By the plexuses of fate

The sea is warm, quiet, and the waves beat steadily against the shore, washing away the sand, and emotions — from Minho's soul. Jisung is sitting on the dock, leaning on his hands and dangling his legs down. It's still a decent distance to the water — a few meters, probably, but Minho is so lazy to waste himself on small things that he easily lets go of this thought. He comes closer, walking noiselessly — the slates are swinging in his hand — but Jisung hears anyway and turns around. — We haven't been here in two years, have we, hyung? — he says softly, taking a glass of milkshake from the elder's hands — there is a small quiet cafe nearby. — It's like it was just... just recently. — I was thinking the same thing about a year and a half ago, — Minho nods, sitting next to him. — I think it was the day you got up on crutches. — Oh, don't remind me, — he waves it off with a laugh. Jisung is clinging to his side, and Minho does not deny himself the pleasure of burying his head in order to inhale the salty sea smell — they swam at noon and did not take a shower, did not return home. It's much better to breathe by the sea than in the room where Jisung spent the worst year of his life. — It all started here and ends here, — he continues thoughtfully. — We met, you grew up, I also lived for a while. And there are no Google maps of this town. — It's better for us — we'll get more, — Minho snorts and picks through the lightened strands — in order not to scare grandma, Jisung switched to a calmer color, although he managed to try gray, black and even red. — And anyway, why does it end? Everything goes on. — Mm, — Jisung nods. — Yes, exactly. You're right. — Will you dance with me? Minho sets the drinks away from the edge of the dock and pulls the jokingly resisting Jisung towards himself. They find themselves pressed close to each other, looking eye to eye and smiling. Minho starts to move, leading them in some kind of wrong waltz. — I'll crush your legs, — Jisung warns and reaches for a kiss. Minho answers, slowly stopping — even to dancing he does not want to give the attention, that Jisung completely owns. They move away from each other and continue, slowly waltzing somewhere from the beginning of the pier to its end. — Do you remember two years ago, — Jisung suddenly thinks, and Minho smiles broadly— he was waiting for this question, — you promised to tell me a secret when I get back on my feet? — I remember, — he almost purrs. — Then what are you waiting for? Minho closes his eyes for a moment and stops again. It seems that they got carried away, got off on the sand and danced to the water's edge, because now the sea is gently licking their fingers. He kisses Jisung on the lips. He kisses on one cheek, on the other, on the ridiculously wrinkled nose and squeezed eyes. Jisung shoves, grumbles that Minho is slobbery. — I love you, — Minho finally says. — That's the whole secret. Jisung groans in resignation. — And I know it again, hyung, — he says indignantly. — Admit it, did you just invent it for me then as an incentive? And now just said the first thing that came to mind? — It's not true! Although then it was the first thing that came. I think I realized at that moment that I had fallen in love with you. — Then? I was crying buckets and was swollen, like after several bottles of soju. — But I knew you didn't have soju, — Minho laughs. Jisung rolls his eyes and pulls the older one towards him. They almost fall into the water, but still keep their balance and wet only the edge of the shorts; the setting sun beautifully highlights Jisung's hair, creating a kind of halo around him. Minho voices this and gets hit on the head first, and then a kiss. Perhaps they should take another walk, because with such red lips, Jisung will not be allowed to go home. — I love you, — Minho repeats. — And I — secret, — Jisung snorts, cutting off the sentence, but looks tenderly. They wait for the night, not caring about the evening cold, and look at the sky for a long time, looking for constellations. Almost at midnight, Yeji sends a photo from the studio, where the five girls are making funny but tired faces — after a year and a half of internship at the entertainment, they finally get a chance to debut, so now they exhaust themselves with training. Minho sends them a fatherly stern instruction to go to bed and turns off the sound, interlacing his fingers with Jisung. He suddenly remembers something funny. — You know, two years ago I came here determined to have a relationship when I get back to Seoul, — he shares. — For some reason, it always turned out that every time I went home, a new round of something... good began in my life. So I thought — why not set yourself such a goal. — It seems to have worked, — Jisung says with a slight hint of surprise. Then, after a pause, he adds, — Do you think something will change when we return? — Maybe, — Minho shrugs. — But somehow I'm not worried. I still found the most important thing. — And what is it? — You.