just pretend.

20.

Minho’s head was pounding, a relentless ache that made every movement feel like a chore. If he had a choice, he would have stayed in bed until the room stopped spinning whenever he raised his head even a little. “Fuck”, he groaned, pressing his palms against his eyes in an attempt to block out the harsh light. He felt Seungmin move next to him, a comforting presence in the otherwise disorienting haze. Seungmin wrapped his arms around Minho’s waist and pulled him close to his body, nuzzling his face into the crook of his neck. “Where were you? I woke up and you weren’t there”, he mumbled against Minho's skin, sending goosebumps racing across his body. The warmth of Seungmin's breath was both soothing and maddening, making Minho long for more sleep. “I talked to Felix”, Minho replied, closing his eyes again, trying to focus on the rhythm of his breath. He felt Seungmin’s body tense up ever so slightly, a shift that made Minho wary. “Did he finally tell you what’s going on?”, Seungmin’s voice was laced with concern. Minho exhaled loudly, slowly shaking his head, the action sending another wave of pain through his temples. “No, we talked about what happened yesterday and..”, he started, but Seungmin abruptly pulled away. Minho opened his eyes to look at him, regretting it immediately as the harsh light pierced through his senses, intensifying his headache. Seungmin’s expression shifted from worried to suspicious, and Minho felt a pang of guilt twist in his gut. “What happened yesterday? You didn’t say anything. Are you alright?” Minho nodded, carefully raising his upper body until their faces were just a few inches apart. He could see the concern etched on Seungmin’s features, and it tugged at his heart. “Jeongin, Hannie, and I went to Hyunjin’s place to confront his boyfriend. He said that he was forced to do it, so that’s been on my mind”, he said in his soft morning voice, leaning in to place a gentle peck on Seungmin’s parted lips. The gesture brought a momentary flash of warmth, but it was fleeting. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, clinging to the closet in the corner as he fought through the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him. “What’s wrong?”, he heard Seungmin ask worriedly from behind him, feeling the younger one’s hands wrap protectively around his waist moments later. “I have the worst headache”, he whined, letting Seungmin gently guide him back to the bed, where he sank onto the soft sheets. “Sit, I’ll get you some painkillers”, Seungmin said, his voice firm yet tender. Minho watched as he left the room, returning moments later with a glass of water and a couple of pills. “Thank you”, Minho said, taking the painkillers and emptying the glass in one go, placing it on his nightstand with a soft clink. “Are you sure you want to work today?”, Seungmin asked, eyeing him carefully. Minho nodded, inhaling deeply to steady himself. “I need to distract myself today”, he replied, slowly getting up again. He changed into a recently laundered white shirt and olive green sweatpants, the fabric soft against his skin. He felt Seungmin’s gaze on him, a mix of admiration and concern that made him self-conscious. “Stop staring”, he whined playfully, unable to suppress a smile as Seungmin’s lips curved into an amused grin. Seungmin sat on the edge of his bed, extending his hand toward Minho’s wrist and effortlessly pulling him onto his lap. “Hyunjin sent me a drunk message last night”, he mumbled, letting his fingers trail over Minho’s waist, the touch igniting warmth in Minho’s chest. “He kind of invited us to dinner to apologize for what happened at the party. Jeongin said he also wants to talk to us more since there wasn’t any chance the other night, so what do you say?” Minho blinked at him, trying to find the right words amidst the chaos in his mind. “Who is ‘us’?”, he finally asked, a hint of teasing in his tone, which made Seungmin chuckle softly. “Not sure; does it matter? You can focus on me”, Seungmin answered, placing a soft kiss on Minho’s pink lips. Minho nodded, slowly letting his hands glide up Seungmin’s chest, resting on his shoulders, feeling the warmth radiating from him. “Are you gonna pick out my outfit again?”, Minho asked, raising an eyebrow and watching as Seungmin’s lips formed a playful smile. “Only if I can get rid of it afterwards.” Minho giggled, a lightness filling the room that pushed against the weight of his headache. He nodded, letting Seungmin draw him into a slow, lingering kiss, making the world outside fade away for just a little while.