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Soulmate telepathy is supposed to be romantic. For most people it is romantic. Being able to hear your soulmate’s thoughts – being able to actually talk to your soulmate long before you ever even meet them – well, it should be a perfect way to grow close and woo your destined partner.
Changbin and Hyunjin are perfect examples of how it should work. Sometimes, Hyunjin will burst out in laughter from a joke meant only for him - or Changbin will smile fondly randomly, a smile reserved only for Hyunjin – Or when both of them will flush red from something that Seungmin doesn’t even want to know what was said.
It’s nauseating, but Seungmin is envious because he’s stuck with –
‘Potatoes, steak, pasta, kimchi –‘
Seungmin bites the inside of his cheek in annoyance, suppressing a groan, ‘Are you making a grocery list right now? You know I’m taking an exam.’
‘Bananas, mushrooms, sriracha-’
‘Can you shut up for like a half-hour?’
‘No. Bok choi, chicken thighs, brown sugar, eggplant.’
Seungmin glances at the clock in the exam room, he only has 45 minutes left to finish and review. All he needs is a half hour if he could just focus. ‘Lee Minho.’
‘Lee Minho hyung to you Kim Seungmin.’
‘Fuck you.’
‘Peaches! Whole grain bread! Eggs! Spinach!’
Seungmin sighs, resigned to his fate, ‘What the hell are you even making, Hyung?’
‘Nothing. I just felt like bugging you.’
Oh, Seungmin is envious of his two best friends because he’s stuck with an actual demon.
++
“You’re overreacting,” Hyunjin tells him one day, in the middle of lunch, pointing his spoon across the table.
Now, being told he’s being dramatic by Hwang Hyunjin of all people is not something Seungmin ever thought he’d hear. He doesn’t know if he should be offended or if he should laugh.
“He’s the worst,” Seungmin groans, and slumps back in his seat.
Hyunjin raises a brow at him and snorts “Based on what?”
“He was making me listen to him compare prices of scratching posts for his cats until he passed out last night.” Seungmin complains “I don’t care if Dori would like the ultimate kitty palace more than the basic castle, we both know Soonie and Doongie are too big for it. Besides the palace is way too expensive, it’s basically a ripoff.”
“Uh-huh.” Hyunjin raises an amused brow, “And you helped him research this? Did you google what he was looking at?”
“Of course I did I had to know what he was talking about,” Seungmin shrugs and then feels himself flush at the admission. “Not that I care.”
Hyunjin snorts, pauses, and then starts laughing.
“What?” Seungmin frowns “What did I say?”
“Changbin says you’re cute.” Hyunjin grins at him.
“Tell Changbin to shut the fuck up.”
++
Seungmin has a tendency to lose track of time when he focuses. He knows Changbin’s dragged him out of the library more than a few times due to this reason. He’s never really told Minho but -
‘Hey, Seungmin.’ Minho’s voice in his head pulls him back from his books near midnight.
He pauses, rubs his eyes with the heel of his hand ‘Yeah, Hyung?’
‘You’re still up?’
‘So it would seem.’ Seungmin caps his highlighter ‘You’re also up.’
‘That I am.’ a pause ‘What’re you up to?’
‘Studying.’
‘Okay, nerd.’
‘Hyung, what do you want?’
‘I’m lonely.’
‘Are you actually or are you messing with me again?”
‘Seungmin-ah.’ he pauses again, he probably sighs where he is ‘When do you think we’re gonna meet?’
‘I don’t know Hyung,’ Seungmin frowns ‘Why are you thinking about it?’
‘My best friend met his soulmate recently... I guess I’m just wondering when it’ll be my turn.’
‘I don’t see the point in being impatient about it,’ Seungmin finds himself frowning as he starts putting the rest of his books away ‘We’ll meet. We’re meant to meet. Just wait a little longer.’
‘Kim Seungmin, why’re you being cheesy?’
‘You’re the one that brought up the serious subject.’
‘Hey, Seungmin.’
