They rounded the corner and entered the stairwell, shutting the door tightly behind them.

Seonghwa finally dared to look up into Minho's eyes. Those breathtaking cat-like almond eyes.

How much he missed those eyes.

How many nights he'd cried over those eyes.

"You know you can't just show up at my door and expect me to be unbothered," Seonghwa muttered.

"I know. I'm...sorry. It's just—ever since I've seen you I've been reliving the past and everything that happened between us and—I needed closure."

The words stung a bit, even though Seonghwa knew he wanted the same thing.

"Me too."

"Good. Then we're on the same page."

They stood in silence.

Seonghwa crossed his arms, looking at his feet again.

"Seonghwa, I'm so sorry. For everything I did to you. I'm ashamed of who I used to be. But as much as I want to pretend it never happened, it did, and I hurt you."

Seonghwa hadn't expected an apology. He had hoped for one but the Minho he knew wasn't even capable of it.

"If you have anything you need to get off your chest, please say it. I can take it. You deserve that much."

Seonghwa looked up. His eyes truly were sincere. He meant it.

"How long did you know you wanted to do music?"

Minho looked away.

"Before we ever started dating..."

Seonghwa was shocked. So the whole time they'd been together...he'd been just as interested as him!? And he still did nothing to help or support him?

"I know you won't want to hear this but, I promised the truth. You remember that internship you had? At JYP?"

Seonghwa shook his head, backing away.

"After you botched it, they offered it to me. And I took it."

Seonghwa couldn't breathe. His chest felt tight. His head was spinning. He hadn't expected Minho could get any worse.

"Ever since you told me about it...that was my plan. Because I wasn't good enough to get it on my own. You're way more talented than I am," Minho looked at the ground.

"You motherfucker."

"I'm so sorry, Seonghwa. I knew you were good enough to get in somewhere else so—I told myself it was okay."

"I can't even look at you—that was my dream, my future! And you ripped it away from me! You knew how easy I was to manipulate so you—you used me!"

"I know. And I'm really fucking sorry. I think about it every day. That my career is founded on cheating and lies."

"You should. You don't deserve to be here. It should have been me!"

Seonghwa lunged forward, gripping Minho's collar and pushing him against the wall. He collided with it, the sound echoing through the stairwell.

"I know. I don't."

"I should go to JYP and tell him right now! I could end you! I could strip everything away from you, just like you did to me!" Seonghwa felt hot tears bursting from his eyes.

"I know and I wouldn't blame you but—I'm here to beg you not to."

Seonghwa scoffed.

"So you told me this so I would feel pity because you were honest and not turn you in? You're just manipulating me again!"

"No! I'm only telling the truth because you deserve it. I swear! I can't stop you if you tell him the truth, I know that. It was a calculated risk."

"So tell me, why shouldn't I!?"

"Because—I have a reason for staying here. A really damn good one."

"Money? Fame? Reputation?"

"Love."

Seonghwa pulled back. The last time he'd heard him say that word was when it was meant for him. But this time was different.

"Love? You honestly expect me to believe you're capable of that?"

"No, I don't. But I want to show you that I've changed. I still have a lot of problems—and trust me I'm very aware of them—but I've grown. I learned from my mistakes and—I don't want to fuck things up this time. And if you get me kicked out...I'll lose him."

Seonghwa released Minho finally, and the two separated.

Seonghwa moved to the staircase and sat on the bottom step, not sure how to process his words. He wasn't certain he was thinking clearly enough to trust a thing Minho said.

"I thought you guys had a dating ban?"

Minho laughed and took a seat next to him.

"So you got the terms and conditions packet? It's pretty hefty, isn't it?"

"It's outrageous! Why would you ever sign away your life like that!?"

"Some of us didn't get into nice companies like you. Sure it's a great building but that's about it. But I still wouldn't have it any other way. Not if that means I never got to meet Jisung."

Seonghwa looked up, seeing Minho's eyes widen.

"Shit."

"That's okay, I already had a guess. Unfortunately, I don't think you're as secretive as you think you are. You two have to be careful."

The color seemed to drain from Minho's face.

"We were that obvious? You only saw us together once! Fuck! If JYP finds out he'll tear Stray Kids apart!"

Seonghwa was surprised to see Minho bury his head in his hands, slamming the back of his heel against the ground.

"Hey—it's okay, I'm sure I was only noticing because I was a little—jealous."

Seonghwa felt his face heating up at the admission but he knew it was the only way to get Minho to calm down and turn to face him.

"Jealous?"

"Well you left me with a lot of unresolved feelings. So seeing you the first time since you left...it brought back a lot of those."

Seonghwa felt his hands shaking as his cheeks burned.

"I'm sorry. I knew I was such a toxic influence so I thought that if I removed myself from your life that was the only way you'd feel better. I ruined you so I didn't think it was fair to stay with you. You deserved to be rid of me."

"I never thought of it that way. I thought you got bored of me or maybe you thought I wasn't worth your time anymore. I thought it was my fault. I was such a failure, I thought you thought I was pathetic."

"You? Pathetic? You're the most determined and talented person I've ever met! Honestly, I was the pathetic one. Clearly."

"Clearly."

Their eyes locked and they shared a soft smile.

