[slides in after a month of inactivity] hello, snu!! i already messaged the main but i also wanted to drop in and ~formally~ announce that i will be dropping bin here as well as @sgnhaenaââ because i felt like i owed it to those of you i had plotted with! it was probably obvious but i just havenât had much muse or energy to write for either of them, as much as i love them as characters, and going on hiatus while i tried to re-adjust to my work schedule only further proved that to myself ;;;
thank you SO much to everyone i plotted & threaded with, and apologies to the connections iâve made on both of them that iâm now leaving behind! it really hurts me to do this because i loved them all so so much but i just feel bad holding on when i know i just barely scrape by activity checks week to week & take forever with replies and plotting messages anyways ;;; please feel free to use either as npcs if you need them to for your characterâs sake, i wonât mind!!
if i get my muse or more time back, i might just join again but if anyone wants to stay in contact, my discord is tsunderes#0782 and my twitter is @chajunss! pls let me know if youâll be adding me on any though, just so i know who you are & can accept you!! đ
  mirroring the solemn nature in which the younger spoke, hansung nods, mumbling the words back to bin before he sets off to distract baekso (of course, not before giving the other male a two finger salute). truthfully, he probably is going about the task in a dramatic manner. itâs likely that baekso would have allowed hansung to add some girl group songs into the track playlist if he had actually asked. but hansung, always the one for dramatics, decided to go about it in a rather odd way. he justifies his plan by saying there really is no harm being done to anyone.
  it is rather easy to distract baekso. being that the two of them are best friends, all he has to do is make some vaguely stupid remark for the two of them to get into a heated conversation. he does have to maneuver his hyung so that baekso isnât facing the portable speakers, but thatâs about the most difficult thing he actually has to do. heâs only half listening to baekso explain himself, the other half of him watching carefully as bin grabs the phone off the speaker. he has to ignore the urge for him to burst out into a wide grin, but his years in the drama club have helped him perfect the art of keeping his emotions off his face. he waits until bin has reached a large enough distance away from the speaker to not be suspicious before he exits his conversation with a slap to baeksoâs shoulder and a quick okay yeah i got it.
  while quite certain that baekso is definitely confused about the situation, he pays no mind to that and he makes his way to behind the bleachers. right now he has more important things to think about. for starters, what song, other than ice cream cake because heâs already certain that song needs to be on the playlist, out of red velvetâs perfect discography should be added. once bin is in sight, he grins widely at the male. âwasnât that really easy?â he asks, as if the two of them had just cracked the code to a highly secured safe and not something as simple as grabbing a phone thatâs already out in the open. âlet me unlock the phone first.âÂ
   the moment hansung sets off and directs baekso so his back is facing the speakers, bin speeds walk to the device but tries to look casual and very normal about it like heâs not about to technically steal someoneâs phone. (he was going to give it back afterwards though so itâs fine!) luckily, it wasnât his first time being sneaky thanks to some... other antics heâs gotten himself involved in so after glancing around him, he notes that thankfully, it doesnât look like anyone is paying him much attention, if any at all.
   when he arrives at the portable speakers, he wastes no time in grabbing the phone off it and sliding it into the pocket of his track pants before once again, speed walking away - but not without a sweep of the area to make sure no one else can catch him in the act. thereâs still no one with their eyes on him but he keeps up the urgency because the sooner he accomplishes this task, the better. heâs also aware that theyâre definitely being more dramatic about this then they need do but he finds it amusing and fun to partake in so why not go along with it?
   bin slips behind the bleachers just as planned and is pleasantly surprised about how easy and quick the entire mission was. not that he minds but then he supposes it might be partly due to hansung being his partner in crime this time. âshockingly easy,â bin laughs back as he nods and hands over the phone to the other without further prompting. âbut i guess it wasnât too much of a high risk operation anyways.â that didnât make it any less satisfying though. âwhat songs are we going to add? red flavor definitely has to be added,â he adds on, peering over at the phone as he watches hansung tap away at it. âitâs the nationâs summer song.â
   âi didnât say that,â bin pushes out his lips, a pout instantly forming without him realizing - a habit, obviously, that he does often whenever he feels wronged. âbut i also wonât say no if you want me to finish it eitherâŚâ this, he trails off while saying because he supposes seungwoo does have a point so the pout doesnât last long and heâs soon back to eating his food like nothing had happened.
