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Jisung knew Changbin’s family was well off. He knew his friend had grown up with a lifestyle that was significantly different from Jisung’s own, but it never felt that way. It was just a fact, as simple as the fact that Jisung had brown eyes. It wasn’t something that Jisung ever thought about, until Changbin asked if he’d be willing to house sit for a couple of weeks while Changbin went home to Korea.
It was just a townhouse, Changbin had told him. Three stories to occasionally sweep and vacuum, some plants to water inside and out, mail to take in. Nothing special.
Except Changbin’s nothing special was a whole new world to Jisung. Changbin’s nothing special was a gated community, where all the homes were wrapped in brick and vines and wrought iron, with overflowing cherry blossom trees lining the streets.
Jisung had always prided himself on his confidence and his ability to fit in wherever he was, with whoever he was with. He was charming, and personable, friendly enough to never truly feel out of place. But as he parked his beat up Honda in front of the Changbin’s looming townhouse, Jisung felt like he had finally met his match.
He emerged cautiously, as if the neighborhood watch would snatch him up for daring to bring his decade old vehicle into their private community of Teslas and Porsches and Mercedes.
As Jisung snagged his duffle bag from the back seat of the car and began trudging up the walkway to Changbin’s front door, he noticed something else. Every townhouse had an outdoor space. On the roof.
“This is crazy,” Jisung mumbled, typing the code Changbin had given him into the small keypad by the front door. The lock clicked and Jisung pushed the door open, greeted by marble floors and a deceptively high ceiling.
Jisung kicked off his Doc Martens and eyed his options. There was a stairway that twisted upwards, or a hallway that led deeper into the first floor. Jisung decided on up, hitching his duffle bag higher on his shoulder and making his way up the winding staircase. The floor plan on the second floor was open, a state of the art kitchen to his left and a minimalistic living room to his right.
“I didn’t even know Bin cooked,” Jisung mumbled, setting his duffle bag down on the gray leather couch and moving towards the French doors at the far end of the room. He pushed them open and stepped out onto the balcony that overlooked the backyard, a tangle of coral honeysuckle spilling out of the planter boxes and over the wrought iron bars. Jisung suddenly remembered the outdoor roof space and he hurried back inside, scrambling up the second staircase. The third floor housed a few bedrooms and a locked glass door. Jisung undid the lock, opening it up to a small staircase that led him to his final destination. The roof.
“Holy shit,” Jisung breathed, his eyes wide. The rooftop was a completely different world, alive with numerous plants and strings of fairy lights, but that wasn’t what had Jisung’s attention. It was what sat in the middle that did. “A hot tub!”
Jisung couldn’t believe it had taken him this long to really come to terms with the difference in his life and his friend’s. Changbin was out here living with a hot tub on his roof (his roof!) while Jisung spent his nights in a cramped studio apartment that would have been out of date even five years ago.
“This is insane,” Jisung crossed over to the hot tub, peeling back the cover to see if it was actually filled with water. It was. Jisung knew what he was doing tonight.
Jisung repositioned the cover and made his way through the jungle of plants on the roof until he got to the edge. Changbin had an end unit, so there were two spaces for Jisung to take in the view. The wall he shared with his neighbor didn’t extend to the deck, but there were a few wooden trellises that still gave the rooftop a bit of a private feeling. They weren’t enough to completely block off the neighbor’s roof, and Jisung could see that they did not have a hot tub or a million plants. In fact, they didn’t have much of anything, just a small table and a couple of chairs.
“That’s a waste,” Jisung shook his head, turning around and heading back towards Changbin’s house. The coolest space in the world, and they couldn’t even be bothered to use it.
Jisung went back inside and found the guest room Changbin had told him he could use, flopping down on the bed and pulling his phone out of his pocket. He knew Changbin would still be in the air, but he shot him a text letting him know he was here anyway. This was going to be the best two weeks of Jisung’s life.
-
Snacks? Check. Drink? Check. Music? Check. Hot tub? Check.
Jisung set up his plate of cheese and crackers on the small wooden table by the hot tub, balancing his glass of wine next to it as he pressed play on the instrumental playlist he’d set up just for this moment. He tugged the cover off the hot tub and dropped it on the ground, stripping himself of his shirt as he got the jets turned on. He watched as the water bubbled, steam beginning to rise as the temperature heated up. Jisung climbed in, sinking down into the warm water and letting his eyes flutter shut. He could get used to this.
He was keeping the volume on his phone pretty low, just in case Changbin’s neighbors didn’t approve of his music choices, so he heard when someone next door stumbled out onto their rooftop, clearly on the phone.
Jisung sunk deeper in the water, not wanting to eavesdrop on the stranger but not able to escape overhearing the broken “fuck you too” and the sobs that followed it. Jisung winced, hoping the neighbor would turn around and head back inside, but it sounded like he had sat down on one of the chairs, his crying a bit more muffled now, as if his head was buried in his hands.
Jisung slowly reached for his phone, wanting to silence his music on the off chance that the neighbor stopped crying and heard him. The trellises blocked the view of next door from the hot tub, so as long as Jisung was quiet, the neighbor would never know that Jisung was intruding on a private moment.
Except of course his stupid finger slipped, and instead of pausing the music, he cranked the volume all the way up.
“Shit,” Jisung fumbled with his phone, finally getting it to shut up, but the silence that followed alerted him to one very important fact. He could no longer hear the neighbor crying.
“Is my breakdown ruining your pleasant evening, Changbin?” Even thick with tears, there was an obvious bite of sarcasm and annoyance in the neighbor’s voice. Changbin had never mentioned having beef with his neighbor. But he’d also never mentioned having a rooftop hot tub, so what did Jisung know?
The question sounded rhetorical, but Jisung didn’t want to dig Changbin deeper in whatever hole he was already in with his neighbor, so he cleared his throat and answered.
“Um, I’m sorry. Changbin’s out of town. But you aren’t bothering me. You can cry.” Jisung winced, the words sounding stupid to his own ears. He was a stranger here, if the neighbor wanted to have a breakdown on his own roof, he didn’t need Jisung’s permission.
Jisung wasn’t sure what he was expecting. More sarcasm, or maybe for the neighbor to go back inside. He wasn’t expecting a tear swollen face to peek around the trellis, Jisung’s eyes going wide as he immediately ducked under the steaming water to avoid his gaze. He wasn’t sure why he was hiding, it wasn’t like he’d done anything wrong, but it seemed like the correct move. Until his lungs began to burn and he resurfaced to see the stranger still staring at him, slightly less teary and a little more amused.
“Hello.”
Jisung sank into the water up to his chin, getting a mouthful as he gurgled out his own greeting. Even tear stained and partly obscured by vines, the neighbor was obviously beautiful, and Jisung felt even more ridiculous now, still unsure as to why he was so embarrassed. Maybe it was just spilling over from earlier this morning, when he’d felt so insecure about his car and his position in life. Normally Jisung could charm his way out of an awkward situation, but here he was, completely thrown as to why the stranger was looking at him like that. Was he doing something weird by being in the hot tub?
“Who are you?”
“Jisung.”
“Oh.” The stranger shifted, his full face coming into focus as he stepped away from the trellis and towards the small portion of the rooftop that was only separated by a chest high iron fence. He rested his arms there, his feline eyes studying Jisung, who suddenly felt even smaller in the bubbling water. “Bin’s music friend. He’s mentioned you.”
“Who are you?”
“Minho.”
“He hasn’t mentioned you.” Jisung wasn’t sure why he said that. Minho was already having a shitty night.
But he didn’t seem offended, just letting out a huffed laugh, his eyes still on Jisung, “I wouldn't think that he would have. Where is he?”
“South Korea.”
“Ah.” Minho hesitated for a second, and then the next thing Jisung knew he was leaping over the fence, lithe and graceful as he landed on Changbin’s roof. Jisung’s mouth gaped open and he sputtered, choking on the water he’d accidentally inhaled. “I have a lot of practice,” Minho offered as a way of explanation, weaving around the plants until he was standing at the edge of the hot tub. “Mind if I join?”
Jisung wasn’t entirely sure how they’d gotten here. One minute Minho was sobbing on the phone, a complete stranger, and the next he was stripping down to his underwear and slipping into the hot tub before Jisung even had a chance to answer.
“What the fuck?”
A foot brushed Jisung’s and he shot straight up, his chest rising out of the water in an attempt to keep all his limbs on his side of the hot tub and away from Minho.
Minho’s eyes flicked down, eyeing the now exposed tattoos that were inked into Jisung’s skin. He crossed his arms over his chest, breaking Minho’s stare, and asked his question again, “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Same thing you are.”
Minho sank into the water and Jisung watched the tension drain out of his shoulders, watched as Minho’s pretty face relaxed completely as he got comfortable. If it weren’t for his slightly red rimmed eyes, it would have been hard to believe that he’d just been sobbing on the other side of the roof.
Jisung was confused. Minho had seemed annoyed earlier when he thought he was Changbin, but his knowledge of Jisung’s existence and the ease at which he scaled the fence would imply they were friends. Or acquaintances at the very least.
Almost as if he could read his thoughts, Minho spoke, his eyes closed and his voice soft, barely louder than the bubbling jets, “Changbin introduced me to the asshole who just broke up with me over the phone. Thought it was kind of a dick move for him not to say anything when he overheard, but you aren’t him. So apologies for my earlier shortness.”
“Oh, um, it’s okay,” Jisung relaxed his arms, uncrossing them from his chest and sinking a little bit lower in the warm water. “I’m sorry you got broken up with. And that I accidentally overheard it. And for the music. I wasn’t trying to drown out your crying or anything, I was trying to turn it off so you wouldn’t know I was out here and be embarrassed.”
