Jun Hong sighed as he walked down the aisle looking for the pepper paste. He pouted to himself; he could’ve sworn they were in that aisle. The pink haired boy shook his head as he looked down the aisle for the third time that day.

“What are you looking for, Zelo?” a voice came. Jun Hong looked to his right to see a boy with black hair. He knew him from school and that he was older than both him and Jong Up but he didn’t know that he had a job until he saw him in a store uniform.

“Oh, Jung Min,” he smiled. “I’m just looking for pepper paste.”

Jung Min laughed lightly folding his arms, “I’m sorry to disappoint you but that’s on the next aisle.”

The maknae’s jaw dropped in shock. Quickly he looked up at the sign, groaning softly. The black haired boy laughed, “Is something wrong?”

“I’ve just wasted a good fifteen minutes looking for it on the wrong aisle,” the taller boy pouted. “Thanks for telling me before I spent another fifteen minutes searching.”

“Hey,” the elder boy called out before he stepped any farther. “Um, are you doing anything later tonight?”

Jun Hong shrugged, “I don’t know. Jong Up and I might just go bug our friend at work.”

“Oh,” he said softly with a bit of disappointment. “You and Jong Up are really close huh?”

The pink haired boy nodded, “Yea, we pretty much grew up together.”

“Is there anything else between you two?”

Jun Hong cocked his head to a side, “What do you mean?”

Jung Min chewed his bottom lip softly before answering, “I mean are you two a couple or anything?”

The younger boy shook his head softly, “no.”

“Then would you be able to give me a chance?” he asked with hope shining in his eyes.

“A chance? A chance at what?” Jun Hong just couldn’t get what the elder boy was asking. What he need a chance for?

“A chance at catching your interest,” the black haired boy explained. “I’d like to date you and maybe work my way to becoming your mate.”

“Oh,” his cheeks burned. He wasn’t expecting him say that at all. The tall boy nervously bit at the inside of his cheeks. He supposed it would help him move on. “I… umm…I guess I could give you a chance.”

A smile was present on the black haired boys face and his eyes boys were bright. “How about we go on a date sometime?”

“Sure,” he answered hoping he didn’t sound as scared as he felt.

“Great,” Jung Min tugged at his uniform, “Are you free tomorrow night, since you wanted to visit your friend tonight.”

“Yea,” he tried to smile. “Um, I better get going before they start to worry.”

The elder nodded, “Yea, I uh, better get back to work.”

The pink haired boy nodded with a small smile, hoping he didn’t seem too rushed when he left to the next aisle to get the pepper paste almost running into Jong Up.

The brunette laughed, “What happened to you? Him Chan hyung was getting worried.”

Jun Hong sighed, “Nothing. I was just looking down the wrong aisle.”

“Oh,” he smiled, “well, I got it now. Let’s go before he ends up sending Yong Guk or Dae Hyun after us.”

The maknae nodded not seeing the sad smile the brunette wore. The two left with the pepper paste in hand heading back to Him Chan.

Jong Up watched the black haired man get a tray of food together to take up to Young Jae. Sighing he asked, “How’s Young Jae doing up there?”

Him Chan laughed, “Poor thing is bored out of his out of his mind. He hates being on bed rest and he’s only been down for two days.”

“Will he be able to come down on Christmas?” he asked.

Him Chan nodded, “Yong Guk or Dae Hyun can carry him down.”

The brunette nodded. The elder couldn’t help but feel slightly worried when he noticed the sad look the boy casted toward the maknae in the living room. Him Chan sighed softly, “What’s wrong?”

Jong Up looked at his hands, “Jun Hong has a date tomorrow.”

“Oh? With who?” Him Chan folded his arms, this was news to him.

“A guy from school,” he sighed. “He asked him when we were at the store.”

“Is he older than you?” the elder asked. Jong Up nodded. The black haired man chewed nervously on his bottom lip, “Have you told him how you feel yet?”

Jong Up shook his head. “He wants to become a couple with him.”

“You need to tell him how you feel,” Him Chan urged softly. “Did he accept?”

Again the brunette nodded. The elder sighed, “You need to let him know you feel the same. He doesn’t know how you feel. He probably thinks you’re not interested that’s why he accepted.”

Jong Up shrugged, “He already made it clear that he wants to mate with him.”

“That doesn’t mean Jun Hong likes him.” Him Chan was tempted to shove the brunette into the maknae’s arms and tell him that he likes him. “Go talk to him. NOW!”

The brunette pouted as he got off the stool, slowly walking to the maknae. Him Chan smiled softly as he watched the two leave out the front door.

“Where are they going?” Yong Guk asked his mate as he walked into the kitchen.

The black haired man frowned, “probably to the Bakery to annoy Dae Hyun.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Jong Up is too scared to admit to Jun Hong that he likes him.” Him Chan reached for a cup from a shelf. “And now some kid asked Jun Hong out on a date and he accepted.”

“Ouch,” the elder on his teeth. “Is he going to confess to him now?”

“I doubt it,” he sighed. “He needs to do something before Jun Hong completely moves on.”

The purple haired man nodded, “I would talk to him but I don’t think he listens to me very well.”

Him Chan chuckled, “I tried talking to him, but we might need to get Dae Hyun to talk to him or Jun Hong himself.”

The elder laughed, “Does he know who asked him out?”

The younger nodded, “some kid they go to school with. He works at the store.”

“Is he older than Jong Up?” Yong Guk asked apprehensively. His mate nodded. “He’s not going out with him.”

Him Chan laughed at his mate, “why not?”

