Always By Your Side || MinChan Romance

27.

Twenty Seven

That evening, Minho sat on the couch in Chan's living room, the comforting warmth of the space enveloping him. He glanced at the clock; Chan would be home any minute. His heart raced as he rehearsed what he wanted to say about the office drama, but he also felt a gnawing anxiety. What if Chan dismissed his feelings or, worse, didn't take him seriously?

When the door finally opened, Chan walked in with a bright smile that instantly lit up the room. "Hey, lovely omega," he greeted, dropping his briefcase by the door and heading over to Minho, wrapping his arms around him in a warm embrace.

"Hey," Minho replied, melting into Chan's touch, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease. But as they settled onto the couch, the heaviness of his earlier conversation loomed in the back of his mind.

"How was your day?" Chan asked, settling in beside him, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"It was alright," Minho said, choosing his words carefully. He had intended to share his frustrations, but the mention of his day felt so trivial compared to what he was dealing with.

Chan's brows furrowed slightly. "Just alright? You seemed a little off this morning. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just—" Minho started, but his words faltered. The anxiety coiling in his stomach intensified as he watched Chan pull out a file from his briefcase, flipping through it with a frown.

"Actually, while I have you, I need to talk about something," Chan said, focusing intently on the pages in front of him. "I noticed a mistake on the report you submitted last week. There's a discrepancy in the budget allocation, and it could cause issues if we don't correct it before the presentation on Friday."

Minho's stomach dropped. "Oh... I didn't realize," he said, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over him. The small mistake felt like a reflection of his worth, and he could already sense the shift in Chan's demeanor.

"It's okay, but we need to fix it," Chan replied, his voice still kind, but there was an edge of frustration. "We've been under so much pressure lately, and I need to know I can rely on you to catch these things. Can you go over the report again?"

"Of course," Minho replied, his heart sinking further. He knew Chan wasn't trying to be harsh, but the gravity of the situation made him feel inadequate. He could feel the familiar weight of doubt creeping back in.

As Chan explained the details, Minho's mind drifted. The words became a blur, and he couldn't help but feel that his own problems paled in comparison. Here was Chan, working hard and facing challenges of his own, and all Minho could focus on was his inability to share what he was going through.

"I'll fix it," Minho finally said, forcing a smile. "I'll make sure it's all sorted before the meeting."

"Thanks, Min. I really appreciate it," Chan said, giving him a gentle pat on the knee. But Minho felt a sense of defeat. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had disappointed Chan, and now he couldn't bring up the hurtful comments or the way he felt at the office.

As Chan returned to his work, Minho found himself retreating inward, grappling with his emotions. He wanted to be strong, to prove that he could handle everything that was coming his way, but the weight of it all felt heavier than he expected.

That night, as they curled up together in bed, Minho couldn't help but feel the distance between them grow. The warmth of Chan's body next to him was comforting, but the unspoken words hung heavily in the air. He yearned for connection, for understanding, but the conversation he'd wanted to have slipped away, leaving him feeling isolated in his struggles.