Love Me Whenever 9/?
Title: Love Me Whenever 9/?
Author: 23elevens
Rating: PG15 (for this chapter)
Wordcount: 5, 046
Characters: mainly!Minkey, bff!JongTaeKey, Lunew, more characters to come
Genre: All kinds.
Summary: It shouldn't be right for a grown man of twenty-three to fall in love with a stripper that's a whole six years younger than him. But that's exactly what Minho does, and he will protect the boy at all costs.
"Kibum-hyung's sick," announced Taemin to no one in particular, sliding his phone back into his pocket. He caught the suspicious glare of their teacher, and meekly flipped his textbook open to a random page. English was always so boring and so damn hard without Kibum around-
"Oppa," a sickeningly sweet voice sounded. Taemin felt a poke at his sides and turned, only to discover the empty seat beside him was currently occupied by Krystal. He gave her an awkward sidelong glance, jabbing a pointer finger weakly in the general direction of their teacher and mouthing the words later. Krystal didn't seem to get the hint, for she dragged her chair a little closer to the boy.
"Um, yes?" Taemin decided that it was the best time to concentrate right now, and actually looked around to see what page was the class currently on.
"Oppa," Krystal said again, placing a graceful hand over the expanse of Taemin's books. He gulped.
"Um, oh my god Krystal, you can, y'know, just spit it out already. And- and I'm not your oppa." He wasn't lying about the oppa part; he was the youngest in the room.
The girl's smile widened. "Is Kibum-oppa sick?"
The blonde groaned inwardly and studied his fingernails. He should have seen this one coming. "Um, yes."
"Oh, that's great- I mean horrible," Krystal revised, catching Taemin's incredulous what's-so-great-about-being-sick expression. "Listen, are you gonna go visit him later on? I sort of wanna come too, and give him his other classes' homework. Our timetables are really similar." Taemin thought that she looked as if her true intentions were more sexual than helpful.
"I guess so.. With Jonghyun-hyung," he tacked on as an afterthought. Maybe that would keep her away-
"The more the merrier I guess," she persisted, hand still covering the most of Taemin's textbook. The boy contemplated just ripping the book from under her- this was so awkward, and he had to think fast!
"I, uh," tried Taemin cleverly, buying time as the tiny cogs in his head turned at a freakishly slow pace.
"So is that a yes, oppa?" Krystal's eyes glistened with victory.
"Ye- what? No!" He gave her butthurt expression the benefit of the doubt, and lowered his voice a notch. "Uh, Kibum-hyung's parents are really strict. They don't allow any of Kibum's friends whom they don't know to come over, especially girls," he fibbed, surreptitiously crossing his fingers under the table and not looking at her.
"Well, there's always an introduction, Taemin-oppa. Tell you what," she leaned in conspiratorially over to the teenager, as if she was about to tell him a great secret. "If you let me come with you today I'll tell you Sulli's schedule for the entire week."
Taemin coughed and spluttered at her unexpected sentence, and Krystal laughed breathily as she patted his back. "Whoa there, don't need to get so excited. So, whadd'ya say?"
His face was a fiery shade of red as he stammered, the rusty cogs of his brain turning even slower right now. "Uh, what makes you t-think I like Sulli-ssi-"
"Soojung," barked the teacher, and the two of them jumped apart guiltily. "Read this passage out to the class since you like to talk so much. And get back to your seat."
And so a timely scolding saved Taemin from having to make a very difficult decision (well, Sulli was pretty hot in his opinion) and bearing with an overly touchy seat mate for another half hour.
Sent: Raptor-hyung, 2:13PM
Let's go visit Kibum-hyung after school today! He's got the bug that's been going around lately.
Sent: Raptor-hyung, 2:13PM
It's contagious, but I'm sure we wouldn't catch it ^^
~
"Holy shit Tae," cursed Jonghyun, standing just outside the gates of a sprawling, clean-looking penthouse. Taemin watched the elder squint slightly, brow knitted; the huge windows practically glittered in the sunlight. "You sure you've got the right address?" The whole place screamed dollar bills.
Taemin hastily brought out a scrunched-up ball of notebook paper from his pocket and unfurled it. "Um, I think so hyung, it says thirty-three cre- hey!"
Jonghyun mouthed the words slowly to himself, staring bewilderedly at the gold cursive letterings on one of the walls of the premises. The younger stomped over and snatched the piece back, stuffing it back into his jean pocket.
"Believe me now?"
Jonghyun blinked slowly at Taemin a couple of times before replying. "Yeah. But bloody hell, is Kibum that fucking rich? He never let on!"
"Beats me," shrugged Taemin, and he tentatively ran a smooth palm down the pristine white of the gate door. He gave it a little shove, and was surprised when the gate clicked open.
"Hey, it's open!"
"Thank you genius, I couldn't have seen that is was, myself," snorted Jonghyun playfully, and Taemin felt himself being dragged easily up the front garden of the picture-perfect place. He squeaked and danced lightly on his toes; he didn't want to squash any of the pretty blue and purple flowers fringing the gravel path.
The duo stood in the cool shade of the front house, wiping beads of sweat off the planes of their faces. For a moment, none of them spoke, listening to the hummingbird thrums of their own heartbeat reverberate through their veins.
"Do we.. Knock? Or what?" questioned Taemin nervously as he fidgeted about on the spot "Oh my god, it's so hot."
"Knock, I guess. You've got the presents with you right? And stop picking up stupid stuff from Kibum."
Taemin checked his other hand, and was pleased to discover that he hadn't dropped any of them on the way here. "Yep! But what stupid stuff, hyung?"
"That retarded 'oh my god' you just uttered. Anyway, rock, paper scissors, the loser knocks."
"Why do we have to-"
"Because I s-"
The boys clutched each other in shock as the door seemingly swung open by itself to reveal a tall man with strikingly handsome features in casual wear, staring down bemusedly at them. Jonghyun made a weird noise at the back of his throat, and despite being startled out of his wits, Taemin let out a nervous giggle; height was a sensitive topic for the elder boy.
"Hello," the man spoke, and Taemin marveled silently at his deep, velvety voice. "Can I help you?"
Jonghyun nudged the younger, who in turn gave the other a return shove before clearing his throat cautiously and replying, not quite looking into the taller male's eyes. Kibum didn't mention about having a brother- did he?
"Um, we're here to visit our friend Kim Kibum, but I think we've got the wrong house. Mianhae," bowed the taller teenager fervently, before attempting to drag a dumbstruck Jonghyun off the stranger's premises.
The man chuckled, and Taemin caught a wave of mint gum. "Really? That's nice of you guys. Kim Kibum does live here, by the way." The man's impossibly large eyes crinkled into a friendly smile, and Taemin relaxed a tiny bit.
