Chapter Text
“Minho-yah, what are you doing tonight?”
Slumped down in his chair, Minho stared at the wall as he absently tapped his fingers and waited for calculus class to begin.
Next to him sat Ha-yoon, the prettiest girl in school. With her long dark hair, bright eyes, and wide smile, Ha-yoon had many admirers as she walked the school hallways. She was a top student who was friendly and well liked; Minho had been classmates with her for years, but they had never progressed beyond casual acquaintances.
During the previous school year, Minho decided it was time to start dating. In another year he would head off to university, and he was somewhat embarrassed to admit he hadn’t dated anyone - ever - and thought he should gain some experience beyond the occasional make out session with random girls at parties.
And what better experience to gain than dating the prettiest girl in school?
Approaching Ha-yoon, he suggested a casual hang out, but Ha-yoon never accepted or appeared interested, and they never met up, so he stopped trying to get her attention.
It was completely unexpected then when Ha-yoon leaned in, flipped her hair over her shoulder, and asked, “Minho-yah, what are you doing tonight?”
He gave Ha-yoon an easy smile and sat up straighter. “I have dance practice until eight. Then I’m free.”
At the time, Minho didn’t realize his response would change the trajectory of his senior year. But that’s what hindsight is for: letting enough time pass for his choices and their subsequent consequences to form and coalesce, until looking back at the patterns that emerged, he would flush in embarrassment at how clear and simple his path was all along.
“I’m going over to her apartment tonight.” Minho waved his chopsticks for emphasis, giving a small flourish like he was the conductor of an invisible orchestra.
“No way.” Hyunjin’s eyes comically widened, his chopsticks frozen halfway to his mouth.
The cafeteria was full of chatter as students ate and caught up in-between classes, but Minho could only focus on the fact that the prettiest girl in school had invited him over after her hagwon session ended.
And her parents weren’t going to be home.
He rolled his eyes at Hyunjin. “Why is that so hard to believe? Of course Ha-yoon would want me to come over. I’m quite the catch. Did I tell you her parents aren’t going to be home?”
It was Hyunjin’s turn to roll his eyes. “Yeah, you’ve mentioned it.”
“Just checking. Wanted to make sure you heard.”
“Heard what?” I.N asked, sitting down next to Hyunjin and looking at Minho expectantly.
Minho took a huge bite of lunch and shook his head.
“Ha-yoon asked him to come over and said, and I quote -“ Hyunjin lifted his fingers in exaggerated air quotes - “my parents won’t be home.”
I.N narrowed his eyes. “Ha-yoon is way too focused on school to be distracted by -“
“Hey,” Minho interrupted, voice full of fake outrage. “Who said I’m the distraction? Maybe she’s the one distracting me?”
“Sure hyung, whatever you say.” I.N shoved food in his mouth but kept talking. “You’ve only been trying to get a date with her since last year.”
“She’s the hottest girl in school.” Minho shrugged. “And she’s smart. What’s not to like?”
“And what do you like about her?” I.N asked, tilting his head, eyes boring into Minho.
“What do you mean?” He slowly repeated,“She’s hot. And smart.”
When Minho decided the previous year that he wanted to start dating, he made a list. He loved making lists. He had lists for everything: a list of potential colleges he wanted to attend,a list of cat names to choose from before he settled on Soongie and Doongie, grocery lists, lists of exercise and dance routines, chore lists, and to-do lists.
To his dismay, the list of classmates he would willingly date was surprisingly short. Despite the fact that he attended a large school with plenty of girls to choose from, his list consisted of only seven names. The fact that the names corresponded to the girls that were widely considered the prettiest in his grade was simply a coincidence, he decided.
Six of the seven names were quickly crossed off his list: three had steady boyfriends, one had a voice that grated on his nerves - which may not have been fair, but this was his list, Minho thought, and off her name went - one had a semi-large following on tik-tok and he was too private to deal with that. The last name he hesitated to cross off; she was in a prestigious ballet program, and Minho appreciated the discipline and hard work of a fellow dancer, but she constantly missed school and was always traveling, so probably not a good fit.
That left one name: Ha-yoon.
