23

It had been a flurry of arguments and movement when the six of them reached the convenience store, selecting food, drinks and then cooking. After some time, all six were seated at a plastic table outside the store, eating and waiting in the awkward silence.

Niel and Minsu were pressed against one another still, thighs touching as they ate. Byunghun and Chanhee were directly across from them, Byung still throwing dirty looks at Minsu. Changhyun and Jonghyun sat adjacent to Minsu and Chanhee.

“I’m sorry,” Chanhee began, “I really don’t think I caught your name.” His gaze was fixed on Minsu.

“Bang Minsu,” He replied, bowing a little across the table.

“Nice to meet you. Lee Chanhee. This is Lee Byunghun, my fiancé.” He swung a free hand at Byunghun. Byunghun grunted. Niel frowned at him.

“Nice to meet you too,” Minsu replied, his voice was a perfect mixture of sincerity and blandness.

“So, uh,” Jonghyun looked at Niel awkwardly, “Ahn Daniel, this is my hyung. And he was uh…”

Niel looked at Jonghyun owlishly, waiting for him to finish the awkward sentence.

“He’s the that stood you up the other night,” Byunghun rumbled from across the table.

Niel looked from Byunghun to Jonghyun and then to Minsu. Minsu looked thoughtful, then guilty.

“Yah!” Niel batted Minsu on the shoulder, “You were my blind date?!”

The rest of the table nodded.

“You stood me up!” Niel batted his arm again.

Minsu’s face transformed into a look of guilt and remorse. Niel broke into a peal of giggles. The entire table froze in shock. Niel continued to laugh and laugh, unable to stop himself.

It was so crazy. It was completely ridiculous. It was unbelievable. And the only thing he could do was laugh.

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Changhyun watched as Niel fell sideways onto Minsu, laughing uncontrollably. He smiled along with him.

This hyung is weird.

He looked up at Jonghyun. His face was a mask of horror and confusion. Changhyun himself began to giggle at it. The table, with the exception of hysterical Niel, turned to look at Changhyun as he began laughing too. With all 4 faces turned to him in confusion Changhyun laughed harder; they all looked ridiculous.

“I’m sorry,” He huffed, between giggles, “But you should see your faces. You all look horrified.”

“Yes, well that’s because it seems Niel has suffered a mental break,” Byunghun snapped in reply. Changhyun simply kept giggling.

“I’m… ok… I… just… Oh God,” Niel managed to get out between gasping breaths, he was collapsed against Minsu, holding his stomach, “Are you serious? He was my blind date?”

The rest of them nodded.

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Byunghun glared across the table, trying to light Minsu’s head on fire with his mind. He was still furious. He had been there to see how dejected Niel was after the failed date. Now he thought he could just sweep in and have everything be lovely?

Besides that, Minsu seemed completely unaffected by Byunghun’s dislike. People were normally offended or apologetic, it was off-putting to be simply ignored. It made Byunghun uncomfortable, and therefore even more aggravated.

“I can’t believe you were my blind date.” Niel seemed to finally have a hold of himself again.

“I’m really sorry,” Minsu replied with feeling, his deep voice finally holding something other than blandness.

“Not that sorry. You didn’t even call,” Byunghun countered before he could stop himself. He felt Chanhee punch his leg under the table.

Byunghun turned to his fiancé: Well he didn’t. He said with his eyes.

You behave or so help me… Chanhee’s flashed in reply.

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“Minsu didn’t call because he was in a hurry. It was an accident. He’s normally really considerate,” Jonghyun interjected, sending a fierce scowl at his sunbae.

“Yeah, Minsu is a really good hyung,” Changhyun jumped in to help.

Niel smiled at the rest of the table, his face unreadable.

“I really, honestly don’t care.” He said in a light voice.

Jonghyun was confused. You don’t care if he’s a good guy or you don’t care he stood you up? He wondered, eyebrows knitting together.

“What?” Byunghun protested with indignation.

Oh, you don’t care he stood you up. Jonghyun gathered from that reaction.

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That’s nice, Chanhee thought to himself serenely. Niel was unperturbed by the fact that Minsu had stood him up and Chanhee couldn’t really blame him. He knew what it was like to be so in love with someone that their prickles and faults didn’t really impact you.

“Well,” Chanhee spoke, resisting the urge to put a hand over Byunghun’s mouth, “I’m glad we cleared that up. How old are you Minsu?”

He heard Byunghun give a little snarl beside him. He turned and flashed a warning glance at Byunghun. Byunghun stuck out his lower jaw in a mulish expression, Chanhee smiled at him with more salt than sugar. The rest of the table watched their silent exchange with interest. After a moment Byunghun raised his hands in surrender and began to pay attention to his food instead.

Chanhee turned back to Minsu, still awaiting an answer to his question.

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Minsu watched as Chanhee tamed Byunghun with a sharp look and a smile. It was fascinating. Clearly they were a strong couple. Chanhee turned back to him and Minsu realised he had forgotten to answer the question.

“I’m 26.” He said simply.

“Ah,