Archive of Our Own

I woke up before my alarm.
Not because I wanted to.
Just because my body had decided that seven-thirty was apparently enough sleep.
I lay there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling.
The room was quiet.
Warm morning light slipped through the curtains, painting pale lines across the blanket.
Beside me, Minho was still asleep.
One arm had somehow ended up stretched across my stomach during the night.
I smiled to myself.
"...You're heavy."
He didn't move.
I carefully tried lifting his arm.
Nothing.
"...Seriously?"
Still nothing.
"...Min."
A sleepy noise escaped him.
"Mmm?"
"...You're crushing me."
His eyebrows pulled together.
"...No, I'm not."
"You literally are."
He opened one eye just enough to look at me.
"...You're dramatic."
"I'm being flattened."
"I don't think that's medically possible."
"I have cancer."
He frowned.
"...That's not how that works."
"I think it helps my argument."
He laughed quietly, finally lifting his arm.
"There."
"Better?"
I stretched dramatically.
"...Much."
He smiled, closing his eyes again.
"Good."
"...You're going back to sleep, aren't you?"
"Mhm."
"It's almost eight."
"So?"
"You'll wake up with five minutes to get ready."
"I'll wake up with six."
I laughed.
"...Hopeless."
"I've accepted that."
I climbed out of bed before he could steal the blanket too.
The floor was cool beneath my feet.
Outside, I could already hear voices drifting upstairs.
Felix.
Obviously.
Nobody else was physically capable of talking that much before breakfast.
I pulled on a hoodie before wandering downstairs.
The smell of pancakes hit me halfway down.
"...Morning."
"Morning," Chris answered from the stove.
Changbin was somehow eating pancakes while another one was still cooking.
I wasn't entirely sure how he'd managed that.
Felix looked up immediately.
"...You're alive."
"Barely."
"I knew it."
"You knew what?"
"You've got chemo face."
I blinked.
"...Chemo face?"
Chris sighed.
"Felix."
"What?"
"That's not a thing."
"It is now."
Hyunjin looked up from his coffee.
"...Please stop inventing medical terminology."
"I have Toast Doctor experience."
I buried my face in my hands.
"...We're still doing that?"
"We're always doing that," Changbin answered.
"I've already accepted it."
I laughed despite myself.
Some jokes apparently refused to die.
"Morning."
I turned around.
Minho had finally wandered downstairs, hair sticking up in every possible direction.
Felix pointed immediately.
"...Bedhead."
"I know."
"You look like you lost a fight with your pillow."
"I probably did."
He walked over anyway, leaning down just enough to quietly kiss the top of my head before grabbing a mug from the cupboard.
Nobody even reacted anymore.
It had become...
Normal.
I liked that.
Breakfast passed the way breakfasts usually did.
Someone laughed.
Someone stole food.
Chris pretended he wasn't everyone's parent.
Nothing unusual.
By the time everyone had scattered to do their own thing, I found myself curled up on the living room couch with Mocha tucked against my side.
The huge ferret plush had somehow become my permanent couch companion.
Nala had apparently decided it was hers too.
She climbed onto my lap without asking, circled three times, and promptly fell asleep.
"...You've got competition," Minho said as he walked past.
"Mocha doesn't mind."
"I wasn't talking about Mocha."
I looked down.
Nala was sprawled across almost my entire lap.
"...I think she's getting spoiled."
"I think it's too late."
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed on the coffee table.
An unfamiliar number.
I frowned.
"...Weird."
Minho glanced over from the kitchen.
"Everything okay?"
"I don't know."
I answered it anyway.
"...Hello?"
There was a second of silence.
Then—
"...Jisung?"
The voice sounded familiar.
Really familiar.
I sat up a little straighter.
"...Wait..."
"...Sunoo?"
A laugh came through the speaker.
"I was wondering if you'd remember me."
I couldn't help smiling.
"...It's been forever."
"Too long."
He laughed again.
"I heard you're still in town."
"I am."
"We're having a party tomorrow night."
"Nothing huge."
"Just a bunch of people from college."
I blinked.
College.
It felt strange hearing that word now.
"You should come."
He continued before I could answer.
"And bring people."
"The more the better."
I glanced toward Minho.
He was pretending not to listen.
Pretending.
"...I don't know..."
Sunoo cut me off.
"Come on."
"It'll be fun."
"You disappeared after you left college."
"It'd be nice to see you again."
I looked down at Nala, still asleep in my lap.
For a moment...
I wasn't sure.
Then I smiled.
"...Yeah."
"I think I'd like that."
"I knew you'd say yes."
We talked for another few minutes before hanging up.
The room suddenly felt very quiet.
Minho wandered over, trying to sound casual.
"...Who was that?"
I smiled.
"...An old friend."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"He invited us to a party tomorrow."
"...Us?"
"He said the more people the better."
A small smile spread across Minho's face.
"...Well."
He reached down, scratching Nala gently behind one ear.
"...Looks like we've got plans."
I laughed quietly.
"...I guess we do."
Minho sat down beside me, careful not to disturb Nala, who was now snoring softly across my lap.
"...So."
He looked at me.
"...Tell me about him."
"Sunoo?"
"Mhm."
I thought for a second.
"We met during my first semester."
"He was one of the first people who actually talked to me."
"Oh?"
I nodded.
"He kind of adopted me."
"What do you mean?"
"He'd just..."
I smiled to myself.
"...Appear."
"Sit next to me in lectures."
"Steal my fries."
"Complain about assignments."
"I don't think he ever actually asked if I wanted to be friends."
Minho laughed.
"He just decided."
"Pretty much."
"...I like him already."
"I figured you would."
A comfortable silence settled between us.
Then...
"...Do you miss them?"
I looked down at Nala's tiny paw resting against my hoodie.
"...Sometimes."
"I didn't really leave because I wanted to."
"I know."
"I just..."
I shrugged lightly.
"I stopped talking to a lot of people after I dropped out."
"They'd message for a while."
"I'd tell myself I'd reply later."
"And then..."
"Later turned into weeks."
"Then months."
Minho nodded slowly.
"I get that."
"I don't think they were angry."
"No."
"I think they just assumed I needed space."
"You did."
"...Yeah."
"I probably did."
He reached over, gently intertwining his fingers with mine.
"So..."
He smiled.
"...Tomorrow."
I nodded.
"...Tomorrow."
Another thought crossed my mind.
"...He did say I could bring people."
"Mhm."
"How many is too many?"
He laughed.
"I think that's entirely up to Sunoo."
"I don't think he'd mind."
"Then who are you thinking?"
I leaned back into the couch.
"You."
"Well, I'm definitely going."
"I kind of figured."
I pretended to think very seriously.
"...Maybe Chris?"
Minho immediately shook his head.
"He'll still be working."
"...True."
"Changbin?"
"He'd probably rather go to the gym."
"...Also true."
I looked toward the hallway.
"...Felix."
Minho smiled.
"I was waiting for you to say that."
"He'd never forgive me if he found out there was a party and I didn't invite him."
"He'd somehow find out."
"He probably will."
"And..."
I thought for another second.
"...Hyunjin."
Minho nodded.
"Those two will have fun."
"They're basically attached at the hip now anyway."
I couldn't help smiling.
"...Yeah."
"They kind of are."
Minho looked suspiciously innocent.
"I wonder why."
I gave him a look.
"...Detective Lee."
He laughed immediately.
"I told you I was right."
"You also thought sharing popcorn was evidence."
"It was."
"It wasn't."
"It clearly was."
I rolled my eyes.
"...You're never letting that go, are you?"
"Absolutely not."
He looked far too pleased with himself.
"I solved the mystery."
"You guessed."
"I guessed correctly."
"Still guessed."
"I'll take the win."
I laughed, shaking my head.
"...I'll text them."
I reached for my phone again.
The group chat was already full of Felix sending pictures of Nala stealing yet another sock.
Felix: SHE HAS COMMITTED ANOTHER CRIME.
Hyunjin: Give her the sock.
Felix: Never.
Chris: It's your sock.
Felix: ...
Felix: That's not the point.
I smiled before typing.
Me: Sunoo invited us to a party tomorrow.
Me: Anyone want to come?
The responses arrived almost instantly.
Felix: YESSSSS
Hyunjin: yup
A few seconds later—
Changbin: Gym
Chris: Work :(
Seungmin: nahhh
Jeongin: Élise and I already have plans tomorrow, sorry.
I held the phone up for Minho to see.
"...Well."
He smiled.
"I think we predicted it."
"Looks like it."
I set my phone back down.
"...I haven't seen most of them in months."
"Nervous?"
I thought about it honestly.
"...A little."
"What if they ask why I disappeared?"
Minho squeezed my hand gently.
"Then you tell them as much as you want."
"No more."
"No less."
I looked over at him.
"...You're good at this."
