I stop in my tracks and this made Minho stop and look at me. "Is everything okay?"

I bite at my lip and let my eyes look at the house in front of me. Inhaling sharply as it hit me, really hit 'me that I was here—in front of Minho's house and about to meet his parents.

Yes, I've met them but that was before everything happened and before I knew what they thought of my parents. I wasn't sure if this was a good idea now that I was here.

My hands shook and it felt like my heart was about to beat out of my chest, my legs getting ready to run the second things turn bad—I hoped they didn't.

"Jisung?"

My eyes find Minho's that held so much worry and I knew if I was to tell him that I didn't want to do this today and we should do this another day, he would.

Grabbing my hand and giving me a small smile, he says "Everything will be okay" His voice was gentle as I nod slowly. "Think of it this way, if they weren't open to this—they wouldn't have invited you over"

"Or they invited me over to cut me down" Minho chuckles and shakes his head.

"I don't think so love"

Love... it fell from his lips so effortlessly.

"Okay" I stand up straight "I'm ready"

Minho's smile grows and with his hand in mine we walk to the door and walk into the house.

My eyes couldn't help but gaze around the home. It was lit with warm lighting, giving it a cozy feel. The smell of food brought comfort and a sense of love into this house that I couldn't put my finger on.

His house was much different from mine in that sense. No, it wasn't as big but that wasn't what I envied. It was how it didn't look perfect. The picture on the walls had genuine smiles and the house didn't lack the feeling of a home. It wasn't a solid white where it had no personality, unlike mine where it was plain and fell into a color scheme. It felt lived in and loved.

I smile and pick up a picture frame "Is this you?" I ask, looking up to see Minho watching me.

"Yeah" He chuckles and I put the picture down.

"Y'all made it" I turn to the voice and there stood his mom with a small soft smile.

Her eyes were on her son but soon went to me. "Jisung, I am happy you agreed to join us tonight"

I swallow harshly and gave her a small smile "Of course, I'm happy to be here"

I couldn't quite tell if her smile was genuine or forced on for her son's happiness. Still, I found myself wanting to be someone she accepted for her son. Someone she approves on.

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"What do you plan to do after school Jisung?" Minho's dad asks me. "Assuming you aren't taking over your dad's company"

I look over at him and I felt his eyes watch me curiously. I've been getting asked questions all night and I understood why.

"I was hoping to go to art school, but I'm not sure anymore" My eyes go to Minho and I notice his confused expression. It wasn't something I had told him.

"Oh? I had heard from Minho that you are a great artist, why the sudden change?" I look at his mom who looked equally confused.

"W-Well" I sigh and shrug "I don't think I'm so confident in my work yet"

She nods understandingly, her lips forming a sweet smile and she looks over to Minho briefly before going back to me "You know, I can see why Minho likes you so much"

Minho coughs suddenly and he reaches for his water. "Calm down son, this news isn't new"

I chuckle and look to Minho who sits there letting embarrassment wash over him.

"You too are a lot alike" I look to his mom "Minho is an incredible writer from what he has shown me but he isn't confident in it"

I look down at the table, letting her words roam my head "You know, I always told him growing up that he can't let these fears stop him from achieving his dream or the goals he sets for himself"

I look at her and she still has her eyes on me, "As a parent, all I can do is hope he gets to where he is happiest in life and hopefully guide him in the right direction before he no longer needs me"

"Mom, let's not be sentimental now," Minho says with a small chuckle.

Ignoring Minho she continues with "And I know you make our boy happy, that is one reason I was open to this dinner and why I am apologizing" I shake my head.

"Y-You don't have to apologize"

"I do because I was in the wrong that day. I was scared for my son. Minho—" She looks at him and back to me "He's still my little boy in my heart and knowing how I—I could have lost him that day" Her eyes glass over with tears "I needed someone to blame and I'm sorry that happened to be you"

"And I'm sorry we as parents judged you and yours" Minho's dad adds.

The rest of the dinner went smoothly and continued with a few laughs and lots of smiling. Everything felt good and finally like it was okay.

The smile on Minho's face was something I almost couldn't bare to forget. I wanted to paint it, tattoo it into my brain and keep it there forever.

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"So this is your room" I look around the space. He had random books stacked around the place. Bookshelves full and cluttered like he had no more space for new ones. Notebooks and journals, along with books are what mostly filled his room.

It wasn't heavily decorated or had tons of color. He kept it mostly neutral tones and personally that's what I felt he was. Minho was never someone who was overly excited but he wasn't completely closed off as some would say.

If Minho was any color he would be something that reminded me of earth. Green, browns maybe... That's what he was to me. At first, he was just a stranger I had admired but too scared to approach and that was the beige in our story—the thing that kept things neutral, as time went on he was the first to make a move, and though it didn't lead to a straight path of happiness but lots of tears and times we strayed away from that path that led us here, here in a path full of green.

I sat down on his bed and he looks at me with a smile "What?"

He shrugs "You might be the only person besides my family to step foot into my room"

I gasp but half sarcastically "Am I? What an honor"

Minho's expression turns serious and my smile fades as he looks deeply into my eyes "I should probably take you home or your parents will think I kidnapped you"

"I give them an hour before they blow up my phone" I joke.

Minho smiles and his hand goes to my cheek and softly rubs my cheek with his thumb "I'm so happy right now" He spoke softly.

I hum and lean into his touch "Me too, today was good"

He nods and pulls his hand away just to grab my hand in his, looking down at them "I'd be lying if I said this didn't take a weight off of me"

I look over his face as he continues to look down at our hands. "We both try to impress our parents and I think both of us are afraid of failing them"

Minho looks up at me "I wouldn't have left you if they chose to be against this, you know that right?"

I give him a tight-lipped smile and I was the one to scoot closer, "I know, but let's not think about that"

Minho nods and for the first time, I felt like everything will be okay between us. The look in his eyes made me confident in that and this. I didn't have reason to be afraid and I didn't have a secret to keep.