Chapter 7: Start where you stand

Taehyun had spent more time at the coffee shop than he intended and it was already dark when he reached his
apartment and Bobby was waiting for him with a faked stern look on his face.
"Where have you been young man? I thought you said you don't have a project meeting today?" wagging his
fingers at Taehyun.
"I ended up having coffee with Mino and his friends," Taehyun said and he could not hide the smile on his face
which Bobby noticed immediately.
"Ooooh, things are moving on between you two then?" Bobby enquired.
"What's there to progress? And what are you doing here anyway? I thought you said you were meeting with
the child prodigy today?" Taehyun asked wanting to change the subject and moving towards the kitchen to get
a bottle of water. Bobby followed him inside.
"They cancelled on me. And I ended up getting bored waiting for you. If I had known you'd be having a coffee
date I would've gone and explored Seoul" Bobby complained.
"It was not a date," Taehyun corrected.
"You do know the boy likes you right?" Bobby announced.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Taehyun wanted to know.
"Remember I said I wanted to try out something?" Bobby started.
"No," Taehyun really didn't.
"When he came over here last time. I saw the look he gave me, and I purposely stopped you from telling him I
was your cousin to gauge his reaction, and it was the funniest sight I have ever seen," Bobby said laughing and
remembering Mino's grief-stricken look.
"What? So Mino thinks you're my boyfriend?" Taehyun asked unbelieving.
"I should think so, considering the way you hugged me and you told him I'm not a 'friend'," Bobby quoted.
"Why'd you do that?" Taehyun asked.

"Because, you are clueless as usual and I wanted to know for sure. And I also want to know how he'd continue
with his affections for you," Bobby said noticing the glum look on Taehyun's face. "Don't tell me you like him
too?"
"I dunno," Taehyun quickly said looking away.
"I think you do, waaah, my little cousin brother has a crush," Bobby teased.
"So what if I do like him? It's not like anything's gonna happen between us," Taehyun did not want to admit it
but it was getting difficult.
"So I have a plan, don't tell him for the time being that you're not my cousin," Bobby suggested.
"How would that help? and with what?" Taehyun was curious.
"Just trust me," Bobby said confidently.
"But I don't even know if I should get into a relationship now," Taehyun said worriedly.
"Why not?"
"You know why. I don't really have time, and if he really did like me it won't be fair to him," Taehyun said
pensively.
"Hey, you're still young and this is just college. Why think so hard about it? If you like him and he likes you
back I say go for it" Bobby adviced.
-------------------------------------------Taehyun was waiting for Mino at the Coffee Bean the next Monday evening, two cups of coffee to-go on the
table. Mino arrived in a flurry of movement, as if he ran all the way to the shop.
"Did you wait long?" he asked Taehyun worriedly.
"Not really. Here," Taehyun said giving one cup to Mino as he himself got up and picked up his bag.
"Thanks, umm, where are you going?" Mino asked confused.
"We can't study here," Taehyun answered. This boy really did not remember what he said last time, he thought.

"What's wrong? You think we'll get disturbed again?" Mino asked. Okay, maybe he remembered a litlle,
Taehyun conceded.
"Yes." Taehyun replied shortly.
"Should I put up a sign then, "DO NOT DISTURB" on our table?" Mino asked smiling.
"That won't help" Taehyun smiled picturing the idea. "You attract too many people, maybe we should head to
the library?"
"Okay," Mino agreed easily and they made their way out the shop.
"Hey, you dropped your ID card I think," Mino called out. Taehyun quickly turned back to see Mino holding
his card and looking at it. He snatched it away from his hands as fast as he could. It must've fallen when he
took out his library card to scan at the entrace of the door.
"Woah, is that really your birth year?" Mino asked.
"No." Taehyun denied, secretly wishing Mino would not press on and was annoyed that the boy had to read his
card.
"It is, isn't it?" Mino continued.
Well his wish did not come true, Taehyun sighed.
"And what if it is?" Taehyun asked turning back to the boy and looking at him defiantly.
"You're like, almost two years younger than me," Mino stated the obvious as Taehyun tried to look for a good
place to sit.
"So?" he asked trying to appear nonchalant. Okay, he found a good secluded place near the window and
walked towards it, Mino following closely by his heels.
"So that means you graduated early from High School. Are you a genius or something?" Mino asked as they
settled themselves in their seats.
Taehyun snorted at the ridiculous question.
"Why? Just because I graduated early? You've never met someone graduating earlier?" Taehyun asked.
"Never, what are you? What are you even doing here?" Mino asked looking amazed.

