They went to the frat house because for some reason Jongin thought he should ask for Heechul’s blessing before seriously dating her.  Heechul had no say in who she dated so she didn’t know why Jongin was doing what he was.  Maybe he just wanted to rub it in Kyuhyun’s face or something.  In that case, this whole thing was stupid because Seulgi had never really been interested in Kyuhyun at all.

The door was unlocked as always and they were able to walk straight in.  Changmin appeared before them, covered in chocolate pudding.  Seulgi knew there was never a dull moment in the house but she didn’t know what could possibly explain why he looked like that.  Jinki called from the kitchen for Changmin to come back when he spotted both Seulgi and Jongin.

“Heechul! Seulgi and Jongin are here!”  Jinki yelled.

“Why the would you yell that here? Kyu’s in the basement,” Heechul shouted back.  There were quick footsteps of both a person coming up the stairs and they could see Heechul coming down.  He wore a scowl on his face as he turned to the basement door and saw Kyuhyun come up with a grin on his face.

“y lady and Kai!”  Kyuhyun cheered. 

Seulgi smiled and would have said hello but Jongin held her hand firmly and pulled her back, away from him.  He didn’t seem to like the fact Kyuhyun was drunk at ten in the morning.  She wondered if he had family to go back to during the winter break.  Seulgi knew Heechul did.  She had never met Heechul’s family and it got her thinking as to what they were like.  She figured they must be nice people if Heechul turned out the way he did.

“Could you please not call my girlfriend y, Kyuhyun? It makes me feel gassy,”  Jongin said with a straight face.

“Too much information, first of all.  Second of all, it’s about ing time,” Kyuhyun smiled.  He eyed their hands with a creepy smile on his face.  Seulgi frowned at his enthusiasm.  

Had everyone predicted their relationship?  Seulgi hadn’t even known she had feelings for Jongin until he had disappeared.  She’d been struggling with her worry and confusion as to why she’d cared so much and seeing him again after he’d come back everything suddenly made sense.  

“So why are you two here?  Did you want us to help explain where you’ve been?”  Heechul asked.

Jongin shook his head.  “I already told her.  I’m actually here for your blessing.”

Seulgi spoke before Heechul could have time to react.  “How did you guys know about what Jongin does anyway?”

“Why do you need my blessing?”  Heechul asked Jongin, then turned to Seulgi.  “I caught Jongin trying to steal the dean’s car once.  He cried while he told me everything.”

“You cried?”  Seulgi snickered, turning to Jongin.  

He scowled at Heechul and the mood turned a bit awkward.  Seulgi thought he may actually skip out on getting Heechul’s blessing.  If anything, he should have been asking for the girl’s blessing.  Then again, Heechul was the closest thing she had to a brother.  It was touching but completely unnecessary.

“Well you have my blessing.  Just don’t get knocked up,” Heechul rolled his eyes.  It was Seulgi’s turn to scowl at Heechul.  

“I’m not that kind of girl,” Seulgi said, indignantly. 

“Yeah, but Jongin’s kind of passionate, let’s say, when it comes to his feelings,” Heechul smirked.

She didn’t know if she was more horrified by that statement or Jongin was.  Either way, it was enough to make Jongin tackle Heechul to the floor.  The two them started playfully wrestling each other.  Kyuhyun shook his head at the two of them.  

“Bad vibes.  Want a smoke?”  he said, offering her a cigarette.  

Seulgi was tempted.  She hadn’t had one in a long time and the thought of having it made her body crave it.  It was just before she could say yes, her head shook no out of it own accord.  There was a part of her that didn’t want it.  There was a huge part of her that reminded her she didn’t need a cigarette to make herself feel good.  It was the people around her that did.  Jongin, her friends, Heechul who was like a brother to her.  

It was time to stop being stupid.  

Two arms wrapped around her waist.  She could smell Jongin’s familiar scent enveloping her with a back hug.  She’d never admit it to him, but the feel of his well toned arms, sent butterflies to her stomach and made her breathless.  She smiled as he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck and kissed her cheek lightly.

“I’m proud of you for saying no,”  he whispered in her ear.

“Why? You didn’t want to get high this morning?” she teased, remembering the promise he made her.  

“No, I’m proud of you because you found your strength,”  he insisted.  She knew what he’d been saying, but she wanted to hear him say it.

“Can you guys get out of our house?  This love nonsense is ruining my mood,” Heechul grumbled.  Seulgi lau