Sudden clarity came over Jisung as he processed Minho’s first statement and he shot up, eyes wide as he stared at the other boy, “Wait! He has mentioned you! He tried to set me up with you a few months ago! He was actually pretty upset when I said no and muttered something about not having a backup plan. So I guess technically it’s my fault you ended up with an asshole. Shit, I’m sorry.”
Minho tilted his head to the side as he regarded Jisung, his eyes blinking slowly, “That actually makes so much more sense. When I asked him if he had any single friends, he was really excited. He said he had the perfect person and that he knew we’d hit it off. He was going on and on about how annoying we’d be together and how you were totally my type and how much fun it would be for all of us to finally hang out. But when he ended up introducing me to Hyunwoo, everything felt completely off. Hyunwoo wasn’t my type, at all, and his personality was pretty uptight. I was surprised Changbin was such good friends with someone like him, but I trusted Bin knew us both well enough to know what would work. I thought Hyunwoo would loosen up a bit once we got to know each other better, but it never happened. And, well, you know how it ends.”
“I’m sorry.”
Minho shrugged lightly, his eyes landing on Jisung’s wine glass. Figuring he needed it more, Jisung snagged it and handed it over, earning a small quirk of the lips from Minho. He downed it in one gulp, then set the glass to the side and sank deeper into the water, his foot brushing Jisung’s ankle, “I didn’t even like him that much. Don’t know why I was crying.”
“It hurts,” Jisung muttered. “To not be wanted. Even if you didn’t really want the other person either.”
“Yeah,” Minho hummed lightly. “Why’d you say no? If you don’t mind me asking.”
The steam from the hot tub danced around them, Minho soft and pretty in the glow of the fairy lights as he stared at Jisung curiously. Jisung figured he’d owed him a little bit of honesty, so he admitted something he hadn’t even told Changbin when he pestered him about setting him up with Minho, “I knew you’d break up with me after a few months anyway, and I didn’t want to make things potentially awkward for Changbin.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Everyone does,” Jisung said softly. He felt Minho’s foot again, but this time it wasn’t just a brush of skin on skin. It lingered, and Jisung supposed it was meant to be comforting. Ironic that the boy who had been sobbing ten minutes ago was now trying to cheer him up. “It’s cool though. Love’s not for me, I guess.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t have.”
“Maybe,” Jisung shrugged, reaching for a cracker and shoving it in his mouth, hoping Minho would take the hint that he wasn’t interested in speaking about it anymore. He did, and silence lapsed over them, broken only by the gurgling of the hot tub jets. Minho’s foot remained where it was, soothing over the bone of Jisung’s ankle, and Jisung let it stay, his mind a million miles away.
“You can put your music back on if you want,” Minho nudged him and Jisung returned to the present, suddenly all too aware of the fact that he was lounging in a hot tub on Changbin’s roof with a very attractive, very scantily clad stranger.
“This is weird, isn’t it?”
“Is it?”
Jisung let Minho’s words sink in, realizing that all his discomfort was coming from the fact that he was worried about how Minho was perceiving him, and Minho didn’t seem all that bothered about sitting quietly in the hot tub with him.
“Huh. I guess not.” Jisung jabbed at his phone until the soft music returned, adjusting the volume now that he wasn’t worried about Minho being bothered by it. He let his eyes drift shut and apart from the foot that was still resting against his, the evening was exactly as he’d imagined it. He sank into the water and let himself enjoy it.
-
Jisung wandered up to the rooftop early the next morning, bleary eyed and clutching a coffee he’d made with Changbin’s espresso machine. He hadn’t even been here a full day, and he already never wanted to go back to his own stuffy apartment.
“Good morning.”
Jisung startled, nearly spilling his coffee. He shuffled forwards until he reached the gap in the trellises, leaning over to look at Minho’s roof.
The older boy was sitting cross legged on a yoga mat, damp hair plastered to his forehead. He seemed to be done with his workout, and Jisung wondered if he’d been out there since before the sun rose.
“Morning,” Jisung yawned. “Is that why your roof is so boring? So you can workout outside?”
“Rude,” Minho hummed, climbing to his feet and rolling up his yoga mat. “But yes.”
He set the mat near his door and crossed over to Jisung, stopping a few inches away from where Jisung was leaning, “Besides, Bin lets me use his roof whenever I want. So I get the fun without the upkeep.”
“I can’t believe I’ve never been invited over to use the fun roof. I’m honestly insulted.”
Minho’s voice was a little quieter when he spoke next, “I think Bin feels a bit awkward. About all this. I don’t think he wanted you to look at him differently. He really values your friendship.”
It was different, the knowledge that Changbin was rich paling in comparison to Jisung actually experiencing it, and he got that. But he was a little sad that Changbin thought it might change things between them.
Minho must have noticed Jisung’s pout because he quietly cursed under his breath, “Shit. Please don’t tell him I said anything. And don’t be sad. You’re too cute to be sad.”
“I’m not sad,” Jisung took a sip from his mug to hide his downturned lips, pointedly ignoring the part where Minho had called him cute. He knew from their conversation last night that he was Minho’s type, but his previous conviction still stood. He wasn’t ready to get his heart broken again. Even by someone that gorgeous.
“Did you have breakfast yet?” Minho pushed his sweaty hair off his forehead and tilted his head, eyes locked on Jisung. He looked like a cat, and if Jisung was a little less aware of the way Minho was staring at him, he would have pointed it out. But he had a feeling Minho might take that as flirting.
Jisung lifted his mug to indicate that the coffee was his breakfast, and Minho let out a soft noise of disapproval, “Coffee isn’t breakfast. You need food.”
Jisung shrugged, pushing himself back from the fence and stepping away from Minho. He could feel Minho’s eyes watching him go, but Jisung didn’t go far. He set his coffee down next to the hot tub and turned it on, swirling his hand in the water until it got to a comfortable temperature. Conscious of Minho’s eyes on him, he turned his back as he pulled off his shirt, letting it drop to the roof floor and quickly scrambling into the water. Once he was safely covered, he glanced back up to find Minho was gone.
-
“Here.”
Jisung’s eyes blinked open, snapped out of his hot tub induced daze by Minho’s voice. The other boy was on Changbin’s roof again, a plate of eggs and toast in his hand. He set it down next to Jisung’s coffee, then turned on his heel. Jisung watched as he gracefully leapt the face and returned to his own roof, disappearing before Jisung could utter any words of thanks.
-
Jisung thought about climbing over to Minho’s roof and leaving the empty plate on his table with a note, but as Jisung eyed the fence, he really didn’t think he could do it. Sliding the plate through the bars and just leaving it on the floor seemed rude, so that was how Jisung found himself making his way up Minho’s front walkway, the plate in his hands and a thank you on his lips.
He rang the doorbell, rocking back onto his heels as he waited for Minho to answer. He felt kind of silly, showing up at the front door instead of just waiting until he inevitably met Minho on the roof again, but Jisung had manners. He wanted to thank him.
The door cracked open and Jisung parted his lips, plate in front of him and thanks ready, but he was startled when a hand grasped around his wrist and forcibly tugged him into the house. The door slammed shut behind him and Jisung blinked, staring at Minho with wide eyes.
“Sorry,” Minho’s hair was damp and his skin was flushed, as if he had just come out of the shower, and he looked a little sheepish when he noticed Jisung’s huge eyes. “I can’t have the door open, the cats will get out. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Uh, it’s okay,” Jisung glanced down at his hands and remembered why he was here, presenting the freshly washed plate to Minho. “Thank you for breakfast.”
Minho’s lips quirked slightly, that same softly amused smile from the night before. Jisung wondered what his full smile looked like, then quickly chased the thought out of his head.
“You’re welcome,” Minho took the plate from him and started up his stairs, leaving Jisung a little confused. Was he free to leave, or was Minho expecting him to follow? “You can come up if you want.”
Jisung hesitated for a second before following Minho up the stairs, the main floor a spitting image of Changbin’s. Except Minho’s house looked decidedly more lived in, with a cat tree by the balcony doors and cat toys scattered over the floor. His furniture looked soft and comfortable, unlike Changbin’s stiff leather couches, and there was an orange cat sprawled across the back of the sofa. Another cat was curled in the sun coming through the French doors, and a third was winding around Jisung’s ankles.
Jisung crouched, offering the kitty his fingers to sniff before he ran his hand down the gray tabby’s back, enjoying the way he arched into Jisung’s touch. He pet the cat contently for a few minutes, until the tabby got bored and went to join where his brother was basking in the morning light.
Jisung returned to his full height, eyes flicking to the kitchen to see that Minho was watching him, that barely there smile still on his lips. Jisung flushed lightly, climbing onto one of the stools that lined Minho’s island and directing his attention back to the cats, “What are their names?”
“The one you were petting is Dori. Soonie is by the window and Doongie is on the couch.”
Jisung mumbled the names to himself and nodded, satisfied that he would remember. He swiveled back and forth on the stool, his eyes on the two felines curled up in the sun, “They’re cute.”
“Thanks,” Minho moved out of the kitchen, snagging a wand toy from the basket by his couch. He sat down cross legged on the floor near Soonie and Dori, dragging the ribbon back and forth as Dori watched it hungrily. Jisung wasn’t sure what compelled him to follow, but he crossed the room and dropped down next to Minho, their knees knocking as he copied Minho’s position. Minho glanced up from the toy to offer him a smile, a real one this time, his eyes scrunching and his full lips parting to reveal cute teeth and a tiny overbite.
Jisung forgot how to breathe.
