A smile on Sungjong’s face was the best part of any day, and Hoya couldn’t help but to allow an answering one to tug on his own lips. The other boy was adamant that they were going shopping today, and despite his insistence that he hated shopping, Hoya had to admit that he would do anything to spend time with Sungjong.

He’d do anything for him, period.

“So what’s the plan?” he asked, pulling his bag over his shoulder as he stepped out of his house ad turned to lock the door. He heard Sungjong shuffling his feet on the steps behind him, and the sudden panic that they weren’t going to be alone was only confirmed.

“Um, well Woohyun is going to meet us there…”

Hoya closed his eyes and fought down the frustration that was sure to show on his face, smoothing down any emotion before turning back to the younger friend. “Okay,” the fake cheeriness in his voice seemed to work, because Sungjong lost the nervous expression and smiled brightly once more before latching onto Hoya’s arm.

“Yay!” he cheered, steering the older boy down the steps and onto the sidewalk. “Okay, so I want to go to the little clothing depot at the one end, and after browsing through it we’ll make our way…”

His voice faded out as Hoya’s mind went elsewhere, mainly focused on the grip the other hand on his arm. If only he could tell Sungjong that he wanted that hand held tightly in his own, wanted to quiet the words spilling from the other’s lips with a kiss… wanted to be more than just the friend he’d always been. Sungjong had been dating Woohyun for a long time, though, and while Hoya knew in his heart that they had more chemistry than Woohyun and Sungjong would ever have, he couldn’t bring himself to confess. What if the worst happened, what if Sungjong turned him away? He couldn’t bear to lose him altogether, and so he made do by being at least the friend that Sungjong needed.

He told himself that it was enough.

When they got to the open shopping center, Hoya’s stomach did a turn of disapproval; Sungjong had let out a squeal of happiness and ran to Woohyun to give him a kiss and a hug. An unstoppable frown creased Hoya’s face s e watched the couple, but there was honestly nothing he could do about that. He fought against the emotions and tried to smooth his face back into something more amicable before anyone noticed, but by the questioning look that Sungjong gave him, he knew that the other had seen.

Letting out a sigh, he pulled his phone from his pocket and tagged along behind the other two, listening to Woohyun talk about this and that and Sungjong’s adoring responses. He wished he’d known that he was going to be the third wheel all along, he could have come up with a good excuse so as not to come, but alas, here he was. Make the best of it.

Several hours passed, Sungjong making sure to try and keep Hoya involved though Woohyun continuously pulled his attention for himself. The smug look on Woohyun’s face when he did so made Hoya realize that the other knew that Hoya liked Sungjong, and enjoyed the way that he could claim Sungjong as his own in front of him. It was sickening, and Hoya found his eyes looking anywhere but at the couple in an attempt to pretend he didn’t know what was going on.

“Hey, are you guys hungry?” he asked suddenly, spying a pretzel shop across the street out of the corner of his eye and figuring it was a great escape from their adoring actions. Sungjong’s face brightened up and Hoya could tell that he was about to say yes, but Woohyun glanced at the shop with a frown.

“Ugh, no, those things are horrible for you! Why would you even consider eating one?” he asked, disgust dripping from his tone, and missed the look of disappointment on Sungjong’s face. He covered it up immediately and only nodded his head to agree with what his boyfriend was saying, and it was Hoya’s turn for disgust.

“Whatever,” he said with a wave of his hand, and crossed the busy street to order a salted pretzel for himself. Damn them both. He’d catch up with them later… maybe.

By the time he got his order, the other two were gone, Woohyun probably convincing Sungjong that Hoya would catch up. He stood there for a moment, holding his pretzel and looking off in the direction that they had all been heading, and then with a shrug turned and headed back for the open gate of the center. They didn’t need him there…

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