“Hey, Minho, can you help me?” Minho looked up from lacing his leather greaves to see Althea tangled in her Keeper’s plate. He quickly finished tying off his armor before he hopped off the bench to help her out and then back into hers. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“Are you nervous?”

Minho glanced over at her, shrugging. “Yeah, a bit.” It was the final game of the season -- them versus Ravenclaw, who hadn’t lost anyone last year. Like, sure they had gotten this far with basically a new team, but...Minho was doing his best to not get his hopes up for a win. As much as he might want one.

Sam plopped down beside him once he sat back down on the bench to finish gearing up, pulling her gloves on tight before she strapped them on. “At least it’s not Gryffindor.”

Minho snorted and Val looked up from tying her shoes. “Are they losing anyone this year?”

“I don’t think so.”

“At least we’re only losing Cameron.”

“Guys,” he said, poking his head around the lockers. “I’m, like, right here.”

Seb and Travis laughed on the other side of the locker room. “Aw, don’t worry, Captain, we’ll miss you,” Sam said, grinning over her shoulder at Cameron.

“I’m sure. Okay -- “ He came around the lockers, adjusting his mustard-colored robe around his shoulders. “Remember, Ravenclaw’s offense is stronger than their defense, so be sure to keep them away from the Quaffle as much as possible. No offensive injuries, please,” he added with a pointed look at Seb and Travis. “Minho and Val, their Keeper is still weak, based on their last game, so try to take full advantage of that.” He clapped his hands once, rubbing them together. “Let’s just go out there and have some fun today, alright?”

Travis whooped loudly, the sound ringing through the locker room, as everyone filed out behind Cameron. He led them to the cabinet on the pitch where their brooms were, and once he grabbed his, he tapped Minho’s shoulder. “Walk with me.”

Minho quickly grabbed his broom and hurried to catch up to him as he walked toward Madam Hooch at the center of the pitch. Zane, the Ravenclaw captain, and Priyasha were approaching her as well. Minho gulped, pointedly avoiding looking up at Zane -- who happened to be the tallest, the most athletic, and objectively the best looking guy at school. Luckily, he was a seventh year and he’d be leaving soon, no longer able to distract Minho during games. Not that it happened very often, but still. He glanced up at the stands, scanning the distant faces for Kibum while Hooch flipped the Galleon.

“Heads,” Zane said once it was in the air, and Minho turned back around to see what the result was.

Tails. Hooch looked up at Cameron. “Which side, Mr. Brunnan?”

“We’ll stay on this side.”

“Good luck!” Zane said, giving Cameron’s hand a friendly shake before turning his blindingly beautiful smile to Minho. He patted his shoulder a couple of times before he turned and started back across the field with Priyasha. Minho stared for a minute, a bit dazed before he regained his senses and jogged after Cameron, finding his position on the field.

A few whistle blows later, and they were in the air, waiting for the game to begin. The clock started to chime for noon, and by the time the final ring died in the air, Hooch tossed up the Quaffle, starting the game.

Cameron darted forward, snatching the Quaffle before Zane could and passed it to Val. Formation three, got it. Minho pulled his broom down and dove below the Ravenclaw team, glancing up to make sure that Val was above him.

She was, Quaffle tucked under her arm and partially hidden by her sleeve, and she was swarmed by Ravenclaw's Chasers. His attention darted to the rapidly approaching goalposts before he looked up at her again.

Any second now…

Her arm shifted and the Quaffle fell free of the Ravenclaws. Minho surged forward, quickly grabbing it and zooming toward the goal without a Ravenclaw on his tail.

Michael, Ravenclaw's Keeper, hunkered down as Minho approached. "Favoring the right today, huh?" he muttered to himself, tossing a faux throw toward the lower ring on the right, and when Michael dove for it, he tossed it through the farthest left hoop.

"A goal by Choi Minho! Ten points for Hufflepuff!" Callum called out through the speakers, and a cheer rang out across the pitch. Minho grinned, flying off as Zane drew nearer to start the new play.

The wind whistled in his ears, drowning out the crowd. He swooped close to the stands he knew Kibum would be in, smiling as he passed. The game continued with two more goals in Hufflepuffs favor and one in Ravenclaws, but it came to a screeching halt when the Bludger smashed into Travis’ broomstick and shattered the handle, sending him into a tail-spin.

