"

Minhyuk glares at him. "Separately," he hisses. "What the fuck, Changkyun."

"It's your fault for being unspecific," Kihyun fires back. "Anyways, what did you two do?"

"Drank coffee," Minhyuk says. "Ate dinner. Tried to talk but it was awkward. Hyungwon is boring as fuck."

"And that's it?" Changkyun asks.

Minhyuk shrugs. "What else should it be?"

"Come on," Kihyun presses. "You have been going on and on about Hyungwon being an asshole without giving us any reason for years. You finally agreed on the dates, so how—"

"I agreed because of the bet."

"—how," Kihyun repeats, "can you say that's it?"

"I don't really understand how you can think that there could be anything else about it," Minhyuk says. "Honestly, what did you expect. A miracle?"

"Not a miracle," Changkyun corrects him. "But, you know, after going out with your, to quote your words, nemesis—"

"I never said that Hyungwon is my nemesis, what the fuck!"

"—I thought you'd be more, I don't know." Changkyun makes some gestures with his hands, looking at Kihyun for help, but Kihyun just stares back at him, puzzled. "You know! Like, it should be different!"

"Different how?" Minhyuk asks, already tired.

Kihyun frowns. "I think that what Changkyun means," he says, "is that we didn't really expect you to suddenly like him, if that's what you're thinking. Just that you would curse him up and stuff."

"Why would I? I'm nice, I'm not going to curse up my date."

"Your date." Changkyun wriggles his eyebrows.

This is disturbing.

Minhyuk sighs and stands up. "I'm done eating. Bye."

"Wait, we're not done with you!" Kihyun protests. "Tell us more."

Minhyuk just snorts. "There's nothing to say," he claims. "I'm finished, so talk to you later."

He escapes from the evil clutches of his two nosy friends. When Minhyuk finally leaves the cafeteria, alone, he feels he can breathe now.

To hell with Kihyun, Changkyun, and their stupid ideas.

Sometimes, Minhyuk learns, it's hard to be a good friend.

Changkyun texted him saying that they should go to a club. And even though Minhyuk doesn't really drink, he's not one to refuse to meet a friend. He also doesn't mind loud places and stuff. It's easy to agree, so he goes.

But when he finally sees Changkyun it turns out that he's with Jooheon, and oh.

Minhyuk doesn't mind meeting a friend. But he minds it quite a lot when he's a third wheel.

"You're not a third wheel," Changkyun argues when Jooheon is busy ordering his beer.

"Uh huh," Minhyuk nods, teasingly. "Then what am I? A chaperone?"

"A friend," Changkyun hisses. "Just like Jooheon."

Minhyuk looks at him pointedly.

Changkyun rolls his eyes. "There's nothing between me and him—"

"Thanks!" Jooheon says loudly to the barman, a glass of beer in his hand, and turns to the two. "What are you talking about?"

"That it would be nice if Kihyun came, too," Minhyuk says.

Changkyun glares at Minhyuk.

"Why didn't he?" Jooheon asks as they move towards the tables.

The club is crowded but maybe they will find some place to sit down with their alcohol.

"He's busy with Hoseok," Changkyun says.

Minhyuk snorts. "Of course Kihyun would ditch us for his boyfriend."

They do find a free couch and a table. Minhyuk puts his glass down before slumping down on the couch with a sigh of content.

"Kihyun didn't ditch us," Changkyun objects. "They had plans before. And besides, isn't it good that Kihyun is happy in his relationship?"

Changkyun almost sounds envious and it takes a lot from Minhyuk not to tell him that there's nothing stopping Changkyun from having that, too. He manages to bite his tongue and pretend that everything is fine and there's nothing frustrating about the way Changkyun avoids talking about his feelings, and Jooheon, and his feelings for Jooheon.

But no, because there's nothing between them.

Nothing but awkward flirting from both of them.

Minhyuk has seen it all. He doesn't know what their problem is. Minhyuk can swear that Changkyun has been in love with Jooheon for years. Maybe even the whole time they've known each other. It's both heart-warming and excruciating to see them dancing around each other like this.

But Minhyuk says nothing, because this is not his business. He just watches from the sidelines and enjoys the free entertainment. Or endures the torture. It really depends on the situation and on Minhyuk's mood.

And tonight Minhyuk's mood isn't too good.

It's Saturday. It's weekend, and Minhyuk tells himself he can finally not think about work and other, much less pleasant stuff, but somehow he can't relax.

Minhyuk doesn't need to wait long for Jooheon to suggest that they should dance. Changkyun, who would decline immediately if Minhyuk said that, agrees way too eagerly. Minhyuk claims he doesn't feel like dancing tonight and smiles under his nose as the two go.

They're adorable. Hopefully, there's going to be something from that.

Minhyuk can't wait to gossip about it with Kihyun.

He spends the time sitting on the couch, waiting for Changkyun and Jooheon to come back, and wishing he was home. No matter what Changkyun says, Minhyuk is a third wheel.

The two haven't been gone for a long time when suddenly someone joins Minhyuk on the couch, startling him.

What Minhyuk definitely did not expect is to see Chae Hyungwon in the club.

"Hi," Chae Hyungwon says with a grin. "Didn't think I'd see you here."

Minhyuk shrugs. "I can go to a club once in a while," he says.

He can't help but wonder what didn't think I'd see you here may mean. Does Hyungwon know that Minhyuk doesn't drink? Did he think Minhyuk wouldn't go to a club? Hyungwon is here, does it mean he's indirectly saying that they're different? Is he implying that Minhyuk is boring?

The last one is outrageous.

Hyungwon laughs. "True."

"What are you doing here?" Minhyuk asks.

Stupid question. What could Chae Hyungwon possibly be doing there? Most probably something much more interesting than being a third wheel to his friend and said friend's (very much requited) crush.

"Came here with a friend," Hyungwon says.

Minhyuk raises his brow, not really enjoying Hyungwon's company. "And you're talking to me and not your friend because?"

"He left." Hyungwon says, indifferent.

Minhyuk frowns. "And you're alone now?" he asks.

"He texted me, like, ten minutes ago that he's going home."

Wow. Kind of an asshole move.

Minhyuk thinks that he wouldn't want Changkyun to ditch him in a club after telling him to come. Unless maybe it was because Changkyun would leave with Jooheon. But it's a different story. Changkyun and Jooheon are taking so long to do anything and Minhyuk is rooting for them. If it was any other friend, or any other circumstance, Minhyuk would hate to be ditched.

"Wow, that sucks," Minhyuk comments.

He actually feels sympathetic to Hyungwon.

But Hyungwon only shrugs again. "I should have expected that."

He seems unbothered by that.

Does Hyungwon ever feel bothered?

"He does that sometimes," Hyungwon adds.

"It sucks even more," Minhyuk says.

What kind of a person makes it a habit to ditch their friend? Hyungwon may be an asshole and a bastard, but still. Even Minhyuk knows better than to do that.

"Anyways, what about you?" Hyungwon asks. "I didn't think you'd go to a club and get drunk alone."

"I'm not getting drunk," Minhyuk denies. "And I'm not alone. Changkyun is here."

"Oh?"

"He's dancing now," Minhyuk adds.

There's a part of Minhyuk that wonders if he should tell Hyungwon to stay with them, since his friend ditched him. Hyungwon and Changkyun know each other. Changkyun sometimes says that Hyungwon is nice and looks good and doesn't understand why Minhyuk doesn't like him. He probably wouldn't mind it at all if Hyungwon joined them. Jooheon most probably wouldn't be bothered either.

But Minhyuk doesn't say anything. He and Chae Hyungwon may have gone on some dates together, but they both know that Minhyuk didn't think about that seriously. Besides, it's his free time, and he doesn't want to spend it with Hyungwon if he doesn't have to.

Hyungwon must know that Minhyuk doesn't feel particularly pleased with Hyungwon's company, because he smiles at him and says, "it was nice seeing you here. Have fun."

"Thanks," Minhyuk says and Hyungwon leaves.

An hour later Minhyuk realizes that he wasn't very cautious and he did get drunk with that one beer.

No, not drunk. Tipsy. Because he still knows very well what's going on. He follows the conversations and gives clear and logical responses and, honestly, he didn't even know that alcohol started doing things to him until he stood up to go to the restroom.

And wow, because he was sure he was alright, but now he's lightheaded.

So he isn't really drunk. He's just aware that he shouldn't drink anymore.

Also, he must be alright, since Changkyun is usually quick to notice when Minhyuk had too much alcohol. But he doesn't seem to think that there's anything worrying about Minhyuk now.

It's okay, then. Minhyuk just won't drink anymore, and all should be good.

He goes to the restroom, leaving Changkyun and Jooheon, who are engrossed in a conversation together. It's actually kind of a relief. How long is Minhyuk supposed to pretend that he doesn't want to scream at both of them to finally pull their shit together and date each other? He needs a break.

Minhyuk takes more time than needed when he pees and also later when he washes his hands. It isn't as loud in the restroom. He feels he can finally breathe.

Honestly, going to a club isn't something he usually does. He much prefers going to one of his friends' place instead, but it's okay. He doesn't mind clubs. Just, today he thinks he's tired. It's been a hard week at work. When Changkyun suggested going to a club Minhyuk thought it would be a good idea, but now he realizes he'd rather just rest at home.

Whatever. He can do that tomorrow.

When the door to the restroom opens Minhyuk realizes he spaced out.

"Oh, hi again," he hears a familiar voice.

Why. Why.

"You again?" Minhyuk asks, but sounds more confused than annoyed as he looks at Hyungwon. "I thought you left."

"Why would I leave so early?" Hyungwon asks.

Minhyuk's question is, why wouldn't Hyungwon leave?

"Because your friend left?"

"I mean, I don't really need anyone to watch over me when I'm in a club," Hyungwon says as he moves closer to the cubicles. "I figured that even though he ditched me I can still enjoy myself."

Hyungwon disappears in the cubicle.

"Right," Minhyuk whispers to himself.

So Hyungwon is one of those people who would go to a club and get drunk without anyone with him. Minhyuk hates the thought of ever doing it like this. He doesn't judge, but how the hell does Hyungwon function?

Minhyuk is still there when Hyungwon exits the cubicle, and when he washes his hands. Hyungwon looks at him in the mirror, but Minhyuk doesn't see that, too lost in his thoughts.

"Hey," Hyungwon says suddenly when he grabs paper towel to dry his hands.

Minhyuk blinks at him.

"Are you okay?" Hyungwon asks.

He looks concerned, out of a sudden.

"Yeah," Minhyuk says. And maybe he doesn't owe Hyungwon any explanation, but he still continues, because he feels awkward not saying anything, "Changkyun told me to come and I thought it would be a good idea but I think I'm starting to regret it now."

Hyungwon looks puzzled. "Why?"

"I don't really drink," Minhyuk explains. "And I'm tired. I should have just stayed at home."

"I thought you're a person who would rather spend time with your friends than at home."

"I'd rather spend time with my friends, at home," Minhyuk clarifies. "I mean, going out is great and all, but I think I should have backed out tonight."

"Then maybe you should go home," Hyungwon suggests.

Maybe. But Minhyuk doesn't really feel like it would be a good idea. Changkyun wouldn't hold it against him or anything, especially since Minhyuk has been here for some time already, but Minhyuk would feel bad if he left now.

"Or I can just take a break at the restroom," Minhyuk says.

Hyungwon snorts. "That's why you're hiding here?"

Minhyuk shrugs. "Why not?"

"You know," Hyungwon says, the laugh still audible in his voice, "I was serious when I said that one time that you like complicating even the simplest things in your life."

"I'm not complicating anything," Minhyuk objects. "I'm just being thoughtful."

"I really don't know how it would change anything if you just decided to go home," Hyungwon says. "Aren't you drunk?"

"No," Minhyuk says immediately.

He's unnecessarily proud, simply because he's tipsy but not drunk. But, in his defense, it doesn't happen often. The line between the two is very thin when it comes to Minhyuk.

"But I shouldn't drink anymore," Minhyuk adds.

Hyungwon nods.

"What about you?" Minhyuk asks. "Aren't you done? Shouldn't you leave?"

"I'm in no hurry," Hyungwon states.

He has this weird expression. He still smiles, but he doesn't look goofy. He looks hot.

Hyungwon does have a handsome face. Unfortunately.

"So you decided you could spare a moment to talk?" Minhyuk rolls his eyes. "How gracious."

He doesn't know why he feels so hostile suddenly when just a moment ago it was fine. Hyungwon was talking to him and Minhyuk felt fine. Or maybe not fine, but not annoyed either.

"I mean, it's always nice to talk to you without you glaring at me," Hyungwon laughs.

Minhyuk frowns. He doesn't glare. No, he does, but it's only at Kihyun and at Changkyun, and only when they're being insufferable. But Minhyuk doesn't glare at people he doesn't like. He ignores them.

Hyungwon is lying.

"Besides, I was curious about you staying in a restroom for so long. I had to make sure you're alright and not drunk."

Minhyuk scoffs. "What a gentleman."

"Of course," Hyungwon chuckles.

