𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 . . . seventeen's :: wang meiling

WORD COUNT: 1k
THIRD PERSON
SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

"oh my god, you're fucking bald."

meiling couldn't stop the words that spilled from her tongue. in her defense, she didn't expect to see jeonghan, clad in his military uniform, standing in her and seungcheol's living room when she woke up this morning.

jeonghan rolled his eyes with a teasing smile, "no shit, sherlock." she ignored his remarks, reaching up to feel his head. "what are you doing? i'm not letting you feel my head," he interrupted her with questioning eyes.

"you're letting me feel your head," she attempted to convince him. "i'm not letting you feel my head," "you're letting me feel your head." he sighed and gave in, "i'm letting you feel my head."

"you already said bye to everyone?" she asked, as her nails raked through his scalp. he hummed both as an answer and in content. "saved the best two for last?"

"already said bye to cheol," he whispered. "saved the best for last?" she tried once more, tearing her gaze from his head to his eyes. he nodded lazily, a sad smile gracing his features.

"you look like an egg, you know that? i never would've thought this day would come." he raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest in fake offence. "ya! i look handsome and you know it. the buzz enhances my masculinity." she snorted, "yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night, hanie."

he rolled his eyes but his lips curled into a smile, "i'm just saying, all the girls are gonna fall for me at the base." she giggled, "let's hope they fall for your personality because this..." she trailed off, "is not the best."

he opened his mouth to respond, but closed it when nothing came to his mind. the silence made her think about how far the two of them came. there was a bittersweet ache in her heart. she could've sworn it was only a few months ago when she met jeonghan in a green-walled basement. time was moving way faster than what she expected.

"i didn't think it would hit me like this," meiling l murmured after a beat, her tone soft. he waited, urging her to explain further.

"i mean, i knew you were going to enlist. i knew everyone would have to enlist eventually. but seeing you like this.... it feels surreal. like, we're actually growing up."

his gaze softened as he took the woman's hand, playing with her hands. "yeah, i guess we are. it's weird, isn't it? feels like we debuted yesterday." she hummed in agreement, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.

"we're the same age, but this makes it feel like you're all grown up, and i'm still.... i don't know. it just feels weird," she spoke, trying to voice her thoughts.

before the tension that came with reminiscing could get even thicker, jeonghan laughed. "shut up, you're the engaged one. you've grown up, not me."

processing his words, meiling glanced over at seungcheol. he had been watching their interaction quietly in the kitchen. he smiled softly in response to their eye contact, his eyes filled with warmth ( and tears ) for his fiancée and his best friend.

she forced her eyes back to jeonghan. "maybe. i guess we've both grown up. enlistment. marriage. life. it's all happening." he squeezed her shoulder in reassurance."yeah, it is. but it's also kind of nice, right? growing up isn't so bad."

she bit her lip, "i guess." she breathed in, "but i'm gonna miss you. you, and your jokes that aren't even that funny most of the time, and your stupid pranks that always made me madder than they should. who's gonna keep it fun around here without you?" he smirked, his lips not fully meeting a true smile. "you can handle that yourself, mei. you're almost just as good as me at causing chaos. she laughed quietly, "true, but it's not the same."

"don't get all sentimental on me now. i've already dealt with, like, seven crying members," he teased, but she could hear the slight tremble in his voice. "i'm only gone for a bit, and i get breaks every so often. i'll be back before you know it."

"yeah, but i don't want you to go," she finally admitted, her voice a whisper.

for the first time in a while, neither of them joked. they looked at each other, the weight of the moment settling in. she didn't try to stop the tears that fell like waterfalls from her eyes. she didn't expect to cry for any of the members's enlistment, but here she was.

"it's only two years," he comforted. "and when i come back, we'll still be causing trouble together. growing together," he paused. "you'll be married by then, but you won't be getting rid of me so easily. this is basically my second home, i'll be crashing here all the time." meiling lets out a sound that's in between a sob and a laugh, wiping the tears spilling from her eyes with the back of her hand. "you better, you idiot." "i will," he promised, nudging her gently.

meiling forcefully wrapped her arms around jeonghan, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. he giggled under his breath as he was knocked back a few steps, but didn't let go of the hug. they stayed there for what felt like forever, but was definitely not long enough in the girl's eyes.

once she pulled away, she watched as jeonghan made eye contact with her, and then seungcheol. he smiled warmly at the couple and at the friendships he found with both of them. "us three are going to be just fine," he stated with confidence, almost making a promise.

meiling nodded slowly, blinking away her last few tears, "yeah. we will."

LANA SPEAKS . . . !

i italicized "you've grown up" cause it's the title of my jun ff omg!!

anyways i'm sad and miss jeonghan. didn't cry during his enlistment and lowk thought y'all were being dramatic talking about missing idols in the military but oops here i am