𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑆 • 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝑆𝑈𝑁𝐺

𝑆𝑇𝐴𝑅𝑆 29 ☆

☆ Song recommendation:
"listen before i go" by Billie Eilish

That same morning, in the Lee mansion, someone else was battling demons of his own.

Minho tossed and turned under the covers, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner, but in Minho's mind, chaos reigned.

His nightmare began like it always did-darkness and confusion, then the sudden screeching of tires.

He stood on a dimly lit road, the pavement wet from recent rain. Everything felt distorted, like he was viewing the world through a cracked lens. He could hear the distant echoes of a car horn blaring, a haunting sound that always preceded the crash.

He tried to move, to run, but his legs were cemented in place. Then, like a film reel on repeat, the scene unfolded before him. The screech of tires grew louder, and through the mist, he saw the car speeding out of control, its headlights piercing through the darkness. His breath hitched as the vehicle spun, the driver struggling to regain control. And then, the inevitable-a sickening thud as metal collided with concrete, the car flipping over and skidding across the road.

Minho's heart pounded in his chest as he watched helplessly. He knew what was coming next. He always knew. The door of the car swung open, and out tumbled his mother-her body crumpled, lifeless, blood pooling around her. Her face, once warm and filled with love, was now pale, her eyes staring blankly at the sky.

"No," Minho whispered, his voice trembling. "Please, no..."

But then, as always, his father appeared. Mr. Lee's face was twisted in anger, his eyes blazing with accusation. "This is your fault, Minho. You could have prevented this from happening. You should have been there instead of your mother."

"I didn't... I didn't want her to..." Minho stammered, but the words choked in his throat. His father's voice grew louder, harsher, echoing in his mind like a relentless drumbeat. "You failed her. You failed us."

Minho's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his hands clutching his head as if trying to block out the words. But they kept coming, each one hitting him like a dagger to the chest.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. The fog thickened, and from within it emerged another figure-Seojin. Her presence was like ice, chilling him to the bone. She stepped closer, her expression cold and unforgiving.

"You think you're strong, Minho? You're weak. Pathetic. You couldn't save your mother, and you couldn't save us." Her words sliced through him, each one sharper than the last. "You'll never be good enough. You'll never escape this."

Minho tried to shut her out, but her voice grew louder, her words wrapping around him like chains, suffocating him. "Stop it," he whispered, his voice desperate. "Please, stop..."

But Seojin's words kept coming, and now they mingled with his father's accusations, creating a cacophony of blame and guilt. Minho pressed his hands to his ears, his mind screaming for it all to end.

And then, through the chaos, a voice cut through-soft but insistent, a lifeline pulling him from the abyss.

"Minho! Minho, wake up!"

With a gasp, Minho bolted upright in bed, his chest heaving. His pulse raced, and his body was drenched in sweat. For a moment, he couldn't tell if he was still trapped in the nightmare or if he had finally escaped it.

"Minho..." Felix's voice was gentle, his face etched with concern. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hand resting on Minho's shoulder.

Minho blinked, trying to steady his breathing, to remind himself that he was safe. But the images from the nightmare clung to him, refusing to fade.