Chapter Text
Jisung never planned on moving in with Minho.
But after some guy came back from vacation with a stomach bug that caused diarrhea and vomiting and then proceeded to spread it through the entire dorm building Jisung was staying in, he decided he was never living in university housing again during his third year. No matter what.
At first, everything was planned out perfectly—he and Felix would rent a small apartment located in the perfect triangle between campus, downtown, and Jisung's favorite sushi restaurant. Maybe it wasn't the height of luxury, but for two broke college best friends, it was perfect.
So when Felix told him he actually couldn't move in with him after all, saying Jisung was devastated would be an understatement. He couldn't afford the apartment unless he split it with someone else, which meant his dream of independent adulthood went straight down the drain.
Chan and Changbin offered to let him crash at their place—the one they were renting together with help from their parents' money. He'd even have his own room, but Jisung felt like he'd be taking advantage of something that wasn't his (he offered to pay part of the rent, but the older guys flat-out refused). The idea of being that friend who mooches off everyone, the one who always needs help, made his stomach turn. Even though they both assured him it wasn't a problem, he ended up declining.
But that didn't stop him from complaining every chance he got about how miserable he'd be living in the university complex with a new roommate, in a room with bunk beds that took up all the space, where he'd have to wear flip-flops even to go to the bathroom because who knows if you'll catch radioactive diarrhea just from taking a shower.
🥢
Jisung's phone buzzed against his pillow, interrupting his summer session of self-pity that consisted of staring at the ceiling while some new band played in the background.
"Jisung!" Chan said in that cheerful tone as soon as Jisung answered the call.
"Hey Chan, what's up?" Jisung smiled as he wedged his phone between his pillow and his head, too lazy to keep holding it.
"Are you still looking for a roommate?" Chan cut straight to the chase.
"Umm... I mean, yes, maybe... why are you asking?" Jisung lied. There were a little over two months until classes started and he was desperate to find someone to split costs with.
"Ok, so, there's a friend of mine who's fucking sick of dorm life, so I asked him if he was interested in renting an apartment with my little pretty best friend. And he said that if you're okay with it, he's totally in!" Chan said.
"What? That's amazing." Jisung smiled, trying to control his anxiety at the idea of moving in with a complete stranger.
Well, technically not a stranger if he was Chan's friend. In fact, maybe he already knew him. Though Chan had so many friends it was impossible to know, but still, he doubted it was just any friend. He wouldn't let him live with a potential serial killer... right?
"Which of your thousand friends are we talking about?" Jisung asked, trying to sound casual, using all his strength not to give in to his bad habit of biting his nails.
"Come on, I don't have a thousand friends," Chan responded in that damn schoolgirl voice he used when he felt attacked. "I'm talking about Minho."
"Minho?"
"Yeah, you know, that guy who put a fork in the microwave at Wooyoung's birthday party? Lee Minho."
Silence. Jisung waited patiently for Chan to keep explaining...
He didn't.
"You want me to live with a guy who made a microwave explode... by accident?" Jisung asked incredulously, his voice flat.
"Oh, no no no," Chan laughed way too easily. "He did it on purpose."
Jisung blinked three times, processing the information, trying to find the funny part of the situation.
"And how does that make it better?!" Jisung asked, his voice going up an octave in surprise.
"It's just a Minho thing, he's a bit weird... extremely weird, but in a good way! When you get to know him you won't even question it," Chan sounded completely relaxed, as if talking about someone who destroys appliances for fun was the most normal thing in the world.
"Am I going crazy or does this Minho guy sound like bad news?"
"Ok, let's do this," Chan responded quickly. "I'll make dinner at my place this Friday! So you can come and meet each other and talk about this whole thing. Remember you don't have to say yes if you don't want to... but trust me, I know you're gonna get along so well."
Jisung sighed, feeling the weight of his limited options. What did he have to lose?
...Apart from his security deposit, his dignity, and possibly some appliances.
As soon as they hung up, Jisung immediately opened his messaging app. He needed Felix's opinion before making any decisions.
jisung
FELIX EMERGENCY
do you know lee minho?
felix
JISUNG HI
YES
YOU DON'T?
jisung
no, that's why i am asking bro
chan wants me to live with him
apparently he likes to burn microwaves¿
im having dinner with them on friday
felix
WAIT WHAT
CHAN IS TRYING TO SET YOU UP WITH MINHO???
jisung
set me WHAT???
