Chapter Text
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If Jisung had laser vision at this very moment, he’s almost a hundred percent sure that the innocent teddy bear perched on Hyunjin’s desk would be ash by now.
Its black unseeing eyes, uncanny smile, along with the large red heart it holds in its hands are pitying him— he can just tell. The same way Changbin had been pitying him this morning.
All he had gone over to do was release some tension in Changbin’s private gym of his super expensive penthouse – he was never supposed to bring up the situation of Jisung’s stress. He wasn’t supposed to bring up the money. The money he so desperately needs but refuses to accept any donation for, may it be from his friends or not.
Han Jisung isn’t some lowlife taking money from others for no reason. Han Jisung isn’t going to be a man who will incur a large debt only to leave it to a single mother and her young child to pay off because he is a heartless coward. Han Jisung is not his father and he refuses to take any kind of money from anyone for no reason— despite needing it so desperately at this very moment.
“But Sung-ah, think about it,” Changbin tried to reason with him, “How can you pay for the hospital bills?” His salty ocean scent had spiked with each desperate attempt at convincing Jisung.
“I’ve got my job at the coffee shop, I’ll work extra shifts. Plus my mum is still around, it’s not just me.”
“It’s a broken leg Jisung, she won’t be able to work for a couple of weeks— how are you alone supposed to pay for those bills, alongside your rent, and not to mention your weekly payments for your father’s debt–”
“I know!” Jisung’s voice cut him off, “Shut up, please.”
Jisung raised his voice at him. He regrets it now. It doesn’t stop the hurt Changbin’s words had caused. He knows his situation. Jisung doesn’t need him and all his money to pay it all off. The pity that etched its way onto Changbin’s features adding another stone to the pit of Jisung’s heart.
Jisung can smell the way his scent has spiked, the sweet chocolate going bitter and the subtle undertone of spiciness coming to the forefront. The way Changbin scrunches his nose slightly is enough indication that the sharp spice reached his senses.
“I don’t need some charity paying me, for me to just need to pay it back again later, I’m not taking money the way my father did Changbin,” a sigh escapes his lips, “You know I can’t.”
“Jisung, you need–”
“I said no. Okay. I said no. I’ll figure it out okay, hyung?”
The unvoiced words— trust me —hung in the air. He was supposed to say it out loud, but it somehow felt like a lie. A lie he couldn’t tell to Changbin then, because he knew that Jisung would be lying too – there was no point disappointing each other further at that moment in time.
It’s not Changbin’s fault. He means well. Jisung reiterates the words in his head to ease some of the tension still in his body over the fight.
It’s not Changbin’s fault that Jisung’s dad incurred so much debt gambling, only to up and leave his 7-year-old son and wife alone with the debt. It’s not his fault that Jisung had to watch his mother work ungodly amounts of hours to even get by and support Jisung along with the debt. It’s not his fault he saw how the years took their toll on Jisung’s mother, tired and overworked, but still putting on a brave smile for her son.
Despite the soured mood, a ghost of a smile makes its way to Jisung’s face, thinking about his mum, the small treats she would provide him, even on days when she would struggle.
How is he supposed to cover the monthly payment?
Jisung can’t hold this grudge against Changbin, who’s only trying to help in the only way he knows how. He repeats the mantra again: It’s not Changbin’s fault Jisung’s dad left him and his mother with this debt. It’s not Changbin’s fault Jisung now has issues with taking money, accepting donations, or even just borrowing a five-dollar bill.
So what if Jisung has some childhood trauma due to a shitty parent? That doesn’t mean he can’t solve his own problems. It just means he’ll have to brainstorm some ideas, and who else other than Hwang Hyunjin would be perfect for the job?
So here he is, a long thirty-five-minute walk over to Hyunjin’s cramped apartment and one exasperated rant to Hyunjin, Jeongin (who he should’ve known would be here, he’s never not here), and Felix (Hyunjin had called for backup as soon as he saw the expression on Jisung’s face as he walked through the door).
Once Jisung’s had enough and stopped glaring at the teddy bear, he falls back on the bed, body bouncing slightly.
Lifting his hands up to his face, Jisung whines out “What am I supposed to do?”
“You could, ya know, take Changbin’s–”
Jisung jerks his head back to fix Jeongin with a glare, “Don’t even finish that sentence. You know why.” Attempting to look somewhat menacing as he glowers at him upside down.
