Chapter 6: Tea with God

"Who was that?" Bobby asked Taehyun as soon as Mino left the apartment.
"A classmate," Taehyun replied simply.
"He's cute," Bobby stated, wiggling his eyebrows at Taehyun.
"Yah, how would you know?" Taehyun said dismissing his statement.
"What? I have eyes .......... I can see," Bobby defended while Taehyun merely scoffed at him.
"And my eyes can see you have a soft spot for the boy," Bobby continued unrelenting.
"What are you talking about? I've only known him like...2 days," Taehyun asked, credulous.
"Oh, why don't you take my keys, I'll just take a cab tomorrow," Bobby teased imitating Taehyun but in a girly
voice.
"I do NOT sound like that," Taehyun said throwing water from the sink at Bobby.
"You still gave him the keys to your most treasured possession," Bobby reminded him, wiping his face with
sleeves.
"Maybe I should go get it back," Taehyun suddenly regretted his previous action. He was worried about his
bike already.
"Yah, he'd be long gone, and by the looks of him he might've already sold it off for a handsome profit. You can
never trust college kids," Bobby said stopping Taehyun in his tracks.
"This is not America you stupid ass, besides I couldn't send him back just like that. It's your fault I had to bring
him here, and it's your fault I had to go to college without my bike tomorrow. Why were you so whiny today
anyway?" Taehyun scolded while he busied himself with the kimchi fried rice he was currently cooking.
"I wanted to try out something," Bobby replied mysteriously with a twinkle in his eyes.
"What?"
"I'm not telling you,"
"Fine. Don't. I am not even the least bit curious," Taehyun said as they both set up the table to eat.

"So tell me, why are you really here in Korea?" Taehyun asked when they finally started eating.
"To try and make it in the Korean underground hip-hop scene," Bobby replied with a straight face.
Taehyun spit out the rice he was eating.
"The hell," Bobby shouted wiping the rice from his face and clothes.
"Are you fucking serious?" Taehyun asked laughing his ass off.
"Dead serious. I have even enrolled in your college for a 6 months long course on advanced Korean language,"
Bobby said, face still impassive and unaffected by Taehyun's ridiculing laughter.
"A Korean person taking Korean language classes for foreigners?" Taehyun asked, he could not stop laughing.
"Hey, I need to spit flows in Korean, and I never learned Korean properly in the States, I only know
conversational Korean so I have to properly learn right?" Bobby explained justifying himself from Taehyun's
undiluted scorn.
"You're serious aren't you?" Taehyun asked finally calming down.
"I told you already, now don't you dare laugh at me you nerdy straight A student okay!" Bobby attacked back.
"Don't you dare call me nerdy you rabbit. Who's even gonna take you seriously in the underground world huh?
What did aunty have to say about this? I can't believe she'd let you come all the way here to...what...be a
rapper?" Taehyun continued, still not believing the topic of conversation they were having.
"You forget I have my mum wrapped around my little finger. Besides, my elder brother is already working and
married and grandkids might arrive soon in the household and I wanted to get out while I can," Bobby said
putting in another spoonful of rice in his mouth.
"You little shit," Taehyun scolded but with a smile on his face.
"Who are you calling little shit? Don't forget I am elder to you," Bobby scolded back.
"Only by a few months," Taehyun retorted.
"Yeah, but at least we're born in different years," Bobby said not backing down.

