straysmuchi

[straysmuchi]

Hey girlies, I was wondering if you could use the “Keep reading” button when posting your fics? 🥺 I come across your posts often when looking through the SKZ tags and since they’re fics, they’re very long. This is just so we can browse for fics faster, I personally don’t read member x member fics but I’m sure they’re lovely 🥺 You don’t have to reply, have a good day xx

Hello hello, thank you very much for the advice, we thought it was set to automatic 😅 but we will do it! Thanks for taking the time to tell us

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

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⌗ Chapter 15

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The boys watched from afar as Jisung and Minho sat on the stage talking closely, their hands intertwined and their gazes full of adoration... and something more. Chan and Changbin were happy to see their friend like that, but they knew things wouldn’t be that peaceful considering how their friend had been in the past few months.

— It’s like they’re trapped in a bubble — Jeongin commented while finishing packing the cables in the corresponding box.

— A bubble that makes you want to puke — Seungmin said as he joined the rest of the boys.

— Oh come on, I bet you're worse when you're in love — Felix said while finishing helping his boyfriend pack the rest of the drums.

— I want to say I don’t completely agree with Minho’s decision to reveal the true inspiration behind his novels — Seungmin noticed the confused looks on the boys’ faces — Today he gave an interview addressing the rumor that had been going around… He decided to tell the truth, but without naming names. But his fans will figure it out soon.

— Do you think it could affect both of their careers? — Changbin asked, genuinely concerned for both boys.

— You could say Minho is used to this kind of attention… But I don’t know if Jisung is ready, and I’m worried it might affect Minho.

The boys looked back at the two who were immersed in their little world. On one hand, Seungmin was happy for his friend — he saw him smiling sincerely, something he hadn’t seen in a while — but he also noticed a certain doubt in the Jisung’s eyes, and that worried him.

— Shouldn’t you be helping your friends pack up the instruments? — Minho said as he turned around, noticing the boys' curious gazes that tried to go unnoticed.

— You’re right… But I don’t want to go far — Jisung averted his gaze from the brunette, blushing slightly.

— Come on, Ji, it’s not like I’m going to disappear.

— It already happened once… You can’t judge me.

— I never would — the brunette gave him a small kiss on the lips before getting up and helping Jisung.

They approached the guys who had almost finished packing to help with the rest. Their friends’ curious and playful looks were noticeable, but Minho only smiled, while Jisung felt a bit embarrassed — though he couldn’t hide his happiness either.

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When everything was packed, everyone headed to their respective accommodations. In the boys’ car, there was a heavy silence; Changbin wanted to say something, but Felix wouldn’t let him, knowing his boyfriend and not wanting Jisung to feel judged. When they arrived at the hotel and waited for the elevator, Felix and Jeongin went up first with most of the stuff, leaving the three boys to talk for a moment.

— Ji, are you okay? — Chan was the first to ask.

— I don’t know… It’s weird — Jisung said, trying to avoid his friends’ gazes. — Guys… I… — The words wouldn’t come out. He didn’t know what to say or how to express what they had already witnessed.

— More than telling us what happened, we just want to make sure you're okay, that you feel good about what happened and with what might happen from now on — Changbin said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

— That’s what I don’t know. I won’t lie to you, I’m happy I got to reconnect with Minho and that we might start something… But at the same time, I have so many things I need to work on inside me, I feel like I don’t deserve to be with him.

— From what we saw, he’s willing to wait for you, and most importantly, he’s willing to be with you every step of the way — Chan gave him one of his signature understanding looks.

— I don’t get how you’ve put up with me all this time.

— We have business together, we’re stuck with you — Changbin said as he tugged on the Jisung’s cheeks.

The elevator arrived before Jisung could defend himself from his friend’s attack. They kept talking on the way up, and when they reached their floor, Jeongin and Felix were waiting. Seeing Jisung’s smile, they knew the conversation had gone well.

Upon entering his room, Jisung dropped everything in a corner and threw himself on the bed, replaying everything again and again, still not believing what had happened. He touched his lips, reliving Minho’s kiss, his cheeks turning red just thinking about it. He sighed and got up to take a shower. As he got out, his phone buzzed with a message from the brunette — he couldn’t help but smile and feel like a schoolgirl seeing the message.

He couldn’t stop smiling as he reread the texts. It still felt like a dream he didn’t want to wake up from. He turned on the TV while waiting for the dinner he had ordered. As he flipped through the channels, someone knocked — his food had arrived. As he sat back down, the channel that was left on was airing a rerun of Minho’s interview.

He placed his phone on the nightstand and turned off the lights. He stared at the ceiling, thinking about Minho — how he had buried him so deep in his mind he’d forgotten his face, how he always felt at home, in a safe place, how his heart had always belonged to him. Memories of their childhood, running on the beach, eating at the bakery, playing with their cats.

He couldn’t help but smile — until memories of his father scolding him for spending too much time with the brunette flooded his mind. How he used to say their relationship brought nothing good, how the neighbors would comment on his son holding hands, hugging, or always being with the seamstress’s son. He couldn’t help but feel anxious. “Will I ever tell him?... Minho, are you sure you want to start all of this with me?”

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The next morning, Jisung offered to keep Jeongin entertained while the others set up the venue for the party, using the excuse that he needed help picking out a gift for Minho.

— So, any ideas? — Jeongin asked as they wandered aimlessly.

— Honestly, no. But let’s grab a coffee first, sound good? — Jeongin looked a bit confused but followed Jisung.

— I always saw the cakes in the window and wanted to try them, but never got the chance — the two boys sat while they waited to be served.

— This place is so cute, I would’ve loved to come with Channie, but I don’t know what urgent thing he had to do… without me — he said almost in a whisper, but Jisung heard him.

— Couples don’t always have to be glued to each other, Jeongin — Jisung replied, trying to contain his surprise at the boy’s sad face.

— But today, Ji? Of all days he could’ve picked to do whatever he had to do, he picked today, and we’re in such a beautiful city.

— What’s so special about today? Anniversary? — Jeongin looked a bit hurt that he didn’t remember it was his birthday.

— Nothing special… I think I won’t order anything.

— Come on, Innie. I know you’re upset, but stay with me. Honestly, I wanted to talk to you alone… about what happened last night — any anger Jeongin had vanished at those words.

— Oh… Okay, Ji — the waiter took their order and quickly brought it to the table. — The first thing I want to know is, are you okay with everything that happened last night? It might have been a lot.

— Honestly, I’m really happy I reconnected with Minho… But I can’t shake the feeling of being watched and judged.

— That’s totally normal, Ji, but the most important thing is that you don’t bottle it up. You’ve got the boys who love you, you’ve got Felix — you know he’s an angel — and you’ve got me — Jeongin gave him one of his smiles that could lift anyone’s spirits.

— Thanks, Innie. Honestly, you’ve all been such a huge support through this… How did you tell your parents?

— Once you’re at peace with yourself in that regard, the rest is secondary… You have to accept yourself first, Ji.

— I know… — Jisung sighed as he finished his cheesecake. — I just keep thinking about my dad… He’s not exactly the most receptive.

— That’s what Channie told me. He always questioned everything about you, right? — Jisung just nodded as he looked out the café window. — But he already lived his life, he made his choices, and if he’s unhappy with them, he shouldn’t project that onto you.

— People have told me that many times, and I know they’re right, but… I’m terrified of opening up to them…

— No, Ji… You’re terrified of opening up to yourself and letting yourself feel, letting yourself be truly free.

They sat in silence for a moment, Jeongin’s words echoing in the Jisung’s head. He knew he was right. “But will I ever be able to?”

Jisung’s phone buzzed, signaling it was time to take the birthday boy to the surprise location.

— Thank you, Innie. Honestly, talking to you always feels like a breath of air I didn’t know I was holding.

The boys stood, paid, and headed off. They continued talking about band stuff — Jisung was always amazed by Jeongin’s ideas to keep growing the band’s name. They arrived at the venue, passed through the restaurant, and entered a private room. Jisung told Jeongin to open the door, and still confused, he did.

SURPRISE!

Jeongin jumped slightly at everyone’s yell and couldn’t help but smile at the decorations — the table full of fox-shaped cupcakes, the cake, the balloons, clouds, and everything else. His eyes scanned the room and the people present.

— Guys… Oh my god… It’s beautiful — Jeongin said with tears in his eyes.

— You deserve this and more, Innie — Changbin approached to give him a big bear hug — You already do enough putting up with old man Chan.

— Hope you like your little celebration — Felix was next to hug him.

— I only came for the cake — Seungmin said, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

— That’s a lie, he loves this kind of stuff but pretends to be tough — Minho was next to give him a hug.

— You tricked me! — Jeongin turned, pointing at Jisung, who had a huge smile on his face.

— Believe me, it was hard, but if I had spilled anything, Chan would’ve skinned me alive — as he said that, Jeongin turned again, looking for his boyfriend, who was already in front of him with a bouquet of flowers.

— Thought I forgot, didn’t you? — he said, giving him a kiss on the lips. — Happy birthday, love — Jeongin just smiled so hard it hurt his cheeks.

— So are we having an orgy or are we eating? — Seungmin said, breaking the moment’s magic.

That afternoon, the group spent time playing, eating, and telling stories. Jeongin couldn’t have been happier to have found such wonderful people who he now considered family. His eyes found Chan’s — who was already looking at him — and they shared a small kiss before going back to chatting with the others. Jisung was at the cupcake table, eating, when he felt arms wrap around his waist. He turned and found Minho’s gaze.

— kjghfyjdje — He tried to say something, but with his mouth full of sweets and the sudden closeness, he couldn’t.

— You really are a quokka — Minho said, smiling at his boyfriend’s puffed cheeks.

— Hey — Jisung said, giving him a small kiss — I missed you.

— Me too, my night felt cold without you — Minho whispered, planting a soft kiss on his neck, making the other shiver and blush.

— You like seeing me suffer, don’t you?

— More than you can imagine — Minho gave him one of his famous mischievous smiles. — I can’t wait until we’re alone.

— MINHO! — Jisung shouted, earning confused glances from the others before they brushed it off. — You can’t say stuff like that so casually!

— Yes I can… — the brunette said, planting another kiss on his neck. — And I will… — he was going in for another when Jisung somehow managed to escape his arms.

— You’re dangerous, Lee Minho.

— I thought you already knew that — and that’s why you liked me — Minho closed in again, trapping him in his arms.

— Can’t a guy eat in peace at this party? — Seungmin interrupted, but there was a smile on his face at seeing his friend like that.

Night fell and the party came to an end. The group started cleaning and packing up. Jeongin stored the gifts in the trunk while the guys said their goodbyes and boarded the car one by one. Jeongin gave Minho and Seungmin a hug, leaving Jisung with the two of them.

— I hope to see you soon, Han Jisung — Seungmin said, approaching him menacingly — Minho is my golden goose, so I have to warn you: if you break his heart or he stops writing because of you, you’ll be paying my bills.

— SEUNGMIN — the brunette said, laughing at Jisung’s terrified face.

— You've been warned — he walked away to give them privacy and call their ride.

— Don’t listen to him, Ji — the brunette said, stealing a kiss from his lips — Let me know when you get there, okay?

— Yes, sir — Jisung gave him another kiss, this one longer and filled with passion. — I’ll miss you.

— I hope I can visit soon, or we can plan something to meet up, okay? — Minho caressed his face sweetly. — I love you.

— I love you more.

They said goodbye with a final kiss — more passionate, leaving them breathless and blushing. Jisung got in the car, earning howls from his friends. Minho watched the car until it disappeared from view.

— You’re seriously in love, Lee Minho — Seungmin said as Minho got into the car with a huge smile on his face.

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[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

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⌗ Chapter 14

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Minho woke up to several messages from Seungmin. Social media had collapsed the night the rumor was posted. The brunette sat on the bed, processing what he was reading. He sighed as he opened the chat with Seungmin.

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He left his phone on the bed, running his hands through his hair. He was frustrated—he had honestly never thought such a personal chat could get leaked, but the strange thing was that people were supporting him. There were more positive comments than negative ones. Also, he didn’t feel as bad as he thought he would. The anxiety attack never came, his shoulders felt lighter, he no longer carried the weight of a secret that could ruin his career...

He sighed in relief, smiling in the solitude of his room, petting one of his cats that had settled on his lap. Suddenly, a message from Jisung asking how he was made him smile again. He invited him out that afternoon, though he was still a little upset with the black-haired boy for changing the subject about what had happened the night before.

They went out to eat, and spending time with Jisung made Minho feel good, calmer, and when he felt the delicate lips of the black-haired boy on his cheek, he swore to himself to protect him, to find out who made him cry, and above all, to give him the love he deserved.

That night, he spoke with Seungmin and decided he would tell the truth. The manager wasn't very happy—he feared his friend’s reputation would collapse—but in the end, he supported the brunette’s decision.

Minho looked at the quokka plushie on the shelf in his room. He went over to it with a smile.

—As long as you’re here, I feel like I can get through anything bad. — He picked up the plushie, bringing it close to his face. —Please, stay by my side, Han Jisung… — He kissed the plushie, hoping Jisung could hear his nighttime plea.

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The day of the concert had arrived. While 3Racha ran around frantically, Minho was with Seungmin, waiting for the interview to begin. He anxiously bounced his leg, checking the time on his phone every two minutes.

—You’re going to break the floor if you keep doing that. — Seungmin said, pointing to his friend’s leg. —We’re about to start the interview, calm those nerves. — Minho looked at him seriously, then sighed.

—Seung, my love, my little piece of heaven.

—God, shut up. — Minho let out a small laugh.

—3Racha is performing in a few hours... Do you really think this interview is going to end on time? — Seungmin leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms as a mocking smile appeared on his lips. —We know perfectly well how that guy’s show goes. We’ll be done in, at most, three hours. — He said while pacing, feeling a pressure in his chest. What if Jisung cried again? But this time, because of him.

—First of all, I already talked to production. They told me we wouldn’t take that long... He’ll just ask a couple of questions and we’ll be out of here. — Seungmin turned on his heels, ready to leave the room. —You’ll get to see your boyfriend.

—I hope so... — He murmured.

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The show had started an hour ago, but Minho still hadn’t appeared on screen. He was getting desperate. He had promised Jisung he’d be at the concert from the beginning, but it felt like the world was against him. He sighed heavily, the anxiety slowly building in his stomach, making him feel suffocated.

—Mr. Lee, you can go out now. — The producer announced.

Quickly, Minho walked to the set entrance, taking a deep breath. He grabbed the quokka he had brought for the concert and looked at it with a smile. “Wait for me, Ji,” he said internally as he walked in with the host, exchanging cheerful greetings.

The interview began with a brief introduction of Minho, then the much-awaited questions from the audience started.

—Minho, what do you think about the rumor? — The host asked seriously. —The fans were upset that a chat of yours got leaked… Do you have anything to say? — Minho sighed with a fake smile, masking his internal rage.

—Well, the truth is we already know who the responsible is. Honestly, it was pretty easy to find him... — The host was surprised by the statement. —On another note, the rumor is true. My works are dedicated to a boy, that boy is the “mystery person” I’ve talked about so much. — The brunette began to hear the staff whispering, but for some reason, he didn’t care. He looked at the plushie on his lap, feeling internally supported, as if Jisung was holding his hand at that moment, and a smile formed on his lips, catching the attention of the people behind the cameras. —I had planned to say it myself, but they beat me to it. — The host laughed.

—That’s a big surprise, Minho... What is that boy like? All we know is that he helped you when you needed it.

—Honestly, I don’t fully remember him... — The brunette placed a hand on the quokka. —But I can describe the boy who inspires the new novel I’m writing. — The host looked at him with surprise.

—THERE ARE TWO!? — The staff laughed.

—Well, I actually suspect they’re the same person, but I don’t fully remember... — Minho squeezed the quokka. —But the boy who inspires me is kind, he gets embarrassed when I compliment him, he’s shy and reserved when it comes to talking about himself... But his smile is radiant, it feels like your heart is being hugged by the sun. He has chubby cheeks and a really cute mole... Being with him feels like you’re standing on the shore, watching the sea. — He finished, lowering his gaze, clearly blushing at what he had just said. He wasn’t fully aware of most of his words, he had simply let his heart speak. He looked at the quokka, feeling as if Jisung was smiling at him with flushed cheeks.

—That was very sweet. — The host said while pretending to cry a little. —We hope to meet that boy one day... I’m sure the fans would love him. — Minho smiled again, trying to hide his red ears with his hair. The interview ended a few minutes later. He ran to the room and pulled his phone out of his bag.

The concert had started twenty minutes ago.

—Seungmin! — He shouted, alerting the staff.

—The car’s downstairs, let’s go. — Minho smiled at his manager.

Both rushed out of the building, got into the car, and began their drive to the concert venue. It would take them ten minutes to arrive.

—You’re in love with Jisung. — Minho looked at the black-haired man, who had a teasing smile. —“He has a beautiful smile and I want to kiss those lips...” — He mimicked passionately kissing the wolfchan, making Minho let out a nervous laugh.

