"where are you off to this time?" jihoon, haechan's roommate and best friend asked without looking up from the stove.

haechan scoffed with a grin and tugged his shoes on in the doorway. "being a good samaritan, of course. don't i seem like the type to help those in need?"

jihoon rolled his eyes, causing the other to laugh. when he finished tying the laces, haechan straightened and grabbed his keys. "i'm gonna see the girl i accidentally kissed at the party."

finally glancing over, jihoon wiggled his brows suggestively, and haechan playfully flipped him off. "not like that, you ass. she was upset about the whole thing so i've gotta make it up to her."

"you've gotta?" jihoon teased, and it was haechan's turn to roll his eyes.

haechan gripped the knob and pulled the door open. "whatever, man. i'm out. see you in a couple hours."

"later. have fun!"

haechan locked the door before fishing his phone from his pocket and sending jinsol a quick text.

haechan:
heading over now. need a ride?

jinsol:
nope! my friend (single btw)
is going to drop me off 😊

haechan:
why do i care if she's single or not lol

jinsol:
since you're helping me build the
confidence and skills to formally
ask jisung out, maybe i could pair
you up with someone in return!

haechan:
not interested. it's a nice thought tho

jinsol:
well she's still dropping me off
and will still want to meet you since
my friends can be a bit sisterly

haechan:
oh okay

haechan:
you have the directions?

jinsol:
fortunately there is only one arcade
called glitch mode in town!

haechan:
lol right

haechan:
i'll see you there then

jinsol:
me and hawon yep!
read

jinsol frowned at the "read" sign on her text, wondering why haechan wasn't replying. she knew he didn't sound all that enthused to meet hawon, but she thought they had the potential to be a great pair!

"he's probably just driving," she tried to reason out loud, though hawon could not care less about jinsol's date-that-wasn't-a-date. she was only coming along to meet the guy and make sure he didn't have any negative motives with her friend.

frowning, jinsol toyed with the phone in her lap until hawon turned the music on, and the two sang together until eventually pulling into the arcade parking lot. it wasn't as big as some other chain arcades, but jinsol didn't mind.

she immediately spotted haechan's black dodge charger and hopped out once they came to a safe stop. when he saw her, haechan pushed his door open and stepped out, making sure he locked his car before shoving his hands in his pockets.

"hey," he greeted causally, and jinsol gave him a scheming look that nearly made him laugh. she quickly looked over her shoulder, gesturing something with her hand, and hawon stepped into sight.

haechan stared, indifferent, but when he glanced over and saw how excited jinsol was to see the two interacting, he sighed.

sticking his hand out, haechan forced a tight-lipped grin. "i'm haechan."

hawon only shook his hand for a second. "i know." jinsol gave her friend a nudge, and the taller of the two let a deep sigh slip through her nose. "hawon."

jinsol wasn't impressed, but she didn't get the chance to intervene before she felt the sudden weight of haechan's arm around her shoulders. he slouched a bit to match her height, but never looked away from hawon.

"jinsol said you're sisterly. do you want to see some proof of identity?"

it was said as a joke, but jinsol froze. hawon's humor was very specific, and she didn't usually find things like this funny. jinsol felt her jaw physically drop when hawon actually smiled.

the taller uncrossed her arms and stepped back to her car. "fax it to me. later."

they watched her drive away before haechan slowly asked, "who says fax anymore?"

—

"i can't believe she didn't punch you," jinsol managed through a mouthful of peanut m&m's, still in shock at the interaction between haechan and hawon.

haechan didn't seem too bothered and shrugged, his hands tucked comfortable in his pockets as he walked alongside the girl. "guess i have that effect on people. they love me."

"... i burst into tears of rage when i first saw you."

"but you didn't punch me."

jinsol rolled her eyes with a playful scoff. "i guess that's true. oh, did you ever meet up with that girl you wanted to kiss?"

haechan's movement slowed a little, but only for a moment. quietly, he shook his head. "nah. i spent the rest of the evening with you, remember?"

jinsol came to a sudden stop with a gasp that made haechan halt as well. he looked at her expectingly, forcing his concern to stay internal. "i'm so dumb! of course you were so reluctant to meet hawon."

blinking, haechan felt a cool dread creep up the back of his neck. "oh?"

"you're in love with the girl from the party! the one you originally wanted to kiss!"

slowly, haechan began walking, and jinsol hurried to catch up with him. "hey! i'm right, aren't i?"

not even close, he wanted to say, but bit his tongue. he had no right, he was here to help prepare her for a date with jisung. so, he gave her shoulder a little nudge. "we're here for you. not me."

jinsol pouted but didn't push. "fine. i'll get her name from chenle."

"jin—"

"oh my gosh, they have dance dance revelation! let's go!"

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