Work Text:
Minho rushed into the first train that morning before the door shut. As soon as he found a comfortable seat (which the probability is high since it's just the first train to operate) he let out a long sigh after he settled down and looked around. There were quite a few people around, not as many compared to its peak hour later at seven.
Technically, it's just five in the morning and not everyone is diligent enough to go to work this early. Except for Minho, and these few others. From their attire, Minho assumed that they were also on their way to work, just like him. Suits up and briefcases. Typical working adults.
And there's also a college student, he supposed. Judging by a load of books in his hands and a backpack, sitting next to him. Not too close but not too far either, just a hand-stretch away. Minho took his smartphone out, scrolling for any news of the day.
It's just the usual Minho thing. Minho always took the earliest train as he wanted to avoid crowds as much as he could.
Because here is the thing. Minho has an extraordinary ability where he can listen to people's thoughts whenever he touches them. Cool, isn't it?
For example, he accidentally heard the college student's thoughts when the train was moving a tad faster, inertia happened. And their knees grazed.
"Ah, fuck that guy who always missing for the group assignment's meeting. Said that he's always busy... That's just bullshit."
Minho pulled himself away from the boy as he mumbled a quick apology. The student also apologized to him and made a small distance between them. That. He can do that. Well, Minho hopes that this guy would find a way out for his problem soon. He's been there and he understands how irritating it is to meet someone like that.
Logically speaking, his ability would absolutely provide him a lot of ways to solve his problems since he could read people beforehand but turned out, it's more of a nuisance. He rather not knowing what the people around him feel than invasively (accidentally) knowing everything.
Sometimes, feelings should've stayed hidden from the world. Not everything has to spill around.
"Next stop, Yongsan. Yongsan." Minho prepared to get off the train as he heard the announcement.
As soon as he scanned his card to leave the station, the crowds increased and that made him walk more cautiously, trying not to bump into people too much. But of course, he couldn't avoid everyone.
He heard something like;
"Ah, another busy day. I hope I don't have to meet this client for today. Ugh, she's super fussy,"
or,
"Why is this guy staring at me like that? I had enough issues to deal with, don't pissed me more,"
whenever he passed a few people and their shoulders brushed. It couldn't be helped.
Minho let out a heavy sigh and continued his stride towards a tall building where he works at. Another hustling day to go.
.
"Good morning, Chief Lee!" Minho was greeted by a cheerful voice that belonged to Hyunjin as the younger one sat at his place next to him. Minho replied to him with a short 'Morning,' and continued to review a few documents before their meeting later.
"Chief Lee, do you want coffee? Seungmin bought it for everyone this morning." the usual cheerful voice from Changbin made Minho to look at the younger as Changbin already held out a cup of coffee towards him. It was iced americano.
Minho politely took it with a small smile and chirped a quick 'Thanks,' to Seungmin who was sitting at his place exactly in front of him. The younger one gave him a big smile where his teeth were showing, nodded a little before he continued his work. Seungmin just joined his team early this month and he is, in Minho's opinion, a good and hardworking kid. Their working progress also got a lot better after Seungmin joined them.
As everyone else had settled down with the coffee Seungmin bought for everyone, based on each of their favorites, their usual routine started. All four of them diligently finished their work until it was lunch hour. They only realized it until Felix, from the marketing department, peeked his head at Seungmin's place, asking the younger to have lunch with him.
"It's already lunch?" Changbin asked no one but himself as he looked at the time.
"Oh, it is. I'm going to eat with Jisung then. See yall later," Hyunjin quickly tidied up his table a little bit and happily skipping out from the room with a smile.
Minho also took a glance at the time and his stomach growled as if it just realized how hungry he was. He then looked up to see three heads were looking at him. Minho could feel the heat travelling up to his face and both of his ears.
"Er--" Changbin scratched his head and looked at Felix and Felix looked at Seungmin.
"Chief Lee? Do you want to join us for lunch?" Seungmin hesitantly asked with his usual warm smile.
Minho quickly cleared his throat, taking off his necktie, and awkwardly stood from his seat and walked towards the three. "Yeah, sure. Let's go."
While they were lining up to fill their tray with food, Minho suddenly heard someone's incoherent talking in his head. It's Seungmin. He glanced at his back and saw the younger was standing right behind him with his own tray in his hand and their elbows were touching. That's why.
"He's looking cute as always today. My heart~"
Oh, is it his crush? Someone from the company? It's not Minho's usual habit to intrude more into people's thoughts when he hears them, but this is Seungmin's. Something might've piqued his interest a little bit.
Don't get him wrong. Seungmin is his colleague and that's it. He could hand some help if the younger wants him to.
Minho moved closer to Seungmin, trying to listen to the younger's thoughts clearer.
"Kyah, it's so close! I thought I'm gonna lose my heart just now." Minho listened Seungmin's thoughts.
Minho smiled a little as he filled in his bowl with some rice and took a small plate of kimchi and a few other side dishes. Seungmin is too smitten with someone he likes.
"Oh, he likes this kind of food. Maybe I should prepare bento for him next time? Ah, that might be too obvious, so no." Seungmin also filled up his bowl and took a small plate of kimchi.
They all at last arrived at the drinks section, meticulously choosing their preferred beverages but Minho couldn't find the usual caramel macchiato he always buys.
"Ahjumma, is the caramel macchiato already sold out for today?" Minho asked the cafeteria lady he's close to, Mrs. Choi.
"Oh, Minho-ya. I'm sorry. I couldn't save one for you. Turns out a lot of people love it these days."
"No, it's fine," Minho then took mineral water instead and showed it Mrs. Choi with a bright smile. "Maybe it's the day where I need to cut down on my sugar."
"Aigoo, poor my child. I'll make sure to save one for you next time." and Minho bids the lady a goodbye before he proceeds to pay for everything.
He almost forgot that he came with the other three and started looking for them. Turns out the youngers already found their seats and when Felix noticed his searching eyes, he waved his hand to Minho and showed him an empty seat beside Seungmin. Minho gave him a nod and finished his payment at the counter before he walked towards them.
As Minho took a seat beside Seungmin, they were all looking at him, still not eating.
"Why are y'all not eating yet?" Minho asked as he slowly picked up his chopsticks, also didn't start eating his food yet.
"Isn't it the usual thing to wait for your chief and eat together?" Changbin gave him a serious look, but Minho was a little bit amused.
"Guys, it's lunch time. Loosen up a bit. It's your free time where no one is the chief or whatsoever. You don't have to do this. And Changbin, you've been working with me for two years, I thought you knew?"
"How could I know? We never had lunch together for the past two years," Changbin gingerly laughed as he picked up his chopsticks. So does Felix and Seungmin.
Oh right. Because of his weird ability, he rarely went to the cafeteria during lunch hour. What if he accidentally heard a stranger's thoughts? But today, it's a bit different. It might be because he came here with his closest colleagues. He felt at ease.
All of them ate in silence. Only the sound of cutleries was heard. It was awkward and suffocating until Minho cleared his throat and put down his chopsticks. He looked at the three, who also were looking at him.
"Next time," Minho paused for a moment. "Can I join you guys for lunch? I mean, it's fine if you're not comfortable with me here--"
"Absolutely, hyung!" Felix happily accepted his idea with bright eyes. But the way Felix called him surprised him a bit. Felix seemed like he just realized what he did and apologized to him to which Minho quickly retaliated.
"No, it's fine. You can call me that. All of you can. I mean-- I am technically older than you." and that made Felix smile so wide. Changbin threw him a thumbs up with the same amount of wide smile as Felix's and quietly called him "Thanks, Minho hyung," .
Then, there's Seungmin. He stayed still in his seat, quietly finishing his food. It's not that Minho got curious about what the younger thought. He is, but only a little. Minho tried to move closer to Seungmin, trying to use his power, but the younger was quicker. Seungmin politely stepped out from his seat and told them he needed to go first since he needed to finish something.
