"Hyung, what am I to you?"

Hyunbin's abrupt question broke the silence in the air. Minhyun didn't even flinch at lack of subtlety from the younger. It's something he learned quickly when they first met, and now, something he's accustomed to. Fox-like eyes remained peeled to the television screen, remote control in one hand as he blinked slowly. The muted conversations on the TV was blocked out by the distraction that is Kwon Hyunbin, who managed to lay his head on his lap with his legs hanging out of the arm-rest thanks to his tall physique. 

"Hyung~! What am I to you?"

The question was repeated with a brighter tone, like an alarm that aim to break him out of his reverie. The singer could feel the gaze from under his chin before he finally tilted downwards, eyes observing the excitable look from the model. There's something about those eyes that reminded Minhyun of a puppy, always eager, always expecting. Fingers toyed with the reddish locks ( it no longer surprises him when Hyunbin returns home with a new vibrant color these days, so much so that he stopped enquiring it ) before he shrugged; Minhyun found himself cracking the slightest hint of a smile as he tilted his head as he watched Hyunbin squint ever so slightly in displeasure, full lips jutting into a full-blown pout.

It's adorable, the elder thought, even if the only indication of that was a wider tug of his lips and a softer gaze. The raven hummed lightly as Hyunbin waited, shifting to find a more comfortable position. Minhyun pulled away in attempt to read the news flashing by on television, but his mind was occupied, fingers busy soothing out the ends of Hyunbin's red locks. The younger found his eyes fluttering to a close in his comfort zone before he startled to keep them wide open, but before he could go at it again, whine lingering on the tip of his tongue because Minhyun was good at it - at fleeting around his questions and letting them fade away like the passing wind - the raven spoke up.

"소나기."

Three letters, one word. The model blinked, and Minhyun found himself holding back a quiet chuckle, eyes curling into cresents at the other's confusion.

"...Rain shower? Really? Ah, hyung! Why?! Not the sun, not a star, but a downpour? Waah, why?!"

Minhyun listened to the outburst without batting an eye, amusement crinkling in his own orbs as Hyunbin got more dramatic with each line. The younger struggled to get up, head raising from his lap, and Minhyun just pressed his palm right smack into the middle of his forehead to push him back into the original position. Hyunbin gave a look of disbelief, like a boy refused from his toy because it was the answer he's not expecting. 

"Why though? Ah, hyung! At least explain....ack-"

He can't help but pinch his cheeks and Hyunbin stilled, a firm pout forming. 

Enough teasing. Minhyun squeezed his shoulders before reaching down to hold his hands; he didn't have to look to know that Hyunbin's doing it again, cropped nails scratching at the area around his nails, a bad habit the model had as a distraction mechanic, and a stress indicator. At work, he's a talented, rising model with tons of followers, someoen with cameras following his move in public and on the runway. But here, at home...he's none of that.

Here, he's just Kwon Hyunbin.

A boy who seeked validation even through the silliest questions. A boy who has a soft, sensitive side not captured on the lens, a boy who was worried about other people's expectations.

The raven tugged at his hand to inspect the damage briefly, flats of his thumb running along the edges of the nail before he flipped it, turning Hyunbin's palm towards him. He made no mention of the peeling skin and the red rawness, but his movements were gentle, affectionate. 

"Just because," Minhyun spoke up again as he flatten the curled fingers like a piece of paper, and with his finger as a pen he wrote the invisible words on Hyunbin's palm, spelling his thoughts out as he whispered the three letter slowly, softly. 

"소." 중한  
"나." 의     
"기." 억     

A treasured piece of my memory.