WTF NO
i'm still on the roommate situation dude
felix
oh, right
Jisung
...
so?
felix
so what?
jisung
YOU KNOW SOMETHING BOUT HIM?
help dude T-T
felix
OH
i have talk to him, yeah!
he's really sweet!
i think he could be a great choice!
jisung
u think?
felix
ofc!!
i have this feeling you gonna say yes
just when you see him
jisung
...
u know something, dont you?
felix
WHAT?
how dare you
i dont know anything!!
jisung
YOU ARE MAKING YOUR IM LYING FACE
LIAR
felix
WTF U CANT EVEN SEE MY FACE
jisung
I DONT NEED TO, I CAN FEEL IT
WHAT ARE YOU HIDING
felix
NO SPOILERS DUDE
but ok
u have to trust me
its gonna be okay
jisung
ugh ok
i hate u
Felix
u love me
jisung
yeah, ily
🥢
Jisung actually didn't even know what Minho looked like.
He didn't know anything about him, but anxiety gripped his throat tight, especially with Felix's attitude about the whole situation.
As he walked from the train station to Chan and Changbin's house, he sent Chan a message to let him know he'd be there in five minutes, receiving a response that Minho had actually already arrived. He mentally prepared himself to spend social battery before knocking on the door.
"Hi Sung, come in! The food's almost ready," Chan opened the door with a way-too-enthusiastic smile, using that slightly high-pitched voice he got when he was excited about something. The smell of home cooking wafting from the kitchen made Jisung's stomach growl immediately.
Jisung walked past Chan after greeting him, and his attention immediately went to the person coming out of the kitchen, who had presumably been helping Chan.
Jisung stopped breathing.
Of course he knew who Lee Minho was.
Those piercing brown feline eyes looked straight into his, as if they could read every thought he was having at that instant. A sharp nose and cheekbones that looked like they'd been carefully sculpted by hand, which contrasted perfectly with his slightly puffy cheeks that made him look endearing. Lips that looked soft to the eye and were curved in a naturally adorable pout.
His black hair was slightly long with small waves at the ends, and his bangs framed his face perfectly in a way that seemed too natural to be accidental.
He's the prettiest person Jisung has ever seen in his life. He wouldn't forget him.
More than once he'd seen him on campus. Buying coffee, in the bathroom, coming out of a classroom when Jisung had to go in, simply walking through the hallways. Sometimes he'd even seen him talking to Felix when he went to pick him up from classes.
And every time, Jisung had to make an effort not to stare.
He knew who he was, but never knew his name. He'd never talked to him, but when he asked Felix who the guy he was talking to once was, he simply answered "oh, you mean Lino?", so he stayed stuck in his head with that nickname, plus the blonde always referred to Minho that way.
Jisung was going to drown Felix in the bathtub.
He never thought he could talk to him, so he's shocked to have the man of his dreams standing in front of him, none other than as a candidate to be his roommate. Had the stars finally aligned in Jisung's favor?
Wait, did this man burn a microwave at a birthday party?
"So, Jisung, this is Lee Minho." Only then did Jisung notice that Minho was giving him a small smile as he stopped in front of him. "Min, this is my childhood best friend, Han Jisung."
Minho scanned him with his gaze shamelessly, not pretending to hide it. Jisung noticed he was slightly taller than him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Jisung managed to say after what seemed like hours of silence between them, though it had probably only been seconds. His voice sounded slightly hoarse and he had to discreetly clear his throat.
Minho's smile widened as he offered his hand to Jisung. "Same here. Chan won't shut up about you."
Jisung shook his hand in such a quick gesture that he immediately missed the contact. Minho's hand was warm, slightly smaller than his, and for an absurd second Jisung wondered if all interactions with this man were going to make him feel like he was short-circuiting.
"I hope he talks about the good things," Jisung laughed, trying to sound casual while internally wondering what specific stories Chan had shared. He hoped they weren't the childhood stories involving bugs.
"Depends on what you consider good things," Minho responded, raising an eyebrow without losing his smile for a second.
Jisung copied the gesture. "Do you consider them good things?"
Minho looked up with a pout and brought his index finger to his chin as if he were seriously considering it, in a gesture that Jisung found incredibly adorable.
"I guess I wanna check it out for myself," he finally responded. Jisung felt a current run down his spine.
"Okay then," Jisung smiled unconsciously, feeling for the first time since that call with Chan that maybe this wouldn't be a total disaster.
