Archive of Our Own

"Why can’t you just stick to the plan?” Seungmin yells out of frustration, his eyes sending dagger to Minho who stands in the opposite room.

Minho scoffs, “Why do we have to plan everything? It’s not like your plan always works anyway.”

“Yes, but it’s more effective.”

“Are you kidding me? It’s just one grocery shopping, we won’t die out of starved just because we move it one fucking day! We can order take out.” Minho shots back.

“Well if you didn’t insist on going window shopping for the shoes that you won’t even buy, we wouldn’t need to order take out! Window shopping schedule is next weekend!”

Minho huffs, he’s ready to argue back before a tiny voice cuts him off.

“Okay fellas, that’s enough.”

Both Seungmin and Minho look around in horror, trying to find where the voice comes from. But there’s just the two of them, they didn’t live with anyone else.

“Uhm, down here.” The voice chirps happily. When the couple glance down to their couch, they scream in union.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!”

There, on their precious couch sat— what seems to be a teddy bear but on a puppy form— dangling its feet happily, blinking at them innocently.

“What are you?! And how do you even get here?” Minho, who now is hiding behind his boyfriend's tall figure, peek his head over Seungmin’s shoulder.

“The name is PuppyM, and maybe you shouldn’t let your window open while having a fight. The whole streets can hear your voice.”

The creature— PuppyM, leaned its body to the couch armrest. It waves its tiny paw as if gesturing to the couple to take a seat.

“What are you?” Minho repeats his question in horror, ignoring the fact that his whole neighborhood may be listening to their fight a couple minutes ago.

“That’s a rather offensive question don’t you think? You don’t just meet strangers and ask what are they.” PuppyM gives Minho a disapproving shake of head.

“Is this a dream?” Seungmin turned his face to Minho.

“I don’t think it’s possible to share the same weird dream.”

PuppyM snorted at the human's stupid question, he stared at them in a lazy manner before deciding to give them some answer.

“I’m a Pawcifist.”

The couple frown upon hearing PuppyM’s answer. “What’s that?” Seungmin asks, still trying to keep a respectful distance with the PuppyM.

“I’m a pacifist creature, my job is to help people find peace.”

“So, why are you here?” Minho can’t help but ask, earning yet another disapproving look from the creature.

“Didn’t you just fight?” PuppyM asked, eyebrows slightly raised.

“Yeah, well you’ve never been here before and we fought literally everyday. So, why now?” Minho gives the creature one challenging look after deciding that this puppy-plushie-like creature is harmless.

“Well your dumb neighbor somehow got their hands on a spell book and summoned me, but kicked me out with a scream because they thought they were summoning a demon. And since I’m a pacifist creature, I need to help people find their peace because the only way for me to get back to my realm is by finishing my duty.”

Minho watches as PuppyM jumps down their couch and skips to their kitchen as if it owns the apartment.

“Man, I’m starving.” The little creature mutters under its breath before jumping to the counter and starts rummaging through the food supply.

“How many people have you helped?” Minho walks slowly to sit on one of his bar stools, eyes never leaving PuppyM.

He could visibly see PuppyM tense for a moment before the creature put on his relaxed facade back on.

“You’re technically my first, I’m still a student. Summoning a pawcifist is really a simple spell, but your dumb neighbor manage to fuck it up and summon a student instead.”

Minho furrowed his brow, “So we have to put our relationship in the hands of someone who barely knows what they’re doing?”

Seungmin stands behind Minho, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend’s neck. His chin rests on top of Minho’s head, giving his boyfriend’s hair a quick kiss once Minho’s hands find his.

“Hey! I’m not that clueless, I know what I’m doing. In fact, I’m in my last year of school. So trust me, you’ll be in good hands.” PuppyM managed to look offended, he turned to look at Minho with its small paw on its hip.

“There’s cat food on the second drawer from your right.”

PuppyM eyes widen at Minho’s words, its face shows more offended expressions. “CAT FOOD? DO I LOOK LIKE A CAT TO YOU?”

Minho and Seungmin cringe at PuppyM’s loud voice, they watch as the creature jumps down from the counter and makes its way to the fridge. Muttering a chorus of swears and something like ‘stupid human’ along with some ‘disrespectful creature’ under its breath.

“Would you prefer dog food?” As soon as Minho’s question slipped out of his mouth, Seungmin’s hands came to cover his mouth.

“Oh my God, I’M NOT A PET!” The PuppyM yelled out of frustration, seeming ready to throw paws at any moment..

Minho laughs nervously, his grip tightening around Seungmin’s wrist. “Sorry…”

“Don’t mind him, we brought back left over fried rice from—”

Seungmin’s words got cut off with PuppyM shrieks, he watched in horror as Dori bit the poor pawcifist’s paw.

“Dori! No!” Seungmin ran forward to pry the cat off gently, making sure he didn’t accidentally pry PuppyM’s paw off its body.

PuppyM keep screaming even after Seungmin manage to pull the ball of fur out of his paw, it only stop after Seungmin brought Dori to the opposite of the room.

“Does it hurt? When Dori bites you or when someone… punch you?”

“Physically? No. Mentally, it was really offensive.”

Minho winced but didn’t move from his spot, his eyes following the tiny creature movement with curiosity. Watching PuppyM continue to rummage over his fridge and pulling out his orange juice.

“Can I have this?” PuppyM glanced over his shoulder to see Minho’s reaction.

“Sure.” 

PuppyM happily skips back to the couch, his tiny feet dangling over it while he sip on Minho’s orange juice. “So, about my proposition—“

“What proposition?” Minho huffs, eyes never leaving the pawcifist.

“About me being your couple therapy—”

“We’re not paying you.”

PuppyM seems annoyed having his words get cut off by Minho, but he only sighs and continues his sentence while sending Minho a pointed look.

“See it as a free trial. If I succeed and are able to go back to my realm then the next time you need my help, you’ll pay me.”

“And how are we supposed to reach you the next time?”

PuppyM rolled his eyes, “Not the point, was he always like this?” It turns its gaze to Minho.

“Yeah, him and all his logic bullshit. Don’t mind him, please continue.”

“So, we start tomorrow?”

Minho and Seungmin exchange looks before Seungmin shrugs his shoulders in defeat. “Yeah, why not.”

“Morning.” Minho mumbled, burying his face deeper on Seungmin’s neck. He felt a soft caress on his back and a peck on his head.

“Morning.” Seungmin’s raspy voice filled his ears.

“What day is it?” 

“Couple therapy day.”

“Oh fuck that.” Minho grumbled, refusing to get up as he tightened his arms on Seungmin’s waist.

Seungmin chuckled, patting his lover’s head. “I believe our therapist is waiting with his tail wagging on our sofa.”

“It could wait longer.”

“No it couldn’t.” A small voice chipped behind the door making Minho groans in annoyance.

“I could hear you, you know.” The voice continued with a slight bang on their bedroom door.

Minho let Seungmin pull him up and walk him through the bathroom door, he grasped Seungmin arms. “Join me in the shower?” He batted his eyelash.

“Sex isn’t always the answer!” Another bang makes Minho almost lose his shit.

Seungmin laughs and caresses his head softly, “You heard the therapist, go wash up baby.”

Minho swears he’s going to choke the creature to death for taking away his favorite morning routine, but he complies with a grunts. Fine, if this is what Seungmin wants then he’ll entertain the idea of letting a puppy plushie act as their personal couple therapy.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee welcomes him the moment he steps into the kitchen, the soft hums of Seungmin’s voice fill out his ear giving him a sense of safety knowing his boyfriend is still here. There was a close moment where Seungmin almost left their apartment after a big argument, and he can’t bear the thought of being alone without Seungmin on his side.

Minho knows that it was partly his fault and all the arguments have been a long time coming, 3 years is a pretty long time but maybe not long enough for the both of them to navigate through the change of their friend to lovers dynamic. Things that usually were not a big problem now seem to matter more since they aren’t just friends but rather a partner, maybe his mistakes were a bit more crucial now. But there are times where Minho thinks Seungmin is making a big deal out of it.

“Hi baby.” Seungmin gives Minho’s cheeks a peck. “Get started on breakfast okay? I’ll take a shower, then we could talk during breakfast.”

Minho grunts just to be difficult, he starts on breakfast right away trying to ignore PuppyM who’s peeking from the couch.

“Can I help?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Minho didn’t need to turn around to feel PuppyM’s pout.

“I don’t think your paws could hold a pan.” His answer earned him a scoff from the fluffy creature. “Unbelieveable.” He heard the creature’s mutter.

“I gotta ask, did you always react to his affection that way?”

Minho frowned upon hearing PuppyM’s question, “What do you mean?”

“Well, you act as if you didn’t enjoy his affection. Did you really feel that way? Did you want him to actually stop giving you his affection?”

Minho stops on his track to the fridge. Did he always react that way? But that’s— that’s just the way he reacts to any affection at all, right? It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy it, Seungmin knows that right? 

“I don’t understand what you mean, that’s just how we show affection to each other.”

“But have you ever wondered, maybe he wants you to be a little more… affectionate?”

Right, maybe? But Seungmin would tell him if that’s the case, he’s not the type to dwell on his head if something didn’t go the way he wanted. At least that’s the Seungmin that he knows. Besides, why does he have to let this strange creature-that-he-met-not-even-for-a-day-whose the very existence he’s not even sure isn’t just a figment of his imagination words affect him. Minho knows his boyfriend better than this PuppyM thingy.

“He would tell me himself if he feels that way.” It was a weak answer, one that he’s not even sure he believe it. “He tells me everything.”

“How long have you been dating?”

“So nosy.” Minho let out another grunts. “Almost 4 years I think? But we’ve known each other our whole life, he tells me everything.” Minho repeats his sentence, wishing he would start to believe it himself.

PuppyM chuckles upon hearing Minho’s answer, “A friend to lover then?”

