Enemies to lovers - minsung

17- heading home

The train ride was quiet at first.

Jisung was practically vibrating with excitement, scrolling through his phone and pointing out random things about Minho's hometown. Minho, on the other hand, was lost in his thoughts, watching the scenery blur past the window.

He hadn't been home in a while. His parents always told him to visit, but he had put it off, making excuses. Now, he was bringing Jisung with him, and the weight of that decision sat heavy in his chest.

"You okay?" Jisung asked suddenly, nudging his knee against Minho's.

Minho blinked, glancing over. "Yeah. Why?"

"You're being all quiet and broody." Jisung tilted his head. "More than usual."

Minho huffed. "Maybe I just like the quiet."

Jisung grinned. "That's a lie. You love it when I talk."

Minho scoffed, but before he could argue, Jisung reached out and laced their fingers together. His grip was warm, grounding.

Minho sighed, squeezing Jisung's hand once before looking back out the window.

Jisung didn't let go.

—

Minho's family home was exactly the same.

The moment they stepped inside, Minho's mother pulled him into a tight hug, her warmth wrapping around him like a safety net. "You don't visit enough," she scolded, but there was nothing but love in her voice.

Minho let himself sink into it for a second before pulling away. "I'm here now."

His mother's eyes flickered to Jisung, her expression immediately softening. "And you must be Jisung."

Jisung, who had been standing nervously behind Minho, straightened up. "Yes! It's really nice to meet you."

Minho's mom smiled, pulling him into a hug, too. "I've heard so much about you."

Jisung shot Minho a smug look over her shoulder. Minho rolled his eyes.

His father greeted them next, shaking Jisung's hand firmly before giving Minho a look that said they needed to talk later. Minho knew what that meant. His mother might be all warmth and smiles, but his father wouldn't pretend everything was fine.

Jisung, oblivious to the unspoken tension, beamed at everyone and happily took a seat in the living room when Minho's mom insisted they have tea before doing anything else.

Minho sat beside him, trying to ignore the way his parents watched him.

They knew.

They knew why he had finally come home.

But Jisung didn't.

And Minho wasn't ready for that to change.

Dinner that night was lively.

Jisung was effortlessly charming, filling the silence with stories about how he and Minho met, how Minho pretended not to care about him in the beginning, and how things slowly changed. Minho rolled his eyes at half of Jisung's dramatic retellings, but he let him talk.

His mother laughed, his father smiled in that quiet way of his, and for a moment, Minho let himself believe that things were normal.

But the unspoken words sat heavy in his chest.

Later, after dinner, his father asked Minho to take a walk with him.

Minho expected it. He nodded, glancing at Jisung, who was still chatting with his mom. "I'll be back," he murmured.

Jisung flashed him a quick smile before turning back to the conversation, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside Minho's head.

—

They walked in silence for a while, the cool night air wrapping around them. The neighborhood looked the same, smelled the same—like cut grass and pavement still warm from the sun.

His father was the first to speak. "How long are you going to keep it from him?"

Minho stiffened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

His father sighed, stopping to look at him. "Minho."

Minho clenched his jaw. "It's not the right time."

"And when will it be?"

Minho exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. But not now."

His father studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded. "You love him."

It wasn't a question.

Minho swallowed. "Yeah."

His father sighed again, looking up at the sky. "Then don't let the fear of the future ruin what you have now."

Minho didn't answer.

Because deep down, he wasn't afraid of the future.

He was afraid of what would happen when Jisung found out.