“We’re out of milk,” Onew said. “Minho and Key, you two run down to the store and buy some more groceries.”

“Why me?” Key whined. “I don’t want to go with Minho.”

“I said I was sorry Key, I really am. I didn’t mean to get so angry and to take a swing. I really do regret what I did, I’m really, really sorry.”

“Forgive him, hyung,” Taemin interrupted from the couch where he was holding a pack of frozen peas to his cheek which looked like it had swollen to twice the size, and had gone purple. “I’m the one who got hurt and I forgave him. You should too, he didn’t even do anything to you.”

Key reluctantly accepted the point that Minho hadn’t wronged Key. Minho this morning had been remorseful and obviously plagued with guilt, apologizing repeatedly to everyone and even bowing sorrowfully to a bemused Taemin.

“Why do we have to go, can’t I go with Jonghyun hyung?” asked Key snottily.

“Because you two need to talk it out,” Onew said. “Since you won’t do it yourselves, I’m forcing you to. Here’s some money. Have fun!”

“I don’t want to…” complained Key as Onew pushed them out the door.

“Have fun!” Onew repeated loudly, purposely ignoring Key.

They walked together in a tense silence.

‘Kibum, I really am sorry. You are the last person I wanted to offend. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but please know that I respect you so much and that will never change. I apologise again for my behaviour, I was so immature-“

‘Yah, just stop already with the formal talk. You’re really weird Minho. “

“I mean it though Kibum, I like you so much, I hope this doesn’t get in the way of our friendship.” Minho said as they neared the shop.

“What are you doing, confessing? I bet you’re going to say something cliché like you can’t live without my love or something.”

“I do love you Kibum ,” Minho said seriously as they walked into the convenience store, the bell dinging at their arrival. Key picked up a supermarket bucket as they walked past the vegetables to the freezer section.

“Stop Minho! You have no idea what you are saying.” Key cried, covering his ears. “I don’t want to hear this. This is so wrong. Shut up now!”

“But-“

“No! I don’t want to know!”

“Why are you so worked up about? I’ll do anything you want me to if it makes you feel better. I love you and would do anything for you, like a brother.”

“Oh, brotherly love. I guessed I should be relieved.”

“What, is there another sort of love I should be showing?”

“Minho, please don’t tell me you are that innocent.” Key rolled his eyes, opening the freezer to get a carton of milk.

“Innocent? What do you mean?”

“When you said that you loved me, you could’ve meant romantically.”

“Ew! Between boys? That’s just sick!”

“What, are you homophobic?” Key asked, bristling.

“Not really. It’s not like they can hear me or anything. I just think it’s funny.”

“You think I’m funny?”

“What do you mean?”

“You do know I’m gay, right?” Key asked.

Minho cocked his head, looking confusedly at Key.

“I don’t understand what  you are saying.. is that a joke?”

“No, I’m gay,” Key stated again.
“Mmm, you are pretty weird sometimes, but I wouldn’t say you were gay,” Minho said, trying to make sense of the word.

“No, I’m not stupid gay, I’m homoual gay.”

“Stop being a . It isn’t funny.”

“It is funny, because I happen to like . “

“You’re not serious.”

“I am perfectly serious. I like boys Minho, and have liked them my whole life, and always will. I’m not attracted to girls at all.”

Key walked away to the cashiers, Minho trailing behind dumbfounded. He couldn’t believe his ears. He stood there speechless as he watched Key interact normally with the cashier and pay, taking the bag with the carton of milk casually as he walked away. Minho followed. Key wasn’t serious, was he? He had to be joking around…he had known Key for so long,  he couldn’t actually be gay.

“Kibum, are you joking with me? Are you actually gay?” Minho asked again.

“I’m not Minho-ah. I really am serious. I like boys.”

“How can you say this so easily? You have to be kidding.”

“Minho, I should be the one asking whether you’re joking about not knowing! Surely you suspected. I’m always the one in pink, I wear makeup and nail polish, I accessorise, I squeal, scream  and love to about people, my jeans are always a tad too skinny, I’m in a musical, I draw and dance and sing to girl bands, Minho, open your eyes, I’m the epitome of the stereotype for gay men!”

Minho kept his mouth open, trying to take it all in.

“I thought you were just building up your image...” Minho said.

Key gave him a look. “Why would I build an image for myself that is so obviously gay if I was straight? Isn’t the last thing a straight guy wants to be mistaken for is a gay one?”