Jeongin lets out an exasperated sigh – Jisung gets it. It’s frustrating. He’s frustrated with himself. He doesn’t know why he just can’t.
“Well, how about Minho-hyung?”
“That’s even worse Felix, I can’t ask him to do that for me.”
“Isn’t he your best friend?” Felix gives him a knowing look, “And you know the alpha of your–”
Jisung sits up quickly, picking up a pillow lying on the side and chucking it at Felix’s head. Felix only just ducking in time for it to smack Jeongin in the face. Hyunjin quickly reaching over to run his hands through Jeongin’s hair, his eyes sending daggers in Jisung’s direction as if he had genuinely stabbed him rather than hit him with a pillow.
“Hey!” Jeongin cries at the sudden attack.
“That’s still karma for before Innie,” Jisung says before turning back to Felix, “He’s also just as broke as me anyways, how can he help?”
“How are you so sure?”
Jisung just throws his hands up, “Well, then maybe I don’t know Minho-hyung as well as I thought okay. Anyways, it’s still a no to taking money.”
“Okay, then what are you going to do hyung? It seems like we’re stuck here without any ideas.” Jeongin states the obvious.
The silence in the room is deafening in Jisung’s ears. A clear indication that there is no other way out at the moment. He needs this money, and soon. But how?
Hyunjin finally chimes in, “Oh yeah, don’t forget your first heat is coming up too, Jisung.”
Oh shit.
With everything that’s happened the last two weeks, including his electricity bill going up due to new policies, his mother’s unfortunate accident resulting in a broken leg, which has caused an immense amount of stress and worrying for his mother’s wellbeing, as well as the monthly debt payments Jisung and his mother still have to pay hanging over their heads. Jisung’s first heat seems to have completely slipped his mind.
“You gotta rest for that. You’re gonna be tired and horny, and not to mention you still need to find an alpha to help you through with that— though we all know who it’s gonna be, but like do you know?” Hyunjin starts to ramble on and Jisung knows this is some attempt of care and concern but the words just make his heart rate spike in panic for a second.
Felix swats the back of Hyunjin’s head, glaring at him as if to say ‘Why the fuck would you bring this up now?’
“Hey! That’s my mate!” Jeongin attempts to defend Hyunjin’s honor with a smack at Felix’s thigh before pressing a soft kiss to the back of Hyunjin’s head.
Felix simply rolls his eyes and looks back at Jisung with a knowing look. Jeongin and Hyunjin are still in the honeymoon phase of becoming mates— not that Jisung sees any end in sight of this phase. He’s overjoyed for them, but he can’t help but be a little jealous at the sight of them.
His mind drifts back to the second issue at hand now. His heat.
It’s not uncommon for omega’s to only experience their first heats at his age. Usually, omega’s will start to experience their first heat sometime after they turn twenty, most experience it in the first or second year, Jisung being relatively uncommon having already just turned twenty-three. An overwhelming sense of relief washed over him after his most recent checkup with his doctor that his heat should be coming sometime in the middle of next month.
But now? With everything else going on.
It’s only a couple of weeks away, Jisung knows. God. What will he do?
“Oh god, my heat. Wait–” there’s a pregnant pause as the cogs in Jisung’s head turn for a second, “...my heat. My first heat - those go for a lot of money don’t they?”
He’s seen many sites popping up online, links shared around, ads appearing on social media. Many omegas have been putting up their first heat for auction. Jisung has heard enough to know that they’re not generally seen in the best light by many people, but they’re popular with rich alphas.
Jisung’s been on the internet for far too long to not know about some of the real kinks and likes of specific groups of alphas online, enough to know that this would sell. Rich alphas who can pay an enormous amount of money that he wouldn’t need to pay back after the whole ordeal.
A rush of no’s and hey’s fill the room.
“Hey, hey, hey!”
“Jisung, what the fuck?”
“Who said anything about that? Jisung, no.”
“Think about it, I’m in control, I can choose and I can get the money to cover all of this. By myself.” Jisung continues ignoring the deadpan and slightly disappointed stares of the three in the room.
Jisung isn’t necessarily scared. Well, not scared of sex. Or, that scared he should say.
Sure he’s masturbated many times before in his young life, he’s even had kind of sex that one time in his first year with some beta when he was tired of being a virgin. Unfortunately for him, it was barely anything— the beta was just as nervous as Jisung and in the end, couldn’t even keep it up long enough to fuck Jisung the way he’d been dreaming of.
