Archive of Our Own

Even though it was usually cold at this time of the year, today the sun was shining brightly, and the atmosphere was surprisingly warm. This may have been because today was special. Well, maybe special only for Jisung and his best friend, Felix, who were now standing in front of the massive university building. It was their first day at university, and as nervous as they were, they were also excited.

"I can’t believe we made it here together," were the first words that left Jisung’s mouth as he saw the new place where they would struggle for the next few years.

“I know, right?” Felix answered and looked at his best friend with a smile, which soon became teasing. “I didn’t think you would even be accepted with those grades you had. Like, how can someone be this dumb-”

He was interrupted by an offended-looking Jisung, who had just smacked his shoulder. It wasn’t a hard hit, but it made Felix shut up.

“Talk about it, nerd,” Jisung muttered under his breath sarcastically and grabbed Felix’s forearm, dragging him toward the building. Felix only chuckled, following his friend.

“Come on, you don’t want us to be late on the first day, right?” Jisung let go of Felix’s arm and now they were walking normally beside each other. “We might see Hyunjin here, you know?”

When Jisung mentioned Hyunjin’s name, Felix’s lips immediately curved into a big, heart-warming smile. If someone looked at him more intently, they would see sparkles in his eyes. Hyunjin was Felix’s high school crush to whom he never had the courage to confess. He was a year older than Jisung and Felix, and they all studied at the same school. Hyunjin was one of the popular guys, famous for his beauty, and basically, everybody was drooling over him, Felix included.

Felix didn’t understand how his best friend didn’t find his god-like crush attractive, but he loved how Jisung had always been supportive of it and helped him get into a million (friendly-romantic-embarrassing) situations with Hyunjin. Although Felix had many opportunities to confess his feelings, he never did. He was almost heartbroken when Hyunjin graduated and went to university, but Jisung assured him they might get accepted there and meet him again. So here they were, walking into the campus of this exact university.

“Lixie, is that you, buddy?”

A loud voice was heard behind their backs just before they were going to get inside. They turned around and Felix’s eyes sparkled even more. Speaking about the devil, Hyunjin was approaching them with a smile, his long black hair shining in the sunlight. He was looking at Felix warmly and pulled him into a hug as soon as he came closer.

“I didn’t know you would be studying here too! That’s so cool, Lix!” Hyunjin said with a larger smile after pulling away from the hug.

Felix’s smile was wide and could make anyone melt at the sight of him. His shining blond hair and freckles gave him an angelic look. His heart was speeding up at the fact that his handsome, amazing, stunning crush had just hugged him, and Felix needed a few seconds to get himself together.

“Yeah, we didn’t plan it, but Ji suggested we could study here together,” Felix said with a grin and hugged Jisung by the shoulders.

Jisung just smiled sheepishly at Hyunjin. “Ugh, hi.”

Jisung wasn’t so close with Hyunjin because they barely talked during high school. He helped Felix talk to him, but Jisung himself didn’t communicate with him. So, it was just awkward now and Jisung wasn’t good at making conversations. He was shy and anxious when talking to strangers or people he didn’t knew well, but his loud personality shone through around close friends.

“Hi, Jisung,” Hyunjin greeted back with a brief smile before turning his attention back to Felix.

The two of them started chatting about several topics and Jisung just felt like a third wheel. He slowly moved away, telling Felix that he would wait for him inside. Felix only nodded and returned to his conversation with Hyunjin. Jisung pushed the door and went inside the building.

The hallway was huge, and he didn’t know where exactly he had to go for his classes. He began wandering around, not sure where he was going. In the end, he just found another exit and went out to the campus to sit on a bench.

He was kind of nervous to walk around without his best friend due easily getting lost in unknown places. He could see the blond-haired boy talking to his crush, but Jisung was further away from them now.

He was spacing out in his own thoughts when suddenly something caught his attention. Not something but someone.

Jisung watched how the person rode a motorcycle and parked it nearby. Jisung had always had a thing for motorcyclists, so it was no surprise that this guy intrigued him. Jisung couldn’t see his face due to the helmet on his head. But when he removed the helmet. Oh, God.

Jisung’s eyesight was terrible, but he could clearly tell that this was the most handsome human being he had ever seen in his life. He looked like a moving Renaissance sculpture, with his perfect side profile, sharply defined features, and the dark brown hair which matched the colour of his eyes. He was dressed in a simple black tank top and jeans in the same colour, but it made him look even more attractive in Jisung’s opinion.

The guy began walking towards the main entrance, but he stopped for a moment. Jisung wondered what made him stop in his tracks when he saw him bending down to pet what seemed like a cat. He pulled out something from his pocket, probably food, and gave it to the cat. Jisung unconsciously smiled. ‘Not only is he gorgeous but he feeds strays too?’ he thought to himself.

After a few minutes, the man headed to the entrance again and disappeared into the building.

Goddamn, Jisung has never stared that much at someone. Yes, there were a lot of pretty faces, but this guy. Him. God gave him a beauty that Jisung couldn’t compare to any other.

Jisung didn’t know how long he had been sitting on that bench, thinking about this mysterious hottie, until he heard Felix’s voice calling him.

“Ji, you hear me? We’ll be late for our first class if you don’t move your ass from there!”

Startled, Jisung snapped back into reality and quickly stood up, awkwardly hurrying towards Felix. “Yes, yes, sorry.”

The two friends hurried towards their class together, marking the beginning of their first year in university.

As weeks turned into months, Jisung and Felix settled into the rhythm of university life. They adapted quickly to the daily challenges they had to deal with and made a lot of new friends.

Well, Felix made more new friends than Jisung due to his outgoing and sunny personality. He was a sunshine, as people called him, and everybody wanted to have him by their side. On the other hand, Jisung liked being alone more, but Felix made sure to introduce him to many new people and he took good care of Jisung’s social life.

Felix and Hyunjin’s friendship straightened too, and they hung out more often than they did in high school. Jisung was genuinely happy for his best friend’s thriving love life and began to pay more attention to his own, too.

As time passed, Jisung learned information about the mysterious motorcyclist he had developed a crush on. Lee Minho, two years older than Jisung, was known to most as the "cold and weird guy." Jisung wasn’t deterred when warned that talking to Minho might not be worth it.

Instead, he found himself wanting to befriend Minho even more. Jisung grew more and more intrigued by him every single day, but he was too much of a coward to initiate an actual conversation.

Jisung would steal glances at Minho whenever they crossed paths in the hallway or on campus. He observed Minho arrive with his motorcycle at the university and watch him from afar. He kept his crush a secret from everyone, even from his best friend, due to the rumors about Minho. Jisung didn’t want someone to laugh at him and despite his curiosity and growing feelings, he couldn't shake the fear of judgement if his admiration for Minho became known.

Today, Jisung was having a terrible day. It started poorly in the morning and only got worse from there.

First, he didn’t hear his alarm and ended up sleeping in until Felix woke him up. Jisung had to choose between eating breakfast and having a shower. He decided that being smelly is worse than being hungry, but it turned out that they didn’t have any warm water.

After the awful cold shower, Jisung barely made it to class on time, only to be scolded by a professor who was being a bigger ass than usual. The rest of his lectures weren’t any better, as every professor seemed to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed, directing their irritation at Jisung.

And then, the worst thing happened – Jisung was assigned a task that forced him to dig up some ancient books in the library because the information online wasn’t sufficient. The truth was, professors were trying to discourage students from relying on ChatGPT and make them put in more effort to find the information they needed for their projects. Jisung was a big fan of the little robot that handled all his boring assignments (he only enjoyed doing the interesting ones), but this time, it wasn’t going to save him.

So here Jisung was in the university library, looking through several books in hopes of finding the information he needed. Jisung has never been keen on books as reading a lot of words overwhelmed him. However, he was a huge fan of manga and webtoons, which he enjoyed because they combined fewer words with lots of pretty art.

Jisung finally spotted a book that would definitely help with his assignment. He remembered it being one of the books his professor had recommended to use for the assignment. Unfortunately, fitting with his luck for the day, the book was placed on the highest shelf. Jisung stood on his tiptoes, but he was still too short to reach it.

Jisung stretched as far as he could, but his fingers barely brushed the spine of the book. He cursed under his breath and when he was just about to give up, a voice spoke from behind him.

“Need a hand? Or maybe a ladder? Though, personally, I’d recommend jetpacks. Much more efficient.”

Startled, Jisung turned around to see none other than the Lee Minho standing there. God. Minho looked more handsome than ever, casually leaning back against the bookshelf behind him. A simple oversized black t-shirt with a cat graphic and blue jeans fit his physique perfectly. His arms were crossed over his chest, making him look buff, and Jisung couldn't help but notice the visible veins on his arms. A slight smirk played on his lips, and his cat-like eyes were fixed on Jisung, whose heart skipped a beat.

“A jetpack would be great right now. But I guess your help will do.” Jisung replied, instantly cringing at his own words. How could the first thing he ever said to his dream guy be so cringe? He wanted to hit his head against the bookshelf.

Minho chuckled, the sound surprisingly warm. "I don't have a jetpack, but I can reach pretty high."

He effortlessly grabbed the book from the high shelf and handed it to Jisung. He accepted it gratefully, with a tiny “thank you” falling from his lips.

“Careful, though. This one’s known to cause spontaneous naps during study sessions. Side effects may include drooling.” Minho joked playfully, tilting his head to the side as his eyes never left Jisung, who was in a really flustered state.

Jisung managed a nervous laugh, cringing at himself again. Minho was funny.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks.” Jisung repeated once again, his lips forming a shy, gummy smile.

And then he realized this was his chance to finally introduce himself. ”I’m Jisung, by the way.”

“Minho. Professional book-reacher and part-time nap enthusiast. Nice to meet you.”

Jisung laughed again and he sounded more relaxed this time. Minho had a sense of humor too which was one of the qualities Jisung required in his idea for a dream boyfriend. Wait, why was Jisung thinking about him as a boyfriend already-

"So, what's with the urgent need for this nap-inducing book?" Minho interrupted Jisung’s thoughts.

"Just trying to survive another one of those 'ChatGPT-not-allowed’ assignments." Jisung chuckled nervously, tugging at the sleeve of his hoodie.

Minho laughed softly. "Ah, the struggle is real. Well, lucky for you, I specialize in navigating these ancient relics." He gestured to the rows of books around them. "If you ever need a book-reacher again, you can text me.”

With those words, Minho pulled out his phone from his pants pocket and handed it to Jisung. The screen displayed the Instagram search bar. “You can share your username, if it’s not a secret, of course.”

Jisung took the phone and realized how sweaty his palms had become. He felt the warmth growing on his cheeks as he typed his username and followed himself. His brain was still processing that Lee Minho, his crush, the hot guy Jisung has been drooling over for months, had just asked him for his Instagram. Well, not exactly ask – Minho did it way more smoothly than straight asking.

When he was done, he handed the phone back to Minho and their fingers accidentally brushed against each other. Jisung decided to act like his face didn’t just became even a darker shade of red and smiled shyly.

“Cute profile picture.” Minho remarked, as he looked briefly at Jisung’s account. “See you around, Jisung-ah.”

Jisung looked down at his feet since he didn’t want Minho to see how flustered he was (Minho still could see it). “Yeah, see you around.”

Minho smiled one last time before turning away, waving goodbye. Finally alone, Jisung couldn't contain his excitement, jumping and kicking his feet in happiness.

Since their encounter in the library, Minho and Jisung started texting constantly. It wasn’t like that in the beginning, but they found a lot of common interests and grew closer quickly. The very first chat was started by Minho on the night after they met in the library.

Jisung was lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling, thinking about the events during the day. The whole situation with Minho seemed like a dream – actually like a Wattpad story where Jisung was the main character. Suddenly, his phone buzzed loudly, and Jisung grabbed it quickly. He was glad that the sound didn’t wake up Felix, who was sleeping soundly in his bed opposite Jisung.

Jisung’s face immediately lit up when he saw the reason for the notification.

@leedoesntknow
i see you’re a cheesecake fan, but pudding is definitely better

@squirrelsungie
excuse me, but nothing compares to cheesecake

@leedoesntknow
cheesecake is good, but pudding has that smooth, silky texture that melts in your mouth

@squirrelsungie
cheesecake has layers though. it’s like an adventure for your taste buds

@leedoesntknow
you know what’s an even bigger adventure for my taste buds?

@squirrelsungie
if you say pudding, i’ll slap you

@leedoesntknow
don’t slap me cuz it’s not that
it’s you

@squirrelsungie:
wait what—

@leedoesntknow
it’s 3am squirrel cheeks
go to sleep

@squirrelsungie:
i can’t fall asleep tonight
and don’t call me squirrel cheeks!!

@leedoesntknow
read the nap-inducing book and you’ll doze off fast
goodnight, squirrel cheeks <3

@squirrelsungie:
goodnight, bunny teeth ♡

Jisung slept like the happiest person on earth that night.

For a week, Jisung was practically glued to his phone. It constantly buzzed with notifications, which brought a lovestruck smile to his face. Naturally, his best friend noticed Jisung’s strange behavior. Jisung never smiled that much at his phone except when reading fluff-filled fanfictions or webtoons. One time, when they were sitting at their favorite café on campus, Felix confronted him.