Admitting it like this instead of at least trying to pretend to be humble? Wow. How annoying.

What's even more annoying is how insanely good Hyungwon looks. Because if Minhyuk didn't know him, he would think that Hyungwon could indeed be a gentleman.

It's so, so annoying. So unnerving. Because Hyungwon looks good, he looks hot, and Hyungwon even knows about it. Of course he does, because why else would he look at Minhyuk like this? With this teasing smile, as if he was daring Minhyuk to do something.

Minhyuk is so fed up.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"What do you mean?" Hyungwon asks in turn, but he doesn't look like he was confused, or like he wanted Minhyuk to answer.

A person who doesn't understand what someone else means doesn't smile like that.

Minhyuk swallows nervously. "You know."

"I'm just wondering," Hyungwon says, and he's getting closer to Minhyuk, so close, he can whisper and Minhyuk can still hear him, "how many dates does it take to kiss you?"

"What?"

"Can I kiss you now?" Hyungwon asks.

Minhyuk stares at him, surprised.

What's even more surprising is that Minhyuk doesn't hate the idea. Or maybe it's not surprising at all. Maybe this is the kind of thing that Minhyuk has wanted for some time now.

Instead of answering Minhyuk presses his lips to Hyungwon's.

It must take Hyungwon by surprise, because he doesn't respond immediately, but Minhyuk doesn't have to wait long for it.

Hyungwon first rests his hands on Minhyuk's hips as he kisses him back, but then he wraps his arms around Minhyuk's waist. He deepens the kiss, licking into Minhyuk's mouth, and Minhyuk sighs in content.

He keeps his hands on Hyungwon's shoulders, holds the material of Hyungwon's shirt, crumples it in his fists. Hyungwon's muscles are more defined now than Minhyuk remembers. It's been three years. Of course Hyungwon has changed since that time.

Hyungwon smells nice, and he tastes good.

His body feels good, too.

The night from three years ago? Minhyuk may not remember it too well now but he knows that the memory of kissing Hyungwon can't really compare.

And Minhyuk's thoughts go to a different place suddenly. Suddenly, he wonders if Hyungwon took him home, would it also be different—

Minhyuk freezes.

No. Don't.

The moment Minhyuk goes still Hyungwon pulls away slightly, enough to look at Minhyuk and see if there's something wrong.

"Minhyuk?" he asks, seeing Minhyuk's dazed expression. "Are you—"

"I'm fine," Minhyuk cuts him off. "It— it's nothing."

"Do you want me to—"

"I'm fine," Minhyuk repeats, a little too fiercely, and Hyungwon shuts up.

Minhyuk leans in, enough for his lips to touch Hyungwon's.

"I'm okay," Minhyuk says again against Hyungwon's mouth. "Kiss me more."

Maybe Minhyuk is mad at Hyungwon, but Minhyuk is also lonely, and Hyungwon is hot, and he is here. And Minhyuk really can deal with his anger later.

It's just a kiss, after all.

On Sunday Minhyuk spends his life cursing himself and regretting his past mistakes.

He blames everyone and everything. Changkyun for telling him to come to the club. Hyungwon for not leaving him alone. The alcohol for making him lose last pieces of logical reasoning and do stupid things.

Himself, because he knows that it was all his fault.

Minhyuk can say whatever he wants, but he knows that it wasn't alcohol, and it wasn't Changkyun, and it definitely wasn't Hyungwon who made him actually kiss him. Minhyuk wasn't even drunk. And Hyungwon asked him if it would be okay to kiss. He was respectful about it.

So, it's all Minhyuk's fault.

He lives with this for a whole day and then goes to work on Monday, telling himself everything is okay. He doesn't have to talk about it. He doesn't even have to think about it.

Except when Minhyuk comes to work on Monday he's greeted by Kihyun and Changkyun staring at him.

The moment Minhyuk walks into the office suddenly he feels weird. When he goes to his cubicle he tries to look at himself discreetly. Did he forget to change from his pajamas when he was leaving? Did he come to work in his slippers? Did he forget a tie? Did he put on a stained shirt? Did he forget to iron it?

But his outfit seems to be alright, so maybe it's his hair. His face? Does he have toothpaste stains on his face?

Still trying to be as discreet as possible, Minhyuk checks if there's anything wrong with his appearance on the computer screen before he turns it on. But he still can't see anything, and it starts getting disturbing, because Kihyun and Changkyun are still looking at him.

Finally, not able to prolong it any more, Minhyuk smiles at them.

"Hi," he greets them.

Minhyuk doesn't sound cheerful and confident as he should. The word is high pitched and his voice is hesitant and, finally, Changkyun and Kihyun seem to realize that they're being obvious with their stares.

Both of them avert their eyes, trying to seem as if everything is okay.

They don't answer.

Minhyuk is perplexed. "Uh, is there something wrong?"

"No," Kihyun says, quickly, too quickly, and Minhyuk knows that most definitely there is something wrong.

Maybe he smells? But he showered and brushed his teeth.

It's early and Minhyuk has to work so maybe it's not the best idea to ask them about it now. And it's probably not the best idea to question them when there are other people in the office. Whatever it is that Kihyun and Changkyun have a problem with, it can wait until they finish their work.

Except very fast Minhyuk realizes that he can't work like that and he decides that it can't really wait.

He's getting distracted. His mind keeps wandering off when he needs to focus.

The thought that Kihyun and Changkyun, out of all people, are behaving weird with him is strange. It's disturbing, even, because there has never been any problem.

The moment the lunch break comes and everyone starts to leave the office Minhyuk finally has the chance to find out what's wrong.

He catches up to Kihyun and Changkyun, claims that he wants to eat with them, as they usually do, and both of them don't object, but there is something. Minhyuk has no idea what, but he can feel it. And it feels suffocating.

"So," Minhyuk asks when they make their way to the cafeteria. "Did I do something wrong?"

Kihyun clears his throat. "No, of course—"

"Then why are you acting weird?"

Kihyun and Changkyun look at each other and Minhyuk hates that they're sharing so many knowing looks with each other. It's never Minhyuk who's a center of gossip between the three of them. It's never Minhyuk who's the reason of shared glances.

"I mean, we were wondering about it, but didn't really want to bombard you with questions, since we know how you react when you're questioned about something," Kihyun says.

Minhyuk frowns. "Questioned?" he repeats. "Why would you question me?"

"Because we didn't know that the dates with Chae Hyungwon were going so well."

Minhyuk tilts his head.

There was nothing about his dates with Chae Hyungwon, is the first thing that comes to Minhyuk's mind. And yeah, they kissed, but it happened long after the third date. And they were alone.

Unless they weren't.

Unless Changkyun saw them.

Minhyuk's eyes widen as he looks at Changkyun and there it is, the guilty and troubled expression. The one Changkyun has every time he knows Minhyuk won't like something.

"I mean, I'm sorry for telling Kihyun about that if you didn't want us to know," Changkyun starts defending himself and Minhyuk can feel panic build in his chest. "But, you know, if you wanted to keep this a secret, you should have found a better place to make out than in a public restroom."

They weren't making out, Minhyuk thinks. It was just a kiss. One innocent kiss. Or two. And maybe not so innocent, because Minhyuk knows he was into it, very into it, but still—

Oh god. They're thinking stuff. Kihyun and Changkyun are thinking god knows what and shit.

Does anyone else know? Has Changkyun told anyone else about it? Has Hyungwon told anyone about it?

What is Minhyuk supposed to do?

What did Hyungwon do?

Shit, Minhyuk needs to see Hyungwon. He needs to talk to him, needs to ask about everything, he needs to explain—

"Excuse me," Minhyuk says weakly as he pushes past Kihyun and Changkyun.

"Minhyuk, wait—" Changkyun tries to call after him but Minhyuk ignores him.

He needs to talk to Hyungwon.

Minhyuk rushes to the sales department, hoping that he can find Hyungwon easily, although he's probably about to leave to grab some lunch. But if only Minhyuk managed to find him somewhere. Fuck, Minhyuk needs to find him, he needs to explain everything to Hyungwon, needs to question him about it. What if Hyungwon told someone? What if he has told everyone?

When Minhyuk sees Hyungwon finally, he's walking out of his department, talking to someone. A coworker that Minhyuk knows only because he's seen him several times. He doesn't even remember his name.

They both laugh and Hyungwon seems so careless. And Minhyuk feels sick.

He approaches them.

"Hyungwon," Minhyuk calls, trying to sound normal. Fine.

Hyungwon raises his brows at the sight of Minhyuk.

"Hi," he says. Both he and the coworker stop when Minhyuk gets to them.

Minhyuk feels weird having a witness.

"What's up?" Hyungwon asks, completely unaware of Minhyuk's anxiety.

"I need to talk to you."

"Now?" Hyungwon sounds surprised. "It's a lunch break—"

"I know, but it's urgent," Minhyuk insists. "This really can't wait."

Hyungwon still seems confused, and Minhyuk tries to scream at him in his thoughts to hurry up and talk to him. Maybe Hyungwon has heard Minhyuk's mental screams because he turns to the man next to him and smiles apologetically.

"Sorry, I'll join you later," he says. "You go first."

The coworker smiles, says it's okay, and leaves them.

When they're left alone Hyungwon looks back at Minhyuk. "Okay. What is it?"

"Not here," Minhyuk says nervously. "Let's go to your office."

"But my office—"

"Please."

It's probably the first time that Minhyuk asks Hyungwon to do something. Hyungwon seems even more surprised than Minhyuk. He nods. "Alright. Come."

Hyungwon leads Minhyuk through the hall. Minhyuk knows that he should have waited to talk to Hyungwon later, maybe after work or something, but in his defense, it's important.

When they reach the office Hyungwon unlocks the door and lets Minhyuk in. The moment the door closes after them Hyungwon sighs.

"Alright," he says, leaning against his desk. "What is it."

"You kissed me in the club," Minhyuk says.

"You know, I don't think we should discuss private stuff in the office—"

"This is important," Minhyuk argues.

And maybe Hyungwon knows that if Minhyuk needs to do something he will make sure he does it and there's no point arguing with him. Or maybe Hyungwon wants to be done with this, too. Whatever.

What matters is that Hyungwon nods, defeated. "Okay. So what about it?"

"Why did you do it?"

Hyungwon frowns. "Why are you asking?"

"Just answer."

"Because I wanted to." Hyungwon shrugs. "Because you looked good. Because I felt like it. I don't know. Is it important?"

"Yes!" Minhyuk exclaims. "You kissed me in the club!"

He says it as if it explained everything when in fact it explains nothing.

"Yeah," Hyungwon nods. "But I asked you first, and you didn't complain about it back then."

Minhyuk sighs. How is he going to tell Hyungwon what he means?

Hyungwon pushes himself from his desk, ready to go. "Listen, we could talk about it later, but now—"

"Please, I need to talk about it now," Minhyuk says. "It's really important."

Hyungwon looks at him, as if trying to figure out what the big deal about the kiss is. He can't, and so he nods.

"Alright," Hyungwon says. "What about it?"

"Look, usually I would just tell you to forget about it, or not to mention it, or I don't know, not to talk about it until something, or whatever."

"Um, okay?" Hyungwon asks. "That's fine with me. We can just not talk about it. Let's forget everything if you want to."

Minhyuk shakes his head. "But I can't, because—" he stops, feeling silly. "I told you, Changkyun was there."

"Yeah."

"And he saw us."

Hyungwon blinks. "Oh."

"Yeah, I know," Minhyuk nods. "And he's asking me about it, and I have no idea what to say, and it's kind of a mess right now, and— and what I mean, what I wanted to ask, have you told anyone about it?"

Hyungwon heaves a deep sigh. "No, I haven't told anyone," he says, much to Minhyuk's relief. "Who I kiss, or whatever, is my own business."

"Okay," Minhyuk says.

It really is a relief to know that Hyungwon hasn't told anyone about it.

"Is that all?" Hyungwon asks.

"No, it's— I have a favor to ask, and I get it if it may seem too much—"

"What is it?" Hyungwon asks.

Minhyuk gnaws at his bottom lip, nervous, before taking a deep breath and then asking, "I know that it's not very likely, but in case Changkyun asks you about it, can you tell him it wasn't— like—"

"That it wasn't anything much?" Hyungwon suggests.

Minhyuk shakes his head, frustrated. "No," he says, unsure. "More like, can you tell him that it was intended?"

"Intended?" Hyungwon repeats.

"Can you pretend that we—" Minhyuk hesitates. "That we do it? Sometimes?"

Hyungwon furrows his brows. "I thought you hated me."

"I don't hate you," Minhyuk says automatically.

Hyungwon stares at him.

"Changkyun won't ask you about it, most probably," Minhyuk says quickly. "So you won't have to worry about it, or anything."

"But I don't understand," Hyungwon says. "Why should we pretend that we kiss regularly? Or whatever? It was just one time in the club. I mean, even if you don't hate me, you sure don't like me very much."

Minhyuk looks at his feet, troubled.

"I just don't do it," he admits. "I don't randomly make out with people I don't date."

"Oh," Hyungwon says.

"Changkyun knows you," Minhyuk adds. "And we all work together."

