Arigato?

The sun was bashing in on the open garden. Lightning the grass green like it hasn’t down anything else in life.

You were seated on a small outdoor chair beside Minhos mother, the moment Minho had called you, Kyuri still clinging to you. You knew it was important to him to have you here with him. Kyuri was sitting in your lap, her eyes watching over Minho who was moving around in the garden, politely welcoming everyone, fixing the table, plating food that didn’t need more fixing, he looked effortless.

“Where’s min-min going, mommy?” Kyuri’s voice popped, soft and curious.

“He’s just fixing some preparations, so we all can eat soon, sweetheart.”

You knew that her eyes had landed on Minho and when she him walking away from her sight, she needed to know why. Because Minho was over at the wood deck, the balcony organising and walking out and in from the glass doors that led into his parents house.

And when Kyuri didn’t saw him anymore she got anxious and her little brain couldn’t catch up on what was happening. Like she had completely forgotten about the moment before, when she got confused and wanted to be in your arms again.

She was like that sometimes, when something in her brain didn’t click and when she didn’t feel safe enough with people around her she didn’t know, she just took the easiest choice she had in front of her and that was you. And some part of you wanted it to be Minho, because he deserved it. He was just as much with Kyuri as you were when she was born. You just wanted one simple thing to happen in Minho’s life, that he could really enjoy and just rest and be himself in.

Because every time he’s with Kyuri, he’s glowing. And that is something you don’t want to take away from him.

Mrs Lee was a woman of her own, she loved deeply, her husband, son and you. Because you were like the daughter she never got and she was overly happy when you become her granddaughter. And Mrs Lee was the mother you never knew you needed.

“And I guess this sweetheart must be the child of yours, Minho has told me a lot.” Her voice was soft and low.

“He has?” You softly asked, the confusion in your voice loud.

“He talks about you and Kyuri every day, sweetheart.”

You didn’t expect Minho to be talking about you to his mom, sure he was a man with a beautiful relationship with his parents.

Still it was hard for you to wrap your head around it. Around him, his voice, his eyes, the words he used to describe you and Kyuri.

You felt the heat rush to your face before you could utter more words when Kyuri shifted in your lap and turned her head towards Minho’s mother. She slowly reached out her hand towards her to shake. Like she needed to feel the skin of the person who birthed her favourite person.

“I’m Kyuri.” Her small hand clamped around Mrs Lee’s hand.

“Hi, Kyuri, nice to meet you, I’m Minho’s mom.”

Kyuri’s eyes lightened up when Mrs Lee spoke, like she was the only voice Kyuri needed to be calm about the fact that Minho wasn’t near her and in fact walking in and out the house.

Right now, he was standing on the deck, fixing with the food, halfway done when his eyes landed on you and he slowly cocked an eyebrow to indicate for you to come over to him.

You replied in a smile and a small nod, the action too fast for you to notice.

Kyuri had ushered away from your lap and was now sitting beside Mrs Lee, babbling about everything and you reassured yourself that she was going to be fine without you for some minutes.

Mrs Lee’s eyes found you and see she slowly traced over your face and saw you already looking at her son standing on the deck, begging you to come. She didn’t even hesitate when she only nodded her while whispering.

“Go to him sweetie, she’s safe with me.”

And the thing was you knew Kyuri was safe, safer than she ever could, because being in Minho’s mother arms was always going to be a welcome spot for you. She already loved you so deeply so it was just a clarity for her to love your child the same way she loved her own.

When Mrs Lee got the text she was not sure what to expect, if you were still the girl she remembered or if you had grown up and became someone else. Minho had told her that you were still the sweet girl she remembered from your younger years, the girl that always put everyone else first, took care of her son like no one else had ever done before.

And from the moment Mrs Lee started seeing you and Minho more than friends, everything in between started matters more than ever.

You slowly rose from your seat, the grass warm under your bare feet. You moved between the people, brushing past everyone’s happy voices, it really did feel like Minho’s mother’s birthday. Your steps were shaky but sure, you walked up to him, your light dress catching the sun perfectly, the flow of your dress smooth in the air. Minho still looked at you with those soft eyes and you could feel his mother’s eyes burning a soft feeling in the back of your neck, she only looked at you with those mother eyes.

Standing in front of him on the light brown deck, the long table already prepared with food for all the guests, laughter quiet in the wind, the soft air warm and the spring crawling their way higher into everyone’s bodies. Everything just stopped whenever you were around him, like he knew how to get you to calm down.

Minho stood composed, his hair still stirs the way he did at home, the black strands falling over his forehead in perfect shapes, the black, brown mix beautiful on its own.

The light beige linen shirt catching his siluette, showing his honey skin to your liking, all you wanted was just to slip your hand inside his shirt and feeling his firm, warm chest against your fingers.

You snapped out from your daze when you felt warms hands settling on your waist, warm fingers gripping the silky fabric of your dress tight. You slowly looked up and saw Minho’s eyes searching yours, a small smile forming on his lips.

“Hi”

His voice was soft and warm, slight raspy from the amount of times he had said welcome to every guest.

“Hi” you softly said back, your own smiling forming on your lips.

You slowly moved your arms, reaching around his shoulders and locking them behind his neck, his skin hot against your own.

“What did you and my mom talk about?”

You looked at him, his soft brown eyes glowing in the sunlight, his clothes falling over his body perfectly, sunglasses placed neatly on his head. He looked sweet standing in front of you.

“I was just introducing Kyuri to your mom.” You gently replied.

His fingers were still gracing your silky dress, the warmth spreading through the fabric to your back, sending shivers down your spine. His face was soft, warm, everything you would think about him.

You maintained eyes when Minho suddenly dropped his forehead to lay it against yours, his dark hair tickling your skin. He gently graced his nose once against yours before he pulled back slightly but still with his forehead intact with your own. His warm shaky breath fanning over your face.

“Minho” You said, too quickly and he noticed it too.

“I’m not trying anything, I promise.” His voice was sincere and you knew it because you trusted him.

“The guests.” You whispered out, feeling like your heartbeat would crawl out from your chest.

He only pulled you closer at that time, the table with the food and the chairs behind you perfectly done and waiting for all of you guests to dig in, but right now something is interrupting or rather someone.

“I don’t care about the guests as long as I’m with you.” He carefully spoke out, low and steady like he knew exactly what you needed.

Because being this close to him, rememined you of the kiss you shared. That maybe kiss that wasn’t supposed to happen. The kiss that cleared some of the shards that was missing and spilled apart. That kiss that was amazing and you would gladly do it over and over and over again. With him, only him.

Even if your mind was replaying the moment of your shared kiss over and over again.

It was you who pulled him into a kiss this time.

The scent of him pulling you in deeper, the warm skin tone of him, his slight slim but muscular body shining, he was more than perfect and far more than a friend from the beginning. Because everything about him juts pulled you in.

His perfume.

His personality.

His hair.

His everything.

You know when you have been at the ocean, the sea fighting to get you in the water, the sand warm under your feet. Kids playing and having their best time of their lives and you never want to leave. And the afternoon, the way back home with the sun deep over the car, sand clinging to your ocean soaked hair, the smell of sand and sweets mixing in the air. The exhausted of swimming around in the water taking in its place in your body. That’s what Minho feels like, tastes like.

He’s like the ocean and you’re like the sand, not knowing when you’re being pulled back into his embrace.

“I’m sorry if I messed up.” He suddenly said, his voice low, cracking at the end like he was holding something back that he wasn’t supposed to.

“You haven’t messed up anything, Minho.” You resumed him.

Fingers gracing his hair at his neck, inhaling his soft scent before you slowly leaned in and brushed your lips light and fast against his. His hands tightened around your waist when he felt your lips against his own. He slowly kissed you back, soft and slow like the last time you shared the kiss in the bathroom.

“It just me who’s being overly protective of Kyuri.”

You spoke throughout the kiss, your breaths coming out faster than you intended, mixing together in the air.

You gently pulled back, the heat rushing to your cheeks, your mind completely forgetting about Minho’s mother and Kyuri being in the background, probably having their eyes locked onto you.

Giving him a resuming smile, the blush creeping faster and faster. And before you could react, Minho leaned in and kissed your cheek before he took a distance between you two. His hands still around your waist when you heard a child voice pop up from a distance behind.

“Why is Min-min kissing mommy?” Her voice had that confusion filled with softness, she always had when she didn’t quite understand the situation.

You slowly turned your head towards the sound and saw Kyuri sitting in Mrs Lee’s lap content and comfortable but her eyes were fixed on you and Minho standing on the deck. Small curios smart eyes looking at your siluette, your body leaning against Minhos like it was always meant to be. Your arms wrapped around his neck, his hand wrapped around your waist, your smiles mixing in her little eyes.

And when you heard her voice pop up, you registered that she had seen the quick kiss you and Minho shared and for her that kiss maybe meant that he was going stay forever.

Kyuri was as smart to figure out what was happening between you and him before you could even put words into it. Right now sitting in Minho’s mother’s lap, happily chatting about all and nothing, her eyes glancing to you time to time, she already knew enough and sometimes that’s all that matters. That she atleast knows something that maybe you and Minho have been too scared to talk about out loud to each other.

That you felt something towards each other the moment Minho offered to help with the pregnancy?

“They’re just having a special time together, Kyuri.” Mrs Lee’s voice soft and in that tone you speak with kids when you don’t really want them to know the real answer.

Minho’s throat made a bubbling sound, a kind of small laugh that turned into a smile when you wipped your head around to face him again. You looked at him before you slowly dipped your head forwards until your forehead made contact with his warm chest. His arms was still around your waist, it felt like the silky fabric of your dress would rip off and fall to ground, the light slik pooled beneath your feet and bare because of the amount of times his fine fingers had smoothed over it.

“You really can’t hide anything from her.” You softly laughed out, feeling the sound vibrating in your chest.

“If I keep kissing you now, do you think she’ll puzzle the pieces together?” He replied, the small joke of his landed somewhere inside of you that you really understood what he meant.

“If you keep kissing me, I’ll melt.” You softly laughed out but the sound gently died at the end.

The thought that maybe she was too smart for her own good, she would eventually figure out herself that you and Minho were more than friends without you telling her. But on some part of you would like to think of the fact that maybe Kyuri doesn’t mind that she’s not really Minho’s child.

Because in her mind, being with her favourite person and having a good time is all that matters when she’s still small. Still the thought lingers for you and Minho and you know it hurts him more than he tells you.

Because that one time when Minho was with you and the real father of Kyuri was just showing up unannounced in your apartment. Explaining that he was getting his stuff that he left behind from the start, the way it affected Minho was visible.

He hated him more than he could express, his eyes, his face, everything about him. The way he talked to you like you hadn’t carried his child in you for nine months. Minho wanted to punch him the moment he stepped inside but he knew better than to do so because Kyuri was still around when he stepped into your embrace.

She was pressed against Minho’s leg when her father walked in, like he was a person she didn’t recognised nor respected.

She clung to Minho’s leg, her little arms wrapped around his calf like it was the only thing holding her together from crying, her fingers clutching his pants fabric so tightly her knuckles went white. Her face pressed into the back of his knee, shielding herself from the thing that her brain registered as “danger” and seeing how her body tensed down when the words “please leave” left Minho’s mouth in a stern tone.

And that moment, you know means a lot to him today too, because in the way Kyuri seeks the safeness in Minho’s presence, makes the warmth spread in your body and that sometimes a person doesn’t have to be yours or born by you to feel special in the most unexpected moments in life.

You lifted your head to look at him and saw the vulnerability behind his soft brown eyes. You know he does wishes that she was his, he wishes and wishes so much for her to be his. You see it in him and he doesn’t know how to stop, how to stop bleeding on the same spot again and again and again until the concrete is covered with red. Even with his strong mind, composed, focus, self respect. It still sat deep inside, hiding beneath, because no matter how you want to deny it, the knowing fact that comes with every day, that Kyuri really isn’t Minho’s child still lingers like an aching hole.

Minho wasn’t perfect, you weren’t perfect, Kyuri wasn’t perfect but together you made it possible.

He made it possible for you to be a single mom and raising your child.

You made it possible for him to be there for you throughout the whole pregnancy simply by letting him stay.

And Kyuri, she made it possible for you two to be together for a little while longer without realising.

And as for Mrs Lee from one mother to another she already knew it from the first time Minho brought you home to Gimpo to meet them.

You couldn’t hide from her what you felt because she saw right through you, like a knife. And you knew she always wanted the best for her son, throughout the years you and Minho have been knowing each other and having your friendship labelled as a friendship, she still saw the way you looked at each other when you thought no one was around.

And she also saw the way Kyuri looked at Minho, like he was the whole world for her.

Mrs Lee has always been a good-going woman, independent and not taking any criticism or bad words from anyone.

When Minho had told his mother that you were pregnant and that he was going to be by your side every day even if the baby wasn’t his. It that moment Mrs Lee noticed that it doesn’t matter if the friendship, relationship, single mom’s who trying to figure out her life. It doesn’t need to be by bound by bloodline or people that claim to be “family” but disappear the moment it gets hard.

Because her son isn’t like that, not with you at least. Minho does everything for you, for your little girl. She was proud of him, more than he could ever imagine. Proud to call him his son, proud of that he stayed when it was hard for both of you, the nights were you couldn’t sleep and you just needed him to lay a hand on your belly and softly talk to the still growing Kyuri inside that everything was still going to be okay, even with just a mother.

The days when you slept over at their place, in his childhood bed with him and everything felt safe again.

She was with you when you gave birth to Kyuri. Offered the chance to have some rest for her son which he emotionally rejected, said that he wanted to be there for you the whole way. If he had been there for you all along, he be damned if he isn’t with you when you give birth to your child.

Flashback - When you give birth to Kyuri.

Gimpo hospital was actually neater and so close to Minho’s parents house, you would have managed to walk there without the water breaking. But the thing was the water broke in the house, in the kitchen when you were helping Mrs Lee with the dishes or mostly supervising when she put in the dishes in the dishwasher because she said that you needed to rest but in the same second be in movement. Her mother instinct connected.

The drive was quick and easy, Mr Lee drove while his wife reminded him about the law of speeding and to not break it by pushing the pedal to the floor. You and Minho were pressed in the backseat, your whole body was leaning against his while his arms were secured around you.

“Talk to me” he softly whispered, his warm breath tickling your skin.

You looked at him, the deep brown colour of his eyes pulling you closer. You sighed out a painful breath against his shoulder when you felt a pang of effects coming straight to you. You quickly gripped onto his shirt sleeve, your legs coming up in motion to try to stretch in the effect to make it less painful.

“I’m scared.” You breathed out, the warmth radiating off you, your belly felt to to big and thick.

“You’re allowed to be scared, but I promise I’m here the whole time.”

Because the thing was Minho was always going to be by your side, with you wanting it or not. And for the first time in your life maybe it doesn’t need to be complicated.

Maybe it can be easy when he’s here.

When Minho becomes the father figure Kyuri never really had and maybe that’s alright. It doesn’t always need to be by law or anything to function or for everyone to be happy, sometimes all that matters is you showing up.

And Minho did that perfectly.

So perfect it felt like a lie.

The first minutes of everything was hectic but still steady. You were seated on the bouncing ball, slowly rocking back and forth to try to release some of the tension and pressure. The blue gown feeling to small over your frame, the fabric inching your brain.

Minho was standing behind you, not caring about the “father figure” because all he wanted in this moment was for you and your girl to keep fighting together and survive.

His warm hands were placed on your back, slowly rubbing up and down in hoping resuming strokes. Occasionally drifting up to your shoulders to give it a gentle massage when he noticed you got too quiet.

“Will you still be here even when you see my lower part naked and me giving birth?” You softly laughed out, the tears welling up in your eyes before you could stop them.

“Even when I see your lower part naked and you giving birth, I’ll still be here.” He mimicked your words.

You kept bouncing on the ball, the warmth of Minho behind you, his hands resting on your shoulder and the motherly voice and resuming words from Minho’s mother was making some of the tension go away. You knew you were safe.

Then suddenly everything dropped and the pain set in. Minho was quick to help, he softly grabbed around your waist. Helping you up from the ball to take small careful steps towards the hospital bed. Mrs Lee was sat beside the bed, waiting anxiously for you to be taken care of.

You laid down on the bed, the white sheets heavy beneath you, the beeping sound to loud in your eyes. The Lee family stood beside you like a protective wall, ready to punch back. Mrs Lee and her husband sat composed but with a vulnerability in their face they couldn’t hide. Their son stood beside the bed, his hand holding yours, his fingers tracing resuming patterns on your blood drained knuckles.

And even if you and Minho were friends, you surely weren’t just friends here. Because the way he kept going back to you to check you were okay weren’t friendly matter.

The way he stayed with you the whole time you gave birth wasn’t friendly matter.

The way his massaged your back and shoulder when the tension come back wasn’t friendly matter. His hands cradling your belly, spreading his palms flat under your belly and slowly slowly lifting it, taking a pleasant moan out from you wasn’t friendly matter.

Nothing about those actions weren’t because you were friends, you were never friends to begin with.

Minho had already caught feelings for you the first time he brought you home to meet his parents and his mom said that you were the one for him. He fell for you in the quiet, the small things, the way you are always so careful with people, the same way Kyuri is.

Your eyes, your smile, your personality, everything.

And slowly you fell for him too, the same way he did with you.

Fell for his eyes, his smile, his personality.

The way he cares so deeply for the people he loves.

And without you both realising it, when Kyuri was born something shifted and the label friends started disappearing without you noticing.

Right now you’re fighting for your life and your little baby girl that’s soon going to be here. You were pressed up against the hospital bed, everything was hot and sticky. Your hospital gown was bunched up to your knees, the nurse stood between yours legs working her way to get Kyuri out. Minho stood beside you, watching you with glassy eyes, his hands wrapped around yours holding you tightly.

You gripped onto his hand so tight you thought it would break, your breathing getting heaving with each second.

“Minho..” you breathed out when you felt your baby being halfway out.

He leaned down and kissed your sweaty forehead, his lips a cool contrast to your warm skin.

“You’re alright, baby, you’re alright.” He softly whispered.

“Stay.”

Your pregnant mind couldn’t function without him near.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The tension was still there and you felt yourself drag in a last breath and then everything went by so fast and suddenly your little girl was born.

Kyuri was small but perfect, she looked like every baby does. Fragile, perfect, mushy.

When the nurse placed her on your chest, the warmth sticky skin of her radioing off to you. Looking up at Minho who still stood beside you, his eyes wandering over the your little girl.

He looked at her like she was from the very beginning. Your hand comes up to gently grab his, to put his hand on top of Kyuris small body.

“Have you thought about a name?” He slowly said, his eyes flickering up to yours but his hand remained on her little body.

“I want you to name her, Minho.” You replied weakly, your voice raspy and the emotions bubbling over.

“Y/n, I can’t.” He said, his voice cracking at the end, like someone arrested him for naming a child that wasn’t his.

“Minho.” You tightening your hand on his on top of her body.

“You have been here for me since I told I was pregnant and you deserve it.” You softly said, your hand slipped away from his to rest on his cheek. You gently pulled his face closer to yours until you felt his warm breath.

You searched his eyes before you slowly leaned in and gave him a gentle quick kiss, his lips shaky and warm against your own before you pulled away when you felt your little girl shifting on your chest, seeking more of your warmth.

“Kyuri.” He whispered against your lips.

And what you didn’t see was Mrs Lee and Mr Lee standing in the small of room still seeing the whole scene play out in the most vulnerable way.

And Mrs Lee being the observer like her son is, saw it directly. She saw the love you had for each other.

The end of the flashback.

Standing here with Minhos arms wrapped around your waist and yours wrapped around his neck. Thinking that maybe it’s alright and you don’t need to be worried about Minho feeling like the side.

Because just as Kyuri is where she always wanted to be when she’s cuddling with Minho, he’s exactly where he wants to be right now. Here, in his parent’s house with you and Kyuri, the small girl of yours he named.

You remember the way Minho’s mother took care of you the first days when you got home from the hospital. You were absolutely staying in there house and you couldn’t argue about it. She was always with you and watching over you whenever she could, when she walked in on you laying in Minho’s bedroom.

Kyuri lying bedside you, Minho’s hoodie under her so she wouldn’t go cold and a small blanket which was one of his when he was a baby covering half of her body while she slept peacefully.

She spent a good few minutes adjusting your sleeping figure. She fixed your pillows, fixed your hair and gave you a small kiss on your forehead just like Minho did when you gave birth and then she moved over to Kyuri. Reaching out a hand to lay on her stomach.

She stayed with you, telling stories about Minho when he was a child. Sometimes he would walk in, check on you and giving you a small smile before walking out.

Mrs Lee couldn’t wait for you to become a mom. She had seen many versions of you over the years, the quiet girl who took care of Minho on his bad days without complaining, the harsh woman who couldn’t handle anyone speaking badly about her best friend without feeling like she wanted to punch them in the face for opening their mouth about Minho.

The one girl who protected the father who wasn’t really the father of her child so secured it was mind blowing. And all those versions had one thing in common, you always gave them your all.

So she expected you’d do just that as a mom.

She also knew it would be hard. Because that’s what it is when you get a baby, everything gets turned upside down and suddenly you’re living another life. But you would have amazing people around you, she would always be there for you, her husband, her son would give up everything just to be with you and Kyuri. Mrs Lee, she did her best to show it, to show the love you had, to show the love everyone had for you and that you didn’t need to be worried.

Because that’s what mothers do.

They give their love, and love and love and love. And hope that the love reaches the right person, hope that the person is growing loving and healthy.

Mrs Lee regretted sometimes that she didn’t make herself more clear about the way she knew already when you and Minho were small that she knew that you were meant for each other. And that you were not just another woman Minho brought home for fun, not that he does that so much but sometimes it happens.

Then she’s just happy for him even that she knows, the girl isn’t staying the next day. Because the moment Minho brought you home, you were already 10 weeks pregnant. You were practically her baby too, even if you came in her life too late, she still saw you. And now she had a grandchild who met her when she was already 2 years old but why does that matter when it is the love that counts?

A granddaughter that her own son named.

Kyuri.

The name Kyuri simply means cucumber. As cute and simple as that. And Kyuri was just as a cucumber, always happy and just absorbing the happiness from people, like the water consume inside of the cucumber.

A grandchild that she had seen for the first time in the white steril hospital walls and inside the walls of her own house.

Mrs Lee had told you about it the night when you were lying in Minho’s bed, Kyuri asleep next to you, the soft hurried breaths of the baby mouth, relaxing.

The words were vulnerable when you heard them the first time. Hearing about how Minho stayed with you the whole time, squeezing your hand like his life depended on it. Him cradling the small Kyuri in his hands when she got too fussy. About how Minho being the only person who could calm her down when she was crying, the fast and hard tired cry that children does when they’re fighting with all they have when their mind doesn’t want to go to sleep but their body is already shutting down.

The way he walked around the apartment with her when you were too tired and exhausted to stand.

She told you about the times when you were breast feeding and Minho was just simply sitting beside you like a warm blanket. Helping with burping her and cleaning yourself up.

She really saw it with her own eyes when Kyuri was born that Minho and you were never meant to be friends.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

It felt like years you and Minho stood wrapped up around each other with Minho’s mother looking at you with love in her eyes.

You softly looked at him and he was already looking at you, the guests felt far away and close up in the same moment.

“I would love to see you melt by my actions.” He whispered when his sentence was cut off by a small voice popping up and feet running over the grass and up onto the deck.

You didn’t need to turn around to know it was Kyuri. You felt a tug on your dress, small fingers grabbing the fabric and demanding your attention.

“Mommy! Minho!” Kyuri said, her voice full with happiness.

You slowly turned around and saw Kyuri standing behind you, her beige dress flowing in the spring air. Minho stood fast behind you, seeing how Kyuri’s eyes shifted up to his time to time.

You crouched down to her height and your dress pooling around your ankles.

“The food ready?” She exclaimed out.

“Yeah, that’s right, baby. The foods ready.” You softly said, your hand reaching up to gentle caress her cheek. She leaned her cheek against your palm, the warmth from the sun catching her skin.

The table was set and the food was ready to eat. The long white table with a beige cloth covering it, flowers standing pretty on the table waiting to be watered.

Some of the guests were already seated when you, Minho and Kyuri arrived.

She was holding Minhos hand, tighter and tighter when you reached the table with all the guests like she didn’t really know what to do. She pressed herself closer to him when someone stood up too fast or someone did something unexpected. You saw the way Kyuri slowly glanced up to Minho who gave her a smile in return.

Then she tugged at his hand, slipping her fingers from his and she reached her hands up towards him. She patted his leg to indicate so he would see her.

“Up.” She asked, her voice happy but the tightness still lingered.

Minho didn’t even hesitate, reached down and slipped his arms around her and picked her up. Placed her on his hip and she happily flopped her head to his chest, her fingers started playing with the buttons on his shirt.

You saw it clearly and couldn’t hide your smile. You knew she was safe and calm with him. It was exactly as you told him before.

The moment she feels safe she will come to him whenever she feels unsure.

And that’s what exactly what she did, she wanted his attention and got it in seconds. And he didn’t even hesitate to pull her into his arms.

You sat down on the chairs, the pad soft under you. Mrs Lee was sitting in front of you. Minho came towards you with Kyuri in his arms, she happily clinged to him.

“You want to sit with eommi or me?” You gentle asked. Knowing she sometimes liked to sit with other people she felt safe with, just like with Minho.

”Sit with you and Min-min, mommy.” She softly spoke. Her fingers still paying with the buttons of Minhos shirt.

Minho slowly crouched down so he could put her down onto the floor again. Kyuri clamped herself closer to him, her hands gripping his shirt fabric tightly. She fought back for a moment before she accepted to be put down. Still crouched down with Kyuri standing in between his legs, her hands still rested on his firm chest. Small fingers patting and smoothening his honey skinned chest. Minho slowly leaned down and gave a soft kiss to Kyuris head, you saw the way her head popped up immediately, her eyes lit up. Like she hasn’t been kissed by Minho before.

He stood up again and gave a smile towards Kyuri before he reached out a hand for her to grab onto. She happily placed her hand around his and they walked up to you. Kyuri was seated between you and Minho who sitting beside her. The glow of him shining to your side. His hair perfectly done, the sunglasses placed perfectly on his nose.

Kyuri was happily bouncing around in her chair, eyes wandering over the table and all the decorations. Fingers coming time to time to touch the plates, the forks and everything between.

She slowly turned to you, her face having that little mischievous look whenever she wanted something.