   he shrugs hearing the olderâs question, visibly taking on an expression to show heâs thinking. âi donât have any plans, honestly,â he replies around a mouthful of foodâalso another habit of his that again, he doesnât notice most of the timeâand mid chew. âi didnât have any plans when you first attacked me either so i still donât know.â
   he takes a few more purposeful (and large) bites of his meal and before he knows it, heâs emptied the bowl. letting out a satisfied sigh and a lick of his lips, bin glances back at seungwoo. âiâll probably just walk around, see if anything catches my eyes or if i see someone i know. maybe go back to the dorms if nothing does though and sleep?â or maybe watch a movie, or eat more. he doesnât know, he was pretty much winging todayâs plans since him staying back on campus for the holidays was very last minute. âwhy? do you want me to tag along with you and wooseok?â he asks with a playful grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows. âi donât know how heâd feel about thatâŚâ
   âwhy am i not surprised that your options would include sleep?â he teases wryly as he finishes off his food slowly, pleased with his impromptu meal-like snack. at the otherâs question, he wrinkles his nose slightly, pretending to be utterly disgusted. âno, please donât come along with us, that would be a nightmare,â he says with a shake of his head. âwhy would i want to spend more time with you⌠this already filled my quota for the week,â he jokes with a playful quirk to his lips.
   checking his phone, he canât help the smile that crosses his face involuntarily. âokay, iâm going to go meet seokie. iâll see you soon, binnie,â he says warmly, reaching out to ruffle the otherâs hair with a smile.
   despite their harsh teasing and playful words, bin is someone he truly enjoys spending time with. heâs lucky to have the other as his treasurer, and he thinks that this short interlude had certainly been a good way to spend some time before his date with his boyfriend.
- [ ë ] -
   he sighs and as much as he hadnât wanted to really interact with anyone whilst trying out this new restaurant, the experience wasnât as bad as he thought it would be. bin wouldnât be his first choice of company, nor would he be second or third or even fourth. he probably would never have even come up as an option in wooseokâs list, but their meal together wasnât a bad one.
   it had been decently enjoyable, if he let himself admit it.Â
   their table is silent as he quietly finishes eating the rest of his udon, and he thinks to himself that heâs really enjoyed it. itâs exactly what he expected and the broth was better than he had thought it would be, if heâs fully honest. he was definitely going to come back and probably bring seungwoo along so that his boyfriend could try the food. it was good.
   âmm?â he makes a sound when bin speaks, showing that he was listening before he laughs slightly, covering his mouth with his hand. he finishes the last bite he needed to eat, sipping at one last spoonful of soup before he dabs at his lips with a napkin to get rid of any remnants of soup that might be on his lips. âi definitely think itâs as good as you hyped it up to be,â he says, acting like he was begrudgingly admitting to this, though thereâs a small smile on his lips that shows heâs teasing.
   âthanks for keeping me company though.â
   when bin receives a seal of approval from wooseok and a small smile, he thinks heâs somehow just aced an exam which is wild, when he remembers before today, heâs never really interacted with the older. he didnât realize he was looking for the otherâs acceptance either but heâs glad he seems to have gotten the other to view him a slightly more positive light. at least he didnât absolutely dislike him or anything, which is always a plus if they were to run into each other again.
   grinning, he lights up and with the way he sits up straighter, he probably looks like an excited puppy who was just praised. his really does like this restaurant a lot so he feels a little protective over it and hopes everyone who tried it ended up enjoying it as much as he does. âreally? iâm glad my taste buds are still working then,â he laughs before nodding easily. âit wasnât what you wanted at first iâm sure but, iâm glad i wasnât horrible company.â binâs only kidding of course and he hopes the goofy smile on his face makes that obvious.
   âi guess iâll see you around campus then, or maybe because of seungwoo hyung?â he gets up from his seat, picking up his tray as he goes, and gives a little wave and nod to say goodbye. âthanks for letting me share your table again! and it was nice talking to you,â he adds on, waiting for the other to respond before emptying his tray and leaving the restaurant.
                                                         END *
   âweak,â he says but thereâs so much fondness in his voice that itâs clear thereâs no bite in the comment, his eyes soft. if heâs being honest, he thinks it might work out better this way, anyway. bin is a very capable and trustworthy treasurer, but the position of vice president covers a far wider scope than treasurer does, and itâs a huge amount of responsibility seungwoo doesnât think the younger would be comfortable with.
   âthanks for your confidence in me, bin,â seungwoo laughs, genuinely touched by the otherâs enthusiastic support of his choice despite not knowing the aforementioned candidate personally. heâs really lucky to have bin as part of his executive team, to say the least.