"And we went out on a date," Hyungwon realizes.

"Exactly," Minhyuk says. "I know that this is very weird to ask, but I usually don't do it like this, and just— I don't know, I just don't want anyone to know? It probably doesn't make sense but—"

"Hey, it's okay," Hyungwon says. "That's alright. It's not a big deal for me, so if Changkyun or anyone asks me about it I can say that."

"Can you?" Minhyuk asks, surprised.

Hyungwon shrugs. "Sure," he replies. "I told you, I don't care, but if you do, then I'll say anything you want me to."

Minhyuk sighs in relief. He's nearly speechless. He doesn't quite know what to say. Hyungwon doesn't have to do this but he agrees, even if he knows how Minhyuk feels about him.

"Thank you," Minhyuk says genuinely.

Hyungwon smiles. "You're welcome."

"Are you sure it won't bother you if I tell someone that?" Minhyuk makes sure.

"Yeah, but I'm more worried about something else," Hyungwon says. "If you tell your friends that, they'll basically think that we're still dating. They may think that we're boyfriends, or that we could be. Are you sure you want your friends to think that?"

"At this point this is better than them thinking I randomly kiss people I claim to—" hate. "—dislike," Minhyuk finishes.

Hyungwon nods. "That would be problematic."

"Yeah."

"So that's what you're going to tell them now?"

"I just—" Minhyuk thinks for a moment and makes up his mind. "I guess in a few weeks I'll tell them that we didn't work out? And we broke up."

Hyungwon nods. "And for the meantime?" he asks and smiles teasingly when Minhyuk doesn't answer. "I get to be your fake boyfriend?"

Fake boyfriend.

God, what is Minhyuk doing?

Hyungwon was right. Minhyuk does complicate everything.

"It's not—"

"It makes sense," Hyungwon cuts him off. "Don't worry. Tell your friends whatever you want, just remember to fill me in later. Just in case someone asks me about it, too, so I won't blow your cover."

"Is that okay?" Minhyuk asks, one more time, because he really doesn't want to force Hyungwon to do something for him.

Minhyuk knows he has no right to do that.

But Hyungwon just smiles reassuringly.

"It's okay," he says.

Kihyun and Changkyun's reactions are, to put it gently, surprised.

To put it less gently, they get the shock of their lives.

The shock is big enough that Minhyuk ends up getting dragged by them to Changkyun's place. Kihyun lives with his boyfriend and Minhyuk's apartment complex is too far away, so going to Changkyun's is the best option if they want to talk about it in privacy and get answers quickly.

And when they finally get there Minhyuk feels like he's in a hearing.

Too bad he doesn't have a lawyer for that.

"Now," Changkyun says, putting pressure at Minhyuk's shoulders until he sits down on the couch, with his two (short) friends towering over him.

How came these two are so small yet so intimidating when they feel they need to be?

Changkyun's fingers are pressing into his flesh and Minhyuk winces.

"Talk."

"About what?" Minhyuk asks, trying to escape from Changkyun's murderous grip.

He's going to lose his shoulder.

"About you and Chae Hyungwon," Kihyun says. "What the hell was that in the office? What do you mean you're dating?"

"Yeah?" Minhyuk says, nervously. "You knew about it. You were the one who pushed me to date Hyungwon."

"But it was just a bet!"

"Um, right," Minhyuk nods. "But then he asked me on the fourth date and it was hard to say no so I said yes?"

What is he saying? Oh god, he needs to remember what he's saying. He will need to repeat all of it to Hyungwon later.

Dumb Minhyuk.

"So?" Kihyun presses. "You took pity on Hyungwon because you went on three dates and decided you're gonna humor him and go on another date?"

Minhyuk smiles anxiously. "Yes?"

"And then you kissed?"

"They made out," Changkyun objects. "I fucking saw it, they were literally sucking faces."

"And you hate him?"

"Wait!" Minhyuk exclaims, terrified with all these questions. With what Kihyun and Changkyun are imagining.

Oh god, are they having mental images of that?

Changkyun surely has. He saw them. Whatever he has in mind isn't his imagination, it's his memory.

Minhyuk wants to cry.

"It's not— it's not like that," he tries to explain, and his friends stare at him so intensively, Minhyuk almost cowers. Why is it tiny people that are the scary ones? "We went on the date and it wasn't too bad."

"It wasn't too bad," Kihyun repeats with a snort. "Earlier you said something different."

"Yeah. I was shy."

"Shy?" Changkyun echoes, amused. "You? Lee Minhyuk? Shy?"

Wow. The audacity.

"I can be shy if I want to."

"Anyways, so you two went on another date, and what."

Minhyuk presses his mouth into a thin line. "And then he invited me on the fifth one," he squeals.

"And?" Kihyun presses.

Minhyuk sighs. He needs to pull his shit together.

Okay, five dates. It's easy enough to remember. It's just two additional dates, Hyungwon will deal with that. Probably. Hopefully. Minhyuk won't take him for granted. He can't take him for granted.

What if Hyungwon changes his mind and tells Minhyuk he won't do this?

"Minhyuk," Kihyun calls him. "You're losing your focus. Tell us."

"I don't know what to tell you," Minhyuk says, trying to calm down. He has to look natural. "It kind of happened? Like, I thought that actually Hyungwon isn't that bad, so we went out again. And then we just, just kissed."

"Kissed how?" Changkyun questions.

Minhyuk blinks.

"We're just trying to understand how the hell this happened," Kihyun says. "We thought you would be so angry for a few weeks and that's it. We didn't expect you and Hyungwon to date, you can't blame us for being surprised."

Minhyuk sighs tiredly. "Yeah, I know."

He thinks about the kiss in the club. About Hyungwon asking if three dates are enough to kiss Minhyuk, and then, when Minhyuk was confused, asking him directly if Minhyuk wants to be kissed. Minhyuk also thinks about how they kissed three years ago. He doesn't remember it well, but Minhyuk knows it felt good. It felt even better when Hyungwon came to his apartment.

It felt so fucking amazing when Hyungwon fucked him, and devastating when Minhyuk woke up alone the next day.

Minhyuk sighs again.

"He was nice about it," he says. "He actually asked me if it's okay to kiss me."

"So cute," Kihyun comments mockingly.

"He asked," Changkyun says. "Wow."

Minhyuk feels like a deer caught in the headlights.

"He was nice about it," he says, carefully. "And he was nice, generally," he adds, shrugging. "Actually, the whole time that we went out he was alright? He knew that I didn't want to go on those dates but he didn't give me any shit about it."

"He would be an awful date if he gave you shit for that after asking you out," Changkyun says.

Kihyun nods. "Nice to know that between these two it's Minhyuk who's the shitty one to date."

Minhyuk frowns.

"Hey," he says, although his heart actually squeezes painfully at the comment.

Kihyun is right.

"So, now what?" Changkyun asks then. "You two are together? Like, officially? Or are you in this weird phase where you're going out and kissing but you aren't anything yet?"

Minhyuk doesn't know what to say. He wasn't prepared for that. He should be, because he knew that this was coming, but now that he's actually supposed to talk about it, he doesn't know how. Hyungwon was right, Minhyuk is great at making things complicated, and he thinks that this time he doesn't want to complicate anything. The less he has to explain, the better.

He sighs.

"Yeah," Minhyuk confirms. "We're boyfriends. I guess."

Minhyuk winces. The I guess wasn't planned, but it seems that Minhyuk can't help but be a menace that won't admit that he's dating Chae Hyungwon.

Thankfully, neither Kihyun nor Changkyun seem to notice that.

"Wow," Kihyun says, probably because, just like Minhyuk, he doesn't know what to say. Changkyun stays quiet, too.

"Yeah," Minhyuk responds.

They don't say anything for a moment.

Then, Kihyun is the one to break the silence.

"So I guess that means that it's Minhyuk and his boyfriend—" he looks at Minhyuk pointedly. "—and not Changkyun and Jooheon that I'd finally have that double date with that I always wanted."

Minhyuk chokes on his saliva and at the same time Changkyun exclaims, "what?"

Kihyun just shrugs. "What? I've been waiting for ages to do that."

"To go on a double date?" Minhyuk asks.

"With me and Jooheon?" Changkyun inquires. "But we are just friends, we're not together—"

"Exactly," Kihyun comments, annoyed. "You two, get your shit together. How long are we supposed to wait until you finally ask him out?"

Minhyuk covers his mouth with his hand as he snickers at Changkyun's dumbfounded expression. The look on Changkyun's face upon realization that both Kihyun and Minhyuk are literally waiting for him to do something about his feelings for Jooheon is priceless.

As Changkyun is too busy being speechless, Kihyun turns to Minhyuk.

"You get your shit together, too," Kihyun tells him. "I was serious. I really want that date."

Minhyuk nods, the smile slowly disappearing from his lips.

"You don't have to do it."

"We can do it."

"I'm just reminding you that you don't have to," Minhyuk says, nervously. "Just, if you wanted to back off, or something."

Hyungwon chuckles as he takes a turn and drives into an alley.

After leaving Changkyun's apartment the first thing Minhyuk did was texting Hyungwon, sharing with him what he told the other two. He also made sure that Hyungwon is still alright to go on with this plan.

And then he told him about the double date.

Minhyuk invited Hyungwon to his place the next day, and they discussed everything more thoroughly. Minhyuk explained how he imagines this whole fake dating thing to go and Hyungwon agreed with everything. It was both surprising and worrying, to be honest. Minhyuk doesn't know how to feel with that. It makes Minhyuk feel bad. As if he didn't deserve Hyungwon's kindness.

He doesn't, Minhyuk reminds himself. Hyungwon sacrifices his own time to help Minhyuk only because Minhyuk is stupid and can't pull his shit together and lives for the sole purpose of making everything in his life troublesome. And Hyungwon just agreed to that.

Minhyuk starts feeling guilty for talking bad about Hyungwon before.

"We seriously don't have to," Minhyuk repeats. "Kihyun would understand, I guess. I could come up with an excuse, or something."

"It's alright," Hyungwon assures Minhyuk. "Unless you want to back off."

Minhyuk bites his bottom lip. "I don't."

"We should do whatever makes you comfortable," Hyungwon adds. "Since, you know, this whole thing is for you, anyways."

Right. It's all for Minhyuk. Because Minhyuk is stupid and his feelings are all other the place and he doesn't want to admit some stuff. He could have been honest about everything, but instead he prefers to complicate things and make Hyungwon lie for him.

But it's too late to back off now.

Minhyuk sighs.

"I'm sorry for all of that," he says. "I know that it was a dumb idea."

"It's okay," Hyungwon says. "I agreed to it, didn't I?"

He did. Minhyuk still doesn't understand why.

"Yeah," he says. Then, Minhyuk smiles at Hyungwon. "Thank you, really."

Hyungwon is visibly taken aback. "Uh. You're welcome."

They don't say anything after that. Hyungwon drives them to the restaurant that Kihyun chose in silence, and Minhyuk feels uneasy. The more often he gets left alone with his thoughts when he's with Hyungwon the more uncomfortable he feels. The more often he thinks about how stupid he is.

"Actually," Hyungwon says, and Minhyuk wonders if Hyungwon can't take the silence either. "You told me what we're supposed to say and stuff but are you sure that you are okay with that?"

"What do you mean?" Minhyuk asks. "It was my idea."

"Yeah, but maybe you don't want to do this right now," Hyungwon says. "Maybe it would be easier for you to tell Kihyun that we couldn't make it to the date."

Minhyuk isn't so sure.

"He would ask questions," Minhyuk predicts. "He would be more suspicious about that."

He has a feeling that Kihyun insisting on that double date is to see if Minhyuk and Hyungwon are really together. It would give Minhyuk more problems if they didn't show up.

"So it would be easier if he didn't ask any questions?" Hyungwon makes sure.

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Is it really alright with you?" Minhyuk asks, for the millionth time probably, but he really needs to be one hundred percent sure. He doesn't want Hyungwon to force himself to do anything.

Hyungwon chuckles at the question. "Really," he says, and smiles at Minhyuk reassuringly. "I told you. I don't mind."

This could have failed. This should have failed.

It didn't.

Minhyuk can't believe it.

He knew that Kihyun wasn't fully convinced that Minhyuk and Hyungwon are together. Even the moment Minhyuk saw him at the restaurant, he could feel Kihyun's skepticism. Minhyuk can't blame him, not after all the things that Kihyun heard Minhyuk say about Hyungwon.

Besides, Kihyun was right. Minhyuk and Hyungwon aren't together.

But somehow during the date they were able to make Kihyun believe that they are.

Minhyuk doesn't know what it was. Was it because Kihyun has never known any of Minhyuk's exes and Kihyun had no comparison? Were Minhyuk and Hyungwon such good actors that Kihyun had no problems believing them after finally seeing them together?

Minhyuk doesn't know.

Hoseok had heard many times how Minhyuk was bitching about Hyungwon, but he seemed prepared. When Hyungwon introduced himself to the couple Hoseok didn't look surprised at all, and Minhyuk was thankful that Kihyun thought about warning him beforehand who Minhyuk's (fake) boyfriend is.

