Hidden Melodies (Minsung)

7. Cracks Beneath The Surface

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The whirlwind of promotions, performances, and interviews continued at an exhausting pace, leaving Jisung and Minho with little time to themselves.

What had once felt like a dream-this secret love they shared-now started to feel like a burden, the weight of it pressing down on them in the most unexpected ways.

The tension had been building slowly. What had started as small moments of jealousy or frustration now began to explode into something neither of them had been prepared for. They barely had a moment to catch their breath, let alone talk.

One evening, after another long day of rehearsals, the group gathered for dinner in their dorm. Jisung and Minho exchanged a few quick glances across the table, but they kept their distance, afraid of drawing attention. Everything seemed fine on the surface, but beneath it, there was an unease neither of them could shake.

"Minho, can you pass the soy sauce?" Hyunjin asked, breaking the silence.

Minho handed it over absentmindedly, his gaze lingering on Jisung. But the moment passed, and soon, everyone had retreated to their rooms, leaving the two of them alone in the kitchen, cleaning up.

"You've been distant," Jisung said quietly, his back to Minho as he rinsed the dishes.

Minho stiffened at the comment, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about? I've been busy, just like you."

Jisung sighed, placing a dish on the rack before turning to face him. "I know we're busy, but it feels like you're avoiding me. Like you're pulling away."

Minho's jaw clenched, and he threw the dish towel onto the counter, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I'm not pulling away. You're the one who's been acting weird. Always looking over your shoulder like we're going to get caught any second."

"Because we could get caught, Minho!" Jisung snapped, his voice rising. "We can't keep doing this in secret forever. What if someone finds out? What if it ruins the group?"

Minho's eyes flashed with anger, his voice low and sharp. "So, what? You're scared now? Is that it? Are you regretting this?"

The accusation hit Jisung like a punch to the gut. He took a step back, hurt flashing across his face. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."

Minho ran a hand through his hair, pacing the small kitchen. "Do I? Because it feels like you're second-guessing everything. You're acting like being with me is some kind of risk you're not willing to take."

Jisung's heart sank as he listened to Minho's words. He hadn't meant for it to come out that way, but the stress of hiding their relationship, combined with their intense schedules, was starting to take a toll on him.

"Minho, that's not what this is about," Jisung said, his voice softening. "I'm scared, okay? I'm scared of what could happen if this gets out. Not just for us, but for the whole group. We've worked so hard for this-what if we lose everything?"

Minho's shoulders slumped, and for a moment, the anger drained from his face, replaced by something more vulnerable. He stepped closer to Jisung, his voice quieter now. "I'm scared too. But I thought we were in this together."

Jisung's eyes met Minho's, and for a moment, the weight of their shared fear hung heavy in the air. "We are," Jisung whispered. "But that doesn't make it any easier."

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