ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗬-𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘
─◌✰್ 𝗍𝗁𝖾
❝𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵?❞

"Everyone, gather round the fire pit outside!" Yeonjun called to the sixteen contestants who'd convened in the dining room. "Robin and Jisung have so kindly decided to share their reward with the group."

"Mm, it looks so good!" Mya sighed, staring at the tray of meat in Robin's hands.

"So everyone, say thank you to Robin and Jisung!" Yeonjun's lips curled into a smile.

"Thank you, Robin and Jisung!" they all chorused.

"Now, you'll all get to enjoy a cozy afternoon around the fire!" Yeonjun said cheerfully, before turning around to face... you and Changbin.

"Except the two of you." Yeonjun fixed you with a steely glare.

"What??" you yelped before you could stop yourself. "What did we do??"

"That's not fair, we didn't do anything!" Changbin exclaimed, glowering at the hooded man.

"You know very well that's not true," Yeonjun replied smoothly. "You two broke the rules of the game, so you're going to be penalized."

Was the world out to ruin any fun you might have here at the mansion?

"Hey, there were no rules, so how could we break them?" you complained. "We were just having a bit of a laugh!"

"So, stealing the garden hose and spraying anyone who came near you - including me - is your idea of fun?" Yeonjun's lip curled. "Not only was it incredibly rude, but you were trying to keep the others from beating you. Because of that, you both will be on kitchen-cleaning duty, while the others are outside having fun."

"What are we, little kids?" Changbin all but roared at the man, striding over until he was mere inches away from him, loud breaths fanning cause his hood to ripple.

"Cheaters cannot participate in the fun and games," Yeonjun responded, carrying on as if the muscular man was not sizing him up.

You tried not to laugh. Even though Changbin was the buffest man you'd ever met, he barely reached Yeonjun's angular chin.

"Fine," Changbin growled, glancing over his shoulder at you. "We'll have more fun in there than the rest of you, anyway."

"Keep telling yourself that, Bin!" Robin laughed, waving the meat in front of him. "This looks way better than washing plates."

You chuckled, patting Changbin on the shoulder. "You're right, we're way more fun than those losers. You ready to go?"

Changbin grinned wickedly, offering his arm to you. "Yeah, we make our own good time."

You wrinkled your nose. "Don't say it like that."

"I'll go instead."

The two of you turned around to see Minho, standing between Chris and Jisung, his (annoyingly gorgeous) arms crossed over his chest. His brows were knitted as he glowered at Changbin like he wanted to punch the guy. Minho's fists clenched and unclenched. A muscle in his jaw ticked, and a dark gleam sparked in his eyes, filled with a look you recognized only too well. It was the look he'd often turned on Alaska and Felix back at school.

Was Minho... jealous? And more interestingly yet, was he jealous of you spending time with Changbin? Your heart thudded so hard you could hear it in your ears. What was the meaning of that?

Yeonjun glanced between Minho, and you and Changbin, an amused expression coating his face. "What say you, Changbin?" he asked.

Changbin paused, studying at Minho's serious expression with arched brows, before raising his hands in surrender. "Yeah, sure, I was lying before. I'd much rather be eating meat than standing in front of a sink for the next hour. Have fun, Tess," he winked, before leading the pack out the door.

"So, I will lead the two of you to the kitchens, and when you are done you can have your free time. The kitchen staff will teach you how to clean the floors, wash the dishes, etcetera."

Yeonjun set off at a fast clip out of the kitchen and down the hall, before stopping at the kitchen entrance. "Here is where I leave you. Good luck!" He gave you a wry smile, before marching away.

After the kitchen staff showed Minho and you how to three-step wash the dishes and mop the floors, they too-gleefully exited the room, and you both got to work. You walked back and forth, scrubbing the floors clean with a wet rag. They never made it easy, did they?

You both worked in silence for about thirty minutes, until you couldn't bear the quiet.

"So, have you always wanted to be a maid, or what?"

