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The story starts like most rom-coms end: with a kiss shared by two people in love, basking under the warm glow of the sunlight, while some old love song plays in the background.
Except the light was from a flickering fluorescent bulb in the kitchen, the song was Mark’s echoing voice from the bathroom as he belted out Bruno Mars’ Versace on the Floor, and the two people in love were Donghyuck and Jaemin.
And that is exactly where the problem lies.
See, if this was a movie, then Donghyuck and Jaemin weren’t even supposed to be Donghyuck and Jaemin.
They should be the romantic leads’ love interests. The ones destined to eventually fall in love with their best friends in the most clichés way possible. With years of pining, missed timings, and a grand romantic gesture as the final confession scene.
But they didn’t.
Instead, they fell for each other.
Slowly. Deliberately. Beautifully.
Which, in hindsight, confused the hell out of everyone else.
Because how could two people who used to fight over every small thing—from who gets to eat the last slice of pizza to whether cereal is considered a soup or not (it was a very intense debate, by the way)—suddenly be in love?
The two of them had perfectly curated a friendship built on being partners-in-crime, bickering, and thinly veiled insults.
In a frenemies with unresolved tension kind of way.
Heck, even their closest friends always thought that they’d eventually just fuck it out once to get it out of their systems OR kill each other. Either one was more believable.
So when they started secretly holding hands under the table, or suspiciously disappearing at the same time after a heated argument, or dialing up the sickeningly sweet nicknames that they sarcastically call each other, everyone assumed it was a bit. A joke. Maybe even a social experiment.
Plus, in their defense, those two have pranked them enough in the past to justify their doubts. There was even a time wherein they had the entire friend group convinced that Donghyuck was pregnant. How the whole group believed it two was beyond them.
So, surely it wasn’t real… right?
“Okay, that’s it,” Jeno finally spoke up.
Donghyuck immediately paused mid-sneak, caught red-handed trying to steal a kiss from Jaemin. He took a step back, looking around akin to a scolded child, while Jaemin only let out a small laugh of amusement.
They weren’t exactly hiding that they’re together, but they sure as hell weren’t screaming it in everybody’s faces either. They thought that their friends would eventually catch on anyway.
Apparently not.
So, they decided to turn it up a notch.
“The hand-holding, I can take.” Jeno said, swiveling around in his seat to glare at them. “But, this—” He gestured wildly at the two who were now standing a foot apart from each other with an abashed look on their faces “—this I can’t. In case you haven’t noticed, the very reflective refrigerator is right in front of me. I can literally see you guys sucking each other’s faces off.”
“Geez, no need to be so grumpy about it,” Donghyuck muttered as he casually reclaimed his place beside the taller one. And in the same manner of muscle memory, Jaemin’s arm slipped around his waist like it belonged there. “No need to get your panties in a twist, Jen-jen.” the younger teased.
Mark peeked out from the bathroom hallway, toothbrush in mouth, and asked the most ridiculous thing Donghyuck has ever heard in his entire life. “Dude, did you finally tell them to stop with the whole fake dating thing?”
“What?” The couple blaringly asked in unison, staring at him acting as if he just announced that he threw their first-born child down a cliff.
Donghyuck stepped forward, clearly more offended than confused. “The fuck you mean fake dating?”
“Oh God,” Jeno muttered as he picked up his bowl of ramen, “I refuse to be a part of this.” In a snap, he was out of view, locked inside his room.
On the other hand, completely unbothered Mark just shrugged, toothpaste foam still clinging to his lip. “Oh please. We all know you’re faking it for that—what was it again? Social psych elective? The one where you run an experiment and record people’s reactions? Yeah, that one.”
Jaemin blinked slowly. “Seriously? You think we’d fake a relationship for school ?”
Mark nodded, dead serious. “Well, yeah. Or maybe for a bet? I don’t know, man. You and Hyuck are too chaotic to be legit. Plus, no offense, but the couple shirts?” he said with a raised eyebrow as he pointed at the matching ones the two had on, “Feels forced as hell.”
Donghyuck looked personally attacked. “Mark, you literally walked in on us fucking last week. A couple shirt should be the least of the things you suspect.”
“What?! I didn’t walk in on you—”
“Whatever!” Donhyuck cut off before he could finish. “Wait, wait, wait… does this mean everyone thinks we’re doing a bit?”
