Jongin’s jaw dropped.

He was astounded.

‘Did she confess to you?’

The words really had  come out of Luhan’s mouth.

‘H-how, how did you…’ The words chocked out of Jongin while his brain tried to grasp what it was Luhan knew and didn’t know about the situation.

Luhan leant back in his chair. Jongin’s expression and exasperated words were enough to confirm what he had overheard all those weeks ago.

You really had had Jongin on your mind…but then again not anymore.

But… were you ever on Jongin’s mind?

‘And do you-‘

‘-You used up your question.’ Jongin stuttered still gobsmacked. He tried to hold in the surprise, masking it with a sheet of appeasement.

Luhan held back his tongue in irritation he clicked it against the roof of his mouth.

Jongin looked down at his fingers, trying to buy some time before he spoke;

‘How would you feel…if I confessed to her?’ Jongin rubbed his hands together, disconnecting himself from the words he spoke. He’d never confess, he didn’t feel that way about you. You were his friend.

Just a friend.

Luhan’s jaw clenched hard, his nostrils flared.

Before the boy even spoke, Jongin got the answer he was looking for.

And his stomach dropped.

‘Let’s just say I’m glad you didn’t.’ Luhan firmly replied, folding his arms and watching Jongin intensely.

Jongin felt a twinge of guilt and annoyance, ego began to slither into the crevices of his mind;

‘Because she’d pick me.’ He stated, a grin emerging on his lips. Luhan narrowed his eyes;

‘There’s no way she would now after that.’ He challenged unblinking.

Jongin’s body clenched tightly into the couch, but his mouth had run off;

‘Says who?’ He dared Luhan to reply.

‘Says me, and I bet you she’d say the same.’

 There was far more in Luhan’s eyes. Far more he wanted to say, but he bit back his tongue. Nevertheless, Jongin saw it completely. It was what Jongin had known too – You didn’t deserve her then, and you certainly don’t deserve her now.

‘And you think she’d pick you?’ Jongin hissed through clenched teeth. Luhan gulped harshly. Jongin interpreted it as challenge and fire behind his eyes.

‘There’s no point anyway. It wouldn’t work. It would never work. This is show business. The lines should never cross. It’ll hurt you and her in the end.’ Jongin said, reinstating the firm belief he had had from the start, at the beginning of the mess he’d fallen into.

Luhan stared back grittily, digesting the words Jongin spoke.

Jongin was right in some ways. It was logical, it was fair. And yet it wasn’t fair, it was cruel. So that was why Jongin had rejected you.

It angered Luhan, it irritated him no end.

….‘I wouldn’t have it in myself to hurt you.’…

He had hurt you. Jongin had willingly hurt you. It was selfish…

But what Luhan wanted, was it too, a selfish idea? Luhan wanted to be selfish, but he didn’t want to hurt you, ever.

But then again.

.

‘There’s still hope.’ – The words Minseok spoke echoed in Luhan’s mind. He thought of his friend and grew braver;

‘There’s still hope.’ He whispered, his hand clenched over his knee tightly in assurance.

Jongin rolled his eyes in disbelief.

Childish.

Selfish.

...hopeful…

He turned to the side, unable to look Luhan in the eye.

Brave.

Far braver than I was.

‘I won’t let you have her.’

Jongin had almost said those words, but he pursed his lips together.

Coward.

He pursed his lips together, unable to say another word as the hairdresser and stylist assigned to Jongin came in to finish his look.

The boys fell silent.

But Jongin’s brain buzzed with thoughts he wished he could switch off.

=================

Taemin stood patiently while you evidently freaked out just a tad;

‘T-Taemin? You’re in Maxstep?’ You chocked out involuntarily.

‘Yes I am. I didn’t know you’d be here though.’ He replied with a raised eyebrow. Taemin tucked a hand in his pocket and leaned on his hip. He looked breath taking.

‘I’m guessing you know I’m one of Exo’s managers.’ You stated, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear to give you something to do.

‘Yes I figured from the party. How have you been? It’s good to see you smiling.’ You couldn’t help but mimic the infectious grin planted on Taemin’s lips.

Your eyes flicked over to Jongin who stood across the room. His eyes were fixated on Taemin for some odd reason, but the moment his eyes met yours, he looked away, acting busy. You almost forgot Luhan was not too far off behind you.

‘Uh, good thanks. I’ve actually been in China, managing M for a bit.’ You answered, tilting your head, mimicking Taemin’s gesture involuntarily. He looked far too perfect, and yet so strikingly similar to Jongin in some weird way. It was as if the universe was trying to tell you something you just weren’t willing to listen to.  

‘Wow that’s impressive, you know Chinese as well as Korean?’ Taemin asked, evidently intrigued.

