D- 649

“You’re hopeless.”

Technically, loving someone for a long span of time isn’t that hopeless. Making this certain person a very close friend and endure the pain of pushing him with another person just to hide-the-unrequited-love for him, is.  It was nuts, but Baekhyun couldn’t help but sigh at the situation of his fallen friend, who can’t help but to agree on what he just said, as if he grew tired of hearing the same words from him over and over again – which is true, because there has not been a time where Baekhyun didn’t point out how much of a hopeless cause it was. How hopeless Chanyeol’s love for none-other-than their own Minseok-hyung, and to make the matter worse, Chanyeol kept pushing Minseok to Junmyeon, (who obviously likes Jongdae) – even though he was practically dead inside. Baekhyun found it rather amusing, and stupid. Mostly on Chanyeol’s side of the coin.

“It’s the closest I could do, Baek.”

Baekhyun would notice Chanyeol’s sadness laced within the latter’s answer whenever he asks about his relationship with Minseok, and how he wouldn’t do anything despite their closeness. But Baekhyun never mistaken Chanyeol as a person who takes advantages of things, especially if it involves Minseok. He was certain if Minseok-hyung would ask him to jump on a cliff, he would do it. It was always about Minseok.

Don’t get him wrong, he doesn’t have any feelings towards Chanyeol, or spite towards Minseok. He just thinks the situation of the two is desperate. Hopeless, as he always thought it was. Baekhyun also have other matters himself, but he can’t help but be engrossed into Chanyeol’s – here he goes again, - hopeless love life.

D- 749

“Have you seen Chanyeol?”

He was eating nachos (he loves Mexican food) when Minseok asked him. The latter looked tense, and it just made Baekhyun’s curiousity sparked. Why does their precious hyung, and Chanyeol’s life-long crush, looking for him? He shook his head, and Minseok was gone as fast as he could blink. Baekhyun abandoned his own much loved nachos and headed straight where Minseok was heading, damning the situation for making him too deep and involved with it – it was like watching Game Of Thrones, minus the killing (rip, Chanyeol’s heart) and the (after things fall into place, he guessed), and the political . The set-up was just too addicting.

He decided to inform the others, who have been into the situation as well, and continued to stalk his subject, or in this case, Minseok – who was too enveloped in his thoughts to even notice three of his friends following in suit. Sehun and Jongdae, who escaped their separate classes (“This is more interesting than learning how will we get x using some theories anyways. When are we going to use that in real life??” – Sehun huffed, and Jongdae nodded in agreement, for he also abandoned learning Economics) once both received Baekhyun’s messages. There were countless of times the trio had to hide in uncomfortable areas, (at one point the three of them had no choice but to walk inside the girl’s comfort room because Minseok turned around to pick up his pen that he dropped – ) until Minseok reached the rooftop. Where all of them witnessed how their hyung raced where Chanyeol is standing and hugged him, mumbling something the three of them didn’t catch.

“What? What did he say?” Jongdae squinted, their position at the doors were too far from where the duo is. Baekhyun shrugged, and Sehun tried to move closer, but the other two pulled him back, not wanting to get caught and face the wrath of Minseok-hyung and Chanyeol. Instead, Sehun just whipped out his phone and tried to get some pictures of what was happening, and sent it to their group chat, - obviously not thinking of their own fate, - because Minseok and Chanyeol pulled out their phones and turned to look at the door.

“You better run ing fast or else we’ll – -- “

Were the last words the trio heard before running as fast as their feets could do downstairs.

“Say, tell me again why were you at the rooftop?”

Junmyeon is amused.

Sure, he knew his friends were too deep in it for Minseok-hyung’s and Chanyeol’s case, - but he never knew the trio would go this far. Sehun hissed at the contact, but relaxed after Junmyeon started bandaging him up. Baekhyun was sleeping on one of the beds, and Jongdae was nursing his shoulder in one of the chairs. It was the most hilarious thing Junmyeon has ever seen, (besides that one time Yifan fell into the manhole all of them warned him about, but that’s another story) – but fortunate for them, Junmyeon was on duty that time and the head nurse was nowhere around to hear the story on how they fell down the stairs and broke a leg or two.

“Have you checked the group chat?” Sehun said, limping his way towards the bed besides Baekhyun’s.

Junmyeon shrugged. He was reading one of the novels Yixing lended him earlier, - and he was meaning to for a while, but never got the chance – the last thing he took notice of was Baekhyun’s text message, telling them about his mission to stalk Minseok, but Junmyeon really wanted to read ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ so he ignored it and read while inside the clinic. Yes, he also is intrigued and curious about the whole un-requited love thing, it is also a mystery why Minseok doesn’t have a clue when Chanyeol’s too obvious into desperately trying – (and failing) on hiding his own feelings for the older. It was either Minseok knew but was scared of facing the truth, or he was too dense. Junmyeon really didn’t know. He unlocked his phone to see what Sehun sent in the gc.