Mark cleared his throat then approached the sink to rinse his mouth. “Dude, come on. You literally called Jaemin ‘a soul-sucking demon from the pits of hell’ for like three years straight,” he looked at Jaemin with a bashful smile and added, “No offense, Jaem.”
Jaemin only answered with an amused smile before planting a kiss on Donghyuck’s head.
“Now this,” Mark eyed the two intensely, or at least he was trying to. “What were we supposed to think when you guys suddenly started being all touchy-feely when before that you looked like you were about to jump one another at any moment?”
Donghuck groaned, throwing his arms in the air out of frustration. “That we’re in love, maybe?! That we’re crazy for each other?!”
Jaemin nodded solemnly. “I mean, we aren’t even being that subtle about it anymore.”
Mark nodded slowly. “ Yeah… Still not buying it.” He said before walking away.
Donghyuck wanted to kill him. As in actually strangle him until his face turned a similar shade of blue as his hair.
He turned to Jaemin, a menacing smile on his face. “I’m going to commit a crime. I’m going to murder them, actually. I’ll take down Mark first.”
Jaemin shrugged. “Can you do Renjun after? He's the one who made a group chat about us ‘fake dating.'”
At that, Donghyuck looked genuinely scandalized. “There's a group chat?!”
💞
Renjun, Chenle, and Jisung almost jumped off their seats as Donghyuck slammed his books onto the table with a loud thud.
“Seriously, what is wrong with you?!” Renjun practically screamed at him, clutching his chest. “Are you trying to give us a heart attack?”
Chenle muttered a string of curses in Mandarin under his breath. Meanwhile Jisung looked pretty similar to a scared hamster, a half-bitten cookie still in hand as he stared wide-eyed at Donghyuck.
Donghyuck would’ve felt slightly guilty—maybe even amused—if this were any other situation.
But not today. Today, he was on a mission.
He planted his hands on the edge of the table, leaning in, eyes narrowed with a fairly dramatic sort of determination that only Lee Donghyuck could possess.
“Do you guys think that Jaemin and I are ‘fake dating’?” he asked, each word sharp as he threw it across the table. Even adding air quotes around fake dating with a scowl, just to emphasize how deeply insulted he was by the mere idea of it.
There was a beat of silence. Then the three of them burst into laughter.
“Uh, yeah?” Renjun scoffed. “Obviously.”
“Obviously?!” Donghyuck exclaimed, voice pitching up like it always did when he’s feeling upset… or happy… or sad… you get the point. “How is it obvious, exactly?”
Chenle huffed. “Because you two are both so extra about it. The cringey matching shirts, very lovey-dovey playlists, and the public bickering followed by a not-so secret aggressive makeout session? Please!”
Jisung nodded bashfully, finally lowering his cookie. “Seriously, it’s starting to get kind of embarrassing to watch.”
Donghyuck stared at them. He was entirely dumbfounded.
He slumped in his seat, acting as if he has been betrayed, and said betrayal has physically weakened him.
“Okay, first of all the matching shirts are not,” he paused, clearing his throat, “just a tiny bit cringey.” The three couldn't help but snort. “Second, Jaemin and I are not fake dating! We’re just—just…” His brain struggled to fish for the right word.
Chenle raised a brow, "You're just what?”
Donghyuck faltered, eyes fluttering slowly. “Aggressively affectionate.” Along the way, he regained his fire and glared at the three. “Sue me for wanting to make out with my very hot boyfriend in broad daylight!”
“More like aggressively delusional,” Renjun remarked, which made the other two almost choke on their drinks.
Donghuck groaned loudly, burying his face in his arms.
“This is a nightmare,” he muttered into the table. “This is worse than when Jaemin lit a candle ‘for the vibe’ and almost set the curtain on fire.”
“Honestly,” Renjun added, arms crossed, “If this is a con to fool us—or just some long game to get railed by Jaemin and relieve that pent-up tension—then just do it already. It’s a win-win for all of us, buddy.”
Chenle chuckled before adding, “Exactly! You get your back blown out, and we get some peace and quiet. Everyone wins. Yay!”
Donghyuck shot back up, giving zero shits about how everyone in the cafeteria is now looking at their table. “Excuse me?! I am dating Na Jaemin. This isn’t some prank or friends-with-benefits thing,” he ranted, his hands flailing wildly, trying to get his point across. “We’re together! Like together together. Why the hell won’t you—”
Mark suddenly popped up, sliding beside Renjun as he raised an eyebrow at Donghyuck.