‘Yeah?’
‘What do you look like?’
Seungmin snorts at that and shakes his head, already moving to look at the mirror. He and Minho spend a few too many hours describing themselves to each other, along with their interests and hobbies and everything they’ve never touched on until Minho stops replying and Seungmin tucks himself into bed.
++
The first time Seungmin can remember actually talking to Minho they were both just little kids. Seungmin knew that the voice in his head was his soulmate’s – his mom had told him enough from her own experiences with his father. She had explained that they wouldn’t be able to meet until the moment was right - until the universe decided it was time. At that moment he had just been excited that he and his soulmate could communicate in the first place.
What he hadn’t anticipated was that his soulmate would make it his life mission to get on his last nerve as often as possible.
It’s not that Minho’s a bad person, not at all – in fact, Minho is friendly to strangers and donates to charities regularly, and does volunteer work whenever he gets a chance. Minho is a really good person – it’s just that his favorite hobby is apparently pushing his soulmate’s buttons.
++
Seungmin loves his best friends. He does. Changbin is his reliable Hyung that he can mess around with at any given moment, and Hyunjin is nothing short of the light of his life (Hyunjin’s words). He loves them, just… separately.
Because when they’re together they attach to each other, which would be fine if they didn’t forget he was there too – sitting right next to them.
It could be worse, Seungmin reasons, at least they’re just cuddling while they watch this movie. At least they’re not making out. It could be worse.
It’s just at times like these that he understands what Minho meant when he said he was wondering when his turn to meet his soulmate will come. Not that he thinks he’s ever going to act like a love-sick puppy like his two best friends. Still, he’d like to at least know his soulmate in person instead of this stupid psychic pen pal situation they have.
‘Save me’ comes Minho’s whine just as Seungmin was starting to wonder what he was up to.
‘Save you from what?’
‘I’m with my best friend and his soulmate.’ Minho says, Seungmin bets he’s pouting ‘It’s gross. Soulmates are gross.’
Seungmin glances at his friends and suppresses a snort ‘Yeah, get in line Hyung. I’m in the same situation as you.’
‘Yeah? Well, I can’t even go home because my roommate has his soulmate over too. Either way, I’ll be tortured.’
‘Your roommates probably getting laid.’
‘Shut up! I know but shut up!’
‘Are you actively trying to not think about it?’
‘That’s right.’
‘They’re fucking! In your home!’
‘Seungmin!’
‘Maybe even on your couch!’
‘No! I hate you!’
Seungmin laughs aloud at that and pointedly ignores the startled look he receives from Hyunjin because the movie is definitely not at a part that he should be laughing at. But he’d stopped paying attention the moment Minho had started talking to him, so he doesn’t really care.
‘You don’t hate me, Hyung.’
‘I do. I’m going to crush you when I meet you.’
‘Is that a threat or a promise?’
A pause and then: ‘You’re the worst.’ And Seungmin knows Minho well enough to know he’s probably laughing right now too.
++
There’s this moment where Seungmin thinks – no, he knows – he hears Minho. Not just in his head but actually hears him. With his ears. In person.
The scene goes like this:
It’s a warm Thursday afternoon and he’s dozing off in the warm sunlight, his head resting on Changbin’s thigh while they wait for Hyunjin to get out of his dance class so the three of them can go get dinner. Somewhere in his sleepy haze, Changbin throws his cardigan over his head to shield him from the sunlight while he takes a peaceful nap.
He’s really not sure how long he’s out for but when he wakes up again there’s a conversation taking place and it takes him a moment to toon back in.
“Do you need Felix’s number?” Hyunjin asks… someone.
Seungmin knows Felix, they’ve had a couple of classes together, he would consider him a pretty good friend and Changbin is good friends with Felix’s soulmate – so he knows that Hyunjin isn’t talking to either of them.
“Nah, I’ll just get it from him next time I see him.” comes the answer and that voice is so familiar that Seungmin freezes in his spot, unable to bring himself to take the sweater off his face to look, “You two just figure out when we can meet up and I’ll make sure to be there.”
