Chapter Text
Jiwon loved going out with Dong-Gyun, but this time he didn't really look forward to it.
Dong-Gyun had asked him to invite Chanwoo too and here was the problem. While he didn't exactly dislike Chanwoo anymore, he also felt weird about hanging out with him. Still, Dong-Gyun had been so eager about trying the new Chinese restaurant, and the idea of making it a group dinner seemed to make him even happier. In the end, Jiwon didn't reject the idea but the weird feeling stayed inside him.
When they arrived at the restaurant, the cozy atmosphere of red lanterns and soft music did little to ease Jiwon's nerves. On top of it, the restaurant also looked quite similar to the one where he originally proposed to Dong-Gyun his idea of being sex friends. Jiwon took a look at Dong-Gyun but it seemed that Dong-Gyun hadn't noticed and was smiling happily.
Chanwoo was already seated at a table in the back, waving at them with his usual carefree smile. But it wasn't the sight of Chanwoo that made Jiwon's jaw tighten—it was the person sitting next to him.
MD.
Jiwon's first reaction was irritation. He hadn't expected MD to be here. It was bad enough that he had to spend the evening with Chanwoo, but adding MD to the mix felt a lot worse.
"Did you know that MD would come tonight too?" Jiwon whispered to Dong-Gyun.
"No," Dong-Gyun replied. "But there's enough space at the table. Is it fine for you, sunbae?"
"... sure."
Jiwon wasn't sure at all about it but he didn't want to cause any drama for the sake of Dong-Gyun. He swallowed his frustration and forced a polite smile as they approached the table.
"Hey, you guys are finally here!" Chanwoo said cheerfully, standing to greet them.
"Of course, I'm happy to see you," Dong-Gyun replied warmly. His excitement was obvious as he sat down and Jiwon kept smiling, trying to go along with Dong-Gyun's cheerfulness.
Jiwon took a seat across from Chanwoo and MD, his eyes briefly meeting MD's. There was a flicker of something unspoken between them—but they both kept quiet. Jiwon nodded, acknowledging MD, who responded with a curt nod of his own.
The dinner began pleasantly enough, with the usual small talk. They discussed the restaurant's interior design, the huge variety of dishes on the menu, and the latest stories from school and the coffee shop where Dong-Gyun and Chanwoo were working.
For the most part, Jiwon kept his focus on Dong-Gyun, listening to him talk about his studies and how he thought about creating his own dessert at the coffee shop. Every time Dong-Gyun smiled, it made the tension Jiwon felt toward MD fade—at least for a moment.
But then, the conversation shifted.
"So, how's the show been going lately?" Dong-Gyun asked, directing his question at Chanwoo, who had been grinning widely for the last few minutes.
"Oh, it's been great," Chanwoo replied with obvious enthusiasm. "Especially with MD adding some new ideas. He's seriously taken it to the next level."
Jiwon's grip on his chopsticks tightened, but he remained silent. He knew where this was going, and he wasn't going to let it get under his skin.
"You guys have seen some of our latest shows, right?" Chanwoo continued, clearly enjoying the attention. "MD's been killing it. It's so exciting to do the shows with him."
"Well…" Dong-Gyun said. "We don't watch adult shows anymore."
"Really?" Chanwoo asked. "That's a pity. Especially because our show is now more exciting than ever, definitely worthy of being number one in the ranks."
At that moment, Jiwon couldn't take the smug smile of MD anymore.
"I guess you're happy that you've finally become the number one," Jiwon said.
"Don't be jealous, Alex." MD smiled even more now. "You decided to stop streaming on your own. Or are you planning to do a comeback?"
"Definitely not." Jiwon shook his head. "And stop calling me Alex."
"I think it would be quite tough for you now, Jiwon," Chanwoo said. "MD's show has become really popular now, more than your show before. There's just something about MD's style. It's more… unpredictable, more exciting. It feels fresher, you know? Alex was a bit too polished sometimes. MD keeps things real."
Jiwon felt his irritation flare even more. He wasn't the type to boast about his past, but hearing Chanwoo compare him to MD like that stung.
