Jeonghan's POV:

"Since when did you start bossing everyone around?" Seungcheol asked, not looking up from his phone as he took a sip of his cherry slushie, scrolling mindlessly through his phone. 

"I don't know what you mean Choi Seungcheol," I scoffed, taking my attention off of my hair for a quick second to look at the older male, him quickly taking his attention off of his phone to glare at me; steam coming out of his ears. 

"Don't use my full name," He warned, "And you know what I mean Yoon Jeonghan, ever since you laid eyes on that girl, you've acted different," He took another sip of his slushie before setting it down on the coffee table in front of him, I hummed in response continuing to decide what color I should go for next. 

"He's right you know," Joshua looked up from his bible, taking a sip from his water bottle, "It's been a month since school started, and ever since then you've been taking a liking to her. Care to explain?" Joshua and Seungcheol both leaned forward from their spots on the couch, getting closer to me. 

"Fuck off," I spat as I got up from the couch, grabbing my coat as I walked to the front door. 

"Yah! Where are you going?" Seungcheol yelled after me as I reached the front door.

"Get your ass out of my business!" I responded, slamming the door behind me as I made my way to my car. The front door swinging open, shuffling feet following behind me trying to catch up to my fast pace. 

"Where are we going Hyung?" I looked over to see Dino with a smile on his face as he struggled to get his shirt on, I rolled my eyes as I put my hands in my pockets. 

"To eat, you hungry?" I asked, earning a hum and a nod from the younger male as we continued down the street. 

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Chung-Ae's POV:

The bell above the door rang, signaling someone walked in. I sighed putting my pencil down, looking at the drawing one more time before I walked over to the guests. I quickly put on a smile as I made my way over, customer service at its finest, "Hey Welcome in-" I stopped in place as I made eye contact with a very familiar male, "Ah- Hello Jeonghan," I smiled at the boy as he smiled back, walking to his normal spot with Lee Chan. 

As they sat down, I quickly put menus in front of them, getting my book out to take their orders. "I'll just have the normal, Dino will have the same," Jeonghan spoke, not even looking at the menu, the other boy frowning as he held up his menu not even having it opened yet. 

I nodded, taking both of the menus before walking away to get them both waters and a boba tea. I started to hum the song that played lightly in the background as the two boys chatter filled the empty restaurant. 

"And here's your drinks," I smiled as I put all four drinks down, Jeonghan patting my arm lightly as a thank you, he's only started to do that recently. "Would you like anything else?" I asked looking the male in the eyes, he smiled softly nodding his head and I looked at him confused. 

"Eat with us, I'll pay," He scooted over in the booth, patting the seat next to him with the same smile plastered on. I looked back to see if Mr. Song was looking, it would be putting my job on the line, but I don't see why I couldn't. 

"Okay, I'll be back," I quickly excused myself to go check on their food. 

"Hyung," The younger called out, gaining my attention slowing my speed down slightly so I could listen, "I'm still having trouble with math," The boy confessed sadly, I hummed as I quickened my pace back up, this conversation not concerning me in the slightest.

"I see your special friend is out there," I cringed at the word as I looked at the old man, "Why don't you take the rest of the day off to have a friend's day," He smiled at me, but I couldn't help but give him that disgusted look still as he plated their food. 

"Mr. Song, I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, but he is not my fri-"

"Stop it," He held the ladle up, pointing it at my face, "Stop being scared to put yourself out there and making new friends. Not everyone is bad, not everyone is going to hurt you," He narrowed his eyes before he put the ladle down, ringing the bell to signal that the food is ready. 

"Now go clock out, I can handle the rest," He smiled once more, patting my shoulder slightly as he went to disappear into the office. I groaned as I picked the food up, making my way out to the dining area with the hot ramen. 

"Thanks," The younger boy, Chan, thanked as I sat everything down before sitting down next to Jeonghan. 

"So, what's the plan today?" I asked before I took a sip of water, the boy across from us looking confused. It was true, after Jeonghan became a regular, we would start hanging out under Mr. Song's influence, curse that old man...

"Nothing really, Chan needs help with math though so we might head back to the house," He shrugged before he ate some food, Dino slowly picking at his. I hummed as I took another sip of my water.

"What do you need help with?" I asked as I turned my attention to the younger boy, he looked up from his food with a slight smile. 

"Everything really," We both chuckled as we continued to talk about what his struggles were, and why in the world why there were letters in math, and why was this never-ending number that was named after food. 

After a while Mr. Song came out of the kitchen and kicked us out of the restaurant, after paying of course, couldn't leave without paying. Jeonghan really didn't want us to go to the house to help Chan with his homework, but seeing as his homework was in his room, it was best if we did it there. Also, we would stay a little bit more focused there instead of at a park. I don't think the kid in me would be able to control itself.

I know I gave Seventeen a bad name, just judging them from what everyone talked about but the two that I do know aren't so bad; they aren't what everyone made them out to be. It's only been about a couple of months since Jeonghan really started to pop up and bother me in my day-to-day life, but it hasn't been all bad. 

"So, when we walk in, just keep your head low and we'll just go to my room. Dino just meet us there," I looked over to Dino, he nodded his head, smile plastered on his face now that he was finally going to get the help he needed for a while. Apparently, no one else in the group would help him, them wanting it to figure it out on his own. 

The door opened, Jeonghan leading first while I was following behind him and Dino behind me. The plan wasn't exactly full proof, I was definitely taller than Dino and slightly shorter than Jeonghan. If anyone were to come up from behind us, they would 100% see me. "Look who's back," A voice snickered from the living room, Jeonghan didn't stop but kept going. 

"Yup," Jeonghan responded, popping the 'p' at the end as he quickened his pace. 

"Where'd you go?" Another voice asked, I could see Jeonghan sigh. 

"Out? Why does it matter Seungcheol? Didn't know I was under constant watch Joshua," I could feel the eye roll from here, the other two boys chuckled as the three of us continued our way further into the house. 

"Dino be quick," Jeonghan waved the boy away as he slightly pushed me into his room, shutting the door behind him as I plopped down in his rolling chair. "That was nerve wracking," He sighed as he laid down on his bed, laying his arms over his eyes.

"I've been in worse situations," I shrugged my shoulders as I started to look around his room, nice and orderly surprisingly. Not even a single piece of clothing on the floor, everything had its own spot. The door creaked open; I looked over to see Dino jumping into the room. 

"Okay Noona, this is what I need help with," He smiled as he held out the piece of paper as he walked over towards me. Jeonghan pulled an extra chair next to his desk so Dino could sit down, the elder returning to his bed scrolling through his phone. 

Little did I know that we would be there for hours, getting sidetracked in small conversations here and there, Jeonghan bringing us dinner or trying to convince us to watch a movie. But one thing I never expected, was that I actually enjoyed it. 

***

Originally Written: September 25, 2017

Rewritten: February 20, 2023

Updated: March 5, 2023