There is mentions of abuse and domestic violence in this chapter. If you are sensitive to those subjects, please avoid reading any further.

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The night passes uneventfully. Han hides beneath his covers after texting Minho, pulling the blanket over his head and leaning into his pillow. His mind was fuzzy, detailed with images of his morning spent with Minho, making notes of his gestures and body language. Han's mind was already chaotic on a day-to-day basis, but adding a boy into the mix made it all that much worse.

Minho watches his phone for a text, feeling a knot in his stomach as anxiety crawls up his spine. I don't know why I'm so worried. Minho composes himself and settles at his desk, sleep escaping him as he thinks back to his unexpected nap. With a clear mind, he begins studying and writing, mind at ease once his phone vibrates with the alert of a text.

Morning follows after a dull night of quiet slumber and studying. The skies were clear, water-colored in an array of oranges and pinks, glowing with a shimmering yellow as the sun rose. Han refuses to leave the comfort of his bed, listening to his alarm pester him for the next minute after it goes off until he can no longer stand it.

His house is quiet this morning. Dad must've left earlier than expected, which results in a morning spent without fear of listening to an argument. He goes about his routine, finding clothes to wear and grabbing his school items before begrudgingly remembering he never did any of his homework. He scrambles to grab food for the walk there, hoping to find some time before the first block to do some work before it's due.

Meanwhile, Minho struggles to get out of bed, exhaustion pulling at his eyes as he rolls out from beneath his covers, reaching for his phone to text Han.

'Sleep okay?' is all he asks as he leaves his room to start his morning, brushing his teeth and getting dressed, followed by grabbing a banana before heading out the door.

Han reaches campus in a rush, almost too worried to notice that he was nearly the first person there. He runs to his class without thought, grabbing out his notebook and pencils, looking for his unfinished assignment hidden away in a random binder.

Thankfully with muscle memory, Han finds the paper and begins writing in answers hurriedly and anxiously.

"Jisung!" Felix calls for his friend as he enters their shared first block, watching him rush through last night's work.

"Not now, Lix." Han says, eyes deeply invested into his forgotten homework.

"Oh," Felix pretends to be offended. "We're suddenly serious."

"I forgot to do my work last night, alright?" Han sighs, flipping a page in his book before scouring for another answer.

"The Han Jisung forgetting to do his work?" Felix settles into the seat next to him. "Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"I was preoccupied." Han half-admits in hopes that Felix would leave the conversation alone. Felix pries anyway.

"With what, hm?"

"I took a much longer nap than I should've." He wasn't lying, it was the truth. He was just forgetting to mention the location of said nap.

"It happens to the best of us."

"I can't turn in half-completed work," Han rushes anxiously, flipping through pages to find answers to his homework questions. "My parents will kill me."

"It'll be okay. Besides, I'd offer to let you copy my work, but I know you'll say no."

"You're right. I'll say no." Han mutters as he writes down another answer, nearly completed with his work.

"Figured." Felix pours his attention into his phone as he slouches against his desk, head resting on his arm, eyes tired as his screen moves with the stroke of his thumb.

Han continues to work tirelessly on his forgotten work as the bell rings. He answers the final two questions in time before their teacher walks in and settles at their desk. Han looks at Felix, a sigh of relief breathing through his lungs as he settles into his seat, allowing his anxiety to settle beneath the surface.

The block comes and goes like the day, Han exiting the school quickly with his headphones already silencing the rest of the campus. His skin collides with sunlight as he finally walks through the open doors, walking down a few steps before coming to the same spot Minho had stopped him yesterday. Han stops in his tracks, turning his head around to visualize his surroundings, but notices Minho is nowhere to be seen. He sits and waits for a minute, then two more, listening to his music drown out the thought of the possibility of waiting for forever. Han turns around sluggishly, sadly walking alone down the path towards his own home.

His house is quiet when he arrives, quickly walking into his room and sitting down at his desk when his phone begins to vibrate. He lets the phone ring for a few seconds in fear of his father calling him, but the name on the screen was much more welcoming to his heart than what he predicted.

