"I don't care if Monday's blue, Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
 Thursday I don't care about you, it's Friday I'm in love"
                                                   "Friday I'm In Love" The Cure
 

“Woosung, we need to talk.”

Woosung turned towards Hanbin with an inviting smile on his face. “I love how you went from trying your best to ignore me in the halls last year to now needing to talk to me.” He had a feeling he knew what Hanbin wanted, but he was still going to about it anyway. 

Hanbin frowned and leaned next to him against the wall. “I did not try to ignore you.” 

“Yeah you did.” He’d had his reasons, of course, and it’s not like he’d been chasing Hanbin down or anything. “Anyway that’s in the past, what do you want now?” 

“Taeyong. What’s his story? Why’s he here?” 

Woosung fixed him with an incredulous look. “You had all of basketball practice to ask him, multiple days now that you could have approached him. Why are you asking me?” 

“Because he hates me, and I know if I ask him he won’t tell me anything.” Best to just be honest about it. 

Woosung pretended to look surprised. “He hates you? News to me.” He couldn’t help but tease Hanbin. Even after a year barely speaking, he still defaulted to teasing him. It was always worth it to see his reaction. 

“I’m sure he es about me to you every day.” Hanbin replied, not buying for a second that Taeyong wasn’t in a constant state of complaining about him. 

“Ah, yes. Because Kim Hanbin is the center of every person’s world, right?” 

Hanbin blushed at the comment, not wanting to be misunderstood. “That’s not what I meant.” 

“Sure it’s not,” Woosung teased, “Do you really think that we only talk about you? He’s a complex person with multiple interests.” 

Hanbin frowned. “Yes I know, I’m sorry.” 

“But you’re right, he does  about you a lot.” Woosung grinned when Hanbin glared at him. 

“Can you stop being so annoying?” Hanbin whined. 

“Sorry, I’m genetically programmed to be annoying. Don’t you remember?” Hanbin shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest at his retort, so Woosung finally got to business. “Alright, so let’s recap. He hates you, and you’re too much of a weeny to ask him outright why he moved. Correct?” 

Hanbin’s eyes narrowed. “Woosung, please.” 

Woosung grinned back at him. “Why do you care anyway? You guys are heated rivals, you hate him too.” 

“I don’t hate him, okay? I never hated him.” Hanbin knew Woosung wouldn’t buy that, but it came out anyway. 

“You never hated him?” Woosung grinned and had to stifle a laugh. “I clearly remember you saying specifically that you hated him. Not disliked, but actual hate. Don’t you remember that?” 

Hanbin frowned again and shook his head. “No.” Of course he remembered—he’d made it a daily habit to complain about Taeyong when he was injured. 

“Well I do! I mean it was right after he’d injured you, so not too surprising, really.” Woosung couldn’t help but smile while he watched Hanbin trying to avoid the truth. Even though they weren’t together, he was still allowed to think that Hanbin was cute, wasn’t he? 

“Well there you have it. I was injured, I wasn’t of a sound mind.” 

Woosung laughed at his attempt at refuting the truth. “It was kind of cute, actually. Remember how you used to scribble his name down on your papers and then angrily scratch it out? I remember that.” 

Hanbin did remember doing that, but there was no way he was going to admit it. “If I ever did that, I was probably high on painkillers. It doesn’t count.” 

“No you did that off meds too. I think you actually scratched his name into a park bench somewhere? Lee Taeyong must die or something like that.” Woosung grinned, enjoying Hanbin’s panicked refute. 

“Can we please focus on the present? Because he’s here now, and I have to co-exist with him.” 

Woosung grinned, thoroughly enjoying the situation. “And what do I have to do with that?” 

Hanbin frowned at him. “I couldn’t help but notice that you seem quite friendly with him.” 

“I wouldn’t call it friendly, he’s a hard person to befriend.” 

Hanbin narrowed his eyes. “You eat lunch with him every day and you leave school together.” 

Woosung smirked at him. “Oh, you noticed? Are you watching me?” 

Hanbin shook his head. “Do you know why he transferred here or not?” 

Woosung shrugged. “I might.” 

“Well can you tell me?” Hanbin was ready to strangle him. Why was Woosung being so difficult?! Was this karma for ignoring him after they’d broken up? 

Woosung paused, like he was thinking. “Nope.” 

Hanbin reached out to grab his arm out of instinct, fingers wrapping around Woosung’s wrist the way he used to do when they’d been dating and Woosung had been annoying him. “Come on, why not? If he’s going to play ball, I need to know things about him.” 