He snapped back to reality, quickly cutting his gaze away from Minho and switching it to Dori, who was lazily batting at the ribbon. It didn’t matter how pretty Minho was, or that Changbin was convinced they’d be a perfect match. Jisung had sworn off dating after his last three relationships had ended in heart shattering disasters. He wasn’t putting himself through that again. And he wasn’t getting Changbin caught in the middle of it.
“Here,” the ribbon toy was being pressed into Jisung’s hand and he happily accepted it, letting it dance through the air and giggling as Dori leapt for it. He was faintly aware of Minho’s gaze on him, but he was too focused on playing with the kitty to think much about it. Jisung dragged the toy along the ground again, laughing brightly when it slipped by where Soonie was lounging and the cat shot out a paw, snagging it without interrupting his rest.
Jisung wasn’t sure how long he’d been playing with the cats before he felt a hand on his thigh, Minho using his leg for leverage as he climbed to his feet. Jisung glanced up at him curiously and Minho waved his hand, “You can keep playing. I have to get ready for work.”
“Oh, shit, sorry, I’ll get out of your hair,” Jisung was about to scramble to his feet, but Minho shook his head.
“The cats like you, you can stay for a little bit longer. I’ll just be upstairs if you need anything.”
Jisung nodded and switched his attention back to the kitties, Doongie finally getting curious enough to abandon his position on the couch and come join them. Jisung found a second ribbon toy and began shaking them both, eventually getting to his feet and running around the living room as the cats followed him, leaping and hunting.
Jisung was so caught up in playing that he didn’t notice Minho was back downstairs until he ran directly into his body.
“Oof,” Jisung groaned, Minho’s fingers digging into his upper arms and steadying him as Jisung stumbled. “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s okay,” Minho’s hands dropped from his arms, his touch lingering just slightly as Jisung stepped back. “I should have said something. I’ve been standing here for a few minutes.”
One of the cats let out an indignant yowl, and Dori batted angrily at the now still ribbon that drooped from Jisung’s hand. But Jisung barely noticed, his focus fully on Minho.
He’d already been stunning before, but he was all made up now, his hair carefully styled and his long lashed eyes darken with eyeliner. There was a shimmery shadow on his lids and a highlight drawing Jisung’s eyes to his high cheekbones, glowing even under the artificial light of his living room. He was dressed simply, in a black t-shirt and black sweatpants, and a stuffed duffle bag hung from his shoulder.
“What do you do?” Jisung breathed, his eyes unblinking on Minho’s face. It was unfair to be that pretty.
“I’m a dancer,” Minho shifted his bag, breaking Jisung out of his trance. The younger boy flushed, taking a few steps back and noticing that Minho’s ears were bright red. “I have a shoot today, the makeup’s not an everyday thing.”
“It looks really good,” Jisung assured him, even though his staring had made that obvious.
“Thanks,” Minho’s smile was the soft quirked one, drawing Jisung’s attention to his glossed lips. Jisung quickly snapped his gaze away, not wanting to get caught staring at the other boy’s mouth. “And thanks for hanging out with the kitties. You’re welcome over anytime.”
-
It had been hours since Jisung had returned to Changbin’s house, and try as he might to distract himself, he couldn’t get Minho’s smile off his mind. As he watered the plants, his thoughts drifted to Minho’s slightly off kilter front teeth. As he vacuumed, his focus was on Minho’s small overbite. As he did some laps around the block, all he could think about were Minho’s pouty lips.
He was well and truly fucked.
-
“So,” Changbin looked a little nervous on the small screen of Jisung’s phone, “how’s it going?”
“All this money and you spent it on the world's most uncomfortable couch. How’s Korea?”
Changbin seemed to relax at that, and he launched into a story about his cousins, loosening up with every word when it didn’t seem like Jisung was going to judge him. But as suddenly as he’d started, he stopped, a smirk transforming his face, “Forget about me, I have a question for you. Have you met my neighbor?”
“Perhaps.”
“And?” Changbin was beaming, clearly waiting for Jisung to profess his undying love for Minho.
“He’s nice.”
Changbin deflated slightly, “He’s nice? That’s all?”
Jisung hoped the dim lighting of Changbin’s living room was hiding his blush. Changbin didn’t need to know that Jisung hadn’t had a single thought that didn’t feature Minho all day. He nodded, reaffirming his previous statement, “He’s nice. He made me breakfast.”
“He made you breakfast?!?!” Changbin’s scream was so loud that Jisung was convinced he would have heard it from across the ocean, even without his phone. “He’s totally in love with you. Remember when I tried to set you up with my friend a few months back? That’s who I was talking about! He’s your type, isn’t he? I knew you guys would hit it off.”
Changbin’s face fell as he remembered one small detail, “Oh shit, wait, he’s dating some guy from my work that I set him up with when you said no. Damn.”
“They broke up,” Jisung cleared his throat. “Last night.”
Changbin’s eyes went wide, “Did you guys have rebound sex followed up by breakfast in bed this morning?”
“What? No!” Jisung’s face was really red now, his mind betraying him as it conjured up the image of Minho stripping before he entered the hot tub the night before. “He was just being neighborly.”
“He’s never made me breakfast before.”
“Why are you so obsessed with us anyway?”
“I’m not obsessed. I just know you haven’t always had the best luck with relationships,” Changbin’s voice grew soft. “You deserve some happiness. And so does Minho. He’s great, honestly. I think you guys would fit really well. I’ve tried to get him to come hang out with us a few times, but he mostly keeps to himself and didn’t want to do a group thing. I was surprised when he asked me about setting him up with someone, he didn’t really seem the type to put that in someone else’s hands, but I guess he was having a hard time meeting anyone since he hasn’t lived around here too long. I’m sorry it didn’t work out between them. But at least now he’s single for you!”
“Even if I was into him…which I’m not!” Jisung lied. “I wouldn’t go for someone who just got out of a relationship.”
“Well, when you’re both ready for one again, at least now you know each other. Seriously, Sung, I think he could be the love of your life.” A voice called out Changbin’s name in the background and he turned, nodding before returning his attention to Jisung, “I have to go. Say hi to Minho for me. And tell him I’m sorry about Hyunwoo.”
“Will do,” Jisung clicked his phone off and fell backwards onto the couch, the hand with his phone it in dangling off the side. He had hoped his call with Changbin would distract him from the thoughts of Minho that plagued him, but it had just made it worse. Jisung sighed and sat up, shuffling out of the living room and heading upstairs. If he was going to be stuck on Minho anyway, he might as well go see if he was around.
Jisung made his way up to the roof and tried not to be too disappointed that both Changbin and Minho’s roofs were free of the other boy. Jisung turned on the hot tub and went back inside to procure some snacks, bringing extra this time in case Minho ended up making an appearance.
But soon all the snacks were gone, his playlist was on the second playthrough and the other side of the hot tub was still empty. Jisung’s eyes were heavy, blinking sleepily as the warmth of the water and the bubbling of the jets lulled him towards dreamland.
-
“Wake up, you idiot!”
Jisung was being shaken and he startled awake, his surroundings slowly coming back to him. He was still in the hot tub, but he was no longer alone on the roof. Minho was here. And he looked terrified.
“Get up.”
Jisung was still trying to come back to his senses when he felt hands slip under his arms, trying to manhandle him out of the hot tub.
“I can do it,” Jisung muttered, climbing out of the water and suddenly becoming aware of how red his skin was. He crossed his arms over his chest as Minho looked him over, though there was nothing flirtatious in his gaze. Only concern.
Jisung shivered, dripping on the deck as Minho finished surveying him, his eyes snapping up to meet Jisung’s. A hand reached out and shoved him in the shoulder, rocking Jisung back on his heels in surprise.
“You’re so stupid! Don’t ever do that again!”
“...’m sorry,” Jisung mumbled, his eyes dropping to his feet so he didn’t have to look at Minho. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“You could have drowned!”
“Sorry,” Jisung mumbled again. He hadn’t had any intention of falling asleep. He knew he wasn’t supposed to spend extended amounts of time in the hot water. He wasn’t dumb, it was an accident.
Suddenly Jisung was being bundled into a tight hug, his arms trapped against his bare chest as Minho squeezed him, not caring that Jisung wasn’t hugging him back. “You scared me to death, you idiot,” Minho’s voice was shaky, and Jisung felt awful about being the cause. “I kept calling your name and you weren’t answering and I didn’t know how long you’d been in there…” Minho pulled back, releasing Jisung and taking a deep breath. “Just, set an alarm when you’re going in from now on, okay?”
Jisung nodded, his eyes still downcast. He was shivering even harder, and as much as he’d wanted to see Minho earlier, now all he wanted was to go inside and forget how Minho’s voice sounded when it was laced with fear.
“Here.”
A hoodie was being pressed into Jisung’s hand and he took it, slipping it over his head and hugging his arms around himself again. Minho was still staring at him with that same concerned look, even though the danger of the water had passed, and Jisung shuffled awkwardly, feeling small in Minho’s sweatshirt.
“You need to hydrate,” Minho held his hand out and Jisung hesitated for only a second before he took it, allowing Minho to lead him to the door. Minho didn’t let go once they were inside, tugging Jisung down the hallway and staircase until they reached Changbin’s kitchen.
Minho finally released him, rooting around the cabinets for a glass. He filled it with water from the fridge and returned to Jisung’s side, pressing it into his hand. Jisung accepted it, taking a few small sips as Minho watched him. Once he was satisfied Jisung could handle the drink on his own, Minho slipped out of the room, disappearing into the bathroom and returning with a towel.
“You should take your shorts off. Partly because you’re dripping all over Changbin’s floors and partly because it must be uncomfortable.”