After that, it was easy.

Minhyuk was in awe the whole time just how comfortable Hyungwon seemed. He talked to both Kihyun and Hoseok as if he was happy to be there. And when he had to say anything to Minhyuk, Minhyuk could see that Hyungwon was trying his best. He acted like Minhyuk thinks anyone in a new relationship would behave, slightly awkward but excited.

After the date finally ended and they had to bid goodbye to Kihyun and Hoseok before leaving, Hyungwon confidently grabbed Minhyuk's hand. Minhyuk didn't comment on it until they reached Hyungwon's car.

Hyungwon smiled at him.

"It looks more natural like this, don't you think?" he asked.

It does.

"I guess," Minhyuk said, getting into the car.

Hyungwon drove Minhyuk home and when they got there Minhyuk thanked him. The strange feeling about the whole thing felt suffocating.

About an hour later Minhyuk got a text spam from Kihyun raging about Hyungwon being lovely and Minhyuk being an asshole for being rude to him all this time they've worked together.

And Minhyuk knows.

He sighs as he lies in his bed, dropping the phone somewhere beside him, still unlocked, showing Kihyun's messages.

Minhyuk knows. Hyungwon was wonderful the whole day. He was wonderful when the whole fake dating thing started. Even when they went on the first date.

Hyungwon was nice enough to invite Minhyuk on the first date.

The whole time Minhyuk felt like he was justified for disliking Hyungwon, but now he finally wonders if he was right. It doesn't feel like this anymore. Hyungwon asked Minhyuk out, paid for him, and later, when Minhyuk said that he had a problem with something they did, Hyungwon didn't give him shit for that. Instead he agreed to help Minhyuk the very moment he heatd what Minhyuk wanted him to do, even if it was troublesome.

This should have failed but it didn't, thanks to Hyungwon.

Feeling guilty, Minhyuk sets his phone on silent, not wanting Kihyun's upcoming messages to remind him that he's really an asshole, and gets up to shower and get ready to sleep.

The next day Hyungwon asks Minhyuk for his likes and dislikes.

"What?" Minhyuk asks, surprised.

They both just finished work and Hyungwon managed to catch Minhyuk before he left the building and started heading to the subway station. Hyungwon offered to drive Minhyuk home again, and Minhyuk felt like he shouldn't say no, so he agreed.

So now he's stuck in Hyungwon's car again.

"I meant your food preferences," Hyungwon clarifies, starting the car. "And hobbies. You don't have to be very detailed, just the most important things that I should know about as your boyfriend."

"But why?" Minhyuk asks.

Hyungwon rolls his eyes but still smiles as they leave the parking lot. "I've just told you. I'm supposed to be your boyfriend."

Minhyuk inhales.

Boyfriends know each other's likes and dislikes, probably. Boyfriends are interested in each other enough to care about this kind of stuff. It makes sense. And it makes sense that Hyungwon would try to look like a good boyfriend to Minhyuk.

"I like pizza," Minhyuk says, "burgers. Chips, too."

"And four spoons of sugar in your drinks," Hyungwon chuckles.

Minhyuk frowns. "Are you judging me?"

"No," Hyungwon denies quickly. "Sorry, I couldn't help but remember. Go on, tell me anything that you think I should know if I'm supposed to play your boyfriend."

Minhyuk thinks a bit more about it. "I don't like cucumbers. Oh, and I don't really eat chicken," he adds. "This isn't much of a big deal, but every time I eat out with Kihyun I complain when he wants to order chicken, so this may be useful."

"Unhealthy stuff but no cucumber or chicken," Hyungwon repeats. "Got it."

Minhyuk stares at him. "I don't live only on junk food."

"I told you, I'm not judging you," Hyungwon says quickly in a defense manner. "I'm just making sure. As the good boyfriend."

"What about you?" Minhyuk asks.

Hyungwon raises his brows. "My food preferences?"

"If you think we should do it the right way then I need to know about these things, too," Minhyuk explains. Somehow, he doesn't like that Hyungwon is surprised that Minhyuk asks him about it as well. "Any food you hate with a burning passion?"

"Hate with a burning passion may be a bit too strong," Hyungwon says, "but I don't really like green food."

Minhyuk narrows his eyes. "So you don't have a very healthy lifestyle either."

"I do go to a gym," Hyungwon protests.

That explains the muscles, Minhyuk thinks, before he can stop himself. Now is not the time.

Okay, so Hyungwon still has a healthier lifestyle than Minhyuk does. Minhyuk decides to drop the subject.

"Any food you especially like?"

"Shrimps."

"Okay."

"What about your hobbies?" Hyungwon asks.

Minhyuk thinks for a bit. He doesn't really have time for hobbies. Most of his days consist of him going to work and then going home to spend one or two hours playing games before he sleeps. On weekends he usually tries to meet his friends, because he can't allow his social life to suffer only because of his job. But Minhyuk doesn't really want to tell Hyungwon that video games are his hobby. He's going to be judged for that, especially since Hyungwon already knows about the junk food.

"I like painting," Minhyuk says, because he thinks this sounds cool, even though he doesn't remember when he held a brush for the last time.

And Hyungwon does look impressed.

"I haven't painted in a while, though," Minhyuk adds quickly. "Lack of time, I guess."

"That's a shame," Hyungwon comments. "It would be nice if you had enough time to paint something if you like that."

"Yeah," Minhyuk nods. "What about you? Is working out your hobby?"

"Not really." Hyungwon frowns. "I've just been doing it recently, but more because I feel like I have to and not because I like it so much."

"It sucks to do something so hard only because you feel that you have to," Minhyuk claims. "Maybe you should let yourself breathe once in a while."

"I'm trying to set up a routine," Hyungwon explains.

"So, you go to a gym, but it isn't your hobby," Minhyuk repeats. "Then what is?"

Hyungwon thinks for a moment. "I don't have any special hobby, I guess," he admits. "I like going out, sightseeing. Shopping. Sometimes staying at home and just resting."

"Valid," Minhyuk comments.

They reach Minhyuk's apartment complex and the conversation ends with that.

Minhyuk should have probably predicted that Hyungwon would try to be a good fake boyfriend to him, but what Minhyuk failed to realize was just how much he would try.

He figured that it would be a normal thing for them to smile and greet each other in the office, maybe even to talk once in a while—because they should pretend that they like each other—and that's it. Nothing too much, just so people wouldn't think they're acting weird in case they heard about their (fake) relationship. Just so Changkyun wouldn't stare at Minhyuk and Kihyun wouldn't demand answers why they act cold with each other.

What Minhyuk didn't expect was Hyungwon deciding to take the longer route when he goes to his office, just so he can go through Minhyuk's department, but now it's something he does, apparently.

Another thing that Hyungwon does is saying stuff. They're not bad, and they're not cheesy, but they're still spontaneous and happen often enough and Minhyuk wasn't ready for that.

Sometimes it's just have a nice day, sometimes it's how are you doing. Once, when there was an emergency in Minhyuk's department that Hyungwon heard about during the lunch break, and he saw Minhyuk before it ended, he came to him and told him to remember not to overwork himself.

And, because Kihyun and Changkyun were there, and they were looking, Hyungwon added, "good luck, babe."

And then kissed Minhyuk on the cheek.

Minhyuk, completely unprepared, muttered only a thank you, absolutely embarrassed. Hyungwon then smiled at him fondly and Minhyuk panicked, feeling pressure from Kihyun and Changkyun's looks that they were throwing at him, and almost ran out of the cafeteria, biting his bottom lip and repeating in his head stupid, stupid, stupid.

This whole idea is stupid. Hyungwon is stupid.

Minhyuk is stupid.

Out of everything, Minhyuk really is the dumbest ever.

But Hyungwon is second stupid, because why the fuck is Hyungwon trying so hard when he gets nothing from it? Why does he want to help Minhyuk so much?

Why does he have to come to Minhyuk's cubicle with a Starbucks coffee and six (six!) bags of sugar after Minhyuk mentioned, completely carelessly and irresponsibly, that he didn't sleep well the night before?

Minhyuk gets startled when suddenly the cup is placed on his desk, having been too busy staring at his computer screen to notice that someone has approached him.

"What is this?" he asks and looks up at Hyungwon, who just smiles at him.

"Coffee," Hyungwon says. "For you."

And Minhyuk is speechless.

What is Hyungwon doing? Why is he doing it?

"Thank you," Minhyuk says, completely baffled, and accepts the coffee.

Hyungwon just keeps smiling, wishes him good luck, and leaves to his own department. And all Minhyuk can do is stare after him, the cup in his hand, the coffee waiting for Minhyuk to add sugar and drink it.

What Minhyuk doesn't realize is that he's smiling, too.

Changkyun looks at him curiously.

"Dude," Kihyun says.

But Minhyuk ignores them both.

It's the first week of May and the third week of Minhyuk and Hyungwon's fake relationship when Minhyuk learns about the trip.

"Hyunwoo and Changkyun are coming," Kihyun tells Minhyuk at work.

They don't get easy days at work, there's always something to do, but today it's quite calm. No emergencies, no malfunctions, no pressing matters, and so they can take it easy and they can allow themselves to slack off a bit.

Besides, Minhyuk reasons, it's not good to work too hard. If you work too hard and your team leader sees it they're going to demand god knows what from you. And Minhyuk has too much self-respect to allow himself to be forced to do unnecessary work when instead he can work less hard and still meet his team leader's expectations.

"Where is it?" Minhyuk asks.

"We're thinking about going outside the city," Kihyun says. "It's nothing much, just to spend a few hours somewhere. To hang out outside the workplace."

"Sounds nice," Minhyuk says.

He likes hanging out with Kihyun and Changkyun, and also Hyunwoo. While he isn't as close to Hyunwoo as he is to the others, Hyunwoo is still nice, and funny, and recently he even helps Minhyuk hide whenever Minhyuk is tired of Kihyun and Changkyun's never-ending questions, so that's a big plus.

"So, are you in?"

"I'm in."

Immediately, Kihyun says louder, "hey, Changkyun, Minhyuk's in."

"Nice," comes Changkyun's reply.

Minhyuk rolls his eyes and laughs quietly. Kihyun really couldn't wait until they finish working to talk about it.

For the rest of the day Kihyun doesn't mention the trip too much. When the day ends and they can finally leave, Minhyuk joins both Kihyun and Changkyun, who look at him in a funny way.

Minhyuk frowns. "What?"

"Aren't you going with Hyungwon?"

For the past few days Hyungwon insisted almost every day to drive Minhyuk home. Minhyuk didn't complain because first, it's good to make the impression that they spend time together outside work—because no one needs to know that Hyungwon never goes to Minhyuk's after that, they just say goodbye and Minhyuk goes home and Hyungwon drives away—and second, Minhyuk is not going to pass a free ride. It saves time, money, and he gets to sit down, which almost never happens when he takes the subway at this hour.

But sometimes Minhyuk thinks it's too much so this time he asked Hyungwon to go alone.

"He's busy tonight," Minhyuk responds.

"Tonight," Changkyun singsongs and Minhyuk's frown deepens. "You sound like you spend quite a lot of nights together."

Minhyuk is so done.

"We are together," he reminds the both of them, and he wants to cringe at it.

It's still weird to say that they are together when Minhyuk knows that they're not.

"It's still so hilarious that you kept saying that you hated him, like, a month ago."

"I never said that I hated him," Minhyuk objects. He would never use this word, at least not aloud. So why does everyone keep repeating it? "I don't hate anyone. He was just annoying."

"So he's not annoying anymore?"

"He'll always be annoying," Minhyuk huffs, and then realizes that this doesn't sound very lovely, so he adds, "but he's also funny and caring so I like him more than I thought I would."

Minhyuk almost winces at these words.

What is he saying?

"Aw," Kihyun coos, much to Minhyuk's dismay. "You almost sound as if you're in love with him."

"Why do you sound like you were teasing me?" Minhyuk asks. "I thought we're too old to tease each other about crushes."

"So you have a crush," Changkyun squeals.

Minhyuk rolls his eyes. They are children. He's friends with actual children. They all are fucking five years old.

"If you want to gush about crushes, why won't we talk about Changkyun's crush on Jooheon?" Minhyuk asks, trying to change the subject.

Changkyun smiles at it and this is not the reaction that Minhyuk expected. Changkyun should be trying to defend himself, saying that he doesn't have a crush on Jooheon.

Instead, Changkyun says, "yeah, I'm in love with him."

Minhyuk stops in his tracks, looking at Changkyun wide-eyed. "What?"

Changkyun keeps smiling. Minhyuk looks at Kihyun, expecting him to be as shocked as Minhyuk is, but Kihyun just shrugs. Why isn't Kihyun shocked? Changkyun always denies that there is anything going on between him and Jooheon, so why does Kihyun look so calm about it?

Almost as if Kihyun knew something that Minhyuk doesn't know.

"Since when do you say you're in love?" Minhyuk asks, dumbfounded.

"It's been several days, I guess," Changkyun says. "But I started doing that only after you got yourself a boyfriend, so I don't really blame you for catching on this so late."

