stars and whispers // minsung

chapter sixty five

"I'm sorry, but not in my room. Sorry, guys. Love that you're finally feeling each other though!" Jeongin said, pointing toward the door with a grin.

The real problem? Everyone outside the room was now staring at them—watching, whispering. 

Jisung flushed sixteen different shades of red, immediately covering his face with both hands. "Oh my God..." he whispered, mortified.

Minho chuckled, clearly less bothered, and grabbed Jisung's hand. "C'mon, let's get out of here." He glanced at Jeongin, shaking his head with a smirk before leading Jisung out of the room.

As they emerged from the room, Jisung frantically pulled on his shirt, which had somehow made its way back over his shoulders, still blushing furiously. 

His other hand remained plastered over his face, shielding him from the prying eyes of the partygoers. 

The embarrassment was overwhelming.

They navigated through the crowd, Jisung practically hiding behind Minho, who remained unbothered and confident, smirking the whole time.

Once outside of the Lee's house, Minho unlocked his car and opened the door for Jisung. 

The boy slid into the passenger seat, still flustered, his face glowing red. 

His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst right out of his chest.

Minho climbed in after him, started the engine, and began driving.

"So—" Minho began, but Jisung quickly cut him off.

"No. Not yet," Jisung muttered, not quite ready to relive the embarrassment. 

He still couldn't look Minho in the eyes.

Minho scoffed softly and nodded. "Okay, okay..." 

Several minutes passed in silence, tension thick between them as the car hummed along the road. 

Jisung finally let out a long sigh and lowered his hands from his face. "What... happened back there?" he asked, his voice barely above a whine.

Minho chuckled, keeping his eyes on the road. "What do you mean? Do you really want me to repeat everything—?"

"No!" Jisung yelped, cutting him off again. "That's not what I meant, Lee Minho... I meant... why?" 

He glanced sideways at Minho, his voice trembling with lingering embarrassment, his lip threatening to quiver as if he might cry from the sheer awkwardness of it all.

Minho smiled softly, glancing briefly at Jisung as he turned the wheel with one hand. "I think it's pretty obvious at this point, Ji."

Jisung huffed, still flustered. "Well, it's happened before, and I didn't get anything out of it except you being drunk and stupid." He crossed his arms over his chest, clearly defensive.

"And the two other times I ran away," Minho said, his tone softer now, "but this time, I didn't. That must mean something, right?"

"What? That you're confident enough to accept it now?" Jisung shot back, pouting as he averted his gaze to the window.

Minho smirked, amused by Jisung's reaction. "Accept what?"

Jisung blushed deeper, raising his shoulders and looking away, pouting harder.

"I like you, Jisung," Minho finally said, his voice calm as he focused on the road ahead. "That's what it means."

Jisung turned a half reassuring shade of red, the kind of blush that started at his ears and spread all the way down his neck. 

He bit his lip, staring down at his hands.

"We're quiet now, aren't we?" Minho teased in a sarcastic tone, a chuckle slipping out.

"Are you being for real?" Jisung asked, still in disbelief.

"Are you really asking that question?" Minho shot back. "I literally just told you you're beautiful, kissed you, and  undressed you. If that's not 'liking' someone, then call the police. I'll lend you my phone." He smirked as he added the last part, clearly amused by Jisung's flustered state.

"Shit, Minho! Don't say it like that—it's embarrassing!" Jisung yelped, his face now a deep crimson as he smacked Minho's arm.

Minho laughed, rubbing the spot where he'd been smacked. "How is that embarrassing for you if I'm the one undressing someone in this story?"

"Well, that 'someone' is me, idiot!" Jisung shot back, whining.

Minho laughed again and nodded. "Alright, alright, I get it..."

The car fell into a comfortable silence for a while, the tension easing but the air still charged with something unspoken.

We already act like a couple, don't we?

Oh my God... Is this real?

Jisung broke the silence again, his voice a little softer this time. "So, this time answer with an actual reply, not another question. Do you really like me?"

Minho's tone was steady and serious. "I do."

"Say it again," Jisung demanded, still not fully believing it.

"I like you, Han Jisung. Want me to say it in Japanese too?" Minho teased, shooting a side glance at him with a smirk.

"What are you getting all aggressive for?" Jisung whined, puffing his cheeks in frustration.

"I'm not! You're just sensitive," Minho chuckled.

"Okay, but—if I like you too... then what do we do now?" Jisung asked, unsure of the next step but feeling something shift between them.

Minho rolled his eyes dramatically. "What kind of question is that? You're going to be my boyfriend!"

Jisung raised an eyebrow. "Is it that easy for you?"

The way they were bantering back and forth, it almost sounded like an argument. 

But it wasn't. 

It was just the natural push and pull between them—like hot and cold air meeting in a storm.

Minho huffed. "Easy? What about this whole situation screams 'easy'? You're the most difficult person I know!"

"Oh, I'm going to be your boyfriend? No, you're going to be my boyfriend!" Jisung retorted, pointing at Minho dramatically.

"See? This is what I mean when I say you're difficult! What's the difference between me being your boyfriend and you being mine?" Minho argued, laughing as he pulled up to a red light.

"Can you stop yelling?" Jisung grumbled, crossing his arms again.

"You yelled first! You're making me nervous, Ji!" Minho chuckled, clearly enjoying teasing him.

Jisung pouted, turning his head to look out the window, the blush still evident on his cheeks.

Minho smirked as he stopped the car. "You're not mad, are you?"

"I'm not," Jisung muttered, still staring out the window. "I'm just... thinking."

"Aw, thinking about me?" Minho teased, raising his eyebrows in a flirty tone.

Jisung sighed, rolling his eyes. "Actually, yes. I'm thinking about all the cons that come with being your boyfriend."

Still avoiding Minho's gaze, Jisung kept looking out the window, his pout deepening.

"Jisung..." Minho called, his voice soft but persistent.No response.

"Ji-sung~!" Minho sang playfully, leaning in closer.

Still no response.

"Ji!" 

Minho called, but this time, when Jisung finally turned his head to answer, Minho leaned in swiftly and kissed him on the lips, the contact making Jisung's blush deepen instantly. 

"Hope that helps with your thinking," Minho teased, winking as he pulled away, leaving Jisung blushing and speechless once again.