𝕄𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝔸𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 || 𝟚𝕞𝕚𝕟

13 | Begin Again?

The next day, Minho stood near the entrance of the hallway, anxiously waiting for the bell to ring. His palms were clammy, his heart racing as he rehearsed what he wanted to say. He'd barely slept the night before, replaying the way Seungmin had walked away from him without a second glance. He deserved that, he knew, but it didn't make the ache in his chest any easier to bear.

He wasn't sure if he'd find Seungmin again today, but he knew he had to try.

When the bell rang and students started flooding out of their classrooms, his eyes quickly scanned the crowd. It didn't take long to spot Seungmin walking quietly, his head lowered, with Jeongin by his side. Before he could overthink it, Minho took a step forward, calling out softly, "Seungmin..."

Jeongin's head snapped up immediately. Recognizing Minho, his expression darkened, and he quickly stepped in front of Seungmin like a shield. "What are you doing here?" Jeongin asked, his voice sharp. "Haven't you done enough already?"

Seungmin gently tugged on Jeongin's sleeve, signaling him to stop.

Jeongin looked skeptical but stepped aside, though he stayed close, ready to intervene at any moment.

Seungmin pulled out his phone, typed a quick message, and held it up for Minho to read:

"Please leave me alone. Don't follow me."

Without waiting for a response, Seungmin turned on his heel and walked away, Jeongin following closely behind, throwing a glare over his shoulder at Minho.

𝄞⨾𓍢

Minho didn't expect to see Seungmin again that day, but fate, or perhaps Minho's determination, intervened again. While roaming aimlessly in the hallway (obviously bunking whatever class he had), he found Seungmin walking in the opposite direction, although he was surprised that he was alone. Minho was kinda annoyed that the Jeongin brat would always be glued to Seungmin's side, ruining every opportunity he had to talk to him.

The hallway was buzzing with students, their voices blending into a cacophony that filled the air. Seungmin walked quickly, his gaze fixed on the floor as he weaved through the crowd. He had been hoping to avoid certain people, and today, it seemed, his luck had run out.

"Seungmin!" Minho's voice rang out, clear even amidst the chatter. Seungmin froze for a moment but quickly turned around and picked up his pace, pretending not to hear. But Minho was persistent. He caught up to him, lightly tapping his shoulder.

Seungmin turned sharply,  his hands flying as he began signing with rapid intensity. "I told you not to follow me! Don't you understand? Just leave me alone! Can't you respect that?" His movements were sharp and forceful, his frustration palpable.

Minho blinked, trying to keep up with the rapid movements of Seungmin's hands. He caught the general meaning of the first part but frowned in confusion at the last bit. "Sorry," he said hesitantly, "I didn't get the last part..."

Seungmin froze mid-sign, his hands hovering in the air. His eyes narrowed as realization dawned on him—he had been signing without thinking, and Minho had understood some of it.

"You... understood me?" he signed slowly.

Minho nodded, his face flushing slightly. "Only the start" he admitted, his hands moving clumsily but clearly as he signed the words back.

Seungmin stared at him, his expression unreadable. He couldn't believe it. "You've been learning sign language?" he signed next, his gestures sharper now, tinged with disbelief.

Minho hesitated for a moment, then nodded again. "Yes," he said aloud, his voice quiet. "I've been trying... for you."

Seungmin's chest tightened. He stared at Minho, his mind racing. He knew how difficult it could be to learn sign language—how much time and effort it took to understand even the basics. And Minho had been doing it for him?

"I just..." Minho continued, switching back to speaking but still gesturing with his hands as much as possible, his movements slower and more careful. "I really want to apologize. For everything. What I did that day... I can't take it back, but I need you to know how sorry I am. You didn't deserve any of it. I hurt you, and that's not something I can ever forgive myself for."

Seungmin's lips parted slightly, his fingers twitching at his sides as he watched Minho struggle to get the words out.

"I know you said it's okay," Minho went on, "but it's not okay to me. And it won't be until I know for sure that you've forgiven me. Not just because you feel like you have to, but because you truly have."

The sincerity in Minho's voice and the way his hands shook as he signed broke something in Seungmin's resolve. Slowly, he raised his hands and signed, "I forgive you."

Minho's breath caught. He looked up at Seungmin, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.

"But," Seungmin added, "please don't do it again."

"Never again," Minho said immediately, his voice steady and sure. "Never again in my life."

For a moment, they simply stood there, the tension between them easing slightly as Seungmin's smile grew just a little brighter.

Minho matched it with a smile of his own, a genuine one that reached his eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

There was a beat of silence before Minho hesitantly raised his hands again. His fingers moved slowly, forming the word, Friends? His awkwardness with the gestures was clear, but the meaning behind them was undeniable.

Seungmin's gaze lingered on Minho for a moment, studying him. Then, with a small, almost shy nod, he lifted his hands and signed back, Friends.