Woosung looked down at Hanbin’s hand, smirking when Hanbin realized what he was doing and dropped his arm. He looked back at Hanbin’s face, amused to see him blushing. “Ask him, then. Have you thought about trying that?” 

“Yes, and every time I get near him he just death glares at me until I walk away.” Hanbin couldn’t believe he’d just reverted back to instinctual behaviour. Clearly this Taeyong situation was really impacting him. 

“You can’t let him get the upper hand, Hanbin. Don’t show weakness!” 

“I’m not! I’m just trying to keep him from hating me any more than he does.” 

“You’re the captain, Beanie Baby. Make him talk to you.” Woosung knew it was a stretch, using his old hated nickname, but the situation called for it. Hanbin’s momentary glare was worth it. But then his face fell into a desperate, pleading expression. The sort of look Hanbin had always used to use on him when they were dating. The one he always fell for, pouty lips and pleading eyes. 

“Woosung, please, I am begging you.” 

Woosung grinned and shook his head. “Nope, not telling, no matter how long you stare at me with those cute puppy dog eyes of yours. I’m immune to your charms now, fyi.” 

The comment caught Hanbin off guard and he couldn’t help but blush at it. “I’m not trying to, oh whatever. Is there honestly no way I can convince you?” 

Woosung finally decided to relent. “No, but you know what? I’m a generous person. I’m willing to think about helping you, but only if you do something for me in return.” 

Hanbin was willing to do anything. “What do you want?” 

Woosung took a moment to compose himself, surprised he’d worked up the nerve to ask. “I want you to come to this open mic rap night on Friday,” he started, gaining confidence when Hanbin looked confused. “I’ve been rapping in the underground scene since last year, started after you and I broke up. Don’t worry I like, never rapped about you or anything.” That was a lie, but Hanbin didn’t need to know that. 

Hanbin blushed again. “That’s uh, that’s good to know.” 

Woosung grinned. “I know you’d like it, Hanbin, remember when you and I used to do those stupid raps together?” 

Hanbin’s face twisted into a panicked expression. “Oh that was so dumb, let’s not talk about that.” 

“It was fun, though! Remember when we made the LL Cool J one? My Boyfriend Said Knock You Out ? We used to change the lyrics every time you had a boxing competition.” 

Hanbin finally laughed, though it was embarrassing to recall. “It was so lame.” 

“Yeah, but, it was our thing, right? Anyway, this is serious. I’m actually pretty popular, you know? I have a bit of a following already.” He was trying to play it cool, but he really wanted Hanbin to come. He wanted to show off a bit. He wanted Hanbin to be impressed. 

Hanbin smiled at him. “You want me to come check out your rapping?” 

“Yeah. Friday night at Compton in Itaewon. If you come out for the night, I’ll tell you why Taeyong transferred. Deal?” 

Hanbin nodded. “Deal. Text me the info and I’ll come check out your little rap show.” 
 

“Okay, that was wild! I can’t believe how real it felt!” Yunhyeong pulled off the VR goggles, taking a deep breath. 

“I know, I still can’t believe I actually screamed when I fell off the wall in the rock climbing one.” Donghyuk leaned next to him, laughing off the adrenaline that was still running through him. 

Yunhyeong grinned at him, rubbing a hand over his back. “I wouldn’t even call it a scream. It was more like a shriek.” 

Donghyuk grinned back, slightly embarrassed. “Ah was it really that bad?” 

“Yeah, but it was cute, so don’t worry.” Yunhyeong squeezed his shoulder. 

“Thanks, hyung. I appreciate you not being embarrassed over my shrieks of terror.” Donghyuk got up close to his boyfriend, putting an arm around his waist and smiling when Yunhyeong’s arm settled over his shoulders. 

“I didn’t say I wasn’t embarrassed,” Yunhyeong teased, “just said it was cute.” 

“As long as I’m cute, that’s all that matters!” 

“Well don’t worry, cause you’re the cutest, I promise.” Yunhyeong couldn’t help but give the compliment, and he hoped he wasn’t blushing. Having a boyfriend was still taking some getting used to for him, but he was finally starting to get comfortable with the idea of being openly affectionate in public. Donghyuk deserved the praise, anyway. 

Donghyuk smiled happily as he let Yunhyeong lead them down the street away from the virtual reality game centre. He thought it had been one of their better dates so far, with lots of opportunities for playing around and being physically close. It wasn’t too long of a walk until they arrived at their destination, a small noodle shop. 

