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Jisung hastily smashes out a reply to Seungmin, choosing to deal with whatever his problem is later. Seungmin had been avoiding him like the plague, but suddenly he wants Jisung’s undivided attention? Not a chance.
In the back of his mind Jisung wonders if it's because he's spending time with Minho. No matter how hard he tries, Jisung just can’t wrap his head around the fact that Seungmin could hate someone as seemingly gentle and kind as Minho. He shakes the thought out of his head, tuning back into what Minho is saying to him.
“Was that important?” Minho asks, fingers scratching rhythmically under the kitten's chin.
“Nah, it was just a friend,” Jisung coos down at the kitten in Minho’s arms, thoughts of Seungmin and SIT pushed to the back burner, “You said you volunteer here once a month, what made you decide to do that?”
Minho’s voice is soft, sweet, “I’ve always been fond of cats, I guess you could say I’m a cat person.” He laughs, “I used to come here all the time growing up. I never got to take one home because my dad’s allergic. My mom – well, nevermind, it just wasn’t going to happen.”
Before Jisung can pry any further, the volunteer comes back into the foyer with what Jisung assumes is an official member of the staff. She's an older lady with graying chestnut hair and a warm aura. She mutters under her breath, searching in her pockets for something.
“Minho,” the older woman teasingly sing-songs, finally pulling a small writing pad from the pocket of her pale pink scrubs, “You’re not due back here for a few weeks. Couldn’t keep yourself away from us?”
Minho looks bashful but matches her playful tone, “You know me, I can't stay away.” he pauses, and Jisung takes note of the fond look in his eyes, “No, I just didn’t want her to be out there all alone.”
“Bless your heart,” the lady says, more to the kitten than to Minho, “We’ll check her for a chip and let you know. Do you have a name for her?”
Jisung takes the opportunity to look around the small foyer, admiring the decoration and clear care provided to the animals here. A paw shaped sign hangs in the middle of the room. The sign itself is a shade of green that matches the trim on the receptionist desk. In the middle of the sign in handpainted white lettering reads the words “A Home Fur All”. Jisung chuckles a little at the wordplay but it's a nice sentiment.
He was so lost in thought he didn't realize that Minho had asked him a question.
“Um,” Minho repeats himself, staring at Jisung with big black eyes that held the stars, “You got any name ideas?”
Jisung blinks a few times, his brain running through all the possible cat names he'd seen on TV or read about in books. Nothing in particular stands out to him; mittens, fluffy, whiskers. None of them seem to fit the cute little creature curled up in Minho’s arms.
Jisung reaches out to pet the kitten, his fingers brush against Minho's ever so slightly.
The only things he can think of is the sage-green sign he had been staring at and the galaxies dancing in Minho’s eyes, “What about Sage? or Hoshi?”
“Hoshi,” Minho sounds it out carefully, “That's ‘star’ in Japanese, isn't it?”
Jisung nods jerkily, trying hard not to stare at Minho anymore than he already had been. He's so caught up in trying not to stare he doesn't register the fact that Minho is staring right back.
The older woman clears her throat, carefully removing the kitten from Minho's arms, “I think Hoshi is a lovely name for our little girl. Minho, I’ll text you and let you know if she has a chip. I don’t want you two to stick around any longer than necessary. I'm sure you have places to be.”
She winks at Minho before turning on her heel, leaving the three of them standing there with little to say. The volunteer shrugs at Minho, “Well, I’ll see you in a few weeks.”
When Minho and Jisung get back to Minho’s car, the air around them is different. Minho holds the car door open for Jisung but he doesn't say a word.
Jisung doesn't like the silence. He wants to pry, wants to open a conversation and get to know who Minho is at his core, “I think you'll be a good cat dad someday.”
Minho snorts, hand falling to his lap from where it had turned the ignition, “You think so?”
“I know so, you're really gentle with animals. I think you have like… I don't know, I think you're a cat whisperer or something.”
Minho laughs fully at that, head tilting back against the seat and Jisung can't help but map the expanse of Minho's neck with his eyes, “You're a funny guy, Han Jisung.”
“Yeah well, at least I have that going for me. If I flunk out of school, maybe I'll get a job as a comedian.” Jisung shifts in his seat, trying yet again to force his gaze away from Minho, “What were you going to say in there about your mom?”
“Oh,” Minho's smile falters only a little bit, “It really doesn't matter. My step-mom is a dog person, though. So nowadays I just go to the shelters alone.”
“I could go with you. I want to know you more,” Jisung says without thinking, his brain-to-mouth filter flying right out the window, “Is that a weird thing to say?”
