.twenty-six

                                    

                                          
Minho and Jisung's little therapy session had brought them closer. Since revealing their family situations, they slowly let each other in more and more. Jisung explained how much he hated being at home, and Minho talked about how his parents couldn't stand each other. 
                          
"Both parents blame the other for me being gay," he announced. "My mom's like, 'If you had been more present in Minho's childhood, he would've had a male role model,' and then my dad's like, 'If you hadn't been so soft with him he wouldn't be a pansy. You treated him like a girl.'" 
                          
Jisung nodded. "I think I hate your parents." He smiled and leaned his head on Minho's shoulder. "I think I hate mine, too." 
                          
This was a touchy subject for Jisung, so Minho was grateful the boy trusted him with it. They talked for probably half an hour more before Jeongyeon told them to go outside if they didn't want to turn into vampires. 
                          
im tired so here's my note to self so i don't forget: they go out on the lake at sunset and minho shoves jisung off the side as revenge for whatever chapter when he got yoinked off the dock and jisung thinks this is funny so when minho reaches out his hand to help jisung up jisung pulls him in and minho loses his shit bc he can't swim so jisung saves him uwu 
                          
They begrudgingly agreed, lazily making their way outside with no shoes on. Jisung saw something in the water and sprinted down the hill toward the lake. Minho sped after him, and arrived just in time to see Jisung slide in the wet grass and completely eat shit. Minho couldn't help but laugh at his friend, but gasped when he saw what Jisung had come here for. 
                          
A small rowboat bobbed in the water, slow waves lapping against its sides and pushing it toward the shore. Jisung was beaming. "This is my boat!" He announced. "I guess I forgot to tie it up last night and it drifted over here. Minho, I think it's destiny." He winked and cackled at his last statement, beckoning Minho closer as he grabbed the tree branch he used as a paddle. 
                          
Minho was nervous. But he was also prideful. So he marched down to the bank and stood beside Jisung's boat, his bare feet sinking into the mud. Jisung stood on the very edge of his boat and reached out a hand for Minho so he could keep his balance as he climbed into the vessel. Minho took Jisung's hand and shouted in surprise when Jisung yanked him up onto the boat, pulling so hard he knocked them both over. Jisung groaned as he collided with the boat and Minho landed on top of him. A support beam across the base had hit Jisung's back when he fell, and he bumped his head on the tackle box, but his pain subsided quickly when he noticed Minho on his chest, looking equally baffled. 
                          
Jisung couldn't help but laugh. He and Minho were so close and in such a stupid situation. Minho was still frozen, staring at the boy beneath him. "You know, Minho," Jisung joked, "If I didn't know you were simping for Chan, I might think you were about to kiss me." 
                          
Immediately Minho's face flushed and he scrambled to his feet, apologising profusely. Jisung simply chuckled and used the branch to push the boat off the bank and into the lake. They drifted in silence, slowly at first until the water was deep enough for Jisung to row without getting tangled in the cattails and reeds. 
                          
His hat reflected the setting sun and Minho couldn't help but laugh. How could an old bucket hat covered in hooks and lures be so pretty? Even Jisung's name, stitched sloppily across the brim of the hat, looked good in the early evening light. The boy turned around to face Minho, smiling brightly. 
                          
"Isn't it pretty, Minho?" He stared at the sunset reflecting on the water, casting shades of pink and orange across the shimmering surface. Minho could only focus on how Jisung's skin glowed in the sunlight. How his stupid hat somehow was so endearing. How his smile was brighter than the sun behind him. 
                          
"Yeah. Pretty."