Love Test ♥ 『Minsung』

⸨♥Chapter Three♥⸩

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     The next few weeks were packed full of shows, interviews, photoshoots, and vlives as Stray Kids wrapped up their most recent comeback. In addition to the already hectic schedule, Minho hosted a music and radio show (the latter being presented with Seungmin as well). The members were all exhausted and ready for a break. All the excitement and hype of NOEASY's comeback had died down considerably as they were run ragged between all their obligations. Thankfully they would have a three-day weekend before the schedule resumed – something they all desperately needed and looked forward to.

     The members sluggishly piled into the two vans that were used to transport them from place to place after their schedule had concluded for the day. Jisung unsurprisingly ended up residing beside his best friend. Things had been slightly awkward between he and Minho ever since the previous event between them, but neither were brave enough to bring it up to the other. The pair blamed the lack of discussion on time restraints since they slept as soon as they got back to their dorm due to the exhaustion of keeping up with the comeback, but deep down, they both knew that it was more than that. They were avoiding the confrontation.

     About twenty minutes into their car ride, Minho raised his head from where he had had it rested against the window. It felt nice and cool against his forehead as his thoughts ran uninterrupted, but now his attention was brought to the man beside him. Jisung's leg was shaking as he habitually scratched at his thigh and bit at his lips, clearly anxious and lost in thought. Now that they had a small break, he couldn't just avoid Minho and they both obviously hadn't forgotten what had happened just a few weeks prior. He had his earbuds in with his favorite playlist playing as he counted the streetlights they passed - all in a desperate attempt to calm himself down. It wasn't working.

     Minho frowned as he watched his friend seemingly unravel before him. Seated in the last row, he checked the vehicle rows in front of him. The other members were either passed out or watching something on their phones with their own headphones on. Deeming it safe, he sneaked his hand over to grab hold of Jisung's and lace their fingers together. The younger snapped his head toward him and stared, eyes wild in bewilderment. Minho gave him a small smile and scooted closer, closing the gap of the middle seat between them; Jisung's eyes softened slightly in response. He was still clearly nervous, but now the object of his both his anxiety and comfort was holding his hand and focused on him. He glanced at their hands as the older man gave a reassuring squeeze. He felt his cheeks heat up and his leg stopped bouncing as his gaze raised back up to meet Minho's.

     This wasn't the first time they had held hands – far from it – but for some reason, it felt somehow different this time. Jisung questioned if it was his anxiety that made his stomach swirl and heartbeat rise, or the kind gesture by Minho. He swiftly directed his sight back out the window, but his focus was now on Minho's thumb gently caressing his knuckles and the butterflies that the touch gave him. On the other side of the bench seat, the older man's heartrate also increased, his own butterflies came alive, and his ears burned a bright red under the passing light from the streetlights they drove by.

They really couldn't avoid discussing whatever this was any longer.

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     Chan faceplanted into the sofa and relaxed at the softness as soon as his body met the cushions. They had arrived home and each member of the team made their way to their shared bedrooms to crash for the night; all were tucked away soundly in bed except for their leader. Despite being insomnia-ridden, the man was snoring loudly against the armrest of the furniture he fell on as soon as he crossed the dorm's threshold. A soft blanket was draped over him by his fellow Aussie-born bro. Chan slept so infrequently that no one had the heart to try to wake him so he could relocate to the room he and Minho shared.

     Standing in front of the aforementioned shared bedroom's door was a nervous Jisung, now barefaced and clothed in his pajamas. He played with his fingers and, for what felt like the millionth time, rehearsed what he was going to tell the older. He took a deep breath before softly knocking on the bedroom door that was adorned with an "M" and "C". As soon as the door opened with a creak and he saw an equally dressed-down and tired Minho before him, his entire script he had come with vanished from his brain.

     "U-Um, is it okay if I c-come inside to talk?" he finally stuttered out, gaze averted to his restless hands. The skin around his nails looked awful from all the picking he had done recently – a bad habit he had whenever his anxiety peaked. After what felt like an eternity to Jisung, Minho silently stepped aside and opened the entrance wider for him. He quickly shuffled in, and the door was shut behind him. Stood awkwardly in the middle of the room now, he peeked at his friend as he second-guessed visiting the bedroom. "You need to sort this out now, Han," he reminded himself.

     The older member scratched at his neck awkwardly as he approached the other man's side. "Stop just standing there, you're making me feel even more tense than I already am," Minho spoke with a nervous chuckle before taking a spot on his bed. He patted beside him and observed as Jisung cautiously sat at his side, hands now resting on his thighs and gaze still not meeting Minho's. "So..." he broke the silence moments later. He had already predicted what the other came to discuss, but he needed confirmation.

     "Hyung, did you think about... Do you like... Um," Jisung paused, too many thoughts crossing his mind for his mouth to filter through. Raising his eyes to meet the deep honey-colored ones that were focused on him, he flashed a sheepish grin before he tried again. "Do you regret almost kissing me?" he blurted out, regretting it immediately. That wasn't what he wanted to say at all. He flushed and spastically waved his hands in the air, "No no, I mean... How do you feel about 'us'? Like, have you thought about it at all?"

     Minho's eyes widened in surprise before softening his gaze upon the rose-tinged cheeks of the younger man. He looked adorable as he very obviously had some sort of inner conflict over his clumsy choice in words. Chuckling once again and shaking his head slightly, he took Jisung's hand in his own once again and brought the injured digits to his lips. Minho placed gentle kisses onto the places he had picked at – something he had to fight the urge to do ever since Jisung started doing it again recently; he didn't want to scare him off with skinship or affection after his prior hesitation. The duo's cheeks and ears were both burning by this point. The elder of the two cleared his throat and uncharacteristically looked away, "Does that answer your question?" He had never had an issue with maintaining eye contact, but abrupt shyness overtook him.

      Jisung's jaw dropped slightly, heart racing a mile a minute – only second to his mind.

What did that mean? Why did he kiss my fingers? Does this mean he likes me in... that way?

     He shook his head to clear his invasive thoughts and examined the other's face for a hint as to how he was feeling. He so desperately wanted to know what was going on in Minho's head now, but alas, one of the few things he couldn't demonstrate his innate talent in was telepathy. The moments accumulated and turned to several minutes as they sat in silence; the air around them felt heavy as both tried to gather their thoughts and emotions. Whether they felt romantically inclined toward the other or not was not yet understood by the two. All they knew was that something different seemed to be there. When their eyes met again, the younger took the initiative this time and intertwined their fingers together as he shifted closer to Minho – their bodies now pressed against each other.

     "Can I try again?" He questioned in a hushed tone, finding it difficult to break the stillness.

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[Ahhh I had such a hard time writing this one for some reason. I'm bad at building up to stuff I guess but I don't want to rush either... :') ]