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Lee Minho tried not to make a habit of lying to his mother.
After all, their relationship has always been the most dear thing in Minho’s life. He adores her fully, completely.
She listens to even gripe or annoyance Minho goes through at work, always ready to offer advice or just a listening ear.
He’s her only son, only child in general, and when his fathers work schedule was so grueling in his early teenage years that Minho rarely saw him, they only had eachother.
He hates to lie to her… but is unfortunately driven to a point where he has to, a random day in early September.
They were discussing the upcoming holiday, Chuseok, and she’d veered into the one topic that Minho loathes to discuss with her. His dating life.
It has never been an easy topic—Minho recalls his friend when he was twelve that always walked home from the library with him. His mother had teased him relentlessly, ‘Minho’s already got a little girlfriend!’ And ‘You better be treating that girl right, honey.’
He had whined and wrinkled his nose then, but when you’re that age, any teasing from your mom brings a similar reaction.
She continued it though, well into High School, and that’s when he told her.
Teary-eyed, sixteen year old Minho, sobbing about how he thinks he’s broken. He remembers stumbling his way through an explanation on how he just didn’t like girls the same way everyone else seemed to…
She had actually asked the question—quiet and gentle, as if not to scare Minho away.
‘Well, do you like boys?’
He had cried. A lot. So did his mom, but she never stopped hugging him, hand behind his head and soft words in his ear. He’ll never forget that.
His dad took a bit longer to understand, but he was still adamant about his love never wavering. They learned, as did Minho, and by the end of highschool he could truly say he had the best parents ever.
College came and went, and Minho did date around, at least a bit. Sure he was more focused on his studies and sure, maybe he never actually dated someone for more than a couple of months, so what?
It’s not that he’s picky, in fact Minho would venture to say that most of his situationships were maybe not the sharpest tools in the metaphorical shed.
But Minho doesn’t really want to be ‘serious’ with someone if he can’t see them getting married and growing old together. Why would he give himself to someone entirely, if he doesn’t know it could go somewhere?
But now he’s 25, living in a studio apartment in Seoul (which he adores, to be fair) and single. Terminally single.
He dates a bit and has his fair share of hookups, but it never leads to anything. He’s fine with it, really, he loves his apartment and his friends and even if work is tough sometimes, he loves his life.
He could live without a boyfriend, and he means that.
His mother however, could never seem to let go.
Every other week she’s asking if he’s met someone, falling into the same lecture about sharing his heart with someone and finding love that he’s heard a million and a half times.
And it’s not like Minho doesn’t want to find someone someday, he just… okay maybe he’s a little scared. And clueless. And likely wouldn’t know how to identify love if he felt it.
Minho doesn’t know what possesses him to lie in the moment—maybe some deep seated frustration or a need to just get her to drop it for once, but nevertheless it happens.
“I actually have been seeing someone recently,” He freezes as he says it, fingers clutching his phone and he stops his pacing immediately.
His moms gasp over the phone is loud and he hears rustling, as if she’s gotten up out of surprise, “Lee Minho! Who, when, how long?”
“Yah eomma, I didn’t know this was an interview,” He bristles, sitting down on his couch with a deep, withering sigh.
She tsks over the phone, voice crackling a bit as she speaks, “Ah, I’m just curious about the boy that’s done the impossible task of stealing your heart.”
Minho swallows, steeling himself, “Well, maybe I’ll feel comfortable enough to talk about him soon—anyway, did you-“
“You should invite him for Chuseok, Minho-yah,” His mother says suddenly, her voice excited and high in pitch.
“Oh—Oh I don’t know if-“
“He could meet everybody, enjoy some food? Because to be honest my love, I’m half expecting this man to be fake and just a way to get me off your back,” She laughs and Minho thinks he might die.
“I’ll ask him eomma, I promise. I can’t promise anything though, okay?” He tosses his head back against the couch and exhales slowly, already feeling a stress headache pinch at his temples.
“Okay okay, just call me when you have an answer my dove,” She resigns, a teasing lilt to her voice, “I love you~!”
Minho smiles despite himself, “I love you, tell dad I love him too, okay?”
The moment they’re off the phone, Minho tosses his head back again and groans, slumping into the cushions on his couch. God damn it.
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Minho spends the rest of the night agonizing, considering.
He falls asleep with a half-baked plan and a singular person in mind, and wakes up with the determination of a vampire trying to escape the sunlight.
He arrives at Kim Seungmin’s apartment with a large tupperware filled with his homemade jjajangmyeon. It’s.. not a bribe, but it may as well be, he used the last of some of that fancy chunjang he’d bought at the market a few months ago.
He knocks once, antsy, and waits for approximately thirty seconds before knocking again twice as hard.
Seungmin opens the door and blinks at him, sleepy and frazzled.
“What—why are you here? I know we didn’t have plans, I would’ve remembered,” Seungmin grumbles, stepping aside and letting Minho in anyway.
“I brought food,” He says as he toes off his shoes, making sure they’re straight against the wall. He knows any less will drive his friend crazy.
“Okay..” Seungmin says slowly, shutting the door and yawning, smoothing some of his hair. It’s pointless, because the fluffy brown strands pop right back up again.
“I’ll ask again hyung, why are you here? You usually only show up like this when you need something or feel lonely, and feeling lonely at eleven a.m seems like something you wouldn’t admit.”
Curse Seungmin for knowing him so well.
“Aish, let’s at least eat before I get into it, I’m sure you’re hungry, yeah?” Minho asks, but he knows he is. Seungmin always wakes up hungry, especially during weekends because that’s when he’s allowed to sleep in.
Minho admires Seungmin’s schedule—he’s in his last year of college, and is a million times better at the academic stuff than Minho ever was.
See, they had met a few years ago. Minho was in his third year of college and Seungmin in his first, and they fell into the same friend group pretty naturally. Over the next three years, after Minho graduating and Seungmin taking on an even heavier courseload, they had still managed to see eachother decently often.
Sure a lot of that was both being dragged to social events and hiding together in the corner or standing outside to avoid the crowds of a party, but that suited them. Seungmin was always easy to talk to, and their constant banter was both welcome and kinda Minho’s favorite part of their interactions.
“Yeah, I am pretty hungry..”
Minho knows Seungmin pretty well too.
One full meal and a bit of bickering later, Seungmin is padding back into the living room after brushing his teeth and taking a quick shower—he’d said something sassy about not letting Minho interrupt his routine any further.
“Okay,” He sighs as he plops back onto the couch, little drops of water falling from his hair onto his face. “Wanna explain why you show up with a giant tub of one of my favorite foods? What are you bribing me for?”
Minho snorts, “It wasn’t a bribe.”
“Sure,” Seungmin says with narrow eyes, “And I live in a massive mansion and not a shitty apartment.”
“Alright alright,” Minho tuts, swinging his foot out to kick Seungmin in the shin, “Maybe it was a bribe, but it was warranted because the favor I need to ask is.. kind of a big one.”
Seungmin grimaces and folds his arms together, one of his eyebrows quirking up.
“I don’t know if murder is for me, so if that’s what you’re asking I could maybe be persuaded to dispose of the body but-“
Minho laughs and shakes his head, “It’s not murder don’t worry—I’d probably have to cook you a full course meal to get you to agree to that.”
Seungmin nods, “And dessert. Anyway, continue.”
He sighs, raking a hand through his hair. Fuck it, he might as well just lay it out there. There’s only a week until Chuseok anyway.
“I told my mom I had a boyfriend to get her off my back and she requested that I invite him to her house for Chuseok. I… kind of need you to pretend to be said boyfriend.”
Seungmin’s entire face changes into one of shock, but he’s quiet. Minho can see the moment he drags his tongue across his teeth behind his lips. It’s an anxious habit he’d developed when he had braces, but he still does it now that they’re off.
When he finally speaks, it’s a simple question. “Why me?”
Minho adjusts on the couch, hiking one leg up and considering before he answers, “I thought a lot about it. You’re the only one that makes sense,” Seungmin tilts his head slightly, curious. “Hyunjin and Innie were out instantly because they’re.. y’know, grossly in love. Jisung would be believable, but he’d get anxious the second he had to lie.”
Seungmin snorts and nods, “Yeah, he would.”
“Chan and Changbin would both be insufferable to try and fake date, not to mention I’m sure they have plans with their own families already..”
Seungmin smiles, tinged in sadness. Minho knows he doesn’t have a good relationship with his family—knows he sees them once a year, if that, and that he’s never spent Chuseok with them. Minho won’t list this as a reason, doesn’t have to. Seungmin knows.
“So that left you and Felix, both good options, but..”
Seungmin’s sadness seems to dissapate, smirking and nudging Minho’s knee with his own, “What? You like me better?”
Minho huffs and shoves him, playful and devoid of any real irritation, “Yah, shut up. I just figured we'd be more believable as a couple than me and Yongbok.”
Seungmin snickers, “Yeah, you’d never pull someone as nice as Lix-ah.”
Minho tsks and grabs the throw pillow at his side, covering Seungmin’s face with it and crowding him against the couch, “I will kill you Kim Seungmin so help me-“
Seungmin’s laugh is muffled by the pillow but when he shoves it away, his smile is still present, “Okay okay, I concede. I have more questions before I agree to anything, though.”
Minho discards the pillow and nods, “Course, hit me with them.”
“Okay, well..” Seungmin fidgets a little with his fingers, cheeks filling with air as he thinks. “Why can’t you just tell her the guy said no? That he couldn’t come?”
Minho hums—he’d thought about that, of course he had, “I probably will if you don’t agree, but.. If I go alone, she’ll ask me a million questions I won’t have an answer to and I’ll be… alone.”
Seungmin nods, an uncharacteristic softness flashing across his features, “Yeah.. Yeah I get that. Well… how would it work, even? Chuseok is three days, don’t you usually go to your families for more than that? That’s a lot of time to keep up a charade like that.”
“I know. It would be.. hard, but most of it would be just being how we usually are. Maybe a little extra affection, and we’d have to go over a few things to get our story straight, but I don’t think it would be as hard as you think it would,” Minho says, and he feels his hands get a little clammy from where they’re folded together. “Plus I would owe you like. A million home cooked meals.”
Seungmin thinks it over, chewing a little at his bottom lip before he sighs.
“Okay.”
Minho raises his eyebrows, lips parting in surprise, “Okay?”
“Yeah, fine. I’ll do it, but we need a streamlined chart or bullet points or something to figure out how this gonna work. Boundaries, rules, information about our ‘relationship’, the whole thing.”
Minho literally feels the twenty pound weights being lifted off his shoulders, a relieved sigh falling from his mouth.
“Oh my god Kim Seungmin, I could kiss you.”
Seungmin laughs a little, “Easy there, let’s wait til we’re with your family to start the PDA.”
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Lee Minho and Kim Seungmin’s
Chuseok Contract (not legally binding)
- KSM and LM both consent to physical affection in front of the latters family. This ranges from hand holding to chaste kisses, depending on what the situation requires.
- KSM vows to not use any information learned about LM under the guise of their relationship against him (this includes childhood stories told by his mother.)
- LM vows to make sure KSM is well fed and content for the duration of their stay, and to let him shower first.
- KSM and LM vow to keep up the ruse for the entirety of the trip (5 days and 4 nights) no less, and no more.
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“Alright, that should be everything,” Minho says as he slides his final bag into the trunk of Seungmin’s rundown 2009 hyundai.
“You weren’t lying when you said you pack for all occasions,” Seungmin says, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans.
September weather in Korea has always been something Minho was fond of—the leaves start to change and the muggy, thick heat starts to turn into a pleasant warmth.
It’s still warm enough for Minho to be excited at the prospect of swimming in his parents pool.
“Did you pack your swimsuit?” Minho asks, stepping back to allow Seungmin to shut his trunk.
“Yep, course I did. It was on the list.”
Minho smiles fondly to himself—he should’ve known better, sending Kim Seungmin a checklist basically ensures he’ll be 100% sure everything’s accounted for. Stupid Virgo.
“Alright, let’s hit the road. Maybe if we leave now, we can arrive before my mom starts calling periodically to make sure we’re actually coming.”
Seungmin grins, sliding into the drivers seat and adjusting his mirror ever so slightly. Minho makes himself comfy in the passenger seat—the drive isn’t long, only about forty minutes with the hectic pre-Chuseok traffic, but he’s antsy today. Figures.
Minho connects his phone to the aux cord as Seungmin starts the car up, the younger scoffing when he notices.
“Don’t play anything annoying please,” He says, and Minho snorts at the reminder.
About four weeks ago, Minho had gotten hammered at a party and Seungmin drove him home—on the way, he’d played the same Alvin and the Chipmunks song for the entirety of the twenty minute drive.
Seungmin’s been scarred ever since.
“I won’t I won’t—nothing distracting, we have stuff to go over anyway.”
Seungmin nods, glancing at his google maps before he’s looking back at the road, “Okay, quiz me, I can do this.”
“Alright, what’s our anniversary?”