“You could say that.”

“But it’s different now, no? Something that you could tell your friend easily, is different once you’re supposed to say it to your lover.”

Why does this creature have to say something that actually makes sense? Minho starts to despise him more now that he’s pointing out something he refuses to acknowledge. 

“You’re sitting on a different level of priority now my friend, you’re not just his best friend anymore. You rant about your boyfriend to your best friend, about the things that bothers you but you feel like it’s not worth fighting over. But now… you’re the boyfriend.”

“Fuck!” Minho hissed the moment his thumb accidentally touched the pan, Seungmin who just stepped out of their bedroom run over to help his boyfriend. Gently guiding Minho to the sink.

"Be careful baby.” He pulled Minho’s thumb under the running water, Minho glanced at him helplessly. “You still see it right?” He glance over to where PuppyM standing smugly behind the counter earning a soft chuckles from Seungmin.

“Yes, baby. It’s not just you, I saw it too.”

“Damn it!” Minho cursed under his breath.

“Behave, we don’t want him burning the whole kitchen down now, are we?” Seungmin lightly scolds PuppyM. “Minho is like a cat, you need to be gentle with him. You can’t just drop a bomb on him, what did you say to him?”

PuppyM’s smile grew wider hearing Seungmin’s words, staring at Minho as if telling him ‘I told you so.’

Okay, maybe the plushies’s right. Seungmin might start holding himself back with Minho, should he start doing the same thing? 

“Perfect, there’s so many things we should talk about. Can't wait for breakfast.” 

Minho wanted to throw the hot pan to PuppyM’s head.

“I’ll finish it, go sit with PuppyM.”

Minho’s pupils dilated listening to Seungmin’s request. “You hated me that much?!” He whines making Seungmin let out another chuckle. “Fine, you can cling to me while I try not to burn our apartment down.”

Minho let Seungmin take care of his thumbs before finishing their breakfast, not once does he leave Seungmin's side. Throwing dirty looks at PuppyM every now and then, earning an evil laugh from the creature.

Even after they’re sitting on the dining table for breakfast, he pulls his chair closer to Seungmin. 

“Thank you for the food.” Minho scoffs at PuppyM polite words, the demon in disguise won’t fool him. He hates that Seungmin seems to be fond of the said demon.

“So, what’s the backstory?” PuppyM asks after 5 minutes of silence.

Seungmin cleared his throat before answering, “The cliche childhood friends to lovers, we’ve known each other our whole life basically. Started dating at the beginning of our university year and moved in after a year of dating, and now here we are.”

PuppyM nods its head listening to Seungmin’s story, it took another bite before starting to speak. “And after almost 4 years of relationship, what’s the things that change the most from the best friend dynamic?” 

“Hmm… do you want to answer first?” Seungmin glances at Minho, he shakes his head gesturing for Seungmin to go ahead and answer the question. “Nothing much I guess? Maybe, now that he’s my boyfriend, I need to be more thoughtful about the things that I said to him and be more gentle with the way I handle him. I’m starting to find out the things that usually didn’t bother me when we were friends are now starting to bother me more?”

“Like what?” PuppyM asked.

“When he’s being so closed off about his emotions and feelings? As a friend, I used to have no problem with letting him disappear for a certain period of time to deal with his internal turmoil of emotions. But now that he’s my boyfriend, every time he does that it kinda makes me feel like I’m not a good boyfriend. I can't even give him a safe space where he feels comfortable venting out to me about what he’s feeling.” 

Seungmin took another bite before continuing his rant. “It was quite a struggle at first, we fought a lot more at the beginning of our relationship. That’s when I realized I need to be more gentle with him, he’s not just my childhood neighbor anymore, he’s my boyfriend. I can’t just argue with him every time we have different opinions on things, it would only make him shut me out even more. But even after I try to be more thoughtful with my words and be more gentle with my approach, he still has those walls up. That’s when I started to feel like maybe I’m a bad boyfriend since he still closes himself off whenever he feels overwhelmed with his emotions.”

PuppyM hums in acknowledgement, “That’s fair, now what do you think about all this Minho?”

Minho chokes on his food, Seungmin nudges his water towards him. “I– what?”

PuppyM raised his eyebrows, urging Minho to answer his question. 

“Uhm… sorry, I guess? You know I’m not really good with my emotions, I just don’t want to dump it on you and say the wrong things and make everything worse.” He whined, Seungmin snorted at that. “And you think it’s better to leave me questioning myself, wondering what I did wrong every time you closed off and came back as if nothing happened?” 

Minho glared at Seungmin, “I thought you know me enough by now to know that I only need to sort my emotions out so I won’t say the wrong thing, we’ve known each other our whole life, Seungmin. Do I really need to spell it out for you every single time?”

“How am I supposed to know if you never told me anything? Even before we started dating, you never said anything. It was fine while we were friends, but now that you’re my boyfriend I want you to tell me what you’re actually feeling. Not just sort it out yourself and forgive me once the anger fades, tell me what you want, what I did wrong. Talk to me.”

“It’s nothing! It’s always a small fight, one that I feel like it wasn’t worth arguing over enough. I barely remember what the fight’s all about the next day, I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.”

“You didn’t make a deal out of it at all! You always make the decision by yourself, what about me? Are you dating me or yourself? It’s always important when it comes to your well being, if I did anything that makes you uncomfortable, no matter how small it is, I want to know! I want us to compromise, I don’t want our relationship to be good only for me. I thought you know me enough by now to know how much this kind of thing bothers me!” Seungmin started to raise his voice in frustration while Minho’s eyebrows furrowed deeper on each word that came out of Seungmin’s mouth.

“Okay guys, calm down. Take a sip of your water, take another bite off your eggs. Let’s not get carried away with our emotions.” PuppyM chirped casually, it finished off his eggs while watching its ‘patients’ glaring at each other.

“I’m calm!” Seungmin and Minho yelled at the same time. 

“Uhuh…” PuppyM nods his head in agreement. “That’s good then.”

“So, you were saying that our fight doesn’t even bother you?”

“That’s not what I said! You’re always drawing your own conclusion–”

“Because you never tell me anything! I need to come up with my own conclusion!”

“Guys remember, this is supposed to be a cool headed conversation–”

“It is!” PuppyM shut his mouth after the pair yelled at it, PuppyM took a sip out of its glass.

“You know what, I have a dance practice in an hour. We’ll talk after that.”

Seungmin rolled his eyes in annoyance, “Oh now you have a dance practice.”

“I put it on my calendar just like how you ask! Check it.”

“See, this is always what he does whenever he’s being confronted about his emotions. This is exactly how he closes off.”

Minho scoffs at that, “Do you want to talk to my instructor?”

“Why do I have to be the one that talks to him? Why didn’t you own up to your problem and tell him that–”

“That what? I couldn’t come to practice because I’m arguing with my boyfriend?”

“You know what? Just go, that’s what you're good at right? Avoiding confrontation.” Seungmin chewed his eggs harshly, shoulders tensing.

“You’re acting like a child–”

“What the actual fuck Minho?” Minho bites his lips, shit. Pulse starts to pick up as he sends Seungmin a pleading look. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it like that– see, this is why I need to cool down, this is what I meant with I don’t want to say the wrong thing–”

Minho’s phone rings, cutting him off, flashing Hyunjin’s-one of his dance crew-name. “Just go, we’ll talk later.” Seungmin said, avoiding eye contact. Minho is torn, he doesn’t want to leave on a bad term, but he’s already late for the dance practice.

“Baby, I’m sorry–” Minho tried to apologize.

“We’ll talk later.” Seungmin said sternly.

Minho took a deep breath before pecking his boyfriend's cheeks and left to get ready with a heavy heart.

“Well, that was… interesting.” 

Seungmin snapped his gaze to PuppyM, the pawcifist currently sipping on his water while maintaining their eye contact, refusing to back down from Seungmin’s annoyed gaze.

The silent war lasts for another 10 minutes even when Minho rushes past them to the door.

“Don’t forget the coffee, it’s on the kitchen aisle!” Seungmin yelled without breaking eye contact, they could hear Minho muttering curses under his breath followed by a clashing sound of something falling to the ground.

“Thank you, I love you!” Minho runs towards Seungmin, pecking his lips in a hurry forcing the taller man to break his silent war with PuppyM before rushing back to the door and slamming it shut behind him.

“You didn’t say it back.” PuppyM pointed out.

“He’s in a rush, he won’t hear it.” Seungmin mutters, he glances away avoiding PuppyM’s intense gaze.

“Does it matter?”

Seungmin pauses for a beat before nodding, “He knows I love him.”

“Do you?” PuppyM leans back on his chair, challenging Seungmin.

Seungmin snapped his gaze back to the Pawcifist. “What the fuck? Of course I do! He rarely says it, I doubt he would say it first if I wasn’t mad at him earlier.”

 “So, it’s like a competition?”

“What are you even talking about?” PuppyM raises his eyebrows upon Seungmin’s question, making him exhale before continuing quietly. “I guess, it was a petty move. Sometimes I wonder whether he loves me as much as I love him or did I just give him too much credit.”

“You’ve known him your whole life, you know he’s not really good with emotions. So, tell me, do you think he didn’t love you as much as you love him or did he just being the usual emotionally constipated asshole that he is.” PuppyM took another sip of his water before asking another question. “Have you ever talked to him about this?” Seungmin snorts at its question.

“Yeah, good luck talking to him about feelings.”

PuppyM furrowed its eyebrows, “Should we tie him up?”

Seungmin choked on his own drink, shaking his head. “I’m not tying my boyfriend outside the bedroom.”

“We can tie him up wherever you want.” 

Seungmin gives PuppyM a pointed look. “Oh… that’s-okay, nevermind.” PuppyM gape once the realization hit its brain.

“Yeah.” Seungmin nodded solemnly, “Well, I’m going to work on my assignments. Shout if you need anything, okay?”