"Um, so could we go inside, sir? We'll just be really qui-"
A pair of pale arms sleeved in a loud, obnoxious yellow-and-black patterned jacket snaked around the stranger's waist from behind, and a really familiar voice (to Taemin, at least( bubbled from the man's back. "Baby, I heard noises. Did Lun-Luna noona forget her passport again?" the voice yawned, and the hands curled themselves tighter around the stranger's middle. Taemin watched, fascinated and momentarily forgetting about trying to identify the voice as the man's hands dropped to take hold of the unknown pair of arms, stroking the silvery inside of them with the pad of his thumb.
"No, sweetie. It's just that-"
"Kibum-ah?" choked Jonghyun, rudely butting into the stranger's dialogue half-way. Taemin wanted to kick his hyung for being an asshole, but at the same time wanted to know the reason for the question in his tone.
"Hyung-ah, what-"
"Taeminnie? Jonghyun-hyung?" A head of blonde shot out from behind somewhere below the man's shoulders, and a pair of pillowy, pink lips parted in utmost surprise.
The stranger was caught in the middle of the awkward bubble as the three blondes stared each other down- or rather, Kibum versus the other two teenagers.
Taemin couldn't believe it.
"We need to talk," mumbled Jonghyun, taking Kibum roughly by the wrists the minute they managed to warble a lame thank you for letting us in to the man. Taemin trailed behind his hyungs, walking aggravatingly slowly because he was afraid of venturing somewhere he wasn't supposed to.
"The fuck about Jjong? Stop-"
"Where's your room? Up there? Tae, hurry up."
"Hyung-ah, stop holding Kibum-hyung so tight," Taemin prompted upon catching the worried glint in the well-built stranger's eye as he made to get up from a long couch. The older man shot him a small, thankful smile, and Taemin hastily returned it before stumbling up the white stone steps to the second floor of the penthouse.
The door was shut with a hollow thud, and for a moment the guests struggled to see in the dim room, hands stretched out in front slightly just to feel around. Taemin assumed that Jonghyun-hyung had already released Kibum, for he heard a sneeze somewhere to his right. He hadn't any time to dwell over how weird it was for a room to be dark on a blazing, April afternoon, however, as a sudden influx of bright sunlight showed itself into the room when Kibum dramatically dragged away heavy, deep purple curtains from the windows and tied them up with a gold rope-y thing.
Taemin blinked oddly in the sunlight, and squinted at Kibum until the elder boy came into focus. Damn, he really did look sick, what with the bundled-up dress code and Rudolph-nose and white-as-paper che-
Two muffled flops sounded simultaneously, and the youngest teen whirled around to find his hyungs seated on the bed- or rather, just Jonghyun-hyung, since Kibum-hyung had collapsed on the thick sheets with a jacketed arm dumped over his eyes. Hesitantly, Taemin looked around for an appropriate place to sit, and decided to perch on an extra-large rocking horse- what the hell?
"Oh my god, I'm so tired and have been soooo fucked up by every little thing this entire day. I begged for someone to save me since Minho wasn't really a help in the fun department, and guess what? My prayers were answered when you guys came," babbled Kibum, with a scratchy voice that went off at regular intervals. Holy puppies, his hyung was really sick. "D'you guys wanna have din- ow!" Kibum sat up, and through slightly swollen eyes he glared at an expressionless Jonghyun. "What-"
"Explain, Kibum-ah." Taemin gave an audible sigh, and leaned forward on the rocking horse. There was no stopping Jonghyun-hyung when he was about to go on a roll. The youngest boy felt as if he needed to go on one too, with an exploded head- seriously, Kibum never let on.
"Explain what?" Kibum was obviously confused and oblivious to the tension in the room, judging by the dimples that where still deeply etched into his cheeks.
"This.." Jonghyun gestured awkwardly about the vast bedroom, "And him. What the hell, Kibummie, and you never told us?"
"What him? You mean Minho? And what have I not told you guys?" Kibum threw his hands up in exasperation and brought his knees up to his chest, unattractively wiping his nose on his sleeve. Taemin felt uncomfortable the way his hyungs bickered, especially when Kibum-hyung was sick, and he decided to butt in.
"Um, Kibum-hyung? What Jonghyun means is.. Um. Why you've nevertoldusthatyouweregay." The last part came out in a jumbled mush, and Taemin kicked at the horse embarrassedly.
"I'm sorry Taeminnie, but what?"
"Oh my god. Okay Kibum, since when have you been gay? Correct me if I'm wrong." Jonghyun blew out a huge puff of air, brow furrowed as he stared Kibum straight-on.
"Hyung, you just said oh-" Taemin was silenced with the older boy's stern this-is-not-the-time glare. He sank back down on his seat. Okay, fine, he was just pointing out though.
Kibum blinked rapidly a couple of times, and launched into a mini sneeze-fit. Taemin fumbled about uselessly for some tissues as worry gurgled at the pit of his stomach, but the elder waved him away. "I've never- what? Told you guys I was gay?" Taemin gave a little nod, wincing as Jonghyun rattled on insistently for an answer.
"So are you? Gay, I mean?"
Kibum rounded on the other two, and Taemin cringed automatically as he noted the tell-tale fiery spark of annoyance that could be spotted within his hyung's steel-colored eyes, even if they were a tad smaller than they usually were. "Seriously, guys? Yes I'm gay, I like the opposite sex, I'm as crooked as a gay can get and I'm just about as straight as a banana. Problem?"
Two pairs of unreadable eyes stared back at him.
"Holy fucking bananas, you guys really do have a problem." The sick boy groaned, and Taemin subconsciously shifted over to join the other two on the bed.
"Since when were you.. not straight, hyung?" Taemin tried, fidgeting a little and casting his eyes around the room. Jonghyun said with his legs crossed and in a stony position, still looking at Kibum.
"Like- hunng- since forever- achoo!"
"And you're okay with being.. gay, and all that, hyung?"
"What d'you mean I'm okay with- Oh my god Taeminnie." The younger boy was startled when Kibum reached out to grab his head, twisting it not-so-unkindly so that he faced him.
"Hyung, what-"
"You guys don't like knowing I'm gay." Kibum announced; because a question was completely void in his statement. Taemin felt a twinge of guilt ripple in a faint shade lf red underneath his squished-up face as he watched the older boy's eyes freeze.
"Hyung, it's not like that-"
"Then what is it?" Kibum shot back at the other two, and the latter teens flinched visibly from the impact of his harsh words.
"It's how you never let on, Kibummie. And.. Yes, I think it's- it's wrong for you to not like girls, though I don't know what Taemin thinks." Jonghyun spoke up now, though with softer, chocolate eyes he glanced at the other boy. Taemin could almost taste the tension in the air at the tip of his tongue; a cloying sadness that withheld helpless indignation as well.
"There's a lot of things I've never told you guys about." Taemin almost didn't catch it; his friend's voice was barely a whisper. "But if anything," the other continued, louder now, and Taemin wondered if he knew that he had heard, "do you guys feel like you like me any less, knowing which way I swing?"
"No." Decision rang clear in the voices of both boys as they answered almost immediately.
