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do you get deja vu, honey?

—5 times where the team realizes Minho loves Han, and that 1 time Minho realizes he loves Han— 

—Bang Chan— 

Chan sat across from Minho in the meeting. 

Someone from the staff talked in the background nonstop about their upcoming video. 

But Christopher Bang had one thing in mind; Changbin’s birthday.

It was around the corner and he really had no idea what to give him this year. He has given him all the things he could think of in the past years, so he was left blank as to what to get him this year around. 

“Channie.” Chan looked up and searched for who had called him. 

At his side, Hyunjin nudged him. 

“Is everything okay? I know we woke you up early, but we’re almost done.” 

“I’m okay, Hyunjin.” He said with a smile. “Just thinking.” Hyunjin nodded and padded his leader on the head. 

When the meeting finished, Bang Chan rose to leave the room with Changbin but something caught his attention. 

He heard a recognizable laugh and he turned to fully expect Jisung and Changbin laughing on the ground. 

But to his surprise, even though that was exactly what was going on, it wasn’t that what caught his attention. Or them. 

It was Minho. 

On the chair next to where Jisung was seated, Minho sat. His back against the seatrest, one of his hands on the armrest and the other under his chin. His face seemed neutral, but there was something in his eyes that stopped Bang Chan from looking away. 

Slowly, he saw how Minho’s expression changed. The corner of his eyes went up as they closed slightly. The hand under his chin went to rest over his lap as he laid his head over the back of the chair. His cheeks became pink and, the most noticeable thing of all, he had the most sincere and soft smile on his lips. 

Bang Chan’s eyes went up, in surprise. He had never seen Minho smile like that. Ever. If he had to think of a time he saw the boy smile like that, he would say it would only be with his cats. 

But no. 

Here he was, smiling as if he just saw the most innocent and beautiful thing in the world. 

Bang Chan thought it was great that Minho could smile like that after so much effort in trying to express his feelings. And that he felt comfortable enough to do so around them, was precious enough. 

Then he heard a laugh. 

A loud one, and not Changbin’s loud laugh; he knew that one from a mile away. Even with his eyes closed, senses taken away, and nothing but his hearing to go by. And even without that, he could still tell who Seo Changbin was. 

But that wasn’t the point. 

Bang Chan looked to where the laugh came from, and saw Jisung holding onto Changbin’s shoulder for dear life as he laughed so hard, he might just fall off the seat at any moment. 

And that’s when it hit him. 

Bang Chan looked back at Minho, and saw his expression softened. His gaze looked enchanted, soft, delicate. 

It looked in love. 

Chan’s mouth fell open, his eyes shooting up with surprise. 

Was he imagining things?

No, right? He couldn’t. 

There’s no way to fake such an expression. Especially someone who only looks grumpy, or serious, almost all the time. 

Oh my god.  

Chan couldn’t help the big O his mouth did in surprise and shock. 

His Minho, his special rabbit, his best friend, one of his children, was in love. And with no one other than the one person who he made a connection with since day one. 

His other half, his soulmate, his safe place, his home. 

Lee Minho was in love; in love with Han Jisung. 

And Bang Chan couldn’t express how happy he felt. 

“Channie.” 

Bang Chan felt a soft touch on his shoulder. 

“Are you okay?” 

Changbin stood at his side, with one hand on his cheek and a worried look on his face. 

“We’re going home, and then you can go back to sleep, honey.” 

“Yeah, yeah.” Chan looked back at where Minho was sitting and saw him getting up to leave. “I’m okay, thank you.” 

“Alright, let’s go.” Changbin moved the chair out of the way for Chan and they left the room. 

—Hyunjin—  

Hyunjin laid on the pool chair, getting a sun tan. 

The guys were playing in the pool, including his boyfriend, Felix. 

“Watch out!” Hyunjin opened his eyes when he heard Chan’s voice. 

He saw how the beach ball, which he guessed had been served by Chan, landed on Jisung’s face who had protected Felix from getting hit. 

Jisung slipped on the pool floor and went underwater. 

“Jisung!” Changbin shouted as he reached for him underwater. 

“HAN!” Felix shouted. Bang Chan swam closer to them. 

Hyunjin felt a splash get him wet and when he looked to his side, where Minho once stood next to the BBQ, there were only a pair of slides left. 

Hyunjin cleaned his face of the water and saw Minho resurfaced, with a Jisung who wasn’t moving. 

“Honey!” Minho held him up and against his chest as he tried to keep his head high. “Honey, can you hear me?” 

