Archive of Our Own

The rest of the morning passed surprisingly quietly.
Considering the disaster that had been breakfast...
I thought there would've been a lot more teasing.
Instead...
Everyone seemed content just existing.
Felix had disappeared upstairs shortly after finally accepting that the hickey wasn't magically going to vanish.
Hyunjin followed about five minutes later.
Not because Felix asked.
He didn't.
He just...
Went.
I watched him disappear around the corner before looking back down at the mug in my hands.
"...What?"
Minho's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Hm?"
"You've been staring at the stairs."
"...Have I?"
"Mhm."
I blinked once before laughing quietly.
"...Sorry."
He smiled.
"I wasn't complaining."
I nudged his shoulder lightly.
"I know."
The conversation around the table carried on without us.
Changbin was somehow trying to convince Chris that a protein shake counted as a complete meal.
Chris strongly disagreed.
Seungmin sided with Chris.
Felix shouted something from upstairs about emotional support carbohydrates.
Nobody knew what that meant.
Not even Felix, probably.
I couldn't stop smiling.
It was...
Normal.
Wonderfully normal.
Around lunchtime...
Jeongin wandered downstairs with his phone already in his hand.
"...I'm heading out."
Chris looked up.
"Meeting Élise?"
"Mhm."
"Be back later."
"Drive safe."
"I will."
A few minutes later, the front door opened.
I happened to glance toward the hallway just as Élise stepped inside.
She smiled the second she saw him.
Not a huge smile.
Just...
The kind that happened automatically.
Jeongin walked over without thinking.
She leaned up.
He leaned down.
A quick kiss.
Nothing dramatic.
Just...
Natural.
Like they'd done it a hundred times before.
"...Ready?" she asked.
"Mhm."
The front door closed behind them.
The kitchen kept moving.
Nobody reacted.
Nobody teased them.
It was just...
Normal.
I found myself staring at the closed front door for another second.
"...You okay?"
Minho asked quietly.
I looked over.
"...Yeah."
He smiled.
"You disappeared for a minute."
"...Did I?"
"Mhm."
I laughed softly.
"...Sorry."
He reached over without thinking and lightly bumped his knee against mine beneath the table.
"There you are."
I smiled.
Without really thinking...
I leaned over.
Just enough to press a quick kiss against his cheek.
Then I went straight back to eating.
It wasn't something I'd planned.
I just...
Wanted to.
Minho blinked once.
"...What was that for?"
I shrugged.
"...I don't know."
He smiled to himself.
"...Okay."
A few minutes later...
I did it again.
This time...
Just a quick kiss against the corner of his jaw while he reached for his drink.
He looked over immediately.
"...Another one?"
Heat crept into my face.
"...Maybe."
"I like maybe."
I laughed quietly.
"...Good."
For some reason...
It still didn't feel like enough.
I couldn't explain it.
I wasn't sad.
I wasn't anxious.
I wasn't worried.
I just...
Wanted to kiss him again.
That thought lingered with me for the rest of the afternoon.
Not loudly.
Just quietly enough that every time he walked past me...
I wanted to reach for his hand.
Every time he smiled...
I wanted to lean over and kiss him.
Every time he sat beside me...
I wanted to sit just a little closer.
I had absolutely no idea why.
And somehow...
That confused me more than anything.
The afternoon drifted by the way quiet weekends always seemed to.
Slowly.
Changbin eventually disappeared to the gym.
Chris settled into the living room with his laptop and headphones.
Seungmin curled up on the couch with another book.
Felix wandered downstairs wearing a hoodie zipped all the way to his chin.
"...You look suspicious."
I told him.
He looked offended.
"...I'm protecting my dignity."
"You're protecting your neck."
"...Same thing."
Hyunjin appeared a second later carrying two mugs.
Without saying anything, he handed one to Felix before sitting beside him.
Their shoulders bumped together automatically.
Neither of them moved away.
Felix smiled into his tea.
"...Thanks."
"Mhm."
Hyunjin reached over absentmindedly, folding Felix's hoodie collar up just a little higher.
"There, better?"
Felix looked down.
"...You forgot the other side."
Hyunjin laughed quietly before fixing the other side too.
"...Now?"
"Perfect."
I watched them for another second.
Not because they were doing anything unusual.
Because...
It looked so effortless.
Neither of them had really thought about it.
Hyunjin had just...
Done it.
I looked away before either of them noticed me staring.
"...Sung?"
"Hm?"
Minho was standing in the hallway.
"I was going to make coffee."
"You want one?"
I looked up.
"...Sure."
He smiled.
"Okay."
He disappeared into the kitchen.
Without really thinking...
I followed him.
He turned around halfway there.
"...Forgot something?"
I blinked.
"...No."
"You were in the living room."
"I know."
"...Now you're here."
"...Yeah."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"You can stay."
"I wasn't asking."
"I know."
He laughed quietly before turning back toward the coffee machine.
I leaned against the counter beside him.
Not helping.
Not talking.
Just...
Standing there.
He poured water into the machine.
Measured out the coffee.
Waited.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It never was.
Eventually he looked sideways at me.
"...You're hovering."
"I am not."
"Mhm."
"I'm making coffee."
"You're supervising."
"I'm providing moral support."
"I appreciate it."
I smiled.
"...Good."
When the coffee finished brewing, he handed me my mug first.
Our fingers brushed.
Without really thinking...
I leaned over again.
Another quick kiss.
This one landed against the corner of his mouth.
He looked at me.
"...Three."
"What?"
"You've kissed me three times today."
Heat immediately crept into my face.
"...Have I?"
"Mhm."
"...Sorry."
He shook his head before I could finish.
"No."
A tiny smile appeared.
"I was counting."
"...Why?"
"I was curious."
"...About?"
"Whether there'd be a fourth."
I laughed, hiding behind my mug.
"...You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
He gently nudged my shoulder.
"...I'm not complaining."
"I know."
For some reason...
That made me want to kiss him again.
I didn't.
Mostly because...
I couldn't explain why I kept wanting to.
That somehow felt more embarrassing than actually doing it.
