04

"When's dad coming back?" Minho initiated the conversation as they all were assembled together on the dining table.

"He said it might take a couple of days. There's some technical glitch because of which they had to postpone the opening ceremony."

"Sungie really makes the best bulgogi out there." Jaekyung exclaimed after having its first bite.

"I know, right? Never knew my husband can make it so delicious." Minho said as he gently massaged Han's lower back. He remembered how Han was complaining about his back pain when he heard him groan while standing up to get extra bowls.

"What? You never made it for him?"

"Didn't want to embarass myself. You should try hyung's cooking sometimes. I am a peasant in front of him."

"Minho cooks?" Mrs. Han questioned

"Of course, mom! He prepared the jjagmyeon today. Do you think I can ever compare?" Han said in excitement.

"Sungie, why did you let him do that? He was tired, right? He is working so hard with his business. Atleast, help him out with house chores." Mrs. Han frowned.

"No, mom. I d-do. Generally, I do as much as chores as I can but some days, when he wants to experiment or I am in a hurry, only then I take his help."

"Oh, that's okay."

Han released a breath of relief. However, Minho was extremely dissatisfied with the younger's bright smile getting replaced with an awkward one. He was slowly understanding why Han would become a bundle of nerves whenever he tried helping him. He began to understand why Han looked guilty while taking help.

"Mom, Hannie works in the office as much as I do. I don't think it's something out of the world about me doing it with him."

"Hyung, mom's just looking out for y-"

"And honestly, I'm not HELPING him. We are doing it together for us. If anything, he's generally helping me out with my meals and everything."

"Aunty is just worried for you, Minho. Don't get her wrong." Jaekyung interrupted.

"Minho hyung, no...." Han was almost pleading with his eyes with tear filled eyes. Minho hated it. It was almost impossible for Han to meet his family and not cry at least once.

"Sorry mom! Minho hyung just gets overprotective of me sometimes." Han attempted to lighten the mood in the room.

The rest of the dinner was eaten in silence.

"Mom! You can rest in the guest room. I'll come back after doing the dishes."

"Oh no. I'll take a leave now. You guys can rest "

"Come on mom! It's late. Dad is also not there. You should stay tonight."

"But-"

"No. You're staying. That's final. Minho hyung, please show her the way."

"Jae, can you show her the way, it's just in front of your room. I need to go to the washroom real quick and after that I'll be helping Hannie."

"Yeah, sure."

"Thanks man!"

"Sungie? Where are you gonna sleep?" Jaekyung questioned making Mrs. Han confused.

"You guys don't sleep together?" She questioned.

"No. We do. " Han said hastily. Minho could totally see the smirk on Jaekyung's face.

"A-Actually hyung works late night these days and it's a bit difficult for me to sleep with lights open. That's why."

"Oh. Ok. I got worried for a second."

"We can share the room for tonight, Sung!"

"Ah no hyung, you don't have to worry. I can use the couch."

"No Jisung-ah, you'll get a back pain. Jaekyung is right. You should sleep in his room."

"Mom-"

"There's no need. I don't have much work today. Hannie can come back to OUR room."

"No, you guys don't have to -"

"I don't want Jaekyung to get smacked across the face in the night, honey. My beloved husband doesn't have good sleeping habits, honestly." Jaekyung's face dropped for the nth time that night.

"Oh, you're right. Sungie does move a lot in his sleep. Ok, then go back to your room after you're done. Let's go, kyungie. Good night both of you." Saying this, Mrs. Han left for her room with Jaekyung.

-

"Damn!" Han sighed while washing the dishes.

"That hyung of yours is always up for trouble."

"Honestly, I am not a big fan of him either. By the way, don't you have to go to the washroom."

"You know I lied about that otherwise your mom would have made a fuss again. Come on. Let's finish the dishes then we can go together."

"Come on hyung, I know you don't like sharing rooms. Mom already told me about how you'd cry if you had to share rooms in your childhood. Stop trying to burden yourself."

