Jiho remained hidden behind his hands, mortification flooding his system as his mind replayed the kiss in an endless, humiliating loop. The warmth of Minjae's cheek still lingered on his lips, a sensation his brain refused to let him forget.
What is WRONG with me?!
First I slapped the man I like in the face.
Then I kissed him out of nowhere.
Oh my god. What if he thinks I'm some kind of unhinged, feral creature?
WHY IS HE STILL HERE?!
...Is this what love is supposed to feel like?
Hot. Embarrassing. Chaotic.
Yeah. Sounds about right.
Jiho let out a strangled whimper. "I want to disappear. Right now. Immediately."
He scrambled off Minjae's lap, but his ankle sent a sharp jolt of pain up his leg, betraying him and forcing him right back down. Red-faced and panicking, Jiho waved his hands frantically in the air.
"I—I didn't mean—well, I did mean—but not like—ugh, forget it!"
Minjae blinked. Once. Twice.
Then, with infuriating calm and the ghost of a smirk, he said, "You kissed me."
Jiho buried his face in his hands, groaning like he was dying inside. "It was just a thank-you kiss! For helping me! For not letting me die of embarrassment!"
"It meant nothing. Nothing at all. Zero emotions. Absolutely zero percent."
Minjae leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, honeyed tone that was all warmth and mischief. "Then do it again."
Jiho's hands fell away. His eyes went wide. "W-What?! No!"
"Prove it meant nothing," Minjae said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Kiss me again, and I'll believe you."
"That makes NO sense!"
"I'm chaos," Minjae shrugged. "Don't try to apply logic."
Jiho spluttered, his cheeks burning. "I hate you."
"I know," Minjae said cheerfully. "But you kissed me anyway."
With a noise that sounded like a strangled cat, Jiho tried again to push himself off Minjae's lap. "Shut up, shut up, shut up—"
"Okay, okay," Minjae laughed, hands raised in surrender. "Let's go home."
"I don't want to go to your home!"
Minjae rolled his eyes, still grinning. "I meant your home, drama queen."
"I can go by myself."
Minjae looked pointedly at Jiho's ankle. "Yeah? And how's that working out for you?"
Jiho opened his mouth, closed it again, and crossed his arms with a huff.
Then Minjae straightened up and turned around, crouching in front of Jiho.
"Hop on."
Jiho stared at his back. "Excuse me?"
"Piggyback ride," Minjae said casually. "Unless you want me to carry you bridal-style, which—honestly? I wouldn't mind."
Jiho looked like he might spontaneously combust. "I am not getting on your back."
Minjae shrugged. "Guess we're staying here forever then."
"I'll crawl."
"Sure. I'll record it. Add some dramatic violin music. Maybe a sad rain filter—"
Before he could finish, Jiho had already clung to Minjae's back like a very unwilling, very red-faced koala.
"This is the worst day of my life," he mumbled into Minjae's shoulder blade.
"Really?" Minjae huffed as he adjusted Jiho's weight. "Because from where I'm standing—literally—it seems like the best day of mine."
Jiho groaned loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear. "Why do you talk like that? Like a walking, breathing romance drama teaser."
Minjae's lips curled into a smirk. "Because I am the main lead, obviously."
Jiho kicked his heel lightly against Minjae's thigh. "You're not even the second male lead. You're the annoying comic relief."
"Still got the kiss though," Minjae chirped, way too pleased with himself.
Jiho made a noise that sounded like his soul was leaving his body. "I hate this."
Minjae adjusted his grip, standing easily with Jiho clinging on like a disgruntled backpack. "You know you love this."
"I hate this."
"I'm still taking that as a yes."
They started walking.
Behind a nearby bush, a teenage girl gasped, phone already out. The camera zoomed in shakily as she whispered, "Guys. GUYS. I think I'm witnessing a real-life bl- drama right now."
She hit record just as Minjae turned his head and said, "Comfortable?"
"No," Jiho grumbled.
Minjae smirked. "Then hold tighter."
"I swear—!"
---
TikTok Upload:
🎥 "Witnessed a live BL-Drama today and I'm emotionally unprepared 😭💘 #blcouple #boylove #chaoticlove"
---
By the time Minjae reached Jiho's house, the video already had 12K views.
By the time Jiho was inside, slamming the door and yelling, "DON'T EVER TALK TO ME AGAIN," it had hit 50K.
And by the time Minjae checked his phone, there it was. Front and center on his For You Page.
He watched the clip of himself giving Jiho a piggyback ride.
Then smiled.
And hit like.
---
Jiho frowned when he noticed Minjae smiling at his phone.
"…Why are you smiling all of a sudden?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Minjae didn't even look up. "Is that a crime now?"
"No, but you don't get to do whatever you want," Jiho muttered, folding his arms across his chest.
Is he texting his girlfriend? Wait—does he have one? Ugh. Why do I care?!
Jiho's chest tightened with something that felt suspiciously like jealousy, but he swallowed it down like it was nothing. No way was he going to let it show.
Minjae finally pocketed his phone and looked around. "Where's your mom?"
"Probably at work," Jiho replied.
Minjae raised an eyebrow. "So… we're alone here, huh?"
Jiho narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, so?"
"…Nothing," Minjae said with a shrug that didn't look innocent at all.
Jiho rolled his eyes. "My house is small, okay? Not like your fancy apartment.
If you're uncomfortable, you can leave."
Minjae looked around the cozy space, then smiled softly. "Yeah, it's small. But… it's warm. Kinda cute. Unlike my apartment, where it's just me. Cold and empty."
Jiho tilted his head. "Then why don't you go home?"
"Because no one's ever there," Minjae said, his voice growing quieter. "My parents are always busy. Work, meetings, travel… whatever. The only one who has time for me is my little brother."
Before Jiho could respond, Minjae suddenly wrapped his arms around him from behind.
Jiho stiffened. "W-What are you—"
But he didn't pull away.
Because even if it shocked him, he understood that kind of loneliness too well.
He stayed still, letting Minjae hold on, heart pounding against his ribs.
After a quiet moment, Jiho asked, "So… you have a little brother?"
Minjae brightened instantly, pulling back just enough to grin. "Yeah! He's four. Super cute. Looks like a potato when he sleeps."
Jiho blinked. "A... potato?"
"A very adorable potato," Minjae nodded solemnly.
Jiho couldn't help but smile. It was the first time Minjae had ever talked about his family. The first time he'd dropped his usual chaotic act and just... shared something real.
And Jiho liked seeing this side of him.
"You must really love him," Jiho said softly.
"Of course," Minjae replied, his smile wide and genuine.
But then, just as quickly, that smile faded. He looked down, the golden-retriever energy around him dimming like a light being switched off.
Jiho frowned. "What happened?"
Minjae sighed. "He's starting school soon. He's gonna make friends, have playdates, birthday parties... I feel like... I'm gonna be left behind."
He laughed weakly. "Isn't that stupid? Getting jealous of a bunch of kindergarteners?"
Jiho stared at him for a moment, then said firmly, "It's not stupid. And you're his only brother. No matter how many friends he makes, you'll always be special to him."
Minjae looked at him, his eyes softening. "You really think so?"
"I know so," Jiho said.
Minjae smiled again—genuine and warm this time.
Then, after a pause, he looked up at Jiho and asked quietly, "Can you... kiss me again?"
Jiho's breath caught in his throat. His heart skipped a beat.
He didn't say anything.
But he didn't say no, either.
---