Jisung had finished his glass of water and he placed it on the counter, accepting the towel and wrapping it around his waist. He dropped his shorts, grateful he was wearing underwear even with the protection of the towel. Minho took the wet shorts, flitting into the bathroom again to hang them up to dry. Jisung stood where he’d been left, a little lightheaded in the aftermath of his extended time in the hot water.
Minho reappeared, immediately wrapping an arm around Jisung and leading him over to the couch. Jisung allowed himself to be led, too drained to be embarrassed about the situation anymore.
“Are you lightheaded? Or nauseous?”
“Lightheaded,” Jisung muttered, sinking back into the uncomfortable couch.
“I’ll get you some juice, stay here.”
Jisung wasn’t planning on moving anytime soon, his eyes fluttering shut as he heard Minho bumbling around the kitchen. A few seconds later a cold glass was being pressed into his hand and Jisung accepted it, draining the liquid without opening his eyes. He felt Minho take the empty glass, heard it clink against Changbin’s glass coffee table before the couch next to Jisung sank.
Minho didn’t touch him this time, but Jisung could feel him looking. He wanted to tell Minho that he was fine, that Minho was free to go home, but Jisung didn’t really feel fine. He felt cold and dizzy, and he tipped into Minho’s warmth before he realized what he was doing, his eyes still tightly shut as he leaned into the other boy.
Minho’s arm came up around him, gently rubbing Jisung’s side as Jisung’s head fell to his shoulder.
“Sorry,” Jisung mumbled, his voice muffled. “And thank you.”
“Maybe you should take a break from the hot tub for a little bit.” Minho’s hand continued soothing up and down Jisung’s side, “Just to be safe. Do you need more juice?”
“I’m okay,” Jisung’s senses were returning, his head no longer swimming the way it had been a few minutes ago. He didn’t pull away right away, enjoying a few more seconds of Minho’s warmth before he sat up, lifting his head and prying his eyes open.
Minho’s hand stayed where it was, curled around the dip of his waist, even as Jisung shifted away from him. He was still peering at him with concern, and Jisung felt the heat on his cheeks. He coughed awkwardly, pressing his hands to his knees and making to stand up. A tug on the fabric of Minho’s sweatshirt kept him seated, Minho shaking his head, “Give yourself a few more minutes.”
“I’m fine,” Jisung still didn’t feel great, but he felt better than he had when they stumbled into the house. He could handle himself from here. “Sorry for being a nuisance.”
“You aren’t a nuisance,” Minho’s fingers were still gripping his sweatshirt, keeping Jisung seated on the couch. “But please be more careful in the future.”
“I will,” Jisung noticed a stray thread on his towel, toying with it instead of looking at Minho. He suddenly remembered his conversation with Changbin earlier that day, and just for the sake of not sinking into silence, repeated the message Changbin wanted him to deliver, “Um, Bin says hi by the way. And he said sorry about Hyunwoo.”
Minho’s face changed at the mention of his ex and Jisung immediately felt stupid for bringing it up, cursing himself for opening his mouth. Minho looked…not sad necessarily, but there was definitely a dimness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Jisung was about to apologize again when Minho spoke, “I never really liked him all that much. I think I just hated being alone more. It was nice to have someone who cared.”
“Bin cares about you.”
Minho’s quirked smile was back, though it barely touched his lips this time, “Yeah, he does. He’s a good guy. He’s tried to include me, it’s my own fault I don’t have many other friends.”
“Well, now I’m your friend,” Jisung stopped tugging at the stray string and patted Minho’s thigh briefly, snatching his hand back when he felt the solid shift of muscle as Minho reacted to his touch. He’d forgotten about Minho’s very fit dancer body. At least the hot tub incident had gotten Minho off his mind for a little while.
But now Jisung was all too aware of the warmth of Minho next to him, and the hand on his waist, and the fact that Jisung was wearing Minho’s sweatshirt and not much else.
“I think I’m okay to go to bed now,” Jisung knew he’d be lying awake thinking about Minho’s thighs for at least three hours, but that was definitely none of Minho’s business. “I’ll wash your sweatshirt and bring it back tomorrow.”
Minho looked like he wanted to say something else, but he closed his mouth and nodded, letting his fingers fall from where they gripped Jisung. Jisung got to his feet, slightly unsteady and clutching the towel that was wrapped around him. Minho was on his feet in an instant, arm out to catch Jisung if he stumbled, but not quite touching him.
“I’m fine,” Jisung assured him, taking a few steps to show Minho he was okay. “Um, I’ll walk you out.”
“It’s okay, I know the way,” Minho gave him a small smile, one of the real ones. “Night, Jisung.”
Jisung was too starstruck to respond.
-
Jisung overslept the next morning, exhausted from the incident the night before. He washed Minho’s sweatshirt and watered the plants, but spent the rest of the day lazing around on the couch, watching tv and recovering. He wasn’t sure what Minho’s work hours were like, and he didn’t want to accidentally intrude like he had the day before. He knew Minho would be on the roof the next morning, so he could return his sweatshirt and thank him again then. He just had to make sure he was awake.
-
The sun was just starting to make its crawl across the morning sky when Jisung pushed outside, Minho’s sweatshirt bundled in his arms. He was wearing an oversized hoodie of his own and a pair of joggers, the hood pulled up over his messy bedhead. He shuffled across Changbin’s deck, sleepy eyes on his bare feet, until he made it to the fence that separated Bin’s roof from Minho’s. He leaned against it, lifting his gaze.
Minho was outside, his eyes closed and his arms stretching towards the sky, and he was shirtless .
Jisung choked and Minho’s eyes snapped open, his arms dropping as he made eye contact with Jisung.
“I, um, your hoodie.” Jisung held up the material in question, not wanting Minho to think that he was slinking around the deck at dawn spying on him. “I’ll, uh, just leave it here I guess.”
“You can come over, if you want.” Minho didn’t seem uncomfortable, not making any move to cover his body the way Jisung had the few times he’d been exposed to the other boy. He continued his stretching, missing the way Jisung’s eyes drank in the twist of his bare shoulders. “I have an extra mat.”
Jisung didn’t even want to be awake at this hour, let alone exercise, but Minho had done a lot for him. If Minho wanted him to hang out with him, it would be the polite thing to do. It had nothing to do with the rippling of Minho’s lean muscles under his skin.
There was just one issue.
“I don’t think I can hop the fence.”
“Oh.” Minho laughed and crossed to where Jisung stood, reaching for a latch Jisung had never noticed. “It’s a gate.”
Jisung blinked as it swung open, surprise filtering over his features, “But…you always jump.”
“Only when you’re looking,” Minho’s ears were flushed, the red noticeable as he returned to his yoga mat, Jisung trailing behind him. “I was just trying to impress you. Did you think I jumped the fence with a plate in my hand the other day?”
“I don’t know,” Jisung followed him, accepting the spare mat Minho pressed into his chest. “I guess I didn’t think about it at all.”
Jisung laid his yoga mat out next to Minho’s, following the softly spoken instructions from the other boy as they stretched. The sun rose in front of them, streaking the sky pink, and Jisung had to admit it wasn’t the worst way to start the day. He could understand why Minho kept the space open for this.
Minho finished his stretching and rolled his mat up, setting it near the table and chairs. Jisung followed suit, leaning his mat against the wall and taking a step backwards, ready to bid Minho farewell and head back to bed.
Except Minho had other plans.
“Inside or outside?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want to eat breakfast inside or outside?” Minho had slipped into the sweatshirt that Jisung had returned and he peered at the younger boy from the inside of the oversized hood, patiently awaiting an answer.
“I, uh, inside, I guess.”
Minho seemed satisfied with that answer, giving a short nod before crossing to the door. Jisung remembered what he’d said about the cats, so he moved in close behind him, so that they could slip inside together when Minho tugged the door open.
Jisung followed him to the main floor, immediately beelining for the cats while Minho rolled up his sleeves and headed for the fridge, “Omlettes okay?”
“Whatever you’re making is great,” Jisung found the ribbon toy he’d played with last time and sat down crosslegged on the living room floor, enticing Dori into a game of chase. He could hear Minho moving around the kitchen, humming under his breath as he chopped up a bell pepper. Jisung belatedly realized how rude he was being and he climbed to his feet, whispering an apology to Dori before he made his way to the kitchen.
“Do you need help with anything?”
Minho spared him a glance over his shoulder, the rhythm of his chopping not faltering at all, “No, it’s okay. You can hang out with the cats.”
“Are you sure?” Jisung rocked back on his heels, eyeing the ingredients Minho had spread out on the counter. “I can cut the mushrooms. Or the Spam.”
“You’re my guest, you don’t have to do anything.”
“Yeah, but,” Jisung rocked back on his heels, hands shoved into the pocket of his hoodie, “you’ve already done so much for me. I can help.”
Minho stopped chopping and eyed him for a second before he nodded, “If it makes you feel better, then fine. You can cut the Spam. There’s an extra cutting board in the cabinet next to the oven.”
Jisung retrieved the cutting board and a knife from the wooden block on the counter, working on cutting the Spam into even, bite-sized pieces. He didn’t have much practice in the kitchen, was more of a ramen or take-out kind of guy, so he was paying extra attention to what he was doing, his tongue poking through his lips in concentration.
Jisung heard a breathy laugh from his side and he glanced up to see Minho watching him fondly, the mushrooms already diced on his own cutting board.
“Am I going too slow?”
“No, no, you’re fine. It’s cute, how concentrated you are.”
Jisung flushed lightly, his eyes going back to the Spam, “I don’t cook much. Well, ever. I didn’t want to mess up.”
