Not Into You; Changjin

011018

Minho
~~

     "Happy pumpkin month!" Han says after I open the door. It's 6:13 pm on a Monday, and I just got back from my internship.

     "Pumpkin month?"

     "Y'know, Halloween?"

     "Oh, that... Do people celebrate Halloween?"

     "I do! It sounds like so much fun that I thought I'd try and raise your spirits," he holds a pumpkin up as though offering it to me, "I bought it at Costco, and I thought I'd get one for you guys too. That way we can all get in the mood."

     "Oh, umm," I take it from him, "Thanks? Wanna come in? I'm just eating."

     "Oh! No, that's okay."

     "I made extra on accident," I smile, "You're welcome to have some. It would probably just go to Changbin otherwise, and he already ate."

     "Ah, um... Can I come in?"

     I nod and open the door for him, "I'm the only one here right now. Bin and Hyunjin are out at the office."

     "The office?"

     "Changbin's company," I explain, "They hired Hyunjin to paint a mural, so he's been going with Binnie to work for like a week."

     "Ah," he nods and sits on the ground next to the floor table.

     I set the pumpkin on my desk and grab an extra bowl from my shelf and a set of chopsticks, and I spoon some rice into his bowl. After the rice, I put some chicken and veggies inside it.

     "Here," I hand him the bowl, "Eat. You've gotta keep your cute cheeks."

     "My cheeks aren't cute. They're fat and weird. They make me look like a baby- like I'm not an adult."

     "No, it's nice," I smile, "I like your cheeks."

     "Yeah?"

     "Yeah, they make you look like a mochi or a squirrel. It's good."

     He smiles halfway, "Thanks."

     "Now try some. I wanna know if you like it."

     He takes a bite, "Oooh, it's yummy."

     "You're adorable."

     "No," he covers his mouth with his hands, "You're just delusional."

     "Wow, delusional? Is that how you treat your hyungs?"

     "No," he laughs, "Just you."

     "Rude."

     "I'm not being rude. I'm showing affection," he ruffles my hair, "You're fun to tease. Like a cat with a laser pointer, y'know?"

     "A cat?" I feel my ears getting warm, "How am I like a cat?"

     "You act all cold, but you're fun to be with. You like affection in your own time. You kinda drift over if something seems interesting, but you leave whenever it starts to bore you. Exactly like a cat."

     "You said something about laser pointers. How is that like me?"

     "Uh, because I like to tease you, and you keep following the shiny dot I give you."

     "Are you teasing, though, right now?"

     "What do you mean?"

     "When you said my food was good or that I'm like a cat. Or-- Wait. You're not using a crutch anymore."

     He nods, "The trainer looked at it on Friday and said that it would be fine to stop using it. Hopefully, I can stop wearing this boot soon too. He said to come back on Thursday to check."

     "That's really cool. I'm glad you're recovering," I look into his eyes, "Seriously, I was worried about it. I'm glad it's healing."

     He smiles, then looks down at his bowl, "Thanks."

     "Look at me real quick," I say, "You have some sauce on your chin."

     "Oh, did you wanna get it?" he smirks.

     I raise my hand, and, before I can come up with some snide comment, I lift his chin so that his eyes meet mine and wipe it off with my thumb. We pause a moment, then I quickly pull my hand back and rub the sauce into my napkin.

     "Sorry, you were probably joking."

     "No, that's fine," he smiles, "I was, kinda, but not fully."

     "Yeah?"

     He nods, "Thanks for getting it."

     I nod and smile, "Of course."

     "See, this is the part that confuses me. You're randomly really warm and kind. Usually cats aren't."

     "They are. When they find something that's important enough to them... Like how a cat will try to take care of it's owner when it loves them enough. Or leaving little trophies from its hunt on the doormat. Stuff like that as gifts to the ones it values."

     He blushes, and I find myself smiling. Our little moment is interrupted by Jin and Bin returning from the office. They must be having a great conversation because they're very loud. I guess, I don't really know for sure.

     All I can see are Han's eyes-- right over his chipmunk cheeks. They're cute too, but not in the same way. They have so many stories and memories behind them. It's so hard to look away.

     "Minho!" Bin says, "Did you make enough for me?"

     "No, I didn't. I was making for Han today."

     Han blushes again and looks back at his rice. He finishes the last bit of it with such speed that you'd think he hadn't eaten in days.

     When he's done, he stands and bows, "Thanks for supper, hyung. I should probably get going."

     "Why? Do you have something to get to?"

     "No, but... Jinnie and Changbin are probably both tired from working. They probably want the room to themselves."

     "Oh," I pause, "You're right. I, uh--"

     "Thanks again," he bows again and rushes out.

     "Goodbye," I sigh after he closes the door. I punch myself mentally for not inviting him to karaoke or something. I should've taken the initiative before he left. He just... Ran off.

     "What's this pumpkin?" Changbin asks.

     "I don't really know."

     He grabs it, "Can I use it to cook?"

     I jump to my feet and snatch it from him, "No, it's mine. You can't have it."

     "I was just asking."

     "He gave it to me, not to you, so it's mine. I'm gonna keep it."

     "...okay??" Bin looks comfused, "Who did?"

     "Hannie," I smile victoriously, "He walked over to our dorm and gave me a pumpkin even though he had to go all the way to Costco to get it, and he just got off his crutches."

     "Wait... Minho, do you...?"

     "Yes," I smile, "And?"

     He shakes his head, smiling "Nothing. Just proud of you, that's all."