Chapter 18 - The Breaking Point

Hyunjin had always believed that if he endured enough, if he kept his head down and weathered the storm, things would eventually get better.

But lately, that belief was starting to feel like a lie.

Because no matter how much he endured, no matter how much kindness he tried to show, the storm never seemed to pass. If anything, it was only getting worse.

And he was getting tired.

--

Hyunjin woke up to silence.

He had barely gotten any sleep the night before. The weight of exhaustion pressed against his body as he stared at the ceiling, unmoving.

His mind replayed the events of the previous day. Chan's worried gaze, his gentle words. The broken glass at the doorstep.

And Minho.

Always Minho.

With a deep breath, he forced himself to move. His body protested, stiff and sore, but he pushed through it, dragging himself out of bed.

The house was cold.

Not just in temperature, but in atmosphere. It was suffocating.

Minho was nowhere to be seen, which wasn't surprising. The only proof that he had even been home at all was the pile of unwashed dishes in the sink and the faint lingering scent of his cologne in the hallway.

Hyunjin ignored the mess and made his way to the bathroom.

He turned on the sink, letting the cold water run over his fingers.

When he looked up, his reflection stared back at him.

The faint bruise on his cheek had almost faded, but the hollowness in his eyes remained.

He hated looking at himself like this.

As if he had already lost.

--

By the time Hyunjin arrived on campus, his exhaustion had only worsened.

He shuffled into his lecture hall, taking a seat toward the back. He barely registered the professor's words, his mind drifting aimlessly.

Then, a voice cut through the fog.

"Hyunjinnie!"

Hyunjin blinked as Jisung plopped into the seat beside him, grinning widely.

"You look like death," Jisung observed. "Like, more than usual."

Hyunjin huffed a small laugh. "Thanks, Jisung. That's exactly what I needed to hear."

Jisung nudged him playfully. "I'm just saying, maybe you should take a break before you literally collapse again."

Hyunjin shook his head. "I'm fine."

Jisung gave him a knowing look. "Jinnie, we both know that's a lie."

Hyunjin hesitated, but before he could respond, Jisung reached into his bag and pulled out a small plastic container.

"Here."

Hyunjin blinked. "What's this?"

"Food," Jisung said simply. "Felix made too much last night, and I figured you might not have eaten."

Something in Hyunjin's chest tightened.

It was such a small gesture, but it meant more than Jisung probably realized.

He accepted the container with a quiet "thank you," feeling an odd warmth spread through him.

Jisung may have only recently joined his circle of friends, but in moments like this, it felt like he had always been there.

--

By the time Hyunjin's classes were over, the sky had darkened considerably.

The air was heavy with the scent of rain, and within minutes, the downpour began.

Hyunjin sighed as he stood under the campus entrance, watching the rain hammer against the pavement.

He had forgotten to bring an umbrella.

"Hyunjinnie!"

He turned to see Jisung jogging toward him, holding up an umbrella.

"Looks like you're out of luck," Jisung teased, tilting his head toward the rain. "Need a lift?"

Hyunjin smiled faintly. "I don't want to bother you."

Jisung rolled his eyes. "Please, you think I'd let you walk home in this?"

Hyunjin hesitated, then finally nodded.

Jisung grinned. "Alright then, let's go."

They walked together under the umbrella, the sound of rain filling the silence between them.

For the first time in a long time, Hyunjin felt something close to peace.

But, like all good things in his life, it didn't last.

--

Hyunjin barely had time to step through the door before he was met with the sharp sound of Minho's voice.

"Where the hell were you?"

Hyunjin turned to see Minho standing in the living room, arms crossed, expression dark.

"I had class," Hyunjin answered evenly.

Minho scoffed. "And after that?"

Hyunjin frowned. "I walked home with Jisung."

The moment Jisung's name left his lips, Minho's expression twisted into something dangerous.

"Of course you did." Minho let out a bitter laugh. "You really don't waste any time, do you?"

Hyunjin stiffened. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Minho stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "You think I don't see what you're doing?" he hissed. "First Chan, now Jisung? How many more guys are you going to throw yourself at?"

Hyunjin's stomach dropped.

"I'm not—"

"Don't lie to me." Minho's voice was sharp, venomous. "I come home to find you missing, and when you finally show up, it's because you were with him?"

Hyunjin took a step back. "Jisung is just my friend."

Minho's lips curled in a sneer. "Right. Just like Chan, right?"

Hyunjin's fingers curled into fists. "Why do you care?"

Minho's eyes flashed.

And then, before Hyunjin could react—

Minho shoved him.

Hard.

Hyunjin's back hit the wall with a dull thud, the impact stealing the breath from his lungs.

His vision blurred for a moment, and when it cleared, Minho was still there, still angry, still looking at him like he was something disposable.

Hyunjin's hands trembled at his sides.

For months, he had endured.

For months, he had told himself that it wasn't worth fighting back.

But now—

Now, something inside him cracked.

Slowly, he straightened, meeting Minho's gaze head-on.

"I'm done," he whispered.

Minho's expression flickered. "What?"

Hyunjin exhaled shakily. "I'm done trying to make this work. I'm done trying to be someone you can walk all over."

Minho scoffed. "Oh, please. Where are you going to go?"

Hyunjin swallowed hard. "Anywhere is better than here."

Minho opened his mouth to say something, but Hyunjin didn't wait to hear it.

He turned on his heel, grabbed his phone, and walked straight out the door—into the rain, into the cold, into the unknown.

He didn't know where he was going.

But for the first time in a long time—

He knew he needed to leave.