Shake The Disease

Tap, Snap, or Nap!

"You know how hard it is for me to shake the disease
 That takes hold of my tongue in situations like these"
                                             "Shake The Disease" Depeche Mode
 



Hanbin found Taeyong at his locker, watching him for a moment before approaching. Ever since he’d talked with Woosung on Friday, he found his feelings about Taeyong continually shifting. He was determined to be on his best behaviour, to not let Taeyong’s prickly behaviour rub him the wrong way. It was easy to make that promise to himself when he was looking at his back, but he knew it would be tougher to keep it when he had Taeyong in his face, provoking him.

He steeled his nerves and walked over to him, leaning on the locker next to him. He could see Taeyong’s eyes narrow when he noticed him, but Hanbin didn’t let it affect him.

“I’m sorry for the late notice, but we have to change our practice to Wednesday this week, coach had something come up tomorrow night. I don’t have your phone number yet so I couldn’t text you last night when I found out.”

Taeyong frowned at the news. Wednesday were off limits for him because of church. “I can’t do Wednesday.”

“Why not?” Hanbin didn’t mean to ask so brusquely, but the outright denial was a bit unexpected.

Taeyong couldn’t begin to explain the real reason to Hanbin. “I have plans on Wednesday, every week. Can’t get out of them.” He’d like nothing more than to get out of them, but he’d already skipped out twice and his grandmother was starting to get suspicious.

Hanbin had to pause and ask himself what he’d do if it were any other player. Would he keep pushing? Or was he only pushing now because it was Taeyong and he was curious? It was a delicate situation, but he believed he had just cause for asking. “Are you sure you can’t get out of whatever it is? This is the last practice before we set the team. If you’re serious, you should be there.”

Taeyong’s frustration came out in an angry glare and a harsh voice. “I ing told you, I have plans that I can’t cancel.” God, being gay was ruining everything! This bull therapy he had to take was possibly going to get in the way of basketball. It wasn’t fair.

Hanbin had to bite his tongue to keep from snapping back. But he was the captain, and he had to keep a sense of decorum about himself. He wouldn’t take the cursing and attitude from anyone else, but Taeyong was a special case right now and he had to treat him as such. “I understand that, but if you’re not willing to explain what those plans are, I have to ask.”

“I thought you’d be happy to have an extra strike against me,” Taeyong bit back, “clearly you don’t want me on this team.” He knew that arguing with Hanbin wasn’t the best idea, but he had to take his frustration out in some way, and a bitter argument was better than punching his locker.

Hanbin surprised himself with his quick answer. “I do want you on the team,” he replied seriously, keeping eye contact with a still glaring Taeyong, “whatever there is between us, it doesn’t matter this year. You deserve to be on the team, we need you. I’m not willing to kick you off because you can’t make one practice.”

Taeyong didn’t respond right away, searching Hanbin’s face for any sign to show that he wasn’t being serious. But Hanbin didn’t look like he was bullting him, and Taeyong cooled down a bit. “It’s personal, okay? I don’t want to talk about it, but I can’t make it on Wednesday, ever. That’s all I can say. I can’t take the chance of pissing my grandmother off.”

“Your grandmother?” Hanbin jumped on the comment before he could stop himself. “Are you living with her now? Is that why you’re coming here?” He knew he’d promised Woosung not to pry with Taeyong, but the opportunity had just presented itself to him. It was almost like Taeyong wanted him to ask.

Taeyong scowled, only just realizing what he’d said. “That’s none of your ing business, okay? Don’t ask about my family.”

“You don’t have to get so defensive,” Hanbin replied, “I’m just curious. I’ve been curious since you moved here. Just trying to make sense of it all.” He hoped it didn’t seem like he was pushing too hard.

“You don’t need to understand. I moved, and that’s all that matters.”

Hanbin just couldn’t accept the shut down. Not when he had a sliver of a chance to expand on it. “Why don’t you want to talk about it? We’re on the same team this year, we shouldn’t be enemies.”

Taeyong shook his head, glaring at the lockers. What was Hanbin doing? Talking like he wanted to friends, or some bull? Where had the intense rivalry of last week gone? “You can’t just throw away a rivalry like ours, Hanbin. You’ll always be my enemy. Get used to it.”

