Hyunjin

If you thought there would be any difference after we embarked on this charade, you were sorely mistaken. There was no need for me to physically feign affection towards Jisung, just as there was none for him towards me. The only reason for our ruse going so smoothly was the pretence of 'hiding' our relationship. When I asked Jisung if it was alright to continue at this pace, he said it was fine because Minho hadn't suspected a thing.

"He's been in this position before. He knows not to pry too much," Jisung explained nonchalantly one late afternoon when we ran into each other at the cafe. I, in my infinite wisdom, asked, "Fake dating?"

Jisung, who was picking at his food, looked up with knitted eyebrows. "Hiding his relationship from us, you dumbo." Offended, I scooped some mashed potatoes with my spoon and flicked it at his face. He was unamused, and what followed was Jisung trying to strangle me with the strap of his bag.

Since Jisung had no complaints, naturally, I had nothing to complain about either. We resumed our days as usual; I went to the gym early in the morning and spent my free time in the art club room when I didn't have classes. On Fridays, when my schedule was empty, I would go to Seungmin's room to play games. During weekends, I stayed up late watching dramas.

As for Jisung, we were still at each other's throats whenever we saw each other. From time to time, he would update me on the lies he told Minho, just in case Minho hyung asked me anything. I also pitched an idea that we should do a subtle lovestagram. It will be not so obvious to other people but the one who's in the 'know' like Minho or Chan would see that we were going on dates although we were really just going to places, took pictures and left separate ways.

Maybe I was just a bit too confident, thinking nobody would notice anything from my posts but Seungmin, my best friend who had an uncanny knack for picking up on the slightest oddities, was the first to catch on. We shared the same classes, hung out together constantly, and whenever he wasn't with Jeongin, we were practically inseparable. So, it was natural for Seungmin to notice any changes in my behaviour. But he wasn't the only one. Felix had noticed too, and if Seungmin saw something, Jeongin inevitably would as well.

"Did you do something new recently?" Seungmin asked, his voice casual as we sat in his room, eating ramen from a pot and watching a replay of a soccer match. I took a thoughtful slurp of noodles, followed by a sip of water, and tilted my head. "I don't think so. Why?"

"No reason. It's just that you've been smiling a lot." I shut my eyes, trying to recall if I had been as smiley as Seungmin suggested. Indeed, bursts of giggles have become more frequent lately. The only new change was my new laptop which had a bigger screen so I could enjoy my film watching hobby better. "Oh, I got a free laptop."

"Ah, the one you bragged about?" I hummed in agreement, remembering I had told Seungmin about participating in the event at the mall. However, I had conveniently omitted the part where I joined with Jisung and that it was a couple contest. "Makes sense, but I don't think a laptop would make you smile for an entire week."

If not the laptop, there could be only one reason: Jisung. Messing with Jisung has become a favourite pastime lately, and if that didn't put me in a good mood, I didn't know what would. Teasing Jisung whenever he came with an update from Minho hyung was almost as fun as watching K-Dramas—because he couldn't complain when I threatened to respond differently if Minho asked.

Jisung was quite receptive, but I couldn't possibly tell Seungmin I had been harassing the poor guy because he needed my help. So, I shrugged. "I don't know, man. Maybe I'm just in a good mood because I did well on last week's presentation."

Suddenly, Felix burst into the room, his arms laden with bags. I winced as he struggled through the door. "Damn, what'd you get back there?" Seungmin asked, eyeing the load once Felix finally made it inside.

"A bunch of materials for my project. I need to make a townhouse model by next month, so I figured I should start now. What were you guys talking about?"

"Hyunjin's been in a good mood this week."

"Ah, you noticed it too?"

"You too?"

"Hard not to, with him constantly looking at his phone and giggling. I thought he was watching dramas again, but I saw him on Kakao."

Seungmin suddenly slapped my chest. I stared at him, confused. "Ya!"

"What?!"

"Ya!"

"What?!" My frown deepened as Felix joined in.

"Oh my god! Is it that?!?" Whatever it was, I was clearly the only clueless one. "What?!?" I asked again, but they ignored me as Seungmin burst the bubble.