After things went nowhere and he never ended up dating Ha-yoon, he shelved his dating plans for a future time. The girls he had crossed off his list either still had boyfriends, or didn’t seem worth the effort. And that was the end of his very short attempt at dating.
Senior year had begun, and he was no closer to dating anyone than he had been the previous year.
Until now.
“You’re hopeless,” I.N said. “Hyung, you don’t even know anything about her?”
”And that’s why I’m going over tonight,” Minho said exasperatedly. “To get to know her.”
Hyunjin snorted, loudly. “More like get to know her body.“
“What are you disgusting perverts talking about?” Seungmin asked, giving everyone a judgemental look as he joined their table, in contrast to Felix, who trailed behind him and gave everyone a beatific smile as he sat down.
“Minho-hyung’s the only pervert at this table,” I.N muttered, causing everyone to laugh, except for Minho, who waved his chopsticks threateningly.
Minho knew girls considered him handsome. He’d had his fair share of confessions throughout high school. But none of the confessions had moved him to accept a date, and that’s why his only experience was kissing girls at parties.
But he was a planner. And his plan had always been to not only date in high school, but to lose his virginity before heading off to university. It was something he needed to cross off his list.
But first, he needed a date.
After dance practice and a quick shower, Minho found himself outside the door of Ha-yoon’s apartment. Her family lived in an upscale building several subway stops from his own apartment. His parents nodded and waved him off when he told them he was going over to a friend’s to work on a school project.
Riding the elevator up to the 22nd floor, he rocked back and forth on his heels, clutching his backpack with the homework he (hopefully) wasn’t going to actually be working on. Walking down the long hallway, he hesitated for a moment before knocking on the apartment door, adjusting the straps of his backpack and running a hand through his hair.
The boy that opened the door was not Ha-yoon.
Minho registered dark messy hair and an oversized hoodie before turning to look down the hallway and then back at the boy, who stared at him with wide eyes.
”Sorry, I think I have the wrong apartment -“
“Minho-ssi?” The boy's voice was deeper than he expected.
“Um, yes.”
“Ha-yoon’s hagwon session ran late, she texted me to let you in.”
“Thanks,” Minho muttered, bowing and stepping inside. He removed his shoes and slipped on the house slippers the boy gestured at.
Pulling out his phone, the boy sat down on a long couch, and immediately began to scroll.
Was this a friend of Ha-yoons? She had never mentioned a brother. Maybe this was a visiting cousin? Did he completely misunderstand the pretenses under which she had invited him over? And who doesn't introduce themselves when inviting someone in?
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?” Minho used his most polite voice, setting down his backpack and sitting on the far end of the couch.
The boy looked up. “Han Jisung.” He went back to his phone.
Minho’s flash of irritation grew. “And you know Ha-yoon how?”
“My mother married her father,” Jisung said, not looking up from his phone.
He was confused. “So you’re her…”
“Step-brother.”
He wondered if their parents had recently married.
As if reading his thoughts, Jisung said, “They’re on a delayed honeymoon right now. They got married over the summer.”
“Ah, I see.”
When Jisung spoke, his Korean was flawless but he had a hint of an accent, Minho noticed. There was a certain unique tone and cadence to his words that caught his ear.
Again, as if tuned into the specific frequency wave of his brain, Jisung answered his unspoken question.
”I’ve been living in Malaysia the past six years with my dad. I’m back to finish school.” His voice was monotone, as if he had no thoughts or opinions on the matter, and was merely stating the bare facts.
That explained the slight accent, but Minho had more questions; however, he was raised with manners, so all he said was, “I haven’t seen you at school?”
Jisung finally looked up again. “I arrived a couple days ago. I start school tomorrow.” As if suddenly remembering his manners, he looked towards the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?” He abruptly stood up and walked out of the room.
“Sure.” Minho stood up and followed him to the kitchen. He looked at his phone, but there were no messages from Ha-yoon.
Jisung opened the fridge, showing an entire shelf full of drinks. “Take whatever you want.”
”Thank you.” He grabbed a mango juice and opened it, sipping while Jisung grabbed his own drink. “That’s quite the selection of drinks.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Jisung gave him a long look. “Are you popular at school?”
Minho nearly spit out his drink. “Excuse me?”
