Of Rivals and Love Secrets
Half Past Eleven [MINOR REVISIONS]
What to do when you finished work way earlier than expected and you're stuck waiting for your team to finish their parts, but was not allowed to rest and was forced to listen to the same love songs for hours?
Why, make a fanfic out of it of course! Featuring the pairing I do best!
(I love Train's Marry Me but I'm gonna have to avoid it for the next months. Ugh.)
So yeah. This is a fluff scenario with a not-so-cool Goo Junhwe and a totally-cool Kim Donghyuk who has him wrapped around his finger. Sort of.
You can also consider this an advance "peace offering" for any angst/drama-induced grievance I might cause in the very near future *awkward lol*
... I miss iKON...
“Soft vocals are so yesterday.” Goo Junhwe, one of the country’s top solo male vocalists, states as-a-matter-of-factly as shown on the flat TV screen. “It’s all about full and husky vocals now. A song’s meaning can be expressed better with vocal colors like that.”
The interviewer takes a moment to smile, obviously happy at the chance to open up a topic about Goo Junhwe’s long running rivalry with a fellow top solo male vocalist - one who is most definitely known for his soft vocals.
“What do you think your fellow artist, Kim Donghyuk, thinks about your perspective?”
“I think Kim Donghyuk agrees with it.” Goo Junhwe says with a big smirk. “I mean, he should. The sales difference is undeniable --”
Click.
Donghyuk rolls his eyes, shakes his head, then flings the remote control on the other side of the couch. Goo Junhwe and his mouth! He wasn’t like that when he had the better sales last season, so shouldn’t Junhwe be more courteous with his words? The difference in their sales isn’t even that big.
He hears the door to the apartment suite open but he chose not to greet whoever the person is. He reaches for the remote control instead and turns the TV on again, the same interview still on show.
“I’m home! Got us some sandwiches and Americanos from your fave cafe--
Donghyuk turns to smirk as his boyfriend of 3 years stood pale-faced at the edge of the living room, mouth hanging slightly open while he averts his gaze from the TV to him.
“Donghyuk, I--
“Junhwe.” he almost laughs when color further drains from the other male’s face. “Thanks for the coffee and sandwiches. How’s your recording today?”
He watches Junhwe carefully place the paper bag he’s holding on the glass coffee table. “It’s fine. I finished two songs” he says, gaze turning briefly towards the TV again.
“Umm, about that interview, you know it’s just nonsense right? I didn’t mean everything I said.”
“You look self satisfied though.”
“I had to!” Junhwe looks like he’s about to panic. “This is our managers’ fault. Yeah it started as a rivalry but it’s already been 3 freaking years and we --
“Alright, that’s enough. You always have that tirade whenever this happens.”
Donghyuk sighs then stretches his arm towards the coffee table to grab one of the two Americanos. As he takes his first sip, he glances at the other male to see him standing timidly on the same spot, looking dejected as if he had a harsh scolding.
This is his so-called rival. He’s so cool and collected in front of the cameras and his fans but when it’s just the two of them, every single mask of his will be gone. What a dork.
And he loves him.
“What are you doing just standing there?” he asks, now with a soft smile, as he pats the spot beside him. Junhwe’s face immediately lights up.
The couch sinks a little as Junhwe takes his place, an arm being immediately slung around his shoulder. He takes another sip and grins into the cup as his boyfriend presses a kiss on his temple.
“I’m still sorry Donghyukie.”
“Don’t be. It wouldn’t be Goo Junhwe if your words aren’t as harsh.”
He feels Junhwe stiffen so he places a hand on his knee and gives him a comforting squeeze. The interview on the TV is about to come to a close with “Goo Junhwe” asking fans to support his still-top charting single.
“So, when are we going to start recording for our collab? Jinani-hyung hasn’t told me anything yet.” The show finishes and a commercial plays.
“Hanbin-hyung told me we could start in the 24th.”
“Finally.” he looks up to grin widely at the taller male. “Can’t wait to release it and see how everyone would react.”
“It’ll be a mess, but in a good way.” Junhwe grins back. “I can almost see the headlines and conspiracy theories.”
Donghyuk laughs then sips on his coffee again. “But in the end, they’ll love it. Our voices together is perfect.”
“Just like how absolutely perfect we are together.”
He almost spits the caffeine. God, why is Junhwe so cheesy? He can feel himself cringe but one look at the goofy but totally adorable smile his boyfriend’s giving him, he just melts.
“You know what’s gonna make everything really perfect?” he starts as he places the coffee cup back on the table.
“What?”
He giggles then leans up towards Junhwe’s ear, whispering to him. Junhwe tenses and jerks away to give him a shocked face, worry settling in a moment after, but Donghyuk knows Junhwe’s excited about it. The glint in his eyes says it all.
“You serious? Is it really okay now?”
“Yes. You don’t want to?”
“What? I’ve been dying to do that since last year.”
Donghyuk grins again and moves to kiss Junhwe on the lips.
“Then it’s decided!”
---
“I’m dating Kim Donghyuk-ssi.” Junhwe announces with clarity and emphasis. Donghyuk almost laughs because the way Junhwe said those words, he’s making it so obvious he’s been “dying” to say them for many months.
The whole room erupts with loud murmurs as most of the press are suddenly crowding onto the platform. The sounds of camera clicks are never ending and the swift flashes ought to be a huge annoyance but Donghyuk doesn’t care. He maintains a smile as he holds onto Junhwe’s hand tighter.
“When did your relationship start?”
“Who confessed first?”
“How long have you been together?”
“Does this confirm Donghyuk-ssi is the one with Junhwe-ssi in last month’s photo?”
