Title: Of Tennis Ball and Memory Loss

Type: Chaptered

Chapters: 3/?

Pairing: Minho/Taemin

Rate: PG13

Genre: Romance

Somehow, Jonghyun managed to get Taemin to manage to get their manager-hyung to clear Minho's schedule for that night and stayed with Taemin at the hospital. Taemin was reluctant at first, saying though as much as he wanted Minho to stay, he didn't want to disturb the elder boy. Jonghyun said Taemin would do Minho a favor since the tallest needed to stop working for his own good. Their manager could or could not have been drunk as he easily agreed, "Just this once," he said firmly before hanging up his phone.

Taemin was full of anticipation, and so was Minho. They hoped for a good quality time together.

But of course, that would never happened as Hongki, all of a sudden, appeared at Taemin's door.

"What," Minho's rage didn't make Hongki stepped back. "Are you doing here?"

"Visiting my lover," Hongki answered nonchalantly. He walked in and sat on Taemin's bed without even asking for permission. "Hey, you doin' good? Remember me?"

"Uhm…" Taemin couldn't quite call who was this chirpy, brown-locked boy intruding his peaceful ward. "I… are we close or something?"

"Man, that kinda hurt. Seriously, don't you remember me?" Hongki brought his hands to his chest and feigned a hurt expression, Taemin laughed.

"You? How do you think I feel?" Minho grunted, his hurt expression was not fake. Taemin gulped his saliva guiltily.

"Wait," there was some kind of horror shadowing Hongki's face. "You," he pointed his finger at Taemin, "Don't remember him," his index finger was now pointed at Minho, "Either?"

Taemin shook his head sadly.

Hongki rose to his feet and yanked Minho's shirt before anyone could say "No".

"Just what the hell are you doing?" Minho's voice was down in angry whisper, hands covering his bare chest. If they weren't at hospital, Minho would've screamed at the F.T. Island member there and then.

"Watch him carefully, Taemin-ah. Do you remember anything, now?"

Taemin, whose face was tucked under his blanket out of embarrassment, replied weakly, "No…" Ohmygodhischestohmygod—

"Too bad," Hongki sighed, he threw Minho's shirt back to its owner. "I heard shock therapy could work quite well, well, certainly not this time."

Taemin sank deeper under his blanket whilst Minho facepalmed.

"Why can't you let people be in peace whenever you go?" the dark-haired grunted, putting on his shirt back.

"If that's how you say I'm awesome... why, thank you so much," Hongki turned to face Taemin. "We are best mates, dear. And if you're tired of people getting impatient about this whole amnesia thing, don't hesitate to count on me for help."

Taemin nodded and flashed a small smile. "Thank you, um..."

"Hongki. Lee Hongki."

"Hongki-hyung?" Taemin grinned a bit too doubtfully, hoping for Hongki to respond.

"Right. At least you remember that I'm older than you," the brown-haired patted Taemin's head chuffedly.

Minho, feeling somehow ignored, walked out through the door and said grumpily, "I'll be in the cafetaria, in case anyone needs me," he eyed Hongki a warning gaze. "And you. Just don't tell him anything that could put me in trouble."

"No worries," Hongki replied a bit too quickly, an inquisite twinkle crossed his eye.

The two watched Minho left with two different thoughts on their respective minds. Taemin felt a bit uneasy knowing that he might had offended his hyung's feeling, but Hongki thought Minho's leaving meant he could put some useful information to Taemin's head.

"Is he angry at me?" Taemin asked timidly.

Hongki laughed instantly. "I'd love to see that happens someday."

The younger's face was full of confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Don't tell him that I told you this, but he always has this soft, cottony spot for you that he could never turn you down nor get angry at you," Hongki said with a big smile. "Don't use it to your advantages, though. At least not bluntly," he added with a smirk.

Taemin giggled. "Jonghyun-hyung told me a similar thing earlier too. Can't believe that Minho-hyung could have such... um..."

"Soft, cottony spot inside that though guy mask?" Hongki continued with a small chuckle.

"Yeah, as you put it that way..."

A short silence fell before Taemin braced himself to ask, "Hyung... what does Minho-hyung's boyfriend look like?"

Hongki was caught in surprise for a split second. "Why did you ask?"

Taemin lowered his gaze. "Um, just curious... Don't tell him I knew about his boyfriend, Jonghyun-hyung told me."

Very well done, Jonghyun, Hongki laughed in sleeve. "Well, since you asked..."

Taemin's eyes lit in anticipation.

"He's about your height and age," Hongki started, his sight wandered as if he was thinking. "His hair is colored in sandy brown, just like you, and with similar haircut as you. And he looks prettier than a girl."

Didn't find any sign of Taemin wanting to interrupt, he continued.

"He smiled a lot, I think that was what made Minho drawned to him at first. Since he's still young he might feel shy around his hyungs, and Minho knew from experience how hard it was to be the youngest, so he often consoles him and looks after him."

The dancer felt his stomach sank. "How did they met?"

"The company. They have been best mates since trainee days, so... yeah you could imagine how close they are."

Taemin tried to look for other less-heart-hurting information. "So he's a singer?"

"He is. And a very good dancer too."

"Do I know him?" Taemin was kind of sure that he was jealous right now.

Hongki's answer was quick, and not without that I-know-something-that-you-don't smirk. "I think you do."

xxx

After Hongki left and before Minho returned, Taemin lied on his back with his arms folded on his chest, staring at the ceiling, trying to make a guess of whom Minho was dating. He could remember some singers from the company, but none matched with the description Hongki had left him. Some were about his age and only a centimetres taller or shorter than him, but their hair wasn't dyed in brown. Some were very good dancers but they hadn't made their debut yet, so not quite singers. One was about his age, a bit shorter, brown-haired, a good dancer and singer, but didn't meet a specific characteristic of what Minho's boyfriend was like, that the person was not a she.

He inhaled a deep breath and huffed loudly, now lying on his side while getting his brain to recall things that Hongki mentioned.

He was about his age and height.

His hair was sandy brown, just like his own. With similar haircut.

Who's he? A version two of me? Taemin snorted inelegantly.

Wait, that was...

No, Hongki couldn't possibly had implied those things as a clue.

Or could he?

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to update, but now after I graduate I have plenty of time to think about the next chapter and instead of the upcoming uni life. Yay. Thanks for reading! Reviews are highly appreciated :D