“Okay!” Hyunjin says, “I’ll be sure to let you know.”
“Yeah,” the voice says and then pauses, and Seungmin can’t believe his ears, “I gotta ask, is your friend there ok?”
“Oh yeah,” Changbin laughs, “My puppy just got tired in the sun.”
Hyunjin giggles at that and Seungmin doesn’t even have the presence of mind to be annoyed with his friend calling him a dog because – that’s Minho’s voice.
Minho’s spoken voice, in person, not just in his head, and he can’t move.
It’s not until Minho bids the farewell does Seungmin find his grounding.
He sits up and smacks Changbin on the shoulder with a “Did you just call me your dog to someone who doesn’t know me?”
Which really only earns him more laughter and a pinched cheek in response.
++
‘Hyung,’ Seungmin finds himself reaching out later that same night ‘Hyung, what’re you up to?’
‘I’m showering,’ Minho responds, ‘What’s up?’
‘You’re in the shower? Like right now?’
‘Yes?’
‘Gross, don’t talk to me while you’re naked.’
‘You’re the one that started this conversation! What? You embarrassed Seungminnie?’
Seungmin feels himself flush pink ‘Shut up. Talk to me when you’re dressed.’
‘Fine,’
Seungmin only has to wait a few minutes before Minho comes back.
‘Okay, I’m wearing pants now. Happy?’
‘Ecstatic.’ Seungmin tries to sound sarcastic but it’s always a little harder to convey tone like this. Especially without facial expressions. ‘How was your day, Hyung?’
“It was fine. Just went to class and had instant noodles for dinner.’
‘Sounds boring.’
‘It wasn’t too bad. What did you do today?”
‘Went to class.’ Seungmin snorts ‘Had dinner with my friends, took a nap on one of their thighs.’
‘Oh? Are you trying to make me jealous?’
‘As if.’ Seungmin finds himself rolling his eyes at his soulmate, ‘Hey, you’re a dancer, right?’
‘I am.’ Minho pauses, ‘What’s with you today, huh? First, you’re talking to me in the shower, then you’re making me jealous and now you’re asking about my dancing. You trying to seduce me, Seungmin?’
‘What?’ Seungmin chokes on his own spit, forcing himself to not blush at the implication. ‘No! This conversation was a mistake.’
‘Boo, you’re no fun.’
‘Goodnight Hyung.’
‘It’s barely 7at night Seungmin.’
‘Goodnight, Hyung!’
‘Night, Minnie.’ Seungmin’s sure Minho’s laughing at that point. ‘Sleep well.’
Seungmin waits a half-hour, letting his embarrassment fade before he reaches back out, ‘Hey, Hyung.’
‘I thought you went to bed?’
‘You have a pretty voice. I thought I should tell you.’
There’s a very long pause and just as Seungmin starts panicking that he maybe said something wrong, Minho replies with a simple ‘Thank you, Seungmin. You do too.’
++
There’s no mistaking that Hyunjin is working with Minho in one of his classes. Hyunjin will come out of his dance classes at the end of every Tuesday and Thursday with a new story about the project he has with Felix and Minho. It’s Minho hyung this and Minho hyung that – Seungmin is almost surprised that Changbin doesn’t get jealous, he knows he himself is suppressing his own green feelings.
Felix is just as talkative about Minho too the next time he sees his Australian friend. Apparently, Minho is Felix’s soulmate’s roommate, so they were already friends and Seungmin – Seungmin’s reeling.
Minho was this close all this time? It’s just sinking in that Minho has been going to school on the same campus, let alone the fact that he’s friends with his friends.
Maybe, Seungmin thinks, maybe he should try to take advantage of this newfound information.
++
The next time Seungmin sees Felix’s soulmate, he makes a beeline for him.
He supposes he lucked out in the sense that the library is actually pretty crowded, so he at least has an excuse to approach the older man. There’s no open table anyways.
