Work Text:
So the thing is that Mingyu knows that Wonwoo dates. Wonwoo has dated a handful of women and men since they debuted. Mingyu knows this. Wonwoo's even dated a few other idols. So, really, it's not a brand new concept to Mingyu.
It's just.
First, it's been a few years since Wonwoo's gone on a date. Mingyu knows this because they live together and he is one of Wonwoo's best friends. So he knows what's going on in his best friend's love life. Second, Wonwoo has never dated a member of a group of someone Mingyu's been close to before.
And now, not only is Wonwoo dating someone exclusively, he's dating Kim Seokjin of BTS.
*
Mingyu was the first one to find out about Wonwoo and Jin. In fact, he was there from the very start. He'd come home from France, fresh from Fashion Week and ready to compare notes with Wonwoo about his own very first Fashion Week Experience™ only to find that Wonwoo was in the middle of getting ready to leave.
"Hyung? Are you heading out?" Mingyu asked. There were clothes all over the bed and on the floor of Wonwoo's usually neat bedroom. Wonwoo had settled for a nice pair of dark jeans, a tailored button up and a denim jacket. It was admittedly a lot nicer than what Wonwoo usually wore when he was heading out to do the Wonwoo things he does outside of the house (gym, photo walks, buying PC or photography equipment). It was certainly nicer than anything he's ever worn when he and Mingyu go out to have dinner or meet with the 97z or Soonyoung or anyone else really.
"Yeah," Wonwoo said, sounding distracted, fluffing up his bangs. "I have a date."
A date! Jeon Wonwoo! On a date!
A slight twist in Mingyu's gut made itself known. Mingyu patted his stomach and frowned at it. It was probably the fruit shake he got at the airport before driving home. Maybe the cherries weren't agreeing with him.
"Who are you going out with?"
"Jin-hyung," Wonwoo replied, grabbing his bike keys and heading out the door. The back of his collar was crooked and Mingyu rushed out to fix it for him and then the name registered in his brain.
"Jin-hyung as in Jungkookie's Jin-hyung??" Mingyu squawked, tripping on his own feet.
"Yeah." Wonwoo smiled, bashful and pleased.
Mingyu didn't have time to ask Wonwoo how that had happened. Wonwoo had exited the apartment post haste and left Mingyu staring at the door in shock.
*
Me: Since when did Jin-hyung go on dates?
Jungkook: WHY ARE YOU TEXTING ME THIS FIVE MINUTES BEFORE I HAVE TO GIVE UP MY PHONE.
Me: He and Wonwoo-hyung are on a date right now!!!!!
Jungkook: I hate you. Text me everything so I can read it when I get my phone back.
*
Having been thwarted from both having a post-Fashion Week Debrief and getting more details from Wonwoo about how he came to be on a first date with Jin, Mingyu elects to watch a movie instead. He is absolutely not waiting for Wonwoo to come back home from his date.
The trill of the keypad puts Mingyu on alert. He clutches his popcorn bowl closer to his body and very intentionally does not watch the door open. He keeps his gaze on the screen even though he hasn't understood a single thing from the movie he put on for over an hour now. He's aware that there's a dog comparison somewhere here but no one is around to make it.
"Mingyu?" Wonwoo says as he enters the living room from the hallway. "You're still up?"
Okay, so it may or may not be three in the morning.
Mingyu turns to Wonwoo, glaring at him. "You cannot leave me with a cliffhanger like "I'm going on a date with your best friend's bandmate" and expect me to sleep, hyung."
Wonwoo laughs. "Sorry, I was already running late when you arrived. I didn't want to leave a bad impression."
Mingyu pats the cushion beside him and Wonwoo complies with the unspoken request. "Okay, but tell me how this happened, hyung? It's like I left for Paris and came back and suddenly there's a brand new you!"
"You remember how I filmed Self-On Kode again?" Wonwoo asks. He's playing with his fingers and not really looking at Mingyu but even from the side, Mingyu can see the curve of his smile on his cheeks.
Mingyu nods. He vaguely remembers this being on the docket as part of the variety show options in preparation for the comeback but he hadn't volunteered for it.
"Jin-hyung was the other guest and we really hit it off? He's so funny, Min." There's a brightness in Wonwoo's expression that Mingyu hasn't seen in a while. It's kind of nice to see again. "And I don't know what came over me but the mood was so good and I just asked him? If he wanted to go on a date with me?"
