Chapter Text
Hyunjin moved almost on instinct, his breaths uneven as a wave of warmth coursed through him. He didn’t know what was happening—didn’t even try to comprehend it. All he knew was the tingling sensation on his skin, the electricity that pulsed through him with every movement.
The world around him felt distant and hazy, like a dream he wasn’t ready to wake up from. He was lost in the moment, surrendering completely to the sensations. His head tipped back slightly, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. It was intoxicating.
Then, a soft sound broke through the haze. It was faint—a quiet gasp, almost pleading. His eyes snapped open, and his breath hitched sharply. Beneath him was Minho, his face flushed, his expression soft yet charged with emotion.
Hyunjin froze, his heart pounding against his ribs. The realization hit him like a jolt.
“Minho…” Hyunjin’s voice was barely above a whisper, shaky and laden with emotion.
Minho’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Hyunjin’s. He reached up, his fingers brushing against Hyunjin’s cheek.
"Don’t stop," Minho whispered, his voice shaky but insistent.
Hyunjin hesitated for the briefest moment, his chest tightening. He didn’t know how or why this was happening, but he found himself obeying Minho’s quiet plea. His body moved on instinct, as though guided by something beyond his control.
Why are we in this situation? Hyunjin thought, his mind desperately trying to grasp some kind of explanation. It didn’t make sense. This was Minho—his best friend, his constant presence. He had never imagined them like this, not even in the deepest corners of his mind.
But then, why did this feel so real? Every touch, every sound, every breath between them—it was unmistakably real.
Hyunjin's eyes drifted down to Minho, and his breath caught in his throat. Minho’s face was flushed, his lips slightly parted, and his eyes fluttered open just enough to meet Hyunjin’s gaze. The expression Minho wore—soft, vulnerable, and utterly breathtaking—was something Hyunjin had never seen before.
He’s beautiful, Hyunjin thought, the realization hitting him with a force he wasn’t prepared for. He couldn’t look away. Every small reaction—every quiet gasp, every subtle shift—captivated him.
"Minho…" Hyunjin whispered, his voice trembling as he studied Minho’s face. He wanted to understand. He wanted to know why this felt so right despite how utterly impossible it seemed.
Minho’s hand reached out, brushing against Hyunjin’s arm, grounding him. "Just… keep going," Minho murmured, his voice almost pleading.
Hyunjin swallowed hard, his body obeying even as his mind spiraled. He couldn’t ignore the way Minho’s voice, his touch, his everything, made him feel. It was like falling into an abyss he didn’t want to climb out of.
In that moment, Hyunjin stopped questioning. Instead, he let himself feel—every spark, every shiver, every connection between them. And as he watched Minho, memorizing the expressions he never imagined he’d see, Hyunjin knew one thing for certain.
Whether this was a dream, a hallucination, or some strange twist of reality, he didn’t want it to end.
Hyunjin moved slowly, savoring every second, every reaction Minho gave him. His hands trembled slightly as he touched Minho, memorizing every curve and every tremor. If this was a dream, he was determined to etch it into his memory forever. Minho's breath hitched, his body arching slightly beneath Hyunjin. His impatience was evident in the way he gripped Hyunjin's arm, his fingers curling tightly as though to urge him forward.
"Hyunjin," Minho murmured, his voice both strained and wanting. His lips parted as if to say more, but the words didn't come. Instead, a quiet, desperate sound escaped him, sending a shiver through Hyunjin's entire being.
Hyunjin paused, his gaze locked on Minho's face.He wanted to take it all in-the flushed cheeks, the furrowed brows, the way Minho's lips trembled ever so slightly. He wanted to remember every single detail of this moment, every piece of Minho that he was privileged to see like this.
But Minho, twisting beneath him, didn't share the same patience. "Don't hold back," he whispered, his voice barely audible but laced with urgency. Hyunjin felt his heart stutter in his chest. The sheer trust and vulnerability in Minho's voice shook him.
He leaned down, his movements deliberate, and pressed his forehead to Minho's. "I won't," he promised, his voice soft but steady. Minho's eyes fluttered closed as Hyunjin continued, this time moving with slightly more intention, though still careful not to rush.
Minho, however, wasn't one to wait patiently. His fingers dug into Hyunjin's shoulders, his body shifting to meet Hyunjin halfway.
