Chapter fourty-six

In a matter of minutes, Minseok was back at Jake's party. The few staring teenagers didn't slip his attention, but he paid them no mind. 

He was looking for a particularly squirrel-like wolf.

Someone ticks on his shoulder, "Hey Minseok." 

"Hey, Nico! Have you seen Jiwon?"

"So, you two really are...?"

"Hmm?"

Nico adds after sighing, "I've seen the way he looks at you. 

And I'd know that look from miles away. It's the same look Eths has when he looks at me. Plus that story about the hickeys and stuff. The others may not know or see it, and I may not be able to sense it when someone's already mated to a werewolf, but you still can't fool me."

Minseok looks at Nico in silence, not knowing what to say.

"Wow. Can't believe a human is one of the firsts to figure it out," to which Nico laughs.

"Does Silas know yet?"

"Funny story. He confronted me about it just now. And threatened to take my head if I'd hurt Ji."

Nico's laugh slowly died out, "Then why did you do that?"

Minseok looks at Nico totally flabbergasted, "Why did I do what?"

"That with Silas, where everyone could see you? You both have been the talk of the evening since you left."

"It was something I had to do, I'm sorry I can't explain. Jiwon was in the living room, so I did it as far away as possible."

"Everyone thinks you and Silas are a thing now. Even if it's only FWB. And y'all being roomies doesn't help on that matter."

"That's a problem to solve later."

"I don't know.

You should know by now of the mood changes of werewolves. They almost only have peeks. And their jealousies are unbearable, believe me. Believe me and my legs."

Minseok didn't want to have this conversation, "I'm sorry," he scoffs, "I already said I was looking for Jiwon. If you'd excuse me," and he left. Immersing in the crowd.

After asking a couple of more people and hearing a lot more whispers, Minseok finally finds Jiwon near the pool.

The boy was sitting there drinking out of a fully filled beer pong glass.

"Jiwon," he says while walking up to him. The boy stands up and turns to meet Minseok's eyes, "Are you drinking punch? I heard the punch was really good and since your glass is fully fi-"

"Bacardi,

151. Bacardi 151. I don't really like it but it fulfills its job."

"Okayy," Minseok looks confused at the boy. Yes, he had drunk a couple of times before, and that night after ToD he seemed pretty sober, but Minseok wouldn't have thought that he would like such a strong drink.

"Maybe we could change that for a glass of punch, huh?"

"What just happened?"

"I asked if you'd maybe prefer a glass of punch?"

"Please, shut the fuck up." Minseok knew Jiwon good enough to know the boy only cursed when he was really serious about something, "You were already all fucking jealous because I 'may had to share cottages with someone other than my friends'.

And now you're up here almost making out with my best friend? You know, everyone's been talking about it. Even if I'd say something about it they'd just ignore me. Sure he's beautiful, and sure you're breathtaking, so sURe you both would be the hottest couple eVer. 

And surE I know something like that wouldn't happen because I've fucking marked you, and Silas is still searching for the fucked-up vampire mate of his. But that doesn't fucking matter or change anything. The fuck were you thinking?" Jiwon yells, loud enough for Minseok to hear, but for others not to. 

Minseok had been standing there patiently waiting for Jiwon to finish his talking when he felt two hands clash against his chest. Hard.

He stumbled backwards and into the pool. 

But while he did so he pulled the hand that was on his chest with him. And hugged him during their fall. 

As they both get up to catch a breath he says, "I should've been more prepared to be pushed into a pool by my boyfriend. I should have at least put on waterproof lenses."

"Oh my lord, no, sorry!" Jiwon yells, taking the older's face in his hands and looking closely at his red eyes, "Wait. I'm mad. Psh never mind. Suffer."

Jiwon breaths as he turns away to swim towards the ladder to get out of the pool. But he gets stopped by a hand on his wrist pulling him close and turning him around.

Once he faces Minseok , Minseok makes Jiwon look up with a hand on his chin, "Come on. I know you care. Now would you please let me explain?"

"No need, everyone saw what happened, very clearly."

"And do you believe what you saw?"

"I do trust my eyes." Jiwon mocks.

"And me?" Minseok asks hopefully.

Jiwon can't answer this, and just looks at the boy in front of him, swallowing the spit that had formed in his throat. Minseok pulls one eyebrow up, "Do you trust me?"

Jiwon sighs, "That's the ducking problem."

 Minseok smiles at Jiwon using made-up curse words again.

"I clearly saw what happened. But I can't help but think there must be a misunderstanding," Jiwon looks once again at Minseok , pulling his hand up and slowly resting it on the older's cheek,

"You could straight up cheat or kill in front of my own eyes, and I'd still trust you. Still believe there's more to it. I can't not trust you. Can't not care about you. Can't not listen to you explaining.

And that scares me. 

It scares me how far I'd go for you. It makes me feel not only vulnerable but harmless. 

I lose all my powers, all because of you."