“Han Jisung,” Felix said in an intimidating, demon-like voice that contrasted sharply with his angelic face.

Jisung looked up from his phone, the smile vanishing as he met Felix’s gaze. He raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Why are you saying my name like that?”

Felix ignored the question. “Who are you texting so much?”

Jisung blinked a few times and slipped his phone into the pocket of his jeans just as it buzzed again.

“Nobody,” he lied, looking away from Felix’s piercing, suspicious eyes. Felix was not buying it.

“Don’t lie to me, Sungie. You know I can look through your phone when you’re asleep, right?”

Jisung sighed, realizing he couldn't keep this a secret forever. Felix was way too observant and knew him too well. And he was his best friend after all. Jisung hesitated for a moment before confessing. “Okay, okay. If I tell you, you have to promise not to freak out.”

Felix leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. “I promise. Now spill.”

Jisung took a deep breath. “It’s Lee Minho.”

Felix furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, then suddenly remembered. “Lee Minho? Channie hyung’s friend?”

Jisung simply nodded. Bang Chan was one of their new friends from the university. He was one of Hyunjin’s close friends, and Hyunjin had made sure to introduce Felix and Jisung to all his friends. Chan was three years older than them, and despite his muscular build, he was an absolute sweetheart with a fatherly aura, always supporting his younger friends.

Chan was the first person Jisung had asked about Minho a few months ago. Minho was a loner and didn’t have many friends, so it was fortunate for Jisung to know Chan, who was one of the few. Chan had told Jisung about Minho’s love for cats and explained that while Minho might seem tough or cold on the outside, he was the sweetest person to those he cared about. Chan had expressed disappointment that nobody took the time to get to know Minho and discover his true personality. Instead, people just labeled him as weird and cold.

Yes, Minho had made some inappropriate comments in public to people he didn’t know well or even to his professors (who were not happy about it), but he was a misunderstood sweetheart.

That had intrigued Jisung even more, and he couldn’t help but feel sorry for his crush. What confused him was that Minho didn’t seem cold or weird at all when he approached him in the library. Okay, maybe he was weirdly funny, but he was way too friendly for someone Jisung didn’t know well at all.

Lastly, Chan had asked Jisung why he was inquiring about Minho, and Jisung had sheepishly replied, "No reason." Chan had simply flashed him a knowing smile, leaving Jisung dying of embarrassment.

"Wait, isn’t this that hot weirdo?" Felix asked in a way too loud and excited voice that attracted curious glances from nearby tables.

Jisung kicked his friend’s foot under the table, causing Felix to let out a little "ouch."

"First of all, he is not a weirdo! He is a very nice guy. And second of all, yes, he is hot," Jisung exclaimed, almost whispering as he took a big bite of the cheesecake he had ordered a few minutes ago.

Felix stayed silent for a few seconds when suddenly an important question popped up in his head.

“Wait, when did you even met him? We are always together, and I haven’t seen you talking to any hot guys. Except Hyunjin sometimes, but he is already mine.”

“Yes, he is completely yours,” Jisung said sarcastically, purposefully ignoring the question about Minho. “Have you even told him you like him yet?”

Felix huffed and rolled his eyes. He and Hyunjin were really close now, almost as close as he and Jisung were, but the fear of confessing had only grown. What if his feelings ruined the beautiful friendship they had developed? But this wasn’t the time to discuss that topic.

“Don’t avoid my question. Spill the tea,” Felix insisted, taking a dramatic sip of his coffee since there wasn’t any tea around.

“Fine.” Jisung cleared his throat. “I met him in the library. Remember that assignment that this bitch professor gave me? I needed books from the library. I was searching for one of them when he suddenly showed up behind me.”

Felix was paying full attention to his friend’s story, leaning closer across the table as if he would hear more if he invaded Jisung’s personal space.

“I was struggling to reach a book because it was on the top shelf, and he gave it to me.”

“Sungie, are you sure that’s real or did you pull it out of a fanfiction?” Felix raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

“I swear, it’s true! He even asked me for my Instagram. Look,” Jisung said, shoving his phone into Felix’s hands, letting him stalk Minho’s account just like Jisung had already done multiple times.

“If it weren’t for the chats, I would think this is a cat fan page,” Felix said after scrolling through all of Minho’s photos.

“He just loves cats. A lot,” Jisung explained, finishing his cheesecake. He had already eaten it while Felix was occupying his phone.

“What else does he like?” Felix questioned curiously, putting the phone aside. “I want to know everything.”

Jisung’s face lit up with a tiny smile as he started talking about all the things he adored about his dream boy.

“He likes pudding. He’s very funny in kind of weird way. He’s cheesy sometimes. He sends a lot of photos of his cats, Soongie, Doongie and Dori. Sometimes photos of himself. He rides a motorcycle. That’s actually the whole reason I got interested in him at first—”

“And when was that?” Felix interrupted him.

Warmth spread across Jisung’s cheeks, and he looked shyly at his now-empty plate.

“On our first day here,” he replied, rubbing his neck nervously because he knew what was going to happen.

“Why didn’t you tell me??” Felix’s loud voice again attracted unwanted attention from the other customers in the café. Jisung kicked his foot under the table again.

“Because everyone says bad things about him, and I thought you would tell me I’m crazy—” Jisung mumbled, now feeling guilty for not sharing that information with his best friend.

“Sungie, yes, you might be crazy,” Felix started, making Jisung pout immediately, “but I will always support your stupid shit just like you support mine.”

Jisung couldn’t hold a pout anymore and his lips curved into a gummy smile. “You’re the best, Lixie.”

“Yes, I already know that.” Felix stated with a proud grin. “Now, we’ll get those dicks— I mean boys, right?”

Jisung giggled, and a determined smirk formed on his face. “Yes, we will.”

“Alright, we need a plan to make the cat daddy like you,” Felix declared as he and Jisung returned to their dorm room. Felix, ever the enthusiastic best friend, was deeply invested in helping Jisung win over Lee Minho.

The two friends were sprawled on Jisung’s bed, with Felix reading all the messages Minho had sent to Jisung over the past few weeks. Jisung complained that they were private, but Felix convinced him that he would come up with an amazing plan if he knew all the details.

“Sungie, I have to say it: you have zero rizz,” Felix abruptly broke the silence that had settled over them.

Jisung’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in shock. “What?! I have rizz!”

“No, you don’t. Why did you say, ‘Are you a cat? Because you’ve purr-manently taken up residence in my close friends list.’ Man, that’s so cringe! I can’t even look at it.” Felix cringed and dramatically tossed Jisung’s phone away, which fortunately landed on Felix’s bed.

Jisung felt his cheeks warm up, and he hid his face in his pillow. “Fine, it is kind of cringe, but he liked it,” he mumbled, his words muffled by the pillow.

“Yes, and another thing,” Felix cleared his throat. “You might have no rizz, but he definitely does, and he’s using it.”

Jisung lifted his head to look at Felix, whose lips quickly formed a smile. “You’ve got chances, buddy.”

Jisung's face lit up, a mix of hope and nervousness swirling in his eyes. “So, what’s the plan?”

Felix scratched his head thoughtfully. “Have you talked to him this week?”

“No, we’ve only said hi and exchanged smiles in the hallways and whenever I see him on campus,” Jisung said, sounding a little disappointed. “But we text constantly.”

“You met him at the library, right? Does he go there often?” Felix asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Jisung paused to think. He had to admit — he was quite the stalker, having observed Minho for months. Yet, he couldn’t recall ever seeing him in the library. He usually spotted him in the hallways, around campus, or at the nearby café where all the students went to grab coffee to survive the day. So, Minho’s sudden appearance in the library was unexpected.

“I can’t remember a single time he’s gone there.”

“Interesting,” Felix mumbled. Then, suddenly, a puzzle in his mind seemed to click into place, and he smiled excitedly. “What if he,” Felix began, locking eyes with his confused-looking best friend, “went to the library because you were there.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Jisung said, looking at Felix with absolute disbelief.
“Want to test my theory? Go to the library again to study or whatever. If Minho shows up, you owe me brownies,” Felix proposed, as if he had come up with the best idea ever known to humanity.

Jisung scoffed. “Fine. You owe cheesecake if he doesn’t show up.”

“Sure,” Felix replied with a confident smile. ”He will be there, trust me.”

Jisung wasn’t one to back down from a bet, especially if there was a chance to win some delicious cheesecake. So, here he was, sitting at a table in the library the next day.

He was reading a book that was supposed to help with understanding the mechanics of music production, but honestly, he was about to fall asleep. While staring blankly at the pages and reading in that automatic way where your eyes work, but your brain doesn’t process the information, he thought about how ridiculous Felix was to think that Minho would magically show up just because Jisung was there. It was completely absurd, and Jisung started wondering what he was even doing here—

“Hey, squirrel cheeks,” a familiar voice interrupted Jisung’s thoughts.

His eyes left the boring book and settled on the much better sight of Minho. Jisung was too busy to believe what was happening to realize that Minho had pulled up a chair and sat next to him.

It was absurd. Felix was right.

No, that couldn’t be real. Minho had to be here by coincidence.

“Hi,” Jisung offered a small smile, his heartbeat speeding up just because Minho was there.

“Another one of those?” Minho glanced at the cover of the book on the table. “You must really like sleeping, Sungie.”

Sungie. Only Jisung’s close friends called him that.

“Indeed, I do,” Jisung chuckled, resting his head on his right hand with his elbow on the table, trying to look attractive as he gazed at his crush. “But what are you doing here? Are you drawn to the smell of these old paperweight collections of ancient boredom?”

“Not really,” Minho smirked, mimicking Jisung’s pose. As their eyes met, Jisung felt like melting into his chair. “But your presence makes the atmosphere much more appealing to me.”

Goddamn. Jisung’s stomach did a flip, and he couldn’t stop the heat spreading across his cheeks. He couldn’t believe Minho could fluster him so much with just one sentence. The brown-haired boy seemed to notice, and his smirk grew wider. Fortunately, he decided not to comment on it.

“Smooth talker,” Jisung teased, trying to regain his composure despite his heart still doing somersaults. He shifted in his seat, suddenly aware of every small movement. “Are you always this charming or just with me?”

Minho chuckled softly, a sound that made Jisung’s insides flutter. “Depends on the company, I suppose. It seems you bring out my charm, Sungie.”

The nickname sent a shiver down Jisung’s spine, but he managed to keep his voice light. “Is that so? Should I be flattered?”

“You should,” Minho replied with a playful glint in his eyes. “Not everyone gets to witness my charming side.”

They held each other's gaze for a moment longer than usual, the air between them thick with unspoken words and a growing tension that neither seemed eager to break. Jisung’s mind raced, wondering if the older felt the same fluttery nerves he did.

His thoughts continued coming up in his mind as he sat there, his fingers tapping nervously on the table. Despite the pleasant banter and the undeniable tension between them, Jisung couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty creeping in. He cursed himself for not having a detailed plan if Minho showed up. Well, he didn’t think Felix would be actually right at the first place.

Finally, a thought emerged from the chaos: Minho loved cats. Jisung knew this very well from their conversations. Inviting him to a nearby cat cafe he stumbled upon while desperately searching for a bathroom a week ago (he hated public ones, but it had been an emergency) seemed perfect. Casual, no pressure — just two friends enjoying each other's company.

Glancing at Minho, who seemed lost in thought too, Jisung gathered his courage and spoke up, his voice hesitant yet determined. "Hey, Minho... I was thinking."

Minho snapped back to reality, curiosity flickering in his eyes as he looked at Jisung.

"There's this great cat cafe nearby that I've heard about. Would you like to check it out with me sometime?"

Jisung was a nervous mess. After the question left his mouth, he became unsure if he should have even asked it. What if Minho laughed and rejected him? Jisung thought he was pathetic for even considering the chance that someone as cool and pretty as Minho would want to hang out—

"That sounds amazing! I'd love to see the fluffballs there," Minho grinned warmly, excitement evident in his eyes at the mention of his favorite pets.

Jisung let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Minho's smile was so adorable that Jisung couldn't help but smile back.

"Is the weekend alright?"

"Saturday's good," Minho answered, and Jisung couldn't help but feel captivated by his eyes.

Their conversation then shifted to a more relaxed tone, making Jisung feel genuinely at ease with Minho. Typically, Jisung struggled with shyness and anxiety when meeting and talking to new people, but with Minho, conversation flowed effortlessly. Even the silences felt comfortable rather than awkward.

Jisung realized that even if Minho didn't see him romantically, he would still love to have him as a friend. However, he would be even happier if Minho became his boyfriend, though what fate had in store for them remained a secret.

It was Friday, the day before the cat café date (Jisung kept telling himself it was just a friendly hangout, but he couldn’t quite believe it), and the sunshine twins were at the mall.

After hearing what happened in the library, Felix pulled his best friend into a big hug and expressed how proud he was that Jisung had done something brave for once in his life. Of course, he didn't miss the chance to nag about winning their bet and reminded Jisung that he was waiting for his brownies.

Felix insisted that Jisung should dress up hot for his date. The problem was that Jisung didn’t have any sexy clothes — he was just a basic guy who only wore hoodies. Despite all of Jisung’s complaints that regular clothes would work too, Felix dragged his best friend to the mall.

