Chapter Text
'The cuckoos are for the most part solitary birds that seldom occur in pairs or groups. The biggest exception to this are the of the , which have evolved cooperative breeding and other social behavior-'
He sighed, blinking blearily at the crude cursive letters. Huening Kai really doesn't know what he was thinking when he picked ornithology for his elective at the university, despite Taehyun warning him not to. Maybe he should have listened to the blonde man, but on a second thought he did enjoy Ornithology. He for one had always been fascinated by the birds from his childhood, every day his grandmother would feed the small sparrows in their spacious balcony in Busan. As a child, he observed them intently, wondering how they live with such minimal food and thus his interest grew, prompting him to select ornithology as his elective. Even now he did like his course. It was theory and the notes which bothered him. Majoring in architecture, he was more inclined to practical learning and he just all in all hated doing theory.
Closing his eyes for a little bit, he let the cool breeze caress his face as he leans back into the chair. He would start studying after a short power nap, at least that was the initial idea he had, however it was disrupted when the door was thrown open with a loud bang. He flinched at the noise, eyes prying open only to be greeted by a wild image of his brother, his bag slung over his left shoulder, hair messed up and eyes wide with a huge Cheshire cat grin accompanying it.
Uh oh, that grin cannot be good at all.
He only raises an eyebrow when his brother's grin gets wider, "Soobin is coming over!" The squeal and the enthusiasm makes Kai wince but after he processes the name uttered, Kai blanches and looks at his older brother with wide eyes. "What? Why did you not tell me sooner?" He fumbles, heart racing as a mental image of the senior forms in his head. "Got to know just now, help me clean the house a little bit." With no further explanation Yeonjun rushes towards to his room leaving Kai open mouthed and pale.
The thing was Choi Soobin and his brother were best friends and he knew that one day Soobin would eventually visit their apartment and this should be perfectly ok with Huening Kai because, well he knew Soobin and vice versa and they have known each other for almost a year now. He was a great guy, amazing even, actually breathtaking and perfect with how his lips moved every time he spoke and the hand gestures were truly adorable-
So this might give away that Kai has a teensy crush on Choi Soobin.
Okay, maybe that was a little of an understatement, he can already imagine Taehyun snorting and rolling his eyes at his foolery. He had a massive crush on Soobin for about almost two years now. He first saw Soobin when he had visited Yeonjun in their house to give him the notes he had missed. Yeonjun was in ninth grade and Kai was two years younger than him. Angsty, and' questioning his attraction towards men' teen Kai had been massively enamored by the sight of a freakishly tall, adorable face and somewhat of a deep and gravelly voice laden with confidence Soobin who had smiled at him with dimples.
Dimples, you know. On both sides! It's just simply unfair how some people are god's favorite. Their first encounter wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, instead it was Kai making a huge fool of himself. Stuttering awkwardly, fumbling and blatantly gawking at Soobin, who caught him staring way too many times and had simply smiled politely hiding the creeped out expression which Kai was really grateful for. He would have legit cried, if he had seen Soobin directing that expression in his way. He had seen that once in school, when Soobin was shooing away some girls who was overwhelming Yeonjun with roses and chocolates on valentines day. Jokes on them though, because Yeonjun is blissfully gay, not a straight limb in his body.
It was really no surprise, when Kai had strayed away from girls and found boys interesting. Soobin on the other hand was as straight as a ruler, he was surprised to find this himself too. In the school prom, the news of Soobin asking Amelia, the school's princess to be his prom date spread like wildfire and he begrudgingly admitted that they did look good together, but then after the prom, they just drifted apart. Yeonjun had been particularly angsty about Amelia and that's perhaps why they drifted apart, or at least Soobin had stopped mentioning her name anywhere around Yeonjun, so Kai really doesn't know what happened.
Soobin was just sweet like that, if it was Kai in Soobin's position then he would spoken about his significant other everyday until Yeonjun pulls his hair out and begs him on his knees to stop. His reverie is however broken by the said brother.