"Oh, okay. I'll meet you again after work then." Felix waved his hand a little to Seungmin and the younger responded the same act as Felix did to him.
Well, maybe Seungmin indeed had a few more things to finish before their team's meeting later. Minho tried to remember the works he gave to the younger before. And the others too. Maybe he needed to lessen their workload a bit.
"How did you and Seungmin become friends?" Minho hesitantly asked Felix as he chugged down his mineral water.
"Oh that," Felix also finished his drink before he continued. "We've known since high school though. We weren't friends back then, just casually knew each other. But after joining the company a month ago, I met him again and yeah, this happened." Felix finished his story with his wide smile. Minho noticed that the younger one loves to smile and not that he's complaining. He feels warm and he likes it.
"You see hyung, these two are like peas in a pod. They have almost similar habits and are always together everywhere," Changbin paused before he threw Felix a scandalous look, "Wait, are you guys dating each other?"
"What?"
" What? "
Both Felix and Minho frowned at Changbin's scandalous accusation. But Minho was quick to get his composure back and pretended to pick a fishcake up with his chopstick awkwardly.
"What? I'm just asking for fun. No harm~" Changbin chuckled playfully, and Felix sighed.
"I would never date Seungmin like-- don't get me wrong. He's the sweetest human bean I've ever met but me and Seungmin? Seungmin would laugh so hard if he heard this," Felix then let out an amused laugh before they realized they're at the end of lunch hour already. How time flies so fast.
The three of them then put their trays away and Minho accidentally grazed his fingers against Felix, and he heard Felix's thoughts. "Why would you think it's Seungmin though?" and Minho saw Felix let out a sigh before he quickened his pace to walk beside Changbin.
Minho finished the puzzle and realized something. And when Minho said sometimes feelings shouldn't be known, he meant it.
.
"I think that's all for today's meeting. Or do any of you still have anything to add?" Minho voiced out after they finished viewing a project that was just approved by their higher ups today.
It's been weeks since all of them were working their asses out, finishing deadlines after deadlines. Countless proposals and paperwork. Minho had lost count of how many documents he needed to check and make amendments before he sent them to the higher ups. He's glad and grateful when he got the news this morning where their higher ups gave them great feedback for their upcoming project.
Don't make him talk about how many nights they had burned the midnight oil together at their own cubicles. All of them needed rest.
"Chief Lee, I've handed in the documents you need me to check yesterday. There were a few improvements I made but overall, it looks fine. You could check it,"
"Ah yes, thank you Hyunjin. Anything else?" Minho looked at Changbin, Seungmin, and Hyunjin once more and the three of them shook their heads with weariness in everyone's eyes.
Minho then gave them a quick smile before he ended the meeting, cueing that they could at last go home in peace today. Getting the rest they deserve.
"Good job everyone!" Changbin cheered happily as he picked up the papers he'd been using during the meeting.
Four of them, one by one started to stretch their bodies, treating sore limbs, and heaving out satisfied sighs. Minho just sits at his place, situated at the far end of the table, gathering all the papers, making sure not to make the meeting room a mess. Once he made sure he had nothing left and was ready to leave before Hyunjin called his name.
"Chief Lee, all of us want to have a drink later to celebrate our achievement today. Since it's Friday and it's been a month since Seungmin joined us, we thought it deserve a celebration together. Do you want to come with us?" the long-haired man gave him the dedicated smile he always has on his face.
And Minho being Minho, wanted to avoid the crowds as much as he could.
"I don't think I will. But thanks for the invitation. The rest of you can enjoy the night. But here--" Minho paused and pulled his wallet out from the back pocket of his pants. He took out his credit card and handed it to Hyunjin. "--use it to celebrate Seungmin's first month here. He helped us a lot after he joined our team."
As his fingers met Hyunjin's while handing out the card, he heard Hyunjin scream something like 'Luckyy!!' but he just shrugged it away. His team deserved a celebration indeed.
Minho then turned his gaze to search for Seungmin to find the latter was already looking at him with a small smile. Minho returned the smile with a small nod and about to leave the room. But as he passed Seungmin, his shoulder softly touched Seungmin's and this Seungmin's thought made him stop.
"Chief Lee, he hated me, didn't he?"
Wait, what? Minho stopped at the door and that was when he heard Changbin was calling for him.
"Chief Lee? Is everything fine?" Minho snapped out of his thoughts and looked at them. His eyes laid at Seungmin who was fidgeting his fingers. He noticed that the younger ran his gaze away from Minho.
"Nothing-- Nothing in particular. Just remember something I need to do. See all of you next week," Minho left the room with countless things in his head.
Why would Seungmin think of him like that? He never hates Seungmin. Like-- why would he? There's no reason to do so.
Minho was curious to know why Seungmin thought of that. Never once this came across his mind but for once, he didn't feel like his weird ability is a nuisance.
.
Minho entered the apartment he shared with Chan to see the older already sprawled his limbs over their sofa and the light from the television's screen illuminating the place. The lights were out though. Minho assumed that Chan just came back home after a few days holed up in his studio.
Minho switches the lights on and announced that he's home. It's just one of his habits even when there's no one around.
Being a light sleeper he is, Chan stirred awake by Minho's voice and got up from his sleep.
"Oh, you are home," Chan let out a big yawn as he made a few light scratches on his cheeks. Eyes barely open.
Minho hummed as he weakly walked his way into the kitchen and headed to the fridge, finding something cold to cool down his head from an entire day of working. He found a few cans of beer that he kept for himself last week and pulled the tab on his beer. He sat at the counter in their kitchen and slowly sipped the burning liquid down his throat.
"Rough day?" Chan was already standing next to him with a box of orange juice in his hand, poured it in a glass and sleepily drank it.
"Sort of-- but not really. The director approved our project though. It's actually great,"
"Then? What was the bad part of your 'sort of' statement?"
"Nothing much, just heard someone's thoughts and it got me thinking..."
Chan blinked his eyes a few times as his gaze focused on Minho's troubled face. "Hmm? But you usually just shrugged it off? Why the sudden odd?"
Minho breathed out heavily as he chugged down the remaining of the beer in his first can, attempting to take the next one. "I don't know. I don't even know how to tell you,"
"Well, start with, whose thoughts you listen to and what are they,"
"It's Kim Seungmin," Minho murmured.
"Oh? The new guy in your team?" Minho nodded and took another sip of beer from the new can he just retrieved.
"He said something like I hated him when I actually didn't? Thus, it made me wonder if I was too mean to my team,"
It was a long silence before Chan clicks his tongue and pats Minho's shoulder to assure the younger. "I'm sure it's not that. Didn't you say he is a good kid? Hardworking, even. And kind too. Hmm, what else--"
"He loves to smile widely like a puppy," Minho unconsciously continued Chan's words and the older one smiled at him. It might be the alcohol started to kick in because the younger didn't even try to correct himself as he always did.
"Yeah, that. So, nope, I don't think you're mean to them. Or maybe--" Chan paused and Minho looked at him with his flushed face. Indeed, the alcohol started to act in his system. "You could talk to him. Well, if you think you might be wrong, make use of your ability once in a while," Chan gave his shoulder another pat and Minho nodded sleepily.
Use the ability, huh? Sounds like a plan.
.
It's been four days and Minho was still trying to administer Chan's idea in various, possible ways he could think of. But luck was not on his side. They all met a dead end.
As he expected, Kim Seungmin is avoiding him.
Whenever he asked for Seungmin, it's either;
"Oh, Mr. Kim? He just left the company for a meeting with a client." or;
"Kim Seungmin? He took a half-day today because of a stomachache." or;
"I'm sorry, Chief Lee. He helped me fill in my place for the on-site visit since I couldn't make it."
