Make Me STAY

Ghost

"Hyung, when are you going to tell me what's up?"

Minho ignored Jisung and continued dancing. He was trying to figure out a footwork combination for some choreography he was working on. Or that was his excuse. If he was being honest, he was trying to distract himself. 

"This combo isn't working."

"Hyung! Don't ignore me!"

The dancer almost growled in frustration, but he didn't want to give anything away and confirm that something was wrong. 

"What? Nothing's up."

Unfortunately, Jisung knew him too well.

"You can't lie to me, Hyung. You've been acting weird for weeks."

Minho stared at Jisung through the mirror, and it almost broke him. He was wound up so tight from the secrets he kept that he was ready to burst. Part of him wanted to tell Jisung all the thoughts and feelings that he had been keeping to himself. However, he was terrified to admit them out loud. If he did that, he wouldn't be able to deny them any longer.

"I have? Maybe it's because we couldn't perform together because of the car crash. I have too much pent-up energy from resting."

The dancer had to hide his wince as he heard himself. He had given himself away by rambling on like that.

"Sure, Hyung. And now the truth?"

Anyone else wouldn't have noticed a change in Minho's blank expression, but Jisung saw the small pout that formed.

"That could be the truth."

Jisung sighed.

"I just want to help you, Hyung. You're always so good at helping me when I need it."

The pair remembered all the times that Minho had noticed the signs that Jisung was getting overwhelmed or anxious and would comfort the younger before it got too bad.

"Jisung... I can't."

Jisung cocked his head and frowned in concern.

"It's only me, Hyung. I won't tell anyone else. You can trust me."

Jisung could see the older Idol's mind racing, and he waited until Minho was ready to speak.

"Do you remember when Rose first joined us?"

"Yeah, of course. You were kind of mean, Hyung."

Minho took a deep breath.

"She reminded me of my first love."

Jisung's jaw dropped, and his eyes widened as he remembered what Minho had once told him.

"Your - your first love?! You mean -"

Minho gazed off to the side.

"Stunningly beautiful... with a hidden agenda."

"Oh! That's why you were mean to Rose-Noona. You thought she was -"

Minho nodded.

"Using Chan-Hyung, and would break his heart."

And possibly destroy Stray Kids in the process, he thought, before continuing.

"I soon realised that Rose-Noona was nothing like her."

Jisung sighed happily, a dopey grin on his face as he thought about Rose.

"Yeah, Rose-Noona is the best."

They were interrupted by the noise of the other members joining them for dance practice. Jisung forgot that he never got an answer for why Minho had been acting strangely, and Minho's reply went unheard.