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"You took 'My House, My Rules' too seriously, Jeon."

Jeongguk glares at Minhee as he sits down on one of the chairs on the dining table. Minhee follows him close, sitting on the chair by his side, keeping enough distance to not let his scent overwhelm her. She sometimes seems to forget how attractive Jeongguk can be.

Fucker also smells nice, has this smooth honeyed skin and features that seem to pull you in— yeah, no, we need to rules or Minhee might turn crazy.

"Is that the letter 'r' or 't'?" she asks, peeking over Jeongguk's arm as he writes down 'Final contract of mutual housing'. Jeongguk ignores her as he continues writing down, underlining the header when Minhee snickers. "Mutual housing? You exhaust me, Jeon."

Jeongguk exhales, pushes the pen and paper to her side. "Write."

Minhee winks at him and Jeongguk rolls his eyes. A peaceful night is all he asks. He checks up on Bam who is resting in his kennel before looking back at Minhee who's written 'Bullshit Contract' in bold font on the backside of the same paper. He huffs, but lets Minhee do her thing.

"So clause number one," Minhee says while writing the same on the paper, "Clean your own shit."

Jeongguk sighs.

"Clause number two?" She looks up at Jeongguk. He snatches the paper back from her, "I am adding my rules here, if you have some, you can add afterwards."

"Haven't you heard of 'ladies first', honey?" Minhee keeps a hand over the paper to prevent him from writing. Jeongguk gulps, taken aback with the sudden term of endearment which wasn't used in that way at all but it still feels nice to hear it.

"I-It's my house."

Minhee gives up, letting him write as she pulls her legs up on the chair as soon as Bam makes his way towards Jeongguk. Jeongguk coos at him, using his free hand to pet him and Minhee starts scooting her chair behind.

"Keep the volume of music or television low at all times," Jeongguk says and looks at Minhee. "Bam doesn't like loud sounds, neither do I. You would burst your own ears at how loud you play music."

Minhee rolls her eyes, "Aww, like dad like son..." Jeongguk rolls his eyes at her. "But your house is literally haunted. Look," she points at the living room, "Is that a house? It doesn't even have a proper couch to sit on or a table."

"That brings me to the second point." Jeongguk ignores her, "Don't make changes in the house's interior."

Minhee scoffs. "I have no intention either."

"Just saying," Jeongguk glances at her before continuing, "Well then, no touching of things you don't know how to use or damaging them for personal benefit. Also, my office— that room by mine is off-limits."

Bam is now near Minhee, trying to sniff her and Minhee is almost sure she'll fall off the chair. Jeongguk smirks. "Bam's caretaker will be there in the afternoon. But I think you would reach home by seven, so feed him then."

"What?" Minhee screeches, "You want me to feed Bam? Jeongguk, I thought you loved your dog."

Jeongguk pulls her chair closer by its sides. "If you do anything to Bam, I swear to god—"

Minhee furrows her eyebrows, glaring right into Jeongguk's eyes. "I am a human Jeongguk. I might hate dogs but I won't be so cruel to harm Bam just to get back to your stupid ass..."

Minhee is trying hard to not look at his lips. She doesn't know why every time Jeongguk is close to her, her voice turns into a whisper. She hates how it makes Jeongguk realise the effect of his actions.

"Because for you," she brings her fist near his face, making Jeongguk flinch back, "My punches are enough."

Jeongguk purses his lips, nodding before passing the paper to her, "I guess, that's it for now. Yeah."

"My turn," Minhee says, her smile turning smug. Jeongguk sighs and lets his body stretch, muscles cracking.

"Don't enter inside my room."

"Not interested to see another mess," Jeongguk says, bored and Minhee glares.

"Your secretary should not come to this house," Minhee says, poking her tongue out as she writes down carefully. Jeongguk furrows his eyebrows, "Why?"

"He speaks too much," Minhee grits her teeth, "And it's unnecessary."

"He doesn't really visit this house anyway because I hardly lived here, mom didn't let me stay away alone. But that day he was here because I asked him to assist you."

"Clearly don't need his assistance."

"Alright," Jeongguk sighs, "Move on."

Minhee places her intertwined hands under her chin, thinking. Jeongguk snickers. "Got nothing?"

Minhee is about to say that she will think more on this when Jeongguk snatches the paper, "Fine then. The bullshit contract is done. Just sign here." He says, signing at the bottom and then pointing at where she has to.