‘Yes-No, well, I’m super rusty.’ You replied sheepishly.

‘Nah, I’m sure you’re better than you know.’ He moved to tap your elbow, but stopped, holding back his hand. Smoothly it turned into a random flick of his wrist before Taemin tucked his hand into his pocket.

‘-Yah Taemin.’ Someone called him from far away. He was busy getting some weird looking squirrel hat placed on his head – Eunhyuk. It was Super Junior’s Eunhyuk.

‘Is that Eunhyuk??’ You asked shocked, letting it go how starstruck you were. 

 ‘I love his dancing! It’s almost as good as….’ The words died in your throat as you held back your tongue.

Taemin looked at you curiously and yet amusedly.

‘I mean, he’s a good dancer.’ You replied, pursing your lips and feeling your cheeks bloom in embarrassment at catching yourself.

‘Would you like to meet him?’

‘M-meet him??? Sure!’ You stuttered in stupid excitement. This was definitely not the time to admire or fangirl. But Super Junior had been somewhat-of legends to you at school. India would die if she knew…

=======

 Luhan couldn’t believe his eyes.

And Judging from Jongin’s expression, neither could he.

Luhan certainly didn’t know about your acquaintance in Taemin. Luhan’s eyes met with Jongin’s, the boy too seemed to say he didn’t know of this chance meeting prior to today.

Luhan closed his eyes, refusing to become someone he was not, to delve into jealousy.

But for goodness sake, he was a male, there was no way he’d let this go.

But what to do? What so say? He eyed Jongin again, attempting to telepathically make him break up this little conversation. But the moment Taemin took you over to – to Eunhyuk, it was too late. It’d cause a scene.

Luhan watched you looking evidently disgruntled. He took out his phone, ready to message Minseok with an angry ranty-text. But he held his phone tightly, stopping himself.

This was fine, he was fine…and you were fine.

You were more than fine.

Even while he watched you from across the room… you were smiling, you were laughing and giggling. Red bloomed all across your cheeks in lovely shades. Even bowing profusely at the Super Junior member, speaking to Taemin who seemed to talk to you so easily…in front of everyone.

He was foreign, and he was a rookie. Luhan hated being outcompeted. He hated feeling less than he already was. The self-consciousness, the stage fright that was exactly what was to be shunned for an idol to have…Luhan experienced it.

And even while his eyes turned to meet Jongin’s who had snapped away from the same spot Luhan was looking at a second ago.

They both understood each other for a moment, regardless of the conversation prior;

Taemin was on another level. And whether it was friendship on his mind, you would fall into it with open arms.  

Luhan turned his gaze back to you.

Did Taemin even know he was staring so much? He didn’t seem to notice anything…but you.

Luhan’s fist clenched around his phone tighter.

Why?

Out of all the people in this company.

The rows and lines of idols and hairdressers and stylists and Shinee fans Taemin had to choose from, why talk to you?

And even though Luhan knew it probably wasn’t anything, Taemin was probably this friendly to everyone…something panged inside him watching you smile at someone other than him.

Luhan tightened his fist around his phone tighter.

============

You turned your head towards Luhan.

And the look on his face instantly overwhelmed you to feel overprotective of him.

He looked deflated.

If this was because of your conversation, there was nothing to worry about.

Luhan, we’re just friends, it’s fine.

If only you could tell him that. But as Taemin’s eye’s bore into yours, a stupid smile twisted through your lips.

This wasn’t you, you weren’t like this.

And while your eyes flicked over to Jongin, it struck a different chord with you.

Jongin looked…

How did Jongin look?

‘Anyway, it’s probably time to start so I won’t keep you from your boys.’ Taemin said merrily, completely unaware of what had occurred behind his back.

You nodded, unable to speak, finding it rather hard to gulp in fact as you took a step back and away from Taemin.

‘You know what, I think this’ll be a fun 2 weeks.’ Taemin replied, he clapped his hands together before bidding you a farewell.

For some weird reason, you didn’t think so.

===================

Exhausted from the travelling, you and Luhan (now forced to share a room) fell asleep instantly.

You’d barely had time to catch up with anyone, but there were plenty of days yet that could be spent talking.

.

Jongin sighed heavily while he scratched his chest under his shirt. He picked up a bottle of coke before walking to his joint room with Kyungsoo.

Unfortunately, that meant passing the living space where Baekhyun eyed him hostiley on the couch.

Jongin took a deep breath in and kept a straight face, walking past the pair as fast as he could without being obvious-

‘Maxstep, huh, when were you going to tell us?’ Baekhyun grunted.

Jongin tried hard not to roll his eyes while Chanyeol’s large eyes darted between both Jongin and Baekhyun continuously while stuffing a packet of chips into his mouth.

 ‘What difference would it hav