Hyunjin stood from his chair and walked closer to the edge to help Minho lift him up the pool. 

“Jisung!” Minho jumped out, and knelt next to Han. 

Hyunjin kneeled next to him. 

“Babe, can you breathe?” 

Hyunjin looked up at Minho at the nickname and there was something in the way his eyes shrinked, small tears building up in the edge, and the way his voice sounded so desperate, that it made Hwang Hyunjin come to a realization. 

Hyunjin saw Minho’s hands shake Han’s shoulders. And he heard him keep calling him ‘babe’ over and over again, making his voice break each time. 

And Hyunjin had to seat back on his heels; totally forgetting the situation. 

He had experienced this once before, years ago, when Felix had fainted for not eating in an entire day. 

The same shaky voice, desperate tone and teary eyes. He had been worried for Yongbok, someone who at the moment was just his friend, and that thanks to that moment he realized he loved. 

The realization hit him at the same time as Jisung began coughing water out and Minho helped him up to a sitting position. 

The blonde looked back at his hyung and saw him with the most horrified and worried look on his face. He had never seen that look on him before, in the years he knew him. 

“Are you okay?” 

His voice broke, it cracked, sounding so desperate and scared for Jisung’s life it made Hyunjin’s heart stop beating. 

And Hyunjin realized; Minho was in love. 

He could tell in the way his face looked so worried, in the way his body trembled, how his hands wouldn’t let go of Jisung, and how his voice kept breaking; scared of what might have happened. The what if. 

Minho was in love; and he was in love with Han Jisung.  

And Hyunjin needed to take a deep breath because he didn’t see it coming. 

“Let’s take him inside.” Chan’s voice came from the left, and Hyunjin saw how Minho hugged Jisung so tight he might break his ribs. “Or we can wait a second.” 

Hyunjin looked at Chan, with a confused look. 

Then he realized how Chan looked at Minho, and he understood. Bang Chan also knew.  

“Min-Minho.” Jisung called, his breathing heavy. “Thank you, honey.” 

Minho didn’t say anything and just cradled Jisung’s head against his chest. 

No one saw the tears that fell from Minho’s eyes. 

No one but Hyunjin. 

—Changbin—

“Hey Han, we’re heading to the gym, you want to come?” 

“Yes, let me get my bag.” 

Jisung stood from his bed and went to his closet. 

Jeongin and Minho were on their respective beds; one taking a nap, the other working on his laptop. 

“How’s the songwriting coming along, Minho?” Changbin asked. 

“It’s going, almost done.” Minho answered, eyes still over his laptop. 

Changbin looked at him and saw him squint his eyes at the computer. 

“You know, it can be a little stressful to have deadlines for the lyrics, but it's good to always take small breaks.” Minho took his eyes off the computer and looked at Changbin. 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah.” 

Minho closed his laptop and took a big stretch. At that moment, Jisung returned with his bag in hand, and a cap over his head. 

Minho looked at him. 

“I’m ready.” 

“Let’s go.” Jisung exited the room first, Changbin following behind. “Bye- 

“Wait.” Changbin and Jisung looked back. “Can I go with you guys?” 

Jisung and Changbin looked at each other. 

“Yeah, that’s fine.” 

Minho went to pack a small bag for himself and went downstairs where the others waited for him. 

—

“Hey, Binnie.” Changbin looked up from where he was sitting, and saw Jisung walk up to him. “I’m going to bench press, do you want to spot me?” 

“I was about to get us some snacks.” 

“It’s okay, I’ll do it.” Minho appeared out of nowhere. Changbin blinked at him a few times but slowly nodded. 

“Yeah, okay.” Jisung smiled at Minho and went towards the bench. 

Changbin went to stand to leave. 

“Babe, you want something from the store next door?” Bang Chan stood next to him, phone and wallet in his hands. “Jisung asked for some chips and a drink. Minho wants water.” 

“Um…” 

“I’m getting something sweet and a drink.” 

“Whatever you want, love.” Chan nodded, gave Bin a kiss, and left. 

Changbin had no other choice but to sit back down and reach for his water bottle. 

When Changbin took the first sip, his eyes traveled towards the press bench across from him. Jisung laid over it, and Minho stood behind him; his hands close to the bar in case Jisung needed him to pick it up. 

Changbin was kind of glad Minho was back on training, and it’s not like he needed it per se, but it had been a minute since he had come to the gym with them. 

When he took his second sip, Changbin noticed something. 

Both boys across from him seemed to have started a conversation of some sort. And Minho broke out laughing out of nowhere. 

