Dropping the phone, I turned to face my distraction. There was a slight, almost unnoticeable wrinkle of worry between Do-hyun’s eyebrows. Honestly, I think no one else would’ve even noticed it. However, to me—who had been staring at his face in secret for years—that tiny change in his complexion was a tell-tale sign that something was bothering him big time.

“Hyung, what’s wrong?”

There was a barely audible sigh before he spoke. “What if they don’t like the new song?”

“Of course they’ll like it. What are you talking about?” I said, even though I kind of got why he was worried. After all, he was the producer and a co-writer of the song. Aish, even I worried about the reception and I had barely sung my parts and made the choreography. 

That, however, wasn’t something he needed to hear. What he did need to hear, was encouragement from his best friend. Good thing I had become an excellent actor in that area of life during the past seven-or-so years following our debut. 

“It’s gonna be fine.”

“Yeah, well… it’s too late to back off now anyway,” he stated with a plain, boring tone. Probably trying to sound indifferent about it but failing completely.

As if to prove my point the frown still lingered on his forehead. I couldn’t help poke it with my index finger. As predicted, it was just enough to annoy him so much he would stop worrying. Instead, he attacked me, tickling the living hell out of me. 

Heart pounding, laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe properly, I didn’t really pay attention to my surroundings. Due to that, we were in a very compromising position on my bed and I didn’t even notice Chris barging in with his phone’s camera aimed directly at us. 

He turned right back around when we did notice. “Whoops, dear Crew. There’s nothing to see here. Seems like DoMino’s at it again.”

Do-hyun jumped up, tackled Chris and snatched the phone from his hands. I stood up as well, brushing my clothes straight, some blush creeping to warm up my cheeks. 

“What are you doing?” he asked Chris. 

Then Tae appeared at the door. “What’s going on?”

“I was bored and trying to film a tour of our new dorms for the GRiD Crew, when this hyung attacked me out of nowhere,” the maknae explained while eyeing Tae with those famous wide and innocent eyes of his. That little fucker…

Tae was immune to our maknae’s powerful persuasion though. He only held out his hand towards Do-hyun, who handed over Chris’s phone with a defeated look on his face. Tae played the barely a minute ago recorded video, his eyes trained on the screen focused. I could hear my own laughter and instantly felt even more heat rise up my cheeks. 

When it ended—thank gods—Tae only tossed the phone back to Chris carelessly. “You can keep it.”

“What?!” Do asked, now furious. 

Truth to be told, I didn’t like it either. But in this household, what Tae says, goes. So obviously I stayed quiet.

“Come on, it wasn’t anything serious,” Tae replied to Do-hyun. “Didn’t we come to the conclusion yesterday that the more content we give the fans, the better?”

Chris flashed a wicked grin towards Tae and scurried off. I couldn’t help but stare at the remaining two men in awe—they were shooting each other glances that could’ve frozen someone not as thick skinned as them to death. 

Now this was the Do-hyun I remembered; quick to lose his temper. Not at all like the careful and considerate one from earlier today. 

“What’s with your obsession with all this extra bullshit? Isn’t making good music enough for anyone these days?” Do asked, his eyes ablaze. 

Oh, I was with Do-hyun on this one, but I wouldn’t have dared to go against Tae. Who, by the way, narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to Do with a just as intense–if not more intense—glare.

“What’s the problem, Do? You’re not up to it? Fine,” Tae started, spitting the words on Do-hyun’s face. “I can do it with Minjae then. Even our ship name would be so…cool.”

Now that was pure kryptonite to Do. A vein in his forehead was pulsing so hard I was afraid it would pop any minute now. Me, however…I started to warm up to Tae’s idea. 

To be honest, it seemed like a perfect solution to all my problems. I could take some distance from Do. And I certainly wouldn’t need to do that much fanservice with Tae compared to whatI had to go through with Do. I could focus one hundred percent on hiding my crush on Do, as I wouldn't have to do as much fanservice with him either. My life would become so much easier.

“Ship name?” I asked quietly, not wanting to end up in the middle of the argument between the two angry men. I tried to make it in my head instead. TaeMin? MinTae? TMin?

“Mint,” Tae said, showing me a wide smile. 

“Not a fucking chance,” Do-hyun spat through his teeth and proceeded to push the now smirking Tae out of my door to the hallway.

He slammed the door shut behind him and locked it. 

Meanwhile my blood started to boil. I crossed my arms over my chest and squinted at my best friend. 

Do-hyun groaned at the sight, frustrated. “Now what’s your problem?”

“No, what’s your problem?” I asked, getting more and more annoyed by the second. “This is my room if you haven’t noticed, so if you feel like throwing people out, feel free to follow them.”

He blinked a couple of times, dumbfounded. I guess it was rare that I spoke to him this way—he was my hyung, after all. I had to respect people older than me, it was the way around here. But he had gone too damn far this time.

“Fine,” he huffed, stomped through the door and banged it shut behind him. 

I flinched at the sound of the door rattling against the frame. Seriously, a simple apology would’ve been fine, but instead Do decided  to get mad at me.  I reminded myself that this was Do we were talking about and however nice he had been to me today, I should get used to this sooner rather than later. His moods had always gone from one end to the other; this was no news to me. I should’ve remembered that.

Still slightly annoyed, I jumped on the bed again. Then instantly regretted it, since suddenly the bed seemed all kinds of empty and cold without Do in it. Funny how I had wanted to get rid of him earlier…and now all I wanted was for him to get back right away. 

He didn’t. It was also getting fairly late, so I reluctantly got up and headed to my bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. 

When I got back, I noticed my phone on top of the bed was flashing a small light. Intrigued, I snuggled under the sheets and curled up, before turning the screen on. 

It was a text from Do-hyun. ‘I’m sorry’, it said, plain and simple. 

Such a wide smile it hurt my cheeks spread to my face—I couldn’t stop it. Of course I also couldn’t stay mad at Do-hyun—I had always been too soft for staying mad at him for long. Ever. 

I hit him with a text too. 

‘It’s okay. Good night.’