“Sit in Minho’s lap?” She looked at you with such confidence in her eyes, like she was asking permission.

And you knew you couldn’t deny her.

“If that’s okay with Minho, ask him and see, sweetie.” You replied, your voice wavering.

She turned to Minho carefully, looked at him with such eyes you swear she was older than her brain really allowed her to be. Her fingers reached out to touch his thigh, fingers gripping the fabric in hope for acceptance.

“Sit in min-mins lap, okay?” She softy mimicked your words.

His eyes found her behind his sunglasses, the sun bashing on his face like he was meant to be. His eyes wandering over her head to found yours before he cocked an eyebrow like asking permission from you before he did anything. You nodded and he locked onto her, his hands skimming out to run through her hair.

“The princess Kyuri wants to sit with Minho?” He jokingly said which you knew wasn’t a joke at all. Because Minho never joked about stuff he was serious about, you and Kyuri was serious matter.

“Mm-mm, always.” She whispered.

“Of course you can sit with me, Kyuri but when the first dinner comes, I think it’s better if you sit between me and your mommy.” He softy said, like he knew what you wanted to.

Because you knew if she sat in Minho’s lap when you were going to eat. Minho wouldn’t be eating at all and she would only demand his attention and you didn’t want him to feel stupid just because he refused her attention and in the same moment you knew he didn’t mind. And sometimes you thought he could use a break from Kyuri and maybe especially when you’re all eating.

“Why?” Her voice came out quiet, the sound of not understanding loud and clear in her little brain.

“Because then it’s easier for both of us to eat, plus you can keep an eye on your mommy for me.” He softly said, his eyes tracing over her head while he gave you smug smirk and a wink.

You felt the heat rise to your face to quickly before you stop it. You tried to hide your face by turning it the other way and staring right in front of you only to be meet by Mrs Lee knowing eyes and small smile.

You only shook your head at her son’s action and she only gave you a wink in return.

“Ha-ha, yeah, mommy’s not allowed to leave us.” She happily laughed out, turning her head and looking at you with glistening eyes.

“Mommy’s face is red, why?” She said when she saw how you turned your head away from her direction.

“She’s just a little warm, sweetheart.” Minhos mother’s voice popped up from the other side of the table.

She knew exactly why your face was turning redder and redder. It was her son’s fault and you didn’t blame him for one second.

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The evening went by fast, the guest laugher echoing in the early spring air. The food comes and go, plates being passed over the table like clouds. Minho was waking in and out time to time to get some more food or drinks, occasionally going to your seat when you were involved in a conversation and he just wanted to be close to you, skin to skin.

His hands softly gracing over shoulders, fingers tickling your skin. You shivered at his touch before you leaned back onto the chair, feeling his warm chest through his open-button shirt against your back. Your hand reached up to gently touch his hand on your shoulder before you dropped your hand to slowly pick up your glass of champagne and took a small sip to calm yourself down.

Mrs Lee’s eyes flickered to yours before she continued in the conversation.

“What are you doing?” You whispered out, feeling his hands tightening on your shoulders.

“Resting.” He simply said, the warmth of him making its way deeper into your bones.

You leaned your head back against him, the steady rise and fall of his chest firm against your hair.

“Where’s Kyuri?” You carefully asked, your mind catching up on that you haven’t seen her for a while because she disappeared after the second dinner come.

“In my bedroom with the cats and playing on my phone.” His voice vibrated against your back.

You could practically hear the sweetness in his voice. You opened your mouth to ask why but chose not to because you knew why. Because she felt safe with him and when Minho had wandered away to get some drinks, she wanted to follow and see what he did.

And then if you guess she had asked to stay inside and for him to tell you that she was alright. She was sweet like that, observing, taking care of the people she really really loved. Minho being the amazing person he is, of course let her. Leading her to his bedroom so no one would disturb her and her peace, gently ushering the cats to stay and protect her and giving her his phone so she could entertain herself.

He really was the father she didn’t know she needed.

And he really was the person you didn’t know you needed.

He stayed behind you for some minutes, his hand still on your shoulders, massaging and the touch of him burning. You were about to ask a question to show some of your interest in the subject the elders were talking about when Minho’s mother’s voice popped up.

“And this is my sweet granddaughter that I have been talking about.” She softly spoke, gesturing towards you and Minho who still stood behind you but was quick with stepping back and slipping into the seat beside you.

“Oh and I guess you’re the one with the child also?” The elderly woman politely but that undertone of bitterness lingered in the sound.

“Umm, yeah that’s me.” You softly replied, trying to keep your voice as steady as you could.

“And isn’t there a father in the picture?”

In that sentence you felt a warm firm hand on your thigh, you turned your head towards Minho and saw his head turned towards the woman, his piercing eyes burning with pity. His hand rested on the silky fabric of your dress, the fabric felt tight against your skin when his hand made contact with yours.

“Don’t say anything out of anger.” You carefully whispered to Minho, knowing he has a way of pouring out all of his harsh words towards a person in straight anger when they disrespect someone he cares about.

His eyes found yours and he gave you a nod. Like resuming you about that he wouldn’t do it.

“No, he left quite early in on the pregnancy.” You politely said, hearing your own voice bubbling up towards anger and frustration.

The elderly woman shifted in her seat, her man seated high on his chair beside her. She threw a look to Mrs Lee before she spoke out.

“Oh and I may guess why.” Words thrown out again.

“He got tired of you so quickly and you didn’t have a chance to stop him. Or maybe he found someone better.”

The words didn’t sting as before. The first days when Kyuri was growing up and people started assuming and asking questions, you just wanted to run away and cry your eyes out because you didn’t know what to answer. But now after some while and getting to used to the assumptions, you weren’t as scared to tell people the truth and that was that he really left on his own with no guilt in sight.

“I don’t want to sound rude but this is a conversation I really don’t want to have here.”

You felt your voice rise and you really didn’t want Kyuri to walk out and see you like this. Because she was too smart for her own good. And when she realises that, that she can whenever she wants like her superpower.

You didn’t want her to hear what happened before she was born.

All the arguments, the arguing, the fights, the fights about Minho when the father figured out you had him as a friend who really was there for you.

“You should have thought about that before you decided to get a child and a new man after the father left.” She bite back, the overly fancy clothes taking a toll on her.

“And you choose this as your new catch?”

She laughed out, the sound ringing in your ears.

Your own hands wanted to fly up in the air and make gestures that were highly inappropriate, so you quickly pushed them down into your lap, your hand gripping Minho’s to anchor yourself.

“Don’t call him that” you bite back, voice fast and high.

You saw the reactions, Minho’s eyes quick to find yours when your smile faltered. Mrs Lee’s glistening eyes, sensing the protective side you had over her son.

“Sweetie, if I were you, I would have gone with a way better man, not the son of Mrs Lee.”

Before anyone could open their mouth and say anything else, Minho’s comes up stern and straight.

“Don’t elderly like you have better things to discuss rather than questioning down a single mom you know nothing about?”

Minho’s voice came firm and cold beside you.

It felt like everyone froze for a moment. No one dared to say or do anything. Because when Minho felt he had gotten enough and heard enough, he said it. Loud and clear. Without any bullshit, especially when it came to you and your little girl.

And the thought struck you faster than ever. What if Kyuri had heard it? The question, the real reason why the father isn’t in the picture anymore. You didn’t want her to really know but you didn’t either want to hide it from her. Picturing Kyuris small frighted body standing in the doorway, eyes watching over the people with Minho’s phone clutched in her hand. The same little girl you seen so confident at any other moment. You didn’t want to see her like that, she didn’t deserve to found out like that. She didn’t deserve to hear people talking bad about her mother like that.

You both didn’t deserve that.

“I.. mean, I’m just giving some advice for future experiences.” The woman quietly said, voice floating compared to Minho’s.

“This is not a conversation I want to have at my birthday party, especially when it revolves my son and his girlfriend and her child.”

Mrs Lee’s voice cut right through the tension. Because just as his son, she was as fast with remarks, crawling out from her mouth so quickly you couldn’t stop it.

Minho sat protective beside you, his hand still resting on your thigh, gripping the silky fabric that was laying displayed on your skin when he tried to keep his anger inside, like he needed you to anchor himself in.

You gently looked at him and he looked nothing like the composed Minho. Because you saw he was angry, irritated, disappointed. The sunglasses once placed on his nose was now no where in sight, you only imagined that he had taken them off and they were placed neatly in the same room as Kyuri. Safe and cuddly with Soonie, Doongie and Dori.

“Advices on what? Lessons on being disrespectful towards other women who has experienced the same children situation as yourself?” He knew how to bite back, you know I bite the way I bark.

The bites were clawing their way higher up his throat and he couldn’t stop them. He didn’t want to stop them, straggle them. He let them slip. And you were thankful for him in those moments.

”if I were you, I would apologise to her right now.” He simply said, nothing fake underneath.

And just as you were about to open your mouth to protest. You heard the deck creak behind you and a small shadow fell from the doorway.

You froze and Minho sensed it.

You didn’t want to turn around because you didn’t know how long she had stood there or if she did come down just now. You hoped she didn’t hear anything and if she did, you would surely know it sooner or later. She was smart but she didn’t really know how to hold in things she wasn’t supposed to hear and lie.

Kyuri stood in the doorway, innocent and wondering. You could only hope she didn’t hear anything.

“Mommy, I need to pee.” Her voice calm and not a hint of confusion at all.

You looked behind Minho, his eyes found yours before he settled them back towards the table.

“Okay I’m coming sweetheart.” You softly prompted at her, letting her know that you were over at her side in seconds.

You looked down at your lap and gently grabbed Minho’s hand that was still on your thigh, interlocking your fingers with his and giving it a gentle squeeze before you let it go and settled your eyes on the little girl standing with wandering eyes in the distance.

”I handle this, you just go.” He said when he felt you squeezing his hand, giving you a sincere look that reviled him all.

You knew he would also be following you along after some time. He just wanted everyone to know they should treat you with respect, no matter what. And of course he also wanted to be with you and Kyuri more than being fake interested in the conversation.

You slowly nodded and gave him a kiss on the cheek before you rose from your seat, the chair loud in the tense air and made your way over to Kyuri and disappeared in search for the toilet.

Leaving the guest wondering by themselves. Letting them figure out what whenever you and Minho was. If you’re friends? Lovers? Co existing single mom with an amazing friend?

Because friends everybody can be, just not in the same way you and Minho are.

But in this moment nothing matters more than your little girl and her favourite person. Your little girl who was brave enough to go down the stairs from the comfort in Minho’s room and then down into the lively atmosphere, through all the people she barely knew and then to you. It made your heart warm.

Because in this moment you didn’t care. You didn’t.

And it’s an art being friends.

And it’s an art being more than friends.

And whatever art you and Minho were, you surely weren’t neither of it.

You were like a married couple, but not officially married yet. And having a child involved who was everything to both of you. And the colours wouldn’t stop making their way into the canvas more and more.

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Author notes - 2 more chapters to go… I love to write these chapters so much. This is my favourite series of mine

I’m gonna try to write and get the fifth chapter done in these two following weeks, but due to exams and stuff and that it is the last weeks of school, it may be tight. But I’m gonna try. :)!!

You didn’t bother to right them or ask if they were excited for the concert because then it would be a slap in the face for them that their bias really was together with someone and that you’re Lee knows girlfriend.

And the fans who saw you alone without Minho they immediately knew it was you so you thought it was better let it be than actually confirming and break some more of the fangirling fans hearts right here on the tour.

You just wanted everyone to enjoy what they been waiting for. And for the record the Stays was more interested in seeing the boys than their own broken hearts.

You got through security nice and easy, showing them the pass around your neck to indicate that you knew one of the members and most importantly was together with one of them.

You and Minho have been together since his predubt. He was nine-teen and you were eight-teen, two teenagers who found themselves and decided to live their life together and now you were here. In the beginning you worked as a stylist for the team in 2018 before you got assigned as one of Stray kids backup dancers. And that mostly sums up the story.

You as a dancer and he as a dancer.

You stayed late sometimes practice late night dances together, late night snacks, stayed glued to each other sides when dance practice got too hard or someone got scolded. You did everything together while you kept it low in the start of your relationship, some fans had already figured it out and started speculating.

But it was first in 2020 you declared your relationship to the public and it got different reactions.

Some stays had suspected that you may be seeing each other while others got very surprised. Some supported it to 100 procent, seeing the way you took care of each other. And the more Stray kids grew, you and Minho also grew tighter.

Sometimes you and him were seen on Skz talker just sitting beside each other, taking.

And the Skz talker were you and him was being filmed taking a nap together, cuddled up on the small couch with your concert clothes already on, everybody knew it was a start on a long good healthy relationship.

So since then you had just stuck together, 7 years of excitement, praise, love and dedication.

Minho had told you come backstage before the concert to see him, because he said that you were his “lucky charm” while you just softly laughed at him and pressed yourself closer to him in the company car.

So now you’re here because you said you come backstage after the concert because you wanted it to be a surprise for Minho to see you here.

You had told him that you were coming along on the whole tour to be there for him on the both good and bad days. He knew that you maybe weren’t able to come on every one of their concerts but he knew for sure you were coming on every you could.

What he didn’t expect was that you would be here for the Washington DC show.

With the sun lying like a blanket on the sky.

You stepped inside the area and people were already seated. The concert was starting in around 30 minutes. You pushed through the people crowd, going down the concrete steps and down onto the floor. People claimed their spots on the barricades, clutching the metal bars like life lines. Some people had sat down, chatting their time off until it started.

“Excuse me.” You softly said, trying to make your way through many people to get to the barricade.

You had a saved spot on the barricade that Minho had fixed for you.

You got through and now you were also one of the people clutching the metal, the stage was massive and you had a good view of everything from your spot. The sun was bashing in on the arena, the warmth was felt through your clothes, slipping through and burning your skin and the concert hadn’t even begun.

Your phone buzzed and you saw Minho’s messages popped up.

“We’re going onstage in 5 minutes.”

“I’m excited, you will surely look amazing.”

“Don’t act surprised when I come to your corner later😉”

“Just do your thing❤️”

And exactly as he said, they got onstage.

They crown roarers and the shouting started, fans pushing forward and phones in the air. Every one of them looked amazing, they wore their first clothes of the dance. The music proceeded and everything flashed in a blur. The dancing, the sound, the bass, the heartbeats, the singing. Everything was perfect and seemed going good for some time.

It was then it came down, the sun came faster and hotter.

Minho was at your corner and looked at you with softness in his eyes, the fans around you started shouting around you because they knew you were together and everything got higher.

Performance clothes got changed and their dances got harder, better than ever.

The song was bounce back and the leather pants on Minho looked perfect but when the sun proceeded it looked painful. They danced their hearts out and the sweat was coming faster and faster, both from the crowd and the members.

You looked around and saw how everyone was warm and happy but the sun was still the villain.

You heard a small panic shout behind you as you fast turned around and saw the same girls who had seen you in the security was now on the floor, hovering over their friend who had passed out.

“Minho!”

You quickly your head around and looked in his direction.

And although all the shouting he still heard you because you were the only one who called him Minho instead of Lee know or Minho-ssi out of politeness. and his eyes found yours while he fast jogged over to your side.

“Water!” You breathlessly said, seeing his eyes soft and worried.

He crouched down at your side of the stage and ordered for some of the security guards to come, he quickly spoke to them while he pointed at you and they quick walked to your side to hand you the water.

“Thanks” You softly said.

Your eyes drifted back to Minho who was not crouched down anymore but he was still hovering around your area of the stage. Giving him a smile before you turned attention back to the woman on the floor.

“Here, lay it on her forehead to cool her down.” You said, trying to work fast to not make it worse.

“We need to get her feet high up.” You ordered her friend who quickly took her jacket and put it down under her passed out friend’s legs to put them up in the air to make the blood come back.

In this moment you didn’t care about the fact that you’re Lee knows girlfriend. Right now you’re apart of a fan community supporting each other.

The ambulance service came fast and they picked her up to get her to a more safer place than on the floor in the arena, her friend gave you a mouthed “thank you” before she followed her friend.

You sat there for some minutes before you stood up and turned around to see people going back to shouting and dancing like nothing happened. Minho eyes was still on your body, he didn’t take them off you for one second when you helped the fan or after.

You looked at him and gave him a small thumbs up to indicate that it was stable for now.

It was then you realised how badly the sun had got.

Minho was now pushing and giving his all, he was still wearing the leather pants and had taken off his jacket and was now in his sweat soaked white shirt with the red tie hanging around his neck.

He looked hot, hotter than you ever had seen him but he also looked mushed, tired, overheated.

The sweat ran off him and all you wanted was for him to get off so he also didn’t faint. Your hands come up to tug at your own shirt, trying to pull the fabric away from your skin as possible.

“As we all see the sun is strong today but we’re stronger so let’s make this day an unforgettable one!” Chans voice was quite cut off by the stage producers coming in to make their way over to him.

You felt the sweat drip off you like water, the fans around you was passing water bottles around like cookies. Chans voice popped up fast before he declared that the concert was declined and it was ending earlier but he promised to compromise for the fans who paid to see them live.

People started to drift off one by one.

You looked along the members and Chans eyes saw you and he just gave you a small and a head nod-tilt backwards for you to get backstage.

You nodded your head.

They pushed through one last song before they got off and you how Minho really gave his all and you knew he worked himself towards the limit. The sweat dripped off him, the sun catching his perfect face and hair. His toned arms glowing with sweat. He was still on stage, walking around and making it the best of the situation.

You saw the way he fought with the heat, his hands coming up to grab at his tie to quickly rip off around his neck onto the stage floor. You saw how his eyes found yours and he walked towards your section. He still managed to look mesmerising even when he was overheated and dripping in sweat.

“I’m okay, jagi.” He spoke directly into the mic.

The fans screams got louder when they realised Lee know was close and you were in front of him. He flashed you a knowing smirk but you saw the dizziness behind his eyes. He got up again and walked back to the rest of the members to bid off the Stays goodbye.

“Minho, get off!” Your voice came out louder than you ever heard it.

You screamed because you didn’t know what else to do, the only thing you wanted was for him to get off and backstage to cool off. You saw the motion when his head turned slightly to the side to listen like he actually heard your voice.

You felt the anxious feeling creeping up closer and closer to close around your throat. You absolutely didn’t want him to faint or get a heatstroke because if he would that, you would be one fast sprinting over the barricade onto the stage infront of millions of fans and take care of him in a worrying state.

The members stood on a row and bid goodbyes and sorry for ending the concert earlier but explaining how it was because of the heat. Minhos tired face was the last thing you saw before you pulled yourself out from the crowd and walked your way backstage in hope to find a resting Lee know.

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Backstage swarmed with all sort of personal, stylist, dancers, producers, medical team and then the members. Chan sits the couch, water bottles scattered around on the table, a fan in his hand. He looks exhausted and warm.

His head looks up when he sees you enter, his eyes go soft with that undertone of years of knowing of your and Minho’s relationship.

“Y/n.”

“You should ended the concert earlier before it got too warm.” You softly said.

“I know.” He replied in a dragged tone, like he was disappointed in himself.

The staff still swarmed around you, opening, slamming doors, discussing different ways they could handle it all better.

“Is he okay?” You glanced towards a door that was halfway closed. “Where is he?” You continued, your voice coming out worried.

“Y/n, shouldn’t be the one alone taking care of the fans who’s fainting!”

You looked over and heard it, Minho’s voice. Coming from his dressing room.

“We’re so sorr-“

He cut them off with the sound of his hands slamming onto a nearby table.

“That’s the thing we security for!” His shout could be heard because you saw the way staff who walked past stiffened.

“My own girlfriend of seven years could clearly do better than you.”

You looked over at Chan who only nodded his head at you to walk in and make your presence known, both for the staff sakes and Minho’s. You pushed the door opened, and all the heads turned to you.

Minho’s voice died immediately when he saw you.

The staff was standing awkwardly while Minho was seated on one of the small armchairs.

“I’m sorry for him, he’s just a little exhausted and whiny.” You apologised to the staff who quickly responded by saying it was alright and sprinted their way to the door and closed it, leaving you and Minho behind alone.

“I’m not whiny.” He sternly said, his eyes tracing your face.

“I have known you for seven years, I know when you’re whiny and when you’re just tired.” You replied, your voice firm.

You walked over to him and sat down beside him, your thighs touching his thick ones. He was still in stage outfit, the leather pants, his white shirt that was clinging to his chest, the red tie laying on the table to your surprise because of the way he tossed it on stage.

“Where do you keep the cold packs and your fans?” You simply said, not bothering with his pouting words.

“On the dressing table outside.” He smugly said, a smirk forming on his lips.

“Wait here and I be right back.” You said, making your way up from the armrest when you felt a warm strong hand wrap around your waist to pull back down on the couch.

You plopped down on the soft cushions again with a thud, your back hitting Minho’s chest as you sat down. You heard him sigh behind you, his warm breath fanning your neck.

“Minho.” You whispered, your hand coming to try to free you from his hold.

“Mmm?” He whispered softly.

His hand left your waist and he simply leaned back against the couch, letting you sit close on him, your thighs brushing tighter than ever. You felt small fingers reaching out and suddenly they settled in your back, drawing shapes all over your back which made your body tingle.

“Just stay here with me for some time.” You heard him whisper behind you.

“I need you more than the cold packs and the fans do.”

You slightly froze at that moment, all of your years together and ever since you got together, Minho never had been someone who easily mouthed out his own needs and he instead only took focus on your feelings. So when he said the words, you don’t know if it was the heat or his brain decided to be brave.

You turned your head back to look at him and he still looked composed, the sweat was still sticky on his honey skin but something in his face looked painful, like he really really needed you more than the cold packs. You leaned back to settle comfortably beside him, feeling him shift closer to you.

You slowly looked at him and his hair was pushed back, so his forehead was visible, you slowly lifted your hand to fix a strand that was out of place when his head tipped down to your shoulder. Your hand remained above his head before it settled back into his styled sprayed hair. The strands warm against your fingertips. Leaning your cheek against his head, you heard him sigh against you, letting out a breath, you knew he needed to let out. His hand reached out to trace around your thigh before he easily grabbed and gently lifted it to placed it on top of his, his hand warm against your skin. Inhaling his smell of sweat and his vanilla cologne.

“I was so worried.” You whispered.

“You were?” He slowly asked, like he didn’t really believe you.

“Yeah, I thought you would faint.” You replied, your fingers still resting in his soft hair.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get off when you told me too.” His voice came out low and husky.

His hand carefully pushing and pulling the soft flesh around your thigh, the veins visible from the heat.

“I understand why you didn’t but the only thing that matters now, is that you’re okay.” You said, giving his head a small kiss.

“You were really professional down there.” He said, his fingers tracing shapes onto the plush of your thigh.

“What do you mean?”

“The Stray you helped when she fainted, you handled it good.” His voice slightly cracked at the end, like that moment meant more to him than he could say.

“I just did what I hope everyone would do in that situation.” You replied, your hand skimming down to trace over his warm shoulder, slowly grabbing the visible muscle around it.

“You like the sleeveless shirt that much?” He asked.

“Shut up, mr perfect.” You jokingly replied, pushing your shoulder closer to him to try to push him off.

Your hand was still on his arm, your fingers closing around the muscle before you squeezed it, feeling him slightly flex under your fingers before you settled it back on top of his hair.

“I will admit that you looked pretty hot out there, especially when you ripped off the red tie.” You breathed out.

His head lifted from your shoulder to look at you, his eyes soft and brown. His hand left your thigh to comes rest on your waist again, pulling you closer to his face.

“I’m glad I found you in my predubt years because I don’t think I would survived otherwise.”

You smiled at him because you knew it was his way of saying I love you and even after years of being together his way of saying I love you didn’t change and you don’t want it too. Because that part of him belongs to himself only.

“I love you too, Minho.”

His eyes traced your face before he locked them onto your own, he leaned his face close so your noses were gracing each other, you could feel his warm breath against your mouth. He gently leaned in and captured your lips with his, kissing you with a gentleness that took your breath away. You sighed against his mouth, tasting the salty sweat that was still clinging to his lips. Kissing him back with the same softness before you pulled back to look at him, his ears a shade of pink.

Your hands skimmed over his face before you pulled him back in for a second kiss, his mouth hot and soft against your own. Your hands wandered from his face down to his sweat drenched shirt, fingers slowly working on unbuttoning the buttons before the fabric opened.

He slowly broke the kiss to look at your action, his forehead resting against yours while you heard his fast breath coming out short. Your eyes found his and you pressed a small kiss to the corner of his mouth before you tugged at his shirt and slipped it off completely. Leaving him bare before you, his chest was heaving, his toned honey skin warm and sticky from the sweat. You knew Minho wasn’t one for showing off or showing his abs. But he surely had it.

His toned stomach was on display for your liking and as many times as you had seen him naked, he still managed to take your breath away every time. Your fingers reached out to trace over his collarbones to down his stomach where you run your fingers over his abs, feeling him shiver.

“I really hope you know how hot you look every day.” You breathlessly said, taking away your fingers from his burning core to settle them around his shoulders.

“Oh jagi, trust me, I know.” He smirk before he connected his lips to yours again, hot and firm this time.

“Would it be weird if I asked you to take me here?” You whispered out, your voice barely over a whisper.

He slowly pulled to look at you before he carefully touched you and helped you to lay down on the couch, your back hitting the cushions while he was hovering over you.

“After 7 years, I think everybody is quite used to us being loud.” He said, his usual playful tone back to its original form.

So that’s what you did, you pressed him closer and kissed him again, you shifted beneath him when he undressed you, taking his time and being the gentleman he is. Because that was exactly what he needed, to feel you close after a bad concert and you needed him to feel loved. You were bare underneath him while you helped him out from the uncomfortable leather pants and threw them onto the floor to settle him back against you. The black leather shiny in the heat.

“I couldn’t breathe in those pants.” He breathlessly said when his fingers connected with your sensitive area, working their way up to your limit before he dragged out a breathy moan from you.

“Oh, god Minho.”

“Was it you or your cock who couldn’t breathe in the pants?” You teased back, trying to make your words hearable over your own dizzy moans.

“Both” he smirked.

His lips worked easily against yours, pulling back to draw out a soft breath from you before his lips found yours again. His teeth founding your bottom lip to gently ask permission to slip in tongue inside. The hand left your body to settle behind your head while yours were still wrapped around his neck.