Minhee huffs, signing as well. Jeongguk smiles, content. "I will stick this up on the fridge."

...

If Jeongguk thought the rules would bring peace in the house. He was right. Like only eight per cent. Because Minhee is an absolute bitch.

"Minhee, don't mess with me. I need that shirt to wear today!" Jeongguk says, slipping on a t-shirt before walking out of his room where Minhee is sitting on the dining table, using his shirt as a wipe cloth.

Jeongguk widens his eyes, walking over to her to snatch the shirt from her, "Are you fucking insane!"

It's just been seven hours since they signed the 'bullshit contract' and Minhee has already started being difficult. "Is this because I refused to do your laundry?"

Minhee sips her coffee, smirking and nods. "You better agree Jeon, if you don't want to end up going naked one day."

"You want me to see naked, so desperately, huh?" Jeongguk scoffs, "You just need to ask, wifey."

And Minhee ends up dropping coffee on Jeongguk's jacket that was hanging on the chair. Jeongguk groans, hitting his head on the wall while he watches the washing machine work because at least someone's getting to do its job peacefully.

The bullshit contract turns into bullshit in no time. Minhee remembers something or the other every now and then— ends up adding or modifying clauses with a red pen so much that Jeongguk can't see the original contract at all.

Finally, he ends up writing a clause that says 'Amendment in the contract should be done after discussing with the other contractor' and Minhee laughs for a full five minutes at how done Jeongguk looks. 

Minhee doesn't come that night, conveying a message through Mina that she needs to work over something.

Jeongguk is a little relieved when he comes back but seeing another pair of shoes at his doorstep, he sighs. It's so odd to see that, when all Jeongguk has done is avoid sharing houses or rooms with anyone except his mom.

Bam greets him by wagging his tail in full power, Jeongguk apologises to him for leaving him alone so long and immediately feeds him. He talks to his mom who won't stop talking about a plant she's growing for Minhee. He sighs, feeling a little sorry for her. All she wants is her son to be happy and in love and Jeongguk is unable to even give her that.

The house is quieter than the previous three days Minhee's been here. Jeongguk can sleep peacefully, rest after a hard day at work.

But somehow, he finds himself staring at the stars for the better half of the night.

...

Jeongguk is already at work when Minhee comes home that morning. Bam barks at her immediately and Minhee sticks her back to the wall.

Bams seems to be uninterested in letting her go to her home, lying down just at the doorstep. His caretaker will be there in three hours. Minhee can stay like that till then, right?

Of course not. Her back is already killing her, eyes droopy with sleep. She needs the bed now or she would hit her head somewhere.

I can do it. Slowly, one step at a time. You have done braver things Minhee, this is just a dog. That also Jeongguk's. However asshole the guy is, he has a heart. So Bam is a cutie. He is a sweetie.

"Bam...let me go and sleep, okay?" She says, sliding herself to her room without moving away from the wall. Bam looks up, barks once and Minhee immediately stops. "I'm sorry, sorry. I am gonna stay here, okay?"

She puts her hands up, surrendering and Bam rests his head back down. "What is your problem with me?" Minhee sighs, "You are all lovey-dovey with Jeongguk, so much that I wanted to add a no PDA on the contract. I am so much better than him, more pretty too, can't you let me pass?"

No movement.

Minhee gives up, sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor. She has hated— been scared of dogs ever since she was ten and had gotten bit by one while playing at the park. Her dad had made sure to not even let one dog near her after, so her fear only grew.

"Bam, let's sign a contract, okay? Contract of mutual housing okay? No bullshit." Minhee says, looking at Bam's stomach expanding as he breathes. Her voice is so sleepy that she is not sure if Bam even understood her.

But when Jeongguk comes home after only an hour that day because he had to change for an impromptu meeting with a new investor, he finds Minhee sleeping on the floor while Bam is resting her head on one of her arms. He wonders if the floor is too cold, he thinks if he should wake her up. He clicks a picture for some reason, wondering if there would be a day he would post it on his Instagram with a #MinBam.

Bam immediately lifts his head on seeing Jeongguk but doesn't move away.

Jeongguk smiles, mentally noting to give Bam a lot of love for keeping Minhee warm that day.

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um, so anyone ready to binge read this fic? because i am going to update all chapters by Friday :)