Aquarium of Us

Chapter 14: A moment in the dark

They already said goodnight but both didn't want to let the quiet intimacy between them fade. So they stayed in the living room, Jisung stretching out on a yoga mat he'd pulled from the closet, trying to make himself comfortable on the floor. Minho settled onto the couch, throwing a blanket over his legs as he watched Jisung settle in, both of them quietly laughing at their impromptu sleepover.

The weight of the day, the laughter, the silent confessions, all sank into them like a warm blanket. Eventually, they drifted off to sleep, the gentle rhythm of their breaths blending with the quiet of the room.

Some hours later, Minho stirred, his eyes blinking open in the dimness. He shifted, only to realize that his hand had fallen off the couch and was resting lightly on Jisung's chest. He could feel the steady rise and fall of Jisung's breathing, his warm chest beneath his fingertips. Jisung's arm had, at some point, wrapped itself loosely around Minho's forearm, as if holding him close even in sleep.

Minho's arm had fallen asleep, a dull, prickling sensation filling his fingers. Trying to shift carefully, he lifted his hand, but the slight movement was enough to make Jisung stir, his eyes fluttering open to meet Minho's.

For a moment, they just looked at each other. Jisung's hair was messy, sticking up in places, his eyes soft and sleepy, his expression unguarded in a way that made Minho's heart skip a beat. Jisung looked vulnerable, gentle, his usual energy softened by the quiet of the night. Minho thought to himself, sleepy, barefaced Jisung was... breathtaking.

Still half-asleep, without thinking, Jisung reached up, his fingers wrapping around Minho's wrist. With a gentle tug, he pulled Minho off the couch, the movement so natural, as if they'd been this close forever. Caught off guard, Minho fell forward, landing on top of Jisung, their faces just inches apart. Jisung's eyes blinked open, now wide awake as he realized the position they were in. But neither of them moved to pull away.

They both broke into soft laughter, the sound quiet but full of warmth, the tension in the air around them electric. Minho's laugh faded as he noticed just how close Jisung's face was, his gaze drifting down to Jisung's lips, pink and slightly parted, as if inviting him closer.

Minho felt his heart hammering against his chest, his pulse loud in his ears. He could feel Jisung's warm breath against his skin, their faces so close that he could see every delicate freckle, every soft line of his features. Minho's gaze lingered on Jisung's mouth, and without thinking, he began to lean in, the space between them shrinking until he could feel the faint brush of Jisung's lips, his own breath hitching in anticipation.

Jisung's eyes were half-lidded, his own breathing growing shallow, his gaze dropping to Minho's lips with a look that made Minho's heart skip another beat. The tension between them was thick, an unspoken promise hanging in the air, both of them caught in the magnetic pull that had been building for what felt like forever.

Minho's face was so close to Jisung's that he could feel every intake of breath, their noses nearly brushing, their eyes locked in a silent conversation. He wanted to close the distance, to feel the softness of Jisung's lips against his, to taste the sweetness he'd been holding back for so long.

But just as he was about to lean in, he stopped, hesitating. A quiet voice in his mind reminded him to take things slowly, to savor each step, each moment. The thought of kissing Jisung was tempting, so tempting it made his heart race. But he knew, deep down, that if he tasted Jisung now, he might not be able to stop himself, might not be able to hold back from everything he wanted.

He took a deep, shaky breath, his gaze drifting back to meet Jisung's eyes, which were round and filled with something soft, something vulnerable. Jisung looked at him with those big, doe-like eyes, and Minho could feel his resolve slipping, his desire teetering on the edge.

Instead, he let himself slide off to Jisung's side, pulling him into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around him as if he could somehow hold onto this moment forever. Jisung let out a soft breath, blushing deeply but not pulling away, leaning into the warmth of Minho's arms, his face nuzzled into Minho's shoulder.

They lay like that, wrapped in each other's warmth, both of them too wrapped up in the quiet intimacy to let go. Jisung's face remained flushed, his heart pounding against Minho's chest, but he felt safe, cherished, held in a way that made his entire body feel weightless.

As they drifted back to sleep, Minho's gaze softened, his hand stroking gently over Jisung's back, a small smile tugging at his lips. Just before sleep took him, he leaned close to Jisung's ear, his voice barely a whisper, a soft promise meant only for the sleeping boy in his arms.

"Next time... I don't think I'll be able to resist," he murmured, his words carrying a warmth that lingered in the silence.

And with that, they fell asleep, wrapped in each other's embrace, the room filled with the gentle rhythm of their breathing, a soft, unspoken promise resting between them.