Chapter 48: The Weight of Realization

Minho was screwed.

That was the only thought running through his mind as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his heart still pounding from the moment he had just experienced.

I like Hyunjin.

The words kept replaying, looping in his head over and over again, like a song he couldn't turn off.

This wasn't just some fleeting emotion.

This wasn't just tolerance turning into something manageable.

This was something deeper.

Something irreversible.

Minho groaned, throwing an arm over his face.

Because now that he'd admitted it to himself, there was no going back.

But the worst part?

Seungmin.

--

Minho had spent weeks trying to pretend this wasn't happening.

Telling himself that his jealousy was just irritation.

That the way his heart clenched when Hyunjin smiled at him was just... nothing.

That his urge to protect him, to take care of him, wasn't anything significant.

But now, there was no use pretending.

No use denying the obvious truth.

Minho was falling for his husband.

And Seungmin was still in the picture.

--

Minho exhaled sharply, rolling over and grabbing his phone from the nightstand.

His thumb hovered over Seungmin's contact.

What am I supposed to do?

He couldn't just break up with Seungmin out of nowhere.

Seungmin had been by his side before all of this.

Through everything.

He had convinced himself that Seungmin was the one.

And yet—

Why did it feel like he was lying to himself now?

His grip on his phone tightened.

He needed to talk to Seungmin.

But how?

What was he supposed to say?

"Hey, I know we've been together for years, but I accidentally fell for the husband I swore I hated"?

He scoffed bitterly.

It sounded ridiculous even in his head.

--

Minho woke up the next morning with a headache.

Not from drinking, not from exhaustion—just from thinking too much.

And then there was Hyunjin.

Bright as ever, floating around the kitchen in one of Minho's oversized sweaters, making breakfast like it was just another normal day.

But to Minho, nothing felt normal anymore.

He stared at Hyunjin from the doorway, watching the way the sunlight streamed in through the windows, catching in the strands of his hair, making him glow.

Minho's heart ached.

This wasn't fair.

He was supposed to hate this marriage.

He was supposed to hate him.

But instead, Hyunjin was ruining everything—without even trying.

--

Hyunjin looked up and grinned when he noticed Minho standing there.

"Morning! You want coffee?"

Minho swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.

"...Yeah."

Hyunjin nodded, pouring him a cup and sliding it across the counter.

Minho took it, avoiding his gaze.

This was the problem.

Hyunjin was always like this.

Always kind. Always warm.

And now, Minho felt it all.

Every single little thing.

Hyunjin had no idea what kind of effect he had.

And Minho had no idea what to do about it.

--

Later that afternoon, Minho finally worked up the nerve to call Seungmin.

It had been days since they last talked.

That alone was already a problem.

Seungmin picked up on the second ring.

"Hey, babe," he greeted. "Been a while."

Minho swallowed. "Yeah, sorry. Just... been busy."

There was a pause.

Minho could feel Seungmin's skepticism.

"Busy?" Seungmin echoed. "With what?"

Minho hesitated.

How was he supposed to explain this?

That his entire world was shifting?

That he was standing on the edge of something he couldn't control?

"...Stuff at home," Minho said finally.

Seungmin sighed. "Minho. What's going on?"

Minho closed his eyes.

He couldn't do this over the phone.

Not like this.

"...We need to talk," he muttered.

Seungmin went silent.

And Minho knew—

He knew Seungmin felt it too.

The shift.

The inevitable.

"Alright," Seungmin said, voice quieter. "Let's talk then."

Minho exhaled slowly, dread settling in his chest.

Because no matter how this conversation went—

Nothing would ever be the same again.