Hanbin kept his cool, choosing his words carefully. “I’m fine with being your rival, Taeyong, but I don’t want to be your enemy. We should try and get past our history. Start over this year.”

Taeyong looked back at him, anger all over his face. “That must be so ing easy for you to say. You’re not the one who lost every year, you’re not the one who disappointed everyone. You got to be the hero, you rubbed my face in your victory all the time. But now that it’s not convenient for you? Of course you want to drop it. Because you never got hurt by it, you don’t have all of the bitter memories that I have. So no, you and your bull attempt to get over it. I’ll never get over it.” Taeyong knew he ought to stop talking, knew he shouldn’t have said all of that. He was too worked up, too angry, too emotionally compromised. Hanbin was going to jump all over it.

Despite promising himself and Woosung that he’d stay away from the topic, Hanbin couldn’t ignore it when Taeyong so blatantly laid it out in front of him like a three course meal. “I heard your dad last year, after our last game.” His comment brought the conversation to a standstill, their eyes holding each other.

Taeyong balled his hands into fists at his side, a subconscious action. “Did you?” He wasn’t sure how to feel about it at the moment, couldn’t even remember what his dad had said to him at that time. It was hard to recall, back when his only crime was not being good enough. It seemed like it was a whole lifetime ago, before his father had lost what little hope he’d had for him. Before he’d become a total failure in his eyes.

Hanbin nodded, and though he knew he ought to shut up about the topic, he couldn’t help but continue. Now that they were here he had to say something. “Your dad’s kind of an .”

“Don’t talk about my dad! You don’t know him.” Taeyong was surprised by his knee-jerk reaction, hated the fact that pleasing his father was still so ingrained into him that he couldn’t help but defend him from criticism. Even though Hanbin was correct.

Hanbin hadn’t expected the response. He’d been hoping to have a bit of a breakthrough, at least. “I’m sorry, I know it’s not my place, but I just wanted you to know that I know.”

Taeyong couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Why the would I want to know that you know anything my father has ever said to me? What, are we supposed to be friends now? Because you heard my dad lecture me about losing?”

Did Taeyong not remember the conversation? “He didn’t just lecture you, he left you by yourself halfway across the city with no way to get home! That was cruel.”

Taeyong gave an incredulous laugh. “Don’t act like you understand what it’s like, Hanbin. You don’t know about cruelty! Your family worships you, so you don’t get to talk about mine.”

“I know your dad hated me because I was gay.”

Taeyong hadn’t been expecting the comment, and he quickly tried to school his expression into something neutral. Why had Hanbin said that?! “That’s very observant of you.”

Hanbin could sense it in Taeyong’s reaction—the gay comment clearly made him uncomfortable. He had to push! He was sure he was about to get something out of him! “Why did he kick you out to live with your grandmother?”

Taeyong was stunned at the words. “Who told you he kicked me out?”

Hanbin could barely keep himself from panicking at his mistake. He shouldn’t have worded it that way! “No one, I just assumed, because you said you were living with her. After last year I thought, you know, it made sense. Especially since you switched schools.”

Taeyong was panicking internally—he’d trusted Woosung with the information. Had he told Hanbin? He’d been worried that maybe Woosung was only being friendly as a way to get information for his ex-boyfriend. “Don’t ask me about my family. That’s off limits.”

Hanbin felt bad at the awkward divide that had sprung up, it was different from the simmering anger. But maybe Taeyong would open up after calming down. “I’m sorry for bringing it up. I was just worried—”

“You were worried about me?” Taeyong replied with a harsh laugh. “Spare me the bull, Hanbin. I don’t want to hear it.” They stood in silence for a moment, neither of them moving, both of them still feeling anxious.

Hanbin broke the silence. “Look, again, I’m sorry for bringing it up. I know that maybe it’s asking a lot, but I really do want us to work together cohesively this year. We’re the best players in the league, you and I. We don’t have to keep being enemies, despite what you think.”

