Beyond the Surface|| minsung

Beneath the Surface

Minho couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the verge of something important. Ever since his conversation with Jisung in the library, a part of him had been restless, trying to piece together the emotions swirling inside him. He had never felt this way about anyone before—not even the girls who occasionally fawned over him or the friends who stuck by his side through thick and thin.

Jisung was different. He was fragile yet resilient, distant yet desperately seeking connection. There was something about him that drew Minho in, like a moth to a flame. But it wasn't just pity or a desire to protect him. No, it was something deeper, something that Minho wasn't quite ready to put a name to.

Over the next few weeks, Minho made it a point to spend more time with Jisung outside of their schoolwork. They fell into a comfortable rhythm—meeting for coffee, taking walks around the neighborhood, or simply sitting together in silence, their presence enough to fill the gaps in their conversations. Jisung seemed to relax more in Minho's company, though the shadows that haunted his eyes never completely disappeared.

One Saturday afternoon, Minho suggested they go to a nearby park. It was a place he often went to clear his head, and he thought it might be good for Jisung to get out of his usual environment. To his relief, Jisung agreed.

They walked along the winding paths, the late autumn leaves crunching beneath their feet. The air was crisp, and the sky was a soft, muted gray, but the chill didn't bother them. They were both bundled up in warm jackets, and for a while, they simply enjoyed the quiet, the serenity of nature providing a welcome escape from the pressures of their lives.

As they walked, Minho stole glances at Jisung, who seemed lost in thought. His expression was softer than usual, as if the calm surroundings had temporarily lifted some of the weight off his shoulders. Minho wanted to reach out, to bridge the small gap between them, but he wasn't sure how to do it without scaring Jisung away.

After a while, they found a bench near a small pond, the water reflecting the pale sky above. They sat down, the silence between them comfortable and companionable. Minho watched as Jisung absentmindedly fiddled with a fallen leaf, his fingers tracing the veins as if they held some hidden secret.

"Do you come here often?" Jisung asked after a while, his voice breaking the quiet.

"Yeah," Minho replied, leaning back on the bench. "It's a good place to think, to get away from everything. Sometimes it's nice to just... be."

Jisung nodded, his gaze still fixed on the leaf in his hand. "I can see why you like it here. It's peaceful."

Minho studied Jisung's profile, noticing the way his brow furrowed slightly as he spoke. There was a vulnerability in his expression that made Minho's chest tighten. He wanted to ask what was on Jisung's mind, but he didn't want to push too hard.

Instead, Minho decided to share a piece of himself. "I come here when I need to clear my head," he admitted. "Sometimes I feel like I'm living up to this image that everyone has of me, you know? The popular guy, the one who has everything figured out. But it's not always like that. Sometimes it feels... overwhelming."

Jisung looked at him, surprise flickering in his eyes. "I never thought you felt that way," he said softly. "You always seem so confident, like nothing can touch you."

Minho let out a small, humorless laugh. "That's the thing about appearances. They can be deceiving. Just because someone looks like they have it all together doesn't mean they do."

Jisung nodded slowly, as if processing Minho's words. "I guess I can relate to that," he said after a moment. "People see what they want to see. They don't always look beneath the surface."

Minho's heart ached at the sadness in Jisung's voice. He wanted to reach out, to take Jisung's hand and reassure him that he wasn't alone, that Minho saw him for who he really was. But instead, he kept his hands folded in his lap, his fingers twitching with the urge to close the distance between them.

"Jisung," Minho began, his voice gentle but serious, "I see you. I see the person you are, not just the person you think you have to be. And I like that person—a lot."

Jisung's eyes widened slightly, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. He looked down at the leaf in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly. "I don't know why you'd say that," he whispered. "I'm not worth all this attention, Minho. I'm just... broken."

Minho's chest tightened at Jisung's words. He hated hearing Jisung talk about himself that way, as if he was somehow less deserving of care and love because of his struggles. Minho wanted to make him see that he was worth so much more than he gave himself credit for.

"You're not broken," Minho said firmly, his voice filled with conviction. "You're just going through something really hard right now. But that doesn't define who you are. You're still Jisung—the guy who's smart, thoughtful, and cares more about others than himself. You matter, Jisung. And I want to be here for you, no matter what."

Jisung's breath hitched, and for a moment, Minho thought he might cry. But instead, Jisung took a deep, shaky breath, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Why are you so kind to me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't understand why you care so much."

Minho hesitated, the words he wanted to say catching in his throat. How could he explain the emotions that had been building inside him, the feelings that he was only just beginning to understand himself? He didn't want to scare Jisung, but he also didn't want to lie.

"Because you're important to me," Minho said finally, his voice soft but sincere. "I care about you, Jisung. More than I've cared about anyone in a long time."

Jisung looked at him, his eyes wide with surprise and something else—something that made Minho's heart race in his chest. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them fading away as the connection between them deepened.

Then, without thinking, Minho reached out and took Jisung's hand in his own. He half-expected Jisung to pull away, but instead, Jisung's fingers curled around his, holding on tightly as if he was afraid to let go.

"Minho," Jisung whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I... I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Minho replied, his thumb gently brushing over the back of Jisung's hand. "Just know that I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Jisung nodded, his eyes filling with tears. But this time, they weren't tears of sadness or despair—they were tears of relief, of hope. And as Minho looked into Jisung's eyes, he felt something click into place, something that had been building between them for weeks.

This was more than just friendship, more than just concern for someone in need. It was something deeper, something that made Minho's heart race and his thoughts spiral. He cared about Jisung—really cared. And the thought of losing him, of not being able to help him through this, was almost unbearable.

But for now, Minho pushed those thoughts aside. He focused on the present, on the feeling of Jisung's hand in his, on the connection between them that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.

And in that moment, as they sat together on the bench, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the park, Minho made a silent promise to himself.

He would be there for Jisung, no matter what. He would help him through his darkest moments, and he would show him that he wasn't alone. And maybe, just maybe, in the process, Minho would find something he hadn't even been looking for—love.