Chapter 24 (1/2)

Hi! I’m back again! Writing with a deadline is hard… but I’m doing my best to finish this story already. It’s been too long.Enjoy!  Time Taemin thought about it harder when he looked at the notebook he just threw on the floor. If he can write it out — tell the notebook everything he felt about the leader, why couldn’t he do it to the said person? He wasn’t scared to be rejected, he got himself ready for that from the past years, he just didn’t want their friendship to break. He doesn’t really know if Jinki was against same sex couples or not, the leader never voiced it. But from what he’s seen he didn’t have a problem with it. Though, even if he didn’t have a problem with it, it didn’t mean he’d be okay being in one… Taemin believed in Jinki. The older boy does his best to understand anything he didn’t before. He’d do anything for his friends, most especially to the one he called family. He knew Jinki would understand him — understand his feelings. “I… I will.” Hearing what the younger boy had said made Jonghyun proud of himself. Not only did he make Taemin realize what he needed to do, he was literally being a cupid for the two members. Taemin on the other hand was thinking hard to himself that he didn’t even noticed that he voiced out that last thought, it surprised him even. Sure, he was happy that someone heard him say it because this time he wouldn’t back away from it. Someone, Jonghyun would put him back on track if he ever drifted from the path he was taking. The older boy shifted closer to the maknae and patted his shoulders with a smile. “I’m proud of you Taemin-ah, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Jonghyun began, thinking the boy might’ve been having the same thoughts as Jinki. “I know there isn’t, but Jinki hyung is still dating noona, there’s no way he’ll look my way…” Taemin mumbled, looking down as he played with his fingers. Seeing that cute unhappy face Taemin did made Jonghyun look away. It was at this time that the singer wanted to hit Jinki’s head. Why couldn’t he just say he’s not dating anyone damnit! Jonghyun still has no clue of what Jinki was planning to do and he blamed himself for it. He had a long talk with the leader yet he didn’t focus on what the other was planning like he should’ve been and instead focused on the past where two hearts were crying. “Taemin-ah… you got to stop doubting yourself.” Jonghyun began as he now rubbed the boy’s back. It took awhile for Taemin to reply.“Hyung, we don’t even know if he’s into guys.” He stated as if it was obvious. “We don’t know that, right…” Jonghyun was really wanting to hit Jinki right now. “But who knows maybe you’d be the one that he’ll turn gay for?” He teased in the end. The maknae only nudged him with a smile which made him smile along. “You promise you will?” Jonghyun nudged. “I promise hyung.”

