This took me forever to be okay with, but I didn’t want to delay any further since it's taken me so long, so sorry for the waiting and here it is! The results of the poll I had in the last chapter was initially a really close fight (always just a one vote difference) but when I checked before finishing this chapter today, one option had a four point lead. As I said before though, it's not really something that affected a huge part of what I already had planned, but it was interesting to see! Anyway, not a lot of texting in the chapter for obvious reasons *winkwink*

P.S. I don’t know how to write basketball games, so…

Junhui is bold.
Minghao is italics.

[GAME DAY]

Wen Junhui, age 19, had a dilemma.

It was finally the day where Pledis and Carat were going to have their basketball tournament, located right at Carat Science University’s campus. He would have been there already despite the game not starting yet for another two hours, but that’s where the dilemma came in. His friends were blocking the door way of his room while he sat on his bed, tired after countless attempts to wrestle Mingyu down. Wonwoo was calmly standing behind his boyfriend. Both of them were staring at him in distaste—not something that happened often—as they eyed him up and down once more.

“Look, as your friends, we just can’t let you out of the house dressed like that.”

Junhui huffed, “I told Minghao I’ll be dressed in yellow!”

“The bright yellow shirt, sure. We can handle that,” Wonwoo continued. “It’s those red pants that have to go. What kind of combination is that?”

“I just wanna be—“

“A walking McDonald’s advertisement?” Mingyu snorted. 

“Easily spotted,” the Chinese boy finished, frowning as he stood up from his bed and looked at the mirror again. Okay, fair enough, he did look like a walking order of french fries, especially with his golden hair. At that point, he didn’t really think about looking good for once. He just wanted to be seen. He figured his good looks and charms could make up for his fashion sense, or lack thereof, but his friends were adamant about not letting him leave.

Wonwoo sighed, pushing past Mingyu to enter the room once he felt that the trapped boy no longer had plans to escape.

“Please,” he started to say, throwing open Junhui’s closet. “Let us help you. You’ve been going on about meeting Minghao for so long, the least you could do is not embarrass him through hanging out with you.”

“Fine, you’re right,” Junhui finally relented, staring at all the clothes he had. He was keeping the yellow shirt, that was sure, none of them could talk him out of that. It was the only thing he told Minghao about, anyway. Mingyu eventually made his way to the closet as well, while Wonwoo stepped out of the way to let the self proclaimed fashionista do his thing. He threw various items of clothing on Junhui and told the blonde to get changed.

He emerged from his bathroom a while later dressed in the same, bright yellow shirt, paired with jeans and a jacket as well, along with sneakers that wasn’t bright enough to hurt someone’s vision. Mingyu looked at him from head to toe, clearly pleased with his work. Junhui had to admit he looked better than the walking mess he was just earlier; he only hoped Minghao would think the same. His thoughts drifted to when he saw the other boy in his loose, comfy looking clothing and couldn’t help but smile.

“Are you still heading there early?” Wonwoo asked.

Junhui shook his head, “Minghao said he’ll get there just in time. I can wait for him by the entrance, but we did agree not to meet till the end.”

“Can you really wait that long?” asked Mingyu jokingly, still flipping through Junhui’s closet just for the sake of it. He took out an oversized blue shirt, frowned, and placed it back inside. “I doubt the game’s going to end quickly. Based on calculations, we’re supposed to win, right?”

“Yeah,” the blonde said with a small smile, remembering his agreement with Minghao. Of course, basketball was more skill than just scientific (if they could call it that) observations, but it would still be great if they won regardless of either. Junhui still felt just a little bit nervous when it came to Minghao’s friends; the other boy has really been more private about his friendships and general life compared to how Junhui himself just blabbered on and on.

(1:17PM) Are you ready? 

(1:17PM) Are you ready to lose?

(1:18PM) I’m ready to finally meet you face to face.

(1:18PM) After you lose?

(1:18PM) Relax, Minghao. You might end up eating your words.

(1:21PM) I had to endure Jeonghan brainwashing us about how we’re going to win. That’s the only thing in my mind right now.

(1:21PM) It’s going to when you lose then.

(1:22PM) You tell me to relax and then attack me? Rude.

(1:22PM) Okay but really, enough of that.

(1:23PM) Will you let me know when you’re on the way? Or when you get there?

(1:24PM) I thought we agreed to meet after the game.

(1:24PM) I just wanna know.

(1:24PM) You’re planning on starting your search early. 

(1:25PM) Not happening, Junhui.

(1:25PM) Fine, you know me so well already.

(1:27PM) I’m excited.

(1:28PM) You’ve told me that. Multiple times.

(1:28PM) I’m excited to watch us win.

(1:29PM) This conversation has come to an end.

Time passed by slower than Junhui w