A little while later, my phone buzzed.
I looked down.
Sunoo
I answered almost immediately.
"Hey."
"Jisung!"
His face filled the screen a second later.
Behind him, I recognized his apartment almost instantly.
"...Long time."
"Like..."
He pretended to think.
"...Since yesterday."
"It's basically forever."
I laughed.
"...How've you been?"
We talked for a while.
Nothing important.
Just...
Life.
School.
People we'd both seen recently.
Every now and then Sunoo would disappear off screen to grab something.
Then come back.
Halfway through the call...
Someone knocked on his apartment door.
"I'll be right back."
He set the phone on the kitchen counter.
I could still see most of the room.
A few seconds later...
The front door opened.
Sunghoon stepped inside carrying a small bouquet wrapped in brown paper.
He smiled the second he saw Sunoo.
"I found the flowers you liked."
Sunoo's face lit up immediately.
"You actually found them?"
"Mhm."
"I had to go to two different shops."
Sunoo laughed before stepping forward to hug him.
Not a long hug.
Just...
One that looked completely natural.
Sunghoon kissed the top of his head before handing him the flowers.
"There."
Sunoo looked down at them like they'd somehow become the most interesting thing in the apartment.
"...Thank you."
"Worth it?"
He smiled.
"...Always."
I watched quietly.
Something warm settled in my chest.
Not jealousy.
Definitely not jealousy.
Just...
A strange little ache.
The kind that didn't hurt.
The kind that simply made me think.
When the call ended about twenty minutes later...
I stared at my phone for a second longer than I meant to.
Then I looked up.
Minho was reading something on the other end of the couch.
His legs were stretched out in front of him.
Completely relaxed.
Without thinking...
I stood.
Walked over.
And sat down close enough that our shoulders touched.
He glanced up from his book.
"...Hey."
"Hey."
He smiled softly before going back to reading.
I looked down at the page.
I wasn't reading a single word.
I was just...
Happy being close enough that our arms brushed every time one of us moved.
And somehow...
That still didn't feel close enough.
And somehow...
That still didn't feel close enough.
I stared down at the book resting in Minho's hands.
He turned another page.
I couldn't have told anyone what it was about.
I wasn't reading.
I wasn't even trying to.
I just...
Wanted to be beside him.
Another page turned.
Without really thinking...
I leaned over.
Just enough for my head to rest lightly against his shoulder.
He didn't even look up.
One arm automatically settled around my back.
"...Comfortable?"
"Mhm."
"Good."
That was it.
The conversation ended as quickly as it had started.
His thumb absentmindedly rubbed once against my arm before he went back to reading.
I closed my eyes for a second.
It felt...
Nice.
Really nice.
Maybe five minutes passed.
Maybe ten.
Eventually he reached for his coffee.
The movement made me sit up just enough for him to grab the mug.
The second he set it back down...
I leaned against him again.
This time...
He laughed quietly.
"...You keep disappearing."
"Hm?"
"You leave for five seconds."
"...Then come right back."
Heat immediately crept into my face.
"...Sorry."
He looked over.
"What did we agree about?"
I sighed.
"...No apologizing."
"There it is."
He smiled.
"I wasn't complaining."
"I know."
"...You're just..."
He searched for the right word.
"...Extra cuddly today."
I looked down at my hands.
"...Am I?"
"Mhm."
"...Too much?"
He laughed under his breath.
"Sung."
"Hm?"
"If I thought it was too much..."
He gently squeezed my shoulder.
"...I'd tell you."
"...Right."
"So..."
He smiled.
"...You're okay."
For some reason...
That answer made me relax.
I settled against him again without another thought.
A few minutes later...
Chris walked through the living room carrying his laptop.
He looked at us.
Then raised an eyebrow.
"...Comfortable?"
I looked up.
"...Very."
"Good."
He didn’t tease.
Didn’t linger.
Just kept walking toward the dining table where Seungmin was already sitting with his phone and a half-finished drink.
Seungmin glanced up briefly.
"...You two are weirdly domestic today."
I blinked.
"...Is that bad?"
He shrugged.
"...Didn’t say it was."
Then went back to his phone.
I watched him for a second before looking away again.
"...Did everyone get this clingy?"
I asked quietly.
Minho looked genuinely confused.
"...Everyone?"
"When they started dating."
He thought about it.
"...Honestly?"
"Mhm."
"I think so."
"...Really?"
He nodded.
"Felix and Hyunjin are basically attached at the hip."
I smiled.
"...True."
"Jeongin disappears the second Élise shows up."
"...Also true."
I sat quietly with that thought.
Normal.
Was it?
If it was...
Why did it feel so different?
Why did I keep wanting another kiss?
Another hug.
Another excuse to hold his hand.
Another reason to be close enough that our shoulders touched.
I couldn't remember ever feeling like this before.
Not even after we'd started dating.
It wasn't excitement.
It wasn't nerves.
It wasn't fear.
It was...
Something else.
Something quieter.
Something that refused to leave.
Before I realized what I was doing...
I reached up and gently tugged on the sleeve of his hoodie.
He looked over immediately.
"Hm?"
I didn't even know why I'd done it.
"...Can I have a kiss?"
The words slipped out so naturally that I didn't have time to stop them.
His eyebrows lifted just slightly.
Then he smiled.
"...Of course."
He leaned over without another question.
The kiss was soft.
Short.
Just long enough to make me smile before we pulled apart again.
"...Better?"
I blinked.
"...Maybe."
He laughed quietly.
"...Maybe?"
I felt my face warming again.
"...I don't know."
"I just..."
I looked away.
"...Wanted one."
His expression softened.
"...Okay."
He didn't ask why.
He didn't make fun of me.
He just reached over and intertwined our fingers again before going back to his book.
For some reason...
That made me smile even more.
Even though...
A tiny part of me was already wondering when I'd want another one.
Even though...
A tiny part of me was already wondering when I'd want another one.
I tried not to think about it.
Really.
I did.
The problem was...
The more I tried not to think about it...
The more obvious it became.
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.
Chris eventually finished working.
