NOISE

17.

Minho opened his door the next morning, almost tripping over Felix. „Fuck, Lixie! Do you want me to hurt my other knee as well?", he cursed, trying to keep his balance. „I was so worried!", the blonde boy said, ignoring Minho's complaint, threw his book aside and rose to his feet. „Did you camp in front of my door?", Minho asked and frowned, letting Felix wrap his arms around his torso.

„No! But we all came over this morning", he answered and looked up to him. Minho could count Felix's freckles if he wanted to, that's how clear and unfiltered he was seeing them in front of him. „What do you mean, you all?", he groaned, expecting the worst. That's not how he wanted to start the day. He was letting Felix lead him through the hallway, having his friends wait for them in the living room. „Hi", he said shortly, trying to avoid eye contact. „We expected you to sleep longer", Chan answered, checking the time on his wristwatch. „Me too", he mumbled and crossed the room. He settled between Jeongin and Hyunjin, letting Hyunjin wrap his arm around him. „How are you feeling?", he asked and Minho shrugged his shoulders.

He was feeling numb, apart from the unbearable sting in his left leg. „I'm okay", he responded, his eyes were wandering through the room, trying to find Changbin. „How are you feeling?", he asked as soon as he locked eyes with his best friend. Changbin nodded, „I'm fine." He couldn't thank Chan enough for coming down the stairs in the right moment, stopping Jisung from something he'd probably regret and Changbin from getting hurt. „Min", Chan pulled him out of his thoughts, making Minho lift his head and look at his roommate. He shook his head, signaling that a thank you was not necessary. Minho smiled slightly and nodded.

„So", Seungmin started and Minho looked at the boy sitting in front of him on the floor, lifting an eyebrow. „Correct me if I'm wrong but you really fell for that criminal idiot", he said, pointing at Minho's neck. He instinctively raised his hand, covering one of the hickeys Jisung gave him, glad that Seungmin couldn't see the others. Minho could feel the heat crawl up to the tips of his ears and he was aware that everyone in this room could either see his pigments or hear his noise. Seugmin caught him off guard and he wanted to disappear into the ground. He glared at Chan's boyfriend, not knowing what to say. It was true, he had fallen for Han Jisung out of all people. Someone so out of reach, it made him feel delusional and naive at times.

„He's not a criminal", he choked out between clenched teeth, feeling all eyes on him. „I beg to differ", Seungmin retorted, earning another glare. „What?", the younger one asked provocative, tilting his head, reminding him of Jisung. „Are you gonna tell us that he didn't try to beat up one of our friends?" Minho let out an exhausted exhale. He had no answer to that question. Hell, he wasn't even sure if Jisung would have actually hit Changbin. Every cell in his body wanted to believe that Jisung would have stopped himself from hurting someone else.

"He hurt you though, idiot", he thought to himself and tried to push away that painful realization.

„Seunginnie", Felix said warning and glared at Seungmin from across the couch table. „He's got it hard enough, no need to make it worse." The freckle faced boy crossed his arms in front of his chest, trying to look intimidating. „Felix is right", Jeongin agreed, making Minho flinch. His voice was louder than usual and he hadn't said a word the whole time. „There's no use in making him feel even worse."

Minho glanced at Jeongin, questioning why he never hung out with him anymore. He knew the answer, but he was planning on changing that. The only times he'd see Jeongin was when the younger one drove all the way across the city to visit him.

He squeezed Jeongin's thigh gently and pushed himself off the couch. „I'll go study", he said, feeling a hand around his left wrist. „Sit your ass down", Jeongin cursed, pulling him back onto the couch. Minho lost his balance, almost falling onto Jeongin's lap. „Fine", he muttered, trying to hide how embarrassed he was.