"Well, I guess you both gonna be okay without me for a few minutes. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me! Get a seat, you weirdos," Chan spoke up, smiling as he headed to the adjoining room. Jisung had basically forgotten the older guy was there, or even that he was at his house.
"Don't you want me to help?" Minho asked as Jisung took off his shoes.
"You're a guest, Min, please act like one," Chan responded in a teasing tone, making Minho snort before turning his attention back to Jisung, walking together the short path to the living room.
"What did he say about me?" Minho asked once they were comfortable.
"Oh," Jisung didn't know what he should say. The truth was Chan hadn't said much, and what little he had said wasn't exactly reassuring. "You want the truth or should I say I wanna discover you for myself as well?"
That earned him a giggle from Minho, which let him see his slightly crooked bunny teeth. Adorable. Fucking adorable.
"Tell me the truth. We can't start this friendship with white lies," Minho said, and there was something about the word friendship that sounded like a promise.
Jisung smiled at the insinuation. "He told me you burned a microwave."
Suddenly, that accusation didn't sound so bad. Minho didn't look impressed or offended. He blinked several times.
"Anything else?" Jisung shook his head. "Oh, so he told you about my good qualities."
That made Jisung genuinely laugh.
"He didn't even give me context on that. Why did you burn the damn microwave?" Jisung asked as he watched Minho settle on the couch, putting his arm on the backrest and bringing up his knee to face Jisung better. Jisung had to make a great effort not to stare at his thighs.
"There is no context," he shrugged. "I was drunk, I saw a microwave, I saw a fork and I did what had to be done," he said with such seriousness that it even made Jisung believe it made sense.
"That... yeah, that doesn't make it any better," Jisung laughed, shaking his head with equal parts disbelief and amusement.
"If it makes you feel better, I wouldn't burn our microwave."
"Even if you get drunk?"
"You're crossing the line," Minho said with feigned indignation, and Jisung laughed again. "No, I don't usually drink or even go to parties. That was a special case because my best friend made me go."
"Oh I totally get it," Jisung said. "I hate parties. Well, not as much as I did in high school, I actually sometimes have a good time. But the next day's hangover is never worth it."
"Then why do you go to parties?" Minho asked, and there was genuine curiosity in his voice that made Jisung feel like his answers actually mattered to him.
"My best friend makes me," Jisung responded, and Minho seemed to feel completely identified. "He told me he actually knows you. Lee Felix?"
"Oh! Brownie boy! That cute little sunshine," Minho smiled with genuine affection. "Yeah, I really like Yongbok! I'm with him in dance class!"
"Now that you mention it, I've seen you sometimes when I take Felix to his classes," Jisung said, trying to sound disinterested.
"I remember seeing you too. Not gonna lie, I knew exactly who you were before this moment," Minho confessed, as if he hadn't just caused Jisung to reboot all his systems.
Minho knew who he was... Were his attempts to not stare at him in the hallways not good enough?
"For real?" Minho nodded. "I mean, I did too... well, not entirely. I came here not knowing. I knew you as Lino, that's what Lix calls you, but Chan called you Lee Minho, and I didn't connect the dots," Jisung explained.
"Well, I actually knew you as Jisung the whole time, because of Chan and Felix too. He's always talking about you with me and Hyunjin."
"Oh, you're friends with Hyunjin?" Jisung already knew the answer to that.
"Yeah, he's my best friend," Minho smiled fondly.
Jisung hadn't exchanged more than two words with Hyunjin, but he and Felix had been attached at the hip lately—he'd heard way more stories about him than he would've liked.
"I've talked to him a few times, but I don't really know anything about him apart from what Lix says or the fact that he looks like a Vogue model."
"Oh please, he's not that handsome," Minho rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Uh, yes he is? It must be really hard being around you two together. I think I might die," Jisung said and immediately regretted it. Never thinking before speaking—that's his life motto.
A teasing smile drew across Minho's face, slow and deliberate. "Oh, so I'm in the 'looks like a Vogue model' club too?"
Jisung felt himself blushing to his ears, heat rising up his neck like a tide of embarrassment. "Shut up." He raised his fist as if to hit Minho and it only made him burst into laughter.
"Guess that's a good club. Three members so far," Minho gave Jisung a meaningful look, running his eyes over him from head to toe. Jisung felt simultaneously exposed and flattered.
