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Han stares at Minho's hand, idly waiting for him to take a hold as it sits directly in front of his vacant gaze. Minho's heart melts as he watches Han, dazed and confused, likely flustered at his appearance and his question.

Jeongin and Changbin pay zero attention to the interaction as they continue to argue over meaningless food that Changbin clearly wanted to eat. Chan finally sits down and begins to eat himself, watching Hyunjin splash Felix in the pool. Seungmin was already getting back into the water, refilling his water gun in preparation to snipe one of his friends.

"Hannie?" Minho finally stirs Han awake from his trance, his hand thoughtlessly reaching up and grabbing onto Minho's, accepting the offer with a clouded mind. Han blinks rapidly a few times, standing from his seat as Minho leads him towards the pool hand in hand. No one seems to question the soft touch of their hands as they walk along the side of the pool before reaching the stairs. Minho steps down onto the first step, wincing at the sudden cool of the water against his skin. Jeongin wasn't kidding.

Han follows him, already used to the temperature as he walks in without worry, settling into waist-deep water. Han turns around, watching Minho slowly make way into the pool, adjusting to the temperature one literal step at a time.

"Aye," Minho grimaces as he commits to walking all the way in, hands reaching out as he paces towards Han, listening to Han laugh at him.

"You're such a baby." Han chuckles, unaware of the looming shark coming up behind him.

"Shh-" Minho shakes his head. "Why is it so damn cold?"

"It's not that cold," Han laughs at him, suddenly feeling a small wave of water push up his back. He turns around to face Seungmin, who was rushing them with his water gun, armed and ready.

"Shit!" Han ducks down as Seungmin fires, water spraying directly at Minho's face. Minho sees this though, covering his face with his hands as water is fired at his skin. Han quickly spins around in defense, hand pushing through the water as he shoves a splash towards Seungmin. This catches him off guard as water collides with his upper body, which in turn stops Seungmin from firing for a second. This opening gives Minho the chance to also send water toward their attacker, the larger wave splashing upwards towards his face.

"Hey! Hey!" Seungmin laughs, using his free hand to try and block the onslaught of water being pushed towards him.

"You deserve it!" Hyunjin yells from behind them, laughing at the chaos at the shallow end of the pool. Seungmin backs up while laughing, retreating to the safety of the deep end where he suddenly realizes that Han and Minho wouldn't follow.

Han looks over at Minho, now suddenly wet from head to toe. "Is the water still cold?"

"No, Jisung." Minho rakes a hand through his half-wet hair, pushing wet locks out of his vision.

Han smiles at him, his tone no softer than a mumble as he leans towards him and says, "you're cute with wet hair."

Minho's breath hitches, looking over to Han who was staring at him with what seemed like complete affection. "Shh."

"Why shh?"

"They might hear you." Minho looked around them awkwardly, but no one seemed to be paying attention. Han's tone was quiet enough, and in fact, Minho wishes he could hear him say it again.

"They're hardly paying attention." Han justifies the sudden compliment, turning around to watch his friends talk over one another. He looks at Felix, watching him stare at Hyunjin as he fights off Seungmin, avoiding being dunked into the pool.

"Still." Minho seemed uncomfortable, but he visibly relaxed when Han looked back at him apologetically.

"Sorry." Han's guilty tone stirred Minho's heart in a direction he wasn't prepared for, reaching over to Han and placing his finger briefly under his chin. Han's eyes widen in shock, but he remains still, feeling Minho's fingers leave and retreat back to his side before he could even react.

"It's okay." Minho subtly smiles, bending down to submerge his body further into the water, allowing his shoulders to sink beneath the surface. Han watches him and follows suit, turning to watch his friends again as they team up on Seungmin.

Changbin and Jeongin finally join in, sitting on the edge of the pool before lowering themselves into the water, trying to steal the water gun away from their friend. Felix hides behind parts of his float as Seungmin fires at him, laughing maniacally as he backs into the wall and lets Changbin overpower him. Changbin wrestles the fake weapon from his hands as he throws it out of the pool, listening to the plastic toy hit the ground with a thud.

"No more toys for you," Jeongin threatens playfully, watching Changbin push Seungmin's head underwater. Seungmin comes back above the surface, wiping his eyes and laughing, listening to Changbin start laughing hysterically.

"I will get my revenge." Seungmin splashes Jeongin suddenly, which starts to stir the pot again as the war fires back up.

"Hey, hey!" Chan throws a ball suddenly into the pool, splashing both fighting boys as they stare unknowingly at Chan. "You wanted to play volleyball so damn bad."

