Fanfiction: Right Or Left
A/N: Another Jongtaeho fic, but i couldn't find ways to continue from the previous jongtaeho fic, my deepest apologies :( There's some related instances and ideas from the previous fic, though. But it is NOT a sequel. This one is really long and wordy and out of point near the last few parts. If its full of fail, please pardon me :(
Anyway, this is for you bopeep_achu :) Really hope you'll love this, enjoy!
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Jonghyun was pretty sure his leader was blind.
Either he was blind or he just had a terminal clumsiness disease. How could he have not seen Taemin's LEGO Great Wall Of China? It was nearly as long as Minho lying down, and as colourful as Jonghyun's ruined, used-to-be-white boxers since Taemin had thrown them into the washing machine with many other coloured ones.
Not to mention the fact that Onew had built it himself. With a little help from Minho who had already read up on a 'How-to-build-a-giant-lego-structure-fast' book. And of course there was Key Umma's never-ending nagging about how the structure was already taking up 3/4 of the living room. Taemin had then pointed out that Minho wasn't as long as that. Yet.
'Its called the Great Wall Of China for a reason, my god.' Jonghyun thought as he watched Onew scrambling around the ruined structure, while Minho entered the room with a blank and unconcerned face that, on the contrary, usually meant "Hyung, you're so dead."
"SHIT! MINHO, HELP ME MINHO, MY GOD. What the hell, JONGHYUN HELP ME! Maknae's gonna blow if he sees this!" Onew screamed frantically.
Resting his head on a fist, Jonghyun spoke up lazily, "You know Hyung, Its the GWOC, i think you would have finished touring the real one by the time you finish building this again."
Throwing his book to the dining table in a quick swipe, Minho bent his skinny long legs and proceeded to help Onew pick up the colour blocks.
"Ooh, hey, what's this?" Curious, Jonghyun reached his hand out and grabbed the book. It was black and sleek and had white silvery pages.
"W-what? WAIT, WHAT, HEY! GIVE THAT BACK!" Stepping on a red lego brick and slipping on it, Minho fell and skidded straight across the room, knocking the remaining parts of the structure down.
"Oh, crap." Onew instantly face-palmed. At the fact that there was completely no hope left in rebuilding the great wall, and also at the fact that the big, tall, flamin' charisma Minho had just, well, tripped.
Staring in shock for a good 5 seconds, Jonghyun rushed forward to pick up the tall boy.
"Omg, Minho, are you alright? Did you break any of your long bones? Can you still play soccer? OMG THERE'S A BRUISE, OMG KEYYYYYYY!"
"Bloody hell, shut the fuck up, you bastard! Its just a goddamn bruise, for goodness sake! Key and Taemin are still asleep, do you want both son and mother to wake up and see this mess?!" Shoving Jonghyun's hands away, Minho stood up and brushed some non-existent debris off his shoulder.
"Morning Jinki Hyung, Jonghyun Hyung, Minho Hyung...i'm going to get ready for school now...can you get Key Umma up? I need my scrambled eggs and- is that my LEGO Great Wall of China?" Taemin spoke sleepily until the display of scattered colour bricks scared the sleepiness out of him.
"Uh...no...that's just, well, Jonghyun here spilled a HUGE packet of gummy bears. T-they're not LEGO bricks, Taeminnie, go, uh, wash up!" Onew tried to save the situation (and his own life) with a useless excuse.
Dragging his tiny body forward, Taemin stared at the coloured bricks for a moment before he picked up a blue one and started to chew on it.
"Ow, my teeth. Hyung, what kind of gummy bears are these. They're too hard."
Minho dashed into action, pulling the Maknae away from the scene, assuring him along the way that Hyung would get him a bigger bag of softer chewable gummies. Turning his head to face Onew and Jonghyun, he shot a stare that immediately sent the two packing and clearing.
Grabbing a handful of lego bricks and throwing them into the box, Jonghyun stopped, scratching his head and muttering to himself. "Why was Minho so eager and anxious to get the book back? What secrets did it contain...OH, maybe he has a girlfriend..." Sniggering at random dirty thoughts, Jonghyun decided that he was going to sneak around at night and disclose Minho's book of secrets-
A loud smack landed on his head. "OWW, WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" Rubbing his head in disgust, Jonghyun glared at Onew while the leader replied. "For daydreaming and giggling for no rhyme or reason. Now get to work and put this back before Taemin banishes us to the real GWOC."