   âare you trying to get some of my food from me?â he asks in amusement, his eyebrow arching in mock disbelief. âi already bought you one bowl, and now you want my food too?â he laughs as he eats a few mouthfuls of soup, knowing that bin will certainly finish in time. heâs not really worried about not finishing, though â heâs always been good at scarfing down food in record time, especially when heâs running on a tight schedule, as he foresees this upcoming semester will be. âwhat are you going to do after?â
   âi didnât say that,â bin pushes out his lips, a pout instantly forming without him realizing - a habit, obviously, that he does often whenever he feels wronged. âbut i also wonât say no if you want me to finish it either...â this, he trails off while saying because he supposes seungwoo does have a point so the pout doesnât last long and heâs soon back to eating his food like nothing had happened.
   he shrugs hearing the olderâs question, visibly taking on an expression to show heâs thinking. âi donât have any plans, honestly,â he replies around a mouthful of food--also another habit of his that again, he doesnât notice most of the time--and mid chew. âi didnât have any plans when you first attacked me either so i still donât know.â
   he takes a few more purposeful (and large) bites of his meal and before he knows it, heâs emptied the bowl. letting out a satisfied sigh and a lick of his lips, bin glances back at seungwoo. âiâll probably just walk around, see if anything catches my eyes or if i see someone i know. maybe go back to the dorms if nothing does though and sleep?â or maybe watch a movie, or eat more. he doesnât know, he was pretty much winging todayâs plans since him staying back on campus for the holidays was very last minute. âwhy? do you want me to tag along with you and wooseok?â he asks with a playful grin and a wiggle of his eyebrows. âi donât know how heâd feel about that...â
đ đĄđ¤đ¤đ đđŁđŠđ¤ đŠđđ đĽđđ¤đŁđ đđđđđŠđ¨ đ¤đ đ˘đ¤đ¤đŁ đđđŁ *Â
   ⪠sgn task #001âpart two
what kind of cell phone do you have? how often do you use your cell phone?
bin has a samsung galaxy s20 in black! heâs basically on his phone any time heâs not sleeping, eating, or during club/sports if they arenât taking a break or something. during classes or helios meetings, he usually focuses on those and wonât be on his phone but when he doesnât/gets bored or someone happens to message him during one, heâll probably get distracted by it easily.
what is your phoneâs lock screen photo? what is your phoneâs home screen photo?
usually itâll be a photo of him with friends (probably doing something stupid) or one of his teams/clubs like pictured above! if he ever gets a girlfriend, it might be a photo of them together but ha ha-- his home screen is (will be) a photo of his cat that he has yet to adopt in character but WILL so until then, itâs probably some sort of scenic photo he took.
how many contacts do you have in your phone?
honestly, not very many? heâd only give his number out to family, good friends, and people he actually likes or has a reason to! everyone else he only contacts them through messaging apps or something, probably lmao
do you customize contact names or enter as given names?
if theyâre close, heâll give them a customized contact names, most likely based on an inside joke or if the person reminds him of something! otherwise, itâs just given name and possibly their affiliation/where he knows them from (ie. their school year, major, club/team, etc)!
what is their default ringtone? do you have personalized ringtones for your contacts or does everyone use the default ringtone?
whatever is set as the default out of the box because heâd never bother to change it since he always keep his phone on vibrate or silent, depending on the circumstance! so he doesnât have personalized ringtones for anyone either.
how many alarms do you have set and why?
bin would have at least 5 alarms, minimum. the first one would be set for 1 hour before he should actually wake up and all subsequent alarms are set for 15 minute intervals after that because heâs a deep sleeper and will gladly ignore alarms even if he sets them himself. (so heâs known to be late to a lot of things if thereâs not someone physically waking him up and even then thatâs a challenge.)
what are your top 3 most used apps?
kakaotalk, melon/the built-in music player, youtube + bonus shout out to snapchat, since he opens that last once a day.
what are your last 3 google searches or the last 3 things youâve asked your built in ai?
can i leave a cat on its own in my dorm, cat tips, animal shelter nearby (in that order)
do you delete your internet search history or use incognito mode? if so, how often, and why?
he doesnât because a) heâs lazy and b) doesnât have anything to hide anyways lmao
do you download music or use a streaming app? if so, which one and why?
bin uses a streaming app but will download specific songs from it if needed for a specific reason, like heâs using it in a choreography or just likes it enough and wants to support the artist (bin voice: #stream [insert girl group here])!
what does your photo album consist of?
selcas/him eating or with food, his friends (both with them and of them - like lots of ugly shots of them), scenery, and once he gets a cat, his cat!
what is your texting style? do you reply quickly or are you a slow texter? do you send several messages at a time or paragraphs?
it depends! if heâs in a group chat and is not busy at the moment, heâll be quick to reply especially if theyâre talking about something fun or teasing someone. if itâs an individual chat, it depends on how heâs feeling then and how urgent/important it is (the more important, the more quickly heâll reply). if heâs busy then he will obviously reply much later but whether itâs right at the moment heâs free or a bit after depends as previously stated!
generally though, he types at an average speed (not too quickly but not super slow) and will usually send several separate messages at a time (with slang/short forms and emojis) unless itâs something more professional/formal and the person is too, then paragraphs.Â
what are the last 3 texts youâve sent?
sent to @sgnhyunjaeâ : did u see the shoes i always were to practice near the door before u left the dorm?? i think i forgot them since they arenât in my bag lol
sent to @sgnseungwooâ : was... there a meeting today... and if so... when... đđ
sent to his sister : can you tell dad iâm busy this weekend and canât make it to that event? iâll treat you to lunch next time we meet up?? đĽşđĽş
what are your top 6 used emojis?
