"Jongup-sshi!"

Jongup turned and his face broke into a smile as he watched Himchan run over to where he was; in front of the café Sweet Amore - a fluffily pink and small cozy house for loving couples all around. Jongup felt himself near shriveling from the over oozing cuteness from the building as he watches couples gaze lovingly at each other or share drinks through the clear window, but he couldn’t help but imagine Himchan and him doing the same thing. He intertwined his sweaty palms together nervously as Himchan came closer to where he was, and he checked his attire again - no awkward clothes that he couldn't pull off, no underwear sticking out of his denim tight jeans.

He felt self conscious as Himchan - perfect Himchan, dressed in a casual hoodie and pants with his hair cleverly tousled, gave him his signature grin, and Jongup felt a light blush dusting over his cheeks. He shook his head when Himchan stressed,

"I am sorry, had some trouble with my friends. I am late, aren't I?"

Himchan gives a small pout and Jongup wants nothing more than to take a picture of that and use it as his phone's wallpaper, but he controled himself and shyly laughed.

"You are not that late-" he is interrupted by the sudden vibration of his phone and he flashed Himchan an apologetic gaze before unlocking his phone.

From: Daehyun

Are you at the arcade I frequent at?

Jongup frowned and shut his phone, but not before Himchan managed to get a quick look at the screen.

"Was that Daehyun?"

"No- I mean, yes. But it's nothing." Jongup said quickly, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Weren't the both of you working on an assignment? Did you manage to get it done?" Himchan asked, pursing his lips. Jongup tried his best to smile and he hoped it didn't come off as too fake.

"It's mostly finished," Jongup said, scratching his ears awkwardly. It is true though, he just couldn't help but feel guilty at leaving Daehyun like that.

"Well that's good to hear," Himchan said, smiling, and he gestured to the arcade across the road. "Then shall we proceed on our date?"

Jongup felt himself flutter at the word date and he bobbed his head quickly. He hoped he didn’t come off as too eager when he walked next to Himchan, a slight skip in his steps as they walked towards the arcade. Jongup almost forgot about his hatred for the place but is reminded all too soon as soon as he stepped through the door, and is greeted to loud teenagers shouting and battling on the flashing machines.

His face paled but he quickly arranged his features into a smile as Himchan looked at him excitedly, pointing at all the stuff he plays when he goes there.

"I haven't been here in a long time," Himchan whistled as if reminiscing his fond memories of the place. He tiptoed to look around at the sea of people, as if looking for someone. "You do like it here don't you? Schoolmates at our school come here all the time." Jongup gave a nod, trying to look interested.

"I have come here before, once or twice," he mumbled, memories of the time he got chased out still fresh in his head. He prayed that the people there don't happen to remember him and his nose scrunched up in disgust as he neared the very same machine, the paint worn and faded on the sides.

It's a relief to Jongup when Himchan started off their date with a few simple games to warm up, and they spend twenty minutes or so whacking moles and having small dance battles. That Jongup could handle. He giggled at a tired out Himchan in front of the flashing screen and doesn't realize dropping his guard, and only when Himchan started to tug his arm does he realize this.

Himchan near dragged him to a two player shooting game, and Jongup desperately tried to think of a reason to not play, because he at games like this and he would rather not make a fool out of himself in front of his date.

"A-actually-"

It's too late when Himchan placed the heavy fake gun in his hands and he grinned weakly at Himchan when the older flashed him his bunny smile.

"Yes?" He asked, but doesn't wait for Jongup to reply. "This is my favourite game in the whole arcade, I have been playing this since forever, but I couldn't recently because of school." Jongup couldn't bring himself to reply to that, and he bit his bottom lip as he faced the screen hesitantly again, praying that it will be all over soon.

"Wow president-nim, didn't you know your little boyfriend at games like these?"

Jongup in a breath as he turned, his eyes widening slightly. His heart leapt slightly in his chest and he gaped, not knowing whether to feel relieved or irritated at the appearance of Jung Daehyun. It has gotten all so familiar that it scared Jongup a little at how well he is taking it. His mouth opened and closed and Himchan beat him to it.

