︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

 ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

After I sent you away I was left in pain
It was all my fault, so why am I hurting?

I didn't even thank you in the end

Just left behind sharp words in a trembling voice
Even if I act like everything is fine, I can't lie.

-Ex- Straykids-

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Minho POV:

I don't know what came over me, but I felt an overwhelming urge to give her a hug. I wanted to see her smile genuinely, not that forced one she'd been wearing. But as I wrapped my arms around her, I didn't get the response I hoped for. She pulled away slowly, and I could see the struggle in her eyes, the way she was fighting to keep herself together. But I let her go, and it hurt me as I did. I felt helpless, I didn't know what else to do.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

A week or two has passed, and Hana seems to be doing better health wise. But I'm still left wondering about what's going on in her mind. She's quieter than usual, only opening up when I engage her in conversations. Even then, her responses are brief, and soon after, she retreats to her room, claiming she's tired. But it's clear to me that she's burying herself in work. Some days, I have to practically drag her out of that room just to get her to eat with me. It's as if she's shutting herself away, and no matter how hard I try to reach her, she's seems out of reach.

One evening, after dragging her out for dinner, I notice her eyes are red, and she seems more worn out than usual. I can't stand seeing her like this, and the concern in my chest feels almost unbearable.

"Hana, what's wrong?" I ask, trying to keep my voice gentle. 

"Nothing, why"
She said with a sigh, picking up the chopsticks in front of her.

I notice her fingers tremble slightly as she fiddles with the chopsticks, a small sign that something is clearly off.
"It's just... you've seemed different lately. It's just a little bit concerning."

She looks down at her plate, avoiding my gaze.
"It's nothing, really. Just a lot on my mind."

"Take a small break," I suggest gently.
"I haven't seen you outside your room in a while."

She looks up, her eyes weary.
"And do what? I don't have the motivation nor the energy to do anything else."

"You don't have to tackle everything all at once,"
I say, trying to be encouraging.
"Go outside, take a walk."

She looks conflicted, her shoulders sagging slightly.
"I don't know... It feels like there's so much to do and not enough hours in a day, and I can't afford to fall behind."

"Hana-"

"Please, let's just eat," she interrupts, a touch of pleading in her voice.
"This will be my break, okay?"

"Okay, okay- That's fine. Just eat."
 I nod, trying to respect her boundaries.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

After she finished eating, Hana retreated back to her room, her footsteps quiet and deliberate. I watched her go, feeling a pang of disappointment mixed with concern. I wanted to spend more time with her, to help her relax and maybe find a way to ease her burden. But it was clear she was absorbed in her work, and I didn't want to push her further. Since I had absolutely nothing to do, I decided to make my own plans.

"Seungmin, you busy?"

"Yes a little, why?"

"Dude, it's a Sunday. What are you doing?"

"Award show host, I'm in the waiting room right now"

"I keep forgetting I have celebrities as friends. Continue whatever you're doing.
What about Jeongin?"

'You talk as if you're not a public figure. Jeongin is at home, at least that's what I think."

"Yes, my favorite one out of all of you is free."

"You're welcome, I'm hanging up, I've got to be on the stage in 10"
he said sarcastically.

"Yeah, warm up your mouth and don't stutter."

"You're great at pep-talks."

I laughed a little at his teasing as I hung up and decided to see if Jeongin might be available.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

I knock on her door and wait for her to invite me in.

"Yeah?"
she called out, her voice sounding a little distant.

I opened the door slowly, stepping inside. Hana's room was cluttered but organized in its own way—like her mind, perhaps. She glanced up at me, her expression a mixture of surprise and resignation.

"What's up?" she asked, her gaze flicking back to the papers in front of her.

I noticed she had a habit of avoiding eye contact, especially when she was feeling overwhelmed. "I was thinking of getting out of the house for a bit. Maybe you could join me?"

Hana hesitated, clearly torn between her need to stay focused and the suggestion that might offer her a break.
"I don't know, Minho. I really need to finish this."

"Really? Not even a few hours?"

"It's a Monday tomorrow, If I take a break, I won't get any sleep trying to finish this."

"Hana- Okay, fine."
I said, losing my mind, just a little.

"Are you going out?"

