SKINNY || HYUNHO

XIII

Hyunjin sat on the floor for what felt like hours, his tears eventually subsiding into silent sniffles. The house felt eerily quiet, the weight of his loneliness pressing down on him. Guilt gnawed at him for how he had sent Minho and Chan away. As much as he couldn’t handle their fighting, he also couldn’t bear the thought of them leaving him completely.

He wiped his face with trembling hands and took a deep breath. “Maybe I overreacted,” he muttered to himself. The silence of the house was suffocating, and he found himself craving the presence of the very people he had pushed away.

Slowly, he got up and walked to the front door. With a deep breath, he opened it, hoping to see that maybe they hadn’t gone far. What he found made his heart drop.

Minho and Chan were sitting on his porch, both sporting bruises and cuts on their faces. Their shirts were stained with blood, and their knuckles were raw and bloody. They looked up as Hyunjin stepped out, their expressions a mix of surprise and apprehension.

“Hyunjin,” Chan began, standing up first.

Minho followed suit, standing next to Chan. “We were just...”

Hyunjin stared at them, disbelief written all over his face. “Did you two actually fight like little kids?”

Immediately, both boys started talking over each other, trying to justify their actions.

“He started it,” Minho said, pointing at Chan. “He said you were his, and I—”

“You’re the one who said you owned him,” Chan shot back, his voice rising. “Like he’s some kind of prize—”

“Because you don’t understand how much he means to me!” Minho yelled, his fists clenching.

Hyunjin’s patience snapped. “Stop!” he screamed, his voice echoing in the quiet neighborhood. “Do you think I’m some kind of object? A fucking trophy to be won?”

Both Minho and Chan froze, their eyes wide as they looked at Hyunjin. The raw emotion in his voice silenced them immediately.

“You’re both acting like I’m just some thing to fight over,” Hyunjin continued, his voice shaking with anger and pain. “I’m a person, not a prize.”

Chan stepped forward, his expression softening. “Hyunjin, we didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

“Really?” Hyunjin scoffed. “Because that’s exactly how it feels. You’re both so caught up in your stupid rivalry that you don’t even see what it’s doing to me.”

Minho’s shoulders sagged, and he looked at the ground, guilt evident in his eyes. “We’re sorry, Hyunjin. We didn’t think—”

“No, you didn’t,” Hyunjin cut him off, his voice raw. “And now look at you. Beaten up, bloody, and for what? To prove who cares about me more?”

Chan reached out, his hand trembling slightly. “We just... we both care about you so much, Hyunjin. We didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Hyunjin shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes again. “If you really cared, you’d stop fighting and start listening to what I need. And right now, I need you both to get along.”

There was a heavy silence as Minho and Chan absorbed his words. Finally, Minho nodded, his voice low and sincere. “You’re right. We were being stupid. I’m sorry, Hyunjin.”

Chan nodded as well, his expression contrite. “I’m sorry too. We’ll do better, I promise.”

Hyunjin took a deep breath, feeling a small sense of relief. “Thank you. Now, come inside. Let’s get those cuts cleaned up.”

They followed him into the house, the tension easing slightly as they stepped out of the cold. Hyunjin led them to the kitchen, where he gathered some first aid supplies and sat on the counter. “One of you get between my legs. I’ll clean you up first. I don’t feel strong enough to stand.”

Minho and Chan glanced at each other, the rivalry sparking up again.

“I should go first,” Minho said, stepping forward.

“No way, I’m going first,” Chan retorted, pushing past him.

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “Okay, whoever guesses the number I’m thinking of from one to three goes first.”

“Two!” Minho said quickly.

Chan sighed. “One?”

“It was two,” Hyunjin said with a smirk.

Chan muttered under his breath, stepping back while Minho smirked and moved between Hyunjin’s legs. Hyunjin started cleaning Minho’s wounds, the tension still palpable.

“I really am sorry for leaving you alone at the party,” Minho said softly.

Hyunjin didn’t look up. “Why does it matter?”

Minho’s eyes flickered with regret. “It matters to me. And what’s Chan doing here anyway?”

Hyunjin’s hands stilled, his heart racing. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t like the idea of you being with him,” Minho admitted, his voice low.

Hyunjin’s eyes narrowed. “Are you jealous?”

“Why would I be?” Minho muttered, looking away.

Hyunjin didn’t respond, focusing on cleaning his wounds. When he finished, he gestured for Chan to take Minho’s place. Chan moved between his legs, and Hyunjin began to clean his wounds.

Chan watched him closely. “I’m sorry for my behavior earlier. And I have to say, from this close, you’re even more beautiful.”

Hyunjin blushed, and Minho, who was watching from the side, frowned. “Stop flirting.”

Chan smirked. “Why? Does it bother you?”

Minho glared. “Just knock it off.”

Hyunjin sighed heavily, the weight of their bickering wearing on him. “Both of you, just stop. Please.”

Minho and Chan fell silent, their expressions still tense but subdued. Hyunjin finished tending to Chan’s wounds, feeling exhausted. He looked at both of them, his eyes tired. “I need you to get along. For me. Please.”

They both nodded reluctantly, the unspoken truce fragile but present. For now, it was enough. Hyunjin managed a weak smile, feeling a small sense of peace amid the chaos.