The Three Worst Secrets

The Second Time's The Charm

Seungmin's father was staring at the teeth-prints in his coat.

He was so satisfied with himself for garnering such apt attention, that he couldn't stop grinning.

They were obvious if you knew where to look for them- which his father did. Men like that always had an observant eye, though it was usually set out to find weakness, or mistakes.

Minho was quiet and kind as usual, though his father did bark at him for using the incorrect fork and Seungmin was surprised to feel rage burning in his throat. No one should speak that rudely to him. It was just unnecessary.

"How has choir been?" his mother asked in the tense silence, not understanding why it was there.

"Uh..." he looked completely put on the spot.

"So good." Seungmin interrupted, giving her one of his most sincere fake grins. "Minho has really balanced the sound. And you were right, he does have a nice voice. Especially those high notes. Whew. Like an angel."

Now Minho seemed horrified, staring at him over the table like he'd grown a pair of horns.

"Really? That's so nice. Thank you again for including him." She squeaked, returning the smile.

"Yes. So nice of you." His own father was watching them all interact, picking up on an underlying code that he couldn't figure out.

"In fact, we have a small show this Saturday. Think any of you might make it?"

"You didn't tell me about a show Minho." His mother said, glaring at him.

"Uh, well..."

"He was probably just being nice. It's not a big one, not like we'll have at Christmas. You are welcome to go of course. It'll only be a few hours- at one of those outdoor charity drives.

The adults got busy cutting up their food.

"Well, we'll try to make it. The weekends can be very busy you know." Minho's father muttered.

The elder gave him a face and he winked. The conversation soon switched to the steak and how great the house was.

After dinner he spent the rest of their time together back in his room, kissing him into his mattress and getting used to the unusual way his heart kept thumping.

They left, and it wasn't long until his father was storming into his room, pinning him against his dresser, much like Seungmin had pinned Minho earlier that evening.

"What is that?"

"What's what?" and he had to fight to keep the smugness out of his voice.

"On your suit jacket?

Seungmin glanced down, looking for a spot or wrinkle- completely ignoring the obvious teeth marks.

His father gripped the jacket and shoved the mark practically into his eye. "This! This! I know you can see it you idiot! What is THIS?"

"Oh. I'm not sure. It might've come like that from the cleaners. Maybe you should go lay some old-fashioned charm on them. See if you can get them to quit gnawing on our dress clothes."

That face.

It scared him so.

He opened the top drawer in the dresser and Seungmin watched him paw through the scant amount of socks and underwear within. Suddenly he slid the boy's hand halfway inside, slamming the drawer closed over the knuckles.

He screamed, turning, and trying to pull the hand out- but he was keeping it lodged inside with the heavy pressure of what felt like his entire body weight.