“Ah, oh my-“ you moaned out when he pushed in and started moving his hips in a bruising motion. You clung to him, your head tipped back on the armrest, his lips leaved soft kisses on your neck. His tongue darting out to gently skim over the place he kissed before he formed a visible hickey that the Stays and the members would most likely see. Only the muffling sounds of both of your fast breathing and your failed attempts at silencing your moans could be heard along the rest of the members.

“You’re perfect, squeezing around me like that.” He whispered out, his breath raspy, shaky in a new way.

“Minho, I’m close.” You replied, moving your hips up to his to seek the friction.

His head tipped to rest on your chest, the sweat was coming down, his styled hair had loosened from its hold, the black strands falling as they want.

“Let go, jagi.” He whispered, pressing his lips to your shoulder to indicate that you were good to go.

You felt your climax sealing its way up and then everything happened in a blur. The friction was everywhere.

“Oh!” your orgasm came crashing down and so did his when he pushed his hips one last time to yours before he slowed down but remained inside you. Your ragged breaths could be heard in the air, the smell of sweat, sex and his vanilla scent filled the room fast.

You stayed there for a moment, his body pushed close to your body, he was lying catching his breath on top of you. His face squashed against your neck, giving small kisses on the warm skin while one of your hands was in his hair, running through the sweaty strands while the other one was drawing small shapes on his back. His bare back warm and hot under your fingertips. You leaned down and kissed his forehead one last time before you heard the sounds of the rest of the members moving around outside.

“Minho! The live stream is starting in 3!” Chans leader voice could be heard shouting from the other side.

“We’re busy, start without me!”

You knew they had heard you, but you both were to wrapped up in each other to bother. The door then suddenly opened the tiniest bit and Chan’s head slipped past and looked at you two wrapped around each other.

“Just so you know the Stays are gonna exactly figure out what you are doing if you aren’t there, Minho.” His voice was soft, low like he didn’t really went the others to hear. Wanting Minho to know he gave him an option to either come in the live some minutes late or not at all be in the live.

“The Stays already know either way.” Minho’s voice popped in the crook of your neck, he slowly lifted his head to look at Chan who stood patiently in the doorway.

“It’s your choice, hyung.” Chans happy voice could be heard when he closed the door.

You looked down at Minho, your hand skimming out from his hair and slowly pushed him carefully away from you.

“You should go, I be here waiting for you.” You softly said while you tangled yourself out from him and stood up to walk over where he kept his change of clothes and reached down to look for a fresh pair of panties of yours that you knew he always kept for you inside his bag.

You also took out a shirt of his, slipped on the panties and his shirt, the fabric swallowing you whole but so originally his scent. He also raised from the couch and walked over to his clothes, he took out a new pair of boxers and one of the t-shirt were their logo, merch was imprinted on the front of the shirt and some nice black shorts to just have on for the sake.

He looked at you before he slowly held out his arms and slipped them around your shoulders to pull you in for a hug. You instantly melted in his embrace, your hands come up to wrap around his waist, gripping his shirt and pulling him closer. You lent your head on his shoulder and he rested his head onto your hair, giving you a soft kiss.

“I be back.”

You knew Chan knows Minho deep down and on one point he knows that Minho needed this as much as you did. He knew how he could get on days were thing didn’t go as plan, were Minho had a hard time expressing his emotions.

And especially on day like this when the sun was bashing on them and Minho did his best, he was already aware of how he would react. Minho didn’t want to be seem that he was struggling and under the years of knowing you, Chan saw that you helped Minho with those feelings and sometimes let him figured them out on his own but you were always close by.

Chan knew you were what he needed. Minho needed you after bad days, bad concerts, everything and you didn’t dismissed him, you easily just embraced him and let him be himself. Let him rest with you. You didn’t try to change the way Minho was, you simply accepted him for who he was and lived with all the versions of him that brought you joy every day. 7 years of support, hard times, hard working but in the end it was worth it and you knew it. Because you would always love everything about Minho.

Both the Lee know parts and the Lee Minho parts.

Her birthday was on a sunny day and she had texted her son that she had decided to have the celebration outside in their pretty and big garden.

You hadn’t bought a present for her but Minho said it was alright and that he had already fixed a present for her and that it could be a gift from both of you.

It was like he just took for granted that the present was from both of you.

And you didn’t even get a chance to say no.

Not that you didn’t want to, it just made your head spin even more than before, around the thoughts about what you and Minho really were.

Maybe you never really were friends to begin with?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You were standing in your bedroom with Kyuri sitting on the bed, her feet dangling from the beg with happiness.

Minho was in the bathroom, taking a shower to wash off yesterday’s stream and feelings. The shower was loud enough to sip through the door, the water drops falling down like pouring rain.

You were going through Kyuri’s wardrobe while she looked at you with big eyes, her fingers playing with her bunny plushie. You had laid out some options for her that she just brushed off, saying it was too plain to have on a birthday. She wanted to look fancy for Minho’s mom’s birthday.

“What about this, sweetie?” You softly asked while holding out a light blue dress with small pink flowers on it.

“No, mommy, it’s too basic.” Her voice was soft, filled with early sleep.

“Mmm, Kyuri baby, you have said that at everything that I have shown you.” You replied, your fingers still gracing the light blue dress.

You turned around and saw how she hoped down from the bed, fingers leaving the bunny plushie behind her on the bed, her small feet landing on the floor, padding towards you.

She walked up to you and her small hands reached out to gently grab at your hands. Her whole hand closed around your pointy and middle finger.

“Mommy, I don’t.. know what to wear.” She whispered, quietly so only you heard her.

You slowly crouched down and rested your interlocked hands carefully against your leg, your thumb drawing small circles on her skin.

“What do you have in mind that you want to wear then sweetheart?” You carefully asked, not wanting to rush her into something that she wouldn’t be comfortable wearing.

“Something light but.. I have to look pretty for Min-min’s parents.” She replied, her voice soft and excited.

You looked at her, really looked at her, her small features, her slightly messy sleepy hair. She still looked sweet, peaceful.

But the way she said that she needed to look pretty for Minho’s parents stuck too deep inside your head. Because she has never been a person that doesn’t care if she makes a good or bad impression on someone else.

You already knew Minho’s parents would love her.

But when she stated the words, you knew it mattered to her more than you could ever imagine.

You leaned in to kiss her temple before you let go of her hand, stood up and walked to her other wardrobe, where she had some more dresses and clothes that was in a lighter shade that she had bought when her mind decided that she should do a small change.

You reached for the knob and opened it, searching between the hangers of clothes before you found the dress that she wore the first time she met Minho.

It was a light beige dress, short armed and with some small frills that were shaped as flowers on the end of the arms. It was a thin fabric so it was not to warm so she would sweat in it and not to cold so she would freeze.

Kyuri was still standing by the first wardrobe but she had turned her body towards you and her eyes lighted up when saw the dress you held out.

“What about this one, you want to try it?” Your voice came out louder than you intended because you realised that the shower wasn’t going anymore.

You looked towards the bathroom door and saw Minho standing in the door opening, a smile playing at his lips, his hair wet and plastered away from his forehead, he had a towel wrapped around his waist. Water-drops skimming down his toned skin, he looked absolutely ravishing.

You looked at him and saw how his eyes wandered over you and Kyuri, soft and sweet. You quickly looked away from him, not wanting him to see the small blush that crept up on your face.

“Yeah, I want that one.” Kyuri said, her voice high and you saw how her eyes drifted to Minho standing in the doorway.

She made out a small smile when she padded over to where you were standing and took the dress from your hands, put it on the bed and held your hand to balance herself when she stepped out from the previous dress she tried.

“Mommy, what are you and Min-min wearing?” She whispered when she had clothed herself.

“I think I’m going to wear something light like you, sweetheart.” You said, your voice low and wobbly.

“Yay! Then we all can match!” She happily replied, skipping her way over to the mirror.

You saw her standing in front of the mirror, looking at her herself, it made your heart melt. Seeing your little girl dressing herself like it was the easiest task on earth.

She looked fancy standing in her light dress with frills, nothing like the crying Kyuri yesterday.

Because the tension from yesterday still lingered.

Nothing that you and Minho couldn’t break through but it was still hard for Kyuri.

You saw it in the way she avoided Minho more than usual when he came home yesterday like she didn’t really know how to say sorry. You knew she never wanted Minho to feel bad but she also didn’t know how to say sorry to make him feel better.

So when she finally made up the courage to say it, settling herself down on the couch beside him, watching the tv play, something in you just went away, the stress, the hurt, the pain.

She needed to say it and he needed to hear it.

She made her way to you and slowly tapped your leg to indicate that she was happy in the choice you made for her.

“Mommy, do my hair later?” She slowly asked, her eyes gracing over your face.

“Of course, baby, why don’t you go out in the living room for a while and wait for me and Minho to get ready, hm?” You replied, slowly reaching out to run your fingers through her hair.

“Okay, mommy!” She happily said, skipping out the door and down the hallway.

You stood there, slowly watching her run out the door and disappearing.

She looked absolutely stunning in her little dress.

You didn’t even dare to look at Minho who was still standing in the doorway, the stupid towel wrapped around his waist and his dark hair pushed back so his delicious forehead was showing.

You heard him let out a small sigh, the sound of him letting go of the door lining was too loud in the thundering apartment.

The hard wood floor creaking under his movements.

You stood frozen on your spot when you felt him coming closer and closer before he stood right behind you.

The warmth of the shower and his warm breath fanning your neck, his arms lifted to slip around your shoulders to rest on your chest, fingers caressing your shoulder. He slowly pushed the side of his face against your head.

You felt yourself letting go and you leaned back against him, slowly tilting your head to rest against his collarbones, feeling the water slowly soaking your hair. Your hands come up to hold his forearms, fingers gracing the warm skin.

You gently turned your head and pushed the side of your face closer to his, pressing your nose to his neck, feeling his pulse point and inhaling his soft, soapy smell.

“She looked as cute as you right now.” He whispered, his voice tingling in your ear.

You slowly traced his arms, the warm skin lovable for your own good.

“Yeah..” you replied, your face still pressed to his neck. “She really had a hard time deciding.”

“You managed to get her something she actually wanted to have on.” He said, his arms tightened around you as the minutes passed.

“You saw the way I fought, right?” You laughed out.

“You were doing good.” He replied, seeing his visible smirk.

You sighed, slowly pushing yourself closer to him, by the time passing, Minho’s body had been drying, his toned warm body soft behind you. His still soft wet hair tickling the side of your face.

You always knew that Minho had been well toned and trained, not hard-work gym trained but still trained enough to take breaths away.

Still toned enough for you.

He had always had that soft muscles, he was not thin or overly muscular. He was slim, neat, perfectly muscular for his own good.

Minho had always been good-looking and over the years you had known each other, he just become more and more confident.

“Should we match?” He softly spoke after a while.

Your breath caught and you stiffened slightly, your body sensed that he also felt it.

“If you want.” You breathed out, still face deep into his warm neck.

You didn’t except him to hear when Kyuri said that she wanted to match clothes with you and when your brain acknowledged it, you became more aware of the fact.

That Kyuri really meant what she said and that it wasn’t something just out of happiness. Nobody other than her would be happier if the all three of you matched with the light theme.

Maybe you should match?

Just for the sake of Kyuris happiness and your aching hearts?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Minho’s arms had let go of you and you were now sitting on the bed, the cushions soft under you. Your eyes drifting over to him time to time when he easily moved around in the room.

You had slipped on your dress, a light white long silky dress with spaghetti straps and an open back. Your legs were bare and the dress was pooled around you when you sat on the bed.

You sat there for a while, letting your thoughts run free before you managed to get up and walk to the bathroom to start on touching up your makeup and fix your hair.

You walked into bathroom, the polished hard marble floor cold under your bare feet. You slipped to the mirror and stood in front of it, looking at yourself, you looked neat, put together.

Not like the single-mom you who spent morning and nights helping and watching over your little daughter who was everything to you.

Taking care of her like it was all you ever had done in your entire life.

Kyuri was an easy baby, sure.

She never cried at night, at least not in the beginning.

She ate whatever you gave her, if it was baby food, she ate it, if it was meatballs and potatoes, she ate it.

She never complained, just only when she felt like she needed it. She was easy to drop off and get her home from daycare.

She was the easy child you never knew you needed.

You did your hair in a bun and added some blush and highlighter before you gently skimmed your hands over your body to smooth over your dress when you saw Minho’s figure stepping inside the bathroom through the mirror. Minho was wearing a light linen shirt, see through enough for you to feel the blood rush to your face. He had opened half of the buttons, so his delicate honey skin was visible, the fine line of his collarbones. He looked mesmerising, he had a pair light beige pants on that matched his whole style.

“You look beautiful.” He whispered, pushing himself from the doorway.

He slowly stepped behind you, his hands reached out to slipped around your waist, resting lightly on your hips. Your eyes found his in the mirror before you slowly pushed yourself back against him, your back against his chest.

You dropped your hands from your dress to carefully hold onto the sink counter when you felt his hands grip the fabric of your dress.

You felt a bit boulder, letting yourself relax in front of him.

Flirting with him as he did with you.

You don’t know if it is the way his clothes hug his body or the way he mindlessly decided to style himself like he was walking sex or something deeper that burned.

In that moment you slowly pushed your lower part back to him, your bum gently graced his core. You felt him stiffened behind you, his fingers gripping your hips tighter when the thin fabric of your clothes graced each other. You still had your eyes on him and his were fixed on your whole body.

You jumped slightly when you felt his hand drop from your waist, letting go of the fabric to slowly work their way down to your bum, his hand skimming over the silky fabric before he respectfully squeezed your bum.

“Don’t.” His voice was low and dangerous.

His hand remained on your bum, settling over the side of your hip but his thumb still close in contact so he could rub small circles onto the skin over your bum. His other hand remained on your waist. You already knew what he meant by the words, because someday he would explode too and the words you labelled as friends wouldn’t be “friends” anymore.

Minho is also just a man with normal desires and you are also just a woman with normal desires sharing the same space with a smart 3 year old.

“What, I’m not doing anything.” You whispered, keeping your eyes locked onto his.

“You know exactly what you’re doing to me.” He whispered back, his voice close to your neck.

“Do I?” You gently teased.

His hands tightening on your skin, his hands suddenly leaving your burning bum and waist to quickly spin you around and suddenly you’re pressed up against the sink counter. His arms caging you in his hold, hands finding their way on the counter beside you.

You felt yourself push back so much until your head bumped against the mirror, his body close to yours.

“Don’t you how much I’m resisting these days, jagi?”

“Educate me.” You provoked, still knowing he wouldn’t do anything that you don’t want.

“Every day when I see you with Kyuri, I just wish she was mine.”

“I know, I do too.” You shaky breathed out.

Your fingers gripped the sink tighter at his and your own words.

“I can always step over..our boundaries if you want” He rasped, his voice slightly cracking in the end.

You tilted your head up and his face was close to yours, your noses touching each other, his hot breath fanning over your mouth.

If you just tilted your head slowly to the side, your lips would have collided with each other.

Something in you snapped, so that’s what you did.

You slowly tilted your head and leaned in, letting your lips touch his, his lips were hot and firm against your own. Feeling him sigh against you, he kissed you back with the same carefulness. He slowly pulled back to look at you before his hands left the counter to grip your waist to pull you against his lips one more time.

Your breath hitched as he kissed you again, you worked your lips easily with his, every pull and push was magical.

Your arms slipped up around his shoulder to tangle in his perfectly styled hair.

You pressed your lips to his one last time before slowly pulling back with a shaky, fast breath and you rested your forehead against his. You looked at him and allowed yourself to trace his face, the seriousness and softness in it that he always had.

His styled hair was glorious, he had done it like he always did, putting som gel in but still keeping his middle part with the small bangs hanging soft from his forehead that was now gracing your skin.

You felt his fingers tightening in the fabric of your dress again.

Neither of you moved or said anything for sow minutes, you simply stood there, the warmth enveloping you fast, your face still close to each other, your lips pink and flushed but something stopped.

”Minho..”

“You’re okay..”

He just looked at you before he silenced you by pressing his lips to yours once more. Firm and hot this time, his breath shaky against your own. You didn’t even think, you answered his kiss by pushing yourself closer to him, letting your lips linger on each other.

You know your feelings for each other, you didn’t have to speak it out, it was everything you did for each other, the small glances and touches.

Kyuri wouldn’t be mad if she knew you and Minho got together, she would be over the moon.

So what stops you?

Fear?

Humiliation? Because Minho never once in his life would do anything to humiliate you and you can’t even get that thought inside your head to do that to him.

Nothing stops you, but something is still holding you both back.

But what?

The label Friends?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The drive to Gimpo, to Minho’s parents was fast. You didn’t even mention the kiss between you and Minho in the bathroom. It was like a wall that has been removed, gone. It felt like some of the hard tension, the worry and the ache was gone.

Minho was driving and you were sitting in the passenger seat, his hands displayed on your thigh, bushing up the sliky dress fabric to the side so he had access to lay his hand on your thigh. His thumb rubbing smothering circles onto the skin.

Kyuri was in the backseat, sitting comfortably on the leather seats of Minho’s car. She was chatting with herself, occasionally speaking to you and Minho to ask questions for her cartoon that she was watching when she didn’t understand.

She fit in his car, content and calm.

Minho’s car was an G80 standard Genesis, a Savile silver one that was well worked and cleaned. Everything about the car screamed Minho, it matched his whole aura. It was an easy way to Minho’s childhood home, even though the roads were busy with all kind of cars. Taxis, Ubers, family cars. It still felt peaceful.

The ocean roared with the speed of the car.

The moment you turned in on a narrow street, you knew you were closer to Minhos house than before. You felt yourself sink deeper into the passager seat, slowly reaching down to lay your hand over Minho’s whose hand still rested warm on your thigh.

“You’re okay.” He resumed you.

You gently gripped his fingers to play with to clam yourself down, glancing back to Kyuri sitting comfortably in the back seat, happily playing with her iPad and touching the car interior.

“They already love you.” Minhos voice popped up, low and safe.

“You really think that?” You said, shaky with nerves.

“Because we haven’t seen each other in years and now I’m suddenly showing up.” You continued your rambling until you felt his hand slip out from your hold, the warmth leaving your thigh to offer his palm flat up.

You caught a glance of his eyes before you slipped your fingers to his, feeling the warm skin beneath you. He slowly brought your intertwined hands to his lips, gently kissing your knuckles.

“My mom would the happiest if she saw you again after these years, I promise.”

The soft thud of the car wheels bumping up on the sidewalk curve and onto their driveway, Minho parked the car, and now you were here in front of their house. It was a normal looking house in Gimpo, a slightly bigger house enough to fit a lot of people. Modern but still the exterior white and light with traditional design and furniture.

You stepped out from the car and into the fresh air. The sound of the car doors closing was loud enough to rattle your thoughts. Minho also stepped out, still handsome as ever. He threw a look over the roof of the car and you only gave a nod in response to let him know to take Kyuri out.

He walked to where she was still seating content in the car, completely unaware of the two other people’s actions and feelings were tumbling.

“You alright, princess?”

Kyuri only nodded her head as she stretched her arms out for Minho to pick her up. He unbuckled her seatbelt and hoisted her up into his arms, settling her close on his hip. Kyuri happy to be in the arms of the man she liked so deeply.

You followed his movements when he walked around the car to your side, locking the car and handling his mother’s gift in your hands. His fingers slowly brushing yours. He still looked amazing with his light cream beige linen shirt, pants fitting him too good and sunglasses perched perfectly on his head.

“You ready?” He softly asked, shifting Kyuri in his arms.

“Yeah..” you whispered out, he still heard you.

You stood there looking at him, the sun bashing on his profile like it never ended. Clothes too sexual and romantic in the same breath for you to function. Kyuri in his arms, like she was made to be there.

Her arms were wrapped around his neck, face flushed flat on his shoulder. Legs dangling from his waist with every step he took. You knew she overly dramatically did the movement look bigger than it was but it still lingered in the back of your head.

━

You walked the steps up to their house and into the garden where all the people were gathered. Minhos parent’s garden was big enough to fit hundreds of people.

The laughter of people and children could be heard throughout the air.

Minhos mother was perched on a small outdoor chair, people swarming her like she was everything and the thing was she was. The people eased out when the saw her son walking towards her with a happy child in his arms. You were walking carefully beside Minho.

Kyuri was still in his arms, she had moved her hands so they were settled on his chest. One of her fingers was fumbling with the buttons on his shirt before she slipped her hand inside his shirt and settled it palm flat against his chest.

You saw the way they both melted. But something in her look and the way her eyes darted around the people felt off.

“Min-min” Kyuri whispered.

“Yeah?” He whispered back. Slowly shifting her so she could see where you were standing.

“Mommy..”

Your head slowly turned and looked at her, her arms stretched out towards you but still sitting comfortably on Minhos hip. It was in that moment you knew being in Minhos arms wasn’t enough to feel extremely comfortable. She needed the number one safe-line to feel safe. You knew she hadn’t completely taken in the surroundings around her and her little brain didn’t allow her to rest.

Your hand comes up to gently touch his shoulder, squeezing, feeling the muscles slowly relaxing under your touch.

“Go and say hi to your mom, Minho, I take her.” You softly said.

Letting him now it was alright and it wasn’t anything that he had done to make Kyuri uncomfortable. Because you knew the second she would be in your arms and the time she needed to take everything in, she would happily run into his arms again.

Because either how much you want to deny that you don’t feel anything towards him or Kyuris too little to know and understand. You can’t hide from the fact that he may feel the same.

Minho slowly transferred Kyuri into your arms, his fingers gracing her light beige dress. Her hand slowly leaved the warm place on his chest inside his shirt. You saw it in the eyes that he felt the bang of guilt again, that she wasn’t his. Minho sometimes shut you both out, isolated himself on days when he felt off and you saw the sadness he tried to suppress.

You quickly leaned up to kiss his cheek, his skin warm and sun-kissed.

“She’s gonna come to you the second she’s feels safe again.” You whispered in his ear.

A kiss to just resume him that everything was still going good between him and her and that you really knew what was going through her head. And you didn’t for one second doubt him about anything that revolved around Kuyri.

Because even if he tries to deny the thought that Kyuri doesn’t like him, he’s lying.

Lying so hard.

You stood there watching him walking over to his mom, hugging her and celebrating her. His mom embracing her son. You felt that maybe this is also just want he needed, something more to call home.

Something to come home to everyday.

And maybe that home had always been you and Kyuri.

Minho looked over in your direction and slowly ushered out a finger to indicate towards you to come closer. You gave a small smile in response, seeing the way his eyes lit up when you moved towards him. You held Kyuri close to you, her body on your hip felt warm and hopeful. Her eyes were still fasten on his siluette even when she was anxious, she still wanted him close.

Like she was something that pulled you and Minho closer than ever before.

And in between that you felt hopeful for what might come.

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G80 standard Genesis (Savile Silver) - If anyone is interested in the car that Minho drives through all the chapters. 🚗 ;)

Kyuri was running around the apartment, walking into every room she had seen hundreds of times before. Occasionally getting Minhos attention to make him follow her into a room to show off. Like she didn’t have a clue about was going on inside you and Minho’s head and the feelings you both shared.

Her body was sprawled out on the couch, on the floor, in the hallway doing all kind of stuff. Drawing one drawing in the hallway, two on the couch and when her energy come off she laid herself flat on the floor, playing with her bunny plushie in the air while her eyes wandered off to where Minho was standing like her soul would crumble if he wasn’t near her.

Her eyes had that curious glimt when she looked at him, he was more than “mommy’s friend” in her little eyes and that thought haunted you more than anything.

“Hi, baby.” Your voice comes out high when you heard footsteps entering the kitchen.

“Mommy, I’m hungry…” Kyuris voice was right behind you, your whole body showing when you heard her voice behind you.

Your fingers let go of the counter, you slowly turned around and your eyes met with Minhos face close to your own.

You pushed yourself closer to the counter by the sudden appearance of his but was quick to set your eyes on Minho, his smile wider than ever but his eyes still wandering over your face with hollow.

He looked nice like this, sleep clothes barely hanging on, barefoot and his black hair slightly messy but still in tact.

Kyuri whole body was still wrapped around Minho’s, her small arms clutched tightly around his shoulders, her fingers playing with his hair. Treading through the dark streaks with softness. The side of her face was pressed against Minhos shoulder, her sleepy state never really leaving. She looked peaceful, loved.

“Good morning again.” Minhos voice comes out soft and husky, still lingering with sleep.

His eyes tracing yours and the moment you catches his it locked.

Locked so hard it hurt.

“Good morning, Minho.” You replied, slowly leaning back on the counter to take in the whole scene.

He shifted Kyuri gently in his arms, his arms that are wrapped around her small body, slowly tracing his fingers back and forth on her back. You saw the way her skin tingled when his hands touched her skin like she needed him closer than she ever has.

Minho softly patted her back to indicate to let him go and turn around in his arms, she protested by squirming in his hold before she realised that she hadn’t a choice.

Her arms dropped around his neck, fingers slipping away from his hair and she turned herself around while Minho helped her by setting her on his hip. His grip still tight on her while her head flopped back onto his shoulder, her bunny plushie cradling protectingly in against herself.

“Min min is hungry.” Kyuris voice suddenly popped up, breaking the silence around you.

“Oh is he?, good thing that the breakfast is ready then.” You carefully joked out, hoping Minho doesn’t take it as bad as you know he can do when his thoughts are spiralling.

You threw a last glance to Minho before you turned around and gently ordered for them to settle down on the kitchen chairs while you finished the breakfast.

Kyuri was still perched on Minhos lap and whenever he tried to move her over to the chair next to him, she just clutched her fingers tighter and tighter in his sweatpants.

The fabric of his sweatpants crumbled together each time her fingers moved. Minho still looked composed but you could see he was tired, confused.

The thoughts between you two was closer and further away than ever.

You didn’t want to see Minho like that and he didn’t want to see you like that either but what can you do when it hurts?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Kyuri, eat your yogurt up then you can go and play again, hunny.” You softly said, leaning closer to her and gently lifting the spoon to her mouth.

“No.” She replied in that low, silent voice you knew meant more than she intended.

Kyuri had seated herself on the chair beside Minho a while ago when she noticed that he also needed space to eat and exist. He was perched and she was practically leaning into his shoulder so much that if he would move a centimetre she would fall flat into his lap again.

“Kyuri.” You said again, more firm while dipping the spoon into the yogurt bowl to scoop up some more, the liquid clean against the surface of the spoon.

You gently tried to bring up to her face again and just give her the chance to open her mouth. She only wiped her head quick to the side when the spoon come closer to her face, like it personally burned her.

