nurse's office | minsung ✓

22

Jisung lay on the patient bed, staring up at the ceiling, his mind heavy with thoughts. The realization had been creeping up on him slowly, but now it hit him like a freight train—he was completely dependent on Minho. The way Minho had held him together these past few days, how he always seemed to be there at the right moment, it scared him. Could he even make it through the day without Minho by his side?

He glanced over at Minho, who was sitting at his desk, flipping through textbooks, immersed in studying. Jisung felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Minho had his own life, his own responsibilities, yet here Jisung was, constantly needing his attention. It wasn't fair. He should let Minho focus, not drag him down with all his problems.

But then, as if sensing the tension in the air, Minho looked up. His gaze immediately fell on Jisung, and he furrowed his brow. "Hey," he called, setting his pen down. "What's going on? You've been staring at the ceiling for like half an hour."

Jisung sat up quickly, shaking his head. "It's nothing, really. You should keep studying, I didn't mean to distract you."

Minho didn't move. He just stared at Jisung with that familiar knowing look, the one that told Jisung there was no hiding anything from him. After a moment, Minho leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You're tense again," he said calmly, "and I'm not gonna let you sit there and pretend you're fine. So, spill it."

Jisung bit his lip, feeling that guilt rise even higher in his chest. "Minho, you should focus on your studies. I don't want to interrupt you, I'm fine."

Minho's glare could've cut through steel. "Don't lie to me, Jisung," he said firmly. "You're not fine. Talk to me."

The force of Minho's words made Jisung's resolve crumble. He sighed deeply, looking down at his hands. "I just...I feel like I'm too dependent on you," he admitted quietly. "Like, I can't get through a single day without needing you. And that's not fair to you, Minho. I'm interrupting your life, your studies...I don't wanna be a burden."

For a second, there was silence. Jisung kept his eyes on the floor, unable to bear the thought of seeing Minho's reaction. He was sure that this was it—that Minho would finally realize just how much of a weight Jisung was on his shoulders.

But then Minho laughed.

It wasn't a mocking laugh or a dismissive one. It was a soft, warm chuckle, like Minho had just heard something ridiculous. "Jisung," Minho said, standing up and walking over to the bed. He sat down beside him, nudging his shoulder lightly. "You're not a burden, okay? If there's anyone I'd want to be dependent on me, it's you."

Jisung's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked up at Minho, who was grinning softly at him. "I mean it," Minho continued. "I don't mind being there for you, Jisung. You don't have to carry all this on your own. If you need me, I'll be here. Always."

Jisung felt his heart swell in his chest. He'd been so wrapped up in his own fear of being too much for Minho that he hadn't considered that Minho didn't mind. That Minho wanted to be there for him. It was a strange feeling—knowing that someone actually cared about him enough to stick around, no matter how difficult things got.

"You don't have to feel bad about it," Minho added, resting his hand on Jisung's shoulder. "You're not interrupting anything. My studies can wait. You're more important."

Jisung's lips slowly curled into a smile, the weight in his chest lifting just a little. He hadn't realized how much he needed to hear those words until now. "Thank you," he whispered, glancing up at Minho, his voice barely audible.

Minho smiled back, reaching out to ruffle Jisung's hair. "Anytime, Jisung. Anytime."

And for the first time in a long while, Jisung felt like maybe—just maybe—things were going to be okay. Because he had Minho, and that was more than enough.

But he couldn't keep his intrusive thoughts lingering in his head for too long. He had to admit what he wanted to Minho. It was either now or never. And he knew very well he wouldn't be recovering anytime soon with just himself and the unsolved tension between him and his old best friends.

"M-Minho," He started slowly, questioning whether this was the right decision or not. "I have a question."

"Mm?" Minho replied, too focused on ruffling Jisung's hair.

"Can I uh-oh god." Jisung interrupted. Was this a good thing or not?

"Say it." Minho said, in a tone that shouldn't have sounded so demanding.

Jisung swallowed hard, his throat dry as the words tangled themselves in his mind. He wasn't sure if he was ready for this, if Minho was ready for this. But the knot in his chest had been growing for far too long, and he couldn't stand it anymore. He needed to let it out, to tell Minho what had been eating at him, even if it meant exposing his most vulnerable thoughts.

"Can I stay with you?" Jisung finally blurted out, his voice cracking slightly. He glanced away, unable to meet Minho's gaze. "Like... for good. I-I know I'm asking too much, but I don't think I can go back to how things were. Not with everything that's happened. I feel like... I feel like I need you around to stay sane."

Minho stopped messing with Jisung's hair and sat up straight, eyes widening in mild surprise. "Jisung, you don't need to—"

"I do," Jisung cut him off, finally lifting his head to look at Minho. "I don't think I can do this on my own anymore. I don't want to go back to being by myself, or worse, dealing with whatever's going on with Felix and the others. I'm tired, Minho. I just want to be where I feel safe. And that's with you."

Silence filled the room for what felt like an eternity. Jisung's heart raced, every second of Minho's silence making him feel more and more exposed. He regretted it already. What if he'd crossed a line? What if Minho felt suffocated by his dependence?

But then, Minho spoke, his voice softer than before. "Jisung," he began slowly, his expression unreadable, "you don't need to feel bad for needing someone. You're not a burden, and you're not asking too much. If staying here with me helps you, then that's what we'll do."

Jisung blinked, barely believing what he was hearing. "You mean it?"

Minho gave a small nod, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. "Of course I mean it. You can stay with me as long as you need, Jisung. I've got your back. Always."

A wave of relief washed over Jisung, his tense shoulders finally relaxing. He felt a weight lift off his chest, and for the first time in ages, he felt like he could breathe again.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He could feel tears welling up again, but this time they were different. These tears weren't born out of pain or fear—they were from the overwhelming sense of security that Minho had just given him.

Minho reached out again, this time placing a firm hand on Jisung's back. "You don't have to thank me, Jisung. Just...try to take it easy, okay? We'll get through this together."

Jisung nodded, resting his head on Minho's shoulder, feeling an unfamiliar sense of peace settle within him. For now, he didn't need to think about Felix, or Seungmin, or Jeongin. All he needed was right here. Minho.

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