Secret Love

15| regrets?

Thirty minutes ticked by, and Minho remained in the bathroom, locked in a bitter confrontation with his own reflection. His eyes blazed with disgust as he gazed at the hickeys and reddish spots on his neck and collarbone. The visible evidence of his drunken indiscretion ignited a fire of rage within him.

Overwhelmed by regret, Minho's body slid down the wall, collapsing onto the cold floor. He shut his eyes, desperate to erase the memories of the previous night. A silent sob eventually escaped his lips, and his frustration boiled over. He grasped his hair, tugging at it in anguish.

"Why the hell did I do that?" he whispered, his voice cracking with sobs. "I shouldn't have... I don't even love her!" His words stuttered out between gasping breaths. "W-what if... what if....?" The terrifying possibility hung in the air, leaving Minho shattered and consumed by self-loathing.

"Wait, what?" Jisung exclaimed, confusion etched on his face. "Who told you that?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

"You told me yourself, just the other day on the phone," his mom replied. "You said you had a boyfriend."

Jisung shook his head, a mixture of amusement and frustration. "Mom, I think you're getting your wires crossed. I said I'd found a new friend, a guy friend, here in Australia. Not a boyfriend."

His mom looked sheepish. "Oh dear, I must have misheard. But I could've sworn..."

Jisung chuckled. "I think you were just excited at the prospect of me having a boyfriend."

His mom's expression turned awkward. "Well, I might have mentioned it to Naeun..."

Jisung's eyes widened in horror. "Mom, what have you done?"

Mrs. Han sighed, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I just want you to be happy, dear. You've been single for two years now, and I want to see you settled down with someone you love."

Jisung's expression turned serious, and he fell silent for a moment. He knew he couldn't move on from his past love, even after two years apart. The feelings still lingered, and he couldn't bring himself to let go.

"Mom," he said finally, his voice low and measured. "I...I just can't." He trailed off, unable to articulate the emotions swirling inside him.

An hour had passed since Minho's emotional turmoil in the bathroom. His stomach growled, reminding him that he had skipped dinner the previous night. With a sense of trepidation, he made his way downstairs, anxious about the possibility of running into Sooyoung.

As he entered the kitchen, his worst fears were confirmed. Sooyoung was already there, busying herself with cooking. Minho's heart sank, and he silently cursed his bad luck. He attempted to compose himself, trying not to let his awkward show.

Sooyoung, seemingly oblivious to Minho's discomfort, turned around and greeted him with a gentle smile. "Are you hungry? I've prepared some hangover food, considering...uh...your condition last night." She nodded toward the table, inviting him to take a seat.

Minho nodded curtly, muttering a quick "thanks" as he sat down. Sooyoung served him a steaming bowl of food, and Minho began to eat in silence. The tension between them was palpable, and Sooyoung soon realized that her presence was only making things more awkward.

With a discreet nod, she excused herself, leaving Minho to eat alone. She busied herself by scrolling through her phone, her eyes scanning the screen with a mixture of distraction and relief.

Just then, her phone rang, breaking the silence. Sooyoung's face lit up with a warm smile as she glanced at the caller ID. She quickly answered the call, her voice taking on a brighter, more carefree tone.