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SOONIE, DOONGIE, DORI, YOU
See, it wasn’t like it was Chan’s only choice. He could’ve easily said no, said that he was just going to loiter about the city for the next six days. He could’ve said he was going to go on a little trip by himself somewhere outside of Seoul. He could’ve said he was going to hang out with Felix like last time — on second thought, maybe not. Because Felix said he already had plans to go with Changbin to his hometown of Yongin. “Fair enough.” Chan had mumbled to himself when the younger Australian had told him of said plan.
So, really, he could have opted out. He could have opted out of going with Minho to Gimpo to see his parents and his cats. Could have opted out of having to possibly go through six painfully awkward days with Minho. But he didn’t. He told the younger he’d go.
“Really? You’d do that?” Minho’s eyes had lit up with so much excitement, it seemed criminal to say no.
But it also seemed he should have done just that.
✦
Okay, it wasn’t like it was completely dreadful. The train ride to Gimpo was actually quite pleasant. Minho was quietly sitting as he stared outside the window. Chan was listening to the sounds coming from inside the train: the soft chatter from a few seats away, the footsteps of passengers as they walked from one seat to another, and the distant revving of the train’s engine. Peaceful, right? Maybe, Chan would say. They didn’t say much during the one-hour journey to Minho’s hometown, so any chance of him accidentally saying something embarrassing was completely out the window.
Upon arrival at Gimpo Station, Minho had suggested they go and have lunch first before going to Minho’s parents’ house. Chan agreed, wanting to delay meeting Minho’s parents for a little longer. Chan had met Minho’s parents before, way back in the group’s earlier days. Chan knew they were the sweetest people ever; it was clear where Minho had gotten his kindness from. But he hadn’t seen them in almost four years, he felt like it might have been a little awkward on his part. It was more of a one-sided thing, really. He knew deep down he had nothing to worry about, but he couldn’t help feeling nervous anyway.
And it didn’t make sense. Why was he so worried? It wasn’t like Minho was going to introduce him as his boyfriend — hell, they weren’t even dating.
Ha, he thought to himself on their walk to one of Minho’s favorite restaurants. Not even dating.
Eating at said restaurant went completely fine, too. They ordered what they wanted, they ate and talked because that’s what friends did with each other, but the pit of nervousness in Chan’s stomach was growing. And he couldn’t not pay attention to it.
Unfortunately for him, neither could Minho. “Hyung?” Minho had looked over him with a look of concern upon noticing Chan clutch his stomach with a faint grimace painting his features. “Are you okay? We can go to my parents’ house now if you want. Maybe my mom can give you something.” And yet again, the thought of meeting Minho’s parents after so long made the feeling of his stomach churning even worse. “No, no, it’s okay. I’m fine.” He said, taking a sip from his cup of water. “Are you sure?” Minho asked, and Chan simply nodded.
“Alright, but if you feel bad, tell me, okay? I’ll call Mom and ask her to make something for you.”
Chan gave him a smile of gratitude. “I will, Min. Thank you.”
Luckily, Chan made it through the rest of lunch without that weird feeling coming from his insides. But sooner than he wished, he and Minho were finally going to go to his house. He tried not to let on that he was nervous, because in the first place, he himself didn’t even know why he was feeling that way.
✦
“We’re here.” Minho declared once the taxi they had taken stopped in front of a tall, narrow house. “We’re here.” Chan repeated, before handing the payment to the driver and stepping out of the car to grab his duffel bag.
The door opened just as Minho was about to open it, and a short haired, kind-faced woman who seemed to be in her early fifties greeted them. “Minho!” She called out to the boy in front of him with much excitement. Chan found himself smiling. Though she may have aged a bit, the smile on her face was ever clear as she brought her only child into her arms. “It’s been so long, thank God you came.” She told him.
“Oh wait.” Minho quickly pulled away from the hug. “I brought Channie-hyung along with me this time, Mom. Hope you don’t mind.” He said, his voice suddenly soft and timid. Chan took this as his cue to bow and greet her. Mrs. Lee’s expression, on the other hand, did not falter even a bit. “Why, of course I don’t mind! Minho’s members are my sons, too.” She said, and made her way over to give Chan a gentle hug. “Come in, come in.”
They greeted Minho’s dad as well, and then went upstairs to see Minho’s cats. Chan couldn’t contain his excitement at all, and not even the possibility that they wouldn’t like him deterred him from jumping as he walked up the stairs. “Here we are.” Minho said once they reached the second floor, showing Chan the room Soonie, Doongie, and Dori stayed in. Minho walked up to them first, cooing and petting them ever so softly. “You missed me, didn’t you? You missed me.” Minho said to Soonie, who simply walked away in favor of lying down by the window. “Tsk. Grumpy, this one.”
