Minho🎬

The morning air feels fresh and calm, with the sun rising higher as you make your way through the campus. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions recently, and even though you’ve been trying to focus on school, there's this one thing weighing on your mind that you can't shake off.

Minho.

You haven't had the chance to talk to him properly in the past few days. He's been quiet, distant in a way that makes you nervous, like he's already mentally preparing for his upcoming summer vacation. It’s not like he’s leaving for good—just going for the summer to be with his brother—but you can’t ignore the way that distance has begun to feel like more.

You walk across the grassy courtyard and spot him in the distance, walking slowly through the park near the school. He looks like he's lost in his thoughts, his hands tucked in his jacket pockets, shoulders slightly hunched. You pause for a second, unsure whether to interrupt or just let him have his moment. But something inside you urges you to go. You need to talk to him.

You take a breath, then walk toward him.

"Hey," you say, your voice soft but carrying in the quiet morning.

Minho looks up, his eyes meeting yours as he pushes his hands out of his pockets, breaking into that familiar grin. "Hey," he responds, a bit more warmly than you expected. There’s an underlying sincerity to it that makes your heart skip a beat.

You feel the weight of the words you’ve been meaning to say hanging in your chest, and you let out a breath. “I... I’m going to stay this semester. I know I haven’t really said it, but I needed to let you know."

He looks at you curiously, his expression shifting slightly. "I’m glad to hear that," he says, his voice lighter. "I wasn’t sure what was going on with you lately."

You pause, trying to find the right words. It’s a mix of relief and nervousness, but you know you need to tell him what you’ve been feeling. "Well, I needed to talk to you before you leave for your summer vacation," you start, taking a step closer to him. "I’ve been thinking about this a lot... and I just want to say that..."

You falter, unsure how to express everything you’ve been carrying. You take a deep breath, trying to push the nerves down. But instead of continuing with words, you suddenly close the space between you and pull him into a hug.

His body stiffens for just a second—surprised, maybe—but then he relaxes, his arms finding their place around you as he holds you close. There’s a moment where everything feels still, just the two of you in the quiet morning. No words are needed. The tension, the buildup of all your emotions, seems to evaporate in that simple embrace.

For a moment, you just hold on to each other, feeling the warmth of his presence. It’s like a silent promise—no matter what happens in the next few months, this is real. Whatever this connection is between you two, it's not going anywhere. And as much as you’ve wanted to say it all aloud, this hug speaks everything you needed to.

You pull back slightly, looking up at him, still close enough that you can feel the steady beat of his heart. Minho looks down at you, his expression soft, but there’s something there—a quiet understanding in his eyes.

“I’m gonna miss you over the summer,” you finally whisper, your heart feeling lighter than it did just moments ago. "But I’m glad we’re still going to see each other before then."

He smiles, brushing a stray strand of hair behind your ear. “I’ll miss you too. And I’ll be back soon. We’ll still have time.”

His words settle in your chest, and the nerves start to slip away. You can handle this. Summer’s just a break, not the end. And maybe this is just the beginning of figuring out what this is between you two.