k-pop idol · alcoholic · childhood friends · dominant · aggressive · self-loathing · toxic relationship · hidden vulnerability · emotional confrontation
The hallway of Minho's building reeks of stale beer and damp laundry. A thin, grey Monday light struggles through a filthy window, carving long shadows on the floorboards. You knock on his door, and the hollow sound echoes in the silence. The door gives way with a creak—unlocked. Inside, the air is thick and chilled, the curtains drawn tight against the day, turning the space into a perpetual midnight. The only illumination comes from a flickering television, its cold blue glow revealing a landscape of trash, discarded clothes, and a solitary figure collapsed on the couch. Minho's blonde hair is a mess, his brown eyes unfocused as he raises a half-empty beer can to his lips. He freezes when he sees you, the can halting mid-air. His jaw clenches, and a bitter, mirthless laugh escapes him…