“What’s up? Why is Hyuck screaming like a banshee?” His eyes then trailed to Jisung, “And why is Jisung dying?” who apparently was choking on a piece of cookie the whole time Donghyuck was raving. He slid him his opened water bottle.
“He still won’t admit about him and Jaemin,” Chenle said before taking another bite of his burger, the other hand softly patting Jisung’s back.
Mark looked at Donghyuck with an amused smile. “Dude, you’re still on that?”
Donghyuck groaned loudly for the nth time today, slipping down to his previous position. He thudded his head on the table, as if the sheer ignorance of his friends was starting to wear his brain down.
“Jesus Christ,” he groaned. “What is wrong with all of you?”
Right on cue, Jaemin appeared.
He was just carrying a cup of the overpriced drink Donghyuck oh-so loved in one hand and both of their foods on the other, identical to a damn romantic film lead.
He casually plopped down beside Donghyuck like he belonged there, and well, he did. He rested their food and drinks on the table, and without missing a beat, slid his hand on the other’s thigh, tracing soft circles on it.
“Jeno said he can’t make it,” Jaemin announced, already munching on his fries. “Apparently, Professor Suh has them on classroom lockdown to redo a class project.”
“Again?” Mark blinked. “Seriously, he must have a vendetta against them.”
Their other friends’ voices then started to overlap, which may or may not have pissed Donghyuck off more.
Donghyuck lifted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes at his friends who were now acting essentially as if the earlier conversation didn’t happen. “Baby, tell them we’re real.”
Jaemin took a sip of his drink, softly moving Donghyuck’s cup in front of him. “We’re real.”
Chenle immediately let out a dramatic pfft from across the table. “Yeah, like that’s convincing.”
Renjun leaned forward. “Prove it then.”
“How the hell do we even do that?” Donghyuck looked at Renjun similarly to a child who was just asked to solve a Physics equation. “Seriously, is whatever you have seen not enough?”
“I don’t know,” Renjun shrugged, letting out a dramatic sigh. “I mean, I don’t think it would be hard to prove if you are actually dating.”
“Oh, how about that time Mark walked in on us?” Jaemin, ever so calm when it comes to stuff similar to these, suggested.
“What—I—” Mark sputtered with his cheeks lighting to a soft red. “Hey! It didn’t—You weren’t—Whatever, dude!”
“Oh, yeah,” Renjun said with a nod, just as though he was slowly starting to remember. “Eh, fucking doesn’t mean dating, though. Mark and I aren’t.”
Chenle choked on his drink, “What?!” he shouted.
Everyone else was unbothered and carried on with their heated conversations about Donghyuck and Jaemin’s “relationship.”
They all already knew. Even sweet, shy Jisung knows. Renjun and Mark can get shamelessly loud, after all. The fact that Chenle doesn’t know was news to them.
Jisung, on the other hand, finally spoke up amidst the chaos. “So… what would be the reason for faking it, though?”
“That’s the point!” Donghyuck said exasperatedly. “We are not faking anything. There is no bit. No prank. No project. We’ve been dating for months, yet apparently you guys won't believe us.”
Mark frowned. “Yeah, but like, why would you date each other? You guys hate each other’s guts.”
Jaemin just grinned with that annoyingly calm Cheshire-like smile of his. “Hate is just very very passionate love waiting to bloom, Markie-pooh.”
Chenle and Renjun gagged. Jisung looked scandalized. And Mark looked like he wanted to crawl in the vending machine and just disappear from this conversation.
Donghyuck grinned. “I rest my case.”
Jaemin’s smile turned soft as he planted a soft kiss on Donghyuck’s temple before picking up his fork to start eating.
A long heavy silence followed.
But apparently, their friends' brains were more fried than Donghyuck’s fries.
“Yeah, okay. Definitely fake,” Renjun muttered as he sipped his drink.
Mark sighed, a supposedly supportive smile on his face. Donghyuck would rather wipe it off him. “You guys would make great actors. Like, legit, dude. Oscar-worthy level.”
Jisung gave them a sheepish grin. “I don’t even know what to believe anymore.”
Donghyuck stared at them in disbelief, jaw dropping. “Are you kidding me?!”
Jaemin only hummed and leaned his head against Donghyuck’s shoulder, unbothered. “Don’t worry, my baby love so sweet. We’ll just make it harder to ignore next time.”