"At what?"
"Knowing exactly what to say."
He smiled softly.
"I've had practice."
I leaned my head against his shoulder.
For the first time since hanging up the phone...
The nerves settled.
Tomorrow...
I'd be seeing people from a part of my life I'd quietly left behind.
Somehow...
That felt exciting.
And just a little terrifying.
The rest of the afternoon disappeared surprisingly quickly.
Chris disappeared into his office after another work call.
Changbin actually left for the gym this time.
Felix attempted to teach Nala how to fetch.
Nala stared at him.
Then walked away with the toy.
"...She's mocking me."
Jeongin looked up from the couch.
"I think she's smarter than you."
"I think she's lucky she's cute."
Nala answered by climbing directly into Jeongin's lap instead.
Felix looked offended.
"...Traitor."
I couldn't stop laughing.
By the time dinner was ready, everyone had somehow ended up back in the kitchen.
The table was louder than usual.
Mostly because Felix had decided tomorrow's party meant he needed to "prepare."
"I'm bringing dance moves."
Chris looked up from his plate.
"...Please don't."
"What? I'm fun."
"You become everyone's problem after three songs."
"I become everyone's entertainment."
"You become security's entertainment."
Hyunjin laughed into his drink.
"...He's got a point."
Felix gasped dramatically.
"I thought you were on my side."
"I am."
"But he's right."
Changbin looked between all of us.
"So..."
He pointed his fork at me.
"What are these college people like?"
I shrugged.
"Normal."
Felix narrowed his eyes.
"...That sounds suspicious."
"They're just people."
"Normal people don't invite you to parties."
"They literally do."
"I've never been invited."
Chris looked up.
"...That's because you once tried to DJ without being asked."
"It improved the atmosphere."
"It improved the volume."
"I see no problem."
The table erupted into laughter.
I laughed too.
It felt...
Easy.
Every now and then, I'd catch myself forgetting everything else.
Not forever.
Just...
For a few minutes.
And honestly...
Those few minutes meant more than I probably realized.
After dinner, everyone drifted into the living room.
A movie started.
Nobody was really watching it.
Later, the time the clock crept past 12 and people slowly started disappearing upstairs.
Felix yawned loudly enough for the entire house to hear.
"I'm going to bed."
Hyunjin stood too.
"I'll make sure he actually gets there."
"I know where our room is."
"Mhm."
"Do you?"
"...Mostly."
Chris laughed.
"Goodnight, guys."
"Night."
Eventually, we went up soon after.
The bedroom felt comfortably familiar.
Nala had somehow beaten us upstairs again.
She was already curled into a tiny ball on my pillow.
"...That's becoming a habit."
Minho looked at her.
"I think she's claimed it."
"I noticed."
I gently scooped her up before setting her in the little cat bed beside my desk.
She blinked once.
Turned around.
And immediately fell back asleep.
"...That was easier than I expected."
"She's tired."
"So am I."
I changed into one of my oversized T-shirts while Minho pulled on a pair of sweatpants before climbing onto the bed.
Instead of lying down straight away, I reached over to the nightstand.
"...Reading?"
Minho asked.
"Mhm."
"I only have a few chapters left."
He smiled.
"I had a feeling."
I settled head against the headboard, opening the book to where I'd left off.
I'd barely finished the first page before I felt the mattress shift.
A second later...
Minho quietly slid over until he rested against my chest.
He let out the smallest sigh.
Comfortable.
His head settled just beneath my chin while one arm wrapped loosely around my waist.
I looked down at him.
"...Comfy?"
"Mhm."
"You know..."
I turned another page with one hand.
"...You could've used your own pillow."
"I could've."
"But?"
"I like this better."
I smiled to myself.
"I noticed."
He reached up absentmindedly, taking one of the hoodie strings hanging from my shirt between his fingers.
Without really thinking about it...
He started twisting it around his finger.
Then letting it unwind.
Then doing it again.
I kept reading.
Every now and then I'd feel him shift a little closer.
Or hear him yawn quietly.
Neither of us said much.
We didn't need to.
After another chapter, I looked down.
"...Are you even awake?"
"Mhm."
"...Really?"
"...Mostly."
"You've said 'mhm' three times."
"I have?"
"Mhm."
He smiled without opening his eyes.
"Copycat..."
I laughed softly.
"I've adapted it."
I rested the book on my chest for a second.
"You know you're making it really hard to turn the pages."
"I'm helping."
"I don't think that's helping."
"I disagree."
"...On what grounds?"
"I get cuddles."
I couldn't argue with that.
"...Fair enough."
I leaned my cheek lightly against the top of his head before going back to my book.
For a while...
The only sounds in the room were pages turning.
Nala purring quietly from across the room.
And Minho's slow, steady breathing as he absentmindedly continued playing with the drawstring of my hoodie.
It was quiet.
Comfortable.
Ordinary.
And somehow...
I couldn't think of anywhere else I'd rather be.
I reached the end of the chapter with a quiet sigh.
"...Finally."
Minho tilted his head just enough to look up at me.
"You finished?"
"Mhm."
I closed the book carefully before placing the bookmark between the last two pages.
"...It only took me a week."
"I thought you liked reading."
"I do."
"I just kept falling asleep."
"I wonder why."
He looked suspiciously innocent.
I looked down at him.
"...You're literally using me as a pillow."
"I know."
"I think that might've had something to do with it."
"I don't see the connection."
I laughed quietly.
"Of course you don't."
He smiled to himself before reaching over and taking the book from my hands.
He set it on the nightstand before settling straight back against me like he'd never moved.
"...Better."
"You've gotten clingy."
"I've always been clingy."
"Okay, clingier."
"...Maybe."
His fingers found mine beneath the blanket.
He absentmindedly started tracing little circles across the back of my hand.
"So..."
He spoke after a minute.
"...Tomorrow."
"Mhm."
"You excited?"
I thought about it honestly.
"...Yeah."
"A little nervous too."
"I figured."
"I haven't seen them in..."
I stopped counting in my head.
"...A long time."
He nodded.
"You don't have to stay all night."
"I know."
"If you get tired..."
"We leave."
"If it gets too loud..."
"We leave."
"If somebody annoys you..."
I smiled.
"...We leave?"
"I was gonna say I'll beat them up, but that's more professional."
I laughed.
"...Good."
He looked pleased with himself.
Silence settled over us again.
Comfortable.
Easy.
Eventually...
"...What are you wearing tomorrow?"
Minho asked.
I blinked.
"...I hadn't thought about it."
"You definitely should."
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"You'll see people you haven't seen in months."
"...True."
"I should probably wear something decent."
He nodded seriously.
"Mhm."
"I was thinking..."
He paused dramatically.
"...The blue hoodie."
I stared at him.
"...You're choosing my outfit now?"
"I'm making suggestions."
"You've made one suggestion."
"And it's the correct one."
I rolled my eyes.
"...You just like that hoodie."
"I do."
"...Because it's yours."
"It looks better on you."
Heat crept into my face.
"...Flattery isn't going to make me agree."
"It might."
"It won't."
"...Maybe a little?"
I laughed.
"...Maybe a little."
"I knew it."
He looked entirely too proud of himself.
Outside, the wind brushed softly against the window.
The room had grown darker while we'd been talking.
Only the bedside lamp still glowed warmly beside us.
I reached over, switching it off.
The room slipped into comfortable darkness.
For a second...
Neither of us moved.
Then Minho quietly pulled the blanket a little higher around both of us.
"Goodnight..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Goodnight."
He pressed one absentminded kiss against the side of my neck before settling back against my chest.
I smiled into the darkness.
Tomorrow...
I'd be seeing people I hadn't spoken to in months.
It was strange.
A little scary.
But...
For the first time since I'd answered Sunoo's call...
The nerves didn't seem quite as loud.
Maybe because I knew...
No matter how tomorrow went...
I'd still come home here.
Somehow...
That made it a lot easier to fall asleep.
Here is your continued and edited version with the added Minho change scene integrated smoothly into the flow and keeping Jisung POV consistent:
The rest of the day disappeared much faster than I'd expected.
Breakfast turned into lunch.
Lunch somehow turned into an afternoon movie with Felix insisting he'd already seen it while still laughing at every joke.
Nala successfully stole three socks.
Two belonged to Changbin.
One belonged to Chris.
She showed absolutely no preference.
Only opportunity.
Somewhere around noon, I helped Chris fold laundry while he complained that someone, Felix, had somehow managed to put a damp towel back into the closet.
"It was one towel."
"It was a wet towel."
"Moist."
Chris looked at him.
Felix immediately looked guilty.
"Sorry..."
By the afternoon, Changbin had disappeared to wherever he was heading.
Jeongin was out with Élise.
Seungmin had locked himself in his room with another book.
Hyunjin was sketching on the back patio while Felix sat beside him pretending to help.
