a different kind of crazy (2min)
TITLE A Different Kind of Crazy 2/?
SUMMARY Taemin's never been one to care about what's right or wrong. He doesn't think about things like what's accepted and what's not. He wants what he wants, but it's not always a walk in the park.
CHARACTERS/PAIRINGS [SHINee] Minho/Taemin, Jonghyun/Key. (f(x) cameos)
RATING/WARNING R.
GENRE Real life/romance
1
a different kind of crazy;
Taemin doesn't so much tell Kibum as show him, leading him up to his room and pointing to the heels standing beside his mirror.
His mother, having followed them up the stairs, bursts in and comments before Kibum can. "Taemin, what are those shoes?"
Taemin visibly winces, thinks quick, "They're--"
"They're Sulli's, his dance partner." Kibum cuts him off, "She left them at the studio yesterday and Taemin brought them home so they wouldn't get stolen. He's going to return them tomorrow."
"Oh," relief floods his mother's face. "Is she nice?"
"She's really pretty, mom." Taemin rattles off the answer like a robot, but his mother doesn't notice.
"That's lovely. Invite her over sometime. Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes, okay?" She turns a less pleasant look to Kibum, "Kibum, are you staying?"
"No thanks."
Taemin's mother nods and closes the door behind her. They both wait until they hear the creak of the stairs before speaking.
"Your mom is a freaking overprotective lunatic, Taemin, offense intended."
"Tell me something I don't know." Taemin sinks against the side of his bed, pulling his knees to his chest.
Kibum sits next to him. "Hide those damn shoes in a hole your neighbor's dog dug somewhere alongside this apartment complex."
Taemin laughs despite himself. "I wish."
He explains everything to Kibum, from how he noticed the shoes a few weeks ago while he was walking home from school, how he just really liked them for no apparent reason, how he always managed to catch Krystal's eye, and even how Minho works there and gave the shoes to him as a favor for Krystal.
"And?" Kibum presses, sharp as ever.
Taemin sighs and retells the fight he had gotten into earlier today, the tutu in his locker, and the stolen film.
"Don't let him get to you." Kibum says. "He's just nosy. But something doesn't quite fit." He's folding the card Krystal had written back and forth with his thumb and forefinger.
"Hmm?" Taemin thinks it all fits, and it all kind of sucks.
"Minho." The card escapes from Kibum's fingers, flinging half way across the room. "Working at Forever's. That's just as queer as taking ballet."
Taemin groans and throws his head against the side of his bed. "I don't know, it's money? It's kind of hard to find a job right now."
"I can't see someone like Minho working in a store that's entirely for women." Kibum remains unconvinced. "Unless he's gay and in denial, and that's why he goes and makes an ass of himself."
Taemin knows Kibum is bisexual, that Jonghyun is decidedly straight with an unexplainable mancrush on Kibum, that Eunsook always says "no comment", but he hasn't really thought about his own sexuality. He doesn't want to.
"I don't know..." Taemin says again.
"What don't you know?" Kibum places the shoes on the table before them. "It's simple. Do you want to wear them?"
"Not really."
"Do you wish you could wear them?"
"I don't want to dress like a girl." Taemin reiterates, and when Kibum gives him a calculating look, he adds, "Ever."
"Then you're not a tranny." Kibum chuckles. "Do you think they're cute?"
"Yes."
"Do you normally notice what a girl's wearing before her boobs, other assets, or face?"
Taemin is silent for a second, considering. "Yes."
"And do you notice a guy's looks before what he's wearing?"
Taemin grabs a pillow and buries his face into it. His answer is too muffled for Kibum to hear.
"You know what happens when you deny it." Kibum says, unable to keep from teasing Taemin a bit.
"I said yes!" Taemin yells, maybe too loudly this time.
"Final question," Kibum goes on, unfazed. "Does the thought of being with a guy repulse you? A girl?"
"No."
"No to both?"
Taemin just nods.
"Congratulations, you've just entered the bi-world. It's a beautiful place, really. Equal opportunity for all."
"You knew all along didn't you?" Taemin pouts at him.
"Everybody's bendy, Taemin." Kibum says, "Some more than others. Some will never admit it, too, but everybody is." Taemin opens his mouth to reply but Kibum yanks the pillow from him. "Don't say I don't know and then trail off. You do know."
"I was going to say I'm tired." Taemin replies.
"Eat dinner first." Kibum says, getting to his feet. "I'll go. Do you want me to hold onto the shoes?"
Taemin doesn't want to part with them, but what else can he do? His mother is obsessed enough to go through his room when he's not home and try to find them.
"Yeah." Taemin says. "Thanks."
Kibum leaves and Taemin picks up the card he had flicked across the room, putting the number into his cell and dialing.
A low, male voice picks up. "Forever's Boutique." he says.
Taemin instantly knows it's Minho. He hangs up.
