Minho's arms tightened around Seo-Jun, the world narrowing to the feel of Seo-Jun's body against his. His eyes, wide and glistening with unshed tears, locked onto Seo-Jun's shoulder as the truth dawned. "Now I get it..." The thought reverberated through him, a seismic shift in his understanding. "He was never the person everyone thought he was. The tough exterior, the guarded words—it was all a facade. He did everything… simply out of fear. Fear of being alone, of being abandoned forever. And I... I won't let that happen." He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to breathe. "He is gentle..."
Memories flooded his mind, each one a brushstroke painting a new portrait of Seo-Jun. The careful way he'd guided Minho's clumsy fingers through the folds of origami, the soft smile on Seo-Jun's face. The quiet intensity with which he'd cleaned and bandaged his wounds, his touch surprisingly tender. The image of a shared origami session, and the moment he helped him with his wound, were replaying like a movie. "He is protective..." The memory of a confrontation, a snarling gang, and Seo-Jun stepping forward, a wall between Minho and potential harm, flashed before his eyes. The cold fury in Seo-Jun's gaze, the way he'd fearlessly stood his ground—it was a protective instinct, a fierce loyalty that Minho had never fully appreciated.
"He is... kind..." The small kitten that perched precariously on the bench, mewing in distress. Seo-Jun's gentle coaxing, the careful way he'd helped the creature down, cradling it in his arms. It was a small act, but it spoke volumes about his heart. The recollection of that moment made his heart ache. "He doesn't deserve the things that happened to him in the past. People did him wrong. But not anymore. I won't let it happen again!"
He pulled back, the physical separation mirroring the emotional distance he'd allowed to grow between them. His voice trembled, the words catching in his throat. "I never knew you went through all of this." A shaky breath escaped him, and he sniffed, trying to regain control. "All by yourself."
Seo-Jun's soft smile was his reply, a beacon of understanding. He reached up, his fingers brushing gently against Minho's cheek, wiping away the tears that had finally spilled over. Then, with a silent invitation, he pulled Minho back into the embrace, a promise of comfort.
The world contracted to the space between them, a tight, fragile bubble of emotion. Minho's arms tightened, a vise around Seo-Jun, the physical pressure a desperate attempt to anchor himself to the moment. His voice, a raw whisper against Seo-Jun's shoulder, was thick with a confession he'd held back for far too long. "You are good enough..." The words were a prayer, a plea, a promise all rolled into one. Then, as if needing to solidify the truth, he pulled back slightly, his gaze fierce, his voice cracking with conviction. "You are good enough, Jun! You are just good enough the way you are!"
A shuddering sniff, a broken sound, escaped him. He pulled back further, his eyes blazing with a newfound resolve. "I can protect you! I can take care of you!" Seo-Jun, caught off guard by the sudden intensity, a mixture of surprise and a blossoming joy on his face, responded with a soft giggle, his own arms wrapping around Minho in another tight embrace. "Thank you..." he murmured, the words barely audible, a silent acknowledgment of the weight lifted, the unspoken fears finally acknowledged.
A minute stretched, an eternity held in the shared embrace. Minho's control shattered again, and sobs wracked his body, his face buried in Seo-Jun's shoulder. Seo-Jun's fingers gently stroked his hair, a silent comfort.
Seo-Jun chuckled softly, pulling back gently, his fingers wiping away the tears that streamed down Minho's cheeks. "Now, now. What's with the tears?" He offered a tender smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You want me to fall for you even more?"
Minho sniffed, a frown tugging at his lips. "Shut up." But a giggle escaped him, betraying the tremor of a smile. He looked down, embarrassed, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. He then lifted his gaze, meeting Seo-Jun's eyes, the weight of the past pressing down on him. "I am sorry... I am so sorry, Jun... for everything that happened to you..."
Seo-Jun looked at him, his smile unwavering, his touch gentle as he rubbed Minho's cheek. "It's not your fault, dummy. Why are you apologising?"
Minho's voice was heavy, laced with the bitter taste of regret. "Because... I've now realised that I have been misunderstanding you from the beginning... everyone did... Everything that my team and I did... was wrong."
A single tear escaped, tracing a path down Minho's cheek. Seo-Jun gently wiped it away, his silence a balm, a silent acceptance, a promise of a future where the past no longer held the same power.
The confession hung in the air, soft and vulnerable. "I... haven't even thought that I will end up here with you... telling you about my past... I should thank you." Seo-Jun murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Minho, confusion etched on his features, tilted his head. "For what?" Seo-Jun's smile was a gentle curve, a beacon in the dimness. "For opening my heart again... I have lost hope. I thought that I was never going to feel love the way it is supposed to feel. But... you came into my life and brought back that hope for happiness."
Tears, unbidden, welled in Minho's eyes, blurring his vision. Seo-Jun's laughter, light and teasing, broke the spell. "Why are you crying now?" Mortified, Minho swatted at him playfully. "I am not crying! Something just got into my eye!" The lie was transparent, a flimsy shield against the raw emotion that threatened to spill over. He rubbed at his eyes, a futile attempt to hide the truth. Seo-Jun, however, saw through the charade. "Has someone ever told you that you are a bad liar?" he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
Minho, feigning a stony facade, retaliated with a gentle shove to Seo-Jun's shoulder. "Shut up." Seo-Jun smiled and gently held Minho's hand that hit him. His gaze softened, a promise forming in the depths of his eyes. "I will try to win your heart. Despite the fears I have... I will try to show you that I will be able to make you happy, Minho. I promise." A blush crept up his neck, painting his cheeks a delicate pink. Minho, his own face burning, mirrored the smile, a mixture of vulnerability and burgeoning affection. A giggle escaped his lips, and he couldn't resist the urge to tease. "Ha, good luck with that." Seo-Jun's expression was a picture of mock shock. "Hey, what is that supposed to mean?!" But Minho only laughed, the sound infectious, and Seo-Jun, caught in its spell, found himself smiling softly back.