Seungmin gently taps him on the shoulder to get his attention, waits for him to turn his eyes toward him, and take his headphones off before he says “Chan hyung, hey.”
“Oh hey!” Chan smiles at him, “You’re Felix’s friend, right? Um. Seungmin!”
“That’s me,” Seungmin chuckles, motioning to the empty seat at the table as he asks: “Do you mind if I sit with you?”
Chan pulls his folders closer to himself quickly to clear the table for Seungmin to sit across from him and nods with a wide grin. Seungmin sits with a grateful smile.
He’s only talked to Chan a handful of times, Felix and Changbin had been there to drive the conversation each time he’d seen the older man – so Seungmin is a little lost at how to start a conversation. Though Chan seems content to just sit with him in silence, so he doesn’t see the point of forcing conversation.
‘Seungminnie,’ Minho calls forty minutes after Seungmin starts working on his homework.
Seungmin puts his pen down and closes his eyes at that, ‘Minho hyung.’
‘I’m having a bad day, cheer me up.’
‘I saw a cat today on my way to class.’ He offers, ‘It was just chasing a butterfly.’
‘Did you stop to feed it?’
‘I don’t think it needed feeding, it looked fine.’
‘You’re heartless Kim Seungmin.’
Seungmin sighs, shaking his head and opening his eyes specifically to roll them at his soulmate. ‘I think it was someone pet they smuggled into the dorms. I really don’t think it needed me to feed it.’
‘How can you be so sure? You should have fed it, you monster.’
Chan is looking at him when he looks back up, head tilted in friendly concern and confusion.
“My soulmate,” Seungmin answers the unspoken question with a chuckle tapping his temple lightly. “He’s trying to start an argument with me.”
“Oh, I see.” Chan grins, “Have you met him yet?”
“Not yet,”
“The whole telepathy thing only gets better once you meet them, y’know.” Chan offers, dimple denting his cheeks now “Really, it’s more fun and easier to understand the tone of voice.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure.” Seungmin snorts, “Then he can antagonize me even more.”
“If he’s anything like my roommate he probably does it as a form of affection.” Chan offers with a sympathetic smile.
Seungmin laughs and shakes his head, “That’s definitely what it is.” He agrees easily.
‘Seungmin’ Minho calls again, and he can almost hear the whine in his voice.
He holds up a finger to Chan to pause their conversation.
‘What?’
‘I forgot my wallet at home.’
‘That really sucks, hyung.’
‘I want a doughnut.’
‘And you can’t get one because you forgot your wallet?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Do you want me to buy you a doughnut?’
‘Yes. I’ll give you my PayPal so you can transfer me money.’
‘You don’t even have your card to use the money if I did that.’
‘I know, I’m joking.’
Seungmin glances across the table and he realizes that Minho might not be serious – but he is.
“Hey, Chan hyung.” He catches the older man’s attention, “Are you hungry?”
++
It takes two hours before Minho’s chiming back in with :
‘Hey, hey, Seungmo’
Seungmin smiles at that, he’s already home and waiting for Changbin to bring back dinner.
‘You sound like you’re in a better mood, hyung.’
‘Guess what my roommate bought me.’
‘What?’
‘A doughnut. Maybe he’s actually my soulmate.’
Seungmin snorts ‘Are you sure he was the one that bought it for you?’
‘What?’ a pause where he’s probably asking Chan about it and then ‘Seungmin. What the fuck?’
‘You’re welcome hyung.’
‘How did you…?’
‘Turns out we have a couple of friends in common.’
++
‘What kind of coffee do you drink?’
Seungmin unfortunately is already running late to meeting up with Hyunjin for lunch, so he doesn’t have the presence of mind to ask why when he answers simply with ‘Ice americano.’
‘Okay cool.’
Five minutes later he’s sliding into the seat across from Hyunjin at the campus coffee shop and his friend offers him an iced coffee.
“You bought me a drink?” Seungmin teases his friend.