Changbin came home from the gym looking entirely too energetic.
Felix and Hyunjin disappeared somewhere upstairs again.
Seungmin wandered out to the backyard with his book.
Normal.
Everything was completely normal.
Except...
I somehow kept ending up next to Minho.
If he sat down on the couch...
I sat beside him.
If he walked into the kitchen...
I followed a minute later because I suddenly remembered I wanted water.
When he stepped outside to answer a phone call...
I caught myself looking toward the window every few seconds until he came back.
"...There you are."
He smiled as he walked back inside.
"Mhm."
"...You waiting for me?"
I blinked.
"...No."
He laughed quietly.
"...Liar."
"I wasn't."
"You were looking at the front door."
"...Maybe."
"I'll take maybe."
Heat crept into my cheeks again.
This was getting ridiculous.
Later...
While the others decided over what movie everyone should watch that evening...
I wandered into the kitchen.
Mostly because it was quieter.
I leaned against the counter, staring absentmindedly out the window.
"...Hey."
I turned around.
Minho had walked in without me noticing.
"What're you doing?"
I looked back outside.
"...Nothing."
"Mhm."
He walked over until he was standing beside me.
Neither of us spoke.
The silence was comfortable.
I glanced sideways.
He was looking out the same window now.
Without really thinking...
I reached over.
Just enough to hook one finger around the sleeve of his hoodie.
He looked down.
Then at me.
A smile slowly appeared.
"...You know..."
"What?"
"You've been stealing my sleeve a lot today."
I immediately let go.
"...Sorry."
His eyebrow lifted.
"...Again."
"...Right."
"No apologizing."
I sighed dramatically.
"...I'm still getting used to that."
"I know."
Instead of moving away...
He quietly bumped his shoulder against mine.
"There."
"...What?"
"You can steal the sleeve again."
I couldn't help laughing.
"...You're making fun of me."
"I would never."
"Liar."
"Maybe a little."
I reached for the sleeve again.
He smiled like he'd been expecting it.
"...Better?"
"Mhm."
The answer came so quickly that it surprised even me.
He didn't comment on it.
He simply let me keep holding onto the fabric while we stood there together.
I stared out the window again.
For some reason...
The feeling still hadn't gone away.
If anything...
It had gotten stronger.
I wanted to hold his hand.
I wanted another hug.
Another kiss.
I wanted to lean against him.
Sit beside him.
Listen to him talk.
Just...
Be near him.
I frowned slightly.
"...That's weird."
"What is?"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
"I keep wanting to be around you."
He looked genuinely confused.
"...You are around me."
"I know."
"But..."
I shook my head.
"I don't know."
"I keep..."
I searched for the words.
"...Wanting more."
The sentence hung between us.
I wasn't even sure what I meant by it.
More what?
More time?
More hugs?
More kisses?
More...
Everything?
Minho watched me for another second.
Then smiled softly.
"...I'm not exactly complaining."
I laughed.
"...Good."
"But..."
He gently nudged my shoulder.
"I've got a feeling you'll figure out what's going on."
"...You think so?"
"Mhm."
"I know that face."
"What face?"
"The one where you're trying to solve your own brain."
"...Is it obvious?"
"Very."
I groaned quietly.
"...Great."
He laughed.
"...You'll tell me when you figure it out."
I nodded.
"...Yeah."
I meant it.
Because...
I wanted to understand it too.
Why, all of a sudden...
Being beside him somehow never felt like enough.
Even when he was already right there.
I never did figure it out.
Dinner came and went.
The movie Chris eventually picked turned into background noise almost immediately because Changbin kept talking over it.
Felix laughed too loudly at scenes that weren't funny.
Hyunjin kept stealing popcorn from Felix's bowl.
Felix kept pretending to be offended.
"...Get your own."
"I'm testing yours."
"It's literally the same."
"...It tastes different."
"It absolutely doesn't."
"It tastes happier."
I smiled to myself.
Some things...
Never changed.
At one point, Changbin got up to refill everyone's drinks.
Without thinking...
I reached for Minho's hand beneath the blanket draped over the couch.
He looked down.
Then up at me.
A tiny smile appeared.
He laced our fingers together.
Didn't say a word.
Just...
Held my hand.
For some reason...
That still didn't feel like enough.
A few minutes later, during a scene I wasn't paying attention to, I rested my head against his shoulder again.
"...Comfortable?"
He whispered.
"Mhm."
"You've said yes three times today."
"...Maybe I'm really comfortable."
He laughed under his breath.
"I'll accept that answer."
Another five minutes passed.
I looked up at him.
He noticed immediately.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
"Liar."
"...Can I have another kiss?"
The question slipped out before I even realized I'd asked it.
He blinked once.
Then smiled.
"...Of course."
He leaned down just enough for another quick kiss.
When we pulled apart...
I smiled.
"...Thanks."
"Mhm."
He went back to watching the movie.
I tried.
Really tried.
To watch it too.
Instead...
About fifteen minutes later...
I found myself looking at him again.
He noticed this time without me saying anything.
"...Again?"
I covered my face with one hand.
"...I'm sorry."
"What did we agree?"
I sighed.
"...No apologizing."
"There you go."
I looked at him through my fingers.
"...I don't know what's wrong with me."
His expression softened.
"I don't think anything's wrong."
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
"I think..."
He thought for a second.
"...You just want a kiss."
I laughed quietly.
"...Maybe."
"Well..."
He smiled.
"...That's an easy problem to solve."
He leaned over first this time.
Another quick kiss.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing lingering.
Just enough to make me smile all over again.
Chris glanced over from the other end of the couch.
"...You two know you don't have to ration those, right?"
Heat immediately rushed to my face.
"...Chris."
"What?"
"I'm just saying."
Felix looked over.
"...Wait."
"You kissed again?"
I buried my face against Minho's shoulder.
"...Please ignore them."
Minho laughed quietly.
"I was planning to."
Changbin pointed dramatically with a handful of popcorn.
"...That's, like, the fifth one today."
"...You've been counting?"
I asked.
"No."
He paused.
"...Chris has."
Chris shrugged.
