It Ends With a Text (Sequal to It Began With a Text)

That Day

     "Vibes."

     "That makes ZERO sense."

     "Chan is just everywhere but home, guys, that's just a built-in trait of his," Felix said, with a giggle that sounded more like a crackle.

     Minho noticed Chan's face fall for the first time that day. "Yup, that's just me."

     "I take Chan!" Hyunjin said with glee. "That leaves you with Han, Changbin."

     "Okay, you don't need to look SO disappointed," Han drawled, seeing the horror on Changbin's face.

     "You guys have forgotten Innie!" Seungmin said from the bench.

     "And with the trend we've been following, he's going to show up right about... now," Changbin began.

     Jeongin made his way to the court in small steps. "Hi guys."

     Hyunjin smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Innie, we almost forgot about you. Choose someone to kick out if you want to play."

     "You're such a riot," Changbin huffed from behind.

     "Oh." Jeongin looked around, his eyes wandering to the building at the left. "I didn't know this place was so... close to the police station. Maybe that's why I've never really come here."

     "Oh..." Changbin was finally speechless. "I didn't realize. If you're uncomfortable, we can always move--"

     "Nono, it's okay." Jeongin's teeth seemed to grind against each other as he smiled. "What's there to be afraid of now anyway? I don't mind sitting out. I can be next to my favourite Minnie!"

     "Hell no--" Seungmin barely got the words out before Jeongin was scrunched against him on the bench that had plenty of space for the both of them.

     "Perfect, we can start the game!" Hyunjin was practically hopping in excitement.

     Strangely, the one thing Minho didn't remember about this day was the actual game. He knew that Changbin's team lost. He knew it was probably Han's fault.

     "Man, this calls for a celebration!" Hyunjin cheered, wiping sweat off his forehead. "Changbin can come cause I feel pity." With the look Changbin was giving him, standing on the asphalt ground was probably the only reason he hadn't been tackled yet.

     "Yes!" Chan was always the first one to jump at the chance for a later day.

     "My mom's back in Australia so I don't have a curfew." Felix said. "There's this neat sit-down Italian place I've been before. It should be empty on a weekday, let's go!"

     Murmurs of agreement followed.

     "I'll have to take a rain-check today, guys."

     Out of all of them, it was Han who said this, his hands deep into his pockets, body hunched.

     Protests immediately followed. "Why!?"

     Han shrugged. "I have to study."

     "But you don't do that."

     Han promptly lifted a middle finger to Felix. "Don't miss me too much, guys. Gotta go, bus to catch."

     He turned around and walked away too quickly.

     A huddle formed in the middle of the court, making plans, checking directions. Minho managed to escape it. "I'll just make sure that idiot doesn't get lost." Nobody protested.

     Minho was behind Han in second. "Come with us. I can pay for you. My treat."

     Han froze in his steps. His face was erased of emotion when he turned to look at Minho. "What are you trying to say?"

     Minho was rarely this flustered in front of his best friend. "Nothing, I just thought--"

     "I don't want to know what you're thinking," Han said coolly. "I don't know why you're offering this, but I don't need it. I just have a lot of homework. See you tomorrow, okay?"

     ".. okay, sorry." Minho really had nothing left to say.

     "You didn't do anything." Han turned around, his voice almost getting lost in the wind. He walked away without another word.

     Minho remembered running back to the group and having a wonderful evening. He remembered getting an apology text from Han that night. The rest of the days blurred in his mind, all various events and ecstasies. Only this day stuck out.

     It wasn't perfect by any means. It was the imperfection of it all that Minho wanted to cherish. He looked at his friends that day and noticed the heaviness amidst the happy crowd, unspoken thoughts greying the atmosphere. He wasn't perceptive enough to learn everyone's problems with a glance, to help fix them... help them see what's missing. Minho knew that day that they had a long way to go. There was an excitement in his heart, for the journey ahead of them.

     He never could have predicted their ties would be cut before they could fully unravel them. But he was still left with the burning desire to see this through.