Chapter Eight

Despite the fact that they are beginning to leave, Minho still has some faint patches from the hickeys left. They aren't very intense; they are merely dispersed all about and in great numbers. Minho makes sure to wear hoodies most of the time, and to raise the hood above his neck so he can conceal them for the duration of the week. It isn't really a big deal.

Although, whenever he'll catch a glimpse of it in the mirror, he can't help but lock the door to his room and do unspeakable things with someone special in mind. He's sure Hyunjin's heard everything through the thin walls of their apartment. But it's not like Minho becomes deaf whenever Hyunjin has Felix stay the night. They're both equally traumatised.

He and Jisung have texted afterwards, talking about what movies they watched with their friends and that they should have their own movie marathon, along with a few cat memes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Another Saturday rolls around and the maths midterm is itching closer and closer. Jisung has been improving a lot in maths. Even though they flirt and chit chat a big chunk of their tutoring sessions, Jisung gets most of his work done and walks away with newfound knowledge each week.

With the sound of a faint knock, Jisung springs from 3racha's couch and hurries over to the door. He opens it with a wide grin at the sight of Minho, but today he's holding two transparent takeaway cups of what seems to be some sort of iced coffee.

"Again?" Jisung smiles while Minho enters the apartment.

"I'm not trying to be nice," Minho declares, shuffling his shoes off of his feet. "I just don't like wasting food or drinks." He turns around and hands Jisung one of the cups with a black straw.

Jisung gladly accepts the gift. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, hyung." The younger boy rolls his eyes and takes a sip, guiding them to the couch, although Minho exquisitely remembers where it is. That and the kitchen are the only places Minho has been in, after all.

And it's not like the soundcloud rappers live in a mansion.

"I'm serious!" Minho defends, puffing out his cheeks in retaliation.

The raven-haired boy chuckles. "I know you are, baby." He settles on the couch, Minho following not long after.

Minho nudges his shoulder with his own and sends him a glare. "I hope your brain is on its best behaviour today."

"It always is around you." Jisung winks at him. It catches Minho somewhat off-guard and his ears catch colour.

"You never focus, do you?" Minho sighs, opening his bag and getting his laptop, along with a book and a spectacle case.

Jisung watches as Minho opens the case, revealing the same glasses he'd worn at the cat cafe a while back. "How can I when you're so pretty?" Minho's hand briefly stutters as the glasses fall down to his nose bridge. Something about Minho with glasses is so unexplainably seductive.

"So all of my lessons have been in vain?" Minho asks as he looks at Jisung.

"No." Jisung shakes his head. "Not at all."

"Then what have they been, Jisung?" The older boy inquires. His tone has shifted. Minho sounds vulnerable, as if he's searching for validation, or some sort of reassurance.

"A dream come true," Jisung answers sincerely. He's taken aback when Minho begins to chuckle with his cheeks and neck going pink. The view draws a smile from Jisung and he can't help but stare.

"You're good with your words, Jagi," Minho exhales, turning back to his computer.

Jisung snickers. "I know." He then leans towards the table and gets his notebook, opening it up to a fresh new page. "What's the book for?" He then asks, hinting at the novel Minho's brought with him.

"I'm going to read it while you do some questions on my computer."

"Why can't I just do them on mine?"

"I tried sharing the questions and solutions through a link, but it wouldn't work," Minho sighs, the frustrations from last night, when the website wouldn't compromise with his demands, washing over him. "You'll just copy it from here and write it down in your notebook."

"That still doesn't explain why you have the book, though?" Jisung resonates, looking down at the plain novel cover.

"So I don't get bored to death?" The elder responds, prettily batting his eyelashes at Jisung. If those glasses don't kill Jisung, then his blue balls will.

Jisung's eyes squint as a chuckle leaves his lips, Minho's gaze following the motion. "You can't die with me, hyung. I'll do whatever it takes to revive you," he then says.

Minho hoists an eyebrow. "Does that mean you'll finally do some maths?"

"Will that make you immortal?"

"No, it'll make your grades go up."

"Then no."

"Jisung." Minho says sternly. "Your grades are important. If you don't want to fail this course, you have to put in the work."

"Okay, hyung." The younger boy accepts his defeat and gets to work.