“June sixth is when we finally put a label on things, we’d been casually seeing eachother for a while before that.”
Minho smiles. Very good. He expected as much from Seungmin, to be so good at recalling the storyline they’d created together.
“Good. Who asked who?”
“I asked you. You’d never be so forward,” Seungmin chuckles, and Minho bristles despite how accurate the statement may be.
“Aish. Okay, enough of that,” He teases, jabbing Seungmin in the thigh with his finger, “We have some family members to go over too, make sure you know at least some basics so you know what you’re getting into.”
Seungmin nods, his face going serious, “Alright, hit me.”
Minho throws a lot of information at him, some undoubtedly unnecessary, but better be safe than sorry.
It makes the drive feel a lot shorter, it’s almost nice—he just sits there, spewing information about his family that he adores, watching Seungmin nod and react and drive.
He looks nice driving. It might be a weird opinion to have randomly, but Minho doesn’t think much of it. He just simply looks nice, focused eyes and hands settled neatly on the steering wheel. His window is cracked, and it tousles his hair. If Minho didn’t know better, he’d reach out to smooth it away from his face.
“…And then there’s my other cousin, Sana. She’s basically my sister. Her dad is Japanese so they’ve lived over there since she graduated. I haven’t seen her in a while so I’m super excited for that.”
Seungmin nods, which he’s been doing so much of his neck must be getting tired, “She was the first one you came out to, right?”
Minho blinks. He doesn’t remember telling Seungmin that, when did he—
“You told me like, two years ago I think, at Hyunjinnie’s party after he won that dance thing,” Seungmin answers, despite the question being asked in Minho’s mind.
“Oh,” Minho says, voice caught in his throat, “Uh, yeah she was. Like I said, we grew up together, us and my other cousin Jongsu, we were basically siblings. For most of my childhood we were within walking distance from eachother. It helps we’re all pretty close in age.”
Seungmin smiles, and even if his eyes are on the road, Minho can see a bit of sadness in them. It wrenches at Minho’s chest.
“That’s really sweet. I’m glad I’ll get to meet them.”
Minho feels anxiety tap at his ribs as the drive moves onward. What if this was a terrible idea? It’s too late to go back, way too late, so he tries to relax. Seungmin gives him a sympathetic smile, probably feeling the nerves radiate off Minho’s body like radio waves.
When they pull up to Minho’s childhood home, his mother is flying through the front door before Seungmin can even park the car.
Minho laughs as he opens the car door, letting her crush him with a hug before he has the chance to close it.
“Hi eomma, nice to see you,” He mumbles into her shoulder, “Um, Can’t breathe-“
“Oh, sorry my dove,” She laughs, pulling back and beaming, “I’m just so excited!”
Her gaze turns to Seungmin, who’s pushing his door shut and smiling at her with his charming, easygoing grin. She releases Minho and moves around the car to cradle Seungmin’s face between her palms, her eyes wide.
“Seungmin, you look so different! You look older, more mature,” She says, fingers prodding into his cheeks as he giggles.
Seungmin has only met his mother in person once—during Minho’s college graduation. He had charmed her, something about his honesty and his subtle kindness she’d said.
Since then, she’d seen him in a few pictures, but mostly in stories through Minho’s phone calls. She’d always seemed fond of him, so Minho wasn’t surprised when her excitement was evident when he told her Seungmin was the guy he’d been dating.
He’s almost sad he’ll have to tell her it didn’t work out, eventually.
“It’s wonderful to see you, Ajumma,” Seungmin says when she relinquishes hold of his cheeks, pulling him in for a hug instead.
“Oh shush, call me eomma as long as you’re here, okay?”
Seungmin nods, his face a little flushed, and Minho snorts. Guess he should do some saving.
“Dearest eomma, can you release my boyfriend so we can get our stuff inside?” He says, the words ‘my boyfriend’ falling off his tongue easier than he’d expected. He thinks Seungmin’s blush gets darker.
Sheepish, she lets him go, nodding towards the door, “I’ll wait inside with your father—I have lunch prepared in the kitchen, meet us there when you boys are settled, okay?”
“Okay,” Minho says, and once she’s back inside. “Sorry about all that.”
“Don’t be, she’s the sweetest,” Seungmin smiles and pops his trunk, “I’m excited to see your childhood home, it looks cute from the outside.”
Minho glances at the house—he’s right, to be fair, it’s painted a soft muted purple that makes it stand out a bit from the beige and white houses that are common in Gimpo.
His mother gardens, and it’s obvious she puts all of her love into it, the front yard decorated with many flowers and well tended bushes.
“It’s cute inside too.. though you haven’t seen my eomma’s taste in funky cat decorations.”
Seungmin laughs as he hauls one of his bags out of the car, slinging it on his shoulder. “So the love of cats runs in the family?”
Minho smirks, “Oh yes. It’ll rub off on you too, you get to meet the terrible trio.”
He hums, “I will make them like me, that’s my real goal here. Screw the fake relationship.”
Minho can’t help but laugh, though he smacks Seungmin on the arm, “Yah Seungminnie, no more talk of fake relationships. Once we set foot inside, we are deeply in love, got it?”
The taller sighs, his face pensive but lip twitching like he wants to smile. “Yeah. Let me enjoy my last few moments of freedom.”
Okay, so there’s one thing Minho forgot about when he was warning Seungmin of various things.
They bring their bags through the door and into the hallway, Seungmin pausing to take a look at a particularly funky cat statue, and then Minho’s opening the door to his bedroom.
Ah. Right. The bed situation.
He ushers Seungmin inside and shuts the door, setting his bags down by his dresser.
“Okay so—fuck I should’ve remembered this, uh,” He gestures to the ‘situation’ in the corner, a twin bed pressed against the wall, “I know it’s not ideal but if you want I can make a bed on the floor and we can-“
Seungmin scoffs, waving him off, “It’s okay hyung, we can share. It’s small but it’ll be fine, it’s only a few days.”
Minho exhales, manually relaxing his eyebrows from the scowl he was sporting.
“Right. Okay. Thank you,” He glances around his room quickly, making sure there’s nothing too embarrassing left behind from when he moved for college, “The drawers should all be empty, you can put your clothes in one if you’d like.”
Minho pauses, smiling a little, “Oh, and you don’t have to call me hyung here, Seungmin, I’m your boyfriend now.”
Seungmin unzips his bag and pulls out very neat piles of clothes, maneuvering them carefully into one of the dresser drawers, “I would call you hyung even if we were actually dating, hyung,” He smiles, tone slightly teasing.
“Ah well, so be it then,” Minho jests, taking some of his own (less folded) clothing out to put away, “I expect a few pet names thrown in there though—for realism.”
Seungmin catches his eye in the mirror above Minho’s dresser, smirking a little, “Okay, what do you prefer? Baby or darling?”
Minho wrinkles his nose, “Ew never mind, I don’t think I like either-“
“Baaaaaby~” Seungmin turns, grabbing Minho’s shoulders and making obnoxious kissing noises, “Baby darling!”
Minho snickers and shoves him back, palm on the center of his chest, “You’re disgusting. What should I call you then? Muffin? Sweetheart?”
Seungmin’s expression mirrors his own moments prior, grimacing, “Oh no. Neither.”
He grins, “Yeah you’re right. Neither really suit you—maybe I’ll just stick with puppy.”
Seungmin’s ears pinken but he doesn’t object, just grumbling a little under his breath. “Okay baby .”
─── ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅☆ ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅ ───
The rest of the family won’t arrive until tomorrow, so the remainder of the day is mostly relaxed and idyllic.
Minho gives Seungmin a tour and his mom feeds them lunch, making pleasant small talk. Neither of his parents ask any serious relationship questions just yet—Minho is thankful.
He introduces him to the cats, two of which virtually ignore him after sniffing him—Minho assures him they just take a while to warm up—except for Soonie, who gives his hand a little nudge and allows Seungmin to give him a little scratch on his cheek.
“This is the best day of my life,” Seungmin mutters, grinning when Soonie purrs, “You’re so orange. Do you even realize how orange you are?”
Minho smiles, a thrum of fondness making his chest feel a little heavy. It’s odd, but he really doesn’t wanna think about that right now.
“He is very orange. Not a lot of brain in there—like you, Seungminnie. Maybe that’s why he likes you.”
Seungmin glares at him from where he’s crouched on the floor, fingers still scratching a very happy Soonie behind the ear, “You’re so mean to me. Were you dropped as a baby?”
“He was actually,” Minho’s mother says from the doorway, drying her hands on her apron with a grin, “A few times—the doctors were worried.”
Minho gapes and he ignored Seungmin’s evil giggle, “Eomma! Don’t give him more reasons to make fun of me, please!” And then to Seungmin, “She’s lying.”
She chuckles, eyes sparkling, “You two are so cute. You know, your father and I fell in love because of the way we bickered. It’s an essential part of any relationship.”
Seungmin raises his eyebrows and stands finally, Soonie rubbing a bit against his ankle, “See? Eomma get’s it.”
“I did not consent to you two ganging up on me,” Minho says, trying to keep his face firm and stern, but his mother just giggles.
“Oh my dove, don’t glare, your face will get stuck like that.”
Seungmin laughs, loud and genuine, “I tell him that all the time.”
Something warm and unfamiliar sprouts in Minho’s chest as he scoffs.
“I’m sick of you two already.”
His mother just beams, “Sorry—anyway, I’m starting dinner now but it won’t be ready for a few hours, I wanted to let you boys know.”
“Okay eomma,” Minho smiles, leaning down to scoop Soonie up and holding him to his chest, “Thank you.”
They spend the next few hours relaxing with the cats and watching T.V in the living room. At some point, Seungmin tosses a leg over Minho’s lap and stays there, and the warmth is nice. Familiar. He’s glad he chose Seungmin for this.
He must doze off, because there’s a finger prodding at his cheek and when his eyes open there’s a very amused Kim Seungmin staring at him.
“Sleepyhead, dinner’s almost ready,” His voice is playful and Minho sighs, eyes slipping back closed.
“Five more minutes.”
“Lee Minho, you will get in here and set the table right this second.”
His eyes shoot open again, Seungmin’s laugh to his side muffled by his side.
“Yes eomma,” He stands up and rubs his eyes, moving quickly to the kitchen where his mother is smiling triumphantly.
Dinner is when his mother finally succumbs to her wants and asks a few questions.
“So, I just have to know,” She starts, lips curled already, “When did you two go from friends to lovers?”
Minho wants to cringe at her word choice but he keeps it under control, and Seungmin does too because he’s answering before Minho can.
“We were seeing eachother casually for a few months before I asked him out officially in June,” He says, smooth and effortless. He’s such a good liar—should Minho be concerned? What if his friend is a serial killer?
“Oh that’s so wonderful,” His mother grins, and Minho nods.
His father wipes his mouth with his napkin as he nods too, “I’m not surprised to hear you made the first move, Seungmin. My son was never the most forthcoming about his own emotions.”
“Neither are you,” Minho tuts, “I could’ve made a move, I just..”
“He likes the chase,” Seungmin finishes for him, once again effortlessly, “He wanted me to be the one to ask.”
“I see,” His father says, chuckling a little before he sips some of his wine, “Well I’m glad you did. You two seem very well suited from what I can see.”
Minho’s eyebrows raise—his father is a man of few words, let alone earnest ones, and he tells himself that’s why the words make his heart race.
“Thank you sir,” Seungmin smiles, as polite as ever, “Your approval means a lot.”
“So sweet,” Minho’s mother coos, reaching over the table to pinch Seungmin’s cheek, leaving a pink mark where she squeezes. If he minded, he doesn’t show it.
The conversation shifts eventually, and Minho is thankful. Seungmin might be a really good liar (actor? This is somewhat of a performance in it’s own right) but he doesn’t feel as confident about his own abilities to keep his cool. He’s glad for a respite before tomorrow.
“I’m sleepy, let’s get ready for bed,” Minho says after he’s finished the dishes from dinner, “You can shower first like I promised.”
Seungmin smiles, “Wonderful. I won’t be long—where are towels?”
“Cabinet below the sink.”
“Lovely.”
Minho showers after Seungmin, relaxing into the steam, and he feels a bit better when he comes out. A bit more sure of himself. Today went smoothly, the rest of the week should as well.
He slips back into his room post-shower, his hair half dry and smelling of his favorite shower gel. By the time he’s back and in comfy clothes, Seungmin is already sitting on his bed, swallowed up by a massive tshirt and pajama pants. Cute.
“Move over Kim Seungmin,” Minho says as he turns off the big light, the room only lit up by the lamp on his nightstand now.
Seungmin scoots against the wall, his hip flush with Minho’s as he squeezes into the bed. It’s a tight fit, but it’ll work.
Minho flips off the light and Seungmin giggles, “You have glow in the dark stars on your ceiling.”
Minho looks up and he can’t help but smile, “Yeah, my parents put them up when I was thirteen and got really into space. They’ve always just stayed there, never really lost their glow it seems.”
“They’re cute,” Seungmin says, far too gentle and quiet for just the two of them.
