Invitations | MinSung

20

"Jisung," Minho smiled back at Jisung, a tone of relief hidden in his voice. "You're out."

"Really? I didn't notice," Jisung responded, sarcastically, but couldn't hide the broad smile plastered on his face.

Minho laughed but, at the same time, he was looking away, blinking away what Jisung could only guess were tears. Jisung didn't know if he should say something, not wanting to make the situation awkward.

"Come in," was all Jisung said, moving out of the way to let Minho in.

They both sat on Jisung's sofa silently, neither of them knowing what to say until Jisung spoke up.

"How is your wound? You're ok now, right?" He asked.

"I'm fine," Minho laughed off Jisung's concern, "thanks to you."

"Me?" Jisung pointed at himself, confused. "What did I do?"

"Nothing," Minho murmured after a moment of silence.

"Then, why-"

"You found me, you got me help, you were the reason I tried to get better faster, so I could help you, save you, like how you saved me." Minho spewed out, all in one breath, everything he had wanted to thank Jisung for, taking Jisung aback. It was a cringy remark but, for some reason, it made Jisung's heart practically melt.

"Thank you, too then," Jisung answered.

"Huh?" Minho frowned.

"You've been helping me all this time, you got me out of there because, if it weren't the hope of seeing you better, I don't think I would've made it." Jisung poured his heart out to Minho, feeling both reckless and scared. Although he wanted to say so much more to Minho, he held his tongue in fear of the vulnerability it would leave him in.

Both of them stayed silent, staring at one another, their eyes saying a million words.

"This sounds weird but..." Minho took a deep breath before continuing, "can I hug you?" He looked as though he regretted it the moment he asked. However, Jisung didn't give him a verbal answer and instead pulled him in, holding him tight, while also being wary of his abdomen, careful not to accidentally hurt him more.

Minho returned the embrace, burying his face in Jisung's shoulder.

"I would never have been able to forgive myself if you didn't get out of there, Jisung," He said, his voice muffled in Jisung's shoulder and Jisung could tell, by his fragile tone, that Minho was in tears.

"And what would I have done if you didn't make it?" He murmured, feeling prickly tears threatening to fall.

They remained in each other's embrace for a brief moment, both of them enjoying the comfort the other provided. Although this was supposed to be an emotional moment, Jisung's heart was fluttering and he didn't want to let go. Despite this, they let go, both of them with a relieved smile on their faces.

However, despite their wholesome reunion, Minho's expression of happiness and relief morphed to a troubled one, as though something had been bothering him incessantly.

"Is something wrong?" Jisung asked, cautiously, worried.

"It's this," Minho responded after a brief moment of silence. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red envelope. Jisung felt his heart sink and all the calmness he had found in Minho's presence disappeared in an instant. Instead, it was replaced by fear and dread.

"When did you..." Jisung trailed off, too shaken up to speak.

"Yesterday," Minho answered Jisung's unfinished question. "I didn't open it yet. I thought I should wait for you."