Chapter 14

The two got back to the apartment, and Min-ho loudly dropped the bag onto the kitchen counter with a thud. Without a second thought, he grabbed one of the bottles, twisted the cap off, and took a long swig straight from it—no glass, no hesitation.

Ju-woon wrinkled his nose. "Weirdo…" He didn't even try to say it quietly.

Min-ho shot him a glare from across the kitchen. "Shut up, Ju-woon," he called out before taking another sip.

Ju-woon sighed and plopped down on the floor next to where Min-ho sat in a chair, stretching his legs out lazily. He reached into the bag, grabbed his own bottle, and mirrored Min-ho's actions, taking a long drink straight from the bottle. He wasn't about to go get a glass either—might as well embrace the recklessness.

Min-ho smirked, watching him. "Well, well. Hyung, breaking etiquette? Who knew you could be so casual?"

"Shut up and drink," Ju-woon muttered, grabbing one of the snacks they had bought.

Min-ho, of course, was never one to let a moment pass without making it weird. "Ju-woon," he sing-songed, leaning in slightly, eyes locked onto him like a predator eyeing prey.

Ju-woon glanced at him warily. "What?"

"Can you feed me?" Min-ho asked, tilting his head with an innocent expression that was anything but.

Ju-woon stared at him, deadpan. "Are you five?"

Min-ho pouted dramatically. "I just think food tastes better when someone else gives it to you."

"Not my problem."

Before Ju-woon could pull his hand back, Min-ho suddenly grabbed his wrist, guiding the cracker to his mouth. His lips brushed against Ju-woon's fingers ever so slightly, lingering for a few seconds before he finally pulled back, chewing with an exaggerated hum.

"Hmm… this is pretty good!" Min-ho said, as if he hadn't just done something borderline intimate.

Ju-woon stared at his hand for a second, then shot Min-ho a glare. "You're seriously annoying."

Min-ho just grinned, swirling the bottle in his hands. "And yet, here you are, drinking with me."

Ju-woon sighed. How did he even end up here?

A few minutes passed as they casually talked, surprisingly civil for once. Min-ho, it turned out, was an engineering major, which genuinely shocked Ju-woon.

"You? Engineering?" Ju-woon raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem like the type to actually study."

Min-ho gasped dramatically. "Wow, so mean. I'll have you know I'm incredibly smart."

"Then why do you act like an idiot?"

Min-ho smirked. "Because it's more fun."

They fell into a brief silence, just the faint clinking of the bottles as they occasionally took sips. Then, Min-ho suddenly perked up. "Alright, let's make this interesting," he announced, leaning forward with a lazy smirk. "We're playing Never Have I Ever."

Ju-woon gave him an unimpressed look. "What are we, teenagers?"

Min-ho gasped as if personally offended. "You mean to tell me you've never played this? Wow, your life must be so dull."

Ju-woon rolled his eyes. "Fine. Whatever. But if you ask something stupid, I'm throwing this bottle at you."

Min-ho's grin widened. "Noted."

He tapped his chin, pretending to think. "Okay… Never have I ever… skipped school to do something fun."

Ju-woon scoffed, reached for his bottle, and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Min-ho's eyes sparkled. "Oho? Mr. Perfect wasn't always so perfect?"

"It was one time," Ju-woon muttered. "Not a big deal."

"But now I have to know—what'd you do?"

Ju-woon looked at him, deadpan. "None of your business."

Min-ho pouted but moved on, determined to break Ju-woon's walls. "My turn," Ju-woon said, sitting back. He glanced at Min-ho with an unreadable expression. "Never have I ever… been in a fight."

Min-ho shrugged and took a sip. "You have to be more specific than that. Physical fight? Verbal fight? Because I fight people with my words every day."

Ju-woon sighed. "Physical."

Min-ho raised his glass and drank. "Of course."

Ju-woon narrowed his eyes. "How many?"

Min-ho smirked. "A gentleman never tells."

Ju-woon scoffed. "You? A gentleman?"

Min-ho chuckled. "Your turn again."

Ju-woon leaned back, clearly trying to think of something that would trip Min-ho up. He drummed his fingers against the table before saying, "Never have I ever… had a crush on someone I wasn't supposed to."

Min-ho's fingers twitched around his glass, but his smirk didn't waver. He lifted the bottle to his lips and took a slow, deliberate sip.

Ju-woon stared.

Min-ho set the glass down and licked his lips. "What?"

"You actually drank."

"Yeah. That's how the game works."

Ju-woon frowned. "Who?"

Min-ho grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Ju-woon clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. "Why even drink if you won't answer?"

"Because it's fun watching you try to figure it out," Min-ho teased, resting his chin on his palm. "Your turn."