Chan points to the ball floating behind them. "Then let's play."

"Finally!" Seungmin happily cheers, and for some reason, everyone agrees to join in. They split into teams easily, however, Minho elected to sit out and play referee, sitting on the edge of the pool near the center. Chan, Changbin and Felix settle on the right side, while Han, Hyunjin, Seungmin and Jeongin play on the left side. The teams were uneven, but no one seemed to mind too much.

"Whose serve?" Chan bounces the ball back and forth in his hands, teetering the options ahead of him as the enemy team talks about their plan.

"We'll serve." Hyunjin holds his hands open to receive the ball, catching it and handing it off to Seungmin. Seungmin has a devious look in his eyes, tossing the ball up and down twice before backing up into position. The ball is tossed upwards again but is hit at the perfect height to be sent over to the enemy team. Changbin received the ball, using his wrists to send the ball back up over to Chan, who got right under the ball and prepared to send it back. Hyunjin and Han stood ready, watching Chan's every move as the ball came down to meet his finger tips, being pushed back up and towards Jeongin, who tries to receive it, but misses.

"Innie!" A disappointed Hyunjin exclaims, watching Jeongin cover his face in embarrassment. Han grabs the ball and tosses it to Changbin, watching him prepare to serve the ball.

Minho announces the score, even though it was obvious what it was, using his hands to signal points to each team. The team of four spaces back out, watching Changbin back up and toss the ball upwards, gently tapping the ball so it just barely is sent over to the other team. Hyunjin lunges for the ball, using his fist to send the ball back up towards his teammates.

"I got it!" Seungmin gets under the ball and sends it back over, Chan easily receiving the ball and shooting it over towards Felix. Felix unconfidently gets under the ball, using his hands to shove the ball back over to the other team, but it lands out of bounds.

Minho, once again, lays out points for the team after retrieving the ball and tossing it to Han. 1-1.

Han takes a breath as he backs into the setter's corner, tossing the ball up and setting it, watching as the ball smoothly sailed towards Chan. Chan uses his wrists to receive, the ball shooting back up and hovering over Changbin as he aims to slam it. Han watches him closely, and something in his mind tells him to intercept Changbin's point, so he rushes forwards as Changbin smacks the ball almost straight down but not at full force. Han predicts the ball's trajectory wrong, watching as the ball closes in on his face. His hand shoots up in fear, shoulder scrunching up towards his face as the ball collides with the top of his head, bouncing off and landing in the water with a smack.

"Han!" Minho launches himself into the water, wading over towards Han as he slowly uncovered his face. He was completely fine, a smile lurking as his anxiety left his stomach. He was embarrassed, knowing fully well that he shouldn't have gone for the ball and should've left it for Seungmin.

"I'm alright," Han chuckles as he looks at his friends, eyes avoiding Minho as he looks around, but Minho stares into him. He was clearly concerned, but overreacting to something that was hardly worth worrying about.

"Han." Minho demands in a soft, dull tone. Han's attention immediately swings to Minho's eyes as he looks back at him, watching Minho's eyes soften the second they look at one another. "You sure?"

"Yeah, yeah." Han shakes his hands nervously, taking a step away from Minho as their friends stare at the both of them, unaware of Minho's surging need to take care of Han. Felix and Hyunjin share a glance across the pool from each other, smirking and raising their brows. Felix had a feeling that this was what Han was so scared of, but he never bothered to question him. It was obvious Han had a crush on Minho, but who would've guessed that Minho had room in his cold heart for sudden affection towards Han?

"Okay." Minho turns around and grabs the ball, pointing at Changbin with the gesture of raising a yellow card. Seungmin laughs and Changbin groans.

Minho tosses the ball to Felix, watching the nerves radiate out of his body as he prepares to serve for the first time in his life. Chan notices the subtle anxiety in his eyes as he puts a hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently. "You got it, Felix."

The encouraging words give Felix enough drive to serve the ball, falling a little lower compared to everyone else, but nonetheless reaching the other team. Han receives the ball easily, sending it back towards Changbin who sets up a set for Chan. The ball flies into the air from Changbin's set, coming back down only to be hit by Chan's hand as it collides with the water. Seungmin misses the ball, the splash from the collision flying upwards into his face.

"Seungmin'ah!" Hyunjin groans in annoyance as Seungmin throws his arms into the air.

"There was nothing I could do." He turned around to look at Hyunjin who was smiling at him and shaking his head.

"Okay!" Minho blurts out. "Three points to Chan's team, one point to Seungmin's team."

