When It Boils Down To One Reason; Minho/Key
The reason why Choi Minho wants to be in the 91 line is the very reason why Kim Kibum doesn't include him in.
Because in reality, it really is this simple.
Author's Note: My take on why Minho always seem missing from the 91 line. Enjoy dear readers! Thanks for giving this story a shot! ^^
“Where are you going?”
“I’m meeting the 91 line.”
Uh oh. Onew, Jonghyun and Taemin stopped what they were doing individually and shared a look with each other. The other three members of SHINee had heard the exact question and the same answer over a ridiculous amount of times. They practically already knew where this conversation between Minho and Key was going. It was the same scene all over again but tonight, they had the misfortune of watching it unfold together. All three of them kept silent, keeping their focus on what they were doing in the living room of their dorm. Onew was reading a book in a curled up position at one end of the sofa, Jonghyun was playing with his laptop, sitting in between Onew and Minho in the middle of the sofa, while Taemin was on the floor, his back leaning against the sofa and munching on chips as he flipped through channels on the TV. It might seem that the three members were occupied with what they were doing but in actual fact, they were all playing out the scene that was about to happen in their heads and carefully listening in on Minho and Key’s conversation to see if it matched.
“Why am I not invited?” Minho questioned as he remained seated on the sofa.
At the same time, Taemin mouthed out the exact same words, his eyes still on the television.
“Since when were you invited to our gatherings?” Key shot back a question.
This time round, it was Jonghyun’s turn to mouth Key’s words without even having to look up from his MacBook.
Even with their members all gathered in the living room and obviously very much able to listen and watch their entire conversation, both Minho and Key didn’t give two hoots and were fully absorbed with the argument that was brewing between them - they themselves knew they had been through this over a hundred times.
“Exactly Kibum, so maybe I should start going for the gatherings.”
“You can't.” Key replied from their walk in wardrobe where he was choosing a jacket to match his outfit.
“Why not?” Minho’s eyes followed Key’s every movement.
“Because they are my friends.” Key answered, not sparing Minho a look as he removed his black leather biker jacket from the hanger.
“Kibum, I practically know everyone in the group! They're my friends too! So why can't I go?” Minho was now sitting on the edge of the sofa, almost sounding like he was whining.
“You just can't alright!” Key raised his volume, making his way back into the living room and then to the main door. “You've already done enough.”
“You know, that's what you always say but Kibum, I really don't know what I've done that has kept me out of the 91 line.” Minho stood up from the sofa, watching Key as he put on his boots.
“Doesn’t matter. Even if you knew, you still can't be in the 91 line.” Key sighed, stuffing his keys into his back pocket.
“Why not?!” With his arms crossed, Minho stared at the back of Key’s head because the blonde didn’t bother turning back at all.
Minho was utterly confused by Key but he wasn't going to get his answer anytime soon. The diva had thrown his jacket over his shoulders and left without saying anything. Minho let out a breath, dropping heavily back down on the sofa before looking at the three pairs of eyes that were now casting sympathetic looks at him.
“Do you guys know what I did to end up being excluded from the 91 line?”
“More like what you did not do…” The first to react was Onew as he let out a sigh, correcting Minho’s question in a mumble before going back to reading his book.
Minho was even more confused now. He glanced at the maknae, hoping that Taemin would explain things to him but all he got was the dancer rolling his eyes before continuing to savour his chips. And that left him with one last person to depend on whom so happened to be sitting right next to him….
Knowing that the rapper was waiting for an answer, Jonghyun patted Minho on his shoulder and smiled as friendly as he could. "Minho yah, it's better if you figure it out yourself..."
"Does this mean that I really did something wrong and you guys actually know what it is that I did?"
The members shared an exasperated look with each other and shook their heads with resignation. They couldn't believe how daft Minho was.
"Leave us out of this." Onew simply said on behalf of everyone.
Minho groaned, unhappy that his members weren't making any effort to help him, and helpless because he knew Onew's words were final and he was, yet again, left to figure things out by himself. And if there was some figuring out to be done, peace and quiet was definitely a must. For this reason, Minho decided to have some me-time on his bed in his shared room with Jonghyun. Besides, staying in the living room was obviously going to get him nowhere, no thanks to his unhelpful members of course.