Ju-woon sighed, gripping his bottle a little tighter than necessary. "Never have I ever… kissed a guy."

Min-ho's smirk barely faltered, but his fingers hesitated just slightly before he lifted the drink and took another sip.

Ju-woon blinked.

Min-ho licked his lips, meeting Ju-woon's gaze with a lazy, half-lidded expression. "Surprised?"

Ju-woon stayed silent for a beat before scoffing. "No. Just wondering how many bad decisions you've made in your life."

Min-ho grinned. "Oh, plenty. But I'd call that one a learning experience."

Ju-woon shook his head, reaching for the soju bottle. He poured them both another shot, maybe to distract from whatever he was thinking.

Min-ho leaned in slightly, voice dropping just enough to make it teasingly suggestive. "Your turn."

Ju-woon rolled his eyes, clearly regretting agreeing to this game. "Fine. Never have I ever… regretted something stupid I said while drunk."

Min-ho smirked and picked up his glass. "Well, I'm definitely about to."

And he drank.

Ju-woon barely had time to process the comment before Min-ho suddenly leaned closer, a lazy grin on his face. "Hyung," he drawled, voice slightly slurred now, "you're kinda cute when you're mad."

Ju-woon froze.

Min-ho chuckled, leaning even closer. "I bet you wouldn't last a second if I actually tried to flirt with you for real."

Ju-woon's eye twitched. "Min-ho, shut up."

Min-ho just laughed, taking another sip. "Oh, Ju-woon… this night's just getting started."

Min-ho set his empty glass down with a little clink, his eyes gleaming with mischief. The alcohol had settled into his system, making him pleasantly warm, and he could tell it was hitting Ju-woon too—even if the other refused to show it.

Ju-woon sighed, rubbing his temple as if regretting his life choices. "You're stalling. Hurry up."

Min-ho grinned. "Alright, alright. Never have I ever… sent a risky text while drunk."

Ju-woon gave him a blank stare. "Risky how?"

Min-ho smirked, resting his chin on his hand. "You know… the kind that makes you wake up the next morning wanting to throw your phone into the ocean."

Ju-woon hesitated for half a second—then, with a small tch, grabbed his drink and took a sip.

Min-ho's grin widened. "Ooooh, who was it?"

Ju-woon placed his glass down with a sharp tap. "None of your business."

"That means it's definitely interesting." Min-ho leaned in. "C'mon, at least give me a hint. Was it a love confession? An 'I miss you' text? A drunk selfie?"

Ju-woon scoffed. "Drop it."

Min-ho laughed, filing that piece of information away for later. "Alright, your turn."

Ju-woon, clearly annoyed by Min-ho's antics, took a second before saying, "Never have I ever… flirted with someone just to mess with them."

Min-ho's smile didn't waver. Without hesitation, he picked up his glass and took a long, slow sip.

Ju-woon's fingers twitched on the table. "Figures."

Min-ho licked his lips as he set the glass down. "You sound bitter, Ju-woon-ah."

Ju-woon rolled his eyes. "You're insufferable."

Min-ho tilted his head, watching him closely. "Is that why you're still playing?"

Ju-woon's grip on his glass tightened. Instead of answering, he simply gestured for Min-ho to go again.

Min-ho exhaled dramatically. "Fine, fine. Never have I ever… imagined kissing someone in this room."

Ju-woon froze for half a second.

Min-ho smirked.

Ju-woon narrowed his eyes. "Seriously?"

"What? It's a great question." Min-ho leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, watching Ju-woon like a cat stalking its prey. "C'mon, drink up if you have."

Ju-woon stared at him, expression unreadable.

Then, with slow, deliberate movements—he reached for the soju bottle, poured himself a shot… and downed it.

Min-ho blinked.

His grin faltered for just a second before it came back, slower this time, as realization sank in.

Ju-woon exhaled, setting the glass down a little harder than necessary. His gaze met Min-ho's—sharp, challenging, and daring him to say something.

Min-ho's lips parted, a teasing remark already forming—

But for once, he said nothing.

Instead, he just smiled.

A slow, lazy grin that sent heat prickling up Ju-woon's neck.

"…Your turn," Min-ho murmured.

Ju-woon exhaled sharply and reached for the bottle again.

This game was getting dangerous.

With an impassive expression, he said, "Never have I ever… lied to get out of a date."

Min-ho chuckled and reached for his glass without hesitation. "Obviously."

Ju-woon watched him take a sip, narrowing his eyes. "Elaborate."

Min-ho set his glass down and smirked. "Oh? Are you actually curious about my love life?"

Ju-woon's eye twitched. "No. I just want to confirm how much of an asshole you are."

Min-ho laughed. "Fair. Well, let's just say I've mastered the 'something came up' excuse. Sometimes, I say I'm sick. Sometimes, I pretend I forgot. And sometimes—" he leaned in, voice dipping mischievously, "—I just ghost them."

