Jongup

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   I wore my usual casual wear; Baggy pants and a wife beater. It's comfy and it looks even better when it's dirty

   I met him in the living room where he waited, lounging on the couch, watching Mtv which seemed to always be on in our house.

   "Ready?" He asked and I nodded. We threw on our boots and jackets and like that were out the door.

   We took the subway to the stop that Daehyun commuted to every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We sat quietly through most of the ride, just watching life go on as it flew by outside the window.

   I couldn't help but let my eyes wander over him as we sat facing each other. He just looked so, happy…

   His eyes smiled as he leaned back on his arm that hung over our seat. He always seemed like a child to me... A quiet, mature, child. You probably wouldn't agree, but you don't know him like I do. He lets loose around me and that’s most likely the reason for my conclusion.

   “Why so cheery?” I asked him in amusement. He sighed happily and gazed over the city, going by. The trees and the birds, small animals and people, then water as we passed over a bridge.

   “I love watching the world wake up…” He answered dreamily. I felt warmth spread throughout my chest. Daehyun is often precieved as immature and erted, but when he’s serious, without always even trying, his words could make your heart swell in wonder.

   “But…” He started again and my smile faded as I turned to look at him in curiosity. “It’s better today…” He turned and looked at me for the first time in a while. ”because, my best friend is here to see it too.”

   I stared at him for a moment, bemused by his reply.

I’m his… best friend…?

   He smiled at my reaction before pinching my cheek and going back to admiring life. Eventually, I felt that crooked smile that he always seemed to bring out, spread across my face and it stayed there for the rest of the ride.

   After a few more minutes, we arrived and migrated out onto the street.

   I immediately began feeling conscious when we arrived at the auto shop.

   “Hey there Busan Boy!” A short guy called from behind a car as we entered the shop. His hair stood up in charismatic ginger spikes. His features were broad despite his size.

   “Ayee, Hyung, wasseoyo?” Dae replied casually as they approached each other and shook a manly hand. I felt a pang of jealously burn through me at their close friendship as Daehyun leaned on the shorter one’s shoulder. I felt like such a tag-along, following Daehyun around like a lost puppy and it only caused me to be more awkward until I was finally recognized.

   “Who’s this?” He eyed me up. Daehyun smiled brightly as always.

   “This is my best friend, Moon Jongup.” I smiled and stood a little taller, proud of my title and he gave me another sweep with his eyes.

   “The one you have that huge crush on?” He finally asked.

   It suddenly became silent. I was shocked and Daehyun was too, maybe even more than me. His cheeks glowed as he glared at the other guy with an unexplainable expression. I couldn't help but look at him and he nervously met my eyes for a moment before breaking away in embarassment and making a gruffy kind of noise.

  After a few excruciating long minutes, the shorty finally broke out in laughter and smacked my shoulder.

   “Ahahaha! Ahh… I’m just teasing.” He comforted. “But…” He added in under his breath as he leaned closer to my ear. “He does talk about you a lot.” I looked at him, not exactly sure how to feel about him, or even more, what he said.

   “I’m Taeil~” He finally introduced while extending a hand. I hesitated but eventually embraced his introduction and shook his hand firmly. He grinned at me before spinning on his heel and patting Daehyunnie on the back.

   “Let’s not slack! We have a lot to do today.” Daehyun shot me an uncomfortable smile before following Taeil over to the car.

   I didn’t really know anything about cars and stuff like that. The only thing I’ve ever known is music and dance, but I still enjoyed watching Dae-hyung working hard on it. I sat on the floor a little ways away, my legs spread and my arms between them, resting on my knees as my hands twiddled idly with a random tool as I listened to the music coming from the old radio perched on a shelf with a duct tapped antenna .    

   I watched curiously as Daehyun maneuvered around beneath the vehicle, tinkering on different parts, only stopping to see what he had to do next and shoot me a content smile before going back to work.

   I watched Taeil as well. He worked closely with Daehyun and they got along well. I couldn’t help but feel an unpleasant emotion rip through me whenever one would lean towards the other to mutter something and soon after they would begin laughing amongst their own bubble of happiness.

   Why is it bothering me so much though…? So what if Daehyun has other friends?? I contradicted myself in confusion but still, the frustration never left. Then all of a sudden, it was pardoned for a moment by the smooth sound of Daehyun hyung’s voice.

   “Yah! Jonguppie-ah!” He called to me and I perked up immediately at the attention. “Can I have that?” He asked as he leaned out from under the car. It took me a moment to realize that he was referring to the tool in my hand that I had completely forgot about. I jumped up right away and handed it to him, but he didn’t take it.

