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Changbin thinks it's funny how the littlest thing can make the most mundane thing interesting – how noticing one little thing can suddenly change everything.
It starts, as most things do, on an average day. In a library, on a Tuesday afternoon, the weather outside is unremarkable. And Changbin is bored. That’s the most interesting part of the entire situation, really, because he’s usually pretty good at entertaining himself.
He doesn’t normally go to the library to study, he prefers to be in his own dorm room where he can play music out loud or at most in a coffee shop where there’s enough hustle and bustle around him to give him enough distraction from his own thoughts to actually focus on his work. He thrives with a little bit of chaos. But the library is another story. The library is mostly empty and all too quiet with only the occasional page turn or sniffle from across the room.
Changbin had only gone to the library in the first place because Jisung had asked – no, begged – him to come with him because the younger boy hates going anywhere in public alone. Something about it being embarrassing to be on his own. Changbin doesn’t honestly get it but he’s nothing if not a man of principles and one of those happens to be about being a good friend, so he agrees to go with him to study. Which is fine. It’s fine. Changbin doesn’t hate the library. However they haven’t even been there an hour and Jisung has already fallen asleep on his notebook and no matter how hard Changbin tries to wake him, he just won't get up. It would be comical if Changbin weren’t so fucking bored, having already finished all his due work for the week. It’s not like he can just leave Jisung there on his own, his conscience just a little too strong to just abandon him.
If he peruses the nearby isles for a book, it wouldn’t be leaving him as long as he can still see Jisung from where he is, he reasons. Yeah – yeah, and then he’ll at least have something to entertain him for a minute.
It’s then, two isles away from their table, that Changbin sees it – the little thing that turns his world on its axis. Or rather, whom.
Time stops for a few moments the moment Changbin’s eyes land on him. Right there, sitting behind the librarian’s desk, eyes skimming over some fantasy novel, clad in a plain white button-up, is one of the most beautiful men he’s ever had the pleasure of seeing. That doesn’t even feel like an exaggeration, not when Changbin sees the way the man’s black hair falls into his slightly droopy eyes. Not when Changbin traces his eyes over the softness of his cheek and down the gentle edge of his jawline. He’s attractive in a way that almost reminds Changbin of a puppy.
He doesn’t even realize when time starts moving again until said boy shifts in his seat and suddenly they’re making eye contact. Changbin doesn’t panic though, just takes a breath and shoots a wide smile at him. He knows how to be charming, knows he has a dazzling smile, and he’s not above using it to his advantage. In return, he receives a polite smile, a nod of acknowledgment, and then the boy is looking back down at his book.
Then, very carefully, almost robotically, Changbin shoves his hands in his pockets and calmly walks back to his table. Makes sure not to make a fool of himself in case the pretty boy looks back up at him and sees him.
“Jisung.” Changbin hisses into his friend's ear, leaning in close and speaking with a level of urgency he doesn’t use often. “Han Jisung, wake up. We have to go now.”
Jisung jolts awake almost smacking his head into Changbin in the process.
“What?” he blinks around, groggy but still alarmed “What’s wrong?”
“Tell you later.” Changbin says, throwing his bag over his shoulder and motioning for Jisung to put his things away, “But we need to leave immediately.”
Jisung nods, shoving his notebooks and pens into his bag without much care before zipping it up and leaving the book he borrowed on the librarian’s cart on their way out. It’s only when they make it outside does Changbin realize how fast his heart is beating.
++
Minho laughs when he tells his friends the situation. Of course, Minho laughs, which only prompts Chan and Jisung to join.
“You’re not in love, Seo Changbin.” Minho snickers. “You saw this guy for like 10 seconds.”
“No, listen.” Changbin whines, pushing himself forward onto the edge of the couch cushion. “The world stopped when I saw him I swear. I think he’s my soulmate.”
Jisung, also laughing, leans away from him “Man, I wish I had been paying better attention while we were there.”
“You were asleep!” Changbin slumps back, he wishes he had waited for Hyunjin to show up before bringing this up, at least then he’d have someone with a romantic bone in his body on his side, “I tried to wake you multiple times! Rather than paying attention, you should have been studying.”
Jisung just wrinkles his nose defiantly at him in response and Changbin’s tempted to smack him.
“Did you talk to him?” Chan asks, at least trying to mask his amusement with interest. “You can’t claim to be in love with someone without talking to them.”
“Well, no.” he sighs, deflating into the couch even more. “But-”
“No, wait! I bet can guess what happened.” Minho cuts him off, “I bet you stared at him like a starstruck fool and then ran away with your tail between your legs when he noticed you staring.”
“No,” Changbin scoffs “I smiled at him when he noticed me staring, and then I very coolly walked back to wake Jisung up, and then I ran away.”
Chan can’t suppress the laugh that escapes him at that, clapping Changbin on the shoulder as he announces “Well, that’s something to celebrate!”
