Now playing Needy by Ariana Grande

Chapter Seven : It's Too Early

It was going on three o'clock in the morning when Seungmin swore that the speeding of his heart, the need to pull his lips up into a smile, and the constant anxiousness wasn't anything more than pent up eagerness. It was because he couldn't wait for the mere second that leader Bang Chan said that he was finally able to indulge in group activities again—for the breath that was taken in to say that he was able to do simple tasks like getting his own glass of water. That had to be the reason. There is no way that his stomach twisted uncomfortably, and his palms sweated, or mind reeled all because of some stupid accident with his best friend Hyunjin. That night (extremely early morning) he even scolded himself for coming to such ridiculous conclusion. As he lay under his covers with his hands clutching tightly onto that thick blanket, his eyebrows furrowed while he stared at the sleeping figure of the tall blonde. He was on his back, one arm thrown to the side while the other rested only inches above his head, tangling in with his mess of bleached locks. He wasn't facing Seungmin, but that was okay, the young singer could already guess what he looked like.

And that's nothing sort of handsome.

The ravenette actually continued to mindlessly ogle at Hyunjin for another few minutes, thanking every higher power that whatever disgusting giddiness he felt, finally began to fade away. It's why Seungmin thought the bombarding of fluttering feelings was just the rush of adrenaline shooting through him in order to brace him for the fall. He didn't develop some type of crush on the dancer; because like he's said to himself over a hundred times already, that would be absurd. Not only was the singer positive that he was a lame heterosexual, but he was also positive that Hyunjin was as well. So speaking in a fairytale sense, if Seungmin did somehow grow a romantic mind for his group mate and confessed, he would immediately be rejected.

And now he's confused...yet again. The simple imagery of Hyunjin saying: "I'm sorry, but I don't feel the same" had the ravenette frowning and sinking a little further into his suddenly too thin blanket—because not only did he grow cold, but his chest felt as though it was collapsing in on him. It's a feeling he's only experienced once or twice in his life; one time when he was little and his mother hadn't allowed him to have dessert until after dinner, and another where he could have been the one to be sent home due to not being good enough to be an idol. But those moments had reasoning behind them, while as of right now it was just the idea of Hyunjin being only a few feet away that had him hyperventilating. And for a brief minute Seungmin thought about awakening the literal sleeping beauty, and confront him about his sudden new found and mind-boggling feelings. That is if it weren't for Jisung (someone who he thinks has been getting in between him and the blonde).

Unintentionally of course.

The ravenette singer forgot all about talking to Hyunjin that night when watching Jisung start to groggily sit up from his spot on a top bunk. Seungmin actually tried to hide a little better under his covers, hoping that the slightly older male doesn't notice his three a.m stress. Highly unlikely he would. The squirrel resembling male was too drowsy to even understand that he kicked his blanket to the floor hours prior. His own dark strands were thrown in every direction due to the need to move around in his sleep; and with a small hand going up to his head to scratch, too with a squeaky yawn, the array of dark brown hair only became worse. Then almost blindly he fumbled his way down from his bed until he was placed firmly on the cold floor. The way he wobbled on his feet almost had Seungmin giggling—only he realized that he was supposed to be asleep right now, and his cover would be blow if he made an unusual sound.

That is unless he explained that he sometimes laughs in his sleep. Nah, crazy sleeping habits was Minho's thing.

So keeping his mouth clamped shut, and forcing all noises back down his throat, he continued to stare at the way Jisung maneuvered his way around the room. His destination was a nearby side table where scattered items were thrown. There was some anticipation of wondering what the older may have been looking for, but after spotting a glass of water sitting beside an anime figurine, any mystery of what the rapper may have awoken for was gone. And just like Seungmin guessed, Jisung was maybe just a little hot and got up to get a quick drink. The only thing that the ravenette wouldn't have assumed was that the dark brunette would then discard the empty cup upon the table before leisurely climbing his way into Hyunjin's bed. The young singer began to bite on his lip, eyes staying trained on the way Jisung slipped his way under the covers as if he's done it a million times over.

And he has.

It wasn't unusual to see any of the members cuddle up against one another. Seungmin actually always had Felix attached to him if Changbin wasn't in the room; or he would personally cling onto Jeongin. So if anything, the ravenette should just wipe the image from his brain and think of it as something normal. But he couldn't. Watching Jisung practically drape his smaller form upon Hyunjin's lankier one, had his chest tightening again. And watching the blonde officially awaken from the sudden new weight, to only realize that it was loud-mouth Han Jisung, had him narrowing his eyes. Then to finally watch Hyunjin almost instantly wrap his arms around the younger and then flip them so they both lay on their sides (back facing Seungmin, and shielding any view of what may happen next), he felt the known emotion of anger bubble within his gut.

Oddly enough.