"Faster," he demanded, his voice breathless and tinged with frustration.
Hyunjin chuckled softly, though his heart was racing. Minho opened his eyes briefly, locking his gaze with Hyunjin's. He leaned down and kissed Minho gently, a slow and tender gesture that contradicted the urgency Minho was trying to impose.
As their movements continued, Hyunjin couldn't help but think how surreal this all felt. It was as though time had slowed, trapping them in a world where only the two of them existed. He didn't know how or why this was happening, but in that moment, he didn't care.
==========
Hyunjin’s eyes slowly fluttered open, a dull ache pulsing behind his eyes as his mind struggled to adjust to the unfamiliar feeling of the morning. He shifted, the weight of something—someone—against his side pulling his attention. At first, he thought it was a dream, but the moment he felt the warm pressure against his body, his heart began to race.
He blinked, confusion flooding his senses as his eyes scanned the room. The bed felt different, smaller, the sheets warmer and heavier. The soft scent of something faintly familiar lingered in the air. But it wasn’t his room. His body froze, his thoughts racing as he tried to make sense of it all.
Then, the realization hit him like a wave.
He wasn’t alone.
Hyunjin’s gaze shifted downward, and his stomach lurched when he saw the arm draped casually over his waist. A warm, solid weight, as if it belonged there. But that wasn’t what made him panic. No, it was the fact that the arm was attached to someone.
Minho.
Hyunjin’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at the arm, unable to move. His breath caught in his throat, and his body grew colder. Minho was there, in the same bed as him.
But something was off.
Hyunjin’s chest tightened. Why was Minho here? He could feel the heat from Minho’s bare chest pressing against his side, his own bare skin exposed to the cool morning air. The weight on his waist felt heavier as he realized that both of them were completely naked.
What the hell?
Hyunjin’s pulse spiked, his heart thudding in his ears. The panic threatened to take over as he tried to shift, to break free from Minho’s hold, but his limbs felt like they were made of lead.
The blankets were tangled around their legs, their bodies pressed so closely together that the sensation of Minho’s breath against his skin sent shivers down his spine. Every inch of his body was hypersensitive, from the soft touch of Minho’s arm against his waist to the heat of their bare skin in the early morning light.
He couldn’t remember how he got here, how they ended up in this position. The last thing he remembered was falling asleep in his own room, and now... now he was in a strange bed with Minho.
A thought flickered through his mind—this couldn’t be real. This had to be some kind of dream, or worse, a nightmare.
Hyunjin’s breath hitched as he shifted again, trying to gently remove Minho’s arm from his waist. But Minho didn’t stir. Instead, his grip tightened, pulling Hyunjin closer in his sleep. The warmth of Minho’s body against his felt too real, and it only heightened the sense of panic inside him.
He couldn’t stay here. He couldn’t—
“Hyunjin...?”
Minho’s voice was low and groggy, barely a whisper, but it made Hyunjin freeze. The familiar sound of his voice sent a chill down Hyunjin’s spine, and for a moment, everything stopped. Minho’s hand rested on his waist, his breath tickling the back of Hyunjin’s neck as he mumbled something else under his breath.
Hyunjin pulled away quickly, but the movement was too sudden. He felt the rush of air hit his skin as he pushed away from Minho, and he stumbled out of the bed, his body still shaky with the intensity of his confusion. His hands gripped the edge of the bed to steady himself, his breath shallow and erratic as he tried to make sense of the situation.
His eyes scanned the room once again, desperately searching for something familiar, anything that could anchor him to reality. The walls, the desk, the small lamp on the nightstand—it was all wrong. Everything felt slightly off, like he was seeing through a fog, and he couldn’t grasp onto anything that made sense.
Minho stirred in the bed behind him, his voice thick with sleep. “Hyunjin?”
Hyunjin’s body trembled, his mind a whirlwind of panic and confusion. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t explain what was happening, what he was feeling. His hands shook as he turned toward Minho, who was now slowly sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
“Hyunjin, what’s wrong?” Minho said, his voice still heavy with sleep. “Did you have a bad dream or something?”
Hyunjin didn’t answer right away. His heart raced as he looked at Minho, trying to process his words.
“Hyunjin?” Minho repeated, now sitting up fully, concern flickering across his face. “What’s going on?”
