Dating back to two days ago, the lunch with the couple had been exceedingly pleasant for Jisung more than he could admit. It had been a long time since he joined the both of them without being treated like a fragile newborn or seeing them with a constant constipated look.

They didn't pry into his sudden newfound relationship with Hyunjin and had chatted about their days instead. Hyunjin and Minho were lost in a conversation Jisung could not understand. Although Jisung didn't know the nature of their friendship, he knew they bonded over being in the same dance crew a few years back. As for Chan and him? They talked about the song they had been working on. It was natural and free of tiring thoughts.

Until Minho dropped him a text days later, and Jisung had to call for an emergency meeting with Hyunjin. He bombarded Hyunjin's chat room despite knowing the latter was still in class.

Once they were both in Jisung's room, Hyunjin peered over to Jisung's phone. "What does he want?"

Not forgetting to be as obnoxious as possible, he threw himself on Jisung's bed, making a grabby hand towards the bag of chips Jisung had on the desk next to his bed. Irritated as he may be, Jisung complied with Hyunjin and threw the chip bag to the latter since he was the one who called Hyunjin over.

"He wants to meet up later. I think he wants to hear about you from me," Jisung explained, his voice edged with anxiety.

Munching loudly, Hyunjin tilted his head quizzically. "Why? He knows me. It's not like I'm a stranger." Not counting Jisung and Seungmin, Minho had also known him the longest.

Jisung ran a hand through his hair. "Of course, he knows you, but he doesn't know you as the person I like. He got curious when I started liking you. Didn't you question Seungmin and Innie when they first started dating too?"

Hyunjin shrugged nonchalantly. "Ask them when they start liking each other? No, I don't because it's none of my business and Seungmin was eager to talk about Jeongin anyways. I didn't need to initiate the conversation. All he does is talk about Jeongin all day long." Jisung could imagine. Jeongin was the same and if not, worse.

"Ha...anyways, it may be like this with Minho hyung because he actually sees me like a little brother. When he first found out about the way he feels for Chan hyung, he immediately told me about it because he didn't think keeping it a secret from me was a good idea since I knew both of them."

"Oh..." Hyunjin suddenly rolled over, lying on his tummy. Jisung was still sitting on the floor and if he turned around, maybe he could just slap Hyunjin on the face for chewing next to his ear. "Are you regretting it now?"

Jisung frowned, not understanding. "What do you mean?"

"Introducing them to each other. They didn't even know of each other's existence until you made them meet. If you didn't, maybe you could have been spared from their love drama." Jisung gave Hyunjin a long stare. No matter how you see it, Hyunjin was so clueless about the real ordeal here. This dumbass really thought Jisung's only problem was the inability to hang out without being a third wheel. He didn't feel like correcting Hyunjin. He was the one who told Hyunjin this was his reasoning before. It's better he thinks of it this way.

"What's the use of regret? Even if I don't introduce them they're bound to know each other one way or another." Their inner circle was very small to the point, everyone knew one another. They could never really escape anybody and that was why, despite their will, Jisung and Hyunjin also couldn't get away from constantly bumping into each other.

Hyunjin hummed, his eyes thoughtful. "Well, even if they're not together, there's no guarantee that you will stop being Minho's shadow. Being with Chan merely elevated the experience 'cause you went from shadow to a creepy stalker."

"I'm not anybody's shadow and I'm not a stalker!" Jisung protested, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Hyunjin raised an eyebrow. "That's not what it looked like when you followed them at the mall the other day." Jisung knew what it looked like, alright? But it wasn't supposed to appear so creepy.

"I wasn't - that wasn't...I just-" Jisung stammered, trying to find the right words. It was not easy to explain himself without diving further into the actual problem. He did not want to disclose to Hyunjin that he was in love with Minho. Hyunjin would probably mock him for it or judge him for it.

"Congratulations, you just started three different sentences. Now try finishing at least one," Hyunjin said dryly.

Jisung rolled his eyes and turned away. "Don't go all sarcastic with me. You won't understand me anyway." The last time someone spread that Jisung went on a blind date, Hyunjin had made fun of it. Not that Jisung didn't mock Hyunjin for being forced on a blind date by Felix and actually attending one. The deal was, Jisung knew Hyunjin too much to know the other couldn't care less if he was being insensitive towards Jisung.

"Try me."

Jisung sighed. Hyunjin wasn't going to let this go until he heard an explanation. How do you explain yourself without exposing too much? Gosh, Jisung wished they had a creative writing class. "I followed him- I mean I didn't plan to follow them. I was being honest when I said I was at the library to study that day. I finished early and I remember Chan hyung told me he will be at the mall with Minho hyung if I want to hang out."

"Ok, let me get this right. You were invited to their date as an official third wheel. So, why did you end up stalking them instead of texting to say you'll be joining them like a normal non-creepy human being would?" and then there comes the judgement. Jisung hadn't even told him the rest of it.

"This is why I said you won't understand."

"Yeah, I really don't understand. To me it looks like you got caught up in all your dumbassery." Jisung glared at him.

"I just forgot." In Jisung's defence, they had always hung out together as a trio if Changbin was too busy way back before the couple became a couple. It wasn't a rare occurrence to spot the three of them together.

