𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 / 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑔

S2 ch 39

They had a good dinner, the warmth of the meal momentarily pushing away the chill of the Russian winter outside. Jiwon ate with enthusiasm, clearly in a good mood, but what caught Minho’s attention was the way he kept glancing at his phone, a small smile tugging at his lips. It wasn’t the usual smirk he gave when joking around—it was different. Softer. Almost secretive.

Minho’s eyes narrowed slightly as he took a sip of water, watching the way Jiwon’s fingers hovered over the screen before quickly typing something back. The boy barely looked up from his phone, completely absorbed in whatever conversation he was having.

Jisung noticed too, but instead of questioning it immediately, he decided to ease into the conversation. “How was school today?” he asked, scooping a bit of cabbage onto his plate.

Jiwon finally looked up, still grinning. “It was fine,” he answered in Korean before switching to Russian. “We had a history quiz, but it was easy. Oh, and I played soccer with some guys after class.”

Minho raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you were late?”

Jiwon hesitated for a split second, then nodded. “Yeah.”

Minho didn’t buy it. He glanced at Jisung, who seemed more amused than suspicious. “And what’s so interesting on your phone?” Minho asked casually, resting his chin on his hand.

Jiwon immediately grew defensive, locking his screen and putting his phone face down on the table. “Nothing. Just talking to a friend.”

“A friend?” Minho repeated, skeptical.

Jiwon groaned. “Yes, Minho, a friend. Do you want me to read my messages out loud or something?”

Jisung chuckled, nudging Minho lightly. “Come on, he’s allowed to have friends.”

Minho exhaled sharply but didn’t push further. Still, the look in his eyes said he wasn’t letting it go completely.

Jiwon, sensing the interrogation was over—for now—picked up his phone again. And just like that, the smile returned. Jisung and Minho exchanged a glance.

Whoever Jiwon was talking to, he was important enough to make the boy forget, even for a moment, the dangers that surrounded them.

As Jiwon stayed absorbed in his phone, Minho kept sneaking glances at him, his suspicion obvious. Jisung, on the other hand, was more amused than anything. He leaned closer to Minho, a playful smirk on his lips.

“You’re obsessed,” Jisung whispered, his voice teasing.

Minho shot him a glare. “I am not.”

“You totally are,” Jisung continued, resting his chin on Minho’s shoulder. “Look at you, watching Jiwon like he’s some kind of secret agent.”

Minho scoffed. “I’m just making sure he’s not getting into trouble.”

Jisung hummed knowingly. “Sure, sure. You know, you do this with me too.”

Minho turned to him, eyebrows raised. “What?”

“You always watch me like that,” Jisung teased, his eyes twinkling. “Like you’re afraid I might do something reckless.”

Minho rolled his eyes, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. “Because you do do reckless things.”

Jisung laughed and, before Minho could protest, leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. Minho stiffened for a moment, glancing at Jiwon, who was too lost in his phone to notice.

Jisung grinned. “See? Obsessed.”

Minho sighed but didn’t push him away. Instead, he reached for his glass of water and muttered, “You’re impossible.”

Jisung chuckled, then turned his attention back to Jiwon. “So,” he started, his tone light, “who’s making you smile like that?”

Jiwon’s fingers froze over his screen. “Huh?”

Jisung smirked. “You’ve been grinning at your phone all night. Got a crush?”

Jiwon’s face turned slightly pink as he quickly shook his head. “What? No! It’s just a friend.”

Minho narrowed his eyes. “A friend, huh?”

Jiwon groaned, slumping back in his chair. “You both are obsessed.”

Jisung burst into laughter, ruffling Jiwon’s hair. “Ah, young love.”

Jiwon swatted his hand away, mumbling something in Russian under his breath before picking up his phone again.

Minho sighed, shaking his head, but Jisung could tell he was still keeping an eye on the boy.

Maybe Jiwon really was just texting a friend.

Or maybe, just maybe, there was more to the story.

Jiwon hesitated for a moment before speaking, still twirling his phone between his fingers. “Can I go out tomorrow?”

Minho raised an eyebrow. “Out where?”

Jiwon shifted in his seat. “Just… to meet a friend.”

Jisung and Minho exchanged a glance. Jiwon rarely asked to go anywhere besides school, so this was new.

“A friend?” Jisung echoed, smirking. “The same one you’ve been texting all night?”

Jiwon groaned. “It’s just a friend, okay?”

Minho crossed his arms. “Who is he?”

Jiwon rolled his eyes. “His name’s Rafayel. We sit together in class. We were just thinking of hanging out, maybe grab some food.”

Minho’s expression remained unreadable, but Jisung could tell he wasn’t thrilled. “Where?”

Jiwon sighed. “At a café near the school. It’s not far.”

Jisung leaned back in his chair, studying the boy’s face. “Sounds harmless enough.”

Minho, however, wasn’t convinced. “I don’t know—”

Jiwon groaned, exasperated. “You guys let me go to school every day, but I can’t go to a café for an hour?”

Jisung placed a hand on Minho’s arm, silently telling him to ease up. “Okay,” Jisung said, looking at Jiwon. “You can go.”

Jiwon blinked in surprise. “Really?”

Jisung nodded, but his voice turned serious. “But you keep your phone on, and if anything seems weird, you call us immediately. Understood?”

Jiwon’s excitement dimmed slightly at the reminder of their ever-present caution, but he nodded. “Got it.”

Minho still looked reluctant, but Jisung gave him a reassuring squeeze under the table. “He’ll be fine,” Jisung murmured.

Minho exhaled sharply, then turned to Jiwon. “If you’re even a minute late, I’m coming to get you.”

Jiwon grinned, grabbing his phone again. “Yeah, yeah. Thanks.”

As he eagerly resumed his conversation with Rafayel, Jisung nudged Minho playfully. “You’re really bad at this whole ‘not being an overprotective dad’ thing.”

Minho just sighed, rubbing his temples. While jisung kissed his lips softly.

To be continued.....