Chan couldn’t help smiling once again, feeling his heart grow fond because of the way Minho was so gentle with these cute creatures. He tried to walk up to Dori, who was sitting atop the cat tower Minho had recently bought for the three of them. “Hello there,” he put his hand out, waiting for the gray cat to either shove it away or nuzzle into it. Surprisingly, it was the latter that Dori decided to do.
“Oh my gosh,” Chan giggled, happy that one of Minho’s cats so far seemed to like him. “So cute.”
Minho stood on the other side of the room, cradling Doongie in his arms like a baby as he fondly watched his hyung coddle his youngest cat. But of course, Minho being Minho, he had to express his feelings his way. “Oh~” he slid over to his leader, wiggling his shoulders in a teasing manner. Doongie meows sleepily in his arms. “Seems like Dori likes you a lot?”
Chan smiled up at him from where he was sitting on the floor. “Does he?”
Their moment was cut off by Minho’s mom calling for both of them. “Minho! Chan! Come down and have some snacks!”
Minho answered with a shout of his own. “Yes, Mom!”
“Shall we go?” He asked just as they were putting the cats down. Chan nodded his head, fidgeting with his sleeves. They walked down the steps and into the kitchen, commenting on the weather for lack of better things to talk of. Chan had to laugh in his mind.
✦
Sleeping arrangements weren’t something Chan had to think about until after dinner; he didn’t realize he would have to be sharing a bed, let alone a room with Minho. It wasn’t the first time he had done so, after all, they were roommates in their later trainee days. Everyone knew that. But somehow, it felt so much more different this time. And Chan liked to think it was because they were in Minho’s house and not a dorm. Yeah, that was it, wasn’t it? Maybe.
Not tossing and turning on your side of the bed, I hope? Felix had replied to him when Chan texted him about sleeping beside Minho. It was around 2 am, and Chan, of course, was unable to get any sleep. He sighed, not bothering to reply to Felix’s text anymore. He turned on his side for the nth time that night — er, morning — relieved that it didn’t seem to disturb the sleeping boy next to him. He found himself staring, fighting back the urge to run a finger over the cupid’s bow that was Minho’s lips. Chan giggled softly, remembering the time he called the younger the “cutest little thing” on Bubble. And he really was the cutest little thing. His cutest little thing. Although he was fierce and intimidating while performing, he was always, in Chan’s eyes, the most adorable person ever. Even when he threatened to poke chopsticks in Changbin’s eyes for the nth time.
“Hyung?” A soft whisper cut off his train of thought, and Chan looked up from the other boy’s lips to his eyes. “Why aren’t you sleeping?” Chan simply scrunched his nose. “Can’t.” He said, bringing his hand back down to his side. Despite his drowsy state from having just woken up, Minho managed a frown. An adorable one, too, Chan might add. Instead of saying something like Chan expected him to, the latter shifted until his head was under Chan’s, placing a hand on the older’s back. “Sleep, hyung. You need it.” He mumbled, his hand tapping on Chan’s backside gently.
Chan decided to ignore the feeling in his chest and stomach in favor of actually trying to fall asleep. He was certain Minho’s tender pats on his back definitely helped.
Minho’s mom finding them in the same position a few hours later went unmentioned.
✦
Some three or four days later, the four of them, as in Minho, Chan, and Minho’s parents, went out early in the morning to go fishing. Now Chan had tried many things in his youth. Soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming, cooking, producing, and many more. Fishing, however, was not one of those things. “I’ll teach you, don’t worry.” Minho chuckled as they sat in the car. Chan remembered that time the younger had gone on a fishing show and won first place for catching the biggest fish. A smile of gratitude is given in return.
“It’s really easy,” Minho had started to explain as the boat they rented began to sail off. “You attach the bait — the worms — to the rod, and then you throw the line as far as you can.” He added. “Got that?” Chan nodded, trying to memorize everything Minho said as well as the pieces of advice his father had given them earlier in the car. “Yeah, I think so.” He mumbled.
Elaborate details aside, their fishing trip turned out to go quite well. Though Chan didn’t catch as much fish as Minho, the whole experience definitely opened new doors for him. He even told Minho’s dad that he would actually like to go fishing again someday. “Really?” Minho joined in on the conversation. “Well in that case, hyung, I’ll challenge you to a fishing contest.”
Chan immediately smiled, as if egging on the younger boy. “It’s on, then.” He said, pretending to act cocky. Somewhere behind them, Minho’s parents shared a look, a smile only the two of them would understand. Minho felt himself smiling fondly once again, the familiarly unfamiliar feeling taking over his stomach. “I might just do something I’m not supposed to.” He mumbled to himself.