Changbin groans as they all start clapping. He really, really, wishes Hyunjin were here to back him up.
Maybe luck is on his side because it’s right then said man is walking through the door, immediately looking at him in confusion asking, “Why’re we clapping?”
“Binnie smiled at a cute boy today!” Chan answers, still giggling.
“Oh,” Hyunjin smiles, clapping a few times too “congratulations, hyung.”
“Fuck off.” Changbin snorts, shaking his head “Hyunjinnie, do you believe in love at first sight?”
“Kinda but… not really?” he answers, sitting on the cushion between Jisung and Minho “Why? Do you?”
“Well, I do now.” Changbin grins “You should have seen this guy. His eyes, his nose, his.. his hands. I’m in love.”
Hyunjin blinks, turning to the rest of their friends with a “Is he being serious?”
“So it would seem.” Minho chuckles, “Kinda gross to see him like this, huh?”
“Really gross.” Jisung wrinkles his nose, “Kind of really gross.”
“C’mon guys,” Chan interjects teasingly “Don’t talk about him like he’s not here.”
Changbin whines in the back of his throat, sliding further down the couch with a pout, “Guys.”
“Okay, okay!” Hyunjin raises his hands in surrender, leaning forward in honest interest. Ah, ever the romantic coming through. “What’s he look like? Where’d you see him?”
“He was behind the librarian’s desk, and he looked like,” Changbin pauses rolling his wrist trying to think of a way to describe him other than ‘he looks like the love of my life’ because that sounds insane even to him. Eventually, he lands on “Very boy next door-ish. Kind of nerdy. I don’t know but he was hot and I’m in love.”
“That’s your type, hyung?” Jisung practically curls in on himself as he cackles “Nerdy? You just said nerdy was hot?”
Which earns another loud laugh from Chan. It’s not like this is a new development, they just must not have been paying attention.
Changbin once again has to resist the urge to smack his friends as he scoffs “And what about it?” he has to ignore the way that Minho is whispering something into Hyunjin’s ear conspiratorially in order to jut his chin defiantly at his other two friends.
“It’s just unexpected,” Chan explains breathlessly, shaking his hands “Your type being boy next door when you dress in muscle tees and ripped jeans.”
“I’m going for the bad boy look.” Changbin pouts, “Y’know a lot of people go for that vibe.”
Jisung slaps his thigh in amusement, “A bad boy that still sleeps with a munchlax plushie!”
“Like your one to talk!” He throws a throw pillow, “Mr. ‘I can’t sleep without hugging something’? Pink pig on your bed?”
“I never called myself a bad boy.” The younger snorts.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Chan tries to mediate “If it helps, I think you’re the baddest boy, Binnie.”
Changbin sputters, failing to choke down his own laughter at that point “It doesn’t.” he chuckles, “In fact, that might be the worst thing you’ve ever said to me, hyung.”
“Bin hyung,” Hyunjin calls, waving his hand to get his attention. “I have to go to the library later this week, do you wanna come with me? Maybe you’ll see your man again.”
“Sure, Hyunjin.” Changbin smiles, “That sounds good.”
He doesn’t like the look that Minho has on his face, smirking like he knows something that no one else is privy to – no one except maybe his boyfriend if the look he exchanges with Hyunjin is anything to go by.
Well, Changbin can deal with that later, he supposes.
++
The next time Changbin sees the love of his life, as his friends have so kindly dubbed him, it’s not at the library that Friday like he had planned.
Instead, it’s nearing midnight the next day and Changbin is two hours into his night shift at his job at the 24-hour corner store just off campus. The store is usually pretty empty during the night which gives him a level of freedom to do whatever he wants that he wouldn’t get if he had a day shift. Which, unfortunately, Changbin chooses to use to go over notes for the class he has the next day.
He’s in the middle of highlighting something when the sound of the bell rings throughout the store, signifying a customer just walked in. He’s really not prepared to see the boy from the library, now wearing a gray hoodie and loose-fitting jeans making a beeline for the refrigerators at the back of the store. Changbin really doesn’t mean to stare, really, he doesn’t – but he can’t help but watch the boy glare daggers at the energy drink selection. Something about him is captivating. At least it’s part of Changbin‘s job to watch customers, in case they try to shoplift or whatever.
Eventually, the boy makes his way to the front of the store with an arm full of energy drinks, placing them down carefully at the register, throwing a bag of chips down too as an afterthought. Changbin blinks down at them, he counts 6 drinks. At midnight?
“Wow.” Changbin chuckles before his brain-to-mouth filter can kick in, “Long night ahead of you?”
The boy's lips quirk up into something just short of a smile when Changbin looks back up at him. “I have a paper due at 7am.” He shrugs. He has such a pretty voice – a little nasally, a little bit a lisp, but so pretty. Changbin thinks he can listen to it for hours – forever, even.
“7 in the morning?” Changbin’s jaw drops, “For real?”
“Yeah,” he lets out a breath that sounds almost like a laugh, “And then I have a 9am class.”
