𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 || Minsung 💛

S E V E N

~🎭~

Chan clapped his hands together as the attention of eleven people were on him.

"So! Our last show of this tour is tonight! As a bit of a celebration, you guys are free to explore this part of Italy for the day. Meet back here at five though, The show starts at seven so I don't want any late people. Got it?"

Murmurs of agreements filled the air as everyone began to walk away.

"Not done yet! Since you guys are still on work hours it's going to be a team building exercise. So Yuqi and Yunjin. Me and Seungmin. Felix and Hyunjin. Changbin and Jeongin. Max and Wooyoung. Then Minho and Jisung."

"What!?" Minho and I said in sync, protesting.

"You guys are gonna be working together so I don't see the issue."

"But Chan-"

"Nope." Chan gave him a warning look and Minho backed down. I just huffed in a slight annoyance. Before another word could be uttered, everyone departed leaving Minho and I stood staring at each other.

"Before you say anything, I don't want to do this either."

"Glad that's mutual then."

Minho had been even colder this morning. He seemed to block everyone out more than usual. He was sharply tongued more than ever.

My prediction was the gap in the walls he built against himself last night. It's like he realised he had to be cold towards me. I can't seem to get his smile out my head. He seemed more relaxed then but whether he faked it or not, I didn't really care.

I began to walk when Minho called out to me.

"Where are you going? Don't we have to go together?"

"To explore? Come on then. I'm not standing there till five." He said something else but I chose to ignore it. I heard him appear beside me as I looked around.

Italy was certainly a pretty country.

I allowed my jaw to drop in the pretty surroundings. It felt like walking straight out of a book. People were pushing stalls in the little streets. I smiled at them before spotting some street performer.

I walked forward, standing with the gathering crowd as the group were dancing in sync to music. Minho rolled his eyes and stood next to me.

"Excuse me?" Two girls tapped Minho on the shoulder. Minho turned to look at them. The two girls were standing in front of me, shoving towards Minho.

"Uh hi?" Minho said awkwardly, not breaking a smile.

"Are you the trapeze artists from the circus in town?"

"Yeah I am." The girls squealed and shoved even more in between us, causing me to stumble the other way. The song got to the last chorus and people pushed forward, causing me to get lost in the crowd.

People surrounded me, squishing me in the process. I felt myself panic, feeling claustrophobic. I tripped through people, trying to get out but I couldn't see where I was going.

I was then grabbed by somebody and pulled out the crowd. I glanced upwards to see Minho leading me out the crowd.

"Let's go. These fangirls are annoying." He huffed, letting go of me.

"Oh thank you."

~

The rest of the day had been painfully quiet. Minho and I hadn't spoken another word, only exchanging muttered ones when one of us wanted to venture to a certain shop.

It was painful to say the least.

We had reached the meeting point at five easily, due to Minho practically running away from me. It was not an enjoyable day for me. Before I knew it, Minho had rushed off again to the practice tents without a word. I ignored it nonetheless.

"Hey Jisung? Can you help me with some tests in the main arena?" Chan called out to me.

"Sure!" I jogged over to him.

"Uh I kinda need you in kit. Minho's in a weird mood. So I thought I'd get you to test it out." Chan scratched his nape awkwardly.

"Oh yeah. Of course. I'll be back then!"

~

"Sorry I took long, I couldn't find my bandages." I apologised with a bow as I walked into the sand of the arena.

"It's good! Let me run up to the tech booth." Chan then disappeared and soon appeared sitting where Seungmin usually sat, manning the controls.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Just have a play around. Tell me if anythings loose." Chan shrugged, now playing around with the controls. I grabbed the rope in the middle and pulled it, sending me soaring upwards while holding on. I went to leap to the trapeze bar but then the lights switched off without warning. I felt myself grab the bar as Chan shouted out.

"Shit! Sorry Jisung! Hold on, I'll go get Seungmin!" Chan obviously couldn't do the controls as well as he thought. I sighed and hoisted myself across onto the sturdy hoop. I sat on the metal frame in the darkness, since it was even dark outside.

I yawned as I heard conversation outside. The sound of the tent opened in the breeze and someone walked in. My eyes could slightly figure out a few things in the dark. I leant forward slightly as the hoop dropped harshly. I yelled out in shock and leapt. I grabbed the bar with one hand desperately. The hoop crashed on the floor, not breaking though since it was made with sturdy metal.

The culprit gasped and suddenly ran out the tent in a dash. I stayed there gripping on the bar as more people came into the tent. I could make out Chan's figure and supposedly Seungmin in the tech box.

"Jisung! Are you alright?" Chan called out into the darkness.

"Yeah. Um did one of you pull the hoop down? I was on it and it suddenly crashed to the ground."

"Uh- none of us did. Might be a tech malfunction."

"Right, I'm getting the system back up now. Just hang on!" Seungmin's calm voice was the complete opposite of Chan's worried state. I felt my grip slipping on the bar and my palms becoming sweaty. My arms felt lapse.

"We're back online!" The lights turned back on as I felt my arms give up. I fell to the ground and braced myself for the impact but was surprised when I hit a soft surface. I looked to see myself on a blue mat that had been slid underneath me. I sat up to see Minho, sweat covering his body and his earbuds still half in.

"Thank you, Minho." I breathed and sat back a second, staring up at the ceiling to calm my heart down.

"Shit, Jisung! Are you alright?" Chan appeared beside me on the mat and looked me over for injuries.

"I'm alright. Thanks to Minho." I glanced upwards to see the boy gone.

Why are you so hard to understand?

~🎭~