***

At the same time Jinki was out with his friends again after the schedules he needed to do and though he was happy at the moment, he thought about what Jonghyun had told him the day before, resulting in a frown on his face. “Noona,” He called to the girl. Having been called all of the sudden, Jungah knew the boy was going to ask questions, finally. “What are we even going to do?” He questioned. It’s been long since their break up but they still haven’t really talked about what she and Joon was planning to do. The woman smirked “Oh that… about that…” she paused, “I don’t think we should do anything. Right?” Jungah asked Joon, which made the other nod with a smile, only making Jinki confused. “What do you mean we’re not going to do anything anymore? I thought you two were going to help me out?” Jinki asked, now sending the two a betrayed look. “Well… yeah. We’re done helping you.” She smacked her lips. “What do you mean!? You guys haven’t done anything to help me at all!” Were these guys serious? Help my ass, they didn’t do a single thing to help… Well, that’s what Jinki thought. The couple's’ opinion said otherwise — they helped quite a lot. “But we did Jinki…” Joon began.“No you didn’t…” the other boy pouted.“We did. Now here’s what you’ll do.” The couple shifted closer while Jinki huffed, “what do you mean me? What about “we”? I can’t do it on my own!” The couple only shook their heads. “Yah, if you were going to confess to Taemin, would you want others to be there?” Jungah asked. She later smirked when the boy mumbled a ‘no’. “You’re going to listen, okay?” Jungah asked as if she was talking to a child, making Jinki glare at her. She didn’t start saying anything and it made Jinki to look back and forth at the two in front of him, still having a confused gaze. And as his eyes shifted from the both of them he slowly caught a glimpse of their smirks. “Okay… what are you two doing?” When the ever growing smirks didn’t stop, he suspected the two. They were his friends after all, and he knew most of his friends were always up to something. He continued to shift his eyes at the both of them and that’s when it got to him. “The… the plan has already started hasn’t it?” He asked as he rubbed his aching temples. When he got smiles as an answer, he dropped his head onto the table, groaning. Why did he have friends like these two anyway? He didn’t know. Though he liked the fact that in some way they were alike. Always thinking ahead without having others knowing. “We weren’t going to do anything in the first place.” Joon spoke as he played with his finger making it seem like the conversation they were having wasn’t too much of a problem. Jinki shifted his gaze to the woman in front of him, only seeing that she was nodding to what the other said. “What… do you mean?” “We wanted to know if you really wanted this.” Jungah explained. With what she said he wanted to walk out, these two were really a pain in the ass. “You guys must have to be joking right? Was I not obvious enough to the both of you that I love him?!” Jinki raised his voice as he looked at the two. “No… it was obvious don’t worry, but you weren’t obvious when Taemin-ah was around.” Joon explained as he leaned forward onto the table. The couple stopped talking, letting Jinki think about what they said, hoping that he’ll finally get the whole thing. “Okay so what do you want me to do?” Jinki asked after a few of minutes of stirring his drink. This time the couple leaned back as the same time and said the same thing. “Easy, you tell him.” They ended with a grinny smile. Jinki, who was a bit stressed from having to deal with such friends of his, only sighed as he rubbed his temples again. “You guys are going to be dead soon…” “Okay… then instead of telling him, show him.” Jungah suggested as she wiggled her brows. “You think I’ll be able to do that? When you told me not to tell them that we broke up? How is that going to make me look? They’ll think that I’m flirting with him just to break his heart intentionally.” “Here, let me explain.” Jungah spoke. “Please do.” “We were helping you in a way, though not like how you wanted us to, I’m guessing.” Jungah made an apologetic smile towards the younger when he looked up. “The plan was to make Taemin think you’re still dating me, which has already been checked off.” Jinki slowly nodded. “We did that so that there was that time in between that you’d guy get closer again, in which you guys have. Am I right?” Jinki nodded. “So that’s checked off as well!” “But I don’t get it, how did you know we’ll get closer again even if he still thinks we're dating?” Jinki asked. This time it was Joon who answered. “Because if he really did love you as much as we think he does, then he’ll put everything aside for your happiness. A person who loves only wants the person they love to be happy even if it means they’ll be hurt in the end.” Jinki nodded to himself. “And plus, if he thinks you’re still with Jungah, he’ll be more attentive to what you guys have been doing.” The older boy added.“I get it but I still don’t get it. That plan you guys are talking about didn’t get us anywhere aside from being close again.” Jinki retorted. “What we wanted was for time to do it’s job and since you guys have gotten back on track of being friends we think the next part will go great by itself.” Jungah interrupted.“And that is?” He sounded bored, he didn’t expect too much from the two anymore.“A surprise!” “A surprise?” Jinki asked Joon. He knew Jungah could get out of hand when it came to romance, she liked things that were fairytale like so he ask the boy just in case he heard wrong.“Yeah a surprise. Taemin-ah likes surprises doesn’t he?” Joon asked. “Well… yeah but not when it’s towards him, he doesn’t like the attention…” Jinki replied. They talked about the surprise and though Jinki thought it was really lame. He went along with it. “I know he’s still doing that stupid show but you know it’s scripted, right?” Jungah asked. When they both saw the confused gaze once again, Joon nodded in agreement considering he already took part of the show. “It is?...” Jinki asked. “It is.” the other nodded again. “But it seems like he really has developed some feelings for her…” Jinki mumbled. “Jinki does it make sense to you? He’s had these feelings for you probably even before you guys debuted. Does it make sense that he can just forget those feelings just because he’s on a scripted show with a girl?” Jungah sassed. Although Jungah was just making him realize such things, Jinki felt like he was being scolded. “It doesn’t make sense—”“Good. Well now that, that’s done and over with, the plan is you’re going to start hanging out with him like the old days and when you feel it’s right, you confess.” Jungah said. “Look you guys, as easy as that sounds, it isn’t…” Jinki sighed. It felt like talking to Jonghyun all over again. “We have these schedules we have to attend to, so obviously when we get back to the dorm we’d sleep right away. There’s no time to hang out like we used to.” “You don’t know that Jinki.” Joon started. “If you really want to make it happen, then you’ll make it happen. And since we know Taemin has feelings for you as well then I’m sure he’ll make it happen as well…”“I know it isn’t easy, especially after everything… and for that I apologise. But when you confess to him, I’ll be there to explain everything to him. Alright?” Jungah suggested. “Alright…”“Promise?” “I promise…”