"That was years ago."

"Explains why your friends are still not allowed in your room." Han rolled his eyes.

"They'll bring a hurricane there."

"Dude even I have not visited there once in the three months of us living together."

"What? I didn't stop you. You avoided coming therein." Minho was baffled with the new found information.

"Obviously, because you didn't allow anyone else there."

"Dude! You're my HUSBAND. Why would rules for everyone else apply on you?"

"I- Did you just call me your husband and dude-zone me in the same sentence?"

"But you called me that firs-" Minho paused seeing Han's cheeky smile, "Come here, you little munchkin."

With that the two men ran across the house with smiles brighter than the sun where one was trying to catch the other one to teach him a lesson for being cheeky.

"Hyung, no. What are you doing?"

"Seems like you're in a hurry to go to the room. Let me help."

"No. Wait. I'm sorry, hyung, put me down. I'm not a sack of potatoes."

Han flapped his limbs trying to get off from Minho's shoulder.

"Heh. Should have thought before." Minho continued walking towards his room.

"Hyungggg. Seriously, I'll shout. Put me down."

"Sure. If you wanna make your mom and cousin imagine weird things. "

"What the- you're really shameless. Put me down else I'll bite you."

"Try me."

Han started tickling Minho's sides making his grip loosen.

"Hannie, no. Haha... You'll fall down seriously."

"Then leave me"

"No way, you- haha.... Hannie stop it."

Minho struggled to reach till his bed before dropping him thereon.

"Isn't our Hannie getting more and more mischievous?"

"W-what?" Han stuttered seeing Minho put one of his knees on bed.

'Is it my gayness or hyung is looking extremely hot?'

Minho hovered over Han making the latter gulp.

"Enough playing. Now it's my turn."

"Huhh?" Han's eyes turned as wide as a saucer. His dirty brain didn't help him one bit.

'Those mangas weren't that unrealistic afterall.'

Han scrunched the bedsheet with his palm that was now behind his back.

Minho leaned in and all Han could see was Minho. His eyes flickered between his eyes and lips. Han succumbed his breath seeing Minho up so close.

Han was about to deep dive in Minho's black eyes when all of sudden Minho ticked his sides.

"Whaaa- hyung, ah... No.... Hahaha"

Seeing Han almost jump because of being tickled, Minho remembered the younger's birthday when he first saw tears in Han eyes.

'He can laugh however he wants. He'll always be pretty to me.' This thought just made him tickle the younger harder especially around his neck.

"Ok ok... I was wrong. Hyung stop. You know I'm sensitive. Hahaha.. hyung please. I won't do that- hahaha... again. Promise."

Han had tears in his eyes again but this time he was smiling ears to ears spontaneously bringing a smile to Minho's lips as well. His rosy cheeks glowed under the table lamp. He was looking at the elder one with his squinted eyes shining like a diamond. Minho had never saw such a captivating smile in his life.

Han opened his eyes properly after he calmed down and wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

"Umm hyung!"

"Hmmm?"

Han looked at Minho who was looking back at him without a single thought.

Han pressed his lips together thinking about how to tell Minho while Minho's eyes flickered down to Han's lips. Han look at the wall on his left embarassed and said," your hand?"

"Hmm?"

Han sighed and pointed at Minho's thumb caressing Han's bare sides. Minho was captivated by the sight for a second but quickly recovered.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I swear I didn't mean to-"

"Sungie, I'll have to leave earl- oops. I'm so sorry. I forgot." Mrs. Han closed the door as soon as she opened it.

Minho jumped with the speed of light away from Han and started flipping magazines on the table trying hard to look busy. Han just covered himself in the sheets totally embarassed.

-

"Jaekyung definitely has some confusion. They looked so intimate back there. There's no way that they aren't in love." Mrs. Han murmured while going back to her room.

Thoughts?