Minho focuses for now on going to bed.
“You take up so much space hyung,” Seungmin whines as they try to get comfy besides eachother, shifting and grumbling.
Minho tsks, “Don’t dogs normally sleep at the foot of the bed?”
Seungmin smacks him in the arm, and Minho snickers, “We might have to just bite the bullet and cuddle.”
Seungmin huffs but concedes, and they shift for a bit finding something comfortable.
They end up with Minho laying mostly flat, arm around Seungmin’s shoulders and Seungmin’s head on his chest. The younger has his an arm and a leg wrapped around him, finally sighing in contentment.
“Okay,” he mumbles, “This is more comfortable.”
Minho closes his eyes and tries to drift off, but Seungmin’s voice eventually interrupts the quiet again.
“Hyung.. I just had a thought,” He whispers, and when Minho opens his eyes, he sees him lift his head to look at him.
“Hm?”
“What if we kissed in front of people and it looked super awkward? Do you think people would be able to tell we haven’t kissed before?”
It’s a thought Minho had actually had before, so he grimaces.
“It’s possible. We could both lean the same way and bump noses or something. That could be our downfall.”
Seungmin thinks for a moment before he’s speaking slowly, “Should.. should we practice? Make sure we don’t mess it up?”
Minho’s throat goes dry and for a second he forgets how to speak, Seungmin’s wide eyes staring into his. It’s dark, but Minho can still see the anxiousness in Seungmin’s face.
“We—we don’t have to,” Seungmin rushes, “We can just—“
“No no,” Minho says quickly, hushing the the tallers rambling, “You’re right. We should, I would hate for our hard work to be spoiled because of an awkward kiss in front of my family.”
Seungmin nods, “Exactly, yeah.”
“Yeah,” Minho says, his chest rising and falling a bit more dramatically, “Um. Come here.”
“Right,” Seungmin whispers, scooting up a bit and craning his neck to get closer. Minho can feel his breath on his mouth. “Is this okay..?”
Words fail him. Minho would nod, but Seungmin’s so close he worries he’d headbutt him. Instead, he brings his hand up to cup Seungmin’s face, guiding him forward just a little more.
Their lips meet and it’s so incredibly tender. Seungmin’s lips are like silk, soft and smooth, and he let’s Minho take the lead.
It’s decently chaste, just lips and languid movements, and Minho doesn’t deepen it, but it’s startling that he for some reason really wants to. Seungmin tastes like mint toothpaste and smells like vanilla conditioner, and despite there being no tongue involved, Minho’s sure his tongue is just as soft as his lips-
God, he needs to stop this before his thoughts get even more depraved.
He pulls away after a long moment, and Seungmin’s eyes flutter open. Neither of them speak right away, breaths mingled as they pant softly.
“Okay. Yeah, I think we’ll be good,” Seungmin says, clearing his throat.
Minho nods, “Yes, good. The kissing ice has been broken.”
Seungmin laughs breathlessly, but it sounds just a little forced. When he settles back against his chest, Minho sincerely prays he doesn’t notice his heart racing.
It was such a simple kiss, soft and chaste and casual, and yet suddenly Minho feels wired. Like he just got something injected into his system.
He notices when Seungmin falls asleep, breath evening out and the softest of snores audible from where he lays against Minho’s chest.
Minho isn’t so lucky. He lays there, for what feels like hours, staring up at the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling.
Sleep finds him eventually, but Minho’s dreams torture him even more, filled with silk-soft lips and warm laughter.
─── ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅☆ ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅ ───
When Minho wakes up on the first day of Chuseok, there’s a soft stream of sunlight filtering in through the curtains.
His eyes blink open and the first thing he does is glance to his left.
Seungmin is already awake, back to the wall and his face to Minho, scrolling on his phone. He smiles when he notices Minho’s awake, eyes still hazy with sleep.
“Good morning,” His voice is a little gravelly and as thick as honey.
“Morning,” Minho yawns and stretches his legs outward a bit, “Have you been up long?”
Seungmin shakes his head, “Not long. I woke up cause I can smell what your moms making and it smells delicious.”
Minho sniffs the air and his mouth waters, “Ah, we need to get up right this second.”
Seungmin laughs and they both lean up, preparing to get ready for the day. They find clothes and get changed, Minho makes a point to not look in Seungmin’s direction until he’s fully dressed, why he doesn’t know. He’ll figure that out later.
“Hyung, do you wanna brush our teeth together?” Seungmin asks as Minho’s doing the last button in his shirt.
“Sure, yeah.”
It feels.. oddly domestic, to be shoulder to shoulder in front of the bathroom mirror, doing something as simple as brushing their teeth. Seungmin’s arm keeps bumping him and Minho keeps playfully nudging him back, and they catch each others eyes in the mirror and grin.
Minho thinks Seungmin looks nice today—he’s dressed up a bit more than he is usually, which is probably smart considering he’s supposed to be wanting to impress his boyfriends family.
His giant hoodies and tshirts being replaced by a nice, billowy button up. It’s a warm beige color that suits his skin nicely, and it’s tucked into his jeans so Minho can actually see that little waist he’s always hiding.
Heat creeps up his neck as he rinses out his mouth, turning off the water after Seungmin’s done the same.
Suddenly there’s a hand in Minho’s hair, gently carding through his locks and smoothing it down. The heat spreads to his cheeks.
“Aish, what are you—“
“Relax hyung,” Seungmin teases, “I’m just making sure you don’t look like a train wreck.”
Minho huffs but stays still, letting Seungmin fix up his hair until he’s satisfied. Minho’s almost sad that the other boys hair doesn’t look particularly messy so he can’t return the favor.
“Thanks,” He grumbles when Seungmin looks satisfied, finally leaving the bathroom with the younger on his heel.
“Good morning boys,” His mother greets from the kitchen as they walk in, “I was just about to come wake you, breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Thank you eomma,” Minho grins, moving around the counter to kiss her cheek before sitting at the table.
His father is already sat in his usual chair, nose buried in the crossword.
“A nine letter word for regret,” He grumbles, clicking his pen a few times.
Seungmin hums, leaning over, “Try ‘Lamenting’.”
Minho raises his eyebrows as his father scrawls the word out in pen—ever the confident—and grins.
“Very good Seungmin, thank you,” He says, his hand clapping appreciatively against Seungmin’s shoulder.
“Since when are you good at crosswords?” Minho says, nudging Seungmin under the table with his knee.
He flushes, pink spreading across his cheeks, “My um. My dad and I used to do them a lot when I was younger. I never really lost the formula, it seems.”
Minho frowns—Seungmin doesn’t talk about his family much, if at all, and when he does it’s never been about his father. Before he can say something like an apology or some synpathetic word vomit, his mother saves the day.
“Okay my doves, we have rice, eggs, some soup, and a healthy amount of kimchi,” She says, setting various dishes down before going to get some more.
The moment for sympathy seems to have passed, because Seungmin is smiling and surveying the food happily.
“This looks delicious, thank you eomma,” Seungmin says, smiling at her as she sets the last of the soup down.
“Oh it’s nothing, dinner will be huge today so It’s a little small portion wise, gotta save room for the feast,” She turns her smile to Minho, “You’re helping me with dinner, yes?”
“Of course,” Minho says with a grin, “Wouldn’t dream of missing it.”
By the time they finish up breakfast there’s a knock on the door and Minho’s mother is racing to open it. Minho tugs Seungmin up, “I think I know who that knock was,” He says with a grin, lacing their fingers together.
Holding Seungmin’s hand is.. nicer than he expected. His hands and fingers are just as warm and soft as his lips—which Minho realizes is a thought he maybe shouldn’t be having.
He forgets about that when his cousin Sana enters with her mother, their smiles wide and as excited as Minho feels. It’s been far too long since he’s seen the closest he’s ever had to a sister.
Her arms fly around him instantly, squealing in his ear as he drops Seungmin’s hand to hug her back. He can’t help but grin.
“Minho-yah! How are you, have you been eating well?” Sana asks, leaning back with sparkling eyes.
“Yes, of course—um, I have someone I want you to meet-“
Sana’s eyes snap to Seungmin immediately, her eyes widening, “Ohh are you the boyfriend? I’ve been hearing about you,” She says, arms leaving Minho to pull Seungmin in for an equally excited hug.
Minho blushes, “From eomma, no doubt,” He sighs, eyes darting from where his mother is talking to her sister, Sana’s mom.
“It’s lovely to meet you, noona, Minho’s told me a lot about you,” Seungmin says as she pulls back to examine him with her fox-like eyes.
She smiles, patting him on the shoulder and then turning to Minho, “I like him. He’s respectful,” she cups her hand over her mouth between her an Seungmin, whisper-yelling, “And he’s cute!”
Seungmin laughs, catching Minho’s eyes and looking a little.. shy even. Bashful.
“Yeah, he’s alright,” Minho teases. “Oh, Seungminnie, I need to introduce you to my imo,” He pulls him over to where his mother and aunt are standing, fingers lacing together again naturally.
“Eonni, this is Minho-yah’s boyfriend, Seungmin-ah,” His mother says with a grin that could light up a room, her eyes little crescents.
“Oh I’ve been waiting to meet you! My name is Jiwon, I’m Sana’s mother,” She says, and it’s not long before she’s hugging Seungmin too, his face smushed in her shoulder.
Seungmin smiles, letting Minho’s aunt gush and examine him too like the rest of the family. He’ll have to get used to being coddled—that’s kind of always how Minho’s family is. When Minho’s other cousin Jongsu met his wife and started bringing her around, everyone was the same way.
“It’s wonderful to meet you Ajumma,” Seungmin says, as polite and warm as he has been with everyone else. Minho feels a little dizzy from it.
There’s only a few more people set to arrive, but their ETA isn’t for another two hours, so Minho suggests they spend some time in the pool before starting dinner.
His mother says she’s going to garden, and his aunt joins her. His father despises the pool, so it leaves Minho with Seungmin and Sana.
Minho gets in the pool like he always does when he’s excited, diving in and letting his body adjust as he’s fully submerged.
Sana follows suit, diving in and bobbing back up, and both of their expectant eyes turn to Seungmin.
“You two are crazy,” He says, stepping down on the first stair, water just to his ankles, “It’s cold..”
“Don’t be a baby,” Minho jeers, swimming towards the steps and laughing when he sees panic flood Seungmin’s eyes.
He holds a hand out, pleading, “No Lee Minho do not, I will throttle you so help me-“
Minho dives upwards, arms looping around Seungmin’s waist and tugging him back and down. They both fall into the water, Seungmin clinging to Minho like it’ll save him from the cold, and they both resurface.
Seungmin’s eyes are wide and his hair is flat on his head, giving him an amusing bowl cut, “You are so dead. I’ll remember this.”
Minho laughs, his smile nearly hurting his cheeks as he reaches up, smoothing his hair back for him. He nearly forgets Sana is also there until she chuckles.
“You guys are kind of gross.” And she says it with a smile.
Seungmin only lasts in the pool for a bit, grumbling about drying off and laying in the sun for a bit, so Minho gets some time to talk to Sana.
He asks about her father, how his work has been going, how things are in Japan. She tells him about this girl she’s been seeing casually, how she thinks it might go somewhere. Apparently the girl is a dancer, so Minho likes the sound of her already.
”That’s enough about me, I want to hear about Seungmin,” She says, smirking as she wades in the water. Minho sighs, he knew that was coming.
”What do you wanna know?”
”How long have you guys been seeing eachother romantically?”
Minho hums, “Just a few months, but we’ve known eachother for years.”
Sana sighs dreamily, “Ah, friends to lovers, what a beautiful concept.”
He snorts, “You and your drama tropes. Spare me.”
She splashes him.
Later on, Minho is helping his mother cook dinner, kneading some dough for Songpyeon, when the rest of his family arrives.
His mother goes to greet them as usual, but his hands are dirty, so he’ll wait until they come to him—Seungmin stays near him, he’s been sat at the dining room table while Minho cooks because he won’t let Seungmin help. He’s a guest, after all.
His uncle Haneul and his wife Yeongji walk in first, and Minho watches with a smile as they both introduce themselves to Seungmin and vice versa.
Despite Seungmin’s usual hate for socializing with strangers, he seems oddly.. at ease around Minho’s family. It’s sweet.
As Minho is leaving the dough to rest and wiping off his hands, his cousin walks in, Jongsu. In his arms is his five year old daughter and Minho’s favorite person in the world, Sunhi.
“My Sunhi-yah! You’ve grown!” Minho cheers, scooping her from Jongsu’s arms and hugging her to his chest.
The girl giggles, her little arms hugging Minho back as she squirms, “Lino, you’re squeezing!”
He blows a raspberry on her cheek, making her squeal and laugh even harder, and he moves her to sit more on his hip.
“I want you to meet someone, Sunhi,” Minho says, waving Seungmin over from where he was shaking hands with Jongsu. “Sunhi-yah, this is my boyfriend, Seungmin.”
