nurse's office | minsung ✓

23

When Jisung first told Minho he had all his stuff packed and ready, Minho couldn't help but laugh at his dedication. "You really thought this through, huh?" he teased, shaking his head in disbelief.

Jisung happily nodded, feeling a bit too excited at first, but Minho's amused reaction only reassured him. The truth was, Minho didn't care how fast or impulsive this move seemed. He wanted Jisung close to him too. If staying together meant they both could heal, then so be it.

The drive to Minho's house was quiet but comforting. When they arrived, it was almost exactly what Jisung had imagined—an average-sized space, with an interior that balanced white walls and brown-orange accents, and the distinct smell of citrus lingering in the air. It was cozy, and Jisung quickly realized there was more than enough room for the two of them to live comfortably.

As Jisung stepped inside and took in his new surroundings, something brushed past his leg. He glanced down to see a sleek cat eyeing him suspiciously. Before he could react, the cat—raised its paw, as if preparing to scratch him. Jisung froze, but just as quickly, the cat stopped in its tracks, locking eyes with Minho, who had stepped into the room.

Minho gave the cat a stern look, and the cat immediately lowered its paw, backing away as if it had just been caught doing something it shouldn't. Jisung couldn't hold back his laughter. "Did you just intimidate your cat?" he giggled.

Minho shrugged casually, "They know who's boss." His tone was serious, but the playful smirk on his face said otherwise. "Not at all times, though, so don't even think about it." He quickly added, causing Jisung to laugh even more.

"Let me guess, this one's the most quirky?" Jisung joked.
"Doesn't even need an outsider to guess." Minho confirmed, flicking his fingers.

"What's his name?" Jisung said, trying to get the cat to not attempt to scratch him again.
"Soonie."

As they continued walking through the house, two more cats were lounging lazily on the couch—a second and a third cat. These two didn't seem to care much about the new visitor, their eyes barely lifting from their naps. Jisung chuckled softly at how indifferent they were compared to the first cat.

"Doongie and Dori." Minho declared before Jisung could even ask. "They're all pretty introverted," Minho explained with a fond smile as he observed them. "Give them time. They'll get used to you eventually."

Jisung nodded, feeling more at ease. "I'll take it slow with them," he said, his voice soft as he bent down to lightly scratch behind Dori's ear. The cat didn't react much, just a slight flick of its tail, but it was enough to make Jisung feel welcome.

"The once-intimidating Lee Minho turns out to be a cat dad?" Jisung dramatically gasped. "I would've never thought." he laughed.

"Don't even think about it." Minho glared at him, but quickly broke into a smile upon seeing Jisung laugh even more.

The house wasn't just a place—it already felt like a shared space, a home where Jisung could begin to feel like himself again. He smiled to himself, realizing this was the fresh start he had been needing all along.

"Jisung." Minho called out, interrupting Jisung's thinking.
"Yeah?"
"You should apologize."

That caught Jisung off-guard.

"What?" he chuckled sheepishly.
"Felix, Seungmin and Jeongin."
"W-why-?"

"Listen, they've done some pretty shitty stuff to you, undoubtedly. But they're some of the best people you can ever meet. And I don't think you should be letting go of them this easily." He stopped to catch his breath. "So, take the chance and apologize quickly."

God damn, he did not deserve someone as wise as Minho to be guiding and advising him like this. But he was grateful anyway.

"C-can you help me do it?" he pleaded. "I don't wanna do it myself."

"I wish I could, but I have exams tomorrow." Minho smiled.

Darn it. Jisung sighed, feeling the weight of Minho's words sink in. He knew Minho was right. He had been avoiding Felix, Seungmin, and Jeongin for too long. They had their flaws, but deep down, they were still his friends—people he had shared some of his best memories with. It was just hard to face them after everything.

"You're right," Jisung mumbled. "I should apologize. But I still feel...I don't know if I can actually face them."

Minho gave him a sympathetic look, his voice soft but firm. "You don't have to fix everything in one go. Just take the first step. Let them know you still care. That's all you need to do for now."

Jisung nodded, his mind swirling with doubt and hope. "But what if they don't accept it?"

Minho reached out and squeezed Jisung's shoulder. "Then that's on them. But at least you'll know you tried. And that's what matters."

Jisung chewed on his lower lip, anxiety bubbling in his chest. It wasn't easy to admit he'd been wrong, but with Minho by his side, he felt a little braver. He took a deep breath. "Alright. I'll... I'll give them a call."

Minho stood up, stretching. "Good. I'll leave you to it, then. And hey," he added with a playful wink, "don't overthink it."

Jisung smiled at him, grateful for the push.

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