slow distraction

read between the lines

Blistering heat sits, heavy, on Minho's skin. The crowd of strangers weaves around him, making his head spin. His heart is beating quickly as he scans his surroundings, trying to find his brother. Jeongin has always had a thing for wandering off. And for spiking Minho's blood pressure, but this is not the time nor the place.

He misses the constant presence of Felix and Hyunjin on either side of him. Nearly four years of being inseparable and now he's back to facing the world without them. He feels their absence like an amputated limb.

Sweat gathers on his back as he looks around frantically. He longs for the sea breeze, wishes Jeongin had decided on a school along the coast like he had. But, his younger brother had refused to attend somewhere that was a six hour drive.

At eighteen, Minho had absolutely no issues with the distance. It baffles him that Jeongin chose a college twenty minutes from their childhood home. He'd love to have that argument again, but that would require Jeongin's presence. Which he is currently lacking.

"Uh-Hey man, you okay?"

Minho whips his head around and is met with a very attractive face. He smiles, "All good. Just looking for someone."

The stranger scratches the back of his neck and Minho's eyes find his toned arms, visible in the tanktop he's wearing. "Oh. Are you a transfer or something? Because you seem really lost but also too old to be a freshman."

Minho snaps his eyes up from ogling their muscles to glare. A familiar heat sears in his stomach and he distantly hears his therapist's voice, it's important that you don't always give in to your anger. He thinks Mina would understand his temper flaring in this instance. If only due to the fact it is 97 degrees outside.

"Excuse me? Did you just call me old? I graduated two fucking months ago."

His arms cross over his chest and he catches a glint in the stranger's eyes. "Well, what are you even doing here if you're not a student anymore?"

Minho scoffs and watches the man shove his hands in his back pockets. He feels a little fuzzy from the heat and frustrated enough to argue with a stranger. "First of all, I didn't go to school here. Secondly, I'm moving my brother in but we got separated and I don't know where he is. Thirdly, it is incredibly fucking hot and you're starting to irritate me."

Handsome features curl up and Minho feels stunned at the smile gracing the man's lips. That soon disappears when he speaks in a judgemental tone, "Well, have you called him?"

Minho blinks. He blinks again. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and glares. "No, I was too busy freaking out, thank you very much."

"I'm Jisung, by the way."

He glares some more as he unlocks his phone, "Okay. Are you always this nosy and rude to strangers?"

Jisung frowns, and it looks so unnatural on him that Minho instantly regrets his attitude, "I'm actually working right now. The honors college makes the seniors volunteer on move in days. Which, if you ask me, is contradictory. Because am I really volunteering if I have no choice in the matter?"

A laugh bubbles out of Minho's throat and he tries to smother it. Jisung hears it though, smiling that infuriating smile. The line rings twice before Jeongin answers, "Hello?"

Minho exhales, "Innie, where are you?"

"I'm standing under a huge tree. I figured I'd stay put so you could find me."

He looks around, spotting a tree not too far away. "On my way."

Pressing the end call button before his brother can respond, he starts walking in that direction. After a few steps, he becomes aware of Jisung beside him. He tilts his head at Jisung with a raised brow.