Hu-min was sitting at the edge of your bed, elbows on his knees, listening while you talked about something that had happened earlier that day. He nodded now and then, eyes on you, attention steady in that quiet way he had---like when he listened, everything else faded out.

As you spoke, you reached over and set your phone on the desk, angling it carefully so it faced the open space in the room.

He didn’t notice.

"Baku,” You called out.

“Yeah?” He answered immediately, looking up at you.

“Can you do something for me?”

He tilted his head a little, curious. “What is it?”

You tried to keep your voice casual. “Stand up.”

He didn’t question it, just pushed himself to his feet, brushing his hands against his pants. “Okay…” He said, a small smile forming. “Now what?”

“Raise your arms.”

He blinked. “…My arms?”

“Yes.”

There was a short pause while he studied your face, like he was trying to figure out what you were planning. But then he chuckled softly under his breath and lifted both arms anyway, stretching them loosely above his head.

“Like this?” He asked.

“Yes. And don’t move.”

That made him laugh a little more. “You’re being suspicious right now.”

“Just trust me.”

“I do,” He said simply.

The way he said it---so natural, so certain---made your chest tighten for a second. But you stepped closer anyway, close enough to see the faint curiosity in his eyes.

“What are you---”

You leaned in and kissed him before he could finish the sentence.

At first, he went still, clearly surprised, arms still raised where you had told him to keep them. You felt the pause in him, the moment it took for his thoughts to catch up. Like he was torn between keeping them up because you said so and 'This is torture' thoughts.

He chose to ignore it, in the end.

He let one arm down, tentatively, like he was scared you'd get mad. He settled a hand on the curve of your side.

A second later, the other arm followed, sliding around your back, pulling you gently closer as he kissed you back.

He melted quietly, completely, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The kiss stayed soft, unhurried. The way he held you was warm and careful, one hand resting steady against your back, thumb brushing lightly against the fabric of your clothes without him seeming to realize he was doing it.

By the time you pulled back, his expression had gone soft, eyes warm and slightly unfocused.

“…What was that for?” He asked quietly.

You smiled, a little amused, and pointed toward the phone on the desk.

He followed your gesture, squinting slightly, and then looked back at you. Realization came slowly, but when it did, he let out a small breath of laughter.

“You were testing me?”

“Kind of.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, a little confused, but he was smiling. “Did I pass?”

“You lasted longer than I expected,” You said.

“That doesn’t sound very reassuring,” He replied, still smiling softly.

For a second, neither of you moved. His hand was still resting at your waist, warm and steady, like he had forgotten it was there.

Then he leaned down and kissed you again, gentle and lingering, like he wasn’t in any hurry at all.

This time, neither of you even glanced at the phone.