"It's nothing big. I started school early and graduated early that's all," Taehyun explained.
"How are your GPA's then?" Mino wanted to know.
"They are perfect of course. Actually if my parents didn't mess up my documents I would've been in Yale right
now instead of this shitty college" Taehyun said in a huff and regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.
He didn't intend to be so frank and sound like a show-off. And Mino jokingly telling him "Wah! Egocentric
much" induced a wave of embarassment to wash over him. Sure he had complained to his High School friends
plenty of times with that same line before and he never felt ashamed of being a little proud. He wondered why
he cared so much about what the boy in front of him might think of him and why he even cared to censor his
words or even acted nice in front of his friends. Does he really have a crush on the boy? he asked himself again
for the umpteenth time.
"Hey, I was kidding. That's Ivy League man, it's something to boast about," Mino amended, evidently thinking
he may have hurt Taehyun's feelings based Taehyun suddenly getting quiet.
Taehyun could not say anything, a little tongue-tied. he has never been at a loss for words before. He only
stared at the boy infront of him.
"So that's why you seemed like you hate everything about this place huh? I get it now. I would be too if I
missed an opportunity like that," Mino continued.
"Yeah, well, nothing I can do about it now. So, shall we start?" Taehyun suggested starting to open his laptop
willing the boy to drop the topic.
"And shouldn't you be calling me hyung*" Mino asked smiling.
"Don't you even dare," Taehyun glared at him.
"What? In our society..." Mino pressed.
"No. Do not pull that shit on me," Taehyun warned. He's gone through enough of that in High School now he
don't want to be the youngest one again in college. Mino became quiet and Taehyun secretly sighed in relief,
thinking the boy got his message.
They opened up their respective laptops to work on their designs and it was going fine for a while when
suddenly-

"Dongsaeng~~* I don't understand this part," Mino called out cutely. Taehyun was about to protest again but
he saw that Mino was looking at him with a pout and he could not help laughing at the sight. A pout on that
manly face did not match at all which made it even more adorable and funny.
"Fuck you!" he exclaimed throwing a pen at the boy who had started to make puppy eyes. Taehyun realised his
words did not carry any malice at all.
"Dongsaeng~~ explain to me this part of your design," Mino continued pointing at his laptop screen, blinking
his eyes rapidly with his forehead raised and a beatific smile.
"I swear if you call me that again I'll...you'll..." Taehyun warned again still smiling at the boy but with a certain
threat laced in his voice.
Thankfully Mino finally stopped and proceeded to talk about the project as if he had not just made complete
dork out of himself and Taehyun could breathe easy again.
----------------------------------The days flew by with the two of them continuing with their shared project. Unluckily though, they were
disturbed at the library too and had to change locations a few more time. They tried different parts of the
school lawn, but everywhere there were students, there were people who know Mino. They tried to go once to
Mino's dorm room too, but they were greeted by a couple of his friends who were having a match on the PS
III. They could not go to Taehyun's apartment again as he worried about Mino going back such a long
distance. Finally Taehyun decided to take Mino to his hideout at the bamboo grove.
It was not perfect as there were no proper seats, but Mino assured him that he loved it saying it feels like they
are on a picnic with their snacks around them. Taehyun had scorned at that, but he did not show it to Mino.
The place was musty and full of dirty fallen leaves and Taehyun did not particularly find it a good picnic spot.
But it helped with their project as they were finally able to finish their project.
The day before they had to present their project to class, Mino suddenly started getting serious as he faced
Taehyun on their way back from the bamboo grove.
"I have something to ask you."
"What is it?" Taehyun looked at him curious to see a sudden change in demeanor.
"Are you...? I mean do you.....? What is..?" Mino started quietly, stumbling on his words but could not
continue.