At least they sucked each other off he guesses, where Jisung also learnt early on that he may need (definitely needs) to work on his gag reflex. Though here he is now, his first heat finally coming up, and still admittedly a virgin.
“Jisung, are you sure that you, who still hasn’t even had full-on sex, want to have your first heat, might I add, with a complete stranger?”
Jisung cringes at the words.
When Hyunjin phrases it that way it doesn’t help ease his mind at the current plan. But desperate times call for desperate measures.
“No, but I’ve already made up my mind, I’m not changing it now. You can’t make me.”
Jeongin lets out an infuriated groan, “Jisung-hyung, I swear to God.”
They know him well enough by now. Jisung may be a pretty and introverted omega at times, hiding behind a wall of shyness but his friends know his fiery personality well enough. Jisung is nothing but steadfast in his decisions and incessantly determined once he’s put his mind to something. Stubborn to a fault, some may argue.
“Guys, he’s made up his mind, come on.”
“Yep, thank you, Felix. Plus I’ll do this with or without your help.”
Jeongin grabs the pillow that was thrown at him earlier to scream into, before sitting up and asking, “Okay, what do we need to do?”
He appreciates their support – hesitant and doubtful he knows – but support nonetheless.
“Uhhh, I think there’s an app for auctions like these… let me download it.” Jisung quickly pulls out his phone, shuffling closer to the other three on top of the bed.
After signing up and carefully inputting all of Jisung’s details along with a description of what is being put up for auction, they come to the section where he needs to upload pictures of himself.
“Oh,” Jisung blushes as they look through his camera roll, “I forgot I actually have to upload pictures of myself.”
Felix grabs the phone from his hands, “Let me choose, baby, I’ve got this.” pinching Jisung’s cheek before leaning back to scroll through the photos with Jeongin and Hyunjin. Leaving Jisung to sulk opposite them.
God, this is embarrassing. What else is there to do though, Jisung can’t help but think.
“Hyung, why do you have so many pictures of bugs on your phone?” Jeongin asks, raising an eyebrow as he looks up at Jisung.
“That and weird close up photos of Minho,” Hyunjin adds.
“Hey! Don’t snoop!”
“Kinda have to, to pick out your best pics— he looks cute in this one, oh but look at his ass in this one.” Felix nods approvingly.
“Oi!” Jisung’s sure he’s gone red in the face.
After several more minutes of Jisung sitting mortified, having grabbed the teddy bear from earlier to squeeze onto like a stress ball, the others pull him back into their huddled circle to present their final options for Jisung to choose from.
“Uhhh, how about this, and no definitely not that! Why would you even— Whatever… okay, these two also work.”
Finalising the profile doesn't take too long after that, as Felix finishes it off by setting the minimum bid at five million won.
“That’s crazy expensive—”
“Jisung-ah. First, you need a minimum of five million won just for your mum’s hospital bills, and please we’ve seen the amounts omegas go for. And you, are not some cheap piece of ass.” Felix emphasises his points with a stern finger to Jisung’s chest.
“Uhh, thanks?”
Hyunjin grabs the phone out of Felix’s hand just as Jisung reaches for it. The other reasoning, that there must be one last Hyunjin scan of approval of the profile before it can go active. Jisung just thinks that this must be a ‘everyone but Jisung can have his phone day.’
Nodding along Hyunjin finally passes the phone back to Jisung, clicking his tongue before stating, “Do you even realise how badly you're gonna drive a certain hyung insane, he’s going to kill whoever wins this bid.”
“Channie-hyung will accept my choices.”
Hyunjin drops his head in his hands, Jeongin attempting to release soothing pheromones whilst gingerly patting his mate on his back.
“He means Minho-hyung,” Jeongin supplies.
Jisung’s heart skips a beat at the mention of the alpha’s name, “Minho-hyung is protective of us all.” His voice has gone quiet as he tries to reason with the others.
“Yeah sure, Minho-hyung is protective of us all, but he’s batshit insane over you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Jisung, please, the denial is so strong, you're stinking up my room.” Hyunjin scoffs at him, but Jisung spots a mischievous smile that he tries to hide as he looks back at Jeongin– like this was exactly what he expected Jisung to answer. In denial.
It shouldn’t have that visceral of an effect on him. The way they all bring up Minho every now and then. It’s Minho. Of course they would bring him up. Minho who’s constantly hovering and seriously overprotective over his best friend, his omega best friend at that– though he knows Minho would argue otherwise.