Hyunjin opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. His mind raced in every direction, searching for answers. The fear in his chest was overwhelming. He shook his head, not knowing how to explain.
“I... I don’t know,” Hyunjin whispered, his voice barely audible. “I don’t know what’s happening...”
Minho tilted his head slightly, his expression softening as he reached out to Hyunjin. “Come here,” he said, his tone gentle, but also... familiar in a way that made Hyunjin’s heart pound even harder.
Familiar—but wrong.
Minho was acting like he always did, but everything about this felt strange. Hyunjin took a step back, away from Minho’s outstretched hand, the panic still clawing at him.
“I think I need some air,” Hyunjin muttered, his voice hoarse. He didn’t know where he was going, but he needed to leave this place.
As he rushed toward the door, he felt Minho’s eyes on him, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. He had to find answers. He had to know what was happening to him.
This isn’t right.
==========
Hyunjin sat in his usual seat near the window, staring out at the schoolyard. The early morning sun cast long shadows across the empty classroom, but even the quiet serenity couldn’t calm the storm of thoughts swirling in his head.
He had woken up beside Minho—his best friend, or at least that’s who Minho was supposed to be. The warmth of Minho’s arm around him, the familiarity of his touch, and the sight of his sleeping face were burned into his memory. It was too vivid to be a dream, too real to ignore.
But that wasn’t what left Hyunjin so unsettled. It was the way Minho had looked at him earlier, with a tenderness that didn’t belong in their relationship. The way Minho called him by name, soft and full of affection.
Hyunjin’s fingers tightened around his pen as he tried to make sense of it. Why did it feel like everything had shifted overnight?
The sound of footsteps approaching the classroom door pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned his head just in time to see Minho walk in.
“Hyunjin,” Minho called softly, his voice immediately drawing Hyunjin’s attention.
Hyunjin tensed, his heart skipping a beat as Minho’s gaze locked onto him. There it was again—that warmth in his eyes.
“You’re here early,” Minho said, walking over to him. His tone was gentle, laced with concern. “Is everything okay?”
Hyunjin swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “Yeah,” he replied quickly, his voice a little too sharp. “I just… felt like coming early today.”
Minho’s brows furrowed slightly, and he tilted his head as he studied Hyunjin. “You sure? You’ve been acting strange this morning.” He sat down in the seat beside Hyunjin, his movements calm as if he didn’t want to startle him.
Hyunjin avoided his gaze, turning his eyes back to the notebook in front of him. “I’m fine,” he said quietly, though the tremor in his voice betrayed him.
Minho reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against Hyunjin’s wrist. The touch sent a shiver through Hyunjin, and he froze.
“Did I do something?” Minho asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “If I upset you somehow, just tell me.”
Hyunjin’s eyes widened, and he looked up at Minho, startled by the softness in his tone. “What? No, you didn’t do anything,” he said quickly, shaking his head.
“Then what is it?” Minho pressed gently, his eyes searching Hyunjin’s face. “Did something happen?”
Hyunjin’s chest tightened. He couldn’t tell Minho the truth—not when he didn’t even understand it himself. How could he explain that he woke up feeling like he didn’t belong in his own skin, in his own life? That everything around him felt familiar but wrong?
“I’m just tired,” Hyunjin said finally, forcing a faint smile. “That’s all.”
Minho’s expression softened, and he gave a small nod. “Okay,” he said, though the worry didn’t leave his eyes. “But if something’s bothering you, you can tell me. You know that, right?”
Hyunjin nodded, guilt twisting in his stomach. Minho’s concern was genuine, it only made the situation harder for Hyunjin to process.
Minho smiled then, the corners of his lips curving upward in a way that felt achingly familiar. He reached out and gently ruffled Hyunjin’s hair. “Don’t overthink everything, okay? You’ll give yourself a headache.”
Hyunjin blinked, his heart skipping a beat at the gesture. He looked at Minho, his confusion briefly overshadowed by the warmth spreading through his chest.
“I won’t,” he mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Minho chuckled softly. “Good.”
The classroom slowly began to fill with other students, but Hyunjin’s focus remained on Minho. His touch, his smile, his words—all of it felt so natural.
And yet, deep down, Hyunjin couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Something he couldn’t quite put into words.