Ju-woon scoffed. "You're the worst."

Min-ho tilted his head, watching him closely. "And yet, you're still here with me, drinking in the middle of the night. What does that say about you?"

Ju-woon ignored him and gestured for Min-ho to go next.

Min-ho tapped his fingers against the table, humming in thought. Then, his grin turned downright wicked.

"Never have I ever… thought about kissing someone I claim to hate."

Ju-woon's breath caught.

His grip tightened on his glass.

Min-ho watched him carefully, his playful smirk never fading, but there was something sharp—something knowing—lurking behind his half-lidded gaze.

Ju-woon forced his face into a blank mask. His pulse was loud in his ears, but he refused to let Min-ho see even a flicker of hesitation.

And then—without breaking eye contact—he reached for the bottle, poured himself a shot…

And drank.

Min-ho's smirk froze.

For the first time that night, he looked genuinely caught off guard.

Ju-woon set the glass down, tilting his head slightly. "Something wrong?"

Min-ho blinked, but then—slowly—his lips curled into something lazier. Something almost dangerous.

"Not at all," he murmured.

Ju-woon exhaled and looked away, trying to ignore the way his skin prickled under Min-ho's gaze. The game had officially crossed into a territory he wasn't ready to acknowledge.

And yet—neither of them stopped playing.

They went on like that for a few more rounds until both were well past tipsy. The bottle between them was dangerously close to empty, and Ju-woon was starting to feel the weight of the alcohol settle in his bones.

His body was warm, his thoughts just a little too loose, and Min-ho… Min-ho was watching him again.

"What is it this time?" Ju-woon muttered, already used to the way Min-ho stared at him like he was something to be figured out.

Min-ho hummed, dragging out his words lazily. "Ju-woon~ don't get too drunk. Remember what happened last time?"

Ju-woon's head snapped toward him, eyes narrowing. He knew exactly what Min-ho was referring to.

"Shut up."

Min-ho grinned but said nothing more.

Ju-woon shifted slightly where he sat, adjusting his position on the floor. Min-ho, who had comfortably taken the chair like a normal person, arched a brow.

"Hyung, doesn't it hurt to sit on the floor?"

"It's fine."

Min-ho pouted. "Come on, there's literally another chair right here."

Ju-woon didn't move.

Min-ho's lips curled into something more devious. "You know, I could fix that for you."

Before Ju-woon could process what that meant, Min-ho grabbed his wrist—stronger than he looked in his drunken state—and tugged him upward.

"Min-ho, what the—"

Ju-woon barely had time to resist before he was pulled onto Min-ho's lap, landing with a soft thud against his chest.

He tensed immediately.

Min-ho, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, arms resting loosely around Ju-woon's waist as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

"See?" Min-ho smirked. "Much better, right?"

Ju-woon scowled, pressing his hands against Min-ho's chest to push away, but Min-ho didn't budge.

"Ju-woon, your face is all red from the alcohol," Min-ho murmured, voice dropping slightly.

Ju-woon clenched his jaw. "It's because you keep pulling this shit."

Min-ho chuckled, fingers brushing against Ju-woon's cheek before trailing down to his chin. He tilted Ju-woon's face slightly, as if inspecting him.

Ju-woon's breath hitched.

Min-ho's gaze flickered downward, lingering on his lips for just a second too long.

The air between them felt suddenly thick, charged with something neither of them wanted to name.

Min-ho leaned in, ever so slightly. "You know…" His voice was soft, teasing. "You keep saying you hate me, but you never push me away for real."

Ju-woon was about to shove him off entirely—

But before he could, Min-ho lifted a hand and, without warning, slid his thumb into Ju-woon's mouth.

Ju-woon's body froze.

His brain barely had time to process the action before instinct kicked in—

And he bit down.

Hard.

Min-ho winced, but instead of pulling away, he just exhaled a low chuckle, his expression shifting into something dangerously amused.

"Ow," he murmured, his voice quieter now, more serious.

Ju-woon held his gaze, his jaw clenched stubbornly around Min-ho's thumb, refusing to be the first to let go.

Min-ho smirked.

Ju-woon finally released him with a sharp glare, swiping his sleeve across his mouth as if wiping away Min-ho's touch entirely.

Min-ho flexed his fingers, watching him with lidded eyes. "So feisty."

Ju-woon wanted to throw him across the room.

Instead, he grabbed the soju bottle and poured himself another shot.

Min-ho watched him in silence for a few seconds before laughing, low and soft.

"You're so fun when you drink, hyung."

Ju-woon exhaled sharply. "Shut up."

But neither of them moved away.

And neither of them stopped drinking.

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