Set in Stone [Minsung]

Chapter 7

[A/N: Warning: short description of a panic attack and anxiety. Also angst. Lots of angst. Plus a bit of humour. But mostly angst. Enjoy!]

The fact that we've grown even further apart than we were makes me weary

It takes Jeongin by unpleasant surprise how quickly things can go from great to absolute shit.

Just a day ago, Jisung was smiling and laughing along with his friends, acting more like the Jisung he was before all the heartbreak.

Now, he hasn't come out of his room at all. No matter how much pleading his friends have done, he refuses to leave to eat or talk it out. It's all those stupid crazy fans' faults.

***

Five hours earlier

Against their better judgement, Jeongin, Jisung, Changbin and Felix are in the cafeteria again. There was barely any food in their apartments, and all they wanted was to spend less than an hour here anyway. Unfortunately, His Royal Highness is on the big screen once more, meaning his fans are flocking around the TV just to gush over how handsome he is, and what they'd let him do to them, as if they had any chance with him.

Jeongin had thought they were safe from those fanatics, since most of them are drawn to the TV, hypnotised by the prince.

Then one of them comes up to their table.

"Hey, you guys knew Minho, right?" the girl says, more of a statement than a question.

The group goes silent and stiff. Jeongin frowns. Sure, they had been targets of a few questions about their relationship with Minho at the beginning, but it had been quiet for a while. Only now does this person suddenly decide to interrogate them? It's no wonder why Jeongin and his friends struggle to respond quickly.

Taking their stunned silence as affirmation, the girl's eyes go frantically wide and excited. She grins and leans closer towards them.

"Oh my god, what was he like? What are his favourite things? Did he have a girlfriend?" the girl squeals.

Jeongin wants to slap her. Just as he's about to tell the girl to piss off, she's joined by another girl who looks just as excited as her friend. The new girl has a disturbing, knowing smirk on her face. She turns to face Jisung specifically.

"I seem to remember you were particularly close to Minho. Like, really, really close. I think I saw him bridal-carry you once. No, I'm definitely sure. Wait - were you guys dating? Oh my god, are you gay? Is Minho-"

"Shut the fuck up!" Changbin shouts, slamming his fists on the table.

The cafeteria goes quiet. Then there's the sound of a chair scraping the floor.

Jisung is now standing up, his eyes unfocused and full of panic. His breaths are erratic, bordering on hyperventilation. He turns and runs out of the cafeteria.

Jeongin and the rest of his friends are on their feet in a moment.

"It's none of your goddamn business, assholes. Don't fucking talk to us again," Changbin spits before storming out, leading his group in the direction Jisung went.

"Bloody sasaengs," Felix mutters once they're outside and jogging to the dorms. "And poor Jisung. We need to get home quickly. He should be there."

"I think he's having an attack," Jeongin mumbles in-between heaving breaths.