Lying on his back, Minho settled comfortably on his bed and folded his arms under his head. He stared at the ceiling and sighed as he tried to figure out the one logical reason why he wasn’t included in the 91 line, or more like why Key didn’t want him in the 91 line. Yet, like every other time he tried to calmly think it through, Minho could never reach a logical conclusion (because he had thought of many illogical reasons before but wouldn’t want anyone to know what those were for fear of being laughed at).
It wasn’t that Minho was desperate to be a part of the 91 line. Because if he was desperate for anything, it was to be a part of Key’s life (apart from their relationship as members in the same group). He wanted to be something more than just 1/5 of SHINee to Key. Being excluded from the 91 line never mattered to him at all before he was hit by a moment of realisation that Key made his heart beat faster.
Key had always been a mystery to him. The way he could be almighty in one moment like he was untouchable and so adorably kid-like in the next was a wonder to Minho. Kim Kibum could be fierce, aggressive, loud, naggy and act like a complete Diva but he could also be childish, innocent, cute, vulnerable, caring, honest and as loveable as the maknae of SHINee. It was everything about Key that had Minho feeling so tangled up in him. And there was nothing Minho could do about it. Gone were the days when Minho really hated Key’s guts, especially when Key got all arrogant and loud if he was better at something. Now, he has grown to love every side of Key, all of Kim Kibum. When it came to the almighty Kim Kibum of SHINee, Minho was a hopeless case, really. And he was feeling even more hopeless now that he knew Key was having fun with the 91 line (of which he should be included too) while he was stuck at the dorm on the verge of losing his mind over said person.
“Happy thoughts, Choi Minho, happy thoughts…” Minho mumbled to himself as he closed his eyes and pictured the things Key did that made him go crazy.
Like leaning on his shoulders while Key laughed that laugh where his eyes would disappear, his high cheekbones becoming even more defined to make him look so damn adorable that it made Minho wish he’ll always be there to hear and feel that laugh in his ear. Like holding his hand and fiddling with his fingers absentmindedly whether they were on or off camera. Like holding on to his shoulder and whispering in his ear with that low and sexy voice of his which Minho didn’t know Key was capable of whenever the surroundings were too noisy. Like always cheering him on enthusiastically as well as cheering him up (when he feels disappointed) at idol sports competitions. Like how Key fits so naturally in his arms every single time he pulled him into an embrace. Like how Key could take his breath away.
A smile tugged at the corners of Minho’s mouth. He slowly opened his eyes, only to be taken aback by the darkness that surrounded him. He didn’t remember turning the lights off when he came into the room. Minho didn’t stay baffled for long though because upon hearing the familiar snores coming from Jonghyun on the other side of the room, he realised that he must have fallen asleep without even knowing. Running his hand through his hair while laughing to himself, the rapper noticed a bright light that was coming from under the door amidst the darkness. Curious, Minho decided to get out of bed and find out why the light was still on.
Keeping any noise to the minimum, the rapper left his room and headed out to the common area. There, in the living room, was Key lying on the sofa with his arm over his eyes. He looked like he was sleeping but Minho couldn’t be sure about that. He walked towards the sofa and then squatted down to the blonde’s level, reaching out to shake Key gently on his shoulder.
“Kibum?”
Key moved his arm away and turned his head to the direction of the voice. He smiled, almost politely, when he saw Minho blinking at him.
“Hey… why are you up?”
“The light was on so…” Minho shrugged as he watched Key move to sit upright instead. “What about you? Why are you out here and not in your room?”
“I just got back not too long ago.”
Minho glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned when he saw that the time was nearing 3am. “That’s late…”
“What? Do you have something to say again?” There was nothing friendly in Key’s expression anymore and he looked like he was ready to go to war.
Minho sighed and shook his head, standing up before dropping himself onto the sofa right next to Key. “Kibum, I’m not looking to start an argument with you.”
“Why do you like asking so many questions then?”
“I just…” Minho paused, swallowing nervously since he was unsure of what to say, undecided if now was the right time to tell Key the truth of why he cared so much.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“Say it. You always have no problem voicing your opinions, why hesitate now?”
“Why are you getting worked up, Kibum?” Minho finally turned to look at Key.
“Am not.” Key looked away and crossed his arms.
