Set in Stone [Minsung]

Chapter 10

[A/N: We're finally nearing the end of this fic. It's a little crazy. This bloody story took me ten months to write, so I hope you've enjoyed it so far! Enjoy this chapter too!]

Sorry, I love you.

The announcement of the royal wedding a few hours after Jisung and Minho's last goodbye feels cruel to Jisung. He's been expecting it - as has the entire country - but he never expected it to hurt this much.

It might have hurt more if Jisung didn't get that tiny bit of closure, he admits.

It wasn't really the closure Jisung had been searching for, but officially letting Minho go was better than remaining an abandoned fling, a distant memory from the prince's rebellious past. Jisung got what he deserved: acknowledgement and a goodbye.

The agony has eased a little, but numbness has replaced the pain that healed. Jisung doesn't feel alive. He's still only existing. And now with the wedding and last farewell, Jisung doesn't think he'll ever get rid of the emptiness inside him. Pain or hollowness? Which one can Jisung survive?

Still, there's no point in moping and staying stuck in the past. He needs to soldier on, live his life. He has so many other things that make living worth it: music, his friends, good food. He might never find love again, but there's so many different types of love that aren't romantic. He just has to find one. And maybe not now - maybe not for a long, long time - but there'll come a time when he'll finally have the strength to search for a love of life's choosing. His future may lack completion, but he can try his hardest to fill in the gaping hole left by his past.

Jisung can do this. All he has to do is sit through an hour of pompous tradition, act like he believes Minho's pretence, and manage not to break down. Easy. This is the first leap he has to take in order to start the next leg of his journey through life. Once he clears this hurdle, healing will come quickly. At least, that's what he's hoping for.

And that is how Jisung finds himself squeezed between Felix and Changbin on their couch in front of the TV. Jeongin is sprawled across their laps, scrolling through his phone with disinterest. They're just waiting for the broadcast to begin. Jisung doesn't feel as tense as he'd expected; it's probably because he's surrounded by his best friends, thank god. He can get through this with them at his side.

Hyunjin, Seungmin and Chan are nowhere to be found. Jisung and his friends have tried calling them hundreds of times to no avail. It's eerily similar to what happened a year ago when they were ghosted by the same men, followed by the grand, televised reveal. Jisung can't help but feel the same dread again. But he knows the trio won't abandon them this time. He has faith in them. Once they reappear, then Jisung will kill them.

The usual pretentious fanfare signals the start of the wedding.

Jisung feels like he might throw up. Felix, being the telepath he is, gently rubs Jisung's back and squeezes his hand, making Jisung feel less like his guts are about to be projectile-vomited onto the floor. He is fine. Everything is good.

The marriage officiant starts her dull speech about marriage's 'joys and privileges', which makes Jisung and his friends roll their eyes and gag. This marriage is a burden, a curse, not a 'privilege' for Minho or his wife-to-be. Jisung tunes out most of what the officiant drones on about, up until she asks if anyone in the audience objects.

"I object! I fucking object to this marriage, bitches!" Changbin yells, startling the rest of them. If only Changbin's objection could be communicated through the screen. Unfortunately, it's both impossible and too late to change anything.