“Nope.” Hyunjin snorts “They messed Minho hyung’s order up, so he ended up with two drinks and he told me to give it to you.”
Seungmin blinks. Oh, so this is how Minho wants to play this game now.
++
They go on like that for at least a month. Making their friends give the other something small – a water bottle for dance practices from Seungmin, a new pencil case to replace a broken one from Minho. Gift-giving isn’t either of their love languages but it’s the only way they can think of to communicate besides their usual banter before their destined meeting.
And then Hyunjin announces that his dance class is putting on a show as part of their final exams. It’s what he’s been working so hard on with Felix and Minho.
He invites Seungmin to come see it. There’s no way in hell Seungmin is going to say no.
++
In the weeks leading up to the show, Minho gets increasingly more and more stressed. Seungmin knows he’s trying not to let on just how bad it’s gotten but Seungmin knows his soulmate.
Seungmin knows Minho well enough to tell just how on edge the older man is.
Seungmin takes a breath, it’s close to 3 in the morning and something in their soul bond is telling him that his soulmate is up and active.
‘Hyung,’
‘Seungmin? What’s wrong? Why’re you up so late?’
‘That’s what I was about to ask you.’
‘I’m fine, I just need to practice a bit more.’
‘Hyung. You know you don’t have to… have to sugar coat it. If you’re worried or stressed you can rely on me. I’m your soulmate after all.’
There’s a long pause, longer than normal, and Seungmin wonders if he’s overstepped but then – but then Minho seemingly lets all of his worries go in one swift thought. Seungmin listens intently as Minho tells him about how he’s worried about his finals, about how he misses his family back home, every little thing the older man could possibly have on his mind.
‘And I’m so fucking lonely, Seungmin.’
‘You are?’
‘I thought that it wouldn’t be so bad since I have Hyunjin talking my ear off about how great you are all the damn time but, well, it doesn’t help. Everyone around me has their soulmate already and all I can do is talk to you.’
Seungmin can’t say he disagrees with anything his soulmate is saying. He’s lonely too, painfully so. He can’t bring himself to complain because everyone else is so happy.
‘If it makes you feel better,’ Seungmin finds himself sighing ‘Hyunjin never shuts up about you either. I’d be jealous if I didn’t know his soulmate.’
‘I love you.’
Seungmin’s breath hitches. It’s the first time either of them had ever even brought up love – let alone said so directly.
‘Sorry,’ Minho rushes ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’
‘Hyung.’ Seungmin takes a steadying breath, slow and even ‘I love you too.’
‘You better.’
Seungmin rolls his eyes at his soulmate but feels a fond chuckle bubble in his chest nonetheless.
++
Changbin shifts in his seat next to him. They’re early by at least a half-hour so all that’s left is for them to sit around and wait. But Changbin is nervous which is making Seungmin nervous. And Changbin’s only nervous because Hyunjin is nervous. And if Hyunjin is nervous then Seungmin can only assume so are Felix and Minho.
Minho.
He’s been unusually quiet today. Hasn’t reached out even once.
Which only serves to add onto Seungmin’s own growing nerves.
“They’ll do fine.” Seungmin reaches out and squeezes Changbin’s knee “In fact, I bet they’ll have the best stage out there.”
“I know. I know.” Changbin nods, shooting him a small smile “Hyunjin’s just… he’s having a moment right now.”
“Yeah but he’s Hyunjin.” Seungmin grins, “And when is he anything less than fantastic?”
Changbin lets out a breath and relaxes in his chair a little “You’re right. Hyunjin will be perfect.”
“Then tell him that right now.” Seungmin laughs, patting his friend’s thigh.
Then, just as Seungmin is thinking maybe he should take his own advice and reach out to comfort his soulmate, Chan joins them.
“Hey, Bin! Seungmin!” Chan claps Changbin on the shoulder as he sits down with them, “Mind if I sit with you guys?”
“Go for it.” Seungmin snorts.
Changbin shifts to face the stage, so as not to be facing just one of his friends on either side “You here for Felix, hyung?”
