Lee Minho

The sun was beginning to set behind the buildings, tinting the sky a faint orange as Han Jisung walked along the sidewalks of the residential neighborhood. Like almost every afternoon, he was heading to his best friend Lee Felix's house. They had an assignment to hand in, and beyond that, he simply enjoyed spending time with him... although lately there was another, much quieter reason that drove him to go so eagerly.

As he reached the corner, he saw the Lees' black car parked in front of the house. Just then, Felix's father, Lee Minho, was getting out of the vehicle. His face was serious, as if he'd just gotten through something complicated, and his white shirt was stained red. The stains were large, messy, and of varying intensity.

Minho opened the back door of the car, casually took off his shirt, crumpled it in one hand, and carelessly threw it onto the seat. Just before closing the door, he looked up and saw him.

Their eyes met for a few seconds.

“Good afternoon, Jisung,” he said in a firm, but calm voice. She looked at him in a way that was hard to decipher: there was a slight tenderness in her eyes, but also something else, something that didn't quite fit. As if he knew exactly what the boy had noticed… and it didn't bother him.

Minho held her gaze for just a moment longer, then turned to walk into the house without another word.

Jisung felt a slight discomfort, as if his body went on alert for no clear reason. His shoulders tensed. But he quickly let it go. He thought maybe it was paint, or some animal's blood. An accident, perhaps. He didn't want to imagine anything out of place. So he kept walking.

“Jisung!” Felix greeted him from the living room with a carefree smile.

Minho crossed in front of them and went up the stairs. “I’m going to take a shower,” she muttered as she passed, not looking at him this time.

Jisung sat on the couch next to his friend, trying to focus on his homework, still puzzled...