“It’s pretty hard to mess up cutting Spam. Unless you cut yourself. Please don’t cut yourself.” Minho began cracking eggs into a large bowl, his attention shifting away from Jisung and allowing Jisung to hurriedly chop up the rest of the Spam. He slid the cutting board towards Minho, who thanked him with a small smile and dumped it in with the rest of the ingredients. Jisung gathered the knives and cutting boards they’d used, bringing them over to the sink and rinsing them off as Minho began cooking the omelettes.
With Minho concentrated on what he was doing, Jisung poked around the cabinets until he’d found where Minho kept the plates, grabbing two and two pairs of chopsticks from the drawer next to the sink. He set them down next to the stove, earning another pretty smile from Minho.
Satisfied that he’d earned his keep, Jisung returned to his spot on the floor, playing around with Dori until Minho informed him that the food was ready.
Jisung joined Minho at the table, thanking him before digging in. The omelette was delicious and Jisung made sure to let him know that, shoving a few more bites in his mouth before he realized that Minho wasn’t eating, his soft gaze locked on Jisung.
Jisung was suddenly all too aware of the food he had stuffed in his cheeks and he swallowed, reaching slowly for another piece and making sure he chewed it all and swallowed it down before going for another. Minho snapped out of whatever trance he was in, blinking a few times before clearing his throat, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t judging how you were eating.”
Minho turned his attention to his own food, making quick work of his own omelette. Seeing how fast he was eating made Jisung feel a little better, and he went back to enjoying his breakfast without worrying about how he looked.
Minho was halfway done when he suddenly stood up, looking apologetic, “I’m so sorry. I forgot to make you coffee.”
Jisung swallowed, shaking his head lightly, “It’s okay. I can make some at Changbin’s house. He has a fancy machine.”
“Are you sure?” Minho hovered over his chair, but he didn’t return to his seat. “Do you want water or orange juice or anything? I’m a terrible host.”
“You’re an excellent host. You didn’t have to host me at all. I’m fine without a drink, seriously.”
Minho was still hovering, worrying his bottom lip, and Jisung reacted without thinking, reaching out to tug on the pocket of Minho’s sweatpants until he sat down again. He dropped suddenly and Jisung’s hand followed, landing on his thigh as Minho returned to his seat.
Minho picked up his chopsticks and began eating again, seemingly unperturbed by Jisung’s hand on his leg. Jisung didn’t want to just snatch it away and have Minho think Jisung was uncomfortable, so he gave it a light squeeze before returning his hand to the table and finishing his meal.
“I can do the dishes, since you were nice enough to cook,” Jisung got to his feet, gathering both empty plates as Minho looked up at him, lips parting, and Jisung brandished his chopsticks at him. “Don’t say no.”
Minho snapped his mouth shut, huffing out a laugh as Jisung gave a satisfied nod, “You just relax. I won’t fuck anything up, I promise.”
Jisung felt Minho’s eyes on him as he moved to the kitchen, setting the dishes gently down in the sink. He grabbed the pan Minho had used to cook the omelette in and added it to his pile, flipping on the faucet and getting to work with the sponge. He heard Minho stand and a few seconds later an arm brushed his, Minho grabbing the dish towel that hung near the sink.
“You’re supposed to be relaxing,” Jisung grumbled, but he passed the cleaned plate to Minho anyway. They worked in comfortable silence, making quick work of the dishes as one of the cats wove between their legs. Jisung dried his hands on the towel Minho was still holding before bending down and scooping the kitty up, burying his nose in his orange fur, “Hi, Soonie.”
Minho made a noise of surprise and Jisung looked up, a question in his eyes. Minho jerked his head towards the cat in Jisung’s arms, “You got his name right.”
“Well, yeah, you told me their names last time.”
“I know. People get him and Doongie mixed up a lot though. Hyunwoo never could tell them apart, even after months.”
Jisung blinked, confused, “Soonie has more white fur. And his nose is white. Doongie’s is orange.”
Minho’s smile was the pretty one Jisung liked, but it wasn’t directed at him. Minho was looking down at his own feet, clearly trying to hide how pleased he was that Jisung had noticed the difference in his cats. Jisung felt a wave of hatred for Hyunwoo. It was a basic courtesy to know your partner’s pets, especially when they clearly meant so much to Minho.
“He sounds like a shitty boyfriend.” Jisung winced as soon as the words were out of his mouth. That was meant to be an inside thought. “I’m sorry, please pretend I didn’t say that.”
“He was okay,” Minho said lightly. “The cats didn’t like him much, I should have taken that as a sign. But it is what it is, it’s over now.”
“Yeah,” Jisung returned his face to Soonie’s, nuzzling against the cat again to stop himself from making any more comments about Hyunwoo. Minho clearly didn’t want to talk about it. “Thank you again for breakfast. And kitty snuggles. I’ll let you get ready for work.”
“Oh, I don’t have work today, we finished up the shoot yesterday. So you can stay. If you want!” Minho hurriedly tacked on. “But you aren’t bothering me in any way if you hang out. Do you like anime? We could watch something. Or maybe I’m bothering you and you were just using work as a polite excuse to leave. Feel free to go back to Changbin’s.”
Jisung did kind of want to go back to bed. But he also did really like anime. And Minho’s couch was way more comfortable than Changbin’s.
“I’ll stay,” he decided. “I love anime.”
Minho’s face lit up and before Jisung knew it, the entire day had passed, spread out on Minho’s couch as they half watched Nana and half discussed their favorite shows. Jisung had grown more comfortable with each passing minute and by the time the sun had set and he realized he should probably get going, his legs were tangled with Minho’s under the blanket they were sharing.
“Sorry,” Jisung slipped his foot out from where it was resting between Minho’s thighs, a blush starting to spread up his cheeks. “I didn’t mean to steal your whole day off.”
Minho blinked, his own foot stopping its crawl up and down Jisung’s shin, and glanced towards the balcony doors, “Oh, I didn’t realize it was that late. I didn’t even offer you dinner.”
They’d shared a pizza sometime in the afternoon, so Jisung wasn’t hungry, and he quickly waved away Minho’s concern, “You fed me enough today, honestly. Thank you.”
“Wait! Before you go…” Minho swung his legs off the couch, stumbling into the kitchen and over to the fridge. He emerged with a small homemade cheesecake, holding it proudly out to Jisung as Jisung sat up, “Bin said you liked cheesecake.”
Jisung stared at the dessert, his mind reeling, “You talked to Bin about me?”
Minho’s flushed ears were back and he nodded, bringing the cheesecake and a fork over to the coffee table and setting them down in front of Jisung, “He called me yesterday. He wanted to apologize about the Hyunwoo situation himself. He was also very interested in how things were going with us.” Minho’s ears grew redder, “Not that there is an us, obviously. But, yeah, he mentioned cheesecake was a good way to your heart.”
Jisung sank back into the couch, his eyelids fluttering as he processed Minho’s words. He knew Minho had been a little flirty with him, and that he was obviously hurting in the wake of his breakup, even if he was downplaying it, but this went a step further. He opened his mouth, closed it, and then opened it again, blurting out, “Are you trying to get to my heart?”
Minho looked incredibly nervous as he stood in front of Jisung, soft and vulnerable under his oversized hood, his trembling hands dwarfed by the sleeves of his sweatshirt, “Is that okay?”
Jisung wasn’t sure what to say. His previous conviction about not wanting to enter into a new relationship still stood, but he had been having a hard time keeping Minho out of his thoughts. And he’d had a really good time today, barely noticing the hours tick by. They had a lot of interests in common, and Minho had been really sweet to him from the moment they’d met. If Jisung had met Minho a year ago, before he’d sworn off of love, he’d be crushing on him hard.
The longer the silence dragged, the more uncomfortable Minho started to look, retreating even further into his hoodie. Jisung knew he needed to say something, but when he opened his mouth, no words came out.
“I’m sorry,” Minho finally mumbled, his eyes focused somewhere beyond Jisung’s shoulder and not on his face. “I overstepped. I hope you can still enjoy the cheesecake though. It’s yours to take back to Changbin’s. Uh, you know the way out. I’m just going to…” Minho gestured towards the stairs, and before Jisung could utter a word, he’d turned and fled up them, leaving Jisung alone with his thoughts and a rapidly thawing cheesecake.
-
The cheesecake was delicious and Jisung realized he didn’t have Minho’s number to tell him so. He didn’t think Minho would want to see him any time soon, so he left the empty dish with a thank you note on the table on Minho’s roof.
Three days later, it was still there.
-
“I fucked up,” Jisung groaned into the phone, wiggling around on Changbin’s stupid couch as he tried to get comfortable. “I should have said something. Even if it was just to tell him that I’m not ready yet. But I just stared at him like he was crazy.”
“Didn’t you say he lives next door?” Chan sounded confused. “Just go over and talk to him.”
“I can’t,” Jisung whined, finally giving up on the couch and rolling off to splay out on the floor instead. “He’s avoiding me.”
“You’ve tried to talk to him?”
“Well, no,” Jisung stared up at Changbin’s ceiling. He’d never noticed the chandelier before. “He’s not coming out on the roof anymore. We always met up on the roof. So obviously he doesn’t want to see me.”
“No shit, Sherlock. He’s embarrassed because you rejected him. You have to initiate the conversation.”
“I didn’t reject him.”
“No answer is a rejection, Sung.”
“I don’t want to get hurt again,” Jisung's voice was so quiet he wasn’t sure Chan had even heard him. He blinked up at the now blurry chandelier, not sure when his tears had started. He loved so openly, so wholeheartedly, and all it had done was left him bruised and guarded. He wasn’t ready to trust someone else with his heart again, barely able to pick himself up after the last time he’d had it stomped on. It had nothing to do with Minho, and everything to do with Jisung.
