Along your steps | MINSUNG

28

Minho was hurting. Han was avoiding him. It had been two weeks since Minho could even properly talk to Han. Whenever he went near Han, the older would make some excuse to get away from him while he was behaving perfectly normal with other boys. He wanted to know if he did something but Han wouldn't bother talking to him.

He dragged his feet to the dining table only to not find Han again. He wasn't having his meals with the other boys for the past week. He gave a lame excuse of sudden change in his hunger pattern. No one knew if and when he ate. Minho lost his appetite not seeing the elder again. Therefore, he sat on the table and just had a glass of water.

Han wasn't any different either. Only he knew how he controlled himself from running into Minho's arms. He absolutely hated himself for acting that way but ultimately, this was what was good for them. He despised seeing Minho's dejected face but if it was for his success, he was ready for this short term pain. However, Han was wrong. This wasn't what Minho wanted. The pain in Minho's heart that etched from Han's ignorance was stronger than happiness that would exude from his success. Smiling for the camera was getting harder and harder for Minho.

The other boys weren't unaware about the situation. They could see how both of them were hurting. They tried to get the truth from Han but he dismissed the matter as if it didn't impact him at all.

"Hyung, you should rest today. You haven't slept last night at all. Today is just rehearsals. I'll talk to Sungie Hyung for a day off." Being Minho's roommate, Minjoon knew how Minho's sleeping pattern was getting worse.

"Naah!! I'll be fine, Joon! Don't worry" Minho gave a smile to support his statement.

'At least, I can see him there.'

-

"Yes, hyung?"

"Um- hyunnie, can you please give it to Minho. He didn't have breakfast today either. I need to run an errand real quick." Han said while giving Sehyun a brown box.

"What do you want? Channie hyung was
going to get more drinks for us. He'll get your things as well." Sehyun wanted Han to give the box to Minho himself so that they could sort out whatever was going on between them.

"That- Channie won't be able to able to find those. They are very specific. I'll get a ride with him. You can just give it to him" Before Sehyun could oppose, Han handed him the box and ran away.

Sehyun debated for a while but eventually went in the hall to give Minho the box.

"Hyung! You didn't have lunch too?  You'll die at this rate. Eat this!"

"Aww... how thoughtful. I didn't see you carrying this!" Minho tried to joke.

"Sungie Hyung gave this." It would be a lie if I said that Minho wasn't pleasantly surprised.

He looked around the room and met a pair of eyes through the mirror. Those eyes, which were peaking from the window behind Minho, panicked on meeting his eyes. It was Han.

For some reasons, Han couldn't move. His legs were freezed and and his eyes were stuck.

"I'm not hungry, Sehyun. I'll eat later." Minho's eyes turned red because of all the emotions he was holding yet he didn't remove his eyes off Han's face. However, Han couldn't maintain the eye contact after seeing Minho's expression. He could feel those angry eyes piercing his skin. He hid behind the wall next to window and closed his eyes.

'This is for his good. Han, stay strong! It is for his career. I can't ruin it.'

-

Han was with Minjoon and Taeyang for their vocal lessons while someone substituted him to stay with other boys. This was also done at the behest of Han who wanted to stay away from Minho as much as possible and he was actually sucessful this time. It had been almost three weeks since he started distancing himself from Minho.