Pouting, Jonghyun continued with the torturous labour of picking up tiny harmless coloured bricks. But it wasn't long before the frown turned into a smug.
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It didn't take long before Taemin had figured out the no longer existing structure in the living room. Minho and Jonghyun had instantly pointed fingers at their leader and rushed into the room before Onew could even say "Help."
"Lee. Jin. Ki."
When the word 'Hyung' was missing, the other members, even Key Umma, knew that they were in for it.
"Look Taeminnie, i swear i didn't mean to destroy it, p-please don't look at me with t-those eyes..."
Even the puppy eyes had their killer dog moments.
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT I PROMISE I'LL MAKE YOU SOMETHING EVEN BETTER, I SWEAR TO GOD THAT I WILL! STOP STARING AT ME, OH MY GOD!"
"SWEAR?! CROSS YOUR HEART?!"
"CROSS MY CHICKEN HEART, I SWEAR!"
"Okie dokie Hyung! Give me some time and i'll come up with another idea. Bye!" Taemin skipped to the room happily.
Onew solemly swore that the Maknae was evil.
Having overheard the entire conversation behind the doors, Minho and Jonghyun silently thanked god for Onew's quick thinking for once that didn't drag any of them into trouble.
"So...Minho, now that THAT is out of the way, mind telling me what that book was all about?" Jonghyun asked with a sneaky smile and an arched eyebrow.
"What book?" Clearly feigning ignorance, Minho asked in his usual calm tone.
"You know...the one you was so busy trying to retrieve back that in the end the giant skidded on the shiny planet-or should i say shinee world, and crushed the other half of the GWOC..."
Staring at Jonghyun while he narrowed his eyes, Minho replied. " Don't you dare touch it. Don't. You. Dare, Kim Jonghyun."
Usually, that voice would have sent Jonghyun frantically running for cover, but this time, something inside him told him not to.
"Come on, Minho, out with it." Curiosity got the better of him. In fact, it was eating him inside.
"No. Now get the hell out before i-"
"You know that's not gonna work everytime right?" Suddenly regaining his position and long-awaited feeling as Minho's Hyung, Jonghyun retaliated. It was time for the Hyung to take things into his own hands and not run away at Minho's terrifying voice.
It was one of Jonghyun's new year resolutions. Alongside with the one that he would adopt a mushroom addiction to tackle Onew.
"So...? Are you going to tell or not." Impatient, Jonghyun tapped his right foot.
"Not. Now go away." Pushing the blondie out of his way, Minho headed straight for the study, slamming the door behind him.
"What a jerk."
Jonghyun crossed his arms and leaned against the nearest wall. Pouting his lips, he thought, 'Damn, what does that bastard keep in that book. Why do i feel like there's something i ought to know...man, i really need to get a peek.'
Behind the closed door, Minho heaved a sigh of relief.
'Thank god Jonghyun didn't see any of this. I can't let this secret out so early. No, actually, not at all.'
Flipping the book to the 2nd page, Minho stared down at one of Taemin's pictures. It was the one that he had ripped out of the school year book, where Taemin had the standard Ageyo 'Apple Hair' for a performance. Wiping his thumb over the crumpled picture, Minho muttered.
"Not when i may hurt you, Taemin."
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Minho knew he was blind. Blind for Taemin, he could not see anyone else other than the Maknae.
He didn't find any other use for his black eyes other than to stare at Taemin all day long or look through his little black book behind closed doors.
In fact, he felt lousy. Taemin was just next door. And Minho had to hide in the study to ogle at his pictures. It was a near heart-wrenching feeling, but Minho knew he didn't have the courage to confess. He was only this close, from breaking Taemin's heart. Or at least he thought so.
It was like how one liked another, but knew he couldn't do anything about it, except to always wish to be there for the person. Even though the person may never find out or appreciate it.
Yeah well, Minho felt the exact same way.
"So the Giant fell in love with the baby. Wow, that's a shocker." Clamping the book shut, Minho got up and reached for the doorknob, when it twisted by itself instantly.
"Hi Hyung!" Taemin appeared.
"Uh, hi Taemin, why are you here, i thought i locked the door..."
Turning around to give the ajar door a puzzled look, Taemin answered, "No hyung, no, you didn't."
"O-kay. Well, what do you want, Taemin?" Minho closed the door shut. And locked it.
