#3 I can’t feel my face when I am with you but I like it

[seokmonsters]

Title: I can’t feel my face when I am with you but I like it
Pairing: Xiumin/Lay
Side pairing(s): Xiumin/Luhan, Kris/Lay, Suho/Chen, Chanyeol/Baekhyun
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 11,410
Warnings: none
Summary: Everything gets a little out of hand when Minseok enrolls himself in a gym

Author's Notes: First, I wanna thank my beta S for being so encouraging and patient with me during the time I was having problems on how to finish this story. Second, thank you to all the mods especially Mod Squid for being so nice and considerate to me. You guys are rock and roll!! \m/ This is the first time I have written this pairing. I just fell in love with the prompt so I took it and I think I got a little carried away writing though I am not confident that I made sense. Even the title does not make sense because it has nothing to do with the story hahah! Nevertheless, I hope you guys will enjoy this :)









It is for the better.

The sentence entails more than what Minseok is telling himself

In all truth and fairness, he has an alright body. Not too skinny. Not fat as well. He does not have the healthiest lifestyle and habits now that he is already working but his body is in perfect condition. He is not in a diet or has a work-out routine. He is contented with walking to and from work as his daily physical activity. Although he currently lacks motivation to look after himself, he does not really need to enroll himself in a gym to stay fit and fab. But things just got a little out of control when he saw those dimples.

It happened a little over a month ago.

Minseok was walking home from work that night. He was grateful that Jongdae, his friends and boss, did not let him stay more hours that day after doing overtime work for the past three days. Being the head IT of Jongdae’s series of game apps is fun and he loves it. The only thing he quite despises is when the system fucks up as Minseok has to stay in the office to monitor everything together with his engineers. It is literally all fun and games with viruses, hackers, and codes.

It was his usual route going home. Because he hates riding crowded buses in rush hour, he prefers walking, and according to his good friend who is a future medical practitioner, walking is good for one’s health. And the spring weather was really nice. Not too cold and not too hot. The trees had started regaining their leaves, the flowers on the sides of the streets had begun blooming and coloring the once dull city that was swamped by snow. The lights coming from the live establishments were making Minseok warm in his big hoodie jacket despite the cold night wind.

He was contemplating if he was going to spend his night in his favorite pub and catch the football game in there instead of watching it alone in his small television at home. He could call his friends to join him. But then, he remembered none of them was really into football or any sport at all.

Ironically, his three best friends are into music. Jongdae sings. Baekhyun sings too and plays the piano. Chanyeol composes, plays the guitar and drums. There are times that the three of them would get in Chanyeol’s studio to make music for fun and Minseok would only be there as their cameraman to document the event. He often wonders why he is friends with those three when their only common denominator is that they all grew up in the same neighborhood (except for Chanyeol. He met him through Baekhyun because they went to the same university and now he just could not shake him off his life).

He could also call Luhan, his ex-boyfriend who became a complicated presence in his life after their break-up. He was the only person Minseok could talk to about football but he did not want to be the one to call first. What he had with Luhan now was not as easy as a phone call. He had to consider a lot of things before he calls him.
Minseok had decided that yes, he would like to watch the game with a couple of drinks and strangers who understand football like he does. He wanted to reward himself after days of working hard and kissing their client’s asses.

The pub was on the third floor of a building two blocks away from his house. It did not have an elevator so Minseok had to climb up the stairs to get there. If only he did not like the place and the beer was not the cheapest in this side of town, he would not bother to torture himself.

One more floor, he had told himself when he reached the second floor. Usually, there was not any activity in that floor because, as far as he knew, only a computer rental shop was occupying it. The other spaces were vacant. However, Minseok was surprised when he saw a new business had just opened and taken the rest of the office space remaining. There were red and white balloons on the door and loud hip-hop music was blasting on the speakers outside. Curious, he checked what it was.

‘Transformer Fitness’ the silver sign on top of the receptionist called out Minseok’s attention instantaneously, blaring and offending Minseok’s eyesight. He could not see what was inside but he had an idea that, obviously, it was a newly-opened gym. The receptionist was a woman wearing a red razor back shirt and a very tight gym pants. She had a nice body, toned arms, and firm buttocks. A perfect person to represent the company.

She greeted him amicably when she saw Minseok lingering in the area. “Hi Sir! Welcome to Transformer Fitness! How may I help you?”

Minseok took a step back. “Oh no, I was just… I did not..”

“It is our opening night! We give huge discounts to our first 100 costumers,” she continued. Her voice was still cheerful. She handed Minseok a flier that he could not refuse. There were many programs written there. Minseok did not understand a thing about gyms and fitness studios. He was not really interested.

Minseok only likes football and computer in his life. That was about to change, though, when another person came out.

Minseok could not help but gulp when his eyes landed on those milky white arms, those sharp collarbones that were exposed and emphasized by the black singlet he was wearing. Minseok could see the man’s nipples poking out on his shirt and making him think of ways to make them harder than they already look. He swallowed as his eyes went down on his abdomen because holy shit they look so flat and firm and he thought chocolate syrup was a better way to go than ice cube if he was going to lick them and—

A voice interrupted his not-so-innocent thoughts. He looked up and swallowed the lump in his throat when the face of that gorgeous body was as stunning. He really was beautiful, a type of beautiful that Minseok does not see in an ordinary night on his way to his favorite pub. How that beautiful face could possesses that god fucking sexy body? How could life be so unfair?

“Hello! I am Yixing, one of the instructors here.” The man had introduced himself.

So, Yixing was his name. Yixing was a beautiful name, perfect for such a beautiful human being even though Minseok did not recognize it as a typical Korean name. The more unusual it was, the more it sounded attractive to him. Minseok felt like he was having a crush on a name. This was not normal at all.

“Hi….” That was Minseok’s attempt to answer.

“We just opened and we have these discounted packages.” Yixing was pointing out on the fliers and explaining said packages. Minseok was not paying attention on the shit he was talking about. He was just focused on his voice and how his naked arms were brushing against the sleeve of his hoodie. He kept on talking and Minseok kept on nodding.

He had truly believed that Yixing has magic powers that could persuade people because the next thing Minseok knew, he was filling out forms and giving his credit card to the receptionist to pay for his membership. He just fucking enrolled himself in a gym.

So, that was that. That was the tale why Minseok is going to the gym thrice a week even if he was supposed to spend his free time sleeping or playing fantasy football with Luhan. Baekhyun, Jongdae, and Chanyeol were all surprised when they found out about it. They were all excited about the results. Jongdae even bought him two pairs of support briefs (for his dick to not sag from working out. Jongdae’s words. Not his).