-- as the answers. It's too obvious. Kim Seungmin doesn't want to meet him. And Minho still doesn't know the reason why Seungmin thought he hated the latter.
And as for today, the fifth day, Minho was about to give up until he saw a thin chance to continue his little mission. Never thought that the day when he's behind his usual schedule, God finally decided to help him. His eyes caught on Seungmin's figure as he entered the company's building and the younger one seemed to be waiting for the elevator with a few others.
Minho quickened his pace and ignored the other voices in his head when he walked past them. He only wanted to talk to Seungmin, as soon as possible.
"Kim Seungmin," Minho breathed out the name and was scared if the younger would run away again. But to his surprise, Seungmin just stood where he was and might be a little bit stiffened by the sudden call, but he slowly turned his body to face Minho.
"Chief Lee! Good morning." Seungmin gave him the usual warm, dazzling smile.
Oh, that blinding smile
Just before Minho could continue his little mission, the elevator's door opened and both of them were pushed into it by the other employees. Minho forgot that he came during the peak hour and was being pushed to the back of the elevator with Seungmin. From the situation given, Minho heard a lot of voices in his head, but Seungmin's was the clearest one he could listen to.
"Ah, it's just morning. Why do I need to face this? This is too close." Seungmin's face were just a few inches away from Minho's, but the younger looked away. Seungmin's tall physiques hovering Minho and his arms were holding the elevator's wall, avoiding his body from pressing Minho more. Minho was practically caged in Seungmin's arms.
"I'm so sorry Chief Lee. It must be uncomfortable." Seungmin moved his face closer, whispered to Minho with his face still looking everywhere but the older.
"It's okay, Seungmin. Given the time right now, it is possible to cram like this with everyone else." Minho replied to Seungmin with the same amount of whisper Seungmin did to him earlier with a small smile on his face. Tried to lose some tension between them.
"I can't look at him too much or it's gonna be obvious but he's too gorgeous in the morning, did he know that?" Minho heard Seungmin's thought, and he swore he saw the younger stretched a small smile with a tint of red shade starting to fill his cheeks.
Minho's curiosity strikes again. His eyes quickly followed Seungmin's eyes if the younger was currently looking at his crush. Talk about how Minho could actually be this nosy.
"Chief Lee won't notice my heart beating so fast, right? I hope-- We're literally so close. I can feel I'm dying,"
Oh, he mentioned a name? That's a clue.
Minho looked around the elevator and no one fits the description until--
Wait a second. Hold on. Was it-- him ?
Minho's eyes found Seungmin's blushed face, and the younger was looking at him straight into his eyes. Like a deer caught in the headlights, Seungmin's eyes went round as Minho's gaze found him. He quickly looked down and the elevator stopped moving. The inertia caused Seungmin to press closer towards Minho and Minho surely could feel Seungmin's heart was racing against his chest.
People started to walk out from the elevator and head to their respective departments. As the space was decent enough to freely move around, Seungmin too, moved away from Minho sheepishly and excused himself out of the elevator. The younger clumsily hit his shoulder against the elevator's door too before he left.
Minho?
Well, he was still trying to process the latest info, or rather, a confession. An accidental one. He's not supposed to know this, isn't he?
.
Minho failed to have his full attention for the works that keep on piling up on his table too today. If a few days back he was thinking Seungmin was avoiding him, today was completely the opposite.
Seungmin was not avoiding him anymore. Instead, the younger was behaving as he usually did. Being the sweet, lovable, hardworking Seungmin towards everyone. Smiling for the entire day, blinding Minho's view with his wide, warm smile. Not that Minho complaining. Maybe he would complain about Seungmin's smiles being too bright (but he's fond of them, nonetheless).
Minho couldn't stop thinking about how he's actually invading Seungmin's personal space. He knew that he should stop from prying more into Seungmin's thoughts. Curiosity indeed killed the cat. He knew that he needed to apologize to Seungmin, eventually. But the question is, how?
He can't just walk up to Seungmin one day and be like 'Hey, Seungmin. Truth be told, I have a super weird ability where I can listen to people's thoughts and one day, I accidentally heard yours. I'm sorry,' . Well, that's just straight out creepy and strange. Thus, it is out of the options.
Minho's eyes saw the pile of papers again and nearly cried out of frustration. Right, these works won't be finished by themselves.
"This is endless," Minho sighed to himself as he reached his hand out for another report to finish.
As for the result of his less productive day, Minho decided to burn the midnight oil and tried to finish his work till it was late. Minho sighed as he moved his neck in 360-degree mode to loosen the sore and continue to face the computer's screen. He drowned himself too deep into the reports he needed to write until the door to his department was pushed open by someone.
Minho looked up to see a very tired Seungmin, but still with a beam pasted on his face.
"Chief Lee? You're still here?" the younger asked him, and Minho hummed as he continued his work, trying to ignore the sudden increase of his heartbeat listening to every pace Seungmin made in their small working space. It never feels suffocated like this before.
The pace stopped moving and Minho noticed a shadow covering his workplace. His eyes slowly left the screen and caught Seungmin who was already standing in front of his table. The younger then hesitantly pulled out a canned coffee and stretched his arm out, giving it to Minho.
"You're working hard today, Chief Lee." Minho accepted the drink and his fingers softly met Seungmin's and he heard Seungmin again for that day.
"Chief Lee is working harder than everyone else...I hope he's getting enough rest. I don't like seeing his tired face." the usual bright face Seungmin always shows during the day was replaced with a slight downturn smile and Minho noted a small pout formed.
Maybe his eyes were botching his mind. Maybe there was no pout. But anyway, Seungmin is sad.
And Minho just realized it's because of him.
"Er-- thanks for the coffee, Seungmin." Minho awkwardly opened the can and slowly drank it. The air is still suffocating but Minho tried to appear calm.
It was a long silence, 45 seconds if Minho was counting, before Seungmin offered himself to help. "Is there anything I could do?" he already pulled Hyunjin's chair and took a seat in front of Minho with encouraging eyes.
"What are you doing?" Minho gave the younger one a quizzical look as Seungmin took a document and started to fix the errors for Minho to easily finish the reports.
"Helping you," Seungmin answered without his eyes leaving the words and a pen in between his long fingers correcting the errors.
"You don't have to--"
"But I want to," Seungmin stopped his work and stared into Minho's eyes. Minho was not prepared for it and was staring into Seungmin's eyes too. A pair of beautiful eyes that Minho often regards as hiding stars behind it. It was happening too fast as Minho realized his heartbeat was pacing up, again, and quickly ran his gaze away.
Minho cleared his throat with difficulty before he just-- "Suits you. But do not complain to the others that you're doing extra work because of me. You asked for it."
"Sure, Chief Lee~ This is completely on me. You don't need to worry," is that a wink Seungmin just gave him?
Minho tried to shrug it off and continued his typing on the keyboard. A few silent moments passed before he heard Seungmin's thoughts again. He looked under the table to see if he were touching Seungmin because obviously not where he could clearly see when both of them were busy finishing the reports. It was their feet. Dear God, give him strength.
Minho wanted to quietly ignore them but he at last paid attention to all of them.
"Chief Lee is always admirable and I like him for that. Sigh, why did people give him so much work to finish? He could say no, isn't he? But we all know, he can't. That's one of his weaknesses."
Minho caught a small smile on Seungmin's face before he quickly changed it while still focusing on the corrections.
"This is the least I can do. Helping him whenever he needs it. My feelings...They shouldn't come at the first place, but I can't stop admiring him. Never thought I'm going to fall this deep."
And there's a quiet sigh. The younger one let it out and Minho never thought Seungmin was thinking about him--this high.
If you're wondering, yes. Minho was boldly staring at Seungmin while the younger was doing his work. The audacity. In his defense, he already finished the reports needed for tomorrow. It's just he didn't tell Seungmin about it yet because he enjoys seeing the younger working.