Dong-Gyun glanced at Jiwon, clearly noticing the tension building in the air. "Well, I think both of you—Alex and MD—are great," he said, trying to steer the conversation toward something more neutral. "You both bring different things to the table."
As the conversation continued, MD leaned back in his chair, giving Jiwon a sly look. "You know, Alex," he began, ignoring that Jiwon asked not to be called by that name anymore, "I never realized how... intense you were on your shows. Watching some of your old streams was like watching a performance. All that charm, that careful control." He smirked, clearly trying to provoke a reaction. "It's cute, really. But it was a little too perfect, don't you think?"
Jiwon clenched his jaw slightly, trying to keep his expression neutral. "A lot of people enjoyed the show though. Actually, more than your show," he replied coolly.
MD chuckled, tapping his fingers on the table. "Sure, but sometimes people want something more raw, more real. The unpredictability, the fun of it all? You can't script everything, Jiwon."
Dong-Gyun glanced nervously between them. He looked like he wanted to interject, but MD wasn't done yet.
"Don't get me wrong, Alex," MD continued, a playful glint in his eyes. "You were good at what you did—great, even. But times change. People like things a bit more rough around the edges these days. Not everything has to be so polished." He flashed a grin. "I think Chanwoo and I have that covered, don't we?"
Jiwon felt the tension in his chest, but he kept his expression steady, refusing to react to MD's bait. He knew what MD was doing—pushing his buttons, trying to get under his skin. It was typical of MD, always finding subtle ways to annoy him, even in front of others.
MD leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough for only Jiwon to hear. "Or maybe you're just a little rusty, huh? Been out of the game too long?"
Jiwon met MD's gaze, his eyes narrowing. "I don't need to be in the game to know my worth," he said calmly. "I'm very happy in my current relationship and don't need to do shows to feel better about myself like you."
MD raised his hands in mock surrender, laughing softly. "Relax, I'm just teasing. But you can't blame me for stirring things up a little, right? Truth is, I kind of miss you as my rival. It's rather boring without you. I was hoping, maybe you'd come back."
Jiwon glared at him. "Come back so that I have to listen to this crap all the time? No thanks."
"Why don't we talk about something else?" It was Chanwoo who jumped in suddenly.
MD looked disappointed. "Oh but I—"
"That's enough," Chanwoo interrupted him. "He said he wouldn't come back."
Jiwon was surprised. He didn't expect to get support from Chanwoo.
"Fine." MD looked like he was pouting.
Jiwon internally rolled his eyes but he was relieved that Chanwoo had ended the awkward situation. Chanwoo's earlier comments about MD and Alex had felt insensitive to Jiwon but now he seemed more reasonable and was considering how MD's comments made Jiwon feel uncomfortable.
As the evening went on, the rest of the dinner passed without much issue. Jiwon remained quiet but engaged, making sure Dong-Gyun enjoyed the evening as much as he could. The food was good and the conversation went on more pleasantly than before. MD had stopped his teasing completely—Chanwoo seemed to have quite the influence on him.
When they left the restaurant, Chanwoo was dragging MD away with him, waving back at Jiwon and Dong-Gyun. "See you soon!" he shouted back at them.
"See you!" Dong-Gyun replied.
Jiwon simply waved at them. The remaining evening wasn't so bad and he even enjoyed some of the conversations. Still, he was glad that he didn't have to see MD anymore.
They turned around and started walking down the street the opposite way. Dong-Gyun walked by Jiwon's side closely and Jiwon could feel Dong-Gyun's hand brush his own a few times.
"Thanks for tonight, sunbae," Dong-Gyun said. "I had a great time."
Jiwon smiled at him, the frustration from earlier dissipating completely. "I'm glad you did."
"I hope it wasn't too bad for you?" Dong-Gyun asked.
"Well, MD can be annoying," Jiwon said. "But it looks like Chanwoo has the leash on him outside of their shows."
Dong-Gyun giggled. "I noticed. Chanwoo is a good guy."
"Yep. And I hope he can keep up with MD."
Still joking a bit about MD and how he found a master in Chanwoo, Jiwon and Dong-Gyun went back home.