“Damn. I do not envy you.” He whistles lowly as he starts scanning the drinks, suddenly glad for his customer service experience making sure he doesn’t panic while having a conversation with the most beautiful person he’s ever seen. “Well, hopefully, you won't have to drink all of these tonight. I’m pretty sure they last forever if you wanna save a few.”
“Oh, I plan on downing all of them in one go.” Is the response he gets, tone seeping with sarcasm. “I want to hear colors by the end of this.”
The comment makes Changbin genuinely laugh, “Even better. I’ve always wondered what orange sounded like.” He chuckles as he finishes bagging everything, making sure to put the chips on top so they don’t get crushed.
The boy finally cracks a grin as he pays. He has braces. Gorgeous – Changbin’s in love.
Changbin wishes him good luck as he leaves and waits a solid two minutes before he whips out his phone to update his friends on this new development, Minho’s early class be damned. They need to know that the love of his life has the voice of an angel and a smile to match. And he’s funny.
++
“Do you think you’ll talk to him if he’s here?” Hyunjin asks him as they make their way through the library doors.
Changbin hums in thought, adjusting his book bag on his shoulder, “If the opportunity presents itself then sure. I’ll try.”
“Good man.” Hyunjin grins, giving him an encouraging pat on the back. “You’re charming enough, I’m sure you can find something to say.”
“Charming enough.” Changbin snorts as they find a table near the edges of the bookcases, a clear view of the librarian's desk, just in case. “Thanks, Hyunjinnie. You sure know how to flatter a man.”
They get settled, Changbin pulls his laptop out to start working on a paper while Hyunjin shuffles through his notes for a minute.
“I need to go up to the desk.” Hyunjin tells him, already standing from his spot “Watch my stuff?”
Changbin leans back in his chair and looks up towards the desk, “You sure you wanna go now? There’s a line.”
“Yeah but I have a book on hold that I need.” Hyunjin shrugs and takes a step.
“I see,” Changbin hums, eyes passing over the line to look at the librarians typing away at computers trying to assist the various students there. And then there he is – Changbin’s hand shoots out to stop Hyunjin from walking up just yet. “Hyunjin!” he whisper screams “Hyunjin that’s him.”
Hyunjin blinks at him and then leans to the side to get a better view of the desk, “Who? The one in the glasses?”
“Yeah, wireframes,” Changbin nods.
A pause and then Hyunjin’s lips quirk up like he’s trying to hold back a laugh before he says “Okay,” and then he’s walking off to get in line without saying anything else.
Changbin’s pretty successful at not staring at the love of his life like a creep. He’s able to keep his head down for the most part, only glancing up a few times to catch the man adjusting his glasses that were slipping down the bridge of his nose. And then Hyunjin texts him the words ‘Hyung, watch’.
So he watches as his friend slips his phone back into his pocket as he saunters over to the man’s computer, tapping a little tune against the countertop separating him. The love of Changbin’s life’s face lights up when he looks up at Hyunjin. Far too much for it to be the politeness of customer service.
Oh, Changbin realizes, oh Hyunjin knows him.
Changbin watches in rapt interest as they interact, as they laugh and as Hyunjin leans across the counter to squeeze the other’s face between his hands – which earns him the cutest nose scrunch Changbin’s ever seen in response. He has to look away at that point for his own sanity.
The thing is, Changbin’s only been friends with Hyunjin for a couple of months, having only met the younger when he started dating Minho. Despite the fact that he and Hyunjin became fast friends almost immediately and Changbin would consider him one of his best friends at that point, he realizes that he hasn’t actually met any of his other friends. So although Changbin knows that Hyunjin has other friends – this is still unexpected.
He’s slumped back in his chair, trying to hide behind his laptop screen by the time Hyunjin comes back. The younger man easily sliding into his seat next to him.
“You know him?!” Changbin hisses, blinking at his friend as he sees a pair of wire frame glasses newly placed on his face, “And you stole his glasses.” He tacks on.
“These don’t have any lenses in them,” Hyunjin answers, closing his eyes and poking them through the holes in the frames. He opens his eyes and shrugs, “He just uses these to look the part of a librarian more.”
“That’s cute.” Changbin snorts, pauses, and then smacks the table between them “Again, You know him?!”
“Oh, yeah,” Hyunjin smiles at him, “He’s my best friend.”
“Fuck,” Changbin groans, covering his face with his hands “That’s embarrassing. I wanna die.”
Hyunjin lets out a loud laugh at that, quickly clapping a hand over his mouth when he remembers where they are. “You want me to tell you about him?”
“Not here.” Changbin shakes his head, he can feel his ears burning. “I think Minho’s class gets out in like ten minutes, you wanna get lunch with him?”
“Okay!”
++
His name is Kim Seungmin, and he’s been Hyunjin’s best friend since they were 15 years old, and they’ve been roommates since they started college.