Once they were seated and ordered, Donghyuk reached across to take Yunhyeong’s hand. “Hyung, I know we’re on a date, but can I get your advice about something?” 

“Of course, Dong-ie, whatever you need.” 

“It’s about Hanbin and Taeyong,” Donghyuk started, desperate for another opinion. “I’m worried about Hanbin, this whole Taeyong situation is getting to him. Every time we go for boxing training all he does is complain about Taeyong.” 

Yunhyeong grinned, not surprised about the choice in topic. “What has you worried so much?” 

“Well, I feel like I know Hanbin pretty good by now, and I honestly thought he’d be dealing with Taeyong better. He’s supposed to be trying to extend a peaceful hand to him, but I don’t know if he is.” Donghyuk felt a little bad for talking about Hanbin behind his back, but he couldn’t keep it to himself any longer. 

“You can’t expect them to patch things up so quickly. It’s only natural for rivalries to take some time to simmer down.” Yunhyeong played with Donghyuk’s fingers, brushing his thumb over them. 

“I know, but I just wonder if I should talk to him about it. I tried asking Junhoe, but he actually thinks the whole thing is hilarious and doesn’t want me to say anything.” 

Yunhyeong grinned, not surprised. “Oh really?” 

“Yeah, he said Hanbin deserves to suffer for a while.” 

“That sounds like Junhoe!” Yunhyeong laughed. He could actually hear Junhoe’s voice in his head saying those exact words. 

Donghyuk frowned. “Well I don’t like seeing people suffer, it makes me anxious. I want my friends to be happy.” 

“Don’t be worried. While Junhoe is a little too happy about the situation, you have to remember that we’re all different people with different capacities for handling this sort of stuff. Just because it upsets you, that doesn’t mean that your friends are obligated to change how they handle situations that don’t directly involve you.” 

“But it does involve me, because they’re my friends.” 

“The only thing you can do is ask Hanbin to not talk about Taeyong when you’re boxing. Ranting and blowing off steam is how Hanbin deals with stuff. Does he spend all his time complaining when you’re not at boxing?” 

Donghyuk shook his head. “No. He barely talks about Taeyong out of the ring.” 

“And when he does, I bet it’s not the same, right? He’s probably more positive about it.” 

“Yeah, actually you’re right, hyung. I guess I’m just so used to him being level-headed all the time, that when he blows up during training it bothers me.” Donghyuk wondered if he was just being too sensitive? Yunhyeong was right, after all. They all had different methods of coping. 

“Like I said, you’re well within your rights to ask Hanbin to train with someone else if him venting about Taeyong during that time is bothering you. But that’s how he copes, so you can’t ask him to not do it around you. All you can do is choose to remove yourself.” 

Donghyuk felt better for hearing it. “Thanks, hyung. That’s good advice.” 

Yunhyeong smiled back at him. “You care a lot about your friends, but make sure you don’t fall into the trap of being someone’s emotional punching bag. I’m not saying Hanbin is doing that to you, and I don’t think he would. But sometimes our friends assume we’re okay with things, and they have no way of knowing we’re not okay unless we tell them. Hanbin’s used to talking to Junhoe about this sort of stuff, and Junhoe isn’t as sensitive as you are.” 

“Junhoe’s actually quite sensitive, I think.” 

Yunhyeong grinned. “He’s sensitive in a different way. Like, he’s sensitive to his problems only, whereas I think you’re sensitive to everyone else’s problems. You’re empathetic, and Junhoe is the least empathetic person I know. Which is why he thinks that Hanbin suffering with Taeyong is hilarious, while you want them to fix their problems and co-exist peacefully.” 

Donghyuk smiled at the explanation. “That makes sense.” 

“But you can’t let your empathy become more important than how Hanbin feels, or Taeyong. You don’t know what either of them are really thinking about each other. Sometimes you just can’t fix other people’s problems, and that’s okay. Not every problem has a solution.” 

Donghyuk squeezed his hand tightly. “Thanks, hyung. You’re so smart about this stuff!” 

Yunhyeong blushed lightly, happy to help. “Ah, it’s not really that I’m smart. I’m just a good listener and I know how to put myself in other people’s shoes.” 

“You have high emotional intelligence!” Donghyuk replied, grinning at the fact that he’d made Yunhyeong blush. Over such a sweet topic, too. It made him feel a hundred times more affectionate towards him. 

“Well, with your book smarts and my people smarts, we’re unstoppable!” 
 

“I’m thrilled to see her on stage, Jinan! For her first feature, too! Ahh, this is so exciting.” 