Donghyuk glances at the side to see Jinhwan-hyung grimacing while he and Hanbin-hyung answer each question as brief as possible. They’re both trying to shift the topic back to the collaboration single but the press is not having it. He starts feeling sorry for the two managers.
Doesn’t mean he regrets revealing the truth.
“Is this possibly a marketing stunt to promote Junhwe-ssi and Donghyuk-ssi’s collaboration?”
That makes him turn his attention back to the press. Eventhough he kind of expects the question, he’s still surprised someone really dared to ask it. Leaning down towards the mic in front of him, he’s about to answer when Junhwe beats him to it.
“Why the would I agree to a dating stunt? C’mon, do you really expect Goo Junhwe to do such a thing?”
There’s a round of murmurs again and furious typing on laptop keyboards. Some of them are smirking, probably glad they could boast about Goo Junhwe’s cursing on a live press conference.
“Are you confirming that you are seriously dating and--
“Yes.” This time, he’s the one who answers. “We are seriously dating, this is not a marketing stunt, and we ask all of you to please support our collab song. Thank you so much for your time.”
With that, he stands up and pulls Junhwe up with him. He sees Jinhwan-hyung and Hanbin-hyung sigh heavily and plead with the rowdy press to calm down.
But Junhwe is suddenly pulling him back. He stiffens in confusion as his boyfriend grabs a mic with a smirk on his face.
“And please support our relationship too! You can expect good news next year! Bye!”
The crowd of reporters has never been so noisy. Donghyuk gapes at what Junhwe just implied, and his boyfriend is enjoying every second of chaos around him. Then as if what he said isn’t enough, Junhwe takes advantage of his semi-frozen state and leans down to press a kiss on his cheek.
“Okay! That’s enough! Stop playing with the press!!” Jinhwan-hyung and Hanbin-hyung hiss to the both of them as they drag them out of the vicinity.
He knows his face is flushed red but he still glares up at Junhwe, who has never let the happy smirk to slip off his face.
---
Two months later, their collaboration single has been number 1 for two weeks straight, the interview requests as a couple are never-ending, and their fans either hate or love their true relationship.
“We’re not going to this show.” He says with finality as he and Junhwe discuss the latest list of interview requests sent to them. He points at the show name with his pen.
“We’re definitely going to be asked about more private matters such as a wedding and other stuff. You really shouldn’t have played with the press that day.”
Junhwe just watches him cross the name of the show with his pen, then speaks.
“I have all the answers to whatever they’ll ask though.”
“What?”
“I can answer all of them. The kind of wedding we’ll have, where we’ll be living,” he pauses to clear his throat, his face burning with red. “...possible names of our k-kids…”
Donghyuk can feel his jaw hang, his own face feeling too hot for comfort, as he stares up at Junhwe.
“...Do you realize what you just said? What you just made me expect?”
His boyfriend grins then leans to whisper on his ear.
“Of course. I know how to take responsibility for my words, Donghyuk.”
Okay, what is this? What is Goo Junhwe doing, hitting him with both his dorky side and cool side at the same time? He freaking felt himself fall even harder and deeper, if that’s possible.
“O-Okay…” he whispers back as he shifts away timidly before coughing. He pouts at the familiar self-satisfied face Junhwe has on. “So, do you want to go to the show or…?”
“We can go. If only to troll them.” Junhwe smirks. “I may have all the answers but it doesn’t mean I’ll have to reveal them right?”
Donghyuk blinks up at him and smirks back. Finally, a chance to retaliate. “You really can’t reveal them. After all, it’s all just you. I haven’t agreed to any of your so-called answers.” He smirks wider when Junhwe instantly paled. “...yet.”
“. Don’t play with my heart like that!”
Junhwe is legitimately sweating, half exasperated and half relieved. He laughs at the quirky face his tall boyfriend’s making then leans up to peck him on the lips.
“I’m sorry babe. You know I love you right?”
His “rival” scoffs and nudges him away, still annoyed.
“...I’m not gonna say it back.”
“Okay.” He snickers discreetly.. “So, are we in with this show or not?”
“We’ll go. I’ll give the public all the juicy details until you’ll have no choice but to be stuck with me forever.”
And again, another attempt of his dear boyfriend to fluster him. He considers gently shutting him down again (because Junhwe might really spill everything now that they don’t have to pretend being bitter rivals), but it wouldn’t be as fun.
“That’s fine by me as long as you’ll be the one handling both Jinani-hyung and Hanbin-hyung.”
As he expects, Junhwe tenses up; suddenly looking scared and unsure.
“You know what, let’s just skip that show. Better yet, let's’ skip half of them. I mean, it’s our life right? We don’t have to answer the same questions for a dozen times.”
“Sure. We’ll do what you want.”
“You mean, what you want.”
He giggles and is shut up when Junhwe pouts and pulls him for a deep kiss.
.
.
.
4 months later,
“It’s a yes.”
Donghyuk smirks when Junhwe pauses the movie they’re watching and leans down to give him a completely confused expression.
“What?”
“It’s a yes. My answer.”
“...Is this about the movie? I don’t get it.” Junhwe scrunches his eyebrows in thought.
“It’s okay.” he pats his boyfriend’s cheek and moves to stand up from the comfort of his back hug. “You’ll figure it out in 6 months.”
“...I really don’t understand. Are you talking about our 2nd collab album?”
Donghyuk just knowingly laughs and makes his way to the kitchen to grab more snacks.
.
.
.
.... I have another (jundong) fluff oneshot in the same "rival" theme, also a product of the forced love song listening session. Should I post it...?
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