Changbin almost choked on his water when he saw the most sincere and loud laugh from Minho since he could remember. 

Jisung said something again, and Minho held onto the bench to keep himself from rolling over in laughter. 

Changbin’s mouth fell open in surprise, and if it hadn't been for the fact that the tip of the bottle was still inside his mouth, water would have fallen everywhere. 

When Jisung reached the 20th bench press, Minho pulled up the bar and placed it over the rack. Han stayed laying down for a second and Minho looked down at him from his standing position. 

Changbin saw how his face brightened up when Jisung looked up at him with a smile; his chubby cheeks filled with air. Then how his lips twitched a little at the corner when he tried to hide his smile, then how his cheeks got a noticeable pink against his clear skin. 

Changbin tilted his head sideways; not recognizing such an expression from Minho. 

Then he saw Jisung reach for Minho’s shirt and tugged it slightly to pull him closer. The boy took a step closer, and bent his upper body forwards to get face to face with Jisung. 

Changbin took another sip, still confused about Minho’s face until he saw it. 

Minho’s gaze. 

The way it softened while looking at Jisung, as if all of his walls broke down in the boy’s presence. The way he was close enough to touch but still didn’t as if Han was a precious cristal that could break at any time. The way his eyes wouldn’t look away from Han’s own eyes and how they softened every time Jisung would smile, or chuckled, or full on laugh. 

It was when Minho stroke Jisung’s cheek gently and removed hair from his forehead, that made Changbin choke on water, begin coughing, and come to the realization of what he was seeing. 

His hyung was in love. 

Oh my. 

Lee Minho was in love; in love with Han Jisung. 

“Oh my god.” Changbin said out loud, earning himself a few looks from other people around. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Changbin jumped on his seat and dropped his water bottle. 

“Are you okay?” Chan sat next to his boyfriend, a bag in his hand. 

“You scared the soul out of me.” 

“Sorry.” Chan apologized. “What was so entertaining that you were so concentrated on?” 

Changbin didn’t answer and instead looked towards Jisung and Minho. 

Chan followed his gaze. 

They didn’t have to say anything else; both thinking of the same thing about the other. 

He knows. 

—Seungmin— 

Stray Kids walked out of the restaurant, ready to return back home after a long day. 

The older members were up front, followed by the four youngest. The cars were parked outside, already waiting for them. 

Chan opened the door for Changbin and Hyunjin. Minho walked to the other car to open the door to the rest. 

In a fraction of a second, which is usually what it takes for everything to change, shouts were heard. A lot of screams and running around. 

Minho looked back in time to see Jisung’s body dropped to the ground. His screams ringing in his head, making his heart stop beating for a long second. 

“You suck HAN!” Someone shouted, and Minho saw how a bottle of water was thrown at him. 

Except it wasn’t water. 

Because Jisung began screaming so loud it ripped through Minho’s ears. 

And Lee Minho’s protective switch went off. 

And he doesn’t remember how he got to Jisung in less than a second, or how he found the culprit behind the insults and the water bottle, and he definitely didn’t remember how hard he smashed his head against the nearest wall. And he especially didn’t remember how he almost beat the man to a pulp if it hadn't been for Changbin and Bang Chan who had stopped him before he got too far. 

He did remember though, kneeling next to Jisung; who was sobbing and crying on the ground. His left arm against his chest and his clothes ruined. 

Minho’s hands went to his cheeks, and his forehead went to rest against Jisung’s. 

“It’s okay, baby.” 

He whispered. 

“Just breathe.”  

He said, trying to calm a crying Jisung until the ambulance arrived. 

“I’m here, baby.” 

And no one saw how Minho began crying with Jisung. 

No one but Seungmin. 

—Hours Later— 

“Sorry for the long wait.” A doctor came into the room and stopped on his tracks when he saw seven people in the room. “Oh, hi.” 

“What happened?” Felix asked. 

“What did they do to him?” Hyunjin followed. 

“Is he going to be okay?” Changbin asked, stopping in between syllables since his English wasn’t that great. 

“When is he going to wake up?” Jeongin asked, also trying his best to get his point across. 

“Guys, guys.” Chan spoke. “Let the doctor speak.” The team nodded and the doctor felt five gazes fall on him. 

“He wasn’t shot with a real bullet.” The doctor reached for something in his pocket. “It’s a rubber bullet; doesn’t perforate the skin but does damage all the same.” 

“Is that what they shot him with?” Seungmin spoke for the first time in the entire night since the incident. 