Seungmin plays baseball and is learning guitar and likes to play stupid pranks like turning the lights off while someone’s trying to shower. He has a really pretty singing voice too, so much so that Hyunjin has taken to sitting in the bathroom while Seungmin showers just to listen to his voice. Hyunjin says he’s the smartest person he knows, but he’s a terrible cook. Changbin sits there and listens to Hyunjin excitedly talk about his friend, the whole time thinking – wow, he sounds wonderful.
By the time Minho joins them at the café Changbin thinks he’s at least ten times more smitten than he already was. This is humiliating.
“Hyung,” Hyunjin giggles, pulling Minho into the seat next to him, “You were right, it’s Seungmin.”
Minho’s eyes widen a little before he bursts into his own laughter, “Oh for real? You’re in love with Kim Seungmin?”
“Apparently!” Changbin whines “I didn’t know you guys even knew him. I’m mortified.”
“I’ve sexiled him enough times to say I know him, sure.” Minho grins, it earns him a light smack on the shoulder from his boyfriend, but it only makes him laugh more. “No, actually this makes sense. I always thought he’d be your type.”
Changbin stares at them in disbelief for a long moment, “You’re terrible.” He tells them.
Hyunjin chuckles, leaning over the table towards him, “Do you want me to set you up with him?”
“No,” Changbin answers immediately. “I feel like this has already gone too far for you to step in now. Besides,” he sighs. “I don’t even know if I’ve got a shot.”
Hyunjin leans even farther without a word and squeezes his bicep, Changbin flexes on impulse.
“You have a chance,” Hyunjin snorts, sitting back in his chair normally. “With your muscle and smile. Trust me, you’re his type too.”
Minho makes a face of disgust at that, “I just learned too much about Seungmin, I think.”
“What? that he likes muscles?” Hyunjin laughs, “I can tell you more about what he likes.”
“Don’t. I don’t wanna know” Minho leans away.
Hyunjin turns back to Changbin then, and teasingly offers out a “Do you wanna know?”
“Thanks, but I’d prefer to continue to function for a while longer.” He snorts. “If I play my cards right I’ll find out myself.”
“That’s the spirit!” Hyunjin grins at him.
++
Changbin doesn’t see the love of his life – Seungmin, he reminds himself – for another week.
This time it’s a Saturday night, at a party someone that Changbin doesn’t know is throwing. Truthfully, he hadn’t originally wanted to go, not because he doesn’t enjoy parties, but because he has work the next day and he’d really rather not go in hungover. But Chan invited him, Jisung gave him those puppy dog eyes, and Minho just told him to stay sober and be their designated driver. And well, he’s not a weak person, but how could he argue with any of that?
So, Changbin finds himself being pulled through the throngs of other party-goers by Minho to meet up with Chan on the other end of the house.
They find him hanging out on the staircase, already talking to Hyunjin and another boy.
“Hey Baby,” Minho grins, sliding his hand around his boyfriend’s waist as a greeting before nodding to the other two in acknowledgment, “Hey Hyung, Yongbok.”
“Hi Hyung!” Hyunjin grins, wrapping an arm around the elder man’s shoulders, “Oh Bin hyung, this my friend my friend, Felix.”
Felix introduces himself with a shockingly deep voice for someone with such a cute face, and the five of them have a nice little conversation until Hyunjin gasps and smack Minho’s chest a little, like he’s just remembered something important.
“I need to talk to you two!” he announces, grabbing Minho and Changbin’s wrists to lead them away, “Follow me.”
“Where are you going?” Felix calls after him, baffled.
Hyunjin turns with this little smirk that should give anyone who sees it pause – he probably picked it up from Minho.
“I’m trying to get Seungmin laid!” is the answer he calls back, just a little too loud.
Changbin hears Felix sputter behind them, followed by a confused but supportive “Good luck?” accompanied by Chan’s laughter.
“How much have you had to drink?” Minho laughs as they find a semi-secluded corner.
“I’m not drunk but I’m not sober.” Hyunjin answers matter-of-factly, “But I have a plan to introduce Binnie hyung to the love of his life.”
“I don’t know if I trust any drunken plans,” Changbin chuckles, raising his brows in protest. “No offense.”
“No, no it’s fine. I came up with it sober.” Hyunjin grins, “Promise.”
“Let’s hear and then decide.” Minho concedes easily, “Okay, Bin?”
Changbin sighs. “Yeah, okay.”
“Seungmin’s in the kitchen.” Hyunjin tells them, “Said he was gonna watch one of our other friends play beer pong. The plan is for me to go in there and act a lot drunker than I am, and then Binnie hyung comes in and I introduce you, then Minho comes and whisks me away.”
The plan is simple. It’s so simple it’s almost stupid, but Hyunjin is sure it’ll work, Minho says it’s worth a shot, and well – Changbin would like to officially meet the love of his life. He relents without a fight.
