Chapter Text
Minho didn’t like people. Plain and simple. That may have been a contradiction because he himself was a person, realizing at the age of four that he wasn’t a cat like his 2 “brothers” that his parents had been raising alongside him, had been one of the most tragic days of his life. Minho didn’t deem himself to be any better than others, but he couldn’t really change who he was, so he had to get used to it. Other people however? He tried to avoid them as much as possible. They were annoying, loud and didn’t know boundaries. He was a lone wolf by nature, someone who needed time alone every time he went out, who enjoyed going out a bit earlier in the morning to avoid crossing paths with his neighbours, who always preferred working alone to being in a group. Because he had a clear sense of who he was, he often judged people rather harshly, observing them, looking for their flaws.
Considering that, Minho didn’t really know why he was there, at a party late on a Sunday. The next day he had to wake up at 8 am to replace his colleague in a morning shift at the cafe and he felt tired just thinking about it. He didn’t really want to dance or drink, but his roommate had really insisted he should come, so here he was: standing alone with a plastic cup in his hand, in the middle of a crowd where he didn’t know anyone. He should have expected it honestly, because Chan was studying music production and that wasn’t his scene at all, but Minho also had the ability to strike up a conversation with whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted (another paradox because then people would think he was sociable and friendly, words he never wanted to hear associated with his person) so usually it wouldn’t have been a big deal. That night though, he just wanted to go back to his room and crash on his bed like a sack of potatoes.
“Minho!”
He heard a voice calling him, slurred by the alcohol and found his roommate walking with, or better said, being dragged by another scrawny-looking boy, who had honey-like skin, soft brown hair and was dressed like an e-boy. He had to stifle back a laugh seeing his buff roommate hanging onto him.
“Chan?”
He answered, though his eyes were set on the other boy.
“I don’t think I’m really good”
Chan mumbled while taking a shaky step towards him. Minho had to catch him before he could lose balance and the other boy soon was at his side, rubbing Chan’s back soothingly.
“I can see that”
His gaze finally met the other boy’s and he was a little taken aback because of how sparkling his eyes were. It would have been so easy for him to just stare a second longer and know everything about him, because they were that transparent and expressive.
Chan groaned and let himself fall on them like a heavyweight, so Minho tried to shake the image out of his mind and focus on the situation. They put one arm around each of their shoulders and started moving again. The muscly boy closed his eyes and Minho prayed he wasn’t going in an alcohol induced coma.
“Ok, we have to get him to our room, give him some water, make him vomit if he doesn’t seem alive, which he doesn’t right now”
He sped up as he walked in the corridors, letting the knowledge he acquired in his medicine studies guide him and the boy kept up, not uttering a word. They arrived and threw Chan on the bed, who whined as they rid him of his shoes.
“I’ll go grab a glass of water”
The boy said, going out the door before Minho could answer. He slapped lightly his roommate’s cheek.
“Stooop I don’t like it on my faceeee”
Minho’s face contorted in disgust, but he was glad Chan felt good enough to talk.
“Ew I didn’t need to know that!”
Chan chuckled and protruded his face out the bed, making gagging noises. Quickly Minho took the trash can for him and turned around, not wanting the scene to come back to haunt his dreams. He patted his friend’s back as he threw up. When he stopped, the boy came in with a red cup and grimaced at the smell.
“At least he won’t die”
Minho shrugged his shoulders. The boy stretched his hand to pass him the cup and their fingers brushed against each other for a moment as their eyes met again. Minho shook the shiver he felt crawling up his spine and made Chan drink the water.
“Well, thank you for your help whoever you are-“
Minho started as he got up.
The boy grinned and stretched his hand.
“Jisung, I’m a friend of Chan’s”
Minho just went past him as he made his way out, taking the bin with him.
“Yeah, whatever, you can go back to the party now”
The boy followed him outside.
“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?”
He sighed, this boy had said not more than five words to him and he was already getting in his way.
“Honestly, no, I don’t see why I should. I have approximately 6 hours to get some decent sleep and go to work rested enough to not chop some costumer’s head off, so I’m in a bit of a hurry”
He didn’t care how rude he sounded, the night had been a loss of time and he should have just stayed in and went to sleep early. Without saying goodbye he took the first steps toward the bathroom, thinking the conversation had ended there. Apparently, Jisung wasn’t of the same idea.
“Wait!”
He shouted making Minho turn back, arching an eyebrow.
“What now?”
