Window to freedom °•Minsung•°

21)

On the 23rd of December, Jisung was invited to Minho's flat.

He had tried to protest but Minho had convinced him by saying that he needed help setting things up for his visitors. In the end, Jisung had agreed to it.

Now, Minho was preparing lunch for both of them, whistling around the kitchen feeling both joyous and nervous at the same time.

"Jisung... in my flat. With me. Us alone."

he shivered a bit at the thought.

"This is normal. We're just friends hanging out I guess, nothing out of the ordinary here"

he tried to convince himself.

But it just felt like so much more.

"Except it can't feel like more"

he scolded himself and tried to calm his trembling heart.

Then the doorbell rang and all of Minho's attempts rendered useless, his palms sweaty as he placed them on the handle.

"Hey" said Jisung simply, huddled in a tartan scarf and a leather jacket.

"Hey. Come in, you must be freezing" Minho released an amused puff, looking at his very red nose.

"Just a bit" admitted Jisung and came in.

Minho closed the door.
He was doing a great job at hiding it but inside he was panicking.

"I made lasagna, I hope it's ok" he said, just to say something.

"LASAGNA!? ARE YOU KIDDING!?"

Jisung's exclaimation took him a bit by surprise but once he saw the sparkle of his eyes his expression softened.

"God, he's so cute"

"Gimme that jacket, you're spreading snow everywhere" he said instead, laughing.

"Sorry!" cried Jisung.

After his outfit was revealed (a red and black striped sweater on top of some jeans) Jisung requested a tour of the flat.

"It's not that big since I'm only staying a year"

The reminder filled Jisung's face with shadows for a second and Minho cursed himself.

"Does he really care all that much?"
he wondered, amazed.

He showed him his living room filled with a spacious couch and illuminated by the left side wall that was entirely made out of windows. Jisung seemed awed by that.
The kitchen was next, small as a tiny corridor and filled with the delicious smell of tomato sauce and meat.
In the end, Minho gestured vaguely to his room and to the bathroom.

"Can I not see your room?" asked Jisung as they skipped back to the kitchen.

"Well, it's a mess right now. You'll see later, it's what I need help with"

"Ok!"

He seemed in a great mood and his big smiles and fun energy influenced Minho's own mood for the best. He felt amazing.

Jisung inhaled his plate of lasagna in a few minutes and as Minho finished his portion he just couldn't stop complimenting his cuisine.

"...I haven't eaten something this good in months" he said.

"Why? What do you usually eat?"

Jisung looked down:
"Promise not to get mad?"

Minho arched an eyebrow.

"I basically only eat instant noodles when I'm home alone" Jisung sighed.

"WHAT!?"

"I KNOW I JUST- I don't know how to cook! Every time I try something catastrophic happens!"

"Jisung!" groaned Minho, more amused than mad:
"You have to take care of yourself!"

"Sorry...?"

"That's it, from now I'm bringing you lunch boxes at work"

"But that's so embarassing ughhh"

They looked eachother in the eye, one eager the other disgusted and started giggling like idiots.

Once done, Jisung offered to wash the dishes and Minho let him, knowing he'd complain if he didn't get to help.

"So what do we need to do?"

"Move a few things around and make space for a new bed in the corridor" Minho explained:
"My..."

"...fiancee's brother..."

"...friend will sleep there"

Minho swallowed his guilt and tried to move on. For some reason he just couldn't bring himself to name Yoona in front of Jisung. At first he had thought it was for professional reasons but now that they were friends...

"I still don't want him to know" said a stubborn part of him.

But why??? Why????
Telling him would be the easiest way to shut this whole thing off and make sure Jisung didn't get any ideas.

An easy way to win his test.

But Minho just couldn't. His insides got all jumbled and his throat closed and...

"Mhm" the boy hummed.

His eyes fell on Jisung.

He was facing the sink, away from Minho, the light hitting his hair in a way that made them look golden. A slither of skin was visible just below his nape and Minho ached with want.
He wished he could just walk up to him, embrace him and maybe place his lips...

"You're staring" Jisung said.

A simple statement. Not an accusation.

But it felt like one.

Minho coughed and moved his gaze elsewhere. It fell on the cactus the landowner had told him to take care of.

"No, I'm not" he retorted.

He felt caught. His heart was running wild along with his thoughts as his cheeks started feeling a bit warm.

"Sure, and I'm not washing dishes" Jisung turned around with an amused smirk.

He then dried his hands distractedly and walked closer:
"You do it a lot"

"What?"
Minho licked his lips. His throat was dry.

"Stare. At me."

Jisung was too close.

"Way too close..."

______________________________________