Taeyong shook his head, moving past his panic and settling back into irritation and anger. “You don’t have to kiss my , Hanbin. I don’t like you, and I know you don’t like me. But you’re right. We are the best players. If you're willing to say that to my face, then you can accept the fact that I can’t make practice on Wednesday.” He hoped it would work, hoped he’d managed to talk Hanbin into a corner with his own comment.

He’d been so close, but he had to let it go, had to give up digging for now. “Will you at least explain to coach why you can’t make it?”

“What part of it’s personal are you not comprehending?!” Taeyong exploded, trying to control his reaction and rein his anger back in. He was too heated and too embarrassed about the reason. How could he even begin to explain to Hanbin what he had to skip out on practice for? Sorry I can’t make it, I have to sit through two hours of being told that I have a demon inside of me, two hours of praying to a god that I don’t even believe in to save me. Hanbin would never understand, not with the supportive family he had.

Hanbin tightened his fingers around his forearms and tried to keep his breaths slow. That temptation to ask Taeyong outright about everything he’d talked to Woosung about was rearing up again, even though he knew he couldn’t risk it. But he couldn’t stop thinking about it! Couldn’t stop wondering if they had guessed correctly. What was he doing on Wednesday nights that had him busy? Did it have to do with his family? If his father was so homophobic, was his grandmother the same way?

“Look, I don’t mean to keep harping, but coach is going to ask me why you can’t make it. It’ll look back on you if you don’t explain yourself. You don’t have to tell me, but tell him.”

“Will you quit harassing me if I tell him, then?” Taeyong asked, though he had zero intentions of telling their coach anything.

Hanbin nodded. “Yes, I promise.”

Taeyong sighed and glared at him one last time. “Fine. I’ll talk to him, then, so he knows that you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Hanbin hated that he was walking away from this blow up with nothing to show for it, but he couldn’t keep pushing. “Thanks. I’m really just trying to look out for you, okay?”

“Don’t,” Taeyong spat back, enraged at the comment, “I don’t need anyone looking out for me, least of all you.” He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder, turning and stomping away down the hall, incensed and angry that he’d let Hanbin waste so much of his time. But he was also angry at Woosung. Okay, maybe he hadn’t said anything and Hanbin had just picked it up on his own. But maybe not. Maybe his only friend here really was a snitch for his ex. He wanted to find him and ask, but he also thought that maybe he ought to give it a few days and calm down first.

He’d keep his mouth shut in the meantime. Just to be safe.
 



“It’s not like I was pushing for the topic, you know? He brought it up himself, naturally, and I just followed through.”

It was obvious from the look on Junhoe’s face that he didn’t buy it. “Mmhmm, sure you did.”

“I did! I just asked him why he couldn’t come, which I was fully in my rights as captain to do. He’s the one who brought up his grandmother. I just took the offered opportunity to ask why he was living with her.” It was a half truth, really. He’d pushed a little, but it hadn’t been anything drastic!

“Why don’t I believe that?” Junhoe replied with a grin. “You like to fish for information. You always have. It’s like your favourite game.”

Hanbin glared at Junhoe, annoyed that he seemed to be taking some kind of condescending position. “Seriously?”

Junhoe nodded. “You do it to me all the time, you always have. When you know I have something that I don’t want to tell you, you find some way to manipulate me into bringing it up myself. It’s a dirty habit.”

Hanbin frowned. “It doesn’t count with you, we’re best friends.”

Junhoe scoffed at the response. “Are you kidding me? The fact that we’re best friends makes it even worse that you do it to me! If you can’t respect my silence on a topic, why would you respect anyone else’s? You just push everyone because you like to know everything.”

Hanbin paused for a moment, searching Junhoe’s face and finding an unusually serious and offended expression. “Are you upset with me?”

Junhoe shrugged, but smiled at the last second. “No, I’m used to it and honestly? Most of the time when you push me it’s for my own good. But it’s still a bit of a move, though.”

Hanbin frowned and tried not to look too upset. “I never thought I’d live to see the day that you try and lecture me about something.” It actually felt a little humbling to think that Junhoe was calling him out on poor behaviour.

