just pretend.

41.

Minho parked Felix’s car in a hurry, his heart still racing from the chaotic events of the day. The screech of the car’s brakes seemed to echo in the quiet parking lot, amplifying the tension between him and Jiwon as they exited the vehicle. The silence stretched on as they walked through the apartment building, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting in the hallway. Minho could feel the weight of unspoken thoughts pressing down on his chest. He opened his mouth several times, trying to find the right words to ease the awkward silence, but nothing came out. Finally, as the elevator doors slid shut in front of them, trapping them in the small, enclosed space, Minho blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Can Jisung live here?” Jeongin’s brother shot him a sideways glance, a slow smirk creeping across his face. “I thought you broke up”, he said, his tone light but teasing, his eyebrow raised in a way that made Minho’s face flush with embarrassment. The teasing was familiar, something he had endured countless times when he was still dating Jisung, but now, after everything that had happened, it felt like a slap in the face. Minho shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the elevator as he tried to avoid Jiwon’s amused gaze. He focused on the floor numbers lighting up as they ascended, hoping to distract himself from the heat creeping up his neck and onto his cheeks. “We did”, he mumbled, his voice barely audible over the hum of the elevator. “But we’ve been seeing each other more often lately.” The confession hung in the air between them, and Minho felt his cheeks turn pink at the sound of Jiwon chuckling softly. He had spent so much time around Jeongin and his brother back when he and Jisung were still together. As Jisung’s best friend, Jeongin had always been nearby, making it impossible to avoid these two brothers. “He could live here”, Jiwon said thoughtfully as the elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and they stepped into the hallway. “Theoretically. But it’s too close to his apartment and his workplace. It’s too risky.” Minho’s heart sank. He knew what Jiwon was saying made sense, but the thought of Jisung moving far away pulled at him. It had taken so much just to reconnect with him, and the idea of being separated again made his chest tighten painfully. “Where would he go?”, Minho asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. Jeongin’s brother shrugged slightly as they approached the door to the apartment. “Jisung should move somewhere far away, at least for a year or two. It’s better to get as far away from his father as possible so he won’t find him. Somewhere his father won’t even think to look.” Minho nodded slowly, the reality of the situation making his chest grow tighter. He knew that Jisung needed to disappear, to distance himself from the danger of his father. But the selfish part of him wanted to keep Jisung close, to protect him in any way he could. As they reached the door to his apartment, Minho hesitated for a second before turning the knob. The familiar sounds of his friends talking in the living room immediately hit him, but their conversation abruptly stopped as soon as they heard the door click shut. Minho bent down to take off his shoes, preparing himself for the inevitable confrontation. He barely had time to stand up before nearly walking straight into Seungmin, who was standing in the doorway to the living room with his arms crossed, a stern, unyielding expression etched on his face. Seungmin’s usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced with an intensity that made Minho flinch inwardly. “Where the hell were you?”, Seungmin demanded, his voice low but trembling slightly with barely restrained anger. His eyes were hard, filled with concern and frustration, and Minho felt a rush of guilt settle deep in his chest. He could feel Seungmin’s disappointment radiating off him, and it stung more than any words could. Minho swallowed, biting down on his lower lip as he tried to come up with a response. He had left without a word, chasing after Jisung in a whirlwind of panic and worry, and he hadn’t told his friends where he was going. Now, standing in front of them, the guilt nagged at him, making it impossible to meet Seungmin’s eyes. “I was looking for Jisung”, he mumbled, the words barely louder than a whisper. His gaze dropped to the floor, unable to handle the intensity of Seungmin’s stare any longer. He didn’t want to tell them what had happened – not yet, not when everything was still so uncertain. There was no point in worrying them further, especially when Minho didn’t have all the answers himself. He just hoped they would understand, even if they were angry with him now. Seungmin let out a frustrated sigh, his arms still crossed tightly over his chest. “You should’ve told us”, he said, his voice softer now but still laced with frustration. “I’m sorry”, Minho said quietly, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He felt the weight of everything crashing down on him – the tension, the danger, the uncertainty.