Fleeting Hearts|| minsung

5: Under the Surface

The tension started to build slowly, like water simmering before it reached a boil. At first, it was subtle—side glances from their friends, whispers behind their backs, and fleeting moments of unease that crept into what used to be their sanctuary. But it was only a matter of time before everything would come to the surface.

Minho and Jisung had made a silent agreement to stop hiding—not to be overly obvious, but to stop pretending like nothing had changed. So they let themselves be a little closer in public, allowed their hands to brush as they walked side by side, and didn't bother moving apart too quickly when someone walked in on them together.

For Minho, it felt like the most natural thing in the world, to finally let himself care for Jisung without constantly looking over his shoulder. He hadn't realized how exhausting it had been, keeping a part of himself hidden. Now that it was out in the open—or at least, no longer hidden—it felt freeing.

But that freedom came with its own set of challenges.

It was a Friday afternoon, and Minho and Jisung were sitting in the cafeteria with their usual group of friends. Felix was there, as well as Hyunjin, Seungmin, and Changbin. The conversation was light, the kind of easy banter they had all grown accustomed to. But Minho could feel something was off, a tension bubbling just below the surface.

Felix was the first to break the unspoken tension. He glanced between Minho and Jisung, his voice casual but his question pointed. "So, are you guys dating now?"

The table fell quiet, the question hanging in the air like a ticking time bomb. Minho could feel Jisung stiffen beside him, and for a moment, no one spoke. The playful ease of their group shattered, and all eyes were suddenly on them.

Minho felt the urge to deflect, to brush it off like he always did. But instead, he took a deep breath and answered, his voice steady. "Yeah. We are."

The silence that followed was deafening. Minho could feel his heart pounding in his chest, waiting for someone—anyone—to say something. He glanced over at Jisung, who looked like he was holding his breath, his fingers fidgeting nervously in his lap.

Hyunjin was the first to react. He blinked, clearly surprised, but then shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Well, it's about time. I thought something was going on between you two."

Seungmin laughed, his usual deadpan humor cutting through the tension. "Honestly, I'm more surprised it took you this long to admit it. You've been practically glued to each other for weeks."

Changbin, on the other hand, didn't say anything at first. His expression was harder to read—neutral, but not exactly warm. He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms as he regarded Minho and Jisung with a quiet intensity that made Minho uneasy.

Felix, sensing the shift in mood, quickly jumped in. "Hey, as long as you guys are happy, that's all that matters. Right?" He shot Changbin a look, as if urging him to say something supportive.

Changbin finally spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of something darker. "Yeah. Sure."

It was a simple response, but it felt heavy with meaning. Minho could feel Jisung tense beside him, and suddenly, the lightness of the moment evaporated. Changbin's reaction wasn't angry, but it wasn't exactly accepting either. It was something else—something Minho couldn't quite put his finger on.

The conversation quickly shifted to other topics, but the mood had changed. Minho and Jisung exchanged a glance, both of them feeling the weight of what had just happened. For the rest of the lunch, Minho couldn't shake the unease that settled in his chest.

Later that night, Minho found himself lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The day had been exhausting in more ways than one. Coming out like that—so suddenly, so publicly—had been a risk. A risk he hadn't expected to feel so heavy.