Is There Anybody Out There?

My Aegi Is An Out Of Control Child

Joshua sat at the usual table he and his best friend normally met at, cursing him for being late as he sat there awkwardly with no coffee.

"Shua!" Jeonghan exclaimed, bursting through the door and running over to the table, "I'm so sorry I'm late, I had to take care of my aegi."

"Oh yeah?" Joshua asked standing up to hug him tightly, "How is your aegi?"

"He's doing fine." Jeonghan hugged him back, "Still getting used to everyone, dancing at Soonyoung's studio at night and coming home after he's done. We keep trying to get him out more often, but he just won't leave." He let Joshua go and sat down.

Joshua sat down, smiling at him, "I'm glad to hear he's at least coming out to dance. Mine is also driving me crazy, so I know how you feel. Maybe you could help me?"

"Let me go get our coffees and then we can talk about this more, okay? It's on me this time so give me your order, no buts about it." Jeonghan stood back up and looked at Joshua expectantly.

Joshua gave him a tired sigh, shaking his head, "Fine, only because I got it last time. I'll just have my usual I guess, please?"

Jeonghan stood up, giving a cheesy smile and a thumbs up, "An iced americano coming right up!" He then ran over to the counter and ordered the coffees, and two cake pops as well just because he could. When the order was finished he made his way back over to their table, handing Joshua his stuff before sitting, "Your drink and a cake pop. Now, how can I help you with your out of control aegi?"

Joshua smiled at him, "Awh! Thank you! I needed this!" He took a bite of the cake pop and nodded happily before finishing it off and taking a sip of his coffee, "So basically, his girlfriend broke up with him a few weeks ago. She's homophobic and didn't know about him being bisexual. Had her cousins beat him up. He's going crazy. He didn't leave his room for weeks. Then he started going out and getting drunk, we found out he was sleeping in his car in the bar parking lot hours from home. We all stopped him one morning and he promised to be better, but now he's a hermit again and is being short and rude with everyone. I don't know what to do! I want to help him but he won't accept help, he just gets mad."

Jeonghan took a sip of his coffee and thought about Joshua's problem. He felt bad for his best friend, and for Vernon. He was so loving towards Jennie it upsets him so much to hear about how badly the break-up affected him. Jeonghan then came up with an idea and he smiled at Joshua, "Okay, I have an idea, but I know how you can be. Just hear me out first, okay?"

Joshua raised his eyebrow as he took another sip, "Okay?"

"Why don't we play matchmaker? Set Vernon up with Chan? Chan is a Grade A hermit and Vernon is broken-hearted and out of control. Chan is gay so definitely not homophobic at all, he was actually worried I'd hate him for being gay. Boy is an absolute sweetheart, I think he and Vernon would be perfect for one another." Jeonghan explained, hopeful that Joshua would agree.

"I don't know Hannie, he seems a little too broken for a relationship right now... I feel like he's not healed... maybe it's too soon. I am sure Chan is amazing and a great person, but maybe we should wait? Vernon is kinda being a dick right now anyway, what if he hurts Chan's feelings? Plus I'd have to meet him first to make sure he would be a good fit... I just don't know," Joshua rambled, trailing off with a defeated sigh as he drank his coffee.

Jeonghan took a moment and thought. He took another sip of his coffee before speaking, "How about this? You should meet Chan and decide if he'll be a good fit first. Maybe Vernon's giving up and being a dick to push everyone away, but if we give him a reason to keep fighting, he'll calm down and be happy again. If you meet Chan and think it won't work, then we won't do it. At least I'll be giving Chan another older brother to look up to, though Seokmin gives me competition sometimes with him. If you do think it'll work, we'll set them up on dates disguised as group hangouts so we're always nearby them. How about it?"

Joshua sat in thought for a second as he took another sip, "Hm... I guess we can try. I'd love to meet him either way. How about you guys come to our next performance? Vernon had us take a couple weeks off for him but we agreed to play at Stray Kids Saturday. He doesn't know it yet though. I'm sure it would be a good way to get Chan out too! You can come early and I'll meet him before the show!"

"That would be perfect! It'll get Chan out of his apartment for a while. I'll grab him before he leaves the dance studio Saturday night." Jeonghan then looked confused, "But Stray Kids? The bar that Soonyoung tried to upstage the one dancer at? Like full out went over dramatic and jumped up and challenged him right as he was announced? That bar?"

Joshua laughed happily at the memory, "Yes! That bar! I love it there, they have the best food ever. Please get him to come! Soonyoung too! As long as he doesn't try to dance battle Minho again."

"Soonyoung is at the dance studio with Chan on Saturdays, that's when Chan runs his choreography by him. I'll definitely bring them both, and will make it clear to Soonyoung that he is not to start a dance battle with anyone. He'll be able to help with getting Chan there though." Jeonghan held out his hand for Joshua to shake, "So, we got a deal?"

"Yes we have a deal, but no promises on setting them up!" Joshua answered, shaking his best friend's hand like he was sealing a deal with the devil.

"You won't regret this Joshua! I promise you, they'll be amazing together. You're gonna love Chan too. He's such a cutie and is so sweet he'll make your teeth hurt. He'll be so much better for Vernon than Jennie ever was! I know you never really liked her so that's not really saying much, but it's true." Jeonghan smiled brightly.

Joshua laughed at him and let his hand go, "I despised that bitch the moment I met her. I tried to tell him not to get with her, she only wanted him for fame if he hit it big. She was so worried about image shit. Anyone would be better than her. I'm still sure your aegi is sweet and amazing though!"

"Wait until you meet him. Just be a bit patient. Like I've said before, he's been through a lot in his life so he's not the best at social situations. He doesn't care about his image constantly, and he's such a hermit that he won't be dating Vernon for fame." Jeonghan told him, taking another sip of his coffee.

Joshua nodded again, taking a sip of his own, "I'll be extra gentle, I know how it feels to be nervous. I'll make sure he's comfortable there. Plus it's hard not to be comfortable at Stray Kids, especially if his issue is about his sexuality. You did say he was worried you'd hate him for being gay."

Jeonghan sighed, his smile dropping, "It's a long story, he told me his past the day I took him to meet everyone at Soonyoung's studio, it's actually why I took him earlier than I had planned. You got time for a long story? So you know what you're walking into Saturday?"

Joshua nodded, a worried look on his face, "I have all the time in the world. I need a break from worrying about Vernon anyway."

Jeonghan nodded, taking a deep breath before starting, "Well, he had a good life. It all fell apart when he was forced to come out to everyone..."

(~Harley and Brianna)