Alleyways | Stray Kids

- 7.2-

Minho pulled up to the residence of his love. He didn't quite feel like himself as he walked up to the door and rang the doorbell, hoping that Jisung would be the one to answer the door. The door opened quickly and there stood a taller, more mature looking man that resembled Jisung quite a lot.

"Oh hi, how can I help you?" The man spoke.

"Is Jisung here?" Minho asked, "I need to talk to him."

"He left a while ago but you're more than welcome to wait for him inside," the man smiled and let Minho in, "So are you a friend of my little brother?"

"Well I'm-actually yes, I'm a good friend of Jisung's," Minho smiled painfully and sat on the couch, "You must be his brother?"

"Yeah, I'm Younghyun," He shook Minho's hand, "It's nice to meet you..."

"Minho," the younger boy said, "Lee Minho."

"Wait, Jisung was calling you earlier," Younghyun stated, "He was on the verge of tears."

Minho's heart sank and he looked away from Younghyun.

"You're his boyfriend," Younghyun said, "Why not tell me?"

Minho's eyes grew wide and he began playing with his hair, "I didn't know if you knew Jisung was dating a boy and I wouldn't want to out him like that." He lied but Younghyun didn't pick up on it.

"Oh, that's nice," Younghyun smiled, "But it's okay, I'm gay and in a relationship."

Minho smiled, "That's lovely..."

Younghyun's smiled faltered, "Can I ask you a question about Jisung?"

"Of course,"

"Is he...is he okay?" Younghyun asked, "It's just he doesn't talk to me, ever, and I worry so much about him. He has so much unreleased anger and he always looks ready to fight. That and I know he smokes cigarettes, weed, drinks but I don't know what to do for him. I don't know how to help him."

"I don't know how to help him either, Younghyun. Trust me, I've tried. I've tried so hard," Minho began to cry, "I can't help the person I love and it's killing me inside but what's killing me, even more, is the fact that I can't anymore. I can't keep trying to help Jisung and neglect myself. It sounds so selfish but I really can't do it anymore but I love Jisung so much. I'm so sorry, I can't help your brother anymore."

Younghyun shook his head, "That was never your job but I believe you did it well. Thank you so much."

The door opened and Jisung walked in, carrying a happy meal. His clothes reeked of cigarette smoke.

"Jisung!" Minho stood up quickly and wiped his eyes, "Can we talk please?"

"You wanna talk now but couldn't call me back earlier?" Jisung scoffed, "Fine." Jisung walked into the kitchen and Minho followed closely behind.

"What's up, Minho," Jisung asked disdainfully, flopping his happy meal on the kitchen table.

Minho sighed, "Why the tone?"

"Because I literally called and texted you a million times and you didn't have the decency to answer but now you want to show up to my house, demanding we need to talk? Where was that energy a few hours ago?" Jisung raised his voice.

"I was dealing with some important stuff, I'm sorry-"

Jisung cut off Minho, "What's more important than your boyfriend? Huh? It couldn't have possibly been that damn fucking important that you couldn't even text back something simple!"

"You sound so fucking selfish right now," Minho shook his head.

"And what a fucking bouuut it, Minho?" Jisung laughed, "Maybe I picked it up from you. Now, tell me...what the fuck was so important?"

Minho stayed quiet.

"What was so damn important!" Jisung screamed.

"My own mental health you fucking bastard!" Minho screamed, "Maybe, just maybe I needed to take some time to myself instead of watching and taking care of you! I'm human, Jisung, H-U-M-A-N. I have needs and wants but I put them all to the side because I know you need me but I can't do it anymore! Not when you don't care! Not when you're not even trying to help yourself anymore!"

"Yeah and I'm the selfish one?" Jisung laughed, "Listen to yourself!"

"Oh no no no, you are not going to do that to me. Turn this around and make me look like the bad guy. Really? After all, I've done?"

"You haven't done shit for me!"

Minho shook his head, "If it wasn't for me, you'd probably had smoked, drugged or drunk yourself to death!"

"So? Why didn't you just let me? You probably don't even love me."

"How could you say that?" Minho started to cry, "Jisung, please don't say you don't actually believe that?"

"And if I do?" Jisung asked.

"Jisung. Please," Minho clutched at his heart, "Jisung, I- no never mind, I'll leave."

"Whatever," Jisung said, turning his attention back to his happy meal.

Minho walked out of the kitchen he made eye contact will Younghyun and shook his head.

"Take care of yourself, please," Younghyun said, opening the door for Minho.

Minho nodded and a very weak, "Thank you," came out of his mouth.

Minho got into his car and quickly started the engine and drove off from Jisung's residence. Tears were still freshly flowing from the young man's eyes and his breathing was irregular.

"Text Woojin," Minho sobbed to the program in his car.

"What would you like to text Woojin?" The car responded.

"Is it okay if I come over? I need someone, please," Minho said.

"You want to send the message, 'Is it okay if I come over? I need someone please', is that correct?"

"Yes," Minho hiccuped.

"Attempting to send your text message to Woojin," The car responded.

Minho smiled.

A hard feeling hit Minho's chest, the car felt as though it was getting smaller. His breathing slowed. Tears and something else, something more colorful started to fill his vision and then there was nothing but an eerie black silence that settled over Minho.

"Your....message...not...sent."