"You're acting up"

No answer.

"Is this really you being jealous? I thought you said you hate me?"

No answer.

"Fine then. Keep it that way." Minho scowled.

Jisung was giving him the silent treatment. More so because of Mina and not because he almost lost his life to h20 today.

Jisung had changed into Felix' clothes that the fashion fanatic had stashed in his overnight bag. He's wearing a hot pink track suit, the sweatpants of which are low rise and the soft material is so pleasing to look at. Jisung loves it, unlike the monotonous uniform he had been delegated to since he begun working in the diner.

He had to wear that dinky uniform for two years at least, excluding his off days. It's actually insane for him to look back at. His daily life as he knew it changed faster than he could even spell Boa.

It's not that Jisung didn't have big dreams and a plan for his future, it is the fact that he could only stick to what he knew. What he was taught. To one day become an upstanding man, get a job in Boa, and eventually make a family with a nice church woman. The job as a waiter was just a start to that set life plan.

Something about almost dying makes one rethink a lot of things. Like.... did Jisung want the life Bao had laid out for him ? Did he know what he wanted ? Can he trust Minho? Should he run ? Is there a better food than mac and cheese ?

Deep and stupid thoughts simultaneously ran through his head. Alcohol and water being two dizzying components that had Jisung feeling particularly on edge. This is a different effect from the time when he was drunk with Felix in the club.

"Ji ?" Minho tried one more time for good measure, to no avail. Preppy songs played in the background in the car.

Minho gave up with a heavy heart on trying to talk to Jisung. He just drove. Not singing along. Not peaking at Jisung, but gripping on the leather of the stirring rather tightly. Minho didn't want to admit it. Why would he, a grown ass man, admit to a fussy Jisung that he wanted-no- needed, to hear his voice?

He wanted to hear that soft nervous voice that he grew to love.

He needed it.

The silence went on. It's like their theme song is silence. Unforgiving and scorning. The first thing Minho does when they reach home, is get in the shower.

And Jisung cooks. He's angry, but hungry. He is a firm believer that the right food can fix anything.

~Ice-cream sundae when sad (Rocky road, Cookie dough and chocmint only)~

~chilli bean soup when angry~

~watermelon or cotton candy when happy~

Chilli bean soup it is tonight. Minho's bland tastebuds can't handle a little spice. Jisung finds this funny.

Jisung gets to preparing the dish. Adding as much chilli sauce as possible.

Dinner is served with grudge this very night. They eat. Well, Jisung eats while Minho sputters and coughs at the spicy dish.

He's drinking several sips of water. Sticking his tongue out like the drama queen he is, and Jisung can't help but roll his eyes. It's not even that spicy.

After dinner Jisung had went to take a shower, and Minho cleaned up.

Jisung wanted to sleep on the couch tonight, he insisted.

But Minho offered him the bed.

"I'll sleep on the couch, it's okay" Minho said a sadly.

He had sat on the corner of the bed, after taking a pillow, and the bed cover.

They look at each other for a split second.

And when Jisung eyes meets Minho walnut brown orbs, the silence he subconsciously vowed on ends.

"I hate you" He starts in a sharp whispering voice.

Jisung's eyes welled up as he watched Minho antagonizingly.

He looked at Minho like he was broken toy. A toy that was once a favourite, a core memory, but later becoming something to resent.

Minho hated that gaze. His knuckles tightened, paling as he scratched the surface of his nails.

Maybe he should let him go ?

"I hate you" Jisung's voice was a little louder this time.

His balled up hands hit Minho's chest. It looked cute to Minho that Jisung's hands gripped the pink fabric of the sleeves.

Minho remains unmoving. Just witnessing Jisung break down as he had in past times. Plucking someone out of their comfort zone, that may appear to be a stale prison, doesn't bring them freedom.

Jisung was starting to show his more bubbly side. He could be funny when he wasn't being a smartass. He was supportive to when any conversation led to talking about Emily.

Minho had never anticipated that such a small amount of time could alter Jisung so much.

"I hate you Minho" The words were barely a whisper this time, almost as if Jisung was afraid to say the words out loud.

His hands tugged Minho's shirt, shaking and forcing the older to look him in the eye. They both spot teary eyes, and no one can blame on the rain that doesn't even avail itself.

"I know" Minho finally said back.

And all hail the floodgates. The floodgates of Jisung's emotions finally spilling, rather than being neatly tucked away. He clutched onto his captor, and embraced him. Jisung loved his warmth. Loved his voice. Loved his presence.

The embrace is desperate. Minho's hands are traveling all over Jisung's waist and back. He sniffs the chlorine in Jisung's hair.

It's silent. Between them.

"I'm not seeing Mina" Minho randomly informs. Jisung was kneeling between his spread legs as they greedily embraced each other.
I only want you, selfishly.

Why should Jisung care?

Why should Minho inform him of his love life?

Isn't it funny to that a fool like Jisung had the audacity to feel relief?

