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The last time Hyuck saw Jisung was right when his heart started breaking over him. They'd went from inseparable best friends to still inseparable-but-close-enough-to-seem-like-a-couple to normal friends to people who only know of each other. Hyuck never wanted that but Jisung had made it clear that he wasn't going to be putting in the same effort he used and Hyuck was not going to beg. He let Jisung pull away while still trying to maintain their closeness until it began to feel like a lost cause.
He assumed enough time had passed for him to no longer care about how attractive he is or the fact that Hyuck was pretty sure he'd fallen in love with him.
His friend's wedding two years later wasn't enough time.
Jisung smiles at the sight of him. "Hyuckie, hi."
Hyuck smiles, choosing to ignore the nickname Jisung lost the privilege of using. "Hi."
"It's been so long, how are you?"
Donghyuck opens his mouth to respond but a loud squeal distracts him. He finds his friend, Renjun, running at them. He wraps them both in a hug that resembles a chokehold and he has the nerve to squeeze, saying how much he missed them.
"We go out every six months, that's not enough for you?"
Renjun rolls his eyes as he pulls back. "You know I'd prefer to see you more than that." He turns to Jisung. "You too, Ji. I see you less than my Hyuckie."
"He's yours now?" A new voice adds.
Renjun goes back to hugging Donghyuck, albeit much gentler this time. "He's always been mine."
"Oh, really?"
"Impossible", another new voice says. "Hyuck has always been mine."
Donghyuck smiles at the sound of his friend's voice. "Hi, Minnie."
"Boo, I see how it is."
"You're so dramatic, Mark."
Mark rolls his eyes and turns to Jisung. "Where's your boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend", Jisung responds, blushing deep enough to rival a tomato.
"You just want him to be."
"It's not like that!"
Jaemin snorts. "Sure it isn't. That's why you two are so comfortable."
"I was comfortable with Hyuck too!"
"We know", Chenle adds, joining them. Donghyuck swears he gives Mark a suspicious once over but his attention is quickly diverted when Jisung brings up Jeno, the final piece to their imperfect puzzle.
"He's such a cutie", Mark comments.
"Still thirsting after him?"
"I never did that."
Renjun laughs, nodding. "Yes, honey, you did. We know Jeno is handsome but your reaction has never failed to give panicked bisexual."
Mark rolls his eyes. "Whatever." He steps back. "I'm gonna say hi to the others but just so y'all know, each one of you owes me a dance at the reception."
"Yes!" Jaemin agrees, excitedly.
Mark blows a kiss at him that causes them all to look at Jaemin with various looks of curiosity and intrigue. Jaemin tries to laugh it off but he goes pink under the attention and explains that they've grown closer because they work near each other. Donghyuck would believe it if not for the fact that Mark is one of those people who are way harder to dislike than like and he's pretty sure they've all taken turns crushing on him.
Renjun excuses himself to go find Jeno and Jaemin agrees, saying that he wants to scare him. Donghyuck isn't the happiest to be left alone with Chenle and Jisung but he's an adult, he can handle it.
"How have you been?" He asks, Chenle.
"Babying this one."
"Le!" Jisung whines. "I do not need a babysitter."
Chenle smiles softly at him and caresses the back of his head. "You do when you're drunk." He focuses on Donghyuck. "Would you believe that he's still a lightweight?"
Hyuck awakes to the sound of rapid knocking on his hotel room. He opens the door, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. "Yes?"
"I was supposed to walk down the aisle with Doyoung's cousin but her boyfriend is being a dick about it so she said she's not doing it anymore and I need a replacement."
"Is your replacement supposed to be from Doyoung's side?"
Jisung shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. I just need someone who will link arms with me and can learn a very basic slow dance quickly. You still like dancing, right?"
Hyuck nods and holds the door open for Jisung to follow in after him. "Let me get dressed. Wait here so I'm not wandering around like an idiot."
"You could never be an idiot."
"Save it for your boyfriend."
"I don't have one!"
