just pretend.

34.

Minho didn’t remember when he had fallen back asleep, but when he woke up, Jisung was gone. The room was dimly lit by the afternoon sun filtering through the blinds, casting soft shadows on the walls. He sat up slowly, rubbing his tired eyes and feeling the stiffness in his muscles as he stretched his limbs. Every movement was a reminder of his injured leg, his arm and his broken ribs. He grimaced, carefully maneuvering himself to the edge of the bed, and reached for his crutches, which were propped up against the wall nearby. With considerable effort, he grabbed hold of them and hoisted himself up, wincing slightly as he put weight on his good leg. The hallway was quiet as Minho made his way out of his room, each step slow and deliberate. He glanced around, his heart beating a little faster with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Jisung and Felix were nowhere in sight, and the emptiness of the apartment made him feel strangely out of place. “Lixie?”, he called out, his voice tentative, echoing faintly through the corridor. He paused, straining to listen for any response, when he caught the familiar sound of Felix’s laughter coming from the shared space of their kitchen and living room. The sound was light and comforting, cutting through the quiet tension in Minho’s chest. He shuffled forward, pushing through the slight discomfort, and finally reached the living room and kitchen doorway. “Lix”, Minho said as he stepped inside, his eyes landing on Felix, Changbin, and Jisung lounging casually on the sofa, deep in conversation. The moment they noticed him, all eyes turned his way, and Minho suddenly felt self-conscious, awkwardly gripping his crutches tighter. “Hi”, he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper as their attention weighed on him. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: maybe he should have just stayed in bed. “Min, why didn’t you call us? We could’ve come to help you”, Felix said scoldingly with concern in his voice as he immediately got up. Felix crossed the room in a few quick strides, his expression softening as he reached out to support Minho, guiding him toward the sofa. “I’m fine, Lix”, Minho muttered, trying to brush off the fuss, though he couldn’t hide the slight grimace on his face. Felix led him with gentle but insistent hands, determined to help whether Minho liked it or not. “Don’t be stubborn”, Felix scolded playfully. “Just let us help you, okay?” Minho finally relented, letting Felix ease him down onto the couch, positioning him comfortably. Sitting beside Jisung, Minho’s body instinctively tensed, his heart thudding as their shoulders brushed. The warmth of Jisung’s presence was both a comfort and a distraction, making it hard for Minho to focus. Jisung leaned closer, his brows furrowed in concern. “Did I wake you up?”, Jisung asked softly, his voice filled with genuine worry. He reached out, his touch light as his hand came to rest on Minho’s thigh, a reassuring presence that made Minho’s breath catch. Minho shook his head slowly, his throat tight; he couldn’t find his voice and didn’t trust himself to speak without breaking. Jisung’s touch was gentle but grounding, and Minho could feel the slight pressure of his fingers pressing into his thigh, a subtle but comforting reminder that he wasn’t alone. “Did you have another nightmare?”, Jisung asked quietly, his voice low and filled with worry after what happened. Minho hesitated, his gaze dropping to where Jisung’s hand rested on his leg, and he bit his lip before finally whispering, “No.” It was the only response he could manage, the truth tangled up with so many unspoken fears. Across the room, Felix busied himself with a flurry of activity in the kitchen area, pulling out some snacks, while Changbin leaned over the counter, sorting through a pile of takeout menus. The comforting rhythm of their movements was a small but welcome distraction from the tension that lingered. “Min, what do you think about pizza?”, Felix called over his shoulder, his voice light and upbeat as he glanced back at Minho. The question pulled Minho’s attention away from his racing thoughts, and he met Felix’s gaze, grateful for the change of subject. “Sounds good”, Minho replied, his voice a bit steadier now, and he leaned back into the cushions with a small smile. Felix grinned widely, clearly pleased, and Minho couldn’t help but return the smile, feeling a little of the weight on his chest lift. Jisung, meanwhile, slipped his arm around Minho’s waist, pulling him closer in a protective embrace. The sudden closeness sent Minho’s heart racing, and he felt his cheeks flush with warmth. Jisung’s presence was comforting, but it also made Minho’s emotions swirl in a confusing mix of relief and anxiety. “So”, Jisung began, his voice low and almost hesitant as he leaned in, his breath warm against Minho’s cheek. “If you don’t hate me after my stupid outburst this morning”, he hushed, his fingers tracing faint patterns on Minho’s thigh, sending a shiver through him. “Then I’d really like to make it up to you.” Jisung’s words hung in the air, heavy with sincerity, and Minho felt a surge of emotion well up in his chest. The proximity of Jisung, the quiet intimacy of the moment, made it feel as though, for the first time in a long time, something between them might just be okay again.