“Yes, this is what they shot him with.” The team looked at Seungmin; thinking of how he was the closest to Jisung when it all happened and how he had to experience it all unfold in front of him. 

“Would he have any permanent damage?” Bang Chan asked. 

“Yes and no.” The doctor put the bullet away. “The bruise will eventually go away, but the impact of the bullet burned his skin, so it will leave a scar behind once it completely heals.” 

The entire team went silent. 

“What else?” Minho’s voice startled everyone. The boy looked up at the doctor from where he was sitting; next to Jisung’s bed. 

“Um, sorry?” 

Minho told Chan what he was trying to say for him to translate. 

“He's asking what was in the water.” 

Everyone looked from the doctor, back to Minho, back to the doctor. 

“Acid.” 

“What?!” Felix, Hyunjin and Changbin shouted. 

“That’s what burned his clothes, and some parts of his stomach and chest.” He explained. “It wasn’t a big quantity to leave a big impact on his body, but he would have small scars of where the acid made contact.” 

Felix began crying, Changbin’s eyes filled with tears, and Jeongin began sobbing on Seungmin’s arms. 

“It’s a good thing it didn’t get it on his face; he could have lost his eyesight if it fell on his eyes.” 

“Right, because this is so much better.” Minho snapped back. 

Chan was honestly more surprised that he didn’t have to translate than of Minho’s words. 

He didn’t blame him at all. 

“He’ll be here for a couple of days.” Said the doctor. “And when the morphine wears off he will wake up in pain, which is why we’re trying to let him rest for a little.” 

“Thank you.” Chan bowed down, and the doctor left the room. “I’ll get us some coffee.” Chan looked at Changbin. “Care to accompany me?” 

“Y-Yeah.” Bin’s voice broke a little. 

They left the room. 

“Come Felix, let’s wash your face.” 

Hyunjin took his boyfriend to the room’s bathroom. 

The only ones left were Seungmin and Jeongin, who was slowly calming down. 

Chan had been right; Seungmin wasn’t okay. 

He had seen everything happen right next to him. And he still remembered Jisung’s screams right next to his ear. He remembered the shouts, the way Han’s body dropped to the ground, the sound of the shot being fired; even though it wasn’t a real bullet. 

He still remembered hearing Jisung’s sobs and cries of pain outside the restaurant. 

But there was something, one little thing, that Seungmin couldn’t stop thinking of the most. 

And that thing, or that person, was sitting with his head on Jisung’s arm; slowly falling asleep, the adrenaline finally coming down on his body. 

Lee Minho. 

If you would have asked Seungmin, 24 hours ago, who would be the most likely member to lose control if something were to happen to one of the other members? He would have easily answered Bang Chan. 

But now? He wasn’t so sure anymore. 

Sure, Chan protected them as if they were his own little babies, and they were. 

But the way Minho had lost all rational thought when seeing Jisung hurt and in so much pain, had Seungmin thinking of so much. 

For starters, when did it all become like this? He knew they were close, but when had he seen Minho go all crazy like that? He remembered the airport incident, which had happened a while back, and Minho had been mad. But so had he. 

But it wasn’t only that. 

The way he almost killed the guy if it hadn’t been for Chan and Bin; it made Seungmin reiterate so many unasked questions. 

But the thing that topped it all, wasn’t Minho’s reaction, or the way he had beaten the guy. 

No. 

The thing that topped all of it all was the way, after all the ruckus he made, after becoming almost a mad man, he still came down to Jisung and treated him so softly, so kind and so delicate; it got Seungmin thinking Minho had a double personality. 

The way he spoke to him; soft and low. Making sure he heard him, to console him, to comfort him even when he knew it wasn’t working. 

The way he never took his eyes away from Jisung when he got to his side; to make sure he didn’t disappear out of thin air. 

The way his hands had held Jisung’s face so delicately; like a glass that could slip easily and break into a million pieces. 

The way he never let go, even after the ambulance took him to the hospital. Even when they had to attend Jisung’s wounds, even when he was totally asleep in a hospital bed. 

Seungmin still remembered those words. 

“It’s okay, baby.” 

…

“Just breathe.”  

…

“I’m here, baby.” 

…

Baby. 

Seungmin doesn’t remember a time where Minho called him “baby”. It was always “honey” or “Han” or “quokka” or just plainly “Jisung”. 

And yet, he had. 

Seungmin felt Jeongin suddenly become heavy, and when he looked down he realized that his boyfriend had fallen asleep. 

