Man Overboard-Minsung AU

Part 12

       Minho had left the room, walking around the ship deep in thought when he realized the time and headed to the upper deck. When he arrived he stood frozen at the breathtaking scene. A small candle lit table overlooking the calm ocean as the sun began to set and a man played an airy violin tune. After scanning the area, his eyes fell on Jisung, standing there in sweatpants, sneakers and a hoodie. His hair was delightfully messy and Minho immediately looked down at his own outfit, suddenly feeling silly. "What's with this?" Minho asked, gesturing to Jisung's outfit. "This is me, Jisung." Jisung stated simply. "Uh yeah no shit, I mean what are you wearing?" Minho asked as he walked closer. "This is me without hiding behind all my usual style. This is how I look on the regular. I have put away all my excess ego and stand before you, the down to earth Jisung you have yet to meet." Jisung said, smiling softly. Minho stood there taking in the sight of him again, absorbing what Jisung was presenting as his authentic self. He looked cute with his tousled hair and baggy sweatshirt. "Hmm... Well now I look pretty stupid all dressed up, don't I?" Minho asked. "No, you look amazing." Jisung said seriously. Minho began to blush lightly as he went to sit at the table where Jisung pulled out his chair. He sat down in it feeling a bit strange with the atmosphere and how Jisung was acting.

       They were served their dinner and as they ate Jisung just kept looking at Minho. "What?" Minho asked. "I know I was drunk last night when I kissed you and I joked about it not being what I really wanted to do but that was a lie." Jisung said finally. "Duh." Minho said laughing. "I've wanted to kiss you since the photo shoot. I held back because of the bet... which was a stupid bet in the first place wasn't it?" Jisung asked. "Yeah..." Minho answered cautiously. "Well the bet is over, I lost, and not because I was drunk and horny... but because..." Jisung said before being cut off. "Jisung, don't do this... I have dated guys like you. Overly confident, self centered...they always cheat. You just want a challenge and I'm not the one." Minho said, interrupting him. "But don't you see, I am not actually like that. It's all a mask to cover how insecure I really am. I have never cheated on anyone and I never would." Jisung said, everything in his brain telling him to retreat. That he shouldn't have to beg or convince someone to be with him but his friends' words reverberated in his mind over and over. The notions they gave that he should give Minho a chance and that he is hard to get close to but worth it. "It doesn't really matter, either way I have been by myself for so long, I'm comfortable that way." Minho said, avoiding Jisung's eyes.

       "Being comfortable is different from being happy. There are plenty of people that are happy on their own but I don't think you are one of them." Jisung said. "I think you just want me to be that guy. That guy that 'needs' you." Minho said. "Is that so wrong? Is it so wrong that I came here wanting to make a connection with you?" Jisung asked. "I'm sorry that Chan led you to believe there was a possibility of something here." Minho said, skipping over Jisung's question. "What are you so scared of? I'm putting myself out here, I'm risking being hurt because... I like you, against my better judgment, I like you. If you don't feel the same way then just say that. To me you seem like you are just too afraid to even try." Jisung said, getting more upset. "We are just too different. Trust me, you will get tired of me too." Minho said. "I know we have only spent a week together but even though you annoy the crap out of me and push me away somehow I still want you. Doesn't that count for something?" Jisung asked, a lump forming in his throat. "It won't last Jisung, let's save ourselves the heartache." Minho said coldly. "I really didn't take you as such a coward Minho... I wish the best of luck to you in life and I hope one day you find someone that's worth risking your comfort for." Jisung said before quickly getting up from the table. The violinist stopped playing and awkwardly shuffled away as Minho sighed loudly, looking out at the now dark waves.

