Loving You is RED ||seventeen||

02. Payback for Seungcheol

A/N:
please give it lots of love and vote.

Jihoon slept through the entire monotonous orientation, with his earbuds firmly plugged into his ears. 'Orientations are just elaborate ways to torture students,' he always thought. In these sessions, some old people droned on about their achievements and life experiences, seemingly without end. Seniors delivered so-called motivational speeches that didn't inspire Jihoon at all, filled with clichéd advice and recycled anecdotes. The whole ordeal felt like a pointless exercise, leaving Jihoon more exhausted than enlightened.

Jihoon was jolted awake when Wonwoo suddenly pinched his side to notify him that it's time to leave. Groggy but compliant, Jihoon quickly gathered his things, and together, they exited the bustling venue and head toward a quaint, nearby restaurant for lunch. As they walked through the door, the fragrant aroma of freshly cooked food hit them, making their stomachs growl in anticipation. Once inside, they spotted Jeonghan and Joshua already seated at a corner table, engaged in light conversation as they await their arrival. The seven friends greeted the other two warmly, ready to enjoy a much-needed meal.

They all chose to sit in a secluded corner of the restaurant so as not to disturb other patrons with their constant chattering. Finding a place that could accommodate all nine of them is a challenge in itself, especially during the busy dining hours when available seats were scarce. Moreover, they're wary of getting too loud, as other customers might complain about the noise, and they could end up getting kicked out of the establishment, which would be embarrassing and disruptive to their lunch plans. Thus, the secluded spot offered them a semblance of privacy, where they could enjoy their lively conversations without worrying too much about bothering others.

"Hey, hyung, shouldn't you two be at the venue wrapping everything up?" DK inquired with a hint of concern as he glances at his boyfriend and Jeonghan. "Our sweet Seokminie is so worried about me," Joshua teased Seokmin, his lips curling into a playful smirk, clearly enjoying the moment. Jeonghan, with his trademark confidence, responded while chewing a piece of meat, "Don't worry, I've got my own way of handling things." Jihoon observed the scene, feeling a fleeting pang of sympathy for those who have the unenviable task of working under these mischievous twins. But in the grand scheme of things, did he really care? Not particularly.

Seungcheol, observing the interaction, shook his head fondly at his boyfriend while carefully placing a piece of cooked meat onto Jeonghan's plate. "You've worked hard, baby," he whispered affectionately into Jeonghan's ear, his voice just loud enough for only him to hear. Jeonghan shuddered under the intensity of Scoups' gaze, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red. Attempting to dismiss the sudden attention, he gulped down his beer quickly, only to end up choking on it. Seungcheol's eyes widened in concern, and he quickly patted Jeonghan's back, trying to help him catch his breath. The scene drew a few amused glances from their friends around the table, adding to Jeonghan's embarrassment, but Seungcheol just smiled reassuringly, his touch gentle and comforting.

"Are you okay, baby?" Scoups asked with a wicked grin, emphasizing the word "baby" after his boyfriend had finally calmed down. Jeonghan's eyes narrowed into a menacing glare as he mouthed quietly, "You'll pay for this, Choi Seungcheol." Jeonghan only resorted to using his boyfriend's full name when he was serious about challenging him. "We'll see," Seungcheol mouthed back, his confidence unshaken as he accepted the unspoken challenge with a knowing smile, preparing himself for the inevitable showdown.

After finishing their meal, the group lingered at the table, chatting jovially and recounting stories from their day before getting ready to leave the cozy little restaurant. Just as everyone was reaching for their wallets to pay for their food, Jeonghan stood up, tapping his glass lightly to get their attention. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he proclaimed, "Seungcheol will be treating us to the meal and desserts today!" The announcement was met with delighted cheers and infectious laughter from the rest of the group, their faces lighting up with surprise and amusement. Meanwhile, Seungcheol stood there, momentarily frozen in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief before he could do anything but smile sheepishly at his friends' enthusiastic reactions.