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“Seungmin, you don't have to go if you're busy. I know the tournament is important to you”, Minho said for the third time that afternoon.
“Of course I have to go with you. I'm not going to leave you alone… not after what I heard”, Seungmin replied with a serious expression.
Minho rolled her eyes saying, “I already told you, you don't have to worry about that. You're my boyfriend.”
“That's the problem, Minho. I'm your boyfriend but there's another guy out there who says you're the prettiest girl, that you have smiley eyes and pretty lips”, Seungmin replied crossing his arms, his tone somewhat annoyed.
“And is he lying?” Minho asked, raising her eyebrow, more as a playful provocation.
“Huh?” Seungmin replied. “No, he's not lying but only I can say that” he concluded firmly.
Faced with the incessant, tender argument, Minho gave in. She agreed to let Seungmin accompany her to volunteer at the animal rescue centre that afternoon.
“Hyunjin was right, these siblings are so jealous… I wonder if Mr. Lee is like that too.” Minho thought to herself with a smile that showed she was enjoying the moment.
Minho and Seungmin had been dating for months, even longer than Hyunjin and Jisung but in all those months, Minho hadn't experienced a jealous Seungmin.
She had seen Jisung get jealous of Hyunjin but she didn't believe that like him, Seungmin was just as jealous or even a little more so, since her boyfriend seemed a bit more patient and calm than his older brother. However, it seemed she’d been wrong… even though she hadn't fully realized it yet.
When they arrived at the rescue centre, Seungmin looked everywhere as if trying to find Jungwoo, a boy he'd never actually seen before.
"Seungmin, stop!” Minho said, noticing his unease. "You don't even know who he is."
“Jisung gave me the guy's identifying marks. Someone handsome and with big eyes, that's what he said”, Seungmin replied still scanning the place.
Minho rolled her eyes and said, "Leave it. Besides, we came here for the animals not because you're jealous or want to make a scene. So keep that in mind, I'm warning you right now Lee Seungmin”, she finished this time seriously, pointing at him with her index finger.
"Okay", Seungmin snorted.
Once inside the center, Minho also scanned the area for Jungwoo without Seungmin noticing. She did this to find out if he was there and avoid any trouble but to her relief, there was no sign of Jungwoo; apparently he hadn't been volunteering that day.
That day, the tasks at the centre were divided into teams. The rescued animals were mostly dogs and cats, so there would be two teams to care for them. The number of volunteers was uneven, so one team would have one less volunteer.
The teams were drawn by lot; Seungmin was assigned to the team that would care for the dogs and Minho to the team that would care for the cats.
After the tasks were assigned and everyone took their places, they got to work. However, just at that moment one of the regular volunteers arrived and was assigned to the team with fewer members: the cat team.
The centre’s leader turned to Minho and said, "Minho, this is Jungwoo. He'll help you prepare the litter boxes for the cats."
Minho nodded without turning around, concentrating hard. “Okay.” she replied and finally turning to look at them, she realized who Jungwoo was.
"Oh…" she said hesitantly. "Hi..." she greeted embarrassedly.
Jungwoo blushed, mostly because of the embarrassment he'd felt last time but he still greeted her politely.
After that awkward moment, the two began cleaning and refilling the litter boxes. But when Jungwoo had the chance, he spoke to Minho.
"Excuse me, Minho-ssi..." Jungwoo began.
Minho turned to him, blinking a few times like when she's nervous but letting him know she was listening.
"I wonder if you heard what happened last time..." he continued.
Minho turned to the team taking care of the dogs and seeing that Seungmin was focused on helping bathe several Labradors, she decided to finally talk to Jungwoo.
"Yeah... I heard”, she replied simply.
"I... I'm sorry. I hope I didn't upset you when you found out", he said with a regretful tone.
“Don't worry, it was actually very kind of you, but as you know… I can't reciprocate”, Minho said firmly but kindly.
“Yes… I know that and I'm sorry for that too. I hope you haven't had any problems with your boyfriend”, Jungwoo said ducking his head.
“Oh, you have no idea” Minho thought but smiling she said “Not at all, don't worry about it.”