"And he said yes??" Mingyu asks, incredulous. The twist in his gut is back again. He probably should avoid eating popcorn so late at night.
"Yah, Kim Mingyu, what are you implying about me?" Wonwoo says with a playful glare.
"No, hyung, Jin-hyung doesn't date! Jungkook has never told me about it!"
"What if Jin didn't want anyone to know?" Wonwoo points out.
"Hyung, Kookie told me that Namjoon took back his situationship five minutes after he found out," Mingyu says. "I promise you, I would know."
Wonwoo contemplates this idea for a moment and Mingyu watches as a flush spreads on his cheeks. "Wow," is all he can say about the matter.
And that's how Mingyu finds out that Jeon Wonwoo of SEVENTEEN is dating Kim Seokjin of BTS.
*
Me: Wonwoo-hyung won't tell me anything!
Me: Can you please use some of your phone time to find out????
Jungkook: Why do you keep doing this to me at the end of my phone time. Why.
Jungkook: Jin-hyung hasn't said anything in the group chat either. I already told you! He's secretive and shy!!!
Jungkook: YOU have to do better and find out more from Wonwoo.
*
With comeback and fanmeet preparations ramping up and with Wonwoo focusing on wrapping up all his schedules, Mingyu doesn't get a chance to get updates from Wonwoo on his budding relationship with Jin. He knows there have been more dates. Several, in fact, from what he can suss out.
So it seems like it's going well.
Meanwhile, Mingyu really has to find the time to schedule an appointment with a doctor because the stomach pangs have gotten far more frequent and he's starting to feel a little twinge in his chest too. It's strange because it's not that he's getting tired more easily or anything. But he just feels…weird overall.
*
Jungkook: Hyung finally told us about him and Wonwoo-hyung.
Jungkook: Hoseokie-hyung said he got super red when they were talking about it.
Jungkook: He sent us a photo and Jin was really, really red but he was smiling so big.
Me: I guess they make each other happy.
*
Wonwoo's enlistment starts and Mingyu doesn't hear anything more about things with Jin. He doesn't hear much from Wonwoo at all other than the quick weekend updates he's been sending the group chat with how he's doing at camp.
Mingyu sends back stickers and cheers Wonwoo on. He's also feeling so much better these days. No more weird stomach cramps so it was probably just a bug that came and went.
*
Jungkook: Jin-hyung is being annoying.
Jungkook: He keeps flooding the chat because Wonwoo can't reply to him.
Me: He's not special. Wonwoo-hyung isn't replying to me either.
*
They're in Japan when Wonwoo is finally done with bootcamp. Mingyu sulks about the fact that they weren't able to send him off nor will they be able to welcome him back. It can't be helped though so he tries to put his bravest face on and enjoy the fanmeet because he is a professional and Carats deserve him at his best.
Wonwoo sends them a selca with Jin when he gets home. They're leaning toward each other, heads pressed together - Wonwoo's shorn head against the dark brown mop of Jin's hair. They're both smiling but they're shy smiles, like they can't believe they're taking a selca together but are very pleased about it. Mingyu makes sure he's the first to heart it on Katalk but doesn't send a reply even as the other members flood the chat cheering Wonwoo on.
The stomach pangs come back and Mingyu resolves to seriously get himself checked when he's back home from Japan.
*
Me: I think they're getting really serious now.
Me: This morning when Wonwoo came out of his room, he was wearing new pajamas. They had Jin-hyung's face all over them.
Me: I think they were a gift from Jin-hyung
Jungkook: Those are his Good Day pajamas. He only gives them to people he really likes.
Me: Oh.
*
Mingyu watches the Kode episode with Seungkwan. Wonwoo is out on another date with Jin - they're spending the weekend in Namyangju before Jin starts his tour.
Mingyu sets up the projector and pulls up the episode on Youtube while Seungkwan cooks their ramen. It's a little on the soggy side and not as good as what Wonwoo makes for him but Mingyu can't complain.
Wonwoo flirts. He flirts outrageously.
Jin is laughing a squeaky and flustered laugh at the end of each exchange and no matter how shameless he gets, Wonwoo matches it.
"And if I want my partner to call me Charmander?" Jin demands through the chat.
"You will be my Princess Charmander, your highness," Wonwoo replies, laughing.