“Are you..sure you like boys?” Minho asked weakly.

“I’m sure. “

“When did you.. become…gay?

“I didn’t become it… it was just always there. You never ‘became’ straight, did you? You didn’t decide one day to be attracted to girls. It was just there. Like how it’s just there, for me. It’s a part of me and who I am.”

“Do your parents know?”

“Haha, only you know.”

“You haven’t told anyone? Why did you tell me first?”

“It just seemed right.. the conversation was heading that way and you had to know eventually. And I have told some people.. .like my boyfriends.”

“You’ve had boyfriends? How come I didn’t know about this?”

“You never asked.”

“How did you see them?”

“My parent’s are all good with me staying over at my friend’s houses. I mean, as long as it’s not a girl right? They probably thought I was playing Playstation all night back at Daegu,” Key laughed. “My poor parents.”

“Do you have a boyfriend now?” Minho asked, processing all the new information.

“I do,” said Key warmly, suddenly smiling brightly. “He’s a real cutiepie.”

“How come I don’t know about this?”

“Do you want to know about it? asked Key. “I mean, if you really want to know, all you need to do is pay attention…”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing...”

“Who is he?”

“I can’t tell you, I don’t think he or you could handle it,” Key replied. “I really don’t think he wants to be known.”

“What’s he like?”

“He’s cuuuutteee.. even you would think he’s cute.  In a squeeze his cheeks he’s so adorable way, and in an oh my God I want to tap that now way.  He’s sort of shy, but that’s even sweeter because I know that it must be hard for him to open up, and the fact that he tries to make me feel loved makes me feel so freaking special.

‘He’s got such a sweet smile, like he’s so innocent and nice, there’s not a mean bone in his body.  He can be a bit clueless, but he lets me take care of him and although he acts lost, he notices things about me when I didn’t know he was paying attention. He understands me so well and we are on the same wave length.  When you get to know him he’s really playful and energetic and sweet and funny… no one can take their eyes off him, seriously, he’s beautiful. The most beautiful person I’ve ever met inside and out, I can’t believe I have him.”

Key was silent for a moment. “He’s pretty perfect.”

Minho absorbed the description. “He sounds nice.”

“Sorry for rambling on,” Key said. “But I could go on forever about him. You would like him.”

“Do you… love him?” asked Minho.

“I do,” Key said wearily. “But he doesn’t even know…”

“Tell him!” urged Minho. “It would make him happy.”

“I have. He doesn’t believe me.”

“This might be random, but when did you know you loved him?”

Key chuckled. “I think it was when I realised that nothing he could do would make me disgusted or make me run. Even things that annoy me about him I still love. Seriously, he could cry on me, vomit on me and I would still love him. He can touch my stuff and I still love him.”

“Whoa, he can touch your stuff! And you don’t get angry?”

“Okay, a little bit,” Key contested.

They entered their apartment complex.

“Will I ever get to meet him?”

“Sure,” Key said. “One day.”

They walked into their elevator.

“Are you going to tell the rest of the guys?”

“Not yet,” Key replied. “Don’t tell anyone. Me and my boyfriend aren’t ready for that yet.”

The elevator doors opened at their apartment.

“Taemin!!” squealed Key loudly, running out of the lift, leaving Minho quietly observing. “Did you miss me?”

Minho watched as Key bounded over to Taemin who was sprawled out on the couch, pouting lethargically into a cushion. Minho felt the familiar stab of guilt as Taemin’s bruised face was in plain view.

He curiously saw the way Key ran his fingers through Taemin’s hair and how Taemin responded by exaggerating his pout until Key laughed before breaking out into a sleepy grin himself. Key knelt and whispered something to Taemin and Taemin closed his eyes and nodded, their foreheads touching.

That’s sweet, Minho thought. But Taemin doesn’t know Key is gay!

Minho remembered the milk he was holding and quickly headed to the refrigerator. Unbeknownst to him, Key and Taemin had been watching his every move, and when Minho’s back was turned, they swiftly leaned in and shared the sweet kiss they had both been waiting for.

Finally! I'm so sorry, I've been so busy doing assignments for university and juggling partying and hanging out with my friends that I didn't have time to finish this chapter! I will try to update more, but it's nearly exams and I have to study :'( if i dont get a B average by the end of the year I lose my scholarship :'( And I will go to university for free, goddammit!! Haha :D

But there is not enough Keytae in the world, and I will try to increase that! Tell me what you thought of this chapter! :D