Archive of Our Own

five months.

Minho was waiting in line for his iced americano in the coffee shop in front of his new workplace. His plan wasn’t on buying one today, but he came a little bit early. It is better to walk in with his favourite drink in hand just in time for his introduction meeting. Well, at least that was what he was thinking.

With his arms crossed in front of his chest, he read the menu for the second time. Maybe next time he should bring his headphones. When his eyes were scanning the frappes section, he heard something. A soft voice, followed by a burst of high and familiar laughter. He turned his head to meet the other patrons. Everyone was talking, and some were laughing. Minho couldn’t pinpoint from where inside the shop but neither from where he knows it. 

He met a lot of people when he was in his old dance crew, more than he can name. In this part of the city, everyone is looking for an opportunity like the one he has. He saw the door open and two guys walked out with drinks in their hands. One was wearing a big blue jacket and the other a black hoodie. The sight didn’t ring a bell.

The barista called his name, Minho thanked her and walked out.

The big sign on the top of the building said RACHA Entertainment , Minho’s new second home. One week ago, he received the call. He was accepted to be the new home choreographer for the company’s newest project. He didn’t have that much information, but he was excited. Some of the people he knew from his old crew auditioned here. Maybe he would see some of them. It will be weird to teach someone who used to be a teammate or a rival.

Minho passed through the glass door into the spacious lobby. The company’s latest hit is playing in their speakers. He matched the tempo of his steps to it. Before the feeling of uneasiness started, he approached the receptionist in the middle. She raised her face from her computer with a cordial expression, clearly waiting for him to say something.

He cleared his throat and leaned into the high desk. “Hello, I, hm, I am Lee Minho. I was recently hired.” Her eyes got bigger before she clapped her hands and beamed at him.

“Of course,” he grabbed a folder and checked the sticker name on it before handing it over to Minho. “Here it is your ID. You can move around the building with it. Elevators, meeting rooms, studios and more. I am sure your team will give you a tour after the meeting. I will need you to come back later today or tomorrow so you can sign some paperwork. Is that okay for you?”

Minho nodded a couple of times, but then he thought that it is more polite to answer with words. He muttered ‘ yes, sure’ .

“Perfect,” she pointed to Minho’s right side and he followed. “Over there are private elevators, your meeting is scheduled to be held on the fifth floor. Bang Chan must be already waiting for you.”

“Thank you so much,” Minho bowed before turning in the direction she signalled. He took out the ID. It had the company logo and his name with ‘choreographer’ under it. He couldn’t help but smile a little. 

He clicked the ID on the screen and the elevator’s door opened. He stepped inside and pushes the fifth bottom. When the door closes he took a deep breath and leaned on the metal surface. His eyes followed the numbers in red going up. Thankfully it didn’t stop until he heard a ding and the doors were opening again. 

He stepped out into a bright hallway. It was long, as Minho could see. It had different colourful artworks related to music on its walls. On his left, he saw someone standing up from the black couches.

“You are Lee Minho, right?” The guy had curly blond hair and the same black hoodie he saw in the coffee shop. Behind him, on the table, was a half-empty cup that matches the one in his hand. He wasn’t the one who laugh, Minho had never met him and his voice didn’t match. 

He nodded as he looked at the thing in his hand. The guy seemed about the same age. He felt a little brave with him, maybe he could relax a little. “That is what the ID says, at least.” 

The guy in the black hoodie grinned, and Minho could see dimples. “I like you. I am Bang Chan, director manager and sometimes producer,” he stretched his hand for him to take, and Minho did. “I feel like you are going to fit in our little group.” 

Minho smiled. He already tried being in huge groups that irrevocably turned into small ones, and those would not get along among them. It was just a mess. Being in a little workgroup would be a good change for him, especially if he kept things professional. Bang Chan asked him if he was ready to go to their meeting. 

“Lead the way,” Minho said as he moved his arm to signal the other.  

On the way to the meeting room, Minho learned that Bang Chan was one year older than him, and he grew up in Australia. He moved back to work in the industry at the first opportunity. He admitted shyly that he was the youngest manager in the company when Minho asked how much he has been working there. 

Bang Chan took out his ID to unlock the door and opened it for Minho. He heard how the faint chatter stopped when they came in. He bowed to the three people that were already sitting at the long table. 

Chan let his hand rest on his shoulder encouraging him to come closer. This was the part that he dreaded the most, introducing himself to new people. “Hey guys, this is…”

“Min?” 

A shiver passed through his body. The same soft voice from the coffee shop. He locked eyes with the guy in a big blue jacket, a face mask and a beanie. He had an iced americano between his hands. His big doe eyes were sparkling at him like he couldn’t believe Minho was standing there. 

Bang Chan was watching both with a confused expression, but he didn’t bother to look at him or the other one in the room. The guy with the familiar voice stood up. Minho’s heart was beating fast. His mind was looking for another answer because the first one that popped into his head… just no. 

The next happened in slow motion, or at least that's how it felt. The guy walked around the table until he was standing right in front of him. His eyes searched for something in Minho’s face. I know you , he concluded but at the same time his brain was screaming, it can’t be.  

He took his beanie off and light brown locks fell out. The guy passed a hand through it before shaking his head. Minho is blinking rapidly. He looked like someone he hasn’t seen in a long time. But that was the problem, he… he could not be the same person he was thinking.  

Then the guy took the face mask off and Minho gasped. There was no doubt now. He was there. The one that used to be his person.  

“Sungie?” he asked weakly mainly because he was fearing his voice was going to break. The younger nodded with tears piling up in the corner of his brown doe eyes. Fuck. How?

Minho didn’t know what to do. It was obvious that it had never crossed his mind to find him here. Moreover, he lost hope long ago of seeing him again. Han Jisung, his person, the one who left him and never came back. But apparently, he did, because they are in the same meeting room, in the same company, in the same city, in the same country. 

He blinked a couple of times, trying to take it all in. The idea of turning around and just getting out of the building together was very tempting. But, of course, he felt two arms around his shoulders. Jisung had always been a touchy person, he should not be surprised that he wanted to hug him. In his imagination they did, all the time. 

What surprised Minho was how the feeling of relief washed down on him. Like the tension that accumulated over the years was finally gone.

He let out the breath he was unconsciously holding before wrapping his arms around Jisung’s waist. He hid his face on his neck and closes his eyes. 

Just like he did the last time they saw each other.

<<<

Minho used to be scared of every body of water. 

He had tried swimming in his cousin’s pool when he was barely a kid and failed miserably. Water went down his nose and he decided that was enough. His mother tried to take him to swimming classes but he made every effort he could to avoid them until she eventually gave up. 

But being scared of going into every body of water didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the sight of them. 

Their neighbour, about the same age as his mom, liked to go on walks along the beach once a week. Occasionally they would join them if his mother had some free time. They would walk slowly, chatting between them, and Minho would run to put some distance. Let the grown-ups talk about their boring stuff while he played as the kid he was.

His favourite pastime was to play chase with the waves of the sea. He would try to run from the sea until it gave up and fall back, but sometimes he would let himself be caught. The saltwater would appease the burn of the hot sand. It was a cycle that he couldn’t get bothered by. 

“Hey,” a high voice startled him. He turned to find a small boy with slightly tanned skin and adorable cheeks staring at him with big brown eyes. “Why don’t you go in?” 

Minho leaned his head to the side. “Huh?” The boy nodded before pointing at the sea. “I-I…” Minho would never admit to any other kid he was scared of anything. He had been asked this before. I don’t want to get wet and walk home like that , was his most believable answer. But there was something on his eyes that invited him to trust him. “I don’t like swimming.”

“Oh,” the boy’s mouth made an ‘o’ shape before his brows would frown cutely. Thoughts were racing through his head and Minho hadn’t wished harder to be able to read minds. “You don’t know how?” He shook his head. “Do you want me to teach you? I was the best swimmer in my old school.” 

“I…” Minho looked back to where his mom and their neighbour were still talking by the shade. If something happened, he could scream, and she would go to his aid. “I… okay.” 

“Are you sure?” Minho nodded. “Perfect! Take my hand.” The boy’s hand was extended in front of him, but he couldn’t help but stare at it. A kid thrusting a younger kid with his life. “Oh, right. I am Han Jisung, I moved here a couple of months ago.” 

“I’m Lee Minho,” he muttered as he took his hand.

The boy, Jisung, started pulling him slowly towards the sea. Minho could feel his body tense up. This wasn’t the way the game was. He was supposed to be going out but he was taking steps in. The younger looked at him with something in his eyes full of many emotions. Minho trusted himself to be able to read them if he stared at them more. 

“Okay, today we are just going to walk in until the water touches…” he looked down at their legs. “Oh, your knees are a little higher than mine.” He frown again, he was thinking. “Okay, yours. Yes, until the water touches your knees.” Jisung locked eyes with him, they were soft and sure. “Is that okay?” 

“Hey, ah, hyung? Yes, hyung.” The younger grabbed his free hand by the wrist. He swung them a little bit with a cute giggle that Minho mimicked. “You don’t need to be afraid, I’m right here.” 

He took deep breaths with his eyes closed. He felt the force of the waves crashing on his legs, the sun burning his exposed skin, but he also felt Jisung’s grip on his wrists. It was like an anchor. He opened his eyes to a heart-shaped smiled and puffed cheeks. 