"Kibum-hyung, we'll always like you no matter who you go for, arasso?" Taemin scrambled over to put his arms around his hyung's slim body, feeling like an absolute douchbag for having judged the elder in the first place. He was immensely relieved when he felt his own waist being enveloped with a tight hug- until Jonghyun cleared his throat annoyingly.
"Okay, gross you two. But yes, we do still l- pah- love you." Jonghyun gave the younger boy a weak shove, and a smile lit up his features.
"Guys- do you really not mind?" Kibum pulled himself away from Taemin now, and he sat wringing his hands in his lap, slate eyes darting worriedly between his companions.
"Well," began Taemin warily, "if it makes you happy and if that's the way you are hyung, I guess not." This time, he knew he hadn't put his foot into his mouth, for Kibum's pale face lit up a notch with a sunny smile.
"Can I ask you something now?" Jonghyun raised his hand, and Taemin fought to keep the giggles inside- his hyung really looked like a nerd.
"Shoot."
"Where are your parents? You seem to be living with your.. boyfriend." Jonghyun looked as if the last word was alien and weird-tasting, the way his lips pulled about unnaturally.
Silence befell the trio for the umpteenth time that morning and Taemin awkwardly let out an exaggerated yawn and curled up like a cat at the foot of the handsome bed.
Kibum slapped the younger boy playfully and sighed. "Don't be awkward, Taeminnie. And hyung, it's a long story and yes I live with Minho."
"Did you get into a fight with your parents, or did they not approve of you guys, or-"
"Hyung, you never know when to keep your mouth-"
"They died when I was a kid," stated Kibum matter-of-factly, and Taemin's heart dropped. So his hyung was a-
"I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay, I never really got along with them." Kibum laid back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as Taemin shared frantic telepathic messages with the senior. They stopped, however, when Kibum looked at them and laughed hoarsely.
"Retards, don't worry about it. I'm not sad or anything, this is my home now," he gestured at the place. A reminder dinged away in Taemin's head, and he patted his hyung's leg impatiently.
"Hyung-ah, so is this Mr. Minho's house? Or has he moved in to live with you after your parents.." he trailed off, chewing his lip as he studied the elder.
"His place. Two of his friends live here too, and they're really, really awesome," Kibum gushed, apparently overlooking the fact that Taemin was, for the gazillionth time, awkward again. The former bounced lightly on the bed, and yelped lightly when Jonghyun pushed him again.
"How old is he?" Jonghyun piped up, rummaging through the bag of presents to lay them out on the bed.
"Um," Kibum scrunched up his face thoughtfully and pinched the younger boy's cheek, much to his annoyance, "twenty-three?"
Jonghyun almost dropped the plastic bowl of porridge. "What?"
Kibum was in a surprisingly good mood today despite being deathly sick, for he rolled his eyes snobbishly and the shorter and replied, "How else do you expect him to own this place?"
"Is he a pedophile, hyung?" Taemin couldn't help asking, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Jonghyun nod vigorously and lean forward, the get-well-soon gifts all forgotten.
"Yeah, is he? 'Cause I'm gonna kick his ass if he-"
"Ask him yourself," laughed Kibum, and he stopped upon catching the looks on their faces. "He's not a pedophile, kids. For heaven's sake."
"You sure? The last time I checked, twenty-three year old dudes weren't supposed to date seventeen-year-old teenagers," probed Jonghyun seriously. "No, wait- do you have a penchant for old guys?!"
"No!" Kibum practically shouted, and Taemin automatically shrank into the elder's back. The elder rubbed at his dongsaeng's back, face flushed a little red in embarrassment for his outburst and continued, slightly calmer now. "He saved me from a hell-hole okay, guys?"
"What do you-" Jonghyun couldn't finish his sentence, for Taemin hurriedly clamped a hand over his gob and left it there for ten seconds too many for fear of his hyung spouting crap again. Kibum had his mouth agape and a raised eyebrow.
At times, Taemin really hated how Jonghyun had a knack for creating awkward silences. Wait- or was it him who did that shit?
Meanwhile, Kibum had crawled over to the bag and peeled the cap off the porridge, wasting no time in putting some of it into his mouth. "Want some, guys?" he prompted, waving a spoon tantalizingly in front of their faces. Taemin shook his head in mock horror.
"I don't want your germs, hyung!"
The older boy laughed, still shoveling the food into his mouth. "Thanks for coming to visit, kiddos. Never thought it would be you guys babying me instead of I you, Taeminnie!"
"I'm not a baby, Kibum-hyung," huffed Taemin, slightly offended, and Jonghyun guffawed. The calm that settled over the room this time was much more comfortable.
"Say, hyung," Taemin began, taking the now-empty container from Kibum and depositing it into the bag, "are you happy?"
"Happy as a lark with you guys here, I was so bored-"
"Retard, what Tae means is if you're happy with that Minho guy," Jonghyun snorted, poking at the duvet. "Though I must say, you've struck it rich. This stuff's friggin' expensive."
"Jonghyun!" reproached Kibum, whacking the other around the head as Taemin watched from the safe haven that was the space behind Kibum's back. "I do not live together with Minho because of money, and I'm not a gold-digging bitch, mind you."
"Just checking," says Jonghyun calmly, before allowing seriousness to seep back into his husky voice once again. "But really, are you happy?"
"I've never been so happy, hyung. Really. Especially with you guys around." Kibum wrapped a separate arm around each of his friends' shoulders and giggled.
"How long have you been happy then?"
"Five months or so I guess," mused Kibum, and he dropped on his back onto the bed, stretching his arms and legs out as if he was making a snow angel, nearly kicking Jonghyun off the bed. "Oops, sor- huuung- sorry hyung!"
"Retarded bitch!"
"You're not supposed to pick on someone who's on their sickbed-"
"Oh my god," Taemin interrupted, and blushed a color that put fire hydrants to shame the moment the two of them fixed their attentions on him.
"What, kid?"
"I, um," Taemin flustered, "Is this bed clean?"
Kibum's brows shot up right into his hairline as he rocked up into a sitting position. "Of course it goddamn is, Taemin, Minho just changed it- oh my god no we did nothing on these sheets!" The youngest received a parcel of smacks on his rear-end as he hurriedly scooted away, almost falling off the bed.
"Ow- hyung!"
"The kid is right, Kibummie, have you done the nasty on these sheets?" Jonghyun rolled off the bed, and knelt on the floor with his arms crossed on the bed. He wrinkled his nose in suspicion, and both boys ducked as two down pillows flew in their general directions.
"No we have not!" Kibum was rapidly coloring now, and he had his face hidden beneath his fingers.
"Have you done the nasty before, hyungs?" Taemin whispered conspiratorially, and hopped up on the bed again.
"Uh-"
"Yeah."
"As expected, Jonghyun is the lady-killer," sighed Taemin dramatically, going over to accidentally-on-purpose dig an elbow into the older boy's manhood. "What about you, Kibum-hyung?"
"I'll call you and let you know if I ever 'do the nasty' with Minho," laughed Kibum, sliding off the bed and shuffling over to the door, with his two friends yapping away behind him, demanding for an answer.
