"Hey, Minho? Are you alright?" Leeteuk asked his friend as they finished up another practice session.

Although he had been playing excellently, as usual, Leeteuk couldn't help but to feel that Minho was a little distracted.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks," Minho smiled.

"You just seem like you have something on your mind," Leeteuk explained. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Minho paused for a moment, debating if he should tell Leeteuk about his feelings for Jonghyun. They were friends, after all, and maybe Leeteuk could give him advice as to whether he should take a risk and present his feelings to Jonghyun, or simply keep them to himself.

He decided that he had nothing to lose in letting in an objective party.

"Leeteuk..how should I tell Jonghyun that I like him...more than a friend?" Minho asked, hesistantly. It was rare for him to feel so nervous.

Leeteuk, quite frankly, was not at all surprised that Minho was asking him for advice, concerning a romantic approch toward Jonghyun. Of course, Kibum had told him all about his observations of the dynamics in Jonghyun and Minho's relationship, but Leeteuk had certainly taken note of his friend's attraction to Jonghyun. In fact, the entire soccer team had noticed the two men's more than obvious interest in each other, be it through their gestures or the little "secret" glances that they frequently took of each other when they thought that the other was not looking. What shocked Leeteuk was actually the fact that Minho was only deciding to take action, now. In Leeteuk's case, he had approached Kibum as soon as he could and, even though Taemin had been hesitant about expressing his feelings for Henry, Henry at least was prepared to ask the younger man out on a date.

Leeteuk just couldn't help but to ask his usually decisive and prepared team mate why he hadn't yet confessed to Jonghyun.

"I'm not sure if he feels the same way about me," Minho admitted.

Leeteuk stared at his friend, his mouth agape.

"Minho! Are you blind?" He sputtered.

Minho being unable to notice Jonghyun's affection for him was as preposterous as a well-educated adult admitting that they were unable to read a children's story book. He couldn't believe that, quite literally, everyone had noticed that the two were in love, except for the two love-sick individuals in question.

Minho looked at Leeteuk, a startled expression on his face.

"It's so obvious that Jonghyun loves you!" Leeteuk continued, making Minho blush. "Don't you notice how much he blushes whenever you even look at him, or how happy he is when you so much as order a coffee? I mean you live with him, for goodness, sake! Everyone can tell that you two are in love; Shindong and Heechul are even making bets as to when you guys'll realize it!"

"That obvious, huh?" Minho chuckled and grinned sheepishly.

"Clearly not obvious enough," Leeteuk smiled.

"I just didn't want to jeopardize our friendship," Minho sighed, running a hand through his black hair. "I mean...you just never know exactly what another person is thinking, no matter how close you are to them."

"Well of course you don't," Leeteuk grinned. "Think about it, Minho. If you had the same sort of hesitance toward everything else in life, you wouldn't even be playing soccer! I mean, you don't know for sure if you'll win the match, right? If everyone refused to take action becuse they were afraid that the situation wasn't in their favour, or that things wouldn't work out alright, no one would ever have dreams, and the entire world would just be bleak and unhappy! Even if Jonghyun reject you, you could at least say that you did your part by confessing, and who's to say that he wouldn't return your feelings, some day?" 

Minho took in his friend's reasoning and he couldn't help but to find truth in Leeteuk's words. It was true, he supposed that if people were afraid to take chances or were unable to remain optimistic, there would be essentially no hope or happiness in the world, at all. People wouldn't have the determination to reach for their goals, regardless of the obstacles that they might face. Individuals with dangerous illnesses would have absolutely no chance of getting better if they resigned themselves to their situation and refused to hope for recovery. All around the globe, persecution and discrimination would continue to manifest if no one had the courage to speak against it. 

Minho was sure that his situation with Jonghyun was no where near as severe, and this was all the more reason why he should be able to confess.

"Try giving him flowers," Leeteuk suggested, when he noticed that he had made his point. "You'd be surprised to know how many guys like flowers."

Minho smiled broadly. 

"Thanks," he said, sincerely, before he and Leeteuk continued on their seperate ways.

-----

A change of clothes and a few minutes later had Minho at the local flower shop, carefully trying to select an assortment of flowers to give to Jonghyun. Even though red roses were a fool-proof romantic standby, Minho wasn't very partial to them. The deeply colored flowers seemed too serious and insincere.

Eventually, he settled on some soft pink roses, carefully blended in with small white flowers and he threw in some orange hibiscus, as well.

His palms were sweating by the time he arrived at his apartment, and he was quite sure that his heart rate had doubled.

Jonghyun welcomed him home, as usual, then asked why he had flowers.

"No one's in the hospital, right?" Jonghyun asked with concern, unable to think of any other reason why Minho would have a bouquet of flowers in hand.

"No, no one's in the hospital," Minho reassured.

Had his mind been a little more clear, he would've found Jonghyun's obliviousness quite cute. But he was completely focused on the task at hand. This was the moment when he would confess, the moment when Jonghyun would reject him, panic, or worse, want to move out...

