Continuation..................................................writing time............................

Kibum in contemplation remains calm and collected though confused, decides to discern things in a meticulous perspective; breathes deeply and stares calmly in puckered lips at the now tremulous bothered Minho and says…

“Minnie, can I come near you?”

Minho still cowering his head does not reply and keeps his silence, thus again, Kibum says,

Kibum:             Minnie, whether you like it or not, I am coming near you, alright?

Kibum crawls towards Minho and sits on top of the latter’s feet and rests his face on top of Minho’s knees and wraps his arms around Minho’s head and gently rubs it. Kibum waits for the other to calm down then after for about a couple of minutes, his hand reaches for Minho’s bended down face and gently raises it so he could he see his face however sighs when he sees the other’s eyes closed with tears flowing. Kibum shakes his head and says while drying his tears,

“Aaaiishhh Minnie, what a tall-alien crying baby are you?”

and adds,

“Minnie, I don’t have anymore lullabies to sing for you – enough with crying alright?”

Minho:             (still eyes closed) o-ok

                      Kibum:             (sighs) aaaayoooo finally!! And why eyes closed, don’t you want to look at me – open your
                                              eyes, let me see your alien eyes…

Minho:             (slowly opens and smiles at Kibum’s funny remarks) Bummie, I am hungry… (and pouts)…

Kibum:             (releases his hands on Minho’s face and gets a cookie plus a drink) Here, open your 
                        mouth and hold the cookie and manage yourself, here is the drink too…

Minho:             Thanks…

Kibum waits until he finishes eating and when his confident that the other has calmed down and in his normal state, says

Kibum:             Minnie, let me see… Have I told you that you are one of the most important persons in my 
                        life? Outside my home, you are the first person whom I get so close and so comfortable
                        with and wholeheartedly accepted me for who I am. I just want to assure you of my forever 
                        phrase for you “No Matter What”, ok?

Minho:             (nervously replies) o-ok…

Kibum:             (pokes Minho’s cheek) Now mind telling me what just happened awhile ago? Ooiii! No
                        secrets will you? (whines) Minnie, you are so unfair… Don’t hide anything from me
                        please… now tell me…tell me…tell me….

Minho:             (stutters) hhmmm… I … I … (heads down again) ppheewww… aaahhh… I can’t, I am
                        afraid to tell you… you … you might get mad at me and despise me…

Kibum:             (sighs) Minnie… will you trust me? I won’t ever get mad at you… now, come on… tell 
                        me… if you won’t… well, this might probably the first time I will get mad at you and that is 
                        going to be a severe one – I won’t ever talk to you again, how’s that?

Minho:             (stunned) hhmmm… Bum-mie?

Kibum:             (gently holds Minho’s hand) Yes, Minnie?

Minho:             Bummie… (then pauses) Bummie…

Kibum:             (grips Minho’s hand a bit tight) Yes Minnie, I heard my name thrice…

Minho:             (jolts) yyaaahhh… Bummie…

Kibum:             (chuckles and does not let go of the tight grip but now much tighter) Fourth…

Minho:             (shouts) Okay…Okay…I am gay!!! Yyaahhh… that really hurt, Bummie!

Kibum:             (temporarily shocked but quickly regains composure, loosens the grip and twitches lips)
                        hhhmmm…  Gay… Minnie… this inclination....

Minho:             (sighs) do you really have to emphasize it… yeah… I am Gay – so there I am sharing you
                        my secret… (hides face between his folded legs)…. So are you disgusted?

Kibum:             hhmmm… Shocked – yeah! Disgusted – no… pretty interesting… and may I ask how it
                        came about.  

Minho:             I felt it from the very first time I met him… I knew from the very start that I like him so
                        much… I was never surprised why I like him up to now nor even amazed that I am not into 
                        girls. This person I have been in love with entails everything; as a man who is very strong,
                        firm and powerful and with a woman's sense of gentleness as well as strong too, nurturing,
                        caring, sweet and loveable. I mean I don’t need anyone but only him…

Kibum:             I don’t know what to say – I am pretty amazed myself but I understand… so this person 
                         you like, does he know that you like him?