It is for the better, Minseok tells himself over and over again while he climbs up the familiar leading to the gym after a month. He convinces himself every day that this will be beneficial than a burden. The only downside he can think of is the large amount that will be billed to his credit card every month. The rest are all advantageous; he could start with now with a diet and be serious about it and he could achieve the body he had always dreamed of (his Yunho-hyung will be proud of him when he finds out!). But, of course, the idea of seeing Yixing three times a week is the greatest benefit.


-oOo-


One of the biggest challenges in this diet program that Minseok is in is watching what he eats. To achieve a better body, he must adopt a healthier lifestyle which means he has to cut out drinking alcohol and coffee to a minimal intake. He also has to watch what he eats. Unlike before, he cannot join Chanyeol anymore when he invites them to his eat-all-you-can weekend holiday every month as the tall big-eared fellow gets coupons from his company. This week happens to be that week so Minseok is trying his hard not to give-in to the temptation of unlimited meat and a liter of beer.

“I have gym tonight so I can't go.” Minseok says to Baekhyun over the phone. He is walking to the gym, bag slinging on his shoulders as he imagines three tables of food that he will be missing tonight. His mouth is watering with the thought but he has to do this for the sake of himself and amount of money he paid for the membership (maybe Yixing possesses a hypnotizing power because he convinced Minseok to avail one year).

He can already hear Chanyeol and Jongdae in the background. They might be in the car on their way to the buffet place. It is a habit that Chanyeol will pick them all up and Minseok's apartment is the last stop. The food is not the only thing that is tempting. Minseok wants to meet his friends as well since it has been a month since they all went out together (except Jongdae because they work in the same office). He wants to spend time with them too.

“It is Saturday!” Baekhyun bellows a little too loudly Minseok has to distance his phone from his ear for a few centimeters. “You can go tomorrow morning so you can burn all the calories you will consume tonight!”

It is a nice plan. However, the thing is Yixing's day-off is Sunday. He paid for Yixing's service too as his trainer so their schedules have to be in sync. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are the days for gym or also known as “Yixing Time”. He cannot just miss one day because missing one day means spending one more day apart from the cute gym instructor.

Minseok will not deny that this is a little bit crazy for him. Enrolling in a gym just because he is attracted to an instructor. Luhan will laugh at him when he finds out (oh now he remembers he hasn’t told him). Jongdae, Chanyeol, and Baekhyun will surely raid the gym to see the latest apple of his eye, they will embarrass him in front of Yixing, and he will have to live with it forever.

Baekhyun cuts off the line when he cannot persuade Minseok anymore. He had tried to make Jongdae guilt trip Minseok by telling him that he saved his ass this week after fucking up at work. It was no use because Minseok told him that he still has not returned the money he borrowed from him which he used to pay for the daring trip to the casino he did few months ago that he has not paid yet. It was the end of conversation.

When Minseok arrives in the gym, Yixing is attending to a female customer. The lady is lifting weights on the bench. They seem to work out on her biceps. She is probably on her late thirties but her make up feels like she is trying to be 21. (Who wears make up while working out???)

Minseok goes to the lockers to settle his things there. He hits the treadmills while he is waiting for Yixing to finish his session. It has been more than a month since he started this so he already knows the routines. Cardio first, then stretching, and then they will do the specific work-out for his biceps, thighs, and abdomen.

The gym is quite packed on weekends but Minseok is lucky enough that there is a vacant treadmill for him. He greets Changmin, one of the instructors who is taking a break by doing sprint on the machine. He is tall (like really tall), and he has a seamless body. It is comparable to Hercules. The cuts on his biceps are visible even if he does not flex them. You can see the bulge of his chest through his white tank top. And his abs. If he is not already attracted to Yixing, he will ask Changmin's abs to marry him. Minseok's goal is to have a perfect body like Changmin.

“Hey, Minseok!” Yixing appears in front of him while he is jogging on the treadmill. Sweat is already covering Minseok's skin. He is panting and seeing Yixing's face all of a sudden does not help with his breathing.

Minseok has to stop the machine so he could breathe properly. He reaches for his towel to wipe on his forehead and neck. “Hi Yixing.” He greets his instructor back.

“Ready?” Yixing asks.

“I still have ten minutes. You can go catch a water break first.”

Yixing flashes him a dimpled smile that almost knocks Minseok out. He watches as Yixing sprints to the employees' locker room and notices that he is wearing a shirt whose sleeves are ripped. It reveals Yixing's sides. Minseok could see the ripple of muscles on his abdomen which gives a sneak peak of his nipples. He is not new to this. In fact, Yixing does not have a liking in following protocol (because they have a uniform which is a grey shirt that has the gym's logo embedded on the chest). He always dresses like that, always something revealing, either that or a very low v-neck shirt, that makes Minseok's mouth water.

Minseok attempts to shake the image off his head. He needs to focus. He is not there to lurk at the instructor (who is he kidding?). He is there to improve his body and prove to everyone that nothing is impossible if one has determination.

As promised, Minseok finishes cardio in ten minutes. Yixing is back from his short break, still as stunning and gorgeous as ever. They proceed to stretching. Minseok follows Yixing's movements as he looks at him at the wide wall mirror. The routines are very easy for the instructor, body moving freely like it is part of its nature, like it is on autopilot once he starts to work. Minseok should not be amazed by it anymore, but the brown haired boy never fails to mesmerize him whenever they do this. The firm muscles on his thighs or his delicious protruding collarbones always make Minseok dazed for a few seconds.

“Are you okay there, Min? You need help?” Yixing interrupts his thoughts. He does not notice that he had stopped stretching his legs and is caught staring at Yixing like he had a stroke. It is really embarrassing to space out in the middle of work-out.

Minseok shakes his head and continues with stretching, hiding the blush on his face by pressing his head onto the floor while he reaches for his toes. Yixing helps him by pushing his back further down on the floor, applying more pressure as he counts down to ten before he releases him.

After stretching, Yixing lets Minseok do some lifting. This is the most challenging part of the work-out. Minseok is not used to carrying heavy stuff in his life. He has not exerted this much effort before as he does now. He is grateful that Yixing is going easy on him, only asking him to lift the two-pounders in the first week of his training. Now, he can lift up to 12 pounds of weight.