“Hi, there” Seungmin says, smiling and giving Sunhi a little wave.
She looks… terrified, in all honesty, wide eyes and her cheeks flushed shyly, “Hi…”
“She’s a little bashful, don’t mind her, she’ll warm up,” Minho says, chuckling when Sunhi buries her face in his neck to hide.
Seungmin nods, smiling fondly, “This is the whole family then?”
Minho nods, “Everyone that could make it yeah. Sana’s dad had to stay in Japan for work and Jongsu’s wife couldn’t take the days off, but otherwise this is everyone.”
The room is bustling, everyone squeezed together as they start to get excited for the first dinner of Chuseok. Tomorrow, things will be a bit more traditional and busy, but today is for catching up and enjoying some good food.
Minho sets Sunhi down and returns to cooking after saying hi to Jongsu and his parents, finishing up the Songpyeon and helping his mother start the Galbijjim.
His father pours everyone some wine (grape juice for Sunhi) and the familiar chatter of talking and laughter is soothing to Minho as he cooks. This is always his favorite part.
Him and his mother busy behind the kitchen counter, Sana and Jongsu talking animatedly with their parents in the open space of the kitchen-slash-dining room, Minho’s father popping back and forth.
Minho glances up to check on Seungmin, and the smile finds his face before he can even think about it.
At the table, Seungmin is sat at one of the chairs, and Sunhi is sitting next to him. She still looks a little nervous, but she’s talking to him. Her parents had given her stuff to draw with to keep her occupied, and he watches Seungmin lean close to see what she’s doodling.
He points at the paper and Sunhi giggles, her nose scrunching as he grins. He makes a funny face at her and she kicks her legs under the table, her laugh getting louder.
“You know,” Minho’s mother says from his side, starting to plate some of the dishes, “Watching the one you love with your loved ones is a feeling that nothing else compares to.”
Minho looks at her, her smile knowing and soft, and then looks back at Sunhi and Seungmin, their laughter like a symphony over the chatter.
His heart feels heavy all of a sudden, like lead in his chest. Suddenly he wants to spill everything, to tell his mom that it’s not like that, that it can’t be. Because it’s not real.
Jesus, it’s only day one of Chuseok and Minho is already losing it. Maybe this was a terrible idea.
“Help me bring these dishes to the table, Minho-yah.”
“Oh,” Minho snaps out of it, “Right, yes.”
He pushes the thoughts of regret and complicated feelings out of his head for now. He’ll feel better once he’s eaten.
He helps his mom set the table and everyone starts to sit down. Ten people around the table is a bit of a squeeze, so they’re all pretty close together, but Minho’s never minded that when it comes to family.
He has Seungmin on one side and his mother on the other, and Sunhi is sat right across, her cute little face peeking from behind her glass of grape juice.
Everyone talks so much at dinner that Minho and Seungmin get to pretty much just enjoy their food, and that they do—at one point, when the conversation had lulled a little, Seungmin tells Minho’s mother than the dinner is absolutely delicious.
The smile on her face is so big Minho’s cheeks hurt just from looking at it.
When everyone’s done eating, there’s murmers about taking showers and getting ready for bed. Luckily, there’s enough room for everyone. Sana and her mother share the first guest bedroom, Hanuel and Yeongji take the second, and Jongsu and Sunhi take the pullout couch (which isn’t bad luck because that couch is comfortable .)
Minho helps his mother gather up the dishes and then tells her to go relax, that he’ll take care of them all.
“It’s too much for one person, it’ll take too long,” She frowns, and then Seungmin is joining Minho at his side.
“I’ll help him eomma, you can go get some rest.”
Minho’s breath hitches when he feels Seungmin’s hand wrap around his waist—nearly says something about it before he remembers. It’s fake. It sends goosebumps up his back anyway.
His mother sighs wistfully, “You are going to make the perfect son in law.”
Minho freezes, and he feels Seungmin’s fingers tense against his hip, but his mother seems oblivious, smacking a kiss on both of their cheeks before leaving.
Neither for them speak for a moment, the silence thick and uncomfortable. Minho’s thankful that Seungmin finally says something.
“She thinks I’m perfect.”
Minho snorts, feeling some of the discomfort slip away, “Don’t let it get to your head.”
“Too late! I’m the best and your eomma said it, so you can’t really argue. Suck it.”
Seungmin’s hand leaves his hip as he goes to walk towards the kitchen sink, and Minho finds he misses the feeling of it there.
They do the dishes in relative quiet, a bit of playful bickering here and there until it’s finished. His mom was right, it would’ve taken a lot longer with just him.
The house is pretty quiet now, everyone having settled down, and soon enough they’re changing into their pajamas.
This time, Minho can’t help but sneak a glance over at Seungmin, catching a glimpse of his honey toned skin as he slides his massive sleep shirt over his back. He won’t think too hard about why his cheeks flush as he turns away.
They crawl back into bed, and it’s almost natural how their limbs become entwined. This time Seungmin is facing the wall, Minho’s body curled around him, and sleep finds Minho much faster than it last night.
─── ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅☆ ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅ ───
On the second day of Chuseok, Minho wakes up to laughter in the hallway, a high pitch squeal devolving into giggles. Sunhi must be up already.
He leans his head up, arms still wrapped around Seungmin’s torso, and shakes him a little.
“Seungminnie, wake up,” He mutters, and Seungmin grumbles, shifting a bit in Minho’s arms so he can see his face. His eyes are still closed, but he’s pouting.
“So sleepy.”
Minho laughs through an exhale. “Yeah me too. But I can’t smell breakfast and that means mom is cooking outside, which also means she’s probably making pork ribs on the grill.”
Seungmin’s eyes open, the familiar sparkle in his irises that Minho expected. If there’s one thing about Kim Seungmin, he loves Korean food.
“Okay, let’s get ready.”
They brush their teeth again together, and Seungmin asks what color he’ll be wearing when they’re getting changed. Minho shrugs and says blue, because that’s the color of the shirt he was planning on wearing, and Seungmin nods, digging through his drawer.
He pulls out his own blue shirt, another billowy button up, this time with delicate white detailing across the collar and the cropped sleeves.
“You want to match colors?” Minho says, smirking a little at the pink that floods Seungmin’s cheeks.
“Thought it would make us look more coupley,” He defends, slipping off his shirt to slide the blue one on, slender fingers doing up the buttons. Minho watches the whole time, unable to tear his eyes away until Seungmin is glancing at him, raised eyebrows, “Are you okay?”
He nods, “Mm, yeah,” He mutters. He turns around and puts his own shirt on. Embarrassing.
Minho was right, his mother was cooking outside, the sliding glass door leading to the back door open. The smells waft in through the kitchen.
“No wonder you can cook, you got it all from her didn’t you?” Seungmin teases as they step outside.
There’s a big fold out table set up, and many lawn chairs, Minho’s family either sitting down or standing around the grill.
His mother and father work together, she seasons the ribs and once they’re grilled by his father, she coats them in sauce and sets them aside. It smells incredible, and Minho sighs dreamily.
“Yes I did.”
They sit down and Sunhi bounds over, sliding into Minho’s lap just like she’s been doing since she was three and learned how to.
“Minnie-yah guess what,” She says, excitement evident in the bob of her pigtails.
“What?”
“You and Seungmin both have Min in your name. You’re both Minnie’s!” Sunhi claps her hands together and looks at Seungmin, her smile turning a little shy.
Sana, from where she’s sat across the table, seems to notice and giggles. “Careful Minho, it looks like Sunhi has a little crush on your boyfriend.”
Sunhi gasps and her mumbles incoherently, burying her face in Minho’s chest to hide her blush.
Minho smiles and prods teasingly at Sunhi’s tummy, “Oh she better not, I’d have to fight her for him!” He declares, because he has to play along. Of course that’s why.
Seungmin’s nose wrinkles as he smiles, teeth shining in the sun, “I dunno babe, I think she might win.”
Minho’s heart leaps. Realistically he knows Seungmin is playing along too, so why do his fingers start to feel all floaty?
“You’re right—Sunhi could definitely beat me up.”
This makes her face finally un-hide itself, and she smiles a little, triumphant.
Sunhi requests she eats breakfast sitting on Minho’s lap, and her father goes to object but Minho assures it’s alright. He misses her, he doesn’t mind.
Halfway through the meal though, she crawls from Minho’s lap into Seungmin’s, and if the younger man minds it’s not evident in his smile.
“Well hello there Sunhi, how long have you been here?”
She giggles, and her nose wrinkles in a way that actually kinda reminds Minho of Seungmin. It’s cute.
“Silly Seungminnie, I just got here!”
Minho watches them, fondness laced through his face, and then he feels Sana kick him from under the table. He looks over at her and raises his eyebrows inquisitively.
“You’re whipped!” She mouths, and he scowls, shoulders tensing.
“Shut up,” Minho says audibly, and she cackles.
“You shut up!”
“No you.”
“No y-“
Sana’s mother interrupts them, “Oh not this again you too, stop it.”
Laughter fills the air and Minho feels himself relax.
The rest of breakfast is smooth and casual as usual, and by the end, Sunhi has dosed off against Seungmin’s chest. It’s so cute Minho kind of wants to throw up. He takes a picture instead.
While he’s at it, he send a quick text to Jeongin.
linominho 11:03am
If you say I told you so I’ll legit
end your life. I think you were
right and this was kind of a
terrible idea. pls help me??
foxboyjngn 11:04am
oh, u mean fake dating ur
close friend that u deffo
have lowkey feelings for but
wont admit it is a bad idea ?
who woulda thought! color
me shocked ? wow
linominho 11:07am
Rapidly approaching your
location to kill you right now.
Okay, so there’s that.
Jeongin and Hyunjin are what Minho would describe as ‘The worst type of couple’.
Not because they’re toxic or one sided, no—they’re borderline obsessed with each other and have been since they started dating, that’s not it.
What it is, is that they’re fucking nosy as shit . Separately, Minho would say they’re both decently nosy people. Together, they’re like two little persistent rats, and Minho says that with love.
Minho knew it was a mistake to tell them about him and Seungmin’s little fake relationship arrangement, but what is he supposed to do when there’s two bastards staring him down? Not tell them the reason that Seungmin was joining his family for Chuseok?
Hyunjin had cackled until he toppled over, and Jeongin had just shook his head with a stupid knowing smirk.
They know too much.
The thing is, Minho truly didn’t think they had any sort of merit when they first claimed he had romantic feelings for Kim Seungmin.
The idea sounds ridiculous—Minho was so incredibly specific and picky when it came to his relationships, so much so that he hasn’t really had any.
Why would that change for a man obsessed with cartoon dogs and making Minho’s life miserable?
And that’s exactly what he had told them. Unfortunately, something about the early autumn air is making Minho second guess himself.
He looks up from his phone and gives himself a chance to just look at Seungmin.
The air is warm and the breeze is light, fanning through Seungmin’s hair. The sun makes it looks a little lighter than usual, more of a honey brown as the locks sway.
His lips are pink a little bitten, and Minho wonders if any of this has been hard on Seungmin. If he’s been anxious, and Minho hadn’t even noticed.
His eyes are fond as he looks at the sleeping child in his lap, and his gaze remains the same syrupy-sweet as he turns it to Minho.
“What are you lookin’ at?” He muses, tone teasing but softer than usual.
“Nothing, just..” He looks at Sunhi, her eyes shut and bangs in her face as she sleeps. “She warmed up to you really fast.”
“Faster than you did,” Seungmin snorts.
The warmth stays everpresent in Minho’s chest. “Shut up Kim Seungmin.”
Seungmin helps Minho clean up when everyone’s done with food, Sunhi being woken up and sulking at her interrupted nap.
The next thing on the imaginary itinerary is to pay respects to the lost loved ones. It’s a huge part of Chuseok, but Minho always fears it, because his emotions get so hard to control.
He’s so used to being strong for everyone else—for his mother, for his friends, for himself. It’s hard to let himself feel.
Everyone gathers around the willow tree in the far end of the backyard. It’s a beautiful tree, tall and dramatic. There’s still marks on one of the branches from where Minho had tied rope to make a tire swing when he was eleven.
“I’d like to start,” Minho’s mother says, stepping forward and looking at her family.
Everyone trades emotional stories and laughter about the people they’ve lost, and then it’s Minho’s turn, and he has to take deep breaths before he begins.
He thinks about his grandmother on his mom’s side, various memories flashing around his head as he tries to steel himself.
“Uh.. I love all my family more than anything, you know? But um… halmeoni was very special to me. I remember, when I was thirteen, I started to realize I was different. I didn’t know how or why yet, but I knew. One day, I was telling hameoni about this, and she told me it didn’t matter. She said people who are different, or weird, or unique, are the reason the world turns.”
Minho pauses as he feels himself get choked up. He feels a hand settle on his back, and he knows it’s Seungmin, the warmth of his fingers rubbing soft shaped against his spine. It’s grounding, gives him the strength to continue despite the tears slipping from his eyes.