"Is this your way of telling me I'm handsome?" Jisung asked with completely fabricated confidence, while mentally banging his head against the nearest wall for his lack of filter.
"There's Hyunjin, me..." Minho kept looking at him intensely while counting on his fingers deliberately slowly, "and Felix."
Of course.
"Okay, I hate you," Jisung said looking away, but trying to hide with his hand a smile that was forming on his face while listening to Minho laugh his ass off.
"You don't know that yet."
"Well, I'm making my choices right now. You're losing," Jisung blatantly lied.
"Damn it, I need a distraction." Minho made a fist with his hand and clenched his teeth in a gesture that shouldn't be so cute. "So, what does Han Jisung do when he's not going to parties?" he ended up asking.
"You say that like I'm out partying every Friday."
"You're not?" Minho raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Absolutely not," Jisung laughed. "Felix might be convincing with those puppy eyes and pout, but not enough to get me out of my bed every weekend."
"I see..." Minho nodded slowly, as if Jisung had passed an oral exam question. "Then what are you into if it's not parties?"
"Oh." Jisung thought about it. Maybe now is when Minho realizes he's talking to a mere mortal, not belonging to his world. "I'm pretty boring actually. I like watching nature documentaries—lately I've been watching a lot about turtles. I cry every time they talk about how they come into this world. I also play guitar a lot and write some lyrics for the group. Oh, you know 3RACHA, right?"
Minho nodded, showing himself completely attentive to what Jisung was saying, as if every word was important.
"Right, so I write lyrics... mmm... and I'm not gonna lie, I'm really into anime."
Instead of the judgmental expression he expected, Minho lit up. "No way, me too! What's your favorite?" Jisung smiled at Minho's sudden enthusiasm.
"Probably NANA, but I also like Attack on Titan and Spy x Family a lot," Jisung responded, matching Minho's enthusiasm, grateful he didn't have to hide parts of himself.
"No way!" Minho rummaged in his pocket and pulled out his phone, showing Jisung his case that had a sticker of the protagonist from one of the anime he'd mentioned. They looked at each other with wide eyes and open mouths, then burst into laughter at their similar reactions. "I've never seen NANA though. Is it good?"
"Oh yeah, definitely a must-watch."
"We should watch it together sometime soon." Something stirred in Jisung's chest.
"I'm completely in." And just like that, he was already making plans with the stranger.
At that moment the door opened with the familiar sound of keys falling into the entrance bowl, and they both turned to see Changbin entering the house.
Jisung was so focused on Minho that he hadn't even noticed Changbin wasn't around.
"I felt the loser energy and somehow I figured you two finally met. I knew it was a mistake," he said amused as he took off his shoes at the entrance.
"Shut up, you muscle head!" Minho yelled, and Jisung was a bit surprised by the immediate confidence with which he treated Changbin. He knew they knew each other, but it made them seem really close.
"Hi to you too, Seo Changbin," Jisung laughed, feeling more relaxed now that they had additional company.
"Hey hot stuff," Changbin greeted Jisung by ruffling his hair like a little kid. He stuck his tongue out at Minho in a very mature gesture—Minho responded by making an obscene gesture with his hand—and sat down on the adjacent couch.
"How was Seungmin?" Minho asked.
"You know, same as always," Changbin responded with the fond smile he had reserved for his boyfriend.
"Wait, you know Seungmin?" Jisung asked Minho, confused, trying to map the connections in his head.
"Oh yeah, he's my other best friend. Actually, that's how I met Chan. Changbin invited Seungmin to Wooyoung's party, and Seungmin invited me and Hyunjin."
"So your boyfriend has been Minho's best friend this whole time..." Jisung looked at Changbin more as a statement than a question.
"Yep," Changbin said simply.
"Don't tell me you're also friends with Innie," he asked Minho, though he already knew what the answer would be.
"Are we talking about Jeongin?"
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me. How is it possible we've never talked before?" Jisung felt exasperated. "Were all of you keeping me away from this guy?" This time he addressed Changbin directly.
"Not intentionally," Changbin responded with an amused smile.
They kept talking until Chan called them to the dining room. Changbin took care of setting the table while Minho and Jisung continued their conversation, laughing at anything and everything like they'd known each other their whole lives.