“Are you popular? At school.” Jisung sipped his drink and raised his eyebrows, as if this was a normal conversation.
He didn’t know what type of response Jisung was expecting. ”I - I don’t know how to answer that.”
“So you are.” Jisung nodded. “You’re too good-looking not to be popular.”
This time he almost choked on nothing. He blinked rapidly, his mouth opening but no sound coming out.
“And besides,” Jisung continued as if Minho wasn’t gaping at him. “Ha-yoon is super popular, and she wouldn’t invite a classmate over late at night with our parents gone if they weren’t popular, too.”
”I - what kind of question is that? What kind of conversation is this?” Minho recovered his wits and burst out. “Were you popular back in Malaysia?"
Jisung shrugged. “I was homeschooled, so I wasn’t popular.” He paused to consider the question. “Or I guess you could say I was the most popular, by default of being the only student in my house?”
Minho was saved from the wreckage of the conversation by the sound of the front door opening.
“Jisung-ah?” Ha-yoon’s voice drifted from the other room.
”In the kitchen.” Jisung called out.
Minho breathed a sigh of relief when she walked into the room.
“Oh, Minho-yah, good you’re here.” Her smile was wide. “Sorry, the hagwon session ran late. I see you’ve met my step-brother. Thanks for letting him in.” She addressed this to Jisung before turning back to Minho, her smile turning mischievous. “Let’s go to my room, yeah?”
”Ok,” Minho said, chest tightening. He glanced over at Jisung, who watched them from where he stood in front of the fridge. “Nice to meet you, Jisung-ssi.”
Jisung didn’t say anything as Minho left the room, trailing behind Ha-yoon.
Thirty minutes later, Minho emerged from Ha-yoon’s room and walked down the hall to the front door. As he passed the living room, he saw Jisung curled up in a corner of the couch, scrolling on his phone again.
Jisung looked up and his eyes widened.
Minho had tried to smooth down his hair, but he knew he looked disheveled. Jisung gave him a slow up and down, and he tried not to squirm. He was hard, but had adjusted himself so it wasn’t obvious.
He hoped.
“Have a good night Jisung-ssi, it was nice to meet you again.” He tried to hide his embarrassment under a veneer of forced politeness.
”Let’s drop honorifics,” Jisung said, staring at him. “We’ll be seeing a lot of each other, I think.”
”You want to drop honorifics?” They had literally met less than an hour ago. And he was pretty sure Jisung was younger than him by at least a year or two. And what did he mean by seeing a lot of each other? ”Uh, sure.”
“See you at school, Minho-yah.”
Minho bowed, feeling light-headed, and quickly left. As the elevator descended, it felt like he’d left his stomach on the 22nd floor, somewhere between the couch and Ha-yoon’s room.
“So?” Hyunjin was practically vibrating in anticipation.
Minho sat with him at their usual lunch table in the cafeteria, while I.N, Felix, and Seungmin were getting their food.
”So what?” Minho knew exactly what Hyunjin was referring to, but pretended like he didn’t. It was more fun to toy with him.
“So.” His voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. “How was last night with Ha-yoon?”
”Oh, that?” Minho put on a fake, airy voice. “It was fine.”
Hyunjin reached out and punched his shoulder. “You are so fucking annoying, you know that?”
“A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell,” he said, using the same fake voice.
“You’re no gentleman,” Hyunjin snorted. ”Did you kiss her?”
“Well, if you must know…”
Minho trailed off, distracted by the sight of Ha-yoon’s step brother stepping out of the lunch line. Clutching his tray, Jisung searched the cafeteria, obviously looking for a place to sit, before walking to an empty table in the corner and sitting by himself.
“One second -“ He ignored Hyunjin’s puzzled expression and walked over to Jisung’s table.
At the apartment, Jisung had been drowning in a shapeless hoodie. The mandatory school uniform polo was stretched tight across his unexpectedly broad shoulders, a sharp contrast to his slim waist. Jisung didn’t notice Minho until he stood right next to his table.
”Jisung-ssi, whatcha doing?”
Jisung looked up, his hair neatly brushed off his forehead, blinking at Minho. “Um, eating lunch?”
“Yeah, I can see that. Why aren’t you sitting with Ha-yoon?”
