19 | minsung

38

the sound of shoes colliding with the floor echoed through the hallways as minho and jeongin walked, minho escorting jeongin back to his dorm. the sun had long been replaced by the moon, casting a soft glow over everything while crystalline droplets continued to fall from above.

jeongin paused in front of a door on the eighth floor, offering a smile to minho. "this is my dorm, hyung. good night and see you later," he said.

minho hesitated but then acted, pulling the younger into a quick hug, patting his back gently. "good night, innie," he said before letting go.

the unexpected embrace caught jeongin off guard, yet he found solace in it, appreciating the gesture. he waved to minho before unlocking his door with a keycard and stepping inside.

as jeongin entered, minho turned and made his way back to his dorm, the weight of the revelations from their conversation weighing heavily on his heart.

meanwhile, inside his own dorm room, jeongin moved slowly, cautious not to disturb his roommate. he unlocked his door, stepped inside, and carefully closed it, breathing a deep sigh of relief as guilt tugged at his conscience.

facing his room, the sight of multiple guitars evoked a pang of emotion within him, each instrument holding a wealth of memories. jeongin carefully removed his guitar bag, retrieving the ebony guitar and placing it among the collection on its stand. sitting on the edge of his bed, he gazed at the array of guitars with eyes clouded by sadness – electric guitars, a mahogany acoustic, and the one that always accompanied him, the ebony acoustic guitar.

jeongin's gaze lingered on the electric guitar in front of him as he murmured, "you still haven't taught me how to play the electric guitar, hyung."

suddenly, he fell back onto his bed, fixating on the ceiling. "i promised i'd make sure you and minho hyung would be happy, but now... i feel guilty," he confessed, the tremor in his eyes mirroring the weight of his heart sinking with remorse, conflicting with the conviction that he had done the right thing.

"i held onto anger because of what happened... but deep down, i know they aren't to blame. no one is," jeongin acknowledged, his words echoing through the room as tears welled in his eyes, the guilt growing heavier.

"i'm sorry... minho hyung... jisung hyung... chan hyung... everyone..." he whispered, voice trailing off into a choked admission, tears streaming down his cheeks onto the bedsheet.

-----

minho swung open the door to his dorm, feeling the weight of the day press on him, intensifying the atmosphere in the room. the air felt heavy, perhaps because of all he had learned that day.

as he stepped inside, jisung's stern voice cut through the tense air, "where have you been?" jisung approached the older, still dressed in the clothes he had selected for him, a sight that brought a smile to minho's lips.

"just walked my friend back to his dorm," minho replied, sliding his arms gently around jisung's shoulders, admiring him.

"you look sexy in what i picked out for you," minho complimented, his gaze fixed on jisung's striking appearance, his sleeveless top accentuating his well-defined physique.

but jisung didn't acknowledge the compliment. instead, he pulled minho into a sudden embrace, one hand on minho's waist while the other caressed his head, offering comfort.

the unexpected embrace both surprised and comforted minho. jisung's hold conveyed a sense of security, his grip firm yet reassuring.

"don't worry me like that again. i came back and you weren't here, i was worried," jisung's words rumbled against minho's body in their close proximity.