Chapter Text
Actually, Minhyeong and Geonwoo knew that something was going on with Jinhyeok and Wooje.
Like, they were subtle but Minhyeong and Geonwoo found out partially because they spend almost twenty hours together for five days a week.
Even though it was mostly due to endless work, the advantages of working remotely were that you could wear pajamas while working, non-stop munching on snacks, and somehow… blooming love at some point?
Minhyeong and Geonwoo’s story started faster with no cliche problem. They fit each other like puzzle pieces. The way they didn't really shy away from each other’s feelings helped a lot, it seemed.
While they were busy being together, that didn’t mean they didn’t notice a movement from other people.
People might think Jinhyeok likes Wooje first, but if you asked Minhyeong, he might have a different answer for that.
He remembered that the first time Jinhyeok finally resigned from their office and they decided to build their own business, Minhyeong told his cousin that his two friends would be coming over to the flat, so if he didn’t want to socialize or not in the mood of meeting new people, Wooje should come home later.
Wooje just replied if he’s really tired and would just go back home and greet them for a bit before locking himself inside his room.
The youngest knew Geonwoo, that man was a frequent visitor at their flat.
When he arrived home, Wooje only saw Geonwoo playing games with his cousin in the living room.
Since he was already familiar with Geonwoo, Wooje didn’t think it would be hard to spend a bit of time lounging on the sofa.
Now, the three of them played the game together.
Until the bell rang, and Minhyeong stood up to open the door and someone new came inside their flat, hands full with cartons of pizzas and other things.
“I brought pizzas, pastas and some cola.” The new guy said
Minhyeong led him to the living room and introduced him, “hyung, this is my cousin, Wooje.” Then he also introduced Wooje to his friend, “Wooje, this is Jinhyeok hyung, my coworker and the other friend I mentioned”
Being a polite kid he was, Wooje stood up and bowed slightly, “hello, I’m Wooje, Minhyeong hyung’s cousin”
Jinhyeok replied with, “oh, hi.. I’m Jinhyeok, Minhyeong’s coworker. Do you like pizza? I brought some.”
“Oh, no it’s fine.. I was planning to go to my room anyway.”
Wooje thought Jinhyeok was going to say okay and moved on—just like how awkward other people would behave on their first meeting.
But it looked like Jinhyeok was… braver than some people, since he fought the awkwardness with an invitation to eat.
“Let’s just fill our stomach first so we can think harder when brainstorming.”
Geonwoo, of course, agreed with that and helped Jinhyeok unbox the pizzas.
Chatting with Jinhyeok was easy. Either it was because the three were already coworkers or Jinhyeok did have a talent for public speaking.
But whatever it was, Wooje sure had a good time chatting with him—I mean, them.
Then it slowly turned into something more as time went by.
Wooje’s plans casually got cancelled last-minute whenever Minhyeong told him the three of them were going to have a meeting at the flat.
Wooje started bringing four cans of cola and four portions of snacks.
He started getting interested in Minhyeong’s business and first asking about his cousin’s work, then moving to Geonwoo and slowly asking about Jinhyeok.
Wooje ain’t slick. Minhyeong noted that fact but never told a soul.
Then, they just naturally gravitated towards each other. Always ended up being side by side or close to each other—Minhyeong still debating if this theory of them were true or they just ended up together because he and Geonwoo were almost attached by hip.
But, anyway… Jinhyeok always chose to sit near Wooje, and the youngest absolutely loved the company.
Unlike Minhyeong and Geonwoo, whose affection was obvious to everyone, Jinhyeok and Wooje kept theirs subtle, to the point where Minhyeong and Geonwoo got their shits together and became a couple first than them.
Wooje was painfully obvious of his crush towards the older, even if he tried to keep it lowkey… it still seeped through his words.
Jinhyeok was no better.
Then, one question arose…
If both of them had mutual feelings, what’s stopping them from becoming a couple? No time to talk?
That’s why Minhyeong and Geonwoo were so grateful they had an overlapped schedule, it forced Jinhyeok to go alone and being a good kid Wooje was, he offered to help Jinhyeok.
They needed this time together
When they got back home, nothing really changed between them at a glance.
They still did everything normally, chatting normally and even sitting with a little gap like they usually do—side by side of course, just not glued to each other.
Wooje really felt comfortable in this relationship since Jinhyeok wasn’t the jealous or possessive type.
And since he was older, Jinhyeok was far more cool-headed. Wooje wasn’t short-tempered either. So their relationship was more like water and earth.
If someone saw them, they wouldn’t even think of them being a couple or in a relationship, because Jinhyeok was that professional and Wooje was that cute to everyone.
Minhyeong and Geonwoo took a week to finally understand that the two were finally in a relationship.
Three months later, they were still cafe-hopping whenever they needed a better wifi or Geonwoo thought the room felt like a prison and needed to change the mood.
Wooje still wasn’t an employee there. Minhyeong personally asked him to find another job so he could broaden his experience and social life.
But even if he wasn’t an employee there, he still helped if needed and casually just joined their internal meeting without saying a word.
Literally, just sitting there and being cute.
Minhyeong and Geonwoo never complained about those two, since Wooje never bothered them anyway.
The youngest was, in fact, knew his place and never butt into their professional work hours.
Since last month, they have been working for a bigger client. A bigger client means a bigger scale of production, so whenever they need extra hands, Minhyeong just dragged Wooje to be their helper to set up stuff.
Today was one of those days, Wooje got dragged by his cousin and after wrapping up the work, they still had one place to go before going home.
A bar.
This was also one of their newer clients. Wooje had been there like… three times only—this is his fourth.