They are working on his arms and chest first as Minseok is still in the process of losing the remaining fats in his abdomen. Yixing complimented that he has nice arms and buttocks (Minseok had tried to stop a moan to escape from his lips when Yixing touched his arms for the first time. He had been hesitant to stand half-naked in front of his instructor but he had to as Yixing wanted to see what they would work on). His thighs are marvelous too (Yixing's words. Not Minseok’s). “In six months, you can flaunt your body in public already.” Yixing had assured him.

One hour swiftly passes by. Minseok does not notice it until Yixing tells him that his next client has arrived but he could stay in the gym if he wants to continue working out.

“Yifan!” Yixing calls his client. Minseok is not normally a jealous person but this Yifan, which he shares with Yixing every Saturday, tests his limits. Yifan is tall, gorgeous face attached to his head, and a body that does not need training or any help from Yixing anymore. Minseok always wonders whenever he sees the guy if he goes to the gym just to make all the people there envious of his presence or he gets satisfaction on making people lose their self-esteem.

Minseok had heard that Yifan has been Yixing's client ever since – since Yixing was still working for another gym. They say they are really close (it's pretty obvious) because of their working relationship. But people often murmurs that they have something more going on between them. Minseok does not want to know more or he will quit.

It does not help that Yifan can easily touch Yixing on places that Minseok still cannot. Yifan can hold him on his waist while they talk about something or put his arms around his shoulders casually without a reason at all. Yixing will always giggle beautifully at the taller man or hit his arms playfully as he laughs at whatever he is telling him. Minseok is not normally a jealous person but Yifan sometimes forces him to be one.

So, whenever Yifan arrives, Minseok will start packing up his things to leave. He declines Yixing's invitation by saying he is meeting his friends tonight. He tries not look at Yixing's direction where he helps Yifan stretch on the ball, holding his thighs to keep the taller in balance. So much for not looking, he does not see that there are dumbbells scattered on the floor where he is passing by, sending him tumbling down on the carpeted floor and hitting his forehead on one of the stupid weights. He yelped in pain, attracting Yixing's attention. What a smooth move.

Yixing comes running to him to see if he is alright. He wants to sink on the floor and disappear from Yixing's life forever. “Minseok! Are you okay?!”

Minseok is covering his forehead with the palm of his hands, wincing in pain. He feels the spot burning and he is sure a big bump will grow on it in a few minutes. Yixing takes his hand and helps him getting up. Not long after, Yifan is also there to see what happened. He is almost certain that Yifan is internally laughing at him for the uncool stunt he just did.

“I am fine,” Minseok says. He just wants to leave and cry in his room.

“He seems fine. Right, bro?” Yifan smirks at him, only one side of his lip quirks up. It is almost mocking that makes Minseok feel a lot worse.

We are not brothers.

Minseok only nods. Because he is a caring person and Minseok is his responsibility inside the vicinity, Yixing excuses himself from Yifan to drag Minseok to the locker room. He let him sit on the bench while he scrambles on something in the employees' pantry. He comes back with an ice pack on his hand that he puts on Minseok's forehead. Minseok hisses with the sudden cold on his skin but it relieves the throbbing on his head.

“I am sorry. I should have put the dumbbells back to their racks.” Even if it is not his fault, Yixing is apologizing to him. Minseok cannot believe the person in front of him. How someone with a badass body could be this good-hearted?

“Not your fault. I was not looking so I tripped.”

“Be careful next time so we can avoid this happening. I do not want you hurting yourself inside the gym. This place should be a safe place for my clients.”

Minseok's heart drops from his chest upon hearing that.

Clients. That is all we will ever be.


-oOo-


Minseok's hard work is starting to get noticed by people. In the office, his co-workers are telling him that they think he is losing weight (or he is gaining because he is getting ripped now). When he went home to visit his parents for the weekend (sadly, he has to skip gym for his mother's birthday, though he made up for it by attending on Monday), they told him that his cheeks were sinking and that they were worried that he was not eating properly. Minseok assured them that he was eating properly now more that he has ever in his life. Yes, his cheeks are sinking gradually in exchange of his jaws now beginning to be more prominent.

The changes do not escape his friends' hawk eyes. Since they cannot make Minseok come to their monthly buffet date, Baekhyun, Jongdae, and Chanyeol, decide to bring the date in Minseok's apartment. Minseok is surprised to see them at their door carrying two buckets of chicken, three boxes of pizza, and gods knows how many cans of beer.

“What the hell?” Minseok asks as he watches his friends enter his apartment without his permission. Chanyeol and Jongdae place the food on his coffee table while Baekhyun dashes to his kitchen to get plates and cups. In a blink of an eye, there is chaos in his house. Knowing how messy and careless they are, he is certain that he will spend a long time cleaning after they leave. Being a clean freak that he is, he often questions himself why he is still friends with these bunch of pigs.

Chanyeol already has the remote in his hands, Jongdae took a seat on the couch as he munches on the spicy chicken wings that Minseok is afraid will stain his furniture, and Baekhyun is busy putting the beer cans on the glass table without putting coasters underneath them. Steam can be seen coming out of Minseok's ears and nose while he allows them to trash his place once again.

“DAMN IT, BAEK! I TOLD YOU MILLION TIMES I WILL USE YOUR FACE TO WIPE MY TABLE IF I SEE A RING MARK THERE.” Minseok yells dramatically, pulling out the place mats under the coffee table while he tries to salvage the remaining sanity in him.

“Oh, do not be such a drama queen.” Baekhyun waves him off. He settles beside Chanyeol who just put a movie on for them to watch. He rests his head on Chanyeol’s shoulder and Chanyeol starts feeding him pizza. They are cute and all but Minseok hates the couple for dirtying anything they touch in his apartment.

“Anyway...” Jongdae interrupts. He is not paying attention on the crappy movie Chanyeol picked (they have watched School of Rock many times but Chanyeol still keeps on including it in their movie list. They are not 15 anymore for god's sake). He is only there for food and gossip. “How is your I-am-getting-buffed-to-get-into-my-instructor's-pants project?”

Jongdae is an observant person. Of all Minseok's friends, he is the only one who knows when Minseok is down because Minseok has this habit of hiding his feelings, especially when he is depressed, from his friends. He does not want to burden them with his problems and to affect their jovial disposition by being all mopey. It is the same way when Minseok is happy or something is going on with his life that is unusual. Jongdae must have sensed that going to the gym entails more than getting fit.

“What?” Minseok jerks.

“Do not give me that look, Kim Minseok. I know you have a little crush with someone right now because you only cut your hair short like that when you want to impress someone because you think your forehead is handsome or something.” Jongdae says with a single breath.