The last thing Sehun heard after dozing off was, “Serves you three right.”

Junmyeon looked at his three injured friends.

“What happened?” Luhan appeared with Jongin after their Italian class, and went straight to the clinic after he sent a picture of the three all sleeping in the beds. Junmyeon just shrugged. “Fell down the stairs.” – to which Jongin and Luhan laughed, and the rest just keeps on filing out the clinic doors, - Junmyeon was sure that the head nurse would scold him for having his friends cram up the clinic without having injuries at all, again. – but he didn’t mind. Besides, she wouldn’t be back until last period, and it was just lunch time. All of them – except two – was present and idly waiting for lunch to be over inside the room. Junmyeon couldn’t help but to think how much the couple-not-couple have affected their circle of friends for years, more so on Sehun, Jongdae and Baekhyun, that they fell down the stairs in hopes of not getting caught by Minseok-hyung and Chanyeol.

Ah, the two were insperable. Ever since Junmyeon transferred to the same middle school as them, he would always see them together. He never thought he saw Minseok without Chanyeol, or vice versa. The first time Junmyeon saw them was that one time after exams, when Chanyeol was napping on Minseok’s lap, and the latter reading a book, while absentmindedly running his free hand along Chanyeol’s hair. Junmyeon thought that there was nothing more precious than their stolen moments together, and because of that, he always followed them around, and eventually making friends with the two (Junmyeon stumbled upon them by an accident behind the school campus – don’t ask why he was there, he was just… there – and also got juice thrown to Minseok) – it was a weird afternoon, but it all ended up in an ice cream shop and two friends.

Chanyeol was smitten the time Junmyeon got to know them both.

But he never knew Chanyeol’s crush would even progress in high school.

He tried pushing Minseok to him, but Junmyeon and him both know it was killing him. Even Minseok asked him one time; (“Would that make you happy, Yeol?” He asked, and both him and Chanyeol were shook) but the latter didn’t answer, and it was left unanswered after all those years. Seriously, was Minseok that dense?

Besides, Jongdae was his crush.

D – 988

“But seriously, Luhan? Nothing?”

Luhan was Minseok’s best-est (well, currently, since Jongdae was out of the equation now for sneaking up on Minseok and Chanyeol’s intimate moment) friend, and he knew everything, duh. Even though it’s agonizing to see the two of them run in circles, Luhan thought it would be better if the two just figured it out on their own. It was the decision he made after he knew. But after a few years, Luhan is growing tired and desperate – with the two not doing anything about their own feelings and there were no progress within the years. There was no hope, and even though Luhan told himself he wouldn’t affiliate himself with their relationship, unlike a few of his friends (see also: Baekhyun, Sehun, Jongdae) he couldn’t help but to do certain things to get the two to confess and cry their hearts out, but the two are stubborn and just couldn’t – which frustrated him more.

“How many times, Tao?” Luhan sighed.

Tao just huffed. “As many as I could.”

Tao was one step ahead, and instead of getting information by stalking Minseok and Chanyeol directly, he goes to Luhan, and juice out all the information he needs – but Luhan never gave him one, of course. Which made Tao more desperate than the others, but never showed it, unlike the thirst of the trio. Luhan wanted to tell them the truth, though. But Luhan is certain Minseok would gather up the courage to make the first move rather than wait for Chanyeol (which would take them eternity, seriously, that boy) to ask him out. It was just about time, too. Luhan vaguely remembered how Minseok have called him nineteen times in the morning to ask him one question; (to which Luhan didn’t really answer correctly, he was dreaming about sock puppets)

“How do you know you’re inlove, Luhan?”

Luhan gave an half-assed answer before hanging up; “Who is the person on your mind now?”

Not an answer, but to Minseok it probably was, - because things have started to change since then. Luhan would notice the stares, the touches, the clinginess. Luhan knew, and Chanyeol didn’t notice. But Luhan did. But what he didn’t know is that why isn’t anyone doing anything? Luhan did not understand. It was simple, - but complicated at the same time. The strange thing was, they were both okay with being just that. Like both were scared of the change once someone admits something. Both scared to lose everything they have.

“You should go out with Junmyeon, hyung! You look good together.” One time Chanyeol surprised Luhan was in the first year of high school, where everyone was laughing at something stupid Sehun did, and both Junmyeon and Minseok were laughing their hearts out, clinging into each other in hopes of not falling on the ground. The comment made everyone quiet, and Minseok was confused for a split second before turning to Junmyeon, who was blushing mad. Luhan understood right there and then, how painful being kept in their own shadows were. Chanyeol was hurting, and Minseok was, too. They love each other but it wasn’t time.

Not yet.

“Would that make you happy, Yeol?”

That was it. Luhan lost it and walked out.

