Another suit, another restaurant, another evening, another date.

                Minho was getting sick of this.

                He was sick of this and sick of not telling Taemin.

                He was sick of Taemin not asking because he just wanted to spill the beans, but Taemin was being so considerate.

                Tonight would be the last time.

                If his parents were willing to put the fate of their careers on him, then they were willing to lose them, and that’s exactly what was going to happen. He was done with their forceful ways and ideology. He was done with them.

                “What are you doing?” He asked, walking in on Taemin who watched television without a care in the word.

                “Just catching up on a show.” The blonde answered, flashing his lovely smile.

                “Any plans for today?”

                “Since Jongin went to visit his parents this weekend, Heechul said he’d come over to pick me up and bring me to his place, take care of me and stuff.” He managed only seconds before having a kiss stolen from his

                “Heechul, huh? You’ve been hanging around him a lot lately.”

                “Yeah, I guess. Well then it’s probably a good thing that all of my friends are yours, that way you always know who I’m hanging around.”

                “Don’t let Heechul spoil you too much,” Minho nodded, planting another kiss on the boy’s forehead, “That’s my job.”

                “I know, I know. Don’t worry about it, the position is taken and will be forever.”

                Chuckling, Minho dropped down beside him, deciding he could spare a few minutes before having to complete his look and leave for the dreaded date. “I promise that after I deal with this issue, my attention will be yours every second of every day. Just give me tonight and I promise this will all be over with.”

                “Just take your time. I trust you, okay?”

                “I’m so glad I married you.” He smiled, cuddling up against the younger boy’s side.

                “I hope you are. When are you going to come home?”

                “Probably around one, but I can’t be positive with how things are going to go tonight, especially because I’m planning on wrapping this up. It shouldn’t be later than that.”

                “Then I’ll come home around then too.” Pulling a mug into his lap, he offered Minho some of his tea, watching half of it empty into the elder’s mouth.

                “Are you sure you should be out that late with someone like Heechul? He’s a bad kid, you know. Bad influence. He’ll make you into a gangster.”

                Taemin laughed, shaking his head as he pinched Minho’s side playfully. “I don’t think he’ll make me into a gangster. Then again, you never know, I might be selling drugs by the end of tonight.”

                “As long as you bring some home for me.”

                The blonde couldn’t help but to giggle, brushing his hair out of the way. “You’re so dumb.” He nudged the boy’s shoulder, their attention stolen by a knock on the door. Springing to his feet, Taemin ran towards the entrance, unlocking the door without hesitation. “Hi, hyung!”

                “Hey, Tae.” Heechul snorted once faced with the cheerful boy, messing up his gold locks, “Are you ready to go or should I wait for a little?”

                “Let’s wait a bit. I was hoping you wouldn’t come until a bit later, like when Minho leaves. Look, come on, you can sit with us in the living room for a bit.” He decided, leading the elder back to where his husband sat comfortably on the couch.

                “Hey Minho.”

                “Hey.”

                “Hope you don’t mind me stealing your ‘Kitten’ for a bit today.” Heechul mentioned, sitting down with the pair.

                “I do, actually. I was just telling him how bad of an influence you are and he agrees that you’re going to be the reason he turns into a drug dealer by midnight.”

                “Like Cinderella?” Heechul laughed.

                “Well I kind of am I princess, you know.” Taemin chipped in.

                “Trust me, after seeing you with long hair, dressed in y lingerie and a pair of black stilettos, I would definitely believe it.”

                “Heechul…” He pouted, blushing.

                “What? You put it out there. You know how many people have seen you like that?”

                “Yeah, but I actually know you!”

                “Oh boohoo.” Heechul teased, “So when are you going Minho? And what are you doing anyways? You don’t usually leave your Kitten behind.” The atmosphere seemed to turn awkward in an instant and Heechul knew how to take a hint, he knew when to drop a topic. “Forget it. Hey, I actually need to get my hair cut today because it’s getting pretty long and unruly. I hope you don’t mind accompanying me on my adventure to the hair salon, Tae.”

                “I don’t mind. Did you make an appointment or is it a drop in?”

                “A drop in. My friend owns the salon so I don’t have to make appointments. That’s what connections can get you.” He laughed, “Oh, but they close in about an hour and a half, that’s why I came by now. I thought I could pick you up and we could go straight there.”

                “O-oh,” Taemin stuttered, “So should we go now?”

                “Well that would give up the most time.”

                “But I’m still going to be here for another hour.” Minho whined, wrapping his arms around the blonde in an attempt to keep him situated.

