FLOVERS

Chapter 3: Subsurface

"H-Hyun!?" Min stammered, his heart pulsating.

Hyun's sudden outpouring of emotion caught Min off guard. His heart quivered as he witnessed his beloved crush, in such a shattered state, with puffy eyelids, a runny nose, and red cheeks. The stark contrast from the usual energetic and carefree Hyun he admired from a distance left Min stunned. His own awkwardness was amplified in the face of someone in distress, but he couldn't bear to see Hyun in pain.

With hesitant steps, Min inched toward and took a seat beside Hyun, his mind racing to find the right words to offer comfort. He stared at the ground for a few seconds, gathering his thoughts and summoning the courage to reach out. Finally, he extended his right arm and gently placed it on Hyun's left shoulder, hoping to provide some solace in this overwhelming moment.

"Hey, Hyun... Y-You, um, ca-can tell m-me everything," Min spoke softly, his voice trembling with genuine concern. "I... can h-help you."

Hyun's tears continued to flow, his body trembling with the heaviness of his emotions. Sniffles punctuated his words as he tried to compose himself enough to respond.

"You're Aki's friend, right?" Hyun managed to utter in a somber tone, his voice cracking.

Min nodded, his worry intensifying. "Yeah, that-that's me. But is ev-everything all right?"

Hyun buried his head in his hands, his cries growing even more desperate. It seemed as though the floodgates had been opened, releasing emotions he had held in for far too long. His legs trembled, his hands shook, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

As Hyun struggled to explain himself through his sobs, Min strained to make sense of his words. Amidst the gibberish that reached his ears, Min could discern fragments of pain and distress, but the full extent of Hyun's turmoil eluded him.

Min's desire to help overwhelmed him, yet he felt his own awkwardness holding him back. The sight of Hyun, whom he admired not only for his outward qualities but also for his character, attitude, style, and energy, crying so vulnerably shook Min to the core. He had always imagined Hyun as emotionally stable, and now, the realization that he had been silently battling his own demons struck Min with disbelief.

The weight of the moment hung heavy as Min contemplated his next move. Finally, he took a deep breath and pushed past his own insecurities.

"I'm so sorry. I can't ma-make out what you're say-saying, but I'm here for you," Min said, his voice still unsteady.

As Hyun's tears subsided, his gaze shifted to Min's face, searching for understanding and support. Min could sense the confusion in Hyun's eyes, unsure of how to interpret the expression he found on Min's face. A myriad of emotions flickered across Hyun's face—sadness, doubt, fear, and a glimmer of hope—each subtly visible. It was a realization for Min, discovering the depth of emotions that the human face could convey.

"It's just that... people don't get me at all," Hyun confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration, his words interrupted by sniffling.

A wave of guilt overtook Min, his heart aching for the pain Hyun had endured.

"What do you mean?" Min responded, his voice reflecting a mixture of concern and self-blame, as if he bore responsibility for Hyun's suffering.

"I got back my Economics test paper last week, and I did terrible. I fucking flopped such an easy paper," Hyun shared, his voice laced with disappointment. "I told my friends I felt sad 'cause of that, and you know what they told me?"

Min shook his head, anticipating the insensitivity that followed.

"They told me to stop whining 'cause I have good looks. Apparently, I have everything in life," Hyun's voice held a bitter tone. "Just because they say I look good doesn't mean I don't want to do well in school, and those fuckers don't get that. I don't even know why I hang out with those fools."