Before Jungwoo could finish the conversation, a voice behind them echoed.
“Are you finished?” the voice was deep.
Minho and Jungwoo turned around, surprised. It was Seungmin.
Minho stepped forward and tried to introduce them naturally. “Seungmin, this is…”
“I know who he is”, Seungmin said with an annoyed tone. “Big eyes and handsome”, he finished scanning the boy.
Minho laughed but seeing that Seungmin’s expression didn’t change, she grew a little uneasy so trying to ease the tension, she continued.
“Jungwoo, this is…” And before she could finish Seungmin replied, “Her boyfriend”, emphasizing the word ‘boyfriend’.
Jungwoo was aware of the situation so he extended a hand to shake his hand. But Seungmin, being the sulky person he is when he’s not thinking straight, just looked at his outstretched hand and didn’t react or even shake his hand. Jungwoo raised his eyebrows and simply lowered his hand.
“Hmm… I don't know how to say this but I…” Jungwoo said to Seungmin, “I'm sorry. I didn't know Minho-ssi had a boyfriend and if I had known, I wouldn't have done what I did” Jungwoo said seeing at Minho’s direction.
Seungmin, even angrier that the boy was bringing up the topic and looking at his girlfriend with those regretful, loving eyes, did something neither Minho nor Jungwoo could have imagined.
“What are Minho's cats called?” Seungmin asked simply.
“Huh?” Jungwoo asked, confused.
“Come on, Minho! Take out your phone. Show him your cats’ stickers and have him name each one”, Seungmin said seriously.
“Seungmin! What are you doing?” Minho asked confused.
“I didn't know Minho-ssi had cats…” Jungwoo scratched the back of his neck, somewhat perplexed.
“So if you didn't know that, tell me, how old is her mother?” he asked as a challenge.
“How would I know that?” Jungwoo asked worriedly.
Minho opened her eyes wide and said to Seungmin “Ya! Seungmin! What's wrong with you?”
“You say you like Minho but you don't even know the names of her cats OR HOW OLD HER MOTHER IS!” Seungmin said, disappointed.
Jungwoo didn't know what to say.
“Seungmin, shut up!” Minho yelled at him. “Let's go, let's get out of here!” she said, pushing him to walk.
“Sorry, he's not always this stupid” she said giving Jungwoo a small bow in apology. He didn't say anything, just watched them walk away.
Once they were out of the centre, Minho scolded Seungmin.
“What's wrong with you? I think I was clear when I asked you to behave. Why did you do that?” she asked angrily.
“And what was I supposed to do? Watch someone else try to win my girlfriend over?” he replied sulking.
“What are you talking about? He was just apologizing to me. Besides, what were those questions?” Minho questioned.
“Minho, those were the questions you asked me the first time I flirted with you”, Seungmin replied shrugging.
Minho laughed. She didn't remember because she'd probably asked those questions to get rid of him but Seungmin was persistent.
“The day I learned to tell your cats apart, you kissed me on the cheek” Seungmin told her. “Also, when I met your mom the first thing I asked her was her age… you know, just in case you asked me again”, he said blushing, realizing how silly and in love he sounded.
“And that’s why you’re my boyfriend” Minho said, arms crossed. “Only you know my cats’ names, only you know how to tell them apart”, she finished.
“I also know your mom’s age. Don’t forget that”, he added.
“You’re a fool…” Minho said, smiling at him. “A jealous fool. It seems Hyunjin was right when she said you and Jisung are the same.”
“But I’m more handsome”, Seungmin said.
“Jungwoo is handsome too tho”, Minho replied teasing him.
Seungmin looked at her with those furious eyes he'd had earlier, the same ones he'd looked at Jungwoo with. Minho laughed and giving in she said,
"Okay, you're more handsome… especially when you get jealous like that." Standing on her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on his lips and Seungmin reciprocated with another one.
As they walked away, Minho took his hand while warning him that this would be the first and last time he'd accompany her to the animal rescue centre anyway. Seungmin reluctantly agreed because he knew he'd messed up.