“OH HYUNGS NANDITO RIN KAYO!!!! HELLO!!!!!”

 

Kevin and Hyunjae are pretty sure Eric shouted intentionally. They get not only their squad’s attention, but also almost everyone's in the restaurant.

 

“Aha!” Changmin blurts out and heads toward their direction. “Dito lang pala kayo naglalandian ha.”

 

Hyunjae answers, “Actually hindi lang di—“ and gets cut off by Kevin’s “Hindi kami naglalandian, saka paalis na rin kami. Bye!”

 

Kevin stands up, getting Hyunjae to follow saying, “Bye guys, enjoy your !”

 

“Anong !! Hyung bastos!!!!” Eric says, again, with a voice too loud for the others’ liking. They even hear other customers laugh silently.

 

“HOY!!” Changmin calls out as the others occupied the seats that Kevin and Hyunjae left, but the two don’t look back. Changmin just watches the couple confusedly. Bakit ba kasi pilit binabawi ni Kevin ang kamay niya when Hyunjae’s trying to hold it?

 

“Ano ba, BRO, ba’t ka ba hawak nang hawak sa kamay ko, bakla ka ba?” whispers Kevin, making sure no one else hears their conversation.

 

Hyunjae replies, “Uhh, yes?” 

 

“Same.”

 

The group at the table, on the other hand, is left to deal with the waiter standing still and looking at their retreating customers.

 

“Magkakasama po ba kayo,” asks the waiter.

 

But Haknyeon answers with another question, “Hmm, bayad na yan diba?”

 

The waiter only nods, still dumbfounded.

 

“Oo, kasama namin sila. Lapag mo na ‘yan dito. Thanks.”

 

The waiter looks like he still has doubts but considering the group’s previous encounter with the couple and wanting to just get his job done, he sets the couple’s follow-up order on the table and leaves. Haknyeon immediately stuffs himself with the drumsticks Hyunjae ordered as soon as the waiter leaves.

 

“Hoy Eric, ikaw na um-order tutal ikaw pinakabata,” orders Sunwoo, without really looking at the mentioned boy. He has his gaze fixed on the boy who’s currently pigging out.

 

Eric shakes his head in refusal and argues, “We’re the same age!”

 

“Mas matanda ako ng ilang buwan!”

 

Chanhee rolls his eyes. Do these two even stop arguing? He may not have been really close with the two of them but from what he’s seen in the classroom and in their apartment, he can say he’s tired with their petty little arguments.

 

"PORKE CRUSH MO SI HAKNYEON," And there it is. The phrase that never fails to fluster Sunwoo. It’s the time for Haknyeon to stop Eric from teasing the other, but he is too busy finishing off the chicken on the plate in front of him.

 

"A-anong connect non!!!!" Sunwoo retorts, blushing. He thinks, ‘Tangina, heto na naman tayo, Eric.’

 

"HAH," Changmin scoffs before Eric can continue teasing Sunwoo. "Ang loser mo, Sunwoo. Ikaw na mag-order. Nagugutom na 'ko."

 

Sunwoo is about to complain when Haknyeon volunteers, "Ako na nga lang. Ubos na 'tong drumsticks na inorder ni Hyunjae hyung eh."

 

"S-sasamahan ko na siya," Sunwoo says making everyone look at him. Changmin smiles widely, Chanhee rolls his eyes again, Eric raises his eyebrows, Younghoon falls asleep on the table and Juyeon just sighs.

 

"HINDI DAHIL CRUSH KO SIYA HA. BAKA MAHIRAPAN SIYA BUHATIN YUNG MGA TRAY EH. HAHA OO. KAILANGAN NIYA NG TULONG. T-TARA NA HAKNYEON. ORDER NA TAYO," Sunwoo defends himself almost too loudly before walking towards the counter with Haknyeon following closely behind.

 

As soon as the two leave, Eric notices that Changmin is fixing the sleeping Younghoon's hair while staring at him with a slight smile.

 

"Cute naman, inaayos niya buhok ng jowa niya. So kelan mo siya sinagot?" Eric asks his new target Changmin.

 

"Chinecheck ko lang kung may kuto siya," Changmin replies, glaring at the younger. He wakes the sleeping boy up and tells him, "Hoy, Kim Younghoon kadiri ka. Naliligo ka ba?"

 

"Huh?" says Younghoon who has literally just woken up. He feels really sleepy as he spent all night staring at Changmin. (Not to mention he also woke up too early to try to convince the other that he wakes up "fresh.”)

 

"'Wag mo na kasing ideny, Changmin hyung," Eric continues, "Halata namang gusto mo din si Younghoon hyung eh."

