Chapter 26 Bullying

"Ahem Ahem, what's going on here?" A fake heavy voice disturbed the ambiguous atmosphere built up in the kitchen. It sounded like a poor imitation of an elder but the voice contained a comic undertone with a clear hint of teasing.

Wonwoo felt a bit embarrassed when he saw Seokmin (Dokyeom) standing at the door of kitchen. He quickly released himself from Mingyu's hold after seeing Seokmin's eyes looking back and forth towards Mingyu and him but unexpectedly Mingyu caught his waist again and pulled him back towards himself.

Mingyu looked at Wonwoo once before glaring at the now 'leaning with his hands folded and a look of interest' Seokmin and before Wonwoo could protest or say anything he said to Seokmin while looking at him, " I'm being clingy with hyung. Do you have any problem with that?"

Seokmin raised his eyebrows looking genuinely surprised before pouting and saying in a tiny voice, "I was just asking, what are you being angry for?"

He looked straight at Mingyu again and saw that he was still glaring at him while Wonwoo was standing there as if watching a show. He thought for a while and then quickly flashed a grin in their direction.

"Just kidding bro, just kidding"

The grin was quickly replaced with a pout again as Seokmin felt wronged. He just wanted to tease his friends! Why were they being so serious?!

Mingyu released Wonwoo while looking at the cute sulky Seokmin coming inside the kitchen to get something. His serious face quickly changed into a playful one. Sometimes for some reason he feels amused by the way Seokmin is. The way he reacts when being playfully bullied always makes others want to bully him more but after bullying him the bullied Seokmin makes them feel warm in their heart just by looking at him, Mingyu was no exception.

Mingyu bended forward a little to look at the expression of Seokmin with a smile forming on his lips. Then he walked and hugged Seokmin too while laughing and saying, "I was kidding too."

Seokmin eyes widened while Mingyu parted with him. He asked, "Really?" As if still in disbelief.

Mingyu glanced at Seokmin and couldn't stop himself from laughing again. Wonwoo who finally had his bowl cereals and milk on table also shook his head in amusement.

"Seokmin-ah, why are you such a cute dummy?" Mingyu said while ruffling Seokmin's hairs.

With this conformation Seokmin felt relieved. He knows actually that he shouldn't be so cautious around his friends and they don't mind such simple things. Even if something big happens they try to be understanding but he still feels like he is walking on egg shells. He just really wants to be with them and don't want to upset them or make them disappointed. Though they assure him time and again but he just can't seem to get rid of his cautious nature.

"Phew! You scared me." Seokmin glared at Mingyu and pushed him playfully while Mingyu just smiled at him in return.

"Why are you guys still so touchy with each other? I thought you were past that phase." Seokmin asked absent mindedly but no one replied. There was nothing to reply, also it wasn't weird to have such type of skin ship between friends, especially close friends like them. That's also the reason why Wonwoo didn't panic again after his initial slip up. Actually all of their friends have been more close and attached to each other in high school than they are now. Though they still sometimes don't avoid the natural and habitual skin ship with each other.

"Oh by the way, where were you last night? You came home in the morning right?" Seokmin asked.

Wonwoo averted his gaze at the question and subconsciously increased his pace of eating.

Mingyu glanced at Wonwoo before looking at Seokmin and said, "I was at a bar last night, quiet an interesting bar....." He drawled looking at the now nervous Wonwoo.

"Is that so? Is that bar really interesting? Then why don't you take your bro with you next time there? I want to see what's so interest-" Before he could finish speaking he heard Wonwoo cough incessantly, likely to have choked on his food.

Before he could go and help Wonwoo, he saw Mingyu had already reached him and offered his handkerchief to him while giving soft pats and soothing caresses on his back.

"Hyung why are you eating in such a hurry? Your breakfast won't grow legs and won't run away from you" Mingyu said feeling slightly distressed and helpless.

"Why are you always so careless" Mingyu muttered under his breath but Wonwoo still heard it and glared at him with his watery eyes while handing Mingyu's handkerchief to Mingyu again.

Wonwoo refused to reply to Mingyu and instead said, "I have to go now. I'm going to go practice for my upcoming performance. You guys help yourself for breakfast."

Saying that Wonwoo left towards his room to grab his bag. Mingyu looked at his retreating figure and then towards his handkerchief in his hand with some barely visible sadness.

Seokmin felt like he was watching a drama play after watching these two. He felt like the atmosphere between the two wasn't right but he couldn't pinpoint what's wrong with them. So he just shrugged his shoulder and went towards the refrigerator to find himself something to eat.

After opening the refrigerator he saw the freshly made kimchi placed right in front of him and the want to eat kimchi and ramen grew up within him instantly.

He thought to himself, 'Let's ask Mingyu to make ramen for both of us. The buldak ramen made by Mingyu and this cabbage kimchi would surely taste like a match made in heaven!'

Seokmin felt hungry by just the thought. He turned his head to ask Mingyu but saw no one around him.

'Where is Mingyu? When did he leave?' Seokmin thought in confusion.

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