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Jeongin was supposed to work out, but it was too cold that he wanted to lie down on his bed that night. He quickly grabbed his phone and opened his Bubble app, only to find out that the stans are preoccupied with Bikira. He haphazardly left his phone on his bed and went straight to the living room. There, he saw the television streaming Bikira’s episode. Felix left it open while he was busy pouring his heart with baking chocolate chip cookies.
“Look at those two. They could be pretentious sometimes,” Jeongin scoffed.
Felix, whose voice suggested he was intrigued, focused himself with mixing ingredients for the second batch of cookies, “What do you mean?”
Jeongin sat comfortably on the sofa as he watched Seungmin and Minho do voice acting with Minhyuk, “Isn’t it obvious? They don’t look okay, Lix…”
Lix stopped whisking as he heard Jeongin’s observation. “What made you say so?”
“Since we came here in the new dorm, I noticed how they started acting cold with each other,” Jeongin answered nonchalantly. “Something must be going on between those two.”
“You sure about that?” Felix pouted, then followed it with a hum, one with sadness in it, as he realized how Minho and Seungmin behaved and only went out together when they had a schedule.
Felix thought Minho and Seungmin were just busy with their own schedules. It’s been weeks since the pair engaged in small and straightforward talks. They weren’t fighting just as how they acted in front of the camera, but Felix realized the could-be silent war that is going on between the two.
As to who started it, Felix thought it was Seungmin who had an issue. Why? It was always Minho who initiated the morning conversations and sweet gestures off cam, but Seungmin became distant, if not acting cold with him.
“Maybe you’re right, Innie. It’s been a while since Seungmin made iced coffee for him.” He quickly gazed at Seungmin’s coffee machine on the kitchen counter, which was left unused ever since they moved in. “Yaah, Mini Me. Don’t be sad. I promise you, Daddy Seungmin will make coffee for Daddy Minho soon.”
“Why are you talking to the coffee machine?” Jeongin chuckled. He looked back at the television and saw Minho’s triumphant smile as they waved goodbye to the viewers. “The radio show is done. They will arrive here soon.”
Felix was alerted with the sound of the oven’s ding, signaling him that the first batch of his cookies are done. “My dear cookies, I pour out my love to you… Please fill my brothers with enough love… and maybe courage to…”
Jeongin interrupted him, “Come on, Lix. You’re being overly sentimental again…” He turned off the television and walked towards the kitchen table where Felix plated the freshly baked cookies. “You need my help?”
===
Minho won this round. He appeared victorious on cam, but he really wanted to lose and take the penalty that night. Seungmin doesn’t know, but Minho privately asked the staff if he could just volunteer for the penalty. Unfortunately, he was not allowed. He thought maybe taking the penalty could make Seungmin act less cold towards him.
The drive on their way home was awkward. Minho wanted to talk with Seungmin, but the younger man faced the window beside him as he watched the stars in the night sky. He looked extremely bothered with Minho’s presence beside him. Minho couldn’t understand what’s going on with Seungmin. It’s been weeks since Seungmin suddenly became so distant with him and it was starting to hurt him.
“Seungmin-ah, are you okay?”
Seungmin felt the concern on Minho’s voice. When Minho speaks softly just as he did, he knew his hyung is definitely worried about him. Though, Seungmin chose to remain reserved at that moment. Minho only got a nod and soft hum as a response from him.
Feeling frustrated, Minho took out his phone and sent a private message to Jisung.
Minho: Yaa, Jisung-ah.
Jisung: Yooow bro. How’s bikira?
Minho: Seungmin still won’t talk to me.
Jisung: Aww. Sorry to hear that hyung. What’s going on with him…
Minho: I have no idea… I don’t understand why he suddenly distanced himself.
Jisung: Maybe give himself some time? Just as how you normally do with Jeongin.
Minho: How much longer? I miss talking with him.
Jisung: Now look who’s whipped… Well… It’s up to you if you want to open up with him. Haha.
Minho: I think I’ll do… Thanks, Jisung.
Jisung: Anytime bro.
Minho was about to tuck his phone inside his pocket when he received a message from Gunil.
Gunil: I saw Seungmin’s selca… Is he okay?
Minho: wdym
Gunil: I could see the sadness in his eyes.
Minho: Maybe he’s just tired. It’s past midnight…
Gunil: Hmm… Okay? I trust you’ll make him happy. Haha.
Minho: That’s already a given. You should be sleeping now. Haha.
Gunil: I just finished playing Switch with Gaon! Haha. Let’s play together soon?
Minho: Of course. I’d love that.
Gunil: Will look forward to it!
By the time Minho ended his chat with Gunil, they already arrived at their dorm. Seungmin immediately opened the door and swiftly left the car. Minho thanked their driver and followed Seungmin on his way inside the building. Seungmin walked fast as he could, but the elevator wasn't available yet, enabling Minho to reach him and they both waited for the elevator to reach the ground floor.
Minho stood beside Seungmin. He looked at his dongsaeng, but Seungmin kept looking on the ground. If only Seungmin could see the reflection of Minho's face on the elevator door, he would see the pain building up in Minho's eyes.
Alas, the elevator 'ding-ed' and the two went inside as if they were strangers.