"Hey, just so you know, you still deserve to be here."

"Bullshit. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

"That doesn't mean you didn't prove your worth once you got here."

"Stop, you don't have to comfort me. You've never even seen me sing or play guitar."

"I don't need to. I know you. Sure you were an ass most of the time but you're a hard worker and you care a lot. Maybe not about me, but about other things. Clearly you cared a lot about your career if you did all of that to get in here. And you're still here, aren't you? You wouldn't have made it into a band if you sucked. I can guarantee that."

Seonghwa smiled at Minho but he wasn't smiling.

"Stop, you aren't allowed to make me feel better after what I did to you. I deserve to feel like a pathetic piece of shit."

"Minho, you may have fucked me over and fucked me up a little, but I'm good now. And...if you hadn't taken away my internship, I might not have ever met the love of my life either."

Minho looked up.

"Wait, what!? You're dating a bandmate too?"

"Yeah," Seonghwa said with a shy smile.

"Oh duh, it's Hongjoong isn't it?"

Seonghwa brushed a piece of hair behind his ear, avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah," he laughed.

"Aw, you guys seem pretty cute. Both incredibly high-strung and passionate about what you do. That must make things a little difficult?"

Seonghwa looked away.

"Well actually...we're kind of in a rough patch right now."

Seonghwa flinched as he felt a hand rest on his thigh.

"Sorry—I don't normally—I'm not really big on physical contact but all my members are—I never know how to read a situation—I didn't mean it like that—"

"It's okay, sorry. I just didn't expect it that's all."

"I just wanted to ask you what happened."

Seonghwa bit his lip.

"The contract. No dating. Period."

"You guys didn't break up, did you?" Seonghwa glanced at Minho and felt a rush of butterflies when he saw genuine concern in his eyes.

"No, well...I don't know. I don't think so. It's just...Hongjoong wants to stay. He thinks it's the logical solution. But how could living a lie be the logical solution?!"

"Wow. You really have changed."

Seonghwa looked back at Minho who smirked playfully.

"What?! Changed how??"

"The Seonghwa I knew would've agreed completely, no hesitation. Hell you probably would've dumped him on the spot."

"Because you fucked me up. Not because that's normal. Or logical."

"Fair point. But as a person who is actively hiding my relationship to stay at this company...I think you should consider it."

Seonghwa groaned, moving to stand.

"I'm serious! It's really not so bad. There's no cameras in the residential areas to keep us safe from hackers, so anytime we're in the dorms we are free to do what we want."

"And what if someone comes up to your floor and catches you?"

"JYP never comes up there, we always meet him in his office or in the studio. And anyone else needs to be let in by one of us so we all watch out for each other."

"Hold on—how many of you are dating?"

"Aish—like I would tell you! It's our biggest secret! Not that I don't trust you, it's just they come first. And you have many reasons to use information against me, so I don't want to take anyone else down with me."

"Other than your not-so-secret boyfriend."

"If you so much as say his name in front of JYP I will throw you off this building. Just warning you."

"Jesus I was just kidding. Clearly this dating ban has you more on edge than you think it does. I don't want that to happen to Hongjoong and I. We have something good—really good—and I don't want to fuck it up again."

"What did you do last time?"

"None of your business."

"Figured I'd at least try to get some dirt on you."

"Clearly you're still as foolish as ever."

"Oh yeah? Then explain how I got into your dormitory and knocked on your door without help?"

Seonghwa was pretty stumped by that one.

"How did you get into our dorm? I thought you said they were secure?"

"They're secure as long as you know how to work the system. Knowing how to keep it locked teaches you a lot about how to get it open."

Just then, Seonghwa burst out laughing. Minho stepped back in surprise, struck with confusion.

"What?"

"I'm sorry—it's just—that sounded so sexual."

Minho thought for a moment before rolling his eyes. But he couldn't help but laugh along. Seonghwa's laughter was contagious.

Slowly the laughter died out and they were left in silence.

"Well, I guess you'd better head back to your own dorm," Seonghwa said awkwardly, his eyes on his shoes.

"I guess I should. Hey, I'm glad we talked. I know it isn't going to fix anything that I did to you but...I'm glad I could at least give you the explanation you deserved."

"I'm glad too. I still hate you. But...I missed you."

Seonghwa's face heated even though he hadn't meant to sound flirtatious. Minho just laughed.

"You know what? I missed you, too."

After an awkward smile, Seonghwa turned to exit the stairwell but paused as Minho's footsteps echoed down the staircase.

He turned back.

"Minho!" he called out.

The footsteps stopped and he saw Minho's head pop out over the railing below.

"What?"

"Do you really think we'll be okay? If we stay here?"

Minho scoffed, shaking his head. He started heading down the stairs again.

"I'm serious! You're not just lying to pressure me into staying here, are you?"

"You think I want you hanging around me all the time reminding me of what a horrible person I am? God no! But I do want what's best for you and...I think you should consider it. If I can find someone then there's no way in hell you can't make your relationship work."

Seonghwa sighed, not receiving the answer he'd wanted but satisfied nonetheless.

They could give it a shot.

He and Hongjoong had been through so much already. They would be okay.

As long as he hadn't already screwed everything up.