Jihoon parked hastily and stepped out of the car, the sounds of laughter and music spilling out of the bar as he made his way inside. The dimly lit space was filled with patrons, some laughing loudly, others lost in their own worlds, but Jihoon's focus was solely on finding Minji.
He scanned the room, the air thick with the smell of alcohol and smoke. After a few tense moments, he spotted Minji slumped over the bar, his head resting on a guys shoulder.
Jihoon took a sigh as he walked over to the bar and grabbed Minji, "Finally you're here, he was whining none stop." Jiho said looking up and Jihoon with a smile.
"Who are you?" Jihoon asked, "his ex." Jiho replied with a smirk.
"Why would you bring him here, Minji is not the type to get wasted like this!" Hoon added. "Look man, he invited me here. Guess he was feeling lonely and he wanted a comfort from a friend." Jiho said with a smug expression.
Jihoon feeling the anger boil up inside him Thigtend his grip around Minji and before bursting out, he carried Minji in his arms and walked out the bar.
As Jihoon stormed out of the bar, Minji nestled against his chest, his head resting limply on Jihoon's shoulder. Jihoon could feel the stares of patrons and Jiho's amused gaze burning into his back, but he didn't care. All that mattered was getting Minji away from that place.
Outside, the cool night air hit them like a splash of cold water. Jihoon tightened his grip around Minji, feeling the warmth of his body and the weight of his drunken state. He didn't look back as he headed toward his car, fury coursing through him.
Once they reached the car, Jihoon gently set Minji down in the passenger seat. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern slipping through the cracks of his anger.
Minji blinked up at him, his eyes glazed. "Why are you here?" He muttered before slipping into a slumber.
Jihoon sighed closing the passenger door and walked over to the driver seat, he turned on the car and drove to the condo.
The drive back to the condo was a blur for Jihoon. His mind was racing, trying to piece together what had just happened. Minji's drunken state weighed heavily on him, mixing anger with a deep sense of protectiveness.
As he pulled into the parking garage, Jihoon took a moment to collect himself. He glanced at Minji, who was now slumped against the window, sound asleep. Jihoon couldn't help but feel a rush of affection mixed with frustration.
After shutting off the engine, he unbuckled his seatbelt and moved to Minji's side. "Hey, wake up," he said softly, nudging Minji's shoulder. There was no response. Jihoon sighed again, this time more softly, and leaned closer. "Come on, we're here."
With gentle care, Jihoon unlatched Minji's seatbelt and cradled him as he lifted him out of the car. Minji stirred slightly but didn't fully wake. Jihoon felt a surge of warmth; this closeness was both comforting and heartbreaking.
As he walked through the entrance of the condo, Jihoon shifted Minji's weight slightly, adjusting him so he could open the door. He kicked it open with his foot and maneuvered them both inside. The lights were dim, the evening quiet, creating an atmosphere that felt almost serene.
"Okay, let's get you on the couch," Jihoon murmured, carefully laying Minji down on the plush sofa. He made sure Minji was comfortable, adjusting the blanket draped over the back of the couch to cover him.
Jihoon took a step back and watched Minji for a moment. "What a hassle, and here I am trying to convince myself that I don't care about you." He mumbled to himself.
He walked over to the kitchen poured some Lemon Juice and honey in a cup and took it to Minji, he sat on the edge of the couch And gently lifted Minji up. "Drink this, it'll make you feel better." He said cuddling him in his arm and handing him the drink.
Minji looked up at Jihoon who was also looking at him with an expression he has never seen on his face, he grabbed the drink and drank it leaving a bitter sweet taste in his mouth.
"I'll be going home now, you can stay her for tonight." Jihoon said grabbing the cup and stood up from the couch, but before he could walk away Minji grabbed onto him.
Minji's grip on Jihoon's wrist was surprisingly strong, despite how tired he looked. "Don't go," he mumbled, his voice still heavy with the remnants of alcohol and exhaustion. His eyes met Jihoon's, a flicker of vulnerability there that made Jihoon pause.
Jihoon glanced down at Minji's hand, feeling the warmth from his touch. For a moment, he just stood there, unsure of what to do. His instinct was to leave, to give them both space to figure things out, but the way Minji was holding onto him made it impossible to walk away.
"There's no need for me to stay, you made your decision remember." Jihoon replied.
"So why did you come when I called." He asked his voice barely audible.
Jihoon felt his chest tighten at Minji's question. It was simple, but it hit him in a way he wasn't prepared for. He stared down at Minji, who was looking up at him with tired, questioning eyes, waiting for an answer.
"I don't know," Jihoon admitted after a long pause. His voice was quieter now, the usual coldness in it replaced by something softer, more uncertain. "Maybe I just… couldn't ignore it."
Minji let out a shaky breath, his hand still clutching Jihoon's wrist. "You always act like you don't care, like none of this matters to you," he whispered. "But then you show up, and I don't know what to think."
Jihoon looked away, unable to meet Minji's gaze. He had spent so long hiding how he really felt, pushing Minji away, that even now, when faced with the raw truth, he didn't know how to handle it.
"I push away not because I hate you, it's because I'm scared of falling deep into your comfort. One thing I learned the second I turned 18 was that, sometimes it's okay to push the peopl you love away. Even though it might hurt, it will save you much more pain that you're bound to face." He stated
Minji stared at Jihoon, the weight of his words sinking in. "You think pushing me away is saving me pain?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. "All it's done is hurt both of us."
Jihoon ran a hand through his hair, his expression conflicted. "I know that. I get it now. But at the time... I thought keeping you at a distance was better. I didn't want to drag you into the mess I've made of myself."
Minji shook his head, his grip still firm on Jihoon's wrist. "That's the problem, you hide away in your shadow and lock out the people that are here to help."
Minji's heart clenched at Jihoon's words, the mention of TaeHyun cutting deeper than he expected. He let go of Jihoon's wrist, his hand falling limply to his side as he tried to hide the hurt that was flooding his chest.
"So, after all this, it's still about him?" Minji whispered, unable to keep the pain out of his voice. "I've been here, I've stayed, and I've waited for you... but he's all you think about?"
Jihoon glanced away, his expression guarded. "Even if I get lost in your comfort, it's not easy to get over your first love."
"So until now I'm still nothing to you?" "I thought maybe if I pulled myself away form you for a month you would finally see me, think of me and care for me. But you're still stuck on him, Why is that?" Minji cried.
TBC