"Even if I have a boyfriend—"

"Exactly because you have a boyfriend, you didn't know," Kihyun cuts him off. "If you had spent more time with us and less going on dates with Hyungwon right after work, you'd have known about it sooner."

"We understand," Changkyun adds quickly. "You're in this honeymoon phase, so it's okay."

"Wait," Minhyuk says, uneasy. He and Hyungwon are not in their honeymoon phase, he has to remind himself. "But that's just it? You're just talking about it now? Or did something change with Jooheon?"

"Actually, I invited Jooheon on the trip," Changkyun admits.

Minhyuk is surprised to hear that, but not disappointed. He thought the trip would be just for the four of them, since they work together. But he doesn't mind it if Jooheon will join them. He likes Jooheon. He's kind, and sweet, and loud, and likes Minhyuk's ideas and very often indulges Minhyuk in almost everything that Minhyuk wants to do. Plus, Changkyun has a crush on him, so it's always a pro. Changkyun is much more obedient whenever Jooheon is involved.

"That's nice," Minhyuk says.

"If the trip goes well, I'll invite him for a date."

"Why won't you invite him for a date first?" Minhyuk asks.

"I have no time, if we want to go for the trip this weekend," Changkyun explains. "But that's fine, there's no rush. By the way, Hoseok is coming, too."

Minhyuk looks at Kihyun. "Really?"

"Yeah," Kihyun confirms.

"Cool."

"So, you know..." Kihyun trails off slightly.

He looks at Minhyuk, as if Minhyuk was supposed to catch on something before Kihyun even says it. But Minhyuk has no idea what he means. He shakes his head, not understanding what Kihyun wants to tell him, and Kihyun rolls his eyes.

"It would be nice if you invited Hyungwon, too," Kihyun says finally.

Minhyuk blinks.

"Hyunwoo will be there," he says the first thing that comes to his mind. "He's single. Wouldn't it be weird if everyone showed up with their boyfriends?"

"Jooheon is not my boyfriend," Changkyun reminds Minhyuk.

"Yeah," Kihyun nods. "Technically, Changkyun is single."

"But Hyungwon doesn't know Jooheon—"

"Jooheon is your friend," Changkyun says. "He has heard about Hyungwon but still hasn't met him. Wouldn't the trip be a good occasion to introduce your boyfriend to Honey?"

Minhyuk wants to come up with one hundred excuses why it wouldn't be a good idea to invite Hyungwon for the trip, but he can't. His mind is blank, and Kihyun and Changkyun both look at Minhyuk expectantly, and Minhyuk knows that there's no way he will get out of this one. Obviously, Minhyuk has no choice but to agree.

He only hopes that Hyungwon will be busy this weekend.

Unfortunately, Hyungwon isn't busy in the weekend.

What's worse, he's excited when Minhyuk tells him about the trip.

Minhyuk should have predicted that Hyungwon would expect something when he asked him if he had any plans for the weekend. When Minhyuk tried to back off, Hyungwon could see right through him, and Minhyuk ended up spilling about the trip. Which wasn't a wise idea after hearing that Hyungwon said that his weekend would be boring.

So, in the end, Hyungwon is going on the trip, too.

They leave in the morning. The plan is to go hiking, not too much because Minhyuk would throw a fit if they tried to force him to do anything too strenuous, later go somewhere for dinner and go back to the city in the evening. Minhyuk is supposed to go with Hyungwon, which makes sense, except Minhyuk isn't too happy about it.

He doesn't say anything, though.

The day of the trip Minhyuk wakes up with a headache. He doesn't take any pills, but he packs some in case the headache gets worse later. When Hyungwon texts him that he's waiting for him Minhyuk leaves, trying to hype himself up, telling himself that today is going to be great and he's going to have fun. But, no matter how much he tries to think positively, Minhyuk doesn't feel like today is going to be fun.

"Hi," Hyungwon greets him when Minhyuk gets in his car.

Minhyuk responds, much less enthusiastically than he should. Of course Hyungwon notices.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Minhyuk says, putting on his seatbelt. Hyungwon observes him, carefully. "Still tired, I guess."

"You didn't get enough sleep?"

"I guess not," Minhyuk mutters. "You can go."

They leave, and Hyungwon doesn't say much. Minhyuk doesn't know if Hyungwon has nothing to say, or maybe if he thinks it's better not to say anything when Minhyuk doesn't seem to be in the mood.

During the ride Minhyuk manages to fall asleep, and when he wakes up it turns out they've already left the city. Minhyuk feels better than before, his headache almost gone now, but his mood doesn't change too much.

He knows that he shouldn't feel like this. He was the one to ask Hyungwon to pretend they're dating. It's because of him that his friends think he's in a relationship now. And of course his friends would want Minhyuk to bring his boyfriend along when Hoseok and Jooheon are coming as well. But, no matter how many times Minhyuk tells himself that he's being stupid and unreasonable, he can't do anything about it.

Sometimes, he hates his ideas.

When they get there, Kihyun and Hoseok are already waiting for them, but Jooheon, Changkyun, and Hyunwoo, who all are coming with Hyunwoo's car, are still yet to come. As they wait Hyungwon talks with the two, and they all look comfortable. This seems natural.

Minhyuk doesn't like how bothered he feels because of that.

Hyungwon is so natural with Minhyuk's friends. And his friends don't even know that Hyungwon isn't supposed to be.

This is a mess.

Everyone quickly realizes that Minhyuk is way too quiet. Minhyuk smiles, apologizes, says that he doesn't feel too well, but it's not bad enough that he couldn't join them. Kihyun jokes that of course Minhyuk feels unwell when they're about to go hiking, and Jooheon teases him about it, too, which Minhyuk accepts with a small laugh. But then Hyungwon tells him to take it easy, and Minhyuk still smiles, but he's a little stiff when he promises that he will. No one notices that, fortunately.

The trip goes well.

Everyone talks and jokes and Minhyuk sometimes complains that what do you mean we're going again, the break was too short! and everything is okay.

But then they are finished, and they find a restaurant to eat dinner, and Minhyuk loves spending time with everyone. He loves his friends, and he loves it when they sit together and just talk. 

Except, Hyungwon is there. He's there the whole goddamn time. And Minhyuk can't ignore him, because every time Hyungwon says something, he makes it his mission to get Minhyuk's attention. He casts glances at Minhyuk, holds his hand, or sometimes just speaks to him directly.

And Minhyuk is fed up with this whole confusion, not being able to understand how exactly they ended up like this and how he feels about it.

"Hyungwon is awesome," Jooheon says at one point when Hyungwon leaves the table for a moment.

Minhyuk just nods.

"Hard to believe that this is the same person that Minhyuk has been bitching about for years," Kihyun comments.

Minhyuk shrugs. He doesn't want anyone to say anything about Hyungwon, but it must look like he's just uneasy being reminded that he used to complain about his fake boyfriend all the time, so everyone drops the subject.

When Hyungwon returns Minhyuk thinks that maybe he should make more effort. The whole day only Hyungwon tried to make their stunt look believable, so the moment Hyungwon sits down Minhyuk reaches for his hand and entwines their fingers.

Hyungwon sends him a small smile.

It's still bright outside when they leave.

"How are you feeling?" Hyungwon asks when they both get inside his car.

He doesn't start the engine yet.

Minhyuk sighs. "Fine."

He knows that he doesn't sound fine. He sounds tired, done, but Minhyuk can't help it. Pretending to be a couple with Hyungwon takes more effort than he thought it would.

He gets reminded again that Hyungwon was right. Minhyuk can't help but find the most ridiculous ways to complicate his life.

Minhyuk realizes that Hyungwon still isn't starting the car, even though their friends have already left. "Aren't we going?"

"One moment," Hyungwon says. "I just want to make sure that everything's okay."

He keeps looking at Minhyuk, and Minhyuk figures out that what Hyungwon means is that everything is okay with Minhyuk.

"What wouldn't be okay?" he asks.

"You've been quiet the whole day."

"Just a bad day," Minhyuk says.

"I thought you were excited for the trip," Hyungwon explains. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Minhyuk shouldn't be like that. It's obvious. Hyungwon is trying, for Minhyuk, and even if Minhyuk doesn't understand the reason, he should at least appreciate that. Hyungwon is doing his best. Only because Minhyuk asked him.

Hyungwon cares. And this is the problem.

"Why do you care?" Minhyuk asks, his tone accusing.

He just doesn't understand, no matter how much he wants to.

Hyungwon frowns. "What?"

"What is it to you?" Minhyuk asks. "No one is here. No one is watching us, so why are you like this? Why do you care?"

"What do you mean?" Hyungwon asks, baffled. "Should I not care?"

"We're not together," Minhyuk says, he doesn't know why. It's a reminder, but Minhyuk has no idea at this point if this is a reminder for him, or for Hyungwon.

What the fuck has he gotten himself into?

"I know," Hyungwon says, and he doesn't sound any less lost. And it only makes Minhyuk feel worse. "But you were tired and didn't feel well in the morning, and you didn't seem to enjoy yourself as well as you could have if you felt better."

Hyungwon says it so naturally, as if it was the most normal thing for him to ask Minhyuk about that. And Minhyuk doesn't know what to do about it.

"Yeah, but—" he says, with no idea what exactly Hyungwon should hear. What Minhyuk wants him to hear. "No one is here so you don't have to, and— and, god, let's go, I don't want to get home at night."

Without saying anything, Hyungwon starts the car. He doesn't say anything, and Minhyuk wonders if Hyungwon simply doesn't know what to say, or if his silence is intentional. It wouldn't surprise Minhyuk. Hyungwon was unbothered the whole time, agreeing to go along Minhyuk's plan, and Minhyuk is giving him shit for that. Minhyuk really wouldn't be surprised if Hyungwon was upset.

And maybe, in case if Hyungwon is upset, Minhyuk should just let him be for now. Maybe he should not say anything anymore for the rest of the day, and wait for Monday to come, and then try to talk to Hyungwon.

Except Minhyuk doesn't always make the best decisions.

"Actually," Minhyuk says, when he's had enough of the silence, which lasted only a few minutes.

Minhyuk doesn't finish and Hyungwon hums a question, prompting him to continue.

He doesn't seem mad.

Minhyuk wets his lips. "I've been wondering about something."

"You can just ask," Hyungwon says.

He looks at Minhyuk briefly before looking back at the road.

Minhyuk sighs. "Why did you ask me out?"

"I told you," Hyungwon says, tiredly. "I just wanted to spend some time with you."

"Yeah. I remember. The whole avoiding confrontation thing," Minhyuk nods. "But somehow, I have a feeling there's something more to that."

Hyungwon sighs. "You want to talk about this now?"

"There are things I've been thinking about for a long time already, and I'm kinda fed up with that," Minhyuk says. "Besides, it's not like we have many occasions to talk privately like this. I can't just keep going to your office every time I have questions."

There's a moment of silence. Minhyuk looks at Hyungwon, who seems to be thinking about something intensely. His features are tense, and he looks strained, and Minhyuk wonders if he should tell Hyungwon to forget about it.

Except, he doesn't want to. This whole thing is tiring, and Minhyuk wants to have some clarity finally.

"I don't know," Hyungwon says finally.

Minhyuk frowns. "What do you mean, you don't know?"

Hyungwon doesn't answer, and Minhyuk's confusion only grows.

"How can you not know?" he asks.

"I wasn't really thinking," Hyungwon says, nervously. "You're attractive, and you're nice, and I think you're interesting, but you kept being cold, and I know I shouldn't do anything about it, but I got kind of intrigued? I don't know how to explain it. And it sounds stupid, or absurd, or whatever, but I just thought that I have nothing to lose by asking you out?"

"You thought I was interesting?" Minhyuk repeats. God. He wants to laugh. "You were intrigued? Hyungwon, do you hear yourself?"

Judging by Hyungwon's troubled expression, he said that mindlessly, without actually thinking, and now he doesn't know how to respond.

"Why now?" Minhyuk asks.

This time it's Hyungwon's turn to be puzzled. "Now?"

"It's been three years," Minhyuk goes on, not realizing that Hyungwon most probably has no idea what he's talking about. "Did it seriously take you three years until you thought that I may be interesting for you?"

"Three years?" Hyungwon echoes. "But I— What do you mean, three years?"

Minhyuk stares at Hyungwon in disbelief.

He's so stupid.

"You don't remember," he says.

This sounds so ridiculous. Minhyuk can't believe it, because what the fuck. Did Minhyuk spend three years holding a grudge against Hyungwon, only to find out Hyungwon doesn't even remember him? Did Minhyuk really give Hyungwon shit for something and Hyungwon had no idea what it was about?

What the fuck, seriously.

And was Minhyuk really so immemorable?

How should he feel about it?

"Fuck," Minhyuk says.

He was not prepared for that.

"What?" Hyungwon asks, still left in the dark. "Minhyuk, what the hell are you talking about? What did I do three years ago?"

Minhyuk was definitely not ready to talk about it now. He doesn't even know how he should start talking about it.

"I thought you remembered," Minhyuk says. "How the fuck am I supposed to explain this?"

