Roller Coaster || Seongjoong ||

22.

The taller clenched his fists, jaw tensed as he realized all his efforts had gone down the drain just because he wanted to stay on the safe side until the time comes.

"I'm sorry for your feelings, Yeonjun-ah..." Wooyoung somehow could look at his friend in the eyes while speaking. "I know how you feel about me..but I can't say I feel the same way back"

The older of the two wanted to say something, maybe change the oreo haired's mind if he could. But it was to no avail knowing his friend wanted someone else.

"Why didn't you tell me you had feelings for him before?"

"It took me a while to figure out what I actually felt, I-...I wouldn't know how to explain myself" Wooyoung sighed, he got closer to hug the opposite, a hug they would usually share but now the boy almost escaped from that hug.

Wooyoung understood, he needed time to process the rejection and he respects that.

"I'm sorry" He said one last time before leaving home.

And even though he didn't regret doing all that, he knew he had lost someone he trusted a lot that day.

But nothing would compare to the one boy who got his, for now, hurt heart racing and speeding with just one glance.

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No matter how much Yunho would insist that his family is just well off when Mingi would exclaim his best friend's family had money, there was always a way for the rest to suspect believing Mingi.
Because now, as early in the morning as possible, when they were on their way to Yunho's house near the beach, the taller black haired laughed in his head as a way of mentally saying "I told you all".

Once the Jeong couple stopped outside a house a couple blocks away from the sandy path towards the beach, all eight boys plus Yunho's younger brother, stepped outside the van after what felt like hours. Although it was probably the way they were crammed inside the vehicle while being sleepy the whole time.

"Woah, I couldn't feel my legs" Yeosang complained as joke, fulfilling his purpose due to Wooyoung's squeaky laugh getting heard after both were basically on top of each other the whole ride.

"Alright boys, you can leave your stuff inside, we'll start preparing breakfast and we'll call you all later" Mrs. Jeong smiled, the same laugh and energy as her oldest son, contrary to Junmyeon, the youngest being the exact replica of his father. A more quiet and serious but comforting personality.

All nine of them nodded and the group of eight proceeded to head to one of the rooms inside the house, place they would be leaving their bags and belongings for the day.

"Yah! Guess what Seonghwa hyung brought!" San exclaimed, getting the oldest flustered at the sudden attention to his bag full of sheet face masks.

The group laughed but almost instantly started fighting to get the ones they wanted, almost wasting no time to complain like Yeosang when Mingi refused to give them the sheet he wanted. Even Wooyoung somehow tricked San into giving him the one that the black haired was supposed to use.

So after a couple minutes more of bickering, there they laid the eight boys on the floor instead of the bed of the room.

"How did you get them, hyung?" Yunho asked.

"Ah, one of my sisters had them in her self care basket for centuries, I assumed we could use them today before going out" The older one explained before a couple grumbles made themselves heard among the group.

"Woah, I'm so hungry" Jongho patted his stomach, followed by the rest nodding their heads in agreement.

"Let me check if we can sneak in some snacks from the kitchen" The tallest one got up, almost complaining like an old man. "San-ah, if you ask with me my dad will probably let us get some"

"Wait but I brought some" Hongjoong raised his hand from his position still on the floor.

"But those are for later" Yunho shook his head, waiting for his friend to finish getting up.

San sighed before leaving with the brown haired. The rest stayed in the room, Hongjoong almost hugging Wooyoung because the younger had been feeling especially lovey dovey with everyone that day.

"Yah, why you always letting the hug you but when I do it you're all uncomfortable and mean?" Seonghwa suddenly asked, pout barely noticeable due to his maske not letting him move much.

It wasn't in his plans letting the rest hear them, but the younger ones suddenly turned to the duo.

"What do you mean?" Hongjoong laughed.

"We-Well, I don't know, you were suddenly all over Woo all happy to hug him" The black haired shrugged, quite embarrassed to continue.

A small giggle coming from Yeosang didn't interrupt them, but what his mocking voice said did.

"As always, they're having their cute banter as the parents" He almost whispered, everyone but the duo nodded.

Hongjoong menacingly glanced at him, which only made the rest giggle further.

"Don't say that" The blonde boy immediately answered.

"Oh! Then what are you guys?" Yeosang knew exactly what he was doing, especially with how, even with their masks, he could see Seonghwa smile and Hongjoong's ears redden.

"We are friends!" Seonghwa responded.

"No!" Hongjoong shook his head, a smile on his lips knowing which points to pull to annoy the black haired, who turned his head almost in a second.

"So not yet?" Yeosang insisted.

"You know what? That's so disappointing" Seonghwa positioned himself better where he sat and pointed his finger, he was clearly pouting at this point. "Why do they get to see you less grumpy than me?"

"That's a lie, I bicker with them more!" The opposite tried to defend himself.

"Nuh uh, you even hug them with no problem but not me!" He continued "And now you say we're not friends"

"Aish, you know it's not true" The boy whined, in disbelief with the trouble he had gotten into, but knowing how childish and softened he had gotten when he talked to the oldest.

"We can be classmates" The boy with blonde haired offered, making the contrary roll his eyes.

"No..."

"Alright then, an acquaintance" Met with more whining from the oldest.

"Ugh, I don't-..."

"Ok! Then same age partner"

"No!"

"Alright then, you're older so...Seonghwa-hyung" The mentioned shook his head again.

"...Classmate then" Seonghwa sighed as he gave up.

"You sure?" Hongjoong asked as the opposite extended his hand to make the deal.

Just as the two were close to shaking hands, Seonghwa almost screamed.

"Best Friends!" He changed his words at the same time their hands met. "Alright! You all heard that, you witnessed we're best friends!"

The group exploded in laughter when Hongjoong's confused mind kept processing what just happened. Even after a couple seconds that the rest took to try to breathe, Hongjoong couldn't help but chuckle, forgetting he still had his mask.

"Alright then, we can be best friends then" Their eyes met as they kept smiling.

That's what they want, to be best friends.

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