So, he and Minho watch as Hyunjin downs the rest of whatever is in his cup and strides off towards the Kitchen. Changbin thinks he hears his younger friend yell out a happy-sounding ‘Seungmo!’ almost immediately after he’s out of sight.
Minho chuckles, shaking his head a little “He said to give him a minute.”
“I know.”
“You excited?”
“I think I’m nervous.” Changbin shrugs, “I don’t know.”
Minho hums “I think you’ll get along.”
“We’ll see, I guess.” Changbin smiles, “At the very least if he ends up despising me I could shoot for hate sex.” He’s joking, of course.
Minho laughs, throwing his head back and slapping him on the chest, “Hey! That’s the spirit!”
Changbin wipes his hands on his jeans, suddenly feeling his nerves catching up to him. “Time to go?”
“Yeah.” Minho nods, “Go get your man Binnie.”
“Shut up,” Changbin rolls his eyes but starts walking.
Hyunjin’s playing up his drunkenness. Changbin can tell just from the way he was acting with him and Minho just a moment ago compared to now – hanging off Seungmin’s shoulders and whining and overall making a scene in the empty kitchen. Seungmin looks like he’s torn between being endeared and annoyed, a feeling Changbin knows well from dealing with his own friends.
Changbin doesn’t acknowledge them, just simply going for the cooler with the water bottles and soda cans set on the countertop. He knows to wait for his friend, he knows to pretend like this is the first time he’s seen Hyunjin at this party when he’s addressed.
It only takes a couple of seconds of him rifling through the cooler before he hears Hyunjin gasp, over dramatic but purposeful.
“Binnie hyung!” he hears Hyunjin say, and then not even a second later he has an armful of his friend. “Binnie, Binnie, Changbinnie hyung!”
Changbin blinks, he was expecting some level of acting on Hyunjin’s part, but he was not expecting him to full-on throw himself into him.
“Hey Hyunjin, “ he tries to laugh off his surprise “How much have you had to drink, dude?”
“Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Hyunjin shushes him, pressing a finger to his lips and then twisting to look at his friend who’s been watching them with curious eyes, “Oh my god! Seungmin, Seungmin, man, come meet my hyung.”
It’s then that Changbin makes eye contact with the love of his life. The sound of the party around them melts away for just a moment and it’s just him and Seungmin (and Hyunjin) before he knocks himself back into reality.
“Hey,” Changbin greets, giving his best smile. “What’s up?”
“Hello,” Seungmin nods, raising a brow as if asking how Hyunjin knows him.
“Binnie hyung is Minho’s best friend.” Hyunjin announces as he pats Changbin’s chest, “Wow pecs!”
Changbin snorts, “Am I his best friend?”
“Yep!” Hyunjin confirms his hands moving to grip his shoulders, “You’re his best friend.”
“That’s unfortunate.” Changbin deadpans, it earns him a small laugh from Seungmin. Changbin doesn’t know if he’ll ever come down from the high of hearing it.
“Yah, Seo Changbin” He hears Minho’s voice approaching from behind, “If you don’t want to be my best friend then you can stop letting my boyfriend feel you up.”
“I didn’t ask for this, Hyung.” Changbin laughs.
“Minho-ya!” Hyunjin detaches from him to jump into his own boyfriend’s arms “Minho-ya hello.”
He and Seungmin both look back at each other, with varying degrees of alarm. Seungmin mouths a silent ‘Minho-ya?!’ and Changbin has to suppress a laugh as he mouths back his own baffled ‘Minho-ya!’ back. It’s even more surprising because both he and Minho know Hyunjin’s not actually that drunk.
Hyunjin is one brave man.
Meanwhile, Minho barks a laugh, his hands easily finding purchase on his boyfriend's waist “Hello Hyunjin-ah.” he smiles sweetly. Before greeting Seungmin with a teasing quirked-up brow “Kim Seungmin.”
“Hyung.” Seungmin nods. “Your boyfriend is drunk off his ass.”
Changbin snorts.
“I can see that,” Minho rolls his eyes before addressing Hyunjin with, “You wanna go get some air, honey?”
Hyunjin hums lightly, pressing himself closer before nodding his head.
“Okay,” Minho says, turning back to the other two, “Kim Seungmin, take care of my Binnie Binnie Changbinnie for me, yeah?”
Changbin huffs, mumbling “Why is everyone calling me that tonight?” under his breath.
“Sure,” Seungmin snorts, “Make sure Hyunjin drinks some water.”
“I know how to take care of my boyfriend,” Minho smirks, and then he’s guiding Hyunjin away without another word to them.
“That’s slightly worrisome,” Seungmin chuckles, turning towards him and away from their friends.
Changbin grins a little watching as Hyunjin straightens up in Minho’s hold and starts walking normally again. Oh, Hwang Hyunjin is such an actor.
“I wouldn’t worry so much,” Changbin hums, “Minho hyung’s mostly harmless.”
“I meant I’m worried for Minho hyung,” Seungmin snorts. “Hyunjin’s a frisky drunk. He might try to jump him.”