“I never got to come out to her. She passed before I got the chance, but I like to think she would have loved me the same. No, I know she would have.”
There are murmurs of agreement and Minho sighs with relief when his father goes next, starting to talk about his own grandmother.
The soothing hand on his back moves up, fingers scratching slowly and softly against the back of Minho’s head. Seungmin’s never this soft or gentle with his affection, but Minho needs this.
He leans a little into it, giving Seungmin a look that he hopes sums up everything that he’s feeling.
‘Thank you.’
‘Please stay.’
‘I need you next to me.’
He seems to understand, because even after everyone else has gone, his hand stays there. Slipping between soft scratches on his scalp to gentle rubs on his back.
Everyone has gone before Minho’s mother’s gaze falls on Seungmin.
“Seungmin-ah.. Would you like to share?”
Minho can feel him tense, the hand on his back stiffening. He feels the urge to object, to find a way to get them out of this situation, but then Seungmin’s hand is leaving his back and falling to his side.
“Um.. sure, yeah,” He says, voice small. Minho looks at him meaningfully, but Seungmin doesn’t return his eye-contact. He usually doesn’t when he’s worried he’ll cry, “Ah.. well, I lost my father when I was fifteen.”
Minho freezes—Seungmin’s never mentioned his father dying. He’s mentioned his bad relationship with his mom, but that’s all he’s said about it, and Minho’s never pushed because it always seemed like such a rough topic.
“How I lost him isn’t important.. he was gone, and I felt so alone, and I… sorry,” Seungmin’s voice cracks and Minho knows how this feels, all the eyes on you as you cry. He can’t imagine how hard it must be when it’s someone else’s family giving you those sympathetic looks.
His hand finds Seungmin’s and he squeezes.
‘I’ve got you.’
Seungmin squeezes back and then keeps talking.
“Me and my father always did puzzles together. Word searches, memory games, we even played chess. He always told me that when emotions were hard, my brain could get me through anything. I carried that with me my whole life.”
Minho smiles softly, rubbing his thumb feather-light across Seungmin’s fingers.
“I hope, above everything else, that he’d be proud of where I am today.”
“He would be, dove,” Minho’s mother says, stepping closer to rest her hand on his shoulder, her smile kind. “You are a kind, patient, and thoughtful boy, and I can see that without even knowing you that well. He’s proud of you.”
Minho sees the tears well in Seungmin’s eyes and before he can think twice, his free hand is moving to cradle his face and brush those tears away.
“Thank you,” Seungmin whispers, and Minho’s mother takes back the spotlight to wrap things up.
Minho keeps his hand on his face for a moment, his other squeezing Seungmin’s hand once more before he whispers, “You okay?”
Seungmin nods, dark eyes glassy but a hint of a smile on his face, “Yeah, uh.. your family is wonderful..”
“They are,” Minho agrees, wiping the last of the wetness off Seungmin’s cheek before he drops his hand. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
Minho shrugs, “For sharing that about your dad. For comforting me when I needed it..” He hesitates, thinking of how to word it, “For being here.”
And then Seungmin does something that really and truly surprises Minho. He kisses him. Soft, fleeting, and so sweet that he wants more.
At this point, Minho doesn’t know if the kiss was for the believability of the fake relationship, or if maybe the early autumn air is getting to Seungmin too.
The rest of the day is much more anticlimactic. They relax and eat dinner and Seungmin once again insists on helping him with dishes. There’s something unspoken between them, laying heavy and stagnant in the air, cracking with static.
Seungmin showers first again, and Minho agonizes the entire time he’s in there. And when he’s taking a shower. And when he’s changed back into pajamas, sliding into bed besides Seungmin and flipping the light off.
He’s agonizing as he’s staring up at those stupid glow in the dark stars, trying so hard to reign in those stupid thoughts that keep plaguing him.
“Hyung,” Seungmin says after a while of silence, his voice soft and whisperlike.
Minho turns to him, and it’s hard to make out in the darkness, but he can see a faint outline of Seungmin’s face.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.. for today,” He says, and his hand rests on Minho’s chest. It’s cramped on the bed, so it’s probably just for ease of lying there, but the contact still makes Minho’s heart jump into his throat. “I’ve um… never really talked about that stuff before.”
Minho nods, and despite his better judgement, he lays his own hand against Seungmin’s. “Of course.”
He keeps it simple because he knows any more will make Seungmin uncomfortable, and the younger seems to appreciate it.
“I…” Minho sighs, “I’m sorry if this has been hard on you. This whole thing, this whole arrangement..”
He feels Seungmin tense, just a little; “Why would it be hard on me?”
Minho shrugs, “Just, you know, all the commotion and the questions and you don’t really know these people and-“
“Hyung,” Seungmin cuts him off, his laugh breathless, “This has been a beautiful experience, truly. Your family are.. they…you..” He sighs, shaking his head a little, “It’s been good. I promise.”
“Okay,” Minho says, and he swears he can feel Seungmin’s breath across his face.
He has no idea who leans in first, just that their lips connect and within seconds it’s.. it’s different.
Their two kisses so far have been so soft, so hesitant, simple even. This is not that.
Seungmin’s fingers tighten against Minho’s shirt, his lips moving in a way that’s foreign to him. Like he’s been waiting for this.
Minho’s hand slides into Seungmin’s hair, thick locks slipping through his fingers. He slides his tongue ever so slightly against Seungmin’s lip, and in response Seungmin’s mouth parts.
His tongue is just as soft as Minho had expected, warm and velvety, the perfect amount of confident and soft as he deepens the kiss.
In truth, Minho has never enjoyed a kiss this much. Not with any hookup or person he was casually seeing, not even that model he’d taken home from the bar.
Hell, this even beats the night he and Hyunjin had gotten hammered and made out back in college, and for all that he’s fucking annoying, Hyunjin’s a damn good kisser.
Kissing Seungmin is so easy, so effortless it kind of just feels like breathing.
Seungmin nibbles at his bottom lip and Minho gasps, fingers tugging a little at Seungmin’s hair and stealing the moan that leaves his mouth.
The situation is getting out of control fast, and Minho knows he should stop, but when he breaks the kiss his lips have a mind of their own. He kisses across Seungmin’s jaw and down his neck, tonguing over the skin until he’s shivering against him.
“Hyung,” Seungmin whines, breathless, and Minho sinks his teeth into the soft flesh of Seungmin’s neck. He doesn’t think about really, just bites and sucks and kisses across the skin and then presses his lips back against Seungmin’s.
His mind is blank and void of anything that isn’t Seungmin and Minho has no idea how long they kiss for, just that when they finally pull away his lips are numb and tingling.
The room is void of any sounds that aren’t their soft pants, and that’s when Minho finally regains basic fucking brain function. Jesus fucking Christ.
“Um. Goodnight,” He says, quiet but firm, and turns around, his back to Seungmin.
Seungmin sighs, so soft Minho might have missed it had he not been so tuned in to every sense in his body. “Goodnight Hyung.”
─── ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅☆ ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅ ───
On the third and final day of Chuseok, Minho wakes up convinced he ruined everything.
He’s laying in the middle of his bed, a feat that’s only possible because there’s no Kim Seungmin to be found.
He slips into his clothes for the day, settling on a burnt orange shirt and black pants—oddly fitting for the autumn weather—and pads into the bathroom.
That’s where he finds Seungmin, who’s clutching the counter and staring at himself in the mirror with wide eyes.
“What are you.. oh,” Minho’s eyes slip down to Seungmin’s neck, zeroing in on what he was staring at.
To Minho’s credit, it’s not terrible, but it’s definitely visible, a reddish purple mark on Seungmin’s lower neck. It sits on his skin like a taunt, a reminder of the things Minho is getting a taste of that he can’t actually have.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Minho winces, chewing on his lip a little, “Maybe I can steal some makeup from mom and cover this up-“
“Oh god,” Seungmin whines, “This is so embarrassing..”
Minho laughs, uneasy, “If it makes you feel better, this helps our believability quite a bit..”
Seungmin snorts but he doesn’t look very assured, staring at it still before he finally speaks, voice low and just above a whisper, “Your parents are going to think I’m a whore.”
This startles a laugh out of Minho, and he clutches his stomach. “Seungmin, your ‘boyfriend’ giving you a hickey does not equal whore.”
He shrugs, smiling a little despite the discomfort still present on his face, “Doesn’t make this any less mortifying.”
“Yeah, that I understand.”
“Can we just brush our teeth now?”
Minho smiles, tearing his eyes away from the pretty mark on Seungmin’s neck.
“Yeah, yeah let’s do that.”
Surprisingly, when everyone’s gathered around the table, no one says anything about Seungmin’s hickey. Minho thinks that maybe no one noticed, that maybe Seungmin choosing a purple shirt to try and make it less obvious was actually super smart. ‘Color theory, you know?’ ‘Who are you, Hyunjin?’
And then Sunhi speaks mid-meal, muffled with rice, “Seungminnie-yah, what happened to your neck?”
Minho chokes on his kimchi and glares at Sana when she cackles, and Seungmin’s hand closes around the bruise as he flushes.
Stifling her own giggles, Minho’s mom eyes them from where she’s sat, “Yeah, did you burn yourself or something?”
Seungmin’s face has never looked redder, and Minho laughs a little despite himself.
“Um. Allergic reaction I think,” Seungmin squeaks, and this time it’s Sana’s mother who’s giggling.
“Oh yeah?” Sana says, her voice edged with amusement, “Well whatever bit you must like you. Or your blood, that’s quite the mark.”
Likely sensing Seungmin and Minho’s discomfort, his father swiftly changes the subject, and the two boys relax. For now.
There’s no real plans until dinner, and it’s gonna be a big one since it’s the last dinner of Chuseok, so there’s a lot of time to kill.
“Hey,” Minho says, nudging Seungmin with his shoulder, “Wanna go on a walk? I know a good place.”
Seungmin looks up from the book he’d been perusing—it’s one of Minho’s fathers favorites, he’d recommended it to Seungmin when he learned he loved to read. He also noticed Dori curled around his ankle and smiles—that’s two cats that have warmed up to him now.
“Sure, why not?”
It’s nearing evening, so the breeze has settled into a slight chill. The trees are tinged with hints of yellows and oranges, and Minho sighs happily when they step outside.
“This is always my favorite time of year, right when autumn starts to hit.”
Seungmin hums, inhaling the air and letting his eyes slipped closed for a moment, “Yeah, it’s perfect. Where are we walking to?”
“It’s not far, I don’t wanna spoil it,” Minho says, waiting until Seungmin’s eyes are open again to start walking down the sidewalk.
They walk in relative silence, but it’s comfortable. Minho leads him down the street a couple blocks before they stray off path, ducking between a few trees.
“Hyung, be honest, are you gonna murder me out here?”
Minho turns around, walking backwards for a few paces as he smirks, “I dunno, I’m thinking about it.”
He turns back around, surveying the two forking paths before nodding towards the left, “This way, we’re almost there.”
A few more minutes of walking through the trees and Minho turns back to Seungmin, grabbing his hand and tugging him forward through two parted bushes.
“Okay, this is it.”
Through the bushes, there’s a large clearing. The first thing that’s noticeable is a pond. It’s big, and the rays of the sun eagerly meet the ripples of water, sparkling under the light.
“Oh wow,” Seungmin says, and Minho watches as he takes in the view.
“I used to come here a lot when I was younger. It’s quiet here, serene. I used to look for rocks by the pond and try to skip them, or just come and lay down when life got hard..”
Seungmin nods and there’s a soft smile that finds his face, “It’s lovely—seems very relaxing.”
“Yeah,” Minho smiles and tugs Seungmin forward again, heading towards the pond. He let’s go of his hand once they’re nearing the edge of the grass, crouching down and dipping his fingertips in the water.
Seungmin follows, crouching down beside him and looking, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “Looking for rocks?”
“Mhm.”
Minho finds some rocks, they both attempt to skip them, but most of said rocks are a little too heavy and round to be good successful. Eventually, they just lay down together under one of the closer trees, enjoying the weather and the sunlight speckling in through the leaves.
Minho turns to look at Seungmin, feeling his heart thrum in his chest. His eyes are closed, hands folded neatly on his chest. His dark eyelashes fan gentle across his cheeks, his lips pressed together in the faintest of smiles.
He doesn’t really think before he slips his phone out of his pocket and takes a picture. Why has he been doing that today? Snapping candid’s of Seungmin like he’s his actual boyfriend?
Whatever the reason, it’s a very pretty picture.
He slips his phone back in his pocket and sighs softly, unintentional, and so quiet he hopes Seungmin doesn’t notice.
He does.
“You okay?” He asks when his eyes open, turning to meet Minho’s eyes.
Minho nods, “Yeah it’s just—I…” He groans a little and turns on his side, facing Seungmin completely now. “I think I’m just tired. I love my family but this has been… hard, you know?”
Seungmin’s face changes in a way that Minho can’t quite understand or decode, but it’s back to normal in seconds, “I get that. It must be hard lying to them.”
