i'll be that somebody for you

5. Ready, Set and Begin

San listened to Wooyoung's advice and was more present since. For the last few days, he replied more often to the group and even offered to meet sometime altogether. He was so keen to see them that he joined Mingi, Hongjoong and Wooyoung at their study session at Yunho and Mingi's flat. When Hongjoong asked why he would come, since they were supposed to work on their project, San replied he would keep Yunho company.

Wooyoung didn't think San would really come, but he was the one who opened the door to him. As usual, he was smiling brightly, dimples showing. Wooyoung tried to smile at him too but his smile was just forced and awkward. San stepped aside to let Wooyoung come in.

When the two boys arrived in the living room they could see the chaos in the open-plan kitchen. Hongjoong was covered by flour, flour that was probably thrown on him by Yunho since he had a flour bag in his hands, and a weird fluid was running through Mingi's hair.

"What the fuck is going on?" San asked, baffled.

"We were hungry and we tried to make pancakes. Hongjoong-hyung and I fought over the flour." Yunho explained.

"I tried to break the shell of the egg by hitting the egg on my head," Mingi added.

Wooyoung chuckled while San took the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. Wooyoung put his bag on the floor, took off his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt covered by a black V-neck knit vest.

"I'm gonna do it", he announced while entering the war zone.

"You will?" Yunho asked, glitters in his puppy eyes.

Wooyoung nodded and went to the sink to wash his hands.

"Daebak, hope San didn't lie when he said you were a great cook," Mingi added before leaving to the bathroom with Hongjoong to remove the flour and egg.

Did San talk about their dinner? Wooyoung didn't dare to turn around to look at San. He felt his gaze on his back and realised how vulnerable he felt when the boy was looking at him. Yunho was taking out everything Wooyoung would need to make pancakes and San got closer to him.

"Do you need an assistant? There's nothing to cut this time, right?" San inquired, smiling like an excited kid on Christmas.

Wooyoung stared at him for a couple of seconds. San had already rolled up the sleeves of his black polo-neck sweater that was tucked into dress trousers of the same colour.

"Well, it's just pancakes. I don't need help, but thanks" Wooyoung replied without making eye contact, adjusting his glasses on his nose.

San pouted, sad to be useless. Yunho told them he would go to the grocery to buy maple syrup and left the flat. Wooyoung started to make the batter while San was leaning on the worktop, chin on his hand, to watch Wooyoung.

"Are you going to watch me cook?" Wooyoung asked, focused on his task.

"Yes. Do I make you nervous?"

Wooyoung stopped what he was doing to look at him. He wasn't surprised to see a big smirk on his lips and chuckle.

"You wish," he said, making San chuckle.

Hongjoong came back with ridiculously huge new clothes that he took from Mingi's wardrobe. He put his phone on the worktop, next to the bowl Wooyoung was using, before going to the fridge next to San. The two boys started chatting but Wooyoung was too immersed in his task and his thoughts to even hear what they were saying. When the batter was ready, Wooyoung took the frying pan Yunho gave him to start the pancakes.

"Seonghwa-hyung told me your birthday was in two weeks. Why didn't you tell us?" Hongjoong complained.

"Oh... it's nothing," Wooyoung replied, running his hands through his hair.