︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

3rd Person POV:

Both of them went to bed with a smile on their faces that night, it almost felt foreign considering how much they'd been through in the past week.

Hana's wounds were healing, though the itchy scabs sometimes overwhelmed her. She was slowly learning to be more patient with herself.

Even though she felt anxious, Hana decided to go back to university. Minho noticed and offered to give her a ride, promising to pick her up afterward.

Before they knew it, this little routine became something they both looked forward to, and neither wanted it to change.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Hana POV: (first day back)

I thanked Minho as I stepped out of the car, giving him a small wave. He insisted I go in first, and when I realized he wouldn't budge on this (like he ever did), I waved one last time before heading toward campus. The familiar bustle surrounded me, providing a strange sense of comfort.

However, as I entered the lecture hall, a wave of panic washed over me—I had no idea what was happening since this was my first class for this specific subject since i'd been back.

I glanced around, but my heart sank. I had never made an effort to form friendships or even casual acquaintances. Frustration bubbled inside me for my own insociability. Just as I contemplated slipping out to seek my professor, chaos erupted at the entrance as a group of girls flocked around a boy who had just walked in.

Bang Yedam. 

The same guy who came to look for me when I was at the hospital. His father was a close acquaintance of my dad's. I had always kept my distance from him. Honestly, I couldn't stand him—his presence, his attitude, everything about him grated on my nerves.

I stared at him, trying to understand why he was here. He wasn't even in my batch. My confusion deepened as he approached me.

"Hey."
He says.

I squint my eyes at him.
"How come you're everywhere I am?"

"Coincidence, luck or maybe fate."
I cringed at that.

He had amazing parents, a life of privilege, and he scored stupidly good marks.
Sometimes, I questioned whether it was his brilliance or just his father's influence at play.

"Shut up,"
I muttered

"Are you doing better?"
 he asked, his tone shifting to something more genuine.

"Yes, thanks for asking."

He tilted his head, studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve.
"You don't look fine. You look... tense."

The way he said it made my skin crawl. There was something predatory in his smile, an edge that made me uneasy. I could feel my heart racing.
"Why are you here, Yedam?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

"Just checking in on you,"
 he replied, shrugging as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"After everything that happened at the hospital, I thought you might want some company."

"I asked you this then, and I'll ask you again. What do you know?"

"I know you got hurt. What kind of 'hurt' is another story."
He smirked.

"You better keep you mouth shut, none of this concerns you."

"From whom am I supposed to keep my mouth shut?"
 he replied, his tone mocking, his eyes glimmering with amusement. 

It was infuriating how he could use my words against me, as if I were the one in the wrong for wanting to keep my life private.

I leaned in closer, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
"Fuck. Off."
 The words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. I just wanted him to understand that I wasn't going to let him toy with me.

He raised an eyebrow, the smirk widening into something more sinister.
"That's quite the temper you have, Hana. Maybe you do need someone to help you."

"You don't even know me."

"Oh I know enough. You'll see, soon enough."

"You're just here to mess with my head."

He leaned against the wall casually, arms crossed, clearly unfazed by my outburst.
"Messing with your head? I'd say you're doing a fine job of that yourself."

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to scream in frustration. 

He was playing a game, and I felt like a pawn in it.
"What do you want from me, Yedam?"

"Like I said, you'll see. For now, just focus on your exams. And here, this is all that you missed."
He said, slamming down all the study material on my table, and finding himself a seat rows away from me.

"What a fucker."
I mumbled, going through the material.
"Good for me, I couldn't care more."

She should've cared more.

Once I started writing, the rhythm of my pen gliding across the notepad felt comforting. I lost myself in the lecture, tuning out the distractions around me, and putting my mind on what truly mattered. Each concept I noted felt like a small victory against the chaos of my week.

The class wrapped up smoothly, and I moved on to the next one, still riding the wave of focus I had found. Each subsequent lecture blurred together, but I found a rhythm that made the hours feel manageable. 

The day passed in a whirlwind of thoughts and notes, and before I knew it, the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes.

 I couldn't even recall my conversation with Yedam that morning, I was so over it.

As I gathered my things, a sense of accomplishment washed over me. I had made it through the day, and I felt lighter than I had when I walked in. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow across the campus as I stepped outside.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Hana POV: (present day- 3 days later)

The familiar bustle of students filled the air, and for a moment, I felt a sense of belonging, maybe because I headed toward the parking lot, It was around 8PM, and anticipation was bubbling inside me as I thought about seeing Minho again. 