”Oh.’ Jisung looked down at his tray. “I barely know her”
Minho glanced across the cafeteria at the table Ha-yoon always sat at with her friends. She was talking to the girl next to her, and they both laughed at something.
Minho frowned.
Even if she didn’t know her new step-brother, it was her responsibility - or at least the kind thing to do - to look out for him on his first day at a new school.
“Come sit with me. With me and my friends,” he amended.
Instead of responding, Jisung stared at him for a long moment, brows furrowed. “Why?
“Why what?”
”Why do you want me to sit with you?”
Minho didn’t have time for this. Lunch was short enough as it was; if he had known throwing Jisung an altruistic bone would be this difficult, he wouldn’t have extended the invitation in the first place.
“Why not? Come on, we don’t have all day to eat. Let’s go.” Minho turned on his heels, waiting for a moment until, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jisung stand up and grab his tray, and satisfied, he headed back to his table, Jisung trailing behind.
Back at his table, Hyunjin stared at them as Jisung sat down. He was so close to Minho that he could feel his body heat.
Hyunjin kicked him under the table as I.N, Felix, and Seungmin joined them, everyone curiously eyeing their new seat mate.
Minho sighed. “Everyone, this is Han Jisung, Ha-yoon’s step brother. Jisung-ssi, this is Hyunjin, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. We’re all seniors except I.N, who's a junior.”
He could see his friends looking confused at the word step-brother, but he didn’t feel like explaining, so he took a large bite of food.
Jisung inclined his head. “Nice to meet everyone.” He turned to Minho. “I told you, no need for honorifics or formal speech. We can be casual.” He began to eat his lunch, and kept taking quick bites, his cheeks becoming more and more full.
He looked like a chipmunk, Minho thought, trying not to be obvious that he was watching him eat.
Hyunjin raised his eyebrows and I.N gave Jisung a wary look, while Felix gave him a friendly smile, which Jisung didn’t see as he was focused on his food. Seungmin looked back and forth between everyone, then shrugged and commenced with eating.
”Are you a senior?” Hyunjin sounded suspicious.
Jisung nodded, cheeks full. “I’ve been homeschooled for the past six years in Malaysia. I’m 16, but I tested at the senior level. I wanted to take my GED equivalency and not go to school. But, well. Here I am.”
He didn’t elaborate and began to take more bites.
The puzzle that was Han Jisung wasn’t going to be solved at lunch, however, as he stayed quiet, eating and listening to their conversation, which centered on everyone complaining about their schedules and hagwon sessions.
Minho was done eating when Jisung asked, “Do you not attend a hagwon?”
“Nope.”
“I thought all the top students did?”
Minho arched his brow. “And how do you know I’m a top student?”
Jisung tapped his chopsticks on his tray. “Ha-yoon wouldn’t have asked you over if you weren’t.”
He didn’t understand what Jisung was getting at. “You seem to know a lot about her preferences for claiming to not know her?”
”I don’t know her. Not really. I met her for the first time at our parent’s wedding, and I moved back a couple days ago. She’s been busy with school and studying. But my mom would call me, before they got married, and she’d go on about how great Ha-yoon is, and how smart, and how high her grades are.” Jisung said the last part quietly. “She wouldn’t choose just anyone to mess around with.”
Mess around with? He would have reprimanded Jisung for talking about his sister that way, even if it was the step-sister he barely knew, but something in Jisung’s expression stopped him. He decided to actually answer his question.
”I have dance class instead,” Minho explained.
“Don’t let his false modesty mislead you, he’s captain of the dance team and on a dance crew,” Hyunjin interjected, and Minho glared at him for exposing his business to a virtual stranger.
“Wow, a dance crew -“ Jisung started, but Minho cut him off.
”Well, this has been great.” He stood up to return his tray, and Jisung immediately followed him over to the tray return station, and then
followed him, like a duckling that had imprinted on its mother, out of the cafeteria and down the hallway.
”Don’t you have class?” Minho was not going to spend the school day with Ha-yoon’s awkward step-brother tagging along. He had done his duty by inviting him to sit with his friends, but that was enough charity for the day.
Something about Jisung made him uneasy, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
”Yeah, it’s in 403.”