After that time, Minho went on a walk to the beach every week. With Jisung’s help, he was okay with walking in until the water reached his shoulders. He was still scared but it was easier with the younger boy there. 

It was only natural for Minho to ask him to drop the honorifics and come to play with him and his cats after their weekly lesson. 

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．

The boy with tanned skin, Jisung, turned into an irreplaceable presence in Minho’s life. 

What was once a weekly meeting became biweekly until they were seeing each other almost every day. Their houses weren’t that far, anyways. After school, they would hang out to do schoolwork together. It was always quicker that way. Minho would help the younger, and Jisung served as a promise that if he finished well and early, they could play together more.

Minho was so grateful that Jisung talked to him on the beach a few years back. He even thanked his father for moving to this town one time he and his finally were invited over to dinner. The younger still teased for it, but he meant that day and today. 

They are sitting on the sidewalk by the park. Jisung’s cousin taught him how to use the stake board when she came to visit. The first thing he did after they left was to run (or rather, skate) to Minho’s house to teach him as well. 

Minho knew he was expecting him to struggle as much as the younger did, but that wasn’t the case. He enrolled in a dance academy a few months after meeting Jisund and discover that he was what the teachers called a natural. Hence, he had way more balance and core control than the younger. 

“When is your recital?” Jisung pulled him out of his thoughts. The envelope of the hard candy in his hands was where the younger’s eyes were fixed.

“Next week, Saturday morning,” Minho answered while resting his elbows on his knees. The sky above them was as clear as it can be, even with the faint breeze coming from the sea. “Why?” 

Jisung just shrugged in response, his eyes not looking up.“I don’t want to forget it.” 

Minho came closer to him, even leaning his head to try and catch his gaze. “You know you don’t HAVE to come, right? You don’t like waking up early on weekends”

That made him look up, and after making eye contact, a scoff came out of Jisung's mouth. “As if I would miss it for anything in the world.” Their shoulders brushed as the younger leaned back. “And I already told my mom and, of course, she said yes. My hyung is taking me after his English class.” 

Honestly, Minho didn’t know how to answer. He just kept looking at him and smiled. Since he started dancing, Jisung had been his number-one supporter. It doesn’t matter how small the event was, or if he just had one appearance, Jisung was going to be there for him. Sometimes he just couldn’t understand why. There was some sort of loyalty inscribed in their friendship that he hadn’t seen anywhere else. Minho’s mom brushed it up after he asked about it. She said ‘that is what best friends do’. But still, every time Jisung proved him, he felt a warm feeling inside him.

Beside him, Jisung straightened up and came closer. Their crossed arms were fully touching. “Min?” he asked and it sounded more like a whisper.

With just one look at how Jisung was still playing with the candy envelope, he knew that something was running miles per hour on his mind. It wasn’t about the recital, something else was bothering him. “Yes, Sungie,” he tried to sound as gentle as he could without alerting the other. 

“Can we be serious for a second?” Minho’s smile dropped and felt himself get tense. In their years of friendship, they hadn’t had that many serious talks. He could think of one, or two when they were about to fall asleep on their usual sleepovers. Never like this, in the broad daylight after playing with skateboards. 

“Okay.” 

His best friend sighed, his eyes still on the shiny envelope in his hands. “Look, I-...”

“It’s over.” 

He couldn’t help it. Jisung’s serious face was scaring him more than he would ever admit out loud. If one thing always made his heart shape smile come back, was his weird sense of humour. This was no exception. Once he realized what the older realized he started cackling after rolling his eyes. Minho smiled back, glad that the tension was less present. 

“Min!” Jisung whined, “I’m serious.”

He was going to make another joke, but he stopped himself. He didn’t want the younger to think that he was not being taken seriously. He cared about what was on Jisung’s mind. “Sorry,” he said without fully meaning it. “Continue.” 

“As I was saying…” The corners of his mouth twitched for a second. He was trying to keep the smile on, but something was making him hesitate. Minho’s worry hadn’t left him. “I, I want us to make a promise.” 

“A promise?” he echoed. They make promises all the time. For what they are going to do next weekend, the snack for the get-togethers, and what game they were playing after the beach. Why was this one so serious? Why was bothering him so much?

“You know, being best friends is overrated,” Jisung stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Minho stared at him for a couple of seconds before throwing his head back laughing. This wasn’t the direction he thought this was going. Jisung tried to punch him but he held his hands up to protect himself. 

After catching his breath, and apologizing, again, he asked him to continue. Jisung was trying so hard to be mad, but Minho could see right through his eyes. He was too soft for him to be. He took a couple of breaths before starting his explanation. “It’s just that… Look, my hyung was watching his show, right? And one girl, I think it was the protagonist said to her friend that they were each other’s person.” 

“Each other’s person?” Minho didn’t miss how the boy’s eyes lightened up at the words getting out of his mouth, even when there were tinted with hesitation. 

“Yeah,” Jisung turned to be completely facing Minho. He grabbed his left forearm tightly, just like he did the day they met at the beach. “So, do you promise?” 

He lifted his eyes to his face again. After blinking a couple of times, he answered. “Let me get this straight, you want me to promise to be your person with just a simple ‘yes’?” The other boy nodded. “How can you be so sappy and simple at the same time, huh.” 

“Don’t me go and ask someone else,” Jisung was faking being annoyed at him but his hold never faltered.

Minho smirked. “As if someone could handle you the way I do.” 

Jisung’s body relaxes. A wide smile, small eyes, puffed cheeks. He waddled to be closer to Minho and put his arms over his knees to mimic Minho’s pose. “That’s why I am saying you are my person and I want you to promise we’ll be forever.” 

“Okay,” Minho nodded firmly, held his small pinky and Jisung hooked his without hesitations. Without breaking eye contact, he said some of the truest words that had come out of his mouth in his short life. “I promised it’s going to be always us.” 

“Each other’s person, forever .” Jisung gave a kiss to his hands and then looked at him expectantly. He rolled his eyes jokingly before doing the same action. 

A couple of seconds later, they share some of the hard candy in Jisung’s pocket before walking back to Minho’s home, where his mom was going to pick him up later after dinner.

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．

Minho knew the news through his father. 

Jisung’s dad had talked with him about it the day before, and he mentioned it over breakfast. Minho froze and had to excuse himself before he started bawling in the middle of their dining table. One of the cats snuggled with him until he could breathe evenly again. His mom checked on him sometime later. They hugged until she received a message from Jisung’s mother that the younger was on his way to their house. 

Minho waited by the sofa at the window. When he could see Jisung walking down his street, he got up to leave the house. The younger stopped abruptly the moment he saw him standing with his arms crossed. 

“I-I…” Jisung stuttered. His mouth opened and closed before deciding on taking a deep breath. “I need to talk to you.” 

The older one didn’t move a muscle, he just glared at Jisung. “When?” He was aware of how cold he sounded. Jisung flinched at it. He had never heard that tone when it was directed at him. 

“W-what?” Minho’s fist clenched against his arm. He sounded pained, his eyes were looking glossy. He wanted to go there and comfort the younger, but he had to protect himself. They don’t need him breaking down now.  

“I know that you are leaving, Jisung,” Minho was aware of the annoyance in his voice, but this was the kind of news you would expect from his best friend, not his dad. Jisung looked pale. Whatever speech he prepared, it was long gone now. He didn’t expect Minho to know. He breathed deeply. “So, when?” 

“H-how…” 

“Your dad talked to mine.” 

Jisung sighed. There was hesitation in him by the way he was biting his lip. Eventually, he took a step closer to the older. “I wanted to tell you myself, but that would mean that… that it is real, and I don’t want that…” Minho couldn’t hold it anymore. He needed to break the distance left between them. As he was walking, he held his arms open, and Jisung quietly sobbed at that action. The younger was the touchy one in their relationship. This meant more than both were willing to admit. Jisung snuggled upon him. “I don’t want to go, Min.” 

“You will be okay, I’ll be okay,” he looked up trying to blink the tears away. But jisung was shaking and hugging so close and tight. He stroked the brown locks of his best friends as he muttered, “we’ll be okay.” We promised , he wanted to say, but he just hold Jisung until he calmed down. 

Jisung and his family were moving to Malaysia in two weeks. They tried to squeeze every possible moment together as much as they could. None of them acknowledged their imminent goodbye, not even joking, but they were constantly thinking. An embrace that lasted longer, a little handmade gift, the boxes on Jisung’s entryway.  

Minho and his mom accompanied them to the train station. They were flying out from the city, but it was a two-hour ride on the train from their town by the coast. Everyone was talking but them, which was rare because it was usually the other way around. 

When they approach the entrance, Minho was looking at the floor. He didn’t want to see them crossing the ticket machines. Knowing that the back of Jisung’s head was the last thing he was going to see of his best friend for a while was too much for him. 

“Min?” he made an assuring sound that he was listening. But that wasn’t enough for the younger. He put his hands on Minho’s shoulder. “Can you please look at me?” Slowly he raised his head. A whine almost escaped him. He knew that Jisung was battling the tears. “I-I’ll buy you something when I come back, okay? I promised,” Minho wanted to yell that he didn’t want more promises. He was holding onto their main one. 

