𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑆 • 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝑆𝑈𝑁𝐺

𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑆 16 ☆

☆ Song recommendation:
"Put your records on" by Corinne Bailey Rae

The day had been long but rewarding, filled with the thrill of the amusement park and the warmth of their close-knit group. As the evening stretched into night, they all found themselves in Changbin and Hyunjin's shared apartment, lounging around in comfortable clothes. Blankets and pillows were scattered everywhere, creating a cozy, sleepover-like atmosphere. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from a few lamps and the twinkle of fairy lights adding to the relaxed vibe.

Jisung and Minho had ended up sharing a large mat on the floor, much to the amusement of the others. It wasn't intentional—just a result of the chaotic way everyone had claimed their sleeping spots. Minho had tossed a pillow at Jisung's head when he realized they'd be sharing, but there was no real malice in it, just a playful irritation that masked a nervousness neither wanted to acknowledge.

They all settled in, chatting idly about the day and making plans for the next. Hyunjin, ever the entertainer, was dramatically recounting how he'd bravely conquered the scariest rollercoaster, conveniently leaving out the part where he'd nearly backed out at the last minute.

"Be fucking for real, please," Seungmin snorted, his sarcasm cutting through Hyunjin's exaggerated tale. "You were shaking like a leaf before we even got on that ride."

"Shaking with excitement!" Hyunjin shot back, but his grin gave him away.

"Sure, Hyun," Felix teased, drawing out the phrase in a playful tone.

The group's laughter filled the room, the sound echoing off the walls and mixing with the comfort of familiarity. It was in moments like this that they all felt closest—when the world outside faded away, and it was just them, together.

As the conversations began to slow down, Minho and Jisung found themselves lying side by side on the mat, the closeness of their bodies forcing them into a more intimate space than they were used to.

"Hey," Jisung whispered, breaking the silence between them. "Thanks for today. You know, for going on the Ferris wheel even though you're scared of heights."

Minho glanced at him, his expression softening. "I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but... it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. You helped."

Jisung smiled, a small, genuine smile that made something in Minho's chest tighten. "Anytime. I'll always be here for you, you know that, right?"

"Yeah," Minho murmured with his voice that was barely above a whisper and his heart racing because of Jisung's words. "I know."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the sounds of their friends' conversations in the background a gentle hum that lulled them into a sense of peace.

On the other side of the room, Felix was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling. His mind was spinning, thoughts tangled with confusion and something else he couldn't quite name. Chan, who had been quietly observing Felix all night, finally spoke up.

"What's on your mind, Lix?" Chan asked, his voice low enough that it didn't draw the attention of the others.

Felix hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip as he tried to figure out how to put his thoughts into words. "It's... it's about a friend of mine," he began slowly, choosing his words carefully. "He's... been feeling something for someone, but he's not really sure what it means."

Chan raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Oh? And what's he feeling?"

Felix sighed, still not looking at Chan. "Confused, mostly. Like, he's never felt this way before, and he doesn't know what to do about it. He doesn't even know if it's real, you know? Or if he's just imagining things."