Taemin is late for school this time, having missed the bus. He had to bike the entire way there, but he's only fifteen minutes late. He's switching his shoes before going to his locker, bracing himself when he opens it. There's nothing there but a stack of his photography and a post-it note on the top.
"They came out fine despite the interruption." is scribbled, and, "Return the shoes if you can't handle them."
Taemin crumples the note and tosses it over his shoulder, flicking through the photos on his way to class. His homeroom teacher just waves him in, she really doesn't care, and he re-orders the shots by his favorites. Some of them hadn't quite developed to full depth of color, but they're good enough. They almost look like polaroids. He's suddenly not so bitter towards Minho. He's still pretty bitter, though.
Come last period he's decided he'll brave stopping by the shoppe to thank Krystal for the shoes. He thinks maybe he should return them, but he can't really do that since Kibum has them, and he still doesn't want to regardless.
When he arrives at Forever's, he peeks through the window. Minho's not around, but that doesn't mean he's not there. For the first time he enters the shoppe, smiling politely at Krystal, who visibly lights up when he pushes through the door.
"Hey," she says. "I never thought you'd come in here!"
"Uhm," Taemin lets out a bit of a laugh, "I just wanted to say thanks for the shoes. I can pay for them, if you want."
"No, that's not why I gave you my number." Krystal smiles. "They're a gift, didn't Minho tell you that?"
At Minho's name, Taemin tenses. "Yeah, he did."
Krystal picks up the distaste in his tone. She battles it with, "We should hang out sometime. Not a date or anything, just as friends." Like she knows. Like she thinks Taemin is gay, or something. Taemin feels overwhelmed.
"I'd like that." Taemin says before he can really think. Well, he would like it, he's a little too quiet to be the type with lots of friends.
"Call me." Krystal says, handing him a business card with her name on it, and her actual cell phone number. "You won't have to bother with Minho that way."
"Thanks." Taemin says, offers her a genuine smile, and he really, really, really means it.
Dance practice that evening goes a lot smoother, and Kibum tells him that honestly, he was just as dazzling as Sulli this time, if not more.
Taemin's in a good mood when he gets home, he even finishes a full meal much to his mother's delight. He's stuffed and drousy when his phone rings, and he picks up without checking caller ID.
"Hello?" he yawns.
"Just returning a call." Minho says on the other line.
Taemin scowls against the receiver. "What do you want?"
"Well, are you going to bring the shoes back or are you going to shoulder all suspiscions about you owning them?"
"Why are you so caught up with me and those shoes?" Taemin replies sharply.
"I just want to know the truth."
"I just like them. I don't want to wear them or give them away. I want to photograph them. I just," Taemin's voice has raised, "I just want them, okay?"
There's a short silence on the line, then Minho says, "Okay." and hangs up.
Taemin is as confused and frustrated as ever before.
The next day is Sunday, and he wakes up at 9am because the sun is making him hot under the covers. He groans and rolls over, sporting a bit of morning wood that he just doesn't want to deal with. His phone trills over and over, which is probably what had woken him up.
"'Lo?" he drawls into the receiver.
"We have detention today, just to remind you." Minho says.
"Oh my god." Taemin can't help but say in his morning stupor, "Can you really just leave me alone now?"
"I kind of can't, since we have detention together."
"Don't call me."
A chuckle, "You're bolder in the morning."
"I'll block your number."
"Why haven't you yet?" Minho's low, silky voice over the phone is not doing anything to help Taemin's erection, and that question isn't either.
"I'm hanging up." Taemin says smartly. He doesn't.
Minho laughs again, richly. "See you in an hour." He hangs up first.
Taemin stares at his phone groggily for a few minutes, still sort of putting together everything that happened, then rolls around in his bed trying to pick out whether he's more irritated or interested in this not-so-cruel side of Minho. Then again, he hasn't apologized, and Minho's still not being nice.
Taemin jacks off thinking about him anyway.
Later, when he's fully awake, he blames it on a muffled mind and not enough sleep, puts it pointedly out of his mind, and wraps a scarf around his neck before telling his mother he has to go to school.
"Is there an event?" she asks.
"Uh, it's photography stuff." Taemin lies, and he thinks he does okay this time. But his mother still looks nettled. She waves him out the door though, giving him money to buy lunch. "Don't forget." she calls after him.
It's chilly outside, and refreshing. Even though Taemin has detention with Minho for five hours, he's rather chipper. He slides the door open to find not only Minho, but four or five other students loitering about the classroom minding their own. Minho's seated by the window and Taemin takes the seat in front of him, since it's the only window seat left, and the window is the only way he'll survive five hours of this shit.
He feels a foot press against the back of his chair, but he doesn't turn around.
"Hey," Minho calls. Taemin swallows. Minho repeats himself.
"What?" Taemin remains caustic, though. He's on guard.
"Are you anorexic or something?"
