01

"Hannie! Come on, we are getting late!! Your parents would be waiting."

"I'm so sorry, hyung. I forgot my wallet." Han cried while running down the stairs.

"Easy Hannie! We don't want you reach there in wheelchairs. You'll fall down. Slow down." Minho extended a hand which Han grabbed gladly and ran towards the car.

Minho and Han were going to meet younger's parents for the first time after their marriage to celebrate Han's birthday. It had been a month since they married each other. It was an arranged marriage but none of them had complaints. Both of them have shown mutual respect for each other since the very beginning. This was the reason that they instantly clicked with each other and became friends in a quick time.

"You're sure that they'll like my gifts, right? I mean it's my first time visiting them, I don't want to mess up."

"Hyung, they're gonna love anything you'll give them. Stop being a bundle of nerves."

"Hope so!"

"By the way, hyung, are you sure you can be at leave for three days continuously?I can talk to my parents if you want."

"I'm sure, Hannie. I didn't even take one for our honeymoon."

Han's round cheeks reddened at the comment. Obviously, they didn't go to a honeymoon. Their relationship was not anything more than platonic friends.

~

"So, how's your fashion show preparation going on, Minho?"

"It's good, dad. The fashion show is in like three weeks but the preparation is almost done. Apart from the final touches, everything has been done. Hannie's sketches were so pretty that everyone selected it in the first time."

"Hannie? Uhh- you mean our Jisung?"

Minho nodded with a confused expression.

"He can draw?" Mr. Han looked at Minho then Han.

"A bit." Han answered without looking at anyone in particular. Minho found it weird how the younger squeezed his legs together and sat straight all of a sudden.

"Dude! You designed almost all of the dresses that I'm presenting in the upcoming fashion week. What do you mean by 'a bit'?"

"Hyung, eat this. Your favourite, pudding."

"Oh really! Here, have some more, Minho!"

"No, Mom. I'm fine."

"Oh come on! Eat this."

"Hmm, hyung! Really, it's so damn delicious. Try it. You'll want more."

"Really? You want more?"

"Can I?''

Minho nodded and slid the bowl towards Han who took it gladly.

"Ouch!!" Mrs. Han slapped the back of Han's hands.

"Let him eat in peace. Stop snatching things from him. Minho, you eat it. He always eats it. I'll make it sometime later for him."

"But-"

"It's okay, hyung. Mom is right. I'll eat it later. You can have some right now."

Minho was observant. Though Han had a smile on his face, his flickering eyes and the thumb entrapped in his fist gave away to him that the brunette felt bad about his mother's behaviour.

"Sorry, mom. I'm full. I can't eat anymore. Come here, you little squirrel. Finish this up for me. " Minho extended a scoop of pudding towards Han urging him to finish it up.

"Hyungggg!!! Stop calling me that" Han whined.

"ok ok. Come eat now!"

Han looked at his mom who was smiling at him awkwardly and ate the pudding hesitantly.

~

"Happy birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~ happy birthday, dear Hannie~ happy birthday to you~"

The clock struck 12 and here was Minho, with a small chocolate cake wishing Han along with his parents.

Han blew the candles and cut the cake. For the first time in his life, Han cut his birthday cake at midnight. Forget midnight, this was his fourth birthday celebration ever. He was not a fan of birthdays but this gesture by Minho filled his heart with warmth.

"We have a planned a party tomorrow. All your and Minho's friends would be there." Mrs. Han said excitedly.

"Party? Why?" Han's smile fell hearing this.

"What do you mean, why? It's your first birthday after marriage. Obviously, it should be celebrated properly."

"Ohh. Ok."

~

"Hannie, you're okay?"

"Hahaha, why wouldn't I be? It's my birthday. Of course, I would be great."

The laugh was awkward. Han was awkward. Minho couldn't put a finger on it but something felt wrong. This was not his normal Hannie.

"Sungie!! The stylist is here."

"Mom, I don't-" It was almost a whisper but Minho heard that incomplete sentence.

The stylist started working on Han's hair for the party that started in less than an hour. Thereafter, she applied a light layer of concealer to hide the blemishes and just enough of foundation to bring glow on the face of the birthday boy. As soon as the brush touched brunette's neck, he laughed. His neck was sensitive. He felt ticklish even at the presence of anything close to it. At one point, he couldn't control it and laughed out loud.

"Jisung! What are you doing? Behave yourself!"

Maybe Han was extra sensitive today because of his birthday or he was reaching his limits, he didn't know. Tears pooled up in his eyes but he didn't let them spill. He dug his nails in his palm to the point it bled to control the natural reaction. He knew he couldn't control his physical reaction to this and his mom would get angry again if he laughed. He didn't want to embarass himself or his mom anymore,at least not in front of Minho.

In the past month, the only time Minho saw tears in Han's eyes were when he was chopping onions. He ensured that the younger is being the cheerful himself everytime. Seeing him teary eyed now broke something in him.

~

"Geez! This stain wouldn't just go. I need to change clothes." Mumbling this, Han headed towards his room to get a change of clothes quickly as the party was still alive.

Han removed his coat and unbuttoned his dress shirt. Just when he was about the remove the shirt as well, the door bursted open.

"Hyung!!" Han closed his shirt with the speed of light.

"You're changing into this?"

