The Mannequin - Minsung

ninety-one

"Minho... everyone's drinking coffee all the time but I can't understand it! It tastes sooo bad! How do people drink that?"

Minho chuckles. They're preparing breakfast.

Jisung brings him plates and mugs.

"Mama Hwang asked me if I wanted a cup of coffee! So I told her I don't like it! Then oh, in the book! I read! They always go for a coffee date? How can they enjoy it? How can you take someone you like for coffee?"

Minho laughs. He cuts Jisung's sandwich. Then his own. He passes Jisung the plates. Turns to the coffee pot.

"Not everyone's coffee tastes like mine, Sungie."

Minho comes back to the table. Fills his own mug. Then he notices... the second mug. "Oh, what's this for...?"

"I thought I should try coffee again because everyone's drinking it and now that I'm more human and my body is alive all the time so maybe it will taste better to me!"

Minho laughs again. "I don't think your tastes have changed," he says. He fills half of Jisung's mug. "But sure, you can try it again."

"Okay!" Jisung beams. Takes his mug with both hands. "Let's eat!"

"Yeah, just a moment," Minho says. He grabs sugar. Milk. Water. An empty glass. He fills it with ice cubes.

He places all those on the table. Sits down. Smiles at Jisung. Who is blowing on his coffee.

"I think... you'll need some sugar," Minho says.

Jisung looks at his coffee. "Oh, yes please!"

"Let's start with one teaspoon." Minho stirs that in. "Now try it."

He knows it's not enough. But he wants to see this.

Jisung nods eagerly. Picks up the mug with both hands again. Blows. Slurps. His face scrunches up. His chair moves back. He whines. Wails.

Minho laughs. Oh... he's too cute...

"Minhooo!" Jisung cries. "It tastes sooo bad!"

"I'm sorry." Minho passes him the water. "Let's try two spoons?"

Jisung takes huge gulps of water. His face is disgusted.

"No... I don't think... coffee is for me..." Jisung says. Defeatedly. "I'll just drink milk and juice... forever..."

Minho snorts. He was going to increase the sugar. Slowly add milk. He'd get to see Jisung's cute faces. But now he puts in four spoons of sugar. Fills the rest of the mug with milk. Stirs it all in.

"Okay, Sungie, you can do that," Minho says. He pours the mug contents into the glass with ice. "But first, can you please give this a try, and then you can give up coffee forever?"

Jisung's wary. He slowly shakes his head.

"I swear it tastes better," Minho says. "Well, to you it would."

Jisung poutily lifts the glass. Looks at it for a few minutes. Then takes a small sip. His eyes widen at Minho. He takes another sip.

"Ooooohhhh!" He says. "Is this how everyone drinks coffee?"

"Not everyone, but some crazy people like you do," Minho says. He chortles. "You like it?"

Jisung takes more sips. Shakes the ice in the glass.

"I don't know if I like it... but it's yummy! I can get used to it. It's not as bad as yours. Why do you drink it like that?"

"I enjoy it like this, Sungie," Minho mutters.

Jisung giggles. Starts on his food. Minho watches him with a smile. He realizes Jisung's eating... quickly. Again.

Minho lowers his mug. "Do you have to go with Hyunjin again?"

Jisung nods. His cheeks are stuffed. He forces himself to swallow.

"He said he'll come at ten! To pick me up! A-And you have to meet your editor, right? It's today, isn't it?"

"Yeah..." Minho says.

"Great! I will come back when you come back!"

Minho stares blankly at him. "Okay..."

Hyunjin has picked up Jisung twice now... since the night he brought him back late. And Minho's been unsure.

They say it's to see Hyunjin's mom and grandma. But... Jisung gets slightly... nervous. Changes the subject abruptly. Whenever Minho asks.

Minho actually planned to drop him off at the Hwangs' today. Because of his meeting. But if Hyunjin's already coming... then it makes it easier.

He needs to speak to Hyunjin though. There's something about him too. The way he glances and smiles. At Jisung. He also discreetly looks at Minho. When he comes. As if he's checking for something. But Jisung always ushers him away.

 "Was everyone... okay?" Minho says.

Jisung blinks up. "Yeah! Mama Haeun's so happy!"

Minho tries to smile. "That's good. What about Mrs. Hwang? What did she want to talk to you about?"

"O-Oh, um... food!" Jisung says. "She wanted to see me!"

"Today, too? She wants to see you? For... food?"

"Y-Yeah! Mama Hwang said I can have lunch with them!" Jisung says. Pauses. Hesitates. Then adds, "She said... to ask you to come too..."

"Oh, she did?" Minho says. "When did she ask?"

Jisung's fidgeting with his fingers "U-Um, yesterday..."

"Oh. Did you forget to tell me?"

"Y-Yeah," he says. He pouts at his sandwich.

"Well, I can't today. Maybe next time, okay?"

Jisung appears relieved. He smiles. Nods. "Okay!"

They continue eating. Then Minho hears his phone. He gets up. "That's work," he says. Apologetically. "I'll be back in a minute."

"It's okay! I'll clean up! You can do your work, Minho!"

To be continued...