He hates that he can't tell if that's true and he hates that he cares even more. Hyuck puts all of his energy into getting dressed which works until his stupid tie refuses to tie properly. At his third failed attempt, Jisung makes his way over to him and silently offers to help. The look on his face is innocent enough, which does nothing to lessen Hyuck's irritation. He tries to smile it off as he shakes his head and threatens the difficult accessory in his head before trying to tie it once again. It's a little wonky and he really should let Jisung fix it before he has to face everyone else in the wedding party but he decides that he'd rather anyone else help him.
"Wait", Jisung says when he's headed to the door. "Let me teach you the dance."
Hyuck isn't sure he's ready to have Jisung's hands on him even for something as small as one hand and mid-back but today isn't about him so he pushes his feelings down and steps into Jisung's space. Jisung is good at explaining so he's able to learn quickly and understand the vision his friends have for their dance. It will look beautiful and though he'd rather be on the side to watch his friends shine in the center, he's happy he gets to do something for them besides just show up. Doyoung would yell at him that his presence is more than enough but Hyuck has never not wanted to return the love he receives from his friends in every way he can.
The walk down the aisle is nerve-wracking despite how quick it is. Jisung gives him a reassuring smile that Hyuck pretends not to see because he still can't handle this version of Jisung, The one who's still so far away but far enough to pretend like they don't have history. Hyuck wishes he could ask Jisung what he's thinking, what he means to him right now when they're not friends but Jisung is acting like they never stopped even though they're not these people. There had been no version of them that looked quite like this.
He's thankful that he can quickly bring his attention to his friends, both dressed to the nines in tailored suits with added personal touches to make it feel like them. Yuta's black nails and winged eyeliner make him smile as much as the rings attached to Doyoung's necklace, each one for the groups of people closest to him. Hyuck is currently wearing the matching ring, right next to the one that he and Jisung are both wearing. They have their own too but Hyuck stopped wearing it the day Jisung called out Chenle's missing friendship and not his. Jisung never pointed it once and Hyuck stopped expecting to see the same ring on him. He looks down at Jisung's hand, wondering and finds that a new ring is in the place theirs used to be. He wonders if someone else has the same one, if that person is Chenle or someone else or if that one's just for him now.
Doyoung's vow brings Yuta to tears and that's enough to make Hyuck's own tears slip out. Yuta's vows make him full on cry, being one of the most beautiful things he's ever heard and filling him with so much happiness that it's being said to someone he loves. He feels a gentle pat on his back from the side Jisung is standing on but when he looks over at him, his even redder eyes are focused on their friends.
Hyuck is antsy after the ceremony ends, waiting to finally have a chance to speak to the newly-wedded couple. Jisung hasn't left his side which he decides to write off as him just hoping to get an in with Hyuck to speak to their friends. Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Mark eventually find them and Renjun runs into arms, looking just as emotional as he feels. Jaemin hugs him second, cooing at his red face, pretending like the ceremony didn't get to him too. He won't ever let a tear fall but Hyuck can see how affected he is.
"Hey guys", Yuta says, smiling with an equally happy Doyoung next to him.
Hyuck can't help and practically lunges at them to hug him. He can see a few people nearby give him weird looks but his friends laughter and they way their arms tighten around him are all that he cares about. He squeezes them a little tighter and then lets go so the rest of his friends can do the same thing. While he's free, Chenle pulls him off to the side by the sleeve of his blazer.
"How did you end up walking with Jisung? I thought it was supposed to be Doy's cousin."
"It was but she decided not to do it anymore and Jisung asked me because I don't mind dancing."
"He asked you?"
"Yeah." Hyuck isn't sure how to feel about the look on Chenle's face and they've never been close enough for him to know a lot about what his expressions mean. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Chenle didn't give him an answer, he just looked at him like he should know until someone told them to get changed for the reception happening in an hour. No one had to change but Yuta and Doyoung wanted everyone to have the option and to get a small break before the next activity as Yuta told them quietly right before literally sweeping his husband off of his feet. Doyoung yelped and smacked his husbands chest with the most affectionate glare Hyuck has ever seen.
"Wanna stay together?" Renjun asks. "I refuse to be alone so at least one of you has to be with me."
Mark hugs Hyuck from behind. "I go where Donghyuckie goes."
Hyuck isn't sure what to make of the fact that Jisung is the only one who doesn't even crack a smile.
Doyoung and Yuta rush to them. "You guys did great."
