𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐬 | 𝐡𝐡𝐣

sixteen.

A few days after the theater, Hyunjin and Minho follow their nightly routine of eating unhealthy snacks and playing video games--sometimes watching whatever was airing at the time--before bed. Yet this time, Hyunjin can't bring himself to be as immersed in Call of Duty as he usually is, taking his fifth loss of the night with a gentle frown.

"I can't do this anymore."

Minho quirks a brow at the younger, his abrupt statement confusing him. "Can't do what? Play Call of Duty? We can do something else," he offers, gesturing to the television and placing down his controller.

The blond shakes his head, cradling his face in his palms as he slumps against the wall. "I can't avoid [Y/N]. I need her, Minho. I don't know how long I have--I want to tell her how I feel before they come for me."

Minho straightens up at this, surprised at the blond's words. "But you know nothing can ever happen between you two, right? Remember what happened to Areum?" His voice softens at the girl's name, but his reminder remains firm.

"I'd never let that happen to [Y/N]."

"You said the same things about Areum and look where it got her," the older mumbles softly, sighing and trekking over to Hyunjin's crouched form. "It's just going to hurt more when you have to leave her."

The brunet reaches a hand out to pat Hyunjin's shoulder, only for the taller to shake it off on contact. "There's got to be a way for me to stay with her. There's got to be some way for me to get away from them for good..."

The shorter male shakes his head, "I already tried, and they found you again. There's no use. Don't drag [Y/N] into this."

His words are gentle, soft and warm, but something about them irks Hyunjin's nerves. Minho is his best friend, shouldn't he be trying to help him? Support him? Why isn't he, then? Is it because he doesn't want Hyunjin to be with you, or because he doesn't believe in Hyunjin? "Why won't you just help me? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

Minho's taken aback by Hyunjin's outburst, the questions making him halt his movements towards the taller boy. "I am helping you--I've always helped you. It's what I've always done. Why are you getting so upset over this?"

"Because I want to tell the person I'm in love with about my feelings, and you're sitting there, telling me I have no chance." He glares at the remote control resting on the console, "Are you afraid she won't like you anymore? That she'll actually accept my feelings and that she won't need you anymore?"

"What? No, I just don't want you to make this worse for yourself Hyunjin. Stop acting like a child," he rebuts, crossing his arms in slight frustration. "You have other things to worry about

"No, I don't," the blond growls out, "and it's you who keeps treating me like a child. Like I'm some helpless little kid who needs their older brother to do everything for them." With a harsh scowl at the shorter boy, he continues. "Well I'm not, and I don't need you making decisions for me! I don't need you to hold my hand and make sure I don't get hurt--I don't need you!"

The room falls silent, Minho's face void of any emotion as his gaze droops to the ground. Hyunjin's steaming, anger wafting off him in waves. Then, wordlessly, Minho packs his things and exits the room, overnight bag slung over his shoulder as he leaves, not making any moves to look back at Hyunjin whilst he makes his way to the couch.

His words were harsh, he knows that. But if he wants to finally begin living his life, he can't play it safe all the time by following others' directions—not even Minho's. He's got to become his own person.

But when Minho doesn't talk to him the next morning, or in the afternoon, or show up to the dance studio, he wishes he would've kept everything bottled up.

Why can't he just have you two? His best friend or the girl he loves, it's always one or the other. It's not fair to any of you. And he can't hold in all the frustrations anymore, as he breaks down the moment you two make it back to your apartment.

"Hyunjin? Hyunjin, what's wrong?" You panic, checking his face to see if he's still present with you. When you see his reddening eyes and gritted teeth, your worried expression softens. "Why are you crying?"

He chokes, burying his eyes into the balls of his palms.

And he bursts.

"Everything is wrong, [Y/N]," he hiccups, tears hot on his red cheeks. "There's so much I want to tell you, but I can't, Minho's mad at me, and I don't want to lose you but I-I know I can't have you and—" He chokes, already having said more than he should've. His head, heart, body—everything hurts too much, and you don't know how to stop it. "I don't want to keep hiding these—these things from you, but I can't put you in danger—you won't understand—"

"Hyunjin, listen to me."

He struggles to meet your eyes, embarrassed by his breakdown, but he manages.

"I'm not in danger. Whatever you're hiding, I won't judge you for it, but you can tell me whenever you're ready—if you ever are." You soothe his woes, brushing his locks behind his ears lovingly, careful to keep your voice as gentle as possible. "And remember, it's your life, not Minho's."

He doesn't know what's washed over him, what force or presence is controlling his movements as he leans forward slowly, searching your eyes briefly before pressing his mouth to yours, molding it to slant perfectly against your lips. To his surprise, you don't pull away or stay frozen, but tenderly reciprocate.

Your hands on his cheeks move so one cradles his jaw and the other cups his neck, lightly weaving your hand into his golden locks—something that forces him to melt against you. Soon enough, an involuntary smile his making its way onto Hyunjin's cheeks, and he's full-on grinning when you pull away for air, a soft blush on his porcelain cheeks as he leans into your palms.

"I'm assuming that's one thing you've been hiding from me." You chuckle, trying to hide the smile his flushed face has plastered on your face. "I guess I've been hiding that I'm into you too though, so we'll call that even."

The blond's long, muscular arms engulf your waist as he leans in for a hug, not trusting his mouth to do anything other than embarrass himself, his silent happiness and gratitude radiating off of him.

After a bit of talking, you two finally move from your spot in front of your door—who would've thought so many important conversations would happen there of all places—and say your goodnights, unaware of the prying eyes glaring inside.

It's only when you both hear muffled crashes in the hall connecting your rooms to the living room that you realize something is terribly wrong. Before either of you can process the situation, Hyunjin hears a thud from your side of the hall, and something pricks his shoulder.

And everything fades to black.

a/n: dun dun dunnnn! we are beginning to near the end of this story. i hope you've had fun along this ride with me! this is my most successful work on tumblr, as well as the longest thing i have ever written! it is the work i am most proud of, second to sugar sugar only. if you have enjoyed reading this as much as i enjoyed writing, please leave votes, comments, anything <3 have a wonderful day/night!