He knew Chan was right, that he should go over and explain himself, but he’d already hurt Minho enough. Maybe it was okay to just leave it as it was. He’d be home in a week anyway, and Minho would be nothing but a distant memory.
“Do you like him?”
Jisung did, and that was the worst part. The last three days had been filled with thoughts of what might have happened if he’d accepted Minho’s advances. Shared meals, nights in the hot tub, mornings on Minho’s roof, cuddling on the couch, walks around the neighborhood, getting to know each other slowly and comfortably. His thoughts drifted to Minho’s pretty mouth, to his full downturned top lip and his cute teeth, to the way he had been beaming at Jisung right before he hurt him.
Chan sighed, “You should talk to him, Jisung.”
Jisung mumbled a goodbye, hanging up with Chan and dialing Changbin. He had an important question to ask.
-
Jisung clutched the grocery bag tightly in his hand, waiting nervously on Minho’s front step. He’d checked to make sure the other boy’s car was parked out front before he came over, and it was, but he’d already rang the doorbell twice and knocked once, and there had been no answer. He would give it one more try before accepting Minho wanted nothing to do with him and returning to Changbin’s house.
Jisung lifted his fist to knock for the final time just as the door slowly crept open, Minho peeking out through the gap, “Do you need something?”
“I, um, I wanted to talk to you. If that’s okay.”
Before Minho could respond, a gray shape darted past him, Dori squeezing through the small crack in the door. Jisung was thankful for his quick reaction time as snagged him with one arm, bringing the squirming cat to his chest as Minho gasped. He opened the door fully, ushering Jisung inside.
Minho’s eyes were wide with fear and his hands were shaking as he accepted his cat from Jisung, hugging him tightly. Dori purred happily, completely oblivious to the panic he had almost caused.
“Thank you,” Minho mumbled to Jisung, his face pressed against Dori’s fur and his voice thick with tears. “Bad kitty! Don’t scare me like that!”
Jisung hovered awkwardly, waiting until Minho finished chastising Dori and set him down. When he looked up, Jisung noticed that his hair was sopping wet and his eyes were ringed with smeared makeup.
“Sorry,” Minho mumbled, rubbing at his eyes with the sleeve of his sweatshirt. “I was in the shower.”
“Oh,” Jisung rocked back onto his heels, feeling bad for interrupting. “I’m sorry. You should have just ignored me.”
“You wouldn’t have come back if I did,” Minho stated plainly, turning around and starting up the stairs. Jisung followed him, his bag still clutched tightly in his hand. When they reached the main floor Minho gestured towards the bathroom and Jisung nodded, perching himself on the edge of the couch as Minho disappeared to wipe off the remains of his makeup.
He returned shortly after, face bare of everything but nerves. He sat down next to Jisung, not close enough to touch, but not far enough away to make Jisung feel like his presence was unwelcome.
“Did you have a shoot today?” Jisung knew he should just come out and say what he came here to say, but maybe things would be easier if they made meaningless small talk first.
“No,” Minho stared down at his hands, tucked into his sleeves and resting on his knees. “I was taking pictures. For a dating profile.”
“Oh.”
Minho coughed awkwardly and kneaded at his knees, another very feline habit, “Yeah. So, what’s up?”
“This is for you,” Jisung lifted his bag and tipped it out over onto the couch, pudding cups raining down as Minho blinked at them. “Bin said you like some fancy Japanese pudding but I couldn’t find it at the store. I ordered some but I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take to come and I didn’t want to put off apologizing any longer, so, um, I just got whatever they had at the grocery store. I hope you like one of these. If you don’t, that’s cool, I’ll drop the Japanese one off when it comes. But, yeah, I’m sorry. For not responding to what you said the other night. I’m really sorry.”
Minho was still staring at the pudding, brows furrowed in confusion. Jisung felt stupid, but Minho had tried to win him over with dessert, so he thought this was the best move for an apology. But maybe he was wrong.
“You don’t have to apologize for not liking me,” Minho huffed. “It’s okay. I wasn’t expecting you to. I was just hoping maybe you’d be open to exploring something in the future once we knew each other better. But you don’t have to apologize. You don’t owe me anything.”
“I do. I owe you an explanation. And the apology is for not saying anything, I shouldn’t have just stayed silent like that.”
“It’s okay,” Minho insisted. Then, softer, “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“Even if the answer is yes?”
Minho blinked, once, then twice, “What?”
“I would like to spend more time with you. And get to know you better. I’m not ready for a relationship right now, and I know you just got out of one and need to recover from that too, but I’d like to be around when the time is right. If you still want me to be.” Jisung made sure he was looking at Minho when he spoke, though the older boy’s eyes kept flitting away from eye contact, bashful as Jisung’s words set in. “And if I missed my chance, that’s my fault. Feel free to tell me to shove it and leave.”
“Want to watch a movie?”
A small half smile crept onto Jisung’s face and he nodded, the tension completely dissolved. Minho tapped his bottom lip with his finger as he surveyed the pudding choices spread out on the couch, finally snagging a cup and indicating for Jisung to do the same. Jisung made his selection, then scooped the rest of them back into the bag as Minho went to retrieve two spoons.
“Howl’s Moving Castle?” Minho asked as he collapsed back onto the couch, spoon held out to Jisung and his spot a little closer to where Jisung was sitting than it had been before.
“We don’t always have to watch my favorite things,” Jisung accepted the spoon, peeling the lid back on his pudding cup and taking a spoonful. “You can choose the movie since I picked the anime the other day.”
“I like watching you watch the things you love,” Minho looked a little shy, but he met Jisung’s eyes with a soft smile. “You have a really expressive face. It’s cute.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll never say no to Howl’s.” Jisung made quick work of his pudding cup as Minho set the movie up, sinking back into the couch cushions as Minho pressed play. He was immediately enraptured with the movie, though he’d seen it enough times to quote the whole thing, but he could still feel the weight of Minho’s gaze on him. Whenever he snuck a peek himself Minho would return his attention to the movie and take a small bite of his pudding, ears tipped red even though he’d admitted to Jisung he was going to be staring at him.
Jisung kept his eyes on Minho until the other boy looked over at him again, soft lips pursed around the spoon in his mouth. He flushed, “What?”
“Nothing,” Jisung grinned. “You’re cute too.”
Minho pulled the spoon out of his mouth, his gaze dropping to his lap with a pleased smile, “Thanks. I wasn’t sure if…Thank you.”
“Wasn’t sure if what?”
“If you thought I was attractive.”
Jisung stared at him, his mouth open and his eyes wide. Minho shifted a little uncomfortably, his eyes snapping to Jisung’s and then back down to his lap, “I think everyone on the planet would find you attractive.”
“I only care about what you think,” Minho set his pudding cup and spoon on the table next to Jisung’s, sitting back to sink deeper into the couch. His thigh brushed Jisung’s as he did so, and the younger boy’s eyes dropped to where their legs had briefly touched. He shifted his hips slightly so their legs pressed together, then returned his attention to the movie. Minho’s thigh was warm against his own and Jisung felt a little stupid for the way it had his heart beat stuttering. They’d touched before, the heat of Minho’s body nothing new, but it felt different this time. Heavier. More important.
Minho shifted too, and now their arms joined their legs, just the smallest hint of warmth. Jisung was the one who had left Minho in the dark for days, and he knew it was up to him to push things a little further. So he reached out, grasping Minho’s leg and pulling it up and over his own before he could think about it too much, his hand resting on Minho’s bare thigh as the older boy made a soft noise of surprise.
Jisung kept his eyes on the tv screen, but his thumb soothed over Minho’s skin, his shorts riding up where Jisung had grabbed him. It took a few minutes, but eventually Minho relaxed into him, slipping down so his head could rest comfortably on Jisung’s shoulder.
By the time the movie finished, Minho’s breath had evened out, fast asleep against Jisung. Jisung moved slowly and cautiously, not wanting to wake Minho as he reached for the remote and shut the tv off. The living room fell into darkness and Jisung gripped Minho’s thigh a little bit tighter as he dropped his cheek to rest against Minho’s still slightly damp hair. Jisung breathed in the scent of Minho’s coconut shampoo and succumbed to his own sleepiness.
-
Jisung was alone when he woke up the next morning, blinking blearily in the harsh light that filtered through the balcony doors. He sat up, rubbing at his tired eyes as he took in his surroundings. He was on Minho’s couch and the space next to him was still warm when Jisung set his hand there to push himself to his feet, as if Minho had just departed. The kitchen was empty and the bathroom door loomed open, so wherever Minho had gone, it wasn’t on this floor. Jisung didn’t want to go stumbling around the parts of Minho’s house he hadn’t been privy to, so he shuffled into the kitchen and glanced around for the coffee maker.
“Oh, you’re up.”
Jisung turned to see Minho at the top of the stairs, still in his oversized hoodie and shorts from the night before. His hair was mussed and his eyes were heavy, and he clearly hadn’t been awake too much longer than Jisung.
“Sorry, I had to feed the cats. I didn’t mean to abandon you.”
“It’s okay,” Jisung yawned, leaning against the counter as Minho joined him in the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“There’s a coffee shop about a five minute walk away.” Minho opened the cabinet and pulled out a jar of instant coffee, “Or I have this if you need it now.”
“We can go to the coffee shop,” Jisung pushed off the counter, then realized what he’d said. “Or I can go to the coffee shop, sorry, I don’t know what your schedule is like.”
“I have practice, but not until later in the afternoon. We can get coffee.”
“Okay, cool,” it wasn’t a date, not yet, but suddenly Jisung felt nervous. This was a new experience; all the people he’d dated in the past had been met on dating apps or picked up at the bar. He’d never courted anyone before. “I’m gonna run back to Bin’s and shower quickly if that’s okay.”
