𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫? - 𝐓𝐌𝐑 𝐀𝐔, 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨

038 - don't do it...

First my dad, and now Teresa?

"It's not your fault," she had said, her smile faint as her eyes fluttered, slipping away while her heartbeat slowed before stopping completely.

But it is. It's all my fault.

And now Thomas has shut everyone out. He's silenced himself.

I don't even know how to cope with her death, and the flashbacks aren't helping. I don't want to remember my mother's drug addiction. I don't want to remember my dad's death. I don't want to remember the shadow. I don't want to remember anything about my childhood.

Until an idea sparks in my mind. One of the memories repeats in my head, and I have a plan for how to get through with it.

I reach for some paper, and I start writing a note for Tyler.

HEY, IT'S WHITLEY. I PROMISE TO YOU THAT I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY, BUT I HAVE ONE REQUEST. CAN YOU PLEASE GET ME SOME...

I pause to think. What drugs help with grief?

An idea sparks in my mind, and I finish the note.

...ANTIDEPRESSANTS.

I fold the note up and plan to give it to Tyler whenever I see him. Or just throw it in my suitcase; he'll surely come here.

Since Teresa's death I haven't been in my cabin at all. Instead Minho said I can stay at his treehouse, and so I have. Occasionally he visits to see how I'm doing, but I don't blame him if he won't. Today is one of the days he is visiting.

I wait for him, staring down at the landscape beneath me. It would still be breathtaking, if only the camp wasn't such a mess. If only Tyler hadn't shown up. If only Teresa were still alive. If only that masked figure wasn't skulking around, reminding me that it's my fault my dad is dead.

If only.

At the sound of footsteps below, my head jerks downward. My eyes meet with Minho's as he looks up at me.

"Hey," he calls. "How have you been holding up?"

I shrug, even though I don't think he can tell. "I don't even know anymore. Are you coming up?"

"Yeah," he says before starting to climb up.

The note.

I quickly shove the note out of view, managing to get back in my earlier position before he sees.

He walks over and sits down in one of his chairs, smiling warmly at me. "I've missed seeing you around at camp."

I nod. "I've missed you too."

At the sound of a notification, I reach into my pocket and take out the new phone—which does not have a hidden camera—that Minho gave me. I click onto Braedyn's contact name and read the message he has sent.

Braedyn <3

1:42 pm

Braedyn <3

Hey, Whit

Hru?

I quickly send my response so that I'll be able to talk to Minho.

You

I'm fine

Minho's here, so I gtg

Bye, love ya

Braedyn <3

Alr

Bye

Love you too

I shove my phone back in my pocket and look up at Minho.

"What have you been doing up here?" He asks me.

Writing notes to stalkers asking for drugs, what about you?

"I've read a lot," I lie. In reality, I've been doing absolutely nothing. Just staring into space has been my only real activity.

"Which books?" Minho asks, sounding genuinely curious.

I chuckle, slightly embarrassed. "Romance books. But I know I'll never find love like that in real life."

"I could show you love like that."

Oh. My. God.

I glance up at him, my eyes wide, my cheeks red. "What?"

"I can show you love like that," Minho repeats, but this time he swaps out the 'could' for a firm 'can,' making his intent clearer.

Though, he looks away for a moment, jaw tightening as if he is worried he has said too much. I reach out, my hand brushing against his, and he looks back. It's silent for a moment as we gaze at each other, and I catch a worried smile flicker on his lips.

"Do you want to?" I ask, breaking the silence as our eyes maintain eye contact.

"Gladly."

And before I know it, he's kissing me. It's like our first two kisses, but this one is longer.The kiss is soft at first, testing the waters, but then the kiss deepens, and it's like everything clicks into place. There's no awkwardness, no hesitation—just warmth and the feeling that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Minho's hand slides to the back of my neck, pulling me a little closer, and I melt into him, my hand cupping his face. It feels perfect, it feels amazing, it feels right. I never thought I could feel this way about someone, never thought I could let my guard down like this, but with Minho, it's easy.

When we finally pull away, both of us are breathing a little heavier, but there's no awkwardness. Just a quiet, shared moment of understanding. Minho rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed, and I feel a sense of peace wash over me—a feeling I haven't had in a long time.

After a moment, Minho pulls back slightly, his eyes meeting mine again. "So what happens now?"

I shrug, still dazed. "I guess we figure it out as we go."

He grins, and the sight of it makes my heart skip a beat. "I like the sound of that."

"And maybe we can do that again," I say, smiling.

"Maybe?"

"Definitely."

"I'd enjoy that."

"So would I."

He pauses, but it feels more like a hesitation. "And I'd also enjoy being your boyfriend. If you want me to be?"

The feeling I had felt before in my stomach returns, and now I know what it is—butterflies.

I don't answer, just nod.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel hopeful. Like maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.

But I know deep down that it won't.