Work Text:
Joshua enters one of the company’s smallest conference rooms, coffee in one hand while the other pushes the door. He sure loves his job, but the annoying early morning last minute meetings are definitely not his favorite.
He finds two of his managers there, a few other staff members, and their vice president. With the VP present, it could only mean really good or really bad news. Either way, it’s probably very important.
He’s only experienced these kinds of meetings thrice in his career; first for his debut single, second his first live performance for an outdoor event (which everyone was excited for because it was his first gig), and recently for a charity concert he was invited to be a part of. It’s been a few months since then, so needless to say this is kind of exciting for an artist like him with only a year worth of exposure since debut.
As soon as he sits, their vice president speaks. “So Joshua, you’ve been doing pretty good lately,” and it was true, Joshua thinks. The past few weeks have been hectic, a bunch of shooting for his new upcoming mini album which was scheduled to be released in a month. Other than that, his latest title track suddenly gained views out of the blue, and his Instagram followers blew up, pressuring him into posting more content.
“We figured, why not end the year with a bang?” Oh, a short online concert? Maybe on Vlive? Instagram would be good as well, with how much followers he now has.
“Soribada invited us– you, to perform for their annual year end awards show, and we said yes,” he finally said and Joshua swiftly stood up straight with his mouth open, his chair almost toppling over as he looked around the room to see all the staff member’s wide grins aimed at him. Okay, Soribada was big. Well, not big big like MAMA, but still huge.
He soon realises that his mouth was still open, so he forcefully closed it with his hand, earning booming laugher from the people in the room.
“What?” was all he could say before he sat down as a smile slowly forms on his face.
One of his managers chuckle before saying his congratulations, his smiling eyes being mimicked by Joshua himself.
“Well... look,” the vice president’s voice comes up again when the room suddenly filled with short conversations between the staff, while Joshua opts to stare at the table. “You won’t be performing one of your songs, you’ll be singing a cover... with Jeonghan,” he finishes with a smile, which the rest of the staff copied as well.
Joshua looked at everyone with a confused expression, not because of the collaboration (he was expecting it since he was a very small artist), but because of who he was singing with.
“Who’s Jeonghan?” he immediately asked, because who was Jeonghan? He swears he hasn’t heard of the name, even raking his brain for any distant memory of a Jeonghan, to no avail.
“You don’t know Jeonghan?”
“Not even a little bit?”
“Wow, he really doesn’t go online much huh?”
His managers and staff members said in chorus, and he just looks at the vice president, asking for a hint.
“Jeonghan, Yoon Jeonghan. Doesn’t ring a bell?” Joshua shook his head to say no. “W Korea? Cosmopolitan?” Still a no.
Joshua then spends the next few minutes being briefed of Yoon Jeonghan’s existence. He’s been in the industry for more than a year, having released pop ballad songs and one ost. Apparently, he went viral last year from his solo shoot with W Korea, and last month he had another shoot with Cosmopolitan and people supposedly also very much loved that one.
Joshua also learned that he’ll be meeting the guy tomorrow, and to say he was intimidated is an understatement. He’s been shown some of Jeonghan’s pictures and the dude was mad pretty. And Joshua is usually scared of very good looking people.
He expected Jeonghan to be there on the studio early, probably someone who would show up in glasses while wearing a Chanel jacket and carrying a Starbucks cup, the coffee probably a complex order with various add ins. He definitely did not think that he would be arriving to the studio on time only to be met with their studio manager, and... an empty room.
Of course, they can’t start with anything because they need Jeonghan there. Fifteen minutes later they still haven’t made any progress because there was no Jeonghan in sight. The studio manager seems to not mind though, as if he already knew this was gonna happen. It would make sense, since Joshua heard that he worked with Jeonghan on a song before.
So, he’s one of those, huh? Joshua thinks. Probably those that make people wait since they feel too important and all that.
Jeonghan finally arrives after five more minutes, and the other thing Joshua expects goes down the drain as his mental image of posh rich looking Jeonghan was replaced with a brown haired man in a light blue tracksuit. And no, no coffee, but a bottle of banana milk.
