Day 2 - 05:52 PM
After her little excursion, Zai was more than content to lie in bed and spend the rest of her day simply checking on her phone in between dozing off. Part of her wondered if she should get a computer. Even though the apartment was well stocked with food, if you discounted the many files stashed away within the building and basic furniture, it was quite spartan.
While re-reading the day's chat logs, Zai noticed that Jaehee had been completely absent since their short chat with Zen earlier in the day. Hesitantly, she pulled up the RFA member's phone numbers and scrolled until she got to Jaehee's. Her hands shook as she pressed the call button and made a silent prayer that she wouldn't be interrupting her in the middle of something important.
"Jaehee Kang, C&R International. How may I help you? " Even over the phone, her voice was amazing.
"Hey, Jaehee! I hope I'm not interrupting you or anything...?" She willed her hands to stop trembling as she brought the phone closer to her ear. She could hear the sound of paper behind hastily shuffled away before Jaehee responded exuberantly.
"Zai! No, I'm not as busy right now so I can talk for a few minutes. Is there something you needed?" Internally, Zai's heart felt like it was going to cease. Was it humanly possible for someone to be as cute as Jaehee?
"Oh I'm sorry! I just wanted to hear your voice. It's pretty lonely in this apartment and I miss you from earlier. You never told me whether or not you were okay with going on a date with me and Zen!" Well, it was as good a time as any to bring that up. She heard Jaehee gasp softly, followed by several rapid and forceful clicks in the background.
"I'm free tomorrow at nine if you and Zen are available...are you sure this type of excursion would not be better suited to just two people?"
"Aw, Jaehee, I didn't know you considered me the third wheel!"
"Ah, I didn't-!"
"Kidding, kidding! We want you there with us, Jaehee! It wouldn't be the same without you."
Zai could imagine the blush on Jaehee's face now as she comprehended that two people who she (apparently) liked a lot wanted to be near her at the same time.
"O-okay. Do you want to go back to the cafe? Or did you have another location in mind?" Zai considered it for a second. On one hand, it would be easy to get to, but on the other, she'd already embarrassed herself once at that location by shouting Jaehee's name at the top of her lungs to get her attention. She didn't think she could do it again.
"Actually I think I'll ask Zen for a recommendation for where to go. I still have to ask him if he's free to come with us. I'll text you once I've got his information."
"Alright then, thank you for calling. Talking to you makes doing all this work a little more bearable..." She was blushing again.
"Well, talking to you makes my day twice as great, Jaehee! I'll see you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow." The phone disconnected and Zai held in her cries of delight. One down, one more to go.
Day 2 - 07:47 PM
After getting off the phone with Jaehee, she tried calling Zen twice, but unfortunately, all her messages went to voicemail. She switched to text and sent him a PM asking whether or not he'd be able to meet up with them at the designated time tomorrow, and if he had any good ideas for where they should go. A short while later he replied with the address of a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant that had great coffee and pastries before saying that his schedule was open and that he couldn't wait to see them. Zai clutched her phone to her chest and bounced around the room a bit. Finally, she was going to have her two favorite people together with her in one place for at least an hour. It would be bliss.
Checking the time, she figured that now would be a good time to start on dinner. Before, she would forget to eat several times; focusing too much on sending emails and doing research in order to ensure the best party possible. After being reminded and reprimanded many times, she finally started eating on a regular schedule. Between her walk to and from the cafe, as well as her early lunch, she decided that it would be a pasta night. After setting a pot full of water on the stove to boil, she leaned over the counter to check her phone.
Zai has joined the chat room.
/ Yoosung : Zai! Save me! /
/ Zai: What's up, Yoosung? /
/ 707: Nothing is up! /
Yoosung sent three of his crying emojis in quick succession.
/ Yoosung : Seven tricked me into taking an embarrassing photo and uploading it! /
/ Zai: How did he do that? /
/ Yoosung : ... /
/ Yoosung : He said that if I did, it would unlock a special set of armor on LOLOL... /
/ Zai: Can I see the photo? /
/ 707: I thought you'd never ask! /
Surprised by the speed at which Seven replied, Zai as a little startled when the chat was suddenly obscured by a photo of Yoosung in a white onesie wearing...were those cat ears?
