So Close Yet So Far - Mingyu x Reader

Chapter 11 - What Happened Last Night...

             The entire kitchen onto the back patio was quiet, only able to share glances as they tried to make heads or tails of what was going on. You looked at Hoshi, who still seemed stunned to silence. Jihoon stepped closer, seemingly wanting to say more. However, Hoshi's expression stopped him. Hoshi, unable to manage himself, simply pushed past Jihoon and headed up the stairs that led to the bedrooms. Jihoon looked in his direction, letting out a sigh.

"I expected that to happen." He said softly. When he looked at you, he smiled. "Sorry."

Before words escaped your mouth, two people were standing in front of you and Minnie. When you looked up, you saw Joshua and Jeonghan.

"What are you doing here?" Joshua asked. You couldn't see it from your spot, but a protective flare was burning in each of their eyes.

Jihoon smiled. "Nice to see you to, Hyung." He smiled. "I was invited. That's all." Joshua and Jeonghan immediately turned to you, eyes wide in shock. It spooked you, and you stepped back.

"What?" you asked. You felt a hand on your back, and when you looked up, Mingyu was there.

"Where did you meet him?!" Jeonghan asked. You shrugged.

"I- I uhm." Despite no reason to feel nervous, the almost angry expression they were giving you made you fall silent. "At the store when I got you snacks." You finally managed to say. They looked back at Jihoon, who simply stood with his hands in his pockets, nodding his head to assure them your statement was correct. "What's the problem?"

"The problem?!" Jeonghan sighed, shaking his head as he calmed his voice. "The problem is..."

"Hey." A deep booming voice approached. You looked over, seeing that instead of Minnie, Mingyu was at your side. With the situation seemingly solved, the spooked persona he just had melted away so he could support you. He put a hand on your shoulder. "Don't yell at her because you have beef with the guy..." The duo turned back to Jihoon, who stood unphased before them. Mingyu looked down at you. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay." You assured. "I don't know what's going on...."

"Why don't you go find Hoshi? We'll settle all of this." He assured, giving your shoulder a supportive squeeze. You nodded.

"We got him." Jeonghan said. Before anyone could question the abrupt statement, Joshua and Jeonghan approached Jihoon. He looked a bit stunned as the duo looped their arms through his, much as they usually do with you, and led him out the front door. You blinked, watching as Jihoon didn't even fight back, matching his pace with the other two as they disappeared from sight.

"Okay..." Mingyu said. After a moment of standing in the kitchen, he turned to the rest of the crew. "Let's go eat for now..." he shuffled everyone back outside. "Let them figure it out." As the group returned to the patio, he turned to the stairs you had just raced up.

You quickly hurried towards the stairs, looking around for Hoshi. It didn't take long to find him, as he sat right on the top of the stairs, hands raking through his hair over and over again. It seemed he was trying very hard not to cry. You immediately hurried up to him, finding a spot on the step below him. He caught your gaze, and his attempt to wipe his eyes only increased. "Ugh, sorry." He said.

"Don't be sorry. What happened?" you asked gently. "Do you know him?" Hoshi nodded, looking over at you. It was very unusual to see such a bright energy so distressed.

"Yeah. Remember that guy Seungkwan keeps teasing me about?" It seemed a chuckle felt natural at this point as he covered his mouth with his hand. "Him."