Lies || minsung ✔️

chapter ten

July

That night, all nine boys gathered around the fire pit and roasted hot dogs and s'mores. They were on the stone patio, with nine lawn chairs situated in a circle around the fire.

"Alright guys, every year, our close friends in another bay shoot off fireworks. They're gonna do it tomorrow," Chan told the others.

"Yay! Fireworks are so pretty~" Jeongin cooed, drunk on happiness. 

Jisung's mind was focused on something, or someone, who was also very pretty. This boy looked ethereal when he was illuminated by the warm glow of the fire. Even though Jisung was being warmed by the flames, he shivered as he thought about Minho's otherworldly looks.

Minho glanced at Jisung and noticed that he was staring. Once they made eye contact, Jisung hurriedly looked the other way.

"Jisungie, I saw that~" Minho teased, watching Jisung's cheeks turn pink. 

"Whatever," Jisung mumbled, pulling his jacket tighter around him. He turned away from Minho, trying to hide his blush, though it was to no avail.

---

Later, Minho had gotten ready for bed. His hair was still wet from the shower as he walked out of his room, shirtless, to the bathroom.

Yawning, he opened the door slightly to see Jisung brushing his teeth cutely. When Jisung looked over, his eyes widened, and he choked on his toothpaste. Minho stood there, his pants clinging to his hips, shirtless. Jisung tried his hardest not to drool.

"Calm yourself," Minho said calmly, edging by Jisung to grab his own toothbrush. He took the toothpaste and started brushing his own teeth.

Minho was eyeing Jisung in the mirror, but the brown-haired boy couldn't meet Minho's gaze. They stood in the bathroom awkwardly, both silent, until Jisung spit into the sink and quickly left the bathroom.

"G'night," he mumbled to Minho before scurrying out of the bathroom and closing the door quickly behind him. 

Jisung held his hand over his racing heart. "Ah, why is my heart beating so fast? It's only Minho. He's a friend," Jisung told himself sternly. He sighed and pulled his oversized hoodie over his head before climbing into bed. He closed his eyes for a moment, then pulled the sheets over his head, embarrassed that he was still thinking about Minho.

"He's just a friend, right? Yeah, he's nothing more than that. You're straight, Han Jisung. You've dated a girl before, for Christ's sake!" He couldn't stand the thoughts racing through his mind, so Jisung tossed his hoodie back on and went upstairs to get a glass of water. 

When he got upstairs, he met Chan, who was sitting on his computer in the dining room with all the lights off.

"You okay, mate?" Chan asked cheerfully. 

"I could ask the same to you, hyung. What are you doing awake still? Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed?" Jisung asked tiredly, grabbing a glass from the cupboard. 

"Ah, is it that late? I didn't even realize. I'm just doing a little bit of work," Chan said sheepishly. 

"Work? You're on vacation, hyung!" Jisung exclaimed. "I don't get it. What kind of work are you doing?"

"Ah, don't worry about that." Chan winked at Jisung, who was about to go downstairs with his glass of water. "Good night!"

"Alright. You go to bed soon too, Channie hyung." Jisung found himself creeping warily down the stairs, trying to avoid a certain person who has been on his mind all too much lately. Still, when he walked by Minho's door, Jisung couldn't help but listen in. He quietly put his ear to the door.