"If you're going to keep me here, I want to be your only one" Jisung found the courage to say. Maybe it was the liquor. Maybe it was eery reminder of a loneliness he didn't even realise he had lived with for so long.
I want to special to you. For however little the time is.

"Don't get attached to me Ji"

"I won't. I know that people come and go."

"Do you want to tell me ?" Minho rubs the younger's lower back, drawing circles on the clothed skin.

"It's nothing to write about. My parents passed on when I was really little. It's not not their fault their lives were cut short"

Minho said nothing. He had never heard Jisung sound so detached.

"You know what's funny?"

Minho knows what a rhetorical question is, but it still rings sore in his head to hear how bitter Jisung sounds.

"I don't even remember them. I get little pictures that come in flashes here and there. Like with the m&ms and today when I almost drowned " Jisung laughed bitterly.

He does that a lot. Laugh at humourless situations.

"Han Jisung." Minho rasped, holding the smaller tightly and closely. So close that he could burst.

"Don't say anything" Jisung weakly stated. He didn't want pity. Pity really is the last thing he needs.

Perhaps Jisung is the smart one. And Minho becamr the fool. Perhaps Jisung is the strong one, and Minho became the broken one.

"You like girls ?" Jisung diverts the conversation.

The question was asked to better understand why Minho would ever kiss him, touch him, tease him like someone he is trying to romance. Why ?
Because he was lonely for the time being ?

"I like whoever I like Jisung. No labels intended" Minho uses his strength to shift them to the centre of the bed.

"Oh" Jisung voices, not knowing what to say.

"You're first person I've ever been like this with. It's weird. And illegal in some states" Jisung mumbles, a little embarrassed, but mostly feeling safe in Minho's arms.

"Homosexuality?" Minho chuckled. Jisung loved the way his adam's apple bobbed when he laughed.

"Yes" Jisung laughed. No bitterness this time. Just reverb of his hyena like cackle. It's healing to hear in Minho's ears.

It was in Jisung's encyclopaedia back home. He had read about the handful of countries and states that legalized and granted laws to recognise homosexuality- marriage, safety, and all.

"Can I get a kiss ?" Minho randomly asked. He was asking like it was a treat he was looking to get. Eyes all wide and big.

"No. Ask Mina"

That was cheeky of him.

"Please baby"

"Don't call me baby" Jisung had a pout on lips.

"Honey"

Jisung rolls his eyes. Jisung stares at the little space between them, the wrinkled sheets, and hates the tingles he feels down to toes. Jisung also smiles a little bit however.

And Minho is being consumed the undying need to devour Jisung whole.

He leans forward, cupping the younger's face in his hands, and does exactly what he asked for so politely.

Lips curling into each other. It's a hungry kiss. A selfish one. Their lips move desperately, and Minho leads the exchange. Jisung, just becomes putty in Minho's hands. Letting the older bite on his lower lip, letting him gain entrance, letting their tongues collide.

Jisung was convinced these types of kisses were disgusting whenever he saw them on the television set back home. But nothing feels close to disgusting.

Quite the opposite.

It's like tasting something forbidden but it's delicious. Like cold water at 3 am in the ungodly hours.

Jisung doesn't want it to ever end, but they depend on oxygen to live. Eyes still skrewed shut, and bodies glued onto one another, the two show no signs to separating.

"Minho?" A breathy whimper is heard come out of Jisung who pulls away.

"Baby ?"

Is his voice always this raspy? It's like he's parched.

"I'm sober" Jisung starts shyly.

"Okay ?"

"So. . . You can...we can...do more-"

*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*

An insistent banging on the door startles Jisung. The banging intruded a tender moment and Minho can only frown at the damned noise.

"Stay here, I'll be back" Minho hops off the bed, with a pissed off expression on his face.

For a second their eyes meet before Minho charged all the way to the main door.

"Why do you have a gun in hand ? Put that down!" Jisung whisper-shouts getting oft the bed with haste.

Minho has killed before. Jisung isn't blind to this fact. He almost killed that creepy man at that function they invaded. He wanted the man alive, otherwise he would have definitely shot him dead on.

Jisung can't stand deaths and violence being part of the package when it comes to Minho. He's a organised theft criminal after all, but.....

"I won't tell you again. Matter of fact go to the bathroom, lock the door from the inside."

It's serious now. That Minho from the diner that day is back. Chills, seriousness and a dash of tyranny in his demeanor.

Jisung knows to go. But not before looking at Minho pleadingly.

Do his eyes talk ? If they do they scream : please don't do anything stupid.

As Jisung shuffles along reluctantly to the bathroom, he goes in right on time to hear :

"HANDS IN THE AIR , LEE MINHO YOU ARE UNDER-ARREST! ANYTHING YOU SAY-

shit.

A/N
Levi Jeans Beyonce

Please consider reading 'Mania' my second Minsung book.🥹