~
Minho gives the teenagers a reserved smile as he goes about setting the table for lunch. He catches Kibum's wandering eye and tilts his head questioningly at him. The younger sniffs a little and throws him a dramatic mock-hurt expression before shaking his head jovially and mouthing the words nothing, skipping off to show his friends about the house. Minho shakes his head and lays out the cutlery, piece by piece. As Minho lays out the samgyeopsal, the steady beat of an unknown party song with some bitchy voice belting out equally bitchy lyrics sounds sounds from somewhere near him, and he looks around bewilderedly. After a few seconds, he concludes that the music comes from his ringing phone, and he fishes it out of his back pocket, sighing quietly- Kibum must've switched his ringtone to something he liked for revenge after being forcefully carried around the house the entire day by the elder because he was sick. He balances his phone in the crook of his neck and goes to wash his hands.
"Hi Ho-Ho," chirps a lively voice, and Minho rolls his eyes playfully despite knowing the other can't see him.
"Hi stupid."
Luna tsked over the line. "My my, someone isn't being friendly this morning. How's Kibummie?"
"You could have called him yourself and asked, you know," replies Minho distractedly as he watches the last of the suds disappear down the drain.
"I thought he might be sleeping. So can I talk to him?"
"Why is everyone looking at Kibum and forgetting about me?"
"Don't be the baby here, Ho-Ho. Come on, let me talk to the kid. Overseas calls later on are gonna be expensive."
"He's got a couple of visitors," sighs Minho, going over to sit on the couch. Distant laughter echoes overhead, and he smiles tiredly at the sound of Kibum's weird, blocked-nosed giggle.
"Oh, who?"
"Couple of school kids with blonde hair," he answers dully, picking at a stray thread in the exquisite sofa covers.
Luna catches on immediately. "Anything wrong with those kids?"
"Nah, it's nothing much. D'you wanna talk to Kibum now?"
"Later, I'd rather stop the alarming rate that your nose is growing by first."
"Uh, what?" Minho really doesn't get her sense of humor sometimes.
"I can tell you're lying, moron."
"You're talking like Kibum."
"What?"
"You're starting to swear at me, though thankfully not at the rate Kibum does."
A laugh crackles over the static. "Stop changing the subject. What's up?"
"I don't think they like what me and Kibum have, judging by their reactions when they found out." Minho's voice is a low wave of worry, and it seeps over the connection to fill Luna's voice.
"Are you sure?"
"Has to be something like that- I mean, they literally dragged the hell out of Kibum up to our room and shut the door so they could talk."
"Well.. Did you try listening in?"
"Nah. I figured Kibum would appreciate some privacy and all. I tried not to worry the shit out of myself while I was preparing the lunch."
"Minho, don't worry too much about it. Judging by how even I can hear their raucous laughter, I guess they're okay with things after Kibum's talked to them. They probably need some time, y'know? It's not everyday they get to hear their friend has a live-in boyfriend. That old." Luna clicks her tongue, and her voice is slightly muffled as she say something to Jinki over the line. Minho sighs softly and gets up from the seat, rubbing not-so-gently at his eyes.
"Luna, you should get going. Give Jinki a good punch for me."
"You're really okay, right?" The concern in Luna's voice is still there, and Minho has to smile in spite of the overwhelming uncertainty about the visitors lapping at the edges of his heart.
"Yes, silly. Have fun shopping while Jinki's working his ass off, arasso?"
"I'll get a few things back for you guys," Luna bubbles. "Oh, and Jinki says hi to the both of you."
"Hey, I thought you wanted to speak to-" Minho starts, but the line goes dead anyway. He puts his phone back into his pocket and walks over to the stairs, slowly trudging his way up to check on the little blonde.
~
Minho awkwardly perches on the edge of his seat, occasionally spooning a bit of the bimbambap into his mouth as he watches the three teenagers inhale theirs and listens in on their bright and rowdy conversation. He wonders if the extra noise is irritating Kibum since the younger was ill, but a quick glance at his upturned lips told him otherwise. He runs a hand through his hair, chewing slowly on a few pieces of tender samgyeopsal.
"Gosh, you really do have a good life hyung. Mr. Minho's cooking is daebak!" Surprised, Minho gives him a quick smile, and Kibum kicks Taemin from under the table. The younger boy yelps and turns pink, while Minho frowns.
"Kibum-ah, that's no way to treat your guests." He flashes Taemin another smile, this time more apologetic, and heaps some of the kimchi into the youngest's plate.
"But hyung, he talked with his mouth full-"
"Ah, eat your food Kibummie. Stop whining," Jonghyun snorts good-naturedly, throwing a charming grin at the elder and using his shoulder to nudge at the still-sick male. Minho shrugs at an irritable Kibum, patting him on the head as he scrapes his chair back to head to the kitchen.
"I'll be back with the soup."
"Um, Mr. Minho, do you need help? I could go with you," offers Taemin awkwardly, attempting to get up as well. Kibum laughs, and Minho feels a slow heat swirl up his neck. His boyfriend's laugh was amazingly addictive-
"S'alright Tae, Minho prefers his guests not to help out." Kibum stretches his torso to wink at the elder, who brushes him of with a lag wave of his hand and turning his back on the group to fetch the soup.
The kitchen is silent, save for the occasional chinks of metal on china and the steady flow of soup into the bowls. Minho hums tunelessly as he ladles out extra chicken for all of them; he's in a rather good mood after noticing Taemin's apparent acceptance. As he puts the last bowl onto the tray, his phone trills, and he slides it open to read the new text. A wide grin crosses his face, and he almost bounds out of the kitchen with the bowls of scalding soup, only to remember at the last minute and tone down into an aggravatingly slow stroll back to the dining table.
"Kibum-ah, Luna just texted and said that she and Jinki-hyung were gonna-" Minho breaks off, and stands in slight shock just under the high arch of the teak-paneled doorway.
Kibum has his skinny forearms folded and resting atop Jonghyun's broad back as the shorter boy leaned over him, chest basically plastered onto his boyfriend's lap. The elder hand is secured on Kibum's left hip- as a leverage or something else, Minho didn't know- as he stretched, groping about randomly under the table with his stomach slightly rubbing on the upper thighs. Taemin was watching whilst chewing his lip, and he gapes silently as he noticed Minho's arrival. The latter shakes his head, as if it were suddenly clogged with insecurities, then clears his throat and steps deeper into the room.
"Kibum-ah, Luna's just texted to say she and Jinki-hyung'll be extending their stay for another week or so."
A/N - And so, Lunew’s not gonna be around for a couple more days. Anybody knows what’s going on? ^-^ Stay tuned! And on a side note, Trouble Maker is AWESOME. I don’t care what anyone says about Hyuna being slutty or whatever, it just is amazing. (: And I didn’t go to MAMA even though it was held in my country, if anyone’s wondering lmao. I just stoned in front of my TV for like six hours straight and cheered for Miss A/Super Junior/Beast/2NE1/etcetc.