"Hello?"

"Jisung'ah!" Minho's cold tone seemed a bit more upbeat, happier almost.

"I waited for you outside but you didn't show." Han disappointingly points out and Minho chuckles.

"You waited for me, Hannie? How cute," Minho listens to the silence the phone call shares as Han's face runs beat red. "I wanted to ask if you were coming out to practice again today."

"I can," Han spins in his desk chair unamusingly. "You sound excited, though. Is there something happening?"

"I learned a new move," Minho audibly sits down, groaning in relief as he does so. "I needed a break, so I decided to call you."

"Now that's cute of you," Han smiles, listening to Minho's laugh that releases after his comment.

"You should come back. Bring snacks with you, too." Minho's tone is very convincing, but then again, it wouldn't take a lot of coercing for Minho to get Han to do anything.

"You're using me as a grocery boy!" Han rebuts, but Minho smiles through his tone.

"Jagiya," Han's heart seizes. "Please."

"A-alright." Han's voice trembles as the honey from Minho's voice soothes his aching mind. He can't help but feel the changes in his body as Minho coos at him, noticing that he was abnormally fond of Minho's warm tone. His heart was slightly racing, face turning red and hands unable to remain complacent.

"I'll be waiting here, Jisung'ah." Minho hangs up the phone, leaving Han to stare at his phone as the screen darkens to his home screen. His apps stare back at him, moody wallpaper mocking his face as he blankly thinks through the feelings associated with the word jagiya.

Han takes a couple more minutes to change his clothes to a pair of black sweats and a baggy t-shirt, grabbing a hat on his way out from behind his door as he grabs his bag and rushes out the door. He stops at the nearby convenience store to grab a couple of snacks and drinks, making sure to grab something both of them would like.

His walk back is quiet, mind racing through the thoughts of Minho's tone whizzing past him. He knew what his heart was feeling when he talked to Minho, but his mind would stay safe behind the walls he kept up, making sure to save himself the pain of losing anyone or himself.

The school campus comes back into view and Han unconsciously speeds up his pace. By the time he reaches the practice room, his hand hesitates on the door knob, eyes watching his shaking hand sit on the cold, metal handle.

He knew his heart had other ideas, wishing and wanting for love and affection, or honestly just anything Minho would give him, but Han ignores the screaming and chooses to stay safe behind his mental barriers. With a timid breath, Han's hand turns the doorknob down and he slowly pushes the door open.

"Minho?" Han leans into the room, scanning the vacant space for the brown-haired boy he was so fond of.

"Hannie," Minho, leaned over at the computer desk, turns to look at Han as he closes the door behind him, watching Minho's expression light up ever so slightly, earning a flutter of emotion in Han's soul.

"Here are your snacks," Han walks over, handing over the small bag of snacks and cold drinks, watching as Minho gratefully searches through its contents almost immediately. "There's a drink in there too."

"Thank you." Minho takes out a bag of snacks and his designated drink, walking back over to his previous sitting spot heard through the phone and settling in, leaning his head back against the wall as he munches on his crisps.

"Tired?" Han grabs a bag for himself then walks over to Minho, settling down on the floor next to him.

"A bit." Minho turns to look at Han briefly, then looks away. "Are you?"

"I just couldn't focus on class today." Han sighs, taking a bite of his food.

"Why?"

"Honestly?" Han pauses. You. "Home, I think."

"Is it bad?" Minho's head leans forwards again, turning to watch Han fully, his snack settled against his lap in his hand. Han watches him nervously, but he swallows it away.

"No," Han struggles to lie to Minho, thinking of a quick bandaid to the conversation. "Just fighting, still. Can't sleep."

"We don't have to stay here," Minho suddenly feels guilt building in his chest, a wave of concern coating his gaze. "We can go back to my house and I can let you nap in my bed."

"No, it's okay. I wanna be here." Han reassures, but Minho isn't convinced.

"I don't want you to be tired, Jagi." Han's heart seizes again. Minho's smooth voice rings through his ears, settling in his mind as he listens to the hum of his tone radiate in his heart.