He couldn't witness anymore of it. So he too turned on his side, stone expression now laid upon a plain white wall.

"Hyunjin, quit it" The groggy voice came from Jisung. He seemed to have groaned out of annoyance, but some undertones of amusement had laced his words. "Dude, you're hands are so—Hyunjin!" Seungmin felt that same animosity continue to grow, but mixing with it was what he wanted to say was sadness. Not only was he boiling over with a newfound heat, but his body grew heavy with a weight that he has yet to label. And he so badly wanted to cover his ears; better yet get up and leave, but then the foolish duo only a few feet over would know that he's been listening in.

"Shut up will ya! You're going to wake Seungmin" The blonde dancer had replied back now, his voice more drawn into a whisper. It was evident that he too had just been pulled from sleep with how raspy he sounded, but it didn't stop the way he too was a little chirpy. He even gave breathy chuckles when hearing Jisung give a displeased noise.

"Then get your cold hands off of me!"

After that it was like static for the ravenette. He heard shifting, inaudible murmurs, indecipherable sounds, and then it all stopped. The room was steady like it once was. Seungmin would be able to swallow each haywire emotion he currently felt and maybe fall asleep. Fall asleep now and get answers later. Only everything rattling within his head continued to echo, and he grew uncomfortable. Even if he closed his eyes, found a nice cool part of his bed, and snuggled within his blankets, he couldn't for the life of him rest. All he could think about was the pair who yet again walked about in dreamland. The way they peacefully slept within each other's arms; finding a perfect temperature with their bodies for right now, but definitely going to complain about being too sweaty once they awaken. And again, that shouldn't bother him, because as of right now he can bet that Chan allowed an adorable fatigue-stricken Jeongin to join him under his covers. Such sight shouldn't make feel as though he wants to pull all of his hair out—on the contrary, he would coo and maybe take a few pictures before referencing their leader to yet again being like a dad figure who is consoling their child after a nightmare.

So why does Hyunjin and Jisung get to him so much?

Hyunjin and Jisung? Jisung and Hyunjin? Their names don't even sound good together!

Seungmin absentmindedly let out a huff, before flipping so he lay on his back. He didn't mean to, but an evil and devilish voice told him to look. To just glance and see what exactly his two friends looked liked all smushed together in each other's arms. And he should have known—known that they would be nothing but tranquil. With Hyunjin almost smothering himself into Jisung's clothed chest, and the younger keeping a hand stranded within the sea of the dancer's hair, the pair seemed serene. A complete difference to how they are when they're up and childishly battling one another. The sight—oh goodness the sight. No longer did Seungmin want to yell at the duo with fury, but cry? He wanted to curl up into his best form of a ball and just let a waterfall of those salty droplets out.

And he almost did. If he had just allowed for that suffocating weight to keep him under his blankets and watch as his two friends snuggle without a care in the world, then yeah, he would have definitely cried into his pillow. Instead he shoved that useless cloth away and right after planted his bare feet against the floor. He hadn't bothered to register that a shiver went up his spine, or that goosebumps aligned his arms. He was too busy raising his body from off his sheeted mattress, eyes fighting to tear away from Hyunjin and Jisung. It was when he was exiting the bedroom did he give the sleeping duo one last glance before he left.

That's how he found himself in the living room. Or at least turning towards such space—because just as he was understanding that the couch they owned was about to be his new mattress for the night, he heard shuffling and the softest of voices coming from the kitchen. Of course Seungmin found the sounds intriguing, and didn't waste another second before changing his route. It was when he was about to enter did he halt mid-step. There wasn't just one other person awake, but two, and they were talking about him. At least he thinks they were, if them mentioning him was anything to go by. It's why the ravenette hid behind the wall yet still tried to lean in as best as he could.

"Seungmin!?" The voice was startling loud; pitched obviously out of surprise, and scaring not only the aforementioned who tried to stay a secret, but the remaining person who was being conversed with. There was noise of hasty movements before a muffled: "sorry" was heard. And from what the singer gathered, he wanted to say that the screamer was none other than a bubbly Felix.

"Might as well wake the whole neighborhood while you're at it."

Minho. That one was a no-brainer. He's always had a bass for when he talked, it combined with what could be someone who may need to clear their throat. Quite an odd mix, but Seungmin had to say that it matched the brunette dancer fairly well. And just how he could guess the older by his voice alone, he too could guess that Minho gave an eye roll. Maybe even licked his lips from mock irritation.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just a little shocked" Yup, definitely Felix. His voice had returned to it's normal insanely deep tone—a feature that had the ravenette raising his eyebrows in amazement each time he rapped. "I mean, out of all people. I didn't even know you—not that I don't—would it be weird if I said me too? Not because of Seungmin though! Oh no, I've felt this way for pfft-" The noise came from his lips harshly blowing out air. "I don't even know."

