The Weight of Goodbye || minsung

shadows of the past

The following week brought a shift in the atmosphere between Jisung and Minho. They had settled into a comfortable rhythm, yet a shadow loomed over them—a sense of impending change that neither could quite articulate. Minho continued to reassure Jisung, but the fleeting moments of silence between them began to stretch longer, like shadows creeping across their once-bright connection.

It was a Friday evening when Minho received a call from Jihoon that changed everything. Jisung had been at the small dining table, working on a painting he'd started earlier in the week, a mix of blues and yellows capturing the essence of the sunset they had shared at the beach. Minho was in the living room, where Jisung could hear his voice low and serious.

"I need to take this," Minho had said, his tone clipped, before stepping out onto the balcony.

Jisung's heart sank as he tried to focus on his painting, each brushstroke a desperate attempt to drown out the anxiety that had crept in. The sound of Minho's voice drifted through the open window, and he caught fragments of the conversation—words like "urgent" and "we need to talk" echoed ominously in his ears.

As the minutes passed, Jisung's worry turned into frustration. He couldn't help but feel the old insecurities rising within him, the nagging doubt that maybe Minho would be pulled back into a world that didn't include him. He set down his brush and stood up, taking a deep breath to steady himself before stepping onto the balcony.

Minho was leaning against the railing, phone in hand, his back turned to Jisung. The sight of him—tense and focused—made Jisung's chest tighten. He could see the way Minho's fingers tightened around the phone, the tension in his posture.

"Minho?" Jisung called softly, hesitant.

Minho turned slightly, the look on his face indecipherable. "Hey, I'm just talking to Jihoon. He said he has something important to tell me."

Jisung nodded, but inside, his heart was racing. He wanted to trust Minho, to believe that he would keep his promises. But the unease within him festered like a wound that refused to heal.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," Jisung said, his voice barely above a whisper, and he turned to head back inside.

"Jisung, wait," Minho said, his voice urgent. "Can you come here for a second?"

Jisung paused, a knot forming in his stomach as he turned back to face Minho. The urgency in his voice was enough to send his heart racing. "What's going on?"

Minho sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I don't know how to explain this, but Jihoon...he's been going through a tough time. He just got out of a serious relationship, and now he wants to talk to me about it. He's worried about how it'll affect him, and I can't just ignore that."

Jisung's heart sank further. He knew Jihoon had been a source of support for Minho, but the thought of their connection resurfacing made his stomach twist. "So, you're going to go see him?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Minho hesitated, his expression torn. "I don't know. I told him I'd think about it. But I also don't want to leave you alone. I want to be here for you, Jisung."

Jisung felt a wave of frustration wash over him, his insecurities bubbling to the surface. "I don't understand why you need to even think about it. If he's just an old friend, then why is it such a big deal?"

"It's not that simple," Minho replied, his voice tense. "Jihoon is my friend, and he needs me right now. But I also don't want to hurt you. I don't want to put you in a position where you feel like you're not enough."

"I'm not saying I'm not enough!" Jisung exclaimed, his voice rising in exasperation. "But what if you end up spending time with him and—"

Minho stepped closer, cutting him off as he grasped Jisung's shoulders gently. "Jisung, look at me. You are more than enough for me. I promise you that. I don't want to go back to that place where I hurt you. But I can't just ignore someone who needs me."