Chapter Four

Finally, let's talk about Jisung's part time job.

He works at his local gym, primarily observing the patrons to make sure they aren't misusing any machines or injuring themselves by holding their positions incorrectly. But other than that, he stands by the counter, helping people clock in for their sessions.

You can book him for a private session, well, not quite. A gym member can't pick their trainer when they schedule a session with an instructor, whether it's through their official app or by the counter at a physical gym with assistance from a staff member.

All trainers will receive a notification asking if they are available at that time to accept the request once the submission's time and date have been set. The gym member will be notified once the request has been accepted by a trainer. They only receive the information that an instructor will meet them at the entrance at the specified hour.

Of course, you're free to ask for a particular trainer in a brief note that you submit with your request; however, they are under no duty to comply.

Yet, Jisung has only occasionally dabbled in private sessions. He can be a little shy at times, and he gets hesitant whilst assisting others in establishing a correct posture. Even after asking for their consent, he's unsure about where to place his hands. He doesn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable. He'd rather starkly ignore the whole matter because it's just a free vacation to an inherently damaging segment of his brain.

In either case, the private sessions only add a few dollars per hour to their monthly salary. Considering that Jisung is a double major and sometimes finds himself short on time, his manager allows him to work fewer than 10 hours per week. He does, however, receive an hourly wage, so it's not like the business has taken on a debt solely to keep him on the team.

As mentioned before, Jisung often works a relatively low number of hours per week. Typically, he throws in 2 to 3 hours of job duties before his own appointments. Jisung exercises 2-3 times each week, thus his part-time employment only exceeds 9 hours at most (maybe 12 if he's lucky).

Private sessions just aren't his thing. He'd much rather patrol the gym with his colleagues.

Speaking of his colleague.

"You made him your tutor?!?!" Jeongin's eyebrows fly to his hairline, scrunching his nose with terror. "What in the student teacher fiction fuck are you on?!"

"Oh c'mon!" Jisung whines, "It's not that bad! I get an excuse to see him every week at least!"

Jeongin is his only colleague that he actually hangs out with, outside of work. He's built a routine on sharing his private issues with the younger without much of a second thought. But it's not like Jeongin ever asked. Nor does he care. But his reactions to Jisung's dense life decisions are surely one of a kind.

Jeongin only continues to stare at his so-called 'hyung' and his poor social abilities.

It's 4:52 pm on a Thursday, building up to be the busiest time of day. This is usually when people begin to get off work and go to do their evening exercise before going home. Around this time, it'll be two people at the counter, helping their dear patrons when required.

But Jeongin has an early exam tomorrow morning, so he's gotten permission from their manager to clock out early. He's practically salivating at the clock, waiting for it to strike 5.

Is Jisung jealous? Definitely. He'll probably have to deal with the old, but awfully sweet old ladies asking why they can't pay with cash for their group workouts. They're a bit of a hassle. Most customers are, honestly. But Jeongin has a way of being straightforward, respectfully. And Jisung has a habit of being hesitant, not daring to be blunt at times. People are uncalculated these days, he's scared of their reactions, what more can he say?

"Stop being dramatic! Minho looks like a dream," Jisung huffs. He'd always have to defend his decisions against Jeongin's accusations as if it's the thing keeping him alive.

Jeongin's eyes sweep into a roll. "I'm starting to think you're going crazy and just hallucinating about this 'Minho'. I mean, it's not like it'd be the first time."

Jisung's doe eyes go sharp. "Minho is real and he's the whole package! You would've done that too in the spur of the moment."

"I am?"

The two colleagues snap their heads towards the impromptu voice knitting itself to their conversation.

"Hyung??" At this point it's unnatural that they keep running into each other on a daily basis. Jisung isn't complaining, though. "Are you stalking me or something?? I know you're in love with me, but this is a little much."

The elder surprisingly laughs. "I think I get enough Jisung for the week every Saturday." He then turns towards Jeongin. "Hi innie."

"Good morning, hyung." He bobs back. "You're the Minho he's talking about?"

Minho takes a quick gander at Jisung and a twinkling bead of amusement flickers through his eyes. "I'd guess?"

Jisung is very much confused. "You two know each other?"