Jeonghan bows and takes off his mask as he enters with his manager, then approaches the studio manager with his arms wide open. “Woozi-ssi! I missed youuu,” Jeonghan said as he tried to hug Jihoon– Woozi, to which he failed as the other blocked him from where he sat.
He backed away with a pout then walked to where Joshua sat on the couch. “Hey! Joshua, right? Yoon Jeonghan,” he exclaimed, his hand reaching out for Joshua to take.
“Hong Joshua,” he gave in and shook the offered hand. He still can’t tell what kind of person Jeonghan is, but for what he can tell now, probably someone Joshua thinks is too energetic and friendly for him.
On their next meeting, in which they would already try to record vocals for the backing track of the song they chose (In My Room by Yun Ddan Ddan, the first thing Jeonghan suggested because he said he listened to it on the way to the studio, and they just decided to go with it), Jeonghan wasn’t late, but rather he sleeps. One minute Jeonghan was talking with Woozi and his own manager, the next Joshua sees the other sleeping while it was his turn to record.
It’s not that Joshua thinks it’s not okay for a human being to sleep, but it’s just that they were working... and Joshua was very serious and hands-on when working, unlike the laid-back Jeonghan who was peacefully resting on the couch as if they weren’t going to perform in front of thousands of people soon.
“The both of you want to come have dinner?” Jeonghan asks later on as they all prepare to leave the studio, the question directed at Joshua and his manager. Joshua’s manager declines, saying that there’s more work at the office, and proceeds to insist that Joshua should go. He was supposed to say no, but since he was very hungry at the moment, his stomach spoke for himself rather than his brain. Besides, he also figures that this might be a chance for him to actually like Jeonghan, giving Jeonghan a chance to get himself out of Joshua’s unlikeables list.
And well, no, it got worse, because Jeonghan slurps his noodles like it was the end of the world. Joshua wonders how his manager looks like he doesn’t mind at all, calmly scrolling through his phone as Jeonghan eats.
In all honesty though, Joshua has to admit that it wasn’t that bad, and he had heard worse noodle eating sounds, but he guesses everything has pilled up and his essay of reasons why Jeonghan irritates me is getting way longer.
Joshua wonders when his suffering will end, hoping for their performance to come closer to finally stop his misery.
A new day of work, a new day of dealing with Yoon Jeonghan. Joshua wonders what the older’s bringing to the table now.
Today was their stage rehearsal; a full five hours worth of working with the whole set up, following the arrangement of artists, dealing with music tech and lights, and so on. They both were one of the earlier performances of the event so they arrived at the venue quite early, and by quite early they had to arrive at six. Again, definitely not Joshua’s forte.
Joshua was the one who was late today, and he joined Jeonghan on the private van with a frown on his face. “Sorry to keep you all waiting,” he apologized with a bow before he sits down and rests his head on the heavily tinted window.
“Nah, it’s okay. I also slept here in the car,” Jeonghan said comfortingly, his soft voice almost lulling Joshua back to sleep. Maybe today Jeonghan wasn’t going to be irritating after all.
Further evidence to support this claim happened when they arrived and Jeonghan was the one to shake Joshua awake. Normally whenever Joshua’s woken up by his staff he becomes all grumpy, but hearing Jeonghan’s 'hello, wake up' was kind of like hearing an angelic creature call you in the middle of a magical glowing forest.
Joshua soon remembers but wait, I’m supposed to hate him and a flashback of Jeonghan’s snoring back at the studio floods his mind, so he immediately goes back to his apathetic attitude towards Jeonghan.
“You ready?” Jeonghan asks him and no, hell no Joshua was not. Jeonghan may have not done this before, but today he looks hyped up and excited while Joshua was sitting in the corner of their waiting room, hugging a hairbrush close to his chest as he practiced his vocals. Jeonghan was just standing in the middle of the room and listening to their cover from his phone’s speaker, even swaying to the rhythm of the song. Life is so unfair, Joshua thinks. Now he’s irritated that Jeonghan can handle pressure well, while he feels like he’s about to poop and vomit, at the same time.