Taemin's fingers curl around his pencil a little stronger than he'd intended. That's a touchy subject; no, he's not, he just has a small appetite. He has to retain a strong but light build for ballet. "Do I look anorexic?" he's turned around to face Minho and show him his annoyance.
Minho shrugs. "You've been dropping weight."
"Yeah, I wonder why." Taemin shoots back. "Why do you care."
"Look, about earlier," Minho starts, "To be honest--" but the teacher comes in before he can say anything and Taemin's a little put off, because Minho looks not only sorry but upset. Like he had been after they'd gotten into a fight. Taemin's told to face front, though, so he does, and five hours of dead boredom begin.
They're instructed to write one sentence over and over for awhile, then given random duties in pairs to help pick up the school. Taemin's paired with this one girl who'd rather try to get him to smoke with her behind the bleachers than actually pick up the trash around that area. He declines and slinks back to the classroom; their lunch break is coming up soon anyway.
He could be practicing his dance, right now. He could be reading, doing homework, or hanging out with Kibum and Eunsook. The coolness to the air starts to wear him down and make him sleepy. He's the first one back to the classroom, so he sits in his seat and pillows his head with his arms, and within a few minutes, he's drifted off.
He's startled to wakefulness when something warm touches his cheek. Minho's holding out a coffee drink, and Taemin takes the warm can without thanks.
"Break's almost over." Minho tells him. "You looked comfortable so I let you keep sleeping."
Taemin frowns over the coffee, sipping it gingerly. "Why are you being nice to me? What do you want from me?" he wants so ask, but all that comes out is, "Oh."
"Yeah." Minho's sitting against his desk. All of the other students are outside eating, enjoying the crisp weather. "You know why I work at Forever's Boutique?"
Whoa, that was out of nowhere. "No?" Taemin says.
Minho leans closer, the closest he's been, and whispers into Taemin's ear, "Because I'm gay."
Taemin shoots out of his chair not because of Minho's admittance, but because it had tickled and sent shivers down his spine to a place it shouldn't have. "What?"
"You heard me." Minho shrugs, leaning back and sticking his hands into his pockets. "I thought you were homophobic or something when we first met. You came off that way, you know, and it pissed me off."
"I'm--" Taemin is so confused. "I'm not, I mean, I'm. Well, I didn't mean to."
Minho's laugh this time is friendly and amused, but not at his expense. It's more at how this huge misunderstanding had gone so far. "I was shocked when she gave you the shoes. Sorry." Minho apologizes and that has Taemin's face heating up, remembering his thoughts from this morning. "It was kind of funny, though, you have to admit."
Taemin would admit it. He snorts. "You're right," he says, "And I'm not, you know, against it or anything."
Minho pulls Taemin towards him and that grin is back, predatory yet calm. "So would this be okay?"
Taemin totally knows what he means but he says "What?" anyway. Minho closes the gap between them and kisses him, one hand cradling the underside of Taemin's head and the other pushing at the bruise on his mouth.
"--Ow," Taemin says against Minho's lips.
"I'm sorry about that too." Minho whispers.
This time Taemin willingly consents, "I started it."
Minho shrugs, pulling away just before another student comes in. Taemin's not sure how he should feel as they take their seats. He feels warm and excited and definitely not angry. But he's still confused. Does he like Minho? Because he didn't until say five minutes ago.
The last three hours of detention roll slowly on, because they're told to do homework or keep themselves occupied at their seats, and not to talk. Taemin feels Minho's foot occasionally pushing the back of his chair, and he'll look behind him, but Minho's head will be bowed and he'll be writing or looking out the window pretending like nothing happened. It's kind of cute, Taemin thinks, because sometimes he'll catch Minho grinning behind his hand.
The teacher finally dismisses them and it's overcast when they get outside.
"Think it's going to snow?" Minho had followed him to the gates, and his breath is visible when he asks.
"I hope so." Taemin says into his scarf. "Do you work today?"
"It's Sunday," Minho shakes his head, "Shoppe's closed."
"Oh." Taemin replies. They're quiet for a moment, just walking. "How did you know I take ballet?"
"Kibum." Minho tucks his hands into his hoodie pockets, pacing himself next to Taemin. "Well, I overheard him."
Taemin glances at him sideways. "What else did you overhear?"
"That's it." Minho raises his hand in scout's honor. "Unless you want to count Krystal nagging me to find out whether you were gay or not. She sort of made it my business."
"I'm not sure what I am." Taemin says honestly, "But she was nice about it."
Minho stops walking and Taemin does too, a few steps ahead. "So now what?" he says.
Taemin feels his heartbeat speed up, but he doesn't know.
Minho politely keeps his distance, though his foot is bouncing impatiently. "I like you." he says it straight and sudden but solidly, so that Taemin feels a little knocked backwards. Maybe it's just the wind steadily picking up.
