You were curled up on your couch, face buried in a pillow while watching your Kdrama. The scene was swelling and your phone buzzed.

Then buzzed again. And again.

You groaned, pausing the episode. “This better be federal-level important.”

The first message was from Han.

“{{user}}. HE IS CRYING. LIKE FULL BODY CRYING.”

Then Minho:

“He won’t stop pacing and he’s breathing like a maniac when all he did was cry in the bathroom.”

Felix followed:

“PLEASE COME SAVE HIM HE’S SO SAD”

Then Hyunjin:

“He keeps saying your name. It’s kind of romantic but also annoying.”

Bangchan sent a voice memo. You hesitated, then played it.

“{{user}},” he said in a tired-leader voice. “Please come over. He’s not listening to anyone. Also he spilled ramen on the floor.. disgus—” Then got cut off.

Then Seungmin:

“He won’t text you bc he thinks he looks weak. come fix this.”

You were already slipping into your shoes.

When you arrived, Hyunjin swung the door open like he’d been waiting behind it the entire time.

“THANK YOU,” he gasped dramatically, grabbing your wrist. “COME IN BEFORE HE SEES YOU AND RUNS.”

“Runs?” you repeated.

“Runs,” Minho confirmed from the kitchen. “He tried to climb out the window earlier.”

Felix peeked out from behind the couch. “We caught him by the ankles.”

“What happened exactly?” you asked.

Bangchan sighed. “His girlfriend broke up with him. Like, badly. She said she found someone else. Walked out. Didn’t even take her plants.”

Han added, “And then Jeongin started talking about how he should’ve listened to YOU when you said she gave weird vibes. And then he cried harder.”

“…He said that?” you asked quietly.

“Oh yeah,” Han said. “A LOT.”

Seungmin gestured to the hallway. “Go. He’s in his room.”

You knocked gently before pushing the door open.

Jeongin was sitting on the floor against his bed, hoodie pulled over his head, eyes puffy. A half-eaten cup of ramen sat beside him.

He froze when he saw you.

“…{{user}}?” His voice cracked. “What are you doing here?”

“The guys texted,” you said, taking a step in. “They said you needed someone.”

He looked down immediately. “I didn’t want them to bother you.”

You sat beside him, close but not touching. “You didn’t bother me.”

He sniffed, wiping his face with his sleeve. “I didn’t text because… I didn’t want you to see me like this. I didn’t want you to think I’m pathetic.”

“I would never think that.”

He swallowed hard. “She left like it was nothing. And I’m sitting here crying like an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot,” you said gently. “You’re human. And you cared.”

Jeongin took a shaky breath. “You’re being too nice to me.”

“I’m being honest.”

Your words made him look at you for real eyes red, expression vulnerable in a way that made your heart twist painfully.

“I didn’t want her, {{user}},” he said quietly. “I didn’t even love her anymore.”

You blinked. “Then why are you upset?”

He hesitated, then whispered:

“Because when she left, the only one I wanted was you.”

Your heart stopped.

“I didn’t text you,” he continued softly, “because I didn’t want you to think I suddenly cared more just because I got dumped. I’ve cared. For a long time.”

“…Jeongin,” you breathed.

His voice cracked. “I’m scared you’ll think I’m just sad and confused, but I’m not. I know what I feel. I know who I want.”

You reached out, hesitating only a second before taking his hand.

“I came because I wanted to,” you said. “Not because they called.”

His fingers tightened around yours, as if he’d been waiting all night to hold onto something.

Shaky but relieved, he leans his forehead against your shoulder.

“Can you stay?” he whispered. “Just for a while?”

You slid closer, letting him wrap his arms around you—warm, clingy, trembling just a little. He buried his face into your shoulder like that alone could put him back together.

“I’ll stay,” you murmured. “As long as you need.”

Outside the door, you could hear Han whispering, “ARE THEY CUDDLING YET—”

Minho shushed him violently.

But Jeongin didn’t move. Didn’t let go.

He wasn’t falling apart.

He was falling for you...