Jin loudly declares that Wonwoo made his heart flutter and that he should take responsibility. The editors make jokes about it in the captions but little do they know that Wonwoo did, in fact, take responsibility and that Jin had accepted it.
At the end of it, he and Seungkwan share a stunned silence until Seungkwan breaks it with a low murmur of "Wow. I didn't know Wonwoo-hyung could flirt like that."
Neither did Mingyu.
*
Me: Do you think I could be good at LOL?
Jungkook: ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Jungkook: Don't joke. My whole body hurts from stirring stew with a shovel.
*
A phone lights up on the table and Mingyu automatically looks at the screen. He's read the sender name before he realizes that it's Wonwoo's phone that buzzed and it's too late to unread the words "Princess Charmander."
Mingyu wheezes. He wants to laugh about it but the cramp in his stomach gets in the way and he ends up coughing instead.
"Hyung, you have a message," he announces once he feels he's passably regained his composure.
Wonwoo hums and reaches his hand out, not looking away from where he's been playing one of the adventure games Jin recommended to him. He's been so absorbed in it that they haven't had the chance to have dinner together on the rare occasions they've been home at the same time.
Once the phone is in his hand, he actually pauses the game and looks at the message. The smile that blooms on Wonwoo's face is so bright, Mingyu would joke about needing sunglasses.
"Min, I'm heading over to Jin-hyung's," Wonwoo says, saving his game and grabbing his wallet from his desk. Mingyu barely has the chance to respond. "I'll have dinner there too so you don't have to worry about me. Jin-hyung's cooking for me."
Mingyu surveys the food he cooked - bossam, soondubu jjigae and gyeran mari. Wonwoo had been home so he'd made a little extra in case Wonwoo wanted some. The churning in his stomach intensifies and he decides maybe he isn't that hungry after all.
*
Me: When you have leave, can you come and taste my cooking
Jungkook: Okay. But why.
Me: Can you tell me if my food is as good as Jin-hyung's?
Jungkook: You lose by default, Kim Mingyu. I will always choose Jin-hyung's food.
*
Jin leaves for his tour and Wonwoo spends most of his free time back at the apartment again. Mingyu decides this is worth celebrating and brings home a bottle of his and Wonwoo's favorite whisky, makgeolli and enough meat to feed them and then some.
It's nice to hang out with Wonwoo like this again. Mingyu had taken it for granted when both he and Wonwoo were too busy to really date, how much time he gets to spend with Wonwoo and how he enjoys it. He's never said it out loud before and he probably never will because his members (ie Seungcheol) will sulk about it but spending time with Wonwoo is probably his favorite way to rest.
Wonwoo gets plastered.
"When we have sex," Wonwoo tells him seriously, holding one of Mingyu's hands in his. "I'm not allowed to put it in him until one of us says "Dojeon."
Wonwoo bursts into little giggles when he finishes the statement and Mingyu is too stunned to reply. What is he even supposed to say to that?
"It's the most I've laughed during sex," Wonwoo says, as he calms down. The smile on his face is so fond it makes Mingyu's teeth ache. "It's great."
The ache in Mingyu's chest comes back. He really should have himself checked soon.
*
In the morning, Mingyu gets up and hands Wonwoo a hangover cure while he gets ready to go to his service job. The silence between them is heavy and loaded.
"I'd appreciate it," Wonwoo says solemnly. "If you didn't tell anyone about what we talked about last night."
Mingyu nods. He is going to take last night's conversation to the grave.
*
"You're healthy as a horse, Mingyu-ssi," the doctor tells him once he's read through the results of the battery of tests Mingyu just went through. He's finally had the chance to have himself checked since they've had a little downtime in between schedules.
"Oh," Mingyu replies.
"You might want to consider other factors for the symptoms you're experiencing," the doctor says as he types something on the computer. "Perhaps there are internal factors that are giving you a sense of anxiety that are manifesting physically."
Mingyu considers this on the drive back to the apartment.
*
Mingyu opens the front door and the first thing he hears before he even gets out of his sneakers is a groan followed by a long series of loud gasps. He freezes as the sounds get only louder and clearer.
"YAH! WONWOO!"
It sounds like -
There's a thump from inside Wonwoo's bedroom followed by more moaning. Mingyu doesn't know if he should turn around and leave or find a way to let them know he's home.
The clench of his stomach and the pain in his chest suddenly become crystal clear to him.
