I

Seonho would have never noticed at all if Woochan had not pointed it out.

It was one lazy afternoon; they had no practices or lessons planned whatsoever.

They were inside their shared room at the trainees’ dorm that the company had provided for them; Seonho was on his bed, back laid against the soft mattress, scrolling down various new articles on his phone as he energetically hummed to Pentagon’s latest title track while Woochan was sprawled on the carpeted floor, in the midst of writing the lyrics to his next song, hands busy scribbling down onto a notebook when the rather innocent query came from the rising middle school rapper, “you know we wouldn’t mind, right?”

Seonho stopped what he was doing and turned to the younger. “Mind what?”

“You and Guan Lin-hyung being more lovey dovey even when I’m around,” Woochan said, not even bothering to look up from his paper, oblivious to the shocked expression his hyung had. “It’s cool. I mean, I know I’m younger but I get it. My parents do that all the time, being affectionate and cuddly. I understand, that’s what couples do.”

“What?”

“Well, you guys are dating,” Woochan elaborated, dropping his pen then whipped his attention towards Seonho to prove a point.

Seonho didn’t know how to respond. He was quietly looking up some articles about Wanna One a moment ago and then suddenly Woochan was spewing nonsensical things. “W-what?”

“You are, right?” Woochan titled his head to the side. “You and Guan Lin—” but he was cut off when the door to their room opened dramatically and in came an untroubled Guan Lin, strutting inside the expanse like he owned the place.

“Seonho and I what?” Guan Lin asked casually, catching a bit of the two’s conservation as he went in.

Oh right, Seonho forgot. It was Guan Lin’s day off and the latter chose to spend the day back at the dorm to hang out with them.

Guan Lin sat on the edge of the bed, patting Seonho’s hair fondly as a greeting. He was waiting for Seonho to retort but the latter only motioned for Woochan instead. He frowned; Guan Lin turned to Woochan as he arched a questioning brow. Woochan sat up and was tight lipped, stared back and forth at his hyungs before he jumped from his previous spot, dusting his jeans. “I think the other hyungs are calling me.”

“I don’t hear anything, Woochan,” Guan Lin replied, forehead creased in confusion.

But Woochan didn’t answer, instead he quietly left the room and sought refuge somewhere else.

“What was that all about?” Guan Lin asked as the door clicked and Woochan was out the door.

“I have no idea.” Woochan was just being weird like usual, Seonho thought.

Guan Lin hummed thoughtfully then carefully crawled onto the younger’s bed, settling down beside him.

Seonho scooted over slightly, giving the older enough space. Seonho beamed naively when Guan Lin suddenly wrapped his arms around the younger and pulled him closer, nuzzling his face onto Seonho’s neck then softly mumbled how glad he was to be back.

“Welcome home.”

II

It was one of those rare nights where Seonho could finally relax after a rather busy day.

He was at a company dinner. No, it wasn’t a formal gathering or anything extravagant, just a monthly casual get together. The Cube Café was closed early so that the location would be used just for the occasion. The company’s artists, as well as the trainees, bonded with each other over a decent meal and good quality music. Seonho loved such events, it eased his mind.

Seonho had already forgotten about what Woochan had told him when the following days came by like a breeze, overwhelming him with packed schedules left and right. Despite being a mere trainee, he had gotten very busy after Produce 101 ended and Seonho was immensely thankful. Sure, the workload was too much sometimes and it got in the way with his much needed training and practically ruined his sleeping routine but Seonho was a sole believer that fame wasn’t permanent. Seonho decided to make the most of it until he would be back to just waiting for Guan Lin to return again so that he could debut.

It wasn’t all that bad though, Seonho supposed. Temporary recognition had its perks as well.

The night was young and Seonho was honestly having a blast even without his best friend. Seonho and Guan Lin always went together but Guan Lin was too busy to make it so Seonho didn’t pressure him into coming. Seonho could manage; he had a lot of company. Woochan was there and so were his other friends, they were enjoying themselves as the evening wore on. Seonho went to the food table to get cup of cucumbernade when Hyuna suddenly came to him, a big friendly smile on her flawless face. Seonho offered to get her a drink which she accepted then said, “It won’t be long now. He’ll be back before you know it.”