"Daehyun? And Minho," He added, nodding his head in acknowledgement of his same level batchmate. "What are you doing here?"

"Why do you need to know?" Daehyun scowled. "The world's a small place, if you haven't noticed."

Jongup blinked at Daehyun, his eyebrows creased. Daehyun obviously guessed right about his date location just now. He glared at Daehyun, but his glare faltered when he saw that Daehyun had taken off his plaster, the bruise on his head now turning black-blue. "Well, if you really need to know," Daehyun said lazily. "After someone ditched me for a date, I figured playing my afternoon away with friends would be a good idea. And look at who I found in the process!" He exclaimed with mock surprise, and Jongup felt his face face flush. Himchan looked at Jongup accusingly, and he shook his head, “I swear, the assignment was almost done-”

"Mind if I try? Jonguppie isn't ever good at games like this," Daehyun asked as he eyed the fake gun in Jongup’s hands, the sides of his lips twitching upwards. Himchan looked at Jongup, and Jongup saw the slight glint in Himchan's eyes at the sound of a challenge, but he was hesitating,  unsure of whether Jongup minded. Jongup nodded immediately, holding the gun out. "You can try the game with him, I don't mind," he said quickly, "I will just watch you guys play."

"Are you sure though?" Himchan asked, concerned. Jongup nodded and Daehyun stepped onto the platform, taking his gun out of his hands.

"You should be happy I came and saved you from suffering from embarrassment in front of your little Prince, Jonguppie," Daehyun whispered as he took the gun from Jongup. "Just watch as I gun your Prince down."

Jongup bit the inside of his cheek as he stood awkwardly next to Minho, making sure to put some distance between the both of them because of what happened a few days ago.

Jongup watched as the two on the platform silently sized each other up as they selected the different options on the screen, shooting grins at each other.

"I wonder how long can Himchan keep up next to Daehyun," Minho suddenly stated thoughtfully, to no one in particular, and Jongup kept quiet, looking in front and not knowing whether to speak or not. "I have seen him here on trips to the arcade before, and even though Himchan doesn't look like it, being a model student and all, he is good at games." He nodded, more to himself as Daehyun readied his hold on the gun. "But Daehyun is one of the highest scorers around here; his scores are always on the leader board. This should be interesting."

And it was, because the next thing Jongup knew, Daehyun and Himchan were aiming and firing at the targets on screen, reloading and scoring tens and tens of points after each shot. Jongup watched in awe as he watched the both of them deep in concentration, the scores on the right corner of the screen a blur as they increased rapidly. Jongup saw Daehyun's eyes shift ever so slightly to take note of Himchan's score before focusing on his screen again, not missing a target as his eyes raked over the entire screen for virtual enemies.

Jongup finds his eyes drifting from screen to screen at the sheer excitement of it all, and he finds himself silently egging Himchan on, not noticing how the game was almost coming to an end until Daehyun suddenly drops his gun to his side, and Jongup's eyes flicker over to the score, 356 to 345 - the game ending in Daehyun's victory.

Jongup felt a sense of disappointment pass through him at Himchan's loss, and he scrunched up his nose as Daehyun made eye contact with him, grinning cheekily.

"That was actually a pretty close game," Daehyun admitted, smirking. "I thought you had me there at one point."

Himchan returned the grin, inclining his head towards the other games. "You in for another game? Maybe not this one, but something else?"

"Oh definitely," Daehyun said eagerly. He did a small high-five with Minho as Himchan turned to walk down from the platform, and smiled at Jongup, his eyes crinkling into half moons.

"Did you see my impressive feat?" He said cockily, sticking his hands into his pockets.

"Your impressive feat of? Being a successful block?" Jongup snarled.

"Oh that too. Look, your Prince doesn't even care that much about you," Daehyun teased, gesturing at Himchan's back. "He sure makes his date feel extra welcomed, first bringing him to a place that he doesn't even like and then leaving him like this." He finished sarcastically, raising his eyebrows at Jongup.