It doesn’t matter what your subgender is, omega or not, I wouldn’t let anyone or anything hurt you.
Jisung purposely ignored the butterflies that erupted in his stomach at the words, a swooping feeling threatening to take him under. His omega purring in satisfaction at the words spoken by the perfect alpha.
There’s the possibility that it’s simply just Minho’s alpha instincts that drive his unwavering protective urges for omegas, but deep down Jisung knows Hyunjin’s right. That, despite everything, Jisung is different for Minho, the same way Minho is different for Jisung.
It’s why Minho can’t find out about this plan.
Jisung stands up abruptly, he can’t be dealing with this right now. “I need to step out for air.”
He collects his things, making sure to place the cursed teddy bear back on Hyunjin’s desk before he turns around and gives the couple still on the bed a hug. Wrapping each arm around both of their necks for a light squeeze.
“Thank you,” He whispers to them, head between the other two. “I just need to think for a second.”
He knows despite the teasing, despite the jabs, just like Changbin before, they mean well. That he shouldn’t take their words to heart.
A hand softly cards through his hair– the rich smell of sweet cherries released by Hyunjin wafts around him, a soothing gesture from the beta.
Jisung loves them both, but he needs to free his mind for a second. He doesn’t want to imagine what Minho would even think of him. That, and he still needs to send an apology to Changbin for the way he stormed out of his house.
Jisung gives each of their cheeks a soft peck, earning a happy rumble from Hyunjin and a playful shove from Jeongin – one day he will get the baby alpha to accept his love.
Felix silently joins Jisung, going down the elevator and walking the short way to the bus stop nearby.
As they wait for their bus, Jisung leans his head on Felix’s shoulder and takes comfort in the sweet cinnamon scent that crowds his senses. It’s a calming sweetness that eases the tension in Jisung’s shoulders.
Minutes pass in silence.
“This is wrong, right?”
It feels like a stupid question. One he should already know the answer to.
After already going through all the options he had– this is it.
The conflicting feelings still overwhelm him.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, yet there’s a tug on his heart each time he looks over the post button at the bottom of the page. The vivid red calling out to be pressed, to commit, to follow through.
A bright red button: It’s somehow a warning to get away and an invitation to come closer.
To escape now or dive into the depth?
What other option does he have?
He has to do it, for his mother.
Felix’s voice cuts through the cold evening air.
“It’s up to you, my shooting star. It’s your body. It’s your choice.” Jisung smiles at the nickname, but he can still hear the slight waver in Felix’s voice. He doesn’t entirely approve. It hurts more than it should, but he pushes the feeling to the side.
“Hey watch out, I might steal you from Channie-hyung.”
“Be careful, I might just let you.” Felix giggles before placing a soft kiss on Jisung’s cheek and nuzzling at the spot, leaving his sugary cinnamon scent all over the other omega.
“Heh, what are you doing?” Jisung questions despite knowing Felix’s love of scenting the other omegas in their small group of friends.
“Dousing you in my scent before it gets rubbed away by a certain jealous alpha.”
Jisung’s quiet giggles stop, his chocolate scent suddenly going bitter at the mention of the alpha. He watches the way Felix attempts to feign nonchalance at the change in smell.
Felix knows instantly, “He– he’ll understand. I’ll make sure of it, don’t you worry. It will be okay.” Attempts at reassuring Jisung don’t work as the slight uncertainty in Felix’s voice comes back.
“No… Minho-hyung…” Jisung bites his lip, thoughts racing, “he can’t know.”
“Huh, why? He’s your best friend. He should know.”
“No, I– I can’t have him look at me like that.”
“Sung-ah,” There’s a tinge of sorrow in the way he says his name that makes Jisung wince.
Jisung takes a deep breath. In and out.
“Promise me. You won’t tell him.”
Felix’s eyes widen.
“Please.”
Felix simply nods softly, bringing up his pinky to lock with Jisung’s. Jisung smiles softly at the sweet gesture despite the anxiousness running through his veins.
Jisung looks down at the bright red button one more time, before closing his eyes and committing. He’s jumping into the deep. He’s going all in.
He closes his phone almost immediately as soon as it processes and his auction page goes up. Pocketing his phone without another thought. It’s as if something is coiling around his body, wrapping him up and making it harder and harder to draw a breath at each inhale.
It’s done, it’s done, it’s done.