What are they even talking about?

"Lix, we're still talking about me. Focus."

"Oh yeah, sorry" There was more movement heard. "Seriously though, him? At the very least I would have thought Jisung. You know, judging by how close you two are...were."

"Yeah, I don't know either" There was a sigh on Minho's part, maybe even him running a hand through his tousled locks if Seungmin were correct. "It's just after we were told to keep up our little divorced act, I guess things changed. We've gotten closer since then."

"Closer?" Felix chuckled. "You two do nothing but bicker. From an outsider looking in, I would assume you two hated each other. You know like one of those dynamics where you despise each other for real but smile and act friendly in front of cameras" He gave another curt laugh.

Minho secretly hates him? Wait no, Felix said it was "like."

"I'm not going to lie, when we first met I did think he was some sort of snob" So all of those tears he shed when Minho was voted off was for nothing? They weren't seen as friends then? Are they seen as friends now? Seungmin thinks his head might explode from all of the emotions he's experienced for the past half an hour. "Not so much anymore, but he has his moments" There was a giggle from the older brunette, to which caused Felix to follow his lead.

Did everyone think of him as such?

"You like that though, right? Someone who isn't Chan to stand up and tell you that you look a fool?"

At the sudden modulation of the conversation, Seungmin furrowed his eyebrows and grew even more curious.

"Do you think I do? I don't know. This is all too new to me. I don't know how to think, or feel" There was a defeated sigh given and maybe a frustrated moan.  "Lix, help me please."

"I wish I could. But honestly you need to figure this out on your own. Is this all just pent up aggravation because he doesn't necessarily listen to you. Or is this just another way for you to express your true emotions" Felix must have began to pat Minho on the shoulder due to the light tapping sounds echoing faintly.

"What true emotions?"

Goodness, why can't he learn to keep his mouth shut and walk away? Why must he always want answers? To get his way? If he had just turned on his heels and returned to his original destination (that was their couch), then he wouldn't be staring at two other group members; who in return looked like deers in headlights. Their mouths gaped, and they glanced at one another in complete shock. But then again neither knew they were being listened in on, and had all rights to look so muddled.

"How much did you hear?" Felix was the first to recompose himself; plastering on a crooked smile while taking a few steps closer to the ravenette.

"Not much. Just that Minho might actually hate me?" It came out more as a question, when he intended to sound confident; that he wasn't as effected by it as he may have thought. And when watching the Australian's eyes widen even further as he released a silent gasp, all reassurance of it being a lie had been swept away.

"Oh would you look at that!?" Felix looked at his bare wrist where a watch could have been placed. "Time for me to get back to bed. See ya!" And without any protests from either two men, the blonde was already scurrying his way out of the kitchen. He hadn't looked back either, therefore he wasn't able to witness the awkward situation he had just placed and left Minho in.

And as the air around the pair became a little too thick for his liking, Seungmin wishes he never said anything. Sleeping uncomfortably on the sofa seemed a lot more appealing than confrontation now.

"Look, I understand why you probably don't like me. I can be a little cold-hearted at times, stuck-up, snobby, but-" He was cut short when hearing the older speak.

"Quite the opposite actually."

"What?"

Minho shook his head.

"I don't hate you Seungmin. You took the conversation out of context. But then again you didn't hear the beginning, so you wouldn't understand" From what was seen, Minho looked as though he was getting ready to head back to his shared bedroom with Changbin. Before he could get too far though, the ravenette had gotten in the way and stopped him walking any further. He was frowning as he stared at the neutral expression of the older. A face he tended to make in order to hide the millions of emotions he felt everyday.

"So help me understand. What were you and Felix talking about?"

Minho tried to get past again, yet was blocked once more.

"I would tell you if I knew myself. Just know that I don't hate you Seungminnie" He gave a grin that was on the urge of drooping. He forced it to stay upright as he then reached out to grasp onto one of the younger's larger hands. "Want me to guide you back to bed?"

The ravenette was upset that he hadn't gotten an answer, but such thoughts were forgotten when remembering why he left his bedroom in the first place. He was quick to shake his head.

"I was actually going to sleep on the couch tonight. It's a little too cold in my room I guess."

No it wasn't. It was actually kind of hot.

"Come sleep with me then. I'll keep you warm, yeah?"

Seungmin hadn't had much time to answer, because before he even knew it he was being guided into Minho's bedroom. He too was given the option of sleeping near the wall or the edge—to which he chose the wall. And after he got comfortable under the thick covers, the brunette dancer joined him. For a minute neither two moved from their positions, already content with just laying next to one another; but eventually Seungmin sought for the contact between them and shifted until he was able to cling onto Minho.

"You promise you don't hate me?"

"As long as you don't give me a reason to."