Thirty-Three

After we talked about our performance of 'For Old Times' Sake' a little longer, all of us just chatted, joked around and shared food- a bonding session in the true spirit of Christmas. By the time we had wrapped up the event, thanked everyone on set and had helped them clear up, we had gotten to a point where we were close enough to have even Beomseok Sunbae and I talking freely to each other.

"I really am sorry though." Beomseok Sunbae said as S.T.A.Y and 04:00 am left the practice room. "It must have hurt."

"The punishment?" I touched my forehead. "It's okay. It was all a game anyway. Besides, we play around all the time. I'm used to it."

"It must have hurt nevertheless. You got it from three of us." Baekjae Sunbae joined in on our conversation.

"No. Sunbae, you went easy on me. Thanks for that." I gave him a small bow in gratitude.

"Don't mention it." He smiled. "Oh. And you're still coming next weekend, right?"

"Yes, I am. I have already cleared my schedule with Manager-nim." I informed him.

"Your premier?" Beomseok Sunbae asked.

"Yes." Baekjae Sunbae nodded. "I figured that Jeongwoo would like to see it since he's such an avid supporter."

"Heh… So, that's why none of us got asked to go with you this time." A voice said from behind us and I got pulled back by my collar. An arm wrapped around my neck after that. "You're taking my Jeongwoo on a movie date, Baekjae-ya?"

"He's not YOUR Jeongwoo anymore, Hyung. He's all of ours." Baekjae Sunbae responded. "Even Beomseok Hyung's taken a liking to him."

"That honestly shocked all of us, Hyung." Changmin said. "I was sure you'd go for Minho."

"Jeongwoo made me dance." He shrugged.

"That's what that was for?" I laughed. "You and Baekjae Sunbae won anyway though."

"You still are rather likable." He added. "Besides, Minho's one of our own. I might not get a chance like this with you again."

"You sound like the kind of person who bullies the people you like…" I told him my honest impression of that statement of his.

"You've got that right!" Baekjae Sunbae laughed. "Not in a bad way though."

"I'm going on ahead." Beomseok Sunbae quickened his pace to get away from us, earning laughs from the three of us. Changmin then came to walk between Baekjae Sunbae and I, the arm still wrapped around my neck.

"Hyung's really gotten comfortable with you."

"He was a little difficult to approach but I had never found him scary. It was just that I never knew what to say because he was so difficult to read."

"Agreed. My first impression of him was pretty much like that." Baekjae Sunbae said. "Both Minho and I had a hard time talking to him at first. He stuck around Hyeonwoo Hyung a lot back then and not much with others."

"Hyeonwoo Sunbae?" I asked.

"They've known each other since elementary school." Changmin replied and then tugged on me. "I want to get something to drink from the vending machine. Come with me."

"Now?" I asked.

"Yes. We'll be quick. Baekjae, let them know. We'll join you in 5."

"Okay." Baekjae Sunbae agreed and Changmin pulled me along as we branched away from the group heading towards the studio for the joint photoshoot. He let go of me and walked ahead of me when we neared the vending machine in the hallway.

"What do you want?" He asked as he checked what was available. "Coffee? Oh, they have Choco Milk too."

"Then… Choco Milk." I said.

He bought himself a can of Choco Milk too and extended mine towards me. Before I could take it though, he pulled it back and looked at me seriously. "Explain yourself."

Explain? "What?"

He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "The punishment."

Oh. You mean the dance. "What do you want me to explain about that?" I asked back, not willing to just give in.

"Why did I receive punishment? And… what kind of punishment was that? Why would you think that that would be a punishment?"

I shrugged, not quite sure about why I had thought so myself when he asked me about it. "I wonder what you did to deserve that."

He frowned. "What the hell, Jeongwoo? Tell me."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "You picked Jaehyeon Hyung."

"Huh?"

"Why didn't you pick me?" Now that I said it aloud, it sounded childish. Why was I upset about that anyway?

He gaped at me. "THAT's your issue?"

I wonder why too…

"Jeongwoo, you got jealous of YoonJae?" He sorted his words before saying them.

Was that what it was?

He stared at me a moment longer, then rolled his eyes and laughed. "Unbelievable!"

"What?"

"We-" He paused and gave me my drink. "We both got jealous of the same person."

"Hah?" Now I was confused.

"You want to know why I picked YoonJae? I'll tell you. It was because it was the perfect opportunity to pick on him. He's the closest to you. You're even roommates. This was the most- no- the least that I could have done."

"Hold on. Let's put this into perspective. You got jealous of Jaehyeon Hyung for always being with me and being close to me. That's why you decided to punish him."

"Yes." Changmin admitted.

"And I got jealous…" I dropped my eyes to the floor and let out a heavy breath. "Why does this all feel so petty now?" And embarrassing.

Changmin placed a hand on my back and urged me to start walking towards the studio. "So, you got that upset because you weren't my first pick."

"Can we not talk about it anymore?" My face was burning up.

"It was petty but it was also honest." He dropped a hand on my head and pulled me to walk closer to him. "You have no idea how happy this makes me."

Really? "Well… Merry Christmas." I pouted and refused to make eye-contact.

He chuckled. "To you too." Soon after saying that, unexpectedly, he removed his hand from my head and swept back my hair before leaning in to peer at my face.

I recoiled, my legs coming to an immediate stop with this sudden assault of proximity. "W-What?" My heart was pounding against my chest like it was personally trying to box him off.

"Your forehead's slightly red." He observed closely and pressed a warm palm to it. "Even if I had wanted to choose you, I would not have. You had already received it from three people. I'm not that cruel."

"R-Right." I pushed his hand off and continued to walk. It took him just a moment to finish laughing at my escape and join me, matching my pace. I quietly drank down my Choco Milk, trying to cool my head and calm my racing heart.