“How am I supposed to entertain myself?” PuppyM protested as Seungmin got up to clear the table.

“Play with the cats.”

“I’m not a pet!” PuppyM yells watching Seungmin move to the sink to do the dishes.

“I’m not a pet, but I play with them a lot. They’re good company.”

“They tried to eat me!”

“That’s their love language, just like their owner.”

PuppyM tsk in annoyance, “Emotionally constipated beast.” it muttered under its breath.

“I’m home!” Minho shouts as he walks in, his eyes scan the room to search for his boyfriend.

“He’s out.” Tiny voice chirped startling Minho, he cursed under his breath once his gaze met with PuppyM amused expression. “Oh.” He nods before walking to his bedroom.

“You’re not going to ask where or how long he’ll be out?” Minho exhales slowly listening to PuppyM’s question.

“He’s a free man, he can go wherever he wants without me breathing down his neck about it.” Minho answered nonchalantly.

“But he’s your boyfriend.”

“Exactly, his boyfriend and not his mother. He’s not obliged to report to me.”

PuppyM squinting its eyes at Minho. “Did you even text throughout the whole day?”

“He’s pissed at me, he wouldn’t want me pestering him.”

“Right, nothing screams healthy relationship like total radio silence after a fight.” PuppyM scoffed. Minho clenched his fist, this creature is starting to get on his nerves.

“Whatever it is, say it. I’m tired, starving, and my boyfriend is still pissed at me so I don’t have time for your sarcastic bullshit.”

“Have you ever thought that you two are a different person? You have different… hmm how do I put it? Preference? Way? Of dealing with problems. Maybe Seungmin wanted you to reach out even when he’s mad, but I don’t know man. I barely know him, you’re the one that has been with him for a long time right? What do I know?”

Minho ignore PuppyM’s words and slam his bedroom door shut, his fingers unconsciously opens up Seungmin’s roomchat, scrolling their text messages. But he quickly locks his phone up again, shaking his head, trying not to let PuppyM’s words affect him. Seungmin will be fine, they will be fine.

The door bell’s ring startling Minho, he takes a deep sigh. What now? 

The sound of the door opening makes him furrow his eyebrow, if Seungmin was the one that opens it then he wouldn’t ring the bell. 

“Hello! Who are you?” A muffled sound of PuppyM’s voice and the screaming that follows it makes Minho run to the front door, he has never run that fast in his life.

His eyes widened at the sight of Hwang Hyunjing and Han Jisung having a screaming match with PuppyM. Damn, did he just traumatize his friends by letting PuppyM meet them?

“Okay, we need to set rules about you opening the front door.” Minho quickly pulled his friends inside before shutting the door.

“Hyung! You see it too right?” Hyunjin asks, his eyes stuck glaring at PuppyM who looks offended at the question. “Excuse me! Humans are so rude.” The pawcifist huffs in annoyance.

“Yeah, you see it too?” Hyunjin and Jisung nod at Minho’s question. “Well, fuck it’s real.” Minho cursed under his breath, ignoring PuppyM’s protest.

“What is it?” Hyunjin nod in horror at PuppyM direction making the said creature happily rambling on his backstory all over again giving Minho headache.

“Why are you here anyway?” Minho asked his friends once PuppyM finished his story.

“Hyunjin’s having a crisis.” Jisung pipes in earning a questioning look from Minho. “And the crisis is?”

“Bored, I’m fucking bored. Where’s Seungmin anyway?” Hyunjin wails dramatically, but his eyes are stealing glances at PuppyM every now and then.

“Out.” Minho shrugs. “How are you still bored and not tired after getting beat up on practice?”

“The perks of being in a happy healthy relationship.”

“Bullshit, you cry over Changbin’s forgetting to reply to your I love you’s once during a phone call.”

“And we talk about it, like adults.” Hyunjin fires back, giving Minho a pointed look.

“Me and Seungmin are perfectly happy and healthy.”

“Of course, Hyung. I can tell by how snappy you are today over silly mistakes.” Hyunjin rolled his eyes.

“I’m not snappy.”

“Yeah, Hyunjin. Hyung’s not snappy, he’s just a perfectionist. Now, Mr. Perfect, where did you say your perfectly happy boyfriend went again?”

Minho avoids Jisung’s eyes, making the latter grin. “Exactly.”

“You should talk to him, Hyung. It’s not like we didn’t notice the way you’ve been checking your phone all day like you’re waiting for his texts. The both of you have been on edge these past couple of weeks, I know you love each other and you kept saying that the both of you know each other really well. But maybe, it’s time for you two to just talk and listen to each other rather than holding on to past knowledge, people changed you know.” Hyunjin said softly, he patted Minho's arms. Yeah, no. There’s no way he’s having a vulnerable conversation with Hwang Hyunjing and Han Jisung. He barely let himself have one with Seungmin, the most precious person in his life.

“So it’s been going on for weeks?” PuppyM chirped in startling Jisung who's been eyeing the creature curiously for the past 5 minutes. Minho mentally cursed Hyunjin big mouth for giving the fake therapist more material to torture him emotionally.

“He’s like a pet then?” Jisung ignored PuppyM’s question, darting his eyes to Minho.

“Oh for fuck sakes! These humans are so rude! I’m not a pet!” PuppyM’s eyes throwing daggers at Jisung making the boy squeak and hide behind Hyunjin.

“Can I touch you?” Hyunjin asks hopefully while PuppyM gapes at him. “What is wrong with you?! Did you just walk around asking strangers to touch them?” 

“But we’re not strangers!”

“Yes we are!”

“Okay, enough!” Minho yells, he pointed at PuppyM. “You’ll let him touch you, he’s a guest and we’re good hosts.” 

PuppyM look offended, “No!”

“Please touch him and let me know if he’s real.” Ignoring PuppyM’s consent, Minho turns to Hyunjin. Clearly trying to change the attention to PuppyM, he caught the creature knowing glare. Minho ignore the-you-won’t-getaway-from-this-conversation-later-look PuppyM throw him.

“Fine! 5 seconds, more than that means permission for me to bite you.” PuppyM narrows its eyes to Hyunjin who hums happily and starts patting PuppyM’s head. “Oh! This is nice!” PuppyM leaned into Hyunjin’s hands while Jisung watched the scene before him in horror.

“Why are you petting chucky?!” He nudges Hyunjin with his elbow. “Hey!” Jisung jumped after hearing PuppyM’s yells. “Sorry… but are you sure he’s not dangerous? Should we just call an exorcist or something?”

“Sleep with one eye open, Jisung. I know where you live.” PuppyM lowers its voice while looking at Jisung with a wide smile making the boy scramble away from it.

Minho sighs heavily, “Don’t poke the bear, Jisung-ah.”

“PuppyM’s kinda yours and Seungmin’s child, you know.” Hyunjin’s still petting PuppyM’s head while eyeing the creature curiously.

“What the fuck Hwang Hyunjin? You clearly need to stop reading those weird ass fiction you love so much.” Minho smacks Hyunjin’s head with one of his couch pillows, making the younger yelp in surprise.

“Ouch! PuppyM is fierce, clearly loves threatening people with things that will scar them for life, like you did. And it also has a smart mouth, quick wit and definitely knows how to shut the opponent up, like Seungmin.” 

“Did we eat something unusual? Or drink something weird? I still feel like we’re just hallucinating this chucky.”

“I swear to God Jisung, if you call me chucky one more time, I’ll show you one big chucky experience.” PuppyM growled at Jisung.

“Hyung! He threatened me!” Jisung whined at Minho, earning a loud scoff from PuppyM. “So, you just assume I’m a boy.”

“Okay, she?”

“You’re assuming I’m a girl?”

Hyunjin tsked, he shook his head in disbelief. “That’s rude, Jisung-ah. You knew better than this.”

“I’M SORRY!”

Before anyone could reply to Jisung, the door swings open showing Seungmin who looks surprised with the sudden unexpected guest in his apartment.

“I didn’t know we had a party.” Seungmin said flatly, his eyes catches Minho’s who held up his hands in defense.

“Neither do I, they just barge in here-”

“PuppyM let us in!” Jisung cut him off, stealing glances from the pawcifist that seemed to really enjoy Hyunjin’s affection.

“This one reminds me of my friend, Jiniret. I like him.” PuppyM points at Hyunjin and gives Seungmin an approving nod.

“Good for you,” Seungmin sighs as he sets down the takeout he’s been carrying on the kitchen counter. “Good thing I bought an extra portion earlier — the discount was too good to pass up.”

Minho raises an eyebrow. “What happened to only spending money on things that are convenient?”

“It’s food, Minho. Food is a necessity.”

Minho scoffs at that. “So when you do it, it’s a necessity. But when I do it, it’s inconvenient.”

“Cat statues are not a necessity, Minho.”

“They’re home decorations! They make the place feel like home to me!” Minho shoots Seungmin an annoyed glance.

“We already have a whole rack of cat statues!” Seungmin points toward the shelf lined with them.

“It was on sale!” Minho argued. 

Seungmin sighs, “Now you’re just being difficult.”

“I’m always just being difficult.” Minho rolled his eyes. To be fair, Minho knows he’s just being difficult. But he’s tired of always being the irresponsible one even if that’s true, he tried his best, he really did. But somehow, it’s always not enough for Seungmin.

“Because you are!”

“Okay parents! That’s enough, not in front of the children.” PuppyM claps its paw, eyes darting towards Jisung and Hyunjin who seemed ready to flee out at any given moment.

“So, Seungmin. You see it too?” Jisung tilted his head to PuppyM.

“Yes.” Seungmin nodded without looking up.

“But you’re like the most sane person on earth, how come you hallucinate the same thing as us!”