“Do you believe in love at first sight?”
Minho almost dropped the can for the shock. His eyes squinting as he processed what he just heard.
“The fuck are you talking about?”
Jisung confidently fixed his posture and leaned back against the door, closing it.
“Do you believe in lo-“
Minho screeched hearing the lock click.
“You did not just lock me outside”
He whisper-shouted, not wanting to wake up his neighbours.
“Oh shit, did I?”
The boy said as he tried to open the door.
Minho slapped one hand on his face, unwilling to believe what had just happened.
“Well, at least I have time to finish now”
The boy continued unphased as he did not just made his already horrible night a hundred time worse.
“Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?”
If Minho was incredulous before, he was actually at a loss for words now.
“Are you seriously using a pick up line on me when I have a bucket of vomit in my hand and you just locked me outside my dorm?”
He asked rhetorically, trying not to raise his voice in anger. Jisung rubbed his chin, seemingly in thought.
“I mean yeah, that sums up the situation pretty well”
Minho took a deep breath, raking his mind for reasons not to launch himself at the boy to scrape the smug smile off his face.
“Are you dumb?”
“ I might be foolishly in love”
Minho turned his back on him again and started walking towards the bathrooms, reminding himself that he wasn’t a violent person, that he would not punch that boy no matter how much he got on his last nerve.
“You have definitely gone mad”
He spat out harshly, the boy picked up his pace to walk next to him.
“For you”
Minho grimaced.
“Why are you still here? You don’t even know my name”
Jisung opened the door for him as they finally reached the toilet and he got rid of what was inside the bin, rinsing it with water a few times after.
“I do actually”
Minho looked at him, reflecting on what he had gathered about him in the short span of time he had spent with him.
“Are you some kind of stalker?”
Jisung pouted and frantically shook his head.
“Nonono! I just… Chan mentioned you a few times and I always see you around here”
Minho hummed and got out of the room after he washed his hands.
“Still sounds sketchy to me”
He looked around, remembering in that moment that he still couldn’t get inside his dorm, because he left his keys there and Chan surely was fast asleep if he was still alive.
“Alright, then I guess you’re not interested in a room for the night”
That picked up his interest, though he didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of actually showing it.
“Are you asking me to use my body in exchange for a place to sleep? “
Minho deadpanned, still a bit suspicious of him.
“Oh my god, no! I was just trying to be kind because it’s my fault you’re locked out, jeez do you actually think I’m a creep? I can’t believe Chan never told you anything about me”
Minho now felt a bit guilty looking at the sad puppy eyes Jisung was sporting. He only caught a glimpse of them, because the boy quickly crossed his arms on his chest, looking down, hiding them. He wondered if Jisung knew how much they gave him away. After an awkward pause, Minho sighed swallowing his pride, seriously wishing for the earth to crumble beneath his feet and suck him in.
“Do you have a spare bed?”
Jisung raised his gaze, an hopeful glint in his eyes.
“You’re going to accept my help?”
Minho definitely didn’t think that haste shift in his attitude was endearing.
“I can’t make a decision if you don’t answer me”
He tried to sound assertive, but his tone betrayed his desperation.
“You know, you don’t seem like you’re in a place to set conditions here”
Minho squeezed his fists, going back to feeling very annoyed.
“Do you have it or am I sleeping on the floor?”
Jisung chuckled at his curt tone.
“I do, my roommate is always at his boyfriend’s so you can use his”
Minho felt relieved to hear that.
“Ok, lead the way”
Jisung couldn’t help his smirk as he guided him to his room, closing the door behind them when they came in.
“You know, I would have never thought it would have been so easy to rile you up, you always seem so calm”
“Don’t talk like you know me”
He almost growled. Jisung was still grinning.
“Or maybe it’s just a special ability of mine”
Minho groaned and ignored him as he looked at the messy room. The bed on the right side was made and all the things belonging to the owner were put away neatly, the left side however, looked like a bomb just exploded, there were empty packages still lying around from what he could only guess were midnight snacks, clothes all over the mattress, the covers bundled up at the feet of the bed. He let himself fall on the first bed he laid his eyes on, unhesitating.
“You’re messy”
He stated as he took his shoes off. Jisung threw the clothes on the floor and pulled the sheets up to the pillow.
“How did you know that wasn’t my bed?”
“I didn’t, but your side is disgusting and you wouldn’t catch me dead sleeping there”
He scoffed. Jisung laid on his bed and looked at him intensely.
