PART I; Act

 

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Kyuhyun thinks he could take up acting.

After all, it takes quite some skill to pretend your heart isn't shattering when the girl you've been in love with since you debuted whispers sweet nothings in the ear of your closest hyung and roommate.

Sooyoung laughs at something Sungmin says, and Kyuhyun knows - he just knows - this is the part where his acting skills are put to the test.

Sungmin captures Sooyoung's lips in a sweet kiss and Kyuhyun feels his heart lurch and he thinks he could punch Sungmin in the face -

- but instead he puts on a disgusted expression and groans.

"Ew, you guys! You promised not to do that in front of me anymore!" he throws a chip at Sungmin's head, feigning annoyance.

Sooyoung breaks apart from Sungmin, giggling.

"Sorry, Kyu-pie" she wipes at her mouth, her dark eyes sparkling.

Kyuhyun rolls his eyes. Don't forget to sigh and pretend you hate the way she looks at you.

"And stop calling me Kyu-pie, Sooyoung-ah" he grumbles, shoveling the rest of his lunchbox in his mouth.

Sungmin slings an arm around his girlfriend (it took Kyuhyun months to not gag at the mention of it) and sticks out his tongue.

"Cutie-pie, Kyu-pie, same difference" Sungmin exclaims, winking at Sooyoung.

The pair collapse in a fit of laughter, and for a moment Kyuhyun can't tear his eyes away from the radiant smile on Sooyoung's face.

But that isn't according to the script, so he blinks and tries to remember his lines.

"I swear, you guys treat me like I'm your puppy or something" he pouts, folding his arms over his chest.

Sooyoung reaches over and pinches his cheeks, grinning cheekily. Even the best of actors falter when a beautiful girl smiles at them, and Kyuhyun is no exception. His heart pound that little bit faster and he can feel blood rushing to where her fingertips touched-

"Aw, our little Kyu-pie is blushing!" Sungmin squeals.

Kyuhyun merely glares at his hyung, ignoring his erratic heartbeat. Sooyoung gasps, as if she’s had a brilliant idea.

“Oh my God! Minnie -” she turns to her boyfriend, and Kyuhyun clenches his fists oh-so-subtly. “- we could set up Kyuhyun and Yoona! They’d be so cute together!” Sooyoung claps her hands together enthusiastically.

Kyuhyun thinks he can hear the breaking of his heart (again).

Sungmin widens his eyes, before bobbling his head.

“Why didn’t I think of that before? We totally could! Kyu’s fail with girls, Yoona’s fail with boys; they could have fail babies together!” he declares, brandishing his chip packet excitedly.

Kyuhyun raises an eyebrow.

“Um…do I have a say in this at all?” he feigns disinterest.

The pair shake their heads simultaneously. Kyuhyun sighs. He thinks his soul is screaming at him (why are you letting them do this to you; doesn’t it hurt enough already?)

“I say we make it a double-date!” Sooyoung beams beatifically at him.

“But…I don’t even know Yoona” he protests weakly under her bright, bright eyes (he could never say no).

Sungmin pats him on the head.

“That’s the beauty of double-dating. It forces you to get to know her. Unless, you know, you want to spend two hours watching us make out” Sungmin smirks devilishly.

Sooyoung giggles, swatting her boyfriend. Kyuhyun contemplates in silence as Sungmin and Sooyoung bow their heads together, whispering softly as if in their own world. He feels a familiar ache in his heart and all he wants to do is make it stop.

(Sometimes, an actor has to know when to separate himself from reel and real life.)

It’s time to take on a new role.

“Okay” he breathes, so quietly he thinks only his shattered soul could hear him.

Sooyoung looks up in surprise, as if she didn’t expect him to agree so quickly, as if she didn’t expect him to agree at all (Kyuhyun thinks he saw a flash of hurt in her eyes, but it was probably a trick of the light).

“Okay?” her expression is unreadable.

“Okay” Kyuhyun thinks this is the end of his acting career.

Sungmin grins, oblivious to the sudden tension.

“Then it’s a date!”

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