𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑆 • 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝑆𝑈𝑁𝐺

𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑆 14 ☆

☆ Song recommendation:
" Never Enough" by One Direction

The tension that had hung over Minho and Jisung for days seemed to have finally lifted—at least on the surface. It was a Friday night, and the eight friends had gathered at Chan's apartment. Pizza boxes were stacked haphazardly on the coffee table, empty soda cans rolling across the floor, and a playlist of nostalgic throwbacks played softly in the background. The room was dimly lit, the perfect setting for a night of chill vibes and friendly chaos.

"Alright, who's up next?" Jeongin asked, brandishing a controller like it was a weapon. The screen was alive with the chaos of a Mario Kart race, Hyunjin already whining about how unfair it was that Changbin kept bumping him off the track.

"Bro, don't hate the player, hate the game," Changbin smirked, leaning back with a smug grin as Hyunjin shot him a death glare. "Maybe if you didn't drive like my grandma, you wouldn't be getting smoked."

"Yah, if you don't shut the fuck up with that weak-ass excuse," Hyunjin snapped, half-laughing as he tried to regain control of his kart. "We all know you're just spamming those green shells because you can't handle me in a fair race."

"Green shells, red shells, doesn't matter—I'm still whoopin' your ass," Changbin shot back, making Hyunjin groan dramatically, throwing his hands up in defeat as Changbin crossed the finish line.

"Bitch, you got lucky," Hyunjin huffed, but he couldn't help the grin tugging at his lips. "Next round, I'll be the one whooping your ass."

Jisung, sitting on the couch next to Minho, watched the banter with a small smile. It felt good to be here, surrounded by his friends and the easygoing energy of the room. But there was still that underlying awkwardness between him and Minho—a tension that hadn't quite gone away since everything with Minho's dad blew up. They were sitting closer than they had in days, but every touch felt like it carried a weight that hadn't been there before.

Minho shifted beside him, their legs brushing together. It was such a small thing, something that would've gone unnoticed before, but now it made Jisung's heart skip a beat. He quickly glanced at Minho, who met his gaze with a subtle nod, as if to say, 'We're good, right?' Jisung nodded back, a quiet agreement passing between them.

Felix, perched on the armrest of the couch, noticed the exchange. He didn't say anything, but his eyes lingered on the two of them, catching the way Minho's hand briefly rested on Jisung's knee when he leaned forward to grab another slice of pizza. It wasn't much—just a casual touch—but it was more natural than anything Felix had seen between them in days.

"Aight, lovebirds," Hyunjin suddenly piped up, his dramatic flair on full display. "How about a couples' match? Minho and Jisung versus... oh, I don't know, me and Felix?"

Jisung nearly choked on his soda, while Minho almost dropped his pizza. "What?" Jisung spluttered, wiping his mouth as the rest of the group erupted in laughter.

"Oh, don't be shy now," Seungmin chimed in, his tone dripping with mischief. "Y'all have been giving each other lovey-dovey eyes all night. Let's see if that chemistry carries over to the game."

Jisung's face turned a deep shade of red, and Minho coughed awkwardly, but there was no denying the small smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Fine," Minho finally said, his voice steady as he handed Jisung the second controller. "But don't come crying when we wipe the floor with y'all."

"Girl, please," Hyunjin scoffed, flipping his hair dramatically. "The only thing you're wiping is your tears after we drag your ass."

The match started with the usual chaos—Hyunjin trying to flex with unnecessary stunts, Felix focused like he was competing in the Olympics, and Minho and Jisung... surprisingly in sync. They weren't perfect by any means, but they communicated in quick whispers, pointing out shortcuts or traps, and reacting instinctively to each other's movements. It was subtle, but Felix caught the way Minho would lean in close to Jisung, whispering strategies with an ease that didn't seem entirely fake.

When the match ended with Minho and Jisung barely losing by a few points, Hyunjin threw his arms up in victory. "I told y'all! Unstoppable! I've played so many times with Yeji that I am already a professional."

But the others were more focused on the "losers" of the match, chuckling at the way Jisung was still blushing, his hands fidgeting with the controller. "I don't know, Hyunjin," Jeongin mused, his tone teasing. "They seem like a pretty good team to me. Maybe they just let you win."

"Yeah," Seungmin added with a smirk, "they're definitely more in sync than I expected."

Jisung ducked his head, trying to hide the smile that was forming. Minho, on the other hand, just smirked. "Maybe we did let y'all win. We're just kind like that."

"Uh-huh, sure," Hyunjin said, clearly not buying it.

As the night went on, the teasing continued, but it was softer, more familiar. The group fell into their usual rhythm—banter, games, shared stories, and comfortable silences.

At one point, when the others were engrossed in a movie they'd decided to put on, Felix quietly excused himself and went to the kitchen for a drink. He didn't really need one, but he needed a moment to think. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between Minho and Jisung. Sure, they were supposed to be fake dating, but Felix knew them both well enough to see that there was something more. And the idea that they hadn't told him anything yet, if there was really anything between them, hurt.

He leaned against the counter, lost in thought, when Chan wandered in. "You good?" Chan asked, cracking open a soda.

"Yeah," Felix replied, though his mind was still on Minho and Jisung. "Just... thinking."

Chan nodded, not pressing for more. They stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Felix finally spoke up. "Be honest with me, do you think this whole fake dating thing is still just an act?"

Chan paused, considering the question carefully. "Maybe," he said slowly. "They've been through a lot together this few months. It wouldn't surprise me if some real feelings are starting to creep in."

Felix nodded, his suspicions confirmed. "I just hope they figure it out, whatever it is."

"They will," Chan assured him, clapping Felix on the shoulder. "We'll make sure of it."

—————
Hey my stars ☆!! The next few chapters are going to be more chill since I think we need to relax a bit, so I hope you enjoy them =)

Love yaaaa