"He didn't know about me not liking the place, it's not his fault." Jongup tried to defend Himchan, though he did feel a little - just a little irritated at Himchan's lack of concern.

"Uh huh, right. Yeah well, just sit back and watch me knock him down his horse, just like just now," Daehyun said, cracking his knuckles.

"You didn't win that fantastically." Jongup tried to point out, "your scores weren't that far off."

Daehyun rolled his eyes at Jongup, shaking his head. "Yeah well just don't get too upset when he loses in the games later on. Your hopes are up way too high. And I am talking about your relationship too."

He frowned as Jongup turned away, huffing as he tried to catch up with Himchan. Who was Daehyun to care so much about his relationship? Daehyun scowled as he walked after them with Minho, trying to push away the slight fear and nagging in his mind at the thought of almost losing just now, if not for Himchan's minor slip up at the end.

He needed to win this.

-----

Daehyun clicked his tongue haughtily as he let loose another disc straight into Himchan's goal, along with groans from Jongup who was standing at the other side of the air hockey board. Minho whistled appreciatively he clapped Daehyun on the back and announced that he was going to go get some drinks at the snack corner.

Himchan glared at the disc as it came out again, slightly gliding across the smooth surface as if mocking him. This was getting far too ridiculous. Over the course of the past few hours, Himchan has found himself losing to the younger with a difference of a few points. Though he didn't lose too badly, but to have lost in every single game he was challenged to?

Shooting, basketball, bowling, and now this? He was still all smiles after the mini basketball game, but now he was having a hard time trying to fake yet another smile, because as a man with pride, losing that much was way too absurd. Daehyun hadn't even faked losing once to give him face, for gods' sake! Call him a sore loser, but if he were in Daehyun's shoes, he would have at least given his own opponent a chance, given the fact that he was here with his date.

Oh, of course. His date. He shot a glance at Daehyun before launching the disc across the table, trying to catch him off guard. No wonder Daehyun was being like this, he thought, laughing quietly to himself for being so slow. One had to be blind to not notice the way Daehyun behaved around the boy. Himchan felt bad for leaving Jongup hanging by the sidelines the entire day, but he needed to redeem himself first. He sighed as he failed to block Daehyun's shot again, the disc shooting smoothly into his goal.

"Yes!" Daehyun fist pumped, throwing a cheeky smile at Himchan. The game ended in Daehyun's victory, again, for the fourth time that day.

Himchan shot a grin at Daehyun, before nodding. "Yeah well I guess I lose again, that was a good game." And two can play at this one. He let his hand drop to the small of Jongup's back, the boy's eyes widening at the touch and a blush spreading over his cheeks. He drummed his fingers on Jongup's waist and smirked as all traces of a smile vanished from Daehyun's face, leaving an irate scowl.

"And I think I played enough for today, my date is probably feeling tired from standing around so much, I think we are just going to go have a drink now," Himchan said nonchalantly, loving the effect he was creating on Daehyun.

"Oh, but I am okay," Jongup said in a quiet voice, trying to gesture to Himchan that he wasn't really that hungry and he could continue playing with Daehyun if he wanted. Daehyun caught that, and he scoffed, "see, your date doesn't want to rest just yet. How about one more game?"

Daehyun stared straight into Himchan’s eyes, as if daring him to say no. Himchan's eyes narrowed, but he said,

"Pick a game, Jongup."

Jongup blinked, not catching what Himchan said the first time. "Me?" He asked, unsure. Daehyun's eyes were slits as he cracked his head to the side, before the side of his lip twitched.

"Yeah Jongup, why not you pick a game," he said smoothly, never once breaking eye contact with Himchan.

Jongup scratched the side of his face awkwardly, glancing around the packed arcade before his gaze settled on a small machine.

"Erm, that one?" He suggested meekly. It should be a quick game, and perhaps Himchan really was hungry, which was why he suggested they have a break. It was a simple toy crane machine, the ones you always see in dramas where the male lead would always try their best to win a few prizes for his girlfriend.

