The Three Worst Secrets

Forgiveness Is Futile

The thud from his cast hitting the floor was definitely too loud. Minho scrambled, sliding the younger under his bed and closing the window. He dipped under the blankets just in time, as his father opened the door. The light was behind him, so it was impossible to distinguish any expression.

"What was that noise?"

"I bumped my foot coming back from the bathroom."

He continued staring in a few seconds longer and then the door closed, clicking softly. They heard footsteps going away.

Seungmin sighed "I can't get out from under here on my own, can you help me?"

Minho leaned over the edge, looking at him from above. "I should leave you there to choke on my dust rabbits."

For some reason the younger only smiled back. "I would choke on anything you'd give me. But I do prefer your dick."

Heat in his cheeks. "You're leaving. Now." Touching him set his heart hammering. Seungmin was so handsome, no matter the time or situation. It was part of the reason he was so good at fooling people.

They got to the window. "How many?" Minho whispered, fearing the answer.

The younger seemed to understand the question, even with barely any context. He had always been so good at reading him. Dark eyes roved the stillness of Minho's face. "Only 10. Including you and Jisung."

"Why?"

"I'm broken."

"That's not an excuse. Everyone is broken."

"I know." Spoken so softly it was mostly just the movement of his lips.

Minho finally looked at him. REALLY looked at him.

Seungmin had lost at least ten pounds- and given his already slight frame it was more than obvious. He had dark smudges of sleeplessness beneath each eye, wild product-free hair, and dry cracked lips.

The cast even seemed a little loose and worn, as if he'd been dragging it through a marathon or something.

"You know that it's not an excuse, but you did it anyway?" he hated himself for tearing up, but everything hurt so badly. Seungmin always got that searing pain in his heart burning.

"Yes. And I know it's not fair. It's not fair and it's not right. I don't deserve anything from you Minnie. But I AM broken. And you fixed me."

"Stop that."

"I can't."

"Just get out of here then. I don't want to hear any more confessions."

"Minho. I love you-"

"No you don't!" he muttered it harshly. A little too loud.

Footsteps again.

Minho threw him down on the bed and reached the door before it opened.

His father froze in the hall. "What's going on?"

"I have a sore throat. Need to get a glass of water." He left the door open behind himself, walking towards the kitchen.

The older man actually looked down at that, something like shame flashing over his features. "Right... Try to keep the coughing down."

"Yes sir."

When he got back into the room Seungmin was hiding under the blanket, curled up against the wall. His body tensed as the elder stepped in, probably not knowing whether or not it was him.