Minho:             No, he does not I am afraid to tell him for the reason that he might distance himself from
                        me and I can’t afford to lose him. I love him truthfully… sad thing is… (takes a deep breath)
                        it is about Taeminnie…

                     Kibum:             Taemin? What about Taemin?

Minho:             We love the same person?

Kibum:             (voice raises higher) WHHHATT!! Minnie… you are kidding are you not?

Minho:             (whines) Bummie do I look like am joking?

Kibum:             You mean Taeminnie too? You two are…

Minho:             Taemin probably is Bi – he can like both… perhaps me too.. so yeah… I am not sure of
                        what will happen in the future however talking about the present – we are like this…

Kibum:             How about Auntie and Uncle as well as my parents do they know?

Minho:             Yes, we first confess to Mom and then Dad – they are cool about it… so yeah… I am
                        happy that they have accepted our conditions… about Auntie Jessica – she knows too…
                        perhaps Mom has already informed her about us. And Mom and Dad, they know who we
                        like…

Kibum:             Ohhh… that is so cool… I mean… really I am so stunned and amazed…nice… but don’t
                        you like to have family when you grow up… little Minnies… well given another five to ten
                        years for settling down… aaiishh… what am I talking… I am happy for you…

Minho:             (hugs Kibum) If I hug you – will you not feel disgusted now that you know…

Kibum:             Are you crazy? Of course not – nothing changes... aaaii Minnie, what did I tell you “No
                        matter what” isn’t it… and let’s get ready, we need to get back… Taeminnie might be
                        worried right now or so bored alone right now looking for us… and I am so so sleepy…

Minho:             (smiles) okay…

And the two stands up, Minho steps backward which make Kibum wonders... by the by gets suddenly surprised when Minho leaps and lands on his back.

 “Minnie, ggeezz you startled me – what a kid, get off! You are heavy! Kibum whines.

“No, I won’t carry me – I am just so happy now – so very happy…YYEESSS!!,

replies Minho… Kibum shakes his head and smiles at the other’s behavior. The two arrives at the Mansion and heads to their room – Kibum smiles finding that they managed to prepare two additional beds positioned without gaps on both sides of his bed, his eyes lands on  Taemin who is now in a deep sleep, Kibums walks and crawls on the bed towards Taemin and kisses his forehead which makes Minho irks but let it pass. Kibum signals the other to take a shower first while he prepares their night wardrobes.

Kibum as he finishes taking a shower for an hour, comes out of the bathroom gaping when he sees Minho and Taemin sleeping on his bed, shakes his head and says,

“What’s the use of these two additional beds and where on earth… aahhh I will make use of this one bed then”.

After checking the sleeping form of the two and tucking the sides of his bed, he goes on one of the unused beds and lies getting ready to sleep as well. Just as when his body gives him away – he gasps when Taemin snuggles close on his left side and at the same time spread his left arm across his waist. Kibum inserts his left arm hooking Taemin up for a receiving hug and pats his head for comfort then closes his eyes after glancing on Taemin’s condition – breathes in deeply for a ready sleep however tweaks when a huge body carefully lounges on top of him – sighing; even at close eyes he knows who.

Smiling, he raises his head a bit to check on Minho who’s head is on top of his chest and the other’s legs interlocking both of his legs as well thus Kibum murmurs,

“aaaiii (while both of their heads) you two don’t forget me… I will miss you both… I am so sorry that I may not be able to get in touch with either of you for a very long time… I am really so sorry… try to move on even without me by your side…but I will definitely be back to be with you again.” 

After saying these words, Kibum takes a deep breath and closes his eyes… and a couple of minutes – he drifts away…

Page 22 Chapter 24 Ends here................................next page please.................