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You'd think with their chosen careers that those closest to them would be more understanding on why neither of them are currently in a long term relationship with anyone. Or any type of relationship for that matter.
"I told her that I don't have the time!" A wine tipsy Kibum exclaimed. "Who would want to wait around like that?" His face scrunched up on disbelief. "One minute I'm here and the next I'm out of the country. Even here I'm at studios, meetings and filming.It leaves almost no time to spend a significant amount with anyone to even get to know them."
"Told my mom the same thing." Minho leaned back against Kibum's couch feeling the effects of way too much wine.
His laugh came out a bit rough as he remembered his mom's words. "She said just to date another idol. That way they understand it all better."
Kibum snorted. "Sure." Drawing the word out. "That way you never see each other." Kibum's head tilted slightly to the side as he considered something. "You know you could probably date an actor or actress. They almost never leave the country. And their schedules are usually predictable."
Minho shoved him lightly with his arm that was next to his, making him sway a tiny bit. "Yah! Who's side are you on?!"
"Yours of course! I was just saying....", he trailed off a bit mulishly. Heaving a sigh of defeat he refilled both of their wine glasses.
They sat in silence sipping their glasses while a random variety show played. Neither truly interested in what was being shown. To caught up in their own heads.
Minho was busy. He couldn't imagine trying to make a relationship work right now. Plus he wasn't sure if he was even interested in settling down. Why couldn't his parents understand that? The public seemed to. Hell they had even dubbed Kibum his husband, called it a day and moved on.
He felt the widening of his eyes as he turned to stare at the side of his best friend's face. A crazy idea swirling around in his head ready to take shape.
"Kibummie......", He whispered, eyes blinking fast.
"Hmmmm?" Kibum turned his face to meet his. Whatever he saw on Minho's had him immediately shaking his head. "No."
"You don't even know what I'm going to say!" He would later deny how much he had whined those words.
"Don't need too. Whatever it is has that look." He mimics his facial expression back. "The, I haven't thought this through but I'm convinced it will work, look."
Minho makes a valiant effort to put on a laxed expression. Probably failing if Kibum's small huffs of laughter are to go by. Whatever. That's not what's important right now.
"I got the solution to our problem!"
Kibum eyes him doubtfully.
"Everyone always says we're an old married couple. Why not let them just believe that we are seeing each other for real? Problem solved!" Minho bounced a little in his spot, excited that he just came up with, in his personal opinion, a brilliant solution.
"Okaaayyy. No more wine for you." Kibum snatched the glass away.
______________
Completely sober Minho was in agreement with wine drunk Minho. Which meant that Kibum's stance on why it was a horrible idea didn't stand a chance. Once he set his mind to it there wasn't anything Minho couldn't overcome.
Which is why barely two weeks later Minho had taken Kibum home to his parents and reintroduced him as his boyfriend. His parents had been ecstatic about it. To have their son finally settling down? They would have accepted anyone. Though in their words they loved all the members but 'they just knew the two of them always had something special'.
Something that Kibum's parents seemed to echo when they called them later that night to tell them as well.
While it had taken both of them by surprise, of the easy acceptance and their parents 'seeing this coming', they were happy with the results.
"I can't believe that this is actually going to work." Kibum mentioned the next day as they rode together up the elevator to the meeting room.
They were back at the company building to discuss the up coming schedules and promotions that they all would be participating in.
Minho was feeling smug about it all. "I told you. It's foolproof." He said as they stepped out of the elevator.
"What's foolproof?" A curious voice came from their left.
"Jesus." Kibum swore as they both jumped at the unexpected interruption.
There stood Taemin with a disposable cup of coffee looking back and forth between him and Kibum. "Well? What's foolproof?"
"Nothing you need to worry about." Kibum answered and hurried to the meeting room. Minho and Taemin were hot on his heels as he entered, greeting Jinki.
Minho knew Taemin wouldn't be put off by that simple dismissiveness. If anything he would become more curious.
He greeted Jinki as he sat down in the empty, save for them, meeting room.
"They running late again?", he asks.
"Forget about them." Taemin took a seat opposite of his. "What's foolproof?"
Minho sighed as Kibum just rolled his eyes. "It's-"
"Is it about you two supposedly dating?" Jinki unexpectedly asks, looking very nonarchent about it.
It was Kibum's turn to let out a sigh. "How'd you know?"
"Your mom's sent it in the parent group chat. My mom called me to confirm." Jinki raised his brows. As Taemin nodded along. "I played along but an explanation would still be nice."
He exchanged glances with Kibum before they both relaxed into their chairs. "And if I told you we were serious?"
"We'd tell you we were happy for you." Taemin jumps in giving them a soft smile making Minho feel all warm before it was replaced with a Chester grin. "But you're not and we all know you would have told us first if you were."
Jinki nodded in agreement. "No dramatics from either of you before that kind of announcement? Impossible."
