UNSEEN PAIN. minsung

𝟎𝟖. // group chat

minhos pov .

I sat on the empty couch in my parents' house mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. This house was more than just a lavish building; it was haunted by a deep sense of emptiness and loneliness. My parents were never really... there? If that makes sense. My dad, a CEO of a company that profits from essentially scamming people, and my mother, a renowned neurosurgeon, were always caught up in their demanding careers.

Their busy schedules meant they were rarely home, but over time, I got used to their absence.

Minho glanced at his messages and noticed the group chat with his seven friends had over four unread messages. He quickly opened the chat, curious to see what he'd missed.

yongbok☀️🥺

minho

what did you do to Jisung?

grandpa

what happened?

Felix?

yongbok ☀️🥺

I can tell you later

but its not important now

aien

Minho you mother fucker

get ur ass over here

what even happened lmfao

Ilinong

goddamn

yongbok☀️🥺

what did you say to Jisung?

Ilinong

lmfao

nothing

grandpa

lee Minho

please

what did you do to him?

im serious

minho

Ilinong

you talk a lot

anyway

I might have threatened him
to not hang out with us

changbinbong

WHY?

he was cute

yongbok ☀️🥺

changbin hyung

am I not cute enough?

changbinbong

no you're the cutest
my Dear ❤️

Ilinong

ew

do your gay ass shit
somewhere else

grandpa

oh my god

Okay, I agree with Minho

don't be lovely dovey in here
because its cringy

but, Minho I'm actually
gonna jump you

he was our friend you cunt

this is why you don't have friends

seungumnaimnim

no i loved that guy wtf

felix invite him to lunch tommorow

yongbok ☀️🥺

okay

and minho before you say anything

no one gives a fuck
Ilinong

💀

Minho felt a heavy weight on his chest, sapping any motivation or energy to respond to his friend's text. With a sigh, he slipped his phone into his pocket and trudged upstairs to his bedroom. Sitting down at his desk, he forced himself to start his homework, knowing if he didn't do it now, he'd forget later. As he stared at the question in front of him, his mind remained blank, unable to focus. Fifteen minutes passed, and he still had no idea how to solve the problem.

Frustrated, Minho pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened the "Photomath" app. He snapped a photo of the homework question, and within seconds, the app provided the solution.

---

"Mom, I don't want to take them," Minho argued, his voice tinged with desperation as his mother held out the pills.

"Why?" she asked gently. "Dear, I know you will get better if you take these."

"You don't get it, goddamn it!" Minho snapped, slamming his elbows onto the table in frustration. The antidepressants made him feel terrible. They disrupted his sleep, gave him constant headaches, heightened his irritability, and left his mind feeling empty and numb.

He had started taking the medication when he was 15. Since then, he hadn't felt like himself. He watched his friends, who always seemed so cheerful and motivated, and couldn't help but feel a painful contrast with his own experience.

Dance used to be the one thing Minho loved with his whole heart. He was still a member of the dance club, but the passion and joy he once felt had vanished. Depression had stolen his spark, leaving him disinterested and unmotivated in nearly everything he used to enjoy.