Jongdae is not entirely wrong, though. Perhaps it is kind of a habit because he had only been with Luhan (all throughout college) and Luhan had told him that he looks good when he has shorter hair and when his forehead is visible. When he and Luhan broke up and decided to just be friends (with other benefits), that mentality stayed and every now and then when he dates someone, he would get compliments with that hair. He feels manly and sexy.

“It is either you have a crush on your instructor or one of the people who goes to the gym with you. My gut feeling tells me you have a hot instructor.” Jongdae continues.

Baekhyun and Chanyeol are too immersed in the movie, singing Heal me, I am heart sick together. It is better this way than have his three stupid friends interrogate him about Yixing. He is uncomfortable talking about Yixing yet as he is still not sure what he wants to do with his feelings for his instructor, if there is really any in that matter. He likes Yixing but he is not certain if he likes him that much to make a move.

Minseok takes a big gulp from his beer can. “There is a cute guy but I really just want to lose some weight and gain some confidence.”

“Luhan is excited.” Baekhyun suddenly says.

Jongdae rolls his eyes. Everyone is aware that Luhan still has a thing with Minseok but he hooks up with other people. They still meet each other because they have this special bonding called “Football nights” and other types of nights that Minseok that does not want to discuss further with his friends. Most of the time, it's harmless. On some nights, it's not. When he really needs it, Minseok swallows his pride and asks Luhan for quick sex and they are both okay with it. They hang out as friends without being awkward about what happens at night. That is what Minseok is trying to show Luhan because he does not want his ex-boyfriend to know that every after sex, he wonders if they could just go back to what they were in the past and be an exclusive couple again.

“You and Luhan need to stop fucking around. Both of you should get serious relationships.” Chanyeol comments.

“Like what you have Baekhyun?” Jongdae asks, almost gagging.

“Yes, of course.” Chanyeol nuzzles his face on Baekhyun's neck and makes kissy faces at him. It is gross but Minseok has to admit that what Baekhyun and Chanyeol has is real and strong. It took them years to realize that they are in love with each other.

“The point is, you should make a move with this cute guy.” Jongdae goes back to the main topic.

“Go for it!”

“Tap his muscly ass!”

Minseok feels he is going to get in trouble whenever he considers taking his friends' advices.


-oOo-


Minseok extends his hours in the gym after Yixing tells him that Yifan is not coming because he is out of town. He takes the opportunity to spend more time with his instructor without the intimidating giant. Everything is going on Minseok's way the whole night. Yixing had even asked him to walk with him since he did not have to stay longer when he has no other client to attend to. It is Minseok's chance to get closer to him, maybe even have coffee with him before they separate ways. However, fate likes making fun of him first before it grants his wishes when he accidentally slips in the shower while he is staring at Yixing's wet body only wrapped in a towel.

Yixing, who is getting dressed on the other side of the room and whose back is facing Minseok, hears the loud thud when Minseok's butt collides on the floor. He gasps and then rushes to Minseok to help him get up. It is extremely painful, Minseok feels like he has dislocated his hip bone. He has no face to show Yixing anymore. When his instructor asks him what happened, he does not know what to answer as he has no idea how he fell in the first place. All his brain is telling him is that, although he is already wearing pants, Yixing is still half naked and he is hovering on top of him assaulting all his senses with his proximity.

Minseok feels dizzier, aching hips and butt forgotten. Yixing helps him up and checks if he is hurt somewhere. Minseok does not realize that the towel around his waist is not covering him anymore. He is stark naked in front of Yixing. It must have fallen when he slipped. He only senses that he is exposed when Yixing picks up the discarded towel on the floor and put it on his lower body.

“Go finish dressing. I will wait for you outside.” Yixing says, tapping him on the shoulder and flashing him his usual dimpled smile.

To make sure Minseok did not broke any of his bones, Yixing insists that they go to the hospital. The fall was hard and Yixing is worried that it could affect his body when they work-out again. Minseok has no choice but to agree because it is another opportunity to be with Yixing.

The two of them ends in a 24-hour cafe beside the hospital after the check-up. Minseok's bones are fine, save for the large purple bruise on his buttocks that will take a few days to heal. Other than that, he is perfectly fine.

While in the cafe, Minseok learns that Yixing does not drink coffee but he likes sweet things. They shares a blueberry cheesecake (that mostly consumed by Yixing) as they drink their green tea and caramel macchiato. Yixing never wanted to be a gym instructor for a living initially but because he needed fast money to support himself, he took it.

“I enjoy what I do. It is fun helping people who want to change themselves.” Yixing explains.

It is already one in the morning but they are still talking nonstop. Perhaps it is because of the caffeine (green tea also has caffeine!) keeping them awake in the middle of the week. Minseok is anxious that he would only bore out Yixing. He could only talk about football enthusiastically aside from his wide knowledge of the best pizza places in town. Despite this, Yixing does not yawn even once and is actually interested about the difference between cheeses.

They also talk about more serious stuff, which surprises Minseok. He did not think Yixing would open up to him this easily. He could not help but ponder if Yixing is like this to all people especially his clients. Does he talk about things like this with Yifan too? Do they go out for coffee and stay late after their session? Yixing is too kind to everyone that Minseok cannot think more about his actions even if his heart was making weird thumps inside his chest and telling him that this is a progress.

Yixing told him that he has not finished college yet but next year, he wishes to go again since he only have year left before he graduates. He majors in Chemistry (Minseok laughs at how it is not related to his job right now). In turn, Minseok shares him that he is working in a support center that caters to the customers of an online gaming app. He admits that it is not the most rewarding job but the pay is good and his boss is his friend so it is not that bad at all.

“I guess we are the same. I do not particularly like my job but I help people when they could not figure out what to do with their app and Jongdae relies on me.” Minseok says.

He goes off with a smile on his face as he thinks about Yixing and the things they had shared with each other. Although he is still shy around Yixing, blushing every now and then when he lets out a hearty laugh at the things he says or when Yixing would mindlessly touch his hand out of nothing, it is a giant improvement from what they were the previous month.


-oOo-


After that night, his relationship with Yixing goes to a different path. They are not mere instructor and student. They have exchanged numbers so Yixing will send him messages at night before he sleeps or funny emoticons in the middle of the day when he is in the mood.

