Bound by Shadows .jc

CHAPTER 48

The Whisper of Chaos

Time skip (a week later)

The morning air was crisp and light as Minghao stepped out of his apartment, the faint chill brushing against his skin like a gentle nudge. The streets were just beginning to stir, the early risers pacing through their routines, while the sun painted the horizon with hues of amber and blush. Minghao adjusted the strap of his bag, his mind already wandering as he made his way toward the café he frequented before heading to the clinic.

Jun was his first love-a kind of love that was raw and pure, a love that taught him about vulnerability. But it was also a love that taught him the pain of walking away, not out of hatred or regret, but out of a necessity born from circumstances. Minghao didn't resent those memories; he cherished them. Yet now, the mere thought of facing Jun again left him unsettled, as though reopening a wound that hadn't entirely healed.

The week had passed in a blur for Minghao. It was a strange kind of peace, filled with the hum of daily life and the occasional flicker of chaos, but amidst it all, he had started noticing the subtle changes in his friends, and it was oddly comforting. The morning air was fresh as he made his way to the café, the streets around him still lazily stretching awake. It was a usual day, but nothing about this group of friends ever felt "usual" in the best way possible.

Woozi, for one, had been acting a little more... human lately. It was like he had unlocked a secret level in his personality that nobody had known existed. Minghao had witnessed it firsthand when Woozi introduced his boyfriend to the group. He was expressive-laughing, smiling, letting his guard down for the first time in a long while. Minghao couldn't help but be happy for him, even if it was a little suspicious. Woozi, the stone-faced, music prodigy, was suddenly showing signs of being, well... human.

Then there was Hoshi. Minghao couldn't help but notice the increasingly curious appearances he made around the café. Once, just last week, he spotted Hoshi leaving the café on a quiet evening, waving goodbye to someone before disappearing into the street. And the second time-well, Minghao had found him leaving Woozi's apartment one morning. His mind didn't have to work too hard to piece things together. Minghao couldn't help but smile to himself, hoping that his friend had found someone who matched his energy.

Mingyu, on the other hand, had seemingly decided to take up a new hobby-flirting. He'd been practicing his "skills," although Minghao wasn't sure what the end goal was. The guy could charm a rock, but Minghao couldn't help but wonder if Mingyu was aiming for something specific or just enjoying the attention. It was definitely entertaining to watch, though.

Seungkwan had also been acting a little different. He'd been glued to his phone for the past few days, texting away furiously as though there was no world beyond the screen. Minghao had his suspicions-it had to be Vernon. Seungkwan had had a thing for the guy for a while now. The way his cheeks turned pink whenever Vernon's name came up and how he'd stare at his phone with that soft smile-it was adorable. Minghao had to admit, the sight of his friend being so head-over-heels was endearing in the best way possible.

And then... there was Joshua and Seokmin. Oh, Joshua and Seokmin. Minghao wasn't sure whether to roll his eyes or question his life choices after witnessing their public displays of affection. He had walked into the café twice and caught them in the middle of some heated kiss or moment of PDA, and the worst part? He couldn't escape it. The worst one, however, had to be in the flower shop-Seokmin on top of Joshua, hands inside Joshua's shirt, no less. Minghao's face went red just thinking about it. He would never unsee that. He made a mental note to never go to a flower shop again.

And then there was Taehyung-oh boy. He had suddenly, out of nowhere, acquired a boyfriend. Of course, knowing Taehyung, it wasn't the normal kind of boyfriend. No, this one had a penchant for wearing masks. Minghao didn't know whether to laugh or just shake his head at the strangeness of it all. Taehyung, who was usually so open, now had a boyfriend whose face was always hidden. Minghao could only assume there was some deep, convoluted reason behind it-like Taehyung was going for a mysterious vibe, but Minghao found it both intriguing and perplexing at the same time.