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The tension in the apartment had been building for days, an unspoken strain that seemed to hang in the air, growing heavier with each passing moment. Seungmin could feel it gnawing at him, a constant reminder of the rift that had formed between him and Minho. It was the little things that set him off—Minho's laughter with Jisung, their shared jokes, the way they seemed so close. Each interaction was like a dagger, twisting deeper into his already wounded heart.
Seungmin tried to focus on his own tasks, but the resentment kept bubbling to the surface. It wasn't just the jealousy—though he hated to admit it—it was the sense of being pushed aside, of not mattering as much as he used to. Minho's attention was elsewhere, and it hurt more than he could express.
One evening, as the members gathered in the living room to relax after a long day of practice, Seungmin's frustration reached its breaking point. Minho and Jisung were sitting close together on the couch, whispering and laughing about something only they seemed to understand. Seungmin sat across from them, his jaw clenched, his hands gripping the edge of the table.
"What's so funny?" Seungmin snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
Minho looked up, surprised by the sharpness in Seungmin's tone. "It's just a joke, Seungmin. Nothing serious."
Seungmin's eyes flashed with anger. "Of course, it's nothing serious. Everything's just a joke to you, isn't it?"
Jisung, sensing the tension, tried to diffuse the situation. "Hey, Seungmin, we were just messing around. No need to get upset."
But Seungmin wasn't having it. "Oh, I'm not upset. I'm just tired of being treated like I'm invisible. Like I don't matter."
Minho's expression hardened, his own frustration bubbling to the surface. "That's not fair, Seungmin. You know that's not true."
Seungmin stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Isn't it? You spend all your time with Jisung now. It's like I don't even exist to you anymore."
The other members, sensing the escalating conflict, started to shift uncomfortably. Hyunjin, who had been quietly observing, stood up and approached Seungmin, trying to calm him down. "Seungmin, maybe we should all just take a step back and cool down."
But Seungmin ignored him, his eyes locked on Minho. "I'm sick of it, Minho. Sick of being pushed aside. You think I don't see what's going on? You think I'm stupid?"
Minho stood up as well, his face flushing with anger. "That's enough, Seungmin. You're overreacting. This isn't about you."
Seungmin's voice rose, his anger boiling over. "Of course, it's not about me! It's never about me, is it? It's always about you and Jisung, your little private world that no one else is allowed into."
Jisung stepped between them, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Guys, please, let's not do this. We're a team. We shouldn't be fighting like this."
But Seungmin was beyond reasoning. "A team? Is that what we are? Because it sure doesn't feel like it."
Minho's eyes narrowed, his own patience wearing thin. "Seungmin, you're being ridiculous. This isn't the time or place for this."
Seungmin's fists clenched at his sides, his whole body trembling with rage. "No, Minho. This is exactly the time and place. I'm tired of pretending everything's okay when it's not."
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Chan stepped in, his voice firm and commanding. "Enough! Both of you, stop it. We're not doing this here."
Seungmin's glare shifted to Chan, but before he could say anything, Hyunjin placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back. "Come on, Seungmin. Let's take a walk. Clear your head."
For a moment, it seemed like Seungmin might resist, but then he let out a shaky breath, his anger deflating. He allowed Hyunjin to lead him away, though his eyes never left Minho's until he was out of the room.
The remaining members were left in a heavy silence, the weight of the conflict hanging over them. Chan turned to Minho, his expression a mix of concern and disappointment. "What the hell is going on with you two?"
Minho sank back onto the couch, his head in his hands. "I don't know, Chan. I really don't know."
Jisung sat down beside him, his own face drawn with worry. "This isn't like Seungmin. Something's really bothering him."
Felix, who had been quietly watching the whole scene unfold, spoke up. "Maybe it's time you two had a serious talk. No more avoiding it."
Minho nodded slowly, his mind racing. He knew Felix was right. The avoidance, the tension, the games—it all had to stop. He had to face Seungmin, face his own feelings, and find a way to make things right.
Next day the apartment was unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle that filled the shared space. Lee Minho sat alone on the couch, the glow of the television casting a soft light across the room. His mind was far from the show playing on the screen, tangled instead in a web of emotions that had been tightening around him for weeks.
Minho had always been good at keeping his feelings hidden, masking his inner turmoil behind a composed exterior. But lately, his heart had been a battlefield, each day a struggle to navigate his growing feelings for Kim Seungmin. It was becoming harder to ignore the way his chest tightened whenever Seungmin was near, the way his pulse quickened at the sound of his voice.