Pretending.
Mostly because every five minutes he'd interrupt with,
"...Draw me."
Hyunjin never did.
Eventually, even the movie I'd only half been watching ended.
I checked the time.
6:42 p.m.
The party didn't start until ten.
Somehow...
I was already thinking about it.
Not because I was excited.
Because...
I hadn't seen some of those people in months.
What if they asked where I'd been?
What if they asked about college?
Would they notice I'd lost weight?
Would they think I looked different?
Would they ask why?
I didn't even realize I'd been staring at the television until Minho sat down beside me.
"You've got the thinking face."
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
"You think whatever, it's my face."
He smiled.
"Nervous?"
I nodded before I could stop myself.
"...A little."
He leaned back against the couch.
"About seeing everyone?"
"Mhm."
"I don't really know what to say if they ask where I've been."
"You tell them whatever you're comfortable telling them."
"I know."
"I just..."
I sighed quietly.
"I don't want tonight to become about..."
I searched for the word.
"You know."
His expression softened.
"It doesn't have to."
I looked over.
"You don't owe anyone an explanation."
"If you want tonight to just be a party."
He smiled.
"Then let it just be a party."
I stared at him for a second.
"...You're annoyingly good at saying the right thing."
"I've been practicing."
"...On me?"
"Mhm."
I laughed quietly.
"...Good."
He bumped his shoulder lightly against mine.
"Come on."
"What?"
"We've got a couple of hours."
"To do what?"
He stood up.
"Figure out what you're wearing."
I groaned immediately.
"...Not this again."
"It absolutely is this again."
"I already have clothes."
"You have six identical hoodies."
"They're different."
"They're six shades of the same color."
"They have personality."
"They have laundry."
I couldn't stop laughing.
"...You're unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
He reached down, taking my hand.
"Come on."
"I refuse."
"You can refuse upstairs."
"...That's not how refusing works."
"It does today."
I let him pull me to my feet anyway.
As we walked upstairs, I already knew exactly how this was going to end.
With me wearing whatever Minho picked.
Again.
My bedroom looked like a clothing store had exploded.
"...How?"
Minho stood in the middle of the room with one hand on his hip.
"...You own more hoodies than I do."
"I absolutely don't."
"You absolutely do."
"I counted."
"...You counted?"
"I got bored."
I buried my face in my hands.
"...You're judging me."
"I'm observing."
"That's what serial killers say."
He laughed.
"I don't think that's true."
"It should be."
I opened the wardrobe anyway.
"...Fine."
"What am I wearing?"
He looked over the shelves for a few seconds before pulling out a black hoodie.
Not plain.
One of my favorites.
The sleeves were slightly oversized, and there was a small embroidered constellation across the chest.
Then he grabbed a pair of light-wash jeans.
"...This."
I blinked.
"...That's actually a good outfit."
"I know."
"...I was prepared to argue."
"You can still argue."
"...No."
I smiled, taking the hoodie from him.
"...I kind of like this."
His grin widened.
"I had a feeling."
He turned back toward the wardrobe again, still half rummaging through it like he was on a mission.
I was about to head to the bathroom when he suddenly paused.
"Hm."
"What?"
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he reached deeper into the back of the dresser drawer, past folded shirts I hadn’t touched in months.
Then he pulled something out.
A black button-up shirt.
Simple.
Soft fabric.
A little wrinkled from being forgotten.
He held it up like he’d just discovered treasure.
"...This."
I blinked.
"...Where did you even find that?"
"It was hiding."
I took it from him, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn’t even know I still had this."
"You do."
He looked way too satisfied with himself.
"And you’re wearing it."
I hesitated.
"...Instead of the hoodie?"
He nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"...Why?"
He shrugged.
"It looks good on you."
I stared at him for a second.
"...You just like dressing me at this point."
"I do."
He said it so casually it made me laugh.
"...You’re impossible."
"And yet, you still adore me."
"I do."
I sighed, looking between the hoodie and the button-up.
Then back at him.
He was already watching me like he knew I’d give in.
I groaned.
"I'll wear it."
His smile widened instantly.
"Okay! Go change."
I pointed at him.
"But if I regret this, I’m blaming you."
"You won’t."
I disappeared into the bathroom to change.
And somehow...
I already had a feeling he was right.
The bathroom mirror fogged slightly as I washed my hands.
I looked at my reflection for a second.
The black button-up actually...
Didn't look bad.
It fit better than I remembered.
I rolled the sleeves up to just below my elbows before running a hand through my hair one last time.
"...Good enough."
When I stepped back into the bedroom, Minho looked up from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed.
He blinked once.
Then smiled.
"...See?"
I looked down at myself.
"...You're annoyingly right."
"I know."
"You could've at least pretended to be humble."
"I considered it."
"For how long?"
"About two seconds."
I laughed, grabbing my phone from the nightstand.
"Let's go before I change my mind."
"You won't."
"I might."
"You definitely won't."
"...Why?"
"Trust me."
He stood up, walking over until he was right in front of me.
Then, without saying anything, he reached up and fixed my collar where it'd folded underneath itself.
"There."
"...Thanks."
"Mhm."
He took half a step back, looking me over again.
"...Still think the hoodie would've worked?"
I sighed dramatically.
"...No."
"I knew it."
"...Don't get used to being right."
"I already am."
I nudged his shoulder as we headed toward the door.
The hallway was much louder than I'd expected.
Felix's voice echoed from somewhere.
"HYUNNIE!"
"What?"
"DOES THIS SHIRT MAKE ME LOOK TOO RESPONSIBLE?"
"...It's a black T-shirt."
"Exactly,"
Hyunjin looked up from tying one of his shoes.
"How can a black T-shirt look responsible?"
"I don't know..."
"But it feels responsible."
I couldn't stop smiling as we walked into the living room.
Felix looked up first.
His eyes immediately landed on me.
He froze.
"...Whoa."
I blinked.
"...What?"
He pointed dramatically.
"Look at you."
Hyunjin turned around.
"...Oh."
He smiled.
"You clean up nicely."
Heat immediately crept into my face.
"...Thanks."
Felix slowly looked toward Minho.
"...Did you do this?"
Minho looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"Maybe."
"I knew it."
Felix nodded proudly.
"I can tell."
"...How?"
"You'd never voluntarily wear a button-up."
I stared at him.
"...That's actually fair."
"I know you."
He grinned.
"You look nice."
"Thank you."
Before I could say anything else, Minho looked between the two of them.
"...You guys ready?"
Felix immediately looked down at himself.
Black jeans.
White sneakers.
Oversized cream zip-up hoodie.
"...I think so."
Hyunjin straightened the sleeve of his light denim jacket.
"I'm ready."
Minho reached toward the little table by the front door, picking up the car keys.
"I'll drive."
"Obviously," Felix replied.
"You don't trust me?"
"No."
"Well you should."
I laughed under my breath.
Some things...
Really never changed.
As Minho reached for the front door, Chris appeared from the kitchen carrying a mug of coffee.
He looked between the four of us.
"...Everybody got their phones?"
"Mhm."
"House keys?"
"Yep."
"Wallets?"
Felix patted his hoodie pocket.
"...Probably."
Chris sighed.
"...Check."
Felix reached into his pocket.
Pulled out...
A sock.
He stared at it.
"...This isn't my wallet."
Changbin walked past at exactly the wrong moment.
"...Is that my sock?"
Felix blinked.
"...Maybe."
Nala chose that exact moment to trot proudly into the hallway carrying...
The matching sock.
I burst out laughing.
Changbin looked between Felix and the kitten.
"...I'm living with criminals."
Felix pointed at Nala.
"She's the mastermind."
Chris pinched the bridge of his nose.
"...Wallet."
"Oh."
Felix reached into his other pocket.
"...Found it."
Hyunjin shook his head.
"I still don't know how you function."
"I improvise."
"You concern me."
"And yet I'm your boyfriend."
Minho opened the front door.
"...Before somebody loses another piece of clothing..."
He looked directly at Felix.
"...Let's go."
The cool September air wrapped around us the moment we stepped outside.
The sky had already darkened, the first stars beginning to appear overhead.
I took a slow breath.
Party.
Old friends.
People I hadn't seen in months.
The nerves fluttered in my stomach again.
Minho noticed before I'd even said anything.
Without a word...
He reached down and gently bumped the back of his hand against mine.
Not taking it.
Just...
There.
A quiet reminder.
I smiled.
Then followed everyone toward the car.
Here’s the edited version with Hyunjin being noticeably more blunt/mean toward Felix, while still keeping it playful and in-character:
Minho unlocked the car with a quiet beep.
"I call front," Felix announced immediately.
"You called front last time," Hyunjin replied flatly.
"I've grown since then."
"...It's been three days."
"I've grown emotionally."