"I'm bisexual, if that's what you wanna know." Taehyun replied easily. This boy is the easiest person to read
ever, he thought amused.
"How did you....oh yeah, it's written all over my face right?" Mino said noticing the look of mirth in Taehyun's
eyes.
Taehyun laughed at the boy. Was he always this adorable, he thought.
"So you...?" Mino started again.
"Yes, I've dated both boys and girls," taehyun finished his sentence for him.
"And you know..."
"Yes, you're gay"
"How...?"
"Oh, the whole campus knows Mino, even if I don't talk to anybody I still have ears. I also hear there are many
disappointed girls," Taehyun joked.
"Liar!" Mino exclaimed but he had a glorious smile on his face.
"I'm serious. Do you forget you're the most well-known person in the whole campus, even more popular than
most seniors?" Taehyun stated.
"Is that a good thing?" Mino wanted to know
"I dunno, you tell me..." Taehyun enquired. To be honest he has a lot of things to say about Mino being the
centre of everyone's attention, but he preferred to keep his mouth shut.
"I don't even know the difference," Mino said honestly.
Taehyun wondered why Mino has not asked him out yet. He knows it now, after Bobby has told him, he paid
attention to Mino's body language, and he could see it so easily then. The boy was so easy to understand with
his varied facial expressions, but he wondered why he still have not tried to make a move. He wondered if he
still seemed unapproachable to Mino, but he had been talking, laughing and joking with the guy for almost 3
weeks now, and now he's already told him he likes boys but they have already moved on to a different topic.
And then he suddenly remembered.
Bobby.

Mino might still be thinking that Bobby was his boyfriend. So how can he let Mino know without being so
obvious about it? He shouldn't have kept it a secret for so long, he chided himself. Stupid Bobby and his stupid
advice, he thought bitterly. But then he was also to blame. He was clueless for quite sometime and even after
he found out he was still not sure having a relationship might not be a good thing with his current situation.
But he did not account for the fact that the boy has infinite charms, inducing Taehyun to want him selfishly.
Yes, he knew he was only thinking about himself right now. All the people he has met, including his parents
have called him selfish at least once, and he figured it can't hurt to be selfish one last time before he turn over a
new leaf. Maybe the boy will understand. And Bobby had also told him it was just college anyway, that it
wasn't like they were setting themselves up for marriage or anything like that.
"So then, good luck for tomorrow," Mino said as they reached the crossroads where they had to part ways.
"Yeah, right. See you tomorrow," he replied numbly and head towards the parking lot.
-------------------------------------The presentation was done in class without any more hiccups and both of them were quite satisfied with it.
After class Mino hurriedly came over to Taehyun before he could escape again.
"Hey, so, my friends are throwing me a birthday party this weekend and I'd like you to come," Mino spoke
hurriedly.
"Oh, I didn't know your birthday was coming up?" Taehyun asked.
"Of course you wouldn't. We are not in a that kind of relationship to be sharing our birthdays yet," Mino joked.
"I'm...I'm not sure if I can go," Taehyun said uncertainly. He wanted to go, but he won't know anyone there and
he has never been to any college party.
"I haven't even told you the date and you're already planning on being busy?" Mino joked again.
"You said weekend, I might be busy?" Taehyun insisted.
"Doing what? Both saturday and Sunday? " Mino asked.
"Y..yeah" Taehyun lied.
"Good then, it's on Friday. I'd be expecting you, and you can bring Bobby too, see ya" Mino said with the
bighest smile and left Taehyun speechless near the classroom door.

Was he just fooled into attending a party? Taehyun wondered and laughed at his foolishness and Mino's art of
persuasion. He was a little excited and very nervous. But then he figured if he'll have Bobby with him then it
won't be too bad. He won't be able to count on the birthday boy as he was sure to be surrounded by a horde of
friends especially on his day.
When Taehyun returned to his class after the hour break a girl he has never seen before came up to him and
asked "Hey, are you coming to Mino's party?"
Taehyun was a little taken aback and couldn't even formulate an answer.
"I'm Bee by the way, and I expect to see you there at the party okay," the girl said giggling and walked away.
After his classes got over for the day he started moving towards the coffee bean shop out of habit and Bobby
came to join him mid-way.
"Let's buy coffee on the go then I can give you a ride back," Taehyun suggested as they entered the shop.
While he was ordering the counter-boy named Baekhyun was again studying him closely.
"Hey! You're Nam Taehyun right?" he asked.
"Yeah?" Taehyun looked at him quizzically.
"You're coming to Mino's birthday party right?" the boy asked smiling.
"I...how?" Taehyun was again lost for words.
"What party? Can I come?" Bobby asked from behind him.
"No!" Baekhyun replied curtly and Bobby pouted.
"It's gonna be awesome, even bigger than our Halloween party. You can't miss it," Baekhyun said turning his
attention back to Taehyun. Taehyun ignored him completely as he took away his drinks hurriedly from the
counter.
"What was that about?" Bobby asked.
"I have no idea. What are you doing Friday night?" Taehyun asked.
"Nothing that I know of," Bobby replied.

