Seoulstruck (Stray Kids, 18+)

Chapter 8: Off on an Adventure

After the group of men had eaten all they could, Chan stood to pay for the meal, heading up to the counter. Hyunjin excused himself shortly after, resting his chin on the producer's shoulder from behind. "Meet me outside, once you've paid," he said lowly into the man's ear. Chan's stomach dropped. Hyunjin rarely needed to pull him aside just to talk.

Chan walked outside to find Hyunjin leaning against the brick wall of the restaurant. The idol always looked so cool, even when wearing something lowkey to disguise himself. He looked Hyunjin up and down. "What's going on?" he asked. Hyunjin had a difficult time looking Chan in the eye. "Innie," he started. "He confronted me, today... he walked in on us, last night." Chan turned away, rubbing the back of his neck, sighing, clearly embarrassed. "He... saw that, huh?" Hyunjin nodded. "He... doesn't want us to sleep together, anymore."

Chan stood up straight, his eyes suddenly severe. "Well, that's not really up to him," he said, sternly. Hyunjin chuckled at the sincerity, finally meeting Chan's eyes. "Turns out, he's pretty jealous." Chan pursed his lips at the words. Hyunjin cocked his head. "Weren't you the one who said if anyone's feelings got hurt, you wanted to stop, anyway?"

"That applied to our feelings, not... someone else's," Chan shot back, trying but failing to keep his cool. Hyunjin's eyebrows raised. "You're... upset?"

Chan sighed. "Yeah, I guess so."

The idol squeezed his eyes shut before leaning back to look up at the sky, shaking his head. "Look," he said, "he asked me for something... and I'd like to do him this one favor. But... depending on how it goes, that may have been our last time, together. I'm just giving you the head's up you deserve." Chan closed his eyes, nodding, his hands resting against the back of his head. "Thanks."

Hyunjin crossed his arms, shooting the producer a look. "Besides, I see how you look at that fellow Aussie boy."  He cocked an eyebrow and an attitude. "Don't try to tell me you aren't interested. You went to his place of work and then brought him out with us. He's your type, isn't he?" Before Chan could answer, Jeongin came rushing outside, looking past groups of people to find the two men speaking privately. He approached them, carefully, looking between the pair. "Hyung," he said, slowly walking up beside Hyunjin. The idol looked him in the eye, smiling warmly. "Sorry, Innie," he said, "we just needed to talk something over, really quick. We were going to come back inside." Felix, Changbin, and Minho all emerged from the restaurant, meeting up with the trio. "You pay and dip on us, is that it?" Minho teased. "What are we, escorts?" Hyunjin rolled his eyes, Jeongin gripping his arm. "Hyung," Jeongin said, "do you want to hang out with me, tonight?"

Hyunjin looked the young model in the eye, noticing how nervous he seemed. "Mm," he agreed. "We'll go to your place, then." Jeongin beamed, pulling Hyunjin toward the sidewalk. The idol waved to the rest of the group. "We're off on an adventure!" he called, Minho looking the pair over, disgusted. "Don't come back!" he called after them. Chan smirked, thinking over what Hyunjin said. He looked up at Felix with kind eyes. "Do you like bingsoo?" he asked, Felix whipping his head around to look the producer in the eye. "Mm," he said, nodding, "it's very good." Chan smiled, involuntarily. "I know a good place. They're open late." Felix smiled, agreeing to dessert, the tipsy quartet heading to their next destination.