"Ya, Felix! He must be seeing someone and keeping it from us! That must be why he's been all giddy and annoying all week long!"

Felix dropped his bags and threw himself at me. "REALLY?!?" I groaned, while Seungmin hid his dropped jaw behind his hand, as if he'd just uncovered the greatest secret.

Felix was shaking my shoulder. "You're really seeing someone?!"

"I'm not seeing anybody!!!" I screamed, just as the door opened, and Seungmin's roommate, Haechan, walked in. "Oh, you're not seeing anybody? Then why did you buy a bouquet yesterday?"

My face paled. Seungmin and Felix's heads snapped towards Haechan. "Wait! What bouquet?!"

"I don't know. He's the one who bought it. Ask him." Haechan shrugged and left, clearly on his way to the study room on the first floor, looking dead tired from a sleepless night. I sighed, knowing Haechan's little reveal would worsen the situation.

Seungmin stared at me, speechless. "How... do you hide something like this from us?"

Felix shook me again. "Who was that bouquet for?!?" I had given it to Jisung to show Minho as evidence of our last 'date'. I didn't think it would be a problem. Somehow, I managed to lie, saying it was for my mother and that I'd been happy because I started a new series to watch.

Seeing that I wouldn't budge, they didn't press further, sensing my annoyance. Apart from that minor setback, everything went smoothly. The fall semester was ending without Felix or Seungmin questioning my every move. With finals approaching, it was easy to explain to Minho and Chan why we weren't spending time together. Not that they paid much attention to us anyway. I never understood Jisung's anxiety about being found out; people usually weren't that invested in others' business. Especially since Chan and Minho were in different faculties, it was almost impossible for them to snoop around, given how busy they were. I concluded that Jisung was just a paranoid little shit.

"Are you done packing?" I looked over my shoulder to see Seungmin leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. Today was the last day to clear out the dorms, and Jeongin had offered to help us move our stuff with his car.

"Yeah, I'm just checking if I got everything before I drop my key at the office." Flipping through the papers I printed the other night, everything was in order; from my clearance form to the dorm bill receipts. "Yup, got everything!"After loading my stuff into Jeongin's car, we headed to the dorm administration office where I dropped off my keys.

Since finals were over, a celebration was naturally in order. We had already celebrated last night, getting ourselves drunk at the club and waking up hungover early in the morning. It still felt like someone had punched me in the face, even hours after waking up. I vaguely remembered Jisung throwing up at a dancing pole in the club and he was escorted out for making a mess. Recalling the memory, pulled out a chuckle from me. Something told me that Jisung would not be impressed by the pictures I took.

Sitting in the backseat, I kept catching Seungmin's eyes flickering toward me in the rearview mirror. He had something to say, something that had been on his mind for weeks, but he hadn't spoken up yet. His silence was starting to irritate me, but this was Seungmin we were talking about. He must have his reasons for staring at me like he was trying to dismantle my brain. I didn't ask him. If he wanted to say something, he would.

Jeongin, ever the perceptive boyfriend, cleared his throat to break the tension.

"Since your house is nearby, let's drop your stuff off first before we head to Chan and Minho hyung's place." Although I knew that was the plan from the beginning, I still gave him a positive answer and a thumbs up.

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The thing about Han Jisung was that he attracted attention from everyone around him. Maybe it was his clumsy nature that did it, but it used to drive me crazy. It always felt like he knew exactly what he was doing, basking in the care and attention that he inevitably received. I didn't like it.

Even then, as I sat next to him, it hadn't been five minutes since we arrived, and he had already managed to spill some soup on his shirt. I was the closest person to him, and no one else seemed to notice his little mishap. Naturally, I should have handed him a tissue, but why should I have? He wasn't a child, and he had two perfectly functioning hands.

"Seriously, you're not even a kid," I muttered, hiding my eye roll. Despite my annoyance, my hand was already busy wiping his sweater. I found that I was no longer the only person who noticed his clumsiness. I needed to keep up appearances somehow. I could feel Jisung's eyes on me, but instead of his usual retort, he remained silent. Subtly, I glanced at the person sitting on his other side. Minho. Jisung had also noticed his gaze. That explained Jisung's sudden compliance.