"Well, nothing really, Hyung. I was just bored, so i thought i'd come and check on you."
"Huh. Thought you were busy planning on what to torture Onew with. That LEGO thing."
"I WAS! But i gave up after cracking my head over USA, i don't think we have the right colours for that."
'USA..?! What the hell-'
Minho's bewildered thoughts were interrupted by a more bewildering fact.
Taemin climbed and proudly sat on Minho's lap.
Widening his black orbs as far as they could go, Minho's jaw was left agape.
Surely, the Maknae was old enough to know that this wasn't exactly a very appropriate position. Not when there were three other members in the house and Key had an awkward tendency to slam open the door on someone while they were inside.
"Uh, Taemin...i think you should..."
"I should what, Hyung?" Taemin swivelled his body around such that his face was only fifteen centimetres away from the older boy. Now, that was awkward. And almost illegal.
It didn't help that Minho had just reached his legal age, leaving Taemin, the only innocent and underaged member.
Minho was definitely old enough to know that this wasn't a position that two teenager boys should get into, and as inappropriate and weird that it was, he was actually beginning to enjoy having Taemin like this.
"Hyung...?" Waving a hand before Minho's eyes, Taemin attempted to break his Hyung out of his fixed glassy gaze.
Minho couldn't resist it anymore.
Not when Taemin's cherry lips were less than 6 inches away from his now. Not when Taemin was sitting on his lap in the forbidden position. Not when the door was locked and it was just the two of them.
Pulling Taemin's head towards him, Minho pressed his lips against the boy's. It was a perfect first kiss, no clashing of noses or teeth. Minho thought it was perfectly magical and enchanting.
But Taemin didn't think so. Sure, he didn't know it wasn't right to sit on another boy's lap, but he knew for sure as hell that it was darn wrong to kiss another boy.
Before Minho could even wrap his arms around Taemin, the latter had already pulled away. Staring at Taemin's blushing face, Minho couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt.
Helping Taemin off his lap, Minho mumbled, "Taemin, i'm so sorry, i didn't know why i did that. I'm sorry."
Taemin wouldn't hear any of it. With a sheer nod, he scrambled out of the room as far as he skinny legs could carry him.
"Fucking hell. Why the heck did you do that, Choi Minho?!" Cursing, Minho slammed the door closed again.
Jonghyun had seen the exasperated look on Minho's face. And Taemin's red steamy face as he ran towards the room and hid under his blanket. It had set him wondering again.
'What's with Taemin's reaction...did he see what was in Minho's book...?' Jonghyun's jaw dropped as he thought about the horrifying things that Taemin had probably seen. Mouthing the words 'O.M.G', Jonghyun shivered as a chilly feeling ran up his spine.
Under the covers, Taemin was whimpering. And Jonghyun was very much determined to find out why.
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Minho woke up with a groan. His head was pounding like it was splintered badly and his throat longed for a drink.
Stumbling to the kitchen like he was suffering from a hangover, Key pointed out, "The hell is wrong with you? Soccer ball knocked your head?"
"Nothing, really."
"I see some swollen lips, Minho. You better tell the truth. Can't hide anything from your Umma, you know."
"Really, Key. Its nothing." Minho just didn't want the Umma to kill him for kissing his precious baby boy.
"Yeah, sure, Umma will believe you."
"Can you shut up and make my breakfast already?"
Outraged, Key was very much tempted to pick up the nearest object next to him, which turned out to be his cup of coffee, and throw it at Minho. It was at that point when Taemin walked into the kitchen, before he lowered his hot steaming weapon.
"Umma, i want pancak- okay nevermind i'm not hungry bye." Taemin bolted back to the room at the sight of Minho.
'Huh. That was a shocker.' Minho thought as he drowned down his water and slammed the cup into the basin.
"DAMMIT, WATCH THAT. ITS PORCELAIN, MY GOODNESS. MINHO!" Before Key could complete his nag of the day, Minho had already left in a jiffy, the front door left swinging by itself.
Picking up the cup and scrutinizing at its tiny details for any damages, a random thought rushed through Key's mind. Seeing the way Taemin had reacted when he saw Minho, Minho's unusual bad mood, the swollen lips...
Rubbing his lower lip in deep thought, Key set the cup down and let out a 'Hmph' sound. When the realisation had finally hit him like a bolt of lightning, his lips scrunched up into a cynical smile. So cynical, Onew tripped on his own feet in shock when he entered.
