Sanctuary for the Lost and Broken (Skz Fanfiction)

Seungmin (2)

Seungmin hadn't expected his first counseling session to conclude with him becoming someone's fake boyfriend. Yet, there he was, walking home with his newfound companion, who had fallen strangely silent, much to Seungmin's discomfort. Initially, Seungmin had contemplated confessing the truth, but something about Hyunjin's demeanor had struck him as desperate. Hyunjin genuinely didn't want his sister to know about his counseling sessions, and Seungmin empathized with that sentiment all too well. He understood the complexities of family dynamics and the urge to shield certain aspects of one's life from loved ones. If faced with a similar situation involving his own father, Seungmin might have resorted to lies as well. So when Hyunjin implored him with pleading eyes, practically begging him to participate in the deception, Seungmin acquiesced. He knew better than most that family relationships were intricate and that there were some truths you simply didn't want them to uncover.

After a while, Hyunjin broke the silence, his voice tinged with gratitude and relief. "Seungmin, I... thank you. You saved me back there. I owe you big time."

"I didn't do it, so you owe me," Seungmin responded, his tone reflecting his own discomfort with the situation, as he continued to walk toward his apartment. Suddenly, Hyunjin reached out and grabbed Seungmin's wrist, causing him to halt in shock. When Seungmin turned to look at Hyunjin's face, he was met with a mixture of emotions—gratitude, relief, but also a hint of vulnerability. It was as if Hyunjin was grappling with something deeper than just the surface-level deception they had engaged in.

"Why did you help me then?" Hyunjin asked curious, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seungmin paused, feeling the weight of the question hanging in the air. "Because I understand what it's like to be scared of getting caught," he replied, his voice softening. "and to feel like you have no choice, but to conceal the truth from everyone else."

Hyunjin nodded slowly, his grip on Seungmin's wrist loosening. "I never thought I'd drag someone else into this mess," he admitted, a tinge of regret lacing his words.

"It's okay," Seungmin reassured him, offering a small smile. "We'll figure it out."

As they resumed their journey home, Seungmin couldn't shake the feeling that their lives had become entwined in ways he couldn't yet comprehend. But for now, he focused on being there for Hyunjin, knowing that their bond—born out of necessity—might just be the lifeline they both needed in the turbulent days ahead.

***

They entered Seungmin's apartment. Thankfully, Seungmin had cleaned it yesterday. Seungmin gestured for Hyunjin to take a seat while he went to make some coffee. As he returned with the steaming mugs, he noticed Hyunjin looking around.

"Wow, your house is very neat and minimalistic, exactly how I imagined your house to look like," Hyunjin expressed, his eyes scanning the tidy space.

Seungmin chuckled softly as he handed Hyunjin a mug of coffee. "Yeah, I like to keep things simple," he replied, settling into the chair opposite Hyunjin. "Less clutter, less stress."

Hyunjin nodded in understanding, taking a sip of his coffee. "I wish I could say the same about my place," he admitted with a sheepish smile. "It's always a mess. My mom and sister constantly nag about how I leave my paint brushes strewn everywhere."

Seungmin sadly smiled to himself, acknowledging the stark contrast between his own family dynamics and what Hyunjin described. It must be nice to have a normal family dynamic, he thought, a household where there is teasing and laughter, where not everyone is so formal and stiff all the time.