“Uh, I give it 3 months before you fall so hard for me you’ll come begging”
“I would never be interested in someone so annoying”
Minho rolled his eyes, stretching and going under the covers as well.
“Challenge accepted”
“That was not- You know what? I don’t care I just came here to sleep”
He closed his eyes, irritated to no end and waited for Jisung to do the same.
“You know what you could have told me to convince me to host you?”
He grimaced, this boy really didn’t want to leave him alone.
“You offered-“
He began before the boy interrupted him.
“Hey, my name is Microsoft, can I crash at your place tonight?”
He turned around and switched the light off, groaning at the other boy’s giggle.
“Shut the fuck up and let me sleep”
“Good night to you too ”
The morning after, Minho woke up at 7 am and got ready as silently as possible, not wanting to wake up the sleeping boy. He glanced at him before he left, he was so much more tolerable when he wasn’t talking. The light filtrating through the blinds light up his face highlighting his soft cheeks and it was heart-warming to see him with his hair all ruffled from his moving during the night. He mentally slapped himself for staring like that and put on his shoes before heading out without leaving any trace behind.
He really wanted to forget about the whole ordeal, but he would soon discover that wasn’t possible. A very hungover Chan let him in at round lunchtime, rubbing his eyes like he just woke up.
“Took you long enough”
Minho said as he took his keys from the nightstand he left them on and put them safely in his pocket. He would have kissed them if out wasn’t extremely unhygienic.
“I’ve just come back from the dead, can’t you be nice for today?”
“Absolutely not, you left me out in the cold yesterday night”
Chan’s eyes widened.
“Oh wait really? I thought you just left early ”
“I did, but I was locked out after I brought you back here from the party, you must’ve been sleeping by then”
“How did you even end up locked out? You’re the most attentive person I know”
“Because of your annoying dumbass friend”
He answered, failing to hide his irritation.
“I have no clue who you’re talking about”
“Oh my god you don’t remember that last night we helped you get back here? Me and Jisung?”
Minho asked, frustrated to recount the event again.
Chan finally seemed to understand.
“Ooooh you met Ji! “
Minho connected the pieces.
“That was Ji??? The one that makes music with you?”
Chan nodded.
“You called him sweet? Cute?”
Chan nodded again.
“The one you say it’s like a little brother to you?”
“Yeah, that Ji, did you like him?”
Minho rubbed a finger on his temple.
“He’s a pain, that’s what he is”
Chan frowned.
“What do you mean? I thought you two would get along great”
“Really? You thought that brat who shoots out pick up lines faster than you eat a bag of chips and I, would get on well?”
“Pick up lines, what in t- ooooh I see”
Minho looked at him furrowing his brows, confused as his friend tried to contain his laughter.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll understand”
Minho shrugged and went to take a shower, he wanted to wash away everything that happened in the last 24 hours. Things always slipped past him like falling water anyway, for once actually wishing they would and not just sitting through it passively, unable to feel anything. As he felt the water hitting his cold skin, he closed his eyes and he could swear he saw brown sensitive ones looking back at him.
The next day he really expected that whole thing to be over, that he could just forget about the existence of one annoying Han Jisung forever, but fate was probably against him, he realized, when while he was studying he scrunched up a page of his notes that didn’t make sense and threw it were the trash can was supposed to be, only for it to land on the floor.
He was anything but forgetful, this time though, he remembered only in that moment where he left the bin. He tried calling Chan to get him to go pick it up instead of him, but he didn’t answer, so he found himself in front of Jisung’s dorm, knocking on his door with the tail between his legs yet again.
The boy showed up smirking.
“Already back I see, you missed me that much?”
Minho groaned as he nudged him with his shoulder getting inside. Ignoring the other’s complaints he marched to the bed he used the night before and took a hold of the bin.
“I forgot this”
Jisung put himself in front of the open door to stop him from fleeing the scene as fast as he came.
“You aren’t even going to thank me?”
Minho glared at him.
“The only reason why I was here in the first place is you, so no”
Jisung chuckled.
“Oh, are you still mad about that?”
Minho was fuming at the guy’s boldness.
“Of course I am!”
“It wasn’t even my fault! How could I have known you left your keys inside?”
The boy retorted, getting heated as well.
“I was only going to wash the bucket and come back, why would I have brought the keys?”
“Because your door locks automatically? That’s just common sense”
Minho inhaled deeply.
