Chapter 49: A Conversation That Changes Everything

Minho had faced a lot of things in his life.

Displeased parents, grueling exams, endless late-night dance practices.

But nothing compared to the suffocating weight sitting in his chest right now.

This was it.

The moment he'd been dreading.

The moment he had to face Seungmin—properly.

The moment he had to be honest.

With Seungmin.

With himself.

--

They met at a quiet café, one Seungmin had chosen.

Minho was early.

Of course he was.

He had been anxious the entire day, barely able to focus on anything else.

His leg bounced under the table as he waited, fingers curled tightly around his coffee cup.

Then, the chair across from him scraped against the floor.

Seungmin had arrived.

And Minho swore—he had never felt this nervous in his life.

Seungmin sat down, sliding his phone into his pocket, expression unreadable.

"Alright," he said, leaning forward, arms crossed. "Talk."

Minho swallowed hard.

Where did he even start?

He met Seungmin's gaze.

And that's when he realized—

Seungmin already knew.

Maybe not everything.

But enough.

Enough to understand that something between them had changed.

Minho exhaled sharply.

"Seungmin..." His voice was quieter than he intended. "I—"

"You fell for him."

The words landed like a punch to the stomach.

Minho's breath caught.

Seungmin wasn't asking.

He was stating it.

Because he had already figured it out.

Minho opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Because what could he even say?

Seungmin scoffed, shaking his head.

"You don't even have to answer. I can see it," he muttered. "I've felt it for weeks."

Minho felt his stomach drop.

"...Seungmin, I didn't—"

"You didn't mean to," Seungmin cut him off. "I know."

And for some reason, that made it hurt even more.

--

Seungmin leaned back in his chair, sighing.

"I guess I should've seen this coming," he admitted. "You were always stubborn, Minho. Too stubborn to admit what was happening to you. But I knew."

Minho clenched his jaw.

"I didn't want this to happen," he murmured.

Seungmin gave him a small, sad smile.

"But it did."

Minho shut his eyes, guilt clawing at his chest.

He had never wanted to hurt Seungmin.

Yet here they were.

Seungmin sighed, looking down at his coffee.

"You know, I tried to ignore it at first," he admitted. "I told myself it was just a phase. That you were just confused."

Minho swallowed.

"But?"

Seungmin chuckled bitterly.

"But then I realized—you looked at him differently."

Minho's breath hitched.

"You talked about him differently. Even when you tried to act like you hated him, there was something else there. Something I didn't want to admit."

Silence settled between them, thick and heavy.

Minho felt horrible.

Because Seungmin had seen it before he did.

--

"So what now?" Minho asked quietly.

Seungmin was silent for a moment, then let out a slow breath.

"I think you already know the answer," he said.

Minho clenched his fists.

He did.

He did.

But that didn't make it any easier.

Because this wasn't just a breakup.

This was the end of everything they had built together.

The years.

The memories.

The plans for the future.

All of it.

Seungmin stood up, sliding his hands into his pockets.

"This sucks," he muttered. "But I'm not going to beg you to stay when your heart is already somewhere else."

Minho's throat tightened.

"Seungmin..."

Seungmin offered him a small, sad smile.

"Just don't make me the villain in your story, Minho," he said. "I did love you, you know."

Minho's chest ached.

"I know," he whispered.

Seungmin nodded.

Then, with one last glance, he turned and walked away.

Leaving Minho sitting there, alone—

And realizing, for the first time, that everything had changed.

--

Minho wasn't sure how long he sat in that café, staring blankly at his untouched coffee.

His mind was a mess.

Seungmin was gone.

Their relationship was over.

And the terrifying part?

Minho wasn't relieved.

He wasn't happy.

Because even though he had done the right thing—

It still hurt.

By the time he got home, it was already dark.

The house was quiet.

And the only source of light was coming from the living room, where Hyunjin was curled up on the couch, reading a book.

Minho stopped in the doorway.

Just looking at him made his chest feel tight.

Because this was what his heart had chosen.

Hyunjin noticed him then, looking up with that same soft, bright smile.

"You're home."

And just like that—

The weight on Minho's chest eased, even just a little.

Because maybe, just maybe—

This was where he was always meant to be.