He cleared his throat. “With what money, Sungie?” The nonchalant tone was not achieved as he felt he was choking up on his tears.  

Jisung seemed relieved that the older was still joking in moments like this. It wouldn’t be them otherwise. He squeezed his shoulder. “I will save until then.” 

Their parents called that it was time to leave. The two boys walked side by side, trying to take small steps, prolonging the inevitable. 

Minho waved when Jisung was about to cross the entrance. But the younger frowned and run straight back to his best friend’s arms. He hid his face on his shoulder. “Don’t forget me, please.” He whispered so quietly that Jisung would be the only person on this planet to listen to him. 

“I will never forget my person,” Jisung declared and Minho believed him. He held on to that words as he sat in his parent’s car on the way back to this home. 

>>>

“Not to be an asshole…”  Minho raised his head. He blinks a couple of times before looking at the guy who spoke. “but, what is going on?” 

Jisung finally released his embrace and Minho has to fight the urge to frown. He is already missing it. Get a fucking grip . The younger stayed close to him as he cleared his throat. 

“Min and I–... I mean…” He didn’t like how his heart beat faster. Only Jisung called him that nickname. It has been years, and he forgot about that. All the maturing and growing up he did since he went abroad seemed to not matter anymore. He felt small and vulnerable. “Minho hyung and I grew up together before I moved to Malaysia.”

“Really?” The guy who spoke looked at each of them before falling back with his arm crossed over his broad chest and a smirk on his face. “I am having flashbacks from when Felix knew you were also Australian.” 

Minho admired the relaxed vibe from this guy. He was mentally prepared to be surrounded by not-so-nice people. Chan, Changbin… and Jisung. It was possible, it was nice. But unfortunately, the reunion with Jisung interrupted the introductions part of the meeting. He look at Chan and raised an eyebrow expectantly at him. “Oh, right. Sorry. This is Seo Changbin, he is also a manager.” 

“I might not be the director, but I am as cool as him.” Changbin winked jokingly at him.

The eldest rolled his eyes before turning back to Minho. “And you know who J.One, well, Jisung, but I guess I should say that he is our newest house producer. His main focus is going to be this project.” 

“Can we move the meeting to later? This is way more interesting.” 

“You are one step closer to being sent to Div2, hyung.” Minho looked at Jisung. He was looking at the second manager with a cocky smile. He used to know that smile so well. It used to be directed to everyone, and rarely to him. It was still there, but now it was just different . His hair was longer, his baby fat gone (but his cheeks remained), and his jaw more pronounced. It was still his Jisung, but at the same time, it wasn’t. 

He realized he was staring when Chan cleared his throat. “You ready?” 

Everyone moved around to get a seat at the table. The space next to Jisung was empty. He wanted to go there, so badly, but he moved to the one next to Changbin. He could see better there, and it would be easier to pay attention to the meeting instead of every movement Jisung made. He looked at his old friend. There was disappointment in his eyes, but still, he gave Minho a little smile which he returned. 

Chan was standing next to a whiteboard ready for the meeting to start. There was not any single apparent nervousness on him, just excitement. He pushed a bottom in the remote and some words appeared. 

Stray Kids. That was the name of the project he was hired for. RACHA Entertainment ’ s rookie group was soon to debut.

From the get-go, Minho had one thing clear: this was Chan’s baby. He chose the four members of the group, brought Jisung from Malaysia, made the company hire Minho as a choreographer and convinced his best friend to manage the group with him. 

It was just the beginning of the meeting, and he was already sold. He was determined to make anything in his power to make Stray Kids debut on March 25th of next year. Five months. That was all they have, but with a quick swipe of the room, it was obvious that the other three share what he was thinking. 

The logistics were quite easy to predict. Chan would coordinate everything between the company and them. Changbin is the one who is going to be closer to the members, their point of contact (but the eldest remarked that they are welcome to talk to any of them at any time). Jisung would work with the other producers on the songs, and when they were ready, Minho would choreograph them, and teach them to the members. 

It was easier said than done, obviously, it wasn’t going to be that smooth. Nothing is in this kind of industry. 

Chan showed them a tentative timeline of the deadlines. It looked tight but doable. He also promised to send all the information along with some handy numbers (like the other producers for Jisung, and their usual choreographers for Minho). 

The dancer looked down at the paper. Late he should review his notes and thoughts throughout the meeting. He didn’t have questions or concerns right now (Chan asked them, and everyone said no), but that didn’t mean he won’t have them later. 

A movement caught the corner of his eyes. Jisung’s pen. He was fidgeting with it, just like he did when he was concentrating. He rested his face into his hand in order to cover his growing smile. Old habits never die, he wanted to say but didn’t. 

The younger must have felt his stare because he looked back at him. And whatever he saw on Minho’s face made him beam shyly. They need to talk, but when they are not Lee Minho, the choreographer and J.One (that is what Chan said, right?), the producer, but just Sungie and Min. 

“So, Minho and Jisung.” Both of them snapped their head towards the oldest. Minho felt his cheeks blush, but that was stupid. He wasn’t doing anything. The director manager stared at them knowingly, and he didn’t like the smugness of his expression. He didn’t cut eye contact until the other giggled. 

Chan rested his arms on the empty chair closer to him. “You guys want to meet the lucky four?” 

They packed their stuff quickly. The other three are casually chatting while Minho remained silent. Chan was the first one to get out, followed by Changbin. Minho threw his empty iced americano cup before getting out of the meeting room. The first two started walking towards the elevator. They were talking but Minho wasn’t picking on what. He really needed a moment to himself to process what had just happened. 

But Jisung didn’t let him. Not that he said anything, but he matched his steps and walked on his side, just like they did when they walked back from the beach. Shoulders brushing, comfortable silence. If it wasn’t for the bright ass lights and ding of the elevator, he could swear he was starting to smell the sea. 

“They should still be on their break,” Chan muttered as he looked at the time on his phone. Minho managed to see the wallpaper of him and a small, blonde, freckled guy. 

“Where are we going?” Minho asked. He hoped they were going to give him a tour at some point because his brain was only registering how close Jisung was to him even though the elevator was spacious. 

“Oh, good thing you ask. The four floors were where the dance studios are. It is reserved for choreographers and artists, but because our boys are going to debut, they can use them instead of the ones on the trainee floor.” Minho nodded, he needed to write that down on his notes later.

They got out into another bright ass hallway that looked almost identical to the previous one. He had to pay attention to the red number on the elevator, otherwise, he was going to get lost. Jisung left his place next to him to sprint towards a door. He pulled out his ID to unlock it. 

Chan and Changbin went through it, and the younger said nothing. But when Minho approached, he muttered, “After you, hyung.” Minho found it cute how he did a little bow but his brown eyes stayed fixed on him. 

As he was shaking his head, he walked quickly through the door. “Always a gentleman,” he whispered once he was inside the practice room.

Jisung closed the door and came close to him, but he wasn’t shy but relaxed and maybe a little bit coy. “What can I say, you know me.” 

Minho teased Chan earlier, he wasn’t going to hold back on Jisung. You know, for all time's sake. 

“Do I?” Jisung’s face fell. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. Minho could practically see the thoughts running rapidly in his little head. I still can read you so well Sungie . He cackled at the realization. Jisung relaxed as he closed the door of the practice room. He slightly pushed him with his shoulder when they walked towards the managers.

The four stand in a line mirroring the other four other guys dressed in athletic clothes. Minho’s eyes stopped on the last one. A petite blonde, freckled boy, the one on Chan’s phone. He really wanted to smirk but he needed to remain professional. 

The taller cleared his throat and looked at the four of them with nervousness. “One, two…” 

“Step out! Hello, we are Stray Kids, nice to meet you!” The groups choired their greeting and Minho could almost picture them doing this but all dolled up, with mics on their hands, under fancy lighting. It made so much sense, and it was going to happen. 

“Guys,” Chan said as he puts his hands together you already know Changbin…”

“Way more than we should,” the sweet smile on the guy with soft brown hair didn’t match the snarky comment he just made. Changbin only tsked as he crossed his big arms in front of his chest.  

Chan sighed tiredly before looking accusatorily. “Seungminie…” This must not be the first nor the last time something similar happened. 

“Sorry, hyung.” He didn’t look sorry a lot, on the contrary, he looked all smudged because of the reactions of his hyungs. Seungmin, Minho took note. He already liked this boy. 

“As I was saying…” Chan took a couple of steps to be between the two lines of guys. First, he signalled to Jisung who standing next to Minho with his hands twitching on his hoodie. He was always louder than Minho, but never the most outgoing. “This is J.One, your producer,” then Chan’s hand pointed at him. “And this is Lee Minho, your choreographer,” they politely bowed and it was reciprocated by the members.

“And they are childhood friends, apparently,” Changbin pointed at them with his thumb as he was showing a smirk. Minho doesn’t know how long he has been in the company, but clearly, by how relaxed he seemed, it has been a while.

“That wasn’t necessary, Binnie,” Chan sighed, again. Minho has a feeling he did that quite often with this group of people. Well, he wasn’t planning on making it easy for him. 

Minho looked out the corner of his eyes, Jisung was still twitching nervously. He wasn’t comfortable with how much attention the other were bringing to the matter. He hoped once they talk it would get easy. Even if not, they still would need to work together. 

