[6:10 am]

Johns: Good morning, Tennie!

[8: 40 am]

10/10: Why do we need to get up so early?

Johns: It's not that early

Go get some breakfast

Or should I get you some?

10/10: I'd rather have you

Uh, I mean, I'd rather have *yoghurt and strawberries from the cafe near the coex

Haha stupid autocorrect

Johns: Oh I can get you some if you're coming there for practice

10/10: Okay, see you there :DD

-

[6:10 am]

Johns: Morning, beautiful

10/10: Likewise, sexy

Johns: You're up early

10/10: Your messages always wake me up early

Johns: Aww, go back to sleep

10/10: Good night, John!

[9:45 pm]

10/10: Did you eat?

Johns: Will do in a bit

10/10: Take care of yourself, okay?

Johns: You too

Are you okay?

10/10: Yeah

You?

Johns: Yeah

-

[6:10 am]

Johns: GOOD MORNING, I'M SO EXCITED

We going Halloween!

When will you be there for the costuming?

[8:10 am]

10/10: Let me ask Kun

Kun says ask Doyoung xD

I wouldn't be surprised if Kun said he's more interested in his phone rather than his costume

You know, Kun keeps smiling at his phone a lot these days

I told you about the dreamies thinking he's dating someone, right?

What if it's true?

Nah, it's Kun after all

I can't even imagine

Anyway, Kun says we'll be there at whatever time you guys want so let us know asap

-

"Aww, Johnny, you look so cute," Ten said, giggling at Johnny's costume.

Johnny did a mock-growl. "I am always cute."

Ten flicked his wig. "But you have to admit I look the best."

"You look alright, Chenle looks the best," Johnny said, eyes twinkling.

Ten clutched his heart. "Oof, Taeyong! Johnny is being mean to me."

Johnny patted his head. "Just kidding, you look amazing and I love the idea of carrying that frame."

"I know, I know, not everyone is as intelligent as me," Ten said, laughing.

Truth be told, Ten was really happy just sitting beside a soft-looking Johnny in his Tony the Tiger costume while others were getting ready. They had both been busy lately and it was difficult to spend time together, just the two of them. He lay his head on Johnny's shoulder as they watched Chenle chase Renjun who was filming everything.

"You know, the kids are nice," Ten said, quietly.

"I'm glad you finally agree." Johnny laughed and Ten could feel Johnny's body shifting with the deep rumble of his laughter.

Ten closed his eyes. "They're still evil and prank Kun and I all the time but they're also kind of cute and I would die for every one of them."

"Ten hyung is dressed up as Rapunzel's witch-mom," Haechan shouted across the room.

Renjun and Haechan started singing Mother Knows Best replacing 'Mother' with 'Ten'.

Ten sat up. "I take it back. They're all pure evil."

Johnny laughed. "You kind of look do like Mother Gothel."

"And you look like Tigger."

"Hey, I like Tigger," Johnny exclaimed.

"So do I but that's not the point and thanks to your paws I can't even hold your hand not that I want to but speaking as a completely objective third party observer with absolutely no personal interest in the matter, I think hand-holding is definitely underrated. I mean—" Ten stopped when he felt Johnny's eyes on him.

Johnny was smiling at him but it was the way his eyes were full of something deeper, softer and almost adoring that made Ten stop and stare. He blushed and asked the taller guy. "What?"

"I can't believe you just quoted She's the Man to me," Johnny said, breaking out of whatever trance he had fallen in and looking at his feet, the smile still held in place. "And I think Mona Lisa suits you because you're really beautiful but more than any piece of art."

Ten drew in a breath. There it was. The feeling of having suddenly stepped into a deep ocean. Like there was a whole crest and fall of meanings behind Johnny's words, like the words were as serious as the tone which held no trace of a jest, like the words reached out to him but Johnny himself held him back. Ten was aware of it maybe even before Johnny—that Johnny was going to walk away yet again.

"Wow, this costume is really hot. I think I—" Johnny made to get up.

Ten entwined his arm around Johnny's and pulled him back slightly. "I'm going home for a couple of days. Wanna come along?"

Johnny blinked.

Ten laughed nervously. "Dad told me to invite you. It's been a while since you last saw him and he misses his favourite tennis partner."

Johnny smiled wide. "Well, I guess, then I'm coming along."

"You will?"

"I-If you want me to," Johnny said.

"Of course, I want you to."

They smiled shyly at each other, pretending for a moment that it was as easy as that, that there wasn't a string of managers and paperwork and fansites that they would have to traverse.

Later, when they were all stuffed in cars and Johnny was beside Ten, Johnny took off his paw glove and wrapped his fingers around Ten's.

Ten looked up to Johnny who cleared his throat. "So, um, do you like cheese?"

There was silence and then they started laughing while the other members looked at them warily.

Jaehyun sighed. "Why yes he does. His favourite's Gouda!"

The party turned out to be really fun. Jaehyun and Jungwoo were a hit, everyone loved Ten's costume and Chenle was asked to be photographed with by everyone. Somewhere over Lucas' booming Thor laugh, Renjun playing catch with his elf ears with Taeil, Kun's cap falling off his head and Doyoung fixing it for him, Yuta randomly distributing apples, Taeyong getting drunk after two sips of his drink, it was probably the best day they had all had in a while.

When that night, Ten was pinning up the polaroids he had taken over the course of the party, he looked at the two pictures he had with Johnny and he couldn't help but smile. He was going to spend a whole vacation with Johnny!

