"Johnny didn't reply to my selfie. I hate him," Ten said, vehemently.

Lucas nodded. "Okay."

They were sitting in the kitchen with bowls of ramen, Lucas listening to Ten complaining about Johnny.

"I know he's seen it. I sent a selfie to Taeyong right after and he replied but Johnny didn't. Isn't it unfair? I mean, it was Johnny who asked me to send it in the first place. Why is he like this?"

Lucas slurped some ramen, nodding. "True."

"Like I don't get it? I wasn't dying to send it to him, right?"

Lucas's eyes were round as he tried to appear understanding. "Yeah, you're right."

"Maybe a little you look cute, Ten? Something? Anything?" Ten huffed.

"Exactly," Lucas said.

"He has some serious mood swing issues. Are all tall people like that?"

"Ten hyung, oh my god, don't generalize like that!" Lucas said, straightening up.

"Lucas, you're supposed to be pretending to be Kun and listening to my problems. Just agree so I feel better."

"Oh, right. Sorry. I mean, yeah all tall people are like that," Lucas said, supportively.

"Maybe romance is just an illusion. Maybe what I feel is just lust because he's all sexy and tall and stuff. But then I also have these feelings like I want to go on dates with him, I want to draw his portrait, I want to tell him he's cute when he laughs and every time I'm with him I just forget to breathe and stuff. I wish I didn't like him so much. It's so confusing when he doesn't give me any signs. What do you think?"

Lucas thought for a second. "Do I answer as Kun-ge? Or as myself? I'm getting confused." He paused with a smile. "Or am I getting...kun-fused?"

"Oh my god, Lucas, that was horrible!" Ten groaned. "I'm being serious here."

Lucas laughed. "That was a good pun, c'mon."

Ten put his head on the dining table and scowled. "When will Kun come back from the mart?"

"Romance might be all kinds of weird but love isn't an illusion, you know? I mean, if you find someone you love...you just kind of know. It's a good feeling. You feel complete and..."

"Peaceful?"

"Yeah," Lucas nodded, excitedly. "Like you can do everything."

Ten's eyes softened. "I feel like that with him. He's really nice."

"I know," Lucas said, dreamily.

"Wait, who are you talking about?" Ten sat up.

"Jung-I mean, haha what?" Lucas blushed. "I just remembered I had to do some squats." He rushed out of the kitchen.

"Kun, come back quickly. I need single people so I won't feel bad," Ten said, sighing.

Renjun and Chenle walked into the kitchen, making a beeline for the fridge.

"Hyung, who are you talking to?" Chenle asked, amused

Ten reddened. "I was just practicing some vocals." Suddenly, he was struck by an idea. "Oi, evil kids, tell me something. Do you think Johnny likes anyone?"

Chenle and Renjun exchanged grins.

"Yeah, I think he does," Renjun said, making a huge show of thinking deeply about the question.

Ten perked up. "You think so?"

Chenle and Renjun looked at each other, eyes full of laughter.

Chenle chimed in. "Of course, he likes Taeil hyung!"

They ran out of the kitchen laughing at his expression before Ten could say anything.

Ten called Kun, "Kun, where are you? The dreamies are bullying me. I don't care if it's the groceries...Yeah, Lucas was no help...Fine, come soon...No, I don't need anything...Wait, I have something really important to ask. Do you think Johnny likes Taeil? I mean, like as in like like? Hello? Kun? Hello?"

-

"Someone's not in a good mood?" Doyoung said, as he passed Johnny in the corridor.

They were in the hotel, rushing to their rooms to catch up on what little rest they could do before they left for Seoul.

"No! I'm not upset," Johnny retorted, looking totally upset.

Doyoung took a deep breath. "Alright, I'm sending Taeyong."

"I'm not upset, Doyoung. Truly. Don't send Taeyong. He's having his Jaehyun-time. I'm perfectly fine."

Doyoung stared at him in disbelief.

Johnny finally said, "He sent a pic to Taeyong too."

"So?"

"Ten sent a pic to Taeyong too, Doyoung."

"I still don't see what the problem is."

Johnny ran a hand through his hair, anxiously. "It means that I forgot, okay? That we are just friends. That I get swayed even now and I thought I was over this!"

"Why would you feel that? Aren't you overreacting?"

Johnny shook his head. "I have my reasons. It's just that I keep forgetting."

"Look, I know you're closer to Taeyong and I'm not a great help in this department but maybe you need to talk to Ten once we go back," Doyoung said.

The taller guy looked scandalized. "I can't do that. That would mess up everything."

"You like him."

"N-no, when did I say that?"

Doyoung rolled his eyes. "Okay, this is a chore. How about you treat me to some ice-cream so we both feel better and later Taeyong or Yuta can help you? It'll be fine. Just yeah, fighting!"