—No one says anything when you’re talking to Eunwoo, you turn into a tamed puppy. — Seungmin placed the wolfchan on his lap, glaring at Minho threateningly.

—I’m going to cut out your tongue. — Minho laughed again, raising his hands in surrender.

They arrived at the concert. Even though it was relatively small, the place was packed. Everyone was singing along with the lyrics, others waving the plushies representing the band members, and others jumping with excitement. Minho smiled at his friends’ achievement—they were becoming more and more recognized.

Minho and Seungmin took their seats. Even though there were people in front of them, they could see the boys clearly.

Meanwhile, Jisung had just started his song, not yet at the chorus. He had been scanning the crowd the whole concert, and when he finally saw Minho, he felt a tingling sensation in his stomach. He blushed quickly and went slightly off-key, earning Minho’s laughter.

Minho raised his plushie, giving the guitarist a big smile. Jisung continued the song, gazing at the crowd with adoration, and when he ended the song by singing the final “Volcano” his eyes landed on Minho. They both fell silent, gazing at each other along with the song’s final melody, as if the crowd’s cheers had faded, leaving just the two of them among the multitude.

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⊰ In the past ⊱

Minho was in the darkness of his room, staring at the reddish stone that boy had given him a few days ago. He played with it on his bed, moving it from side to side while his tears dried on his cheeks.

—Min... — His mother called before entering the room. —You should go out for a while... Tomorrow you’re going to your aunt’s house, you should say goodbye to the town.

—Why would I? — He sat up in bed, leaving the stone beside him. —This town only humiliated me, I don’t even want to see the beach. I don’t want to, mom. — His voice grew weak, and he couldn’t help crying, hugging the woman who had come closer.

—My Minho... — The woman began to stroke her son’s hair. —At least say goodbye to Jisung... — The brunette looked at his mother, confused.

—Jisung... — His mother smiled. Minho had gone out a few times with that boy. Every time he walked with him, he felt his heart warm, and the voices in his head would go silent. That boy made Minho forget what had happened at school, he made him feel safe.

—You can go get ice cream if you want... — Minho got up immediately, smiling at his mother.

—ICE CREAMMMM. — He shouted as he ran to the bathroom to wash his face. His mother laughed and went downstairs to call Mrs. Han to ask if Jisung could go out for a bit, which the woman agreed to.

Minho went downstairs, took the money from his mother, and ran out of the house.

—Minho! — Shouted the black-haired boy. The named boy hurried over to him. They hugged in greeting and began their walk through the village streets. Jisung talked about his days, complaining about how strict his father was. —Min, my dream is to be a musician. I want to form a band and sing in front of lots of people...

—I know you’ll make it, Hannie. — He said with a smile. —You just have to be yourself, don’t let your father extinguish your dream. — Jisung blushed, then smiled and looked down.

They reached a store, bought ice cream cones, and kept walking, but as they talked, Jisung dropped his ice cream after a sudden hand movement. Minho simply laughed and gave him his own.

After a few minutes, they stopped on a street facing the sea. They watched the ocean in silence until Minho decided to break it.

—I’m leaving town, Ji. — The black-haired boy was processing his friend’s words, feeling his tears start to fall silently as he looked down sadly.

—You’re a liar! — Jisung shouted, still staring at the ground. — A few days ago, you promised we’d be good friends. Liar! — He began to hit his friend’s chest. —You told me... You’d stay by my side... — Jisung broke down in tears, raising his gaze to see the teary eyes of the brunette, who hugged him tightly.

—I’m sorry, it really hurts to leave you, Hannie... — Minho hid his face in the black-haired boy’s neck. —But if we see each other again in the future, I promise I’ll be by your side. — He said, placing one hand on his cheek and wiping away his tears with the other.

—Promise me we’ll be together? — He asked, making Minho smile.

—I promise.

—Promise me that when I’m famous, you’ll be in the front row at my concerts?

—I promise.

—Promise me you’ll take care of the stone the sea brought you like it was me?

—I promise, Hannie. — He hugged the black-haired boy again. — I promise to keep all my promises. I promise I’ll come back for you one day, and I promise we’ll be together in the future. — Jisung watched the sea while listening to Minho’s words, remembering his grandmother’s words about that old legend… “The sea holds stones born from the soul of those who touch them. It’s said that when two destinies are intertwined, the waves carry pieces of each to the other at the most unexpected time. Each bearer must care for their stone, as they would be caring for the soul of the other person... But the sea may decide the time to unite the two souls hasn’t come yet, so the wind takes their memories away, returning them in the future, when both people need each other.”

Jisung closed his eyes and memorized Minho’s scent, while Minho locked in his heart Jisung’s distinctive mole, promising himself he would remember it until the day they met again.

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A tear slid down Jisung’s cheek as he looked at Minho, who was crying silently while the final melody played. The brunette was still trying to process the memory that had surfaced, unsure if the person who inspired all his novels was truly Jisung—but he knew it was him when he saw him smile, crying while people screamed from the emotion of the song… He was his Hannie.

Without warning, Jisung unplugged his guitar and ran backstage as soon as the lights went out, leaving Chan and Changbin worried. Meanwhile, Minho also left the VIP area, heading to the staff zone and arguing with the security guard.

—Minho? — Jeongin approached the small commotion.

—Jeongin, I need to see Jisung. — The black-haired boy, a bit curious, let him through.

Minho ran to the stage stairs, where Jisung was leaning against the wall with a hand on his racing heart. He felt the brunette embrace him. He relaxed in the warmth of the other’s arms, allowing himself to cry on his shoulder.

—It was you... — Minho whispered. — It was always you... I told you I’d come back. I kept my promises. — He said, hugging Jisung tightly, who clung to him, crying loudly.

—You’re late. — Minho let out a small laugh, pulling away from a sensitive Jisung.

They looked at each other, feeling their hearts pounding, their breath catching from the tears, and a tingling rising in their stomachs. They slowly moved closer, Minho tightened his grip on Jisung’s waist while the Jisung cupped Minho's cheeks. Their breaths mingled, and Minho was the one to close the distance, bringing Jisung’s soft lips to his own. The kiss was slow, full of emotion and unsaid words, fulfilling the promise of being together again and making an eternal vow of love in their hearts. When they pulled apart, they looked into each other’s eyes again, both blushing and catching their breath.

Jisung hid his embarrassed face in Minho’s neck.

—I knew I recognized that mole. — The brunette felt Jisung’s cheek heat up more, laughing at how flustered the black-haired boy was.

—I… should go back on stage. — They separated after a few more seconds.

— I’ll be watching you from below, Hannie. — Minho smiled at him, making Jisung laugh nervously.

Jisung went back up, apologizing for having disappeared, while Minho headed to the VIP area.

— Did you kiss Jisung? — Seungmin asked with a teasing smile, but when he noticed the brunette didn't answer and his ears turned red, the smile disappeared. — LEE MINHO, YOU ACTUALLY DID IT. — He shouted in surprise.

— Let’s enjoy the concert. — He told his manager while lifting the quokka, making Jisung smile from the stage.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

The concert ended after an hour. People were talking about the band as they left the venue.

— Are you going to tell me about Jisung? — Minho tensed up when he heard his manager’s question, who was looking at him with crossed arms. But just as he was about to respond, someone called for Minho.

— Min! — The brunette turned towards the stage, where Jisung was waiting with a smile. — Can you... come here? — Minho looked at Seungmin, shrugging his shoulders, earning a frustrated sigh from the dark-haired man.

Minho got on stage with Jisung’s help. They both sat at the edge of it, looking at the now empty seats.

— I can’t believe all this time... — Jisung looked at Minho. — It was you... Do you still have the stone I gave you? — The brunette nodded with a smile.

— Yeah, I’ve taken good care of it... Though it turned pink. — Jisung let out a small chuckle, covering his mouth with one hand.

— I still have the one you gave me too. — He said, looking away. — So... the person who inspires your novels...

— It’s you, it’s always been you. — Minho was blushing, just like Jisung. Neither of them could look into each other’s eyes out of embarrassment, and a comfortable silence filled the little bubble they had created, where it was just the two of them. — Though maybe don’t read the one with... steamy scenes. — They both looked at each other again.

— What’s it called?

— No. — Said the brunette while shaking his finger, making Jisung laugh, who enjoyed seeing Minho’s ears turning red.

Minho held Jisung’s hand.

— Hannie... Let me be part of your life. — They looked at each other in complete silence. Minho stared into those dark eyes, which held a spark of doubt, and for a moment, he regretted his words, noticing the slight tremble in the dark-haired boy’s hands.

— Min... You’ve always been part of it. — He finally said. — But right now I’m a mess inside, so...

— Then let me be your emotional support. — “It’s not that easy,” Jisung thought, feeling a mix of anxiety and fear in his stomach. The atmosphere between them grew heavy. Minho didn’t know what the other was going through, but he was willing to stay by his side.

Jisung leaned in and pressed his lips to Minho’s again in a short kiss, bringing a smile to the brunette’s face.

— How should I take that?

— Take it as a... maybe. — They both laughed while intertwining their hands.

Minho would give him space, but he would offer the support Jisung needed to feel safe. “I hope I can understand you,” he told himself, tightening his grip on the other’s hand, drawing the dark-haired boy’s attention and earning a smile from him.

“Just let me be by your side.”

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

In a dark room, in front of a computer, sat a red-haired boy who was organizing some photos he had secretly taken of Minho. His phone rang in that otherwise silent space.

— Did you see the show where Lee appeared? — The person on the line spoke about the interview where Minho confirmed the rumor that had been published earlier, making Hyunjin slam his fist on the desk. — We’re assuming that guy is Han Jisung, from the new band "3racha", but he’s not that famous yet, so I don’t think we should release that info just yet, plus we don’t have enough proof... — There was a brief silence. — By the way, Seungmin knows it was you, Hyunjin. You need to be more careful... He hasn’t done anything yet, but he’s looking for you. Be careful. — The person ended the call, leaving Hyunjin once again in the solitude of his room.

— Lee, why is it so hard to ruin your career? — He asked, looking at some photos of the brunette as a teenager. He switched tabs on his browser, searching for Jisung’s name. He started a small investigation, finding family pictures and call recordings, but there wasn’t much information.

Suddenly, he found something that piqued his interest. An old argument between Jisung and his father where Minho was mentioned. This only deepened Hyunjin’s curiosity, making him smile at the screen.

— I’ll have to investigate you, Han Jisung. — He whispered as he reopened the tab with Minho’s info, which showed a photo of him next to Felix, both wearing the same school uniform.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 13

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Jisung was in his room trying to understand what had happened when someone knocked on his door. He didn’t want to explain anything nor was he in the mood to, because he didn’t understand it himself. So, he let them keep knocking until he heard a voice that made his heart skip a beat.

— Ji... Can you open the door, please? If I said something I shouldn’t have, let me properly apologize. — Jisung got up to find a worried Minho standing in front of him.

— You didn’t do anything wrong, Minho... It’s just... Honestly, I don’t even know — The two of them sat on the edge of the bed, Jisung stared at the floor not knowing what to say, and Minho just looked at him with tenderness and concern.

— You left us all worried... I thought I had said something wrong — Minho placed his hand on Jisung’s back in an attempt to comfort him.

— I’m sorry for worrying you all — The black-haired boy still wouldn’t look at him — But everything’s fine between us.

— Jisung... — The brunette placed a hand on his cheek, making Jisung look him straight in the eyes. — You can trust me... I don’t know what’s going on here — He pointed to the boy’s head — Or here — Placing his hand over Jisung’s heart — But let me help you, let me be your safe place.

Jisung didn’t know how to react, he felt hypnotized by Minho’s eyes, by how his hands felt on his face and chest. Something was drawing him closer to the brunette, the connection he had felt the first time he saw him at the bakery came back to him. He just sighed, closing his eyes, waiting to feel Minho’s lips on his.

His phone rang with a call from Changbin, snapping Jisung out of the trance. He sat up on the bed, removing his headphones, his breathing was shaky, and his eyes searched around the room, realizing it had all been in his mind. But he could still feel Minho’s gentle touch on his skin and would have given anything to feel the brunette’s lips on his own.

— SQUIRREL FACE! IF YOU DON’T OPEN THIS DOOR I’M GONNA BREAK IT DOWN.

— Bin... They’re going to kick us out of the hotel if you keep yelling — Chan’s voice could be heard trying to calm his friend down. Jisung, not really in the mood, opened the door and let his friends in.

— Okay... Ji, I get that you’re going through some internal stuff, but you can’t scare us like that — Changbin was the first to speak. — Do you know how worried you made us? You ran off, didn’t answer any texts or door knocks or reception calls and on top of that...

— What Bin is trying to say is that we’re seriously worried about whatever is going on with you, Ji — Chan placed his hand on Changbin’s shoulder, making him go silent. — Never, in all the years we’ve been friends, have we seen you this conflicted with yourself.

— Let us help you, Ji, please — Changbin said almost pleading.

— I appreciate it, guys... But I don’t even understand myself... I’m going to need time — Jisung looked at his friends with tear-filled eyes — Sorry for being such a mess.

— You don’t owe us any apologies, we’ll always be here for you, Ji. — The boys gave their friend a brotherly hug.

— Hmm... Did Minho say anything? — Jisung asked, a bit embarrassed.

— He went home, said he needed to get back to writing — Changbin replied — He must have texted you... Didn’t he?

— Yeah... But I’m so embarrassed I don’t even know what to say...

— Just be honest like you were with us — Chan told him — It’s obvious he cares about you.

The boys stayed with Jisung for a while longer until it was time to head to their respective rooms. Their friend assured them he’d be alright.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

That night, he had trouble falling asleep between the moment he shared with his friends and the little dream he had with Minho. He opened their chat several times, but still couldn’t find the right words. He started browsing the web, looking up Minho, finding several interesting articles. He noticed the brunette was very private about his life—even about the source of inspiration for his novels. “I wish it were me…”

In his mind was Minho’s warm smile, the way he looked at him during dinner, their hands slightly brushing while they walked, the warmth and softness of his touch. Jisung closed his eyes, letting his mind take full control of the situation, his hands moved imagining they were Minho’s, his breathing quickened, as did the rhythm of his hands... “Minho.”

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

The next morning the group was having breakfast at the hotel buffet while Jeongin was telling them about the news about Minho all over the internet. “Could it be our Ji?” Changbin wondered, since the interaction from the night before didn’t go unnoticed by the black-haired boy. He had noticed the looks Minho gave his friend, especially the comments he made to make him blush.

— What are you thinking about, love? — Felix asked, caressing his hair.

— Nothing in particular — He replied to the freckled boy, giving him a small kiss on the lips.

— How do you think Minho’s doing with all of this? — Chan asked genuinely.

— Seungmin probably already has the responsible person in his torture room — Changbin commented as he finished his breakfast, earning laughs from his friends.

The boys had most of the day free until the evening, when they had to go to the venue to check the stage and begin logistics for the concert day. So, Chan and Changbin had planned a day for all of them together, but Jisung declined the invitation. “Enjoy your day with your guys, go on a double date, you don’t need a raincloud around,” the boys tried to change his mind, but they knew it was impossible.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

Jisung used his free time before meeting up with Minho to walk around the city, carrying his notebook and jotting down keywords for future songs. He couldn’t deny that he felt a certain “freedom” walking those streets, unlike the pressure he felt constantly being watched in the village. He took several photos to show Minho and, on the way to their meeting spot, he passed a pet store and saw some hats for cats that he ended up buying.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

He couldn’t help but feel nervous, checking himself in the restaurant window multiple times, running his hands through his hair, adjusting his clothes a million times, and trying to breathe calmly to control his racing heartbeat just at the thought of seeing Minho again. He started pacing back and forth, telling himself, “It’s okay, it’s just Minho, he’s not going to bite you.”

— Why would I bite you? — Jisung let out a small yelp and put a hand to his chest, making the brunette let out a soft mocking laugh — Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.

— It’s okay — Said the black-haired boy with a nervous laugh. The two walked into the restaurant and chose a table far from the windows in a corner, giving them some privacy.

— How have you liked the city so far? — Minho asked, giving him a tender smile that made Jisung blush.

— It’s beautiful, there’s a certain sense of freedom you don’t get in the village... That’s how it feels to me.

— That’s the beauty of the city, it presents itself to each person as what they seek... Or long for — Minho looked at him intently as he said this.

— How did it present itself to you? — Minho just smiled at the question.

— Silence... That’s what I was looking for at the time. For me, it has changed over the years I’ve been here.

— And how do you see it now? — Minho looked at him in a way that made Jisung feel understood, yet unable to fully decipher the emotion behind that gaze.

— I’m still figuring that out...

