Archive of Our Own ^beta

1.

Minho waves goodbye to his colleague in the parking lot before slipping into his car with a deep sigh. All he wants is to get home and settle in for a long nap with his cats for the next six months.

Jisungie, 5:45pm.
Hyung we’ve run out of cat food!!!
Doongie looks like he wants to kill me!!
Go to the pet store on your way please?

There goes Minho’s peaceful drive home…

Minho hyung, 5:47pm.
Can’t you go yourself?
Yk I’m exhausted after work
It’s your day off

Jisungie, 5:48pm.
sent a photo.
I can’t !!!

Minho finds himself smiling at the picture — Jisung is sprawled on the couch with Soonie and Dori lounging on top of him. Dori is staring intently at the camera, while Soonie is fast asleep, tucked under Jisung’s chin. The photo is a bit blurry, as if taken in haste, but still charming.

Minho hyung, 5:48pm.
Okay
But only because they look peaceful like this
And I don’t want Doongie to get blood on his paws

Jisungie, 5:49pm.
What about me???

Minho usually avoids going to the pet store whenever possible because, 1) he's exhausted after his nine-to-five job, 2) the store is in a crowded area, and Minho isn’t fond of busy places and, 3) perhaps most importantly — Jisung has a massive crush on the part-time cashier there.

(The crush story goes back almost a year. The first time Minho and Jisung went to the store together after moving in, the cashier, Jeongin, greeted them with a warm smile. Jisung, who’s always been a softie for cute boys, turned bright red, stumbling over his words. He ended up ducking behind a display rack while Minho handled all the cat supply purchases himself.

"He was just so... wow,” Jisung sighed later, chin in hand, looking smitten. “Hyung! I’ll take care of the cat groceries from now on, okay? I’ve got a cute cashier to impress!”

Minho had rolled his eyes. “You could barely say two words to him. What makes you think you’ll manage going there alone?” he asked, putting away groceries in the fridge without even looking up. "And that's my cats we're talking about."

“You wound me,” Jisung pouted. “And, for your information, your cats love me.”

"Help me put away the groceries instead of thinking about a boy way out of your league.”

"You’re so mean!")

Now, almost a year has passed, and unsurprisingly, Jisung has made zero progress. He always comes home every time with an embarrassed red face, his arms loaded with cat food, snacks, and even toys he only bought because Jeongin recommended them. Minho is pretty sure Jeongin is just upselling to hit his targets, but Jisung is too infatuated to notice.

Anyway.

Twenty minutes later, Minho finally arrives, dragging his feet as he enters the store, yawning loudly. He heads straight for the cash register, knowing Jeongin usually sets aside the specific brand of cat food Minho and Jisung always buy. Apparently, Jisung once told Jeongin that Minho could murder an entire city if his cats didn’t get their favorite food — which isn't really a lie, but Jeongin avoided Minho for a few days afterward.

Unfortunately for Minho, today Jeongin isn’t at the register. So much for a quick, uneventful trip to the store. He can’t just stroll up and demand the bag of cat food — that would feel far too pushy. Sure, the customer may be king, but Minho was raised better than that.

Here’s the usual routine whenever Minho goes to the pet store:

The moment Jeongin spots him, he heads straight to the back room and returns with the exact bag Minho needs. They exchange a bit of small talk — Minho throws in an embarrassing story about Jisung for good measure — then Minho is out the door in under two minutes, quick and effortless. Simple. Smooth. Completely painless.

Now, though, Minho is on the verge of just turning around and leaving. But he can’t exactly let his cats go hungry, so he’s forced to take a deep breath, brace himself, and approach the counter, hoping this trip will go smoothly.

“Hello!” The cashier greets brightly as Minho nears the register, trying hard not to look as awkward as he feels. “How can I help you?”

Minho glances up — and nearly stumbles. Oh my god. The guy is stunning.

“Where’s Jeongin?” He blurts out, suddenly aware of his own nerves. Minho may be a painfully gay man, and just like his best friend Jisung, he’s utterly helpless around cute boys.

“Pardon?” The cashier — Seungmin, according to his nametag — tilts his head with a curious look. He even has a tiny dog icon next to his name, which is strangely fitting because, somehow, he really does look like a puppy. Minho finds himself wondering if this store recruits based on animal-like resemblance — after all, Jeongin has a fox by his name.

“I, uh... I’m just used to the other cashier. Jeongin,” Minho says, fumbling as Seungmin’s intense stare makes his words scramble.

“Oh, Jeongin? He never works Tuesdays,” Seungmin replies cheerfully.

Right. Minho realizes that in the rare times he stops by the store, it’s always on Jeongin’s shift, so he’d assumed Jeongin was the only cashier.

“You wanted to talk to him? I can let him know you stopped by,” Seungmin offers, noticing Minho’s silence.

“No, no, it’s okay,” Minho says softly, ducking his gaze. Why does this guy have to be so ridiculously handsome? His brain feels ready to short-circuit.

They stand there awkwardly for a moment, and Minho’s tempted to just leave empty-handed. Maybe Jisung could come back tomorrow — surely the cats can survive one night without their favorite food, right? He could always cook a little beef for them as a treat.

“Can I help you with anything else, then?” Seungmin asks, still polite and chipper.

It’s okay, Minho-yah, you can do it, he tells himself. “Um, there’s something in the back. For me.”

“Something for you?” Seungmin repeats, sounding a bit confused. “Did you place an order?”

Minho feels his patience — with himself and cat food and stupid Jisung and stupid handsome cashier - wearing thin. “No, I mean. There’s a bag of cat food. Purina brand.”

Seungmin nods, thinking for a moment. “One second, I’ll check.”

“Thanks,” Minho says, relieved.

Moments later, Seungmin returns, beaming, with a large bag of cat food in his hands. There’s even a post-it reading Han Jisung on it.

“You’re here on Jisung’s behalf?” Seungmin asks, still smiling.

Minho’s eyes narrow. So Jisung knows Seungmin? Interesting, and annoying — why did his best friend never mention a handsome cashier like Seungmin? “You know Jisung?” Minho asks, his tone less friendly than intended.

“Kind of. He's nice,” Seungmin chuckles, a sound so pleasant it makes Minho’s heart skip a beat. “He told me this was for his roommate’s cats. That’s you, right?”

Minho studies Seungmin — the puppy-like face, the little dog doodle on his nametag. Everything about him screams dog person, which for Minho, a cat person through and through, is slightly intimidating. He adores cats — stray or otherwise — and has earned plenty of jokes about ending up as an eccentric cat-loving old man later.

He has no experience with dogs, but somehow finds himself saying, “Oh... Actually, I’m not. I don’t have any cats. I just got asked to pick this up last minute.”

Forgive me, he mentally apologizes to his beloved cats. This is for the greater good.

“Oh, poor you,” Seungmin sympathizes, clearly unaware of the lie.

Minho chuckles awkwardly, feeling his heart race. “Yeah... you get it.”

“I’ll have to scold Jisung next time I see him. Which is going to be, like, in two months. I think he tries to come when it’s only Jeongin at the cash register.”

“You’re right,” Minho nods, figuring he might as well expose all of Jisung’s secrets for hiding Seungmin from him.

“I knew it!” Seungmin laughs, his eyes lighting up. “It’s hilarious watching him try to talk to Jeongin without stammering. Jeongin and I even have a bet going on when he’ll finally ask for his number. Jeongin doesn’t believe Jisung’s into him, but now that I’ve got confirmation from one of his friend... I knew it," he finishes, smirking.

Seungmin really is a talker — like an overexcited puppy, which, to Minho’s dismay, is terribly endearing.

“Kim Seungmin!” A voice calls from the back. It must be his manager. “Stop chatting and ring up the customer. You're making him uncomfortable.”

“Am I? Sorry,” Seungmin rubs the back of his neck sheepishly with a shy grin, then quickly rings up the purchase.

“No, it’s fine,” Minho assures him, feeling his own heart pounding embarrassingly fast. Truthfully, he could listen to Seungmin talk all day — his voice is just... nice. “Thank you.”

“Of course! Have a good evening!” Seungmin waves.

“You too,” Minho mumbles before speed-walking to the exit.

Once in his car, Minho has to take a few deep breaths, feeling his heartbeat racing as his cheeks burn.

Yeah. He might be in trouble.

(Minho watches his cats devour their food with enthusiastic chomps, blissfully unaware of the struggles he went through to get it for them.

"Why are you staring at their bowl like you want a bite too?" Jisung teases from behind, loudly munching on a Snickers bar. "You’re really becoming a cat, hyung."

Minho rises from his crouched position, fixing Jisung with a steely glare. "You."

Jisung points to himself, eyes wide, cheeks puffed with chocolate. He looks like a quokka, Minho realizes — maybe he could work at the pet store too. “Me?”

"We’re friends, right?"

“What kind of question is that? Of course we are! We’re even soulmates!"

“So, you wouldn’t hide a pretty boy from me, would you?” Minho’s tone is neutral, more a statement than a question.

“I wouldn’t!” Jisung exclaims, as if offended by Minho’s question.

Minho stares at him in silence for a solid twenty-three seconds.

“Hyung…?”

“Liar,” Minho mutters, before stomping off to his room.)

2.

Minho is quietly absorbed in his book when Jisung peeks his head around the doorframe. “I’m heading out,” he says.

“Where to?” Minho asks in that familiar, parent-like tone — one he’s adopted out of necessity, given how Jisung tends to be sometimes.

“My headphones died, so I’m grabbing new ones. Also, I got my paycheck, so I want to buy some clothes. And, I’ll stop by the pet store too,” Jisung adds.

At the mention of the pet store, Minho sits up abruptly, alarm flashing across his face. “Don’t go,” he says firmly, his voice carrying a hint of pleading he didn’t mean to reveal.

Jisung raises an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. “Why not?”

“It’s... it’s for my cats. You don’t have to go for me,” Minho replies, feeling his cheeks warm.

“What the hell?” Jisung asks, suspicious. “You always let me go for you. What’s changed all of a sudden?”

Minho thinks grimly to himself, Seungmin. The handsome cashier named Seungmin has changed things.

“I just realized it’s not fair for you to go when they’re my cats,” he says with as much innocence as he can muster.

“Liar,” Jisung replies flatly. “That’s not the reason.”

“Can’t I just be considerate towards my soulmate?” Minho replies, clutching his chest in a dramatic display of affection.

“Hyung—”

“Fine!” Minho throws up his hands in exasperation. “Go, then! I don’t care. Leave me alone.” He pretends to bury himself back in his book, eyes fixed but unfocused.

“So... you wouldn’t mind if I stopped by the pet store?” Jisung says slowly, clearly trying to coax a reaction out of Minho.

The words on Minho’s page blur into a single paragraph that may as well read Seungmin, Seungmin, Seungmin in looping text. Gritting his teeth, he responds coolly, “I don’t mind.”

“Alright, then—”

“Wait,” Minho interrupts, feigning nonchalance. “Are you sure Jeongin’s on shift today?”

It’s Tuesday, which means Jeongin won’t be there — Seungmin will. And if Jisung’s determined to go despite knowing he won’t see his own crush, then they must be seriously out of cat food again.

“Hyung! This isn’t about Jeongin!” Jisung whines. “Doongie practically held a knife to my throat, demanding snacks.”

Minho could almost imagine it.

When he doesn’t answer, Jisung sighs, clasping his hands in a desperate plea. “Please, hyung. Please, please, pleeease let me go.”

“I’m coming with you,” Minho blurts out suddenly, surprising both himself and Jisung.

“Really?”

Minho nods, springing out of bed and already searching for his jacket. “Let’s go.” He strides past Jisung, determined, without waiting for a response.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to stay in today?” Jisung asks, bewildered, but follows eagerly.

“Change of plans,” Minho replies, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

After two hours trailing through electronics and clothing stores — Minho, true gentleman that he is, carrying all of Jisung's bags — they finally step into the pet store. The scent of hay and something floral fills the air as they enter the space. Minho’s eyes land on Seungmin at the register. Without a second thought, he grabs Jisung’s wrist and pulls him behind one of the shelves, out of view from the counter.

“If anyone asks, I’m not your roommate. Understand?” Minho whispers, his grip firm on Jisung’s wrist.