"We spend too much time together." Kibum mumbled. They all turned towards the door as they heard voices approach. "Dinner later?"
With agreement all around they tabled the discussion until they were alone once more.
___________
Once the waitress had left after delivering their food Taemin didn't waste a second in demanding an explanation.
"Weeeeell?" Drawing the word out as much as possible.
Minho looked towards Kibum who just shrugged and motioned towards him."Your idea. You explain." Already picking up his chopsticks to dig in.
All in all it wasn't a long explanation. Jinki and Taemin nodding along at the right points and making sympathetic noises at the mention of pressure to date. Amused by his ability to get Kibum to agree.
"It's perfect." Minho ended with a large bite of food. Swallowing it down before continuing, "We just continue as normal. Just take a few more pictures and call us hanging out as dates! Parents and all none the wiser and the two of us free of pressure. It's a win win."
Jinki and Taemin exchanged glances before Jinki spoke. "Are you both sure about this? I don't want either of you to get hurt."
"Oh hyung", Kibum's voice was full of fondness."What could go wrong?"
____________
A lot could go wrong, Minho had come to realize in the months to come.
Minho loved acting. Loved getting into a new role. Loved teasing Kibum. Loved doing it all at once.
Perhaps he had fallen into this too fast and too deep. Taken it too far?
Except it didn't feel like he did.
They spent more time together than ever. Minho loved to call them going out for dinner date nights. He loved that his phone was full of pictures of the two of them acting cute and complementary outfits. He brought Kibum a present for their 100th day together. Marked in his personal calendar as a good boyfriend would he told himself. He stood at his side and sat next to him at gatherings consistently. Put food on his plate when he noticed it was empty. All things he had done before but amped up. Choi Minho didn't do things halfway. If he was going to be Kibum's boyfriend, fake or not, he was going to be the best.
Now he gets a thrill out of it all. Knowing he's the one who gets to do all of that. That he wears the label of Kibum's boyfriend to everyone in their personal life except to their members.
The thrill however doesn't match the warmth that spreads through his chest when Kibum recuperates his actions. The gentle words and caring touches. When he talks on the phone with his family and tells them how good of a boyfriend Minho is. His smile when Minho does something he finds endearing.
Minho could go on and on.
And he does as he lays with his head in Jinki's lap. Letting his hyung run his fingers through his hair softly. A soothing rhythm to balance him.
Once he runs out of steam, they sit in silence as they take in everything he had said. Minho is content to wait until Jinki processes it all.
"Minho-ah,"Jinki says his name softly,"do you know what all of that means?"
Minho does.
He's not young or naive enough anymore to not know. But admitting it out loud?
He keeps silent.
Jinki seems to understand his unsaid words and continues the steady rhythm of his hands. Minho's eyes fall shut as he relaxes more into his lap.
He loses track of how long they stay there. His body feels heavy in the way it does after a good nap. Relaxed and unwilling to move.
"Perhaps it's time to call it."Jinki's whispers quietly."Before it's too late."
Minho feels his heart clench at the thought of 'breaking up' with Kibum.
He can't do it.
So he shakes his head and burrows deeper into Jinki's stomach.
Jinki's arms wrap around him as best they can.
"Oh Minho."
He sounds broken-hearted for him.
____________
The thing about realizing you've fallen in love with your fake boyfriend slash best friend is that you're constantly looking for double meanings.
When they go out on their now once a week 'dates',does Kibum get nervous too? Or is he always dressed impeccably and is Minho the only one who has changed his clothes a million times?
Does Kibum smile softer at him more than others when he places food on his plate?
When he says 'love you' ,when they part, does he mean it differently now? Is he saying it to Minho his friend or Minho his boyfriend?
Minho found himself stealing more moments. More of Kibum's time and attention. He wanted more.
He wanted this to be real.
Kibum never denied him his time or attention. He seemed to enjoy it. Happy to be there with him. It gave him hope that maybe he felt the same way.
But everytime he opens his mouth to confess, something comes up or he loses confidence and his confession gets put on the back burner.
So he holds on until they finally have a moment to themselves. Not what he had imagined for a confession but he was running out of options and Minho couldn't hold it in anymore.
They were the last ones in the practice room gathering their things slowly after saying goodbye to the others.
"A moment, Kibummie?" Minho catches his arm before he walks away.
"Course." He agrees. Minho watched his eyes rake over his face for a moment and confusion set in. "Something wrong, Ming?"
"There's something I want-", he shakes his head and corrects himself,-" need to tell you." Moving his hand from his arm down to capture Kibum's in his own, holding them between them. Looking Kibum in the eyes, "I can't keep pretending to be your fake boyfriend. I can't keep pretending that everything we do together doesn't mean anything to me. Not when I want it all to be real.I'm in love-"
"Stop." Kibum whispered, pulling his hand away and taking a step back. Looking at him with round eyes.