Felix was rummaging through various clothes, making Jisung try on everything he liked. Jisung was already tired, even though they had only visited two shops. He would much rather be lying in bed watching movies, but he had to admit he wanted to look good for Minho too. He just didn’t enjoy shopping as much as his best friend.

“Lix, I’ve already tried on half the things in this store, and you rejected all of them!” Jisung complained after the blond-haired boy handed him more clothes to try on.

“I’m trying to find the best fit for you! Do you want Minho to think about how hot you are all day or not?”

Jisung sighed in defeat. “I do,” he mumbled.

“Then try these,” Felix handed him another pile of clothes. “If you stop complaining, you won’t need to buy me brownies, and I’ll buy you cheesecake instead.”

Jisung’s eyes sparkled; he couldn’t resist the offer of his favorite dessert. “Deal.”

After a few hours, Felix finally found the perfect outfit for Jisung. It included a black tank top with white text that read "TOPLINE." Over the tank top, there was a black plaid jacket, which Felix suggested Jisung wear casually off his shoulders to show off his biceps, saying, “Who wouldn't simp for those arms?” The pants were simple — black baggy jeans that contrasted with Jisung’s upper body and emphasized his sinfully small waist, accentuated by a belt. Jisung insisted on wearing his Converse shoes to complete the look. Of course, Felix chose accessories that complimented the outfit and Jisung’s blond-silverish hair perfectly.

“Not gonna lie, I look hot,” Jisung said, admiring himself in the changing room mirror.

“Indeed,” Felix nodded approvingly, feeling proud of his handiwork. “Minho will eat you with his eyes.”

Jisung smirked at the thought. He wondered if Minho would dress up too or just wear something casual. Jisung hoped he wouldn’t be overdressed, but Felix had convinced him that it was better to be overdressed than underdressed.

“I’ll go pay for it,” Jisung announced, glancing back at Felix. “And you better go buy me that cheesecake.”

“I hoped you would forget,” Felix scoffed, which made Jisung chuckle.

“I could never forget cheesecake.”

***
Jisung nervously made his way to the cat café the next day, checking his appearance in his phone's camera. He wondered if he had arrived early; there were still 13 minutes until the time Minho had mentioned. His mind started to race with worries. What if Minho didn’t really want to come? What if he canceled at the last minute? What if—

As Jisung entered the café, a kitten immediately rubbed against his feet. He couldn’t resist smiling and reached down to pet its soft fur.

“Squirrel Cheeks!” A voice called out from one of the tables.

Jisung was too focused on the kitten to realize that he was called a few times already. His looked around until his gaze met Minho’s, who was sitting at one of the tables.

It turned out Jisung had worried for nothing; Minho had also dressed up for the occasion. He wore a fitted black short-sleeve top with a partially unzipped front, revealing a hint of his chest. Jisung's intrusive thoughts tempted him to unzip it further because, damn, the guy definitely had abs. Minho complemented the top with a chunky black chain necklace, similar to the one Jisung was wearing. His pants were also black, matching the color palette that they both seemed to have chosen for today (or rather, Felix had chosen for Jisung).

Jisung swallowed hard. He wanted to devour this man.

Regaining his composure, Jisung walked over to their table. Minho had chosen a table with only a couch, forcing Jisung to sit next to him. Jisung wondered if Minho had done it on purpose. He forced himself to meet Minho’s gorgeous eyes instead of staring at his chest, and he managed a smile.

“Early too?” Jisung asked although the answer was clear.

“I was eager to play with the fluff balls,” Minho replied simply, and only then did Jisung notice a cat nestled in Minho’s lap.

I wish I were that cat.

“I can see why,” Jisung grinned, gesturing toward the kitten that had greeted him at the entrance. “That one practically pounced on me the moment I walked in.”

Minho glanced at the kitten, then returned his gaze to Jisung, a playful smirk crossing his lips. “I can see why. I would have pounced on you too, but the kitten beat me to it.”

Jisung felt his face flush at Minho's comment. His heart skipped a beat, and he could feel his palms start to sweat. He fidgeted nervously with the hem of his black tank top, attempting to hide his reaction.

“Ah, um, thanks?” Jisung managed to stammer, his voice a bit higher than usual. He sat down next to Minho, trying to keep a respectable distance but finding it difficult with the cozy setup. The black plaid jacket he wore, suggested by Felix to be casually draped off his shoulders, slid a bit, showing more of his biceps.

Minho chuckled softly, the sound like music to Jisung’s ears. “Relax, squirrel cheeks. I already ordered an iced americano for myself and one for you, along with a slice of cheesecake.”

Jisung’s eyes widened with surprise and delight. “Really? You remembered?”

Jisung really had no reason to be surprised when he talked about his favorite dessert every day, but he was so touched that Minho cared enough to buy him a slice.

“Of course,” Minho said, a warm smile spreading across his face. “I pay attention to the details.”

Jisung nodded, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart. He decided to change the topic by making the conversation about Minho. “So, you mentioned you’re majoring in dancing?”

Minho had mentioned during their texts earlier this week that he was majoring in dance and choreography, which really intrigued Jisung. He could imagine Minho's body moving gracefully to the rhythm of the music, and Jisung dreamed of seeing him dance.

“Yeah,” Minho said, his eyes lighting up. “I’ve always loved dancing. It’s a way to express myself, you know? What about you? Chan mentioned you’re into music producing?”

Jisung was surprised that Chan mentioned something about him in front of Minho. Of course, Chan did it. He had figured out that Jisung had a crush on Minho and maybe he put a good word about him. Perhaps that’s why Minho approached Jisung in the library, leading to them sitting next to each other in this café now. Jisung felt foolish for not realizing it earlier. However, what Jisung didn’t know was that Minho had been interested in him even before Chan could say anything, but that was, of course, a secret.

“Yeah, I’m majoring in music production. It's been a passion of mine since I was a kid,” Jisung confirmed with a smile. Then he decided to play the fool because he wanted to see how much Minho knew about him. “You know Chan?”

Minho nodded and took a sip of his ice americano. “He is one of my close friends.”

“Why did he mention me?” Jisung asked with pure curiosity.

For a second a slight trace of nervousness appeared on Minho’s face, but Jisung didn’t miss it. “He once mentioned that you, him and Changbin were, like, the best producing trio in university.”

That was right. After Felix had introduced Jisung to Chan, he met Changbin, who was a year older than Jisung and majored in music producing too. The three of them bonded pretty quickly and they often hung out together to discuss music and new songs.

Minho didn't reveal much about what Chan had said, so Jisung decided he'd ask Chan directly sometime.

“By the way, maybe we could collaborate sometime. I love making choreographies for songs made by cute producers,” Minho suggested with a smile, observing the way Jisung was taking a bite of his cheesecake.

"That would be amazing," Jisung replied, though his words were muffled by the cheesecake in his mouth and his cheeks getting red. "I’d love to see you dance to something I created."

Minho couldn’t help but find the sight of Jisung adorable. He really has squirrel cheeks.

“It’s a deal then.” Minho’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he sipped his drink.

As they talked, Jisung couldn’t help but notice the small details about Minho. The way his fingers gently stroked the cat in his lap, the fondness in his eyes as he glanced around the café, taking in the various cats lounging and playing. Jisung knew that Minho had three cats of his own, and seeing him interact with the café’s cats made Jisung’s heart swell with admiration.

“You really love cats, don’t you?” Jisung said, watching as Minho coaxed another cat to come closer.

Minho grinned, nodding. “Yeah, they’re just so pure and full of personality. Each one is different, and it’s fascinating to get to know them.”

Jisung’s heart was going to explode if this man continued being so fucking sweet and adorable. He felt like hugging, squeezing, kissing him… What if he fed Minho a slice of cheesecake? His lips would get even tastier than they already look. I should stop thinking about this.

“I don’t have pets, but I’ve always wanted a cat,” Jisung mentioned. They seem like such great companions.

Minho’s smile widened. “They are. Maybe someday you’ll get one. You’d make a great cat parent.”

Jisung blushed again, the compliment making his heart flutter. “Thanks. Maybe I’ll ask for some tips from you when that day comes.”

“Anytime,” Minho replied warmly.

The conversation flowed easily between them, moving from their studies and passions to lighter topics. Jisung mentioned his love for manga and webtoons, and Minho’s eyes lit up with excitement. They talked about their favorite ones, shared recommendations and discussed the best characters and story arcs. It wasn’t long before the topic shifted to anime, and they discovered even more common ground.

“This is amazing,” Jisung said, smiling widely. “I didn’t expect us to have so much in common.”

“Me neither,” Minho agreed, his smile just as wide. “But yapping with a great company is very nice.”

Jisung glanced at the time and sighed softly. “I guess we should probably wrap this up soon. But I’ve had a great time.”

“Me too,” Minho replied, who seemed disappointed at the thought of their time ending. “Maybe you’d let me to buy you cheesecake again?”

Jisung’s eyes sparkled with happiness. “I’d like that.”

As they left the café, Jisung couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement for what the future held. He had come in nervous and unsure, but he had already forgotten why he even felt like that in the first place.

“By the way,” Minho said, glancing at Jisung’s outfit as they stepped outside. “You really know how to pick an outfit. That tank top and jacket combo looks great on you.”

Jisung blushed, tugging at the hem of his tank top. “Actually, Felix picked it. My best friend.”

“Well, he has good taste,” Minho replied with a grin. “Hey, do you need a ride back to your dorm? I have a motorcycle.”

As if Jisung didn’t simp over Minho with that damn motorcycle every day. His heart skipped a beat.

“Really?” Jisung asked, his excitement barely contained. “That’s so cool!”

Minho chuckled. “So, this is a yes?”

Jisung nodded eagerly and Minho chuckled again, finding the younger boy’s reaction adorable. They walked beside each other towards the parking lot, where the older had parked his motorcycle earlier. Jisung tried to calm down his emotions. The sleek, black bike with its powerful engine had a certain allure, and now Jisung was getting the chance to ride with Minho.

“Hop on. I’ve got an extra helmet.” When Minho handed the helmet to Jisung, their fingers brushed against each other. Jisung felt butterflies in his stomach.

Jisung eagerly climbed onto the motorcycle, feeling the thrill of the moment. Minho helped him secure the helmet, and it felt intimate to Jisung in some kind of way.

As Minho started the engine, the powerful rumble sent a shiver of excitement down Jisung’s spine. He wrapped his arms around Minho’s waist, feeling the warmth of his body through his shirt. Jisung wanted to hug the older for the rest of his life – the man had that powerful aura that made the younger feel safe and secure. The motorcycle roared to life, and they sped off, the wind whipping past them.

The ride was everything Jisung had imagined and more. The city lights blurred into streaks of color as they weaved through traffic, the sense of speed and freedom intoxicating. Jisung felt a rush of adrenaline, his heart pounding in his chest. He had always dreamed of riding a motorcycle, and now he was living that dream with the person he admired most.

They pulled up in front of Jisung’s dorm, and he reluctantly let go of Minho, feeling the loss of warmth immediately. Jisung was almost disappointed that it ended so fast.

“That was amazing,” Jisung said, his voice breathless with excitement. “Thank you for the ride.”

“Everything for you, Squirrel Cheeks,” Minho replied with a smile. “If you need a professional motorcyclist, you know where to find me.”

A soft giggle left Jisung’s lips as his lips formed his typical gummy heart-shaped smile. That smile appeared on his face only when he was truly happy.

“By the way,” Jisung hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, “where do you live?”

Minho’s eyes softened. “I rent a small apartment nearby. It’s more spacious than a dorm room. My babies feel way more comfortable.”

“Your cats?” Jisung asked, confused.

“Yeah,” Minho clarified with a fond smile. “They need room to run around and play.”

Jisung’s heart melted at the thought. “That’s so sweet. I’d love to meet them someday.”

“You’re always welcome,” Minho said warmly. After a moment, he added jokingly. “I’m sure they will be happy to see a squirrel.”

“Hey, I’m not a squirrel!” Jisung pouted, even though he wasn’t mad at Minho for real. He simply couldn’t get mad at that man about anything.

“Whatever, you say Squirrel Cheeks,” Minho chuckled, reaching to poke the younger’s cheek. A pink blush spread all over Jisung’s cheeks immediately.

“See you soon, hyung.”

“See you soon, Jisungie.”

Minho offered a last smile before he rode off. Jisung stood there for a moment, letting the thrill of the evening wash over him. Everything felt so surreal, and he couldn’t help but look forward to their next meeting.

Jisung couldn’t stop thinking about his date with Minho as he walked into his dorm room. Felix, as always, was lounging on Jisung's bed, scrolling through his phone. The moment Jisung closed the door, Felix perked up, eager for details.

“So, how did it go?” Felix asked as soon as he saw Jisung. His eyes were shining with curiosity. Jisung could imagine that his best friend had been waiting all day to ask him a million questions about his date.

“It was amazing,” Jisung replied, a dreamy smile on his face. “Minho is incredible. We talked for hours, and we have so much in common,” He plopped down on his bed next to Felix, “And guess what? He gave me a ride on his motorcycle.”

Felix gasped and a wide grin appeared on his face. “Sungie, that’s a halfway to boyfriend status already! Damn, he should give you a ride on his dick as well-“

Jisung blushed furiously and grabbed a nearby pillow to hit his best friend. “Why did you say that?!”