“Move, I didn’t come here to fight with you”
“No, wait, I need your help with something first”
Minho crossed his arms sighing. He was still a polite person despite his cold facade, so he didn’t refuse right away.
“What can I do?”
He asked, regretting the words as soon as they left his lips.
Jisung reached a hand in his pocket and took his phone out.
“I think there’s something wrong with my phone. It doesn’t have your number in it”
Minho literally facepalmed.
“I knew it, god you’re wasting my time, again, move before I make you”
“Oooh daddy”
Jisung said as he kept laughing. Minho, tired of his attitude, grabbed him by the arms and pulled him close to his chest.
“I. Told. You. To. Move”
He repeated slowly, articulating every word. The younger shut his mouth and gulped hard as he looked up into his eyes. Minho made them spin around so they switched places and let go of him abruptly. Before the other could utter another world, he was out the door, free, walking away with his bucket. He won.
The rest of the week went by without a hitch and on Friday he looked forward to a chill night at his best friend’s place. It wasn’t unusual for him, Chan and Changbin to meet at the latter’s apartment, giving that he was crazy rich and them broke college students. The two of them had been friends since they were little, he was one of the few people he tolerated. They ended up in the sam university despite their very different interest and majors, quickly adding Chan to their group when Minho met him as his roommate. Despite his lonesome nature, Minho loved spending nights just talking to them, or playing stupid games, when they were sometimes joined by the man of the house’s boyfriend, Hyunjin. His excitement died down quickly when he showed up at the door and saw a fifth person had joined them today, no less than the annoying fucker himself, Han Jisung.
“Oh god, not you again”
“Hello to you too, you do know this is my home, right?”
Greeted him Changbin, who had buzzed him in. He stepped inside and took off his shoes, sighing.
“I wasn’t talking to you”
He explained, then he glared at Jisung, who answered him with a wave and a wide taunting smile.
“Hey, Mr. Bucket, are you usually that hot or did you just come out of the oven?”
The other three boys snickered at the joke, while Minho let himself fall on the couch and turned to them, looking for an ally.
“Did you all hear what he just called me?! Damn, this kid’s nerve…”
“Hey! Don’t talk like I’m not here!”
He pouted and for a moment Minho thought he could see why Chan thought he was cute, only for a moment though.
His roommate shushed them.
“Stop it you two! I invited both of you tonight because I want you to get along”
Minho crossed his arms and glanced at the boy.
“I guess I can be the bigger person and tolerate him for the night”
Jisung scoffed.
“Tolerate me? And I’m the one with an attitude?”
Changbin sighed.
“What did we just say?”
Hyunjin giggled and hit his bicep lightly.
“Leave them be, it’s the sexual tension, they’ll get along once they get each other off”
Minho and Jisung gaped.
“WHAT?”
They shouted in unison, when they realized it they met each other’s gaze and Minho quickly looked away. Jisung cowered his head, blushing faintly.
“Hwang, it’s been a while”
Minho got up and and went into the bathroom, his face dead serious. Hyunjin, feeling the danger through his bones, started running around the living room, looking for a place to take refuge from his revenge. Jisung furrowed his brows.
“What’s happening? Where did he go?”
Chan chuckled.
“Oh, he does this whenever Hyunjin teases him, you’ll see”
He didn’t have to wait long for that, because Minho came out of the bathroom with a bunch of wet paper tissues in his hand and calmly gripped Hyunjin by his shirt and held him in place as he stuffed them in his mouth. Jin squirmed to run away at first, but surrendered after a while as the other three boys laughed at the scene.
“Babe! You’re just letting him do that?”
He asked as he was spitting out the paper.
“Jinnie, you kind of deserved it”
Changbin observed, though he used a loving tone.
“Fuck you, then Ji will be my boyfriend for the night”
Changbin rolled his eyes, used to his boyfriend antics.
“Whatever you say love”
Hyunjin frowned, not getting the reaction he wanted, and sat on the floor next to Jisung, stretching his arms asking for a hug. He hugged him back, but just when they were settled comfortably, Hyunjin with his head on Ji’s shoulder, the latter elbowed his side.
“Ouch! What was that for?”
He screeched as he flinched away from him.
“So you know when to mind your own business”
Jisung shrugged with an evil grin. Minho smiled watching him and high fived him automatically when the younger stretched his palm open.
The doorbell rang again, the delivery guy had arrived so Changbin paid him as Jisung helped him with the bags that contained their orders. They started passing the respective dishes to each other and he sat in his former place, this time with a whiny Hyunjin in his lap and soon they were caught up in their own world.