                “But if he has to go…” Taemin tried coming to a decision, a little torn between the two boys. “It’s okay, you’ll be home later tonight, right? It’s not like we won’t see each other for a few days, or weeks, or months, or something. We’ll see each other in a bit. You’ll be fine.” Kissing Minho on the forehead, he patted the elder’s shoulder, already halfway between the living room and the staircase. “I’ll be right back hyung, I’m just going to go change really quickly and get some stuff. Please make yourself comfortable until then!”

                With that, he was gone.

                Now it was just the two older boys on the couch, watching as random images they didn’t care about flashed before them on a large screen. It was quite but Heechul had a few words on his mind that were about to change that, or at least he hoped so.

                “Hey Minho.”   

                “What is it?”

                “Where are you going? Honestly.”

                “Why?”

                “You know, I like to think I’m your best friend and that you’d tell me if you ever had a problem, especially since you can’t seem to tell your husband, so I’m going to assume he has something to do with it.”

                The younger boy sighed, shaking his head. “Look, I didn’t bring it up with anyone because I’m on top of it. If you really must know though, my parents are trying to make me marry this girl who’s like… their boss’s daughter or something, and they’re saying that their careers are in my hands but… you know what, I’m going to handle it tonight. This is our third time meeting and it’s going to be our last. I’m calling their bluff. They’re not stupid enough to put their life’s work in my hands, they have to be lying. There’s absolutely no way they would do something as irresponsible as that so when I see her tonight, I’m going to make sure she understands I’m never seeing her again.”

                Heechul snorted, shaking his head. “Your parents really are obsessive perfectionists. They want the first class life and nothing else. Why haven’t you just told her you’re gay and married? Is your heart to soft, sweet prince?”

                “I told her! When I first met her, my parents stole my wedding ring and told her I like to ‘pretend that I’m married’! Then the next time when I showed her the ring, told he I was gay and everything, she still thought it was some sort of game! I showed her a picture of me and Taemin and she got seriously upset and basically said she had control over whether my parents continue their careers or not! She’s crazy! Anyways, I don’t care anymore. Whatever. If they wanted to keep their careers so badly, they shouldn’t have gone to the son they disowned and left for dead.”

                “Damn, you seem pissed.”

                “Wouldn’t you be?”

                “Yeah. If Taemin wore my ring and crawled into my bed every night, I’d be pissed to have to settle for someone else too. You know, if most people could choose to be with one person or as many people as they wanted, I think they’d pick the latter, but when it comes to Taemin, once you have him, you don’t want anyone else. With a like that, everyone else is just a huge disappointment.”

                “Don’t look at my husband’s .” Minho pouted, crossing his arms.

                “Everyone looks at his .” Heechul laughed.

                “So don’t add to that number. Besides, I think his lips are the best. Don’t get me wrong, his is amazing, but his lips are really made in heaven. Seriously.”

                “You’re speaking from the perspective of someone who has kissed him. I’m talking from the perspective of the people who look but don’t touch.”

                “You touched.”

                “Only a little.”

                “’Only a little’ my . You were planning on sleeping him when you two met. He was only sixteen too. You really have no shame.”

               “Hey, you’re lying if you say you didn’t want to sleep with him either.” Heechul shot back in a lightly defensive tone.

                “Yeah, like months into our monogamous relationship.”

                “You’re a liar.”

                “You were twenty six and he was sixteen, you’re a ert.”

                “I’m young everywhere except for my birth certificate! Don’t even try to lie and tell me a look a day over twenty!”

                Their conversation came to an end when they heard footsteps on the stairs, down the hall, and soon, into the room.

                “I’m ready Heechul!” A blonde cheerfully smiled, twirling around to make his knee length coat float in circles on the air.

                “There’s my princess.” Heechul laughed, jumping to his feet. His hands prepared to catch the boy that was already midair, spinning around with the blonde in his arms. “Shall we go?”

                “We shall!” Taemin smiled so brightly it blinded the others a bit. “Minho, good luck, okay? I’ll see you later!”

                Running over to plant a final kiss, the pair left.

                Minho was in the car, reversing, regretting being where he was and wishing he could be with Taemin instead.  

                Trying to be as polite and well-mannered as possible throughout the whole exchange between him and Yujin, he was still just as dressed up as before. That wasn’t important though.

                Shoving his keys down into his pockets, car now parked in the parking lot, he stepped into the warm restaurant, mentioning his reservations and being led away to his seat right away.

