The Weight of Goodbye || minsung

fragile beginnings

The days that followed were a mix of highs and lows. Some mornings, Jisung would wake up to the warmth of Minho's arms wrapped around him, feeling as though everything he'd gone through had been worth it, if only to arrive at this moment. But then there were nights when doubts crept in, when he found himself lying awake, wondering if it was only a matter of time before things unraveled again.

One evening, as they sat on the couch, watching a movie together, Jisung found himself fidgeting, his thoughts drifting despite the familiar comfort of Minho's presence beside him. Minho noticed, of course, always so attuned to Jisung's moods. He reached over, placing a reassuring hand on Jisung's knee.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes searching Jisung's face.

Jisung nodded, but he could feel the tension settling in his chest, a quiet weight pressing down on him. "Yeah," he murmured, though the hesitation in his voice gave him away.

Minho didn't push, just stayed close, his hand warm and steady on Jisung's knee. But that simple touch was enough to make Jisung's heart ache, the quiet reminder of how much he wanted this—wanted them—to work. He leaned into Minho's shoulder, his fingers nervously picking at the hem of his sweater.

"I just...sometimes I'm scared," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared that this is too good to last."

Minho's expression softened, and he wrapped an arm around Jisung, pulling him closer. "I know," he murmured, his voice filled with understanding. "I feel that too, sometimes. Like I'm going to wake up and realize that this was all just a dream."

They sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of their fears hanging between them. But then Minho took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he looked into Jisung's eyes.

"But you know what? I think we owe it to ourselves to try, to give this a real chance," he said softly, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from Jisung's face. "I know I've hurt you before, but...I don't want to be that person anymore. I want to be someone you can trust."

Jisung's heart swelled with a mixture of hope and vulnerability, the quiet sincerity in Minho's words making him feel as if he were standing on the edge of something beautiful and terrifying. He wanted to believe Minho, wanted to let go of his fears and trust that this time would be different. But the scars of the past ran deep, and he wasn't sure if he knew how to let them go.

"I'm trying," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I really am. But sometimes...sometimes it feels like the past is just waiting to catch up with us."

Minho nodded, a quiet understanding in his expression. "Then let's take it one day at a time," he murmured, his fingers intertwining with Jisung's. "We don't have to have all the answers right now. We just have to keep choosing each other, every day."

Jisung's gaze softened, a small, tentative smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Okay," he whispered, feeling a flicker of hope as he looked at Minho. "One day at a time."

The following weekend, they decided to spend a day out in the city together, a simple plan that felt like a small but significant step toward reclaiming the happiness they had once shared. They visited a bustling farmer's market, wandering through the stalls hand in hand, sampling fresh fruits and homemade pastries, laughing as they shared stories and memories from their past.

At one point, they came across a small booth selling handmade jewelry, each piece unique and intricately crafted. Jisung's gaze lingered on a simple silver bracelet, its delicate design catching the light as he admired it.

"You like it?" Minho asked, a soft smile playing on his lips as he watched Jisung.

Jisung nodded, a shy smile spreading across his face. "It's beautiful," he murmured, his fingers brushing against the cool metal.

Without a word, Minho turned to the vendor, pulling out his wallet and purchasing the bracelet before Jisung could protest. He slipped it onto Jisung's wrist, his fingers lingering as he fastened the clasp, a quiet warmth in his gaze as he looked at him.

"There," he said softly, his voice filled with a quiet tenderness. "Now you'll have something to remind you that I'm here. That I'm not going anywhere."

Jisung felt a lump form in his throat, the quiet gesture filling him with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability. He looked down at the bracelet, the silver band cool against his skin, a small but significant reminder of the promise Minho was making to him.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice trembling with the weight of his emotions. "I... I'll wear it every day."

They continued exploring the market, the bracelet on Jisung's wrist a comforting weight, a quiet assurance that maybe, just maybe, things would be different this time.

As the evening approached, they found themselves back at Jisung's apartment, the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the windows as they settled on the couch, exhausted but happy. Jisung leaned into Minho, his head resting on his shoulder as they sat in comfortable silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

After a while, Minho broke the silence, his voice soft and hesitant. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you," he murmured, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on Jisung's arm.

Jisung looked up at him, his heart racing as he searched Minho's face for any hint of what he was about to say.

"It's...about why I left before," Minho continued, his gaze dropping to his lap as he spoke. "I was scared, yes, but there was more to it than that. I was dealing with...some things from my past, things I thought I'd buried, but being with you...made me realize that I hadn't dealt with them at all."

He paused, taking a deep breath before he continued. "There was someone I cared about, a long time ago, and I made a mistake—a mistake that hurt them, and hurt me too. I thought that I'd moved on, but when I met you, all those fears came rushing back. I was terrified that I'd hurt you the same way, that I'd ruin everything, just like I did before."

Jisung felt a pang of sadness as he listened, his heart aching for the pain that Minho had carried alone for so long. He reached out, his fingers gently brushing against Minho's cheek as he looked into his eyes, his gaze filled with a quiet understanding.

"Minho," he murmured, his voice filled with compassion. "You're not that person anymore. You've grown, and you're here now, choosing to face things instead of running away. That means everything to me."

Minho's eyes softened, a quiet vulnerability in his gaze as he looked at Jisung. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you for giving me a chance, for...for seeing the good in me, even when I couldn't see it myself."

They held each other's gaze for a moment, the air between them heavy with the weight of their shared pain, their shared hope. And as Minho leaned in, his lips brushing softly against Jisung's, Jisung felt a quiet sense of peace settle over him, a small but powerful assurance that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make this work.

The night ended with them lying side by side, their hands intertwined as they drifted off to sleep, the quiet rhythm of their breaths in sync as they found comfort in each other's presence. Jisung felt the weight of the past slowly begin to lift, replaced by a small but growing hope that maybe, just maybe, they were strong enough to build something lasting, something real.

For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to believe in the possibility of a future with Minho, a future filled with love, laughter, and the quiet moments that made life worth living.

As he drifted off to sleep, his fingers tracing the silver bracelet on his wrist, he felt a quiet sense of peace settle over him, a small but powerful reminder that love, no matter how fragile, was worth fighting for.