Minho nods, “Yeah. I’ll be okay, it’s just.. nice to get a moment like this. Where we can just breathe.”
“Yeah.”
It’s quiet for a while longer before Seungmin speaks again, quiet and so earnest that Minho struggles to keep up for a moment.
”You know.. what you were saying about your halmeoni yesterday got me thinking,” He says, swallowing. “I never got to tell my appa that I’m gay. I wanted to, but when my mom had found out—on her own, I didn’t tell her—she told me not to tell him.”
Minho’s eyebrows furrow, anger seeping into his skin. “That’s terrible.”
”Yeah. And then he just.. died. Had a heart attack. I never…”
Minho reaches out, taking Seungmin’s hand in his as he watches tears pool in his eyes. He squeezes. Seungmin squeezes back.
“There’s a lot I can’t forgive my mother for, but that’s one of them. I wanted to tell him, I should’ve had that choice.”
Minho nods, “You deserved that chance.”
”Yeah,” Seungmin says again, voice small. Minho wants to kick anyone who’s ever made him feel like this off the planet forever. “I guess I just.. didn’t realize how much I wish I could’ve told him.”
Minho nods. “I’m sure he would’ve loved you the same.”
Seungmin smiles sadly, “I am too. I just wish my mother thought the same.”
Minho wants to do anything he can to make sure Seungmin never feels that way again. He finds himself wanting to commit to making him happy, seeing that stupid dopey smile on his face instead of the sad, resigned expression. He deserves better than that.
That same, unspoken truth hangs in the air, like a bubble that Minho’s too afraid to just reach up and pop it.
He can’t. Not if there’s even a chance Seungmin doesn’t want the same thing he does. He’s not gonna risk everything, risk utter heartbreak. He just can’t. It’s dangerous how much he’s starting to wish he could.
“We should head back soon,” Seungmin whispers, and Minho wonders if he can feel the bubble of unknown too.
“Yeah.”
The walk back home is a slightly less comfortable silence. It’s thick and grey and Minho doesn’t know how to wade through it.
When they walk through the door, it’s clear dinners already started. Minho curses to himself—he should help her prepare but he just feels so tired, and-
“Hey,” Seungmin says, nodding towards the kitchen, “I’ll help her today, you should just sit and spend time with your family.”
Minho frowns. How is it fair Seungmin is basically a mind reader and Minho can never read what’s happening behind those big, dumb eyes?
“You don’t have to-“
“Hyung,” Seungmin tuts, lightly punching his arm, “Don’t fight me on this. I’m prepared to make it physical.”
He sighs, but concedes. Sometimes Minho likes Seungmin a little too much to argue with him, and the playful smile finding it’s way back to his face isn’t helping.
He ends up sitting in the living room, very deliberately placed on the recliner so he has a straight view of the kitchen. Between talking to his aunts and teasing Sunhi, he gets to glance towards the two busy bodies in the kitchen.
His mother keeps laughing, and Seungmin’s grin is so wide it could reflect the sun. He catches moments where his mother is explaining something and Seungmin’s face turns focused, furrowed brows and small nods, and he can even catch the way his cheeks pinken when she claps and nods in approval.
It’s a different type of warmth that spreads through Minho’s chest—it’s something sizzling and syrupy, bubbling as it pumps through his veins.
At some point, Seungmin catches his eye, looking away immediately and the smile that finds his face is so soft Minho has to tear his eyes away. Why does he feel like he’s being set on fire?
“Minnie! Look!” Sunhi says, holding up her latest artistic creation.
It looks like a dog, scribbled in orange and brown, a big silly smile on his face. Next to the dog is a.. grumpy rabbit.
“Guess who it is,” Sunhi says, her grin huge and she’s staring very intensely at Minho with her little dark eyes.
“Um,” Minho feels himself smile, “That’s wouldn’t happen to me and Seungmin-ah, would it?”
“Yes!” She cheers, bouncing a little with excitement, “It’s for you.”
Minho takes it and looks closer—aw, he hadn’t noticed the dog and rabbit were holding hands. How cute. He snaps a picture on his phone and then scowls playfully,
“Yah wait, Sunhi, why does the rabbit look so angry? I don’t look like that!”
Sunhi giggles and points at his face, “Yes you do! You do look like that!”
Seungmin’s voice chimes in at the doorway, wiping his hands with a dishtowel, “Look like what?”
Minho holds out the paper and Seungmin looks at it, grinning, “Oh hyung.. you do look like that.”
Minho scowls even harder, making Sunhi’s giggles wilder, and reaches forward. He hooks his finger in Seungmin’s belt loop, tugging him forward and sending him stumbling to lean against the couches armrest.
“Kim Seungmin, I will fight you and win.”
He rolls his eyes, his grin more of a smirk now, “Sure, yeah.”
Minho wants to kiss that stupid smirk off his face. So he does.
He pulls him down even further and plants a firm, wet kiss to his lips before shoving him back with a satisfied smile.
Sunhi squeals. Seungmin flushes, wide eyed. Minho hears his aunts giggle.
“See? I win.”
Seungmin doesn’t have a chance to respond and Minho doesn’t have a chance to regret it, because dinner is being called from the kitchen.
Minho and Seungmin both help his mother set the table, the enter surface covered with different dishes. The biggest dinner by far, and it’s fitting for the last night of Chuseok.
The air is filled with warmth and laughter, and Sunhi falls asleep in the middle of her meal, Jongsu putting her to bed and returning. Thus, the conversation gets looser, some choosing to drink in the name of the holiday.
Pointedly, Minho and Seungmin choose water, which Minho is silently thankful for. No need to get drunk and say something that outs their arrangement right at the end.
Minho is excited when it’s time for dessert, but his father stands before his mother can bring out the selection.
“I’d like to say a few words to everyone, if no one minds,” He says, his smile crooked form the alcohol and cheeks red. He looks happy, and it makes Minho smile. His father didn’t smile a lot growing up.
“First, I’d like to thank my wonderful, beautiful wife for all of her work cooking and preparing this amazing food. I’d like to thank all of you, Hanuel, Youngji, Jiwon, Sana, Jongsu, for coming. No matter how far away you live, choosing to come to celebrate Chuseok and celebrate each other, to celebrate our lives and celebrate happiness.”
He pauses, looking right an Minho, “I’d like to thank my son for always helping his mother in the kitchen because everyone knows that shouldn’t be me in there,”
Everyone laughs.
“And for just being a wonderful son. I’m so proud of you.”
Minho feels his cheeks heat and his eyes sting a little. He feels Seungmin’s hand find his under the table and squeeze, and he squeezes back.
His dad isn’t finished though. “I’d also like to thank Kim Seungmin, for coming here with my Minho and taking some of the weight he carries off his shoulders. You’re a good kid, and I’m happy my son found someone like you. You’re family now, and you’re always welcome here.”
Seungnmin’s hand tenses, his entire body stiffening, and Minho feels about the same.
It’s sad, when he thinks about it. He didn’t expect his family to love Seungmin this much—maybe he should have, knowing him, but god that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
In a few weeks, he’ll have to call his mom and tell her that he and Seungmin didn’t work out. He’ll have to hear the disappointment in her voice, and he’ll be back where he started. Why did he think this was a good idea? Why did he think any of this would help?
Seungmin’s hand leaves his under the table and Minho misses the contact immediately.
“Thank you sir, those words mean a lot to me.”
Minho’s father grins and he continues his speech, wrapping it up and helping his wife bring back dessert.
Seungmin doesn’t speak for the rest of the meal. Minho kind of hopes the earth will open him up and swallow him so he doesn’t have to feel like this anymore.
Everyone staggers off to bed eventually, mostly drunk and exhausted, and Minho and Seungmin do the dishes in silence. Once again, the unspoken thrums above them like a gong, and fuck is Minho getting tired of how much work it takes to pretend it’s not there.
Minho’s plan is to go straight to bed while Seungmin showers, avoid the discussion, and they can leave tomorrow and maybe Minho can try to forget any of this has been.
However, when he’s laying down in his pajamas, Seungmin hasn’t even come in to change yet. The shower never turns on. He waits an agonizing twenty minutes before he convinces himself that Seungmin either spontaneously combusted in the kitchen or has ran away.
Curiousity gets the best of him. He steps into the hallway and wanders out to the kitchen, looking around in the dark. Oh.
All the lights are off both in and out of the house, except for the pool, where a dim border is illuminated. Because of this light, he can see the silhouette of someone sitting at the pools edge. He’d know those shoulders anywhere.
He slips out the sliding door and approaches, shivering a little. Nights are getting more frigid.
Seungmin doesn’t react to his presence or the way Minho clears his throat. He stays sitting there, feet treading in the water and making soft ripples on the surface. His pants are rolled up, and Minho wonders how cold the water is. Ugh, fuck it. This stupid, stubborn Virgo.
Minho huffs and rolls up his own pant legs, sitting himself down next to Seungmin and pointedly sticking his feet in the pool, hissing at the icy water hitting his skin.
“Gah Kim Seungmin—it’s fucking cold,” He takes his feet out immediately, rolling his pants down and clicking his tongue.
Seungmin makes a sound like he’s trying to laugh but it’s a sad attempt. When Minho finally looks at his face, bathed in aqua light, he can make out wetness on his cheeks. He’s been crying.
“It’s like those one of those ice baths Changbin-hyung took after his workout once,” He mutters, and Minho doesn’t care about the water anymore.
“Are you okay?”
Seungmin’s quiet, firmly smoothing his hands over his thighs, palms sliding across the fabric of his pants. It’s a nervous habit. He’s had it since he was a kid, he’s mentioned it to Minho before.
“Hyung,” Seungmin whispers, and Minho feels his chest clench. He doesn’t like that tone of voice. Raw and vulnerable, laced with regret. “I’m so sorry.”
Minho’s eyebrows furrow and he shakes his head, “I don’t.. you don’t have anything to apologize for—“
“I didn’t mean—I didn’t realize this would make it worse. I mean I did, I did realize, and I agreed to it all anyway, and I can’t, it’s all messed up but I didn’t want it to be and I—“
Minho huffs, his hand finding Seungmin’s before it slides down his leg for the twentieth time. His fingers are trembling. Minho doesn’t know how this all got so messed up.
“Seungminnie, calm down,” His voice is firm but not unkind. He squeezes his hand. Seungmin limply squeezes back. “Just breathe. Start over when you’re able, just.. talk slowly.”
Seungmin swallows and nods, taking a few deep breaths as he stares into the pool. By the time he speaks, his voice is wavering but he seems to know what he wants to say.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to this. You’re one of my closest friends and I’d do anything to help you if you really needed it, and shit I’d probably still do this all again if I could travel back in time,” He pauses, slowing himself down. “But realistically, I shouldn’t have said yes. Fuck, Minho this has been torture.”
“I’m sorry,” Minho whispers, because he doesn’t know what else to say. He doesn’t want to be the reason Seungmin cries, even if he doesn’t quite understand why yet.
“No, you don’t get it,” Seungmin laughs wetly and wipes his eyes with the hand Minho doesn’t currently have a death grip on. “This has been torture because it’s confirmed everything I already knew. It confirmed that your family is incredible, and you’re incredible, and you’re so caring even though you’re so weirdly secretive about it..”
Minho smiles a little despite himself, eyebrows still creased in confusion.
“And all this entire, torturous experience has taught me is that I don’t know how to not be in love with you and it’s getting so hard to pretend like that’s not what I am. Because I have been, for a long time. Probably longer than I’ve even realized.”
Oh, that’s… not where Minho thought this was going.
His feels his heart in his throat as Seungmin becomes silent, that same scalding heat spreading through his entire body, fingers tingling and head hazy.
“Kim Seungmin,” Minho mutters, and Seungmin’s eyes snap to meet his. “You better not be saying that if you don’t mean it. I’ll never forgive you.”
Seungmin chokes on his laugh, tears pooling in his eyes again, “I’m not in the practice of lying to you, hyung. Everyone else maybe, but I’m not good at lying to you.”
Something twists in his ribs, it feels a bit like pride but it’s too warm to be that. It’s persistent and stays in the air like smoke.
Minho lets himself sit with this. Sit with all of it. When Seungmin opens his mouth to speak again, Minho holds up his hand.
“Don’t, I’m gathering my thoughts.”
Seungmin chuckles weakly but doesn’t speak.
Has he been wrong this whole time? He’d been operating off the fact that he’d fucked up and developed feelings for his friend, that whatever the ache in his chest was, was just guilt for liking him when he shouldn’t. But love.. is that what it is? The warmth and the heaviness and the tingle in his fingers?
Minho doesn’t think he’s ever been so happy to be wrong before.
When Minho’s done gathering, he sighs and rolls his shoulders back, easing the tension away.
“Okay. My turn,” He says, and Seungmin tilts his head curiously to the left. His eyes sparkle in the light of the pool. Minho lets himself admire them before he speaks, “My mom’s been asking me for years now why I haven’t thought about settling down with someone,”
“I always told her I just hadn’t found the right person. And I wasn’t lying, because that’s in large part why I’m so bad at dating. The moment I think me and someone else won’t work, I’m cutting it off. If I can’t see something working, why would I try?”
