[EN] HIM (HyunChan)

X.

Later that evening, Christopher drove Hyunjin home. He didn't want to say goodbye to him at all, but there was no way around it, they both had a lot of school stuff to do, but they would definitely have the chance to be together for more than just one day. Now he was even happier that he had decided to move into the makeshift apartment. He had peace and privacy there, at least most of the time.

When he returned, he tried to slip past his mother to avoid the conversation he dreaded. Unfortunately, it didn't work. The woman in question was waiting for him in the hallway. Her unreadable expression made him even more nervous.

"I'd like to talk to you Chris. I'm waiting for you in the living room." With that, she turned on her heel and made her way into said room.

He hung his jacket on the coat rack, took off his shoes and, with a growing lump in his throat, went to his mother. Like her, his father was waiting for him. He would have preferred to sit down so that he didn't have to look them straight in the eye, but he knew he couldn't get away with that. So he sat down with his knees bent and his hands folded in his lap on the chair directly across from them.

"Before we even start, Chris, we're not mad at you," his mother broke the heavy silence. Her face finally softened a little.

"We're just... surprised," Mr. Chan added, equally mildly.

Christopher nodded slightly and rubbed the back of his other hand with his thumb.

Mrs. Chan cleared her throat softly. "I guess I'll start with the most challenging questions. Are you sleeping together?"

Her son bit his lower lip from the inside. "It was the first time today," he replied half aloud.

The middle-aged woman nodded. "Was it just a fling, or are there feelings involved?"

"I like him, Mom, I like him a lot..."

"What about Hyunjin? Doesn't he just take it as fun?" his father interjected.

Christopher looked up at them properly for the first time all day. "I believe not, and I hope I'm not mistaken."

"Look... how do you word it so it makes sense?" sighed the woman. "Whatever it is between you two, make sure you're both in the same boat, if you understand me. So you don't hurt each other. Hyunjin seems like a decent boy, he doesn't bother me or your dad, but like I said, be careful."

Christopher nodded slightly.

"We never thought you'd like a boy," his father tried to lighten the conversation.

Christopher spread his lips into a smile. "That makes two of us, but then Hyunjin came along. I'd like to protect him from the whole world."

He didn't miss his mother's gentle smile. "That's good. If you're happy with him, we wish you well."

"Thanks," her son smiled back.

"I still wanted to apologize for barging in on you. I should have knocked."

"It's okay, you couldn't have known. What did you even need?"

"I went to check on you to see if anything was wrong. You don't usually sleep this long."

"I can see that," Christopher laughed.

Mrs. Chan nodded. "I think that's all we wanted to tell you. You can go now if you want."

So Christopher quickly went back to the cellar. On the way up the stairs, he dialled Hyunjin's number.

"Hi Chris," a kind voice greeted him from the other end after a few rings. You could hear him smiling.

"Hi, Jin," Christopher smiled, closing the door behind him. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, go ahead."

He exhaled heavily and bit his lip before he started. "As soon as I got home, my parents took me into the living room..."

"Was it about your mom catching us?" sighed the younger one.

"Yeah, that's what it was about," Christopher confirmed.

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment before Hyunjin spoke again. "Is something wrong? Are you okay?"

"Fortunately nothing happened, everything is fine, don't worry," the elder reassured him.

"That's good," whispered the younger one with a sigh. "If anything happens, you can come to me, okay? I'm here for you."

Christopher nodded. "Thanks, Jin, I really appreciate it. The same goes for you."

"Thank you. I'm looking forward to the weekend."

"Me too. I miss you already."

A quiet laugh escaped the younger man on the other end of the line. "I'll see you again tomorrow."

"Too long," Christopher playfully whined with a wide grin.

Hyunjin laughed a little louder. "I love you, Chris."

The elder's smile grew wider and his cheeks reddened. "I love you too, Jin."

***

"You two are going to give me diabetes," Minho laughed as he and Christopher went into town after school on Monday.

"It's not my fault he's so cute," the older of the pair laughed back. It was true. Today, Hyunjin was being especially affectionate with him, winking at him as if it was an Olympic event.

"I've been waiting for the moment when you'd start making out with each other," the taller one commented while still smiling.

Christopher made no reply. He just shrugged his shoulders with an innocent smile.

"How are things between the two of you now?" wondered the younger man.

"I dare say we're almost officially together."

"Almost?" Minho raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"I haven't officially asked him to be my boyfriend yet," Christopher muttered, scratching the back of his head.

Minho turned his face to him at that moment with a deadly serious expression. "If I were you, I'd do it as quickly as possible so he doesn't run away."

"Don't worry, I plan to."

"Shall the Lord protect you if you don't do it by the end of the week."

The older of the pair nodded and ran his fingers through his hair. "What about you and your love life?"

Minho's expression changed from serious to shy in that second. He lowered his gaze to the ground, and this time it was he who scratched the back of his head. "Nothing new."

"Really?" Christopher laughed.

Minho blushed. He couldn't hide the smile that crept onto his face. "Well, there is someone..."

"And who is that?" smiled the elder.

"You'll laugh at me," the younger man said, then buried his face in his hands.

"I won't, I promise. Tell me," the smaller man demanded the answer.

"Seungmin," Minho whispered. He was visibly blushing now, right down to the tips of his ears.

Christopher looked more surprised than anything else. "Really? I never would have guessed."

The taller of the pair uncovered his face and urgently grabbed his friend by the collar of his jacket. "Please promise me you won't say anything to him. Promise?"

The elder smiled and nodded. "I promise. I hope it works out for you."

Minho smiled with a nod and lowered his gaze for a moment. His cheeks still had a healthy tinge of red. "That makes two of us. Anyway, time for the errands," he said as they stood in front of the city office building.

Christopher couldn't help but chuckle at how the taller one had wriggled out of the conversation in question, at least for now.