Chapter Text
It had been nearly a year since that chaotic night at Chan and Felix’s apartment.
And now? The two were getting married.
Yup.
Apparently, that argument about 2Min had spiraled into another debate—this one a bit more personal.
“You seriously believe once a marriage is done, it’s done? No matter how unhappy people are?” Chan had asked that night in frustration.
Felix was stubborn though. “I believe in commitment. You work through things. You don’t throw away something because it’s hard.”
“Even if it makes them miserable?”
“They’re not miserable, hyung! They’re just... figuring it out. You of all people should get that. Love isn’t some perfect equation.”
Chan had scoffed. “No, but it shouldn’t be a prison sentence either.”
“A marriage is a promise. Once you make it, you don’t break it just because things get complicated.”
Chan clearly disagreed. “And what? You think two people should suffer forever just because they said I do once? That’s not love, Lix. That’s a contract.”
“Is that what you think we’d do?” Felix had asked, eyes sharp and voice quieter. “Would you leave if it got hard?”
Chan paused. “No,” he’d said eventually, the anger bleeding into something more tender. “But I wouldn’t stay just to say I stayed. I’d stay because I want to. By staying when things are worse, I would be making things hard for both you and me.”
"I still can't get over this Chan. You think what those two are doing is okay? I don't know if I can accept this." Felix said, huffing and getting into bed but Chan stood to the side, eyes cast down.
"Are you saying this is a dealbreaker?" He asked softly, which got Felix to look up quickly.
"Chan? What? I-"
"Your past relationship Felix. You made that mistake. Staying until things got worse, deluding yourself to believe everything was alright until it wasn't." Chan said. "Believe me, I hope that we never come to a situation where we have to make such decisions but if that time does come, I need to be able to make such a decision for the both of us."
"And what about your past Channie." Felix asked. "That girl literally left you the minute you started working long hours at work."
"It was my fault, I should have been better."
"No, she should have been better and not given up the first instance you guys hit a roadblock." Felix said, getting up to cup Chan's face. "You still work ungodly hours, but we make it work. Because I will never give up on you." Felix smiled softly.
"And I will never give up on you. But I will not make you suffer for no reason as well." Chan said, still firm in his stance. "Why don't we just agree to disagree?" Chan had asked, and Felix had nodded, the two sharing an intimate kiss before cuddling in bed.
"I hate how you’re still the person I want to come home to, even when I’m losing an argument.” Felix had said. And that had been their quiet realization that, despite it all, they didn’t want a life without each other in it.
And so—many, many discussions (and fights) later—they decided to get married. No best men. No bouquets. Just two grooms, at their own wedding. In matching off-white suits and Doc Martens. A lot of food, and a very chaotic guest list.
-x-
In a quiet corner near the garden ceremony setup, Hyunjin, Changbin, and Seungmin stood in a loose triangle, drinks in hand, eyes locked on one very specific sight.
“Okay, but seriously,” Hyunjin hissed. “Have you seen the way Jisung is looking at Jeongin today? Like, hello? Suspicious.”
Changbin squinted across the yard. “You think they...?”
“Something happened, ” Hyunjin said, drawing out the last word dramatically. “You don’t just make that much eye contact with someone you’ve ‘always been friends with’ unless someone’s shirt came off at some point.”
Seungmin rolled his eyes at that. “You’re insufferable.”
“I mean, look at them,” Hyunjin whispered as Jisung and Jeongin approached them. “Incoming!”
Jisung walked up, smoothing out his collar like he was trying too hard to look casual. “Hey, have you guys seen Minho-hyung?”
“Not yet,” Changbin replied, looking over Jisung’s shoulder like he expected Minho to materialize out of the sky.
“He was supposed to come with you, right?” Jeongin asked Seungmin directly.
Seungmin shook his head. “Nah, we didn’t come together.”
That was true. Seungmin has been arriving solo to most things lately.
After that night at Chan and Felix’s, Minho hadn’t jumped right into dating. He’d taken his time. Thought things through. Then, one day, Minho sat Seungmin down at their kitchen table nervously.
“Are you... sure it’s okay if I see other people?” he’d asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Seungmin nodded. “Yeah. I want you to be happy, hyung.”
And that was that. For the past five or six months, Minho had been disappearing every Friday night—always respectfully. Always away from home. Never bringing anyone back.
Seungmin appreciated that. They never really talked about it. But Minho being thoughtful like that made him feel... seen. Considered.
Today was Friday.
And part of Seungmin—just the tiniest part—wondered if Minho was skipping the wedding for a casual hookup. But no. That wasn’t Minho. Not when it was Chan and Felix’s big day.
Just then, the entrance doors opened. And in walked Minho.
With someone on his arm.
