Dust || Yoon Jeonghan | Seventeen

Bonus - Third wheel

the day passed with a bunch of 'aww they are cute' and a few 'what the actual fuck' as i tried to help sunwoo and jeonghan bond.

jeonghan had planned the whole day and while sunwoo being in the mix changed things, it was still the best birthday i've ever had. 

we went shopping (sunwoo spent the time productively by roasting me while jeonghan complimented me with almost too much passion. to be honest both were quite annoying.) then, we had lunch at a lavish japanese restaurant. (they decided to test who was better at japanese and at some point both of them were laughing while my monolingual ass sat cluelessly).

finally, we watched the movie i chose at home. 'how to lose a guy in 10 days'. classic. except for the commentary of certain two men trying to one up each other.

then came the part i was more excited about. the evening party.

the car ride to the hotel was tense. and by tense i mean a menace of a brother stuck playing third wheel in what could pass as honeymoon vibes.

jeonghan was driving, one hand casually on the wheel, the other resting over mine. his thumb brushed against my knuckles and at the same instant sunwoo let out the deepest sigh known to man.

"cute" sunwoo said flatly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "is this where i am supposed to clap?"

"finally" jeonghan didn't even glance in the rear view mirror. "i thought you were entirely incapable of reading the room."

"i wouldn't have to read the room if you two could just get a room and stop this-"  he gestured vaguely at the hand-holding. "this unholy public display of affection"

i groaned, slumping back into my seat. "can we not do this the entire ride? i don't need the passive aggressive olympics happening on my birthday."

"it's not passive aggressive" sunwoo argued. "it's just aggressive aggressive."

"fair point" jeonghan said, giving a small shrug.

before i could spill my thoughts on fairness which may or may not have included certain f-words, sunwoo leaned forward, resting his elbows on the back of my seat like he was about to announce something important. 

"you know arin, i am starting to think you invited me here just to flex your celebrity boyfriend."

jeonghan sighed, clearly not flattered and i turned to glare at sunwoo summoning my best impression of an exhausted elder sister. "first of all, i didn't invite you. you showed up unannounced." 

"at excellent timing" he interrupted.

"and second" i continued ignoring him "you are here because it's my birthday, and i want us to actually spend time together like normal siblings."

sunwoo tilted his head as if he was genuinely pondering my words. "define normal."

"normal as in not turning every conversation into a diss battle" i shot back.

he gasped, feigning offense. "diss? me? no, no. i am just trying to cope with my sister's eccentric choice in men"

jeonghan glanced at me, a sly smile playing on his lips. "eccentric? bold coming from someone who has to be told what's normal."

i slapped a hand over my face, suppressing a laugh. "jeonghan, please."

jeonghan smirked, his hand still holding mine like he didn't just roast my brother. "but i am having so much fun. aren't you, sunwoo?"

"oh, a blast" sunwoo deadpanned. "best birthday party ever. can't wait to tell everyone how i spent the car ride watching my sister get cozy with mr. hair commercial over here."

jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "hair commercial? is that supposed to be an insult? sounds like a compliment."

sunwoo waved his hand dismissively. "oh it's a compliment. you've just got that ' i use ten products for one strand of hair' vibe."

i could see jeonghan preparing a comeback, so i quickly cut in. "alright, that's enough. let's just enjoy the awkward silence or something."

the car fell into a brief silence, which might've been nice if it weren't for the fact that sunwoo was glaring at our joined hands like they'd personally offended him.

"do you have to do that while driving?" sunwoo finally asked, gesturing at jeonghan's hand over mine.

jeonghan didn't miss a beat. "what, drive? yes. kind of necessary."

"you know what i mean" sunwoo retorted.

jeonghan finally glanced at him in the rearview mirror, a mischievous glint in his eye. "what, this?" he gave my hand a little squeeze, and i swear i saw sunwoo's soul leave his body.

"unbelievable" he muttered, sinking further into his seat.

i turned back to glare at him. "okay, you really need to calm down. it's not like we're making out in front of you."

"yet" jeonghan added with a smirk, and i immediately smacked his arm.

"jeonghan!" i shrieked, my face heating up.

sunwoo groaned loudly. "that's it. pull over. i am walking."

"no, you're not" i said firmly. "we're almost at the hotel, and you're going to behave like a decent human being for the rest of the night."

sunwoo crossed his arms, pouting like a kid. "fine. but if i see anything remotely lovey-dovey at the party, i am leaving."

jeonghan grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "good luck with that."

sunwoo glared at him, and i could already tell this party was going to be a long night.

happy birthday to me i guess.