Several weeks later

They sky was getting steadily darker and the antics of the group gathered in the park were getting steadily rowdier.

‘Truth!’ Baekhyun yelled gleefully, managing to escape the chop Luhan aimed at him. He landed beside Minseok, who twisted his ear, yelping him into submission.

‘Quiet,’ he said mildly. ‘Let Sehun choose.’

Baekhyun pouted to no avail since Minseok was impervious to his charms; he turned his pouts on Lay who steadfastly ignored him, smiling at Sehun instead. ‘So,’ he said, ‘what do you choose?’

Sehun eyed the large group who had gathered around for an impromptu birthday celebration. His birthday celebration. It felt… strangely nice.

‘Truth,’ he said, wincing when both Mei and Baekhyun yelled in triumph.

Luhan had a dopey look on his face that made him look stupid. It was his default expression when Mei was around.

‘Mei?’ he voted because of course, he would pick her.

‘Okay Oh Sehun, it’s time to tell us the truth!’ Mei pointed at finger at Sehun threateningly. ‘And you can’t back out.’

Sehun rolled his eyes, but his fingers twitched nervously. ‘Whatever,’ he muttered.

‘Words, Sehun,’ Suho corrected habitually, returning to his conversation on school regulations with Chen’s girlfriend. Sehun grunted just to annoy him.

‘Just how long have you liked Minyoung?’ Mei asked, looking gleeful.

‘Ten says since Minyoung confettied on him,’ Chanyeol spoke from his place beside Baekhyun.

‘Ten says before that,’ Baekhyun countered.

Sehun looked around at the eager faces waiting for his answer, as if his interest in Minyoung warranted this much passion. It was ridiculous.     

He caught sight of Minyoung, sitting beside Mei, blushing furiously as she tended to whenever the topic of their relationship came up.

He had liked her for a long time now.  But that wasn’t something anyone other than her needed to know about.

‘I’ve changed my mind,’ he said, grinning at the loud protests. ‘I take dare!’

‘I dare you to answer Mei’s question!’ Baekhyun threw at him.

‘That’s not how it works, idiot!’ Chen smacked Baekhyun’s arm.

They started bickering and Sehun leaned back with a satisfied grin.

‘I’ve got it!’ Mei’s voice rose once again. ‘I dare you to kiss Minyoung!’

Sehun rolled his eyes exaggeratedly as he leaned forward while Minyoung had a minor panic attack at the idea of PDA. She was cute when she got flustered like that. He grinned evilly when she caught his eye and she blushed, throwing her head down.

He pecked her cheek, amongst hollering from Chanyeol and Chen and protests from Mei and Baekhyun that this was cheating.

He shrugged, settling beside MInyoung instead of across as he had been sitting before. ‘You should’ve been more specific,’ he told Mei who sputtered indignantly, then started whining at Luhan.

‘He’s right though,’ Luhan said, and the look of betrayal on Mei’s face was absolutely worth it.

……………………………………………

Later, when they were walking back after dropping Mei home, Minyoung sidled closer to him. Sehun held his hand out, waiting until she’d grasped it to pull her closer into his side, draping his arm across her shoulders.

‘Happy birthday,’ she muttered quietly and he smiled, feeling something disgustingly gooey unfurl in his tummy.

‘Thanks,’ he mumbled, squeezing her. She squeaked involuntarily, making him grin. He low-key hoped she wouldn’t get used to his affections because her reactions were too cute.

They walked in companionable silence until he felt her fidgeting under his arm.

‘What?’

She shook her head. He sighed, stopping. ‘What is it?’

She fidgeted a little bit more but he waited patiently, knowing she would speak up if he didn’t try to rush her.  

True to his prediction, she took a bracing breath and looked him in the eye. ‘About what Mei asked…’ She seemed to lose courage after that.

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