nurse's office | minsung ✓

17

Jisung sat in Minho's office, fidgeting in his seat, his legs bouncing up and down uncontrollably as he stared at the white-washed walls. There was nothing particularly wrong with the day—it was a normal afternoon, classes had been dull as usual, and Minho was humming softly at his desk, filing some paperwork. But despite the ordinary setting, something felt off. Very off.

Jisung couldn't put his finger on it, but an uneasy weight had settled deep in his stomach, curling into tight knots that wouldn't go away no matter how hard he tried to ignore it. His skin prickled with unease, and a cold sweat clung to the back of his neck. His body was betraying him again, but not in the same way as this morning. This was different.

It was worse.

Something was coming. He didn't know what it was, but his gut screamed that something bad was going to happen to him. Not soon—very soon. His mind raced with flashes of unknown dread, filling his chest with a strange, gripping fear. His throat felt tight, his breaths shallow, as if some invisible force was closing in on him, suffocating him without even touching him.

He wasn't imagining this. He could feel it in his bones.

Without even realizing it, his eyes kept drifting over to Minho, who was busy clicking through files, his head down, unaware of the turmoil brewing inside Jisung. His presence, usually so calming, felt distant today. Jisung frowned, his hands clenching into fists on his lap. The knot in his stomach tightened even more, almost making him nauseous. He hated how much he needed Minho right now.

But he did.

Something inside him screamed that when whatever was coming finally hit, Minho would be the only person he could count on. The only person who could ground him, keep him safe. He didn't know why, and it made him furious. Jisung had always been self-reliant, always pushed through his struggles alone. He didn't need help. He didn't need anyone.

Except, right now, he did.

He didn't like it. Not one bit.

His chest rose and fell rapidly, his hands fidgeting nervously with the hem of his sleeve. He stole another glance at Minho, biting his lip hard enough to almost draw blood. The thought of admitting to Minho that he was scared, that something was wrong, felt like a huge weight pressing down on him. Jisung wasn't used to leaning on anyone else, especially not Minho, but his instincts screamed that he should. That he had to.

"You alright over there?" Minho's voice broke through his spiraling thoughts.

Jisung flinched at the sudden sound, snapping his head up to see Minho's eyes on him, filled with concern. His chest squeezed tighter. He wanted to say something, to tell Minho everything—how he felt like the walls were closing in on him, how the dread sat like a boulder in his gut, how he couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was on its way. But the words stuck in his throat.

"I'm fine," Jisung lied, forcing a tight smile, though his heart was pounding in his ears.

Minho didn't buy it. His eyes narrowed slightly, lips pressing into a thin line, but he didn't push. He just nodded, though there was a hint of doubt in his expression.

Jisung dropped his gaze again, swallowing the rising panic. His heart ached with an unfamiliar heaviness. Why was he feeling like this? Why did he suddenly need Minho so badly? He didn't want to be dependent on anyone, and yet, all he could think about was how safe he felt whenever Minho was near. It was as if the storm brewing inside him calmed, even just a little, when Minho was around.

He hated it, but at the same time, he couldn't deny it.

The knot in his stomach churned, sharper than before. Whatever was going to happen, he knew it wouldn't be good. He didn't know how or when, but the growing dread in his gut told him it was inevitable. Something horrible was on the horizon, and he wouldn't be able to face it alone.

And for some reason, that thought terrified him almost as much as the unknown disaster looming over him.

He glanced at Minho one more time, wishing he could be stronger. But in that moment, the only thing he wanted, the only thing that made sense, was to stay as close to Minho as possible.

Because deep down, Jisung knew he'd need him when the storm finally hit.

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