“He gives off big dick energy, tho-”

“Shut up!”

“Okay, okay!” After Jisung stopped wanting to smother him with the pillow, Felix continued with his questions. “What else happened? Did he say anything about seeing you again?”

“Yeah, he did,” Jisung said, his cheeks turning pink. “He even offered to help me with music if I ever needed it. And, Lix, he even bought me cheesecake! CHEESECAKE!” Jisung wanted to jump with happiness.

“Husband material,” Felix declared, matching his best friend’s enthusiasm.

“Oh, by the way,” Felix suddenly remembered, “Chan mentioned something about a field trip. He’s invited us to his vacation house in the mountains next weekend.”

“That sounds fun,” Jisung replied, excited at the thought of a trip. “Who’s going?”

“Hyunjin and his younger brother Jeongin, you, and me,” Felix said, counting off on his fingers, “but Chan said he might invite more friends.”

“Do you think Minho will be there?” Jisung wondered.

“I don’t know,” Felix replied. “Chan didn’t give any more information. He did say he can drive us there in his car, though.”

“That’s so kind of him,” Jisung smiled, his excitement bubbling up. “It’ll be so fun! I’ve been needing a break from everything.”

Felix nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, it’ll be a great chance to relax and have some fun. Plus, I can be glued to Hyunjin for a whole weekend!”

“Maybe you can finally confess to him,” Jisung suggested, looking expectantly at his best friend.

The blond-haired boy sighed. "I'm afraid that if I confess my feelings, it will ruin our friendship. We've become really close over the past few months, and I'd rather stay friends than risk making things awkward because of my stupid emotions."

Jisung's heart broke at the sadness in his best friend’s tone. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around Felix in a warm hug. “Lixie, your feelings aren’t stupid. Even if things don’t work out with Hyunjin, you’ll find someone who loves you with their whole heart. If someone doesn’t see how amazing you are, they don’t deserve you.”

Felix wrapped his arms around Jisung's back and tightened the hug. “Sungie, you’re the best. Hell, I’d marry you if you weren’t such a bottom.“

“Hey!” Jisung pulled away from the hug and pouted exaggeratedly. “I can be a top too!”

“Say that to Minho.”

Jisung hit Felix with the pillow again.

The next week flew by quickly. Jisung was busy with his classes but still found time to hang out with his friends. He spent time with Chan and Changbin discussing a song they were working on, and eventually learned that Changbin was also invited on the trip. It turned out Chan was bringing his new boyfriend, who was a first-year student like Jisung and Felix.

Jisung tried to casually ask if Minho would be coming too, but when he saw his hyungs' sly smirks, he realized there was no point in hiding his crush on Minho.

“I invited him, but he wasn’t sure if he could make it,” Chan said.

“Did you tell him that… I would be there too?” Jisung asked, rubbing his neck and feeling shy.

“Of course,” Changbin replied instead of Chan. “Minho is very curious about you, after all.”

Jisung's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “He's curious about me? I thought it was just you guys telling him about me,” he said, gesturing towards his friends.

Chan and Changbin shared knowing glances. Then Chan explained, “One day, he asked us if you were the guy that helps us with music. It was all of a sudden and kind of strange. Minho usually doesn't care about other people's business.”

“More questions followed eventually,” Changbin added. “But he doesn't tell us anything about you two.”

“Are you guys... a thing?” Chan asked nervously, not wanting to pressure Jisung with questions since he already looked a bit flustered.

“I don’t know,” Jisung answered after a short pause. “We’re friends now, I think.”

Jisung himself wasn't sure what they were. People might think they were just close friends if it weren't for the constant flirting Minho did, which always made Jisung blush. But Jisung knew some people flirt with their friends as a joke. What if Minho was just being friendly? Jisung was bad at reading people he didn't know well, so there was a chance he was misinterpreting Minho's cheesy comments.

“I hope he comes,” Chan said, his lips curving into a teasing smirk as he patted Jisung's shoulder. “Maybe you can give him a kiss there.”

Jisung's cheeks quickly turned red, and he swatted Chan's hand away. “Hyung!”

“Hyung, don't tease him,” Changbin said, barely containing his laughter. “You'll be making out with Seungmin every chance you get! You have no right to make fun of Sungie for wanting one kiss.”

Chan rolled his eyes at the comment, but his ears turned slightly red at the thought of kissing his boyfriend.

“Chan hyung, you didn’t tell me anything about this Seungmin guy,” Jisung said, shifting the conversation towards Chan. “I’m offended.”

Chan had always been happy to help his friends with romantic issues, but he was shy when it came to his own love life. When he had a crush, he hid it very well, even from Changbin, who was with him 24/7. But there was no point in hiding anything now since Seungmin was going to meet all of Chan’s friends on the trip.

Jisung already knew that Seungmin was a first-year student like him. He was majoring in singing and, according to Chan, had the most angelic voice in the world. However, his personality wasn’t very angelic — at least not until you got to know him.

Since Chan met him, Seungmin had been nothing but sassy, always making sarcastic comments about how much of a grandpa Chan was. He acted like Chan’s affectionate gestures and the constant wish to take care of him was annoying. Honestly, Seungmin was a menace, but he had a caring side too, that made Chan’s heart melt. The younger boy didn’t let any feelings he had for Chan show, so the older was truly surprised when Seungmin confessed to him.

Honestly, Chan was never going to confess, so he was glad that Seungmin did.

“Wait, he was the one to confess?” Jisung's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“He can be very straightforward,” Chan explained, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“He really is,” Changbin confirmed with a nod.

“Anyway, I’m very happy for you, hyung,” Jisung said, beaming as he pulled Chan into a bear hug. “I wish you lots of happiness, love, kisses, sex—”

“Thanks, Sungie,” Chan interrupted, laughing as he wrapped his arms around Jisung’s back.

Jisung’s excitement was palpable as he squeezed Chan tighter. The warmth of the hug and the shared laughter filled the room, making it clear that Jisung truly cared for his hyung. Chan’s ears were still slightly red, but his genuine smile showed how much he appreciated the support.

Changbin chuckled at the scene, shaking his head in amusement. “Now it’s your turn to get your man, Jisungie.”

“I don’t see where your man is, though,” Jisung shot back as he pulled away from the hug.

“Nobody catches my eye,” Changbin simply explained.

“Die a virgin then.”

“Hey, I’m not a—”

“Oh, I have to go! Bye, Channie hyung, virgin-hyung!” And with that, Jisung grabbed his bag and left, leaving the room filled with only Chan’s laughter.

The weekend came quickly, and soon Jisung and Felix found themselves packing for the trip. Jisung he made sure to bring comfortable clothes, camping equipment and his guitar, just in case inspiration struck. Felix, meanwhile, was meticulously planning his outfits, hoping to impress Hyunjin.

As promised, Chan gave Jisung and Felix a ride to his vacation house. The group met early in the morning at the university parking lot. Felix and Jisung were already waiting when Chan pulled up in his car, along with a puppy-like looking boy seated in the passenger seat.

“Hey, guys!” Chan greeted them, rolling down the window. “Hop in!”

Jisung and Felix climbed into the back seat, greeting the new guy with curious smiles. Chan quickly introduced them.

“Guys, this is Seungmin, my boyfriend,” Chan said, glancing back at them with a proud smile. “Seungmin, this is Felix and Jisung.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Seungmin said, turning to face them.

“Nice to meet you too!” Felix said cheerfully. “We’ve heard almost nothing about you because he keeps everything a secret. I hope you are not as shy.”

“Oh, I’m not,” Seungmin flashed a teasing smile in Chan’s way.

As they settled into the drive, the conversation flowed easily. Seungmin’s sassy personality quickly became apparent, and he bonded with Felix and Jisung over their shared love of teasing Chan.

“So, Seungmin,” Felix began with a mischievous grin, “how do you handle Chan’s obsessive working habits?”

“Don’t remind me about it,” Seungmin pulled an annoyed expression. “I have to promise him cuddles every day in order to make him go to sleep.” Seungmin hit Chan’s thigh and the older only chuckled. “I didn’t agree on being an insomnia curer when I started dating you.”

Chan took his boyfriend’s hand in his and intertwined their fingers, only driving with one hand. “I promise to try to sleep better, sweetheart.”

“Don’t sweetheart me and fucking watch the road,” Seungmin huffed, but the tips of his ears were slightly red.

Jisung and Felix exchanged amused glances, holding back their laughter. For a moment Jisung imagined that it was him and Minho. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was kind of jealous, but he reminded himself he shouldn’t be because Chan deserves the best.

They soon reached their destination. Chan parked the car, and they all climbed out, taking in the sight of the house nestled in the mountains. The air was fresh, and the scenery was breathtaking. The house was surrounded by lush greenery and towering trees that created a serene and picturesque setting. The exterior was constructed from rustic logs, giving it a charming, cabin-like appearance that blended seamlessly with the natural surroundings. A wide porch was wrapped around the front and one side of the house, complete with a few rocking chairs and a swing, offering a perfect spot to relax and take in the breathtaking views of the mountains and forest.

“Let’s go inside,” Chan suggested, but Seungmin pulled him back by the arm.

“The keys, dumbass,” Seungmin said, placing the house keys in his boyfriend’s hand. “You forgot them this morning, but luckily I grabbed them.”

Chan grinned and took the keys from Seungmin, making sure their fingers lingered together a moment longer than necessary. Seungmin almost rolled his eyes in mock annoyance, though they both knew he enjoyed the affection more than he let on.

Jisung watched the scene and felt his nerves kicking in about his own love interest. What if Minho showed up? What if he became awkward around everyone else?

Before Jisung knew it, Chan had unlocked the front door, a sturdy wooden piece adorned with intricate carvings, and the group went inside. Jisung quickly followed, carrying all his luggage. Upon entering, he was greeted by a spacious living area with high, vaulted ceilings supported by exposed wooden beams. The room felt grand yet cozy, with large windows letting in natural light and offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. A stone fireplace dominated one wall, its mantel adorned with various knick-knacks and photos of Chan’s family. Plush sofas and armchairs were arranged around a large wooden coffee table in the center of the living room, and soft rugs covered the hardwood floors, adding an extra layer of comfort and warmth.

Jisung was captivated by the interior, but his interest was piqued when he saw Felix whispering something to Chan near the couch. Seungmin was nowhere to be seen, likely in another room. Chan listened intently to whatever Felix was saying.

While the two men talked, Jisung placed his luggage near the front door. Soon after, Chan disappeared somewhere, and Jisung approached his best friend, curiosity brimming. “What were you talking about with Chan hyung?”

“I asked him about the rooms here,” Felix began, making Jisung even more curious. “There are only four bedrooms, so two people will have to share a room.”

“You seemed secretive while asking about it, though,” Jisung said suspiciously. “Is there something else?”

A mischievous smirk crept onto Felix’s face, and his voice became quieter and more conspiratorial. “Well, since two people will share a room, why don’t I share one with Hyunjin?”

“You’re going to leave me alone?” Jisung gasped, pouting exaggeratedly. “I’m offended, Lee Felix.”

“Come on, you can share a room with Minho!”

“We don’t even know if he’s coming yet—”

Suddenly, the roar of an engine interrupted their conversation. They rushed to the porch just in time to see a black motorcycle pulling up beside Chan’s car. A motorcycle that Jisung knew really well.

Oh god.

“That must be your motorcyclist boy if I’m not mistaken,” Felix teased with a sly smirk as the biker parked and removed his helmet.

Minho looked hotter than ever in blue ripped jeans and a black leather jacket that emphasized his muscular figure. The simple black tank top underneath made Jisung experience a flood of not-so-simple emotions. A glimpse of Lee Minho’s chest was everything.

Jisung was too mesmerized by Minho’s striking appearance to notice that his crush had moved closer and wrapped an arm around his shoulders in a half hug.

“Hey, Squirrel Cheeks,” Minho greeted cheerfully, causing a small laugh to escape from beside them.

Felix couldn’t hold back his giggles at his best friend’s nickname, prompting Jisung to send him a death glare.

“Hi, Minho hyung,” Jisung greeted back, his tone not as enthusiastic as he wanted it to be. “This chicken right here is my so-called best friend, Felix.”

Minho let go of the hug, chuckling, and turned to Felix, who was struggling to stifle his laughter.

“Hi, I’m Felix. By the way, I’m a human being, not a chicken,” Felix introduced himself, reaching out to shake Minho’s hand. “I already know who you are. Jisung yaps a lot about you.”

Jisung felt an overwhelming urge to slap Felix for saying that. An amused smile spread on Minho’s face, followed by a knowing smirk.

“I bet he does.”

Jisung wanted to bury himself in the ground and disappear. The embarrassment turned his cheeks a light shade of red. Desperate to change the subject and get Felix away from Minho before his best friend could embarrass him further, he was saved by the sound of a car pulling up. Another vehicle parked in front of the house, and a long-haired tall guy, a slightly shorter one, and a short very buff guy stepped out.

“Hi, guys!” Hyunjin shouted excitedly, waving at the small group on the porch.

Hyunjin grabbed the hand of the boy who was slightly shorter than him and dragged him toward the house.