"I got bored halfway through the movie."
"I hate all of you."
"No, you don't," Felix replied immediately.
"...You're right."
"I really don't."
The room filled with laughter again.
I laughed too.
But even while everyone else was joking...
I found myself absentmindedly tracing little circles across the back of Minho's hand with my thumb.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He didn't say anything.
He simply turned his hand over and intertwined our fingers again.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I smiled.
Somewhere in the back of my mind...
A tiny voice whispered.
You should kiss him again.
I blinked.
Then immediately looked away from him.
"...This is getting ridiculous."
"Hm?"
Minho asked.
"...Nothing."
He looked at me for another second.
Clearly unconvinced.
But he let it go.
For now.
I had a feeling...
He was going to ask about it sooner or later.
And honestly...
I was starting to think I wanted to know the answer just as much as he did.
The movie eventually ended.
Not that I could've told anyone what it had been about.
Chris stood first, stretching his arms above his head.
"...I'm going to bed."
"Same," Changbin replied.
Felix yawned dramatically.
"I've forgotten how exhausting it is recovering from a hangover."
Hyunjin looked at him.
"...You recovered?"
"...Emotionally?"
"...No."
"I didn't think so."
I laughed quietly.
One by one...
Everyone wandered upstairs.
The house gradually settled into its usual nighttime quiet.
Minho stood beside the couch, waiting for me.
"...Ready?"
"Mhm."
I stood too.
The second we started walking...
Without even realizing it...
I reached for his hand.
He looked down.
Then back at me.
A tiny smile appeared.
"...There it is."
"What?"
"You found my hand before we even left the room."
Heat crept into my face.
"...Did I?"
"Mhm."
"...Sorry."
He laughed softly.
"...Wrong word."
I sighed dramatically.
"...Right."
"No apologizing."
"There you go."
He gently squeezed my hand before we continued upstairs together.
The bedroom felt peaceful.
The window was cracked open just enough for the cool September air to drift inside.
I changed into one of my oversized T-shirts while Minho disappeared into the bathroom for a minute.
When he came back...
His hair was still slightly damp.
He looked at me.
"...You stole my pillow."
I looked down.
Sure enough...
I'd somehow ended up sitting on his side of the bed.
"...I did."
"You absolutely did."
"...Oops."
He laughed.
"I'll allow it."
Instead of moving...
I simply patted beside me.
"...Come here."
His eyebrows lifted.
"...Bossy."
"I learned from you."
"I don't remember teaching that."
"You did."
"When?"
"...Just now."
He shook his head, smiling to himself as he climbed onto the bed beside me.
The second he sat down...
I leaned against him again.
Not dramatically.
Just naturally.
Like it was the most obvious place in the world to be.
"...There it is again."
I looked up.
"...What?"
"You've done that all day."
"...Done what?"
"Found me."
He said it so casually that it took me a second to understand.
"I walk into a room..."
"You somehow end up next to me."
"I sit down..."
"You sit beside me."
"I stand up..."
He looked at our shoulders touching.
"...And somehow you're already here."
I stared at him.
"...Is it annoying?"
The question came out much quieter than I meant it to.
His expression softened immediately.
"What?"
"...Me."
"...Being like this."
He frowned.
"Sung."
"No."
He reached over and gently took both of my hands in his.
"I asked because I was curious."
"Not because I wanted you to stop."
I looked down.
"...Okay."
"I like having you close."
He smiled.
"I've just never seen you like this before."
Silence settled between us.
I thought about everything he'd just said.
Every room.
Every hallway.
Every couch.
Every little kiss.
Every time I'd reached for his hand without thinking.
"...Huh."
He tilted his head.
"What?"
I let out a quiet breath.
"...I guess I have been."
"Mhm."
I leaned my head against his shoulder again.
"...I don't know why."
He didn't answer.
He simply rested his cheek lightly against the top of my head.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
The room stayed quiet.
Peaceful.
Outside...
A cool breeze stirred the curtains.
Inside...
I found myself wondering the same question over and over again.
Why...
Did I suddenly want to be close to him all the time?
And why...
Did it somehow still never feel like quite enough?
The room stayed quiet for another few minutes.
The window rustled softly in the evening breeze.
Somewhere outside...
A cricket chirped.
I was still leaning against him.
His heartbeat was steady beneath my ear.
I don't think I'd moved more than a few inches away from him since we'd come upstairs.
Eventually...
I felt him smile.
"...Can I ask you something?"
"Mhm."
His fingers absentmindedly combed through my hair as he spoke.
"You've been really clingy today."
I immediately lifted my head.
"...Too clingy?"
The words came out much faster than I'd meant them to.
He blinked.
"What?"
His eyebrows knitted together almost instantly.
"No."
He answered so quickly that I barely had time to finish the question.
"No."
He repeated a little more softly.
"I didn't mean it like that."
He smiled.
"I like it."
"...You do?"
"Mhm."
"You've never really been like this before."
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"I was wondering if something happened."
I looked down at our hands.
"...Nothing happened."
"Okay."
"I just..."
I sighed quietly.
"I don't really know how to explain it."
"You don't have to explain it perfectly."
"I know."
I laughed under my breath.
"I've just..."
I searched for the words.
"It feels like..."
Another pause.
"...I have all this affection."
I frowned.
"And I don't know what to do with it."
He stayed quiet.
Listening.
"I just..."
I looked back up at him.
"I keep wanting to be close to you."
"I keep wanting to hold your hand."
"I keep wanting to hug you."
I smiled a little, almost embarrassed.
"...And kiss you."
The last part came out so quietly I almost wasn't sure I'd actually said it.
He smiled.
"I noticed."
Heat rushed straight to my face.
"...Yeah."
"I figured."
I covered my face with one hand.
"This is embarrassing."
He gently pulled my hand away.
"...Why?"
"I don't know."
"It just is."
He shook his head.
"I don't think it is."
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
He thought for a second.
"I think..."
His thumb slowly brushed across my knuckles.
"...You've spent a long time learning how to let people love you."
I looked at him.
"Maybe..."
He smiled softly.