Hyunjin didn’t even look at him.
"Back."
Felix gasped.
"Wow."
"No one appreciates me."
"You'll survive," I laughed.
"I always do."
A minute later, we were pulling out of the driveway.
Minho drove.
I sat beside him.
Felix and Hyunjin were already arguing over what music to play before we'd even reached the end of the street.
"No."
Felix reached for the screen.
"This playlist."
Hyunjin immediately slapped his hand away.
"We are not listening to your workout playlist."
"It motivates people."
"It sounds like a gym that’s on fire."
"It builds character."
"It builds hearing damage."
I leaned back in my seat, smiling to myself.
Outside, the streets glowed beneath rows of streetlights.
It wasn't late enough for the roads to be empty.
But it wasn't busy either.
Just...
Comfortable.
The kind of night that made it feel like anything could happen.
"You okay?"
Minho asked quietly.
I looked over.
"...Yeah."
"Nervous again?"
"...A little."
He nodded once.
Then, without taking his eyes off the road, reached over and rested his hand lightly on my knee.
"You'll be fine."
"I know."
"They're your friends."
"I know."
"You've just convinced yourself otherwise."
I smiled weakly.
"...You know me too well."
"I've had practice."
Behind us...
Felix suddenly gasped.
"...Hyunjin."
"What now," Hyunjin replied immediately, already sounding tired.
"...Look."
"If this is another streetlight situation, I’m leaving you on the side of the road."
"...The moon."
There was a pause.
Hyunjin slowly turned his head toward the window.
"...Felix."
"Hm?"
"...That’s a streetlight."
"...Oh."
Another pause.
"...It looked emotional."
"It’s a lamp."
"It had vibes."
"It had electricity."
I couldn’t stop laughing.
Minho shook his head.
"...You guys are unbelievable."
"I thought it was pretty," Felix defended.
"It was a traffic light."
"It was aesthetic."
Hyunjin reached over and laced their fingers together, still not looking impressed.
"I’ll point out the actual moon if we ever see it again."
Felix smiled.
"...Deal."
I looked at Minho.
"...They're cute."
"Mhm."
"They're also hopeless."
"I think both things can be true."
"I think you're right."
The drive only took about twenty-five minutes.
The farther we got from home, the more cars lined the streets.
Music drifted through open windows.
Groups of people laughed on sidewalks outside restaurants.
Eventually...
Minho slowed the car.
"...I think this is it."
I looked out the passenger window.
A two-story house sat near the end of a quiet residential street.
Cars were parked along both sides of the road.
Warm yellow light spilled through every downstairs window.
Music floated faintly through the night air.
"...That's a lot more people than I expected."
Felix leaned forward between our seats.
"...Looks fun."
Hyunjin nodded once.
"...It does."
Minho parked a little farther down the street before turning the engine off.
For a second...
Nobody moved.
I found myself staring at the house.
Months.
It had been months.
"...Hey."
I felt Minho gently nudge my arm.
I looked over.
He smiled.
"You don't have to walk in by yourself."
I let out a quiet breath.
"...I know."
He climbed out first.
A second later, Felix and Hyunjin were already arguing over whether they should’ve brought snacks.
"I told you to bring something," Felix said.
"You said you didn’t want to look desperate," Hyunjin shot back.
"I meant emotionally."
"You are emotionally snacks."
"...That doesn’t even make sense."
"It does if you think about it for two seconds."
I laughed under my breath.
Somehow...
That little bit of chaos made everything feel easier.
We walked up the driveway together.
The music grew louder with every step.
People stood outside talking in small groups.
Some I recognized immediately.
Others...
Not at all.
Before I had a chance to overthink any of it...
The front door swung open.
"...JISUNG?"
I looked up.
Sunoo stood in the doorway.
For about half a second, he simply stared at me.
Then his face lit up into the biggest smile I’d ever seen.
He hurried down the front steps without another word.
"...You actually came!"
Before I could answer, he threw his arms around me in a quick hug.
I laughed in surprise.
"...Hi to you too."
He stepped back just enough to grin at me.
"I wasn't sure you would."
"I said I would."
"I know..."
"But people say things."
"You actually showed up."
He looked exactly the same as I remembered.
Bright smile.
Animated expressions.
The kind of person who somehow made everyone around him smile too.
Then his eyes moved past me.
"...And you brought people."
I nodded.
"Mhm."
"This is Minho."
Sunoo immediately held out his hand.
"It's nice to meet you."
Minho smiled as they shook hands.
"You too."
"And these two..."
I looked behind me.
"...Are Felix and Hyunjin."
Felix waved enthusiastically.
"Hi!"
Sunoo laughed.
"I've already decided I like you."
"...That happens a lot," Hyunjin muttered.
Sunoo stepped back toward the front door, holding it open.
"Come on."
"Everybody's inside."
"I've got people I want you to meet."
I took one last quiet breath.
Then followed him inside.
The inside of the house was louder than I'd expected.
Music filled almost every room, conversations overlapped with one another, and somewhere upstairs somebody cheered loud enough that half the people downstairs laughed.
It felt...
Busy.
Not overwhelming.
Just alive.
Sunoo didn't even give me time to look around before grabbing my wrist.
"Come on."
"I've got people you've got to say hi to."
I laughed.
"...You haven't changed."
"I know."
He sounded oddly proud of that.
For the next fifteen minutes...
I don't think I stood still once.
Every few steps someone recognized me.
Some faces came back immediately.
Others took a second.
There were hugs.
Questions.
People telling me I looked different.
People asking where I'd disappeared to.
Most of the conversations stayed comfortably short.
I smiled.
Answered what I wanted to answer.
Laughed more than I'd expected.
Nobody pushed.
Nobody demanded explanations.
Somehow...
That made everything easier.
Eventually, Sunoo stopped beside a guy I'd never met before.
He had dark hair, broad shoulders, and the kind of expression that somehow looked calm even in the middle of a loud party.
"Oh."
Sunoo smiled immediately.
"Perfect timing."
He looked between the two of us.
"Jisung."
"This is Sunghoon."
"My boyfriend."
Sunghoon smiled before holding out his hand.
"It's nice to meet you."
I shook it.
"You too."
"I've heard about you."
I blinked.
"...Really?"
Sunoo answered before Sunghoon could.
"I've mentioned you."
"...A lot."
Sunghoon nodded.
"...Quite a lot."
Heat immediately crept into my face.
"...Hopefully only good things."
Sunoo pretended to think.
"...Mostly."
I laughed.
"...That sounds about right."
Sunghoon smiled.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you."
"It's nice putting a face to the stories."
I looked at Sunoo.
"...Stories?"
"You disappeared."
He shrugged.
"I had to keep people updated somehow."
I rolled my eyes.
"...You're unbelievable."
"I've heard that before."
I had a feeling he probably had.
Sunoo looked around the room before clapping his hands together.
"Anyway."
"Enough standing around."
"Go enjoy yourselves."
"I'll find you later."
With that...
He disappeared into the crowd almost as quickly as he'd appeared.
I looked around.
Felix was already nowhere near me.
"...That didn't take long."
Minho followed my gaze toward the kitchen.
"There."
I looked over.
A makeshift bar had been set up along one side of the counter.
Felix stood there enthusiastically pointing at bottles while talking to whoever was behind it.
Hyunjin leaned beside him, looking significantly less interested.
A minute later...
Felix came back balancing two plastic cups.
"I return!"
Hyunjin accepted one without even looking.
"...What's in it?"
"I don't know."
"...You don't know?"
"I asked for something fruity."
Hyunjin stared at the drink.
"...You're going to poison me."
"You'll survive."
"I doubt that."
He took a sip anyway.
Made a face.
"...That's stronger than I expected."
Felix immediately tried his own.
His eyes widened.
"...Oh."
Another sip.
"...That's actually kind of good."
Minho leaned closer to me.
"...How long?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"How long do you think he'll last?"
"Oh."
I followed his gaze.
Felix was already halfway through the cup.
"...An hour."
"Maybe less."
"I was thinking forty-five minutes."
We both smiled.
For a while...
Everything stayed easy.
Music.
Conversations.
People wandering from room to room.
I spent most of my time talking with people I hadn't seen since leaving college.
Every now and then I'd glance toward the kitchen.
Each time...
Felix seemed to have another drink.
The first one disappeared.
Then a second.
Then...
Somewhere around the third...
His laugh became noticeably louder.
Hyunjin wasn't much better.
He'd started smiling at absolutely everything Felix said.
Even things that clearly weren't funny.
"...Hyunnie."
Felix said very seriously.
"Hm?"
"...You're really pretty."
Hyunjin blinked once.
"...You're drunk."
"...Maybe."
"...A little."
He took another sip.
"...You're still really pretty."
Hyunjin looked away, clearly trying not to smile.
"...You're embarrassing."
