Title: Best friends falling for best friends
Length: 2497 words
TWs: parents expectations
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September 20th, 2023_
4:15 PM_
Minho found himself at a cozy café with Chan and Hyunjin. They had gathered to relax after a long day, and somehow, the conversation had drifted to their romantic lives—or, in Chan’s case, the lack thereof.
Chan took a sip of his coffee, leaning back in his chair. “Honestly, I’m just not interested in anyone right now,” he said, almost casually. “Too much going on to even think about dating.”
Hyunjin laughed, swirling his drink. “Figures. But I mean, maybe if the right person showed up?”
Chan shrugged, unconvinced. “Maybe. But I’d rather focus on my own stuff first. What about you?”
Hyunjin’s expression shifted, his gaze falling to his cup. “I… might be interested in someone. But I’m not sure. It’s complicated,” he admitted, looking slightly embarrassed.
Chan raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming. “Complicated? That sounds interesting. Are you ever gonna tell us who it is?”
Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “Maybe someday,” he muttered, his cheeks flushing faintly.
They both turned to Minho, who had been quietly observing the conversation with an apathetic face. “What about you, Minho?” Chan asked with a knowing look. “Anyone caught your eye?”
Minho’s expression didn’t change, though he felt a small flicker of nervousness. “Not really,” he replied. “No one worth mentioning.”
Hyunjin raised an eyebrow, not convinced. “You? I find that hard to believe. Isn’t there anyone who’s at least mildly interesting to you?”
Chan just watched with a slight smirk, clearly entertained by the younger’s attempt at deflecting the question. He knew exactly who was on Minho’s mind, but he wasn’t about to reveal anything without his permission.
The cat look-alike shrugged. “I’m just focused on work,” he replied, then took a sip of his drink, hoping to avoid further questions. But Hyunjin continued to stare at him, clearly not buying it.
Chan chuckled. “I’m sure that’s all it is, right?” he teased, exchanging a glance with Minho that held an unspoken understanding.
The younger alpha shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers drumming lightly on his coffee cup. The teasing from Chan and Hyunjin made it harder to keep his composure, but he wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold it in.
Finally, he let out a deep breath, giving them both a pointed look. “Fine, if you really want to know…”
The oldest leaned in, curious. Hyunjin, on the other hand, looked like he was trying to hold back a grin. Minho’s hesitation was all it took for them to know something was up. He set his coffee down, his fingers curling around the cup as if it could anchor him to the moment.
“It’s Seungmin,” He finally admitted, his voice quieter than usual. “I’ve… been feeling something for him.”
The words hung in the air for a moment. Chan didn’t look surprised. He had known about Minho’s feelings for Seungmin for a while, and it was clear that Minho was finally ready to admit it out loud to someone other than him.
Hyunjin, on the other hand, widened his eyes in surprise. “Seungmin?” He looked back at Chan, then at Minho. “As in... our Seungmin?”
Minho nodded, his face heating up slightly. “Yeah. He’s... different. I’ve never felt this way about someone before.”
The oldest alpha chuckled softly, crossing his arms. “You do realize that Seungmin’s pretty cute, right? I mean, I can see why you’d be into him. But, I’ve gotta ask—what happened yesterday? You’ve been kind of... affectionate with him.”
Minho’s face turned a little darker, recalling the two moments from that day. “I... I don’t know. I just... wanted to be close to him.”
Hyunjin raised an eyebrow, clearly amused now. “You mean when Seungmin and Minho-hyung were so close?” He chuckled, looking at Minho in disbelief. “I never thought I’d ever see Seungmin that flustered. What did you do to that poor kid?”
Minho groaned, sinking further into his chair. “I put my hand on his thigh... but I wasn’t thinking! It just... happened.”
“You also walked him to his dorm, didn’t you?” Chan added, with a teasing grin. “That’s pretty... intimate. You’re really letting your feelings show, mate.”
Minho felt a mix of embarrassment and relief. He had been holding these feelings back for so long, trying to keep them hidden, and now, in front of his two closest friends, he felt like the weight had finally been lifted.
“Yeah, I guess. But I’m not sure what to do about it,” he confessed. “Seungmin... he’s not as open as I am. I’m not even sure he likes me that way.”