“Then I’m not just a hallucination, dumbass.” PuppyM seems ready to throw paws at Jisung, but Hyunjin quickly holds the creature back. Petting its head while whispering assuring words about how Jisung’s just an idiot who doesn’t know what he’s talking about, offending the boy.

Minho huffs watching the scene before his eyes, “Let’s just eat.”

Their dinner was filled with a light conversation about how their day went with PuppyM occasionally chimed in throwing sarcastic remarks every now and then or sharing glimpses of its life back home, while Jisung kept himself busy to avoid eye contact and direct conversation with the creature even when his curiosity kept nudging at him.

When Jisung and Hyunjin left, PuppyM also decided to call it a day and went to lay down on the couch making the couple retreat to their bedroom in silence. Minho took a deep breath before sitting beside Seungmin on the bed, glancing at his boyfriend with guilt tugging at his expression. 

Seungmin notices, he always notices. The taller boy sighs before opening his right arms, a silent invitation. Minho quickly wrapped his arms around his boyfriend’s waist, burying his face on Seungmin’s neck, inhaling his favorite scent. 

“I’m sorry.” He mumbled, he felt Seungmin’s hands patting his head gently. “I’m sorry too, we both say things–well, we both say pretty mean things to each other today.”

“I hate it.” Minho groans, kissing his boyfriend’s temple softly.

“Me too baby, I guess we really need to talk this out huh?”

Minho rolled his eyes, “I hate the implication that our only way out of this relationship phase is in the hands of a furry-couple-therapy.” Seungmin chuckles while Minho grunts, kissing the boy’s head softly.  “PuppyM’s not that bad.”

“Of course, the dogs would unite.”

“Let’s just go to sleep, okay? We’ll figure this out, we always do.”

The truth is, one of the things that Minho hates the most about PuppyM is the fact that the creature always says the right thing, the one that Minho avoids the most. It’s not that he’s been lying about anything, he’s just been avoiding everything because he didn’t know what he should do to fix things up. Minho knows that he couldn’t avoid his feelings forever, he couldn’t keep avoiding confrontations if he wants things to work out between them. He loves Seungmin, he didn’t want to lose him, ever. But he’s scared, he’s scared of the possibilities that maybe they were better off without each other. He’s far from perfect, he knows that. And it might sound selfish, but he does think that he wouldn’t be able to survive without Seungmin in his life. So, he’s determined to keep Seungmin for as long as he can. Even if it means there are few things he would have to work on.

“Morning party people! It’s friday fri-yay!” PuppyM screams its head off startling Minho out of his sleep, he rubbed his eyes grunting while Seungmin chuckled. “How do you feel eating a dog plush for breakfast?” He grunts, he can feel Seungmin pulls him closer by the waist as he trails kisses along Minho’s neck. “PuppyM means well, I think.”

Loud bangs on the door pulled curses out of Minho’s mouth, but Seungmin kept his hands on Minho’s waist, trying to hold his boyfriend back from punching the poor creature.

“Shut up!” Minho yells.

PuppyM makes an offended noise behind the door, “Okay, grinch!”

“It’s not even Christmas!”

“EXACTLY!” 

Seungmin’s hands find their way to Minho’s mouth, “Sshh, you heard the boss. Don’t be a grinch.” He grinned before pecking Minho's cheeks.

Minho huffs in annoyance, “You always take PuppyM’s side.” He whined, Seungmin bit Minho’s cheeks lightly earning a yelp out of his boyfriend. “Seungmin! Gross!”

Seungmin laughs heartedly, nuzzling his face on his boyfriend’s shoulder. “You’re really cute.”

“Shut up, I’m starving.” Minho flushed at the compliment, he shoves Seungmin off him and walks towards the bathroom with Seungmin’s laugh trailing behind him.

Seungmin ended up following him to the bathroom, they brushed their teeth together in silence before heading out to the kitchen to find PuppyM sulking on the dining table.

“Morning.” Seungmin greeted warmly, earning a grin from the creature. “Morning! See, this is how normal people start their day. Unlike the grinch.” PuppyM pointedly glared at Minho.

“It’s a pretty busy day, we both have classes til 4 then we’re going to meet up with my friends.” Seungmin informs PuppyM who gives a thumbs up, appreciating the heads up.

“Oh, that reminds me. I’m not going with you.” 

Seungmin frowns upon hearing Minho’s words, “What do you mean you’re not going?”

“You know it’s not really my scene, I’m not really comfortable meeting a lot of people that I’m not close with.” Minho shrugs, not realizing the tension in the air. “I’m meeting up with Hyunjin and Felix for movie night.”

“You bail on me for a movie night that you have every week?”

Minho sighs, “I’m not bailing on you for a movie night, Seungmin. Look, I don’t wanna go because I didn’t feel like hanging out with people that I’m not close with. But I’m not stopping you from having fun with your friends, so I think it’s the most logical solution.” He explains patiently.

“You get to hangout and have fun with your friends, and I get to do the same thing.” Minho finishes off.

“I told them you’re coming, you always bailed at the last minute. It’s like you don’t even consider my feelings.” Seungmin gripped his coffee mug tightly, trying to control himself.

“Baby, you’re reading too much into it. You know how social stuff drains me, you’ll still have plenty of fun. I don’t think they’ll notice much either, they’re your friends, not mine.”

“But I noticed.” 

Minho exhaled slowly. But before he could say anything, Seungmin cut him off.

“I’m actually pretty amazed with the way you could twist things from you being selfish into I’m the selfish jerk who doesn’t give a fuck about your comfort.” 

Minho widened his eyes hearing Seungmin’s words. “What the hell Seungmin?”

“I didn’t ask you to join every hangout with my friends, I rarely ask you to come. But you always find a way to back out at the last minute, how many times have I said no to you? To your request?”

Minho scoffs at the question, “So what? We’re keeping score now?”

“That’s not the point!”

“Then what’s the freaking point?”

Seungmin snorts, “It’s one hangout Minho, 2 hours of your time. It’s not even the whole day and I have to beg for that?”

“You could have me any time you want Seungmin, you know you’re not the problem.”

“I make an effort to get to know your world, why is it so hard for you to do the same?” Seungmin started to raise his voice.

“Are you kidding me? One mistake and suddenly I made no effort throughout the whole relationship?”

“One mistake? Really Minho? We’re counting mistakes now?” Seungmin’s hands gripped the table.

Minho let out another scoff, “Don’t turn this on me. You know what? We’ll be late for our class-“

“There it is!” Seungmin barked a humorless laugh. “You always back out when things get real, that’s the thing that you’re really good at isn’t it? Avoid things you don’t feel ‘comfortable’ doing, like talk about feelings. And I’m always the one that’s selfish for pushing you too far, pressuring you into things you don’t feel comfortable doing. Maybe you should stop being a coward and face everything like an adult!”

Seungmin’s words hit Minho hard, he’s tired of their repetitive arguments. Being constantly reminded of a part of himself that he didn’t wish for but has been trying so hard to be better. “If there’s so many things you hate about me, then why date me? You know what you’re getting yourself into the moment we start dating, so don’t pin this on me! I tried, I tried so fucking hard to meet your expectations. You know I do, and it’s never enough for you!” Minho raises his voice, his hands starting to tremble so he hides it behind his back. Maybe Seungmin is right, he is a coward. But he’s tired of never being good enough for Seungmin, he really tried his best to make Seungmin happy, to accommodate.

“You didn’t think I tried? I’m trying too, I’m trying to understand you, to give you space even when it always makes me feel like I don't matter that much to you, that you don’t need me and you’ll be fine without me. Do you have any idea how hard it is to constantly question whether your boyfriend really loves you or just tolerates your presence because you’ve been together basically your whole life? And sometimes, you didn’t even tolerate me! You just walk away and show up when it’s convenient for you! So, please, tell me, what exactly do you feel?” Seungmin’s breath started to pants, but he held Minho’s gaze steady. 

Minho is trying so hard to hold back the tears that’s starting to prick his eyes, he didn’t mean to make Seungmin feel that way. He loves the boy more than anything in the world, he would burn the world down for him. But the constant pressure, the expectations, the fights, is starting to overwhelm him.

“I love you! You know I do! But I also feel like I’m starting to lose myself in this relationship!” 

Minho’s voice cracked slightly, his eyes widened once he realized what he said out loud. Minho’s trembling pupils found Seungmin’s. Seungmin gape at him, all the fights suddenly left his body. “I— Seungmin— baby, I didn’t—“

“I didn’t realize I make you feel that way.” Seungmin whispers, stepping back slowly. Minho stares at him with panic in his eyes. “I never want that for you, I love you for you.” 

Minho looks at Seungmin pleadingly, “Baby please… that’s not— I love you, I love you so much. You know that right? It’s just that, I’ve been trying so hard to meet your expectations which I know it’s for the best, but I—“

“I make you feel like you’re losing yourself.” Seungmin mumbled more to himself, he exhaled shakily. “All this time I thought I’ve been really careful with you, but I’ve ruined you instead. I’m sorry…” 

Minho shook his head desperately, he opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He really didn’t know how to get himself out of this situation, maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. Panic crawled up his throat as he watched his boyfriend’s face falter.

“I should go…” Minho’s breath hitch. “What? Seungmin, no—“

“We need time apart, this isn’t healthy.” Seungmin takes a step towards Minho, making the latter back away. “No!”

“I’m not leaving you, I’m giving us space… maybe once our head cleared, we could talk properly? I want to talk to you, the man I fell in love with. Not the person I forced him into… I love you, you know that right?”

“Seungmin, please… I can’t— I can’t— not without you…” Minho choked, fingers flailing around trying to grasp Seungmin’s hand, he’s ready to fight, to yell, to argue. But Seungmin squeezed his hands softly, kissing his forehead.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m not leaving you, it’s just for the best.”

“It’s not the best if you leave!” Minho says selfishly.

“I love you.” Seungmin whispered before he went out the door, he didn’t even change out of his pajamas nor did he bring anything with him. 