Changbin raised his shoulders when he was changing his weight between his feet. “They were going to know it at some point, why not speed the process, huh?” 

“Chan hyung,” the room went silent as the heads in the room turned to him, even Jisung’s.  don’t you present yourself?”

“Yeah, you are right.” Minho felt grateful that the attention was back on the group. That was how it was supposed to be. They were going to be stars, Minho and the others would be supporting them from the back.  

The four boys stood straighter. The first one, a tall blonde boy bowed first before introducing himself. “Hi, I’m Hwang Hyunjin, leader. Nice to meet you.” 

Next to him was the petite blonde guy with freckles that he saw in Chan’s wallpaper. He tried, really tried, to not be so surprised when the guy started talking. “Hello, I’m Lee Felix. I’m Australian.” How can a guy so delicate and beautiful like him have the deepest voice Minho has ever heard? “I’m a dancer and a rapper,” he smiled at the end. Minho peeked at Chan who was beaming. 

Now it was the turn of the witty comment guy. This introduction was exactly what he was expecting. “I’m Kim Seungmin, main vocal.” Short and straightforward, wrapped with a little bow at the end,

The only one remaining was a guy with black fluffy hair and a wide smile that made his small eyes turn into crescents. He looked so adorable if Minho was honest. “And I’m Yang Jeongin, maknae and also vocal.” The youngest, yeah, that made sense. 

They stayed a little bit longer in the dance practice studio. Chan was trying his best to make the conversation between the eight of them flow, but he was doing most of the talking. Thankfully, Hyunjin, as the leader, said that their break was almost over and they needed to go back to practice. Minho wondered if they would want him to say, but they all bowed and said their goodbyes. 

Once they were out of the door, music already playing loudly, Chan turn to him. “Okay, are you ready for your tour, Minho?”

“Jisung and I need to sort some stuff at the studio, we’ll see you guys later.” Chan and Minho nodded. He made the mistake to look in the younger’s direction because, God , he was almost pouting. The urge to ask was huge, but Changbin interrupted by hugging him by the shoulders and slightly dragging him towards the elevators.

Minho sighed. He was already turning to follow Chan down the hallway when Jisung spoke. “Wait! His hand was stopping the elevator door from closing, but his intense stare was on Minho. It was like they were alone. “Min?” Minho nodded encouraging him to continue. “Uhm… don’t buy your coffee tomorrow.” 

Minho beam, no holding back. He didn’t care about the two pairs of eyes watching them with lots of questions that would remain unresponded for now. “Okay, Sungie,” he answered before turning back to Chan to go on the promised tour of the company. 

four months and two weeks. 

It’s official. It was been two weeks since Minho was hired as Stray Kids’ choreographer. When the tour of the company building ended, it has been basically non-stop for him. Signing stuff, more meetings, attending some obligatory courses, after office hours drinks with the other choreographers. It is safe to say that he was liking it so far. 

He hasn’t seen the members or the other guys on their team since the meeting. They have been texting in their group chat and saying hi in the hallways. Minho knew that they would get closer as the project went on, but he was hoping for more interactions. On the other hand, he was sort of grateful for having the time to process Jisungs return without overwhelming him. 

The next day after his first day, he honestly thought he had dreamt the whole thing. But then he got a text from the man himself. A photo of his hand making a peace sign in front of some computer screens, tagging Changbin to hurry up to the studio. 

He chuckled to himself as he unlocked the small dance practice studio with his ID. He booked the day before to try and piece together some of the sparse ideas he got while listening to the title and the b-side’s unfinished tracks. 

As he was leaving his stuff on the couch, he saw something next to the computer. An iced americano from the coffee shop across the road. He frowned. Did someone forget it? He was the first person of the day, and it was still cold. His answers came in a small note next to it. 

I missed you, Min. -HJ, xo.

Minho read the note out loud. The same messy handwriting but now is a small piece of paper with the company logo in the right corner. Jisung did say that he would buy him something, but he was hoping they would go out together. 

He opened the empty chat with Jisung but closed it again. He would thank you when they see each other. Besides, they still need to talk. 

But right now, two weeks later, Minho was sitting on one of the couches in the hallways of the fourth floor. He just got out of the shower after a dance session with the other choreographers. The vibes were just like at his old dance crew. Dancers doing what they love and having fun. But now, they were getting better payment. 

“Hyung?” He raised his head from his phone. A short buff guy with gym clothes and a hat was staring at him with a warm smile. 

He leaned back into his seat. “Hey, Changbinne,” he was about to ask about his day when some rushed steps distracted him. A couple of seconds later Jisung appeared next to the manager. His hair was brushed back, a dark turtle neck and a denim jacket. He even had a little makeup on his eyes that were staring at Minho. Dress to impress , he guessed. 

“Min, I mean, Minho hyung!” his voice sounded like he was trying to contain his excitement.

“You know you can just call me Min, right?” Jisung smiled. He had been waiting for permission. Minho wasn’t going to hear a hyung directed at him anymore. 

“Me too, Minho?” The manager passed an arm through the producer’s shoulder. 

“Respect your elders, Changbinie.”

The short guy muttered something along the lines of favouritism and stuff not being fair to him as Jisung could not hold his laugh. Minho liked the sound. He missed so much. Before he’d spiralled in that direction, he heard another sound. There was a grunt coming from the same place where Jisung appeared. He learned to see, and then the other two did the same. 

Chan made his entrance with his laptop under his arms. 

“Why the hell he’d run like that?” It looked like he was talking more to himself because he didn’t notice the small circle created around the coach. He stopped once he saw Changbin. “Oh,” he said when he noted the choreographer sitting there. He looked back at Jisung and shook his head. “Hi, Minho.” 

Minho decided to ignore how Changbin not so discretely snorted. “Hello, hyung.” 

Chan showed him a dimpled smile. Then he turned to the other two, Changbin was still hugging Jisung. “Well, are you ready?” Minho realized through their group chat that the older would often drive Jisung and Changbin back to their places. Sometimes they would have dinner together first. 

“Actually…” Jisung started looking at the floor and then at Minho. “Are you free right now?” 

Changbin made some noises, and Minho paid no attention to them. “Yes, why?”

“Can go somewhere… and talk?” His heart picked up a quicker pace. He has been waiting to hear those words since he put a foot in that meeting office. He was planning on going home and just chilling on his own, but there was no way he was saying no to this.  It was finally happening. 

“That is our cue to go, Binne,” the shorter one seemed like he wanted to protest but the elder was already dragging him to the elevators. “See you guys tomorrow!” 

Minho waited until the elevator doors were closed to stand up and look at the younger. “Where are we going, Sungie?” 

The producer bit his lip nervously. “I don’t know many places here, I just…”

That made sense. Jisung was a homebody, and even though he might have been in the country for a while, Minho was sure he wasn’t getting out that much. “There is this sushi place that is not far away from here. That sounds good to you?” 

“Yeah, that… yes. Let’s go,” before waiting to see if Minho was following, he started walking. 

The restaurant was just a 10-minute walk away from the company. The conversion was really casual. They share how has it going in their first two weeks being officially part of Stray Kid’s staff. Jisung got there a week before Minho, but Chan had waited until the team was complete to explain the details. 

When they arrived, Minho asked for a table for two and the host took them to one of the tables at back. It was decorated in a beautiful Japanese-inspired style. There weren’t many people seated near them, it felt somehow private. They both ordered different types of sushi so they could share.  

When the waitress left them on their own, Jisung joined his hands.“So…” 

“You are back.” It has been two weeks and that sentence still felt so alien to Minho. It was like at any point, he would wake up from this cruel dream. 

But Jisung just needed two words to remain him that he wasn’t dreaming. “I am.” 

The older leaned forward a little bit. He knew that in situations like did, the younger might be uncomfortable with eye contact. But Minho needed it, especially now. It didn’t matter if he need to wait for it. “For how long? I mean, you have been at the company for a week but in the country?” 

“A month, kinda My hyung lives here now. I came to visit him for a while when Chan hyung hit me up. The offer was too good to miss,” Jisung played with the silver ringer on his finger. “And I was already looking for an excuse for coming back.” 

“Did you know…?” 

“That you were here?” Minho nodded. “Not really. I mean, your mom told mine that you were touring with some dance crew for a while. I guessed that it would be based here but I didn’t check.” 

Minho gulped. He was thankful that their drinks arrived because he didn’t know how to answer that. Every time Jisung would pop into his mind, he would search his name online only to find nothing. Of course, he would never have guessed the pseudonym J.One in a million years. He tried not to show that it hurt the younger didn’t do the same. 

“Min,” his hands stretched to hold Minho’s but backed down. Instead, they grabbed his iced tea glass. “When Chan told us that the company hired a choreographer for the team, he said your name. Lee Minho. And I know that dance is your thing, but I didn’t know if you would have made your career or left it just as a hobby. And I… I was trying so hard to not get my hopes up again.” 

The older tilted his head. “Again?” 

“I know that I wasn’t going to find you randomly in Malaysia, but…” he drank a little before suspiring with his eyes close. “Your name is so fucking common.” 