“Of course.” Chan laughs “Minho too of course.”
“Oh, speaking of Minho,” Changbin says “Is Jisung coming?”
“As if Jisung would miss one of Minho’s performances.” Chan jokes. “He’s bringing his soulmate too.”
Seungmin lets the two of them talk for a moment, he knows they won’t mind him if he doesn’t join in.
He takes a breath, ‘How’re you doing hyung?’
‘What? Fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine?’
‘You’re nervous.’
‘And what about it?’
‘You’re gonna do great, you know. Your friends are gonna be here to support you.’
‘Here?’
‘Yep. Here. Next to me in fact.’
‘You’re here?!’
If they weren’t so early and so close to the stage they probably wouldn’t have heard the crash come from backstage.
“What was that?” Changbin snorts.
“You both have soulmates back there don’t you?” Seungmin pipes in, “Why don’t you guys ask?”
“Good point,” Chan chuckles, pauses, and then answers with, “Felix says Minho knocked a costume rack over.”
“Minho hyung did?” Changbin laughs “He must be nervous.”
‘Clumsy much, Hyung?’
‘Fuck you! You couldn’t give me any sort of warning?’
‘You do realize Hyunjin is my best friend, right?’
‘Still!’
‘You’re gonna do well. I’ll see you after, yeah?’
Minho doesn’t respond, Seungmin doesn’t blame him. Instead, he’s distracted by Chan and Changbin’s friend joining them – Jisung, if Seungmin’s memory serves correctly, and Jisung’s soulmate Jeongin.
He’s pulled into the conversation until the start of the performances.
++
Seungmin expects Minho to be talented. And he expects Minho to be handsome. The way Hyunjin and Felix talk about him he almost expects him to be godlike.
He’d always convinced himself that they were exaggerating.
Except they aren’t in the slightest.
The moment the stage lights come up for their team’s stage, Seungmin feels all the air in his lungs push out with a single whoosh. He is, by every definition of the word, perfect.
Vaguely he hears Jisung hoot from his seat, and Changbin squeezes his arm as if to say – Look! Look at Hyunjin! That’s our boy! Like they’re his proud parents – But Seungmin can’t tear his eyes away from his own soulmate. He really hopes someone is recording this so that Seungmin can watch Hyunjin’s performance later.
When Minho dances it’s powerful, calculated, precise. His technique was perfected over years of practice. It works with perfect synergy with the other two on stage. It only adds to the man’s beauty of his straight nose and long eyelashes.
He’s left breathless throughout the whole performance.
And if the quiet “Wow” that Changbin breathes out by the end of it, he’s not the only one.
The stage lights start to dim and Jisung, without an ounce of shame, yells out a quick “Lee Minho! You’re so sexy!”
Seungmin makes eye contact with a mildly alarmed Jeongin from around the three others between them.
Then, never being one to be outdone, Changbin joins with his own “Hwang Hyunjin! You’re fantastic!”
“Felix!” Chan calls at that point “I love you!”
The shadowed silhouettes of the three on stage are the only thing that can be seen at that point, all trying to hurry off the stage as fast as possible.
Seungmin can’t help but laugh – especially when Jeongin, in a panic, also throws out a “That was awesome you three!”
And well… Seungmin figures, when in Rome...
“You guys are so cool!” Seungmin grins when he sees one of the shadows pause at the sound of his voice, just barely still visible from where they’re seated, only to be dragged away by the other two.
‘Hyung, hyung, hyung.’ He’s not sure Minho is even going to answer him, but it doesn’t matter he needs to tell him. ‘That was beautiful, hyung. You’re beautiful. You’re so amazing hyung. You know that right? Because-‘
‘Stop. I refuse to fucking blush in front of all these people.’
‘Hyung,’
‘I’ll see you after the show.’
Seungmin takes a deep breath. Right. They’ll meet up after the show ends.
