Fashioned For Love | Minsung AU

Nine

~~~~~ 9 ~~~~~

This was starting to feel like a date. Even though they'd found everything he needed for the party, Minho wanted to keep browsing. Turns out Minho was a huge anime fan and there just so happened to be a giant doujinshi shop on the second floor. The lists themselves in the vast collection of manga, figures, movies and various other anime related items. It was pretty quiet despite being littered with quite a few people. Because of this they kept exchanging rather guilty smiles whenever they caused one another to laugh just a little bit too loudly. This version of Minho was so incredibly different from the one that came to work. Sure, he'd loosened up some, but there was always a certain polish or professional gloss to everything he said and did. Han could always tell that he was holding back. While he admired such restraint, he loved this open Minho far more.

And he knew he was officially a goner.

He had a crush on his boss and he knew that it would only end in heartbreak but he still couldn't stop it. He wanted him too much. "Hey I'm getting pretty hungry, wanna grab a bite from the food court?" Minho asked, coming up from behind him. He could feel the ghost of his touch at his waist, trailing the length of it before dropping his hand at his side.

"Yeah food sounds good," he nodded, happy that their time together wasn't ending yet. He gathered up all their bags, this time leaning into Minho when he linked their arms together. Apparently fancy malls also had fancy food courts, and Jisung had a mild panic attack as he stressed over what he could possibly order that wouldn't put too severe of a dent in his wallet.

However as they approached the front of the line, Minho ordered for them both, and when he made a noise of protest he fed Jisung the warmest, most reassuring smile he'd ever seen. His heart fluttered in his chest at that and he was sure Minho could see how much he affected him judging by that smile of his changing to a smirk. Han felt his face heat up and he looked away, trying to save a measure of his dignity. They picked up their food, finding a seat at one of the tables. He hadn't really been paying attention when Minho ordered but whatever he picked out smelled good. He listened raptly as Minho described the meal and the different sauces. "You're cute when you eat," Minho observed, giving another blush on Jisung's face. "Your cheeks puff out like a squirrel's."

"Ahh hyung, stooop," he pleaded, wishing he could cover his face whilst eating. But Minho's amused laughter made the embarrassment worth it.

"Mr. Lee?"

Right then both men tensed, and Jisung felt like his heart was sinking down to his stomach. For some reason he felt like he was being caught doing something wrong. He glanced up to see a smiling, older woman approaching them but for the life of him he couldn't place her face. Did she work at SKZ? He didn't know everyone there, but he would've thought he'd recognize someone who knew Lee Minho well enough to smile at him like that. He looked over at Minho whose body went from tense to relaxed almost immediately and more surprisingly he put on a big smile, rising from his seat. "Mrs. Park! It's good to see you again, it's been a while hasn't it?"

The older woman's smile brightened as she nodded her head, "Yes it has. I wasn't sure if you'd remember me," she replied nervously. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you and your friend but I couldn't resist saying hello."

Her mentioning "his friend" seemed to remind Minho of Han's presence and Minho blushed, gesturing to him with a smile and Jisung stood he was being introduced, "Han, this is Mrs. Yun Jin Park, she used to be my former assistant but she had to leave when her husband got a big promotion and they moved away. Mrs. Park, this is actually my new personal assistant, Han Jisung."

Mrs. Park's eyes seemed to widen slightly but she schooled her features into a polite smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Han. Mr. Lee is an excellent boss, is he not?"

It seemed the powers that be were conspiring to make him blush uncontrollably today, because he was doing it again even as he nodded in agreement. "Now, now, no need for flattery. I know I was a handful," Minho offers in a friendly tone. "We were all kids when we started SKZ and poor Mrs. Park had to deal with not only my temper but my horrible, workaholic tendencies as well."

"You still have both," Han teased, laughing when Minho pinched his arm.

Mrs. Park giggled, eyes twinkling as she stared at the two of them, "There's nothing wrong with being a hard worker Mr. Lee, it clearly brought you success. But I'm happy to see you seem to have found some balance after all this time."

"Balance?" Minho questioned, but Jisung had a funny feeling that he knew what she was referring to.

Mrs. Park's smile became uncertain, "Oh, forgive me Mr. Lee, I just assumed you two..."

Jisung cut in, "Oh we're just friends. Our Mr. Lee deserves much better than someone like me," he laughed nervously.

"I apologize for my assumption," Mrs. Park says quietly, and there's an awkward beat of silence. "I'd better get going now, but it was lovely seeing you again Mr. Lee, great meeting you Mr. Han!"

They both return her pleasantries cheerfully, waving as she leaves. Minho has a thoughtful look on his face, but he doesn't speak as they return to their seats. But thankfully conversation resumes and it's filled with the same friendly, mildly flirtatious banter as before. Jisung's insides are now just a mass of butterflies when he's dropped off at his home. He puts his new clothes and things away carefully, a silly grin plastered on his face the whole time. As he preps for bed, he doesn't notice the shabbiness of his apartment, or how small and cramped the space is. No, his mind and heart are awash with the glow and excitement of new love and new hopes on the horizon. For the first time in forever he actually can't wait for the weekend to end so he can get back to work and see Minho again.

~~~~~

"Jisung, I never thought I'd say this, but did you get laid this weekend?" Hyunjin asked, Monday morning as they shared a cup of coffee. They were at work bright and early, before both of their bosses had arrived.

Han nearly spat out his drink, "What?! No, what are you even talking about?"

Hyunjin shrugged, "I don't know, there's just a glow about you. I've never known you to be this chipper on a Monday morning. Certainly not at this hour." Thoughts of Minho entered his head and his face broke into a soft smile before he could censor it. "Hah! I caught that! You bitch, who is he?!"

"Who's who?" That came from Felix, who strolled in, still a little sleepy looking but smiling nonetheless.

"The man Jisung is sleeping with," Hyunjin says dryly, a smirk on his face as he stares his best friend down.

Now Felix looks much more awake, "Oh, did this man also buy you that designer bag?"

The guilty flush that creeps up Jisung's neck is all they need to start hounding him with more questions and accusations. "First of all hush!" Han hisses, and then he snatched up both of their arms and dragged them to the restroom locking the door behind them. "Now, to answer your questions I haven't slept with him yet—"

"Yet," Felix cuts in with a grin.

Jisung rolls his eyes, "And honestly, I don't even know if the him, that we're speaking of really wants me in that way. Right now we're just....friends," he confessed softly, looking up at his two friends.

Hyunjin chews his lip thoughtfully, "Well, he got you that bag didn't he? Maybe he was trying to hint at his interest as more than a friend?" He pointed out. "Just who is this 'he' anyway? How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense?"

"Yeah, who is it?" Felix seconded.

There's a long pause as Jisung debates over whether or not to share his secret. Part of him worries that he's somehow betraying Minho's trust, but then again Hyunjin is his best friend and Felix has quickly become a dear friend to him as well. He's certain that he can trust them to keep his secret, heck, they might even help him figure out if it's even worth harboring such deep feelings for the man.

"It's...Lee Minho."