"...Now you're learning how to love without holding yourself back."
The words settled quietly between us.
I hadn't thought about it like that.
At all.
"I don't think..."
I looked down again.
"I've ever had this much affection before."
He nodded slowly.
"I know."
"I don't know where to put it."
Another smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"...You seem to have picked me."
I laughed.
"...Yeah."
"I guess I did."
"I'm okay with that."
"You are?"
"Mhm."
He leaned a little closer.
"If your biggest problem is wanting to kiss me too much..."
He smiled.
"...I think we'll survive."
I couldn't help laughing.
"...You make it sound really simple."
"I think it is."
"...It doesn't bother you?"
"Sung."
He waited until I looked back at him.
"You've spent the entire day looking for excuses to be next to me."
"...Yeah."
"I've spent the entire day hoping you wouldn't stop."
I stared at him.
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
"I just didn't want to make a big deal out of it."
He smiled.
"I figured you'd tell me when you were ready."
A warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with embarrassment anymore.
"...Come here."
He barely finished speaking before I leaned into him again.
He laughed quietly.
"There it is."
"What?"
"My clingy boyfriend."
I rolled my eyes.
"...I'm not that clingy."
He smiled.
Without saying another word...
He leaned down and kissed my forehead.
Then my nose.
Then, finally...
My lips.
Slow.
Gentle.
Unhurried.
When we finally pulled apart, I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
"...Better?"
I nodded immediately.
"...Much."
He laughed.
"...Good."
I settled comfortably against his chest again.
This time...
The feeling hadn't disappeared.
But it finally made sense.
I didn't want more because something was missing.
I wanted more because, for the first time in my life...
Loving someone felt safe enough that I wasn't afraid to show it anymore.
Morning came quietly.
Not because the house was empty.
Because nobody seemed particularly interested in waking up.
Sunlight stretched lazily across the bedroom floor, warming the end of the bed long before either of us made any attempt to move.
I was only half awake.
The kind of half awake where opening my eyes felt optional.
For a while...
I just listened.
The fan turning slowly above us.
Birds somewhere outside.
The steady rhythm of someone breathing beside me.
Minho.
Without thinking...
I shifted a little closer.
A sleepy hum escaped him almost immediately.
His arm tightened around my waist without him even opening his eyes.
"...Morning."
His voice was rough with sleep.
"...Morning."
Neither of us moved.
I wasn't really awake enough to.
After another minute or two, he cracked one eye open.
"...You stole the blanket."
I looked down.
Sure enough...
Almost all of it was wrapped around me.
"...Did I?"
"Mhm."
"...Oops."
He laughed quietly.
"I'll survive."
I smiled to myself.
"...You're very brave."
"I know."
He closed his eyes again.
"So are you."
"For what?"
"...Stealing from me."
I snorted.
"You literally gave me the hoodie yesterday."
"That's different."
"...How?"
"You asked."
"I absolutely didn't."
"You implied it."
"I wore it."
"Exactly."
I laughed, shaking my head.
"...You're unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
The room fell quiet again.
I rested my head against his shoulder.
He absentmindedly brushed a few strands of my hair away from my face.
Not because we were talking.
Just because they were there.
A minute later...
I felt his lips against the top of my head.
A tiny kiss.
Barely there.
"...Morning kiss?"
I asked.
"Mhm."
"...Thought you deserved one."
Heat crept into my cheeks before I could stop it.
"...I haven't even brushed my teeth yet."
"I haven't either."
"...That's gross."
"We'll survive."
I laughed.
"...You're lucky I like you."
"I've noticed."
Eventually...
We both accepted that we actually had to get up.
I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Before I could stand...
I felt warm fingers wrap gently around my wrist.
I looked back.
Minho was still lying down.
"...Forgot something."
"What?"
He smiled sleepily.
"You didn't kiss me good morning."
I blinked.
"...I didn't?"
"You usually do."
I thought about it for a second.
"...Huh."
I hadn't even realized.
Laughing quietly, I leaned back over the bed and pressed a quick kiss against his lips.
"There."
He smiled immediately.
"...Better."
"Happy now?"
"Mhm."
I shook my head.
"...You're spoiled."
"I've learned from the best."
"...I don't think that's true."
"It definitely is."
I laughed again before finally standing up.
As I walked toward the bedroom door, I barely made it two steps before turning around again.
"...What?"
Minho asked.
I walked back.
Leaned down.
Another quick kiss.
Then I immediately looked at the floor.
"...I forgot."
He stared at me for a second.
Then started laughing.
Not loudly.
Just enough that his shoulders shook.
"...What?"
I asked.
He smiled so warmly it made my chest feel lighter.
"...Nothing."
He sat up slowly.
"I think you were right."
"About what?"
He walked over until he was standing in front of me.
Close enough that our shoulders touched.
"You really do have a lot of affection."
I felt my face warming again.
"...Yeah."
"I think I do."
He smiled.
"...Good."
Without another word, he reached for my hand.
Our fingers slipped together as naturally as breathing.
"Come on."
"Breakfast?"
"Mhm."
I nodded.
"...Okay."
And somehow...
Walking downstairs hand in hand felt like the most ordinary thing in the world.
The smell of pancakes reached us before we even stepped into the kitchen.
"...Morning."
Chris looked up first.
"Morning."
Changbin was standing at the stove with a spatula in one hand and an apron that proudly read Flipping Fantastic.
"...Don't laugh."
He pointed the spatula at me.
"I know exactly what you're thinking."
"I wasn't thinking anything."
"Liar."
"I was judging the apron."
"It's fashionable."
"It certainly is..."
I pretended to think.
"...Something."
Felix immediately burst into laughter.
"I told you not to wear that!"
"You bought it for me!"
"I didn't think you'd actually use it!"
"I support local businesses."
Chris didn't even glance up from his coffee.
"It was a supermarket."
"I support supermarkets."
"I've heard enough."
I couldn't stop smiling.
Minho quietly let go of my hand as we reached the table.
At least...
He tried to.
Without thinking...
I followed him.
When he stepped toward the cupboard...
