Because Of... || Seo Changbin

JANUARY 9TH-Part 2

I had made up my mind to wait for Jiho inside my house because, honestly, why should I wait outside my own home? Thinking of home, I should call my mom during lunch today. She always worries when I don't check in regularly..

Stepping inside, it was no surprise to find Felix still sprawled on the couch, deeply engrossed in his game.

-"I'll go get ready so we can go to the gym," said Jiho

-"Felix, why are you still up? Is it really taking you that long to finish a level? What are you even playing?" I asked, finally glancing at the TV screen. "Wait, is that GENSHIN IMPACT? Are you kidding me? How is it taking you so long?"

-"Wahhh- why are you back?" he responded, clearly startled.

-"Don't change the subject!" I snapped.

-"Well, you see... I started playing with my partner, but then they brought another friend with them. And let me tell you, she is awesome! I have to show you her Itto build! You'll love it!" he babbled excitedly.

-"Felix, you still need to go to sleep. You'll be tired all day," I tried to reason.

-"There's a thing called coffee, duh," he shot back nonchalantly.

He's starting to sound like Seungmin. I was about to retort when Minho's voice interrupted us. "Changbin, why are you back already?"

-"Minho hyung? I thought you were going to bed?" I asked, surprised to see him.

-"I can't go back to sleep. Huijin is making IN pose in a weird position for his painting, and he keeps complaining. I was lying on Chan's bed, by the way," Minho explained, clearly frustrated.

-"Oh, okay."

-"Actually, I think I'll just come to the gym with you all! Let me get my shoes," Minho decided abruptly.

-"Wait, Hyung-" I tried to interject.

-"Damn, should I come with you all? Because both Minho and Jiho at the gym? That will be the drama of the year," Felix mused, sensing the potential chaos cause god help me. It's going to be a shit show.

-"Fuck, it's finna be World War 3. What do I do?" I muttered to myself, feeling the weight of the impending disaster.

-"I mean, it is what it is... OMGG, CHANGBIN, LOOK! SHE'S USING KAZUHA!! I bet you're jealous. I know you wanted him for a while," Felix teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

-"Felix, respectfully, I do not care. What do I do now? They will literally kill each other at the gym. Minho hyung will throw a 10-pound weight at Jiho hyung. Chan hyung will kill me too. Remember November 9th?" I was genuinely panicking now.

-"OMG. Fuckkkkkk, it's gonna be a blood bath in that gym. Wait, I'll come with you for moral support. Let me just tell them that I'm logging out," Felix said, typing something rapidly with his controller. "Okay, done. Let me put on some sweatpants really quick."

-"Hey Changbin, I'm ready. Let's go," said Minho, emerging from his room, looking somewhat eager.

-"Huh? Yeah, well, you see..." I hesitated.

-"Hyung, how about you guys go first? Then I'll join you later," Felix suggested, giving me a knowing look.

-"Oh! You coming too? Well, okay, sounds good! Let's go then!" Minho responded, his excitement palpable.

Someone seemed incredibly happy, as if our earlier argument hadn't affected him at all. Minho, despite his cynical exterior, wasn't one to hold a grudge. Deep down, he was just a man who loved his cats like his own children. He often spent hours with them, talking to them in soft whispers, his usually guarded face softening into a rare smile.