Alone {𝕄𝕀ℕ𝕊𝕌ℕ𝔾}

Chapter Seventeen

JISUNG SIGHED, BURYING HIS FACE IN HIS HANDS. HE WAS A MESS, AND HE DIDN'T KNOW what to make of the situation anymore. His feelings had been swirling out of control, and it was impacting everything; his friends had noticed that he was hiding something, and he was still struggling to suppress any fling of emotion he felt whenever he saw Minho.

He knew Jiyeon would've known exactly what to do – if anything to make him feel better.

But she's not here anymore, he gritted his teeth. He knew nobody else would ever be able to help him unless he helped himself first. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of his bed. "Cocopuff!" he called, standing up and stretching, watching as the adorable ball of fluff came bounding towards him. Time for a distraction.

"You want a walk, hm?" He smiled when he barked happily, tail wagging excitedly. "Okay, let's go." He scratched him behind the ears and allowed the happiness the dog presented him seep into his own expression.

Pets make everything better.

~#~#~#~#~#~

He hummed a quiet tune to himself as he skipped along behind his leashed dog, taking the scenic route through a quiet, cute little public park. The trees were already withering away with the upcoming winter, painting his surroundings orange and red and yellow; nature's last push against the bleakness called winter.

Cocopuff suddenly began to tug harshly against the leash with such intensity and fervor that Jisung's grip on it weakened. The dog took off running, tongue poking out from its small mouth as it sprinted across the pathway and into the forestry, leash trailing behind him.

"Cocopuff!" Jisung exclaimed, his feet momentarily stalling before he took off running after his small, lovable pet. He pushed passed the branches jabbing at him as he entered the same patch of trees as his small dog had.

He was surprised to find that behind the small circle of trees was a clearing. In its center, Cocopuff giddily yapped and licked a stranger who sat, leaning against one of the thicker tree trunks.

"Cocopuff," he gasped, and the stranger's head snapped up, eyes widening a fraction as he momentarily stopped petting the dog, much to its dismay. The two locked eyes for a moment, and Jisung's insides turned to ice; he was unable to even move a muscle.

Soon enough heat began to creep up his neck, a stark contrast against his previous state. "M-Minho... hi." he uttered, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Minho knew he'd recognized the small dog from somewhere before, and as soon as his eyes landed on his brother's best-friend, he remembered from where.

Minho nodded in acknowledgement, averting his eyes. "Cocopuff, c'mere boy," Jisung crouched down, opening his arms to invite his small pet towards him. He was surprised to hear a chuckle bubble out from the older male.

"W-What?" Jisung tilted his head in confusion. "Cocopuff... is that its name?" He giggled, and the strawberry blonde's jaw dropped. "What's wrong with his name?" He protested, his arms coming to cross over his chest defensively.

"Sorry it's just... who decided that? A five-year-old?" Minho snorted, and Jisung pouted, grumbling under his breath. "I was twelve."

Minho's laugh was so oddly contagious; in the span of a few moments, Jisung was also breaking out into a face-splitting grin, desperately trying to control the chuckles bubbling in his chest, his embarrassment completely forgotten. "It's cute," Minho finally replied, smiling gently at the furry animal as he continued to pet him.

"Thanks," Jisung's own smile softened as he crouched down next to the boy, keeping a fair distance between them. If anything his feelings were in even more disarray than they previously had been.

Something about seeing Minho play with his beloved dog with a sweet smile he often didn't sport on his face stirred up a warm, fuzzy feeling in his chest, and he just wanted to hug the living daylights of the older male.

He chuckled to himself, staring at his pet fondly. His eyes slid upwards towards the brunet, who was leaning a bit away from the tree-trunk now, making silly faces down at the small animal. Why are you so misunderstood?

He began to wonder, biting down harshly on his lip. He no longer felt scared in Minho's presence; he no longer saw the cruel, terrifying boy he'd once imagined. Now all he saw was a mystery, and one question lingered on his mind; how much longer until I solve it?

A/N: I CAN FINALLY WRITE FFS!

Reporting period has officially killed me -- but it's over now so I can finally have an abundance of time to release new content for you guys. So, you can, hehe, maybe, expect a bit of a spam from me (if my teachers decide to cut us some slack, that is). 

Thanks so much for 1k ily <3

Q: What's your favourite season?

A: I'd have to say autumn, but followed closely by winter (don't ask why I don't even know myself).

Lots of love,

~Junnie