He's jealous. He's been jealous this entire goddamn time.
There's another loud moan followed by two loud voices yelling and Mingyu is going to die.
Before he can move any further away from the sound, Wonwoo's door opens and Mingyu comes face to face with Jin.
Who is fully clothed and does not look like he was just seconds ago in the throes of passion.
Mingyu blinks at him.
"Ah, Mingyu-yah, you're home!" Jin says in that same loud voice from just moments ago. He doesn't welcome Mingyu because that would be absurd. This is Mingyu's house. Jin is the guest here but Mingyu still feels a little awkward, unsure what was going on in the bedroom just now.
Mingyu settles for being polite. When in doubt, manners will always get him through.
"Hi, hyung."
"Hi, Min."
Mingyu turns and sees Wonwoo exit his bedroom, also fully clothed. He, too, does not look like a man who was just having sex but Mingyu still feels a swirl of nausea in his gut. Now that he's identified the root cause of his symptoms, he feels somehow worse. He watches Wonwoo make his way to Jin in the kitchen and squeeze his waist with one hand while Jin grabs a glass from their cupboards.
Somehow, even though Mingyu's never seen Jin in their apartment before, he looks right at home and Mingyu suddenly feels like an intruder in his own home.
"Min, Hyung and I were going to order Kyochon for dinner. Do you want to join us?"
Mingyu can't stay. He absolutely cannot stay here as emotions that have somehow kept themselves hidden from him finally make themselves known. Wonwoo is going to see right through him and then it'll be awkward and then he'll have to move out and then they'll be distant again like the before years when Wonwoo wasn't talking to hm much and then -
"Um," Mingyu says, voice cracking. "I think I actually forgot something at work that I have to go back and get right now. Yup. Bye!"
He doesn't wait for a response. He jams his feet into his shoes and flees.
*
Me: I'm jealous of Jin-hyung.
Me: I think I've been jealous this whole time.
Jungkook: Jimin-hyung says he's proud that you finally figured it out.
Jungkook: I feel like I can tell you this now but I have been trying to kill Wonwoo with my mind for weeks now.
Me: YAH
Jungkook: Mingyu-yah. Why did it have to be Jin-hyung? Why couldn't he fall for Hoseok-hyung or Yoongi-hyung? WHY COULDN'T HE FALL FOR ME SO I COULD REJECT HIM AND I COULD HAVE JIN-HYUNG.
Jungkook: I had a plan!!! And Wonwoo-hyung ruined it!!!
Me: Can we focus on one crisis at a time here please.
*
So. Mingyu is jealous of Jin. Mingyu is jealous of Jin because he's in love with Wonwoo. Mingyu is in love with Wonwoo.
Not that there's anything he can do about it. He's not a homewrecker and he's not going to make it Wonwoo's problem. He's happy with Jin.
Jin makes them dress up even for the most mundane activities - "I'm dating a super star, you know," Wonwoo had said when Mingyu complemented his outfit, like there was an inside joke there that Mingyu wasn't privy to.
"He turns me on," Wonwoo had said, in that drunken night that they don't talk about. "Not like, in a sexual way - I mean, that too, he's so hot but I feel excited around him, I feel present."
Mingyu wonders if he's ever done that for anyone. For Wonwoo.
But then, if he did, wouldn't it have been him Wonwoo asked out instead of Jin?
*
Mingyu heads to Jeonghan and Seungkwan's dorm. It's worth the risk of getting harangued by Seungkwan if Jeonghan is home. It's a weekday so it's unlikely that Jeonghan's gone out for anything. His shift starts at 9 and he tries to be in bed early these days.
At the front of their building, Mingyu pulls out his phone and calls Jeonghan.
"Mingoo? Is everything alright?" Jeonghan asks as soon as he picks up.
"Hyung, are you home?" Mingyu asks.
"I'm home, Mingoorie," Jeonghan tells him, sounding worried. Mingyu must sound as miserable as he feels, having used up his ability for keep up any pretenses back at the apartment. He can hear the rustle of fabric in the background. It's all he can do to hope that Jeonghan hadn't been sleeping yet. "Do you want to come over?"
"I'm outside your building."
"Okay, come up, I'll leave the door open."
"Is Kwannie home?"
"No, no, he's out with Seokminnie, I think. It's just me," Jeonghan assures him. "Come up, baby."
