NOISE

11.

His phone had no new messages and he was debating whether to tell his friends about the kiss. His friends would keep it to themselves but he still believed he was dreaming. „Let's wait", he thought to himself, putting the phone on the nightstand. He didn't know if this was a one time thing and he definitely could go without all the teasing if he told his friends about it. Yet, he was hoping it would happen again.

He knew that Jisung only kissed him to get beyond his walls and he easily succeeded, but Minho was love drunk and not planning on getting off that high anytime soon.

„It's too early to be awake on a Wednesday", he groaned and answered the phone call that pulled him out of his sleep. „Hello?", he answered, not checking the caller ID. He always made that mistake.

„Did I wake you?", he heard Changbin through the speaker. „Yes." He checked the time on his phone, the sun didn't rise yet. It was five in the morning and he rolled his eyes at the realisation. Changbin must be joking. That one day he'd have classes late and the idiot decided to wake him up at ass o'clock. „Sorry", he said, making Minho frown in suspicion. He sat up, holding the phone to his other ear and pulled the blanket aside. „What do you want? Are you okay?"

„Yeah, not really", Changbin whispered and laughed bitter. „I'm outside, can you let me in?" Minho hummed and slipped out of bed. He tippy toed to the door and pressed the button for the front door. The buzzer was echoing through the whole building and he opened the door a crack. „What's going on?", he whispered, letting Changbin inside. He locked the door, watched him take off his shoes and silently followed him to his own bedroom. His curiosity was killing him but he wanted to give his best friend time and space, he'd tell him when he felt ready. He always did.

Changbin was sitting on the floor, not looking at him, not moving. He was just breathing and staring at his hands. „Are your walls back up?", he asked finally, still not lifting his head to look at him. „What?", Minho asked back, taken by surprise and decided to sit on his chair. „Why?"

„Is it safe to tell you shit?", he sounded impatient and harsh. „Or are you going to blurt out everything to your lover?"

„What the fuck?", Minho asked offended and glared at his best friend. „Look at me and tell me what the hell happened for you to talk to me like that!" Changbin shook his head but glanced at him, pigments of guilt, remorse and anger jumping around him. „What did you do?", Minho whispered, not knowing if he actually wanted to find out. He hadn't seen Changbin like this ever since he'd stolen money from his parents in middle school and even then, his pigments never been this strong before.

„I did it", he mumbled, burying his face in his palms. „I messed up the office." Minho didn't think he was hearing right. „You did what?", he asked and blinked, trying to compherhend the information. He got up and stood in front of Changbin. „You're lying, aren't you?", he asked, pulling his best friend to his feet. „Is this a bet that you lost against Hyunjin?"

Changbin chuckled bitter. „I wish."

„Fuck. Changbin, why did you do that?", he ran a hand through his hair, trying to keep calm. „Are you out of your mind?" There were a million things he wanted to say in order to scold him, but he knew that it wouldn't change a thing about the situation, so all he could do was pull him into a hug. The younger one wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on Minho's shoulder. „I was forced", he sniffled and Minho felt him wipe his nose with his left hand. „Forced?"

„I stayed at the library longer and on the way to the parking lot I walked past a group of guys. They were drunk and I didn't think anything about it until they held me down all of a sudden. I told them I'd do whatever they wanted if they didn't hurt me. So they pushed me inside the office and told me to destroy everything I could find. I did what they said but when I walked out of the office they were gone." Minho tightened the grip around him. „I'm sorry, Binnie. Were they students? Have you seen them before?" He felt Changbin shake his head and pulled out of the hug. „It's alright, you only did it to protect yourself. That asshole deserves it anyway and he's rich enough to get his stupid office fixed again, okay?"