How could Key have not known? He was already an expert in this field.
A professional in fact, Key already understood such matters like the back of his hand, all he left out were the gory details.
Maybe it was time for the Umma to make his move. Taeminnie was old enough to be in a relationship. The only problem was finding the right guy. And Minho's existence had saved Key a whole load of trouble. Who else would he trust other than Minho?
Operation-To-Matchmake-Taemin-&-Minho had officially begun.
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"Taeminnie uh, Key has a reservation for two at a fancy restaurant tonight, would you like to go?" Key beamed at Taemin as he chopped up a bunch of carrots.
"Yes Umma, but do they serve those white papery things that will blow up in your face? I still want to keep my face, Umma."
"No, Taemin, no, they don't." Regretting the immature rumour he had told Taemin the last time they had gone out, Key smacked his knife down on a carrot.
"Why are you cooking dinner if we're going out then,Umma?"
"So the chicken heart and the mushroom addict don't starve to death and resort to eating each other."
"What about Minho Hyung?"
Key stopped his chopping. Lowering the knife onto the board, he wiped his hands against his apron and half opened his mouth, ready to say something when he closed it shut again.
"Minho, has, his own plans, Taeminnie." Key picked up the knife and resumed chopping again.
"Okay, i'll go get changed."
"Wear something nice, and you had better cab down to the restaurant to wait for me, Taemin. I'll be taking quite, a while...trying to convince that stupid Hyung of yours that this isn't one of my other sneaky secretive ideas." Ending his sentence with a whisper, Key waited patiently until he heard the door close behind Taemin.
"MINHO? I have a reservation for two at this fancy restaurant, wanna go?" Key called out.
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The minute hand on his watch inches towards 8PM as Minho glanced around in annoyance for Key was nowhere to be seen. He had been waiting for the past 15 minutes and it was simply unusual for the Umma to be late.
Looking at the surroundings, Minho raised an eyebrow in curiosity. The restaurant was far too classy and romantic. It wasn't the type of place where two good friends would have dinner at.
Trying hard to figure out Key' intentions, Minho shook his head. Key was definitely up to something.
Turning his head to the front, Minho caught sight of something familiar. Squinting his eyes before he finally recognised that familiar face under the dim light, Minho stood up instantly.
"Minho Hyung...?" Taemin asked when he spotted Minho walking towards him.
"Hey, Taemin, why are you here?" Catching a glimpse of Taemin's sleek tuxedo, Minho stared down at his plain button up shirt and faded jeans, feeling out of place and inferior. Immediately.
"Oh, umm, Key Umma wanted me to come here for dinner..." Taemin replied, his sentence ending in mid-air as the awkward moments he and Minho experienced held a momentary flashback in his innocent mind.
"Huh. Same here." Minho answered with a indifferent tone, giving Taemin a knowing look.
"Hyung, are you thinking what i'm thinking?"
"That Key went through all of that acting to set us up on this date? Yes, im pretty sure we're on the same page."
Satisfied that he had pulled a giggle out of the younger boy, Minho dragged out the chair and plopped himself onto it. He was pretty sure that Taemin didn't mind, and he wasn't really comfortable handling all that formalities around Shinee's little maknae.
A few moments later, the two boys were quietly enjoying their food, Minho sawing at his steak while Taemin twirled some spaghetti with a fork. Minho was the one who broke the silence.
"So, what's with the whole tux get up?"
"This? Oh, Key told me to wear something nice. He said it's a fancy restaurant, so i thought i should...you know..."
Letting out a short grunt at Taemin's unconvincing answer, Minho put down his fork and knife gingerly.
"Hyung? Can i ask you something?"
"Hmm?" Minho mumbled as he took a drink from his glass of water.
"Why did you kiss me that night?"
Choking on his water at Taemin's unexpected question, Minho's hand scrambled around for a napkin,
"W-what?"
"Why did you kiss-"
"I know, i know. I just, i don't exactly- uh....i don't really know, Taemin. It just, struck me."
Dapping the napkin at his mouth, Minho looked up, meeting Taemin's pure innocent brown orbs and swallowed hard.
Minho couldn't read the boy's expression unlike before, and his eyes were glassy, fixed and doubtful. It was starting to scare him, and Minho finally looked away when his thoughts took a wild spin.