She looked at you with those pleading eyes, the eyes that cut right through you and you couldn’t deny anything she wanted because you knew how she needed it more than the yogurt bowl right now.

You glanced up at Minho who was already looking at you, his eyes soft and sweet. He looked at you so carefully it touched right in the heart. He cocked an eyebrow to slowly indicate asking if you need help while he threw a glance towards the child setting neatly beside him.

You dipped the spoon into the yoghurt bowl again and only nodded your head in response, already knowing she was gonna eat the second Minhos voice popped up.

Like he was the only thing she needed.

“Wasn’t the princess hungry seconds ago or did I think wrong?” Minhos voice was low but firm.

The kind of voice you expected of him when he knew he needed to handle the fussy side of Kyuri.

“I was hungry.. but not anymore.” Her voice was slightly slimmer, silent like she didn’t really know if he was joking or serious.

“Aha, the little princess isn’t hungry anymore?” His eyes skimmed over your face, a small smirk forming on his lips.

His hand comes out to gently grab the spoon you had dipped into the bowl, your fingers skimming over the metal, brushing together and the burning feeling of skin against skin. His fingers gripped the spoon and scooped up some yogurt and held the spoon out for Kyuri to decide to lean in or leave.

“You know what I think?” He suddenly asked, he ran a hand through his black hair, the streaks coming out silky in the morning sun.

Kyuri only shook her head as she continued to eye the spoon while occasionally glancing up to Minho’s hand holding the spoon like it would kill her.

“I think that your mommy would be really happy if the little princess took a spoon of her yoghurt and eat it.” His voice was still firm like before but the playful tone to it revealed the softness underneath.

You looked at Minho and he gave you a small smile in response. You knew he was being sincere, loving, but yet everything seemed to be blurred. He knew exactly how to get Kyuri to do something, he knew how to handle her, her moods, her personality, her everything.

Like it was registered in his head long before she was born. Even if she wasn’t his, you would like yourself to think of it like that.

Maybe it was selfish just because he was being there for you every day of the pregnancy. You didn’t want to be seen selfish in his eyes and he knew it.

Because the thing was, you weren’t selfish, you were just trying to survive.

And he let you.

He let you survive because some part of him needed you to survive.

He needed you.

Kyuri looked at Minho with the same pleading eyes she did with you, she slowly leaned forward, opened her mouth to take the spoon with yogurt on it before she pulled back.

You felt yourself sink deeper into your chair when you saw Kyuris eyes on you. Slowly looking over you and trying to wrap her head around what was happening.

Like she was making herself understand why she couldn’t take the spoon from you.

“Good job, sweetheart.” You gently prompted her.

Your hand reaching out to gently skim your fingers through her hair, inhaling the soft smell of Minhos soap and the special child smell of her.

“I’m full now, mommy.” She whispered, loud enough for both of you to hear her.

“You’re free to leave, baby.” You smiled at her, gently pushing her chair back while she tried to hop down.

She shifted in the chair, struggling a bit to turn over in the chair and set her feet on ground. You saw the way she fought and you let her struggle on her own for a second before you automatically moved your hands to gently skim your arms over her back. You sensed how her body acknowledged you immediately when you tried to lift her body onto the floor when she suddenly - swatted your hands away.

The kind of fast movement of her hands you couldn’t be prepared for.

The swat that lingered more than was possible.

She had gotten down from the chair and was now standing on the floor again when she looked at you with small eyes before she padded towards the living room.

You stiffened for a minute before you looked at Minho who had already gotten out from his seat, the two bowls balanced in his hands before he walked to you, the heat of him never really leaving.

The moment he had stepped down from his seat, you knew he had seen the whole scene escalate and turn into something more than just mother-daughter time.

You knew it was something that would happen sooner or later because she was growing day by day and when she reached the point where she couldn’t really handle her feeling or tantrums on her own, Minho or you was already there to help her and Minho was willing to bleed to make it easier for her or you.

“She needs you more than she knows.” His voice was barely above a whisper but you still heard him.

You turned your head and looked at him, he was smiling, the real smile of his. He was glowing in the morning light, he slowly reached out his hand which was not holding the bowls and settled it gently on top of your head.

Minho slowly leaned in and gave your forehead a small kiss before he dropped his hand from your head and took your plate, walked around the counter to start putting them into the dishwasher.

You don’t know if it was the warmth of his presence, or the kisses you shared, the way Kyuris hands swatted you away or something deeper that lingered deep down into you.

But something in you screamed to just put a label to whatever the two of you were.

To just put the clarity on the table.

“Thank you.” You replied, your voice tight and enough.

You saw the way his light up a small notch, like he already knew what you meant. The yogurt incident, that wasn’t really an incident but more of an loving moment that the two of the people in it didn’t dare to say it meant more to them, than it really seemed like.

You leaned your arms on the table while you put your head in your hands and softy looked at him working peacefully in your kitchen. He looked at home.

More than you ever thought was possible.

The way his whole body fitted with yours, his clothes scattered in your bedroom. Everything about him screamed home and you were just as confused as he was.

You heard him clear his throat before his voice comes up soft and low, like he didn’t really want Kyuri who was sitting in the living room close by to hear.

“I’m off.. to work in about an hour.” He said, his back was still turned to you but you could nearly make out the face of guilt and worry he made.

“Thought I just might tell you, you know because of Kyuri..” You saw the way he stopped in his tracks, gently pushing the last plate into the dishwasher before his fingers hovered over the display button to turn it on.

The sound of dishwasher filling the room.

“She’s gonna lose her mind when you leave.” You softy said, playing with the end of the tables sides to keep yourself in check.

“Yeah.”

Because that was the point, Kyuri was so stuck with Minho it was insane.

You knew it would be hard for Minho to leave.

Kyuri wasn’t his, not “legally” but in every stolen glances they shared she was.

You sat there for a while, your fingers playing with the end of the tables sides while occasionally looking around the room. Your head still occupied with the thought of Kyuri and the somewhat relationship you had with Minho.

The soft hum of the air conditioner, the dishwasher going around and around, the breeze outside and the soft padding around the apartment could be heard.

Minho had left some minutes ago to start getting ready to leave for practice.

You didn’t dare to look at him when he left, he just announced himself and gave you small smile which you responded in a tighter smile that didn’t really reached your eyes.

You knew he saw it too, the thought, the feelings invading your head like parasites.

Eating their way deeper inside your head until there’s only blood and flesh left.

Kyuri announced from the living room open-door with the soft paddings of her feet. She walked in and her eyes locked directly onto you when she saw you still seated on one of the chairs in the kitchen.

“Mommy.. why are you still there?” She gently asked, making her way towards you.

“I’m just thinking, sweetheart.” You replied, your voice still tight.

That was the moment your eyes caught on what she was wearing, she was still in her cat print pyjamas but on top of it was one of Minho’s zip-up hoodies, hanging off her body to the point where it was draped over her like a cape.

It was very big on her but she still managed to look content in it.

You remembered the hoodie, it was the one Minho had leant you when it was the worst time of the pregnancy and you were too tired to give it back later on.

The picture of Kyuri made up in your head that she had been in Minho’s room on one occasion while either you and him were too occupied with talking or while he also was there, probably changing while she walked her way in. Scanning the room before her eyes landed on the hoodie and she decided it was hers for the day.

”Mommy, sad?” She slowly asked, her small fingers clutching your pants.

“No, sweetheart, mommy’s not sad.”

“What are you..thinking off.” She slightly paused before she decided to continue.

She now was standing in front of your legs, her small hands perched on your knees as she balanced herself. Her finger gently played with the fabric of your pants, scrunching it up like it were made of glass.

“Everything.” You directly said, not really laying any weight on how it would affect her but you knew she would get it, she’s smart but still fragile.

Kyuri gently looked up at you and you saw the way her fingers was still on your knees, she tugged at your pants before she pushed herself closer and closer to you, indicating that she wanted to be picked up.

You gently leaned down and grabbed a hold of her waist and lifted her in your lap, you settled her weight on your left thigh while you spread her legs over your other leg. You gently sat her back against your chest while you wrapped your arms around her shoulders, each of her legs dangling on top of your own, happy in the feeling of being in your arms.

She gently leaned her head back against your shoulder, nuzzling her face closer to your neck while you heard her slowly breathing out, a little shaky but still compost.

“I’m sorry for pushing you away earlier, mommy.” She whispered.

You froze when the words left her mouth, you knew she wasn’t the best at forgiving or saying sorry but when she knew she really needed to say it she just needed to build up the courage before saying out loud.

And at the moment she had swatted your hands away and walked away, you knew her brain needed time to process what happened.

But you also she knew she would come back eventually when she had calmed down, wanting to try again to make the moment feel lighter.

“Oh.. baby, you’re okay, I promise.” You softly said, carefully swaying her body back and forth before you leaned down and gave her head a gentle kiss. Inhaling the soft scent of her hair and the guilt that she was feeling, probably eating her alive.

“You have nothing to be worried about, mommy didn’t get angry.” You gently said, reassuring her.

Kyuri slowly shifted in your lap, settling further more into your body, her fingers playing with the fabric of your shirt.

Her soft breaths mixed with your own created a sacred atmosphere in the air, the soft sounds of Minho could be heard low in the apartment.

“You’re.. sure?” Kyuris voice popped up, still low like before.

You brought yourself closer to her by enveloping her whole body more in your arms, your fingers gently rubbing small circles against her skin.

You softly gave her head a kiss before you whispered.

“I’m sure, sweetheart.”

Kyuri was like that sometimes, caving in on herself and making herself suffer by shutting everyone else out whenever she needed time to suppress things. She always wanted the other person feel better again and she did it her way, the best she could and for you it worked. You knew she had a hard time expressing what was going on in her head on occasions like that. You knew she didn’t mean it but sometimes it took harder on you than you expected. She was growing, but she was still only 2 and small.

Not in a fragile way.

Not in a “she’s smaller so we need to be more careful around her” way.

She was small and smart in her own way.

She observed and looked out for people around her that she cared about.

In a way that screamed Minho.

She was so like him in ways that didn’t connect in your head. Haunted and bleeding in the same motion.

And you don’t know how to stop the scar from bleeding out fully.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Kyuri was still seated in your lap when Minho walked in the kitchen, fully dressed for work.

Your eyes found each other immediately.

You gave him a soft smile before your eye traced over his siluete. He looked neat, put together, even though he was wearing sweatpants, a black compression shirt and on top a light black worn out jeans jacket. The jeans material smooth and neat without any buttons on it just a black natural jeans jacket with a zipper that fitted him a little too good. His dark hair slightly styled but more relaxed and he was wearing was glasses, he looked dangerously hot standing in your kitchen.

Minho wasn’t one for wearing glasses most of the time but whenever he wore them, everything about him just popped.

God he looked ridiculously good in them, his face just glowed in the black glasses.

His dance bag slung over his shoulder like it mattered more to you than him. You felt Kyuri move around in your lap when Minho stepped in.

Her head snapped up and her eyes glancing up to his body before she settled her head back against your shoulder. Minhos eyes found yours and he raised an eyebrow in wonder to why you were looking at him so closely.

“What are you looking at?” He softly asked.

“You.” You carefully replied, still rubbing your fingers up and down Kyuris body.

You saw how Minho froze for a moment like he wasn’t used to you being so openly flirty in front of him and Kyuri.

“You look good.” You softly said.

“Because of the glasses?” He said, the corners of his moth slowly forming a smirk.

“Minho, you always look handsome.” Your voice serious but still having that low tone.

He just huffed a small laugh that turned into a real smile, his eyes lighting up while his ears were slightly becoming red, a habit of his that you adored.

“I left some leftovers and an energy drink for you, if you want to take it with you for work.”

“You’re the best, thank you. Because that was really what I needed to keep myself going for the day..” He softly said, dropping his bag onto the floor with a soft thud.

He walked towards the fridge, his steps slower like he didn’t really want to leave. Kyuris soft breathing could be heard throughout the room, you saw the way her head lifted again from your shoulder to look at where Minho disappeared.

You turned your head and saw Minho standing in front of the fridge, his fingers curling around the handle, his solid body in front of it, the light casting over his face. He took out one drink and the leftovers then fast shut the door close again, like he didn’t want the cold to sip out.

The moment Minho missed but you saw.

The way Kyuri’s body fussed up in your lap when she sensed he was leaving, her arms stretched out to try grab at him, the way she opened her mouth and mumbled the words “energy drink” for herself like it was secret she only knew.

“Min-min, leaving?” Kyuri slowly looked up at you, her wandering over your face, waiting for an answer.

You softly looked at her while loosening your arms around her, knowing she was gonna go down to say goodbye.

“Yeah, baby, Minho’s just leaving for work but he will be back soon, I promise.” You carefully said, already seeing the unshed tears forming in her eyes.

“Minho, can’t leave..”. She firmly said, her whole body tensed up.

You glanced at Minho who was standing near his bag again, on his way out.

You looked at him and saw his emotion too, the way he didn’t really know what to do. If he would make the situation worse by embracing the on edge teary child or leave it be.

He gave you small nod, his eyes glancing down to Kyuri who was fighting her way down onto the floor from your lap.

You saw how Kyuris face was already filled with sadness, she lifted herself from you, gently separating your legs to make space for herself to slip down in between your legs down to the floor. She slowly glide down from your lap while you gently held her body to balance her when she completely slipped down.

Minho’s zip-up hoodie on her body dragged after her like a cape when she aimed in his direction.

The moment her feet was on the floor, she pushed herself away from you, her hands leaving your knees when she stabilised herself.

And she sprinted over to Minho.

“Noo, min-min, you can’t leave!” It was the first time the tears came busting out.

She caught herself against his leg, hands coming out to clutch at his sweatpants.

Her cries becoming louder and more intense.

You saw the way she pushed her whole body against him, she buried her face into the soft material of his sweatpants.

“I don’t..want you to leave!” She hiccuped, tears falling and falling.

Minho threw a glance at you before he crouched down to her height, her face close to his, tear stained and puffy.

Kyuri slowly moved closer to him, standing in between his crocheted legs, gripping his jacket tightly.

Her small knuckles turning white.

“Oh, Kyuri, I’m sorry but I have to leave.” Minho carefully said, not wanting to make it worse.

She only shook her head pushed her face further into his jacket and tried to make herself disappear in him.

“No!” She still cried out, tears still burning in her face.

His hands came up to gently push her hair back from her face while you saw how she slowly lifted her head to look at him.

“I be back before you even notice I’m gone.” His voice was soft and low, like he tried his best of the situation.

Kyuris fingers slowly reached out to play with the zipper on Minho’s jacket, dragging it up and down to calm herself down. You looked at him and saw the way his eyes gazed at her even she was completely breaking down with tears streaming down her face.

He still looked at her like she was his whole world.

And Kyuri looked at him like he was the safest place in the world. In this moment it doesn’t matter that she isn’t his or if she’s wearing his clothes that are big enough to fill two Kyuris there.

It’s way he still shows up even after.

The way you want him stay forever but the words still feels to foreign to say it.

You gently pushed yourself up from the chair and walked over to them, slowly leaning against the wall for moral support to yourself.

Minhos eyes glanced up at you over her head, giving you a small sad smile and you replied in a small smile back like asking if you want me take her so you can leave for work.

“Sweetheart, Minho really needs to go.” You softly spoke and you saw that she had heard you because her hiccups slowed down for a moment before they came back.

“Min-min” she hiccuped, her hands still fisting his jacket, her face buried in his chest.

He looked at her in such softness, you thought he would crack.

Because he was completely composed with Kyuri standing like a wreck in his arms.

Was he always this soft?

Had he always had an easy way with children?

Kyrui slowly lifted her head up from his chest while he slowly hussled backwards a bit to give her some space to breathe, his arms dropping from around her body.

“Pinky promise, I be as fast as I can.” He whispered, it was still loud enough for you to hear him.

He slowly held out his pinky finger and she wrapped her finger around his. You softly laughed, feeling the warmth settling to comfortable in your chest again.

Because you realised something between Kyuri standing tears soaking her face while she was clinging herself to Minho and you watching them get along, feeling your own tears welling up because of how sweet Minho is.

Something between it clicked.

That maybe you and Minho never really labeled friends as “friends”.

Because your line of friends is blurred, painful, guilt eating you alive and a small smart 2 year old who understands you better than yourself’s.

It was in that moment when Minho mentioned pinky promise you saw the turn in Kyuri, the way she pushed herself from his embrace, her wrapped finger leaving his hand and jacket, pushing herself whole body back and waddling back against your direction.

It like something in her brain that turned on and gave her the understanding of that Minho really needed to leave and it was like she couldn’t handle that thought when she was clinging herself to him.

She turned around so fast you thought she would fall and trip over herself when she looked in your direction. You saw the way her whole body and eyes searched for you and when she saw you leaning against the wall she ran straight towards.

When Kyuri’s body left Minho’s body, he slowly stood up while his gaze followed her when she aimed for your comfort instead.

The tears had gotten calmer but they were still falling like pearls. Her face red and puffy, tear soaked and the sadness still lingered in her head.

“Oh baby..” you softly said when you saw her coming your way.

You quickly crouched down and scooped her up in your arms, you held her close to your chest when you stood up again. You felt her tears hot against your neck when she buried her face into your skin, her big cries turning into smaller hiccups.

Your arms were securely wrapped around her body when you resten her on your hip, Kyuris fingers coming up to slowly play with the necklace hanging around your neck.

Like that was more important than the man standing in front of her, begging for a goodbye or for something to wrap his head around to make himself understand the scene better.

“Min..- leaving” She hiccuped, still clamping close to you.

You softly looked at her and then back to Minho who still stood unfazed, glancing to you and Kyuri. He still managed to look so put together even when you knew something was bothering him.

But the thing bothering him wasn’t you or Kyuri.

It wasn’t the way she chose you over him when she really sad.

It wasn’t the way her fingers clutched so tightly at his jacket he thought her fingers would snap.

No, that wasn’t it.

It was the way Kyuri had pushed herself from him when she realised he really had to leave.

That was the thing bothering him.

And it stuck quick in his head.

So quick he couldn’t stop it.

“I know Minho has to leave, baby.” You carefully said, kissing the top of her head.

“But he will be back so quickly you won’t even notice he’s gone.” You whispered, your voice slightly cracking at the end.

Kyuri only cried harder in that moment and you gently shushed her, but you also knew it was time for her to say goodbye before it got even worse and harder for her.

“I’m sorry.” Minho’s voice came out low, a little shaky.

You only shook your head and gave him a small smile in return before walking up to him while you gently bounced Kyuri in your arms to get her to calm down, she only pushed her face closer and closer to your neck, practically hiding from him.

You saw how his eyes traced your face like he didn’t really know if he was allowed to say anything. You stood in front of him, turning your body to the side so he catch a glimpse of Kyuri and close enough so the side of your shoulder touched his.

The crying child still content in your arms.

”We say Bye-bye to Minho.”

You gently looked down at her to try to get her to say goodbye but she just buried her head further into your neck, shaking her head frantically while her tears continued falling from her eyes onto your skin.

Your hand comes up to gently hold her head, your fingers slowly running through her hair, feeling the soft strands with each drag. You tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to smooth her down her a bit.

A soft mumble could be heard but you couldn’t quite catch it. You saw the way Minho’s eyes locked on her and you knew he had heard the sound to. You only guessed it was something about him she said.

“I see you later, princess.” His voice was soft and safe but the guilt and the pain from before still lingered.

He slowly stretched out a hand and rubbed her back smoothly when Kyuris hand suddenly left the necklace around your neck and she pointed her finger towards the counter where her

pacifier lay.

Even as she’s 2 years old, she still uses it from time to time, whenever something happens that she doesn’t understand or has a hard time taking in she wants it.

When it’s other people than you or Minho in the apartment and she’s far away from you two, she wants it. She never had wanted it when Minho was around and this was the first time.

It was her safe place beside you and him.

And you were completely content of her wanting it. You just didn’t expect her needing it when he was around.

It was like the barrier broke just slightly and you were the sinking ship between them.

The ship that couldn’t hold it’s own weight, so it just sunk deeper and deeper into the ocean. You didn’t want him to feel like she was doubting him. Like just all of the sudden she needed something safe just because he was leaving.

She was sensitive, small, fragile, sure but never sceptical towards Minho.

So when she pointed her finger towards the pacifier something snapped inside Minho’s head and you didn’t know what.

Maybe he doubted himself?

Maybe he was just as scared as you were?

Maybe he was scared that Kyuri doubted him.

Or he’s just too deep in love with his best friend to say the words out loud.

Minho slowly reaches out to the counter at that moment. His fingers gently closing around the pacifier like it was made of glass, slowly lifting it and gently holding it out for Kyuri to take.

Her head was still tucked in the crook of your neck, feeling the warmth of her tears radiating off to your own skin. Her small hand lifted and reached out towards Minho, where he was holding the pacifier, soft and careful.

Her fingers clasped around the hard plastic and in a split second their fingers graced, you saw how Kyuris whole body gave her away and she melted for a moment when her skin recognises his.

She took it from him and Minho’s hand fell to his sides again.

You slowly glanced up at Minho, his eyes still had that glint of happiness, he still managed to look so fond of her even when she did something he didn’t expect.

She slowly brought it up to her mouth and plopped it in, the feeling to familiar.

Even though she was still sad and knew that Minho was leaving, her eyes glanced up towards him when she took the pacifier.

It was like she knew what he needed too, that he just needed a small confirmation from her that everything was still alright and they were surviving. Your fingers were still treading through her hair when she pushed her face back against your neck, but you saw the way her mouth formed a small smile towards Minho before she pulled her eyes from him.

”Bye-bye Minho.” You quietly said, hoping the metafor landed good, still rocking Kyuri side to side in your arms.

“see you later, I text you.” Minho smiled, his eyes still having the lightness.

He slowly pulled away, reached down onto the floor to pick up his bag and slung it easily over his shoulder while he reached for the door. He looked at you and gave a small smile, before he pushed through the door and out.

You stood there for a while, Kyuri still nestled in your arms, setting comfortably on your hip while her tears stared to try and her hiccups got calmer.

The gauzy atmosphere was still hanging low, the soft scent of his perfume, the woody, vanilla scent taking over the apartment.

The smell of children tears burning deeper into your head.

The face of Minho when he gave her the pacifier, the softness in his face that never left. Minhos hoodie sitting big on Kyuris body like to meant to hers.

The fabric of his hoodie gracing your skin like flames.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Kyuri had managed to fall asleep a while later after Minho left. She had been fussing around in the apartment, not really wanting to settle down and do anything. But you still tried your best to get her to calm down.

You gently moved from the hallway to the living room where Kyuri was now still sleeping, cuddled up like a ball on the couch with her bunny plushie clutched tightly to her chest, her cat print pyjamas still visible under Minho’s big hoodie she still hadn’t taken off.

The small blanket wrapped around her body like a shied, she looked peaceful on the couch like nothing really got to her.

You slowly sat down on the couch, the cushions moving under you.

Your hand stretched out to gently skim over her head, slowly brushing her hair from her face before you leaned down to give her gentle kiss on the cheek. Hearing how she softly sighed in her sleep, content.

You let your hand wander to gently rest on her back on top of the blanket, brushing your thumb back and forth her back, feeling the skin tingle beneath your skin. You were focused on the small rise and fall of her body when you heard your phone ping up, the screen lighting up on the table.

Minho - How is the little princess holding up?

You looked at the text for a moment before you answered.

You - She cried for a while after you left, but she has calmed down now.

Minho - I’m sorry for leaving.

You - You’re fine, I think she gets why you have to go.

Minho - Yeah, she’s smart. She’s asleep?

You - I managed after some while, I think she really needed it, she was out the second I laid her down.

Minho - That’s good, how are you?

You - I’m alright, I keep it going.

Minho - You always do. I be back around six, so you know, don’t let Kyuri miss me too much.

You - I think she already does.

You knew he would ask about you, he always knew how to get you to answer.

He also knew what she needed, Kyuri was already tired in the beginning when Minho was leaving and when he really was going, it just swelled over. And she couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

So when you laid her down and right now when you were sitting with her, gently rubbing her, you knew it was what she needed.

She needed to rest also, because being with Minho and being happy all the time also took energy from her and sometimes she needed to learn how to refuel it. Minho was coming back later in the evening and you hoped Kyuri could sleep that long, because she really needed it and you needed some quiet time alone.

And if Kyuri would wake up, she would start fuzzing right away, look around for Minho and then her little brain would catch up and remember he wasn’t there.

She wasn’t one for acting weak or crying just because she felt like it. She wasn’t strong headed and liked to do things on her own and she wasn’t one for crying out loud. So when she started crying when Minho left some part of you got shocked and another part of you was just waiting for the moment to come.

It would come days where Minho needed to leave and she wasn’t able to follow. And does days were hard and as she growing, she processes her own emotions and try to put them into words and when she did it before when Minho left. You knew she felt it, the shift in energy, small hints of surprise and happiness you and Minho both felt when she was exploring her own mind and emotions.

Everything fitted together so well but why did it still feel achy?

Why did the lingering aching feeling in your chest never let go?

Kyuri softly shifted, she slowly turned around to lay on her back, still holding her bunny plushie tightly. Because her mind didn’t know when Minho was back, but you felt the way her body tensed up when you had reached for your phone like it knew it was Minho who texted.

The time felt like forever.

You were still seated on the couch with a Kyuri laying beside you, her small breaths content and warm. You didn’t much more than stay on the couch, warm and comfy.

Time to time you went up to help Kyuri when she needed to go to the bathroom, or when she was tired of sleeping and wanted to draw or watch a cartoon. You sometimes went to the kitchen to make yourself a cup of coffee when it felt like your body was given up, the soft aroma filling the apartment.

You didn’t even think of the time, everything was to much, you currently walking around the apartment while Kyuri was sitting on the floor drawing.

It felt nice like this, knowing that you’re waiting for someone to come home and you’re not alone.

It was past six when Minho told you, he was on his way back. He said that work had draggen the time out way longer than expected.

It wasn’t new for you how hard Minho worked to make it enough for him and for the people around him. Utterly a more point he was amazing on.

You were currently in the kitchen organising and putting the plates and glasses you and Kyuri had used for dinner on their original places while you were putting away some leftovers for Minho to grab if he wanted when he got home.

You moving around when you heard the door open and you dropped what you were doing and saw Minho stepping inside.

He was quietly moving like he didn’t really want to disturb the peace inside, you saw the way he sat down his bag carefully without any noise so Kyuri wouldn’t notice.

