Puppy Love • Seungchan/Chanmin

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Almost a week had passed since Chan had spoken with Jeongin. A whole week that Chan had failed to tell the person who needed to hear it most about the conversation he'd had Sunday afternoon.

Seungmin hadn't asked him, but Chan knew the younger was waiting for an answer. Chan felt bad for not only putting Seungmin, but Jeongin too, in a limbo like state.

Jeongin had been eagerly waiting for Chan to speak with Seungmin, and had asked about Seungmin's response every chance he got. But every time Jeongin broached the subject, Chan avoided eye contact, scratched his neck, and offered whatever lame excuse he could come up with- because, to Jeongin's dismay, Chan still, days later, hadn't spoken with Seungmin.

Although their time as a couple had long since passed, Jeongin still cared for Seungmin, he wanted the best for both of them. Chan could see that, and he knew he couldn't keep brushing off Jeongin's curiosity forever. Which is why, when Jeongin had suggested they go for a run at the track this morning, he knew he couldn't say no.

Unlike years back, where the track had been a place to build stamina and bond with his dad, the track was now a place away from home where he and Jeongin came to talk, burn off steam, combat their brotherly angst and today, debrief his own tangled feelings.

Given that Seungmin was Jeongin's past and Chan's future- a future that he'd been stubbornly delaying, -some time down at the track was surely needed.

"You still haven't told Seungmin you spoke to me, have you?" Jeongin asks. They were currently sitting side by side on the bleachers and taking a breather after doing a couple laps.

Chan wipes his brow as he looks at his brother, and then takes a chug of his water, nervous to answer. "I haven't..." he eventually says.

Jeongin turns and perches his arm on one of the chairs, his legs stretched out and his trainers crossed. He had that knowing look of disapproval like his father that made Chan's skin itch.

"-And why not?" Jeongin queries. "You clearly like him, and he likes you back. You even told me so yourself when you went on your date the other week. Don't think I haven't forgotten. What's stopping you, Chan? Because it's certainly not me"

Chan bounces his leg nervously, his eyes drifting out towards the track and the endless trees that sat beyond.

In truth, before his nerves got the best of him, he had planned to; in fact, he'd wanted to drive back over to Seungmin's house right after talking with Jeongin, and tell him he was ok with it.

But, deep down he knew that wasn't the way to go about things, nor was sending a text message to say "Hey, my brother is fine with us dating." Chan told himself he had to do it in person, and he'd been telling himself that every day since.

Chan looks back in his brother's direction. "I just want to find the right time in person and let him know, and I have to tell mum and dad too..."

"So?" Jeongin bites, his tone accusatory. "Message him and ask him out, and just sit down with mum and dad and let them know"

"What if they think I'm weird for dating your ex-boyfriend?" Chan argues back, he couldn't help the whine that comes out in his voice, it made him feel small and pathetic.

"Chan, I think you're weird for dating my ex-boyfriend, but I'm not stopping you. They probably wouldn't even care that much. Although it was just a coincidence, you had him in your room and mum didn't care. When she told me you had a boy over, she just laughed and said you were cute for smuggling him in... not that you really did any smuggling since I was the one to let him in in the first place- in fact, he kinda let himself in because he took my key- but anyway, you get what I mean, right?"