“This is my younger brother, Jeongin,” Hyunjin introduced the fox-like looking boy, who flashed everyone an adorable smile that could melt anyone’s heart.

“Hi everyone,” Jeongin greeted shyly, then turned specifically to Felix. “Hi, Lixie hyung.”

Felix didn’t waste a second before hugging Jeongin tightly, nearly crushing the boy’s lungs. “I missed you so much, Innie!”

“Okay, okay,” Jeongin tried to push the blond-haired boy away, though it was nearly impossible to escape Felix’s grip. “I get it, you work out a lot. Now let go of me.”

Felix chuckled and finally released Jeongin just as Changbin joined the group. He didn’t bother with greetings, instead directly addressing Minho with a smirk. “You came after all?”

“Do I look like a hologram to you?” Minho retorted, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“I knew you would be here,” Changbin replied, for some reason glancing briefly at Jisung.

Hyunjin suddenly interrupted the cryptic exchange between Minho and Changbin, clearly not understanding anything of what they said like half the people there. “I didn’t know you’re invited.”

The long-haired guy was surprised to see his biggest rival in dancing here because he completely forgot to acknowledge anyone’s presence much except his brother’s. Jeongin was stealing everyone’s attention honestly.

“Surprise,” Minho said with a smirk. “I didn’t come to beat your ass, don’t worry.”

“Then you came to get some ass.”

“I can’t deny that,” Minho replied, his smirk widening.

Jisung, puzzled by the whole conversation, glanced around trying to grasp the underlying meaning. Felix was quick-witted and perhaps more dirty-minded than his friend, nearly choked on air as he caught on.

“Should we go inside? It’s kind of cold out here,” Felix suggested, breaking the awkward tension and shifting the focus.

Everyone agreed and began to make their way inside, carrying their luggage. Jisung noticed Minho walking next to him, their shoulders brushing occasionally, which sent shivers down his spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

Once inside, the group gathered in the spacious living room, still taking in the cozy ambiance of the vacation house. Hyunjin, who had been unusually quiet for whole five minutes, finally spoke up.

“Where are Chan and Seungmin? I expected a house tour the moment I got here,” he said, looking around.

Almost on cue, the sound of muffled laughter and hurried footsteps came from one of the back rooms. Moments later, Chan and Seungmin appeared, both looking slightly disheveled. Seungmin's hair was tousled, Chan's shirt was partially untucked and they both had a blush on their cheeks.

“Finally decided to join us, lovebirds?” Changbin teased, raising an eyebrow.

Seungmin shot him a death glare as Chan tried to come up with an awful excuse. “We were just... unpacking.”

“Sure, unpacking,” Minho said with a smirk. “You might want to check your shirt, hyung.”

Seungmin’s face flushed a deeper red, but Chan just laughed it off, wrapping an arm around his boyfriend. “Alright, alright, let's show you guys your rooms.”

As Chan led the way upstairs, the group ascended a wooden staircase that creaked gently under their feet, adding to the rustic charm of the house. The upstairs hallway was lined with more wooden beams and featured a series of framed photographs, some of nature scenes and others of Chan and his family. The walls were painted a soft, earthy tone, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Soft light from vintage-style sconces cast a cozy glow, enhancing the cabin-like feel.

The hallway opened into a central area with a large window that provided a stunning view of the surrounding forest. The bedrooms branched off from this central point, each door a slightly different shade of wood.

“So, there are four bedrooms. We'll have to double up. Seungmin and I will take this room,” he said, pointing to the spacious master bedroom on the left.

Jeongin quickly announced his opinion that everyone could hear. “I don’t want to share a room with Hyunjin hyung. He snores and hogs the covers.”

Nobody could hold back their laughter as Hyunjin overdramatically gasped, feeling offended. “I don’t—”

“Hyunjin hyung can share a room with me,” Felix quickly interjected, earning a pleased smile from his crush.

“Jeongin can share a room with me. I don't snore, and I can keep him in check.” Changbin suggested, earning a hit from Hyunjin.

“I don’t fucking snore—”

“Fine by me,” Jeongin agreed as he interrupted his brother.

As the others moved towards their respective rooms, Jisung felt a nervous flutter in his stomach. That left him and Minho. He glanced at Minho, who seemed to be waiting for Jisung’s reaction.

“So, I guess it’s you and me, Sungie,” Minho said casually, though there was an undeniable glint in his eyes.

Jisung tried to hide his nervous excitement. “Yeah, looks like it.”

Chan showed them the door to the last room down the hall and gestured for them to enter. “Here you go, guys.”

Jisung and Minho stepped into their room. The bedroom was cozy and inviting, with a large window that overlooked the serene forest outside. A single king-sized bed dominated the space, made up with soft, plaid-patterned sheets and a thick, warm-looking quilt. The bed was flanked by rustic wooden nightstands, each with a small lamp that cast a soft, ambient light. A soft rug covered part of the wooden floor, adding an extra layer of comfort. There was a small wardrobe and a chest of drawers for their belongings.

Jisung felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as he set his luggage down by the wardrobe. Sharing a room with Minho was one thing, but sharing a bed was another level of intimacy he hadn't expected. His heart raced at the thought of being so close to Minho, especially when they would be trying to sleep.

Minho, noticing Jisung's hesitation, smiled reassuringly. “It's a cozy room. I think we'll be comfortable here.”

“Yeah, it's nice,” Jisung agreed, his voice slightly shaky. He tried to focus on unpacking, but his mind kept drifting to the idea of sharing a bed with Minho.

As they unpacked, Jisung couldn't help but steal glances at Minho. The older moved with an easy confidence like he wasn’t bothered at all that they were going to sleep next to each other. Maybe he didn’t give a damn about it because he didn’t like Jisung in that way. Perhaps, he saw Jisung only as a friend and friends often slept on the same bed, right? Jisung and Felix did it often in their dorm room. But this was different, Jisung had known Felix for ages and their connection was truly platonic. Jisung’s thoughts were getting louder and his overthinking was getting worse and worse like always—

Minho seemed to sense Jisung's unease. “Hey,” he said softly, placing a hand on Jisung's shoulder. “If you're uncomfortable with sharing the bed, I can sleep on the floor. It's not a big deal.”

How does he know what I’m thinking about?

Jisung shook his head quickly. “No, it's fine. We can share the bed. I don't want you to be uncomfortable.”

“Alright, if you're sure,” Minho's smile was warm and genuine. “And I don’t snore like some individuals in this house.”

A chuckle escaped Jisung’s mouth and a wide grin appeared on his face. “I don’t snore too. You’re safe.”

Soon they finished unpacking, and as they settled into their new space, Jisung found himself relaxing in Minho's presence, the initial tension melting away.

After they had unpacked and settled into their room, Jisung and Minho joined the others who were already downstairs. The living room was buzzing with energy as everyone discussed potential activities for the day. Chan, ever the leader, clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.

“How about we go for a hike? There are some beautiful trails around here, and it's a great way to explore the area,” the oldest suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Sounds like a plan,” Felix agreed, looking at Hyunjin with a smile. “What do you think, Hyunjin?”

Hyunjin nodded, though his expression was more reserved. “Yeah, I'm in.”

The group quickly agreed, and soon they were gathering their gear and heading out the door. The mountain air was crisp and refreshing, filling their lungs with every breath. The trailhead began just a short walk from the house, leading into a dense forest. Tall trees, their leaves a vibrant mix of green and gold, formed a canopy overhead, dappling the path with sunlight. The trail was well-trodden but still had an adventurous feel to it, winding through the forest and up gentle slopes.

As they hiked, the group spread out along the trail, falling into comfortable conversations. Jisung found himself walking next to Minho, feeling the familiar flutter of nerves in his stomach. The peacefulness of the forest was occasionally broken by the sound of birds chirping and the rustle of leaves underfoot.

“Look at that view,” Minho said, causing Jisung to look at a break in the trees where the landscape opened up to reveal a breathtaking vista of rolling hills and distant mountains. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds.

“It's beautiful,” Jisung agreed, his eyes wide with awe.

The squirrel-like boy didn’t notice that Minho wasn’t looking at the landscape, though. He was looking at Jisung.

As they continued, Hyunjin and Felix were chatting animatedly ahead of them, while Chan and Seungmin brought up the rear, hand in hand. Jeongin and Changbin walked together, discussing something in hushed tones.

At one point, the trail became steeper, and Jisung, who had always been a bit clumsy, found himself struggling to keep his balance. Just as he stumbled over a root, Hyunjin, who had noticed his struggle, couldn't resist making a sassy comment.

“Watch it, Jisung. You wouldn't want to slow us down more than you already are,” Hyunjin said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Before Jisung could respond, his foot caught on another root, and he went tumbling down the slope. He landed with a thud, wincing in pain as he clutched his ankle. The group halted immediately, concern flashing across their faces.

Minho was at his side in an instant, his expression dark with worry. “Are you okay, Sungie?” he asked, his voice soft but urgent.

“I... I think I twisted my ankle,” Jisung said, his voice trembling slightly with both pain and embarrassment.

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “Great, just great. Now we have to babysit.”

Felix sent Hyunjin a death glare because he couldn’t stand anyone insulting his best friend and he was confused why he was acting like that. Minho shot Hyunjin a fierce glare too because who dared to insult the cute squirrel boy? “Hyunjin, if you can't be helpful, just shut up,” he snapped, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a rare show of anger.

Hyunjin raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Minho's intensity, but he didn't say anything further.

Minho turned his attention back to Jisung, his eyes softening with concern. “Can you stand?” he asked gently.

Jisung nodded, though he wasn't sure. With Minho's support, he tried to put weight on his injured ankle but winced in pain. Minho quickly slipped an arm around Jisung's waist, supporting him.

“Here, lean on me,” Minho said, his voice soothing. “We'll take it slow.”

As they started to head back, Felix stepped forward, looking worried. “Do you need help?”

“We can all head back together,” Chan suggested.

Minho shook his head. “No, you guys continue. I'll take care of Jisung.”

The others hesitated, but seeing the determination in Minho's eyes, they reluctantly agreed and continued their hike. But Felix was away from Hyunjin now.

Minho helped Jisung back down the trail, their progress slow but steady. The forest seemed even more beautiful in the afternoon light, with the sun casting a warm glow through the trees. Despite the pain, Jisung couldn't help but feel a deep sense of comfort with Minho by his side.

Once they reached the house, Minho led Jisung to the porch and helped him sit down. “Wait here. I'll get the first aid kit,” Minho said before quickly disappearing inside.

He has a first aid kit?

Jisung took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Despite the embarrassment of falling, he felt a warm flutter in his chest from Minho's protectiveness. Moments later, Minho returned with the first aid kit and knelt in front of Jisung, carefully inspecting his ankle.

“It's not too bad,” Minho said reassuringly as he gently wrapped Jisung's ankle with a bandage. “You should rest for a bit, though.”

Jisung nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. “I'm sorry for causing trouble.”

Minho looked up, his expression serious. “Jisung, don't apologize. Accidents happen. We're all here to help each other.”

I’m here to help you, was what Jisung wanted to hear but he knew he was being delusional.

Minho carefully bandaged Jisung's ankle, his touch gentle and precise. Jisung watched him, feeling a mix of gratitude and confusion. The pain in his ankle was a dull throb now, but his mind was more focused on Hyunjin’s words from earlier.

“Hey, hyung?” Jisung began hesitantly, breaking the comfortable silence.

“What is it? Does it hurt, Sungie?” Minho looked up, concern in his eyes.

“No, no. It’s just… It’s about Hyunjin,” Jisung bit his lip, unsure of how to phrase his thoughts.

Hyunjin’s comments still lingered in the boy’s mind and the overthinker he was, Jisung wouldn’t be able to brush them off for a while. He really needed someone to share his thoughts with and here Minho was with his attentive and caring eyes. It was somehow easier for Jisung to open up to Minho and he couldn’t explain why. The older seemed to understand him in a way that nobody else could.

“He's never been this rude to me before. I mean, we were never super close, but Felix is really close to him,” Jisung started, his voice uncertain. He glanced away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Minho continued to work on the bandage, his brow furrowing slightly. “Yeah, Felix and Hyunjin seem pretty tight.”

Jisung nodded. “Felix has a crush on him, actually.” He let out a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. Felix would kill Jisung if he found out that he shared that information with Minho, but, well, the guy seemed trustworthy enough.

Minho raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at his lips. “Felix has a crush on Hyunjin? Awful taste.”

Jisung laughed, feeling a bit lighter. “I know, right? But really, Hyunjin has always been nice to me. I don't know why he's being mean now. I don’t get it.”

“He and I have a bit of a rivalry in our dance classes, you know. I always beat him, of course,” he said with a smirk.

Jisung couldn't help but smile at Minho's confidence. “Really?”

“Of couse,” Minho’s smirk widened. “You doubt me?”

“Never.”

“Yeah, well, he's annoying as hell sometimes,” Minho admitted, his eyes narrowing slightly. “He's so competitive. But I never thought he was mean. Just... overly confident, maybe. And to be honest, sometimes he’s too stupid to be genuinely mean.”

Jisung laughed lightly at Minho's comment. “You seem competitive to me too, though.”

“Yes, I am,” Minho confirmed. ”But I have more than one alive braincell in my skull.”