Daehyun gave a huge laugh, shaking his head.

"How do we play that? There aren't any scores for it, and it isn't a two player game either." He mocked, and Jongup blushed, feeling uncomfortable.

"No, we can play it," Himchan spoke slowly, "There are two machines, so let’s just do this; the one who gets a toy first wins."

"Just a toy?" Daehyun asked, his eyes twinkling.

"Just a toy," Himchan confirmed. "The final prize."

Jongup felt his eyes shift from both males and he squirmed at the uncomfortable atmosphere and tension of it all. Was it just his imagination or did the air around them get thicker then usual? He followed the both of them as they stood in front of the machines, taking out their coins.

"Stand next to me Jongup," Himchan gestured as Jongup bounced on his heels between the two, unsure of what to do. Jongup gave Himchan a small smile as he did; missing the way Daehyun rolled his eyes and mock mouthed what Himchan just said.

"Do we start?" Daehyun asked impatiently, readying his coin at the slot. Just one toy, how hard could it be? Himchan nodded.

"Go."

Jongup wasn't sure why the two were this serious about winning, a toy for that matter, but he decided it was just an issue of pride between the two. He found himself biting he kept his eyes on Himchan's grey metal crane, praying for it not to miss. He heard a groan from Daehyun's side and he spared Daehyun a glance, realizing that Daehyun had just missed his chance at a toy and was hurrying to put in another coin. Himchan's eyes were focused on the crane, and he pushed the button, full of concentration. He let a sigh slip through his lips as the crane could not secure the hold on the toy, it slipping through the metal grasps into the cushion of toys below again.

"Aim for that hedgehog toy hyung," Jongup suggested, pointing to a toy at the right of the machine, as Himchan inserted another coin into the slot. It was fairly large, and if Himchan could get the claws around it, it probably wouldn't slip as easily. He carefully moved the joystick, holding his breath as it came to direct stop above the toy.

Perfect, he breathed, and he pressed the button, biting his bottom lip as the claw manoeuvred it's way down...

And scooped the toy up in its grasp. Himchan felt himself breathe again as the crane moved and dropped it in the hole, and he allowed a smile as Jongup tackled him around the waist.

"You did it hyung!" Jongup said excitedly, before he realized his actions and detached himself from Himchan's waist. An even blush spread over his cheeks, and he laughed shyly, scratching his neck.

Himchan picked the toy up from the chute, and he looked to Daehyun, a blank expression on his face.

"Yeah well I guess you win," Daehyun said coldly, cocking his head to the side. "For this game, at least."

Himchan gave him a sympathetic and strained smile as he clapped Daehyun on the arm, feeling a bit sorry for the younger. Daehyun brushed off his arm, shaking his head.

"That was still just one out of five, anyway."

"Yes, it was," Himchan laughed, not at all bothered at how cold Daehyun was treating him. Well, he did have a right to be cold towards him. He passed the hedgehog toy to Jongup, who took it shyly, his face a bright red. "But if you will excuse us now, I think we are done for the day."

Before Daehyun could say anything else, Himchan slipped Jongup's hand into his, turning on his heel and dragging Jongup along. Jongup hurried to catch up with Himchan, turning to try and throw Daehyun an apologetic glance, but saw that the male was glaring at the toy crane machine, too deep in his thoughts to notice. So fast was Jongup walking that he did not realize the handkerchief he brought had fallen out of his pocket.

-----

They were sitting in the small cafe at the back of the arcade, and after insisting that he should pay because Himchan already did for their previous 'date', Jongup was queuing to buy sandwiches for him and Himchan. He should be feeling depressed at the fact that Daehyun had just appeared and ruined his day for him, but he didn't. He was relieved that he didn't make a fool of himself, and that now, at least they were going to spend some time together. He quickly ordered the sandwiches and some canned drinks, and smiled as the handsome cashier - gummy smile and all, passed him his order.