The moment his eyes found you, you were already in front of him, slowly getting up on your tiptoes and gently grabbing at his jacket collar - to pull him in for a hug.

Your hands immediately went around his shoulders and his hands settled around your waist. He melted in your embrace, his head falling onto your shoulder, nuzzling his face closer to your neck.

“Welcome back.” You whispered, your voice low and careful.

“Hi.” He softly said, his breath fanning over your skin.

Your hand slowly moved up to his neck, touching the hair on his neck, slowly running your fingers through the silky strands. You felt him sigh against you like he let out a breath he had been holding the whole day.

“You had a good day at work?” Your voice coming out a little faster than you thought.

“Yeah, it was pretty light, I missed you though.” He replied, his voice still having that soft tone.

Your fingers tighten in his jacket, feeling the soft fabric moving under your fingers. Minho’s head was still close to your neck, slowly inhaling your scent. His arms slowly slid all the way around your waist and embraced your back fully.

“She’s still sleeping?” He asked for a while.

You slowly shook your head to indicate that the little child was not and she was probably drawing or watching a cartoon in the living room.

While you came out from your warmth embrace of him and still remembered that they were a small, smart little kid still setting unknowingly that her favourite person was back.

You stood there for a while before Minho slowly pulled back, his head lifted from your shoulder but his hands remained on your waist when his eyes traced over your face.

“Before I went to work, I visited my parents.” He gently said, his voice serious but still having that excitement behind it.

“You did?” You said, a little confused why he didn’t say anything.

“Mm and my mom’s birthday is two days away and she said..that she really wanted to have you and Kyuri there.” His voice slightly cracking at the end.

“Because she hasn’t seen you in a long time and she wanted to meet Kyuri for the first time if that okay with you?” He continued, his smile real and raw.

You looked at him, he stood totally composed, his arms locked around your waist while his eyes had that taunt of happiness and pray in them.

You gently looked up at him, his eyes sweet and lovable. You reached out to gently tug at his jacket, your fingers grabbing the fabric around his shoulder to tug the jacket off of him and leaving him only in his compression shirt and sweatpants.

He looked pathetically good.

The jeans fabric was soft under your fingers, you leaned out to gently hang the jacket on the hooks beside the door to hang up his jacket while his hands remained on your waist.

His thumb slowly stroking small circles on the skin. You leaned back when the jacket was up and looked at him, your hand coming up to gently skim over his arms. The subtle hiding muscles behind the fabric lining out his whole aura. Even though Minhos smaller and petite than the others members, he still manages to outshine them. You never seen him in a tight fitted shirt but it sure was your new favourite thing on him.

“Minho.” You whispered.

“I would love to follow and meet your mom again.” You said, your voice quiet but still hearable for him.

“You’re okay with that?” He asked, running a hand through his hair, a hint of worry in his voice.

“Min, I love your mom, she’s amazing and I think Kyuri would be overly happy if she got the chance to meet her favourite person parents.” You softly said, your gracing fingers leaving his shirt to trail their way up to wrap around his waist this time.

Minhos arms slipped up to wrap around your shoulders, slowly smoothing down your hair to pull you closer. Your fingers tighten in his shirt, bushing up the fabric while you gently rested your head against his shoulder.

”Kyuri’s still happy to see me?”

“She’s always happy to see you, Minho.” You said, resuming him by tightening your arms around him, slowly pressing a soft kiss to the side of his neck.

You carefully pulled back to see his ears becoming a small shade of pink while looked at him, tracing your eyes over his face, the glasses perched perfectly on his nose. You slowly lifted your hand to grab at his glasses and pull them away from his face to set them on your own face. The metal cold but also warm against your skin.

“You like the glasses that much?” He asked, a smirk forming on his face.

“Okay, we all know you’re hot, you don’t need to rub it in my face.” You slowly patted his chest while he just pulled you back against him again. His warmth enveloping you fast.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Nothing seemed to work at the moment, the throbbing pain was worse, it was aching in your whole stomach.

A feeling both comfortable and devastating at the same time.

So you decided to lay down on the couch again. With a blanket thrown over you and Sonnie sleeping on your stomach like you would disappear if he moved.

The paracetamol packs were placed untouched on the table with a glass of juice Minho had done for you before he went off to practice. You shifted slowly, careful not to disturb the sleeping cat, to try to adjust your pad that had fallen out of place.

It was like a diaper. Not a nice diaper but an effective one.

It’s was already 14 pm when you glanced at your phone that lit up on the table. Two hours of you trying to get from the couch but ended up laying on it more than intended but that’s totally okay when you’re on your period.

You reached out hand towards the table and grabbed your phone and saw that Minho had sent you a text. You didn’t even need to open to know what he said.

Bubs(Minho) - On my way home, do you need anything for later?❤️

You - I’m fine at the moment, just come home, I miss you.❤️

Bubs(Minho) - I be there soon, jagi.

You didn’t realised that you had started smiling when you caught yourself. You knew Minho wasn’t one for text and drive at the same time, so he was probably getting a ride by one of the members.

Which to your liking mentioned to the state you were in right know you gladly wanted him home in one piece. And you didn’t need anything in the moment but that could come and change anytime soon.

Pads were you already packed on.

Pain killer was in the cabinet.

Snacks in the kitchen.

His clothes were also on your body, sinking deeper into your skin as the time passed.

Soonie had already jumped off your chest when you pulled yourself up from the couch. You slowly sat up and felt the pang of air coming straight to you.

The cushions felt too soft under you and the heat in your core felt too exposed. You swung your leg from the couch and steeped out on the cold hard wood floor. The munching of the cats echoing through the walls, the soft hum of the city outside felt miles away.

Your legs felt like jelly when you started walking and the throbbing pain was gone for a moment before coming back.

Minho’s hoodie was softer on your body than it ever felt. The big size of his sweatpants was clinging to your body like a life line.

Everything felt softer and weird, it wasn’t the usual lively feeling in the apartment like it always was.

You slowly looked down and reached down with your hand to check if you had bleed through. Your fingers gently touching and pulling the fabric to all their sides to check. The thing was that you only had the energy to check at your front and not the back.

And if you had done it, you would have felt it at this point. You just hoped that you hadn’t bleed through Minho’s sweatpants. Especially since they’re white.

The steps to the bathroom were slow and dragged, when you stepped over the threshold of the bathroom the dim of the lights hit you instantly.

Your whole body felt like it was floating, you made your way to sit on the toilet cap for a while to take everything in, you had already seen multiple times before. All of the skincare, both yours and Minhos. Toothbrushes placed neatly beside each other. Towels stacked on the railing on the walls.

You slowly stod up and placed yourself in front of standing whole-body mirror on the floor. It was the first time you actually looked at yourself for the day.

You were pale, not pale-pale. Just tired.

Aching.

You did a small turn to do a quick check to see if you had actually bleed through and if you had just missed it.

It felt like hours ago Minho sent you the text saying he was on his way home when in reality in had only been 10 minutes and the drive from your and Minhos apartment to the company is like 20 minutes more.

When you focused your eyes on your bum that’s when you saw it.

Not a small blod spot.

A medium blod spot right on the back of Minhos white sweatpants.

“No..” you whispered to yourself, slowly squeezing your eyes shut to see if really was real. You quickly grabbed the paper from the toilet roll and wetted it.

Gently dapping and swiping on the pants to try to get the blood to disappear from the white fabric. You heard the sound of the front door opening and closing when the panic settles in.

Minho was home.

“Jagi?” His voice could be heard from the living room, coming closer and closer.

“Yeah, I’m in here!” You shouted back from the bathroom, still high in thought about how you would fix the problem about his sweatpants.

You quickly turned around, throwing the tissues in the bin and pressed your back against the sink counter when saw him entering the bathroom.

“You okay?” He softly asked, his voice a little hoarse from all the recordings.

“Yeah..the worst pain is gone now but it’s still a little achy.” You replied, trying to sound so calm as you could.

You saw the way Minhos eyes traced down your body, his clothes covering your body like clouds. He looked sweet, tired but still charming. He slowly stepped inside the bathroom fully and reached out to you.

His hands come out to shim over your stomach, his warm palm sending shivers through your body when it touched your heating core.

You instantly falled into his embrace.

His arms wrapped around your back and yours went around his waist to pull him closer, nuzzling your face into his warm chest.

“What took you so long?” You gently asked after a while.

You felt him press a quick kiss to the side of your head before his voice pipped up. But what you didn’t saw was how his eyes darted down to your bum, to the blod spot that had already been formed to visible for him.

“I bought you some pads and your favourite Genki Ramune.”

Your hands gripped his hoodie tighter at his words, you pushed your aching core closer to his waist, feeling the warm skin underneath you.

“You did?” You asked, not really knowing what for.

Minho only hummed in response, content in the feeling of your bodies linked together. He gently started backing up and shifting his body so you were pressed against the counter again.

“Have you done your skincare yet?” He asked, changing the subject as fast you pushed yourself to the sink.

You only shaked your head no in response, lifting your head up to look at him.

His face was already close to yours, his warm breath fanned your face without you having a chance to run away.

He pressed his lips to yours for a quick peck, he softly pulled you closer against him for a second before he slowly pulled away.

“Good.” He whispered against your lips.

The heat of him lingering for beat too long.

You were to flushed and to deep to in your head to really acknowledge what happened. But all you knew was that you needed his kisses in the moment.

And Minho kissed you like he already knew.

Soft but still steady.

His arms suddenly went down to close around the back of your thighs before he hosted you up on the counter, your back hitting the mirror above the sink with a squeak.

You quickly placed the palm of your hands on the counter to steady yourself while Minho placed himself in between your thighs. His hands found the warm spot on your thighs, gently massaging the flushed skin through the sweatpants.

His touch makes you whimper, trying to suppress the small moans of pleasure when his hands gently skimmed your inner thighs making the tension in your body disappear.

“Let me do it for you.” His voice was so close to your ear you felt his breath stutter into your earbuds. One hand reached out to gently grab a cotton pad with miceler water on it while the other one remained on your thigh.

You nodded in agreement, too dizzy to even care. You leaned back against the mirror while Minhos hand with the cotton pad reached up to gently touch your face and wipe away the remaining pieces of makeup.

His other hand comes up to rest on your waist to hold you in place. You carefully looked up at him, he looked flawless while he was focused on your face. His eyes darting over your face to make sure every crumble got in.

You took the chance to really look at him, his high cheekbones, his soft brown eyes, his slight sweaty hair from hours of dance practice. He looked amazing.

“You’re quite good at it.” You whispered out when your hand reached down to gently skim over the veins that runs along his hand which was placed on your waist.

You felt his breath hitch when you touched his hand, even though you had been together for over more than 2 years, you were still shy around each other in times.

“I have to be when I need to take care of my woman.” His voice was soft but serious underneath. You knew he meant it.

He gently applied the toner and your cream, softy massaging the aliments into your skin when your arms went around his head to rest on his shoulders. You carefully lifted your legs, to wrap them around his waist.

The moment you locked your legs around his waist, everything melted together. He gently pushed himself closer to you and you gently played with the hair at his neck. Feeling the way he had let it grow longer than you knew he intended to.

You sat there for a moment, just listening to his soft breath, his small conversations he was having with you even though you were to wrapped around the feeling of his hands gently touching your face. Your legs around his waist and his focus on your face. You slowly reached out to tug on his shirt before you gained his attention.

“Minho, I have something to tell you” your voice was steady for the moment.

“Mm, yeah, what is that?” His focus was still on your face, before you he locked eyes with you.

“I..accidentally..” you trailed off, still unsure of how he would respond.

“bleed through your white sweatpants.” You said, you dropped your head to look at the pants to really make him understand you meant it.

Minho just looked at you like you said a joke. Then he quietly let out a a small laugh, his eyes lighting up with the action.

“That was your concern?” He huffed out, his hands dropped from your face to gently rest on your waist, gently rubbing your hips.

“Jagi, it happens, besides I have hundreds of other sweatpants.”

You traced his face with your eyes when he said it, surprised of how calm he was while you burning up inside.

“So you’re not annoyed or anything?” You blurred out, still dazed from how calm he was.

“why would I be that, it’s natural okay.” He said while his hands suddenly moved from your thighs, the cold hit instantly.

You were still seated on the counter when you saw his figure disappearing into your bedroom only to come back again with a new pair of sweatpants of his.

“Min-“ you cut yourself off when he held out the new pair of pants towards you with a smug smile on his face.

“You don’t ever have to be worried or feel like you need to hide something from me and especially if you’re on your period, then you know I’m totally supportive about it.” He said, his voice so soft and so needed.

You took the pants from his hands while you struggled to get down from the counter for a while because you didn’t want to show him the big blod spot. Minho reached out his hand to you and you gripped it so tightly when a pang of cramp hit you thought his fingers would crack.

“Besides” his voice was above a whisper, still loud enough for you to hear him.

“I already saw the blod spot on the pants when I saw you fumbling while trying to cover it up..”

“I wasn’t fumbling..” you tried to protest. Your voice low.

He just leaned forward and wrapped an arm around your waist, giving you a small smile before he helped you change out from the bloody pants and into a new fresh pair of his.

Minho continued to move around in the apartment, making sure you were okay, taking out fresh pads, pain killers, heating pads, everything.

You were now laying in your shared bed, looking at him easily moving around in the room. He looked relaxed, still in work mode but at smaller pace and in the comfort of his own home.

His t-shirt was barely hanging on when he moved so fast, his hair still wet from the shower he took earlier. His sleek figure popping in time to time to look at you.

He looked perfect.

When he steeped inside your bedroom and stopped right in front of your side of the bed, you let yourself go. You needed him to know what you felt even if he already knew.

You hosted yourself up and grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled his body towards you.

You gently pressed your lips to his, feeling him sigh against your mouth. His lips moved with ease against yours, your hand comes up to cradle his cheek. His hands went down to gently caressed your waist.

“I love you so much.” You breathlessly said when you pulled back.

Your faces still in tact with each other. Foreheads touching, he softly gave the corner of your mouth a quick peck before he pulled back to look at you.

“You shouldn’t be allowed to be this calm about me bleeding through.” You laughed out, tears welling up in your eyes.

He gently lifted his head from yours, his hand coming up to wipe way the tears that threatened to fall while he carefully laid himself down on the bed beside you, pulling you closer to his chest.

“But I am and you better get used to it.” He teased, hooking an arm around your waist while you gently laid your head onto his chest. Drifting off to the feeling of his heartbeat against your ear.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You woke up the next morning without the worst throbbing and aching that is surprisingly gone and so is the perfect period- boyfriend Minho from his side of the bed.

You got out from the bed, the sheets pooling around your body when you softly set your feet down on the floor and padded barefoot to the door.

You made your way to the kitchen, the faint smell of food filling the apartment and the soft hum of someone mixing in the air makes your brain completely forget that you’re on your period.

When you stepped inside the kitchen, you saw Minho standing beside the counter, working on something you can’t quite make out.

But the thing that you can make out is what he is wearing. Your eyes drift from his body, his morning voice deep and husky making you weak, his whole aura just charming and serious.

Before your eyes catch on the sweatpants.

The white ones that you stained yesterday. He was just casually standing there unbothered with his white, now period stained sweatpants without a thought in the world how it made you feel.

He looked pathetically good in them, even if they had a big blod spot right on the bum. You brought yourself out from your mind before you could come up with even more thoughts about him and the pants.

Minho slowly turned towards you, his eyes having the playful expression when he’s having the time of his life. His hands were smoothly resting in his pockets, leaning against the counter with a smirk on his face that says everything.

“You know, I could always make it disappear for nine months, if you like?

The father to your child left right before you got into week 25, he said it was like putting him on the line, that he couldn’t do it. When he didn’t even had to do anything more than being there for you. He didn’t have to do mood swings, cramps, headaches, throw ups that lasted till morning.

Neither of that and then he simply stopped trying, he was gone the moment it got heavy.

When your daughter came it was everything you could ever wish for, she was beautiful. The one person who had been with you through the pregnancy and by your side when you gave birth was Minho.

When you asked him, he didn’t even hesitate like he didn’t have a life of his own.

Your daughter became used to Minho visiting sometimes and when his visits came more regular as she grew up, she became even more tighter to him than you thought was possible.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Your daughter, Kyuri who is now 2 years old and utterly obsessed with your friend Minho. He had sent you a quick text saying he was on his way to you, you didn’t even question it.

You slowly glanced at Kyuri who was sitting peacefully on the small couch watching cartoons on the tv. Unaware of how her favourite person is soon going to walk inside and step even further inside your presence.

Her eyes drifting over the screen like it might tell her something. Her small body nuzzled against the soft cushion, you slowly let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding when you heard Minhos car pull up.

She’s going to be amazed when he steps in.

“Mommy” she gently lifted herself up from the couch and wiggled towards you, gripping onto your pants with her small hands. Fingers clutching the fabric.

“Who.. who?” She softly whispered, pulling herself even more close to you.

You softly crotched down to her height and gently pushed her hair from her forehead.

“I don’t know baby, why don’t we go look for who it might be?” You whispered, seeing the way her eyes lighted up a notch.

She slowly nodded, you slowly stod up and felt her soft hand gripping yours.

The moment Minho stepped inside, the air shifted to something lighter, easier. He slowly closed the door and turned around, his presence making it a little bit easier to breathe.

He was wearing his casual outfit, loose pants that fitted him too good, a black long-sleeved shirt and a cap pulled low on his head.

And the moment Kyuris eyes landed on him, she pushed herself out from your embrace and sprinted towards Minho, arms outstretched. In the beginning she was polite to him, shy but as the time went she slowly let herself closer and closer to him.

She grabbed a hold of Minhos legs, gripping the fabric of his pants with unprecedented excitement.

”Minho! You’re here!, you’re here!” She softly said, bouncing on her toes, her eyes shinning with happiness.

“Yeah I’m here, you have had a good day, princess?” His voice sounded so sincere, so easy.

Minho slowly crouched down while Kyuri standed in between his legs, trying to snuggle her way into him more.

“Mm, I missed you all day!, Minmin.” She gently said, whispering her nickname for him like it didn’t make your heart melt anytime.

She slowly tugged herself back up from him, still bouncing and her little arms not even halfway wrapped around his solid body.

“Mommy too!” She happily said, clinging to his arms, waiting to be picked up.

Minho gently glanced at you over her head, giving you a smile only reserved for you. You slowly nodded but not really knowing what for, maybe for him? For Kyuri? For the way he shows up like she’s his?

For the next hours, she was following Minho around the apartment every step he took.

When he went to the bathroom, she followed, waiting patiently outside the door. When he went to help you with dinner, she followed, when he worked, she followed.

And when he went into the bedroom, she followed, insisting on being with him when he changed.

“Kyuri, baby, let Minho change in peace.”

You softly said when you saw her body slipping past the entryway of the living room towards your bedroom where you out of habit left some of Minhos clothes for all the times he had been sleeping over throughout your pregnancy.

“No.” She said, full on serious and not planning to let Minho out of sight.

“He’s mine.” She happily giggled out, skipping down the hallway towards the bedroom.

You laughed, shaking your head at her. Feeling the warmth spreading through your chest when she said Minho was hers.

“Minmin!” It echoed through the apartment, the slight sharp but still giggly voice could be heard from down the hallway. You assumed that they were playing, when suddenly Minho stepped into the kitchen, freshly out from the shower. A slightly worn out white soft t-shirt clinging to his body and his dark hair was still wet from the shower, pushed back gently from his forehead.

“Baby-“ you stopped yourself when you saw him leaning against the doorway, looking at you like you were the only thing in the world holding him together.

“You need any help?” he softly whispered, walking over to you and placing himself beside you, leaning against the counter.

You could smell the freshly washed hair, his soap clinging to his body, taking over the whole room.

“If you like, you could chop up some cucumbers, that would be really helpful.” You replied, your eyes still wandering over his siluette.

Minho gently reached over to grab the knife beside you and started smoothly cutting them in thin, neat small pieces and placed them onto the plate in front of him.

“She’s really stuck with you.” You gently said, looking over his shoulder to see Kyuri sitting on floor.

She was fumbling with the remote setting on a new cartoon, one she managed to turn on herself when Minho didn’t gave her the attention she longed for.

Pappers were scattered around her on the floor. She was drawing something you couldn’t really make out.

Just swinging the crayons over the papers like they meant something more and then placing them neatly beside each other in colour order. Something about it ached in your chest, but you couldn’t quite touch it.

“I don’t mind.” Minho finally said, his eyes wandering over yours. His soft brown eyes raided off to you.

“As long as it makes her happy.” He whispered, pausing in his movement, slowly settling the knife onto the counter and looking over to her still drawing on the floor.

You didn’t know what she was drawing but you knew it was something that mattered to her.

“Thank you, really.” It was the only word you could make out, any others would have felt wrong.

Minho slowly reached behind you, placing his hand on the small of your back. His palm spreading a warmth you didn’t know you needed in the moment.

“She knows her worth, reminds me of someone I know.” He whispered, his smile soft and easy.

That was the thing with Minho, he was easy, too easy. The feeling in your chest lighted a little but it still tugged. How safe it felt with him, how right, perfect.

Minho took care of her like she was his but in reality she wasn’t, but for one night you let yourself believe.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You felt yourself floating away for a moment with Minhos hand still resting against your back. Before you turned around briefly while Minhos hand remained now around your waist.

“Hey, Kyuri” you called softly. “come get your cup of milk, baby.”

She slowly turned her head towards you, rising from the floor and softly padding her way to you on the quiet kitchen floor. She reached up and her small hands wrapped around the mug you handed her.

“Thank you, baby.” You said gently, reaching down to give her a gentle kiss on top of her head.

She paused and you could see the way her eyes flicked to Minho and then to you.

“Minho, stay?” She mumbled, it was the actual first time you heard her use his real name instead of the nickname.

Her eyes flicked up to you again briefly before turning and walking back to the living room. You felt the shift in the air, the subtle flex of Minhos fingers behind your back.

You saw her small body sitting back but not on the floor, on the couch. She wasn’t drawing anymore, she was inspecting the milk like it might tell her something. Minho then shifted, you felt him looking at you before you actually moved your head.

“You decide.” He simply said, not pushing, not deciding for you just gently asking.

You wanted him to stay, to stay, to stay in Kyuris life forever. To stay with you forever.

“You already know.” You whispered, you slowly shifted towards him, leaning into his touch and he simply let you.

You softly leaned your head on his shoulder and you feel the small shift of his body, the way his hand tightened just slightly around your waist.

You glanced towards Kyuri again, half of her milk was gone. She softly looked at you before she decided to walk over to where you and Minho were standing.

Minho slowly let go of you, the air between you thick and aching.

Her steps small and sure, her hands slowly grabbing onto Minhos pants. Wanting his attention, Minho gently reached down and lifted her up into his arms, setting her on his hip. Her small body leaned into him with ease, her head tucked against his shoulder.

“Minmin put me to bed?” She sleepily asked, her eyes on the edge of closing. You softly nodded towards her, “Of course he can, baby.” You looked at Minho and nodded, letting him know it was okay.

She lifted her head from his shoulder, her small arms outstretched, making grabby hands towards you. She leaned over and you felt how her small hands clasped tightly around your neck, giving you a warm good night hug.

Her warm breath fanning your ear,

“I love you, mommy.” She whispered, before unlocking her hands around your neck and sleepily giving you a soft smile.

“I love you more, sweetie.” You quietly whispered, leaning in and giving her cheek a small kiss before seeing the way she tucked her head back onto Minhos shoulder, nuzzling closer to his warmth.

Warmth spread in your chest, that maybe it’s alright. That maybe it’s all you ever wanted and it’s okay that’s it’s easy. That she has people around her that cares, that love her.

Because seeing Minho being gentle with her is the safest feeling you felt.

Seeing her being herself with someone else who isn’t you.

Her safe place.

Someone she can rely on.

Minho makes that easy.

For you.

For her.

Minho softy looked at you before he spoke, low and steady.

“Don’t stay up all night, okay.” His voice was sweet and warm, careful.

Easy, right?

The way she grabbed at his shirt, small hands fisting in the fabric, her soft breath fanning out in the air.

The way Minhos hands cradled her body like she’s fragile.

“You’re there, so I’ll manage.” You whispered, for once, your voice steady.

He slowly reached his hand out, fingers gently gracing your arm, his touch lingering before turning.

His steps slow like he didn’t want to let her go. You saw how his shadow disappear into the hallway and down the bedroom.

You slowly leaned on the counter when he left, the warm feeling didn’t leave, it stayed, right where it hurts the most. In the heart.

You saw how the papers was still laying on the table, some of them blank, some of them coloured. The crayons were arranged neatly beside each other. Red to orange, to yellow, to green.

You made your way towards the table, you could hear the soft shifting of Kyuri turning and tossing in her bedroom. The soft voice of Minho, low and lovable, reading a bedtime story for her.

Soft mutterings that turned into soft children breaths.

You sank down on the couch, pulling the blanket over your lap, the fabric swallowing you whole.

You caught yourself going through her small drawing, things that was just a block of colours, drawings that somehow looked like an object, mandalas half done, some crayons slightly broken.

That’s when you came over it.

A drawing of you and a Minho.

You slowly reached out and graced the ends of the paper like it was sacred. The fine lines that blurred the actual portrait. The bright colours that she used.

You could see which moment she captured, when you had slowly leaned your head onto his shoulder and Minhos arm tight around you.

Even though it was blurred and didn’t capture what real artist would have wanted. It was more than enough, because it was you and Minho.

And she had captured it.

With her own eyes, maybe when she took the milk from you and asked if he would stay. Like she had already decided for herself he was gonna stay and he didn’t have a choice to say no.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The dim lights of the room displayed like glitter on the walls. You heard soft mutterings coming closer and closer, before you saw Minhos figure standing in front of you. His eyes swept over your face, slowly tracing your features.

“You should also be put to bed.” He jokingly said, sitting down beside you on the couch.

He carefully put his arm behind you on the couch’s armrest, fingers tracing small patters your shoulder.

“She’s asleep?” You softly asked, your mind still stuck on how amazing Minho is with Kyuri.

“Yeah, she was out like a light when I started reading.” He gently replied, he turned his head, his attention drifting to the table.

Kyuris drawings was still laying sprawled out, full on display to Minhos liking. You saw the moment Minhos eyes locked onto the drawing of you two. His body shifted and his arm slowly lifted from behind you.

His fingers reaching out to gently trace the paper like it was a secret the two of you only knew.

The colours sweeping together like you didn’t have the courage enough to tell the little girl who was asleep in the room next door to say that she’s everything to Minho even though that she’s not his.