   “Actually..” He second thought and I felt my face turn up in confusion. “Come here…” He motioned for me to join him. I was a still a little confused and pretty hesitant but after another beckon, I joined him on my back.    

   I could smell the scent of dirt and grease coming off of him. Alone, it would probaby have made me turn up my nose but mixed with Dae's unique, sweet smell, it made me want to stuff my face into his chest and just inhale him alone. But that was weird... so I didn't..

   "Can you unscrew that?" He pointed in an awfully general direction and I felt a little embarassed as I had no idea what he was talking about.

   He chuckled and I could feel it rumble through his shoulder that was pressed up against mine. He then took my hand in his own and raised it up until the wrench wrapped snuggly around a small bolt connecting two tubes.

   I looked at him and he nodded for me to start cranking. It was a little difficult to loosen but once I had, it began sliding off easily so I went a little faster.

   "Ok, now what you have to- W-wait! You should probably sl-" He started but it was too late, with the next crank, one of the tubes split from the nut and began spraying us with a rank fluid.

   "Gahh!!!" We both shouted out in surprise and scrambled out from underneath the vehicle, whipping it away in desperate attempts to keep it out of our poor eyes.

   Once I had gathered myself, I looked guiltily to Dae as he wiped the foul liquid from his face, looking much like a small child rubbing away tears.

   "M-Mianhae Hyung..." I appalogized nervously, afraid that he was angry. After another moment of rubbing, he finally looked up at me with those smiley eyes, which at the moment, were very dazed. When he didn't say anything, I felt the urge to apologize once again.

   "Mian.." I felt myself pout in dissapointment in myself. Suddenly, without any warning, he burst into laugher.

  "Ahahahaha!" He scrunched his face up in histarics and bent over his knees. After a moment he straightened back up and looked at me while whiping tears put of his eyes.

   "Look at you!" He exclaimed and I felt my cheeks burn. "Ahaha... come here.." He waved me over and I sheepishly approached him.

   He grabbed a rag off the bench before returning to face me, that smile still playing on his face.

   "I told you to slow down.." He chuckled.

   "Mian..." I apologized yet again in embarassment as I diverted my eyes to the ground. He suddenly reached out of hold my face and I flinched, afraid that he would feel my cheek burning hotter. I then flinched more as he began to rub my face with the rag. It was bristly and scraped my sensitive face but it got the grease out of my eyes and hair, for the most part.

   "What happened to you guys??" Taeil's grinning face then appeared over the hood of the car. He then swooped around and approached where we stood. He laughed too, at the sight of me but with him I wasn't so ashamed. I don't really give a what Lee Taeil thinks of me.

   "Hey, you should whipe yourself up too." He scolded Daehyun. "I don't want to be working beside a scruffy dongsaeng~" He teased and I saw Dae's face turn in playful frustration.

   "Yah!" He turned and swiftly whipped the elder with the scratchy towel in his hand. Then, he ran.

   "Yah! Jung Daehyun!" Taeil shouted out and took off after him, swiping his own rag as they engaged in war. They jumped around like monkeys, giggling litke little girls whenever one would strike at the other.

   I watched awkwardly as Taeil finally caught up to Dae- hyung and captured him in a sort of back hug.

   “Hyuuungg~~~~” Dae cried out in a childish whine as he swung his weight around, trying to shake Taeil off his back. "Taeillie hyuung!!" It felt uncomfortable to be hearing him call anyone other than Yongguk like that. He should probably call Himchan Hyung too but he's too conceited and Himchan is too much of a derp. [AN: SO TRUE xD <3] But what made it even stranger, is the fact that Daehyun has always been, and always will be, the elder in our relationship and I've never seen him act like a dongsaeng before. Even if it was around Yongguk hyung. It was uncomfortable.

   I was also disturbed by the skinship. I don't like seeming selfish and conceited but I've never seen him so comfortable around anyone else except for me and possibly Youngjae hyung... but still. It bothered me and I felt my skin getting warmer and my knuckles squeeze as I balled my fists. I looked in a different direction in the hopes that they would finish before this ridiculous jealousy took me over.

 some reason, the joy on their faces upset me greatly and I had to leave. I left, before I could do something stupid an embarrass myself.

   I stalked off out into the office-type area, nearly tripping over a bucket on my way to the door, catching Daehyun’s immediate attention.

   “Yah! J-Jongup-ah!” He called to me but I ignored him and went to find the bathroom. I was too irritated right now.  I found it easily and slipped inside. Luckily it was empty and I could cool off by myself.

   Why am I so possessive of him?? I nagged at myself. I’m going to make a fool out of myself if I can’t keep this under control… I stepped up to the sink and took a look at myself in the mirror. I was stained all over with grease and I had only helped out for less than two minutes. I ran the water and splashed some on my face as my thoughts continued to rack my brain.

