Chapter Text
"Come on," Seongwu nudges him while he continues to stay still without even blinking. He's also controlling his breath thinking that it might help, but it's not seeing that Seongwu continues to talk. His mind lately registered that he can actually feel Seongwu when he touched him. Minhyun is now feeling embarrassed as he is reminded of how he stared at Seongwu for quite long earlier and the other man must’ve been aware of it.
"It's not you who will look like an idiot by replying,” He continues. “If someone here sees me talking to plain air for sure they'll say that I’m crazy."
Minhyun relents. There's no way of escaping this situation when he is already caught. He just sighed before facing Seongwu again. He is really confused and clueless because he didn't know that there's a possibility where humans can see their guardians. Meanwhile, Seongwu seems to be not surprised by this.
"Are you lost? How can I help in sending you off?" Seongwu asks with full concern. He looks like someone who is really willing to help. "It's been days and I noticed that you keep on following me."
"Ah, no. I'm–" Minhyun’s words was cut off by Seongwu's exaggerated gasp. The boy must've thought that he's a ghost so it means he can see them. Maybe that's the reason why he wasn't even surprised to see a creature like him.
"Please do not take my soul now. I am still young." Seongwu’s face shows that he’s really pleading for his life. Minhyun was surprised by this series of events but he admits that he finds Seongwu’s variety of expressions cute. Maybe he’s thinking of him as a grim reaper.
"Am I not living my life diligently? I promise not to cut class again.” Seongwu sighed. "But classes are really boring..."
"I will not take your soul if you pledge to commit yourself not to do things like that again." Minhyun tried to make his voice as commanding as possible and seeing Seongwu nodding his head in agreement made him smile inwardly. He guesses that he can use it for a while for him to correct the other's habits—because it’s his job.
✧ ✧ ✧
Seongwu has been coping up fast with Minhyun's existence. For Minhyun, he's still adjusting himself not to living with Seongwu, but with his presence being noticed. The feeling is still new to him—Seongwu asking if he has eaten, telling him not to sleep late because even grim reapers (he still doesn't know) need energy, and asking if he's bored. He felt that someone's caring for him and it's making him feel things.
Seongwu has improved his ways. Minhyun was surprised by this and he has to admit that it makes him proud, though there’s a chance that he’s only doing it because he is scared. But seeing that Seongwu is comfortable with him, he dismissed that idea.
"Go around for a bit if you're bored. I already promised that I'll attend my class." He said before waving to Minhyun.
"Okay," Minhyun smiled while waving back. "I'll be right here when your classes are done."
Daniel saw Seongwu waving into nothing. Minhyun saw it and he immediately works wonders to erase it from Daniel's memory. He doesn't want Seongwu to get into trouble so it’s better to be safe.
And oh . If there's Daniel, for sure there will be Jihoon.
"Hyung?" Jihoon asked, bewildered. "He... he can see you?"
Minhyun scratched his nape upon nodding. He meant to say this to them before but he needed a confirmation. Jihoon asked further about it and Minhyun told him how is it weird that the two of them alone basically live under the same house because Seongwu's parents rarely go home. But despite this, he told him how it feels nice for a human to interact with him.
"I'm so happy for you." Despite of what he said, Jihoon's face shows otherwise. It looks like he concluded something. Minhyun was about to ask why when Seongwu approached them. The two wasn't aware of the time that has passed.
"See? I didn't skip class." Seongwu proudly said. It is noticeable how he is waiting for Minhyun’s reaction. Seongwu was busy talking about how his day went when Jihoon coughed to excuse himself.
"By the way, this is–" He was pointing to Jihoon but he noticed Seongwu's quizzical look.
"Hyung, no need. he won't see me." Jihoon also stopped him.
"But he sees me?"
"He can only see you and you'll know the reason behind it soon." Jihoon playfully smiled at him. He hates it because this is always the kind of smile that makes him curious.
Seongwu continues to throw a confused look at Minhyun, mirroring the look he's been giving to Jihoon.
"You don't see him?" His hand is still pointing at Jihoon, who is so close to laughing.
Seongwu just shook his head slowly. So Jihoon is right, Seongwu can't see Jihoon but he can't see him. He has to know the secret that lies behind it.
✧ ✧ ✧
They found themselves sitting again on one of the benches where Seongwu said that he sees Minhyun. It made him realize that time is really fast that it's been weeks since the first time they interacted with each other. It seems like this is one of the favorite places of Seongwu, based on how they see themselves here more often. Minhyun can't blame him though; the place is really peaceful and in so much contrast than the busy cities he has been assigned before.
"Minhyun," Seongwu faces him. "Even though you are meant to get my soul, I'm still thankful to have met you."
Minhyun smiled. The way he calls his name, the way he always faces him whenever he is talking to him and how he is not ashamed of it (though Minhyun has the job of erasing this part on people’s memory to avoid complications in the future; Seongwu isn’t aware of it.), and the words he’s telling him right now—those are not supposed to make him giddy. He cannot believe how innocent Seongwu can be and it's just endearing for him.
"I have something to tell." He went on when he sees Seongwu's expecting face. "I'm not actually a grim reaper, if that's what you are talking about."
Seongwu's face expressed betrayal. "I lived my life diligently because I thought..."
"But it was effective right?" Minhyun laughs. It is noticeable how close they have gotten that he knows Seongwu won’t get offended by him laughing at his misery.
Seongwu pretended to sulk. He doesn't know why he can't be mad at Minhyun despite him not telling the truth. Right now, he is enjoying to hear Minhyun's laugh. Until now, he doesn’t understand why he was not even afraid of Minhyun’s existence even if he believed that he may take his soul. Maybe it’s because of the other’s innocent looking face, his sweet voice whenever he talks, or the unexplainable space that he’s filling when they are together. He later dismissed all the thoughts to ask a thing he is curious about.
"What are you then?"
"I'm your guardian..." Minhyun's voice lowered thinking that saying this may be a little absurd, but it's really his job and he cannot think of a better way to say it.
“Guardian? I didn’t know that really exists.” Seongwu’s face is in the middle of being surprised and amazed. “Do you have those magical powers too?”
Minhyun showed a smug smile, as if he’s trying not to confirm something obvious. He’s enjoying Seongwu’s face that is now full of curiosity and excitement.
“Look up at the sky, Seongwu.” Although confused at what Minhyun had suddenly asked him to do, he still followed the other’s words. It is noticeable that it is only the moon that shines brightly, the stars are nowhere to be found. He looked at Minhyun, who is looking at the same sky, and he really can’t deny that he finds this man behind him beautiful .
“I said look at the sky, not on me.” Though the other’s voice is commanding, it doesn’t prevent Seongwu to notice a tinge of red on Minhyun’s ears. He smiled at this kind of things that makes Minhyun shy before returning his gaze at the sky. When his eyes focused, he notices the stars shining brightly just now.
It’s now Minhyun’s turn to look at Seongwu, whose eyes are now sparkling with delight upon seeing the stars lit. He cannot comprehend why he is feeling this happiness at the moment.
“There, I just made the stars shine for you.”
Minhyun just showed a part of himself to Seongwu and he just broke a rule, but he doesn’t care on any of it.