When I spotted him leaning against his car, his smile brightened the cool evening and sped walked towards him, a smile on my face.

"Hey! How was your day?" he asked, opening the door for me.

"Not bad, actually." 

"Sounds like a win to me," he replied, starting the engine.

"What about you, how was yours?"
 I asked, genuinely curious.

Minho shrugged, his eyes on the road as we pulled out of the parking lot.
"Pretty good. Had a couple of training sessions today, and I think I finally nailed that new technique I was telling you about," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Oh what about your tournament? When is it again?"

"In about 2 weeks, the 15th of October."

"Oh god just in time, I'll be able to see you."

"I know, I'm going to get the tickets for you guys soon."

"Who else going to be there?"

"Seungmin, Jeongin, Felix."

"What about the others?"

"Jisung, Chan and Changbin are on schedule, Hyunjin is going to be overseas."

"Did you wish Chan? I heard it was his birthday today."

"I did."

"Wait, Is that why you're dressed up?"

"I'm actually going to his party after I drop you. I wrapped up training earlier because I had things to do."

"Does 'your things to do' involve picking me up?" I teased.

"Oh yes, top three on my list," he said, glancing at me with a playful grin.

"Which one's on top?"

"Chan," he chuckled, his laughter infectious.

"Aww, I'm hurt," I said dramatically, clutching my chest.

Minho laughed, shaking his head as he parked the car. "You'll get over it," he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Oh I wanted to remind you, I have my first therapy session on Sunday, I kinda pushed it by a few days, thought I would ready myself over the weekend."

"Just by a few days right? That's okay, don't worry about it."

He dropped me home, and I watched him drive away, the taillights fading into the distance.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Inside, I dropped my bag by the door and took a moment to breathe. 

And just then the three cats meowed, rushing around me.

"When did you guys come back?"
I cooed.

"Minho or Jisung must've gotten you guys back."
I smiled, scratching behind their ears as they climbed up onto my lap, seeking warmth and affection.

"Did you miss me?" I asked playfully, knowing the answer was always a resounding yes. The trio settled in comfortably, each finding their spot as I sat on the couch.

I glanced around the cozy living room, feeling the familiar sense of home wash over me. With the cats purring beside me, I let myself relax.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Minho POV:

The night air was cool as I navigated the streets toward Chan's party, a small gathering of our closest friends at the hot pot restaurant. 

When I arrived, Chan greeted me first, bouncing with excitement.

"Minho! You made it! Although you're two hours late." he exclaimed, pulling me into a quick hug.

I made a playful face at him as he did.

"Wouldn't miss your birthday, and hey, not my fault they were all so excited for your birthday, they left as soon as they could, they even cleared out their schedules for this."
 I replied, glancing around at the small group—Chan, Changbin, Hyunjin, Jisung, Felix, Seungmin, and Jeongin. It felt good to be amongst them.

"Oh hyung! You made it!"
Jeongin slurred.

"Tipsy already? But the party has just begun?"

"Grab a drink! We've got snacks and everything!"
Chan urged, leading me to the table.

"Where's Jisung?"
I said sipping on my drinks.

"At the counter, just getting more alcohol."
Felix giggled.

"Oh no, not again. Felix, you're already tipsy. I'm not babysitting you tonight,"
I warned.

"Relax! It's a party!"
 Felix pouted, his eyes glistening.

"You won't have any fun if you pass out early. Don't cry in the morning when you're not in any pictures," I said.

"Are you saying you wouldn't wake me up for pictures?"
 Felix asked, feigning innocence.

"Yeah, I'm not risking you throwing up on me," I laughed, shaking my head.

He might have been a little more than tipsy, because as my teasing words sank in, Felix's eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, turning into fountains of emotion.

"Are you really saying you wouldn't wake me up for pictures?"
Felix pouted, his expression a mix of betrayal and confusion.
"That's just cold, hyung! I thought we were friends!"

I burst into laughter, the infectious kind that spread through the room.
"Oh come on, you're not actually crying, are you?" I said, trying to hold back my amusement. The sight of Felix, usually so bubbly and full of life, now looking on the verge of a dramatic breakdown was too much.

"Yeah, well, maybe I am! You don't know how it feels to be left out!"
Felix sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Okay, okay! I promise, I'll wake you up,"
I relented, placing a hand on Felix's shoulder.
"I'd never let you miss out on a moment—just maybe keep the drinking to a minimum, yeah?"

Felix's expression brightened at that, his tears drying as he grinned wide. "Deal!"

