secret love

33| Facade

As Jisung stood before the mirror, the towel draped over his shoulder. Memories of yesterday flooded his mind. Minho's unexpected hug still lingered, warm and comforting. His heart swelled, despite his reluctance to revisit those feelings.

His thoughts drifted to their time in Malaysia, cherishing moments Minho cared for him - nursing him back to health, gently overriding his stubbornness. Those gestures, once a testament to their unbreakable bond, now taunted him, a bittersweet reminder of what was lost.

Jisung's mind wrestled with Minho's sudden change of heart. Was it genuine or just a facade? Pity or remorse? The uncertainty gnawed at him.

That morning, waking in Minho's embracing arms, with his hand wrapped protectively around him, had awakened dormant emotions. Jisung's heart skipped a beat, recalling the rush of feelings he thought he'd long buried.

He had vowed to let go of that unrequited love, but one moment of proximity with Minho, and he found himself retreating to the safety of those cherished emotions.

His eyes locked onto his own. The silence was deafening.

Jisung's gaze dropped, his thoughts swirling in turmoil. He couldn't shake off the feeling that Minho's actions were a cruel reminder of what they once shared.

After showering, Jisung dressed, his mind wandering with unanswered questions. He was exhausted from living a facade, trapped in a never-ending cycle of inner turmoil. Each day blurred together, a struggle to conceal his true emotions.

He masked his pain with silence and hid his sorrow behind a wavering smile. Nobody knew the depth of his suffering, the weight of his broken heart.

The ache within him refused to fade, an unrelenting reminder of what could never be. Minho's presence made his heart heavy, their eyes locking in silent understanding.

In Minho's gaze, Jisung saw the person he once treasured and loved with every fiber of his being. He couldn't accept that those feelings still lingered, refusing to dissipate.

The harsh reality taunted him: impossible. No matter how fiercely his heart yearned, reciprocity was a distant dream.

Moving on seemed insurmountable, erasing the love his heart treasured even harder. He was lost in the abyss of love, unable to escape.

Jisung's thoughts swirled, a vortex of longing and despair. His heart remained captive, forever bound to the one person he could never have.

But this wasn't just about unrequited love; it was about the pain, the shattered heart, the betrayed trust. Minho's hurtful words still lingered, a brutal reminder of their shattered bond.

The humiliation cut deeper than rejection. Jisung wondered if those mindless, hurtful words were necessary. Did their friendship mean nothing? Was their bond not strong enough?

Jisung could forgive but never forget. The wounds would heal, but scars would remain a constant reminder of Minho's piercing words.

Despite the pain, Jisung couldn't muster hatred towards Minho. He was broken, yet he never broke Minho's heart. His love remained stronger than any resentment.

Jisung absorbed the blame, swallowing his hurt, and silenced his pain. But the weight of those memories crushed him, leaving him vulnerable, fragile, and weak.

His heart, once full of life, now lay lifeless.

As the morning sun rose, Jisung fled his neighborhood, seeking solace in unfamiliar surroundings. His heavy thoughts consumed him, and he wandered aimlessly, lost in the labyrinth of his mind.