Jisung stares back, looking genuinely lost. “What?”

“And I don’t know anything about cats. If I mention liking dogs, you either stay silent or agree. Got it?”

Jisung blinks, his mind clearly catching up slowly. He finally nods, looking more confused than ever, and Minho lets go, satisfied. Straightening his shoulders, he strides over to the register, Jisung trailing behind with a bewildered expression.

Seungmin glances up and breaks into a smile as they approach. “Hello! Jisung,” he nods, then turns to Minho, his eyes warm but curious. “And I don’t know your name.”

“It’s Minho!” Jisung blurts out before Minho can respond. “He’s not my roommate.”

Minho shoots him a glare — Jisung’s attempt at lying is so awful it’s almost impressive. Seungmin chuckles, and the sound is as bright and disarming as Minho remembers. “Yeah, I heard that last time,” Seungmin says, still smiling. “I’ll be right back.”

As Seungmin disappears into the storage room, Minho reaches over and swats Jisung’s arm. “Are you stupid?”

“You told me not to say you were my roommate! How else am I supposed to introduce you?"

"I didn't think you would blurt it out like that!"

"Sorry, sorry." Jisung looks genuinely guilty. "Remind me again why we're lying?"

Minho pauses, searching for an answer that makes any sense. What was his plan, really? Pretending to be a dog lover to get closer to the cute, puppy-eyed cashier? But before he can respond, Seungmin returns, holding a bag of Purina cat food with a small sticky note that reads Han Jisung again in messy handwriting.

“Here you go,” Seungmin says, ringing it up. Minho hands over his card, their fingers brushing briefly. His heart skips — it’s enough for Minho to think that he’s going to marry this man.

“Your roommate’s cats must eat a lot,” Seungmin remarks to Jisung, chuckling.

“Yeah. Well. They’re... uh, they’re fat,” Jisung says with an awkward laugh. “But don’t tell my roommate I said that. My roommate who isn’t here... hahaha....”

Minho mentally groans, realizing he needs to get Jisung out of here before he blows their cover completely and — oh.

An idea sparks in his mind.

“Hold on,” he says, ducking into the dog section. He grabs a random toy — a bright red rubber bone — and brings it back to the counter. “I’ll take this too,” he says, handing it to Seungmin. Beside him, Jisung stares like Minho has sprouted a second head.

Seungmin raises an eyebrow, a slight smile on his lips. “Oh, you have a dog?”

“Yes!” Minho says a little too quickly. Jisung makes a strangled sound next to him. “Uh, my dog... very cute. Small. Long brown ears. White fur.”

Seungmin’s smile grows, his eyes alight with interest. “Sounds adorable. Do you have a picture?”

Minho freezes. He hadn’t expected Seungmin to genuinely want to see the dog Minho has just made up. Just as he’s mentally scrambling for an excuse, Jisung steps forward, phone in hand, and shoves it right into Seungmin’s face. “Her name is Berry! Isn’t she adorable?”

Minho sends a silent thank you to Jisung, realizing belatedly that he’s described their friend Chan’s dog.

“She’s precious! What breed is she?” Seungmin asks, this time looking at Minho.

“Um...” Minho fumbles, but Jisung quickly steps in again.

“Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,” he says with a proud smile.

Seungmin hums, satisfied. “Well, I hope Berry likes her new toy,” he says, passing Minho’s card back with a smile that makes Minho’s heart flutter.

They head out of the store, and as soon as they’re outside, Jisung doubles over with laughter, clutching his stomach as tears stream down his face. Minho just watches, his cheeks burning with embarrassment as Jisung cackles in the middle of the parking lot.

“Shut up,” Minho mutters.

“Oh my god, hyung!” Jisung manages between laughs. “The guy who loves his cats more than himself, pretending he owns a dog!”

“Han Jisung,” Minho says sweetly, narrowing his eyes.

“Is it because Seungmin looks like a puppy?” Jisung teases, still wheezing with laughter.

Minho huffs, rolling his eyes as he gets into the car. He waits for Jisung to compose himself, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, trying to ignore his red ears.

Once Jisung’s laughter subsides, he slides into the passenger seat, grinning. “Hyung, you bought a dog toy.”

“I know.”

“You don’t even have a dog.”

“I know.”

“Aren’t you a cat person?”

“I know, alright!?” Minho’s face burns as he grips the steering wheel, glaring ahead. “I panicked. I didn’t expect him to actually be interested in my imaginary dog.”

Jisung giggles. “But, why did you want him to think you had a dog so bad?”

Minho shrugs, trying to look casual as he stares out the windshield. “I thought maybe... he’d think I’m cool and...” he trails off, gesturing vaguely. “Y’know.”

“No, I don’t know. You’re not making any sense, hyung.”

“He’s a dog person. I’m a cat person. Dog people and cat people are, like, destined to hate each other or something.”

“You're the only one thinking that, hyung. I’m a dog person, but we’re still soulmates. Your cats love me.” Jisung pauses. “Well, except Doongie because he thinks I’m always starving him.”

"Yeah, well," Minho says, because he doesn't have a good come back. He doesn't know why, but Seungmin makes him nervous. Like, stupidly nervous. He's never been this awkward in front of someone. Minho has always been the one being courted, not the other way around, so he doesn't really know how to flirt with someone.

"Just be yourself," Jisung advises.

"You were there. You saw me."

"Yeah, I did. That was a disaster."

"Remind me who's the person who has been crushing on their cashier for almost a whole year now?" Minho scoffs.

Jisung just sighs dreamily. “We’re really soulmates, hyung. Both of us crushing on our cashiers. Maybe we should all date each other.”

“Who said I have a crush on Seungmin?”

"You pretended to own a dog, hyung," Jisung reminds him. "You, Lee Minho, the guy who would rather die than let a dog get near him, the guy who would rather eat dirt than walk a dog. You."

"That's not true. I like dogs," Minho weakly defends himself.

Jisung snorts. “Hyperbole.”

Minho rolls his eyes, muttering, “I’m surprised you know what that word means.”

“Hyung!”

“Shush. I’m driving.”

As they pull away from a red light, Jisung’s laughter rings out again, filling the car. Minho shakes his head, but a smile tugs at his lips despite himself.

3.

Minho stirs awake, startled by a sudden weight bouncing onto his bed and a warm, wet sensation on his face. His heart jumps as he fumbles through the haze of sleep. Whatever is licking him certainly isn't one of his cats — they’re far too light, and none of them have ever shown a penchant for slobbering. And it definitely can’t be Jisung, unless he has suddenly developed an unusual interest in licking Minho’s face.

Minho opens his eyes to find a dog grinning eagerly at him, tail wagging furiously, its eyes alight with excitement.

“What the—?”

“Hyung, you’re awake!” Jisung’s voice cuts through the darkness as he steps into Minho’s dimly lit room, flipping open the curtains with one swift motion. Sunlight floods in, making Minho wince at the sudden brightness, shielding his eyes. As he blinks, he realizes that the dog in front of him is Berry, Chan’s dog, her tongue hanging out in her usual cheerful manner.

“What time is it?” he grumbles, his hand automatically reaching to scratch behind Berry’s ears as she presses her head eagerly into his palm.

“Nine-thirty!” Jisung chirps with far too much morning enthusiasm for Minho’s liking. He’s practically bouncing as he rummages through Minho’s closet. “I’m about to meet Changbin hyung for work.”

Minho sighs, still half-asleep and unimpressed. “It’s my day off,” he says flatly, his tone making it clear just how much he values this information. He planned to spend his whole Saturday morning sleeping.

Jisung hums, entirely unbothered, digging deeper into Minho’s closet. “And you’re up for a very good reason.”

Minho narrows his eyes. “What reason? And why is Berry here?”

Jisung spins around with a dramatic flourish, tossing a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants directly onto Minho’s face. Berry yips happily, pouncing onto the clothes as if they were her new toys. “Because you, hyung, are going to walk her to the park!”

“No.”

“Yes!” Jisung insists with a grin, folding his arms as if he’s already won.

Minho sighs again, rubbing his temples. He adores Berry, he really does, but the thought of walking her alone on a Saturday morning? The anxiety floods in — what if something happens? What if she gets lost, and Chan blames him? He’s practically envisioning Chan revoking his Jisung’s big brother privileges as punishment.

“Why?” He grumbles, as if complaining might magically make Jisung leave him alone and transport him back under his warm blankets.

Jisung raises a brow, smirking. “A little birdie told me that Seungmin likes morning walks at the park on Saturdays.”

At the mention of Seungmin’s name, Minho’s sleepy haze dissipates, and he’s fully alert, heart racing. “What?”

With a satisfied grin, Jisung shoves his phone toward Minho’s face, showing a recent text exchange.

J❤️, 6:28pm.
Seungmin hyung is so weird.
Every Saturday morning, he goes on a walk to the park
Just like a real dog fr
You can tell Minho hyung ;)

Jisung hyung, 6:39pm.
Yang Jeongin you’re a genius!

Minho blinks at the screen, processing. “…You have Jeongin’s number?”

Jisung sighs. “That’s not what you’re supposed to be focusing on.”

Minho sits up, a skeptical look on his face, his arms instinctively wrapping around Berry, who snuggles in contentedly. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots Soonie, still curled up peacefully at the foot of the bed, completely unfazed by the morning commotion. “I can’t believe you actually asked Jeongin for his number just so you could gossip about me.”

He’s half-annoyed, but mostly amused — he knows how nervous Jisung usually is around Jeongin, and the idea of him asking for his number solely to tease Minho about Seungmin is almost endearing.

“H-Hey!” Jisung protests, cheeks coloring. “I did it for you! Thanks to me, you get to know your crush’s routine.”

“Not a crush,” Minho mutters, carrying Berry as he makes his way into the kitchen. “And did you feed my cats?”

“Don’t change the subject,” Jisung fires back, but he’s already crouching down to fill the food bowls for Minho’s furry brothers. He straightens up, glancing at Minho with an expression that’s half-exasperated, half-conspiratorial.

Minho raises an eyebrow. “What?”

Jisung gives him a look. “Aren’t you going to get dressed? You have a dog to walk and a boy to impress.”

Minho rolls his eyes, mumbling under his breath. “I hope Chan hyung will pay me for entertaining his dog.”

Jisung only chuckles, patting Berry on the head before heading toward the door. “Oh, and don’t forget, Chan hyung wants her back by noon!” And with that, Jisung places a quick, exaggeratedly loud kiss on Minho’s cheek and dashes out, leaving him standing in the kitchen, annoying but undeniably awake, Berry wagging her tail at his feet.

“Well,” he starts, looking at her. “Let me have breakfast first.”

As soon as Minho and Berry reach the neighborhood park, Minho's eyes are instantly drawn to Seungmin, who is seated on a bench, engrossed in a book. Minho nearly gathers the courage to approach him, maybe even start a conversation — until he freezes. His breath catches as he notices one tiny detail about Seungmin that completely undoes him.

Seungmin is wearing glasses.

Minho can feel an internal scream rising. The glasses only amplify Seungmin’s puppyish charm, and don’t even get him started on how Seungmin’s oversized hoodie gives him adorable fucking sweater paws. Minho glances down at Berry, who sits beside him with wide, eager eyes, and thinks — yeah, they look alike. Seungmin really is a puppy.

As if sensing his thoughts, Berry gives an insistent tug on her leash. Minho, too soft-hearted to pull her back, lets her lead the way. But to his horror, Berry heads straight for Seungmin. Minho tries to stop her, but she's surprisingly strong for such a small dog, and he finds himself nearly being dragged.

"Berry, no!" he hisses in a panic. "Stop— please, not here—"

"Oh? Hi!"

Minho’s heart stops. Of course, Seungmin noticed them now, right when it looks like he’s being walked by a dog. He stammers, trying to gather his bearings. "Um, hey," he manages, feeling the telltale warmth rising in his cheeks. "Seungmin, right?"

Seungmin gasps theatrically, placing a hand on his heart. "You don’t remember my name? I’m wounded."

"What? No, I do! I just said it, didn’t I?" Minho says quickly, trying to recover his dignity.

Seungmin laughs, his eyes sparkling. "Relax, I’m just teasing."