Minho just realized that the whole four days he's been waiting for Seungmin was to ask the younger if he did anything to Seungmin that made the latter have those thoughts. Minho cleared his throat, trying to break the silence and Seungmin looked up to him.
"Yes, sir?" oh those puppy eyes.
Minho licked his drying lips as he straightened his back and relocated his focus from the screen towards the younger.
"Please, drop the honorific. It was long passed the working hour,"
Seungmin was hesitant but he continued. "Hyung?" the word rolled perfectly on Seungmin's tongue.
Minho smiled a little and nodded. "Well, that will do. Everyone's calling me that after working hour,"
"That aside. I've been meaning to ask you something." Minho picked up his little, almost abandoned, mission.
Seungmin hummed as he told him to proceed. Minho once again cleared his throat.
"It's been a month since you've been working here, right?" Seungmin nodded to the question. "I want you to be honest with me, even though it hurts...But, how was it here? Is it great? Is there anyone bullying you to do their work?"
Just before Seungmin could answer, Minho caught a little of the younger's thoughts as their feet were still touching under the table. It's quite cramped down there, given Seungmin's long legs. And his too.
"It was great, because of you."
"To be very honest, it was wonderful experience, I supposed. I have a group of great co-workers. They're helping me a lot. As for bullying...Is tonight counted?" Seungmin's teasing tone made Minho chuckled.
"We came to an agreement, remember? That's on you," Minho playfully rolled his eyes and Seungmin chortled at him.
"How about your first impression on me?" Minho suddenly asked after their comfortable silence passed for almost a minute. His heart starts to pick up speed again as he waits for Seungmin's answer.
The younger one seemed like he was taken aback by the unexpected question for which Minho quickly took back what he said.
"Well, it's okay if you don't want to answer it. It was stupid anyway--"
"You were cold!" Seungmin's sudden answer made both of them startled and laughed after a few moments.
"Really? I was cold?" Seungmin scratched his head with a sheepish smile and nodded but quickly shook his head.
"Which one, Kim Seungmin? Yes, or no?" a smirk made its way onto Minho's face as his palm supported his chin and looked at flustered Seungmin.
"It was. In the past tense. In the past. I felt that. But not anymore. You only look cold though." Seungmin was fumbling his words and Minho couldn't help himself from smiling.
Cute.
Okay Minho. What was that?
"As time passes, I learned that you're actually kind, in your own way. And you're working hard too. You are always taking care of others secretly-- Oh God, am I rambling?" Seungmin palmed his mouth with a small gasp to escape it.
Minho couldn't help it but let out a breathy laugh. "No. Not really. It was nice of you. I was preparing for the worse like-- what if you hated me? Because I looked cold."
"I could never..." Minho almost couldn't hear it because Seungmin was mumbling but he caught it anyway.
"Pardon?"
"I said, it might be. But you proved to me that you're a warm person. I enjoyed working under your supervision. And the other seniors too. Changbin hyung is nice too."
Minho nodded to Seungmin's answer. And he also heard some Seungmin's thoughts too.
"It was wrong of me to think that you hated me. How silly I could be, huh? How could someone warm and selfless like you be hating on someone? I bet that's not even in your life dictionary."
Seungmin thought of him too highly to the point Minho asked himself if he really deserved someone like Seungmin to adore him?
.
It was 11 PM and both of them decided to stop for the day. Seungmin ended up correcting every report Minho needed to write, and Minho only finished till what he had to submit tomorrow. Talk about Seungmin's efficiency.
It was indeed easier and quicker to have extra help while finishing the work. Minho thought he needed to stay at the office today, but it turned out he finished earlier than expected. Thanks to Seungmin, of course.
But the thing is--
"Hyung, didn't you just miss the last train?" Seungmin asked. Yes, exactly that. He just missed the last train and he only left with two options; either he took a cab with a ridiculous fee or sacrificed his back to get a bus.
"Apparently, yes." Minho answered and he was about to give Chan a call before Seungmin called out his name bashfully.
"Do you want to stay over my apartment then? I live alone and it's just a walking distance-- It's fine too if you don't want to. I understand--"
"Cool, let's go."
"Pardon?"
"I said, let's crash your apartment since you're offering it to me. I hope you don't mind if we stopped by a convenience store to buy some booze? It's on me." call Minho crazy because he really is. He didn't know what possessed him to make such a decision.
Maybe he wants something from the latter but he's not sure yet if it is really what he wants.
"Booze?"
"As a compensation I didn't join the celebration last week." What a good excuse, Lee Minho.
Minho then led the way and Seungmin was obviously fumbling with his steps, trying to match Minho's confident stride. They end up with a plastic bag full of a few cans of beer, six bottles of soju since it's a one-plus-one promotion and Minho couldn't ignore it, and two lunch boxes as Minho just remembered they didn't have their dinner yet.
As Seungmin offered to carry the bag, their fingers brushed a bit.
"Is he planning to get drunk in my apartment? Should I be panicking? Does God actually listen to me now?"
And it just hit Minho.
Right. This could lead to that too, but it was definitely not his first intention. He just wanted to-- Well, he really didn't have anything in his mind but what he knew, he wanted to spend more time with Seungmin.
It was indeed a few blocks away and within walking distance. They're now standing in front of Seungmin's apartment as the younger clumsily takes out the keys from his bag.
Every second that passed made Minho nervous in a certain way he couldn't describe.
It was all Seungmin's thoughts. Why would he think of that when he just wanted to drink?
As Seungmin opened the door and they entered the room, Minho was welcomed by a remarkably familiar scent. It's Seungmin's scent. It's a mix of lavender and rain. Minho instantly felt at ease as he walked more into Seungmin's living room. Everywhere, every nook and cranny of the apartment told him it was indeed Seungmin's. From countless books on three different shelves to those cute medium-sized plushies on the sofa.
"Uhm, make yourself at home, hyung. I'll prepare a warm bath for you and find you comfortable clothes to change into." Seungmin excused himself into a room which Minho assumed was his.
Minho was looking at the shelves with a can of beer in his hand, trying to pick a book that might pique his interest. There were a few series of popular manhwas and mangas, a few educational books which Minho assumed from Seungmin's college days, and random magazines. He picked up the latest series of 'Tower of God' and that was when Seungmin came out from his room with a set of fresh clothes in his hands.
"Hyung, I hope this is your size--" Seungmin stopped as he saw Minho was holding the manhwa. "You enjoyed the Tower of God too?" the younger's eyes turned excited as Minho nodded and took a seat on the sofa. Seungmin followed him and sat beside him.
"It was a nice story and I accidentally picked it up while scrolling my phone. Seemed like you got the latest series?" Minho showed the book in his hand and Seungmin sheepishly smiled.
"Oh that. My dad got it for me to congratulate me on entering the company."
"That's so sweet of him then."
"Indeed."
It was a comfortable silence where Minho kept on sipping his beer and Seungmin sat next to him, reading the manhwa in his hand together. While they were reading, Seungmin lifted his legs up and sat crossed legs to which his knee hit Minho's.
"It seems like hyung loves this kind of book too. Glad that we're at last sharing the same interest."
Minho's not going to lie but Seungmin's crush on him is quite adorable and innocent. It's harmless and honest. Minho could feel how the latter felt about him, genuinely. He never felt the warmth like Seungmin gave to him through his every smile and laugh.
And again, Minho felt guilty for keeping on listening to Seungmin's thoughts. It was supposed to be a secret and he shouldn't know about it.
Is it too late to ignore? But for sure he couldn't. Why? Because Minho, too, felt like he's falling. He's falling too deep.
.
"Where were you last night?" Minho was welcomed by Chan's sudden question after he stepped into their shared apartment. The older one threw his head over to the sofa and looked at Minho with his head upside down-- if that makes any sense, but that's that.