“She did this when we weren’t looking?” He asked, his voice quiet and hopeful.

You shifted on the couch, leaning forward and planting your elbows on your thighs, hooking your head into your hands.

“Yeah.” You whispered, not daring to look at him, keeping your eyes on the drawing,

“She notices more than we think.” You added, hearing how the paper crumbled into the air, Minhos fingers closing around the bottom like he was afraid the paper would slip away.

“Can I… keep it?” He asked, his head turned towards you, his eyes taut with worry.

You thought about Kyuri, the drawing, how it must have looked for her seeing you and Minho together. Her small fingers closing around the crayons, the moment she caught you and decided to draw it out.

She was small, but she was observant.

They way she always watched people she didn’t knew, like she had done the first times with Minho, inspecting him like he wasn’t a part of her life yet. But then gradually warming up, keeping him close, cuddling, wanting him to stay.

The way she listened even when he thought no one was paying attention.

“It’s was meant to be yours.” You softly whispered, your eyes dropped from the drawing to look at him.

His soft features, the way his eyes relaxed when you spoke.

“I’m gonna keep it forever.” He said, his mouth slowly forming a smile.

The light caught his face perfect, lining out everything about him perfectly, like he was meant to be here with you, on your couch, with your life.

Your eyes drifted to his hair, it had dried with the hours passing, making it more fluffy than normal. The soft dark strands closing around his forehead like magnets.

He had recently died it back to black again, you didn’t know why and you didn’t even bother to ask. It felt weird to ask why he had died his hair back all of a sudden?

Like the blonde colour wasn’t his style?

So you just let it go, letting it linger in the moment, the soft hum of the air conditioner mixing in the warmth.

It suited him, it has always done. Like that side of him refused to close. The dark streaks mixing with light like they tried to made their way into your body more and more with each step you took.

You didn’t ask if he was planning to keep it, you just hoped he was because Kyuri was as fast with Minhos new hair as you were with his whole presence. Wanting him to stay.

Minhos voice popped up and brought you out from your daze,

“How have you been?” He gently asked, like he was genuinely worried, wanting to know what was going on inside your head, longing for how much you suffered in silence, alone.

You shifted your body again, your back hitting the couch again with a soft thud. You let yourself sink into the cushions for a second before you answered.

“Right know it’s pretty good.” You replied, fingers fidgeting against each other in your lap, trying to keep yourself steady.

“I’m good, Kyuris good, I actually think she’s enjoying it now.. you know..” you eyes swept over the room, looking at anything that might help you.

“Me and her only,” your voice dropped to something sacred, low.

The was the first thing you thought about when Kyuris father decided to left, that she would think it was weird to only to be surrounded by you and not two people.

“At first I thought she wasn’t gonna get used to it, only me in the apartment and not two people.. taking care of her.” You said, your fingers clutching the blanket tighter.

“I thought she would ask about her father, wondering.. why she only had a mom and not a.. dad.”

You kept going, your eyes drifting over to Minho, still seated beside you like a strong anchor.

“But now I’m glad.. to have her even though it was hard at the beginning.” You felt how Minhos fingers grasped around your hand, tracing your skin.

You slightly jerked at the touch but let him keep his fingers on your hand, his warmth spreading across your skin, feeling the small heat on your cheeks.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me the most.” Minho suddenly said, voice steady, fragile, like he wasn’t used to you being this open about how hard you had it when you first figured out you were pregnant.

You saw the care he had for you, the way his voice soften when he spoke to Kyuri, the way he gave up his days off when you needed help.

He offered himself without hesitation, not thinking about how it made your head spin every time he came over.

“Minho, you were there for me, always.”

You felt your own fingers softly gripping his, a steady presence to hold yourself in.

“And you being here now, that’s what matters the most.” You softly whispered, you slowly pulled your hand from his hold and reached out to him.

Gently grabbing the hem of his shirt and pulling him back into the couch with you, leaning into him like the way Kyuri did when she got sleepy.

“And I’m really grateful for that.” You said, placing your head onto his chest, feeling the fast beat of his heart against your ear.

Minho slowly shifted and wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to his body, the warmth of him spreading across the room.

You didn’t see the smile that formed on his lips, the way his eyes drifted down to your body tucked beside his.

“You matter more to her than you ever will know.” He softly whispered, like he already knew which words you needed to hear.

That you were enough, that you were enough for her and for him.

You relaxed a bit when he stated the words, your hands clutching at the end of his shirt to keep yourself from falling.

“She really likes you, you know.” You gently said, feeling his body tensing beneath you. His hand slowly flexed at your waist, his fingers stopped tracing patterns onto your shirt.

“I figured.” He softly replied, “When she followed me into the bedroom and watched me change.” You felt him let out a small laugh, his chest moving with the action.

You slowly lifted your head from his chest, your eyes searching his.

“I’m sorry for that.” You laughed out, smiling softly.

Knowing that she is mostly reserved with people but with Minho it was like that side of her disappeared the moment she met him.

Like she knew that she could be safe with him, that you were safe with him without having to worry about your or her feelings getting hurt.

“Just so you know-“You softly nudged him,

“if you keep coming over, she’s soon gonna ask you to move in.” You smiled, letting your head fall back onto his chest, feeling your eyes beginning to close.

“Sleepy?” Minho asked in the tone he also used with Kyuri. Not daring to answer the small threat you did. Because if he would say it, he needed to stay forever.

“No” you said, nuzzling closer to his chest, breathing in his soft scent. But before you could protest, Minho had risen from the couch and gently lifted you up into his arms.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed, sweetie.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The morning light slips through and creates a soft stream of golden. Minho is still beside you, a steady presence. Like he doesn’t want to be anywhere else than here.

His soft breathing creating a warm sensation to your ears, his slightly messy hair glowing in the light. Minho has an arm wrapped around your waist, his face nuzzling closer to your neck behind you.

“You’re warm.” His morning voice sending shivers across your spine, husky and full with love.

“Don’t leave.” He says, pressing a soft kiss to your neck, not caring that the action is maybe sending your friendship over the edge.

You can’t help but smile, shifting closer to him, feeling his firm chest against your back, rising and falling with each breath.

“What if Kyuri sees us?” You whispered out, the thought popping up in your head before you can stop it.

“Let her”

Minhos voice sounds so confident, resuming like he never was worried about Kyuri seeing her mom and her mom’s friend cuddling together in bed. His voice hit you harder than expected, that maybe it’s okay for Kyuri that you have someone in your life that isn’t her real father.

You snap out from your head when Minhos arms tightened around your waist and his hand gently slipped over to rest across your stomach. You hear how the sheets creates a muffled echo in the room by being tossed away and the warm presence behind your back is suddenly gone.

Only by Minho to be hovering just above your head, his hair skimming across face making you shiver. He gently reached down to give you slow sensual kiss on your cheek while you heard his voice coming out as a whisper.

“It’s okay.” His lips lingered a moment before he let go. You could feel the heat rising to your face,

You knew exactly what he meant by the words, Kyuri is so observant and so smart that you can’t trick her into believing something that isn’t there even if she’s just 2 years old.

In the back of your head, you know that she already knows what Minho means to you and why he stays over so often but you let that thought hurt for a while.

You roll over on your back and open your eyes slowly, feeling how the light touches yours eyes like stars.

“Minho” you softly made out, looking over at his side, the side of your bed that he claimed the moment Kyuri came into your life and he insisted on helping you.

You didn’t question it when he claimed the bed, you didn’t even bother that he stayed over most of the time in the beginning. You either didn’t question why he did it, just that it felt safe, easy.

“Good morning.” He said, his head was resting against the headboard, turned towards you, his eyes sweept over you with care.

You slowly shifted, reaching out your arms, slowly gripping his shirt to tug yourself upwards and settling your head against his chest. His arm wrapped around your waist, tugging you closer, letting you get lost in his warmth.

“How long have you been up?” You whispered, your voice coming out lower than you expected, he still heard you.

“Long enough to see you struggling to get up.” He laughed out, pulling the sheets closer like they would slip away if he didn’t hold on tight enough.

“Hey!, I’m a mom.” You breathed out, “it’s hard enough.” You gently swatted at his chest, the warm skin of him radiating off to you.

Warm enough to leave marks.

Marks that wants to stay.

Marks that you want him to make.

“And you’re amazing for that.” He softly said, his voice suddenly tight and sharp, like he needed you to know he was serious about what he said.

That you’re amazing and you shouldn’t let anyone take that away from you. Just because they can or you let them.

You studied his eyes, the fine brown colour melting to something darker when he talked about something he was passionate about.

Lashes clumped together because of the early morning sleep he hadn’t had enough time to wipe off. His shirt slightly bunched up because of the way he tossed and turned in bed, showing a little bit of skin that made your brain melt for a while.

His black hair messy, it was even messier than you ever had seen it, surely you had seen it during his sleepovers, the nights when you were too tired to put Kyuri to bed and he just offered to do it. Like he already knew how to.

He was cute, he looked like the peaceful Minho and not the hardworking Minho.

It suited him, but knowing him he was gonna change it soon enough. You just hoped it would last a little longer.

The sound of a door being pushed opened and small feet running down the hallway could be heard through the walls.

You slowly lifted yourself up from his chest and settled yourself against the headboard beside Minho, gently putting your head on his shoulder.

“I think the little princess is awake.” Minho softly whispered in your ear, his breath fanning over your face.

“She’s soon gonna be hovering over you all day.” You replied, reaching out your hand, giving his thigh a small pat.

Knowing how much Kyuri likes to be with Minho, just simply accepting him as a person who she trusts and feels safe with.

Something about that tugged in your chest.

That she has a person she feels safe with that isn’t you.

Minho just softly laughed beside you, lifting his arm above your head again to gently rest it around your shoulder, the sound of his laugh raw and real.

“She’s allowed to.” He whispered, fingers slowly making small grounding touches to your shoulder through your shirt, letting your skin burn for a moment.

In that moment you saw a small shadow padding by the door, stopping briefly in the movement and the door to your bedroom opened gently.

“Mommy..” a small sleepy voice pipped up.

Kyuri was standing in the doorway, leaning against the list and clutching her small bunny plushie in her hand while rubbing her eyes frequently with the other one like it was the only thing holding her together when she saw you and Minho in bed.

“Are you and Minmin cuddling?” She asked, voice heavy with sleep and excitement.

Kyuri slowly padded towards the bed, her small body covered in cat print pyjamas, clutching her bunny plushie like a life line.

“Good morning, baby.” You softly said, lifting your head from Minhos shoulder. You felt him shift back a little and his arm was quick to be gone around your body like he didn’t really want Kyuri to see him nuzzling against you.

“Did you sleep well?” Your voice dragged in the morning light. You slowly sat up, blanket pooling around your waist when you reached down to gently grab Kyuri to lift her up onto the bed.

“Mm, I did.” She whispered, her voice tight with an enthusiastic you didn’t really know what for.

You didn’t have a clue about her little brain which was working overtime to figure out why Minho was still in your bed.

You leaned back on the bed, resting your head on the headboard. Gently placing Kyuri in the middle of you and Minho on the bed, your hands lightly grounding her small body while she wiggled between you both.

You could see the way she glanced up at Minho from time to time.

Kyuri then laid herself flat on her back between you, nuzzling more into the sheets.

“Yesterday was my.. best day.” She whispered out, you were well aware of how she wanted you to hear her.

She was still a child, but a clever and intelligent one.

Her small hands then reached for your arm and tugged a hold of it. Lifting herself up from the bed to wrap her hands tightly around your neck while she climbed her way onto your lap, laying her body nuzzled against yours.

“It’s was?” You carefully asked.

You tried your best to pull the blanket up with you without disturbing her peace and draping it both over yourself and Kyuri while she slowly nodded her head at you question.

Minhos shoulder was pressed against yours, steady, the heat of him never really leaving.

“Mm, because I like it when Minho is here.”

She slowly lifted her head from your chest and her eyes searched yours for anything that might make him stay longer and for you to understand.

She was already glowing in the early morning.

She gently layed her head back against your neck, slowly twirling the strands of your hair in her fingers while her soft breathing evened out. Your arms tightened around her body for a second, slowly running your fingers up and down her back.

The words caught in your throat, you didn’t know what to say.

Because Minho was easy.

Perfectly easy.

And you didn’t know what to do with that fact.

You sensed how it affected Minho too, because his fingers froze on his phone. His movements slowed when she stated the words like it caught on him too.

His warm breath now a little shakier than usual, you saw how he ran a hand through his hair like he didn’t really know if he wanted to stay or walk away.

“I know you do, baby.” You said, the words slipped out before you could stop them.

Because a part of you also likes when Minho was here.

Here in your home.

In your life.

In your bed, waking up next to him like a routine that was meant to be.

Minho slowly shifted closer to you, like he knew what you needed in moment.

He carefully reached out and when his hand gently touched your thigh on top of the blanket you felt surprisingly calm.

You gently turned you head to look at him and he was already looking at you, giving you a small smile in return.

Kyuri suddenly moved in your arms, letting go of your hair and slowly pushed herself up from your chest. She gently sat up on your hip and reached her arms out towards Minho.

You knew exactly what she wanted in that moment.

For Minho to cuddle with her like he always did. To make you let him stay today like he did yesterday.

“Minmin” she said, her voice bubbling with emotion.

She had already reached over and was now sliding out from your grasp and reaching out over to Minho.

Her small but steady hands clutched at his shoulder, slowly moving his shirt back and forth to get his attention. She now pushed herself completely off your lap and sat down between you and Minho.

Kyuri gently patted Minho’s thigh, her hands fisting in his shorts and she threw a glance towards him. You saw how his fingers went to slowly turn off his phone. Like her gaze was the only thing that made him know that it was serious matter. The screen faded to black, he placed it on the nightstand beside him like he didn’t really know what to expect when he turned back around.

“I hoped that you were staying over”

You saw the moment Kyuris mind decided to be braver than before.

“You did?” Minho said, his voice still filled with sleep.

“Mm, because then I can be with the people I love the most at the same time.” She slowly said, looking down at where her fingers were fumbling with his shorts.

Because the second she had clutched at his shorts, fingers dangled in the soft material. You knew it was over. For you and for her, because whenever she decided to say the things she had hold in for so long, it was meant to stick forever.

And she wanted Minho as much as you wanted him.

She slowly rised from her spot and reached her hands out for Minho to grab while she climbed onto his lap like she was meant to mold there, printed a pattern in your head.

She climbed into his lap so quietly it burned and placed her body on top of his. Her arms flopped around his frame while she rested her chin on his chest.

Softly tracing her eyes around his face so carefully you wanted to cry.

She was as careful as he was.

Minho simply let her, gently clutching her body tightly in his hold while gazing down at her with shiny eyes.

Because some part of you knew he needed this as much as you needed it. You didn’t know when you had reached over and was gently running your fingers through her hair.

You only knew that you had leaned your head on Minhos shoulder and he simply let you while Kyuri was lying peacefully on his chest, content in the feeling of two hearts beats in sync with each other.

“You matter more to her than you ever will know.” You gently whispered, echoing his own words.

His eyes locked onto yours the moment you said the words, like they carved into his head more than he intended to.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You both laid there for a while, content in the feeling of each other. Kyuri had fallen asleep agin her soft breaths was the only thing you tried to keep your focus on while your eyes drifted up to Minho occasionally.

“My tired little girl.” You softly whispered out.

Steadily running your fingers through her small soft strands before you physically forced yourself out from the bed.

You slowly shifted, bed creaking under your movements. You stretched your arms over your head while you slowly glanced at Minho for a second.

Kyuri was still lying on Minho’s chest, her soft breathing steady against him. Minho sensed your eyes on him as he gently turned his head towards you before simply asking.

“What?” His voice was soft, cutting through the warmth.

“Nothing.” You briefly said, still looking at him and Kyuri.

He just threw a small glance, raising his eyebrows slightly towards you before settling his attention back to the sleeping child on his chest.

“Will you be okay if I start on breakfast?” You gently asked, already knowing the answer to it.

Because the sleepy child was the least you had to be worried about right now. She was exactly where she wanted to be.

“I think I be more than okay.” He softly laughed out, careful not to wake up Kyuri.

You heard a small sigh escaping her lips before her hands grabbed his shirt and she shifted herself closer to him.

“Yeah.” You let out a small laugh, voice still tight.

You slowly flopped back down and sunk down deeper into the soft bed sheets before you quickly moved forward to Minho, you felt yourself hesitate before you slowly reached out and gave his shoulder a quick kiss.

Feeling his warm skin under your lips.

You slipped out from the bed, sheets rustling behind you before Minho was given a chance to take in what just happened. A small laugh escaped Minhos lips as soon as you disappeared from the bed. Your steps were still a little shaky and your breath quick when you slipped down the hallway towards the kitchen.

Inside the still warm bedroom, Kyuri was starting to finally find the strength to get up again.

She was still clutching herself at him, the bunny plushie tucked against her chest like it would leave otherwise. Kyuri let out a a small yawn and softly rubbed her eyes when she felt Minho move under her.

“Aha, good morning again to the little princess.” Minho said, his voice nearly over a whisper.

“Good morning, Minmin.” Kyuri sleepily said, her hands reaching out to gently grab at his shirt collar, wanting him to know that she wanted to be closer to him.

“Is the little princess and her bunny hungry?” He jokingly said, his voice still not reaching that normal level he always had.

“Yeah! Super hungry, is Minho hungry?”

She asked with happy eyes, slowly rolling off Minhos chest and displayed herself out on the bed like she owned it.

“When is Minho never hungry, should we go and see what mommy has made?” He teased, his hands coming out to gently tickle Kyuri which she was gladly pleased with.

Her small high pitched laugh echoed through the room. Even that was easy.

Minhos hand dropped from her body and he rises from the bed, is head slightly slurred, he threw the blanket off him and stood up. Slowly padding barefoot towards the curtains, letting the sun bashing through the windows.

He turned around and saw Kyuri still lying in bed, her small bunny beside her, reminding him of leebit a little. When she spotted Minho walking around the room, organising his and your clothes in a small circle on the nearest chair, it was like everything clicked right inside her brain.

For you and Minho to be together.

When she sensed that Minho was reaching for the door, she quickly sat up and started bouncing around in the bed, making the sheets fly in the air.

“Minmin.” She quickly said, her eyes searching for his.

“Yeah?” His fingers were still wrapped around the door like he didn’t really have the courage enough anymore to reach for her.

“Carry me to mommy?” She gently said, her small legs were dangling from the bed while she holds the bunny close to her core.

If you were there, you could see the faint sadness he was trying to suppress. Like he was holding himself together from crying right in front of her. He knew that she would understand.

Kyuri wasn’t stupid and he knew that from the moment he met her.

But then why does it still linger in the back of the head, like an aching hole?

So when he instantly reached out to her, his arms going under her small arms and gently lifting her up into his hold. His arms wrapped protectingly around her body.

Kyuris arms clapped tightly around his neck, warm and fuzzy. Her small hands twirling his dark streaks as she mumbled unimportant words to herself.

Her legs slightly swinging in the air around his waist and her bunny plushie dangling from one of her hands wrapped around his neck, gently hitting him in the back with every step he took.

He knew it was enough for her.

He was enough for her.

“Mommy! Here we come.”

That was all you could hear when Minho came into the kitchen with a clingy Kyuri in his arms.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

His warm body radiating off the heat. Your face is tucked into his neck, hands clutching his shirt in between you. His arms are around your waist, his fingers slowly tracing small circles on your back. He was already slightly awake, you could hear his small content breaths fanning your face.

Pulling him closer to you by lacing them together. Minhos arms are still wrapped around your body, his fingers warm against your back, tracing small circles onto the fabric of your shirt.

You slowly moved yourself closer to him, nuzzling your face deeper into his neck, inhaling his scent with each breath.

“Cutie” he mumbled, loud enough for you to hear him.

“What?” You slowly breathed out, lifting your head from his neck to look at him.

“You’re cute when you’re sleepy.” He said, pressing a slow kiss to your forehead. You felt yourself drift off by his touch again, resting your head back against the pillows.

“I’m practically half-dead.” You jokingly mumbled out, hearing a small laugh from him.

His morning voice taking up all the energy in your mind when you slowly shifted your legs, trying to get comfortable when you threw one of your legs over his hip and settling it against the back of his muscled thigh.

You nuzzle your face even closer to his warmth, your face mushed into his neck. You push your body closer to his when you feel his hands slide under the fabric of your shirt setting against your back with ease. Warm fingers tracing small circles onto the skin, you make out a soft sigh while you tangled your arms out and wrapped them around Minhos body.

“You’re warm..” you whispered, your voice low and sleepy.

You softly pressed your lips faintly onto his warm neck, slowly gripping the fabric of his sleep shirt that was out of place. The heat of his skin sensual under your lips, feeling how he clutched the fabric of your shirt a little tighter than before.

“You’re not allowed to leave this bed today.” You whispered against his neck.

His laugh could be heard under your ear, settling deep behind your head with sleep mixing.

He tightened his hold on your body just before the door suddenly creaked open and his arms slid out from under your shirt and left completely. The warmth of his hands leaving your craving body.

You tangled your legs out from him and tucked yourself into the warm bed again when you saw him sitting up and his eyes focusing towards the door.

“No, come back..” You sleepily whispered, reaching your arms out and making grabby hands towards him.

Minho leaned over to give you a small kiss, which made your brain turn off. You melted against him, not having any sense of kissing back and you just sinked deeper into the soft cushions.

“The cats?” You whispered against his lips.

“Yes” he mumbled against your lips, giving you a gentle peck before he pulled back and gave you small smile.

Minho moved back his gaze to the door. You slowly opened your eyes, your breath coming out faster than you intended.

You felt your fingers coming up to your face, touching your slightly flushed lips. You turned your head to see him completely unbothered by his sweet action.

The blanket was pooled around his hips, his sleep shirt hanging loosely around his body, his broad shoulders lining out his frame perfectly. He was looking better than ever, Minho’s sleep state was your favourite look of his.

His hair was messy, small strands that were standing up everywhere. Sleepy eyes staring at the end of the bed. You were just lying there like a baby refusing to get up while clinging to their parents. But you were currently clinging to Minho’s body.

He plopped back onto the bed beside you again and that’s when you saw them.

The three cats.

Slowly taking their regular spots on the bed.

Doongie was tucking himself in beside Minhos thigh on top of the blanket like he owned the bed.

Dori was sprawled out on the foot of the bed, playing with own tail when no one of his parents gave him attention.

You saw how Sonnie was slowly making his way up to you, his body moving easily through the thin space between you and Minho.

He gently come up to your face and buffed his head against your chin and then laid himself flat in the crook of your arm which was laying half across the bed were you were trying to bring Minho back into the warmth.

“Hi baby.” You softly said, your other arm coming up to pet him.

Running your fingers through his soft fur. You slowly grabbed a hold of his whole body and layed him beside you when you turned to your side. Your back was facing Minho and you carefully pulled Sonnie closer to your chest. He let out a soft meow when you moved him.

Your fingers settled against his body again, stroking his fur, his body warm against your own. Doongie had abandoned Minhos thigh and was now lying at the end of the bed together with Dori.

They were sprawled out around you two like a wall protecting you from danger, looking up at you like they sensed the love in the air before you did.

You could hear they way Minho was gently cooing, whispering soft things to the two chubby cats laying unbothered on the bed. They were just looking at him like they understood, their tails swinging in the air happily.

Minho then turned to look at you, you felt how the bed sunk down a notch when he shifted closer so he was laying directly behind you and propped himself up on one elbow. He slowly looked over your shoulder and saw how Sonnie was tucked against you.

“They’re as cuddly as you are on the mornings.” He softly said, half joking, which you knew wasn’t a joke.

His hand gently reached out to run through your hair, his fingers slightly scratching your scalp which made your head fall back against his shoulder with a soft sigh escaping your mouth.

“They’re as sleep deprived as you are right now.” You joked back, your eyes already closing.

His fingers gently leaved your hair to schem at your lower back until he was tracing small shapes around it.

“I am not.” he said, before tugging on your shirt towards him and pulling you flush against his chest, careful not to disturb Sonnie.

His hand gently slid under your shirt, his palm warm against the side of your skin. You heard him exhale a soft sigh, his breath fanning your neck.

You sensed that he was still fighting sleep, the sheets slowly rustle around you when his arm slid from his head which was now laying stretched out on the pillow over your head.

His head dropped onto the pillows again and he nuzzled his face closer to the back of your head, slowly inhaling your scent. The hand on your waist was still tucked under your shirt, slid over to palm flat against your stomach. His body molded against yours the moment his arms were connected with your body.

You slowly tilted your head back to look at him, his slightly flushed face scanned over your eyes. You carefully leaned forward and connected your lips to his, giving him a slow kiss.

You felt him sigh against your lips, kissing you back with the same softness. His lips moved easily against yours, he gently pulled back only to kiss the corner of your mouth before his eyes drifted away from your lips to look at you.

“I love you.” You felt his breath ghost your mouth as he said the words.

You turned your head back to look at the chubby orange cat nestled in your arms. Mumbling a I love you too before you could react when you felt his lips dropp to give the side of your neck a slow lingering kiss, nibbling on the slightly flushed skin.

You let out a sigh before it quickly turned up to a silent moan when you felt his tongue dart out to gently skim over the spot he just nibbled at. His hand displayed on your stomach tightening and pulling you back against his chest more. You clutched Soonie a little tighter to your chest when you felt Minhos lips mold against your skin.

His lips left your skin but his head stayed glued to your neck, nuzzling his face closer to your warmth.

“Can we just stay here forever?” You mumbled out, still dazed with the kisses.

The content feeling of Sonnie against your chest and Minhos warmth pressed against your back was everything you ever needed.

His face was still tucked into your neck when you felt his soft lips gracing the outline of your shoulder. His lips finding all the bare skin he could find, his hand slowly slid out from under your shirt towards gently settle on your waist before it dropped lower.

Warm and sleepy, slowly gracing the fabric of your shirt while his hand reached over to gently set his hand on top of yours where it was displayed on Sonnies fur.

“I’m living here now.” He slowly whispered in your ear. “In this bed” he pressed a slow peck to your shoulder.

“With the cats” a kiss to your neck on the exact same spot his lips had just nibbled to form out a hickey, which left you whimpering and gently clutching Sonnie closer to you.

“With you.” His fingers slowly glided through yours with Soonie purring in agreement.

