Fleeting Hearts|| minsung

3: The Spaces Between

The kiss had changed everything.

For days afterward, the air between Minho and Jisung felt charged, like there was an invisible thread connecting them no matter how far apart they were. In the music room, during rehearsals, and even when they passed each other in the school hallways, they exchanged subtle glances, soft smiles, and fleeting touches.

But even though the kiss had opened up something new between them, there was an underlying tension—a mix of excitement and fear, as if neither of them knew what came next.

Minho found himself replaying that moment in his mind over and over again. The softness of Jisung's lips, the way his body had fit so perfectly against Minho's, the breathlessness that had followed. It was like nothing he had ever felt before, and the thought of it made his heart race every time.

But he also couldn't shake the nagging uncertainty. What did this mean for them now? Were they together? Did Jisung want more? Did he want more? Minho had never been in a relationship before—at least, not one that mattered. He was good at keeping people at arm's length, at protecting himself from the vulnerability that came with caring too much. But with Jisung, he was already in too deep.

A week had passed since that kiss, and while they still saw each other every day, neither of them had brought it up. There was a kind of unspoken agreement to just let things happen naturally, but Minho could feel the weight of everything they hadn't said lingering between them.

It wasn't until one quiet afternoon, as they sat in the music room again, that the silence finally broke.

Jisung was strumming his guitar, his brow furrowed in concentration as he worked through a new melody. Minho was sitting on the floor, stretching his legs after a long day of dance practice, watching Jisung as his fingers danced across the strings. The sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a warm glow over the room, making everything feel soft, almost dreamlike.

"Minho?" Jisung's voice broke through the peaceful quiet, and Minho blinked, pulled from his thoughts.

"Yeah?"

Jisung set the guitar down, his expression thoughtful. "I've been thinking... about that kiss. About us."

Minho's heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to stay calm. This was the conversation he knew was coming, but still, he wasn't sure he was ready for it.

"What about it?" Minho asked, keeping his tone as neutral as possible, even though his heart was racing.

Jisung hesitated, his eyes flickering toward Minho as if searching for the right words. "I... I liked it. A lot. But I don't want to mess things up between us. I don't know what this is or what we're supposed to do next, but I don't want to lose what we have."

Minho felt a wave of relief wash over him. Jisung's uncertainty mirrored his own, and for the first time, it felt like they were on the same page. He didn't want to mess things up either. But hearing Jisung voice it made Minho realize that they were both holding back, too afraid to admit what they truly wanted.

"I've been thinking about it too," Minho admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "And I'm not sure what this is either. But... I don't want to stop whatever it is."

Jisung's expression softened, and he let out a small breath of relief. "Good. I'm glad we're on the same page, then." He smiled, his signature playful grin returning, and Minho felt a warmth spread through his chest.

"Yeah," Minho said, his lips twitching into a smile. "Same page."

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the tension easing into something lighter, something more comfortable. But the air between them still crackled with the memory of that kiss, the unspoken promise of more. Jisung shifted closer, his eyes never leaving Minho's, as if he was testing the waters again.

Minho's breath hitched as Jisung reached out, his fingers brushing gently against Minho's arm. The touch was so light, almost hesitant, but it sent a shiver down Minho's spine. Jisung's eyes were dark, filled with an intensity that made Minho's heart pound in his chest. And just like that, the distance between them vanished.

Without thinking, Minho leaned in, his hand finding the back of Jisung's neck, pulling him closer until their lips met again in a slow, lingering kiss. This time, there was no hesitation, no uncertainty. The kiss was soft, gentle, but it held a depth of emotion that neither of them had dared to voice aloud. It was a silent understanding that whatever this was, it was real.

Jisung's hands moved up to Minho's chest, his fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as he pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. Minho responded instinctively, his arms wrapping around Jisung's waist, pulling him into his lap. The weight of Jisung's body against his felt grounding, reassuring, and Minho let himself get lost in the feeling of it—the warmth, the closeness, the way Jisung seemed to melt into him.

Their kisses grew more heated, more desperate, as if they were both trying to make up for all the time they had spent holding back. Minho's hands roamed up Jisung's back, feeling the smooth curve of his spine beneath his fingers, while Jisung's lips trailed down Minho's jaw, leaving a trail of soft, burning kisses along his neck.

Minho let out a soft gasp, his head tilting back as Jisung's lips found the sensitive skin just below his ear. His fingers tightened their grip on Jisung's waist, and he could feel Jisung smile against his skin.

"You okay?" Jisung whispered, his breath hot against Minho's neck.

"Yeah," Minho breathed, his voice shaky with anticipation. "More than okay."

Jisung pulled back just enough to look at Minho, his eyes shining with something unspoken. There was a moment of quiet, of stillness, where they just looked at each other, breathing heavily, faces flushed. And in that moment, Minho knew—there was no turning back. Whatever this was, it wasn't just a fleeting thing. It was something real, something that had been building between them for a long time.

"I like this," Jisung said softly, his fingers tracing the outline of Minho's jaw. "I like us."

Minho's heart swelled at the words, and he nodded, his hand brushing through Jisung's hair. "Me too."

They stayed like that for a long time, holding each other in the fading light of the music room. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't without its complications. But in that moment, it felt like everything was exactly where it was supposed to be. They didn't need all the answers right away. They didn't need to figure everything out.

All that mattered was that, for now, they had each other.