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One must know the saying: “kiss someone you love, not someone you’re physically crammed into a cabinet with that is perhaps deranged because of the lack of oxygen circulating in between their limited space.”
Because now, Minghao knows this saying fairly well while he’s stuck with one knee bent and the other knee stuck between the other boy’s waist at the very edge of the compartment. He tries to move his head a little because it’s getting too stiff but he ends up hitting his head.
“Are you okay?” Junhui asks,
Out of frustration and the heat that might have melted Minghao’s conscience he looks at Jun with a glare. “I hit my head, what do you think?
“I don’t know, I don’t have your head.” Junhui replied.
Junhui must have not seen the opposing stare he had given, which was possible since the only light they can harness is from the slits of the cabinet. He tries to manoeuvre his shoulders which also made his head move letting his head hit the cabinet again.
He hisses out of pain and before Junhui can utter a word Minghao deliberately shushes the boy. “Okay, let’s just stop this conversation and wait for the seven minutes to be over.”
Minghao knew that he was very grumpy but who wouldn’t be if you’re stuck with someone who you’ve just met twice. He should have not attended this party but he knows not coming to Seokmin’s party will make his four months miserable because his friend would complain.
This night should have been easy if Seokmin’s group and Seuncheol’s group did not merge into a bigger group that found a union and gradually turned into a collaboration of making this night the biggest downfall of Minghao’s life as a teenager.
Why would they even propose seven minutes in heaven if they’re just making everyone who’s single partner up with someone? Aren’t they aware that people are single because they want to be single? Not that Minghao wants to be single (which is contradicting his past statement) but he’s 17 and he can find someone to date. But please, not someone who he's in a cramped space with who has been forced by his friends to join the game.
Minghao feels a little bit bad since Junhui was swept into this game partially because of him. This was because Minghao had been caught by Seungkwan staring at Junhui from the first time they met (he had a good button up shirt so he was mesmerised) and this became an ongoing joke in his friend group.
So here they are now. A couple of seconds go by where the two just stare at each other, which was kind of awkward and forced since they have limited space. Minghao counts down each second, reminding himself that this will be over.
However, he hears Jeonghan's playful voice who’s moderating the game. “No one is leaving the cabinet until you kiss.” Followed by hushed laughter from the group.
Minghao looks at Junhui in the eye. “Do we really have to kiss?”
Junhui shrugs, “Well, that’s what you're supposed to do during a kissing party game.”
“Seven minutes in heaven is a kissing game?”
“Yeah, believe me, I did a quick research before we entered the cabinet.” Junhui responded followed by a sigh.
Minghao’s sweat has now clinged on his shirt, making him feel uncomfortable. “So…”
Junhui continues to stare at him, eyes wide with a weird line forming on his forehead. “Kiss?”
“Why do you seem so lax with all this?”
“I’m not relaxed, I just want to uh...experience this moment?” Junhui shrugs,
He sees the way Junhui nervously taps the wood with a beat and an awkward smile gracing his lips. Minghao knows he wasn’t the only one who feels obligated to this, not because he wants to, he really doesn’t want to. Of course he doesn’t. At the very back of his mind he knows he wants to kiss a pretty mutual friend but he’s also wanting to not (?) kiss Junhui because he wants to save it and conserve his first kissing rights.
Minghao raises a brow and looks suspiciously at the man. “What’s really making you want to do this?”
“Peer pressure.” Junhui replies glumly, his mouth turning into a pout.
Minghao tries to find a way not to laugh at Junhui’s two-word response and aim for a useful suggestion.”We don’t have to do it y’know? We’ll just smoosh our lips with something and it’ll seem like we did it.”
“With what? Bang our lips by the cabinet?!” Junhui looked like he wanted to reenact his response but hesitated when he almost banged his head on the compartment.
“We’ll be extending your minutes in heaven if you don’t kiss!” Seungkwan shouts out with a gleeful tone.
Minghao sighs and looks at Junhui with hope in his eyes. “They won’t know that we didn’t kiss.”
However, the glint of hope was destroyed when Jeonghan’s voice made them aware of his presence. “Trust me Minghao, we’ll know.”
Junhui looks at Minghao, “So?”
Minghao nods and looks at the man with conviction. “Let’s just go on with it.”
Junhui turns his head away from his view. “Wait.”