It wasn’t a bar that blasted loud thumping music, it was more of a dim lighting with a curated playlist creating an intimate atmosphere without seemingly trying so hard. Good branding. They looked so sophisticated.
Now, it’s ten o’clock and they have just started their meeting. Jinhyeok, Minhyeong and Geonwoo were talking seriously to the head of marketing. Laptops opened and Geonwoo’s fingers were busy typing while Jinhyeok led the conversation alive and Minhyeong sometimes gave his opinions of the designs.
While Wooje? He sat on the empty table across from them with orange juice and a snack courtesy from Minhyeong as compensation.
The thing is… the compensation wasn’t enough for an unexpected thing that happened next when someone approached Wooje.
This guy was confident enough to think that Wooje’s table is an open invitation for him to stand closer.
Wooje was playing with the straw in his mouth when he saw someone with a drink leaning a little too close from the corner of his eyes.
He tried to ignore the stranger but the guy said, “hey, you here alone?”
Didn’t want to be rude, Wooje tried to reply politely, “no.” he shook his head, “I’m with them.” He pointed a bit vaguely across his table.
The stranger didn’t even bother to glance at the direction Wooje was pointing at, and started asking again, “for work?”
“Yeah.”
Wooje stayed polite but his replies shortened and his body language hinting that he felt uncomfortable.
The stranger, of course, didn’t take the hint and stepped closer, “you come here often?”
“Not really.”
“What are you drinking?”
“Orange juice.”
The guy laughed, “cute choice.”
Wooje didn’t say anything back and just gave a strained smile before refocusing on his phone. Clearly trying to disengage with the conversation.
But being a man, usually they just never back down. So did the stranger.
“I’m guessing you’re not working,” he continued, “so… you got time after this?”
Wooje finally looked up again, “I’m going home after this, with my boyfriend.”
Now, he was being so clear and on point so that he wouldn’t lead a stranger to assume he’s down for anything.
For a normal person, it should’ve ended there.
Yet, the guy tilted his head, didn’t really care about the fact that Wooje has a boyfriend, “doesn’t look like it.”
Wooje blinked, confused with the unexpected answer, “he’s literally here.”
“Where?”
Wooje hesitated for half a second, then gestured vaguely toward the table, “there. I told you, we’re in a meeting.”
The stranger—finally—followed the direction this time, only to scoff lightly, “so, what I’m hearing is he’s busy.”
Wooje’s fingers tightened around his glass, “yes. Which is why—”
“So you’re just waiting around?” the guy interrupted, smiling like this was a harmless game, “we could talk. I don’t mind.”
That was when Wooje’s eyes flicked towards the table across him instinctively.
His gaze met Jinhyeok’s who was already staring at him.
The older was already watching him from the moment that stranger approached Wooje, but he stayed at his table, ready to step in if something escalated to the wrong direction.
So when the youngest glanced at him, Jinhyeok took it as a hint to move.
“Excuse me for a moment,” Jinhyeok said to the client, tone apologetic but composed, “I’ll be right back.”
Before anyone could say anything, Geonwoo cleared his throat, “we were just about to review the mockups anyway.”
Minhyeong didn’t even bother to look up, but the corner of his mouth twitched when Jinhyeok stood up.
He walked over at an unhurried pace, hands relaxed at his sides, eyes still locked on his boyfriend and stopped beside Wooje.
Wooje reached out. Two fingers hooked lightly into the cuff of Jinhyeok’s sleeve as the older stopped beside him.
“This…” Wooje said calmly, looking up at Jinhyeok for a half second before facing the stranger again, “is my boyfriend.”
Oh, that word felt like a bloom in Jinhyeok’s chest. He liked how that sounded from Wooje’s lips.
Jinhyeok smiled at the stranger.
Not the petty kind of smile but the professional one, like… the corporate business level of smile.
“Good evening,” he said, “sorry to interrupt.”
The stranger glanced between them, “didn’t realize he was taken.”
“I told you. You just didn’t really listen.” Wooje answered before Jinhyeok could.
The guy paused, thrown off more by how calm Wooje sounded
Jinhyeok noticed it then—the slight hitch in Wooje’s voice. He’d been watching without meaning to, eyes drifting back every few seconds even while he was mid-sentence at the other table.
Jinhyeok nodded, “he did mention it.”
No edge. No warning tone. Just a polite correction.
The guy let out a small laugh, “I was just talking. No need to overreact, bro”
“Mm…” Jinhyeok hummed, agreeing, “and I hope the talk is done now and we’ve still got work to finish. I’d rather not have distractions—especially ones that make my partner uncomfortable.”
Partner.
The stranger’s expression tightened, “you’re making this a bigger deal than it is.”
Jinhyeok nodded once, like he’d heard worse in boardrooms.
“Let’s keep the night uncomplicated, shall we?” he added smoothly and professionally.
Even if the tone sounded like a question, something about how Jinhyeok said it turned it into a final statement that leaves no argument.
So, the stranger chose to walk away.
Wooje finally could let out a relieved breath when he’s gone.
Jinhyeok looked down at him and asked, “you good?”
“Yeah.* Wooje answered, “That’s a relief that you intervened really fast. Thanks, hyung”
Jinhyeok nodded briefly, “I’m going back and let’s see how fast we can wrap up, okay?”
The older only walked back to his table when he saw Wooje nodded.
The younger was left alone once again at his table. Wooje sipped his juice and glanced again at his boyfriend.
Jinhyeok glanced at him every other second while kept engaging in conversation with the client.
He’d never thought much about jealousy. Wooje always thought that jealousy was kind of a bad trait.
But this—this quiet, stable presence that didn’t bark or bite yet ready to intervene when needed?
That’s so dangerous because he never knew he’d like jealousy this much.