Anyone this confident could annoy Jisung, but when Minho was acting like that it made him even hotter if that even was possible. But it was true, Minho was actually really smart, and he was topping all his classes. Jisung never knew he would find intelligence that attractive. Or he just found everything about Minho attractive because there was nothing not to like in him.

“I still don’t get it why he was such an ass to me,” Jisung sighed.

Minho patted Jisung’s shoulder reassuringly. “Don't worry too much about Hyunjin. Focus on getting better. And if he keeps giving you a hard time, just let me know. I’ll put him in his place.”

Jisung smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. “Thanks, hyung. I appreciate it.”

As Minho finished bandaging Jisung's ankle, he looked up and grinned. “Anytime, Squirrel Cheeks. How about we go inside and find something to do? Maybe watch something?”

Jisung nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude and affection for Minho. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”

Minho helped Jisung inside, making sure he was comfortable on the couch before joining him. They settled in together, and Jisung immediately demanded to watch a new anime that had just come out. It was on Minho’s to-watch list too, so they didn’t waste any time deciding. As the vibrant colors of the anime filled the screen, Minho kept an arm around Jisung, occasionally brushing his hand against the younger's arm. The gentle contact was soothing, and Jisung felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and safety in the older boy’s presence. Despite the warmth of Minho’s gesture being slightly flustering, it felt domestic. It felt right.

Hours flew by in comfortable silence, the sound of the TV being the only noise in the spacious living room. Minho had brought snacks too, so Jisung wasn’t left hungry.

“Thank you, Minho hyung,” Jisung suddenly spoke up, glancing up at him with soft eyes. “For everything.”

Minho smiled down at him, his eyes warm and reassuring. “Don't mention it. I’m just keeping my baby safe.”

Jisung’s cheeks flushed instantly. If he wasn’t fully flustered before, he definitely was now. Did I hear that right? Jisung thought, unable to believe Minho had actually called him "baby." The older boy seemed to notice Jisung’s brief moment of stillness and asked with an innocent smile, “What?”

“Did you just call me baby?” Jisung felt even more embarrassed saying it out loud, his face heating up further.

“Yeah,” Minho replied casually, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the boy in his arms was on the verge of melting from embarrassment. “You got hurt, and I’m looking after you. Like a baby.”

“I’m not a baby,” Jisung pouted exaggeratedly, crossing his arms over his chest in mock defiance.

“Yes, you are. Baby,” Minho said with a teasing smirk, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“No!” Jisung protested.

“Do you want me to tickle you until you admit it?” Minho asked, already reaching towards Jisung’s tummy. He started tickling him without waiting for an answer.

Jisung burst into uncontrollable laughter, writhing on the couch. “Hyung! Stop!”

Minho just continued, his grin widening. “Admit you’re a baby then!”

“What are you two doing?”

Jisung and Minho were so caught up in their little own world that they didn’t even notice the front door unlocking or the sound of footsteps approaching. The rest of their friends had returned home from their hike, standing in the doorway with amused expressions as they took in the scene before them.

Minho pulled his hands away from Jisung as the others took all the available seats on the other sofa and the armchairs. Jisung hadn’t even noticed that it was already evening, and he realized with a start that he had spent the entire afternoon watching anime with Minho, snuggled up on the couch together. The group, having been outside all day, looked sweaty and exhausted, their faces flushed from exertion.

“Ugh, nothing,” Jisung replied, trying to sound nonchalant. Fortunately, the others were too tired to be suspicious of the scene they had walked in on.

Felix plopped down next to Jisung and quickly cuddled up to him, effectively stealing him from Minho. Jisung barely had time to react as Felix's arms wrapped around him, but he didn’t mind the warmth and affection of his best friend. Minho, on the other hand, seemed to momentarily sulk at the loss of physical contact with Jisung. His displeasure was evident on his face for just a second before his expression shifted back to a neutral mask.

“How is your ankle, Jisungie?” Felix asked with genuine concern in his voice, his eyes scanning Jisung’s leg carefully.

“I think it’s better,” Jisung replied with a reassuring smile. “Thanks to Minho hyung.”

Felix glanced over at Minho, gratitude shining in his eyes. “Thanks, hyung. We were all worried about him.”

Jisung glanced at Hyunjin who was sitting on one of the armchairs and seemed to have zoned out. He didn’t seem to be worried about Jisung’s well-being much. He was in deep thought about something.

Minho shrugged modestly, but there was a hint of pride in his gaze as he looked at Jisung. “It was nothing. I just wanted to make sure he was comfortable.”

Soon, the atmosphere grew warmer as everyone started sharing stories about the places they had seen and how much fun they had during the hike. Laughter and amusing conversations filled the room, but Jisung found it hard to focus on their tales. His attention was repeatedly drawn to Minho, stealing glances whenever he thought no one was looking. The way Minho’s eyes sparkled when he smiled made Jisung’s heart race.

Before he knew it, it was time for dinner, and somehow, Jisung found himself seated next to Minho at the table again. Throughout the meal, Minho would occasionally shift some of his own food onto Jisung’s plate and even peeled oranges for him. These were small things but they made Jisung’s heart flutter and he could tell he was falling harder and harder for that man.

After dinner, the group split up. Hyunjin, Felix, Jeongin, and Changbin were eager to play board games. Chan and Seungmin, however, claimed they were too “tired” and preferred to head to bed. Jisung, drained from the day and not particularly interested in social activities, decided to spend time in his room. Moreover, the idea of spending any time with Hyunjin didn't appeal to him tonight.

Minho, noticing Jisung’s lack of enthusiasm for the games, suggested keeping him company. He wasn’t in the mood for board games either. So, the two of them ended up in their room, lying on opposite sides of the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Minho had insisted on carrying Jisung up the stairs because “he shouldn’t walk with an injured ankle”. The older had placed him gently on the bed and lied down there himself. The silence between them was comfortable and Jisung felt that familiar feeling of safety in Minho’s presence. The younger felt a flicker of nervousness at the thought of sharing a bed with Minho tonight, but he had grown much more comfortable with Minho throughout the day that it didn’t bother him now that much.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from a bedside lamp casting gentle shadows on the walls. Jisung could feel the warmth radiating from Minho's side of the bed, making the moment even more intimate. The events of the day played in his mind, every little moment with Minho replaying like a cherished memory.

“So, did you enjoy the anime?” Minho’s voice broke the silence, soft and filled with curiosity.

Jisung turned his head slightly to look at Minho, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, it was really good. Thanks for watching it with me.”

The silence enveloped them once more, with their breathing being the only audible sound in the room. Jisung took advantage of the moment to shamelessly gaze at Minho’s side profile, analyzing every single feature of his face. Although he had done this before, he didn’t mind doing it again. Minho’s eyes were closed, his long eyelashes gently resting on his cheeks. The bridge of his pointy nose was perfectly sculpted, as if defined by the gods themselves, or so Jisung believed. Minho’s jawline was sharp and well-defined, a stark contrast to Jisung’s softer one.

Reflecting on it, Jisung realized that he and Minho had polar opposite features. Minho’s upper lip was fuller and more plump compared to his lower one, whereas Jisung’s lower lip was more prominent than his upper one. Jisung couldn’t help but wonder how Minho’s soft lips would feel against his own, imagining how perfectly they would fit together. He was irresistibly drawn to Minho’s lips, but he quickly looked away in embarrassment as Minho opened his eyes and turned to face him.

“Are you sleepy?” Minho asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Jisung, now far from feeling sleepy, struggled to hide his blush, still embarrassed that Minho had caught him staring. “Nope,” he replied, trying to sound casual.

“Me neither,” Minho said.

“Do you think Chan and Seungmin are asleep yet?” Jisung asked, voicing the first random thought that came to mind.

“No way,” Minho scoffed. ”I can hear Seungmin moaning from here.”

Jisung chuckled, though he couldn't deny that sounds could indeed be heard through the walls. “Do you have super hearing or something?”

“Got it from my cats,” Minho said, a smile forming on his lips, mirroring Jisung’s own.

Jisung couldn’t help but find Minho adorable when he smiled. In truth, he found everything about Minho adorable, but his smile brought a particular warmth and coziness to Jisung’s heart, making him fall even harder. Jisung was well aware that his feelings for Minho were getting stronger with each passing day, and he wanted something serious with him more and more.

Plans of confessing to Minho had already taken shape in Jisung’s mind, but he was too much of a coward to take action. He hadn’t known Minho for a long time, and there was a significant chance that Minho didn’t feel the same way. Moreover, they had formed a beautiful friendship in the short time they had known each other, and Jisung was terrified of losing that. It was ironic, considering he had found it ridiculous that Felix hadn’t confessed to Hyunjin yet for that very reason, and now Jisung had the same fear.

This was the first time Jisung had serious feelings for someone. What had started as mere attraction, just a silly crush like the ones he had in high school, had evolved into something much deeper in the short time he had come to know Minho. Minho wasn’t just a pretty face, although he was undeniably handsome. Jisung grew to love how caring Minho was, evident in the way he spoke about his cats or how he had taken care of Jisung when he hurt his leg earlier. Minho was a good and attentive listener, funny and charming with his quirky sense of humor. Jisung wanted to know everything about Minho, every little detail, no matter how small or insignificant. He could watch Minho doing nothing for hours and still find him fascinating.

The urge to learn more about Minho was overwhelming him so Jisung finally broke the silence with a casual question that had been on his mind for a while.

“Have you always liked dancing?” he asked. “What job do you plan to do?”

Minho was a bit surprised at the sudden change of topic, but his eyes lit up, and he began to speak with a passion that captivated Jisung. “I’ve loved dancing since I was a teenager. I used to watch dance practice videos of K-pop idols and try to learn some of their moves. I’d show off what I learned to my mom, and I told her I wanted to learn how to dance properly. She was supportive and signed me up for dance classes. By the end of high school, dancing had become my passion, so I chose it as my major in university. I want to become a choreographer.”

Jisung listened intently, captivated by Minho’s story. He admired how Minho’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke about dancing. Seeing how much Minho loved it made Jisung's heart swell with adoration. He couldn’t help but imagine how mesmerizing Minho would look while dancing, his body moving fluidly to the rhythm, muscles flexing, sweat glistening on his skin. He would look like this in bed while fuckin—

What the fuck am I thinking?

Jisung took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing mind, hoping Minho didn’t notice his sudden fluster. He forced a smile, hoping he looked cute. “You should show me your moves sometime.”

Minho chuckled, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Sure thing, Squirrel Cheeks.”

A pink blush crept onto Jisung’s cheeks, and he turned his head, hoping Minho wouldn’t see. Nobody had ever made him blush like this before. High school flirts had always seemed cheesy and embarrassing, but Minho’s effortless charm had him turning into a blushing mess. Just a smile from Minho could make Jisung get down on his knees.

“How did you decide to major in music production?” Minho asked, interrupting Jisung’s thoughts.

Jisung was always shy to open up about his passion of making music. He was a perfectionist who always wanted to do more and better. Jisung had been drawn to music since forever. He was more than happy when his parents bought him his first guitar when he was still a little kid. He took lessons, but when there was nothing more to learn, he began creating his own melodies. As a teenager, he wrote lyrics inspired by the sadness in his life and the movies, webtoons and fanfictions he was addicted to. Jisung was a lonely teenager — introverted and prone to overthinking — and he poured these feelings into his songs. Still, he wasn’t sure if he was good enough at doing this. Although Felix was always telling him that he was born to be a star, Jisung was unsure if his songs were good for real and if his best friend was lying to him to make him feel better. Despite his insecurities, he never gave up on his love for music, leading him to major in music production.

Minho listened attentively, giving his full attention to every word. Jisung didn’t notice the way the older gazed at him, like he was the most important person in the world, as he was too engrossed in sharing his story.

“Sungie,” Minho said softly, “your songs are amazing. You are amazing.”

Jisung turned to meet Minho’s eyes, pretending the compliment didn’t give him butterflies, though the red on his cheeks betrayed him. They were lying on the bed, the only sound in the room their breathing. Somehow, they had moved closer — either Minho had scooted over, or Jisung had done so unconsciously. They locked eyes for what felt like an eternity.

“But you haven’t even heard my songs,” Jisung pointed out.

“Play one for me,” Minho suggested with a smile. “That guitar over there is yours, right?”

Minho gestured towards the guitar placed in the corner of the room. Jisung’s guitar. He had brought it to play if he found inspiration at this place, but he wasn’t sure if he should have done it now. He was too shy to play his own songs in front of people, especially if the person was Minho.

“I’m not that good,” Jisung tried to excuse himself.

“Doesn’t matter. Play me something,” Minho coaxed, adding, “Please?”

Jisung sighed but couldn’t resist. He was surprised when Minho got up to bring the guitar to him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jisung took the guitar from Minho, their fingers brushing briefly. Minho made sure Jisung’s leg was comfortable before sitting beside him, his full attention on Jisung.

As Jisung finally started playing a soft melody, singing along, Minho watched him with rapt fascination. His voice was like honey — soft but strong. Minho seemed to be addicted to it by the way he was looking at the younger. Jisung was a natural, the chords and notes flowing effortlessly, filling the room with emotion as he was pouring his heart into the song. When he finished, he looked up to see Minho’s captivated expression. Minho didn’t speak for a few seconds, as if in a trance.

