It was the part of the day that Felix was most thankful for, his lunch break. He hated working mornings at the Café seeing as that's when everyone in the entire city wants to get their specialized coffee.

It was around noon now but the boy didn't have anything for lunch, he usually skips this meal and just has a cup of sweet tea instead.

One of Felix's favorite things to do was people watch. That's what his 25 minute break consisted of, him watching people with all different types of expressions on their face walk by the Café.

Felix's phone went off interrupting his precious people watching time. He assumed it was probably Minho texting him for the millionth time that day. The older boy got extra clingy ever since he had to quit working at the studio. Honestly, Felix wasn't that bothered. He had enough joys in his life to distract himself from not getting the job at JDP. Plus, he doesn't know how he would handle working in the same building as 3racha.

Looking at his phone Felix got confused extremely fast.

***-**** : hey is this felix?

Felix being on guard decided to lie to this stranger.

Felix: no

***-**** : you sure about that?

***-*** : guess minho gave me the wrong number then

This caught Felix's attention because why is this guy insisting that Minho gave him his number? Minho wouldn't do that.

Felix: who are you?

***-**** : guess

Felix: well all i know is you apparently know my friend minho

Felix: so i can't really guess

***-**** : youre no fun ):

***-**** : it's changbin

Felix audibly gasped at that, surprise and confusion written all over the boy's face.

Felix: you're lying

Felix: hyunjin is that you? it's not funny

***-**** : no who the fuck is hyunjin?

Felix: oh

Felix: jeongin?

Felix: minho?

Felix: look minho if it's you , you know how much i like changbin

Felix: so please don't tease me like this

***-**** : oh so we're on a like basis now?

***-**** : you move fast felix

Felix: no way

Felix: changbin? for real?

***-**** : the one and only

Felix: i don't believe you

Felix: call me

There was no hesitation on Changbin's side and suddenly Felix's whole screen lit up. Answering, Felix raised his phone to his ear waiting for the idol to talk.

"Felix? Are you there?" Felix could not believe what was happening to him right now. Changbin has his number, and is on the other side of the phone talking to him.

"Changbin?? Seriously it's you?"

"Yeah who did you expect? Did you want it to be Hyunjin?" Changbin couldn't hide his obvious jealousy leaking out of the words he spoke.

"N-No, I'm happy it's you I'm just confused. How did you get my number?"

"I asked Minho for your number and he gave it to me."

"Oh.. Why?"

Changbin didn't want to be too forward with the boy, but he also didn't want to lie. Plus hearing Felix flustered makes him feel good.

"You're cute."

"W-What?" Felix was in shock.

"You heard me. Or do I have to repeat myself?" The idol sounds a bit stern with his words now resulting in making the freckled boy stutter.

"N-No I heard you. I'm surprised."

"Look I won't lie to you. I was really pissed at Jisung for making me meet up with you. But as I spent some time with you, it felt really natural. It's just a plus that you're really cute." To Changbin, the really he put in front of cute didn't matter. To Felix, he felt like he was floating after hearing it.

"W-Wait really?"

"Yeah.. I want to talk to you more."

"You want to be friends with me? Really"

"Yes Felix." Felix couldn't help the way his heart fluttered hearing his name out of the mouth of the idol who is so subtly flirting with him right now.

--

The somewhat painfully awaited day had come for Minho. His day off. To be fair, he had to work the past week and go to his classes as well as do all of his assignments. All in all, the boy was exhausted and wanted to catch up on his rest. Though he had an unavoidable feeling in his stomach, that feeling being one of guilt. As it formed, it kept growing leaving the boy to be uncomfortable when he tries to think of anything else.
Minho has always had a strong guilty conscious since he was younger. Not that he would blame himself for things that aren't his fault, but when something was his fault, he immediately wanted it dealt with before it would eat away at him till it was only his skeleton left.