"Just do it," Hyungwon encourages him. "Whatever it is, I want to know. Especially if it was serious enough for you to be mad at me for three years."

"Well, it definitely wasn't serious enough for you," Minhyuk bites.

He's getting mad again, even if he knows that probably he shouldn't be talking to Hyungwon about it when he's angry.

Why does it have to be so complicated?

"I still want to know," Hyungwon presses.

Minhyuk pinches the bridge of his nose. He has no strength to deal with this now. Except Hyungwon wants to know, and Minhyuk knows that he can't escape from this, not when he's in this goddamn car.

"We met," he sighs. "Obviously. I have started working in the firm only, like, weeks earlier. Maybe a month. I don't remember. Anyways."

Minhyuk shifts in his seat. He didn't think he would have to explain this. He thought he wouldn't ever have to talk about it. The only person he would have a conversation about it would be Hyungwon, but now he knows that Hyungwon doesn't even remember him, but he's curious about it, and Minhyuk has to tell him everything.

It's so fucked up.

What kind of a mess is this?

"It was in a club, and I recognized you, I have already seen you a few times at work," Minhyuk continues. "I don't remember how, but we ended up making out."

He looks outside the window, not wanting to look at Hyungwon, and not wanting Hyungwon to look at him.

The tension between them grows and Minhyuk thinks it could kill him.

"Do you mean—" Hyungwon starts, and he sounds unsure. Minhyuk thinks he knows what Hyungwon wants to ask. "Later—"

"We went to my place," Minhyuk finishes.

Hyungwon stays silent.

"I was pretty sure you recognized me, too," Minhyuk says. "But then you never acknowledged me at work, so I thought that maybe you didn't want to bring up private stuff at work, or something, so I decided not to say anything. But then you started dating someone soon after and I guess this pissed me off."

"Pissed you off for three years," Hyungwon adds.

Minhyuk rolls his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Hyungwon says. "I don't remember it, but I guess I didn't recognize you. I didn't mean to—"

"Yeah, I realized."

Hyungwon shuts up for a moment, taking a while to think about it.

"So," he starts again, "this whole time you thought that I remembered? That I asked you out, knowing that three years ago we hooked up?"

Minhyuk doesn't reply, although the answer is obvious.

Hyungwon snorts.

"No wonder you were so closed off," Hyungwon says.

"Are you mad?" Minhyuk asks.

"No," Hyungwon says. "Why would I be? Actually, I think that if I got asked out by a dude who seemed to pretend he didn't know me after hooking up with me, I wouldn't want to go out with him either."

"Yeah, right," Minhyuk says with a small smile.

Somehow, the talk with Hyungwon isn't as bad as he thought it would be. Somehow, it made him feel calmer.

"It surprises me that you agreed to that date, even if it was for a bet."

"It surprises me that you decided to ask me out even though I was rude and you didn't know why," Minhyuk comments.

Hyungwon laughs. "Yeah, but still."

"I mean, Kihyun doesn't know about it," Minhyuk says. "I didn't tell anyone, so the moment he found out that you wanted to ask me out, he thought it would be a great idea to force me to do it."

"And you just had to prove him wrong," Hyungwon teases.

Minhyuk chuckles.

"How did Kihyun even find out?" Minhyuk asks.

Hyungwon lets out a short, embarrassed laugh. "You see," he starts, "although I kept telling myself I have nothing to lose, I was still unsure about asking you out, so I asked Changkyun how bad of an idea it was."

"Of course," Minhyuk nods, looking at the scenery outside the window. "I didn't know you and Changkyun hang out."

"We don't," Hyungwon says.

Minhyuk frowns, confused.

"It was at work," Hyungwon explains. "I was seriously thinking about it a lot, and then I saw him, and thought there would be no harm in asking your friend about it."

"You asked Changkyun," Minhyuk repeats slowly.

"Yeah, I know—"

"He and Kihyun are the worst gossips."

"Yeah, that's why you're friends with them."

"Hey," Minhyuk says, but it's good-natured, and Hyungwon laughs, and Minhyuk laughs, too.

This feels nice.

"God." Minhyuk shakes his head in disbelief. "This whole situation is ridiculous."

"It is," Hyungwon says, letting out a short, breathy laugh. "Actually—" he starts as he makes a turn.

And at the same time they see headlights of another car. Coming straight at them.

Everything happens fast.

Hyungwon swings the wheel, trying to avoid getting hit by the other car. Then there's a sudden force and a sound of metal hitting metal. The impact sends their car spinning. The colors get blurred. Minhyuk screams, jolted in the car, but the seatbelt keeps him in place, and then his head hits the glass. Pain explodes in his skull and Minhyuk squeezes his eyes shut.

The car keeps spinning and Hyungwon tries to get control over it, until the back of it hits something. A tree.

Then, it goes still.

Minhyuk keeps pressing a hand to his head where he hit it, his breath quickened as saliva gathers in his mouth. The searing pain doesn't stop. He doesn't dare opening his eyes.

He can hear Hyungwon's heavy breathing next to him.

Minhyuk has no idea how much time passes before he feels a hand on his shoulder.

"Min—" Hyungwon starts, his voice shaky, but his grip stays firm on Minhyuk's shoulder. "Minhyuk? Do you hear me?"

Minhyuk keeps breathing through his mouth, willing the pain to go away, but it gets only worse. He doesn't feel like he can speak, so he tries to nod, but it only worsens everything. His hand feels wet.

Something builds up in his throat.

"Gon' throw up," he mumbles.

Talking doesn't help.

Minhyuk inhales and exhales through his mouth, trying to control the nausea, but it's getting worse with each second. He can hear Hyungwon unlocking the door, and Minhyuk searches blindly with his hand for the handle. When he finds it, he presses it down, and the door opens.

The moment the fresh air hits Minhyuk he tries to stumble out of the car, but the seatbelt keeps him in place, so he just leans forward, hopes he's hanging above the ground and not the seat, and vomits.

He retches. The acid taste fills his mouth, and Minhyuk finally dares to open his eyes. His sight is blurry, but he can make out the pool of vomit on the road.

He gags, feeling another wave of vomit coming up.

Minhyuk hears Hyungwon get out of the car, but he doesn't know what's going on.

There's ringing in his ears.

Minhyuk vomits again, the contents spilling on the ground. When he thinks he's done, he tries to blink, but his vision is still blurry, his ears are still ringing, and the pain in his head doesn't stop.

Minhyuk feels stunned.

And, like through a fog, he hears Hyungwon's voice.

"—car accident, there's an injured person—"

Minhyuk waits until Hyungwon is done. Once Minhyuk thinks he won't throw up anymore he leans back in the seat, carefully, and closes his eyes. He keeps his head against the headrest and focuses on breathing. He feels awful. Gross.

"Minhyuk," he hears Hyungwon's alarmed voice. "Don't fall asleep."

Minhyuk groans, but opens his eyes again.

Tears gathered in his eyes, but after Minhyuk blinks a few times, he realizes his vision isn't as blurry as before.

Hyungwon stands next to the open door to the passenger's seat, leaning forward to take a good look at Minhyuk. His expression is worried and Minhyuk would smile at him and assure him that he's alright, except he has no strength to smile. He doesn't feel too well.

"Help is coming," Hyungwon says, and it's obvious that he tries to sound calm, but Minhyuk thinks he isn't doing a great job at that. Hyungwon doesn't sound like this when he's calm. "Listen, you've been injured, you may be concussed."

Injured. That sounds serious, Minhyuk thinks.

"Am I bleeding?" he asks, his voice hoarse.

"A little," Hyungwon says. "But it's not much, don't worry about it. But the concussion—"

Minhyuk nods, grimacing and closing his eyes. He doesn't want Hyungwon to talk. When Hyungwon talks, Minhyuk has to focus on what he's saying. But it seems like he needs to make a really big effort to focus right now.

Hyungwon seems to realize that Minhyuk doesn't want him to say anything, because he shuts up. He only encourages Minhyuk to keep his eyes open to make sure he won't fall asleep, and this needs a big effort, too. But Hyungwon tells him it's important, and Minhyuk listens to him, despite the pain.

The ambulance comes soon after.

While waiting for it, Minhyuk throws up one more time.

The whole time Hyungwon tries not to freak out, worrying that Minhyuk may faint, but he doesn't. After throwing up Minhyuk realizes just how tired he feels, but both the ringing in his ears and the blurriness in his eyes get better.

After the ambulance comes the paramedics take care of Minhyuk. They approach Hyungwon, too, and Hyungwon swears that he's alright, but they still make him sit down and then ask him questions about how he feels and check him for any injuries, other than some small cuts on his face and hands. The whole time Hyungwon keeps trying to look at Minhyuk, because it's Minhyuk who got hurt, Hyungwon is fine, nothing happened to him. Still, he hears that he should go to the hospital, too.

During the ride to the hospital Minhyuk is dazed, but then gets informed what happened.

A car accident, another car was driving straight at them. The driver was drunk, but it seems he didn't get hurt.

Minhyuk blinks as slowly the understanding dawns on him.

"Hyungwon," he says, his voice stressed. "Your car—"

Hyungwon shushes him.

"Don't worry about it," he says.

He takes Minhyuk's hand and squeezes it, and Minhyuk lets him.

It turns out that Hyungwon was right and Minhyuk is concussed, although it's a mild one. There are tests, and Minhyuk gets stitches and painkillers. A nurse cleans his face and later Minhyuk gets to wash his hands, but there are blood stains on his sleeve and vomit stains on his pants.

Then, they're free to go. Minhyuk doesn't even have to stay in the hospital, but he gets a week of sick leave and a full list of things he is and isn't supposed to do during recovery.

It feels like it takes ages before they finally leave.

It's already dark. When Minhyuk asks for the time, Hyungwon tells him it's past ten.

Hyungwon gets a cab for them. The whole ride Minhyuk spends with his head resting on Hyungwon's shoulder, gripping his hand tightly.

He feels sleepy.

They go to Minhyuk's, and Hyungwon offers that he should stay with him during the night, since Minhyuk lives alone and there should be someone nearby in case something is wrong. Minhyuk agrees, although he doesn't really listen to Hyungwon. He's so tired he would agree to anything.

The night is peaceful, and so is the next morning.

Hyungwon stays at Minhyuk's place until Sunday evening, and leaves only when he's sure that Minhyuk is okay. Before he leaves Hyungwon instructs Minhyuk to call ambulance if anything is wrong. He basically tells Minhyuk the same things Minhyuk has already heard from the doctor, but Minhyuk doesn't mind. He knows that Hyungwon is worried and he feels thankful for that.

The next day it's Monday and when Minhyuk wakes up from a nap he gets a spam of panicked messages from Kihyun, first asking where he is, then saying that he talked to Hyungwon and heard about everything. Minhyuk sighs as he responds, assuring Kihyun that he's alright and Kihyun doesn't need to come to check on him.

As soon as he sends the last message Minhyuk puts his phone down, feeling his head starting to hurt again.

He shouldn't look too much at the screen.

Kihyun ignores Minhyuk's messages. It was easy to predict that.

He comes to visit with Changkyun after work.

"You know, I'm supposed to be resting," is what Minhyuk says as he lets them in.

They're concerned, Minhyuk knows. He knows that they try not to freak out seeing the gauze that covers Minhyuk's stitches. And he appreciates it, really. But his headache worsens and Minhyuk really doesn't feel like talking to anyone right now, so he tries to assure them that he's alright and just needs some time for himself.

The two don't stay too long at Minhyuk's. Kihyun checks Minhyuk's fridge and is terrified seeing it almost empty, then promises that he will come the next day with some food for him, so Minhyuk won't have to worry about it. They ask him questions, and when Minhyuk starts whining that he doesn't feel well they finally get it as their clue to leave, making him promise to rest, just like Hyungwon did the previous evening.

Sometime during their visit, Hyungwon sent him a text, asking how he's doing. Minhyuk replies to him when he's finally left alone.

And when Minhyuk goes to bed, apart from fatigue, he feels a weird mix of gratitude and burden, thinking about these three worrying about him.

A week passes and Minhyuk feels much better. During this whole time Minhyuk kept updating Kihyun and Changkyun about his condition. Kihyun came every other day to make sure Minhyuk was eating properly. They would sit in the kitchen and eat dinner together, and Kihyun would share with Minhyuk everything he needs to know, like Changkyun finally going on a date with Jooheon, or reminding him about a company party in two weeks, which Minhyuk obviously had forgotten.

Everything is alright. By the end of the sick leave, Minhyuk can look at a screen for a long time without getting a headache. After the week passes he goes for a check-up and the doctor confirms that he can go back to work. Two days before returning to work, his stitches get removed.

During the whole week Minhyuk would send a message to Hyungwon every day, assuring him that he's alright.

Everything goes back to normal.

Almost everything.

The first day after returning from the sick leave Minhyuk goes to Hyungwon's office, to thank him for everything and also to ask about him. Hyungwon talks to him, and he smiles, and even jokes like he always does, although Minhyuk can feel that something is off.

The next few days Minhyuk focuses on working. He gets so engrossed in it that he doesn't even realize that Hyungwon stopped visiting him in his department.

