I could tell you his favorite color’s green

He loves to argue, born on the eighteenth

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“Can we stop by a chicken restaurant on the way home and grab some take-out?” were the first words that came out of Jung Hoseok’s mouth as he clambered into the passenger seat of your 1999 Honda Accord. His dyed copper hair was sticking up in different places thanks to the humidity and the fact that he had hurried to meet you. Rolling the seat all the way back, he stretched out his long legs.

“What do you think I am, a taxi service?” you replied incredulously as you drove towards the freeway.  “I haven’t seen you in months, Hoseok! A ‘hello’ would have sufficed, thank you!”

“You’re welcome,” he grinned, showing off his long, white teeth. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at him. You’ve been used to his antics since the two of you were in diapers. It was relieving to spend the next three hours in the car with him as you drove back to your hometown. Ever since he debuted in that idol group of his a couple years ago, your meetings with Hoseok were scarce.

“God, the concert last night was so exhausting…but so totally worth it,” he said, exhilaration resounding in every word he said. “It’s crazy to see how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. Just a few years ago, I remember you poking me with your pencils to stay awake in class. Now, I’m getting used to waking up in a hotel room in a different country.”

You snuck a glance at him, and couldn’t help but share the elation that glimmered in his eyes. A smile crossed your face as you focused your eyes back on the road. There were so many things you wanted to know about his lifestyle as an idol. Conversations like this were rare. “So, any cute female idols catch your eye yet? I’m surprised a scandal about you hasn’t broken out yet.”

Hoseok scoffed. “Puh-lease. You talk like I’m actually capable of falling in love or something. I don’t have time for that. Plus,” he ran a hand through his hair as a smug smirk appeared on his face, “I’m too beautiful for all of them.”

This time, you couldn’t suppress the laugh that rose from your belly. Hoseok was such an idiot sometimes, but there was a reason as to why you’ve been best friends with him. However, your heart sank a little when he implied that he wasn’t capable of falling in love. The feelings that you had developed for him over the years didn’t wane when he became an idol; in fact, they strengthened.  Still, you kept the smile on your face, instead focusing on the blur of the scenery that you whirled past.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Hoseok turn the radio on, and his face lit up as he recognized the song playing. Nobody else knew it, but you were well aware that Hoseok was a closet Taylor Swift fan. Thinking ahead, you popped in a special mixtape for his arrival. A horrible, screeching falsetto belting out the opening lines of ‘22’ began to resound in your car as he began to sing along.

Three hours of singing, stories and shenanigans later, you finally arrived at your hometown of Gwangju. You grudgingly pulled into the chicken restaurant he wanted to go to, much to his delight. “I’ll wait in the car so I can keep the AC running. Grab your chicken,” you told him, reclining the seat to take a much-needed nap. Driving can be so taxing on your eyes.

Time seemed to pass by like a fluttering summer breeze, because it only seemed like a couple minutes before your eyes opened to Hoseok’s long face pressed up against the glass of your window, hammering against it like a madman. Raising an eyebrow, you unlocked the car door for him. The savory smell of chicken wafted through your car, tempting you to resist its allure. Your stomach growled in protest.

Hoseok let out a stifled giggle. “I bought you a meal too, so don’t worry about being hungry,” he said, patting the plastic bag on his lap. You exclaimed your thanks as you turned to back out of your spot, attempting to hide the coral hue that was starting to creep onto your cheeks. Hoseok took a big slurp of his drink and continued to talk your ear off as you made your way down the familiar roads that led to your neighborhood.

The sun was beginning to set, causing the sky to set off a brilliant orange glow. As you pulled into your driveway, you saw a couple silhouettes waving at the two of you. Hoseok’s parents rushed to greet their son as soon as the car was parked. You nodded a look of understanding as you made your way towards your front door, not wanting to make your neighbors’ reunion awkward. Before you were able to open the door, however, you heard your name being called.

Turning around, you saw Hoseok’s father wave you over. His long face reminded you so much of his son’s. “Please, come join us for dinner! Hoseok told me that he bought you some chicken. Your parents told us they would be working late today, anyway.” Shrugging, you joined them. You’ve known these people all your life, and it was a miracle that they weren’t sick of you yet.

You entered their home and rejoiced at the smell of home cooking. Pictures of Hoseok and his sister lined the walls of his house, and even a couple BTS posters were on display in the living room. You hadn’t had a chance to visit their home in a while, not since he became an idol.

“Hoseok, go take a shower before you eat dinner. There’s going to be a nice home cooked meal tonight. I’m not just going to let the two of you eat just chicken.” Hoseok’s mother tutted, then averted her gaze towards you. “Sweetheart, would you mind taking Hoseok’s luggage in his room for him? No matter how clean that boy is, he always gets too lazy to unpack.”

“Mom!” Hoseok whined, but ultimately made his way to the bathroom, grumbling about how his parents kept treating him like a child. Taking his luggage to his room, you absentmindedly opened his bag to help him unpack. A neatly folded sheet of paper lay of top of his equally neatly folded clothes. Confused, you picked it up and unfolded it.

At the top of the paper, your name was written in Hoseok’s childish scrawl. The words that followed it, however, left your jaw hanging agape. It was an entire rap written about how much he wanted to confess to you. The first verse consisted of cheesy pickup lines, while the ones that followed it reminisced on your times as adolescents. Your hands were shaking so much as your heartbeat pumped twice as much blood as you needed in a day.

You don’t know how long you were staring at that piece of paper until you heard a shrill squeak from the doorway, followed by your name. Turning around, you saw Hoseok wearing nothing but a towel around his waist and his head, staring at you with wide eyes. “I-I can explain!”

A staring contest ensued as you still clutched the piece of paper like a lifeline. Emotions were running wild in your heart right now, as its palpitations made it seem like it was going to leap out of your chest any second. The signals in your brain failed to convey your thoughts into words as your mouth continued to gape like a chasm. Hoseok took a step into his room and spoke, shell-shocked demeanor transformed back into his normally cheery self. “Please let me explain. Just let me put on some clothes first.”

Nodding wordlessly, you stepped out of the room and closed the door. The sound of rummaging through clothing, followed by a tumble ensued, but you were too stunned by recent events to even crack a smile. When Hoseok finally opened the door with his wet hair dripping onto his dark grey shirt, you could only blurt out the only think that came into your mind. “You told me that you weren’t capable of falling in love.”

His eyes avoided yours as he made way for you to enter his room. You sat on the edge of his bed, pressing him with a look of determination. Hoseok leaned against the doorway, shyly hiding the traitor sheet of paper behind his body. “It’s a long story.”

A sly smile crept onto your face as you raised an eyebrow. You couldn’t believe your audacity-caused euphoria as you reveled in the redness that now painted his cheeks. Pulling your feet up onto his bed, you assumed a comfortable seated position as you replied with, “I’ve got all the time in the world.”

Hoseok sighed guiltily and took a seat next to you on the bed. "Well, the secret's out. I lied.”

---

His sister’s beautiful and he has his father’s eyes

But if you asked me if I loved him, I’d lie