Ultimately, the boy had a countless list of things to feel guilty about. He left his best friend to work at the studio alone after that said friend got him the interview at his new job. He also didn't have a good feeling about the shorter 1/3 of 3racha that he gave his best friend's number to and that slowly made it's way into Minho's thoughts yet again, haunting him. His mother was at home (Minho's family home,, Minho moved out) taking care of herself plus his three cats. He moved away from his mother after her consistent and almost forceful pushing him out the door. Her exact words were "Don't worry about me and study and go after your passion. I'll be here when you visit, and if you ever need a home again, you know where to go". That was Minho's first ripple into his new part of his life, living in a big city while studying his passion as well as working—now teaching others his passion.

At this point Minho was laying face down in his bed rolling around trying to avoid the countless thoughts going on in his reckless brain.

Thinking, Minho wanted— needed to find a way to get rid of at least some of the guilt he was feeling.

Minho: hey lix are you free today?

Lixie: i'm done my shift at the cafe in 30. you can chill here till im done?

Minho: ok ill head over

..

Minho had already gotten to the Café and as always, ordered a very complicated drink for his friend to make just to annoy him. Seeing the bubbly boy get frustrated over if he used the right ingredients or not, and then realizing that he didn't, made the older feel a bit accomplished. No one could get on Felix's nerves the way his best friends do.

Speaking of best friends...

"Yah! You fuckers!" Minho looks up from the counter he is standing at and was previously watching his friend, to see his other best friend sending threats to him with his eyes.

"Hyunjin?"

"Yes you dumbass, why are you two together without me???"

And so Drama Queen starts...

"Because I wanted coffee?"

At this point, Hyunjin has both of his best friend's attention and the freckled blonde boy decides he doesn't want to hide the truth though knowing full well Hyunjin will have a meltdown over this.

"Minho Hyung asked me if I'm free today. I told him he could wait here till I'm done my shift." Felix hands Minho's coffee over and backs away hoping the coffee tastes right.

"So you wanted to hang out with just Felix?" This catches Minho a bit off guard because of his taller friend's serious expression.

"I just wanted to talk to him and see how he is, we don't work with him anymore and it makes me feel a bit bad. I miss him." Felix awes after hearing his best friend's confession. (PLATONIC SMH)

"Min you don't have to do that, we're all still friends. Imagine if we got the job and Hyunjin didn't, he'd be sulking for weeks and would avoid us at all costs."

Minho laughs hysterically at that because all three of the boys knows it's true, though Hyunjin would deny it all the way till his death bed.

"Yah! I'm not that dramatic." Hyunjin rolls his eyes which just proves the blonde boy's point even more.

"Look, are you going to join us or what?"

"...I just need a coffee, I have to go back to work." Avoiding eye contact, Hyunjin shuffles his feet a bit.

"...You made this whole scene and for what?"

"It's just who I am okay?!?!"

..

Minho was slightly going insane at the moment. He and Felix were sitting down in the Café at a round table in the back. His best friend was typing away on his phone not even caring for his existence right now. If it was anyone but Felix, Minho wouldn't mind. Usually Felix is extremely attentive and interested in whatever the other is talking about, so this is throwing Minho off immensely.

"Who are you texting?" Once Minho said the words aloud, he cussed at himself in his mind.

You dumbass. It's obvious.

"You tell me? You gave my number to him." And with that small comment, Felix shut the older boy up allowing himself to go back to his world of himself and the idol in his phone.

"You do realize I wouldn't have given it to him if-" If Minho didn't have Felix's attention before, he definitely has it now.

"What?" He already saw a bit of light dull from the younger's eyes.

"N-Nothing.."

He decided against ruining his friend's happiness yet again by letting Felix know how his prized idol slightly —considering he didn't know for sure what Changbin would have him do if he declined— blackmailed Minho into getting his number.

How does this idol make him so happy?

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Felix assumes there was something bothering Minho, as to why he received the earlier text. He decides this is the perfect time to delve into it, considering Changbin is now busy recording with Chan and Jisung.