Once I was sure the soup hadn't seeped through his sweater, I leaned back in my chair and swept my gaze across the table. Everyone was engrossed in their own conversations. Felix was animatedly talking to Jeongin about a new concept store he had found in Itaewon. Chan had his head resting on Minho's shoulder while they chatted with Changbin, probably about Changbin's niece and nephew. Seungmin, however, was not talking to anyone. I caught him glancing at me and Jisung before he looked back at his phone. I frowned. What was that about?

Suddenly, an arm extended in front of me. It was Jisung, reaching for the kimchi pancake on my left and struggling to do so. He could have just asked for help. This was exactly what I meant about him seeking attention. I handed him the plate, and he took it with a mutter, "I didn't ask you to help me." Normally, I wouldn't have cared, but his tone was off.

He wasn't trying to irritate me. He was upset. The question was, why? Anyone close to him would have recognized the difference in his tone when he was arguing with me versus when he was genuinely upset. Minho, sitting next to me, seemed to have noticed Jisung's change in demeanour too. I made eye contact with Minho and then looked back at Jisung. This could have ruined all the hard work we had put into our act.

"I just want to help you," I said, putting a slice of pancake on his plate. I tried to sound like a caring boyfriend who was 'hiding' our relationship from our friends. When Jisung opened his mouth to protest, I pinched his side and pulled his chair closer to me before he could complain. Thankfully, he stayed quiet that time.

"It's getting boring! Should I liven up the mood and sing?" Jeongin suddenly stood up and headed toward a karaoke set. Since when did Chan have a karaoke machine? "I had been eyeing this since we got here. Something tells me you bought it but haven't used it," Jeongin said while turning the machine on.

"It was on discount, so I just bought it for you guys," Chan explained. How considerate of him. Minho smiled gently at Chan, and I couldn't help but wonder if it had been a good idea to buy this. Knowing us, we'd be here all the time now, and poor Chan would be begging for his privacy.

But that wasn't my problem. I had come here for a good time, and that's exactly what I intended to have. Snatching the other mic from Jisung's hand, I let my voice soar, the lyrics pouring out as he flailed dramatically behind me. Felix, ever the reliable friend, held him upright, while I threw in a rap verse with a mockery that made Jisung glare. Once I'd had my fill, I handed the mic back, grinning like a victor.

Amidst our fun, I'd sneak in subtle touches whenever Minho was looking at us. I would not blame Minho for being too nosy tonight because I knew he noticed Jisung's spoiled mood. My touches weren't obvious but they were enough for only Minho and Chan to catch. Jisung, though, wasn't amused. He swatted my hand away with a frown. "Just play along," I whispered, "He's watching us."

But Jisung, stubborn as always, wasn't having it. He huffed and moved to the farthest seat from me, choosing to be difficult today.

The next song came on, an old slow tune that only Chan and Minho seemed to know. Seungmin, never one to miss a chance to tease, shouted that Chan was old, which was why he knew the song. We let them sing, groaning as they poured their hearts into the love ballad, the rest of us settling into our seats.

I stole a glance at the man now sitting stiffly beside me. I had not realised that he somehow made his way back to my side or was it me who unknowingly took a spot next to him. He no longer seemed to want to strangle me with the mic cord, probably too drained from Felix's manhandling. But the sulking was still there, like a petulant child who'd had his candy taken away. I looked back at the couple who were singing and scoffed.

Weeks ago, I asked Jisung if he was upset that his best friend was spending less time with him and his answer had been no and an angry ,'Do I look that petty?'. Yet, here he was acting like a child whose playtime was disrupted the whole day. It was a bit too obvious to ignore. I was pretty sure other people had caught on to his moodiness too but refrained from saying anything. Everyone knew Jisung was the type to cool down after being given some time and space. Unlucky for him, I wasn't the type to care about his preference.

Whilst the others were lost in karaoke chaos, I took the opportunity. I stood and grabbed Jisung by the arm, pulling him up. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, clearly wondering what I was doing, but I didn't give him time to argue. We slipped out unnoticed.