Minho wets his lips and turns a little more towards Seungmin. “The issue with you, is that I had never let myself consider whether or not you and I would.. work, in that way. I never had to, you were always just my friend. And then I see you here, I see a glimpse into a life that could be real,”
He sees Seungmin’s lip quiver and Minho realizes that his own expression might mirror it. His eyes are starting to sting. He keeps talking.
“I… I see you with my family. With my mother. I see you in my home, and it doesn’t feel foreign or an adjustment, it feels like you’re meant to be there. I didn’t have to imagine how you’d fit into my life, I was just presented with undeniable proof that you fit perfectly,”
He’s crying now, but he tries not to let it show with his voice.
“And for the first time, I think.. I think even if there was a problem, even if I got scared of how real this could be, that I’d want to try anyway. You made me realize that all these feelings I’ve been experiencing aren’t some foreign, terrible curse. For Christ sakes, Kim Seungmin, I—I think you made me realize what loving someone feels like,”
“Oh my god,” Seungmin huffs, tipping his head back with a sob before he’s smacking Minho in the shoulder, “Don’t say things like that.”
“Why?” Minho’s fingers curl around Seungmin’s wrists and he tugs his hands to his chest, palm to heart. “I’ve never been so eloquent with my words in my life, Kim Seungmin, I should be awarded for this.”
Seungmin grins, teeth catching the light of the pool and his eyes still glassy from his tears. He wipes his face and then gives Minho a look.
”God I’m so—I fully thought our friendship was over, that I’d confess and you’d tell me to take myself home right now and we’d never see each other again. I’ve loved you for so long hyung and I always thought I’d never tell you.”
Minho’s heart hurts. He wishes he would’ve let himself consider this as a possibility sooner, they could’ve saved a lot of time. “I’m sorry,” He says, shaking his head, “I think.. I’m kind of a dumbass when it comes to the love thing.”
Seungmin snorts, “Yeah, you can say that again..” And then he giggles, “You do realize though, I still confessed first. I told you that you’d never be so forward,” He’s smirking, and Minho guffaws.
“Where’s your phone?” Minho asks, relishing in the pure confusion that coats Seungmin’s features.
“Uh, I left it in the kitchen, why—DON’T YOU DAR-“
Minho puts one hand on his shoulder and one on his lower back, pushing with enough force that Seungmin flies into the pool, the splash incredibly satisfying as Minho cackles.
When Seungmin resurfaces, he’s scowling, his hair in his eyes before he agressively pushes it back, “Lee Minho.”
Minho cackles and points at him with amusement, “Sorry Seungmin, no wet dogs in the bed—HEY-“
Seungmin grabs his wrist and pulls back so hard that Minho topples in after him, both of them being fully submerged again.
Warm laughter fills his ears when Minho pops out of the water, and he smiles.
“You brat, I cannot believe you,” Minho snorts, pushing his hair out of his face and rolling his eyes at the mischievous smirk Seungmin is sporting.
He swims forward and his hands find Seungnmin’s waist, pulling him closer and down to kiss him.
It’s wet and Seungmin tastes like chlorine, and Minho has never been happier.
“It’d so cold,” Seungmin mutters against his lips, and Minho agrees.
“Let’s go shower then, shall we? Warm up a little,” Minho whispers, and Seungmin nods through wide eyes.
They climb out of the pool, clothes sticking uncomfortably to their bodies as they try to wring out most of excess. They drip their way through the house, Seungmin grabs his phone from the kitchen but tosses it on the counter the second they’re in the bathroom, starting to shed his clothes immediately.
Minho turns the water on, setting it to hot and making quick work of his own clothes.
The air is.. charged, is probably the word for it. Both of their cheeks are red and their eyes wander shamelessly. It’s nice to be able to check out Seungmin in his entirety, gaze roaming across all his features and not having to feel guilty for liking what he sees.
The shower itself is innocent enough for the most part—they wash the chlorine out of eachothers hair which is probably the most intimate thing Minho’s ever done with any other person before. They kiss a little more, giggling against eachothers lips and letting their hands wander a little before Minho is breaking away, rushing to turn the water off.
They to a half-assed job of drying off, wrapping towels around themselves before they’re tiptoeing back to Minho’s room.
The moment the door is closed, all caution is thrown to the wind. Minho crowds Seungmin against the wall and kisses him silly, leaning up on his toes and swallowing the breath from Seungmin’s throat. Man does it feel good to kiss someone you actually like, not just tolerate. He bets sex is the same thing.
Seungmin seems to read his mind, because when Minho starts kissing down his neck he whispers, “I have condoms and lube in one of my bags.”
Minho smirks against his skin, “You brought that here? Wishful thinking much?”
Seungmin groans and weakly shoves at Minho’s shoulders, “Don’t start.”
He chuckles, “Okay. But you have to tell me, do you want me to fuck you, or do you want to fuck me?”
Minho truly thinks he’d be down for either if it made Seungmin happy.
“Um,” Seungmin’s voice is higher pitch now, and he shifts against the door, “You.. you fuck me?”
And yeah, he can definitely do that.
“Okay puppy,” Minho kisses his collarbone, shifting the towels around them until they’re falling to the floor. He steps back and smiles, “Why don’t you grab those things from your bag for me?”
Seungmin mumbles something under his breath that doesn’t sound coherent, but he obeys, quickly digging in and presenting the small bottle and foil wrapper. Minho can see the flush in his cheeks even in the dim lamp light.
“Thank you,” Minho says, plucking the items from his hands and nodding towards the bed, “Lay down for me, baby.”
Minho crawls over him, peppering his face with kisses and chuckling against his skin when Seungmin squirms. He wants to inject Seungmin into his blood stream.
“That tickles,” Seungmin whispers when Minho lightly trails his fingers up his waist.
“Don’t care, I’m enjoying myself, wanna taste you all over,” He says simply, kissing downwards until he’s flicking his tongue over one of Seungmin’s nipples. The younger gasps and his voice becomes tight,
“Didn’t know you were such a softie in bed, hyung.”
“Soft isn’t how I’d describe myself right now,” Minho snorts, his fingers pinching lightly over Seungmin’s other nipple. He’s not lying either, he’s already hard between his legs and when he glances down, he sees Seungmin is too. Cock perched prettily against his stomach, the head flushed a pretty red color.
“Don’t make bad jokes when you’re about to fuck me,” Seungmin struggles to say, a soft moan slipping out of his mouth. The sound is so pretty Minho wants to bottle it up and keep it forever.
He kisses down even more, tonguing across his v-line and hip bone before he’s pushing Seungmin’s legs further apart. He sinks his teeth slowly into the skin of Seungmin’s thigh, and both his leg and cock jerk at the sensation. Minho sucks a mark on his thigh that puts the one on his neck to shame.
“Hyung,” Seungmin whines, quiet and strained, so Minho takes pity and wraps his lips around his cock.
Seungmin’s arm flies up, wrist pressed against his mouth to muffle the moan that threatens to escape. He leans on his elbow to look down at Minho, eyebrows knitting together when he sees him.
Minho’s not stupid—he knows he looks pretty with a cock in his mouth, so he really puts on a show, taking him in effortlessly and fluttering his eyelashes.
Sex is really different when you actually like the person, it seems. Minho is used to doing just about the bare minimum, seeing sex as a purely transactional thing. With Seungmin, the only thing he wants is to watch him fall apart. To make him feel good, to get his brain empty of everything that’s not here, and now.
He pulls off just long enough to coat his fingers in lube, pressing one warmed finger to Seungmin’s entrance as he swallows him back down.
Seungmin’s moan is muffled but still audible as he bucks his hips upwards, hitting the back of Minho’s throat. Fuck, Minho’s never tried so hard to give good head before, but he still can’t get enough, he wants to keep tasting Seungmin, keep feeling the heady weight of him in his mouth.
He slips in another finger as he teases his tongue around the head—the only thing he wants to do more than suck Seungmin off until he’s sobbing is to fuck him.
He starts to work him open, mouthing across his shaft as he scissors and curls his fingers. Seungmin’s whimpers against his arm grow more consistent. Minho can’t wait to fuck him in a place where they don’t have to be quiet. Maybe tomorrow. Definitely tomorrow.
“Ah—Min—hyung,” Seungmin squeaks, “I’m ready I.. you can fuck me now.”
“Aish,” Minho whispers, “I can’t say no to that, can I?”
Seungmin whimpers when Minho’s fingers pull out, and Minho wants to bottle that sound up too. Maybe turn it into a liquid so he can get drunk from it.
Minho slips off the bed and Seungmin’s eyebrows furrow.
“There’s a reason, trust me,” He says, grabbing the towels from the floor and folding them. He stuffs them between the wall and the bed posts, something he learned to do the first time he tries to hook up with someone as a teenager. Old habits die hard. Seungmin makes an amused sound.
“Ah.”
“See? There’s a reason for everything.”
Seungmin rolls his eyes but it’s fond, “Okay, come here though.”
“One more thing,” Minho says, standing at the edge of the bed and grasping Seungmin’s hips, pulling and rotating him a little, “This will make it easier for both of us, trust me.”
Seungmin blushes but readjusts himself, parting his legs on either side of where Minho is standing, sliding down until he’s on the edge of the bed.
“There we go,” Minho says softly, his hands rubbing softly across Seungmin’s thighs, pressing his thumb into the hickey he’d left there earlier, smiles when he realizes Seungmin likes it.
“Mmh, okay, fuck me now,” Seungmin mumbles, handsing around for the condom until he grabs it, thrusting it towards Minho.
“Impatient, are we?” Minho smirks, “You’re lucky I’m feeling nice today, or else I’d make you beg for it.”
Seungmin whines, high and in the back of his throat, and his blush spreads to his neck. “Oh god, shut up-“
“Relax baby,” Minho chuckles, “Like I said, I’m feeling nice. Though I bet you’d sound so pretty begging.”
He unwraps the condom and slides it on himself, only going a little slower than usual. He can tease a little if he wants, sue him.
He’s generous with the lube—he didn’t get to stretch Seungmin as much as he’d prefer, but in his defense, the younger had insisted. By the time he’s positioning himself, cock nudging against Seungmin’s hole, his heart is thrumming with anticipation.
Seungmin looks so pretty under him. His legs are spread so wide, so trusting with Minho, and his cock is slick at the head from spit and precum. His eyes are wide and glassy, cherry red lips parted and damp hair messy. He looks perfect. Minho wants to destroy him.
“Are you ready? I’ll go slow.”
“Yes hyung.”
Minho pushes in slow, like he promised, letting Seungmin feel every inch as he bottoms out.
Seungmin’s eyes slipped closed and his breath gets a little ragged, so Minho pauses completely, his hips flush with Seungmin as he stands still. He rubs gentle, soothing circles on Seungmin’s thighs and hips, thumbs caressing the dip of his waist.
“Take your time baby, I won’t move until you’re ready.”
Seungmin whines a little, creasing his eyebrows, “So big hyung..”
Minho smiles fondly—he’s so cockdrunk already. He was made for him. “All for you, Seungminnie.”
He wishes he was born with a photographic memory of nothing else but to memorize exactly how Seungmin looks now, pliant and pretty and bathed in a soft orange glow. Minho could get used to seeing this everyday. Couldn’t imagine getting bored of it.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Seungmin says after a minute of soft words and even softer touches.
“You sure?” Minho asks, because he really does want this to be good for him.
Seungmin wraps his legs around his waist, pulling him a little close and grinding Minho somehow even deeper inside him. Seungmin groans softly, “Yes, yes c’mon.”
Minho smiles. Seungmin is nothing if not eager.
He still starts off slow with his thrusts, easing Seungmin into it as he begins fucking him. He lifts one of Seungmin’s legs up and hooks it over his shoulder, thigh to chest, and the new angle makes Seungmin moan loud enough that Minho stops.
“Gotta be quiet baby,” He says sternly, and Seungmin nods fast, clasping his hand over his mouth. “Good boy.”
That pulls a moan from him against his hand and Minho’s lips twitch into a smile. How cute.
He thrusts in again hard, watching the visible parts of Seungmin’s face crease and his eyes widen, his free hand clutching at the sheets. What a beautiful picture Seungmin makes. He tells him so.
“So good, so perfect like this Seungminnie,” Minho says softly, hitting that same angle that makes him fall apart. He’s whining and squirming and clenching around his cock and Minho’s so obsessed with every part of him. “Made for me, made for my cock.”
Seungmin’s hand leaves his face, his tongue lolling out to haphazardly wet his lips, “Minho,” He tries to whisper.
“Oh baby,” Minho coos, fucking in deeper and rolling his hips. “Need something to suck on? Want my fingers Seungminnie?”
He nods quickly and Minho is quick to indulge him, slipping his pointer and middle fingers into Seungmin’s mouth. His lips close around the digits and moans around him, his own hands clutching helplessly against the mattress, knuckles white.