At first, Minseok felt so awkward telling Yixing how boring his work was and he was not sure if Yixing could understand the technical labor he had to deal with every day. He was afraid in the beginning that he would bore Yixing out but Yixing is always very excited, replying to his messages right away with so much enthusiasm even though Minseok could imagine the big cloud over his instructor's head as he explains the mechanics of the game he is currently developing.

Sometimes Yixing gives Minseok some of the cookies in his bag (healthy cookies but they are too sweet. Minseok just takes them because, hello! It is from Yixing!). It is sold by the old lady living on the same floor as him. Yixing shares that the lady is really nice to him and looks after his unit when he is at work. She also reminds him of his grandmother back in China which he really misses so much.

Minseok appreciates every little moments he has with Yixing. Those are just fleeting moments but it makes him know more about the dimpled guy. It makes it easier for him to like Yixing more. Additionally, he does not have to exert effort to be close to him as Yixing is the one who comes to him first. It is really shameful in Minseok's perspective. For him, he should be the one to seek out for Yixing since he is the one who is interested. For all he knows, Yixing is just being friendly.

One fateful night, a night where Minseok is not supposed to be in the gym, he runs into Yixing in his second favorite place. It is Luhan's favorite pizza parlor which the both of them frequented together when they were together. Minseok is supposed to meet Luhan there for some drinks. The latter had called him in the afternoon to ask him if he was free tonight because he wanted to see him and catch up with him. It had been more than a month since they had last seen each other. Minseok knew he would end up in bed with Luhan (he did not mind though as he needed some action too) after a few bottles of beer but Luhan texted him ten minutes before their meeting time telling him that something suddenly came up.

“Hey!” Yixing greets him with a wave.

Minseok is sitting by the bar, a bottle of beer in his hand as he watches the evening news on the flat screen TV. He glances on his side to look who had called him. “Yixing, what are you doing here?”

“Did you know that Yifan is the owner of this place?” Yixing answers the question with another question.

“What? I didn't. I am quite sure a woman owns this place.” Minseok recalls the time when he and Luhan met Bingbing for the first time. Luhan talked to her in their native language and Minseok just stared in between them and waited until they were finished. He points to the lady owner who is eating with his boyfriend in the corner. “She owns this place.”

“Well...” Yixing waves at Bingbing when the woman glances at their direction. “Yifan and Bingbing are siblings. They co-own this place.”

“But I haven't seen him here.”

Yixing sits down on the high chair beside Minseok and signals the bartender that he is getting what Minseok is drinking. Minseok eyes him weirdly as he did not know Yixing drinks too. Yixing just smiles at him and continues their conversation. “Because he is just financing the place. Bingbing-jie is the one managing.”

“You seem to know a lot about Yifan. Are you guys together?” Minseok tries to fish out vital information by being casual about it.

Snorting, Yixing follows with a loud laugh. “You are so funny!”

“What is so funny about it? What is it?”

“Yifan and I are just friend. Yeah, he asked me out many times in the past but I cannot see myself dating someone who loves themselves too much.”

Hearing this, it feels like a big boulder of rock gets lifted from Minseok’s shoulder.

Minseok realizes how Yixing is so close to the siblings when Bingbing comes over and gives him a hug. Bingbing notices him too and notes how small the world is that they also know each other. Yixing's drink arrives as Bingbing says she has to attend to business stuff. Both men waves her good bye and thanks her for the free garlic bread.

“Is this cheat night?” Minseok asks.

“I do not have cheat nights.”

“Then why are you drinking?”

“I drink when I want and it isn't like I drink a lot. I cannot handle alcohol so I stay away from it when I can.” Yixing chugs on his bottle and takes a couple of gulps, his Adam’s bobbing as the liquid passes through his throat. Minseok feels heat courses through his body with that sight.

Minseok looks a little too long at his instructor, studying his face as he thinks about how he will be if he gets a little tipsy. Is he going to be touchy? Will he be wild? Yixing has always been a type of person who acts accordingly. He knows how to behave in public in ways that is acceptable by common norm. He is always polite and kind, smiling and bowing to the costumers. The way he speaks makes him perfect for a diplomat. So it gets Minseok little curious about his not-so courteous side.

"What?" Yixing asks when he notices that Minseok is staring excessively long. He orders another beer for himself.

"You just said you have low alcohol tolerance."

"I did."

"Why did you get another bottle?"

The second bottle arrives right away and Yixing drinks from it in no time. "So..."

"So?"

"Why are you drinking alone?"

"I got stood up."

"Oh you were supposed to be on a date?"

"Not really. I was supposed to meet a friend."

Yixing chuckles, revealing his attractive dimples again. Minseok ponders how could such an impairment be a turn on?

"What is so funny?"

"You meeting a friend when you could be dating someone tonight."

"Well.. He is..."

Minseok does not know why he has to explain himself about his set-up with Luhan so Yixing will not think little of him. It is not Yixing's nature to judge people or look down on them but he feels like he has to tell him that he is not dating anyone because no one is interested. It is just that... There is Luhan. Minseok signals the bartender to give him his third bottle.

"We are not entirely friends.. He is my ex but we still see each other sometimes." He starts and at this point, there is no turning back.

"Oh." Yixing ogles, his mouth forming a cute ‘O’.

The air between them tells Minseok that it is alright to share something this personal and that Yixing is willing to listen. Despite the chattering noise inside the restaurant, the silence between them, the way Yixing’s finger toys with the droplets of condensation on his beer bottle, gives Minseok a little hint that Yixing, although not entirely expecting, is waiting for him to talk.

So, Minseok tells him about Luhan starting from how they met in their second year in the university, how they became a couple after a year of sending and ignoring signals to each other, how the next four years had been the best and memorable years of his life because he thought he had found his soulmate in Luhan, how everything fell apart on their fifth as they had realized they wanted different things even though they still love each other, how Minseok agreed to break-up in spite of his willingness to repair whatever was broken in their relationship because Luhan had already made his choice to end things between them, how after a few months Minseok was back to Luhan’s bed and signed himself up on a no-strings-attached arrangement.

After finishing his narration, Minseok grasps that he has never talked to someone about this freely. He has close friends but he is never comfortable talking about his feelings with Luhan to them as he is afraid of lectures and i-told-you-so’s. Having a stranger (not completely) to listen to him, in this instance, is way better. He can be honest to his feelings without worrying about being judged. With Yixing’s kind nature, he gives Minseok this kind of security.

“Do you still love him?” Yixing asks.

Minseok does not know the answer. “All I know is, right now, I cannot see myself without Luhan.”

“Okay.” Yixing nods.