Hooch was able to get him safely to the ground, and it looked like one of the seventh years was called out to check him for injuries. “Stay where you are, all of you!” she said, her voice booming out across the pitch.

Minho sat back on his broom, watching Cameron and Zane fly down to meet Hooch, no doubt to discuss whether this was a foul on Ravenclaw or not. “Hey!” He blinked, glancing over at the stands, and was pleasantly surprised to find Kibum standing at the banister. “You’re doing good so far.”

“Thanks. I wish I could hear you cheering…” He let his voice trail off with an impish smile when Kibum leveled him with a glare.

“I have been, actually, but I’ve got a cold and you know it.”

He sniffed for dramatic effect, then acted offended when Minho shrugged. “Sounds like an excuse to me.” Kibum dumped a couple of popped kernels into his palm before he threw them at Minho. At least, that was his intent, but the wind had other ideas. Minho laughed until the whistle blew, his attention shifting back to the game.

They lost, unfortunately. Ravenclaw's Seeker caught the Snitch, despite the seven goals Hufflepuff made to their two. “If you think about it,” Seb’s harsh whisper cutting through the commotion as everyone returned to the pitch. “Quidditch really isn’t that fair of a game. Why’s that one ing ball worth so much mo -- “

“Shh,” Cameron said before Zane and his team could approach. “Good game,” he said, clasping Zane’s outstretched hand before they bumped their chests together. They continued down the line, and Minho made sure not to look directly at Zane as he shook his hand. “Follow me, everyone!”

Minho looked up to catch a glimpse of Kibum, who offered him a sad smile when they’re eyes met. He shrugged, smiling in return before he picked up his pace and jogged after the others. When he reached the door to the locker room, he closed it behind himself and joined everyone else on the benches.

“I’m really proud of you all,” Cameron said, given them all a tired smile. “With how new the majority of you were to the game this year, I’m quite impressed that we were able to make it to the final game. Next year...next year you all will probably dominate.”

“Will you come back to watch our games?”

“Maybe a few, if I can swing it with my apprenticeship.”

“What’s he doing again?” Sam whispered to Minho.

“Auror.”

“Ah.”

“If we make it to the final?”

Cameron’s smile broadened. “We’ll see. You all can head out. Minho?” he asked as everyone stood, and Minho stopped to look back at him. “Would you mind staying to help me clean up?”

“We all can, Cameron,” Val said, picking up her discarded bracers.

“No, no, just Minho, please.” They both watched the rest of the team file out of the room. “Go ahead and close the door.”

Once the door clicked shut, Cameron sat down on the bench, heaving a sigh. “Am...I in trouble?”

“What?” He scoffed. “No. Go ahead and sit.” Tentatively, Minho obeyed, sitting across from Cameron. “I doubt you’ll be surprised by this, but…” he reached up to his robe’s label, unpinning his captain’s pin and held it out to Minho. “It’s yours now. The pin, the team...Hooch will send you the pin over the summer, but Meg gave this one to me and Tanner gave it to her before...who knows how many captains this has been passed down through. Take it.” Minho blinked, stretching out his hand. Cameron dropped it into his palm. “I already put the cassette player into your locker, so you’re already prepared for the first practice.”

Minho huffed a laugh, looking up from the pin. “Why me, though?”

Cameron’s brow scrunched. “Why not you? You’re one of the best players on the team, you have the most seniority after me. You’ve been playing for four years now, which is longer than anyone else on the other teams can boast if I remember right.” Minho nodded, silently acquiescing. “You’ll do great, I just know it. Also, you’ve had to put up with Travis and Seb for five years, so you already know how to handle them.” Minho laughed at that and Cameron chuckled. “Go ahead and go, I’ll clean up.”

“But -- “

Cameron shook his head. “I’ll be fine. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

Hesitating, Minho pocketed the pin before he made his way toward the door, leaving it slightly ajar. Kibum was sitting at the end of the hallway, closest to the lawn, twirling with the end of the string from the hoodie Minho let him borrow. “Still feeling ty?” Minho asked as he stopped in front of him.

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t have to come to watch me play, you know?”

“What? And break my streak of never missing a game?” Kibum rubbed his nose with his sleeve before he pushed himself up. “Don’t feel too bad about losing. You did great.”

“Thanks. And, surprisingly, I don’t.”

“What.”

Minho chuckled, looking down at the sleepy-eyed Kibum. “I don’t feel bad about losing.”