Minho just nods, wordlessly relieved. Then, as Seungmin glances down at Berry, his face lights up. He immediately kneels to her level, cooing, "Hello, you! Your dad was right, you’re so cute!"

Berry barks happily under Seungmin's attention, and Minho feels an odd pang of jealousy. He isn’t jealous of a dog. No, definitely not.

"Wait," Seungmin pauses, looking up at Minho with wide, earnest eyes. "Can I pet her?"

Every instinct in Minho tells him to say no, to whisk Berry away and run. But he can’t because, 1) Berry is wagging her tail excitedly and, 2) he can't let Seungmin sad. He wouldn't survive knowing he made Seungmin feel bad, even though he would love to witness Seungmin’s puppy eyes with his own very two eyes.

("Did I ever tell you about the time Seungmin ran out of the cat food we always buy? He looked so… devastated, like he’d personally let me down. It was only the second time I’d met him, but he had those big puppy eyes. Honestly, I almost thought about dropping Jeongin for him, but—"

Minho cut Jisung him off, stuffing a piece of sushi into his mouth. “I don’t care.”

“Sure you don’t,” Jisung smirked, ready with another quip until Minho silenced him with yet another sushi.)

Minho does care about the whole puppy eyes thing after all. But that would be for later.

So he nods, trying to look casual. Seungmin grins, and as he begins petting Berry, Minho’s heart races. This is the longest they’ve ever spent together outside the pet store, and he’s at a loss for words. All the questions he’d wanted to ask evaporate as he watches Seungmin happily scratching behind Berry’s ears.

Berry eventually pulls back, and Seungmin chuckles, looking sheepish. "Sorry, I got carried away."

"No worries," Minho replies, though his heart thinks otherwise.

"My apartment doesn’t allow pets," Seungmin sighs, looking genuinely sad.

Minho's stomach twists. He's suddenly struck with an overwhelming sense of guilt, and he almost wants to take Berry back and leave — she's clearly causing Seungmin pain by reminding him of his dream pet. "Oh. Should we leave?"

"No?" Seungmin sounds confused. "Why would you?"

"I don't know?" Minho says, equally as confused. "You just told me about your apartment and we're making you think about your non-dog-friendly home. Is this not too inconsiderate of us?"

Seungmin laughs and shakes his head. "You're funny."

Minho frowns. What he said wasn't supposed to be funny — he was genuinely wondering if he had upset Seungmin. "Huh?"

"And cute, too."

Minho freezes. "Cute?"

Seungmin nods and then pats the space next to him. "Cute. Wanna sit with me?"

Minho’s face feels like it’s on fire, but he manages to sit down, hoping he looks calm. He counts on Berry for distracting him from Seungmin's presence next to him but she suddenly notices another dog in the park and she practically begs Minho to let her go play.

Minho, not used with walking dogs at all, fumbles with the leash, awkwardly struggling to unhook it.

"Here, let me help," Seungmin offers, his fingers brushing Minho’s. The touch sends a jolt through him. Seungmin releases Berry who immediately runs to the other dog (he even says to her 'don't go too far' !) while Minho is having a breakdown over a simple touch.

They fall into a comfortable silence, watching Berry run around with her new dog friend in the grass. Minho sneaks a few glances at Seungmin, still processing the fact that he’s here, sitting casually next to him. He opens his mouth, trying to think of something to say, but his mind goes blank under Seungmin’s relaxed, expectant gaze.

After a moment, Seungmin tilts his head toward him. "So... do you come to this park often?"

Minho swallows, acutely aware of Seungmin’s closeness. "Not really," he says, voice a bit shaky. "I usually— Berry and I usually sleep in on my days off."

Seungmin’s smile softens. "Well, I come here every weekend. It’s quiet."

"Yeah," Minho murmurs, his voice barely a whisper as he meets Seungmin’s gentle gaze.

Seungmin looks at him thoughtfully. "So, Minho-ssi—"

"You can call me hyung," Minho blurts. He’s not sure of Seungmin’s age, but Jisung talks to him casually, so he assumes they are the same age and, therefore, Seungmin is younger than Minho. "If you want, of course!" He quickly adds, not wanting to sound forceful.

"Alright, hyung," Seungmin smiles and Minho feels his heart skip a beat. "How did you come to own Berry? She's very adorable."

Minho stiffens at the question. He hadn’t expected Seungmin to ask about Berry’s backstory. He glances at Berry, who’s rolling around on her back in the grass, thoroughly engrossed in play.

“Oh, uh, Berry?” Minho clears his throat, desperately trying to sound natural. “Well... I, uh, I adopted her a few years ago. It was... very sudden?”

Seungmin’s face lights up with interest. “Really? Was she a rescue?”

“Y-Yeah!” Minho replies, clinging to the idea like a lifeline. “Rescue... dog. She was all alone, just... in need of a good home. And, um, I figured I had room in my place and heart and— well, here she is.”

Seungmin looks genuinely touched, his expression softening. “That’s really kind of you, hyung. Not everyone would step up like that.”

Minho smiles weakly, feeling the guilt bubble up inside of him. He doesn't deserve any of Seungmin's admiration. If only Seungmin knew that he was lying...

"I'm not that great," Minho shrugs, feeling his ears burn.

“I’m sure you are,” Seungmin smiles. “Jisung told me how his roommate is the best parent for his cats ever. He told me lots of stories about them and I think it’s very adorable how the guy seems to care about his cats. Very impressive.”

Minho feels the strangest pang of jealousy even though Seungmin is talking about him. Part of him wants to shout ‘It’s me! I’m the cat dad!’ while the other one wants to be buried six feet under because Seungmin is talking about another guy while he’s here.

"Oh, you must know him too, right?" Seungmin asks innocently.

"Yeah," Minho says, clearing his throat. "I’m… familiar."

"Are his cats cute?"

"Very cute," Minho says a bit too quickly. If he weren’t hiding his identity, he’d already have his phone out, showing Seungmin endless cat photos and videos. Instead, he tries to stay composed. "I mean. Cats aren’t really my cup of tea,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Oh really?” Seungmin asks.

“I like dogs better.”

Seungmin chuckles. “People always say I look like one.”

Minho takes the opportunity to really look at him without looking like a total creep, a small smile pulling at his lips. "Yeah, you do."

"And you remind me of a cat," Seungmin says softly, studying him.

"I don’t think so?" Minho replies, voice a bit higher than he’d like.

Seungmin’s gaze holds steady. "It’s cute."

Before Minho can respond, Berry trots back over, pawing at Minho's leg for attention. Minho takes a deep breath, fighting the urge to sigh. "We should get going," he says reluctantly, knowing that he shouldn’t be late to give Chan back his dog.

Seungmin’s face falls just slightly. "Oh, sure." He then looks back up with a hopeful smile. "Will I see you here next week?"

Minho bites back a grin.

"Maybe," he says, trying to sound casual.

"If not, then… maybe at the store?"

Minho makes a mental note to tell Jisung that he doesn't have to go to the pet store anymore — he has Jeongin's number anyways, so if he misses him he just has to ask him on a date. Truly, Minho is doing him a favor. He's such a good friend.

Seungmin beams. "Great! Bye, Berry!" He pats her head one last time before waving at Minho.

As Minho watches Seungmin walk away, he lets out a deep breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

(The moment Minho knocks on Chan’s door, it swings open to reveal Chan beaming, his grin wide and expectant. Minho knows exactly what that face means and immediately shuts it down with a flat, "No."

Chan ignores him, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I can’t believe I had to hear from Felix, who heard it from Hyunjin, who got it from Changbin, who got it from Jisung… that you have a crush!”

Minho groans, refusing to comment.

Berry, overjoyed to see her true owner, leaps into Chan’s arms and licks his face. "Hey, sweetie," Chan coos, cradling her. "Did you have fun playing matchmaker for Uncle Minho and his crush?”

“Stop calling it a crush. We’re not middle schoolers anymore,” Minho replies icily.

“So you’re admitting you like him?” Chan teases, undeterred.

Minho’s only response is to close the door.)

4.

Since Minho isn’t as hopeless as Jisung when it comes to handling people they like, he somehow — rather quickly — became Seungmin’s friend. It helps that they share the same sense of humor. Once Minho stopped being ridiculously shy around Seungmin, he realized just how much they have in common — except for one critical difference: Minho adores cats, while Seungmin prefers dogs.

That’s a problem for future Minho to handle. For now, he’s content with their friendship. Mostly. The only hiccup is that Minho really wants Seungmin to kiss him, but Seungmin doesn’t seem to see him that way yet. Not for long, though. Minho is far too irresistible.

“You’re delusional,” Jisung declares when Minho starts ranting about how Seungmin won’t be able to resist him forever.

“Jisung-ah,” Minho coos sweetly, draping himself across Jisung’s lap. “Everyone in our group has had a crush on me at some point. Even you.” He taps Jisung’s nose, the same way he does with his cats.

“You’re delusional and a narcissist,” Jisung groans.

“I’m also right.”

“Unfortunately,” Jisung admits with a wince.

“Seungmin should be honored I’m even interested in him. He’s such a loser,” Minho says, shrugging.

“You’re the loser for pining after him like this,” Jisung counters. Minho’s remark about Jisung being the loser for not making any moves on Jeongin dies on his tongue as Jisung adds, “And lying about owning a dog, by the way.”

“That’s it,” Minho says, standing up dramatically. He makes sure to put his full weight on Jisung’s thigh as he does. The pained expression on Jisung’s face is worth it. “No dinner for you tonight.”

“Hyung!”

Despite Jisung’s protests, Minho is determined to make Seungmin realize his feelings and he has the perfect plan: a trip to a dog café. If Minho takes Seungmin somewhere he loves, where he’ll have fun, maybe Seungmin will start associating Minho with fun and, eventually, love.

When Minho arrives at the pet store, Seungmin greets him cheerfully, already holding a Purina bag of cat food behind the counter.

“Minho hyung! How was your day?”

“Boring,” Minho replies, though his smile betrays him — Seungmin has that effect on him. “You?”

“Boring too,” Seungmin answers as he rings up the cat food. “Oh! This girl came in earlier with her dog, and he was so cute! I petted him and got scolded by the manager,” he adds with a pout.

Minho briefly considers kissing that pout away but settles for chuckling instead. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. And he didn’t say anything to Jeongin, even though he was petting the dog too! I swear he’s the favorite, even though I’ve been here longer.”

“Sucks to be you,” a voice chimes in from the back.

Both Minho and Seungmin jump. Jeongin, perched on a chair and half-hidden from view, smirks at them.

“Since when were you here?” Seungmin asks.

“Seriously?” Jeongin deadpans. “We were talking until Minho hyung showed up, and suddenly I don’t exist anymore?”

Seungmin grabs the nearest object and chucks it at Jeongin, who dodges it easily. Minho resists the urge to say something flirty like ‘Nothing else matters when I’m around, Seungmin-ah?’ but he’s still too shy. And that’d be hypocrite of him because he didn’t notice Jeongin’s presence either.

“Hi, Minho hyung, by the way,” Jeongin greets with a sly grin.

“Hi,” Minho replies awkwardly.

Damn it. He can’t ask Seungmin out with Jeongin here.

As if reading his mind, Seungmin says, “Can you leave?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jeongin waves dismissively as he stands. “I don’t want to third-wheel anyway.”

“Leave!” Seungmin shouts, throwing another object, which Jeongin narrowly avoids before slipping through the back door.

Minho wants to ask what Jeongin meant by third wheeling but stays quiet because he is, again, shy.

Seungmin sighs, a loud, dramatic sound, before turning back to Minho.

This is it, Minho thinks, his pulse quickening.

He just needs to say something — anything — and Seungmin will agree to be his (totally casual, friendly) date.

Their eyes meet, and Minho opens his mouth to speak.

But before any words can escape, the cheerful chime of the store door cuts through the moment. Seungmin turns away, his face lighting up in a smile as a customer steps inside.

Minho steps aside, masking his frustration as the stranger approaches the counter and asks Seungmin for directions to the fish tank decorations. He leans against the counter, watching Seungmin guide the customer down an aisle, his mind a flurry of thoughts.

Why does this have to be so hard? He curses the bad timing, then schools his expression back into calm neutrality as Seungmin returns, the customer in tow. After ringing up the items and sending them off with a polite farewell, Seungmin turns his attention back to Minho.

