A step closer

Jisung froze on the library steps, his backpack hanging off one shoulder as he stared at the sleek black car parked across the street. The tinted windows revealed nothing, but he had no doubt who was inside.

For a brief moment, he considered walking in the opposite direction. His logical side screamed at him to avoid this situation entirely. But curiosity, mixed with a strange sense of comfort, overpowered his instincts.

He took a deep breath and crossed the street.

The passenger window rolled down just as Jisung approached, revealing Minho's composed face. He was dressed impeccably again, the dim streetlights highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline.

"You shouldn't be walking alone this late," Minho said, his tone carrying the same mix of care and authority as the night before.

"I'm fine," Jisung replied, though his voice lacked conviction.

Minho raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Get in. I'll drive you home."

Jisung hesitated, glancing around the quiet street. The idea of walking alone suddenly felt less appealing, and the memory of the mugging still lingered in his mind.

"Okay," he said softly, opening the door and sliding into the passenger seat.

The interior of the car was as sleek as the exterior, smelling faintly of leather and something distinctly Minho—clean and refined.

"You've been watching me," Jisung said after a few moments of silence, his voice tinged with both accusation and curiosity.

Minho didn't deny it. He kept his eyes on the road, his expression unreadable. "I needed to make sure you were safe."

Jisung blinked, caught off guard by the blunt honesty. "Why? Why do you care so much? You barely know me."

Minho glanced at him briefly before returning his focus to the road. "I don't need a reason to care. But if you're looking for one... let's just say I've never been good at ignoring things—or people—that catch my attention."

Jisung's cheeks flushed, and he looked out the window to avoid Minho's piercing gaze. "That's... vague."

Minho smirked slightly. "Get used to it."

The drive was quiet after that, the kind of silence that felt less awkward and more... loaded. When they arrived at Jisung's apartment, Minho turned off the engine but didn't move to leave.

"Do you want to come up?" Jisung blurted, surprising even himself.

Minho's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise, but his lips curved into a small smile. "Are you sure?"

Jisung nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure what had possessed him to ask. "It's the least I can do after all the trouble you've gone through for me."

"Alright," Minho said, stepping out of the car and following Jisung to the building.

Inside, Jeongin was sprawled on the couch again, this time fully awake and engrossed in a video game. When the door opened, he glanced up with a casual "Hey, hyung," before doing a double-take at the sight of Minho.

"Uh... who's this?" Jeongin asked, pausing the game.

"This is Minho," Jisung said, trying to sound nonchalant. "He... helped me out the other night."

Jeongin's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Helped you how?"

"It's a long story," Jisung said quickly, shooting Minho an apologetic look. "He's just stopping by for a bit."

Jeongin didn't look entirely convinced, but he shrugged and went back to his game.

Jisung led Minho to the small kitchen, where he nervously started making tea. "Sorry about Jeongin. He's protective."

Minho leaned against the counter, watching Jisung with a faint smile. "I don't mind. He reminds me of someone."

Jisung glanced up, curious. "Who?"

"My younger brother, Seungmin. He's got the same sharp tongue," Minho said, a rare softness in his voice.

"You have a brother?" Jisung asked, surprised.

"Yeah. He's younger than me by a few years. Smart, stubborn, and always thinks he knows better," Minho said, a fondness creeping into his tone.

Jisung smiled. "Sounds like Jeongin. He's a handful, but I wouldn't trade him for anything."

Minho nodded, his expression growing more serious. "It's good to have someone like that. Someone who keeps you grounded."

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence as Jisung finished preparing the tea. He handed a cup to Minho, who took it with a quiet "thank you."

Jisung finally worked up the courage to ask the question that had been on his mind all week. "So... what do you do? I mean, besides saving random med students from getting mugged?"

Minho's lips twitched in amusement, but his eyes held a guarded look. "Let's just say my work involves... managing people."

"That's vague," Jisung said, echoing his earlier comment.

Minho chuckled softly. "Like I said—get used to it."

Jisung rolled his eyes but didn't push further. Something told him that whatever Minho did for a living wasn't exactly conventional.

"Thank you," Jisung said after a moment, his voice quieter. "For everything. I don't know why you've been looking out for me, but... I appreciate it."

Minho's gaze softened, and for a moment, Jisung saw something vulnerable in his eyes. "You don't have to thank me. Just take care of yourself, Jisung."

Jisung's heart skipped a beat at the way Minho said his name, like it was something precious.

As Minho finished his tea and prepared to leave, Jisung found himself wishing he would stay longer.

"Goodnight," Minho said at the door, his voice low and warm.

"Goodnight," Jisung replied, his chest feeling strangely empty as the door closed behind him.

Outside, Minho leaned against the wall of the hallway, exhaling deeply. He'd told himself he would keep his distance, that he wouldn't get too involved.

But after spending just a few moments in Jisung's orbit, he knew it was already too late.