Soon though, they go up stage and sit on their respective bedazzled chairs (which Joshua honestly thinks doesn’t fit the concept and their white modern prom-esque suits) while the lights were out and the MCs introduce them. There was a cheer and the main lights were suddenly on, as well as the smoke machine and the LED candles on the stage floor. From then on, Joshua completely changed, transforming into the artist he is, pouring his heart out for the world to hear.
It goes well, very well actually. Everything they practiced was executed perfectly, with additional impromptu parts of eye contact and audience waving.
Also, Joshua hates to admit it, but Jeonghan really did good. He could see why all the girls (and guys, basically everyone) like him. Not only visuals, but pure effortless talent.
When all was done and they stepped down, they were welcomed by their staff backstage. They all cheered and laughed and some staff members even cried but Joshua can’t focus with how much people were crowding them to say their congratulations. Jeonghan then hugs him and pats his back, a bit too violently Joshua thinks, before he reciprocates the hug. The older pulls away and grins, then hugs him again.
“Good job, good job!” Jeonghan screams amidst all the other voices around them after he finally backs away.
“You too, you too!” Joshua replies, grinning back as he thinks that this might be the last time they work together, and figures that Jeonghan deserves a big smile from him.
A week later, another one of those big meetings happen. Joshua liked all the good news really, but he now knows he needs to beg the company to hold these meetings at least after breakfast, not while the sun was still not at its full potential.
“Everyone liked it! You’re still trending!” was the first thing he heard from one of their advertising staff as he stepped inside. He knew that they’ve trended as soon as the performance finished, the original artist even commended them, and the views skyrocketed when it was released on Youtube. But what he didn’t know now was how they’re trending until today.
“Until today?” he voices out.
“Yes!” one of the managers excitedly say, then gestures for him to sit down.
“The public loved your energy and connection; how you’re voices sound really good together, all the eye contact, the song and emotion, all that,” the vice president said like a proud father then continues.
“So, since the both of you work so well, we were thinking...” and oh no, Joshua already knows what’s about to come. He’s already too lost on his own thoughts of how he would have to deal with Jeonghan again that he misses out on seventy percent of what his boss was saying.
“... plus, your comeba– Joshua? You listening?”
“Wait, sorry, again?” Joshua says with a yawn, masking his few seconds of blackout with feign drowsiness. In fact, now he was completely awake with dread.
“You and Jeonghan should collaborate on a song! The both of you could really use this as a way to become more known to the general public. And besides, it’s also good pre-promotions for your comeback soon.”
It does make sense though, and would be good building blocks for both of their budding careers, but well... Joshua thinks that the price he has to pay for his successful artist life would be his patience and sanity as he, yet again, faces Yoon Jeonghan.
“Should we make it ‘Falling for U’? Like, the letter U?” Jeonghan immediately says and both Joshua and Woozi look at him.
“Why?” Joshua asks.
“Because it’s cute, and unique,” Jeonghan says with passion, and Woozi nods his head, considering the idea.
No, it’s for when you’re too lazy to type the full word ‘you’ when texting, Joshua thinks.
“Hmm, well yeah. ‘Falling for you’ is just another title. We can change it up,” Woozi replies after much thought and types it down on his computer. “What do you think, Joshua?” Woozi adds as he looks up to meet Joshua’s eyes.
“Yeah, let’s go for it,” and sure why not, because ever since Jeonghan appeared his likes and views increased, making Jeonghan his personal annoying lucky charm. So now he just mentally complains but considers everything Jeonghan had to say. After all, this was for the both of them.