You pushed back and settled comfortably against his chest, his thigh sliding between yours with his arm slung protectively over your waist. His warm breath fanning your neck, evening out in sync with yours.

“You know..your offer about never leaving this bed today was quite good.” He murmured against your neck, his morning voce still low and deep.

You slowly lifted your hand still interlocked with his form Sonnies fur, pressing the back of his hand to your lips to give his knuckles a gentle last slow kiss before you settled your hands back onto the orange white tabby’s fur and felt how Minho’s breathing drifted off to sleep again.

“It was the best.” You breathed out.

Before sleep finally finds you again with the content feeling of Minho pressed against your back and the three cats sprawled around you like they already knew what you two needed this day.

You pull the box out of the closet and set it down onto the floor beside you. Reaching out to your fingers to trace the box’s features and the Gucci letters, feeling the sharp material under your fingertips.

You slowly lift the top off and see it.

Dark brown Gucci heels with the signature gold hook on the foot.

“Minho” you call out. Not to ask him a question, not to ask why this heels are in your closet but for your own sake.

“Yeah, jagi?” He softly said, you look up and see him leaning against the doorway.

You feel yourself slowly sinking further to the floor, heels dangling from your hands. The red box lays securely beside you.

“Why are these heels in our wardrobe?”

You slowly asked, not daring to look him in the eyes.

Knowing that Lee Minho shows love through actions rather than words. Buying you gifts that you normally don’t need, giving you space when you need, always trying to make it easier for you.

You don’t bother to stand against him. You don’t either stand a chance against him when he expresses his love for you.

Minho slowly makes his way to you, sitting himself on the floor beside you. He gentle takes the heels from your hands and sets them down in front of you. You force yourself to look at them.

The brown leather glowing with the contrast of the floor, the neat details on the heels, the Gucci logo imprinted on the heels flat like they were meant to be. The gold hook on the toe of the heel making its way into your head.

You feel how he sneaks an arm around your waist, gently leaning back, putting his hand behind you, palm flat against the floor. Slowly shifting himself closer to you, the side of him pushed against your own body.

“It’s for you.” He casually blurts out, looking at you, eyes scanning your face like it might help him understand what you’re feeling.

“What?” You whispered out, feeling how the warmth of his words were slowly spreading to your face.

“Mm, when I was at the Gucci event, I saw them quickly while we were walking and I thought about how they would fit you.” He softly spoke, his suddenly moved from behind you and he wrapped his arm around your waist, slowly caressing your waist with his thumb.

“I had mind that you could were those to the dinner to show off how pretty you are in the brand I stand for.” Minho said casually, letting you hook your head on his shoulder.

You slowly reached out and traced the fine material of the heels, the gold metal cold under your fingertips.

The rich brown leather material that resembled Minho in every way possible.

Perfect.

The strap on the back thin and divine, the light inside material of the heels mixing with the warmth of Minhos fingers displayed on your waist.

“They’re beautiful.” You whispered. Your eyes drifting from the heels to his face. You his thumb stop moving around on your hip when you spoke before he carefully withdrew his hand.

“Like you.” He nudged you a little with his words.

You felt how he slowly shifted, standing up and softly holding out his hand for you, fingers interlacing and you slowly pushed yourself up from the floor.

“Try them on while I finish dinner.” He simply asked, not a hint of surprise in his eyes like yours were. You traced your fingers up around his hand, feeling the visible fine veins on his upper hand. “Okay” you whispered into the air.

You could feel how he carefully lets you trace your fingers up and down his skin before you let your hand slip further up. His arms remained around your waist, feeling how he clutched at your shirt slowly when your own hands gripped his arms to lace your bodies together.

Searching his eyes for anything that might help you and saw how he was already looking at you, his eyes soft and lovable. You slowly leaned in and graced your nose against his before you pressed your lips against his mouth, feeling him sigh against you.

He kissed you back with the same sweetness, slow and reassuring, his lips moving against yours with a confidence like he needed you to know that he was serious about the heels.

He was the first one to pull back, tracing his around you face whilst your arms slowly went up around his shoulders, to lock them in place behind his neck. You pushed yourself closer to and before he could utter a word you pulled him back for another sweet kiss.

“Thank you.” You softly whispered against his lips, his warm breath fanning over your mouth like he already knew what you needed.

You both slowly broke the kiss at the same time, you saw the way his ears were slightly turning red. He carefully unwrapped his arms around you and reached down onto the floor to pick up the heels and holds them out for you.

You take them from his fingers with ease but with an hint of affection.

Like they matter more to him than to you.

“You deserve them.” He whispered back before he turned around and slowly walks to the doorway again.

Briefly stopping himself in his track and leaned against the doorway like he did when he came in. Sneaks a small glance towards you, giving you a quick wink before he fully walks out to the kitchen again.

You stand frozen in your spot, heels still dangling from your fingers. His warmth enveloping you in seconds. You walk towards the bed and slowly sink down on it with the heels beside you like they personally burned you.

Why? When?

You remember seeing the photos of Minho from the event.

Handsome, clothes that fits him perfectly but no heels in sight

Not in the background, not in his hands.

When did he had the time?

———

The dinner went off smoothly, like always. You and Minho talking about ordinary things, dance practice, recording, Hans lazily attempts to bother Minho more than necessary.

Not even mentioning the heels that still lays touched in your bedroom.

“You’re thinking” Minho suddenly asks, actually looking concerned but still soft as ever.

“No, I’m not.” You quickly replied not wanting him to think that you’re ungrateful about the gift.

“After the event ended we had some time left and i quickly asked Hae-in to see if she could slip away and buy them for me to avoid any suspicion.”

He sensed that you were zoned out but still catching up on his words. You knew Minho never wanted to make your relationship public but he either never denied anything that was written or of someone had seen you tow together.

Hae-in was Minhos type of bodyguard but she was mostly his translator when he went to countries where Korean wasn’t the first or main language they used. She followed along on every event or photo shots of his that she could and on the days when she couldn’t you saw the way Minhos eyes drowned with anxiety.

Because she was amazing, professional, she helped Minho in a way that was lovable. Every time Minho didn’t understand a word or a question she quickly hoped in and saved him. She was a person Minho could trust anything with, especially when it came to buying things for you when he didn’t want to drag any more attention towards himself.

Hae-in was the only person expect the members to know about your and Minhos relationship and she kept it low. Whenever you were with Minho backstage or fashion weeks she kept both of you on a safe distance but still close enough to feel comfortable. You were grateful for her, she saw the way Minho melted just a little extra around you and knew immediately that you two were meant for each other.

“I always think of you whenever I am.” Minho voice dragged you out of your dace.

“Was it you or her who thought they would fit me?” You carefully replied, your voice a little shaky because you knew what the answer was.

“She just happily nodded in agreement when I said that the heels would fit you perfectly.”

He slowly reached out towards you and poked your arm and that was the first time of the evening when you really looked at him. His fine features, the sharp cheekbones, his perfect shaped lips.

His dark hair that was softly out of place because of the amount of times he had run his fingers through it and the setting spray that his hairstylists had put on had slowly worn out throughout the day.

Still amazing.

“Expensive?” It was the only word that you managed to get out. He softly smiled while shaking his head, laughing.

“Jagiya, I love you.”

He reached over and grabbed your hand in his.

“You don’t need to worry about that.” He gently said, “I know that you can put in your money but I want to show you through ordinary belongings not just only with words that say I love you.”

Minho is still normal about it while you’re burning up inside. Money hasn’t been a problem for you or him since you got together.

But right now the moment isn’t really about money, it’s about the brand he’s the ambassador for.

“Min, they’re perfect.” You carefully speak, not trusting yourself to say anything about him and how good he is.

You slowly stand and make your way over to him, softly reaching up and running your fingers through his soft hair. Placing your hand on the back of his neck, you feel how his hand slowly raises to your waist, settling against it like a warm habit.

“And you know I love you.” You whisper into his ear before leaning in and giving his nose mole a gentle peck.

Turing back on your feet, you feel him slowly exhale a breath you didn’t know he was holding.

———

You slip on the heels with ease.

Slowly raising from the bedside, the heels clicking against the hard wood floor when you make your way to the mirror.

Seeing the gold hooks on the heel toe mixing with the late night lights in the dim of the room. Letting your pants drop to cover the heels, so only the toe is visible.

Still amazing in some way.

You slowly make your way out of the bedroom and into the living room where you see Minho sprawled out on the couch.

Sonnie is sitting on the arm rest while Doongie and Dori are fighting on the rug beneath the couch.

Their owner is looking extra comfortable with a blanket covering him, phone in hand and man spreading a little too nicely but still respectful.

If you look closely you can see the black tank top that is secretly hiding under the soft blanket lining out his perfect arms to your liking.

You sense the shift in the air as soon as you step in the room and he clicks off his phone, seeing how the screen goes dark.

Like the dark of your new heels.

Your heels click against the wooden floor as you made your way over to him, standing slightly in front of him.

You see how he slowly acknowledges your presence with a slow nod of his head and the way his eyes trace the heels on you like they would tell him something he already knew.

“Hi” he says casually not having a thought about how it affects you or your head.

“Hi” you mirror, slowly lifting your leg and setting the point of the heel beside his thigh.

”They’re beautiful on you.” He says slowly, lifting his hand and slowly traces the gold hooks on the toe words with careful fingers. His hand gently cups your ankle, warm fingers setting on your skin, his eyes carefully flickered up to you.

Not missing a beat.

Seeing the love and lust in his eyes. “You think?” You ask while you carefully sets yourself down on his lap, straddling him, the sides of your thighs brushing his. The heels slowly settling against the end of the couch.

“I knew they would suit you.”

His hands slowly graces your hips, settling against your waist with an ease of his own pace. Your hands slowly mow around his head, settling behind his neck.

“I love to show you off.” You smile, feeling his warmth breath in the air.

“Especially so people know who you belong to.”

He slowly tilts your head so you need to force your eyes to focus on him. You feel how your nose touches his.

And because you can’t help yourself, you lean in and brush a light kiss to his lips again while you hear him whispering against your lips.

“You” he whispers while holding your gaze firmly, his hands still grazing your hips and waist like he would crumble if he let go.

You carefully traced your thumb over his lower lip, voice dropping to something more softer.

“if you want, you could remind me of that”, you whisper, your tone teasing but sharp and serious.

He blinks, the small slow blinks of his, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. “One night before your work dinner?”

“Yeah,” you murmur, fingers slowly tracing the lines of his neck. “That you’re mine and I’m yours.”

For a slight moment it looks like he hesitated. None of you moved, slightly breathless but still in tact.

And then he exhales a shaky laugh, his hands gripping your waist a little firmer.

“Here?” He motions towards the couch.

“mm-m.” You whispered, he slowly pulls you towards him again.

Closer than before.

And you pull him back into a real kiss this time, not just a small brush of your lips.

Minho meets your lips with a hunger that makes your knees weak as they are tucked beside his thighs. His lips move against yours, secure and sweet, his tongue slipping past.

One of his resting hands against your waist move up to tangle in your hair, tilting your head towards him gently to give him more access.

You slowly pull away from him, to settle your lips against his neck, lightly nipping at his pulse point.

Feeling the warmth of skin on skin.

“Armrest” he murmurs against your ear, his voice low and safe.

You slowly pull away from him each other and Minho gently places you down on your back on the couch, with your head resting carefully on the armrest behind you.

You nod, breathless and Minho gently pulls back to make sure you’re comfortable. Like he always does.

He slowly places himself on top of you, his elbows beside you to ground himself. Your hand came up again around his neck, tightening your hold of him.

“You know that I’m not with you because of your money, right?” You breathlessly said, pulling you closer to his core.

His hands finds it way around the side of your waist, tracing your ribs like they’re fragile while his other hand comes up to cradle your face.

“I know, jagi.” He whispered gently, his lips gracing your temple.

“And if you were, you wouldn’t even be lying here right now on my couch totally dazed out because of me if you were after my money.”

His voice suddenly sharp but still soft in a way only he could do. You knew from the moment Minho saw that you really were into him, his personality, his moods, everything. You didn’t have to be worried about him thinking you’re only with him because of his bank account.

But now in this moment, you just wanted to be sure, to make the thought disappear from your head.

The faint sound of the cats disappearing into the apartment was too loud to be normal, sounds of the world outside your living room didn’t seem to matter in the slightest. Only the sound of you two together. Minhos slow breaths and yours slow and still controlled moans mixing in the air.

You reached down with your fingers to try to take the heels off like they disturbed you in the making. He slowly traces the outline of your collarbones with careful fingers.

“Keep them on.” Minhos dominance showing through the sweetness.

“.. I need to see them on.”

He gently strokes his thumb against your ribs, feeling the way you shiver at his touch.

He slowly leans down to give you a quick, warm kiss before pulling back to look at you again. His eyes scanning over your face.

Your breath catches in your throat, surprised by the sudden kiss of his. Feeling how the warmth of the room is slowly catching up with the tempo of your bodies pressed together.

“Minho…”

He smiles and slowly leans in to kiss you again. His nose brushing yours when his mouth devours yours with a more clarity and hunger than before. It’s controlled, more deliberate, his fingers roam freely around your sides.

You feel how his hand that was on your waist, was now slowly brushing the undersides of your breasts with his thumb through your shirt. You arch into him without hesitation and he chuckles softly against your lips, feeling the smile that was slowly forming from him.

“If I knew this would have been the reaction, I would have bought more..” he slowly teased with a small smirk on his face.

You swatted at his arms with the best of your strength that you could when you felt him teasingly bite your lip. A moan slipped past before you stop it, your head tilting back for a second and Minho eyes lighted up at the same moment.

You felt his his lips slowly graced you neck while you pulled yourself back to look at him when you reached out to trace the fine lines of his tone arms, the black tank top clinging more to his chest than before because of the warmth but still perfect fit for him.

Feeling the soft fabric beneath your fingers, slightly running your hands over his back, feeling how the slight muscles move under your sudden touch. His top is off in a quick motion, seeing how it slides over his head with ease, ruffling his slightly fixed hair.

You know Minho never has been one for taking his clothes off, whenever at home or on stage. Especially on stage, whenever the other members are showing off.

He is more likely to show off by his dancing and handsome aura. He does it in his own way and it perfectly works for you.

As long as he’s comfortable with it.

So when his tank top coms off, showing his fine waist and abs your brain gently decides to turn off.

You fingers comes out to run over his collarbones, down his chest until your fingers feel numb because of him.

Your eyes slowly drift down his body, appreciating every inch of him you doesn’t see so often. His slightly toned stomach, the fine sharp lines of his waist that he never normally shows you.

Divine.

Your fingers finds his abdomen, the small white scar that runs along it.

“Does it.. hurt when touched?”

You trace it without thinking about if he wants to, the small content feeling under your fingertips but the moment his fingers lands on top of yours keeping them in place on his stomach.

You know that you’re allowed.

“Not by you.” He gently whispered, his lips finding your tempe, brushing over the soft skin.

You see how his eyes travel down to where your hands meet, like there are everything he needs in the moment. Your hands carefully move from his waist back to his neck, locking him in place.

His fingers finds the hook of your bra, you didn’t even acknowledge that your own shirt had come off, laying on floor in the warm air. His fingers playing with the hook of the bra, feeling the think fabric on your skin before sliding down the straps on each of your shoulders.

He gently cups one of your breast in his hand, gracing his thumb over the fabric before sliding it off completely, you bare underneath him. Feeling the warmth raiding off of him.

Skin on skin, eyes locked together.

“You’re perfect.” He breathes, his hand skimming down your breast to your sides.

You feel his eyes burn with the contact of yours. “I want it.. I want you.” You nod breathlessly still a little bit dazed of his touches.

Minho then reaches down for your pants, opening the zipper with steady hands, your pants pooling beneath you.

Your owns hands reach out to tug at his belt. Not as steady as his fingers were but still sure. He helps you tug them down, feeling how the fabric slips from the couch down to the floor.

Both of you in your underwear.

You reach for his boxer the same time he reaches for your panties. The slow feeling of his the fabric slides down your legs and now you’re both bare and tangled together.

He pulls you softly back to lay comfortably on the couch while he reaches down your body. Settling between your legs. His hands slowly settles on your waist and beside your head, grounding. He kisses you deeply, feeing the slow breaths against your mouth.

His palm flattens against your stomach, sliding lower. “The tour been killing me, without you there it doesn’t feel the same.”

“Yea-h” you gasp, as his fingers finds your lower body, rubbing your clit slowly.

Teasing, building the pressure up just right. His lips move to your neck, trailing soft kisses, slightly biting while leaving warm marks that make you gasp in the air with moans escaping.

“Mm.” He murmurs against your skin, his warmth breath ghosting over your neck.

“Let it out, don’t fight it.” His fingers presses just right inside of you, curling its way up to your limit. You arch off the couch and lean into him, feeling how he pulled you closer.

His lips continue to work their way on your neck, feeling how you shiver beneath his touch.

“You’re perfect like this, you know. Fitting around me like your made for me.”

You moan at his words, he smiles against your skin but the second his fingers lose contact with your sensitive body, you feel how the distance of your bodies changes into something more longing with need.

“Minho..” you warn, feeling how the climax slowly starts taking its place into your body.

You slowly wrap your legs around his waist, seeing how the heels glimmer behind his back in the warmth of the room.

“You look best like this, fragile but mine.” He whisperers, not a praise, not a compliment, just Minho.

Safe.

He slowly raise his head from your neck to look at your face, full with love.

He leans in and kisses you with force that takes your breath away, his slight flushed lips stuttering against your own. You feel his body pressing closer to you, his cock firmly pressed to your thigh.

“Condom?” He ask, his tip already leaking at your entrance.

You only shook your head at his question, knowing that he likes to it safe before you actually commit to something bigger.

He enters you with an ease and sarcasm he only knows how to perform. You gasp when you feel him connect with your sensitive area, the slow push of his hips touching yours.

“Amazing” he mumbled out, slowly pushing himself forward to feel your most sensitive spot burning up with the heat of him.

Your moans filling the room like party lights.

Swallowed by the sweet kisses of Minhos lips, the deep presses of his pink lips against yours making it impossible to keep quiet.

“Oh..my.” Your sounds coming out broken and harmless.

You slowly try to rise from the couch, feeling how he slowly twitched inside of you when you push him upright.

The sides of your thighs settling against the soft cushion beside his bare ones. Your hands still wrapped around his neck, playing with the small hairs on the back.

Minho has his hands settled against your hips, your chests pressed together while you slowly rock into him.

You give him a slow loving kiss, feeling him smile against your mouth.

“Min, why don’t we fuck… more often?” you blurted out still dazed with the feeling of him inside.

“I know it’s our boundaries but.., you’re incredible.” You mumbled out, pulling away from his lips to look at through hooded eyes.

Your moans slipping past. “Like right no-.” He softly cuts you off with a gentle kiss.

“mm..jagi,no”, he softly runs his fingers through your hair.

“not now, enjoy the moment.” You know exactly what his words mean.

It’s not to harsh, not sexual, not sarcasm.

It’s because Minho wants to do things that you feel comfortable with.

You and Minho hadn’t had a loving moment before now. Minho has always been clear to you, that you set the limits.

Whenever you want to do to or not, your choice. Not his.

You had always the small things, holding hands, kissing, quick fucks that ended with you cuddling on the couch. But never making love to each other through long, fragile, loving kisses and touches that stayed.

You’re still rocking into him softly when he grabs a hold of your waist and envelops your back fully to lay you down on the couch again, your head hitting the armrest with a soft thud.

“Being engaged to you..”voice low, “isn’t so bad as you think.” You moaned out, your legs still wrapped around his waist when you felt him push even deeper down into you.

“I would say being engaged..to me is the best thing.” He groaned out, his voice breathless and hoarse. “And we marrying each other is the next best thing on our list.”

Minho quickly captures your lips again in a harsh kiss, his breath hitched when you slowly slipped your tongue in between his lips. Kissing him back with the same enthusiastic.

You tangled your hand up into his hair while you slowly lifted your hips to connect with his.

“Oh god, just like that Minho.” You pant, breaking the kiss to nip at his neck, slowly lifting breaking the contact of your lips against his skin to head to look at him, he gently rested his forehead against yours while he was still was rocking back and forth against your core.

“Didn’t know that Lee Know could..”, your moan slipping out from you without a chance to stop it. “work so good with his cock.”

His pace quickness a bit but still respectful at your words. His hand dropping from your side to slide down to cup your bum, keeping you in place.

“I’m quite unpredictable, you know.” He breathes, his lips finding your mouth again, kissing you deeply while feeling how the heels slowly starts to lose its grip around your feet.

The heels hit the ground with a thud, but it’s quickly muted with the sounds of your moans creating a beautiful mess in the air.

You slowly pulled away from his lips to turn your head to look at the floor, seeing how the heels lay pooled beneath your now bare feet mixed with your bare bodies.

“Didn’t know that you could get so worked up over a pair of heels.” Minho teased back, his lips grazed your throat this time while your head is still turned towards the floor. His tongue coming out to dart over the snot he just kissed, slowly sucking a mark onto it while you shivered beneath him.

Completely content in knowing how the mark was gonna be a visible hickey tomorrow morning and how your sore bodies would feel much heavier than before. Minhos eyes trailied over you to gaze at the floor.

To the dark brown Gucci heels that now lays forgotten on the hard wood floor.

The warmth of the room slips easily through the curtains of you and Minhos bedroom.

You are sprawled out on his bed with him beside you like a heated blanket, your shoulder touching his. You are nestled against his chest, his arms wrapped around your frame tightly. His hand is tracing soft circles onto your back, feeling the heat of his palm against your skin.

The soft blankets wrapping around you two, creating a warm cocoon in the dim room. You shift closer to him, pressing your nose into his chest, inhaling his soft scent while you let a soft sign against him. The smell of him settling deep inside your body.

Minho is already awake when you move onto him. He shift gently, bed moving under you, scooping you up closer to him, enveloping your whole body to make you even more pressed against him, you feel him press a soft kiss to your head before he settled back against the bed.

“You awake?” He softly whispered out, his hand tracing small patterns up and down your back.

“Barely” you breathed out, nuzzling closer to him, feeling his warm skin under his shirt. You pressed your lips faintly onto the spot on his collarbone where his sleep shirt had slightly riddled down. The heat of his skin sensual under your lips, feeling how he clutched the fabric of your shirt a little tighter than before.

He pressed a second kiss to your head, this time slower and longer, his lips lingering a moment before he let go, his hand reaching up to gently rest against your head, fingers treading through your hair.

“You’re warm.” You mumbled out, fingers gripping his shirt to steady yourself.

Minho is warm, as always.

His solid body pressed against yours, the soft glow of the sun slipped past, your soft breathes mixing together in the air. The warmth of his shirt clinging to your body, the fabric swallowing you whole.

You slowly wiggled in his hold, trying to unwrap your arms around him but Minho just tightened his hold on you when he felt that you were beginning to move.

“Don’t.” He whispered, his voice husky and low.

Still content in the feeling of you in his arms, his body remained pressed to yours, you knew he didn’t want to let you go but both of you needed to get up for work even if you just wanted to stay in the warmth of each other.

You slowly shift your body onto the side, forcing yourself out from his warmth and facing away from him. You turn and reach for your phone onto the bedside table. His chest is still pressed to your back, one of his arms tucked under your body while the other one is reaching for you to come back.

You feel how his arm under you slowly tensed when you shifted your weight onto it carefully, careful to not crush his arm. The slight fine muscles flexing, his fingers gently brushed the side of your waist,

Your breasts slowly gets mushed against the sheets when you grab for your phone and you feel how his fingers slowly flexed when they trace the undersides of your breasts. Your breath hitched when you felt his fingers skimming on your sensitive parts, not quite touching but hovering.

Once you have your phone in hand, you lean back onto the bed again, settling back against his warmth, feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest pressed against your side.

You open it quickly and scrolled past a few messages and posts before you felt a hand gently poke your shoulder and occasionally gripping it to make you turn around. Turning your head you see Minho softly looking at you with pleading eyes and a pout slowly forming on his lips.

You let out a small laugh before you shift in his arms, facing him again, settling back into his warmth, your hands coming up to close around his neck, pulling him closer to you. He lets out a breath of contentment, his arms still around your waist.

“Thank you.” You heard him whispering, knowing he has a hard way of expressing his own needs sometimes and that he needs help with resuming them. And you also know that’s his way of saying I love you and you’re absolutely fine with that. As long as it’s him.

“You know.. you’re always allowed to cuddle me even if it’s you who asks.” You carefully said, hoping that your words reach a little more into his head.

The sheets moves around you when you tilt your head up and pressed a soft kiss onto his jaw, seeing how his face slowly relaxed under the soft press of your lips. He shifted closer to you, seeking the warmth of your body. The sheets slowly get pushed when you try to move your legs, tangling them together with his under the blanket that pools around your waist.

“You look the prettiest like this.” You softly whisper, seeing how the tip of his ears slowly turns a small shade of pink.

“And you’re amazing.” He replied, his voice barely above a whisper near your ear but you know what he means when his lips linger on your forehead.

You were about to pick up your phone when you feel Minho slowly letting go of you. His arms dropped from your waist, his legs tangling out from your hold and you slowly lifted your head from his chest. He pushed himself upright, sat up and run a hand through his messy hair once before he sleepily looked around the sunny room.

“Where are you going?” You sleepily asked, reaching for his shirt, trying to pull him back down. “Come back.” You said, sitting up and shifting closer to him, setting your body behind him and resting your chin on his shoulder.

Minho slowly leaned into you, “I’m just gonna go feed the babies, jagi.” He said, turning his head, his eyes swept over you before he gave you a quick kiss. Your mind still sleepy, didn’t really catch on what he did so you practically melted into him.

A mumble was all you whispered against his lips before you pulled back to look at him, his sleepy eyes, his soft pillow flushed face glowing in the morning.

“But then come back, I want to cuddle with you more.” You replied, lifting your head from his shoulder and letting go of him. You didn’t even realise that you had gripped onto his shirt before you saw the small crinkles forming on the end of his shirt.

“I’ll be quick.” He mumbled out, pressing a kiss to your forehead before getting up and walked out the door to feed the three hungry cats outside.

You plopped down onto the bed, sinking into the warmth of the sheets and the lingering smell of him. Seeing his frame glowing in the morning, his shirt slightly out of place because of the amount of times he had reached for you in the night.

His sweatpants low on hips, riding just above his abdomen, lining out his perfect bum to your liking. His solid back muscles teasing your head with every step he took.

You reached for your phone and started scrolling mindlessly on your phone, looking at whatever that comes up on your feed.

