The world around Minho blurred, the abruptness of his exit from the kitchen still echoing in his ears. He found solace in the confines of his room, collapsing onto the bed as if the weight of unspoken words had finally caught up to him. The glow of the chat with Jin illuminated the darkness of the room, each message a stark reminder of the ticking clock. "I should hurry with my plan..." he thought, the words a silent plea against the mounting pressure. A sigh escaped his lips, a whisper of frustration, "But it got harder since Lily is here..."
A knock on the door shattered the moment, pulling him back to the present. "Come in!" he called, and the door creaked open to reveal Lily, a vision of quiet grace holding a plate. She approached him slowly, her voice a gentle melody in the tense atmosphere, "Minho, I saw you didn't eat anything for breakfast. Here! I brought your plate!" A smile graced her lips as she offered the food, a gesture of kindness. He took the plate, returning her smile with a grateful nod, saying, "Thanks, Lily!"
Lily settled onto the bed beside him, her gaze fixed on the floor, a veil of guilt clouding her features. "I am sorry about my brother. Really, he is just the worst when it comes to respecting someone and behaving well." Minho attempted to ease the tension. "It is okay." he replied, but her words kept coming. "And I am really sorry about the present too. I didn't think he would throw it away... I am sorry that I made you do it." Her gaze drifted away, unable to meet his eyes. The words hung in the air, each syllable a blow. "So he really threw it away... Ha..." he thought, a wave of disappointment washing over him, leaving him adrift in a sea of unsettling feelings.
The weight of disappointment settled in his chest, a dull ache that resonated with the sting of betrayal. He found himself facing Lily, her gaze filled with remorse, and he knew he had to offer her some solace. "It's okay, Lily. I knew he might do something like that." he said, forcing a smile, though the corners of his eyes betrayed the pain he tried to conceal. Lily's response was immediate, her face etched with concern. She didn't want him to feel awful. She hugged him tight. Minho, taken aback by the sudden embrace, reciprocated, finding a strange comfort in her warmth.
As the hug ended, Lily's demeanour shifted, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. "I will deal with him, don't worry! I will teach him a good lesson!" she declared, a proud smirk playing on her lips. Minho chuckled, the tension easing slightly. "Don't. He is just... Seo-Jun. No one can change him." he replied, knowing the futility of such efforts. Lily, however, was undeterred. "You are underestimating me?! Sit and watch, then!" she retorted, before storming out of the room, leaving Minho to shake his head, a mixture of amusement and exasperation washing over him.
Just then, a message popped up on his phone, the familiar name of Seo-Jun flashing across the screen. "Tonight I will be going to the track. Are you coming with me or continuing to sulk in your room?" it read. Minho rolled his eyes, annoyance bubbling within him. "Asshole." he muttered under his breath, before reluctantly typing back, "I am coming."
The racetrack buzzed with energy, the air thick with the scent of burnt rubber and anticipation. Minho, now a part of Seo-Jun's team, found himself surrounded by Seo-Jun's teammates, their words of praise washing over him. He reviled in the camaraderie, laughing and joking with the others, the thrill of belonging coursing through him. But amidst the throng, one bond stood out, a connection that resonated deeper than the rest: his friendship with Sam.
As the team retreated to their tent, the air filled with the aroma of victory and the clinking of glasses. Minho and Sam, drawn to each other's company, settled at the far end of the table, their conversation animated and filled with shared amusement. Across the tent, Seo-Jun watched them, a storm brewing within him. He observed their easy laughter, the way they leaned in to hear each other, and a knot of frustration tightened in his chest. "What are they whispering about? Why can't they stop smiling?" he thought, his jaw clenching as he tried to ignore the growing irritation. "It's so annoying." He was so consumed by his thoughts that he failed to notice the teammate beside him attempting to get his attention.
"Seo, are you alright?" the teammate asked, but Seo-Jun remained lost in his observations, his gaze locked on Minho and Sam. Without warning, he stood up, his movement silencing the tent. Every eye turned towards him, the jovial atmosphere replaced by a heavy silence. "Minho." he said, his voice low and laced with a barely concealed edge. Minho visibly flinched, the sudden intensity of Seo-Jun's gaze settling upon him like a physical weight. The carefree mood shattered, replaced by a palpable tension that left everyone wondering what would happen next.
Minho's mind reeled. "He called me... by my name..." The words echoed in his head, a mix of surprise and apprehension washing over him. His eyes remained locked on Seo-Jun, whose face was a mask of barely controlled anger. When Seo-Jun turned and said, "Come with me." the command cut through the celebratory atmosphere.
Minho, still in shock, rose to his feet, a knot of unease forming in his stomach. The team's well-meaning encouragement – "Good luck, buddy!" "We will be here for you!" – only amplified his growing sense of dread. "Well... I am fucked." he thought, a wave of resignation washing over him. He followed Seo-Jun out of the tent and into the quiet confines of his tent, the silence amplifying the tension between them.
The air inside the tent was thick with unsettling feelings, the silence between Minho and Seo-Jun a palpable tension. Minho, unable to endure the weight of it any longer, began to speak, his voice a hesitant whisper, "Sir, whatever it is—" but he was abruptly silenced. Seo-Jun spun around, his movements sharp and decisive, his hand shooting out to seize Minho's. The force of the grab was unexpected, yanking Minho off balance and sending him stumbling towards the metal wardrobe where his racing suit hung. The collision was jarring, the cold metal a stark contrast to the heat that suddenly flared in Minho's cheeks. "Sir! What are you doing?!" he gasped, his voice a mixture of shock and confusion, his eyes wide as he desperately sought answers in Seo-Jun's face. But Seo-Jun's expression was stoic, his gaze devoid of any warmth, his eyes cold and unreadable.
His eyes lingered on Minho's, then drifted down to his lips, the memory of Minho's earlier interaction with Sam, the easy smiles and friendly banter, tightening his jaw with a strange, unfamiliar emotion. He didn't understand the sudden surge of irritation, the inexplicable annoyance that prickled beneath his skin. Then, the memory of Lily's words, the casual mention of a kiss, resurfaced in his mind, a seed of a thought taking root. "The alcohol is starting to mess with my head. I am annoyed and irritated all of a sudden, and the only thing I can think of is..." His gaze returned to Minho's lips again, a slow burn of realisation dawning in his eyes. "I can't believe I am going to do this." With a sudden, almost desperate movement, he reached out, his hand cupping the back of Minho's head, his fingers tangling in his hair, and then, he kissed him. The kiss was a collision of surprise and a strange, almost reckless abandon, a culmination of unspoken words and unacknowledged desires.