It Ends with Us • Kim Mingyu

[ten]

"Uhh. . . what are you doing inside his room?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Oh, please.

"He's my brother. I can come around any time."

"And he's my boyfriend." Leaning against the architrave, he arches an eyebrow before he says, "I can come around any time, too."

A scoff jabs out of my mouth. "Oh yeah, what a nice boyfriend he's got who literally screamed at his face when he was at his lowest."

He folds his arms over his chest and slightly tilts his head. I can't tell if he's absorbing my words or blocking them off. Either way, an instant regret groans under my skin. I strum the rough edges of my nails, wondering if it's resonant enough to apologize. It is the truth, but I can't ignore the discomfort of picking at his bruise.

He hums an exhale. It's hard to guess what he'll say next because his expression keeps shifting. One moment he's torn between eying me and dodging my attention. The next moment; it's a torrid scratch on my limbs.

I didn't expect this to hurt so much.

"What a nice sister he's got who literally toyed with his feelings and lied to him about the one guy he can't stand the entire fucking time."

Well played Seungchol, well played.

I stuff my hands inside my pocket, shaking my head toward the ceiling. "I can't even call you an asshole," I mutter and release a sigh. "Have you seen Jeonghan?" I look back at him.

"He went out."

Huh?

"He was home, like minutes ago." I trail off. Jeonghan never goes out without asking if I need anything — rolling his eyes whenever I say 'a life and billion dollar check'. Was he in a hurry? Or just. . . too upset to care?

God, I feel stupid for even thinking he'd be anywhere near fine now.

I clear my throat. "When did he leave?"

"After Jisoo took you," Seungchol says, rubbing off whatever dirt from his trouser. "Could've been Dino," he shrugs. "Jeonghan seemed worried."

"I really hope it's Dino." I try to huff the tension out, but my breath comes out as still as Seungchol's response to it. He flattens his back against the frame, as though he's waiting for me to finish. So I ask warily, "Were you waiting for him? Jeonghan?"

"No," he answers. "I was burying dead bodies inside."

I can't help but roll my eyes. "Do you have to sound all dark and mysterious while cracking a joke? I almost believed you."

"Do you have to be so clueless?" ouch. "Take a damn hint. I'm not in a mood for small talks."

A pit expands inside my stomach. It's strange, having so much going on in your mind it feels like there's no room left for anything else to affect you. But then, the smallest rejection from a friend feels like the end of the world — like I've just lost everything before they were even mine.

"Alright." I avert my gaze. "I'll leave you alone."

As I rotate on my heels, reviling my inability to shake off the heaviness, he pounds my attention. "I said I'm not in a mood for small talks," he digs out a cautious glance. "That doesn't mean we can't talk."

I purse my lips. Choi Seungchol wants to talk to me — my nerves are jittering. "Not sure I've something to talk about," I say and swallow the clump in my chest. "Especially to you."

"You might wanna consider that." He regards me with a curious smile. "Jisoo is complicated when he doesn't want to be, and I've known him the longest besides your brother."