Vet's Heartbeat | Minsung |

8

Jisung’s heart raced, caught between the thrill of seeing the man again and the chill of the blood smeared across his shirt. The playful nickname felt intimate and made his cheeks flush.

“What happened?” he managed, trying to sound nonchalant despite the knot tightening in his stomach.

Minho shrugged, a casualness that only heightened Jisung’s tension. “Just a little run-in with an old friend. Nothing to worry about.” He stepped closer, the faint scent of cedar and something warm filling the air between them. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Uh, no, just... wrapping up for the night.” Jisung shifted awkwardly, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle of this strange encounter. “You shouldn’t be here, not looking like that.”

A smirk tugged at Minho’s lips, and Jisung found it hard to look away. “Are you worried about me, pretty?” The tease hung between them, charged with an unexpected chemistry that made Jisung’s breath hitch.

“I—no!” Jisung stammered, wishing he could sound more composed. “You just shouldn’t be here. What if someone sees you?”

“Let them,” Minho replied, stepping even closer, the blood on his shirt almost a shadow against his striking features. “I came for you, Jisung. Not them.”

A shiver ran down Jisung’s spine. Was there something more serious lurking beneath the surface? “You can’t just barge in here. What if the police—”

“Don’t worry about them.” He leaned closer, the tension between them crackling like electricity. “I just had to see you.”

Jisung’s pulse quickened, a mix of fear and curiosity swirling inside him. “Why me?”

Minho’s gaze was dangerous, and for a moment, the bravado slipped away. “You’re different.” He reached out, fingers brushing against Jisung’s arm, a touch that sent warmth rushing through him. “And I want to see more.”

Jisung swallowed hard, fighting against the instinct to lean into that touch. “This isn’t a good idea,” he said, but his voice wavered, betraying the mix of desire and caution roiling within.

“Sometimes, good ideas aren’t what we need.” Minho’s eyes darkened with intensity, and Jisung felt the pull between them, an unspoken understanding that danced in the air.

“I don’t even know your name,” Jisung said, trying to anchor himself amidst the storm of emotions. The lack of clarity felt dangerous.

“Names are overrated,” Minho replied, a sly grin resurfacing. “But you can call me whatever you want. I mean, you already called me Minnie.”

“Fuck that. I thought you were the patient.” Jisung took a step back, the reality of the situation crashing down. The man had the audacity to laugh. “You’re not making sense. You’re covered in blood and—”

“And?” he interrupted, his voice low and serious. “I want to see if you’re as brave as I think you are.”

Bravery? Was that what this was? Jisung felt like he was teetering on the edge of something vast and unknown, the ground beneath him both exhilarating and terrifying. “This isn’t a game.”

“Neither is this.” Minho stepped back slightly, giving Jisung space but keeping that intense gaze locked onto his. “But it could be something more—if you want it to be.”

A rush of conflicting emotions surged through Jisung. He wanted to push this man away, to call for help, but a part of him was captivated by the thrill of the unknown. “I don’t know if I can trust you,” he admitted, heart racing.

“You'll trust me,” Minho said softly. “Soon. I'll show you.” The air thickened with tension as Jisung wrestled with his thoughts.

The intense eye contact was broken by Jisung's alarm, announcing it was already 10:30 PM.

"Guess it's time to go. See you tomorrow, bub." Minho started walking through the door.

"Wait!" Jisung called as he remembered something. "Were you the one who deleted the footage?"

Minho slightly turned towards him, a mischievous glint in his eye. "It's for your own safety." Winking at him, the man was soon gone.

What was that? Safety? Tomorrow?
___

As Minho stepped out into the night, a mixture of adrenaline and satisfaction coursed through him. That was closer than I intended, he thought, the thrill of the encounter igniting something within him. But he’s different—there’s potential there.

He leaned against the wall outside the clinic, catching his breath. Jisung is curious, unguarded. He’ll come around, I just need to show him the truth.

Minho glanced back at the clinic’s entrance, a smirk playing on his lips.This is just the beginning.

The night felt electric, and as he walked away, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was already too invested in this. But for now, that was the thrill he craved. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

His thoughts were interrupted by a text from Chan:

"Someone stole from the base. Seungmin already caught him, they were in the alley at ***."

"On my way." He replied. The alley was closer than he thought.