Straight-ish (Hwang Hyunjin Fanfic)

4

Ayako had attempted to stir up conversation with Hyunjin a few more times but realized that she was really spending most of her time talking to the other two girls and Changbin, while Hyunjin and Seungmin talked and giggled nearly non-stop. She finally suggested, "Hey, let's go dance. That's what we're here for, right?"

The group agreed and they all piled out of the booth. They made their way out onto the floor and were all bouncing in sync with the beat. Amy smiled when she felt Chan's arms wrap around her, pausing to double-check they actually were Chan's arms with a snicker. Isa spun and snaked her arms around Felix and the group all settled in to their own rhythms. Ayako and Hyunjin started out dancing near each other, but not really together. She enjoyed the music and Hyunjin loved dancing, so it wasn't really surprising, to Hyunjin at least, when they got a little jostled apart. Everyone was hot and sweaty, the lights were flashing, the beat was pounding, and Ayako found herself next to Changbin. He met her eyes as they danced and glanced over toward Hyunjin with a smirk. Changbin held up one finger and backed up to him, asking if Hyunjin minded if he danced with his date. "She's not really my date, but sure, have fun!" Hyunjin answered, lost in the music. Changbin grinned, already knowing what was happening. Hyunjin was finding reasons for them to not connect. He wondered how long this one would take.

He moved back over to Ayako and began moving in her rhythm. She watched him move and noticed there was a different kind of confidence in his step than in Hyunjin's. Hyunjin was sure he was a good dancer. Changbin was sure he was sexy. There was no personality switch, it was just him. She liked talking to him. He was funny and kind of silly, and his arms were just, damn. She felt bad for a second about effectively switching partners, but when she looked back to Hyunjin, she caught something that made it all better. He was watching Seungmin dance, with a smile plastered across his face. She realized immediately what the disconnect was. She scooted in a little closer to Changbin and laid her arms over his shoulders. "He's not ready to admit it, is he?" she asked as he slipped his hands over her hips to her waist. She assumed that Changbin was aware of the problem just based on his behavior toward the girl his friend was supposedly interested in.

"Even you can see it? You just met him!" Changbin laughed. "We all tease him that he's straight-ish. He just laughs it off, but one of these days, he's going to admit that he's into guys too, or Seungmin at the very least," Changbin shrugged.

"Do you always pick up where he leaves off?" Ayako teased.

Changbin blushed but shook his head. "This is a first. I enjoyed talking to you," he answered shyly as they slowed down to more of a chill-out mix playing over the sound system.

Chan and Felix both noticed the partner shift and met each other's glance, rolling their eyes. "Aw, shit...here we go again," Felix memed, sending Chan into a laughing fit. As the night wore on, Hyunjin seemed to care less and less that Changbin and Ayako were really getting along well. Finally, the group all agreed it was time to head home. Changbin made sure to get Ayako's number and she snapped a selfie and added it to her contact in his phone. She snapped one of him too and labeled him "Changbinnie". The guys gave Hyunjin a little crap after Ayako left and he just rolled his eyes and laughed.

"What??? We tried talking for like half an hour and couldn't get past small talk crap. It's no big deal. Looks like Changbin really likes her though!" he responded as usual, brushing it all off. Seungmin saw the change in his eyes though. Seungmin always saw it.

---

They got to the car and Hyunjin went quiet, like always. "What's wrong, Jin?" he asked, wondering if this time, Hyunjin might actually tell him. He knew it was pointless to expect anything different.

Hyunjin mumbled, "I'm just tired, Seungminnie." Seungmin sighed heavily, wondering if Hyunjin would ever figure out how he felt. Seungmin left it alone and they spent the rest of the ride in silence.

The guys walked into the building and entered the elevator. When they got to Seungmin's floor, he asked if Hyunjin wanted him to come up and talk. He knew the answer, which is why he pushed the button, to begin with. "Nah. It's ok Seungminnie. I'm going to just go to bed, I think," Hyunjin said. Seungmin nodded and stepped off the elevator then gave Hyunjin a little wave and headed to his apartment. He checked his phone to make sure his ringer was on and loud, just like every night. He unlocked the door, slipped inside and started his bedtime routine.

---

Hyunjin stretched out on his bed, thinking about all the things his friends had teased him about. He really didn't need it. He had enough issues figuring out why none of these girls could keep his attention. He really didn't think he was gay, either though, because guys didn't really keep his interest either. He knew he was lonely. That was the one thing he was absolutely sure of. He scratched Kkami's ears, earning him a tiny growl. "Really? Even you?" Hyunjin huffed. He sighed heavily and rolled over, falling into a fitful sleep.

--- 

Seungmin laid awake for what felt like hours, not wanting Hyunjin to have an attack, but hoping he'd call. He wasn't sure why he allowed himself such false hope when it came to Hyunjin. It wasn't in his nature to do that to himself. Maybe he needed to just take a few steps back and open his eyes to other people. He hadn't even been on a date in well over a year, because all he could see was Hyunjin. Maybe that was a mistake. 

---

Hyunjin opened his eyes to find himself on a beam, high above the street, but he had no idea how he got there. Kkami stood at the edge of the building, barking incessantly, increasing his fear of the situation. He heard laughter from below and looked down to see all of his friends pointing up to him and jeering. Ayako was on the opposite end of the beam, looking across from the other building. She had a smirk and just rolled her eyes. He tried to move toward her, but the beam began to crumble under his feet. He felt the edges falling away and heard the laughter below shift into cheers. Hyunjin willed his feet to move and suddenly he was walking quickly, fighting for his balance. He looked back down and saw Seungmin, glaring at him from the crowd and holding on to a rope. He pulled the rope, hard, and the beam fell apart beneath Hyunjin's feet. He fell, screaming and terrified, and suddenly his eyes sprung open. He was in his room, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. He pulled himself together, breathing as slowly as he could, trying to remember what Seungmin had taught him. Slow. In through his nose, out through his mouth. Slow. Slow.

When he finally got control of his breathing, he went to his dresser to grab a dry shirt. He tossed his wet tee shirt into the hamper with a mental note that he really needed to do some laundry in the morning before classes. He slipped his clean shirt on, pulled the top sheet up over the damp bed and climbed back in, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes once again.