“Oh my god,” Renjun groaned. “Please don’t.”
“I don’t know, Junnie,” Donghyuck grinned sweetly. “My honeybunch, sweetie pie, is too hard to resist after all.
The whole table collectively groans.
Except for Chenle
“Hello? Are we gonna ignore the fact that Mark and Renjun are fucking?”
💞
The next few weeks were rough. On their friends, that is.
Donghyuck and Jaemin never held back since their conversation in the cafeteria. Full-blown PDA—they weren’t just screaming their relationship in their faces, they were smothering them with it.
What used to be soft launches on social media became full-blown photo dumps of them all-over each other. Their once-secret make-out sessions in the apartment? Not-so secret anymore. They won’t stop even if someone walks in on them. Don’t even get Renjun started about their weirdly affectionate nicknames, because what in the actual hell is ‘snoogums boogums’ ?
Chenle was pretty sure they’ve traumatized poor Jisung too.
“Oh hello, you guys!” A very familiar voice, feigning surprise as he approached them. “I didn’t know you guys would go here.”
Oh merciful Jesus.
In truth, Donghyuck spotted them first from across the street. He saw Renjun, Jeno, Chenle, and Jisung all huddled around at their usual table at the café, some sitcom friend group if you asked a stranger.
He and Jaemin were supposed to have a date at this one newly-opened coffee shop, just a few minutes away from their usual. But are they even Donghyuck and Jaemin if they pass-up an opportunity of pissing their friends off?
“Uhm, we literally hang out here almost every weekend,” Jeno deadpanned, which of course, Donghyuck ignored.
“Yeah, me and my sugar plum are on a date,” he said, pointing a thumb to Jaemin, who was now walking back beside him after ordering. “You know, the usual.” he added, trying to act nonchalant.
“Hey, guys.” The younger greeted them coolly.
“Anyways, we’re just gonna go over there,” Donghyuck continued, pointing at a small table that was somehow conveniently placed in their friend’s line of sight, “and continue on with our date, okay? Talk to you later.”
He even gave them a flying kiss as he walked away, already dragging Jaemin before any of their friends could even talk.
Jaemin chuckled under his breath, letting Donghyuck do whatever he wanted. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m ridiculous?” Donghyuck puffed as they sat down side-by-side. “They’re the ones whose heads are too hard. I mean, come on. Us? An experiment?”
Jaemin just smiled as he unwrapped both of their straws, placing them on each drink before handing Donghyuck his. “I mean, we are kind of dramatic, baby.”
Donghyuck narrowed his eyes at him. “We’re not dramatic. We’re just… overly romantic.”
And as if to prove a point, Jaemin slid over his drink, followed by the slice of cake that he had already cut up for him. Donghyuck muttered a thanks, then—unconsciously, without even thinking—reached over to Jaemin, hands fussing to fix a stray hair on the younger's face.
And from the corner of his eye, Donghyuck could see that their friends’ attention was on them.
Might as well give them a show, right?
“Bite?” He asked Jaemin, holding out a fry.
Jaemin leaned in and took it from his hand.
And, for a more dramatic flair (or maybe because he was just being Jaemin), pressed a kiss onto Donghyuck’s fingertips.
Donghyuck giggled. High-pitched and unapologetic, because he was Donghyuck.
And Donghyuck being Donghyuck with Jaemin, was absolutely in love and was being annoying about it too.
Jaemin leaned closer, whispering something either very romantic or very inappropriate. Either way, it made Donghyuck snort loudly, startling the poor old lady just a few tables down from them.
“Well, that would make them believe us,” Donghyuck said in a small voice with a grunt.
Jaemin laughed inwardly. “Why? Want to do it now?” he asked in a joking manner, wiggling his eyebrows up and down exaggeratedly.
“And get banned from my favorite café?” Donghyuck raised a brow. “I love you, but not to that point.”
Jaemin shrugged, still grinning. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”
Donghyuck couldn't help the giggle that escaped from him. Oh, Jaemin. How their friends think they're faking it was just absolutely ridiculous! Donghyuck was head-over-heels for the man.
But from the corner of his eye, he noticed Renjun had whispered something to the rest of the group.
He groaned and leaned in closer to Jaemin, as if seeking comfort. “They’re so hard-headed. Do you think they’ll ever believe us?”