Jinhwan couldn’t help but smile, momentarily stealing Junhoe’s seat next to his sister. “I know, I’m so proud of her. I’m so happy you guys all came, it really means a lot to us.” 

“Of course we’d come! Honestly I’d have come even if none of you guys were coming.” Yejin winked at him. 

Jinhwan grinned back at her. Yejin and Seiyeon had struck up quite the friendship recently, which had taken he and Junhoe a little by surprise. It was nice now, though. He liked Yejin a lot, thought it was a good friendship for his sister. “Then please support her when I move, okay?” 

“I will, don’t you worry. I’ll even drag Junhoe along, make him send you video updates.” 

“Perfect!” Junhoe happened to come back at that moment, but Yejin made Jinhwan stay in the seat next to her. 

“Please I need a break from him, Jinan stay in between us.” 

Junhoe looked at her in annoyance. “It’s not my fault you moved back home again! Can you hurry up and find a new apartment?” 

“Wow, a girl moves back home for the emotional support of her loving family after ending a relationship and this is what her beloved little brother says to her?” Yejin shook her head, frowning at him. 

Junhoe’s face blanked in panic for a moment and he awkwardly rubbed at the back of his neck. “, I’m sorry noona! You know I don’t really dislike having you at home.” 

Yejin caught Jinhwan’s eye and winked at him. “I know, kid, you mean well. Just be mindful of your teasing, okay?” 

Jinhwan was feeling playful, though. “I thought you only moved back home because your lease was up and you wanted to move to a better neighbourhood?” 

Yejin’s face fell in betrayal, and a second later she smacked Jinhwan’s arm. “Jinan! I thought we were on the same side!” 

When Junhoe realized Yejin hadn’t really been upset by his teasing he rolled his eyes and slumped into his seat, arms crossed over his chest. “You know what? both of you.” 

“Junhoe! Watch your mouth, young man!” A smack to the head later and Junhoe was bowing to his mother. 

“Sorry! Yejin started it though!” Junhoe whined. 

Yejin stuck her tongue out at him. “I did not, you little turd.” 

“Yejin! You won’t attract a nice boy with that sort of language.” She daughter, shaking her head in pretend disapproval. 

Yejin grinned back at her. “Oh please, mother! If a man is bothered by me calling my brother a turd, then he’s not the right man for me.” 

“Noona wants a man she can talk to, literally.” Junhoe made the jab, even though it resulted in a cluck of disapproval from his mother. 

Yejin looked at her brother, shaking her head. “Disgusting. You dumpster child.” Junhoe grinned back at her, not phased by the insult. 

“Hey, we all have our kinks, no one’s judging you, noona!” Jinhwan couldn’t help but add, grinning when Junhoe started giggling. 

Yejin sighed and smacked him again. “When are you leaving for the US? It can’t come soon enough.” 

Jinhwan pretended to gasp in hurt. “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.” 

“Maybe your sister will move to Seoul!” Yejin teased back. 

“No, please! That would be torture for me.” Junhoe whined, grinning when his mother sighed and shook her head, giving up on trying to talk her kids into being more formal. The show was about to start, though, so everyone settled down to watch. 

Jinhwan had brought them to see his sister performing in her first run as a principal flutist with the Jeju orchestra. She even had a solo tonight, a first for her professional career. Jinhwan was beyond proud of her, and it felt amazing to be here with Junhoe’s family to support her. It felt like quite a big step in their relationship, which made him both happy and a little anxious. He was still a few months away from leaving, so he knew he really ought to ignore any potential confusion about how serious they were getting, despite knowing he was going to be leaving. 

When the lights dimmed he was surprised to feel Junhoe reaching for his hand, and he smiled when Junhoe threaded their fingers together. It made him happy that every time he wanted something affectionate, Junhoe seemed to want it too and would make it happen if Jinhwan didn’t do it first. They were starting to get on that annoying couple’s wavelength, the one he teased Bobby about all the time. 

He glanced at Junhoe out of the corner of his eye, smiling when Junhoe looked at him and squeezed his hand. He knew Junhoe wasn’t really that into classical music, so he appreciated that he was here now, and that he’d wanted to come. It was nice to share unexpected things with him often enough for them to become more of an interest for Junhoe. That was really the whole point of sharing things with a person, wasn’t it? To know that they cared about you enough to eventually adopt the interests you had, out of nothing more than loyalty to you. 

It was something he never would have expected out of Junhoe, but life was full of surprises. For now all he could do was sit back and enjoy the time he had left to share passions like this. He couldn't let himself get weighed down by thinking about his impending move. Not when things were so good.