Jisung seemed to be hungry because he plopped on the couch between Chan and Minho and immediately stuffed two big bites in his mouth, making his cheeks puff up. Minho tried not to laugh at the sight, but failed miserably.
“Whaf if it?”
The boy said having noticed the sudden outburst, struggling to speak because his mouth was so full.
“Nothing, you just eat in a funny way”
Jisung squeezed his eyes tight and sent him a glare.
“I’ll hit you”
He threatened swallowing. Chan pat his shoulder.
“Chill Ji, you know you’re basically a quokka in human form”
Minho’s eyes shone of a new light.
“Right! That’s what you resemble! Like some kind of rodent, you could be a squirrel too”
The boy groaned, cradling his head with his hands.
“Not you too”
Minho snickered.
“Chan reminds me of a papa bear, so it could be worse”
Chan clicked his tongue as Ji chuckled.
“I take that as a compliment actually, because it means that I’m a caring person you can all rely on”
“Or a giant who’s too fond of sweets”
Retorted Minho giggling with Jisung at his roommate, who was visibly done with them.
When the boy stopped he stared intensely at Minho’s face, who arched an eyebrow.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“Beauty”
He shot back as Minho rolled his eyes.
“You’re starting to sound like a broken disk”
Jisung chuckled.
“I was trying to think of an animal for you, but the ones that fit you aren’t good for jokes”
Chan chimed in.
“Have you noticed his crooked front teeth? He looks like a bunny”
Minho flicked his roommate on his thigh as a response. Jisung smiled but shook his head.
“They’re cute”
Minho grinned.
“That’s the weirdest compliment I’ve ever heard”
Ji shrugged as he was chewing.
“I told you I’m irresistible”
Minho snickered.
“I didn’t mean it in good way, you annoying brat”
Jisung got a bit closer to him, lowering his voice.
“Then why were you smiling like that…”
Minho looked up at him, eyes wide at the change in his tone suddenly becoming more flirtatious, not cocky like when he usually delivered his pick up lines or teasing., like when he responded to his snarky remarks.
“…Mr. Bucket?”
Jisung’s face broke into a grin and Minho shoved him back in his place recognizing his joking tone now.
“What have I done… I’m a double third wheel now”
“Shut up”
Minho and Jisung responded in unison again and they giggled as they high fived each other.
Hyunjin disentangled himself from Changbin and went over to them to convince them to play Among us together. As they all tidied up the living room and settled at a distance not to give themselves away, Minho thought that maybe the boy was a bit more than tolerable after all.
The screen told him he was the impostor and he looked up and met eyes with Jisung. He winked at him and the boy smirked. Yeah, their friends were going to regret putting them together. He just hoped he wouldn’t.
Minho was getting out of class when his phone rang. He groaned. People calling him really annoyed him.
Not only it bothered him because they interrupted his alone time, but also because often they didn’t even have a reason to. His friends had learnt the harsh way that he much preferred to be contacted through text if they wanted to ask him something. Only his parents called him from time to time to catch up and he was more than happy that all the people in his life respected his wishes.
Han Jisung, however, didn’t seem to know that.
“Is your name Google? Because you have everything I’m searching for”
Minho literally facepalmed, which had become usual for him since he had met the boy.
“I swear I knew you were gonna do that, why did I even answer?”
“Because you l-“
He put the phone down before the other could finish. That little shit enjoyed annoying him so much it was unreal, he was gonna off Chan for giving him his number.
“MR. BUCKET!”
He heard someone shout in the hallway. He turned around already guessing who that voice belonged to.
“Are you following me? Do I have to reconsider the stalker theory?”
Jisung grinned as he closed the distance between them and started walking by his side. Some people gave them weird looks, but he felt his irritation starting to pile up.
“Why are you still on that? Is this a sick fantasy of yours? “
Minho shook his head. He was firmly against kink shaming, but the concept of it definitely weirded him out.
“Why are you here? Why did you call me? It really gets on my nerves when people do that”
Jisung scrunched his forehead.
“You mean calling?”
Minho nodded, picking up his step to spite the younger boy, a tiny revenge for disturbing him.
“I thought that if Chan gave you my number he would at least tell you not to call me unless you had an emergency and you absolutely needed my help”
“Is it that deep? You didn’t even stay on the phone to let me finish”
“I just… don’t like it”
Minho stopped in his tracks and turned to Jisung, gritting his teeth to make him understand that he should not push him right now.
