Chapter 23 - A Line in the Sand

Hyunjin lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, sleep an impossible thing to grasp. His mind was too full, emotions tangled like a knot he couldn't untie.

Minho's words echoed in his head. I don't know what I feel anymore.

How much longer was he supposed to endure this?

He turned to his side, pressing his cheek against the pillow. He wasn't even sure why he was still here.

Then, a memory surfaced.

Flashback – Two Nights Ago

Hyunjin sat on the couch in Chan's apartment, wrapped in a blanket. Felix had made him tea, and Changbin sat beside him, an arm draped over his shoulder in silent support.

Chan, however, was pacing.

"You can't go back." His voice was firm, his anger barely contained. "This is ridiculous, Hyunjin. He hit you. What's next? Are you waiting for it to happen again?"

Felix bit his lip, looking between them. "Hyunjin, I don't want you to get hurt."

Hyunjin sighed, gripping the edge of the blanket. "I know."

"Then why?" Changbin asked softly.

He exhaled, staring down at his lap. "Because... I don't want to walk away just yet."

Chan stopped pacing. "Are you serious?"

Hyunjin nodded. "I know you guys don't understand. And maybe I don't either. But this marriage, as fake as it is, is still mine. I don't want to just run at the first sign of trouble."

Changbin frowned. "Hyunjin, this isn't just trouble. It's—"

"I know," Hyunjin cut in, voice quiet. "But if I walk away now, I'll never know if I tried hard enough. And if... if it happens again, if he hurts me again, then I will leave. I promise."

The room was silent.

Chan finally sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "I don't like this."

"I don't either," Felix muttered.

Changbin sighed. "But we will hold you to that promise, Hyunjin."

Hyunjin smiled softly, his chest warming at their concern. "I know."

End Flashback

Now, lying in bed, he exhaled slowly.

That was why he was still here.

But for how much longer?

--

The next day, Hyunjin woke up to the sound of movement outside his room. He checked his phone. Minho was up.

He sighed, pushing himself out of bed.

When he entered the kitchen, Minho was already at the table, eating breakfast. He didn't even look up.

Hyunjin bit the inside of his cheek. Is this how it's going to be now?

"Morning," he said, voice neutral.

Minho didn't respond.

Hyunjin sat down across from him, pouring himself a cup of tea. He studied Minho, waiting for him to say something. But Minho's face was blank, his focus entirely on his food.

Hyunjin wasn't sure why it irritated him.

"Are we just going to keep ignoring each other?"

Minho finally glanced up. "You're the one who wanted to talk last night. I told you it was pointless."

Hyunjin swallowed, gripping his cup. "So that's it? We just pretend everything is fine?"

Minho scoffed. "Hasn't that been your specialty since the beginning?"

The words hit harder than they should have.

Hyunjin exhaled through his nose. "You know what? Fine. Do whatever you want, Minho."

Minho didn't respond.

Hyunjin stood up, taking his tea with him as he left the kitchen.

This was getting exhausting.

--

Later that evening, Hyunjin sat in the living room, flipping through his phone. The tension between him and Minho was suffocating, but he refused to let it control him.

He had his own life.

His own friends.

His phone buzzed. A message from Jisung.

Jisung: Hey, are you free?

Hyunjin smiled, typing back.

Hyunjin: Yeah, what's up?

Jisung: I'm outside.

Hyunjin blinked.

He got up, walking to the front door and opening it. Sure enough, Jisung stood there, hands in his pockets.

"What are you doing here?" Hyunjin asked, stepping aside to let him in.

Jisung shrugged, toeing off his shoes. "Just wanted to check on you."

Hyunjin's chest warmed. "I'm okay."

Jisung raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Because you don't look okay."

Hyunjin rolled his eyes, but a small smile played at his lips. "You're annoying."

"I know." Jisung plopped onto the couch, stretching out like he owned the place. "So, what's the plan? You gonna sit here and sulk, or are we watching a movie?"

Hyunjin chuckled, shaking his head. "A movie sounds nice."

He grabbed the remote and scrolled through the selections, finally settling on a random comedy.

As the movie played, Hyunjin slowly started to relax. Jisung's presence was comforting, his casual banter a welcome distraction.

But then—

A door opened.

Minho stepped into the living room, stopping in his tracks when he saw them. His eyes flickered from Hyunjin to Jisung, something unreadable crossing his face.

Jisung noticed too.

His expression remained neutral, but Hyunjin could sense the shift in his demeanor.

Minho exhaled sharply. "Didn't realize we had company."

Hyunjin looked away. "Jisung just dropped by."

Minho hummed, walking past them toward the kitchen.

Jisung leaned closer to Hyunjin, lowering his voice. "Is he always like that?"

Hyunjin sighed. "Lately, yeah."

Jisung shook his head. "He's an idiot."

Hyunjin didn't disagree.

--

As the night wore on, Minho stayed in his room.

Hyunjin wanted to pretend it didn't bother him. That Minho's avoidance didn't feel like a slow rejection of everything they were supposed to be.

But it did.

It did.

When Jisung finally left, Hyunjin lingered in the living room, staring at the ceiling.

Minho was shutting him out. Again.

Hyunjin clenched his fists.

Maybe... maybe it was time to start letting go, too.