Truthfully, Jaemin had long given up on trying to convince anyone. All that matters to him is that they are real—and that Donghyuck was completely and irrevocably in love with him, just as he was with Donghyuck.
But he can't lie and say that he wasn't amused by the sheer absurdity of it all. Besides, for Donghyuck's sake, he was willing to humor him again and again.
Jaemin kissed the top of his head. “At this point, just let them think what they want to, baby.” The elder groaned and rested his chin on the other's shoulder, looking up at him.
“No,” Donghyuck replied stubbornly, voice muffled into Jaemin's hoodie. “I refuse to be misunderstood like this. It hurts my pride.”
“Maybe we should kiss right here then,” Jaemin jokingly suggested, a wickedly stunning smirk on his face. “You know, since this date is technically a show to prove that we're dating.”
“Don't tempt me, Jaemin Na,” Donghyuck hissed, trying to glare at him but ended up biting back a smile, “I’m a great actor but I will break character and giggle like an idiot. And then , they'll think we're just faking it more.”
“You’re already starting to break character though,” Jaemin whispered, brushing a soft brief kiss on Donghyuck's lips before sitting up as if nothing happened.
At that point, Jeno stood-up, a look of disgust on his face. “We’re leaving, Jisung’s too young for this,” he said.
“I’m twenty-three,” Jisung muttered under his breath, a pout on his face.
Renjun and Chenle follow closely behind the two, talking amongst themselves about what just went down.
Jaemin and Donghyuck watched them retreat from their table.
“Well, that was fun,” Donghyuck said casually as he sat up properly.
“You think that was fun?” Jaemin asked, tugging his chair closer with one hand. “Wait ‘till they see what I'll do to you when we're fake engaged. ”
Before Donghyuck could even bite back, an out-of-breath Mark practically ran through the doors, looking confused as he saw their usual spot was empty.
“I thought we were gonna hang out today?” he asked, blinking confusedly. “Where is everyone?”
💞
Jaemin loves Donghyuck. He really does.
But everything—even love—has its limits.
At first, he didn’t mind. The elaborate schemes. The relentless very public displays of their relationship. Even all the cringe that came with it.
It was all fine, in the name of Donghyuck. Sometimes he even found it cute. Endearing, in that chaotic, maddening way only Donghyuck can pull off.
He figured it would just pass in a few weeks. A month, tops.
But somewhere along the way, the amusement wore off. Worn down until what was left was a dull, persistent ache.
Because lately, every kiss, every date, and every hand held in public didn’t feel like it was just for them. It was done for the sake of proving their friends wrong.
It felt more as if it were everything that their friends accused them of.
A bit where they are trying to convince the world of something real by faking it louder.
“Ooh, apparently Mark and Renjun are hanging out at the park later,” Donghyuck excitedly says, eyes glued to his phone. “Let’s go there, baby!”
Jaemin looked up from his book, eyebrow raised. “Go there to what?”
“To have a date, duh.” Donghyuck replied, not even bothering to look up from his phone. His tone was casual, but his enthusiasm was obvious.
Jaemin pressed his lips into a thin line. He closed his book slowly, as if buying a bit more time for what was about to come next.
“To have a date,” he repeated, “or to stage one of your stupid schemes again?”
“What?” Donghyuck’s head snapped up, his attention finally caught, the grin slowly faltered. “Did you just call me stupid?”
“No, baby,” Jaemin sighed, rubbing his temple. “I called your schemes stupid, not you.”
“That’s the same thing, Jaemin.” Donghyuck scowled.
“No it's not.”
Donghyuck stood up abruptly, throwing his phone onto the couch, voice rising with irritation. “You know what? What in the actual fuck is wrong with you, Jaemin? You’ve been acting weird for some time now.”
“Nothing,” Jaemin muttered, already turning his attention back to his book.
“No!” Donghyuck grabbed his book and tossed it aside. “Tell me, Jaemin, because I am sick and tired of you—”
Jaemin looked back at him sharply. “You’re sick and tired? Really, Hyuck?”
Donghyuck blinked at him, confused and a tad bit defensive. “What? You’ve been moody as hell! If you’ve got something to say, just say it!”
“You really want to know?”
“Yes!”
“Fine!” Jaemin’s voice echoed inside the apartment as he stood up right in front of Donghyuck. “I’m sick and tired of whatever this is, Hyuck!” Raw and loud as he motioned to the two of them.