"You sure have a weird way of showing it." Taemin replies, tugging on the ends of his scarf.
"There you go again." Minho doesn't apologize like Taemin was hoping he was. He wants to hear it like, fifty times, at least. But no, Minho goes on. "That cold, cryptic demeanor."
"As if." Taemin replies, then realizes that's kind of crass, too.
"Maybe you assume I was going to make fun of you," Minho tips a shoulder, "It was funny but I wasn't laughing at you back then, you know."
Taemin frowns and crosses his arms. "Still, I meant what I said." Back then and now, Taemin won't clarify.
Minho's gaze is piercing, almost. "Do you still mean it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
Minho holds out his hand, wiggles his fingers when all Taemin does is stare at it. "You're not good with words so you don't have to say anything."
When Taemin still doesn't move, Minho pulls Taemin's hand out of his pocket and laces his fingers with his, tugging him along. "Just think about it."
Taemin walks with Minho to the intersection by his bustop before they go their respective ways. The entire ride Taemin smooths his thumb over his left hand trying to bring back the tingling sensation. Instead of going home he goes to Kibum's house--a tiny apartment flat he lives in by himself--and knocks and knocks because he knows Kibum is still sleeping but they need to talk.
He's startled to see Jonghyun open the door, thankfully fully clothed (Taemin has his suspicions), with his eyebrows raised. "Sup?" Jonghyun asks.
"Can I talk to Kibum?" Taemin asks, kicking off his shoes at the entrance after Jonghyun lets him in.
"It will end bitterly, but talk at your own risk. He's nursing a pretty bad hangover. I just got here myself." Jonghyun instructs Taemin to step closer so he can whisper, "He wouldn't stop calling me to come take care of him. When I turned off my phone he called my house and my mom forced me here."
"You're a great friend." Kibum says darkly from the futon on the opposite end of the room.
"It's your own fault." Jonghyun shoots back. "I told you not to drink so much."
Taemin just doesn't want to know. He literally throws himself onto Kibum. "This is all your fault for asking me confusing questions we need to talk you have no idea what the hell just happened to me and--" he says it all on one breath until Kibum holds up a hand to stop him.
"Firstly, not everything is my fault. Shut up. You know you're evil, right? Does the term hungover mean nothing to you? I did not catch a word of that painful utterance other than the subliminal, Kibum you are awful now listen as I tell you why." Kibum slaps a hand to his forehead. "Secondly," he emphasizes, "I always listen to you."
Taemin rolls off of Kibum. "I'll be quieter."
"He just wants to be the one babied for once." Jonghyun, who's sitting on the edge of Kibum's bed, says. Kibum kicks him heartily.
"So?" He sits up. It's a tiny apartment because it's all Kibum can afford--literally a room and a bathroom. But it's tidy, if lacking places to put things. Kibum's coffee maker is on the floor on a tray, and all his books are stacked by the wall, and Taemin sees his heels lined up next to the rest of Kibum's shoes by the door, but it's clean.
"Minho kissed me."
Kibum blinks a few times and Jonghyun goes, "Whoa, Choi Minho?" and Taemin waits for Kibum to flip his rocker.
All he says is, "Did he force you?" though his tone does sound venomous.
"No. It's not like that. It never was."
Kibum sighs and lays back down, pulling the cover up over his face. They're both ignoring Jonghyun's, "Wait, seriously? He's gay or whatever? I mean, what? No. No way."
"Do you like him?" asks Kibum.
"No. Well, yes, but not like that? I don't think?"
"Here we go again." Kibum pulls the covers from his face, and Taemin thinks he sounds like Minho when he says it and it kind of hurts his feelings. "Taemin, I told you before it's simple. Did you kiss back?"
"It wasn't really a kiss." Taemin says, and at Kibum's glare, adds, "I guess."
Kibum waves a hand at him. "Did you like it?"
Taemin rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I guess."
"Do you two get along?"
"I guess we do."
"Do you think he's attractive?"
Taemin had from the very beginning; Minho is pretty good-looking. "Yeah."
"Does the idea of going out with him repulse you?"
Taemin may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he's feeling deja vu and he catches on pretty quickly. "Not really." he says quietly.
"Problem solved." Kibum says. "Now get out. Please."
"Can I leave too?" Jonghyun asks.
"No, I told you to make me coffee like twenty minutes ago." Kibum rolls over to face the wall.
Jonghyun guides Taemin to the door and shrugs as if to say, "See, I told you so." but Taemin thinks talking to Kibum had done the trick. He likes Minho enough, maybe he always sort of has--been attracted to that snarky side of him. Taemin bites his lip and walks the few blocks home.
Home, as always, is another story entirely. He'll never be able to tell his mom. She would fall apart.
