just pretend.

23.

"I just handed the copies of our documents to the receptionist", Minho said on the phone the next morning, his voice slightly tinged with relief. He could hear Seungmin's soft breathing through the speakers, a soothing sound that made his heart feel a little lighter. Minho had slept well, enjoying his day off, taking the time to clean his room, the cat litter, and, it seemed, the entire apartment. "Take a break and eat something", Felix urged, crossing the freshly wiped hallway on his tiptoes, making his way to the kitchen where Minho was cleaning the dishes. Minho looked at him, and for the first time in weeks, it felt so natural, almost like old times. "Are you telling me that I need to use the freshly cleaned dishes now?", he pouted jokingly, placing the last plate on a dish rack. "You know we have a dishwasher, right?", Felix replied, raising an eyebrow and frowning at him, which made Minho smile sheepishly. "I had to keep busy. I'm nervous, and my lawyer said that she's sending everything in by the end of Thursday. That's tomorrow already, Lix", he babbled, drying his hands off and hanging the dark green towel on a hook. "Okay, okay, but eat something. Now", Felix insisted, and Minho heard Seungmin chuckle on the other end of the line. "What would you say if I was on the way with a good amount of muffins, freshly baked bread, and iced coffee?", Seungmin asked, a teasing tone in his voice. Minho glanced at Felix, a smile breaking across his face. "I'd be really disappointed if that's not the case", he replied, looking at his screen in surprise as the call ended abruptly. He frowned, confused and dumbfounded, wondering if there had been some sort of disconnect. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, pulling him from his thoughts. He turned around just in time to watch Felix rush to the door, an amused grin lighting up his face. "Breakfast delivery for three!" Seungmin's voice rang through the hallway, followed by footsteps approaching. Minho's heart skipped a beat as he crossed the room, wrapping his arms around Seungmin's waist when he stepped inside, planting a soft peck on his lips. "You're amazing, did you know?", Minho mumbled, inhaling the intoxicating scent of freshly baked bread and muffins, making his stomach growl. Felix walked into the kitchen, perching himself on the barstool across the countertop. "Thank you for providing us with food", he said with a playful tone, which made Minho chuckle again. "You went through some shitty days", Seungmin replied, placing the bag on the counter next to the drinks. "And it's partly my fault, so it's the least I could do." Felix shook his head, his expression softening. "It's not your fault, but we'll accept your bribe", Minho replied, a small smile forming on his lips. Minho handed him plates and some knives before turning back to the fridge to gather drinks. "Did you see Jisung?", Felix asked, glancing at the sticker on the paper-wrapped bread, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. Minho met his gaze briefly, not sure how to feel about where the conversation seemed to go. "No, he wasn't there, why?", Seungmin replied, his hand finding its way around Minho's waist, offering an anchor through the rising tension. "I was just wondering if he's alright after what happened. He's not any better when it comes to dealing with things, and I'm a little worried since I haven't heard anything from Changbin.. other than Binnie ending their fling", Felix answered quietly, placing a cutting board and a big bread knife on the table. Minho felt his lungs constricting at the weight of this information, a wave of concern washing over him. He had hoped that Jisung was coping better, but hearing Felix's words felt like a punch to the chest. He had a sinking feeling that the aftermath of everything would have lingering effects, not just on himself, but on all of them. He had to force himself to collect his thoughts, to focus on what needed to be done. "Maybe we should check on him", Minho suggested, his voice steadying as he turned to face Felix and Seungmin.

"Changbin also told me that Chan and Hyunjin made up apparently", Felix added, looking at Minho with furrowed eyebrows, his tone a mix of relief and curiosity. He shrugged his shoulders as if trying to shake off the weight of the news. "So he has no one left", Minho mumbled, blinking at him, feeling a wave of guilt for causing so much trouble for everyone involved. It weighed heavily on him, the realization that their collective troubles were spiraling, impacting more than just him. "He still got Jeongin", Seungmin replied, gently pushing Minho towards a chair, taking the box with food out of his hands before he could protest. Minho nodded and sat down, a wave of exhaustion washing over him, causing his appetite to vanish. "And Changbin said they agreed on being friends, so he's not alone. I really hope that's enough for him not to do anything stupid", Felix added, his voice laced with concern, though Minho found it hard to focus on the conversation. His thoughts were consumed with Jisung, and he didn't know how to stop the mental whirlwind. Felix moved around the kitchen, cutting some slices of the freshly baked bread and placing them on a cutting board next to the loaf, holding it up for them to take. "Thanks, Lix", Minho mumbled absently, spreading some butter on his slice, only half-listening to Felix's and Seungmin's conversation about Jeongin and a party he wanted to throw at their apartment. "Are you coming too?", Seungmin asked, his tone brightening as he turned to Minho. The question pulled Minho from his spiraling thoughts, and he raised his head, looking at him with confusion. "What?", he asked, blinking at him as if trying to shake off a fog. "To Jeongin's little party", Felix said, amusement dancing in his eyes as he stuffed his mouth with food, happily chewing on his bread. "Oh, sure", Minho answered, a smile breaking through his earlier melancholy. "When is it?" Seungmin chuckled, tilting his head in a teasing way. "Did you listen to what we said, or were you busy daydreaming again?" Minho felt his cheeks heat up at the playful jab, and he took a bite of his slice, pretending not to be embarrassed. "I listened to some of it", he admitted with a full mouth, then got up to grab some green grapes and a cucumber from the fridge. "It's this Saturday, so in three days, cutie", Seungmin said, looking up at him with a warm smile. Minho nodded, placing some grapes on his plate and earning another smile from Seungmin. "Tell him I'll be there if he orders pizza for us", he joked, slicing the cucumber into thin rounds and handing some to Felix and Seungmin. Felix laughed, grabbing a few grapes and stuffing his mouth, humming in contentment. "Min, do you wanna do something today?", he asked, his cheeks full of fruit. Minho turned to him, meeting his gaze with a nod. "I need to keep busy", he repeated, grimacing slightly as he struggled to calm his nerves, the heaviness in his chest still lingering. "We could go shopping and have dinner after", Felix suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement. The thought of spending time with his best friend for the first time since leaving the clinic ignited a flicker of enthusiasm in Minho. "Sure, that sounds great", he replied, feeling a rush of anticipation. "I just gotta finish my shift; it's only gonna take four hours." Seungmin squeezed Minho's thigh under the table, a gesture meant to reassure him. "Enough time for you to rest", he said gently, his expression supportive. Minho pouted, not wanting to be alone with his thoughts for the next four hours. "Only if you cuddle with me", he said, finishing his breakfast, a hint of playful desperation in his voice. He could already envision himself curling up with Seungmin on the couch, trying to escape the turbulent thoughts swirling in his mind, even if just for a little while.