At that moment, the waiter interrupted, handing them the menus. The two boys paused the conversation while they discussed what to order. Minho recommended several dishes to Jisung. Once they placed their order and were waiting for the food, the brunette asked how preparations for the concert were going, helping Jisung relax. Minho looked at him with admiration and something else that the black-haired boy couldn’t quite decipher—but it was what made him feel more drawn to the brunette.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

They had spent a great of time talking about their interests, sharing a bit more about their lives with each other. For Jisung, it was impossible not to feel small butterflies in his stomach that he knew would only grow. He felt like his smile was genuine, he didn’t hear any whispers, it was as if the brunette silenced them just by being there. And while he loved that feeling, he couldn’t help but feel nervous, even scared to open up completely. And as if the brunette had read his thoughts, he gave him one of his famous smiles, banishing any whisper or dark thought threatening to return.

— Did you do some shopping? — Minho asked as he returned from paying the bill, not letting Jisung pay.

— Oh, I almost forgot, this is a gift for your babies — Minho was surprised and couldn’t help but smile, making the black-haired boy look at him with adoration.

— You didn’t have to — For the first time since they met, Jisung saw a slight blush on the brunette’s face. — They’re going to hate it, but I’ll send you pictures anyway — Minho said, putting the hats away.

The two boys left the restaurant and started walking toward the hotel where Jisung was staying. Along the way, Minho told him more about the city. At one point, while waiting for the traffic light to change so they could cross the street, there was a couple of boys in front of them holding hands and showing affection. Jisung’s sad expression didn’t go unnoticed by Minho. They crossed the street and continued walking.

— Jisung... Can I ask what happened last night?... It’s strange to say this, but when you touched my face, a small memory came to mind... It was as if I could feel what you felt — He said, sounding confused — I know how that sounds, but that’s why I got so worried... Who was the person who made you feel that horrible sadness?

— I don’t know — Jisung was still processing Minho’s words — But how is what you said even possible?

— I think we could figure it out... Together? — Before Jisung could respond, they were interrupted.

— SQUIIIIIIIIRRRRRREEEEEEEELLLLL FAAAAAAAACCCCCEEEEEE!

— Bin, oh my god, are you drunk? — Jisung asked, noticing his friend’s slightly red cheeks.

— NOOOOO, I’M JUST HAPPY TO SEE YOU... DID I TELL YOU I LOVE YOU?

— The restaurant had an open bar... You do the math — The freckled boy replied while trying to help his boyfriend not fall into the bushes.

— You’d better go help your friend — Minho said — We can continue our talk later, okay? — Jisung, without thinking, hugged him.

— Thank you... And I’d really like to figure whatever this is out with you — And without realizing it, he kissed the brunette on the cheek.

Minho just smiled at the gesture and said goodbye to the others. Jisung helped poor Felix with his muscular friend until he had him laying down and asleep.

He went to his room, falling onto the bed with a smile on his face, replaying the entire afternoon spent with Minho—and that night, he was able to sleep peacefully.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 12

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

Minho put down his phone as he tried to hold back his laughter after seeing the photo of Jisung’s friends. The last thing he expected was to see them with black hair, which was a shame, because they looked good with the colors they had before.

He returned to his usual work, writing the new chapter of his ongoing novel, imagining what it would be like to talk to Jisung again, to see his slightly flushed face, that mole on his cheek that made his chubby cheeks stand out… He shook his head, lately he felt more immersed in his thoughts and the one responsible, and now the owner of his mind, was Han Jisung. It was inevitable to think about him after speaking with Seungmin, he felt free despite still having that small void in his stomach. Also, the memories from his teenage years felt less blurry, as if letting it all out that night had freed the memories he had locked away for so long.

He shook his head again, pushing away those thoughts and focusing on writing chapter twelve.

—| » 🌊 « | —

The days passed normally, Minho had finished the new chapter and had started another one, he was truly inspired. Seungmin mocked him, more than usual, since he knew the source of his growing inspiration, which had a name and surname.

The brunette was at the publishing office, anxious because Jisung and his band wouldn’t take long to arrive.

— Do you want to see him that badly? — Asked Seungmin as he placed the schedule on a small table. — Let me remind you that you have an interview right now, so we should get going. — Minho sighed tiredly, nodded, and said goodbye to the people working there.

Both boys left the building, got in the car, and after a few minutes, arrived at the interview location. While he was getting his makeup done, he noticed a notification on his phone, smiling immediately when he saw the message.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

— Minho, we’re about to start! — Shouted Seungmin from the door, so he stood up right away, leaving his phone on the makeup table without replying to Jisung.

When that room was completely empty, a male figure entered unannounced. He took Minho’s phone and unlocked it effortlessly thanks to the information he already knew about the writer. He began reading the unanswered messages, surprised when he saw Jisung’s name.

— So they did keep in touch. — Whispered the red-haired boy as he kept scrolling through the messages, entering the chat he had with his manager. He was surprised to see some thank-you messages sent at dawn, probably because of the conversation they had that night which he unfortunately couldn’t hear. — Come on, Minho... There must be something more... — He kept scrolling up the chat and when he found what he was looking for, he took a photo, put the phone back where it was, and left without making a sound, unaware that the manager had seen him coming out of the dressing room.

Seungmin immediately entered the room, observing it carefully.

“What were you doing here, Hyunjin?” he asked himself as he frowned, then looked at Minho’s phone on the table, picked it up, and left quietly. He feared the worst, and only hoped Minho had a secure and hard-to-crack PIN.

—| » 🌊 « | —

After the interview ended, Minho and Seungmin went to meet the band, since the brunette had already spoken with Jisung and they had arranged to meet at a restaurant not far from the hotel where the band was staying.

When they arrived, the band was already waiting at the entrance, Jeongin and Felix were there too.

— Minho! — Jisung shouted while waving at him with a big smile. Minho and Seungmin walked over to the group, he hugged Jisung in greeting, and when they pulled away, they looked into each other’s eyes.

— I’m sorry. — Said the brunette, embarrassed about what he had done.

— It’s okay, I’m happy to see you too. — Minho noticed the light blush on the other’s cheeks, smiling as he went to greet the rest of the guys.

They entered the restaurant, chose one of the largest tables, and began chatting while waiting for their food.

— What happened to your hair? I remember it being a more vibrant color. — Chan laughed while Changbin looked at Jeongin and Felix with narrowed eyes, still offended.

— They told us some changes were coming, but we didn’t expect this.

— IT WAS AGAINST MY WILL. — Changbin hugged Jisung while pretending to cry. — My beautiful, gorgeous blonde hair... — Minho let out a soft chuckle, watching the drama his new friend was putting on.

— You look better like this, before you looked like a stiff noodle.

— EXCUSE ME!? — Seungmin started laughing at the black-haired boy’s reaction to his comment.

— So... Are you working with them now? — Asked Minho, looking at Felix, who nodded shyly. — You’re really good with makeup, you’ll do great.

— Oh, thank you... — The freckled boy was surprised by the sudden kindness from his former client. He couldn’t help but remember how, in the past, the boy used to smile so sincerely and speak freely. He was happy that Minho was becoming the person he remembered.

— WOAAAAAH. — Everyone looked at Changbin, who had shouted upon seeing the waitress with their food.

They all ate peacefully, Seungmin would crack jokes from time to time that made the whole table laugh, but Minho was more focused on talking to Jisung than with the others, and the black-haired boy noticed the intense gaze on him. He didn’t mind at all, since being with Minho was his moment of peace in his dark storm.

— Oh, Minho. — The brunette immediately looked up. — I composed a new song... I’ll sing it at the concert. — Minho was surprised, then smiled.

— I didn’t know you could sing! — He said cheerfully, putting his chopsticks down next to his plate, now watching the black-haired boy more intently. — Now I have even more reason to go...

— Don’t say things like that. — Jisung let out a small nervous laugh, feeling a slight warmth in his cheeks. He had been blushing the entire time just from the brunette’s presence, something Minho noticed, so he took the opportunity to say things to make him blush even more. — I’m really happy to be able to sing, I hope it goes well.

— I’m sure you have a lovely voice, Ji. — Said the brunette, making Jisung open and close his mouth several times, trying to find the right words.

— Oh, by the way, Minho, Seungmin... — Both boys looked at Chan. — Jisung told us you’re coming to the concert, so we wanted to give you front-row tickets. — They looked at each other, surprised by the news.

— Those tickets are more than welcome! — Said Seungmin cheerfully, but Minho simply shook his head.

— I can’t accept that.

— Why not? — Asked Seungmin and Chan in unison.

— I want to buy it to support you. You need the concert’s profits, and besides, you’re a band worth paying to see. — He smiled at them, embarrassed, while the others looked at him surprised and touched.

— Okay, you’re my new best friend. — Said Changbin, placing a hand over his heart.

— I’ll take the free ticket. — Seungmin shrugged, making everyone laugh.

—| » 🌊 « | —

They left the restaurant after a while.

— I have to go. — Mentioned Seungmin after answering a call. — Eunwoo said there’s a leak at the house, who knows what he did. — Minho nodded while laughing.

Seungmin said goodbye, leaving the group walking along the lively city streets. Minho was at the back with Jisung. He saw Jeongin holding onto Chan’s arm, giving him a kiss on the cheek while smiling sweetly.

— I didn’t know they were a couple. — He pointed his head toward the couple, Jisung nodded.

— They’ve been together for a while... Bin and Felix are dating too. — Minho let out a long “Oh” while looking at the other couple, who were holding hands and laughing loudly.

— I didn’t expect that, I hope they’re happy. — Said the brunette, giving him a smile. Jisung returned the smile, but this time with discomfort. He let himself be consumed by his thoughts, watching the couples in front of him.

“Will I ever be that happy?” he asked himself, starting to feel sad. Then he looked at Minho, who was talking cheerfully with the others, although he could notice a bit of melancholy in his eyes. Suddenly, a memory flooded his mind: he was with a boy on the town’s street, they were talking, Jisung had an ice cream in his hand while the other boy didn’t.

“— I’m moving to the city, Ji... I hope we can see each other again,” the boy had taken his hand, Jisung was crying silently while staring at the ground, but just as he was about to look up at the boy in front of him, he heard his name.

— Jisung! — The black-haired boy looked at Minho, who had a worried expression. — Are you okay? What happened? — Jisung looked at him blankly, placing his hand on the brunette’s cheek. “You look like him,” he thought as he caressed him, as if his hand recognized the softness of his cheek, as if it recognized those dark eyes, remembering the day he first saw him at the bakery, feeling that strange connection again. — Jisung...? — That small memory had also come to Minho’s mind, recognizing those tearful eyes from somewhere, eyes that reflected fear but also happiness.

Jisung snapped back when he heard some murmurs, quickly pulling away and realizing what he had done.

— I’m sorry. — He whispered, wiping away the tears that had suddenly started to fall. He was blushing, too embarrassed, but also wanted to stop hearing the imaginary murmurs flooding his mind. — I’m going to the hotel, see you there. — He told his band, walking quickly with his head down, disappearing around a corner.

— What happened? — Asked Jeongin, approaching Minho.

— I don’t know, he just started crying out of nowhere and... — He went silent, he really didn’t know what had happened, but that protective feeling he felt when he saw him cry was still there.

— Jisung’s been like that for a few days now, be patient with him and don’t leave him alone. — Mentioned Jeongin, giving a small pat on his shoulder. Minho nodded, then said goodbye to the others with the excuse that he had to keep working.

—| » 🌊 « | —

—| » 🌊 « | —

Minho had written to Jisung, but when he noticed he wasn’t answering, he decided to lock his phone. He didn’t understand what had happened, but he was worried about the black-haired boy. Also, remembering his warm hand on his cheek made him blush, unconsciously raising his hand to touch the place where Jisung had touched him. He snapped out of his thoughts when he received a message from Seungmin.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 11

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Jisung was at the bakery while waiting for his friends to start a new day. That week he had been a bit off mood-wise. On one hand, he was happy because he was talking more often with Minho, but he also felt trapped within himself. He wanted to share many things with Minho, and he thought it might be because he was seeing his friends giving love a chance, seeing them so happy and full of energy... Deep down, he knew he wanted something like that with someone, but he also knew he first needed to be honest with himself and face the feeling he had tried to bury.

— SQUIIIRREEEL FAAAAAACE! — Jisung was interrupted by his friends who had just arrived to start their shift.

— Oh my god, Bin — The black-haired boy let them in, laughing.

— I tried to stop him, but you know how he is — Said the redhead as he closed the door behind him.

The three boys began their routine of setting up the shop before the shift started. Jisung felt like his friends had more energy and enthusiasm than usual. He knew why, and although he was happy for them, he couldn’t shake the emptiness in his chest. His friends noticed his mood, so Changbin swapped his kitchen shift with Jisung, knowing that not being in front of the customers helped when someone wasn’t feeling their best.

The shift went by without any incidents. Everything was as normal as it could be, yet Chan and Changbin couldn’t stop worrying about their friend. He was too quiet, barely teased anyone, and his eyes looked distant the whole time. Around lunchtime, Jeongin brought them homemade food. The boys thanked him and told him about Jisung’s mood, to which Jeongin asked if he could talk to him, and they agreed.

— Jisung... Hey — Jisung left the dough on the counter and greeted Jeongin with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes — I brought sushi for lunch.

— Oh, thank you, you didn’t have to — Jisung seemed a little more animated — It’s my favorite — He said, popping a roll into his mouth.

— Even better then — Jeongin sat across from him — Jisung... Everything okay?

— Yeah... Of course — He said, lowering his gaze and eating another roll.

— I understand. You know I’m here if you want to talk about anything — Jeongin gave him a smile that made Jisung feel a little better.

— I see why Chan’s crazy about you — Jeongin blushed slightly and just smiled nervously — Honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I mean, I do, but... I don’t even understand myself.

— I’ve been there. It’s like you want to talk about your feelings, but you don’t fully understand them, so it’s hard to explain.

— Exactly!... These past few months have been a bit emotionally complicated for me. There are so many things I don’t understand about myself, so many things I want to let go of... Let out... But I’m scared — Jisung avoided eye contact, afraid Jeongin would figure out what was really bothering him.

— Have you tried letting it out in a song? You’ve done it before.

— No... I’m honestly scared... There are things I don’t want to let out. What if people judge me?

— If they do, they wouldn’t be worthy of being in your life or hearing your beautiful lyrics, Jisung — Jeongin placed his hand over Jisung’s, offering him some comfort. — You know the guys and I would never judge you for anything. We’re also ready to challenge anyone who tries.

Jisung wanted to cry but only nodded, thanking Jeongin for his support. He knew his friends would always be there for him, but there was a voice that kept telling him they would leave him, just like everyone else. He tried to shake off those thoughts while he finished eating with Jeongin, who showed him new photos he was planning to upload to the band’s Instagram. They said goodbye, since Jisung’s break was over, leaving him in the kitchen with Chan.

— Don’t leave him alone, Jisung is a whirlwind of emotions right now — The black-haired boy told Chan once they were alone.

— Thanks for helping him. His face looked less troubled — Chan approached him, giving him a small kiss on the lips.

— It’s nothing. I’ve been in his shoes, maybe not with the same situations, but I get it.

The two boys ate together while talking about a possible show Jeongin was organizing. He hadn’t told the three boys many details yet because he wanted to have everything confirmed before breaking the news. They had just finished eating when Chan kissed Jeongin and Changbin walked into the kitchen.

— EWW, guys please, this is where we cook and eat — Said the blonde, grimacing in disgust.

— If it were Felix, the scene would be way worse — Said Chan as he took Jeongin’s hand and left the kitchen.

— Oh no no, I also want to share food with our Mr. Bread — Changbin pulled the two boys apart and threw an arm around Jeongin’s shoulders, making him giggle. Chan just walked away, leaving them alone.

— So... — Jeongin sat down again — Felix?

Changbin popped a roll into his mouth, blushing and smiling at the mention of the name.

— Well... We started dating recently, we’ve only had like three dates — Changbin smiled wider, remembering his dates with the platinum blonde.

— I’m happy for you, Changbin, you deserve to be happy.

The two boys continued chatting about various things while Changbin finished eating until it was time to get back to work. Jeongin said goodbye, leaving them to finish their shift at the bakery.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

After closing the shop, they were heading to Chan’s house like every night to rehearse. His friends were arguing over how they should fix the melody of one of their songs while Jisung was deep in his notebook.

After talking with Jeongin, he decided to follow his advice and try to put his feelings into lyrics, and while doing so, there was only one person on his mind... Minho. He still didn’t understand his feelings towards the writer, but one thing he did understand after the conversation was that he wanted to keep talking to him, share his day, send him pictures of the smallest things that reminded of him. He didn’t know if he would ever tell him how he felt, but he would try to let go of the prejudice — most of which he had placed on himself.

His heart was beating harder than usual as he wrote, Minho’s smile in his mind, his voice echoing in his head, his hands brushing lightly against his... and before he knew it, tears were falling down his face. When he finished writing, he looked up at his friends who were sitting there, waiting for the right moment to approach him.

— Ji, we’re here for you — Chan walked over and hugged him by the shoulders.

— Whatever you’re feeling, you can let it out — Changbin crouched in front of the black-haired boy.