***

It was night already and it was surprising to see Jonghyun asleep this early considering the boy struggled with insomnia and it surprising to see Taemin was not. He tried to sleep but he couldn’t help the thoughts that were running through his head. How do I make him realize? Taemin thought, though after repeating that in his head a couple of times more he found it stupid. Making him realize isn’t going to work if I keep on not doing anything… He nodded to himself. He was looking at the ceiling as if it would give him answers to his questions he knew he could give himself. He was starting to get annoyed with himself and the thought that he was too childish for the leader was brought up in his head again. He wasn’t afraid… no, he was worried. Jinki and him has just got their friendship back, it wasn’t like before but it was getting there, he didn’t want to ruin it again because of his thoughts once again. He knew he had some fault in the whole situation too, both of them were at fault. They had talked about it and though it seemed like everything was cool between them, some moments where it was just the two of them were still edgy. What am I supposed to do? After getting annoyed with himself again, he sat up and pulled at his hair. The boy knew that making the older jealous was already stupid to start with and scolded himself for doing so in the past. However the thought that it worked with other couples was still in his head. Though, now that he was thinking of it, he knew his friends already had that tension between them. With Jinki, he didn’t know they had the tension, but he knew he had to think outside the box. It was Lee Jinki after all. The boy who was known to be a step ahead of others. “The boy who was known to be a step ahead of others…” He repeated out loud as he lied back down on his bed, with arms crossed behind his head. Taemin thought hard, trying to put himself in the leader’s shoes but when he couldn’t think of anything he gave up, hitting his sheets. The thought that Jinki could be having feelings for him was impossible to him. Jinki couldn’t be in love with him. He thought about how he shouldn’t win Jinki’s heart because it was wrong to be doing so when the older boy was already happy with someone else. He shouldn’t be the one to take away the leader’s happiness because all they can ever be were best friends. He sighed, closing his eyes, arms crossed behind his head again. He remembered his talk with Jonghyun and that made him groan. He sighed once again as he closed his eyes. “I promised…”

***

Jonghyun opened his eyes as he heard the maknae hitting his sheets. He knew that from the sounds of the boy’s sighs and groans, Taemin was thinking about backing out of what he promised him. But he also knew the boy loved Jinki too much to give up and go back on his word. Nevertheless, he still worried that Taemin would actually go back on his word this time, he never did in his life, but he was worried. The boy has been hurting for so long, no one really knew for how long he could hold. Jonghyun was about to get up to calm the maknae down seeing how he was restless. But he stayed lying when he saw the boy drop his body back on the bed and whisper that he promised. And hearing those words, he smiled, getting himself comfortable to go back to sleep. I almost doubted you Taemin-ah…

***

It’s been a couple of weeks, however, both members still haven’t done anything they said they would. Like what Jinki thought, schedules kept piling up for the both of them. Both boys were equally annoyed. Was some force really playing with them? It was just unbelievable to them that they were the only members to be having schedules. Schedules that started after the other finished. What made it more unbelievable was that this only ever happened now. When they were all ready to let things out. And as Jinki and Taemin were irritated with everything, their cupid — Jonghyun laughed at them from the side. Although he did want to quicken the pace, he knew he had to wait for the right time as well. Everyone did so in the world anyway. But seeing how these two wanted to spend some time together again was making not only him happy but others as well.

