Aquarium of Us

Chapter 13: A new kind of closeness

That night, something shifted between them. They spent the next few hours in the dorm, the tension from earlier dissolving into a quiet comfort as they continued to talk, sharing memories, old photos, and little pieces of themselves they hadn't shared before. The weight that had hung over them was gone, replaced by something lighter, a newfound understanding that didn't need words.

As the night wore on, they found themselves leaning against each other, shoulders brushing, a natural closeness that felt as easy as breathing. Minho's mind kept replaying Jisung's words, the way he'd looked at him, the gentle sincerity that had filled each gesture. Every time he glanced at Jisung, he felt his heart race, a quiet, steady pulse that he was no longer trying to ignore.

Eventually, the conversation lulled, and they sat in silence, their hands still resting close together on the couch. They didn't need to say anything-their presence, the warmth between them, was enough. It was a silence filled with promise, a shared understanding that had been there all along but had only now come to the surface.

As the early hours of the morning crept in, Jisung yawned, stretching before glancing at Minho with a soft smile. "We should probably get some sleep, huh?" he said, his voice low and a bit husky from the late hour.

Minho nodded, but he found himself reluctant to let go of the moment, the quiet intimacy they'd shared. "Yeah... good idea," he replied, though his hand lingered near Jisung's, as if reluctant to lose the connection.

They stood up, a bit hesitant, each feeling the pull to stay close even as they headed towards their separate rooms. Just before disappearing into his own, Jisung turned, his eyes meeting Minho's with a quiet intensity.

"Goodnight, Minho," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Goodnight, Jisung," Minho replied, his gaze lingering a bit longer, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and something else he couldn't quite name.

And as he lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, Minho knew that this was just the beginning-that the connection they'd found tonight was something real, something undeniable. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it, as long as Jisung was by his side.