As time passed by of working with Jeonghan, Joshua’s pleased of himself for having survived this far, to the point that they can now go out and he doesn’t feel too bad about it. Jeonghan’s a decent human being; cheery, comfy, and sleepy, as Joshua would like to describe. He also got to learn more about the other, some really interesting facts that Joshua couldn’t have known from first sight. Like the fact that Jeonghan has a self-curated mini lego museum on the corner of his room (Jeonghan showed him by sending pictures, he was pretty proud of it), to how Jeonghan can hold his alcohol really well (Joshua found out the hard way when Jeonghan brought too much beer to the studio, which ended up with Joshua losing his dinner on the toilet bowl).
When they finally revealed the teasers and on hearing the loud excitement that people expressed on the internet, he got excited. Although they were only releasing a digital single, with no music video (except for a lyric video) and physical merchandise, it was still received so well. He’s never felt this much support since he first started releasing his covers years ago, and it felt nice to be able to express himself through music and for people to enjoy and gain energy from it.
Jeonghan was equally excited, even texting Joshua non-stop a few hours before the song was finally uploaded. Really, who is this guy? Everyday Jeonghan does something new it’s really irritatingly amusing.
Absentmindedly, Joshua taps the call button, thinking how annoying Jeonghan was with flooding his notifications.
“Why didn’t you just call?” Joshua says as soon as the older picks up.
“I figured you would get irritated with the notifications,” Jeonghan said with a chuckle and of course, Yoon Jeonghan.
They both waited, talking to each other as the hours turned to minutes, then finally to seconds.
“Okay, three... two... one,” Jeonghan counts for them, then Joshua refreshes his laptop. There it is.
He wasn’t one of the first ones there though since as soon as he opens the video he immediately sees all the comments.
PLS this is so cute
damn jeonghan has so much voice control
josHUA STARTS THE SONG IM GONNA CRY
the chorus thooo hear that blend???
He smiles to himself, then smiles at his phone, Jeonghan still on the other line. He could hear the other listening as well, chuckling to himself every few seconds, probably also reading the comments.
“You did very well, Joshua,” Jeonghan says, all serious.
“Says you! All the comments I’m reading are about you,” Joshua replies, keeping the tone light. He was definitely not used to Jeonghan being sincere like that.
“Well, all the ones I’m reading now are about you.” then in comes that small laugh, and Joshua can imagine Jeonghan’s nose scrunching up and his eyes disappearing. “But, I’m very serious right now and this is very rare by the way, but– yeah. Thanks, Joshua.”
Joshua felt warm on the inside, and he grinned to himself.
“No, thank you Yoon Jeonghan.”
As usual, the schedules came in fast; some of them separate, but most of them together. They even filmed two live performances, because apparently one wasn’t enough for everyone.
They also did an Instagram live, and people entered the live so quickly that the minute Joshua started it they already had five hundred people with them, very much different from Joshua’s usual lives back then with seven hundred at most after thirty minutes.
Then more comments came up, all of which were ecstatic and full of congratulations, as well as the constant screaming of various fans in the form of keyboard smashing.
With now more than four thousand people after an hour, Jeonghan became so annoying again and started to forcefully make Joshua do aegyo. Really, this day was becoming one of the top candidates for worst day ever.
When Jeonghan finally stopped and started fiddling with the laptop to choose a song, Joshua started paying attention to the comments again, and wished he hadn’t.
oh my god, now kiss
LOL SO MARRIED
please be in joshua’s bedroom rn
i can feel the sexual tension guys
As much as Joshua claims himself to be a colorful bisexual dude and is very much not shy about it (but is private about it), these comments left him a bit too... uneasy?
Jeonghan sensed how he tensed up while reading some comments, and immediately became savior of the day as he started asking for everyone to send them questions so they can try the balance game before they leave in a few. Joshua snaps back up from reading and smiles to the camera, then back at Jeonghan to say a silent thanks.
“You okay?” was the first thing Jeonghan says as he answers the call. They didn’t have enough time to talk earlier after the live since Jeonghan was practically pulled out of the studio as soon as they finished, promising to call Joshua later after his schedule.
“Yep. Sorry ‘bout that. I kinda left you to keep talking towards the end there.”
“No, it’s fine,” Joshua can hear the wind on the other end, which means that Jeonghan was probably outside for a walk, or he just rolled down the windows of the car and is on his way home.