"I'm okay," Han finally responds after a moment of weakness and Minho shrugs.

"If you're sure."

The boys continue to eat their snacks and talk briefly before Minho resumes his practice, showing Han the moves he learned excitedly. Han's heart beats fondly, watching with an adoring gaze as Minho pushes through his routine time and time again.

Eventually night breaks loose, setting the sun with the rising of the moon as the boys exit the school and head back home. They approach a stop sign, Minho about to turn to the left and Han to the right, knowing they had to walk alone to their separate homes. Han doesn't want to leave.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" Minho presses a bit closer to Han and Han doesn't mind. Han adjusts the straps of his bag on his shoulder as he wavers the choices before him once again, but knows if he goes with Minho, his heart might never want to leave.

"I'll be okay, Minho." Han attempts to smile his nerves away, but Minho can see right through him. Unsure of how to comfort him, Minho approaches Han, softly taking his hand and holding it in his own, looking down at the one person he couldn't understand his feelings towards. He could feel himself surging for Han, wanting to hold his heart hostage and keep it safe, but his mind screams in fear, unwanting of love and affection. His hand squeezes Han's gently and he feels Han's hand squeeze his back.

"I-" Minho is rarely speechless, but his heart is tumbling in his chest as he fights with himself internally. "I worry about you."

Han's heart sinks. "Please don't."

"I can't explain why I feel the way I do right now, but I can't help but feel worried."

"I'm okay, Minho. I promise I'm okay." Han feels his heart pull towards Minho, but he stands complacent where he was, hand still holding onto Minho as he struggles to let go.

"Can I. . . kiss you?" Han stands quietly ahead of him on this vacant sidewalk, no cars or life to be seen. The only thing looking at him was the boy he had a crush on for the better part of this year asking to kiss him. His mind is shouting at him, screaming to turn away and say no, but his heart yearns for the little bit of love Minho wants to give him. Han can't ignore it anymore, taking a step closer and tilting his head up as Minho leans in and kisses him.

Han's mind finally stops shouting and Minho's heart stops beating in fear, allowing the moment to burn between them. They separate after a couple of seconds and Minho's stomach sinks into the pit of hell.

"Text me when you get home, okay?" He hurriedly says, giving Han's hand one more firm squeeze before he turns on a dime and walks down the sidewalk towards his house. Han stands there idly as he watches Minho walk away, heart breaking as he watches him vanish into the dark.

Two more days pass until Han sees Minho again. The beginning of the day was like normal, going through the usual steps and listening to the same, boring lectures. Han doesn't stay at the gym late like he normally would on Fridays, but he told Minho he wanted to shower and go home. Minho didn't bother to pry. But as the late evening approaches, Minho is sitting at the top of his staircase with one of his cats, stroking the tabby's back and listening to the quiet mews escaping its mouth. Minho had been home all of thirty minutes, eyes droopy with exhaustion and body burning from dancing for so long, he barely notices the front door opening.

"Hyung?" Han questions quietly, voice cracking as the door closes. Minho stands, heart dropping the moment he hears his diminishing tone.

"Hannie?" Minho makes his way down the stairs quickly at the sudden intrusion, seeing his friend distraught at his front door. His eyes were riddled with tears, hair messy with a fresh bruise rounded on his cheek. Minho stops at the base of the stairs, heart sinking and breaking into what felt like a million pieces.

"He-" Han drops his bag, packed to the brim with clothes and extra supplies.

"Don't talk," Minho rushes over to him, pulling him into a gentle, but tight hug. Han doesn't even have to explain what had happened because Minho already knew by the state he was in.

"I can't go back." Han buries his face into Minho's shoulder, hands gripping the back of Minho's shirt tightly as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"That's okay. I'm here." Minho pressed two soft kisses into Han's head, holding him closely as he sat there and wept. Minho's stomach turns thinking about the trauma his friend just endured, wanting nothing more than to steal the memory away from him.

He doesn't understand where his mind was during this time, but his voice coos a gentle question that he doesn't bother thinking through. "Do you want me to sleep next to you?" Han barely thinks through the question and says yes.