==========
As the day went on, Hyunjin couldn’t shake the strange feeling lingering in his chest. It wasn’t just the confusion of waking up in an unfamiliar situation or the memory of Minho’s arm wrapped around him—it was the way Minho acted.
This Minho wasn’t the same person Hyunjin remembered.
The Minho he knew was goofy, the kind of guy who lived to tease and play around. He was Hyunjin’s partner in crime, always coming up with ridiculous schemes to get through their mundane school days. And most importantly, Minho hated skinship. He would groan dramatically if Hyunjin even tried to hug him, and they’d usually end up wrestling until someone got hurt.
But this Minho?
Hyunjin glanced at him out of the corner of his eye as they walked through the crowded hallway together. Minho had insisted on walking him to class after their morning lesson, something he’d never done before. His posture was relaxed, his hands tucked into the pockets of his blazer, but there was a quiet attentiveness in the way he stayed close to Hyunjin, as if he was ready to step in if anything happened.
It wasn’t like Minho to act this way.
“Why are you staring at me?” Minho’s voice broke through Hyunjin’s thoughts, and he turned his head quickly, his cheeks flushing.
“I’m not staring,” Hyunjin said defensively, though his voice came out more flustered than he intended.
Minho raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Sure you’re not.”
Hyunjin felt his face heat up, and he looked away, pretending to be interested in the posters on the wall.
When they reached the door to his next class, Hyunjin expected Minho to leave without a second thought, just like he always used to. Instead, Minho lingered, his hand lightly brushing Hyunjin’s arm.
“You sure you’re okay?” Minho asked, his tone soft and laced with concern.
Hyunjin blinked, caught off guard by the question. For a moment, he considered brushing it off with a sarcastic remark—something that would feel familiar, like their usual dynamic. But the look in Minho’s eyes stopped him. There was no teasing, no playful smirk. Just... warmth.
“I’m fine,” Hyunjin said quietly, his voice hesitant. “Really.”
Minho didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he gave Hyunjin a small smile, the kind that made his heart stutter in his chest.
“Alright,” Minho said. “But if you need anything, just let me know, okay?”
Hyunjin nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat as he watched Minho turn and walk away.
What was going on?
He leaned against the wall, his mind racing. This wasn’t like Minho at all. If it was a prank, he would’ve cracked by now. He’d be laughing his head off, saying something like, “You should’ve seen your face!” But there was no punchline, no hidden joke waiting to be revealed.
This was real.
And it terrified Hyunjin.
As he slid into his seat, his thoughts kept drifting back to Minho. The way he’d looked at him, the way his voice softened whenever he spoke. It was like they were...
No. That wasn’t possible.
But as much as Hyunjin tried to convince himself that this was just another one of Minho’s games, deep down, he knew better.
This wasn’t the Minho he knew.
==========
Hyunjin sat stiffly at his desk during lunch, his chopsticks suspended midair as he replayed the morning over and over in his head. Minho’s voice, his soft smile, his touch—all of it was so unlike the Minho he remembered. Yet, no one else seemed to find it strange.
Their friends chatted away around him, the cafeteria buzzing with the usual lunchtime energy, but Hyunjin couldn’t focus. He glanced up, his eyes landing on Minho across the table. Minho was listening to Seungmin complain about an upcoming group project, but his gaze kept flickering toward Hyunjin.
Hyunjin quickly looked away, his cheeks heating up.
“What’s with you today?” Felix nudged him from the side, grinning. “You’ve been spacing out all morning. Don’t tell me Minho-hyung finally broke you.”
Hyunjin frowned, shoving a piece of kimchi into his mouth to avoid answering. He didn’t even know how to respond.
“Hey,” Minho’s voice cut through the noise, drawing everyone’s attention. “Don’t bully him.”
Felix raised an eyebrow, smirking as he leaned back in his chair. “Bully? Please, hyung, it’s just a little teasing. You’re so protective these days.”
Hyunjin blinked, startled by Minho’s expression. Protective? Since when?
Before he could process it, Minho stood up, leaning over the table toward him. “Are you okay?” Minho asked, his voice soft but clear.
Hyunjin froze, his breath catching in his throat as Minho’s hand gently brushed a stray strand of hair from his face. The gesture was so casual, so natural, yet it sent a jolt through Hyunjin’s entire body.