"Wanna accompany me to my first ever college party?" Taehyun asked as they slowly moved towards the
parking lot.
"But that guy said I wasn't invited," Bobby complained.
"But the birthday boy specifically invited you too," Taehyun assured his sulking cousin.
"Who?"
"Mino"
"Aaaah"
"Yah, don't give me that look," Taehyun scolded.
"What, I'm not saying anything," Bobby defended but he still has thos twinkle in his eyes.
"Yeah, but you're giving me a look, I don't like that look," Taehyun stated.
"Fine, and yeah, I'll come with you. I wanna know how Korean college parties work," Bobby said excitedly.
The next day too Taehyun was invited to the party by different people he has never met before, it's as if Mino's
birthday is like some important event of the college. He was starting to get really curious.
When he entered the class he shared with Mino, the tanned boy was waving at him happily from his seat at the
back, beckoning him to sit next to him but he ignored the boy. He won't know how to act around him, he
thought, now that he was pretty sure about his feelings for the boy. So he went to his usual seat at the first row.
He did not see the look of utter devastation crossing the tanned boy's face when he turned his back on him.
As soon as class ended three people rushed towards him in a hurry when he already left the classroom.
"Yo, Nam Taehyun, wait up," he heard the so called project co-ordinator calling him and Taehyun reluctantly
stopped in his tracks.
"Yes, Mino's birthday party, Friday" he said tiredly as the people approached him.
"So Mino already invited you?" the blonde haired boy asked, Zico or something, Taehyun remembered.
"Yes, as well as ten other people whom I've never spoken to before," Taehyun replied sarcastically.

"Oh, goody, so you're coming? We're the ones organising the party for him. I'm Krystal by the way," a long
haired girl said holding her hand out for a handshake. Taehyun ignored it.
"I don't know," Taehyun said turning his back on them again but they stubbornly followed and walked right
next to him.
"Mino would really like it if you come," the short haired girl with a deep voice insisted.
"What's his birthday got to do with me? He's got like a thousand people attending and organising his party
already," Taehyun told the three people, walking even faster.
"Hey, you only attend college once in your life, and you have to experience it to the fullest. We're only looking
out for you since you live off-campus and you won't get a chance like this," Zico insisted. He had to struggle to
keep up with Taehyun's fast, long strides.
"Fine, I'll think about it," Taehyun acquiesced thinking it's the only way to get them off his back. "Now please
leave me alone?" he requested.
"It's tomorrow," Zico shouted after him as Taehyun moved away from them
"How rude!" he heard one of the girls saying.
"Yeah, I don't even know what Mino sees in the guy" the other girl agreed. Taehyun almost felt bad but he
continued ignoring them, they were really annoying anyway. But then their words confirmed what he's been
feeling. Mino really did seem to like him back, he thought happily.
----------------------------------The D-day arrived and Taehyun studiously ignored Mino. He don't even know why he did it but he just could
not face the boy. He still was not quite sure whether he was going to attend the party or not. There was a
certain excitement in the air and Taehyun could not be completely immune to it. It's as if the whole college is
planning on attending Mino's birthday party. After class he managed to rush out again and this time nobody
followed after him.
He met with Bobby in his special place to discuss strategy.
"So, have you decided?" Bobby asked.
"I dunno," Taehyun said frustrated, running his hands through his hair.