The boys travel up the stairs, Han's bag resting in the safety of Minho's palm until he sets it down on his bedroom floor, closing the door behind him after Han had stepped inside. Han wipes his tears with the sleeve of his hoodie, sitting down on Minho's bed wordlessly. Minho could see the anxiety lingering beyond his vacant gaze, unaware of the impact his company was having on him. Minho continues to stay silent, closing his curtains and changing his shirt, swapping to an unfamiliar side of his bed to let Han lay wherever he is comfortable. Minho settles into the covers, Han following suit and timidly scooting backwards. This is new.

Minho swallows his vulnerabilities for now, watching Han get situated before allowing himself to melt into the radiated warmth from his own chest. Minho struggles with understanding where to lay his arm, but settles into resting it over Han's side, feeling Han rest a hand over his wrist.

They were close; really close. Minho tries not to think too deeply into the extent of feelings associated with this, but Minho's mind is not that nice. Han's breaths deepen as he lays there, his back just barely touching Minho's chest. Minho's face is flooded with redness, growing warm with a quickened heart. He wants to turn away and hide under the covers, afraid of what his heart is yearning for, but he knows he can't turn away. Han needed him, that was more important than some dumb phobia.

Han melts into the mattress, falling asleep almost instantly with Minho's arms around him. Minho is nearly wide awake, eyes tightly shut as he ponders the thought of turning over, hopeful that his mind will shut off the moment he removes himself. Han twitches, his hand falling from Minho's wrist accidentally as he's tranced in sleep. Minho's hand moves without thinking, leaning further over the press of Han's waist and grabbing onto his hand, intertwining their grasp preventatively. In doing so, he ended up pressing closer, nearly flush against Han's back as his breaths touched the base of Han's hair. His mind turns off as he leans into the pillow, feeling his mind grow tired and feeling his fear subside. Something about holding onto Han made him fear the closeness, but the fear of not holding him at all was much worse.

Han wakes to the sound of a loud television on the floor below them. Minho was right, his parents did like to watch the television loud. Han's eyes welcome the sight of Minho's slightly bright room as he scans the area for his phone. He finally finds it, reaching over to the table next to the bed, pressing the side button on his phone to reveal the time. 9:04.

Han can feel Minho's head pressed against the back of his neck, arm hanging loosely over his side as he rests calmly in their shared warmth. Han opens his phone, opening Felix's contact and sending a message to him quickly.

I need to talk to you.

The message is read quickly and a response shortly follows.

Felix

What's up?

I'm afraid of my heart.

Felix

Why are you afraid of your heart?

It's confusing me.

Felix

People always say to listen to your heart.

You shouldn't be afraid to listen to it, Ji.

It's gonna hurt me.

Felix

Hearts are meant to be broken, sadly.

But you can't let that stop you from doing what you want.

Minho shuffles behind him, burying his face deeper into the back of Han's neck. Han smiles, reaching his hand down to Minho's draped hand over his side, taking a hold of it within his own and letting his thumb gently run over the top of his skin.

"Jagi?" Minho quietly stirs awake, his voice deep and groggy. Han barely turns to look at him, watching him lean back into his own pillow, arm stretching out as he comes back to reality.

"Hm?" Han smiles as he watches him, watching as his eyes finally open and immediately look for Han. They share eye contact for a minute, Han smiling at him sleepily with Minho turning back to his side and looking at Han a bit dazed.

"Do you feel better?" Minho finally asks, laying his head back down into the pillow.

"Yeah." Han turns to face him, putting his phone on the bed in front of him as he looks at Minho, watching his eyes try to blink away the tiredness.

"Sleep okay?"

"I haven't been able to sleep that soundly in a long time." Han's heart is hurting as he watches Minho smile at him. God, he loves his smile. He's afraid of loving that smile so much that he might accidentally fall for the person beyond the smile, but he allows himself to relax and enjoy the peace for once.

"I'm glad you're feeling okay." Minho rubs his eyes then looks around his room, taking a deep breath then looking back at Han.