Dinner passed too quickly for Jisung's liking. The conversation flowed naturally among the four of them, as if Minho had been part of the group forever. It was strange—Jisung normally needed time to feel comfortable with new people, but there was something about the way Minho looked at him when he talked about why he cried watching Hotel Transylvania (with genuine understanding instead of mockery), the way he not only tolerated his slightly crude humor but played along with even worse jokes, the way he made him laugh effortlessly, that simply made him feel safe and somehow free.
Minho had just finished dramatically reciting a poem about his love for potatoes that he wrote in third grade when Chan reminded them of the real reason for the visit.
"So... I can see you two are getting along pretty well," he said, looking at them from his spot across the table. Jisung was recovering from his laughing fit.
"Did you really doubt they'd become best friends at first sight?" Changbin asked beside him, looking at them amused.
"We actually can't stand each other," Minho said with a completely serious expression.
"Yeah, we're just acting so our friend group doesn't collapse," Jisung played along.
"What friend group are you talking about?" Changbin asked, confused.
"We're thinking ahead, Seo Changbin. We clearly have some potential here," Minho responded, and Jisung couldn't hold back his laughter anymore. "See? He's unbearable." Despite saying that, there was a fond smile on his face that made something warm spread through Jisung's chest.
"So..." Chan watched them with a smile that suggested he already knew the answer. "What do you think about living together now?"
Minho and Jisung looked at each other at the same time. Jisung knew immediately.
"I have only one question that will determine everything," Minho said, turning his body toward Jisung. "Han Jisung..."
Jisung swallowed at Minho's sudden seriousness.
"What's your opinion on cats?"
"What?" Minho's expression didn't waver. "I love cats. I've never had one, but they're adorable little innocent creatures."
"What about my friend's cat that broke his new TV? Is he innocent?" Changbin asked.
"How does a cat break a TV?" Chan asked, but Changbin just shrugged.
"Well, maybe the TV did something to provoke the poor cat," Jisung responded, raising his eyebrows defiantly.
Minho laughed with that high-pitched laugh that Jisung thought he could listen to every day.
"Okay, you got me. I'm totally in," Minho said with a genuine smile. "What about you, Jisung-ah?"
"Hmm... I don't know..." He tried to play hard to get, but Minho just looked at him with feigned disinterest that made him laugh.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Chan abruptly stood up and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving the other three confused. Several sounds of plates were heard and then he reappeared balancing like a damn professional—a cake, four small plates, and forks.
"Is that chocolate cheesecake?!" Jisung asked, excited.
"Sure is," Chan responded as he cut the first slice.
"Have I ever told you how much I love you, Christopher Bang? Because I do. You're the fucking love of my life," Jisung dramatized as he received his plate and immediately put a piece in his mouth, closing his eyes as the flavor invaded his taste buds.
"Actually, Minho brought it."
Jisung turned toward Minho with his mouth full of cake, slowly processing the information. Minho was looking at him with complete smugness, raising an eyebrow with a smile.
"You're the best," Jisung said once he managed to swallow.
"No 'love of my life' for me?" Minho pouted, though his eyes shone with amusement.
"No, but you got me. Let's rent that apartment," Jisung said with complete certainty. Minho had exceeded every one of his expectations.
"And all I needed was chocolate cheesecake," Minho smiled as he received his slice.
"Actually, you got me with that 'that's why I love potatoes' poem."
🥢
Jisung had barely thrown himself on his bed, ready to reflect on the wonderful dinner he'd just had when his phone started ringing with a video call from Felix, who was still in Australia on vacation with his family.
"You fucking bitch, why didn't you tell me," Jisung said as soon as he answered the call. Felix was sitting in what looked like his backyard, his blonde hair lighting up the screen like a little sun.
"I talked to Chan," Felix didn't even say hello. "You accepted in just an hour? What the fuck, Jisung?"
Felix was laughing hard, and although Jisung tried to keep his face serious, he ended up laughing a bit with him, choppy and silent.
Maybe he had rushed a bit in making the decision. When he accepted the dinner at Chan's house, he thought he'd have to take a few days to think about his future roommate. In reality, there were many things he didn't know about Minho. Like his hygiene habits, his bedtime, if he actually knew how to do anything in the kitchen besides burning appliances out of boredom, and many other things.
Still, Minho had given him such great confidence in less than an hour that he couldn't do anything but accept. There was something about the way Minho looked at him, as if he really saw him—not just the performative version of himself he usually showed—that made him feel strangely comfortable. If this is how it went with Minho at dinner, he couldn't imagine what it would be like living together.