Now that he thought about it, there had been one time where he had experienced sort of the same reaction Minho had had. 

Back when they did their Oddinary album presentation, where Hyunjin came down from above, there was a big spider, and even had a small movie played out.

When Jeongin fell on stage due to exhaustion and Bang Chan was there to catch him.  

He had been so scared that something bad had happened, besides exhaustion, of course. He didn’t leave Jeongin’s side for days, making sure he ate enough, got hydrated, and took his meds that he got prescribed after the incident. 

It wasn’t the same reaction Minho had had, but it was something he could somewhat compare it to. 

Seungmin looked up at Minho, and saw him awake. His hyung was softly caressing Jisung’s left cheek while he smiled weakly at him. From his eyes, tears fell down one by one. 

It didn’t take long for Minho to begin sobbing quietly over Jisung’s arm. 

It was then that it hit Seungmin the truth behind every single thought in his mind. 

He was in love. 

Lee Minho was in love; in love with Han Jisung.  

In love with the person he would go down to the end of the world for, in love with the person that complements him in every way, his other half; his quokka. 

Seungmin laid back on the couch, utterly shocked from his recent discovery. 

Oh wow.

And if Seungmin kept looking at Minho for the rest of the night to make sure he was okay, well that wasn’t anyone’s problem. 

—Felix—
—Jeongin— 

They just finished filming, and the guys were taking the microphones off before heading home. 

Jeongin and Felix were the last ones to stay behind. They were almost done but Jeongin's microphone was tangled up under his shirt so Felix was trying to help him get it off. 

“There, I got it.” Felix pulled the cable down and it came falling to his hands. “It was just stuck on your sweater.” 

Both boys gave their belongings to the staff members and exited the restaurant. 

“Hey, Hyunjin!” 

Felix and Jeongin looked up and across from them was Minho’s car parked. 

Out the passenger window was Jisung, laughing and talking with Hyunjin who was a few cars from him. 

In the middle was Changbin, who was poking his body out of Chan’s car roof window. 

It seemed they were joking about something because Jisung was laughing hard, and Changbin was nothing but laughter and unrecognizable words. At least Jisung was sort of speaking without laughing. 

Hyunjin just saw it all unfold from the other car, laughing too. 

Felix was the first one to notice; and when he did, it didn’t take him long to figure out the truth. 

Minho was looking at Jisung, who was still with half his body out the window, shouting at Hyunjin. 

His eyes softened, and his lips curled up in a simple but yet, sweet smile. His head rested over the seat's headrest and from Felix’s point of view, he could see Minho’s gaze over Jisung's entire form. 

Felix stopped on his track. 

He was the first member of the team to know in less than a second. 

It didn’t take a genius to know; and Felix being Felix, someone who was very perceptive of people, he knew right away. 

Lee Minho was in love; in love with Han Jisung. 

And Felix could see it in every little feature on Minho’s face. In every smile, in every touch and gesture, in every gaze given to Han. Even in his tone of voice. 

Felix mentally slapped himself in the head; how could he have not realized? 

And when Felix looked back up with a smile, he saw Minho reaching for Jisung’s shirt to pull him inside the car. 

Jeongin, who had finished tying his shoes, stood from his bent down position. His eyes went straight to the red car across from him and saw Jisung being pulled inside the car. 

He saw Minho say something to him, and Jeongin saw Jisung smile. 

And at the other end, Minho smiled back; a bright smile that radiated happiness all around. Something Jeongin has never seen in Minho in the years he’d known him. (Maybe with his cats, but this happiness was different).

Jeongin saw Minho leaned in towards Jisung’s face and whispered to his ear. Han laughed, and gripped Minho’s arm. 

And Minho’s face went red, all the way to his ears. 

Jeongin almost began laughing, but there was something in the way Minho’s eyes softened and the way his laugh sounded from where he stood that made Yang not want to laugh. 

It was the first time he heard such a laugh from Minho. Sure, he laughed all the time, but a loud laugh like that? Never. It was almost like something you only got to experience once in a blue moon. 

And then both boys looked at each other, and Minho’s eyes sparkled, and his lips curled up in a sweet smile, and his cheeks stayed red. 

And Jeongin understood. 

He understood on the way Minho stared back at Jisung, on the way he held him, on the way he laughed when he was around him. 

On the way he would smile around him; as if Jisung would take down all the built-in walls Minho had created for himself throughout the  years. 

Jeongin’s eyes shot up. 

Lee Minho was in love; in love with Han Jisung.  

And everything about him clearly expressed that feeling. 