"It's just a party, why are you making such a big deal aout of it?" Bobby asked not quite understanding his
cousin's reaction.
"Do you know how many people invited me to the party already? Almost 20 people. I feel as if they are
planning something, I don't want to go in unprepared, and if it's some event or some shit I'm running straight
out," Taehyun warned.
"Wah, you're just so full of yourself like always" Bobby scolded. "You think the whole college will come
together just to set you two up?" he asked credulous.
"You don't know how popular this Mino is," Taehyun tried to explain.
"I kinda got the idea, but it still doesn't make sense. I'm sure if he wants to ask you out he'd do it himself, as if
he would want to embarass you or himself in front of the whole college when he still thinks you have a
boyfriend," Bobby tried to reason with him.
"You really think so?" Taehyun asked expectantly.
"Yes, so please make up your mind. Everybody in my class have been talking about it for the whole week and
I really wanna go," Bobby begged.
"Okay, we'll go, but please stay close to me and keep your ears open okay?" Taehyun requested.
"You got it cuz'," Bobby promised.
------------------The party was already in full swing when Taehyun and Bobby entered the dorm building Mino resided in.
Even though Mino's room was on the ground floor he could see people drinking and dancing from the lawns
till the roof. Different sounds come out from different rooms and different sound systems. It was loud and
crazy and Bobby looked like he could not wait to get started. A few people recognised Bobby already whom
the boy greeted with "Wassups" and "Heys". Kind of like Mino, Bobby does not have any trouble making
friends. The only difference Taehyun could see between the two was that while Bobby was adorable in a naive
kind of way, Mino was likeable in a genuine brotherly way, like someone who would protect you and stick by
you no matter what.
"Yo Mino, Taehyun and Bobby are here," someone shouted announcing their arrival to the birthday boy who
was surrounded by a bunch of people who made way for Mino to greet the newcomers.

"YEAH! Glad you could make it," Mino shouted over the speakers to Taehyun and gave him a hug, almost
spilling his drink from the cup he was holding. It seemed to Taehyun that the boy already had a few drinks in
his system.
"Happy Birthday" Taehyun wished awkwardly.
"Thanks. Yo bro, glad you could come too," Mino greeted Bobby with the trademark gangster slap, bang and
pat again.
"Happy Birthday bro. Hey Cuz', why don't you give Mino what you got for him?" Bobby told Taehyun who
suddenly felt very embarassed.
"You got something for me?" Mino asked excitedly.
"I didn't know it was this kind of party....I..." Taehyun mumbled, his voice could barely be heard over the loud
music.
"I told him he didn't need to, he's only been to priviledged kids' parties so...." Bobby explained poking a little
fun at his blushing cousin and Taehyun punched him on the stomach to make him stop talking. Seriously,
Bobby was of no help at all.
"Awwww, I wanna see, I wanna see" Mino said finishing his drink in a gulp and jumping up and down in
anticipation.
Taehyun pulled out a small box from inside his pockets and gave it to Mino without even looking at him. Mino
quickly opened the box to reveal a pair of silver stud earrings.
"WAAH! I LOVE IT!" Mino exclaimed. "HEY EVERYBODY! I GOT MY FIRST GIFT OF THE NIGHT!"
Mino shouted at the top of his lungs, holding up the tiny box and everybody cheered with their drinks in the
air, Taehyun hid his face in his palms in embarassment.
"Yo, bro, Zico, drinks for the newcomers, what's taking you so long," Mino continued in his animated tone,
looking around and five people came to offer different kinds of drinks to the two guys. Bobby gladly took two
cups in two hands while Taehyun settled for a beer.
"Enjoy the party guys, come, if you want something to eat," Mino said gesturing for the two to follow.
Taehyun had never been to a party of such large scale and wondered if the college authorities even allowed
such things. He looked around him and saw everyone seemed to be having so much fun, some were dancing,
some chattering excitedly and there were even some couples making out in the darker corners.

