UNSEEN PAIN. minsung

𝟏𝟔. // they both needed it

"Sure!" Jisung said with forced calm, but inside, his heart raced. At Minho's house? Alone?

And that's how they ended up riding the bus together to Minho's house. The bus rumbled through the city streets, and the two boys sat close but silent, the air between them charged with unspoken thoughts.

"Thank you," they both murmured to the bus driver, who gave them a knowing smile as they stepped off.

"Are your parents home?" Jisung asked, trying to sound casual.

"No, they're working," Minho replied.

"Oh," Jisung chuckled awkwardly, feeling the weight of the situation settle in.

They walked up to Minho's doorstep, where he fished his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the modern front door. The sight that greeted them inside still amazed Jisung, even though he had seen it before.

"I still can't get over how nice your house is," Jisung said, wide-eyed.

"Come on, you're making me sound like I'm a millionaire," Minho retorted with a laugh.

"You kinda are," Jisung teased, and they both giggled.

"Anyway, let's go to my room. Follow me," Minho said as he led the way upstairs, Jisung trailing behind.

"Your room is nice as well," Jisung giggled as they entered.

"Thank you."

They sat down on Minho's bed, the room falling into a comfortable silence. Suddenly, a soft meow broke the quiet.

"You never told me you have a cat!" Jisung exclaimed, kneeling down as the cat jumped onto his lap, purring contentedly as Jisung stroked its fur.

Minho laughed, "You never asked me."

"What's his name?"

"His name is Soonie—"

"Aww, oh my god, he's so cute!!" Jisung gushed.

"I also have two more—"

"WHAT?" Jisung's mouth dropped open. Later, the two of them spent time playing with Minho's cats, laughing and petting them together. For the first time in a while, both boys felt genuinely safe and at ease.

"What do you want to talk about now?" Minho asked, sitting back down on the bed while Jisung surveyed the room.

"Maybe why there's a gay porn magazine on your desk?" Jisung asked with a playful smirk.

So he was one of the gay friends Sunoo told me about... Minho's face flushed as he struggled to find an explanation. Both of them burst into laughter, the tension melting away.

"Want to watch a movie?" Minho suggested.

"Sure, which one? You can pick."

"Do you know Nana?"

"No?"

"Well, watch it with me!"

"Okay," Minho sighed, and they made their way to the living room. They laid together on the couch, their bodies close, sharing one blanket and eating ramen as the anime played.

———

Jisung's phone chimed. He got up and read the message. "Minho hyung..."

"Mh?" Minho's eyes remained glued to the screen, clearly absorbed in the anime.

"I have to go now, can you drive me?"

"Of course," Minho said, pausing the anime and tossing the remote aside. They grabbed their things and headed out.

The car ride was filled with chatter about the anime and its characters. Jisung's laughter filled the car as they debated plot twists and favorite scenes. All too soon, they arrived at Jisung's home.

"Thank you for today. I enjoyed it," Jisung said softly, closing the door before Minho could reply.

Minho sat there for a moment, staring at the closed door. He felt a strange mixture of emptiness and warmth. Today had been different. It had been a small but significant step away from the edge of silence he had been teetering on for so long. He sighed deeply and drove away, a faint smile lingering on his lips.

———

Back in his room, Minho reflected on the day. He lay on his bed, Soonie curling up beside him. The thought of Jisung's laughter and the warmth of his presence filled the room, making it feel less lonely.

He picked up his phone and sent a quick message to Jisung.

"Thank you for today. I really needed it."

He put the phone down and closed his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips as he drifted off to sleep. For the first time in a long while, the darkness didn't seem so overwhelming. There was a light, faint but steady, and it was enough to guide him through the night.