===
It was already silent when they came in. Jeongin and Felix must have gone to bed already. Minho went straight ahead to the kitchen to drink water and he saw some cookies on the table. There, he found a handwritten note addressed to him and Seungmin. "With love," it says.
"Yaaa, Seungmin-ah. Yongbok-a left some cookies here," Minho said. Seungmin, who was stopped while walking on his way to his bedroom, went to the kitchen table and grabbed a couple of the cookies then went straight ahead to his bedroom. He had a small bite of the cookie before locking his door.
Minho couldn't handle the silent treatment anymore. He drank his glass of water after chomping the cookie he took earlier. Minho knocked on the Seungmin's door as he reached it.
"Seungmin-ah, we need to talk."
Seungmin kept himself lying on the bed, trying not to give in to the protest of his heart.
Knock knock.
There was no response.
"Kim Seungmin..."
Seungmin thought maybe he was imagining it, but Minho's voice cracked; suggesting that his hyung was about to break down. At this point, Seungmin went out of his bed and walked towards the door. He was already holding the knob, but something still urges him not to open the door.
"Please..."
Seungmin felt a sudden pain piercing through his heart. He could hear Minho's soft sobs on the other side of the door.
"What's the matter? If I hurt you, please tell me. I'm getting exhausted with this silent treatment you're giving me..."
Seungmin opened the door and it revealed Minho's devastated expression. He never saw his hyung like that. Indeed, he was hurting.
"Hyung," Seungmin sniffed. His tears started to fall, too.
Not wanting Jeongin and Felix to hear their conversation, Minho entered Seungmin's room and closed the door. He gently pulled Seungmin and they both sat on Seungmin's bed.
"I'm sorry, Minho hyung. I'm sorry..." It was Minho who started crying, but Seungmin couldn't stop crying in front of Minho when he realized how awful he treated him for the past few weeks.
"Seungmin-ah, what's the problem? You know you could always tell me, right? I'm your best friend, remember? Why were you distancing yourself away from me?" Minho stopped crying, but Seungmin could still feel the pain through Minho's voice.
"If I tell you... this is so hard. I'm so afraid, Minho hyung." Seungmin looked so wasted as he struggled to find the words to tell his hyung the reason why he distanced himself. He was always articulate with his thoughts, but maybe Minho was the kryptonite of his sharp mind.
"I promise I won't get mad..."
Seungmin felt the sincerity in Minho's words. It took some time before he was able to recover from crying. "Minho hyung..."
"Yeah?"
"I didn't mean to hurt you... I was only protecting myself not knowing it would hurt you..."
Minho looked confused, "What do you mean?"
Seungmin took a deep breath and sighed. 'Here goes nothing,' he thought.
"I... started to have feelings for you..."
Minho's eyes bulged upon hearing Seungmin's confession. "Wait, what?"
Seungmin saw Minho's face becoming red. He was definitely shocked with what he heard. The divorce concept was just a concept, but he never thought he would fall in love with his hyung.
"I know this is stupid, but I tried to stay away from you because I know it just wouldn't work. I wanted to get rid of these feelings before it blossoms into something that wouldn't..."
"Don't you think it's unfair?"
Seungmin looked down. Minho wasn't mad. He was really hurt. Even if he reacted angrily, Seungmin would accept it.
"Seungmin-ah, why didn't I tell you sooner?"
"Hyung... tell me what?"
"It's been years... I should have gathered the courage to admit... that I feel the same towards you."
It was Seungmin's turn to be surprised. His eyes bulged, but only saw Minho playfully smiling in front of him. He smashed Minho's thigh with his hand, "for fuck sake, Minho hyung..."
"I'll call it even," Minho said as he lied down on Seungmin's bed. "I wasn't so sure about it, but when Younghyun hyung left and I got removed from the line up, that's when I started feeling empty without you. You know, I really felt happier and complete when I learned from Minhyuk hyung that we will be back as regular guests in the radio show..."
Seungmin's face was turning red as Minho confessed himself.
"Seungmin-ah, don't you think it would be best for us to stay with each other?"
Those words melted the cold lump in Seungmin's chest. A tear fell straight out of his eyes, which Minho wiped with his hand.
"Minho hyung... I don't know how..."
"I'm not into rushing things, you know that. We have the same MBTI," Minho laughed. "I'm happy to be with you, Seungmin..."
Seungmin smiled as he held Minho's hand, "I promise I won't be a jerk again..."
"Let's try our best to be more open with our feelings... Okay?"
"Yeah, I believe that would be best for us," Seungmin smiled.
Minho loved how the moonlight emphasized the sparkle in Seungmin's eyes. He saw the universe in his dongsaeng's eyes. One thing is for sure, their privately offcam friendship blossomed into something that made them both happier and feel special.
Seungmin noticed something weird on Minho's face. "Do you want me to remove your make up?" He offered.
Minho couldn't remember how long it was since Seungmin removed his make up for him. He gladly accepted the offer and they went out of Seungmin's bedroom. They walked quietly on their way to the bathroom, not wanting to wake up Jeongin and Felix.
Unknown to them, Felix heard them having fun inside the bathroom as they removed each other's make up. The giggles of these two budding lovers were music to his ears. Maybe the love he poured into those cookies worked after all. He sent a text message to Jeongin before lying in bed, hoping it would bring good news to him when he wakes up: Mission accomplished, Innie!