— I did... Jeongin advised me to put it into lyrics... And I did — Jisung handed them the notebook and the boys began to read.

— Ji, it’s beautiful... — Chan looked at him, not knowing what else to say.

— What’s got you so down? — Changbin asked, placing the notebook beside him.

— I wish I could be like you guys... Not care about what people think, live my life the way I want... With whoever I want — His friends exchanged looks.

— First, you need to accept your feelings, Ji. You need to stop being so hard on yourself — Said Chan. — Once you can do that, everything else will just be background noise.

— And if anyone dares to say something, that’s what we’re here for, squirrel face — Changbin leaned in to wipe his tears — Why are you so afraid of being honest with yourself?

— I... I don’t know... My dad’s always made it clear he doesn’t agree with anything I do... Or with how I feel.

— Ji... But you need to choose to be happy with whatever — with whoever — you want — Chan gently squeezed his shoulder, letting him know what he meant.

— Whether it’s with Minho or not — Jisung stood up abruptly, looking at Changbin with fear and surprise in his eyes — I’m sorry... I thought...

— YOU SHOULDN’T BE THINKING AT ALL — The black-haired boy felt vulnerable in front of his friends, the voice in his head repeating “they’ll leave you if you tell them the truth” — WHY PRETEND YOU UNDERSTAND IF YOU’LL JUST LEAVE? YOU’LL LEAVE ME ALONE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE — Jisung couldn’t stop crying, his breath quickening, the room feeling smaller and smaller.

— Ji, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that... But we would never leave you — Changbin approached and hugged him tightly — Please understand that we’re your best friends, we’re here for you no matter what, the last thing we’d ever do is leave you alone.

Chan joined the hug as Jisung cried harder than he had in a long time. They didn’t know how long they stayed like that, but little by little, Jisung started to breathe more calmly. He felt his friends begin to pull away to let him breathe more, but Jisung tightened his grip on them, letting them know he still didn’t want to let go.

— We’re your support, Ji. When you feel like you can’t go on, lean on us — Chan said as he drew circles on his back to comfort him.

— Thank you guys, sorry I yelled at you — Jisung slowly sat up, revealing his tear-stained face — I’m not ready to talk about a lot of things... But I know I can count on you.

That night they spent time creating the melody for Jisung’s new song. Changbin came up with the name “Volcano” describing it as the most intense one yet. Jisung felt a bit better after that night.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

The rest of the week went on normally. The boys noticed a small change in Jisung’s mood, but they could still sense he was burdened. It was Sunday morning, their day off, when Jeongin called them to his house.

The three boys were standing at Jeongin’s front door, and as they walked in, they were surprised to see someone else there.

— Lix? — Said Changbin, as confused as the others. — What’s going on?

— Please sit down... — Jeongin gestured, and the three boys sat down, looking at each other very confused. — I’ve gathered you here because... 3Racha will have its first performance in the city!

— WHAT?! — The three boys shouted, jumping up from their seats.

— YES! Remember I told you I was in talks with someone from the city?... Well, we closed the deal. The venue will only take 25% of the profits that night, the rest is yours. It’ll be next weekend.

Chan walked up to kiss him while the others shout out excitedly. Changbin gave him one of his famous bear hugs, squeezing so tightly Jeongin thought his eyes would pop out. Jisung also hugged him, but more decently.

— Okay, now I want to know why Lix is here with us — Said Changbin — Not that you don’t deserve to be here, but I feel like there’s more news... And I’m scared.

— Well... You should be — Felix said as he grabbed a small box he had left on the dining table and pulled out some hair dye boxes, grinning mischievously at the three boys.

— Changes are coming, guys — Jeongin told them as he held more dye boxes, and the three boys looked at each other in fear.

[straysmuchi]

comfort happy binnie moments | pt 2

{cr. skzflix, ch_skz_}

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 10

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

Minho came out of the bathroom calmly, finding Seungmin and his boyfriend at the entrance of the house.

— We’re going to be late because of you. — The brunette raised an eyebrow, leaving the house without looking at Seungmin.

— I wasn’t the one who wouldn’t stop talking to his boyfriend. — The manager rolled his eyes in fake annoyance as his partner laughed.

The three got into the car, heading to the celebration the staff had prepared for Minho for reaching the sales goal of his novels at the event. They arrived after a few minutes; it was a simple restaurant that sold a wide variety of meats. Upon entering, they approached a group of ten people sitting at two joined tables. Everyone started shouting “congratulations” to Minho.

— Our star writer! — Shouted a girl as she hugged him, leading him to his previously reserved seat.

Everyone ordered their respective meals, starting a conversation while waiting for the food.

— Honestly, I’m not surprised it all sold out... You’re so talented that people are dying to read your novels. — Said an older man while ruffling Minho’s hair, making him blush a little.

— Dying to read them? I doubt that. — Mentioned another woman, making the group laugh.

— It was all thanks to me, he wouldn’t have made it without the best manager... — People laughed at Seungmin’s comment. — And that’s why... I won’t pay for dinner! — The group started laughing, telling Seungmin that he would pay his agreed part anyway.

The food arrived after a while, and everyone started eating while continuing to congratulate Minho on the achievement.

— Hey, Minho... — The brunette looked at a staff guy who was watching him curiously. — When are you going to tell us about the person who inspires your novels? — Suddenly, the whole group started shouting and laughing, drawing attention from other people in the restaurant.

— I say it should be a beautiful woman!

— A businesswoman he met in a beautiful place...

— Or how about a woman from the staff?... — Minho began to feel uncomfortable while listening to all the guesses. Maybe if they mentioned a boy, he wouldn’t feel that way. He just laughed to hide his nerves, something Seungmin noticed when he saw his friend’s hand trembling while holding a utensil.

— I’ll tell you when the time is right... Maybe when I retire. — Minho let out a soft laugh at the end of his sentence, making the staff laugh even louder. — Be right back. — He said without being heard.

Minho left the restaurant, walked a bit until he reached a vending machine, bought a cold coffee, and sat on the curb.

— Drinking something cold in this weather? — Minho closed his eyes upon hearing Seungmin’s voice, then watched the guy sit next to him, stretching his arms back as they both watched people walk on the other sidewalk. — You’re really bad at hiding your emotions, Minho. — The brunette squeezed the can, maybe it was time to talk a little with one of his best friends... Just a little.

— Seung, what did your family think about your relationship with Eunwoo? — Seungmin thought for a bit, letting out a soft “uhm” while tilting his head.

— Well, you know my family doesn’t really care about that as long as i'm happy... — Minho smiled a little. — Although they were surprised at first, everything was fine afterward.

— I see. — The brunette sighed heavily. — Aren’t you... afraid of what people might think of you?

— Not at all. — Minho sighed again, sipping a bit of the cold coffee. For a moment, he thought talking to Seungmin wasn’t the right move; his way of thinking had always been “don’t worry about others, worry about yourself.” But even if Minho tried to think that way, he just couldn’t. He worried too much about what people would say after what happened in the past. — Back in high school, I was afraid to say what I liked. — Minho looked at him in surprise.

— Kim Seungmin, afraid? — The dark-haired boy let out a small chuckle.

— Yes, I used to be very insecure. — He paused before continuing. — All those insecurities were created by the kids in my class. They made fun of my smile, my body, even my personality. They said I was too childish for my age... I was fourteen back then. — Seungmin smiled nostalgically remembering his classmates’ mockery. — That changed when I met Eunwoo. He told me that it would be childish to care about what others think, because people will always find something to criticize you for. "What’s the point of living by others’ opinions? Just be yourself." — Seungmin smiled. — Then to prove I didn’t care about others, I kissed Eunwoo in the middle of a class presentation.

— What? — Minho burst out laughing, while Seungmin simply posed proudly remembering that moment.

— They took us to the principal’s office, but it was the best moment of my life. — They both kept laughing for a bit. — In the end, people forget what happens to you, they lose interest. So just be yourself, the people who truly love you will support whatever you decide. — Minho smiled with his gaze down. Hearing all those words managed to calm his anxiety, and for the first time in so long, he felt supported. — Let’s go back to the restaurant, the others must be waiting. — Before Seungmin could get up, Minho grabbed his coat.

— Seung, the person who inspired me to write the new novel is Jisung. — Minho let go of Seungmin, placing both hands over his mouth, shocked at what he had just said out loud—and the worst part was that his friend was laughing in his face at the deep blush spreading across his cheeks and ears.

— I had a feeling, I told you you’re terrible at hiding how you feel.

— Shut up. — Seungmin patted him on the back and sat next to Minho again, who hid his face between his arms, which were resting on his knees.

— Are your other novels inspired by him too?

— No, though they’re inspired by a boy... I don’t remember his face, but he made my day better when I was at my worst. — Seungmin cringed at his friend’s cheesy comment, which made the brunette chuckle a little. — What I always say in interviews is true, but what really happened is that my own friends and classmates made fun of me because I liked a boy... — He cleared his throat before continuing. — I still have the notebook where I wrote down my feelings for the class president. I remember he was a very kind, cheerful boy who always helped everyone... I started liking him when we became close—we were inseparable back then. I planned to give him that notebook on graduation day, while confessing my feelings... — Minho squeezed the empty can of the drink he’d bought. — But I had the brilliant idea of leaving that stupid notebook on my desk before class ended... When I got back to the classroom, one of my friends was reading it out loud, but the worst part was that the boy I liked... started making fun of me with the whole class, but with eyes full of pity. He even had a blush that wasn’t from annoyance, because he liked me too—I heard him say it to one of his friends back then... But he preferred to keep the image of the “perfect president” over his own feelings. — Minho looked at his friend, who was listening attentively. — Seungmin, they said such horrible things to me... — His eyes began to well up. — They called me every awful thing you could imagine, but the one who yelled those words the most... was him. — Minho began to sob; he had never spoken so openly about his past, let alone his feelings.

Seungmin hugged him.

— I didn’t know it... was that bad. — Minho allowed himself to cry on his best friend’s shoulder, letting out everything he had kept buried deep in his mind. — The only thing I can tell you is that it wasn’t your fault, you didn’t deserve that treatment, and I hope someday those people pay for it... Or you tell me their names, and I’ll go to their houses and haunted them. — Minho started laughing between sobs. After calming down a bit, he continued his story.

— After I left school and ran to the beach, that’s when I met the mysterious boy... He started saying weird things that I still don’t know what... — A memory invaded his mind, the moment with Jisung at the beach. Minho had done exactly the same thing that boy had done in the past—handing him a stone with a warm smile while saying something about the sea. The not-so-blurry image of the boy came back again, this time in a different setting—they were walking down a street in town, the boy had dropped his ice cream, and the brunette laughed at this, then gave his ice cream to him. He saw his smile, which looked like a heart shape, but when he was about to look into his eyes, Seungmin spoke to him.

— Are you okay? — Minho blinked several times, processing the sudden memory. — You stopped talking and spaced out out of nowhere... — Minho shook his head, confused.

A girl from the staff came out of the restaurant, finding the two boys sitting on the curb.

— Hey, we’re waiting for you! — Shouted the woman as she pulled out a cigarette. — They’re going to cut the cake, you better come! — The woman walked away from the restaurant to smoke.

Seungmin grabbed Minho by the shoulders.

— We should go in. — Minho nodded, throwing the can into a nearby trash can and wiping his tears. — I’m worried that the novel might have erotic scenes, knowing Jisung is your inspiration...

— Oh my god, Seungmin, shut your mouth. — The dark-haired boy started laughing at the other’s blush.

—| » 🌊 « |—

Minho arrived home, greeted his three cats, and left his coat next to his blue jacket on the couch. He walked to the bathroom, took a hot shower, and then laid down on his bed.

He grabbed his phone, seeing two notifications that made him smile.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯ Minho left his phone on the nightstand, smiling at the news.

“I’ll get to see you again...” he thought as he closed his eyes, thinking about where he’d take Jisung when he came to the city.

For the first time, he was able to sleep peacefully that night.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 9

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

—| » 🌊 « | ——| » 🌊 « | ——| » 🌊 « | ——| » 🌊 « | —

Time had passed since the event and Minho's visit to the town, the boys were working as usual, but since the event, their focus had shifted to becoming more known. Jeongin was helping them with building their digital presence, something that was going well. He had done a small photo session with the three of them to have material, and had also asked them questions as a band to post small facts about them.

Many of the town’s residents congratulated them when they went to the bakery, feeling proud that a local group might be recognized internationally. The dynamic between them became more noticeable, almost every night they went to Chan's house to rehearse. Jisung showed them his song “Alien” which they loved, and they worked on it. Jeongin gave them the idea that Jisung should sing it, since it was his, and that gave more emotion to the performance. One of those nights, Jisung agreed to sing it, which left the boys impressed by Jisung’s voice, as he had never shown it to them fully before.

— WOW, Jisung… Your voice… It’s beautiful, you should use it more often — Jeongin told him with tears in his eyes.

— Squirrel face… I never doubted your talent… But, WOW — said the blond with one of his famous smiles — But… do you still feel that way?

— Not entirely… but a little, that’s why I wanted to show you. There might be someone or several people who feel like this, and I want to be able to help them somehow.

— You know you’ve got us here, for anything Ji, we’ll never judge you for anything. Will we tease you? Of course, but never judge — said the redhead while placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

They ended that day’s session with a dinner made by Jeongin, who every day felt more like part of the group, even though he hadn’t been friends with any of them since childhood like they were. But Jisung and Changbin always made sure to include him in their conversations, whether work-related or not, as well as in the jokes they made with each other. Chan, on the other hand, did everything possible to make him feel comfortable, each day they were getting closer and it was obvious to those around them.

—| » 🌊 « | —

It was Sunday and the bakery was being managed by Jisung’s parents. The black-haired boy was sitting on some rocks near the beach, his mind overwhelmed with thoughts of Minho — of the smiles he gave him during his stay, especially on the last day they spent together — of the little glances they exchanged, how his body felt like small electric shocks when their hands brushed. But at the same time, he felt sad and helpless not being able to tell him how he felt about him, or even just how he felt in general.

His head and heart were a constant tornado of emotions. He wanted to shout his true feelings to everyone, he wanted to be free from that prison he had placed himself in. Seeing his friends being free and happy in their own way without hiding anything — to be honest, he felt a bit jealous of them. The sea began to wave more strongly and the air changed a bit. Jisung sometimes felt like he had the superpower to change the sea according to his mood. A small, almost melancholic smile appeared on his face.

— Everything okay, squirrel face? — The black-haired boy turned slightly, startled by the sudden appearance of his friend.

— Bin… — He said while placing a hand on his heart as his friend sat beside him on the rocks — Yeah, everything’s fine… as always — He turned his gaze back to the sea.

— Ji… Can we take the chance to talk?

— We always do, Bin. Is there something in particular you want to talk about? — The black-haired boy didn’t want to look his friend, he had a suspicion about what the blond wanted to talk about.

— You know, Ji… Aside from your parents, I know there’s something bothering you. I’m not saying you have to tell me everything, but… I’m here if you want to cry, scream, or punch something.

— Bin, if you want to show off your muscles, just say it, you don’t need to pretend with me.

— First of all, I never need an excuse for that — He said while flexing his arms — Second, I’m telling you the exact same thing, you know that with Chan and me, you don’t have to pretend.

Jisung felt a bit of panic at his friend’s words. He had never been honest with anyone — except his grandmother — about his feelings. Deep down, he always knew his friends knew the real him, but they had never let it show or asked him anything about it. Changbin noticed the shift in his friend and simply pulled him close, placing his arm over his shoulders.

— Ji… Never feel pressured about anything, especially with Chan and me, we’ll always be here for you no matter what happens.

The black-haired boy let himself be enveloped by his friend’s half-hug and, without realizing it, started to cry. He didn’t know how much time had passed, he was just grateful that his friend was there with him without asking anything, just letting him release what he had inside. They stayed a while longer talking about other things and creating new ways to tease Chan at the bakery, which was their favorite hobby.

— Do you want to go have dinner at mom’s place? She’s not home, but my grandma cooked since my parents are at the bakery — Jisung asked his friend.

— Well of course, that’s not even a question, I would never miss a meal from Grandma.

They spent the rest of the afternoon at home eating and talking with Jisung’s grandmother, who loved having them around. The boys showed her the photos Jeongin had taken of them while telling her the plans they had in mind. They also told her that Chan and Jeongin were together, which gave them even more material to tease the redhead during work hours. Jisung excused himself to go to the bathroom for a moment before leaving.

— Bin… Thank you for always being there for my boy — Said the grandmother as she took the blond’s hands. — Right now his mind and heart are a whirlwind that even he doesn’t understand, but having you all, I know it will help him.

— There’s nothing to thank, Grandma. Ji is like a brother to me and I’d do anything to see him happy, but don’t tell him that or he’ll get cocky — Replied the blond just as Jisung returned. They said their goodbyes and headed to Chan’s house for their usual rehearsal.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 8

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Minho was in his room, finishing packing his things. He had been counting the days to leave that place. Honestly, he was happy to go back to his apartment and sleep in his own bed, but there was also something he couldn't get out of his mind… Jisung. Thanks to him, his three days in the town were less stressful. “I should thank him and… say goodbye,” he thought while looking at the squirrel plushie that was on top of his suitcase.