"What's wrong between you two?" Kihyun asks one day after the lunch break ends and they go back to their office. "Did you two fight?"

"No," Minhyuk says, confused.

"You don't spend as much time together as you used to," Changkyun comments.

That's true, and Minhyuk frowns because he hasn't noticed it earlier.

Somehow, he doesn't like it.

"We're just busy," Minhyuk lies.

Truthfully, Minhyuk has no idea what's going on. Sometimes he sees Hyungwon when they finish work and go home, but they don't really talk anymore. Hyungwon still smiles and greets him whenever they see each other, but his eyes always hold something heavy in them. But Minhyuk doesn't tell his friends about it. He thinks it's better if they don't know.

Kihyun pats Minhyuk's shoulder as they enter their office. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure you'll have time to go on more dates soon."

Minhyuk nods and smiles at Kihyun, although it's a little tight-lipped.

When he sits down by his desk Minhyuk realizes that he started to really miss Hyungwon. What's surprising is that the realization doesn't bother him as much as it would before.

For the next days, the only real contact that Minhyuk has with Hyungwon are text messages, which get less and less frequent. At first Hyungwon would ask Minhyuk how he's feeling, but after Minhyuk returned to work, Hyungwon would question him less and less.

They don't talk face to face at all.

Minhyuk's friends notice it, of course.

"Maybe he feels guilty," Changkyun says on a Friday evening when the three decided to go to a bar after work.

Kihyun snorts.

After the silence between Minhyuk and Hyungwon became too apparent, something changed in Kihyun's attitude towards Hyungwon. The more days passed with no contact between him and Minhyuk, the more Kihyun started to voice how much he doesn't like the way Hyungwon acts.

"If he feels guilty shouldn't he keep trying to reach you?" he asks Minhyuk.

Minhyuk sighs.

"But we do talk," he tells them, "just not as much as before."

Kihyun doesn't seem impressed.

"You text," he corrects Minhyuk. "Earlier he kept coming to our office, and he was all lovey-dovey with you. What's his problem?"

"I told you he's busy—"

"Being busy doesn't mean he can just ditch you like this."

Minhyuk rolls his eyes. "He didn't ditch me."

"But he doesn't act like a concerned boyfriend either," Kihyun argues. "You were in a car crash! You were injured! What kind of a person disappears after something like this? And it was him who drove!"

"Stop it," Minhyuk says curtly. "The crash wasn't Hyungwon's fault."

"Still, it would be fucking nice if he cared."

"He does," Minhyuk sighs. "Seriously. You don't have to be mad at him. Hyungwon is really trying."

"Doesn't seem like that," Kihyun mutters.

The comment makes Minhyuk feel only angrier that before.

Changkyun sees that. "Maybe let's not talk about it?" he suggests, trying to placate Minhyuk's anger and Kihyun's dissatisfaction.

Minhyuk feels grateful for the interruption but Kihyun looks outraged.

"That would be great," Minhyuk says, eager to drop the subject.

Kihyun still doesn't look convinced but doesn't say anything else.

As the company party draws closer, Minhyuk becomes more and more restless about his relationship with Hyungwon.

They don't see each other. They stop texting. Minhyuk doesn't go to Hyungwon's office anymore because he doesn't know what he would tell him. It feels wrong when Minhyuk thinks how awkward they are with each other. Hyungwon still doesn't visit him, and Minhyuk doesn't know why.

It's weird, because even when they were still fake dating and Minhyuk had no idea that Hyungwon didn't recognize him as someone he hooked up with years ago, it wasn't awkward between them. Now, when it seems that everything is finally okay, Minhyuk has no idea how to talk to him.

Hyungwon finally texts Minhyuk again the evening before the party, asking Minhyuk if he's going. Minhyuk looks at the text, rereading it a few times, before finally responding that yes, he is.

Hyungwon responds that he's going, too.

There's no other message after that.

Minhyuk wonders if he should suggest going there together, as a fake couple, but he hesitates. He has already asked Hyungwon to do so much for him. If Hyungwon isn't the one to suggest it, then most probably he doesn't want to. And that's okay. Minhyuk is going to respect that.

Without sending any other message, Minhyuk goes to bed.

The next day it's sunny, and when it gets late and it starts getting dark, the time to leave to the hotel where the party is taking place comes. Minhyuk thinks it seems like it could be a good night for a company party. It will be great, he tells himself, as he tries to tie his bowtie in front of the mirror.

It gets messy but it's okay. Minhyuk will just ask Kihyun to fix that for him. Kihyun knows how to tie bowties.

When Minhyuk gets to the venue, all his friends are already there. Kihyun, as Minhyuk could predict, freaks out seeing his messy bowtie and ties it for him instead. When Kihyun is busy frowning, making sure that Minhyuk doesn't look like chaos anymore, Minhyuk tries to discreetly scan the crowd to see if Hyungwon has already arrived.

And he sees Hyungwon, talking to Hyunwoo, and Minhyuk's heart squeezes. He remembers the trip, and how comfortable Hyungwon felt with Minhyuk's friends.

Then, Minhyuk remembers the ride back. The crash. How Hyungwon was worried about him.

How he stayed the night to make sure Minhyuk would be alright.

When Kihyun is finished with Minhyuk's bowtie he pats Minhyuk's shoulder. "Now, finally you look like a human."

Minhyuk heaves a sigh.

"Thanks," he says with a voice that sounds too strained for someone who's just arrived to a social event.

Kihyun looks at him funny, and so does Changkyun, but Minhyuk pretends he doesn't see that.

The evening goes agonizingly slow. Minhyuk feels like he's waiting for centuries, and he doesn't even know what it is that he's waiting for.

Everything looks nice and fancy and usually, Minhyuk would complain to Kihyun under his breath about the unfairness in his life that Minhyuk isn't rich and can't allow himself to see this kind of things every day, but today he can't really focus on anything. His mind keeps wandering, and his eyes keep looking at the man on the other side of the hall.

Every time Minhyuk glances at Hyungwon, Hyungwon doesn't look at him. He keeps talking to people, socializing, and Minhyuk feels a pang of jealousy. He thinks it would be nice to have Hyungwon's attention to himself, too. Minhyuk doesn't know how to explain the heavy melancholy that he feels.

The whole time Minhyuk wonders when he will be able to leave finally. He doesn't want to be rude, but at the same time staying in the party with Hyungwon so close and yet not paying him any mind feels like a torture. For the first time in a long while Minhyuk doesn't feel like spending time with other people.

It's about two hours into the party when Minhyuk finally sees Hyungwon alone. He's staying at the back, next to the table with champagne, a full glass of alcohol in his hand.

He looks lost in thoughts and Minhyuk thinks, fuck it.

Hyungwon doesn't seem to notice him.

"Hi."

Hyungwon visibly startles. He looks at Minhyuk, surprised. Clearly, he didn't expect anyone to approach him now.

Minhyuk smiles at him.

"Hi," Hyungwon says, still looking surprised.

And Minhyuk was right. They are awkward.

They don't say anything for a moment. There are million things that Minhyuk thinks he could say, but nothing seems good enough right now.

Finally, Hyungwon clears his throat.

"How are you?" he asks, trying to look and sound nonchalant, although Minhyuk can see through him.

"Fine," he says. "You?"

"Good," Hyungwon responds.

The tension between them is torturous and Minhyuk hates it.

"Enjoying the champagne?" Minhyuk asks finally.

It's such a bad conversation starter.

Hyungwon looks at the glass and lets out a small, embarrassed laugh. "Actually, I don't really feel like drinking," he says, putting the glass down on the table. "Manager Park gave this to me and I couldn't refuse, but he's not looking now," he adds.

Minhyuk chuckles. "I won't rat you out."

Hyungwon smiles.

"I wanted to thank you," Minhyuk says suddenly.

Hyungwon raises his brows, definitely not having expected that. "Thank me?" he repeats.

He looks like he has no idea why Minhyuk would feel the need to do that.

"For help," Minhyuk says. "After the accident."

Hyungwon smiles gently. "You already thanked me," he reminds Minhyuk.

Minhyuk nods. "Yeah, but I wanted to make sure you know that I appreciate that," he explains, looking to the side. It's hard to meet Hyungwon's eyes. "You could have just sent me home, you didn't have to do so much."

"You were injured," Hyungwon whispers. "I couldn't just leave you alone. It could be dangerous."

Minhyuk gnaws at his bottom lip. He wasn't in the shape to think about it back then, but now he knows that he wouldn't want to be left alone right after the accident. He really feels like he owes Hyungwon, a lot.

"By the way, how are you feeling?" Hyungwon asks then. "Are you okay now?"

Minhyuk nods. "Everything's fine now," he assures.

"That's good," Hyungwon says, looking at Minhyuk warmly.

Minhyuk doesn't know why he feels so shy.

"Actually," he says and swallows thickly, the words seeming to have a crushing weight on him. "I wanted to thank you for everything. For your help with this whole thing."

Hyungwon hums. "You mean, for the dating thing?" he asks quietly, in case someone could hear them.

Minhyuk turns his head to check if there's anyone that could hear their conversation, but it doesn't seem like anyone is paying attention to them. When he deems that it's safe to talk about it now, he looks at Hyungwon. Their eyes finally meet and Minhyuk sighs.

"Yeah," Minhyuk nods. "I really—"

Hyungwon shakes his head and Minhyuk shuts up. "It was no problem—"

"That was a lot to ask for," Minhyuk interrupts him. It looks like Hyungwon wants to argue, so Minhyuk adds quickly, "you agreed to the whole thing, even though you didn't have to. You probably didn't want to, but you still helped me."

"I wouldn't have done that if I hadn't wanted to," Hyungwon objects. "I didn't mind. It seemed important to you, and it wasn't a big deal for me. I don't see why I shouldn't have done that."

Minhyuk frowns. "I wasn't exactly fair to you before that," he notices. "Or during it," he adds.

Hyungwon shrugs, not knowing what to say. "I guess."

Minhyuk takes a deep breath and exhales. He keeps telling himself that this is alright, he's just talking to Hyungwon. He's been doing this for weeks already. He shouldn't feel so nervous, but no matter how much Minhyuk tries to convince himself to relax, he can't. He has no idea why.

"You know," Hyungwon says. "I actually wanted to apologize to you."

Minhyuk looks at Hyungwon, surprised. "What? Why?"

Hyungwon smiles sadly. "For the crash," he says. "I should have done it earlier—"

"You shouldn't," Minhyuk argues. "It wasn't your fault."

"You got injured."

"Because a drunk man drove into your car," Minhyuk reminds him. "You tried to avoid that. If you hadn't reacted, it could have been a lot worse. You saved us."

Hyungwon heaves a sigh. "It didn't look like that when you were concussed."

"Stop it," Minhyuk says.

And Hyungwon does. He shuts up, but just from one look in his eyes, Minhyuk knows that he still feels guilty.

Minhyuk takes Hyungwon's hand. "Thank you. Really."

Hyungwon looks at their hands. His expression is focused, as if he was thinking very intensely about something. Minhyuk doesn't ask what it is. He waits patiently until Hyungwon decides whether he wants to share his thoughts with Minhyuk or not.

"I wanted to ask you about something," Hyungwon says then. "But I didn't really have the guts to do it."

Minhyuk chuckles. "Is it because of the confrontation thing?"

And Hyungwon chuckles too, although it doesn't sound light, as it should. Hyungwon sounds like he was carrying a burden.

Minhyuk sighs, the small smile doesn't disappear.

"You can ask," he tells Hyungwon. "You don't have to stress about it."

For a split moment, Hyungwon hesitates. "What do you want to do with us?" he asks. "Do you want to call things off?"

Minhyuk holds his breath. "Do you?"

"It's not up to me to decide," Hyungwon tells him.

"I haven't really thought about it," Minhyuk admits. "But Hyungwon, if you feel uncomfortable with that, or if you just don't want to do this anymore, you don't have to force yourself."

Hyungwon just looks at Minhyuk, and Minhyuk's heart breaks. Has Hyungwon really agreed to everything that Minhyuk has been saying after they started fake dating because Hyungwon thought he had no other choice?

"If you want to call this off, you can tell me," Minhyuk says.

Hyungwon sighs. "I don't," he says. "I was just wondering."

"Why?"

"After the accident," Hyungwon pauses to clear his throat, and Minhyuk furrows his brows, because he doesn't understand why Hyungwon keeps bringing this up. "After you had to take that week off, I felt like it was all my fault. You wouldn't have got injured if we weren't fake dating, because you wouldn't be with me in that car."

Minhyuk studies Hyungwon's expression.

"You really feel so guilty about it," Minhyuk says. He hasn't realized before just how badly Hyungwon felt about it. "Hyungwon—"

"I know you will tell me I shouldn't," Hyungwon says. "But I can't help it. It was scary. When I realized something was wrong with you, I was just— I don't know, I just kept thinking, what did I do, even if I knew that it wasn't me that caused the whole accident."

"Hyungwon," Minhyuk says, a little firmer. "I don't blame you."

Hyungwon bites his bottom lip. "It feels like you should."

"Well, I don't." Minhyuk doesn't like knowing how much Hyungwon blames himself for this.