"Why are we out here?" Jisung's voice carried more annoyance than anger. That was a good sign that he was willing to talk. "Your face looked like you just swallowed a lemon when Minho and Chan were serenading each other." It was a bit too much for him to be jealous of his friend. I thought he needed to fix that attitude.

Jisung made a face at my simile, clearly unimpressed. "Seriously! Stop putting it that way."

"Then how about this? Your face looked like it was about to turn to dust."

He rolled his eyes, his expression unimpressed. "Why do you care?"

Jisung had always been a bit of a wild card—one moment he was indifferent, the next I was his mortal enemy, and then he'd want me to be his fake boyfriend. Now, as I was trying to keep things from spiralling out of control, he was sulking like a toddler. It was absolutely maddening.

"Jisung," I said, my tone dropping, though it had no effect. I tried again, "Jisung." This time, he turned, his glare sharp enough to cut glass.

"Stop being a brat," I told him, crossing my arms. His glare intensified as he crossed his own. "I'm not being a brat!"

"But you are!" I ran a hand through my hair, exasperated. "Look, this whole fake boyfriend thing was your idea. I'm just playing along. But if you keep acting like this, it's going to make everything pointless. I don't do things halfway. If you want a fake boyfriend, I'll be one, but not with this attitude." The few times I threatened to spill the truth, he'd complied. I didn't see any reason why it wouldn't work this time.

Jisung fell silent, and for a moment, I thought I'd gotten through to him. Then, he bent down, and for a split second, I panicked, thinking he might actually cry. I wasn't good at comforting people and if that person was Jisung, I'm afraid the only way I knew to communicate with him was through mockery.

But instead, he grabbed a handful of brown leaves and threw them at me with all the force of a hurricane. I stumbled back; the leaves stuck in my hair and slid down the back of my shirt. "Fuck you!" I stood there, stunned, as Jisung glared at me like a cat that had just been doused with water.

"Jisung, what the hell?" I shouted, brushing the leaves off me, but he was already storming away.

"Where are you going?" I called after him, but he didn't slow down. Instead, he quickened his pace, shoulders hunched, fists clenched. Even if I couldn't see his face, I knew he was frowning and biting his lips.

For a moment, I was rooted to the spot, torn between letting him go and running after him. The muffled laughter and singing from inside the house drifted through the closed door, but it felt like a distant memory compared to the chaos happening out here. With a groan, I jogged to catch up with Jisung.

"Stop running away!" I yelled as I closed the distance between us. He spun around, eyes blazing.

"I'm not running away! I just don't want to see your face!" he spat. "You don't get it, Hyunjin! You're always so stuck in your own world!"

"Oh, if I'm really stuck in my own world, I wouldn't have helped you, Jisung! We're in the same boat now so—"

"You're doing it because you owe me, Hwang! You're not even doing this because you're desperate like me. So no, we're not in the same boat, and I can't expect you to understand my situation if all you see is me being an absolute brat!"

"Then explain it to me!" I shot back, throwing my hands up in frustration. "Because all I see is you making a mess out of everything."

Jisung's expression faltered, a flicker of pain crossing his face. "You think I'm making a mess out of everything? You think I'm doing this for fun?"

I hesitated. This wasn't the usual bickering. There was something deeper here, something I had missed.

"Look," I said, softer now, "if there's something you need to tell me, just say it."

He shook his head, tears glistening in his eyes. "You wouldn't understand. You've never been in my shoes."

"Try me," I urged, but I didn't step closer. Something told me if I did, he'd bolt like a scared rabbit. "Make me understand."

Jisung let out a bitter laugh. "If I tell you everything, will you promise not to judge me?"

Before I could respond, the door to the house swung open, and Minho stepped out, his eyes darting between us with confusion and concern. He'd jogged over to reach where we were.

"What's going on out here?" Minho asked, his gaze landing on Jisung.

"Nothing," Jisung muttered, wiping at his eyes with an angry swipe. He turned away, pacing in a small circle as if trying to gather himself. "Nothing's going on."

Minho frowned, taking a step closer. "Are you okay?"

Jisung backed away, holding up a hand. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just give us a minute?"

Minho glanced at me, silently asking for an explanation. I shrugged, just as lost as he was, but one thing was clear—Jisung didn't want Minho here.