— Watching the Quokka again? — Minho, without turning to look at Seungmin, continued folding his clothes.

— Quokka? I didn’t know that was its name.

— Yeah, I just saw it on Instagram. — Said the black-haired boy, showing Minho the 3Racha profile, which had two posts. — They just opened an account, I was the first follower, they should give me a prize for being their number one fan. — He kept staring at the plushie post.

— Of course — The brunette smiled sarcastically while closing the small suitcase.

— The one I have is called Wolfchan, and the one I gave Felix is called Dwaekki… Such unique names. — Minho nodded as he searched for the profile on his phone to follow them. — Oh, right, Mrs. Lee needs you, she’s in the kitchen. — Minho placed his phone on the bed and left the room, finding his mother leaning on the kitchen doorway.

— You called me?

— Yes, I just wanted to talk to you before you leave. — They both walked to the living room couch. — I’m really sad, I don’t want you to go. I missed waking up and making breakfast for more than one person… I had already gotten used to Seungmin’s morning jokes. — The woman laughed while Minho simply smiled.

— His jokes are terrible.

— You’re just jealous. — The woman let out a soft chuckle when she heard Seungmin’s voice as he sat down next to them. — Oh, by the way, buy that dessert I liked, the city bakeries aren’t that great and I want something nice to eat during the trip.

— And why don’t you go?

— I have to finish organizing some things… I’m your manager. — Minho rolled his eyes, got up from the couch, and left the house, leaving his mother and Seungmin alone.

— Mrs. Lee, can I talk to you about… Minho? — The woman looked at him surprised but nodded after a few seconds. — Since we met, Minho became a great friend, and I want to try to understand him. When he found out we were coming, he was nervous the entire prep week, and during the trip, he didn’t speak. He just stared out the window and I noticed he was anxious. — Seungmin noticed how the woman tensed as he spoke. Was it right to ask her directly? — When we arrived, Minho met a boy, his name is Jisung.

— Han Jisung? — The woman interrupted.

— I think… He works at Panracha. — The woman nodded enthusiastically. — The thing is, ever since he started talking to him, he’s been more relaxed, he even laughs at my jokes and tells me things he hadn’t before… I saw how they looked at each other during the event, how they shared smiles and… — Seungmin cleared his throat as he realized he was speaking faster. The woman just sighed at his confusion, trying to suppress the small smile threatening to show. — I just want to know, why does he seem happy now after saying he didn’t want to come?

— Well, it’s… complicated. — The woman sighed, trying to find the right words. — I’m not the one who should tell you Minho’s past, but I can tell you that maybe he likes Jisung. — Seungmin froze when he heard that last part.

— So I was right… I knew it! — The woman finally laughed at the black-haired boy’s enthusiasm. — But how can he like someone he only interacted with, like… four times? — She raised an eyebrow, confused by the question.

— They’ve talked several times, but it seems like neither of them remembers.

—| » 🌊 « |—

Minho walked through the not-so-crowded town streets. Since the event was over, few people asked him for photos or autographs, some just greeted him and that made him happy.

He entered the bakery, finding the redhead talking to a guy who had been at the event.

— Minho, welcome! — Chan said cheerfully as he approached the brunette. — What would you like to get?

— Hey, Chan… Can I have two cheesecakes and two puddings? To go, please. — The boy nodded and went behind the counter.

Suddenly, as if the universe was on his side, a silhouette appeared in front of him.

— Hi! — Jisung gave him a big smile, and the brunette couldn’t help but smile back. — I thought you had already left.

— I’m leaving at six, I’m spending time with my mom. — The brunette leaned his arms on the display case, smiling at the chubby-cheeked boy who was slightly blushing.

— My shift is about to end, do you… want to go for a walk before you leave? We could go to the beach… — Minho, without thinking, nodded. — Perfect! Wait for me… ten minutes. — The brunette nodded again as he grabbed his now packed order and sat at one of the tables near the window.

Meanwhile, Jisung headed to the kitchen, where his friends looked at him with suspicious smirks.

— I didn’t know you were getting off early today. — Mentioned Chan as he crossed his arms, his dimples showing in a mischievous smile.

— “Oh, Minho… Let’s walk on the beach and talk about the things we like…” — Said Changbin while doing little hops and stretching his arm, mimicking walking with someone. Jisung just started laughing nervously.

— It’s just for today… He’s leaving in about two hours and I at least want to get his number… He seems nice. — He sighed, giving puppy eyes to both boys.

— Fine, but leave the accounts organized. — Chan finally said, giving in to his friend’s look.

During those ten minutes, Minho chatted with the black-haired boy Chan had been helping earlier. He mentioned the brunette’s novels and how much he loved his writing. This made Minho’s ears turn red from all the compliments.

Jisung finally came over, no longer in uniform.

— We can go. — Minho nodded and stood up.

— It was a pleasure talking to you, Jeongin. — The black-haired boy smiled.

They both left the bakery and started walking toward the beach.

— I didn’t know you lived here. — Jisung said as he put his hands in his sweater pockets.

— Yeah, I moved when the publishing house contacted me. I guess it was a good decision. — Jisung nodded, noting the melancholy in that last sentence.

— By the way, I saw the photo you posted… I’m glad you liked the plushie. — He said with a slight laugh, Minho just raised an eyebrow.

— Photo? I didn’t… — He immediately took out his phone and found the photo Seungmin had taken of him at the event. It had as a caption the same phrase the black-haired boy had told him that night, and he couldn’t help but blush. — I’m going to kill Seungmin. — Jisung started laughing harder.

They continued talking about the event and some of their interests. The weather was nice and warm, and their laughter was proof that something was blooming between them. Minho couldn’t stop looking at Jisung; he wanted to perfectly memorize his face, didn’t want him to become another mysterious boy in his memory. Jisung was aware of the brunette’s gaze. Even though it made him nervous, he was happy that, in that moment, Minho was only looking at him.

Suddenly, they reached the beach.

Minho felt a shiver down his spine when the sand touched his shoes. He didn’t want to look toward the sound of the waves. He was afraid of facing his greatest witness again. His breathing became heavy, and just as he thought he was about to collapse again, Jisung grabbed his hand. A soft, nervous touch that made Minho look him straight in the eyes.

— Come on, the sea’s not going to eat you… I think. — Jisung started running without letting go of the brunette’s hand, making both laugh at the beautiful moment they were creating.

And for the first time in a long while, Minho looked at the sea—but this time, to create a beautiful memory, one that would always be present in his mind and help calm his anxiety. He turned his gaze ahead, looking at Jisung’s back and listening to the melodic laughter that accompanied the echo of the waves. He closed his eyes, enjoying the moment, but they both fell onto the sand when Jisung suddenly stopped.

They both laughed again and sat to watch the sunset.

— I’ll miss this view. — Jisung turned to look at the brunette, who was watching the horizon with visible sadness, but at the same time, his gaze reflected something he couldn’t quite figure out.

— I can send you pictures whenever you want… — Jisung took out his phone and opened his contacts folder. — Of course, if you give me your number.

— So direct. — Minho said with a laugh as he dictated his number to his new friend.

They spent a long time watching the sea, talking about some things as the sun slowly set. Suddenly, something touched his shoe.

— Look at this! — He said cheerfully as he picked up a green stone. Jisung looked at it, admiring the beautiful shine it emitted. — Here. — Minho handed him the stone. Jisung took it, feeling a strange sensation as he stared at it in admiration.

— It’s really pretty. — He smiled as the brunette nodded. — My grandmother… — Suddenly, Seungmin’s voice was heard at the beach.

— Minho! Where are you!? — The named boy was surprised to hear his manager’s voice.

— I have to go. — Both boys stood up. Jisung was about to give the stone back to Minho, but he refused. — Keep it, the sea tends to bring beautiful things. — He smiled as he walked toward his friend, who was waving at him to hurry. Jisung followed behind, putting the stone in his pocket.

— The driver’s waiting, let’s go, let’s go. — Seungmin turned around and raised his hand. — Bye, Jisung, see you another day… or not. — The named boy chuckled softly, waving goodbye.

— Thank you for everything, Jisung, I hope we keep in touch and see each other again.

— Count on it. — The black-haired boy hugged Minho, who returned the hug after a few seconds.

They both went their separate ways, but a small sensation filled both of their hearts.

“I think I had a déjà vu,” they both thought as they walked to different destinations.

Jisung, as he walked, had the strange feeling of being watched, but his mind was so occupied thinking about Minho that he decided to ignore it.

—| » 🌊 « |—

— We’re finally here… — Said Seungmin as he stretched. — I think I’ll head home. I suddenly want to see my mom. — Minho nodded several times as he got out of the car and grabbed his suitcases.

— See you tomorrow, rest well. — Minho entered the building and took the elevator up to his apartment. He left his suitcases to the side and walked to his room. — What? — He looked at the stone on a small table in his room. Minho remembered perfectly that the object was red, but now it was pink, and its glow was slightly stronger. — That’s weird… — He decided to leave it in place and collapsed on his bed.

“I hope Jisung got home safely,” he thought before falling completely asleep.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

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⌗ Chapter 7

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Jisung woke up to the smell of pancakes and freshly brewed coffee. His mind was still on last night’s concert; he couldn’t believe how many people asked them for pictures, and all the merchandise had sold out. The guys had left the venue happy and spent the night at Chan’s house as usual.

Changbin was still snoring on the mattress near the bed with his phone in hand, notifications from Felix lighting up the screen. Jisung smiled widely at the sight. He knew the blond was quite interested in the other boy, but he also knew it wouldn’t be easy for Changbin to open up to someone new after his heart had been broken.

When he went downstairs, Jisung found Chan and Jeongin talking while hugging each other. He didn’t want to interrupt, but his friend noticed his presence and instantly turned red, just like the other black-haired boy.

— Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt — Jisung said, lowering his gaze a little, slightly embarrassed for breaking the moment.

— It’s fine — answered a very flustered Jeongin — How do you like your coffee?

— Oh, with milk and one sugar, please. Thank you so much — Jisung sat at the dining table near the kitchen and gave his friend a playful look, who couldn’t hide the smile or the blush on his face.

— Did you sleep well? I know Bin tends to snore a lot — Chan sat close to him, handing him the coffee.

— Yeah, I passed out as soon as I hit the bed. He stayed up a little longer, talking on the phone with Felix — the black-haired boy gave him the same playful look.

— Oh, so we have a new conquer. It’s about time Binnie gave himself another chance.

— Who would hurt Changbin? — Jeongin asked as he set plates of pancakes and eggs on the table — You can tell he’s a giant baby.

— Well, someone did hurt him pretty badly, but they got what they deserved — said Chan as he hugged the black-haired boy from behind his chair.

— Who got what they deserved? — Changbin appeared in the room and eyed the food, but his gaze lingered on his friend hugging the other boy, throwing them one of his teasing smiles that made them blush again.

— Good morning, my love — Jisung blew him a kiss and signaled for him to sit next to him.

The four boys had breakfast while talking about the night before, sharing pictures and videos they managed to capture from the event. Jisung and Changbin kept glancing at Chan, who was growing increasingly affectionate with Jeongin, which made them happy. After eating, the boys offered to do the dishes since the other two had made breakfast.

— He has no idea how much I’m going to tease him at work — the blond commented to Jisung while handing him a plate to dry.

— He knows, but I think that’s the last thing on his mind right now.

— What are we doing today? I don’t want to go home yet.

— I was thinking of stopping by Mom’s to visit Grandma. You can come, and then we’ll figure out what to do.

— I love that plan. Besides, Grandma loves me — Jisung rolled his eyes and threw the dish towel at him.

Chan and Jeongin were chatting happily in the living room when the guys told them their plans, which they agreed to. Jeongin said goodbye to Jisung and Changbin while Chan walked him to the door. On his way back, he knew his friends would tease him.

— LET’S GOOOOOOOOOO — his friends shouted in unison, whistling. Chan could only laugh nervously.

They spent the rest of the morning listening to Chan’s story until it was time to get ready to go out. Jisung texted his parents to let them know they’d visit, which made them happy. His relationship with them hadn’t changed much—his dad still wanted him to give up music entirely. His mom was happy he could pursue his dream and help with the family business, but his grandmother wasn’t very pleased because she knew his real dream was solely music and to find someone who shared his passions—and maybe something more.

As they walked, several people recognized them. Others showed off the plushies they carried, and many wore the band shirts. The boys exchanged glances with smiles on their faces. When they reached the corner near Jisung’s parents’ house, they saw a small group of people gathered. They wondered what was going on until their eyes met, and Jisung felt his heart skip a beat, thinking it might burst out of his shirt.

— OHHHH, it’s 3Racha — said a girl approaching them and asking for a photo.

Jisung couldn’t stop feeling nervous under Minho’s gaze. The group of persons around Minho began to surround the boys until the four of them were standing together.

— Let’s document this moment — Seungmin said as he pulled out his phone to take a photo. Jisung felt Minho try to wrap his arm around his waist but stop midway, placing his hands behind his own back instead.

— Hey — Jisung said, trying to hide his disappointment that Minho didn’t hug him — How’s your weekend going?

— Hey Jisung, just walking around a bit... A lot of people loved you guys — he said, extending his hand to the other two boys — Nice to meet you, Lee Minho.

— Oh, right, sorry. This is Chan, our vocalist and bassist, and this is Changbin, our drummer. — The boys shook hands and chatted a bit more with Minho and Seungmin. Chan noticed they had the respective plushies hanging from their pockets like keychains.

— Can you explain why you chose these animals to represent yourselves? I have to say, I’m really curious — Seungmin asked Chan directly.

— Well, the squirrel would be Jisung, because of the cheeks and how adorable he can be — Minho smiled tenderly at the plushie and then at Jisung, making him blush and look away.

— This one would be you, right? You’ve got that leader vibe and seem a bit like a furry — the others laughed at Seungmin’s comment while Chan just blushed.

— And why a pig/rabbit for you? — Minho asked.

— It was a pig at first, but when I drew it, it came out with rabbit ears. I liked it, so it stayed that way — the blond replied while mimicking the same face as his plushie, the one he knew Felix had.

They kept talking a bit more, unaware that some eyes on them weren’t just curious, but filled with malice. Jisung glanced toward a corner on the opposite side of the street, and although no one was there, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been.

— Well, it was nice talking to you, but we have to go — Minho interrupted Jisung’s thoughts.

— It was nice meeting you, Minho and Seungmin — said Chan, saying goodbye to both.

The boys went on their way, but not before Jisung looked back and met Minho’s gaze. Minho smiled at him sweetly, but with something else he couldn’t quite figure out—until Minho turned around and walked away.

— My boys! — Jisung’s mom came over to hug each of them — You’re even more handsome than the last time I saw you.

— Mom, we look the same as always — Jisung said, walking into the house.

— Speak for yourself. If Mrs. Han says I’m more handsome, then it’s the truth — replied the blond, following behind.

— My babies, how are you? — Grandma greeted them with a warm hug and a kiss on each cheek — Changbin, you’ve gotten bigger. Don’t stop working out. — The blond struck a gym pose while smiling.

— Grandma, stop feeding the schizophrenia.

The three boys sat in the living room while showing photos and videos from the night before. Grandma encouraged them to keep following their dream, as she always had. Their mother just smiled, though she didn’t understand why her son chose a different path than his father. Still, she supported him.

— And Dad? — Jisung asked his mother. At the question, she looked at him with a bit of sadness — He doesn’t want to see me? — the black-haired boy sighed, disappointed that his father still hadn’t forgiven him — And then he says I’m the immature one.

— My Quokka... — his grandmother stroked his hand, prompting him to look up at her — Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about the decisions you make for your life. Everyone gets a chance to live their own life. Parents often try to relive theirs through their children without realizing the damage they cause.

— Grandma, if you want, we can get married right now — Changbin said, moving closer to the old lady.

— CHANGBIN — Jisung and Chan shouted in unison, while the grandmother just laughed.

— Binnie, we both know it wouldn’t work. We have the same taste.

— Oh, Grandma, you have to see his new crush — the redhead commented, making the blond blush.

— And what are you waiting for? Show me! — the grandmother motioned with her hands, urging him to show her a photo of the new guy.

— Grandma, he’s not really a crush — Changbin said, slightly embarrassed.

— Binnie... You stayed up messaging him last night — Jisung pointed out, making the blond blush even more.

— Then I need to see him, because if he’s keeping our Binnie up at night...

Changbin took out his phone and showed her pictures of Felix, leaving the woman shocked by the platinum-haired boy’s beauty. Changbin just kept blushing. His past wasn’t a secret to Grandma, which is why she told him: “Opening your heart again after betrayal isn’t easy, but if we never try again, are we really living?”