Changbin blinks once, twice, and then bursts out laughing, “I really wish you hadn’t told me that.”
“I’m plagued with knowledge that I don’t want,” Seungmin grins “And now so are you.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Changbin tries to balance the humor and sarcasm in his tone. He watches Seungmin lift his solo cup in a joking cheers motion before he takes a sip. “What’s your poison?”
Seungmin lifts a lip in distaste as he looks down at his cup, “No idea honestly.” he swirls the liquid around a few times, “I’m not much of a party person so whatever’s in that container.”
Changbin pauses as he looks at the drink dispenser on the counter and snorts, “You’re not much of a party person but you’re drinking the jungle juice?” he’s a little incredulous.
“I’m already here might as well go all out.” Seungmin shrugs, “That being said what the fuck is in jungle juice.”
“It's usually juice, fruit, candy, and the cheapest drink with a high alcohol content that you can get your hands on.” Changbin chuckles, cracking the can of soda in his hand open, “It’ll fuck you up fast if you’re not careful. I personally tend to just stick to like a beer.”
“Oh, yeah because wheat juice with barely 4% alcohol and tastes like piss is a better option.” Seungmin teases.
Changbin doesn’t bother to hold back the laugh that he barks out, “Yeah okay, fair enough.”
“Is that what you’re drinking now?”
“This is a soda,” Changbin grins, holding the can so the younger can see the logo, “I’m the sober friend tonight.”
Seungmin hums, nodding his head a few times, “Pass me one too.” he says, turning to dump his solo cup down the drain, “I think it’ll be easier to round my friends up at the end of the night if I’m sober too. And I’ll need as many advantages I can get if the other two gonna be as bad as Hyunjin is tonight.”
Changbin snorts as he passes a can over to him.
It’s not so bad, talking to Seungmin. Changbin thought he’d be more nervous and he’d say something dumb - but Seungmin is easygoing and laughs fairly easily (not as easily as Hyunjin but who is?). The conversation has a good flow for them only just meeting.
Changbin thinks they click.
Before he knows it at least an hour has passed and an alarm is going off on Seungmin’s phone. Changbin raises a brow at the younger.
“That’s my cue to start rounding my poor drunk friends up and take them home.” Seungmin shrugs at him.
“Ah,” Changbin nods, “That’s probably not a bad idea. I should probably do the same.”
He knows where Chan is, and Minho shouldn’t be too hard to find. Jisung might be a problem but he’s a loud drunk at least.
“Well you’re welcome to join me on my search for mine, you might find yours on the way.”
Changbin can’t help but grin “Lead the way.”
They walk through the crowd together, Seungmin saying he knows one of his friends is playing beer pong so they should start there. Changbin agrees easily, following him wherever he wants to take him. In the back of his mind, Changbin thinks at this point he’d follow him to the ends of the earth, despite it being only the second time they’ve spoken to each other. Hyunjin’s romanticism might be rubbing off on him.
“Huh,” Seungmin says, looking at the group of people bouncing ping pong balls into cups “He’s not here.”
Changbin purses his lips, angling his neck to see around the table, spotting something that looks suspiciously like Jisung’s favorite flannel in the corner, “I think mine is here though.” he says, taking a step around to see better.
Sure enough, Jisung is sitting on the floor with some other kid that Changbin thinks he’s seen once or twice around campus but doesn’t really know, the two of them very intently watching a video on Jisung’s phone.
“Oh!” Seungmin says, following his gaze, “I stand corrected.”
Before Changbin can even ask what’s been corrected Seungmin is stepping around him and walking up to the two sitting on the ground, his hands on his hips as he looks down at them.
“Yang Jeongin,” Seungmin says to catch their attention, both Jisung’s and assumably Jeongin’s heads pop up to look at him, “You have a test to study for tomorrow. I think it’s time to go.”
Jeongin pouts up at him, it’s kind of cute.
Jisung's eyes widen just slightly as he points at Seungmin “I know you! We have a guitar class together!” his words slur just enough to signify that he is indeed drunk. “Kim Seungmin! With the nice hands.”
Seungmin sort of pauses at that, an entertained sort of twitch to his lips, “Hello Han Jisung-ssi,”
Changbin snorts at that, stepping in too, “Okay Hannie, i think it’s time for you to go too.”
“Hyung!” Jisung grins wide at him “When did you get here?”
“I’ve been here for a while.” Changbin rolls his eyes, reaching an arm out to help Jisung to his feet. “And now I’m leaving.”
Seungmin’s pulling his friend to his feet at the same time as he helps Jisung up. Jisung immediately turns towards Jeongin the moment they’re on their feet.
“Give me your phone number so i can send you that video.” it’s almost a demand but Jisung somehow doesn’t make it sound like it is. More of a weirdly worded request.
Jeongin easily agrees though, rattling off his number the moment Jisung pulls up his contacts. Seungmin laughs as he watches it happen, Changbin feels a little bewildered.