The game continues for fourteen more serves, both teams agreeing on playing until one team eventually hits ten points. They serve back and forth, making silly mistakes and laughing with one another. Chan and Changbin continue to help Felix feel confident during the game, cheering him on and encouraging him to Hyunjin's dismay. Hyunjin watches with a tinge of jealousy, but only Han could see the tense, rigid body language from him as Felix interacted with his teammates.

Seungmin's team was declared the winner by default as Han scored the last point, making the final score ten to eight.

Seungmin and Jeongin get out of the pool first, grabbing their towels and wrapping them around their waist, talking quietly to one another before turning to the group. "Do you guys want snacks?"

"I'm in the mood for ice cream." Hyunjin sighs, leaning backwards against the pool wall.

"Me too," Felix mumbles as he swims towards Hyunjin, smiling as their eyes briefly meet.

"Okay. We'll go grab a bunch of stuff." Jeongin waves to his friends as they head back inside, disappearing into Hyunjin's home.

Chan and Changbin talk to one another in the deep end of the pool while Han swims over to the stairs, eyes wandering over to Minho who was still sitting on the concrete edge. Minho eventually looks at Han, and for a second, they lock eyes before Han looks away, hands finding the third step as he sits down.

"We're gonna go inside for a bit," Changbin says as he lifts himself out of the pool, Chan not too far behind as they grab their towels. "Hyunjin'ah! Is your playstation still hooked up?"

"Yeah! Remote for the TV is on the couch!" Hyunjin responds without concern, watching his friends excitedly head inside to play some sort of game. Felix's arm swings over Hyunjin's shoulders and Hyunjin smiles at him, whispering something that causes Felix to smile back at him.

"Jisung'ah?" Minho calls over, Han's eyes immediately snapping towards him and away from the backdoor his friends just walked through. "Are you staying in the pool?"

"For a bit." Han tilts his head slightly. "Why?"

"I'll come back in." Minho stands from his referee seating, walking over to the stairs and entering back into the pool. Han can't help but smile at him, watching him glide into the water as it rises to his waist.

Felix leaned his head on his arm that was still dangling over his friend's shoulders, feeling Hyunjin press a subtle kiss against his forehead. It isn't long before Hyunjin and Felix notice the softness tuned to Minho's tone and the attentiveness associated with Minho's actions as he comes back into the pool, which stirs their focus back towards their suspicious friends. Hyunjin watches Minho closely, Felix watching his best friend gaze like a love-sick puppy at the cold-hearted boy ahead of him. Hyunjin mutters quiet words to Felix, which stirs them both into a quick decision.

"We'll be back," Hyunjin mutters as he lifts himself out of the pool, knees meeting the concrete as he turns around, hand being held out for Felix as he helps him out of the pool. Han watches them, a bit confused at their sudden will to leave, but his gaze falls back to Minho as he settles into the water a bit further. Hyunjin and Felix speed walk back towards the house, glancing one more time at their friends before heading inside without another word.

"So," Han leaves the stairs, entering back into the pool towards Minho as silence fills the vacant space. "That was weird."

"Yeah," Minho looks at the home's back door, blinking a few times before looking back at Han. "It was a bit weird."

"I wonder why they left?" Han's eyes struggle to stay focused as his voice trails off, his gaze falling from Minho's face and down to look at his chest, then down towards his submerged abs and waist. Only then does he notice a scar, just off-centered from his midline. It's vertical on his abdomen, just barely visible as it looks to be an older wound.

"What's that?" Han questionably points at Minho's scar, unknowingly pointing out to Minho that he was in fact checking him out. Han's eyes nearly refuse to leave as Minho speaks softly to him.

"It's an old scar," Minho smiles at Han. "Were you checking me out, Hannie?"

"What?!" Han's eyes snap back to Minho's face, watching his smile fade into a subtle smirk. "No, no! No I wasn't."

"Mhm," Minho raises a brow in suspicion. "There's no way you'd notice it otherwise."

"It was an accident, I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize," Minho's hand finds Han's jaw, holding it steady as he forces Han's gaze to focus on him. "I've been wondering why you've seemed so flustered today."

Han swallows hard, unaware of the closing distance between the boys. "I don't know what you mean."

"Yeah you do." Minho's head tilts, wet hair shifting in the direction of the sudden turn. Han's eyes study Minho's features, taking a moment to watch Minho's gaze soften. Minho's sharp jaw, dark eyes and pink lips stir Han's mind crazy, he can feel his heart beating quicker than normal as Minho looks down at him, moving closer as their bodies come within inches of one another.

