Beyond the Surface|| minsung

Cracks in the Mask

Minho couldn't stop thinking about Jisung, and it was starting to mess with his head. He had never been the type to obsess over someone, especially not someone he barely knew. But Jisung was different—there was something about him that made Minho want to understand him, to help him. Maybe it was the sadness in his eyes or the way he always seemed so alone, even in a crowded room. Whatever it was, Minho couldn't ignore it.

The next day, Minho decided to try something different. He didn't want to scare Jisung off, but he knew he had to make a move if he wanted to get closer to him. So, when he saw Jisung walking to class, Minho casually fell into step beside him.

"Hey," Minho said, keeping his tone light.

Jisung glanced up, startled, but quickly looked back down at the ground. "Hi."

"How's it going?" Minho asked, trying to ease the tension.

Jisung shrugged, his shoulders hunched. "Okay, I guess."

Minho frowned. He could tell that Jisung was uncomfortable, but he wasn't ready to give up. "Do you want to hang out after school today? We could grab a coffee or something."

Jisung stopped walking, looking at Minho with wide eyes. "Why?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

Minho hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Because I want to get to know you," he said finally. "I think you're an interesting person, and I'd like to spend more time with you."

Jisung stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to figure out if Minho was being genuine. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Okay. I guess that sounds... nice."

Minho smiled, relieved that Jisung hadn't shut him down. "Great. I'll meet you outside after school."

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Minho found it hard to focus on his classes, his mind constantly drifting back to Jisung. He couldn't help but feel excited about the prospect of spending time with him outside of school. It felt like the first real step toward breaking down the walls that Jisung had built around himself.

When the final bell rang, Minho quickly made his way to the front of the school, scanning the crowd for Jisung. He spotted him standing off to the side, his hands shoved into his pockets as he waited.

"Ready to go?" Minho asked, coming up beside him.

Jisung nodded, looking nervous. "Yeah."

They walked in silence for a while, the awkwardness between them palpable. Minho wanted to say something to break the tension, but he didn't want to push Jisung too hard. He could tell that this was new territory for him, and Minho didn't want to make him uncomfortable.

Finally, they reached a small café near the school. It was a cozy place, with warm lighting and comfortable chairs. Minho often came here with his friends, but today he was glad to have a quieter, more intimate setting.

They ordered their drinks and found a table near the window. Jisung seemed hesitant, his eyes darting around the room as if he was waiting for something bad to happen.

"So," Minho began, trying to sound casual, "what do you like to do for fun?"

Jisung blinked, clearly taken aback by the question. "Um... I don't know," he said softly. "I guess I like to write."

"Really? That's cool," Minho said, genuinely interested. "What do you write about?"

Jisung shrugged, looking down at his cup. "Just... stuff. Whatever comes to mind, I guess."

Minho could see that Jisung was uncomfortable talking about himself, so he decided to shift the conversation. "You know, I've been meaning to ask—how did you get so good at analyzing poetry? You always seem to know exactly what the poet is trying to say."