Portraits

CHAPTER 9

Another saturday, another unannounced visit to Minho's house. Minho had just arrived last night and Hyunjin decided to pay him a visit before tomorrow's fun run. It's not that he couldn't wait to see Minho, but it's his thing for saturdays. For him, it's saturdays at Minho's so he's outside Minho's house, waiting for the gate to be opened. "Hyunjin! It's nice to see you again. You came alone?" Minho's dad opened the door for him. "Good morning, Uncle! As usual, I came here by myself." It's no surprise that Hyunjin came alone so Minho's dad let him be. "Minho's still asleep. You want me to wake him up?" Minho's dad asks Hyunjin. He's probably off to work, Hyunjin thinks. "It's okay, Uncle. I'll wake him up myself." "Great! I'll get going now." "Goodbye, Uncle!" Hyunjin waves Minho's dad a goodbye before he goes to Minho's room.

Hyunjin slowly twists the doorknob, making sure that it won't surprise a sleeping Minho. Once he's in, he hears a purr and a rub on his feet and is greeted by Daffi. Daffi must have heard the door opening. Hyunjin bends his knees to pet Daffi. "Hey, Daffi. Is Minho awake?' Hyunjin asks. "Meow." Hyunjin carries Daffi and holds her like a baby. "Time to find out what you just said." Hyunjin walks to Minho's bed and sees the latter sleeping. He looks so peaceful, Hyunjin says to himself. Only Minho's face is visible while the rest of his body is burrito-wrapped in his blanket. Some of his hair on his face, hiding his eyes. He places Daffi on her own tie-dyed cat bed before he sits on the edge of Minho's bed. He lowers his body to pat the blanket covering Minho's body gently, making sure it doesn't startle him. He pushes the hair covering Minho's eyes so he could see them. Slowly, Minho's eyes open. "Wake up?" Hyunjin asks. Minho smiles and shakes his head. He wiggles his arms around to get out of the blanket and reaches out to hug Hyunjin. Confused but not complaining, Hyunjin asks, "Don't wanna wake up?" "Noooo, wanna stay like this for awhile." Minho still has his arms wrapped around Hyunjin and his chin on Hyunjin's shoulder. "No hug back?" Minho sleepily asks. Hyunjin is surprised! Minho asking for a hug? Minho avoids his hugs all the time, so why does he want a hug back? Hyunjin softly hugs him back and they stay like that for some time.

"Okay, now you really gotta wake up. My arms are starting to get tired." Hyunjin could feel Minho putting his weight on him. "Minhoooo. Minhoooo. Minho!" Turns out, Minho fell asleep! "Hyunjin? You're real?" Minho tilts his head, curiously looking at Hyunjin. "Um, I think so. How real is it supposed to be?" Minho thinks hard, "I thought you were a dream." He pulls away from the hug and sits beside Hyunjin. "You thought you were still dreaming?" Hyunjin asks. If he didn't think all this was a dream, would he have hugged me? If he thought it was a dream, he would have wanted to hug me? These questions swirl in Hyunjin's head. Maybe he prefers sleepy Minho. "Stay here, I'll go shower." Minho hurriedly goes to the bathroom. With Minho gone, Daffi is the only one there to keep Hyunjin company. "I guess it's you and me again, Daffi."