Sweetheart (Minsung)

32. Brainwashed

Jisung stretches his limbs, careful not to bump his boyfriend whose still peacefully sleeping. He gets out of bed, pulling the covers over Minho before he leaves the room to make sure he doesn't get cold.

Once he escaped the room quietly, the boy made his way to the kitchen. He looked for ingredients to make breakfast, but they were all out. Jisung sighed as the elder excited their bedroom.

"Morning sweetheart." Minho says in a tired voice before seeing all the open cabinets. "What are you doing?" He asks, an amused smile on his lips. The younger sighs again and starts to close all the doors.

"I was looking for ingredients to make breakfast, but we're out." Jisung opens a draw, pulling out some money and counting it. "Last twenty bucks we have since we haven't pawned off the things we got yesterday." He announces before placing the money on the bench.

The younger stands in front of Minho, leaning up quickly to place a kiss on his lips.

"I'll just go grocery shopping after a shower." He tells him, about to go to the bathroom when the elder grabs his wrist.

"Can I join you?" He asks with a cute smile, following the boy when he agrees. The couple enter the bathroom, and Minho turns on the water as they strip. The two step into the stream of water, Jisung immediately grabbing the soap and squirting some in his hand.

He lathers it between his hands before starting to wash his boyfriend's body. Starting with his chest and shoulders, then down to his abs and sides.

"Turn around, let me wash your back." The other does, letting him run his hands over his skin with a delicate touch. Once he's covered with suds Jisung grabs the shower head and washes off the soap.

"By the way, how did you get the water to work. This place is abandoned, isn't it? Actually, why is there a bathroom anyway? It's a factory." He asks as the elder starts to rub soap on his chest. Minho chuckles at his question.

"When people worked here, the bosses would live in the building to make sure everything was running smoothly. When I moved here, I rigged the pipes to connect to the pipes going to a still working factory." He explains gently, finishing the washing of his boyfriend's body. Jisung hums in understanding as he shuts off the water and steps out. 

Minho follows, the two grabbing towels to dry themselves. The younger dresses in jeans and a jumper while the elder just puts on sweatpants and a shirt. He sees the other to the door, giving him a quick kiss as he exits.

***

Jisung walks down the path, breathing in the fresh air and admiring the birds flying around. He arrives at the store, entering it with a bell sound and heading to noodle isle. All the options seem to scream at him to buy them, but he had to focus.

Not on his rumbling stomach, but on making the money stretch. He picked a few packets out before moving on to the chocolates and picking a bar. He also picks up a loaf of bread and walks to the counter.

"Hi, just these today?" The cashier asks in a friendly tone.

"Yes, thank you." He looks to the side for a moment as she scans everything and packs it into a plastic bag.

"Twenty dollars please." She asked and he handed the money over, receiving a receipt from her back. "Have a nice day!" She winks as he leaves, making him roll his eyes. Once outside he looks at the receipt, chuckling at the number written on the back. 

He goes to throw it out when suddenly his arm is grabbed and he's dragged into an alleyway, dropping the bag. He tries to fight back but gets pinned to the wall.

"What the fuck! Eun?" His eyes widen at seeing his ex.

"Your alive! Why didn't you come home?" He asks. Jisung cringes at the word 'home'.

"You left me for dead and I left with the criminal guy your so obsessed with killing." He explains with a glare. Eun lets go of his hands but stays close.

"What are you talking about? I saw you, dead on the floor. I was so heart broken." He puts on a sad expression, holding his chest. "I spent every past night dreaming of you coming back. To find out your alive and didn't come back to me..." He glances away as Jisung rolls his eyes.

"Cut the act Eun. I know what happened, so you can't lie. I know you didn't want me to make it out alive. He saved me and has looked after me. He cares for me. So, you can fuck off." An angry expression grows on the elder's face and his act drops.

"Do you really think he cares for you? He just saved you to get to me." Eun spits out, stepping closer. "He's brainwashing you to use you for his own good. The only person who ever cared for you was me." He pokes his chest. "But you left."

Jisung just stares at him, not sure what to say. Could he be being used? 

"That's not true. I'm not going to believe you." He tries to keep his voice steady as a smirk grows on the elder's face.

"He's brainwashing you and you just can't accept it. I am giving you a chance to leave and come back to me. If you stay with him, you'll get hurt. I love you. And I miss you. So come back." He holds out a hand with a fake smile on his face. 

Jisung hesitates, but smacks his hand away and leaves, picking up the bag and continuing his way down the footpath. The boy enters the house and sets down the bag. Minho gets up from the couch and gives him a hug before making breakfast with him and sitting back down.

The younger tries his best to push away the conversation with Eun, but he just can't.

"Minho?" He asks quietly.

"Yes?" He turns his attention to the boy.

"I'm not being brainwashed, right?" He questions, surprised by the knowing smile on his boyfriend's lips. Minho hooks an arm around his waist and pulls him into a hug, letting him rest on his chest.

"Not by me sweetheart."