Only a few more words are exchanged before Jisung places Minho's computer on the table with his notebook on his lap. Minho sort of wishes he was a notebook right about now, but lying on his back by the arm and backrest of the couch works just as well. With the novel now in his hands, Minho adjusts his sitting position to ensure maximum comfort while reading. He rests the book on top of his raised knees and supports his feet to maintain the same height for both his knees and neck.

The stillness is soothing. Easy. They don't need to speak for the room to be full; they can simply sit in the silence and yet still feel at ease. It's never awkward around Minho, and it's never awkward around Jisung - at least when they're together. The lack of dialogue could seem odd to a third party because they wouldn't be accustomed to the pair's communication, but it's perfect for Minho and Jisung.

***

Jisung is using Minho's Macbook to work on some maths problems when the corner of the screen gets interrupted by a silent message-notification from a contact named 'Parasite'. Jisung chuckles at the name, but swiftly wipes it off when Minho peeks at him from behind his book.

"Thought about something funny, sorry," Jisung says and shakes his head. Minho doesn't reply and returns to reading.

He ignores the message out of consideration for Minho's privacy and goes back to counting the derivative from a recent question. Both Jisung's mind and the computer disregard the message.

But then it repeats.

When he's looking back up at the screen, another message makes its way to the corner.

And again. But now in all caps.

And again.

Jisung's curiosity gets the best of him and his eyes accidentally glance at it.

P: I'll choke you if you don't reply right now

He can't help but crack a suspicious grin at the message, but he muffles it by biting down on his lower lip. Jisung decides to just try and focus on the maths in front of him, again.

His plan doesn't execute itself well enough though, because he ends up glancing at the next message that enters. Jisung knows it's wrong. He knows he shouldn't look. It's Minho's private conversation between him and his friend.

So he does what everyone hopefully would do in this situation. He tells Minho.

"Hyung," Jisung calls out, and Minho hums in response. "Someone is messaging you. A lot."

"What's the name of the contact?"

"Parasite?"

"Oh," Minho breathes, but the elder doesn't make an attempt to get up and answer the messages on his laptop. "Ignore it. It's Hyunjin," he continues as his eyes scroll through the words running along the lines of his book.

Jisung chuckles. "It seems important. He's spamming you."

Minho tosses his eyes into a twirl. "He does that everyday to annoy me when he's at work and I'm not."

"Is it effective?" Jisung glances at Minho whose face is hidden behind the novel's cover.

At the inquiry, Minho replies without a second to spare. "His existence itself annoys me and I've been stuck with it for 23 years. A daily spammage won't break me."

"How fierce of you, hyung," Jisung says with a laugh, which seems to end the conversation. Although it doesn't seem to end the messages that continue to flow in.

P(H): Idc if you're with your 'LoVerbOy' (ew) right now, I need attention

The nickname brings a flush to Jisung's cheeks. How much did Hyunjin know to call Jisung Minho's loverboy? Had Minho called him that himself with his friends? His stomach is mid-show of a circus, doing backflips and whatever feels like a baby kicking violently when another message drops by.

P(H): Or your 'jisungie' (ew). I need attention

Does Minho call Jisung 'Jisungie' in front of others in his absence, too? The thought alone opens doors to feelings he doesn't want to fondle with right now.

P(H): Are you two fucking??? Why aren't you answering me

this is abuse

"Are Hyunjin's messages bothering you?" Jisung turns to look at Minho who's already staring at him. From the sudden vacation of Jisung's hand scribbling in his notebook, Minho guesses that he's been subtly but not so subtly reading the oncoming texts.

"No?" Jisung tries, knowing his tone is wavering between the truth and a lie.

Minho rolls his eyes. "He's texting some really fucked up shit, isn't he?"

Jisung laughs, his gummy smile setting forth. "It's not fucked up, but he seems a bit needy for your attention."

"Like always," Minho groans. "I can't ever get a peaceful moment with that man around."

With a hum, Jisung speaks. "Right now, your attention is mine. He'll have to get in line." He cheesily winks at Minho and the elder's ears bloom with a red tint.

"My attention is on my book, you get in line," Minho retorts, internally cooing when Jisung's lip purses to a pout.

"Yah," Jisung calls. "I fought for this place, your book can't just cheat like that."

