𝕄𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝔸𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 || 𝟚𝕞𝕚𝕟

23 | Sparks Fly

The cafeteria was buzzing with chatter, but for Minho, all of it faded into background noise as he sat across from Seungmin, their trays untouched. Seungmin was grinning, eyes alight with excitement as he leaned in slightly.

"Can you please come over today? pleasee" he signed as he made his signature puppy dog eyes. "Hyunjin's not home for three days"

Minho raised an eyebrow, curiosity filling his features. "Not home?...Oh, right. All second years have gone for the trip right?"

Seungmin nodded. "Yeah. Almost all."

He rested his chin on his palm, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. "You have no idea how hard it was to make Hyunjin go. He was being so stubborn about it."

Minho tilted his head, curious. "He didn't want to go?"

"Not because he didn't want to," Seungmin clarified. "He was dying to go with Felix and Jisung, but he wouldn't because of me. He was worried about leaving me alone."

Minho exhaled softly, already understanding where this was going. "Of course he was. He really dotes on you, huh?"

Seungmin huffed. "I know...He's really overprotective about me. That's why I had to make him go. I don't want him missing out on fun because of me."

Minho felt a warmth spread in his chest. That was just how Seungmin was—always putting others before himself.

Then, Seungmin grinned again, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And also, now I get to spend more time with you!"

Minho laughed, shaking his head. "Ah, so that's the real reason."

Seungmin shrugged playfully, his smile not fading.

Minho chuckled softly, his chest warming at the thought. He toyed with his spoon for a moment before his expression turned more serious. "Hey...Can I ask you something?"

Seungmin blinked at the shift in tone but nodded.

"Why won't you tell Hyunjin about us? About... our friendship?"

Seungmin hesitated, his fingers stilling on the table before he exhaled.

"He won't like it if he knows I'm friends with you..." he admitted. "As I said, he's too overprotective.."

Minho's stomach twisted. "So... he's still mad at me?"

Seungmin frowned slightly before nodding. "Yeah. Kind of."

Minho lowered his gaze, his fingers curling into a loose fist. "...Because of that day?"

Seungmin's throat bobbed as he swallowed, eyes flickering with something unreadable before he gave another small nod.

"Partly. And partly because he just doesn't trust people easily when it comes to me."

Minho bit his lip, his chest tightening. "It's all my fault," he murmured. "And I don't want to cause any more problems for you."

Seungmin's hands moved quickly, his gestures firmer, more insistent. "You're not causing problems."

Minho lifted his head, watching Seungmin's face carefully.

"And don't worry about Hyunjin," Seungmin added. "He'll come around eventually. He just needs time."

Minho exhaled softly, the weight in his chest easing just a little. "You think so?"