InsidetheRoom
The moment Jaehan stepped out, the tension in the hallway exploded.
The boys crowded around him at once.
"Did he wake up?"
"Is he okay?"
"Can we see him now?"
Jaehan didn't answer immediately. His eyes scanned their faces fear, guilt, impatience. He wanted to speak to the doctor, but Yechan was already gone.
"Wait," Jaehan said flatly. "All of you."
No one argued.
Inside the room, it was quiet.
Too quiet.
Jisoo sat beside the bed, Seungmin's hand held tightly in both of his. He hadn't let go even once. He memorized Seungmin's breathing, the slow rise and fall of his chest, the slight twitch of his fingers.
He was terrified that if he blinked too long, Seungmin would disappear again.
Then Seungmin stirred.
His lashes fluttered. His brow creased slightly, like waking hurt.
Jisoo leaned forward instantly.
"Seungmin—"
Seungmin's eyes opened.
For a second, they were unfocused. Then they settled on Jisoo.
Jisoo helped him sit up carefully, one hand supporting his back.
"How do you feel?" Jisoo asked quickly. "Do you need water? Are you dizzy?"
"No," Seungmin said quietly. "I'm fine."
He paused, then looked past Jisoo.
"Where are the others?"
The question hit harder than any slap.
There was a time—Jisoo remembered it clearly—when Seungmin had told him:
When you're here, I don't need anyone else.
That voice echoed in his head like something from another life.
Jisoo swallowed.
"They're outside. Jaehan hyung isn't letting them in."
Seungmin nodded slightly, then leaned back against the pillow and closed his eyes again, like even this much conversation was exhausting.
Jisoo panicked.
"Seungmin—"
He called his name softly, desperately.
"I know you hate me."
Seungmin didn't respond.
"For what I did… I deserve it," Jisoo continued. "When I was with you before, I lied to myself. I pretended everything was fake. I didn't feel regret. I didn't feel guilty."
His voice cracked.
"But when you were gone… it felt like someone ripped something out of me. Like I lost a part of myself and couldn't get it back."
He tightened his grip on Seungmin's hand.
"You can hate me as much as you want. But I love you. I know I do."
Silence.
Then Seungmin spoke, eyes still closed.
"Did my father ask you to say this?"
Jisoo froze.
"No," he said immediately. "He didn't."
Seungmin opened his eyes and looked at him.
"How can I trust you again . it's hard.," he said coldly.
Jisoo's tears finally fell.
"I know," he whispered. "I know it'll be hard. But… can you forgive me? Just once. Just this time. I promise I will never hurt you ever again."
Seungmin was quiet for a long moment.
Then—
"Yes," he said.
Jisoo's breath hitched.
"I forgive you."
Hope surged—
And died immediately.
"But we can't go back," Seungmin continued. "What we had is over. That part of us is finished."
Jisoo's chest tightened.
"Let's just be friends," Seungmin said calmly. "Everyone's tired of the tension in between us. It will be better to sort it out."
Jisoo forced a smile.
"Yeah," he said. "Friends."
It was the last thing he wanted.
But it was all he was allowed to have.
Seungmin studied him for a second longer.
"And about your feelings," he added, voice steady.
"I think people should take responsibility for their feelings themselves."
Jisoo nodded, humiliated.
"You're right," he said quietly. "I'll deal with mine."
He forced another smile.
"We're good then… right?"
Seungmin nodded once.
"Mm."
Jisoo stood up.
"I'll call the others," he said. "They're worried."
As he walked toward the door, his hand trembled but he didn't turn back.