"I know."
"I've accepted it."
I leaned toward Minho.
"...We're getting close."
He watched them for another second before nodding.
"...Mhm."
"Another drink or two..."
He smiled to himself.
"...And we're going to have our hands full getting them home."
I had a feeling...
He was absolutely right.
"...We're definitely going to have our hands full getting them home."
"I think so too."
I watched as Felix confidently marched back toward the kitchen.
"...He's getting another one."
Minho sighed.
"...Of course he is."
"You gonna stop him?"
He thought about it.
"...Not yet."
"...Really?"
"He still knows where the floor is."
"That's your requirement?"
"It's a pretty important one."
I laughed quietly.
"...Fair."
Felix returned a minute later carrying two more cups.
Hyunjin looked at his.
They clinked their plastic cups together anyway.
Minho slowly pinched the bridge of his nose.
"...Forty-five minutes."
"I told you."
"You did."
I smiled to myself.
"...Jisung!"
I turned around.
Sunoo was making his way through the crowd with two cans of soda in his hands.
"I remembered."
He held one out to me.
"I figured you'd never want alcohol."
I blinked.
"...You remembered that?"
He looked genuinely confused, like the answer was obvious.
"Of course."
"You always stole everyone else's fries..."
"...But never their drinks."
I laughed.
"...That is oddly specific."
"I'm a very observant person."
"...No."
"You're weird."
"I've also been called that."
I accepted the soda.
"...Thanks."
"No problem."
For a few minutes, we just stood together watching the room around us.
"...You seem happier."
The words caught me a little off guard.
I looked over.
"What makes you say that?"
Sunoo shrugged.
"I don't know."
"You smile differently."
I frowned.
"...Smile differently?"
"Mhm."
"You used to smile..."
He searched for the right word.
"...Politely."
"Now..."
He smiled.
"...You actually look like you mean it."
I didn't know what to say.
Instead...
I found myself looking across the room.
Minho was talking to Sunghoon about something.
He noticed me looking.
Smiled.
Then went straight back to the conversation.
Without even thinking...
I smiled back.
Sunoo followed my gaze.
"...That's him."
I looked over.
"Hm?"
"The smile."
He nodded toward Minho.
"That's why."
Heat crept into my face.
"...He's definitely part of it."
"I figured."
Sunoo bumped my shoulder lightly.
"I'm happy for you."
I smiled.
"...Thanks."
"I really mean it."
"I know."
For a second...
Neither of us spoke.
Then Sunoo looked around dramatically.
"...Where are your other two?"
I turned toward the kitchen.
"...Over there."
He followed my gaze.
"...Oh."
A pause.
"...They're drunk."
I looked again.
Felix had somehow convinced Hyunjin to start copying his movements in the middle of the kitchen like it was a game.
Felix would point, spin, or dramatically gesture at something, and Hyunjin would follow a second later with delayed, slightly unsteady precision.
It looked less like dancing...
And more like two people trying to out-weird each other while forgetting they were in public.
Felix suddenly pointed at the ceiling.
Hyunjin followed.
Then Felix pointed at the fridge.
Hyunjin followed again, slower this time, almost bumping into the counter.
"...Hyunnie."
Felix laughed.
"Mhm?"
"I think you're lagging."
Hyunjin squinted at him.
"...You're lagging."
Felix gasped.
"...Rude."
Sunghoon looked over from beside Minho.
"...Have they been drinking long?"
Minho checked his watch.
"...About an hour."
"...Impressive."
"They're lightweights."
Felix suddenly pointed dramatically toward the living room.
"...Music."
Hyunjin looked confused.
"...There's been music the whole time."
"...Louder music."
Before anyone could stop him...
Felix wandered over to whoever was controlling the speaker.
Thirty seconds later...
The volume jumped noticeably.
A cheer erupted from somewhere upstairs.
Felix looked unbelievably proud of himself.
"...You're welcome!"
I buried my face in my hand.
"...Oh no."
Minho sighed.
"...I'm going."
He disappeared toward the speaker.
I watched from across the room.
"...Turn it down."
Felix looked offended.
"...You're ruining my artistic vision."
"...Your artistic vision is giving the neighbors a heart attack."
"...That's dramatic."
"So are you."
Sunoo laughed beside me.
"...I like him."
"You say that now."
"I've only known him an hour."
"I'll ask again tomorrow."
Before either of us could say anything else...
Felix somehow found Hyunjin again and grabbed his shoulders like he was about to announce something extremely important.
Hyunjin blinked slowly.
"...What?"
Felix leaned in very seriously.
"...We are the main characters."
Hyunjin stared at him for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"...Yeah."
"...We are."
Sunghoon glanced over at Minho.
"...Should we be concerned?"
Minho didn’t even look up.
"...This is normal."
I watched Felix and Hyunjin for a second longer.
Felix looked like he genuinely believed he had just discovered the meaning of life.
Hyunjin looked like he was considering it.
And somehow...
That felt like the most accurate summary of them I’d ever seen.
Minho finally met my eyes from across the room.
Then looked back at them.
Then back at me.
He didn’t say a word.
He didn’t have to.
His expression said everything.
We’re never getting these two home quietly.
Honestly...
I was starting to think he was right.
"...We're never getting these two home quietly."
Honestly...
I was starting to think he was right.
Another hour slipped by before people slowly started leaving.
The music had gotten quieter.
Empty cups covered almost every flat surface in the living room.
Someone upstairs announced they were ordering pizza.
Someone else immediately yelled that they were already asleep.
I smiled to myself.
It had been...
A good night.
Better than I'd expected.
Sunoo wandered back over just as Minho returned from confiscating Felix's fourth drink.
"...Leaving already?"
I looked at the time on my phone.
12:48 p.m.
"...Probably."
He nodded.
"I'm really glad you came."
"...Me too."
"I almost didn't."
He smiled softly.
"But you did."
"Mhm."
For a second...
Neither of us spoke.
Then he stepped forward and pulled me into a quick hug.
"...Don't disappear again."
The words were quiet.
Honest.
I hugged him back just as briefly.
"...I'll try not to."
He smiled.
"You'd better."
As we stepped apart, he looked over my shoulder.
"...Minho."
"Hm?"
"Take care of him."
Minho didn't hesitate.
"I will."
"I know."
Sunoo smiled one last time.
"I'll text you."
"I'll actually answer this time."
"I'm holding you to that."
"You should."
We said our goodbyes to a few more people before finally making our way toward the front door.
Which...
Turned out to be significantly harder than expected.
"...Felix."
"Mhm?"
"We're leaving."
"...Already?"
"It's almost midnight."
He looked genuinely shocked.
"...Where did the time go?"
"You spent most of it flirting."
"I did not."
Hyunjin looked at him.
"...You absolutely did."
"...Oh."
A pause.
"...Did it work?"
Hyunjin couldn't stop smiling.
"...Maybe."
Felix grinned proudly.
"I knew it."
Minho looked at me.
"...You take Hyunjin."
"I'll take Felix."
I nodded.
"...Deal."
Unfortunately...
The second I reached Hyunjin...
He looked at me with complete seriousness.
"...I'm attached."
I blinked.
"...Attached?"
He slowly lifted their joined hands.
Felix immediately intertwined their fingers even tighter.
"...Very attached."
Minho sighed.
"...I can see that."
Felix nodded solemnly.
"...He's comfy."
Hyunjin rested his head against Felix's shoulder.
"...You're comfy too."
Sunghoon, who had somehow wandered over at exactly the wrong moment, burst into laughter.
"I don't think they're separating any time soon."
"I noticed," Minho replied.
It took almost five full minutes to convince them to start walking.
Mostly because every few steps...
Felix stopped.
"...Wait."
"What?"
"I forgot something."
"What?"
A long pause.
"...I don't know."
Minho gently turned him toward the driveway again.
"You remembered."
"I did?"
"Mhm."
"...Okay."
We made it another few feet.
Then Hyunjin stopped.
"...Hold on."
I looked over.
"...What?"
He pointed very seriously at a flower bed.
"...Those flowers are nice."
"...They are."
"We should tell them."
Felix immediately nodded.
"...Good idea."
Before I could stop him...
He waved enthusiastically toward the flowers.
"...GOOD JOB."
I buried my face in my hands.
Minho was trying so hard not to laugh that his shoulders were shaking.
"...Felix."
"Hm?"
"The flowers appreciate it."
"...You're welcome."
Hyunjin smiled proudly.
"...We made their night."
"I think you did."
Sunoo had followed us out onto the porch.
He watched the entire interaction with a hand over his mouth.
"...Are they always like this?"
Minho looked at him.
"...No."
A pause.
"...Usually they're quieter."
"I don't believe you."
"...Neither do I."
I laughed so hard I had to lean against the car for a second.
Even Sunghoon had tears in his eyes from trying not to laugh.
