since our eyes first met - Minsung

챕터morning

As I woke up the next day, I could still feel Minhos arms wrapped around me and his soft breath on my neck. I looked at my phone to check the time. It was 10:36 am. I rememberd the last night.

I blinked a few times, letting the events of the night settle into my mind. Minho's arm was still wrapped around me, steady and comforting, his soft breathing in sync with the quiet morning. The panic attack from last night seemed distant now, as if the weight of it had dissolved with the dawn.

Carefully, I shifted slightly, trying not to wake him. But the movement stirred him, and his grip loosened as he slowly woke up. He blinked, still half-asleep, his eyes searching for mine.

»Morning,« he mumbled, his voice groggy but gentle.

»Morning,« I whispered back, offering a small smile. I wasn't sure how to put into words the gratitude I felt. Minho had stayed with me all night, and his presence had been like an anchor, pulling me back from the edge. I wasn't used to needing someone like that, but I couldn't deny how much it had helped.

»You okay?« he asked, his eyes still half-lidded but full of concern.

»Yeah. Thanks... for last night. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been there.« My voice was soft, the weight of my emotions clinging to each word.

Minho's lips curled into a sleepy smile, and he gave a small nod. »You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad I could help.« He paused, stretching his limbs a bit before sitting up, running a hand through his messy hair. »Besides, you know you'd do the same for me.«

His words lingered, and for a moment, I was overwhelmed by how much he meant to me. It wasn't just the way he stayed with me through the panic, but how he always seemed to know exactly what I needed, even when I didn't know myself.

I sat up beside him, pulling my knees to my chest. »Yeah, but still... you didn't have to do all that.«

Minho turned to me, his expression soft but serious. »Of course I did. That's what best friends do. We're in this together, okay?«

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me. »Okay.«

A comfortable silence fell between us as we both stared out the window, the late morning light filtering through the curtains. The events of the last few days still weighed on my mind, but with Minho beside me, it didn't feel as heavy. We didn't need to fill the silence with more words. Just being together, in the quiet of the morning, was enough.

After a few minutes, Minho stretched again and stood up, his energy slowly returning. »Alright, time to get the day started. You hungry?«

I grinned, the tension from last night fading further. »Starving.«

»Good,« Minho said, flashing a playful smirk. »Let's go see what chaos awaits in the kitchen.«

As we got up and headed toward the living room, I felt lighter, like the weight of the panic had finally loosened its grip. I didn't know what the rest of the day would bring, but for now, I was content. And that was enough.

And as we reached the kitchen, greeted by the sounds of the others bickering and laughing, I realized that with Minho and the rest of them by my side, I'd always be okay.

As we entered the kitchen, the familiar chaos unfolded before us. The smell of something burning filled the air, and it didn't take long to spot Seungmin at the stove, frantically waving a towel at whatever had caught fire in the pan. Hyunjin stood nearby, laughing so hard he could barely breathe, while Felix was attempting to salvage a stack of pancakes that looked suspiciously lopsided.

»Seungmin, what did you do?« Minho asked, his tone teasing as he leaned against the counter, arms crossed with a grin on his face.

»It wasn't my fault! The pan was too hot, and then Hyunjin distracted me with his dumb jokes,« Seungmin replied, throwing an accusatory glance at Hyunjin, who only laughed harder.

»Sure, blame me for your lack of cooking skills,« Hyunjin said between fits of laughter, wiping away a tear.

I chuckled, stepping further into the room. The lighthearted banter was a welcome distraction from the weight of last night. It felt good to be surrounded by this chaotic, but comforting, sense of normalcy. Despite everything that had happened, mornings like these reminded me that there was still joy to be found in the little moments.

Minho moved to the fridge, pulling out ingredients with a determined look. »Alright, step aside, amateurs. Let me show you how it's done.«

»Oh, here we go,« Felix muttered, but there was a playful glint in his eyes as he handed over the spatula.

As Minho started cooking, he glanced around the room. »By the way, where are the others?« he asked. »Chan, Changbin, and Jeongin? They usually aren't this quiet.«

Felix, setting down the last of the silverware, shrugged. »Chan and Changbin went to the gym early this morning. You know how they are. And Jeongin... well, I think he's still dead to the world in his room.«

Minho chuckled. »Of course. I should've known.«

I smiled, feeling the warmth of the easy camaraderie between us all. Even in their absence, I could picture Chan and Changbin throwing weights around, while Jeongin snored through anything short of an earthquake.

Minho returned to his cooking, flipping the eggs with practiced ease. The tension that had gripped me last night was now a distant memory, the normalcy of the morning grounding me again.

I slid into a chair at the table, watching the scene unfold around me. Seungmin and Hyunjin had resumed their bickering, though it was clear neither of them was actually upset. Felix sat down across from me, humming to himself as he reached for the orange juice.

»You doing okay?« Felix asked, his voice soft, pulling me from my thoughts.

I nodded, offering a small smile. »Yeah, I'm good. Just... grateful, I guess.«

He smiled back, eyes warm. »You know we're here for you, right? Whenever you need us.«

»I know,« I replied, my chest tightening with gratitude. »Thanks, Felix.«

As the food was finally ready, Minho announced with a flourish, »Breakfast is served,« placing plates full of eggs, pancakes, and toast on the table.

We all gathered around, the conversation flowing easily as we dug into the meal. And as I looked around at the people I cared about most, I realized that no matter what else life threw at me, I had a family here. Not one bound by blood, but by something just as strong — a shared sense of belonging, of always having each other's backs.

Sorry for not updating, but I haven't had any motivation or ideas lately. I might quit writing the story. I have so many ideas in my head, but I still don't feel like continuing, especially since I'm not getting any readers. So, why should I keep contiune?
words 1155 (ﾉ🌺◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