Chapter Text
You never expect life to change in an instant, I still remember the luckiest day of my life, becoming apart of Stray Kids. 8 of us begging the greatest chapter in our lives, but among the other 7, one boy caught my interest. I wanted nothing more than to be befriend him & just become closer because, he was unlike anyone I had ever met and I simply figured it was because, I was young and still so new to the world.
On our first official encounter, my eyes instantly gravitated towards him. I was in a trance as, I watched him rehearse a short dance.
"Who is that?" The question slipped from my mouth so carelessly, I hadn't actually expected someone to answer.
"That's Lee Minho. He's amazing isn't he?"
I nodded as, I felt this person's stare on me, but I wasn't planning on looking away from the boy moving about the center of the dance floor in such fluid movements, his feet gliding and hand movements precise, every action synced up with the hip-hop music, playing from a tiny portable speaker.
The boy beside me broke the long awkward silence, "I'm Suengmin. And you are?"
"Jisung.. Han Jisung." My heart threatened to leap out my chest as the music came to a close and the boy posed, his breathing a bit heavy from pouring his soul into the dance. Startled now that he hadn't expected someone to start clapping, "Wow! That was great!."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead as, he collected himself off the ground where he was crouched from his final move.
"Thank you."
"Can you teach me some of what you just did?"
And as, he approached me I got a clear view of him, his sharp features, paired with soft brown eyes & his body language much less certain than when he was expressing himself through dance. His face lit up, flowering once more at the mention of dance. He was so eager to teach me, though we had never met prior. Both of us engulfed in a piece which I learned he had composed on own. He walked me through every single step, talking to me as if though we had known each other our whole lives. I actually could've sworn we've met in the previous one & how much I yearn to meet him in the next. I had found a life long friend.
And when word came that we'd be put into a band together, we ran at full speed, bound for each other's arms for a warm embrace.
The road was much tougher than I had imagined. The company pushed us past our limits, most of us still high school students at the time. However, this meant nothing in kpop world. Behind the scenes, our days were jam packed with hours upon hours of nonstop rehearsal, diets, stalkers, harassment, zero privacy & adhering to unrealistic beauty standard. Our time was devoted to Stray Kids. That was what we sold our souls to when we signed the contract.
And through it all, I was just grateful to have Minho by my side. Any chance of free time we were given was spent together, half relaxing and half going on random outings which I was dragged on by Lee Know.
"I love watching anime as much as the next person ,but I'm taking you to this once in a lifetime event at the planetarium tonight."
I groaned in annoynce as he moved me from my previous position where I had been sprawled over him comfortably on the couch, the show we were once engrossed in, still running in the background with dramatic back and forth shouting in Japanese.
"Can't we at least watch one more episode?" I pleaded, looking up at Minho who arms were crossed over his chest as he stood his ground this time. "No. you said that 5 episodes ago. I'll drag you out in your Christmas pajamas if I have to." He was serious, and I knew better than to test his patience ,but still I took the risk by laying back down on the couch and pulling a blanket over me to snuggle into. He was furious & before I knew it I was being dragged by my legs off the couch and down the hallway as, my fingertips attempted to dig into the flooring. He dropped me off in my bedroom and closed the door behind him.
"You have 15 minutes!" he shouted, his footsteps loud as his combat boots stomped on the wooden flooring. He got dressed hours before me and we would have left to go have lunch had I not roped him into watching a new anime with me.
I rummaged through my closet in a hurry, my lest step was to pick out a lightweight jacket, with it only being the first day of summer I figured it wouldn't be as hot during the night and I might still need it. Besides, I had noticed Minho wasn't wearing one and if he got cold I could him mine.
My hand stopped when it reached a distressed dark Grey denim jacket. The same one I had worn when I first met Minho a few years back. I reminisced for a moment before slipping it on, the memories still flooding in to my mind, making me feel content.
I stepped out meet Minho who was already at the door, phone in hand starring at a timer, "That was 15 minutes and 42 seconds." He shook his head, ashamed at my timing ,but also after spotting my sweater. "It's like walking into an oven out there. Leave the jacket."
"No one of us might want it later." I opened the door and sure enough hot came pouring in to intermingle with the cool air brought forth by the A.C. Lee Know slipped the jacket off my shoulder and insisted upon carrying it. "The cab is waiting." I was grateful for him holding on my precious jacket and as, he climbed into the front seat car of the car, he placed the article of clothing on his lap, half admiring it for a moment, even slipping his hand into the sleeve.
The day we met, we decided upon going down to a cafe for some hot chocolate to beat the cold weather. We used our phone for navigation ,but even then, we had put in the name for the cafe wrong and ended up at a tire shop. It was already late at night and we were both freezing so, we decided to end our adventure there and start walking back to the studio. It started with us brushing at each other's arms as, we spoke. Then, our hands touched & I imagined how much warmer our hands would be in on another's ,but not in a romantic way. The idea would just be helpful against the cold, I thought so, without a second thought my hand slipped into his, sending currents throughout my entire body. I pulled away, embarrassed at what I had done & fortunate to have no one else around to witness me trying to hold another man's hand. "It's cold. I'm sorry." ,but soon enough Minho had brought himself closer, enveloping me in his arms as well walked through the already desertered city, only the wind's howling and Minho's warmth. He snaked his hand into my sleeve. None of us spoke a word, both of us fully convinced we were just cold.
Yet, afterwards we often found ourselves being touchy and affectionate without needing a reason. We were just close.
"Minho.." I spoke quietly, my body leaned away from my seat and close to Minho who now locked eyes with my own. "Hm?" He hummed, combing his fingers through my hair which was still in disarray from only having half an hour to get ready. The driver shot us a few judgemental glances ,but we didn't pay him much mind. We weren't doing anything wrong anyhow.
"Maybe I should've gone to the back with you."
"You're good th-" Without hesitation he unbuckled his seat belt the moment we stopped at a red light and hopped to the back. NOW the driver had reason to be mad at us.
Minho quickly sat himself into the seat next to mine and continued messing with my hair until he was satisfied. His hands cupped my face and I received one of his toothy grins, the kind he makes before doing something. He squeezed my cheeks aggressively before pulling away. "Hey!" I started jabbing at his sides, both of us filling the air with laughter. Our little play fight ended in Minho collapsed onto my lap, I leaned down to give him a kiss on the forehead. He stopped smiling and frowned, "If it gets boring we can just leave and go back to the show." He was really feeling guilty & soon it was my turn to come forth and confess.
"I already saw the spoilers for it. So, it doesn't matter."
Minho's mouth opened to form an 'o'
"If you spoil it, I'll come after everything you love." He threatened, still snuggling into my hand which caressed his hair. The driver still appeared quite annoyed at our display of affection, even going above the speed limit. He was clearly not a fan even grumbling something under his breath causing Minho to turn and scowl in his direction.