***

“Okay, what’s up?” Kibum finally asked his boyfriend when he knew something was going on. Unlike before, the trio wasn’t talking much about the leader and maknae and it was impossible Jonghyun didn’t know anything. Jonghyun knew everything. “What do you mean?” “What’s happening between those two?” Key asked.“I don’t know… wae? Did you notice something that I didn’t?” Jonghyun played oblivious. Like he told himself, he didn’t want others getting in the way. He wanted Jinki and Taemin to work it out themselves. “Jonghyun, you and I both know, you know something.” Key walked towards the other. “I really don’t. I mean come on, we’ve been having so much schedules these past few weeks. I haven’t really gotten to talk to either of them.” Jonghyun replied while waving his hands in front of him. He knew how to act. Although, Key felt that what Jonghyun had said was a lie he agreed, he too, didn’t get to have a conversation with the other members. They’ve only had time to talk about work and how to improve, there was no room for conversations they’d normally have. “I think I know what you’re doing… but I’ll play along.” Kibum replied as he nodded his head along with the motion of his finger going up and down. And with that the younger left with a frown. Jonghyun just smirked to himself. There was no way the other knew. He worked well. Even Jinki and Taemin didn’t know that he was talking to either of them.

***

Taemin was out again with shooting for another episode. But still, he was annoyed. He didn’t want to come here and make a sculpture with Naeun, having to hold her hands for more than an hour. He wanted to stay in the dorm and spend some time with his hyungs. He put up with the idea of the show though having seen that the crew liked it. However, not 30 minutes has even passed and the mold was getting heavy, his hands were sweaty too, he just wanted to stretch it. Most importantly, he didn’t want to hold her hands anymore. The image of wanting to hold on someone else's came into his head and he got more annoyed because he couldn’t do that. When he broke the hand hold, still having it in the mold, it was obvious the crew was upset, Naeun too, but he knew she was acting. She knew why Taemin didn’t want to do it. They were both acting and even if everyone in front of them knew that, some of the crew thought Taemin was jerk for making the girl “upset”. Naeun wanted to explain that it was fine but the crew thought otherwise and talked over her. As that commotion was happening, Taemin headed off to some place that seemed peaceful enough for him. Naeun noticed this and told the crew, however the crew said she shouldn’t care because of his “attitude” towards her. She ignored them and went to look for him herself. When she found him, he was sitting on a bench, watching a video to which she smiled at. Naeun approached him quietly, not wanting to ruin the peaceful atmosphere she knew the older boy was looking for. She tapped his shoulder before she sat down beside him. “Don’t mind them… they for a fact should know it was acting anyways, right?” Naeun tried to cheer him up. Taemin chuckled “yeah… but really? Calling me a jerk when I’m right in front of them, they’re such great people.” He sarcastically replied. The two chuckled and didn’t talk for awhile. Taemin still continued to watch the videos that were saved on his phone — videos of him and the leader. Naeun didn’t give much thought into what videos he was watching because she didn’t have to, so she didn’t ask. And so they stayed there sitting side by side just thinking to themselves. “So… why have you been so down lately?” She asked.“Molla…”“Oh come on, it’s Jinki sunbaenim again, isn’t it?” She guessed and Taemin only shrugged, eyes still on the screen. She knew about the situation considering she saw Taemin tearing up one day. She tried to cheer him up that day but nothing worked. However that same day, he called her at night and asked to meet up. He explained everything, apologized in advance and she said that she understood. She wasn’t looking for a relationship at the moment anyway. When Naeun had visited the SHINee members backstage for the show, it looked like the both of them held some secret feelings for each other. Though they didn’t. Again it was acting. A few weeks ago she had visited the SHINee members again and what she found strange was that whenever she visited, the person Taemin had feelings for was never there. Taemin always excused it as “he’s busy, he’s the leader after all…” though she thought otherwise. She got her answer then when she accidentally heard Jinki talking to someone in the bathroom when she needed to go. It seemed like the person on the other side of the phone was comforting him and telling him that it’d be okay because the leader would only hummed back. She didn’t tell Taemin when she came back since she wasn’t in the place of doing so. “What happened?” She asked. “I don’t know… the members just don’t have a lot of time anymore because of the schedules…” Taemin said as he continued to watch. “So you’re saying you don’t have a lot of time with your leader?” She teased with an arched brow. “Stop it…”“Cheer up, after today, you can go meet up with him.” She nudged and Taemin agreed with a nod. Hopefully…

***