“I saw those comments too...” the older adds after a long pause, a bit hesitant on what else to say.
“Yeah. I know it’s like– normal? But, I just got... suprised, I guess. Especially since I don’t really know what to do and just spaced out,” Joshua says while vividly gesturing with his hands, even though it was a call and Jeonghan won’t see them. “Need to work more on not giving a fuck,” Joshua adds with a genuine laugh.
Jeonghan laughed hard, very amused at Joshua’s choice of words. “I didn’t know you knew what curse words are, and how they’re used.”
“Shut up. Me cursing happens once every leap year, so cherish it.”
“Uhh, this year isn’t even a leap year?” Jeonghan says and Joshua swears there’s probably a smirk on the older’s face.
“Ugh, you get the point,” Joshua replied with the roll of his eyes, but soon followed it with a chuckle.
“Yeah. I know those are weird, huh?” the other continues the topic. “But yeah, we’ll get used to those eventually. Those will probably also die down since some fans would hopefully point out how weird those are to others who do it,” he says in a reassuring tone.
“Besides, It’s not like it’s real anyway...” Jeonghan adds, and well, Joshua felt things he wasn’t really supposed to feel. Maybe he’s a little sad...
No, you’re just being like that because he’s nice to you, Joshua keeps repeating to himself.
“True,” Joshua settles for that simple reply, because, yes, true. “Thank you, again. Really appreciate it.”
“No problem, partner. Anyways, I have to go,” Jeonghan says as Joshua hears the beeping of buttons and a door opening, proving that Jeonghan was really outside. And, partner? Really?
Joshua was on the headlines a week later. This time, it was just his name, no ‘Jeonghan’ connected next to it.
He was supposed to check out the news further when a manager suddenly called, telling him to don’t check his phone and come quickly to their usual conference room, a driver already waiting outside to pick him up.
This time, there were less people. But, the president was there in the flesh.
Now this, he could tell, was the kind of meeting bearing bad news.
They all looked at him calmly, waiting for him to sit down. At that moment all Joshua wanted to do was to run away, even if he knew he definitely did nothing wrong.
“Went online today?” one of his managers asked.
“Uhh, yeah. But, I don’t know what’s going on I wasn’t able to look into it further.”
The president then taps on his tablet, then flips it for them to see. “This spread out hours ago, probably around three in the morning.”
Joshua just continued to stare at the photo. It was of him and one of his staff members, his stylist to be exact, walking on a park somewhere with both their faces covered under a face mask, and Joshua’s hair hidden under a cap.
He remembers the day vividly, it was a few days ago and he just became good friends with his stylist because she helped him with his current fashion adventure of wanting to try new styles. Plus, she was really funny and reminded him of one of his friends back in the states.
He treated her to a simple dinner, their conversation going from the current trend and the colors of the year, to her family and her newly adopted dog. He then felt comfort in having a new friend, knowing full well that being an artist like him could get quite lonely with how much work happens, and less social interactions.
Rethinking it all back, that’s when he realizes oh, everyone now thinks he’s dating a staff member.
The president then swipes, and there are more pictures. Of them having pasta on the small cafe, to them laughing over her album of dog pictures. If these were released around three am, and it’s already ten...
“Are the both of you dating?” the vice president asks sharply. He now horrifyingly imagines how they probably already interrogated his staff friend earlier.
“No. She’s a friend,” he says firmly, showing how true his statement is. He thinks they probably already know, and they just wanted to berate him for his careless act.
“What did we tell you about going out?” the president says, not exactly angry but sounding intimidating.
“I know,” Joshua sighs, admitting to himself that he did have fault in this, with how he just invited her out without thinking too much of what might happen. “I’m sorry. I should’ve been more careful, and informed everyone.”
One of his managers slump down on her seat and look at him straight in the eye. “Remember, you’re growing every day. You can’t be the same person you were months ago,” and it is true. More exposure, less space. He is happy, with himself and how he’s thriving and gaining new experiences and making himself better, but he feels trapped of sorts.
