just pretend.

29.

Jisung couldn’t deny the jealousy curling uncomfortably in his chest as he watched Minho and Seungmin share such an intimate moment. Seeing Minho pull Seungmin close, placing Seungmin’s hand against his own chest to feel his heartbeat – it stung, more than Jisung would ever admit. His eyes had been fixed on them, unable to look away, almost like he was caught in a trance. The intensity of his jealousy embarrassed him, filling him with a quiet disgust at himself. He felt like a stranger in his own skin, like a stalker unable to take his gaze off the two, and it twisted his stomach. Swallowing the emotion, Jisung took a deep breath, and tried to clear his mind. “Hi”, he called out as Minho walked into his living room, forcing his voice to sound casual, though it ended up coming out more distant than he intended. Minho frowned slightly, giving him a curious look. “How did it go?”, Jisung added quickly, his tone a bit too brisk, hoping Minho wouldn’t notice the tension beneath his words. Minho, thankfully, didn’t seem to pick up on it. “The lawyer said we have high chances of winning”, he mumbled, sounding almost disbelieving. Jisung nodded, moving closer to him on the couch, trying to shift the focus away from his lingering jealousy. “Hannie”, Minho muttered, catching Jisung’s attention as he took a seat beside him, their knees almost brushing. There was a familiar warmth in Minho’s gaze, something deep and raw that Jisung had come to cherish. Minho’s beautiful brown eyes met his, and for a moment, Jisung felt like he could drown in them, losing himself entirely in their quiet depth. “How are you feeling about all of this?”, Minho’s question was soft, but it held a weight that made Jisung pause. Minho’s eyes searched his face, studying him as if seeking an answer he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear. Jisung felt his brow crease, caught slightly off guard. “About the possibility of your parents losing everything”, Minho clarified, his voice barely a whisper. “About this whole situation.” A warm, reassuring smile found its way onto Jisung’s face as he tried to ease Minho’s obvious worry. Despite losing everything, Minho still cared so deeply about everyone else. “I resigned from their business. They made those decisions, and now they’re facing the consequences. None of this is my fault, and it’s not yours either.” He placed a comforting hand on Minho’s knee, feeling the tense energy that still lingered in Minho’s body. “They did this to themselves, Minho. And I’m not going to let you take the blame.” Minho’s eyes dropped to his hands, his fingers fidgeting slightly. “But it is my fault”, he mumbled, his voice barely audible, as if the words themselves were too heavy to bear. “No, Minho.” Jisung’s voice was firmer now, laced with anger – not at Minho, but at his parents. “It’s their own fault. If they hadn’t been so ruthless, if they didn’t put money above everything else, then none of this would have happened. They chose this, and you have every right to fight for justice. For yourself. For your family.” He felt his own voice rising, fueled by a fierce protectiveness. He could see the conflict in Minho’s eyes, a sadness mingled with gratitude, and it pained him to know Minho carried so much guilt for things beyond his control. Minho looked at him, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze, something deeper, more vulnerable. For the first time, Jisung couldn’t quite interpret the emotion in Minho’s eyes, and the thought made his heart ache. “I’m sorry”, he whispered, exhaling a breath that sounded defeated, as if he were tired of carrying the weight of it all. “So”, Minho asked, his voice fragile, “are you okay with them potentially losing?” Jisung leaned in closer, holding Minho’s gaze with gentle determination. “Minho”, he said, his tone soft and unwavering. “They have enough saved up to live comfortably, even after everything crumbles. It’s not going to ruin them as much as everyone might hope.” He paused, letting his words sink in, before offering a small, reassuring smile. “So yes, I’m more than okay with it.” Without thinking, Jisung leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Minho’s lips, feeling him melt slightly under the touch. When they pulled away, Minho’s cheeks flushed, a beautiful, gentle pink that only made him more endearing. He let out a shy giggle, a sound Jisung hadn’t heard in what felt like ages. Hearing Minho laugh, seeing him relax even just a little, sent a warmth spreading through Jisung’s chest. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed that sound, that carefree laugh that had been buried beneath so much hardship. As Minho’s laughter softened into a sweet smile, Jisung felt his heart swell, a silent promise to himself to protect this happiness as long as he could, to hold onto that gentle laughter he wanted to hear for the rest of his life.