The Grapevine

Chapter Twenty Six

Eric slid into the passenger seat of Mingyu's car, letting out a dramatic sigh as he buckled his seatbelt. He glanced at Mingyu, who hummed softly as he started the engine, his ever-cheerful demeanor fully displayed. The silence stretched for a beat too long, prompting Mingyu to shoot Eric a playful side-eye.

"You're unusually quiet, Eric-ah," Mingyu teased, his tone light. "What's wrong? Did Sean scolded you?"

Eric huffed, crossing his arms. "Hyung, why didn't you ever tell me you knew Sean? Do you have any idea how shocked I was yesterday? You, of all people, knowing him?"

Mingyu grinned mischievously as he maneuvered the car onto the road. "Why would I?..

Plus no one asked.."

Eric turned to him, aghast. "Seriously? No one asked. That's your excuse?"

"Well, it's true! Do you expect me to walk around announcing, 'Hey, I know Sean, and by the way, I'm dating his brother?'" Mingyu chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Besides, watching you flail around Sean has been way too entertaining. You're like a lovesick puppy. Who was I to ruin the fun?"

Eric groaned, leaning back against the seat, his head tilted toward the car's ceiling. "This is not funny, Hyung. I've been overthinking everything, and now I find out you're practically family!"

Mingyu, ever calm and collected, glanced sideways at him, a knowing grin playing on his lips. He tapped the steering wheel rhythmically, his amusement barely concealed. "Family? So you're really sure about Sean, huh?"

Eric sat up straight, his brows furrowing as if Mingyu's words had flipped a switch in his brain. "What does that even mean? Of course, I'm sure! I mean—" He paused, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I wouldn't be... doing all this if I wasn't, right? It's just—"

"—a lot?" Mingyu finished for him, his grin widening as he spared Eric a brief glance. "Well, you weren't supposed to find out like this. But let me say—it's been a joy seeing you climb mountains for him. It's endearing."

"Endearing?" Eric exclaimed, though the faint blush creeping up his neck betrayed him.

Mingyu laughed. "Yes, endearing. You've got it bad for him, Eric. But I mean that in the best way."

Eric mumbled something incoherent under his breath, choosing to stare out the window instead. Despite his irritation, he couldn't stop himself from smiling faintly. Mingyu's teasing always had a way of softening the edges of his frustrations.

After a few moments of playful banter, Eric shifted in his seat, his expression growing more thoughtful. "Hyung," he began hesitantly, "Can I ask you something?.. About Sean and his family?"

Mingyu's playful demeanor softened, though his smile remained. "You can ask, but whether I'll answer is another story."

"How long have you known them?" Eric asked cautiously.

Mingyu exhaled slowly, keeping his eyes on the road. "I've known Hugo for three years. We met by chance, and it was... complicated at first. It's a classic love-hate dynamic, really. But we clicked eventually. As for Sean and the rest of the family, I got to know them through Hugo."

Eric nodded, processing the information. "You said you and Hugo had a love-hate relationship. What happened?"

Mingyu chuckled softly. "That's a story for another day, kid. Let's just say Hugo and I are both stubborn, and we've had our share of fireworks. But we figured it out. Love has a way of pushing you to grow."

Eric shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat, watching the city lights blur past through the window. He wanted to ask more but he is hesitant to try. Mingyu was humming along to the radio, the carefree tone of his voice a sharp contrast to the questions swirling in Eric's mind.