“You are truly incredible,” Minho finally said.

“You liked it?” Jisung asked, shyly avoiding eye contact.

“I loved it,” Minho declared without hesitation. “I really loved it. I’m not kidding.”

Butterflies erupted in Jisung’s stomach. He would honestly jump around and kick his feet in excitement if his crush wasn’t in the room. Hearing Minho say he loved his music made Jisung’s heart soar. He couldn’t help but break into a huge, heart-shaped smile.

“Thank you,” Jisung said. “It means a lot.”

“Don’t thank me. You’re just really talented.”

Jisung tried to stop blushing at every word Minho said, but he couldn’t help it. Minho sounded so sincere, like he meant every word.

“Thank you for taking care of me today,” Jisung said, gesturing to his twisted ankle.

“I’m going to take care of you tomorrow too,” Minho grinned. “And the day after tomorrow. And the day after that—”

Jisung giggled, his smile widening. “Yes, yes, I get it. Thank you, hyung.”

“Don’t mention it. I just like taking care of my baby.”

Jisung had no idea how it had come to this.

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a cozy, domestic glow across the room. Jisung felt the warmth of the sun's rays on his skin, making him want nothing more than to stay in bed for a few more hours. But the sun wasn’t the only source of warmth.

His eyes snapped open when he felt movement beside him. His heart leaped as he turned his head to see Minho lying next to him, their faces mere inches apart. Minho’s eyes were closed, and he was peacefully sleeping, his arm wrapped snugly around Jisung’s waist, pulling him in close. Their bodies were practically pressed together. Jisung could hear Minho’s deep, steady breathing and felt it against his neck.

Despite the initial rush of flustered embarrassment from their intimate position, Jisung’s heart calmed as he took in how angelic Minho looked. His hair was tousled in that charming morning way, his long eyelashes casting gentle shadows on his cheeks, and his plump lips looked incredibly kissable. Jisung was so absorbed in admiring Minho’s beauty that he didn’t even notice when the older boy’s eyes fluttered open. Minho blinked sleepily a few times before turning to look at Jisung, a warm smile spreading across his face that made Jisung’s heart melt.

“Hmm, morning,” Minho murmured, his voice raspy. So hot.

“Morning,” Jisung replied, smiling back.

Please, you didn’t see that I was staring at you, you didn’t see that I was staring—

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Minho asked, a mischievous grin forming on his lips. “Were you too busy admiring my face?”

Well, he definitely saw. Jisung’s cheeks darkened to a deeper shade of red, but he wasn’t about to let Minho tease him. “I didn’t want to disturb you. Besides, you were too busy cuddling me to wake up.”

Minho, apparently unaware that his arm was still around Jisung’s waist, was momentarily taken aback. But he quickly recovered, making no move to pull away. “What can I say? I’m a cuddly guy.”

Jisung couldn’t handle it. Minho was too adorable for this world, so much so that Jisung doubted if he was even real. The warm smile on Minho’s lips, the sparkle in his eyes, his messy hair — it was all making Jisung lose his shit. It was one of those moments again where they just gazed into each other’s eyes, face to face, body to body, so incredibly close... Jisung’s heart skipped a beat when Minho’s gaze dropped to his lips. He’s looking at my lips, oh my god—

Jisung barely registered that Minho’s face was inching closer, the older boy’s eyes closing as he neared Jisung’s lips. Jisung was going to lose his mind. He couldn’t believe Minho was actually going to kiss him—

Suddenly, the door burst open.

“Good morning, sunshine!”

Minho and Jisung sprang apart, as if they hadn't been inches away from kissing, when Felix barged into the room with a huge grin. Even Minho got flustered, the tips of his ears turning red. Jisung, already blushing, wanted both to die and kill his best friend for ruining the moment. Felix raised an eyebrow at their abrupt separation, his smile turning sly. Thankfully, he refrained from commenting on the situation, but Jisung knew Felix would pester him for details later.

“Oh, Minho, hey,” Felix greeted, attempting to act nonchalant about what he had just witnessed.

Jisung was definitely going to kill him.

“Haven’t you heard of knocking?” Jisung huffed, clearly irritated. “And what do you want?”

Felix smiled innocently as he announced that everyone was downstairs for breakfast and that Jisung and Minho were the only ones still in bed. As the good friend he was, Felix decided to come upstairs and wake them gently. But, it seemed they were already awake.

Minho was the first to regain his composure, politely thanking Felix for thinking of them and excusing himself to the bathroom, taking his clothes with him. Jisung’s hopes of seeing Minho change were dashed, and he knew it was entirely his friend’s fault. As Minho disappeared into the bathroom, Felix shut the door and plopped down on the bed beside Jisung.

“I have news, but I want all the details about what I saw two minutes ago first,” Felix declared, prompting Jisung to sigh and sit up.

“Long story short, he was just about to kiss me when your annoying ass decided to barge in,” Jisung said, glaring at his friend.

Jisung got up, knowing he needed to get dressed too. As he pulled on his usual oversized hoodie and baggy jeans, Felix continued to annoy him. “Oh, I’m sorry. But you could have chosen a more romantic moment to kiss him, you know? In bed before you’ve even brushed your teeth isn’t ideal. He’ll think your mouth smells bad—”

Jisung often wanted to hit his friend, but Felix was lucky he was loved so much. Felix eventually extracted all the details from Jisung about the previous night and that morning because they shared everything. Felix was genuinely happy and excited as he heard about the deep conversation with Minho, the song Jisung played for him, the morning cuddling, and the almost-kiss Felix had interrupted. At least he tried to reassure Jisung that Minho was head over heels for him since Jisung tended to overthink a lot. That didn’t calm down Jisung’s mind fully though and he was sure he was going to think about it during the whole day.

Jisung was fully dressed when he asked about the news Felix had mentioned. The smile that spread across Felix’s face was so bright it could blind.

“Last night, after we finished playing board games, Hyunjin stayed out on the porch,” Felix began. “I joined him, and we talked about random things. But I was still mad at him for how he treated you yesterday, so I asked him why he did it. We kind of argued because he didn’t want to tell me at first, but finally, he shouted that he was jealous of you. Turns out he’s liked me since we joined this year, but he thought I liked you. Can you imagine?”

It was a plot twist. Maybe Minho was right — Hyunjin was kind of stupid. But it boosted Jisung’s confidence to know someone was jealous of him. Still, his happiness for his closest friend outweighed his ego, and he nearly jumped on Felix, wrapping him in a tight hug which Felix returned. “Oh my god, that bitch finally confessed!”

Felix giggled and lightly slapped Jisung’s back. “Hey, don’t call my boyfriend a bitch.”

“Will he still be jealous of me?” Jisung asked.

“He felt embarrassed for being jealous when I told him you’re the last person I’d date.”

“Hey! I’m a catch, don’t you see it?” Jisung exclaimed, feeling offended.

“No, I don’t. But I guess Minho does,” Felix smirked. “Anyway, let’s go to breakfast because Chan will kill us if we miss it.”

Felix helped Jisung navigate the stairs, and they entered the rustic kitchen. The sun was already high, casting a gentle warmth over the room. The large table was filled with an assortment of breakfast foods, and everyone had gathered around, eager to start the day. Minho was already seated, wearing a cozy black sweater with a cat and the words "Cat Bless You" on it. If Jisung had better vision without his glasses, he would have noticed it.

There were two free seats – one between Minho and Hyunjin, and another across from Minho. Minho secretly hoped Jisung would sit next to him, but Jisung chose the seat across from him, missing the brief flash of disappointment on Minho’s face. Jisung made this choice partly because Felix hurried to sit next to his new boyfriend and partly because he felt shy about their almost-kiss that morning. He was unsure how to act around Minho now; they couldn’t just pretend nothing happened, could they?

As everyone started eating as if they hadn't seen food in days, Chan initiated the conversation. “Morning, everyone! Did you all sleep well?”

Jisung had indeed slept well in Minho’s arms.

Changbin, who had been quietly sipping his coffee, nodded and added, “Yeah, slept well. Though it sounded like you and Seungmin had quite the night.”

Jeongin raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. “Oh, I heard some noises from your room last night, Chan hyung. Seems like you two didn’t sleep much.”

Chan’s cheeks flushed as Seungmin shot Changbin and Jeongin a mock glare. Everyone burst into laughter, filling the room with casual chatter. They were all oblivious to the tension between Jisung and Minho. Maybe it was just in Jisung’s head, worrying about what would happen between them now. If only Felix hadn’t walked in on them earlier…

Felix seemed entirely unaware of his friend’s turmoil, his attention focused on Hyunjin. Sitting next to each other, their hands occasionally brushed as they passed the syrup and fruit. Felix leaned in, whispering something that made Hyunjin laugh softly and touch Felix’s arm. Their affection was clear, and although the others noticed, they didn’t comment.

Jisung was happy for Felix’s love life, but he felt especially single watching them be so lovey-dovey. He quietly stared at his plate, feeling awkward about eating when his mind was preoccupied with the memory of the almost-kiss. Every glance at Minho, sitting directly across from him, made his heart skip a beat. He felt a wave of embarrassment and anxiety. What if Minho thought it was a mistake? What if the moment was ruined forever? Jisung’s thoughts spun in circles, his nerves jangling with every sip of coffee and every bite of breakfast.

Jisung’s overthinking was interrupted when Chan announced their plans for the day. “We were thinking of going out today, but with Jisung’s twisted ankle, we didn’t want to leave him out. What do you all think?”

The last thing Jisung wanted was social interaction. He loved his friends but didn’t feel like talking to anyone after the situation with Minho. He wanted to understand what Minho meant that morning. Was it just an accident, a mistake, or did Minho have feelings for him too? Maybe, Jisung didn’t want to have too big hopes.

“Actually, I’d like you guys to go out. It’s fine, really. I don’t want to keep you from having fun,” Jisung spoke up, his voice soft but determined.

Chan hesitated, clearly reluctant. “Are you sure, Jisung? We don’t want to leave you alone.”

Chan was always like that – he had that fatherly figure and he cared for everyone even if they weren’t his friend. Jisung was thankful to this man for all the times he had helped him and that he cared for him now too. “Yeah, it’s okay. I’ll be fine here,” Jisung nodded, forcing a reassuring smile.

Minho, who had been to their conversation and quietly peeling an orange, finished the task and, with a small, gentle smile, slid the fruit across the table toward Jisung. His silent gesture spoke volumes more than words could have. Jisung’s heart fluttered at the kindness, but his nerves only intensified. The simple act made him feel even more vulnerable, his internal turmoil growing with each moment.

Chan glanced at Minho and then back at Jisung, noticing the exchange. “Alright, if you’re sure, we’ll go out. Minho, will you stay and take care of Jisung today?”

Minho nodded without hesitation. “Of course. I'm a professional squirrel caregiver.”

It seemed that Jisung wasn’t going to be alone with his thought like he intended to. Jisung’s heart soared at Minho’s readiness to stay behind with him, but his joy was tinged with anxiety. The knowledge that he would have Minho’s company for the day both excited and terrified him. What if the awkwardness lingered? What if Minho regretted staying?

Felix, sensing the shifting dynamics, cheerfully chimed in to change the subject, keeping the conversation light and engaging. “So, what should we do if we’re not going outside? Any ideas?”

Felix wasn’t worried for Jisung because he was sure that Minho was more than whipped for his friend. The attention, the care and the fact that they almost kissed spoke enough for his feelings for Jisung, so Felix wasn’t worried a bit that something might go wrong.

The group quickly moved on to discussing outdoor activities, their laughter and chatter gradually filling the room once more. But as they spoke, Jisung couldn’t shake the mix of emotions swirling within him. He glanced at Minho, who was already looking at him. Jisung felt butterflies in his tummy.

Despite his overthinking during breakfast, Minho quickly put Jisung at ease once their friends left. It was so easy to talk to him – all the tension that had been in Jisung’s mind vanished as the older started the conversation. They chatted about casual topics while sitting on the couch until Minho decided to go out. Although Jisung felt a bit disappointed at the thought of being left alone, he soon realized that Minho had no intention of staying away from him.

That's how Jisung found himself with his arms wrapped around Minho's shoulders from behind, hands clasped together in front of the older’s chest. Minho's arms supported Jisung's legs, his hands gently but firmly holding the younger's thighs. The squirrel boy clung tightly, his body pressed warmly against Minho’s back. The embrace was full of affection and intimacy that made Jisung’s heart flutter. The older had insisted on giving him a piggyback ride because of the twisted ankle. I'm a professional squirrel caregiver, Minho had said earlier, and now he was living up to his words.

Well, Jisung hadn’t expected that tagging along would mean being carried everywhere.

The fear of falling and making a fool of himself in front of his crush made him cling even tighter, unsure if his actions were even more embarrassing. Yet Minho didn’t seem to mind at all, so Jisung took the opportunity of secretly smelling the older’s gorgeous hair and intruding his personal space.

They wandered through an ethereal forest, where sun rays filtered through the branches and leaves, casting a soft, warm glow on their faces. Jisung rested his chin on Minho’s shoulder, marveling at how effortlessly the older carried him. The strength required to bear his weight with such ease left Jisung in awe. Minho’s muscular build was evident, and the poor squirrel boy would give anything to properly touch those muscles, though admitting this out loud felt too embarrassing.