Taemin falls asleep that evening with mixed feelings, too happy to feel too sad and too upset to feel too happy.
previous | next
note; Next chapter le sooon ~ /skips off
SUMMARY Taemin's never been one to care about what's right or wrong. He doesn't think about things like what's accepted and what's not. He wants what he wants, but it's not always a walk in the park.
CHARACTERS/PAIRINGS [SHINee] Minho/Taemin, Jonghyun/Key. (f(x) cameos)
RATING/WARNING R.
GENRE Real life/romance
1
a different kind of crazy;
Taemin doesn't so much tell Kibum as show him, leading him up to his room and pointing to the heels standing beside his mirror.
His mother, having followed them up the stairs, bursts in and comments before Kibum can. "Taemin, what are those shoes?"
Taemin visibly winces, thinks quick, "They're--"
"They're Sulli's, his dance partner." Kibum cuts him off, "She left them at the studio yesterday and Taemin brought them home so they wouldn't get stolen. He's going to return them tomorrow."
"Oh," relief floods his mother's face. "Is she nice?"
"She's really pretty, mom." Taemin rattles off the answer like a robot, but his mother doesn't notice.
"That's lovely. Invite her over sometime. Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes, okay?" She turns a less pleasant look to Kibum, "Kibum, are you staying?"
"No thanks."
Taemin's mother nods and closes the door behind her. They both wait until they hear the creak of the stairs before speaking.
"Your mom is a freaking overprotective lunatic, Taemin, offense intended."
"Tell me something I don't know." Taemin sinks against the side of his bed, pulling his knees to his chest.
Kibum sits next to him. "Hide those damn shoes in a hole your neighbor's dog dug somewhere alongside this apartment complex."
Taemin laughs despite himself. "I wish."
He explains everything to Kibum, from how he noticed the shoes a few weeks ago while he was walking home from school, how he just really liked them for no apparent reason, how he always managed to catch Krystal's eye, and even how Minho works there and gave the shoes to him as a favor for Krystal.
"And?" Kibum presses, sharp as ever.
Taemin sighs and retells the fight he had gotten into earlier today, the tutu in his locker, and the stolen film.
"Don't let him get to you." Kibum says. "He's just nosy. But something doesn't quite fit." He's folding the card Krystal had written back and forth with his thumb and forefinger.
"Hmm?" Taemin thinks it all fits, and it all kind of sucks.
"Minho." The card escapes from Kibum's fingers, flinging half way across the room. "Working at Forever's. That's just as queer as taking ballet."
Taemin groans and throws his head against the side of his bed. "I don't know, it's money? It's kind of hard to find a job right now."
"I can't see someone like Minho working in a store that's entirely for women." Kibum remains unconvinced. "Unless he's gay and in denial, and that's why he goes and makes an ass of himself."
Taemin knows Kibum is bisexual, that Jonghyun is decidedly straight with an unexplainable mancrush on Kibum, that Eunsook always says "no comment", but he hasn't really thought about his own sexuality. He doesn't want to.
"I don't know..." Taemin says again.
"What don't you know?" Kibum places the shoes on the table before them. "It's simple. Do you want to wear them?"
"Not really."
"Do you wish you could wear them?"
"I don't want to dress like a girl." Taemin reiterates, and when Kibum gives him a calculating look, he adds, "Ever."
"Then you're not a tranny." Kibum chuckles. "Do you think they're cute?"
"Yes."
"Do you normally notice what a girl's wearing before her boobs, other assets, or face?"
Taemin is silent for a second, considering. "Yes."
"And do you notice a guy's looks before what he's wearing?"
Taemin grabs a pillow and buries his face into it. His answer is too muffled for Kibum to hear.
"You know what happens when you deny it." Kibum says, unable to keep from teasing Taemin a bit.
"I said yes!" Taemin yells, maybe too loudly this time.
"Final question," Kibum goes on, unfazed. "Does the thought of being with a guy repulse you? A girl?"
"No."
"No to both?"
Taemin just nods.
"Congratulations, you've just entered the bi-world. It's a beautiful place, really. Equal opportunity for all."
"You knew all along didn't you?" Taemin pouts at him.
"Everybody's bendy, Taemin." Kibum says, "Some more than others. Some will never admit it, too, but everybody is." Taemin opens his mouth to reply but Kibum yanks the pillow from him. "Don't say I don't know and then trail off. You do know."
"I was going to say I'm tired." Taemin replies.
"Eat dinner first." Kibum says, getting to his feet. "I'll go. Do you want me to hold onto the shoes?"
Taemin doesn't want to part with them, but what else can he do? His mother is obsessed enough to go through his room when he's not home and try to find them.
"Yeah." Taemin says. "Thanks."
Kibum leaves and Taemin picks up the card he had flicked across the room, putting the number into his cell and dialing.
A low, male voice picks up. "Forever's Boutique." he says.
Taemin instantly knows it's Minho. He hangs up.
