Sunset | Minsung

🌅5

Chapter 5 ྀིྀི

Minho woke up at dawn, the morning light barely filtering through his window.
His alarm hadn't even gone off yet, but he didn't care. The thought of seeing Jisung
filled him with a warmth that sleep couldn't match. As he got dressed, he muttered
to himself, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"I get to see Jisung today. I wonder what he'll look like, what he'll say..."
He was practically bouncing with excitement as he rummaged through his closet,
picking out his best outfit. Nothing too obvious, but enough to feel confident.
He wanted Jisung to notice him today, maybe just a little more than usual.

"I could stare at him all day," he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "He's just so...
perfect."

Minho was out of the house earlier than ever, barely remembering to call a
quick "bye!" to his parents as he darted out the door. He couldn't stop picturing
Jisung's soft smile, his bright eyes everything about him was like a magnetic pull,
drawing Minho in. With each step closer to school, he imagined the possibilities
of their day together.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, Jisung was having a surprisingly calm
morning. He'd woken up on time, feeling refreshed. Humming softly,
he cleaned his room, put on some music, and let the beat carry his thoughts.
Today felt like a good day simple, easy, and full of potential. After getting
dressed, he headed downstairs, where the aroma of his dad's cooking filled
the air.

"Good morning, Dad!" Jisung greeted him, grabbing a glass of water and settling down for breakfast."

His dad looked up, his expression hesitant, and Jisung's cheerful mood faltered a little.
"Umm... you might want to take that 'good morning' back, kiddo."

Jisung tilted his head, setting his glass down. "Why? What happened?"

His dad hesitated, eyes dropping to his coffee cup.
"I... I had to close the restaurant, Jisung. Things haven't been good. We're going bankrupt... We're even going to lose the house."

Jisung nearly choked on his water, his world tilting with shock. "What? Are you serious?"
He struggled to understand.
"We just moved here... I thought we were doing okay?"

His dad's shoulders slumped, and tears glistened in his eyes. Jisung had never seen
his father like this so vulnerable, so defeated. He felt a pang of helplessness,
a desperate urge to fix things even though he knew he couldn't. He reached out,
resting a hand on his dad's arm, offering what little comfort he could.

"I... I'm so sorry, Dad," he whispered. "We'll get through this. Somehow."

His dad patted his hand, forcing a small, shaky smile.
"Go on to school, Jisung. I don't want you to be late."

Jisung nodded, though the weight of his father's words hung heavy on him.
He left for school, but every step felt harder than the last. His heart was a
jumbled mess of sadness, anger, and confusion. He felt like he was barely
holding it together as he walked through the school gates, his mind still reeling.

Lost in thought, Jisung barely noticed where he was going until he walked straight
into someone. With a gasp, he stumbled back, finding himself face-to-face with Minho again,
much closer than he'd expected. He lost his balance, his hands reaching out for
anything to keep from falling, but he ended up pulling Minho down with him.
And then, suddenly, their lips brushed together, the world fading away in a soft,
electrifying second.

Time seemed to freeze. Jisung's eyes widened, his cheeks flaring up as he realized
what was happening. He was practically lying on top of Minho, their faces inches apart.
The accidental kiss lingered in the air, and Jisung's heart raced so fast he could
barely breathe. Minho's expression remained cool, as if he was trying not to react,
but his slightly wide eyes betrayed his surprise.