Speak of the devil.
"Kai come here and help me!" He grunts at that, but he still forces himself to walk over into Yeonjun's room to help him clean. They lived alone in Korea away from their parents who were in abroad, Yeonjun wanted study in Korea and Kai wanted to be with his grandmother and stay with his brother so here they were, renting an apartment in Seoul.
With slow steps he dragged his lanky form over to the closet helping Yeonjun shove all his sprawled clothes inside. "He was supposed to come tomorrow, but then our professor announced out first semester project and who could be a better model than Soobin!" Yeonjun informs him, while Kai simply hums.
Jung Yeonjun, his brother was a fashion major. Greatly invested in it, he had worked very hard to end up in Seoul National University, but as fate has it he couldn't get in the university but he did get a seat in Yonsei University where Soobin too got admission for being a language major. That two years without his brother to accompany him, he was awfully lonely with only his grandmother to keep him company.
When his brother had come back in summer holidays for the first time in a year. He doted on Kai so much, and whined for days straight about missing home. Kai too let himself be babied because he did miss his brother, his only family and Yeonjun was heartbreakingly homesick to nag at him.
He had fully bronzed and grown into a confident man, inspiration struck Kai like a truck. He decided that he too wanted to get in Yonsei University as an architecture major and studied his ass off and well it definitely paid off.
Now he lives with his brother at their apartment, Soobin had initially planned on sharing with them but then his parents denied it and asserted that Soobin should stay in the dorms. It wasn't for the reason that they didn't trust Yeonjun, they did with their whole heart but well, his parents were a little conservative and Yeonjun being gay did not bode well with them.
"Hueningie focus!" Yeonjun whines like a 10 year old, sometime Kai forgets who is the older one between them. "Whatever hyung, what is your project about anyway?" He asks, curiosity thrumming through his veins and oh the way his brother lights up like a lantern, yes a lantern because he cannot remember any other metaphor.
"Oh you are not going to believe this, but this project is just simply amazing. It was to portray love with a vintage feel to it. And I already have a vague idea!" Yeonjun gushes with passion filled eyes and Kai smiles fondly at the enthusiasm.
Before he can prompt any further, the bell rings and Yeonjun bolts out of the room leaving Kai nervously flittering his eyes around. He immediately rushes in front of the mirror to check his appearance and then grimaces at his reflection. He was wearing an unflattering white tee with breadcrumbs all over it (he had been eating sandwich before) and puma sweatpants. His mint hair was ruffled and looked like a bird's nest. Panic surges through him as he quickly picks up the brush and attempts to smoothen his mint hair down.
"Hey" The simple greeting has him gasping like a fool, Soobin is already in the house and not enough time. He can already hear his brother and Soobin laughing about something. With shaky steps he shoves the door and opens his brother closet to find something to wear. Huening Kai however pauses at the sight of his brother's clothes, they are hideously colorful flashy and designer brand clothes. His brother would bury him alive if he ever saw Kai as much as near them and Kai also wouldn't really prefer wearing those clothes.
Gives him the shivers, ugh.
He jolts out of his judgment when he hears footsteps padding towards this room. Yeonjun has gone awfully quiet and he cannot hear Soobin's laugh, the sweet melodic and beautiful, breathtaking, gorgeous-ok so that's enough. Kai really needs to get a hold of himself. Quickly tossing on a decent enough plain black tee with short sleeves he kicks the the white shirt into Yeonjun's laundry basket. He is just ensuring his death now, but oh well.
He is in the middle of fussing with his hair again when the door opens with a creak and Soobin steps inside. Kai widens his eyes and turns around abruptly, his brain promptly glitches as he blinks blankly at the taller boy who is currently smiling at him. Soobin is wearing a collar neck sweater, it is form fitting and not making it any easier for Kai. His dyed maroon hair is styled in gentle waves, swept off to the side to show a peak of his forehead and his slender legs look truly delicious in those khaki flared pants.