"Umm- does it not look nice?" Han got conscious about his choice.

"Wait!"

Minho got a hoodie out of the cupboard and handed it over to the younger.

"Wear this."

"No offense, hyung, but are you drunk?"

"Why?"

"Because it's not very sober of you to give me a hoodie to wear at a party. "

"Because we are not going in the party. Now wear it."

Minho took off his coat as well and folded his sleeves.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What nonsense are you thinking, you idiot? Come outside. I'll be waiting. We are going outside."

"Outside? Mom didn't tell me this?"

"Because she doesn't know that we're about to ditch this party."

"What?? Are you crazy? No way, hyung. Mom's gonna kill both of us. It's an important party for my parents. A lot of their important clients-"

"You're not comfortable with it, Hannie"

It was as if someone knocked air out of his lungs. How could Minho see something in a month which his parents couldn't see in 25 years. What was even crazier was that Minho wasn't mad at it. He was even ready to help him out with it. Was it a dream? It had to be. How could someone hear him without even speaking?

"Hannie? "

"Haa- uh- yes. Umm- hyung, let it be. It's important for them. I shouldn't-"

"You're wearing that on you own or should I help you?" Minho took two steps towards Han.

Han's eyes turned as wide as a deer in headlights. He squeezed the hoodie closer to his chest.

"What the hell?"

"I'm counting till 10. You wear it or I'll help you after that." Saying this, Minho turned his back at Han and started counting. Han didn't even have time to think. He quickly got rid of his shirt and wore the hoodie Minho gave him.

"Good boy!" Minho patted the confused boy.

"Here. Wear these. You don't like these formal shoes."

"Where are we even going?"

"Shushh! Quickly. We have to leave before someone sees us."

"You're acting as a lover boy hurrying his girlfriend to run away with him" Han chuckled.

"Nope. I am hurrying my HUSBAND to run away with me."

Han's heart skipped a beat hearing the word husband.

~

"What??"

"You looked uncomfortable and kinda unhappy. That's why I wanted to take you away but I don't know where would you like to go. I mean it's your birthday."

"You won't even let me be angry at you. Hmphh?"

Han looked gorgeous under those street lamps pouting so cutely. Minho chuckled softly seeing him. The younger just glared at him which Minho found extremely adorable.

"Fine. I'll give it to you. I didn't want to be a part of that party. I don't know why I am like this but I really dislike them. Thank you for bringing me out."

Han didn't want to be ungrateful brat to the elder. Hence, he thanked him sincerely and told him the truth. This was the first time he vocalised his discomfort in front of someone.

"Then how do you like it... Celebrating your birthday?"

"Ummm- honestly, I don't know. What my ideal birthday should be?"

"It's simple. It is exactly whatever you want to do. It can be anything."

"I'm sorry for being boring but I really don't want to do anything special." Han chuckled awkwardly and continued, "Just being at home relaxing and spending time with my family and friends is all I want on my birthday. I don't know why but I find everything else exhausting."

Han found his converse shoes the most interesting thing at the moment. He was slightly ashamed of wanting something so stupid and that is the reason he didn't want to look at the elder.

He looked up at Minho only when he felt a warm grip on his palm. He looked back at their joined hands and back at Minho then raised a brow at Minho with a puzzled look.

"I know a place. Let's go!"

"Huhh??"

Minho dragged Han in the car and took over the driver's seat.

Han asked quite a few times about where they were going but Minho didn't answer him.

Minho parked his car in the basement of a building Han didn't know about.

"Hyung, where are we going?"

"You can trust me. I'm not gonna harm you."

"This is the point in movies where the villain takes a character to an unknown room and makes them drink something suspicious only to kill them afterwards."

"Hannieee!!"

"I'm gonna haunt you forever if you kill me on my birthday."

Minho glared at him hearing this.

"Just saying."

Nonetheless, Han followed Minho to a door wherein Minho put in the key. The door opened and Minho entered inside with his little squirrel following him.

"Ummm- hyung? Who's place is this? Is it okay for us to come without the owner being here?"

"This is my place, stupid. I used to live here before you came."

"Huhh? But this place looks so-"

"Empty! I know. It was enough for me and I didn't think that I'll bring you here someday. I'll get some furniture for this place as well some day." Minho ran his fingers through the hairs at the back of the head slightly embarassed. Afterall the only thing in that big hall was a television and a single black matress.

"No. It's fine, really, but why are we here?"

"To celebrate your birthday!"

"Connect your phone on the TV and look for any movie,you wanna watch. You can also play some song if you are not in the mood to watch movie. I'll make some ramen for both of us quickly meanwhile."

"Hyung, I can-"

"No. It's your birthday. I'll cook. It'll be done in a few minutes."

Standing true to his words, Minho was back in a few Minutes. Han had already put Vincenzo on the television until then.

"Damn! Taecyeon is so hot!" Han mumbled dreamily seeing Taecyeon speak English fluently and with a proper accent.

"You like him?"

"Who doesn't? Also, I have a thing for people with deep voice."

"I can also go deep..... with my voice."

Han blinked twice hearing this. Was his mind trash or Minho just said that? Minho also realised the words that slipped out of his mouth.

Both of them bursted out laughing. The drama was long forgotten with Han teasing Minho about his words and Minho countering back.

Thoughts?