It all started when Jungshin about getting another Jung in his life. He wasn't particularly clingy to Jung Yonghwa but, he loved hanging around Jung Yonghwa. Jungshin and Jonghyun had always about his ‘obsession’ about all things Yonghwa – especially after this one interview that he had slipped that he wanted to be reborn with a little bit of Yonghwa in him. He had pointed out that he also wanted Jungshin’s height and Jonghyun’s good looks but, the two won’t hear it. They said that it’s just about 20 percent of what he wanted to be reincarnated as, the rest is just pure Jung Yonghwa.

It wasn’t that he was envious of his hyung, it was more of awed admiration. Navigating through South Korea’s entertainment world is seriously not a joke and he marveled at the sheer skill that the older man has maneuvered them in it.

(If only that skill had translated into his car driving skill, Jung Yonghwa would be perfect, Minhyuk once concluded.)

Now that Yonghwa had successfully converted his variety show wife to a real life lover, he had been spending a considerable less amount of his personal time with them. And as much as he enjoyed the company of his two other band mates, they were just not as fun as hanging out with Yonghwa.

Hence, the Jung joke.

It was that one afternoon that Jungshin and him were perusing the list of attendees for the Golden Disk Awards that Jungshin decided to continue his Jung joke with him.

“Nicole is a Jung, you know,” the tall maknae looked over to him slyly, “it’s a great deal already since she’s a Jung Yong. You’re just a Hwa away from getting your own Jung Yonghwa.”

Minhyuk scrunched up his face, trying not to let Jungshin’s teasing get to him, “Very funny. You should probably worry about your love life first.”

“Hey, I’m not the one in a hurry to marry. You’re the one who keeps on bringing that up interviews anyway – oh, here, Secret is coming, too. I think there’s a Jung there somewhere,” Jungshin typed out the girl band’s name in his phone and a wide grin appeared on his face when he found what he was looking for, “See? Zinger is Jung Hana in real life.”

“Ugh. Get a life, Jungshin.”

“But I have a life! I just want to share some of my happiness in life with you.”

Minhyuk tried to give the youngest the best glare that his lovely face could muster.

“Jung Hana is a good name for a kid, I should take note of this to give to our hyungsoonim,” Jungshin excitedly typed in his phone to remind himself to tell Seohyun the next time he sees her.

“I can’t believe you’re already planning out the names of their babies. What are you? A teenage girl?,” Minhyuk decided that he should really talk to his Yonghwa hyung about getting Jungshin a blind date the very moment his drama shooting finishes.

Jungshin just shrugged his shoulders and continued looking at the list of names on the sheet. They both became quiet for a moment, each lost in their own thought about upcoming schedules and other things before Jungshin excitedly pound his fist on the table.

“I really believe that I am a genius.”

Minhyuk looked on curiously, thinking that Jungshin has gone on another one of his episodes wherein his thoughts jumbled up into an odd concoction of wild imagery. He was already mentally preparing himself for what was to come.

“After some thinking, I came to the conclusion that we’re doing this all wrong,” Jungshin was grinning so wide that Minhyuk was sure that his face would rip in half – just like those Canadians in South Park.

(After that moment, Minhyuk has also decided that he should probably stop watching American cartoons with Yonghwa. Too much weird associations for him.)

“We should’ve gone the easier route the first time I thought about this. We should get your other Jung from your Jung.”

Minhyuk looked at Jungshin with disgust, “I do not go for guys and don’t you dare push me towards Yonghwa hyung’shyung.”

Jungshin stopped for a moment to digest what Minhyuk has said then promptly burst out to peals of laughter as if he just heard the greatest joke in the world.

“What. The. Hell. What gave you that conclusion, pabo,” Jungshin wiped the corner of his eyes, “That’s totally not what I meant. Two words, my dear friend, Jung Soojung.” Jungshin’s smile was smug like he had just delivered the greatest idea in the world.