"We should go, Taemin. Are you done?"
"Yeah. Let's go, Hyung."
Putting on his coat before stepping out in the white night, Minho shot a wary glance at Taemin. The 'date' didn't exactly turned out successful, if it was even meant to be a date in the first place. Minho swore that first thing he would do when he returned home was to strangle Key and shove a carrot down the Umma's throat. So much for trying to be the caring Umma.
The temperature was terribly low, but Minho didn't feel the breeze hit him even when he was donned in a thin coat. He refused to admit that it was due to having Taemin walking beside him, that the ungodly cold had none of its usual effects.
"Taemin...you should go first, i need to run some errands."
"Oh? Oh, okay then. See you later."
"Yeah see you." Minho turned to walk away, but Taemin's lips had beat him to it.
Planting a tiny peck on the older's boy cheek, Taemin pulled away before Minho could even go "W-what.", and proceeded to scamper down the streets, towards the multiple snow-covered buildings.
The kiss lingered, giving off a hot burning sensation, leaving Minho dumbfounded and lost for words.
Not to forget, stranded in the middle of the snow wonderland, in which he refused to budge. The sudden kiss had almost paralysed him.
The tiny snowflakes picked the right time to make their descend, floating and landing slowly on Minho's already steaming head.
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"So...how did dinner go yesterday?" Key asked in delight as he pranced up behind Minho.
"Oh, it was wonderful."
"Really?" Receiving an expectant answer, Key's face brightened up.
"Yeah, wonderfully retarded. You set it up, didn't you? Right, i should have known. You have 5 seconds to get out of here, before i smack you with whatever i'm holding." Minho answered in a nochalant tone.
Shifting his gaze to Minho's hands and realising that the latter is carrying a baseball bat since he had just returned from a game, Key scampers out of the room before Minho even counted '1'.
Shoving the bat aside, Minho pulled out a chair and sat down. He didn't care if he hadn't given Key a chance to explain.
Covering his face with his hands, he surppresses a deep sigh. As he takes in a deep breath, Jonghyun is already sitting opposite him, before he could even breathe it out.
"Damn Hyung, do your feet even touch the ground? I didn't even hear you sitting down." Minho remarks as he clutches his heart, fearing it would pop right out of his ribcage.
Lifting his head to look at Jonghyun, he is taken aback at the disheveled, unshaven and absolutely distraught face staring back at him.
"Minho. I think i have depression."
"Anyone looking at you would say so too. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I think i'm secretly obsessed with Taemin. Everywhere he goes, i find my eyes following him. Checking him out. Its so creepy and unlike me, its freaking me out. I don't even find any of his habits annoying. Everything about him shouts 'CUTE' to me. Remember the girly way he screams when a bug is around? That incredible piercing scream that you just want to knock his head off at? I don't even find it annoying anymore! I keep thinking of him, i keep visualising him, i can't sleep, Minho. If you don't call this depression, i don't know what the hell you can call it."
Hearing Jonghyun's speech, Minho finds his heart bobbing up and down. He had repeatedly told himself after the two awkward incidents that he didn't feel anything for Taemin, he simply wasn't gay, and shouldn't he be happy that Jonghyun likes Taemin? It wouldn't be a burden for himself if Taemin was being taken care of by someone else. Why then, is he feeling a sense of insecurity and, what was that...jealousy?
"I call it love, Jonghyun." Onew comments, as he pushes his shoulder off the wall that he had been leaning on. Crossing his arms, he gives a contented smile to Jonghyun.
"Oh crap, Onew. How loud was i?"
"Not very, i was just lurking behind."
"So the two of you know now. And you gotta swear, you won't say a word of it to Taemin." Jonghyun replies, rubbing two of his fingers between his eyes.
"Cmon, Jonghyun. We're not dumb. Why don't you just tell Taemin, maybe you'll get an approving reaction from him, i mean like, you never know, right, Minho?" Onew tilts his head towards Minho.
The taller boy is dragged back from lalaland to reality almost instantly. "Huh? What?"
Rolling his eyes, Onew repeats himself before announcing, "You know what, Jonghyun, i've decided, since you're the cowardly jerk here, i'm gonna help set you and Taemin up on a date. Then the both of you can take things the normal way from there."
"WHAT?"
Onew takes a step back in surprise. It wasn't Jonghyun whom he had expected to react this way.