Taemin is late for school this time, having missed the bus. He had to bike the entire way there, but he's only fifteen minutes late. He's switching his shoes before going to his locker, bracing himself when he opens it. There's nothing there but a stack of his photography and a post-it note on the top.
"They came out fine despite the interruption." is scribbled, and, "Return the shoes if you can't handle them."
Taemin crumples the note and tosses it over his shoulder, flicking through the photos on his way to class. His homeroom teacher just waves him in, she really doesn't care, and he re-orders the shots by his favorites. Some of them hadn't quite developed to full depth of color, but they're good enough. They almost look like polaroids. He's suddenly not so bitter towards Minho. He's still pretty bitter, though.
Come last period he's decided he'll brave stopping by the shoppe to thank Krystal for the shoes. He thinks maybe he should return them, but he can't really do that since Kibum has them, and he still doesn't want to regardless.
When he arrives at Forever's, he peeks through the window. Minho's not around, but that doesn't mean he's not there. For the first time he enters the shoppe, smiling politely at Krystal, who visibly lights up when he pushes through the door.
"Hey," she says. "I never thought you'd come in here!"
"Uhm," Taemin lets out a bit of a laugh, "I just wanted to say thanks for the shoes. I can pay for them, if you want."
"No, that's not why I gave you my number." Krystal smiles. "They're a gift, didn't Minho tell you that?"
At Minho's name, Taemin tenses. "Yeah, he did."
Krystal picks up the distaste in his tone. She battles it with, "We should hang out sometime. Not a date or anything, just as friends." Like she knows. Like she thinks Taemin is gay, or something. Taemin feels overwhelmed.
"I'd like that." Taemin says before he can really think. Well, he would like it, he's a little too quiet to be the type with lots of friends.
"Call me." Krystal says, handing him a business card with her name on it, and her actual cell phone number. "You won't have to bother with Minho that way."
"Thanks." Taemin says, offers her a genuine smile, and he really, really, really means it.
Dance practice that evening goes a lot smoother, and Kibum tells him that honestly, he was just as dazzling as Sulli this time, if not more.
Taemin's in a good mood when he gets home, he even finishes a full meal much to his mother's delight. He's stuffed and drousy when his phone rings, and he picks up without checking caller ID.
"Hello?" he yawns.
"Just returning a call." Minho says on the other line.
Taemin scowls against the receiver. "What do you want?"
"Well, are you going to bring the shoes back or are you going to shoulder all suspiscions about you owning them?"
"Why are you so caught up with me and those shoes?" Taemin replies sharply.
"I just want to know the truth."
"I just like them. I don't want to wear them or give them away. I want to photograph them. I just," Taemin's voice has raised, "I just want them, okay?"
There's a short silence on the line, then Minho says, "Okay." and hangs up.
Taemin is as confused and frustrated as ever before.
The next day is Sunday, and he wakes up at 9am because the sun is making him hot under the covers. He groans and rolls over, sporting a bit of morning wood that he just doesn't want to deal with. His phone trills over and over, which is probably what had woken him up.
"'Lo?" he drawls into the receiver.
"We have detention today, just to remind you." Minho says.
"Oh my god." Taemin can't help but say in his morning stupor, "Can you really just leave me alone now?"
"I kind of can't, since we have detention together."
"Don't call me."
A chuckle, "You're bolder in the morning."
"I'll block your number."
"Why haven't you yet?" Minho's low, silky voice over the phone is not doing anything to help Taemin's erection, and that question isn't either.
"I'm hanging up." Taemin says smartly. He doesn't.
Minho laughs again, richly. "See you in an hour." He hangs up first.
Taemin stares at his phone groggily for a few minutes, still sort of putting together everything that happened, then rolls around in his bed trying to pick out whether he's more irritated or interested in this not-so-cruel side of Minho. Then again, he hasn't apologized, and Minho's still not being nice.
Taemin jacks off thinking about him anyway.
Later, when he's fully awake, he blames it on a muffled mind and not enough sleep, puts it pointedly out of his mind, and wraps a scarf around his neck before telling his mother he has to go to school.
"Is there an event?" she asks.
"Uh, it's photography stuff." Taemin lies, and he thinks he does okay this time. But his mother still looks nettled. She waves him out the door though, giving him money to buy lunch. "Don't forget." she calls after him.
It's chilly outside, and refreshing. Even though Taemin has detention with Minho for five hours, he's rather chipper. He slides the door open to find not only Minho, but four or five other students loitering about the classroom minding their own. Minho's seated by the window and Taemin takes the seat in front of him, since it's the only window seat left, and the window is the only way he'll survive five hours of this shit.
He feels a foot press against the back of his chair, but he doesn't turn around.
"Hey," Minho calls. Taemin swallows. Minho repeats himself.
"What?" Taemin remains caustic, though. He's on guard.
"Are you anorexic or something?"
