Oh boy 😓

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The day was just like any other.

At 5:15 his alarm went off for the third time, screaming at him to wake up.

Slamming on the snooze button for the third time that morning, he got up, got a cup of coffee and had a mini existential crisis.

Just like every day.

He sipped his coffee and remembered a happier time in his life. When any hugs he wanted were only feet away, instead of what seemed like miles.

He sighed and settled for drinking his coffee and muting his bothersome thoughts.

There was just over an hour until he had to be in for work, and he really didn't feel like going in early.

Maybe he just wanted to walk around his lonely apartment in only his sweatpants for a little longer. Maybe not. He hardly knew what he wanted anymore.

The last thing he really, truly wanted had departed from Earth over seven months ago. Closer to eight or nine now.

Not that he'd been counting or anything.

Making his way to the bathroom to wash up, he heard his phone ringing from the other room.

The man took his sweet time getting to it, and somehow managed to catch it on the fifth and final tone.

"What?" He snapped harshly into the speaker, holding it up to his ear.

"Minho-" The voice of his... friend and colleague, Hwang Hyunjin, rushed through the phone.
"We need you to come to work. Early. Right now."

Minho rolled his eyes, fully aware that Hyunjin couldn't see him.

"I don't have to go in for another hour, Hwang."

Hyunjin sighed. Minho smiled.

Annoying his friends had somewhat become a habit of his recently. It brought him joy.

Especially when he messed with Hyunjin. They'd somewhat had a fling like thing about seven months ago.
Right around the time after Jisung had flown out of his life.

It was a weird, awful, and probably the darkest time in Minho's life. He had needed a distraction, and Hyunjin was just there.

Unlike all of those cliché as heck books that Minho knows exist, there really were no strings attached.

They weren't right for each other, and both of them knew that.

"Woojin needs you, dude. Haven't you heard about the astronaut stuck on Mars? Without a crew."

There was a change in Hyunjin's voice.

Minho heard it. It was softer, almost as if he was treading on eggshells, or thin ice.

Minho had practically cut himself off from everything.

He only had his phone.

TV? Jisung liked it, not him. Radio? Same issue.

None of his colleagues would tell him anything either. Recently, they'd been avoiding eye contact with him for some reason that he didn't know.
He just buried himself more into his work.

Honestly, what use did he have for such acquaintances anyways?

"No...wait- did you say on Mars?"

Hyunjin sucked in a breath on the other side of the phone. "...yes."

"Who is it?"

As far as Minho knew, there was only one mission going on at Mars right now. Jisung's. IIIRacha.

Maybe it was one of the other guys? Minho had met them before, and was close acquaintances with both of them.

There was no way it was Jisung.
It couldn't be... could it?

"You promise you won't kill someone if I tell you, right?"

"Yeah, yeah. Who is it, Hyunjin, or I might have to kill you." The brunette growled out, only half-joking.

"Whoawhoawhoa. Heyheyhey, let's not do that. Alright. Fine..... it's Jisung."

Minho froze, chills spreading from head to toe. He couldn't believe it. It couldn't be true. His Jisungie wasn't trapped there by himself. He wasn't.

He nearly dropped the phone when Hyunjin began speaking again.

"Hey, Minho? You okay, buddy?"

Hyunjin knew all about Jisung and their past relationship.

Minho had confided in him, rather than anyone else at the time. Like he'd said before. Hyunjin was just there.

"Yea- actually, what do you think, Hwang??"

Minho had thought about lying.

Thought about saying he was fine.
Then he realized that he couldn't lie to Hyunjin or to himself.

For example, he couldn't tell himself that tears weren't threatening to fall out of his already sleep deprived eyes, because that would obviously be a lie.

He snuffled, then let out a breath of laughter.

"Why am I getting upset over this? He dumped me like months ago.."

"It's because you still care for him, hyung. And I think he still cares for you too."

Now that was when Minho really did have to laugh.

"What gives you that crazy idea, kid?"

"Because he was asking for you."

Minho nearly choked.
"He. What?"

"We finally managed to get in touch with him last night, Woojin hyung and some techies were using a whole bunch of math stuff to figure out how to get messages to him, I think it was like hexadecimals or something?- anyway. We got it so he can basically send texts through the rover-"

"You're rambling, Hwang."

"OK, JEEZ. He wants you to help him get off Mars. He asked if we can add you to the team of scientists we're putting together to assist him, y'know, give him instructions n stuff. Says he trusts you more than anyone."

Minho huffed.
"Then a bitch is lying to himself-"

"Minho. N o. He genuinely cares for you! You have got to know that he only broke up with you to save you the heartache of a long distance relationship!"

Minho shook his head violently, trying to calm his breathing and stop the tears.

"No, Hyunjin, you-" His voice cracked.
"You didn't see him. You didn't know Jisung like I did. He was getting quieter around me, months before he left. I could feel him slipping away, Jinnie. He didn't love me enough anymore. He didn't. I know he didn't."

Hyunjin was silent on the other side of the phone, wishing he could leave the office to go comfort his friend.

But he was also scared. Scared that Minho would try and fall back into their old habits now that he'd found out about Jisung.

Finally, he managed to say something, after a few moments of hearing Minho try to silently cry.

"Well maybe he was stupid back then. Love does make you do some pretty crazy things, y'know."

Minho let out a watery chuckle.
"Oh, I know alright."

Hyunjin smiled to himself.
"If you want, we can talk about this more later. But for right now, get your butt over here. We've got work to do."

"I'm going, I'm going." Minho smiled, shaking his head. There was a small pause and then- "Thank you, Hyunjin."

And Minho hung up with that, leaving Hyunjin shocked.

Shocked, yes, but also happy, because Minho seemed genuine for once.
Plus, the fact that his OTP might get back together soon. That helped.

As for Minho, he made his way into the bathroom to finally wash up.
He'd feigned calmness while on the phone call. He didn't want to unnecessarily worry practically his only close friend.

Walking into his bathroom and closing the door behind him, Minho braced himself against the sink, avoiding the mirror.
He didn't want to see himself. He didn't like this version of himself. He was broken.

He scrunched his face up, trying desperately not to cry. Minho couldn't- wouldn't cry, especially over some guy.
Some guy that was his best friend before they'd dated.
The guy that cuddled him at night whenever he wanted. That laughed, cried, and screamed with him.

Jisung.

Minho dragged his hands down his face roughly.

Stop crying. He told himself.

Stop it. He's not worth it. Stop.

But it seemed that his emotions had other plans, because a moment later, his resolve broke.

A choked sob escaped him, and more than a few tears slid down his face before dropping into the basin below him.

It would be an understatement to say that Minho was upset.

He was more than upset.

He was worried, tired, and angry.

Oh, how angry Minho was.

"Are you happy now? Huh? dOES THIS MAKE YOU HAPPY?? It's what you wanted, isn't it?"

His voice softened at the end, as he didn't even know whether he was talking to himself or Jisung anymore.

Han Jisung, how dare he effect him like this.

Minho looked in the mirror, and took a deep breath before splashing water on his gaunt face.

Glancing back up, he gasped before letting out a determined huff.

"Jisung, you're coming back to Earth alive, even if I have to drag your ass here myself."

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Bdnssjdbdnfnrnjfkr

*Minho has fiNaLLy entered the chat*

Anywho, Question of the chapter.

Which makes you uwu harder? Oversized hoodies or plushies?

Opinions on this update?

I feel like I might've accidentally used a different writing style in it without realizing? What do you think?

Thank you 🙏

I'm out-