"Hyung, we're fine," I assured him. "Just a little misunderstanding. We're talking it out."

"Okay, but don't stay out too long. It's cold. I don't want either of you to catch something." I nodded, while Jisung remained silent, his eyes focused anywhere but on us.

Once Minho disappeared back inside, I turned my attention back to Jisung. "So?"

Jisung sighed, pressing the heel of his palm against his eyes. "I swear, you're the biggest idiot I know."

It was an uninvited insult, but I held back my retort, sensing he had more to say. And then, in a voice so quiet it was almost lost to the night, he whispered, "I'm in love with Minho hyung."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Oh." It was all I could manage, feeling like an absolute fool. Just to be sure, I asked, "This whole thing wasn't just to make Minho hyung and Chan hyung feel comfortable dating around you? Or because you hated being a third wheel? You weren't just throwing tantrums because he spends less time with you?"

The look Jisung gave me could have withered a flower. "I've been in love with Minho hyung for years and watching him with someone else is killing me. I thought it was fucking obvious."

"Oh, wow. Now I feel like a jerk."

Jisung sniffled, wiping at his eyes again. "Yeah, well, maybe you should."

We stood there in silence, the night air cool and still around us. I could hear the faint strains of music and laughter from inside the house, a stark contrast to the tension hanging between us.

"Look," I said finally, "I didn't know. If I had, I would've handled things differently."

Jisung's shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him. "It doesn't matter now. There's nothing I can do about it. Minho's with Chan and I'd never stand a chance anyways."

"Maybe not," I agreed, "but that doesn't mean you have to keep torturing yourself like this. You're allowed to feel what you feel, Jisung. Just don't let it eat you up."

He looked at me, eyes red and tired. "Easy for you to say."

"Yeah, it is," I admitted. "But I'm here for you. Even if it's just as your fake boyfriend." I didn't think I would ever be telling Jisung I would be there for him but this time I was honest.

A small, bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Great. My fake boyfriend who thinks I'm a brat."

"Well," I began, trying to sprinkle a bit of levity into the air, "you can be a brat. But you're my brat." Jisung let out a laugh, sharp and genuine, before it morphed into a snort. "Don't ever say that again. You just made my soul cringe. I might need to pour acid into my ears now." Ah, there's the Jisung I knew and loved to loathe.

"Well, you sure know how to kill a moment."

"And you sure know how to make me want to gouge out my eardrums."

I rolled my eyes. "Let's head back inside before Minho comes out and drags us in by the ear."

Jisung nodded, finally a bit more composed. As we walked back to the house, I snuck a glance at him, my mind swirling. How had I missed something so glaringly obvious? Maybe this whole fake boyfriend charade was a little more tangled than I'd bargained for.

Stepping back into the house, we were greeted by a wave of warmth and noise. Jeongin was midway through a spectacularly off-key rendition of some pop song, while everyone else cheered him on. Chan caught our eyes as we re-entered, lifting an eyebrow in a silent question I wasn't ready to answer.

We slipped back into our seats, though I noticed Jisung stealing glances at Minho. His expression softened in a way that made my chest ache just a little for him. I'd been blind, but now that I knew, it was like a glaring neon sign. I wondered if anybody else knew about it?

"Hey," I whispered, nudging him. "You good?"

He nodded, his eyes still locked on Minho. "Yeah. Thanks."

"Anytime," I said, meaning it more than ever. "And, you know, if you ever need to vent or, I don't know, throw leaves at someone, I'm here."

Jisung snorted, rolling his eyes but smiling slightly, gratitude lacing his expression. "I'll keep that in mind. Next time I need to harass someone, you're first on the list."

The night wore on, the lively chaos slowly fading into a quiet hum. The house settled into a peaceful silence, everyone either asleep or teetering on the edge. The only sounds left were the soft murmur of the air conditioning and the occasional rustle as someone shifted in their sleep.

I found myself alone in the living room, my thoughts too loud to let me rest. The earlier conversation with Jisung kept replaying in my mind. His revelation had hit me like a sucker punch, and I still didn't know how to digest it.