Taemin's fingers curl around his pencil a little stronger than he'd intended. That's a touchy subject; no, he's not, he just has a small appetite. He has to retain a strong but light build for ballet. "Do I look anorexic?" he's turned around to face Minho and show him his annoyance.
Minho shrugs. "You've been dropping weight."
"Yeah, I wonder why." Taemin shoots back. "Why do you care."
"Look, about earlier," Minho starts, "To be honest--" but the teacher comes in before he can say anything and Taemin's a little put off, because Minho looks not only sorry but upset. Like he had been after they'd gotten into a fight. Taemin's told to face front, though, so he does, and five hours of dead boredom begin.
They're instructed to write one sentence over and over for awhile, then given random duties in pairs to help pick up the school. Taemin's paired with this one girl who'd rather try to get him to smoke with her behind the bleachers than actually pick up the trash around that area. He declines and slinks back to the classroom; their lunch break is coming up soon anyway.
He could be practicing his dance, right now. He could be reading, doing homework, or hanging out with Kibum and Eunsook. The coolness to the air starts to wear him down and make him sleepy. He's the first one back to the classroom, so he sits in his seat and pillows his head with his arms, and within a few minutes, he's drifted off.
He's startled to wakefulness when something warm touches his cheek. Minho's holding out a coffee drink, and Taemin takes the warm can without thanks.
"Break's almost over." Minho tells him. "You looked comfortable so I let you keep sleeping."
Taemin frowns over the coffee, sipping it gingerly. "Why are you being nice to me? What do you want from me?" he wants so ask, but all that comes out is, "Oh."
"Yeah." Minho's sitting against his desk. All of the other students are outside eating, enjoying the crisp weather. "You know why I work at Forever's Boutique?"
Whoa, that was out of nowhere. "No?" Taemin says.
Minho leans closer, the closest he's been, and whispers into Taemin's ear, "Because I'm gay."
Taemin shoots out of his chair not because of Minho's admittance, but because it had tickled and sent shivers down his spine to a place it shouldn't have. "What?"
"You heard me." Minho shrugs, leaning back and sticking his hands into his pockets. "I thought you were homophobic or something when we first met. You came off that way, you know, and it pissed me off."
"I'm--" Taemin is so confused. "I'm not, I mean, I'm. Well, I didn't mean to."
Minho's laugh this time is friendly and amused, but not at his expense. It's more at how this huge misunderstanding had gone so far. "I was shocked when she gave you the shoes. Sorry." Minho apologizes and that has Taemin's face heating up, remembering his thoughts from this morning. "It was kind of funny, though, you have to admit."
Taemin would admit it. He snorts. "You're right," he says, "And I'm not, you know, against it or anything."
Minho pulls Taemin towards him and that grin is back, predatory yet calm. "So would this be okay?"
Taemin totally knows what he means but he says "What?" anyway. Minho closes the gap between them and kisses him, one hand cradling the underside of Taemin's head and the other pushing at the bruise on his mouth.
"--Ow," Taemin says against Minho's lips.
"I'm sorry about that too." Minho whispers.
This time Taemin willingly consents, "I started it."
Minho shrugs, pulling away just before another student comes in. Taemin's not sure how he should feel as they take their seats. He feels warm and excited and definitely not angry. But he's still confused. Does he like Minho? Because he didn't until say five minutes ago.
The last three hours of detention roll slowly on, because they're told to do homework or keep themselves occupied at their seats, and not to talk. Taemin feels Minho's foot occasionally pushing the back of his chair, and he'll look behind him, but Minho's head will be bowed and he'll be writing or looking out the window pretending like nothing happened. It's kind of cute, Taemin thinks, because sometimes he'll catch Minho grinning behind his hand.
The teacher finally dismisses them and it's overcast when they get outside.
"Think it's going to snow?" Minho had followed him to the gates, and his breath is visible when he asks.
"I hope so." Taemin says into his scarf. "Do you work today?"
"It's Sunday," Minho shakes his head, "Shoppe's closed."
"Oh." Taemin replies. They're quiet for a moment, just walking. "How did you know I take ballet?"
"Kibum." Minho tucks his hands into his hoodie pockets, pacing himself next to Taemin. "Well, I overheard him."
Taemin glances at him sideways. "What else did you overhear?"
"That's it." Minho raises his hand in scout's honor. "Unless you want to count Krystal nagging me to find out whether you were gay or not. She sort of made it my business."
"I'm not sure what I am." Taemin says honestly, "But she was nice about it."
Minho stops walking and Taemin does too, a few steps ahead. "So now what?" he says.
Taemin feels his heartbeat speed up, but he doesn't know.
Minho politely keeps his distance, though his foot is bouncing impatiently. "I like you." he says it straight and sudden but solidly, so that Taemin feels a little knocked backwards. Maybe it's just the wind steadily picking up.