"You forgot..." Hyunjin's tone demanded elaboration, his eyebrow arching in disbelief.

"Yeah, I forgot that they're now dating, ok?! And I can't just pop out of nowhere like I used to. In the past, if they were hanging out, I could just drop by whenever but now, if I do that I will end up ruining their date. I guess, I forgot they're no longer just friends. I keep following them to see when I should text but they were just- just..." Jisung groaned, it was hard for him to say it. He didn't even want to think of the word. It made him mad.

"They were just so in love, you couldn't interrupt." Hyunjin finished for him and Jisung nodded. "How'd you know?"

"K-Dramas." Hyunjin replied matter-of-factly. Jisung looked up, unimpressed.

"What? It's like a basic romance trope. When the two main characters get together there's nothing that can come in between them and not even their best friends. You were just stuck in the background as the mob character. It's totally not your fault." Hyunjin's explanation was delivered with such confidence that it was almost infuriating.

If imagining something could make it happen, Hyunjin would have been in a shredder right now, and that was mildly putting what Jisung actually thought. "I never hate you so much like this moment." he muttered, closing his eyes to collect himself. He had been so serious, and Hyunjin had the audacity to use K-drama logic on him.

"Ok, but see? I can understand you." He even looked proud of his conclusion.

Jisung stared at him, incredulous. He couldn't fathom how someone like Hyunjin, who often seemed so detached from reality, could be doing so well academically. "How do you even keep your CGPA high?" he asked, genuinely curious and slightly exasperated.

Hyunjin's smirk widened. "Because some people are just born with it and some people are just mob characters like you." he replied, his tone oozing with smugness.

"Are you always this narcissistic?" Jisung shot back, unable to hide his annoyance.

"I don't know. Are you always this impulsive?" Hyunjin countered.

Jisung couldn't help but crack a small smile at that. "Touché," he admitted, shaking his head. This wasn't the time for this. He had a crisis in hand, found out the problem but still with no solution.

Jisung groaned again, covering his face with his hands. The room felt stuffy with his frustration and he was the only one stressing out. "I need to see him tonight, and I need a cover story, Hyunjin." His voice was muffled, desperate. He thought acting uncomfortable about being found out would keep Minho from asking, but Minho was nothing if not persistent.

Hyunjin, sprawled lazily on Jisung's bed, looked up from his phone with a dismissive wave. "Just tell him whatever you want and fill me in later," he said, his tone infuriatingly casual.

Jisung dropped his hands, glaring at Hyunjin's nonchalance. "It's not that easy," he retorted, pacing the room. The walls seemed to close in on him with every step.

"Nothing's ever easy to you. Overthinking is a disease. You know what else is a disease? Impulsiveness. And somehow, you've managed to suffer from both which means if I'm correct, you have a chronic case of self-destruction because how is it possible to be an overthinker and impulsive at the same time? Those traits should cancel each other out, yet you've mastered the art of making them work together. Bravo, really." Hyunjin's tone was playful, but Jisung could see the smirk behind his words.

He knew he was being an idiot-Hyunjin didn't need to give him a full diagnosis. This wasn't like him at all. Normally, Jisung prided himself on his logical approach to life. But when Minho was involved, all reason fled faster than a cat in a thunderstorm. Love made him act like a fool, and he hated it. Hyunjin had no idea.

Ignoring Hyunjin's jabs, Jisung continued his pacing, his mind racing. "We've known him for years. How do I convince him that we're together? It's all luck that he jumped to that conclusion at the mall." He threw his hands in the air. "I literally try to kick you where the sun never shines every chance I get, and you once chased me through the whole faculty with a death threat in tow. I even want to choke you so bad for eating on my bed right now."

Hyunjin smirked, biting into another chip. "You love me, don't lie."

Jisung glared at him. "You can't tell me you're being civil with me right now just 'cause you owe me that damn laptop. Do you know how ridiculous it sounds that both of us are together?"

"Ridiculous? Maybe. But also kinda hilarious because I'm having so much fun watching your misery and I told you the exact same thing when you suggested we fake dating." Hyunjin shrugged, shoving another chip into his mouth. Crumbs scattered on the bedspread, adding to Jisung's mounting irritation.

"It was the best solution at that point!" Jisung's voice rose, the stress getting to him.

Hyunjin sighed, finally sitting up and giving Jisung his full attention. "And now your resolve is crumbling because you can't act to save your life. But you know, just say I'm the one who likes you."

Jisung stopped in his tracks, blinking in confusion. "Huh?"

"Just say I'm the one who likes you and you're just giving me a chance right now. So, you don't have to pretend that you like me in front of him. Just that you're confused."

Jisung's eyes widened, doubt flickering across his face. "That... that works?"

Hyunjin nodded, looking more serious now. "Of course, it works. Do you know how many people date people although they don't really like their partner romantically?"

"I don't know?" Jisung admitted, feeling a bit lost in this new perspective.

