accidental encore | taegyu

chapter thirteen

"i feel like i'm watching one of those romantic comedies where they hate each other first but then they—"

"don't say it," soobin begs.

"—fall in love."

"shut up."

"you know it's true."

soobin groans. "you're the worst."

"you love me."

"unfortunately."

yeonjun, hearing none of this, casually drapes an arm around soobin's shoulder, leaning down to whisper, "what are you guys plotting back here?"

soobin freezes like a caught criminal, brain buffering at the physical contact. "n-nothing. we're not plotting. we're just talking."

"ohhh," yeonjun hums, suspicious but grinning. "you're cute when you're nervous."

soobin's soul leaves his body.

up ahead, taehyun is still relentlessly poking at beomgyu's sanity.

"so, gyu," taehyun says, way too smoothly. "is it true you stalked my instagram for half an hour before commenting 'chicken nugget'?"

"who told you that?" beomgyu gasps, scandalized.

"you literally admitted it yourself in my dms."

"i'm suing myself."

"no need. i found it cute."

"you have horrible taste."

"that's why i like you."

beomgyu malfunctions mid-step, nearly faceplanting onto the sidewalk. taehyun catches his arm like it's no big deal, stabilizing him while smiling like a devil.

"careful," taehyun says softly. "can't have my favorite person breaking their face before dinner."

"oh my god," beomgyu wheezes, slapping a hand over his own face. "stop. saying. things."

"why? you blush so pretty."

"i am going to pass away right here."

"don't. i haven't even asked you what you want to order yet."

"i want to order a new life."

hueningkai, barely able to breathe through his laughter, leans into soobin. "he's getting cooked."

"he deserves it," soobin shrugs.

"how do you deal with them every day?"

"i've built up resistance."

yeonjun, still casually arm-in-arm with soobin, glances at the two. "they're cute though."

"you think everything is cute," soobin mutters, ears red.

"wrong," yeonjun grins. "i only think you're cute."

soobin actually makes a noise — somewhere between a squeak and a dying cat — and yeonjun looks so proud of himself.

"what's up with you two back there?" beomgyu yells, still fighting for his dignity at the front.

"nothing!" soobin shrieks.

"nothing at all," yeonjun confirms, definitely lying.

taehyun leans into beomgyu's ear, voice dropping low again. "jealous? they're cute."

"no," beomgyu lies, immediately jealous.

"you could hold my hand if you want," taehyun offers, way too innocently.