đ¤đđđŠđąđ - he... yeah...
how often do you call others?
if heâs making the calls, not often. bin doesnât mind talking on the phone but itâs just easier and quicker to text, plus he can use emojis and send memes that way and most prefer text to calls anyways.Â
who where the last 3 calls made to and why?
his mom, who he was calling back after she called first to check in on him.
a chicken restaurant, because they arenât on any delivery apps and he usually orders from there since the owner likes him and gives him extras.
an IT worker, because his wifi went down and he didnât know how to fix it (and forgot he could use the data on his phone to look up solutions instead...)
who do you call the most?
his mom, probably lmao
do you have someone blocked? if so, who and why?
he does not! he doesnât give his number out to anyone unless he wants them to have it and so far, heâs had no reason to block anyone yet.
are you apart of any group chats? with who?
one for all helios members, one for just helios execs, one for the dance team, any group chats his other clubs and teams might have, and one for a group project heâs in currently.
do you use the notes app?
he does! because heâll forget things otherwise so itâs just a mess of random reminders/notes to self, to do lists (that he never follows), things he needs to look up later, just... a lot of stuff, most he probably forgets to go back and do or delete.
the deepening from that results from his goading is unmistakable, souring her expression to the point that if looks could kill, heâd be done, dead, and buried. if thereâs anything she hates more than losing, itâs the winner gloating about it, using her position on a professional esports team as ammunition. sheâd worked so hard to get there, playing countless hours of frustration and intense concentration, all while putting her play style out there for the world to see. even though sheâs earned her spot on the team, there are those that doubt the validity of it, claiming sheâs just a diversity pick, or that she still lacks the skill to be there.
so yes, it does sting a little when bin gloats like that, years of online comments coming back to haunt her in that brief moment, but if thereâs one thing sheâs learned from live streaming, itâs the ability to hide her true emotions behind a facadeâat least, thatâs her belief. itâs still hard to hide the downward turn of her lips, though.
âyeah, yeah, you get lucky once and suddenly my skill is being doubted?â she says, more of a statement than a question, lithe fingers running through her hair. thereâs more bite to her words than sheâd intended, and she feels a bit bad about it since she knows bin doesnât mean anything truly malicious behind his words. she wouldnât be friends with him if there were. but thereâs no point in apologizing for it now, not when there are still games to be played and games to be won, and words that she needs bin to eat immediately.
âjust grab your prize and letâs go,â she says, loosening up a bit, even laughing slightly at the way he continues to gloat. heâs confident now, but when he sees how good she is at the ring toss, then things will turn around. after all, she never gets into a game without practicing it first, and itâs what sheâs done with some of the more popular carnival games before the festival even began, which is why sheâs been able to win at so many so far. she begins to walk off even before heâs able to grab his prize from the race game, looking back with a grin. âletâs see whose aim is better.â
   âonly a little,â bin admits, although his previous confidence from winning has slightly dimmed when he notices the frown on daeunâs face. did he tease her too much? he knows he can get carried away sometimes and heâs definitely more of the act first, think later type which has put him in some tricky situations that were difficult to talk his self out of. âbut you know i donât mean it, i hope?â he tries because despite his gloating, he does know how good the younger is at games and that she wasnât just given her spot on a professional team that easily. of course, heâll never know how much work goes into securing such a position because he doesnât play online games much himself but heâs heard of how competitive it can be, even more so for females. âiâm sorry if i pushed too hard.â and he means it, truly.
   thankfully, heâs handed his prize and as if the intervention of the game attendant helped dissolve the slight tension, bin notes daeunâs mood improve and even gets a laugh out of her which makes him grin. heâll apologize again to her later and make up for it if needed whether that means buying her food or something else she might want, since he doesnât like upsetting his friends with how much he appreciates them. he annoys them a lot but itâs his way of showing he likes someone, as childish as it is. âyouâre on!â bin says, readily accepting her challenge, just glad that she doesnât seem to be too mad at him if sheâs still willing to play more games with him. carnival games were only fun if you were playing them with someone else anyways.