Minho watched the door shut helplessly, he didn’t even realize when he started crying until a pained sob leaves his mouth. Minho nearly jumped when something patted his knees while a napkin waved in front of his face, startling the man. He looked down to find PuppyM looking at him sympathetically. Right, they have an audience.

“He’ll be back, you know he will.” PuppyM said, trying to reassure Minho, but will he really? Maybe Minho really did mess up this time, he always hates the way he manages to say the wrong thing every single time. But was it really wrong if he’s being honest? Isn’t that what Seungmin always asks him to do? To be honest about how he really feels? So why did he leave?

“You don’t know that.”

“But you do, you know he won’t just leave. He said he’ll be back, do you trust him?” PuppyM asked softly, Minho nods. “Then you know he’ll be back.”

Minho took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “You’re still going to class?” 

Minho shook his head, “I don’t think I can, not now.”

“Okay, do you want to talk about it? Or do you want to rest first?”

Could he wait before diving into the talk? Wasn’t that what triggered the fight in the first place? The fact that he always waits?

“It’s okay, it was pretty intense. You’re allowed to take a moment to breathe, go rest in your room. I’ll be here whenever you’re ready to talk.” So Minho nodded, he whispered a soft thank you before walking towards his room.

A knock on his door wakes Minho up from his slumber, he gets up and walks to the door slowly, ignoring PuppyM who’s currently playing with the cats. He opens the door to find Jeongin looking at him awkwardly.

“Hi, hyung. I’m here for Seungmin’s things.” Minho nodded in silence, opening the door wider as a silent invitation for the younger.

“Wait here.” Minho mumbled before going back to his room to prepare Seungmin’s things, he didn’t know how long Seungmin would be gone so he packed the bag for at least a week. 

After gathering his boyfriend's things, he walks back to join Jeongin on the couch. He dropped the bag on Jeongin’s lap before settling beside the younger, watching Jeongin run his hands on his face while stealing glances at PuppyM.

“I really need to stop messing up my sleeping schedule, I’m starting to see things.” Jeongin muttered under his breath.

“Oh, no, you’re good. I see it too.” Minho nods at PuppyM direction making Jeongin frowned.

“Well, maybe you should go back to sleep.”

“Nope, I tried. It won’t go away, look.” Minho said before turning his head to PuppyM’s direction. “PuppyM! Come say hi to Jeongin!”

PuppyM perks up at the words, it launches into a long monologue of its backstory earning an eyeroll from Minho while Jeongin watches in both fascinated and horrified stares.

“Now go shake its paw.” Jeongin glared in horror at Minho’s suggestion. “Come on, if you still don’t believe it might as well touch it right?”

PuppyM offer its paw happily, Jeongin hesitated for a second before giving the paw a poke. PuppyM scoffed clearly offended, cursing under his breath about how shameless humans are. 

Jeongin nodded his head quickly, “Yep, very much real. Now can I go?” the younger boy looked at Minho pleadingly. Minho sighs heavily before nodding his head reluctantly.

“Do you know how long he will stay with you?” Minho whispered, eyes avoiding Jeongin’s pity stare.

“Actually… I don’t… I’m sorry, he just needs time. He loves you so much, he’s been trying his best to be careful with how he handles you. So, finding out that what he did was actually making you feel like you lost yourself is of course a hard pill to swallow.”

“Do you think I’m a bad boyfriend?” Minho mumbled quietly. Jeongin shook his head, expression softened. “I think, you both love each other very much but both of you need to learn more about how to communicate with each other now that you’re not just best friends anymore.”

“How’s he doing?” Minho asked. “Pretty much like you.”

“So, like shit.” Minho mumbled, Jeongin chuckled lightly. “Yeah…”

Jeongin contemplated for a minute before he looked at Minho, “He was… shaking when he showed up at my door. Rambling, asking me about whether I think you hate him because of what he did or not. And what are the chances that you’ll forgive him after making you lose yourself.” Minho’s pupils trembled with guilt after hearing Jeongin’s words.

“What did you say to him?” His voice cracked slightly, trying to swallow another wave of tears. 

“I told him he’s really stupid.” Jeongin said with a small smile. “Everyone knows how much you love each other. You both are scared, and fear tends to make people accept things in the worst way possible.”

Minho bites his lips, “But I hurt him.”

“You both hurt each other, you didn’t mean to. But that doesn’t make you love each other less, sometimes we do that to the person we love. Everyone makes mistakes, what matters the most is whether you learn from it or continue to the same cycle.”

“That’s right,” PuppyM piped in gently. “It might feel like everything is falling apart right now, and you’re deeply hurt by what happened but that’s because you care. Seungmin is hurting too because he cares just as much.”

And when Minho didn't answer, PuppyM continued. “You two love each other so much that you’re friends get emotional whiplash from the fight.” 

Jeongin snorts softly at PuppyM’s remarks. “Seriously, should’ve seen Hyunjin cry so hard you would think he’s the one fighting with his boyfriend.”

“That dramatic fool.” Minho muttered, a small smile forming on his face.

“See? Now give yourself time to process everything that has happened, clear your head. You could always find me on the couch if you need someone to talk to.”

Minho nodded, for the first time ever grateful for the pawcifist presence. 

“I should go back. I need to make sure you boyfriend didn’t drench my place with his tears all alone, have a good rest hyung.” 

Jeongin waved before stepping out of the apartment, leaving Minho with his thoughts. PuppyM moved around playing with the cats, trying to give Minho time to think.The conversation had stirred something inside him, something that he had long tried to avoid. And now that there’s nothing else to distract him, he had to face the truth that had started to creep in.

Minho cursed under his breath the moment he heard a loud bang from his bedroom door followed by Hyunjin, Jisung, and Felix screaming for him to get out and stop being miserable. Minho opened his door with a glare, satisfied after seeing Hyunjin and Jisung squirm under his gaze.

“God, I miss walking inside your apartment not fearing my eyes would roll out traumatized seeing whatever you and Seungmin are up to.” Minho rolled his eyes at Jisung’s dramatic words.

“So you miss acting like a wild animal who didn’t know how to knock.’

Before Jisung is able to snark back, a tiny voice piped in from the couch. “What the hell are you being so loud about–oh, more human.” Felix squealed the moment he saw PuppyM peeked from the couch, his squealed surprise the pawcifist making it hide behind the couch.

“I didn’t know he would be that cute when Hyunjin warned me on the way here.’ The freckled boy mumbled, eyes still lingered curiously at PuppyM.

“What are you all doing here?” Minho exhaled tiredly. “Why of course to cash in the movie night you owe us three days ago, you’ve had your fair share of time to mope around. Now it’s time to get back to being a social human.” Hyunjin answered with a sweet smile.

“And Seungmin looks really scary threatening us to make sure you didn’t dwell on your sadness too much-” Jisung's ramble was cut off by Hyunjin’s palm closing around his mouth.

PuppyM visibly perked up upon hearing Seungmin’s name, its look at Minho with a smirk plaster on its face as if to say I told you he cares. Minho decided to ignore the creature and lead his friends to the couch. “It’s not even night time yet.”

“Movie day then, whatever you want to call it really.” Felix chirped in, eyes never left PuppyM.

“I brought snacks!” Hyunjin wiggled the bag in his hands cheerfully while Jisung handed a flask that he’s been carrying to Minho. The older opened the top of the flask to look inside but a familiar scent caught his nose, he looked around to watch his friends trying their best to avoid his eyes.

“Hey! I know that smell!” PuppyM skipped happily to sniff the flask, its eyes widened once a realization came. Seungmin’s coffee, made just the way Minho likes it. There’s a specific secret ingredient that Seungmin refused to tell him because he wanted to be the only one that could make Minho’s favorite coffee. Minho snatched the bag on Hyunjin’s hand, peeking inside to find all of his favorite comfort snacks fill the bag

“Is this an intervention?” He glared at Hyunjin.

“It’s a comfort mission.” PuppyM nodded its head in realization. “Your boyfriend sent them to comfort you because he can’t do it himself.” 

Silence fills the room, nobody dares to say a word. No one even dares to meet Minho’s gaze. Everyone seemed to decide on the same thing, which is let whatever it is sink in quietly inside Minho. Even PuppyM let Felix scratch behind its ear without making a fuss or an unnecessary pleased hum escape its mouth like the one it did when Hyunjin first patted it.

“Let’s just pick out a movie, it looks like our friend here needs a moment to process his emotional storm.” PuppyM break the silence, Minho shot it a grateful look. They started to fuss around, debating on movies while also fighting over spots to sit.

Minho spent the rest of his day listening to his friends bicker, it was chaotic but warm. And for the first time since Seungmin stepped out the door, Minho didn’t feel… lost. Knowing their friends got their back even through the emotional chaos that dragged them unwillingly inside, they stayed. And that’s what matters the most. Minho silently promises himself to treat his friends to a nice meal once it’s all over, and maybe tone down his violent threat to Hyunjin.

“It makes no sense! You can’t possibly solve a conflict just by shooting sparkly eyes at each other! What do people have against talking these days!” PuppyM exclaimed once the movie ended. “Oh please, you just have personal beef against romance!” Hyunjin shot back, rolling his eyes.

“Oh yeah? Please try that with your boyfriend the next time you have a fight with him!”

“I did! It works really well!”

“No it’s not.” Felix piped in, pointing his chips at Hyunjin. “You just shoot him with your ‘fuck me’ look, that’s why it worked.”

Hyunjin looked slightly offended at the accusation, “I did not!”

“Yeah, you definitely do. Even when your boyfriend begged you to talk it out.” Jisung smirks while watching Hyunjin squint his eyes in annoyance. “Well, let me tell you this. The body talks louder than words.”

Jisung snorted at that, “What’s it called? Body language?” 

“Oh shut up!” Hyunjin throws a pillow at Jisung’s direction, earning a curse from the boy.