"Whatever. Do you even know anyone in the business? Is anyone gonna take an all-American Korean boy
seriously?" Taehyun asked, a little worried. Bobby could be the most naive person in the world when it comes
to his dreams.
"Yeah, I met this kid online, he's like, a child prodigy or something, goes by the name of B.I and we
exchanged verses and he promised he'd hook me up with people in the business," Bobby explained.
"Just like that?" Taehyun was not convinced.
"Just like that," Bobby confirmed.
"You're not telling me something," Taehyun enquired studying Bobby's face closely.
"Okay, he's got the most gorgeous younger sister in the world with the most heavenly voice a human being
could possess," Bobby said closing his eyes in remembrance and placing his hand on his heart. Taehyun
laughed at his dramatic action.
"I knew it! You came all the way to Korea for a girl, you big buffoon you." Taehyun was right. His cousin
needed serious protection. Anybody would think he'd be street-smart coming from the hoods in America, but
he's still innocent as ever.
"The heart wants what the heart wants," Bobby replied with a smile on his face, eyes disappearing between the
crinkles.
"Have you even spoken to her?" Taehyun wanted to know.
"Not yet, but I will. Ain't nobody can resist my charms you know. Her name's Lee Ha Yi by the way,
remember it coz she's gonna be your
cousin-in-law soon," Bobby pointed a finger at Taehyun.
"Dream on babes," Taehyun made a face at the stupid boy in front of him.
"And my dreams will come true. So tell me, whatever happened to that girlfriend of yours? The one whose
eyebrows looked like yours?"
Bobby was curious.
"That was like 3 years ago, high school stuff. How'd you still remember that shit?"
"When it comes to dating......"
"Yeah yeah yeah, I've heard it all before. Now help me clean this up," Taehyun said getting up.

"So, tell me more about this Mino guy," Bobby was unrelenting. Seriously, why'd he even allow him to stay
with him, Taehyun asked himself.
"There's nothing to tell!" He raised his voice so Bobby would just shut up about it.
"Fine!" Bobby raised his arms in defeat, chuckling at his embarrassed cousin brother.

The next day Taehyun came with Bobby to college. Bobby had to do some final registrations, get his class
schedules and other official business while Taehyun attended his classes.
For the first time Mino had reached the coffee shop before he did, waiting with two cups of coffee. He seemed
to have forgotten Taehyun mentioning that studying at the coffee shop was a bad idea.
"I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to cancel on you today. I could not study a thing last night," Taehyun told Mino as
he approached the seated boy. He saw the coffee cups on the table and he felt like a horrible person.
"What happened?" Mino looked concerned. Taehyun could not comprehend why but it was a nice feeling,
having someone worry about you for a change.
"Oh, it's nothing serious, Bobby was suffering from jet-lag and he couldn't sleep and disturbed me the whole
night and we ended up opening a couple of beers. I'm thinking there is still a lingering hangover too," Taehyun
quickly explained. Wow, that was the longest line he had ever spoken to the boy, Taehyun wondered why he
even bothered explaining.
"Okay, that's a relief," Mino said and Taehyun noticed he suddenly looked relaxed, like Mino was really glad
that nothing was wrong with him.
"Are you mad at me? I promise I'll work twice as hard tonight," Taehyun promised.
"No, I'm not mad. Don't worry about it," Mino assured.
"You even got the coffee ready......" Taehyun started guiltily, eyeing the coffee.
"This'll be good for the lingering hangover, wait, I'll let Baekhyun put it in a travel cup for you," Mino said
getting up from his seat.
"That's not really necessary," Taehyun was about to protest.

"But it'll just go to waste, I hate espressos," Mino said making a face and Taehyun found that absolutely
adorable. 'Wait, did he just think adorable? what is going on with him?' Taehyun thought.
"Or I can just drink here with you," he said to the boy who was expectantly looking at him.
"Of course, that'll be nice," the boy said. The look of pure delight on Mino's face cleared all the hesitancy
Taehyun had about getting close to the boy.
"So, Bobby..." Mino started as he settled back into his seat opposite to him.
"Oh, he already left saying he has work to do." Taehyun quickly answered.
"Wait, so he's attending our college? But sememster started months ago?" Mino asked.
"He's attending a lanuage programme only meant for Foreigners," Taehyun explained.
"Is he a..."
"He's Korean American, says he needed the language experience for his work."
"So he's already working?"
"Nah, in between jobs. he can't really stay still in one place. So I've been curious about one thing," Taehyun
said trying to change the subject.
"Yes?" Mino seemed to be all ears.
"You seem really smart, so why do you attend this college?" he started.
"What? Based on two study sessions?" Mino asked with a self - deprecating laugh.
"I am rarely wrong. I know you are too good for this college," Taehyun insisted.
"I could say the same for you," Mino quipped.
"We're talking about you here..." Taehyun pressed.
"I'm really not, as you put it, too good for this college. But to be quite honest, I had really bad grades in High
School which stopped me from getting into good colleges," Mino explained.
"Why, something happened in High School?" Taehyun was curious to know.