“I know, right?” Junhoe replied with a laugh. “Usually it’s always the other way around! I’m always the one ing up, finally you’re having your day.”

Hanbin sighed, not wanting to give in but seeing that he wouldn’t just be able to complain the way he wanted to. “So you really think I ed up with Taeyong?”

Junhoe had to bite back another laugh. “Are you kidding me? Absolutely. Woosung trusted you with information, and you promised him you wouldn’t ask Taeyong about it. Two days later and you can’t keep your mouth shut.”

Hanbin looked away at the wall, unable to handle the thought that Junhoe almost seemed disappointed in him. “Well, it wouldn’t have come up if it hadn’t been for him missing practice.”

Junhoe shook his head, amused at how cowed Hanbin seemed at the moment. He wasn’t sure that he’d ever seen him like this before. It felt both victorious and weird. “Still, you shouldn’t have said . You can’t force someone to open up to you, especially when you know they don’t like you. Sometimes you just have to step back and let other people do the work. Like with me and Jinan at first. We never would have been friends if it hadn’t been for you working your magic behind the scenes. If he’d come up to me and tried to apologize and be my friend after that first tournament, I’d have knocked his teeth out.”

Hanbin sighed and looked at Junhoe. “So what are you saying? I’m Jinan and Taeyong is you?”

Junhoe grinned. “Yes. And Woosung is now playing your role, and you have to let him play it. I know you hate stepping back, but you really can’t push Taeyong, especially not if there’s some serious going on with his dad. You have to respect his right to privacy. Don’t abuse your authority as captain.”

Hanbin sighed and looked back at the wall, bothered that Junhoe of all people was calling him out. It was worse because everything he was saying was true, and it stung. “Fine.”

Junhoe had a sudden thought hit him then, and as much as he was tempted to keep teasing Hanbin, he decided to voice it anyway. “I think you’re so desperate for Taeyong to tell you he’s gay because you just want to protect him from his dad.”

Hanbin was surprised to hear him say it. “You think so?”

Junhoe nodded, and it was actually kind of funny to him. “After bringing Dong into our little gay flock last year and then having Yun hyung join, you just want more insecure gay guys to protect.”

Hanbin frowned, unsure if Junhoe was joking or being serious. “Is that your take on the situation?”

Junhoe grinned. “Yeah, it’s kind of cute, actually. You’ve got a good heart, don’t let anyone tell you differently, even me.”

Hanbin glared at him. “Oh off, I can tell you’re just teasing me now!” Hanbin crossed his arms over his chest, annoyed.

“I am not!” Junhoe replied, even though he’d started laughing. “Honestly, you’re like the Pied Piper of gay guys now. Even Woosung is coming back.”

Hanbin thought about strangling him. “We’re just friends!”

“Sure,” Junhoe replied teasingly, “I’ve seen the way his eyes follow you, by the way. Inviting you out to his rap showcase? How did he react when you brought Bobby?” Junhoe hadn’t had the opportunity to ask Hanbin about it yet, but he’d laughed when Jinhwan had shared Bobby’s version of events with him.

Hanbin glared even harder at him. “It wasn’t a problem because we’re just friends. Besides, it was really cool, he’s got a good following. Met some of his rap friends too, they’re cool guys. One of them is super gorgeous, even. Like actor-level gorgeous.”

Junhoe grinned at the sudden shift in conversation. “Oh is he? Does Bobby know you’re ogling guys?”

Hanbin finally grinned back at him. “Bobby actually called him gorgeous first,” he explained, and it was even true. They’d talked about pretty boy Jaewon and his wandering eyes as soon as they’d left the club. It had been refreshing to talk about some other guy’s looks with Bobby. It felt like they’d levelled up in their relationship, being able to admit another guy’s attractiveness and not be jealous. It was a sign of maturity.

“Hook up with him for a , then,” Junhoe teased.

“Tempting, and honestly? With the way he kept making eyes at me, I think it could actually happen.”

Junhoe laughed, curious now about what this guy looked like. “Well keep me updated.”

“I will, don’t worry. How are things with Jinhwan? Did he find a place in LA yet?” Now that the serious tone of discussing Taeyong was over, Hanbin wanted to get an idea of how Junhoe was handling things with Jinhwan.