Minho fucks him with everything he has. He ignores the burn in his thighs and the ache in his back, finding every angle that makes Seungmin keen and committing it to memory.
Seungmin’s tongue curls and slides against his fingers, his moans both caused by and silenced by Minho. Seungmin’s legs tremble, his body sensitive and squirmy as his cock bobs in the air with every thrust.
Minho slips Seungmin’s leg from his shoulder to back around his his hips, pulling his fingers out of his mouth and planting his hands on either side of Seungmin’s head.
Minho kisses Seungmin the way he loves him, intense and all consuming, like he’d rather die than give it up no. It’s perfectly messy, lips and tongue and teeth.
Seungmin’s cheeks are wet with tears and his arms wrap needily around Minho’s neck pulling him closer, deeper, more.
One of Minho’s hands moves down to wrap firmly around Seungmin’s cock, and he only needs to tug a few times before Seungmin’s gasping, cumming into his fingers. Minho fucks him through it, kiss turning wet and uncoordinated and yet still so perfect.
Minho finishes pretty fast after that, Seungmin clenched around him and still whimpering into his mouth. Everything is so primal, so needy, so hot, that Minho sees white as he cums.
He breaks the kiss, if you could even call it that, and holds himself up shakily over Seungmin, panting heavily. Seungmin is just looking at him, eyes wide and a loopy smile on his face. He looks so dumb and Minho is so, so in love.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Minho asks, gravelly.
Seungmin smiles and has the audacity to look shy with Minho’s cock still buried in him to hilt, “You know why.”
Oh yeah, Minho thinks . He loves me.
Minho kisses him again, soft and languid, only pulling out when Seungmin’s body has relaxed. He disposes of the condom—he’ll take out the trash tomorrow before they leave—and grabs one of the towels he’d wedged against the wall. They’re still a little damp, so it’s perfect to wipe up the cum on his fingers and Seungmin’s stomach. He throws away that towel too—he’ll buy his mom another one.
“Was that good?” Minho asks as he slides into bed under the covers, Seungmin having readjusted to be against the wall as usual.
The younger scoffs, “Uh, yeah, obviously,” He motions to his legs, “I don’t usually shake like that. Or cry, actually. It was intense but.. good. Really good.”
Minho smirks to himself. He’ll try not to let that get to his head.
Seungmin speaks again, voice softer, “Sorry I just kinda laid there—I swear I’m usually more of a participant.”
Minho clicks his tongue, “You can prove that to me some other time. This was good for me too, you know. Best sex of my life, I think.”
Seungmin raises an eyebrow, turning his body a little more to face Minho after the older’s clicked off the lamp.
“Best sex of your life and all I did was starfish? Hm, maybe I am a sex god-“
“Yah,” Minho shoves him, laughing despite his best efforts. “It’s a biased statement, y’know. Being in love with you kinda tips the scale, if you catch my drift.”
Seungmin’s smile turns sunshiney and giddy and he leans a little closer. “I like hearing you say that.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Minho grimaces, “Ew, I’m not used to feeling so sappy. What have you don’t to me, Kim Seungmin?”
He snorts and raises a hand defensively, “Hey don’t look at me, all I did was fall in love with you, so.”
And yeah, maybe Minho gets it now. He likes hearing those words leave Seungmin’s mouth.
They cuddle in closer, Seungmin’s limbs all wrapped around Minho’s body like a clingy little koala, a sea of sheets across them.
It’s nice to just be with Seungmin, listening to his breathing and feeling his silky smooth skin against him. It’s heaven. It’s everything Minho’s been craving and more.
They have more to talk about, so much more, long conversations and maybe some uncomfortable ones. It doesn’t scare Minho to think about though, and it’s so refreshing to not feel scared. Minho could get used to the way Seungmin makes him feel. Thinks he wants to. Thinks he will.
“You know,” Seungmin mumbles as sleep starts to try pulling them in. “When I used to daydream about getting fucked under the stars, your glow in the dark stickers wasn’t what I imagined.”
Minho laughs so loud he wouldn’t be surprised if the whole street heard.
─── ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅☆ ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅ ───
When Minho wakes up the morning after everything changed, he has to pinch himself to make sure he didn’t just dream the whole thing.
But there Seungmin is, peacefully sleeping next to him, naked body still curled around Minho’s form. He feels around for his phone under his pillow and opens his texts with Jeongin, sighing as he types.
linominho 10:34am
Okay. I will allow you ONCE
to say I told you so. There has
been a development with
things—No gloating though.
foxboyjngn 10:34am
hi this is hyunjin, my innie is
sleeping, EXPLAIN??!!! what
does “development” mean??
linominho 10:36am
Um. On second thought, I will
be blocking both of you
effective immediately. Bye!!
foxboyjngn 10:36am
lee minho don’t u DARE.
linominho 10:37am
[This user has blocked you]
foxboyjngn 10:37am
u dumb bitch. that’s not how
that works and u know it.
“Your typing is aggressive,” Seungmin grumbles, smacking Minho’s phone out of his hands until it hits the bed. Minho snorts.
“That was rude. Apologize,” He says, fingers finding Seungmin’s waist and prodding.
“Stop-“ Seungmin whines and shoves at him, but he smiles all the same. “You’re so annoying.”
Minho smiles and looks at him, all pretty and sleepy in the soft morning light. How did he ever think love could be so scary?
“Y’know, if we were back at my apartment I’d say we should have lazy morning sex.”
Seungmin hums in approval, wiggling his eyebrows, “Well why can’t we?”
Minho rolls his eyes with a smirk, “Because I garuntee people are awake and up. I heard footsteps a few minutes ago.”
“Sigh,” Seungmin says, “I guess we can settle for mid afternoon sex when we get back home then.”
Minho grins. Yeah, he can settle for that.
They get up and start the day, picking out their outfits—they both choose green shirts. Minho doesn’t tease him about matching this time. They brush their teeth together and Minho kisses him against the kitchen sink, lips minty.
The first goodbye happens soon after that—Sana and her mother have a flight to catch back to Japan, so when they’re all packed everyone crowds around and gives them hugs.
Sana’s arms wrap around Minho and squeeze, hard. “I missed you so much, Lino. You better call me more, hear me? And send me pictures of the cute dates you and Seungmin go on.”
Minho smiles, “I will,” and it’s nice not be lying.
She hugs Seungmin too, squeezing just as hard. “Thanks for taking care of Minho-yah. He acts big and tough, but he needs someone to keep him soft. I’m glad you do that for him.”
He sees Seungmin’s smile, how genuine it is, and it makes Minho’s chest flutter.
“Thank you noona. I’ll keep taking good care of him.”
Minho wonders if Seungmin’s also relieved he doesn’t have to lie.
They leave and Minho’s mother serves her final breakfast, much smaller and mostly leftovers from last nights feast, but it hits the spot.
Sunhi cries when it’s time for her family to leave—she stuffs her face in Minho’s leg and grabs at his shirt, blubbering.
“I know, but you have a long drive ahead of you kiddo,” Minho pets her hair a little and she looks up with a sniffle. He’ll see her again soon, but he’ll miss her just as much.
“I’ll miss you Minnie,” Sunhi says sadly, looking at Seungmin and sniffling, “You too Seungminnie.”
“We’ll miss you too,” Seungmin says, kneeling down and giving her a big hug.
Minho hugs Jongsu and promises to call him more too, and he really does mean it. His family is worth the effort, he realizes now more than ever how lucky he is to have them.
Minho sighs as he watches Hanuel’s car slide out of the driveway. “Guess we should pack, huh.”
“Yeah,” Seungmin says, and presses a soft kiss to his temple, “C’mon, I’ll fold your clothes for you.”
“Aww,” Minho’s mother says from the doorway, her hand over her chest, “You two are so cute I might just have a toothache.”
Minho huffs, his cheeks warming as he tugs Seungmin towards his room, “Don’t embarrass me, eomma.”
They pack and tidy up the room—Minho does in fact take out the trash—and Seungmin leaves to go grab one of his phone charges he’d left in the living room. In a few minutes, Minho hears his name being called.
On the living room floor, Seungmin is crouched down, a fluffy orange mass on the floor in front of him.
“Hyung look, it’s happening,” He says, eyes wide.
Doongie’s ear twitches and he rolls over, exposing his belly to Seungmin. He looks like he might cry.
“Oh wow, I’m impressed,” Minho grins, slipping his phone from his pocket and taking a picture. The look on Seungmin’s face, so honored and blessed, is to die for.
“I earned the love of your cats. I can die happy now,” Seungmin whispers, rubbing softly at Doongie’s soft tummy.
“It’s not an easy feat,” Minho says, the fondness leaking into his voice like water through cupped fingers.
Seungmin looks up at him, smiling, “Well neither is earning your love, and I managed that.”
Minho is so in love it hurts.
“Idiot.”
Minho’s parents insist on walking them out to their car once everything is packed up, prolonging the goodbye as much as possible.
He hugs his father first—he’s never been the most affectionate man, but he loves his son, and Minho loves hugs from his family.
“Thank you for everything you said last night appa. It meant a lot to me. To both of us.” Minho says into his shoulder.
“Of course,” He says, patting Minho’s back firmly, “I didn’t say a thing I don’t mean.”
He hugs his mother next, and it’s suffocating, all squeezes and high pitch babbles. Minho adores her.
“I know eomma, I’ll miss you too,” He chuckles, smiling softly as he sees his father pull Seungmin in for a long hug besides him.
“You’ll text me when you’re home safe?” She asks, her hands cradling his face as the hug ends.
“Yes eomma, of course.”
“I’d love to have you back for Christmas, both of you,” She says, and presses a few kisses to his cheeks before releasing him, her focus turning to Seungmin.
“Come here you,” She tugs him in and down for a hug, rubbing his back, “It’s been amazing to meet and to get to know you.”
Seungmin hugs her back, his eyes closing as he enjoys it. Minho hopes he gets everything from his parents that he never got from his own.
His mother pulls back, but not before whispering something to Seungmin, patting his cheek softly before releasing him too. Seungmin nods gives them both a wave.
“Thank you again for letting me into your home and your traditions.. and for accepting me as I am. Both as a person, and as a partner for your son.”
It’s so earnest and genuine that Minho’s first instinct is to get embarrassed, before he realizes he doesn’t have to be. This is how it’s supposed to be, him and Seungmin and the warmth in his chest. This is okay. This is good. This is safe.
Minho waits until they’re backing out of the driveway, hand still waving to his parents, to ask the question that’s clawing at his brain.
“What did eomma whisper to you?”
Seungmin smiles, eyes still on the road as he answers.
“She said ‘thank you, for taking care of my son as much as he takes care of everyone else.’”
Minho looks out his window and smiles. Yeah. This is good.
─── ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅☆ ⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⋅ ───
“Baby, when you rearranged my desktop where did you put—oh, nevermind, found it.”
Seungmin snorts with amusement from the kitchen, looking up and catching his eye, “Sometimes I’m convinced that to find something you just have to complain to me about not knowing where it is.”
Minho smirks, “A likely theory. Did you check the mail for the invite to Jeongin and Hyunjin’s engagement party?”
He hums, “Yeah, not here yet. I told them that mailed invites are for weddings and not just engagements, but those two are dramatic.”
“Yeah, that’s why we love them unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately.”
Minho glances at the window—the tree outside his apartment is starting to change, green leaves tinging with bits of yellow, signifying the shift into Minho’s favorite part of the year.
As if on queue, Minho’s phone rings and he smiles, answering it and standing to walk towards the kitchen.
“Hello eomma, how are you?”
His mothers voice comes in as excited as ever through the phone. “I am wonderful dove—what are you doing right now? Is my other favorite boy there?”
Minho smiles, “Yeah lemme put you on speaker, there we go. He’s making me dinner, says I’m not allowed to help.”
His mother laughs, “Ahh, a true gentlemen. I wanted to confirm if you two were coming down for Chuseok next month, I can expect you both yes?”
Seungmin smiles as he pauses dicing his green onions, “I’ll be there eomma, you know I will.”
It’s been almost a year and Minho will never quite get used to the way his heart sings when he hears his boyfriend talk to his mom.
“Yeah, of course we will,” Minho says, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Seungmin says, plucking the phone from Minho’s hand and taking it to the other side of the kitchen to grab his spices. “I wanted to ask if you guys got the package I sent, I included a book of crosswords that I thought appa would like, there’s some that are pretty tricky, so..”
Minho shakes his head fondly. God he loves the life they’ve built together.
He never thought he’d find someone that fits into his world so perfectly, let alone for it to be someone that’s been right there for so long.
Seungmin fits into his world, and better yet, the world they’ve made together is just as good.
Their apartment is filled with everything they love and that makes them happy. Stupid books and stuffed animals. Cozy blankets and paintings of cats. Organizers for their clothes and cute matching toothbrushes. Glow in the dark stars above their bed.
Minho loves it all. It’s nice that he knows what that feels like now, to be happy and unafraid.
Early autumn will stay his favorite season for a long time.