Chapter Text
𓏲🐋 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊
Minho trudged through the dark, empty streets, the cool night air biting at his skin. His parents' voices still echoed in his ears, sharp and venomous. They’d yelled at him for hours, furious that his report card showed he was ranked second in his class instead of first. It wasn’t enough—not for them. Nothing he did ever was.
By the time their voices had faded, the weight of their expectations still pressed down on him like a suffocating fog. So he did what he always did: he snuck out, seeking solace in the one place that felt like his.
The beach was about a thirty-minute walk from his house, but Minho didn’t mind the journey. The rhythmic crash of the waves, the salty breeze, and the vast, empty bench had always been his hiding place. His escape.
But tonight, something was different.
As Minho approached the bench, he noticed someone sitting there, framed against the moonlit ocean. His footsteps slowed, irritation bubbling up inside him. That was his bench.
The figure shifted slightly, the moonlight catching his face. Minho blinked in recognition.
"Yah, Jisung," Minho called out, his voice cutting through the quiet night.
The boy on the bench flinched, clearly startled. He turned to look at Minho, his eyes widening. "Ah… you scared me. Wait, Minho hyung? The smart senior?"
Minho smirked, though the irritation hadn’t left his voice. "Smart, huh? Guess my name gets around even to juniors. Anyway, you’re in my spot. Get out."
Jisung blinked, his expression shifting from surprise to confusion. Then, to Minho’s disbelief, he laughed softly and shook his head. "What? No way! This place is so calming. I’m not leaving."
Minho raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "What are you even doing here at one in the morning?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Jisung shot back, his tone light but defiant.
Minho sighed, his patience thinning. "I’m having a rough night. And when your elders tell you to move, you move."
Jisung tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, too bad I’m not moving. So, it’s either you leave or…" He scooted over slightly, patting the empty space on the bench. "You can sit with me."
Minho groaned, his frustration simmering. But the bench wasn’t big enough for two people to ignore each other, and he didn’t feel like walking all the way back. With a resigned huff, he plopped down next to Jisung, leaving a careful gap between them.
For a while, neither of them spoke. They just sat there, staring at the waves as they crashed against the shore. The sound was soothing, filling the silence between them. For the first time that night, Minho felt his mind quiet just a little.
Ten minutes passed before Jisung finally broke the silence. "So, hyung," he began hesitantly. "You said you’re having a rough night… What happened?"
Minho tensed, his gaze hardening. "Why should I tell you?" he asked, side-eyeing the younger boy. "I barely know you."
Jisung shrugged, unfazed by the cold response. "I’m just curious. And I feel bad."
"Feel bad?" Minho scoffed. "Why do you feel bad?"
"Because," Jisung replied simply, "it’s never good to see someone bottling everything up." His voice softened. "If something’s bothering you, you can tell me. Sometimes talking helps."
Minho let out a bitter laugh. "No thanks."
Jisung sighed, getting to his feet. "Well, I should get going." He dusted off his pants and gave Minho a small, almost shy smile. "I’ll see you around, Minho hyung."
Minho gave him a curt nod, watching as Jisung walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the night.
The bench felt strangely emptier without
him.
: 𓏲🐋 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✩࿐࿔ 🌊
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