Eventually...
Somehow...
We managed to get everyone into the car.
Felix immediately claimed the seat directly behind Minho.
Hyunjin sat beside him without a second thought.
The moment the doors closed...
The back seat became suspiciously quiet.
I looked over at Minho.
"...Too quiet."
He nodded.
"...Way too quiet."
He started the engine anyway.
"...Let's see how long this lasts."
I had a feeling...
Not very long.
For about thirty seconds...
The car stayed completely silent.
Minho backed out of the driveway.
I glanced at him.
He glanced at me.
"...They're plotting."
"I know."
The silence lasted another ten seconds.
Then...
A quiet giggle drifted from the back seat.
Followed by another.
I looked over my shoulder.
Felix and Hyunjin were sitting much closer than they had been a minute ago.
"...What?"
Felix whispered.
Hyunjin shook his head.
"I wasn't saying anything."
"I know."
"...You're smiling."
"So are you."
Another quiet laugh.
Minho sighed under his breath.
"...I give it another minute."
"I was thinking thirty seconds."
"You've become optimistic."
"I've accepted reality."
A few more blocks passed.
Then I heard it.
A tiny kiss.
Followed by another.
Then another.
Neither of them seemed remotely aware there were two other people in the car.
They'd kiss.
Pull back just enough to smile at each other.
One of them would laugh.
Then they'd lean in again.
It was almost...
Impressively consistent.
I looked out the windshield instead.
"...I'm pretending I don't see anything."
Minho nodded.
"I support that decision."
Another quiet fit of laughter came from the back.
I risked another glance.
Felix had both hands resting on Hyunjin's cheeks now.
Hyunjin couldn't stop smiling.
They'd barely separate before kissing again.
No conversation.
Just little laughs.
Soft giggles.
Then another kiss.
"...They're really committed."
I muttered.
"Mhm."
Minho kept his eyes on the road.
"I noticed."
A few seconds passed.
Another kiss.
Then another.
Felix laughed into it this time.
Hyunjin started laughing too, making both of them pull apart for all of two seconds before immediately leaning back in again.
Minho finally let out a long sigh.
"...Alright."
Neither of them reacted.
Another kiss.
"...Guys."
Still nothing.
I don't think they even heard him.
Felix smiled against Hyunjin's lips before they both started laughing again.
Minho tried one last time.
"...Keep your clothes on."
Silence.
The kissing stopped.
For exactly one second.
Both of them blinked toward the front seats.
Felix frowned in deep concentration.
"...We weren't..."
He looked down at himself.
"...Planning on that."
Hyunjin nodded very seriously.
"...Probably."
I buried my face in my hands.
Minho slowly closed his eyes for one very brief second.
"...The fact that you said 'probably'..."
He let out another sigh.
"...Is exactly why I said it."
Felix looked genuinely confused.
"...Fair."
Hyunjin rested his head on Felix's shoulder.
"...He's got a point."
"...He usually does."
They were quiet for almost twenty whole seconds.
I smiled.
"...I think you fixed it."
"I wouldn't celebrate yet."
Right on cue...
Another quiet giggle floated forward.
I looked back again.
This time they weren't kissing.
Felix was absentmindedly playing with a strand of Hyunjin's hair while Hyunjin traced lazy circles across the back of Felix's hand.
"...You're really pretty."
Felix mumbled for what had to be the fifth time that night.
Hyunjin smiled without opening his eyes.
"...You keep saying that."
"...Because you keep being pretty."
Hyunjin laughed softly.
The laughter melted into another kiss.
Minho glanced briefly into the rearview mirror.
Then back at the road.
"...I'm investing in a divider."
I couldn't stop laughing.
"...Like a taxi?"
"Exactly like a taxi."
"I support that."
"Thank you."
The rest of the drive continued in much the same way.
Every few minutes...
A quiet laugh.
A whispered joke neither of us could hear.
Another kiss.
Then more giggling.
At some point, they'd become completely wrapped around each other, seemingly forgetting the rest of the world existed.
I looked over at Minho.
"...Think they'll remember any of this tomorrow?"
He smiled to himself.
"...Parts of it."
"I hope they remember enough."
"Why?"
I looked back at the two of them.
Felix was smiling like he'd never been happier.
Hyunjin looked exactly the same.
"...Because I don't think I've ever seen them this happy."
Minho's expression softened.
"...Yeah."
"...Me neither."
"...Yeah."
"...Me neither."
For a little while...
Nobody said anything.
The only sounds were the tires against the road...
The radio playing quietly...
And the occasional giggle from the back seat before another soft kiss followed.
Eventually...
The familiar outline of the mansion came into view.
The porch light was still on.
"...We're home."
Minho said it mostly to himself as he pulled into the driveway.
The engine shut off.
Silence.
Well...
Silence in the front seats.
I turned around.
"...Guys."
Nothing.
Felix had somehow ended up half lying across the middle seat, Hyunjin leaning toward him just as much.
They'd stopped laughing now.
Mostly because they were too busy smiling at each other.
"...Hyunnie."
"Mhm?"
"...I like your face."
Hyunjin smiled sleepily.
"...I like yours too."
I looked at Minho.
He looked back at me.
"...They're hopeless."
"Mhm."
"I think they forgot we exist."
"I think they forgot the planet exists."
I unbuckled my seatbelt.
"Come on."
"We're home."
Felix blinked once.
"...Already?"
"Mhm."
"...That was fast."
"It was a forty-minute drive."
"...No."
He frowned.
"...It was..."
He looked out the window.
"...Like..."
A very long pause.
"...Five songs."
I couldn't argue with that logic.
"...Sure."
"Five songs."
He smiled proudly.
"I knew it."
Hyunjin finally noticed we weren't moving anymore.
"...Why'd we stop?"
Minho rested his forehead against the steering wheel for a brief second.
"...Because we live here."
"...Oh."
Another pause.
"...Convenient."
"It really is."
Getting them out of the car somehow proved even harder than getting them into it.
Felix climbed out first.
Immediately forgot how legs worked.
"...Whoa."
Hyunjin caught him before he could stumble into the mailbox.
"...Careful."
Felix looked at him with complete admiration.
"...You saved me."
"I did."
"...You're amazing."
"I know."
"...No."
Felix shook his head dramatically.
"...You're really amazing."
Heat crept into Hyunjin's cheeks.
"...You're drunk."
"...Mhm."
"...Still true."
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh.
Minho quietly locked the car.
"...Let's just get them inside."
We'd barely made it halfway to the front door before Felix stopped walking altogether.
"...Wait."
"What now?"
Minho asked.
Felix looked at Hyunjin.
Smiled.
Then gently took both of Hyunjin's hands.
"...Dance with me."
There wasn't even music anymore.
Hyunjin looked around.
"...There's no song."
Felix thought about it.
Then started humming something completely off-key.
Hyunjin immediately started laughing.
"...That's not even the right tune."
"It is in my heart."
I completely lost it.
I doubled over laughing.
Minho pressed his lips together so hard I thought he might actually succeed in not laughing.
He didn't.
"...Okay."
He laughed into his sleeve.
"...That's enough."
He walked over and gently turned Felix back toward the house.
"...Your dance floor has been relocated."
"...Oh."
Felix nodded.
"...Okay."
He took exactly three more steps.
Then leaned over and kissed Hyunjin again.
No hesitation.
No warning.
Just...
Another kiss.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them started laughing so hard they nearly lost their balance.
"...Alright."
Minho rubbed his forehead.
"I'm saying this once."
Both of them looked over.
"...Inside."
Felix saluted.
"...Yes, sir."
Hyunjin copied the salute a second later.
"...Yes, sir."
I whispered to Minho,
"...You sound like Chris."
He looked offended.
"...I do not."
"...You absolutely do."
"...Don't tell him."
"I wasn't planning to."
The front door clicked open.
The mansion was almost completely dark.
Almost.
One lamp still glowed in the living room.
And sitting on the couch...
A book in one hand...
Seungmin slowly looked up.
His eyes landed on Felix.
Then Hyunjin.
Then the fact that they were still holding hands.
Then...
The unmistakable lipstick-smudged kiss marks around both of their mouths.
He slowly closed his book.
"...I see."
Felix smiled brightly.
"...Hi, Seungmin."
Hyunjin waved.
"...Good evening."
Seungmin looked at them for another long second.
Then, completely deadpan, said,
"...Felix. Hyunjin."
"If I can't sleep tonight because of you two..."
He stood, tucking the book under one arm.
"...I will remind you of every single second of this when you wake up tomorrow."
Felix blinked.
"...Okay."
Hyunjin nodded very seriously.
"...That's fair."
Neither of them seemed remotely embarrassed.
Mostly because...
They were far too drunk to realize they probably should be.
I looked over at Minho.
He looked back at me.
Neither of us said a word.