Minho glanced up from his spot by the sink, brows raised. "What?"

You shrugged, staring at him innocently. "I don't think I've ever seen you clean anything in your entire life."

Minho's expression hardened, that stony mask you knew so well spreading across his face like ice over a lake. "How do you know it's not an interest I acquired later in life?"

"Because I know Lee Minho. He wouldn't clean unless he was getting something out of it."

"What are you saying?" He crossed his arms, and you couldn't help but become momentarily distracted, yet again.

"I'm saying," you said hastily, eyes flickering back up to his, "what the hell are you doing here?"

His eyes roved your face, that blank mask still in place. Then, all at once, it dissolved, replaced with a soft expression, one planted in your all childhood memories. It instantly brought you back to afternoons at recess, running around the field playing tag, or shooting hoops in his backyard.

You were so caught up in nostalgia, you almost missed his next words.

"I'm here because I don't want anyone else to be."

"Anyone else...?" You frowned in confusion. Was he saying what you thought he was saying?

"Anyone," Minho repeated. "No guys, girls, and most definitely no Seo Changbin."

"Minho..." you paused, a knowing smile spreading across your lips. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you're jealous."

He set the sponge he was using onto the counter, turning fully to look at you, those gorgeous eyes boring into yours. It felt like he wanted to know everything about you, what you were thinking, feeling.

Wiping his hands on his pants, he shrugged. "Maybe I am."

"Maybe?" You pursed your lips. You wouldn't give in, you couldn't. No matter how charming he was being, no matter how honest he sounded. There was no world where this ended well for you.

He chuckled, and you were blinded by his smile. Nothing really had changed, had it?

"You don't let anyone off the hook, do you?" His eyes lit with amusement, and you looked down, suddenly unable to meet his gaze. Why was he voicing all of your insecurities, like he knew you? Really knew you? And how he make it sound like a compliment?

"I guess not," you murmured, eyes finding comfort in his once more.

He smiled down at you, and your heart tripped over itself. "You ready to finish up, then get the hell out of here? We might have enough time to crash the barbecue if we're fast enough." He extended a hand to you.

You stared down at it, unsure what to do. Weren't you supposed to be getting over this guy? You'd told yourself time and time again not to let your guard down, because every time you did, you were the one that ended up hurt.

But when he snatched your hand up without your permission and squeezed, you were done for. Because let's be real, you were never "getting over" Lee Minho. No one ever "got over" Lee Minho. And now, you never would.

You grinned like an idiot, squeezing his hand back. And heart squeezed along with it.

"Yeah, let's get started."

He released you, and you hoped he didn't notice how sweaty your palm was.

"I'll wash, you dry?" He chucked a towel at you before you could respond.

Rolling your eyes with an unbidden smile, you hit him in the back with the gray cloth. "Wow, thanks for asking. You think I'm not fast enough to wash?"

He smirked as he turned back around to face the sink. "You said it, not me."

Glowering, you came to stand in front of the drying rack, towel in hand. "You could never keep up with me when we were kids, and now you think I can't keep yup with you?? Please."

He laughed. Not just the smug half-laugh you'd been on the receiving end for the past ten years, but a real laugh. His strong chest shook, the smile lines around his nose and mouth creasing as he gazed at you with those glittering eyes. That full sound that you'd missed so much boomed throughout the kitchen, and you couldn't help but smile in response.

"You're right, I never could keep up with you." He nudged you, filling the sink with hot, soapy water and throwing the final heap of breakfast dishes into the middle sink of the three-sectioned appliance. "Remember when we were playing tag at recess, and you wouldn't stop running for the entire hour?"

You grinned as he passed you the first plate, warm to the touch. "You mean the time you ate shit in the grass and sprained your leg? I felt so guilty, I didn't know you were going to chase me the whole time!"

"Well, what else was I supposed to do?" he laughed.

"Everyone else gave up after ten minutes," you sighed with a smile. "Why did you keep chasing me? I know you hate cardio."