Hyungwon doesn't say anything.

Minhyuk thinks about everything that's going on right now. Hyungwon wants to call things off, because he feels guilty about something he couldn't predict happening. If Hyungwon wanted to stop everything because he didn't want to pretend to be Minhyuk's boyfriend, that would be okay. But this is not the reason, and Minhyuk really doesn't know how to feel about it.

Minhyuk doesn't know how to feel about Hyungwon stopping being his fake boyfriend. He doesn't really want that.

It's nice when Hyungwon is his boyfriend.

Minhyuk doesn't know how he suddenly feels bold enough to ask, "can I kiss you?"

Hyungwon blinks at Minhyuk.

And Minhyuk just looks at him, finally sure what he wants.

Hyungwon swallows. "But you don't kiss people you don't date," he says, recalling what Minhyuk has told him weeks ago.

And Minhyuk remembers what Hyungwon said, too. "We were on a few dates."

Hyungwon nods. "Right."

"And, technically, we are boyfriends," Minhyuk adds, but then he frowns at the uncertainty. "Right?"

They're kind of talking about calling things off, but does it mean that it's done already? Are they still boyfriends? Are they not?

"I don't really know what we are right now," Hyungwon admits.

"Doesn't change the fact that I would like to kiss you," Minhyuk says. "Only if you want me to, of course."

Hyungwon doesn't answer immediately. He takes his time, as if pondering if he should, before finally nodding.

Minhyuk smiles and kisses him.

The kiss isn't like that kiss from weeks ago. That kiss was hurried, and passionate, but this one is calm, slow, as if they were trying things out. Testing what they can and can't do, and Minhyuk can't help but smile against Hyungwon's lips as he feels Hyungwon's arms slowly sneaking around his waist.

This time they're careful, patient, and gentle.

It's Hyungwon who breaks the kiss, but he doesn't pull away. He stays close, his lips still touching Minhyuk's when he says, "we aren't exactly in private, you know."

Minhyuk lets out a breathy chuckle. "Yeah?"

"Anyone can see us," Hyungwon murmurs.

Minhyuk moves his hands to rest them on Hyungwon's shoulders as he whispers, "that's alright, I guess."

"You aren't worried about that?"

Minhyuk grins. "No. It's okay."

Going home feels like déjà vu to Minhyuk, but at the same time it doesn't.

Hyungwon is with him.

They get a cab. They keep leaning against each other, whispering and giggling. Hyungwon doesn't let go of Minhyuk's hand, and Minhyuk certainly doesn't want him to.

When they finally reach Minhyuk's apartment, they don't talk. It's really just mouths, and hands, and more giggles, and sighs. The moment the door closes after them Hyungwon kisses Minhyuk, and Minhyuk is breathless.

This isn't how Minhyuk expected the night to go, he realizes. But Minhyuk is going to take from it as much as he can.

Hyungwon's lips are on Minhyuk's neck and his hands are working on Minhyuk's belt. He has Minhyuk pressed against the wall, and Minhyuk's legs feel weak.

"Hyungwon," Minhyuk whispers, but it sounds loud in the quiet of the night. "Not here."

Hyungwon stops what he's doing and Minhyuk has the chance to grab his wrist and tug at it. They both laugh when Minhyuk leads them to his bedroom. Minhyuk laughs louder when Hyungwon pushes him gently on the bed and he falls against the pillows. Hyungwon towers above him and immediately pulls Minhyuk in for a kiss.

The kiss is messy, wet. Minhyuk runs his hand through Hyungwon's hair and Hyungwon slips his hands under the hem of Minhyuk's pants, about to slide them off Minhyuk's legs.

"Is this okay?" Hyungwon asks breathily.

Minhyuk nods, spreading his legs. "Yes," he moans. "Go on."

Hyungwon chuckles and gently, carefully, pushes down Minhyuk's pants, and at the same time Minhyuk takes off his bowtie and unbuttons his shirt. When Hyungwon is done he leans forward and presses a kiss against Minhyuk's throat. He continues leaving hot kisses on Minhyuk's skin, going lower, and sometimes Minhyuk squirms, and sometimes he moans.

Hyungwon's hands are firm and his lips are heavenly.

When Hyungwon reaches Minhyuk's navel he leaves a peck against it and then moves straight to Minhyuk's left thigh.

"Do you like this?" Hyungwon asks with his mouth pressed against Minhyuk's skin, but his voice is so clear Minhyuk still hears him.

"Yes," Minhyuk answers, breathily, grabbing Hyungwon's shoulders.

Hyungwon is still fully clothed.

Hyungwon laughs as Minhyuk grabs his arms and tugs at them, telling Hyungwon to stop what he's doing, and Hyungwon stops. Hyungwon slides the shirt down Minhyuk's arms, leaving him completely naked. Minhyuk tries to help Hyungwon take off his clothes, too, but Minhyuk's hands are shaking. They are impatient, and when Hyungwon is done stripping, he grabs Minhyuk's wrist, directs them so Minhyuk can wrap his arms around Hyungwon's neck.

Hyungwon kisses Minhyuk's ear and he reaches his hand down. He grabs Minhyuk's erection, runs his thumb against the head, and Minhyuk sighs.

"Will you—" Minhyuk's breath hitches and his hips move forward involuntarily as Hyungwon strokes him slowly. "—will you stay?"

At first Hyungwon chuckles at the question, but Minhyuk doesn't. Hyungwon freezes.

Oh.

He nuzzles his face against Minhyuk's hair. "I will leave only when you tell me to."

Minhyuk releases a small sigh. "Good."

Then Hyungwon kisses Minhyuk again and Minhyuk melts.

He tells Hyungwon where he keeps the lube and condoms. Hyungwon is restless when he looks through the drawer contents, and he almost drops whatever he grabs, his hands clumsy because of the rush. When finally Hyungwon finds the bottle he passes it to Minhyuk.

Minhyuk prepares himself, spreading his legs wide as he reaches behind himself. His eyes flutter close when he slides the first finger inside. Minhyuk controls his breathing as he works himself open, and Hyungwon is fucking gone.

“Fuck,” Hyungwon mutters and crawls closer to Minhyuk.

He kisses Minhyuk, and Minhyuk opens his mouth, lets out a soft groan, and Hyungwon's hands wander, massaging Minhyuk's thighs and hips, as Minhyuk takes his time.

When Minhyuk finally decides he's ready he ushers Hyungwon to get between his legs. Hyungwon pushes into him, and Minhyuk arches his back, his fingers digging into Hyungwon's biceps. Hyungwon stays still. Minhyuk takes deep, measured breaths, his toes curling as he slowly adjusts to the feeling of Hyungwon inside him. He hides his face in Hyungwon's shoulder, holding onto Hyungwon's arms tightly.

Hyungwon hides his nose in Minhyuk's hair and inhales. He runs his hands up and down Minhyuk's thighs. "Are you okay?"

Minhyuk releases a shaky breath.

"I'm okay," he says, finally revealing his face.

He puts one hand on the back of Hyungwon's head, the other on Hyungwon's cheek, and Hyungwon knows that Minhyuk wants to be kissed, so he leans in and kisses him. Hyungwon rolls his hips and at first his thrusts are slow and short and experimental, but he quickens the pace when Minhyuk starts being demanding.

They gasp in each other's mouth, and Minhyuk gets lost in this, in the feeling of Hyungwon inside him, pressing against his prostate. Hyungwon uses one hand to hold himself above Minhyuk, and with the other he grabs Minhyuk's thigh. He nudges it higher, holds it so he can fuck Minhyuk easier, better.

Minhyuk comes first with a choked moan, and the moment his body tenses Hyungwon slips out. He jerks Minhyuk off until he's done, until Minhyuk gets soft in his hands, and his thighs stop trembling, and Minhyuk relaxes against him. When Minhyuk is finished he grabs Hyungwon's erection and tugs at it, stroking him with quick, sharp movements, and Hyungwon kisses Minhyuk again.

The moment Hyungwon comes he presses his lips against Minhyuk's neck to muffle his moan.

They lie against each other, catching their breaths. Minhyuk looks at Hyungwon, brushes the hair out of his hair. Hyungwon grabs Minhyuk's hand and holds it against his cheek before turning his head slightly to leave a peck on his palm.

They stay in the bed, spent and satisfied, moving only so Hyungwon can spoon Minhyuk. He keeps his forehead pressed against Minhyuk's nape, their legs are tangled together, and Hyungwon holds his hand on Minhyuk's abdomen. He brushes his thumb across the skin. Minhyuk grabs Hyungwon's hand and intertwines their fingers together, and Hyungwon leaves a kiss against his shoulder.

And then they fall asleep like this.

Minhyuk wakes up two hours later.

He feels gross but is too tired to move. Hyungwon is snoring softly behind him, his arm thrown across Minhyuk's waist. Their clothes are scattered on the floor. The room smells of sex.

They should have showered, Minhyuk has a distant thought. But it's night now, and Hyungwon is sleeping, and Minhyuk is tired and lazy. Hyungwon feels warm pressed against him, and Minhyuk thinks he doesn't want to ever leave the bed, or Hyungwon's warm embrace.

Content, Minhyuk falls asleep again.

Hyungwon is there the next day.

He said he would be, so Minhyuk shouldn't be surprised, but he can't help feeling the pang of joy when he realizes that Hyungwon didn't leave.

They're both lazy, so it takes time before finally Minhyuk manages to convince first himself, then Hyungwon, that they should shower.

"Come on," Minhyuk laughs when Hyungwon tries to burrow himself under the covers. "I have dried cum on my skin and lube up my ass."

"I don't," Hyungwon mumbles sleepily.

Minhyuk hits the bundle playfully. "But I don't want to shower alone."

So finally Minhyuk manages to coerce Hyungwon to leave the bed, and it is a whole ordeal. When Hyungwon finally stumbles out of the bed Minhyuk takes his hand, leads him in the shower. And in the shower they make out again, under the hot water, and it takes them much longer to get clean than it should.

When they're done Minhyuk makes them breakfast. Hyungwon offers to help him, but it soon turns out that Hyungwon is even worse at kitchen than Minhyuk is, so Minhyuk tells him not to do anything. Hyungwon ends up leaning against the kitchen counter, waiting as Minhyuk prepares the food.

That's when Hyungwon looks at Minhyuk's side profile and sees the red line at the side of his forehead where he had the stitches.

Hyungwon frowns as he touches the skin, surprising Minhyuk.

"You've got a scar," Hyungwon says.

"Oh, this" Minhyuk says, touching the scar. "Yeah. It's nothing."

"Is it from the accident?"

"Yeah."

Hyungwon swallows, his throat closing in uncomfortably. Minhyuk sighs and he looks at Hyungwon again, smiling at him fondly. "Stop it. We talked about it."

Hyungwon wants to argue. He wants to say that even if they talked about it, it doesn't change the fact that it feels like it's Hyungwon's fault. He doesn't argue, though, mainly because he knows that Minhyuk will get annoyed, and the morning feels way too peaceful for Hyungwon to ruin that. So he just nods.

He feels that he needs to say sorry, but he doesn't.

Instead he says, "I have been thinking about something."

Minhyuk hums. "About?"

"This fake dating thing," Hyungwon says.

Minhyuk looks at him briefly, curiously. He doesn't say anything and Hyungwon takes it as his clue to continue.

"I have no idea what we are, apart from fake boyfriends" he says, and he sounds serious. "But maybe I could take you out on a real date?"

Minhyuk blinks. "You're asking me out?" he asks. "Like, seriously?"

"I was serious when I first asked you out, too," Hyungwon teases him.

Minhyuk averts his eyes, ashamed with what he's been doing and saying for the past few weeks. With the reminder that Hyungwon wanted to treat him seriously when for Minhyuk it was all a bet.

"You can say if you don't want to go out with me. It's alright," Hyungwon adds, shrugging. "I mean, I don't really expect much."

"I want to," Minhyuk says quickly.

A wide grin appears on Hyungwon's lips. "Really?"

"Yeah." Minhyuk smiles.

And the look in Hyungwon's eyes is the most precious thing Minhyuk has ever seen.

On Monday Hyungwon and Minhyuk go to work together.

Hyungwon spent the whole weekend at Minhyuk's place, going home only to grab some clothes and then returning to Minhyuk's. They both walk to Minhyuk's department, because Hyungwon is adamant about walking him there, and Minhyuk doesn't really want to argue. He actually likes that Hyungwon is doing this.

They hold hands, and when Hyungwon is about to leave Minhyuk pecks him in the lips.

After Minhyuk is left alone, he pretends he doesn't see Kihyun staring at him.

"So," Changkyun asks with a teasing tone, "are you two okay again?"

Minhyuk nods, unable to stop himself from smiling.

"I think this calls for a meeting," Kihyun says.

"My place, after work?" Changkyun suggests.

Minhyuk laughs. He has a dreamy expression as he waits for his computer to turn on.

"Sorry, I can't," he says and grins at both of them when they throw him questioning looks. "Got a date with my boyfriend," Minhyuk explains.

Changkyun and Kihyun both roll their eyes.