Seven Suitors: A Collection of Jisung Stories

Burnt Cookies // MinSung

Jisung attempts to bake cookies from scratch for Minho on Valentine's Day. By all means, it should be a relatively simple task, the standard chocolate chip cookies. There's less than 10 steps to the entire process, according to a particularly well reviewed online recipe.

"What the hell are those," Hyunjin wheezes out between his laughter. "They look like shit, like literally."

Jisung wants to cry. Not only do the damned things look like shit, they taste like it as well. An especially unappetizing shade of muddy brown, charred black around the edges. How so much sugar and chocolate could end up producing such an abomination was beyond him. They're bland and bitter from being burnt, an amorphous shape which was originally supposed to be a heart, as per the occasion, and, perhaps worst of all, they're hard enough to entertain the possibility of chipping a tooth with particularly weak enamel.

The lack of banter from Jisung's side, as is usually the case whenever Hyunjin makes fun of him, sobers the latter and he swings an arm around Jisung's shoulder.

"Hey, it's ok. We can't all be Felix. Why didn't you just ask him to make you some if you wanted cookies?"

"They're for Minho hyung. For Valentine's Day." Jisung's voice sounds pathetic to his own ears. It's on the cusp of breaking as he tries to hold back tears, the thought of all his preparations going completely to waste making it difficult to do so.

"Oh."

It's silent, and Jisung knows his friend is trying to rack his brain for some sort of solution, some words of comfort. Truthfully though, he just wants to throw the entire mess in the trashcan and burrow under some blankets, wallow in his failure as both a cook and a boyfriend. This was supposed to be his grand Valentine's gesture, a thoughtful little surprise for Minho, who is always taking care of him.

A more level headed adult would probably run to the store and get some cookies or chocolates, so at least Minho gets something on Valentine's Day, even if it's not handmade. Jisung knows this, but his mood has plummeted too low to be able to even expend that energy.

"You know, it's really the thought— " Hyunjin is interrupted by the door opening, followed by Minho and Jeongin's voices. They're back from practice.

While Jeongin yells dibs on the shower, Minho walks into the kitchen, shrugging off his windbreaker. Before Jisung can move to hide the cookies, he's manhandled into Minho's arms, Minho's face dropping into the crook of Jisung's neck and breathing in deeply.

"I'm fucking exhausted," he whines, "let's go take a nap. I'll shower later."

Normally, Jisung would try to wiggle out of Minho's hold, to no avail because the man has some alarming brute strength, and yell about Minho being too sweaty and gross from dancing. Right now, though, Jisung stays quiet.

"Wait, is something burning? Do you guys smell that?" It's Jeongin, standing at the door, hands full of his towel and clothes to wear after his shower.

Minho raises his head, and without even turning to look at him, Jisung knows Minho's eyes have spotted his miserable attempt at baking.

"What is that?"

Hyunjin is kind enough to drag Jeongin out of the kitchen before he comes closer to inspect the source of the smell.

Well, Jisung thinks, no point in trying to lie now. Minho will laugh at him, but at least he'll know Jisung tried to do something nice, pitiful as it was.

"It's Valentine's Day tomorrow—well—today, since it's past midnight now, and I wanted to make some soft chocolate chip cookies for you. As a surprise, I guess."

He watches as Minho walks over to the cookies, though it feels like an insult to Felix and all his fellow bakers out there to refer to whatever it is that Jisung's created as "cookies".

"But, of course, I'm a shit baker and they turned out disgust—HYUNG!"

Jisung yells out in surprise as Minho takes a large bite from one of the cookies, brows furrowed as he concentrates on chewing. He stares with wide eyes as Minho swallows the arguably toxic pastry, and then eats the remaining piece as well.

"You really made these for me, Hannie?" His voice is gentle as he smiles at Jisung, so full of affection, not a trace of laughter or mockery, eyes sparkling with so much unadulterated love that Jisung has to look away.

Somewhere in Jisung's mind echoes Changbin's voice from a few weeks ago when Minho had stayed up half the night gently massaging Jisung's stomach with oil as he cried from a stomach ache, likely brought on by consuming a gross variation of junk foods during one of his anime binges.

"That boy is so whipped for you it's almost embarrassing to watch," Changbin had laughed.

Something breaks in Jisung as he looks back up to see Minho about to eat another cookie.

"Stop eating them," he chokes out with a sob, before breaking into tears, full on crying like a little kid. He's never had a dignified way of shedding tears, especially when something made him genuinely emotional. It was always loud crying, wailing like a young child, humiliating, but he couldn't help it.

Strong, familiar arms quickly wrap around him, and he's pressed against Minho's body.

"What happened? Jisungie? Hey, baby, what? What's wrong?" Minho panics, petting Jisung hair, holding him tighter.

"W-why are you eating those," Jisung cries harder into Minho shoulder, "you're going to f-fucking poison yourself, stupid, idiot, don't eat them why—"

Why do you love me so fucking much

Minho holds him as he sobs for a few more minutes, carding his fingers through Jisung's hair until the crying turns into sniffles, and Jisung's wiping at his eyes. Reaching over and handing the other a tissue to blow his nose in, Minho leans against the counter, arms loosely encircling Jisung's waist.

"Why would I not eat the cookies you made for me? Thank you, by the way."

"Because they're nasty," Jisung sniffles, avoiding eye contact, "don't try to lie and say that they're not. You're probably gonna get a stomach ache already."

He hears Minho laugh before his arms are guided up to rest around Minho's neck. "Nah, I have a strong stomach,"

"Why are you so annoying," Jisung mumbles, ears now beginning to heat up as his mind starts to clear from the post-cry haze, becoming aware that he just bawled like a damn baby at almost 1am in the morning, and the rest of the group definitely heard him. A pout forms as he thinks about the inevitable teasing that'll come from Changbin.

Minho pulls him closer by his hips. "You know what's actually annoying? It's Valentine's Day, and I have yet to receive a single kiss from my adorable Valentine. If he wants the roses I got for him on the way home, he should definitely give me at least one kiss right now."

Jisung gives him many kisses.