"Are you okay?" Han questions, noticing how awkward this might be for him.

"I'll be honest with you, Hannie." Minho relaxes slightly, looking down at his sheets as he wishes to avoid eye contact for fear of Han's reaction. "I was uncomfortable at first."

Han visibly winces.

"But when you moved away from me, I-" He looked back up. "I wanted you closer."

Han subtly smiles, reaching his hand over to rest on Minho's. "I was worried you were going to leave in the middle of the night."

"I thought about it," Minho honestly remarks in a mumble. "But I couldn't."

"I'm glad you didn't."

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Minho treads carefully, watching Han look away from him, the bruise on his cheek still red from last night.

"My mom came home drunk." Han seems uncomfortable and Minho wants to tell him to stop, but Han continues anyway. "She got into an argument with my dad about some other girl and he raised his hand at her. I couldn't let him hit her so I stepped in the way to try and grab his arm, but he was in the middle of swinging and-"

"Jagi-"

"He apologized like twenty times. I couldn't do it anymore. He's off messing around with some woman in his office while he's at work and my mom drinks to cope with it. I just wish they'd actually divorce instead of saying they will all the time."

"You don't mean that."

"It's better than them fighting every hour they're awake." Minho is speechless, unsure of what to say as he watches Han take a deep breath, biting the inside of his lip.

"They're both falling apart and dragging me with them. I just want them to stop."

"I know."

"I don't know if I want to go home tonight."

Minho barely hesitates as he moves a strand of hair from Han's face, gently curling it behind his ear as he mumbles a solution. "Then stay. Stay until you're sick of me. I don't care."

"But your parents-"

"They rarely give a crap about what I do. They're so busy they hardly realize I'm gone late most of the time."

"If you want me to stay-"

"I do." Minho grabs Han's hand again, a soft, sincere look capturing his gaze.

"Okay," Han nods, heart warm and mind hazy, completely blinded by the emotions he tends to be so terrified of.

In the midst of their shared moment, Han's phone begins to vibrate as a phone call disturbs their peace. Han reaches for his face-down phone, turning it over to see Hyunjin bothering them for whatever reason.

"You're lucky I'm awake." Han says sarcastically as he answers the beckoning call, earning laughter Minho can hear from Han's phone.

"I want to ask you something, Ji."

"So ask it."

"I want to have a pool party later with everyone there. Do you wanna come?"

"Yeah, of course. Are your parents not home?"

"No, they're off in meetings all day and it's gonna be perfect weather out." Minho raises his brow, watching Han look back at him with an oblivious smile.

"Who's all going?"

"Felix, Seungmin and Jeongin, I think Chan and Binnie too. I just have to ask Minho."

"Ah, don't worry. I'll ask him." Han haphazardly says, not realizing how well Minho could hear the entire conversation.

"Han Jisung!" Hyunjin laughs, earning small laughter from Han as well.

"What time is this even starting?"

"Come over in two hours. Chan is bringing over pork belly!"

"Oh, don't you worry. I'll be there." Han laughs and hangs up, looking at Minho as he rolls his eyes and lays back into his pillow.

"What're you asking me about Hannie?" Han smiles warmly at him, heart on fire as he longs to kiss him.

"Do you wanna go to a pool party?"

"Ugh," Minho groans as he walks next to Han, towel hung over his shoulder and Han's bag in his hand.

"What?" Han adjusts his own towel that was slung over his shoulder, walking evenly with Minho as they strode down the sidewalk, just a couple of minutes away from Hyunjin's house.

"It's warm." Minho exhales through his nose, attitude hanging on the edge of his tongue as they continue to walk. Han smiles at him, looking over in his direction as he watches Minho's brows furrow in slight annoyance.

"It's summer, Minho." Han tilts his head slightly to the left, watching as Minho turns to look at him then quickly looks away. Han's faded purple hair hangs over his eyes, hiding the adoration his gaze held.

"I'm not dumb, Jisung." Minho rolls his eyes dismissively. "I don't like the heat."

"It's not that hot," Han gently taps Minho's elbow jokingly, watching as Minho looks at him with an unimpressed blink. "Okay, maybe it is for you."