Minho smiles, amused. "Yeah? What're you going to do about it then?"

The ideas that knit themselves in Jisung's mind are quickly shooed away and he responds. "Ace my maths exam."

With a barked out laugh, Minho throws his head back, pleasant sounds passing between his lips. He was actually hinting at something else, but Jisung's answer was more than he could've bargained for. "What a good boy you are, Sungie," Minho chuckles, distinctly entertained by the younger.

Jisung grins sheepishly, his cheeks blossoming with heat. "Hyung," Jisung calls once Minho's laughter gently comes to an end.

"Mm," Minho hums, signalling for Jisung to continue while his eyes shift back to his novel.

"Me, Changbin and Chan har having a little gathering next week," Jisung says, writing in the next maths question in his notebook. Hyunjin's messages are still rolling in, but Jisung does his best at ignoring them.

"What for?" Minho inquires. He's clueless of any recent 3racha accomplishments that might be the catalyst; at the very least, Jisung hasn't informed him of any.

He shrugs. "'Nothing special, just for fun."

"Cool," Minho says mindlessly.

"Do you wanna come?" Jisung asks warily. He and Minho haven't ever really officially spent time outside of their tutoring sessions, with the exceptions of when they conversate extra or run into each other.

"Yeah, sure," Minho retorts without a second thought.

"Cool, cool," Jisung repeats, literally trying to stay cool because of the heat itching in his cheeks. "You can bring your friends and sisters, by the way."

Only now does Minho take a peek at his pupil from behind his book. "Won't there already be many people? I mean, three roommates calculate quite a few guests."

Jisung sheepishly lowers his head, rubbing his nape. "Between the three of us, Chan is sort of the one with the most friends, but they're mostly acquaintances." He sighs, "I don't really have that big of a social circle."

"You don't?" Minho's eyebrows shoot up towards his hairline. Jisung did seem to have some sort of issue with anxiety, at least from what Minho could tell, but he's a very loud introvert. And loud introverts usually manage to rope in a handful of friends. "Never would've guessed."

"Stop lying," Jisung chuckles, his hand dropping to rest at his knee.

"I'm serious, I promise," the silver-haired boy defends, leaning over to the table and getting his iced americano. The straw lands by the edge of his mouth as he quietly sips the drink from between the ice cubes.

The younger boy takes a glance at the novel Minho has been reading. The cover is plain, completely blue without a title, only the author's name on the spine. Minho must've noticed because he's soon asking, "Want to see it?"

"Huh?" It snaps Jisung out of his daze and he looks up at Minho.

"Want to see the book I'm reading?" Minho repeats.

Jisung nods. "Sure."

Without really thinking, Minho's moving the book by the iced americano, accidentally hitting the drink as his mild grip snaps and soon enough, the coffee is drenching his pants.

"Fucking shit." Minho mumbles, looking down as his grey sweatpants take the colour of a light brown all over his thighs and groin.

Jisung's eyes quickly find themselves staring at Minho's lap, mentally cursing at himself for ogling. "Shit I'm sorry, hyung," Jisung says, dragging his gaze from the elder's legs. "You can go wash off and I'll get you a pair of my own."

"No, no, it's okay." Minho attempts at a grin, but he's busy cleaning up the mess he's made with the paper towels propped on the table.

The raven haired boy gets up from the sofa and rushes to his room, not listening to Minho; as usual. The damp trousers were excruciatingly unpleasant. Particularly when he finally got up and his pants tucked into the folds of his thighs.

Minho walks over to the kitchen, trying to use a bit of water from the sink to clean them off, but it makes no difference. Coffee stains are so hard to get out of clothes, and these were one of Minho's favourite joggers.

"Do you want sweatpants or shorts?" Jisung calls from his bedroom, holding a pair of black briefs in his hand. He usually doesn't wear briefs, they aren't very comfortable, but from what he's heard about Minho and their many debates, is that he prefers briefs over anything.

"Uh," Minho thinks. "Shorts maybe? I usually wear them at home."

Jisung snickers at the answer. "Already thinking of this as your second home, baby?" He then walks back into the kitchen with a pair of shorts and briefs as requested.

With a roll of his eyes, Minho gladly accepts the clothes and goes to the bathroom to change. Before he manages to close the door, Jisung asks, "Want any help putting them on?"

