The Three Worst Secrets

Butterflies and Beaches

As soon as he was all cleaned up he wandered cautiously through the front room, dodging her invasive glare and hurrying out the door.

Changbin had texted him, worried about the night before.

'I thought you were going to stay for my show? Where'd you disappear to? And don't say you were "hanging out" with Jinnie. We all know you two are seeing each other.'

'Yeah sorry. I think we kind of broke up?'

'What?! When?!'

'Last night.'

'Why?'

'He basically lied to me. About Seungmin. It's a long story.'

'Okay... where are you?'

'Just out on a walk. I needed the air.'

'Be careful please.'

He'd blocked Hyunjin's number already, unsure of how long he would have his phone still turned on but not willing to risk any texts or calls.

"Minho!"

He spun towards the street, smiling in surprise as Jisung pulled up beside him.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

"I was driving back to your house because you forgot something."

"Really?"

The younger parked right in the middle of the street, leaning out of the passenger window. "Yeah. You forgot my number!"

Minho paused before bursting out laughing and walking up to the van. "Wow. Real original."

"Thanks. Get in."

The door opened and he hopped up.

"What are you doing today?" Minho asked as soon as they started driving.

"Supposed to go to work. You?"

"I'm supposed to be having breakfast with my parents and then washing all of their dishes after."

"Lame. Should we run away from our responsibilities and go to the beach instead?"

Minho giggled, loving the wind in his hair, the carefree smile Jisung threw his way. "Sure. Yeah, fuck it. Let's get out of here."

"Woah. I got a fuck it? You're kind of bad ass aren't you?"

"Maybe."

The younger nodded hard once- and sunglasses fell from the top of his head into the bridge of his nose.

Minho laughed again, holding his stomach.

The beach was mostly empty, only because of the dark clouds in the distance. Jisung held his hand as they ran down to stick their toes in the frigid waves.

When it did start to pour, they dashed back to the van, watching the rain hit the windshield from their backs on the floor.

"Are you cold?" his voice was so comforting. It sounded so different in real life compared to the way it flowed into a microphone.

"Only a little."

"I can turn the heat on for you."

"No. No, I'll be fine."

Minho shut his eyes, listening to the drops hitting the roof, the soft breathing of the boy beside him. Seungmin probably liked the beach.