Donghyuck flinched, glaring up at him. “Of what? Of us?” he scoffed. “Are you breaking up with me?”
“That’s the thing, Hyuck!” Jaemin’s tone softened and trembled—his bottled up emotions spilling past his lips. “I don’t want to break up with you. I love you too much to do that.”
Donghyuck’s shoulder dropped slightly. His face shifts, soft and scared. Not of Jaemin, but of the possibilities that could happen.
“But this thing,” Jaemin continued, “this obsession with proving that we are real is actually making it feel like we aren’t.” He swallows down the lump in his throat. “Baby, it feels as though I’m the only one actually in this relationship.”
“So what, then?” Donghyuck’s voice was quieter now, more frustrated than angry. “Am I supposed to just leave them be? To make all these stupid assumptions about us?”
“No,” Jaemin said softly—gently, as if even though he himself was hurting, he didn’t want Donghyuck to be. “But we don’t have to prove anything to them either… I just want to love you, Hyuck.”
Jaemin’s words, heaving and unmovable, hung in the air for a while. Similar to something burning that drowned them in thick smoke until they couldn't breathe.
Donghyuck tried to open his mouth to speak—to apologize, to argue, to say something, anything—but nothing came out. His throat only felt tighter.
How does he even bring up all that is in his mind? How does he say that he just wanted the world to know how beautiful it is to be loved by Na Jaemin? That he didn’t mean to turn what they had into… whatever they had now? That it was easier to chase the joke than face the fact that no one took them seriously? That it was all his fault that everything turned to ashes?
How the hell would he do that?
“I didn’t know you felt that way,” he finally said, voice thick, eyes glassy.
“I know.” Jaemin forced a smile. “I want us, but I don’t want this. It’s exhausting, Hyuck—always needing to be seen.”
They say heartbreak isn’t literal. That it’s just a metaphor.
Yet Donghyuck hurted so much that he felt his heart break into a million pieces. Each fragment pierced through his chest, his lungs losing air, and all he could feel was an ache where his heart was supposed to be.
For the first time in his life, Donghyuck felt his heart break.
“ Oh,” he whispered, swallowing hard. “Okay.”
Donghyuck was in a daze.
He doesn’t even remember leaving Jeno and Jaemin’s apartment.
One moment he was standing in the living room fighting with Jaemin. The next, he’s crying into his hands on the floor of Mark’s apartment, his whole body shaking as his best friend rushed to comfort him.
“Dude? What happened?” Mark panics, kneeling beside him. “Hyuck? Aren’t you gonna tell me what happened?” he asked tenderly, rubbing soft circles on Donghyuck’s back.
He shook his head and tried to stop himself from crying, only to do it louder.
What is there to tell?
Is there even anything left of him and Jaemin to tell?
Donghyuck felt stupid. He wanted to slap himself.
All he knew was that in his attempt to prove everyone wrong, he ended up faking what was real.
💞
You know those moments in rom-coms when everything comes crushing down?
For instance, in 10 Things I Hate About You, when Kat finds out that Patrick was paid to date her. Or in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, when Andie and Ben realized that they were technically just using each other. Or in She’s All That, when Laney finally finds out that she was just a bet.
The aftermath of that is nothing but just pure devastation.
Sad, stupid, and cinematic all at the same damn time.
That’s exactly how it felt between Donghyuck and Jaemin.
A week passed, and it became impossible for their friends not to notice the shift between the two.
The space between them stretched out into long awkwardness—Jaemin glued himself to Jeno, while Donghyuck hovered over Mark like his life depended on it. There were also the stolen glances when the other wasn’t looking. And the absolute awkwardness that envelops the room when both of them look at the same time. And of course, the pathetic excuses to avoid group hangouts.
“Oh, I’m not feeling well.”
“I have a make-up class.”
“I have to walk my dog.”
Bullshit. Neither of them even has a dog.
“So,” Renjun trailed off, stabbing at his salad. Today’s hangout only included Donghyuck. Apparently, Jaemin had to ‘catch up’ on some homework. “What’s up with you these days, Hyuck?”
Donghyuck paused mid-bite, a seemingly confused look on his face. “Nothing much. Why?”
“Oh, you know. Nothing new?” Chenle chimed in.
“No…?” Donghyuck's voice trailed off with suspicion.
“Really? Like, nothing at all?”