“That’s good…”

Smiling, Minho reached over Kibum’s shoulders, holding him close. “Let’s get you some tea.”

Kibum babbled to him about the game as they made their way to the castle and headed downstairs, his thoughts meandering and his voice a tad louder than usual. Minho listened, adding mhms and yeahs in the proper places until they reached the kitchen. He tickled the pear to open the entrance to the kitchen, sitting Kibum down at the hearth while he busied himself making him a cup of tea.

Once it had finished steeping, Minho put in a spoonful of honey and a squeeze of lemon, stirring it before he sat beside him and passed it to him. "Guess what?"

Kibum sputtered as he took a sip of the tea, setting it aside on the hearth. "The water is too...too spicy." Minho pursed his lips, holding back his amusement. Too hot, the water was too hot.

"Just wait a minute, then."

Kibum coughed raggedly. "I will."

Minho reached over, rubbing his back lightly. "Cameron gave me the captain pin today. I don't think I'm allowed to tell anyone yet, but I had to tell you."

"I'll keep it a secret, don't worry."

"I appreciate that." By the time he finished his tea, his half-lidded gaze was sleepier than before. "Come on, buddy, let's get you to bed."

"But I'm not sleepy."

"Mhm."

"Will you stay with me?"

Minho's face heated as he closed the entrance to the kitchen behind him. "No, I can't. You're sick and I don't want to catch what you have."

"That's stupid."

"Do you want me to get sick?"

"No, but-- " Whatever he had been about to say was cut off by a couple of Hufflepuff girls passing by. Minho led him to Slytherin, unlocking the door and letting himself inside. He guided Kibum to his bed, sitting on the edge after he tucked him into it. He brushed Kibum's hair off of his damp forehead. A bit of a fever. He should probably go see Pomfrey when he wakes up. Minho was about to say as much, but a snore ripped through the silence.

"Well, that's good, at least…" He glanced around the empty room and to the closed door before he let his gaze slip back to Kibum.

His face was flushed from the fever, his mouth wide open so that he could breathe since his nose was plugged up. Even still, he was the absolute cutest. Minho brushed his hair off of his forehead again and bent over, placing the lightest of kisses there before he realized what he had done.

"," he sat back and slid off the bed, his eyes wide. ", I didn't mean…"

At least Kibum was still asleep. There was some mercy in this cruel world. Minho gulped, rushing out and into the hallway toward the Laciospecto.

It wasn't a big deal. It was something Mom always did when he was sick. Grandma and Mrs. Kim probably did it, too. It wasn't a big deal.

It wasn't.

Minho took deep breaths of the cool, damp air, waiting until his face felt less inflamed before he left the dark room and made his way out of Slytherin. His mind raced and his heart pounded in his ears as he made his way back to his room.

He'd kissed him. Kibum. He'd kissed him.

A slow smile started to grow, and he covered his mouth with his palm before anyone -- in the otherwise unoccupied hallway -- could see. Sure, it was just a tiny, light kiss on the forehead. But it was still a kiss.

His heart would probably be beating this fast for a while, now.

He fumbled with his wand at the barrels, luckily tapping in the right password, despite the tremble in his hands. By the time he was inside, one shoe off, Marvin and Gil approached, their arms full of textbooks. "We're heading to the library. Wanna come?"

"Sure." It'd probably be good to focus on the upcoming O.W.L.s and not Kibum. Well, better for his grades, anyway.

Gil tossed him his shoe and he scooted back down the tunnel, his roommates on his heels. They waited for him to tie his shoe again before they made their way to the first floor. Minho trailed behind them, pulling his sock up after it snagged on his heel in his rush to get his shoe back on. He jogged to catch up to them, catching them just as they were walking into the library. Seb picked out one of the tables in the center of the bookshelves, dropping them loudly and rolling his eyes at the shh! from the librarian. “What do we want to start with?”

Marvin fished the O.W.L.s schedule out of his pocket. “The first one we have is Transfiguration.”

With a sigh and a nod, Seb grabbed his Intermediate Transfiguration, and the rest followed suit. “Here, Minho,” Travis said, tossing him a thick pack of parchment squares. “Since you don’t have your books, you can ask us the questions.”

He unraveled the twine, holding the parchment pieces so they didn’t fall everywhere. “Okay.”

