The Three Worst Secrets

The One We Left Behind

Minho ended up staying with Felix for three months.

He couldn't get the last look of the younger out of his head. He'd seemed so drained. Lifeless. Like he was fighting a losing battle every night.

No one else had been able to reach him either.

They were out on the beach again, he'd worked up a pretty good tan- Felix was practically naked beside him and more freckled than ever. "I think I should just break in. The butler knows me." He murmured aloud, staring at the waves. It was an idea he'd been thinking over for a few days.

"Hmm?"

"I said I should go break in. To Seungie's."

The younger raised a sharp brow behind large sunglasses. "You want to BREAK INTO the Kim's mansion?"

Minho shrugged "You think it's a bad idea?"

"I think it's a terrible idea." Minho felt embarrassed and uncomfortable for a moment, and then he heard him giggle. "It's so terrible it will probably work."

They went there together, after they were sure his father had left. He used the same gaudy orange sports car whenever he went somewhere by himself, so it was an easy thing to tell.

The butler let him in as soon as he knocked. "Sir. You're here for-?"

"Seungmin. Is he home?"

The butler- who had never smiled at him- suddenly broke an enormous grin. "Yes sir! Thank you sir. He's in his room. I'll walk you upstairs."

Felix winked, sporting his own wide smile, and trailing behind them.

Minho didn't knock, he didn't want to give him a chance to turn them away. But he did wait for the butler to start walking back downstairs before he tried the door. When the knob turned Seungmin started talking, his voice dark and angry.

"I told you no LUNCH, no anything, just leave me the hell alone."

Minho frowned in confusion and pressed the door all the way open.

"I don't appreciate what you're doing you know, forcing me to-" he shut his mouth as soon as he saw them. And then he quickly looked away, face shrouded by the shadow of his lengthened hair.

"Seungie? You aren't answering any of our calls." Minho started, creeping a step inside. Felix followed with his hand gripping tightly into the elder's sleeve. The light wasn't on. His curtains were closed except for a single shaft of daylight, as if he'd been looking out into the back garden for a while.

"I've been... sick."

"Lying to me again?"

The younger startled a little, wrapped skinny arms around his own chest and turned further away. "Sorry. No. Not going to lie. I'm not... I don't feel like talking. I don't feel like anything."

Minho walked closer, panic setting his heart at a quicker pace. "Are they still... hurting you?" he hadn't told any of the others. It seemed like something Seungmin would want to keep to himself. But Felix wasn't one to ask too many questions. He was good about leaving people free to cover up what they wanted to. Besides, Felix seemed to be barely listening, his eyes were closed, one hand clamped over his bicep- as if he was leading him through a haunted house.

Seungmin curled in tighter, twisting his body further around. "No. I'm done. I've been done."

"That's good. Is your father leaving soon?"

"He... he's gone right now."

"Seungie I know. I made sure to watch him drive off before I came inside." Something was different, and it wasn't just the raspy quality of the younger's normally strong voice. "Can you look at me?"