Third Wheeling For Dummies | on hold

three

The door is the most inviting thing about Lucas's house.

It's almost eight feet tall (Jungwoo still remembers Yukhei shifting houses in eighth grade because he banged his head on the top) and the color of dark chocolate.

What lies inside is less than welcoming.

"You ring the bell."

"Why do I always have to ring the bell?" Chittaphon defends, his high-low voice going higher than usual with indignation. "You do it."

"But I don't want to." The blond stares at the door, and at the lion's-head-shaped knocker smack in the centre of it, exactly eye level with him. It seems like a cruel joke.

"Do it, you big wuss."

Jungwoo scowls at him, and rings the bell.

Almost instantly, the door swings open inwards, narrowly missing Lucas's nose. He leans backwards the avoid it, and smiles so wide Jungwoo's sure it's more grateful than actually friendly.

"You guys came!" He announces with a tinge of barely controlled elation lining his deep voice. "Honestly, I could never thank you enough."

Ten simply grins. "Well, you could bake us your chocolate chip cookies."

Jungwoo stays silent, trying to peek inside the house with borderline fear. "We did."

"What?"

"I mean we came." He clears his throat. "Is Jun home?"

Lucas gives him a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Unfortunately. Just ignore him, he watched Donnie Darko yesterday."

The blond whimpers.

"Nothing we can't handle." Chittaphon raises his chin, confidently sashaying into the house. Jungwoo and Lucas follow. "Where's the bitch?"

The short, dark-haired male, who also coincidentally happens to be the bane of Jungwoo's existence, looks up from his spot on the couch with a deathly glare. Chittaphon retreats.

"Okay, we'll ignore him." He says, rubbing the back of his neck as he looks over at the boy. "He isn't even thirteen yet?"

"Almost." Lucas promises.

"The others?" Jungwoo asks in a small voice, staring at the television screen which plays one of Green Day's old concerts.

"Upstairs." The taller blond says, glancing at him meaningfully. "But honestly, I'm so glad you could fill in at the last moment. Dad isn't going to be back until late, and I didn't know, but I'd promised Dawon and really needed someone to take care of them."

Jungwoo smiles pitifully, aware that take care of them more or less implies make sure they don't set the house on fire.

"We'll do it." Ten shrugs, and glances at his watch. "Uh, Yukhei? It's six already."

This extracts a string of curses from the six foot male, who bids them a hurried goodbye and bolts. The two would normally be a little wary about cussing in front of a preteen, but they know it's nothing Dejun doesn't already hear on a daily basis.

Probably a sample of the real thing.

"So, we'll be upstairs if you need us." Jungwoo offers the said preteen a nervous smile, pointing at the stairs and fully intending to slink away at the first chance he gets. "Try not to kick any cats." He mutters in a low voice as an afterthought.

The ravenet only glances up, his long black bangs hanging in front of his glaring eyes. "Your cat's the only thing I'll be kicking."

The blond squeaks, but doesn't answer, instead choosing to advance to the stairs and pretend he didn't hear anything. Chittaphon joins him, following him after an apprehending glance towards the emo twelve year old.

"Is he always like a bitch on his man-period?" He whispers to a shaken Jungwoo as the climb up the polished olive stairs, eyebrows raised. "I couldn't ever peg him for Lucas's little bro."

"Yeah." Jungwoo winces as he speaks, looking over his shoulder to make sure the boy didn't hear him speak. "Except he's always on his man-period."

Ten whistles quietly, and shakes his head. "The other two...?"

"Angels." Jungwoo sighs, voice sagging with relief. "Thankfully."

The boy behind him snorts quietly as they reach the first floor, and tucks his fingers into his pockets as he watches the blond knock on the first door. A Beethoven poster decorates the wood, and Chittaphon sighs. He already knows what's coming.

The door swings open to reveal a short brunet, who grins ecstatically and gestures to the two to come in. Ten peers inside tentatively (pun not intended) and steps back.

"Uh, you know what?" He smiles extra-widely at Jungwoo. "I gotta go."

The blond looks miffed. "But we just got here!"

"I realised I have to go grocery shopping." He purses his lips, shrugging helplessly like, oh well, even though they both know he doesn't go grocery shopping. "I'm sure you can handle these kids on your own."

Jungwoo looks at him with fearful eyes. "You're leaving me alone with him?" He gesticulates to the devil downstairs with wild fingers.

"Well, you have these two with you." Ten raises his eyebrows and smiles awkwardly at the boy who stands in the room, his eyebrows pinched. "And if Satan here tries to kick your cat, just give me a call."

He swivels around, but glances back at the last moment. "Or rather, don't."

Then, he descends.

Jungwoo watches him helplessly as he moves through the living room, carefully avoiding eye contact with Dejun, and slips out of the door with all the mannerisms of a cat.

"It's okay." Yangyang says, making him look down at the boy. "Jun's busy watching the reruns, so he probably won't bother you. Probably."

The reassurance doesn't help.

What helps even less is the bell that sounds from the main door a second later.

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WHO'S READY FOR THE 127 COMEBACK CAUSE I SURE AS HELL AM NOT

junguwu is gonna be in it which makes me cry every time i think about it like?? he BELONGS in 127 don't @ me

i mean with bassbot and the Korean version of comeback and how regular is already my jam i know this ain't gonna be good for my health

but bring IT

p.s. how was the chapter? i know, lol, the brothers are gonna be the new smrookies - no hate, but this picture makes xiaojun look a bit like an emo kid

he's probably a sweetheart irl tho this is just for the sake of the crack headedness of the story

bAi ily

Manx