"You 96 liners are pretty heartless."

"You don't even tell me the details. How am I supposed to offer magical solutions?" Doyoung said. He nudged Johnny. "But we all hate seeing you upset so hang in there, yeah?"

"Okay, heartless 96 liner. But since I'm upset, you have to treat me to ice-cream."

Over ice-cream and horrible puns, Johnny found himself laughing and forgetting about things that he felt were out of his control. He was grateful to Doyoung's easy chatter for taking his mind off things and making him realize he had been over-thinking stuff.

"Ten sending Taeyong a selfie is seriously so cute," he even found himself saying. "You know what, I think I was just tired before. I only needed some ice-cream to lift up my mood. Thank you, Doyoung. Take some rest before we leave, okay?"

Doyoung gave him a look. "Okay, as long as you're happy...ish."

In fact, Johnny had totally forgotten the incident by the time they reached Seoul and seeing Ten's excited messages, he decided to suggest visiting the restaurant Jaehyun had recommended.

Johns: Yoo

Wanna eat something?

We can go out around eight?

10/10: You had a showcase today, right?

Won't you get tired?

Johns: Nah, we haven't met in ages

10/10: We met like a week ago

Johns: Exactly!

Ten had been wrestling with Jaemin for the TV remote but he quickly let go of the younger one when he saw the newest message from Johnny.

"Oh my god, Kun, I need your help!"

"I'm in the kitchen," Kun yelled back.

Ten ran to him. "See this message."

Kun looked at the messages and looked at Ten. "You're going out for dinner with Johnny. Congratulations. Now shoo, I'm making dumplings from this really cool YouTube recipe I saw."

"I need your help, beautiful Kun." Ten tugged at his sleeve.

Kun shook him off. "No, Ten."

"Don't be so heartless. All you need to do is come along with us and see if you think Johnny likes me or Taeil?"

"Is Taeil going to be there?" Kun asked, not even looking up from his cooking. "Because if not, then your plan is useless."

"Uh no, he isn't, but you have high IQ. You can figure it out."

"Ten, I think you're just bored and want some drama to spice your life." Kun sighed.

Ten walked to the fridge, tapping something into his phone. "Thank you for agreeing to my plan, Kun. Appreciate it."

Kun frowned and grabbed at Ten's phone but the messages had already been sent.

10/10: Can I bring along Kun?

He's lonely and keeps crying

He has no friends

He says he misses his Johnny-boo

Kun groaned. "Ten, you made me sound like a loser. How could you? I thought we are friends!"

"You'll thank me for this opportunity one day. Now, where did you keep the bread?"

"The bread?"

"Yeah, you went grocery shopping, right?"

Kun opened his mouth and then closed it. "Ah, I think I forgot to get the bread."

Ten looked around in the kitchen. "What did you get? I'm hungry." He turned to Kun when he didn't answer. "Oh you haven't sorted out the stuff yet? As a favour to your undying friendship and loyalty, let me sort out the stuff? Where are the grocery bags?"

Kun drew in a breath. "The grocery bags? Uh...um, I forgot to get the grocery."

"What do you mean? You were out for hours."

Kun shrugged.

Ten blinked. "Well, we're going for dinner soon anyway so I'll just steal from Jungwoo's chocolate stash. Be ready to make Johnny jealous so we can gauge his reaction, okay?"

"Be ready for what!? Ten, Johnny could kill me!"

Meanwhile, Johnny was begging Doyoung to come along.

Doyoung was sprawled in his room, trying to pretend he was asleep.

"C'mon, I know you're awake."

"No, I'm asleep," Doyoung mumbled.

"I'm treating you to dinner."

"I don't want to go out. We just had a performance. Ask Jaehyun or someone."

"Jaehyun already said no and told me not to mention the restaurant in front of Taeyong. Something about it being their special place. I don't know, nobody's helping. You're my last hope."

"Why does anyone need to come along to your dinner plan?" Doyoung asked.

Johnny replied, "Because I wanted some time with Ten to talk about something and I can't do that if there's someone else sitting there. You and Kun are the same age. So, I don't know, distract him or something? Just come along and give me five minutes of alone-time with Ten."

Doyoung let out a pretend-snore.

"I'll do your laundry for a week."

The younger guy opened an eye. "A month."

Johnny glared. "A fortnight."

Doyoung sat up. "Okay, I'm in."

[ aaaah we updated fast! doyoung and kun are such sweethearts :') and johnten being chaotic. typical.

hope you enjoyed the chapter. do tell us what are your thoughts, we love to hear from you all!

and don't forget to vote, comment, and add ten past six to your library if you haven't already!

love, positive vibes and ice creams~~ ]