He took a second to consider what Jungshin has told him then went on to throw the paper he was holding towards themaknae, “how is that easy? From all the times that we saw them, I haven’t even spoken to her. Not even once.”

“See? There’s tension already there. Ooooooh,” Jungshin waved his fingers towards him.

“How are you even coming up with those conclusions?”

“The power of observation and deduction.”

“You are aware that you’re not making any sense whatsoever, right?”

Jungshin looked offended for a bit before continuing on with his grand idea, “I just need to talk to hyung and Seohyun about this. It’s going to be so easy, see, we can already count hyung and Seohyun as one then we’ll just need them to get Jessica noona’s help to connect you to Krystal. Easy-peasy.”

 -

The thing about teasing is that it makes you aware of the person you’re being teased to. Too aware, in fact, in the case of Minhyuk as he can’t seem to shake off the thought of Jung Soojung from his head. It was logical, he argued with himself, that Jungshin would come to the conclusion of pairing him up with somebody just a step closer to them. But, then again, the teasing made everything awkward when there was nothing to be awkward to begin with.

Such is the problem of Minhyuk now when the topic of Krystal is being brought up.

(Damn you, Jungshin and your sudden closeness to Amber, he had once told the maknae. And in turn, Jungshin accepted gleefully and decided to tell Jonghyun about his dastardly plan. And Jonghyun, being Jonghyun, agreed wholeheartedly and incorporated himself in Jungshin’s operation immediately.)

Jungshin and Jonghyun were all over him before their trip to Malaysia when they had found out that F(x) would attend on a different day as them. They had constantly given him words of encouragement up until the time they had landed and then subsequently, offered to drink alcohol with him in his room. Their managers just gave him amused looks and offered to help him tell the CEO about the current situation of his love life which no matter how much he insisted was non-existent; they wouldn’t have any of it.

Yonghwa would just shrug his shoulders and told him that he can do whatever he wants to do. Just make sure that he’s serious about Krystal because, god forbid, Jessica would have his head on a plate. Seo Joohyun notwithstanding.

Jungshin has declared that day that the blond one has spoken and therefore the plan needs to be executed. His only consolation was that Jungshin was given a good smacking on the head by Yonghwa for the blond comment. It was probably nothing but, he’ll take what he can get.

He sighed as he put his things inside his bag. He needed to put his mind in order before they go to SNSD’s dressing room to give their latest CD. He knows that it’s only good manners to do that to a senior group but, he can’t help but wish that Yonghwa would just skip the formality and give the album himself. It wouldn’t do him good to face Jessica at this point when Jungshin has planted the thought of Jessica being his real sister in law.

He knew it was absurd that he was acting that way unless – Minhyuk sat with a start which startled Jungshin and made him fall from the dressing room couch – he was attracted to Krystal to start with. The realization dazed Minhyuk for a moment. It wasn’t entirely wrong since Krystal is definitely a very pretty girl. Who wouldn’t find her attractive?

He shook his head and gave out another long sigh. He concluded that he probably was just confusing himself and letting Jungshin’s delusions get the better of him.

“Hey, you okay there, buddy?” He felt Jonghyun sit down beside him, “You seem so busy in your head.”

Minhyuk turned towards Jonghyun, noting the genuine concern in the other’s face, “Yeah. Just thinking about… things,” he finished lamely.

“Jung Soojung.”

He stopped what he was doing and turned fully towards Jonghyun, “What?”

Jonghyun smiled as he leaned back on the couch, “Jung Soojung,” he repeated, “you should stop letting Jungshin get into your head sometimes. You look so affected ever since he brought up that you should be dating Sica noona’s sister.”

“I am not affected at all. Where did you get that idea?”

“We’ve been trying to call you for a while now. Yonghwa hyung and Jungshin has been in SNSD’s dressing room for the past 20 minutes and here you are, taking out things from your bag and putting them back in again. If I had my way, I’d take you to a psychologist right now. We should do something about your compulsion when you’re thinking.”