He feels Felix brush the hair out of his eyes carefully, bringing him back to reality and allowing the oxygen back into his lungs.
“Okay, now time for me to go, Channie’s waiting for me,” Felix explains as he waves the upcoming bus down.
“Oh shit, it’s Thursday?”
Felix nods understanding.
“Minho-hyung– our movie night,” Jisung’s suddenly not prepared to face him so soon.
A firm hand squeezes his shoulder, “You’ll be alright, I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He places his hand over Felix’s and squeezes back in return before the other rushes to the bus before it leaves without him.
Jisung stares up at the sky, hoping for a shooting star to make a wish upon. Alas, it’s not his night.
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Guilt washes over Jisung as he enters the house, only to find Minho cooking in the small kitchen of Jisung and Felix’s shared apartment — the spicy heat enveloping the whole house in a mouthwatering smell.
How could he forget it was Thursday — though Jisung’s mind has been rather preoccupied by rather profound and concerning issues, he will give himself that.
Jisung decides that he’s not going to think about what he’s done. He pulls out his phone and turns off all notifications. Just for one more night, he’ll pretend it’s just him and Minho against the world. That there is no other possible alpha in his life. That the auction isn’t real, that he’s in no dire need of money, that all there is is homemade cooking, a silly little movie, and Minho’s arms wrapped around him. The bubble of his small apartment is all he needs.
Minho stands by the stove, stirring what Jisung assumes is some kind of stew — he hasn’t turned to look at Jisung as he makes his way through the front entrance.
Jisung makes unsteady steps towards the kitchen.
He places his phone on the counter walking up to Minho, the comforting smell of pine, a woodsy aroma with a light citrusy note of bergamot and cardamom fills his senses. The citrus tang along with the hints of spice that mixed with Jisung’s perfectly making him unconsciously purr.
Minho turns around at the sound, always so aware of every little movement or sound coming from him. Jisung wonders at times if Minho has a built-in Jisung analyser in his brain, it scares him how easily he can read him. Which is why Jisung can’t let the recent stress overwhelm him. He’s left them all behind at the door and takes a deep breath of Miho’s scent again. Jisung doesn’t think he could find a solace quite like this anywhere else.
“There you are, Jisungie, I thought you might have forgotten about little old me, and I was just going to have to watch this movie all by myself.” His voice carries across the room, echoing in Jisung’s mind. The teasing cadence to each of his words.
The guilt resurfaces despite the light tone, “No, I would never, not without telling you hyun—”
“Jisung-ah I’m kidding. I know, and even if something did come up, you’d just let me know it’s okay.” Minho looks at him with a smile, wide and big, bunny teeth on display that Jisung can’t help but match with the same intensity, nodding along.
“Anyways. My mum dropped off so much leftover kimchi. So I thought why not make my favourite omega some nice warm stew?”
Jisung’s omega preens at the words — look at your alpha, cooking, providing for you. He pushes the thoughts down hastily, avoiding any lingering thoughts that could lead him to spiral.
“Spicy?” Jisung hesitates to mention, but he hears Minho chuckling again, shaking his head.
“Toned it down just for you, of course.”
He watches as Minho turns the heat down before turning and taking three long strides before he’s right in front of Jisung, scent even more dizzying up close. Jisung would’ve thought that by now he’d be used to the intense smell, have a better hold on himself whenever Minho was around, considering how much time they spend together. But no — Minho’s scent hits him just as hard as the first time, desire burns along his skin, one he can’t let himself fall too deep for.
“Hey why do you smell like you’ve been dipped in cinnamon powder,” Minho cards a hand through Jisung’s hair, and tucks a few strands behind his ear — Jisung looks down, aware of the blush that slowly creeps along the planes of his cheeks. “What’s Felix doing to you? I can barely smell you.” Minho’s teasing but there’s a furrow in his brows, slight frustration at the scent— curse Hyunjin and Felix for always being right.
“You know him,” Jisung shrugs, “He can’t get enough of me.”
Minho tsk’s under his breath, “Well he’s gotta fight me so come here.” He pulls Jisung closer, enveloping him in a hug as he nuzzles at Jisung’s neck, rubbing at his clothed skin.
Jisung shouldn’t be surprised at Minho’s directness, he’s always been so sure of what he wants, what he needs. Never needing to question or ponder a dilemma for too long. Admiration for the alpha courses through him.