“Han Jisung,” It felt weird to use his full name. He felt like he was scolding him when he never did before. “You know where to find me, or at least where to look. My parents are still at my family home. Your mother talks, or talked, I don’t know anymore, to mine, if you really were hoping to find me, that would’ve been a good start.” 

“I know, I know. It’s just that I’m just a fucking coward.” Minho opened his mouth but Jisung didn’t let him say anything else. “I know I am. I know the time the daily train leaves for home.” Minho rested his back against the chair. He kept opening and closing his hand in an attempt to try and keep it together. It was a little bit too much that Jisung hasn’t lived there for years and still, he called the place he shared with Minho his home . “But I was so scared to see the changes. To see that you… that you grew up, that you moved on.” 

“What else was I supposed to do? You stopped answering and never reached when I gave up on trying to get a word from you.” Jisung was looking down. Minho didn’t want to get angry right now. He couldn’t help to feel like the younger could spill from his fingers at any moment. Just one false step and he would go away again. He sighed. “I had no choice but to move on, Sungie, and neither had you.” 

“Why didn’t you recognise me?” If Minho wasn’t paying full attention to the younger, he might have missed it. There was more pain in his voice than his heart could handle. 

“It’s not that I didn’t recognise you. I just didn’t want to believe my eyes,” Jisung finally made eye contact. His brain kept the mantra of there-is-no-ways because Jisung was really there looking so handsome and staring back at him. Minho forced himself to continue. “I got tired of seeing you in strangers’ faces. Even before moving here, I stopped assuming it was you because it never was until now.” 

“I told you, no, I promised you I was coming back,”

The older turned his head, breaking the eye contact. His arms were crossed in front of his chest. “Yeah, but we were kids, Sungie. And we both know that was a decision that wasn’t yours to make. I made peace with it once I finally understood.”

“I promised you that I would come back.” 

“And you didn’t.” 

“I’m right here.” 

Minho exhaled loudly. He looked up and then at the guy sitting in front of him. Jisung was still staring at him intensely. “You can’t blame me for having doubts, Jisung. You left, I stayed.” 

Jisung’s frown deepened. “You also left home.” 

“It’s not the same and you know it.”

Jisung was about to say something else, but Minho gestured to him that the waitress was arriving with their order. They look at each other once the food was on the table and decided that they will eat at least a little bit before continuing talking. It was delicious, not as good as the one Minho tasted when he was in Japan, but still good. 

He noticed Jisung staring at the last sushi roll that Minho ordered. With his chopsticks, he placed them over on the younger’s plate. There was no hesitation, he has done that a million times when they were little. The way that he was looking at him, Jisung must have been thinking the same thing. 

“I am still your person,” he wanted to be sure, but there was doubt in Jisung’s voice. “We promised, right?” 

Minho left his chopsticks resting on his empty place before putting them to the side. “We were each other’s person back then when we were kids.” 

“We are still us,” Jisung wiped his face delicately, before putting his plate next to Minho’s. 

“How can you be so sure?” The waitress came to pick up the used plates. She seemed to want to ask something, but the tension between Minho and Jisung was so strong that she left them be. “I knew little Sungie with the back of my hand. But J.One? I met him two weeks ago.” 

“You think I hadn’t noticed how you can still read so well, even better than Chan hyung? And like, he is weird good at reading people.” Before Minho could add anything, Jisung’s face turned all smudged. “And for the record, I can still read you fairly well.” 

“I guess we just need to catch up.” 

“Please,” this time Jisung didn't shy away from holding Minho’s hand between them. “Please, Min. I missed my person so much.” 

Minho looked at their hands. He had been waiting to hear that words for years, and with one look at Jisung’s eyes, he knows the other too. “Me too, Sungie. You have no idea.” 

After paying for their meal, none of them wanted to part ways. Jisung suggested a coffee shop with really good desserts. They resumed their conversation once they started walking. “So, if we are going to catch up…” Minho began to say with his hands in his pockets and looking up to the city lights. “Are you finally seeing someone?”

“I am going to ignore the ‘finally’,” Jisung rolled his eyes. “But nope. Well not anymore. I had a partner back in Malaysia, but we broke up about a year ago now.”

“She didn’t deserve you then,” the younger stopped abruptly. “What?”

“ He didn’t.”

“Oh,” something stirred on Minho’s tummy. He gulped turning to the side.  “Sorry for assuming.” 

“It’s okay. I only started questioning when I moved. Although I don’t know if I gave any signs back then.” 

“I am not a good person to ask if I am honest,” the younger looked at him with confused eyes. “I thought you were as normal as me. And I know, I know we were weird. But I am trying to say that we were two little closeted gays.” 

“I mean, I am bisexual but…” A giggle followed Jisung’s smirk. “Thank God.” 

Minho put his hands on his pants pockets as he bumped into the younger’s shoulders. “What would have happened if I had said that I am straight?”

The boy next to next giggle again and raised his shoulders a bit. “Nothing really. But I think it is better that my person is not straight,” Jisung spotted something that distracted Jisung. “Oh, there it is!” Mindlessly, he took Minho’s hand as both rushed to the coffee shop. 

Jisung opened the door for him. The energy between them was more relaxed than the last week. Minho smiled shyly as he entered the warm place and breathe the scent of coffee beans. They waited in line for a little bit. 

Jisung ordered two iced americanos and two slices of cheesecake. Minho raised an eyebrow at him, but the other shuddered. He tried to pay but Jisung refused. 

“I promised you,” the younger leaned into Minho’s space to whisper. 

“I thought that the other day…” Minho frowned. He had already kept his word with that.

“That was an ‘I miss you’ gift.”

Minho bit his lip trying not to smile, but failed. “You got older and cheesier.” 

“And we just getting started, baby,” that was followed by a shameless wink Thankfully Jisung turned just in time to miss the reddish ears. They were never the types to use pet names ironically. He has a feeling he would have to get used to it.  “Hey Min, do you mind going to find us a table while I wait for our order?”

After agreeing, Minho walked to a small table by the window. It has a nice view of the street and the people passing by. When he was settled in his place, he allowed himself to watch Jisung. They’ve talked, they held hands, and they are on a friendly date. If someone told him two weeks ago that Jisung, his person, was going to be standing in a coffee shop for their coffee and cheesecake, he would have laughed. When the younger started turning on his direction, he adverted his gaze back to the window. 

“So…” Jisung said as he took the second bite of his cheesecake. Minho had to admit out loud to the younger that it was really good. With his mouth full but one hand covering it, he asked,  “Are you seeing someone?” 

It was only fair for Minho to answer as well. “Not anymore.” 

“What happened?”

“I dated this guy on my dance crew for a little over a year. He wasn’t happy with my decision to leave the tour team to stay here. He tried to control my decision to stay with him. That was part of the reason I wanted to try something new.” 

“Fuck that guy,” Jisung took the piece that Minho had already cut for himself. They were the same.  But the guy dared to laugh and look so cute and Minho could not scold him. More so when he added, “but I am glad you applied at Racha. ” 

“Me too, Sungie,” and Minho hopes that the younger caught how much he meant it. 

They stayed there for longer than they intended to. Cups and plates were emptied and removed by staff, but they just couldn’t stop talking. Jisung was eager to know the whole story about Minho leaving his parents at a young age to pursue dancing and how that took him to Japan and now here. The older also wanted to know all about Malaysia, Jisung’s career in music, and how J.One came to be. They weren’t able to cover up today, but it was the beginning and that was all they needed. 

three months.

One thing was talking about what they did, and another was witnessing it first-hand. It didn’t sink into Minho’s mind until he was walking toward the recording studios. Chan had asked him if he would like to be there for the recording of Stray Kids’ b-side, and he said yes without hesitation.

Minho already knew the track and the rough draft of the lyrics because Jisung sent them over so he could start brainstorming some ideas for the stages. But he had never been part of this process and he had always been curious. He, technically, knew the members had to be good singers to be able to debut but hadn’t seen them in action. His workplace was the dance practice studio and that was where he knew them the best. He needed to understand where each of them was standing and their styles, so he can make something that moulded both the song and the singers.

Through the mirror in the studio door, he can see Jisung in front of the computer. The dancer took a deep breath before knocking a couple of times. Chan opened the door with a huge smile, and let him in. 

Minho wanted to ask if it was okay for him to be there, he didn’t want to be a distraction, but he couldn’t find the words when the two members that were present started greeting him. “Min!” Jisung exclaimed before taking his earphones out. As he was standing up, he pushed the chair a little too strong that almost hit Hyunjin. 

“You can sit next to Jisung,” Chan signalled to the empty rolling chair. Minho glanced at it, then at the older, only to land on Jisung’s. His eyes were soft when he approached him. 

“Don’t even worry. You are part of this team. If you want to stay, you are welcome to,” the manager (and also producer) nodded next to him. Minho was surprised that it was only eight of them. It wasn’t a title track, but it was still the debut. Jisung “I mean, I want you to stay, but it’s up to you.” 

Hyunjin, who was sitting at the end of the couch cleared his throat with Felix, cleared his throat fakely loud. “No flirting in this studio,” he muttered. 

“You didn’t say that to the maknaes,” Minho turned his head towards his friend. He didn’t deny the flirting. “And it’s my studio, as I am the producer of the team.” 