"Nowhere," he walked straight to the fridge and fetched a bottle of cold mineral water to quench his thirst from walking back home.
"You weren't home, Minho. I thought you were kidnapped or something." Chan then walked to the seat in front of Minho and looked at the younger with this worrying face he always had if something unusual happened.
"Chan hyung, who would've wanted to kidnap a grown ass man who works from eight to five daily? I'm obviously not that worth to ask for compensation because I too, broke as hell,"
Chan hummed, agreeing with Minho. "Well, point taken. But still. I was a bit worried." Chan paused before his eyes focused back on Minho. "So, where were you?"
"Seungmin's apartment." that's a little bit straightforward but it's the truth.
"What were you doing there?"
"I was working overtime and Seungmin-- Well, he decided to give me a hand and we ended up finishing everything quite later than expected. I missed the last train and Seungmin just offered me to crash his place."
"That's all?'
"That's all. What else do you expect me to do?" Minho chugged down the remaining water till his cheeks bloated, lips pouted, slowly let the liquid run down his throat.
"Just asking. No harm." and that was when Minho started to hear Chan's thoughts as Chan's toe met him from under the table.
"Well, that's a shame..."
Minho shook his head and got up from his seat to throw the bottle into their recycle section before he walked towards the sink to wash his hands. "Chan hyung, I heard that."
"Hey, we talked about privacy." Chan frowned at him to which Minho knew the older man didn't mean it.
"Then stop having secret thoughts when I'm around?" Minho was about to leave the kitchen for a hot bath. A nice hot bath after a long working hour. That sounds nice.
But Chan decided to call his name once again and Minho turned his head to look at Chan with a first warning, you-better-have-a-good- explanation-to-call-me eyes. Chan had this excited smile on his face which Minho figures the older drew something on his mind. Something that's up to no good.
"Did you know--"
"No, I don't."
"Can you not like-- cut my talk? Listen, this is interesting." Chan pulled back the chair that Minho sat on earlier and gestured to him to take a seat back.
Minho lazily scowls yet still made his way to Chan's side and sat on the chair. Chan's smile got wider and fixed his posture a bit.
"You better make it interesting than how adorable my cats are." disinterested with what Chan was about to tell him, Minho shamelessly took Chan's pineapple juice and sipped it a bit. Too much sugar. Just how Chan likes them.
"Oh, you're gonna love this." somehow Chan had this-- look , that Minho could not pinpoint the meaning behind it.
"So, I heard about an urban legend. It's something about your weird ability."
Oh, that piqued Minho's interest.
"And according to this urban legend, you'll be free from the curse after you've lost your virginity."
Minho nodded, trying to process what Chan just told him.
But wait--
"What?!" Minho's eyes went wide, and Chan shot this unbelievable look. Forehead creased; eyes narrowed. Who would think that makes any sense? It's beyond ridiculous!
"Hey, don't give me that look. I'm trying to help. It might take you out from whatever curse you've been holding for the past fifteen years, who knows?" Chan shrugged with a smirk.
As if Minho had just finished processing Chan's words, he could feel his face getting hotter and hotter until he heard Chan call his name, asking him if he was alright.
How is he supposed to be alright ?
If the urban legend is true then--
Yes, you're right. Lee Minho is a virgin. Or else, he would already be free from this weird curse long ago.
Lee Minho, thirty years old, still has not given his first kiss to anyone. Yet.
Chan noticed the sudden silence coming from Minho, waved his hand in front of Minho's face, "Earth to Minho," and poked his cheeks.
And that was when Minho heard him, again.
"Don't tell me Minho never had sex--"
Minho let out a sigh. "You don't have to hit that reality right in my face, you know..."
Now, it's Chan whose eyes went wide and could not believe Minho with this are-you-kidding-me? look.
" Oh-- " Chan paused for a moment. "What about when you were dating Seonghwa in college back then?"
"We broke up after two months if you forgot about it."
"Then, in two months, no sex?"
"We took things slow. Plus, we don't even kiss, hyung."
And Chan still has this face like that pikachu meme. Overly shocked and surprised.
"Gosh, you're much more of a virgin than I thought you were..." Chan let out a longer sigh than before as he settled with Minho's newest profound information.
Their two minutes and thirty seconds of comfortable yet awkward silence ended when Chan cleared his throat hesitantly as his eyes found Minho.
"What?" Minho asked.
"You told me that Seungmin likes you." there's another evocative look on Chan's face and Minho just knew it's another up-to-no-good look.
"And?"
"Make things work with him."
"What?!" how, exactly?
"I might slow in catching context but I'm not blind, Min. You're obviously head over heels for him too."
Minho chortled at that.
What is Chan talking about? He's definitely not liking Seungmin that way. Don't get him wrong, he likes Seungmin because Seungmin is nice, hardworking, adorable-- But that's that, as a colleague. Not more than that.
"You were practically smitten over him, Minho. Whenever you talk to me about him, it's like he puts the stars in the sky." Chan added.
"What do you mean smitten ? And I never talked about him like that--"
"As I said, Min. I'm not blind. Let's not be so hard on yourself, yeah? Maybe you should give yourself a chance."
"Hyung..." Chan then pushed his body away from the kitchen counter and about to leave before he gently squeezed Minho's shoulder.
"Min, I know you. I know you're going to give that boy a chance. It's time." Chan walked out from the kitchen, leaving Minho alone to sort his thoughts and feelings out.
.
Minho is nervous. For some reasons.
This is all Chan's fault. He became more conscious about his feelings for Seungmin after what Chan said to him before.
He indeed, likes Seungmin but it never goes deeper or further than that. But after some events happen, somehow it feels-- different. In a good way. He wanted to know more about Seungmin. He wanted to spend more time with Seungmin, no matter how many possible ways fate let him to.
Back to the present, it's Friday. Minho was contemplating on how he should ask Seungmin to join him for dinner. Or is he taking things too fast? But he wants this. He wants to have dinner with Seungmin. He wants to spend more time with Seungmin.
The two of them were the only ones left after Changbin and Hyunjin decided to clock out on time as the weekend approached. More time to rest they said. Seungmin just finished a report Minho asked him to edit this morning and is currently preparing to go home.
Minho threw the strap of his bag over his shoulder and nervously walked towards the younger. As he was nearing Seungmin's cubicle, he caught a whiff of Seungmin's soft cologne and that made his heart instantly racing. He shyly cleared his throat and in a second, Seungmin whipped his head to face Minho and let out a short 'Yes?' to him. He seemed surprised by Minho getting too close to him.
"Er..." Minho paused for a moment. How does he propose this? "Do you want to like-- have dinner with me? Before going home?"
Seungmin blinked his eyes upon Minho's proposal, and it was quite a long pause. Seungmin's mouth opened as he was about to answer but closed it back while biting his lower lips nervously.
Of course. "Well, it's okay if you don't want to. You don't have to force yourself--"
"No! I want to! I'd love to!" Seungmin answered almost immediately just before Minho could finish his sentences.
"Oh, okay. Cool. Let's go." Minho softly let out a breath that he's not sure why he holds them, and a small smile stretches on his face.
They were walking towards the elevator with a few small talks such as 'What is your favorite food?' or 'Should we try this new place near the subway?'. Also, with 'That sounds good!' and a few more. Minho could hear Seungmin was nervous from the way the younger's thoughts talked about it.
'Is this a date? Should I consider this a date? But Chief Lee always treats everyone to dinner before too, right? Ugh Kim Seungmin! Get a grip, will you?'
Adorable. Minho couldn't help but let out a small chuckle and Seungmin was already looking at him fondly. While they were waiting for the elevator, an extremely excited Hyunjin with a wide smile lightly jogged towards them as he exited the bathroom.