Renjun rolled his eyes, done with taking things slow. “Oh for fuck’s sake. Are you and Jaemin finally done with your whole fake dating thing?”
Mark and Jeno quietly kept their eyes to their food.
Whether it was true or not, the only thing Mark knew was that his best friend was crying in his arms just a week before. And a day after, he and Jaemin weren't even looking at each other. So, he knew something was there. He assumed that Jeno must've experienced something similar.
Jisung on the other hand always had this small part of his brain that knew that Donghyuck and Jaemim were meant to be a thing. Or that they actually are… maybe, were?
Jisung awkwardly glanced at Donghyuck before turning back to Renjun and Chenle. “Guys, I don’t think—”
“Yeah, and why the awkwardness?” Chenle cut him off, eager for some gossip. “Oooh—wait, did one of you actually fall for the other? I bet it was you.”
“This isn’t a rom-com, Chenle,” Renjun muttered. “Calm down.”
“What?” Chenle replied, raised eyebrows and all. If you think about it, Donghyuck and Jaemin are technically a walking rom-com.”
“Whatever. You know, we should just stick with the—”
“Guys!” Jisung hissed, in a loud whisper.
“What?” Renjun and Chenle snapped at him in sync.
With his lip, Jisung subtly pointed at Donghyuck who was now already at the counter paying. The group fell silent, watching as he walked back to the table, a receipt in hand.
“This one’s on me,” he said, his smile strained. “I’m heading out early.”
Before anyone could respond, he had already turned away. But he only took a step before he paused, turning back around to his friends.
“Also,” he sighed. “There was no fake dating. No friends-with-benefits. No dares. No bets. No nothing.” His voice was eerily calm, and Donghyuck was anything but calm. Everyone at the table couldn’t help but avert their eyes.
“We were dating,” he paused, composing his haywired brain. “We are dating. I don’t know how many times we actually have to say, or show it, for you guys to believe us.”
He wasn’t outwardly angry. Nor was he moping around. But every word he let go of felt like a gunshot straight through their heads. One wrong move and something—or someone—will end up blowing.
“I—We didn’t mean—”
“You know what the worst part is?” he cut in, an empty laugh bubbling from his throat. “It's that I might lose Jaemin just because of my stupid ass… trying to prove to you what we already were sure of, when I could’ve just let you guys be.”
The words sat heavy between them. His friends barely met his eyes. Yet Donghyuck stood resolute in front of them.
“I don't blame you guys or anything,” he added quietly, lips curving into a tight smile. “Maybe Jaemin and I are just too incompatible for you to believe us. Like you guys said.”
Renjun and Chenle exchanged guilty glances, their heads dipping low. The other three seemed to sink into their seats, making themselves smaller.
“Or maybe we're just ‘fiction-y’.” he muttered, almost just to himself. “I don't know. I just…” His voice faltered, trailing off. “I just thought that you, out of all people, would've seen us better.”
He didn't wait for a reply, turning away before he could break down right in the middle of the restobar.
💞
As everyone would probably know by now, Donghyuck and Jaemin wouldn't be Donghyuck and Jaemin without their flair for the dramatics.
That is why Donghuck is outside Jaemin's apartment door. A small speaker clutched in one hand, while the other with a mic resembling some lovesick fool in a 90's rom-com.
Well, too late to back out now, right?
You're just too good to be true
Can’t take my eyes off of you...
You'd be like Heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much...
Even from inside his room, Jaemin knew that voice all too well. He could pick it up from a crowd of thousands. Every syllable shaped with familiarity, every note carrying Lee Donghyuck’s warmth, cradling him on cloud-nine.
At long last, love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive…
Jaemin pushed himself up from his bed, rolling his eyes as if his heart didn’t do a somersault by his lover’s serenade. He walked to the entrance door, hand resting on the doorknob, waiting for a few seconds before swinging the door open.
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you…
And there he was. His smile was wide, hopeful, and nervous.
I love you, baby!
And if it's quite alright
I need you, baby
To warm the lonely night…
Donghyuck sang with no restraints. Eyes closing to convey every note, bending his knees, his free hand gesturing dramatically with every lyric.
I love you, baby
Trust in me when I say…
Donghyuck walked closer to him, taking one of Jaemin’s hands to pull it closer to his chest.
