The Secrets We Keep - Taekai

the one where taemin admits his feelings

Taemin and Kai had known each other since before the beginning of their careers. They met while in school, while being trainees. And while Taemin has more than not always been comfortable with who he is, Kai wasn't - not at the beginning at least.

"Jongin." Taemin said, smiling over at the slightly shorter boy standing in the practice room.

He was beyond glad to catch Jongin, Taemin had been busy with his hyungs from Shinee ever since he had been placed with them - and he hadn't seen Jongin in what felt like forever.

They had debuted last year and Taemin had been busy ever since. It had been too long.

"What?" Jongin asked, looking over.

"How have you been doing?" Taemin asked, giving Jongin a once over. He was all too aware that Jongin had changed since the last time he had seen him.

Jongin was taller now - almost as tall as Taemin, probably wouldn't be much longer until he was taller than Taemin despite their year difference in age. His voice was deeper. His face was -

Taemin looked down at the floor, trying to hide the blush he felt on his face.

Jongin shrugged, "Been doing fine. Practicing all the time."

Taemin nodded, glancing up at Jongin again as soon as he felt like the blush wasn't too obvious. "You shouldn't be working too hard."

Jongin let out a laugh, shaking his head - looking away from Taemin. "Easy to say once you've debuted."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that I have to practice this hard. I should be practicing even harder, Taemin. I have to keep up with you somehow and not everyone can have it as easy as you do."

Taemin raised an eyebrow, shocked at hearing the words. "What?"

"Not everyone can be a prodigy, Taem. I'm certainly not. But you are." Jongin said, shaking his head again. He walked over to where his backpack sat on the floor. "Look - I've gotta go. I have this date with one of the girls."

A date.

With one of the girls who was a trainee at SM as well.

"Sure. Look, Jongin - I -"

"I don't have time for this, Taem. I'll see you later."

"Jongin - I love you."

Jongin stopped, not turning around to look at Taemin. "I'm not a fag, Taemin. I'm not a fag like you." Then he hurried out the door of the practice room before letting out a mumbled, "Sorry hyung." after it sounded like he ran into something or someone.

Jonghyun entered the room almost as soon as the words 'sorry hyung' left Jongin's mouth. "Hey, you okay?"

Taemin spun around, looking at Jonghyun as he nodded quickly. "Yeah - yeah I'm fine."

Jonghyun nodded slowly, sad smile on his face. "If you say so. Look, don't worry about Jongin okay?"

"Why would I worry about him?" Taemin asked, letting his eyes drop down from Jonghyun's gaze. Taemin felt Jonghyun's hand on his shoulder.

"I know you care about him - and worry about him - more than anyone else would deem you should. I get it though. I understand and I'm not going to tell you it's stupid or you should find a girlfriend - I'm not one of those people, Tae."

Taemin nodded slightly, "I know Jjong. I just - it's stupid really. Jongin and I, theres no way he'd -"

"Like someone like you?"