“Where’s Hyunjinnie hyung?” Jeongin asks once the four of them decide it’s time to move on and gather the rest of their friends.
“Trying to eat his boyfriend, I assume,” Seungmin jokes. “Minho whisked his drunk ass off somewhere over an hour ago.”
“Ew,” Chnagbin scrunches his nose in disgust, “I don’t wanna think about that.”
“Me either,” Jeongin shakes his head like he’s trying to shake the thought out of his head.
Meanwhile, Jisung makes a contemplative little noise from where he’s perched on Changbin’s back, the elder deciding it would be safer to just carry him after he stumbled one too many times.
“Speak for yourselves,” Jisung says.
“Shut up, dude.” Changbin snorts, fixing his hand's position on the younger’s thighs to make sure he doesn't accidentally drop him from being bumped into by other drunk party goers. “I don’t wanna know that about you either.”
Seungmin laughs, and it still gives Changbin another little boost. It’s crazy, what a crush can do to a man.
It doesn’t take long for them to find everyone else - the four of them quickly find the other four already grouped up together. Changbin wonders if Chan and Felix ever even left the stairs for the whole party. That’s not really his business though, he supposes.
“Seungmin!” Felix calls when he sees them start making their way towards their group, “Hey man. I thought you were-”
“Gonna ditch us.” Hyunjin interrupts, cutting off Felix before he can ruin his plan, “We thought you were gonna leave without us.” he exaggerated a pout for effect.
“Why would I do that?” Seungmin blinks in confusion. “When have I ever left you guys to fend for yourselves without telling you?”
Minho’s lips twitch up as he tries to suppress a laugh while Felix cocks his head in confusion.
“It’s time to go then?” Minho helps, mostly for his boyfriend’s sake, Changbin assumes, maybe a little for his sake as well.
Changbin gives him a grateful sort of half nod, “Yep, it’s getting late.”
“Such a bunch of buzzkills.” Jisung whines, “It’s still early for a party.”
“You’re the drunkest of us all!” Changbin accuses, laughing a little as Jisung wiggles in his hold.
Somehow Chan in the midst of that had managed to get all eight of them moving towards the door, Changbin instinctively moving to follow the moment the elder man had started walking.
Changbin can’t help the sigh of relief that escapes him once they step outside, the fresh air hitting his skin feels good compared to the mugginess of the party. No alcohol or sweat in the air is a much-appreciated reprieve. He thinks Seungmin agrees if the happy little stretch he does when they leave the house is anything to go by. It’s cute, once again he’s reminded of a puppy. For whatever reason.
He listens to his friends talk, Jeongin and chan introducing themselves to each other, Felix complimenting Jisung’s new shoes - Minho and Hyunjin bickering about which of their apartments they’re going back to. He and Seungmin sort of just give each other amused glances until everyone is set to go.
“Hyung,” Hyunjin taps him on the shoulder, “Can you take me back to Minho’s place? I’m gonna give poor Seungmin a break.”
“Thanks.” Seungmin deadpans before Changbin can even answer.
“Sure Hyunjinnie,” Chnagbin grins. It’s not out of his way, he was already planning on taking Jisung, Chan and Minho back to their places. “I’m driving him home anyways. I’ll see you guys later.” he nods at the three going in the opposite direction as him.
With all of that settled, Changbin takes a step towards where he parked his car down the block.
“Hey,” Seungmin calls before he gets too far, and Changbin turns to give him his attention “It was nice to meet you, Binnie Binnie Changbinnie hyung.”
Changbin thinks he drops Jisung if the sound of Chan and Jisung yelling and Minho and Hyunjin’s laughter is anything to go by. But he’s on cloud nine when he grins back “You too, Kim Seungmin with the nice hands.”
(When he turns around, Chan had caught Jisung easily enough, and Hyunjin is giving him an excited thumbs up.)
++
Somehow their friend groups start to sort of… merge. Which is fine by Changbin because Felix is possibly the sweetest person he’s met in his life, and Jeongin is a good conversationalist, and he very much is still in love with Seungmin. Hyunjin and Minho seem happy with the development, despite the innicial shock from both of them that Jeongin had given his number to Jisung willingly - despite Jiusng’s horror at the fact that he spammed Jeongin with dumb nature documentaries while drunk. But they’re glad that their friends are becoming friends - something about it makes their relationship feel like they’re progressing in a good direction, according to a Minho in a rare moment of vulnerability.
Getting to know Seungmin on a personal level is incredible too. Learning his favorite ice cream, learning about his favorite baseball team or what dramas he’s been watching, or even just about bullshit people have been doing at his job. It’s all fascinating to Changbin. He wants to listen to him talk forever.
Seungmin’s humor is the same level of unhinged as Minho’s is too, despite the outward appearance of them being totally different. Changbin sees how he ended up liking Minho so much with his own best friend having the same brand of humor. It’s easy for Changbin to pick up on too, vis versa. Seungmin always seems delighted when he picks up a joke and adds to it too.
