START
Title: START part 3
Author: princessliette
Pairing: Jonghyun/Onew (minor!JongTae and Minor!JongKey)
Rating: PG-13 overall
Summary: Maybe, just maybe, Jinki would open up his heart again after locked it up for a very long time since Minho left him.
Disclaimer: not own the boys, only the plot
Beta-ed by: my lovely hitoshisakurai
Everything has been going smoothly in Jinki’s life until now. He’s gotten closer to Jonghyun who’s now became Jinki’s most favorite friend in the world. Key always reminded Jinki that he was Jinki’s most favorite man in the world to which Jinki would only answer with laugh. Other than that, Key and Taemin were happy that Jinki had finally moved on with his life. Jinki laughed more and he became what he used to be; a cheerful, clumsy and friendly man.
Today, just like the other day, the four of them were gathering at the Lee’s kitchen. Jinki and Jonghyun were talking animatedly, Taemin only smiled because he was focusing on his food; Key joined their conversation even though he couldn’t stop staring at Jonghyun. He felt happy to see his friend finally being close to his crush but he couldn’t ignore the pain in his heart. He looked down at his bowl and let out an inaudible sigh, not wanting to interrupt Jinki and Jonghyun.
As for Taemin, he already accepted the fact that he should love another man and told himself not to fall deeper for Jonghyun. It was easier for him because he’d just known Jonghyun for a few months, unlike Key. Still, it was still quite hard for him to do so, because now he was constantly coming to Jonghyun’s apartment to look after Roo, Jonghyun’s puppy.
“I’m going to head home now. Thanks for the meal, Jinki,” Jonghyun smiled warmly at Jinki and the latter smiled back at him and stood up, hugging Jonghyun. He looked really happy because he didn’t feel lonely anymore. Before Jinki had a chance to turn his body to wave Key good bye, Jonghyun gave him a peck on his lips and smiled shyly. Jinki was taken aback and could only blink in response. He touched his lips and instantly his face reddened.
SMACK!
Key slapped the back of Jonghyun’s head and he made a face. “Yah! Don’t rape my bestfriend!” Key glared at Jonghyun and held Jinki’s hand tightly. Jonghyun glared at his best friend.
“I didn’t rape him! God, Kibum! It’s just a peck!”
“But Jinki didn’t like it! And it means that you raped him!”
“I..”
“Jinki shush! I’m defending you!”
“I… actually don’t mind.”
Everyone’s eyes were on Jinki right now and they needed a couple of minutes to realize the meaning of Jinki’s word. And when they did, only Jonghyun squealed like a high school girl and jumped to hug Jinki. “See! Jinki loved it!” he grinned widely and Jinki squirmed in his tight hug, feeling embarrassed.
10 minutes later, the Lee brothers were biding their bestfriends goodbye. Jinki looked at Jonghyun’s and Key’s figures. The wide smiles plastered on their face and it made Jinki smiled too at the sight. “Hyung, I love your smile,” Taemin said and chuckled, holding Jinki’s hand tightly. Jinki turned his head to see his grown up brother and smiled even wider for him. He hugged Taemin tightly, “thank you Taemin. Don’t stop being cute,” he joked, knowing that Taemin didn’t like being called cute. Just like as he expected, Taemin pinched his back and bit his shoulder.
“I will let you starve if you keep calling me cute!” He glared at Jinki, not really mad at him but still not appreciating the compliment. Jinki only laughed and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Alright, alright. You hang out with Key too much,” he chuckled and flopped down the couch, turning on the TV. Taemin trailed him from behind and took a seat beside his brother. He pouted, hugged a pillow and nudged Jinki’s side.
“Hm?”
“So hyung, do you like Jonghyun?” Taemin asked, his eyes not leaving the TV though he could feel Jinki looking at him. The older just answered with a smile and relaxed on the couch. “Maybe. Maybe I like him,” he said quietly. Taemin knew that Jinki has really fallen for Jonghyun. He knew it. He could see it from the way his brother acted so hyper whenever Jonghyun was there, and also from the kiss.
Taemin peeked at his side and he had to stifle his laughter when he saw the red tint on his hyung’s cheeks.
“You’re thinking about the kiss,” Taemin teased him and Jinki’s cheeks grew redder than before.
“W-what? No! Yah!” Jinki became panic and finally Taemin couldn’t hold it anymore. He laughed loudly and Jinki threw a pillow at his face. ‘Hyung is cute,’ he thought and with that he knew that the feelings he had for Jonghyun needed to be buried away.
---***---
It was a really fine Sunday. Jonghyun invited Jinki to come to his apartment and Jinki agreed. It was the first time for Jinki to go to the latter’s place so he was a bit nervous. He called Key to help him with his clothes but the diva only laughed at him and told him to just wear casual clothes, the ones he always wore. He couldn’t ask Taemin for help either, the boy was very busy these days with his dance club.
When the bell finally rang, he was still wrapped in a towel, not knowing what to wear. “Jinki?” He could hear Jonghyun calling for him from outside. Without second thought, he ran to the front door, opening it for Jonghyun. The latter seemed a bit shocked when he saw Jinki greeting him only in towel but he immediately chuckled.
“Are you going to go to my place only in towel?”
Jinki’s face turned red. “Don’t be stupid! Wait here, I’m gonna get dressed,” he said, letting Jonghyun came inside. Jinki could see Jonghyun was grinning as he rushed to his bedroom.
“You have a nice back, Jinki~”
“Pervert!!!”
Inside his room, Jinki threw himself on top of his bed. He could feel his heart beating faster than usual and this was not the first time he was acting strange because of Jonghyun. He sat up straight, putting his hand on his chest. “Do I like him?” He asked to himself. He actually knew the answer. But he just still couldn’t believe it. He chuckled at himself when he remembered that time when he lived his life with no emotions at all. How he felt he wouldn’t be happy anymore without Minho by his side. Now everytime he thought about that, he realized how silly he was at that time.
He shook his head and smiled. He will let these feelings grow slowly inside his heart. He didn’t mind, he wouldn’t mind. Jinki stood up and walked to his closet, grabbing anything he saw first when he heard Jonghyun once again called out his name, probably curious what took Jinki so long inside his room.
“I’m coming!” he shouted, telling Jonghyun that he was ready to go. Once he was ready, he immediately went out of his room, greeted by Jonghyun. He didn’t realize that he’d forgotten to bring his cellphone with him. Right after Jinki and Jonghyun walked out of Jinki’s apartment, his cellphone rang.
The name that was shown on the screen was…
-Minho-