   âif you win this one, should we play one more like a best 2 out of 3?â he suggests as they head towards the ring toss, his prize--a stuffed animal--tucked under his arm. heâs not sure what heâll do with it since heâs not really a plushie-kind of person but maybe he can give it to someone whoâd appreciate it more. âthen the winner of that gets to make the loser to one thing for them? you know, up the stakes a little.â once again, bin doesnât consider his words before speaking them but he doesnât care right now. bets like this were fun and he knows thereâs a high chance daeun will agree to it with how competitive she is. maybe itâll even make her feel better somehow - although bin has no intention of going easy on the other which is why he doesnât miss an opportunity to poke fun at her again. âunless i end up winning ring toss too then i guess a third game wonât matter.â
( ... )
âweâll be fine.â she tells him with a gentle pat on his back more confidently than she actually feels, but of course that she doesnât let it show. sheâs the president of dahlia, she has dealt with much worse things than simply fermenting cabbage. if she can put an order to a social club filled to the brim with cunning girls, than she can do this too. ahri huffs with determination, put her hands on her waist and then looks at what they have on their counter, the instructor said that they had everything they needed in there to make kimchi so they should be fine. âok, we can do this. nothing can go wrong when weâre sticking to the basic, right?â whatever thatâs supposed to mean.
the senior then turns to the cabbages, takes one in her hand and fidges with it for a moment. âi thinkâŚ. first we need to wash these, yes?â she remembers vaguely how the members of the cooking team are basically washing everything before cooking them so this shouldnât be too different. âdo you think you can do that and then i can cut start cutting them?â she thinks she might have an idea of what theyâre supposed to do. she isnât quite sure itâs right, but oh well, itâs at least something.Â
   bin, admittedly, does feel better about this entire workshop and them having to make kimchi when ahri pats him on the back. if she says itâll be fine, it will be fine - that much he knows because his childhood friend is a force to be reckoned with and if anyone could make something out of nothing happen, itâs her. she wouldnât take no for an answer or let anything get in her way so even though she has even less experience with cooking and making kimchi than he does, she wouldnât allow fermenting cabbage to stop her at any cost which in turn instills confidence in him. they can do this!
   âright,â he nods determinedly, also surveying the ingredients and tools theyâd need to pull this off. as long as they stick to the recipe and donât get too fancy, they should be fine. if not, heâs sure he and ahri can figure out a way to save it (and if they fail even that then they can make up some sort of excuse instead). binâs glad the older takes the lead and delegates what the should do because itâs guidance and thatâs all he needs right now since he sure as heck does not remember anything the instructor said, having spent most of the lecture wondering why he was even here in the first place-- and wondering if they would get to try each otherâs kimchi at the end.
   âwashing sounds smart,â he agrees and takes the cabbage from ahriâs hand as well as one more from their counter space and begins rinsing it under the tap. it doesnât take him long to finish that task, as well as the rest of the vegetable they were given, so he places one of them on the cutting board for the other after drying them off a bit. âdo you want me to help cut? iâll watch how you do it and copy you,â he suggests, not wanting to just stand around and do nothing. âor i can get started on something else, maybe?â
   âam i less trustworthy because iâm honest about my poor spending choices, or more?â he muses curiously. his eyes are sparkling with laughter and joking around with bin is always so entertaining. âyouâre right, though. what would helio do without your stellar, upstanding honesty and devotion?â he asks with a wide smile.Â
   when bin turns down the offer of a promotion, seungwoo canât say that heâs surprised. bin is an excellent treasurer, but seungwoo canât see him willingly taking on the burden of responsibility that is the position of vice-president. âi thought you might say no,â he murmurs with a small smile. âi canât say that iâm not disappointed, though i did expect this. i have someone else in mind, in that case,â he chooses to say instead, smiling at the other fondly. âsince youâve taken on the heavy burden of keeping me accountable,â he jokes warmly.Â
   âheâs a member right now, but what do you think about seungsik? kang seungsik.â he suggests to bin, curious to know what the other thinks. itâs important for him to understand his fellow executivesâ thoughts regarding their team, and he trusts bin the most out of the current team. his phone buzzes and he glances down at it, having eaten a spoonful of soup. âoh, wooseok said heâs almost ready. so i have about twenty more minutes,â he tells bin absently, typing back an affirmative to his boyfriend and telling him that heâs just eating for the time being. âsorry to abandon you so quickly,â he shoots the younger male a sheepish smile.Â
   âhyung,â bin groans out, mouth still full of food, but still managing to pull an expression thatâs part disgusted and part unimpressed. âplease donât make me think too hard on a break. i use my head enough as it is during classes and keeping track of finances.â he wants to shake his head but fearing that the soup heâs currently trying to digest would spill out, he refrains from doing so and makes sure to swallow first before speaking again. âiâm glad you recognize me and my contributions,â he sniffs before inhaling another spoonful-- or three.Â
   hearing that the older had someone else already in mind for the vice president role, bin immediately feels lighter and finds that the food goes down much easier than it had just a moment ago (although it wasnât too big of a concern for him since it was rare that he couldnât eat). heâs honestly and genuinely happy that there was another person seungwoo trusted to offer the position to which likely meant they were good for the role so bin didnât have to worry about the other looking for someone or having to fill the spot with just anyone whoâd be willing to take it. âsorry, again,â he offers with a weak smile anyways, still feeling a little bad about turning him down. âbut iâm glad you have someone else! iâm sure theyâll do great,â he nods for good measure.