“Why?” Minghao is confused as to why the man who’s telling him to kiss him a moment ago is now shying away. Is Junhui just nervous? Well he did say that he is pressured with this game and it’s practically normal to act cool from the start and show their nervous tendencies as time goes on which Junhui is currently doing. Heck, Minghao is also nervous about kissing people because he’s new to this so he understands.
“I'm just nervous...Minghao I just want to confess that I’m…”Junhui shakes his head and bumps his head, earning him to wince before he continues, “I’m…”
“You’re a what?” Minghao asks, eyes curiously gazing at Junhui’s weird posture.
“I’m a smooch virgin.” Junhui quickly turns around, and lets out an exaggerated look; he flicks his hand and places it on his face, his elbow banging on the side of the cabinet. The sound is enough to know how hard he hit his elbow but Junhui tries to ease the pain by pursing his lips.
“What?” Minghao almost laughs at the prospect of kissing this man, he almost lets out a giggle but denies the reaction as he continues to watch Junhui.
Junhui resumes his act, and touches his lips with his fingers. “My lips have never been touched before for I am a virgin to kisses!”
Minghao finally remembers their situation and tries to reply to this man’s odd topic for a conversation or let alone distress.“Please...what even is a smooch virgin.”
Junhui just replies to Minghao with a frown.
Minghao sighs for the nth time and awkwardly looks at Junhui in the eye. He knows he doesn't have another option to persuade this man. “If it makes you feel any better then okay, I am...” Minghao pauses for a second, the impending shame making him want to hide under a rock. “I am a...smooch virgin too.”
Junhui finally smiles and gives Minghao an understanding look. “You’re so brave, Minghao.”
“I know, now let’s kiss?”
“Eager?” Junhui smiles and lets out a huff, “Can you take me on a date first? I think you’re going too fast here?”
Minghao wants to scream at how Junhui’s been dodging every attempt to finally kiss and finish this game. Minghao just wants to go home. “I think you’ve forgotten that we’re stuck inside this cabinet with limited space with 11 other people who are waiting for us to finish.”
“I’m sorry, I just wanted to get to know you better than a kiss and run scenario like what you’re imposing!”
Minghao looks at him incredulously. He doesn’t know why they’re talking about commitment but the sudden doubt Junhui has on him has shattered a portion of his pride.“I’m not going to kiss and run!”
Junhui smiles at him, the nervous frown he had minutes ago had turned into a challenging smirk. “Are you sure?”
Minghao being the competitive lad he is, did not even hesitate with his answer. “Yes.”
The man looks at him, he seems displeased with Minghao’s answer. “Mhm.”
He gets annoyed, the impatience fuming inside him. He is really unsure why he’s being impatient, but he’ll put the blame on their cramped space and the hot air lingering between them.
Minghao gives Junhui a confident look, even kicking Junhui’s side with his stuck knee and says, “I’ll even ask you for a date!”
“Fine!” Junhui said,
“Fine!” Minghao huffed,
Out of the blue, Junhui’s hand pulls Minghao by the neck and kisses him eagerly. It was obvious that the both of them didn’t know what they were doing. With the way Junhui would awkwardly pull him closer, their lips colliding into a messy kiss and the horrendous angle they managed to pull off, the man really wasn’t lying that it was his first time as well.
Minghao doesn’t know where to put his hands, he manages to let his right hand rest on the cabinet but his other hand sticks out, raised and stiff. Junhui takes it and holds it with his free hand making Minghao lose his composure from the sudden endearing action. He hits his head out of panic and Junhui’s hand, holding his neck from before, gives him a comforting pat from his noggin making Minghao more distressed.
“You have soft lips.” Junhui said as he smiled shyly the moment they were apart.
This truly was the definition of first kisses; sloppy, awkward and memorable. Regardless of this incident, Minghao was thankful Junhui did not tell him the kiss was awful right after the kiss. He knows he’ll never live it down if he was told how difficult it was to kiss him. However, Junhui’s forthright attitude did not criticise their kiss, instead the man smiles sheepishly with a blush on his cheeks and apologises for the sudden action.
The moment Jeonghan finally opened the cabinet with their friends howling from laughter, their dangly limbs finally stretching, they gave each other an awkward smile and a playful push.
As they head their way back to the group circle Minghao taps Junhui’s back. He feels the heat gathering on his ears but lets his flustered demeanour simmer on his body. “Give me your contact details and we’ll start from there.”
Junhui gives him a playful smile. “Eager for a date are you?”
Minghao flashes Junhui the most confident smile he can muster. “I did say I won’t kiss and run.”