"A lot. A hell lot. Lots of people just do it for the convenience of it. Someone likes them, they agree to it because it's a social norm to date and it's also nice to have someone to like you if you don't see it as a burden. A lot of people date for fun. You should be thankful that modern dating is not all about the classic romance we see on TV. Why do you think I prefer watching dramas over having a real relationship? Because nowadays, people know each other through social media and flirt by dropping DMs. I hate those things. Not everybody can have a meet-cute like Chan and Minho, you know? They're lucky."

Jisung sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "You know, you kind of have a messed-up view on real-life dating, but I cannot say I don't see your point. So, what? I'll be the jerk who dates you for convenience because you like me?"

"Not exactly. You get to be the grumpy guy who dates me because you're confused, and I get to play the hopeless romantic. It's foolproof. How's that for the basis of your cover story?"

....

"I'll roll with it."

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"So, Hyunjin confessed to you and you said yes, right away?!" Minho's eyes were wide with disbelief, his voice tinged with curiosity and amusement.

Jisung shifted uncomfortably on the worn couch in Minho's room, the faint scent of Minho's cologne mixing with the soft aroma of the tea they had brewed earlier. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. "Yeah, he did. What was I supposed to do? I panicked! I thought he was playing with me. If he was and I said yes, maybe he would be flabbergasted and say he was just kidding. I didn't expect him to show up the next day asking if we could go on a date," Jisung explained, his tone a mix of defensiveness and exasperation.

Minho's laughter filled the room, rich and hearty, resonating against the walls decorated with pictures of his cats and friends. He clutched his stomach and leaned forward, resting his head on Jisung's shoulder. Jisung's face flushed, his heart pounding in his chest like a drumbeat. He wished Minho hadn't noticed his reaction, but he couldn't help the way his pulse quickened at Minho's touch.

"It's been a few weeks?" Minho inquired, still chuckling, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

Jisung nodded, hesitant. "Hrm... yeah. I- I don't know how to tell him I thought he was playing with me and now I'm kind of confused."

"How so?" Minho's curiosity was piqued, his laughter subsiding as he looked at Jisung with genuine interest.

Jisung's mind raced, trying to find the right words. "He likes me, right? But I don't understand! When I see him, all I see is this person that I want to deck in the face and it should be the same for him but somehow, I'm something entirely different in his eyes. I don't understand how he can go from hating me to liking me," he confessed, frustration lacing his words.

"But you also don't hate being in a relationship with him?" Minho's tone was probing, yet gentle, his fingers idly tracing patterns on the armrest of the couch. He put some distance between the two of them much to Jisung's disappointment.

"The thought itself is repulsive," Jisung blurted out before quickly biting his tongue. "But... somehow I'm okay with it." He winced at the safe he barely made up.

Minho's brow furrowed slightly as he processed Jisung's words. "So, that's why you're confused. You should be hating it but you're weirdly neutral about it," he mused, his voice thoughtful.

"Exactly. I don't know if I like him though but it's nice. It's nice that he cares about me," Jisung admitted, his voice softer now. He was projecting how Minho treated him onto Hyunjin because otherwise, he might lose his nerve thinking of Hyunjin that cares for him. It sounded like a nightmare. "He keeps shocking me every day. I didn't know it was possible for someone to adore someone that much." He was drawing on how Chan treated Minho to shape how Hyunjin was supposed to treat him.

Minho reached out and held Jisung's hands, his grip warm and reassuring. "Hrm... I'm not really one to say anything about this relationship you have with Hyunjin but from what I can see, I think you're falling for him."

"I am?" Jisung's voice wavered, imagining Hyunjin's reaction-a snort, perhaps, claiming it was the best joke of 2024. He, himself, almost laughed out loud. Gosh, what did he get himself into? Hyunjin wasn't wrong when he said Jisung was impulsive. He could hear that little shit's smug response 'told you so'.

"Yeah, maybe not falling in love per se but you're starting to like him," Minho affirmed gently, his eyes soft with understanding.

"I still want to drop-kick him though," Jisung countered, half-joking.

Minho laughed, the sound infectious and comforting. "Yeah, but you're starting to enjoy his company in a way that friends or as you put, 'enemies' wouldn't. Liking someone isn't that complicated, Jisung. Hate and love can coexist with each other too."

Minho pulled Jisung into a hug, offering a solace that Jisung didn't realise he needed. The embrace was warm and secure, a stark contrast to the turmoil in Jisung's heart. In Minho's eyes, he must have looked very lost. Jisung knew that liking someone wasn't complicated after all-it had been embarrassingly quick for him to develop feelings for Minho. Minho just needed to smile at him once, and that was all it took to make Jisung fall.

"I'm glad you're telling me this now. I can see why you didn't want to tell me before," Minho murmured into his ear, his breath warm against Jisung's skin.

Jisung hummed in response, his heart feeling heavy but his mind a little clearer now. "I hope that you and Hyunjin will take care of each other well." Hearing this, he thought he should never let Minho know the truth. Not when he was looking so relieved that Jisung was with Hyunjin. At the end of the day, the problem was still him having feelings for someone taken and someone who didn't see him in that sense.

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Aye, domino! Hey, people <3

Opinions on Jisung?

I am starting to feel bad for Jisung the entire time I wrote this because I wanted to write comedy but I love sad stuff. - Hunny