They come to a stop at a red light right outside of his building and Minho turns to look at him for a moment, studying something on Jisung’s face, “Do you mean that sincerely? You want to get to know me?”
Jisung furrows his eyebrows, “How else would I mean it?”
“You might want to get close to me to boost your points,” Minho pointedly pokes Jisung's thigh before coming to a stop in front of his dorm, “You don't seem the type but,” he shrugs, “you could.”
“Honestly? I couldn't care less about points, the whole thing stresses me out. I want to know you outside of all of this,” Jisung makes a vague gesture with his hands, “I want to know what makes you smile. What makes you tick. Your favorite color. Whether or not you like mint chocolate chip or pineapple on pizza.”
Minho is really looking at him now and Jisung wonders if he'd said something wrong. There’s an air settling between them but it isn’t uncomfortable. It’s almost electric.
“I’m sorry.” Jisung says, “I only meant if you'd let me.”
Minho says, “Cats, dance, my friends, and you make me smile. It's red. I love mint chocolate chip. Pineapple is okay on pizza. And,” Minho looks over his shoulder but focuses back on Jisung in an instant, “What would you do if I kissed you?”
“What?” Jisung squawks, brain five steps behind, “I mean, are you kidding?”
“No, I’m serious.” Minho unbuckles his seatbelt and leans over Jisung. He's bigger up close like this and just as beautiful. Jisung could count every single one of his eyelashes from this angle.
Jisung swallows, tongue darting out to wet his lips, “I would, um, I would kiss you back.”
“So can I kiss you?” Minho asks.
Jisung nods, “You can kiss me if you want to.”
Minho doesn’t need to be told twice because as soon as the words “can” and “kiss” leave Jisung’s mouth, he’s closing the space between them.
Jisung melts against the contact, pulling Minho down into his lap. His heart hammers inside of his chest. And you make me smile. Part of Jisung thought he was dreaming but the rise and fall of Minho's chest against his own proves otherwise.
Minho is gentle. He cups Jisung’s face with both of his hands and kisses him like he’s glass. Like he’ll disappear.
There was no heat behind their kiss, it was soft, cherry flavored. Careful. Jisung wanted to keep kissing Minho for as long as he would let him. It turned out to be four minutes and thirteen seconds - not that he was counting.
“Thank you,” Minho says when he pulls back, “for coming with me to the shelter.”
Jisung presses his lips against Minho’s again, chasing the daydream, “Of course.”
“I gotta go but I’ll text you.” Minho opens the passenger door, climbs out of Jisung’s lap, and extends his hand to help Jisung to his feet. “We can get pizza or something and I’ll help you study off campus. How’s that sound?”
Jisung nods dumbly and Minho presses another chaste kiss to Jisung’s lips before walking around the car and climbing in.
“It’s a date then,” Jisung manages to say without it sounding like a question, “I’ll see you when I see you.”
He watches to make sure Minho drives away before he jumps, triumphantly punching the air and shouting. He could be seen at any moment but he didn’t care, excitement was bubbling under his skin from the tip of his toes to the top of his head.
Lee Minho, arguably the most beautiful man he had ever seen in his life, kissed him. Him. Han Jisung. Certified loser.
Jisung spins around, practically dancing his way back to his dorm. He felt like he was in the clouds. Absentmindedly, he pulls his phone from his back pocket.
12 missed calls. 15 messages.
He pockets his phone again. He isn’t going to let anything ruin his good mood. Especially not someone as bitter as Seungmin. Seungmin, Jisung thinks, couldn't be any more wrong about Minho. Minho didn't care about any of this point stuff. He wasn't trouble, he was sweet. Minho was just another kid like Jisung but with money. Money didn't make you evil.
He turns the corner to his dorm and standing in the doorway is the very person he wants to avoid.
“What the hell was that?” Seungmin asks, “Are you dating Minho?”
“It’s not any of your business who I’m dating.” Jisung reaches for his door handle but Seungmin grabs his wrist.
“I’m trying to help you,” Seungmin sounds desperate but Jisung pulls his arm out of his grip, “I don’t want you to end up hurt.”
“Look, Seungmin, I don’t know what kind of a man you think Minho is but you have the wrong idea. He doesn’t care about this elitist point bullshit. He’s nice. He likes cats. He couldn’t hurt a fly. Have you ever considered that you might be the problem here?” He spits out the last question like it was something stuck in his teeth.
Jisung turns the doorknob and closes the door behind him. He is not giving Seungmin the chance for rebuttal.