“Sorry about that,” Seungmin says with a sheepish smile, his fingers tapping lightly against the counter as though searching for the right words.

Minho shrugs, aiming for nonchalance. “It’s fine. You’re popular. Everyone wants a piece of you.” The words tumble out too easily, and he internally screams ‘I want you too’.

Seungmin chuckles, the sound light and warm. “Of course everyone wants me,” he quips.

Minho stiffens. Is Seungmin joking, or is there some truth to it? How many people are after him? Does Minho have rivals now? Does Seungmin already like someone? Or worse — does Seungmin already have a partner? Or even worse – what if Seungmin doesn’t even like men?

Before he can spiral further, Seungmin adds, “I’m the only employee here right now, so I’m highly in demand.”

"Oh," Minho says, and he wants to dig a hole and hide in there for a little while. "Yeah. That makes sense."

Minho shifts awkwardly, debating whether to push forward or retreat into safer territory. No. Focus. You came here for a reason. Other than feeding your cats.

“Hey, Seungmin,” he starts, leaning on the counter, trying his best to seem nonchalant. “Are you free tomorrow?”

Seungmin blinks, caught off guard. “Tomorrow? Yeah, it's my day off," he says, oblivious to the fact that Minho already knows his schedule by heart, thanks to Jisung who got it from Jeongin.

Minho hesitates for a split second before shrugging, keeping his voice light. “I was thinking we could hang out. There’s this dog café I heard about, and I figured you might like it.”

“A dog café?” Seungmin repeats, his face lighting up with interest. “That sounds fun. I’ve never been to one before.”

Minho’s heart does a little flip. “Then it’s decided,” he says, trying to sound casual even though relief floods through him. “I’ll text you the time and place later.”

Seungmin’s smile grows, warm and genuine. “Sounds good. Thanks for thinking of me, hyung.”

“Of course,” Minho says, playing it cool, even though his stomach is doing somersaults. “I mean. Jisung isn't available, so that's why I asked you."

Seungmin laughs, his gaze softening. “We're your only friends?" He teases.

Minho's ears burn. "No," he mumbles, unable to think of a witty retort.

Seungmin smiles fondly. "Well, I'm happy that you considered me anyways."

“Yeah,” Minho says, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seungmin’s grin widens, bright enough to dazzle. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Minho nods, swallowing the words bubbling in his chest, and quickly leaves the store before he can accidentally blurt out his feelings.

“You’re going out like that?”

Minho glances away from the mirror to see Jisung lounging against his doorframe. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”

He’s spent the last thirty minutes scouring his closet for the ideal, totally platonic look for today’s totally platonic outing with Seungmin — the boy who makes his heart platonically race. After much deliberation, he settled on an oversized blue hoodie and jeans. The plan now is to rope Jisung into fixing his hair, which has to be perfectly fluffy for meeting dogs.

“Nothing. Just joking.” Jisung grins, clearly proud of his tease. “You look good, hyung.”

“Obviously,” Minho huffs, picking up Dori from his bed to kiss his little head. “Do my hair now.”

“Good luck on your date!” Jisung calls when he’s finished with Minho’s hair, giving him a playful smack as he passes.

“Not a date,” Minho mutters. But despite his words, his stomach twists with nervous anticipation. This isn’t a big deal, he tells himself. It’s just a dog café hangout. Yet he still finds himself staring at his reflection in the bus window, fiddling with his sleeve, until he takes a deep breath and forces his hands to his sides.

By the time Minho reaches the dog café, the nervous fluttering in his stomach has transformed into something warmer. Excitement. As he spots Seungmin waiting by the entrance, any lingering tension in his shoulders seems to fade away.

“Hi, hyung.” Seungmin smiles brightly, stepping closer. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“Of course.” Minho nods.

Seungmin gestures toward the door with a small smile. “After you.”

The moment they step inside, a symphony of barks fills the air. Minho tries his best to look calm and collected. He’s fine handling Berry on his own, but a roomful of eager puppies is something else entirely.

Seungmin’s eyes light up as he takes in the cozy space, with its warm tones, soft music, and plush seating. “It’s so cute in here,” he says, grinning wide as he glances around.

Minho follows his gaze, quietly appreciating the atmosphere. The place feels inviting, somewhere he could imagine spending hours if it weren’t packed with wagging tails and bounding dogs.

Within moments, several dogs trot up to greet them, eagerly sniffing and pawing at their legs. Seungmin immediately crouches down, extending a hand to a tiny, curious puppy. “Hi, cuties,” he coos, his voice gentle.

Minho watches, relieved that the puppies are distracted by Seungmin’s cheerful attention. A small smile tugs at his lips as he observes Seungmin’s soft expression, the way his hair falls as he leans close, and how his eyes crinkle when the puppy gives his hand a playful lick.

Seungmin, surrounded by adorable, wide-eyed puppies, is possibly the most endearing sight Minho has ever seen. Something about it feels almost perfect, as if Seungmin belongs here, right in the heart of all this warmth and joy.

"Hyung." Seungmin’s voice gently pulls Minho from his thoughts.

"Huh?" Minho blinks, momentarily disoriented.

"Let’s grab a table," Seungmin suggests, his tone light.

"Yeah," Minho breathes, nodding. "Sure."

They find a quiet booth tucked away in a cozy corner, settling across from each other, the soft hum of the café surrounding them.

“It’s nice to get out sometimes,” Seungmin reflects, taking a slow sip of his water as the waiter clears away their orders.

Minho smiles faintly and nods in agreement. “It’s relaxing.”

Seungmin looks at him, eyes warm and steady. “I like spending time with you, hyung.”

A soft flush spreads across Minho’s cheeks, and he inwardly curses his betraying skin. He hopes it's not too obvious. Seungmin has an effortless way with words, and Minho can’t help but feel a little flustered. “You’re not so bad yourself,” he says, trying to sound casual, though his voice trembles just a bit.

Seungmin lets out a soft laugh, his smile playful. “I guess I’m not.”

Their food arrives moments later — two sandwiches, cakes, and drinks delicately arranged on a tray by the waiter. Minho seizes the opportunity to steady his nerves, focusing on the task of unwrapping his sandwich, intentionally avoiding the way Seungmin’s gaze seems to linger on him.

Seungmin picks up his sandwich, tilting his head with curiosity. “Do you come to places like this often, hyung?”

Minho shrugs, playing it cool. “Sometimes. I mean, I spend more time with Berry, but... yeah.” He pauses, fighting the urge to share his true love for cat cafés — his number one dream is to visit every one in the country. But that’s not something he can tell Seungmin.

Seungmin’s smile softens, his gaze warm. “You’re a good dog parent. Berry’s lucky.”

Minho’s heart gives an uninvited flutter at the compliment, and he quickly ducks his head, chewing deliberately to avoid responding too quickly. Even though it’s not true, the words settle comfortably in his chest. After swallowing, he finally replies, “You’d be great with a dog too. You know, you’re really good with them. They must recognize you as one of theirs.”

Seungmin leans back, a thoughtful look crossing his face as he takes a sip of his drink. “Think so? Maybe someday. For now, I’ll just borrow yours.”

Minho lets out a soft laugh, trying to mask the sudden flutter in his chest. “Borrow Berry, and I’ll start charging you.”

“Deal,” Seungmin grins, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “As long as the fee is just spending time with you.”

Minho’s drink catches in his throat, and he coughs into his sleeve, caught off guard by Seungmin’s boldness. Seungmin, however, looks completely unbothered, his smile tinged with smug satisfaction.

“Careful,” Seungmin teases, passing a napkin over to him. “Wouldn’t want to ruin that nice hoodie.”

“Thanks,” Minho mutters, trying not to let his ears burn. Why does Seungmin have to be like this? So effortlessly charming, it’s almost maddening.

As they eat, their conversation flows effortlessly, drifting from stories about Berry to lighthearted tangents about movies and music. Minho finds himself loosening up, his usual guarded demeanor melting under Seungmin’s steady gaze and easy laughter.

When they finish their meal, Seungmin’s attention shifts to the dogs roaming around the café. His eyes light up as a particularly playful golden retriever, one that bears an uncanny resemblance to Seungmin himself, catches his eye.

"Hyung, look," Seungmin exclaims, his excitement spilling over as he slides out of the booth. "This one’s so cute!"

Minho watches, captivated, as Seungmin crouches down to play with the dog, who eagerly licks Seungmin’s hands and tries to climb into his lap. Seungmin’s laughter rings through the air, carefree and full of joy, and Minho feels his chest tighten in a way that is both exhilarating and unnerving.

Still seated, Minho leans back, content to observe. Seungmin is completely in his element, his fingers gently scratching behind the dog’s ears, as if they’ve known each other forever. For a fleeting moment, Minho lets himself imagine what it would be like if this — Seungmin’s laughter and that radiant smile, weren’t so rare. If they were a part of his every day.

“Hyung!” Seungmin calls, waving him over. “Come pet him. He’s so friendly!”

“I’m good here,” Minho replies, though his voice lacks its usual sharpness.

Seungmin isn’t having it. “You’re missing out. Come on.”

With a resigned sigh, Minho slides out of the booth and kneels beside Seungmin, who instantly scoots over to make room. The golden retriever sniffs Minho’s hand before nuzzling it, earning him a reluctant smile.

“See? He likes you,” Seungmin murmurs softly, his shoulder brushing Minho’s as they sit close together.

“Maybe,” Minho says, his voice barely above a whisper. He glances at Seungmin, still focused on the dog, and his heart skips a beat.

The rest of the afternoon passes too quickly, filled with laughter and easy conversations. By the time they leave the café, the sun is beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the streets. As they walk side by side, shoulders occasionally brushing, Minho realizes he doesn't want the day to end.

They stroll in a comfortable silence, the warmth of the sunset spilling over them, turning their shadows long on the pavement. Minho glances over at Seungmin, feeling the slight brush of his shoulder every so often. He finds himself wishing that maybe, just maybe, Seungmin might be feeling the same quiet happiness he does.

As they round a corner, Minho suddenly stops short. Curled up near a storefront is a small cat, its green eyes peeking up at them curiously. It gives a low, tentative meow, stretching out its paws as if inviting them closer.

Minho feels his heart leap. Instinctively, he wants to crouch down and coo at the little creature, let it rub against his hand, maybe scratch behind its ears until it purrs. But he’s supposed to be a dog person around Seungmin. So he shoves his hands into his hoodie pockets and tries to look indifferent, biting back the soft, fond noise that nearly escapes his lips.

He’s so focused on keeping his cool that he almost doesn’t notice Seungmin crouching down, his face lighting up as he reaches out a careful hand to the stray.

"Hey there," Seungmin murmurs gently, his fingers hovering just close enough for the cat to sniff. After a moment, it leans into his touch, nuzzling against his palm, and Seungmin’s face lights up with a radiant smile. "Aren’t you a cutie?"

Minho’s mind goes blank. He doesn’t know what to do, doesn’t know where to look. It feels unfair. How is Seungmin — the person who embodies the warmth and playfulness of a puppy — so effortlessly in tune with this little creature? And why does he have to look so... adorable while doing it?

It’s almost surreal. This is Minho's dream come true — Seungmin, smiling softly, interacting so naturally with a cat.

Seungmin glances up at him, his eyebrows raised in playful amusement, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You’re just going to stand there? Come pet it, hyung."

Minho tries to maintain his cool, but he knows he probably looks a little too stiff, like he’s been caught doing something embarrassing. “Okay,” he replies nonchalantly, shrugging in an attempt to act uninterested.

Seungmin rolls his eyes, a soft laugh escaping him as he shifts over to make room. “Your act isn’t fooling anyone. I saw how you were looking at it. Come on, give it a try. It’s friendly. Cats are harmless," he adds with a teasing grin, "Well. Most of the time."

Minho hesitates for a moment, but eventually gives in. He crouches down next to Seungmin, the cat eyeing him curiously. Slowly, he extends his hand, and the cat immediately nuzzles against it, purring contentedly. Minho can’t help the smile that tugs at his lips — of course, cats love him. He’s a cat magnet.

"See?" Seungmin says softly, his gaze focused on Minho. "Cats are nice too, right?"

