Chaewon asked him how did they meet and how they started to date.
Seokmin chuckled, eyes glinting. "Ah, so this is what you've been dying to know all along. Do you… like Jihan-hyung?"
"No, I don't," Chaewon said quickly, a little too defensive. "I was just asking casually."
Seokmin leaned in until their faces were almost touching. "Really?" he murmured with a teasing smile.
Chaewon's cheeks burned and he looked away.
At that moment Han and Seungmin walked up. "What are you two doing?" Han asked.
Chaewon shoved Seokmin back. "N-nothing," he muttered.
Seokmin rolled his eyes. "I was about to kiss him and you ruined the whole vibe."
Han's gaze sharpened at that.
"He's lying," Chaewon blurted out. "Nothing like that happened."
To break the tension, Seungmin said evenly, "Let's just go eat."
They found a table. Seungmin ordered fried chicken—Han's favourite—and passed the menu to Seokmin and Chaewon.
"I'll have a burger," Seokmin said.
"Salad for me," Chaewon added.
Seokmin frowned. "Why are you only eating salad?"
"I gain weight easily," Chaewon answered.
"You're not a K-pop idol anymore," Seokmin said, genuinely worried. "Why do you still care? Eat whatever you want."
The comment hit Chaewon like a splash of cold water. Years of company restrictions had shaped his habits so deeply that even now he couldn't live like a normal person.
Han spoke up then, voice sharp. "Seokmin, let him eat what he wants. Leave him alone."
The edge in Han's tone startled Chaewon. Why is he so irritated with me? He wondered but stayed silent.
The food arrived. No one spoke. Seungmin rarely talked anyway; Han looked annoyed; Chaewon was afraid that if he opened his mouth he'd only make things worse as Han was already annoyed by him.
To fill the silence Seokmin said, "Han-hyung, I've always wanted to ask—how did you two meet? How did you start dating?"
Seungmin's eyes flicked to him, cold. He shouldn't be asking that.
But Han began to speak. "Actually, I first met him at a party. When I came back from England Mr. Joon wanted me to teach about business so he took me to a lot of parties and meetings to meet different businessmen. At one party I saw Seungmin standing alone."
Seungmin's lips curved into a small smile at the memory.
Han went on. "He looked like a prince in black. I really liked him. He was quite handsome and charming. Mr. Joon introduced us. But he ignored me completely. He didn't even answer my greeting, later when I joined high school, I met him again. At first he hated me."
"I never hated you," Seungmin interrupted quickly.
Han smiled faintly. "But You really didn't like me alot."
"I never hated you," Seungmin said again, voice firm. "And it wasn't that I didn't like you."
Han stared at him, stunned. All his life he'd believed Seungmin disliked him before they dated; hearing the opposite now made everything he'd assumed feel false. Still, he kept going. "I don't even clearly remember how we started dating."
Seungmin picked up the thread. "I invited you to my home. Then I proposed. You said yes."
"Really? It happened like that? Why don't I remember clearly?" Han asked, confused.
Chaewon listening to this quickly said: you guys really love each other alot. It was a taunt because Han didn't even remember how they started dating.
Seungmin was annoyed by what he said so he glared at him with a dark aura and said yes I love him so much that one day If he fell into the freezing water. I would jump in to save him.
Seokmin and Han laughed at the nostalgia.
Chaewon got annoyed. He wanted to say something.
But Seungmin shifted the topic. "How's Hanbin doing?"
It was the first thing Seungmin had said directly to Chaewon. Surprised, Chaewon answered, "He's fine."
"And the case?" Seungmin asked again.
"We just need some more proof, but it'll be resolved," Chaewon replied.
After the meal Seungmin drove them all home.
Han stayed silent the entire ride. He was still simmering with something Chaewon couldn't name.
When they reached Chaewon's door, Han finally spoke. "You and Seokmin got close really quickly, didn't you? You've only met him twice and you're already like this. The whole ride you two were laughing and talking." His voice sharpened. "Everyone can see he was flirting with you—and you were so into it. I didn't know you were that easy."
The words cut at Chaewon's pride, but he said nothing.
Han's eyes narrowed further. "Will I be seeing you as Seokmin's submissive pet next? Do you actually think he likes you? He just wants someone to play with."
Something in Chaewon cracked his words hit him harder. He spoke not to wound but because he couldn't stay silent."Hyung I have my boundaries. And I have my self-respect. But What about you? You and Seungmin look like a perfect couple—but all I see is a boy desperate for his boyfriend's approval. Look at yourself. The makeup, the hair, the clothes. What are you, a femboy?"
"Yah, Chaewon, shut up," Han snapped.
"You don't usually dress like this. You don't usually wear this much makeup. Are you doing it all just to make him like you? If your relationship is really that solid, why are you the only one putting in effort while he does nothing? Shouldn't he like you as you are or should I say the real you.?"
Han's hand rose before he even realised it. For a moment it hovered, trembling, then he dropped it without striking. Without another word he turned and walked to his house.