SKINNY || HYUNHO

XII

The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains as Chan and Hyunjin sat on the living room floor, surrounded by sketchbooks and art supplies. Chan had been with Hyunjin since dawn, trying to distract him from his dark thoughts and offering silent support. They spent the early hours drawing, talking about anything that would keep Hyunjin's mind off his troubles.

Chan's keen eyes never left Hyunjin for long. He watched closely, noting the way Hyunjin's hands trembled slightly, the way he avoided looking at his own reflection in the nearby mirror. Chan didn't know the full extent of Hyunjin's struggles, but he saw enough to understand that the boy's insecurities were deeply rooted and painful.

As the clock approached noon, the doorbell rang, startling Hyunjin. He glanced at Chan, who gave him an encouraging nod. "I'll get it," Hyunjin said softly, standing up and walking to the door.

When Hyunjin opened the door, he was greeted by Minho's bright smile. "Hey, Hyunjin! I thought I'd come by and-"

Minho's words faltered as he heard Chan's voice call from the kitchen, "Who is it, Hyunjin?"

Hyunjin's face fell as he answered, "It's Minho."

Minho's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a tense expression. He stepped inside, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Chan standing in the kitchen doorway. Something fierce and unspoken flickered in Minho's eyes at the sight of Chan in Hyunjin's house, clearly comfortable and at ease.

Chan, on the other hand, felt a wave of anger rise within him. He knew what Minho had done to Hyunjin at the party, and seeing him here now, acting as if nothing had happened, made Chan's blood boil.

The air was thick with tension as the three boys gathered in the small kitchen. Hyunjin, caught between the two, felt the weight of their animosity pressing down on him, adding to his already fragile state. He was too tired-both physically and mentally-to mediate between them.

"So, Minho," Chan said, his tone laced with thinly veiled hostility, "what brings you here?"

"I came to see Hyunjin," Minho replied, his eyes flicking between Chan and Hyunjin. "Wanted to make sure he was okay after the party."

"Well, as you can see, I'm taking care of him," Chan said, his voice cool and unyielding.

Hyunjin's heart sank. He didn't want a confrontation, not now. "Let's just have lunch," he suggested weakly, hoping to diffuse the tension.

They sat down at the small kitchen table, the atmosphere growing increasingly uncomfortable with each passing second. Minho and Chan exchanged subtle barbs, their words sharp and biting, though they tried to keep their tones neutral.

"So, Hyunjin," Minho began, his voice strained but attempting to be light, "how have you been feeling?"

Hyunjin fidgeted with his food, not meeting Minho's eyes. "I've been okay," he lied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Chan couldn't hold back. "Funny, because it didn't seem like you were too concerned about him at the party," he said, his eyes glaring at Minho.

Minho's jaw tightened. "I had to take care of something. It wasn't like I abandoned him."

Chan scoffed. "Right. Sure. Leaving him alone in a room full of strangers really shows how much you care."

Minho's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't know what you're talking about, Chan. I've been there for Hyunjin way before you even knew he existed."

Chan leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Being there for someone means more than just being present. It means understanding them, supporting them, not leaving them in the lurch when they need you most."

Hyunjin's anxiety spiked. "Please, can we not do this?" he pleaded, his voice shaky. "I can't... I can't handle this right now."

Both Minho and Chan fell silent, their anger simmering just below the surface. They finished the meal in strained silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Hyunjin barely touched his food, the stress and exhaustion overwhelming him.

After lunch, Minho stood up abruptly. "I should go," he said, his voice clipped. "I'll see you later, Hyunjin."

Hyunjin nodded numbly, too drained to argue. As Minho walked past Chan, their shoulders brushed, and the tension was palpable. Chan watched Minho leave, his eyes cold and calculating.

Once Minho was gone, Chan turned to Hyunjin. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to make things worse."

Hyunjin shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. "It's not your fault. I just... I don't know how to handle this."

Chan moved closer, wrapping an arm around Hyunjin's shoulders. "You don't have to handle it alone," he said softly. "I'm here for you, Hyunjin. We'll get through this together."

Hyunjin leaned into Chan's embrace, the warmth of his touch providing a small measure of comfort. But deep down, he knew that the path ahead was still fraught with challenges, and he wasn't sure how much more he could endure.

Just as Hyunjin was beginning to feel a sliver of peace, the doorbell rang again. Hyunjin's heart skipped a beat, and he reluctantly pulled away from Chan to answer it. His heart sank even further when he saw it was Minho again, standing there with an irritated look on his face.

"Forgot my phone," Minho muttered, brushing past Hyunjin to retrieve it from the kitchen counter.

As he re-entered the kitchen, the air grew even colder. Minho snatched up his phone and turned to leave without a word, but Chan couldn't let it go.

"You know, Minho, maybe if you actually cared about Hyunjin as much as you claim, you'd show it," Chan said sharply.

Minho whirled around, his face flushed with anger. "You think you know everything, don't you, Chan? You've been here for what, a day? And you think you have the right to judge me?"

"I have the right to judge anyone who hurts Hyunjin," Chan shot back. "And you've done nothing but hurt him."

"That's rich, coming from someone who barely knows him," Minho retorted. "Maybe you should focus on your own problems instead of meddling in ours."

Hyunjin's heart pounded as he watched the exchange, feeling more and more like a spectator in his own life. The room seemed to close in on him, the voices of Minho and Chan growing louder and more heated.

"You're just jealous," Minho spat. "Jealous because Hyunjin actually cares about me, and not some random guy who shows up out of nowhere."

"Jealous?" Chan laughed bitterly. "You're the one who left him alone at a party and then had the audacity to act like you care. If anyone's jealous, it's you, because you can't stand the thought of someone else being there for Hyunjin when you can't even do it yourself."

Hyunjin's head was spinning. He couldn't take it anymore. "Stop it!" he cried, his voice breaking. "Both of you, just stop!"

Minho and Chan turned to look at him, their faces a mixture of surprise and guilt. Hyunjin's eyes were filled with tears, his whole body trembling.

"Get out," Hyunjin whispered, his voice shaking. "Both of you, just... just leave."

"Hyunjin, please-" Chan started to say, but Hyunjin shook his head.

"No, just go. I can't do this. I can't... I can't handle it."

Minho hesitated, then turned and walked out the door without another word. Chan lingered for a moment, his expression pained, but eventually he followed, leaving Hyunjin alone in the silent house.

As the door closed behind them, Hyunjin sank to the floor, his sobs wracking his body. He felt utterly alone, the weight of his insecurities and the chaos of his emotions threatening to crush him completely. The fragile peace he had begun to feel shattered, leaving him more lost and broken than ever.