"The usual teenage rebel stuff, nothing serious. I wasn't even planning on going to college, I thought I'd be a
mechanic or something, by the way, your bike is a thing of beauty," Mino said excitedly. Taehyun marveled at
how easily Mino brought the conversation around to talk about him again, but he'll play along this time. Maybe
this is why people like him, he mused, Mino really seemed genuinely interested in people.
"Thank you, I got it custom made and I'm quite proud of it," Taehyun smiled.
"As you should be, everything about it is perfect..just like..." Mino started but stopped short.
"Just like what?" Taehyun pressed. Is the boy going to say what he thinks he's going to say? No, it can't be. He
hurriedly calmed his erratic heartbeat, confused about his reaction.
"I didn't say anything," Mino looked quite embarrassed.
"You were about to say something," Taehyun insisted loving the image of the boy who seemed to be squirming
under his gaze.
"Hey, Mino, fancy seeing you here," somebody called out and they both looked in the direction of the caller to
see two boys approaching
their table, hands linked. Taehyun sighed 'Here we go again' he thought annoyed.
"Well, if it isn't the JinYoon couple?" Taehyun heard Mino greeting back with a smile on his face.
"Are you on a date? Who's this? Mind if we join you?" Seunyoon asked absolutely oblivious to Taehyun's
glare.
"Not a date hyung, but I do mind you joining us," Mino replied and Taehyun was a bit surprised.
"Thank you," Seungyoon said ignoring Mino's words and they seated themselves on the two remaining chairs
on either side of the table.
"I said I mind..." Mino started but was cut off my Jinwoo exclaiming "Is this the Nam Taehyun that you....?....Ouch!" and stopped mid-sentence.
Taehyun wondered what was going on and he looked at Mino who mouthed "I'm sorry" to him silently. He
laughed at the boy to assure him it was okay.
"Wah, this feels like a couple date. Hi, I'm Kang Seungyoon," Seungyoon said facing Taehyun who also held
his hand out for a handshake.

"Nam Taehyun," he replied curtly.

"I'm Kim Jinwoo" Jinwoo said holding his hand out too. "Seungyoon's boyfriend."
"Yes, I could tell." Taehyun almost rolled his eyes at Jinwoo's obviously unnecessary statement but he stopped
himself just in time. These are Mino's friends, he told himself, best to act nice.
-------------------------------------------------Mino went back to the dorms with a spring in his steps. He felt like he was walking on clouds. He had coffee
with Taehyun today without having the excuse of doing a project together. Their conversation flowed so nicely
it was a surprise to Mino. Maybe the added pressure of Taehyun possibly being with someone else loosened
Mino's tongue. He almost slipped it out too, about how he felt about Taehyun, but then stopped himself
thinking maybe it's too soon. He had to ask about Taehyun's sexual orientation first. With most people it is
quite easy to guess, and when new people are met they'll usually introduce themselves like "Hi, My name is so
and so and I'm gay" or "I'm bisexual" and stuff like that so there won't be misunderstandings in the future but
Mino could not seem to bring up the topic with Taehyun. He had to know for sure if his love-interest is worth
pursuing or not. But he knew for sure that if Taehyun turned out to be gay, he would definitely give it his best
shot because he still could not find anything wrong with the boy, even if he's only started talking to him since a
few days ago.
He remembered the smile that Taehyun gave him today when he apologised for his friends' behavior, and he
felt so damn lucky to be the recipient of that rare smile. He wished he could draw the way his lips curled up at
the sides and the cute crinkles around his eyes. He carefully etched it in his brain, willing himself to never
forget and made a promise to himself to bring out more smiles and laughter from the boy, more than that
Bobby watsisface. He also needed to have a word with the JinYoon couple for their behavior today, he did not
appreciate them messing up his moment with the loveliest boy.
---------------------------------------------------A/N: yes, another update. Emie has no life outside of Winner. And yes I made KSY older than Mino and Bobby older than NTH,
because I can. lmao. And yes, Bobby's presence is only to make Mino more determined to make Taehyun his, and Taehyun needs
a friend too.
wow! This is a shit-load of dialog. I hope it's not too boring. This is kind of a filler chapter before we move on to better things in
the coming chapters. BTW,Is there anyone who'd like to beta for me? I'd be so thankful. <3