Moving homes wasn’t a short term project and all of them knew that. Although they were all now fond of the idea, they had to bring it up with their parents.

                Minho called first, pitching their plan to his parents. In the beginning, they were a bit apprehensive, taking a few days over a week to call back and say that as long as it didn’t interfere with his studies and savings too much, they were okay with it.

                Taemin and Jongin called next, getting all their parents together in one call as they explained that they wanted to move out into a larger apartment that could accommodate them better because their current place was growing more packed each day.

                Both pairs seemed delighted as long as the boys stayed together, Taemin’s parents already agreeing to pay a good portion of the rent without being asked.

                Obtaining approval, the tree spent the next few days scavenging the area for available locations.

                They gave up their time after school and on weekends to find the perfect place, the blonde deciding that he would not settle for anything less. If they were going to do this then they were going to do this right.

                Jongin would even join Taemin on his late night internet searches, comfortable on the bed with a blinding screen in front of them.

                Through the whole planning process, they ended up getting so much closer, feeling as if the term ‘best’ really did fit with the word ‘friend’ now, because no one seemed to have a stronger friendship than them.

                These strong bonds Taemin had helped him get through the dip when there were very few houses falling into the ‘maybe’ category and far less falling into the ‘yes’.

                After a month of searching he had even considered giving up, because maybe it was just a bad time of the year for moving, maybe all the good houses were bought and sold in the spring and not the late summer and early autumn.       

                He had even considered calling his parents again and telling them that the whole thing was canceled and that they’d stay here for a while longer.

                Being constantly persuaded otherwise though, he held off.

                Instead, Jongin would constantly call him to the couch where he’d pull Taemin into his lap and a laptop into the blonde’s.

                They’d start off watching funny videos and things that he knew the elder liked until Jongin would switch the tabs and mention that ‘before I forget, I found some nice apartments I want you to see’ and show an earlier prepared list.

                Most of the time, none of them would impress Taemin, but some would come close enough to reignite the spark in his eyes, exciting him all over again. ‘What if we search this…’ or ‘what if we search that instead…’ would be the next phrases to come out of his mouth as he took control of the mouse pad, leaving Jongin to become the happy passenger.

                All he cared about was keeping Taemin happy, and if he managed to, he’d be able to sleep easily that night.

                Although sometimes he’d get distracted by the boy’s beauty and found himself, nibbling on the blonde’s ears, cheeks, and neck, earning melodic laughter in return. ‘Stop’ Taemin would say, although he was happy too, burying his head in Jongin’s chest, searching for protection.

                One day however, with a cup of tea in one hand and Taemin in the other, he sat proudly, far more than satisfied with his day’s finds, especially when one house caused Taemin’s jaw to fall open.

                ‘Jongin, this one is perfect!’ The elder shouted, leaving a strong, exaggerated kiss on the tanned boy’s cheek, leaving his heart racing. ‘This is definitely the one! The price is perfect and it’s so big, and- and the post was listed today! Wow… you’re so smart, Jongin!’

                Blushing, the younger boy shyly accepted the chain of compliments, watching as Taemin called Minho, telling him he’d email him the link to ‘the perfect place Jongin found’.

                The next day, Taemin rushed home after school to change, dragging Jongin behind him at a fast pace. Minho was also scolded for not coming over as quickly as possible, a blonde boy’s arm linked around his before he could manage to say ‘hello’.

                The apartment was a bus and three subway stops away, not a bothersome journey. Being buzzed in, they took the elevator to the seventeenth floor, entering a house that truly suited Taemin’s definition of perfect.

                They walked in on a hallway, consisting of two doors, stairs, and a closet, which led to a spacious living room with a window overtaking one of the walls. Connected to it were two other rooms, a large kitchen and an even larger dining room.

                Being lead back towards the stairs, they checked out the two rooms adjoined directly to the hall, one being a study, and the other filled with left behind, miscellaneous artist’s supplies as both the previous owners were painters.

                Heading upstairs, they were shown the two bedrooms, and although only one was the main one, the smaller room was also quite large, easily taking up more than half of Taemin’s current house.

