People | minsung |

hello stranger

song for this chapter:

Reflections, The Neighborhood

jisung walked down the isle, arms linked with his mother, cameras flashing in his face, a stranger and an elegant throne-like sofa waiting for him. his eyes were on the floor. he was drained. it was as if he was watching his body through a screen, no control, surreal. in the worst way possible. he met minho where he was standing between the grimy looking officiant and his put together father who looked at his watch like he had better places to be. 

jisung heard the wedding march begin, courtesy of the orchestra that played on either side of the platform where he and minho would sit. 

he took a step closer, shoulder brushing with the officiant. 'In the name of God, do you Mister Han Jisung take Mister Lee Minho to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death?' 

'i do.' he whispered, just loud enough to be heard and just quiet enough so no one could hear the tremor in his voice.

'In the name of God, do you  Mister Lee Minho take Mister Han Jisung to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death?' 

'i do.' 

jisung envied how confident minho sounded, a steady expression on his face, his chin up high. 

'you may now kiss your groom.' 

minho looked at jisung with a face that said sorry in a million ways. sorry that i've stolen this special day from you. sorry that i'll steal this kiss from you that you should've shared with one you love. i'm sorry. 

awkward and still, minho put his hand on jisung's neck, bringing himself forward. 'i'm so sorry' he whispered in the close proximity. 'it's okay. it was unavoidable.' jisung felt his eyes threaten to spill with tears. they'd stood in this position for a moment too long, the flashing of the cameras intensifying. with a terrible weight in his stomach, jisung leaned in as well, feeling his lips pressing against minhos own. the older boy turned jisung's body to face away from the audience and he separated their lips. 

he sat uncomfortably on the sofa beside his husband. Minho was "a very nice boy" according to his stylist who used to work for minhos father. he always looked stern and confident like he knew he was important. he was also very attractive, piercing eyes, lips that looked plush and soft, glassy clear skin the color of honey and a nose that made him look like a sculpture. 

but jisung didn't want to marry him. he wanted to marry someone he loved. someone he could hug all night. someone who he could cry on. someone who would look at him with stars in their eyes. and that someone was not minho. 

'hello.' minho leaned over to whisper. 'hey.' jisung answered dryly, swirling his wineglass, watching the liquid spin. 'how's your day been?' the older boy asked hopefully, obviously trying to ignite a conversation. 'shitty, you?' jisung said flatly. he could see the corner of minhos lips curl, a feint trace of a smile. he felt his heart beat quicken a little. 'tell me about it,' minho brought his hand gently to jisung's cheek. he gripped the youngers jaw, turning it to face him. 'we are about to be husbands aren't we?' jisung had butterflies but they died out as minho finished his sentence. 'that sounds wrong. "husband"... i need to fall in love with you first.'

'hm..' minhos eyes scanned jisung's features up close properly for the first time, making jisung fidgety. 'you're pretty. has anyone told you that?' jisung flinched briefly as flashbacks of predators telling him how pretty he looked while he screamed and writhed under their harsh grip flashed in his mind. 'yeah, i guess you could say that.' he whispered, picking at his fingers. 'don't- don't do that, bro.' minho smacked jisung's hand. 'did you just? did you just "bro" me?'

they were silent for a moment. 'jisung,' jisung turned, 'let me take you to dinner tonight. no cameras. not even my bodyguard. a proper date. let me get to know you.' the older shifted closer, his hand slipping into jisung's. 'okay..' the younger shyed, a blush spreading across his cheeks. 'i think you're really beautiful, jisung. i'm not usually one for being bold but there's something special about you.' a breath escaped minhos lips, reaching jisung's neck in their closeness. they stayed this way, exchanging a few hushed comments about the attendees here and there. 

'21 questions?' jisung knew it sounded silly; getting to know someone with a fucking game at your wedding. silly. but minho was in. 

'favorite color?'

'mint green.'

'three words to describe yourself.'

'sexy..' minho thought for a second. 'yeah that's about it. i am sexy.' he made a wide motion with his hands, looking at the ceiling. the younger resisted a smile that played at his lips. 

'favorite song?'

'i'm a fan of BTS.. i like Coffee. it's so underrated!' minho look's hesitant before he blurted out. 'you know i used to be a dancer for BTS? oh, yeah, i dance professionally.' jisung's jaw dropped. 'holy shit, wow dude!' minho swore he saw the boys eyes sparkle. 'you know, i produce? i rap too. we could-' '-we could totally make a song together!' they made eye contact and the world was still. the younger could feel minhos pulse by the way his hand was positioned in his. they shared a long moment. silent. tense. 'yea. i guess so.' jisung turned away and smiled at his lap.