++
The sun has already started to set by the time they make it outside to wait for their friends, Changbin holding a fast conversation with Chan and Jisung as they find a spot out of the way of the rest of the audience.
Hyunjin and Felix come out first, Felix barreling directly into his own soulmate’s waiting arms. Hyunjin throwing his arms around both Seungmin and Changbin’s shoulders at once, putting his whole body’s weight onto the two of them. Changbin laughs. Seungmin smacks his best friend’s butt as he praises the performance.
“Where’s Minho?” Chan asks once the seven of them have all calmed down enough.
“Hyung said he’d be out in a minute,” Hyunjin shrugs, turning himself to face the rest of them without letting go of the two he has his arms around, “He kept getting pulled into conversations on our way out.”
And speaking of the devil, Minho’s voice sounds in Seungmin’s head with ‘Where are you guys?’
Jeongin pouts “Should we text him?”
‘We’re to the left when you walk out of the front door.’ Seungmin finds himself glancing at the building.
‘What’re you wearing?’
‘Is now the time to be flirting, hyung? Come find me and find out.’
‘You’re no fun.’
Seungmin sees him the moment the doors open, this time in sweat pants and a t-shirt. Minho still looks good. Minho still looks ethereal.
Minho freezes the moment they make eye contact, his eyes dragging over him from afar. This is the first time he’s been able to get a proper look at him after all, the stage lights making it impossible to be seen from the stage. ‘Wow Seungmin,’ He seems to breathe out, an easy smirk replacing the shell-shocked look that was on his face, ‘You’re wearing a fucking cardigan for our first meeting?’
‘Shut up hyung.’ He bites the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling ‘You’re literally in sweat pants. Besides, I look good in this cardigan.’
Minho starts walking towards the group then, ‘I bet you’d look better out of it.’
Seungmin has to suppress his own snort.
Instead, he nods his head in his direction and addresses the group with “I don’t think texting will be necessary.”
Jisung whips around to spot his best friend and takes off in a sprint, yelling out a “Lee Minho! You did so good! So Sexy! I love you.” throwing his arms around the older man who bursts into a wide grin as he accepts the hug.
“Awe.” Hyunjin complains loudly, “I wish my best friend was like that. All I got was a pat on the ass.”
Seungmin smacks his ass in retaliation, hard enough to earn a yelp in response.
“Hey Minho,” Chan shoots him a teasing grin “You finally decided to join us.”
Minho snorts “Yeah, unfortunately.” He says as he finally joins the group, his eyes purposefully avoiding Seungmin as he accepts congratulations and praise for the performance from the rest of the boys. He even accepts a fist bump from Changbin and a side hug from Jeongin before he finally lets his eyes land on his soulmate. Something in his smile shifts then, just barely noticeable unless one was looking for it. “Kim Seungmin,” he quirks an eyebrow at him.
Seungmin feels his lips twitch up into a slight smirk, “Lee Minho.”
“Lee Mino hyung.” Minho shoots him a glare, but there’s no bite to his words. “How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Oh?” Felix cocks his head curiously, “You guys know each other?”
“This is our first time meeting, actually,” Minho answers easily, barely looking away from his soulmate. “But we’re… Aware of each other.”
Seungmin feels Hyunjin’s arm around his shoulder tighten just slightly, watches Jisung’s eyes widen in realization.
“You guys are..?” Jeongin asks carefully.
“Unfortunately,” Seungmin snorts.
Minho throws his head back and laughs “Careful, Kim Seungmin, you might hurt my feelings.”
“You’re insufferable, Hyung.” Seungmin deadpans, but he makes eye contact with the older man ‘I love you.’ He thinks.
“And you’re heartless.” Minho grins and rolls his eyes but punctuates it with ‘I love you too.’
“And you both owe all of us an explanation!” Hyunjin exclaims smacking Seungmin on the chest a few times. It only earns a round of laughter from the group.
Soulmate telepathy is supposed to be romantic. For most people it is romantic. For Seungmin and Minho… well… it makes things just a little easier.