Himchan gave him a small smile as he sat down at the table again, and he blushed, patting the hedgehog soft toy before turning to look at Himchan.

"Did you have fun today?" Himchan asked, and Jongup nodded, smiling.

"Are you sure? It was like I was on a date with Daehyun instead of you," Himchan pressed, and Jongup laughed at the thought.

"No, I didn't mind at all, it was nice watching you guys play," he assured Himchan, who grinned, satisfied. Jongup stared at his sandwich, feeling light headed after the whole day. Now being alone with Himchan - well, not really alone because it was a public cafe - he felt self-conscious and hesitant.

"Jongup."

Jongup looked up, and blushed when he noticed that Himchan was leaning forward.

"Can I kiss you?"

Jongup felt his brain freeze as those words slipped from Himchan's mouth and he stiffened, his heart rate picking up. Blood was rushing to his ears and his mouth opened and closed, unsure of what to think.

Kiss...Himchan?

Himchan stared at him for a few seconds before leaning back in his seat, smiling. "It's okay if you don't-"

"Yes."

That word came out before he could stop himself, and he felt himself gulp. Himchan looked at him, surprised, but he nodded despite himself. He had no experience whatsoever, and he just realized that this was a public place, with people all around...he in a breath and felt his eyes flutter shut as Himchan leaned forward again, pressing his lips against Jongup's in a small, chaste kiss.

Jongup felt his heart near explode from the mere contact and he felt his face heat up, his nails digging into his own palm hardly. His eyes were squeezed shut and he dared not breathe, feeling Himchan's lips against his. He felt himself floating to the clouds above and...

And...it was over?

Jongup's eyes flew open as Himchan settled in his seat seconds after the kiss. There was this sinking feeling in Jongup's stomach that he could not place at the moment, but he felt himself blush  again as he made eye contact with Himchan, his fingers flying up to his lips as they tingled from just now. He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed at how short that was, how it took place in such a non-private place, but he forced that feeling away.

His first kiss...with Himchan.

-----

"Daehyun."

One shot in.

"Daehyun."

Another shot in.

"Daehyun!"

Three shots, and he wins the game - confetti falls, streamers are flying across the courtyard, and he gets hugged around the waist by his prize, his treasure -

"What?!" Daehyun complained as he was hit over the head by a basketball - courtesy of Choi Minho. He whined pathetically as Minho forced the can of beer out of his hands, sulkily pouting at his friend, who was shaking his head as he walked to the edge of the court to pour the contents into grass field.

"You have had way too much to drink mister." He said sternly, and Daehyun hiccupped, slumping onto the ground and resting his head onto the cool surface of the basketball pole. He felt his breath come out in short gasps and he lurched over to the side, emptying his stomach of all the contents he drank just now into the grass. Playing basketball while getting drunk was such a great idea.

"Ugh, get a hold of yourself man." Minho blanched at the sight, draping a dry towel over Daehyun's head after he finished. Daehyun, feeling slightly sober as he wiped his mouth clean, nodded his head to show his thanks. He sighed as he shifted away from his pile of goo, smiling weakly. Minho took a seat next to Daehyun and they sat in silence, listening to the calm creaking of the crickets. Little insects that didn’t have a care in the world, how lucky.

Daehyun breathed in deep breaths as they stared at the half-moon hanging in the sky. It was night and all dark save for the light from the lamp posts and the moon. Minho glanced at Daehyun, who had his eyes closed.

"So..."

"Hmm?"

"That kid, the one that bumped into me the other day..."

"Do you think he likes me?"

"I think he loves you."

Daehyun chuckled, bro- Minho. "And this, Minho, is why you are my favourite person."

Minho laughed and passed a water bottle to Daehyun, which he gratefully took. He fished out the handkerchief that Jongup dropped a few hours ago at the arcade, and sighed.

"Sadly, I think you are wrong Minho...so wrong."

[A/N]: I am sorry it took so long ;__; was having writer's block and a huge case of uninspiration OTL but look at what I finished ^^ [here]