“They’re all organized by -- “

Minho was already picking through tabs, setting the different topics aside. “Got it. Okay. How many different types of Conjuring Spells are there?”

“At least six.”

“That we know of.”

“Yup.” Minho flipped the parchment over. “Can anyone name them?”

They made it through the Transfiguration, Charms, and Herbology packs with minimal shushing from the librarian. Minho picked up the Defense Against the Dark Arts pack and cracked his neck, squinting in frustration when it didn’t pop right away. “Let’s take a little break,” Marvin suggested, glancing around at the group.

Eli’s head clunked dramatically on the tabletop. “Thank you.”

Minho set the card pack down with a smile, his gaze trailing after Zane as he walked past the table with his girlfriend. He heaved a sigh and looked back at the door, surprised to see a slightly rumpled Kibum walking past. “Guys, I’ll be right back.” He pushed his chair back and bounded through the library to reach him before he got too far away. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"A bit better, actually."

"That's good."

"I was gonna go see Pomfrey really quick. Wanna come with?" Minho glanced over his shoulder at the library. "If you're busy, don't worry about it. "

"We're studying for O.W.L.s, but we're taking a break right now."

Kibum stopped in the doorway of the infirmary. "Go ahead, I'll join you when I'm done here." He offered Minho a tired smile before he turned and walked the rest of the way into the infirmary. Reluctantly, Minho turned and made his way back to the library. The others were ready for him to start asking questions again once he sat back down. They were onto Charms after finishing with Defense by the time Kibum slipped into the chair beside Minho, trickles of steam still wisping out of his ears. “Mind if I join?” he asked, most likely just to be polite, as he was already making himself comfortable.

“Not at all!”

“Sure!”

Minho tapped the parchment pieces on the table, straightening them before he held them up to ask the next question. “Deletrius?”

Gil snapped his fingers, squinting in thought, but before he could answer, Kibum tilted his head. “Isn’t that the Eradication Spell?”

Minho couldn’t help his small smile. “It is. Okay, which Summoning Charm is the most wi -- “

“Accio!” Seb said, loud enough to earn another shh! from the librarian.

“And which counter-spell is the most effective against it?”

“Depulso!” Seb said, this time a tad quieter.

“No, . The one that makes them not move in the first place.” Seb smacked the back of Travis’ head for the comment and Marvin grabbed Seb’s arm before he could hit him back.

“, did we learn that?”

Eli scoffed, lifting his head from his crossed arms. “Yeah, but I can’t remember.”

Minho smirked and looked over to see if Kibum was as amused as he was only to find that his attention was diverted elsewhere. Curious at what could distract him from the commotion of his roommates, Minho turned, following his gaze. He was just looking down the length of the library and nothing was out of the ordinary. The only thing he noticed was that the golden light of the sunset was casting a glow around Zane and his girlfriend. When he glanced back at Kibum and caught his gaze, his eyebrows raised in question. Kibum’s eyes widened slightly and any color he had had from his fever quickly drained.

Minho reached out, lightly touching his arm. “Are you feeling sick again?”

“A little. I...I think I’m gonna head back to my room.”

“Okay.” Kibum was out of his seat and heading for the door before Minho’s response had fully formed between them. For a moment, he considered tossing the cards aside and following him, but if he was just going to rest then he didn’t want to bother him. He cleared his throat and tapped the cards against the table again, garnering the attention of the rest. “Which charm is used to slow velocity?”

“Arresto Momentum!”

Minho’s gaze darted to the empty doorway before he looked back at the cards in his hand, flipping to the next one.

* * * * * * * * * *

.

. . .

.

Kibum walked as calmly as he possibly could until he was out of view of the library, then he ran to the nearest stairwell. He ducked into the shadows of the staircase, hiding beneath as he waited for his hands to stop shaking.

Why did he let himself get caught? He wasn't even looking at the guy, not really. Like, sure he was hot or whatever, and, maybe the sculpt of the muscles of his arms did distract him at first...but he was daydreaming.

About Minho.

Who caught him staring at another guy.

everything.

He ground the heels of his palms into his eyes, rubbing the tears that refused to spill away. What time was it? Maybe he could get some advice from Jonghyun…

Kibum pushed himself out of his hunkered position on the floor and hurried down the stairwell, bypassing Hufflepuff and heading straight to Slytherin. Once he was back in his room, he locked the door behind himself and ripped back his covers to pull out the notebook and his hidden pen.

