nurse's office | minsung ✓

11

Minho's hand hovered over the mouse, and with a soft click, the email disappeared from the screen, sent out into the world. The quiet that followed seemed to stretch, as if the weight of it all hung in the air. Jisung's heart beat faster than his thoughts could process, his eyes fixed on Minho. It was done—Minho had officially taken a step toward finishing what he'd left behind.

Jisung leaned back in his chair, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Minho, on the other hand, remained still, his gaze lingering on the now empty inbox. He looked like he wasn't sure whether to be relieved or scared. Slowly, he exhaled, as though coming to terms with what he'd just done.

"That's it?" Jisung asked, breaking the thick silence.

Minho turned toward him, a small, almost hesitant smile forming. "Yeah... that's it."

For a moment, the quiet returned, but it felt different now—softer, more at ease. Minho's fingers twitched slightly, as if he still wasn't sure what to do next. Jisung, however, couldn't stop staring at him, the question gnawing away inside his chest.

"So..." Jisung began cautiously, trying to keep his voice light despite the anxiety bubbling underneath. "What happens now? Are we still going to see each other every day?"

Minho blinked at the suddenness of the question, clearly taken off guard, but then something unexpected happened. He laughed. It was soft and warm, the kind of laugh that caught Jisung off guard because it was so rare—so genuine. For a split second, Minho's whole demeanor softened, and Jisung couldn't help but watch him in awe.

"We'll still see each other," Minho assured, turning fully to face Jisung. His eyes were bright, and there was an ease in his posture that Jisung hadn't seen in a while. "My classes, if they accept me, are mostly in the evening. So I'll still be around during the day. I'm not going to disappear on you."

Jisung's shoulders relaxed, though the irrational fear of change still lingered in the back of his mind. He had grown so used to this routine, to having Minho around, that the thought of anything shifting—even for the better—made him uneasy. But Minho's laughter, that rare and sweet sound, had calmed some of that anxiety.

Minho must've noticed the uncertainty still etched across Jisung's face because he added, "And you can always come visit me. We can exchange numbers and addresses, make it easier to keep in touch." He tilted his head, as though thinking, and then added with a teasing glint in his eyes, "Unless you don't want to stay in touch."

Jisung's face flushed. "What? No, of course I do," he stammered quickly. "That... that makes sense."

Minho chuckled again, the sound almost sending a strange comfort through Jisung's chest. His heart, still racing slightly, began to slow as the tension melted from the air. The idea of meeting outside of school, of their relationship moving beyond the walls of the nurse's office, felt like an unspoken promise that no matter what happened, they wouldn't lose what they'd built.

They fell into silence once more, though this time it was easy. Jisung felt himself settling into the moment, a small smile playing at his lips as he glanced toward Minho. But even as the comfort washed over him, a question stirred at the back of his mind. He didn't want to ask it, but he couldn't help himself.

"Minho?" Jisung's voice was soft, uncertain.

"Mm?" Minho's gaze shifted back to him, curious but patient.

"You keep telling me life happened. Life this, life that...but what actually happened?"

Jisung's question seemed to hang in the air, heavier than anything they'd discussed so far. Minho's smile faltered, just slightly, and for a brief moment, he looked away. He bit his lip, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth like he was holding back something bigger—something he wasn't ready to say yet.

"You sure you want to know?" Minho's voice was quiet, teasing, but there was an underlying seriousness that made Jisung's chest tighten.

Jisung nodded, wide-eyed, not trusting himself to speak. He watched Minho with an intensity that surprised even him, like he needed the answer more than he had realized.

Minho let out a breath, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Jisung saw a flicker of vulnerability cross his face. His usually calm and collected demeanor cracked, just for a second, revealing something much deeper underneath. Minho leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand across his jaw before glancing back at Jisung.

"You're persistent, aren't you?" Minho chuckled, though the weight of the moment wasn't lost on either of them.

Jisung didn't respond. He just waited, his heart pounding in his ears, his eyes locked onto Minho's. And Minho, finally meeting his gaze, seemed to realize there was no turning back now.

"Sit down on the bed. I have to walk around for this. I can't stand straight while saying this shit." Minho commanded, and Jisung obeyed.

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