Minho’s hand lingers in the cat’s soft fur, a warmth spreading in his chest. "Yeah. I guess they’re not so bad."

Seungmin chuckles, his voice warm and light. "Not so bad? You look like you’re in love, hyung."

Minho feels heat creeping up his neck and pointedly looks away. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

The cat curls into Minho’s hand, purring louder, and he suppresses the urge to let out a satisfied laugh. It’s absurd how quickly he’s already attached to it, imagining bringing it home to meet Soonie, Doongie, and Dori (and Jisung). He glances at Seungmin, who’s watching him with that gentle, familiar smile, and feels his heart give that familiar, embarrassing little flip.

They stay there for a moment longer, crouched side by side, shoulders close enough to brush. Then, with a soft purr, the cat pads away, slipping into an alley. Minho watches it go, a strange sense of wistfulness settling over him.

And as he stands up, Minho decides that the most important thing he’s learned today is that Seungmin seems to like cats too. Which is perfect, considering they’re going to get married, live in a house near the beach, and have at least ten cats — maybe a dog or two, if Seungmin insists.

"Thinking about adopting one already?" Seungmin teases, his eyes sparkling as he meets Minho's gaze.

Minho snorts, feigning indifference. "Berry already takes up most of my time."

They fall into another comfortable silence, strolling through the quiet streets, the orange glow of the sunset casting soft shadows on the pavement. Though his expression remains calm, Minho’s mind is racing. He wants to say something, anything, to keep the moment lingering just a little longer.

"You know, hyung," Seungmin's voice breaks the stillness, drawing Minho back to the present. "Today was really fun."

Minho glances over, feeling that familiar flutter in his chest. "Yeah," he murmurs softly, his words holding more weight than he intended. "It was."

Suddenly, Seungmin stops, turning to face him. "We should do this more often."

The sincerity in his voice catches Minho off guard, tightening his chest. There’s something in the way Seungmin says it — so quietly, so earnestly — that makes Minho’s usual nonchalant act feels fragile, delicate, like Seungmin could see right through it if he wanted to.

"Well," Minho starts, swallowing the nerves rising in his throat. “If you're free next weekend, there's this other café I heard about. No dogs, but... I don’t know, you might like it?" He tries to sound casual, but his heart is pounding so loudly he’s certain Seungmin must hear it.

Seungmin's eyes widen slightly, then a slow, warm smile spreads across his face. "I’d love to go. As long as it’s with you."

Minho’s smile forms without him even trying, an unguarded, uncontrollable smile that he can’t quite hide. There's a hint of embarrassment, especially since he wanted Seungmin to ask him out instead, but the feeling is surprisingly easy to bear. They stand there, neither rushing to leave, both soaking in the last golden moments of the day.

"Great," Minho finally says, the word feeling like a quiet promise.

As they start walking again, both of them smiling timidly, Minho can't shake the feeling that something has shifted between them today.

5.

Today is Minho’s birthday.

Though he’s never been one to enjoy celebrating, his friends clearly had other plans. Without so much as asking his permission, they decided to throw a party at the apartment he shares with Jisung. And honestly? Who is Minho to say no to them? He might put on a front of being tough and aloof, but when it comes to his friends, he’s nothing but a softie.

Now, here he is, standing in the middle of his own living room, watching the chaos unfold. Chan is meticulously stringing up lights, with Hyunjin trailing behind him in a state of charming helplessness. Over by the couch, Changbin and Jisung are locked in an intense balloon-blowing competition, their laughter filling the room. Meanwhile, Felix is in the kitchen under Minho’s watchful eye, busily baking an array of brownies, cupcakes, and cookies.

A smile tugs at Minho’s lips as he takes it all in. His friends are going out of their way to make this day special for him, and he decides that he’s going to let himself enjoy it. After all, with so much love and effort poured into this celebration, what could possibly go wrong?

A sudden knock on the door pulls Minho from his thoughts.

“Jisung?” he calls, turning to his roommate, who’s halfway through inflating a balloon. “Are we expecting someone else?” He asks, walking toward the door.

Jisung’s expression flickers with an odd nervousness, as if he’s been caught doing something criminal. “Hyung— wait—”

Minho, ignoring him, swings open the door, only to be greeted by a face he certainly wasn’t expecting today.

“Happy birthday, hyung!” Seungmin grins brightly, his hands raised in cheerful greeting. Jeongin stands behind him, waving, flashing a mischievous grin.

Minho’s eyes narrow, his surprise giving way to confusion. When he doesn’t immediately respond, Seungmin raises an eyebrow. “Hyung?”

Minho doesn’t answer. Instead, he silently closes the door in their faces.

The apartment falls into a heavy silence as Minho, seething, turns and glares at Jisung, his footsteps echoing with dangerous intent as he stomps toward him. He grabs Jisung by the collar, yanking him closer. “You. Come with me.”

“I can explain!” Jisung protests, desperately trying to squirm free, but Minho’s grip is unrelenting. “Someone! Help me! Please!”

Hyunjin, unbothered, simply shrugs. “Sorry.”

Once the door to his room clicks shut, Minho crosses his arms, fixing Jisung with a cold stare. “You have three seconds to explain why the hell Seungmin is here.”

“Three seconds? Isn’t that a little too short?”

“One,” Minho begins counting slowly, his voice menacing.

“Okay, okay!” Jisung throws his arms up in surrender. “Well, you see, I—”

“Two.”

“Hey! Let me talk!”

“Two and a half.”

Jisung yelps. “It’s— it’s your birthday, and you have a crush on Seungmin, and—”

Minho cuts him off with an exasperated huff. “What does my feelings for him have to do with my birthday?”

“Wouldn’t you want to spend your special day with your special someone?” Jisung teases, fluttering his eyelashes dramatically.

Minho opens his mouth to agree — it would be nice to spend his birthday with Seungmin —but then he glances at Doongie, peacefully sleeping on the bed. A sudden, terrifying thought jolts him.

“The cats.”

“What about the cats?”

“Seungmin can’t meet the cats!” Minho nearly shouts, panic rising in his chest. He grabs Jisung by the shoulders, shaking him slightly and inadvertently wakes Doongie, who immediately starts scratching at the door, desperate to be let out.

Jisung suddenly grins, a look of pride spreading across his face. Minho’s stomach drops. “Don’t worry about that, hyung. I told him we’ll host it at my place, not yours.”

Okay, that’s not technically a bad idea, but—

“And I told him Felix is my roommate. So your cats are his for the night.” Jisung grins even wider. “The others know about my master plan too.”

It makes sense, in a strange way. Felix does love cats, and sometimes he even looks like one himself, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Minho just hopes no one slips up and that Seungmin doesn’t accidentally mention Berry — talking about her like he owns her while her actual owner is in the room would be so embarrassing.

“Okay,” Minho says after a pause.

“Okay,” Jisung repeats, but there’s an edge of uncertainty creeping into his voice. “You’re taking this a little too… easily.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Jisung-ah,” Minho says, a sweet smile curling on his lips. He pats Jisung’s thigh in a way that makes the younger man flinch. “Enjoy your last day with us.”

Minho laughs at the scandalized look on Jisung’s face, then scoops up Doongie in his arms as he heads for the door. He presses soft kisses to the cat’s head, but his steps falter when he steps into the living room. Seungmin and Jeongin are there, chatting with his friends, and they pause as they notice Minho emerging from his room.

Minho drops Doongie onto the floor with a small thud and awkwardly chuckles.

“Happy birthday, hyung,” Seungmin says again, his voice light and cheerful.

“Yeah, thanks,” Minho mutters, quickly retreating to the kitchen, where he knows he can find solace in the warm, comforting scent of chocolate.

“Please, excuse him,” he hears Chan call out to the two boys from the living room. “He’s a bit shy when it comes to his birthday.”

Felix taps Minho on the shoulder. “While you’re here, can you help me decorate the cupcakes?”

“Sure.” Minho immediately grabs a piping bag, focusing on the task at hand. The two work in silence for a few minutes, their quiet actions blending with the cheerful chatter of the others outside. Then, Minho finally speaks, his voice low but threatening. “Don’t mess this up.”

Felix looks at him, mock-offended. “You know I’m a pro at baking!”

“No. I meant the cats.”

Felix’s expression softens into a knowing grin. “Ah, you mean me pretending your babies are mine because you told your little crush that you’re a dog lover?”

Minho glares at him, his eyes narrowing. “Yes. That.”

Felix chuckles, his grin widening. “Don’t worry, hyung. I’ve got this. But you might want to keep an eye on Chan hyung. That guy can’t stop talking about Berry.”

“Oh my god,” Minho sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’ll be right back, Yongbok-ah. I’ve got another friend to threaten.”

“Got it, boss.” Felix winks, his tone teasing, as Minho heads back toward the living room.

After spending five minutes threatening Chan, Minho finally returns to the living room, where he finds himself uncomfortably wedged between Seungmin and Hyunjin on the couch. Hyunjin, that little brat, is leaning on him, causing Minho to lean into Seungmin's space. It would have been fine, but then Seungmin’s hand lands on Minho’s knee to steady himself, and that touch — warm and deliberate — sends Minho’s thoughts scattering. He can’t focus on Jisung's miserable attempts to flirt with Jeongin, nor can he think of any creative ways to murder his roommate without leaving a trace.

What does capture his attention, however, is Soonie hopping onto the couch and lazily settling into Seungmin's lap. The moment Soonie nestles in, Seungmin’s hand moves to stroke the cat, leaving Minho’s knee cold in its absence. Minho is torn between mourning the loss of warmth and quietly cooing at how adorable Seungmin and Soonie look together.

“His fur is so soft,” Seungmin marvels, his voice soft with admiration.

Minho’s chest tightens at the sight of Seungmin’s bright smile as he strokes Soonie, and it hits him like a punch to the gut — it’s unfair. How can someone be so effortlessly perfect? Even worse, how quickly Minho is melting just by watching him.

Felix, ever the troublemaker, chimes in while setting a tray of cookies on the coffee table, a mischievous grin dancing on his lips. He winks at Minho before saying, “I make sure of it. Gotta stay on top of their grooming, you know?”

Seungmin’s eyes widen, leaning in closer to Felix, his fingers still running through Soonie's fur. “That’s amazing, Felix! You’re so good at taking care of them. It’s clear they’re really happy and healthy. You must spend so much time making sure they’re well-cared for.”

Felix beams, clearly basking in the praise, while Minho feels a hot rush of irritation bubbling up in the back of his neck. Felix getting praise for taking care of his cats? And Seungmin looking so impressed, his gaze soft and full of admiration? It’s like a dagger to the chest.

“That’s not all!” Jisung interrupts, always the instigator. “Felix even made special cat-friendly treats for them. Isn’t that right, Lix?”

It’s true — Felix’s love for baking extends to making treats for Minho’s cats, as well as Chan and Hyunjin’s dogs. Still, Minho doesn’t like it. Not one bit.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Felix says, trying to play it down, though there’s a glint in his eye that makes Minho want to throttle him. “You’ve got to spoil them a little on special occasions, you know?”

Minho clears his throat loudly, cutting through the conversation before his irritation boils over. “Actually—”

“They deserve it,” Seungmin cuts in, oblivious to Minho’s growing frustration. His eyes lock on Felix again, and he leans in slightly. “Seriously, you’re incredible with them. It’s so obvious how much you love them.”

Minho’s hand tightens around his glass, his knuckles turning white. It’s taking all of his self-control not to snap. Especially when Soonie, as if in on the joke, looks at Minho with that damned knowing expression, like the cat’s enjoying his torment. Minho forces a laugh, trying to deflect.

“Yeah, well, he’s not the only one taking care of them,” he says, doing his best to keep the defensiveness out of his voice. “It’s not like he’s doing it all alone.”

Felix tilts his head innocently, though a teasing glint dances in his eyes. “Oh? From who, hyung? You mean Jisung?”

“I mean—” Minho begins, but he’s cut off by Seungmin’s soft chuckle.

“Still,” Seungmin says, scratching under Soonie’s chin. “You’ve done such a good job. It must be a lot of work, but it’s worth it, right? They seem like such sweet cats.”