/ Yoosung : SEVEN! Why did you send that to the chat!? I thought I deleted my post! /
/ 707: lolololol You know once you upload something to the internet it never gets deleted! Especially if you're an amazing hacker with several backup data servers! /
/ Zai: ...so that's what Seven is into. /
/ Yoosung : W-what? /
/ Zai: Nevermind, forget I asked! /
/ 707: I think he looks absolutely adorable! Just like a cute little kitty! /
/ Yoosung : Zai! Why does Seven treat me like this? I went out and bought this costume just for the picture and the store doesn't accept returns! /
/ Zai: Well Yoosung, people say that boys like to tease the people they have crushes on. /
/ Yoosung : WHAT?! /
Seven sent one of his shocked emojis, and the chat was filled with silence for several minutes. Zai shrugged and moved to add the uncooked pasta to the water before turning off the stove. When she returned, the chat was covered in back-and-forth texts from both Yoosung and Seven.
/ Yoosung : Why would Zai say that!? Seven doesn't have a crush on me! If he really had a crush on me he wouldn't be so mean all the time! /
/ 707: Mean? I'm not mean! I'm never mean to you! /
/ Yoosung : Yes you are! You're always teasing me and playing pranks on me! /
/ 707: Those are just jokes, though! /
/ Yoosung : Jokes shouldn't hurt! /
/ 707: I can't help it! You fall for them so easily~ /
/ Yoosung : Yes! Because I trust you! Now I'm starting to think I misplaced that trust, since you keep taking advantage of me so much. /
/ 707: W-wait, Yoosung! I'm just playing! You know I'm not doing this to hurt you right? /
/ Yoosung : I don't know. You never apologize either. /
/ Yoosung : I'm not talking to you anymore. /
/ 707: Yoosung...
Yoosung has left the chat room.
/ 707: ! /
707 has left the chat room.
Staring at the chat history with wide eyes, Zai felt a slight chill against her neck. She didn't think her little comment would lead to such a fallout. She considered calling Yoosung or Seven, but then realized that it was probably better they work things out on their own. This felt like a long time coming.
Day 2 - 09:54 PM
POV: Yoosung Mode
Yoosung wrapped himself up in as many blankets as he could get his hands on while he huddled in the corner of his bed, far away from his phone, which was face-down and turned off on his desk. All the lights in the room were off, and stupid Seven had ruined his mood to the point where he didn't even want to play LOLOL.
He couldn't help it if he trusted Seven so implicitly that he would fall for all of Seven's pranks. It was true that none of his jokes had ever really hurt Yoosung, but after getting taken advantage of so many times, he was beginning to wonder if he was just another plaything for Seven to mess with until he eventually broke. Sniffling, he pulled the blankets tighter around himself. Fine then! If Seven was just going to keep toying with his feelings, then he wouldn't talk to him at all. If they never spoke with each other, then Seven couldn't trick him anymore.
However, the thought of not talking to Seven anymore upset him more than the pranks did. Seven was always really funny, even if a lot of his jokes came at Yoosung's expense. He was also supportive of Yoosung, encouraging him and cheering him on with his weird sense of humor.
Yoosung was startled out of his thoughts at the sound of someone repetitively banging on his door.
He picked himself and his multitude of blankets off of the bed before hesitantly making his way towards the entrance of the dorm.
"...Hello?" Yoosung nearly threw himself backward at the shout echoing from outside his door.
"Yoosung!? Yoosung please let me in!" What was Seven doing here so late? Was this another prank?
"No way! You're probably here to mess with me again! I'm going to open this door and you'll spray me with soda water or coffee or something. Just go home Seven!" Yoosung waited a few moments in silence before pressing his ear against the door. Was that sniffling?
Tentatively unlocking the door, by a few meager inches, he looked through the crack to see Seven, his head bowed and his arm pressed against his eyes.