"Yeah, with Jeongin. Seungmin has a thing to do, so he's out."

"Have fun."
 She said, flipping a page.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Jeongin POV

"Jeongin, I'm telling you, she's not real."

"We told you this already, that's how she is."
I said as we both walked in the local park.

"But I want to spend time with her too, it's so boring alone."

"But she has priorities, I mean... whether we like it or not, if she doesn't do whatever she's doing, she'll get into trouble."

"Trouble? Is it with her parents again?"

"Yeah, it's the same old thing."

"They're such a pain."

"I get where you're coming from, but don't say that around her. She hates it when people criticize her parents."

"Okay, but I'm worried. I feel like she's hiding something from me- from us"

"I know, but she's strong, she can handle it."

"I miss her though. She used to be happy, so happy when we just moved in."
He mumbled.

"Only if you knew."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"That's super suspicious you know that right?" 

"I know that. This is also very unusual coming from you."

"Why?"

"You literally fight with her over the pettiest issues, it's weird that you actually worry about her."

"Yeah, I guess we do fight a lot," Minho admitted.
"But that doesn't mean I don't care about her. We're friends after all." 

Why does he talk about Hana like.... that? Am I over-thinking it?
Can you get this close with someone in a few months?

"What are you thinking?"
He interrupts me.

"Nothing, how's boxing?"
I shift the topic.

"It's good, I have a tournament in a month, so I've been preparing for that."

"That's so cool. Will you invite us?"
I said, nudging him.

"That goes unsaid. Wouldn't you be there to be moral support?"
He said keeping a hand on his chest, dramatically.

"Of course I'd be there," I chuckled, nudging him again.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I'll get you guys a seat."
He said with a chuckle

We continued our walk through the park, the conversation drifting back to lighter topics. Minho had always been fiercely independent, never one to wear his heart on his sleeve. But the way he talked about Hana, the way he seemed to care so much about her despite their frequent arguments—it was unusual. I knew he wasn't the type to let his emotions get tangled up easily, so this was definitely something to consider.

"Hey, you still haven't told me how your new boy group project is going,"
Minho said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Is it coming together okay?"

"Yeah, it's going well,"
 I replied, eager to shift focus away from Hana and Minho's complex dynamics.
"Just trying to wrap up a few flaws here and there before the final evaluation."

"Are you happy to have a boy group co-produced by you?"

"You do realize I don't much of a hand in it right? It's all 3racha and JYP."

"Okay, you didn't have to put it like that. You'll get there eventually."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Minho POV:

I got home around 10 PM and noticed that the cats had been fed. That meant Hana had been out of her room at least once. I went straight to my room, not really in the mood to see her. I guess I was still sulking a bit since she didn't join me earlier.

I changed out of my clothes and into my comfy pajamas, then headed out of my room, realizing I hadn't spent much time with my cats today. I wandered through the apartment, searching for them. Soonie was busy cleaning himself, sprawled out comfortably on the couch. Dori was absorbed in batting around a toy rat that hung from his cat bed tower. 

I reached for Soonie first. As soon as I picked him up, he nuzzled into my arms, purring contentedly. I felt a bit of relief as I held him close, his soft fur a comforting presence. I glanced over at Dori, who was still engrossed in his toy, and decided to join him. I plopped down on the floor nearby, Soonie still cradled in my arms.

Then it hit me—where was Doongie? I set Soonie down gently and stood up, heading to the kitchen to look for him. Doongie often jumped on top of the kitchen counters, so I checked there first. But he wasn't in sight.

I moved on to the small cat house in the living room, peeking inside, but he wasn't there either. Could he have fallen asleep in my room? It was possible; I left my door open. I headed to my room, checking under the bed and behind the door. Still no sign of him.

I have no choice now but to ask Hana if she knows where he is. Standing in front of her room, I take a deep breath and steady myself, trying to maintain a calm composure.

I raise my hand and knock on the door. But there's no reply. 

Why does she never reply on the first knock?

I knock again, no response.
"I'm coming in."

I open the door and say,
"Hana do you know where-"

Oh.

"- Doongie is."

I carefully step into the room, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might wake Hana. I observe the peaceful scene before me. Hana, who had been so distant and preoccupied, is now curled up at her desk, with Doongie nestled against her arm. The cat is purring softly, clearly enjoying the comfort of Hana's presence.