"So now you want to talk?" Slight anger, but slight sense of joking drips from Minho's words.

"Come on Minho, what is it? Don't avoid it." Hearing those words makes the pit in Minho's stomach drop even further.

"I.. I just want to make sure you aren't upset with either me or Hyunjin. I didn't expect to get the job at all." He's being honest, ever since walking out of that interview he thought- he knew he was not getting an offer.

Felix lightly grabs Minho's hand to reassure him.

"You and Hyunjin are my best friends. If I can't have the job, I'd rather you two get it. I'm happy for you both, Hyung. I know how much this will help you.. Please don't feel guilty." Minho feels a bubble of emotions rising from his stomach, all the way to his eyes.

How did I get so lucky with him as my best friend?

Felix continues, "You both deserve this. We've had such a strange and hectic past two years, it's time for some good change."

Minho squeezes the younger's boys hand as it is still holding his.

"Thank you Lix, thank you for reassuring me when I know this must be at least a bit hard for you. I know you smile all the time and you genuinely are happy, but if you feel disappointed, you can come to me okay?"

Felix smiles hearing those words, finding an even deeper appreciation for the brown haired boy in front of him if that is even possible.

"Stop or you'll make me cry!" Felix wipes away fake tears, flicking his hand away to emphasize how it made him feel.

"Shut up, you're starting to sound like Hyunjin."

Felix gasps, grabbing his chest and making his mouth into an 'o'. "How dare you! I'm nothing like Drama Queen."

The two boys chuckle at the nickname given to the tallest in the group, and most dramatic obviously.

Minho sighs and takes this time to think about how he is going to word the thought that is eating at his brain

"Lix... Is Changbin being nice to you?" Okay maybe he worded it wrong, thinking Felix might take offense to the mere thought that the idol could have a mean bone in his body.

"Huh? Hyung, of course he is. Why do you ask?"

Minho looks down at the table, at the walls, to the floor, avoiding any eye contact with the freckled boy. He also takes notice of how the Café is nearly empty at this hour, probably because it's a hour before closing.

"Minho..." Felix starts to get suspicious and just wants the older boy to spit out whatever he feels the need to say.

"Okay Lix, I just- Is he? For real?" Minho doesn't know how to get the words out to let his best friend know of his concern.
A memory flashed in his mind. When he saw Felix genuinely smile and laugh when Changbin was showing him their equipment. The boy couldn't stop smiling the whole day after that encounter. Then thinking of how he was sure Felix freaked the fuck out when he saw the prized idol texted him for the first time, but Minho could not shake the gut wrenching feeling he got whenever he saw Changbin. He just felt something off..

Funny enough, Felix didn't bother to question Minho further than what the idol told him on why Minho gave the shorter his number. He was just happy to be able to talk to Changbin more. AND he called him cute, really cute.

"Minho what is this about?" The younger starts getting fed up. "Don't beat around the bush. Be honest."

They lock eyes and Minho's confidence completely shatters.

Just let him know about it. You don't know for sure what that idol is like.

Minho takes a deep breath and starts, "I have a weird feeling about that idol, Lix. I just want you to be careful."

The older should be really thankful he has an understanding friend by his side, or else this could end way worse.

"I see where you're coming from, with your past with idols and everything..." Hearing that, Minho's eyes lower and he stares at the almost blindingly white table sitting between him his best friend.

"But Hyung, I can fend for myself. So far he's been really nice to me. That doesn't mean I'm getting my hopes up."

Minho let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He felt a lot of relief hearing Felix say that, he was so worried about his friend getting his hopes up just for an idol who he admires to crush it.

"I'm really relieved to hear that.." He trails off after hearing his phone go off. Felix nods and takes this time to go to the bathroom.

Minho gets his phone out of his too tight of a jean pocket, unlocking it just to be surprised at the notification he got. He expected it to be Hyunjin in the groupchat of him and his two best friends, but it was the total opposite of what he expected.

hannie.sung: hey minho
hannie.sung: are you working today?