He looked over to his cousin who was bobbing his head to the beat of the music with a smile on his face.
Taehyun felt out of place but Mino brought his attention back to him with his constant chattering.
"I don't know what other rooms have what kind of snacks, take the stuff you want and I'll take you on a tour
around our dorm building," he said as they reached the snacks table.
"Who prepared all this? You must've spent a ton," Taehyun was curious.
"Not a single penny. Everybody contributed bringing their own drinks and stuff. See here? Our room is for
dancing and stuff, if you go to another room there may be rap music blasting with people nodding their heads
in unision, and another where they play games and stuff, come, I'll show you," Mino said leading the way
outside.
"I wanna visit the hip-hop room," Bobby shouted excitedly. "Those are my kind of people."
Everytime Mino went inside a door all the occupants will shout out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" and Mino would
scream back. Taehyun had never seen such unbridled enthusiasm in people just by celebrating another person's
birthday.
Finally they reached the roof of the building where there were lights stringed along the edges and people
sitting and talking. Somebody called out to Bobby.
"Oh, excuse me for a sec Cuz', you'll be fine with Mino right?" Bobby asked already walking towards the
caller.
"Cuz'? Cousin?" Mino asked Taehyun.
"Yes, he's my cousin brother," Taehyun finally told him, eyeing Mino expectantly.
"Wow, that's.... I mean..that's cool. I didn't know," Mino stuttered. He looked relieved to Taehyun, which made
him anticipate the next words coming from Mino, but someone had to come and stop their interaction again.
"Yo, birthday boy, new people in the house, and they brought a barrel of beer, the American kind. You gotta
see this!" a guy called out excitedly from the entrance to the roof.
"No shit? I've never seen a barrel before," Mino said excitedly. "Come, let's go see" he said to Taehyun.
Taehyun did not want to go see a stupid barrel. He wanted to be here on the roof talking to Mino.
"Nah, you go, I'll stay here for a while," he said, a little put-out at being less interesting than a beer barrel.
"You sure?" Mino asked.

"Yeah, and Bobby might come looking for me," he made an excuse.
"Okay, I'l be back soon. There are drinks somewhere around here too, help yourself," Mino said as he ran off
the terrace.
Taehyun sighed and decided he might as well get drunk. It's a party after all and he didn't have to drive back to
his apartment. They had come in a cab as Bobby decided they'd be too drunk to drive the bike. He filled his
cup again with a concoction of different drinks and went to the corner of the terrace and took a seat.
He was sitting there for a while now and his stupid cousin brother had not shown his face again, he shouldn't
have trusted him, he thought annoyed. He had already finished a few cups of drinks. He was a little
disappointed that his worst fears did not come true. Sure he did not wish to have some surprise event planned
for him, but he was a little upset that Mino did not seem to want to ask him out anytime soon, and Taehyun
was impatient. If Mino has this many people around him, it'll be so easy for someone else to take away his
attention, he thought bitterly. And there seem to be so many good-looking people in this college.
"Taehyun-ah," he heard someone calling him and he quickly got up, he didn't wanna look pathetic sitting there
all by himself. He had to hold his head from the sudden movement and realised he must've drank more than he
thought he did. His head was getting hazy.
"Oh there you are, I've been looking everywhere for you," Mino exclaimed walking towards him.
"Hey~" Taehyun drunkenly greeted the birthday boy.
"So.." Mino started as he stood next to him on the wall.
"So.." Taehyun replied, a little breathless at the close proximity.
"So Bobby's your cousin" Mino stated the obvious.
"Yes," Taehyun replied simply.
"And you're..."
"Yes, I'm single," Taehyun answered Mino's unasked question.
"Mino, yo, birthday boy, where you at?" someone was screaming at the top of his lungs again and Mino was
about to respond but Taehyun would have none of it. He pulled Mino by the hand and covered his mouth,
stopping him from replying to the unknown caller.

"Aish, where the hell is this guy?" they heard the guy saying and loud footsteps retreating from the roof.
Taehyun slowly removed his hand from Mino's mouth. The alcohol in his system must've made him bold.
"Wha....." Mino was about to say something.
"When the hell are you planning on asking me out?" Taehyun asked looking at Mino directly in the eyes before
the birthday boy could say anything more.

*Hyung- elder brother or how to address elder male by younger male.

*Dongsaeng- younger sibling or how to address someone younger than you. (In case
you didn't know)
A/N: Longest chapter ever. I wanted to move things along. And winnerTV episode is
coming soon so I thought you might want some help with the anticipation. I have a
feeling my updates will be slow after this. I apologise in advance. Do you hate the way
things are progressing? Please let me know in the comments.
and yes, I changed Mino's birthday for my convenience, coz I'm god of this story. lmao.