Beyond the Surface|| minsung

A Glimpse of Sadness

The next day, Minho found himself thinking about Jisung more than he expected. Despite his best efforts to push the thoughts away, they kept creeping back, filling his mind with questions he didn't have answers to. Who was Han Jisung, really? What kind of life did he lead outside of school, where no one could see? And why did he always seem so sad, so alone?

Minho was lost in these thoughts as he sat in English class, staring at the chalkboard without really seeing it. Mrs. Kim was talking about something—poetry, maybe—but Minho wasn't paying attention. Instead, his gaze drifted to the back of the room, where Jisung was sitting in his usual spot, his head down as he scribbled in his notebook.

Minho wondered what Jisung was writing. Was it schoolwork, or something more personal? He couldn't help but be curious. There was something about Jisung that intrigued him, something that made him want to dig deeper, to understand the person behind those sad eyes.

"Minho."

Mrs. Kim's voice snapped Minho out of his reverie. He blinked and turned his attention to the front of the room, realizing with a start that she had called his name.

"Yes?" he replied, trying to sound composed.

Mrs. Kim raised an eyebrow. "I was just asking if you and Jisung would be willing to work together on the group project. It's due in two weeks, and I think the two of you could complement each other's strengths."

Minho glanced over at Jisung, who was staring at his desk, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. The idea of working with Jisung intrigued Minho, but he could see that Jisung wasn't thrilled about it.

"Sure," Minho said, nodding. "That sounds good to me."

Mrs. Kim smiled, pleased with his response. "Great. You two can get started after class."

As the lesson continued, Minho could feel Jisung's unease. He didn't want to push him too hard, but he also didn't want to let this opportunity slip away. When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, Minho waited by the door as the other students filed out, giving Jisung a chance to approach him.

Jisung hesitated, lingering by his desk as if he was debating whether or not to make a run for it. But eventually, he gathered his things and walked over to Minho, his expression guarded.

"So, I guess we're partners," Minho said, trying to sound casual.

Jisung nodded, not meeting Minho's eyes. "Yeah, I guess."

Minho could see the anxiety in Jisung's posture, the way he seemed to fold in on himself, like he was trying to make himself smaller, less noticeable. It tugged at Minho's heart in a way he wasn't expecting.

"Do you want to work on it after school today?" Minho asked, hoping to keep the conversation going. "We could meet at the library or something."

Jisung looked up at him, his eyes wide with surprise. "Uh... sure. The library's fine."

Minho smiled, relieved that Jisung hadn't shut him down completely. "Cool. I'll see you there."

With that, Jisung mumbled something that sounded like "Okay" and quickly walked away, disappearing into the crowded hallway. Minho watched him go, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest. He wasn't sure what to make of this strange new connection, but he was determined to see where it would lead.

After school, Minho made his way to the library, his thoughts still occupied by Jisung. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so focused on someone else, especially someone so different from him. It was unsettling, but also exciting in a way he couldn't quite explain.