"Kibummie....", Minho said, his heart thundering in his ears. It felt as if it was moving too fast. Too loud. "Please..."
"I-", He shakes his head, "I need to think.. I need..."
Minho felt as if his heart had stopped. He nodded in reply afraid if he said anything it would come out choked up. Hurriedly made his way out of the room and then the building. Not stopping until he found himself standing in front of a familiar door.
He only had to wait a minute after knocking for the door to answer to a surprised looking Jinki.
"Minho? Did I forget something? I could have sworn I-", Jinki broke off as he finally took in Minho's expression. "Oh Minho-ah what happened?"
Minho let the tears he had been holding back fall as he is pulled into the room and to the couch. Burying his face into Jinki's chest as he sobs and feels his heart breaking.
______________
Minho felt as if he was the walking dead. He had spent the night on Jinki's couch crying out his heart to him. Falling asleep out of pure exhaustion.
He managed to pull himself awake and out of Jinki's with a text to him letting him know where he had gone. No need to wake him and worry him more.
Minho eyed his reflection in the elevator doors. Even in the murky reflection he could see that his eyes were swollen and his eyes red.
All he wanted was to retreat to his bed and stay there for the foreseeable future. He could wallow and mend his broken heart in peace.
It would just take time and perhapes distance.
Something he thought he never would want. Especially after the two years they had spent apart during their military days. He had swore never to let that much time pass again between them. Now he found himself wishing for it.
How could he continue on with their schedule and appearances and act like nothing has changed. How can he stand to be next to him and not wonder why he wasn't enough? Why couldn't he love him?
His thoughts were taking a dangerous turn and he could feel tears welling up again as he opened his door.
Barely pausing to kick off his shoes and hang up his coat. He stopped briefly in his kitchen for water and made a beeline for his room. Ready to call in quits on the day before it truly even started.
His breath caught in his throat as he turned on his light.
There in his bed lay a sleeping Kibum. It was a scene out of his dreams. Something he dreamed of. Coming home to Kibum. He thought his heart couldn't hurt even more but he guessed he was wrong.
Breathing deeply Minho came beside the bed, reaching out only hesitating a second before gently shaking Kibum awake.
He watched as he slowly came awake. As Kibum blinked and remembered where he was. He sprung up, "Minho! You're home!"
"Yeah..", Minho swallowed dryly, "What are you doing here?"
Kibum's facial expressions seemed to be warring with each other for it seemed to constantly shift before it settled on his classic determined look.
"I said I needed to think." Kibum repeated.
Minho didn't want to hear this twice. He forced his voice out as loud as he could but it came out as a barely there whisper."Kibum I can't take you rejecting me again. I know you care for me as a friend. And I-" , he breathed deeply, "-I promise I'll do my best not to make you feel uncomfortable. I just need-"
"Stop!", Kibum placed a hand over his mouth. "I'm not rejecting you. I wasn't rejecting you. I just needed a moment to think. I couldn't wrap my head around that you felt the same way. I just couldn't believe it."
Minho stared at him in the eyes as he slowly lowered himself down onto the bed. Kibum's hand falling away.He felt the hope swelling up in his chest."Don't. If you're just saying this to spare my feelings-", he choked out.
"Do you really think I'd ever do something like that?" Kibum asked imploringly. Minho knew he wouldn't.
He shook his head.
"You feel the same?" Minho's voice sounded small even to his ears. "Really?"
"Yes." Kibum sighed. "Always. I've been in love with you for years Minho. I never thought you'd feel the same. Convinced myself you'd never feel the same. Even during all of this. I figured it was probably going to be the only time I could call you mine and took it. So when you confessed I couldn't wrap my head around it. That's why I stopped you. My mind felt blank. Couldn't believe that it was true and happening after all these years. That's why I said I needed to think but I didn't realize that you took it as an actual rejection until you left. So I came here." He gestured around him at the place.
Minho's hands had inched closer and closer until he had Kimbum's in his. He squeezed them as tightly as his heart was feeling. "You've been here? All night? What about the kids?"
"Yeah all night." Kibum confessed shly. " I thought you'd come home at some point so I waited here. I called in a favor from Taemin to go get the kids."
"You're serious Kibum? You're a hundred percent serious about this? Us?" Minho asked, needing reassurance. "I don't think I could take another heartbreak."
"Oh Minho...", Kibum leaned to wrap his hands around to his face, gently framing it. Minho leaned into it. "I love you. I'm sure and if you'll have me I'd like to be your real boyfriend."
Minho tackled him back onto his bed. Hovering over him with a grin leaning down close. " You can't take it back. You love me."
Kibum let out small giggles as he shifted slightly to bring his arms around Minho's shoulders. " I love you." He said with one of his rare open expressions. Letting Minho see all of him. All of the love he had once so desperately been hoping for and now has. He leaned even closer.
"I love you Kibummie." Minho breathed against Kibum's lips before closing the gap finally.