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

If anything, Minho was among those who ended up drunk and incoherent by the end of the party.

The music thumped through the room, vibrating in his chest as he swayed to the beat. He took another sip from his drink, the sweetness dancing on his tongue.
"Just one more," he thought, raising the glass to his lips. It felt like the perfect night, and the alcohol was making everything seem brighter and funnier.

"Minho! Come dance!" Felix shouted, dragging him away from the table. Minho laughed, the sound coming out a little too loud, but he didn't care. The room was a swirl of laughter, lights, and friends, and he was right in the middle of it.

As the night went on, he felt the alcohol settling in—warm and fuzzy, like a cozy blanket. He leaned against a wall, catching his breath, and noticed how everything around him seemed to sway slightly. "Okay, maybe I've had enough," he muttered to himself, but the thought didn't last long as Felix pulled him back into the fray.

"Minho! You have to play this game with me!" Hyunjin grinned, leading him to a table where they were all playing beer pong. Minho could barely focus on the balls flying back and forth, his mind clouded by the haze of tipsiness.

"Alright, let's do this!" he declared, puffing out his chest dramatically. He grabbed a cup, his coordination already fading. He aimed and threw, missing the table entirely and nearly hitting Seungmin instead.

"Nice throw, genius!" Seungmin laughed, and Minho felt his cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and laughter.

"Hey, I'm just testing the waters!" he shot back, his confidence wavering.

Laughter echoed around him, and despite feeling a little foolish, it only made him laugh harder. He grabbed another drink, convinced it would help him reclaim his dignity because he agreed to the rules of the game.

"Minho, maybe you should slow down," Changbin suggested, but he just waved him off. "I'm fine! Just getting started!"

 "No, that's enough. What do you mean 'just getting started' You're drunk. How are we going to get you home?"

"Chill, we'll manage."
Minho slurred.

And to that, Changbin rolled his eyes.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

They were all tiredly piled over the floor, while Chan and Changbin could be seen trying to book a driver.

Jisung had his legs kicked up on the coffee table, eyes half-lidded as he looked around at his friends. "Guys, I'm gonna be honest. I feel like my body is made of jelly right now. Is it... is it supposed to feel like this?"

Hyunjin, who had been standing too close to the edge of the couch, gave a little hop and nearly toppled over. "No, no. You're not alone, Jisung. I'm definitely going to fall off this couch. The ground keeps moving under me."

Felix, sitting cross-legged with a goofy grin, pointed dramatically at the ceiling. "I swear, I can see two of everything right now. Like... there's another ceiling up there." He squinted, trying to make sense of it.

Jeongin was standing near the center of the room, pointing at the ceiling with a completely confused look on his face. "Yo, I'm not the only one seeing this, right? The ceiling is... floating."

Minho, sitting on a stool, shook his head in disbelief. "Jeongin, what do you mean floating? It's the ceiling, bro. It's supposed to be there. And Felix... The ceiling is fine. You're the ones who are broken." He shook his head, trying to keep a straight face, but it wasn't working.

 "How are you still functioning, bro?"
Jisung said, throwing an arm around Chan's shoulders, careful not to knock over his phone.

Chan laughed softly, the warmth of the birthday celebration still radiating through him. "I think it's because I'm the only one who has to keep it together," he replied, giving Jisung a playful shove. "It's my birthday, so I'm in charge, right?"

Hyunjin, overhearing this, grinned and pointed a finger at Chan. "Oh yeah, you're in charge? That's why you're the one laughing while we all collapse around you?"

"I'm not collapsing," Felix piped up, looking offended. "I'm just... resting my legs. It's not a collapse, it's a strategic move. I bet i'll kill all of you in a dance-off."

That immediately got Jeongin's attention. "Wait, what? Dance-off?! I'm in. I'm gonna beat all of you."

"Sounds like you're all reallyyyyy drunk,"
Changbin said, smirking.

The room erupted into chaotic energy as Hyunjin, still half-drunk but determined, stood up and started pretending to stretch. "Alright, alright. Let's do it. I'm about to show you all some professional moves."

The impromptu dance-off that followed was a mess of wobbly moves, uncoordinated flailing, and way too much laughter. 

Hyunjin tried to do some sort of graceful twirl but ended up spinning straight into a wall. Jisung, clearly already out of his mind, did what could only be described as an interpretive dance that no one could even understand, while Felix just went all out with random hip thrusts that sent everyone into fits of giggles.