“Oh yeah, the eyes say it all. Why bother coming to couples therapy when two eyeballs could do that for free. Laser stares, everyone. The secret of life!” PuppyM snarked.

“I see now why you thought sex is the answer to everything, you’re friends with him.” PuppyM glanced at Minho, nudging its chin to Hyunjin’s direction. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Hyunjin exclaimed loudly while Minho flushed beside him.

“Well, would you look at the time!” Felix cut in, saving everyone from more unnecessary banter. “We better get going, no more skipping class.” The last words are directed to Minho who nodded in agreement, he watched as his friends started to gather their things and walk to the door.

“See you tomorrow hyung!” They gave Minho one last waved before closing the door behind them.

“You know what I learnt from the school but never be able to grasp until I met you and Seungmin?” Minho shakes his head as a silent answer. “That the small careful quiet kind of love is just as powerful as the loud ones.”

When PuppyM’s sure Minho won’t say anything back, it continued. “I used to think that it only matters when you show love loudly, because I thought back then, how would the person know we love them if we didn’t say it out loud or show them openly. But watching you and Seungmin… subtle quiet care turns out just as warm. It’s harder to see, yes. But that’s why you’re supposed to feel it, not see it.”

Minho smiled softly before he whispered. “Because it’s not for everyone to see, it’s supposed to be only between us.”

Minho woke up feeling better, knowing Seungmin still cared and looked out for him even from afar. After letting everything sink in, Minho gets up to make breakfast before going to class. He walks to the kitchen, glancing at PuppyM who snore softly curls up with Dori on the couch. With a warm smile forming on Minho’s face, he busied himself with preparing breakfast when he noticed he made 3 portions on autopilot without even remembering that Seungmin is not here. He’s been holed up in his apartment for the past couple of days, refusing to cook and only ordering takeouts. But the moment he steps into the kitchen, it’s like his body moves without thinking. Cooking not only for himself, but for Seungmin too. Seungmin has been with him for as long as he can remember, even before they moved in together, Minho still cooks for him. 

“Oh, are the cats joining us for breakfast today?” A tiny voice dripping with sarcasm startled Minho, he looked up to see PuppyM sitting on the bar stool looking smug. Its paw resting on the table, head tilting amusely to the side.

Minho groans in annoyance, “It’s a habit.”

“Your body remembers him even when he’s far away.” 

Minho ignored PuppyM’s comment, hands moving to pack Seungmin’s portion to a lunchbox. His thumbs hover longer than necessary above the packed luch before he shook his head and moved it to the side. Minho slid PuppyM’s plate to the pawcifist who squeaked happily devouring the meal, Minho ate his while standing up. Refusing to sit on the dining table, it feels wrong without Seungmin there.

“Are you ready to talk about it?” Minho snorts at PuppyM’s question. “Am I ever? But, go ahead.” Minho leaned back, arms crossing in front of his chest.

PuppyM watch Minho carefully for a moment, “When you shut down, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Giving us space, time… to calm down and think. Giving us… a chance?” A chance to what exactly, Minho didn’t know either. It just feels like the right thing to do. Minho’s eyes darted towards the wall behind PuppyM, he never noticed the paint is slightly cracking.

“And now, what do you think he gets from all that?”

“Pressure?” Minho answered a beat too long.

“Absence.” PuppyM words feel like a bullet piercing through Minho’s heart. “But I was always here.” Minho’s defense came out weak, his eyes shifted back to PuppyM. “Physically, yes. But emotionally? You left him confused and waiting in the dark.”

“I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.” Minho's voice slowly turned into a whisper.

“So you said nothing, while he heard everything but the things you actually meant to say.”

PuppyM hop off the stool, bringing his plate with him to walk to the couch. One thing the pawcifist learned these past few weeks is that Minho needed time to cool off and let everything sink in, it will take longer to talk to him without having him run off mid conversation. So PuppyM took its time, they’ll talk at Minho's pace.

Minho calls Jeongin on his phone after getting ready for his class, asking the younger man to pick up the breakfast Minho makes for Seungmin.

“Just come to my apartment, PuppyM’s here. I got morning class, I can’t drop it to you.” Minho says as he moves towards the door, PuppyM can hear Jeongin groan faintly through the line. “I’m not ready to accept that the creature is real yet!”

Minho rolled his eyes, “Don’t be a baby Yang Jeongin, help your favorite hyung out.”

“Felix is my favorite hyung.” Jeongin scoffed from the other side of the line. “Don’t care, just help me.” Minho says as he ends the phone call without waiting for Jeongin’s answer.

“I’ll be back before dinner, be good.” Minho calls out to PuppyM before he shuts the door behind him.

PuppyM’s bored, after playing with the cats for hours and mindlessly scrolling through the TV’s channel. Jeongin came 15 minutes after Minho left, refusing to meet the pawcifist’s eyes as he hurriedly come out the door the moment he gets his hands on the lunch box and thanking PuppyM. And now the pawcifist has no entertainment, its ears perk up when the door clicks open. Eyes darting to the clock, frowning once it noticed the time. Minho isn’t supposed to be back yet, but PuppyM relaxes after seeing Seungmin step into the living room looking like a mess.

“Well, you look good.” PuppyM chirped happily, Seungmin just sighs at the remark. He sit across PuppyM. “I’m here to pick up some stuff and drop this off.” Seungmin pulls out a package of chamomile tea from his bag. “I noticed we ran out last week, Minho usually has trouble sleeping when there’s a lot on his mind. This should help.”

“Do you want to talk? Minho did this morning.”

Seungmin just shrugs, but gesture PuppyM to continue. “How do you feel?”

“Like shit.” PuppyM snorted at that, but didn’t comment. Waiting for Seungmin to continue. “I hurt him.”

“You both hurt each other.” Seungmin opens his mouth, ready to argue but PuppyM cuts him off. “When you ask him to talk to you, what do you actually want to do?”

“To comfort him, to be there for him.” PuppyM studied his expression before nodding its head once.

“Then say that.” Seungmin went silent. He looked down, refusing to meet PuppyM’s eyes. Suddenly noticing the stain on the carpet, frowning at the sight, has it always been there? “What do you feel every time he shies away from a conversation?”

“That I failed to give him a safe space.” Thumbs fiddling with the loose threads of the couch pillow, trying to keep his hands busy.

“So you pushed harder?” Seungmin clenched his fist, PuppyM noticed the movement. “You can’t unclench someone’s fist by prying it open.” PuppyM smiled sadly as he watched Seungmin’s fist clenched harder.

“When he told you he’s losing himself, what did you hear?” PuppyM pushed softly, encouraging Seungmin to say what he really feels.

“That I hurt him.” The answer came a beat too fast.

“He wasn’t trying to run away from you, he’s trying to run back to himself with you.”

Seungmin didn’t say anything back, letting PuppyM’s word sink in quietly. “You didn’t do something wrong every time you ask him to talk to you, you’re just asking him the wrong way.”

“I love him.” Seungmin whispered, it sounded sure. He wasn’t trying to convince anyone, he’s only stating a well known fact.

PuppyM offered Seungmin a gentle smile, “I know.” The pawcifist tilted its head before continuing, “He knows. Everyone knows how much you love each other. But sometimes, loving someone comes with the fear of losing them. And when people are scared, they tend to either leave or hold on too tight.”

Realization dawned on Seungmin, “I did both.” Seungmin snapped his eyes to PuppyM in horror.

“You didn’t leave, you’re giving both of you a space. He knows you didn’t leave, Seungmin.”

Seungmin looks like he didn’t believe PuppyM, so the self-proclaimed couple therapy sighs in exasperation. “I watched him drink the coffee you made him last night, you’re still here. Just a bit… far.”

“I don’t want to lose him.” The sentence slips out fast, like he didn’t have to think about it.

“Then stop pushing, walk with him.”

The door slammed shut behind Minho, PuppyM eyes grew wider as he took in Minho’s drenched appearance looking like he fought the god of rain himself and clearly losing. The rain crashed down outside, loud and unyielding. A distant crack of thunder heard occasionally, trembled through the walls.

“Where’s your jacket?” PuppyM exclaims from the couch, Dori purring softly beside the pawcifist seeming oblivious to the storm forming inside the apartment.

Minho shrugs, walking towards his room. “I gave it to Seungmin.” PuppyM perks up at Minho’s answer. Tails wagging excitedly, unable to hide its excitement at the news.

“You talk to him?”

Minho shakes his head, sending splatter of water everywhere making the pawcifist shrieked hard trying to avoid the water spalshes. “No, I saw him walking around in his stupid thin shirt. I swear that man has zero survival instinct, so I told Chan to give mine to him.”

“And now you’re drenched.” PuppyM points out, Minho nods softly, “Yeah, I am.”

Minho gives PuppyM a pointed look when he feels the creature start moving towards him with a suspicious smile spreading on its face, pride filling the pawcifist’s eyes making Minho back out on instinct.

“Hold your interrogations until I finish my shower.” He swears he could see PuppyM’s ear dropped at his words, but he continues to make his way towards his room, leaving PuppyM feeling giddy given the chance to give more ‘couple therapy sessions’ to Minho.

PuppyM patiently waits for Minho to finish his shower and join him back on the couch, snorting once his eyes trails over the hoodie Minho’s wearing, it’s one of Seungmin’s. The one that still has a strong scent of the younger man.

“Man, you’re whipped.”

“Shut it chucky.” Minho hisses, PuppyM seems ready to throw fist before Minho’s phone notification distracts the both of them. Minho's smile grew as his eyes scanned the words on his phone, PuppyM sent him a dirty look.

“You look creepy, what’s got you smiling like that?” The pawcfist demands, paw crossing in front of its chest.

“Seungmin just updated our google calendar, adding my assignments deadline that I forgot to put there.”

