ninety-eight

Jisung was afraid of it. The magic that he possesses. The abilities he could have. Or already has. But he needs to figure it out.

Minho's been telling him: It's okay that you're curious. Of course you'd want to know more about it. How to control it.

Because after using it unknowingly... Jisung couldn't help himself from going back to it. Trying to look through it. He'd get nervous. Blink guiltily at Minho. Even get tearful.

It took some time. But Jisung started to feel less anxious.

He has less guilt now. And slowly... he became... comfortable...

Now... Minho might even say... Jisung has started to enjoy it. Too much.

Minho yawns. Gets out of bed. He came home late. Went to bed late.

Jisung's already up. Minho knows he's somewhere in the kitchen. Or in the living room. By the bookshelves.

"Morning, Sungie..." Minho calls out.

"Morning, sleepyhead!"

Okay. He's in the kitchen.

Minho shakes his head to himself. Smiles. Goes to wash up.

Jisung's making breakfast. But he's also... learning about his magic. Or practicing. That's what he likes to call it.

Minho halts a few feet away. He bites his lip.

Mugs are floating around. A salt shaker. Oh, there's pepper too. Jisung's standing by the stove. He's holding an egg. A pan is sizzling.

Jisung then moves to the coffee maker.

He places... the egg... in the air.

Minho takes a step back. He moves out of the kitchen. Walks backwards.

Jisung didn't hear him coming. Minho cannot say anything now. He could startle Jisung. Everything floating around will drop. To the floor.

Minho's back hits the bedroom door. He clears his throat.

"Hey, Jisung," he calls. Not very loudly. "Are you in the kitchen?"

Jisung's head appears. By the doorway to the kitchen. He smiles.

"Yes, I'm making you breakfast!"

"Great," Minho says. "Can I... come in, then?"

Jisung appears puzzled. "Yeah? Why not?"

Minho hurries to the kitchen again. Nothing's floating this time.

- - - - - -

It's quite harmless. The worst it can do is... make a mess. Which Jisung has done. Many times. But he apologizes. A thousand times. Always rushes to clean it all.

His other ability... that he uses often... is useful. It can be a little scary if... used wrong. But it's useful. Very useful.

For example, there are times when Minho messes up his drawings. So he needs to redraw them. But Jisung can look at his work. Produce an exact copy without the mistakes.

Minho doesn't rely on his replication a lot though. He only asks if it's necessary. If he doesn't have time.

He and the Hwangs had warned him about what he can't do.

Jisung has shown that he understands.

"Yes, I know! I can't make money! I can't copy your credit card or anyone's credit card! I can't make people do anything and if I'm feeling nervous, I will not! Even! Step! Out of the house!"

But Jisung also said that... he isn't able to do that much willingly. Yet.

"Paper is easy! It's so light! But I can't do a... TV or couch, you know? I can maybe... just... yeah, see, change its color!"

"Oh. Um, okay... I'm sorry, but we can't have a neon green sofa..."

"Oh! Do you want pink?"

"Um, no..."

"How about blue!"

"No... Just turn it back to how it was."

"Oh... um, okay... I'll try..."

Their sofa is bright purple. Jisung tries to change it every day.

Luckily, they don't have many visitors. It's just the Hwangs—

And Kkami. Who hates the sofa.

Jisung has kept making copies of easier things. Like books. He reads a lot. He really has a thirst for knowledge.

It's been great with Hyunjin and the Hwangs' help. Honestly.

They take Jisung for a lot of important matters. They're the ones who got him official documents. Identification. A doctor (Jisung's in good health). And a library card because he likes to read.

But no matter what Jisung reads... or sees... or watches... He always comes back to those books. Minho's collection of comics.

But... Jisung used his magic to make copies. Of his favorite pages.

Minho can't do anything about it.

Not after all the encouragement he's given Jisung.

"You can read anything you want! If this helps you practice with your magic and feel more confident about it! Make copies of whatever you want! It's not hurting anybody."

The copies are at home. It's just paper.

Now Minho has started to beg him.

"Oh my— Please don't enlarge them. Please don't put them up on the walls. Jisung, we cannot put that in the bathroom— oh my god."

"What if I put this one in the closet? No one will see it— it's just for us!"

"Sungie... why... would I want a giant poster of... never mind. It's a no."

"Why? I just want to be able to see it better... it's not hurting anybody!"

"I'm sorry, Jisung. I was terribly wrong. This is hurting me."

"Howww is it hurting youuuu? You draw people fucking all the time!"

"Sungie... don't say that so casually... please..."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I meant to say making love— but Minho, I don't think they're making love here! They're fucking— look! Because they haven't even said I love you—"

"Don't show me my own work, damn it!"

"Your work! Really? I knew you drew this!"

"I'm— I'm done drawing things like that— stop pouting! Okay, you know what, pout and whine all you want. It's a no. I'm tearing it off if you put it up anywhere. Besides, you already have a similar one under the bed—"

Jisung gasps. "How do you know about that one?!"

"Because you keep going under the bed with a flashlight?!"

"I— I didn't know you were watching me!"

To be continued...