Of course, Jisung was in his calculus class with Ha-yoon. It figured.
When he entered the classroom, Ha-yoon was already sitting down. Minho immediately grabbed the desk next to her, while Jisung sat behind him.
“Minho-yah, look at you taking Jisung under your wing. That’s so nice of you.”
Ha-yoon looked delighted and he forced a smile, annoyed with her for abandoning Jisung at lunch on his first day, and basically forcing Minho to pick up her slack.
She leaned forward, giving Minho a conspiratorial wink. “Any plans tonight?”
He quickly shook his head. “Dance practice ends at 8 and then I’m free.”
Ha-yoon grinned. “Perfect. My hagwon goes until 9 again. Hopefully the session won’t run late this time.” She turned to Jisung. “You can let Minho in if I’m running late, right?”
“Sure.” Jisung’s voice was quiet.
Minho wondered if he was sad he didn’t have plans of his own. He couldn’t imagine moving to a new school, in another country no less, after years away and being home schooled. It was no wonder Jisung came across as awkward.
“Can’t wait,” Ha-yoon smiled, and Minho’s thoughts about Jisung were forgotten in the rush of excitement of having something to look forward to that night.
After dance practice, a quick dinner, and a thorough shower, Minho stood in front of the apartment on the 22nd floor, hoping Ha-yoon would answer.
Instead, Jisung opened the door, wearing another oversized hoodie.
”Ha-yooon’s running late again. How was dance practice?”
“It was good.” He was surprised Jisung remembered. As he slipped on the same visitor house slippers as the night before, Jisung remembered his manners this time.
“Do you want a drink?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
They both sat down on the couch, but Jisung didn’t pull out his phone.
“So what are your intentions?”
Minho was busy thinking about how he should have jerked off in the shower before he came over, and was caught off guard by Jisung’s question.
”What - what intentions?”
“With Ha-yoon, of course.” He sounded oddly formal.
Minho wanted to laugh, but the entire situation was surreal. “Should I have brought over two donkeys first, as a gift to the family, before making my intentions known?”
Jisung frowned, his brows furrowing. ”She won’t go all the way with you, if that’s what you mean.”
“I - “ Minho’s temper was rising, but a small part of him was impressed by Jisung’s audacity. “How is this any of your business?”
Jisung folded up his legs. He sat in the corner of the couch and was somehow making himself appear even smaller. “I’m just trying to save you the trouble. She’s waiting until she’s engaged.”
”And how do you know that?”
“She told me.”
”I thought you barely knew her?”
He wrapped his arms around his knees, his hands covered by the long sleeves of his hoodie. “She told me she didn’t want me to get the wrong idea with you coming over again, and that she’s waiting until she’s engaged. Or married. It depends on the living situation, I guess…”
“And how do you know I’m not? Waiting.” He wasn’t, but Jisung wasn’t a mind reader.
”Do you want to? Wait until marriage?”
Jisung sunk further into the couch. His lower lip stuck out, pouty and pink and Minho answered without thinking.
”Do you?”
Jisung didn’t hesitate. “No.”
This entire conversation was pissing him off. “Ha-yoon can make any decision she wants. And I’ll respect that decision. If that’s what you’re worried about. I’m not an asshole. And once again, not that it’s any of your fucking business.”
”Hmmm.” Was all Jisung said before pulling out his phone.
Minho clenched his fists, at a loss for words.
If Ha-yoon only wanted to make out, Minho was fine with that. He wouldn’t pressure her for anything further. However, if she wanted to go further, he was ready. And why the fuck was Jisung involving himself in his step-sister’s personal business when he barely knew her?
”Do you like her or something?” He asked, voice loud in the quiet apartment.
Jisung looked up, startled. “Like who?”
“Ha-yoon. Do you think she’s pretty?”
He laughed, but it wasn’t a pleasant laugh.“Yes, I think she’s pretty. No, I don’t like her. I don’t know her. And she’s my step-sister.” Jisung looked back down at his phone. “Besides, she’s not my type.”
Before Minho could ask him what his type was - not that he cared what Jisung’s type was - the door opened and Ha-yoon walked in. When he followed her back to her bedroom, he could almost feel Jisung’s eyes on his back.
But that was only his imagination.