Not that knowing this changed anything drastic. I was still endlessly annoyed by Jisung's quirks and I still very much wanted to strangle him for what went down last semester.

But something had shifted in my view of Han Jisung. Before, he was just a brat, an endless source of irritation. But now? Now he was a brat with feelings. A ball of Satan's spawn, but with a heart tucked away somewhere. And that, somehow, made all the difference.

As I sat mulling over everything, soft footsteps approached. I turned to see Seungmin padding into the room, his eyes squinting against the dim light.

"Can't sleep?" Seungmin whispered.

"Ah, yeah," I sighed, holding up my mug of hot milk like a peace offering. Seungmin had been around on countless sleepless nights, so he knew my routine. He plopped down beside me, the sofa dipping under his weight.

"Jeongin kicked you out of bed again?" I teased.

Seungmin chuckled, nodding. "You know how he gets after a night of fun. Takes up the whole bed." Jeongin had been a whirlwind all day, buzzing with energy, singing his heart out, and finally crashing with Seungmin beside him.

I took a sip of my milk, smiling. "Yeah, I can see that."

Seungmin leaned back, giving me a curious look. "You and Jisung. Everything okay?"

He was observant, as always. I hesitated, unsure how much to share with how much he was giving me with the question. It wasn't much. I didn't know if he was sensing the odd deal I had with Jisung, or if he knew we argued outside the house. . "Just the usual spat," I shrugged. "You know how he made that dig about me failing finals because I'm an idiot."

"Uh Huh... and nothing about you two dating each other?" I nearly choked on my milk, sputtering as I tried to regain my composure.

"W-what?" I stammered.

Seungmin leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "You heard me. Is he the one you're dating? Is that why you didn't want to tell us?"

"Where did you even get that idea?" I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to play it cool.

"I don't know, maybe it's the way you two have been acting lately. The bickering is more intimate, the time together, the... well, everything."

When I didn't respond, Seungmin leaned back and laughed. "Right, there's no way you two are together." He seemed almost relieved, which only added to my confusion. I couldn't tell him the truth—the fewer people who knew about our fake relationship, the better.

I could already picture how Jisung would react if I messed this up. He wouldn't stop panicking until I shoved something in his mouth. Nope, not dealing with that.

I drained the last of my milk, coughing slightly. "I'm heading to bed. You coming?"

Seungmin nodded. "Yeah, I'm finally feeling sleepy."

Back in the room, I found Jisung already in bed, his back turned to the room. Felix and Changbin were still awake, talking quietly.

"Everything okay?" Felix asked as I climbed into bed.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just needed a bit of hot milk."

Felix nodded, satisfied with my answer. Changbin glanced between Jisung and me, his expression unreadable. Our argument outside must've been noticeable, even over the blaring music.

"Are you alright sharing a bed with Jisung?" Changbin asked, his tone cautious. The room had two beds—Jisung and I had taken one by the wall, while Changbin and Felix were near the door.

I flashed him an OK sign. Unlike the others, who tried to force Jisung and me to get along, Changbin never pressured us, and I appreciated that. But right now, I was pretending to be Jisung's boyfriend. I couldn't avoid him without raising suspicion from Minho after he walked into our heated argument.

After all, I wasn't just the guy hiding our relationship; I was also the one supposedly head over heels for Jisung according to our initial agreement.

Why did I agree to this again? I might enjoy drama, but I've got zero experience acting—especially not as a fake boyfriend in a secret relationship who pretends to hate his boyfriend but secretly can't stay away. It sounded ridiculous even in my own head.

"I'm fine," I muttered as I climbed into bed. "If he takes up too much space, I'll just throw him out."

No one argued with that. I settled into a comfortable position, my thoughts still swirling. I really should talk to Jisung about how long he wants to keep this up. It's not just my sanity at stake—it's his, too.

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I wrote this at 2 am because my sleeping schedule have not improved over the years and it's around the time I feel very inspired to write. I really like this chapter actually. I feel satisfied with it.

I guess, I like writing in first person more than using third person but this fic is a mix of both so you will be seeing different POVs from time to time.

Do comment and leave a vote if you enjoyed the chapter today <3 - Hunny