Aquarium of Us

Chapter 10: Playing the game

Late that night, Minho found himself outside Jisung's door, his hand hovering just over the handle. He wanted to knock, to bridge the gap he had widened with his own insecurities, to apologize. But he hesitated, feeling foolish.

What would he even say? That he was jealous? That he couldn't stand seeing Jisung close to anyone else? He couldn't bring himself to admit it, even to himself.

Instead, he retreated to his own room, leaving the silence between them to settle like an uncomfortable weight.
As Minho lay in bed, his mind raced, replaying every interaction from the day, scrutinizing each one with Jisung and Hyunjin. Why am I acting this way? he wondered again, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He'd agreed to keep things simple, to stay as friends-so why was he feeling so possessive over something that wasn't even his?

But even as he questioned himself, a different thought snuck in, unbidden but irresistible. If Jisung can laugh with Hyunjin like that... A sly smile crept across Minho's lips as an idea formed. Maybe I can make him feel the same way.

The next morning, Minho set his plan into motion. He subtly leaned into every interaction with the other members, but especially when Jisung was in the room. He laughed a little louder, threw in more playful touches, and made a deliberate point of staying close to Hyunjin. They sat next to each other during breaks, heads bent close over their phones, and shared quiet laughs that were just a little too easy.

At one point, Minho felt Jisung's gaze flick over to them, a brief but unmistakable glance, and he bit back a smile. He noticed.

When Jisung wandered over to join the conversation, Minho casually leaned even closer to Hyunjin, bumping shoulders as he laughed at something trivial. He didn't say much to Jisung, only gave him a slight nod before turning his attention back to Hyunjin. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the way Jisung's expression shifted-his brows knitted, a small frown tugging at his lips. It was subtle, but enough for Minho to feel that familiar spark of satisfaction.

As the day went on, he kept the game up, leaning into every interaction, every laugh. When he high-fived Hyunjin, he let their hands linger a beat too long; when Hyunjin said something funny, Minho made sure to laugh just a little too loudly, enough to be noticeable. Each time, he felt Jisung's gaze on him, saw the way his smile would flicker and fade, his usual cheer dimming ever so slightly.

But as the day drew to a close, Minho's satisfaction began to wear thin, leaving something heavier, a pang of regret settling in its place. Because while Jisung was finally showing hints of the tension Minho had been feeling all along, he was also becoming quieter, more withdrawn. Jisung's easy laughter faded, his usual warmth muted. And as the guilt took hold, Minho's heart twisted, wondering if he'd gone too far.

Late in the evening, after a grueling practice session, Minho watched as Jisung packed up his things in silence, his shoulders slumped, eyes downcast. There was no playful banter, no gentle teasing-just a quiet resignation that Minho hadn't seen before, and it tore at him. He wanted to reach out, to close the distance he'd put between them, but the words lodged in his throat, weighed down by his own actions.

"Goodnight," Jisung mumbled, barely looking at Minho as he slipped past him toward the door.

Minho's chest tightened, and he stood frozen, watching as Jisung walked away. Say something, he urged himself. Bring back that smile, that brightness. But the apology stuck, and by the time he mustered up the courage, Jisung was already gone.

He stared at the empty doorway for a long moment, his heart pounding with a mix of regret and something deeper, something unspoken but impossible to ignore. And as he finally turned away, the weight of what he'd done settled over him, heavy and unrelenting. Because for all the satisfaction he'd felt in seeing Jisung react, he was left with an emptiness that no amount of games could fill.