To Be Determined

~~Chapter 6~~

Minho

Evening came quickly, before I knew it I was back in the dorm and showering. I rested my forehead against the wall as the hot water ran over my body. I groaned softly. I had needed this so bad. My body ached from today's schedule. Practice, gym time... Changbin was rough on me today. Telling me I had been slacking and needed to get back on my game. Even though my eyes were closed as the water rushed over me, I still rolled them as the memory played through my head.

I finished my shower and towel dried my hair quickly. I stepped out and wrapped a towel around my waist. I wiped my hand across the foggy mirror and studied my face for a moment. I looked tired. I mean who wouldn't be after a day like today. I sighed, yet again and continued with my routine. Washing my face, moisturizing, brushing my teeth. Dinner was soon... so I needed to pick up the pace a bit. I knew I had spent too much time in the shower...

I quickly got myself dressed. I decided to go with a semi casual outfit. I mean the pants kind of made it look like I was in a school uniform, but I liked it so that's what mattered right? I slipped my legs into my black and red plaid pants and fastened them quickly. Next sliding in a thin belt. I pulled on a plain white t-shirt and then slipped a slightly distressed looking sweater and slipped my arms through the holes. It was a bit oversized so they made me have little paws when I didn't push the sleeves up... it was cute. I liked it.

I ruffled my hair a bit, just letting hit lay were it wanted to and grabbed a mask out of my side table. I shoved it into my pocket just as the others started to knock on my door and give me hell for not being ready yet. Normally Changbin was the one that took forever... it was my turn today.

I quickly left my room, meeting the looks of Changbin, Felix, and Jeongin. I gave them an 'innocent' wave and smile as I grabbed my wallet and keys off my stand as I left my room, closing the door behind me. I walked to the door with them and headed out into the night. We hadn't had group dinner in a long time, so I was kind of excited. I missed these moments and would cherish them. Even though I enjoyed giving the group hell most days.

We quickly made it to a local seafood restaurant and got settled in. I kept my distance from Jisung, not sure if he would want to actually sit next to me today. But as I went to go sit, he took the spot right next to me and offered me a kind, but shy smile. I returned the smile, confused... but I will take it I guess?

As we ordered, I felt his knee gently bump into mine. I glanced at him, still really confused about this sudden attention he was giving me after not speaking to me for days. I furrowed my eyebrows a bit and glanced at him. He kept his conversation going with Hyunjin and Felix, paying me no mind. I looked back down at the table, clasping my hands in my lap. I pulled out my phone, no one was really talking to me tonight and honestly I didn't mind. The energy for being social wasn't really there for me tonight and what energy I did have I was trying to save it for mine and Jisung's conversation later.

I pulled up my texts and shot one off to Akira. I had to tell someone about the weirdness of how Jisung was acting... who better than someone who isn't biased towards him.

Me:

Hey... so you know how I said he had been ignoring me?

Yeah... dinner has been interesting to say the least.

Akira:

Oh yeah?

Do spill!

I chuckled a bit at his response. I never asked him how old he actually was, but he reminded me a lot of Felix. Very Gen Z...but it was endearing the way Akira went about it. At least so far, he hadn't annoyed me yet. Mind you, Felix rarely annoyed me either. Would could get annoyed by him. He was always so sweet all of the time.

Me:

Well... he's been very friendly tonight. Even insisted on sitting next to me.

Then once he did, he's been finding anyway possible to have a part of him touching me.

Right now, he keeps pressing his knee up against mine....

He confuses me... [insert laughing emoticon]

Akira:

I would take that as a good sign, love.

He wouldn't do that if he was really not interested in what you are bringing to the table.

Just saying.

I was just reading Akira's last message to me when Jisung bumped his shoulder into mine and was trying to lean over and see who I was texting. I felt his energy shift a bit as all he could see was the last couple of messages. Though I wasn't sure exactly what he had read.

"Who is that Minho?"

The tips of my ears started to heat up and redden as I closed my phone quickly and slipped it back into my pocket. I was trying to not be obvious about it, but I was nervous about how everything was going to go tonight as a whole. I didn't need to ruin it from the start.

"Oh, it's a friend of mine. I met him recently. He's from Japan."

I hoped that saying he was from Japan, but not letting off that he was currently living here in Seoul would ice things over a bit. I stole a glance at Jisung, his bottom lip was a bit pouty... and oh so adorable. I leaned into him a bit and placed my hand gently on his thigh under the table and squeezed reassuringly.

Jisung melted a bit under my touch. He always did. Man did I love it. It played into all the dreams and hopes that I could have with him. The hope that he would accept me and maybe even be interested in giving things a try with me. God... I wished he could have found out on better terms... but I needed to let that go. It is what it is... and tonight I will lay it out to him. I have to... I owe it to him. What he said next kind of surprised me though.

"Oh... from that place? Hmm, I don't know if I like that..."

I'm not sure if he meant for me to hear that last part, as his voice was very quiet. I kept my eyes on him for a moment. He kept his knee touching mine, and let me keep my hand on his thigh. So that should be a good sign right? I nudged him a bit, and offered him a smile. He returned it, but it didn't quite meet his eyes.