Till the next, guys!
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Author: 23elevens
Rating: PG15 (for this chapter)
Wordcount: 5, 046
Characters: mainly!Minkey, bff!JongTaeKey, Lunew, more characters to come
Genre: All kinds.
Summary: It shouldn't be right for a grown man of twenty-three to fall in love with a stripper that's a whole six years younger than him. But that's exactly what Minho does, and he will protect the boy at all costs.
"Kibum-hyung's sick," announced Taemin to no one in particular, sliding his phone back into his pocket. He caught the suspicious glare of their teacher, and meekly flipped his textbook open to a random page. English was always so boring and so damn hard without Kibum around-
"Oppa," a sickeningly sweet voice sounded. Taemin felt a poke at his sides and turned, only to discover the empty seat beside him was currently occupied by Krystal. He gave her an awkward sidelong glance, jabbing a pointer finger weakly in the general direction of their teacher and mouthing the words later. Krystal didn't seem to get the hint, for she dragged her chair a little closer to the boy.
"Um, yes?" Taemin decided that it was the best time to concentrate right now, and actually looked around to see what page was the class currently on.
"Oppa," Krystal said again, placing a graceful hand over the expanse of Taemin's books. He gulped.
"Um, oh my god Krystal, you can, y'know, just spit it out already. And- and I'm not your oppa." He wasn't lying about the oppa part; he was the youngest in the room.
The girl's smile widened. "Is Kibum-oppa sick?"
The blonde groaned inwardly and studied his fingernails. He should have seen this one coming. "Um, yes."
"Oh, that's great- I mean horrible," Krystal revised, catching Taemin's incredulous what's-so-great-about-being-sick expression. "Listen, are you gonna go visit him later on? I sort of wanna come too, and give him his other classes' homework. Our timetables are really similar." Taemin thought that she looked as if her true intentions were more sexual than helpful.
"I guess so.. With Jonghyun-hyung," he tacked on as an afterthought. Maybe that would keep her away-
"The more the merrier I guess," she persisted, hand still covering the most of Taemin's textbook. The boy contemplated just ripping the book from under her- this was so awkward, and he had to think fast!
"I, uh," tried Taemin cleverly, buying time as the tiny cogs in his head turned at a freakishly slow pace.
"So is that a yes, oppa?" Krystal's eyes glistened with victory.
"Ye- what? No!" He gave her butthurt expression the benefit of the doubt, and lowered his voice a notch. "Uh, Kibum-hyung's parents are really strict. They don't allow any of Kibum's friends whom they don't know to come over, especially girls," he fibbed, surreptitiously crossing his fingers under the table and not looking at her.
"Well, there's always an introduction, Taemin-oppa. Tell you what," she leaned in conspiratorially over to the teenager, as if she was about to tell him a great secret. "If you let me come with you today I'll tell you Sulli's schedule for the entire week."
Taemin coughed and spluttered at her unexpected sentence, and Krystal laughed breathily as she patted his back. "Whoa there, don't need to get so excited. So, whadd'ya say?"
His face was a fiery shade of red as he stammered, the rusty cogs of his brain turning even slower right now. "Uh, what makes you t-think I like Sulli-ssi-"
"Soojung," barked the teacher, and the two of them jumped apart guiltily. "Read this passage out to the class since you like to talk so much. And get back to your seat."
And so a timely scolding saved Taemin from having to make a very difficult decision (well, Sulli was pretty hot in his opinion) and bearing with an overly touchy seat mate for another half hour.
Sent: Raptor-hyung, 2:13PM
Let's go visit Kibum-hyung after school today! He's got the bug that's been going around lately.
Sent: Raptor-hyung, 2:13PM
It's contagious, but I'm sure we wouldn't catch it ^^
~
"Holy shit Tae," cursed Jonghyun, standing just outside the gates of a sprawling, clean-looking penthouse. Taemin watched the elder squint slightly, brow knitted; the huge windows practically glittered in the sunlight. "You sure you've got the right address?" The whole place screamed dollar bills.
Taemin hastily brought out a scrunched-up ball of notebook paper from his pocket and unfurled it. "Um, I think so hyung, it says thirty-three cre- hey!"
Jonghyun mouthed the words slowly to himself, staring bewilderedly at the gold cursive letterings on one of the walls of the premises. The younger stomped over and snatched the piece back, stuffing it back into his jean pocket.
"Believe me now?"
Jonghyun blinked slowly at Taemin a couple of times before replying. "Yeah. But bloody hell, is Kibum that fucking rich? He never let on!"
"Beats me," shrugged Taemin, and he tentatively ran a smooth palm down the pristine white of the gate door. He gave it a little shove, and was surprised when the gate clicked open.
"Hey, it's open!"
"Thank you genius, I couldn't have seen that is was, myself," snorted Jonghyun playfully, and Taemin felt himself being dragged easily up the front garden of the picture-perfect place. He squeaked and danced lightly on his toes; he didn't want to squash any of the pretty blue and purple flowers fringing the gravel path.
The duo stood in the cool shade of the front house, wiping beads of sweat off the planes of their faces. For a moment, none of them spoke, listening to the hummingbird thrums of their own heartbeat reverberate through their veins.
"Do we.. Knock? Or what?" questioned Taemin nervously as he fidgeted about on the spot "Oh my god, it's so hot."
"Knock, I guess. You've got the presents with you right? And stop picking up stupid stuff from Kibum."
Taemin checked his other hand, and was pleased to discover that he hadn't dropped any of them on the way here. "Yep! But what stupid stuff, hyung?"
"That retarded 'oh my god' you just uttered. Anyway, rock, paper scissors, the loser knocks."
"Why do we have to-"
"Because I s-"
The boys clutched each other in shock as the door seemingly swung open by itself to reveal a tall man with strikingly handsome features in casual wear, staring down bemusedly at them. Jonghyun made a weird noise at the back of his throat, and despite being startled out of his wits, Taemin let out a nervous giggle; height was a sensitive topic for the elder boy.
"Hello," the man spoke, and Taemin marveled silently at his deep, velvety voice. "Can I help you?"
Jonghyun nudged the younger, who in turn gave the other a return shove before clearing his throat cautiously and replying, not quite looking into the taller male's eyes. Kibum didn't mention about having a brother- did he?
"Um, we're here to visit our friend Kim Kibum, but I think we've got the wrong house. Mianhae," bowed the taller teenager fervently, before attempting to drag a dumbstruck Jonghyun off the stranger's premises.
The man chuckled, and Taemin caught a wave of mint gum. "Really? That's nice of you guys. Kim Kibum does live here, by the way." The man's impossibly large eyes crinkled into a friendly smile, and Taemin relaxed a tiny bit.
"Um, so could we go inside, sir? We'll just be really qui-"
A pair of pale arms sleeved in a loud, obnoxious yellow-and-black patterned jacket snaked around the stranger's waist from behind, and a really familiar voice (to Taemin, at least( bubbled from the man's back. "Baby, I heard noises. Did Lun-Luna noona forget her passport again?" the voice yawned, and the hands curled themselves tighter around the stranger's middle. Taemin watched, fascinated and momentarily forgetting about trying to identify the voice as the man's hands dropped to take hold of the unknown pair of arms, stroking the silvery inside of them with the pad of his thumb.
