Jinki loves playing pranks on Taemin. 

 

Especially those that targets his weak spots - like bugs, and bitter stuffs and his tickle zones. He used to put fake cockroaches by his pillow right before his boyfriend wakes up. He'd also made Taemin close his eyes, thinking he'll get a sweet reward for washing the dishes, but ended up kissing a wet icky frog. 

 

Jinki once even tricked the maknae into drinking a cup of bitter tea on account that it had healthy herbal effects. It was really just a cup of plain sugarless tea. 

 

The small cases were usually pokes on his sides, light scratches behind his neck and tickles under his armpits. 

 

Yet Taemin could never be mad at his playful cheeky boyfriend, since the older would always make up for everything with hot kisses and warm hugs. There was more to their relationship than childish mindless pranks, but it was nonetheless part of their daily lifestyle and Taemin wouldn't change his decision to be with and stay with his dorky Lee Jinki. 

 

Jinki's pranks were never grand or thought through. He only wanted to annoy Taemin, maybe get his attention like a whiny brat (talk about age reversal), and he makes sure he gives all or nothing for his antics. 

 

This time though, he snickered at what might be his most epic and wicked plan hatched. He was dying to see the reaction from the younger and how he would strangle him for it. His prank this time involved Taemin's most precious thing: his hair. 

 

He had been growing it out for the past year, said it was for a momento, to remember something he never told Jinki about. He refused to, in fact. The older man would never admit it, but deep down it was itching him like hell to find out what the long hair was about. Ever since he noticed the lengthened hair, and ever since Taemin had kicked up a ruckus about not telling him (even to the extend of getting angry and cold wars, telling him outright to go himself), Jinki had been trying to wrap his head around the reason why his boyfriend wanted to keep it long.

 

So one afternoon, while his precious baby was taking a little nap in their room, he quietly tiptoed in with a scissors in hand and knelt at the side of their bed. Taemin was snoozing so soundly that he almost changed his mind. Almost. 

 

 

As if the same image was imprinted in his dream, Taemin jolted up at the wretched clipping sounds. His eyes widened as he sprung upright and felt through the ends of his now short hair. 

 

When the realization hit him that his long kept hair was gone, his temper shot along with Jinki's maniacal laughter. He instantly pushed his lover away, now tears started to pool in his puffy eyes, "What. The. ing. Hell. Jinki! Don't you think you've gone too ing overboard this time?" 

 

As usual, Jinki shifted forward to wrap his crying aegi in his arms, letting him know he was "sorry" for his games and that the anger should subside right about now. This time though, Taemin punched him in his stomach causing the elder to bend over with rough coughs. 

 

"I ing hate you!!" 

 

Jinki didn't even have time to recover and Taemin had already left the apartment without forgetting to slam the door. It didn't even register that he was in deep until late into the night when the younger hasn't shown up. Jinki first started to panic when his incessant calls and multiple texts wasn't getting responses. Taemin had never flipped out like this before and he didn't know what to do; he was always quick to give in to his smooches and sweet talk. But now he didn't even have the chance to redeem himself. 

 

It was fifteen past one in the morning when Jinki, still awake and terrified, jumped from the sudden ring of his phone. It was Kibum, Taem's bestie (as they call each other), yelling at Jinki for doing what he did and calling him names synonym to being a .  

 

After he was done, he demanded for Jinki to drive to his house and pick his upset Taemin back. 

 

When he finally saw him since he ran out, Jinki's heart broke at the red swollen eyes and sticky cheeks he saw on his boyfriend. He immediately reached out for him and brought him into his snug embrace. The elder repeated his apologies for being so mean and begged for his prince's forgiveness. 

 

"Baby, I'm sorry. Honestly." He his fingers through the soft strands of Taemin's now short hair, not familiar with feeling his neck at the ends, "I wouldn't have imagined you would be so disturbed when I cut your hair." To him, Taemin could just grow it out again if he wanted. 

 

They were back on their cosy bed, nestled close to each other. Taemin, however, hasn't spoken a word to Jinki. Occasional sniffs was still heard from the former and the latter would continue his comforting profusely. 

 

"Baby, talk to me. Don't be angry with me anymore. I've learnt my lesson, I swear."

 

"I am so ugly now." Taemin started, "You ." 

 

Jinki only enveloped him further, squeezing him tighter as if to say: it doesn't change my love for you.

 

"You," Taemin began again, "you have to take responsibility." 

 

Before the other could ask how, he was answered with, "You have to marry me now."

 

For a moment there, Jinki's entire life seemed to flash past his eyes. In that split second, he wondered if he was dead or alive. 

 

"W-what...?"

 

"You stupid," He uncurled himself from Jinki and stared straight in his eyes, "I said, you cut my hair and made me ugly, now you have the obligation to marry me, love me and care for me until I die!" 

 

"M-my honor!!!!!!!!!!!!" Jinki cried out in surprise, as if he was the bride being proposed to, "I'll marry you! You'll be my mister Lee, my type of Lee, Taemin!" He was beaming as he said that, tugging at the younger's arms excitedly. 

 

***

 

It was late noon when they both woke up again, tangled in each other's arms. They both broke into shining grins and Jinki couldn't help smothering kisses on his soon-to-be-husband's face. 

 

"Now I'm kind of glad I cut your hair."

 

"You want to know why I grew it out?"

 

"You said it was a momento; then you'd go and get angry with me for not knowing what is it. Of course I'd be dying to know!"

 

Taemin smacked Jinki's chest teasingly, "Pabo. I decided to grow it out the day we started dating." He blushed at his confession, "I figured I wanted to look more feminine for you, so you could bring me out on the streets and we could even hold hands out in public. It really was all I wished with my heart; to go out decently and graciously, not discreetly and hiding away from stares." 

 

The older man had to suppress his smile and regulate his happiness meter for he was seriously bubbling with bliss. He was so stoked his heart was thumping at its maximum. 

 

"You're the pabo one. I really don't give a heck what other people think. I love you as you are, and I love you as a man." Jinki sighed at his gallant words, "I'm apologetic for that immature prank anyway, and for hurting you. I'll take responsibility by marrying you, I swear across my heart."

 

 

 

"Damn you, Lee Jinki."

 

"I love you too, Lee, my type of Lee, Taemin."