“And they say romance is dead.” PuppyM shook its head fondly before continuing, “He also restocked your chamomile tea earlier.”

Minho's eyes grew wider, his gaze drifting instinctively toward the kitchen. “He came here?”

“Yes, when you’re still in class. We talked.” PuppyM nodded, Minho looked alarmed once PuppyM’s words dawned on him. 

“What did he say?” Minho’s breathing turned shallow, knee bouncing uncontrollably without realizing. 

“That he loves you very much. That he’s really afraid of losing you. And he feels really guilty for hurting you, for making you feel like you lose yourself. There’s more, but I think he should say it himself.”

Minho went silent for what felt like hours, letting his thoughts drift to the memories that he shared with Seungmin his whole life. Small moments that might feel like something fleeting for others but held so much meaning for the both of them, ordinary ones that still hold a special place in his heart, all the laughs that they shared, the fights, the screaming, and the tears that comes with it, all stitched together into something that had always felt permanent. He realized then that loving Seungmin had always lived in habits, in routines, in knowing without asking. It makes him wonder when loving each other had started to become so heavy, and how something that once felt so natural had turned into something he was afraid to touch. And now losing him, even for a moment, felt like sitting in the front of a fireplace that no longer burns.

He wasn’t losing himself, he let fear speak for him. He realises now that letting his fear speak turns out didn’t push it away, it made it come true. His biggest fear was losing Seungmin, and it almost happened, it’s going to happen if he didn’t do anything about it. So, instead of running, he knows now that he should face it. 

“I’ll talk to him.” Minho decided, PuppyM sent him a proud smile.

PuppyM watch as Minho type something on his phone. The boy takes a deep breath before turning his phone to PuppyM, letting the pawcifist eyes scan through the words he sent to Seungmin.

Lee Minho

I made Kimchijjiggae, what time are you coming home?

A reply came instantly, PuppyM felt a rush of relief after reading Seungmin’s reply.

Puppy

An hour or two, still working on a group project

It wasn’t a grand apology, Minho didn’t ask for forgiveness yet. He wasn’t begging nor did he send a curated speech full of regret. It was him, reaching out a hand. An unspoken apology, a promise that he was done looking for the nearest exit and started looking for the right words.

PuppyM has always believed that conflict is easy to recognize. The raised voices, sharp words, or sometimes the most dangerous of them all is the silence that echoes harder than any shouting. And that’s probably the most unsettling thing about Minho’s and Seungmin’s problem for the pawcifist. They do yell at each other, argue a lot, they fight in ways that look almost familiar. Like how lovers fight all the time. Yet, outside those moments, they stay careful with each other. Redirecting arguments instead of solving it, and how they’ve known each other their whole life but the closeness never quite turns into ease.

Nothing is wrong enough to stop...
But nothing is also right enough to settle…

And what surprised PuppyM the most is that everything didn’t happen because they wanted to hurt each other, but rather because they love each other so deeply they started tiptoeing around each other. PuppyM once said to Minho that his and Seungmin’s quiet love fascinates the pawcifist, all PuppyM’s life it believes that love was meant to be loud. It never imagined that love could be this careful, or that it could even hurt this much without meaning to. 

That definitely changes PuppyM’s understanding of love. And with that shift come to clarity, patterns become impossible to ignore.

There’s a pattern between Minho and Seungmin, like how Minho starts to joke when the tension feels too unbearable. His humor is quick, clever, effective, too effective that sometimes it ended up leaving a faint bitterness behind while Seungmin smiled. He smiles out of understanding, knowing exactly what’s being avoided and what it costs to let it pass. So he pushed back, harder. He kept pushing not because he didn't listen, but because he listened to the wrong thing. The jokes weren't meant to push him out of the room, but to give the two of them more room to breathe.

PuppyM used to think that the sharpness behind Minho jokes was the problem, and it kinda reminded him of someone back home.

Leebit had joked like that. Pointed enough to linger, but move too fast before anyone could decide whether it hurt. Sending jabs after jabs at the wrong time, or so PuppyM thinks. It had thought then, that it wasn’t pawcifism. Peace wasn’t meant to leave marks. And pawcifism isn't the absence of harm, it’s about making sure that whatever marks thrown out there doesn’t become destruction. Leebit didn’t throw jabs at the wrong time, the jabs are carefully crafted to push back the rushing car so it won’t drive through the ticking bomb. The words might be hurt, but Leebit made sure it wasn’t meant to destroy, rather to remind that pain isn’t something to be afraid of. 

Because pain hurts, but it doesn’t always ruin things. 

Sometimes, it became a reminder that it mattered. 

It hurts because it matters. Because only something worth protecting would reach deep enough to leave a lingering emotion hard enough to hurt. Maybe what mattered was never avoiding the discomfort, but learning how to stay through it.

PuppyM has always known what the next step is, when to soften the tension, ask the right question to reveal the true intent. It may be snarky, the sarcasm sometimes feels harsh. But PuppyM also knows how to do it kindly, how to help people understand. And Leebit, it had joked with words that grazed something raw, it had laughed at the wrong time, it had refused to soften the edges of those moments. But it had also stayed, guiding in different ways. Neither is wrong, it's simply a different way of building a home. 

And now that Minho finally decided that he’s going to stop hiding and Seungmin knows that he should stop pushing. It makes PuppyM understand, with quiet certainty, that its work here is done. Minho and Seungmin never needed someone to build them a home, they were already living in one. It was far from perfect, the roof may be leaking, but PuppyM has shown them where the cracks are. From here on, they will learn how to fix it together.

PuppyM is struggling to blend itself with the couch the moment Seungmin steps through the door while the cats–ambush him not knowing the man’s inner turmoil.

“Did you eat?” Minho’s voice cut through the rushes of meow-ing, PuppyM watch as Seungmin take a deep breath before walking to the kitchen.

Seungmin leans his body on the kitchen’s entrance, his eyes following Minho’s movement like he might lose him if he blinks. Longing fills the younger’s eyes. “No, you said you make kimchijjigae.”

“Good.” Minho hums, satisfied with Seungmin’s answer. “Go set the table.”

They work in sync, comfortable silence fills the room. PuppyM paw stops Seungmin from getting a third plate, the pawcifist gives him a warm smile. “I already ate, me and the cats are going to play in their room.” PuppyM left without giving Seungmin a chance to reply.

Minho set the food down, gesturing for Seungmin to sit. But the younger walk up to his side and start filling up Minho’s empty glass as the older put another portion of egg on Seungmin’s plate. They shared a quiet smile hesitantly before sitting on their own seats.

Neither is picking up their utensils, waiting for the other to make the first move before Minho decides to be brave and pick up his. Seungmin smiles gratefully at his boyfriend.

“I kind of lost my ability to cook these past few days, so bear with me. Something didn’t feel right, I kept changing the seasoning but it still feels like something’s missing.” Minho warns Seungmin as they take the first bite.

Seungmin groans softly the moment he swallows his food. “What are you talking about? This tastes like heaven.” 

Minho just shrugs, “Guess it came back then.” His ears turning red, eyes looking away avoiding Seungmin’s stare.

“Hyunjin said you almost turned the studio into a military camp.” Minho rolled his eyes at the accusation.

“They lack discipline.” Seungmin snorted at Minho’s defense.

“Jeongin kicked you out yet?” Minho raised his eyebrows playfully.

“Yeah.” Seungmin grunts while Minho nodding his head satisfied.

“Good, his apartment isn’t strays friendly. And the cats were starting to think you moved out.” 

Minho freezes once the words are out of his mouth, he slowly looks up to see Seungmin’s reaction. The corners of Seungmin’s mouth lift knowing. Relief washes over Minho. “Sorry, I– it’s… yeah, sorry.”

Seungmin shook his head, he opened his mouth to answer before Minho’s small voice cut him off. “You should eat more, everyone knows Jeongin survives on protein bars.”

Suddenly, picking on his green onions seems like an important task for Minho, his voice so small that Seungmin almost thought he imagined the last sentence before his eyes caught how red the tip of Minho’s ear is.

“You know… I didn’t touch your stuff, well… except for the hoodie, but that’s not the point. I know how much you hate it not knowing where I put them.”

Seungmin nodded. “I noticed the house didn’t change a lot.”

“You came by today, why didn’t you touch anything? You’re fussy when it’s messy.”

Seungmin put his chopstick down, he leaned back. 

“On movie night, when the popcorn’s gone before the movie finished and I insist on pausing the movie while you get up to make a fresh batch of popcorn even when you said I could continue watching because you could still hear the movie from the kitchen, that’s why.”

“Oh.”

Silence stretched, Minho took another bite. Seungmin leaned forward resting his elbows on the table, chin hovering over his folded hands as he studied Minho. 

“I love you.”

Minho almost chokes on his food, his eyes meet Seungmin’s. Silence stretches before he takes a deep breath and replies, “I love you. Are you really coming home?”

“I do. And I’m sorry.”

Minho shook his head, “I’m sorry too. I want to try… If you are.”

Seungmin took a deep breath before replying, “I am, I always am.”

Silence fills the room, tension racing with unspoken things. Minho going back to picking on his green onions like each one represents his feelings and he didn’t know which one to pull out first.

“It’s not going to be easy.” Seungmin said, eyes carefully watching Minho’s expression.

“I know. But I… I choose you over easy,” Minho stops for a beat, determination filled his eyes. “Over anything.”

And Seungmin smiled warmly. Relief washes over him, he was always so good at reading between Minho’s words. He had carelessly tried to rush forward for a second back then, skipping over a couple of chapters trying to get to the ending faster. Now he’s reminded to read it carefully, to try to understand each word in Minho’s book.

They continue eating, letting the words linger quietly. Minho put another piece of meat on Seungmin’s plate and received a grateful smile from the younger, and Seungmin moved to fill out Minho’s half empty glass of water.