Minho shrugged easily. "All the guys chased the prettiest girl. I was just joining in."

You almost choked at his words. How many times had this guy rejected you? And now he was basically full-on admitting that you were the prettiest girl in school? And not only that, but he thought you were the prettiest?

What was your life? This had to be a dream. Damn you and your overactive imagination.

But as Minho handed you the next plate, and your fingers brushed against one another, heat zinged between you, hot enough to melt metal. Yeah, this was definitely not a dream.

"You were my only friend," he said, not moving his hands away from yours, holding the plate between you. "And you were my best friend. You are my best friend." He ducked his head, a look of shame crossing his face.

You frowned, taking the plate away from him and setting it on the counter, wet spots be-damned. Before you could process what you were doing - because if you had, you probably wouldn't have done it - you cupped his face in your hands, realizing too late that they were still covered with soap suds.

You flushed, but he didn't move away. Your thumb ran circles against his jawline of its own accord.

Forcing yourself to cease your movements, you gazed into his eyes. "Minho... anyone would be grateful to be your best friend. I'm grateful to be your best friend, if you still consider us friends after all the terrible things I've done to you. I-"

He shook his head, a fierce look coming into his eyes. "Don't, Tess. I forgive you."

"Why?" Your voice caught in your throat. "I was horrible to you. We went from best friends to silent treatment within years. And it was all because-"

"No," he said once again, firmer this time. "You forgave me, and I forgive you. That's how this works. We can have a fresh start."

You forced a smile, heart thumping in your chest so loud you couldn't think. "Fresh start?" you asked softly, forcing your mind off of what you were about to tell him. "I'd like that."

And then his hands were around your waist, gripping so hard it made you stumble forward, even closer. You could smell him, a mix of warm vanilla and spicy pepper. You swallowed, your mouth desert dry. Your confession could wait.

He used his hold on you to yank you closer, like he couldn't stand another moment without you pressed flush against him. God, and that look in his eyes... a woman stronger than you couldn't resist the mix of care and unbridled desperation pooled in those depths.

He leaned in, until his breaths echoed across your face. You could count his eyelashes, see the minuscule brown mark on the side of his nose. For a few terrifying moments, you thought he might kiss you.

But his lips veered to the right, landing against the shell of your ear. "I lied before," he breathed, so quiet you almost couldn't hear him. "It's not a maybe. I am jealous of Changbin. I'm jealous of anyone who goes near you, anyone who talks to you. It drives me fucking crazy, but it's the truth."

You shivered at his words, a lump in your throat becoming irritatingly large. Damn, the effect this man had on you hadn't changed, after all these years.

But you didn't have time to process what the hell just happened, because a pair of raised voices echoed down the hall.

"So, what's the haps with you and Seungmin?"

"Erm, not really anything. He kind of annoys me, actually."

Your two roommates, Robin and Renee. Talking about... boys?

You glanced up at Minho, who still hadn't let go of your waist. He placed a finger over your lips, just like he had way back at the courting ball. God, that felt like ages ago. You tried and failed to hide a dorky smile.

He'd imprinted on your heart in a way that was impossible to forget. There would never be another guy like Lee Minho.

More importantly, there would never be another guy for you.

laska's note —
woww, just WOW!! 🤭🤭 are things actually starting to go right for minho and tessa?? that's crazy! i'm quite proud of this chapter tbh and i hope you enjoyed reading as much as i enjoyed writing! what do you think is going to happen next? why are robin and renee talking about boys? are they just gossiping, or is there more? and what about felix and alaska's date?? can't wait to see them connect now that minho got his feelings sorted out! and what's with all these sketchy quotes at the beginning of each chapter...? as always, i want to hear all your predictions!

𝖭𝖤𝖷𝖳 𝖴𝖯：
𝟮𝟲 - 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗻
┊ ⇄ ◁◁ II ▷▷ ↻ ┊