"...Seven?" At hearing his voice, Seven's head snapped up that Yoosung was a little worried that he'd hurt his neck. Those thought were quickly thrown out when Seven leapt up, tackling Yoosung through the open door and kicking it shut before wrapping his arms around him and pressing his face against Yoosung's shoulder. To his credit, Yoosung kept his balance and only blushed a little while Seven clutched at him like a child with his glasses digging into Yoosung's collarbone.
"Yoosung...! I'm sorry! I didn't know that my jokes bothered you that much! I thought we were having fun together!" Did he come all this way to apologize?
"...Seven...Seven!" Wrestling his arm out of Seven's vicelike grip, Yoosung did his best to somewhat return the (quickly becoming uncomfortable) hug. "It's okay now! I think I was just overreacting."
"No! You were right. I kept pushing you because I wanted to see how far I could get before you got sick of me. It's my fault." Now Yoosung was confused.
"But why would you want me to get sick of you?"
"You remember...what Zai said? After you asked her why I like to tease you?"
If Yoosung was a bit red before, then he must have looked like a tomato now. He was just glad that the lights were off at the moment.
"Y-yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?"
Seven's face withdrew from its spot against the junction of Yoosung's shoulder and chest. Seeing the light tear marks on Seven's face, he was suddenly filled with the urge to wipe them away.
"Yoosung...I like you a lot."
"I like you too, Seven."
At that, Seven straightened up and looked right into Yoosung's eyes for several moments.
"You're still not getting it, Cutie?" Yoosung was thinking about what he should say in response when he was suddenly pulled back into a hug with Seven's cheek resting against Yoosung's head, and his arms around his middle. "Yoosung I really really like you. You're fun to be around, and I like playing with you because your reactions are so cute!" He lightly squeezed Yoosung, who then wrapped his arms around Seven in response.
"I didn't think about telling you before because I was worried."
"About what?"
"Well, my line of work is dangerous...I don't know what I'd do if something bad happened to you because of me."
Yoosung dug his fingers into the soft fabric of Seven's jacket and drew them closer together.
"That's dumb."
"What?"
"If you spend all your time worrying about what might happen in the future, then how are you supposed to enjoy your life in the present?" Yoosung pulled back slightly so he could look into Seven's eyes again, and saw the other boy's somewhat bewildered expression. "I don't want you to play with my feelings or give me false hope Seven...If there's a chance for you to be happy, then you should take it." Seven suddenly hunched over and started trembling in Yoosung's arms.
"Uh, Seven? Are you ok-!" Said boy jumped out of Yoosung's arms and once again wrapped his own around him before spinning him around once, twice, and setting him down.
"Ah, Yoosung! You're so right!' Seven pressed a kiss to a now dizzy Yoosung's forehead before rubbing their cheeks together. "I'm still sorry for treating you that way...I should have been more honest with you from the start. Are we good now?" Once he got his bearings, Yoosung took in Seven's hesitant stance and threaded their figures together.
"Of course. But, um, what exactly are we now?"
"Oh, uh...Yoosung, you don't mind waiting a bit longer, do you?"
"Waiting for what?"
"Well, if I'm being honest, I don't really know what I want right now, but I know I like you, so just...give me a little time to work out what I want for myself. I need to make sure that this isn't going to be something that will backfire on me or you in the future."
Yoosung sighed softly. At least they were making progress. "Ok, Seven. It's too late for you to go back to your house now, though. Stay the night?"
"Eh? You don't have a couch though." Untangling one hand from Seven's, Yoosung pressed it against his forehead. And everyone called him naive.
"No, Seven, you can sleep in the bed with me." The resulting silence was deafening until Seven abruptly pulled Yoosung towards the bed by their still connected hands.
"Wow, Yoosung! I didn't know you were already that in love with me! What will you say next? That we should get married at the space station?"
They fell into bed laughing, and Yoosung leaned over to pull the discarded blankets off the floor from where they had fallen while Seven kicked off his shoes. Once they were under the covers, their limbs immediately tangled together, and Yoosung could feel Seven's arms around him.
Safe and warm together, it wasn't long before the two were fast asleep.