“I’ll try to talk more, but if I say the wrong thing…” Minho pauses, trying to find the right words to say. Seungmin smiles at him encouragingly, knees brushing softly with Minho’s under the table. “I’ll ask you what you really meant.” The younger said, knees didn’t move away.

For the first time in weeks, the silence didn’t feel like a bomb waiting to explode. It feels like waiting for the first flower to bloom after the winter ends.

PuppyM could feel the shift of the tension at the apartment, Minho and Seungmin are still careful with each other but they were sure about their feelings. The unnecessary banter is still there, still driving PuppyM crazy. But the edges are gone, leaving only the sharp words with hidden meaning only the two boys understand. Minho is still rude to everyone that is not his cats, but he doesn't look exhausted anymore. Seungmin is… well, he still sends a glare to Minho every time the man says something that could get him arrested, not to shut him up. To warn him that he won’t be very happy having to lose Minho again, but to the police this time.

Their friends came by a lot recently, there’s an additional face that PuppyM never met before. Chan, the sweet-smiled boy with a pretty dimple. He’s really nice, he speaks softly and maybe the only one that treated PuppyM with respect like an old friend. And then there was another one, Changbin? The buff man nearly gave PuppyM a heart attack with how big his muscles are, even Jisung’s stuttered jokes about Changbin gaining muscles from eating chucky like PuppyM–which is very offending, the chucky comments–makes PuppyM shiver no matter how much that jokes lacking confident.

The pawcifist currently standing in front of the window, staring blankly at it. His gaze turned towards the couch where Seungmin and Minho were cuddling and arguing about stupid things at the same time, surrounded by the cats. Some sitcom PuppyM can’t remember the title of is playing on the tv like a background noise, the sight pulling a smile out of PuppyM. His gaze drifted back to the window.

“I’m telling you, Seungmin. Missing one day of grocery shopping won’t kill you.” Minho scowls in annoyance.

Seungmin’s hands patting his boyfriend’s head absentmindedly, “Missing one episode of this series also won’t kill you, can you stop moving the schedule for things that weren't urgent? We can watch the re-runs!”

“It’s urgent because it’s Sunday and I’m simply lazy. I want to spend the rest of my life on this couch.” Minho declared dramatically, Seungmin snorted at the response.

Seungmin is ready to fire back when Minho opens his mouth again, adding quietly. “I don’t want to see people, people annoy me.”

And that makes Seungmin pause. A soft smile spread across his face, “I miss you too. Fine, today is our day. Let’s not see other people.”

Minho’s ears went red instantly, Seungmin is getting pretty good at reading between the lines and although Minho is still taking his time trying to explain more about how he feels, he still tries. PuppyM felt a surge of pride listening to the conversation.

“We could move it to wednesday.” Minho says after a couple seconds of silence.

Seungmin furrows his eyebrows. “I’m going out with my friends, I updated the schedule on the google calendar.”

“I know…” Minho looks away, trying to avoid Seungmin’s eyes. “I thought maybe I could join you.”

Realization dawned on Seungmin. “Oh…”

“Yeah.”

“Are you sure? You don’t have to if it makes you feel uncomfortable.” Seungmin gave Minho a concerned look.

“We could always leave early if I didn’t feel comfortable, right?” Minho asked hesitantly.

Seungmin smiled, squeezing his boyfriend's hands as he nodded. “Yes, we can. And we will, just tell me. Okay?” Minho nodded his head, his posture starting to relax.

Seungmin shifts his attention to PuppyM, studying the pawcifist carefully. Noticing how PuppyM is still standing next to the window, staring into the distance. Seungmin nudges Minho, gesturing to the uncharacteristically quiet pawcifist. They know that PuppyM heard everything, the faint smile on the creature’s face says that.

“You’ve been staring at the window a lot lately.” Seungmin words startled PuppyM, it didn’t expect Seungmin’s attention already shifted to it. The pawcifist exhaled before nodding. “Yeah.”

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

Minho goes still at the word leaving, turning his attention fully at PuppyM. All the traces of sleepiness drained out of his face as he sits up and is looking directly at PuppyM’s figure. “Right, you don’t belong here.” He mutters, but the man sucks in a surprise breath once the words leave his mouth. “Wait– I didn’t mean it like that.”

PuppyM chuckles while watching Minho stutters, “Well if that’s not what character development looks like, I don’t know what is.” The pawcifist teases, shaking its head before returning the attention back to the window. Its paws finding their way to the window’s glass, “You’re an asshole by nature, slipping up is expected.”

Minho huffs at PuppyM’s remarks, Seungmin snorts as he puts his arms around the older to pull him closer. “Hey, stop attacking my baby with facts. His fragile ego can’t handle it.”

“Kim Seungmin, I swear to God–”

“Sshh.” Seungmin leans down to kiss Minho’s cheeks, leaving the older man flustered by his sudden affection, earning another laugh from PuppyM.

“I’ve been wanting to ask you this, but we’ve been distracted by…” Minho twirls his hands, “if something like a pawcifist exists. Why’s there still war in this world? Why haven’t we… I don’t know, reached world peace already?” Minho asks.

PuppyM let out another chuckle, “We didn’t control humans, we helped them see the bigger picture. The decision is still in their hands, we can’t control that. We’re not God.” PuppyM rolling its eyes.

“Besides, different humans need different approaches. Not all pawcifists meet their assigned humans physically, most talk to theirs through dreams because humans go crazy most of the time when faced with a magical creature that they don’t understand. As for my case with you guys, I was dragged by some dumbass who messed up a spell here by force. You weren’t assigned to me, maybe this is fate, maybe this is coincidence, but it sure is a pain in the ass.”

Minho nodding in understanding, he relaxes back into Seungmin’s arms. “What do you think the approach you’ll choose if things were different and you’re assigned to us?”

“I’ll knock your head off into amnesia and manipulate you through your dreams so you’ll stop being rude to me.” PuppyM pause, taking a breath before continuing, “Kidding.”

“Your reaction wasn’t that bad. Sure, you parade me around like some circus clown every time your friends visit. But you weren’t immediately screaming and kicking me out by the name of God the moment you landed your eyes on me like your neighbor.” 

Minho snorted at PuppyM’s answer, “Yeah, he was an idiot.”

“I would probably… choose to meet you in person.” PuppyM turn its attention back to the couple. “I wouldn’t change anything about the way we met.”

The words landed quietly in the room, everyone seemed hesitant to break the comfortable silence. Even the cats haven’t started meow-ing since they started talking, the sound from the tv didn’t fill out the space, it rather turned into the background noise. 

“So, now that you’ve finished your accidental mission. How does it work? You, coming back to your realm?” Seungmin asks tentatively, like trying to see if the words tasted sour in his tongue.

PuppyM glanced down, like it was trying to find the right words. “The portal is opened.” A pause, trying to prolong the inevitable truth longer. “It’s been open for days, you can’t see it.”

Understanding washing over Seungmin, he nodded towards the window. “It’s there, isn’t it? You’ve been staring there a lot.”

PuppyM shrugs as if it was not a big deal. “That’s my cue to go, before my nemesis Leebit pops out of there to drag me back all graceless and fumbling. That would be a traumatizing sight. Now, we wouldn’t want that right?” 

“Oh, by the way. You should buy a bigger couch, maybe move to a bigger house since you have two unnecessarily buff friends. The couch has been complaining to me about how stuffed they feel every time your friends come around. And Dori, my sweet pretty baby Dori, is traumatized by the lack of place to hide from Jisung’s cuteness aggression torture and Changbin’s montorous sneeze.” PuppyM starts to ramble.

“And, God, have you seen the sink? I’m starting to think you choose this place just so you can glue yourselves to each other wherever you go, the sink looks like a bus in a rush hour every time you do the dishes with the cats running around. This place is stressing me out so much, what the hell were you thinking?”

Seungmin raises one of his eyebrows, exchanging meaningful looks with Minho as PuppyM continues complaining about weird things. The neighborhood suddenly feels too depressing, the crack in the walls is offensive, one of the cat statues is trying to kill the pawcifist in its dream, and even though it doesn’t use the bathroom, the bathroom door is mocking it. Everything just seems worth complaining about.

The couple tense when the cats trudge down to PuppyM, Soonie is nudging PuppyM’s belly, Doongie is pawing at PuppyM’s tails, and Dori is purring under the pawcifist gentle pat. “This is emotional seduction, get them off me!” Another complaint, but PuppyM didn’t stop petting Dori, didn’t try to push the other two away.

“And you!” PuppyM point its paw accusingly at Minho, “Why the fuck would you bought your cats a dog chewing toy? You need to stop offending creatures that aren’t human. I mean, I know you offend literally anyone, but seriously, stop.”

“Are you done?” Seungmin asks, PuppyM thinks his smile is uncharacteristically warm for someone who should be taking notes of its important complaints. “Alright, we get it. We’re sucks, now please stop attacking our fragile hearts.”

“So, how does this work? Could we make a big stupid fight every now and then just to give you more workload so you’re not slacking off?” Minho raises his eyebrows, a smirk forming on his face.

“That’s not stopping me from slacking off, that’s intentionally giving me headaches and torture me emotionally.” PuppyM scoffs, squinting its eyes.

Its tone changes after taking a deep breath, “That’s not how it works. Besides, you’ll be fine. I know you would, and you know it too.”

PuppyM move to open the window, smiling to itself. This is the way he got in back then, and now the same way out. The pawcifist looked around one more time before its gaze landed on Minho and Seungmin. “Keep choosing each other.” It says before jumping out the window, leaving the wind softly creeping inside the apartment. The room suddenly feels… bigger.

Minho and Seungmin still for a couple of seconds before slowly walking to the window, they look down together and watch the cars down the streets honking at each other, the strangers voices overlap with no words to catch, some kids laugh while chasing each other followed by the mother's frustrated warning. And Seungmin closes the window softly, pulling Minho into his embrace.