Work Text:
“So how’s it been?” Hanbin asks, tying the laces on his skates.
He knows it’s a dumb question. He knows it’s a dumb question, considering that they’ve called every day since the announcement, he knows it’s a dumb question, overhearing the others’ hushed whispers, he knows it’s a dumb question knowing that Yunseo had cried in his arms after everything had gone down.
But he tries to keep a sense of normalcy, and looks up, pretending that they’ve just hadn’t seen each other in a long time. That they’re just long distance friends, and it’s great to see each other again, yeah, how’ve you been?
Yunseo’s already done tying his ice skates, and is staring down at him when Hanbin looks back up at him. He opens his mouth, but shuts it again.
“I’ve started working on a new song.”
Hanbin knows that. He’s been knowing that. He knew that since Yunseo had called him and played it for him, and they’d cried together over KakaoTalk.
It’s a simple response, but it doesn’t answer his question. Hanbin doesn’t want to push Yunseo, like he always does when they fight (he regrets all of those fights now), so he accepts it.
After all, he was the one who got the better end of the stick. How can he lay comfortably in the Jellyfish building and stay in the group that was supposed to be temporary for all of them?
It was none of their faults, Hanbin knows this, but he really can’t help but feel guilty.
He knows that this is one of his only breaks in the midst of the storms of practicing with their new formations, and he’s not about to make Yunseo cry on what he had originally planned to be a relaxing day where… Where it’s just the two of them. So he changes the subject:
“I read Jihoo’s diary the other day–”
–
The music booms loudly on the speakers. Hanbin wobbles around.
Yunseo’s face breaks out into a smile and he hits Hanbin jokingly as he skates around so Hanbin can’t catch up and hit him back.
“One day I’ll get really, really good at skating and I’ll beat you,” Hanbin challenges.
“I’ll let you,” Yunseo replies softly. “Even though you’re my hyung, I’ll always let you win.”
Hanbin stops chasing Yunseo and pouts. “Yah. Don’t go easy on me. Who’s the one who takes care of you?”
“Hm… Not you…”
“Ji Yunseo.”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Of course it’s you. I love you, hyung.”
–
“Two bungeoppang, please.”
Hanbin passes one to Yunseo and they sit on the benches, blowing on their bungeoppang. Hanbin pokes the eye of his, wondering if the day wouldn’t end if he ate it slowly enough.
Yunseo’s hair is getting long, brushing past his cheekbone. Even though they’ve facetimed regularly, it feels like a slap in the face from, if it were a person, time. Yunseo’s hair had always been pretty long, but the growth marks the time where they hadn’t been able to see each other in person, and it bothers Hanbin that it’s really been that long.
Usually, two months isn’t a long time. But this isn’t usually.
They have a comeback soon. They have performances coming up, the collab stage with VERIVERY, KCON Japan, they have to relearn their formations, so they haven’t been this busy in a while. When’s the next time?
No, that’s too definite.
When will be the next time?
Hanbin’s accepted it, but has he really?
He takes a small bite of his bungeoppang, then his phone rings. It’s his manager, telling him to go back to the dorms.
Yunseo’s looking at him, his own bungeoppang already gone. Hanbin's been zoning out for a while, then.
“You have to go?” Yunseo asks, quietly.
“Manager-nim is telling me to come back. It’s getting late. You should go home, too.”
“Okay.”
“Get home safe, Yunseo.”
“I will, don’t worry, hyung. You too.”
Yunseo turns around and starts walking away. He doesn’t look back.
Hanbin takes another bite of his bungeoppang. It’s larger than the previous bite.
See you again.