From his face, to the way he smiled, to the way he touched Han, to the way he would softly speak to him, treat him; and the way he would be around Han. Like his presence alone was enough for Minho to be happy in this life.

Jeongin smiled, thinking of so many other moments where he had seen both of them act around each other; realizing only now what those actions truly meant. 

It was Felix who brought Jeongin back to reality. 

“Ready to go?” 

“Eh?” Jeongin took his eyes off Jisung and Minho and looked at Felix. “Oh, yeah” 

Both walked to Felix’s car and got in it; Jeongin on the driver side and Felix on the passenger side. 

Neither one of them stopped smiling for the rest of the night; completely happy and proud of their two friends. 

—Minho— 

Minho woke early in the morning. 

He got dressed, quietly left the room, and went to prepare some coffee. 

He went down the stairs, straight to the kitchen and stopped on his tracks when he saw six people already waiting for him at the dining table. 

Well five, number six was at the kitchen counter, on his phone. 

“Good morning!” 

Hyunjin was way too happy to hate being woken up early, something was up. 

“Morning?” Minho said back, sounding more like a question than a statement. “We have the day off, why are you all awake so early?” 

Bang Chan, who stood next to the corner, preparing cups of coffee answered for him. 

“We have to talk to you about something.” 

“All of you?” Minho asked. 

“Yes.” Felix answered. “Take a seat.” Yongbok pulled back a chair for Minho, and after taking a cup of coffee from Chan, he sat down between Felix and Jeongin. 

“What’s wrong guys? You’re worrying me.” Minho looked all around the table. Only realizing then that someone was missing. “And where’s Jisung?” 

“Sleeping.” Hyunjin answered. “He doesn’t need to be here for this conversation.” 

“Why?” 

Everyone looked at each other, and that only worried Minho more. 

“Did something happen?” 

“No.” Chan sat next to Changbin. “Nothing bad anyways.” 

“It’s something good.” Changbin added. 

“Oh, okay.”

The room fell silent. 

“What is it?” Minho asked. 

“Well, there is no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to say it, you-“ 

“You're in love with Han Jisung.” Hyunjin said, taking one deep breath after. “You’re so head over heels for Jisung, your face is starting to tell on you.” 

Minho looked perplexed. It took him a second to process Hyunjin’s words and when they did, he tilted his head sideways. 

He looks like a cat. Thought Seungmin. 

“What are you guys talking about?” 

“Come on, Minho.” Chan had a hint of teasing in his voice. “You know exactly what we’re talking about.” 

“I don’t.” Minho was serious, and it made Chan stop smiling. 

“You really don’t know?” Changbin asked. “At all?” Minho shook his head. “Wow.” Changbin looked so surprised, his cheeks puffed out with air. 

“Minho.” Felix reached for the oldest boy’s shoulders and made him look at him. “Have you not realize how you’ve been acting around Jisung these past months?” 

“No?” 

It was starting to be a little funny for Changbin and Hyunjin; the whole situation. 

“I’ve only acted like I normally do, there wasn’t anything different.” 

That made Changbin stop laughing. 

All eyes fell on Minho. 

“What?” 

“Minho, have you really not noticed at all?” Felix asked. 

“Noticed what?” 

Chan took out his phone from his pocket and opened the gallery app. 

“This.” 

Chan turned the phone towards Minho, a picture open. 

“That’s Jisung and me.” Minho said. The picture had them in the living room sitting on the couch next to each other. Jisung’s gaze was on the TV and Minho’s gaze was on Jisung. 

“Yeah.” Chan swiped to the next picture. “Then there‘s this.” The second picture was from the pool day (before the incident), and it had Minho and Jisung taking the groceries out of the car. Jisung was grabbing some bags and Minho was looking at his face with a smile. 

“That’s also Jisung and me.” 

Chan swiped the picture. The third one was from the gym. It was of Chan and Changbin, but in the background you could see Jisung laughing and lying over Minho’s lap. 

Minho held him with both hands while he looked down at him with a soft smile. 

“That’s at the gym.” 

Chan swiped to the fourth picture. 

It was the day after the restaurant incident, when Jisung woke up and the first Minho did was hug him so tight he didn’t let go. 

In the afternoon from that day, Jisung laid asleep over Minho’s chest. And the boy had the most in love expression he could have. His eyes were shiny due to the tears he had shed, and his hands gripped Jisung tightly against his chest. But it didn’t stop him from looking at Han as if he was the most precious thing in the world. 

And he was; for Minho. 

“I still don’t understand.” 

