AS: PZ || Minsung

Chapter 20: Know

    "Thank you, Minnie." Jisung said, hesitating before applying the new nickname. Minho smiled at him, standing and pulling Jisung into a hug. "You can cry, you know?"
    With that, tears rushed down Jisung's flushed face in a frenzy. Minho pulled the crying boy closer, resting his head on Jisung's. The glasses clad boy folded in on himself slightly, wrapping his arms around his crush tightly. So tightly it hurt, but he really needed a hug like this. "I'm sorry!" Jisung cried softly as Minho pulled the glasses off his face. "There's nothing to say sorry for. You don't have to say sorry."
    Minho's phone went off in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw a text from Chan asking if he knew where Jisung was. 'I'll tell you later.' he texted back. "Who texted you?" Jisung asked through tears. "Chan." Minho said, slowly starting to rock them from side to side.
    A few minutes passed before Nurse Kim came back. "Sorry to intrude on this precious moment, but you're needed in the office. Your counselor is waiting for you." Jisung reluctantly pulled from the hug. "And you're gonna be staying at school, there's still some time left to the day and they don't want you missing it." the nurse said, addressing Minho. "I've written you a pass, head to class. I'll see you boys around." With a wave, Nurse Kim was back to his paperwork.

    "Why did you do it?" Jisung's counselor asked. This question confused the boy, because he didn't know how to explain it. "Because I couldn't control it..." he said, not ready to spill to a complete stranger. "And what would be some safer alternatives? Do you like to draw?" Jisung loves to doodle, but it doesn't help. Trust me, he's tried. "Yeah... I could try that..." he said instead. "Good. I've called your parents, and told them the situation."
    Jisung's heart dropped.
    Even though he knew the counselor would, hearing that she did was almost heartbreaking. Jisung would give anything in the world not to see the sadness on his mom and dad's faces due to the news. "You can head back to class." she told him, not even looking his way anymore. "Have a nice day..." he whispered under his breath, so quiet she didn't hear the sarcasm in his tone.
    By the time he'd finished with that, it was Jisung's free period.
    He had no idea how he was gonna tell his friends.
    Walking up to the library door, Jisung took a deep breath and, pulling Minho's hoodie sleeves over his hands, walked in. "Hey, Sung! There you are." Chan said, worry fading from his face for just a moment. The expression immediately came back when he saw Jisung's state. Hair messy. Eyes red, tear filled, and puffy.
    He wouldn't look at any one of them except Minho, who motioned the boy over. Jisung walked over, dropping his bag and surprising everyone by sitting in Minho's lap. He slowly folded in on himself as he felt the other's arms go around him.
    He wanted to cry.
    Jisung wanted for the world to just stop moving for a second. For everything to give him a minute. So, with a look from Minho, everyone let him calm down. After a minute of steady breathing and Minho tracing circles on his back, Jisung was ready to speak. Turning around in Minho's lap, he looked around at the worried faces of his friends. Looking around for any sign of other people, Jisung found no one but the librarian doing computer work.
    Ever so slowly, Jisung looked down and let his sleeves fall just enough. Inaudible gasps flew around the circle. There were bandages wrapped securely around his wrists, and they knew. "Oh Sungie..." Chan said, taking hold of Jisung's hand. "I'm sorry." he whispered. "No. You don't get to say that." Jisung looked up at Changbin, both with tears in their eyes. "There's nothing to be sorry for, so you don't get to apologize." Changbin said. "Come here." Chan said, standing up. Jisung unravelled from himself, Minho taking his arms from around the boy, and quickly hugged Chan. Hyunjin, Seungmin, and Felix joined in on the hug. The friends all sat there, tears in their eyes or on their cheeks, for the rest of the period.
    Around half way through his next class, Jisung was told to bring his stuff to the office. He was leaving. Shoving his papers into the correct folder, he threw his bag over one shoulder and walked out the door. He walked fast through the halls, arriving at the office quickly. "Mom..." Mrs. Han had red rims around her eyes, but she still managed a smile for her son. "Let's get you home, yeah?" she said, leading the way to her car.
    Neither of them said a thing on the way home, they just sat and listened to the music playing softly from the radio. "You know I love you, right? Your father too?" Mrs. Han spoke when they neared their house. "I know." Jisung said, not strong enough to look at his mom. "And you know you can tell us things, yeah? You know we'll try our best to understand, and won't be angry with you? You know we'll do everything we can to help you through this?"
    When his mom parked in their driveway, Jisung leaned over and hugged her tightly. It was an uncomfortable and awkward hug, but neither pulled away for a few minutes. "I know, mom." Jisung whispered, finally letting go. "I'm tired, can I take a nap?" Both had small smiles on their faces as Mrs. Han nodded. Going inside, exchanging a look with his teary eyed dad, Jisung went straight to his room. He pulled his phone out and sent a quick, but lengthy, 'thank you' to Minho, making a mental note to thank him in person.
    As he changed out of his jeans, Jisung realized he was still wearing Minho's hoodie. His crush's hoodie. His cheeks flushed as he tried to rationalize wearing the article of clothing. He just gave it to you to hide your arms. Nothing more or less. He thought to himself. But a tiny voice in his head told him Minho would've given it to him even if he were just cold.
    Jisung decided to listen to that tiny voice.
    Blushing brightly, for just a moment, he forgot about the events of the day. Jisung laid down on his bed, falling asleep shortly after.