“Am I a fool?”

Yixing smiles gently. It is comforting and re-assuring. “It was your decision to stay with him and I respect that. You are such a good person Minseok. After hearing this, I feel like you love genuinely and unconditionally. I hope, if this Luhan cannot love you how you love him, someone will come to give you the love you deserve. But until the time you open yourself to other people, that someone will always be an outsider.”

Like mocking Minseok, How I Met Your Mother re-runs plays on the other TV in front of Minseok and Yixing. He does not follow the show that much but he has an idea how the story went and unfolded. It is quite funny how he sees himself in the lead character, Ted, in some ways. He wants to find that perfect person (although he is not actively seeking right now) and have his happily ever after. However, there is Luhan, his own Robin, who he wants so badly but he cannot have. He giggles at his misfortune in the love department.

“Now, what is so funny you are giggling to yourself?” Yixing bumps his shoulders with his.

Minseok points his bottle to the television. “You know this show?”

“Yes, I do. I like Barney.” (WHO DOESN’T LIKE BARNEY??)

They both laugh.

“I can relate myself with Ted, you know. Like Robin is his anchor. He cannot sail far because she is holding him back. He meets other great women that can be his potential wife but those relationships do not go anywhere because he keeps on coming back to Robin.”

“His wife died in the end. It is not Robin’s fault.”

“I am not talking about the ending. I mean.. Yes, they ended up together because his wife died. He could have dated found another woman to be his kids’ stepmother. But of course, Robin is there carrying that blue trumpet or whatever.”

Yixing is obviously having too much alcohol already. His ears are getting redder by the minute and his eyes are droopy now. Nonetheless, he orders his third bottle without hesitation. He laughs a little too pitchy at Minseok’s latest statement. “The thing is, it is Ted’s decision. He could’ve have had different decision but he chose to be with Robin.”

Minseok can only empty the contents of his bottle in one go. What Yixing said got to him more than he expected. Then, his phone rings. The screen blaring the name of the person they were just talking about. Fate really has a lot of ways to bully Minseok.

“Yes?” He answers the call. He leans a little bit farther away from Yixing to have some privacy and he does not want him to know who he is talking to. After a few negotiations and considerations, Minseok hangs up. He fishes his wallet in his pocket and drops paper bills enough to pay for what he and Yixing drank tonight.

“I have to go. Something came up.” Minseok explains to Yixing.

He is ashamed of himself for still doing this, for still giving in to every requests of Luhan but he has no power over the other. Luhan has a strong hold on him so even if he is enjoying Yixing’s company tonight, he has to leave.

“Ted made his choice, Minseok. You can have your own too that you won’t regret.”


-oOo-


This should be stop happening like seriously. This is the fourth time he had fallen because of Yixing. The second time, he had tried doing sit ups on top of the rubber ball (because Yifan looks cool whenever he does it). Yixing had assisted him but when he felt his hands were a little bit high on his thighs, he squirmed which made him fall on the wooden floor, butt first. Always his butt first.


Minseok thought he will not embarrass himself in front of Yixing anymore, that it would be the last time that it will happen. He was utterly wrong.

He does not know how suddenly he is on top of Yixing and they are on the floor like a sandwich. All he could remember is he was going out to answer a call from his mother, rushing outside the gym to take it. He did not notice that Yixing was sprawled on the floor while he was doing sit ups. His face falls directly on Yixing, their foreheads colliding that Minseok thinks his skull is going to break in two. They both yelp but they do not move from their positions. When Minseok opens his eyes, he sees Yixing's face centimeters from him and the pained expression on it.

“I am sorry.” Minseok murmurs, his weight still on Yixing. He is getting lost in Yixing's eyes. This is the first time that he got close to him, feeling the puffs of his breath on his face, slick sweaty arms rubbing against his. He cannot feel his face right now, perhaps because the heat he is feeling is frying his brain up. They can almost kiss if they want to. But, of course it is not the place to do so and there is Yifan who will not let it happen.

“Yixing!” Yifan shouts as he pushes Minseok off Yixing. Minseok sits down on the floor, watching Yifan carry Yixing to the nearest bench (which is a little unnecessary because Yixing is not a baby that Yifan should carry. He is overreacting again, that groot) and examines his face for injury. Minseok hears Yixing say he is okay and that he is not hurt somewhere.

Feeling a little annoyed (at himself and at the situation), Minseok picks himself up to attend to the call he is supposed to take. He dashes out, calling his mother back as she already hanged up on him to ask him what the problem is. They talked for a couple of minutes and when they are done, Minseok stayes back a little bit to compose himself.

He sits down by the stairs while toying with his phone while his thoughts lingers on the events a few moments ago when Yixing was underneath him, so close, locking gazes with him. He puts his hand on his chest, feeling the way it abnormally skips a beat whenever Yixing comes to his mind. He wishes his eyes did not gave him away, telling Yixing how much he wanted to close their gap and finally kiss his plump red lips.

He is not used to this, to wanting another person and having these kinds of intense crush. It was Luhan who was doing it before in their relationship. All he had to do then was respond to his ex-boyfriend's advances. So now, he does not know what to do. He is so lost because he does not know how to approach a person he likes and express his feelings for them and Yixing being generally nice to everyone is not helping Minseok in interpreting if he likes him too.

“Hey, Minseok.” Yixing calls for him when he is about to go to the shower room after their session that night. He is assisting Yifan bench pressing but then the taller guy can do it alone anyway so he sprints to where Minseok is standing by the doorway going to the showers.

Minseok stops when he hears his name. He had repeatedly apologized to his instructor while they were doing exercises for his abdomen and Yixing repeatedly told him that it was fine and that he was not hurt anywhere in his body. In an attempt to calm Minseok (although it just made Minseok lose his mind more), Yixing told him that he isn't heavy at all and that he did not mind his weight over him.

“Wait for me? I will be finished in an hour.” Yixing says.

“How about Yifan?”

“He is leaving early. He has a flight to catch in the morning.”

Minseok nods. “Okay. I will just wait for you outside.”

Minseok waits for Yixing in the café a few blocks from the gym as Yixing likes their blueberry waffle and Minseok thinks that it will be a good idea to buy him the dessert after what happened earlier. He takes out his tablet to browse the things he has to do the following day. He sees an e-mail from Jongdae, saying that Chanyeol and Baekhyun texted him and told them they are getting married next year. His friend had typed incoherent words and using capslock in most of the message.

