˚₊‧꒰ა Chapter Two: A Ghost in His Own Home ໒꒱‧₊˚

The morning sun spilled through the curtains, painting soft light on the wooden floor. But it felt cold in Kyungmin's room. ⋆୨ৎ˚⟡ He had already been awake for hours, watching the sky turn from deep blue to pale gray.

He changed quietly, folding his blanket the way his mom used to. His feet padded across the floor softly, careful not to make noise. It was strange - how in a house full of people, he still felt like he had to tiptoe through it.

In the kitchen, someone was already making breakfast.The smell of toast and eggs filled the air.

Kyungmin hesitated by the staircase. He could hear Hanjin laughing. Dohoon was humming something from their last dance practice. Shinyu said something low - and the others laughed.

No one asked, "Where's Kyungmin?"

Still, he stepped into the room.

He stood there - small, silent, holding his hands together.

No one looked.

He waited.One second. Two. Five.

His heart began to shrink again.

Youngjae walked past him without a glance. Jihoon was too busy scrolling through his phone. Shinyu poured coffee and didn't even glance up.

And just like that — Kyungmin turned away.

---

Upstairs again, he sat at his desk, flipping open his notebook. His pencil moved slowly, as if every word was too heavy to write.

---

Dear Diary,I stood in the kitchen this morning. I was right there.

They didn't see me.

Maybe I really am invisible now.A ghost in my own home.

I tried to smile. I tried to speak.But the words stayed stuck in my throat.

Is there something wrong with me?Is it because I remind Appa of Umma? Is that why he can't look at me?

Sometimes I want to scream. But I'm scared no one would hear me anyway.

—Kyungmin

---

Later that day, the boys gathered in the practice room to rehearse a new routine. The music boomed, echoing off the walls. Laughter, footsteps, instructions — everything filled the space with energy.

Kyungmin sat in the hallway outside, back against the wall, knees hugged to his chest. He had finished his homework early just to come watch them.

He loved watching his brothers dance.

They moved like stars — sharp, confident, shining.

He smiled softly, even though they didn't know he was there.

---

When they came out, covered in sweat and full of smiles, Kyungmin stood up. He walked toward them, hand raised slightly as if to wave.

"Jihoon-hyung-"

"Move, Kyungmin," Jihoon said, brushing past him.

His heart dropped.

"Oh. Sorry..."

No one stayed long enough to hear him.

---

That night, he skipped dinner again.No one came upstairs. No one knocked.He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

His stomach ached from hunger. But his heart ached more.

---

Downstairs, Shinyu sat in front of the TV, a mug in his hands. The boys surrounded him, joking about old photos, planning their next dance video.

None of them mentioned Kyungmin.Not once.

---

Upstairs, Kyungmin whispered to himself beneath his blanket:"Maybe if I disappeared... they'd only notice the silence."

And then, as the stars blinked outside his window, he wrote a new line in his diary:

"If I disappeared today, would they still have breakfast tomorrow like nothing happened?"

And the answer sat still in his chest.

Yes.