"If everything goes well, I'll tell him this time."

-

It had taken quite a bit of convincing and subterfuge that both of them disliked but Johnny and Ten found themselves enjoying three days with Ten's family. Ten spent a lot of time with his dogs while Johnny played tennis with his Dad. Johnny liked Ten's family. They had always been kind and welcoming to him and he was happy he got to see them again.

Ten's Dad especially doted on Johnny, calling him 'son' and inviting him to come over next vacation on the first day itself.

The second evening, Ten managed to wrench away Johnny from his Dad and they went on a photo-trip around the flower market.

"My Mum loves this place," Ten told Johnny as they entered the sweet-smelling market.

Johnny looked around with wide eyes. "Woah, this is amazing. Our camera roll is going to be blessed today."

Ten smiled at his enthusiasm as Johnny began clicking pictures. He raised his camera to his eye and clicked a picture of Johnny talking in all the Thai he had ever learnt from Ten over the years at the first stall. The shopkeeper smiled at Ten over Johnny's shoulder and called out, "Your friend is very excited."

Ten laughed. "He doesn't get to be a tourist often."

The shopkeeper handed over a flower to Johnny, pronouncing slowly, "Dok krachiao."

"What's he saying?" Johnny asked Ten, looking clueless at the exchange.

"It's the name of the flower. He's giving it to you because you're so excited," Ten explained.

In fact, as they walked through the market, Ten quickly found out that Johnny was really popular with the shopkeepers who went out of their way to point out names of flowers to him, some even handing out free samples.

"Do you two want anything else?" the auntie on the last stall asked them while they waited for the bouquet Johnny was buying for Ten's mom.

"Yes," Johnny said, still very much excited. "Can I have that...umm, that one...one of those small garlands?"

The auntie nodded and handed him the small garland. Johnny smiled at Ten and held it out to him. "Thank you for today, Tennie." He grabbed Ten's hand lightly and slipped it across his wrist.

The auntie laughed, saying a string of quick words, looking at their hands.

"What?" Johnny looked at Ten who was blushing profusely.

Ten giggled, looking away, rubbing the back of his head with his other hand.

"What did I do?" Johnny asked.

The auntie handed him the bouquet of flowers he had ordered, aww-ing at them.

Ten finally spoke up. "She said it's a version of the garland used in marriage ceremonies here that's really popular among tourists and...yeah." And you two look cute together.

"Oh," Johnny said. "Ah, I thought it was...just a garland...I thought you would like it, I mean, I thought it would look pretty on you, yeah? You can take it off if—"

"No! I mean, yeah, it looks pretty." Ten looked at his wrist, making no attempt to take it off.

Johnny smiled and intertwined their fingers. "Anything else you'd like to have?"

"Hmm, let's have some food but it's my treat," Ten said.

"Lead the way," Johnny said.

The short vacation came to an end quickly but it was some of the best days they had had. They were going to the airport separately because Ten would greet his fans and since Johnny was supposed to be on a 'secret schedule', Ten's dad volunteered to take the latter there early.

As Johnny said his goodbyes to Ten's family, Ten's dad asked him, "Have you found the one then, Johnny? I remember how romantic you were when we first met you."

Ten had been texting Jaehyun and Winwin on their groupchat but his ears perked up.

WinkWink: DID YOU TELL HIM?

NotPeaches: YOU CAN DO IT, TEN, YOU CAN DO IT

ElevenMinusOne: Stop using caps, it's making me more nervous!

I'll tell him on the plane

NotPeaches: Stop postponing it!

WinkWink: You better tell him before you step foot in Korea

Ten slid his phone into his pocket, waiting for Johnny's reply to his father.

Johnny laughed. "Still single, still romantic."

"It's okay, son. Some good things take time. Now, I took forever to woo this wonderful lady but believe me all those long letters I wrote and the sonnets I read out...it all works out in the end. Just lay your heart bare when the right time and person comes along."

Ten's mom smiled fondly. "That kind of romance isn't found anymore."

Ten felt Johnny's eyes on him, the stare almost piercing, before they swept away as Johnny nodded to his mom. "Not everyone appreciates that kind of stuff anymore, I guess."

"That's just bad taste then. Anyway, c'mon, son, we got to go or you'll get swamped at the airport with our Ten's farewell squad."

"See you..." Ten's voice trailed off as Johnny left without even looking at him, "...on the plane."

The flight back was pretty uneventful. It was as if the mood of the last few days was totally changed. Johnny was silent for most the time which surprised Ten who stopped trying after several failed attempts at light conversation.

"I'll see you tonight?" Ten asked, quietly. What he wanted to ask was, are you angry? Upset? But he didn't know how to cross the chasm that opened up between them during times like this. What he wanted to hear was, yes, come by and we'll talk it out.

"I have a fansign with the others. It might get late."

Ten nodded sharply. "Okay."

Johnny must have heard his tone because he looked at him with concern. "I meant that you might get tired."

"Yeah, I'll head to my dorm then." Ten scowled.

Johnny nodded slowly.

They parted after the plane landed and Ten fumed as he saw the messages on 'the trio' groupchat.

WinkWink: Did you tell him omg

NotPeaches: What did he say omg

We planned a party already so tell us ALL the details asap

ElevenMinusOne: Can we not talk about him all the time?

[  so many things happened in this chapter omg did you enjoy it?

let us know what you thought of the chapter! and the next update is going to be very eventful please look forward to it :D

love, positive vibes and secret schedules~~ ]