The afternoon continued joyfully, filled with laughter, stories, and food—something the boys loved. At one point, Jisung excused himself to go to the bathroom. On the way back, he entered his room, which he hadn’t been in for a long time. He tried to avoid it due to the bittersweet memories the small room held.

He was hit by those memories—his school awards were still there, his first drawings taped to the wall, posters of his favorite bands, even his blanket and stuffed animal he couldn’t sleep without.

His body moved on autopilot. He didn’t know how to feel. He wasn’t that sad boy anymore, the one who didn’t know how to tell his parents he didn’t want to follow the family business, who wanted to travel the world doing what he loved most with people he cared about. But there was still one thing he had in common with that boy... He wasn’t brave enough yet to openly admit that his romantic feelings didn’t match what society expected of him.

On his bed was a black beanie he used to wear back then. Underneath it, he found his old diary, which he also used to write many of his songs. He opened it to the last song he wrote within those walls: “Alien.”

He smiled at the little alien doodles along the page edges, read the lyrics, and felt transported back to those days. He couldn’t help but feel a little sad knowing that even though he wasn’t that boy anymore, he still felt like the song. His eyes fell on one line: I don’t belong anywhere. I feel lonely. Even when I smile, I feel so alone.

— Sweetheart? — Jisung quickly wiped away the tears when he heard his father’s voice.

— No, it’s me — he said, grabbing the notebook to take with him. — How are you, Dad?

— Oh, I thought you had forgotten about us since it’s been a while since you visited.

— Dad... Can you stop fighting with me for just one second? Anyway, we’re leaving now. You didn’t want to come down when we arrived, and we have plans.

— Right, I forgot that famous people have busy schedules.

— Can you stop saying nonsense for a moment? — At that moment, his father raised his hand to slap him, but Chan arrived just in time and stopped the motion.

— Jisung, Jeongin’s already waiting for us.

The boys said goodbye to Mom and Grandma. His father didn’t say goodbye to any of them. He always blamed Changbin and Chan for “poisoning” his son with “stupid and senseless dreams,” as he used to say whenever he saw them near the bakery.

Jisung stayed quiet the whole way until they met up with Jeongin, who greeted them with hugs and cold drinks for each.

Changbin stayed by his side, as he always did. They spent the afternoon walking along the beach, eating, and talking about future plans. Jeongin shared some ideas he had for the band’s social media. At one point, Chan and Changbin went to order food from a nearby place, leaving Jisung alone with Jeongin.

— Can I ask about that notebook?

— Sure, it’s my old diary where I also used to write. I wanted to bring it because there are things I’d like to turn into songs.

— I know we’re still getting to know each other, but... are you okay?

— Well, I don’t want to ruin the good mood we’ve got going. It’s just that visiting my house never ends well. That’s why I try to avoid going, but my grandma is there, so... I go for her.

— Oh, I get it. Well, if you ever need to talk, I’m here — Jeongin offered him a warm smile, which Jisung returned.

Soon the boys came back with food, and they ended up spending most of the afternoon on the beach. In that moment, Jisung wished he were sharing it with Minho, like Chan was with Jeongin. He didn’t know why the thought of having him there—sharing food and laughter with his friends—flooded his mind. But just for that tiny fragment of a minute, he didn’t want to let go of that thought.

[straysmuchi]

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

📍Sorry for any mistakes, English is not our first language.

┆These works are intended for a mature audience (18+).

Please separate fiction from reality. The behaviors of the idols mentioned and the settings are NOT real; the stories are created for entertainment purposes only.

Copying, rewriting, republishing, or translating our works is not allowed. Translations of our stories will be done directly on this account.

Thank you so much for reading and interacting with our work — we truly appreciate it!

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

│❍ Minsung 𖹭 «🐰🐿️»

— Hidden stones in the sea; drama, a little bit of bullying, non idol.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

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⌗ Chapter 6

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Minho was sitting at his booth, staring at his phone while waiting for the event to start. He decided to lift his gaze and watch how people began to gather outside the venue, waiting to enter. That’s when his nerves started to kick in. The brunette was never a nervous person when it came to interacting with his fans, but being back in the town he grew up in made him overthink.

“Will anyone from high school show up?”, “Will they make fun of me?”, “Will they say out loud that I like men?”, he looked away from the entrance and closed his eyes.

— What’s gotten into you now? — Seungmin sat beside him, handing him a can of iced coffee. — Wow, you look like an idol with that makeup. — He said with a smile, glancing at the stage in front of them. Minho smiled, sipping from the drink. — I ran into Hyunjin, he said he’s going to sign and sell more books than us.

— And what did you say to him?

— That the only thing he’s going to sell are tickets to his failure. — Minho let out a small chuckle. — I also told him our booth will be packed, so we need to live up to that promise. — He sighed, while Minho rolled his eyes playfully. Suddenly, he spotted Jisung in the distance, up on stage with an electric guitar and a smile.

— I didn’t know Panracha had a band. — Seungmin mentioned, watching the three boys laugh on stage as they finished setting things up. — Is their merch going to be bread? — Minho closed his eyes and burst out laughing at his manager’s comment, who seemed to be seriously pondering what kind of merch a band from a bakery would have.

When Minho opened his eyes, he met Jisung’s gaze. The boy waved at him and quickly jumped off the stage. Then, he rushed over to Minho’s booth with a small box in hand.

— Hello again, Minho. — The boy greeted him with a smile. — I wanted to give you some of our merch... if that’s okay. — Minho didn’t hide his smile as he accepted the little box.

— Thank you so much, Jisung. — The brunette smiled back at him. — The only thing I can give you in return is… — Minho looked around, found one of his novels and handed it to the other. — One of my books. — He said, a bit shyly.

— Oh, thank you so much! — He received it happily, looking at the book cover. — See? I can read. — Minho let out a small laugh, which brought a faint blush to Jisung’s cheeks.

— HAAAAAAAAAAN JISUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNG! — The named boy turned at the sound of his name being called. — THE EVENT IS ABOUT TO START! WHERE ARE YOU, JISUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNG!?

— I’ve got to go, good luck and... don’t stress too much — Minho blinked a few times, then nodded and watched as the boy ran back to meet his friends.

— What did I miss? — Seungmin stood up from his chair. — I didn’t know you two were close enough for him to give you merch.

— We’ve only talked a couple of times, but... — He paused. Maybe saying “I feel like I know him” wasn’t the best idea, and bringing up what happened in the bathroom wasn’t right either, so he stayed silent, watching Seungmin open the box and pull out three plushies.

— Well, they’re not bread, we’ve got a... Pig? Rabbit? — Seungmin placed them on the table. — A wolf and a squirrel… Oh, there’s a shirt too. — The brunette unfolded the red shirt, revealing a circular logo on the back—three roosters and the band’s name. The front just had the band’s name on the side. — It’s cute... I’m keeping the wolf plush. You want one or should I put them away? — Minho looked at the two remaining plushies on the table, picked up the squirrel upon noticing the dot near its mouth. “I guess this one represents him,” he thought.

— If you want, put the other away. I’ll leave this one on the table for some promotion. — Seungmin rolled his eyes with a smile, put the shirt and plush back in the box, though in the end, he gave the plush to Felix, who had just appeared at the booth.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

The event was about to start. The boys were already on stage, in their spots, and the merch was ready to be handed out. Excitement and nerves filled the air. Jisung was laughing at one of Changbin’s jokes when he felt a pair of eyes on him. He turned and saw Minho’s booth nearby, caught the older boy smiling, and his heart skipped a beat.

Without thinking, he grabbed one of the merch boxes and headed to Minho’s booth, taking advantage of the moment Seungmin was distracted. They exchanged a few words and smiles until, from afar and without a mic, they heard his name being called.

— HAAAAAAAAAAN JISUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNG! — Jisung turned toward the voice. — THE EVENT IS STARTING! WHERE ARE YOU, JISUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNG!?

— I have to go, good luck and… don’t stress too much — Jisung turned around and headed back toward his friends. — God, I can’t believe he doesn’t need a mic.

— It’s one of my many talents… Didn’t know you two were that close? — The blonde asked, glancing toward Minho’s booth.

— Mmm we’re not, really, but we’ve talked a couple of times. And we know everyone’s really here for him, so it’s not bad promo — Jisung said, watching Minho place the squirrel plush next to him on the table.

The brunette smiled at that. He couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat—he felt like a schoolboy whose crush just looked his way. A staff girl came over to tell them the doors would open in five minutes. Chan gathered them in a small huddle and offered some encouraging words. The three boys looked at each other for a moment, then took their places and started the show.

The venue doors opened, letting in waves of people. Each person went to different booths, and unsurprisingly, Minho’s already had a long line forming. Chan could see Jeongin smiling at him from the line and recording videos. The redhead blushed and smiled back while continuing the song they were performing.

They had been performing for about half an hour now, and a crowd had gathered in front of the stage. People were taking photos, buying the merch boxes, and clearly enjoying themselves. The boys felt even more motivated. Their break time arrived, and the guys took the chance to visit other booths together.

— Chan... — The three boys turned and saw Jeongin smiling. — Hey guys, you were amazing. I’ve got lots of photos and videos—I’ll edit them and send them over so you can post them on your socials. — The guys exchanged a slightly embarrassed look.

— That’s a great idea… but… we don’t have social media, just the website… — Chan said, scratching his neck, feeling his ears heat up.

— Oh, but you really should start some! As you saw, lots of people were interested in you — Changbin grinned wickedly at Chan, and the redhead feared the worst.

— Jeongin… Jeongin, right? — The blacked-hair boy smiled and nodded. — Well, we’re not very good with that stuff, really—we’re more about the music. Like you saw, our site is pretty basic. But if you could help us… — The blonde placed a hand on Chan’s shoulder — we’d be really grateful.

— I’D LOVE TO!... Sorry — He cleared his throat, trying to hide his embarrassment — But yes, I’d really like that. I’ve got lots of ideas we could discuss.

— Alright then, perfect. You’ll be our community manager… for now. But we should keep walking around the event. Our break’s almost over and we have to keep going – Jisung said, starting to walk with Changbin beside him, leaving Chan with Jeongin. Chan threw a grateful look at his friends and began walking beside Jeongin.

— Did you get your Minho autograph? — He asked nervously glancing at him.

— Yes! I love his work, and he’s so humble for someone as famous as he is… So, how did your first concert feel?

— Surreal, I guess… Even though it wasn’t really a concert — Chan said as Jeongin stopped at a dumpling stand.

— Channie, even the smallest performance is a concert. — He smiled. — Like I said, people really liked your music. I heard so many positive comments while waiting in line… Which one do you feel like trying? — Chan blushed at the boy’s words and couldn’t hide his smile, his dimples showing.

— You’re too kind to us — He noticed Jeongin blushing and smiling without making direct eye contact — I think I’ll try the pork one — The vendor handed them the dumplings.

— Want to try mine? It’s chicken — Jeongin offered him one, and Chan let himself be fed. Their eyes met shyly, both of them blushing as they continued walking.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

Jisung and Changbin were at a stand full of flowers and gardening items. They were joking and taking photos when they heard a deep voice call the blonde.

— Felix! — Changbin cleared his throat a little while removing the flower from his ear — How’s it going working with Mr. “I’ll kill you in your sleep but I’m actually a sweetheart”?

— You know Minho? — Changbin shook his head — That’s actually one of many ways to describe him… Oh, sorry, I didn’t introduce myself, I’m Felix, I work for Lee Minho.

— Nice to meet you, I’m Jisung, guitarist of 3Racha… And what do you do?

— I’m a stylist… — Felix felt Changbin get closer, making him nervous and cutting off what he was going to say.

— Is that my plushie? — He pointed at the pig/rabbit sticking out of his pocket.

— Is that you? It’s too cute and sweet, that’s why I kept it… So… You must be the squirrel then? — He pointed at Jisung.

— Isn’t it obvious he’s a squirrel because of those chubby cheeks — Changbin squeezed Jisung’s cheeks while the boy tried to escape his friend’s hands.

— That’s really clever, just like the logo, you’re all very talented… If you ever need someone to help with your image, don’t hesitate to call me. — Said the platinum-haired guy while pulling out a business card, which Changbin quickly grabbed.

— You bet… — The blonde winked at him, putting the card in his jacket pocket. — We need to go back, I’ll text you so you can save my number and we can talk… about business.

Changbin grabbed Jisung by the arm as they walked back to their stand. His cheeks burned from the blush, and he knew Jisung would never let him live this down. It wasn’t the first time Changbin openly flirted in front of Jisung, but for some reason, he felt shy after talking to Felix.

As they approached the stage, they saw Jeongin and Chan sitting on the edge, chatting pleasantly. Chan had his hand on the younger’s knee while Jeongin had his arm intertwined with the redhead’s. Changbin and Jisung exchanged looks. Even if they didn’t want to interrupt, it was time to play again.

— Guys, we saved you pork, beef, and chicken dumplings. — Jeongin offered the box, which Jisung grabbed and started eating.

— Jinnie has great ideas. I think we’ll do really well with our digital brand. — Jeongin blushed at the words and the nickname Chan used.

— We can meet this weekend, the four of us, at Chan’s place… of course. — Said Changbin while finishing his dumplings.

— I’d love that. Well, I’m heading back to my spot to take better photos and videos. Don’t be shy, guys, be yourselves. — Jeongin got up with Chan’s help; both blushed a little.

— Told you, you'd both be eating each other alive tonight — Changbin whispered to Chan and before he could say anything, the blond went to the drum set.

Jisung just smiled at his friend’s comment but was happy that Chan, after months of trying to talk to Jeongin outside the bakery, could finally do it. As they got ready again, he couldn’t help but glance at Minho’s stand, still crowded with people. He kept signing books. He felt a gaze on him — it was Seungmin, watching him curiously. Jisung just looked away at his guitar.

"I need to be more careful, that guy’s scary and super protective of Minho," he thought.

The event continued smoothly. Many people approached the stage, took photos with the boys, with the plushies. Even if they didn’t know the songs, they tried to hum along and vibe with the guys. Jeongin got a lot of material to help with the digital brand and occasionally glanced at Chan, who returned the looks.

Chan couldn’t stop smiling, seeing how successful they were at the event, but more so from how Jeongin looked at him. He felt like today was so much more than he imagined, and if everything went well, he’d walk Jeongin home and end the day with a kiss.

Changbin was thrilled to see so many people trying to sing their songs, cheering them on, and especially how accepted he felt by everyone. He saw Felix cheering him on from a bit farther back, always with a warm smile on his lips. There was something about that guy that he liked and wanted to figure out what it was. It had been a while since he felt this way, and although the last time he let someone in didn’t end well, Felix brought warmth to his broken heart.

Jisung had a huge smile seeing his friends happy, seeing how their music made so many people enjoy themselves — people who hadn’t even heard of them before. He loved seeing people with the plushies, taking photos, and he kept thinking that if it felt this good at a relatively small event, what would it be like on a huge stage filled with people just there for them? His gaze occasionally drifted to Minho’s stand, and Minho often met his eyes. At one point, Minho lifted the squirrel plush and danced it around, making Jisung laugh. "I’ll try to ask him to walk on the beach for a bit… without the manager watchdog."

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

The event was about to end. It had been a long day for Minho and Seungmin, who took advantage of a short break after noticing the line had dwindled.

— What a day. — Minho nodded as he got up from the chair and stretched. — We’ve only got two copies of the novel left.

— That’s good. — Minho returned to his seat upon seeing a guy approaching with one of his books.

— I’ll go get something to eat, be right back. — Seungmin left just before the guy reached the stand.

— Hi, Minho! — The guy said with a smile. — Cute plush. — He pointed at the squirrel leaning against a water bottle.

— Yeah, it’s from the band that’s playing now. — He said while signing the book. — They make good music, they’re called 3Racha.

— Oh, I should check them out… — Minho smiled. — By the way, Minho… Don’t you remember me? — Minho shook his head, curious about the question. — We went to high school together… — Minho felt a knot slowly form in his stomach, a panic attack creeping in.

— Ah… really? I don’t remember… Sorry. — The guy made a face, disappointed by the words of his favorite author.

— I figured, we were in different classes, after all. — Minho sighed, pretending to feel bad, wishing with all his might the guy would just leave — and preferably leave the whole event. — Well, thanks for the autograph. Bye, Minho. — He waved with a big smile. Once he was far enough, Minho collapsed onto the table, breathing heavily.

"Why me…? This wasn’t supposed to happen." He looked at the squirrel plush beside him, gently picking it up and closing his eyes, remembering how Jisung had helped him in the bathroom. He calmed down after a few minutes. "Thank you, Jisung," he thought with a smile, opening his eyes and locking eyes with his manager’s teasing expression.

— I’m not gonna pretend I didn’t see that. — Minho sat up quickly, receiving a meat dumpling. — I took a photo. I’m posting it to tag 3Racha.

— What?