No, no, no! He couldn't think in such a negative way! He simply had to focus on his confession, putting aside his worries for the outcome...

"Jonghyun," Minho began, surprised at the steadiness with which he managed to articulate each word. "I'm in love with you!" He exclaimed, holding out the flowers.

Jonghyun was shocked. Minho was shocked. He hadn't meant to be so blunt. His heart was pounding in his ears and he forgot to swallow as he replayed, with horror, the words that he had just sputtered. He ought to have been more subtle! What kind of a confession was that?!

Jonghyun continued staring at Minho, with an expression of absolute disbelief on his face. Minho wanted to say something, anything, to redeem himself. But it was too late...

Suddenly, Jonghyun started to cry.

"Shoot!!" Minho thought, beginning to panic. What had he done?! If only he had stuck to his gut-pessimism and kept his feelings to himself. The abrupt nature of his poorly planned confession had probably scared Jonghyun, especially if Jonghyun didn't have romantic feelings for him. He had simply made everything worse! He had made Jonghyun cry...

Minho approached Jonghyun, slowly, and unsure if he should attempt to hug him or simply refrain from touching him. Minho figured that abstaining from physical contact was the best choice- he had probably made Jonghyun uncomfortable enough, as it was.

"Jonghyun..." Minho started, feeling the urge to punch himself as Jonghyun sniffed quietly. "I'm really sorry... I shoudn't have been so blunt, and I should have confirmed if you felt the same way-"

Minho was cut off, and very surprised when Jonghyun suddenly threw himself into his arms.

"No, Minho. You haven't done anything wrong...! I'm sorry for crying like this. I'm just so...happy...!" Jonghyun managed, hugging Minho, tightly.

"W-What?" Minho stuttered, not daring to believe what he had just heard.

"I love you, too, Minho!" Jonghyun smiled. "I love you so much!"

Minho laughed in disbelief and euphoric relief as he returned Jonghyun's embrace. With the utmost gentleness, he brushed away Jonghyun's tears then, refusing to hesitate any longer, he kissed Jonghyun, deeply.

Jonghyun loved the feeling of Minho kissing him- he had never been kissed before, and he was glad that Minho was the first to do so. He felt as if he was submerged underwater, as he was holding his breath; only he was delightfully drowning in Minho. He didn't mind at all when Minho slipped his warm hands up his thin cotton shirt and began to caress his lower back and, in response, he threaded his fingers through Minho's hair.

When they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily and smiling broadly at each other. Both men had been longing for such a kiss for quite a long time, and it was a brilliant feeling to be finally able to share such an intimate gesture with each other.

They kissed again, with a little less fervour than the first time, but with just as much love.

"Minho? Can I... can I sleep with you tonight?" Jonghyun asked, blushing and hoping that Minho didn't think that he had any "inappropriate" implications.

Minho smiled and took his new lover's hand in his.

"You can sleep with me every night, if you want."

Note:

Yay! Finally dense Minho and dense Jonghyun confessed! ^_^

I felt a need to get a message of optimism out (hence the Transformers picture) in this chapter. Many of you have been kind enough to wish me well with my situation regarding my voice, and I think that it's only fair that I keep you updated. Unfortunately, my voice has not improved, but I've been referred to a specialist. I'm a little afraid about what they'll find, but I'm holding out that whatever is wrong with my voice can be reversed. I'm feeling a little apprehensive about heading off to university for the first time this year and not having my favorite activity to make me feel better when I feel stressed out with school work and I am frustrated about not being able to further myself in my goals regarding music, at least for the time being, but, just like Minho learned to do, I'm trying to stay positive. At least at university, I'll probably be studying (quietly) for the most part, which will allow my voice to rest. I'd be panicking if I had to enter the world of work right a way and had to speak constantly! I'm going to focus on taking care of my body and, hopefully something good will come out of my efforts :) Either way, I know I'm not doing myself a favour by worrying that my voice will never come back.

I feel quite sick-minded for the last part of the chapter ^^' Just to clarify- Minho and Jonghyun simply slept together. Nothing else. heheh ^^'

To give everyone a heads up, I'll probably spend another two chapters developing Jongho's relationship, then write an epilogue...then this one will be done! T^T I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you enjoyed reading it, as well ^_^ Thank you everyone for your support, reads, comments and subscriptions :)

This will not be the end of me on AFF, however ^^ As I've mentioned last chapter, I'm thinking of a new chaptered story involving Taemin and Changmin.(I'm posting a oneshot 'sample' in French and English ^^) Also, I'll be starting a crime/mystery story that I had posted quite a while ago, but abandoned in favour of this Jongho ^^' It is a Jonghyun/Jaejoong story, rated [H] for descriptive murder (Jack the Ripper!) I have 2 subcribers for that one, and I don't want to keep them waiting ^^ 

The two chaptered stories will probably not be completed by September. I hope to be able to write as much as possible before school starts, then, update whenever I have time ^_^

x Angela   

P.S. : I was very entertained by some of your expressions of frustration toward Minho and Jonghyun for their absolute obliviousness to each other's feelings ^__^