“He’s in talks with some guy his old trainer knows, but hasn’t signed anything yet. He’s pretty hopeful, though. Said it’s right in between where he needs to be, and the guy seems nice.”

Hanbin studied Junhoe’s face as he talked, surprised that he was speaking about it so openly without any difficulty. “How are you handling it?”

Junhoe shrugged. “I’m okay. I mean it’s weird, how close it’s getting. But he did delay his flight a few more weeks, so it gives us more time. I’m just trying not to think about it too much, you know?”

Hanbin nodded, reaching out to pat Junhoe’s leg. “Yeah, it’s gonna when he leaves. I’m gonna miss him too, and I know it’s going to kill Bobby.”

Junhoe grinned, because even though he didn’t want to think about how he’d be without Jinhwan, he knew that he was going to be a mess, and he knew that Hanbin would be on cheer up duty. “You’re gonna be screwed, you know that, right? You’ll have two moping guys to look after.”

Hanbin smirked at him. “Oh? You think I’m gonna be at your broken hearted beck and call?”

Junhoe smacked the hand off his leg. “You better be, ! It’s your fault we started dating, so it’s only right that you have to suffer when he leaves.”

Hanbin grinned back at him. “I’ll pass you off to Donghyuk.”

Junhoe shook his head, a gleam in his eye. “I’ll still harass you, don’t you worry. If you’re not doing your duty I’ll come visit and cry to your mom. She’ll kick your .”

Hanbin punched his leg. “Don’t you dare! Be a grown up. If you’re old enough to it up, you’re old enough to it up.” Hanbin winked at him, laughing when Junhoe reached out and physically shoved him over.

“You’re a ty best friend, Bin.”

Hanbin grinned at him from the bed. “I love you too!”

Junhoe frowned back at him. “I didn’t say I loved you, though!”

“Don’t make me call Hanbyul in here to make you declare your affection for me!” Hanbin replied, laughing when Junhoe flipped him off. A few seconds later though, and Junhoe was lying down next to him on the bed, a rare moment of vulnerability on display.

“I know you’re gonna be worried about Bobby too, but can I have you for that first night, when he leaves?” Junhoe was surprised at himself for asking. But as hard as he was trying to keep his cool about Jinhwan leaving, he knew deep down that he was going to be broken up that first night. He didn’t want to do it alone.

Hanbin smiled at the request, not even thinking about teasing him. “Of course you can, I promise I’ll be yours, okay?”

Junhoe felt better hearing him say it. “Thanks, Bin.” It was still months away, at least.
 



“So, I went to this hip hop mic night at a club, one of Hanbin’s friends was performing and invited us out. I met some other friends of his, and started talking about making music. One of the guys writes songs for an idol company. Made me think about what I want to do.” Bobby was on break at work, sitting on the dock next to his brother.

“You thinking music?” Jiun asked in surprise.

Bobby nodded. “I’ve always had it in the back of my head. Never realized it was a legit option though, but after talking to him I’m wondering if I should pursue it. What do you think? I don’t know how well I’d do, money-wise.”

Jiun nodded, understanding the concern. “Would it make you happy, though?”

“Yeah, I think so. I mean I can still work here, of course, and honestly it’s a good job because it gives me time to think about lyrics anyway. But then I could start out doing music too.” Bobby had been thinking about it non-stop, actually, ever since he’d talked to Jiho about it.

“Are you going to start performing at the mic nights?” Jiun asked.

Bobby nodded. “Maybe. I’ve been writing a lot of lyrics, it would be a good place to test myself.”

Jiun smiled at him, squeezing his shoulder. “You should go for it. Do what you’re passionate about.”

“I know, I just worry, you know.” As much as he’d been excited about the prospect of learning to make music, he couldn’t shake the other feeling that was settling in his gut.

“About what?” Jiun asked.

Bobby paused, because he could say a number of things in order to hide his biggest concern. But he didn’t like hiding things from Jiun, and his brother always gave him sound advice. “About Hanbin.”

“Have you talked to him about this?”