 

Younghoon blushes. Kinikilig ang puta. Changmin does as well, but he still tries to deny as he says, "Ba't naman ako magkakagusto d'yan?"

 

“Hmm.” Eric motions as if to think. “Pogi naman si Younghoon hyung, hindi bagsakin, matangkad, makinis, saka marami kang kaagaw. Ikaw rin.”

 

“Paanong maraming kaagaw, eh all-boys kaya pinapasukan natin.” Changmin says in a “duh” tone.

 

“All-boys,” sabat ni Chanhee, “Hindi all-straight.”

 

Changmin purses his lips, he can’t believe one of his best friends has joined the Let’s-Make-Changmin-Uncomfortable train. And just when he thinks he cannot feel more betrayed, a voice from behind startles him.

 

“HIGIT SA LAHAT,” another of his best friends, Joo Haknyeon, says, “Napapanaginipan mo si Younghoon more often than he can imagine.”

 

“HOY!!!!!”

 

“WEH????”

 

Changmin’s and the others’ voices may have reached at least two tables from them.

 

Chanhee tries to calm them down saying, “Hinaan niyo nga boses niyo nakakahiya kayo.”

 

“Sorry.” Juyeon is the first to apologize.

 

Eric nods and says, “Sorry din, pero totoo nga????”

 

“HINDI!!!!!” Changmin answers a little too defensively, his cheeks burning.

 

Damn, Younghoon should want to smack Eric on the face for making his crush feel so uncomfortable but he, too, is dying to know the answer. Does Changmin really dream of him?

 

Haknyeon and Chanhee just nod, the first about to laugh and the latter just smiling a little. And Changmin turns redder.

 

Younghoon can’t take it. The other boy is really just too cute to handle, so he reaches out and pokes him on the cheek with his index finger. Changmin flinches and swats the taller’s hand away.

 

“A-Ano ba!!!!” He’s really caught offguard with this one.

 

Younghoon mumbles, “Cute.”

 

Eric, however, still refuses to let go of the subject like the annoying scum he is. “So, WET dreams, right?” he says, ignoring Changmin’s glare. “Ba’t mo pa kasi kinukwento mga panaginip mo?”

 

“Hindi ko kinukwento!!! At hindi yon wet dreams!!!!”

 

“Nagssleeptalk sya hajahahaha.”

 

>////< “HOY HAKNYEON MANAHIMIK KA NA NGA!!!! MAGHOHOARD AKO NG PORKCHOPS MAMAYA!!!!” Changmin bellows and turns to Younghoon. “Hinditotooyon,” breathes, “Wagkamaniwalasakanila,” breathes again, “Promisehinditalaga.”

 

That doesn’t sound too defensive, right? Well, sure he might have spoken a little fast, but it’s normal... right?

 

“HOY!!! WALA NAMANG KASALANAN YUNG BABOY!!!! SAVE THE PIGS!!! Chanhee attack him ano ba wala siyang panlaban sayo!!!”

 

The mentioned boy just chuckles and their food finally arrives.

 

“Huy Haknyeon dahan-dahan naman, kakatapos mo lang kumain nyan ha.” Eric says as if hindi pa siya sanay to see Haknyeon pigging out.

 

Sunwoo, of course, feels the need to defend Haknyeon whom he deems is unable to defend himself since his mouth is full. “Hoy ikaw Eric manahimik ka nga. Walang nanghingi ng opinyon mo.”

 

“Heh. Ikaw ba kausap ko? Haknyeon ka ba? Di porket crush mo si Haknyeon magiging si Haknyeon ka na rin.”

 

Sunwoo crunches his face up in contempt. Of course, Eric has to bring that line up.

 

Sasagot pa sana si Sunwoo (in lame denial) when Chanhee beats him to it (just because Haknyeon is, again, too busy eating to defend the boy) saying, “Manahimik na nga kayong dalawa. Parati kayong nagbabangayan.”

 

The child that Eric is sticks his tongue out, causing Sunwoo na ambahan siya. Seriously, these two put quarrelling with each other their hobbies.

 

---

Younghoon’s hand halts from going on the other side of the table to reach Sunwoo’s plate when a hand smacks it. Changmin reprimands, “Kuha kayo nang kuha. Wala na halos natira para kay Sunwoo.”

 

“Okay lang, hyung. Hindi ko naman kinakain ‘yon,” interrupts Sunwoo, defending Younghoon and Juyeon (a first, btw). Whatever’s gotten into him, Younghoon is especially thankful for. At least, he doesn’t have to argue with Changmin.

 

Juyeon nods before swallowing a spoonful of vegetables he’s stolen from Sunwoo’s plate. “~Sobrang~ picky eater ni Sunwoo.”

