Chapter Text
You’re usually the reliable one, the friend that manages somehow to fix everything, the one that keeps a log of everything that you need to remember, that others need to be reminded of... the one that holds it together.
But lately? You’ve been slipping. The pressure of you work piling up, your sleep schedule is messed up, youve been dealing with the burnout thats had turned into full emotional shutdown. Not dramatically, not obvious...just numb. Forgetful, snappy in a way that doesnt feel like you.
You haven’t told anyone, Except Jongho has noticed.
Of course he has, not because you have said something, anything ... no its because you haven’t.
You don’t realise how quiet you have gotten until Jongho says it.
“Youre loud when you’re quiet.”
You blink at him from the couch, the blanket covering you half slipping off your shoulder. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“It does,” He says simply, walking past you toward the kitchen like he didn’t just drop something weirdly profound. “You stop talking, but everything else about you gets...louder.”
You frown slightly. “That sounds fake.”
He hums. “You sound fake”
“...wow.” Theres a pause. Then from the kitchen, “Did you eat today?” You freeze. “Yeah” then a beat of silence. Then Jongho appears in the doorway again, arms crosses, giving you that look. The one that says “dont lie to me, i will win.”
“define eat” he says. You groan, dragging the blanket over your face. “I had like...half a cereal bar”
“Thats not food”
“it is food. Its literally marketed as food” you reply back, groaning a little.
“its a suggestion” he shoots back immediately.
You peek out from the blanket, a tiny, reluctant smile tugging at your mouth.
He sees it. Of course he does. And something in the air changes, his expression changes for just a second. “Sit properly,” He says, already turning back to the kitchen. “You’re sitting like a collapsed chair.”
“Im comfortable”
“you look like you have given up on life”
“I might have”
Theres a beat and this time he doesnt joke. You hear the stove click on.
A few minutes pass before he comes back, setting a bowl in front of you without a word. It smells amazing, warm, real. Like effort. You stare at it before speaking. “You didnt have to do that”
“I know” he replies.
“Then why?” you question looking at him. “Because you werent going to.” that alone lands heavier than you expected. You pick at the edge of the blanket instead of at him. “Im fine, you know”. He hums in response.
“you dont have to-”
“I know”
You finally glance up. He is already looking at you. Not intense. Not overwhelming, just there. Steady.
“Youve been saying that a lot” he says quietly, you swallow. “i am fine” he tilts his head slightly. “then why do you look like youre about to apologise for exisiting?”
“i dont-”
“you do”
There is not accusation in his voice really, just fact. And somehow that makes it worse. Your eyes sting before you can stop it. “Hey” he says, softer now. You shake your head quickly, embarresed. “its stupid”
“probably” he agrees. You let out a watery laugh. “wow thanks”
“But it still matters”
That alone shuts you up. You try to play it off, reaching for the bowl. “ill eat. Okay? You win.”
“i always win”
“Your ego is insane”
“its accurate”