"Minho, chill, what objections do you have man?" Onew lifts his hands in defence.
"You're not setting up anything. And you're not to take Taemin anywhere on some useless and senseless date. You hear me?" Minho boomed as he pointed at Onew before switching his target to Jonghyun.
Slamming the study door behind him, Minho face-palms. He had no idea why he reacted that way, but it was too late to regret anything or take back any of his words.
He had noticed Onew's and Jonghyun's shocked faces when he left for the room. He was sure that they would find out sooner or later.
What he wasn't sure of was whether he was ready to let it go. Whether he was ready to let go of Taemin. He knew that Jonghyun would make a far better boyfriend for Taemin. But he really didn't have the heart to let Jonghyun do so. He was worried that the slightest mistake Jonghyun made would crush Taemin's tiny fragile heart. And Minho didn't want to be the one crying and worrying for the maknae then.
Grasping his book and hugging it tightly to his chest, a single tear brimmed out of Minho's right eye and found its way down his pale cheek, before landing on his shirt. It wasn't long before another one followed the trail.
The clock strikes twelve, and the house is quiet except for Minho, whimpering silently in the study room.
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Morning came and Minho couldn't have dreaded it more.
He inches out of the study, with Onew, Key and Jonghyun staring at him.
"Minho..." Key starts, reaching out a hand to rest on Minho's shoulder.
Minho merely shrugs it off.
Key frowns. Onew crosses his arms. Jonghyun turns his head back to his breakfast.
"Choi Minho. Is that how you treat your Hyungs? Now, we know you're upset, but it is not necessary to show your attitude to everyone. For goodness sake, we're your friends, if you don't let us help you, who's going to? We're the closest people you can get, Minho. Don't shut yourself off again, please." A disappointed leader comments.
"I don't need anyone's sympathy, okay." Answering in his usual indifferent tone, Minho heads for the bathroom.
"How long did you think it would take for all of us to figure out you like Taemin?" Key asked. He had obviously hit the jackpot.
A shocked Jonghyun turns to face him. Onew's eyes widen at his sudden question. Minho's jaw drops in disbelief.
"Why did you just say that out loud?" Minho yells at the Umma.
"What? I thought everyone would have already figured that out by now? Isn't this why you called me out this early in the morning, Onew? To talk about this?" Key defenses himself.
"No, Key. I wanted to talk to you about Minho's behaviour, i-i didn't know that it was like this..." Onew replies, his eyes turning to check on Jonghyun, knowing very well how the latter was feeling.
Minho purses his lips. He couldn't have been in a much more awkward situation.
Key had let the cat out of the bag unknowingly. So the Umma knew, the leader knew, and what's worse, Jonghyun knew.
Jonghyun. The very same person who had confided in Minho, that he was starting to like Taemin.
Minho's very own competitor.
Did Jonghyun mention that he hated competition?
Minho lifts his gaze towards the boy.
He knew exactly how Jonghyun was feeling.
Awkward, betrayed, stupid and immature.
It wasn't new to Minho, many times, he had found himself in the exact same situation.
Jonghyun's face was a puzzle. Minho couldn't read any of his facial expressions and it was starting to worry him.
It was only when Onew whispered to Key about the situation, before the Umma gasped at what he had done.
He had only brought a barrier between Minho and Jonghyun. And Taemin was only at the end of the barrier.
Jonghyun's eyes meet Minho's.
In a painful voice, he asks, "Why didn't you say anything last night, when i confessed? You should have known better, Minho. You make me look like such an idiot."
Jonghyun's mind lingers somewhere about Minho's book. He had so many questions he needed to ask, and so many mysteries unsolved. But he figured he already knew the answers.
"Taemin's mine. I'm not gonna let your stupid, immature and selfish character hurt him, you hear? I hate competition, so you'd better back off, Choi Minho." Jonghyun seethed, his lethal words stinging Minho like poison.
"I don't exactly like competition either. Kim Jonghyun, what makes you think you're good enough to win his heart?" Minho retaliated. He had no intention in giving up nor letting go.
The temperature around them seemed to be rise higher by the minute as the two boys stood face to face, zapping one another with killer stares.
Onew and Key had decided to inch out of their way, before scrambling to the room and panicking over what they should do.
It was true, neither of them liked competition. And when faced with it, both were very much determined to win.
Key could sense a huge fight, and he didn't like it one bit.