“What about me?” Hyunjin wanted to say something else, but Felix covered his mouth. Chan thanked him with a sweet smile and sat on Jisung’s left. Minho still felt like he should be by the couch, but Jisung patted the empty chair. When he occupied the place that the younger wanted, he leaned ever so slightly in the dancer’s direction. 

Minho noted a faint smile, and he wanted to ask about it. Jisung turned and whispered into his ear. “You said you wanted to meet J.One, this is the best way I can think of.” The younger turned to the computer again to grab his earphones and pull the keyboard closer, and of course, he was smirking.  

“Show off,” Minho mumbled with a fake annoyance. He would never admit he was excited to see the producer in action. He saw Jisung’s shoulders move as he was trying not to laugh. 

“At least I hope you can show off to me later,” the producer said when he was opening some files on the computer. He studied the younger’s face for a couple of seconds. He was trying to come out as cool but he was biting his lip nervously. 

“Do you want to watch me dance?” He shouldn’t be surprised, Jisung used to be in every recital he did when he was younger, and sometimes would keep him company when he wanted to practice. But now, he could just look him up. He didn’t need to ask for permission.

“Well, now that you are asking…” Minho pushed a little bit and the chair moved backwards. Jisung grabbed the table to not clash with Chan. He waddled back (and maybe he got closer to Minho). Their eyes met, Minho nodded once, and Jisung have him his heart-shaped smile. 

“Jisun, don’t just bat your eyelash at the pretty boy,” Changbin said as he was entering the room with Seungmin and Jeongin following him closely. 

Minho wanted to tease the shorter manager but Chan got out his leadership abilities and started organizing how the recording process was going to be. Seungmin and Jeogin would be first with their vocals and adlibs. Hyunjin and Felix would be last with their raps, (Jisung’s speciality). 

When the recording session began, Minho remained silent beside Jisung. He would only clap and give compliments when the members finished their parts. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he was too immersed in watching Jisung work. He would suggest little changes and add on to guide them to the best take he knew the guys could do. 

But Minho’s favourite part was how gentle and patient he was with the members. At some point, Jeongin got frustrated with one of his lines and Jisung offered many alternatives to make it easier and better and when the youngest finally managed to make it, he hyped him up. He made the recording booth a safe space for the guys without sacrificing the quality of what they were recording. 

Minho was proud of how sure of himself Jisung looked with the mute button in one hand and the other on the keyboard. This was his element. He liked to believe that the many hours of listening to music in his bedroom were part of the reason that Jisung was in this position as J.One. 

Minho cheered when Felix nailed his final part. The members gathered his stuff, thanked all of them and said goodbye. Changbin and Chan also rushed out because they had a meeting that they were already late for. It was just Jisung and Minho left in the studio. 

“Now what?” Minho rested his back on the chair. The producer was saving the recordings before shutting down the computer. 

“Let my fingers do their magic with what we got today as quickly as possible, so you can do your part,” Minho couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Jisung seemed confused for a second until he got it. “Oh, my god, you dirty-minded!” 

“I’m sorry,” he said trying to catch his breath. “But ‘let my fingers do their magic’ was asking for it!” This time Jisung joined him with his high laughter. 

Minho looked at the younger. He had the same blue oversized hoodie, his brown hair falling on his face. It was a grown-up version of how he looked when they used to hang out. He thought of what Jisung said earlier about waiting to see him dance. Would it be the same? Jisung stopped laughing and stared at him. Minho didn’t know if it was because of the studio lights, but his eyes were sparkling. 

 He didn’t think twice before saying, “do you want to see my magic?” 

 “I thought you'd never ask,” Jisung smirked as he grabbed his bag that was on the side of the couch. 

Minho stood up and signalled the younger to follow him. On the couches by the elevator, the members were sitting together. Would it be better if they have some company? It is not like something was going to happen, but Minho was feeling uneasy. “Hyunjin-ah,” the two blonded looked up from what they were doing on Felix’s phone.   

“Yes, hyung?” responded the tall one.  

“Sungie over here wants to see me dance,” the trainees looked at the producer and then at Minho before making eye contact between them. “Can I borrow the practice room for a little bit?” I wasn’t an excuse, he wasn’t planning on staying to practice that day, so he didn’t schedule.  

“Can Lix and I join you? The love birds have vocal classes right now.” Minho turned to Jisung to check what the other thought of that. He nodded but there was disappointment in his eyes. The older almost felt bad, but he was not going to back down now. 

The four of them walked together to the dance practice studio. Felix sprinted towards the large mirrors to save his seat in the front row, as he said. Hyunjin and Jsiung left their backpacks on the sofa. They were whispering about something that Minho couldn’t pick up.

Minho searched for the song he wanted. It was the last solo choreography he presented with his dance crew. There were other pieces he was working on but none were as polished as that one. Even though Jisung saw him when he was starting dancing, the younger seemed to have such a high standard for him. He needed to not only meet it but exceed it. 

Minho dragged the song to the very end and looped it, that way he didn’t need to run to his place. He walked slowly to the centre of the room, three pairs of eyes focusing on him and the members started clapping encouragingly. Jisung was sitting between Hyunjin and Felix with his legs close to his chest. Minho’s gaze was fixed on Jisung. 

“Ready?” His best friend gulped before nodding. Minho smirked before turning on his back to get into position. 

The song ended. Two seconds of silence. One, two, three, and the first compasses of the song. It was muscle memory at this point. He let the music guide every part of him. He was not being judged, so he lets himself enjoy it. Occasionally his eyes stopped in Jisung to mouth some of the lyrics. Every time he did, the younger’s mouth would open more and more. If it wasn’t for his experience keeping it together on the stage, he would have laughed. 

He hit the last few beats and let his arms swing on his sides. As he caught his breath, he pierced Jisung’s with his eyes. Yes, other two guys were sitting next to him, but he only cared to see his best friend’s reaction. He was frozen into place while the members were clapping and howling. 

Felix stood up quickly to run and hug him. Minho giggled at the contact. The cuddle bug didn’t mind that he was slightly sweaty. Hyunjin’s laughter made them turn back to the two still seated. 

“Ji?” Hyunjin wrapped an arm around Jisung who was still watching Minho with awe. The tall one was very aware they were being watched. Hyunjin brought his hand to Jisung’s face to close his mouth. “Close your mouth or the drool is going to drown us all.” He pushed the blonde away from him. He tried to discretely check for any wetness but that only made Hyunjin laugh even more at him.

Minho cackled before letting go of Felix to approach Jisung. He crouched down close enough so that the younger had to look slightly up at him. “Am I that good, huh?”

“You know you are. It’s just…” Jisung’s eyes were darting from all the corners of the studio except his eyes. Minho could see the two blondes by the computer through the mirror. He was glad they weren’t close for this part. “I knew that you’d gotten better, otherwise Chan hyung would have not included you in the team…” 

“I sense a ‘but’ coming…” 

“But God, you dance like a god , Min.” The choreographer let himself fall back and rest his arm on his open legs. Right now he could blame the dance for the heat on his ears. “I’m being serious. I’ve never seen anyone dance like that .” 

Minho didn’t know how to respond to that. So he just did what he always did when they were younger and Jisung would feel the need to praise him until his ears turned red. He hit Jisung lightly on the knee, keeping his eyes on the ground. 

“Thank you,” he muttered quietly. 

“Would you…” Jisung gulped loudly. “Would you show me more?” Minho raised his head. Jisung had leaned over a little bit, his eyes were searching for something in the dancer’s face. He raised an eyebrow in response. “I mean, we are part of a team. I make the song, you the dances. It would be helpful for future… song making, yes, to know your… style?” The older started shaking his head. He had always found it adorable when Jisung would start rambling. “What? It’s for the future of Stray Kids.” 

“For the future of Stray Kids,” Minho echoed. 

“Yes, exactly.” 

“If I show you my sexy R&B piece,” the older said with a low voice. He never flirted as a joke with Jisung, but right now, with Felix and Hyunjin close by, he felt ready to dare. His eyes moved from Jisung’s lips to his eyes. “Would that also be for the sake of our team?” 

Jisung reaction wasn’t what he was expecting but he wasn’t mad. “I… You… Ehm…” the younger was straight-out gay panicking. He was all red and didn’t know where to put his eyes. 

Minho couldn’t help but giggle as he was getting up. Before turning to the computer, muttered ‘ cute’ and he was sure Jisung heard because he hid his face in his hands. 

The producer stayed there with them as the three dancers practised some of the routines Minho taught them. He would have thought Jisung would have gotten bored at some point. But no, he watched until Chan came after his meeting looking for him. Jisung promised to text Minho later. He ignored the looks the members gave him as he told them to start from the beginning. 

  two months.

After Jisung finished the two songs with choreography, everything started feeling rushed. He would spend hours in the dance studio polishing the moves by himself, so he could teach them better to the members. They picked it up quickly, the tedious part was going over and over with every single detail. To say that he and Stray Kids were living and breathing the choreography was merely an exaggeration. But they were going to be amazing 

Two days ago, Chan received a text from Chan that made him just a tiny bit stressed. 

stray kids staff

chan hyung: minho

lee minho: yes?

chan hyung: can you show us how the title track is going?

chan hyung: I know Jisung saw a little bit the other day 

chan hyung: it would be only us, no other staff 

lee minho: okay 

lee minho: give me two days to get the boys ready 

chan hyung [sent a sticker]

changbin: I’ll schedule the big practice room

sungie: ???

sungie: it’s just four of them

changbin: our boys deserve the best

sungie: I’ll give that one hyung

 lee minho [sent a sticker].