Oh, pretty, baby
Don't bring me down, I pray
Oh pretty baby
Now that I've found you, stay
And let me love you, baby
Let me love you—
“Yo, what the fuck?!” a neighbor a few doors down shouted. “Shut the fuck up! Some of us are trying to sleep here!”
“Sorry!” Donghyuk shouted back sheepishly, who then turned back to Jaemin and shrugged his shoulders that said worth it.
Jaemin raised an eyebrow as he leaned on the doorway, lips twitching to hold back a laugh. “What exactly do you think you are doing?”
“Trying to say sorry?” The other tittered nervously, shifting closer. “I'm sorry. You were right, those schemes were stupid. And… maybe, yes, I am too.”
“You know I didn't mean it like that, Hyuck.”
“I know,” he said quickly, “but—can you just let me speak first?” He whined, pouting up at Jaemin.
Jaemin had no other choice but to bite his lip so a smile wouldn’t slip. A pouting Donghyuck did always make him go madly crazy (read: feral). “Go on.”
The older took a breath, bracing himself. “Okay, well, you were right. You were right about us not having to prove anything to our friends. Right that we don't have to put on a show to let everyone know how much we love each other. You were right about… everything. And I was so busy trying to win over an audience that I didn’t even notice I was slowly losing the one person that mattered.”
He swallowed, squeezing Jaemin’s hand as he looked up at him with pleading eyes. “I’m sorry, baby. Please forgive me.”
Jaemin stared at him with an unreadable expression. Pondering.
But who was Jaemin without Donghyuck? Jaemin couldn’t even imagine a time after Donghyuck.
When he fell, he fell hard. And when he fell, it seemed essentially as his memories were filled with thoughts of before, during, and a future with Donghyuck. But not an after.
Jaemin’s expression softened, the icy edge melting away. “You really do know how to get me.” He tugged him by the nape, pressing a sweet swift kiss.
“You have to admit,” Donghyuck grinned, “the song number was romantic as fuck.”
“Eh, it was kind of cringey."
“Oh, please. You know you love it.”
Jaemin chuckled in adoration and surrender. “Yes, baby. I loved it so much.”
💞
“You should've told me!” Renjun complained as the whole friend group, minus Donghyuck and Jaemin, made their way to Jeno and Jaemin's apartment. “Now I feel really bad.”
“Ditto,” Chenle muttered, a deep frown on his face.
“Come on, dude. It’s not just you guys” Mark said. “That's why we're going to Jaemin's—with cake and all too. Then, we'll talk to Hyuck after, okay?” Everybody silently agreed with a nod.
They let themselves in with Jeno’s spare key as soon as they were there. The others immediately went to the kitchen to prepare the cake.
Meanwhile, Jisung lagged behind them, opting to check if Jaemin was inside his room instead.
“Hello? Anybody home?” He knocked. Once. Twice. And after a few more tries, decided to press his ear to the door to check if Jaemin was inside.
“Ah—Jaem, too much,” Donghyuck’s whines came through loud and clear, making Jisung freeze, trying to understand what in the actual hell was happening.
“Fuck… Baby, just a bit more, hm? I know you can take it.”
“Jaem—Baby, please, please, please.”
“That’s it. A bit more, yeah?”
Jisung's eyes went wide, his whole face flushing red. He staggered back as if the door itself burned him.
Holy shit.
“What the hell are you doing, Ji?” Chenle’s complaining voice suddenly popped behind him. He immediately turned around, sweat dripping from his forehead as he tried to subtly cover the door with his body. “Move so we can open the damn door and give him the I’m sorry cake.”
Jisung shook his head and his hands frantically. “No, no, no. You don't—You can't. Trust me, I—”
“Move.”
“No! You don't understand. Trust me. They're fu—”
Renjun, always so impatient, stepped forward. “Move,” he said, shoving past to open the door. “Jaemin, we—”
“Aaahhhhhh!!!!”
“Get the hell out!” Jaemin yelled, hurling a pillow at the doorway.
“Sorry—I—Sorry!” He immediately slammed it shut again.
A deafening silence took over as the group dragged themselves back to the kitchen. They blankly stared at each other, mouths hanging low. The scene that they just saw kept replaying in their minds, the longer their silence took over, the more vivid the image became.
Huh. So it is Donghyuck and Jaemin.
“Did we see the same thing…?”
“Yeah.”
“Was that real…?”
“Yes.”
“Were they…?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Was Jaemin…?”
“Yup.”
“... Donghyuck's a bottom?”