Minchan: Fighting The Storms With You

42

Chan sat in the makeup room, his heart pounding as he prepared to go on stage. The room buzzed with activity, but all he could think about was what lay ahead. Han and Seungmin had been with him, offering their usual banter and support, but now they were gone, off to the VIP area. The moment of truth was drawing closer, and the anticipation gnawed at him.

In the VIP arena, Han was on a mission. His eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of Minho or someone who resembled him, but there was nothing. Disappointed but trying not to show it, he sat down next to Seungmin, who was engrossed in an online meeting, barely paying attention to anything else.

Bored and restless, Han decided to check out the food options for the VIPs. As he wandered through the lavish spread, he found himself standing in front of an ice cream parlor. The array of flavors and toppings was overwhelming, and before he knew it, his mouth was watering. He grabbed a plate and began piling on scoops of different flavors, lost in the simple pleasure of it.

Then, a voice broke through his thoughts. "Wow, so many flavors!"

Han froze. He knew that voice. It was like a shock to his system, jolting him out of his ice cream-induced daze. He whipped his head around, and in his haste, stumbled back, dropping his plate. Ice cream splattered across the floor, but Han barely noticed. His eyes were locked on the man standing next to him.

The man looked at Han with concern, quickly stepping forward to steady him. "Are you okay?" the man asked, his voice gentle.

Han's breath caught in his throat. It was Minho—no, not Minho, but so eerily similar. The same voice, the same eyes, the same pale skin. But there was something different, something that made this man not quite Minho.

Before Han could say anything, another figure approached. "Lino, is everything okay?" the newcomer asked, his voice laced with worry.

The man who looked like Minho—Lino—guided Han to a nearby seat, making sure he was alright before stepping back slightly. "I'm Lino. Are you okay?" he repeated, his tone calm and soothing.

Han just stared at him, his mind racing. This man looked exactly like Minho, but how could that be possible? His heart pounded in his chest, the confusion and shock overwhelming him.

The other man, who had been standing quietly, stepped forward and gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "And this is Jungkook," Lino introduced, gesturing towards him.

Jungkook nodded again, his expression friendly but curious as he observed Han's reaction.

Han's mind was spinning. This was too much to process, too surreal. He blinked a few times, trying to find his voice. 

Han couldn't say a word. His throat was dry, and his mind was spinning. He just shook his head, gave a quick bow to Lino and Jungkook, and hurried back to the seat beside Seungmin.

Seungmin, still engrossed in his work, didn't notice Han's distress at first. But soon, the shaky breaths and the pale look on Han's face caught his attention. "Are you okay?" Seungmin asked, concerned.

Han swallowed hard. "I just saw Minho..." he mumbled, the words barely audible.

"What?" Seungmin's eyes widened as he watched Han try to calm himself down. Without saying much more, Seungmin closed his laptop and gestured for Han to follow him. Together, they walked back to the ice cream parlor.

There, standing in the same spot, were the two boys. Seungmin's heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be, he thought. Minho was dead. But the boy standing there, smiling and laughing, looked just like him.

They stood frozen, unable to move or speak, as they watched the scene unfold in front of them. Lino was playfully whining, trying to act cute to get a second serving of ice cream from Jungkook.

"Please, Jungkook... please!!!" Lino begged, his voice full of playful mischief.

"No," Jungkook replied firmly, though there was a softness in his tone. "You have asthma, baby... you can't."

Lino pouted, his lips forming a small, disappointed frown. The sight tugged at Seungmin's heart, reminding him of the days when Minho had a little bit of life left in him. He used to be like this, Seungmin thought, before he lost his mother, before he got sick. But Minho had never seemed so happy, not like this.

Han, on the other hand, had always seen Minho in a miserable state, burdened by his circumstances. Seeing this version of Minho, acting cute and being genuinely happy, made him question everything. Was this really Minho?

That's when Jungkook noticed them. He kissed Lino on the forehead, then walked over, holding Lino's hand as they approached Han and Seungmin. Lino was still pouting, but he followed Jungkook's lead.

"Hello, I'm Jungkook. Are you Korean?" Jungkook asked politely, his demeanor friendly.

Han was still frozen, unable to find his voice. Seungmin, however, managed to regain his composure. "Yeah. I'm Seungmin, and this is Han," he introduced, his voice steady despite the shock.

"Oh, wow! Nice to meet you," Jungkook said with a warm smile. "This is Lino, by the way."

Lino, who had been slightly hiding behind Jungkook, stepped forward and smiled at them, though there was a hint of shyness in his expression.

Seungmin, still processing the situation, quickly composed himself. "Should we sit together?" he offered.

Jungkook gladly accepted, and the four of them sat down together, waiting for the concert to start. Han and Seungmin were still in a state of disbelief, but as they watched Lino interact with Jungkook