As soon as Mingyu crosses the threshold of the entryway, all his composure is lost. He launches himself as gently as he can into Jeonghan's arms and holds on tight. Jeonghan wraps his arms around Mingyu and squeezes him just as tightly.
Jeonghan doesn't make Mingyu talk about it, which is exactly why Mingyu came here. He ushers Mingyu further into the dorm. They pile into Jeonghan's bed and Mingyu doesn't even get scolded for wearing his outside clothes to bed. He doesn't cry but it's a near thing. Jeonghan caresses his face anyway and Mingyu burrows even closer, eyes squeezed shut.
"I'm in love with Wonwoo-hyung," Mingyu mumbles into Jeonghan's shoulder.
"Ah," Jeonghan says, gently.
There isn't really much more to say after that. Wonwoo-hyung is with Jin now.
Mingyu's phone buzzes. He glances at the message preview on his lock screen.
Wonwoo-hyung: Where are you?
Mingyu stares at it until his screen goes dark. He doesn't want to answer, still heartsick.
Jeonghan nudges him. "Answer him, Mingyu. Don't make him worry."
Me: I'm at Jeonghan-hyung's.
Mingyu looks up at Jeonghan. "Can I sleep here, hyung?"
Jeonghan presses a soft kiss to his forehead. "Of course, Mingoo."
Me: Sleeping here tonight.
Wonwoo-hyung: 👍
*
Jungkook: I have a leave tomorrow. Free your calendar. We're having dinner.
*
Mingyu can't stay away from his apartment forever. He won't fit into most of Jeonghan's clothes and he won't allow Mingyu to borrow any of the shirts Jeonghan's stolen from Seungcheol-hyung.
Wonwoo isn't home when Mingyu slinks back into the apartment. It's Saturday so Wonwoo could be anywhere right now. Mingyu doesn't take his chances though. He takes a quick shower and grabs his gym bag and heads right out.
He'll have to face Wonwoo eventually and he wants to be fully reconciled with his feelings before then. There's nothing like a brutal gym session to clear his head. If there's anything that Mingyu has learned over the years, he can't always choose the hand he's dealt with but he'll do the best he can with it.
*
Mingyu feels infinitely better after hitting the gym. Did get to a 100 press from his previous 80? Yes. Was he pushing himself a little harder than he necessarily had to? Also yes. He's grateful Jihoon came in a few minutes after him and offered to spot him.
He showers at the gym, still not ready to face Wonwoo just yet. He just needs the time between now and the end of the meal to pull himself together. He'll be the most supportive best friend after that.
The universe has other ideas.
Jungkook is already at the restaurant when Mingyu walks in and sitting with him are Jin and Wonwoo.
Mingyu has to wonder if he's recently done something to warrant this kind of cosmic misfortune.
He considers making a run for it again but Wonwoo notices him from across the room and even if he hadn't, Kim Mingyu was not raised to run away from hard things. Even if this is possibly one of the hardest things he's going to face in a long while.
Wonwoo is seated by the wall while Jungkook and Jin are next to each other across the table. It gives Mingyu pause but if he's going to survive this, there is no room for introspection tonight. He's going to get by through willpower, soju and years of training to smile and wave even when his heart is breaking.
He takes a deep breath to center himself and then makes his way to their table.
"Hii~!"
"I hope you don't mind that Jin-hyung and I are joining you for dinner," Wonwoo says softly over the din of the restaurant. "Jin-hyung saw Jungkookie at the Hybe building and one thing led to another."
"It's fine, hyung," Mingyu assures him.
It's easier than he thought it would be to compartmentalize between his inner turmoil and being present for dinner. Having their comebacks as common ground helps and actually talking to Jin makes him a whole person again to Mingyu instead of a specter hanging over him. Jin has always been much funnier but also shier than his on camera persona. He dotes on his dongsaengs sweetly and it's no different now. When a stray splash of oil hits Jungkook in the face, Jin immediately helps Jungkook wipe the oil away and grabs the tongs from him.
"Hyung will do it," Jin tells Jungkook gently, flipping the samgyupsal for him. Mingyu has to kick Jungkook under the table before Wonwoo notices that Jungkook is making heart eyes at Wonwoo's boyfriend.
The effort is wasted when Jin helps Jungkook peel a perilla leaf off the plate.