Minho hovered over the keyboard, not knowing what to say. He does not want to have any reason to go into work today, and that's what this dm seems like it will lead to.

wekno.leeknow: no
wekno.leeknow: why

hannie.sung: oh ok
hannie.sung: jw
hannie.sung: will you be in tmmr?

wekno.leeknow: do you need something jisung?

Minho didn't mean for the text to come off as harass as it did. He just doesn't like wasting his time with conversations like these. Just get to the point and they wouldn't have to go back and forth like this.

hannie.sung: just wanted to talk

wekno.leeknow: about what?
wekno.leeknow: we aren't exactly friends

On Jisung's side, his smile fell from his face immediately reading that text. He rereads it making sure he read it correctly. He feels a sense of deja vu, and he thinks back to the first time he met Minho.

"Did your interview go that bad?" Jisung laughs trying to make a joke, but then Minho stops walking and Jisung does the same.

Minho putting on a fake smile says "I appreciate the concern, but I don't need anything from an idol. I'm good. Thanks anyway."

With that thought in mind, Jisung sighs to himself and Chan catches it.

"Sung? What's up?" Jisung forgot Chan was in the recording studio with him, he's been too stuck debating whether to text the dance trainer, and now that he did, he regrets the action and thought of it.

"Nothing, don't worry." Jisung doesn't look up from his phone as he says this.

Chan is an observant person, so he tries his best to read Jisung's body language rather than letting it go.

His foot is tapping on the ground, as if he's anxious. He won't look up from his phone, and he's picking as his lips.

He decides to push a bit to see if Jisung will let him know what's wrong.

"What are you looking at?" Chan eyes the younger's phone and Jisung picks up on the hint. He gives in.

"You remember Minho? The new dance trainer?" In all honesty, Chan had no memory of who Minho is, but upon hearing he's a new dance trainer, Chan just nods.

"Well he helped me out a bit the other day and we ended up hanging out a bit, but I texted him just now to see when he'll be at work next and he doesn't seem to want to talk to me."

"What did he help you with?"

"I had an argument with Bin, and before you nag me, he started it." Chan rolled his eyes hearing this because he knows for a fact, Changbin most likely did not initiate it.

"Whatever, continue."

"He heard a part of it and asked me if I wanted to go do something, assuming to get my mind off of it, which I'm thankful for. We went to a skatepark, and stayed there for a little while. Then he walked me about half way home and we sat on a bench and talked. Then I walked myself the rest of the way."

Chan thought about what he heard, and then realized what the issue is pretty quickly.

"Jisung.. did he help you out because he wanted to help you or was it because he saw someone who might be upset and he just wanted to cheer them up?"

Jisung furrowed his eyebrows, obviously confused by the question asked. "What's the difference?"

"Did he help you because it's you? How close are you guys exactly?"

Jisung's eyes got wide with realization.

Why did I expect him to act any differently? He doesn't like idols, he only wanted to cheer a person up. Doesn't matter that it was me.

"I see.. Yeah we aren't close. I know what you're getting at."

Chan pats Jisung's shoulder before turning back to his laptop to continue writing lyrics for a new song.

"Sung, don't get worked up over someone you don't even know. You get attached too easily."

Honestly, those words stung Jisung a bit. Sure he does get attached easily, doesn't mean he wants to hear about it. What's so bad about it? Except with Minho, who obviously doesn't like this industry. So why would he want to be friends with Jisung who is in the middle of the said industry?

He wouldn't want to be.

A/N- this chapter is 3,180 words i'm so sorry 😀 i just didn't know where to stop and it not be abrupt. sorry for any typos!!
anyway look at hannnnnn

HE LOOKS SOOOOO GOOOOODDDD WTF

MAXIDENT IS SO MF GOOD I LOVE EVERY SONG!!
THE UNIT SONGS ENDED ME CANT STOP , 3RACHA, AND TASTE OMF

cant stop gives me such anime vibessss 🤭