The Three Worst Secrets

The Truth Now

Everything was good. Going perfectly.

Except that Seungmin insisted on being around him. And it hurt so badly he hadn't needed to make any new marks for a few weeks.

He was heartless. Empty inside. That was the only way to survive the proximity. Because Seungmin kept getting close to him, calling out for his attention, "accidentally" bumping into him with a smile that wasn't apologetic at all and whispering "sorry Min" with the same deviously slow smile that made his heart simultaneously light up with love and burn with black fire.

Hyunjin was twitchy and controlling. He HAD to be touching him most of the time. If he wasn't gripped in the restrictive bar of his arms then there was one of his heavy hands SOMEWHERE. Usually on his thigh or side, his brows often furrowed as if in deep thought.

Felix was the only one who could drag Minho away from his clutches. Changbin tried once, and Hyunjin practically bit his head off.

It had been almost a month.

Minho was drained.

He hadn't been eating enough again, and his mother actually sighed through her nose when he left the table one morning- his food untouched and cold.

His parents practically erased him from their lives otherwise. They never spoke to him. Sometimes he would get written chore lists taped to his door, but they were always in his mother's handwriting.

Sneaking out had become easier and easier.

Felix picked him up this time, and took him home so they could get ready. He loved putting makeup on him- claiming the elder was the perfect canvas.

"I could NEVER put this color on myself." He whispered, applying red eyeshadow in a smokey bar close to his lashes.

"Why not?" Minho breathed, trying not to move.

"Red always makes me look like I've been crying. It makes you look like a vampire though. Kind of hot."

The elder blushed. "You and Bin are too sweet to me all the time."

"What do you mean?"

"He said the same thing."

"That you're hot?" The blonde drew back, looking over his work and grabbing a tube of lip gloss.

"Yeah."

"You are hyung."

"I- don't know why you think that. I think you might be biased. Maybe you like me as a person and so you think I'm-"

Felix cut him off, waving a hand "No. I thought you were hot before I knew you were cool too."

Minho shut his mouth because the younger was spreading an almost translucent pink gloss over his lips. He figured that they were still just being mostly nice, but it was a compliment. And coming from one of the people whose opinion he treasured above most others.

"Thank you." He whispered as the younger styled his hair.

Felix paused. "Hyung. You need to have more confidence. You are way too insecure for absolutely no reason."

He laughed, imaging the stretched-out leg holes of his boxer briefs and the hideous marks that usually covered his arms. "Okay Lixie-loo. I'll try and remember that."

"Good. Now change into these and wait for me in the front hall." He threw over a bundle of soft fabric and left- presumably to change in another room of the house.