That’s when you scrolled past a post, a bag that looked too expensive for anyones bank account.

A red one that you had seen before, both in shops and online, hearing people talk about it like it was the best bag in the world, gossiping about whenever it was good or not.

The red leather bag looked too good to be true.

You hadn’t even realised that Minho had come back and was laying beside you again. Clearly unaware of how he shifted closer to you, leaning close to your ear before you felt a hot breath fanning your face.

“You like it?” He whispered, his voice low and excited.

You jolted when you saw how close he was, his eyes staring back to you before flickering to the phone.

“What?” You asked, still confused on how he managed to feed the cats so quickly and then get in bed in seconds, quietly not to disturb you.

“The bag.” He casually said, placing himself onto his elbows, looking down at your slumped body against the bed sheets.

“No.. no!”, you chant, trying to get whatever thought he had inside his head to get out.

“it just plopped up and.. I.” You try to make an excuse when your rambling gets silenced by Minho leaning over and placing his lips onto yours again.

You shift back a bit, surprised but you still kiss him back, your phone slipping from your fingers onto the bed cushions. His free hand comes up to cradle your face, cuping your cheek as he pressed soft kisses against your mouth.

His warm hand slips from your cheek to grab a hold of your waist, pulling your body closer to him. He gently pulled back, his lips slightly a darker shade of pink, his eyes wandering over your face.

You slowly opened your eyes to look at him, trying to wrap your head around what just happened, his hand dropped from your waist and he laid down on his back, his head turned into your direction.

“Just plopped up?” He teasingly said, running a hand through his hair, making more messy than it already was.

“Yeah..” you whispered, still dazed from his kiss, you felt your cheeks getting warmer by the minute. Minhos hand reached out and grabbed your phone which was lying forgotten on the sheets.

He slowly clicked on the post, his eyes sweeping over the phone screen, his fingers moving through the pictures of the red leather bag.

“It’s pretty.” He said, his fingers still hovering over the screen.

“And since when did you get interested in woman bags?” You mockily said, reaching out to poke his cheek. Knowing Minho had a style of his own, clothes, shoes, same with bags but you never knew he took an interest in women bags also.

“Since now” he replied, dropping your phone and pulling you against him. You gently leaned your head back against him, you let a soft laugh, feeling his arms wrapping around you as the minutes passed.

“We need to get up” you said, skimming your fingers over his arms, poking and tracing the visible veins on his forearms.

“Wasn’t it you who said you wanted to cuddle me more?” He replied, pulling back, his breath fanning over your face, arms resting on your waist.

“Mm but that was before you went to feed the cats.” You replied, lifting your head up to look at him, his eyes scanning over your face.

“I got distracted by the bag and you didn’t come back fast enough.” Your voice rambling out, your fingers still on his arms.

“And then I got cold-.” You were cut off by Minho pulling you up from the bed, the blankets landing on the floor with a thud. His body soft in the morning light, the sun catching on his body perfect.

He was standing in front of the bed while you dragged yourself out from the bed, slowly pushing yourself up. Holding onto his arms as you stood up, your energy was slowly making its place inside your body. When you were on your feet, standing in front of him, you wrapped your arms around his waist, resting your head on his solid chest.

“You were practically melting.” He teased, his hands running up and down your back. You pulled back and slightly swatted at his chest, earning a soft laugh from him.

“Only because you kissed when I wasn’t properly awake.” You said, your fingers gripping at the back of his shirt, hands skimming lower until you gently patted his butt through his sweatpants.

“Did you just pat my butt?” He asked, pulling away to look at you, a small smirk forming on his lips while his eyes traced your face.

“Yeah, it’s a perfect shape.” You laughed out, slightly getting out from his hold, but only to be pulled back into his chest again.

Wrapping you up against him, pressing a soft kiss to your tempe before realising you, his hand coming out to gently give your own butt a squeeze “Yours is better”, he whispered before he headed out towards the kitchen to start on breakfast.

“If I’m the one making breakfast today, my rule is that you need to cuddle me while I make it.” You heard his voice call out from the kitchen, speaking in his soft low, morning voice that you couldn’t get enough of.

———

You stood in the middle of the room for a while, taking in the warmth of the room, the warmth of Minho and his smell.

You reached down and grabbed a hold of the blanket before throwing it back onto the bed. You slowly made your way to the kitchen, the cats following silently behind you before disappearing into the morning light of the kitchen.

Minho was at the fridge, taking out small pieces of food that were the usual thing you ate on the mornings, bread, eggs, yogurt. He was silently working on the stove, humming to himself and occasionally talking to the cats whenever the needed attention.

You slowly made your way to him, slipping your arms around his waist, bunching up his shirt a little, slipping your hands under it and feeling his toned warm stomach under your fingers.

You leaned your cheek against his back, feeling him let out a small breath of content. You shifted your head towards the kitchen island, seeing something on it but you couldn’t really make out what.

Before your eyes caught on something red, placed neatly on top of the kitchen island, staring into your soul like it would kill you if you didn’t touch it.

“Minho..no” you whispered, feeling yourself gripping him tighter when you figured out what was standing on the counter.

The bag you mention.

“Minho, yes” he whispered back, letting you be in your head for a while, melting the vision you were seeing before he turned around in your arms and gave your hair a soft kiss, his eyes wandering over your head to the red bag glowing in the morning light.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

This post is inspired by the new Korean Netflix serie, The Art of Sarah.

You’re taking to your friend about her wedding that is one night away.

“I’m fine, besides I don’t even have someone to ask.” You replied, your tone slightly stiff.

You hear how she scoffs through your call, her voice coming through the phone and into your head like a child who refuses to let go.

“You could always ask Minho.” She annoyingly requested before cutting you off, leaving you in the silence of your living room.

The door suddenly swings open, revealing a tired Minho, his cap pulled low, mask barely hanging on when he drags himself into your living room and sits gently down beside you on the couch.

“Long day?” You ask gently, feeling the way his head dips onto your shoulder, nuzzling his face closer to you.

He softly hummed in response. “Everyone was on my back today. Requesting tips on how to dance.” He breathes out, you feel his warmth breath ghost over your face.

“What have you been up too?” He slowly lifts his head up to look at you.

“Nothing much, my friend is just nagging me about her wedding tomorrow.” You softly spoke out, seeing how his eyes trace your face when you speak.

Minho gently reaches for the zipper on his hoodie, dragging it down and taking it off completely leaving himself only in a white t-shirt that fits him a little too good.

“She’s still asking you to bring someone?” He asks, reaching for his bag that was slumped on the floor taking out his phone to gently place it on the table.

You notice the small movement of his, like he remembered something but still wanted you to know that he was listening.

“Yeah, says that it will look better if I show up with someone, I know she’s just trying to be nice but it’s a bit tiring to hear it everyday.” You gently spoke, trying to keep your voice as steady as you could.

Minho then softly turns to you, you feel how the couch slowly moves under his touch.

“I go with you.” He suddenly says, looking at you with his soft brown eyes not hiding a hint of sarcasm behind them.

“Minho.. what?” Surprised by the sudden action of his. “But you’re busy.” You gently said, not wanting to force him to go with you just because your friend keeps nagging you.

You feel how his hand hovers around you thigh, not actually touching but still close enough to burn.

“If I didn’t want to go, I wouldn’t even suggested it.” He replied, looking at you with cheerful eyes, his signature smirk forming on his lips.

You playfully nudged him, feeling how he didn’t hold back when you touched his arm and gently pushed him. He softly lifted himself up from the couch but only to lay his head down onto your lap.

“Okay, thank you.” You softly said, looking down at him lying in your lap.

Your fingers slowly tugged at his cap, taking it off and placing it onto the table.

You feel how he shifted his head a little at your movement, his hand coming out to grab yours to softly place it in his hair.

The silence around you had slowly shifted to something sweeter.

Minhos balanced sleepy breath mixing with yours filling the air.

“Sleeping here tonight?” You slowly whispered, loud enough for him to hear, slowly running your fingers through his hair.

He nodded his head and hummed in response, a small smile playing on his lips that formed the words, yes.

———

The day of the wedding.

The early morning slipped through your curtains.

You had promised yourself to set an alarm because you needed as much time as you could to get ready and your friend also wanted you to come a little earlier than the other guests after all she is the one who’s getting married.

You slowly shift back a little to feel a warm solid body behind you. The warmth of Minho slipping through the sheets. You carefully opened your eyes, seeing the time lighting up your phone screen, 6:00 am.

You slowly pushed yourself upright, setting against the headboard. Seeing how Minho was silently sleeping beside you, his breaths slow and content. Your fingers skimmed over his hair, feeling the soft strands of his dark brown hair against your fingertips. He softly shifted closer to you and made a small sound of contentment.

“Good morning.” You whispered quietly, you slowly took your hand back from his hair and made your way up from the bed.

“Good morning.” Minho slowly followed, his morning voice sending shivers across your spine.

You sneaked a glance back to him, lying in your bed, looking extra comfortable in the morning light. His body slumped against the soft blankets, shirt slowly out of place to show a little bit of skin.

“Time to get ready?” He said while rising from the bed, his eyes softly landing on you and the small mess of blankets shattered around the bed like he just wanted to stay in the moment of you.

Breakfast went by fast, you and Minho were far too concentrated on making your way over to the wedding that you nearly forget to feed yourself.

You both were standing in your bedroom like two people who haven’t slept together in the same bed hundreds of times before.

The theme was light but still wedding vibe. You could work with it.

You found a nice dress to go with, a perfect light silky dress with a small touch down but still nice to not show enough of your chest. And in some way Minho had found a light black suit in your closet.

A suit that was actually his but it had just been lying in your closet since the last photo-shot Minho had done. The one night where he came to you, too tired to go to his own house because he insisted on that your apartment was closer to the location where he did the shooting. The black suit still visible under his coat when he stepped inside.

You slipped on the dress, the zipper still open at your back because of the warmth in the room. Minho has just pulled on his pants and undershirt and he was now fixing his hair in your bathroom. His tie hanging loosely around his neck, his presence a little too inviting standing in the middle of your bathroom.

He looked ridiculously hot.

You gently stepped inside, to fix your own hair. Grabbing the hair brush, you softly looked up at the mirror and your eyes meet Minho. He was standing beside you, his fingers carefully smoothing over his hair, pushing it back so a little bit of his forehead was showing.

“You nervous?” He softly asked, looking at you not knowing that your brain isn’t that functional yet because of him.

“A little, but most for her, it’s special you know.” You replied, brushing out your hair before you grabbed a small hair tie that was laying on the counter and pushing your into a ponytail before you continued doing your hair into a sleek bun. You saw how Minhos eyes trailed from your face down to your dress, the silky fabric fitting your frame.

“Mm” he softly hummed beside you.

He slowly shifted his weight, letting go of his hair and the jar of hair-gel he was holding. He gently turned on the tap of the sink to wash his hands before he tried them off on the towel and you felt his body moving around you, feeling how his hands come around to settle on each side of your waist on the counter.

“You look.. beautiful.” He whispered gently into your ear. His hands slowly squeezed your waist, his fingers smoothing out the silky fabric.

You looked at yourself in the mirror before carefully turning around in his arms, your bodies close together. His eyes locked onto yours, the warmth in the room slowly stared taking its way into the bathroom, forgetting about the time pressure you two actually were under.

“It still fits you.” You softly said, your fingers coming up to smooth over his shirt, continuing their way up to touch his hair, fixing the small strands that was out of place.

“I didn’t know you still had it.” He whispered back, slowly leaning into your touch, his own fingers finding the fabric of your dress to ground himself in.

“I keep everything’s that’s about you.” You say while looking up at him.

Your hand dropped from his hair to gently grace over his neck, the tie that sill hangs untouched around his neck.

You slowly grab a hold of his tie, the fabric fitting him perfectly. You pulled him against you, reaching your fingers up to fix his tie. He stumbled a bit but caught steady himself by keeping his hands still locked on either side of your waist.

The fabric gliding through your fingers with ease, you tied it together until it sits right with the white shirt.

You slowly step away from him, the warmth of his presence. Noticing the way Minhos eyes follow your movements when you step back from him. Both of you slip out from the bathroom, feeling the subtle shift in the air.

Minho slowly turned to you while he slipped on his suit, a small smile playing at his lips.

“You ready?” He asks, his fingers finding your waist, zipping up your dress carefully.

You feel how his fingers linger on your back, the subtle flex of his fingers against the fabric of your dress.

His hand stays locked onto your waist when you step out into the fresh air and make your way to his car, the sound of your heels and his black polished shoes mixing in the hard ground.

The moment you step inside his car and settle against the soft leather on the passenger seat, you two don’t say anything about the warm feeling that you’re both sharing.

You don’t either acknowledge about how you feel Minho’s hand settle against your thigh like a habit you want to keep.

His fingers tracing small circles onto it the entire drive to the wedding hall.

———

The sunlight slips in soft and warm, slow through the gauzy atmosphere, squeezing their way through the curtains. You and Minho make your way into the hall. It smells faintly of fresh perfume and the early sweetness of spring.

You locate your friend by the window, sitting cross-legged on the fine makeup chairs, half curled in a silk robe.

“How are you feeling?” She asks not to tease but with real concern. Voice a little too tight. You slowly trace your fingers over her wedding dress that hangs on the hooks of the door.

“Good, actually.” You softly said, “relieved.”

She softly smiled at your words.

You laughed, quietly.

“You nervous?”

“Terrified, it feels like my body is on fire.”

You paused, you glance over your shoulder, seeing Minho standing close by in the corner of your eye. Talking to the relatives that had come earlier than the ordinary guests, shaking hands, his polite aura shining in the early hours like it’s easy. Keeping you close but not actually touching you.

“You look calm.” You say but your eyes keep drifting back to Minho.

Like he’s the one who needs to calm down.

“I’m lying.” She smiles, “I’ve spent the last ten minutes trying not to freak out.” She gestures to the room, the air, anything that might still hold her together. “But I’m glad you’re here” You smile.

It’s polite, but a part of you aches for the man that is currently standing outside.

Then like on instinct, she asks.

“So Minho?” She carefully said, not wanting to ruin any moment you two might be having. You drop for fingers from the dress to gently grab a hold of the doorknob beside you, just to have something to hold on to.

“What about him?” You ask a bit too fast, like you feel the need to protect him from your own friend. You see the small shift of her body, slightly turning herself towards you.

“You’re really cute with each other, but I didn’t think that Minho would ever accept to follow on occasions like this in my whole life.” Her eyes borrowing into you with care, her voice low but still subtle.

“He asked himself.” You softly said, grabbing a hold of the side of your dress before gently pushing yourself from the door to step forward to her.

“We talked, I said that you were getting married and you thought I needed someone with me and he just.. offered.” You slowly traced off.

She softly rose from the chair and stepped in front of you, grabbing a hold of your arms.

“Offered?” She teased.

“Stop it.” You said, feeling the way she brushed her fingers up and down your arms, calming you down.

“I just wanted you to stop asking for me to meet someone, okay.” You replied, your own hands slightly shaking when coming up to gently fix a strand of hair falling out from her perfectly fixed hair.

She softly scoffed.

“You’re still not talking about how madly in love you two are with each other.”

“We’re not.” You said slowly, trying to convince yourself and him.

She softly brought you into a small hug, “Go be with him.” She whispered, “ I’ll be fine.”

———

Minho stands near the aisle, looking as handsome as ever. The light catching his face perfectly. He softly mouths a small “Hi” towards you, smile playing at his lips.

The guests are nearly seated, prepared for the ceremony to begin. The air holds a beautiful hush that comes before the music. Small petals lie scattered across the long aisle.

You stand behind the crowd of people but still visible. The music slowly shifts, low and promising.

Your best friend stands at the end of the aisle, flowers clutched in her hands like a sacred object.

The veil tucked into her hair softly, floating with the wind, catching the light like glitter that refuses to come off.

You step forward, slowly coming beside to grab a hold of her hand. Your thumb touching her knuckles softly with the sway of the music.

Then the music proceeds and the guests slowly rise from their seats. Their head turning towards her, breath being mixed in the air.

You slide your way to the front row, beside Minho. Feeing his warm hand settle against your lower back. Your eyes sweep over the room, the warmth of him beside you.

Chairs, guests, flowers tucked into the walls.

Your gaze refuses to stay in place.

Because beside you stands Minho, somewhat more handsome than you ever have seen him.

Minho has always been handsome, cute, polite. He knows how to make himself present, make people respect him. He has always had that respectful, caring aura around him.

You slowly glance up at him.

Minho is supposed to be looking at the bride but he isn’t. His eyes have already found you, carefully sweeping over your face.

Blinking the slow blinks of his. He gives you a small smile before gently squeezing your waist a little to make you snap out from your daze. The corners of his mouth slowly started to form a smirk.

You look away to fasten to your eyes into your friend, seeing that she is already looking at you with the biggest smirk playing at her lips.

Eyeing you and Minho.

You softly shift your weight, fixing your eyes onto her. Gently bathing your face to her, to make sure she’s not assuming something that isn’t there. You try to focus on the gentle touches your friend and her soon to be husband gives.

The soft vows they give.

———

The music softy fades out to something more powerful when she steps down from the aisle.

You are frozen in spot, Minho has wandered off minutes ago to grab a drink for the two of you. The warmth of his hand on your back still plays in the back of your head. Your best friend’s happy face when the vows were exchanged.

The soft kiss between two souls in love.

You spiral out from your thoughts when you feel a presence at your back.

You don’t have to turn, your skin recognises him before your mind does. Only Minhos touches are that soft, his hand that slowly grabs a hold of your waist, the silky fabric twisting in his fingers.

Warmth radiating close enough that your body hums with it.

“You okay?” Minhos voice soft, almost a whisper under the chatter of people and clinks of glasses. You slowly turn around, feeling they way is hands stay on your waist.

“Yeah, just happy.” You replied, “for her” you added.

He gently nodded, his hand coming up to take the champagne glass from your hand, to settle it into the nearest table. Your fingers slowly gracing his.

“Im glad it’s you, Minho.” You softly spoke, seeing how his eyes slowly swept over you with surprise.

“That’s here with me and not.. some random person she forced me to take here.” You said, your hands coming out to smooth his suit down.

Feeling the fast heart beat of his.

“Yeah?” He softly asked, his fingers still grazing your sides.

You hummed in response. “I always liked being around you.”

“You always been easy to be around.. you know.. comfortable.” You softly whispered, your fingers reaching out to play with the buttons on his suit.

Something to hold onto to.

His hand slowly went up to your hair, his palm smoothing over your sleek hair, his fingers gently graced you before they falled back onto warm place around your waist.

“Comfortable, that a new word describing someone you like.” He teased, but his eyes still remained on your face.

“You know what I meant.” You said, slowly swatting against his chest.

“I know, love.” He softly whispered, “I feel the same.” He softly said, searching your eyes for a reaction.

You stand there for a while, just absorbing the atmosphere of the wedding, the music, the people, the love that’s slowly taking its place.

People started slowly gathering around the area you two were standing in, making you pull away from him, feeling the light breeze slipping through you.

You slowly drop your hands from his arms, seeing how he forced himself to leg go off you. His hands slowly pulled away from your waist when he hears his name being called in the distance.

You reached out your fingers to gently sweep them over his, feeling the warmth of him raiding into your skin. You softly grabbed a hold of his hand, seeing how he stopped in his steps.

He turned around and his eyes searched yours, keeping them locked onto his.

The next second he softly pulled you into him again, tugging you against his chest. You slowly stiffened at the sudden action of his, but your hands come up to his back.

Gently gripping at the back of his suit, the fabric bunching around your fingers to anchor yourself. “Worst timing” he gently whispered in your ear, making you laugh.

His hands slowly enveloped your whole body before you felt his lips brush the lightness kiss to your temple. Giving your waist a small squeeze before he disappeared into the crowd of people.

The lingering feeling of his lips gracing your skin burned the second he left. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. The shift of the air was high just like the heartbeats of two people.

The moment you see your best friend having the time of her life, everything thing comes together. The final songs bleed into soft voices mixed with emotion. Guests that begin to make their way out, laughter filing the air between hugs and final photos.

“Minho, darling one last picture.” Minho’s mother’s voice soft through the noises, begging her child for a picture before they leave.

You see the way Minho softens around his parents, relaxed, low-guarded. Not the usual sarcasm polite Minho.

Just Minho.

His mother quickly spotted you standing in the corner, your eyes wandering over Minhos siluett. You see the soft smile forming on her lips, calling you over.

“Sweetheart, come here, be in the picture with us.” She softy smiled at you, carefully grabbing your hand and tugging you into the frame beside her. You knew that you didn’t have a choice, she had always liked you ever since you and Minho were kids.

You slowly made your way over to them, feeling the breeze of the air. You placed yourself beside Minhos mother, feeling how Minhos chest was pressed against your back.

His hand gently sneaked around your waist while the other one was holding the phone, taking the picture. His breath warm against your ear, you sensed how he slowly leaned in and whispered,

“You survived.”

His thumb slowly graced your hip, putting a little bit of pressure on the skin, squeezing around the bone.

You softy hummed, letting your head fall back onto his chest, feeling his firm chest lining out the suit perfectly as your hair graced the fabric.

“Only because you’re here.” You breathed out, too deeply in thought to notice how Minhos mother had stepped away from you two, and was now standing beside her husband, carefully watching the two of you in the distance.

You were to focused on how warm and safe Minho’s arms felt around you.

———

You move through everything one last time, like it would disappear the moment you step out.

Fixing your best friend’s hair one last time, smoothing her dress one last time, her eyes sweeping over you one last time before she pulls you into a hug.

“You’re amazing.” She cried out softly, clutching at your dress like a life line.

“You’re amazing.” You gently said back. Letting her embrace swallowing you whole.

“You’re literally married.” You teased while she pulls back to look at you, her teary eyes glancing over your shoulder.

“He’s annoyingly good.” She softly whispers.

You just hummed in agreement, knowing exactly who she was talking about.

“Yeah.. he knows how to make life a little bit easier.” Your eyes following Minhos movements, his presence that was always close to you in some way.

“You’re in love.” She simply states. “I’m not even gonna react surprised when I see you together.” She smiled gently, giving you a small push.

“I’ll make sure.” You hear Minhos soft voice behind you.

You gently step out from her hug to turn to see Minho smiling at you, his arm wrapping around your side pulling you closer to him.

“If you don’t get together for the next 24 hours, I will legally kill both of you.” She joked out, the champagne taking the best out of her or the worst how you decide to see it.

You laughed at your friends not so much of a threat while could smell the vanilla raiding off Minhos cologne, mixing with the champagne.

“You’re shining even though it was me who got married.” She smirked, tugging her husband into her like a moral support.

“Just go be married.” You teased, shooing her back into the crowd of people that haven’t left yet.

———

You stepped out from the wedding hall, the early spring air warm in the night.

When you saw Minhos car, you just wanted to sink into the leather seats and stay there forever. Minho was already seated, you opened the door and slipped into the passenger seat.

The warmth of him beside you creating a beautiful sensation in the car. Minho easily pulled out from the parking lot towards the main road, the feelings from the night still lingering.

His suit jacket was long gone, lying in the backseat like a present forgotten. His shirt was slowly rolled up, his forearms showing, smooth, sharp lines that flexed under his movements.

His tie is still tucked perfectly the way you did it.

His hair has softly slipped away from its hold, a few strands slipping past.

“You’re staring.” He softy said, breaking the tension.

“How was it for you?” You softy spoke, not denying anything about the staring. Your fingers carefully touching the lines of the car, the small details that made it more Minho.

His hands gently hummed to the beat of the song against the steering wheel.

“Better than I imagined.” He breathed out, his eyes glancing over to you.

“I was worried.” You whispered, not sure if he heard you. But the moment his hand settled against your thigh, you knew he heard you perfectly.

“Why?” He asked, not teasing but actually trying. His hand carefully remained on your thigh, tracing small patterns around the skin.

“I just..thought you know, you wouldn’t like it.” You carefully said.

“that it kind of..wasn’t your style and you feel forced by me just because I felt like I needed someone to go with.”

You breathed out, feeling more content of the way his hand was touching your skin.

He softly tugged at the fabric of your dress around your thigh, making you focus on him.

“I loved every second of it, okay.” He said, looking at you, his soft face forming a smirk.

“Besides even if I didn’t want to be there, I still had you and that’s enough.”

“..I don’t deserve you.” You carefully replied, not trusting yourself anymore.

Your hand gently reached down to grab a hold of his hand that was still touching your thigh, treading your fingers through his.

His eyes swept over you, you saw the warmth lingering behold them. “You do deserve me.”

“I.. loved it. Even if it didn’t seem like it, I did.” you breathed out, your fingers playing with his, feeling the soft skin under his warm skin.

“I loved that you were there, Minho.” You gently said, voice cracking beneath its steady rhythm. Feeling the tears starting to form in your throat but not threatening to spill.

He softy grabbed your hand with his in it and brought it to his mouth, planting a soft kiss to your knuckles.

Your breath hitched at the action, his soft lips under your skin, the burning feeling lingering like ashes.

“You have always had me.” He whispered, searching your eyes for something. You felt yourself slowly slipping back to look at the car, needing something to anchor yourself in.

“We have just been too careful with each other.” He said, voice low and soft. Like he didn’t want this moment to end.

You hummed in response. “Yeah, we have.” You softly spoke, your hands still tied together resting on your lap.

———

The moment you step out of the car, the shift in the air is subtle, easy.

Minho makes his way over to you, helping you take out the leftovers from the wedding, getting them inside your apartment. Setting them into your space like they’re meant to stay.

“You know..” he gently begins.

“I wouldn’t let anyone else get to you.” His normal possessiveness, sarcasm back, making the air feel lighter than it really was.

You turn to see him standing in hallway, closing the door behind him. Already deciding to go in and stay the night like he always does.

You nearly make it to the couch before his hands grasps your waist to make you turn. He carefully leaned in pressing his lips against your own.

His lips are soft, polite.

His hands graced your waist while yours went up to his chest, tugging down the tie you had perfectly done until it lands on the floor, the fabric slipping through your fingers easily.

You kiss him back with the same softness, lingering, feeling the small smile forming against your lips.

He slowly pulled away to look at you, his breath a little shakier than usual. Like he had already decided he was gonna stay and you had already said yes a thousand times before.

His lips softly captured yours in a kiss again, pulling you down with him on the couch.

“We have always had each other, just not in the right way.” He gently whispered, his fingers finding the back of your dress and the silky fabric of your clothes lingering in the air.