Chapter 34 - Cracks in the Foundation

The drive home was quiet.

Minho kept his hands tight on the wheel, his jaw clenched as he tried to make sense of everything that had just happened. Hyunjin sat beside him, staring out the window, his long fingers tracing mindless patterns on his thigh.

Minho stole a glance at him.

He looked exhausted.

And yet, despite everything—being out so late, dealing with a stranger's emergency, even paying out of his own pocket—Hyunjin still sat there with a soft, almost serene expression, as if he had no regrets.

Minho clicked his tongue in irritation and focused back on the road.

"What you did was reckless," he muttered.

Hyunjin turned to look at him. "Helping someone is reckless?"

"Going to a hospital alone at midnight is reckless."

"I wasn't alone," Hyunjin countered. "The woman was with me."

Minho shot him a glare. "You know what I mean."

Hyunjin huffed, crossing his arms. "I appreciate your concern, Minho, really, I do. But I don't regret helping her."

Minho exhaled sharply. "Of course you don't."

That was so Hyunjin. Always putting others first, even when it was dangerous.

And for some reason, that made Minho's chest feel uncomfortably warm.

--

By the time they got home, Minho had mostly calmed down. He wasn't angry anymore—just frustrated.

Frustrated that Hyunjin never put himself first.

Frustrated that he was even thinking about this so much.

As soon as they stepped inside, Hyunjin kicked off his shoes and stretched with a soft groan.

Minho frowned. "Go shower and sleep. You look like you're about to pass out."

Hyunjin yawned. "I am tired... but I'm hungry too."

Minho rolled his eyes and walked past him. "Sit. I'll make you something."

Hyunjin blinked. "Wait—you?"

Minho gave him a pointed look. "I do know how to cook, you know."

Hyunjin giggled, plopping onto the couch. "I know, I just... didn't expect you to offer."

Minho ignored the way that laugh made his stomach flip and headed to the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later, he set down a bowl of warm ramen in front of Hyunjin.

Hyunjin's eyes widened. "You really cooked for me?"

Minho rolled his eyes. "Don't make a big deal out of it. Just eat."

Hyunjin grinned before picking up his chopsticks. The moment he took the first bite, his entire face lit up. "This is so good!"

Minho pretended not to feel proud. "Obviously."

Hyunjin hummed in delight as he continued eating. Minho sat across from him, watching the way his eyes crinkled with each satisfied bite.

It was... nice.

Domestic, even.

Minho suddenly felt the urge to shake himself.

This wasn't real.

This wasn't how things were supposed to be between them.

And yet, lately, it was getting harder and harder to tell himself that.

--

The next morning, Hyunjin was on the phone with Felix when Minho walked into the living room.

"Mm, I don't know, Lixie," Hyunjin was saying, voice laced with sleep. "I think I just need a little more practice—"

"You don't need practice, baby," Felix's voice rang through the speaker. "You're already perfect!"

Minho froze mid-step.

Baby?

He glanced at Hyunjin, expecting him to react, but Hyunjin just laughed.

"Stop exaggerating!"

"I'm not!" Felix whined. "Even Jisung agrees. Right, Sungie?"

Minho heard Jisung's voice join in. "Of course, our Hyunjinnie is the most precious baby in the world!"

Hyunjin groaned. "You guys are embarrassing."

Minho narrowed his eyes.

He had noticed it before—how Hyunjin's friends doted on him, constantly calling him 'baby' or treating him like the youngest.

At first, he thought it was just a joke. But the more he watched, the more he realized they meant it.

They genuinely adored him.

And what's worse...

Hyunjin let them.

He let himself be spoiled, let them take care of him, let them treat him like something fragile and precious.

Minho swallowed, a strange feeling creeping into his chest.

Why didn't he ever get to see that side of Hyunjin?

Why was it always reserved for them?

--

Later that evening, Seungmin called.

Minho answered with a tired sigh. "Hey."

"Hey," Seungmin's voice was light. "Are you home?"

"Yeah."

"Good. I want to come over."

Minho hesitated. "Now?"

"Yes, now. Unless you're busy?"

Minho glanced at Hyunjin, who was curled up on the couch watching a documentary.

"No... I'm not busy."

"Great," Seungmin said. "I'll be there soon."

When Seungmin arrived, he greeted Minho with a kiss, which Minho barely returned.

But what struck him more was the way Seungmin barely acknowledged Hyunjin.

"Hey," Hyunjin greeted politely.

Seungmin gave him a half-smile, barely looking at him. "Oh, hey."

That was it.

Minho frowned.

Hyunjin didn't seem to mind, but Minho did.

Then, later that evening, while Seungmin was flipping through his phone, he casually remarked, "Your place is nice. Not as fancy as your parents' mansion, but it'll do."

Minho stiffened.

Hyunjin, who had just walked into the room, gave a small laugh. "Yeah, I actually like it better. Feels more like a home, you know?"

Seungmin hummed, eyes still on his phone. "Sure. But it must suck, going from that lifestyle to this."

Minho's jaw clenched.

But before he could say anything, Hyunjin just smiled. "It's not about luxury for me. I like cozy spaces."

Seungmin didn't reply.

But Minho had caught it.

The way Seungmin's words had been laced with something almost condescending.

And the way Hyunjin had smiled through it, as if he was used to it.

Minho didn't like it.

Not one bit.

--

That night, Minho lay in bed staring at the ceiling, thoughts racing.

He had spent so much time convincing himself that he knew Hyunjin.

That he was spoiled, weak, someone who had never known struggle.

But now...

He wasn't so sure anymore.

Hyunjin was kind.

Too kind.

And Minho was starting to wonder—had he ever really seen him?

Or had he just been blind all along?

And the worst part?

He didn't know what scared him more—realizing how wrong he had been about Hyunjin...

Or realizing how much he wanted to be right beside him.