IPA: /ɪˈpɪf.ə.ni/, /ɪˈpɪf.ni/, /ɛˈpɪf.ə.ni/
Noun
epiphany (plural epiphanies): An illuminating realization or discovery, often resulting in a personal feeling of elation, awe, or wonder.

Water feels freezing cold for the first few seconds. And then your body's peripheral nervous system adjusts body temperature to combat this change in environment.

It's cold.

Wet.

The shirt he wore waves along freely under the body of water. His hair dances and waves in the water. His eyes are open, to see not clear water but the Boa lake. It's dirty murky water.

But something's wrong. Jisung can't hear much. Faint cheers and music. Sound truly travels slower under water. Little bubbles form at the periphery of his face.

Jisung remembers that he can't swim.

And suddenly when it's been several seconds, others above realise too.

"Jisung!"

"Jisung Bro! "

They are not cheering anymore.

The water feels lukewarm now.

That's when hands finally latch onto him desperately and urgently after another splash is heard breach the waters.

Sound still feels slow or is it just Jisung hearing ringing in his ears ?

Eyes shut. Barely coherent. Brain stuck. All Jisung is seeing that lake from home. Its dirt. Its lily's. Its frogs. His father-

Or the man with him.

Watching the lake.

"Wake up!"

"Please Jisung!"

"Wake uuuuuuuuuuuup!"

Air to lungs, lips to lips, wetter than liquid itself, Seungmin performed the Heimlich on the gasping boy. Gasping and spazing like a fish out of its place.

It feels cold again. Air to wet skin, goosebumps rising and sound again.

Sound comes again, because Jisung can hear 'Fuck' and 'what have you done !?'

Little sparks of light enter his eyes again.

It's not that the world is moving in 2x, he must be moving 0.5x.

It's actually a bit funny. And Jisung is turning into a fit of hiccups and giggles.

He can hear Minho's voice in the background.

He's angry sounding.

"Min" It comes out rather soft. Rather weak. Like a syrupy sweet squeak akin to a chipmunk.

"Ji? I'm here."

And just like that Minho's dropped to the concrete. Awfully quick, his hands nestled Jisung's head that was laid on the concrete.

Minho is the first thing he sees clearly. And he's beautiful.

Beautiful even when Jisung wants him to look ugly. If he were ugly he wouldn't feel the cement drying feeling he felt when that girl asserted herself on him like that.

Awes and Oohs sound from a nearby group of girlls.

"Are you okay? " It's a whisper. With chaos all in the background, it's misplaced. Almost hard to hear. But Jisung's eyes trail on Minho's pink lips.

Jisung in his mind:

"Ask the pool water in my lungs "

Jisung in real life, barely able to form a coherent sentence:

"Yes"

"Let's go inside yeah?"

Now that the water-high was fading, the embarrassment started settling in for Jisung. It's a sinking realisation that people are watching him or that he looked a mess spurting and wheezing on the concrete.

Given, drowning doesn't look glamourous. Not that glamour and Jisung could ever be synonymous.

Minho helps him up. Places his denim jacket over Jisung. And they walk into the house.

Minho has his hand well clutched on Jisung's waist. It was either this or Minho was to carry Jisung. And Jisung vehemently refused the second offer.

As quick as Jisung almost drowned and almost met his maker, the quicker the party went on. The quicker Seungmin disappeared elsewhere.

"You went swimming and didn't invite me Han ?" Jeongin's tone is playful at best, and teasingly sultry at least.

"His wet hair is so cute"

Yunjin rolled her eyes at Felix' statement.

"You say everything is cute"

"You're cute too Yunjin " Felix poked at her cheek.

She didn't say anything to that, just smirking, and chugging down the contents of red cup.

"Why swim in your clothes tho? I'm trying to see hot bods today... like..*hic*...hot-"

"Maybe because looking hot isn't important when drowning?" Minho's sarcasm sliced through the room.

The group in the lounge are playing beer pong. Red cups and almost too drunk too function Julie are the first thing Jisung notices. He really is back to the real world, and not the realm of almost death. The world where he's still here against his will.

And not a single person cares.

"Oh Shit"

"Sorry bro"

"How does he not know how to swim as a whole adult?" Mina asked under her breath.

"Some people just don't Mina. It's not a crime." Felix, said with concern and genuine sympathy. He seems to miss her snarky intent.

Minho doesn't say much, but proceeds to to lead Jisung up the stairs.

"I'm going to the guest room" He informs Jeongin with little care.

Jisung doesn't witness it, but assumes Jeongin permitted because they leave the scene up luxurious stairs. Into an even more luxurious looking room.

It's all so confusing. Jeongin and Felix are monied. Are they of wealth because of their crimes or are they just wealthy kids bored enough to commit crime ?

Minho lays him down on the huge queen bed.

No words are exchanged. Jisung sits upright, and removes his jacket. And his shirt. It was clinging to his skin like slime. A feeling equivalent to the highest degree of irritation.

"Hey-hey- what are you doing?"

Minho had returned from the minibar refrigerator in the corner, with a bottle of water and crackers in his hands.

"Taking my clothes off ?" Jisung was actually pissed off. He tried to tone it down but, well, he's embarrassed as hell.

Mina is right. How does a grown man not know how to swim?

There's a lot he doesn't know appearantly. But maybe it's better that way. If only things could go back to normal, a normal where he is in Boa, and Minho can be with the love of his life Mina.

"Yes- I see that Ji, but why ?"

"So they can dry. Just go back to your girlfriend and friends. I'll stay here up until it's time to leave. I can take care of myself" Jisung was actually stable in his speaking.

He wanted Minho to take him seriously.

He stood up. And removed the dripping wet pants next, along with the socks.

"What were you doing with Seungmin in the first place ?" Minho chose to ignore everything Jisung had said.

He still where he was standing. He wasn't sleek too.

Jisung could see him ogling. Shamelessly. Eyes trailing down from Jisung's chest all the way down his legs.

Jisung wanted to feel self-conscious and coverup. But he doesn't care this time. The likes of him live to ogle. Lowlife.

"Seungmin didn't do anything wrong" Jisung mumbled absentmindedly, pulling at the sheet to wrap around himself.

"You're angry about Mina? The you're behaving so jealous I'd think I'm your boyfriend or something"

"I'm not angry. And I don't want you as a boyfriend, I want to go home"

Minho didn't talk this time. He only walked over to the very shivering and low-lidded Jisung.

He sat beside him at the edge of the bed. And Jisung scooted away in the pettiest manner.

Minho only chuckled. Scooting once more to be as close as possible to Jisung. Jisung smells like chloroform. And Minho smells like whatever was being smoked at this unplanned party.

Minho stares at Jisung. His curly hair. His cute side profile. Those plump cheeks.

And when Jisung turns his head, feeling Minho's burning stare.

"Home?" Minho questioned.

Jisung is staring at pretty brown eyes. Minho is staring at plush pink lips.

"I planned on making mac and cheese today but you don't deserve that" Jisung huffed.

Minho can't express his disbelief. He just can't. Jisung meant their condo and not that dusty town Boa.

Home with Minho. An unfamiliar feeling settles in his chest at this small interaction.