SKINNY || HYUNHO

XIV

Hyunjin looked at the two boys standing in front of him, the tension still thick in the air after their argument. He knew resolving the issues between them would take time, but for now, they had more immediate concerns.

"It's late," Hyunjin began, his voice tired but determined. "You both should stay here tonight."

Minho and Chan exchanged uncertain glances. Minho spoke first. "Are you sure, Hyunjin? We don't want to impose."

Hyunjin sighed. "I'm sure. I don't want either of you driving in this state, and besides, we need to talk more. The problem is, I only have one bed and a sofa in my room. So, two of us will have to share the bed, and one will sleep on the sofa."

The tension was palpable as Minho and Chan looked at each other, both clearly wanting to be the one to share the bed with Hyunjin.

"I'll sleep in the bed with Hyunjin," Minho said quickly.

"Not a chance," Chan retorted. "I'll sleep in the bed."

Hyunjin rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache forming. "Seriously, guys? Are we really going to do this?"

They both nodded, determined. Hyunjin rolled his eyes. "Fine. You two will share the bed, and I'll take the sofa."

They both started protesting in unison.

"No, you can't sleep on the sofa-" Minho began.

"That's not fair, you need the bed-" Chan argued.

Hyunjin's patience wore thin. "Enough! You two will sleep in the bed together, and I'll take the sofa. End of discussion."

They started to argue again, but Hyunjin cut them off. "Or we can resolve this like kids and play rock-paper-scissors."

Minho and Chan looked at each other before nodding. They stood up and prepared for the game. Three rounds later, Minho emerged victorious, grinning with satisfaction.

Chan grumbled, crossing his arms. "This isn't over."

Hyunjin just sighed, exhausted. "Come on, it's time to sleep."

As they headed to the room, Chan took advantage of a moment when Hyunjin went into the bathroom to approach him secretly. "Do you want me to change the bandages on your thighs?" he whispered.

Hyunjin got nervous and shook his head. "No, better to wait until Minho isn't around."

Chan nodded, understanding. "Okay. If you change your mind, let me know."

Hyunjin sat on the edge of his bed, Minho next to him, while Chan settled onto the sofa. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife, but Hyunjin needed answers. He needed to understand what was happening between them all.

"Minho," Hyunjin started, his voice soft but steady. "We need to talk about what happened at the party."

Minho nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, we do. I owe you an apology, Hyunjin. I shouldn't have left you alone like that. It was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Hyunjin felt a flicker of hope, thinking maybe Minho was finally going to explain his feelings. But then, Minho continued.

"And about Jisung..." Minho hesitated, taking a deep breath. "I think I might be starting to fall for him. I didn't mean for it to happen, but I can't deny it anymore."

Hyunjin's heart shattered into pieces. He tried to keep his expression neutral, but the pain was too raw. Inside, he thought, Of course, someone like Minho would never end up with a fat nobody like me. The words echoed in his mind, his self-loathing intensifying.

Minho seemed oblivious to Hyunjin's turmoil and continued, "Jisung is... he's amazing. He's funny, kind, and there's just something about him that draws me in."

Hyunjin forced a smile, though it felt like his face might crack from the effort. "I'm happy for you, Minho. Really."

Minho didn't seem convinced, but he nodded anyway. "Thanks, Hyunjin. It means a lot."

After a moment of silence, Hyunjin couldn't hold back his curiosity. "Why do you dislike Chan so much? What did he do to you?"

Minho's expression darkened. "Chan... it's not about what he did to me. It's about how he acts around you. He thinks he can just waltz in and take care of you, like he's some kind of hero. It pisses me off."

Hyunjin frowned. "He's just trying to help, Minho. Why does that bother you so much?"

Minho's jaw tightened. "Because he doesn't know you like I do. He doesn't understand what you need."

Hyunjin shook his head, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. "You don't get to decide who can or can't be my friend, Minho. And you certainly don't get to act like you know what's best for me when you left me alone at that party."

Minho looked taken aback, but before he could respond, Chan spoke up from the sofa. "He's right, Minho. You can't just pick and choose who gets to be close to Hyunjin based on your own feelings."

Minho glared at Chan. "Stay out of this, Chan. This is between me and Hyunjin."

Chan stood up, facing Minho with a determined look. "No, it's not. Hyunjin is my friend too, and I care about him just as much as you do. Maybe even more."

The argument was heating up again, and Hyunjin felt himself growing more frustrated. "Stop it, both of you. This isn't helping."

They both fell silent, tension still crackling between them. Hyunjin took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "Let's just try to get through the night without any more fights, okay?"

Minho and Chan exchanged one last glare before reluctantly nodding. The three of them settled into an uneasy silence, the weight of unresolved issues hanging heavily in the air.