Chan swiped the picture one last time, showing the fifth and last picture, the picture of the car. 

It had been taken by Felix, not by Chan like the others. And it gave the best point of view among all of them. 

From where Felix stood, you could see the way Minho looked at Jisung from the driver seat. His eyes looked darker than usual, his lips wouldn’t stop smiling, and his face looked so bright and happy. 

Minho looked in love. 

And apparently he didn’t know. 

Minho stared at the picture, realizing now, how different his expression was. 

He’d never seen himself like that. 

He looked so happy; his face bright like the sunshine. His smile looked genuine, and soft. His eyes lit up when he smiled, and his dimples were much more noticeable. His cheeks looked pink and they were more chubby. 

And to top it off all, his gaze looked so… so… How would he describe it?  

His gaze looked in love. 

Something he’d only seen on Chan when he saw Changbin laugh, or act like a child, or when Changbin sang. Or on Hyunjin when saw Felix cooking, or singing, or doing pretty much anything Felix usually did. Or when Jeongin would laugh and cover his smile but Seungmin would remove his hand just so he could see that same smile, or when Seungmin would just stare at Jeongin to no end, or when he sang his ballads songs on the studio and Seungmin would stare at him from the room.

The same look, the same gaze, he saw on himself now. 

And suddenly his cheeks became red, his ears turned pink, and an electric current ran down his back. 

“Minho?” Chan called. 

Minho held his hands to his chest where his heart began beating fast. 

“I think you broke him, Chan.” Hyunjin said. 

Minho began breathing fast, each one of them becoming shorter each time. 

“I don’t think he’s okay.” Changbin stood as he said it. “I think he may be having a panic attack.” 

Minho’s vision got blurry, and his body began to shake. 

“Minho?” Chan called again. 

Minho’s mind was short circuiting, like it had just stopped working for a second.

It wasn’t possible, right? I mean, not that it was impossible but… 

Did Minho really love Jisung? 

Was there true feelings behind that gaze, behind those eyes, behind that new expression? Was there really something there? 

“Minho, can you hear me?”

I mean, if he thought about it, he felt complete when he was around him. Like all the walls he had built up throughout his years of suffering and pain would just fall when Jisung got close. 

“Minho!”

And they always had fun together; even when doing the bare minimum like just sharing the room, or the bed. He was always at peace with him. 

“Lee Minho!” 

And sure, they had pet names for each other, something couples did. But he always thought it was just because that was their way of communicating. That was something that was their thing. You know, like Chan had his thing with Bin where they would act like children around each other but act adultish when everyone else was around.

Or the thing Hyunjin had with Felix where every Sunday they would bake brownies for the entire household; and not just any brownie recipe, Felix’s secret recipe. 

Or the thing Seungmin had with Jeongin where they would call each other ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ due to Jeongin’s last name and because they were literally the other half of each other. 

Minho had his own thing with Han. 

However, Minho had to admit, when he was with Jisung he did feel strange. Like his stomach wouldn’t stop bugging him. And it even tickled sometimes. It was weird. 

“Minho!” 

But it was a good weird because he liked feeling like that, and he doesn’t remember when it started but ever since then, he has sought Jisung out just to feel that same feeling. 

A feeling that had only grown since then. A feeling that he had grown so accustomed to that he felt weird without it. A feeling that he only felt with Han Jisung.  

Oh, shit. 

Minho was in love . 

And he was in love with Han Jisung. 

Shit, shit, shit. 

Minho now could see it clearly; the stares, the gestures, the behavior, the laughs, the smiles. 

He loves him, and he probably has loved him for a while now. 

“I’m so sorry for this, hyung.” 

Minho needed to see Han, he needed to tell him right now how he felt. How could he have taken so long to realize something so simple and yet so important?

He needed to buy him some flowers, or chocolates. Or maybe he should just go up to his room, go to his bed and just tell him how he felt; even if Jisung would be too sleepy to process any rational thoughts. 

Yeah, he was going to do just that. 

But before Minho could even stand up from his chair, he was hit in the face with extreme force; like being slapped in the face. 

He blinked a couple of times, coming back to reality, and slowly looked back at the table. 

Everyone looked at him so worried, it made him worried. 

“Minho, are you okay?” Chan asked. 

“I’m so sorry, hyung.” Felix apologized, bowing his head so low it almost touched the floor. 

“I’m not.” Everyone looked back at Seungmin. “I’m kidding, I am sorry.” 

“Why did you go quiet all of a sudden?” Changbin asked. “You made us worried.” 