"Yeah," Jeongin responds. "He's been a regular since 2016 I think."

"What??" Jisung almost fractures his neck with the way he cracks it over to Minho. "And how come I've never seen you here before??"

"I usually don't do heavy weights where I'd guess that you specialise on." Minho hints at Jisung's well built arms through the sweater, and the subtle compliment goes straight to his dick. Once again, it's most likely a praise kink. "I stay by the dumbbells and kettlebells, focusing more on endurance, balance and flexibility."

"Ohh," he howls. The heavy weightlifting chamber is down at the basement, leaving the upper floors for the mechanical and non-equipment-required workouts.

"And I usually don't even come to this gym in general." He shrugs. "I either just work out in another gym near my apartment or at the studio by dancing. I just come here to work out with Innie sometimes."

"Speaking of working out." A smile blooms on the fox-like boy's face. "I'm done with my shift for today!" The clock strikes 5:01 and Jisung can already feel the dread of having to stand here for the next hour, alone. "You ready to work out, hyung?" Jeongin looks at Minho.

The elder nods. "I just have to put my things in the dressing room lockers and I'll meet you by the yoga mats for a quick warm up stretch."

"Aight, I'll just put my name tag away in the backrooms and start early."

The two depart, and Jisung is left alone.

Well, not really. "I have a few coins here, can I use them to pay?" A sweet, grey haired lady asks.

Great.

***

The hour passes relatively quickly. He patrolled the basement, helping three weightlifting beginners with their positions and giving them a few tips. It was a little awkward, but Jisung managed.

He's just gathered his things from the backrooms, the next colleague taking over for the closing shift. He hasn't seen Jeongin nor Minho since they left for their workouts.

With a huff, Jisung gets his black duffel bag from the staffroom, making his way to the lockers. Yes, even staff have to use the common locker rooms. He enters, greeting a few of the members he's befriended.

"Took you long enough," Changbin scoffs.

"Of course," Jisung retorts with delight, setting his bag down beside Changbin's. "You're saying that as if I should want to work out with you."

Changbin's ego takes on visible damage. "It's not my fault you can't keep up with my hardcore workouts," he grumbles, which elicits a chuckle from the younger.

Jisung finishes pulling his sweater over his head before speaking. "Obviously. Who works out like they're training for their next life-or-death battle? I just do it to be healthy." Jisung is quite used to Changbin's overwhelming strength. At one point, they made a bet that Jisung wouldn't be able to take another step after doing Changbin's full routine. And he indeed, couldn't. Losing 50$ sure hurt his wallet.

But they've come to the conclusion that they can still work out side by side, even if they aren't doing the same routines.

"Who knows," Changbin proposes. "If I get attacked, I have to be prepared and not all for show."

"I don't think anyone would attack a buff tree stump." Jisung scrambles through his bag for his gym shirt. He hears Changbin giving him a cautionary "Yah" but he gives it no mind. "Hey, have you seen my black tank top? I swear I put it in my bag before I left for school," he asks instead.

Changbin mumbles a spare "So disrespectful. He never listens to his hyung." Along with a few more quibbles, before Jisung nudges the elder's shoulder.

The elder waves him off. "I'm sure you have it somewhere, I saw you putting it in this morning."

"Do you have an extra?" Jisung asks, as a few familiar voices enter the room. There's quite a few men inside, but the voices manage to cram their way through.

"Oh, hey Innie," Changbin greets, forcing his arm through the sleeve of his shirt.

Jeongin gives him a smile, moving over to stand beside him to enter his locker. "Are you guys starting right now?"

Changbin nods. "Hey, Minho hyung."

Only then does Jisung look up, looking to his side where Minho fiddles with his combination lock. "Oh, hey, hyung."

"Hey, Jisungie." Minho only gives him a quick half-assed smile before he gets hidden behind the locker door and seemingly halts.

Jisung straightens his naked back from arching over his bag, looking over at Jeongin. "Yah, Innie, do you have an extra shirt? I think I forgot mine at home or lost it."

Jeongin stares at him with a grimace, like usual. "You don't even know if you've lost it or if it's at home?"