Hey, can we talk?

He waited for what felt like five minutes, but for what was probably closer to thirty seconds.

Please, this is urgent.

This time, five minutes did pass by before Jonghyun's handwriting started to appear. Sorry, I was at dinner. What happened?

Minho saw me staring at another guy...

Are you cheating on him??

Kibum huffed as he scrawled What? Jjong, we're not actually dating.

Yeah, but you want to. Do you have a crush on the other guy, too?

No!

Then why the were you staring?!

His brows furrowed and his grip on his pen tightened. Don't ing yell at me, I'm doing that enough on my ing own. I stopped writing because I was trying to think of what to say.

Sorry. I was just surprised. I didn't mean to hurt you.

I know. Okay, hold on let me think for a second.

He sat back against the wall, closing his eyes tight. Minho's curiously confused expression flashed before his mind's eye, and Kibum grimaced as he leaned forward, adjusting his hold on his pen.

So, what happened was we were studying for O.W.L.s with some of the other Hufflepuffs in the library and there's this hot guy who plays Quidditch for Ravenclaw, so he's like...built, I guess...Anyways he was there with his girlfriend and I was just watching them and imagining that Min and I could be like that someday and then Min noticed and I got embarrassed and ran away...

That's it?

Yeah

What was his reaction?

Kibum let out a long, defeated sigh. Confused, mostly, I think. I don't know

Well, that doesn't sound as bad as you probably think it does.

Really?

Yeah, definitely. But like...if you wanted, and only if you wanted, you could use this as an opportunity to come out to him.

Kibum blinked. Like, tell him I like guys?

Yeah. He could almost hear Jonghyun's laugh through the single character.

How would he react to that?

It took a moment for Jonghyun's writing to appear again. Well, this could be your chance to see. I would be shocked if he reacted badly.

Kibum tapped his pen against the notebook, looking up when the dinner bell rang. . He didn't want to face Minho, not yet. He wasn't ready. I'll think about it.

If you decide to, let me know how it goes?

Obviously. What should I say?

Let me think… The second bell for dinner rang as Kibum read Jonghyun's idea, but he didn't hear it. His attention stayed on the notebook and the conversation between them until a knock sounded on the door. Kibum jumped, his pen flying to the other side of the room.

"Who is it?"

"It's me." . Minho. He stuffed his notebook under his pillow, and pried himself out of bed, trudging for the door. A wave of roast beef and vegetables wafted toward him as he opened it, but the food didn't catch his attention. Minho did. Minho with his stupidly cute worried face. He immediately assessed him to make sure -- "Are you feeling any better?" Kibum could only nod. "You look better." He held up the plate between them, and Kibum finally looked down at it. "Didn't see you at dinner and thought you might be hungry."

"Thanks."

"I'll leave you to it, then."

"No, wait -- " His mind blanked as Minho came back, out of the shadows of the hallway. "I...Do you mind…"

"What?" Minho asked with a chuckle.

"Staying? Can you? I...need to say something." Minho's curiosity and interest was piqued, he could tell by the raise of his eyebrows and the way his eyes shone. Kibum turned with his heaping plate and Minho closed the door. "Colloportus."

The lock clicked in the door, and Minho's eyebrows rose even further. "What's up, Bummie?"

Kibum looked down at the plate of food as he sat at the foot of his bed, anxiety churning his stomach. He grabbed the roll, tearing a piece off of it as Minho sat cross-legged on the floor before him. "I -- " Stay calm, he thought back to Jonghyun saying. I know it's scary, but it's just Minho. He'll love you no matter what. "I wanted to explain why I...why I ran off earlier."

"You weren't sick?" Kibum shook his head and Minho frowned. Not angry, just confused.

"I -- " Merlin's ing beard, how was he supposed to word this? "I was embarrassed, because, um, you…you caught me staring...at...at that guy...and I wasn't sure what to do about it."

Minho's brow knit together, then released. "Oh, Zane? Why were you…" His voice trailed off, as did his gaze, which settled on Kibum's untouched food -- save for the torn-up roll in his hands.

"I was...distracted? By him...because -- " Oh , he was gonna puke. He was gonna puke all over Minho. This is not at all what he had planned. " -- Because I thought he...was cute. Well, hot would be more like it -- " Stop ing talking, holy ? " -- but that's because I-I-I like...guys… I'm gay."

