Minjae told himself it didn't mean anything.
The blanket.
The cleaned dishes.
The fact that Seungho had stayed quiet the entire evening after waking up, barely saying more than a few words before retreating to the couch again.
It didn't mean anything.
It was temporary.
Everything about this situation was temporary.
So why—
Why did it feel like something was slowly settling into place?
By the third day, Minjae had established rules.
Strict ones.
"You don't touch my things."
Seungho nodded lazily. "Got it."
"You clean up after yourself."
"Yeah, yeah."
"You don't invite people over."
That made Seungho pause.
"…Wasn't planning to."
Minjae crossed his arms. "Good."
"Anything else?" Seungho asked.
Minjae hesitated.
Then said, more quietly, "Stay out of my room."
Seungho's expression shifted slightly.
Not mocking.
Not careless.
Just… something unreadable.
"…I will," he said.
School—no, work—was the only place Minjae could breathe normally.
It was a small café tucked into a side street, quiet most of the time, with soft music and warm lighting. The kind of place where people didn't ask too many questions.
Where he didn't have to think about the past.
"Minjae!"
He turned at the sound of his name.
And immediately relaxed.
"Hey," he said.
Jiho walked over, still tying his apron, a bright grin already on his face.
"You're early today," Jiho said.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Again?" Jiho frowned slightly. "You've been like that all week."
Minjae shrugged. "Just adjusting."
"Adjusting to what?"
Minjae hesitated.
He hadn't told Jiho.
Didn't know how to.
Hey, remember the guy who made my life miserable? Yeah, he's living with me now.
Yeah. No.
"Nothing important," Minjae said.
Jiho didn't look convinced.
But he didn't push.
Instead, he nudged Minjae lightly with his elbow. "Well, at least you're here now. I was getting bored without you."
Minjae huffed out a small laugh. "You're always bored."
"Only when you're not around."
Minjae shook his head—but something about that felt… nice.
Easy.
Normal.
Seungho wasn't supposed to show up.
That much was clear.
Minjae had said nothing about where he worked.
Hadn't invited him.
Hadn't even hinted.
So when the café door opened with a soft chime—
And Minjae looked up—
And saw him standing there—
His entire body went still.
"…What are you doing here?"
Jiho blinked. "You know him?"
Minjae didn't answer right away.
Because Seungho was looking at him.
Not the café.
Not the menu.
Just him.
"I was nearby," Seungho said casually. "Thought I'd stop in."
Minjae frowned. "How did you—"
"Your bag," Seungho cut in. "You left it open this morning. Your uniform was inside."
Minjae's stomach dropped.
He had been careful.
He was careful.
"…You went through my stuff?" he said quietly.
Seungho didn't look guilty.
"Relax. I wasn't snooping."
"That's exactly what that is."
Jiho glanced between them, confused. "Uh… should I come back later or…?"
"No," Minjae said quickly. "It's fine."
Seungho stepped closer to the counter, hands in his pockets.
"I'll take whatever he recommends," he said, nodding toward Minjae.
Jiho brightened immediately. "Oh! Then you're in good hands."
Minjae resisted the urge to sigh.
"Just sit down," he muttered. "I'll bring something."
The entire time Minjae prepared the drink—
He could feel it.
Seungho's presence.
Heavy. Watching.
Unavoidable.
And when he turned—
Jiho was already at Seungho's table.
Laughing.
Talking.
Comfortable.
Minjae's grip tightened slightly around the tray.
Why was Jiho talking to him like that?
Like they were friends.
Like Seungho hadn't—
Like he wasn't—
Minjae forced the thought away.
It didn't matter.
None of it mattered.
"Here."
Minjae set the drink down a little harder than necessary.
Jiho blinked. "Whoa, careful—"
"It's fine," Minjae said quickly.
Seungho didn't touch the drink.
He was looking at him again.
"Busy?" he asked.
Minjae crossed his arms. "I'm working."
"Clearly."
"Then don't distract me."
Jiho frowned slightly. "Hey, you don't have to—"
"It's okay," Seungho said suddenly.
Both of them looked at him.
Seungho leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable.
"I didn't realize I was interrupting something."
Minjae's chest tightened.
"That's not—"
"Don't worry about it," Seungho added, already standing up.
Jiho looked confused. "Wait, you just got here—"
"I've seen enough."
Minjae froze.
"…What does that mean?"
Seungho didn't answer.
He just looked at him—
Then at Jiho—
Then back again.
And for a brief moment—
Something sharp flickered in his eyes.
Something that looked a lot like—
Jealousy.
"I'll head out," he said quietly.
And then he left.
The bell above the door chimed softly as it closed.
Silence followed.
Jiho turned to Minjae slowly.
"…Okay," he said. "What was that?"
Minjae stared at the door.
"I don't know."
But that wasn't true.
Not really.
Because something about the way Seungho looked—
The way his voice changed—
The way he left—
It felt familiar.
Too familiar.
That night, when Minjae got home—
The apartment was dark.
But Seungho was there.
Sitting on the floor this time, back against the couch, head tilted slightly back as if he had been staring at the ceiling for a long time.
Minjae closed the door quietly.
Neither of them spoke at first.
Then—
"You seem comfortable there."
Seungho let out a quiet breath. "At the café?"
"Yes."
Minjae set his bag down. "It's my job."
Seungho nodded slowly.
"And him?"
Minjae stiffened. "What about him?"
"He seems close to you."
Minjae frowned. "Jiho's just a coworker."
"Just?" Seungho repeated.
"Yes, just."
Seungho looked down, letting out a small, humorless laugh.
"…Right."
Something in Minjae snapped slightly.
"What is your problem?" he asked.
Seungho looked up.
And this time—
There was no hiding it.
"I don't like it."
Minjae blinked. "You don't like what?"
"The way he looks at you."
The words landed heavy.
"What are you talking about?" Minjae said.
Seungho stood slowly.
"The way he talks to you. Stands too close. Smiles like—"
"He's just being friendly!"
Seungho shook his head. "No."
"Then what?" Minjae demanded.
Seungho stepped closer.
Too close.
"He likes you."
The room went still.
Minjae stared at him.
"…And why do you care?" he asked quietly.
That was the question.
The real one.
Seungho froze.
For the first time since this all started—
He didn't have an answer.
His jaw tightened slightly.
His gaze dropped.
"…I don't," he muttered.
Minjae let out a short laugh.
"Right."
But neither of them believed that.
That night—
The silence between them wasn't empty anymore.
It was full of something unspoken.
Something tense.
Something neither of them was ready to name.