"Yeah, I think I've got my answer from you," Jisung sighs and instead looks at Minho. "Hyung, do you have an extra shirt?"

It's as if Minho's eyes are deliberately avoiding Jisung. "No, sorry." He shrugs and looks at his phone. "'M going to the bathroom, can you watch my things?"

"Yeah, of course," Jisung says, finally noticing the red tint glowing through Minho's ears and neck.

Minho offers him a small smile of gratitude and leaves for the restrooms. Did Jisung stare at Minho's ass while he walked away? Yes. His thighs look majestic in those leggings. Maybe Jisung should ditch Changbin and start working out with Minho.

But Jisung's thoughts get cut short when Changbin throws a black tight-fitting longsleeve shirt at him. "Found one in the bottom of my bag. No idea how long it's been there, but I don't think you want to take your chances and look like a cocky dick working out shirtless."

"Thank you, hyung," Jisung grins at the elder. It makes Changbin grow flustered and he sends an 'aegyo' expression at Jisung, lips pursed into an air kiss. The action makes both Jisung and Jeongin wrinkle their noses.

And once again, Changbin just mumbles his complaints of the two being brats.

Jisung begins to put it on, and a question sparks in his head. "Hey guys," he calls out, Jeongin and Changbin humming for him to continue. "Did you guys also notice how Minho is just completely avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?"

Jeongin scoffs. "Have you never seen a gay panic?"

"Huh?"

"It's so obvious that it's stupid I even have to say it aloud," Jeongin mutters, Changbin agreeing with a nod.

"Yeah, it's pretty obvious why Minho is 'ignoring' you, Sung. You can't be that dumb. You're a computer science major after all."

"First of all," Jisung declares. "Being a computer science major literally means nothing," he says, stuffing his head through the shirt.

"And here I thought you were the only smart one." Jeongin scowls at Jisung's body. "He thinks you're hot. You didn't have a shirt on and he didn't want to be impolite and stare. Minho has a weak spot for muscled guys."

Changbin bobs his head, accompanying the youngest's statement. "Yeah, you've got somewhat of a muscled build. 'Guess it makes Minho's brain go all mushy."

Jisung doesn't know if he should be happy that Minho thinks he's hot shirtless, or if he should be offended that Changbin just said that he has 'somewhat of a muscled build'. Both, probably. "Wow." Is all he manages.

"I'm back," Minho declares, returning to his place beside Jisung as he packs his gym shoes.

The trio greets him, and Jisung really wants to test this theory.

"I'll wait for you outside, hyung," Jeongin says, ready to leave with Changbin by his side.

"Yeah, me too. I'll be by the treadmills."

Minho nods. "I'll be out soon." And with that, Changbin and Jeongin shuffle their way out.

"Hyung," Jisung says, but Minho doesn't look at him. "Do you think this shirt fits me? I think it's a little tight."

"I'm sure it looks great, Ji," Minho says, staying focused on putting on his slim pearl necklace.

But the lack of attention makes Jisung pout. "Hyung," he whines. "Just look at me and tell me."

The elder lets out a breathy laugh. "Okay fine, you big baby." He locks the pearls around his neck and lets his hands drop to his side. The way his ears practically become two oxidising forest fires is enough to let Jisung's ego grow.

Jisung knows the shirt looks good on him. Surprisingly, he and Changbin often use similar sizes. Changbin needs larger tops to fit his build, which matches the size Jisung usually buys. The black shirt is tight enough to show off his small waist, along with the well defined slopes running down his arms. His chest has a light tuck underneath, letting them puff up along with his broad shoulders.

He watches as Minho's adams apple bounces. "So? Is it good enough?"

Minho strains his eyes to lock with Jisung's. "It looks fine."

"Just fine?" He raises an eyebrow and tugs at Minho's waist to pull them together. "You have no other words for it, baby?"

"Jisung, Jeongin is waiting for me." Minho tries to avoid the question, placing two steady hands on Jisung's chest to push himself away. But before there's any force put in between them, the younger plants a quick kiss on Minho's cheek.

"Okay," he says with a chuckle. "I'll let you get away with it, just this once."

Someone is quick to slip an angry 'Get a room' passing by the pair. Jisung would fight the guy if he wasn't right. Sadly enough, he is.

