The Whispers (Underworld 6) VK

23: Truth or Dare

The music was loud, and the dimly lit room of Minhyuk's house buzzed with energy as the basketball team gathered around the makeshift bar in the corner. Minhyuk, Chan, Hansol, and a few other teammates were in the midst of their drinks, the atmosphere light and celebratory, but underneath it all, there was an unspoken tension. Hansol, with his usual brooding aura, sat quietly nursing his drink, while the others joked and laughed around him.

"Come on, Hansol!" Minhyuk exclaimed, nudging him with his elbow. "Why are you so quiet? You should be celebrating—we totally crushed it today!" He downed his drink and leaned in closer. "Or is it something else that's got you all moody?"

Hansol gave a non-committal shrug, his eyes drifting away from the group. He didn't feel like celebrating, not after what had just happened with Seungkwan. The memory of seeing Jinyoung lifting Seungkwan in his arms still burned in his mind, making his blood boil all over again. And that look on Seungkwan's face... the happiness, the ease, the... affection?

Chan, who had been eyeing Hansol for a while, smirked and leaned forward, his arms resting on the bar. "You know, we've been meaning to ask..." he began, a teasing tone already in his voice. "What's up with you and Seungkwan?"

Hansol froze, his grip tightening around his drink. He could feel the eyes of his teammates turning toward him, eager for some juicy gossip. He shot a warning glance at Chan, but the younger boy only grinned wider, clearly enjoying himself.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hansol muttered, trying to brush it off, but the others weren't letting him off that easy.

"Come on, dude!" Minhyuk chimed in, leaning over the counter. "We all saw you getting all worked up over Seungkwan and Jinyoung earlier. That wasn't just a 'friendly' reaction, man." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, causing the others to snicker.

Hansol clenched his jaw, feeling a wave of frustration rise inside him. Of course they would make a big deal out of this. But what was he supposed to say? He didn't even fully understand it himself. Why *was* he so upset? Why did seeing Seungkwan with Jinyoung make his chest feel tight? Why couldn't he shake off the image of Seungkwan in someone else's arms?

"I don't get it, though," one of the other guys piped up, clearly a little tipsy. "I mean, you're *Hansol*, man. You could have anyone you want. Girls, guys... People are, like, lining up to sleep with you." He raised his drink in a mock toast. "You're the most popular guy on campus! Why are you all bent out of shape over Seungkwan?"

That question seemed to linger in the air, and Hansol's stomach twisted uncomfortably as all eyes settled on him. Why Seungkwan? The question haunted him. It wasn't like Seungkwan was the typical person he'd go for. Sure, he was funny, cute in his own way, and had an air of charm that made people feel at ease around him. But Hansol had never thought about him that way—until recently.

Hansol shifted in his seat, avoiding their gaze as he tried to find an answer that didn't sound as confused as he felt. But the truth was, he didn't know why. All he knew was that something had shifted, something he hadn't planned for, and now it was all he could think about. He was restless, on edge, and seeing Seungkwan with someone else only intensified that feeling.

"I..." Hansol started, but then fell silent. What could he say? What could he even begin to explain when he didn't understand it himself? The silence stretched, making the others lean in with anticipation.

Chan raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "What, you don't have an answer?" he teased. "That's a first. Mr. Cool himself, lost for words."

"Shut up, Chan," Hansol snapped, though there wasn't much bite in his words. He took a long sip of his drink, hoping it would drown out the uneasy feeling building in his chest.