An hour passes by, Joshua being constantly reminded of what he can and can’t do, of all the rules he had to follow. He already knew those starting from when he entered the company, but now they bear more meaning, heavier than how he wanted them to be.
Finally, with a statement scheduled to be released in a few minutes, they finally let him go back to his apartment.
As soon as he locks himself up and lets out a breath he’s been holding, he dumps his body on the bed and scrolls through his phone.
He’s always been curious, and he knows that trait of his is too dangerous. He doesn’t stop though and visits post after post of news articles.
he’s dating a staff? Unprofessional
how can he do this to Jeonghan? Lol jk
and that’s probably why he’s promoted well
joshua king of changing hair colors, dating his stylist, makes sense
They honestly could be worse, but they were still not the best.
From: Jeonghan
stop scrolling thru ur phone
As soon as the notification pops up, he absentmindedly smiles before replying.
To: Jeonghan
Are you spying on me??
What he hears next was his ringtone.
“I can hear your brain gears turning at high speed.”
“Weird,” Joshua says, but appreciates the thought that someone cares.
“So, you’re first ‘dating scandal’... thrilling?” Jeonghan says, saying the most Jeonghan statement that a Jeonghan can say in this situation. He’s just very unpredictable.
Joshua just laughs, thinking that if Jeonghan said this months ago while they’re still getting to know each other, he would’ve slapped the other guy.
“Oh yes, very exciting.”
“Thank you for humoring me with my lame joke,” and Joshua visibly relaxes on his bed, the conversation not too heavy anymore, also with the help of Jeonghan’s voice. “But seriously though, how are you?”
Joshua fidgets with his fingers before he answers. “Yeah, I’m good. Not really worried about anything right now since stuff will be cleared up in a few... But, I think I just lost a friend,” he voices out, thinking about how his stylist probably saw comments aimed at her that weren’t too fun.
“She’ll probably understand you,” Jeonghan replies as reassurance.
“Wait,” Joshua remembers that the statement hasn’t been released yet. “Do you already know that I’m not... dating her?”
“Yeah, you’re manager told me.”
Oh. So, Jeonghan called his manager beforehand?
“And yes, I called you’re manager as soon as I heard. I know you’re not a morning person,” the older instantly provides, answering Joshua’s unsaid question.
“Thanks, for just, being here,” he sighs and pours out how grateful he is with just those words. It isn’t really easy talking about things like these to other people, especially his friends and family at home because they won’t really understand. But with Jeonghan... he knows full well the other understands with how much they’ve been by each other’s sides recently.
“Today’s one of those days when I just wanna quit. But of course I won’t do that. I love music and the fans too much,” Joshua voices his own thoughts, afraid to usually say this out loud because he is very happy of where he is right now, and wouldn’t want to trade this for anything else. But he knows Jeonghan will understand if he just admitted this one as release.
“Well, if you quit then I’ll quit,” and that was a big thing to be said by Jeonghan. Joshua knows Jeonghan may act all chill but he really worked hard to be where he is now. So saying that he’ll quit when Joshua does? It’s a heavy announcement.
“You’ll do pretty well without me, Yoon Jeonghan,” the younger replies in a light manner, but pointedly says it in a way that exclaims you’re not going anywhere, stop saying that.
“Well...,” Jeonghan starts with a low tone. “People get tired of me easily. But you’re so tough you still seem to like me.”
There was a long pause, with Joshua just thinking about what the other said, and Jeonghan mentally constructing his next statement. “Thanks, for sticking around. You’re serious and curious self keeps me grounded; keeps me wanting to do what I’m doing,” the older finally adds.
“Ah trust me, I definitely did not like you at first,” Joshua comes up and why, out of all the nice things he could say his mouth chooses to pour that out.
Jeonghan seemed to be amused though, with how Joshua’s ear was being abused with the sound of Jeonghan’s bubbly laughter.
“But you’re really cool. You’re very caring. You also stop me from being too much for myself,” Joshua manages to quickly continue. “But... the way you eat you’re noodles...”