He let out all of the air in his lungs and he had to remind himself to breathe some more back in. It was out now. It couldn't be unsaid.

He could feel Minho's gaze, but he couldn't bear to meet it.

"How long have you known?"

Kibum cleared his throat. "A few years. And I didn't not want to tell you, I did! I just...I just didn't want things to be, um, awkward between us."

"Why would things be awkward?"

Slowly, Kibum forced himself to look up. "I didn't want, uh, you to be worried." Minho's eyebrows twitched downward, no doubt confused again. "That I had a crush on you or anything." . "Because I don't, don't worry!" ...

If there were any sort of being listening that could take him out of his body and carry him away from this room he would very much appreciate it.

Minho coughed, looking down at his hands. "I wasn't. Worried, that is."

Oh. "That's good."

Silence engulfed them, forcing itself into every crevice of the small dorm room. The bedsprings creaked beneath Kibum as he slipped his foot that had fallen asleep out from under him.

"Do you like someone?"

Gulping, Kibum looked up, surprised to find that Minho wasn't looking at him. You, he wanted to say. You, you, you. But he couldn't. Not mere seconds after he had said that it wasn't him. Coming out was more than enough for one day; his eventual confession would have to wait. When Minho finally looked up, Kibum's heart beat a little faster. "Yes."

Would he ever learn how and when to keep his mouth shut? Merlin's beard…

"Is it Zane? Because -- " Minho's voice cracked around the word.

Kibum shook his head. "No, it's not. I know he has a girlfriend."

Minho nodded slowly, letting out a long sigh. "You don't have to tell me, it's fine."

"I'm sorry, Min."

"For what?"

For lying about not liking you just now. "For...for not telling you sooner."

A small smile lightened Minho's features. "Bummie… Don't worry about it. You had to wait until you were ready. It's okay."

"Are you sure?" Minho's smile broadened slightly. "You don't hate me?"

Minho's shoulders slumped as he sighed, then he pushed himself up and stood before him, wrapping him in a tight hug. It took every ounce of effort not to lean into it too much or hold him too tightly. "I could never hate you," Minho whispered into his ear, his arms tightening around him even more.

Kibum couldn't hold it in anymore. He buried his face in Minho's shoulder as he burst into tears, the stress of finally telling Minho -- most of -- the truth pouring out as he clung to him. Minho rubbed his back, nuzzling his neck as he held him.

"Shh, it's okay, Bummie. It's okay."

He wasn't mad. He wasn't upset. He accepted him.

What a stupid thing to be worried about, in hindsight.

Minho pulled away from him and Kibum let his arms fall to Minho's waist, but not away. Not yet. Minho's expression softened as he regarded him before he started to wipe away his tears with the pads of his thumbs.

This was his chance. With Minho's hands cupping his face as gently as they were. With his arms still around Minho's waist. With the way he couldn't look away from Minho. They were close. So close. Everything within him yearned to lean forward and finally see what it would be like to kiss him.

Just once.

Who was he kidding? If he got to kiss Minho, and if Minho returned it just as eagerly, there was no way it would be a one-time thing.

Minho's hands dropped away from Kibum's face and he lowered his gaze to the growing space between them as he backed away. "You need to eat and then get as much sleep as you can," he said once his hand found the door.

"I'm feeling much better now."

"I know, but," he jiggled the handle and Kibum brought out his wand.

"Alohomora."

The door clicked and Minho opened it slightly. "You still need your rest, and I don't want to distract you from that. I'll see you at breakfast, yeah?" Kibum nodded, watching Minho until he disappeared behind the door.

When it clicked shut, Kibum fell back onto the bed, letting out a long sigh. He closed his eyes tight, squeezing them until they hurt a little, then opened his eyes and got up in search of his pen. Once he found it, he opened his notebook to where his and Jonghyun's conversation left off.

I am the absolute worst person in the whole world.

What'd you do? Jonghyun wrote back almost immediately, surprising Kibum.

I thought you had practice?

I canceled it. What'd you do?

Well, Kibum cleared his throat as if he were about to say it out loud. I told him.

That you liked him????

No...the exact opposite, actually. When Jonghyun didn't reply right away, Kibum added. I told him that I liked guys and then because I was nervous I told him that I didn't have a crush on him.

Kibum.