"I knew it! Both of you were about to go home. My timing is perfect!" Hyunjin slung his arms over Seungmin's shoulder and Minho threw him a quizzical look before the younger let out a soft 'Oh, right'.
"Jisung's department is about to have a get together and he invited me with Changbin earlier. And I asked them if I can invite two more person, knowing both of you would still be here. My timing just too perfect that I could cry." Hyunjin acted as if he's too overwhelmed with himself and wiped his fake tear off his eyes.
"So, do you want to join us?" Hyunjin looked at Minho and Seungmin with hopeful eyes.
Seungmin slowly nodded his head and Minho followed afterward, after Hyunjin flashed Seungmin the usual puppy eyes he would do when he needed the latter's help. And Seungmin, of course, couldn't say no.
There goes Minho's plan. Flowing out right from his grip, went straight into the drain.
.
Everyone was pretty much not entirely sober, including Minho. He was a little bit tipsy, but he still could brain everything people around him were talking about. Except for Seungmin. The younger one carefully took his alcohol and politely rejected the people who were about to fill in his glass.
Hyunjin had already gone long ago after he had a drinking competition with Changbin and claimed that he won as Changbin slept with his head on the table. It's not a surprise that he followed afterwards. Glad that Jisung and Felix already offered themselves to bring these two back to their houses to stay over after this meeting.
Only a few left and that includes Felix, Jisung, and a few female colleagues from Jisung's department. Felix was still going strong though, considering the number of bottles in front of him, he still could form sane words while talking.
"Chief Lee, Mr. Kim, do you want to play a small game with us? We need two more people and those two--" she looked at wasted Changbin and Hyunjin before she softly sighed. "But anyway, it's just for fun. Felix and Jisung joined too." as the alcohol slightly kicked into Minho's system, he just lazily nodded and Seungmin followed.
Six of them-- now when Minho and Seungmin were added to the group-- eight of them were sitting around another table, leaving the drunk ones aside to deal with them later. Minho sat in between Jisung and Seungmin while Felix sat in front of him.
"What game are we going to play?" Seungmin asked while taking off his necktie and buttoned off the top two buttons of his shirt.
Minho suddenly felt hot and swallowed his saliva hard. It must be the alcohol. He quickly took a glass of plain water and chugged it down to cool himself down.
"It's the King's Game. We'll draw a random stick and whoever ends up with the King's stick will be the king. The other must obey what the King said. It's just a simple and fun game~" one of the ladies politely explained to him and Seungmin nodded before she started to shake the sticks in a container, before everyone randomly drew their own stick.
Minho draws a number 4. Seungmin sheepishly showed him that he got a number 6. Jisung then screamed happily beside Minho. He got the King's stick.
"Oho, I'm the King now. You lowly peasants shall obey my order." Jisung deepened his voice amusingly and Felix was seen to roll his eyes and be like 'Yeah, sure. Just get it on, will you?' before Jisung cleared his throat and hummed as if he was thinking.
"I've decided." Jisung paused and Minho started to yawn. "Number 6 shall give number 4 a kiss. No matter which part. You're free to choose."
While they were bustling to find the lucky person, Minho's knees met Jisung's.
"Oh, Kim Seungmin. You shall thank me later."
Minho sleepily frowned and looked at his stick. It's number 4. Wait--
And he remembered to look at Seungmin. The younger one had already turned red all over his face. The tip of his ears too. Minho took a glance at Seungmin's number and that was when his sleepiness washed away.
Wait a minute.
"Oh, Han Jisung~ You're naughty~" Felix laughed at Jisung and one of the girls joined him.
"But who is number 4? We just found out that the number 6 is Mr. Kim." another girl asked, and Minho nervously chewed his lower lips while covering his number.
And again, Jisung being playful as Minho remembered he was, pulled Minho's arm up and saw it. "It's Chief Lee!"
"Chief Lee, I'm okay to withdraw if this is uncomfortable to you--"
"It's okay, Seungmin. It's just a game. I can close my eyes if you want to?" Minho tried to calmly reply to the younger as he could sense Seungmin's nerve. Jisung clearly planned to pull a joke on his friend like this.
"You-- you can do that." and Minho shut his eyes before he could feel Seungmin's silhouette hovering over him, covering the light from him. The same scent he caught before filled his nose again and it made Minho's heart to pace at an insane speed again.
Seungmin's nervous breaths were warm against his skin. A few seconds later, Minho could feel a soft touch on his forehead after Seungmin's long fingers softly removed a bit of his fringe aside. It happened just for a quick moment before Seungmin pulled back and Minho opened his eyes. Seungmin quickly settled back at his seat, and they continued the game for a few rounds before they decided to call it a day.
Seungmin's warm and soft lips on Minho's forehead still linger in his head. And Minho did not hate it. He felt safe instead. And loved. But one thing Minho heard when Seungmin was touching him.
"I'm sorry, Chief Lee,"
Why was that? Why Seungmin apologized to him? He doesn't need to. Minho's brain still lingering to Seungmin's words.
As all of them bid each other goodbyes, Minho just realized he missed the last train. Again. He groaned as he checked his phone that long ago already said goodbye to his owner with zero percent power.
"You missed your train?" Seungmin's voice startled him a bit, but as his brain told him it was Seungmin, he weakly nodded.
"And my phone decided to betray me. Now, I can't call my friend to pick me up."
"Wanna crash at my place again?" Seungmin smiled as he offered Minho his small deal and what other choices did Minho have? Yes, none.
"Sure," Minho replied and both of them walked side by side, making their way towards Seungmin's apartment.
No one was talking on their way to Seungmin's place. They may be tired from the whole day of working. Might be thinking too. Who knows? But it was not awkward, just a comfortable silence. Only a few huffs while walking up through a small hill before they reached the younger's apartment.
Seungmin was, again, fumbling with his keys while he's trying to open the door and the keys fell. Just before Minho could help to reach it out, Seungmin too, crouched down to take it. He shyly muttered a small 'Sorry,' and proceeded to unlock his door.
"Stupid Han Jisung. He's gone too far today. And it's awkward between me and Chief Lee now. He must've hated it."
Minho stopped to move inside the apartment and stood at the entrance. Why does Seungmin always assume how he feels?
"Chief Lee--"
"I didn't hate it, Seungmin. Not at all." Minho's voice cracked a bit, and he could feel his tears threatening to leave his eyes but he's trying so hard to hold it back.
"Chief Lee, what are you talking about?"
"The kiss. I didn't hate it. I--"
"Chief Lee, did you know what you are talking about?" Seungmin is now already standing a few centimetres away from Minho. It's too close.
Minho nodded and slowly inhaled before letting his breath out. "I'm aware. And I'm sorry. Actually, I already knew. Everything. About how you feel towards me."
Minho looked into Seungmin's panicked eyes and he knew he's about to fuck this up if he didn't word his sentence properly. Seungmin is scared. Minho was not supposed to know about this.
"How'd you know?" how to explain this? The more Minho thought about it, the more ridiculous it is to let the words out from his mouth.
"The truth is, I could listen to people's thoughts. I know it might sound too absurd in your head right now, but I need you to believe me. No one told me about your feelings for me. I just-- knew. And I'm sorry. I wasn't supposed to know, am I?" as expected, Seungmin's face clearly showed that he's surprised with this added information.
It's insane.
"But I need to tell you that I didn't hate you. I didn't hate the kiss you gave me tonight. I enjoyed my sleepover here before. I wanted to spend more time with you. I--" wait, he's talking too much. Minho abruptly stopped his sentences as he just realized what he said.
He just confessed!
"Chief Lee--"
"I'm sorry, you're not supposed to know that. I'm--"
Seungmin swiftly caught both of Minho's hands and securely hold them in his large, warm, soft hands. " Hyung, " Seungmin's touch managed to make Minho stop his rambling.
