Beyond 21 Days | Changjin

Dumbass

Hyunjin's breath caught in his throat as he peeked through the peephole once again, after he had heard doorbell. Changbin stood there, his usual confident demeanor nowhere in sight. Instead, a look of vulnerability painted his face, making Hyunjin's heart wrench with both sadness and anger. In Changbin's hands was a small piece of paper. As Hyunjin squinted, he could read the words: "You pinky promised me to talk."

The paper Changbin held up tore at Hyunjin's heart. A simple pinky promise they had made. Hyunjin felt the weight of it, the sincerity in that childish vow they'd made. But memories of Changbin with another girl plagued him, making him question everything they had shared.

Changbin's presence felt overwhelming. He was relentless, persistent. Did he truly care? Or was he trying to play games with Hyunjin's heart? Every ring of the doorbell made Hyunjin's heart race and his hands tremble. But with every passing minute, his emotions swayed between hope and despair, love and anger, trust and betrayal.

At one point, Hyunjin leaned against the door, his body shaking with sobs. But the conflicting emotions in his heart made him stay silent. He remembered their moments, the laughs, the sweet whispers, and the comfort they found in each other. Yet, the image of Changbin with another girl kept clouding everything.

Changbin had lied to him. That image of Changbin with the girl, laughing, holding hands, the intimacy shared between them – it was too much to bear. And now, after everything, here he was, standing outside his door, pleading with him.

Hyunjin sank down against the door, his head buried in his knees. The consistent ringing of the doorbell was like a constant reminder of his heartbreak. A part of him wanted to open the door, confront Changbin, and demand answers. Another part wanted to run away from it all. But Hyunjin did neither. He just sat there, tormented by the relentless sound of the bell and the memories of their time together.

"Why won't he just go?" Hyunjin whispered to himself, frustration evident in his voice. With every ring of the bell, his anger grew. Why was Changbin being so persistent? How dare he act as though he was the wronged party when he had clearly been spending time with someone else?

Time dragged on, and still, the doorbell rang. It felt like an eternity. The space between each ring grew shorter and more insistent.

The constant buzzing felt invasive, almost violating the sanctuary of his home and emotions. With every passing moment, his anger towards Changbin grew. How could he? After all they'd shared? The betrayal felt too raw, too fresh. Hyunjin felt trapped in his own home, caught between his feelings for Changbin and the need to protect himself from further heartbreak.

Hyunjin was sitting slumped against the door, every ring of the bell sending sharp pangs of distress through his chest. It felt like a cruel, relentless reminder of what he had seen earlier. As the chimes continued, each one felt louder and more grating, stirring a tempest of anger inside him. With each ring, his resentment intensified: how dare Changbin have the audacity?

Suddenly, in a flare of rage, Hyunjin lunged for the door, yanking it open. The unexpected momentum caused Changbin, who was leaning on the doorbell, to momentarily lose his balance.

"Stop tormenting me!" Hyunjin roared, eyes blazing.

But Changbin, his eyes equally fervent, immediately retaliated, "You owe me an explanation, Hyunjin."

Without waiting for a response, Changbin swiftly stepped inside the apartment, forcing Hyunjin to involuntarily retreat. The door slammed behind him, accentuating the thick tension in the room.

Hyunjin's back hit the wall, his breathing erratic. "Why are you here?" he spat.

"Just tell me what's wrong, and I'll leave. You promised we'd always talk," Changbin retorted, his voice desperate yet determined.