After Us

Chapter 13

"Eomma, I promise I'll visit you soon. I've got the move coming up and things at work have been crazy. I'm sorry you feel neglected."

Cell phone balanced between his neck and shoulder Minho pulls the cheesecake from the refrigerator and sets it on the counter. The oven timer dings and now he is rushing to finish dinner, handicapped by the phone and a mother who is fond of nagging.

"I have to go now. I have company coming over. Sure, I'll tell Felix and Jinnie you said hello. Love you, bye!"

Whew... setting his phone down Minho checks the clock and nearly has a stroke when he sees it's five minutes till seven. Lifting the lid off a sauté pan he's pleased to find the asparagus fully cooked and tender. Pulling the Beef Wellington from the oven the puff pastry is perfectly brown and crispy... oh thank God. Taking on such an ambitious menu was risky. It'd been a long time since he'd cooked this exact meal.

Now that everything is done and resting he heads to the bathroom checking his appearance. It never hurts to look good, and if the person you impress just so happens to be your ex, even better. Fluffing his hair he decides going with the wavy style had been a smart idea. He doesn't want to come off as trying too hard, and the relaxed hair and peach colored cardigan are casual enough. Paired with his neutral makeup he thinks he looks rather soft. His dangly earrings and favorite diamond bracelet are the only real indicators that he'd dressed up.

Depending on how the night goes this may be the last time he sees Jisung.

It's been over a month since their knockdown drag-out fight outside the bar in Itaewon. With the help of their friends, he and Jisung had been able to avoid each other. Since that night there'd only been one time when they'd been alone together. Minho had overslept and was running late when he'd caught the elevator at the last possible second. Just like his first day at JYPE Jisung had been the sole occupant, only this time the producer had stayed silent and pressed himself into the corner of the metal box. When his floor had arrived Minho had walked out without a backward glance.

He hadn't been ready then. Still wrestling with what the next right action should be, he'd allowed the distraction of apartment hunting and packing to keep him busy. Until the night when he'd been boxing his shoes and reached under the bed pulling out the photo album he'd taken. Flipping through the pages he'd gotten lost in the memories the book contained, and he'd known that he couldn't put it off any longer. There are answers only Jisung can give him, words he would like the man to say out loud. That night he'd sent a text not unlike the one he'd sent years ago. Just a date and a time. He'd gotten a positive response within seconds of the message being received.

The doorbell rings and a nervous sweat starts under his armpits. Heading to the front door he spots that clock on the stove. Seven o'clock exactly... at least he's on time. Taking a steadying breath he opens the door to find an anxious looking Jisung already biting on his bottom lip. Sweet dark eyes blink at him in surprise, almost as if he hadn't expected Minho to actually be there.

They both speak at the same time.

"Hey..."

"Hi..."

Yep, this feels as awkward as he thought it would. Suppressing a nervous laugh he steps aside allowing Jisung to enter. The younger toes off his shoes giving Minho a chance to take in his appearance. Bottom lip still being used as a chew toy he can make out the vestiges of lip gloss on the man's upper lip. Subtle eye shadow and earrings hint that maybe Minho isn't the only one trying to impress tonight. Cute.

Closing the door he turns to find Jisung offering a small bundle of white tulips.

"Oh..." Where had he been hiding those? "Thank you. You didn't have to bring anything." Hoping to dispel the nervous air between them he accepts the bouquet giving the other a grateful smile.