Secret Love

18| best friend

Minho's reverie was interrupted by his mother's voice. "Minho!" she called out, her tone hinting at a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Minho blinked, clearing his throat before responding, "Yes." His reply was curt, lacking his usual warmth.

His mother raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Did you listen to what I said?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration.

Minho's hesitation was palpable. "Uh..." he trailed off, unsure of how to respond.

Mrs. Lee let out a gentle sigh. "Never mind. I was asking if you knew about Jisung's return?" She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You didn't know, did you?"

Minho nodded, intending to convey that he had indeed encountered Jisung. However, his mother misinterpreted the gesture, assuming he was indicating that he had no knowledge of Jisung's return.

"Hmm...well, Jisung has come back," Mrs. Lee continued, her voice filled with a warm smile. "He visited me the day before yesterday, on the same day you visited me in the afternoon, but I forgot to mention it to you."

Minho's expression remained impassive, his eyes fixed on his mother as she spoke about Jisung's return. His lack of reaction was palpable, and his mother's disappointment was evident.

"Are you seriously not showing any excitement or happiness about Jisung's return?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "Are you going to continue harboring resentment towards him without any valid reason?"

Minho's silence was deafening, his careless expression conveying that Jisung's return was of no consequence to him. His mother shook her head, a mixture of sadness and frustration etched on her face.

"This kid, you can't hold a grudge without a valid reason, Minho," she chided gently. "Jisung came here that day, being his usual sweet and charming self. He hasn't changed; he's still the same kind and gentle soul he's always been. Of course, except for his looks - he's matured significantly."

Her words were laced with a warm smile, but Minho's response was curt and dismissive. "Whatever," he muttered, standing up and leaving the room, leaving his mother astonished by his cold behavior.

Mrs. Lee's eyes filled with sympathy as she thought about Jisung. She felt sorry for him, knowing that he had done what was best for himself. Minho, on the other hand, should be grateful to Jisung, considering his own life had taken a dramatic turn - he was now a married man and soon-to-be father.

The dynamics between Minho and Jisung had undergone a profound transformation. Minho's behavior towards Jisung had shifted from being sweet, kind, protective, possessive, and caring to being rude, cold, and mindless. This change was not only limited to his behavior but seemed to be reserved specifically for Jisung.

It was clear that Minho's feelings towards Jisung were still complicated, and his actions were a testament to the unresolved emotions that lingered between them. The question remained: What had driven Minho to treat Jisung with such disdain, and would he ever be able to reconcile his past and present emotions?

As Minho stormed out of the house, his footsteps echoed with fury. He stomped towards his car, yanked open the door, and slid into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life as he sped away, his mind racing with turbulent emotions.

Jisung was now sitting with his mother. Mrs Han's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "Did you meet Minho when you visited the Lees? You didn't mention it to me."

Jisung nodded, his eyes drifting off into the distance as memories of their brief encounter flooded his mind. For a moment, he felt a pang of nostalgia, a longing for the carefree days of their youth. It was as if no time had passed at all, and yet, the three years they had spent apart felt like an eternity.