"No, sweetie. It's just that-"
"Kibum-ah?" choked Jonghyun, rudely butting into the stranger's dialogue half-way. Taemin wanted to kick his hyung for being an asshole, but at the same time wanted to know the reason for the question in his tone.
"Hyung-ah, what-"
"Taeminnie? Jonghyun-hyung?" A head of blonde shot out from behind somewhere below the man's shoulders, and a pair of pillowy, pink lips parted in utmost surprise.
The stranger was caught in the middle of the awkward bubble as the three blondes stared each other down- or rather, Kibum versus the other two teenagers.
Taemin couldn't believe it.
"We need to talk," mumbled Jonghyun, taking Kibum roughly by the wrists the minute they managed to warble a lame thank you for letting us in to the man. Taemin trailed behind his hyungs, walking aggravatingly slowly because he was afraid of venturing somewhere he wasn't supposed to.
"The fuck about Jjong? Stop-"
"Where's your room? Up there? Tae, hurry up."
"Hyung-ah, stop holding Kibum-hyung so tight," Taemin prompted upon catching the worried glint in the well-built stranger's eye as he made to get up from a long couch. The older man shot him a small, thankful smile, and Taemin hastily returned it before stumbling up the white stone steps to the second floor of the penthouse.
The door was shut with a hollow thud, and for a moment the guests struggled to see in the dim room, hands stretched out in front slightly just to feel around. Taemin assumed that Jonghyun-hyung had already released Kibum, for he heard a sneeze somewhere to his right. He hadn't any time to dwell over how weird it was for a room to be dark on a blazing, April afternoon, however, as a sudden influx of bright sunlight showed itself into the room when Kibum dramatically dragged away heavy, deep purple curtains from the windows and tied them up with a gold rope-y thing.
Taemin blinked oddly in the sunlight, and squinted at Kibum until the elder boy came into focus. Damn, he really did look sick, what with the bundled-up dress code and Rudolph-nose and white-as-paper che-
Two muffled flops sounded simultaneously, and the youngest teen whirled around to find his hyungs seated on the bed- or rather, just Jonghyun-hyung, since Kibum-hyung had collapsed on the thick sheets with a jacketed arm dumped over his eyes. Hesitantly, Taemin looked around for an appropriate place to sit, and decided to perch on an extra-large rocking horse- what the hell?
"Oh my god, I'm so tired and have been soooo fucked up by every little thing this entire day. I begged for someone to save me since Minho wasn't really a help in the fun department, and guess what? My prayers were answered when you guys came," babbled Kibum, with a scratchy voice that went off at regular intervals. Holy puppies, his hyung was really sick. "D'you guys wanna have din- ow!" Kibum sat up, and through slightly swollen eyes he glared at an expressionless Jonghyun. "What-"
"Explain, Kibum-ah." Taemin gave an audible sigh, and leaned forward on the rocking horse. There was no stopping Jonghyun-hyung when he was about to go on a roll. The youngest boy felt as if he needed to go on one too, with an exploded head- seriously, Kibum never let on.
"Explain what?" Kibum was obviously confused and oblivious to the tension in the room, judging by the dimples that where still deeply etched into his cheeks.
"This.." Jonghyun gestured awkwardly about the vast bedroom, "And him. What the hell, Kibummie, and you never told us?"
"What him? You mean Minho? And what have I not told you guys?" Kibum threw his hands up in exasperation and brought his knees up to his chest, unattractively wiping his nose on his sleeve. Taemin felt uncomfortable the way his hyungs bickered, especially when Kibum-hyung was sick, and he decided to butt in.
"Um, Kibum-hyung? What Jonghyun means is.. Um. Why you've nevertoldusthatyouweregay." The last part came out in a jumbled mush, and Taemin kicked at the horse embarrassedly.
"I'm sorry Taeminnie, but what?"
"Oh my god. Okay Kibum, since when have you been gay? Correct me if I'm wrong." Jonghyun blew out a huge puff of air, brow furrowed as he stared Kibum straight-on.
"Hyung, you just said oh-" Taemin was silenced with the older boy's stern this-is-not-the-time glare. He sank back down on his seat. Okay, fine, he was just pointing out though.
Kibum blinked rapidly a couple of times, and launched into a mini sneeze-fit. Taemin fumbled about uselessly for some tissues as worry gurgled at the pit of his stomach, but the elder waved him away. "I've never- what? Told you guys I was gay?" Taemin gave a little nod, wincing as Jonghyun rattled on insistently for an answer.
"So are you? Gay, I mean?"
Kibum rounded on the other two, and Taemin cringed automatically as he noted the tell-tale fiery spark of annoyance that could be spotted within his hyung's steel-colored eyes, even if they were a tad smaller than they usually were. "Seriously, guys? Yes I'm gay, I like the opposite sex, I'm as crooked as a gay can get and I'm just about as straight as a banana. Problem?"
Two pairs of unreadable eyes stared back at him.
"Holy fucking bananas, you guys really do have a problem." The sick boy groaned, and Taemin subconsciously shifted over to join the other two on the bed.
"Since when were you.. not straight, hyung?" Taemin tried, fidgeting a little and casting his eyes around the room. Jonghyun said with his legs crossed and in a stony position, still looking at Kibum.
"Like- hunng- since forever- achoo!"
"And you're okay with being.. gay, and all that, hyung?"
"What d'you mean I'm okay with- Oh my god Taeminnie." The younger boy was startled when Kibum reached out to grab his head, twisting it not-so-unkindly so that he faced him.
"Hyung, what-"
"You guys don't like knowing I'm gay." Kibum announced; because a question was completely void in his statement. Taemin felt a twinge of guilt ripple in a faint shade lf red underneath his squished-up face as he watched the older boy's eyes freeze.
"Hyung, it's not like that-"
"Then what is it?" Kibum shot back at the other two, and the latter teens flinched visibly from the impact of his harsh words.
"It's how you never let on, Kibummie. And.. Yes, I think it's- it's wrong for you to not like girls, though I don't know what Taemin thinks." Jonghyun spoke up now, though with softer, chocolate eyes he glanced at the other boy. Taemin could almost taste the tension in the air at the tip of his tongue; a cloying sadness that withheld helpless indignation as well.
"There's a lot of things I've never told you guys about." Taemin almost didn't catch it; his friend's voice was barely a whisper. "But if anything," the other continued, louder now, and Taemin wondered if he knew that he had heard, "do you guys feel like you like me any less, knowing which way I swing?"
"No." Decision rang clear in the voices of both boys as they answered almost immediately.
"Kibum-hyung, we'll always like you no matter who you go for, arasso?" Taemin scrambled over to put his arms around his hyung's slim body, feeling like an absolute douchbag for having judged the elder in the first place. He was immensely relieved when he felt his own waist being enveloped with a tight hug- until Jonghyun cleared his throat annoyingly.