"Uh hi?" Soobin says shaking his knees, Kai is sure that he is the embodiment of embarrassment. Flushing an unhealthy scarlet, he meets the eyes of his crush who grins at him mischievously. Oh Kai is so so gone for him. "I don't know, you were more interested in my legs than me so I had to greet you with my knee" He says and it makes no true sense but Kai knows what he implies and reddens further.
It is decided before Yeonjun could kill him for stealing his black tee, Soobin definitely will and his death would be by those saccharine words dripping with honey. And maybe it isn't that bad, to die beside Soobin.
He is so unbelievable sappy around Soobin, someone please knock him on his head.
"I-I didn't mean to! I'm sorry" He has an embarrassing voice crack and his voice is two pitches higher than normal. Kai is definitely a teen school girl, no freaking doubt in that. Soobin only chuckles and shakes his head, he lets himself indulge in that sound, being delusional to call that smile a little fond.
'No that wasn't a fond smile you fool, it was an exasperated one, the boy is your brother's best friend and straight' The mini devil Kai floats around him breaking the illusion and Kai turns sour, he hates his conscious sometimes.
"It's fine, don't apologize" Soobin tells him gently after his chuckles subside. "Where is Yeonjun hyung?" Kai asks to avoid any more discussion on the topic, it is as bad as it is and he doesn't want to add anything on top of that. "I'm disappointed, give this hyung some attention too, Yeonjun hogs your attention everyday anyway" Soobin pouts and Kai wants to cry.
This is so exhilarating, Soobin teases him and slips in these comments like the oblivious straight fool he is, and it is not really his fault. It's not anyone's fault but his own, Kai let Soobin play with his heartstrings, let him pull and tug at them indulging a little in it too, letting himself be naïve for a few moments before Soobin breaks it off and reels away like he has been burned and that hurts him more than it should. "Well.." Kai just trails off with a shrug and grin of his own in response to Soobin's previous statement.
Soobin makes an offended gasp, eyes widening and placing a palm to his chest and Kai giggles at him, sticking his tongue out. At times like these Kai is reminded of the times, when Kai was oblivious to his feelings and he and Soobin were comfortable with each other, cracking jokes and teasing Yeonjun together. But now with his realization, he is forced to tiptoe around, being extremely careful to not let anything slip and ruin their friendship. Despite Soobin being Yeonjun's friend, he treated Kai like an equal. Of course he was doted on, courtesy of being younger ,that was another downfall, because all the doting only made him realize that the boy only saw him as an younger brother, but when it is required Soobin let him speak his mind and consider his opinions. So it was fairly easy to believe that Soobin was his friend too and the older boy seemed to feel the same way.
"Insufferable" Soobin tells him, rolling his eyes and Kai has to bite his lip back from retorting because it was Soobin who was insufferable by being so likeable and stupidly attractive. "Like your brother" Soobin adds a little later and Kai only grins even if there is some odd feeling gathering in his chest. Maybe he is just overwhelmed. Like an angel Yeonjun barges in, with fabrics draped over him to the point where only his face visible. "H-help m-me" He wheezes out and Soobin snorts before going over to help him untangle with the clothes and it's rather..rough. Oh well, looks like there are new sides to Soobin everyday.
"You are choking me" Yeonjun screams but Soobin ignores him and even flashes a smile before pulling out the scarf around his neck at one go. Yeonjun goes a little blue before falling over and taking deep breaths, he shoves a middle finger to Soobin's face who cackles like an evil witch. Kai looks at them unamused, they were complete idiots when they were together.
In compensation however Soobin pulls Yeonjun into a hug and the shorter boy grumbles before relaxing into the hug and even snuggling in further. Kai fake gags at the disgustingly sweet scene, but he wishes for the same, to be held in that warm embrace and snuggle up to Soobin like a puppy, oh wouldn't that be heaven.