“Ok, I just saw you and I thought you would prefer it over me shouting your name across the corridor. I was going to do a study session at the library and I thought maybe you could tag along”
Jisung’s voice turned soft as he said the last sentence. Minho’s grim expression relaxed into something that resembled a smile.
“Oh, did you miss me perhaps?”
Jisung shoved him lightly, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
“You can’t use the uno reverse card on me”
“I can and I will, watch me Alvin Superstar”
Jisung gasped.
“Don’t call me that! I don’t look like him at all!”
“You’re a singing squirrel, that’s close enough”
“Yes, but I’m not self-centered and desperate for the spotlight like him, at least make me the smart one”
Jisung whined childishly.
“I can’t, you don’t have glasses”
Minho retorted, glad that he was doing the teasing for once.
“I do actually, I just wear contacts”
“Oh, I do too”
“Let’s see who looks better then”
Jisung wiggled his brows, challenging him.
“Why do you always put yourself in bets you’re going to lose?”
Jisung smirked and put his hands in his pockets.
“I’m an ambitious guy, I always aim at the top. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll reach it”
He said shrugging as if he was stating the obvious. Minho couldn’t contain the endearment in his eyes when he saw him smile wide while he turned to him.
“That’s wise Simon”
He ruffled his hair as Jisung screeched, not expecting to be touched, but not retracting either. They finally got to the library and sat in a secluded table near the science section.
Minho pulled out his books and immediately got to work, adjusting his notes and writing new ones as he read his biology manual. The other boy shuffled around quite a bit and took a much longer time to get settled and take out his books. Minho looked at him when the soft noises finally stopped. The boy was crouched down while reading on the page, his phone next to him because he had a pair of earphones plugged in. He smiled at the sight and the boy seemingly noticed that because he looked up at him. Before Minho could refocus, Jisung took out his left earphone and offered it to him, communicating with his big expressive eyes. Minho skeptically took it and put it in his ear as the boy readjusted his other end and scooted a bit closer.
“It’s a good playlist I promise”
He whispered as the song was changing.
“I’ll trust an expert opinion”
Jisung grinned wide. Minho elbowed him gently.
“What did I say that was so funny?”
“It’s- this is the second compliment you’ve given me today and you haven’t insulted me once”
“I’m pretty sure I called you a stalker before and I also said you’re irritating”
Jisung rolled his eyes and put his face closer to Minho’s as he mouthed the lyrics of the chill song playing in the background. The older boy chuckled for the face he made and pinched his cheek.
“Let’s concentrate”
“As you say boss”
They snickered quietly and got back to their assignments.
Minho always preferred to spend time alone, but he realized he didn’t mind Jisung’s presence next to him, even when he hummed lightly to some songs when they were studying. The boy had picked up on his habit of massaging his forehead, that he did whenever he felt tired, and whispered him some of his corny jokes to ease his tension. He couldn’t deny that he was a little sad when they eventually had to clear out the table for the cleaning staff at around 9pm.
When they were out in the hallway, Minho found himself lingering, instead of bolting to his room like he usually did at the end of a long day. Jisung was in a similar state, switching from foot to foot as he looked at the ground. The younger’s stomach grumbled and he looked up, a panicked glint in his eyes. Minho chuckled.
“Damn, haven’t you stoked up reserves for the winter?”
Jisung stuck out his tongue at him.
“Shush, I haven’t eaten in seven hours, I’ll eat you”
“Again with the sexual advances, I still don’t want anything to do with that dumpster you call bed”
He reminded him and Jisung groaned.
“You know I didn’t mean it like that and for the record, I cleaned the room since you’ve been there”
Minho snickered.
“Ok Simon, I believe you”
Jisung opened his mouth and closed it, before speaking again, hesitant.
“Do you wanna… grab dinner, maybe?”
“Sure, what did you have in mind?”
Minho shrugged and ignored the smile that stretched across the younger’s face.
“I don’t know, I’m craving sushi though”
He laughed, not wasting the opportunity to tease him.
“Do you think this is the time to go to a fancy restaurant? Are you trying to trap me on a date?”
Jisung grumbled and started walking as Minho trailed along.
“No, but we can just get a box to go at the place near the bus stop”
“Alright, that sounds reasonable”
They walked slowly to the sushi bar. The night was lit by neon lights and their beaming smiles as they sat in a small table and went on talking for hours, eager to know more about each other, for once dropping their banter and useless fighting.