   the name seungwoo supplies as his replacement makes bin perk up, a smile naturally appearing on his face just at the mention. âi havenât talked to him much but he seems cool,â bin shrugs. even as an executive, he hasnât been able to talk to every single member in helios or for very long with differing schedules and personal commitments and all that. âiâve heard lots of good things about him though and if youâre considering him that means he must be worthy and you trust him enough, so!â
   just then, the buzz of seungwooâs phone cuts in and bin doesnât say any more, waiting until the older is finished. he grins knowingly though once heâs told who it is and shakes his head as if heâs disappointed. âwow, iâm already being ditched,â he laments sadly. âi see how it is.â luckily, it wonât take long for him to finish his soup though since heâs always been a quick and hearty eater so twenty minutes is more than enough for him. âyou sure youâre gonna finish in time though?â bin asks instead, holding back on his fake whines for once since he really doesnât mind seungwoo leaving to hang out with wooseok, and looks pointedly at the olderâs bowl. âdonât want to keep him waiting, right?â
   itâs not that hansung finds track practice to be monotonous and boring. no, he actually quite enjoys it. the running, the jumping; it gets his heart rate up in a healthy manner. his teammates, both male and female are all nice, and itâs a plus that his best friend is captain. but the one thing that hansung does have to admit is the fact that heâs tired of hearing the same r&b or hip hop songs over and over. donât get him wrong, while hansung does make it quite obvious that he is a blatant girl group stan, he does appreciate music that is not in the realms of pop. but still, he believes that baekso needs to update his playlist. the track team would perform better if they had to listen to never get me wrong my boo, i have no gwansim in the bag. he just knows it.Â
  so, he has a plan. baekso leaves his phone on the large portable speakers whether they have to go through drills. as baeksoâs best friend, hansung does in fact know his phoneâs pass code. so while baekso is distracted, all he has to do is take the phone (or rather, get someone else to take baeksoâs phone), hide behind the bleachers, make a new playlist full of girl group songs, then hide baeksoâs phone in his bag so that they really would have to listen to the playlist for the entirety of practice. itâs a pretty fool proof plan, if he has to say so himself.Â
  hansung turns to his partner in crime ( @sgnbin ), eyes narrowing as if he were about to talk about something serious. it is serious to him but he knows that most people would tell him heâs being too dramatic right now. âalright, are you ready? iâll distract baekso while you swipe his phone. then weâll meet behind the bleachers.â he turns his head, scanning their surrounds to make sure that no one was listening in on their plan. once heâs assured that itâs just the two of them, he shoots the younger male a thumbs up. âwe got this!âÂ
   track has always bee enjoyable for bin. he prefers running, liking it enough that he even does it regularly outside of practices, but he gets by with everything else thanks to his well-trained body and general athleticism. his teammates are fun too so even if some practices are super tiring or exhausting, itâs usually a good time. since he has no real complaints about the track team otherwise, he pretty much accepts anything that might be even slightly unfavorable - like their usual playlist.
   bin doesnât really mind most music, can listen to anything if need be, and he does like upbeat songs especially when it comes to training but when hansung explains to him his great idea and master plan, he canât find it in him to say no both because heâs fond of the older that heâd easily agree to what heâd suggest and also because he too, loves himself some girl group songs. thereâs just also something about red velvetâs discography that hits differently and fuels bin with enough energy to run a marathon (probably) so of course he says yes to hijacking their captainâs phone to change things up a little.
   âready!â he gives his teammate a nod and his own thumbs up to show he understands the plan and after glancing around to also make sure the coast is clear, grins. âin the name of girl groups,â he says solemnly like a pledge before waiting until hansung begins distracting baekso. in the mean time, bin looks out for an opportune moment to sneak over to the speakers while simultaneously mapping out an escape route from there to the bleachers so he can accomplish the mission as quickly and efficiently as possible, and hopefully without getting caught along the way.