Dinner followed, the quartet going to a restaurant just near the lake they came from. The fish they had caught were taken to be grilled, and sides of scallops and squid were served as appetizers. “Hyung, you’re allergic to these aren’t you?” Minho asked, quickly moving the bowl of scallops over to his parents’ side. Chan blinked in pleasant surprise. “Don’t think I’ve ever mentioned that but yes, I am. How’d you know?” He asked in return.
Minho hid a shy smile. “Your mom told me when we went to Australia.”
Chan stared at him for a moment. “That was quite a long time ago,” he thought aloud. “Thanks for remembering, Min.” he said, gently patting his hand under the table. Minho looked back up and stared back, still smiling. But their moment was over as soon as it began when Minho’s mom exclaimed, “You’re allergic? My, my, why didn’t you say so? Is there anything else you’re allergic to? The squid? Any other seafood?”
“Ai, Mom, don’t bombard him with so many questions.” Minho waved her off. Meanwhile, Chan simply shook his head. “No, no, Auntie! It’s okay. I’m only allergic to scallops, that’s it.” He rushed to say in an attempt to reassure Mrs. Lee who looked like she was about to panic. She quickly calmed herself and made a gesture with her hand. “Just call me Mother, please.”
“Ah, yes, Mother.” Chan replied with a shy laugh, his ears burning red.
✦
They got home some time between 10 to 11 PM, and by midnight Minho’s parents were already sleeping. On the other hand, the two other people in the house were hanging out on the rooftop, both unable to catch any sleep. The next day was a free day anyway, so it didn’t really matter whether they got any sleep or not. For the first time since the day they had arrived, the silence didn’t make Chan uneasy. No, he felt calm, and at peace. It seemed it was the same for the boy beside him, his eyes looking up at the sky, trying to find any star he could see.
Chan sat in his thoughts, taking in his surroundings quietly.
“Actually, I haven’t been feeling too good lately.” Minho opened up suddenly, averting his gaze over to his leader. Chan looked at him and hummed. “In here or in here?” He asked, pointing to his head, then to his heart. Minho was quiet for a moment, thinking. And then he replied, “In here.” while bringing his finger in front of his chest. The older’s eyes followed Minho’s hand, settling his gaze on where Minho’s heart was. “What’s got you feeling that way, Min?”
And there was the nickname again. Minho’s heart always did a little flip whenever his hyung would call him that. What made it worse was how Chan was the only person to ever call him that. He flicked his eyes down, playing with his fingers. The other noticed this and grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers.
“It’s like…there’s this hollow feeling inside me, you know?” Minho turned to look at the boy beside him who nodded. “Mhm, yeah.”
“What- why do you think that is?” Chan asked, subtly scooting closer to Minho. The latter thought for a moment. “I guess it’s that…sometimes it feels like I’m lost.” He said. A pause. “Either that, or I’m, I don’t know, losing myself.” He added with a shrug.
Chan brought up a hand to caress Minho’s cheek, but hesitated. But when the younger didn’t back away or show any signs of discomfort, he gently ran his thumb over Minho’s face. “Well, if that happens — and God forbid that it does — I’ll be here to help you find yourself again.” He smiled softly.
“Thank you, hyung.” Minho mirrored the gesture, studying Chan’s face intently with that same look in his eyes as when he watched him play with Dori. He quickly leaned in and pressed a soft peck on the older man's mouth. And then just as quickly leaned away when he realized what he had just done. “Sorry,” he chuckled meekly, his hand flying up to touch his lips. “Spur of the moment.”
Chan only smiled and shook his head. “It’s okay, I liked it.”
“I like you.” Minho blurted out, this time on purpose. Chan’s eyes widened into saucers, the man unable to respond. “And I’m sorry I kept you hanging for this long, I should’ve told you right away and—”
“Min,” Chan cut him off, squeezing his hand. “Don’t be sorry. When I told you I liked you last year, I also told you that you didn’t have to answer right away. And I meant it, I did. I’m okay with waiting. I’m always okay with waiting if it’s you.” He said, his tone so reassuring that Minho really couldn’t help himself anymore when he leaned back in to capture Chan’s lips in another, but searing kiss.
Chan was just as eager, wrapping an arm around Minho’s waist to keep him close. But at that moment exactly, the younger decided to pull away, just a little. And Chan let him, just a little. “You tease.” He whined, pouting a little. Minho laughed at this and leaned in to give him one more, chaste kiss.
And then suddenly Chan’s face was serious. “When I confessed to you back then, I wasn’t really looking for anything with you. If you don’t want to put a label on…this yet, I don’t mind. We don’t have to rush, we have all the time in the world.” He said, his hand gently playing with Minho’s fingers. A sigh was heard from him. “Well, I kind of think it might be going too quickly if we went straight to the whole boyfriends thing, so I guess no label for now would be okay.”