"Next time, Jagi." Locking the door, Minho giggles.

When Minho re-enters the living room where Jisung's head is clouded with maths, he slumps back onto the couch where his spot has gone cold. The newfound shorts are somewhat tight around his crotch, and his speculations are to an extent reassured when Jisung's eyes dip down to glance and prolongs to a stare.

"Pretty," Jisung says, locking eyes with Minho, who's raising an eyebrow at him from underneath the glasses.

"You're just saying that because I'm wearing your clothes," Minho scoffs, picking up his book again.

"Maybe." Jisung grins. "But you're also really pretty."

"You're staring," Minho states, ignoring the way his neck heats up at the younger boy's gaze raking all over him.

Without Minho addressing the compliment, Jisung smirks as he speaks. "And?"

"You only call me pretty," Minho continues.

"Because you are."

"Can't you call me something else?"

"Like what?" Jisung raises an eyebrow.

Minho huffs. "I don't know? Handsome? Smart? Sexy?"

Jisung chuckles. "You want me to call you sexy?"

"No."

"Then why'd you ask for it?" Jisung's smile is plastered across his lips, and isn't moving anytime soon. More enchanting than Jisung had anticipated is the way Minho's ears start blushing from the top and allow the colour to slowly wash down. It's adorable.

"I was just giving examples," Minho states.

"And out of everything, you picked sexy?" The younger says as he bites down on his lower lip. "There's clearly some truth to that."

Minho scoffs, moving to sit normally beside Jisung, his feet stabilising themselves on the ground by the edge of the couch. "Well it wouldn't hurt to hear it maybe once or twice."

"Okay," Jisung laughs. "You're so unknowingly sexy almost all of the time."

"Almost?"

"All of the time, periodt," he corrects with a stupidly hot grin.

"Examples please," Minho prompts.

He laughs again. "Well, okay, hmmm," Jisung ponders.

A fierce gasp escapes Minho's lips. "You have to think about it?" He places a riveting hand by his chest, evidently offended.

"So impatient." Jisung clicks his tongue and then snaps his head to the side with a sharp breath. "Okay, well, right now."

"What about right now?"

"Right now, you're unknowingly sexy," Jisung says, turning to look at Minho.

"Because of what?"

"Your glasses."

Minho's face scrunches to a grimace. "You're turned on by a pair of glasses? Is this some kind of sick kink?" Minho knows he looks good in glasses. That's the reason he even brought them with him, that and the fact that he wants to be able to use his eyes.

"Would you mind if it was?" Jisung prods.

His tutor doesn't reply in an instant, but instead, thinks for a moment. "No," he mumbles.

Jisung nudges their shoulders together teasingly, then randomly stops and drops the act blankly. "Well, it's not."

"You're weird," Minho declares.

"Am not," Jisung insists.

"Are," the elder continues.

With a pout of his lips, Jisung says, "You're the weird one between us."

"No," Minho sing-songs delicately.

"Yes, but I like it," Jisung's tone is genuine, authentic.

"You like me being weird?" The elder inquires, beaming eyes staring back at Jisung.

Jisung nods. "It's my favourite trait of yours."

"What would you describe it as?" Minho asks, raising an eyebrow with an amused glint.

"Cute?"

"Beep, beep, beep," Minho says as he mimics the sound of an alarm. "Wrong. You should've said sexy now."

Jisung laughs, his cheeks bundling up. "This is what I mean when I say weird. It's cute, but weird, hyung."

Minho stares at Jisung, unimpressed, as he narrows his eyes at him. "You would be flying out the window right this second if you were Hyunjin and said that."

"So I'm special?" Jisung prompts.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"...No."

"You're funny," Jisung chuckles.

Minho exhales confidently, the oncoming words dragging out to a sigh, "I know."

"Am I ever going to get a compliment back?" Jisung nudges his hyung's shoulder with his own.

"No."

"Why not?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"That I'm hot maybe?" Jisung ponders.

"You're hot."

Jisung's lips purse to a pout. "There were literally no feelings involved in that sentence whatsoever."

"Not my problem. You got your compliment. Be grateful." Minho shrugs.

The younger's tongue clicks as he pushes it against the inside of his teeth by his left cheek. "You're such a brat."