Meanwhile, Seungmin was the calm one in the back, recording all the madness on his phone. "This is going straight to the group chat," he said, still chuckling. "No one will believe me if I don't have proof."

After what felt like an hour of dancing, but was actually more like five minutes, the energy began to die down. Everyone collapsed into the couch and floor, laughing and panting from exhaustion. 

Chan, still with a grin on his face, surveyed the scene.
"You guys are insane," he said, shaking his head in disbelief but clearly having the time of his life. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

Felix nodded in agreement, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "Best birthday party ever."

"Agreed," Jisung mumbled, eyes half-closed as he lay back. "Best birthday party... even though I think I'm dying."

"Well, at least we all died together," Minho said, as Chan offered a glass of water to Jisung. "Here, drink this before you pass out."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Amongst their on crack-conversation, someone's phone rings. Chan strides over to the table where everyone's belongings are piled up, sifting through the phones as he flips them over, scanning for the source of the sound. Finally, he spots a phone adorned with cat stickers and picks it up, making his way back.

"Hey Minho, someone's calling you. Hana?"
He said peeking at the caller Id.

Minho's eyes widen and a smile creeps on his face as he picks up the phone.

"Oh Hana"
He slurred, giggling at the end.

"Minho, where are you it's past midnight?"

"Really? Why are you waiting?"

"I was worried you know? You should tell me if you're not coming home. And answer my texts, I've been spamming for so long."
Hana said, worry evident in her tone.

"I was having fun, and I'm not coming home, you should sleep."

"Yeah now that I know you're not half drunk on the streets and safe, I will."

"I'll try to be home in the morning, so don't worry."
he said, his tone more sober now. Maybe all that water and hangover drinks the five of them had been downing were finally kicking in.

"I'll be at Chan's house, if anything, okay?"

"Yeah, Minho, don't worry I'll be fine. Enjoy okay? You've deserved it, it's been a long week."

"Goodnight, Hana."

"Yeah, goodnight."

Minho hung up the phone, still beaming, blissfully unaware that all seven pairs of eyes were locked on him. When he finally noticed, his grin shifted into a playful, mock-menacing expression.

"What?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"What was that?"
Hyunjin wiggled his eyebrows.

"Seungmin and I are not surprised, by the way,"
Jeongin said, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he exchanged glances with the others, all of whom wore matching anticipatory expressions.

Minho raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Not surprised by what?"

"Who got you smiling like that?"
Changbin teased.

"What do you mean? I've been smiling the whole night,"
he replied, trying to suppress the grin that was itching to break free.

"No, no, this smile is different,"
Chan chimed in, leaning forward with an exaggeratedly serious expression.

"Who was on the phone?"
Hyunjin probed, genuinely curious.

"Just Hana, asking if I'm coming home,"
 Minho said, waving a hand dismissively.

"Oh yeah, your new best friend whom you keep ditching me for,"
Han quipped, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Hey, I don't ditch you! I was just busy, okay?"
Minho protested, unable to hide his amusement.

"Wait, Hana as in your roommate Hana?"
Felix confirmed, a look of realization dawning on him.

"Uh, yeah, her,"
 Minho replied, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"How have I never met this Hana?"
Chan asked, sounding genuinely perplexed.

"I hate to break it to you, but only the three of you haven't,"
Seungmin pointed out, gesturing to Jisung, Changbin, and Chan.

"How rude," Jisung said, feigning offense.

"Okay, how about we stop right here? We can all meet her another day, alright?"
Minho suggested, eager to change the subject.

"Oh yeah, we'd love to meet your girlfriend," Changbin teased, waggling his eyebrows.

And just as Changbin uttered that sentence, Minho nudged him in the stomach playfully.
"She's not my girlfriend!"
 he exclaimed, laughing, though the warmth in his cheeks betrayed him.

"Yet,"
Seungmin added with a smirk, causing another round of laughter to erupt in the room.

Minho rolled his eyes but couldn't help smiling wider,
"You too?"

"Um we've been waiting for so fucking long?"
Jeongin exasperated.

"But you do realize there's nothing between us, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"We're just friends."

"Oh yeah, sure."
Everyone unanimously said.

"Okay, come on everyone gather your belongings, the driver's here."
Chan said, after checking the notification on his phone.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

a/n: i was on crack while i wrote this chapter.

long chapter but it sucksssssss god I hate this chapter.

All of these chapters were written during the hiatus (which lasted nearly three months) and have now been pre-scheduled according to my update plan. This means that even if I take short breaks or experience periods of inactivity, the updates will continue as scheduled—at least until further notice.