Minho’s jaw clenches. He doesn’t want to ruin the moment or make his jealousy too obvious, but seeing Seungmin pour compliments on Felix is making his blood boil. The soft smile, the sparkle in Seungmin’s eyes — it’s the kind of look Minho dreams of earning from him, but tonight, it’s Felix who’s soaking it all in.

“I mean, of course, Minho hyung helps a lot too,” Felix says, finally throwing Minho a lifeline. “He’s… uh, great at picking out the perfect toys and, you know, making sure they’re entertained.”

“Oh, really?” Seungmin turns to Minho, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “I only see you buying toys for dogs, though?”

Minho blinks, caught off guard. “Uh, yeah. I guess.” Thanks to him, Berry and Kkami, Hyunjin’s dog, now have plenty of toys to play with.

“What’s their favorite?” Seungmin asks, still genuinely interested.

Minho pauses for a moment, then lets a small smile tug at his lips. “Soonie likes this little feather thing that dangles on a string. He goes nuts for it. And Dori… he’s a sucker for anything with bells.”

Seungmin laughs softly, and Minho’s heart does a somersault. “That’s so cute. You must really know them well too.”

Felix smirks, wisely keeping quiet. Minho tries not to look too smug, but the small victory — Seungmin’s attention shifting back to him, even if only for a moment — eases his jealousy, just a little.

The rest of the evening unfolds smoothly. Minho finds himself relaxing, surrounded by the laughter and chatter of his friends as they gather around the table for cake. The lights dim momentarily, and the soft glow of candlelight bathes his face as his friends begin singing the birthday song.

“Make a wish, hyung!” Jisung urges, his grin mischievous and wide.

Minho closes his eyes, a wish slipping quietly into his heart. I wish to stay in their lives for as long as I can, and to be let into Seungmin’s too. The thought lingers warmly as he blows out the candles, the room erupting in applause. The air is filled with the clatter of plates, cake crumbs, and the occasional pop of a balloon.

As the excitement gradually fades, the conversations soften, and the weight of fatigue settles in. Minho finds himself slipping outside to the balcony, leaning against the cool railing. The night air contrasts gently with the warmth of the party, offering him a moment of peace. It’s not long before Seungmin joins him, a small box in his hands.

“Hey,” Seungmin says quietly, nudging Minho’s side. “Figured now’s as good a time as any to give you this.”

Minho raises an eyebrow, taking the box from him. “You didn’t have to—”

“I wanted to,” Seungmin interrupts, his voice steady yet kind. “Open it.”

Minho unties the ribbon and lifts the lid, revealing a set of pajamas. Soft fabric adorned with tiny puppies, and bold letters that read you’re so pawsome across the chest. Seungmin’s cheeks flush a shade of red, but he tries to remain nonchalant. “Thought it’d suit you.” When Minho doesn’t respond right away, Seungmin adds hastily, “I’m sorry. Jisung only told me about your birthday last night, so…”

“No, it’s alright,” Minho says softly, touched. The fact that Seungmin got him a present is enough to melt him. “I like it.”

“Yeah?” Seungmin smiles, a soft curve of his lips.

Minho can’t help the small laugh that escapes him, running his fingers over the fabric of the pajamas. “It’s… really cute,” he admits, his voice quieter than he intended.

“Figured you’d think so,” Seungmin teases, his grin widening. “You always pretend to be all tough, but I see through you, Lee Minho.”

“Lee Minho hyung,” Minho corrects with a mock glare. “And how dare you accuse me of being soft! I’ll have you know I’m terrifying.”

Seungmin raises an eyebrow, leaning casually against the railing. “Oh, absolutely. So terrifying.”

A comfortable silence settles over them as they both gaze at the city skyline. The distant hum of traffic mingles with the muffled sounds of laughter from inside. The cool air carries a slight chill, but Minho barely notices, with Seungmin standing so close.

“I’m glad I came,” Seungmin says suddenly, his voice thoughtful.

Minho glances at him, surprised. “You are?”

Seungmin nods, turning to face him fully. “I wasn’t sure if it’d be weird, since I don’t know any of your friends except Jisung. But when he told me to come, I immediately agreed. I wanted to be here. For your birthday. Jeongin seems to be enjoying himself too.”

Minho swallows, warmth spreading through his chest. He doesn’t quite know how to respond, so he settles for the truth. “I’m glad you came too.”

Their eyes meet, and for a moment, everything else fades away — the sounds of the party, the cool night, even Minho’s earlier nerves. It’s just the two of them, and Minho feels a surge of courage he doesn’t fully understand.

“Seungmin,” he starts, his voice a little unsteady. “I—”

“There you are!” Felix’s cheerful voice slices through the moment, as the balcony door slides open. “We’re setting up blankets for the night, so if you two lovebirds could come help—”

“Yongbok!” Minho snaps, his face flushing instantly. “We’re not— I mean—”

Seungmin snickers, clearly entertained by the flustered outburst. “We’ll be there in a second.”

“Don’t take too long,” Felix calls teasingly before disappearing back inside, the door sliding shut behind him.

Minho groans, burying his face in his hands. “I’m going to kill him.”

“Please don’t,” Seungmin chuckles, his tone light. “You were going to say something?”

Minho blushes harder, his heart racing. “It’s nothing. Let’s go inside before you start freezing.”

“You’re the one who’s shivering, hyung.”

Minho waves him off, stepping back inside, Seungmin following closely behind him.

Inside, the group is busy arranging blankets across the living room floor, shoving the couch and coffee table against the walls to create more space. Laughter fills the air as everyone argues over who will sleep next to whom.

"Really? Are we twelve?" Minho deadpans, raising an eyebrow.

"Hyung, just because you're in your late twenties doesn't mean you have to be such a party pooper," Hyunjin retorts with a playful grin.

"Late twenties?" Seungmin asks, his voice curious.

"I'm only twenty-six," Minho says, suddenly catching Hyunjin in a headlock.

Seungmin hums in amusement. "Still old."

"You—" Minho growls, but the words die on his tongue when Seungmin chuckles. That sound… Minho’s heart skips a beat. Ah… I really love that sound.

As everyone changes into pajamas, Minho retreats to his room to slip into Seungmin's gift —the soft, puppy-themed pajamas. He finds the design endearingly ridiculous, but as he looks at himself in the mirror, a smile pulls at his lips. The playful pattern clashes hilariously with his usual stoic demeanor, but the thought that Seungmin picked this out specifically for him makes his chest warm.

When he steps back into the living room, every pair of eyes turns to him.

Changbin is the first to react, gasping dramatically. "Oh my god. Are my eyes deceiving me!?"

Hyunjin immediately falls into the blanket pile, clutching his stomach as he cackles. "Hyung, you always say cats are superior to dogs. What happened to your loyalty?"

"Seungmin happened," Chan teases, earning a snort from Felix.

Minho scowls, tugging at the collar of his pajamas. "I just thought I'd wear them because they're comfortable. Don’t read too much into it."

"Comfortable?" Hyunjin repeats, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You mean emotionally comfortable, because they’re from Seungmin?"

"Do you all have a death wish tonight?" Minho warns, glaring at the room. His reddened ears, however, betray him.

The room bursts into more laughter, even Jeongin joining in. But before Minho can lunge at Jisung, who’s nearest, Seungmin’s voice cuts through the chaos, emerging from the bathroom.

“You look adorable, hyung.”

The room falls silent, every head swiveling to Seungmin, whose expression is soft yet earnest. While compliments have been flying around all night, this one lands differently. Minho freezes, his glare slowly melting into something uncharacteristically shy.

“Adorable?” Hyunjin whispers in mock awe, nudging Felix. “Did you hear that? Minho hyung is adorable.”

“Shut it, all of you,” Minho mutters, looking anywhere but at Seungmin. His heart is pounding so loudly he’s sure everyone can hear it.

Seungmin, still unfazed, smiles warmly. "I mean it. It suits you."

Minho risks a glance at him, and the sincerity in Seungmin's gaze causes the teasing murmurs around them to fade into the background. Minho mumbles, almost too softly to hear, “Thanks.”

As the chaos subsides, the group begins to sort themselves into their makeshift sleeping spots on the living room floor. Blankets and pillows are strewn everywhere, too many bodies squeezed into too little space, but the energy is warm and playful.

"I’m calling the couch," Chan announces, drawing groans from Changbin, who was clearly about to stake his claim.

"Let him, hyung," Hyunjin says, grinning. "Sleeping on the floor won’t be good for his old bones."

"I’ll take this spot!" Jisung chirps, immediately curling up in a space he carved out for himself. "Minho hyung, you can sleep next to me since it’s your birthday."

"Oh, how generous of you," Minho replies dryly, eyeing the chaos around him. He already knows this is going to be a nightmare.

"Wait, wait," Felix interrupts, raising his hand with an innocent smile. "Minho hyung should sleep in the middle."

"What?" Minho asks, narrowing his eyes. "Why?"

Felix’s face remains perfectly innocent. "It’s your birthday! You should be surrounded by your friends. Plus, it’s warmest in the middle."

The others nod in exaggerated agreement, clearly up to something. Minho knows there’s no way he’ll win this. With a resigned sigh, he mutters, “Fine. Whatever.”

They gleefully rearrange themselves, and before Minho knows it, he’s squished between Jisung and — his heart skips a beat — Seungmin. His eyes dart accusingly around the room, but everyone is already lying down, pointedly ignoring him.

“This is stupid,” Minho mumbles, pulling a blanket over himself.

“It’s cozy,” Seungmin says casually, settling next to him. His voice is soft, but Minho can already feel the warmth radiating from him. Too close. Too much.

Minho, determined to retain some semblance of composure, shifts closer to Jisung, draping an arm and leg over him as a makeshift barrier. Jisung protests but doesn’t push him off.

"Hyung, you’re crushing me," Jisung whines, wriggling under the weight.

"Deal with it," Minho grumbles, avoiding Seungmin’s direction. But no matter how much he clings to Jisung, it’s impossible to ignore Seungmin’s presence. The warmth of Seungmin seems to envelope him, seeping through the blanket and making his pulse quicken.

It doesn’t help that Seungmin shifts closer in his sleep, the faint rustle of fabric punctuating the silence. Minho swears he can feel Seungmin’s breath on his shoulder, his presence so close it’s like he’s hugging Seungmin instead of Jisung.

As the night deepens, the room quiets, the soft hum of occasional snores and steady breathing filling the space. Minho’s eyes stay open, tracing patterns in the dim light filtering through the curtains. He can’t bring himself to relax, not with Seungmin so close.

Just as he’s debating whether to roll over and create more distance, he feels it — a sudden weight on his side. Minho freezes, his body going stiff. Seungmin, still deep in sleep, has unconsciously turned toward him and wrapped an arm around his waist. The warmth of Seungmin’s touch sends a jolt through him, but before he can react, another sensation follows — a soft pressure against his leg.

Minho tilts his head, careful not to disturb anyone, and spots Dori nestled between them. The cat seems utterly content, purring softly as if trying to bridge the space between the two humans. Minho huffs a silent laugh.

Seungmin shifts again, his grip tightening slightly as he burrows closer. His face is calm, his breathing steady, and for a moment, Minho is struck by how peaceful he looks. His features soften even more in sleep, his lips slightly parted, and Minho thinks he’s never seen anything so unfairly endearing.

Despite himself, Minho’s body begins to relax, his earlier nerves melting away. Seungmin’s arm around him doesn’t feel suffocating; instead, it’s grounding, warm in a way that seems to seep into Minho’s very core. He lets out a soft exhale, adjusting just enough to lean into Seungmin’s embrace without disturbing him or Jisung or Dori.

As his eyes grow heavier, a small smile tugs at his lips. Just before sleep takes over, he thinks that this isn’t such a bad birthday after all.

6.

The rain is pouring relentlessly outside, and Minho and Jisung, who had planned to go out, decide instead to turn their evening into a cozy movie marathon. They sit sprawled on the couch, takeout boxes scattered between them, as the third movie plays on. The story is reaching its climax when a sudden knock at the door interrupts them.

Minho groans, narrowing his eyes at Jisung. Memories of an uninvited guest at his birthday party linger in his mind, making him suspicious.

“I swear, I don’t know anything!” Jisung protests, throwing up his hands defensively. “I’m innocent this time, I promise.”