                She was there. Of course she was. Classy as ever, but from what he had quickly found out, her beauty didn’t extend past her skin.

                She smiled at him and he smiled back.

                Sitting down, he gave a quick order for the cheapest wine and waited for the waitress to leave to make his intentions clear.

                “Look,” He began, “I just want to say this right now, I will join you for tonight, but this will be the last night. I won’t meet with you ever again after this and I hope you find someone else because as a gay, married man, I cannot see you romantically whatsoever. I’m sure that many other men can and would die for your hand in marriage, so I wish you luck. Tonight’s dinner will be a platonic goodbye.”

                “Well, you know, with your parents’ careers and all, a single bad word from me could-”

                “I don’t care about that anymore.” He interrupted her, “Their careers are their responsibility, not mine. I will not let them force the future of their jobs onto me to pressure me into getting what they want. They should have known that I am happily married to my husband and that forcing a woman into my life wouldn’t work however they chose to anyways and that is all on them. Naturally, I hope you don’t become the reason they lose their jobs, but that was their decision from the start, not mine.”

                She looked upset but not deterred, and for some reason, that bothered Minho. He felt like she had something left up her sleeve and that made him uncomfortable because he had every intention of this being their final meeting. She seemed to think otherwise.

                “What does your boyfriend do?” Yujin asked, taking sudden interest in Taemin.

                “Husband.” Minho corrected her, “He’s a fulltime student.”

                “So he doesn’t work?”

                “He works on occasion.”

                “So he’s lazy?”

                “He’s busy. If he’s free and someone happens to ask need him, he takes the job.”

                “Okay, so what does he do then?”

                “He’s a model.”

                “Ah, so it’s all about the face for you then.” She sighed, disinterest plaguing her face.

                “He started modelling well after we began dating.”

                “Okay, well whatever. Do you have any pictures of him modelling?”

                “Yeah.”

                “Well show them to me.”

                Clearing his throat, he was a bit upset with her change in tone, but this was a chance to flaunt his beautifully gorgeous husband, no naturally, he’d take her up on the opportunity. Finding the professionally taken pictures, he grouped them in a folder, ready to shock her, ready to show her how much prettier he is than her. “Here are a few.” He began, handing the phone over to her, “Just swipe left.”

                She tried to mask it really hard, she did, but Minho caught it. He saw the eyebrow twitch, he saw the jealousy, he saw the loathing. She was so mad it hurt.

                “He also did a photoshoot as a girl for a huge company. Here, look.” He leaned over, opening one of the pictures of his lovely Kitten in lingerie.

                “I’ve seen this before…”

                “Everyone in Korea has probably seen it.”

                “Is he one of those boys that dress like girls? Is that why you like him?”

                “No. It just so happened that he was prettier than any other girl I could think of, so I decided to use him.”

                “Uhu… There sure is a lot of Photoshop.”

                “Trust me, it’s extremely minimal.”

                “Well whatever. You’ve got me in a bad mood. Has anyone ever told you how bad of a date you are?”

                “My husband has never had any complaints.” He smirked. Under any other circumstances, she probably would have as well.

                “Well whatever, stop talking about him and let’s eat a proper dinner, after all, apparently it’s our last one.”

                “Yes.” He smiled.

                After that point, Minho no longer treated her as a potential, albeit forced, marriage partner. Because of this, he was a lot more comfortable having a proper conversation.  She seemed to have a change of heart as well.

                She was even laughing.

                Dinner came along with their wine. They enjoyed it, talking about what they were planning to do in the future, or even sooner, now that their arrangement was called off, right after tonight.

                “You’ll go back to your husband, I’ll go back to being alone…” She snorted, already on her fourth glass of wine.

                “You know, one day you’re going to find someone and, whether they’re going to be chosen through your parents or not, you’re going to be really happy you didn’t end up with someone like me. They’re going to be way less of a waste of time than I am.”

                “But oppa, you’re so handsome, smart… talented. What more is there to want in a man than something like you?”

                They talked until the time on Minho’s watch showed midnight.

                “I should really get going home.” He decided, watching as the waiter took away their fourth bottle of wine, leaving the credit card terminal with them. It then struck him that from all four bottles, he only had two glasses.

                “Of course, of course, we should go! I don’t want to be a bad girl!” She giggled, standing up. The wobbling in her ankles only confirmed his suspicions.

                “Hold on, you’re drunk. Is one of your drivers taking you home?”

                “No…” She smiled drunkenly, “No, I’m a big girl oppa. I’m two hundred percent independent within the city perimeters! They only come on when I call!”