Jisung lets go of Minho who's briefly malfunctioning and checks the time. "Shit. I should get going before Changbin gets pissed." He hurries by shoving his things into the locker and forces the door to shut, inserting his lock. "I'll see you on Saturday, Jagi." He presses another kiss to Minho's temple and runs off.

"Huh?"

***

Minho and Jisung haven't talked about what happened at the gym. Neither do they bring it up during the tutoring session. They just go on as if nothing happened, flirting and letting the tension build further.

As discussed, Jisung helped Minho with his English right after they finished maths. His accent was awfully adorable, especially how his r's became l's. They continued on for a while, Jisung explaining the structure of sentences and common mistakes made by beginners. Jisung's English itself isn't perfect, but it's decent. He'd be able to survive in the U.S if he suddenly migrated, at least.

It's around 3 in the afternoon when Jisung stops by the cat cafe. It's a regular Friday, nothing special. He's had it a little stressful in school these past few weeks with upcoming exams, so he's decided to study at the cafe for some peaceful Dori entertainment (maybe Minho too).

Jisung trots over to the counter where Changbin is holding up. Minho is a few metres away, cleaning by the sink. But there's a new figure. She's short, maybe around 1,65 cm (5 '5 ft), chin-length black hair. Her features are round but sharp, a unique combination. Maybe as unique as Minho's. They're bickering, the girl and Minho. Clearly on each other's throats while Changbin looks tired of existing.

"What will it be today?" Changbin asks, turning his eyes towards the cash register.

But Jisung doesn't respond, he just continues to look at the squabbling pair.

Changbin begins to take notice of the way Jisung grows insecure at the sight of the colleague talking with (at) Minho (Not that he has a reason to. Minho is devastatingly gay). The elder laughs, "that's Ryujin, Minho's big sister."

Before Jisung is able to respond, the same colleague from before - Hyunjin - walks in through the main entrance with what seems to be a copy of himself, just a gender swap.

Ryujin, who was just bickering with her brother, is now staring at the woman walking alongside Hyunjin, standing behind Jisung in a line.

Changbin groans, telling Jisung that Minho will take his order instead and leaves to the backrooms. The two lock eyes, and Minho ignores his sister and walks over to the counter, standing before Jisung.

"One iced americano?" Minho asks, looking at Jisung for affirmation. He manages to take notice of the faint puffiness rounding his eyes.

The latter nods, "and one cheesecake."

"Oh? What's the sudden turn of events for?" Minho raises an eyebrow, and Jisung so stubbornly tries to remain neutral. He really tries to avoid his flirting manner in order to not embarrass himself in front of Minho's big sister (who was so evidently eavesdropping on them, while staring at Hyunjin's company).

"I'm just going to study for a while, I have an English exam tomorrow."

Minho's eyes flashes with a sudden emotion Jisung doesn't manage to catch. "Oh, okay. What flavour do you want for the cheesecake?"

Jisung ponders for a moment. "What is there?"

"Strawberry, chocolate and raspberry."

"Surprise me," Jisung grins along with a wink, which surprises Minho's pulse with a sudden hitch.

"That'll be $3 for the americano and $4 for the cheesecake, $7 in total." Minho clicks it onto the register, making the price show up on the miniature payment terminal.

"Yah," Ryujin interrupts, nudging her brother's shoulder. "Why are you giving him 50% off?"

Minho rolls his eyes and sends her a glare. "Don't even try, you always do that with Yeji."

Ryujin's ears begin to grow pink. It's quite endearing that the two siblings blush the same way. She then turns to whisper to Minho, but it still reaches Jisung. "That's because she's special to me, you know that."

He scoffs, "she's been special to you since 2nd grade, confess or move on."

She hits him on the shoulder, only eliciting a complaining chatterbox in return. Ryujin sends Jisung a glare, but she moves on to clean one of the brewing machines.

Minho sighs, "Sorry, she's having a closeted panic right now, ignore her."

Jisung shakes his head with a small smile. "It's fine, you were cute anyways."

He does feel a little bad for always getting a discount. Jisung only joked about it the first time, but he guesses that it's Minho's way of keeping Jisung on the thread of still being interested? Maybe. Probably. Hopefully?