I stepped toward the cupboard.
When he reached for a plate...
I reached for one too.
When he walked back toward the table...
I turned around at exactly the same time.
"...Sung."
"Hm?"
He looked amused.
"...What're you doing?"
I blinked.
"...Getting a plate."
"You already had one."
I looked down.
Sure enough...
There was already a plate in my hands.
"...Oh."
"I guess I did."
He laughed quietly.
"...You copied me."
"I absolutely did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I was being efficient."
"By following me?"
"...Maybe."
I sat down before anyone else could comment.
Unfortunately...
It was already too late.
Chris looked between the two of us.
Then smiled into his mug.
"...Interesting."
Changbin turned around from the stove.
"What?"
Chris simply nodded toward me.
Changbin watched for about five seconds.
Then...
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"...No way."
I frowned.
"...What?"
He pointed his spatula directly at Minho.
"Stand up."
Minho blinked.
"...Why?"
"Trust me."
Looking thoroughly confused, Minho stood.
I watched him for exactly one second before standing too.
The room went completely silent.
I looked around.
"...What?"
Nobody answered.
Instead...
Minho slowly took one step toward the sink.
Without thinking...
I took one too.
He stopped.
I stopped.
He looked at me.
I looked back.
"...Oh."
I sat back down so quickly my chair squeaked across the floor.
The kitchen exploded with laughter.
"...I did not."
Felix could barely breathe.
"You absolutely did!"
"I wasn't following him!"
Changbin was laughing too hard to flip the pancake anymore.
"You moved at exactly the same time!"
"I..."
I looked at Minho.
"...Did I?"
He was trying very hard not to laugh.
"...Maybe a little."
Chris took another sip of coffee.
"I think we've discovered today's entertainment."
I buried my face in my hands.
"...I'm never recovering from this."
"Nope," Felix replied immediately.
"Definitely not."
Hyunjin wandered into the kitchen halfway through the laughter, still rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"...What happened?"
Seungmin followed behind him.
Chris answered without missing a beat.
"Jisung accidentally latched on ."
Hyunjin blinked.
"...Like a duckling?"
Changbin nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly like a duckling."
"I am not."
Felix pointed dramatically across the room.
"Minho."
"...Take three steps."
"...Felix."
"Do it."
Looking thoroughly entertained now, Minho took one careful step to the left.
I watched him.
Then immediately looked away.
"...I'm staying right here."
Nobody believed me.
He took another step.
Without even thinking...
I started to stand.
I froze halfway up.
The room erupted again.
"...No."
I sat back down immediately.
"No."
"Nope."
"That didn't happen."
Minho was laughing openly now.
"I'm sorry."
"No, you're not."
"...You're right."
"I really am not."
I pointed accusingly at him.
"This is your fault somehow."
"I don't think it is."
"It feels like it is."
He walked back over to the table, still smiling.
Then...
Without saying anything...
He sat down in the chair right beside mine.
I let out a quiet breath.
"...Better?"
He asked.
I looked at him.
Then realized what he'd just implied.
"...Maybe."
Changbin immediately slapped the countertop.
"I KNEW IT!"
Felix looked like he was about to fall off his chair.
"I've never seen someone accidentally admit that before."
I covered my face again.
"...Can we please eat breakfast now?"
Chris smiled.
"I think that's an excellent idea."
He paused.
"...Before Minho walks into another room and Jisung follows him by instinct."
"...Chris."
"What?"
"...I liked you better yesterday."
"I doubt that."
"...You're right."
"I didn't."
The laughter started all over again.
Even I couldn't help joining in.
The sound of everyone laughing filled the kitchen again, warm and messy and familiar in a way that didn’t feel overwhelming anymore.
I stayed where I was.
Right beside him.
Minho didn’t move either.
He just leaned back slightly in his chair, like it was the most natural thing in the world for us to end up like this—side by side, caught in the middle of everyone else’s noise.
His shoulder brushed mine.
He didn’t say anything about it.
Neither did I.
Chris eventually sighed, still smiling into his coffee.
"Eat before the pancakes get cold."
Changbin immediately pointed at him.
"See? Responsible adult behavior."
Felix gasped.
"Did you just compliment Chris?"
"I’m evolving."
"That’s terrifying."
More laughter followed, softer this time.
I picked up my fork.
Minho did the same.
And for once…
I didn’t think about moving away.
Not even a little.
The rest of breakfast passed without any more public humiliation.
Well...
Almost.
Every now and then I'd catch Felix looking at me.
Then at Minho.
Then grinning to himself.
"...Stop."
He blinked innocently.
"What?"
"I know that look."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You absolutely do."
"I absolutely don't."
Hyunjin nudged his shoulder.
"...Leave him alone."
"I'm not doing anything."
"You've been staring at him for five minutes."
"I've been observing."
"That's somehow worse."
I couldn't help laughing.
"...Thanks."
Hyunjin smiled.
"No problem."
Felix sighed dramatically.
"No one appreciates science."
Chris looked up from his empty plate.
"I don't think that's science."
"It is in my heart."
"I think your heart needs supervision."
After breakfast...
The house split into its usual little groups.
Chris disappeared into his office for a while.
Changbin decided he was going grocery shopping.
Seungmin wandered outside with another book.
Jeongin had gone to meet Élise again.
Which somehow didn't surprise anyone anymore.
That left...
The four of us.
Felix stretched his arms above his head.
"...I'm bored."
Hyunjin looked at him.
"It's been three minutes."
"I've been bored for all three."
Minho leaned back against the couch.
"...Movie?"
Felix shook his head.
"We watched one yesterday."
"Games?"
"No."
"Walk?"
"No."
I raised an eyebrow.
"...What do you actually want to do?"
He thought about it.
"...I don't know."
Hyunjin laughed quietly.
"I knew that was coming."
"I like having options."
"You rejected all of them."
"I know."
Silence settled over the room.
Then...
Felix suddenly snapped his fingers.
"I've got it."
"What?"
"We're building a blanket fort."
I blinked.
"...A what?"
"A blanket fort."
"We're in our twenties."
"So?"