Doyoung takes Hyuck's hands in his. "Thank you so much for filling in. It also saved us time having to look for someone else."
"Of course. Everything I've seen today, including you two, has been beautiful."
"You remembered my advice", Yuta says with an approving grin.
Donghyuck laughs. "I'm just being honest, but yes, I remember."
"What did he tell you?"
"Flattery will get me far."
Doyoung gently swats his husband's arm. "You're so-"
Yuta grins at him, looking like nothing less than a man a love. "Yeah?"
"We're gonna go dance. I better see you two out there later. Oh, we splurged on the cake so help yourselves. If someone bothers you, tell them they're only allowed one piece."
Hyuck isn't sure people would listen, considering the wedding cake is huge. Jeno had told them that each tier was two or three layers of a different flavor. It looks like it'll last Doyoung and Yuta the entire month, if not longer so he imagines that Yuta probably came up with a way to share the responsibility with the guests.
*
He finds Mark and Taeyong looking cozy in a corner. Taeyong smiles at the sight of him and excuses himself, placing a hand on Mark's arm before walking away.
Hyuck can't help but ask, "You a man-whore now?"
Mark playfully rolls his eyes, not looking the slightest bit offended. "No. It's not my fault I get along with people very well."
"So does Chenle but the only he looks like he's dating Jisung. You look like you're dating Jaemin and Jeno and looking for another."
"Chenle is not dating Jisung."
"Because he's dating you?"
Mark shrugs, causing him to let out a gasp. "Really?" He moves in closer to the window so he can loudly whisper, "You are a man-whore!"
"Maybe a little but I don't hide that. We're poly. Someone could date both of us or one of us and we don't want to scare prospects away, so we don't make it obvious."
"You're failing. Wait, okay is Chenle trying to date Jisung?"
"Think he was at one point but Jisung's never like, entertained it. They're the same as in college."
Hyuck gives his friend a look. It been sometime in college when Hyuck started thinking that maybe Jisung didn't love him back because he already loved someone else. He acknowledged that maybe Jisung simply wasn't interested in him but he had a funny way of showing it.
"What? You remember."
"Mhm."
Mark studies his friend. "You don't know, do you?"
"What?"
"Jisung was, like, in love with you."
"No, he wasn't", Hyuck responds quickly. "He...left me for Chenle. We don't talk much now because he stopped to me that much and I didn't want to hold onto a lost cause. Everyone jokes about him and Chenle for a reason."
"Chenle uses that to make us seem less suspicious and Jisung is just too nice to get mad."
"Whatever, Mark. He doesn't-", he sighs. "It doesn't matter. I need a piece of cake."
"If I find Jaemin, I'll send him your way."
Hyuck gives him a small smile and nods. "Please do."
He's lucky enough to spot Jaemin helping himself to everything on the dessert table, next to the cake. Hyuck picks up a plate and then moves in next to his friend, gently bumping his arm.
"You okay?"
"I had an interesting conversation with Mark."
"Is he flirting with you too?"
"No, but thanks for admitting it." Jaemin rolls his eyes. "He said that Jisung used to be in love with me which I can't even-How does that make any sense when he let me go like I wasn't worth fighting for?"
Jaemin's eyes soften. He holds out his arm for Hyuck to take and leads them to a table with two people Hyuck hasn't seen since college.
"Sungchan? Shotaro?"
"That's us. You two doing alright?"
"Our friends will have a hard time finding us over here, that's why I didn't go to our table."
"Do you need us to step away?"
"Are you okay with hearing me complain about my drama?"
The two nod so Hyuck and Jaemin sit. Jaemin pulls Hyuck's chair right next to his, so they can get as close to cuddling as possible in their positions. Shotaro makes small talk with them for a few minutes and then Sungchan brings up what seems to be bringing Hyuck down.
"You guys remember Jisung?"
"Yeah. I thought you guys were dating when we all met."
Hyuck sighs at the thought. "I wanted to be and it seemed like I had a chance and then I started hearing from Jisung less but I didn't want to seem crazy about it so I let it happen, even when it started to feel like he was replacing me with Chenle. I kept trying to keep our friendship because he was important but I stopped seeing him and hearing from until his updates were told to me by someone else and then our friends gave up because clearly we didn't speak to each other. And Mark just said Jisung was in love with me which I can't-this doesn't feel fair."
