「 CHILD SUPPORT 」 Minsung

Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ 8

"- Hey, I was wondering, would you like some help to fully move in?" Minho asked, "your decision won't have any bad consequences," he quickly added, starting to slightly pick up on how Jisung thought.

"- I will not take a no as a 'baffling rejection', as you are free to prefer working by yourself. I was simply wondering if you'd enjoy my help and presence from time to time, yet it wouldn't bind you to anything," he calmly explained, choosing his words with precision. Words could have a devastating power, and Jisung was probably quite sensitive to their brute force; and so Minho's tone was warm and low, his eyes locked with Jisung's. Honesty was easier to perceive like this. Minho wanted the navy haired to understand he had said everything he wanted, with the words he wanted and the way and tone he wanted to speak with. There was no underlying meaning. Jisung stayed immobile for few seconds before answering.

"- Fuck it, sure! It'll probably be easier and funnier like that.

- Well I'd hope so! You can also put Herbert here while we paint, for him not to... 'ease an itch' in the fresh paint.

- That sounds very practical, but I don't know how long the paint will need to dry. I can lock him out of the bedroom when I paint there, but locking him in my bedroom while painting the living room will just result him trashing my bed, aka the only great furniture I have for now.

- Hmm, that won't be a problem. Surprisingly enough, I have cat stuff here—and three companions for him to play with.

- I wouldn't want him to be a burden though,"Jisung stated, worried Herbert might be a nuisance to Minho.

"- To be fair, one more cat won't be too disruptive. He also might be calmer than the three demons I have." Minho dismissed Jisung's protests with logical thinking. "- Also, paint fumes are definitely not good for cats-" he looked at Jisung, "- nor humans." Jisung pondered for a moment, weighting in the pros and cons. Minho did have a point; multiple ones at that. He would get help, and provided Minho was good at building things and painting stuff, then the thing would go twice as fast as expected; it wasn't something to overlook. Herbert would be safe from both trashing the rooms and the paint , and he would get friends and a playground. And last but not least... Jisung would get actual human social interactions. And as much as he liked to say he was a lone wolf and preferred being alone and avoid people, he knew it wasn't quite true and that he needed social interactions—to a certain extent, of course. He liked being alone, not being lonely.

"- Well, then I'd gladly accept your help. I know you wouldn't ask if I want help without being okay with it in the first place, but is it really alright ..?" Jisung asked, worry never fading.

"- No, it truly doesn't bother me," Minho smiled, "and it's nice to see some new faces too." He leaned in the couch, one cat automatically jumping on his lap.

"- This building complex only has oldies! I enjoy Margaret and her grandchildren, and Ruby and Jooseon and their motorcycle group. But! As much as I enjoy them, they aren't people of my age, and it's needed to be able to relate to people my age sometimes you know," he stated, hand caressing gently the thick fur of his cat's belly. Jisung laughed a bit at 'oldies', plunging his hands in the dense fur of the cat on him. And when his laughter died down, an appeasing silence engulfed the room, light and calm, teas in hands and cats in laps.

__________

"- Jieun? It's me, Jisung!" He said giddily, proud of being able to remember to call his sister.

"- About time!" She chuckled, "I'm glad you remembered, though. So tell me! How was your day?" And thus started Jisung's rambling. He spoke about funny things that had happened in his job, about Minho and Iamar knowing each other, Iamar scolding the customer. About that cute new little shop not opened yet, selling who knows what but 'It's really cute and has wood all over and ...'. About Soonie ending up on his balcony. Jieun wasn't even surprised; 'yeah well, it's a cat—my flatmate has one, remember—and if I have to be honest I'd say it's pretty 'mild' for a cat'. Jisung then spoke about how he gave back the cat to his owner, how it was coincidentally Minho—'You mean the conventionally attractive hot silver hair neighbour? That's Minho right,' and how his apartment was littered in flowers and,