"Yah," Minho calls. "Don't talk like that to your hyung." Although the pet name did make something in his groin twitch.

"Why not?" Jisung's staring at Minho with a heavy gaze. There's something more behind it than just a platonic affinity.

"Because you should respect your elders."

"I do respect you." Jisung does. He really does. He probably has the most respect for his bandmates and Minho.

Minho scoffs. "Clearly not enough."

"But being a brat is objectively true for your personality," Jisung defends.

The elder hoists an eyebrow at him. "That's not objective."

"Well..." Jisung thinks. "Then it's not."

"That's what I said?" Minho says, slightly puzzled.

Without a second thought, Jisung changes the subject. "Wanna watch a movie?"

"What?"

Jisung's hand finds itself by the back of his neck, scratching as if it'll help with his embarrassment. "I mean, there's still 2 hours until the last train goes and I can drive you home if anything, so... Do you want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."

"Great. I'll get snacks, you can pick the movie." Jisung hands Minho the TV remote, gets up and leaves to go to the kitchen. There are still a handful of unopened snacks left from 3racha's movie night, which he uses now to his advantage.

Minho jumps up on the sofa, settling comfortably onto the backrest. He scrolls through the different genres while Jisung rummages in the kitchen. Something feels awfully domestic about this, but Minho isn't sure if he really minds it.

When Jisung returns, he's holding a bowl of popcorn along with a few candy bags. He places them on the table and looks up at the TV. "'Your name'? Again?"

"What do you mean again?" Minho inquires. "Did you rewatch it or something?"

"Yeah, yesterday."

"Too bad."

Jisung chuckles and settles down beside Minho, unsure of how to position himself.

Minho must've noticed, yet again reading him like an open book, because he says, "C'mere." And pats the empty space beside him.

The younger boy laughs. "You're so cute." He moves back, throwing an arm behind Minho to rest along the sofa's back.

"I'm handsome, not cute."

"Both."

"Fine."

***

Minho stays snuggled into Jisung's side throughout the film, with his leg crossed over Jisung's groin. His shorts have ridden up, revealing his silken midthighs. While Jisung's hand rests lazily on top, drawing small doodles with his thumb.

The skin under his palm is smooth, free of hair. It makes him wonder what the rest of Minho's skin looks like underneath the layers of clothes. But the thought gets shoved down into the dark alleys of his mind for later as to not entertain it and get too 'excited'.

Jisung isn't even paying attention to the movie anymore. All he can think about is the way Minho rests on top of him, his head propped on Jisung's shoulder. All of the touches burn and ache through his nerves. He can hear and feel how Minho's nose tenderly inhales and exhales, but all Jisung wants is for their oxygen to collide.

He doesn't quite grasp that he's staring at Minho, until the elder glances up at him and his ears go red through the dimly lit room. The TV is the only light they have embellishing the living room and it makes Minho's facial features look even more beautiful than usual. There's just something about the way his nose bridge gets enhanced and bulges from his already defined cheekbones.

"You're staring," Minho mumbles, but he's staring right back at Jisung.

"I know," Jisung whispers back. "But you're so pretty, how could I not?"

Minho's awfully thankful that there's no lamps to show the warmth itching through his face. They don't speak, they don't say anything, because in the span of a few seconds, their lips are meeting for a messy kiss. Neither of the boys knows who leaned in first, but it doesn't matter.

The only thing that matters is how their bodies are aching for more. They need more. They need each other. Jisung slowly pushes Minho onto his back, not breaking their kiss. He positions himself between the elder's hefty thighs, and they encircle his waist, placing his arms on either side of Minho's head.

Jisung's lips are soft. Supple. He tastes like mint, and Minho loves it. The flavour goes well with his own cherry lip balm he'd applied a few hours earlier. He could eat it for hours, kiss Jisung for hours, but it won't be enough. Minho's greedy for more, and he knows it.

So when Jisung bites down on Minho's lower lip, asking for an entrance, the elder gives it without a second thought. Their tongues run in a graceful dance, as if they are lost puzzle pieces that have finally found each other. But eventually they part because of the abused lack of air.

They stare at each other, silent. There's so many words they want to say, but it feels like they can convey it all through their eyes. Jisung's mouth moves to Minho's jaw, planting delicate open mouthed kisses.