"Oh shut up, I have seen you and Taehyun in far worse conditions" Yeonjun scoffs at him rolling his eyes. "You have?" Soobin asks him, eyes widening comically and if Kai did not know better he would have thought that there was maybe a hint of jealousy in his tone. How ridiculous can his mind get. "Yeah, Taehyun is always draped over this lamp post here" Yeonjun says ignoring Kai's shouts of protest.
"Cool Cool, Anyway how about the project?" Soobin asks, now releasing Yeonjun and stepping back. He is rewarded with a glare from the former before he aggressively gestures down. "Well today I had to take your measurements." Yeonjun tells him and pushes Soobin on the wall gently despite the scowl on his face. "Aren't you supposed to do that once you are done with the finalizing of the outfit?" Soobin asks, blinking rapidly and looking straight at Kai as Yeonjun bends down with the measuring tape.
"Yeah, but then you would have to be free then and if I can take it now, it would be convenient for me to start working immediately rather than having to wait. And I'm planning on making two outfits actually"
"Two outfits? Damn you love the topic huh?"
"Of course"
Kai through the conversation shuffles on his feet awkwardly, fiddling with his fingers. This was what always happened, Soobin and Yeonjun would fall into an easy conversation and Kai would feel like an intruder, an unwanted presence. He knows both of them mean well, but they have been close since the start and Kai will always remain a third person in between their friendship. "Okay then I'm going to outside for a bit, you guys want anything?" He asks and Soobin's eyes snap to him and Kai's ears flush at the attention.
"Yes, I want americano" Yeonjun tells him without looking up, Soobin is still looking at him with a strange look in his eyes and it makes Kai nervous for some reason. Not able to keep the eye contact any longer he lowers his head and attempts to walk away but lingers at the door. "You Soobin hyung?" he asks shyly and tentatively and Soobin only shakes his head.
With no further words exchanged he exits the room and hurries out of the apartment, already dialing his best friend to rant. Taehyun receives his call groggily and curses at him, but he listens to Huening Kai's woes anyway and comforts him. It makes him fee a little better, though he doesn't like to tell it out he loves Taehyun. If it wasn't for his crush on Soobin then he might have fallen for the blonde male.
No matter how much he tries to delay coming back to their apartment, he arrives early. Courtesy of his dear brother Yeonjun who called him every five seconds. He could only delay it by thirty minutes, sadly. Sighing he opens the door and steps in to find Soobin on the couch looking directly at him. His gaze is a little intense and it feels unnerving and too intruding. He awkwardly smiles at Soobin whose gaze quickly changes and grins at him back. "Why so late?" He asks with the same grin.
"It was crowded and there was a small conflict near the billing counter" He lies. hand rubbing his nape sheepishly although he feels terrible doing it. Yeonjun bursts out of his room with his usual flair of dramatics and yells at him. "Jung Huening! Where the hell were you? The convivence store is like five minutes away." Kai only grimaces in response sticking his tongue out. "It was a bit crowded and I am an adult! I can take care of myself.
"Then you can cook for yourself brat, I am going out and I'll be home late."
"What no! I can't cook! Are you leaving me to starve then?"
"I thought you were an adult, and I have to go, Prof called me"
"Now?"
"Yeah, something about my credits and extra classes. Soobin will be here for the night."
With that Yeonjun dashes outside, slinging his back hurriedly leaving Soobin and Kai together, which was bad and horrible. "Why do you look so pale?" Soobin asks him, lips turning into a frown. "Nothing!" Huening Kai tells him, too fast and too desperate. Soobin's face falls a little more. "I'm just being jumpy I am so sorry, please don't mind me" Kai sighs bringing a palm over his eyes. "Hey it's ok, don't worry about it." Soobin stands beside him, throwing an arm over his shoulder, indulging him in the easy familiar warmth and Kai feels guilty for making him worry.