“Who?” Seonho asked politely as he handed her the cup, his tone sounded surprised.

“Your boyfriend, silly.” Hyuna giggled cutely, her eyelashes fluttered gracefully and the word mesmerizing crossed Seonho’s mind for a second before he could fully register what she said. “I can’t wait for you and Guan Lin to debut together, Seonho-ah.”

What the h—, was Seonho’s initial reaction and he willed himself not to say it out loud. Good thing President Hong had arrived just in time to greet everyone and Hyuna excused herself, leaving Seonho muddled in his thoughts.

III

Seonho’s brief conversation with Hyuna bothered him to the point that he actually talked to Woochan about it.

“I’m serious Woochan,” Seonho repeated, for the nth time already. “Guan Lin and I aren’t dating.”

“Very funny, hyung,” Woochan replied plainly without even a single glance. The rapper had his head buried on his notebook, in deep concentration as he pushed himself to finish his task before he turned in for the night. Seonho knew that Woochan was busy preparing for his performances in SMTM and he was most likely disturbing the younger but it was a matter of grave importance.

Seonho’s thoughts weren’t allowing him to rest and Woochan should suffer the same fate.

Why was Woochan so hard to reason with? “It’s not! Look, I’m not seeing—” but his phone suddenly rang, interrupting his planned monologue. Woochan was looking at him expectedly from his peripheral vision when Seonho went to fetch the device on his bed.

“It’s Guan Lin,” he said as he saw the familiar contact id flashed on the screen and Seonho badly wanted to wipe that smug grin off the rapper’s face when he answered the call.

Though he was kind of distracted with the sharp looks Woochan was giving him every now and then, Guan Lin’s words still manage to reel him back. “Yeah, I miss you too,” he found himself saying.

“What’s wrong?” Guan Lin asked when he heard Seonho groan in frustration. Woochan had just rolled his eyes at Seonho and left the room to continue his work in the loving room, giving the two lovebirds some privacy.

“Oh nothing.”

IV

“How do I look?” Sungjae asked when he stepped out of the changing room, dressed in a warm colored button up shirt he had initially set his eyes on when he dragged Seonho to the very shop. He spun around in a small circle so Seonho could see clearly.

“It looks good on you, hyung,” Seonho said, appreciating how nicely the clothing clung onto the elder’s body. “You should buy it.”
Sungjae grinned in approval. “I was thinking the same too.”

While Sungjae quickly went back to get changed so he could purchase the item and they could leave, Seonho decided to roam the store some more. It was the only free time they had even though they came to Guam for a vacation, the long hours of filming took most of their day.

The more Seonho scavenged through the racks, the more he found some rather unique clothing. The store had an interesting variety of designs that Seonho found quiet impressive. But there was a certain piece that caught his eye in an instant. It was a black and grey colored sweatshirt, and the first thought that came to Seonho’s mind was that it was perfect for—

“You should buy that for Guan Lin,” Sungjae said as he approached Seonho, a white plastic shopping bag in hand.

“Excuse me?”

“I think it’ll suit him, too,” Sungjae said, pointing at the shirt Seonho was holding. “Being tall and lean and all that.”

Seonho stared back at the garment in question. Yeah, it really would look great on Guan Lin. Seonho would even say it’d make him more handsome.

In a ‘dude-we-are-best-friends’ kind of way.

Yeah, purely platonic.

“What for?” Seonho dared ask.

“I don’t know, a souvenir maybe. Or you could buy him an anniversary present in advance.” Sungjae winked shamelessly at him before he was urgently called by their managers since they needed to return to filming.

Sungjae went before him and Seonho was scolded lightly for being late— he decided to buy the shirt for Guan Lin.

It was just a friendly gift, mind you.

V

“I met with Guan Lin recently.”

The particular mention of his friend’s name yet again by another one his sunbaenims was definitely uncalled for. It was Elkie that time. Seonho was training in one of the company dance rooms with the other kids. They were just dismissed when the CLC girls came in and greeted the bunch. They were going to use the room after them. Elkie came to him first as Seonho was fixing his stuff at a corner. The sweet and ever beautiful Elkie, w