Unrequited (Woosan)

Thirteen

Life with Mingi was peaceful.

Both he and San found an easy rhythm for their home. San had taken up cooking again so he and Mingi didn't have takeout every night. And Mingi cleaned up most of the time and stayed out of San's way when the other was trying to work. And at school they hadn't really bought it up other than to tell Yeosang and Seonghwa that Mingi also knew the truth of their world.

Mingi also helped San with Wooyoung.

He would sit up at insane hours of the night if San needed someone to just... talk to. With Mingi there to listen it was easy for San to sort through his problems and work on what he needed to.

Which is what he and Mingi had done the night before.

Yet their conversations never were able to prepare San for actuall talking to Wooyoung.

"Hey, what're you thinking 'bout?" Wooyoung tilted his head to the side in order to look San in the eyes, a mischievous smile over his lips. Immediately feeling his ears heat San scrambled to come up with an explanation.

"Our friends, actually." San half-lied. "I think there is a real chance for Mingi asking Yunho out. And I think they'll do great together." San rambled slightly, glad when Wooyoung took his answer without question. Over the time San had been trying to set up Wooyoung and Changbin they'd grown into quite good friends.

"I know right! They'll be so cute I just know it!" Wooyoung clapped excitedly.

"Speaking of which, how are you and Changbin going?" San had also grown exceptionally good at faking smiles. Yet he'd also grown acutely aware of the minuscule crinkle that formed between Wooyoung's brows whenever Changbin was bought up in conversation.

Likely because they'd made no progress.

"Uh... still nothing. Honestly at this point I'm fine with it. Thinks will work out however they work out, right?" Wooyoung shrugged, balancing a pencil on the tip of his finger. The free lessons they shared together were always the highlights of San's week, and today was obviously no different.

Even when Mark Tuan sat cautiously at the table, Jackson taking the seat beside him.

Wooyoung immediately tended, expression hardening in anger. "The fuck you want asshole?"

"I'm sorry."

Everyone, except San, was stunned.

Mark nervously toyed with his fingers, staring at the table. "I don't expect you to forgive me, at all. I was awful and ignorant and I can never take that back. Just know that I promise to never hurt you or your friends again, nor will I let anyone hurt you. If you ever find it in your heart to forgive me I'll always be thankful." Mark finally made eye contact with Wooyoung, nothing but sincerity held within his irises. Then Mark gently grabbed Jackson's wrist and led him away from the table. With one last smile in San's direction the pair left the library.

"Well that was... fuckin' weird." Wooyoung stared at the door in absolute disbelief.

San shrugged, "At least he isn't making you accept it, right?"

The bell sounded as Wooyoung was about to respond.

The pair packed up their belongings and set off for the lunch hall. Mingi was in charge of lunch that day, seeing as he and San arranged lunch on alternate days.

"What's for lunch string bean?" San collapsed onto Mingi's shoulders and laughed when he felt Mingi scoff. In the end Mingi just lifted San off the ground and sat him on the chair beside him like a child. Wooyoung took the seat on San's other side, and Yunho obviously sat next to Mingi.

"I tried to cook..." "Oh no..." "and that didn't go well. So I ended up grabbing the bacon and cheese rolls from the cupboard." Mingi handed over the bag, only one roll remaining.

"Hold up, there were five left!" San smacked Mingi's arm.

"What? I have more body to fuel shorty!" Mingi laughed, not seeming guilty in the slightest. After rolling his eyes and scoffing again, just in case Mingi didn't notice the first time, San summoned a few five dollar notes and gave them to Mingi.

San then pushed Mingi from his chair, causing the giraffe boy to stumble. "Go buy me something asshole."

"Fine, fine." Mingi flipped San off as he walked away. Everyone else had arrived at that point.

Including Seo Changbin...

"H-hey, Wooyoungie, can I talk to you for a second?" He seemed nervous, just as he was every time he spoke to Wooyoung. Immediately Wooyoung stood up, straightened out his clothes nervously and went over to Changbin. They didn't even go that far, just to the other side of the room.

And San couldn't seem to look away.

Changbin leaned close to Woooyoung, speaking in a hushed tone.

Wooyoung giggled.

The space between them was minuscule.

Life sucked.

"Hey San..?" Mingi sat back down beside him, nudging their shoulders together. But San was completely distracted by what was happening on the other side of the room. Wooyoung looked around the room nervously before giving Changbin a note as discreetly as possible. There was a pause before Choangbin seemed to do the same thing, giving Wooyoung instead a small box.

This job was going... well...

Focus on the positives Choi San...

"Depresso Expresso? Hello?" Mingi was now waving his hand in front of San's face, pouting until San finally looked over at him. "Got your lunch dumbass."

"T-thanks Min..." San turned back to the table to see an absolute mountain of food. "What the fuck."

"You were clearly not checking what notes you gave me." Mingi quietly handed San the remaining three 50 dollar notes.

"Shit... thanks." Mingi smiled slightly at San as he began to eat. He felt strangely lethargic as he shoved chips into his mouth as though he could bury his problems in carbs. "Am I on dinner duty?"

"Yeah, if you wouldn't mind?" Mingi grabbed San's arm, giving him the most convincing puppy dog eyes San had ever seen.

San shook Mingi off with a huff. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Probably better for both of our health if you stay away from the kitchen."

"Are you guys having a sleepover?" Wooyoung asked as he sat back down beside San. His cheeks were rouged with that giddiness one earns after talking to someone they like, and his eyes sparkled like diamonds.

"Ah..." San turned to Mingi, not sure if he wanted to tell the truth just yet.

"Actually I ran away from home." Mingi said cheerily. "So San is letting me live with him! It's nice, and I don't have to worry anymore."

There were a few moments of pure silence before Seonghwa launched at Mingi, wrapping Mingi in his arms and making their giant seem rather tiny.

"Are you hurt?" Seonghwa pulled away to inspect Mingi's face.

"San healed me, I'm ok." Mingi whispered to Seonghwa, who nodded and moved back to his seat.

"Are you ok?" Hongjoong also seemed concerned. To be honest everyone but San was. Mainly because San knew Mingi would be ok, and that he would never just let Mingi live on the street.

"I'm all good, promise!" Mingi gave a thumbs up before launching into conversation with Yunho. After that everyone went back to their own conversations, leaving San to talk to Wooyoung.

"Have a good chat with Changbin." San almost wasn't able to hold back the bitterness in his voice.

Wooyoung couldn't seem to be able to look San in the eye. "Ah yeah, we did. I-I'll tell you about it later."

San went back to drowning his problems in food... again...