SKINNY || HYUNHO

XV

Hyunjin awoke to a slight itching sensation on his thighs. He groaned and tried to push the feeling away, rubbing his eyes and realizing that his room was empty. His heart sank as he recalled the previous night. He was about to get up and look for Chan and Minho when he heard raised voices coming from the kitchen.

Curiosity and concern pulled him out of bed. He padded softly toward the kitchen, the voices becoming clearer with each step.

"Why are you even here, Chan? You barely know him!" Minho's voice was sharp and angry.

"I'm here because he needed someone, and you were too busy with your own life!" Chan retorted, his tone equally fierce.

"He's my friend. I've known him longer than you have," Minho shot back.

Hyunjin stepped into the kitchen, and both men immediately fell silent, their angry gazes snapping to him. They tried to mask their irritation with forced smiles.

"Good morning, Hyunjin," Minho greeted, his voice strained.

"Morning," Chan echoed, his eyes softening as he looked at Hyunjin.

They placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him, but the sight of food made Hyunjin's stomach churn. He sat down hesitantly, trying to ignore the tension in the room. His hands shook as he reached for a glass of water.

"What were you arguing about?" he asked, trying to distract them from the food he wasn't eating.

Both men opened their mouths to speak but stopped, glaring at each other. Chan finally broke the silence. "We were just talking about how to help you."

Minho scoffed. "Talking? More like you were criticizing everything I've done."

"Because you've been more of a problem than a solution, Minho," Chan snapped.

Hyunjin rolled his eyes, exasperated by their bickering. He moved to grab a fork, but the pain in his thighs flared up again, and he hissed quietly, hoping they wouldn't notice.

"Hyunjin, you have a red stain on your pants," Minho said suddenly, his voice filled with concern.

Panic gripped Hyunjin. He looked down and saw the small spot of blood soaking through his sweatpants. Before he could react, Chan was already by his side, gently guiding him to sit on the kitchen counter.

"Minho, get the first aid kit," Chan instructed, his voice calm and steady.

Minho hesitated for a moment, then rushed to grab the kit. Hyunjin's heart pounded as Chan carefully lowered his pants to inspect the wound.

"Some of the cuts are infected," Chan muttered, his jaw tightening. He looked up at Hyunjin with a mixture of concern and determination. "This is going to hurt, but I need to clean it properly."

Hyunjin nodded, tears streaming down his face. Minho handed him a wooden spoon to bite on, and Chan began to clean the wounds with antiseptic. The pain was excruciating, and Hyunjin's screams filled the room. He clutched Minho's shoulder, his nails digging into the skin as he tried to endure the agony.

"Breathe, Hyunjin, just breathe," Minho whispered, his voice soothing despite the chaos.

When Chan finished, he gently rewrapped the bandages, his movements careful and precise. Hyunjin was exhausted, his body trembling from the ordeal.

Minho, visibly shaken, turned to Hyunjin. "How did this happen, Hyunjin? Please, I need to understand."

Hyunjin couldn't meet his gaze. He felt a mixture of shame and frustration. "I don't know how to explain it," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Minho's expression hardened. "You need to start talking, Hyunjin. Keeping this inside is killing you."

Chan stepped in, his voice firm. "Minho, back off. He's been through enough."

Minho rounded on Chan, his anger boiling over. "You think you know what's best for him? You've been here for a day, and suddenly you're his savior?"

Chan didn't back down. "I'm trying to help him, which is more than you're doing by yelling at him!"

Minho's fists clenched. "You don't get to judge me. I've been here for him, but this... this is different."

"And how do you think he feels with you two fighting like this?" Chan snapped, stepping closer.

Hyunjin felt like he was suffocating, the walls closing in on him. "Stop it!" he cried, his voice breaking. "You're making everything worse!"

Minho and Chan froze, the anger in their eyes dimming as they looked at Hyunjin. The desperation in his voice cut through their rage like a knife.

"We just want to help," Minho said, his voice softer but still strained.

"Then stop fighting," Hyunjin pleaded. "I can't handle this right now."

Chan nodded, his expression filled with regret. "We're sorry, Hyunjin. We'll stop."

Hyunjin took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. "I need some time alone," he said quietly. "Please."

Minho and Chan exchanged a look, then reluctantly left the kitchen. Hyunjin sank to the floor, hugging his knees to his chest. The house was eerily quiet, the weight of his struggles pressing down on him.

As he sat there, Hyunjin couldn't shake the feeling of isolation. He wanted to believe that things could get better, but the road ahead seemed impossibly long and difficult. For now, all he could do was survive each moment, one breath at a time, hoping that someday he would find the strength to reach out and let someone in.