"We're adults."
"So?"
Hyunjin smiled.
"...He's got a point."
I looked at Minho.
He shrugged.
"...I've always wanted a really good blanket fort."
"...Seriously?"
"Mhm."
Felix immediately jumped to his feet.
"See?"
"I have support."
He pointed dramatically toward the hallway.
"Operation Fort begins now."
Within minutes...
The living room had become complete chaos.
Blankets disappeared from every bedroom.
Pillows somehow multiplied.
Dining chairs were dragged into the middle of the room.
Felix stood in the center directing everyone like a movie director.
"Minho."
"Hm?"
"Higher."
"I'm literally standing on the couch."
"Grow a couple inches or something."
"That isn't possible."
"Well, it was worth a try."
Hyunjin quietly reached over and adjusted one corner of the blanket.
"There."
Felix gasped.
"...You're a genius."
"I know."
I climbed onto the other side of the couch to help straighten another blanket.
As I reached higher...
The fabric slipped.
"...Whoa."
Before I had time to react...
A familiar hand caught my wrist.
"You okay?"
I looked over.
Minho was still holding onto me.
"...Yeah."
"You sure?"
"Mhm."
He let go once he was certain I'd found my balance again.
I smiled.
"...Thanks."
"No problem."
Felix looked between us.
Then dramatically clapped once.
"No flirting while constructing."
I blinked.
"...That wasn't flirting."
"You smiled."
"I always smile."
"You smiled extra."
Hyunjin sighed.
"...Just let them build the fort."
"I am."
"I'm supervising."
"You've supervised everything today."
"I have natural leadership."
"You have natural chaos."
"...Also true."
By the time we finished...
The entire middle of the living room had disappeared beneath blankets, pillows and fairy lights Felix had somehow found in a drawer.
I stared at it.
"...That's actually impressive."
Felix proudly folded his arms.
"I know."
Minho ducked underneath first.
"...Whoa."
I followed right behind him.
Inside...
It was surprisingly cozy.
Soft yellow lights glowed against the blankets overhead.
Pillows covered almost the entire floor.
There was just enough room for the four of us to stretch out without bumping into each other.
Felix crawled in last before dramatically flopping onto the pillows.
"...This."
He looked around proudly.
"...Is art."
I laughed quietly as I settled down beside Minho.
Not because I was thinking about it.
Not because I was trying.
Simply because...
That was where I wanted to be.
This time...
Nobody pointed it out.
Nobody teased me.
It had already become so natural...
That none of us seemed to notice anymore.
"...This."
Felix looked around proudly.
"...Is art."
I laughed quietly as I settled down beside Minho.
Not because I was thinking about it.
Not because I was trying.
Simply because...
That was where I wanted to be.
The fairy lights cast soft yellow patterns across the blankets overhead.
Outside...
The afternoon sun had started slipping lower.
Inside the fort...
Everything felt strangely peaceful.
For almost five whole minutes.
Then,
Felix suddenly sat upright.
"I have an idea."
Hyunjin looked at him.
"...I'm already nervous."
"We're playing Truth or Dare."
Minho groaned immediately.
"...Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"Because your dares are concerning."
"They're creative."
"They're dangerous."
"They're memorable."
"They almost got Changbin stuck in a shopping cart."
"...That happened one time."
"It happened."
I laughed.
"...I'm with Min."
Felix looked personally offended.
"You haven't even heard the rules."
"I know enough."
Hyunjin smiled.
"I vote yes."
I blinked.
"...You do?"
"Mhm."
"I want to see what Felix asks."
"...That's exactly why I voted no."
Felix clapped once.
"Democracy."
"Three against one."
Minho looked at me.
"...Traitor."
I smiled innocently.
"...I never voted."
"You smiled."
"I did."
"That counts."
"I don't think it does."
"It absolutely does."
Felix pointed dramatically between us.
"See?"
"You're already flirting."
"No, we're not."
"You literally smile at each other every thirty seconds."
I opened my mouth.
Then closed it again.
"...Fair."
Felix grinned triumphantly.
"I'll go first."
He looked around the fort.
"...Hyunjin."
Hyunjin sighed dramatically.
"I knew it."
"Truth or dare?"
"...Truth."
Felix looked disappointed.
"...Coward."
"I've known you too long."
Felix pretended to think.
Then smiled.
"When did you realize you liked me?"
Silence.
Hyunjin blinked.
"...Straight to that?"
"You said truth."
"...I regret saying truth."
Felix folded his arms.
"I'm waiting."
Hyunjin looked down at the blanket for a second.
Then smiled to himself.
"...Probably..."
He laughed quietly.
"...When I realized I kept looking for you first."
Felix's expression softened immediately.
"...Really?"
"Mhm."
"If something funny happened..."
"I wanted to tell you."
"If something good happened..."
"I wanted you to know."
He shrugged.
"I think..."
"I was already in trouble by then."
The fort went quiet.
Felix smiled so hard his cheeks turned pink.
"...That's disgusting."
Minho muttered.
I nudged him lightly.
"...You think everything's disgusting."
"I do."
He admitted.
Felix pointed at him immediately.
"Your turn."
"...Truth."
Felix's grin somehow got wider.
"...When was your first kiss with Jisung?"
Heat immediately rushed into my face.
"...Felix."
"What?"
"You asked."
Minho looked at me.
Then back at Felix.
"...A little after sunset."
He smiled to himself.
"...On our first date."
Felix sighed dreamily.
"I love love."
"I know."
Chris wasn't there.
Yet somehow...
I could hear him sighing anyway.
Hyunjin gently bumped Felix's shoulder.
"Jisung's turn."
Felix looked at me.
"...Jisung."
"...Truth."
He didn't even hesitate.
"...How many times have you kissed Minho today?"
I froze.
"...What?"
Felix looked incredibly pleased with himself.
"You heard me."
I looked at Minho.
He looked back.
Then...
Without warning...
He started counting on his fingers.
"...One..."
"...Two..."
"...Three..."
"...Four..."
He paused.
"...Five?"
I stared at him.
"...You've been counting?"
He looked almost embarrassed.