                “Then you’ll have to call tonight, Yujin. You can’t drive.”

                “I’ll drive, I’ll drive!” She insisted, tapping her card down, paying for the entire dinner which probably cost her triple digits.

                “What, no- come on, I’m the gentleman here, I’m supposed to pay.”

              “No can do, you’re no gentleman! You won’t even treat me like a proper lady and keep talking about your husband! I had a good time, but I’m leaving!”

                Minho couldn’t let her do that. Letting her drive home would not only put her life in extreme danger, but anyone else that’s driving on the road with her. Before any thought could properly process in his brain, he lips took control, sputtering a, “Then please let me drive you home.”

                Upon hearing that, she spun around, hair flip complimenting her small face and tiny frame. “I’m guessing you won’t let me go home on my own no matter what I do, huh? Fine! Then in return for me paying for dinner, you can drive me home. Oppa, you’re so cruel, you know? Anyways, let’s go! I’m getting sleepy!”

                With that, she wobbled out of the restaurant, Minho following, hoping she wouldn’t do anything crazy between the doors and the car while in such an intoxicated state.

                Now in a car that was probably way below Yujin’s standards, they pulled out of the parking lot.

                “So where do you live?”

                “I won’t tell you!” She laughed.

                “What do you mean? I need to know where to take you.”           

                “Who cares, Oppa? Drop me off at some random hotel.”

                “I can’t do that!” He firmly repeated, slightly agitated.

                “Well my lips… are sealed!”

                “Are you kidding me?!”

                “Nope!”

                Minho decided to wait it out. He could wait it out. Maybe if he got close to her place, she would show him, maybe it just took some time. With that idea in mind, he drove in circles around the downtown core.

                Then finally, after thirty minutes, she spoke up and God was he relieved.

                “You know…”

                “Yeah?”

                “I seriously won’t tell you…” She giggled, “Ah, all this driving is making me dizzy and nauseous. Oppa, please just drop me off wherever.”

                “Then I have no choice.”

                “What are you talking about?” She whined.

                “I’m taking you to my place. If you don’t want to take a taxi from there, you can stay the night there and leave in the morning once you’ve sobered up. Got it?” He couldn’t believe he was doing this but at this rate, he would never get home and neither would she. It would ruin his evening with Taemin for sure, but the thought of never having to see her again made it well worth it.

                Turning onto the nearest highway, he drove home.

                It was 12:43 when they walked through the threshold. He turned all the lights on, gesturing towards the row of hooks. “Put your coat there.”

                “Can I wash up? I sweat a bunch during the ride.”

                “Sure, the guest bathroom is right through that door.”

                “I want to wash my whole body, not just my face, you know? I won’t use your shower, but I’d at least like to use the sink or some wipes.” She explained.

                “And? Go ahead.”

                “Can I have a robe?”

                He sighed. She was such a chore. “There’s on in the closet right by the sink.”

                “Alright, then I won’t take too long.”

                Stepping inside the bathroom, Minho was now left alone, finding his feet dragging him into the living room. Turning on the television, he collapsed against the couch. Before he knew it, he fell asleep. It couldn’t have been for long, because when he woke up, the commercial break on the screen came to an end and the same show continued.

                A light flickered down the hall and a figure approached. There she was, hair down and a sole robe dressing her. She walked over to him, standing between him and the screen.

                “Are you feeling better?” He asked.

                Then, in a tone that was anything but expected, she smirked, “I was never sick to begin with.”

                “What?”

                Within the blink of an eye, her robe dropped, revealing tight, flattering lingerie. Within a gasp, she crawled on top of him, using her limited weight to hold him down.

                “What are you doing!? Get off!”

                “A body like mine is definitely more suitable for you than a boney boy’s.”

                “What are you doing?!”

                “Wouldn’t you be happy to have a child of your own? Our genes would combine nicely, don’t you think?”

                They yelled back and forth, Minho trying to get her off. That was probably why he didn’t register the door opening of the footsteps that came running in the living room’s direction. That’s also why he didn’t register the footsteps running back out and only managed to make sense of the door that slammed.

                “Taemin- Yujin, get off of me! Get off!”

                “Heechul?”

                “Yeah? Is everything alright?”

                “Can you come pick me up again, please?”          

                “Wh-”  

                “Please!”

                “… Alright. Wait in the lobby and give me a minute.”

                “I’ll wait across the street… Do you mind if I stay the night?”

                “Of course not. Stay safe, okay?”

                “Alright, thank you.”