"Are you done?" Jisung asked, trying to look bored when Felix let out a sigh, wiping away a tear from laughing.
"Yep," he smiled with his lips pressed in a line. "Now tell me, how was it?"
"He's... I don't know, he just gave the vibe... he's just... ugh." Jisung buried his face in his pillow, frustrated. "I don't even know how to explain it."
"Okay, easy." Those honey eyes looked at Jisung amused but also with an affection that came through the screen. "How did you feel?" he asked, probably wanting to guide Jisung to organize his thoughts.
"I felt... comfortable? I mean, I didn't feel like holding back or having to hide my real personality with him almost instantly..."
"I see." Felix looked at him intently, trying to keep his smile from growing.
"He's really flirty too, but it didn't make me want to run away. He made me laugh a lot and... I don't know, stop looking at me like that." Felix had a downturned smile, raising his eyebrows and nodding, as if he'd been waiting for Jisung to say all that.
"Okay okay, sorry." Jisung looked at the screen again. "I'm glad you didn't just accept based on looks. You haven't said anything about that."
"Yeah, I'm not like you." Felix stuck out his tongue maturely and Jisung responded in kind.
"But it sounds perfect. I'm happy for you," Felix smiled sincerely, and Jisung could see his eyes soften. "I mean, not gonna lie, at first I was a bit down and jealous that you'd have another roommate, but seeing you this happy is worth everything."
"I wish it was you too," Jisung pouted, and he meant it. "But I'm not gonna lie either—I'm expecting some things about this Minho situation."
"Of course you are." And there was nothing biting in his tone. Just pure understanding, like always.
That was one of the things Jisung loved most about Felix. He was always so pure and sincere, wishing the best for others and being happy when his loved ones were doing well, without any bad feelings to offer, without envy.
Jisung had always had Chan—he was and still is one of his best friends. But it always felt more like a protective relationship toward a younger person than anything else. Chan took care of him, guided him, protected him, and Jisung was deeply grateful for that. But meeting Felix changed his life in a way he never thought possible.
Felix taught him what it felt like to be seen as an equal. With Felix he could simply be Jisung, without hiding his insecurities and vulnerable moments or having to pretend to be stronger than he was so as not to worry him. He never said it out loud because he didn't want to invalidate others, but he always felt Felix taught him what true friendship is. A mutual friendship, a relationship of equals where both took care of each other with the same intensity. Something he'd been waiting for his whole life without realizing it.
Sometimes Jisung wondered if Felix knew how much he meant to him and how grateful he was to have him in his life.
"Don't forget about me now that you'll be living with that fine shit," Felix lifted his phone to his forehead, as if trying to make his doe eyes look even bigger and more pleading.
"As if I could with your little ass being around all the time." Felix let out an offended gasp, bringing his hand to his chest.
"You little... I'm bringing a spider from here with me to your new apartment."
"You wouldn't dare," Jisung laughed.
The conversation slowly began to shift, jumping from one topic to another until they'd been talking for two hours, and Jisung could go another two without a problem. But then he received a message from an unknown number.
"Wait, someone texted me."
"Who?" Felix asked, already settled in his bed.
"Let me check."
unknown
hey
ur number was on a bus stop
is it true that u make deals for genshin primogems?
Jisung felt an involuntary smile curving his lips, immediately recognizing who it was.
"Oh my god, you're not smiling at a Lino message."
"I'm not..." he tried to lie while responding.
jisung
hey there stalker
missing me already?
did chan give u my number?
minho
u r not fun
jisung
oh sorry
yes, im the guy u r looking for!
9999999 primogems x 1 kiss
minho
omg thats a double win
Jisung laughed under his breath and his body had the small impulse to lie on his stomach and kick his feet like a lovesick teenager. For the sake of his reputation in front of the ghost in his room and Felix who could still see him, he didn't.
"Ok, I see I lost your attention," Felix laughed, but there was no resentment in his voice. There never was with Felix. "I'm gonna sleep anyway. Have fun, and expect a visit from me when I get back."
"Oh you better come. I miss your face."
"Even watching it right now?"
"Even more watching it right now." Felix's mouth curved comically downward in a huge pout, as if Jisung had said the most romantic thing possible.
"Miss you too, pookie," Felix smiled. "Ok, gotta go now. See you next month. Love you."
