The next few weeks flew by in a strange but warm rhythm. Between classes, shifts at 143 Café, and dorm life, Han started settling into a routine he never knew he needed. Even though he was constantly tired, emotionally drained, and still dodging calls from his father, there was a subtle lightness in his chest. Like he wasn't alone anymore.And he wasn't.
Not with Minho watching him with that unreadable, warm gaze.
Not with Felix, who despite the chaos of Hyunjin, kept bringing sunshine into his life.Han entered the room after a late closing shift. Minho was already in bed, scrolling through his phone.
"Long night?" Minho asked, voice low and drowsy.
Han nodded, kicking off his shoes. "You have no idea. Changbin tried to make a 'secret menu' smoothie and clogged the blender again."
Minho laughed quietly. "Idiot's gonna blow up the café one day."
Han smiled, sliding under his blanket. The silence between them stretched into something comfortable. Just as Han was starting to drift off, Minho spoke.
"Hey... Han."
"Mm?"
"Do you think I'm difficult to like?"
Han turned toward him, heart thudding. "What? No. Why would you say that?"
Minho was quiet for a second, eyes still on the ceiling. "Sometimes I feel like I make things harder for people. Like I push too much, act cold, don't know when to let people in. But with you... it's not hard. It's never been hard."
Han's breath hitched.
"You make me want to try, Han. You make me want to be soft."
Han didn't say anything at first. He reached across the gap between their beds, his fingers brushing against Minho's hand.
"You don't have to try. Just be yourself. I like all of you — the soft, the sharp, the awkward, the gentle. All of it."
Minho turned to face him, eyes shining in the dark. "You do?"
Han nodded. "I think I've liked you from the moment you smiled at me that first night. Even if you were teasing me."
Minho let out a breath — like he'd been holding it for weeks — and squeezed Han's fingers.
"I've liked you longer than I'll admit," he whispered.