Jaemin runs a hand over his hair. Hyuck curls into him as best he can.
"We don't know what Jisung's deal is", Sungchan starts, "but he did seem into you so you're not wrong about having a chance."
Hyuck spends his last night cozily squished between Renjun, Jeno, and Jaemin. They wanted to invite Mark but knew that he wouldn't come without Chenle and where Chenle goes, Jisung follows. They're all supposed to have breakfast together since it will be the last time all seven of them will be in the same place at once. Hyuck isn't sure how he's gonna handle it but he's hopeful that each one of them will somehow be able to see each other more often than they have.
He packed the night before so his morning is easy, save for his friends who won't take his hands off of him. It wouldn't be a problem if they'd let him get dressed in peace but even Jeno says that his half-naked body isn't anything any of them haven't seen before. Hyuck rolls his eyes at Jeno complaining about their wolf-whistling when he removes his own shirt. Someone knocks on the door before they're all fully dressed but Jaemin opens it anyway.
"Oh?" He hears Chenle say.
"Shut up", Jaemin says, suspiciously red when he comes back into view with Mark, Chenle, and Jisung behind him.
"So they're actually obsessed with you", Jisung tells Donghyuck and then turns to Mark. "Why weren't you here?"
"You gonna get mad if I answer honestly?"
"Now, you have to tell us."
Chenle grabs a fistful of Mark's shirt and pretty much tosses him at all of them. He then takes Hyuck's hand and pulls him towards him, ignoring his confused expression. "They can tell you during the car ride. I need to talk to Hyuck."
"Chenle-"
"You're really gonna stop me?" At their concerned expressions, he laughs. "I'm not mad at him but he was about to say something stupid considering the information you'll find out." He turns to Donghyuck. "I have something more important to say."
"You think I stole your best friend." It's not a question.
"Wrong." Hyuck buckles his seat belt and looks at Chenle. "My best friend chose you over me and became your best friend."
"You don't like me."
"Wrong again. I don't like how I feel when I think about you because you're Jisung's other half and it made me jealous. But now I also think about how Mark is your boyfriend."
"When he did tell you?"
"During the reception. Congrats by the way, how long has it been?"
"Right before we graduated college. He'd already told me that he wanted to see multiple at once and if you were in a place to pay more attention to me, you would've noticed when I started liking him because I was obvious to everyone but him. I did like Jisung though but", he glances at Donghyuck, "he never liked me back. I tried too and I can't say I'm proud of how much desperation I have to be loved but there's a lot so I tried and tried. Oh, I see it now. Fair enough, I would've been the same if you'd been all over Mark."
"Is this what you wanted to talk to me about? If I dislike you?"
Chenle shakes his head. "I've always wondered but tried to make peace with it until Jisung came to me sad that you were avoiding him. Mark tried to be as helpful as he could without just telling him how you feel. He pushed me to talk to you by the way, said it would benefit us instead of me continuing to assume so I guess he figured out what you just said to me."
"Mark told me that Jisung has always been in love with me which made me upset because how can that be true when I'm not in his life anymore and he never tried to keep me there?"
"Jisung thinks you're still friends. He looked crushed when Mark told him you probably don't feel the same way. Jisung wants to talk to you and explain himself and you can do whatever you want about it, I'm not trying to influence you but I don't want to keep distant with you if you'll let me get closer. I won't assume how much this will mean to you but Mark and I aren't going to hide our relationship anymore. We're gonna be disgusting in the restaurant by the way."
Donghyuck laughs. "I don't care. I want to see you two happy. Can I ask what made you guys decide to stop hiding?"
"Mark told me that he loves me during the reception." He sees the tips of Chenle's ears turn red. "He said he's okay closing our relationship because he wants me more than anything. Jisung is lucky Mark and I live together. Knowing he loves me makes him so much hotter. I-fuck, probably shouldn't say that unprovoked."
"I'm curious now, tell me. If you won't. But Renjun tells me everything and I mean everything. Jaemin too sometimes but he rarely gets involved with other people."
