Winter Falls || Lee Know ✓

🎓:Not again

~🎬~

Days turned into weeks, and Minho's distance from the group only grew. He maintained his icy demeanor, shutting out Suhyun's laughter and Jisung's attempts to engage him. It wasn't that he didn't want to be around them; it was that he couldn't allow himself to enjoy it. Each smile, each joke exchanged felt like a betrayal to the unresolved anger festering within him, anchored by the reappearance of Jiho.

Jisung noticed the change in Minho, how his best friend had become a ghost of the person he once was. The usual coldness that defined Minho—the bad boy with a tough exterior—was still there, but it was sharper, more pronounced, and it worried Jisung. The light that had begun to crack through Minho's icy shell had dimmed significantly.

"Hey, Minho," Jisung said one afternoon as they walked through the school halls, a mix of excitement and concern in his voice. "You coming to the hangout later?"

Minho's response was flat, barely audible. "Not interested."

"C'mon, man! We're all going to the arcade. It'll be fun," Jisung pushed, trying to inject some enthusiasm into the conversation.

"Yeah. Maybe next time," Minho replied, keeping his eyes on the ground, the tone of his voice void of any enthusiasm.

Jisung sighed, frustration bubbling under the surface. "You've been saying that a lot lately. What's going on with you? You're... different."

Minho shrugged, his expression unreadable. "I'm okay. Just don't feel like joining the group."

Jisung stopped in his tracks, studying Minho's face. "You've never been like this before. You're the school's bad boy, not some cold loner. Talk to me, man. I'm worried about you."

"I said I'm fine," Minho snapped, but even he could hear the tension in his voice.

"Fine? You think this is fine?" Jisung gestured between them, frustration seeping through his words. "I've known you long enough to know when something's up. This isn't you, Minho. It's like you're shutting everyone out again, and I don't get why."

Minho turned away, his resolve wavering as memories of Jiho crept back in. The unresolved anger and guilt clawed at him. "I just need some space, okay?"

Jisung watched as Minho walked away, his heart heavy. He knew Minho was known for his cold exterior, but he had cracked that shell multiple times before. Now, it felt like a wall had been rebuilt, fortified with pain and shadows of the past. Jisung decided not to push the matter further, but he made a mental note to check in on Minho more frequently. He missed the way they used to joke around, how they could sit together and share thoughts without the weight of silence hanging over them.

~⌛~

The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and whispers about the upcoming school festival. Students buzzed with excitement, discussing booths, performances, and plans for the event. Jisung tried to immerse himself in the chatter, but his thoughts drifted back to Minho.

During lunch, the group gathered around their usual table, the air filled with animated discussions about the festival. Suhyun animatedly recounted her ideas for a booth, her passion shining through. "We should totally do a photo booth! Everyone loves taking pictures, and we can make it fun with props!"

Hyunjin nodded in agreement. "And we can set up a little corner with snacks! Everyone loves snacks."

Soyeon chimed in, "I think we should do something different this year. Maybe a haunted house or something spooky!"

Felix, who had been listening with a smile, turned to Jisung. "What do you think, Jisung? You're the planner among us."

Jisung forced a smile, trying to engage with their enthusiasm. "Yeah, sounds great! We could combine all those ideas into something amazing." But inside, he felt a void where Minho's presence should have been.

As the conversation continued, Jisung couldn't help but notice Suhyun's glances toward the entrance. She seemed to be waiting for someone, likely Minho, but he remained absent. Her smile faded slightly, and a frown creased her brow.

"Where's Minho?" Suhyun finally asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"I don't know. He's been... distant lately," Jisung admitted, trying to downplay the situation. "He says he's fine, but I don't believe him."

Suhyun pouted. "I thought he was getting better..."

Jisung sighed, glancing at Hyunjin, who wore a frown as well. "I don't get it either. I've known him for years, and he's been acting strange. It's like he's hiding something."

Felix, ever the optimist, chimed in, "Maybe he just needs time. He'll come around. He always does."

But Jisung couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than just needing time. It was as if something darker was looming over Minho, pulling him into shadows that no one else could see. He glanced toward the entrance, half-hoping to see Minho walk in and prove him wrong, but he knew in his gut that something was amiss.

After lunch, as the group began discussing plans for the festival, Jisung caught sight of Jiho loitering near the entrance of the cafeteria. The way Jiho's eyes flicked toward their group made Jisung's stomach churn. He knew the history between Jiho and Minho, the tension that simmered beneath the surface, and the pain it caused. Jiho had never let go of the past, and now it felt like he was waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Guys, I'll be right back," Jisung said, standing abruptly.

Suhyun looked up, confusion on her face. "Where are you going?"

"I just need to check something," he replied, his tone leaving no room for questions.

As he made his way through the crowd, he felt a mix of anger and concern for Minho. He reached Jiho, who leaned against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Nice to see you again, Jisung," Jiho greeted, his tone deceptively casual.

"Cut the crap, Jiho. What do you want?" Jisung shot back, not bothering to mask his disdain.

Jiho shrugged, his eyes glinting with malice. "Just watching Minho from afar. He looks... miserable."

Jisung clenched his fists, the urge to confront Jiho burning in his chest. "What do you know about Minho's life? You don't care about him. You only want to make him suffer because of what happened years ago."

"Isn't it amusing?" Jiho mused, ignoring Jisung's anger. "Watching him pretend to be happy while I know the truth? He can't escape what happened, no matter how hard he tries."

Jisung stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Stay away from him, Jiho. Whatever you're planning, just leave Minho out of it. He doesn't deserve this."

Jiho raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing wider. "Oh, but he deserves to remember. That's what makes it fun, doesn't it?"

With that, Jiho pushed off the wall, leaving Jisung seething. The tension between them hung thick in the air, and Jisung felt a cold wave of dread wash over him. Minho had come so far, and now it felt like the past was clawing its way back, threatening to drag him under.

Returning to the group, Jisung's heart raced. He needed to talk to Minho, to pull him back from the edge before it was too late. The upcoming festival was supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, but now it felt like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode with secrets and pain.

"Guys," he said, trying to sound casual, "let's focus on making the festival amazing. It's important we all stick together, especially with everything going on."

Suhyun nodded, her expression determined. "Yeah! We'll make it the best one yet. And maybe... maybe Minho will join us too."

Jisung hoped so.

~🎬~