Seven Suitors: A Collection of Jisung Stories

October 24th

Scaling up the side of his best friend's apartment as icy October rain pelts against his jacket wasn't how Minho imagined the Friday night before his birthday would go. The thin rusting metal of the narrow fire escape ladder is slick and icy, biting into his palms yet giving away under his shoes from the lack of friction. Jaws clenched to keep his teeth from chattering, eyes locked foreword, Minho keeps his breathing steady, the thought of his destination compelling him upwards, the wet concrete of the pavement below getting progressively farther away. Climbing carefully onto the fourth-floor balcony, he slicks his drenched hair back before wringing his beanie out and pulling it back over his head. One small upside of the rain is the sound masking most of the noises he may have made, a shield from the other tenants of the building whose balconies he's snuck on to in order to reach the ladder. The last thing he needs right now is someone calling the cops on him. One more floor.

The last set of stairs is comparatively the easiest one to climb up, save his sneakers slipping on the fourth step and his knee banging onto the metal, heart dropping somewhere into his jejunum at the thought of the drop below as he finds his footing again. The moment his feet touch down on to the solid ground of the fifth-floor balcony, a renewed rush of anticipation crashes over his nerves, soothing the twisted knots of his stomach. The small balcony has various potted plants and flowers lining its railing and the sight of the familiar light blue curtains with small white flowers woven into them fills him with a new breath of life, previous perils all but forgotten.

The window is unlocked as Minho gently lifts it up enough to climb through. Pushing one curtain aside, he peers into the room, spotting its owner snuggled almost fully under the duvet the same shade of blue as the curtains, still unperturbed by the intrusion.

"Jisungie?" Minho's hushed call startles the human shaped lump in the bed, and the blankets are pushed down as Jisung sits up and looks toward the window, eyes wide and hair tousled.

"Hyung!?" Minho cringes at the loud voice, gesturing for the other to keep quiet, relieved as he notices the door is locked. Usually, Jisung would be in his arms already, but Minho takes in the deep blush, bags under his watery eyes, and the bangs matted to the fever induced sweat on the boy's forehead, giving away how exhausted he is. 

Closing the windows before drawing the curtains shut, shrugging off his wet windbreaker, pulling off his soggy beanie, and depositing the clothing in the laundry basket by the door, Minho pulls off his damp jeans, revealing the mostly dry sweatpants he had the foresight to put on before turning back to Jisung.

The younger has his arms opened towards Minho, tears brimming in his tired eyes, a slightly quivering pout holding him back from fully crying.

"Hannie.." Minho sighs, gently pulling the other into his lap, arms firmly holding close the too warm body that now curls into him. The moment Jisung's face is nestled into the side of Minho's neck, he breaks down, sniffling back his tearful whimpers as his arms squeeze around Minho's torso.

For several minutes the room is quiet, save for Jisung's sniffles and cries, as Minho gently rocks him, pressing kisses onto his heated cheeks and sweaty hair, listening to the rain pouring against the window, thunder crackling somewhere in the distance.

"Don't leave me," Jisung finally says in a horse, broken voice, and Minho hugs him even closer, pressing the fragile body in his arms even tighter to his chest.