Mingyu cannot stop himself from glancing at Wonwoo when it happens. He is many things but subtle is not one of them. Jungkook is still looking at Jin with hearts in his eyes and Mingyu waits for the inevitable downturn of Wonwoo's mouth to show his displeasure because underneath his shyness and general introvertedness Wonwoo, much like Jungkook, is one of the most possessive guys Mingyu has ever known.
It doesn't happen.
Wonwoo doesn't even seem to notice, too absorbed in making a ssam of his own. When he finishes, he looks up at Mingyu and proceeds to feed Mingyu the wrap. Mingyu is too stunned to even think about deflecting. Instead, he reflexively chews on it and despite his shock is pleased to find that the ssam is prepared the exact way he likes it - two layers of pork belly, just the right amount of ssamjang and seasoned scallions wrapped up in lettuce.
Mingyu is very, very confused. Looking at Jungkook across from him, he is just as lost.
Jin looks between the two of them and then, out of nowhere, whacks Wonwoo from across the table.
"Wonwoo-yah," Jin says as Wonwoo rubs his arms where Jin smacked him. "We forgot to tell our dongsaengs some critical information."
Wonwoo blinks and then his expression changes into one of comical shock.
Mingyu is still very confused.
"We broke up," Jin says. He does tiny jazz hands. "JJa-jan!"
Their table descends into shocked silence.
Jungkook recovers first. "Since when?"
Jin and Wonwoo exchange a look. Wonwoo glances at his watch. "About twenty eight hours ago," Wonwoo replies.
Jungkook seems to be happy to take this at face value and Jin immediately changes the topic and they devolve into bickering about something Mingyu can't follow. Mingyu isn't quite ready to go back to the conversation yet. He looks at Wonwoo who gives him a small smile. He doesn't look sad or broken-hearted at all. In fact, Mingyu would even dare to say he looks content. Wonwoo reaches out to squeeze his leg under the table. It's an anchor to ground the tumultuous feelings inside of him.
Mingyu doesn't want to draw more attention to Wonwoo now if he's fine to have his and Jin's relationship discussed like this with Jungkook. It's strange and Mingyu would say he's even more confused than before. He trusts Wonwoo though. Wonwoo will help him make it make sense.
*
After Jin's announcement, dinner proceeds as it usually does when he's with Jungkook and Wonwoo. The addition of Jin adds a flavor of bickering and teasing that Mingyu had never really had a chance to get used to until now. He can see the ways that Jin would be someone who brings out the mischief in Wonwoo, can see how they fit together more clearly.
He can't suss out why they would break apart.
Perhaps he has a little too much soju, trying to figure it out.
He isn't drunk, but he feels a little floaty and a little sleepy. Jin hyung pays for dinner and Mingyu finds himself in a cab with Wonwoo heading back to the apartment. He's pretty sure the only reason he doesn't float away is the arm Wonwoo has around his waist.
It's very nice.
At home, Mingyu clings to Wonwoo as they get into the elevator and all the way to the entryway of their home.
"Min, come on, you have to brush your teeth."
Mingyu shakes his head. He doesn't want to. He wants to stay like this forever.
"Come on, sweetheart, you'll be angry with me in the morning if you don't brush."
Oh. Sweetheart. Maybe Wonwoo is drunk too. Maybe he thinks Mingyu is Jin hyung and that's why he's being so sweet. He's waaaay too big to be Jin hyung though so Wonwoo's is almost definitely drunk. It makes Mingyu sad. He untangles himself from Wonwoo's hold.
"M'not your sweetheart," he says, pouting. "M'not."
"Ah," Wonwoo says. He sounds sad now too. Why is Wonwoo hyung sad? "You're right. But let me take care of you anyway, okay?"
Mingyu thinks about it. His hands are a little numb and the room around him is gently spinning like he was on the world's slowest carousel. Maybe he could use a little help.
"Okay."
Wonwoo helps him out of his shoes and his clothes. He puts toothpaste on his toothbrush and lets Mingyu lean on him while he brushes his teeth and holds on to him when he rinses his face. He tucks Mingyu into his large bed.
"We'll talk in the morning,," Wonwoo tells him, pushing Mingyu's hair back in a gentle caress. Mingyu leans in to the touch. "Sleep well, Min-ah."
"Good night, hyung."
*
Mingyu has had a very confusing twenty four hours.
