Somehow, Minseok found himself sitting in the living room of Jongdae's apartment with a mutual circle of friends, empty bottles strewed about them.

It seemed like only ten minutes had passed since he left campus with his fellow Korean classmate in the predominantly Chinese school. What started off as an invitation to hang out turned into a game of beer pong and  somewhere in the timeline, the ends of a bottle on the floor pointed to him and Tao.

"DARE, DARE, DARE."

Luhan started to chant, and slowly Yixing and Jongdae joined in too, thumping their palms and fists against the floor, getting louder and louder.

Minseok could only shake his head as he got jostled by Luhan and Yixing.

“Truth.” Minseok flashed an easy smile and Luhan shoved his shoulder.

“Awww, cop out!” Luhan complained, leaning toward Jongdae while the younger man booed loudly.

“Okay, okay, settle down.” Yifan waved a hand around and Minseok simply opened his mouth wide and laughed at everyone.

The group looked toward Tao with anticipation, wondering what secrets the youngest could get out from the eldest.

The first time he had ? Embarrassing moments of his prepubescent life? Any shady dealings he may have been a part of?

Minseok braced himself for the worst when Tao finally muttered something out, but tucked his chin into his chest.

“…me?”

Minseok blinked blankly a couple of times at him, tilting his head with an unsure smile. When he saw that everyone was looking at him, Minseok blinked a bit faster.

“Oh, um…Sorry, could you say that again?”

Tao shifted in his seat a bit, but didn’t look up.

“W-Will you go out with me?” Tao said a bit louder, fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt.

Minseok rubbed his chin awkwardly at the unexpected question.

“Hypothetically or like…?”

Tao didn’t say anything, nor did he look up.

Minseok kept his gaze on the 19-year-old, who he’s always just associated as Jongdae’s roommate. The young man wasn't the type to joke around, which made Minseok even more curious about his intentions.

The two of them had never actually sat down and had a real conversation before.

He's known Tao for almost two years now, but he didn't even know what foods he liked, or what color he found pleasing to the eye. In fact, Minseok wasn't sure what the younger man even studied. He's never heard the guy laugh or get into a passionate rant, yet...here he was now.

The nervousness, the shifting of his weight, the rapid blinking of downcast eyes, the gnawing of his bottom lip.

Minseok felt like he was actually noticing Tao for the first time, as if he had only really known of the younger man up until this moment.

The more Tao fidgeted, the more Minseok wanted to reach across the room and assure him that everything was going to be okay. He wanted to grab his hand and compliment him for being gutsy to even blurt out a question like that. He wanted to ask him when and how and what he even saw in him.

But most of all, Minseok wanted to get the chance to know him. And even if this was going a bit too uncomfortably fast for him, to with it.

A small date wouldn't hurt.

Minseok tilted his head down a bit, trying to get a good look at Tao, but the latter still didn't budge.

"I...would like that very much." Minseok said, softly, eyes still trying to reach the other's.

And as Tao finally raised his head, face beaming, Minseok wondered how he could ever miss the shine in those bright eyes, and smiled back.

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"I told you it'd work." Luhan piped up, turning his head toward Jongdae.