“You are! Besides, if there’s anyone who has the right to get agitated, it’s me.” Minho huffed. “I’m the one who’s being excluded out of the 91 line for god knows what reasons.”
“Why are you making this such a big deal? I mean, you have your Dong Bang Shin Ki and Super Junior hyungs don’t you? Why do you still need to be in the 91line?”
“Because they’re not you.”
Minho’s reply came a little too sudden for Key to digest.
“Sorry?”
“Never mind Kibum. Forget it, it’s late. Sleep early.”
Minho got off the sofa and was just about ready to storm back into his room when his arm was caught in a tight grip and he felt himself fall back onto the sofa clumsily.
“Nuh uh uh Mister, you ain’t going anywhere!”
In one swift movement, Key swung his leg over Minho’s lap and straddled him with his hands clutching the rapper’s shirt, not caring that his whole weight was on Minho.
“Repeat what you said just now.” Key stared down at a stunned Minho.
Eyeing the position they were in, Minho gulped and then cleared his throat to answer Key. “It’s late… sleep early?”
“Don’t try to be funny with me.” Key’s grip on his shirt grew tighter, exposing Minho’s chest that was heaving up and down a little too quick. “Tell me why you want to be in the 91 line.”
“Kibum, I can’t talk to you seriously when you’re sitting on me like this.”
“I don’t see why you can’t.”
“Damn it Kibum, I can’t think straight alright!”
“And why can’t you-“
“Because all I can think about is the heat of your body on mine and how your lips are tempting me and-“ Minho couldn’t continue because Key had placed a finger on his lips.
“You’re… sexually attracted to me?” Key was honestly caught off guard with Minho’s honesty but he was never the shy sort, always straightforward with his words.
A defeated Minho removed Key’s finger and looked sincerely at the blonde who was now smirking at him. “Yes… and since you already know that, I might as well tell you i’m in love with you as well.”
“Wow.” Key released Minho’s shirt and smoothed out the creases that had formed, and in the process felt Minho’s erratic heartbeat. “You love me.”
“Kibum…”
“And all this time…you kept me wondering for so long.” Key sighed. “I thought… I was the only one.”
Upon hearing Key’s very own confession, Minho smiled and pulled the blonde down so that their lips finally met in a kiss so light that the rapper would later find out Key did not even classify as a kiss.
“I thought you’ll never like me that way, or worse, that you couldn’t stand me considering how you said I’ve done enough to be left out of the 91 line… what does that even mean anyway?” Minho decided to try asking again, especially since the mood was considerably pleasant.
“Right… I think it’s only fair I should let you know why you can’t be in the 91 line.” Key cleared his throat as his hands moved from Minho’s chest to rest on his shoulders instead.
“You see, the 91 line are the only friends I have in Seoul. I talk to them about almost everything, and everything includes my feelings for you… so that means, if you’re present at our gatherings, I won’t be able to confide in them anymore. I need friends outside SHINee, Minho.”
“Oh.” Minho could finally understand where Key was coming from. “Well, if that’s the reason, you know, because you love me and all, I’ll be more than happy to exclude myself out of the 91 line.”
“That easy? And here I thought you were desperate to be in the 91 line!”
“That’s because I wanted to spend more time with you.”
“Minho, you’re stupid.”
“Why?”
“If you had just confessed earlier, I wouldn’t even spend my free time with them!”
Minho lifted his hand to brush away Key’s bangs and then held the side of his face, looking deep into Key’s eyes. “That doesn’t matter anymore… what matters is that I’ve got you now.”
In reply, Key wrapped his hand around the nape of Minho’s neck and pulled his face slowly towards him. When their lips were just about to touch, barely a centimetre away from each other, Key stopped and whispered five words in that low and sexy voice of his.
“Kiss me properly, you idiot.”
Minho did just what he was told.
(The next morning, Onew, Jonghyun and Taemin woke up to find Key sleeping on top of Minho on the sofa.
“Well, I guess they’ve finally figured things out.” The leader commented, keeping his volume low.
“About time they did.” Jonghyun rolled his eyes but smiled at the sight in front of him.
“Hyungs, we have to do something about the rooming arrangements or else we’ll never be able to use the sofa the same way again… if you know what I mean.”
Onew and Jonghyun shared a look with each other. Trust the maknae to always remind them of what needs to be taken care of.)