"Were?" The elder replies, raising an eyebrow as he stares at Jisung. Sure, Minho acts tough, but the dusty bloom on his cheeks isn't helping his case.

"Are?" Jisung tries, earning a half-assed eye roll. He smiles and places his card at the payment terminal, going through with the purchase.

"Just get settled wherever and I'll come fetch you your order," Minho says, dismissing Jisung, turning around and beginning to work on the iced americano.

The raven-haired nods and walks towards the same table he's always sat on. Dori is already there, lying comfortably in the middle, snoring. Jisung coos at the sight and makes sure to put his laptop beside the feline, so as to not wake him up. He sets his notebooks in front of him and begins studying.

Meanwhile, Hyunjin has arrived at the counter. "Do you realise how much you blush around that man?" He asks Minho who twists around, just having finished making the iced americano.

"Do you realise how much you blush around Felix?" Minho snaps back, tilting his head.

Yeji, Hyunjin's older sister, laughs and the younger brother rolls his eyes. "At least we're actually taking it somewhere. You and your knock knock loverboy over there are tutoring each other during after-hours at a cat cafe."

"You're what?" Ryujin asks, spawning behind Minho.

Minho sends her a glare. "You have no room to talk."

"Hm?" Yeji perks up, not seeming to understand what Minho was hinting at.

"It's nothing, Yej'," Ryujin says with a sweet grin, hitting Minho's leg with her own behind the counter. "So? You're being tutored by him? In what? How to go stupid?"

In one way or another, yeah, pretty much. Except Jisung is only silently teaching Minho's heart and dick how to go stupid while he bounces on his dildo.

"He'd be a natural," Hyunjin agrees, receiving a threatening glare from Minho.

"I'm tutoring him in maths now fuck off," Minho groans. He'd probably tell Ryujin sooner or later about Jisung, seeing as how they usually share most things with each other.

Ryujin coos at her younger brother. "At least you're lucky he didn't want you to help him with English or something."

Minho doesn't reply, he just stares down into the counter with a breathless cough.

Ryujin looks at Hyunjin, knowing he'll break under her gaze and tell her what's happening. "Minho hyung is being tutored by Jisung in english," the pink-haired boy reveals.

"What," Ryujin guffaws, before throwing her head back and dying into a puddle of laughter. "My little Minnie, is being tutored in English???? I thought you dropped English years ago??"

"Oh shut up, like you're any better." Minho raises an eyebrow at his sister challengingly as if he's ready to raid her heart. "Shouldn't we talk about the way you already knew-"

Ryujin panics and is quick to clasp a hand over Minho's mouth, pulling him back and pushing him towards the cheesecakes. "You're not done with your order young man, don't want to make our customers wait too long now do we?" She earns an intense glare from her younger brother, but he mumbles his complaints and continues finishing Jisung's order.

What Minho was about to mention was how Ryujin had frequently faked not understanding a subject just to convince Yeji to come over and tutor her. It'd create an excuse for Ryujin to spend more time with Yeji, since her gay pride would sometimes get the best of her.

In all reality, Ryujin is incredibly intelligent. She scored perfectly on almost all of her exams, but blamed it on the help she received from Yeji. Don't get it wrong, Yeji is also very smart, a top student, even. But revealing that Ryujin was smart enough to go independent would ruin the entire point of the tutoring excuse.

Perhaps Ryujin and Jisung have more things in common than they realise.

The elder sister between the two workers returns towards Hyunjin and Yeji. "Now what will it be for the Hwang siblings?" She smiles, a bead of sweat forming at her forehead. Yeji gets in front of Hyunjin and reaches out to Ryujin and clears the bead away with a napkin.

The pink-haired girl sighs. "Be nicer to Minho. He might actually be nice in return."

Hyunjin watches the interaction and raises an eyebrow. Everyone except Yeji herself had always been able to tell that Ryujin loved her a little more than just platonically. Hyunjin and Minho's older siblings had come in contact a little before they themselves did. Their families have always been close friends, but it took a little while for Minho to accept Hyunjin's constant presence.