The entire scene felt like a dream, the forest around them shimmering in the sunlight, making the scene even more fascinating. Jisung tightened his hold slightly, feeling the rhythm of Minho’s steady breathing and the warmth radiating from his body. This closeness was something he cherished deeply, a moment of pure affection and intimacy he would hold onto forever.

A comfortable silence enveloped them. Even Jisung didn’t feel awkward and his anxiety about their interrupted kiss in the morning had completely faded away. Yet, his mind still lingered on how soft Minho's lips looked up close, feeling a twinge of irritation toward his best friend for the untimely interruption. But right at that moment, so close to the man of his dreams and basking in his warmth — the same comforting warmth from their morning cuddles — everything felt magical. The forest around them, bathed in sunlight, seemed to amplify this sense of enchantment, making the closeness even more special.

Jisung lost track of time as he was carried along, until the sudden halt and a soft gasp from Minho broke the spell. Confused by the lack of movement, Jisung opened his eyes, curious about what had surprised the older. Before him lay a stunning lake, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the vibrant hues of the surrounding forest.

The lake was like a hidden gem, its surface shimmering with a gentle, mesmerizing glow. Ripples danced across the water, creating patterns that played with the light filtering through the trees. The water was so clear that smooth pebbles and lush underwater plants were visible beneath the surface. The air was fresh, carrying the subtle scent of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of the forest floor. It was a scene straight out of a fairy tale and Jisung was so mesmerized that he could only gasp too.

“Can we stay here for a while?” Jisung asked, his voice gentle and holding the admiration of the beauty of nature.

Minho nodded and carefully helped Jisung down from his back, ensuring he was seated safely on a fallen tree log. He made sure to be gentle, mindful of Jisung’s injured ankle. Once Jisung was settled, Minho sat beside him, the narrow log causing their thighs to press against each other.

Jisung was so captivated by the breathtaking view that he didn't immediately notice when Minho placed his hand over his own, softly caressing his knuckles with a tender thumb. The lake stretched out before them, its deep blue waters rich and inviting, reflecting the dense greenery and creating an almost otherworldly scene.

While Jisung was absorbed in the tranquil beauty of the lake, Minho's eyes never left the younger’s face. His gaze was intense yet soft, filled with unspoken emotions. Every glance conveyed the depth of his feelings, an affection so profound that words seemed unnecessary. The way Minho looked at Jisung was like a silent confession, a poetic expression of his admiration and love, that the younger didn’t seem to notice yet.

Jisung, drawn by an inexplicable pull, turned his gaze from the enchanting lake to find Minho's eyes fixed intently on him. For a moment, time seemed to pause, allowing Jisung to fully absorb the depth of that gaze. There was a warmth in Minho’s eyes, a gentle flame that spoke of a thousand unspoken feelings. They were filled with an emotion so raw and vivid that it felt as though it might overflow at any moment.

As Jisung’s eyes met Minho’s, he noticed the subtle shift in the older’s focus. Minho’s gaze flickered briefly to Jisung’s lips, a glance so fleeting and tender that it sent a shiver through the younger’s body. It was a familiar gesture, echoing the same desire that had been interrupted earlier. Caught in the depth of Minho’s stare, Jisung felt a shiver of anticipation run through him and his own gaze drifted down to the older’s lips.

His heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and a soft, fluttering excitement. As their faces inched closer, the world around them seemed to fade into a hazy blur, leaving only the two of them and the electric tension that bridged the space between their faces. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant murmur of the lake became a distant melody. The air between them seemed to crackle with energy, each moment stretching into eternity as they moved in sync.

When their lips finally met, it was as if time itself had stopped. The kiss was a tender exploration, a melding of warmth and softness that spoke of all the words they had yet to share. Jisung felt a rush of euphoria, a cascade of sensations that swept through him with a breathtaking intensity. Minho’s lips were as soft and gentle as he had imagined, each brush sending waves of comfort and joy. The kiss deepened, an unspoken promise woven into the delicate dance of their mouths.

In that single, perfect moment, Jisung’s heart was laid bare, exposed and vulnerable, yet entirely safe within Minho’s embrace. Every worry, every fear, was erased by the simple, profound connection of their kiss. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered emotion, where nothing else mattered but the shared warmth and the love that enveloped them.

When they finally pulled away for air, their eyes remained locked on each other. A deep blush spread across Jisung’s cheeks, and even Minho couldn’t escape the rosy hue that crept up his neck and tinged his ears. Jisung’s heart pounded loudly in his ears, his thoughts a chaotic swirl replaying the kiss over and over. He didn’t know what to say or how to react; his mind was a jumble of emotions.

“I wanted to do that earlier, but I guess it was more romantic this way,” Minho said, a huge grin spreading across his face.

Jisung could barely process the words Minho spoke, his mind too tangled to grasp their full meaning. He simply smiled, drawn to the sound of Minho’s voice. All he could think was, I'm such a fool for him.

Maybe it was the enchanting atmosphere or the presence of the person sitting so close, but Jisung found a surge of bravery within him. There wouldn’t be a better moment to confess the feelings that grew stronger every time he saw Minho, talked to him, felt their hands brush, or basked in his comforting warmth that always made him feel safe. His heart raced with both nervousness and excitement, but he was determined to reveal his true emotions.

“Minho hyung, I need to tell you something,” Jisung began, his voice trembling slightly.

Minho nodded, his encouraging smile suggesting he already had an assumption of what Jisung was about to say. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Jisung pressed on, despite his rapidly beating heart.

“Hyung, even before I officially met you in the library that day, I felt incredibly drawn to you. Although it hasn’t been long since then, I love spending time with you, talking about anything and everything, and watching all the cat videos you send me,” Jisung paused, searching Minho’s eyes for any sign of rejection. Instead, he found Minho’s smile growing wider, which gave him the courage to continue. “You’re so pretty, handsome, and charming, and— You probably know where I’m going with this, so I’ll stop beating around the bush. I like you a lot. I hope you feel the same because you tried to kiss me this morning and actually kissed me just now—”

Minho’s laughter rang out, echoing through the forest and interrupting Jisung’s rambling confession. Embarrassed, Jisung’s cheeks flushed a deeper red, and he lowered his head, misinterpreting the laughter as mockery. Minho probably saw him as nothing more than a friend and was amused by his foolishness. How could someone as wonderful as Minho have feelings for someone like him after all?

Seeing Jisung’s sulking expression, Minho quickly realized the misunderstanding. He gently placed a hand under Jisung’s chin, lifting it so their eyes met once more. “Squirrel Cheeks, stop talking. Haven’t I been obvious enough this whole time? I like you too, silly.”

Jisung’s heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of love and happiness the moment Minho confessed his feelings. It was as if the world had suddenly burst into vivid color, every detail sharper and more beautiful than before. A warm, comforting glow spread through his chest, erasing every doubt and fear he had harbored. Minho’s words echoed in his mind, a sweet melody that played over and over, filling him with an indescribable euphoria. He felt an uncontainable elation, a bliss that made his heart race and his smile widen uncontrollably.

But deciding to playfully prolong the moment, he pretended to pout. “You didn’t make it obvious enough. And then you laughed at me while I was confessing my feelings.”

Minho chuckled, shaking his head. He leaned in and gently kissed Jisung’s cheek, his lips lingering for a moment. “You’re cute when you yap a lot, you know that?”

The faux pout melted into a grin, eyes sparkling with joy. It was impossible to stay mad at the adorable human being that Minho was.

“So…” Jisung started, his grin turning cheeky. “What are we now?”

Minho scratched his head and looked thoughtfully at the sky, pretending to ponder the weighty question. “I think you’re my personal little squirrel. And I can be your silly boyfriend.”

Jisung chuckled softly, the sparkles in his eyes growing even brighter. “I think I like that idea.”

Minho’s smile bloomed even more, and Jisung could swear he saw stars in those eyes. God, he still couldn’t believe they were finally together, belonging to each other. He could now say to the whole world, to the whole universe that Minho was his and he was Minho’s. The thought made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

“Let’s go now,” Minho suddenly said, stepping in front of Jisung and bending to offer his back. “I need all your cuddles and kisses somewhere cozier. Like our bed. Or the couch.”

Without hesitation, Jisung wrapped his arms around Minho’s shoulders in a tight hug. The older lifted him up effortlessly, as if he were as light as a feather, and they headed towards the house to snuggle up close and enjoy their newfound relationship.

“Can they hear us?”

“Highly unlikely.”

After returning to the house, Jisung and Minho settled on one of the plush, comfortable couches in the living room. As they nestled together, sleep quickly overtook them. Minho leaned back against the headrest, his legs stretched out, while Jisung rested comfortably between his legs, his cheek pressed against Minho's chest. This is how their friends discovered them: intertwined, limbs entangled, sound asleep.

Not wanting to disturb the peaceful scene, the group hesitated. However, Felix’s curiosity got the better of him. “Wake up, baby boy!” he exclaimed, poking Jisung’s cheek repeatedly. Jisung stirred, clearly displeased at having his nap interrupted. Minho, sensing Jisung's movement, woke up as well, bewildered by the disruption.

“What the hell, Felix?!” Jisung whined, quickly slipping away from Minho’s embrace as he noticed their friends watching them with curious eyes.

Unwilling to let Jisung stray far, Minho tugged on his arm and pulled him back onto his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around Jisung’s waist. Jisung felt a twinge of shyness at this public display of affection, but was more surprised by his friends’ lack of surprise.

“You two are together?” Chan asked, a sly smirk playing on his lips, though pride was evident in his voice.

“Finally!” Felix exclaimed dramatically. “I was going to lose it if Jisung made one more comment about Minho’s motorcycle.”

“Hey!” Jisung pouted as his own best friend exposed him.

“Sungie, don’t be shy,” Minho said with a cheeky grin. “I noticed you staring at me every time I brought that motorcycle to university.”

The truth was, Minho rode his motorcycle to university every day, which gave him ample opportunity to catch Jisung’s admiring glances. And I thought I was being discreet, Jisung thought, the embarrassment manifesting as a pink blush on his cheeks. He hid his face in the crook of Minho’s neck, causing everyone to burst into uncontrollable laughter. Minho smiled fondly at Jisung’s cuteness, gently caressing his back.

“Alright, enough!” Minho’s voice cut through the laughter. “Stop laughing or I’ll put you all in the air fryer.”

The room fell silent immediately; no one dared to make a sound under Minho's intense glare.

Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, Minho softened and looked down at Jisung. "But seriously, you guys should know," he said, his voice full of affection. "We're not just together. This guy right here is mine and if anybody dares to hurt him or make him upset, they will have to deal with me,” Minho’s gaze was fixed on Hyunjin as he said the last few words, still uncertain about Hyunjin’s behavior yesterday.

Jisung, sensing the tension, placed a reassuring hand on Minho's cheek, guiding his boyfriend’s eyes back to his own. “Minho, it’s alright,” Jisung said softly. “Hyunjin was a jerk because of the dumbest reason, but he will die of embarrassment if I say it, so as the good person I am I will keep it a secret.”

Felix chuckled and gave his boyfriend a knowing look. “Yes, no need to say it,” Hyunjin mumbled, his cheeks tinged with pink.

Minho sighed, the tension slowly melting away as he glanced between Jisung and Hyunjin. “Alright,” he said, and glanced at Hyunjin. “I will trust you. For now.”

The room filled with the usual chatter and jokes as everyone settled around the couches and armchairs in the cozy living area. Minho tightened his embrace around Jisung, pulling him closer and whispering sweet nothings in his ear that made the younger blush more and more.

As they sat there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the rhythm of their hearts and the unspoken vows that bound them together. Jisung didn’t know how he was so lucky for a person like Minho to have feelings for him. Maybe it was delusional, but deep in Jisung’s mind, the two of them were meant to be together forever. Yet, what’s the problem with being delusional if you are in the arms of the person who feeds those delusions?

Jisung’s thoughts wandered to how Minho was always so caring and supportive, how he took an interest in Jisung’s hobbies and passions. He recalled the small acts of affection, the casual touches, the way Minho’s eyes sparkled whenever he looked at him. In those moments, Jisung felt truly seen, truly cherished.

He thought about the future, imagining a life where they continued to grow together, facing whatever challenges came their way. A life filled with laughter, shared dreams, and unbreakable bonds. It felt like a fairytale, but one that was grounded in the reality of their unwavering connection.

Minho’s playful voice interrupted Jisung’s musings. “You know, Sungie, you look even cuter when you’re lost in thought.”

Jisung grinned brightly, the warmth of Minho’s words enveloping him. “I’m just happy to be with you.”

Mirroring his boyfriend’s smile, Minho gently caressed Jisung’s hair. “How about we go on another cheesecake date next week? My treat.”

Jisung’s eyes lit up at the mention of his favorite dessert, his lips forming the most adorable gummy heart-shaped smile that made Minho’s heart swell. “You don’t even need to ask if cheesecake is involved.”

They both giggled, their eyes locked in a loving gaze. Jisung couldn’t wait to share that sweet cheesecake with his boyfriend and savor his kisses until their lips were red and swollen. In that moment, he knew there was nothing more perfect than this.

THE END