( ... )
it all seems so natural, but maybe itâs a little too natural to be normal, their lips meeting like two pieces of a puzzle fitting together perfectly, and it feels like sheâs falling back into old habits that she knows is bound to ruin her, or reenacting a cheer routine based on muscle memory alone, except this routine can only end in one way â either one of them is going to be falling off the edge of despair, and danbi knows that itâs more likely to be her than bin.
still, she would much rather continue hiding behind the playful front she has grown somewhat accustomed to. âi think you did, actually. maybe you need some practice?â she taps on her lips, giving him a wide and cheerful grin, but as much as she wishes for a replay of the past few minutes, itâs only said in jest, and she doesnât actually expect it to happen again. leaving bin with a soft laugh, she drops her bag off at the back of the booth to get ready for her shift to start.
   âoh, ow, way to bruise someoneâs ego. i guess iâve lost my touch after all,â bin feigns hurt but the lighthearted grin on his face gives away his true feelings. danbiâs response causes his heart to react in a way he hadnât felt in some time but he wasnât sure what to name the feeling or how to explain it. he just knows even when heâs dated other girls or engaged in flirty and playful banter with them, heâs never quite looked at or thought of them the same way he did--does?--for danbi, even now. but maybe thatâs just their history talking and the fact that she was probably his longest relationship so the familiarity of it that heâd grown used to had more of an effect on him than he thought.
   when she taps on her lips, the laugh that escapes bin is softer, really only meant for danbi to hear, but doesnât lose any of the amusement as he gazes at the other with a conspiratorial look and crosses his arms over his chest. âare you volunteering to help me improve in kissing?â he looks way too entertained at the thought, maybe even a little red in the ears because him? kissing danbi? he doesnât hate the idea--hence the slight flush because for all that heâs dated and could be considered experienced, he still feels somewhat shy, but heâs not sure if thatâs something that only happens when the other specifically is involved or if it goes for anyone--but theyâre only friends now. kissing so easily would be weird in that context so he has no choice but to take her jest as just that - a joke which means he should return it in full.
   âhm, iâll think about it,â he finally says with a smirk, uncrossing his arms and re-positioning himself to get ready for the next round of visitors to their booth. danbi had been the last of the previous batch, thankfully, so he was able to get away with spending as much time with her as he could or else he wouldâve kept others waiting. he notices the female dropping her things off so he can only assume sheâs about to start her shift too. âi suppose this booth would help in practicing though,â he adds on as an after thought, watching the other get ready. he has to admit however that heâs far less interested in kissing other people now that heâs kissed danbi because he doesnât think anyone else could match up to her. although their kiss was brief and barely anything happened, his heart told him he liked it possibly a bit more than what would be considered normal for their friendship but again, he reasoned that it was probably because of something like nostalgia that had him feeling all emotional over what shouldâve been just a simple peck.
   bin wills those thoughts away though (he could always think of them later when he was alone and had more time to process everything, if he even wanted to) and sits up straighter. ânot that you need it but iâm sure lots of guys will pay to have a chance with the jo danbi,â he teases although he means every word he says. thereâs no way someone could not like her - it just wasnât possible. âi might even be a little jealous if you end up kissing more people than i do.â
   he raises an eyebrow at the conspiratorial tone the younger uses though he keeps that in mind, considering he had heard many a good thing about that place that was half an hour away. he, of course, could never justify going to that place because he had looked up the prices and they were very much out of his price range, which was the whole reason why he had ended up trying this place first instead. so, based on these facts alone, wooseok decides that heâll trust binâs opinion for this.Â
   also because whenever they ran into each other, it was always at food places at he himself enjoyed. so he thinks he can probably trust the other studentâs taste.Â
   when bin stops talking though, he falls quiet too, happy to just eat in silence since that had been his original plan to begin with. heâs not going to be able to catch up on the show he was watching now, because that would be rude of him to just pull out his phone and put in earphones or something and he didnât really want to be rude since bin wasnât as bad of company as he might have originally thought. maybe he was a bit quick to judge, considering he knew that most guys who were in helio were pretty decent guys.Â
   once heâs slowly starting to finish up eating, he glances up to watch bin inhale the last of his meal and he has to hide a smile to himself before the younger starts speaking again. he listens politely, chewing on one of his last few mouthfuls of the udon. âitâs okay,â heâs quick to reassure the other, shaking his head slightly and confirming that he had been planning to eat in silence anyway so heâs not mad about them not talking. a small smile forms at the suggestion though, and he tilts his head as if considering it. âdeal,â he says with a laugh. âif there ever comes a time.â
   his smile turns thankful when wooseok assures bin that he hadnât offended the other or gave him a reason to dislike him. a part of him does hope they could get along if not in general--wooseok doesnât seem like someone bin wouldnât like even if he is a bit hard to approach at first--then at least for seungwoo since it was likely their paths could cross more often because of the older. also this meeting was a bit awkward to begin with so he really didnât want to make it even worse and they left on a bad note.
