Invitations | MinSung

27

"Jeongin, I know you're here," Jisung sighed, walking into the bathroom. "Come out."

The bathroom was completely empty other than one occupied stall on the end where Jeongin had hidden away. Seungmin had told Jisung that there was no use in trying to get him out, but Jisung didn't care for Seungmin's advice. He had a feeling he knew what Jeongin was so upset about and he was determined to snap the younger out of it.

"No," was Jeongin's simple response.

"Jeongin, come out and tell me what's wrong," Jisung persisted.

"No," Jeongin repeated.

"Yang Jeongin, do not test my patience," Jisung said, sternly and finally he heard the unlatching of a lock and out stepped Jeongin from the stall. He looked incredibly dishevelled, as though the workload had taken a toll on him. However, Jisung also noticed small details, like his puffy eyes, bitten fingernails and swollen bottom lip.

"You sound like my mum," Jeongin scoffed and, for once, Jisung didn't pay attention to the comment about him sounding like a middle-aged woman since he had successfully managed to get Jeongin out of the damn stall. Instead, something clicked in Jisung and he walked over and gave Jeongin a simple hug.

Jeongin stood still, shock being the first thing he felt. However, as weird as it sounded, Jisung had always provided Jeongin with a sense of paternal love and it didn't take him long to hug Jisung back, tight.

"What's up buddy?" Jisung asked, gently stroking Jeongin's hair.

"Everyone found out about me and Hyunjin," Jeongin murmured, muffled against Jisung's shoulder.

"What's so wrong with that?"

"They're all looking at me weird," Jeongin explained, avoiding eye contact.

"And?" Jisung asked, sarcastically. "Let them be. I know," he added before Jeongin tried to protest, "it feels horrible. You feel like they're all judging you and you just want to hide away." Jisung paused for a moment, remembering how he used to be. "But don't. Let others point their fingers as much as they like. As long as the ones you love accept you for who you are, what more could you ask for?"

Despite the fact that Jisung was unsure about his method of cheering Jeongin up, he was relieved when Jeongin broke into a wide, innocent smile and pulled Jisung back in for a hug.

"Do you accept me then?" He asked, even though the answer was extremely obvious.

"As if I wouldn't," Jisung scoffed, smiling to himself.

They both returned to the office, Jisung acting almost like a bodyguard for Jeongin, glaring at those who even dared to look at Jeongin with those judgemental eyes. Jeongin, despite knowing that others were staring, tried not to care, glad that he still had Jisung who cared about him.

Eventually, the two of them got on with their work and met their break, which Jisung had been dreading. He despised any kind of free time because it always led to him thinking about Minho. Therefore, to the confusion of others, he remained at his desk, typing away. However, his typing abruptly stopped when he heard Jeongin's name come up in the conversation between two colleagues beside him.

"... Jeongin and some random guy," one of them muttered, spreading the gossip.

"A guy?" the other asked, in disbelief.

"I know right, it's disgusting," whispered one, making Jisung's blood boil.

"And here I was thinking I had a chance," the other sighed.

"And get this-"

"Do you have something you wanna share?" Jisung interrupted, turning to the two of them. They both flinched in surprise, looking at Jisung with shocked eyes. "What was that you were saying about Jeongin? Disgusting?" He asked, watching them both squirm uncomfortably. "And you," he turned to look at one of them, "you thought you had a chance?" he laughed. "Jeongin wouldn't go for a lowlife like you even if he did prefer women. Now, I advise you both to get back to work before you embarrass yourself any more."