A Rose-Colored Dream; Soonhoon

05

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SOONYOUNG HAS GIVEN up on communicating with Jeonghan. For one, he never gets the answers he needs when he needs them. And secondly, he'd probably get an hour-long lecture if the elder found out about what he did; enlisting Minghao to help him, using a human to do the job of a Cupid. Yeah, he doesn't want to deal with that.

His apartment smells like burnt toast and flowers. He'd bought himself a bouquet the other day with what little money he had because he was tired of empty grey walls and barren countertops. Minghao sits with his legs hooked around the foot of his stool, biting into a piece of blackened bread and gazing at the head of daisy.

"Before you disappoint yourself, you need to understand that there's a chance this won't work out. You can't force a relationship."

"Ugh, why do people keep telling me that? This is going to work, I know it. They were made for each other." They have to be, otherwise the Council wouldn't have set them up.

Minghao doesn't question his certainty. He shrugs his shoulders and takes another bite, helpless. "Alright. Let's get down to business, I guess. This better be worth it though, I turned down Junhui's lunch date for it."

Minghao mentions a company dinner coming up in a few days for the holidays - a nice meal, and then the group will go out for drinks after. "They'll both be there, and Jihoon doesn't drink, but Seungcheol usually gets a little tipsy at these things. Put up a little mistletoe and boom - they'll kiss."

"Seungcheol will realize his feelings for Jihoon, and they'll live happily ever after," Soonyoung finishes. He grins. "This is perfect. You don't mind keeping an eye on them for me throughout the night?"

"What do you mean? You're gonna be there, aren't you?"

"Oh. I didn't know I was invited."

Minghao laughs, reaching over to shove Soonyoung lightly. "Of course you're invited, the guys love you. And you're a part of the company, aren't you? You're definitely coming."

It takes a moment to sink in, but when it does, Soonyoung feels his face turn warm. His smile is heating up his cheeks, pressing up to his eyes and burning all the way down to his heart. Minghao giggles.

"You're endearing, Soonyoung."

"I didn't think you guys liked me that much."

"Why not?"

"I dunno, I just ... I mean, I only just got here a couple weeks ago. And there's nothing really special about me, so. I just thought."

"Come on, that's bullshit. In the few weeks you've been here, I don't think there's a single person whose life you haven't touched, even just a little. Your energy during the dance lessons is so good, it keeps everyone going, and you've got so many good ideas. You're funny and entertaining - you know, Chan was having a rough day the other week, and you totally brightened it for him. It's like making people happy comes so naturally to you, I'm surprised you didn't know it."

The warmth intensifies, until Soonyoung's whole body feels like a furnace. His limbs go soft like jelly, and he thinks that if he doesn't make a conscious effort to hold himself together, he might melt into a puddle on the floor. "I didn't ever think about that. I figure I'm just kind of useless at a lot of things."

"Absolutely not. You're a great guy. When I heard another choreographer was coming on board, I was skeptical - because Jun and I were doing just fine with Chan, you know? But then you got here, and I just ... man, I'm really happy it was you."