Minhyuk opened his backpack and true enough, the contents are placed perfectly by weight and frequency of usage. It wasn’t that he was really obsessive compulsive, it was just he liked things in order and Jungshin messing up his mind was just an added burden of things to think about.

Jonghyun patted his shoulder as he stood up, “If you like her, just go for her. If you don’t, who says that you have to force yourself.” He paused on the doorway and turned towards Minhyuk, “Krystal seems to be a nice girl, though. Pretty, too. It wouldn’t hurt if you just go with the flow and humor Jungshin’s idea. His idea might turn out to be the best idea he ever made.” And with that, he stepped out the dressing room.

Minhyuk sat still, trying to digest what Jonghyun said to him.

-

The moment he stepped inside SNSD’s dressing room, he immediately regretted his decision of following his band mates there. The source of his exhausting thoughts sat in the middle of the room, flipping through the photo book of their album and, he could see Jungshin teasing grin from the corner of his eyes.

Surprisingly, Jessica was the first one to approach him, leading him to sit on the couch. Next to Krystal. He fought not to fidget and throw the album he was holding towards Jungshin, who was pretending not to see him and was focusing his attention to what Amber and Hyoyeon was saying.

“Are you okay?”

Minhyuk jolted out of his thoughts and turned to the sisters who were looking at him worriedly. He wasn’t quite sure who asked him the question.

“Ah. Yes.” Then, he remembered the album in his hand, “Here, I came to give a copy.” He handed the object to Jessica who, in turn, handed it to Krystal.

“I think we have enough of your albums to play in the dorm. Is it okay if I just give Krystal this one? So F(x) can have a copy,” Jessica leaned close to him and added in a whisper, “and so we can have one in our house, too. The girls sometimes are selfish with the albums we get especially, if they’re good.”

“Uh. Sure, no problem,” he glanced at Krystal, whose face broke into a huge grin.

“Score. Thanks,” Krystal smiled at him and put down the other album down on the table hastily and opened the one Minhyuk gave before frowning and turning towards him again, “There’s no dedication. Or even a signature.”

Minhyuk was sure that he looked obviously dumbstruck at that moment but, before he can answer, Krystal has already stood up and was marching towards Yonghwa.

“Yah, Yonghwa oppa, stop molesting Joohyun unnie for a second and sign my copy,” he can hear her say. And for a while, he sat there, amazed at the easy way Krystal just weaves herself in the crowd.

“I’ve heard that you’ve been thinking about my sister,” Jessica’s voice cut through his thoughts. He turned to her, surprised with the revelation. Damn that Jungshin, he doesn’t waste any time, does he?

“It’s not like that, noona. Jungshin just had this stupid idea and you shouldn’t really pay attention to that. I’m not thinking about Krystal-ssi at all. I mean, I wasn’t thinking about her that way. Or any way that you’re thinking about,” Minhyuk cannot stop the words from coming out of his mouth which was cut by Jessica’s laughter.

“You and Joohyun, you’re very much alike. When cornered, you tend to rap your way out of the situation and you just go around in circles without realizing it,” Jessica’s smile turned kind, probably sensing how flustered he was, “it was Amber who told me. Curious thing, that sudden friendship between Jungshin and Amber. Anyway, I figured out that it wasn’t your idea at all the moment I saw those two,” she gestured towards the odd couple, “started snickering when you came in.”

Minhyuk hung his head, embarrassed, “Sorry, just never mind them. They just know how to make things awkward.”

Jessica laughed again, “Who says it’s awkward? You can take her out for coffee, if you want. You can find out for yourself if you can actually like her before rejecting the idea of actually liking her. Don’t worry, we Jungs don’t bite. Though I’m not so sure about Yonghwa but, then again, he’s not from our part of the family tree.”

“You think it’s a good idea?”

“Well, it’s not a bad idea and I see that you’re not decidedly against the idea, either. Soojung’s grown up already, after all, and she needs to go out and meet more people. If you find out that you don’t like her that way, you have at least gained yourself a new friend. And she has gained herself a new friend, too.”