He can’t stand being the one knowing everything, but couldn’t do anything about it. Stupid Minseok, and stupid Chanyeol, for being too much of a masochists. Hurting themselves when they could’ve just admit whatever it is than be stubborn about it. This was the last year of high school, and there was no way that Minseok and Chanyeol would not admit something before graduation. Luhan just can’t accept defeat.

He was devoted as much as the trio, but never as stupid as them.

D - 1009

“If this is not important I’m going to slit your throat and skin you alive after.”

Kyungsoo’s voice was deadly, but the others didn’t pay much attention. They were all looking at Luhan and his plan on making the two confess their feelings for each other (yes, he finally admitted Minseok felt the same, it resulted to a 40$ rich Jongdae and both sad Sehun, Jongdae, Tao, and Yifan – who lost the bet) and he never thought Kyungsoo became involved when Yixing handed him $20, because apparently, Kyungsoo won. Luhan coughed until everyone was settled, and told them what was cooking; (“I’m hungry, what’s cooking?” – Yixing)

“Jongin, are you ready?”

Jongin nodded, and felt dumb after. He was over the phone with Kyungsoo after all. He wouldn’t admit it but he was far too excited for their little mission. Minseok-hyung’s and Chanyeol’s relationship is an enigma. It is much more of a difficult puzzle, but was simple, if one looks at it closely. Jongin held the sack and gripped it tight when Minseok was just passing by their dorm hall, and as he covered Minseok’s face, the group – most especially Jongin, didn’t think of Chanyeol being a bother (since he was supposed to be at class, Baekhyun said) and jeopardizing their whole plan. Jongin saw Chanyeol’s wide eyes as he awkwardly stood there, with Minseok’s head in a sack. The former would’ve ran, of course, if Minseok didn’t have him in a tight grip.

Jongin was doomed.

“Just what do you think you’re doing, Jongin?” Minseok exclaimed.

“Sorry, hyung. I was just… playing a prank. I didn’t see Chanyeol besides you when I saw you walking.” He spat out, like he have been rehearsing the excuse if the duo actually caught him. Minseok nodded, but there is something in his stare that makes Jongin uncomfortable, and he was going to blame Baekhyun for telling him the wrong information, that – or Chanyeol cut classes. But that didn’t seem like something Chanyeol would do.

“I’m giving you ten seconds to run, Jongin-ah.” Chanyeol warned.

He went straight to Baekhyun’s door after, keeping the older one in a headlock.

D - 1788

“I’m betting you Minseok-hyung and Chanyeol are just toying us.”

Kyungsoo’s voice made everyone silent. Luhan was the first one to disagree, because never would’ve his best-est friend keep something as big as that from him. After that mishap with Jongin, they were all discussing new ways on how to get the two to admit their feelings without having to; a. kidnap Minseok when Chanyeol’s with him, b. hurt Minseok until Chanyeol admits his feelings for him, (no, Yifan, no drugging Minseok) or c. just be the ones to tell them. Kyungsoo pointed out the last one but Sehun thought it was non-dramatic. So he lost, nine to one. His friends are being unreasonable with the whole issue, but it wouldn’t be them without being dramatic and ridiculous. Kyungsoo shook his head and face-palmed. This is going to be one hell of a week.

D – 1888

“Should we tell them?”

“Not yet. Let’s see how far will they all go.”

“Luhan would freak out.”

“I know.”

Minseok saw Chanyeol hesitated to say something, but shook his head after leaning in to kiss the smaller. Their lips in sync, their hands trailing to each others’ bodies. They were going out of reach, until someone knocked at their shared room’s door. Chanyeol huffed as Minseok gave him an apologetic smile and rushed to open the door, revealing a suspicious looking Kyungsoo. Chanyeol then turned nervous, Kyungsoo knew something, didn’t he? He looked at Kyungsoo, who winked before leaving.

“Where were we?”

Chanyeol met his boyfriend’s teasing smiles.

“Right…” A kiss on the forehead.

“About…” A kiss on the nose.

“Here.”

D – 2365

The sound of Luhan’s scream woke up the others in their deep slumbers.

“I FELT BETRAYED, KYUNGSOO!”

Everyone raced to where the sound was, only to find out a sheepishly looking Chanyeol and Minseok, both are bundled up in their bed. Chanyeol’s arms were wrapped around the olders’ waist, while the latter’s face is now buried in Chanyeol’s chest, smiling. All of them smiled at the sight, Jongin actually saw some tears fall in three of (see also: Sehun, Baekhyun, Jongdae) his friends’ eyes. Even Junmyeon was fighting the tears from falling in his eyes. Yixing, Tao, and Yifan were preventing Luhan from creating such loud mess that would woke up their other neighbors. Kyungsoo was just smiling. As if he knew all along. Minseok-hyung sat up, preventing himself from smiling as well at Luhan’s outburst while Chanyeol is a blushing mess besides him.

It made Jongin’s heart flutter.

“I AM HURT. I AM HURT. HURT.”

All of them had to grab Luhan and drag his outside the couple’s room.