                Finally, they were shown the two bathrooms, and balconies, one on each floor.

                Letting Jongin follow the owners back downstairs, Taemin pulled Minho back, looking up at him with doe eyes as he tugged on the bottom of the taller boy’s shirt. ‘Hyung,’ he whispered in the cutest tone he could muster, ‘I want it. I want it a lot. I want it so badly. I’ve never wanted anything so much since I’ve wanted you.’

                Chuckling, Minho smiled, taking another look around. ‘Do you really want this one? If you choose it, there’s no changing your mind.’

                ‘I really, really, really want it, hyung.’

                He thought about it, calculated, and he sighed, giving into the boy’s requests. ‘Okay, fine,’ He agreed, ‘I’ll talk it out with them. Give me a kiss, please.’

                Happily springing to his toes, the smaller boy’s arms were thrown around his neck, a tight embrace pulling him down as Taemin peppered his face with endless kisses. ‘I love you so much’ the blonde whispered.

                Now joining the three others downstairs, Minho did as he promised, separating from the two younger boys and striking his deal.

                It didn’t take long for him to come back with a grin pasted on his face, eyes mainly on Taemin. ‘It’s ours now. Well, not yet, but it will be when everything is settled and all the forms are filled out.’

                ‘I love you’ Taemin stated again, something Jongin wished he could misunderstand for an innocent exchange between friends as he had before discovering their relationship.

                With a place now guaranteed, the three of them went to alerting their landlords of their move, setting a date that would complement the day they’d move into their new apartment.

                However, documentation, packing, and transferring utilities from one address to another would not be quick, as would nothing else.

                With days given between dates, and rare spare time in their grasps, Taemin found the hardest part to be deciding what to keep, what to sell, and what to replace.

                Along with Minho, they made a large checklist of new furniture and appliances, as well as additional decorations, they could buy.

                Searching many stores, both online and in retail, they managed to use the money they had from selling and buy bedroom sets, a living room set, a dining room set, pristine bathroom accessories, and several decorations. In the end, they still had money left over.

                They now had a definite date for when they would permanently move into their new apartment, November 25^th.

                Teary eyed, Taemin said the final good bye to their empty house, the only thing occupying it being boxes.

                ‘Hyung, don’t cry. You’ve wanted this so much.’ Jongin attempted cheering him up, holding the boy in his arms.

                ‘I know, but I have so many memories here… It’s just difficult to let go of them, you know? Like, I’ll never be able to point at the vent in the bathroom again and say that that was where I found a tiny mouse when I was thirteen and how it’s leg was broken so I nursed it, or how my dad dropped my homemade birthday cake right in the middle of the living room and mom was so upset with him… it’s the things that you can’t recreate that hurt the most.”

                ‘I know, I know, but we can make so many more memories in the new apartment, so let’s not dampen to mood too much, okay?’

                ‘Okay.’

                Taemin found it strange, because although he loved it here, he still wasn’t desensitized to calling this place home.

                It took a bit for all the boxes to be transferred from their now previous home and to their new apartment. They started unpacking on the weekend, giving themselves lots of time to personalize this place and truly make it theirs, because that’s what it was now.

                Minho began with his room and simultaneously worked on the room that was filled with some of the art supplies, given permission to use that room for any of his photographic purposes and taking advantage on it.

                Having more meat on his bones, Jongin took liberty of setting up the living room while Taemin worked on the kitchen, putting things like spoons, forks, and dishes in their places.

                When those were done, Minho worked on the study next door, while Jongin, under Taemin’s constant watch, was allowed to arrange their bedroom to the blonde’s expectations.

                Aside from ordering the youngest boy around, Taemin also worked on both bathrooms, feeling confident enough to set each one up to all of their likings.

                For some time, that’s how it remained. When one thing was done, they’d start working on the next one, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that, school work and sleep filling in the cracks.

                Finally, the last thing remained. Standing on the balcony in order to prevent a mess, each boy had their hands dipped in a colour of paint, be it red, blue, or yellow, but only after taping a long, white paper to the wall.