The conversation then turns into a debate between Jeonghan and Joshua arguing over who eats the worst, from Jeonghan’s enthusiastic noises to Joshua’s small bites and picky orders.
“Let’s quit for a day,” Jeonghan suddenly says, an hour of conversation later.
When Jeonghan said ‘quit for a day,’ Joshua thought a nice coffee on some unknown cafe in the middle of nowhere, and definitely not bungee jumping.
As soon as Joshua stepped out of their van and saw the towering steel structure of death, he looked back at Jeonghan only to see the other laughing at him.
“No. Nooo, nah. You have fun,” Joshua says as he makes his way back to the van. Jeonghan manages to pull him back and he let’s himself be dragged along the grass.
With almost a year of knowing Jeonghan, Joshua is still confused on who Jeonghan really is. One day he’s a pink clad, soft voiced singer, the next he’s a bungee jumping adrenaline junkie.
Of course, Jeonghan makes Joshua go first. As the younger stood up and looked down, he sees Jeonghan’s miniscule figure, holding up his phone and waiting for Joshua’s grand jump.
“Joshua, let’s go!” he hears from Jeonghan before he takes a breath and drops, holding on to the harness at first then letting go, spreading his arms wide and welcoming all that air hitting him as he plunges down.
He felt alive. He can feel his blood rushing and his face stretching as he opened his mouth to scream. From the distance, he can hear Jeonghan’s woohs, causing him to look to the side and see Jeonghan waving his arms in a cheer.
Cute.
“Ah ah, no looking at you’re phone. Remember, we’re just...”
“Yeah, just Joshua and just Jeonghan,” the younger continues for him.
This, is what Joshua was thinking about for their day, sipping wine with a variety of meats, nuts, and cheeses in front of them.
“This is too classy. But I love alcohol so I don’t mind,” Jeonghan says as he sips his wine, then mimicking a wine expert, “Mmm, aged well. The lingering flavor is... mmm,” then he sniff the wine. “And wow, the spice undertones on the scent...”
“Shut up,” Joshua says without anger, smiles then sips from his own glass. Every eat out with Jeonghan was always different. But tonight, Jeonghan seems to be a lot quieter than usual, probably too tired from screaming his lungs out earlier. He gets tired a lot faster compared to Joshua too, and the older always blames it on his age, even though they’re only months apart.
A few more minutes later, with Joshua slowing down his sipping and Jeonghan practically drowning himself in wine and grapes, the older suddenly looks up. “Hey, I feel like you know a lot about me, but I don’t know much about you.”
And it is true, Joshua wasn’t really the talkative type, while Jeonghan says anything that he’s been interested at recently.
“Red or white wine?” Jeonghan challenges, leaning forward towards Joshua and squinting his eyes. Okay, this isn’t too bad.
“I like all types of wine, but I prefer red over white.”
“White or dark chocolate?”
“Hmm, dark.”
Jeonghan visibly grimaces. “Eww, you’re one of those people?”
“What why It’s healthy!”
“It’s still chocolate, Joshua.”
They continue on, questions ranging from plain interrogation, to just straight up unnecessary ones that don’t make sense like drawing a nude self-portrait, or drawing a nude portrait of another person.
“Girls or boys?” Jeonghan asks. Although it was very vague, the implication was obvious. Joshua thinks for a minute and debates on whether he should answer that honestly, but with the way Jeonghan looks at him full of sincerity and curiousness, he figures why not?
“Ah, both,” the younger replies, taking a large swig from his glass. He could see Jeonghan sit back from his peripheral vision as he drinks.
“Really?” was what Joshua heard from the other as soon as he put his drink down.
“Why? You aren’t… cool with that?” he eyes Jeonghan and the older doesn’t seem to be horrified. Jeonghan just looks… slightly ruffled? If that was even the right term for it.
“No! No, definitely not,” Jeonghan smiles warmly, regaining his composure as if he didn’t just blush earlier, then picks up another grape from their charcuterie board.