The younger one let out a breathy chuckle as he looked into Minho's eyes. Minho could feel the warmth in the younger's eyes. He could feel the overflowing love coming out from those orbs filled with stars.
"We're even now, aren't we? You're not supposed to know about my feelings. I was not supposed to know yours. We're tied." Seungmin raised both of their intertwined hands with a cheeky smile on his eyes.
Minho's starting to get hot all over. He could feel his face reddened and the tip of his ears getting warm too.
"I--"
"If you're about to say you love me, the answer is, I love you more, Minho hyung." Seungmin brought the back of Minho's hand to his lips and kissed it delicately.
"I love you, Minho hyung. So much that I could kiss you right now."
Minho felt ashamed to say this, but he continued anyway. Of course, with his cherry face.
"You-- You can kiss me, if you want to." Minho ran his eyes away from Seungmin's and he could hear the younger one laughing amusedly.
"You really can read minds, do you?" just before Minho could retaliate, Seungmin's soft lips once again touched him but this time, they met Minho's equally plush lips.
Seungmin moved slowly against Minho's chapped lips and Minho took in the warmth Seungmin offered him. Minho wrapped his arms around Seungmin's neck, trying to be closer to the younger. Want to feel more of Seungmin's sweetness. Seungmin smiled in their shared kiss and pulled Minho closer to his body by pulling the older's waist towards him. His strong arms protectively secured Minho's body and they continued their long kiss. Languid yet firm.
Seungmin was the one to pull away and rested his forehead against Minho while trying to catch his breath after their who-knows-how-long kiss. Minho closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down before he felt his body lifted from the ground and he instantly clings himself on Seungmin. Seungmin carefully supported Minho's weight before he whispered into Minho's already red ears.
"Do you want to continue this somewhere more comfortable? I don't think my doorway is a good option." and Minho shyly nodded before he hid his face into Seungmin's neck. The younger one let out a chuckle and walked both of them towards his room.
The next morning, Minho was welcomed by a very adorable sight. Seungmin was sleeping by his side, cheek pressed against his pillow and a small drool stained his pillow sheet. Seungmin's arms were still loosely rested around his waist and Minho comfortably leaned into the younger's touch.
After a few minutes of admiring his morning view, Seungmin stirred in his sleep and gave Minho his dopey smile before he left a quick peck onto Minho's pouty lips.
"Good morning, hyung." Seungmin's morning voice made Minho's gut churned in a good way.
"Good morning, my fool."
"Yeah, your fool." Seungmin left another quick peck onto Minho's forehead and continued to snuggle into his boyfriend's warmth as it's Saturday. It's time to sleep in.
Something bothered Minho's mind. Though Seungmin was pressed against him this close, Minho couldn't listen to Seungmin's thoughts anymore.
Is Chan's urban legend true? Whatever it is, Minho had a lot to explain to the older when he's home later.
.
🐶
Seungmin looked back at his own handwriting on a piece of paper in front of him. The words, which he turned his feelings into a two-pages long letter he wrote especially for his boyfriend. They are cringed. He couldn't defend himself for that when he also was about to vomit the food that he ate for lunch earlier.
Seungmin had never been in love before. Wait, he might do. But they were just puppy love. To him, they were not love. Just mere high school crushes. He never falls too deep as how he felt for his boyfriend now.
It's a considerable risk to prepare the valentine's gift for his boyfriend when he's still not clocking out from the office. Seungmin was aware. But everyone already left. Changbin left with Felix earlier, saying they will have dinner together while Hyunjin was the first one who bid him goodbye. He had plans with Jisung.
Seungmin looked at a neatly wrapped box that he managed to make last night with a purple ribbon tied on it, sitting beside his hand. What's inside the box? It's the gift he prepared, also from last night, with Felix's help through the face call. He hopes for nothing but his surprise going well.
Seungmin swivelled the chair at a medium speed. Not too fast. Not too slow either, before he let out a sigh again and took another glance at the sentences that he wrote around fifteen minutes ago. When did he become this kind of sappy? He wriggled his whole body and used a slight force to crumple the paper and threw it under the table before he took a piece of a new white, single-lined paper. He took his calligraphy pen again and was ready to write again.
From me to you;
Dear Minho,
Falling in love with you was not in my plan. Your name was never in my planner, unlike those pending works that I need to remind myself to finish them before their deadlines. I needed to write them down so that I would remember. But you? You were never there. Until one day--
Falling in love with the chief of his department was not in Seungmin's plan. It was spontaneous, mysterious. Seungmin didn't even expect that he's going to fall that deep towards the chief. Imagine liking your superior...This was obviously not the one that Seungmin expected when he applied for a position in a PR team for the company.
At first, he thought it was just a mere crush. Most of the female employees kept on whispering-gossiping when he was walking past them as he made his way towards his new department. The talks about how lucky he is to have a well-mannered and good-looking supervisor made Seungmin in his alert mode. He couldn't help but keep his mind noted.
They were right. His superior is indeed very polite and-- gorgeous . From the first time his eyes met the so-called chief, Lee Minho , Seungmin had lost most of the vocabulary in his head and ended up nodding and said 'Yes' when the HR asked him if it's okay to put him under Minho's care.
Was it love at first sight? It might be.
As days passed, Minho became someone that managed to make Seungmin blushed at the smallest things.
--Until one day, you saw me crying in the storage room. Honestly, I was embarrassed but also glad to see you at that time.
Seungmin startled when he heard the door to the storage room was being pushed by someone. He quickly wiped his tears away and took a deep breath so that his hiccups from his crying earlier would subside a bit. He stayed on the floor, with the dark surrounding, making sure that the sound he made from his little movements were under eighty decibels until--
"Kim Seungmin?" the voice called for him. It was laced with worries and gladness at the same time. Seungmin knew that voice. It's Chief Lee.
Seungmin slowly looked up to see the familiar face he saw every day. Those worried eyes keep its focus on Seungmin as his superior crouched to Seungmin's sitting position and quietly brought the sleeve of his shirt to Seungmin's tears-stained cheeks. Those delicate fingers softly touching Seungmin's face.
Seungmin couldn't help but hold his breath. It's too close.
As if he just realized what he just did, Chief Lee pulled his fingers away from Seungmin and muttered a quick apology before he sat on the floor, next to the younger. Seungmin's eyes are still watching Chief Lee's every move. Still wondering why his superior was here.
"You went away for too long after Mr. Kang sent you to pick up the stuff. I was worried if something happened to you." as if Chief Lee could read Seungmin's mind, he talked to Seungmin with his eyes looking straight
Seungmin remained silent but hugged his long legs closer to his chest, trying to calm himself down before breaking down again.
"I know how hard it is to adjust yourself with this pristine environment. You know you can talk to me about it, right?" now, Chief Lee turned his head to Seungmin and Seungmin slowly nodded.
He then continued. "I was there too, you know. I used to be in your position. I understand how hard it would be. But hang in there. You could ask Hyunjin or Changbin if you're uncomfortable with me. They are good too, though Hyunjin always broke the photocopy machine...But other than that, you can trust him to guide you." Seungmin could see his superior pulling a smile that he had never seen before.
That was when he's certain that he's completely in love with his superior.
You are the greatest person, the most gorgeous person, I've ever met. Thank you for letting me feel how it's like to have butterflies in my gut.
I love you, forever and always.
Love,
Seungmin.
When Seungmin ended his letter, which he felt another round of vomit would come out from his stomach, he was surprised by the sudden hug from behind. As his nose caught the familiar scent, a classic woody and musk scent from a familiar Dior perfume he saw at his boyfriend's apartment. A wide smile crept onto his face as he leaned into the touch.
He turned the chair around and caught his boyfriend's waist before Seungmin pulled him to sit on his lap. He leaned into Minho's chest, where the older would put his favourite perfume the most, slowly inhaled Minho's calming scent.
