Winter Falls || Lee Know ✓

🎓:Safe places and spilled Ramyeon

Minho had only planned to stop by Suhyun's house to drop off the notes she'd forgotten, but one look at her pouting face through the door had turned that plan into, "You're staying for snacks and a movie, obviously."

Now, he was sitting cross-legged on the floor in Suhyun's room, suspiciously eyeing a pink bunny plush that had been shoved into his arms.

"You're telling me this guy's name is... Sir Hopsalot?"

Suhyun, lounging comfortably on her bed in an oversized hoodie, nodded solemnly. "He's a knight. Show some respect."

Minho held the stuffed bunny up to eye level. "He looks like he's seen war."

"He has. He survived Seungmin's chewing phase."

As if summoned by his name, a voice called out from the hallway. "I was two, you snitch!"

Minho laughed as Suhyun grinned, clearly proud of her well-placed insult. She reached for the remote and clicked play on the movie they'd half-heartedly picked after thirty minutes of scrolling. It was some cliché romcom, but neither of them cared.

Midway through the movie, Suhyun leaned over and plucked a piece of popcorn from Minho's bowl. "Thanks," she said cheerfully, popping it into her mouth.

"You literally have your own bowl," Minho said, exasperated.

"Yeah, but yours tastes better. It's the forbidden one."

"Oh my god," he muttered, but the corners of his lips twitched upward. "You're insufferable."

She gave him a dazzling smile. "And you love it."

"Unfortunately," he mumbled, tossing another piece of popcorn into his mouth.

They watched the movie in comfortable silence for a while, Minho resting his head against her bed frame, Suhyun's foot occasionally nudging his knee when something funny happened on screen.

After a bit, her voice dropped slightly, almost too casual. "He was at school today again."

Minho didn't have to ask who "he" was.

He glanced at her, taking in the way she stared at the TV without really watching it. Her tone was light, but her fingers were tugging at the edge of her sleeve.

"I knew he'd come back eventually," she continued. "But it still felt like getting slapped in the face. I was hoping he'd forget I existed."

Minho sat up a little straighter. "He won't do anything. You know that, right?"

She hesitated. "I don't know. It's not like he hit me or anything. But the way he looked at me... I don't know how to explain it. I felt so—small."

Minho reached for her hand without thinking and squeezed it. "Hey," he said softly. "You're not small. You're annoying and dramatic and emotionally unstable, but not small."

Suhyun let out a watery laugh. "Wow, you really are boyfriend material."

"I know. I'm practically on a poster somewhere."

She gave him a look, but her smile had returned. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I really mean it."

"I'm always gonna be here, you know that, right?" he said, suddenly serious. "No matter what Jiho says or does. He's not gonna get in your head again. Not while I'm around."

Her face softened, and without warning, she leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek. "You're cute when you're protective."

Minho turned bright red. "Okay, ew. Don't say things like that."

"Oh? Does the scary Lee Minho get flustered?"

He opened his mouth to reply, but at that moment, the door burst open and Seungmin stuck his head inside, looking unimpressed. "Did you two spill something? I heard emotional bonding and gross kissing energy."

Suhyun rolled her eyes. "We're watching a movie. Go away."

"I'm telling Auntie if you're doing suspicious things."

"You are the suspicious thing," Minho muttered.

Seungmin narrowed his eyes. "I heard that, lover boy."

He disappeared down the hall, and a moment later, the clattering of pots could be heard from the kitchen. Suhyun sighed.

"That means he's either cooking ramyeon or setting the house on fire. Wanna go supervise?"

Minho stood and stretched. "As long as I don't have to fight him for the last egg."

They made their way to the kitchen where Seungmin was already dramatically stirring noodles and pretending to be on a cooking show.

"You guys took so long, I had no choice but to become Gordon Ramsay," he said.

"You are the Wish version of Gordon Ramsay," Suhyun deadpanned.

Seungmin gasped. "I'm disowning you."

"You can't. We're cousins."

"I'll petition."

Minho snorted as he leaned against the counter, watching them bicker like an old married couple. It was chaotic, noisy, and completely warm—and in that moment, with the smell of ramyeon filling the kitchen and Suhyun laughing beside him, Minho felt it again.

That dangerous, wonderful thing.

Happiness.