Soon after, when they’ve already finished everything on the table (including their wine, mostly because of Jeonghan), they went out for a walk before their journey back home, enjoying the little freedom they had on a secluded place far from where everyone else was. Also a good way to cool off, because Joshua can feel his face heat up from all the wine he’s had.
They walk side by side, hands on their own respective pockets and they stroll under the moonlight.
Jeonghan breaks the silence. “Had fun?”
“Yes, very. Never doing that again, but who knows maybe I will, with your unpredictability rubbing off on me.”
The older chuckles to that, nose scrunching up again when he does that specific tone of laugh. Joshua gives in and thinks that it really is cute.
“Glad I’m leaving a nice legacy on this earth,” Jeonghan giggles as he takes his hands out of his pockets and adjusts his bucket hat. Joshua soon copies the movement and pulls his hands out too, letting them sway lazily at his sides as they walk.
Their fingers brush against each other, and Joshua was just about to pull away when Jeonghan comes closer and grabs his hand, lacing their fingers together. Jeonghan acts as if everything was natural and just continues walking, even pointing at one weird looking tree and making a comment on how he wants to own plants soon.
Joshua looks at him with wide eyes, but just lets it slide. This wasn’t the first time Jeonghan had been touchy, with the constant side hugs the older usually initiated. But, well this was holding hands, and they were walking outside in the dark, and everything just feels too domestic and… sweet.
Joshua realizes he’s been rooted to the ground for a bit, so he feels Jeonghan tug at his hand. Joshua’s eyes look at their hands, then up to Jeonghan’s eyes, and he instantly melts. Jeonghan may have looked really pretty on those magazine shoots, and really soft on stage with his velvety voice, but under the scattered street lights, and the glow of the moon on his face, he looked angelic.
Joshua then lets himself be dragged anywhere, as long as the one dragging him was Yoon Jeonghan.
Later on, he also noticed that as the night moves forward, Jeonghan makes moves in the guise of seeking warmth in the cold night, his body coming closer and closer, the older’s hand either holding his, or his arm wrapped around Joshua’s own, clinging on to him as they watch a few birds hopping on the pavement.
They soon stopped by on a bench, Jeonghan complaining that he’s already an old man and he needed a break from walking.
“Jeonghan?”
“Yes?”
They still continue to look at the trees in front of them while not making eye contact.
Joshua decides to look at his side to face the other. As Jeonghan sensed his stare and looked back, the younger immediately swam in the other’s deep brown eyes. Damn. How can he be so lucky that the world (more like the random Soribada staff) chose him to collaborate with the man before him.
Nothing was further said because the look Joshua was giving Jeonghan was enough to close the gap between them.
It started as a light brush, the friction of lips against each other. Unmoving because they were both still shy, and Joshua was constantly thinking wow wow wow this is happening.
Joshua soon gains courage though and pushes back, to which Jeonghan battles with a hand to Joshua’s cheek. Jeonghan was always competitive, and right now Joshua wasn’t complaining.
They pull away a few seconds later, a blush on both of their cheeks, then they started giggling like teenage girls after a good gossip.
“Oh my god,” Joshua says in the middle of their happy noises, then looks around them if anyone was nearby.
“Don’t worry it’s literally almost midnight and we’re in the middle of an almost abandoned town,” the older replies before he swoops down again to claim more kisses.
“Yes, thank you for sharing the story behind one of your b-sides,” the interviewer says and types it down as soon as Joshua finishes his practiced essay regarding his new songs.
The interview was fairly short, and with his comeback promotions coming to a close, ending it with a magazine shoot and interview was a good finale.
“Lastly, your fans were so happy with how you and Yoon Jeonghan were acknowledged more since your activities from the past year. Will there be more collaborations soon?”
“Yes, definitely. I would love to work with him again,” he smiles, thinking about how they were just recording something last night on the studio, and maybe a little more when they were left behind the minute Woozi went out for a few hours.
“In addition, who is Jeonghan to you?”
“Well…”
He’s everything.