This was Minho’s first job as a choreographer. Yes, the team or the company had never doubted his abilities in what he did, but he couldn’t help to stress about it. And it wasn’t like he didn’t believe in the members, it was that the performance hadn’t reached the level Minho wanted and Chan wanted to review it. Sure, there was still time left to debut. Chan believed in him enough to make the company hire him to make this

Another thing that made him tense is that he was used to being the one receiving the critics. Now it didn’t matter how much he worked for this, the performance was in the member’s hands. Chan wouldn’t be like his old dance teachers, and yet, Minho felt a need to protect the guys. But they need to grow some thick skin to make it through the industry. 

Minho sighed and crossed his arms. He was the four members already in position. Jisung, Changbin and Chan were sitting in some chairs that they stole from a meeting room. They thought he would join them, but he need it to be that specific spot to monitor the guys’ performance. 

The managers and Jisung gave the members some thumbs up before Minho pressed play. Minho pressed played, his best friend looked at him and smiled. It only lasted a second but it was enough to make him feel more at ease. The first beat came loud through the speakers and Minho turned on his eagle eyes. 

Overall, they did a good job. It was a tough choreography, and on top of that, they need to sing too. Minho did some mental notes of the minor mistakes, so they could review it with them tomorrow. And he also needed to find some exercises so they could learn to distribute their energy throughout the performance. 

Chan gave them some feedback and suggestions but ended his speech by saying that, “it’s going well, congratulations to the four of you.”

“Our babies are almost ready to fly on their own,” Changbin was wiping some non-existent tears. The other manager shook his head and patted the buff guy on his shoulder before standing up. 

Felix was the first one to come into his arms for a big hug. “I hope that doesn’t mean you are dropping us off once we debut.”

Jisung walked towards him and he stopped paying attention to the others’ conversation. The younger was smiling widely and his eyes filled with pride. He stole a glance at the mirror to assure himself that he was not looking at a member behind him.

“You did a good job, Min,” his tone was calm. 

Minho raised his shoulder and moved his head towards where the members were scattered. “They are the stars.”

“Yes,” Jisung took a step closer. “But that choreography came from here,” with his point finger he tapped Minho’s forehead and then brushed a strand of hair out of his face. He found himself almost leaning into the touch. 

“And the music came from here,” Minho mimicked the younger’s action but his finger pointed at Jisung’s heart. The big doe eyes from the younger shied away from him after that. 

“Don’t get sappy on me now. Wait for the debut, at least.” 

When he turned to the side to giggle, he saw how Jeongin brought Seungmin closer by the waist. Minho had grown used to them being affectionate and clingy to each other during dance practices. The younger often helped the other when he was struggling with certain moves. But they never did this when there were more people. Felix was also looking at them with curious eyes.

And of course, Chan never missed a thing. 

“Is it finally official?” Chan asked. The tension in the room when from zero to one hundred with just that question. “You know you guys have all the support from us. And like, take your time. But, we kind of need to know. To protect you and have your back, okay?”

Suengmin and Jeongin looked at each other for a couple of seconds. Jisung got closer to Minho’s side, he could feel the back of his hand brush his. 

The youngest cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck. In the blink of an eye, Hyunjin and Felix were standing next to the possible couple. Minho was sure that no matter what happened, as long as the four of them have each other, they would be okay. He nodded a couple of times like he was trying to gather some courage. 

“Thank you, hyung. We… we are trying things out.” 

Seungmin took his hand and looked straight into Chan’s eyes. The nervousness of the guy holding his hand didn’t match the sureness of his. “We are dating, officially, I mean.”

Changbin did a not-so-slightly celebratory dance next to Chan that made the oldest giggle. “I am so glad, congratulations to you two. I am happy for you.” 

Felix was the first one to hug the new couple. Jisung didn’t hesitate to jump on the group hug.  Once Changbin saw that it wasn’t just a member’s group hug, he crashed them. They jumped and sing-songed. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Chan approach them. He didn’t say anything, just side-hugged him until they reached the group. Minho didn’t know if it was the older’s idea for him to land behind Jisung. Nonetheless, he put his arm around his stupidly narrow waist. 

“I propose that we go to eat chicken as a celebration,” Hyunjin said as he was being crushed by Changbin’s arms. Everyone agreed and quickly cleaned the room and grabbed their stuff. Minho stood behind for a moment seeing the guys all hugged up and walking out. He didn’t know exactly why, but it made sense, and somehow Jisung and he belonged there too. 

The younger pulled him out of his thoughts, “ready to go, hyung?” He extended his hand toward Minho who accepted and interwind their fingers together. His heart did a little twirl on his chest but he only showed a smile before nodding. The producer was skilled at reading him but wished he missed that.

Minho looked at their reflection in the mirror. Their bodies were comfortable being close to each other, the way that their hands fitted well. He had seen this reflection before, but it was Jeongin and Seungmin. When he turned back to Jisung, he was staring at his hands, and he softly caressed the back of Minho’s. 

“I am ready,” he whispered. He feared that if he spoke too loudly the moment would be broken. Jisung nodded without looking up. The next thing he knew is that he was being dragged through the hallway. When they met the others inside the elevator, neither of them let go. 

The sensation was so familiar, even though they never did that as kids. 

one month and one week.

This was one of the moments that Minho was looking forward to the most: recording the dance version of the music video. There were people from staff everywhere not only surrounding the boys but checking the props, the lighting, the stage, the music, and every single detail that he could think of. 

The four of them were looking stunningly handsome under all the fancy lights, hip-hop clothing and trendy makeup. Minho was used to seeing them in workout clothes and dripping sweat. This was the beginning of the rest of their career and Minho couldn’t be prouder. 

Stray Kids came to the stage bowing and almost shaking. Minho approached them to help them get a hold of the space they needed to perform. There weren’t going to be a lot of cameras compared to the music shows’ stages, so that part was easy. 

They made a run down together only marking the positions and stuff. Then he helped Seungmin on the side. He struggled a bit during the dance break part. Minho was sure he could do it, he had seen him do it. The confidence was going to build right now but from experience. He was there to help him remember the sequence and cheer for him. 

The director called the staff back because they were going to adjust some stuff in the camera. He went and sat next to Chan, and both chit-chatted to pass the time. Changbin was going to arrive after because he was dealing with an important meeting for future projects at the company. Jisung was going to be in one of them. 

After some takes, the members changed outfits and locations before continuing with the music video shooting. Minho tagged along even though there weren’t any more dancing scenes. He wanted to help Chan and Changbin with anything he could. 

Changbin was going to take the members to eat something and then to the door. That meant that Chan and Minho could go back to the company to get their stuff. So they got in the black van in the parking lot and drove away to the company. 

Minho stepped out of the car after Chan. They kept talking about the shoot while they walked to the dimly lit and emptied lobby to the elevators. They left their stuff in one of the meeting rooms. The elder opened the door and stopped abruptly. Minho leaned on to see and found Jisung with his computer open in some nature documentary. 

“Sungie?” Chan moved to the side to let Minho in. “What are you still doing here?” 

“I wanted to wait for you guys,” he looked from Chan’s confused face to Minho’s. There was some light blush on his cheeks. He didn’t turn but could feel the manager’s eyes on him. “And, you know, hear all about the shoot.” 

“Ji, it’s late…” the oldest looked lost for words. Neither he nor Minho imagined that their producer would stay late just for them. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he gave up and sighed. “I need to go deal with some emails, but I can…”

“You go hyung,” Minho put a hand over his shoulder before looking at Jisung. “I’ll stay and fill Sungie in.” 

It took a bit to convince Chan to leave. He could understand the guilt of leaving the younger after he spent after work hours then. But it was also apparent with how much he was staring at Minho, that Jisung waited mainly for the dancer. So the manager left with the promise that he was going to try not to work all night. 

When they were by themselves, Minho thought that they would stay in the meeting room, but Jisung wanted to show him something. They went to the last floor of the building. In the corridor, there was this big window that looked over the city. Minho remembered the place from the tour Chan gave him, but he never came back. 

Jisung stopped in front of the window at the corner and turned to Minho expecting him to be closer. His smile faded when he looked at Minho’s face. “Hey, it’s okay,” he came back to grab his wrist. “You are not going to fall, I’m right here with you.” 

“Yeah, you are,” Minho whispered mostly to himself but not daring to lift his head. 

With careful steps, Jisung guided them to the corner. They were close enough to the window but Minho could still have the wall as an anchor. And the older purposely avoided looking too much at the window. The lights seemed beautiful but he didn’t want to risk it. He felt nice like this with Jisung, he didn’t ruin whatever moment he was having with Jisung. 

“Can I ask you something?” Jisung twisted a little bit so he could rest his head against Minho’s shoulder. He nodded and let his head rest against the wall as he was looking up. “Since Chan and Changbin are taking the guys to some schedule away from the city. Would you like to, hmm, travel home with me?”

“I hope you don’t mean Malaysia, we don’t have time for that.” 

