Winter Hearts

Hurry Home

Hongbin was seated on the carpet, with Hyuk sprawled out on the floor in front of him. N, Kkomae and Seokkie were taking up all the available space in front of the fireplace and TV, so he and Hyuk had taken up the floor space near the balcony doors with the others.

He noticed a text come through on his phone.

As he opened up his messages to read it, he felt the warm presence of Ravi and Ken on either side of him. They were peering over each shoulder to see his phone. Hyuk looked up and rolled his eyes.

Hongbin paused, his thumb hovering over the message notification. He looked left and right, but they just waited.

"Are you guys hugging each other with me in between?" Hongbin asked quietly.

Ravi settled his chin on his shoulder with a little sigh. Ken patted his shoulder, but it turned into a slow rub.

"You have a message, Hongbinnie," Ken said in a soft voice.

Hongbin shifted a little to look at him properly, but Ken's eyes were just glued to the phone.

He looked at Hyuk, who was smiling down at his hands as he curled them into the carpet.

"Sometimes I get the disturbing feeling I have no idea what the reality of my life is," Hongbin murmured to Hyuk, who lifted his hands to rub his eyes as he laughed. His large hands dominated his face, which seemed to disappear behind them.

"So cute," Ravi cooed, his chin still resting on Hongbin's shoulder.

"I'm cute," Ken said, whining.

"Aww, you're cute," Ravi agreed. Hongbin felt a little pressure on his body as they squeezed each other behind him.

Hongbin arched out of their odd embrace, pulling forward and away, to turn and look at them as they collapsed into a gentle heap behind him.

They looked like half-asleep puppies, confused by the sudden removal of their warm comforter.

"You guys need to understand a few things about personal space," Hongbin said, finally opening up his messages.

"My parents warned me about this kind of behaviour," Hyuk said, shaking his head.

"Girl... I need a girl..." Ken sang Taeyang's song softly, his hand stroking the shaved part of Ravi's hair at the back of his head. Ravi's feet waggled as he smiled.

Hyuk laughed, making Ken laugh too.

"Yes, my parents were right, exactly this kind of behaviour," Hyuk giggled.

"Don't judge me, maknae!" Ken screeched, making Ravi guffaw so hard his body shook. They looked at Hongbin to see his reaction.

He looked up from his phone, his face drained of colour. Their laughter died down.

"We're just playing, Binnie," Ravi said, looking at the others. At the sofa, N looked over when he heard the change in Ravi's voice.

"It's from Panos," Hongbin said, turning the phone to face the others. N got up and came over.

The clip showed the playground and its surrounds, as it had been that afternoon. They could see Leo, in his dark blue peacoat, his hands in his pockets. Before him stood Siana, her face turned up to him.

Hongbin waited for the boys to settle before playing the clip. He knew that, somewhere to the left of frame, he and Ken were approaching the playground and basketball court, and that in a few moments, the fake fight between Siana and George would play out.

Hongbin already knew what the video had captured, because he had seen it in real life himself. He pressed play, keeping an eye on N's reaction. Behind him, he noticed Kkomae look over to watch them.