"You sure have a weird way of showing it." Taemin replies, tugging on the ends of his scarf.
"There you go again." Minho doesn't apologize like Taemin was hoping he was. He wants to hear it like, fifty times, at least. But no, Minho goes on. "That cold, cryptic demeanor."
"As if." Taemin replies, then realizes that's kind of crass, too.
"Maybe you assume I was going to make fun of you," Minho tips a shoulder, "It was funny but I wasn't laughing at you back then, you know."
Taemin frowns and crosses his arms. "Still, I meant what I said." Back then and now, Taemin won't clarify.
Minho's gaze is piercing, almost. "Do you still mean it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
Minho holds out his hand, wiggles his fingers when all Taemin does is stare at it. "You're not good with words so you don't have to say anything."
When Taemin still doesn't move, Minho pulls Taemin's hand out of his pocket and laces his fingers with his, tugging him along. "Just think about it."
Taemin walks with Minho to the intersection by his bustop before they go their respective ways. The entire ride Taemin smooths his thumb over his left hand trying to bring back the tingling sensation. Instead of going home he goes to Kibum's house--a tiny apartment flat he lives in by himself--and knocks and knocks because he knows Kibum is still sleeping but they need to talk.
He's startled to see Jonghyun open the door, thankfully fully clothed (Taemin has his suspicions), with his eyebrows raised. "Sup?" Jonghyun asks.
"Can I talk to Kibum?" Taemin asks, kicking off his shoes at the entrance after Jonghyun lets him in.
"It will end bitterly, but talk at your own risk. He's nursing a pretty bad hangover. I just got here myself." Jonghyun instructs Taemin to step closer so he can whisper, "He wouldn't stop calling me to come take care of him. When I turned off my phone he called my house and my mom forced me here."
"You're a great friend." Kibum says darkly from the futon on the opposite end of the room.
"It's your own fault." Jonghyun shoots back. "I told you not to drink so much."
Taemin just doesn't want to know. He literally throws himself onto Kibum. "This is all your fault for asking me confusing questions we need to talk you have no idea what the hell just happened to me and--" he says it all on one breath until Kibum holds up a hand to stop him.
"Firstly, not everything is my fault. Shut up. You know you're evil, right? Does the term hungover mean nothing to you? I did not catch a word of that painful utterance other than the subliminal, Kibum you are awful now listen as I tell you why." Kibum slaps a hand to his forehead. "Secondly," he emphasizes, "I always listen to you."
Taemin rolls off of Kibum. "I'll be quieter."
"He just wants to be the one babied for once." Jonghyun, who's sitting on the edge of Kibum's bed, says. Kibum kicks him heartily.
"So?" He sits up. It's a tiny apartment because it's all Kibum can afford--literally a room and a bathroom. But it's tidy, if lacking places to put things. Kibum's coffee maker is on the floor on a tray, and all his books are stacked by the wall, and Taemin sees his heels lined up next to the rest of Kibum's shoes by the door, but it's clean.
"Minho kissed me."
Kibum blinks a few times and Jonghyun goes, "Whoa, Choi Minho?" and Taemin waits for Kibum to flip his rocker.
All he says is, "Did he force you?" though his tone does sound venomous.
"No. It's not like that. It never was."
Kibum sighs and lays back down, pulling the cover up over his face. They're both ignoring Jonghyun's, "Wait, seriously? He's gay or whatever? I mean, what? No. No way."
"Do you like him?" asks Kibum.
"No. Well, yes, but not like that? I don't think?"
"Here we go again." Kibum pulls the covers from his face, and Taemin thinks he sounds like Minho when he says it and it kind of hurts his feelings. "Taemin, I told you before it's simple. Did you kiss back?"
"It wasn't really a kiss." Taemin says, and at Kibum's glare, adds, "I guess."
Kibum waves a hand at him. "Did you like it?"
Taemin rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I guess."
"Do you two get along?"
"I guess we do."
"Do you think he's attractive?"
Taemin had from the very beginning; Minho is pretty good-looking. "Yeah."
"Does the idea of going out with him repulse you?"
Taemin may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he's feeling deja vu and he catches on pretty quickly. "Not really." he says quietly.
"Problem solved." Kibum says. "Now get out. Please."
"Can I leave too?" Jonghyun asks.
"No, I told you to make me coffee like twenty minutes ago." Kibum rolls over to face the wall.
Jonghyun guides Taemin to the door and shrugs as if to say, "See, I told you so." but Taemin thinks talking to Kibum had done the trick. He likes Minho enough, maybe he always sort of has--been attracted to that snarky side of him. Taemin bites his lip and walks the few blocks home.
Home, as always, is another story entirely. He'll never be able to tell his mom. She would fall apart.
Taemin falls asleep that evening with mixed feelings, too happy to feel too sad and too upset to feel too happy.
previous | next
note; Next chapter le sooon ~ /skips off