Bobby shook his head. He was trying not to stress himself out too much, but every now and then he thought about his relationship and wondered when they were going to talk about their future together. Now with this new music thing, time was ticking even faster.  “No, but I’m pretty sure he’ll tell me to go for it. But then there’s that stupid part of my brain.”

Jiun nodded, like he knew exactly what Bobby was about to say. “Right, the part that tells you that you should be more serious.”

Bobby nodded, relieved he’d figured it out himself. “Yeah, that part. I know right now he’d want me to do what I want, but what happens when we’re older? What if doing music isn’t good enough? Then I’ve wasted years that I could have spent using to get a stable job.”

Jiun squeezed his shoulder again. “Jiwon, here’s my advice. Let Hanbin be the serious one, you know he’s more suited for that kind of a life than you are. Our family’s got too much art on the brain, we’re terrible office workers. If you don’t pursue your passion, you’ll be miserable in whatever job you end up doing. Look at dad, you’re just like him. Remember when he gave up painting to work three jobs so we could have more money?”

Bobby hated thinking about that period in their lives. “Yeah, he was miserable.”

“You were a lot younger then, so I don’t know how much you remember. But mom almost left him. It wasn’t until they agreed that we’d live with less money, so he could stop overworking and have time to pick up painting again. And now they’re happier than ever, because even though dad’s working a job he doesn’t like, he still has time to pursue his passions. No matter how in love you and Hanbin are in the future, if you’re miserable, it’ll tear you apart.”

Bobby nodded, grateful to Jiun for saying it. “True. And it’s not like he’s ever said anything, or his parents have said anything. I still worry they won’t like my decision anyway. His dad runs his own company, started it from the ground up. I just worry that even though he likes me as a person, I don’t know if he thinks I’m good enough for his son.” Bobby had never voiced that concern out loud before, and it felt liberating to get it off his shoulders.

“So go visit Hanbin at home with his parents there and bring it up. See how they react. You’re young, I can guarantee they don’t expect you to have everything figured out.”

Bobby shrugged. “Hanbin has everything figured out.”

“Maybe, but you’re not Hanbin. They know you’re not Hanbin, and they still like you, right? So don’t go there expecting that they’re going to shoot you down. They might surprise you.”

Bobby felt better hearing it from Jiun, but this sort of thing was always easier to talk about than it was to do. “Yeah, it’s easy to say, but I’m still nervous.”

Jiun laughed at that comment. “Get used to it, being nervous is part of being an adult.”

Bobby was silent for a moment, looking at his brother and hoping he’d get an honest answer. “Hyung, are you happy with your choices in life? Do you wish you’d done things differently?”

Jiun shook his head. “No. Sometimes I think about what things would be like if I’d made different choices, gone to school to try and get an education for some corporate job, but it’s always unknown. I know that right now, I’m happy. I have an amazing girlfriend, that I’m probably going to marry one day and start a family with. We’re a great match, we compliment each other well. We both have great families that support us. We might not have a lot of money, but we do well enough to be comfortable. That’s more important than anything. Because having a good job that pays a lot might make us both miserable, despite having more money. Better to do what you enjoy. Makes life less stressful.”

Bobby felt comforted by his answer. “You’re right.”

“Having said that, I still worry occasionally that I’m not making the right choices. But mom and dad never had a lot of money, and we were fine. Jeeyoung and I can do the same.” Jiun ruffled a hand through Bobby’s hair, grinning at him. “You should stick with Hanbin though, cause he’ll probably be rich like his dad. Then you won’t have to worry about anything.”

Bobby grinned despite the tease, feeling at ease. “Funny, hyung, total laugh.”

“Just focus on doing things that make you happy, Jiwon. That’s the best advice I can give you. Things will either work out, or they won’t. But you can’t put some potential fairytale future ahead of what’s best for you right now. You have to be true to yourself, and just hope that that’s going to work for your relationship.”

Bobby nodded, nervous about putting that advice into practice. But he knew that Jiun was right.

“Besides, from what I can see, Hanbin seems to like you an awful lot. You have to trust in that gut feeling that your partner’s love for you is strong enough to let you take chances. Both of you are equally as important in your relationship. Make sure you remember that. It’s easy to get caught up in prioritizing your partner’s feelings over your own. You both have ideas and passions, so make sure you talk about them.”