Breathlessly, Minho whines, "No hickeys, Jagi."

Jisung moves away and Minho wants to mourn at the loss of pleasure. "Why not? You clearly enjoyed it last time."

Minho clicks his tongue. "I would've if you hadn't left." That's a lie. It's just because he doesn't want to continue wearing hoodies and turtle necks all day long in the radiating heat. Along with the fact that he hates giving his friends leverage over him, giving them things to tease him about. Don't forget when they pounce at him for information as if he's google.

With a raise of an eyebrow, Jisung smirks. "So you wanted to take it further?"

The elder ignores Jisung and continues to speak. " I'm just saying you should've ended what you started."

"So you're telling me I can end this right now?"

"Depends," Minho says with a roll of his eyes, but he's grinning.

Jisung frees one of his hands from beside Minho's head, resting his weight on the other and runs it through Minho's silver hair, his eyes following the motion. "Depends on what?"

"If you'll be good or not," Minho says, but the last word gets thrown into a moan because Jisung is roughly tugging at his hair, making Minho arch his back.

Minho's arms find themselves around Jisung's neck and he pants for more. Jisung always had his suspicions of Minho having a painkink, mainly from the fact that he always bites down on his lip when Jisung jokingly smacks his ass. The hair tugging was merely experimental, but it seems to be successful.

"I don't think you're in a position to be making requests, princess," Jisung whispers lowly, his lips grazing along the shell of Minho's ear. He can feel himself beginning to fill out in his boxers, solely from Minho's reactions and lewd sounds.

"Jisung," the elder moans. His voice sounds like honey, just like his cologne.

Jisung snickers at Minho's cries and goes back down to his neck. But Jisung isn't evil, he doesn't leave any hickeys on Minho's neck, just as his tutor had asked. He just leaves open mouthed gentle kisses, making a trail of saliva.

The younger boy releases the tight grip around Minho's hair and instead lets his hand travel down to Minho's exposed thighs. He fondles it beneath his palm, massaging, before landing a sharp slap on the side. Minho jerks forward, and a loud string of whines flows past his lips. He tries to muffle them by biting down on his lip, but the attempt is unsuccessful as his mouth parts at yet another slap.

Right as Jisung's about to start exploring beneath Minho's collar, a sound interrupts them. It's his phone in his pocket, vibrating. The iPhone ringtone fills the room as even the movie has gone quiet.

Minho cradles a hand by Jisung's jaw, lifting his head so they're looking at each other. "Are you not going to take that?" He's smiling, clearly amused.

"If it's really that important, they'll call me again," Jisung huffs, eyebrows furrowed as the chiming comes to a halt. He then leans down and kisses Minho's red, glistening lips, delicately pecking them.

The gesture makes Minho smile, and it's contaminating, because soon enough Jisung is grinning right back, and it's just a clash of their teeth. This moment is more than Jisung could've bargained for the first time he saw Minho at the cat cafe. If he knew meeting Minho would've led them to all of this, he would've applied to work there when Changbin told them they were looking for an assistant years back.

But then it's there again. The same fucking ringtone. Minho giggles and pulls away. "It seems important, Sungie."

With a heavy sigh, Jisung climbs off of Minho. "I'll kill them if it isn't," He mumbles and walks off to his bedroom to take the call.

***

After a few minutes, Jisung returns with his phone deserted in his bedroom. He scoffs, walking over to the sofa. "Changbin needed to know where my charger was in the studio because he's face-timing that same date from last week."

"Well, then it was pretty important, wasn't it?" Minho grins, obscurely charmed by Jisung being so depressed of having been interrupted.

"As important as his funeral." He plops back down beside his tutor, throwing his arm around the backrest.

Minho's last chuckle echoes through the room and silence falls between them. It wasn't awkward, but they didn't mention their little make out. Minho snuggles back into Jisung's side throughout the rest of the evening.

What would've happened if Changbin never called? Would Jisung be fucking Minho into oblivion right now?

When they bid their goodbyes, Minho gives Jisung a peck by the corner of his lips

It leaves him a bit dumbfounded. Sure, they'd just made out, but this little kiss felt so much more intimate. As if it gave Jisung the affirmation that what happened on the couch was supposed to happen. It wasn't just Jisung's pure dumb luck.