Minjun woke up early, and for the first few seconds, he didn't immediately realize where he was: the ceiling was unfamiliar, the walls were too straight, the scent was too sterile. Not the cozy warmth of Hyuk's apartment, but the cold expanse of his parental home.
He reached for the nightstand, and his heart suddenly clenched - his phone was gone. His palm felt the surface, then his pockets, his pillow - nothing. Minjun sat up in bed, feeling a cold wave of anxiety run down his spine.
The door creaked quietly, and the secretary peeked into the room.
"Mr. Kim asked me to tell you: your phone is with him for now. It will be calmer this way."
Minjun froze. His throat constricted so tightly that no words came out. He just nodded, turning away, and felt his eyes sting traitorously.
***
Breakfast was waiting for him in the large dining room. The table was set perfectly: porcelain, silver, neat dishes. His father sat at the head, as always, stern and unyielding.
"Sit down," he said curtly.
Minjun sat down in a chair. He tried to take a spoonful, but at the first breath, the smell of the food hit his nose too sharply. The fried fish, the spices, even the fresh rice - everything made him nauseous.
He took a sip of water, but his throat clenched. The spoon trembled in his fingers, and he hastily stood up.
"Excuse me..." he whispered and almost ran down the corridor.
The bathroom greeted him with a cold mirror and white walls. Minjun managed to close the door, leaned over the sink, and his body betrayed him. He vomited sharply, without warning.
His hands were trembling, his heart was pounding, and a bitter taste lingered in his mouth. He leaned on the sink, breathing heavily, and barely held back his tears. His reflection in the mirror showed pale cheeks and darkened eyes - a foreign, tired face.
He pressed his palm to his stomach, trying to calm himself. In a whisper, almost soundlessly, he said to himself:
"I can endure this."
***
Hyuk stood at the entrance to the library where Minjun usually worked. He arrived on time, as always, with a light smile and a quiet anticipation. But the hours passed, and Minjun still didn't appear. Half an hour, an hour, two...
Hyuk couldn't stand it and went inside. He politely greeted the librarian and asked about Minjun.
"Oh, you must be his acquaintance?" the woman adjusted her glasses. "But he no longer works with us."
The words hit him like cold iron. Hyuk froze, staring at her in bewilderment.
"He doesn't work here anymore...?" he repeated dully.
"No," she nodded. "His father himself came yesterday and took his documents. He said that Minjun was returning home."
Hyuk felt the ground give way beneath his feet. His fingers clenched into fists, his breathing became ragged. Everything in his chest tightened, and only one thought cut through the noise in his head:
"What did his father do...?"