— Everyone will want to buy the plush once they see their favorite author holding it with that smile… I should caption it: “Stay with someone who holds your hand like this.” — Minho felt his ears burn, embarrassed by what he had done. — By the way, that guy was looking at you constantly. — They both looked at the stage where the band was finishing up. — I think he likes you. — Minho coughed at his friend’s words, who was smirking.

— What are you saying? — Seungmin shrugged.

— Anyway, time to pack up. We're leaving now. — Minho watched Seungmin get up and start stacking the boxes. He rolled his eyes in annoyance but went to help a few minutes later.

"You like him too," Seungmin thought as he went to throw the boxes away, glancing at Minho with red ears and a small smile on his lips.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

— It was a good day. — Seungmin stretched and yawned. — Sleep time. I’ll wait for you at the exit. — Minho nodded as he finished putting his things in the box Jisung had given him.

— Minho. — “Speak of the devil,” Minho thought as he looked up to see the smiling dark-haired boy. — How was your day?

— Pretty good. Out of the fifty novels we brought, we only have one left… Though I’m exhausted. — Jisung nodded in understanding. — You guys did well, right? A lot of people were at the stage. I bet you got new fans.

— Yeah, I was really happy that people liked our music. — Jisung watched as Minho put away the plushie that represented him along with his belongings. — Did you like how I played the guitar? — He whispered, just loud enough for the two of them. Realizing what he had said, he blushed. — Sorry, I… I just remembered the guys are looking for me. Yeah, bye Minho, it was a pleasure being at the same event. — Before he could run away to hide, he felt a hand grab his.

— You played incredibly. — Jisung turned back, meeting those dark eyes and feeling a strange connection like the first time they had looked at each other. — The way you play the guitar is simply fabulous. You’ve got a new fan now. — Minho smiled, making Jisung even more flustered.

— You’ve got a new fan too… — Jisung smiled back as best as he could, and as soon as Minho let go of his hand, he walked — or rather, ran — to his friends, hiding in Changbin’s arms.

— Who are you hiding from?

— No one. — He replied, loud enough that Minho laughed upon hearing the conversation. He finished packing up and headed for the exit. In the nearby trees, a silhouette watched Minho carefully as he left the event.

— There has to be a way to end your “good author” image… — The guy ran his hand through his hair, fixing the red strands falling on his furrowed brow. — I’ll find a way to destroy your fame, Lee Minho. — The silhouette left the area quietly, trying not to be seen. Minho sneezed.

— Bless you. — The brunette nodded in thanks. — Someone’s thinking about you.

— Probably Hyunjin.

— Most likely. — Seungmin chuckled. — Only two people stopped at his stand. He probably paid them so it wouldn’t be a total flop. — Both boys laughed mockingly, walking through the lit streets to head home and rest.

Meanwhile, Jisung walked with his friends, thinking about the moment he had just shared with Minho. “I didn’t invite him for a walk on the beach,” he thought as he sighed in exhaustion.

Minho sneezed again in the distance.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 5

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

Minho and Seungmin arrived together at the booth assigned to them by the event organizers. There, sitting on one of the chairs, was a blond boy with a black bag that had a stuffed cat hanging from one side.

— That must be Felix, — said Seungmin, quickly approaching the boy, who stood up with a big smile upon noticing them. — He’ll be your stylist while I get the booth set up.

— It’s good to see you again, Min. — Minho froze when he heard the nickname the blond used. As he realized who it was, a hollow feeling sank into his stomach.

Lee Felix — a friend from the past, someone who had been there the day Minho’s world fell apart. He began to sweat cold and pulled his hand away from the greeting shake. Why was this happening today of all days? Minho had known he might run into people who witnessed his humiliation, yet he had still decided to return to his hometown.

He noticed Felix’s smile had completely disappeared, and he had started to tremble.

— I need to go to the bathroom... — he muttered low and tense, making Seungmin raise an eyebrow.

He quickly walked to one of the nearby restrooms. He began splashing water violently on his face, as if the liquid could erase the memories in his mind. His breathing grew heavy, and his vision began to blur. That old feeling of insecurity had returned—the same one he felt that day on the beach.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in the bathroom.

— Are you okay? — Minho shut his eyes tightly, vaguely recognizing the voice. — Try breathing slower, I’ll help you. — Minho began to follow the slow breathing of the other boy until he managed to calm down after a few minutes.

— Thank you. — he said softly, eyes fixed on the sink.

— Don’t worry, Minho. — He quickly looked up upon hearing his name and met the gaze of the boy from the bakery.

— Oh, Jisung. — The other smiled. — What are you doing here?

— Why the question? Do I look like someone who can’t read? — Minho remained silent, giving him a confused look, which made Jisung lightly punch his shoulder in mock indignation.

— I said that because it’s so early, the event hasn’t even started yet. — Minho smiled.

— I’m in a band and... we're performing at the event. — Jisung rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Minho’s eyes lit up in surprise at that.

— That’s so cool! I hope my booth is close to the stage so I can see you. — Jisung felt his cheeks heat up and his nerves spike even more. — Oh, I need to go. — said Minho, reading a message from Seungmin threatening to ruin his writing career if he didn’t show up at the booth in two minutes. — Thanks again for helping me and... please don’t mention this to anyone.

— Don’t worry. — Jisung nodded, watching the beautiful smile of his new friend. Minho was the first to leave, rushing back to the booth while mentally preparing himself to feel that hollowness again.

— I should threaten you more often. — Seungmin walked up to the booth table. — I need to go receive the boxes with your books. I’ll be back—don’t run off again. — His tone was so authoritative that even Felix felt scolded.

— Sorry about earlier. — Minho turned to the blond. — I shouldn’t have treated you like we’re still friends.

— Don’t worry, you just caught me off guard. — Minho sat in one of the nearby chairs, followed by Felix. — Just do what you have to do. — he smiled gently and began his work.

Minho felt lighter. Talking with Jisung had helped ease that awful feeling. It was strange how his presence gave him that warmth, the same warmth he felt that day on the beach.

“He looks like the mysterious boy.” he thought to himself with a smile, “He even has the same mole on his cheek...” He frowned. It was almost impossible for it to be the same guy. Still, Minho didn’t believe in coincidences, so he cleared his mind while Felix began doing his makeup.

—| » 🌊 « |—

The boys had arrived at the event venue with their instruments and everything they needed for the performance. Changbin looked around in awe — even if it was a small event, he knew it would help them grow as a band. Jisung still couldn’t believe he was about to perform at their first gig — a dream he had ever since deciding to become a musician. And as for Chan, though he was listening to the organizer, only one thought filled his head: “We’re making it.”

— This will be your spot. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me or anyone on staff, okay? — The three of them nodded. — The bathroom is down the hallway on the left — it’s for staff and sponsored guests only. Break a leg, 3Racha!

— Alright guys, let’s get everything set up. The event starts at noon. — said Chan as he hauled the instruments up to the small designated stage.

As they set everything up, they talked about their setlist. The energy was buzzing — excitement mixed with nerves. They joked around like usual to ease the tension. Once everything was ready and they were happy with their setup, Chan pulled out some sandwiches from his bag and they started eating—until his phone buzzed.

🦊Innie: [Photo] Channie, I’m here already. Can’t wait to hear you guys.

Chan’s heart did a little flip when he saw the photo—and even more so when he noticed the nickname. Since the day they’d exchanged numbers at the bakery, they had been texting constantly, getting to know each other more. Chan had always been attracted to Jeongin, and his bandmates knew it well.

— OHHHHHHH JISUUUUUNG— Chan felt his eardrum burst with his friend’s yell. — CHAN IS SEXTING HIS BOYFRIEEEEEEND.

Changbin made exaggerated kissing noises while Jisung just laughed at the chaos. Chan felt his ears turn bright red and made sure nobody else was watching after that embarrassing outburst.

— First of all, we’re not sexting... — said Chan, touching his ears and lowering his voice — Second, Bin, I love you, but can you stop yelling for two seconds?

— First of all, after today your chats will be nothing but nudes and sexting, 100%. And second, no, it’s in my DNA. Honestly, if I ever stop, worry about me. — said the blond, taking a bite of his food.

— Can I see why the commotion of our Dwaekki? — asked Jisung, reaching toward his friend to see the phone — I promise not to scroll further, I don’t want to see anything inappropriate.

Chan was going to argue, but he knew it was pointless. He showed Jisung the photo. Jisung smiled when he saw it. He noticed how much thought Jeongin had put into his outfit — something simple, but clearly meant to impress. And he couldn’t deny how beautiful the boy looked, especially with that huge smile.

— Wow, someone’s trying to impress you, huh? — Jisung smirked at his friend, clearly picking up on the boy’s intentions. — You should send him a pic showing the instruments and say something like “waiting for you, baby.” While you do that, I’m heading to the bathroom.

Chan asked Changbin for help taking the picture — with, of course, inappropriate comments from his friend that’s just how he was, and Chan wouldn’t ask him to change. Jisung walked away smiling, happy to see his friend free to love whoever he wanted without caring what others thought.

As he entered the bathroom, he saw Minho having a panic attack. He paused for a few seconds, unsure whether to step in. He knew some people didn’t like others interfering when they were vulnerable.

—| » 🌊 « |—

Changbin was walking around while they waited for the event to start. Everything was ready — instruments tuned and setup complete — so he decided to explore. He passed by various booths, from new authors to some famous ones, but the one that caught his eye most was Lee Minho’s. It was decorated with his latest work and had the biggest space, clearly because most attendees were there for him.

— Nice booth, huh? — said a deep voice next to him. When he turned, Changbin felt his heart skip a beat. His eyes scanned the face of a nearly platinum-blond boy, taking in his brown eyes and the way they looked right at him, his freckles like tiny constellations, and finally his lips. — Hi, I’m Felix. I work for Lee Minho. And you are?

Changbin’s hand started to sweat as the boy looked at him softly, extending his hand for a greeting.

— My name? — The blond nodded with a smile. — My name is Changbin. I’m part of the band performing today—we’re at booth twenty-five. — he said, pointing in the direction.

— 3Racha? — Changbin looked at him, both confused and surprised. Felix smiled. — I saw it on the event schedule. I hope I don’t sound like a stalker, but I looked you up—and honestly, your music’s exactly my style. So you just gained a fan.

— If you’ve got time, you should come see us. We’ll be handing out merch to spread the word. I’d like to see you in the crowd. — Changbin gave him one of his signature smiles, noticing how the blond blushed and looked down slightly.

— Count on it. I just hope you’re not all muscle, Changbin. — said Felix before walking away. Seungmin had called him. He left Changbin nervous, which didn’t happen often when meeting someone new.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 4

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

The boys were on their usual workday. Changbin was in charge of baking the bread and desserts, Jisung helped from time to time and handled the cash register, while Chan attended to the customers who came to Panracha. Today was calm, with no incidents. Chan was a bit surprised that his friends weren’t arguing, shouting, or fighting—something that happened on the daily—and there weren’t many customers either.

As he finished helping an elderly lady who always came for cookies for her and her husband, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of a customer. Chan looked up and met those brown eyes that always looked at him with admiration. The boy smiled at him and sat at the table where he usually did, near the window, waiting for the redhead to come over. Chan adjusted his apron, fixed his hair a little, and approached him.

— Welcome to Panracha. What can I get you today? — he said with a smile that exposed his dimples. Jeongin stared at him for a few seconds before smiling back, shaking his head slightly to chase away the thoughts invading his mind. He cleared his throat before speaking.

— Hi, Chan! For now, I’d like a large latte and a chocolate flan. — They locked eyes for a few seconds until Chan managed to speak again.

— Oh! I think we ran out of flan, but let me check if our baker is making more. — Just then, the doorbell rang again, signaling more customers. Chan apologized to Jeongin and went to attend to them.

— Good afternoon! — he greeted cheerfully. — What would you like to order? — The brunette and the boy with him looked at the pastries in the display case, but they were interrupted by a shout from the kitchen.

— CHAAAAAAAAAN! — The redhead turned toward the kitchen door. — JISUNG IS TRYING TO THROW BREAD DOUGH ON MY HEAD, HELPPPPPP! — Chan frowned, annoyed by his coworkers’ yelling.

— I think they’re calling you — said the dark-haired guy, making the redhead blush slightly. Embarrassed, he went into the kitchen.

A few seconds later, Jisung came rushing out of the kitchen, grinning as he recalled how he had managed to throw dough on his friend’s head after being teased about his cheeks.

— Sorry about that. What would you like to order? — Jisung only saw the brunette boy looking into the display, unable to see his face. The guy with him placed the order. Jisung began packing the pastries into boxes. — Here you go. — The doorbell rang again just as the brunette boy was about to pay. Jisung still couldn’t see his face clearly as he turned toward the person entering the store.

— Lee Minho, what brings you here? Didn’t your novels make enough money that you had to move back in with mommy? — said the tall redhead, walking closer to the two boys.

— You’re still so childish, Hyunjin. I’m here to sign books, not to see your face. — Lee Minho, as Jisung now knew him, turned back to pay, meeting Jisung’s gaze.

He felt something strange looking into those brown eyes, as if he had seen them before. They stared at each other intensely until Chan interrupted, assisting Hyunjin. Minho apologized and handed Jisung the money, who shyly gave him the change.

— Thank you... — Minho read the name tag hanging from the dark-haired boy’s apron. — Jisung. — The boy smiled at him, and he left the store with his companion.

— See you at the event, Lee Minho, — said the redhead with a mischievous grin, but Minho just left the bakery, ignoring him.

— Can I help you with anything? — Chan asked with his usual customer-friendly smile.

— No… — Hyunjin replied, looking around. — This place is way too plain. — He shot Chan a not-so-friendly look and left. Changbin came out of the kitchen to refill the display, placing a fresh chocolate flan out and giving Chan a smirk.

— Here you go, freshly made chocolate flan — Jeongin smiled as usual.

— Thanks, Chan... Hey, have you ever read Lee Minho’s books? — he asked without looking up, sounding a bit nervous.

— Honestly, no. Sorry... Why do you ask?

— Oh well, he was the guy who bought the pastries. He’s in town for a book signing, and I have an extra ticket... — He looked up at Chan, hinting at his intentions. The redhead blushed and gave a shy smile.

— When’s the signing? I don’t know much about his work, but it could be fun to go with you. — he said, a bit flustered, feeling his ears heat up. Jeongin smiled even more, noticing the red tint in Chan’s ears.

— It’s tomorrow... — Jeongin noticed how the smile faded from Chan’s face. — It’s okay if you can’t go... — he said, lowering his gaze, playing with the flan in front of him.

— It’s just that we have an event to attend tomorrow, our first one as a band... But I owe you a date. You’re free to claim it whenever you want. — The dark-haired boy looked up again, smiling.

— If I leave the book signing early, I might come see you guys. That way I can brag that I was always your fan from the start.

— Sounds good. Want to exchange numbers? I’ll text you the details. — Chan handed him his phone so he could save his number. — Perfect, I hope you can come tomorrow then.

Jeongin smiled and kept enjoying his dessert until it was time to leave, saying goodbye to the boys.

The day went on without further incidents. Changbin got back at Jisung by smacking him in the face with dough when he entered the kitchen, earning them a scolding from Chan.

— Where are we practicing? — Jisung asked as they finished closing up the shop.

— We can go to my place, I’ve got the guitar picks I bought for both of us — said Chan, as they started walking to his house. He walked with Changbin, discussing the songs they wanted to perform at the event, while Jisung followed behind, watching the sea and breathing in the salty air. The image of Minho came to his mind—his smile while paying and the odd feeling when he saw him.

His mind traced that beautiful face, letting feelings blossom that he thought he had buried long ago—feelings only his grandmother knew existed, feelings that this stranger was bringing back to the surface.

— JISUUUUUNG SQUIRREL FAAAAAAAACE!

— Changbin, can you stop yelling for two seconds? — Chan said while opening the door to his house.

— Okay, something’s bothering you. You’ve ignored me twice, and that’s not fair considering how much love I give you, Han Jisung — Changbin pouted as he pinched Jisung’s cheeks.

— Let me go, — Jisung laughed. — I’m fine, just thinking about tomorrow. It’s important for us.

— I know something else is going on, but I’ll give you space. You know we’re always here when you need us. — The dark-haired boy gave his friend a genuine smile. He loved them deeply. They had always been together since he could remember, and he couldn’t ask for better friends. But he was afraid of telling them his biggest secret and losing them. His heart told him they’d just tease him, but his mind feared they’d leave him. Changbin looked at him, curious about what had his friend so distracted lately.

— Okay guys, tomorrow’s event is... — Chan interrupted his friends’ thoughts. — Oh, it’s a... signing... — Changbin took the phone from his hands.

— Chan, did you forget how to read after your encounter with “mermaid eyes boy”... Let’s see... It’s a book signing... OOOOHHH IT WAS THE GUY FROM THE BAKERY TODAAAAAY! — Jisung’s heart jumped, and his ears hurt from his friend’s shouting.

— Lee Minho? — the dark-haired boy asked. Changbin nodded, looking between his two frozen friends.

— WILL SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT’S GOING ON?

