Secret (ChanChang)

Seven

Lie.

An intentionally false statement.

He had to lie. About his life.

But he was close to breaking.

"Please don't. Don't say anything."

"I'm tired... so fucking tired.."

——
Changbin groans as he looks over at the book.

"Jeongin, I hate to say it,,, but maybe ask Hyunjin for help."

Jeongin was a friend of the small trio. Still in high school, trying to finish the year strong.

"Don't look at me, I barely made it out." Hyunjin says as he plops himself on the couch, behind the two.

"Maybe I'll ask Felix..."

"Felix? As in Chan's assistant?"

Changbin tenses up at the mention of his secret lover.

"You should ask Seungmin." Jisung pipes in as he was getting ready for work.

"Who's Seungmin?" Jeongin asks.

"A friend of his. And my lover." Hyunjin swoons.

"He doesn't even know you exist so shut the fuck up." Jisung throws.

"A boy can dream!" Hyunjin shouts.

Jisung rolls his eyes and said his farewells.

"Okay okay! Tell me that Chan isn't hot. Like damn what I would do for him." Hyunjin gasps out.

"I thought Seungmin was your lover?" Jeongin questions.

"He is! But Chan though."

Changbin felt weird. Jealous.

His best friend was talking about his lover and the things he would let him do.

"I don't think you'd be his type, Jinnie." Changbin interjects.

"Umm hello? Have you seen me?!" Hyunjin shouts as he gestures to his face and body.

"Maybe his type is Changbin. You know short, small yet buff." Jeongin says as he writes his answers.

Changbin wanted to say that he was the President of Miroh magazine type.

But lied instead.

"I don't think so. Who even knows if he rolls that way."

Mumbles of "true" came from the two.

Changbin felt his heart clench as he lied.

The night came. Jeongin had gone home since he had school the next day.

Hyunjin went to bed, wanting to get his beauty sleep for his shoot the next morning.

Changbin just laid in bed. Curled up and wearing Chan's hoodie.

His faint scent calming him down.

But yet, also making him feel so heartbroken.

He pulled his phone out and dialed the number.

"Binnie? What's wrong?"

Chan's voice was so smooth and warm.

"Chan,,, How long do I have to continue living a lie?"

Changbin can hear shuffling and Chan's breath hitching.

"Changbin. Please don't. You know the time will come soon."

Changbin swallows the growing lump in his throat. It was suffocating him.

Not just the lump. But the lies.

Everything was just so suffocating.

He was drowning and no one can save him.

"Chan,,, at some point, I will break and the truth will come out."

"Please don't. Don't say anything."

"I'm tired... so fucking tired..."

And he was.

He was so fucking tired of everything...