So Sweet And So Bitter

XX.

"This is gonna be a long night" I run my fingers through my hair as we park in front of Joshua's house, a nervous laugh escaping me. We haven't done something like this in ages, and being together when the anniversary is coming up doesn't make it easier.

"Trust me it's gonna be fun Wonu" Mingyu reassures me and we enter with the sun setting behind our backs.

"You're cheating!" I hear Minghao's voice coming from inside the living room, he's standing above the others with a pair of sunglasses on as he points at Dk.

"Dude I don't cheat, I'm not him" He looks at Jeonghan, who is pouring orange juice in some glasses.

"Calm down, you can't cheat in Monopoly" Seungkwan says and I purse my lips, agreeing with his statement... unless you're playing the bank.

"He didn't have that many properties before though"

"I bought them while you were in the bathroom!" Dk says and I see Minghao bite his lips in embarrassment as they resume playing. The others finally notice we have entered and greet us.

Everyone is already here, some are playing, some are preparing the food, and some are chilling on their phones. The atmosphere is cozy and I sit down next to Mingyu on the big fluffy sofa that separates the kitchen from the living room, allowing us to smell the scent of cookies that Joshua's making.

As we watch the game unfold I cannot focus on their moving pawns, conscious of Mingyu's hand that, while resting next to my thigh, is fidgeting with the side of my jeans. Luckily, not long after, he gets up to bring us drinks, but I can still feel my skin tingling in the spot he was rubbing.

"Who wants to eat? Sushi should be here soon" Jeonghan says as he sets the table.

"Can we order some Thai as well? Wonwoo doesn't eat seafood" Mingyu says as he caresses my thigh.

"Don't worry, I've already called them, but it'll come a bit later" Mingyu nods, and goes on to draw shapes on my thigh. First, the shape of a house appears, with a square and a triangle, then he draws some stars that go from my knee to my mid-thigh, he then starts to trace what feels like a snake, and a shiver takes over me.

"I need some air" I stand up abruptly, his hand falling to the side. Not even feeling my leg anymore I walk stiffly to the window and open it, inhaling the fresh scent of spring. I look behind to see he's moved on and has taken his phone out to take some pictures of the guys.

- - -

"The food has come" Hoshi says with a theatric voice, and we all gather at the kitchen table, which, luckily, can expand and make space for more people.

Sitting around the table, almost in the middle of it, Mingyu is not directly in front of me, but in front of Hoshi, who is sitting next to me. Seungcheol is at the head of the table and a couple of others are pouring soju into everyone's glasses, I cover mine not wanting to get drunk, instead I replace it with water so that I can still participate in whatever they want to do.

"Can you pass me the bottle of water?" I ask Minghao next to me.

"Thanks, are you planning another art show here?" I ask him, curious as to why he's still in Korea since I remember Mingyu telling me that he was going to stay for three weeks at most.

"Not yet, Jun just got here the other day so I'm leaving when he is" I hum nodding. Knowing that Jun is probably the most successful among us when it comes to acting I guess he has a lot of schedules with his fans and with his drama so he travels a lot.

Hoshi stands up and clinks his glass with his knife. "There's an announcement to make" He starts to tap his hands on the table as if to urge us to mimic the sound of drum rolls and I see Mingyu looking at me, showing me his canines as he laughs while Dk taps his hands on his head, imitating Hoshi. I smile expectantly, turning my head away from Mingyu and in my friend's direction.