When the shop closed, they stepped out of the building and were met with the breeze of a cold January night. Minho zipped his coat up to his neck to keep himself warm. In the corner of his eye he saw Jisung shiver a bit and he noticed he definitely didn’t dress according to the weather. Sighing he unwrapped his scarf and tied it around the younger’s boy neck, brushing it in the swift motion. His gaze lingered a bit too long on the moles he had there.
“Oh, thank you, but you shouldn-“
Minho shook himself out of his daze and interrupted the boy.
“Just take it before you freeze to death”
Jisung shut his mouth and buried his nose under the fabric.
“It’s a really nice scarf”
He observed after a few minutes of them walking silently. Minho hummed in agreement.
“My mom knitted it for me”
“She must love you a lot”
Minho smiled, thinking about the Christmas he had received that special gift.
“She does, like all mothers”
Jisung scoffed and Minho looked at him confused.
“What? You don’t agree?”
The boy shook his head.
“Oh, it’s just that I wouldn’t know”
Minho rolled his eyes.
“Are you going to tell me a sob story about how your daddy never validated you or went to your soccer games? How your mom didn’t hug you enough?”
Jisung had a strained smile on his face, despite him trying to hide his discomfort Minho understood he struck a nerve, so he quickly changed topic.
“You look cozy in it”
Jisung gave him a more honest smile.
“Yeah, I feel like if I had a blanket like this it would put me to sleep immediately”
“Why? Do you have trouble sleeping?”
“Uhm, let’s just say my sleeping schedule is unconventional”
Minho shook his head, tsking.
“That’s very bad for your health, you should take care of yourself more”
Jisung smirked.
“Would you be my loving nurse if I didn’t?”
Minho chuckled and lightly shoved him.
“I knew you were gonna ruin it at some point”
“Uhm, did I really?”
He asked expressing pretty clearly that he didn’t think so. Minho avoided the question.
“I really don’t get people’s fantasies about nurses, I mean they have their scrubs covered in all kinds of human liquids most of the time, they are crazily overworked and probably on the brink of a nervous breakdown even if they are in their twenties”
“Good point, but I for one think selflessness is sexy”
Minho glanced at him. They had arrived at campus by then, but their pace was really slow, like they wanted to savor the last moments they shared that night.
“Everytime I think you’re getting predictable you come up with things like that, you’re…”
“Amazing? Exciting? Devastatingly handsome?”
“…frustrating”
“Oh, look who’s predictable now”
Minho shot him a threatening glare and Jisung started giggling and ran inside their dorm building. Minho chased after him, uncaring of the noises they were making in the corridors as they panted, cackled and thumped their feet on the hard floor. Jisung stopped in front of his room, which was closer to the entrance, leaning against the door as he tried catching his breath.
Minho crouched a bit, putting his hands on his knees. They locked eyes and started laughing again, this time the elder signaled him to lower his voice as he stifled his own chuckle with a hand. When their fit ended, Minho took a step closer and put a hand on the younger’s hip.
“Got you”
Jisung looked up at him, his lips slightly open, his cheeks still red from the cold and the run. His breathing was still kind of uneven and Minho thought that in that moment he looked just like a ripe peach, waiting to be picked from the tree. Closing his eyes, Minho stepped back.
“Good night”
He whispered.
“Goodnight”
The younger responded, still dazed. Minho got back to his room with a fond smile on his face.
It was a Saturday this time, when he found himself again at a party he absolutely didn’t want to be at. This one was slightly better though, because it was organized at Changbin’s house and if anything he had plenty of rooms where he could hide himself in and crash. If Chan were to get in a similar state as the last party, there would also be other people that could take care of him. He took a drink of the punch Hyunjin had made, because apparently he had been assigned to drinks when the couple fished out their tasks for the night. Only one swallow told him it wasn’t for him, though, so he abandoned the cup and didn’t seek out any other alcohol, because he knew Hyunjin probably had made them to his liking as well.
When he got back to the living room the lighting had changed, purple, green and blue flashing lights illuminated the mass that danced awkwardly to the music and his lips curved in a smile when he recognized Jin and Jisung in the middle of it, shouting and jumping like they were children about to go on a rollercoaster. He stayed in an angle, watching him, until Jisung must have felt his gaze on him, because he abandoned his friend and crossed the room to reach him.