Sure, he'd taken a liking to the younger as friends early on, but Minho was used to it just being him and Ryujin; nor did he want it to change. However, as time went on, he found himself enjoying Hyunjin's company and they became (and remained) close friends.

"I'll have a small pack of chips with a medium hot chocolate." Yeji looks over to Hyunjin.

"Ah, I'll just have an Iced Americano."

"That'll be $8.50," Ryujin says with a smile, putting in their order on the register, letting the price show up at the payment terminal.

Yeji pays, just like she always does. Spoiling Hyunjin is one of her bittersweet habits. Both the big sisters of the quad have a habit of paying for everything whenever they're out with their brothers.

While they finish up their little chat, Minho passes by with a trinket of Jisung's order. He gently sets it down by Dori, giving the cat a few pets before taking a seat beside Jisung. He isn't going to stay for long, he knows Jisung probably has a lot to do to prepare for his exams.

"How's it going?" Minho asks, looking down where Jisung is aggressively writing out his final sentence in his notebook.

Jisung gives it a moment before he adds a periodt and looks up at Minho, dropping the pen in hand. "It's tiring," he sighs.

Minho coos and rests his hand on Jisung's thigh, drawing comfortable circles with his thumb. "I'm sure you'll get through it, Jagi."

He smiles at the elder, but the bags under his eyes aren't doing him a favour. "At least I have you," Jisung murmurs and rests his head on Minho's shoulder, staring at the empty seats in front of them.

"You're really consistent with that cheese-talk of yours, huh?" Minho grins, gingerly lying his head on Jisung's.

"If it works, then why should I stop?" He yawns. He clearly hasn't gotten a proper good night's sleep in a while. Taking on Chan's bad habits might not be the best idea during the upcoming exam season. The abused lack of sleep is beginning to catch up to his mental state.

Minho raises an eyebrow, lifting his head from Jisung and instead running a hand through the younger's soft, fuzzy black hair. "Who lied to you and said it worked?"

He can almost see the pout forming on Jisung's plush lips. "You've been lying to me, hyung."

The elder chuckles. "I'm just joking, baby, I love it." It isn't a lie. Minho genuinely adores Jisung's cheesy pick up lines. They're quite endearing.

Jisung hums, closing his eyes and leaning into the soft touch of Minho's hand playing with his hair. They just sit there for a while, Minho spinning coils around his fingers while massaging Jisung's thigh. Jisung is completely lenient in his embrace, getting ready for a long nap.

"Min, these coffees aren't going to make themselves," Ryuijin shouts at him from behind the counter. She makes sure that no other customers can hear her, with the exception of Jisung.

Minho groans. "Can't you see that I'm having a moment here?!" The retort draws a breathy laugh from the younger, who finally leaves Minho's shoulder with drowsy eyes.

"It's okay, hyung, I think I've stolen you for myself long enough," Jisung says, and Minho just wants to cuddle him to sleep. Minho wants to do anything but leave Jisung right now. "I'll see you on Saturday?"

Right. Minho won't be here this Saturday. "Sorry, Ji, I think we'll have to skip this one." It mentally pains the elder when Jisung's dozy eyes go anxious.

"What?? Why?" He envelops Minho's hands in his own. "Did I do something wrong?"

The elder giggles, which seems to ease Jisung's concern as he adoringly observes Minho's precious bunny teeth peeking through. "You haven't done anything wrong, don't worry. It's just that I'm leaving to go to Gimpo for a week. It's a little trip with my sister, Hyunjin and his sister since we missed our families for the holidays."

Jisung chimes a hum. "I'll miss you."

The sentence catches Minho by surprise. Even though they joke around a lot, teasing each other for the fun of it (at least that's what they tell themselves) and whatever else, that seems awfully... sincere? It feels like Jisung is robbing Minho's brain from its blood circulation because why does his ears suddenly feel so warm? It's as if his heart is stuck in his throat. Minho just stares at Jisung for a while, unknowing of what to say.

"Too soon?" Jisung mumbles with a breathy laugh, nerves evidently getting the best of him when Minho doesn't respond.

Minho shakes his head. "No, not at all. I'll miss you too." He presses a kiss to the corner of Jisung's lips before getting up and leaving.

Jisung is so fucked.