THIS IS A CRAZY IDEA. WHY ARE THEY GETTING MARRIED??? FIRST, YOU ARE BUSY WITH GYM. NOW, THEY ARE GETTING MARRIED. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME?? YOU ARE ALL GOING TO LEAVE ME.

He only shakes his head as he finishes reading the e-mail. Jongdae is just being hysterical because he has not found someone that he wants to be with. He is picky when it comes to relationships and Minseok feels he is still not over his ex-boyfriend who called off their engagement two years ago. Jongdae loves Joonmyeon so much but Joonmyeon is still not ready for a long-term commitment like marriage. It was a pity that he had realized it late that it resulted to Jongdae having phobia of being left alone.

Although it will be bad for him if he orders his second cup of coffee, he still does it anyway because Yixing will not be there for another half an hour. After ordering, he is surprised when Luhan came in the door in his sweat pants and sweater. He looks like he is about to sleep and just came down for a quick caffeine run. They both gasp when they lock gazes.

“What are you doing here?” Luhan asks first, running his fingers through frazzled light brown hair.

“My gym is around here. I am waiting for someone.” Minseok answers. Luhan's apartment is not in the neighborhood for him to dress up like this at ten in the evening. Likewise, he has no make-up on so Minseok is starting to assume he is staying over at someone's house which is really none of his business. “How about you?”

“Oh..” Luhan shifts his glance to the barista who is waiting for him to order. He gets two cups of mocha latte. Minseok's assumptions gets confirmed. “My friend's house is just across the street.”

That is all Minseok has to hear to know what is going on. He and Luhan are in this kind of jumbled mess for years after they broke up. It did not sit well to him at first that while they are sleeping with each other, Luhan is also hooking up with other people but he learned to accept it eventually especially when he sees that Luhan enjoys his polygamous affiliation with various men.

“Is this friend a new one?” It is not proper to ask. He should not really ask in the first place.

Before Luhan can answer, Yixing announces his arrival, eyes roaming through the room to look for Minseok. For the first time, he wears something that is not revealing his collarbones; just a normal round neck shirt and khaki shorts that he paired with his white Adidas Original sneakers. Minseok is overwhelming with pride that Yixing looks so handsome now that he wants to brag about him to Luhan. When he finds MInseok, he smiles and waves towards him, though he looks confused when he sees that he is talking with someone.

“Our table is right there.” Minseok points to the table where his things are placed. “I am just talking to a friend.” Yixing nods and smiles to Luhan as well. He sits on their table while he plays with his phone.

“So, you have a friend too.” Luhan mocks. “He is cute.”

“Yeah, he is.” Minseok says, beaming as he talks about how gorgeous his instructor is.

“Are you going out with him?”

“No, but I am planning to ask him.”

And in that moment, Minseok realizes that he has made his choice. Unlike Ted who ends up with his anchor, Minseok wants to pull away. He wants to sail as far as he can. Minseok is done being pulled back by Luhan. He should have been done being with Luhan after they broke up. He had wasted all those years hoping and waiting that Luhan will realize that he is the one for him. He had convinced himself that he would be okay with their fucked up set-up as long as Luhan is with him because he believes he will come to his senses soon. But two years had already passed and Luhan is still playing fire with other men, dragging Minseok and giving him false hopes along the way. Then, Yixing came and everything makes sense in his world again. Everything aligned in the way they should have been in the beginning. He should let himself love and be loved in a proper manner now. He only needed someone to push him and to break away from Luhan's dark shadows.

Minseok cannot fathom what is with Luhan's expression. His ex-boyfriend is half smiling and half-frowning for a second until his face settles in a small smirk while looking at Yixing's direction. Luhan is still beautiful in his eyes despite the visible wrinkles around his eyes and the unruly hair he currently has; despite the fact that Luhan has slept with numerous men who he is aware that does not take him seriously or cannot even satisfy his needs emotionally. Luhan is still a beautiful mess. But he has decided that he does not want to be in that mess anymore.

“Good luck, Minseok.” Luhan tells him, putting a hand on his shoulder. He gives Minseok one last smile before he gets his orders and treads out the door. Minseok is not sure if that tap on his shoulder means good bye for good, or that it means they finally came to terms that they are only going to be friends from here on. Nevertheless, it feels good. He is finally free.


-oOo-


After two cups of tea and two hours in the cafe, Yixing finally calls it a night. Minseok is amazed at how Yixing can stay up this late when he has an early morning shift the following day. The smaller is sure he has to call Jongdae that he will report in the office later than his usual time as it is already way past midnight.

For the first time, Yixing allows Minseok to walk him to his apartment building. Minseok insists so Yixing has little choice but to say yes when he had said the last time that he would let him. The walk feels like they did not talk a lot in the cafe. They still have a lot to discuss about and they seem like they will not run out of topics.

Yixing is curious about football. Growing up a fan and playing basketball, he did not have time to indulge in other sports. It is a sport that he does not understand apart from scoring a goal. Minseok is happily explaining the sport to him while they walk side by side by the street with Yixing only humming and nodding. He asks when something is not clear to him.

“You know what? We should watch a game together. FC Barcelona has a game this weekend.” Minseok suddenly offers. It is not part of his plan to invite Yixing to watch football. The conversation is very random and he has not been expecting that he will end up asking Yixing to the most sacred part of his life. It is frightening.

They both stop walking, Yixing's place only a block from there. “What is FC Barcelona?” Yixing looks at Minseok in confusion, tilting his head on the side. At that moment, he does not look like a hot gym instructor with killer abs. He looks like a confused bunny and it makes Minseok blush a bit. He thinks he likes this side of Yixing more.

“It is my favorite football club.”

“Oh. You have a favorite player?” Yixing asks and Minseok is sure he is only trying to keep the conversation alive because Minseok is so pumped up. He appreciates Yixing's efforts very much.

“Lionel Messi.”

“Is he good?”

“He is so good I want to have his children.”

Yixing laughs heartily. He keeps on laughing, bending his body down while he holds his stomach. His face is contorted and Minseok can see not one, but two dimples on his face. His laugh sounds like a squealing unicorn and his face makes this expression that he might die because of too much gas he inhaled. Minseok waits for him to calm down. His statement is not that funny, though. He once said that to Luhan and Luhan just waved him off and told him that although he was a loyal Manchester United fan, he cared about Messi's holy name so Minseok should not joke about things like that.

“Are you done? Can we continue walking now?” Minseok blinks at Yixing who is wiping his tears.

“Sorry. It is just so funny.”

“Why do always laught at the things I say? I feel offended.”