"Minho-" Han's anxiety speaks for him, his hands suddenly beginning to shake as he fears this closeness, this unwelcome feeling of needing something from Minho. He feels the urge to turn and walk away, getting some distance to rebuild his walls, but Minho refuses to move, tearing Han's walls down inch by inch.

"You're cute when you're flustered." Minho's other hand finds Han's waist, grabbing it lightly as they stand close together in the shallow water.

"Minho, what if they-"

"Is this okay?" Minho interrupts Han's anxiety, feeling him tremble slightly as his eyes try to play avoidance. Minho's hand continues to hold Han's jaw, but chooses to let go, watching Han's gaze snap back to him, looking up with hooded doe-eyes.

Han's fear of feeling something more than a crush lingers in the pool with him, swimming around him as he questions the closeness between them. Han's eyes can't look away from Minho now, his walls tumbling slightly as his own hands reach for Minho's waist. Minho fully expects Han to push him away as his trembling hands find his body, but Han instead pulls him closer.

"Yeah," Han looks up at Minho again after looking at the closeness of their bodies, water dripping down their stomachs only two inches apart. "This is okay."

Han's breaths are heavy, anxiety building in his chest and lingering, but Minho leans down and kisses Han's anxiety away. Minho's hand falls from Han's waist as it travels back up, both hands gently touching Han's jaw as they share breaths and saliva, unaware of the pair of eyes on their backs.

In their tense standoff, Felix and Hyunjin had walked back outside, watching curiously as their friends suddenly started touching one another, then got closer and closer before ending up on each other's lips. Hyunjin pushes Felix back towards the door, scurrying back inside before either boy in the pool notices that they were caught.

Han parts timidly from Minho, eyes looking down as his hands drop back to his sides. Minho's hand lifts off from Han's waist, moreso laying on his shoulders as his wrists linger on Han's skin. Minho was taller than Han, but not by too much, looking down at him with love-stricken eyes as he waited for Han to say something; anything.

Han was struggling with communicating his feelings. They both agreed to do what was comfortable to not overreach over the others' boundaries, but Han was well past his own. Normally, Han would've turned and ran, distancing himself from whoever was trying to take his walls down. Minho was gentle and considerate, something Han has never let himself experience before.

He's used to shitty boyfriends and liars, people who use him physically and emotionally, then dump him within the next week. Minho was so complex, so different. Something about the taller, older boy made his heart sing, and it was a song he can't ignore.

"I don't know how to say what I want to," Han swallows nervously. "So I'm just gonna say it."

"Okay." Minho agrees, now watching with a tinge of anxiety, afraid of Han ending whatever fling this was turning out to be. Minho had never felt this way about anyone, nor did he ever want so much attention from someone. This was new, something completely different than what he's had before. He knew he didn't want a relationship. He didn't want to be let down and cheated on, afraid of someone taking his heart and snapping it into a million pieces.

He's done this dance before, this close want and need of someone else's touch and love. He refuses to step back into the line of fire, taking cover and retreating from the war altogether.

"I really like you, Lee Minho." Han struggles to look at Minho for a second, his heart beating out of his chest as he slowly looks up at the face of the boy he adored. "I'm terrified of my feelings for you, but I can't ignore my heart anymore."

Minho doesn't know how to respond. He wants to turn away and tell Han to ignore his feelings, but all he wanted to do was hold him.

"You don't have to respond or say it back to me, I really don't expect you to. But I can't stop thinking about you and I can't tell you how thankful I am for being there for me the last couple of days." Han reaches for Minho's hand, fingers brushing on Minho's own, afraid to take a hold of his warm grasp just in case Minho didn't want to be touched. But to his surprise, Minho's hand lolls over and accepts Han's grasp on his own. Instead of using words, Minho leans back in and kisses the breath from Han's lips. Han, timid at first, settles into the kiss as he smiles against Minho's lips, feeling nothing more than pure happiness at the contact.

The back door suddenly opens and Han pushes Minho away, watching him stumble into the water and get soaked all over again. Minho's head dunks under the water briefly, but as he steadies himself, he wipes his face off, water dripping from his hair as he looks at Han with a confused and irritated gaze.

"We have ice cream!" Seungmin pokes his head outside of the door then closes it again, leaving Minho to take a long breath in and exhale slowly. Han's hand brushes his hair back, a nervous breath leaving his lungs too as he looks at Minho and Minho looks back at him. They both smile at each other and start laughing, unaware that their secret wasn't so secret anymore.