Chapter Text
“So what do you think of a blackpink dance video- but this time I’m dressed as a banana?”
Jihoon pouted at the deadpan stare Hyunsuk gave him as an answer. Mashiho had left a few minutes ago, leaving the two to clean up the remnants of the sleepover. Jihoon felt loads better in comparison to last night. Just thinking of the chaos that was going to erupt with Haruto and the begrudging care of his friends made him feel like everything just might be ok. To the persistence of Yedam, Jihoon had agreed to call Seunghun later to apologise for his behaviour- but for now, he wanted to simply relax with his best friend.
Which was a bit difficult, considering said best friend was currently throwing soap suds at him.
“Oi! Suk! What was that for?”
“I was wondering whether I could wash the stupidity off you.”
“It’s a valid idea!”
“You’ve already done more dance videos for blackpink than blackpink has done! Wearing a banana costume on top of that is just plain weird.”
Jihoon shrugged with a grin as he countered, “They come for the weird. I’m like... the leader of the weird.”
Hyunsuk sighed, “Where do you even plan on getting a banana costume?”
“Junkyu.”
“Dammit Kyu.”
Jihoon laughed as Hunsuk started muttering to himself.
“...discipline my children… blame Byunggon…”
Before Jihoon could comment about their small age gap of a year, he heard a faint buzzing from the living room. Not moving from his spot sitting at the island, he lazily called out, “Dear mother, your phone is ringing.”
The older male glared as he replied, “Not mine. Mine is in my pocket. Maybe it’s that overgrown bear?”
“Hey don’t insult the most talented boy on earth just because you’re vertically challenged! It isn’t his fault that he was blessed with god-tier long legs and a killer smile to go with it.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just go pick it up before lover boy gets worried.”
“He isn’t a lover boy!” Jihoon blushed as he went to find his phone.
“How is it he’s more shy about his undying love for that bear when he actually has a chance??”
Jihoon pouted at Hyunsuks words as he approached the buzzing sound. ‘ What does Suk know. He doesn’t know what it’s like when you date someone so clearly out of your league. The stares and contempt, the harsh words and underhanded compliments, I never want to do that again. Besides, I was a fanboy like 2 months ago.”
Finally the dancer found his phone, heart beating fast at the opportunity to apologise and hopefully return to his former friendship. He closed his eyes as he accepted the call.
“Hun! I’m so sorry for last night. I didn’t mean to ru-”
“Hoonie?”
Jihoons eyes widened at the voice on the other end of the phone. Months of memories he had repressed flashed through his mind as he shakily sat down on the couch.
“Jyunhao.”
“Hey! It’s been a while! Sorry I haven’t kept in contact, Taiwan was a blur.”
Jihoon felt himself smile at the cheerful voice coming from the line. Jyunhao hadn’t changed, even years later. The next few minutes passed by like a blur. Formalities were shared and Jihoon discovered that Jyunhao had returned from Taiwan. Before he realises, they’re making plans for the afternoon and he’s left staring at his phone.
It takes him approximately 30 seconds of pure silence before he screams and flops down on the coach.
“I’m so fucked.”
How was it possible Jyunhao hadn’t changed at all? His bright and cheerful personality seemed even stronger after the years. Talking to the foreigner was just as easy as it wa sin high school. Hell, Jihoon could almost feel his heart beating faster.
But it didn’t.
Perhaps that was the scariest thing of all. The way a few weeks with Seunghun had managed to ease years of pain. The way that jihoon had spent months trying to get over Jyunhao- yet the foreigner didn’t even make his heart skip a beat anymore. Now he could only feel that rush with the very person whose house he walked out of.
Jihoon let out a groan at the thought. He trudged towards the kitchen as he lazily draped himself over his best friend, must to the older male’s confusion.
“It wasn’t Seunghun.”
“And now you’re depressed like this? We’ll just drag your sorry ass there after we finish cleaning. Or more like after I finish cleaning, seeing as your sorry ass is no help. This is literally your home. So wh-”
“We can’t go after this since I’m going out with Jyunhao. He’s back.”
If it weren’t for the situation, Jihoon might have laughed at the way Hyunsuk stiffened up. He sighed as the rapper shrugged him off before turning to face him.
“The stupid ass bastard who let you get bullied for a year, barely protected you, then left the country in your last year and broke up with you publicly which caused you to be bullied even worse for your last year of high school? That Jyunhao?”
“You make him seem a lot worse than he was but yeah, I guess.”
“... so not only did you talk to him, you agreed to meet with him???”
“...yes?”
“Park Jihoon, you’re a self-destructive idiot.”
“We’ve established this now, can we please come up with a battle plan so that I don’t spend two hours of today in complete pain?”
“Ugh fine, but we call Jeongwoo first”
Jihoon smiled. For as much as Hyunsuk complained, he was always there for Jihoon. Despite not being there when everything occurred, Hyunsuk understood how much high school affected Jihoon and held a strong hate for Jyunhao.
Jyunhao wasn’t actually a bad person, despite the shorters belief. Jeongwoo and Jihoon has explained the situation a few times- but Hyunsuk seemed to have selective hearing whenever they tried to defend the foreign ex-boyfriend. Afterall, the bullying wasn’t Jyunhao’s fault. Jyunhaos only fault was his naivety- and that was part of the reason Jihoon had fallen in love with him.
Jihoon shook his head as he tried to will the thoughts away. He learnt a long time ago, that thinking about those days weren’t going to help him. Rather than thinking on the past, he now had to deal with the impending crisis coming his way.
Jihoon was about to grab lunch with his ex-boyfriend.
About half an hour, and many stress cookies later- Jihoon and Hyunsuk finally found themselves on the coach, situation clarified with Jeongwoo and an outfit picked out. The only thing left to do, was to find out what Jihoon was going to do.
“It’s going to be so awkward.”
“It is.”
“I’m going to be so awkward.”
“You are.”
“Suk! You’re here to help, not affirm what we already know!” cried Jihoon as he grabbed a pillow from the couch and held it over his face. He really had no idea what he was going to do when talking to the boy he hasn’t seen in over a year.
“Hmmmm, why don’t you guys go to a movie? Then you don’t have to talk?”
“Can’t. One, it would seem to date-like. Two, we already agreed to meet at my favourite restaurant.”
“I still don't understand how you decided that a movie was too date-like, but having coffee together wasn’t??”
“I wasn’t thinking!”
“You never are! That’s the problem!”
“Hey, I resent that! I’ve been told my impulsivity and humor is my biggest selling point in videos!” Jihoon argued as he poked his head out from under the pillow.
“If you weren’t such an idiot, I’d call you a genius right now!”
“Excuse me bitch??”
“Why don’t you film a vlog? You can call it ‘meeting with my ex’ or something. You always feel more comfortable in front of a camera and that way you have things to talk about.”
Jihoon thought about the idea for a few seconds before grinning at his friend.
“Suk, if he agrees to this- I might just kiss you.”
“Sorry hoon, unlike you, I got a boyfriend for that.” Hyunsuk teased before bolting out of the room.
Jihoon grabbed a pillow from the sofa and immediately started chasing the shorter.
“COME BACK HERE YOU GREMLIN!”