   "if there is a next time, at least weâll have this meeting to look back on and laugh?â he adds on in an amused tone, chuckling along with the other, happy that this entire situation had turned out much better than he had assumed it would.
   bin then notices that wooseok seems to have finished eating, or is very close to, which meant theyâd probably part ways soon. he considers leaving first since he had already eaten everything in his bowl and maybe the male did want some alone time after all but then he remembers the table manners that were taught--trained--into him and he stops himself. instead, he looks down at wooseokâs bowl then back up at the other, waiting for some sort of sign to tell him what to do next, so he tries to be conversational in the mean time. âi think i should ask now for good measure,â he starts while grinning good-naturedly, âbut now that youâve ate more, was this place as good as i talked it up to be or do i need to re-evaluate my taste?â
( ... )
resting his elbows on the counter top, he props his head up with his hands, watching bin intently with anticipation. âyâknow, youâre probably the best cook I know.â he adds earnestly, âwhoever you marry in the future is so lucky.â yes, heâs back at this topic again, but he meant what he said. junhyung figured that if he had to resort to the marriage, it should at least be with someone who can cook well. it might sound awfully privileged to say this but heâs tired of fancy food cooked by personal chefs, sometimes he just yearns for a simple home-cooked meal, or a meal like this, just some college students whipping up fried rice with an induction cooker. he enjoys things like this â cheap convenience store kimbap, roadside tteokbokki and a simple bowl of fried rice with leftover ingredients, though some meat would be great.
âwhoever your future wife is better be prepared to see me show up at your doorstep for foodâ nothing will change!â he jokes playfully, though chances of it actually happening are high. showing up at binâs doorstep and asking him to cook for him again? it sure sounds like junhyung. âspeaking of whichâŚâ he leads in, an impish grin on his face, âyou said that youâre not seeing anyone but you didnât say if you liked anyone!â he leans forward, charged with curiosity, âyou know you can trust me.â
   âare you trying to butter me up now?â bin teases the other, the shower having eased his sore muscles and subsequently put him in a slightly better mood. he was definitely less tired than when he had first walked into his room which was a feat on its own, considering he also had to deal with junhyungâs questioning before he could fully rest. he can tell the younger does mean what he says though, despite bin joking otherwise, so he lets a genuine smile creep onto his face as he gets started on the rice. he wasnât the best cook out there but he did what he could so hearing someone say something he made tastes good makes him far happier than he lets on. to further improve his mood, he luckily had leftover rice from the day before so he wouldnât need to spend extra time making more which. that meant whipping up the quick meal would be much faster which he was glad for since he was honestly getting hungry too. perhaps the male showing up to ask for food wasnât so bad - not that heâd ever say it out loud or to his face, in case it encourages him to keep showing up unannounced like this.
   his moodâs actually improved so much that he lets the marriage comment from the other roll off his back, choosing not to react to it even though he knows where the male is going by saying what he does. he even loudly snorts and shakes his head when junhyung declares that heâll still show up at his home if he were to get married just to ask him for food. âwhat makes you think iâll even tell you where i live?â he returns with a raised brow, looking up from the pan where heâs currently frying everything together for a brief second to glance at the younger. âi might not invite you to the wedding at this rate if thatâs your plan.â the grin that follows his words is a sign of him just kidding but heâs sure junhyung will pick up on it.
   âtrust you?â bin repeats, the disbelief clear on his face and in his voice as he finishes up the fried rice and turns off the portable stove. âi donât know about that...â he trails off as he turns to grab two bowls and starts dividing the food into each of them before sliding one over to the other. he knows heâs not outright denying the conclusion that junhyungâs come up with so the younger can probably guess the answer already but that doesnât mean he has to say who it is heâs interested in right now - if he does at all. âi never said i did, either,â he counters as he takes a bite of his rice. a noise of delight escapes and he points at the maleâs bowl with his spoon. âyou should eat it when itâs hot by the way. donât let my hard work go to waste! plus, it tastes better when itâs freshly made.â
   although binâs aware that his avoidance of answering the question outright will only spur junhyung on to keep pushing him until he hears what he wants, heâs still going to put it off as long as he can. the truth is, he does like someone but not in like-like way--yet, anyways--because he hasnât gotten to know her very well. it might just be a passing infatuation too, a slight interest that could lead to more but could also fizzle out just as easily which is why he doesnât want to make it known to anyone but himself for the time being. making a big deal out of what could be possibly nothing is not something he wants to deal with later (and a part of him deep down was hesitant to say he really liked anyone also but that he doesnât want to think about either).