Minho stared back at them. 

“I love Han Jisung.” 

“Um, duh.” Hyunjin rolled his eyes; like that was some old news on the paper. 

And it was. 

“We've been knowing.” The blonde said. “Took you long enough to realize.” 

“Guys, I…” Minho took a deep breath. “I love Han Jisung.” 

“Yeah, you broke him.” Changbin said, sitting back down. 

“I love Han Jisung.” The guys began laughing, the first one being Felix. 

“Ok, well since that's all clear, should we start our day?” Hyunjin asked. 

“Wait, guys.” Everyone stopped on their tracks. “How do I tell him?” 

“I’m pretty sure he knows.” Hyunjin said. “I can even bet he thinks you two are already dating.” Minho gave Hyunjin a shock look. “What?” 

“He has a point.” Seungmin chimed in. “The way you two are around each other, you would think you are a couple.” 

“Yeah, I’m surprised you haven’t kissed yet.” 

Minho’s cheeks turned red. 

“Oh my god, you’ve had?!” Hyunjin sat back down. “When? How? Where? At what time? Why? What led to it? Who kissed who? And what kind of kiss was it?” 

“Um…” The blush extended to Minho’s ears. 

“Oh my god, he kissed you!” Hyunjin stated. 

“Babe, I don’t think…” Felix began saying but then saw Minho looking away and scratching his ear (something he did when he was nervous) and Felix’s sentence died on his lips. “Oh my god, it's true!” 

“Well, well-“ 

“Why are you guys shouting so early in the morning?” 

Everyone jumped on their seats, Hyunjin shouted, and they turned around to see Han standing at the entrance of the dining room with a beanie covering his hair, his glasses and his sleeping clothes on. 

“Jisung.” Hyunjin stood, walked up to the boy and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “How are you doing?” Hyunjin had a teasing smile on his face. 

“Um, good?” Han moved Hyunjin’s arm and walked towards the table. 

Everyone made way for Han to pass through, and the boy made his way to Minho. 

“Hey, baby.” Han bent down and kissed Minho on the lips; right in front of everyone. “I didn’t feel you get up this morning.” 

“Um…” Minho had his cheeks red. 

“I missed your morning hug.” 

“I-I…” 

Everyone saw the entire scene unfold. 

“Why are you so red?” Jisung asked. 

“Jisung.” 

“Yes?” 

“Do you want to be my boyfriend?” 

The six members looked back at Jisung, waiting for his response, excitedly. 

Minho looked up at Jisung, waiting for his response, nervously. 

And Jisung? 

Jisung broke out laughing; a laugh that filled the entire room. 

“What?” 

Jisung held onto the table while he calmed himself down. 

“It’s just-“ Jisung laughed again. “Aren’t we already dating?” 

Now it was Hyunjin’s turn to laugh. 

“W-what?!” Minho looked shocked. 

And he wasn’t the only one. 

Everyone around the table had their mouths open. 

“Yeah.” Jisung ruffled Minho’s hair. “For about six months, right?” 

“What?!” 

Everyone looked at Minho then back at Jisung. Hyunjin was still laughing in the background. 

“Ji-Jisung, w-what are you talking about?” Jisung stopped laughing and his face became neutral. 

“What do you mean ‘what are you talking about’?” 

“Han, I've never asked you to date me.” 

“Well, not directly.” Jisung looked back at everyone, all their eyes were on them. “But it kind of just happened, you know.” 

“Actually, no.” 

“Minho, we’ve been together for six months.” Jisung grabbed Minho’s face in between his hands. “Babe, how come you just noticed now?” 

“I don’t really know, to be honest.” 

“Gosh, you're so slow, honey.” Jisung laughed. Laughed. 

“W-When did it happen?” Minho asked. 

“Um…” Jisung began thinking. “If I had to choose a date, it would be December 12.” 

“Our Christmas party was that day.” Chan said. 

“Yeah.” Jisung nodded. “We had our first kiss, under the mistletoe.”  

All eyes fell on Minho, who’s cheeks and ears were a deeper red than an apple’s red. 

“And ever since then, we’ve been together.” Jisung said, with a smile and kissed Minho’s lips again. “Oh, honey, I still love you even when you’re slow.” 

Jisung stood and turned to walk away. 

“Wait.” Minho took his hand. Jisung turned back around. 

“Yes, babe?” 

“I love you, quokka.”

Jisung smiled. 

“I love you too, rabbit.” 

Do you get déjà vu when she's with you?

“Deja Vu”
-Olivia Rodrigo