SEQUEL TO HOLD ME
"it's only human."
those are words that stick in the minds of eight boys who have found themselves closer than ever because of a year spent at the same college.
minsung, seungin, changhyunlix... and chan :')
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Jisung refused to go back home to an empty house.
Not that anybody intended to force him. In fact, all the residents of Chan house were more than ready to offer up their last empty room and to go pick up his stuff for him. Upon receiving this offer, Jisung had simply said "Grab whatever you can." He was far too tired to think about what exactly he'd need.
At the moment, all Minho was doing was standing around awkwardly while Jisung laid on the couch, blowing his nose, with his forearm draped over his wet eyes; feeling inadequate and incompetent after watching Chan and even Changbin comfort Jisung effortlessly through little actions and words here and there— gestures that seemed obvious only after Minho saw them happen, from Changbin's preparation of breakfast before anyone else was up, to Chan's calming shoulder-rubbing after he'd supported Jisung on his way downstairs to the couch. Felix had done his fair share of that as well before leaving to go make brownies— which was apparently the only thing Jisung was interested in eating at the moment.
"Alright." Chan leaned over the back of the couch to pat Jisung's head gently, coaxing the boy to remove the hand from over his face and look at him for a moment. "We're heading over, mate. Be back in a few." His voice was so soft and perfectly soothing.
Hearing those words, Minho started to slip his shoes on, and all of a sudden Chan left Jisung's side and walked over to him. As he approached, Chan reached out a cautious hand, slow as it came toward Minho's shoulder, as if he were checking whether or not Minho would be receptive of it before it made contact.
Minho remained still. It didn't feel great, but it was tolerable. The words Chan said to him after were slightly less tolerable.
He lowered his tone to a whisper that Jisung wouldn't be able to hear. "How about you stay here? ...You don't look too good."
As if he looked any fucking better. Yeah, maybe Minho had stayed up all night crying, but Chan had probably done the same, and there he was, still going. Minho was about to protest due to the sheer hypocrisy of it— paired, of course, with the fact that no matter how shit he felt, of course he could still put clothes and whatever else in boxes and carry them to a car— but Chan got his next words in faster.
"Besides, someone needs to keep Jisung company."
Immediately, as if he was spring-loaded, Minho fired back, as quietly as possible: "Not me! I can't—"
The hand resting on Minho's shoulder (which was becoming less and less bearable by the second) lifted a for moment, then came back down to give him a quick, reassuring pat. "You'll be alright, Minho. Don't overthink it."
