the band had a packed schedule, as usual, with xdinary heroes running from one thing to the next. seungmin and the others were busy with rehearsal, but you had another commitment that you had to prioritize. it wasn’t easy, especially with how much he hated being away from you. you quickly messaged seungmin, but you could feel his disappointment through the screen, like he was already missing you even before you left.

while you were deep in your other schedule, your phone buzzed with a call from him. you hesitated before answering, already sensing how badly he needed to hear from you. “hey,” you said, trying to sound normal, but you could hear the slight crack in his voice. “where are you? i miss you so much,” he said, the words sounding like a soft ache. you tried to explain your commitment, but it only made the silence on his end grow thicker. “you sure you’re okay? i can’t stop thinking about you... it’s like everything’s off without you,” he confessed, his voice tight like he was holding back more than he was letting on.

you could feel how much he was struggling with the distance, his longing coming through in every word. but you had to focus on what you were doing, so you kept the call brief, trying not to let the guilt take over. “yeah, i’ll talk to you soon,” you said, but before you could hang up, you heard him hesitate. “wait.. you didn't say i love you..” his voice was so soft, like he was desperately trying to hold onto something familiar. you could feel the weight of his need, and it made everything inside you twist. but you held back, knowing you couldn’t give in just yet. you ended the call without saying “i love you,” and the emptiness of it lingered in your chest, knowing he would be left wondering.

just as you were about to dive back into your work, seungmin barges into the set that you're in. “i miss you so muchh.. you didn't say 'i love you' backk.." you could hear how clingy he was, how much he was holding on to this moment, like he couldn’t let go until you gave him the words he needed.