                ‘Are you all ready? Just slap both hands on’ Taemin quickly explained, as if it wasn’t obvious enough, yellow paint dripping down his wrists.

                ‘Okay, three…’

                ‘Two…’

                ‘One…’

                With the countdown hitting zero, the three boys tainted the paper with their rainbow handprints, pulling away with bright, childish smiles.

                ‘I like it a lot.’ The blonde said, a giggle riding the end of the sentence.

                ‘I like it a lot too, Minnie’ Minho agreed, holding back the strong urge to kiss him.

                ‘I like it a lot, three’ Jongin added on jokingly.

                Waiting for it to dry in the cold breeze of the winter months, they went inside to wash their hands and bring out the wooden frame the sheet would be hung in.

                Slipping it in, Taemin and Jongin held it evenly on both sides while Minho slid a nail into the loop of string, hammering it into the wall.

                With this final piece hanging happily from their wall, on December 6^th, they concluded their move.

                Jongin was sitting in the kitchen, doing homework while he ate a plate of pasta. Although they weren’t yelling, it wasn’t too difficult to make out the conversation between the other two which took place on one of the living room couches.

                “I’m still not that used to it, but we’re going to be seeing each other every single day now.” Taemin commented, sitting sideways as was Minho, the two locking gazes.

                “I know… I’m really happy. It’s great, isn’t it?”

                Taemin laughed, crawling closer in search of a hug. “Hyung, you won’t get sick of me, will you?”

                “Sick of you? What kind of twisted mind would someone have to have for that to happen?”

                Shrugging, Taemin felt himself being grabbed by the waist and guided closer against the elder.

                “I don’t know, I guess the average brain will do.”

                Amused, Minho smirked, leaving a kiss on the blonde’s forehead. “I don’t think I could ever get sick of you. Besides, I can keep an eye on you now, I like it this way.”

                “What am I?” Taemin asked, pouting, “I’m definitely not troublesome.”

                “I know, I know, but I worry.”

                “Then worry about me forever.” He stated, nuzzling his cheek into Minho’s neck.

                “Taemin hyung!” Jongin suddenly called from the kitchen, not intending to ruin anything whatsoever, “Hyung, I have a question about my homework that I don’t get!”

                Sighing, Minho let the boy off of him but found himself being pulled into the kitchen as well.

                “I think it’s better if you ask Minho. My grades were never the best but his were. Show it to him while I make a bedtime snack for us. That’s one thing I actually can manage.”

                While Taemin searched the shelves, still not used to everything’s placement, Minho took a seat beside Jongin, keen to helping out.

                He explained several equations, countries, and poetic metaphors, crossing over a range of subjects with the sound of utensils clacking and oven doors being opened and closed.

                Stealing Jongin’s notebook, he wrote down an example, telling him to refer to it as he completed the next set of questions if he needed help. Waiting for the younger boy to finish them, though, his eyes wandered, landing on Taemin’s lower back, drifting down to his behind, and then upwards to the messy, light locks that hung off his head.

                He found his heart flutter at the sight of Taemin baking in a pastel pink apron.

                “Will I get to see this every day now?” The eldest spoke up, catching Taemin’s attention.

                “See what? High school homework? Yeah, I guess.”

                “No, will I get to see you standing in the kitchen like this every day, cooking for me?”

                Hearing another giggle from the blonde, he received a nod.

                “Yeah, I guess you can see that every day too.”

                “Then I must be really blessed, huh? Seeing it occasionally makes me really happy, but knowing that Jongin got to see it all the time, well, that makes me a bit jealous.”

                Jealously was not a word Jongin expected to hear from Minho while describing his feelings towards him, after all, he was the one dating Taemin. He already had everything, so Jongin was the one who was supposed to be jealous of him, not the other way around. When thinking about it, though, he could easily list several things that he always say that Minho didn’t.

                Things he took for granted, like Taemin cooking, or his pouting face when he wakes up in the morning, or the sloppy, oversized way he dresses when he doesn’t feel like going out or entertaining company.

