Just Cry Minjae

After dinner, Jihoon was sprawled out on Minjae's bed, his laptop balanced precariously on his knees as he worked through his biochemistry assignments.

His brows furrowed in concentration as he muttered to himself about molecular interactions. The soft sound of water from the bathroom stopped, and a few moments later, Minjae stepped out of the shower, a towel slung around his waist and another in his hand as he dried his hair.

Minjae leaned against the doorframe, watching Jihoon with a slight smirk. "Biochemistry, huh?"

Jihoon nearly jumped, his laptop wobbling dangerously. "W-What? How do you know that?" he asked, his eyes wide with surprise.

Minjae chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Of course I know. What kind of brother would I be if I didn't keep tabs on what you're studying?"

Jihoon narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping into his expression. "You never showed interest in my studies before. How do you even remember?"

Minjae walked over to the bed, sitting down beside him. "I might've done a little digging. You know, making sure you weren't failing or something." He gave Jihoon a teasing grin. "Turns out my little brother's a science nerd. Who would've thought?"

Jihoon groaned, flopping back onto the pillows. "I'm not a nerd! I just happen to like biochemistry, okay? It's fascinating!"

Minjae raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh, fascinating, huh? Tell me, what's so fascinating about… what is it you're working on? Molecules?"

Jihoon sat up, pointing at his screen. "Enzyme kinetics, actually. It's about how enzymes speed up chemical reactions in the body. It's like—"

Minjae held up a hand, cutting him off with a laugh. "Ok-ok! I get it. You're passionate about it. I'll leave the nerd talk to you."

Jihoon crossed his arms, pouting slightly. "Tch-"

Minjae ruffled Jihoon's hair, his grin softening. "But I'm still proud of you, nerd and all."

Jihoon couldn't help but smile despite himself, the playful banter easing the tension that had built over the day.

Minjae leaned back against the headboard, folding his arms behind his head as he looked at Jihoon, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm glad you're into studies, you know. You've got that discipline and drive that I never had."

Jihoon glanced up from his laptop, tilting his head curiously. "But you're successful. How does that even work if you weren't into studies?"

Minjae chuckled softly, his gaze distant for a moment as if he was sifting through memories. "I had something else—experience. Leading people, making decisions, understanding how the world works, even if it wasn't in the best circumstances. Over time, I figured out how to strategize, how to market ideas, how to make things happen. It wasn't something I learned in school; it was something I had to learn to survive."

Jihoon leaned closer, intrigued. "What kind of experience are you talking about? What exactly were you doing?"

Minjae exhaled deeply, his eyes darkening slightly. "It wasn't in a good environment, Jihoon. Back then, I was surrounded by the bad side of people—the kind that would sell their soul for a bit of money. Drugs, thugs, the whole underworld scene. It was messy and dangerous, but I learned how people think, how to stay ahead, and how to protect myself."

Jihoon frowned, his heart sinking as he imagined the life Minjae had lived. "But… you didn't become one of them," Jihoon said softly, almost as if he were reassuring himself.

Minjae's expression softened, and he gave a small, almost wistful smile. "No, I didn't. Somehow, I managed to hold on to a part of myself. Even when things got tough, I told myself I wouldn't let the world turn me into something I hated. I don't know if it's because of our parents or… you, but I wanted to stay… me."

Jihoon's chest tightened at Minjae's words. "You've been through so much," he murmured. "And yet, here you are, helping people, building a company, being a better person."

Minjae reached out, brushing a hand through Jihoon's hair affectionately. "Because I have something worth fighting for now, Jihoon. And that makes all the difference."

Jihoon's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as his gaze lingered on Minjae's face. He couldn't help it—Minjae's sharp jawline, his intense eyes, and that slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips were all too captivating.

"You keep staring at me like that, Jihoon," Minjae teased, his voice low and smooth, "and I might start thinking you're in love with me."

Jihoon's flustered expression deepened as he stammered, "I-I wasn't staring! I was just—"

Before Jihoon could finish his sentence, Minjae leaned closer, his hand gently cupping Jihoon's cheek. Their faces were inches apart now, and Jihoon's breath hitched.

"Stop overthinking" Minjae murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

In one fluid motion, Minjae closed the gap between them, pressing his lips against Jihoon's in a deep, passionate kiss. Jihoon froze for a moment, his heart racing, but soon melted into it, his hands gripping the sheets beneath him.

The kiss was intense yet tender, as if Minjae was pouring all his emotions into that single moment. Jihoon felt his mind go blank, consumed entirely by the warmth and strength of Minjae's touch.

When Minjae finally pulled back, his forehead rested against Jihoon's, and he whispered, "You're really something, you know that?"

Jihoon's heart pounded in his chest as he looked into Minjae's eyes, unable to find the words to respond. Instead, he simply nodded, his lips still tingling from the kiss.

Minjae rested his forehead against Jihoon's, his breath warm and steady against Jihoon's face. His voice dropped, laced with an intensity that sent a shiver down Jihoon's spine.

"Promise me, Jihoon," Minjae murmured, his tone possessive yet tender. "You won't ever leave me."