Minho was expecting Jisung to lightly punch him or something, but instead, he just snuggled even closer. Now he was holding his arm. “No, to our hometown, Min.” He smiled widely, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He let his head rest on top of the guy next to him. His heart was beating fast and yet, he felt so calm. 

“When are we leaving?” 

“Tomorrow morning?” Jisung mumbled. “I can book an Air B&B for two nights and go back on Sunday morning.” 

“Nonsense, you are not booking anything,” the younger made a move to try to lift his head, but Minho didn’t let him. “We are staying at my parents' house, and I don’t accept no for an answer, Han Jisung. I was already thinking of going and my mom has been asking a lot about you.”

He could feel Jisung tensed up beside him, but he didn’t push. After a moment of silence, he started wording his concern. “Is she…?” 

“Mad at you?” Minho helped him up a bit, and the younger nodded. “She is not, don’t worry about it. She is going to be excited to see you.”

Jisung exhaled, probably with relief. He let his body turn relaxed once again. “Sometimes I hate that you know me so well,” Minho laughed careful to not bother the other. 

“You don’t.” 

“Yeah, I don’t. 

The next day, the pair grabbed some tuna kimbap and a drink in the convenience store before making it to the train station. It wasn’t a long ride but it was almost traditional for Minho to have them on his way home.

The train pulled into the station just in time, and Jisung was the one to enter first. Minho let him find their seats and take the one next to the window. He had seen the scenery many times, the younger needed this more than Minho. Once they settled at their place, he left his bag at his feet. A couple of seconds later the train started moving. 

Jisung was staring at the window with a blank face, but the way his fingers were twitching with the seem of his hoodie. The older tapped his tight to get his attention. “Are you okay?” he asked with a whisper. 

“Yeah, just…” he swallowed unable to meet the dancer’s eyes. “Nervous, I guess.” The older nodded, completely understanding. He had suspected that the only way that the younger was coming back home was with Minho by his side. 

Minho had this feeling that the exterior world perceived Minho as the one who takes care of Jisung, mainly because he was older. But Jisung used to be a safe space for him, and he couldn’t help but let the other help. He did that the day they met at the beach. But right now, Jisung needed someone to lean on, and Minho was right there. 

Carefully, he slid his hand to hold Jisung’s. “It’s going to be okay,” as soon as he interlocked their fingers, the younger squeezed tightly. “It’s just going to be us, like before,” Minho whispered with his best soothing voice. 

There weren’t any job titles there, just them. The look in the younger’s eyes was something he couldn’t decipher, but he hoped to see it more. He looked so pretty in the train lighting. Jisung nodded before snuggling into his shoulder with his eyes closed. The snacks would be for later than because Minho wasn’t going to dare to move a muscle. 

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Minho woke up Jisung a little before the train stopped at their station, so he could have a moment to come back to himself. Once they got out, Minho give him out to where the buses were waiting. Jisung’s leg bounced up and down until Minho rested his hand against it. Twenty-five minutes late they were pulling into the street they knew by heart. 

After greeting her son, Minho’s mom hugged Jisung as tight as he could. There was a whole feast waiting for both of them. They left their stuff in the older’s childhood room. Jisung stopped by the portrait of them hugging as kids that he had on his small bookshelf. It was a little faded because of the sun, but he never dared to put it out, even when it hurt too much. When the younger looked at him, he just shrugged before leaving the room. 

Jisung seemed to want to ask about it but he got distracted by three fur babies. The younger had only met the first two before he left. He crouched down to pet them. “Mom rescued this cutie a year before I moved out,” Minho said as he leaned on the kitchen door. 

“She is adorable,” the cat rubbed herself into Jisun’s hand as she was purring loudly. The younger giggled in response. Minho didn’t know how badly he needed this. “Look at that, I have a gift with cats.” 

At that moment, Minho’s dad entered the kitchen with an empty glass in his hand.“That’s how you managed to charm our son,” he said without even looking at them. 

“Dad!” He heard his mom giggle as she finished platting some of the side dishes. Jisung was never a topic of conversation

Minho felt a little embarrassed to look at the younger, but when he did Jisung was staring at Minho with what only can be adoration. 

After eating with his parents, Minho asked if Jisung wanted to go see his old house. That was the reason he thought Jisung wanted to come back home, but, apparently, that wasn’t it. His parents had sold it a long time ago, and he didn’t want to see the changes there. Instead, he wanted to go somewhere special for them. 

“I want to go to the beach,” he said as he get out of the house. Jisung crossed his arms and moved his head towards the right. “Do you know if your neighbour still does that weekly walk?” 

The older shook his head as he was closing the main door. “Mom said they moved about three years ago. But we can do a little stroll if you want…” Jisung didn’t need to be told twice. He began walking at a steady pace. Minho didn’t even need to give him directions, the younger remembered the route perfectly. 

When they spotted the beach, Jisung ran towards it. He spotted where the waves died into the sand. He waited there for Minho to catch up. He walked by the spot where his mother and neighbour were standing when he met Jisung. He smiled to himself. The younger must be standing in the exact place, but now it was Minho the one who was approaching. 

When Minho stood next to the younger, he started talking. “One of the reasons why I was so afraid of reaching out to you or, just coming back in general…”, he took a deep breath. Minho turned to the side to see him, but the younger’s eyes continue to be fixed on the horizon. “I realized something I wasn’t missing my other friends in the same way that I missed you. I didn’t understand why for years. Until I did.”

“And why…” his voice came out a bit shaky, maybe because his heart was beating like it was going to come out of his chest. More so when Jisung turned out to face him.

“I loved you in more than just a friendly way.” Minho blinked rapidly, and Jisung continued.* “Once it was clear that I wasn’t coming back with my parents, I tried to get over you. And I thought I did. But then, you came into the meeting room and all the feelings came back in a rush.”

“Jisung…”

“And I thought it was just nostalgia, but then you dance like that, and you are so gentle yet firm with the members, and you still like the same shows as me, and iced americanos are our thing…” Minho came to a stop closer. He thought that would slow down the rambling but that wasn’t happening. “You are still my person, but for the first time in my life I want you to be something more.”

The older lifted his hand to hold Jisung’s head. “Would it be too dramatic from me to say…” he began moving his thumb to caress the soft skin of his cheeks. “That I was left heartbroken because I am sure I lost the love of my life before I even realized I had been in love with him?”

Jisung exhaled with relief before putting his hand over Minho’s. “Just a little bit, yeah,” he giggled.

“Thankfully I did NOT say that,” Minho came closer, not holding back his smirk.  

“Are you going to kiss me now or not, Min?” Jisung’s eyes fell into the other’s mouth only to go up again. “The sun is about to set and I want to have my moment, please.” The last part sounded like a pled. He wasn’t about to deny anything to him anything, he never could. Minho leaned in and their lips met for the first time. 

Kissing Jisung was something he never dared to dream of. But now that the younger’s lips were moving against his, and they were both melting in each other's arms, Minho could not imagine ever not doing this. He didn’t care about what would it be of the friendship or all the time they were apart, the only important thing is that Jisung was kissing him and it felt so damn right. 

When they broke apart for air, he rested his forehead on the younger’s. Minho took Jisung’s wrists and swung them a little bit. The sight was so much different than his memories and he would not change a thing. He cackled to himself, and Jisung asked him why. “I just can’t believe that you are here, that I have you like this.”

Now it was Jisung who was holding Minho’s face like it was the most precious thing in the world. “I’m right here, baby.”

five minutes.

Hyunjin, Felix, Seungmin and Jeongin are standing on the side of the stages. It was finally time. The four of them were holding hands. The leader was telling the others what Minho could imagine was some words of encouragement. Minho’s place was between the managers. Chan was giving a proud dad look while Changbin looked close to crying. 

The guys glanced back at Minho, he smiled and showed them a thumbs-up. The two youngest were holding hands until they reached the stage. Felix was walking closely behind. Hyunjin was the last one to join them because he was taking a deep breath. You guys can do this , Minho thought. At this moment, he finally understood what his teachers and his choreographer thought when it was Minho the one stepping on the stage: an insane amount of joy and pride. 

He watched them take formation like he had done so many times in the practice room. At any moment they’d receive the cue to start performing their song. They had been working really hard for a long time for this very specific moment. Minho was so glad that their team was there to support them and witness the debut too. Especially because Jisung was backstage too, even when he didn’t need to. 

When the music finally started, Jisung stood next to Minho before he intertwined their hands and gave him a little squeeze. The younger looked like he was about to burst out of his skin. He was a mix of nervousness and excitement. Minho squeezed back, they locked eyes and he smiled. Before thinking twice, he leaned to kiss his puffed cheek. When he looked back to the stage, Jisung took the opportunity to rest his head against his shoulder. If the others minded the affection, Minho didn’t care.

Minho would read reviews, watch reactions, and look for people covering the choreography later. Right now he wanted to absorb the moment fully. The plan that Chan made came to life with the help of their entire team. They fucking made it.

“I am so happy that we are right here, Sungie,” the younger stared at him with eyes full of love after his boyfriend whispered that to him. 

Minho really meant it. Jisung was there with him again, but now as a boyfriend. And they were there with Chan, Changbin and Stray Kids. That was all he could ask for. 

♡♡♡