sorry | lee minho

tangerine

school ended for the day and i was on my way home. after what happened just now in the classroom, i couldnt bring myself to look at minho. even though he was my seating partner for two classes it got so freaking awkward between us. 

or maybe just awkward for me. he was talking to me as if it were nothing and honestly i was offended. like okay, i have no experience with boys whatsoever but im not a total idiot. 

i was deep in thought when i realised i was in front of my house. i looked to my left and saw minho's house. it was definitely beautiful. judging by the exterior of the house, i could tell the interior would be just as luxurious. the house was painted a beautiful azure blue and there was a small swing just outside their frontyard. the gates were silver in colour and the pathway leading to their door was decorated with small pebbles all around.

i wondered what his parents were like. he hated whenever i brought the topic up. i shook the thought from my head and entered my house. i was greeted by my dad that was wearing an apron. 

"hey dad. whats the occasion?" i asked perplexed at his attire. "did you forget? we are going to have our neighbours over for dinner arent we. have you asked them yet?" dad said as he tasted the soup he made.

"oh about that. i asked their son and he said his parents were out. he himself is lazy to come over" i rolled my eyes. dad took of his apron and frowned. "thats all right. although, i dont want any of the food to be wasted im going to pack some and you can deliver it next door. its still counted as a kind gesture." dad said eagerly. he shooed me up to my bedroom to wash up while he packed the food.

i closed the door behind me and headed over to my bathroom to take a shower. once i was done, i stared at myself in the mirror above the sink. why am i so weak ?  i took out the same pills from behind the mirror and swallowed them. i guess i couldnt live without them

i took out something comfy to wear. leggings and a long dress-like shirt. i headed back downstairs and took the food that dad packed. "ill be back soon" i shouted from the door and locked the gates behind me. i mentally prepared myself to face minho as i walked over to his house.

____

i knocked on the door and help onto the food bag tightly. my heart was pounding quickly and i didnt know why. was it because of what happened just now? or was it because i was intimidated by minho? either way, my heart nearly dropped when i heard the door knob turn. 

"what is it?" a sleepy minho stood infront of me. he was wearing a simple shirt with sweatpants and his hair was slightly messed up. i gulped at how stunning he looked.

"hey my dad wanted to pack you some dinner since he insisted on this being a friendly neighbour gesture type thing." i peeked inside the house and to my surprise it wasnt as luxuriously furnished as i thought. 

"oh come in" minho lazily said and i followed him inside. his house was a mess. there were potato chip bags everywhere and instant noodle packets were just lying around his counter. despite the mess, his furniture was sleek and simple.  and not to mention dull. it was dark and quiet and it felt extremely lonely. i thought my house was lonely but minho's house deserves that title instead.

minho took out the food from the bag and opened it up. he took out a fork and spoon and gobbled the food down. "is this your first time eating or what?" i chuckled looking at minho eagerly slurping the soup. "nah. i havent eaten any proper food in a while. plus, your dad is a great cook" he gave me the thumb up sign and i smiled. this was a different minho. he was cheerful. 

i looked around the house and unconsciously started cleaning up the mess. the clean freak in me just had to take over. his house looked completely upside down. on the other hand, minho seemed unbothered by the mess and continued eating.

i picked up the empty potato chip bags one by one and arranged the pillows on his couch. i took the clothes that were lying on the floor and placed them in the laundry bag. i opened his fridge and it was surprisingly empty. has he been living on instant noodles all this while?

a certain coffee table caught my attention. i walked over to the table and picked up a picture frame. it was a picture of a small boy holding the hands of what seemed to be his parents. is this minho when he was younger?  the boy in the picture had a bright smile on his face ahh it'd be nice if minho smiled like that.

"what are you doing?" startled, i hid the picture frame behind me and turned around to meet minho's gaze. he was so close to me that i was afraid to breathe. he stared at me with that emotionless gaze of his and moved closer. again, the same thing he did just now in the classroom.

he reached for the picture frame behind me, not breaking his eye contact. he took the picture frame from my hand and frowned. "where did you get this?" his voice was deep and i could tell he was annoyed. 

"f-from the coffee t-table" i stuttered. i was afraid of him . i didnt know why but i was afraid. i wanted to run out the house but my feet werent obeying me. instead, i shuffled slowly behind me, increasing the distance between minho and i. 

i noticed him clenching his fists as he held up the picture frame. "you shouldnt touch things that doesnt belong to you" he didnt look up but continued staring at the picture frame. 

"im sor-"

"shut up. its not like you did anything wrong" he looked up at me and for the first time. i saw his beautiful hazel eyes soften. it was covered with a layer of tears and just as a tear escaped, minho looked away and walked over to the kitchen.

i followed behind him, keeping our distance. he took the empty food containers and gave them to me, averting my eyes and opened the door signalling for me. i gestured a thank you and closed the gates behind me. what was that all about?

confused and speechless, i headed back to my house. " what took you so long?" dad asked while washing the dishes. " nothing. i dont feel too good. im going up to sleep first. goodnight dad " i planted a kiss on his cheeks and headed upstairs to my room. 

i sat on my bed and looked out into the balcony. there, i saw minho at the opposite balcony, holding the picture frame. his expressions were no longer emotionless. he was visibly sad and hurt. i didnt know why but all i know is that i wanted to give him hug.

ive never seen minho this way before. i was worried yet curious. i wanted to know more about him. why did he have such sad eyes when he looked at the picture frame. what happened to those beautiful and strong eyes of his.

i wanted to know.