"Okay, gross you two. But yes, we do still l- pah- love you." Jonghyun gave the younger boy a weak shove, and a smile lit up his features.
"Guys- do you really not mind?" Kibum pulled himself away from Taemin now, and he sat wringing his hands in his lap, slate eyes darting worriedly between his companions.
"Well," began Taemin warily, "if it makes you happy and if that's the way you are hyung, I guess not." This time, he knew he hadn't put his foot into his mouth, for Kibum's pale face lit up a notch with a sunny smile.
"Can I ask you something now?" Jonghyun raised his hand, and Taemin fought to keep the giggles inside- his hyung really looked like a nerd.
"Shoot."
"Where are your parents? You seem to be living with your.. boyfriend." Jonghyun looked as if the last word was alien and weird-tasting, the way his lips pulled about unnaturally.
Silence befell the trio for the umpteenth time that morning and Taemin awkwardly let out an exaggerated yawn and curled up like a cat at the foot of the handsome bed.
Kibum slapped the younger boy playfully and sighed. "Don't be awkward, Taeminnie. And hyung, it's a long story and yes I live with Minho."
"Did you get into a fight with your parents, or did they not approve of you guys, or-"
"Hyung, you never know when to keep your mouth-"
"They died when I was a kid," stated Kibum matter-of-factly, and Taemin's heart dropped. So his hyung was a-
"I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay, I never really got along with them." Kibum laid back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as Taemin shared frantic telepathic messages with the senior. They stopped, however, when Kibum looked at them and laughed hoarsely.
"Retards, don't worry about it. I'm not sad or anything, this is my home now," he gestured at the place. A reminder dinged away in Taemin's head, and he patted his hyung's leg impatiently.
"Hyung-ah, so is this Mr. Minho's house? Or has he moved in to live with you after your parents.." he trailed off, chewing his lip as he studied the elder.
"His place. Two of his friends live here too, and they're really, really awesome," Kibum gushed, apparently overlooking the fact that Taemin was, for the gazillionth time, awkward again. The former bounced lightly on the bed, and yelped lightly when Jonghyun pushed him again.
"How old is he?" Jonghyun piped up, rummaging through the bag of presents to lay them out on the bed.
"Um," Kibum scrunched up his face thoughtfully and pinched the younger boy's cheek, much to his annoyance, "twenty-three?"
Jonghyun almost dropped the plastic bowl of porridge. "What?"
Kibum was in a surprisingly good mood today despite being deathly sick, for he rolled his eyes snobbishly and the shorter and replied, "How else do you expect him to own this place?"
"Is he a pedophile, hyung?" Taemin couldn't help asking, and out of the corner of his eye he saw Jonghyun nod vigorously and lean forward, the get-well-soon gifts all forgotten.
"Yeah, is he? 'Cause I'm gonna kick his ass if he-"
"Ask him yourself," laughed Kibum, and he stopped upon catching the looks on their faces. "He's not a pedophile, kids. For heaven's sake."
"You sure? The last time I checked, twenty-three year old dudes weren't supposed to date seventeen-year-old teenagers," probed Jonghyun seriously. "No, wait- do you have a penchant for old guys?!"
"No!" Kibum practically shouted, and Taemin automatically shrank into the elder's back. The elder rubbed at his dongsaeng's back, face flushed a little red in embarrassment for his outburst and continued, slightly calmer now. "He saved me from a hell-hole okay, guys?"
"What do you-" Jonghyun couldn't finish his sentence, for Taemin hurriedly clamped a hand over his gob and left it there for ten seconds too many for fear of his hyung spouting crap again. Kibum had his mouth agape and a raised eyebrow.
At times, Taemin really hated how Jonghyun had a knack for creating awkward silences. Wait- or was it him who did that shit?
Meanwhile, Kibum had crawled over to the bag and peeled the cap off the porridge, wasting no time in putting some of it into his mouth. "Want some, guys?" he prompted, waving a spoon tantalizingly in front of their faces. Taemin shook his head in mock horror.
"I don't want your germs, hyung!"
The older boy laughed, still shoveling the food into his mouth. "Thanks for coming to visit, kiddos. Never thought it would be you guys babying me instead of I you, Taeminnie!"
"I'm not a baby, Kibum-hyung," huffed Taemin, slightly offended, and Jonghyun guffawed. The calm that settled over the room this time was much more comfortable.
"Say, hyung," Taemin began, taking the now-empty container from Kibum and depositing it into the bag, "are you happy?"
"Happy as a lark with you guys here, I was so bored-"
"Retard, what Tae means is if you're happy with that Minho guy," Jonghyun snorted, poking at the duvet. "Though I must say, you've struck it rich. This stuff's friggin' expensive."
"Jonghyun!" reproached Kibum, whacking the other around the head as Taemin watched from the safe haven that was the space behind Kibum's back. "I do not live together with Minho because of money, and I'm not a gold-digging bitch, mind you."
"Just checking," says Jonghyun calmly, before allowing seriousness to seep back into his husky voice once again. "But really, are you happy?"
"I've never been so happy, hyung. Really. Especially with you guys around." Kibum wrapped a separate arm around each of his friends' shoulders and giggled.
"How long have you been happy then?"
"Five months or so I guess," mused Kibum, and he dropped on his back onto the bed, stretching his arms and legs out as if he was making a snow angel, nearly kicking Jonghyun off the bed. "Oops, sor- huuung- sorry hyung!"
"Retarded bitch!"
"You're not supposed to pick on someone who's on their sickbed-"
"Oh my god," Taemin interrupted, and blushed a color that put fire hydrants to shame the moment the two of them fixed their attentions on him.
"What, kid?"
"I, um," Taemin flustered, "Is this bed clean?"
Kibum's brows shot up right into his hairline as he rocked up into a sitting position. "Of course it goddamn is, Taemin, Minho just changed it- oh my god no we did nothing on these sheets!" The youngest received a parcel of smacks on his rear-end as he hurriedly scooted away, almost falling off the bed.
"Ow- hyung!"
"The kid is right, Kibummie, have you done the nasty on these sheets?" Jonghyun rolled off the bed, and knelt on the floor with his arms crossed on the bed. He wrinkled his nose in suspicion, and both boys ducked as two down pillows flew in their general directions.
"No we have not!" Kibum was rapidly coloring now, and he had his face hidden beneath his fingers.
"Have you done the nasty before, hyungs?" Taemin whispered conspiratorially, and hopped up on the bed again.
"Uh-"
"Yeah."
"As expected, Jonghyun is the lady-killer," sighed Taemin dramatically, going over to accidentally-on-purpose dig an elbow into the older boy's manhood. "What about you, Kibum-hyung?"
"I'll call you and let you know if I ever 'do the nasty' with Minho," laughed Kibum, sliding off the bed and shuffling over to the door, with his two friends yapping away behind him, demanding for an answer.