"...Accidentally."
Felix immediately pointed at him.
"YOU'VE BEEN COUNTING?"
"I wasn't trying to!"
"You absolutely were!"
"I noticed after the third one!"
I buried my face in my hands.
"...I'm leaving."
"There is no leaving."
Felix looked around the fort dramatically.
"The exits are sealed."
"They're blankets."
"They're emotional blankets."
"...That doesn't mean anything."
"It means everything."
Hyunjin laughed so hard he nearly fell sideways into Felix.
I peeked at Minho through my fingers.
"...Was it really five?"
He thought about it.
"...I think six."
"...Six?"
"Mhm."
"...I kissed you just before we came downstairs."
I groaned.
"...I'm never recovering."
Felix pointed triumphantly.
"I REST MY CASE."
"What case?"
"You are, in fact..."
He looked at Minho.
"...A clingy boyfriend."
The room fell quiet.
I waited for myself to get embarrassed.
Instead...
I looked at Minho.
He looked back at me.
Then smiled.
"...He's not wrong."
For some reason...
Instead of hiding...
I found myself smiling too.
"...Yeah."
I laughed quietly.
"...I guess I'm not."
Felix looked completely caught off guard.
"...Wait."
"...You're just admitting it?"
I shrugged.
"...Apparently."
Minho reached over beneath the blanket and quietly intertwined our fingers.
"...I still don't mind."
I squeezed his hand once.
"...Good."
Felix looked between the two of us before dramatically throwing himself backward onto the pillows.
"I can't even make fun of you anymore."
Hyunjin smiled.
"...Character growth."
"I liked it better when they were awkward."
"They're still awkward."
"...Fair."
The four of us dissolved into laughter again.
And somehow...
Curled up inside a blanket fort with fairy lights hanging overhead...
It felt like one of those afternoons I'd probably remember for a very long time.
The blanket fort somehow became even cozier once the lights outside started fading.
Felix had dragged a ridiculous amount of pillows inside.
Hyunjin had somehow found another blanket.
Nobody questioned where it came from.
At this point...
The fort seemed to be growing on its own.
"...Movie?"
Felix asked.
"Please."
Hyunjin answered before anyone else could.
"I've listened to Changbin talk for two hours."
"I deserve entertainment."
I laughed quietly.
"...Fair."
Minho reached for the remote lying beside him.
A few seconds later...
Some animated movie I'd never seen before filled the inside of the fort with soft music and bright colors.
Felix somehow knew every line already.
"I've watched this like..."
He pretended to count.
"...Eight times."
Hyunjin looked at him.
"...Eight?"
"...Maybe ten."
"I've lost count."
"I can tell."
The movie played on.
Felix laughed at scenes before they even happened.
Hyunjin kept telling him to stop spoiling everything.
Felix insisted it wasn't spoilers because "the characters didn't know yet."
It made absolutely no sense.
I smiled anyway.
At some point...
Without really thinking about it...
I leaned a little closer to Minho.
He didn't react.
Not because he hadn't noticed.
Because I didn't think it surprised him anymore.
A few minutes later...
My shoulder rested comfortably against his.
Then...
My head.
I wasn't sleepy.
Not really.
Just...
Comfortably tired.
The kind of tired that came after a really good day.
The fairy lights hanging above us glowed softly against the blankets.
The movie kept playing.
Felix laughed again.
Hyunjin quietly shushed him.
I smiled to myself.
Then...
Without really meaning to...
I closed my eyes.
Just for a minute.
The voices around me became softer.
More distant.
I wasn't asleep.
At least...
I didn't think I was.
The volume on the television suddenly dropped.
I heard the quiet click of the remote being set back down.
A second later...
The blanket shifted.
Something warm settled over my shoulders.
I felt gentle fingers brushing a corner of it higher until it rested comfortably beneath my chin.
Then...
An arm wrapped carefully around my waist.
Not tightly.
Just enough to keep me close.
Like it belonged there.
A smile almost found its way onto my face.
I stopped it just in time.
Another few quiet moments passed.
Then...
Soft lips brushed against my cheek.
Barely there.
So light that if I'd actually been asleep...
I probably wouldn't have noticed.
Another kiss.
This time against my hair.
"...You've had a big day."
Minho's voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"So you can nap if you want."
His thumb slowly traced one absentminded circle against my side.
"...I've got you."
Something warm spread through my chest.
Not because of the words.
Because of how naturally he'd said them.
Like there had never been any question.
Like of course he'd pull the blanket over me.
Of course he'd make sure I was comfortable.
Of course he'd hold me close.
I don't think he even realized he was doing it.
It was just...
Him.
I stayed still for another few seconds.
Long enough to enjoy the warmth of his arm around me.
Long enough to hear Felix whisper something dramatically about the movie before Hyunjin quietly told him to "watch it instead of narrating it."
A tiny laugh escaped me.
Minho immediately looked down.
"...You're awake."
I opened one eye.
"...Maybe."
His eyebrows lifted.
"...You little liar."
"I wasn't lying."
"You were pretending."
"I closed my eyes."
"That's called pretending."
"...I think I accidentally fell asleep for a minute."
He laughed quietly.
"...I'll allow that."
I smiled.
"...Sorry."
His eyebrow lifted.
"...Wrong word."
I laughed under my breath.
"...Right."
"No apologizing."
"There you go."
For a second...
Neither of us spoke.
Then, without really thinking about it...
I leaned up.
Pressed one small kiss against his lips.
Not because I needed reassurance.
Not because I wanted him to prove anything.
Simply because...
I wanted to.
When I settled back against his shoulder again...
He smiled.
"...Better?"
I nodded.
"...Much."
He rested his cheek lightly against the top of my head.
The movie kept playing.
Felix laughed.
Hyunjin groaned.
Outside...
The last of the evening sunlight disappeared beyond the windows.
Inside the blanket fort...
Everything felt warm.
Safe.
Home.
I finally understood what I'd been trying to explain the night before.
It wasn't that I needed more love.
I'd always had more than enough.
For the first time...
I just wasn't afraid to reach for it.