You don't even have to say it. I know…

He jumped as the door opened again. It was just Frederick. How'd he take that?

I don't really know. I was nervous, okay?

I know, I know...This is just the first step, I guess. You can work up to telling him when you're ready.

Yeah. Kibum looked up when Callum and Aaron walked in. I'm relieved this part is over at least.

I can imagine. I'm proud of you, you know? It's a stressful thing to come out to someone.

I'm just glad your mom and Sodam took it well.

Me too.

Hey, thanks for putting up with me tonight. I really appreciate it.

No problem~ What are friends for?

I'm gonna eat the food Minho brought me and then I'm gonna try to sleep off the day I've had. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Of course. Bye, Ki~

Byeee~

Kibum rolled his eyes with a smile at his cheesy goodbye. Jonghyun had a way of bringing that sort of out of him. He tucked his notebook and his pen underneath his pillow and grabbed the plate of food.

It's surprising how hungry one becomes once the burden of stress is lifted off their shoulders.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

"I'll see you at breakfast, yeah?" Minho asked, looking back at Kibum. When he nodded, he forced himself to smile one last time before he let the door swing shut behind him. He pursed his lips into a thin line as he trudged down the hall toward the Slytherin common room, keeping his eyes down as he passed his friends on their way to their room for the night. Luckily, no one stopped him to chat as he made his way to the exit and into the darkened corridor.

“Goodnight, Minho,” Analecia said as she passed him, the wall to Slytherin swallowing her before Minho could summon a response.

He breathed slow and deep as he walked to Hufflepuff, blinking hard when his eyes stung with tears again. Not yet. He slipped into the barrels behind a crowd of fourth years and held the entrance open for Eli as he was running down the hall.

“Thanks, mate,” Eli said once he reached the barrels and ducked in behind Minho.

“Mm.” He crawled through the tunnel, dropping down to the floor where he toed off his shoes and lightly kicked them off. Ordinarily, he would have set them neatly by the wall, but he couldn’t find it within himself to care right now.

The common room was heavily populated right now -- with study groups and readers and board games and knitters. There probably wasn’t anyone in the dorm room right now, but he didn’t want to have even the slightest possibility of having to deal with people right now. The bookshelves concealing the loft opened and soon all of the seventh years filed out. Minho moved behind them without notice and into the dim stairwell. He hurried up the creaky stairs, pushing open the door by the time the bookshelves closed, locking him away. As soon as he closed the door behind him, he leaned against it and slowly slid to the floor, covering his face with his hands.

. This wasn't how he had expected the day to go at all. But, now that it had…

Tears spilled freely, wetting his palms, his cheeks. So he didn't love him in return. He could, but he didn't. Minho wiped his eyes and lowered his forehead to his knees, holding himself in a tight ball as he let himself cry freely.

Sure, this wasn't the end of the world, even if it felt like it should be.

Who did he like, then? If not him and not Zane, then who? Someone here? Minho sniffed and went through a list of the guys from their year that Kibum talked to. It was just his roommates and Minho's and, well...either Kibum hid it very well or he didn't have a crush on any of them.

Who could it be? Who…

Jonghyun.

His heart sank as the realization dawned in his mind. Jonghyun, of course. He was the only one that made sense. They talked nearly every day, they'd known each other longer than he had known Kibum. Plus, Jonghyun liked boys, too.

Wait, didn't he have a boyfriend?

Another set of tears sprung forth. Unrequited love was ty -- as he, unfortunately, understood now -- and he didn't want Kibum to go through that himself.

, what was he supposed to do now? Go on as if nothing had changed?

Yes.

For Kibum, he had to.

In reality, though, nothing had changed. He loved him still, he always would. Just now he knew that Kibum didn't return it. And as ty as that was, they were still friends. Best friends. That bond would never be broken, even if Minho's feelings were hurt at the moment.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Minho pushed himself up and away from the wall, dragging his feet as he walked to the balcony. The breeze was cool against his tear-stained cheeks, drying the tracks as it blew around him. Minho took a deep, shuddering breath as he looked out over the star-studded night. It wasn't Kibum's fault that he didn't feel the same way about him. It was his own for getting his hopes up like he did. He wiped at his eyes, letting out a long sigh. He could do this; he could let go of the possibility…

A fresh round of tears formed and fell and he wiped them all away, wishing that his heart would stop aching. He could do this.

He could.

He would.

He had to.