First, he discovers his feelings for Wonwoo while Wonwoo is in a relationship. And then, when he's finally sorted himself out enough to maybe try to reckon with those feelings but also accept that Wonwoo being in a relationship meant those feelings would stay unrequited, Wonwoo and Jin announce that they're broken up. And then! And then! Wonwoo had tucked him in! What was that about??
He knows he's not going to get answers by lying in bed so with great difficulty, he rolls himself off his mattress, gets himself upright and out of the room.
Wonwoo's in the kitchen already and there are three empty ramyun packs on their kitchen counter. He smiles at Mingyu when he hears the door open and Mingyu has to wonder if he knows what kind of turmoil he's wreaked upon him in these last few weeks.
But Wonwoo did also just get broken up with? Unless he did the breaking up? It was a little hard to tell from last night's dinner but at the very least they looked like he and Jin-hyung are still friends. Still, Mingyu has to ask.
"Hyung, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Min-ah." Wonwoo glances at him and then goes back to watching the noodles. "This will be ready in another two minutes. Can you grab us drinks in the meantime?"
Mingyu takes a bottle of Pocari sweat and a can of Monster from the refrigerator. He'd get something stronger but it's eight in the morning and even he has limits to how much alcohol he can put in his body, even when he's not on a diet.
The ramyun, just like any other ramyun Wonwoo has cooked for Mingyu, tastes fantastic.
"Okay," Wonwoo says, once they've both finished slurping their noodles down. "You have questions."
Mingyu starts with the most important thing. "Are you really okay, hyung? You and Jin-hyung seemed like it was going to be serious."
"I'm really fine, Mingyu," Wonwoo takes his hand across the table and squeezes. "What Hyung and I had was fun while it lasted but we're better off as friends."
"Why though? You said he makes you feel present. You said," Mingyu hesitates knowing this is going to bring up something Wonwoo had asked him not to talk about but he has to know. "You said he turns you on."
Wonwoo doesn't answer him right away, which means he's really thinking about what to say next. Mingyu appreciates that.
"You know what else turns me on? Being with the members. Performing as Seventeen," Wonwoo leans back on his chair. "Being with hyung reminded me of that in a time where I can't do any of that right now. But it's not what I want in a relationship."
"What do you want then?" Mingyu asks.
"You."
Mingyu shakes his head to clear out his ears because surely he didn't hear what he just heard. But then Wonwoo keeps talking.
"One of the things I noticed with hyung is how often I would look for you. Whenever he did something funny or showed me a new game, I always wanted to share it with you. He actually kind of helped me put it together because there was someone else he was thinking about too."
Mingyu glances at Wonwoo. Someone else?
"Ask Jungkookie about it when you text him," Wonwoo says cryptically. "Anyway, we figured it out and decided it was better that we end things rather than settle with each other. I was going to tell you we were broken up the other night but you left right away. Mingyu, you looked like I had shot you."
Ah. So Wonwoo had noticed after all.
"It sounded like you brought him home to, you know," Mingyu explains, heat filling his cheeks.
"Ah, no. We were playing Cuphead. Hyung's just really loud."
"He sounds like he was getting fucked into next week!" Mingyu replies, scandalized and unable to stop himself from saying what he's been thinking out loud.
"That's um, not how he sounds." Now, Wonwoo is red too and Mingyu feels like this conversation has derailed. He does not want to think about Wonwoo having sex with another man!
"Tell me more about how I fit into this," he demands, a little petulant. The twinge of jealousy makes itself known in his stomach again.
Wonwoo clears his throat. "I was so mad that you were staying over at Jeonghan-hyung's. I wanted to go there and take you home because it should be me taking care of you. I wanted it to be me. But I had no right to do that."
"Oh," is all Mingyu can say. "You were jealous too."
"So fucking jealous, Min," Wonwoo agrees.
Isn't that something?
"Do you want to have the right?" Mingyu asks him.
"What?"
"I'm asking if you want to have the right," Mingyu pauses, shy. "To um, take care of me. To be jealous, all that stuff."
The grin that blooms on Wonwoo's face is blinding. "Yes, I'd like that."
"Come and kiss me then," Mingyu says. "So you can seal the deal."
Wonwoo doesn't hesitate, getting up and walking around the table to take Mingyu's hand and pull him up into a kiss. Mingyu melts right into it.
There's nothing to be jealous of anymore.
*
Jungkook: My boyfriend still cooks better than you.