Jisung giggles, “Hey, that tickles, hyung.” He attempts to poke at Minho’s ribs which Jisung thinks does nothing to actually tickle and is more of an actual jab.
Minho mock wheezes in pain, Jisung rolling his eyes with a fond smile he can’t even try to hide, “You big baby.”
“Oi, me? A baby?”
“Yeah you, I said what I said.” Jisung’s grin grows.
“We’ll see about that.” Jisung has about two seconds after he catches the mischievous glint in Minho’s eye before Minho pounces on him.
Jisung screeches as he runs for the couch before trying to cover himself up with the couch cushions.
“Please, hyung, you know I’m ticklish. Please, mercy on my poor little soul.”
Minho continues to stalk over to him, like an animal hunting for its prey. Jisung ignores the way Minho’s eyes light a fire in his core, the way his heart has started beating rapidly, like a rabbit trapped in the claws of a wolf. He holds his breath.
It’s not the time.
Not that it’s ever the time, Jisung’s subconscious adds.
Minho stands over him, looking down at him, feline eyes staring right through Jisung’s soul. Jisung wouldn’t be surprised if Minho had the magical ability to actually do that, with how in tune he is to Jisung's every whim.
“I’m giving you mercy this one time, because I need to get back to the food and you look too cute like that." Jisung flushes again and hides underneath the pillow.
He listens as Minho’s soft footsteps make their way back to the kitchen.
Jisung lays there for a minute, letting his heart rate come back to normal, before he pushes off the cushions and places them back where they belong.
Finally making his way over to the kitchen, there’s a small pit of guilt settling in his brain, that Jisung had forgotten their evening plans, that Minho had to cook all alone — not that Jisung was much help most nights, Minho only giving him small simple tasks. Jisung would hum along, nodding, and go off to do his little tasks. Some nights Minho would tell Jisung that he could just sit around and do nothing, that Minho had it all under control, nothing to worry his cute little head about.
Tonight seems like one of those nights, as Jisung asks Minho to let him help. There isn’t much more to do, just plating up and adding the last few touches to the kimchi stew.
Minho hums in dismissal, a short “Don’t worry about it,” on his lips.
“Hyung, let me do it.” Jisung reaches for the ladle, to help do at least something – maybe pour out the stew into the bowls.
Minho balances the ladle on the pot before Jisung can reach it and suddenly spins around. Face to face with Jisung, he reaches for him, grabbing at Jisung’s waist, lifting him up, and placing him on the counter.
Jisung yelps lightly as his feet leave the ground, hands automatically reaching for broad shoulders. His body in shock at the sudden action to respond as Minho boops his nose telling him to, “Just sit there and look pretty. Should be easy enough for you, yeah?”
Jisung just gulps and nods, humming out in response, “Mmhmm.” Too scared that if he were to respond with words, his voice would crack.
Jisung watches the lines of Minho’s arms as he finishes preparing the meal, the veins that bulge as he finishes crushing up and slicing some garnish with a knife. Minho’s hands are small, but they hold so much strength and power that runs from his fingertips up his arms. Jisung closes his eyes and tries some breathing exercises, if he keeps this up, he’ll end up thinking about Minho’s thighs and he doesn't know if he could survive that right now.
Eventually, they make their way to the sofa, stew in front of them as Minho allows Jisung to choose a movie. Jisung picks out a random cheap horror movie he saw recommended online the week before. Knowing that the only time he could watch these kinds of films would be with Minho by his side.
They eat their food in comfortable silence, the movie playing as they drape a blanket over their legs, sat together, knees touching. In between the silly comments about how dumb the CGI is or how Minho would have totally survived if he were in that character’s place, the silence is pleasant.
Jisung doesn't know what makes him ask, the words coming out during a lull in the action.
“You’ll always be there, right?” Jisung refuses to look at Minho when he asks, eyes blankly staring at the movie playing in front of them. He barely registers what’s going on, the colours from the screen blend and fuse together — static in his vision.
“Of course, al–”
Jisung interrupts before Minho can finish.
“You’ll always be my friend, right?”
There’s a clear pause now. Minho doesn’t reply instantly as he had before. The urge to turn his head hits like a freight train, to see the emotions playing on Minho’s face, the thoughts racing in his head — but he faces forward, eyes unseeing.
Jisung tries to hide the fact his scent is about to go bitter, the anticipation crawling up his skin like spiders just as Minho finally responds.
“Always, Jisung-ah. Always.”
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