"How about some Ramen? Then we can watch something if you want?" Soobin asks him gently, words whispered in the silence of the apartment. His voice is deep and smooth. Kai loves it a little too much, an irrational part of him wants this for himself, forever.
"Y-Yeah that would be great" he exhales, his own voice breathy and low. Soobin grins at him and within this close proximity, he can count his lashes, trace the curve of his cheekbone and dip of his cupid bow. Eyes twinkling like stars and the cute dimples. Soobin was pretty, very pretty. Though the taller man would probably deny the statement and declare himself hot and sexy. And he was that too, but that was something everyone noticed in Soobin.
But this side of Soobin, playful and filled with mischief, gentle and delicate all at the same time. This side was something he only reserved for some people and Kai admittedly was grateful to be one of those people.
"So should we go make ramen? Or you will satisfy yourself with looking at my face?" Soobin jokes around nudging him with his shoulder, eyes filled with mirth and something else. Kai doesn't know how to name the emotion, or maybe he just doesn't want to.
"Ramen" he grins slowly, red climbing at his neck and wrapping the tendrils of crimson around his face.
Kai is the epitome of embarrassment.
The cooking continues in a comfortable silence. Utensils gently clinking in the background as Soobin cooks for them. Kai takes it upon himself to set the couch up. He stashes the pillows to one side and tosses the few chips wrappers in the bin. He switches on the television, and enters into Yeonjun's Netflix account. Skimming through the shows to find a suitable one.
The smell of spices and Ramen fills the house and he hums appreciatively. Soobin laughs from inside the kitchen and asks him to wait since the food is almost done. Kai shouts his reply back and settles in the middle of the couch, slinking back into it. His heart feels strangely heavy and his gut twists, this is so domestic and if maybe Soobin wasn't straight and Kai wasn't a coward he could have this everyday.
"Ta dah~" Soobin presents the Ramen dramatically, he has tried to make it fancy by adding some pickled onions and a sausage. Kai is delighted at the effort and he too claps indulging Soobin in the act. "So what did you pick?" Soobin grunts as he plops down the couch, awfully close to Kai despite the whole couch being empty. Huening Kai for the sake of his own sanity decides not to question it, which he knows the response would be a flirty comment.
"Oh by the way, I wanted to tell you guys this earlier but I totally forgot. So you know this girl called Bitna form your class I think?" Soobin asks, amusement written all over his face.
"Yeah?" Kai mumbles from his chopsticks, eyebrow raised in question as friends plays in the background serving as a white noise.
"She came by earlier with her friend, Ra-something I don't remember exactly, to the environmental club and this Ra-something proposed to me which I obviously declined cause I'm not really interested in dating right now"
Kai's heart dropped at that and suddenly he felt hard to swallow the noodles. Gulping a little too harshly he barely resisted choking but his throat did hurt. "So-so why are you-"
"Bitna has a crush on you and she asked for my help" Soobin said this with a straight face and yeah Kai had definitely started choking now. He bent forward and coughed violently trying to get air into his lungs. Soobin only laughed like the heathen he is, but later gave him water and patted his back. "You ok?" Soobins asked with a tilt of his lips, it was teasing and god Kai wanted to wipe it off his face so badly.
With a fist, or maybe his lips.
Right so moving on, Kai stared at him blankly for about ten seconds and then drawled a huge sigh. "I'm gay" he simply said and Soobin snorted. "I know" he said and a beat later he started guffawing loudly. "Oh lord you should have seen her face when I said that. Hilarious!" Soobin screamed and imitated poorly. Despite the poor imitation, Kai was inclined to join in as he bent forward and added his own high pitched laughter. Bright and warm, the room was comfortable and Kai's chest swells.
No wonder he liked Soobin so much, he was so easy to be with. Comfortable, warm, gentle and so kind. He had his own moments of aggression and mischief, but if anything it only increased his charm even more. Kai was so fucking gone for him.