"So that's where he is."
I say softly, a smile creeping on to my lips.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Minho stood in the doorway, observing Hana's serene expression and the way Doongie nestled contentedly against her. Her steady, slow breathing indicated she was deeply asleep. The scattered papers, half-finished work, empty coffee cups, and the faint glow of her desk lamp made it clear she had been working herself into exhaustion.

He quietly closed the door behind him, not wanting to disturb them. Minho approached the desk and gently stroked Doongie's back, the cat responding with a soft purr. It was a small, comforting connection that made Minho's heart feel lighter.

"You like her don't you?"
He cooed the cat.

Minho glanced at the clock and realized it was getting late. He decided to wake her up so she could move to her bed, so he pulled up a chair and sit beside her and just for a moment he couldn't help but watch her sleep, the lines of stress that once existing throughout the day, invisible from her face.

He taps her shoulder and her name escapes his mouth,
"Hana-ya, wake up."

She stirred but seemed unwilling to wake up, her eyes fluttering open slightly before closing again.

Minho gently tapped Hana's shoulder again, his voice soft but insistent.
 "Hana-ya, wake up. Your back will hurt if you keep sleeping here.
You have college and your internship tomorrow."

She stirred once more, her eyes slowly opening as she took in his words.
The remnants of sleep and exhaustion were evident, but she began to rouse from her slumber.

"Oh, he's still here,"
she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

"Who, Doongie?"
Minho asked.

"Yeah, him. I brought him in for emotional support"
She said, chuckling as she scratched Doongie under his chin.

"Emotional support?"

"Nothing, I should really finish this last paragraph. Fuck, I can't believe I fell asleep."
She said glancing at her books.

"There you go again, changing the topic,"
Minho said, his tone sharpening slightly.

Hana frowned, her eyes still heavy with sleep.
"I just don't think I need to explain everything to you. I'm fine."

Minho's expression hardened, his worry giving way to irritation.
"You're clearly not fine. You're clearly exhausted. Was ending up at the hospital once not enough for you?"

Hana's face flushed with a combination of anger and exhaustion.
"I didn't ask for your unsolicited advice. I'm doing what I need to do."

Minho's voice grew sharper, frustration evident in every word.
"It's not just about what you need to do. It's about taking care of yourself. You're running on empty, and it's not healthy. I'm just trying to help, but you're too stubborn to see it."

Hana stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.
"Stubborn? You have no idea what it's like. You think you know everything, but you don't. I'm doing my best, and if that's not good enough for you, then maybe you should just stay out of it."

Minho's eyes flashed with anger.
"It's not about being good enough. It's about not breaking yourself in the process. I'm trying to be supportive, but if you can't appreciate that, then maybe I should just leave you to it."

The silence that followed was thick with tension.
Hana's breathing was heavy, her shoulders rigid.
"Maybe you should,"
she said quietly, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and defeat.

Minho's jaw clenched, but he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"Fine. If that's what you want, I'll go. Anything happens, don't even try, no- don't even think about coming to me."

He turned on his heel and walked towards the door, his steps echoing in the quiet room but the silence is broken by the slam of the door, causing Hana to flinch. She watched him go, her own heart aching with a mix of guilt and frustration. 
 She sank back into her chair, her fingers gripping the edge of her desk as if it were the only thing anchoring her to the present. The cluttered papers and half-empty coffee cups seemed to close in on her, mirroring the turmoil in her mind.

She stared at the mess, unable to focus on her work. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears as she tried to push away the sting of their harsh words. The silence in the room felt oppressive now, each tick of the clock on the wall a reminder of the anger and hurt that still lingered between them.

With a shaky breath, Hana attempted to refocus on her books, but the words swam on the page, elusive and frustrating. She glanced at the closed door, her heart aching with regret and helplessness. The fight had escalated too quickly, and now they were both alone with their unresolved feelings.
Eventually, she allowed herself to close her eyes, leaning back in her chair. The tears that had threatened finally spilled over, and she let them flow silently.

"I'm so fucking stupid. I made him leave."

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

a/n: I love making my characters argue ahahshsjjsj