"Love you too." They waved goodbye before Jisung focused completely on Minho again.
jisung
only available for cute boys
girls too
but mostly boys
minho
well, lucky me :)
jisung
how do i know u r a pretty boy?
minho
are you asking for a pic rn?
jisung
well you offered it so...
minho
ok stop flirting with me
hey jisung!
this is minho btw :3
jisung
no waaaay
thought i was talking to hyunjin :(
minho
ok im blocking u rn
jisung
wait
not even gonna tell me why u texted me?
rude
minho
bruh
maybe i just wanted to chat w u :(
jisung
oh sorry
did that hurt ur feelings kitty?
minho
asdfjkl???
dont call me that
but ok
when r we gonna do the dirty adult stuff?
jisung
i lost it
wtf
what r u saying...?
minho
yeah
the paperwork stuff
jisung
IM TOO YOUNG TO GET MARRIED >////<
minho
damn it
Minho clearly wasn't talking about any of the dirty things that crossed Jisung's mind. Or about marriage, of course. He just wanted to know if Jisung was willing to go visit the apartment Jisung had his eye on that week, which miraculously was still available. Jisung had already seen the apartment before with Felix, but he thought accompanying Minho to see it would be relevant since they'd be moving in together. Plus, it gave him an excuse to spend more time together. You know, to get to know him better.
On the agreed day, Jisung woke up feeling excitement bubbling in his stomach.
When he arrived at the corner where they'd agreed to meet, Minho was leaning against a brick wall, completely absorbed in his phone. His brow was slightly furrowed, lips forming a small pout that made him look like a grumpy cat.
So fucking cute.
He approached trying to seem casual, though his heart was beating like he'd run a marathon. Minho didn't look up until Jisung was less than a meter away. When their eyes met, his expression instantly transformed into a smile that reached his eyes. Jisung internally applauded his past self for deciding to dress up when Minho's gaze traveled over him.
"Hey you," Jisung greeted, standing beside him and trying to sound calmer than he felt.
"Hey Jisungie!" Minho responded, pushing off the wall.
"What did your phone do to you?" Jisung asked as they started walking side by side, heading toward the apartment at the end of the street. "You were looking at it like it just insulted your entire family."
"I was trying to make you text me telepathically," Minho responded with a pout. "Didn't work."
"I did text you ten minutes ago when I got off the train," Jisung laughed.
"Ten minutes is too long to be out of contact with you," Minho playfully bumped him with his shoulder.
"Oh my god, you're so clingy," he complained, but he was smiling.
"You love it."
"Using the L-word on our second meeting? Bold," he joked, trying to keep his tone light.
"Was it love at first sight just for me then?" Minho asked with a teasing smile.
"Sorry for breaking your heart," Jisung responded, playing along.
"Never recovering from this." They both laughed softly.
"But seriously," Jisung shifted his tone slightly, "everything okay? You looked genuinely pissed off. I don't wanna be nosy—you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Minho looked at him sideways, and there was something soft in his expression that made Jisung's stomach flutter. "I was just playing Sudoku. That's my concentration face."
Jisung couldn't help but laugh.
The rest of the short walk was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Just enjoying each other's company, their steps naturally syncing on the uneven pavement until they reached the apartment complex, where the person in charge of showing the place was waiting for them. Silences usually bothered Jisung. He usually felt like he wasn't being good company and should drop a joke to fill the void immediately, but Minho didn't make him feel that way—it was simply relaxing.
The apartment tour was equally relaxing. Jisung followed Minho like a puppy, observing each of his reactions, memorizing the way his eyes lit up when he saw something he liked. He showed him his favorite parts and felt ridiculously pleased when Minho seemed equally excited about every detail. They talked about which room each would take and how they'd like to organize the living room and bathroom.
He was surprised when Minho stopped longer than expected evaluating the kitchen, running his fingers over the countertops and opening and closing the cabinets with a thoughtful expression.
"I actually really love cooking," Minho explained when he noticed Jisung's curious look. "Lately I've been trying more recipes than ever. Fair warning—I might take over the kitchen pretty often."
"As long as you share the food, I'm perfectly fine with that," Jisung responded. "And also don't burn the microw—"
"You're never letting that go, are you?" Minho pretended to be annoyed, but his smile told a different story. Jisung laughed, shaking his head.
When they finished, they headed to a small office to start the paperwork. They left the building and Jisung felt like he was floating. There were some minor procedures left and the move itself, but it was official now. He was going to live with Minho in his dream apartment... well, what he could afford to dream about in his current situation.