The beta, looking thoughtful now, said, “It’s obvious he enjoys your company. Maybe he just doesn’t realize what’s going on yet. It’s kind of like him to be oblivious.”
Chan nodded in agreement. “You’ve got to be patient with him, Min. Don’t rush it. Let things happen naturally, and if he feels the same, he’ll let you know eventually.”
Minho sighed, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing. “Yeah. I guess I’ll just have to take it slow.”
Hyunjin leaned back in his chair, his playful grin still in place. “Well, good luck, hyung. Just don’t do anything too embarrassing—though, knowing you, that’s probably already happened.”
Minho shot him a glare, but deep down, he was grateful for the support. He knew his feelings for Seungmin were only the beginning, but for the first time in a while, he felt ready to face them head-on.
Minho’s voice softened, almost like he was speaking more to himself than to the other two. “I just hope he’s an omega.”
Chan and Hyunjin both fell silent, exchanging glances before turning their attention back to Minho.
“What do you mean, ‘hope he’ll be an omega’?” Hyunjin asked gently, sensing there was more to Minho’s statement than just a casual wish.
Minho looked away, running a hand through his hair. “It’s... my parents. They are very traditional. Thankfully they don’t care if my partner is male or female, but they must be able to have kids. My mom and dad have made it clear that they want biological grandchildren, and that’s... that’s kind of non-negotiable for them.”
Chan nodded slowly, his expression serious. “You think it would be easier if Seungmin was an omega?”
Minho exhaled sharply, a bitter laugh escaping him. “I know it sounds selfish, but yeah. I mean, if Seungmin is an omega, it would make things easier for my parents to accept.” His hand clenched around his cup. “But I don’t know how to bring it up to him. He doesn’t even know his own sub-gender yet. What if it’s... not what I hope for?”
Hyunjin frowned, his gaze softening with empathy. “Hyung, that’s a lot of pressure on both you and Seungmin. You’re not just worrying about your own feelings—you’re putting his future into the mix, too. Don’t let that be the reason you’re moving forward with him. You’ve got to focus on what’s right for both of you, not just your parents.”
The older’s gaze drifted to the ground, his mind racing. “I know. I do. But I can’t help but worry about it. I want to be with him, but the reality is my parents... they don’t exactly understand the concept of a non-conventional relationship. Especially if he’s not able to carry on the family line.”
Chan sat forward, his tone calm but firm. “But Minho, you’re not dating your parents. You’re dating Seungmin. If you care about him, then you should focus on his feelings, not just what your parents expect. He deserves to know the truth about how you feel, and you deserve to be with someone who wants to be with you for who you are, not for what they can provide to your family.”
Minho’s chest tightened as he processed the older’s words. He knew his friends were right, but the fear of disappointing his parents had been hanging over him for so long. The thought of Seungmin not being able to fulfill his parents’ expectations created a knot in his stomach, and he wasn’t sure how to untangle it.
“I just wish I knew what Seungmin wants... what he is,” Minho muttered, rubbing his temples. “If he’s not an omega... if he doesn’t fit into that picture, then what?”
Hyunjin leaned in, his voice softer. “Minho, it’s not just about fitting into some picture you’ve painted for yourself. It’s about you and Seungmin, figuring things out together. Whatever happens with his sub-gender, you’ll figure it out when the time comes. And if it’s really meant to be, you’ll make it work.”
Minho nodded slowly, though the weight of his thoughts still hung over him. He felt torn between his desire for Seungmin and the fear of what his parents might say. But he also knew he had to take a step forward, no matter how uncertain everything felt.
“I just don’t want to lose him because of something I can’t control,” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Chan gave him a reassuring smile. “You won’t lose him, Min. If Seungmin feels even half of what you feel for him, he won’t walk away. Don’t let your parents’ expectations ruin what you have with him.”
Minho’s gaze flickered to his phone screen, where his last text to Seungmin was still visible—a simple ‘Good morning’ from earlier that day. He wondered if Seungmin even realized how deeply Minho was thinking about everything, or if he had noticed the subtle shifts in the older’s behavior.