The man beside him was striking—long hair pulled into a soft wave, eyes lined with subtle makeup, wearing a feminine, flowy white blouse and flared trousers that shimmered just slightly in the sun.
Seungmin unconsciously tilted his head in confusion as the others gasped, already whispering amongst them about who Minho was with.
“Hi, guys,” Minho said, looking just slightly sheepish. “This is Seonghwa. My, uh—”
“Date,” Seonghwa said with a warm smile, extending his hand for a shake.
Jeongin, Jisung, Hyunjin, and Changbin all snapped their heads toward Seungmin like synchronized swimmers.
Seungmin, however, stepped forward and shook Seonghwa’s hand without hesitation. “I’m Seungmin,” he said evenly. “Minho’s... friend.”
“The husband,” Seonghwa added, grinning with a wink.
Everyone spluttered.
Okay, so he knew who Seungmin was.
Before anyone could interrogate the situation further, the officiant began calling guests to their seats.
They scattered, falling into their assigned spots.
-x-
“Dude. Are you okay?” Changbin leaned in to whisper to Seungmin.
Seungmin shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because your husband just walked in with a walking K-drama second lead who called you ‘the husband’ with his whole chest?”
Seungmin rolled his eyes. “He’s allowed to date.”
“Sure, but you’re not fine,” Hyunjin said. “I’ve seen your fine face. That was not your fine face.”
Seungmin ignored Hyunjin’s whisper-yelling beside him, trying to focus on the ceremony.
Across the aisle, Jisung was doing a great job not whispering as he questioned Minho.
Seungmin studied the group quietly. Minho looked… calm. A little caught-off-guard by Jisung’s rapid-fire questions, maybe, but mostly fine.
Seonghwa sat beside him, looking like a cat with a full bowl of cream. He looked utterly amused at how Minho was in hot water with Jisung. Seonghwa whispered something into Minho’s ear, and Minho smiled at whatever it was. It was a soft smile. One Seungmin had seen before—but never directed at someone else.
In the brief hush before the music began, Minho looked up, scanning the room.
And then their eyes met.
Seungmin offered a small smile.
Minho exhaled, smiling back.
And then the music started.
Chan and Felix began walking down the aisle, holding hands, grinning like idiots.
The ceremony was beginning.
Just as everyone stood, Hyunjin leaned in one last time toward Seungmin and muttered under his breath, “We’re not done talking about this.”
-x-
The reception was even louder than the ceremony, as expected. Laughter, champagne bubbles, and the occasional dramatic toast filled the air. The gang had their own table, half-drunk glasses and half-eaten cake plates scattered around.
Chan and Felix were glowing as they slow-danced to their first song, melting into each other like no one else existed. Minho watched from his seat with Seonghwa, who leaned in and asked, “Wanna dance?”
Minho hesitated for a moment then nodded. “Sure.”
And off they went.
Hyunjin looked like he was about to explode.
“Okay,” he said, turning to Seungmin. “I’ve been so good all day but I’m this close to—”
“Changbin,” Seungmin interrupted, expression entirely too neutral, “why aren’t you taking your man to the dance floor? Aren’t you being a bad husband?”
Changbin blinked. “I—what?”
“I’m just saying,” Seungmin continued, sipping his drink. “If you really loved him…”
Changbin stood abruptly. “Hyunjin, we’re dancing.”
“Wait, what—” Hyunjin began, only to get dragged away mid-curse, his hands flailing behind him while mouthing a very pointed you little shi t at Seungmin.
Seungmin smiled innocently.
Now, only three remained at the table—himself, Jisung, and Jeongin.
He looked at them. They looked at him. The music still playing around them and people chattering.
“Are you seriously okay with all of this?” Jeongin finally asked, his voice oddly gentle.
Seungmin blinked. “I mean… yeah? I was the one who initiated it. I told Minho he could do what he wanted. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
Jisung looked pensive. “Yeah, I know. Theoretically, I agreed with you. It made sense, back then. But watching him now… dancing with someone else. It’s weird. Feels off.”
Seungmin tilted his head. “Well. Maybe you two lovebirds should go join the dancing instead of staring at him like creepy aunts at a high school prom.”
Both Jisung and Jeongin sputtered.
“You’re impossible,” Jeongin muttered.
“I’m fabulous,” Seungmin replied.
They left the table, clearly looking for an escape. Seungmin leaned back in his chair, finally alone, finally letting the buzz of the room settle around him. His eyes wandered across the dance floor.
Minho was laughing. Spinning Seonghwa lightly. The lights caught his smile, his hair, the way he looked so free .
Seungmin smiled to himself. Everyone was happy.
He decided to sit out of the dancing due to the slight ache in his chest - heartburn from the alcohol… maybe.
It was fine.
Everything was fine.