“Because you say ridiculous things! I do not know but thinking about you having children is really funny.”

“Why? Am I not a father material?”

“I do not mean it like that. I am just... you are... Okay let's go.”

Leaving Minseok hanging, Yixing walks towards the direction of his apartment without waiting. He is still giggling and Minseok is wondering what is so funny with that. It is just an expression. Fans say more terrible things than that.

Thinking that they will say goodbye once they are in front of the building, Minseok gets a surprise when Yixing hold his arms, preventing him from leaving, and drags him inside going to the elevator. Yixing does not let go of him until they are at his door and pressing his code.

“What are we doing here?” Minseok calmly asks but inside him, he is screaming because there are million scenarios playing inside his head.

“We are going to make babies just like what you want. I am as good as Lionel Messi or maybe better.” Yixing winks the same time the door clicks open.

Minseok is internally freaking out. He wants to start off right with Yixing. He wants this, whatever it is he has with Yixing, to work. He does not want sex to kill the developing attraction they have for each other. He is not sure if Yiixng is attracted to him but he can feel that there is something there. He cannot let this be ruined.

He does not move on his spot when the door behind him closes. Yixing is already in the middle of the room, shoes off, and half way removing his shirt. No, this is not happening. He needs to think fast. But his brain freezes when Yixing starts coming closer to him and making him lose his shit more. His instructor's bare arms snakes around his neck and Minseok is about to collapse. Their face are just inches away from each other. Too close and too dangerous.

“Let's make football babies, shall we?” Yixing whispers, warm breath hitting Minseok's face.

There is nothing else Minseok can think of but close his eyes. He shuts them out so he will not see Yixing's naked torso or his face almost crashing on him. “Yixing...”

“Yes?”

“I do not wanna do this. I like you so much and I do not want us to start like this. I cannot ruin this for me or for you. I want us to properly date first. Maybe after five-ten dates we can talk about sex. This is too early and I do not even know if you like me too. I want us to know more about each other first. Okay? So we should just stop, Yixing.” Minseok rambles while his eyes are closed. His mind is still in panic and it is already too late to take back what he said. He wants to keep his eyes shut, to save himself from all the shame he has brought upon himself just now. There are already million embarrassing things he did in front of Yixing in a short span of time so he will not be surprised if he gets kicked out of his house now because of it.

But he only hears soft giggles from Yixing. He feels that his body is shaking against his and that his forehead meets Yixing’s. When he finally opens his eyes, he gathers that Yixing is laughing at him again. Wow, great. He had really broken his record for being an embarrassing tool all his life. Minseok leans backwards a bit to take a clearer look at Yixing. His dimples are there again and his guts makes a somersault every time they make appearance. It is crazy how those dents in his cheeks can make his internal organs re-align.

“It took you this long to admit it.” Yixing glances back at him, not letting his smile fade from his face. He is really nice to look at. Everything about him is so adorable.

“What?”

“I notice how you stare at me. It was creepy in the beginning but I found it so cute when you started falling whenever you look at me.”

This time, Minseok cannot help but blush. So he learns he was not that discreet and that his secret crush was not that a secret. He wants the ground to break in two so he could jump in it to escape this situation but there is no backing out now. He is already here and Yixing is here, telling – acting – that he likes him too. He is thankful that, in spite of all the disgraceful stunts he did, he is still here.

“I like you.” Yixing admits, showing all his perfect teeth. “I enjoy seeing you stumble on the floor like a hot bun bouncing but I cannot wait for you anymore. I feel like if I do not make a move first, you will take centuries to actually ask me out on a date.”

“I… uhh…” Minseok stutters. Lame. Lame. LAME.

“And I feel like you are not over Luhan so I guess I should wait. Earlier, it was Luhan right? The one you were talking to in the café when I arrived?”

Minseok nods.

“He is really handsome. It is really hard to let go someone who is that pretty.”

Yixing creates a distance between them. He drops his arms from his shoulders and steps back a little bit to give Minseok a room to breathe. He needs air in his brains to think properly, to actually make a comprehensible response to Yixing other than stuttering and blinking.

“I am sorry.” Minseok says, cold sweat building on his forehead and neck.

“Oh am I being rejected?”

“No! No… I am just.. I am sorry about being a coward. I am bad at confessing. I have not confessed in my life. I mean I never pursued someone in my life before so I am really sorry if I didn’t say anything.” Minseok then looks up at Yixing, meeting his eyes with his own. He tries to show him that he is serious and honest in the subsequent words he will say. “And Luhan.. I have decided that I won’t be like Ted who came back ton Robin. I want to do better than him. I like you very much, Yixing. That is for sure. I chose you. I really want to go out with you because you have an amazing personality behind your gorgeous body. I really like you.. Damn, how many times did I say it already?!”

In the next moment, Minseok’s breathing is starting to become irregular as Yixing’s mouth is suddenly on his. He is not pushing or forcing anything to him, just their lips pressed against each other. He is startled by the sudden contact, his eyes blows out and his internal organs feel like they are having a disco party inside his body. He only relaxes when Yixing starts moving gently, tilting his head on the side to meld their mouths together more accurately. Minseok’s eyes begin to slowly close as he responds to the kiss, guiding Yixing’s hand back to his neck before he settles his on his waist. Yixing tastes like the tea he drank a few minutes ago, he smells like baby cologne and mint shampoo, and he feels so soft and comfortable. Minseok can see them kissing like this in the following days in the back of his head and he cannot wait for it to come and do more than just kissing with Yixing. He likes it so much that he unconsciously bites Yixing’s lower lip.

“Ow!” Yixing yelps.

“I am sorry!”

“I did not know you are the type to bite.” Yixing thumbs the swollen part of his lip. It is red and moist, looks more enticing and Minseok wants to dive in again and kiss it.

“I do not usually but, you just…” Minseok stops himself before he can say more humiliating words.

“So what now? I confessed first. I kissed you first. What will you do now, Mr. Suave?”

Minseok smiles shyly, scratching the back of his head – a hint that he still cannot relax even if Yixing is making it all easy for him. He has a lot of things to learn in the future like how to lead a relationship instead of being lead on. He wants to sail further and discover more about each other now that he has no more anchor to hold him back. Yixing his choice and he is almost certain that he will not regret this one.

“Will you go out with me?”

“Oh God! Finally!” Yixing exclaims a little bit exaggeratedly and launches himself to kiss him again.

Ted, can suck it up because Minseok thinks this is better than having a Robin.




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