Best Friend's Brother (Seungjin)

Chapter 8: Girl Talk + Seungmin

A few days had passed since Seungmin and Hyunjin had begun exploring the possibility of dating, though Hyunjin hadn't explicitly made it clear yet. They had shared kisses and held hands, which to Seungmin felt like they were already dating. Regardless, a lot of things had happened, and Seungmin found himself busy writing his new song, finding inspiration from Hyunjin who had become a great muse for him.

As Seungmin sat in Yeji's room with her and four other girls, the topic of conversation revolved around crushes and feelings. Unbeknownst to them, Seungmin was gay, and he often found himself feeling perplexed when it came to discussions about girl-boy relationships, as his own experiences and preferences were different. He navigated these conversations with utmost care, carefully trying to understand and provide insights without revealing his true identity. It was as though he lived a double life, one where he tried to fit in while concealing a significant part of himself that he wasn't ready to share with others.

"Well, during the gaming convention, Felix and I spent a lot of time together. We played this multiplayer game where we had to team up and work together to win. He was so supportive, cheering me on and even helping me strategize," Yeji gushed, her cheeks flushed with a mix of joy and anticipation.

"And then, during a break, we went to get some snacks, and he insisted on sharing this big bag of popcorn with me. It was so sweet, and I couldn't help but feel like we were on a cute little date," she continued, a dreamy smile on her face.

The other girls giggled, clearly enjoying Yeji's romantic storytelling. They urged her to share more, eager to hear about every detail of her time with Felix.

"Later, we explored the convention together, and he even won me a cute little plushie at one of the game booths. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and I couldn't stop smiling the entire time," Yeji recounted, her eyes shining with happiness.

"He even offered to let me wear his jacket when it got a bit chilly in the evening. It was such a simple gesture, but it felt so intimate, you know? Like he wanted to take care of me," she added, a touch of wonder in her voice.

As Yeji continued to share her experiences with Felix, the girls listened intently, hanging on to every word as if they were reading a captivating romance novel. Yeji's storytelling had a way of making every moment feel magical, and they couldn't help but get swept up in the romantic atmosphere she described.

"And then he held my hand. Girls, do you guys think he did that because he likes me, or was it just an act of kindness?" Yeji asked the group of girls.

"It's hard to say, sweetie. Hey, Seungmin, you're a guy. You might have some insights," Ryujin remarked, expecting him to provide some male perspective.

Seungmin felt a bit uneasy being put on the spot, knowing that his experiences and feelings were quite different from those of his peers. Nevertheless, he tried to offer his honest opinion. "Honestly, with Felix, it's hard to tell. He's such a kind-hearted person, so he could be doing it out of kindness rather than romantic interest. Sometimes you have to ask directly to know for sure."

"Oh," Yeji let out, slightly disappointed, and the girls directed disapproving glances at Seungmin.

"It's our fault for asking a guy's opinion on this," Yuna sighed, understanding that Seungmin's perspective might not align with their experiences.

"Why don't you ask Hyunjin? I'm sure he has plenty of experience with girls; he definitely knows about these things, definitely more than Seungmin. How many girls did you date again? Two? And they didn't even last that long," Chaeryeong teased.

Seungmin couldn't help but chuckle at Chaeryeong's playful taunting. "Well, you know what they say, quality over quantity," he teased, shooting her a playful wink.

Chaeryeong raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Seungmin's response. "Oh, I see what you did there. I guess you're waiting for that perfect fairy tale romance, huh?"

Seungmin leaned back, pretending to be contemplative. "You could say that. I have high standards, you know."

Yeji laughed, enjoying the teasing exchange. "Well, I can vouch for that. Seungmin doesn't settle for anything less than extraordinary."

Chaeryeong shook her head, still teasing. "Oh, wow, you're such a romantic, Seungmin. No wonder you and Hyunjin get along so well."

Seungmin's cheeks flushed slightly at the mention of Hyunjin, but he maintained his playful demeanor. "Yeah, we're like two peas in a pod—partners in crime, always causing trouble together."

Yeji playfully nudged Seungmin. "And causing a lot of laughter too. "

Seungmin chuckled, feeling a warm affection for Hyunjin in his heart. "Well, I'm glad you all find us entertaining."

"No, it's more like Seungmin is causing Hyunjin to laugh. You breathe, he laughs," Lia interjected, laughing as she playfully exaggerated the dynamic between Seungmin and Hyunjin.

Seungmin grinned, enjoying the good-natured teasing. "Hey, I can't help it if I have a knack for making people laugh. Hyunjin just happens to be my favorite audience."

Chaeryeong joined in, adding to the amusement. "And we can't blame him! Seungmin's got that charm that's hard to resist."

Seungmin pretended to be modest, a playful glint in his eye. "Well, I guess I can't argue with that. It's a gift, what can I say?"

Yeji chuckled, affectionately rolling her eyes. "Oh, you and your confidence. But I have to admit, your humor is contagious. You and Hyunjin together are like a comedy show."

Seungmin felt a warm sense of happiness at the mention of Hyunjin. "Yeah, well, we just enjoy making each other laugh. It's part of what makes our friendship so special."

"So back to the topic, will you talk to Hyunjin about if Felix has romantic feelings for you?" Chaeryeong asked, her curiosity piqued.

Yeji hesitated for a moment, considering her twin brother's potential involvement. "I don't know, Chaeryeong. Hyunjin and I are really close, but talking to him about my crush feels a bit awkward. Besides, he might just tease me endlessly."

Seungmin playfully interjected, unable to resist the opportunity to tease. "Well, you know how siblings can be. Hyunjin might never let you live it down!"

Yeji rolled her eyes but smiled at Seungmin's comment. "Exactly! I don't need him teasing me all the time. But, on the other hand, he does give pretty good advice."

Lia chimed in, offering her perspective. "Maybe it's worth the teasing if it means getting some insights from someone who knows both you and Felix so well."

Yeji nodded in agreement, contemplating the idea. "You have a point there. Hyunjin might actually be able to help me understand Felix's feelings better."

Chaeryeong added, "And he might even offer some brotherly protection and advice on how to approach things."

Seungmin joined in, lightening the mood. "Yeah, you'll have your own personal love guru right at home!"

Yeji laughed, playfully nudging Seungmin. "Very funny. But maybe you're right. I'll talk to Hyunjin about it, but he has to promise not to overreact or tease me too much."

Seungmin grinned. "I can't make any promises on his behalf, but I'm sure he'll handle it well."

He then stood up. "Well, girls, I have to go. My writing session with Chan and Changbin is about to start," Seungmin said, preparing to leave the room.

"Ah, Chan! He's just so dreamy," Lia stated, a dreamy look crossing her face as she mentioned the person Seungmin was going to work with.

"No, more like annoying," Ryujin retorted, offering a contrasting opinion.

"Say hi to Changbin for me," Yuna spoke up, sending her regards to Seungmin's writing partner.

"When are you going to let me listen to that song?" Yeji implored, her curiosity piqued.

"When it's ready, Yeji," Seungmin replied with a smile, hinting that he wanted to surprise them with the finished product when the time was right.

With that, Seungmin bid his friends goodbye and headed off to his writing session.