just pretend.

54.

The police officers finally left the room the next morning, leaving behind an oppressive silence that settled over everyone. The barrage of questions, the endless probing, and the constant revisiting of painful memories had drained them all. They were exhausted, physically and emotionally, worn down by the weight of everything they had been through. Seungmin’s slight fever had concerned the doctor, and despite Seungmin’s protests, they insisted he remain in the hospital for at least another day. Minho hovered by his side, pushing a glass of water into Seungmin’s hand with a quiet but firm insistence. “Min, I’m fine”, Seungmin grumbled, though he obediently took the glass. “You have a fever”, Minho countered, his gaze sharp with worry as he watched Seungmin sip the water. Meanwhile, Minju had torn his stitches during a shower earlier that morning, and Jisung had been pacing the room ever since, unable to shake the anxious energy that seemed to ang at him. His eyes flitted constantly to the door, waiting for any sign that Minju would be okay. “Hannie”, Minho said softly, stepping into Jisung’s path and placing his hands gently on Jisung’s waist to stop him in his tracks. “It’s just the stitches. He’ll be back in less than thirty minutes, I promise.” Minho’s voice was soothing, but he could feel the tension radiating off of Jisung. Jisung allowed himself to be guided to the bed, his body tense but compliant, as Minho’s hands traveled from his waist to his neck, grounding him. “You’re not just worried about Minju”, Minho said quietly, his thumb brushing lightly against the back of Jisung’s neck. “You’re thinking about Wooyoung, too.” The look Jisung gave him in response sent a shiver through Minho, freezing the blood in his veins. There was a fear there, something deep and unresolved, lurking beneath the surface. “If he dies..”, Jisung began, his voice barely a whisper. He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavy between them. Minho silenced him with a kiss, his lips pressing gently but firmly against Jisung’s. He didn’t want Jisung to dwell on it, to carry that weight any longer. “No matter what happens, we’ll deal with it together”, Minho murmured against Jisung’s lips, resisting the overwhelming urge to kiss him again. He knew they couldn’t hide in this moment forever, but for now, it was enough. Just then, the door creaked open, and Minho turned, meeting Minju’s eyes as he stepped back into the room, looking pale and worn out but very much alive. “You okay?”, Minho asked, relief flooding through him. Minju nodded, though his exhaustion was evident in every step he took. Jisung wasted no time rushing over, helping his brother back into bed with gentle hands. “You need to rest. What did the doctor say?”, Jisung asked, pulling the blanket up over Minju’s tired body. “It was just the stitches”, Minju replied, his cheeks flushing slightly as he settled back against the pillows. “I moved too fast in the shower.” Seungmin, lying in the other bed, perked up, a teasing glint in his eye. “You mean with Jiho?”, he asked, his tone playful despite the lingering soreness in his voice. Minju shot him a glare, though the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth gave him away. His cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, and Minho couldn’t hold back the high-pitched chuckle that escaped his lips, drawing everyone’s attention to him. Minho’s laughter trailed off into an embarrassed whine, but the warmth that spread through the room was undeniable. It was a brief moment of levity, a small slice of normalcy in the chaos. He was happy for Minju, who, after all the suffering and loss he’d endured – losing his girlfriend, the trauma of everything – deserved to find some semblance of happiness again.

Minho and Jisung decided to spend as much time as they could at the hospital, staying close as Seungmin's fever broke and Minju's wounds slowly healed. The atmosphere felt lighter with each passing day, the tension gradually easing as Seungmin’s strength returned and the stitches in Minju’s side stopped bleeding through. The doctor had finally given them the green light to go home, a moment they had all been eagerly waiting for. “So, what’s the plan?”, Felix asked, moving around the room and helping to pack up the scattered belongings. His voice was casual, but there was an underlying sense of relief that everyone was finally healing. “I’m going back home”, Minju answered, casting a quick glance toward Jiho, who was leaning against the wall by the door. His eyes held a quiet affection that made Minju’s cheeks flush a deep shade of pink, though he tried to hide it by busying himself with his bag. Minho noticed the subtle exchange and couldn’t help but smile. Turning his attention back to Seungmin, Minho found his eyes, the connection between them palpable. “Minnie”, he said softly, stepping closer, his hands naturally finding their way around Seungmin’s neck. There was something comforting about the way Seungmin's presence was calming his nerves, even after everything they had gone through. Seungmin responded by slipping his hands around Minho’s waist, gently pulling him in between his legs. The simple touch sent a chill through Minho's body, and his heart stuttered. It was like a silent acknowledgment of everything they had endured. Minho could feel Jisung’s gaze on them, and it made his heart race even more. “Wanna stay with us a few days before we have to go back to real life?” Minho’s voice was small, almost shy, a stark contrast to the confidence he usually carried, the confidence that faltered whenever Seungmin or Jisung were around him. But there was vulnerability in the question – he wasn’t ready to let go of their closeness just yet. Seungmin smiled softly, his lips forming a quiet agreement before he leaned forward, pulling Minho into a tender kiss. Minho’s thoughts briefly wandered to the responsibilities waiting for him – the dance classes he loved and the finance job he tolerated to pay the bills. He knew Jisung was itching to get back to his job at the restaurant too, but for now, none of that mattered. They just needed a little more time together. “So, does that mean I’m going to be all on my own?” Jeongin's voice broke through the moment, playful and dramatic as usual. He was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, his expression a mix of amusement and mock betrayal. Minho chuckled, feeling the tension in the room ease even more. “I can keep you company”, Jisung offered, grinning as he threw a cocky smile Jeongin’s way. Jeongin grimaced, feigning disgust. “No thanks, I think I’ll pass”, he replied, just as Jisung grabbed a pillow and playfully tossed it at him. Jeongin caught it effortlessly, his smile giving away the lighthearted banter between them. But then Jisung turned back to Minho and Seungmin, and the playful energy faded. His eyes held a different kind of worry, one that made Minho’s heart skip a beat. Jisung’s gaze was intense, filled with the weight of everything they hadn’t yet talked about. “We need to talk about.. all of this”, Jisung mumbled, his voice quiet, meant only for Minho and Seungmin. It was clear he was referring to more than just the hospital stay, more than the physical injuries – they all knew there were deeper wounds that still needed addressing. Minho and Seungmin both nodded, understanding what Jisung meant. There was no escaping the fact that things had changed. And there was the practical matter of their separate apartments and busy lives, all of them scattered across different parts of the city. Moving in together would make everything easier, and yet, Minho wasn’t ready to face that reality. He wasn’t sure where all of this was headed or what the future would look like for them. There was still so much to figure out, and he didn’t want to rush into anything without knowing what it all truly meant.