Happy Endings ⁘ Chenle

69 ⁘ Wine

⁘ 69 ⁘

Juwon's eyes were aimed ahead at Da-eun, Chenle and Hae-in. They were cooking together and having a lively conversation, enthusiastically sharing their thoughts on movies and filmmaking, acting and singing. 

It was an interesting conversation. And it was one that had started while Juwon had been to the toilet. A brief departure and yet, when he came back, he felt a little out of place. That wasn't usually the case - not for a guy like Juwon. He himself recognized that as well. 

As he sat on the kitchen table a few steps away and quietly observed the three, he grew a little irritated. The sight bothered him, yet his mind was blank as to what to say or do or even why he felt like this in the first place.

"Stop glaring," Chenle commented quietly, words directed at an absent-minded Juwon. The older quickly snapped out of his daze and looked to his side. He frowned. 

"Weren't you just next to Eunnie?" Juwon asked carefully. Surely he would have noticed him coming here? 

Chenle nodded. "I was. I came over when I noticed you staring. I guess you zoned out?" he wondered. "Anyway, we are here to celebrate, so what's with the long face?" 

"It's just... I came here with Hae-in but now all he does is talk to Eunnie."

The other boy sighed softly. "I figured that was it. Are you jealous?"

Juwon frowned. He quickly defended himself in a low voice, "Of course not!" However, he was a little too stern and a little too affected. It was obvious that he was lying. 

Chenle grinned as he nodded. "Okay, whatever you say." 

"I mean-!" he began loudly, his urgency catching Da-eun's attention briefly who looked over at her friend in worry. However, Juwon quickly shook his head, smiled and mouthed 'nothing'. She turned back to Hae-in. 

Juwon relaxed from the brief moment of tension that left Chenle amused. The younger quickly shook off his grin and offered Juwon a mocking, 

"Smooth." 

"Shut up," he muttered in return, pulling the smile back onto Chenle's lips. "I love them both, of course I am not jealous. I just feel like... he gets so much more excited to see her than me and then he also gives her all his attention."

"They are pretty close after all," he reasoned.

"I know..." Juwon sighed. "It's just... like what do I do? I don't want them to not talk." 

"Then just join their conversation." 

"But it's so..." 

"So?" 

"Weird? Like... disruptive?" 

"Why?" Chenle wondered. "We all know each other. It's not exactly weird unless you make it weird." 

Maybe he was right. Maybe everything was way easier than Juwon made it out to be. However, the issue was that Juwon was stuck too deep in his overthinking to get out of it with just reasonability. Although it would have been nice if it were that easy.

While he was once more drowning in whatever sea of uncertainty he had thrown himself into, Chenle left his side briefly. He went over to a cupboard in the corner and pulled something out of it. He brought it over to Juwon and offered it to him. 

The older frowned as he took the apron from Chenle - took it without really knowing why. 

"...what?"

"A chance," Chenle said. "To join the conversation." 

Juwon's eyes travelled back to his boyfriend who was standing uncomfortably far away from the stove as he flipped some meat in the pan. He frowned at the sizzling and the oil that splashed all around.