cheolsoo • The Society of The Shadow / Eng ver.

15. the unspoken plea wrapped in silence

Jeonghan stood still for a moment, letting the cold air wash over him as snow began to fall gently from the sky. The back garden, now dusted with white, felt strangely quiet, almost as if time itself had slowed down. It was the same place where he and Joshua had once skipped class together, sharing stolen moments of laughter. Now, it seemed to carry the weight of something much heavier.

"Joshua's birthday is December 30th," Jeonghan said softly, his eyes locked on the snowflakes as they drifted down. His voice was distant, as though he were speaking more to the snow than to Mingyu.

Mingyu, standing a few steps behind, watched as Jeonghan's expression shifted, a subtle glimmer of emotion flickering in his eyes. There was something fragile in the way he spoke, a trace of sadness woven into the memory of his friend.

Mingyu could feel the weight of Jeonghan's thoughts without needing to ask. He stepped closer, his presence quiet but steady. "We'll prepare a beautiful birthday party for him," Mingyu offered gently, hoping to ease the tension he could see building inside Jeonghan.

Jeonghan didn't respond immediately. He stood there, staring at the falling snow, lost in his own world of memories. Mingyu understood the silence, knowing that some feelings couldn't be easily expressed in words. Instead, he stayed by Jeonghan's side, letting his presence speak for itself.

The first snow of December continued to fall, covering the world in a soft, white blanket. As Jeonghan's thoughts swirled like the snow around them, Mingyu remained close, silently promising that he wouldn't let Jeonghan face his emotions alone.

Mingyu didn't know Joshua for long, but... Still, the sight of Seungcheol carrying Joshua out of the bathroom, his body trembling uncontrollably, was etched into his mind. It was one of the most terrifying moments of his life– standing there in shock, unable to fully grasp that this was the same Joshua who had fought beside him in the Hidden Library. The same wizard who had faced down an evil clone with unwavering strength and courage.

He admired him for that. To see him like this—vulnerable, shaking, completely out of control—was something Mingyu could never have prepared for.

And Seungcheol was there.

Mingyu had known Seungcheol for as long as he could remember.

Seungcheol, his dear brother, who had once been the boy chasing pups through the royal gardens with him. He had watched him grow, seen his heart guarded and untouched for years. Now, with Joshua, everything was different. This was love—real, deep, and irrevocable. Seungcheol loved Joshua in a way that Mingyu had never seen before.

Seungcheol was there, not only witnessing it but holding Joshua in his arms as the seizure took over. The moment hit him like a concrete block. He could never be the same.

Mingyu glanced at Jeonghan, then slowly reached out and touched his hand. The warmth of their skin meeting was soft, almost hesitant. "It might be bad timing, but I feel... glad... because you came back safely."

Jeonghan's eyes softened, though the weight of everything still clung to his expression. His voice was a whisper, carried by the cold wind. "I thought I could spend more time with you. I mean, I want to spend more time with you. I want us together. But—"

Mingyu didn't let him finish, the urgency in his chest pushing him to speak. "I know," he said quickly, but his tone was gentle, as though he wanted to cradle the delicate moment between them. "And I understand, Jeonghan. You don't have to feel bad about it. You don't owe me an explanation."

They slowed to a stop, snowflakes swirling around them, falling onto the edges of their coats and dusting the path beneath their feet. Jeonghan's breath clouded in front of him as he let the silence stretch, his hand slowly slipping out of Mingyu's grasp. He lowered his gaze, his eyes distant, and then sank onto the cold wooden bench nearby.