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17

a Porsche parked in front of the han's family mansion. the lee's exited it, mr. lee adjusting his suit as he did so.

walking towards the door, mrs. lee put a hand on minho's shoulder.
"be on your best behavior. I don't care about how you two act when you're alone, but this is a formal dinner. act like it."

minho just nodded, as his dad knocked on the door.
seconds later, mrs. han appeared in the doorframe.
"hello, I am so glad that you made it."
she said, a charming smile on her face.
"come on in."

after taking off their shoes, the lee's made their way inside, mrs. han leading them into the dining room.

"how have you been? we haven't spoken that much."
mrs. lee asked.

"oh, as best as it gets."
mrs. han waved her hand.

minho was looking around a bit.
he did have to admit, the house was nice. pretty decorations, colors well matched, and he was pretty sure he saw a piano down the hall.

that's when they reached the dinning room.
as the parents all said their hellos, minho's and junho's eyes met.

•~•

"I am so worried tho."
junho sighed, adjusting the tie.

"I think you should take it from the opposite side."
jisung said.
"this is not something like the little dates in park, this is a formal dinner with parents. you can act more like yourself, and then blame it on the fact you have to act a certain way in front of your parents."

"but still. what if they mention something about having two kids? or if the lee's ask about the piano or something. you're literally the only one that can play. or worse, what if minho asks me to play?"
junho's eyes widened.

"in what scenario would that happen?"
jisung chuckled.
"relax, it's just a dinner. keep in mind that our parents and minho's parents haven't seen each other for some time, and before all of this happened, their contact was minimal. the entire reason for this dinner is to get the families closer."

"I think you're forgetting that YOU are the family as well."
junho sighed.
"fucking god, I need a cigarette."

jisung rolled his eyes slightly.
"I will have to go now. don't stress about it too much, it's gonna be fine."
he said, patting junho's shoulder.

•~•

"I have to say, your house looks absolutely beautiful."
mrs. lee said, sitting down.

"oh thank you, we did go for the cozy simple theme, I think it turned out amazing."
mrs. han smiled.

"junho, you grew so much since the last time I have seen you."
mrs. lee put her hands together.
"we were all at the charity ball, but we didn't even said a word to each other. now when I think about it, I don't think I even saw you."

"yeah, it was a masked ball."
junho chuckled, trying to sound natural.
"I wouldn't recognize you in the pile of people."

"that's true."
mrs. lee nodded.
"but still, I last saw you when you were what? like thirteen? you grew into handsome young man."

junho smiled a bit, bowing his head slightly.
"thank you."

"don't flatter him too much, he'll grow cocky, and he's already cocky enough."
mrs. han said.

junho was fighting every single cell in his body not to roll his eyes.
act like jisung, you gotta be nice at least a bit.

minho furrowed his eyebrows slightly, but didn't say anything.

"well, talking for all of us, we're so glad that you two get along so well."
mrs. han said, making all of the parents smile.

junho smiled awkwardly.
"uhm, thanks."

"so, how have your dates been going?"
mrs. lee asked.
"we give you space, but since we're all here today to get closer, we would like to know."

"it's been going nice I think."
minho said, looking at junho.

junho just chuckled awkwardly.
"yes, absolutely."
he said.
"I'm sorry, I'm just a little shy, talking about things like this in front of all of you..."

"oh, you don't have to be shy at all."
mr. lee waved his hand.
"after all, we have known you since you were a child."

"and maybe, we will see each other...more in the future."
mrs. lee said, a smile on her face.

minho sighed softly.
"mom, please."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
mrs. lee chuckled.
"but come to think of it, how is jisu-"

"uhm, we were talking about our dates?"
junho interrupted her, his heart beating fast.

"I just didn't want to make you more shy."
mrs. lee said.
"but...you guys have been on lot of dates already, so what is your favorite thing to do?"

"we get a lot of food."
minho answered.
"and just talk, right?"
he said, looking at junho.

"yeah, totally."
junho nodded.
"and talk about books and stuff."

"oh really? what is your favorite book then?"
mrs. lee asked.

shit.
I totally put myself in this situation tho, I'm so fucking dumb.
junho thought, while trying to remember at least one book that jisung has been telling him about.

mrs. han furrowed her eyebrows.
"I didn't know you read. did you start borrowing books from ji-"

"madam's parrot, I like that one."
junho said.

minho looked at him, furrowing his eyebrows.
wasn't his favorite book dying desire?

"oh, minho loves that book as well, don't you son? you were telling me all about it when you finished it."
mrs. lee said.

"yeah, it is my favorite one from julie black."
minho nodded.

"ah, of course you have so many stuff to talk about! you even share a favorite book!"
mr. lee said.

"I had no idea my son was reading, but it's truly sweet."
mrs. han smiled.

"yeah, totally."
junho smiled.
"we're absolutely adorable."

minho couldn't explain it, but this didn't feel right.
normally when junho flirted with him when they were alone, it sounded more sweetly, and much more natural.
why was this so not it?
"mhm, whatever junho said."