                Simple things like these that he expected to see, but also simple things Minho wished to see.

                In this case, Jongin thought to himself, there will also be a few new things I’ll see Taemin do now that I didn’t see him do without Minho around.

                Timing worked conveniently for them, Jongin finishing up his final question while Taemin brought over a tray of hot, soft, and chewy cookies for them to enjoy along with glasses of warm milk.

                “Bon appétit.” He sang, taking a seat next to Minho. “This is a good way to finish the day, isn’t it?”

                “I think so.” Minho said in a soft tone, being the first to take a cookie while his free arm s its way around Taemin’s shoulders.

                Usually, Jongin would feel envious of the older boy, but what stopped him was that fact that Taemin leaned over the tabletop, holding a cookie up to his lips. Biting into it, the youngest boy’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, his taste buds never being so grateful. “These are delicious…” He moaned.

                “Hyung,” Taemin interrupted, turning back towards Minho, “Do you know what’s coming up next week, or really, in three days?”

                Giving it some thought, he drew a blank. “I have no idea.”

                “Okay, I’ll give you a hint. Without it, you wouldn’t be here.”

                “I don’t know.”

                Getting a smack on the chest, Taemin nudged him. “It’s your birthday. Today is the 6th; your birthday is on the 9^th.”

                “Oh? Is it really? Wow, we’ve been so busy lately that it totally slipped out of my mind.”

                “We should invite Ruki and Heechul and your other friends.” Jongin slipped in.

                “Of course we’re going to do that, we have to throw a party. You made my birthday so amazing this year, so there’s no way you can’t have one.” The blonde argued.

                “Well I really wouldn’t mind just spending it with you two.”

                “Sure you wouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t mind spending it with your friends either. This place is so, so, so much bigger than both our previous places combined, so we can afford it. Besides, we can order pizza, go out and buy some drinks. I mean, Jongin and I can’t drink, but we have juice, I’m sure you and your friends will appreciate the alcohol.”

                Taking another cookie, this time Minho fed it to Taemin while he himself drank some of the warm milk from his mug.

                “I guess we could do that.”

                “We will, hyung.”

                “Then I’ll say thank you in advance.”

                “You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

                When all the food was finished, they cleaned up and headed to their rooms to change.

                Now in their pajamas, Taemin and Jongin got into bed, trying to get used to the extra room.

                “I think I preferred the old bed. We could be closer since there was nowhere to roll away to while asleep.” Jongin admitted.

                “There wasn’t but that didn’t stop you from falling off the bed a few times.” Taemin laughed. They prepared to turn off the lights when Taemin heard Minho calling his name, putting sleeping on hold temporarily.

                Walking down the hallway, Taemin stepped into the dark room, the elder illuminated by a dim light.

                “You’ll ruin your eyesight if you don’t use proper lighting, hyung.”

                “Kitten, don’t scold me… I wanted a good night kiss…” The elder whined.

                “I guess if you ask nicely enough.” Taemin teased, although he was already straddling the boy.

                “Come sleep with me some night, okay?” Minho asked.

                “I will.”

                Giving several kisses, he got just as many back until he was tipped over onto his side, Minho rolling on top of him.

                Awaiting Taemin’s return, he heard loud giggling and laughter coming from the elder’s room and wondered what it was they were doing that was getting that reaction.

                Several minutes after feeling Minho’s hands off his sides and lips off his mouth, Taemin escaped, trying to catch his breath.

                “Go to bed, hyung!” He shouted through a chuckle, whispering an ‘I love you’ before rushing back to bed.

                Jumping in beside Jongin, he turned off the lights, snuggling against the boy. Wishing him a good night, he got a mumbled reply back, Jongin already falling asleep.

                Even though it was already more hectic then back when he live alone with Jongin, Taemin loved it.

                Because what could be better than living with his boyfriend and best friend, all under one roof.

                The move was tedious at times, and a lot of work, but before drifting off, Taemin decided it was worth it.