Chan nodded and rested Minho’s head on his shoulder, an arm going to wrap around his waist. “Sounds good to me. You can change your mind anytime, though.”
“I know.”
✦
The week slowly began to reach its end, and only a day was left to spend at the Lee family’s house. So far, not much had changed between the two eldest members of the group. Not really. Chan was still as touchy, Minho still pretended he hated it. But in private he welcomed it.
On their last night, as they both had just finished getting ready for bed, Chan suddenly came out of the bathroom shirtless. Not like it was the first time Minho had ever seen Chan like this — abs on display and all — but he couldn’t help the laugh escaping his lips. “What is your aversion to clothing?” He joked, subtly referencing one of the books he had read online. Chan seemed to immediately catch his drift, playing along. “I don't have one. I just know it makes you flustered when I'm wearing less of it.” He smirked. Minho scoffed, “How dare you?”
“We’ve only just started out, and this is how you flirt?” Minho said in disbelief. “Unbelievable.” Chan raised an eyebrow, as if to challenge him. “You’re the one who started it, though?” He said, leaning down to tower over the younger who was laid on the bed. He propped himself up on his elbow, smiling with faux innocence. “Can’t help it when you look so handsome. I mean, with or without a shirt, but you get it.” Minho said, feigning nonchalance.
And just like that, Chan was a goner. He felt his face flaring up and he was sure his ears were completely red. “ Why would you say such a thing?” He slumped onto the bed, face scrunched up like a child throwing a tantrum. Minho giggled and obnoxiously puckered up his lips as if asking for a kiss. It didn’t take long for Chan to give in to him and press their mouths together in a quick peck. But his eyebrows were still furrowed. “Mean.”
Minho let out a laugh before resting his head on Chan’s thighs. “Should we tell them? The kids?” Chan carded a finger through Minho’s locks, thinking for a moment. “Maybe. But not now.”
“When you’re ready.”
✦
The day they decided to tell the rest of the members came some months after their stay at Minho’s house. Of course, things had changed over the course of four months, and in those four months Minho and Chan had gone from an unlabeled relationship to deciding to just fuck it and be boyfriends. How it happened was quite random, literally out of nowhere. They were cuddling in Chan’s bed (because Minho always preferred to sleep there), and just before Chan could properly doze off, Minho asked, “Should we just date?”
And that snapped Chan awake faster than it took him to get sleepy. “What?” He blurted out, eyes wide. “I think we should date.” Minho reiterated for him. “It’s been four months, we might as well just consider ourselves dating. Unless you don’t want to yet, that is.”
Chan shifted so he could look down at the younger. “I mean, I personally don’t mind.” He said. Minho smiled and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. “Good. So we’re boyfriends now.” He said, laying his head down on Chan’s chest. “We are.” Chan repeated, still a little dumbfounded at what had just happened.
“Good night, boyfriend.”
So back to telling the kids, it happened while they were hanging out in a waiting room before filming for something, all of the staff out for their break. It was just the eight of them; perfect opportunity, no? Some members were on their phones, others singing for fun, and then there were the two oldest members in their own world. “Now?” Minho whispered to the leader. Chan nodded and stood up in front of everyone. This quickly caught the attention of everyone else in the room, some stopping what they were doing to see what he was going to do or what he had to say.
And then Chan blanked out. What was he even supposed to say? Or how was he going to tell them? Beat around the bush and keep hinting at it until they got it? Or just straight up say it and save himself (and Minho) the nervousness? Chan thought for a moment and decided on the latter.
“So, Minho and I are a thing now-” But he couldn’t even get to the end of his sentence because the moment the words “Minho and I” left his mouth, he was met with a cacophony of shouts, obnoxiously loud cheers, and some fake cries thrown in. “Fucking finally, dude. I was waiting for this to happen.” Jisung was the first to speak up after pretending to cry. Jeongin was walking around the room, his hands up in his signature pose with one hand raised up and the other facing down. Hyunjin was dramatically clapping while shaking his head in satisfaction.
All the while, Minho was simply staring at them in shock. Of course, he knew they would be supportive, just not that they’d be this supportive. Everyone else gave their congratulations, and at that moment, the staff came back from having their snacks.
Chan sat back down next to Minho, a hand immediately going to scratch the shell of his ear. “Maybe I’m glad we went to my house together.” The latter told him as he gently continued to rub Chan’s ear.
“Maybe?” Chan teased.
“Okay,” Minho rolled his eyes. “I am glad.”
“Me too.”
“And the next time we go there, I’m telling my parents you’re my boyfriend.”
“Whatever makes you happy, petal.”