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"Wow, Taeminnie. You're probably the first one among us to ever experience so much drama in your life." Key remarked, as he pulled Taemin out of bed in a futile attempt.
"I still don't get it, Hyung. You chose a bad timing to tell me. Its only 9am in the morning, Hyung."
"Okay so, as what Key has told me, he found out somehow that Minho likes you. And then this genius here tried to set the both of you up on a date. And then yesterday, Jonghyun suddenly told Minho that he likes you, and i was nearby, so i obviously heard Jonghyun's confession. And then this genius here once again, went to announce about Minho's crush on you RIGHT IN FRONT of Jonghyun. And now both the tall and short ones are well, you know, fighting it out." Onew pointed out while he paced up and down the room.
"THEY'RE FIGHTING?!" A bewildered Taemin yelled.
"No, no, Taemin, not literally."
"Oh."
"You're gonna have to choose, Taeminnie, or those idiots will never stop." Key pats Taemin's messy head.
"I can't just choose between them, i love them both as my Hyungs."
Onew and Key stares at Taemin in shock.
"Did you, like hit your head somehow when you were sleeping, Taemin?" Both Leader and Umma chorused.
"No, its the truth!"
"Right, those two bastards are gonna start giving you trouble, Taemin. Look out, don't say Umma didn't warn you."
"C'mon Key Umma, you gotta be kidding me."
Key really wasn't kidding anybody.
At lunch, Taemin was wedged in the middle, where Minho and Jonghyun sat on opposite sides of the table, and Taemin just between them, on the longer side. Onew and Key had wisely decided to stay out of the situation.
"Take some kimchi, Taemin." Minho instructs the Maknae in his usual tone while he stuffs his mouth with rice.
"Eh? Hyung?" Taemin asks in surprise.
"Take some, kimchi. Its that simple, oh for god's sake, nevermind." Ending his sentence, Minho grabbed a bunch of kimchi and dumped it nn Taemin's barely touched bowl of rice.
"Hyung...i've had enough of kimch-"
"Just. Eat. It." Minho was using that voice again.
"Okay." And Taemin knew better than to disobey that voice.
"Take some mushrooms, Taemin." It was Jonghyun's turn to instruct him.
"Eh? Hyung...?" Again, Taemin stares at Jonghyun with wide eyes.
Not bothering to repeat himself, Jonghyun did the same, dumping food into Taemin's bowl.
"Hyungs, at this rate you're going, i'm never going to be able to finish lunch."
"Well, unless some idiot decides to stop first." Minho suggests in a cynical voice, knowing very well that Jonghyun had already started to stare at him.
"Not until the other idiot takes the initiative to." Jonghyun fights back, his tone full of sarcasm as he reaches out to grab a piece of chicken.
Feeling his blood boil, Minho decides to retaliate. He charges his chopsticks at the same piece of chicken.
There is a dramatic sound of two pairs of chopsticks clashing. And another round of dagger stares were exchanged.
Taemin stares at the chicken in a stunned expression.
The chopsticks duel begins, and the chicken is treated with absolute cruelty.
Snatching at the meat and refusing to let go, Jonghyun and Minho snarled at one another.
"Oh, for goodness sake, Hyungs. ITS JUST A PIECE OF CHICKEN!" Taemin waves his hands at the two boys exaggeratedly.
"NO, ITS MINE! GIVE IT!" Jonghyun yells.
"NO, ITS MINE! I SAW IT FIRST. GIVE IT!" Minho screams back.
"WHAT?! I SAW IT FIRST! LET GO!"
"YOU LET GO!"
As if on cue, both of their chopsticks slipped at the same time, and the chicken takes a dramatic three hundred and sixty flip, before it flies through the air and proudly smacks Onew in his face.
Onew closes his eyes and takes in a deep breathe. If not for the fact that it was chicken, he would have yelled his lungs out at the two boys.
"Really, Hyungs. Was that really necessary?!" An annoyed Taemin pushes his chair away, grabbing his bowl and headed for the TV.
"Look at what you've done, you jerk."
"Me? Look who's talking!"
"It was so you, you started it!"
The bickering begins again until Key steps forward and tugs at their ears.
"Do you hear yourselves?! You sound like two little teenage girls having a catfight! Now shut the hell up and get ready for today's practice or i swear i'll give you two a time-out."