"Hi," the older ones intertwined their fingers together.
"Hey," Seungmin looked up to see Minho's tired face. He gently squeezed Minho's smaller hands, it's his silent way to say Minho did a wonderful job today.
"Why are you still here?" Minho asked with a soft voice as he's getting comfortable sitting on Seungmin's lap. He rested his head at the crook of Seungmin's neck as Seungmin ran his fingers along the soft, deep brown locks.
"Waiting for you," Seungmin left a quick kiss onto Minho's forehead and Minho hummed.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting. We were supposed to have a nice dinner today."
"It's fine, baby. We could always have a nice dinner another day."
"But today's valentine. Even Chan hyung had a date today. I'm gonna be alone later." Seungmin could see the older pout from his sentences. It made him smile a bit and he softly patted Minho's thigh. Minho loves it when Seungmin babying him like that.
"You know you can always crash at my place, at any time, hm?"
That made Minho pulled his body away from getting Seungmin's warmth and had this excited smile on his face.
"Right? My boyfriend is genius." Minho quickly left a peck onto Seungmin's lips.
"Honey, you're getting bolder. We're still at the office if you forgot about it."
They decided to keep it from the other colleagues. It's for the better, Minho said. It's going to be awkward if they knew. Seungmin even kept it from Felix.
"Changbin and Hyunjin have already left. We don't need to--"
Just before Minho could finish his words, they heard something fall and both of their heads quickly found the sound to see the new intern, Yang Jeongin, were looking at them with fright in his eyes.
"I--I'm so sorry! I'll just pretend I didn't see anything. Have a lovely day! Wait, night. It's night. Have a lovely night, sunbaenim!" the scared intern quickly left the room and the two men who were still closely attached to each other.
Minho blinked his eyes a few times and Seungmin did the same.
"Well, that--"
"Are we doomed?" Seungmin asked with worry laced in his voice.
"I trust Yang Jeongin. In a way, I trust him." Minho said confidently.
"If you say so, let's trust him." Minho got up from Seungmin's lap and helped the younger to tidy up his workplace before they head home.
Seungmin just remembered about the letter he wrote earlier but it's too late. Minho already asked him about it when the older saw the paper on his desk. Seungmin's eyes went round and was about to snatch it again, but Minho was faster. By now, he already read half of the letter and Seungmin couldn't help but blush. Defeated and embarrassed.
"Kim Seungmin," Minho paused. His eyes still locked on that piece of paper. "This--"
"I'm sorry! It's rubbish. Give me that, I'm going to throw it away." Seungmin held his hand out to take the paper away from Minho but the older was quick to hide it behind him.
"Why do you want to throw it away? It's for me. You don't have the right to throw away what's mine." Minho seemed serious with his words but still...
Seungmin tried once again to snatch the paper but to no avail. He let out a soft sigh and looked at stubborn Minho. Yes, stubborn.
"Hyung, I can write you a new one--"
"I don't want a new one."
"Please, hyung. That's embarrassing and sappy as fuck. Let me write to you properly."
"No, I love it embarrassing and sappy. I'm keeping this. Now, let's go home." Minho, with the tip of his ears getting red, dragged Seungmin out of the room.
Seungmin giggled when he teased Minho about his red ears and the older one told him to shut up.
"No, I don't want to shut up. Never." the tease was still going on until they stepped into the elevator and Minho pulled Seungmin's necktie so that the younger's eyes were the same level as his.
"Provoke me one more time, I will--"
"What will you--" once again, Minho's plushed lips crashed Seungmin's lips and only one floor left before the elevator would open the door but Minho's kiss getting harder devouring the younger's lips.
Seungmin leaned into the hungry kiss as he pulled Minho's waist closer to him. He also mentally counted down before the elevator's door opened.
Three. Minho's lips move in a way Seungmin loves.
Two. Minho pulled Seungmin's belt so that the younger would stay closer to him.
One. Minho quickly pulled away, leaving a messy Seungmin behind as the elevator's door wide open.
"Oh, Chief Lee! You're going back?" Seungmin was still dazed from Minho's attack, tried to match the elder's steps, and heard someone calling for his boyfriend.
"Yes, I am, Chief Kang." Minho smiled sweetly to the chief of the marketing department.
Chief Kang then saw a disheveled Seungmin walking out from the elevator. "Are you all right, young man?"
"He's only tired. I'll make sure that he will be home safely."
"Oh, how nice of you. Okay then. I'll leave him to you, Chief Lee." they bowed to their senior and left the building.
"It's suddenly me who is tired, huh? When you were the one who--"
"What are you talking about, Kim Seungmin?" Seungmin could've sworn he saw Minho smirked as he was one step faster from Seungmin's
But Seungmin didn't take too long to match Minho's steps. He leaned down to the elder's already red ears and whispered. "Surely I will continue this later when no one is around."
"Sure, jagi ." Minho smirked once again.
Oh, to wipe that smirk away.
Minho and Seungmin walked hand in hand when they were already sure they were far enough from people that might have known them. They decided to make a stop at the rooftop of Seungmin's apartment just to enjoy the night with stars decorating the dark sky.
Minho tipped on his toes and kissed Seungmin's cheeks softly. "Happy valentine day, Seungmin."
Seungmin turned to face his boyfriend as he pulled him by the waist, wanting to feel closer to him with a wide grin. "Happy valentine day, hyung."
Seungmin closed the gaps between them before he softly left a kiss onto Minho's forehead. Minho closed his eyes, leaning into the younger's warm touch.
As if he just remembered, Seungmin let out a gasp before he rushed to open the zipper of his backpack and taking out the gift that he prepared for Minho last night. The older gave him a quizzical look but still held out his hand to accept a neatly wrapped box with a purple ribbon on it.
"What is this?"
"The valentine's classics. I made you chocolates. But please don't put your expectations too high. I'm barely an amateur." Seungmin sheepishly smiled but still urged Minho to open the box. He's excited to see his boyfriend's reaction.
Minho could've sworn he saw a pair of invisible puppy ears coming out from Seungmin's head when the latter blinked his eyes a few times with a wide grin. Somehow this sight made Minho's heart swelled and he carefully tearing off the wrapper. He opened the black box to reveal a quite messy white chocolate balls dusted with matcha powder (he supposed). Minho popped in one of the chocolates into his mouth as he waited for the chocolate to melt.
The chocolate doesn't melt.
Minho saw the younger's face changed from a bright smile earlier to somehow sullen face when he saw Minho's reaction. Minho quickly bite it and swallowed the large chunk before he smiled at the younger sweetly, which doesn't work well.
“It was pretty bad, huh? Here, give it back to me. You can’t possibly eat that trash.” a little pout formed on Seungmin’s face.
“Why are you trying to take everything that was supposed to be mine today? First, the letter. Then, the chocolate. Nope, I’m keeping it.” Minho hid the chocolate box behind him when Seungmin was trying to get it from his hands.
“But hyung. It was bad. Both of them. Let me make you another one, hm?” Seungmin tried to plead again with those puppy eyes he always used against Minho, which most of the time works. But not today.
“No. They’re my gifts. I’m keeping it.” Minho is stubborn stubborn. He then keeps the box in his bag and secured it safely from Seungmin’s reach, which he knew it was useless since Seungmin always one step ahead with his longer limbs, but he doesn’t care.
Seungmin can’t take his gifts anymore.
“Hyung!” Seungmin cried out for Minho when the older was about to leave the rooftop.
“What?”
“You left me here? How could you…” Seungmin was, of course, quick to match Minho’s pace.
“As I should.” Minho smirked as the younger whined about how a menace Minho sometimes could be until they reached Seungmin’s apartment and made another batch of chocolate. This time, under Minho’s supervision.