“I—I’m fine,” Hyunjin stammered, his voice barely audible.
Minho didn’t look convinced, but instead of pressing further, he leaned down—closer than Hyunjin expected—and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Hyunjin’s eyes widened in shock, his chopsticks clattering onto the table as he stared at Minho. The warmth of the kiss lingered on his skin, and his heart raced so fast he thought it might burst.
What... what just happened?
“Good,” Minho said, straightening up with a small smile. “Eat properly. You’ve barely touched your food.”
Hyunjin could only nod dumbly, his mind reeling.
To his greater confusion, no one else seemed fazed by what had just happened. Felix didn’t even blink, continuing his rant about how unfair his teacher was. Seungmin didn’t react either, his attention still focused on his phone.
Hyunjin swallowed hard, his hand trembling as he reached for his water bottle. “Did... did he just--?” he muttered under his breath.
“What?” Felix asked, glancing at him curiously.
“The...” Hyunjin gestured vaguely toward Minho, his words caught in his throat. “The kiss.”
Felix blinked, looking genuinely confused. "Are you seriously shocked by that?”
Hyunjin’s stomach flipped. “What--?”
Felix laughed, shaking his head. “What, did you hit your head or something? You and Minho-hyung are practically joined at the hip. Honestly, it’s kind of gross how lovey-dovey you two are.”
Lovey-dovey?
Hyunjin felt like the world was spinning around him. His chopsticks fell from his fingers again as his chest tightened. This couldn’t be happening. This had to be some kind of joke.
Minho kissed him like it was the most normal thing in the world. Their friends acted like it was normal too. But to Hyunjin, it wasn’t. It wasn’t normal.
Because in the world he remembered, Minho would rather jump into a lake than kiss him—or anywhere, for that matter.
And yet, the warmth of Minho’s lips against his cheek lingered, sending shivers down his spine.
He didn’t know what was happening, but one thing was certain.
This world wasn’t his.
And Minho wasn’t the same Minho he remembered.
==========
As the days passed, Hyunjin slowly started to adapt to this new world he found himself in, even if it didn't make sense. Every moment with Minho felt surreal, but it was also undeniable. The small touches Minho gave him, the way he would wrap his arm around Hyunjin's shoulders, the playful but gentle kisses-they all seemed so natural for Minho, but to Hyunjin, they felt like an awakening.
His mind kept circling back to the question of how things had shifted between them. One moment, they were just best friends, partners in crime, and the next, Minho was kissing him, holding him, and speaking to him with an affection Hyunjin couldn't comprehend.
It was confusing, but there was a warmth in it, something that made his heart flutter every time Minho's lips brushed against his cheek or his fingers traced the back of his hand.
Even now, as they walked down the staircase together after school, Hyunjin felt the usual buzz of uncertainty and excitement swirl inside him. He had gotten used to Minho's hand casually finding its way into his, their fingers interlocking as they made their way down.
Minho's presence was comforting, though it still left Hyunjin wondering how they ended up here. Just as they reached the landing, Minho suddenly pulled Hyunjin to stop, his grip tightening around Hyunjin's wrist as he looked up at him with an unreadable expression.
But before Hyunjin could speak, Minho's lips were on his. The kiss was sudden, unexpected, and caught Hyunjin off guard, but he didn't pull away. Instead, a strange heat surged through him, and as Minho's lips moved gently against his, Hyunjin found himself kissing back, deeper, more sure than he expected. His heart pounded in his chest, his body leaning into the kiss, his lips eager to meet Minho's with a newfound intensity.
The world around them seemed to blur as Minho's fingers curled around the fabric of Hyunjin's shirt, pulling him closer. Hyunjin's hand cupped his cheek as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss even further.
When they finally broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, Minho let out a soft chuckle, the flush on his cheeks deepening. He smiled, his eyes warm as he looked at Hyunjin.
"I missed that," Minho said, his voice teasing but tender. "It's been a long time since you kissed me like that."
The intensity of Minho's gaze make him blush. His lips tingled, still humming from the kiss, and his heart raced as he tried to piece together the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts inside him.
For the first time in what felt like ages, Hyunjin didn't pull away. Instead, he gave Minho a shy smile, a small acknowledgment of the connection they shared, even if he still wasn't sure how he had ended up in this world.
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