Seungmin's confrontation earlier that evening had only served to intensify the storm inside Minho. He could still see the hurt in Seungmin's eyes, hear the tremble in his voice. Minho had wanted nothing more than to reach out and reassure him, to tell him how much he mattered. But fear had held him back, fear of what a confession might mean for their friendship, for the group.
Minho ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling to the surface. He had tried to manage his feelings in the only way he knew how—by creating distance. Spending time with Han Jisung had been a way to distract himself, to avoid facing the truth of his own heart. But now he wondered if he had only made things worse. Seungmin's pain was evident, and it cut Minho deeply to know he was the cause.
As he sat there, lost in thought, the door to the apartment creaked open. Minho looked up to see Jisung stepping in, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a look of concern.
"Hey, you okay?" Jisung asked, his voice gentle.
Minho forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, just thinking."
Jisung sighed, dropping his bag on the floor and taking a seat beside Minho. "About Seungmin?"
Minho nodded, unable to hide the truth from his friend. "It's complicated, Jisung. I never meant to hurt him. I just... I don't know how to deal with these feelings."
Jisung placed a comforting hand on Minho's shoulder. "Feelings for Seungmin?"
Minho's silence was all the confirmation Jisung needed. He squeezed Minho's shoulder reassuringly. "You know, avoiding him isn't going to make those feelings go away. It's only going to hurt both of you more."
Minho sighed, his head dropping into his hands. "I know. I just... I thought if I spent more time with you, it would be easier. That maybe he'd get jealous and realize he feels the same way."
Jisung raised an eyebrow. "And how's that working out for you?"
Minho let out a bitter laugh. "Not well. It only seems to be pushing him further away."
Jisung nodded thoughtfully. "Seungmin isn't the type to respond well to jealousy, Minho. He needs honesty, not games."
Minho knew Jisung was right, but the fear of rejection was still there, a heavy weight on his chest. "What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if I ruin everything?"
Jisung gave Minho a gentle shove. "You'll never know unless you try. And honestly, I think Seungmin deserves to know the truth. You both do."
Minho looked at Jisung, gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, Jisung. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Jisung smiled. "Anytime, hyung. Now, go talk to him. The longer you wait, the harder it's going to be."
With a deep breath, Minho stood up, determination replacing the fear in his heart. He knew Jisung was right. It was time to face his feelings, to be honest with Seungmin. He couldn't keep running away.
As Minho made his way to Seungmin's room, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he forced himself to keep moving. When he reached Seungmin's door, he hesitated for a moment before knocking softly.
"Seungmin, can we talk?"
There was a pause before Seungmin's voice called out, sounding weary. "Come in."
Minho pushed the door open and stepped inside, finding Seungmin sitting on his bed, his eyes red from crying. The sight broke Minho's heart, but it also steeled his resolve. He closed the door behind him and took a seat beside Seungmin.
"Seungmin, I need to tell you something," Minho began, his voice trembling slightly. "I've been an idiot. I've been avoiding you, spending time with Jisung, hoping it would make things easier. But it hasn't. It's only made things worse."
Seungmin looked at Minho, confusion and hurt still evident in his eyes. "Why, Minho? Why have you been doing this?"
Minho took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "Because I'm scared, Seungmin. Scared of how I feel about you. I thought if I made you jealous, maybe you'd realize you feel the same way. But that was wrong. I should have just been honest with you."
Seungmin's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you saying, Minho?"
Minho reached out, taking Seungmin's hand in his own. "I'm saying that I have feelings for you, Seungmin. More than just friendship. And it's been tearing me apart, not knowing if you feel the same way."
Seungmin stared at Minho, his expression a mix of shock and something else—something hopeful. "Minho, I... I didn't know."
Minho squeezed Seungmin's hand, his own heart racing. "I know. And I'm sorry for how I've handled this. I just didn't know how to tell you. But I can't keep pretending anymore. I care about you too much."
Seungmin's eyes filled with tears, but this time, they were tears of relief. He leaned in, resting his forehead against Minho's. "I care about you too, Minho. More than I realized. I just didn't know how to say it."
Minho felt a wave of relief wash over him, the tension of the past weeks finally breaking. He wrapped his arms around Seungmin, holding him close. "We'll figure this out together, Seungmin. No more games, no more hiding. Just us."
Seungmin nodded, a smile breaking through his tears. "Just us, Minho."
As they held each other, the weight of their unspoken feelings lifted, replaced by a sense of hope and a new beginning. They knew there would be challenges ahead, but for now, they were ready to face them together.