Grumbling, Minho gets up and heads to the door. “If you’ve invited Seungmin without telling me, I swear—”

But standing on the other side is Seungmin, looking sheepish. “Hey,” he says quietly.

Minho turns slowly to Jisung, his voice dangerously calm. “Han Jisung. Count your days.”

Jisung jumps off the couch, flailing in panic. “I didn’t know! I have nothing to do with this, hyung!” His expression shifts as he takes in Seungmin’s drenched figure. “Oh my god, you’re freezing! Come in, come in!”

He ushers Seungmin inside, and it’s only then that Minho notices how soaked Seungmin is, his face pale and his whole body trembling. Jisung immediately takes charge, ordering Minho to make tea while he hurries off to prepare a warm bath.

Ten minutes later, Seungmin returns from the bathroom, now dressed in Minho’s pajamas. Minho tries not to react, but the sight of Seungmin in his clothes is dangerously close to making him scream. Wrapped snugly in a blanket, Seungmin sits on the couch as Jisung dries his hair with care. Minho places a steaming cup of tea into his hands, and Seungmin thanks him with a shy smile.

“What happened?” Jisung asks once Seungmin’s hair is completely dry.

Seungmin chuckles awkwardly. “Funny story. I left work about an hour ago and decided to walk home. It’s far, but I was in the mood to walk today. And, well… the rain. Of course, it’s the one time I forget my umbrella.”

“Why didn’t you take the bus or call us? We could’ve picked you up!” Jisung scolds gently, his voice tinged with concern.

Seungmin laughs at himself. “Oh, that’s the best part. My phone battery died, and I left my wallet at work. I was closer to your place than anywhere else, so I came here instead.” He suddenly looks guilty, glancing between the two. “I’m so sorry. I must be bothering you.”

Jisung playfully slaps his arm. “Don’t be ridiculous, Seungmin-ah. I’m glad you came to us.”

“Yeah,” Minho adds, not quite able to find the right words as he tries to avoid staring at Seungmin in his clothes.

Seungmin smiles softly, looking around the room. “Felix isn’t here?”

Minho and Jisung share a quick, alarmed glance.

“Uh,” Jisung stammers, visibly floundering. “He— I— we— Minho hyung—”

“He’s at Changbin’s right now,” Minho interjects smoothly, cutting off Jisung’s train wreck of an explanation. “Jisung just invited me over because he was feeling lonely.”

“Ah, I see,” Seungmin hums, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. He looks so small, his wet hair now fluffy from the blow dryer, and Minho feels his heart do an embarrassing little flip. He wonders if Seungmin knows the effect he has just by existing in Minho’s pajamas, sipping tea.

Jisung clears his throat loudly, snapping Minho out of his thoughts. “So, um… the movie marathon?” Jisung offers, gesturing to the TV.

“Yeah, let’s keep watching,” Minho says quickly, before he can start overthinking every second of Seungmin’s presence.

“Are you sure?” Seungmin asks, frowning slightly. “I don’t want to impose. I can leave now.” He pulls his knees up under the blanket, looking very much like a curled-up puppy.

“No imposition. Just… sit back and relax. You’ve already interrupted, so you might as well stay,” Minho says, shrugging, trying very hard to act like he doesn’t care.

“That’s not what he means!” Jisung jumps in, slapping Minho’s arm. “What he means is, you’re welcome here anytime, Seungmin-ah.” He turns to Minho and mutters, “Be nice. You don’t even live here.”

Minho rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Let’s just start the movie.”

Jisung queues up the film again, and the three settle in. Seungmin, still wrapped like a burrito in the blanket, sits between them. The movie resumes, but Minho finds it hard to focus. His attention keeps wandering to Seungmin’s soft breathing and the way he occasionally glances at the screen, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

Halfway through the movie, Seungmin’s head starts nodding forward, clearly fighting to stay awake. Jisung notices and not-so-subtly nudges Minho. “You should let him lean on you,” he whispers.

“Why me?” Minho hisses back, trying not to let his voice carry.

“I’m going to the kitchen because you asked for a snack,” Jisung says, standing up with a smug grin.

“I didn’t ask for anything.”

“Don’t screw this up, hyung.”

Minho groans softly, but as soon as Jisung leaves, Seungmin’s head tilts to the side… and lands squarely on Minho’s shoulder. Minho freezes. He glances down at Seungmin, whose eyes are closed now, his expression soft and peaceful. His heart races, and he debates whether to move or stay still forever.

The movie keeps playing, but Minho doesn’t hear a word of it. His entire world has narrowed to the weight of Seungmin against him, the subtle warmth of his presence.

When Jisung comes back and sees the two of them, he snickers and takes a picture. “Look at you two,” he teases in a singsong voice.

“Shut it, Jisung-ah,” Minho whispers, his face burning, but he doesn’t push Seungmin away. He lets him sleep, and somewhere deep down, he hopes Seungmin stays a little longer. “Send me the pic.”

After the fifth movie fades to black, Seungmin stirs awake, blinking drowsily. He stretches slightly, realizing he’s been dozing on Minho’s shoulder. “Sorry,” he murmurs, his voice soft with sleep. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”

Minho shrugs it off with an air of nonchalance, though the faint blush on his cheeks betrays him. “It’s no big deal,” he says, waving a hand as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. Behind Seungmin’s back, Jisung is merciless, shooting Minho exaggerated winks and smirks that have him glaring daggers in return.

“You must be tired,” Minho says quickly, eager to shift the attention. “Just take my bed.”

Seungmin pauses, arching an eyebrow. “Your bed?”

“I mean Felix’s bed!” Minho blurts out, flustered. “I said my bed because, uh, that’s where I sleep when he’s not here.”

Seungmin chuckles softly, the sound melting some of Minho’s embarrassment as he rises to his feet. “Got it. Do you perhaps have a spare toothbrush?”

“Yeah!” Jisung pipes up before Minho can answer. “Check the bottom drawer under the sink.”

“Thanks,” Seungmin says with a small nod before disappearing into the bathroom.

As soon as the door closes, Jisung fixes Minho with an unimpressed stare. “What?” Minho asks, though his defensive tone does him no favors.

“Are you sure you want to lend him your room?” Jisung asks, his voice dripping with skepticism. “It’s basically a shrine to you and your cats.”

Minho freezes, suddenly remembering the framed pictures of himself and other personal touches that could easily give away his identity. “I’ll just say Felix is in love with me,” he says weakly.

Jisung deadpans. “Hyung. I can’t believe I’m saying this to you, but let me handle it.”

Before Minho can protest, Jisung hatches a new plan. With his trademark charm, he convinces Seungmin to use his room instead, saying that they’re more familiar with each other than Seungmin is with Felix. Seungmin agrees without hesitation.

Later, when the lights are off, Minho finds himself crammed into his too-small bed with Jisung, their legs tangled awkwardly. Jisung is out like a light, snoring softly, while Minho lies wide awake. His gaze drifts to the nightstand, where a framed photo of him surrounded by his three cats sits proudly.

Minho groans inwardly. Jisung was right after all.

1.

There is an emergency.

Minho bursts through the glass doors of the veterinary clinic, clutching Doongie tightly in his arms. His breath comes in ragged gasps, and the mischievous spark usually lighting his eyes is replaced by a glossy sheen of fear. Wrapped snugly in a soft blanket, Doongie’s small face peeks out, his lethargy painfully evident.

“I need help,” Minho pleads, his voice cracking as he approaches the front desk. “My cat— Doongie— he’s been throwing up a lot and won’t eat. Something’s wrong.”

The receptionist looks up from her computer, her expression softening as she recognizes Minho and takes in the desperation etched across his face.

“I’m so sorry, sir, but all our doctors are currently handling emergencies,” she says gently. Before Minho can protest, she adds, “We do, however, have a vet student available to assess if it’s something critical. Would that be okay for now?”

Minho hesitates for only a fraction of a second before nodding quickly. “Yes, please. Anything. Just— just help him.” His gaze drops to Doongie, whose half-closed eyes make his heart twist painfully. “I can’t lose him.”

The receptionist nods, gesturing toward an empty exam room. “Take him in there. They will be with you in two minutes.”

Without wasting a second, Minho shoulders the door open and gently places Doongie on the exam table. His hand never leaves the cat’s side, fingers stroking softly, as if to anchor both of them.

“It’s okay, Doongie,” Minho whispers, his voice unsteady. “You’ll be fine. I promise. Hyung’s here. You’re so strong, my little fighter. Just hold on a bit longer.”

Minho is leaning close, pressing a soft kiss to the top of Doongie’s head, when the door creaks open behind him. Quickly, he straightens up, swiping at his eyes as though to erase any trace of vulnerability. He turns, expecting an older, seasoned professional. Instead, a young man in a crisp white coat steps into the room. With neatly combed hair and a confident stride, he radiates an air of professionalism far beyond his years.

“Hello, I’m Kim Seungmin,” the newcomer greets with a polite smile, adjusting the stethoscope draped around his neck. “I’m a veterinary student, graduating this year. I promise I’ll do my best to help.”

Minho freezes, his gaze dropping to the name tag that confirms the introduction. Recognition hits like a thunderclap. “Seungmin?!” He blurts out, his voice a mix of shock and disbelief.

Seungmin blinks, momentarily taken aback by the outburst. “Oh. Minho hyung?” A smile of surprised recognition spreads across his face. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I… I didn’t know you were studying to be a vet,” Minho stammers, still clutching Doongie tightly.

“It never came up,” Seungmin replies with a casual shrug, stepping closer to the exam table. His tone softens as he glances at the cat. “But let’s focus on Doongie first, yeah? Are you here on Felix’s behalf?”

“Hum. Y-Yeah…” Minho mutters, unwilling to admit the truth.

Seungmin smiles reassuringly before leaning in to examine Doongie. His hands move with practiced ease, checking the cat’s ears, eyes, and mouth. Minho watches, his anxiety gradually ebbing away as Seungmin works. The younger man’s calm, steady movements exude a quiet confidence that fills the room. Minho can’t help but feel a surge of pride.

Doongie stirs, letting out a soft meow in protest. Seungmin chuckles, stroking the cat’s head. “It’s okay, Doongie,” he murmurs, his eyes crinkling in a familiar, warm smile. “You know me. I won’t hurt you.”

Minho’s eyes are glued to the scene, captivated by Seungmin’s gentle demeanor. It’s no wonder Doongie begins to relax under his touch. After all, Seungmin had always had a way with his cats during the few times he visited.

Finally, Seungmin straightens, turning back to Minho with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, hyung. It’s nothing serious. He probably ate too many treats and got an upset stomach.”

“You’re sure?” Minho asks, his brow furrowing with residual worry. “But why did he throw up?”

Seungmin chuckles softly. “Cats are greedy little creatures sometimes. They eat too much, and their tiny stomachs can’t handle it. Maybe have a word with Felix about cutting back on the treats?”

Minho bites his lip, guilt bubbling to the surface. It’s me. I’m the one overfeeding them. “Okay,” he mutters sheepishly. “So… he’s really okay, then?”

“He should be,” Seungmin confirms, giving Doongie a final affectionate pat. The cat responds by purring contentedly, his eyes closing in satisfaction.

Relief washes over Minho like a wave, and he finally allows a small smile to break through. “Thank goodness. I was so scared.”

“It’s normal to worry,” Seungmin replies gently, brushing Minho’s arm in a comforting gesture. “You love them like they’re your own, don’t you? It’s cute.”

Minho feels his face heat up and decides to steer the conversation elsewhere. “Anyway, so you’re a vet student, huh?”

“Yup.” Seungmin leans against the counter, flashing a grin.

“That’s impressive,” Minho says sincerely, his gaze sweeping over the younger man. The pristine white coat, the poised demeanor — it all suits him so well. “And you work part-time at a pet store too. You must really love animals.”

“I do,” Seungmin admits, his smile widening. “They’re easier to deal with than people sometimes.”

Minho laughs, the tension in his chest finally dissipating. “Can’t argue with that.”

After a few minutes of conversation, Minho decides he doesn’t want to take up any more of Seungmin’s time and prepares to leave. Seungmin follows him to the counter to update the receptionist that Doongie is doing fine.