Han rarely felt nervous around anyone, but something about Minho's presence did something to him. Minho's eyes stared into his soul, unlocking a level of trust Han truly feared. There was nothing worse than trusting someone completely and wholeheartedly, but Han couldn't help but trust the kind almond eyes looking at him.

"Are you actually going to swim?" Minho glances at the view ahead of him before looking back.

"Not really," Han mumbles, embarrassment rising to his cheeks. Han couldn't swim, none of his friends knew that. Han never took to swimming in the first place, finding deep water incredibly intimidating. It's not that he's never learned or never wanted to, his fear of the water drowned him so deep he could barely see the surface. "I'll sit in the shallow end, probably."

"Good," Minho relaxes. "I can't swim."

"Oh?" Han visibly loses ten pounds of anxious weight, watching Minho smile as he looks ahead.

"Can you teach me, Jisung'ah?"

Han's heart freezes, leaving him nearly speechless as he chokes a reply. "M-me?"

"What? Can you not swim?" Minho turns to look at Han, whose face was turning red.

The last thing Han wanted to admit to was not being able to swim, but seeing Minho shirtless and completely wet, having him so close to his own body was more terrifying than anything else.

"I can't swim either." Han blurts out, looking away to avoid the laughter followed by his statement. However, it never comes. Minho is silent, more so watching Han avoid him for what seemed like no reason.

"Well, we can sit on a float together, then." Minho notices the lack of composure within Han's mind as they continue to walk, taking note of the sudden anxiety crawling up his spine. Han's hands hide themselves in his pockets as he walks, ears turning redder by the minute as he spills his secret to the one person he trusts more than Felix.

"Together?" Han, for whatever reason, can't seem to wrap his head around the word 'together' out of the entire sentence Minho said. The image of shirtless Minho doesn't seem to radiate louder than this term, stirring a wave of uncertainty within him.

"Do you not want to share with me Hannie?" Minho half-pouts, a smirk lurking behind his fake tantrum as Han slowly looks towards him, eyes meeting Minho's.

"No, I-" Han suddenly relaxes, knowing with full certainty what he wanted. "I do."

"Good," Minho cheesily smiles as he looks forward again, leaving Han to question his own sanity as his heart yearns for more attention from his 'friend'. He didn't know what was happening anymore. He was oblivious to the feelings overwhelming him all the time, but he just knew Minho had boundaries and he had to tread carefully, afraid of ruining something he longed for the last half of the year.

Once they arrive at Hyunjin's house, they approach the door and knock, waiting and waiting for a response before Jeongin answers the door with a smirk on his face.

"Of course you'd show up together," Jeongin steps to the side, making room for his friends to enter the familiar home.

"Shut up," Han smiles, knowing fully well that the teasing was sure to never end.

"Chan and Binnie are out back already. Come on," Jeongin leads his friends through Hyunjin's house and towards the back door, opening a view to a large pool and four sun tanning chairs, Felix and Hyunjin sitting on the edge of two of them as they chatted with Chan, who was cooking pork belly slices at the grill. Changbin stood nearby, claiming he was the 'meat police', quality checking nearly every piece Chan grilled.

Jeongin opens the door, then steps to the side as Minho and Han come outside, being welcomed by smiles all around. Felix stands from his chair and engulfs Han in a hug that Hyunjin can't help but join into.

"They're here?" A voice comes from the pool. Seungmin. "Good! Let's play volleyball!"

"Not this again," Jeongin grumbles, rubbing his forehead as Seungmin swims over with a water gun in his hand.

"Why volleyball?" Han asks, watching as Seungmin aims his water gun, but no one moves.

"It's fun?" Seungmin looks confused. "Hello?"

"Food first," Minho's cold tone breaks the attention of his friends, walking towards the grill where Chan smiles brightly at his friend, welcoming the actual help from someone.

Han watches Minho walk away, standing behind the grill with an unamused gaze, taking control of a pair of tongs as he inspects the meat sizzling before him.