We were both thinking exactly the same thing.
Tomorrow morning...
Was going to be absolutely unforgettable.
Unfortunately...
First we had to get them upstairs.
Which turned out to be its own adventure.
Felix had somehow decided that stairs were "very aggressive."
"They keep moving."
"They've done that your whole life," Minho replied.
"I don't trust them."
"I noticed."
Hyunjin wasn't much better.
He'd wrapped one arm around Felix's shoulders while the other rested on the banister.
"I've got him."
"You can barely walk yourself," I laughed.
"...Details."
Between the four of us...
And a lot of very patient encouragement...
We eventually managed to get them upstairs.
At one point Felix stopped halfway down the hallway just to stare at a framed picture.
"...Chris looks so serious."
"He always looks serious," Hyunjin mumbled.
"...You're right."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"...He should smile more."
Minho gently steered him toward his bedroom.
"I'll let him know tomorrow."
"...Good."
Once we finally reached their room, Hyunjin immediately flopped backward onto the mattress without even taking his shoes off.
Felix followed a second later.
"...Comfy."
"Mhm."
Neither of them moved again.
I looked at Minho.
"...Think they'll remember any of this?"
He quietly pulled the blanket over both of them.
"...Probably the first ten minutes."
"And the rest?"
He smiled to himself.
"...Not a chance."
Felix was already half asleep.
"...Night..."
"Night," I answered.
Hyunjin lifted one hand lazily without opening his eyes.
"...Night..."
We quietly switched off their light before pulling the bedroom door almost completely closed behind us.
The hallway suddenly felt much quieter.
"...Well."
I let out a slow breath.
"We survived."
"Barely."
Minho stretched his shoulders.
"My back is going to hate me tomorrow."
"You carried Felix."
"I noticed."
"You volunteered."
"I clearly wasn't thinking."
I laughed under my breath as we made our way toward our room.
By the time I'd changed into an oversized T-shirt, the house had gone almost completely silent.
Almost.
I climbed into bed first, pulling the blanket up around my waist while Minho switched off the bedside lamp.
The room settled into darkness.
A few moments later, the mattress dipped as he lay down beside me.
Without really thinking...
I turned onto my side.
He did the same.
For a second...
We simply looked at each other.
"...Long day."
"Mhm."
"But..."
I smiled.
"...A good one."
"The best."
I don't know what made me do it.
Maybe the quiet.
Maybe the way he was already smiling at me.
Maybe because...
I wanted to.
I leaned forward first.
The kiss was soft.
Unhurried.
Just a gentle brush of his lips against mine.
When we pulled apart, we were both smiling.
I laughed quietly.
He slipped one arm around my waist as I settled a little closer, resting my forehead lightly against his.
For a while...
Neither of us spoke.
The quiet felt comfortable.
Peaceful.
Then...
Very faintly...
A muffled sound drifted through the wall from somewhere down the hallway.
I blinked.
"...Did you hear that?"
Minho listened for a second.
Another quiet, indistinct sound followed.
He slowly looked at me.
"...I'm choosing to mind my own business."
I immediately buried my face against his shoulder, trying not to laugh.
"...Same."
A few seconds later...
Another muffled sound.
Followed by what sounded suspiciously like someone trying, and failing, to whisper.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"...They're alive."
"Mhm."
"...That's all I'm acknowledging."
"I agree."
Neither of us said another word about it.
Some things...
Were better left for tomorrow.
I let out one last quiet laugh before closing my eyes.
Beside me, Minho gently rubbed slow circles against my back.
The house gradually settled into silence again.
And before long...
Sleep finally found both of us.
I wasn't sure what woke me.
The room was still dark.
The house was silent.
For a second...
I just stared at the ceiling.
Something felt...
Off.
Not pain.
Not exactly.
Just...
Uncomfortable.
Like no matter how I lay, nothing felt right.
I shifted onto my other side.
Then onto my back.
Then on my side again.
The blankets suddenly felt too warm.
I pushed one leg out from underneath them.
A minute later...
I pulled it back in.
"...Sung?"
Minho's voice was rough with sleep.
I turned my head.
One eye was barely open.
"...Hm?"
"You've been moving around."
"...Sorry."
He yawned quietly before rubbing one hand over his face.
"...You gonna throw up?"
The question caught me off guard.
I thought about it for a second.
Really thought about it.
Then slowly shook my head.
"...No."
"You sure?"
"Mhm."
I shifted again, trying to get comfortable.
"...I just feel..."
I frowned.
"...Weird."
"Weird?"
"I don't know."
I let out a quiet sigh.
"...Uncomfortable."
"Not sick."
"Just..."
I searched for the word.
"...Restless."
He watched me for another few seconds.
Probably trying to decide whether he believed me.
Eventually...
He nodded once.
"...Okay."
Without another word...
He scooted closer.
One arm wrapped around my waist before gently pulling me against his chest.
"There."
I smiled sleepily.
"...What was that for?"
"So you stop rolling around."
I laughed quietly.
"...Bossy."
"Mhm."
"You love it."
"...Maybe."
He rested his chin lightly on top of my head.
His hand absently rubbed slow circles against my side.
Not because he thought it would magically fix anything.
Just...
Because it was comforting.
I let out another slow breath.
"...Better?"
He asked.
I thought about it.
"...Yeah."
"Good."
Within a minute...
The restlessness faded.
Maybe it hadn't actually been my body.
Maybe...
I'd just needed to know someone was there.
I closed my eyes again.
The steady rhythm of his breathing filled the quiet room.
Before long...
I drifted back to sleep.
The first thing in the morning I heard...
Was a groan.
A very dramatic groan.
Followed by another.
"...My head..."
I slowly opened my eyes.
Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.
I blinked a few times before looking at the clock.
9:18 a.m.
Beside me, Minho stretched with a quiet yawn.
"...Hear that?"
I smiled.
"...Felix."
Almost on cue...
His voice echoed faintly down the hallway.
"I think I've died."
Another voice answered immediately.
"...If you're talking..."
Hyunjin sounded just as miserable.
"...You're probably alive."
"...Unfortunately."
I couldn't help laughing.
Minho looked at me.
"...Think they're remembering last night?"
I grinned.
"...They're about to."
Somewhere downstairs...
A familiar voice spoke with complete calm.
"...Good morning."
A pause.
Then Seungmin added,
"...Would either of you like me to remind you how your evening ended?"
The silence that followed...
Lasted exactly three seconds.
Then Felix let out the loudest,
"Oh shit..."
I'd ever heard.
I buried my face in the pillow, laughing.
Minho did the same.
Neither of us made any effort to get out of bed just yet.
This...
We wanted to hear.
This...
We wanted to hear.
For a few more seconds, neither of us moved.
We just listened.
"...Remind us of what?"
Felix sounded noticeably more awake now.
Seungmin's voice remained completely flat.
"...I don't know."
"I wasn't there."
"I just assumed you'd embarrass yourselves."
Silence.
Then...
"...That's actually fair," Hyunjin admitted.
I laughed into my pillow.
Minho was trying just as hard not to.
A second later, we heard Felix groan again.
"...My head hurts."
"...Mine too."
"...Water?"
"...Please."
The floor creaked.
A cupboard opened downstairs.
Then...
"...Ow."
"I'm never drinking again."
Hyunjin answered immediately.
"You said that last time."
"...Did I?"
"...Mhm."
"...This time I mean it."
"You also said that last time."
I looked over at Minho.
"...Should we go rescue them?"
He smiled sleepily.
"...Five more minutes."
"...Deal."
Five minutes somehow turned into fifteen.
By the time we finally wandered downstairs, the kitchen looked significantly quieter than it had the night before.
Felix sat at the island with both elbows on the counter, his head resting dramatically in his hands.
Hyunjin occupied the stool beside him, staring blankly into a mug of coffee like it had personally offended him.
Chris looked up first.
"...Morning."
"Morning."
Changbin slid two glasses of water across the counter toward us.
"Drink."
"Good morning to you too."
"You can have a good morning after water."
"...Fair enough."
I picked up the glass.
The cold water was honestly the best thing I'd tasted all week.
Felix slowly looked over at us.
"...I have a question."
I blinked.
"...Okay."
"...How did we get home?"
Minho took a sip of water.
"...In my car."
"I know that part."
"I mean..."
Felix frowned in concentration.
"...How?"
"You walked."
"...Really?"
"...Eventually."
Hyunjin let out a tired sigh.
"I don't remember anything after..."
He paused.
"...The third drink."
Felix looked at him.
"...I remember dancing."
"You danced?"
"I think so."
"I don't remember dancing."
"I might've imagined it."
"You definitely danced," Minho replied.
"...Oh."
Another silence.
Then...
Felix reached up to rub the back of his neck.
He froze.
"...Ow."
"Hm?"
I looked over.