“Because,” he answered. The black haired man folded his arms, “that’s not a reason. Jun Hong is going on that date.”

“And what about Jong Up?”

“He’s going to have to man up and confess or just pull a you,” Him Chan made sure everything was set to go up to the blonde.

Yong Guk nodded, “but that’s if Jun Hong wants to really go out with him.”

“We’ll have to talk to him about it when they get back.” The black haired man picked up the tray. “Right now I have a battle with Dae Hyun's mate to get over with.”

“Is he still fighting with you about the bed rest thing?” Yong Guk asked slightly amused.

“No,” Him Chan smiled, “we’re playing ‘Battled Ship’.”

The elder laughed, “Have fun with that.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea,” he shrugged. “I might just find something to read.”

“Don’t hurt yourself.” Him Chan sang out as he walked up the stairs. His mate shook his head laughing as he went to the living room in search of something to entertain himself.

Jun Hong sighed quietly. He had to admit it was a nice night out even if it was freezing cold outside but he was actually having fun with Jung Min though there was something that just didn’t quite feel right. The elder was nice enough though he asked way too many times if he was alright and that was starting to annoy him.

There was another thing annoying him like why what they were doing was considered a date when it didn’t really differ from what he and Jong Up did. How was it different? Was it because Jung Min asked if he could hold his hand where Jong Up would just take it? Or that he had to dress up a little more than normal? Maybe it was because he was trying really hard to impress Jun Hong.

“Do you want to go by the Bakery to warm up?” Jung Min asked with a small smile.

The younger nodded, “Sure.”

Jung Min carefully wrapped his arms around the taller boy’s waist leading them to the Bakery down the road. “Is it alright if I touch you like this?”

Jun Hong resisted the urge to roll his eyes, “if it wasn’t then I would say something.”

The black haired boy nodded with a shy smile.

Jun Hong was getting really annoyed. As nice as he was he made him feel a little uncomfortable though he couldn’t figure out the real reason. The pink haired boy sighed in relief as they entered the warm Bakery. It felt a little more relaxed knowing that there was someone he knew nearby but he wasn’t expecting to see Jong Up talking to a girl. No, seeing him was a surprise and it more than pissed him off.

Jong Up smiled noticing them he waved anxiously, the girl next to him forgotten. Jun Hong couldn’t help but smirk as he waved back. Walking over to the brunette forgetting the boy he had walked in with.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked Jong Up.

The brunette smiled, “avoiding Him Chan. He’s been acting up.”

“Did you abandon Yong Guk with him?” he laughed.

The slightly older boy nodded, “Young Jae wanted something sweet so he asked me to come knowing that I wanted to avoid Him Chan.”

“How much did you order to have to wait?” the pink haired boy asked.

Jong Up laughed, “I didn’t, he called earlier and I’m just here to pick it up, you’d have to ask Dae Hyun what he wanted.”

Jun Hong nodded. The brunette continued, “How’s your date going?”

Jun Hong almost forgot about the quiet black haired boy behind him. “It’s going fine, we just came here to get warm.”

Jung Min joined into their conversation, “and what about you? Are you enjoying your time here?”

The brunette was slightly confused by the elder’s question. “Yea I guess.”

The girl huffed, “Are you going to continue to ignore me, oppa?”

Jun Hong knew he was beyond jealous especially since he felt like strangling the sickening girl. Jong Up looked to her with an indifferent look than back to Jun Hong with a very lost expression. The pink haired boy wanted to laugh; Jong Up clearly forgot he was talking to her just moments ago.

Dae Hyun wasn’t sure if he wanted to interfere but he didn’t want these kids standing around all night. He sighed heavily calling out the girl’s name. He patiently watched as ‘ #1’ walked over to grab the little bag carrying her cookies before walking back to the boys. He shook his head as he began filling another order.

Jung Min gently pulled Jun Hong close, “let’s go order something.”

“I’m fine,” the tall boy said dismissively. “It’s getting late so I think I’ll just go home with Jong Up.”

Dae Hyun laughed quietly to himself. His mind yelling at Jong Up to just shut up and agree, then again the brunette always ended up doing the exact opposite.

“I don’t think Him Chan would mind,” he smiled brightly.

Jun Hong wanted to slap the brunette; little did he know that a certain silver haired boy wanted to do the same thing. Jung Min smiled, “See, we can hang out a bit longer.”

Dae Hyun decided to cut in since the brunette was not getting the hint, “Jong Up.”

The brunette smiled as he walked over to the counter. Dae Hyun gave him a mischievous grin. “I hope you know you’re going to need help.”

The brunette chocked once he saw how much he had to take home. Dae Hyun was silently thanking Young Jae for setting the brunette up. Jun Hong laughed in the background, “you’ll be alright taking all that home right?”

Jong Up smiled sheepishly. Dae Hyun chuckled, “Jun Hong help him take all this home. Him Chan may be too wrapped up to notice you being out pass your curfew but that means nobody is there to keep an eye on Young Jae for me.”

Jun Hong was more than glad that Dae Hyun got the hint. He laughed, “Alright. Is there anything else you want us to get before going home?”

“Probably something to entertain Young Jae,” he shrugged.

Jun Hong nodded. Turning to Jung Min, “Well I had fun but I got to go. Bye.”

The pink haired boy grabbed some of the bags before the black haired boy could say anything. Dae Hyun watching as the two left. Smirking on the inside as ‘ #2’ was successfully rejected; now just to get Jong Up to make a damn move already. The brunette was more of a pain about confessing than he was and here he was hoping that the brunette would just let it slip accidently when he rambled, but he was starting to pay attention to what he did nowadays.