"OW, OW, OW, yes Key, OW, OW, okay! Okay, let go please. We'll listen, i swear!" The two boys plead the Umma for mercy. Because no one could escape Key's almighty ear-pulling. Not even the flamin' charisma Minho.
During dinner, Key makes Jonghyun sit at the far end of the kitchen floor while Minho is sent to the front door, to prevent any further drama.
Taemin stares at the both of them in disbelief. His Hyungs had just done something even more immature than himself. And you definitely don't see that happening everyday.
Key was right about the impending trouble. And there was definitely more to come.
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"Umma, i think i'll go crazy at this rate." Taemin stuffs his head into a pillow.
Key looks up from a cook book. "What rate?"
"What are those two hyungs doing for me in the kitchen again?"
"Minho's making a chocolate cake, Jonghyun is probably making something with mushrooms."
"MUSHROOMS AGAIN?!"
"You can always choose Minho, you know. I heard he's making a dark chocolate cake."
"I'm allergic to dark chocolate, Umma."
Suddenly remembering the rashes outbreak that Taemin had suffered a year ago, Key snaps back into reality.
"Oh, right."
Overhearing another clash of utensils and kitchen ware, Taemin pulls himself off the bed and heads for the kitchen.
"That's it. I'm gonna stop this madness once and for all."
The minute he finishes his sentence, a spatula flies its way out of the kitchen.
Key stares at his brand new pink spatula lying pathetically on the floor.
"Omona, they did not just do that."
Making an elaborate entrance with his hands glued to his hips, Key yells.
"OUT. NOW. THE BOTH OF YOU. OUT. OF MY KITCHEN."
Taking a glance around the kitchen, Key has to hold on to Taemin for support before the almighty Umma faints.
There are mushrooms covered in chocolate everywhere.
His blood boils and he clenches his fist, gritting his teeth.
"The both of you. Take a good look at what you've done. Is it worth it? Do you even think Taemin appreciates all these? You're just making a huge fool out of yourselves. For goodness sake, GROW UP! You don't try to win a person's heart by making a mess out of things. That's not even close to being sincere!"
Having knocked some sense into their heads, Jonghyun and Minho looked down in guilt.
"I'm sorry Key, we weren't exactly thinking right."
"Yeah Key, i'm sorry, jealousy just got to our heads."
"We'll try to control ourselves."
"Yeah, we will."
Satisfied, Key nods and walks off, happy that he has finally resolved the problem.
But he should have known better, than to trust the two boys with their words.
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The next day at Music Bank, Taemin finds a carton of strawberry milk on his makeup table. Next to it lies a bag of gummies in the shape of mushrooms.
The boy heaves a deep, heavy sigh.
'Those two bums just don't know when to give up.'
Stepping out of the room, he hears a melodious voice singing.
Turning around, he finds Jonghyun heading towards him, singing one of the most beautiful love songs Taemin has ever heard. The blonde boy's voice was enough to melt anyone's heart when he sang a ballad.
Jonghyun opens his right palm and asks for Taemin's hand.
Taemin holds back in hesitation.
"Don't go with him, Taemin. Turn to your right."
Obeying the voice, Taemin spins around, only to find Minho carrying a plastic box in his hands.
A globe lies in the plastic box. A globe made of LEGO bricks.
"I spent the entire night making this, Taemin. I know its not as big as the real one, if i can even build the real one, but i used all the appropriate colours! Please, i just want you to make the right decision. Come with me." Minho pleads, his eyes turning watery.
"Turn left, Taemin. Come with me. Hyung will protect you, i promise." Jonghyun calls out.
"No, Taemin. Turn right, into my arms. I won't let anyone hurt you, i swear." Minho distracts him.
Caught in a dilemma, Taemin covers his head with his hands.
'Right or Left. Right or Left.'
His head is throbbing in pain from all that thinking, and everything feels like a slur to him.
'Right or Left. Right or Left.'
The two other boys wait patiently as Taemin makes his decision. He knows he has to choose one at the end of the day, or this madness would never stop. But he isn't ready to hurt anyone.
Everything seems to be in slow motion, as the Maknae takes in a deep breath and closes his round eyes.
'Right or Left. Right or Left.'
After what seemed like an eternity.
Taemin took a step...
'Right, or, left.'
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The End <3
Sorry for the fail ending :/ I honestly didn't know which pairing to choose, so i'll let you all decide for yourselves :)
Thanks for reading!