“Yeah,” Minho ruffled his own messy bangs and huffed out a laugh, “I should probably finish my shower from last night. Meet out front in 30?”
Jisung agreed and the boys went their separate ways. Jisung showered quickly, cursing his past self for mostly packing comfy clothes to bring to Changbin’s. He threw on the only pair of jeans he had and his softest gray hoodie, shoving his feet into his boots and hurrying outside to meet Minho.
Minho was already there, perched on the wall in front of his house with his feet swinging. He was dressed simply, in jeans and a long sleeved shirt, his hair styled carefully over his forehead and his face lightly made up. He glanced over when Jisung emerged, flashing a small smile.
“You look nice,” Jisung slipped his hands in his pockets as Minho jumped off the wall, their steps falling into sync as they headed down the sidewalk.
“Thank you,” Minho looked pleased, and Jisung wondered if he had done the makeup specifically because Jisung had complimented him the last time he was wearing it.
“You always look nice,” Jisung blurted, not wanting Minho to think he had to be wearing makeup for Jisung to notice him. “And you have a really pretty smile.”
There was the smile in question, directed at Jisung and not at the ground this time, “Thanks.”
Jisung nodded, glancing around as they made their way across the park in the middle of the private community, heading for the gate and the small strip of stores beyond.
“It must be so nice to live here.” Jisung worked from home, and most of his hobbies were also done indoors, but he’d been enjoying the walkability of Changbin’s neighborhood since he’d been here. It was a pleasant change to be surrounded by trees and birds instead of city sidewalks crowded with jostling bodies.
“It is,” Minho hummed. “I’ve only lived here for about six months but it’s been great.”
“Where did you live before?”
They fell into an easy conversation about their childhoods and where they grew up, Jisung grabbing the door to the coffee shop and holding it open for Minho when they arrived. There was no break in conversation, even as they waited in line, chatting until the second the barista took their order.
Minho went first, and Jisung nudged him out of the way when he went to pay, shaking his head, “I got it.”
“You don’t have to.”
“And you didn’t have to make me breakfast twice, but you did. So I got it.”
“Okay,” Minho shoved his phone back in his pocket and Jisung placed his order, paying for both of them before following Minho to a small secluded table in the back corner of the shop. Minho launched into the tale of how him and Changbin had become friends (not much different to Jisung and Minho’s first meeting, though there were less tears and no stripping) and Jisung countered with his own Changbin friendship story (nervous freshman Jisung accidentally dropped his ridiculously thick biology textbook on Changbin’s foot). When the barista called their drinks, Jisung went and retrieved them, passing Minho’s off to him with a brush of their fingers.
They stayed in the back of the cafe for hours, talking about college and their careers and their hobbies. Minho shared videos of some of the artists he’d danced for and Jisung showed him his SoundCloud and played him some of his favorite songs he’d made. The conversation flowed easily, just as it had the day they’d lost themselves in anime, and Jisung would have stayed there all day if Minho hadn’t looked at the time and cursed.
“Shit, I should have left ten minutes ago. I’m sorry to just run out on you.”
“You’re fine,” Jisung waved him off. “I know my way back. I hope you aren’t too late.”
“Thanks,” Minho scrambled to his feet, clearly harried as he grabbed his trash and his phone. He was distracted and they’d been having a wonderful time, heads bent together and knees occasionally knocking under the table. That could be the only reason why he did what he did next.
Minho leaned in and pressed a quick goodbye kiss to Jisung’s lips, shoving his phone in his pocket as he turned to head out the door, “I’ll see you later.”
He’d only taken a few steps before he froze, the realization of what he’d just done sinking in. Minho turned back around, eyes wide with horror. He was met by a matching expression, Jisung’s mouth open in surprise and his fingers against his lips.
“I’m so sorry,” Minho’s ears were redder than Jisung had ever seen them and he looked like he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him. “It was just instinct, I wasn’t thinking, I just…”
“You’re going to be late,” Jisung choked out, his fingers still pressed to the place Minho’s mouth had just been. It had only been the briefest of touches, so light it was barely a kiss, and Jisung’s entire body was on fire. If Minho took even one step closer and Jisung so much as smelt his shampoo, he was going to combust. “It’s okay. Go.”
“Jisung…”
“It’s fine, seriously,” Jisung knew his voice sounded wrecked, and he hoped Minho didn’t think it was because he was upset. How pathetic was he to have his entire world rocked by just a smooch? “I promise, Minho. It’s okay.”
Minho seemed torn and his eyes danced across Jisung’s face, searching for the truth in his words. Jisung offered him a smile that he hoped didn’t look too pained and Minho finally gave a short nod, twisting on his heel and fleeing the coffee shop.
Jisung sank back into his seat, his hands coming up to cover his burning face as he groaned.
-
Jisung still didn’t have Minho’s number so he spent most of his evening peeking out Changbin’s front windows, waiting for Minho to return. He didn’t want another few days to pass with miscommunication, not after they’d been having such a nice time.
Minho had barely set one foot out of his car before Jisung was bursting out the front door, startling the older boy as he grabbed his bag and finished exiting his car.
“Hi!” Jisung skidded to a stop on the sidewalk in front of Changbin’s house, breathless as Minho tilted his head and blinked at him for a few seconds.
A tentative smile crept across Minho’s face as he shouldered his bag and slammed his car door shut, joining Jisung on the sidewalk, “Hi.”
“How was work?” Jisung bounced a little on his toes, slightly anxious for Minho to speak. He wanted everything to be how it was this morning, when it was easy and silly, and he hoped Minho hadn’t spent his whole day stewing in his mistake. “Did you make it on time?”
“It was fine,” Minho started up his front walk, Jisung trailing closely behind. “I was a few minutes late but I just blamed it on traffic.”
Minho stopped in front of his front door and Jisung slammed into his back, still stuck in his head and a little oblivious. Minho huffed out a small laugh when he stumbled back, profusely apologizing.
Minho opened his front door cautiously, making sure none of the cats were plotting an escape, before slipping in with Jisung. Once they were inside, Jisung realized he hadn’t been invited, had just been following Minho like a lost puppy, and he was opening his mouth to apologize for what Minho’s kiss had done to his brain when Minho dropped his bag and started up the stairs, “Spy x Family?”
“Yes!” Jisung scrambled up after him, relieved that it seemed they were just going to pick up where they left off.
“Feel free to get it started,” Minho gestured towards the tv. “I’m going to change. And feed the cats. Did you eat dinner yet?”
Jisung had forgotten about dinner. He’d forgotten about everything except making sure he and Minho were okay.
“No, I didn’t. But I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”
“I’m making fried rice. There will be more than enough for both of us.” Minho disappeared up the stairs and Jisung settled onto the couch, pulling the show up but not pressing play. He wanted to wait for Minho, even though he had said it was okay. He scrolled through his phone, liking some pictures Changbin had posted from South Korea, and tried not to glance at the stairs every two seconds. After what felt like an eternity Minho returned, telling Jisung again that he was free to start the show before he disappeared downstairs to deal with the cats.
Jisung still waited, and when Minho appeared this time, he just rolled his eyes and headed to the kitchen.
“I’m waiting for you,” Jisung huffed. “It would be rude to start without you. Especially since I just crashed your evening uninvited.”
“You aren’t uninvited,” Minho began gathering the things he needed to make dinner and Jisung joined him in the kitchen, retrieving the spare cutting board and knife that he’d used last time. Minho didn’t protest, just silently handed him a carrot and continued with what he was doing. “I told you the first time you came over that you were welcome anytime.”
“That’s just something people say,” Jisung waved him off, turning his attention to the carrot on the cutting board.
“Not me. I meant it.”
“Oh, well, in that case..” Jisung laid down the knife and pretended to step away, laughing when Minho pouted. He picked it back up and got to work, proud of how evenly he managed to chop the pieces this time. When he was done Minho insisted once again that he turn the show on, and this time Jisung listened.
After pressing play Jisung returned to the kitchen with Minho instead of lounging on the couch, watching the older boy cook. The space wasn’t that large, and Minho was using a lot of it, and it took Jisung way too long to realize his presence in the room was more of a nuisance than anything. But Minho never kicked him out, just worked around him, his hand occasionally finding a place on Jisung’s hip to nudge him out of the way.
And since Minho didn’t seem to mind, and Jisung liked being touched…
“Okay, now you’re doing that on purpose,” Minho laughed, grabbing Jisung’s waist with both hands and moving him away from the stove.
“Doing what?” Jisung asked innocently, immediately returning to his spot in front of the burner the second Minho released him.
“You know what,” Minho wrapped his entire arm around Jisung, pulling him backwards into his chest. But he didn’t release him, or move him out of the way, just kept him tight against his body with one arm as he pushed the fried rice around the pan with the other. “Is this what you wanted?”
Jisung hadn’t even known this was an option, but now that he did, yes, this was absolutely what he wanted. He nodded, relaxing into Minho’s hold as Minho lifted the spatula to Jisung’s mouth, “Taste.”
Jisung accepted the bite of food, informing Minho that it was delicious. The older boy turned off the stove, but he made no move to release Jisung, shifting them around the kitchen in tandem as he plated up their dinner. Jisung let himself be led, Minho’s arm warm and solid around his midsection.
Minho handed Jisung his plate, then picked up his own with the hand that wasn’t dug into the curve of Jisung’s waist. They shuffled over to the living room, Jisung giggling at how ridiculous the whole thing was as Minho eyed the couch.
“I think this is where we have to part ways.”