"Good to know, I'm that way too and some of our friends don't wanna hear about Mark because he's their friend which I get but like I need someone to be unfiltered about him with. I got off to him telling me he loves me like I'm not sure there's anything I like hearing more than Mark telling me he loves me. It's probably because I wasn't sure we'd ever get to this point." He pulls into the parking lot. "Because I'm sure he'll tell you, I asked out Jaemin and Mark was interested so you all were right. We're giving it some time but we think we'll go for him so put in a good word for me once you know me better, thanks so much!"
"You're alive", Mark comments when they approach.
"Definitely signs of a good boyfriend", Chenle says, getting pulled into Mark's arms. "If you guys keep watching, don't complain." He pecks Mark's lips but Mark kisses again, deep enough to make Chenle blush. Mark then kisses his nose, making him giggle.
"I love you."
"Why is no one else surprised?" Renjun demands, looking like an angry chipmunk.
Jaemin holds up his hands. "I didn't know, I just noticed that Chenle was being clingier."
"I'm not surprised because Mark couldn't stop talking about Chenle when he came to my room. Then he told me", he looks at Chenle, "and I wanted to lock his stupid ass out of my room because I think he should've told you immediately but he was genuinely panicked by the idea of having to face you without his thoughts in order."
"I wanted to make sure you knew I meant it with all my heart. I'm so in love with you, Chenle."
"You're lucky I can tell you like him", Jisung says. "They were scary sometimes."
Mark pouts at Chenle. "Baby." He barely pulls away from Chenle. "Sorry, we can go inside now."
*
Jisung
Did you go home yet?
Hyuck
Not yet, why?
Jisung
Can I see you before you leave?
If you have time
Hyuck
I don't have to rush home, I'm on vacation
Jisung
Is it too much to ask if we can have dinner together? You're not happy with me and I want to apologize and explain
Hyuck
I don't know what explanation you might have but I'm hungry and I think I've been waiting for an apology if I'm honest
Jisung
You deserve one. The food is on me. Even if you stop me today, I'll send food to your apartment
Hyuck
I won't stop you today
"I'm so sorry. Please let me say everything first." Hyuck nods. "I didn't notice you were slipping away. It's not that I didn't care, it's that I thought everything was fine and was too stupid to realize you didn't intend to talk to me again until it was too late. We're all older and busier and we've gone days without talking. But I should've checked in and made more of an effort. We have our groupchat and you seem fine with everyone, except Chenle now that I think about it. I've never liked him. He liked me, did he tell you that?" He nods again. "Hyuckie, I've always loved you but I didn't want to ruin us though I did anyway but I didn't want my feelings to get in the way of us so I never told you and yeah, I admit it, the distance helped. But seeing you, talking to you brings it all back to the front of my mind. I heard when you told Chenle I asked you to dance with me and I wanted to smack him for it because I thought it was a dead giveaway. The only reason I didn't confess when we were dancing was because we weren't supposed to talk and I couldn't find you to ask you for a dance."
"Did Mark tell you what he told me?" Jisung hums. "Did he tell you how I reacted? Jisung, I-I loved you. Those feelings aren't entirely gone or I wouldn't be like this but I don't want to keep hurting. These past years, I've felt like I don't mean anything to you and I don't know what I'm supposed to do if you love me too but this is your way of showing me. I stopped wearing our ring and you didn't even notice but you noticed Chenle's missing ring. You might not have liked him back but you made it seem like you did and I just fell away. I tried, you know, I tried to keep our friendship going but you weren't giving me what I was getting you so I stopped. There are so many messages I never sent, so many times I wanted you back because I missed you. If you would've reached out even once and acted the way you did the past four days, I would've been annoyed but happy that you remembered me and wanted me back."
"I didn't mean to make you feel like that. I'm so sorry. Can we please try again? We don't have to date but I want to be in your life and you in mine. I will do whatever I need to to make you trust me again. I don't ever want you to think I don't care about you and I should've noticed how it looked. You didn't deserve that at all. I love you."
"Friends first", he says. "Then you can court me but if you ever make me feel this way again, it's over. I refuse to keep hurting over you. We need to be friends to have the same friends."
"I understand that. I don't want to make you feel this again, I always want to make you feel the opposite."