But they start visiting each other at their jobs, sometimes with friends, sometimes not.
Changbin appreciates it when Seungmin and Hyunjin walk through the convenience store doors during his night shifts, enthusiastically ready to pester him until another customer comes in. Sometimes He and Jisung go and spend an hour or two at the library at a table where they can all make faces at each other from across the room.
Other times Changbin will go up to the librarian’s desk and ask for a resource he doesn’t really need, just to hear Seungmin’s soft voice. And Seungmin will come into the store to buy snacks and complain about Minho and Hyunjin kicking him out.
It’s easy being friends with Seungmin, despite the fact that Changbin kind of really wants to kiss him.
++
Hyunjin gives him an incredulous look when Changbin finally whines that he doesn’t know how to approach Seungmin about maybe going on a date. That he doesn’t even know if Seungmin would want to go out with him.
“Of course, he would!” Hyunjin announces once Changbin’s stopped voicing his worries, “He thinks you’re like the hottest person he’s ever met.”
“No, he doesn’t!” Changbin denies it immediately, he’s not insecure about his looks - nor should he be - but the hottest? He can’t accept that, just on pure principle.
Minho scoffs from where he’s lounging across the couch, “Just ask him, and if he says no be chill about it.”
“That’s easy for you to say, Hyung!” Changbin complains, “You have a boyfriend already.”
“Yeah, I do!” Minho sits up, startling Hyunjin a little with the sudden movement. “And how do you think I got my beautiful perfect boyfriend?”
“I asked you out hyung!” Hyunjin cuts in before Changbin can concede. “You can’t lie to him like that.”
“My point still stands that someone has to ask.” Minho huffs. “And you’re not even going to acknowledge that I called you beautiful and perfect? Really?”
“I hear that from you every day.” Hyunjin scrunches his nose.
Changbin snorts, “Should I leave before you two start making out or..?”
“Very funny.” Hyunjin scoffs, “Minho hyung’s right though, just ask him.”
“Here, let’s show him how, baby.” Minho offers, turning to face his boyfriend, “Watch.” he waits for Hyunjin to face him too, leaving Changbin to look at their side profiles. “Kim Seunmin, ew, I’m terribly down bad for you, possibly even in love. Will you go out to dinner with me?”
“Sure, Hyung. Sounds good.” Hyunjin responds immediately, only sort of doing a bad Seungmin impression, “And then after we can make out and get married.”
“You guys are so unhelpful!” Changbin wishes he had something to throw at the two of them. “Why do I bother coming to you for help?”
“You love us.” Minho grins.
Unfortunately, Changbin does.
++
Changbin watches Seungmin’s face light up when he sees him walking towards the desk at the library. Jisung has fallen asleep while studying again, and this time Changbin decides he has better things to do than to loiter around the bookcases - like, for example, talking to the love of his life.
There’s something about the smile that Seungmin gives him, braces and all, that makes Changbin’s knees a little weak. His own smile spread across his face without a second thought.
“Hey you.” Changbin says, leaning against the desk, “How’s it going?”
Seungmin shakes his head, “Long day. Glad to see a friendly face.”
“Yeah?” Changbin hums, “Need me to go buy you a coffee?”
Seungmin lifts a cup from their coffee shop silently, shaking his head, instead, he changes the subject with “Do you work tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” Changbin blinks, “No, I work on Friday though.”
“Okay,” Seungmin nods, takes a breath like he’s bracing himself for something, and then “Do you wanna get dinner with me tomorrow? Or go out, tomorrow, with me?”
Changbin blinks, “Out?”
“Like a date.” Seungmin says, nerves suddenly appearing on the younger’s face in the form of his lips pressing together, his brow knitting a little, “Do you wanna go on a date with me?”
It takes a solid minute of Changbin blinking at him, for the words to process in his brain. Date. with Seungmin. He’s being asked out by the love of his life. What?
“For real?” he asks. “A date?”
“Or not. If you don’t want to.” There’s some level of a blush forming on his cheeks.
“No! I do. I really want to go out on a date with you.” Changbin rushes before the younger can go any further thinking he wouldn’t. “Tomorrow? Dinner? What time?”
It’s Seungmin’s turn to blink at him, the rapid-fire questions probably catching him off guard after a moment of insecurity. “My last class is over at 5:00? If you wanna meet up at 6:00?”
“We can do that.” Changbin smiles so hard that his face starts to ache. “We text about the details later?”
“Yeah,” Seungmin smiles, nods, “We can text about it.” pauses, and cringes to himself before continuing with “And then we can make out after.”
Changbin sputters, “Did Hyunjin tell you to say that?”
“Minho hyung, actually.”
“I hate them.” Changbin groans.
But Seungmin laughs, and it’s definitely the best sound in the world and Changbin can’t complain further. At least he has a date lined up with the love of his life.