Before Minho can even think to stop him, Seungmin is already speaking to the woman, his gaze fixed on the computer screen where Doongie’s details are displayed. Which includes the owner’s name. Which is Minho’s.

If Seungmin is surprised to see it, he doesn’t let it show. Minho, on the other hand, wishes he could disappear into the floor right then and there.

As he steps outside, he’s just about to make his escape when Seungmin’s voice calls out to him. “Hyung, wait!”

Against his better judgment, Minho stops in his tracks. Damn him, he thinks, for being so helplessly smitten with Seungmin.

“I’m out in ten minutes. Can you wait for me?” Seungmin asks, his tone light, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Minho wants to say no, to make up some excuse, anything to avoid this situation. But instead, he stays. Because he is weak. Because he’s stupid. Because he’s very, very much in love.

When Seungmin emerges from the building, he’s wearing casual clothes and a bright grin, and Minho hates how his heart thuds painfully in his chest.

“Thanks for waiting,” Seungmin says cheerfully. “Let me walk you home.”

Minho blinks, taken aback. “I— Why?” He asks, genuinely puzzled. If he were Seungmin, he’d have ignored him for the rest of his life for lying to him.

“Why not?” Seungmin shrugs with a nonchalant smile. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while. It’d be nice.”

Minho’s lips part as he prepares to protest, but his words falter. “I’m fine on my own,” he mutters, though the protest lacks conviction.

“I know,” Seungmin says softly, the words carrying an understanding that catches Minho off guard. He flashes a small, affectionate smile. “But I want to.”

Minho is silent for a moment, his heart caught in his throat. He watches Seungmin, his cheeks flushed from the cold, the wind playfully tousling his dark hair, the soft glow of the streetlights making his eyes sparkle. It’s all so unfair. Minho’s resolve crumbles, and despite his best efforts, he can’t resist.

“Okay,” he finally says, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seungmin’s face lights up, his smile wide and radiant. “Great.”

As they walk down the dimly lit street, the soft crunch of their shoes on the pavement fills the silence. Minho keeps his gaze firmly ahead, one arm cradling Doongie, now fast asleep in his blanket, and the other into his coat pocket. Seungmin, on the other hand, seems perfectly at ease, his hands tucked casually into his jacket, his long strides keeping pace with Minho's.

"So," Seungmin begins, breaking the quiet. His tone is light, almost conversational, but there's an edge to it. "When were you going to tell me?"

Minho’s heart sinks. He knows exactly what Seungmin means, but he plays dumb anyway. "Tell you what?"

Seungmin stops walking, forcing Minho to halt as well. He turns to face him, his eyes sharp but not unkind. "That Doongie is your cat. Not Felix’s."

Minho’s face heats up instantly. "I— uh..." He stammers, unable to meet Seungmin's gaze.

Seungmin crosses his arms, a small, almost amused smirk tugging at his lips. "You’ve been lying to me for how long, hyung? I mean, I know you’re dramatic, but pretending your cats are someone else’s?"

Minho shifts uncomfortably, clutching Doongie a little tighter as if the cat could shield him from Seungmin's scrutiny. "It’s not like that," he mutters. "I just— I didn’t think it was important to bring up."

"It was a lie," Seungmin points out.

"I just... didn't know how to tell you," Minho admits, his shoulders drooping in defeat.

Seungmin stares at him for a moment, and Minho expects him to be upset, maybe even angry. But instead, Seungmin starts laughing, and the sound makes Minho's chest swell with warmth.

Minho blinks in confusion, his face still red. "What’s so funny?"

Seungmin shakes his head, a hand resting on his hip as he looks at Minho, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Hyung, you went through all that trouble to lie about having cats because you thought… what? I’d judge you?"

Minho fidgets, averting his gaze. "Not exactly…"

"Then why?" Seungmin presses, his tone still light but curious now. "You know I like animals. It’s not like I’d think less of you for being a cat person."

Minho’s grip tightens slightly on Doongie, who stirs but doesn’t wake. He exhales a long breath, then finally looks up, meeting Seungmin’s expectant gaze. "Fine. You really want to know?"

Seungmin nods, his smile fading into a more serious expression. "I do."

Minho hesitates, his heart pounding in his chest. This is it — the moment he’s dreaded and longed for in equal measure. "The first time I saw you," he begins, his voice quieter than before, "I thought you were… attractive."

Seungmin’s eyebrows lift in surprise, but he doesn’t interrupt.

Minho barrels on, the words tumbling out before he can second-guess himself. "You had that bright smile, those puppy-like eyes, and even a dog drawn on your name tag? I don’t know. It just made me think… You’re definitely a dog person. And I thought maybe if I told you I had a dog, it’d give us something to talk about."

Seungmin’s lips twitch, his expression teetering on the edge of laughter again. "So, instead of just being yourself, you decided to fabricate an entire dog?"

"Okay, when you put it like that, it sounds ridiculous," Minho groans, his ears burning. "But it seemed like a good idea at the time! You were so... intimidatingly perfect, and I didn’t think you’d give me the time of day otherwise."

Seungmin doesn’t respond immediately. He simply watches Minho, his eyes softening with an emotion the older man can’t quite place. Then, after what feels like an eternity, he takes a step closer.

"Hyung," Seungmin says gently, his voice steady. "You didn’t need to make anything up. I also found you very attractive the first time I saw you."

Minho’s breath catches. "You… you. Really?"

Seungmin nods, his expression sincere. "Yeah. You walked into the store looking completely uninterested in everything except getting the cat food. You had this aura, you know? Like you didn’t care what anyone thought, but then I saw you smile at the cat aisle, and I thought... this guy is like a cat himself."

Minho stares at Seungmin, struggling to process the words. His brain keeps looping back to he found me attractive. "A cat?" he repeats dumbly.

"Mmm," Seungmin hums, tilting his head. "Your eyes. The way you move. It’s very feline. It was kind of endearing, actually."

Minho doesn’t know whether to be flattered or offended. "I thought you were into dogs."

"I grew up with a cat," Seungmin says with a shrug, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. "His name was Dandy. He was this grumpy Siamese who only liked me, and I thought he was the coolest creature alive."

"You never mentioned that," Minho says, still reeling. Seungmin had a cat.

"You never asked," Seungmin counters, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "But yeah, I’ve always been more of a cat person. I think it’s why I was drawn to you."

Minho’s cheeks flush, and he instinctively pulls Doongie closer to his chest as if to shield himself. "You’re just saying that to make me feel better."

"Why would I lie?" Seungmin asks, his tone suddenly serious. He steps even closer, and Minho can’t bring himself to back away. "Hyung, I’ve always thought you were cute. And not because of some made-up dog. Because you’re you."

Minho interrupts before Seungmin can tease him further. "Does that mean you’d still go out with me?"

The words are out before he can stop himself, hanging in the crisp night air. Minho feels his face flame as Seungmin's eyes widen slightly. The younger man doesn’t answer immediately, and Minho’s mind races with second-guessing. Did I just ruin everything? Was this a mistake?

But then Seungmin smiles. It’s not his usual polite smile or even his teasing one. This is softer, more genuine, and it sends Minho’s heart into overdrive.

"I thought you'd never ask," Seungmin replies, his voice light but warm.

Minho blinks. "Wait, that’s a yes?"

Seungmin laughs, the sound bubbling out of him like he can’t help it. "Yes, hyung. Of course, it’s a yes."

Minho exhales in relief, his shoulders sagging as the tension drains from his body. "Oh, thank God," he mutters, half to himself.

Seungmin tilts his head, his smile turning mischievous. "Were you that worried I’d say no?"

"Maybe," Minho admits grudgingly, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity. "Considering I lied to you."

“Well, it’s okay,” Seungmin sighs. “Jeongin said I’m a pathological liar, you know.”

“You sound kind of proud being called that,” Minho snickers.

“It’s fun to tease people sometimes,” Seungmin shrugs.

As they reach Minho’s doorstep, the conversation lulls into a comfortable silence. The soft yellow glow of the porch light casts warm shadows over their faces, and for a moment, neither of them moves to go inside. Minho shifts Doongie carefully in his arms, glancing up at Seungmin, who is staring at him with that same quiet intensity that makes his pulse quicken.

“I guess… this is goodnight,” Minho murmurs, suddenly hyperaware of how close they’re standing. He feels the chill of the night air, but the heat radiating off Seungmin is much more distracting.

“Yeah,” Seungmin replies softly, his voice almost lost in the quiet hum of the street.

Minho hesitates, biting the inside of his cheek. His eyes flicker to Seungmin’s lips — just for a second, but long enough for Seungmin to notice. The younger man’s expression shifts, his gaze dropping to Minho’s mouth as well. The space between them seems to shrink, their breaths mingling as they both lean in slightly—

“Hyung!”

The door swings open with a loud bang, startling them apart. Jisung stands in the doorway, his wide eyes darting between the two men like he’s walked in on something he shouldn’t have. Doongie lets out a soft, indignant meow from the sudden commotion.

“Uh… there’s an emergency,” Jisung says, his voice tinged with panic, though Minho detects a glimmer of mischief in his expression. “It’s, uh, huge. You need to come in. Right now.”

Minho groans, his head falling back dramatically. “You couldn’t have waited one minute, Jisung?”

“Sorry, didn’t realize you were about to have your rom-com moment,” Jisung retorts with a grin. His eyes flicker to Seungmin, and his eyebrows wiggle conspiratorially. “Oh, hey, Seungmin. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Hey, Jisung,” Seungmin replies, entirely unbothered. “Nice timing.”

Minho turns to glare at Jisung. “What’s the emergency, huh? If it’s not life or death, I’m throwing you out the window.”

Jisung holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, no need for violence. But, uh… Felix just dropped off brownies, and Changbin’s already eaten half the tray. If we don’t intervene, none of us are getting any.”

Minho stares at him, deadpan. “That’s your idea of an emergency?”

“It is an emergency,” Jisung insists. “You know how fast he eats. Come on, hyung!”

Minho pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering under his breath. “I need better friends.”

Before he can say anything else, Seungmin chuckles softly, drawing his attention. “Go save the brownies, hyung,” he says, his voice warm and teasing. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” Minho echoes, his frustration with Jisung momentarily forgotten.

Seungmin nods, his gaze steady and promising. “If you’re free, that is.”

Minho’s lips curl into a small smile despite himself. “Yeah. I’m free.”

“Good.” Seungmin takes a step back, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Goodnight, hyung. And thanks for letting me walk you home.”

As Seungmin turns to leave, Jisung leans closer to Minho, whispering loudly, “You’re blushing so hard right now. It’s adorable.”

“Shut up, Jisung-ah,” Minho hisses, but he can’t stop the grin spreading across his face. He watches Seungmin disappear into the night before finally stepping inside, already counting the hours until tomorrow.

(Their first date takes them to a cozy cat café, where Minho is immediately in his element. He spends the afternoon completely captivated, crouching on the floor to play with the cats, cooing softly at them as if they were his own. His attention is so thoroughly consumed that Seungmin might as well be invisible.

But Seungmin doesn’t mind in the slightest. In fact, he’s quite content sitting back, phone in hand, quietly documenting the scene. By the end of the date, his gallery is filled with hundreds of pictures — Minho laughing as a kitten paws at his sleeve, Minho cradling a sleepy tabby, Minho’s face lighting up with unfiltered joy as a tiny black cat curls into his lap.

Seungmin smiles as he scrolls through the photos, each one more endearing than the last. Ignored or not, he thinks it’s a perfect first date.)

(“Do you want to know when I figured out you were lying to me?” Seungmin asks casually, taking a bite of the food Minho cooked.

“No,” Minho replies, tired of Seungmin bringing up his past mistakes every day.

But Seungmin ignores him, continuing anyway. “I ran into Chan hyung on a walk with Berry one day. And just so you know, he can’t lie to save his life.”

Minho groans, rubbing his temples.

“You know what’s even worse, hyung?” Seungmin presses.

“I don’t care.”

“Jeongin knew everything!” Seungmin whines dramatically. “When I asked him why he never said anything to me, he told me Jisung asked him to keep it a secret. Can you believe that? I thought it was supposed to be bros before hoes!”

“I can hear you!” Jisung yells from the other side of the apartment in his room, where he can't get out because Minho and Seungmin are having a dinner date in the living room.)