Minhyuk smiled for the first time since stepping inside the room. Sometimes, he wished people would just stop and really get to know Jessica Jung. She’s probably one of the warmest people he knows, quite the stark contrast from the ice princess moniker that she has been given. She tapped his shoulder before leaving him to join Yoona and Sooyoung at one corner of the room.

Left on his own, he let his eyes follow Krystal as she went about the room, talking to the Girls’ Generation noonas and bullying his hyungs and Jungshin for a dedication in her copy of their album.

“Ya, Jung Soojung, you know that you can’t aegyo blackmail me to write whatever you want. I am writing a dedication to you, not a guarantee to give you something that costs, what?” Minhyuk heard Yonghwa complain.

“170,000 won, oppa. Seriously, you give Joohyun unnie gifts all the time, how hard would it be to give your lovelydongsaeng a small gift?” He saw Krystal roll her eyes before giving the full pout-wiggle-smile aegyo combo. He wondered if he would be able to survive it if it was directed to him.

“My lovely dongsaeng, that is because Joohyun will be on my Jung register. You’re not, we just share the same surname.”

Minhyuk turned his head towards Jungshin when he heard him snicker loudly. Really, when would that idiot learn the proper meaning of discretion, he was about to give a glare in Jungshin’s direction before he was interrupted by Krystal plopping down on the couch beside him.

She smiled at him before handing the album towards him, “Your turn. Yonghwa oppa is no fun and Jungshin oppa is too busy with Amber and Jonghyun oppa has disappeared to god-knows-where with Taeyeon unnie.”

He took the album and the sharpie and turned to a page where his photo featured. The pen hovered on the page and he realized that he was too much absorbed in observing Krystal that he had no idea what to write for her. If he should take a chance to ask her out for coffee or to just keep it simple and generic.

Krystal leaned over towards him to peek at what he was going to write, Minhyuk swallowed the lump in his throat. He was sure, at that time, that he was just making things complicated for himself. So, the generic one it is.

“Don’t you dare give me the enjoy-our-album-fighting dedication, okay? Better start with, ‘To my friend, Krystal’, add a tilde for effect – what?”

He turned towards her, surprised at her boldness. She had probably forgotten that he was quite older than him but, then again, he was probably the only person in their group who hasn’t interacted at all with her.

“What’s wrong with being friends? Don’t you like to be my friend? Or are you an oppa, should I be calling you oppa?”

With all Junghin’s teasing crammed in his head, Krystal’s harmless comment made the blood race up to his head and he can feel his ears heat up to unbearable levels.

“Ah –,” he began as he tried to control himself

He saw Krystal slap her forehead, “I forgot about it, unnie mentioned that you shared the same birthday as Joohyununnie.”

“– actually, being friends is nice, too.” He smiled at her, trying to keep the fluttering in his stomach at a manageable level. (Which he related to being happy at the ease of how their conversation was flowing.)

Krystal clapped her hand in glee and he felt himself melt a bit. “But we have to keep it between the two of us. They might think that you give me too much freedom or I was being rude and forced you to treat me as a friend.”

He thought about it and felt himself warming to the idea of being close with her, same-aged treatment or not. She was interesting and he was hooked, Jungshin’s idea may not be so bad at all.

“Don’t worry about it,” he smiled the best smile that he had in weeks and began writing, ‘To my dear friend, Soojung– ‘

----
 

Author's Note:

I've been shipping this pair in my head for so long. I've always wanted to see Minhyuk be with a more aggressive girl and Krystal Jung just popped into my head and I thought that they looked good together and I just went crazy about them. Sistar's Bora is another one but, that's a whole new story altogether.

I have weird shipping habits, don't mind me too much.

This was written way before Heirs and you have no idea how happy I am because of it. This is the first crack ship I have that made it out to reality and I seriously, seriously love it. Dreams come true, just believe in it. Or pray hard to drama gods, whatever floats your boat ship (pun not intended).