Past Me was a Fool (2min)

Truce

To be very honest, Seungmin wants the ground to swallow him whole and never spit him back out. The small brown box in his hands suddenly felt a lot heavier than when he bought it back at the bakery. Was it ten minutes? Fifteen? Seungmin is not sure how long he had been standing before the main door.

What he does know is Minho is currently at home. It was around half past eight when the taxi he took stopped at the security post. It might also be nine in the evening already, Seungmin bit the inside of his cheek. Should he just come back tomorrow morning?

Before he could contemplate further, the answer has come in the form of the main door opening, revealing the person Seungmin both dreaded and wished to see. Minho is alone, still in his work attire despite the absence of his suit jacket and tie. His hair is a bit mussed and the top two buttons of his dress shirt were undone.

The older must have been exhausted, but Seungmin cannot help the flutter in his chest because how does Minho still manage to look good?

"Are you planning to stand out here all night?"

When Seungmin just stood there, still processing that Minho is indeed the one who opened the door and is talking to him, Minho pursed his lips, "Kim Seungmin. Get inside."

Closing the door, Minho then walked ahead to the smaller, private living room without saying anything, and Seungmin took that as a sign to just follow him. When they are settled on the sofas opposite of each other, the younger decided to spoke first as he noticed Minho is just staring at the box in his hands.

"I came to ask about a few things."

Minho lifted his eyes to meet his but said nothing. The older's expression is hard to read, as if he is analysing him, trying to figure what he has to say before he could make out the words, and Seungmin willed himself to not crumble.

"Do you really think...I'm nothing different...from my brother?"

"No," without breaking eye contact, Minho answered clearly. It was like he was prepared to answer that question. Seungmin wondered how much thinking Minho has done.

"Were you actually mad at me?"

"No."

"Are you mad at me?"

"I'm not."

"Then," Seungmin picked at the corner of the box. "Will you apologise to Hyunjin personally?"

Minho frowned before he could school his expression, "Seungmin. That's a different case."

"How is it different?" the younger mirrored the frown but his exudes more of confusion and a little bit of displeasure. "Hyunjin has the right to be offended by what Chan hyung said. Don't tell me you're going to defend Chan hyung just because Hyunjinie isn't one of you."

His voice grew upset towards the end, and his expression soured. Minho shut his eyes briefly before letting out a sharp sigh. Seungmin felt impatient to hear what Minho has to say but at the same time, he dreaded to hear the older taking his brother's side. He might do something impulsive if that was the case.

"Seungmin. Don't put words in my mouth. I never said I approved of Chan-ssi's behavior, did I?" Before the younger could say anything, Minho continued on. "I also never said I approved of your friend's behavior."

The frown appeared on Seungmin's forehead again, the onset of a smile disappearing, "Hyunjin didn't do anything wrong–"

"Did he have my permission to keep you out late?"