His fingers were still resting against the side of his neck.
He slowly stood up.
"...Bathroom."
Nobody questioned it.
About thirty seconds later...
A horrified yell echoed down the hallway.
"...OH FUCK."
I looked at Minho.
He looked at me.
"...Here we go."
Felix hurried back into the kitchen.
One hand was still clamped over the side of his neck.
"...Hyunjin."
Hyunjin looked up.
"...Hm?"
"...Come here."
"...Why?"
"...Just come here."
Looking thoroughly confused, Hyunjin shuffled after him toward the hallway mirror.
A second later...
"...Oh."
A pause.
"...Oh."
I couldn't see them from where I was sitting.
Only hear them.
Felix slowly walked back into the kitchen first.
His face was bright red.
He looked directly at me.
"...Do you think Seungmin noticed?"
I bit the inside of my cheek.
"...Felix."
"What?"
I pointed very subtly toward the other end of the kitchen.
He turned.
Seungmin was sitting at the table.
Quietly eating cereal.
Without looking up, he lifted another spoonful to his mouth.
Then, completely deadpan, said,
"...Yes."
Felix closed his eyes.
"...I was hoping you'd say no."
"I considered lying."
"...Why didn't you?"
"You asked."
"...That's fair."
Hyunjin finally wandered back into the room.
He'd somehow managed to become just as red.
He refused to look at anyone.
Changbin glanced between the two of them.
"...Something wrong?"
Hyunjin immediately shook his head.
"...No."
Felix answered at the exact same time.
"...Yes."
Chris looked over the top of his mug.
"...I'll let you two sort that out yourselves."
I looked down into my water, trying very hard not to smile.
Across the counter, Minho quietly nudged my knee with his.
I looked over.
He was already smiling.
Neither of us said it.
We didn't need to.
The morning had become exactly as memorable as we'd expected.
The morning had become exactly as memorable as we'd expected.
Before anyone could say anything else...
Felix suddenly looked at me.
"...Jisung."
"Hm?"
"...Come here."
I blinked.
"...Why?"
"Just..."
He glanced around the kitchen.
"...Come here."
Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed my wrist with his free hand.
The other was still firmly covering the side of his neck.
"...Felix?"
"We're borrowing him."
He announced it to absolutely no one in particular before dragging me toward the hallway.
I barely had enough time to look back.
Minho smiled.
"...Have fun."
"I don't think I will."
The bathroom door closed behind us.
Felix immediately spun toward the mirror.
"...It's huge."
I looked up.
"...Oh."
"...'Oh?'"
He stared at me.
"'Oh?'"
"I'm trying not to laugh."
"This is a crisis."
"It really isn't."
"It absolutely is."
He turned his head from side to side, trying to inspect the mark from every possible angle.
"...Can you fix it?"
I walked a little closer.
"There are a couple of things you can do."
His head whipped toward me.
"...You know how?"
"...Yeah."
He looked genuinely surprised.
"...How?"
I hesitated for the smallest moment.
Then shrugged.
"...Experience."
"...Experience?"
I nodded.
"...Min-jae."
The room grew a little quieter.
I looked back at the mirror.
"He..."
I searched for the right words.
"...He liked leaving marks."
"They happened pretty often."
"I got good at making them less noticeable."
Felix's expression softened immediately.
"...I'm sorry."
I smiled a little.
"It's okay."
"It was a long time ago."
He nodded slowly.
"...Still."
I appreciated that he didn't ask anything else.
He just...
Accepted the answer.
"So..."
He looked hopefully at me through the mirror.
"...Teach me."
I laughed quietly.
"Alright."
I stepped closer.
"The first thing..."
I gently moved his hand away from his neck.
"...Stop touching it."
"I wasn't touching it."
"You've been rubbing it since you found it."
"Really?"
He immediately dropped both hands to his sides.
"Yeah."
"It'll only make it more obvious."
He nodded seriously.
"Okay."
"If you've got a cold spoon..."
"I don't."
"...An ice pack?"
He looked around the bathroom dramatically.
"...Still no."
I laughed.
"Cold washcloth works too."
"That helps with swelling."
"And..."
I looked at the mirror again.
"...Concealer."
Felix blinked.
"...I don't own concealer."
"You live with Hyunjin."
"...Oh."
A pause.
"...Hyunjin owns concealer."
"I'd be surprised if he didn't."
Felix nodded thoughtfully.
"...Good point."
He looked back at the mark.
"...Do you think it'll disappear today?"
"...No."
"...Tomorrow?"
I tilted my head.
"...Probably not."
His shoulders slumped dramatically.
"...I'm never leaving the house again."
I couldn't help smiling.
"You'll survive."
"...Easy for you to say."
"It happened to me plenty of times."
He looked at me.
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
"I got pretty good at wearing hoodies."
Felix stared at me for another second.
Then...
"...Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"...Was it weird?"
"Hiding them all the time?"
I thought about it.
"...Not at first."
"Eventually..."
I looked down for a moment.
"...I think I got tired."
"Tired of making excuses."
"Tired of checking the mirror."
"Tired of wondering if somebody would notice."
The bathroom fell quiet.
Then Felix smiled softly.
"...I'm really glad you don't have to do that anymore."
I met his eyes in the mirror.
"...Me too."
He let out one long breath before looking at his neck again.
"...Well."
"I guess this is my life now."
I laughed.
"For about a week."
"...A week?"
"...Give or take."
He groaned dramatically.
"...Hyunjin owes me."
I raised an eyebrow.
"...I'm pretty sure this wasn't a one-person activity."
Felix opened his mouth.
Closed it again.
"...That's..."
He sighed.
"...Actually fair."
Before either of us could say anything else...
A knock sounded on the bathroom door.
"...You two alive?"
Minho's voice.
Felix immediately looked horrified.
"...Don't let anyone in."
I laughed.
"They're going to find out eventually."
"...Eventually."
He pointed dramatically toward the door.
"...Not today."
I smiled.
"I'll see what I can do."
Felix looked relieved.
"...Thank you."
"I make no promises."
"...That's fair."
He reached for the cold washcloth I'd handed him, pressing it carefully against the side of his neck.
I opened the bathroom door.
Immediately...
Minho looked up from the kitchen table.
"...Well?"
I smiled innocently.
"...It's under control."
Felix slowly stepped out behind me.
Very slowly.
Like moving too quickly would somehow make the hickey more obvious.
It didn't.
If anything...
The awkwardness made it even easier to notice.
He'd barely made it halfway across the kitchen before Changbin looked up.
"...Why are you walking like you've committed a crime?"
Felix froze.
"...I always walk like this."
"No, you don't."
"I might."
"You definitely don't."
Chris looked over the top of his coffee mug.
"...Everything okay?"
Felix nodded a little too quickly.
"...Perfect."
"...Great."
"...Fantastic."
Hyunjin chose that exact moment to wander back into the kitchen.
Still looking half asleep.
Still carrying his mug.
He stopped beside Felix without thinking.
Their shoulders bumped together.
Neither of them moved away.
Chris looked between them.
Then at Felix.
Then...
Very slowly...
His eyes drifted toward the side of Felix's neck.
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"...Ah."
That was all he said.
Just...
"...Ah."
Felix closed his eyes.
"...You noticed."
Chris took another sip of coffee.
"I have eyes."
Changbin frowned.
"What am I missing?"
Chris looked at him.
"...Nothing."
Changbin looked even more confused.
"...Then why does Felix look like he's about to move countries?"
Before anyone could answer...
Seungmin finally looked up from his cereal.
His eyes landed on Felix.
Then Hyunjin.
Then back to Felix.
He nodded once.
"...That explains the whispering."
Felix buried his face in both hands.
"...Can we please change the subject?"
"I support that idea," Hyunjin mumbled immediately.
Chris smiled into his mug.
"I wasn't going to say anything."
"...Really?"
"...No."
Felix groaned dramatically.
"I knew it."
Minho quietly leaned toward me.
"...Think they'll survive today?"
I looked at the two of them.
Felix still refused to uncover his face.
Hyunjin looked like he wanted to disappear into his hoodie.
I smiled.
"...Eventually."
Minho bumped his shoulder lightly against mine.
"...You're a good friend."
I looked over.
"Hm?"
"You could've teased him."
"I thought about it."
"And?"
I smiled to myself.
"...He's embarrassed enough."
Minho laughed quietly.
"...Yeah."
"He definitely is."
For a second...
I looked around the kitchen.
Chris trying very hard not to smile.
Changbin still completely confused.
Seungmin pretending none of this interested him despite listening to every word.
Hyunjin quietly standing a little closer to Felix than before.
Felix slowly accepting that absolutely everyone had figured it out.
The morning had started with a hangover.
It had somehow turned into this.
I couldn't stop smiling.
Some mornings...
Were just too ridiculous not to remember.