Jiun’s advice made him feel better, and Bobby turned to face his brother, hugging him tightly. “Thanks, hyung. I really appreciate that.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Jiun replied, “well, that and kicking your when you need it.”

Bobby grinned back at him. “Hey, have you seen my biceps? I could probably crush your neck if I wanted to.”

“I’d like to see you try,” Jiun replied, “all the muscles in the world won’t save you from my martial arts.”

Bobby hopped up from the dock, feeling lighter now after their conversation. “Maybe I’ve picked a few things up from Jinhwan, so you should be worried.”

Jiun followed him up. “I could take that little shrimp in his sleep.”

“I’m gonna tell him you said that!”

Jiun grinned back at him. “Go ahead. There’s no way he’ll believe you.” They split up then, heading to their own areas, and Bobby was eager to get back to work, deciding to follow up on his brother’s advice. He’d go over to Hanbin’s and talk about his music plans in front of Hanbin’s parents. Then he’d get his answers.

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Laineee0608 #1
Chapter 13: The scene at the end have me swooning. Ahh the beauty of romance 😍
Manna-chan #2
Chapter 13: I really wanna comfort all of them, I might not be a mom, but I have a weak spot for kids that needs parental love - no matter their age <'333
Alice_K26 #3
Chapter 13: I feel like watching baby taeyong grow up little by little in every chapter... Im happy he experience new things and start to seeing the world from other perspective and woosung really a great guy in helping him.. not too pushy.. and try to understand him...

And doubleb.. ofc as fluffy as always....
Manna-chan #4
Chapter 11: I live for these updates, and my chest hurts from reading about therapy and the whole being gay is a sin </3
iamandie #5
Chapter 11: can feel another tension coming between hanbin and taeyong.. but i love the sweet moments of hanbin and bobby.

hope dong will take to yunhyeong sooon....
licie99
#6
Chapter 10: Oh hoooo so Hanbin is everything Taeyong finds attractive in a man huh ? ? I sense shenanigans and misunderstandings coming
misterfahrenheit #7
Chapter 9: What an ingenious approach to teach Junhoe some English! Good job Dong, I was laughing hard while reading the first part. :))

It's great to see some development in JunDong's relationship. The 3 main couples are in different stages - a new one, an established one, and one that's nearing the end (hopefully not) - but the key takeaway no matter what is to communicate. I'm rooting for everyone and hoping that they learn to be honest with their feelings with their respective partners.

Lastly, it's going to be Bobby's first performance soon! Low key wishing that Hanbin will pull off a surprise appearance. If not then someone should definitely record it for him. ;)
iamandie #8
Chapter 9: oh no..the hardest will be coming soon but hope junhwan will stay together.
misterfahrenheit #9
Chapter 8: Before I write a very looong comment for this chapter, I just want to point out the new characters that make me excited for TSN:

• Chanwoo - I was afraid we wouldn't be seeing him here but I'm so glad he is back as Jaewon's sibling. How cute is it that he is almost part of the rapper crew?!
• Taeyong - Never paid attention to NCT before but I saw Taeyong in ISAC and man does he rock that pink hair (him and Jaehyun are definitely visuals). I am looking forward to his story because there is so much potential for character growth. He needs a great support system and there are people in Whimoon who will be good for him (too bad his family did not know about this lol).
• Coach Jongkook - I can imagine how intense he will train the team, sparta!
• Rapper friends (slash SMTM crew) - All the bantering, dissing, mic nights - bring them on!
• Mr.Kang - I assumed that this is Daesung. I just re-watched an episode of Family Outing and I miss variety gold Daesung, he would totally say those and be the first to laugh at his own corny jokes!
• Jinwoo - We won't be seeing him anytime soon but I am sure he will shake up JunHwan's relationship in some way.

Thank you too for the song recommendations. It helps in setting the mood per chapter.
iamandie #10
Chapter 7: the scene on the cafeteria is amusing! and finally taeyong is slowly opening up and hope he'll find more support.