 

 “Picky eater sya tapos si Haknyeon hyung lahat yata kinakain so bagay talaga sila!!! Yie, namumula na ulit si Sunwoo!!!”

 

“HEP!” Chanhee raises his hands when he sees Sunwoo opening his mouth. “Wag ka nang sasagot, Sunwoo. At ikaw Eric, ‘wag mo nang umpisahan ulit. Please lang.”

Eric raises his hand in surrender but his mouth does otherwise, articulating, “Pero totoo naman,” earning a glare from Chanhee.

--

Sunwoo finishes off the rest of his plate (that Juyeon or Younghoon hasn't eaten yet) and turns his head to stare at the boy beside him. Haknyeon is eating from his third plate (he ordered A Lot of food, he's that rich (and hungry)). Haknyeon notices the other boy staring and thinks he wants some of Haknyeon's chicken legs.

 

"Gusto mo? Say ah~"

 

Sunwoo, confused, blinks twice and Haknyeon's hand holding the chicken leg is in front his mouth.

 

"Ah, hindi. Okay lang. Busog na ko."

 

"Noooooo. Eat more! Ang sarap kaya kumain. Dali na, nangangalay na braso ko."

 

The blushing Sunwoo decides to just go for it. It’s rude to turn down Haknyeon's offer when he's insisting. After all, sino ba naman siya para tanggihan crush niya? He takes a bite of Haknyeon's chicken leg, and the other boy continues munching the rest of it. Sunwoo is extremely thankful that (the devil) Eric didn't see. Changmin, however, sees what happened and gave the boy a thumbs up. Sunwoo just ignores, but he’s secretly thankful that at least one of Haknyeon's friends approves of him (in case he finally finds the courage to ask the other out).

 

Another chicken leg later, Sunwoo notices that Haknyeon has bits of food on the side of his mouth. As if his body is moving on its own, Sunwoo reaches Haknyeon's mouth and wipes off the food. Haknyeon freezes and his cheeks turn red. Sunwoo's eyes widen as he finally realizes what he did.

 

"Th-thanks."

 

It isn't Sunwoo stuttering this time. Sunwoo just nods and coughs awkwardly in response.

 

"Pfft," someone snorts from the other side of the table. It’s no other than the youngest (who just Loves teasing his hyungs). The two of them look away from each other and see the rest of their friends all staring at them. Eric stops himself from saying something, a bit scared that Chanhee might choke him, but he still gives Sunwoo a malicious look anyways. Haknyeon tries his best to act indifferent and continues eating, while Sunwoo looks away from Haknyeon and everyone else.

--

Juyeon reaches for one of the drinks on the other side of the table. This makes him lean slightly towards Chanhee, causing the latter to inhale his minty scent.

 

Chanhee has always noticed how Juyeon’s smell differs from the others. His friends all reek of the same hygienic products (He knows because they’re always too close to him and his own set of friends) while Juyeon has always carried that minty scent Chanhee has never smelled from others and can’t pinpoint what brand.

 

Noticing how Juyeon is struggling to reach a drink, Chanhee leans and reaches it himself. “Lagi kang mabango, ‘no?” He says nonchalantly as he hands the cup to Juyeon.

 

The complimented boy gets dumbstruck, and reaches for the drink absentmindedly. Did Chanhee, his crush, really just compliment him? He thinks he really made a good decision hiding his own body wash from everyone else in their condo, and decides to hoard the product tomorrow.

 

But more importantly, he thinks of ways to respond and what to say. Should he just smile and nod? No. Baka mamaya, may tinga pa siya. Turn off agad. Should he pretend not to hear, and just go ahead and drink his soda? Definitely not! He should acknowledge Chanhee in any way he can, everytime he gets the chance! Chanhee doesn’t deserve to be ignored!

 

Opt for oral communication! Opt for oral communication! He tells himself and thinks, ‘Anong sasabihin ko?’ Juyeon mentally lists down possible replies:

-Thanks, ikaw rin. (Too generic)

-Ano ba, hindi naman hehe pero thanks! (Did he just imply Chanhee is wrong? No way!)

-Thank you. Pwede mo akong amuyin anytime. (Just,,, what the hell???)

 

In the end, Juyeon just says, “Uhh, t-thanks,” like the effective communicator he is when it comes to Chanhee.

 

Chanhee turns to look at him after sumubo ng pagkain and nods. (Hindi man lang napansin ni Juyeon na bumalik na sa pagkain si Chanhee dahil sa sobrang tagal nya mag-isip.)

 

“HOY KINIKILIG SI JUYEON HYUNG KASI TINAWAG SYANG MABANGO NI CHANHEE HYUNG!!!!! AYIE AMUYAN SESSION EPISODE 1!!!!”

 

“ERIC!!!!!!!!!!”