~
Minho gives the teenagers a reserved smile as he goes about setting the table for lunch. He catches Kibum's wandering eye and tilts his head questioningly at him. The younger sniffs a little and throws him a dramatic mock-hurt expression before shaking his head jovially and mouthing the words nothing, skipping off to show his friends about the house. Minho shakes his head and lays out the cutlery, piece by piece. As Minho lays out the samgyeopsal, the steady beat of an unknown party song with some bitchy voice belting out equally bitchy lyrics sounds sounds from somewhere near him, and he looks around bewilderedly. After a few seconds, he concludes that the music comes from his ringing phone, and he fishes it out of his back pocket, sighing quietly- Kibum must've switched his ringtone to something he liked for revenge after being forcefully carried around the house the entire day by the elder because he was sick. He balances his phone in the crook of his neck and goes to wash his hands.
"Hi Ho-Ho," chirps a lively voice, and Minho rolls his eyes playfully despite knowing the other can't see him.
"Hi stupid."
Luna tsked over the line. "My my, someone isn't being friendly this morning. How's Kibummie?"
"You could have called him yourself and asked, you know," replies Minho distractedly as he watches the last of the suds disappear down the drain.
"I thought he might be sleeping. So can I talk to him?"
"Why is everyone looking at Kibum and forgetting about me?"
"Don't be the baby here, Ho-Ho. Come on, let me talk to the kid. Overseas calls later on are gonna be expensive."
"He's got a couple of visitors," sighs Minho, going over to sit on the couch. Distant laughter echoes overhead, and he smiles tiredly at the sound of Kibum's weird, blocked-nosed giggle.
"Oh, who?"
"Couple of school kids with blonde hair," he answers dully, picking at a stray thread in the exquisite sofa covers.
Luna catches on immediately. "Anything wrong with those kids?"
"Nah, it's nothing much. D'you wanna talk to Kibum now?"
"Later, I'd rather stop the alarming rate that your nose is growing by first."
"Uh, what?" Minho really doesn't get her sense of humor sometimes.
"I can tell you're lying, moron."
"You're talking like Kibum."
"What?"
"You're starting to swear at me, though thankfully not at the rate Kibum does."
A laugh crackles over the static. "Stop changing the subject. What's up?"
"I don't think they like what me and Kibum have, judging by their reactions when they found out." Minho's voice is a low wave of worry, and it seeps over the connection to fill Luna's voice.
"Are you sure?"
"Has to be something like that- I mean, they literally dragged the hell out of Kibum up to our room and shut the door so they could talk."
"Well.. Did you try listening in?"
"Nah. I figured Kibum would appreciate some privacy and all. I tried not to worry the shit out of myself while I was preparing the lunch."
"Minho, don't worry too much about it. Judging by how even I can hear their raucous laughter, I guess they're okay with things after Kibum's talked to them. They probably need some time, y'know? It's not everyday they get to hear their friend has a live-in boyfriend. That old." Luna clicks her tongue, and her voice is slightly muffled as she say something to Jinki over the line. Minho sighs softly and gets up from the seat, rubbing not-so-gently at his eyes.
"Luna, you should get going. Give Jinki a good punch for me."
"You're really okay, right?" The concern in Luna's voice is still there, and Minho has to smile in spite of the overwhelming uncertainty about the visitors lapping at the edges of his heart.
"Yes, silly. Have fun shopping while Jinki's working his ass off, arasso?"
"I'll get a few things back for you guys," Luna bubbles. "Oh, and Jinki says hi to the both of you."
"Hey, I thought you wanted to speak to-" Minho starts, but the line goes dead anyway. He puts his phone back into his pocket and walks over to the stairs, slowly trudging his way up to check on the little blonde.
~
Minho awkwardly perches on the edge of his seat, occasionally spooning a bit of the bimbambap into his mouth as he watches the three teenagers inhale theirs and listens in on their bright and rowdy conversation. He wonders if the extra noise is irritating Kibum since the younger was ill, but a quick glance at his upturned lips told him otherwise. He runs a hand through his hair, chewing slowly on a few pieces of tender samgyeopsal.
"Gosh, you really do have a good life hyung. Mr. Minho's cooking is daebak!" Surprised, Minho gives him a quick smile, and Kibum kicks Taemin from under the table. The younger boy yelps and turns pink, while Minho frowns.
"Kibum-ah, that's no way to treat your guests." He flashes Taemin another smile, this time more apologetic, and heaps some of the kimchi into the youngest's plate.
"But hyung, he talked with his mouth full-"
"Ah, eat your food Kibummie. Stop whining," Jonghyun snorts good-naturedly, throwing a charming grin at the elder and using his shoulder to nudge at the still-sick male. Minho shrugs at an irritable Kibum, patting him on the head as he scrapes his chair back to head to the kitchen.
"I'll be back with the soup."
"Um, Mr. Minho, do you need help? I could go with you," offers Taemin awkwardly, attempting to get up as well. Kibum laughs, and Minho feels a slow heat swirl up his neck. His boyfriend's laugh was amazingly addictive-
"S'alright Tae, Minho prefers his guests not to help out." Kibum stretches his torso to wink at the elder, who brushes him of with a lag wave of his hand and turning his back on the group to fetch the soup.
The kitchen is silent, save for the occasional chinks of metal on china and the steady flow of soup into the bowls. Minho hums tunelessly as he ladles out extra chicken for all of them; he's in a rather good mood after noticing Taemin's apparent acceptance. As he puts the last bowl onto the tray, his phone trills, and he slides it open to read the new text. A wide grin crosses his face, and he almost bounds out of the kitchen with the bowls of scalding soup, only to remember at the last minute and tone down into an aggravatingly slow stroll back to the dining table.
"Kibum-ah, Luna just texted and said that she and Jinki-hyung were gonna-" Minho breaks off, and stands in slight shock just under the high arch of the teak-paneled doorway.
Kibum has his skinny forearms folded and resting atop Jonghyun's broad back as the shorter boy leaned over him, chest basically plastered onto his boyfriend's lap. The elder hand is secured on Kibum's left hip- as a leverage or something else, Minho didn't know- as he stretched, groping about randomly under the table with his stomach slightly rubbing on the upper thighs. Taemin was watching whilst chewing his lip, and he gapes silently as he noticed Minho's arrival. The latter shakes his head, as if it were suddenly clogged with insecurities, then clears his throat and steps deeper into the room.
"Kibum-ah, Luna's just texted to say she and Jinki-hyung'll be extending their stay for another week or so."
A/N - And so, Lunew’s not gonna be around for a couple more days. Anybody knows what’s going on? ^-^ Stay tuned! And on a side note, Trouble Maker is AWESOME. I don’t care what anyone says about Hyuna being slutty or whatever, it just is amazing. (: And I didn’t go to MAMA even though it was held in my country, if anyone’s wondering lmao. I just stoned in front of my TV for like six hours straight and cheered for Miss A/Super Junior/Beast/2NE1/etcetc.
Till the next, guys!
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