"Well, I'm getting in the pool." Han sets down his towel on one of the chairs, grabbing the hem of his shirt and lifting it over his head, setting it down right on top of his blue towel. Han is unaware of Minho's eyes trailing his body, soaking up every second that his skin is above the safety of the pool water's surface before focusing back on the crisping meat.

"I'll join you," Jeongin follows, taking off his shirt and following his friend, dipping their feet into the water to feel how cold or how warm the water was. Jeongin flinches and Han laughs, taking another step in and going in deeper after a couple of seconds.

"Don't be a sissy," Han submerges himself in water, careful to stay in the shallow end as his shoulders dip below the surface of the water. Jeongin takes Han's subtle joke and plunges into the water, closing his eyes and stifling a yelp as the water freezes his skin. Seungmin and Han both start laughing at the same time, watching the poor boy get used to the water temperature.

"Dunk him! Dunk him!" Changbin shouted from behind them, encouraging bad behaviors to Jeongin's horror. Jeongin wipes the stray water from his eyes, looking at his friends with fear as they approach him with devious smirks. Jeongin puts his arms out protectively, laughing nervously as Han and Seungmin easily overpower him, putting their hands on the top of his head and lightly pushing down. Jeongin obeys and goes under, coming back up shortly after with a depressed gaze. Changbin laughs out loud while Minho watches the encounter the entire time with an unamused stare. Han gives Jeongin a hug, laughing at him while telling him what a good sport he was, listening to Seungmin absolutely crack up at the fear that was previously held in Jeongin's eyes.

Han turns around, wading around in the water as he glances up, eyes immediately locking onto Minho in haste. He swallows hard, eyes trailing up Minho's built figure as he takes note of the small details in his outfit. A white shirt clung loosely to his muscles and abs, but hung low enough to let his thin silver chain show barely above the threshold above his collar. Han's eyes then trace Minho's jawline, watching him tense as he focuses on cooking, eyes gloomy as he stares into the coals cooking their food.

Han can feel his heart beat quicker than before, heart hungry for attention as he admires Minho's outfit, listening to his mind cry for something more. It's unusual for Han to be so needy, but when the person you like so much looks the way Minho does, there was suddenly no fear in respecting his own boundaries.

Hyunjin and Felix join the fun soon after, both boys sitting on different pool floats in the deep end of the pool. Seungmin chased Jeongin around the edge of the pool with his squirt gun, Han sitting down on the stairs as he watched, every now and then looking up at Minho.

Once all of the food is cooked, Chan calls them to eat, and one by one they come out of the pool and sit on one of the chairs. Felix and Hyunjin sit next to each other on their shared chair, knees touching and elbows bumping into one another as they linger in each other's closeness, unaware of the other pairs of eyes watching the scene ahead of them unfold. Minho sits across from Han, listening to Changbin yell at Jeongin next to him, but his eyes remain on his food or Han's plate.

The boys laugh over their lunch, soaking in the sun as it finally rises into the afternoon. Hyunjin and Felix head back into the pool once they've finished, settling back onto their floats before anyone else could steal them. Han stays sitting next to Jeongin, enjoying the argument brewing between his friends, even though it was all in good fun. Han then looks over to Minho who was watching him intently, holding his empty plate on his lap. Han raises his brow at his friend, almost confused as to why Minho was basically staring at him, but Minho reaches over and takes Han's empty plate, standing from his chair and leaving to throw away their shared garbage. Han doesn't say anything, and instead feels his heart flicker, watching someone he cared so much for throw away what felt like meaningless garbage.

But Han knew better. Minho doesn't just take care of someone the way he takes care of Han. He actually likes Han, and for some reason his cold demeanor melts when Han is around. Han watches him as he returns, pulling his shirt over his head and throwing it to the concrete. Han struggles to breathe when his eyes gaze across Minho's naked chest, scanning down his abs and stopping at the waistline of his swim shorts. Han's eyes struggle to leave as Minho reaches out his hand, holding it in front of him as he waits for Han to jump back to reality.

"Jisung'ah," Minho says softly. "Swim with me?"