Chapter 29 - Cracks in the Ice

Minho had always prided himself on being logical. Rational. In control.

But now?

Now, he felt like he was standing on a crumbling bridge, watching pieces of himself fall into the abyss below.

And the worst part?

It was all because of Hyunjin.

--

Minho barely spoke to Seungmin that night.

Not because he didn't want to—but because he couldn't.

Because every time Seungmin's voice reached his ears, his mind wandered somewhere else.

To the way Hyunjin's eyes shimmered when he smiled.

To the soft way he spoke, the way he carried himself, the way he—

No.

Minho gritted his teeth, staring at his untouched plate of food.

This was just stress.

He was not thinking about Hyunjin.

And he sure as hell wasn't thinking about how Hyunjin had ignored him today.

Seungmin nudged him. "You okay? You've been spacing out."

Minho forced a smirk. "Yeah, just tired."

Seungmin eyed him for a second before shrugging. "If you say so."

Minho let out a slow breath.

He could handle this.

He just had to keep pretending everything was fine.

--

The next day, Minho decided to avoid Hyunjin.

Not that he cared. It wasn't like he wanted to talk to him anyway.

Right?

But then, during their lunch break, he saw Hyunjin from across the courtyard—sitting alone, picking at his food absentmindedly.

Felix and Changbin weren't there.

Neither was Jisung.

Minho's brows furrowed.

For some reason, it didn't sit right with him.

Before he even realized what he was doing, his feet moved on their own, carrying him toward Hyunjin.

But just as he reached him—

A voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Hyunjinnie~"

Jisung.

Minho's jaw clenched.

Jisung plopped down beside Hyunjin, grinning. "Why are you alone? Where's your fan club?"

Hyunjin chuckled. "They had a meeting."

Jisung gasped dramatically. "And they left you all alone? The audacity."

Hyunjin laughed softly, shaking his head.

Minho's grip on his bag tightened.

Why the hell did it bother him so much?

Why did watching Jisung make Hyunjin smile hurt?

Without thinking, Minho turned on his heel and walked away.

He didn't need to be here.

He didn't care.

But deep down, he knew—

He was running away.

--

Minho didn't know why he let himself get dragged into a conversation with Jeongin after class.

Maybe he just needed a distraction.

Or maybe he needed someone to talk to.

Not that he would ever admit it.

"Dude, you've been acting weird lately," Jeongin said bluntly.

Minho scoffed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Jeongin gave him a look. "Oh, come on. Don't act like I'm blind."

Minho crossed his arms. "You're imagining things."

Jeongin smirked. "Right. And it's just my imagination that you've been sulking every time Jisung is near Hyunjin?"

Minho stiffened.

Jeongin's smirk widened. "Ohhh. So that's what this is about."

"Shut up."

Jeongin laughed. "Damn, this is entertaining."

Minho rolled his eyes. "I'm not jealous."

Jeongin raised a brow. "Mhm. Sure. And I'm the President of South Korea."

Minho glared at him.

Jeongin snickered. "Look, I don't care what's going on in your head. But if you don't figure it out soon, someone else will."

Minho frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Jeongin tilted his head. "I mean, you're not the only one who sees Hyunjin. And if you keep being an ass, someone else is gonna treat him better than you ever did."

Minho's stomach twisted.

He didn't reply.

He just walked away.

--

Minho didn't expect to see it.

Didn't want to see it.

But fate was cruel.

That evening, as he walked toward the bus stop, he spotted Hyunjin.

And Jisung.

And Jisung was holding Hyunjin's wrist.

Minho's entire body went stiff.

He was too far away to hear what they were saying, but Jisung looked serious.

Hyunjin, however, just smiled.

And then—

Jisung pulled him into a hug.

Minho's heart stopped.

Something inside him shattered.

His breath caught in his throat as he watched Hyunjin rest his head against Jisung's shoulder.

For the first time in his life—

Minho realized what fear felt like.

Because he was losing.

And he didn't even know what he was fighting for.

--

That night, Minho couldn't sleep.

Every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was Hyunjin.

With Jisung.

Smiling. Laughing. Hugging.

Minho clenched his fists.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

He didn't care about Hyunjin.

He didn't care about his stupid smile or his stupid kindness.

He didn't care that he made people's lives brighter just by existing.

He didn't.

Did he?

Minho sat up in bed, exhaling sharply.

His chest hurt.

His mind was a mess.

And for the first time, he had no idea what to do.