His tan skin looked golden due to the sweat and Minho tried really hard not to thirst over his exposed arms, that were let free by his muscle tee.
“You’re rude”
The younger began, though his smile held no bite.
“What have I done this time?”
Minho asked, acting over exasperated.
“You didn’t say hi! I thought we were closer than that”
Ji exclaimed dramatically as Minho snickered.
“I would hardly define us as close”
Jisung shrugged.
“Still, you could have said hi”
“You were dancing, I didn’t want to distract you”
Jisung leaned closer.
“You could have danced with me”
Minho shook his head.
“I don’t dance”
“I know you can”
Sing-songed Ji. Minho grinned.
“Really? High school musical?”
“It’ll be forever a masterpiece, you can’t convince me otherwise”
Minho rolled his eyes at his feisty tone.
“I wouldn’t have to if you had common sense”
“Then come here and show me how it’s done, boss”
Jisung taunts him, putting a hand on Minho’s chest.
“Are you already drunk?”
“No! I had one beer, I’m not a lightweight”
“You’re small, you could be”
Minho pointed out.
“Lots of little things can kill you, don’t underestimate them”
“Sure, you win this one”
Jisung scrunched his forehead.
“Are you ok? You’re more subdued than usual”
Minho scoffed. He was right, big events like this drained his energy immensely, but he wasn’t going to admit that.
“Like you would know it”
Jisung chuckled and stepped closer, driving them against the wall.
“It’s entertaining, how you act like we’re still strangers”
Minho felt naked under his gaze, like he could read his mind just with a look. He knew it probably wasn’t true due to his hard facade, but it still made him stutter.
“W-we are”
“That’s a shame, because I thought we could be… friends”
Jisung said in an allusive tone. Minho took a deep breath, he didn’t know if he had enough self-control to not just tip over and kiss him silly. Especially when he was so blatantly flirting.
“Shut up, you’re doing it again”
Minho growled as he put his hands on Ji’s waist to put more distance between them and step away from the wall.
“What?”
He feigned innocence.
That was the last straw. He couldn’t endure his clueless behavior too. Minho gripped his wrist as he started making his way bumping against more than a few people until he got to an empty room and slammed the door shut. This time he was the one who leaned close, caging Jisung against the wall with a hand.
“You think you’re so smug treating me like that, like you’re a hunter trying to capture his prey, you love to feel like you have control, but even the smallest touch and you’ll be completely at my mercy”
As if to prove his point, Minho brushed his finger slowly up his side, smirking when he felt the boy shiver under him.
“Admit it, you like to dish it, but you can’t take it, not even one bit”
He said against Jisung’s lips.
“I- that’s not true”
“How do you have such a big ego and so little sense of yourself?”
He continued taunting him.
“I- what, what are you doing?”
“Just giving you a taste of your own medicine”
“I’m not- I don’t-“
Jisung spluttered.
“You don’t tease me? You don’t flirt? You don’t act like you want me to be your next conquest?”
“S-shut up”
He said softly.
“I don’t think I heard you”
Minho teased him with a smirk.
“Shut up”
“A little louder”
“I SAID SHUT UP!”
Minho looked bewildered hearing him raise his voice like that, but he didn’t have time to voice his surprise, because Jisung gripped the front of his shirt with two hands and pulled him towards him. He dived in and finally pressed his lips against his. It was angry and rough, Minho immediately put one hand in his hair, tilting his head to get the angle he wanted, the other roamed around his ass, but ultimately he rounded his hips with it and used it to make them stumble on the bed. Jisung grabbed him tighter, his legs closing on the elder’s waist, nails pressing into his chest almost painfully, but both of them were so into it, he didn’t mind.
Minho brushed his hand under Jisung’s t-shirt, aching to touch him, to feel him writhe under him and Jisung moaned and bit his lips, just as needy as he was. The tension between them had built up to a point it was difficult to ignore and both of them relished in the mutual chase, but were exhausted by it too.
The memories of that night together would have stayed with Minho forever, sculpted just behind his eyelids whenever he closed them, he could see and hear Jisung moaning and screaming under him as he touched him, kissed him, marked him, made him his.
He just realized what a big mistake he made the morning after, when he woke up next to him, cuddled against him. Instinctively he hugged him closer and his eyes went wide when he realized what he was doing. Careful not to wake him up he got dressed and went back to his dorm.
People weren’t for him and that was never going to change, not even if his heart sunk with every step he took to his lonely, cold dorm.