Jihoon's eyes widened slightly at the weight of Minjae's words. For a brief moment, the room felt heavier, charged with an unspoken vulnerability. Jihoon slowly pushed back, breaking the close proximity, and looked directly into Minjae's eyes.

"I won't" Jihoon said softly but firmly, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions in his chest. "I'm not going anywhere."

Minjae's gaze searched Jihoon's face, as if he was trying to ensure the sincerity behind the words. Then, for the first time in what felt like forever, a genuine smile spread across Minjae's lips.

"Good" Minjae said, his voice lighter now, almost teasing as he ruffled Jihoon's hair. "Because you're stuck with me."

Jihoon rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at his own lips. Even with the possessiveness, there was something undeniably comforting about Minjae's presence, a sense of belonging he hadn't felt in years.

Jihoon's thoughts drifted as he looked at Minjae. He imagined the life Minjae must have endured as a runaway kid—cold nights without a warm bed, no family to lean on, and barely enough food to survive. The thought of Minjae having to endure all that stirred a deep ache in Jihoon's chest.

His mind lingered on Minjae's earlier remark about having eaten worse food before, and it only deepened his feelings. He felt an overwhelming wave of compassion wash over him, one he couldn't ignore.

Before he could overthink it, Jihoon reached out, gently holding onto Minjae's head with both hands. Minjae looked up at him in surprise, his eyes wide and questioning.

Without a word, Jihoon pulled Minjae closer, wrapping his arms tightly around him, cradling his head against his chest. Jihoon's voice trembled slightly, flustered but heartfelt.

"You worked so hard, Minjae," Jihoon murmured, patting Minjae's head softly. "You don't have to be scared anymore…not of anything."

Minjae froze for a moment, the unexpected warmth of Jihoon's words breaking down his carefully built walls. His body softened as he leaned into Jihoon's embrace, his forehead pressing against Jihoon's chest. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Jihoon's waist, burying his face into him to hide the tears that had begun to fall.

The vulnerability in Minjae's posture was palpable, and Jihoon could feel his slight trembling. Jihoon's hand continued to stroke Minjae's hair gently, his other arm holding him firmly, as though silently promising that he would never let him go.

Minjae's voice came out muffled, soft and shaky. "I didn't think I'd ever hear that from someone... Thank you."

Jihoon's heart swelled with both sorrow and affection, and he tightened his embrace, silently vowing to never let Minjae feel alone again.

Minjae gently guided Jihoon to lie down on the bed, his hands careful and deliberate as he moved Jihoon's laptop aside to the desk. Jihoon looked up at him, noticing the redness in Minjae's eyes and the way his jaw tightened as if he was holding something back.

It wasn't anger—Jihoon could tell. It was pain, bottled up, unspoken struggles weighing heavily on Minjae's shoulders. The usually composed and confident Minjae looked vulnerable, almost fragile, and it tugged at Jihoon's heart.

Jihoon smiled softly from where he lay, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just cry " he said gently, his words like a warm breeze. "It's okay, Minjae. You don't have to hold it in."

Minjae froze, his stoic facade wavering as Jihoon's words pierced through the armor he had built around himself for so many years. His lips quivered, his gaze shifting away as if ashamed of being seen like this.

Jihoon held Minjae tighter, his fingers gently caressing the back of his neck as the weight of the moment hung between them. As Minjae's tears continued, Jihoon's heart ached, and he knew he had to say something to break through the barrier that Minjae had built around himself.

He pulled back slightly, his voice soft but steady as he spoke, "It doesn't have to be sex or kisses, Minjae." His words were sincere, carrying the weight of his own understanding. "It's about communicating, really talking to each other. Just being there, without any expectations."

Minjae's eyes flickered up at Jihoon, his face still damp from the tears, but there was a flicker of something—hope, maybe? Jihoon's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on Minjae's cheek, tilting his head slightly.

"I'm here for you" Jihoon continued, his voice full of warmth. "It's not just about physical closeness. It's about being real with each other. About supporting each other through the tough moments. That's what matters."

Minjae stared at Jihoon for a long moment, searching his eyes for any hint of doubt, but all he found was unwavering sincerity. Slowly, the tension in his shoulders began to fade, and he exhaled a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with the release.

"You really mean that?" Minjae whispered, his voice hoarse.

Jihoon nodded gently, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Of course I do. You don't have to carry everything on your own. You've already done so much. You don't have to be perfect, Minjae. You just need to be you."

Minjae looked down at the bed, his hands trembling slightly as he wiped away the last of his tears. There was a weight lifting from his heart, but it wasn't all gone yet. Jihoon had planted a seed of trust, one he hadn't allowed himself to nurture in years.

"Thank you," Minjae finally murmured, his voice a soft confession. "I never thought anyone would say something like that to me."

Jihoon smiled again, reaching up to gently ruffle Minjae's wet hair. "I'm here, always." He leaned in slightly, brushing his lips softly against Minjae's forehead, a simple but meaningful gesture that carried all the affection he felt.

Minjae's breath hitched for a moment, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he closed his eyes, letting the moment wash over him. For once, there was no pressure, no need to be anything other than what he was.