    But why am I like this anyway?? I watched my face scrunch up as thoughts that have been bothering me more and more lately kept knocking on my brain. Why else? What do you mean ‘why else?’. You know what I mean Jongup, you’re attracted to Jung Daehyun. No I’m not! That’s ridiculous! I fought with myself but it was futile and the guilt only ate away at my stomach. Maybe I am..just.. a little…

   “Ahh! Shut up!!” I shouted out loud at myself and gripped my hair in frustration. Not a moment later, the door opened, letting in an innocent Daehyun. My heart immediately began to race but I continued to ignore it and didn’t look at him. I couldn’t let him know….

   “Jonguppie-ah…” Don’t call me that right now. I though harshly as I already could feel myself weakening for him.

“Mwo.” I didn’t even bother to raise the end in question as I scrubbed my hands under the cold water.

   “..Gwenchana…?” I didn’t reply. “Yah! Wae Geurae~~?”

   “It's nothing, I’m fine.” I answered straightly as I turned away from him to dry my soaked hands but he wouldn’t believe me.

   “Obviously you’re not fine.” He answered, just as flat toned and stepped forward, getting closer to me. I tried to ignore him but he was too close and I ended up glancing at his face.

   “Really! I just wanted to wash off…” I tried to convince him. I really didn’t want to be doing this right now.

   “Yah!” He raised his voice a little, making me jump.

   “Is it Taeil??” He asked after a long moment of awkward tention, glaring into my eyes that were doing everything they could to avoid his. I snapped and looked away, which was practically accidentally admitting it and I immediately felt myself blush. I went to dart around him so I could escape from all this tention that I created over something stupid, but he caught my arm, dragging me back and pinning my against the wall.

   I he stared at me deeply for a long moment, right into my face and I wanted nothing more than to just hide. To crawl in a hole and not come out for a long time. He was getting really close, too close for comfort and I was afraid I’d lose myself if he kept pushing it.

   “…How many times in a day..” He started firmly, glaring at me hard. I nearly shook from the intimidation. Then suddenly, he lightened up, just like that, and that familiar smirk spread across his pretty face.

   “Do I have say that you are my best friend…?”  I couldn’t look away now, not now that my eyes became so lost in his. But I still had the consciousness to foolishly speak my mind.

  “I thought you said it was lonely here….” I pouted earning a chuckle from my hyung.

  “Of course it’s lonely without you.” Why does he have to say stuff like that to me?? His words tugged at my heart and I fought them with all my might, cursing him in my mind. He just knows you too well, he’s messing with your head. He doesn’t mean it. Not like that anyway… Not like the way you want him to mean it. I felt like shouting at my conscious again as it kept coming up with these ridiculous thoughts. But it was right about him, he was messing with my head, no matter how he meant it.

  “I’m not usually this lively…” He admitted, looking away in slight shyness. “At least not genuinely… and besides, Taeil hyung doesn’t always have the same shift as me.” 

  “You guys seem pretty close.” I went back to my flat tone and he looked at me again, still holding tightly to my arm.

  “Not as close as us.” He said. It took me a moment, as I tried desperately to hide my swindling.

  “…P-Promise..?” I finally spit out and he smiled, his eyes twinkling like always as he nodded at me. I looked away, sure that I was beat red.

“Now come on.” He started on a livelier note. “I know you’re going through puberty and all, but there’s no need to be so moody.~” He teased, pinching my cheek and I scowled at him. “Taeil invited us for lunch, you should at least give him a chance.” He urged and to my dismay, I was left with no choice but to agree.

  I was embarrassed to have made such a fuss, and still a little surprised and extremely controvercial about the things that Daehyun said but the rest of the day went fine I guess I have to say, and I would be lying if I tried to tell you that I wasn’t up to do it again.

Omona!~~~ 

DaeJong!!! Wae so fricken CYUUUUTE!!!!?!?!??! >.< 

oh god I love it xD ♥ xD

I hope this chapter was full of pleasure -^^-

I plan on making these sidestory parts rather fancervicy so yeah x]

and omg Taeil!! :D

anyone else excited to see him??? x]

I thought he fit nicely in this situation ;3

i hope you agree ♥

i'm sorry this took so long tho D: idky 

but it's pretty lengthy so it makes up right...? 

well, we should be getting back to the main plot in the next chapter but I really hope you enjoyed! ^0^

as always 

Comment && Subscribe!~

Saranghae!~ ♥

**Korean Context**

Gwenchana? = are you ok?

Wae Geurae? = Why are you like this?