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38

jisung was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a dumb smile.

the kettle filled with water was placed on the stove just a moment ago, and that gave jisung some time to think about his date with minho.

a few days already passed, and yet, it was the only thing occupying his mind. for a while now, he wasn't exactly doing greatest. all the stress from the fake dates, connecting with school, and his parents being the not so supportive parents they always were, jisung was spiraling. he couldn't sleep well, and the guilt towards what he and junho did to minho was still buried deep inside of him.

but after the date, his shoulders felt...less heavy. he was smiling, being in his own little pink and delusional world, and he was a little too excited about the fact that minho's vanilla scent was still present on his pillows.

even his beloved jasmine tea that he loved so much beforehand, started tasting way better than before.

jisung was truly in a bliss.
and what didn't help his situation, was the fact that minho was sending him cute messages trough out the day.

minho:
I hope your day is as sweet as you are ;)

chuckling, jisung started writing his response.

jisung:
it is now, when u messaged me :D
how is your day going so far?

minho's reply was almost immediate.

minho:
just a bit bored, doing some homework atm

jisung:
wow, did the lee minho stop learning just so he could talk to someone like me?

minho:
man has to have his priorities in order ;)

blushed appeared on jisung's cheeks, together with a dumb gummy smile.

jisung:
hehe

minho:
what are u up to btw?

jisung:
nothing much, just making myself some tea.
thanks to you I have a lot of it rn :D

minho:
I'm glad :)
kinda hoping you won't over-drink it and get sick of it

jisung:
you don't have to worry about that, the day I stop drinking jasmine tea is the day I die, it's like a oxygen for me atp

minho:
well, then I'm excited for tea parties ;)
hope that I'm invited

jisung:
you are always invited :)

jisung noticed that his kettle started blowing steam, and started making noises.

jisung:
gtg, my water is boiling

he took the kettle from the stove, and poured the hot liquid in a cup he had already prepared before. he also liked to add some lemon into his tea, but that had to wait until the tea was all steeped.
for some reason, jisung really liked watching that part. it was somehow comforting.

suddenly, steps could be heard from the hallway, and soon enough, a familiar face made their way into jisung's presence.

"hi jisung."
soobin said with a small smile.

"oh, hi soobin!"
jisung smiled back.
"I had no idea you were even here."

"yeah, I'm just hanging out with your brother. he asked me to get some snacks."

"how have you been? we didn't talk in a while."

"it's going somehow. but...I heard that you were doing great."
soobin said, walking to the kitchen cabinet and taking out some chips.

jisung furrowed his eyebrows.
"what does that supposed to mean?"

"junho told me about your date with minho."
soobin said, leaving out the fact that he saw the two by his own eyes.
"was it fun? did you enjoy it?"

a dumb smile appeared on jisung's face, which was happening every single time the said date was mentioned.
"yeah, uhm...it was amazing. the best date that I have ever been on."

soobin stopped in his tracks, before letting out a sigh and turning around.
"that sounds great."

"it...was. but you don't sound happy about it."
jisung furrowed his eyebrows.
"did something happen?"

"yes, jisung. something happened."
soobin said, the chips in his hand forgotten.
"I like you."

jisung eyes widened.
"you...you like me?"

"yes."
soobin scoffed slightly.
"wasn't it quite obvious?"

"I...wouldn't say so?"
jisung blinked.

"I asked you out on a date, how more obvious could I be?"
soobin said.

"I don't usually notice these kind of things."
jisung scratched his arm.

"I have liked you for so long, you have no idea."
soobin leaned against the wall.
"I've always noticed you. you're smart and pretty. who wouldn't want to call you theirs?"

jisung didn't really know how to respond to that.

"to be fair, I never told you because I was sure that you didn't feel the same."
soobin sighed.
"you were kinda...I don't know, scared of me? but then we started hanging out more, we became more comfortable with each other, and I thought that maybe you were starting to feel the same way."

jisung breathed out trough his nose.
"soobin-"

"but then you had your date with minho. and oh my god, you have no idea how much that hurt me."
soobin took a step closer.
"I realized that I didn't want to see you in anyone's arms, unless they're mine. I didn't really plan on blurting this out on you, but for some reason, I felt like I needed to. I need you to know that you have more options, jisung. that I have been waiting here this entire time, fighting for your attention. and I'm asking you to choose me."

jisung eyes were wide, and he was pretty sure he forgot how to breathe.
but it wasn't because he was awestruck, or because he was so touched by soobin's words.

it was because he didn't know what to say.

"I...I need some time. to...process everything."
jisung blurted out moments later.

soobin breathed out of his nose.
"yeah, of course. I must have startled you with this."

"a bit, yeah."
jisung looked down.

soobin nodded.
"I will go back to your brother's room now. uhm, hit me up when you decide."

"yeah."
jisung said, almost in a whisper.

and without more words shared, soobin left him alone in the kitchen.

minho:
make sure you don't burn yourself darling
we know how clumsy u can be ;)