"What do you think of it?" Jisung asked as they walked back down the same street, afternoon shadows starting to lengthen.
"Actually, you have really good taste," Minho smiled at him, and there was something genuinely admiring in his voice that made Jisung feel proud. "For the price, it's perfect. And I really like that it's not too big—makes it feel more like home. Besides," and here his smile became more mischievous, "my dream little apartment comes with my dream little roommate."
"Shut up," Jisung lightly smacked his arm, feeling heat rise up his neck.
"Make me."
Jisung stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide as saucers, completely caught off guard. Minho burst into laughter at his reaction.
"Cute," he said, extending his index finger to gently touch one of Jisung's cheeks, which was definitely burning. "Are you busy right now?"
"Not really," Jisung managed to answer. "I was just gonna go home and scream into my pillow about the excitement of finally moving out."
"Oh god, you're that happy about living with me?" Minho brought a hand to his chest as if deeply flattered and winked at him—or tried to, because he ended up closing both eyes. Jisung simply rolled his eyes with that smile that refused to leave his face. "It's still early, and I know there's a good sushi place near here. Wanna grab dinner? My treat."
Jisung felt something warm expand in his chest. Maybe Minho really was his soulmate.
"Only if you let me pay next time," Jisung said, shooting his shot.
"There's gonna be a next time?" Minho asked with feigned surprise, bringing his hand dramatically to his chest again.
"Obviously. Someone's gotta make sure you don't burn down any restaurants," Jisung teased.
"That was ONE time!" Minho protested, though he was laughing. "And it was a microwave, not a whole restaurant."
"Yet," Jisung added ominously.
Minho shoved him playfully and Jisung stumbled a bit, laughing. They started walking toward the sushi place, falling into step beside each other again. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, and Jisung thought that maybe, just maybe, this whole roommate situation was going to be the best decision he'd ever made.
They reached the sushi place—a small, cozy restaurant with warm lighting and the smell of rice and fresh fish. Minho held the door open for him (which shouldn't have been as charming as it was), and they were seated at a small table by the window.
As they looked over the menus, Jisung couldn't help but steal glances at Minho. The way he concentrated on reading, that little furrow between his brows returning. The way he unconsciously pouted when thinking. The way the golden light from the restaurant made his skin glow.
"See something you like?" Minho asked without looking up from his menu, but there was a knowing smile playing at his lips.
Jisung quickly looked back down at his own menu, face heating up. "Just... trying to decide between the salmon and tuna rolls."
"Get both," Minho suggested, finally looking up. "We can share. That way you get to try more things."
"You sure? I don't wanna—"
"Jisung-ah," Minho interrupted, and there was something fond in his voice. "We're gonna be living together. We're gonna be sharing a lot of things. Might as well start with sushi."
And when he said it like that, so casual and easy, like it was the most natural thing in the world, Jisung felt that warmth in his chest again. That feeling of everything just... fitting.
"Okay," Jisung agreed, smiling. "Let's share."
They ordered way too much food—Minho insisted on trying half the menu—and spent the next hour talking about everything and nothing. It was weird how easy Minho was to talk to, how the conversation never lagged or felt forced. They fell into a rhythm like they'd been friends for years—teasing, laughing, stealing food off each other's plates. By the time Jisung's cheeks started hurting from smiling, he'd completely forgotten this was only their second time hanging out. Their first time alone. It just felt normal. Comfortable. Like this was exactly where he was supposed to be.
By the time they left the restaurant, the sky had turned dark and the streetlights had come on. They walked slowly toward the train station, neither of them seeming to want to rush.
"Thanks for dinner," Jisung said as they reached the platform. "And for, you know, agreeing to live with a stranger."
"You're not a stranger," Minho said, and something about the way he said it made Jisung's breath catch. "Not anymore."
"Not anymore," Jisung echoed softly.
Their trains arrived at different platforms, heading in opposite directions.
As the train carried him home, Jisung thought about Felix's words. "I have this feeling you're gonna say yes just when you see him."
Felix was right. Of course he was right.
But it wasn't just about how Minho looked (though that certainly didn't hurt). It was about the way he made Jisung feel—like he could be himself without apology. Like his weirdness wasn't something to hide but something to share.
Like maybe, for the first time in a long time, he'd found someone who understood him without him having to explain.