Meanwhile, Hyunjin hesitated for a moment, glancing between the olders, who were both focused on him now. The silence stretched for a bit longer than he intended before he finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual.
“I guess it’s time I tell you both,” he began, looking down at his hands. “The person I’m... interested in... it’s Jisung.”
Both Chan and Minho stared at him, their surprise evident, though neither of them were judging. Hyunjin felt the weight of their eyes on him but pushed through, feeling a strange sense of relief at finally saying it out loud.
“Jisung-ah?” Minho asked, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Have you been hiding that for a while?”
Hyunjin chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah... I wasn’t sure at first, but it’s been... building up. Every time I’m around him, I just feel like—well, you know.”
“Mate, I didn’t even think you’d be into him,” Chan said, raising an eyebrow but smiling warmly. “But now that you say it, it makes sense. You two have that dynamic, don’t you?”
Hyunjin nodded, looking a little shy now. “Yeah... I don’t know what it is about him, but there’s just something about the way he is. His energy, the way he always makes me laugh... it’s hard not to like him.”
Minho leaned back slightly, his eyes thoughtful as he considered Hyunjin’s words. “Yeah, I get it. Jisung’s a lot of fun to be around. He’s got this energy that pulls people in. But have you told him?”
Hyunjin shook his head, a faint blush creeping up his neck. “No... I haven’t. I don’t even know how to. It’s... I don’t want to mess up the friendship we have.”
Chan tilted his head, looking at Hyunjin with a kind smile. “You don’t have to rush. If you’re feeling unsure, it’s okay to take your time. Just make sure that when you do tell him, it’s because you’re ready, not because you’re worried about what might happen.”
Hyunjin let out a small sigh of relief, grateful for Chan’s understanding. “Yeah, I guess I’ve just been overthinking it. I want to make sure it doesn’t change things between us, but at the same time, I can’t ignore how I feel.”
Minho leaned forward, his expression more serious now. “You should tell him when the time feels right. But whatever happens, just know we’ve got your back.”
Hyunjin gave a grateful nod, appreciating his friends’ support. It wasn’t easy to open up about something so personal, but having friends who understood helped ease the pressure.
“Thanks, guys,” he said, feeling a little lighter now. “I’m still figuring it out, but I’m glad I can talk to you both about it.”
Chan clapped the beta on the back with a smile. “That’s what friends are for. Don’t let the fear of messing things up stop you from being true to yourself.”
As Hyunjin sat there, processing everything they’d talked about, a thought suddenly dawned on him, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself. Minho noticed and raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his expression.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, leaning forward.
The tallest shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. “I just realized something,” he started. “You and I, Minho... we both ended up falling for two people who are best friends with each other.”
The older’s eyes widened slightly as the realization hit him, too, and he let out a small laugh. “You’re right... Jisung and Seungmin. It’s almost like it’s meant to be or something.”
Chan smirked, looking amused. “So, what I’m hearing is... the two of you are both hopeless for a couple of best friends who are probably oblivious to everything?”
Hyunjin rolled his eyes playfully. “Yeah, I guess we are,” he admitted, still smiling. “But, I mean, it’s kind of nice, isn’t it? That we’re going through this at the same time. It’s like... I don’t know, we’re in this together.”
Minho nodded. “Yeah, it is. Even though I’m still figuring things out with Seungmin, it’s good to know you’re there, going through something similar with Jisung.”
Hyunjin felt a wave of relief wash over him. Somehow, the idea of him and the older both navigating their feelings for two people who were so close made everything feel a bit easier, a bit more natural. He looked over at Minho, and they shared a silent understanding—a sense of camaraderie that only came from knowing they were in this together.
Chan chuckled, crossing his arms. “You two are going to drive me crazy, you know that? Now I’m just waiting for the day you both get the courage to tell them. And who knows? Maybe they’re talking about you guys the same way.”
The other two exchanged a look. The idea that maybe—just maybe—Jisung and Seungmin had similar feelings made their hearts race a little faster.
Hyunjin smiled softly, feeling more certain now. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Minho nodded, a renewed determination in his eyes. “Yeah. But when the time is right... I think we’ll know.”
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new chapter!!
sorry if it feels rushed, but I wanted to make up for my absence.
see you next week!