Minho returned back to the room and Jisung wasn't there. He sat up for a while reading a book but Jisung never came in. He got ready for bed and just hoped that Jisung was in one of the other boys' rooms. He laid awake for hours thinking about Jisung. 'Was I too harsh? No, he needs to know the truth. We just got swept up in the grand romance package and being in paradise. We would never work in the real world, we would probably kill each other...' Minho thought before he eventually fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning. His alarm went off at 7am, he had only slept 4 hours. After grabbing his suitcase he headed to the onloading and offloading deck. As he stepped out into the hallway he was met with Jisung and Jeongin. Jisung was dressed in his clothes from the night before with his hood over his head and sunglasses on. Minho went to say something and Jeongin just shook his head as he led Jisung into the room to get his stuff. Minho walked in a daze towards the elevator, lost in thought he didn't realize he had walked onto the glass elevator instead of the regular one. The doors had already closed behind him and one of the other passengers on the ship had pressed the lobby deck button when he finally noticed. His eyes widened as he looked down below through the glass. He began to sweat nervously and then remembered their first day on the boat when Jisung had comforted him in that elevator, easing his fears for a moment and grounding him. He thought about how he had done the same when Jisung was having his panic attack on the kayak. Thinking about those things made him wonder for a second if he made the right decision rejecting Jisung.

Everyone was standing on the deck when Minho arrived. Seungmin greeted him with a swift smack to the back of the head. "What the hell is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?" Minho yelled, holding the back of his head. "No he hasn't, you have." Hyunjin said angrily. "Is this about Jisung?" Minho asked, confused before glancing at Chan who just shook his head. "Don't shake your head at me. This is all your fault, getting his hopes up when you should have known better." Minho added angrily to Chan. "You really are a dumbass Minho, I was hoping you had grown up and moved on from your past. I just thought maybe you could put your pride aside for a chance at something with Jisung but I guess I was wrong." Chan said before he left to meet Jeongin and Jisung who were finally walking up. Minho grabbed his suitcase and walked off the ship without another word to anyone else. Jisung's heavy heart came back as he watched Minho walk away. "We were only pretending to be a couple but why does it feel like we just broke up?" Jisung asked Jeongin sadly before they all walked off the ship.

A couple months had passed since the cruise and life had practically gone back to the way it was before. Minho sat on his phone at the cafe in his building as Felix walked over. "Hey Minho, thanks for waiting for me, inventory time is always so busy." Felix said as he sat in front of him. "It's fine, why did you call me here? Is there something wrong with the cafe? Everything is working alright?" Minho asked. "Yeah it's not about the cafe." Felix said. "Then why did you call me here? You could have just come by my apartment if you wanted to chat, we live in the same building." Minho chuckled. Felix laughed before saying "Yeah you are probably right but I was so excited, I couldn't wait. Changbin and I have decided where we want to have our wedding... If you would let us, we would like to have it here, in the building." "What? Why would you want to have your wedding in the building? It's drab and nothing special, where in the building would you even have it?" Minho asked. "This is where Changbin and I met, we decided to move in here and start our life together while having coffee in this exact spot. The top floor that you have been renovating looks amazing and we were wondering since it's almost finished, maybe we could have it there..." Felix said, smiling nervously. "In the penthouse?... I mean it is going to be finished next week..." he said, looking at Felix's sparkling eyes and bright smile waiting for his answer. Minho couldn't say no to that sweet face and finally said smiling softly "Of course you guys can have the wedding here."

"Really?! Oh Minho, thank you so much! I have another question to ask you though. You know that Seungmin and I have been best friends since high school so I have asked him to be my best man but I would love it if you would be a groomsman. You have done so much for me over the years and you have always been so good to me and Changbin, will you please stand beside me on that day Minho?" Felix asked, sitting on the edge of his seat in anticipation. Minho's eyes became dewy and his voice caught in his throat as he said "I would be honored Lix." Felix squealed excitedly and got up from his chair to hug Minho's neck tightly. Minho let his tough guy guard down for a moment as he squeezed Felix back. "So who is Changbin's best man?" Minho asked, changing the subject so he wouldn't cry. "Chan of course, and Hyunjin as his groomsman." Felix answered. "Alright, I am happy since I don't have to walk down the aisle linking arms with Seungmin." Minho said. Felix just laughed as he said "You will have to stand next to him during the ceremony though but you know you love him." "Eh love? Let's not go that far." Minho said, scrunching his nose in disgust before smirking.