“Good thing we eat fast,” Jisung wiggled out of Minho’s hold and plopped down on the couch, already beginning to scarf down his dinner as Minho dropped into the space next to him. They ate in silence, their legs and arms brushing, until Jisung noticed something that had him pausing.
“I thought you were a lefty.”
“Huh?” Minho glanced up, his fork clutched in his right hand as his left shoulder brushed Jisung’s. “Oh, I use both.”
“That’s sexy,” Jisung blurted, then flushed when Minho laughed.
“Is it?”
Jisung doubled down, nodding solemnly despite his red cheeks, “Very sexy.”
“Good to know,” Minho grinned. “I’ll have to make sure to include that on my dating profile.”
Jisung suddenly didn’t feel very hungry anymore, and he pushed the rice around his plate as he fixed his attention on the tv. He didn’t like the way his stomach was churning at Minho’s words, the way it twisted and clenched. Jisung knew they were just getting to know each other, but he hadn’t realized Minho was open to getting to know other people as well. Jisung didn’t like the sound of that at all.
Minho seemed to be confused as to why Jisung had suddenly grown mopey, until he processed his own words. He nudged Jisung’s arm, tapping him with his elbow until Jisung tore his eyes away from the tv and finally looked at him.
“Should I delete it?”
It sounded like a simple question, but Jisung knew it wasn’t. There was an extra weight to it, an extra expectation if Jisung answered a certain way. He could see Minho’s teeth digging into his bottom lip, could see the hope in his eyes.
Jisung didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
-
Jisung stepped back and surveyed his work, proud of what he’d done. Changbin was returning in the morning, so it was Jisung’s last night being close to Minho. Changbin’s roof was already pretty romantic, but Jisung had scattered around some rose petals and added a few candles to the tray sporting the Japanese pudding Minho liked. He’d found another small table and set his laptop on it, so they could watch an episode of anime or listen to music if they wanted. He had a bottle of wine for them both and a slice of cheesecake for himself, and the jets on the hot tub had just been switched on when Minho emerged.
Minho unlatched the gate and slipped through, padding barefoot over to where Jisung stood by the hot tub. Jisung was already shirtless, and he could feel Minho’s heavy eyes on him through the steam.
“Hi.” Jisung wasn’t sure why he was so nervous. They’d been hanging out every day, marinating on Minho’s couch cuddled together or going on walks through the neighborhood with their hands entwined. They hadn’t taken it further than that, Minho’s accidental kiss at the coffee shop still the only time their lips had met, but Jisung’s every thought was plagued by Minho’s mouth. He was hoping tonight he’d be brave enough to cross the line.
“Hi,” Minho’s gaze flicked from Jisung’s tattoos up to his eyes, hazy in the soft glow of the fairy lights. “Is this why you ran away from dinner?”
They’d been eating on Minho’s couch, as they had been every night, when Jisung had remembered that he wanted to do something special and took off with a breathy ‘meet me on the roof in 20.’
“Since it’s our last night, I thought it would be nice to end it where it started,” Jisung swirled his fingers in the water, testing the temperature as Minho grasped the bottom of his shirt and pulled upwards. Jisung drank in the view, not at all embarrassed to be caught staring when Minho finally tugged the shirt over his head and dropped it to the deck.
Jisung’s eyes went lower, to where Minho hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his sweatpants, snapping them back up when Minho laughed.
“What? I didn’t get to properly enjoy it last time you stripped.”
Minho made a show of swaying his hips as he slowly inched his pants down, stepping out of them and moving his hands to the waistband of his underwear, “Are we skinny dipping?”
“I don’t think Changbin would like it if we had our dicks out in his hot tub.”
“I think Changbin would love if we, together, had our dicks out in his hot tub. But okay,” Minho climbed into the hot tub, his eyes on Jisung. “Your turn.”
Jisung shimmied out of his pants, not as sexily Minho had, but the older boy didn’t seem to mind, his eyes locked on Jisung’s hips. Jisung scrambled into the hot tub, sinking down in the warm water across from Minho. Minho hooked his foot around the back of Jisung’s knee and tugged, “Come over here.”
Jisung didn’t have to be told twice, standing to make his way over to Minho’s side of the hot tub. He didn’t make it too far before Minho grabbed him, Jisung weightless in the water as Minho pulled him into his lap.
“Hi,” Minho kept one hand on the dip of Jisung’s waist and raised the other one to his face, pushing Jisung’s dark hair behind his ear before trailing it down to curve around his neck.
“Hi,” Jisung breathed back, his arms draping Minho’s shoulders and crossing behind the older boy’s neck. “Your fancy pudding arrived.”
“I saw,” Minho hummed, the fingers on Jisung’s neck rubbing softly, his heavy lidded eyes not breaking contact with Jisung’s. There was barely any space between them, and it wouldn’t take much for Jisung to lean in and close the gap. But he had a question before he did.
“Do you actually like me? Or are you just lonely?”
“Huh?” Minho blinked, his gaze returning to normal as he tilted his head at Jisung. “Of course I like you.”
“Just making sure. Since you didn’t like the last guy you dated.”
“Because he wasn’t you.” Minho’s skin was flushed, though Jisung wasn’t sure if it was from the hot water or what he’d just confessed. “I, um, Bin talks about you a lot. I don’t know if he even remembers this, but he got really drunk one night. And really sad. About how great you are and how upset he was that none of your relationships work out the way you want them to. He showed me a picture of you, just briefly, and well…” Now Minho was definitely blushing, “You’re really attractive. Plus all the other stuff Bin had told me about you, I kind of had a crush on you without ever meeting you.”
Minho’s hold on Jisung had loosened, as if he thought Jisung would want to pull away from him, but Jisung didn’t move, just threaded his fingers into the hair at the base of Minho’s neck and hummed for him to keep going.
“I waited a few days and then asked him if he had anyone he could set me up with. I know I should have just accepted one of his invitations to hang out as a group and actually meet you, but I’m not really great with group stuff and I knew I’d be extra nervous and maybe you wouldn’t want anything to do with me, so I thought, since he’d just mentioned your bad luck with relationships, that maybe he would try to set me up with you. And he did. But when you said no, he worked really hard to find me someone else, and I didn’t want to admit that I was only interested in you, so I agreed to go on a few dates. It wasn’t supposed to go beyond that, but it was nice having someone to spend time with, and you weren’t available anyway, so…yeah. I was starting to think maybe I was ready to take things to the next level when he broke up with me.”
There was a faraway look in Minho’s eyes, a detachment that Jisung had seen every time he spoke about his ex, “Basically he said he’d only been dating me to screw around, and I wasn’t putting out, so he didn’t want to waste anymore time. And I was already having a shitty day. So that hurt. A lot.
“But then, you were here. I don’t know if I would have been brave enough to come over if everything wasn’t already fucked. But it was and I didn’t really have anything else to lose. You’d already rejected me once, I wasn’t expecting anything. I definitely wasn’t expecting this,” Minho’s eyes dropped to where Jisung was perched in his lap, then returned to Jisung’s face. “I'm still not fully convinced this is real.”
“Will this convince you?” Jisung removed his hands from where they were tangled in Minho’s hair, bringing them down to cup his jaw gently, his thumbs swiping across Minho’s warm cheeks. The other boy was staring at him, lips slightly parted, and Jisung couldn’t resist any longer. He leaned in, the water of the hot tub bubbling between them, and pressed his lips to Minho’s.
The arm around Jisung’s waist immediately tightened, pulling him in as Jisung gripped Minho’s jaw and surged forwards, deepening the kiss. Minho’s mouth opened easily for him and Jisung tilted Minho’s jaw up, their chests flush together as their lips met again, and again, and again. Jisung wasn’t sure if the heat pooling in his stomach was because of how long they’d been in the hot tub, or because of the way Minho’s hand was running up and down his back.
“You have such a pretty mouth,” Jisung murmured against it, trying to lick his way back in as Minho smiled.
Jisung whined, pulling back and mushing Minho’s cheeks, hoping to school his features back into a neutral position. That just made Minho grin brighter, his eyes dancing as he stared at the boy in his lap.
“I love your smile but not now,” Jisung smushed his cheeks again, trying to get Minho’s lips to relax. “Can’t kiss if you’re smiling.”
“You make me smile a lot.”
“Good,” Jisung had given up on Minho’s mouth and began peppering kisses across his face and neck instead, lingering on a spot below his ear that had Minho’s fingers curling against Jisung’s back. “I want to make you happy. I want you to always be smiling.”
“Except now.”
Jisung removed his lips from Minho’s neck and nodded solemnly, “Except now. This is our only chance to make out in a hot tub. We have to take advantage.”
“I’m sure Bin would be happy to let us make out in the hot tub whenever we want. He’d probably encourage it, actually.”
“He’s going to be so excited,” Jisung trailed his fingers softly down Minho’s neck, settling his arms over the older boy’s shoulders as he leaned in, Minho’s mouth soft against his.
The heat from the earlier kiss had cooled, and the hot tub jets were no longer bubbling, but every inch of Jisung was still on fire.
-
Minho and Jisung were in the middle of a very physical goodbye on Minho’s front step when Changbin arrived home the next morning, the two boys breaking apart at his scream.
“I knew it! I knew it!”
Minho’s hands slipped into the back pockets of Jisung’s jeans, rocking the smaller boy lightly as he rested his chin on Jisung’s shoulder and addressed his neighbor, “Welcome home, Binnie.”
“Did you guys fuck in the hot tub?”
“No!” Jisung removed one of his hands from Minho’s waist to give Changbin the finger, immediately returning it when Changbin barked out a laugh.
“That’s a shame.”
“See,” Minho murmured, his lips ghosting over Jisung’s ear, “I told you he wouldn’t care if we had our dicks out in the hot tub.”