— Jeongin invited me to an event tomorrow, but I told him I had plans... I didn’t know it was the same event. He’ll see me on stage tomorrow — Chan said, staring blankly at the wall.

— Oh, his jaw will drop when he sees Christopher instead of his beloved Chan, — the blonde wiggled his eyebrows at his friend. Chan let out a nervous laugh and lightly punched his arm. — But Jisung, I didn’t know you liked to read. Or, well, that you even knew how.

— One of these days, Changbin... — Jisung said, raising a fist. — Honestly, I don’t know his work. I just remembered that’s what the other guy called him today... But Channie, did Jeongin ask you out?

— Well, it wasn’t a date. He just said he had an extra ticket... — The blonde smacked him on the back of the head. — Ouch! Why’d you hit me?!

— Chan, he obviously asked you out—but subtly. We need to give it our all tomorrow so you end up making out... and maybe more...

— SEO CHANGBIN! — his friends yelled as they got ready to rehearse.

Jisung couldn’t stop smiling. He didn’t know why, but he felt happy that he’d get to see Minho again and show him his true self—Jisung the musician—even though he knew he’d be nervous if he saw him tomorrow, especially while on stage.

Chan, on the other hand, was nervous. It was their first event performing as a band, and he wanted everything to be perfect. He couldn’t deny he was excited to show Jeongin a new side of himself, beyond the bakery.

Changbin, however, remained worried about Jisung. He knew there was more going on in his friend’s mind than just family issues. He’d give him space—but as always, he’d be watching out for him.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⌗ Chapter 3

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

The closer he got to his final destination, the more his stomach churned. He had been mentally preparing himself ever since he received the invitation to tomorrow’s event, but it seemed all his efforts had been thrown into the sea, which was now visible in the distance from the road. Minho checked the time on his phone.

09:12 a.m.

He turned off the phone and focused on the view outside the car window. Exactly twenty minutes remained until he’d have to face his emotions after all this time. Honestly, he was afraid of seeing the sea again, which was quite ironic, considering his most famous novel was titled “What I Miss Most About the Sea.” Minho didn’t even know why he wrote that book, especially since he didn’t get along too well with the waves and salty foam.

The blurry image of the mysterious boy appeared deep in his mind, immediately giving him the answer to his earlier question.

That book was dedicated to him, to the moment they met and looked into each other’s eyes. Minho lightly hit his own head and frowned. He sometimes hated how that boy popped up in his mind with such a blurred face—and hated even more how selfish it felt to use him as inspiration.

He let out a deep sigh as he leaned against the car window, exhausted from the mental battle he’d started himself. He wanted to go back to the city. He didn’t want to pass by his old school, didn’t want to see the sea, and definitely didn’t want to recognize the boy he had used without permission.

But that last thought was a lie—deep down, he desperately wanted to recognize the mysterious boy.

— Minho. — He turned toward his manager’s voice. — Are you alright? You look pale, and your face is like a poem right now. — Seungmin smiled as he looked back at his laptop. — You didn’t want to come, did you? — Minho tensed at the sudden question.

— Of course I wanted to… I don’t know what you’re talking about… — Seungmin raised an eyebrow. Minho just sighed again and looked away, only to be met with the terrifying sight of the sea.

On the other hand, Seungmin had a little feeling that something was off with Minho ever since he found out about the event. He’d noticed he was more anxious, like he was scared of something. He’d been observing him all week, trying to bring up the subject subtly, but the brunette would always change the topic quickly. Maybe asking him directly wasn’t the best move, but he couldn’t just stand by. After all, if everything spiraled out of control, he could lose both his job and one of his best friends.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

— Thank you again for letting us stay in your house, Mrs. Lee. You’re very kind. — The woman smiled and shook her head repeatedly.

— It’s the least I can do for my son and his friends. — Minho smiled shyly. His mother was a kind person; he thanking for staying in his own home. but honestly, he didn’t want to be inside walls that had witnessed so many emotions, so many tears, and above all, so much humiliation.

— I’ll wait for you upstairs, Minho. — He nodded slowly, watching Seungmin go up to the room that once held the sadness of Minho’s past.

— Mother. — The woman smiled at him with sorrow and nodded.

— I know you didn’t want to come, but I wasn’t going to let you waste money on inns. You know how expensive they are here… — She looked toward the stairs. — If it makes you feel better, I reorganized your room. I even painted it so it wouldn’t be so hard on you to go inside. — Minho was surprised. He had always been hard on his mother, even though she only wanted the best for him. He hugged her, gave her a warm smile, and headed upstairs.

Thousands of memories flooded his mind as he walked down the hallway, each thought growing heavier with every step toward the open door of his room.

He stopped at the doorway.

“You can do this,” he told himself as he placed his hand on the door.

The door suddenly swung open, revealing Seungmin holding a book. Minho jumped in surprise—he had completely forgotten Seungmin was already in the room. His eyes landed on the book in Seungmin’s hands, and for a moment, his heart skipped a beat, thinking it might be that book—but it turned out to be one of his other novels.

— What are you doing? — Asked the “intruder” as he stepped back inside the room, with Minho following.

He noticed the fresh paint on the walls and how the bed and desk had been moved to new spots. In a way, he was glad things looked different—but another part of him had wanted to confront the past. Still, if it weren’t for Seungmin, he would’ve ended up sleeping on the couch.

— Where are you going to sleep? — Minho looked at him curiously. — Because I’m not sharing the bed with you. — The brunette let out a soft chuckle.

— This is my house, my room, and you’re planning to sleep in my bed? — Seungmin nodded with exaggerated confidence.

They both started unpacking their clothes. Minho had to look for a mattress to sleep on the floor of his own room, since Seungmin clearly wasn’t joking about taking the bed. After a few hours, they decided to go out and buy some desserts for the afternoon. Seungmin noticed how his friend kept avoiding looking at the beautiful sea that bordered the small town. His behavior was strange, but just as he was about to ask if everything was okay, Minho interrupted him.

— Let’s buy here. — Seungmin looked at the bakery in front of them. — My mom always used to buy from here. The pastries are good—hopefully, they still are. — Minho glanced at his manager, who seemed to be holding back laughter at the shop’s name.

— “Panracha”? — He let out a small chuckle. — Pretty original. — Minho smiled, and they entered the bakery, instantly hit by the smell of freshly baked bread.

Luckily, the place was relatively empty. Only one guy sat by the window, being served by a red-haired employee. When the guy noticed them, he approached with a cheerful smile.

— Good afternoon! — he said brightly. — What would you like to order? — Minho and Seungmin were looking through the display case when they were interrupted by a loud shout from the kitchen.

— CHAAAAAAAN! — The red-haired boy turned his head toward the kitchen. — JISUNG’S TRYING TO THROW BREAD DOUGH AT MY HEAD, HEEEEEELP! — The boy seemed annoyed by his coworker’s yelling.

— I think they’re calling you, — Seungmin said, making the boy blush a little. Embarrassed, he walked off toward the kitchen. After a few seconds, a black-haired boy rushed out.

— Sorry about that, — the boy said. — What would you like to order? — Minho kept looking through the case, so Seungmin placed the order. The dark-haired boy packed the pastries into small boxes, then into a large bag. — Here you go. — Minho stepped up to pay, but just as he was about to hand over the money, a very familiar voice made him scowl.

— Lee Minho. — He rolled his eyes in annoyance. — What brings you here? Didn’t your novels earn you enough money that you had to come live with your mommy again? — Angry, Minho turned around to face one of the people he despised most.

— Still as childish as ever, Hyunjin, — he said, crossing his arms at the boy’s malicious grin. — I’m here to sign books, not to see your face. — Minho turned back to pay and found himself locking eyes with the boy at the counter.

A strange feeling washed over him when he saw those dark eyes. On the other side of the counter, the boy also felt a weird connection in Minho’s gaze, as if he had known him before. Their eye contact was so intense that it was broken only when the red-haired employee started helping Hyunjin. Minho apologized and handed the money to the dark-haired boy, who took it shyly and gave him the change.

— Thank you… — Minho noticed the name tag hanging from the boy’s apron. — Jisung. — The boy smiled, and Minho left the shop with Seungmin.

— Didn’t think I’d see the “superstar writer” today, — said Seungmin sarcastically. — Who even reads his novels in the twenty-first century? — Minho let out a quiet laugh.

As they walked, Minho kept thinking about the strange sensation he’d felt when he saw Jisung, the bakery employee. He had the feeling he knew him, but honestly, his face didn’t ring a bell—although it did seem familiar.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

The sunny morning flooded Minho’s emotions as he walked with Seungmin toward the event venue. He was especially nervous. He didn’t want to sign books, didn’t want to be near the beach—but he told himself that the faster he finished the event, the sooner he could go home.

“Will Jisung be there?” he thought, kicking a small stone along the path. “Wait… I don’t even know him… he doesn’t even look like the type who reads…” Minho shook his head, trying to chase away any thoughts of him, and ran to catch up with Seungmin, who was talking to himself about how long he should take to sign each book.

[straysmuchi]

⌇ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: Minho x Han.

⌇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴏ: Drama, a little bullying, no idol.

⌇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Minho a famous writer, faces his painful past after a long time, but at the same time he meets face to face with the person in which he inspires his stories.

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⌗ Chapter 2

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

The smell of burnt bread filled the “Panracha” bakery. It had become a common occurrence over the past month. Not-so-little-anymore Jisung was learning how to take over the family business, but his mind was on the guitar he had seen a few days ago in the twon music shop.

— JISUNG! Did you hear anything I just said? — The chubby old man asked, exasperated, expecting an answer from his only son. When he got none, he just looked at him with a disappointed face. — Jisung, all of this, — he gestured to the establishment, — will be yours. Why won’t you make the effort to learn? Hasn’t this been your dream since you were little?.

— No, that’s always been your dream, just like Grandpa wanted. But I never asked for any of this. Why do you insist on me living a dream that isn’t mine?.

— Because you have to carry on the family legacy. This bakery has...

— ...Been working for 50 years, — Jisung interrupted his father, tired of hearing the same story ever since he could remember. — Dad, I love this bakery, but not enough to give up my life and dedicate myself to it. I don’t want to waste my life that way.

He felt a pain in his cheek...his father had slapped him.

— Is that what you think I’ve done? Waste my life? When all I’ve ever done is give you and your mother the best. I’ve worked hard so you wouldn’t lack anything and this is how you thank me? — The old man’s face was red, his breathing heavy, his voice rising. — YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT! — He raised his hand again, ready to slap him, when Jisung mother entered the large kitchen.

— THAT’S ENOUGH! All the customers heard the commotion!.

— It’s all your son’s fault,— he said, looking at his only child with disappointment and a bit of anger. He threw his apron onto the kitchen counter. — He refuses to understand that this is his legacy, his future, that...

— NO! This will never be my future! I won’t spend 30 years rotting away here doing something that’ll never make me happy. I’ve never said I won’t help with something that matters so much to you both, but this, — he said, pointing at the bakery, — will not define my life.

— And what do you want for your future? To live off the noise you make with those friends of yours?.

— I’ve told you so many times... it’s not noise, and you haven’t even given us a chance!.

— I don’t need to give you a chance. I already know it’ll be a failure.

Jisung wanted to cry from the frustration and the pain of knowing that his own father believed he was a failure before he even tried to follow his dream. He had always known it would be hard to convince his father that he wanted to be a musician with his friends Changbin and Chan.

He remembered the day he told his grandmother about his real dream and how his mom overheard; that day, a big argument broke out at home because his father refused to accept that his only son wanted to take a different path from the rest of the family... working at “Panracha.” That day, he ended up leaving the house and going to his safe place: the sea, a place he always felt belonged to him and his grandmother.

— Sweetheart, — his grandmother approached him, gently rubbing his back to soothe him, — everything will be okay. Just give them time.

— Grandma, — the black-haired boy looked up at her, — they’ll never understand that I want to follow a different path. — He turned his gaze back to the sea in front of them.

— Even if they don’t understand, you must follow your path. You can’t live a life that isn’t yours.

— HA! They’ll never let me do that, Grandma, and you know it, — he said as he stood from the sand and walked to the edge of the sea, the water soaking his shoes. — Sometimes, I just want to let the ocean take me.

— Sweetheart... and leave me alone with those two crazies? — The old woman walked up to him and saw her grandson smile faintly as he bent down and picked up a beautiful stone. — The sea brings the most beautiful stones at the most inopportune moments, keep it so that you will always remember to fight for what you want or the one you love.

Jisung snapped back to reality when he heard the kitchen door slam... by his father leaving the kitchen. His mother just looked at him like she always did, with pleading eyes. Eyes that begged him to listen to his father and not keep arguing.

— Mom, don’t ask me to follow him and apologize.

— But son... You have to understand, he just wants the best for you.

— If he did, he’d accept that running the bakery isn’t my dream.

— Son, you need to understand us. Being a musician won’t bring anything good. That career doesn’t pay enough to live on.

— But that’s for me to decide. Again, I never said I wouldn’t help you keep your dream alive, but you have to understand that I don’t want this for my entire life.

— Jisung, your duty as a son is to obey us. If we say something is good for you, you have to follow that path. Parents know what’s best for their children.

Jisung just looked at her, sighed, and turned his gaze away. He loved his mom, and sometimes she did understand how he felt, but most of the time she just echoed his dad’s words and played along with the whole “we’re your parents, period” act.

He leaned in and kissed her forehead, then left the bakery. He went to the one place he always went when he wanted to be alone and release his frustration—the sea. That magical place where no one judged him, where there were no responsibilities, and where he felt like it was calling him to leave everything behind.

That day, as he walked, he saw him—kneeling, with huge tears rolling down his beautiful face. Even see him like that, Jisung couldn’t help but notice how soft his skin looked, his brown hair, and how much he wanted to run his fingers through it. Without realizing it, his feet carried him toward him until they were face to face. That’s when everything seemed to stop as he looked into those dark brown eyes filled with sadness.

He wanted to get closer, to wipe away those tears, to know why someone so beautiful was crying so painfully—and to offer him comfort. He approached him and handed him a stone, giving him the same advice his grandmother once gave him when he had been in that very same place. He wanted to sit beside him and learn more, but a woman’s voice interrupted them.

⋯⋯⋯ ⊰ 🌊 ⊱ ⋯⋯⋯

— JISUUUUUUUUUNG AAAAAAHHHHHHHH! — The black-haired boy opened his eyes, covering his ear, convinced he might go deaf because of his friend.

— Changbin, don’t yell! — Chan stepped in when he saw the pain on his friend’s face.

— I’ve been talking for half an hour, sharing ideas for the event we were invited to, but squirrel-face here didn’t hear a single word!

— Stop being so dramatic, Bin. Of course I heard you.

— Then repeat what I said... I dare you — the blond boy challenged him with a playfully threatening tone.

— That we should rehearse the new song more before performing it, that Chan should practice the high note, that I need to work on my timing in the first verse, and that you want to train more so your arms look bigger on the day of the performance.

— So you were listening... But why did you have that constipated-squirrel look on your face? — Chan burst out laughing, while Changbin just looked at him seriously.

— Of course I listen. I always do baby... because I love you. — The black-haired boy approached to the blond and wrapped an arm seductively around his neck. Changbin blushed and lightly hit his arm. — Ouch! Is that what I get in return for my love?

— Alright, enough of the gross romance scenes. Let’s finish cleaning and get ready to open the bakery, — the redhead said while pulling the chairs off the tables.

— You’re obviously rushing so you can see Jeongin again. He never leaves this place. I’m hiring him. — The redhead blushed at the mention of the boy who’d been showing up at the bakery for months.

— NOOO! Next thing you know, they’ll be making dough with their—

— CHANGBIN, SHUT UP! I don’t want that image in my head, — Jisung said, shaking his head.

— He’s just a regular customer, I don’t see the big deal. — Chan respond with his ears red.

— Dude, I have regulars too, and none of them strip me with their eyes like the way he does to you. Plus, who orders four breads, two extra-large coffees, and three slices of cake over the course of a single day? — Changbin said while cleaning tables.

— And waits till you’re free to place his order — Jisung added while sweeping the floor.

— Did it ever occur to you that maybe he just really likes our products and that I give great service?

— NO! — both of his friends replied in unison. Chan stopped setting napkins, closed his eyes, and sighed.

— Alright, how about we talk about the event we have coming up?

— What’s it about? You mentioned someone was interested in us, but you never said what the event was — Changbin asked.

— It’s a book signing. Apparently, it’s a super famous writer, and he’s from here — Chan replied.

— Oh... I don’t read much, so I wouldn’t know who it could be.

— Obviously, you only read the labels on your protein powders to keep growing those arms — Jisung said while mimicking Changbin’s training poses as a joke.

— At least I have muscles and not more cheeks than face.

— But I’m taller.

— Okay, enough guys. Time to open — Chan said, finishing his organizing and getting ready to open the shop.

The three boys put on their respective aprons, name tags, grabbed their order pads and pencils, and officially started their day.